The Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne - 1422 Words

The eighteenth-century author, Nathaniel Hawthorne was born on July 4, 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts. He was most famous for his writings The Scarlet Letter, â€Å"Young Goodman Brown,† â€Å"The Minister’s Black Veil† and an abundant array of other books and short stories. The stories that are mentioned contain a copious amount of symbolism throughout the entirety of each book. All the stories that he ever wrote have an underlying meaning and the symbolism was hidden within in the names, characters, places, and actions that happened in the books and helped the readers to have a greater understanding about the Puritan lifestyle and the Bible. The dictionary definition of symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. A few†¦show more content†¦Pearl is the constant reminder of Hester’s sin; however, Pearl also brings Hester extraordinary joy. She is the cause of Hester’s determination to try and create a better life for Pe arl and herself. Pearl was also a boundless joy to her biological father, Revered Dimmesdale, in one scene, Pearl grabbed Dimmesdale by the hand and kissed it. This shocked Hester because this was one of the only times that Pearl showed affection to anyone, which brought immense joy to Dimmesdale (Lorcher, Trent). Dimmesdale is known to have committed the same crime as Hester when he clutches his chest constantly and is seen having the marking or the scarlet â€Å"A† engraved on his chest. Reverend Dimmesdale’s sin is more permanently proclaimed than Hester’s that is sewn on to her clothes, while his is a tattoo burned on his skin (Analysis: The Red Mark on Dimmesdale’s Chest). It is seen like an outward representation of the sin that is inside him that he is not fully open with (Lorcher, Trent). Pearl is always talking about the â€Å"Black Man† and she is referring to Satan and how Dimmesdale wrote his name in the Black Man’s book (Analys is: The Black Man). Hester’s husband, Roger Chillingworth is a symbol of evil and a sort of revenge for Hester (Lorcher, Trent). When Dimmesdale, Pearl and Hester meet on the scaffold one night a meteor streaks across the sky in the shape of a letter â€Å"A† and it seems to mean that God hasShow MoreRelatedThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1242 Words   |  5 PagesLYS PAUL Modern Literature Ms. Gordon The Scarlet Letter The scarlet letter is book written by Nathaniel Hawthorne who is known as one the most studied writers because of his use of allegory and symbolism. He was born on July 4, 1804 in the family of Nathaniel, his father, and Elizabeth Clark Hathorne his mother. Nathaniel added â€Å"W† to his name to distance himself from the side of the family. His father Nathaniel, was a sea captain, and died in 1808 with a yellow fever while at sea. That was aRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne960 Words   |  4 Pages3H 13 August 2014 The novel, The Scarlet Letter, was written by the author Nathaniel Hawthorne and was published in 1850 (1). It is a story about the Puritan settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, set around 1650 (2). The story is written in the third person with the narrator being the author. The common thread that runs through this novel is Hawthorne’s apparent understanding of the beliefs and culture of the Puritans in America at that time. But Hawthorne is writing about events in a societyRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne919 Words   |  4 Pagessymbolism in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"The Scarlet Letter†. Symbolism is when an object is used in place of a different object. Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of the most symbolic writers in all of American history. In â€Å"The Scarlet Letter†, the letter â€Å"A† is used to symbolize a variety of different concepts. The three major symbolistic ideas that the letter â€Å"A† represents in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"The Scarlet Letter† are; shame, guilt, and ability. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"The Scarlet Letter†, the firstRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1397 Words   |  6 PagesFebruary 2016 The Scarlet Letter was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1850 which is based on the time frame of the Puritans, a religious group who arrived in Massachusetts in the 1630’s. The Puritans were in a religious period that was known for the strict social norms in which lead to the intolerance of different lifestyles. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the puritan’s strict lifestyles to relate to the universal issues among us. The time frame of the puritans resulted in Hawthorne eventually thinkingRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne999 Words   |  4 Pages Nathaniel Hawthorne is the author of the prodigious book entitled The Scarlet Letter. In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne commits adultery with Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Her husband, Roger Chillingworth, soon finds out about the incident after it becomes clear that she is pregnant. The whole town finds out and Hester is tried and punished. Meanwhile, Roger Chillingworth goes out then on a mission to get revenge by becoming a doctor and misprescribing Dimmesdale. He does this to torture DimmesdaleRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne1037 Words   |  5 Pagesthat human nature knows right from wrong, but is naturally evil and that no man is entirely â€Å"good†. Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of the classic novel The Scarlet Letter, believes that every man is innately good and Hawthorne shows that everyone has a natural good side by Hester’s complex character, Chillingworth’s actions and Dimmesdale’s selfless personality. At the beginning of the Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne is labeled as the â€Å"bad guy†. The townspeople demand the other adulterer’s name, butRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1517 Words   |  7 PagesNathaniel Hawthorne composes Pearl as a powerful character even though she is not the main one. Her actions not only represent what she is as a person, but what other characters are and what their actions are. Hawthorne makes Pearl the character that helps readers understand what the other characters are. She fits perfectly into every scene she is mentioned in because of the way her identity and personality is. Pearl grows throughout the book, which in the end, help the readers better understandRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne1488 Words   |  6 Pages In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter, the main character, Hester Prynne, is a true contemporary of the modern era, being cast into 17th century Puritan Boston, Massachusetts. The Scarlet Letter is a revolutionary novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne examining the ugliness, complexity, and strength of the human spirit and character that shares new ideas about independence and the struggles women faced in 17th century America. Throughout the novel, Hester’s refusal to remove the scarlet letterRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1319 Words   |  6 PagesPrynne and Arthur Dimmesdale are subject to this very notion in Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter. Hester simply accepted that what she had done was wrong, whereas Dimmesdale, being a man of high regard, did not want to accept the reality of what he did. Similar to Hester and Dimmesdale, Roger Chillingworth allows his emotions to influence his life; however, his influence came as the result of hi s anger. Throughout the book, Hawthorne documents how Dimmesdale and Hester s different ways of dealingRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1714 Words   |  7 PagesSome two hundred years following the course of events in the infamous and rigid Puritan Massachusetts Colony in the 1600s, Nathaniel Hawthorne, descendant of a Puritan magistrate, in the 19th century, published The Scarlet Letter. Wherein such work, Hawthorne offered a social critique against 17th Massachusetts through the use of complex and dynamic characters and literary Romanticism to shed light on said society’s inherent contradiction to natural order and natural law. In his conclusive statements

What Status Did Women Have in Early Medieval England

The status of women in the medieval period was mostly that of subjugation, very few options were open to women, and those that were are often resulted in a harsh treatment, of backbreaking labor. However even with such ill treatment, women were the integral part to societal growth and stability thus a women’s role was often narrowed and marginalized. To areas thought befitting woman, Such as child rearing, manual labor, the convent, or as a wife. This system of casting not only served to maintain the male status quo but also served to further the archetypal roles for women in medieval English society. Women were valued in the middle Ages, but only as an economic commodity. They served two main functions within medieval society:†¦show more content†¦The safety of a wife, therefore, often depended upon her ability to please her husband. Widowhood was the saving grace of most unhappy marriages in the middle Ages. Widowhood gave women their husbands lands and authority. Even though women were the child bearers and primary care givers, only when widowed did women have a role in the inheritance. Women could then inherit and bequeath land but could not sit in Parliament. The rights of widows are even discussed in the Magna Carta. It declares that widows did not need to marry again if they did not want to. It is fair to say that women gained not only wealth but freedom as a result of their husbands deaths. Where the husbands and employers power over women was practical, the clergys was spiritual. These two worlds were in constant conflict. Women flocked to the Church. They turned to religion for consolation and solace. More women attended mass, more confessed, they were the true keepers of the faith. Women provided the Church with a source of cohesion; their fierce and desperate faith would lay the groundwork for the growing dominance of the church in medieval society. The Church, however, was two-faced when dealing with women. Women were the mainstay of each parish, yet the clergy constantly reinforced the concept of women as inferior creatures. Because women were weaker in the Churchs eyes, it was easier for them to succumb to their sinful desires. Women were natural traitors, deceitful andShow MoreRelatedThe Four Branches Of The Mabinogi Analysis1452 Words   |  6 PagesWelsh tales survive complete, in merely two manuscripts The Red Book of Hergest and The White Book of Rhydderch. Linguists argue as to what the correct dating for these eleven tales are, however, it is widely agreed that the dates of said tales, would have occurred no earlier than the late eleventh century and most definitely earlier than the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries. The four branches of the Mabinogi, particularly the first of the four branches provide an insight of Welsh societyRead MoreMargaret Of Navarre And Catherine Parr2011 Words   |  9 Pages T he education of women in Medieval Europe is hard pinpoint primarily because the view of the education of young girls and adult women were that they were intellectually inferior to men as well as naturally. It was believed that they could not learn anything but the basic things that could make them a better wife or nun; these thoughts regarding their intellectual abilities usually came from science and the Bible. Noble woman were usually educated and their literary works were protected from criticismRead MoreHistory Essay Questions2335 Words   |  10 PagesQuestions 1. How did developments in the late Middle Ages impact the Commercial Revolution? 2. What contribution did Luca Pacioli make to the Commercial Revolution? 3. What was the nature of banking in the Commercial Revolution? 4. What was a joint-stock company? 5. What was the Domestic System† in England? 6. What was the Price Revolution and what were its results? 7. What were the principles of mercantilism and what impact did it have on economics and politics? 8. In what ways did the CommercialRead MoreMarriage in the Middle Ages1808 Words   |  8 PagesI. Marriage in the Middle Ages A. Marriage and women’s rights in the medieval society B. Thesis: Arrangement of marriages, abuse and adultery, divorce and desertion II. Arrangement of Marriages A. Age requirements 1. Muslim 2. Christianity B. Betrothals 1. Elite 2. Peasants III. Adultery A. Upper elite nobility 1. Priests and sex a. Peasants b. Concubines 2. Kings a. Servants IV. Abuse to wives A. Physical violence 1. Lower class 2. Nobility a. Abduction/imprisonmentRead MoreEssay Middle Ages Renaissance Study Guide (Unit 2)1098 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Middle Ages Dates: 500-1450 1. What was going historically during this era?   What was life like? It was a chaotic period of social and political unrest. Religious and political differences between and within regions led to nearly constant warfare. The life of all the classes was dominated by the feudal system - feudalism. 2.   Who or what had the power? The church 3.   Who were learned or literate? holy men or people of important status such as kings, queens, and knights most other people wereRead MoreGender Discrimination in the Elizabethan Era Essay1982 Words   |  8 Pagesbetween 1558 and 1603 with women ‘generally’ considered the inferior race and treated with subhuman actions based purely on their gender. Whilst is can be stated that women were treated wrongly is it fair to accuse the male men of that era with gender discrimination when it was what they were brought up to believe? Our morals and beliefs are derived from society’s general perception of right and wrong and in the Elizabethan Era it was considered normal to associate women with being a substandard classRead MoreThe Renaissance Of 17th Century Italy Essay1888 Words   |  8 Pagesin 15th century England was ultimately influenced by Italy, but had distinct developments of its own. As one may expect equal benefits for all classes and genders during this period of rapid change, the status of women did not particularly differ during this time period. Many would even argue that their presence diminished in comparison to their medieval counterparts. This essay will argue for the limited opportunities for women in education, politics, and paid labour during Early Modern Europe inRead More Medieval Chivalry Essay2847 Words   |  12 Pages Western Civilization Medieval Chivalry and Knighthood During medieval times knighthood was a class culture, cherished and jealousy guarded by the knightly caste. Knight had the honor of defending the king as well as their country. On the bloody fields of battle a code of chivalry evolved that tempered anger and fury with mercy. It created ways of turning the grim business of fighting into something tolerable, perhaps even acceptable. Chivalry was not only looked upon as a code for war; it wasRead MoreEssay on Athenian definition of democracy1213 Words   |  5 Pages Discuss the Athenian definition of democracy. Is the city state the only kind of state in which true democracy can exist? What happens to democracy when it is applied to a society with a large dispersed population? What are other examples of democratic societies besides Athens? Compare and contrast Athenian democracy with American democracy. Is the United States a democracy in the classical sense of the word? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The ancient Greek word quot;demokratiaquot; was ambiguousRead MoreKing Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table Essay2967 Words   |  12 Pages among the most popular and beloved of all time, originated in the Middle Ages. As they do today, medieval people listened to the accounts of Arthur with fascination and awe. It is certain that popular folktales were told about a hero named Arthur throughout the Celtic parts of the British Isles and France, especially in Wales, Cornwall, and Brittany (Lunt 76). Other stories of chivalry that did not include Arthur existed in this time period as well. Although these stories were not recorded at

