How To Write An Argumentative Essay Essays

How To Write An Argumentative Essay Essays How To Write An Argumentative Essay Paper How To Write An Argumentative Essay Paper Essay Topic: Argumentative Nowadays, in the epoch of great technological development study process has become easier and not so troublesome. Modern students don’t need to go to the library, write long precis or spend much time reading boring literature. The global network gives them all necessary information that is essential for study. Time is changing everything, but essay writing is the permanent component of college or high school. Different types of academic and non-academic papers are in great demand because they reveal the knowledge of students, show the creativity and analytical thinking. This part of education isn’t a problem as well because students have a unique chance to use different services that can create the argumentative essay, for instance, instead of them. Of course, it sounds very positive and sweet, but one fact is obvious – everybody has to know how to write an argumentative essay. That is why we have dedicated this article to the key steps and crucial things of writing an argumentative essay. Hope it will be informative for you. Moreover, we offer you some argumentative essay examples.   Learn more We invoke you to follow this manual as it will teach you how to create the winning and compelling content. First of all, we intend to tell that good argumentative essay is the writing where the author evaluates the evidence and investigate the topic. Another key thing to know is that this type of writing requires not only the presentation of primary and secondary sources; the student has to present his/her assumptions and hypothesis related to the topic. That is why you should be armed with necessary knowledge about how to write an argumentative essay. We offer you this guide that will show the right destination for writing. Understand the essence and goal of argumentative essay You have to brainstorm all possible variants of this type of writing and conclude how you may present your summary of the issue better; as the main purpose of the essay is to state your position and convince the reader about the credibility of your results. Pick the winning methodology While creating your paper, you have to realize which way of writing is the easiest for you. We should say that you can start with arguments and then go to counterarguments. H3: Understand the message of the essay You have to know that the content of your text must develop your argument and prove readers that your research is better than other. Moreover, the target audience should be confident that you, as an author, is aware of different aspects of this investigation. Choose the topic Common knowledge is that this choice is the most troublesome as from the wide variety of possible variants we have to pick the best. Before you begin, we want to say that good topic has to be debatable, controversial, and up to date. Moreover, your main points of discussion should appeal to you. Do not try to re-write somebody’s paper; your task is to create from scratch. Another key thing to know, do not try to prove the obvious fact, for instance, sport makes us stronger; everybody agrees with it without your evidence and investigation. Be confident that you choose the winning topic. Argument When you have picked the theme, it is time for you to think about arguments. The first hint, ask your mom or anybody who can listen to your opinion and advice whether your arguments are effective and persuasive. It will help you realize if your statements will convince target audience. Realize your audience The crucial thing of essay is to know the audience. Obviously, you will speak differently with the committee and students, for instance. This aspect influences the tone and language of the paper. Structure It is a high time to speak not about how to write an argumentative essay but the most important aspect of the essay – structure. We want to please you that argumentative essay is not exceptional writing, so it consists of three parts as well as other papers. Before start writing, you have to make the argumentative essay outline that will help you manage all your data. As you can guess, it is a type of forbidden thing to write the results of the investigation in the opening paragraph. Let’s get started. Introduction Usually, the first paragraph of a paper should be introduction where you present the future investigation. You have to use such hooks that will grab the target audience and attract their attention to your idea. We highly recommend you to comprise the title of used sources and methods that you applied. Do not forget about your thesis statement because it is the logical ending of the first part and beginning of the main body. e.g., â€Å"Female circumcision is also known, more accurately, like female genital mutilation and female genital cutting (FGC.) The tradition of FGC dates back more than 1000 years in parts of Asia, the Far East, Europe, Asia, South America, and even amongst certain ethnic groups in the United States.† Main body That is the biggest part of the essay. Be ready to spend much time and effort to make it well. Here you should present information that supports your arguments and statements. Remember that the main aim of this part of the essay is to illustrate the whole picture of the paper. Do not forget to divide it into paragraphs. Moreover, each part of the main body should contain a statement, prof, and evidence that tells the reader about the issue. Such formula will make your essay qualitative. e.g., â€Å"Guided by journalism’s code of ethics- accuracy, objectivity, and fairness- print news reporters have gathered and delivered stories what editors decide is fit for their readers. One of the most important advantages online news offers over the print news is the presence of built-in hyperlinks, which carry readers from one electronic document to another. Links provide a kind of transparency impossible in print because they allow readers to see through the online news to the â€Å"sources, disagreements, and the personal assumptions and values† that may have influenced a news story (Weinberger).† Conclusion Speaking of conclusion, we have to say that this part should be a successful ending of your paper that summarizes thesis, evaluates evidence, and illustrates the results. We highly recommend you state the argument and persuade readers to support your thesis. Remember that it is a type of forbidden thing to present new information in conclusion. The last sentence should include the acknowledgment to your readers. Make such conclusion that will be the best ending of your writing. e.g., â€Å"The Internet has enabled consumers to participate in a new way of reading, questioning, interpreting, and reporting the news. Decisions about appropriate content and coverage are no longer exclusively in the hands of news editors.† Final steps of how to write an argumentative essay Now, when you have written the main content of the paper, it is time to cite your primary and secondary sources. Be sure that you follow all rules of correct formatting. Do not forget to consult the professor about the required style. After this procedure, polish your paper and fix all mistakes. The qualitative essay should be grammatically and lexically correct. That is why arm yourself with patience and proofread your masterpiece. Hope you have realized the main specificity of the good argumentative essay. Do not postpone and make a piece that will impress the readers. Do you still hesitate how to write an argumentative essay?

