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How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom? Does your creativity relate to your major or a future career?

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COLLEGE APPLICATION
● There is one required question you must answer
● You must also answer 3 out of 7 additional questions
● Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words
● MINIMUM OF 250 WORDS
● Which three questions you choose to answer are up to you: But you should
select questions that are most relevant to your experience and that best
reflect your individual circumstances.
● 4 DIFFERENT ESSAYS NOT 1 JOINT TOGETHER
Required question
Please describe how you have prepared for your intended major, including your
readiness to succeed in your upper-division courses once you enroll at the university.
Things to consider: How did your interest in your major develop? Do you have any
experience related to your major outside the classroom — such as volunteer work,
internships and employment, or participation in student organizations and activities? If
you haven’t had experience in the field, consider including experience in the classroom.
This may include working with faculty or doing research projects.
If you’re applying to multiple campuses with a different major at each campus, think
about approaching the topic from a broader perspective, or find a common thread
among the majors you’ve chosen.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS MUST CHOOSE 3 FROM HERE

1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively
influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.
Things to consider: A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being
a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking lead role
in organizing an event or project. Think about your accomplishments and what you
learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities?
Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading
others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church in your
community or an organization? And your leadership role doesn’t necessarily have to be
limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family?

2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem
solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how
you express your creative side.
Things to consider: What does creativity mean to you? Do you have a creative skill that
is important to you? What have you been able to do with that skill? If you used creativity
to solve a problem, what was your solution? What are the steps you took to solve the
problem?
How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom?
Does your creativity relate to your major or a future career?

3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and
demonstrated that talent over time?
Things to consider: If there’s a talent or skill that you’re proud of, this is the time to share
it. You don’t necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent
(although if you did and you want to talk about, feel free to do so). Why is this talent or
skill meaningful to you?
Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent?
Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what
are they and how do they fit into your schedule?

4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or
worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
Things to consider: An educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to
your educational experience and better prepared you for college. For example,
participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, or enrollment in an
academy that’s geared toward an occupation or a major, or taking advanced courses
that interest you — just to name a few.
If you choose to write about educational barriers you’ve faced, how did you overcome or
strived to overcome them? What personal characteristics or skills did you call on to
overcome this challenge? How did overcoming this barrier help shape who are you
today?

5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken
to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic
achievement?
Things to consider: A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your
community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a good
opportunity to talk about any obstacles you’ve faced and what you’ve learned from the
experience. Did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone?
If you’re currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and
does that affect different aspects of your life? For example, ask yourself, “How has my
life changed at home, at my school, with my friends, or with my family?”

6. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
Things to consider: Think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or
a place – like your high school, hometown, or home. You can define community as you
see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. Was there a problem
that you wanted to fix in your community?
Why were you inspired to act? What did you learn from your effort? How did your
actions benefit others, the wider community or both? Did you work alone or with others
to initiate change in your community?

7. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe
makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of
California?
Things to consider: If there’s anything you want us to know about you, but didn’t find a
question or place in the application to tell us, now’s your chance. What have you not
shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will
help us know you better?
From your point of view, what do you feel makes you an excellent choice for UC? Don’t
be afraid to brag a little.

Explain how Western culture has adopted, appropriated and reworked Asian culture, and why we in the West are so fascinated with Asian “otherness.” What Asian cultures generally get left alone, and why?

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IDS 100

Second Essay Topics

Length: Same as the first essay

  1. Prepare a shopping cart of about four or five processed food items (i.e. ones that come in tins, boxes or other kinds of packaging, as opposed to fresh produce) that are produced outside of Canada (and, ideally, outside of the US), but sold at one of the major grocery store chains (Safeway, Sobey’s, Extra Foods). In particular, I’d like you to pick items from smaller, “alternative” companies—organic, all-natural, or independent brands—and compare them in terms of ingredients, nutritional value, and price to major brands.  So, for example, instead of Uncle Ben’s rice, you’d go for the bag of jasmine rice from Thailand.  Instead of Campbell’s soup, you’d find some organic, vegetarian concoction produced by a small family collective in California.  Once you’ve done your comparison, write an analysis of your findings, and consider at least one of the following questions:
  2. Does being a “globally aware” shopper change your attitudes about buying brand items instead of independent ones?
  3. What incentives are there to buying from alternative sources (if you choose coffee or tea, this could be an important question)? What disincentives are there?
  4. How much shelf space is dedicated to the alternative products over the name brands? How are they displayed and/or marketed in the store?
  5. How are the alternative products packaged? How do they make themselves attractive to consumers?
  6. How have the major brands tried to undermine the attractiveness of these alternatives (be careful here—sometimes major companies compete with themselves by marketing alternative choices through some other brand. Check the packaging carefully to make sure those smiling hippies on the box aren’t really a creation of Kraft.)
  7. Find a document (photograph, advertisement, poster, newspaper article, &c.) that depicts “the East” in some way. How does your document use Orientalist stereotypes, either positive or negative?  Write a critique of your document, explaining how the document is intended to be used (ie audience), what traditions it builds on, and how this document contributes to our image of the Middle East/South Asia/East and Southeast Asia.