Price - Demand and Revenue Relationships-myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Does a fall in price always increase demand and profit of a firm? Answer: Annotated Bibliography Source 1: Dairy prices: Keep calm and bake on, newspaper article Nzherald.co.nz (2017).Dairy prices: Keep calm and bake on - The Country - The Country News. [online] The New Zealand Herald. Available at: https://www2.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/article.cfm?c_id=16objectid=11902020 [Accessed 14 Aug. 2017]. The newspaper article focuses specifically on the price hike of milk and dairy products in one of the biggest milk producing country, New Zealand and the effects of the hike on the national as well as global consumers. The main objective of this article is to find answer to why the nationals of New Zealand, especially those in Kiwi, which produces the major share of milk and dairy products in the world, pays such a high price (Foote, Joyand Death2015). For study purposes, direct consumers, national and international, suppliers, government officials, economists and analysts are interviewed and their views are taken into account. With reference to a detailed study of the dairy market and several extensive interviews, the study concludes that the local customers are also paying the global market prices of milk and other dairy products, due to an immense demand of the commodities in the international market (Malik et al. 2013). According to the study, to cater to the huge demand and to c apture the client base as far as possible, the suppliers are redirecting their supply more towards the international market (the Kiwi citizens consist only 5% of the overall customer base of the major dairy companies) thereby increasing their revenue, but making it difficult for the locals (Chaston 2017). The article focuses on the positive impact on the revenue of the milk suppliers due to this upsurge in global demand of their dairy products. The article, deals with a real case scenario of highly inelastic demand and the favorable revenue structures that the milk sellers of the country, especially those in Kiwi experience, due to the high inelastic demand (Doole, Romeraand Adler2013). However, though demand, price and revenue relationships are beng studied in this article, the same fails to address the actual research question that is to be dealt in the assignment. The news article specifically focuses on the dairy market of Kiwi, a small region in New Zealand and only studies about the effects on the revenue and oprice structure of milk and dairy products, in this region, due to a recent increase in the global demand. The cause and effect scenario studied in this article, is also opposite to what has to be studied in the concerned assignment (Becker2013). The geographical and commodity restriction of the news article reduces the relevance of the same significantly. Therefore, though this article is viewed, a very vague c onnection can be found between this and the main area which the assignment deals, thereby making the article inappropriate for usage in research purposes for the concerned assignment (Darpizio et al. 2015). Source 2: Do Lower Prices Lead to More Sales?, blog Copyblogger.com, S. (2017).Do Lower Prices Lead to More Sales? - Copyblogger. [online] Copyblogger. Available at: https://www.copyblogger.com/product-pricing/ [Accessed 14 Aug. 2017]. The article mostly takes into account the consumer side and their perspectives regarding pricing of a commodity. Indirectly, it tries to analyze the effect on the revenue growths of an industry, depending upon how the industry sets its prices and what the consumer perceives about the credibility of the product from the price level set by the industry (Solomon 2014). The article takes the example of a photography course, covering several lessons and tries to analyse the effect of different price levels set for the same photography course. According to this article, a course package, priced very high may intrigue the customer to see what is special in that course, though he may or may not be able to afford it. This article argues that in general, for services like this, high prices are seen as an indicator of better quality of service provided (Malik et al. 2013). According to this article, a sudden price rise or fall, both can lead to immense speculations on part of the customers, reg arding the quality of the services. In this article, two types of buying phases are discussed about. In the initial phase, the consumer wants to buy a product but does not have any idea about the right price of the product, thereby guessing about the price (Nagle, Hoganand Zale2016). In the second phase the consumer gets an idea about the different prices of the products and its substitutes that prevail in the market and after comparing among the prices comes to conclusion about buying the products (Moshrefjavadi 2012). The study suggests the producers not to decrease the prices of their products abruptly as it may create more negative than positive influence on the revenue. The article, though specifically focuses on the demand side of the problem, gives a useful insight about the relationship between price and demand of a commodity or service and therefore, the effect of this relationship on the revenue of the company producing this commodity or service can be indirectly portrayed. However, the article focuses on only one particular type of service while studying the consumer behavior with respect to changes in price levels (Nagle, Hogan and Zale 2016). It also fails to show the direct relationship between the change in price and the corresponding effect in revenue of the concerned company. It may so happen that the behavior of the consumers, in response to a change in price of other types of goods and services vary significantly from that of their behavior in case of photography courses, as these type of services are availed mainly for recreational purposes and is not primarily a necessary service. Demand for these types of services is in general high ly elastic (Darpizio et al. 2015). The article needs to extend its research regarding consumer behavior patterns to other types of goods and services and it also needs to take into account the effects of price changes in the revenue of the concerned producers and the service providers, to make it more relevant for study purposes (Nwankwo, Hamelin and Khaled2014). Due to the constraint of types of services chosen and the variables taken to study in the article, it cannot be used as a conceptual base for the article. However, the demand aspect taken into account in this article can be useful as supplementary information for structuring the research. Source 3: Estimating flight-level price elasticities using online airline data: A first step toward integrating pricing, demand, and revenue optimization, peer reviewed journal article Mumbower, S., Garrow, L.A. and Higgins, M.J., 2014.Estimating flight-level price elasticities using online airline data: A first step toward integrating pricing, demand, and revenue optimization.Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice,66, pp.196-212. The article tries to estimate the elasticity of flight booking demand with respect to price, taking into account several endogenous and exogenous factors, which characterizes the demand for flight tickets. It takes Jet Blue Flights for research purposes and studies the data of this commercial airline in four of the transcontinental markets (Jetblue.com, 2017). The endogenous issues in prices, usually occurs while calculation and can lead to biased results and wrong recommendations for pricing strategies. These problems are corrected with the help of an approach of instrumental variable. The article tries to estimate the price elasticity with the help of Ordinary Least Square Method and Two Stage Least Square Method, taking the number of flight bookings as the dependant variable, measured in terms of departure dates and time, the type of markets and the number of days in advance the ticket is booked (Rao 2015). The study results in several interesting observations with significant imp lications on pricing strategies of flight tickets. The study finds business travelers less sensitive to price changes than those who are pleasure tripping. This may be because of their inelastic demand for flight tickets as they are booking flights for professional purposes. Moreover, the demand for short distance flight tickets (the distances which can also be travelled by road if required) are highly price elastic as there are many possible substitute modes of transport available (Malik et al. 2013). Demand for tickets of Jet Blue become strikingly price sensitive in presence of sales and promotional offers of its competitors. The price sensitivity also varies depending upon whether the flight is departing on weekdays or weekends, with those booking weekend flights being more sensitive to prices than those booking weekday flights (Rios, McConnell and Brue 2013). The article derives several important factors influencing the price elasticity of flight tickets, which directly implies that one price strategy for all will not be beneficial for the company as it may reduce the revenue. According to the recommendations of this article, the factors discussed above should be taken into account while planning a composite and dynamic set of pricing strategies, which can direct positive effects on revenue (Cowan2012). The article deals with price, demand and revenue relationships in a real business environment, making the article relevant for the assignment. However, the article is limited to only commercial aviation sector and deals with one particular commercial