Summer vacation writing assignment

I would like you to write a short research paper/report about the product/company that you chose for your presentations. The focus of the paper is up to you. Think of a question you want to know the answer to and find the answers to it and write about it. This paper should have some statistics or data which you can get from the internet or other easy-to-find sources. To start, think about what you would like to find out, make a question, and do a little research to see if your question is suitable and answerable. When you are sure about your research question, please consult with me. Once I give you the green light, you can go ahead.

Since you will be using some research for this paper, you must include a reference list at the end of the paper for you to write the sources of your data. The title of this section should be "References" (or "Reference" if you have only one).
Most likely, you will consult an internet source. Your reference for an internet source should be:
Name of article. The date it was posted if it is shown. Name of site where you got it. URL.
   Example using the entry from this HP:
"Guinea pig - meaning." 2014.06.19. Intensive Business Today 2014. <http://intensive2014.blogspot.jp/2014/06/guinea-pig-meaning.html>

If you use a book or some other type of data source, please contact me and I will tell you how to write a reference for it.
The structure or your paper should be (the starred words should be your section headings):
     *Introduction - give a general introduction and background and then say what your research question is like this:
                       The research question to be answered in this paper is xxxxxxxxxx.
     *Research and discussion - explain what you found out
     *Conclusion - wrap up
     *References - list up
I cannot assign you a specific topic for this assignment, since your topics are different. Please find a good topic/research question yourself!

Deadline to confirm the topic - August 4 (Monday)
Paper due - September 16 (Tuesday - first class back after summer vacation)
Length of paper - 2-4 typed (12-point Times font), 1.5 spaced. At the top of page one, type your title in the centre and your name only (no student #) on the right side of the same line.
As you have found out, it is very easy to make typing mistakes! Please check your spelling and typing very carefully. Relying on the spellchecker is not enough. Do a human check too.

I will be available by email mostly throughout the summer vacation. If you have any questions once you get started, please get in touch at my uni email address: laura.macgregor@gakushuin.ac.jp

Guinea pig - meaning

According to your textbook (p. 77) a guinea pig is a person used for a test. Here is an example of a guinea pig - Mikey in a commercial for Life cereal.
Watch it and see what the test is:

"Let's get Mikey. He won't eat it. He hates everything. Hey Mikey! He likes it!"

Suntory taps Lawson boss for president job

Quickly read the article about a change in the leader at Suntory below from The Japan Times and with a partner, scan the article to find the answers to the 6questions below.
(Scanning means to search quickly to find specific information. It is different from skimreading, which means to quickly read a passage to get the main idea.)

1. Who will become Suntory President?
2. When will he start?
3. Why was he chosen?
4. Why is this choice unusual for suntory?
5. What is the latest (recent) trend for choosing company leaders reported in the article?
6. What is your opinion about this trend?

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/06/24/business/corporate-business/suntory-taps-lawson-boss-president-job/#.U6rk-4kazCQ
Suntory Holdings Ltd. is set to appoint the chairman of convenience store operator Lawson Inc. as its president, the first time someone from outside the founding family.

Takeshi Niinami will step into the role on Oct. 1. By choosing the 55-year-old, Suntory hopes to accelerate its business expansion, sources said.

Niinami “has an international outlook, vigor, and an ability to crisscross the world, and connections,” current chairman and president, 68-year-old Nobutada Saji, told reporters in Tokyo. “I have big hopes for him.” The appointment will be finalized at a board meeting on July 1.

Saji said he chose the Lawson chairman partly because the younger generation of Suntory’s founding family did not have sufficient experience.

Niinami comes from trading house Mitsubishi Corp., which he joined in 1981. As Lawson president, he oversaw impressive results for the convenience store chain. He became Lawson chairman last month.

As a member of the government panel on industrial competitiveness, Niinami is also a member of the government panel on industrial competitiveness. He recently proposed agricultural reform and deregulation. He is expected to leave Lawson soon to prepare for his new job.

The leadership change comes as Suntory aims to roughly double its group sales, which are now ¥4 trillion, by 2020.

Presentation #1 guidelines

The purpose of the presentation is to give you practice making a presentation. The content is important, but it merely requires you gather, choose, and organize your information. There is no indepth research involved. You will be graded mostly on the organization of your talk, your slides and your presentation style. The content (the information) will be considered when deciding your grade, but it will be less important than the other things.
This presentation is 5 minutes max. Keep that in mind as you prepare.
Target date for presentations: July 8

Prepare 4 slides for your presentation. They don't need to be elaborate (fancy). Save time and keep them simple.
Slide #1: title page
Slide #2: introduction and outline
Slide #3: information that will be in your main section (points or pictures)
Slide #4: conclusion

Technical points for your slides
1. suitable sized font - 24 point minimum?
2. keep text to a minimum - too much text on the slide is NG. Points or single words only (no full sentences). Max 3 or 4 lines?
3. check English - spelling and grammar - this is a MUST

Sample overview of  a presentation about a restaurant you like. SAMPLE ONLY
Intro - the name, location and type of restaurant
Outline - 3 points
1. point #1
2. point #2
3. point #3
Main section - explanation about the three points in your outline. Use key words/phrases in a list on your screen
Conclusion - say why you would recommend it and give advice about going there. End the presentation by asking audience for questions.

USE THIS TOPIC FOR YOUR PRESENTATION OR ANOTHER TOPIC, WITH APPROVAL
Sample overview of  a presentation about a product or company you think is successful OR why you like it. 
Intro - the name of the product/company and some background information about it
Outline - 3 features
1. feature #1
1. feature #2
3. feature #3
Main section- explanation about the three points in your outline. Use key words/phrases in a list on your screen
Conclusion - why you would recommend it or buy it again in the future. End the presentation by asking audience for questions.

Presentation style - 
1. Look up at your audience and look around at all of us.
2. Speak loudly and clearly. The projector for the screen is noisy, so make sure to speak loudly enough.
3. Do not speak too quickly. Add longer pauses between phrases and sentences than you think. When you present, you are usually nervous, which makes you speak more quickly. Slow down!
4. Look at us - DO NOT LOOK AT THE SCREEN. You have the screen in front of you and behind you. Do not look at the screen hanging from the ceiling.
5. You may use a sheet of paper, but you must hold it in your hands and not read it continually.
6. Practise! This is a must. You must get comfortable with your materials, with standing and talking, and with using good presentation style.

Notes and vocabulary for Nike article (p. 25)

Achilles' heel - weakness
"Air Jordan running out of air" - the model of shoes called Air Jordan is losing sales (not popular anymore)
Skechers - U.S. chain that sells clothes and shoes cheaply, targeting at teenagers
Nike HQ - Nike Headquarters

Just doing it differently
running buddies - buddies are friends
core attributes - main strengths
pitch (v.) - appeal to do something (when you are taling about marketing/business)

How to design for women
stay in step with - keep up with
turnoff - negative factor

Final paragraph - It is interesting that Hoke didn't care so much about the number of people who went to these new Nike Goddess stores. His purpose of making Nike Goddess was to change the way of thinking of the people at Nike. He wanted them to rethink the market and attract women customers in their business strategy.

More news on efforts to make Japan a more tourist friendly place

From the Japan Times June 18, 2014

On duty free shop expansion
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/06/17/national/duty-free-reform-boost-tourism/

On Narita express service to Mt. Fuji
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/06/17/business/corporate-business/narita-express-train-headed-mount-fuji/#.U6GQoIkazCQ

Wi-Fi blitz planned for Olympics

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/06/13/national/wi-fi-blitz-planned-for-olympics/#.U52XbokazCQThe government unveiled plans Thursday to provide more foreign visitors with speedy wireless Internet access before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

It will promote the spread of free Wi-Fi hot spots but also “encourage” the purchase of Japanese SIM cards for incompatible smartphones bought overseas.
The plan also envisages a cut in international roaming charges, said Yoko Kamikawa, state secretary for communications.
A panel of telecommunication company representatives will be set up as early as this summer to discuss ways of developing public Wi-Fi networks and simplifying user access.
A panel of experts will meanwhile discuss how to make and market the Japanese SIM cards needed to provide full service to foreign smartphones.
The plan also seeks to lower the connection fees charged by Japanese and foreign telecommunications providers so foreigners can more easily use free calling apps.