2. A somewhat narrower version of 2: Find an example of a Western appropriation of Asian culture. Consider, for example:

India:

Ayurvedic medicine; yoga, meditation and “export gurus”; popular

culture’s appropriation of Indian music (thank you, George Harrison); Bollywood movies; Western imitations of Indian food (including “curry powder” and overpriced chai!!).

Japan:

Manga, anime, kawaii; Western versions of sushi and other Japanese food; J-pop (and maybe K-pop while you’re at it)—basically, how does the West see (and try to assimilate) Japan’s unique culture.

Explain how Western culture has adopted, appropriated and reworked Asian culture, and why we in the West are so fascinated with Asian “otherness.” What Asian cultures generally get left alone, and why?

Where do they locate moral value? How and why do their female protagonists triumph, if indeed they do triumph?

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1—Compare/contrast how Wharton in The House of Mirth and Hurston in Their Eyes Were Watching God employ a feminist perspective. Some things you might wish to consider: How do they offer critiques of patriarchal society? Where do they locate moral value? How and why do their female protagonists triumph, if indeed they do triumph? What meaning can you find in the fates of their female protagonists, and perhaps of significant male characters? (These are just suggestions; you don’t have to do all of them.)

Do not summarize the story, simply analyze quotations from the books to support your arguments. No outside sources allowed. Use quotes from the books to support your argument.

What does the health care system looks like? Why does ageing poses a challenge to that system?

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Why policy makers should be concerned about demographic ageing in long term care policy in UK

*** Part 1 :  Focusing on the effects of population ageing, then you should focus on presenting demographics that are relevant to the long term care aspects of ageing. First section of your paper should clearly present trends, using quantitative data when possible (use graphs too), to illustrate your argument clearly.

***Part 2 : should focus on your argument in relation to long term care policy challenges and responses to the particular aspect of population ageing you are examining. Focuses on long term care policy consequences of that demographic and the long term care policy approach that you propose to address those challenges.

For this essay, we are looking for critical reasoning and cohesive argumentation around

population ageing and its consequences for major areas of social policy. That is, a critical

analysis of the extent to which population ageing poses a problem for societies, and focused

argumentation on the possible policy responses to the key challenges thought to be

associated with ageing societies. In writing your essay, consider whether demographic factors

are the only factors that policy makers should be taking into account.

Your essay should cover both demographic data on population ageing and the key policy

challenge(s) and approaches you will focus on. It is important that you provide a balanced

structure adequately covering both demography and policy. We expect you to assess the key

demographic trends important for your policy area or areas as well as any alternative factors

that may also have an impact. You are expected to use only empirical/scientific evidence to

support the points you make. The reference list below provides a helpful introduction to the

issues surrounding the policy impact of population ageing. You are, however, expected to

read far more widely around the subject in preparing your essay.

You will be expected to clearly and concisely convey your argument as to why policy makers should be interested in the demography of ageing. The outline should include an analysis of key demographic trends that motivate and lead up to your central argument

Some suggested references

-Doyle, Y., McKee, M., Rechel, B. and Grundy, E. 2011 ‘How to meet the challenge of ageing

populations’, BMJ, 892-894.

-Malley, J, Hancock, R, Murphy, M, Adams, J, Wittenberg, R, Comas-Herrera, A, Curry, C, King,

D, James, S, Morciano, M and Pickard, L (2011). “The effect of lengthening life expectancy on

future pension and long-term care expenditure in England, 2007 to 2032.” Health Statistics

Quarterly. p. 52.

-Martín Martína, José J., Puerto López del Amo Gonzáleza, M. & Dolores Cano García, M., 2011,

‘Review of the literature on the determinants of healthcare expenditure’, Applied Economics,

43, 1, 19-46.

-Pickard, L, Wittenberg, R., Comas-Herrera, A., King, D. and Malley, J. (2012) “Mapping the

future of family care: Receipt of informal care by older people with disabilities in England to

2032.” Social Policy and Society, 11, 533-545.

-Seshamani, M. and A. Gray (2002). “The impact of ageing on expenditures in the National

Health Service.” Age and Ageing, 31, 287-294.