3 Key Strategies for SAT Passport to Advanced Math

3 Key Strategies for SAT Passport to Advanced Math SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Worried about exponents or coordinate geometry on the SAT? Never fear, this guide is here! I'll explain everything you need to know about SAT Math's trickiest subject area: Passport to Advanced Math. This topic tests all the algebra skills you must have firmly in place before you move into the study of more complex math, including systems of equations, polynomials, and exponents. Of course, the questions are presented in a uniqely SAT way, so I'll walk you through exactly what you can expect from this subsection of SAT Math. Basic Data: Passport to Advanced Math There are 16 Passport to Advanced Math questions on the test (out of 58 total math questions). These questions will not be explicitly identified- there's no label or anything marking these questions as members of this category- but you will receive a subscore (on a scale of 1 to 15) indicating how well you did on this material. You will see this type of question in both the calculator and no-calculator sections. There will also be both multiple choice questions and grid-in questions covering these topics. Passport to Advanced Math Concepts Below are the major skills tested by Passport to Advanced Math questions. Pay attention, now! Understanding Equation Structure The College Board wants to know that you understand how expressions, equations, and the like are structured. Also, the College Board will call upon you to demonstrate a real comprehension of why they're structured that way- and how they work as a result. For a question like this, you need to put both sides of the equation in the same form. So we'll start by FOILing the left side of the equation: $$abx^2+7ax+2bx+14=15x^2+cx+14$$ By comparing the two sides of the equation we can draw two conclusions: $$ab=15$$ $$7a+2b=c$$ Now we can use the following system of equations to determine the possible values for $a$ and $b$: $$a+b=8$$ $$ab=15$$ Therefore, $a=3$ and $b=5$, or $a=5$ and $b=3$. Finally, we plug both of those possible sets of values into the equation $7a+2b=c$ and solve for $c$, which gives us $c=7(3)+2(5)=31$ or $c=7(5)+2(3)=41$. Thus, (D) is the correct answer. Modeling Data You'll have to demonstrate the ability to build your own model of a given situation or context by writing an expression or equation to fit it. Here, the testmakers are asking us to recognize that $C$ is a function of $h$. We're looking at a variation on $y=mx+b$ where $C$ is on the y-axis and $h$ is on the x-axis. In order to find the correct equation for the line, we need to determine the values of constants $m$ (slope) and $b$ (y-intercept). We can look at the graph and immediately see that the y-intercept is 5, but that only allows us to rule out answers A and D. We need to find the slope as well. The equation for the slope of a line is $m=(y_2-y_1)/(x_2-x_1)$ Let's choose points $(1,8)$ and $(2,)$ from the graph and plug these values into the slope equation: $$m=(-8)/(2-1)=(3/1)$$ Given a slope of 3 and y-intercept of 5, we know the correct equation is $C=3h+5$, so the answer is (C). Mathematical modeling will, unfortunately, not get you on the front page of Vogue. Manipulating Equations This skill is very important to have mastered, as it will be useful in a large number of problems. It's all about where you can rearrange and rewrite expressions and equations. This question is pretty straightforward in asking you to rearrange the original formula. The math needed to do so, however, looks pretty nasty, by a glance over the answer choices. Let's take a look. Really, all we're doing is dividing both sides by the big nasty part, which is to say we're dividing by: To do that, we can multiply both sides by the reciprocal, which is: $${(1+r/1200)^N-1}/{(r/1200)(1+r/1200)^N}$$ So, we have: $$m{(1+r/1200)^N-1}/{(r/1200)(1+r/1200)^N}={(r/1200)(1+r/1200)^N}/{(1+r/1200)^N-1}{(1+r/1200)^N-1}/{(r/1200)(1+r/1200)^N}P$$ The two fractions on the right cancel each other out and this simplifies to: $$m{(1+r/1200)^N-1}/{(r/1200)(1+r/1200)^N}=P$$ The answer is (B). Math is one place where manipulation is not a malicious or fraudulent activity. Simplification This aspect is all about turning down the noise within an expression or equation by canceling out useless terms. In other words, the testmakers are likely to throw a whole lot of impenetrable garbage at you and wait for you to rearrange it so it makes human sense. This question is relatively straightforward: it just looks like a handful. It's all a matter of lining up like terms and combining them; careful of the signs. First, we distribute the negative to the terms in the second set of parentheses: $$x^2y-3y^2+5xy^2+x^2y-3xy^2+3y^2$$ Then we combine like terms: $$(x^2y+x^2y)+(-3y^2+3y^2)+(5xy^2-3xy^2)=2x^2y+2xy^2$$ Thus, (C) is the correct answer. Specific Topics in Math Here, we'll talk less about the broad scope of skills you'll need and more about specifics topics you have to be familiar with. Systems of Equations You need to be able to solve a system of equations in two variables where one is linear and one is quadratic (or otherwise nonlinear). Often, you will need to identify extraneous solutions- so don't forget to double-check the answers you find to make sure they work. There's a lot going on with this question, so let's start by simplifying the first equation. $$x^a^2/x^b^2=x^16$$ $$x^(a^2-b^2)=x^16$$ Since we know $x=x$, we can infer the following equation: $$a^2-b^2=16$$ $$(a+b)(a−b)=16$$ We know $a+b=2$, so we can plug that in and solve for $a-b$: $$2(a-b)=16$$ $$a-b=16/2=8$$ The equations on the SAT tend to be more complicated than this one, though. Polynomials You need to be able to add, subtract, multiply, and even occasionally divide polynomials. With polynomial division comes rational equations. You've got to be able to clear variables out of the denominator in rational expressions. Clearly the issue here is simplifying that rather intimidating denominator. Let's try multiplying the whole thing by ${(x+2)(x+3)}/{(x+2)(x+3)}$. $$1/{1/(x+2)+1/(x+3)}{(x+2)(x+3)}/{(x+2)(x+3)}$$ $${(x+2)(x+3)}/[{(x+2)(x+3)}/(x+2)+{(x+2)(x+3)}/(x+3)]$$ $${(x+2)(x+3)}/{(x+3)+(x+2)}$$ $$(x^2+5x+6)/(2x+5)$$ You'll recognize that as answer (B). The "polynomial" heading also includes your friendly neighborhood quadratic functions and equations. You need to be able to devise your own quadratic equation from the context of a word problem. Exponential Functions, Equations, Expressions, and Radicals You need an understanding of exponential growth and decay. You also need a solid comprehension of how roots and powers work. This question looks vaguely impossible, but the trick is just realizing that $8=2^3$. Once we know that we can rewrite the expression: $(2^3^x)/2^y=2^(3x-y)$ Per the question, we know that $3x-y=12$, so we can plug that value into the expression above to get $2^12$ or (A). Oh, the fun we can have with exponents! Algebraic and Graphical Representations of Functions Here are some terms you should understand, both as they apply to functions and as they apply to graphs. What do they mean in each case? x-intercepts y-intercepts domain range maximum minimum increasing decreasing end behavior asymptotes symmetry You'll also need to understand transformations. You should understand what happens, algebraically and graphically, when $f(x)$ changes to $f(x)+a$ or $f(x+a)$. What's the difference? Adding a outside of the parentheses moves the function up or down, graphically, and increases or decreases the overall values being spit out, algebraically. Adding a inside of the parentheses moves the function side to side, graphically, and shift the output the corresponds to the formal input, algebraically. Analyzing More Complex Equations in Context Sometimes you need to combine your "mathematical" knowledge with a plain old sense of logic. Don't be afraid to plug numbers in and watch what's going on in that alphabet soup when you try some actual values. Take everything step by step. Tips for Passport to Advanced Math The Passport to Advanced Math questions can be tricky, but the following tips can help you approach them with confidence! #1: Use multiple choice answers to your advantage. Always keep an eye out for what may be plugged in, tried out, or worked backwards from. One of the answers listed has to be the right one, so toy around with those four options until it all falls into place. Be sure to read our articles on plugging in answers and plugging in other useful numbers. Also, don't forget the process of elimination! If two answers are definitely bad and two might be okay, at least you're now guessing with a 50-50 chance of success- and that's not too bad! #2: Remember that squaring an expression isn't something you can really undo. There are so many problems where it's tempting- and often best- to square an expression, but remember there are caveats if you do. You may end up with extraneous solutions or some other such nonsense. Squaring also wipes out any negatives that are present. Taking a square root messes with the signs in a different way: you're going to have a positive case and a negative case, and that may not be appropriate. #3: Make sure you understand how the laws of exponents and how powers and radicals all relate. These laws can be pesky to memorize, but they're crucial to know. Exponents show up a lot on the test, and not knowing how to manipulate them is just a way of robbing yourself of all of those points. There he is! The dreaded points-robber! Closing Words There are a few fundamental skills that are essential to doing well on Passport to Advanced Math questions on the SAT. A lot of it comes down to knowing the different forms that an expression or equation can take- and understanding what they al mean. Basically, get comfortable with equivalences, and with mathematical operations used on terms more complex than plain old constants, because you'll be seeing plenty of them. Another thing that this type of question tests is your ability to recognize information- and I mean this in the pure sense of noticing that a certain term can be factored out, that it would be convenient to rewrite an equation with a different system of organizations, or that if I shoved most of the terms in an equation to the opposite side of the equals sign than I would be left with the difference of squares on one side. This awareness is, unfortunately, the hardest part to teach- and one of the most important to practice. Remember to stay calm- and breathe. Use your time wisely: if a problem looks totally overwhelming, skip it. Save it for the end, and however much time (if any) you have left over. If you sense that you're truly stuck, guessing is not the end of the world- it's better than leaving a question blank. There's no guessing penalty, so you won't lose points for a wrong answer. Before you throw in the towel, though, and time permitting, take a few minutes to fiddle around with the problem, trying out some different strategies. Try anything that comes to you! Work backwards from the answer choices, trying them out and plugging things in. What's Next? Now, if I gave the impression that any of these skills are impossible to learn, I apologize. Certain skills are harder to pick up, but we've got resources that should give you a leg up. We've got articles that cover just about anything you could ever want to know about SAT Math. Now, anxiety results from anticipating the unknown, so make the worst of the possible worst on SAT Math a little less mysterious by trying out some extra tough problems. And, just in case, learn how to do your very best guessing on SAT Math. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Math strategy guide, you'll love our program. Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Law for Managers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Law for Managers - Essay Example The concept of â€Å"foreseenability† in many cases is correlated with the issue of a reasonable practicability. Anyway, the employer should provide employees with a certain degree of safety, but risk assessment is placed totally on employees only. It is relevant to consider any type of possible risks. Every employer can make a decision and he can also ignore safety issues. In any case, every employer should be assured that he provided his employees with an efficient level of safety and guaranteed their risks avoidance. On the example of the available cases, the implications of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 are considered further on. Moreover, current literature sources are provided for further considerations about flexibility and challenge of the Act. Legal Authorities (Cases) Thus, for example, when a child was injured and took a used hypodermic syringe, the doctor was accused of failing to ensure health and safety issues of the person. A child took a syringe from a shelf, which was further replaced by another higher shelf. In the result of this accident: â€Å"The doctor was fined ?5,000 under Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 for failing to ensure the health and safety of a person not in her employment and was also ordered to pay the full prosecution costs of ?981.68† (Everley,1999). ... An employee could not transport 935 kilograms of LPG and it was very soon ignited by a nearby gas leakage. Consequently, the Managing Director of the company did not follow HSE guidance and failed to follow the minimum distance to be maintained between vehicles and fuel tanks containing LPG (HSE, 2010). This is a resonance case and in many similar cases the responsibility is applied for the employers. Very often a personal responsibility of employees is omitted. Another case, when the Managing Director and managers of the company were prosecuted for offences, which related to an outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease. This bacterium was transferred from one employee to another and it was very difficult for the managers of the company to stop the expansion of this disease. The towers were not properly cleaned and in the result of this neglectful attitude the expansion of the disease were motivated. This case illustrated that: â€Å"the HSE will not only prosecute companies but also Managing Directors if they are found to be negligent† (HSE, 2010). Moreover, it is appropriate to appeal for the personal liability issues in terms of this Act. Thus, personal liability for offences under s 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 was issued at almost the same date of the corporate manslaughter Bill received the Royal Assent. It is possible to correlate these two legal regulation Acts. Moreover, a special attention should be paid to ss 7 and 36 of the HSWA 1974. Section 7 is focused on the employees’ responsibility of their safety. In other words, every employee should be responsible for his own actions at work, because the HSWA 1974 is known as â€Å"the primary focus for all health and safety legislation in the UK† (Barnard 1998, p. 1).

Half Nude Woman with Coin Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Half Nude Woman with Coin - Research Paper Example The particular 17th century Dutch art under focus caught the attention of the eye relates to a variety of factors. The first reason behind the art attracting the eye relates to the fact that even for less keen observers, one must realize that something seems unrelenting about the art. Other than capturing the other common presentations with most of the paintings in that period, the work by Baker presents something different. The interesting thing about the painting is that it seeks to explore a moral issue within the society and a portrayal that morality existed even in the time of its painting. The painting sends a message of an existing connection between women nudity and money. That serves as the driving factor behind the need to share the piece of art since it holds a deeper meaning based on the prostitute’s image, holding a gold coin, yet her breasts are exposed as she gives a half smile to the viewer. The artwork proves of significant importance because it captures the t heme of prostitution and how it involves money. Description of the art work first focuses about the author of the art work and the respective name and origin of the author if such is given. Jacob Baker a painter in the 17th century and one of the artists regarded as the 17th century Dutch Golden Class is the author of the painting. Records attribute the painting to be from around 1636 with the painting measuring 64.5 centimeters by 56.7 centimeters. With oil and canvas serving as the common materials used in paintings across Europe.