airline, thereby making it a targeted study. The general relationships between price and demand and their implication on a companys revenue is not studied as a whole (Jetblue.com, 2017). A more generic approach can make the observations in this study more applicable in all economic fields. Nev ertheless, the methodology used in the article seems robust and can be applied to other sectors as well. The article is appropriate to refer to for designing the instruments for studying the result of pricing strategies on revenue, via demand, in a general framework, which is one of the primary objectives of the concerned assignment. Source 4: Price Commitments with Strategic Consumers: Why it can be Optimal to Discount More Frequently ... Than Optimal, SSRN electronic journal article Cachon, G.P. and Feldman, P., 2015. Price commitments with strategic consumers: Why it can be optimal to discount more frequently than optimal.Manufacturing Service Operations Management,17(3), pp.399-410. The article deals with two different pricing strategies that are commonly implemented and constructs a third type of pricing strategy, which can be used, especially in case of targeted or strategic customers; the customers who have a very high reputation of being loyal buyers of a particular good or service (Peppers and Rogers2016). According to the literature, a firm can either have a static price, which remains constant irrespective of demand situations or a always discounting one, which never increases even if there is an upsurge in the demand. A third kind of pricing introduced here, is that of starting with a hiked price level and then discounting frequently. According to the article, in case of presence of a large base of strategic customers and fixed as well as flexibility of capacity of the firm, the third pricing strategy or the high frequent discounting pricing strategy performs the best (Jahanshani 2014). The article argues that if the customers are strategic or targeted t he frequent discounting strategy, though may reduce the revenue of the company in short run, may prove highly beneficial in keeping the loyal clientele satisfied, thereby, increasing the demand for the product of the company. This can prove beneficial for the long run revenue structure and the future prospects of the concerned company (Wieseke, Alavi and Habel2014). The article deals with a research topic, which is closely related to the research question of this particular assignment. It tries to show the effect on a companys revenue depending upon the pricing strategies the company takes. The author assumes the nature of the customer to be strategic or targeted and succeeds to portray a robust relationship between price reductions (in the form of frequent price discounting) and a considerable increase in the demand of the commodity, among the loyal and reputed customers (Cowan 2012). It also draws the relationship between price change and revenue restructuring via higher demand in the long run. The limitation of the article is that it only takes into account strategic customers of a particular company and its products. The article overall emphasizes on how to design pricing strategies such that the company can maintain and increase the strategic clientele and is mainly concerned with the long run revenue increase of the firms (Peppers and Roge rs 2016). It does not take into account the demand of all types of consumers and highly ignores the possibility of decrease in the revenue in the short run, due to frequent price discounting, in order to keep the strategic clientele. In spite of this limitation, the article can serve as a important resource material for studying the problem posited in the concerned assignment an can also help in recommending pricing strategies in a general microeconomic framework (Rios, McConnelland Brue2013) . Source 5: Will Lowering Your Prices Increase Profits?, commercial site Marketingmo.com (2017).Will Lowering Your Prices Increase Profits? | Marketing MO. [online] Marketing MO. Available at: https://www.marketingmo.com/strategic-planning/will-lowering-your-prices-increase-profits/ [Accessed 14 Aug. 2017]. The article reviews the effect of a fall in price of a commodity on its demand and the revenue of the concerned industry. It tries to examine whether with a fall in price, the revenue of the company always increases. To study the relationship between the variables, the article takes help of the basic microeconomic concepts of demand and supply and their relative elasticity with respect to price (Rios, McConnelland Brue2013). The research focuses on a range of price elasticity of demand and their effect on the revenue of the organizations in general. It tries to see the result of a price change on a commodity with high price elasticity of demand and on another with comparatively low price elasticity. According to this article, in case of inelastic price elasticity of demand, a fall in price does not tend to increase the demand substantially, thereby having a little effect on the overall revenue. However, this may not be the case for a commodity, whose demand is highly price elastic (V arian 2014). The article also suggests several optimal pricing strategies like analyzing pricings of competitors, calculation of profitability, forming plans for pricing strategies and others. Although the article takes into account the subject of the assignment in a broad and general perspective, the microeconomic tools used in the article seems to be robust and applicable in studying the effect of fall in price over demand and overall revenue. The main drawback of this article is that, it studies the price revenue relationship in a broadly general framework. It fails to take into account the exceptions that can arise due to exceptional nature of the commodities (like those of Giffen goods, Veblen goods and inferior goods) or of the markets (in case of exceptional economic phenomena like recession or natural calamities, where law of demand usually fails in many instances) (Pielow, Sioshansi and Roberts 2012). For making the article more relevant, the article needs to take into account the outliers and the special cases where the law of demand is violated. It can also take into account a few case studies specific to industry types and economic zones to examine the feasibil ity of the concept that with a fall in price the demand of a commodity increases, leading to an overall increase in the revenue of the company (Baumol and Blinder2015). For the purpose of studying the problem mentioned in the assignment, this article can be used as a conceptual base. The tools used in this article are easy to understand and broadly applicable. Therefore, though not the sole foundation for this assignment, the article can provide a preliminary concept and it can also contribute in forming the methodology of the article. References: Baumol, W.J. and Blinder, A.S., 2015.Microeconomics: Principles and policy. Cengage Learning. Becker, G.S., 2013.The economic approach to human behavior.University of Chicago press. Chaston, I., 2017. Entrepreneurship.InTechnological Entrepreneurship(pp. 1-24).Springer International Publishing. Cowan, S., 2012. Third Degree Price Discrimination and Consumer Surplus.The Journal of Industrial Economics,60(2), pp.333-345. Darpizio, C., Levato, F., Zito, D. and de Montgolfier, J., 2015. Luxury goods worldwide market study.Bain Company. Doole, G.J., Romera, A.J. and Adler, A.A., 2013. An optimization model of a New Zealand dairy farm.Journal of dairy science,96(4), pp.2147-2160. Foote, K.J., Joy, M.K. and Death, R.G., 2015. New Zealand dairy farming: milking our environment for all its worth.Environmental management,56(3), pp.709-720. Jahanshani, A.A., Hajizadeh, G.M.A., Mirdhamadi, S.A., Nawaser, K. and Khaksar, S.M.S., 2014. Study the effects of customer service and product quality on customer satisfaction and loyalty. Jetblue.com (2017).JetBlue | Flights and Airline Tickets at Discount Prices. [online] Jetblue.com. Available at: https://www.jetblue.com/flights/#/ [Accessed 16 Aug. 2017]. Malik, M.E., Ghafoor, M.M., Iqbal, H.K., Ali, Q., Hunbal, H., Noman, M. and Ahmad, B., 2013.Impact of brand image and advertisement on consumer buying behavior.World Applied Sciences Journal,23(1), pp.117-122. Moshrefjavadi, M.H., Dolatabadi, H.R., Nourbakhsh, M., Poursaeedi, A. and Asadollahi, A., 2012.An analysis of factors affecting on online shopping behavior of consumers.International Journal of Marketing Studies,4(5), p.81. Nagle, T.T., Hogan, J. and Zale, J., 2016.The Strategy and Tactics of Pricing: New International Edition. Routledge. Nwankwo, S., Hamelin, N. and Khaled, M., 2014. Consumer values, motivation and purchase intention for luxury goods.Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services,21(5), pp.735-744. Peppers, D. and Rogers, M., 2016.Managing Customer Experience and Relationships: A Strategic Framework. John Wiley Sons. Pielow, A., Sioshansi, R. and Roberts, M.C., 2012.Modeling short-run electricity demand with long-term growth rates and consumer price elasticity in commercial and industrial sectors.Energy,46(1), pp.533-540. Rao, J.N., 2015.Small Area Estimation.John Wiley Sons, Ltd. Rios, M.C., McConnell, C.R. and Brue, S.L., 2013.Economics: Principles, problems, and policies. McGraw-Hill. Solomon, M.R., 2014.Consumer behavior: Buying, having, and being(Vol. 10). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Varian, H.R., 2014.Intermediate Microeconomics: A Modern Approach: Ninth International Student Edition. WW Norton Company. Wieseke, J., Alavi, S. and Habel, J., 2014, October. Willing to pay more, eager to pay less: The role of customer loyalty in price negotiations.American Marketing Association.