Some recommendations for summative essay

  1. 1. Focus and argument: It is crucial that your essay identifies a concrete, original argument

that you want to pursue in relation to population ageing and policy responses. It is

important that your essay is built around this original, central argument, and that you use

the literature (scientific theories, empirical papers) to support your argument. You may

have an argument that cuts across both the demographics and policy sections, or you may

have two arguments, one in relation to the demographics section and one in relation to

the policy section. If the latter is the case, the ‘policy argument’ should build up logically

from the ‘demographics’ argument.

  1. Structure: A key criteria for evaluation is structure, which refers to the coherence of the

paper and the articulation of your argument in a systematic way. It is important to start

by outlining the argument you are putting forward, and use demographic data from

available studies in the country, region or area you are focusing on. Very early in the essay,

often in the first or second paragraph, it is often advisable to state your central argument

which is going to be the pillar around which your ideas in the essay are articulated (not

only the topic, but the central argument you wish to defend). The second part should then

focus on your argument on the policy challenges and responses.

  1. Policy section: The second part of the essay should focus on your argument in relation to

policy challenges and responses to the particular aspect of population ageing you are

examining. It is important to clarify to yourself before you start writing what your critical

argument is in terms of policy responses. Please remember it is preferable to choose a

policy or a few policy options and go into detail, rather than superficially discussing too

many policy challenges and options.

  1. References: Please make sure to support your statements with scientific references

(ideally published paper or book chapters). Please have a look at the handbook to make

sure you follow the appropriate referencing style.

Does the presence of automatic hand sanitizers in every resident’s room affect the compliance of hand hygiene among the health care personnel and the residents in nursing homes?

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PICOT Statement

Does the presence of automatic hand sanitizers in every resident’s room affect the compliance of hand hygiene among the health care personnel and the residents in nursing homes?

How then does the localist rhetoric relate to those who do not equate food that is “geographically proximate” to good food?

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How then does the localist rhetoric relate to those who do not equate food that is “geographically proximate” to good food?

Mobility, embodiment, and scales: Filipino immigrant perspectives on local food

How can the powerful Gillette, a unit of Procter & Gamble with annual revenues of $65 billion, be beaten by a brash startup?

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See the case below:

Business Model Innovation: How Dollar Shave Club Disrupted Gillette WHILE MOST of our attention is captured by fancy high-tech innovations such as the iPhone or Tesla’s sleek electric vehicles, innovations need neither to be high-tech nor radical to be successful. Until recently, Gillette, the company that invented the safety razor and the razor–razor-blade business model, dominated the $3 billion U.S. market for wet shaving with some 75 percent market share. Yet Dollar Shave Club, which began as a fledgling startup with an initial budget of $8,000, disrupted the powerful Gillette with a low-tech innovation and is gaining market share rapidly. How can the powerful Gillette, a unit of Procter & Gamble with annual revenues of $65 billion, be beaten by a brash startup? Gillette’s pattern of innovation over time led to overshooting in the market, resulting in a product that became overengineered and too expensive. The entrepreneur King Gillette invented the safety razor some 115 years ago and also came up with the highly profitable business model of selling the razor for a low price and charging a premium for replacement razor blades. This razor–razor-blade business model, so named to commemorate its origins, has now been widely adopted. When introduced, the safety razor was a radical innovation, allowing Gillette a temporary competitive advantage. To sustain this advantage, Gillette followed up with incremental innovations, mainly by adding more blades to its razor until there were not one but six! As a result of this innovation pattern, Gillette’s newest razor, the Fusion ProGlide with Flexball technology, a razor handle that features a swiveling ball hinge, costs $11.49 (and $12.59 for a battery-operated one) per razor! This pricing exposed Gillette to low-cost disruption. The high-end, highly priced offering of the market leader is not only overshooting what the market demands, but also often priced too high. Does anyone really need six blades on one razor or want to pay over $10 for one cartridge? image The entrepreneur Michael Dubin founded Dollar Shave Club using a business model innovation by providing an online subscription-based mail-order alternative to in-store retail purchases of razor blades. Many customers were not only turned off by Gillette’s premium prices, but also by the inconveniences that in-store purchases entail. Given that packs of razor blades are a prime target for shoplifters, many stores lock them in glass vitrines, much to the dismay of customers who have to hunt down an employee with a key to access razor blades. ©Dan Krauss Seeing the opening provided by Gillette’s focus on the high-end, high-margin portion of the market, Dollar Shave Club established a low-cost alternative to invade Gillette’s market from the bottom up. With an $8,000 budget and the help of a hilarious promotional video that went viral with 25 million views, entrepreneur Michael Dubin launched Dollar Shave Club, an ecommerce startup that delivers razors by mail. After the promotional video was uploaded on YouTube in March 2012, some 12,000 people signed up for Dollar Shave page 475membership within the first 48 hours! The company also raised more than $20 million in venture capital funding from prominent firms such as Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Andreessen Horowitz, among others. Dollar Shave Club followed up with advertising on regular television in addition to its online campaigns and has expanded its product lines with the introduction of additional personal grooming products. Dollar Shave Club is an ecommerce company that uses a subscription-based business model. As the company’s name suggests, its entry-level membership plan delivers a razor and five cartridges a month for just $1 (plus $2 shipping). The member selects an appropriate plan, pays a monthly fee, and receives razors every month in the mail. Dollar Shave Club is using a business model innovation to disrupt an existing market. Technology is defined as the methods and materials used to achieve a commercial objective. The technology or method here is the business model innovation, a potent competitive weapon. The entrepreneur identified the market need for those who don’t like to go shopping for razors and certainly don’t like to pay the high prices commanded by market leaders such as Gillette. Procter & Gamble’s competition also took notice. Unilever, P&G’s European rival, has long stayed away from the U.S. wet shaving market because Gillette was so dominant. But noting how Dollar Shave Club disrupted the market, resulting in Gillette’s rapid market share decline, Unilever saw its opening into the U.S. market. The Anglo-Dutch multinational consumer products company, with some $61 billion in annual revenues and thus roughly the same size as P&G, offered a whopping $1 billion in cash in 2016 to buy Dollar Shave Club. Not too bad of an offer for a five-year-old startup! Dubin happily accepted the offer and sold Dollar Shave Club to Unilever. With sales of razors and razor blades moving rapidly online, Unilever is hoping to leverage this business model innovation to unseat Gillette’s dominance in the U.S. market. Gillette is not sitting by idle: It responded swiftly by offering its own subscription-based service (Gillette Shave Club) and by lowering prices up to 20 percent, a move that was unimaginable in the past few decades. Successful innovations also lead to imitations. A mere two years after Dollar Shave Club started, two entrepreneurs founded Harry’s, another online, subscription-based mail-order business for shaving equipment. After Target invited Harry’s to put flashy displays in all of its stores in 2016, its business took off. This was a smart move on Target’s part, because it allowed it to put some competitive pressure on Gillette, which has historically held a near-monopoly position as a supplier with its 75 percent market share. Similar to Dollar Shave Club, Harry’s business is growing rapidly. As a consequence of increased competition, Gillette’s market share in the $3 billion market for razors and razor blades has declined from some 75 percent (in 2010) to below 60 percent (by 2017), and continues to slide.