ExxonMobil Case Essay Example for Free

ExxonMobil Case Essay 1. Provide a brief description of the industry. â€Å" ExxonMobil has evolved over the last 125 years from a regional marketer of kerosene in the U.S. to the world’s largest publicly traded international oil and gas company.† Providing energy helps stabilize economies and improve living standards worldwide. Today, ExxonMobil operates in most of the world’s countries and is best known by familiar brand names: Exxon, Esso and Mobil. ExxonMobil creates products that compel modern transportation, power cities, lubricate industries and provide petrochemical building blocks that contribute many consumer goods. ExxonMobil is an extremely large industry providing 9.2 million jobs, and 5.3% of the U.S. employment. The labor income is $533.5 billion, and 6.0% of U.S. labor income. ExxonMobil operates in 77 countries worldwide, and employs 82,100 employees (Exxon Mobil Corporations, 2003-2012). 2. Outline a recruiting and selection strategy for your selected MNE that could be used to effectively meet organizational requirements for operating in multiple countries. The HRM staffing selection by ExxonMobil appears to be geocentric. A strategy that is valuable for the success of the organization because it enables the development of a global perspective. In addition, this tactic has generated an internal pool of labor. The organization has many successful years of working with governments and partners to deliver on their pledge of performance. ExxonMobil focuses on integrating local knowledge and experience of its partners with global capabilities to deliver outstanding results and benefits. ExxonMobil has a proven record of job creation, outstanding training and career development for national staff, support for local industry and community investment. ExxonMobil brings the advantage of established business management and support systems and experienced support staff to all i ts partnerships. The company is organized along functional lines, with each global company specializing in a particular sector of the oil, gas, and chemical businesses. The organizational structure is designed to encourage the employment of people with diverse skills quickly and effectively worldwide. In the selection of an expatriate, IHRM should consider cross-cultural suitability, family requirements, technical ability, and language to be primary factors. ExxonMobil takes pride in being an equal employment opportunity. Multinationals must resolve any issues of equal employment in all its locations. The various laws must be considered, and therefore ExxonMobil has established â€Å"The Standards of Business Conduct†. â€Å"It is the policy of Exxon Mobil Corporation to provide equal employment opportunity in conformance with all applicable laws and regulations to individuals who are qualified to perform job requirements regardless of their race, color, sex, religion, national origin, citize nship status, age, genetic information, physical or mental disability, veteran or other legally protected status. The corporation administers its personnel policies, programs, and practices in nondiscriminatory manner in all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruitment, hiring, work assignment, promotion, transfer, termination, wage and salary administration, and selection for training. Managers and supervisors are responsible for implementing and administering this policy, for maintaining a work environment free from unlawful discrimination, and for promptly identifying and resolving any problem area regarding equal employment opportunity.† In addition the company incorporates other special policies that include: develop and support educational programs, and policies that facilitate employment of minorities and women. Arrangements that help meet the needs of the diverse work force and balance work and family obligations. The company encourages training and development efforts, practices, and programs that support diversity in the work force that represent minorities and women. A work force is promoted free of sexual, racial, and other harassment. Accommodations for the disabled and the management responsibility in all matters are emphasized at every level or the organization. It appears ExxonMobil has adopted a formal open typology. This process would promote the continued success of the organization with: clearly defined criteria and measures, training, open advertising for vacancies, and panel discussions (Exxon Mobil Corporations, 2003-2012). 3. Outline a training and development strategy for your selected MNE that could be used to effectively meet organizational requirements for operating in multiple countries. In order for an established organization like ExxonMobil to train and develop a qualified staff, HR management must play a critical role. Special universities should be development for Exx onMobil like McDonald’s and Motorola with in-house training facilities. This allows for the important training and development. ExxonMobil already focuses on cultural awareness and technical ability. As HRM this training would be intensified. International teams would be developed in an effort to encourage innovation and transfer knowledge. In addition, teams may breakdown functional and national boundaries, enhance communication, develop a global perspective, and develop shared values (Peter J. Dowling, 2010). 4.Outline a compensation strategy for your selected MNE that could be used to effectively meet organizational requirements for operating in multiple countries. IHRM should recognize the correlation of compensation and performance. IHRM must ensure that the compensation policy is consistent with the overall company’s policies. Compensation must also be competitive and provide excellent incentives. IHRM compensation strategy would include: above average salaries, competitive benefits, opportunity for financial advancement, opportunity for career advancement, provide assistance for any adjustment issues such as: housing, family, education, daycare, and repatriation. The Balance Sheet approach would compensate expatriates. This approach helps the employee maintain the living standards they are accustomed to, in addition, to providing the associate with a financial inducement. The balance sheet approach allows for personal goods (food, personal care, clothing, furniture, transportation, and health care), housing, income taxes, and reserves (which include savings, benefit payments, contributions to pensions, education expenses, investments, etc. Balance sheet approach offers several advantages that include: equity facilitates re-entry, and it is easy to communicate (Peter J. Dowling, 2010) .

Capitalist/Democratic person :: Free Essays

The ideal American would posses qualities shared by the democratic and capitalistic ideologies. In fact to be truly effective these two should be intertwined. Unfortunately, most do not posses these traits collectively, and oftentimes people do not have any at all. In this paper though, I shall step from reality and attempt to describe the ideal democratic/capitalistic person.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The most important quality, and usually the most neglected, is having the ability to think. One must have analytical skills when dealing with problematic situations. Furthermore, having the ability to make inferences and deductions aids the individual in a valuable thinking process. With this intact the person will have the ability to make decisions when needed. In government decision-making is evident in all aspects. Such elected officials are included within my generalization that thinking is one of the most neglected characteristics in becoming an ideal democratic/capitalistic person.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Thinking requires an essential factor, motivation. Lack of motivation is the primary culprit for many of peoples’ failures. An inner-drive is absolutely necessary for any type of person, but especially the one I am describing. This allows the individual to seek out opportunities, follow-up on their endeavors, and to be quite valuable in many situations. Unfortunately, this is something that cannot be taught, rather it’s something that can only be encouraged. Herein lies the difficulty of gaining this attribute. In my opinion, this shouldn’t be a problem for their should be ample motivation available. The sheer satisfaction of success should be enough, but it is not. It is very sad that this is the truth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Language and communication coincide with thinking abilities. Being a good orator allows an individual to organize their well-thought ideas, and be able to present this fully. An ideal democratic/capitalist person should prioritize speaking and oration skills to accomplish the previous statement. With this they will be able to obtain persuasion powers, as well as the ability to debate.

Bias of Roots and Culture Essay

Discussing roots and culture is often a very subjective topic. Quite often, the same story is interpreted entirely differently, depending on who is telling the story. This principle is also true in fictional works. A narrator will bring his/her own perspective and biases into the events that he or she is telling about. In Raymond Carver’s Cathedral, the first-person narrator has several biases that are used to reveal character. This first-person narrator has both positive and negative biases, and insights that clearly represent his character. The narrator in Cathedral has biases that serve to create his character well. Some of these are positive, and some are negative. The first clear bias that is made clear is a positive one. In the introduction of the story, as the narrator is giving background information on his wife, he speaks of her first husband. The manner in which he speaks of her impresses upon the reader of how little this first marriage matters to him, and thus shows that he acknowledges his wife has a past, and that he loves her just the same. Carver shows the narrators’ indifference to this first husband when â€Å"why should he have a name? † (Responding to Literature, 439) is asked. Another one of the biases the narrator has does not serve to create such a positive picture of him. This negative bias is the narrators’ bias against the blind in the beginning of the story. He speaks of them as very somber, as his idea of blind people was that all the â€Å"blind moved slowly and never laughed. † (438) These insights into the mind of the first-person narrator help to establish him as a character. The use of first-person narration in Raymond Carvers Cathedral serves to establish the narrator as a legitimate character well. The reader is given direct insight into the thoughts of the narrator, which would not be possible from other perspectives. For example, the reader is given a direct path into the narrators’ thoughts of the blind mans’ wife, Beulah. Without the words actually being spoken, the reader knows that the narrator feels sorry for her, without having ever met the blind man. He believes that Beulah must have had a â€Å"pitiful life† since she could â€Å"never see herself as he was seen in the eyes of her loved one†(440). Wordless insights into thoughts, such as this, are the true point of having a first-person narrator; because not only is the reader given a picture of the narrators’ thoughts, it serves to create a more dynamic, lifelike character, and not merely a lifeless voice that is tediously moving through words. First-person narration is always all about perspective, and consequently, bias. All first-person narration in fiction is chosen specifically for the purpose of having that bias, and those individual ideas that make for an interesting telling of a story. Raymond Carver’s Cathedral uses the first person narration very well, for that exact purpose. This story’s biases and partialities are used to separate the reader, and only see the narrators’ version of what happened. Had the story been told from the perspective of the blind man, it would have been immensely different. Biases come from ones’ culture and environment. Ideally, stories and retellings of events would be completely honest; but prejudices and tensions gradually become the general theme of the story, to the point that roots, culture, and acceptance thereof become irrelevant, and nothing remains but intolerance.