Strategic Management Essay Sample free essay sample

Demonstrate how you would measure personal and professional accomplishments required to accomplish strategic ends: -Demonstrate how you would utilize appropriate methods to measure personal accomplishments required to accomplish strategic ends -Explain how you would use techniques to measure the professional accomplishments required to back up the strategic way of the organisation In order for an organisation to be successful and keep long term sustainability it needs to guarantee that there are effectual strategic directors who are good cognizant of the ends and aims of the organisation so that they can work towards the ends and aims expeditiously and efficaciously ( Williams A ; McWilliams 2010 ) . We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Management Essay Sample or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page There are assorted accomplishments that a strategic director should hold but some of the accomplishments that are extremely indispensable are clip direction accomplishments. direction accomplishments. emphasis direction accomplishments. job work outing accomplishments. motivational accomplishments. good communicating accomplishments. determination doing accomplishments and leading accomplishments. These accomplishments are farther divided and assigned into two classs ; Personal accomplishments and Professional accomplishments ( Williams A ; McWilliams 2010 ) . In my instance. I am responsible for the overall operations of the company whether that be any undertaking established or upcoming. Hence I need to guarantee that I use my accomplishments are in a proper mode so that they are in line with the organization’s strategic ends. Personal accomplishments explained in simple footings are the ability to make something. These accomplishments are really indispensable to every person whether they be an employee in a company or a pupil in a university. They play a really of import function for directors as they are perceived as a function theoretical account for their staff. Time direction. emphasis direction and communications accomplishments form portion of personal accomplishments. I would utilize the method of accomplishments audit to measure the personal accomplishments that are required to accomplish strategic ends. A accomplishments audit is a procedure whereby it will assist me to believe about the things that I am good at and those that require farther development ( Dadwal n. d. ) . My organisation recommends a accomplishments audit for each of its employees. Another method that I focus on is the feedback method. Sing our company is really new we have monthly feedback session with the manager which farther helps us to admit our weak and strong points. Professional accomplishments include accomplishments such as guidance and mentoring. leading. and presentation accomplishments. In footings of measuring my personal accomplishments I use the SWOT analysis. This is a possible attack whereby I can place my strengths. failings. chances and failings. This designation is intended to assist an single their development demands and wants ( Dadwal n. d. ) . I believe this helps me in developing my calling in a way where I take optimal advantage of my endowments. abilities. and chances. Section 2 Demonstrate how you would carry on a accomplishments audit to place learning manner: -Demonstrate how you would transport out a accomplishments audit to measure the strategic accomplishments needed to run into current and future leading demands -Explain how you would use appropriate techniques to place preferable acquisition manner A accomplishments audit is whereby one can reexamine their bing accomplishment against the accomplishments that are required in your current every bit good as future function. It helps in placing bing accomplishments. identifies what accomplishments might be required in order to transport out your current function. be aftering efficaciously. developing and bettering the accomplishments and cognition required for future calling. Skills audit is carried out as a five phase procedure. Phase 1 – Existing Skills and Knowledge Identification The first phase is composing down the cognition and accomplishments which are considered of import for the current function. This can usually be obtained from the occupationdescription. Phase 2 – Future Skills and Knowledge IdentificationThis is observing down the cognition and accomplishments that are considered to be indispensable for future function. Phase 3 – Rating Your AbilityOnce the list is ready. the current abilities need to be rated against each accomplishment. This can either be done in a three points evaluation of strong. weak and mean or in five points evaluation which in more in deepness. 1. = no current competence 2. = Some consciousness3. = some competence4. = high degree of competence5. = to the full competent Phase 4 – Review Your Ability RatingsThis phase advises to acquire the list reviewed in order to derive feedback. usually by a supervisor in the workplace. Phase 5 – Your Future Development The last phase is merely utilizing this information in bettering. developing accomplishments and cognition for future development. Below is a accomplishments audit that I conducted for myself. I believe that I will be necessitating the same accomplishment set for my future calling as good hence I have merely conducted the accomplishments audit for my current function. Knowledge and accomplishments which I consider to be of import for my current function Your Ability Rating ( 1-5 ) or strong / weak / someplace in between Planning accomplishments 4Self-management accomplishments 3Communication skills 5Leadership skills 4Peoples pull offing accomplishments 4Time direction 3Analytic skills4Interpretation skills4Presentation skills 5Problem-Solving accomplishments 5Computer skills 5Networking accomplishments 3Decision-making accomplishments 4Motivation skills 4 There are assorted theoretical accounts that explain the manner people learn. One can be more of an effectual scholar if they are cognizant of the scope of possible acquisition methods and known when to use and what will outdo work for them ( Rosewell. n. d. ) . Harmonizing to Honey and Mumford ( 2000 ) . they claim that persons prefer different methods of larning depending on the scenario and experience degree. They have provided a questionnaire that examines general behaviour inclinations. This theoretical account is used by our organisation and I have used it for my preferable learning manner every bit good. There are four larning manners to this i. e. ; Militants. Pragmatist. Theorist and Reflector. After taking that questionnaire I can confidentially state that my preferable learning manner is a combination of both Militants and Pragmatist depending on the state of affairs. Section 3 Demonstrate how you would implement a personal development program: -Demonstrate how you would build a personal development program that meets leading development demands identified in the accomplishments audit -Explain the methods you would utilize to measure the results of a personal development program against personal work aims -Explain how you would measure the impact of your ain acquisition against the accomplishment of strategic ends A personal development program is where a list of ends and aims are included for persons to find the manner to accomplish these aims. This is considered to be a really structured attack ( BSBM notes ) . Below is my personal development program which I had constructed in a old assignment prior to carry oning a accomplishments audit. This program was constructed sing my current occupation and the accomplishments I needed to make it competently. I had besides considered the possible alterations in the old ages in front. I noted down both my short term every bit good as long term aspirations and the clip required to accomplish them. I carried out a realistic attack towards the readying of this program. I including my acquisition demands and how they will they fulfill the demands for carry throughing my personal every bit good as organisational aims. In building a Personal Development Plan one besides needs to see the resources that will be required in order to accomplish the aims every bit good as puting a realistic clip. While building this PDP I kept the SMART ends in head. After carry oning the accomplishments audit I would do more entries into the program sing the evaluation I gave to each accomplishment. Development NeedAction NeededResources NeededPersonal ObjectiveOrganizational GoalDate for Achievement A ; Review 1. Better Planning accomplishments -Set ain deadlines. instead than follow existent deadlines -Train staff in a manner that they come up with their ain agendas and so consult with meOn the occupation experience every bit good as larning programme. Improvement in the planning accomplishments will do me work more expeditiously and efficaciously. less emphasis. Working efficaciously and expeditiously will do it easier to accomplish organisational ends. December 2012 2. Better Self- direction accomplishments -Provide some flexibleness in the to make list. larn to prioritise On the occupation experience every bit good as larning programme application into the workplace Self-management accomplishments will assist me in a manner that I can break trade with the undertakings that are assigned to me Since I am the Operations director. the undertakings I do. hold an consequence on the organisational ends and aims On-going 3. Better Self-confidence ( swear ain determination doing power ) -On the occupation experience. interaction with co-workers-Weekly reappraisal of achievements. errors. and so larn from the errors -Learning programmes. every bit good as workplace experience-will assist get the better of the emotional elements which is portion of my failing. demand to swear my determination doing power so I am more stronger and confident in doing determinations -Operations Manager needs to move in the best involvement of the company. Since better assurance will foster assist me in doing determinations and swearing them will finally ensue in run intoing organisational ends Ongoing4. Networking accomplishments Need to socialise more. attend conferences. concern parties. etcGuidance from manager and senior managementWill aid in future calling Will assist organisation sing it runs several undertakings Ongoing 5. Time managementNeed to clip myself. put dismaies. deadlinesOn the occupation experience Salvaging clip. less stressTasks done efficaciously and expeditiously On-going In order for me to measure the result of the Personal Development Plan against my personal work aims I would carry on a reappraisal every one time in a piece. to see whether that result has been achieved. I need to find to what extent I have met the ends. In instance the results have non been met I should do appropriate alterations to my program and proctor as to what is it that I am non making right. Additionally I can besides maintain a acquisition log where I make entries after a twosome of hebdomads where for case the clip direction accomplishments. I can put an earlier deadline for a undertaking and see whether I am able to complete it on clip. that peculiar activity can be recorded in the acquisition log. hence this will assist me for the self-evaluation at a ulterior phase. The larning log will be entering the path modus operandi which will finally assist me in reexamining my result against my personal work aim. My rating will measure the extent to which I have made advancemen t in implementing the Professional Development Plan and accomplishing SMART aims. When I have achieved the strategic ends I will do a comparing of what I am making otherwise which will finally take to the apprehension of what I have learned against accomplishing the strategic ends. Brooding Learning Statement The chief subjects of this unit has impacted and will certainly impact my work function in the hereafter. I have gone through tonss of articles. notes. diaries provided to derive an apprehension of what strategic direction is all approximately. In add-on to this I have spoken to directors in the workplace who are manner more experient than me to derive an penetration and so associate the existent life illustration with the theory and I understood the constructs in deepness by this comparing. At the start of this unit I consider that I was weak in a few countries and I had to carry on a batch of research but my strength of being motivated and determined take me into carry oning appropriate research for this subject given that there is non plenty ( harmonizing to me ) stuff provided on Moodle as in comparing with other units. I feel really comfy about this unit now. Mentions Dadwal. S n. d. . â€Å"Personal development program and Learning styles† . Powerpoint notes. viewed on 1. 10. 2012. retrieved from cyberspace. Honey. P. A ; Mumford. A. ( 2000 ) . â€Å"The larning manners helper’s guide. Maidenhead† : Peter Honey Publications Ltd. Rosewell. J n. d. . â€Å"Learning Styles† . The Open University. Williams. C A ; McWilliams. A 2010. MGMT. Asia Pacific edn. Cengage Learning. Melbourne.