 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

If you buy shaving equipment, do you purchase it in a retail store or online? Explain your choice. Apply the four I’s framework: idea, invention, innovation, and imitation to describe the wet shaving industry in the United States over the past 100 years.

How was Gillette initially able to gain a competitive advantage? Was Gillette able to sustain its competitive advantage? If so, how? What market opening did entrepreneurs, such as Michael Dubin with Dollar Shave Club, use to enter the industry? How did they enter the industry?

What type of innovation did they use, and why were they successful? Why did Unilever offer $1 billion (in cash!) for Dollar Shave Club? Do you think online startups such as Dollar Shave Club and Harry’s will continue to steal market share from Gillette? Why or why not?

How does cyberbullying affect people?

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How Cyber bullying Affect People?

Does William of Rubruck’s account show another side to Mongol culture different from what one might see solely from considering the way they waged war?

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Sources:
Escaping the Mongols: A Survivor’s Account from the 13th Century” http://www.medievalists.net/2018/01/escaping-mongols-survivors-account-13th-century/
“William of Rubruck’s Account of the Mongols” https://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/texts/rubruck.html
Instruction:

Through roughly 70 years of military campaigning, the Mongols established the largest contiguous land empire in world history. As the historian Morris Rossabi explains, because of the speed and ruthlessness with which they did so, the Mongols have been portrayed as barbaric in Persian, Chinese, and Russian accounts. Yet, the Mongols were certainly not the first or the last to brutally conquer others in the quest for empire. This raises the question as to whether, in other facets of their lives, the Mongols are as barbaric as these sources show them to be.

Outsider accounts of the Mongols are available that offer insight into their culture and way of life. For example, one of the earliest and most useful accounts was written by William of Rubruck, a Catholic missionary (a Flemish Franciscan, to be precise) who traveled through Mongol territory from 1253 to 1255 CE.

For this discussion, review the short article about Mongols methods of warfare, “Escaping the Mongols.” Then read sections of William of Rubruck’s account that pertain to Mongol culture or that are of particular interest to you (especially “Mongols social and religious customs”, “Funeral Practices”, “The Khan’s Palace at Karakorum”, “Religious Customs”).

Does William of Rubruck’s account show another side to Mongol culture different from what one might see solely from considering the way they waged war? Are they wholly barbaric or also civilized and sophisticated? Choose at least four examples from William of Rubruck’s account to explain your answer.