No Money, No Honey

Chapter 1 Marketing: Creating and Capturing Customer Value 1) All of the following are accurate descriptions of modern marketing, EXCEPT which one? A) Marketing is the creation of value for customers. B) Marketing is managing profitable customer relationships. C) Selling and advertising are synonymous with marketing. D) Marketing involves satisfying customers' needs. E) Marketing is used by for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Answer: C Diff: 2Page Ref: 2 and 4 2) According to the opening scenario, the Tide marketing team is MOST concerned about which of the following? A) maintaining its brand share B) fostering customers' emotional connections with their product C) advertising their product's benefits D) comparing the effectiveness of their product to other brands E) incorporating consumer-generated marketing in the marketing mix Answer: B Diff: 2Page Ref: 2 3) According to management guru Peter Drucker, â€Å"The aim of marketing is to ________. † A) create customer value B) identify customer demands C) make selling unnecessary D) set realistic customer expectations E) sell products Answer: C Diff: 2Page Ref: 5 ) ________ is defined as a social and managerial process by which individuals and organizations obtain what they need and want through value creation and exchange. A) Selling B) Advertising C) Bartering D) Marketing E) Negotiating Answer: D Diff: 2Page Ref: 5 5) Which steps of the five-step marketing process are about understanding customers, creating customer value, and building strong customer relationships? A) the first two only B) the first three only C) the first four only D) the last three only E) the last four only Answer: C Diff: 2Page Ref: 5 ) According to the simple five-step model of the marketing process, a company needs to ________ before designing a customer-driven marketing strategy. A) determine how to deliver superior value B) build profitable relationships with customers C) use customer relationship management to create full partnerships with key customers D) understand the marketplace and customer needs and wants E) construct key components of a marketing program Answer: D Diff: 2Page Ref: 5 7) ________ are human needs as shaped by individual personality and culture. A) Needs B) Wants C) Demands D) Values E) Exchanges Answer: B Diff: 2Page Ref: 6 8) When backed by buying power, wants become ________. A) social needs B) demands C) physical needs D) self-esteem needs E) exchanges Answer: B Diff: 1Page Ref: 6 9) What do companies call a set of benefits that they promise to consumers to satisfy their needs? A) market offering B) value proposition C) demand satisfaction D) need proposition E) evoked set Answer: A Diff: 1Page Ref: 6 10) Which of the following refers to sellers being preoccupied with their own products and losing sight of underlying consumer needs? A) selling myopia B) marketing management C) value proposition D) marketing myopia E) the product concept Answer: D Diff: 1Page Ref: 6 11) When marketers set low expectations for a market offering, the biggest risk they run is ________. A) disappointing loyal customers B) decreasing customer satisfaction C) failing to attract enough customers D) failing to understand their customers' needs E) incorrectly identifying a target market Answer: C Diff: 1Page Ref: 7 12) ________ is the act of obtaining a desired object from someone by offering something in return. A) A value proposition B) Exchange C) Bribery D) Value creation E) Donation Answer: B Diff: 1Page Ref: 7 3) A(n) ________ is the set of actual and potential buyers of a product. A) market B) audience C) group D) segment E) exchange Answer: A Diff: 1Page Ref: 7 14) Consumer research, product development, communication, distribution, pricing, and service are all core ________ activities. A) exchange B) marketing C) management D) production E) customer relationship management Answer: B Diff: 1Page Ref: 7 Objective: 1-2 15) In the case of excess demand, ________ may be required to reduce the number of customers or to shift demand temporarily or permanently. A) marketing B) demarketing C) value marketing D) surplusing E) negotiating Answer: B Diff: 1Page Ref: 9 16) The art and science of choosing target markets and building profitable relationships with them is called ________. A) marketing management B) positioning C) segmentation D) selling E) differentiation Answer: A Diff: 1Page Ref: 8 17) Selecting which segments of a population of customers to serve is called ________. A) market segmentation B) positioning C) customization D) target marketing E) managing the marketing effort Answer: D Diff: 1Page Ref: 8 18) Which of the following is the set of benefits a company promises to deliver the customer to satisfy their needs? A) a money-back guarantee B) low pricing C) good customer service D) a value proposition E) an attribute Answer: D Diff: 1Page Ref: 9 19) Which of the following marketing management orientations focuses primarily on improving efficiencies along the supply chain? A) production concept B) product concept C) selling concept D) marketing concept E) social marketing concept Answer: A Diff: 2Page Ref: 9 20) The ________ concept is aligned with the philosophy of continuous product improvement and the belief that customers will choose products that offer the most in quality, performance, and innovative features. A) product B) production C) customer D) marketing E) promotion Answer: A Diff: 1Page Ref: 10 21) The product concept says that a company should do which of the following? A) improve marketing of its best products B) market only those products with high customer appeal C) focus on the target market and make products that meet those customers' demands D) focus on making continuous product improvements E) make promoting products the top priority Answer: D Diff: 2Page Ref: 10 22) â€Å"Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door† reflects the ________ concept. A) production B) marketing C) selling D) product E) target marketing Answer: D Diff: 2Page Ref: 10 23) Which concept calls for aggressive selling and focuses on generating transactions to obtain profitable sales? A) marketing B) production C) product D) selling E) societal marketing Answer: D Diff: 1Page Ref: 10 24) Which concept holds that achieving organizational goals depends on knowing the needs and wants of target markets and delivering the desired satisfactions better than competitors do? A) product B) production C) selling D) marketing E) equity Answer: D Diff: 1Page Ref: 10 25) A firm that uses the selling concept takes a(n) ________ approach. A) outside-in B) myopic C) inside-out D) societal E) customer service Answer: C Diff: 2Page Ref: 10 26) Though often criticized, the selling concept is particularly appropriate and effective with which of the following types of products? A) convenience B) shopping C) specialty D) unsought E) demarketed Answer: D Diff: 2Page Ref: 10 27) Customer-driven marketing usually works well when ________ and when customers ________. A) a clear need exists; are difficult to identify B) customers know what they want; are loyal to the brand C) a firm can deliver the goods desired; are thoroughly researched D) a clear need exists; know what they want E) a need exists; don't know what they want Answer: D Diff: 2Page Ref: 11 28) Marie Ortiz enjoys her work at Futuristic Designs, Inc. Her organization understands and anticipates customer needs even better than customers themselves do and creates products and services to meet current and future wants and demands. Marie's firm practices ________ marketing. A) customer-driven B) customer-driving C) relationship D) donor E) social Answer: B Diff: 2Page Ref: 11 29) When customers don't know what they want or don't even know what's possible, the most effective strategy is ________ marketing. A) customer-driven B) customer-driving C) societal D) production E) product Answer: B Diff: 2Page Ref: 11 30) The societal marketing concept seeks to establish a balance between consumer short-run wants and consumer ________. A) short-run costs and profits B) short-run ethics C) long-run welfare D) immediate health E) value propositions Answer: C Diff: 2Page Ref: 11 31) Which concept holds that firms must strive to deliver value to customers in a way that maintains or improves the consumer's and society's well-being? A) marketing B) selling C) product D) societal marketing E) equity Answer: D Diff: 1Page Ref: 11 2) The three areas of consideration that should be balanced in the societal marketing concept are consumer wants, society's interests, and ________. A) human welfare B) want satisfaction C) company profits D) short-run wants E) long-term needs Answer: C Diff: 2Page Ref: 11 33) The set of marketing tools a firm uses to implement its marketing strategy is called the ________. A) promotion mix B) product mix C) marketing mix D) TQM E) marketing effort Answer: C Diff: 2Page Ref: 12 34) Of the following, which is the most important concept of modern marketing? A) customer relationship management B) societal marketing C) consumer-generated marketing D) properly trained salespeople E) low prices Answer: A Diff: 2Page Ref: 13 35) Building, keeping, and growing profitable relationships by delivering customer value and satisfaction is called ________. A) customer lifetime value B) customer perceived value C) customer relationship management D) database marketing E) societal marketing Answer: C Diff: 1Page Ref: 13 36) Customer-perceived value is determined by a customer's ________ of the benefits and costs of a market offering relative to those of competing offers. A) personal assessment B) rational expectations C) accurate assessment D) objective evaluation E) emotional understanding Answer: A Diff: 2Page Ref: 13 37) ________ is defined as the customer's evaluation of the differences between all the benefits and all the costs of a marketing offer relative to those of competing offers. A) Customer equity B) Customer satisfaction C) Customer evangelism D) Customer-perceived value E) Marketing myopia Answer: D Diff: 1Page Ref: 13 38) Which of the following is the term for customers who make repeat purchases and tell others about their positive experiences with a product or service? A) satisfied customers B) customer evangelists C) butterflies D) full partners E) social customers Answer: B Diff: 2Page Ref: 13 39) A room upgrade offered by a hotel to a guest who often stays in the hotel is an example of a ________. A) frequency marketing program B) basic customer relationship C) club marketing program D) partner relationship management technique E) structural benefit Answer: A Diff: 2Page Ref: 16 40) In which of the following situations has a company most actively turned its consumers into marketing partners? A) American Airlines awards frequent flyer points to returning customers. B) Paige Premium Denim jeans provide a superior quality and a perfect fit. C) iRobot invites enthusiastic Roomba owners to develop and share their own programs and uses for the company's robotic vacuum. D) Best Buy distinguishes between its best customers, called angels, and its less profitable customers, called demons, stocking merchandise to appeal to separate groups of its angels. E) Toyota develops a marketing presence on social networks and other online communities. Answer: C Diff: 2Page Ref: 14 41) Using customer profitability analysis to weed out unprofitable customers and target winning ones for pampering is referred to as ________. A) customer relationship management B) positioning C) database marketing D) selective relationship management E) marketing myopia Answer: D Diff: 2Page Ref: 17 42) Pete Sanchez, a recent graduate of business school, has a different approach than his marketing manager, who believes in keeping customers at arm's length and using mass media advertising. Pete knows that today few successful firms still practice true ________ and are instead turning to selective relationship management. A) club marketing B) frequency marketing C) mass marketing D) customer satisfaction E) market segmentation Answer: C Diff: 2Page Ref: 16 3) The Niketown running club that organizes twice weekly evening runs and follow-up meetings in the Nike Store is an example of which of the following? A) a frequency marketing program B) a basic customer relationship C) a club marketing program D) a partner relationship E) a structural benefit provided for top customers Answer: C Diff: 2Page Ref: 18 44) Which of the following has NOT contributed to the deeper, more interactive nature of today's customer relationships? A) e-mail B) Web sites C) online social networks D) traditional advertising E) video sharing Answer: D Diff: 2Page Ref: 18 AACSB: Use of IT 45) Greater consumer control means that companies must rely more on marketing by ________ than by ________. A) interruption; involvement B) interaction; intrusion C) socialization; information D) producing; selling E) inspiration; competition Answer: B Diff: 2Page Ref: 18 46) To create customer value and build strong customer relationships, marketers know they cannot go it alone; therefore, they practice ________. A) partner relationship management B) database marketing