Essay on Disaster Management Reflections

Essay on Disaster Management Reflections Essay on Disaster Management Reflections Example Essay on Disaster Management Reflections: The earth has been affected by the natural hazards over a long time as man emerged into picture the picture that the natural occurrences were becoming disaster, together with being documented in various ways providing a warning for the future generation. However in 1920, there was a published study referred to as the catastrophe and social change by Henry Samuel Prince. This was the Halifax Disaster documented account and the occurrence of the social change. The first person to deliver evidence based study was Prince, by use of theory founding a paradigm which paved way for the management of disaster to be studied (Sperling, 2004). A change in social can be caused by disasters. Social change always is not for better depending on affected population resources (Oliver, 2002). Change in disaster study started changing with theories like as Carr discussing a cultural protection collapse. Carr made a discussion on how we got the tools in place encountering the act of disasters though if there was lack of these tools there was no more protection. Disaster is any occurrence that causes ecological disruption, damage, human life loss, health services and health deterioration on sufficient scale to warrant response extraordinary from the outside area or community affected (De Boer, 2000). In addition, it can be also defined as the series or event which disrupts the normal activities seriously. Disaster means a sudden or great misfortune. This may include tsunami; fires; floods; droughts; flood and many others. The major disasters naturally may include earthquake, cyclone, flood, and drought. Minor disasters naturally include storm, heat waves, cold wave, mud slides, and thunderstorm. The major disasters that may occur in man made activities include deforestation, fires, setting of fires, and pollution due to their prawn activities. Minor man made occurrence of disasters may include accidents on the roads or trains, riots, industrial riots, food poisoning, and environmental pollution. In history throughout disasters had some impacts significantly on the number, life style and health status of the population such as death, shortage of food, movements of the population, damage of water systems and the health facilities, and severe injuries which requires treatment extensive. Health problem that is common to every disaster include mental health, social reactions, nutrition and food, climatic exposure, health infrastructure damage, and population displacement. Whether a disaster is man- made or natural, it can occur at anytime and anywhere. General response to any disaster is thereby in terms of rescue and relief operations which are after the event. If we are well and adequately prepared, it is very easy to reduce the impact of that disaster. There can be reduction of the impact through being aware by understanding well the preventive actions, together with having knowledge of particular tools and techniques; at the time of disaster event these tools and techniques can be used to control total damage to belongings and life. The biggest problem and very sad thing is the way a disaster occur; they occur with swiftness and suddenness hence, for a disaster serenity to be reduced, the response has to be swift equally(De Boer, 2000). It is hard for a day to pass without news about complex or major emergency happening in different parts of the world, as disasters continue to strike causing destruction to both developed and undeveloped countries (Dyregrov, 1999). This raises vulnerability concern to occurrences that may affect gravely our daily lives and the future. In vulnerable populations, some emergency in particular those occurring in nature become catastrophic events only when they are in combination with the vulnerability factors like populations density and the human settlements. An occurrence of earthquake in deserted area is might be considered as a natural hazard, rather than if it occurred in mega city where it is recognized as major disaster (Stewart, 2005). Any type of emergency that has anything to do with vulnerability population together with man made included, concerns some technological disasters like the ones of chemicals or nuclear; these demonstrates complex and major emergencies are linked closely to an anarchic growth population that leads to poverty, unplanned population settlements, and environmental degradation. Disasters themselves have no limitation to specific parts of world. There are no countries that are disaster immune, but there is variance in disaster vulnerability (Sperling, 2005). However, some countries might be more prone to a particular type of disaster. The more advanced a country is, the level of their preparedness is slightly higher. High level of preparedness enhances them have good control over loss. Some disasters where loss during actual event is not required as high, hence losses become a bit high due to the inability in managing the situation in a timed manner. Another thing that might lead to a big loss during certain disasters is the secure utilities and properly manages inability (Pearce, 2003). In one way these utilities tend to be very important, and on the other hand, due to ruptures or leakage, some of them might be in contact with each other, where they are not supposed to therefore leading to further damage. The most important thing and the most motivation of disaster management are minimizing losses at disaster time together with ensuring that resources are utilized effectively; as they are scarce already. The major disasters naturally may include earthquake, cyclone, flood, and drought. Minor disasters naturally include storm, heat waves, cold wave, mud slides, and thunderstorm. The major disasters that may occur in man made activities include deforestation, fires, setting of fires, and pollution due to their prawn activities. Minor man made occurrence of disasters may include accidents on the roads or trains, riots, industrial riots, food poisoning, and environmental pollution. There are four types of disaster mainly. These include environmental emergencies, natural disasters, pandemic disasters, and complex disasters. Disaster prevention is activities that are designed for provision of permanent disasters protection. Not every disaster can be prevented and particularly natural disasters; the loss risk of injury and life can be only mitigated with plans of good evacuation, design standards and environmental planning. Disaster preparedness is activities for life loss and damage minimization (Pearce, 2003). Preparedness is the best way of reducing disasters impact. Disaster relief is a multi-agency coordinated response of reducing disaster impact and its results of long-term. These activities may include relocation, rescue, water and food provision, preventing disability and disease, repair of vital services like transport, provision of temporary shelter and health care emergency. Once the needs of emergency has been accomplished and the crisis is initially over, those affected together with the community supporting them remain vulnerable. Management of disaster is linked with the development sustainably, in particular with vulnerable people relation like the ones with disability, children, elderly people and groups marginalized. ______________ is a professional essay writing service which can provide high school, college and university students with 100% original custom written essays, research papers, dissertations, courseworks, book reviews, lab reports, presentations and other assignments of top quality. More than 700 professional Ph.D. and Master’s academic writers. Feel free to buy online essay on Disaster Management from our professional essay writing service.

The Important Role of US Third Parties

The Important Role of US Third Parties While their candidates for President of the United States and Congress have little chance of being elected, America’s third political parties have historically played a major role in bringing about sweeping social, cultural, and political reform. Womens Right to Vote Both the Prohibition and Socialist Parties promoted the womens suffrage movement during the late 1800s. By 1916, both Republicans and Democrats supported it and by 1920, the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote had been ratified. Child Labor Laws The Socialist Party first advocated laws establishing minimum ages and limiting hours of work for American children in 1904. The Keating-Owen Act established such laws in 1916. Immigration Restrictions The Immigration Act of 1924 came about as a result of support by the Populist Party starting as early as the early 1890s. Reduction of Working Hours You can thank the Populist and Socialist Parties for the 40-hour work week. Their support for reduced working hours during the 1890s led to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. Income Tax In the 1890s, the Populist and Socialist Parties supported a progressive tax system that would base a persons tax liability on their amount of income. The idea led to the ratification of the 16th Amendment in 1913. Social Security The Socialist Party also supported a fund to provide temporary compensation for the unemployed in the late 1920s. The idea led to the creation of laws establishing unemployment insurance and the Social Security Act of 1935. Tough on Crime In 1968, the American Independent Party and its presidential candidate George Wallace advocated getting tough on crime. The Republican Party adopted the idea in its platform and the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 was the result. (George Wallace won 46 electoral votes in the 1968 election. This was the highest number of electoral votes collected by a third party candidate since Teddy Roosevelt, running for the Progressive Party in 1912, won  a total of  88 votes.) America’s First Political Parties The Founding Fathers wanted the American federal government and its inevitable politics to remain non-partisan. As a result, the U.S. Constitution makes no mention whatsoever of political parties. In Federalist Papers No. 9 and No. 10, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, respectively refer to the dangers of political factions they had observed in the British government. America’s first president, George Washington, never joined a political party and warned against the stagnation and conflict they can cause in his Farewell Address. â€Å"However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.† - George Washington, Farewell Address, September 17, 1796 However, it was Washington’s own closest advisers who spawned the American political party system. Hamilton and Madison, despite writing against political factions in the Federalist Papers, became the core leaders of the first two functional opposing political parties. Hamilton emerged as the leader of the Federalists, who favored a strong central government, while Madison and Thomas Jefferson led the Anti-Federalists, who stood for a smaller, less-powerful central government. It was the early battles between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists that spawned the environment of partisanship that now dominates all levels of American government.   Leading Modern Third Parties While the following is far from all of the recognized third parties in American politics, the Libertarian, Reform, Green, and Constitution Parties are usually the most active in presidential elections. Libertarian Party Founded in 1971, the Libertarian party is the third largest political party in America. Over the years, Libertarian Party candidates have been elected to many state and local offices. Libertarians believe the  federal government  should play a minimal role in the day-to-day affairs of the people. They believe that the only appropriate role of government is to protect the citizens from acts of physical force or fraud. A libertarian-style government would, therefore, limit itself to a police, court, prison system and military. Members support the free market economy and are dedicated to the protection of civil liberties and individual freedom. Reform Party In 1992, Texan H. Ross Perot spent over $60 million of his own money to run for president as an independent. Perots national organization, known as United We Stand America succeeded in getting Perot on the ballot in all 50 states. Perot won 19 percent of the vote in November, the best result for a third party candidate in 80 years. Following the 1992 election, Perot and United We Stand America organized into the Reform Party. Perot again ran for president as the Reform Party candidate in 1996 winning 8.5 percent of the vote. As its name implies, Reform Party members are dedicated to reforming the American political system. They support candidates they feel will re-establish trust in government by displaying high ethical standards coupled with fiscal responsibility and accountability. Green Party The American Green Partys platform is based on the following 10 Key Values: Ecological wisdomCommunity-based economicsGrassroots democracyDecentralizationGender equalityPersonal and social responsibilityRespect for diversityNonviolenceGlobal responsibility Greens seek to restore balance through recognizing that our planet and all of life are unique aspects of an integrated whole, and also through affirming the significant inherent values and contribution of each part of that whole. The Green Party - Hawaii Constitution Party In 1992, American Taxpayer Party presidential candidate Howard Phillips appeared on the ballot in 21 states. Mr. Phillips again ran in 1996, achieving ballot access in 39 states. At its national convention in 1999, the party officially changed its name to the Constitution Party and again chose Howard Phillips as its presidential candidate for 2000. The Constitution Party favors a government based on a strict interpretation of the U.S. Constitution and the principals expressed in it by the Founding Fathers. They support a government limited in scope, structure, and power of regulation over the people. Under this goal, the Constitution Party favors a return of most governmental powers to the states, communities and the people.

Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 4

Ethics - Essay Example A third system of ethics is the deontological theory that lays emphasis on self-rule, acts of kindness, and universal justice. The fourth ethical theory is the virtue ethics. This theory contends that morals exist internally, laying more emphasis on the production of individuals who act ethically because they are naturally good people. Utilitarianism is the fifth widely accepted system of ethics. According to this theory, utilitarianism as a theory of ethics contends that actions need to be considered as wrong or right with regards to the consequences that the actions have. The theory makes an argument that good actions are those that give great happiness to as many individuals as possible (Wundt, 2010). Despite the fact that utilitarianism as an ethical theory has come in for some criticism, especially from the philosophical side, the theory is the most convincing of all the other mentioned ethical systems. Utilitarian Ethical System Utilitarianism as an ethical theory can be dated as far back as the 17th century. The theory is attributed to Thomas Hobbes, who was an ancient student of philosophy before it was reviewed Bentham in the 18th century and Stuart Mill reviewed it later (Ekland-Olson & Dirks, 2011). Stuart mill is regarded as the utilitarian theory’s father with research showing that, following his review of the theory, the theory became part of modern thought. Many people view the theory as a viable alternative to the more accepted Christianity. The reason that it is the most convincing of all the other ethical theories is because it tends to make a judgment on an act as either wrong or right depending on the act’s outcome (Ekland-Olson & Dirks, 2011). The implication of this is that, the utilitarian theory enables people to consider what consequence the act has before they elect to pursue a policy or action over other options that are available to them. When an individual considers the consequences of their individual actions, the the ory allows them to take other persons’ interests into account, rather than just their own personal interests. This is highly convincing when considered as an ethical system. Ethics involves doing what is right with regards to the interest of other individuals instead of doing it to suit one’s own interests. Thus, it is clear that the utilitarian ethical system is focused on the creation of a happier existence for as many persons in the society as possible (Ekland-Olson & Dirks, 2011). This factor makes the theory more convincing than others do. Utilitarianism is also made more convincing as a system of ethics by yet another factor that is its practicability and rationality. The utilitarianism ethics have their basis on a balanced calculation on how many persons can have their happiness and satisfaction maximized by the actions taken and their consequences (Smart, 2011). This is simple and clear, and through the application of utilitarianism as a fundamental standard fo r the judgment of what is wrong and what is right, it avoids the contamination of the moral of morality with perceptions that are irrational, feelings, as well as prejudices. The most essential factor that conveys the highly convincing status to this particular system of ethics is the fact that there is practicality in the rational computation principle (Smart, 2011). As an ethical system, the utilitarian t

