Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Baccalaureate

Beowulf: An Epic Poem

Beowulf is a foundational work of English literature, an epic poem with a rich history and profound themes.

Key Characteristics of Beowulf

• Genre: Epic Poem
• Publication: Circa 11th century in England (manuscript)
• Composition: Believed to have been composed between 700 and 750 CE
• Original Language: Old English
• Oral Tradition: First told orally and passed on from poet to poet before being written down.
• Author: Anonymous
• Setting: Scandinavia
• Literary Device: Extensive use of alliteration
• Preservation: The original manuscript is preserved in the British Museum.

Core Values in Beowulf

• Courage
• Pride
• Loyalty

Significance of Beowulf

1. It is the longest poem written in Old English.
2. It is considered the first example of poetry in a European language

Understanding Credit, Debt, and Insurance

Credit Rule of Thumb: Product should outlive its payment; don't use credit if the purchase is beyond earnings capability.

Factors That Influence Credit Score:

• Billing history (35%)
• Length of bill payment history (15%)
• Amount owed (30%)
• New credit lines (10%)
• Types of credit (10%)

FICO Score:

300-850; above 800 is great; below 620 is not good (high risk); 40% of Americans have a score under 600.

Credit Bureaus:

TransUnion, Equifax, Experian (each has its own credit score).

Types of Entries in a Credit Report:

• Identifying Info
• Public Records (bankruptcies, civil judgments, and tax liens)
• Inquiries
  • Soft Inquiries (i.e., a credit

Gun Control

The Debate on Teachers Carrying Guns

After the incident that happened in Florida last February, Donald Trump proposed that teachers should carry guns in schools. Is this the best solution?

I think it is one of the worst ideas he could have suggested. Both teachers and students could be affected, regardless of age, as it depends on the individual's mindset.

Despite the occurrence of many crimes like this, I cannot understand why some people support the sale of weapons.

Nevertheless, there are people who are beginning to speak out against it, and this is a positive development.

The Need for Stricter Gun Laws

The first step we should take is to ban the sale of weapons worldwide. If we achieve this, things will change.

Feminism

The #MeToo Movement

This... Continue reading "Social Issues in the 21st Century: Gun Control, Feminism, and Immigration" »

Change and religious conflicts. Reformation and Counter-Reformation

The causes of the Reformation

• Disdain for the papacy and clergy: People believed that popes were concerned with their own interests; bishops lived a life of luxury and didn't reside in their dioceses; lower-ranking clergy lacked education, didn't preach and failed to set a moral example; and religious orders didn't adhere to the established rules.
• The abuses of the Church: Nepotism, favouritism by the high-ranking clergy towards members of their own family when allocating ecclesiastic positions; nicolaism, marriage practiced by priests; simony, the sale of ecclesiastic posts. Pope, bishops and cardinals sold forgiveness for sins to whoever bought a document of indulgences.

Reforms

Global Discoveries and Early Modern Journeys

The Portuguese Explorations

The Portuguese prince, Henry the Navigator, encouraged the development of navigation skills and the exploration of the African coast. There was considerable rivalry with Castilla in this region, but it was resolved with the signing of the Treaty of Alcáçovas in 1479.

The treaty granted Castilla the right to conquer the Canary Islands, while Portugal was allowed to explore the African coast south of Cape Bojador.

Key Portuguese achievements included:

• Reaching Cape Bojador in 1431.
• Reaching the Gulf of Guinea in 1460.
• In 1487, Bartolomeu Dias successfully rounded the Cape of Good Hope.
• In 1498, Vasco da Gama reached India, establishing a direct sea route.

Castilla and the Discovery

The Exordium: Setting Your Position

This is where you set out your position. It’s the point at which you establish your bona fides as a communicator, aiming to grab the audience's attention and hope to keep it. The strongest appeals tend to come here.

The purpose of the exordium is to put the audience into a receptive and attentive frame of mind. The main objective is to get the audience well-disposed. We structure the material to connect with the recipient, producing a favorable attitude toward the position defended by the speaker.

There are two types of exordium, depending on the degree of defensibility of the case:

• Predisposition: Used when the case is easy to defend.
• Overture: Used when the degree of defensibility is low.

Winning the Recipient'

The Writer's Secret Mission

Motives for Traveling to Poland

The writer traveled to Poland for revenge, intending to assassinate a political leader. This mission followed a two-week hunting trip.

True Motive: Revenge for a Beloved

His true motivation for attempting to kill the leader of Quive-Smith's country was revenge for the harm inflicted upon his beloved.

Assassination Preparation: The Catapult

The writer prepared to kill Quive-Smith by constructing a primitive catapult. This device was designed to shoot a sharp piece of metal at high speed through a ventilation hole, aiming to strike Q-S.

Survival and Escape

Surviving the Cliff Fall

He survived his fall by landing in a small, deep marsh.

The Trousers Incident

He took all the trousers to make it appear... Continue reading "A Quest for Vengeance: A Hidden Narrative of Survival" »

Tom's Unexpected Reunion with a Friend

Tom was returning from vacation, having been in France, and he lived in a small town in Germany. He lived alone, as he had recently become independent from his parents. Tom was nervous, but he remembered that he had his phone and wallet in his jacket. He decided to sit on a bench at the train station and contemplate how to find his suitcase.

After some time pondering, he recalled that he had placed his home address, "Mittenwald Street, 27", in the zipper of his suitcase. Tom decided to retrieve the suitcase he had mistakenly taken and walked home, hoping that the other person would return his suitcase. A few hours later, someone knocked on his door. He quickly opened it and found a tall blonde girl whose... Continue reading "Reunion with a Friend: A Tale of Lost and Found Suitcase" »

Packaging Aesthetics and Local Preferences

Packaging aesthetics are particularly important to the Japanese. Packaging is an important consideration for products that are Japanese prefer plain soft colors on their packages. People have local tastes based on their perceptions and attitudes about a products.

Product Innovation and Branding

Prior to 2004, Nokia launched different cell phone product-communication adaptation. Procter & Gamble recently introduced Pampers Rash Guard, a continuous innovation. Product problems initially policymakers in many parts of the world supported Suzlon. Regulators in different countries have proposed various the use of terms "light" and "natural" are allowed on labels only in the United States. Scotland is a... Continue reading "Global Packaging Aesthetics and Product Innovation" »

Brand equity can also be thought of as an asset representing a company's value.

Brand equity represents the cumulative added value of a product or service.

A company that has developed a successful brand has a valuable asset. (FALSE)

A global brand begins with the foundation of value. (T) According to the top (F)

A global product meets the wants of consumers in Japan, Western Europe, and the United States.

After four years of product development, Procter & Gamble achieved continuous innovation.

Alfred Zeien, former chairman of Gillette, emphasized the importance of Esteem in brand building.

An express warranty is a written guarantee that assures the buyer that he or she is getting what he or she has paid for. (TRUE)

An express warranty is a written... Continue reading "Global Branding and Product Strategies" »