C) attractive Web site design D) customer equity E) consumer-generated marketing Answer: A Diff: 1Page Ref: 19 7) In today's world, marketing should be done by ________ employees in an organization. A) only marketing B) only marketing, sales, and customer-support C) only sales and technology D) only management and marketing E) all Answer: E Diff: 1Page Ref: 19 48) Through ________, many companies today are strengthening their connections to all partners, from providers of raw materials to components to final products that are delivered to final buyers. A) supply chain management B) direct marketing C) partnership relationship marketing D) customized marketing E) equity marketing Answer: A Diff: 2Page Ref: 21 9) Suzie Chan strengthens her company's connections by treating suppliers of raw materials, vendors, and distributors as partners in delivering customer value. What type of management is she practicing? A) outside partnering B) inside partnering C) marketing D) supply chain E) customer development Answer: D Diff: 2Page Ref: 21 50) The final step in the marketing process is ________. A) capturing value from customers B) creating customer loyalty C) creating customer lifetime value D) understanding the marketplace E) designing a customer-driven marketing strategy Answer: A Diff: 1Page Ref: 21 1) Stew Leonard, the owner of a highly successful regional supermarket chain, reacts adversely to losing a single customer sale. He feels that this amounts to losing the entire stream of future purchases that a customer is likely to make if he or she remains in the area. Stew Leonard's concern is an illustration of which of the following? A) share of customer B) market share C) profitability D) customer lifetime value E) market share maintenance Answer: D Diff: 2Page Ref: 22 AACSB: Reflective Thinking 52) Which of the following is an example of consumer-generated marketing? A) Toyota's presence in online communities B) Nike's Nike Plus running Web site C) MasterCard's use of â€Å"Priceless† commercials shot by customers D) Neiman Marcus's InCircle Rewards program for its best customers E) The Lexus Covenant aimed at creating customer delight Answer: C Diff: 2Page Ref: 20 53) When an airline goes after a â€Å"share of travel† from its customers, it is attempting to increase ________. A) customer lifetime value B) share of customer C) total customer spending D) customer satisfaction E) customer ownership Answer: B Diff: 2Page Ref: 22 54) ________ is one of the best ways to increase share of customer. A) Targeting new customers B) Using bait and switch C) Cross-selling D) Relationship selling E) Partnership marketing Answer: C Diff: 2Page Ref: 22 55) Amazon. com leverages relationships with its 35 million customers by offering them music, videos, gifts, toys, consumer electronics, and office products, among other items. Based on previous purchase history, the company recommends related CDs, books, videos, or other products that might interest a customer. This most directly helps Amazon. com capture a greater ________. A) customer lifetime value B) share of customer C) profit margin D) share of market E) customer equity Answer: B Diff: 2Page Ref: 23 56) Which of the following is the total combined customer lifetime values of all a company's current and potential customers? A) share of customer B) customer lifetime value C) customer equity D) profitability E) share of market Answer: C Diff: 2Page Ref: 23 57) The ultimate aim of customer relationship management is to produce ________. A) customer equity B) market share C) sales volume D) a reliable database E) higher profit margins Answer: A Diff: 3Page Ref: 23 58) A potentially highly profitable, short-term customer is a ________. A) true friend B) butterfly C) stranger D) barnacle E) true believer Answer: B Diff: 2Page Ref: 24 59) Customers can be classified into four relationship groups, according to their profitability and projected loyalty. Which type of customers have the highest profit potential and strong loyalty? A) barnacles B) strangers C) butterflies D) true friends E) big fish Answer: D Diff: 2Page Ref: 24 60) Which of the following statements about the Internet is most accurate? A) Companies are cautiously using the Internet to build closer relationships with customers and marketing partners alike. B) After the dot-com meltdown of 2000, fewer consumers are buying products and/or services online. C) The Internet makes it easy for consumers to view, interact with, and create marketing content. D) Consumer e-commerce looks promising, but business-to-business e-commerce is declining. E) Web 2. 0 involves a less balanced approach to online marketing than the original dot-com boom did. Answer: C Diff: 2Page Ref: 26 61) Today almost every company, small and large, is affected in some way by which of the following? A) the societal marketing concept B) not-for-profit marketing C) global competition D) customer-generated marketing E) caring capitalism Answer: C Diff: 2Page Ref: 26 62) Governmental agencies are becoming more involved in marketing as the years pass. When a local government advertises keeping the area's streams and water supply cleaner, it is involved in ________. A) green marketing B) social marketing campaigns C) demarketing D) environmental marketing E) partnership marketing Answer: B Diff: 2Page Ref: 29 63) Briefly compare and contrast the concepts of needs, wants, and demands, giving an example of each. Discuss how these concepts relate to marketing practices. Answer: Human needs are states of felt deprivation. Needs are part of the human make-up; they are not created by external forces. Humans have a basic physical need for food, clothing, warmth, and safety; a basic social need for belonging and affection; and a basic individual need for knowledge and self-expression. Unlike needs, wants are not innate; instead, wants are needs shaped by culture, society, and individual personality. For example, an American needs food but wants a Big Mac and a soft drink. An American with ten dollars needs food, wants a Big Mac and soft drink, and demands lunch at McDonalds. Wants become demands when they are backed by consumers' buying power. Marketers conduct extensive research to understand customers' wants and demands. They then attempt to fulfill customers' wants and demands through their market offerings. Diff: 2Page Ref: 6 64) In a short essay, explain how and why marketers go beyond selling a product or service to create brand experiences. Answer: Sellers are most effective when they focus more on the benefits and experiences produced by their products and services than on the specific products and services themselves. Smart marketers focus on creating a brand experience, incorporating several products and services for their customers. By doing so, marketers hope to increase customer satisfaction, creating a body of customers who will repeatedly purchase their market offerings and recommend those offerings to friends. Diff: 2Page Ref: 7 65) Compare the selling and marketing concepts, listing the key components of each philosophy. Answer: The selling concept reflects an inside-out philosophy, while the marketing concept takes an outside-in perspective. The selling concept is typically practiced when an organization is marketing products or services that buyers do not normally think of purchasing, such as insurance or blood donation. Aggressive selling focuses on creating sales transactions rather than on building long-term relationships with customers, with the aim of selling what the company makes rather than making what the customer wants. The marketing concept, on the other hand, is based upon identifying the needs and wants of target markets and then satisfying those needs and wants better than competitors do. In contrast to the selling concept, marketing focuses on the customer, not the product, as the path to profits. Diff: 2Page Ref: 10 66) Briefly explain the societal marketing concept. Give an example of an organization that has effectively used the societal marketing concept. Answer: According to this concept, firms will succeed if they take underlying consumer needs and society's well being into account over the long term. A pure marketing concept can damage consumers' long-run welfare by focusing exclusively on satisfying consumers' short-run wants. Over a long period of time, this too-narrow focus can be damaging to the company. In setting their marketing strategies, marketers today need to balance company profits, consumer wants, and society's interests. Johnson & Johnson is an example of a company that has successfully implemented the societal marketing concept. The organization stresses honesty, integrity, and putting people before profits, an ethic that helped Johnson & Johnson quickly address and recover from the poisonous tampering of Tylenol capsules in 1982. Diff: 2Page Ref: 11 67) Explain why the aim of customer relationship management is to create not just customer satisfaction, but also customer delight. Answer: Customer satisfaction cannot be taken for granted. Because brand loyalty is dependent upon strong customer satisfaction, companies strive to retain, satisfy, and even delight current customers. Firms create customer delight by promising only what they can deliver and then delivering more than what they promised. They also create emotional relationships with key customers. Delighted customers make repeated purchases and become customers for life. More importantly, they also essentially become an unpaid sales force for the firm as â€Å"customer evangelists† who tell other potential customers about their positive experiences with the product. Diff: 1Page Ref: 13 68) In a short essay, discuss the challenges and advantages that new communication technologies have created for marketers. Answer: Through the Internet and related technologies, people can now interact in direct and surprisingly personal ways with large groups of others, from neighbors within a local community to people across the world. With communication technologies such as e-mail, blogs, Web sites, online communities, and online social networks, today's marketers incorporate interactive approaches that help build targeted, two-way customer relationships. Marketers can create deeper consumer involvement and a sense of community surrounding a brand, making a brand a meaningful part of consumers' conversations and lives. However, while new communication tools create relationship-building opportunities for marketers, they also create challenges. They give consumers a greater voice, and therefore greater power and control in the marketplace. Today's consumers have more information about brands than ever before, and they have a wealth of platforms for airing and sharing their brand views with other consumers. This benefits companies when views of its products are positive, but can be damaging when customers share stories of negative experiences with a company's products. Diff: 2Page Ref: 18 69) Define customer equity and explain how a company can increase it. Answer: Customer equity is the sum of the lifetime values of all a company's current and potential customers. Customer equity is dependent upon customer loyalty from a firm's profitable customers. Because customer equity is a reflection of a company's future, companies must manage it carefully, viewing customers as assets that need to be maximized. To increase customer equity, companies should work to delight their customers and establish full relationships with their most profitable customers. Diff: 1Page Ref: 23 70) Explain how the Internet has transformed the way in which we do business today. Answer: The Internet links individuals and businesses of all types to each other. The Internet allows firms access to exciting new marketspaces. The Internet has spawned an entirely new breed of â€Å"click only† companies–the â€Å"dot-coms. † The post-Internet frenzy of the late 1990s has introduced companies that are both savvy and face promising futures. These companies use a set of new Web technologies to reach customers, including blogs (web logs), vlogs (video-based logs), and social networking sites. â€Å"Brick-and-mortar† companies of the past are now â€Å"click-and-mortar† companies, with online presences aimed at attracting new customers and strengthening bonds with current customers. Approximately 65% of American Internet users now shop online, making a Web presence a necessity for any organization. Diff: 1Page Ref: 26 71) Greg Williams now has the buying power to purchase the computer system he has wanted for the last six months. Greg's want now has become a(n) ________. A) need B) necessity C) demand D) exchange E) transaction Answer: C Diff: 1Page Ref: 6 72) To avoid traffic gridlock in large metro areas, a community might use ________ to discourage travelers from driving during peak commuting hours. A) target marketing B) market segmentation C) demarketing D) marketing E) the production concept Answer: C Diff: 1Page Ref: 9 73) Cathy's Clothes is a small retail chain successfully selling women's clothing and accessories with a profitable focus on buyers who have relatively modest means. This is an example of ________. A) convenience