Carrefour Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Carrefour - Assignment Example The other smaller stores include supermarkets, convenience stores, and gas stations. The first store was opened in 1997, in Lodz. It also has a mobile service known as Carrefour Mova (Hoovers, 2015). The hypermarket structure has contributed immensely to the success of Carrefour. The company deals mainly with grocery and retail items. The items are as follows; clothing, household items, hardware, perishable and non-perishable food items. The business networks of Carrefour include convenience stores, hypermarkets, online stores, discount stores, supermarkets and electronic commerce. The Carrefour hypermarkets offer a range of services which include: financial service, ATM, parcel holding, Carrefour optical, shopping center to name a few. Carrefour also faces stiff competition in this competitive industry of grocery and retailing from other businesses either locally or internationally based. These competitors include: convenience stores, Wal-Mart, Ahold, Auchan, Tesco, Aldi and grocery stores. What differentiates these chains is their marketing plans strategy. Thus, this report will analyze the strategies it has employed in venturing in this new foreign market, and that has enable it compete favorably and continue making profits. Also it will include a SLEPT analysis of how marketing mix elements and management issues influence its successful productivity (Businesscasestudies, 2015). The major strength of Carrefour is that it is a hypermarket store well stocked with diverse goods and services, and it is well-known globally. The creation of its brand name products is a probable weakness that Carrefour faces. This is because it is a tradition of customers to the belief that own-branded products are inferior and hence lose trust in the company. Carrefour has potential opportunities for exploring its online stores and expansion in overseas markets. Carrefour also experiences enormous threats and challenges such as it creates

Exploring the Past Essay Example for Free

Exploring the Past Essay All of us have little secrets which we don’t want to share with others – things which we are ashamed of, things which are too intimate to tell or just things which happened in the past and we don’t want to tell them because they may hurt someone or they may cause troubles to us. I have the perfect example that exploring the past sometimes may be painful. I have a friend – Lora- which is very amorous and gives all of herself for her boyfriend. But her ex one didn’t understand that. Tom – her ex-boyfriend was very weird and he wanted to know all about Lora’s previous relationships. One day he asked her why she has broken up with her last boyfriend. At first she didn’t want to talk about that but he was urging her. So she told Tom that she has betrayed her last boyfriend and that was the reason of their parting. When she has been at a party at a friend of her she has got very drunk and a boy from the party has embraced the opportunity and got alone with her. In the morning she couldn’t remember anything but it has been too late. The lover had gone off. Her only fault was that she had drunk so much but she wasn’t guilty for the rest of the occurrence. But her then boyfriend didn’t understand that and he left her although she loved him very much. As for Tom he thought Lora could do that again. They have been together for two years and he chucked her up because she might repeat the same mistake again. It was such a stupid reason. She could correct her mistake but she loved Tom very much. He loved her too but feelings were obviously insufficient to keep them together. They both pined after each other for a long but they didn’t get together again. We can’t return the time and fix our mistakes, nobody can change the past. So it is extremely purposeless to explore the old times. It’s just a waste of time which we can spend in creating the future.

Stem Cell Research and a Ban on Human Cloning :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

Stem Cell Research and a Ban on Human Cloning    Some biotechnology companies claim that a ban on producing human embryos through cloning would stall important research in generating "stem cells" to cure a variety of diseases [Cong. Record, 2/5/98, S425]. To put this claim in perspective:    1. Cloning is desired as a source of "customized stem cell lines" which would be an exact genetic match to each individual patient with a given disease. But this would require each individual patient to undergo somatic cell nuclear transfer to produce one or many living human embryos who genetically are the patient's identical twin sisters or brothers. These embryos would then be destroyed to provide embryonic stem cells.    Two methods of obtaining the cells have been described. In one, the embryo is allowed to develop normally for a week or two to the blastocyst stage, at or after the usual time of implantation in the mother's womb; then this embryo, consisting of hundreds of cells, is dissected for its stem cells. The other method is to introduce molecular signals into the embryo's environment to "trick" its cells into departing from normal development and instead producing "a mass of undifferentiated tissue," which can then be reprogrammed into various kinds of cells [Lee Silver, Remaking Eden: Cloning and Beyond in a Brave New World (Avon Books 1997), p. 128]. In either case, the living embryo is destroyed.    2. This avenue for providing medical benefits has been described even by supporters as "largely conjectural" (J. Kassirer and N. Rosenthal, in New England Journal of Medicine, March 26, 1998, p. 905). President Clinton's National Bioethics Advisory Commission called it "a rather expensive and far-fetched scenario." The Commission observed: "Because of ethical and moral concerns raised by the use of embryos for research purposes it would be far more desirable to explore the direct use of human cells of adult origin to produce specialized cells or tissues for transplantation into patients." The Commission outlined three alternative avenues for promising research using stem cells that do not involve human cloning, two of which do not use human embryos at all (Cloning Human Beings: Report and Recommendations of the National Bioethics Advisory Commission, June 1997, pp. 30-31).    The Commission's Alternatives    The alternatives outlined by President Clinton's Commission are as follows:    1. Generating "a few, widely used and well characterized human embryonic stem cell lines, genetically altered to prevent graft rejection in all possible recipients.

Analysis on the role of women and men in vanity Essay

Victorian era literary has produced many different masterpieces from many different writers who focused mainly on the emergence of interpersonal issues involving love, money and social status, usually backdropped by a historical event with national relevance at the time of the story telling. Vanity Fair is one of these types of this kind of work. And even until today, Vanity Fair is one of the materials referenced by critics during literary analysis involving the role of women in the society, the role of patriarchal influence in the Victorian era social politics and the presentation of different women stereotypes in literature. Vanity Fair is a serialized literary material written by William Makepeace Thackeray, published initially in the pages of Punch Magazine in the United Kingdom, beginning at the start of the year 1847, the final instalment appearing a year later in July. The initial title of this masterpiece was Vanity Fair: A Novel without a Hero. A popular saying describes vanity as the favorite sin of men and women, a line of thought which will be heavily discussed and supported in this particular paper through the analysis of the presence of vanity and the role of men and women inside the society on the propagation and existence of vanity. Vanity Fair is a very interesting book that attacks personal and societal illnesses that causes the corruption and corrosion from the inside of what was believed to be a socially-shared moral right. The author attacked the issues and the personal and social crises by pointing out the role of individuals as well as the role of the structure of the society that influences the lives of the individuals in the story. â€Å"Almost every sin in Vanity Fair can be traced, beyond personal weakness, to the fundamental laws of money and class†¦ The poison in Vanity Fair infects the bottom rungs of the social ladder as well as the top (Dyson, 1973, p. 86). † The role of women in William Thackeray’s â€Å"Vanity Fair† There are many different women found in the novel Vanity Fair. But there are some key female characters that provided significant roles in the story so that the novel can depict the real life situation in the Victorian era and in the process provide whatever moral lesson it can about the aspects of life that it managed to discuss and tackle. The list of key female characters that require scrutiny and analysis is topped by the three women characters that possess any or all of the traits that made them important, like personality, influence, cunning and power: Miss Crawley and the contrasting Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley. Becky Sharp – In a novel without a hero, Becky Sharp was the heroine, even if for some she is the anti-heroine. Becky was one of the two lead women characters who are central to the story. The two girls are opposites in many different ways, and their lives continue such path, with Becky becoming the most villainous of the two and Amelia Sedley her exact opposite. Indeed, the character of Becky Sharp was the catalyst for social abrasion. Some might feel that Becky represents everything that is morally bad and undesirable in the society inside Vanity Fair. Sharp’s character also reminds the readers that people cannot ignore people like her and the characteristics that she displays, dismissing it as a characteristic that is a mere product of a fictional character. Her character represents a type of individual who is alive in the real world. In some twisted consideration, Becky can be considered as the source of â€Å"life† – if life means the presence of constant conflict and the consistent surfacing of anything unexpected – inside a society because Becky does not let social norms get in the way of what she wants. â€Å"The woman who goes after money and status but finds that they do not satisfy her – a woman like Becky Sharp – is allowed to be at least morally interesting (Garson, 2007, p. 99). † Whether readers admit it or not, Becky’s character is an important pull to the consciousness of the readers; she provides the intrigue and sin that readers on the outside condemn but diligently follows through in the next episodes of the novel. Becky seduces and elicits the feeling of scorn and hate so much that she makes the readers always eager to know what happened to her, largely because real life readers are as vain as her. Becky taunts the devil in the readers, making them think and reconsider the â€Å"what ifs,† the things that Becky is not afraid to do which the readers are having second thoughts of doing. Becky triggers the fantasies. For the women readers, it is the fantasy of being able to pull of seduction and gain worldly possessions, to bed many different men and feel a different kind of power, to be free from the shackles and restraints the patriarchal society placed upon women and to be largely free and unaccountable to anything. For male readers, the fantasy is to be seduced by a Becky Sharp, to be offered body and lustful obedience in exchange for money and power that not every man can have in his lifetime. Becky made the world go around inside Vanity Fair, even if the sad part is that as a whole, she is still a mere part of the patriarchal society that used her as much as she used it to her advantage. â€Å"And what else creates change in Vanity Fair if not Becky’s subversive sexual behavior? It is she deprives Amelia of a loving husband well before Thackeray has him killed off on the battlefield at Waterloo (Armstrong, 1990. p. 178). † Amelia Sedley – Amelia contradicts Becky in comparison in many ways. Amelia always opts to live in the past and is tied with the memory of past while Becky is always looking ahead into the future. Amelia is always passive and easily contented, while Becky is always on the move, always hunting or scheming so that she can get what she wants. Amelia is the prototype for the docile and meek domestic housewife, during and after her married life with George, while Becky was â€Å"anything but. † Amelia gives the readers hope that there are still people who walk the straight path of morality, while Becky is jumping up and down, always falling far from where morality wants her to be. Amelia’s role in the novel is more than just as an individual who represents everything that Becky is. Amelia, to some extent, was also the symbol of the ills of the life of being meek and sulky. She is the anatomy of the unknowing victim, the unwitting casualty to the moral massacre that poverty, indebtedness, puritanism and being overly morally upright undertakes in everyday life. She was an angel all right, but Thackeray made sure that even with wings it is easily discernable that Amelia is far from being in heaven largely because of her personality. Amelia, as a character, lived a life that was far from being the ideal married life, and the story was as unkind to her as the critics of the symbolism of woman to which she stood for. â€Å"Late-Victorian women writers contributed to the fight for women’s rights by creating representations of women that confronted the self-abnegating, submissive, housebound image of middle-class Ideal Womanhood. This ideal was epitomized at mid-century by William Thackeray’s Amelia Sedley from Vanity Fair (Mangum, 1999, p. 2). † Becky and Amelia: The analysis and profiling of the real heroine The heroine in the story can either be Becky or Amelia, depending on the reader and the reader’s perspective and moral standpoint. This is because the identification of the heroine type between the two female characters in the novel speaks a lot about the personal characteristics of the person making the difference between the two. The reader would be placed in a dilemma wherein the reader has to choose which personality she would approve between the polar characteristics of Becky and Amelia. â€Å"Plot in Vanity Fair is primarily the histories of two women: one, the shrewdly competent Rebecca Sharp, consistently exploits the conventions of high society to rise within it; the other, the compassionate but vulnerable Amelia Sedley, is exploited by Rebecca and others in their campaign to achieve social prominence (Lund, 1992, p. 23). † The author was consistent with what critics call as rule in the creation of fictitious married female characters. The story divides the desire for love and for materials goods between two individuals who are vaguely antagonists or protagonists in the story. The clear idea to the readers is the priorities of the women as human characters, looking at them outside the scope of gender. As a human character, Becky was the one who puts material things above all, while the character of Amelia puts love above all – providing not just a state of realism but also a sense of balance to the presence of contrasting but significant roles in the novel. With this the reader, male or female, would knowingly or otherwise pick one of the two to become his/her heroine largely on the identification of the same grounds where the character and reader stands. A reader will hardly choose both because like the rule of the fiction writing, the reader will only empathize with the predicament of the character with whom he or she relates the most. â€Å"The rule in fiction is that a female character cannot want both love and luxury. Rare indeed is the novelistic heroine who genuinely loves her husband but who at the same time desires and frankly enjoys the goods that he is able to buy her (Garson, 2007, p. 99). † Thackeray makes it more difficult for the readers to pick which is the heroine between the two opposite characters because an important characteristic of the difference between the two is that the author created characters which are neither white nor black. Becky and Amelia are both neither strictly good nor straight-out bad. The differences of the two candidates for heroine-ism also made implications that altered their state of being good or bad as their state of lives moves forward in the story. There is a sense of goodness in Becky as much as there are some things in Amelia which may merit disapproval from the readers. Because the story is centered on domestic life of couples and the complexity that the society and the personalities of the people in it contribute to the lives of married individuals, the personalities of Beck and Amelia as wives are just as important pieces of consideration as much as their own personal characteristics are in the pursuit of defining who is the more suitable heroine between the two. And like their personalities as single individuals, how they were as wives is just as complicated, Thackeray became consistent with the idea of ending up with having no real defined hero (or heroine for that matter). It forces the reader to take a very good look at real life before finally judging who between Becky and Amelia deserved to be raised in the pedestal as the ideal woman and wife. â€Å"The role she plays perhaps most productively is that of the faithful and charming little wife to Rawdon Crawley. Ironically, as long as she finds it advantageous to play this role, she is a much more effective domestic angel than Amelia Osborne, whose devotion to her husband George is heartfelt but sterile, who maternal affection is positively destructive, and who is quite unable to repay Dobbin for his years of devotion. In contrast to Amelia, Becky brings out the best in her husband, transforming Rawdon from a randy roue to a contented husband and a devoted father (Garson, 2007, p. 99). †

Middle Ages educations

Education is acquiring or imparting new knowledge and also an art of teaching. Middle Ages educations have different experience from Greek education. Education in the Middle Ages most of the people were unable to read and write and showing lack of culture but some of the children who belongs to the upper class were educated. The Monks taught the poor children on how to read and write a little. Grammar schools where built for the middle class boys, and they worked long hours in the grammar school and the boys were beaten with rods or twigs as their form of discipline. Middle age education is unfortunate for the reason that popular educational history books continue to repeat errors and misstatements. During the middle age period monks were the teacher for learning to read and write Latin at the school for boys. Latin is the major language used by the church and bible. Literacy and learning were increasing and by 15th century students began to learn grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music. At that time one-third of the population started to learn on how to read and write. During the Middle Ages, which were on the 5th to the 15th century, Christianity particularly Roman Catholic Church operated the parishes, monastery and chapels at the elementary level. Schools in monasteries and cathedrals offered secondary education while much of the teaching in these schools was directed at learning Latin, the old Roman language used by the church in its ceremonies and teachings. The church provided some limited opportunities for the education of women in religious communities of convents (History 2). The Greek Gods were much more down-to-earth and much less awesome than the remote gods of the East. Because they were furnish with human qualities and represented aspects of the physical world, such as the sun, the moon, and the sea (Greek ). In Greek education ancient Greece girls learned skills from their mothers like weaving and only boys went to school at the age of seven. Girls learned athletics and dancing for them to become fit and healthy mothers of more soldiers. And those who belong to a rich family were accompanied by a slave and most of the time if they commit mistakes they were beaten. Discipline was very severe; In Sparta children were treated very harshly. At the age of 7 boys were removed from their families and sent to live in barracks. They were treated severely to turn them into brave soldiers. They were deliberately kept short of food so they would have to steal-teaching them to stealth and cunning. They were whipped for many offenses. ( Lambert). The boys from Sparta became military cadets and learned the arts of war and joined the state militia which is a standing reserve force available for duty in time of emergency in which also they served until they reached the age of sixty. Sparta also provided training for girls who went beyond the domestic arts, they are not forced to leave home like the boys but they have same training that of the boys. During the middle age education they used the classical learning for Christian used. There were two traditions of classical literature and philosophy which separated the classical world and were brought together in union by the church rearranged into another educational method that would be the standard of learning. The union of the literary and scientific world views in Christ was the contribution of Medieval Christianity. Their system which is called as the Trivium, make the foundation of the seven liberal arts program which became universal throughout the Middle Ages. In this period the Hebrew people continued to teach their children the ways of God and rejecting pagan culture. At the end of Middle Ages, natural knowledge became powerful and philosophy being discredited, where the connection between the theology and the sciences were separated. And man started to work out and draw closer to life that is religion independent. At the early 18th century charity schools were built in many towns and called as Blue Coat Schools based on the color of children’s uniforms. Boys from rich families were sent to grammar schools and the girls still went to school but learning embroidery and music were more important for them. Until to the 19th century girls from upper class were taught by a governess. But the punishment in this period were still brutal, they included beatings and only less able pupils were humiliated by being forced to wear a â€Å"dunce’s cap†. In the early period, like those in Europe, consisted of one room where one teacher taught pupils from ages six to thirteen and sometimes older. The free education for all children were successfully implemented, educators focus their attention on how to attain quality education. In particular, significant in shaping new directions has been introduced which involves development of intellectual skills, engaging in new diversity of human communities and global culture.   The teacher-centered to learner-centered education instruction is highly emphasized and its new approaches to teaching and learning. There is a shift of teaching to a learning theoretical framework of instruction which is one process of transformation which is indeed the central point of great change during the contemporary times. The quality of education has been changing and improved. Although applications of techniques and theories where highly been practiced and exposure of students in facing the reality and its capacity to resolve and exercise leadership and responsibility. Organized teaching techniques and theory applications were being practiced and realized. Teaching skills were improved as well as the student’s performance in each field. In contemporary education, learning strategies were given stress and reducing the into which degree of the others. Works Cited â€Å"Tim Lambert.† A Brief History of Education. 1 April 2008 http://www.localhistories.org/education.html. â€Å" Ancient Greek Education.†1 April 2008 http://www.crystalinks.com/greekeducation.html â€Å"Hugh Graham Ph.D.† June 1993.Popular Education During the Middle Ages. 1 April 2008 http://www.catholicculture.org/library/view.cfm?recnum=903—–popular   