B) social marketing C) market segmentation D) target marketing E) value packing Answer: D Diff: 2Page Ref: 8 74) Jolene's firm markets preplanning services for a mortician. She finds that most of her target market wants to avoid discussing their future funeral needs, and she must somehow first get their attention. Jolene's firm is most likely practicing the ________. A) production concept B) marketing concept C) selling concept D) relationship concept E) societal marketing concept Answer: C Diff: 2Page Ref: 10 75) Henry Ford's philosophy was to perfect the Model-T so that its cost could be reduced further for increased consumer affordability. This reflects the ________ concept. A) product B) production C) selling D) marketing E) societal marketing Answer: B Diff: 2Page Ref: 9 76) Railroads were once operated based on the thinking that users wanted trains rather than transportation, overlooking the challenge of other modes of transportation. This reflects the ________ concept. A) product B) production C) selling D) marketing E) societal marketing Answer: A Diff: 3Page Ref: 10 77) Some fast-food restaurants offer tasty and convenient food at affordable prices, but in doing so they contribute to a national obesity epidemic and environmental problems. These fast-food restaurants overlook the ________ philosophy. A) marketing concept B) product concept C) production concept D) societal marketing concept E) selling concept Answer: D Diff: 1Page Ref: 11 78) Members of the sales team at Dekko International visit only prospective customers who purchase a minimum of $50,000 of insulated wire per year. Dekko is using ________. A) selective relationship management B) a frequency marketing program C) a club marketing program D) demarketing E) a value proposition Answer: A Diff: 2Page Ref: 17 9) You have just taken a new position in an organization and you're learning about the job functions of your new colleagues. You observe that your marketing manager is heavily involved in the process of building and maintaining profitable customer relationships. Your marketing manager frequently speaks about the need to deliver superior customer value and satisfaction. Your manager is concerned with which one of the following? A) database management B) Web site hits C) the societal marketing concept D) partner relationship management E) customer relationship management Answer: E Diff: 1Page Ref: 13 0) Tommy Gray attempts to deliver customer satisfaction every day in his Audio Expressions installation business. He is a smart operator who knows that the key to this goal is to match ________ with ________. A) company performance; competition B) company performance; competitive prices C) relationship building; performance tools D) company performance; unique products E) customer expectations; company performance Answer: E Diff: 2Page Ref: 13 81) Shania works hard to foster an emotional relationship between her Internet customers and the beauty products and services that she and her staff sell. By promoting a company culture that values exceptional value and service, Shania aims to create ________ by going beyond the expected. A) customer delight B) customer satisfaction C) customer value D) customer equity E) customer involvement Answer: A Diff: 1Page Ref: 13 82) You are an assistant marketing director for a firm in a market with many low-margin customers. What type of relationship would it be most profitable for you to develop with these customers? A) full partnerships B) basic relationships C) basic partnerships D) club programs E) selective relationships Answer: B Diff: 2Page Ref: 16 3) Elisandra, a marketing manager at a regional chain restaurant, has decided to sponsor a contest calling for customers to create commercials for the restaurant. Winning entries will be posted on the organization's home page. Elisandra's plan is an example of ________. A) consumer-generated marketing B) partner relationship management C) customer lifetime value D) community development aro und a brand E) selective relationship management Answer: A Diff: 2Page Ref: 19 84) Afia, a team leader in charge of customer relationship management, is planning strategies for improving the profitability of her firm's least rofitable but loyal customers. She is also examining methods for â€Å"firing† customers in this group who cannot be made profitable. To which of the following customer relationship groups do these customers belong? A) butterflies B) true friends C) strangers D) barnacles E) short-term customers Answer: D Diff: 2Page Ref: 24 85) A church targeting different demographic groups to increase attendance is an example of ________. A) for-profit marketing B) not-for-profit marketing C) societal marketing D) customer evangelism E) caring capitalism Answer: B Diff: 2Page Ref: 28 6) Ben & Jerry's challenges all stakeholders, including employees, top management, and even ice cream scoopers in their stores, to consider individual and community welfare in their day-to -day decisions. Actions such as this by companies seizing the opportunity to do well by doing good reflects ________. A) environmentalism B) social responsibility C) profit marketing D) partnership management E) myopia Answer: B Diff: 1Page Ref: 27 Refer to the scenario below to answer the following questions. Carol Veldt, owner of Seagull Terrace, watched her investment grow from a small, seaside motel to a thriving year-round resort in just a few years. Atop a bluff overlooking the Maine coast, Seagull Terrace had attracted thousands of visits during the summer months, but then faced a tremendous downturn in business during the winter months. â€Å"But, given the industry in the nearby towns, very little year-round competition, and our close proximity to Portland,† Carol added, â€Å"I couldn't understand why seasonality had to hit Seagull Terrace so hard! † So Carol spent her first winter devising a new marketing plan. She put together a promotional package designed to attract business travelers year-round. Carol's plan, then, involved a seasonal promotional gimmick? o be implemented from early winter to late spring–that would attract the same numbers as the large summer crowd. Her idea worked! During her second winter, Carol greeted numerous business travelers–both satisfied repeat guests as well as new guests who had been snagged by her promotional appeals. â€Å"We still have a long way to go,† Carol admitted. â€Å"Our delicatessen offers delicious entrees, but we'd like to expand that. We provide health club privileges off-site, but we'd like to eventually provide our own. These are goals I hope to achieve in a few years. Our first project, however, included a renovation of our guest rooms and I'm quite proud of the results. † Carol then added, â€Å"Actually there are so many possibilities! With an indoor pool area, I will eventually offer weekend get-aways throughout winter. † 87) Which of the following groups is specifically part of Seagull Terrace's target market? A) seasonal business travelers B) young families C) retirees D) summer campers E) athletes Answer: A Diff: 1Page Ref: 8 88) Carol Veldt's use of â€Å"promotional gimmicks† is an example of the ________ concept. A) selling B) marketing C) product D) production E) societal marketing Answer: A Diff: 2Page Ref: 10 89) Renovations of the guest rooms at the Seagull Terrace and plans to add an indoor pool area are examples of the ________ concept. A) selling B) marketing C) product D) production E) societal marketing Answer: C Diff: 2Page Ref: 10 90) Carol Veldt has decided to ask selected guests to participate in an extensive survey about their experience at Seagull Terrace and about their most desired amenities and vacation experiences. By implementing the suggestions she receives from guests, Carol would be following the ________ concept. A) production B) product C) selling D) marketing E) societal Answer: D Diff: 2Page Ref: 10 91) What should sellers consider if they wish to avoid marketing myopia? Answer: Sellers should consider the particular benefits and experiences desired by their customers, and not just pay attention to the specific products they offer. Diff: 1Page Ref: 6 92) You are a manufacturer of tents, sleeping bags, and outdoor cooking equipment. How might you go about creating brand experiences for your customers? Answer: Such manufacturers should focus on the benefits enjoyed through the use of their products-access to the great outdoors, shared family experiences, and relived memories of the consumer's youth. Diff: 1Page Ref: 7 93) Think about suppliers and other marketing partners. A modern marketing system relies on profitable relationships all along the way. How might Wal-Mart rely on their marketing partners in order to offer low prices? Answer: Wal-Mart must rely on suppliers that will provide merchandise at low costs, a low-cost and efficient distribution system, an accurate and efficient customer relationship database system, and a strong partnership with each of the members of its supply chain. Diff: 1Page Ref: 8 4) The marketing team at Bead Beautiful, a line of jewelry targeted at pre-teenage girls, is meeting to formulate the products' value proposition. What should team members consider as they define a value proposition for Bead Beautiful? Answer: In considering Bead Beautiful's value proposition, the marketing team should identify the benefits and values the company promises to deliver to customers to satisfy their needs. The value proposition should differentiate Bead Beaut iful from other similar products, answering the customer's question â€Å"Why should I buy this brand rather than a competitor's? Diff: 2Page Ref: 9 95) Company X carries organizational and office supplies and follows the selling concept. Explain how Company X may lose sight of customer relationships with their marketing orientation. Answer: The company's aim is to sell its supplies rather than make what the market wants; such a strategy creates sales transactions but not long-term relationships. The company's likely faulty assumption is that customers who are persuaded to buy the product will like it or that they will buy the product again even if they weren't really initially satisfied. Company X will not foster customer loyalty with this approach. Diff: 2Page Ref: 10 96) Explain why electronics and pharmaceuticals manufacturers may use customer-driving marketing. Answer: In such industries, consumers do not know exactly what new products are available; therefore, consumers rely on such firms to tell them what they need. Diff: 2Page Ref: 11 97) What determines whether sellers create basic relationships or full partnerships with customers? Answer: The type of relationship a seller seeks to create with its customers is dependent on the number of customers and their profitability. A company with many low-margin customers develops basic relationships; a company with just a few high-margin customers invests resources to create full partnerships. Diff: 1Page Ref: 16 98) How can a marketer increase â€Å"share of customer†? Answer: The marketer can offer greater variety to customers; in addition, the marketer can train employees to cross-sell and up-sell in order to market more products and services to existing customers. Diff: 2Page Ref: 22-23 99) Explain what marketers can expect from individuals in the customer relationship group classified as â€Å"butterflies. Answer: â€Å"Butterflies† are profitable but not loyal. Marketers should enjoy this type of customer â€Å"for the moment† because they soon flutter off. Marketers should create profitable and satisfying transactions with â€Å"butterflies,† then cease investing in them until the next time around. Marketers can expect transactions with butterflies when conditions are optima l for the customer, but they should not expect butterflies to become loyal customers. Diff: 2Page Ref: 24 AACSB: Analytic Skills Skill: Application Objective: 1-4 100) Able works in the marketing department of an international company. In what ways might Able use modern technologies to conduct market research in order to learn more about and better serve his company's customers? Answer: Able could use videoconferencing to monitor customer focus groups discussing the company's products and services in various locations. Able could use online data services to learn more about the needs and wants of his customers, or he could create a customer database for the company to target individual customers with tailored offers. Diff: 2Page Ref: 25 101) In what ways might even a local retailer find itself touched by global competition? Answer: A local retailer might have global suppliers and customers. The retailer's goods may come from abroad, or components of those goods may be produced or assembled abroad. In addition, a local retailer may also sell goods over the Internet to international customers. Diff: 1Page Ref: 27 102) How is marketing being applied in the not-for-profit sector? Answer: Firms in the not-for-profit sector use marketing to enhance their images, to encourage donor marketing to attract memberships and donors, and to design social marketing campaigns to encourage specific causes. Diff: 2Page Ref: 28 -THE END-

Auspices and Guises

Auspices and Guises Auspices and Guises Auspices and Guises By Maeve Maddox In an interview with Palestinian film-maker Hany Abu-Assad about his film Omar, NPR’s Rachel Martin made the following statement: He [Omar] goes there [to the other side of a wall that separates him from his sweetheart] under the auspices of planning some kind of attack with Nadia’s brother† The context implies that planning the attack is a subterfuge for Omar, an excuse to be with Nadia. Martin’s use of the expression â€Å"under the auspices of† is inappropriate in this context. Auspices is one of those words we inherited from ancient Roman religion. In ancient Rome, the auspex observed the flight of birds for the purpose of obtaining an omen from the gods. The work of the auspex was known as â€Å"taking the auspices.† When the auspices were favorable, people proceeded with whatever enterprise they were planning, confident of success. In modern usage, auspices has come to mean â€Å"patronage.† It refers to influence exerted by a person or organization on behalf of an undertaking. This patronage usually spells the difference between success and failure. Here are some examples of the usage: Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he [Christopher Columbus] completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. Extended Participation in General Multilateral Treaties concluded under the auspices of the League of Nations (title of a monograph) For the first time in nearly 50 years, the Commonwealth’s scientists are coming together under the auspices of the Royal Society for a groundbreaking conference â€Å"In the guise of† is probably the expression the NPR interviewer was reaching for. Worded both as â€Å"in the guise of† and â€Å"under the guise of,† the expression means â€Å"an assumed appearance or pretense.† The expression can be used to mean simply â€Å"dressed as† or â€Å"disguised as†; for example, one might go to a costume party â€Å"in the guise of Cinderella.† More often, the pretense is intended to deceive: If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. –James Madison Mr. Fox befriended Jemima Puddle Duck in the guise of a friendly neighbor. Urban Shield exists under the guise of fighting terrorism and â€Å"disaster preparedness† in heavily-populated areas. Protestors stormed a McDonald’s franchise demanding justice for an employee they say was fired under the guise of feeding the homeless, but was really let go for political reasons. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Words for Facial ExpressionsBest Websites to Learn EnglishA Yes-and-No Answer About Hyphenating Phrases

How to Get the Most Out of SAT Math Practice Questions

How to Get the Most Out of SAT Math Practice Questions SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips You’ve lined up all your SAT math study material, but now how do you use these questions to their best effect? Getting the materials to study is only half the battle- making an effective study plan and knowing how to best execute it is the second, crucial step. We’ve put together a comprehensive plan on how to make use of the study materials you have at hand. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to best use your math practice problems and how to make the best study plan possible to boost your SAT math score. The Importance of Using Proper SAT Math Study Materials Before we start in on how to use the practice materials, it’s important to talk about what study materials to use. The SAT is a very specific kind of test and a good deal of the study material available online does a poor job of replicating it. The most accurate and highest quality study material will come from the College Board itself and only prep programs that truly base their questions off this material are worth your time. Always use the highest quality study material and practice problems so that you can get the best measure of how you’ll do on test day. If you study from inferior sources, you will have an inaccurate picture of how you’ll do (for better or worse), which will only hamper your study progress. We have gathered all the best free SAT study material and practice problems, so definitely start there for all your SAT math practice problem needs. Only the best SAT study materials are worth your time (so says Study Dog). How to Begin- Identifying Your Current Strengths and Weaknesses First things first, you need torun a diagnostic! Step 1:Take a Full-Length SAT Practice Test If you haven’t taken one already, start by taking a full practice testto gauge your current score and percentile. Though you may be more focused on improving your math score right now, you will still need to take a full test so that you can best replicate a real testing environment. You won’t truly know where your weaknesses or strengths on the test are without first taking the test. You also won’t know how your math scores fit into your larger test-taking picture if you only take the math sections by themselves. The SAT is a marathon and scores will fluctuate depending on your energy and concentration levels over the course of the entire test. So you’ll only get a full picture of your current levels if you take the complete test all together. This is a baseline, so be honest. Only then will you be able to tell where you’re starting and how far you have to go. So treat your practice runas you would the real test- adhere to the timing rules, don’t stop and look things up, and skip questions you don’t feel you can answer accurately. And, as you go through, make sure to mark your questions. Put a mark any time you feel unsure about a question and cross out any eliminated answer options. This will help you to identify patterns in your overall test-taking later. Step 2:Examine Your Test-Taking Patterns Once you’ve corrected your practice test, look at your spread of right and wrong answers. Are there any patterns to the distribution? There are two broad ways to categorizeyour mistakes: by location on the test and by type of content. See if you can organize your errors accordingly. There will be three SAT math sections on any given practice test, two that are entirely multiple choice and one that is a combination of multiple choice and grid-in. The multiple choice only sections are arranged in order of ascending difficulty, so the last problem of a math section will be much harder than the first question. On the combination multiple choice and grid-in SAT math section, the questions will go in ascending order of difficulty for the multiple choice and then will reset for the grid-in. So question 8 (multiple choice) will be much more difficult than question 10 (grid-in). What this all means is that if your errors on the SAT math sections mostly appear in certainlocations, your mistakes are probably related to the difficulty level of the problems. To spot patterns of location-based errors, ask yourself whether you are: Missing questions over the entire math section, seemingly evenly throughout? Missing mostly the grid-in questions? (For some students, the grid-in section is exponentially more difficult than the multiple choice section and can be a large source of lost points.) Missing several questions in the early range of the multiple choice or grid-in? (Though it is normal to miss some or even several questions on the overall SAT math section, try to carefully analyze and improve upon your mistakes in this earliest range. These earlier questions will be the quickest and "simplest" to solve for the whole math section and so will net you a nice cushion of points if you can grab them.) Missing questions in a cluster in the mid-range of each math section? (This is where the questions transition from "easy" to "medium-level" difficulty and that transition can trip many students up.) Missing mostly the last questions in each section? (These are the "high difficulty" questions and are difficult for most students.) You may also begetting questions wrong by topic. Take a close look at each of your errors to see if there is a topic-specific pattern to your errors. To spot trends incontent errors, ask yourself whether you are: Getting all or most questions wrong in a particular topic, no matter where the questions are located in the test? (E.g., are you missing allpolygonquestions, whether they appear as question 2 or question 20?) Getting questions wrong by topic only in the medium or high level difficulty? (For instance, can you solve your "easy"slopequestions, but miss all the "difficult" slope questions?) Having a seemingly even spread of right and wrong answers by topic throughout the test? (If you answered questions 4 and 14 onfunctionscorrectly, but missed question 9, it may have less to do with your understanding of functions as atopicand more to do with the phrasing of the question or the speed at which you were taking the test. Take a careful look at each problem to see if you can spot the pattern.) The less familiar you are with a particular math topic, the harder it will be to answer the variety of problems on it that you’ll see on the SAT. Take a look at ourindividual math guidesfor topic-specific help and practice questions for any of your SAT math topic problem areas. Most people will start out their SAT practice by missing a combination of location-specific and topic-specific questions, so don’t worry if your pattern starts out this way too. As you get more and more used to both the material and thewaythe SATteststhis material, you’ll narrow your range of wrong answers and increase your accuracy in both fields. Step 3: Make a List of Your SAT Math Strengths and Weaknesses Now that you’ve looked at your test-taking patterns, make a list on a separate piece of paper of all the math topics in which you missed questions. In addition, make a list of the types of errors you made. Why make a list of the type of error? There is a big difference between errors on the SAT math test- not knowing how to approach a question at all is very different than misreading a question. You’ll need to examine exactly what kinds of errors you’ve made so that you can learn to avoid them in the future. Types of errors include: Finding the wrong variable or final value This is one of the most common errors, especially on problems where you must find an "unusual" final answer. For instance, the problem may ask you to find the value of 2x for your final solution, when your natural instinct is to find the value of x alone. Misreading the question This can include misreading any value or variable in the overall question or simply misreading what the question is asking you to do. For example, in a word problem, did you mix up "Tom" and "Tina"? Did you read "subtract" as "square"? It is easy to make assumptions or to mix up similar words if you're going too quickly through your problems. Stopping your solve too early or too late In a problem that requires multiple steps, you may accidentally find yourself stopping a step or two too early or going a step or two too far. For instance, if you are tasked with finding the 12th number in a sequence and you're counting by hand, you might accidentallyfind the th or 13th number in the sequence instead. Many answer choices are generated by this type of error, so be extra cautious in only taking the exact number of steps necessary. Not knowing how to approach the question at all Whether it's the wording of the question or the math topic involved, sometimes you'll find yourself completely flummoxed. You may not know how to set up the solve to the problem in the slightest, or you may try and fail to set up the solve. Either way, this is a problem that leaves you stymied. Mixing up or forgetting your formulas Though you will be given a formula box, it can be easy to misremember or mix up your formulas in the heat of the moment. If you need to find the area of a circle, make sure you're using the area formula and not the circumference formula. Note: don’t take â€Å"careless errors† like misreading the question or finding the wrong final value lightly! The SAT is designed to make you make these kinds of errors, so don’t just assume you’ll make the correct choices next time. You’ve got to commit yourself to slowing down and identifying what the question is truly asking you. Always double check to make sure your answer matches exactly what they’re asking you to find. You've lined 'em up, now let's knock 'em down! How to Proceed: Using SAT Math Practice Questions to Raise Your Score You’ve got your baseline, so how do you use your practice material to up your score? Let’s take a look. 1) Now that you’ve identified your areas of strength and weakness, take the time to brush up on those math topics that lie in your weak zone. It’s not enough to assail yourself with practice problem after practice problem if you still don’t understand the material- you must first understand both the ins and outs of the particular math topic as well as how you’ll see it tested on the SAT. Our SAT math guidesare tailored to reflect and demonstrate how each topic is presented on the SAT, so you won’t have to waste time reading and memorizing more strategies and facts than you absolutely need to. This way, you’ll also keep your practice problems â€Å"fresh.† It’s no use throwing yourself against a wall of function problems if you’ve never studied functions in school. It will only leave you with no new material to study from once you’ve brushed up on how to solve function problems. Practice will only help you so much if you don’t know how to even approach a particular topic. Only then, once you’ve learned what you need to learn, will your practice problems solidify the knowledge in your head and get you to where you need to be- polishing up your topic skills so that you’re ready for test day. 2) When you do find practice questions, always try to solve them yourself first without looking to the answer. When looking over new problems, don't just look at the problem and go immediately to the answer. The answer explanation might make sense and even make you feel as though you would have been able to solve the problem yourself, but this feeling can be deceiving. Solving a puzzle yourself and understanding how a puzzle was solved require two entirely different parts of your brain. Always (always!) try to solve a problem yourself first and commit to an answer choice, before you look up the answer. Even if your answer choice is that you would skip it if you saw it on test day, it is better to make a decision, rather than imbuing yourself with false confidence in your current abilities. Remember- you can only improve if you have an accurate picture of your current skill level. 3) Once you’ve brushed up on the topic, take practice problems in multiples at a time, as if you were truly working on the test. As you solve your practice questions, don’t solve questions one at a time and stop to look up the answer after each one. Though you may be tempted to know exactly how well you've done after solving each problem, this kind of pacing does NOT give you an accurate picture of how you’ll do on test day and can hamper your progress. (Remember: you won’t be able to verify whether your answers are correct or not on test-day- you simply have to do your best and move forward on multiple questions at a time.) Even if you don’t always sit down to take a full test or a full math section at once, it is still better to answer two or three questions at a time than it is to simply answer one. 4) If a topic can use multiple solving methods for its problems, try all the different ways in order to find the one most comfortable for you. Many questions can be solved in several different ways. Plugging in answers and plugging in numbers are strategies that work for a large variety of questions, but there are others as well. For instance, systems of equations questions can be solved by graphing, subtraction, or substitution, while sequence and distance questions can be solved via formulas or by working them out by hand. These are just some examples, and each of our guideswill go into further detail. The point remains that most every SAT question is purposefully designed to be solved in multiple ways and different methods work best for different people. So once you’ve finished solving your set of problems, go back and solve them again using a different strategy. Compare this to the first time- which method did you like better? Which was faster? Which made you feel the most confident in your answer? 5) Pace yourself (and your practice questions) Though it may be tempting to get your studying out of the way, do NOT cram all your studying in one go! Improvement happens over time and you must pace yourself to get the most out of your prep time. In addition, if you blow through all your practice problems at once, you won't have anything else to work with fresh. Again, solving a puzzle yourself and understanding how a puzzle was solved are two very different concepts, so try to pace out your fresh material and your review material so that you can use both parts of your brain in your study prep. 6) Sign up for a test-prep program if you feel you need more material than the free practice questions available. If you feel you’ve exhausted your free study material, then definitely sign up for a test-prep program or buy one of the official study guides available, like the Official SAT Study Guide. Not only can a prep program provide you with additional material, but can also help you make the most out of your study time. Our SAT study program at PrepScholar automatically targets your areas of strength and weakness and tailors your studying to you and your needs. No need to assess your patterns yourself- we’ll do all the work for you! There are many paths for doing well on your SAT and, with experimentation and diligence, you'll find the best one for you. The Take-Aways The SAT is unlike most tests you’ll ever come across- it is long, tricky, and very specifically designed. Going into it blind (or poorly prepared) rarely ends well for anyone. The more you can prepare, and the better that preparation is, the better you’ll do on the test, hands down. So make sure your study material always comes from the best sources and that you use this material to its absolute best effect while studying. Your goal is to train your brain to look at and solve puzzles in the way that the SAT wants you to, and most people can only do so with focused effort and practice. Always remember that success on the SAT is entirely doable and, indeed, trainable. Once you know how to hone your focus and target specific areas to study, you’ll be mastering your SAT math questions in no time. What’s Next? You've taken a look at your SAT test-taking patterns, so now it may be time to check out ourindividual SAT math guidesto help you brush up on any topic that was not too familiar to you. Running out of time on the SAT math section?If you found that you didn't have enough time to finish your SAT math sections, check outour guide for how to beat the clock and maximize your SAT math score. Unsure about your SAT math formulas?Make sure you know which formulas you'll be given and which you'll have to memorizeand thencheck out how to use that knowledge to its best effect. Looking to get a perfect score?Ourguide to getting a perfect 800 on SAT math(written by a perfect-scorer!) will help get you to where you need to be. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Math strategy guide, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands ofpractice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

The transformation that took place in the book Always Running By Luis Essay

The transformation that took place in the book Always Running By Luis J. Rodriguez - Essay Example ‘Always Running’ presents a powerful narrative account of Luis life. This story begins with Luis remembering his childhood. It relays conflicts his mother and father had regarding whether to stay in the United States or return to Mexico. The narrative then goes on to explore Luis’ childhood and education. It indicates that because of his language barrier he had difficulty in school. These challenges led him to eventually join a gang to achieve a sense of belonging and protection. Luis progressed along this negative path for a period of his life, before becoming involved in a community center. Through the community center he was given a chance to renew his life. He soon becomes involved with painting murals and getting away from his gang life. This account of Luis life is moving for its demonstration of his transformation. This essay considers the nature of this transformation in more depth. The novel begins by demonstrating the factors that led to Luis becoming in volved in a gang. The reasons behind Luis’ development are highly complex, so the novel approaches them from a number of perspectives. One of the most recurring reasons is the troubled nature of Luis’ home-life. Luis mother and father experienced a number of arguments regarding whether to say in the country. ... The text states, â€Å"But on those days the perils came out too - you could see it in the faces of the street warriors, in the play of children, too innocent to know what lurked about, but often the first to fall during a gang war or family scuffle† (Rodriguez, pg. 29). This indicates that Luis daily existence growing up held many of the components that would later become indicative of his later life in a gang. After Luis joins the gang the text spends a considerable amount of time considering his actions and daily life therein. Luis’ life in the gang is relayed in the novel through stories about his criminal activities. While Luis involvement with the gang started out small, it eventually became more intense. Similarly, the types of activities the gang participates in become progressively more intense as the novel progresses. At one point, Luis states, â€Å"Shit, I thought, they want to firebomb a house. This mean somebody's mother, little sister or brother could be hurt or killed. But this is how things had gotten by then. Everyone was fair game in barrio wars; people's families were being hit all the time† (Rodriguez, pg. 118). This quote is speaking about the barrio wars that had overtaken Luis’ neighborhood. The quote also demonstrates Luis’ partial alienation from the activities the gang is participating in. While it’s difficult to precisely pinpoint the instant Luis made the change from a negative to positive existence, it’s clear that the seeds of his change were rooted in the alienation he began to develop at these gang activities. As the text progresses, Luis eventually becomes alienated from his gang life. The pivotal element in Luis transformation occurs when he becomes involved in the local community center. Here he comes into contact