Anemia Case Study Essays - Anemias, Mineral Deficiencies

Anemia Case Study Essays - Anemias, Mineral Deficiencies Running Head: Anemia Case Study Anemia Case Study Name: Institute: Date: Case Study #1 Ms. A has breathlessness, lethargy, light-headedness, tachycardia, tachypnea and hypotension. She is suffering with menorrhagia and dysmenorrheal for ten to twelve years and taking aspirin to relieve menstruation pain as well as to avoid joint stiffness while playing golf. Her laboratory values shows low Hemoglobin=8g/dl (Normal value 12-15.2gm/dl in female), Low Hematocrit = 32% (Normal value- 37-46% in female), low Erythrocyte count = 3.1x 10/m (Normal - 3.8-5.5 x 10/mm in female), Reticulocyte count = 1.5% (Normal 0.5-1.5%) and RBC smear shows microcytic and hypochromic cells (Saunders, 1999). Based on these observations, Ms.A is most likely having iron deficiency anemia. Anemia is also called iron poor blood. There are many types of anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia in the world. Blood is unable to carry enough oxygen when there is anemia. Hemoglobin is an iron rich protein that gives red color to the blood. Iron is an essential substance for the synthesis of hemoglobin. The function of hemoglobin is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. Pregnancy, heavy menstruation, ulcers, colon polyps, inherited disorders, colon cancer and inadequate intake of dietary iron are some causes of anemia. Some blood disorders like Thalassemia, sickle cell anemia and cancer also can lead to anemia (Anemia , 2011). Regular use of aspirin or other non steroidal antiinflamatory drugs like Ibuprofen can lead to anemia aswell.Microcytic and hypochromic red blood cells are seen in iron deficiency anemia. Dietary deficiency of iron and chronic blood loss are the two main causes of this type of anemia.Other causes are inability to absorb iron like in intestinal diseasessuch as celiac disease and intake of some medication that reduce the acid in the stomach. The signs and symptoms include tachycardia, dyspnea, palpitations, fatigue, pallor, mouth sorness especially on the corners of the mouth (Module 3 Readings). Anemia also can make the patient weak,cold and irritable. The doctor will diagnose iron deficiency anemia based on the medical history, physical exam and the results of the tests and procedures. There may be no signs and symptoms to mild to moderate iron deficiency anemia.Therefore,often this anemia is diagnosed during a screening test or when checking for other problems.Iron deficiency anemia usually develop over time.A simple blood test of complete blood count can diagnose the disease.Other tests used to diagnose iron deficiency anemia are reticulocyte count, peripheral smear and tests to measure the iron levels. This type of anemia can be succesfully treated and it depends on the cause and severity of the condition. Treatment includes dietary changes and iron suppliments.Iron therapy in injectable forms and blood transfusion are the tratment for severe iron deficiency anemia.If the iron deficiency is caused by bleeding, the cause has to be treated first.For example, a bleeding peptic ulcer may need antibiotics,other medications and even surgery.(Explore Iron- Deficiency Anemia, 2011). Ms.A shows most of the signs and symptoms of iron deficiency anemia. Her blood work is also indicating the same. Based on the circumstances and preliminary work up , Ms. A is most probably having Iron deficiency anemia. It seems there may be some different contributing factors to Ms. As circumstance. It would be beneficial to her if she were educated about supplements for the heavy menses, maintaining hydration and knowledge about dosage and risks of taking aspirin. Reference Anemia . (2011). Retrieved from Medline Plus: nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/anemia.html Explore Iron- Deficiency Anemia. (2011). Retrieved from National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/ida/ Saunders, W. (1999). Normal Reference Range Table. Retrieved from http://pathcuric1.swmed.edu/pathdemo/nrrt.htm

What Exactly Is the ACT Aspire Why Should You Care

What Exactly Is the ACT Aspire Why Should You Care SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips In 2014, ACT Inc. replaced the ACT Plan – a pre-test very similar to the ACT – with the ACT Aspire. Aspire has a very different format, age range, and goals than either the ACT Plan or the regular ACT. So why did the ACT release a new test, and how can it help you prepare for the ACT? We will explore what makes Aspire unique and what you can expect from it. History: The ACT Plan Before ACT Aspire, ACT offered the Plan. The Plan was a straightforward ACT practice test designed for 10th graders. It tested the same subject areas as the ACT and used the same format: a paper and pencil multiple-choice test. The Plan was seen as the ACT’s version of the PSAT. (The PSAT is the SAT’s practice test.) However, unlike the PSAT, the Plan did not enter you into a scholarship competition. It was just a test to let 10th graders (and their schools) know if they were on track to meet college readiness benchmarks and do well on the ACT. The ACT also offered the Explore, a test with the same format but less difficult content, meant to show middle school students if they were on track for high school. The Plan was scored between 1 and 32, while the ACT is scored between 1 and 36. As such, the Plan predicted an ACT score between 1 and 5 points higher than a Plan score. For example, a Plan score of 32 predicted an ACT score between 33 and 36. However, in 2014, ACT discontinued both the Plan and Explore and replaced them with the ACT Aspire. ACT Aspire also predicts an ACT score, but its format and scoring are very different, and it has much broader goals. Why Did ACT Create the Aspire? ACT is hoping the Aspire will become a widely-used test not just for ACT practice, but to assess Common Core standards. The Common Core is a new series of education standards being adopted by many states in the US. The standards are supposed to be more rooted in critical and creative thinking, so they are less straightforward than the old standards. As an example, an old Algebra standard for linear equations could be something like this: â€Å"Interpret the equation y = mx + b as defining a linear function, whose graph is a straight line.† The Common Core expects students to â€Å"Distinguish between situations that can be modeled with linear functions and with exponential functions† and to â€Å"Prove that linear functions grow by equal differences over equal intervals, and that exponential functions grow by equal factors over equal intervals.† In other words, the content is the same, but the expectations and methods are different. Since the Common Core has a different approach, it also requires different standardized tests to monitor student progress. This is where ACT hopes the Aspire will come in. (The PARCC and Smarter Balanced are other examples of tests being offered for the same purpose.) Because of this, the ACT Aspire isn’t just a 10th grade test – it is designed to be given every year starting in 3rd grade all the way through 10th grade, so it can assess student growth from year to year. In that sense, Aspire is a much larger and more ambitious undertaking than the Plan or Explore. The goal of Aspire is to identify learning gaps early on to help students stay on track for college readiness, while also preparing students for the content on the ACT. To do that, Aspire will also track college readiness using the ACT’s benchmarks. What Is the Aspire Like? The Aspire has five sections that align with the ACT Plus Writing subject areas: Reading, English, Math, Science, and Writing. (The Plan did not include a writing section.) However, unlike the ACT, Aspire includes a wide variety of question types. Aspire questions can be multiple choice, short answer, or long answer (including essays and narratives). The questions also make students rearrange lists, correct math problems, or pick multiple answers from a set of choices. So even though the content is similar to the ACT's, the Aspire as a test is quite different. As an example, here are two short answer questions featured on a sample Aspire test: A short-answer reading question. A short-answer math question. Via ACT Aspire. If you want to see more sample questions for yourself, go to this website and enter the login information for the test section and grade level you're interested in. Note that the Aspire is a timed test, like the ACT. Aspire can be offered either on computers or on paper. The paper option is more expensive, so it’s likely many students will end up taking it on the computer. This is also different than the ACT, which is a paper-and-pencil bubble test. How Is Aspire Scored? The Aspire does not use an ACT-like scale the way the Plan did. Instead, the Aspire assigns scores between 400and 460 for each subject. The score ranges are tied to grade levels, with an expected increase for each grade. When you get a score report, it will include your score, how you compare to others in your grade, your strengths, and where you can still improve. The ACT still uses those scores to predict future ACT scores, based on when you took the test. For example, they would predict a higher future ACT score if an 8th grader earned a 410 versus a 10th grader, since an 8th grader has more time to learn and improve. However, the prediction is less straightforward than just adding a few ACT composite points. Furthermore, since the Aspire is so different, the prediction is not at all set in stone. (See our Aspire to ACT Score Predictions article for more on Aspire scoring and ACT predictions.) What's a Good Aspire Score? What score should you be aiming for on the Aspire?ACT has provided low, high, and benchmark scores for each of the five subjects tested in grades 3 through 10. Benchmark scores are what you need to reach to be considered "on track", a low score is below average, and a high score is above average. You can use this chart to figure out how well you/your child is scoring on the Aspire or to set goal scores for the next exam. Grade Tested Subject Low Score High Score Benchmark 3 English 400 435 413 3 Reading 400 429 415 3 Math 400 434 413 3 Science 400 433 418 3 Writing 408 440 428 4 English 400 438 417 4 Reading 400 431 417 4 Math 400 440 416 4 Science 400 436 420 4 Writing 408 440 428 5 English 400 442 419 5 Reading 400 434 420 5 Math 400 446 418 5 Science 400 438 422 5 Writing 408 440 428 6 English 400 448 420 6 Reading 400 436 421 6 Math 400 451 420 6 Science 400 440 423 6 Writing 408 448 428 7 English 400 450 421 7 Reading 400 438 423 7 Math 400 453 422 7 Science 400 443 425 7 Writing 408 448 428 8 English 400 452 422 8 Reading 400 440 424 8 Math 400 456 425 8 Science 400 446 427 8 Writing 408 448 428 9 English 400 456 426 9 Reading 400 442 425 9 Math 400 460 428 9 Science 400 449 430 9 Writing 408 448 428 10 English 400 456 428 10 Reading 400 442 428 10 Math 400 460 432 10 Science 400 449 432 10 Writing 408 448 428 Will Aspire Help You Prepare for the ACT? Since Aspire is given over several years and uses different question types, you may be wondering how it will help you prepare for the ACT, which is mostly multiple-choice and usually taken by 11th and 12th graders. The main way Aspire will help you prepare for the ACT is by testing the same content, with the same benchmarks. Aspire will show you if you are learning enough, content-wise, to do well on the ACT. Aspire will also give you more time to improve for the ACT. For example, if you learn as a sixth grader that your math scores are lower than your peers’ scores, you have five years to improve your math skills before taking the ACT. If you learned that from the Plan, you would have only had one year to study and improve. That said, the actual ACT’s format is quite different from Aspire – all multiple-choice unless you take the ACT Plus Writing – and has more intense pacing. Getting a great score on the ACT requires good pacing and multiple-choice test strategy as well as knowing the content. The Aspire will help you learn content, but it won’t help you prepare for the ACT’s format. Since the ACT’s format is different, you will have to put in some time to study for the ACT outside of class, even if you take Aspire every year from 3rd grade onward. Even if Aspire predicts you will get an excellent ACT score, you can’t just walk into the ACT without studying and expect a 36. Bottom Line: ACT Aspire Although you might hear about students studying for the PSAT to qualify for scholarships, don’t stress about the ACT Aspire – it will give your school data on your progress, but it won’t be used in college admissions or scholarship competitions. Just look at it as another way to gauge your progress as you approach college. Also, as we explore in our score predictions article, the Aspire is not an absolute predictor of your ACT score. If you’re wondering how you’ll do on the actual ACT, it might be more efficient to just take a practice test. And don’t worry too much even if Aspire predicts a low score – with smart studying, you can beat the prediction easily. What’s Next? We recommend beginning your ACT studying early. Getting a good score can really improve your college admissions chances! Get an ACT study plan if you have a year or more to study. Need to prep for the ACT, ASAP? Get an intensive 10-day study plan. Considering taking the SAT instead? Learn which test is easier, and which one you will do best on. Want to learn more about the PSAT and how it qualifies you for the National Merit Competition? Check out our guide. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses. We also have expert instructors who can grade every one of your practice ACT essays, giving feedback on how to improve your score. Check out our 5-day free trial: