How Does The Brain Malfunctions Affect The Justice System

Throughout history, there have been many misjudgments, mistakes, and wrongful accusations toward people from various different factors. A great deal of controversy has been directed towards the criminal justice system in which scientists pose questions on whether or not the procedures are valid. It is imperative to understand how the brain malfunctions regarding to memory reconstruction, encoding failures, and other environmental factors that negatively impact the justice system. One of the procedures called lineups or photo arrays are used in order to have eyewitnesses identify a subject guilty of a crime. In the lineups, subjects are lined up while the accuser has to choose an individual that they believe committed the crime. Using the same idea with the photo arrays, the victim will choose from a set of pictures of subjects (Weir, 2016). Many scientists question the validity of eyewitnesses because of all these factors that impact memories. This has lead to a substantial am ount of wrongfully convicted individuals by the eyewitness which is a huge issue in the system (Weir, 2016). It is crucial to be knowledgeable of the factors that can impede memory. The person that actually committed the crime should be held responsible for their actions, not only for justice, but for the safety of others as well. There are many factors to consider when psychologists and scientists are trying to figure out reliability of eyewitness testimony. The ability to recall orShow MoreRelatedThe Rational Choice and Biological Trait Theories Essay1748 Words   |  7 Pagesthe justice departments would actually look at the persons thought processes and reasoning before a crime is committed, the justice departments will be able to answer the reason for the crime. The different departments could possibly figure out why the criminal did what they did in the first. For instance, they should use a couple of criminology theories to help them with certain cases that are more diffi cult than the rest. The theories that the justice departments should use in their systems areRead MoreThe Harmful Effects Of Genetically Modified Foods2292 Words   |  10 PagesCorporations continue to ignore the serious physiological effects of genetically modified foods, and pollution in water. In the 21st century, governments and corporations must be held accountable, which range from cancer, brain damage, clinical depression to criminal activities. Continued lack of political will and the prevalence of concern for profit over health is unethical. Majority of the working class in America working minimum wage and cannot afford health care to cure their illness. The lackRead MoreEssay on Problems of Drug Addictions3148 Words   |  13 Pageshave been a major issue for society for much of the 20th century. Drugs are something that effect everyone, regardless of race or financial standing. They not only affect the user but also how are society is shaped. There are literally hundr eds of drugs currently available. All seemingly have the same affect on the user and no matter how potent or illicit, they effect the body and mind negatively. Besides these negative effects, there is the financial aspect that has affected users through many generationsRead MoreMedical Center, Department Of Behavioral Health And Psychiatry Essay2226 Words   |  9 PagesAddiction Services, Geropsychiatry, Adolescent Residential Program, HIV Services, Developmental Disabilities, School Based Services and Justice-Involved Services. Section 2 A person-environment approach is utilized during the intake interview. A thorough inventory is taken which regards a new client’s psychological, social and biological state of being and how their relationships and environment is affecting them and vice versa. New patients are initially evaluated to determine if there is a crisisRead MoreThe Effects Of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome On Infants3388 Words   |  14 Pages Professor Sandmire Bio 440 30 April 2015 The Effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome on Infants Abstract Fetal alcohol syndrome is caused when women during their pregnancy drink alcohol and cause developmental problems that can affect the fetus and infant for the rest of his or her life. Fetal alcohol syndrome can cause facial abnormalities, mental retardation, and a significant decrease in overall growth of the fetus.1 There are numerous studies about prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome, and itsRead MoreThe Future of Designer Babies Essay2383 Words   |  10 Pagesoffice where they are greeted by a fertility specialist, who then sets them in front of a computer. Here, the couple is able to scroll through various traits and characteristics, then mix and match them onto a computer generated infant so they can see how their chosen attributes will look when paired together. The man and woman decide on a baby boy with cornsilk blonde hair and emerald green eyes. Their future son will grow to 6 feet tall with an athletic build, have a genius IQ, and a predispositionRead More The Impact and History of Learning Disorders on Children Essay5477 Words   |  22 PagesThe Impact and History of Learning Disorders on Children In his 1954 majority opinion in Brown v. Board, Chief Justice Warren laid out concisely the fundamental role that education would play in postwar America: â€Å"Today, education is perhaps the most important function of state and local governments. Compulsory school attendance laws and the great expenditures for education both demonstrate our recognition of the importance of education to our democratic society. It is required in the performanceRead MoreCommercial Liens - a Potent Weapon Essay32374 Words   |  130 PagesAppendix A - Bibliography and Sources Appendix B - Index of Sample Legal Briefs [pic] Chapter 1 - Introduction Disclaimer This manual is intended purely as a communication of information in accordance with the right of free speech. It does not constitute either general or specific legal advice. Anyone seeking legal advice should consult a competent professional. Neither the author, editor or publisher guarantee that using this information will result in success or protect the readerRead MoreRobotic Surgery Essay example14445 Words   |  58 PagesImplications – page 44- 46 Conclusion – page 47 References – page 48 - 52 Abstract Technology has changed the way we see our world. There are always new discoveries in medicines and advancements in how we perform our day to day lives. Many hospitals today have upgraded their computer systems to keep up with this new technology. The way surgeries are being performed has changed as well. Having robots in our surgery rooms are becoming a thing of the past. The thought of a robotic device performingRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pagespublishing as Prentice Hall. All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America. This publication is protected by Copyright, and permission should be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise. To obtain permission(s) to use material from this work, please s ubmit a written request to Pearson Education, Inc., Permissions Department

Iran Awakening - 3027 Words

Jessica Muhr May 2nd, 2012 History of the Middle East â€Å"Iran Awakening† â€Å"One Woman’s Journey to Reclaim Her Life and Country† This book, â€Å"Iran Awakening†, is a novel written by Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi. Ebadi weaves the story of her life in a very personal and unique way, telling the account of the overthrow of the shah and the establishment of a new, religious fundamentalist regime in which opposition to the government are imprisoned, tortured, and murdered. By simply reading the Prologue, one can see the love Ebadi has for Iran and her people. This love that Ebadi has for the oppressed of Iran is a theme that appears throughout the book and seems to be a large factor behind her drive to stand up for those who cannot stand up for†¦show more content†¦By the summer of 1978, protests had grown larger, making it impossible to avoid them. In early August, a crowded cinema in Abadan was burned to the ground. This horrific event burned 400 people alive. The shah blamed this event on religious conservatives; Khomeini accused the SAVAK, the regime’s secret police, which was a force o f legendary brutality against the government’s opponents. This tragedy pushed many Iranians against the shah. They now realized that the shah was not merely an American puppet. Ebadi herself says that she was ‘drawn’ to the opposition. She says that it did not seem a contradiction for her, an educated professional woman, to back it (Ebadi, 33). She had no idea that she was backing her own eventual defeat. Ebadi uses something close to irony as she describes a morning when she and several judges and officials stormed into the minister of justice’s office. The minister was not there, instead a startled elder judge sat behind the desk. â€Å"He looked up at us in amazement and his gaze halted when he saw my face. â€Å"You! You of all people, why are you here?† he asked, bewildered and stern. â€Å"Don’t you know that you’re supporting people who will take away your job if they come to power?† â€Å"I’d rather be a free I ranian than an enslaved attorney,† IShow MoreRelatedThe Modern Middle East641 Words   |  3 PagesThe Modern Middle East Student’s Name University The Modern Middle East The Middle East is a region of Western Asia and Egypt; some of the countries in this region are Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq. According to Anderson, Seibert Wagner (2006), this region is of vast geo-economic importance and since ancient times, it has been a center of world affairs. This part matters to almost all superpowers. The geographic factors that contribute to theRead MoreThe Promotion Of The Westphalian System At The Core Of1683 Words   |  7 Pagesnations principles and destiny selfish interests, those nations are saying the same in regard to American principles. For example, in 2013 the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declared an â€Å"Islamic Awakening† also known as â€Å"Arab Spring† (Kissinger, p. 146). Khamenei believed this awakening was opening the door to a global religion and â€Å"through religious faith, knowledge, ethic and constant struggle, Islamic civilization can gift advanced thought a nd noble codes of behaviorRead MoreThe Long Historical Journey Of Lebanon s Shia Community753 Words   |  4 Pagesattained global identity in the 1980s, 5 years after Hezbollah was founded in 1975, with military operations carried out opposing the Israeli occupation in Lebanon, and the beginning of Hezbollah s relationship with Syria and the Islamic republic of Iran ever since. According to some historians and Shia scholars in Lebanon and the west, the actual occultation of Shi ism in Lebanon was incorporated by Abu-Dhar Al Ghaffari , a companion of Prophet Muhammad and also the fifth person to acceptRead MoreModern State Of Affairs : The Arab And Persian Worlds1257 Words   |  6 Pagesthereby setting the stage for the birth of today’s modern Iran. As can be seen in published court transcripts of the era, not even the worst of murderers could be denied the rights guaranteed to them by a democratic institution. Secularization of Iran s institutions and the establishme nt of democratic principles like separation of religious establishments and state were a relatively modern occurrence. The increasing secularism of Iran became most notable in its legal and judicial systems. In pastRead MoreThe Greatest Revolution Of Iran1365 Words   |  6 PagesThe history of Iran is filled with revolutions but the last major revolution in 1979 is the scariest because it has changed Iran from a modern ally for much of the world to a heavily sanctioned enemy. Altering Iran s future militarily, economically, and diplomatically. The 1979 revolution was a series of protest and unrest in the country aimed at getting rid of the Pahlavi dynasty. Mohammad Reza Shah was the second and last Shah from the Pahlavi Dynasty. Mohammad Reza tried to lead the country toRead MoreThe Violence Of Iranian Youth1782 Words   |  8 Pagesthrough tools such as social media and blogs. Because original and different thoughts are welcomed and the utilization of freedom of speech, American s are able to speak their minds and stand up for what they believe in. However, this is not the case in Iran. Iranians are highly oppressed and forced into inhumane circumstances by their government. Their youth is continuously being watched to insure their clothing and hairstyles are acceptable and if they are even affiliated with a protest, they could beRead MoreThe Study Of Gender Inequality2827 Words   |  12 PagesThe Study of Gender Inequality in Islamic Iran Early in the term I read the book Iran Awakening by Shirin Ebadi and grew fascinated with her account of life in Iran before, during, and after the Islamic Revolution. In this touching memoir, she describes the 1979 revolutionary takeover of Ayatollah Khomeini, who overthrew the shah and established an Islamic State, fusing together religious and political life. The result was a unique combination of theocratic and democratic authority, completely unprecedentedRead MoreThe Internet And The World Wide Web1490 Words   |  6 Pagestaking place in countries such as Egypt, Libya and Tunisia, not what news published. The revolution was successful due to the influence of digital technology and the spread of western culture. The Arab spring was always better described as an awakening: the real revolution is not so much in the street as in the mind. The internet, social media, satellite television and the thirst for education—among Arab women as much as men—cannot co-exist with the deadening dictatorships of old.6 This quoteRead MoreGeorge F. Kennan Served As An American Diplomat Essay1750 Words   |  7 Pagesinfluence both politically, economically and on the standards of the nation’s foreign policies. Throughout many administrations, the Middle East has been a hot bed of activity during the Cold War and Post-Cold War eras. This region includes today an Iran who is searching for ways to acquire the means to build a nuclear arsenal. Iraq, a nation that encountered a power vacuum after the removal of US troops following the invasion and occupation of the nation. That vacuum was used by a terrorist organizationRead MoreAtomic Mysteries Essay1338 Words   |  6 Pagespossesses nuclear weapons (Gladstone A4). The Iranian threat has recently elevated to an alarming level: Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz if imposed oil sanctions harm Iran’s economy. This shutdown has unfavorable implications for global consumers, as it would isolate a key crude and petroleum source from the rest of the world (USA). Also American military officials have declared that if Iran closes the strait, the American military would use force, possibly airstrikes, to reopen it (Bumiller

Federal v. State Power free essay sample

As citizens of the United States we exist under a federal system of government. There are different levels of the system, each cooperating with the next and each having some form of formal authority over the people. The age long argument has been: â€Å"more state power is most effective – no, more federal power is most effective†. There are also those who believe that an equal cooperation between both state and federal governments, our current way of separating power, is the most effective. So where should the line be drawn and which is most effective? The Constitution gave us a basic outline for how we should run our government. The bottom line is cooperative federalism – powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government and they may also share costs, administration, and even blame for programs that work poorly (Edwards 81). The idea of cooperative federalism has raised an important question: Where do the boundaries of national government end and where do the boundaries of state governments begin? The tenth amendment has somewhat of an answer to where the state boundaries begin. It says that if a state is not given a power directly by the constitution but is not prohibited from using that power then it is the state’s right to use and regulate that power. As for the boundaries of the national government, the supreme court case of McCulloch v. Maryland gives a good example. In 1791 the government established a national bank. This bank could print money and make loans as well as a number of other banking responsibilities. Many people who believed that the government should have a limited amount of control over the economy were opposed to the idea of a national bank. Eventually the government stopped funding the bank, but not long after came the second national bank. Out of defiance to the bank, the state of Maryland passed a law taxing the Baltimore branch $15,000 a year which it refused to pay. Maryland decided to sue the branch’s cashier, James McCulloch, and after the state’s law was upheld McCulloch took the case to the Supreme Court. Chief Justice John Marshall ruled in favor of the bank on the grounds that Congress has certain implied powers and that because of these implied powers creating a national bank was perfectly acceptable. Just like the state governments, the powers of the national government are not always clear and can be interpreted rather narrowly or quite broadly. In Article 1 Section 8 of the constitution the powers of congress are specifically listed-enumerated powers-but this section of the constitution also includes the â€Å"necessary and proper clause† This clause states that Congress may create any laws or policies it sees fit to apply the powers specifically spelled out. Going hand-in-hand with implied powers and the â€Å"necessary and proper clause† is the commerce clause. The commerce clause gives congress the right to regulate commerce. Commerce can be defined today as the movement of goods, radio signals, electricity, telephone messages, the internet, insurance transactions, and more (Edwards 77). Congress regulates the movement of all of these between the U. S and foreign nations, between states, and between Indian Tribes. With an extremely broad definition of commerce people have become concerned with how much power the national government actually has. Contributing to this concern are grants-in-aid and unfunded mandates. Grants-in-aid are grants given to state government from the federal government to aid in different programs and projects. Concern arises because grants often come with strings attached and sometimes are not given to states until they fulfill certain requirements (this would be an example of a mandate). Sometimes the government passes a law and expects states to follow that law and fund it without help from the government; this is an unfunded mandate. The federal government often uses grants-in-aid and unfunded mandates to have more control over what happens within the states which is where the concern of cooperation and boundaries comes from. In addition to the different components of federalism, there are pieces of legislature that also make people question whether more, less, or the same amount of power to the states is most effective. Among these pieces of legislature are the Affordable Care Act and the Clean Air Act. The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, was designed to make health insurance more readily available and more affordable. Obamacare, has two key components: an individual mandate and Medicaid expansion. People who do not have health insurance, either through their employer or personally, are required to purchase health care before 2014. Anyone who does not follow this mandate will be required to pay a â€Å"shared responsibility payment† to the Federal government. As of right now Medicaid covers pregnant women, children, needy families, the blind, the elderly, and the disabled. Obamacare would expand this by requiring states to provide care to adults with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level. This act also increases the amount of money states will receive for this mandate. In the case that a state does not follow the Medicaid expansion it may lose all funding for both the requirements and Medicaid. The Clean Air Act regulates the amount of pollutants floating in the air, the amount of pollutants released by industrial and mobile sources, and the types of fines and sanctions levied against pollution violators (Potoski 335). The environmental protection agency allows states to take responsibility of the requirements in their state and as long as they follow the minimum requirements the state will receive funding from the government. If a state does not comply with the minimum standards for clean air, the Clean Air Act will become an unfunded mandate just the same as Obamacare would become an unfunded mandate. Where Obamacare and the Clean Air Act are concerned, policymaking is most effective through state and federal cooperation. First and foremost if a state decided not to follow the requirements of expanding Medicaid, the burden of an unfunded mandate would rest on the shoulders of its citizens and its government. The same would go for the Clean Air Act. This may even be worse considering the point of the Clean Air Act is to keep our air clean. Without the cooperation of the states we don’t have clean air and without clean air we have sickness and unhealthy conditions for our citizens. This being said cooperation is extremely important between the levels of government. If the federal government were to have more control, at least where these policies are concerned, there is the potential danger of the government issuing these policies and not providing funding for them because they don’t want to spend the money or they want to show how powerful they are or for whatever reason. In the event that this happens the states are stuck with a pretty large burden of making sure that they have enough money to meet the standards of Medicaid expansion and the clean air act. In the case that states had more power, inconsistency would become a reality. Every state is different. They want different things and not all are willing to meet the same standards. If enough inconsistency occurs and each state creates different standards for their policies, there’s almost no point to having the federal government because states start to believe themselves to be independent. With all of that being said, policymaking is most effective through state and federal cooperation. With more power to one or the other we lose sight of a democracy. Our country was designed on the basis of cooperative federalism. We wouldn’t be the United States anymore without the federal government, without the states, or with one having more power over the other. Our system of checks and balances provides us with an effective way of accomplishing our goals and staying united. Federalism In America

The attack on Pearl Harbor

Introduction On the morning of December 7th, 1941, the Japanese made an attack on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor. It was an unprovoked attack which caught them by surprise. This attack is known to have been a major cause of America’s entry into World War II. Following this attack, America declared war on Japan. This attack is considered to have been highly unethical. It was an uninformed attack without any formal warning by Japan. It was conducted while negotiations between the two countries were still under discussion.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The attack on Pearl Harbor specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This attack resulted in a lot of damage and significant loss of life. Statistics report that 2,402 men were killed and 1,282 were wounded (USSWestVirginia 2000). The Japanese carried out a series of simultaneous attacks. â€Å"They hit the American ships, military installations, milit ary airfields, the fleet at Pearl Harbor and many others† (Navy.mil 1991). Through these sudden and simultaneous attacks the Japanese aimed to destroy the US planes before they could fight back or defend themselves. The immense damage that the Americans suffered included the destruction of approximately 200 aircrafts and four navy battleships were sunk. On the other hand, Japan’s losses were much lighter with only around 65 fatalities. Ethical Issue This attack was also unethical in the context that Japan did not attack the US pacific fleet with the aim of a direct war with them. This was only a preventative measure they took to make sure that the Japanese could carry out their plans against East Asia, China, and United Kingdom without military interference from the US. Hence, all this destruction and loss of life was merely collateral damage. This uninformed attack identified Japan as treacherous and deceitful. Outcome The outcome of this attack was that the very next day America declared war on Japan. All Americans united with their allies and just one attack changed the course of the war. It led to the internment of the Japanese in the western United States. This was the exclusion and detention of people with Japanese descent. This gave rise to strong anti-Japanese sentiments and hostility towards them. The most important and drastic outcome of this event was the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by America (History.com 2011). These unimaginable bombings marked the beginning of the nuclear age. On the 6th of August, 1945 America conducted its first nuclear bombing on the city of Hiroshima. The bomb named â€Å"little boy† was dropped on the city. Within seconds of this bombing, â€Å"around 30% of the total population of the city was killed instantly and around 70,000 were injured severely† (Truman 1945).Advertising Looking for report on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn Mor e All that was left of the city was just a scar in the ground and monstrous grey clouds of smoke emitting from it. â€Å"Practically all living things, human and animal, were literally burnt to death,†Ã‚  (Truman 1945). By the end of the year, deaths resulting from the after effects of this explosion reached up to around 166,000. While Japan was still awestruck by this explosion, on the morning of August 9th, a second bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. This bomb resulted in instant causalities ranging from 40,000 to 75,000 people. It also released large amounts of deadly radiation that spread all across the city and its surrounding areas. This was the outcome of the attack on Pearl Harbor. These bombings initiated the nuclear age; it was the first time the world had witnessed this. After the bombing the American president Harry S Truman stated in his press release â€Å"The Japanese began the war from the air at Pearl Harbor, They have been repaid many folds† (Truman 1945). This statement of the president clearly implied that he believed the bombings were the correct way of avenging the attack at Pearl Harbor. He was in fact proud of it. If one considered the loss of life and destruction caused by Pearl Harbor to be brutal then it is obvious that the devastation caused by these bombings was far worse. Not only were there numerous immediate deaths but the radiation also caused a lot of diseases like cancer, birth retardations and other abnormalities. Japan chose to surrender after the second bombing. If this decision hadn’t been made there were more bombings planned against them. This attack was conducted at a much greater scale than that made by the Japanese. Many innocent civilians were killed. Generations suffered because of the after effects of radiation from the bombs. While, Japan had targeted American security forces and equipment in their attacks, these bombings targeted the cities as a whole killing blameless people. Innoc ent women and children lost their lives. Countless buildings including hospitals and schools were destroyed. This event was historically the most unethical and immoral ending to a war. The intensity and horror of it was so great that no other nuclear attack ever took place after the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings (Crane 2005). Till date these are the only nuclear activities to have taken place. Alternate Outcome An alternate outcome to this could have been that the American government could have planned humanely. They might have targeted the security forces like Japan had done, and kept innocent civilians out of this. The bombs were used on too large a scale which was not necessary.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The attack on Pearl Harbor specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, if bombing felt like the correct thing to do based on the circumstances at the time, the Japanese could have been given some kind of warning for resident evacuation from the areas. The nation was unaware of the intensity of these bombs since it was the first time they had been used. The Americans themselves were not certain of the outcome, yet they still carried out the operation. It was stated that these bombings were carried out to put an end to World War II. If that was the case then other less destructive means could have been considered (Seligmann 2008). Most importantly, if the US was trying to highlight its hegemonic power in this war, the bombing at Hiroshima had caused enough devastation to prove it, a second bombing at Nagasaki was not necessary. This could have saved hundreds and thousands of lives, it could have prevented the numerous diseases that resulted as a consequence of the deadly radiation. And it was after witnessing the supremacy of these nuclear attacks that other countries started investing in nuclear technology and now numerous nations’ posses it. Sustainability In both these in cidents, sustainability of the target nation was not considered as it should have been. In the case of Pearl Harbor, an unannounced series of simultaneous attacks from the Japanese caused passionate feelings of dislike to arise against them. This resulted in incarceration of the Japanese Americans living in the West Coast. The anti-Japanese sentiments resulted in mass removal and imprisonment of them. There was no criterion as to who should be exiled. All Japanese Americans were forced to leave their homes and were sent to camps. Even the loyal and patriotic Japanese-Americans were not given any partiality. In some instances they were deported (Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum 1999). Those Japanese descents that had been American natives for a long time and were dedicated to the country deserved to have been shown respect and tolerance. The deporting of American national Japanese community highlighted the aspect of racism. Some were so disturbed by the behavioral changes in the socie ty due to Pearl Harbor that they left the country by choice. However, in 1944 a number of Japanese Americans were selected to serve in the military and intelligence services. The selection was based on merit and those who met the requirements were given positions.Advertising Looking for report on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More List of References Crane, Conrad C. 2005. The Atomic Bomb [online] available from http://www.pbs.org/thewar/detail_5234.htm Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. 1999. The Spirit of Hiroshima: An Introduction to the Atomic Bomb Tragedy. Hiroshima: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. History.com. 2011. Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki [Online] Available from http://www.history.com/topics/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki Navy.mil .1991. Overview of the Pearl Harbor attack, 7 December 1941. [Online] Available from http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq66-1.htm Patel, D. 2007. Hibakush [Online] Available from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/431254/hibakusha_victims_of_the_atomic_bombings.html?cat=37 Seligmann, M. 2008. The alternatives to bombing Hiroshima were not morally superior. [Online] Available from http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/15/nuclear.japan Truman, H. August 1945. Atomic bombings of Hiroshima press release [Online] Available from http://americanhistory.abou t.com/od/worldwarii/a/presshiroshima.htm USS West Virginia. 2000. Pearl Harbor causality list [Online] Available from http://www.usswestvirginia.org/ph/phlist.php This report on The attack on Pearl Harbor was written and submitted by user Julissa C. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

What a Certain Visionary Once Said by Tomson Hemingway

What a Certain Visionary Once Said by Tomson Hemingway Introduction The essay, What a Certain Visionary Once Said, by Tomson Hemingway is an attempt by the author to relay his feelings over what he perceives as a loss of connection to the natural world by present day society due to its constant quest for modernization. He does this by relaying visions of flat prairies, unspoiled forests, vast untouched landscapes and a certain wildness to the surrounding areas that Hemingway indicates is a scene few people appreciate today. Advertising We will write a custom article sample on What a Certain Visionary Once Said by Tomson Hemingway specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is in contrast to the brick, mortar and asphalt scenery people are used to that has become synonymous with a modern day existence. In fact it can be seen in the essay that Hemingway indirectly criticizes the modern day lifestyle of mankind by indicating that the waters far from civilization are purer and cleaner and thus safe to drink without any worries. What must be understood is that most rivers that go through various cities and population centers in the world today such as the Yangtze River in China, the Ganges in India, and the Pasig River in the Philippines are polluted and unsafe for human consumption. This is a direct result of modern day industrialization and as such most people today are rather reluctant to drink from water sources that are not from a bottle or untreated from a faucet. Contrasting Nature and Modern Lifestyles Hemingway indicates that in places far from todays population centers there is a certain beauty and purity to the area where a person can sit back, relax and absorb the sounds and sights of nature. This view is in direct contrast to the rapid and fast paced lifestyles most people experience wherein speed and efficiency take precedent over slow meaningful appreciation. From start to finish the essay is a way in which a person can contrast their modern day lifestyle with the visions of pure wilderness that Hemingway is attempting to relay. In fact it can even be assumed that what Hemingway is attempting to accomplish in this essay is that he wants people to question whether the modern lifestyles they are enjoying at the present is truly worth what they lost in terms of their connection to nature and an appreciation for its unique wonders. Towards the end of the essay the author mentions that not only does the Earth have an emotional, psychological and spiritual life but it is not really ours in the first place. One interpretation of this is the belief of the author that the entire planet is a living, breathing entity that is not ours to bend to our will but rather for us to appreciate, examine and enjoy the natural wonders it has. Conclusion In conclusion it can be said that the entire essay is a form of critique against modern day lifestyles where the author uses examples drawn from nature in order to show the difference between what was lost and what was gained. Overall the essay was a fantastic piece of literary work and speaks volumes of how as a species we have lost our connection to nature and that in itself is a great tragedy.Advertising Looking for article on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More

Maven

Maven Maven Maven By Maeve Maddox A reader who lives in Cardiff, Wales wants to know more about the word maven: In the last fortnight or so I’ve twice seen a word I’ve never come across before (and I read a lot!). The word is ‘maven’, and I’ve encountered it in the self-development context. I’ve looked it up and it seems to have come into use in the US in the 1980s, from a Hebrew term. A post on this word would be very interesting.    The word maven- also spelled mavin and mayvin- is from the Yiddish word meyvn (plural mevinim): â€Å"expert, connoisseur.† The Yiddish word comes from Hebrew mebin, â€Å"a person with understanding, a teacher.† The earliest use cited in the OED (spelled mavin) is dated 1907. The Ngram Viewer graph (set for English) indicates that maven existed in print as early as 1809, mavin in 1813, and mayvin in 1879. The OED labels maven â€Å"chiefly North American† and suggests that its spread may be related to radio advertising introduced by a Chicago-based food company in 1964. The ads were voiced by Allen Swift, who was introduced as â€Å"the herring maven.† Note: Ira Stadlen, known professionally as â€Å"Allen Swift,† was an American voice actor who- among many other jobs- voiced Mighty Mouse and characters in the Tom and Jerry cartoons. Although maven is a new word to the UK reader who suggested this post, the first time I encountered the word maven was while I was living in London. I had a high-rise-dwelling friend who was referred to in a local newspaper article as â€Å"a rooftop-gardening maven.† William Safire, who wrote a weekly column called â€Å"On Language† for the New York Times from 1979-2009, referred to himself as â€Å"a language maven.† Food writer Arthur Schwartz calls himself â€Å"The Food Maven.† A Web search turns up a math maven, a makeup maven, a plumbing maven, and some sort of software â€Å"core engine† called â€Å"Maven.† Maven has joined the ranks of guru as a word for a wise or knowledgeable person. Related post Gurus and Other Teachers Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Is She a "Lady" or a "Woman"?For Sale vs. On SaleHow to Write a Proposal

Communication Challenges to Managers in Global Virtual Teams Research Paper

Communication Challenges to Managers in Global Virtual Teams - Research Paper Example It is therefore important to study and understand the connection between communication and performance of virtual teams. Jointly, trust and communication vastly influence performance of members of virtual teams. In any kind of team, members are likely to differ in ideologies as well as ambitions, which can be challenging to managers managing such teams. In global virtue teams, the challenges are severe since the teams comprise of members from different nationalities characterized by cultural as well as technological differences. Being a leader of a global virtual team is challenging and it requires excellent management skills. This paper focuses on communication as one of the crucial challenges for managers in global virtual teams, because of differences in their national culture and technology structure. Challenges posed by geographical separation include lack of synergy. Another challenge that managers of global virtual teams face is inability to identify the talents of their employees thus might end up employing a less diverse team. Virtual teams permit organizations to expand their territories thus employ individuals from different backgrounds. However, challenges may arise in the management of virtual teams resulting in ineffectiveness (Mirjaliisa, 2007; Sarker, Ajuja, Sarker, & Kirkeby, 2011). The challenges could be related to several factors. Leadership style is the major challenge. Managers should thus ensure that their leading strategies are in line with the team members’ anticipation. This can be made possible by switching between the different leadership styles depending on the situation at hand (Johri, 2010; Shachaf, & Hara, 2007; Shachaf, 2008; Dorothy, Kayworth, & Mora-Tavarez, 2010; Karen, 2008). The other challenge is the building of trust. The geographical separation often results in a feeling of alienation, which makes it hard to develop strong relationships amongst team members. The lack

Strategy Assingment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Strategy Assingment - Essay Example Also an attempt to identify and understand the generic strategy used by the company has also been discussed. An attempt to help the company improve the strategies has also been laid down and a few tactics that can be used by the company have been discussed. Finally recommendations for the company to assist them scan the food industry in order to keep the strategies live and keep the company blooming have also been included. Kudler Fine Foods has used technology to a great extent and has been able to implement information and technology systems well into their work processes. The company utilizes several technologies like a wide area network (WAN), which allows storing the real time communication and all details of inventory and vendors effectively. This system ensures that the operations of the company run smoothly and in an uninterrupted manner at all times. The stores have also incorporated several other inventory servers like the University of Phoenix and the Information Technology networks. The systems used for the POS systems also allow the company to record the data in a more effective and efficient manner. The impact of the use of technology on the company has been vast and has led the company to a great level of success. As discussed earlier, the company is customer centric and it also concentrates to a great extent on the employees as well. All the information that is gained from the database and all information of the customers, orders, inventory and also the vendors, assist the company to determine the style and strategy that it requires to adopt in a more informed manner (Housel and Nelson 2005). Hence the use of technology allows the company to make more informed and well thought out decisions. The company in the current time uses a very centralized strategy for the day to day processes. The overall working

How smoking can negatively affect your life Essay Example for Free

How smoking can negatively affect your life Essay My name is Kimberly Robinson. Today, I will be discussing how smoking can negatively affect your life in so many different ways. Like many people, you already know that smoking is bad for your health. But not many fully understand just how dangerous smoking really is. Every single cigarette you smoke does damage to your body. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2017), cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, causing more than 480,000 deaths each year and the risk of dying from cigarette smoking has been increasing over the past 50 years. It causes nearly one in five deaths which are more than car accidents, illegal drugs, Aids, murders, and suicides combined. That is scary to think about. Smoking can affect many things in your life including your health, appearance and your finances. Smokers are more likely than non-smokers to develop heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. Smoking can cause yellow teeth and fingers and also bad breath. Don’t even get me started on the fact that smoking can be an expensive hobby. In the state of Virginia, the average cost for a pack of cigarette is $5.25, according to fairreporters.net. If a smoker smokes three packs per day, that is about $5748.75 per year. That extra money could be spent on your family. Choosing to damage your body is one thing, but smoking doesn’t only affect your health, it also affects the health of the people are the closest to you. According to the (Center for Disease Control and Prevention CDC, 2017), second-hand smoke has the same harmful chemicals that mainstream smoke contains and prolonged exposure increases to the risk of lung disease by 23% to 25%. According to the U.S Food and Drug Administration (2017), there are more than 7,000 chemicals found in cigarette smoke and more than 70 of those chemicals are linked to cancer. Nicotine is the main component of tobacco. It is highly addictive, hence, the addiction that comes with smoking cigarettes. Nicotine causes the adrenal gland to release hormones that stimulate the brain and increases blood pressure and heart rate. Cigarette smoke also contains tar. Tar is a sticky brown substance that is produced when tobacco is burned. When the smoke is inhaled, tar forms a sticky layer inside of your lungs which will damage it and can cause cancer of the lungs, mouth, and throat. There are so many advantages of quitting smoking. By quitting smoking, you will improve your health and the health of others around you. The minute you stop smoking, the risks of getting a smoke-related disease will start to decrease. Because of the level of nicotine present in cigarette smoke, you may encounter some difficulties while trying to quit smoking but there are resources that can help you throughout the process. The first thing you should do is make the decision to quit and then make a list of the reasons why you want to do it. This way you will have something to refer to when you feel like giving up. Secondly, set a date at which you will quit and inform your family and friends about your upcoming journey. They might be able to motivate and help you when you are having hard days. The next thing to do is to remove any stimuli from your surrounding that could potentially cause you to revert. Some tools that can help you cope and have a smooth transition are counseling, nico tine replacement therapy, hypnosis, acupuncture therapy and support groups.

physical education in elementry grades :: essays research papers

Physical fitness â€Å"There is a definite need for the youth of our nation to be healthy and physically educated, but our we going to do it right, or wait for others to take that responsibility†. Even though To put in effect the physical fitness classes there would have to be a lot of support and extra money allotted to the program, In all schools there should be a health and physical education class because In out nation today the young people are in poor physical condition and Physical education is a contribution to the total growth and overall development of a student. I.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To put in effect the physical fitness classes there would have to be a lot of support and extra money allotted to the program A.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There have been many mistakes with trying to implement physical fitness in the schools today with the teachers and the curriculum. â€Å"There are a number of factors that contribute to this variation including elimination on physical education programs in school districts, the reduction of trained specialists, inadequate budgets, and disinterested students and teachers†. There are certified health and physical education majors that can teach these programs and shift the emphasis on living healthy lifestyles. 1. There are many ways to implement physical education classes in schools. The classes can be in direct relationship to the athletic programs that schools have. B.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There has to be support from the school districts and the principle and the parents in order for this physical education program to be implemented in to schools. II.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Even though to put in effect the physical fitness classes there would have to be a lot of support and extra money allotted to the program, In all schools there should be a health and physical education class because In out nation today the young people are in poor physical condition. A.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Many in the health related professions believe there is a correlation between the poor health/physical condition of our youth and the incidence of those chronic diseases due to self destructive lifestyles†. If the programs would be implemented in schools students would learn about living healthy lifestyles and have the information they learned and implement it in their lives. 1. One way to make a lasting impact is to teach the latest principles of physical fitness and let students know that they have to do these things they are being taught in there lives on a daily basis because they are responsible for there well being.

Drag Racing

Although the tire tracks of its history are clear, the origin of the term â€Å"drag racing† is not. The theories are almost as many and varied as the machines that have populated its ranks for five decades. Explanations range from a simple challenge (â€Å"Drag your car out of the garage and race me! â€Å") to geographical locale (the â€Å"main drag† was a city's main street, often the only one wide enough to accommodate two vehicles), to the mechanical (to â€Å"drag† the gears meant to hold the transmission in gear longer than normal).The first â€Å"dragsters† were little more than street cars with lightly warmed-over engines and bodies chopped down to reduce weight. Eventually, professional chassis builders constructed purpose-built cars, bending and welding together tubing and planting the engine in the traditional spot, just in front of the driver; the engines, and the fuels they burned, became more exotic, more powerful, and, naturally, more te mperamental. Like almost all racing cars, they have undergone tremendous evolution as racers upgraded, experimented, theorized, and tested their equipment.Safety and innovation paved the way to rear-engined Top Fuel cars in the early 1970s, and once drag racing legend Don Garlits – himself a victim of the front-engined configuration when his transmission, which was nestled between his feet, exploded in 1970, severing half of his right foot – perfected the design, the sport never looked back. Today's Top Fuel dragsters are computer-designed wonders with sleek profiles and wind-tunnel-tested rear airfoils that exert 5,000 pounds of down force on the rear tires with minimal aerodynamic drag.It started out as a wild activity practiced by hoodlums in hopped-up cars, but over the course of a few decades, drag racing would ultimately transform itself into one of the world's most popular motor sports. Drag races after World War II were held on military runways, growing out of speed runs (sanctioned and otherwise) on California's dry lakes. Many recognize Goleta Air Base north of Santa Barbara, California as the site of the first organized drag race in 1949. These early drag strips were temporary facilities with no safety barriers or grandstands—just pavement, people and fast cars.Thousands of spectators turned out to watch early racers run 10-second elapsed times (E. T. s) on the measured quarter-mile—a distance chosen because it was about the length of a city block. Most cars were driven to the track or towed to the races on open trailers. Corporate sponsorship and glistening transporter trucks were far in the unimaginable future Drag racing is best described as a tournament consisting of a two-car straight-line race. It is an all-out acceleration contest from a standing start between two vehicles over an exact distance.Professional drag strips are available for public use all over the world, but the illegal street racing culture has popul arized drag racing nowadays in such a way that most common folks think of drag racing as a bunch of sticker-clad street cars causing mayhem at night. Well, whatever gets you going; it is a fact that the launch becomes the deciding factor in any drag race where the machinery is equal . The race may depend on the launch, but it also depends on how much you know about your car. Every car has its own launching method, and the techniques detailed here will help you determine what is best for your car.All you need to do is experiment with your car, and be aware of any changes to your setup, tarmac quality or weather conditions that could change what you thought was the best method. Pretty much the only hard and fast rule is to practice in various conditions. Drag racing is definitely hard on your car, but to become consistent in your driving, you will have to sacrifice some hard-earned cash for tires, repairs and modifications . With the onset of summer, police across the country are gett ing ready to deal with this potentially deadly pass-time for young people.Across the country lawmakers and police are looking for new ways to prevent the drag races. In Florida, the legislature has approved a bill that would send repeat offenders to jail for up to a year and confiscate their cars. In Los Angeles, police are visiting schools and universities to talk about the dangers of drag racing. And the town of Gastonia, North Carolina is now working on a plan to combat drag racing. Police there say a drag racer lost control of his car and hit five pedestrians . Many Americans, young and old alike, admit they speed at times.But street racing and driving totally too fast is especially deadly for young, inexperienced drivers. Speed cheats them of the time needed to react to road hazards and keep from crashing. Not that many teens, no matter how bright they are, are â€Å"street smart† when it comes to speed. For example, few understand how long it takes to being a speeding c ar to a full stop, no matter how powerful its braking system is . For the record, automotive engineers agree that it takes 268 feet or about the length of a football field for a car going just 50 mph to come to a full stop. At 70 mph, a car or truck would travel almost TWICE that distance.Just imagine what little stopping power a car driven 90 mph has ! The moral of this story is that Drag Racing, is an enjoyable American past time, but only when in a controlled environment. The race may depend on the launch, but it also depends on how much you know about your car. Every car quality or weather conditions that could change what you thought was the best method. Pretty much the only hard and fast rule is to practice in various conditions. Drag racing is definitely hard on your car, but to become consistent in your driving, you will have to sacrifice some hard-earned cash for tires, repairs and modifications.

Culture and packaging Essay

Packaging is considered to be an integral part of the product and is the first point of contact with the brand for a consumer product. So, most of the companies that do business internationally redesign their packages for each market. The principle reason is that expectations and utilizations of consumers vary across cultures. The world’s two leading industrial powers, U. S. and Japan have almost opposite approaches to packaging. Packaging is recognized as an expression of culture in Japan and designed to be appreciated, whereas in America cultural aspect is largely ignored and packaging is calculated to be accepted. Foods that only Japanese eat have beautiful, traditionally designed wrappings that resemble handmade paper or leaves and accommodate scan able bar codes. Such products look Japanese and are intended to do so. Products that are foreign, such as coffee, look foreign even to the point of having only Roman lettering on the can. We speak of global villages and international markets, but packages reveal some unexpected cultural boundaries. Few examples of such cultural implication of packaging are- Canadians prefer to drink milk out of flexible plastic pouches that fit into reusable plastic holders while Americans are believed to be so resistant to the idea that they have not been given the opportunity to do so, Japanese consumers prefer packages that contain two tennis balls and view the standard U. S. package of three as cheap and undesirable, Germans insist on highly detailed technical specifications on packages of videotapes, while Americans don’t, Swedes consider blue Colour of packaging as masculine whereas Dutch consider it to be feminine and so on. (Eric, J. A. et al. , 2004, p. 298) Culture & Packaging Colour Schmitt and Simpson (1997) states, Colour is one of the many marketing tools that global managers use to create, maintain, and modify brand images in customers’ minds while Schmitt and Pan (1994) discovers, Colour is also an important component of many corporate and brand-building cues, such as logos, packages, and displays. It is a commonality reflecting in the views of both the authors that- Colour is one of the major element which affects consumer perception regarding a brand. The research results show cross-cultural patterns of both similarity and dissimilarity in Colour preferences and Colour meaning associations. Colour used in packaging is equally important in determining a product’s desirability. â€Å"James Mandle, a Colour consultant, changed the Colour of Ty-D-Bol’s toilet bowl cleanser bottle from light and green to stark white letters on a dark background. He believed that the original Colours were â€Å"too wimpy† and that the new, bolder Colours would connote strength and cleanliness. In an 18 month period following the change of Colour, sales of Ty-D-Bol jumped 40% (Lane 1991). † (Thomas, J. M. et al. , 2000, p. 91) Packaging is not about Colour only there are various other factors involved in it. Factors like design shape of the package, text on the package and other factors of the packaging. But it is true that Colour is the most important attribute in terms of attracting the attention of the consumer. Packaging is not only made up of a single Colour but combination of Colours to create a brand image. So preferences in regard to combination of Colours also vary across cultures. Few examples of such combinations are of pairing Colours with green and red. The Colour best paired with green is yellow in Canada, Hong Kong, China, and Taiwan, blue in Columbia, and white in Austria. Only the Chinese and Taiwanese pair green with red as red is a potent Colour in China. In Brazil and the US people pair red with black, whereas in Canada, and China, the preferred combination with red is yellow. ( Mooij and Marieke K. de, 2004) Culture & Packaging Information Packaging not only protects and contains a product but also provide the consumer with loads of information about the product such as its composition, correct use etc. For instance, packaging of foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals provides information regarding the name of the product, manufacturer, country of origin, â€Å"best before† date and expiry date, ingredients and additives or composition of drug along with quantity and price. Since packaging is subject to country-specific legislation so ear of legal action has made many companies in the US and the UK includes all sorts of warnings on label instructions on consumer goods. On bar of Dial soap: â€Å"Directions: Use like regular soap. † On a Sears hairdryer: â€Å"Do not use while sleeping. † On packaging for a Rowenta iron: â€Å"Do not iron clothes on body. † On Nytol sleep aid: â€Å"Warning: May cause drowsiness. † On a child’s Superman costume: â€Å"Wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly. † On Sainsbury’s peanuts: â€Å"Warning: contains nuts. † On Marks & Spencer bread pudding: â€Å"Product will be hot after heating. † On Boot’s child’s cough medicine:† Do not drive a car or operate machinery after taking this medication. † ( Mooij and Marieke K. de, 2004, p. 265) In the present scenario various countries have included packaging waste into hazardous matter to contribute in pollution. This led the government to adopt some policies to restrict the use of non recyclable products as a packaging material where it is not required. These have also posed challenge among business organizations to try and find out recyclable materials and present themselves as a responsible corporate citizen among the stakeholders. This is also one aspect of culture which leads to this kind of environmental concern approach. Culture & Packaging Images/Pictures Imagery is an important element of packaging, as it enhances the accessibility of packaging information. As said by Bolen (1984), visual information in advertisements generally attracted more attention and was noticed before verbal advertising content. While Alesandrini (1982) declared, visual information may serve to attract consumer’s attention and set expectations for the contents of the verbal elements; the visual information thus serving as an â€Å"advance organizer† for the verbal elements of packaging. (Underwood et al. , 2001) Different culture recognizes various symbols differently with different meanings altogether. Picture that is very meaningful for people in one culture as it expresses important values of that culture can be completely meaningless to the people of the other culture. For instance, a box of pineapple cookies sold in Singapore has an image of a lion, as in Singapore lion is considered to be a symbol of royalty. Hence, if the similar box of cookies is launched in UK it won’t be given equivalent importance as in Singapore due to the differences lying in culture. Culture & Packaging Communication Customer or prospect judges the products on the basis of its name as well. Language used on the product package including its brand or product name creates impression among consumers. Consumer interprets the information selectively on the basis of his culture and his own personal factors. Different aspects of marketing communications like corporate identity, brand name, package design, and advertising styles impacts consumer in certain ways. Marketing communications styles are interrelated with personal communication styles. Chinese-speaking consumers tend to judge a brand name based on its visual appeal whereas English speakers judge brand name based on whether the name sounds appealing. In Asia, visual symbolism is a key aspect of a firm’s corporate identity. A comparative study of package design across seven countries found that packages differ both in three-dimensional design and in the way they communicate through graphical design and vary in the use of textual information; use of Colour, shape, and symbolism; and degree of structure and detail in the package design. All the above differences are highly influenced by culture. Even the product category is influenced by the packaging design, for example Deodorant is communicated differently from cigarettes, and that is reflected in its design of the packaging. ( Mooij and Marieke K. de, 2004, p. 213) Why it is important to understand culture & differences in cultures? It is always very important for a marketer to understand the culture of his target market place. Many good products have failed in the market only due to ignorance of socio- cultural aspects. There are underlying components that influence culture such as religion, family, customs, politics, weather, etc, which must be taken into account when marketing products on an international basis. Consequently, it is important for marketers to be aware of the 25% of cultural differences in the world market to promote their product properly. Therefore, it is of great importance to understand similarities and differences in culture which also affects the consumer purchasing behaviours across the cultures. (Weber, J. M. et al. , 2002, p. 396) Tastes and preferences of consumers vary in different part of world. In the European continent itself consumer preferences and taste varies so much that retailers Marks & Spencer had to made different advertising campaigns for each country. Initially Marks & Spencer has a single uniform advertising for the whole of Europe in 2001. Later it recognized its weakness and immediately changed the advertising campaign according to the taste and preference of different parts of European continent at the end of 2001. Toyota’s model ‘Camry† was a huge success in US which it tried to launch in UK market in 2000. It was a huge failure due to difference in the lifestyle and cultural set up of these two countries. Toyota re-launched it later with changes in the model according to the European culture and it was a huge success. Companies have to estimate the strength of their products along with the market they are trying to trap irrespective of their own brand name and value. One of the mistakes by the snacks giant Kellogg’s is Indian market was with its breakfast cereals. Within Indian culture people tend to eat heavy breakfast in the morning. In such market breakfast cereals as a healthier alternative to the heavy Indian breakfast was unattractive offer to the Indians. Later on company improved its communication strategies and compared it with traditional chapattis (Indian breads). Even in that case Kellogg’s could sell to a Westernized niche market only. So it is quite clear from the above examples that thorough understanding of the culture as well as its differences across cultures is very important to survive in today’s competitive environment. There are some other companies which have done very well in understanding various markets on socio-cultural dimensions like Disney, Pizza hut, dominos, Mc-Donald’s and others. Success pf these brands was result of their conscious effort to keep the significance of culture in their minds. These companies went local irrespective of their global operations for each and every market for them. One such example is Mc-Donald’s. The reasons behind success of Mc-Donald’s in foreign markets apart from a strong brand image and consistent service a standard around the world is, its advertising which is local and its product offer has a local touch. Examples are the Kiwi burger in New Zealand; the Maharaja Mac in India; the Prosperity burger in Malaysia; the Teriyaki burger in Japan; the McKorket in the Netherlands; McLaks, a grilled salmon burger, in Norway; and the Croque McDo in France that refers to the popular French â€Å"Croque Monseiur†, a hot ham and cheese sandwich. Advertising by McDonald’s in France tied into local habits and symbols. In 2001, for example, advertising for McDonald in France tied into â€Å"Asterix and Obelisk,† the most famous historical cartoon of the nation. Hence, localization makes it increasingly important for marketing and advertising people to understand the influence of culture. ( Mooij and Marieke K. de, 2004, p. 18) Importance of Colours can not be ignored in the case of international markets. Colours are associated with different cultural beliefs, moods and meanings. Understanding of these aspects of Colour, culture and society helps the organization to develop appropriate strategy. As said by (Kirmani 1997: Schmitt and Pan 1994), one marketing cue that global managers can use regardless of location is Colour. The effects of culture on the meaning associated with Colours are very critical for international marketing purposes. â€Å"Wagner, the creator of the Wagner Colour Research Institute, contends that Colours are associated with certain images (Lane 1991). For example, Blue is associated with wealth, trust, and security: Gray is associated with strength, exclusively, and success: and orange denotes cheapness. These associations may explain why banks are more likely to Colour their logos and collateral using Blue or Gray rather than orange ( Seitel 1993). It is cultural background due to which Colour has a strong effect on choice of a customer. It is important to understand which Colours are preferred by people in different cultures. It will help to create, maintain, or modify brand images in consumers’ minds. The associated with Colours and combination of Colours are important to understand for any marketer. â€Å"Colour combinations are considered culturally bound with certain ideologies and traditions (Geboy 1996). For example, black on red signifies happiness to Chinese people and is commonly used for wedding invitations while a combination of red over white represents celebration and signifies the life force to the Japanese ( Tektronix 1998). (Thomas, J. M. et al. , 2000) After Colour it is cultural beliefs which have impact on the consumer minds. It is important to understand the beliefs related to target product category within the target market place. For instance in India people feel that ancient herbal methods are good choices over the cosmetic options available today. This led various cosmetics company in India to launch their promotional programs comparing their product with traditional methods or showing the products equivalent to the traditional benefits. In these leading brands like Lux, Fair & Lovely and many others are present. Success of a fair and lovely brand due to the fact that Indians believe fairness is beautiful. Vicco turmeric cream is another example which positioned itself as a cream that would be useful for would-be brides to enhance their complexions, as applying turmeric for skin care is a part of the Indian tradition. These types of behaviour which are associated with a specific culture or belief can also be associated with different product categories such as, for instance, the bindi worn in most parts of India. It is important that the brand name selected for such a product category should have an ethnic-sounding name whereas a Western name is prone to be counter-productive. (S Ramesh Kumar, 2003) Another product category is food where the role of mother and grand mother is considered important. This is the reason all spices, traditional quick meals and cooking oil etc contain some or more of the mother’s recipe kind of concept. Not only that change in the societal socio-cultural structure can also be seen as some of the advertisement in India show modern man helping their women in their work as well like washing clothes or taking care of child. There is a strong need to understand and consider the culture which constitutes of the values, beliefs and habits of consumers which show a discrepancy across the nations. The other aspect of the changing cultural environment and upcoming trends are also important to understand.

Andrei Tarkovskys Andrei Rublev

Andrei Tarkovskys Andrei Rublev Free Online Research Papers Andrei Tarkovskys Andrei Rublev Creativity is one of the most important motifs in Andrei Tarkovsky’s critically acclaimed Russian film, â€Å"Andrei Rublev.† Although Tarkovsky never comes right out and explains his views on creativity, he expresses them to us through the vehicle of three of his characters: Andrei Rublev, The Jester, and a young bell-maker. Each of these characters is a creator who struggles in some way with the creative process. Andrei Rublev is a talented and successful Russian icon painter who is known throughout Russia for the quality of his religious depictions. At one point in the movie, however, after he has done a lot of thinking about the value of his work in the modern world, he decides to give up painting forever. When he decides to do this, he is under the impression that his art is worthless, that it is no longer appreciated by the people because the people are no longer good Christian followers. After all, the value of his art lies in its ability to move its viewers, to make them feel the love of their Lord; if the majority of the people in the world have strayed from their Christian beliefs, then his art can no longer have this effect on them. They cannot feel the love of the Lord if they have forgotten him. There is one scene, in particular, in which Andrei realizes how immoral and Godless the people of his country have become. In this scene, he is captured by a group of reveling pagans and ti ed upside down to a cross, an evil symbol meant to mock the crucifixion of Jesus. Eventually, Andrei decides to start painting again. But why? Although the movie never gives you a definite answer in regard to this question, I have a theory. Because Andrei had seen what a bad state the world was in, he decided to paint again because he believed that if he could create something great enough, he might be able to reverse (or at least slow) the world’s descent into evil. It dawned on him that the Lord had given him the ability to paint for a reason – to enlighten and inspire the masses – and it would be a sin to waste that ability. The Jester is another creator in this movie. Instead of painting religious icons like Andrei, he composes songs and verses which are designed to both entertain his friends as well as ridicule and poke fun at his oppressors. At one point in the movie, he is punished for one of these songs – a comically scathing song about a tartar. His punishment shows how it is dangerous for someone to create something that criticizes the ruling powers in a country. Tarkovsky probably meant this scene to act as a mirror for the situation in his own country, where a great deal of art and creativity was censored by the Communist government. Aside from this, the Jester is also meant to symbolize how creativity can exist in any level of the social caste system. After all, the Jester was a poor and impoverished peasant. Most people during that time would have had trouble believing that someone from such a low socio-economic background could be skilled at anything beyond manual labor, but Tarkovsky is reminding everyone that they can be. In his opinion, creativity can exist anywhere. The third and final creator in â€Å"Andre Rublev† is the young boy, who is commissioned by the prince to fashion a bell for the cathedral. He is warned that if he fails at this task and the bell does not ring, he will be executed. In my opinion, this aspect of the movie is meant to symbolize the desire to create. Many artists are so passionate about their work, that failure to them is like death (just as failure to caste a working bell would be death for the boy). Research Papers on Andrei Tarkovsky's "Andrei Rublev"Where Wild and West MeetHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionCapital PunishmentAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeQuebec and CanadaThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationHip-Hop is Art

SAT and TOEFL What You Need to Know About Each Test

SAT and TOEFL What You Need to Know About Each Test SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Is English your second (or third or fourth) language? If it’s anything but your first, then you may have to take the TOEFL to get into universityin the United States. The TOEFL is an English language test that shows you have the language skills to succeed in college. As another admissions test, the TOEFLshares some similarities with the more ubiqutous SAT. This guide will compare the two tests, as well as give you some tips for preparing for both. If you’re a non-native English speaker planning to apply to a U.S. college, then read on to learn the ins and outs of your testing requirements. What Tests Do Colleges Require? Most four-year colleges require that all applicants, domestic and international alike, take the SAT or ACT. Forthis article, we’ll focus on the SAT as your admissions test of choice. You should note, though, that either test is fine, and colleges consider both equally. You should choose the one on which you can gain higher scores for your college applications. If English isn’t your first language, then you’ll likelyalso have to take the TOEFL to apply to college. Colleges want youto show that you have the English language skills to succeed at the college level. By the way, you also have some choice when it comes to the TOEFL. Most colleges will equally accept the IELTS or PTE too. The TOEFL is the most popular option, though, so we’ll focus on that for now. Good to know you always have options! So who should take the TOEFL? Pretty much any student for whom English isn’t his/herfirst language. For students who are fluent, this TOEFL requirement can get a little murky. Usually, if you’ve taken at least one ESL class in high school, then colleges want you to take the TOEFL. A few colleges, however, won’t require this test if you’ve been in English classes for the past two or three years. There’s one other circumstance when a college would waive its TOEFL requirement. If you score highly enough on the verbal section of the SAT or ACT, then you might not have to take the TOEFL. Since colleges vary in their policies, how can you find out more about your testing requirements? Get out your trenchcoat, magnifying glass, and deerstalkercap. It's time to do some detective work. How Can You Find Your Colleges' Testing Requirements? While many colleges share the same requirements, some have their own additional policies, especially when it comes to the SAT and TOEFL for international students. To ensure that you understand exactly what you need, I highly recommend researching the stances of eachcollege that you’re interested in. You should be able to find this information on each college’s admission website, specifically in a section for international applicants. Even if you’re a U.S.citizen, this section is usually the one that contains instructions for ESL speakers. For instance, Tufts has a page called The Admissions Process for International Students with the following information: â€Å"Students for whom English is not the primary language, or not the language of instruction in their secondary school, should take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) in addition to the options listed above. A minimum TOEFL score of 100 on the Internet-based test is recommended.† As you research your colleges’ requirements, remember that each college is unique, so each college’s admissions website is too. Some are easier to navigate than others, so if you can’t find the information you’re looking for, you shouldn’t hesitate to contact the admissions office. Since prepping for and taking the SAT and TOEFL takes several months, if not years, you’d be best served to start this research early. Once you find the international applicants section of your prospective college’s admissions site, what specifically should you look for? Bring it in, team. What score do we need to win this college admission game? What You Need to Know About TOEFL and SAT Requirements There are three main pieces of information that you should seek as you research your school’s testing requirements. 1. What Tests Are Required? Of course, the first piece of information you’ll look for is what tests you need in order to apply. Most websites will have step-by-step application instructions and/or a checklist of application requirements. They'll also tell you the school code to use in order to add it as a score recipient through your College Board (administers the SAT) or ETS (administers the TOEFL) account. Check to see whether your school requires applicants to send SAT scores, TOEFL scores, or both. 2. Does Your School Have a TOEFL Cutoff? If your school requires the TOEFL, check to see if it posts a cutoff score, like Tufts did above. Most schools don’t publicize a minimum SAT score, but they do have a minimum for TOEFL. Northeastern, for example, requires a score on the TOEFL iBT of 79-80, while more selective schools like NYU, American University, and Harvard require a minimum of 100. Once you know the cutoff, you can set your target score about tenpointshigher to be a competitive candidate. 3. Will High SAT Scores Get You Out Ofthe TOEFL? Finally, the third question you should ask during your research is whether your school waives the TOEFL if you achieve a certain score on the SAT verbal. In previous years, students wouldn’t have to take the TOEFL if they achieved a certain score on the Critical Reading section. Since the Critical Reading required such a strong understanding of vocabulary and reading comprehension, it could replace the TOEFL as a demonstration of English language skills. For example,Columbia and Brown didn'trequire the students to take the SAT if they achieved a 650 or higher on SAT Critical Reading. Johns Hopkins set the bar even higher, requiring a minimum of 670. There werea few schoolswith lower requirements, like the University of Massachusetts system with a 450 and American University with a 530. With the redesigned SAT, the Reading and Writing sections are now combined into one Evidence-based Reading and Writing score. While colleges haven’t updated their policies yet, you can estimate that the minimum EBRW score needed to waive the TOEFL will be similar to the one for Critical Reading in past years. Just as you should feel free to contact admissions offices for more information, you might ask them over the next few months whether they’ve reframedthis minimum score in terms of the new SAT scoring system. Some schools link your performance on SAT verbal with TOEFL because it shows your English language skills, but the two tests still have a lot of differences. Let’s take a closer look at these two exams, along with what skills they test and how. You’ll notice that they’re distinct enough to require their own unique prep methods and materials. First, let’s examine the TOEFL. How's your vocabulary? The TOEFL is all about your English language skills. The TOEFL: Structure, Content, and Prep The TOEFL is a test of your English language skills. In most countries, it’s given on the computer. There’s also a paper-based test, but it’s being phased out and is only offered in countries where testing online isn’t available. Unless you’re taking the TOEFL by paper, you’ll want to look for your college’s TOEFL iBT (Internet-based test) cutoff. Let’s take a closer look at how the TOEFLtests your English level, starting with its overall format. TOEFL Structure: What the Test Looks Like The TOEFL has four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing, in that order. The Reading and Listening sections can actually vary in length, depending on whether or not you get an exam that features extra questions. Not to worry - these extra questions will be unscored. Unfortunately, they will also be unidentified. In other words, if you get experimental questions, you won’t know which ones they are. This chart shows the length of and number of questions ineach TOEFL section, along with a brief description of tasks. Experimental questions, you’ll notice, can make the Reading and Listening sections significantly longer than normal. Order Section Time Limit Questions Tasks 1 Reading 60–80 minutes 36–56 questions Read 3 or 4 passages from academic texts and answer questions. 2 Listening 60–90 minutes 34–51 questions Listen to lectures, classroom discussions and conversations, then answer questions. Break 10 minutes - - 3 Speaking 20 minutes 6 tasks Express an opinion on a familiar topic; speak based on reading and listening tasks. 4 Writing 50 minutes 2 tasks Write essay responses based on reading and listening tasks; support an opinion in writing. Total: 3 hours, 20 min - 4 hours, 10 min (break included) Source: ETS Each of the four sections on the TOEFL is scored between 0 and 30 points. Your overall scores reflect the sum of your section scores and will fall at or between 0 and 120 points. Now that you have a sense of the test’s overall format, let’s take a closer look at exactly how it tests your Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing skills. Bookworms rejoice! The first section on the TOEFL's all about reading. TOEFL Content: Questions and Skills As you see in the chart above, the TOEFL tests your English language level across all important skill areas: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Read on for a closer look at what you’ll be expected to demonstrate in each section, starting with Reading. You can find the examples in their entirety on the TOEFL iBT practice questions provided by ETS. TOEFL Reading The Reading section contains 3 or 4 passages, usually selected from college-level textbooks. The passages may be expository, argument-based, or historical. Each is followed by multiple choice questions that ask you about elements like themain point, important details, relationships between ideas, and vocabulary. The following examples, which are based on a passage, ask about a supporting detail and a vocabulary word in context: According to paragraph 3, how did scientists determine that a large meteorite had impacted Earth? A. They discovered a large crater in the Yucatn region of Mexico.B. They found a unique layer of sediment worldwide.C. They were alerted by archaeologists who had been excavating in the Yucatn region.D. They located a meteorite with a mass of over a trillion tons. The word â€Å"excavating† on line 25 is closest in meaning to A. digging outB. extendingC. destroyingD. covering up In addition to these multiple choice, there are a few "sentence insertion" questions that ask you to add a sentence into the text where it would fit best. The following is an example of a sentence insertion question. Look at the four letters (A, B, C, and D) that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage in paragraph 6. This is the criterion emphasized by Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. Where would the above sentence best fit? Impacts by meteorites represent one mechanism that could cause global catastrophes and seriously influence the evolution of life all over the planet.(A) According to some estimates, the majority of all extinctions of species may be due to such impacts. (B) Such a perspective fundamentally changes our view of biological evolution. (C) The standard criterion for the survival of a species is its success in competing with other species and adapting to slowly changing environments. (D) Yet an equally important criterion is the ability of a species to survive random global ecological catastrophes due to impacts. Choose the place where the sentence fits best. Option A Option B Option C Option D There are also a few â€Å"Reading to Learn† questions that contain several correct answers. To answer these, you must sort the information into a chart, often placing each piece of information into a category or chronological order. Since these questions are more involved than other types, they’re often worth several points andhave the potential for partial credit. The following is an example of a Reading to Learn question on the Reading section of the TOEFL. An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points. Write your answer choices in the spaces where they belong. You can write in the number of the answer choice or the whole sentence. Scientists have linked the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous with a meteorite impact on Earth. Scientists had believed for centuries that meteorite activity influenced evolution on Earth. The site of the large meteorite impact at the end of the Cretaceous period was identified in 1990. There have also been large meteorite impacts on the surface of the Moon, leaving craters like Tycho. An iridium-enriched sediment layer and a large impact crater in the Yucatn provide evidence that a large meteorite struck Earth about 65 million years ago. Large meteorite impacts, such as one at the end of the Cretaceous period, can seriously affect climate, ecological niches, plants, and animals. Meteorite impacts can be advantageous for some species, which thrive, and disastrous for other species, which become extinct. As you’ll see below, the multiple choice questions that ask you to interpret the main point, details, and vocab words in a passage resemble the Reading questions on the SAT. The sentence insertion questions share some similarity with certain SAT Writing questions. Reading to Learn questions, though, are unique to the TOEFL. Now that you have a sense of how the TOEFL tests your reading skills, let’s take a closer look at how it tests your English listening comprehension. TOEFL Listening The Listening section asks you to listen to academic lectures and/or conversations between students or a professionaland a student. You can take notes as you listen to prepare for the questions that follow. Some of these questions will be straightforward multiple choice, on which you’ll choose one answer that best describes the main point or important details of the listening. For instance, this is a straightforward listening question about the main point of a conversation between a student and her basketball coach: What are the speakers mainly discussing? A. How the woman should prepare for the next gameB. The woman’s responsibilities as team captainC. Things that happened while the woman was awayD. The style of the new team uniforms Other multiple choice questions ask you to choose two correct answersout of four choices. Like in the Reading section, there are a few questions that ask you to list events in a process or place answers into certain categories. These various question types test your basic comprehension of the listening. They also want to make sure you understand the speaker’s purpose, sometimes even asking how certain he/she is about what he/she’s saying. Questions may ask about cause and effect or the organization of ideas in a lecture. All of these questions are meant to ensure that you’d be able to comprehend a lecture or class discussion in a university setting. After Listening, you’ll get a ten-minute break to stretch and regroup. Then it’s on to Speaking. For the third section, beprepared to speak. You'll actually be speaking into a computer, as your graders willprobably be somewhere in New Jersey. TOEFL Speaking The Speaking section is much shorter than the previous two at only 20 minutes. You’ll get two â€Å"independent speaking† tasks and four â€Å"integrated speaking† tasks. Questions 1 and 2 are independent speakingtasks. They'llask you to speak for 45 seconds on familiar topics. You can talk about your own ideas, opinions, observations, or experiences. You’ll have 15 seconds to prepare your answer. Here’s an example of an independent speaking question: Question: Some people enjoy taking risks and trying new things. Others are not adventurous; they are cautious and prefer to avoid danger. Which behavior do you think is better? Explain why. Questions 3 and 4 are integrated speaking tasks. They'll ask you both to read a short passage and listen to a related lecture or conversation. Then you’ll speak for 45 seconds using information from both sources. You’ll have 30 seconds to prepare. Questions 5 and 6 are similar, but they only involve a listening, no reading. You’ll prepare your response for 20 seconds and speak for 60 seconds. This example is based on a conversation between two students about their calculus class. Question: Briefly summarize the problem the speakers are discussing. Then state which solution you would recommend. Explain the reasons for your recommendation. As you can see, the Speaking section tests your ability to speak on your own opinions and experiences, as well as your ability to summarize information and main ideas from readings and listenings. These Speaking tasks are unique to the TOEFL; you won’t find them on the SAT. Finally, you’ll round out your demonstration of English language skills on the TOEFL Writing section. Unlike the handwritten SAT essay, you'll type your responses on the Writing section of the TOEFL iBT. TOEFL Writing You’ve read, listened, and spoken your way through this challenging exam. Now it’s time to write! You’ll get two prompts, one that’s calledan integrated writing task and the other labeled as an independent writing task. Like with the integrated speaking task, the integrated writing task asks you to read a short passage and listen to a lecture or conversation. Then you’ll get a question that asks you to summarize the main points of what you read and heard and perhaps compare or contrast the two. You’ll get 20 minutes, and your response should be 150 to 225 words. The integrated writing task often looks like this: Question: Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they oppose specific points made in the reading passage. The independent writing taskresembles the independent speaking task in that it asks you to express your personal opinion and support it with examples. Your essay should be at least 300 words, and you’ll have 30 minutes to write it. Here’s one example of an independent writing task: Question: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? A teacher’s ability to relate well with students is more important than excellent knowledge of the subject being taught. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. Since you’re typing on the computer, there will be a counter below the text box for both tasks that tells you your total word count. Both essays are initiallygraded between 0 and 5, and you can consult the rubric to see what you need to accomplish to score at each level. A strong grasp of grammar, word choice, and organization is important for doing well on the Writing section. Once you’ve finished the Writing section, you’re all done with the TOEFL. You’ll get your scores online about ten days after you take the test. Before moving onto the SAT so you can compare the two tests, let’s briefly discuss the importance of test prep for succeeding on this challenging exam. You'll need to practice saying your responses, not just writing them. Sadly, there are no bonus points for singing them. Prepping for the TOEFL Even if you have an advanced level of English, you’ll need to prep to do well on the TOEFL. It’s a unique test with strict time limits, and anyone who’s taken it will tell you that you should show up equipped with knowledge of the question types and strategies for time management. The Speakingsection is especially atypical with its oral essays. While 45 to 60 seconds may not sound like a lot, it’s actually a big challenge for most students. Learning to structure your oral responses with an introduction, supporting details, and a conclusion just like you would a written essay is an unusual task that requires serious preparation. It’s a good idea to give yourself several months to prep for the TOEFL. You might start with a timed practice test to diagnose your starting level. Then you can analyze your results, find your weaknesses, and figure out what you most need to study from there. The test-makers recommend that you’ve studied English for at least two years before taking the test. Since the readings are taken from university textbooks, most students need to be at a high intermediate or advanced level to do well on this test. You can find several TOEFL preparation books online, but make sure to incorporate official questions from the testmakers into your prep, as these will be the best representation of the actual test. You can find sample questions on the TOEFL website, as well as official ETS TOEFL books and an online prep program. Just like with the SAT, you should start several months before your test date. If possible, you might also leave two or more available test dates after your first one in case you want to retake the TOEFL to improve your scores. Now that you have some insight into the TOEFL, let’s take a closer look at the SAT. Beyond this overview, you can learn more about the SAT by exploring our articles on test content, strategies, and preparation, including a full overview of its 2016 redesign. As you read about each section, pay attention to the ways in which it’s similar to the TOEFL and the ways in which it's different. While the TOEFL's all about your English language level, the SAT is more concerned with your reasoning and problem-solving skills. SAT: Structure, Skills, and Prep While the TOEFL tests your English language skills, the SAT is concerned with testing your reasoning and problem-solving skills. It’s scored based on two main areas: Evidence-based Reading and Writing and Math. You also have the option of taking an essay section, which is scored separately. Students should take the essay section if their prospective colleges want to see it. Read on to learn more about the overall structure of the SAT. SAT Structure: What the Test Looks Like The SAT, which is scored on a scale from 400 to 1600, has four sections, Reading, Writing and Language, Math No Calculator, and Math with Calculator, in that order. If you choose to take the SAT with Essay, then the essay will be your fifth section. This chart gives an overview of the test’s structure: Order Section Time in Minutes # of Questions 1 Reading 65 52 2 Writing and Language 35 44 3 Math No Calculator 25 20 4 Math Calculator 55 38 5 Essay (optional) 50 1 Total: 3 hours, 50 minutes (3 hours without essay) 154 (+ 1 essay prompt) You’ll get a five-minute break after about every hour of testing. That means you’ll have a short break after Reading, after Math No Calculator, and, if you choose to take it, before the Essay. We have several comprehensive guides that dig deeply into the content and question types of each section. For the purposes of this article, let’s briefly review the content and skills of each section. The SAT doesn't just ask about reading and writing. It tests you on a lot of math, too. SAT Content: Questions and Skills The SAT is half verbal and half math. The verbal sections include a Reading and a Writing and Language section, and the math is split into a calculator prohibited and a calculator permitted section. Below, you can read more about what skills each section tests and the question types it uses to do so. You can also find the sample questions in College Board's official SAT practice tests. SAT Reading SAT Reading shares some similarities with TOEFL Reading. You’ll also have to read passages and answer multiple choice questions about their main idea, supporting details, and vocabulary. On the SAT, you’ll get five passages, one from literature, two based on history/social studies, and two from science. While you won’t get any prose selections on the TOEFL, you will get one on the SAT Reading. The questions will test your comprehension, and because it’s strictly timed, you’ll mostly need to skim the passages for important details. Some of the questions will be evidence-based, meaning they’ll ask you to locate evidence in the text that serves as the reason for your answer to a previous question. For instance, here’s a detail-oriented comprehension question followed by an evidence-based question: 1. The passage indicates that, after a long day of work, the narrator sometimes found his living quarters to be A) treacherous. B) dreary. C) predictable. D) intolerable. 2. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question? A) Lines 17-21 (â€Å"I should... scenes†) B) Lines 21-23 (â€Å"I should... lodgings†) C) Lines 64-67 (â€Å"Thoughts... phrases†) D) Lines 68-74 (â€Å"I walked... gleam†) All of the questions will be multiple choice with four answer choices. A few of the questions will ask you to interpret a graphic, like a chart or table, often asking how it relates to the text in the passage. Your Reading performance will be combined with your Writing and Language performance to give you one Evidence-based Reading and Writing score between 200 and 800. Read on to learn how the Writing and Language section, which will be your second section on the SAT, differs from Reading. SAT Writing and Language The SAT Writing and Language, often referred to as just SAT Writing, tests your knowledge of English grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. It also asks about theorganization of ideas and paragraph structure. The entire section is multiple choice, and every question is passage-based. Writing questions ask you to be an editor. They’ll ask whether or not a word, detail, or organization scheme is correct, and, if not, it asks you to choose a better option. You’ll basically work to improve the grammar, punctuation, style, and structure of a paragraph. These next few questions, for example,ask about grammar (subject-verb agreement) and inserting a sentence to clarify meaning: There are a few questions in the TOEFL Reading section that ask you to insert a sentence in a passage to improve its meaning. As you see in the example above, SAT Writing asks similar questions. It also goes one step further by asking you why you would insert a sentence into a passage. For students whose native language is not English, the Writing section, along with the Reading section, can be especially challenging. Once you finish up this section, you’ll move immediately onto a math section. For this 25-minute section, you’re not allowed to use a calculator. For one of the two SAT math sections, you'll have to keep your calculator packed away in your bag. SAT Math No Calculator The math sections are where the SAT completely diverges from the TOEFL. These sections are meant to ensure that students have the conceptual and problem solving skills to do well in college. Most of the questions are based on algebra, but there are a few that incorporate geometry, trigonometry, and complex numbers. International students often have an easier time on the math sections since they don’t have as much emphasis on advanced English language skills. The redesigned SAT, however, incorporates several word problems. Some reading comprehension, therefore, is still important on the math section, as you can see in this sample SAT word problem: A musician has a new song available for downloading or streaming. The musician earns $0.09 each time the song is downloaded and $0.002 each time the song is streamed. Which of the following expressions represents the amount, in dollars, that the musician earns if the song is downloaded d times and streamed s times. 0.002d + 0.09s 0.002d - 0.09s 0.09d + 0.002s 0.09d - 0.002s On this shorter math section, you can’t use a calculator. Most questions won’t require complex calculations. Rather, they’ll test your conceptual understanding. You’ll find more questions that call for calculations on the next math section. SAT Math with Calculator You’re allowed to use a calculator on the longer of the two SAT math sections. Not all problems, however, will necessarily require one. It’s your job to figure out when a calculator’s useful and when it would just slow you down. Like the other math section, the Math with Calculator asks a lot of algebra questions, along with a few geometry and trigonometry. It also has a strong emphasis on Problem Solving and Data Analysis questions, which ask you to work with rates, ratios, percentages, and data from graphs and tables. Here’s one example of a Problem Solving and Data Analysis question on the SAT Math with Calculator: Number of hours Tony plans to read the novel per day 3 Number of parts in the novel 8 Number of chapters in the novel 239 Number of words Tony reads per minute 250 Number of pages in the novel 1,078 Number of words in the novel 349,168 Tony is planning to read a novel. The table above shows information about the novel, Tony’s reading speed, and the amount of time he plans to spend reading the novel each day. If Tony reads at the rates given in the table, which of the following is closest to the number of days it would take Tony to read the entire novel? 6 8 23 324 Unlike the TOEFL, math is an important part of prepping for and taking the SAT. In fact, your performance on math will make up half of your total SAT score. As mentioned above, the Essay section is optional, and as such, it won't count toward your total score. Let's briefly review the SAT Essay section. Make sure to notice how much it differs from TOEFL Writing. The (optional) SAT essay asks you to unfold an author's argument and analyzeexactly how she puts it together. SAT Essay The SAT essay is 50 minutes and asks you to analyze an argument presented in a passage. While some of the TOEFL promptsallow you to draw on personal experience, the SAT essay does not. It wants you to present a thesis-driven analysis of the techniques and devices an author uses to present his/her argument. The following is an example of an SAT prompt. If you want to check out the passage to which it refers, you can find it at College Board. Write an essay in which you explain how Dana Gioia builds an argument to persuade his audience that the decline of reading in America will have a negative effect on society. In your essay, analyze how Gioia uses one or more of the features in the directions that precede the passage (or features of your own choice) to strengthen the logic and persuasiveness of his argument. Be sure that your analysis focuses on the most relevant features of the passage. Your essay should not explain whether you agree with Gioia’s claims, but rather explain how Gioia builds an argument to persuade his audience. The SAT essay prompt resembles the analytical essays that many students write in English class. It differs from the TOEFL essays, which tend to ask more for a summary or opinion. Your writing skills, especially grammar, word choice, and structure, are important for doing well on both tests. As with the TOEFL, the SAT requiressignificant preparation to achieve your target scores. Luckily, there are lots of practice materials that can help you succeed. Prepping for the SAT The SAT is a challenging test for all students, including native English speakers. Developing strong English language skills is an important part of doing well, as is familiarizing yourself with the test content, question types, and strategies for answering questions and managing your time. An important first step is getting to know the structure and format of the test. You should explore the types of question that will pop up in the Reading, Writing, Math, and, if applicable, Essay sections. Using high-quality practice materials is also key. Make sure yours review exactly what will appear on the test and pair content review with realistic practice questions. Just like the TOEFL, you might start your prep with a diagnostic practice test. Root out your weak spots, and target them with your studying. Non-native English speakers might especially focus on strategies for reading the passages in Reading and Writing and studying rules of grammar, usage, punctuation, and structure. ESL students should also practice word problems in math. A third important area to study is the data interpretation questions that will show up on all four sections of the SAT. How long you prep for the SAT depends on your starting level, and you should define your target scores by researching your prospective colleges’ expectations. It’s best to start several months before your first test and to leave yourself additional testing dates in case you want to retake it and improve. Many colleges will take your highest section scores and recombine them into the best possible total score, so taking the SAT more than once, if possible, is usually in your best interest. Now that you have a sense of both tests, let’sreview their similarities and differences. Comparing the SAT and TOEFL reveals some similarities, but in other ways, it's like comparing apples and oranges. SAT vsTOEFL: Similarities and Differences The TOEFL and SAT are largely different tests, but there are a few areas in which they overlap. For one thing, they’re both required for international or (some) ESL students applying to college in the US. As admissions tests, they demand a good deal of preparation and planning. Before even preparing to take the tests, you need to understand their scoring scales and what scores you need to get into college. Since both tests require an advanced level of English, any preparation you do for one will help you to some extent on the other. The Reading sections especially have some overlap, requiring you to read college-level passages and comprehend their main idea and details. Both tests also ask you to edit the structure, flow, and meaning of a passage. As you read above, this commonality means that some colleges will waive the TOEFL requirement if students can demonstrate their English language skills by scoring highly on SAT verbal. The TOEFL is especially unique due to its Listening and Speaking sections. These two sections are specifically geared to measure the English language level of test-takers. While the TOEFL is all about the English language, the SAT is half math. It wants to make sure you meet certain benchmarks as a math student and can demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Both the SAT and TOEFL are fast-paced, timed admissions tests that are essential to realizing your college goals. For the most part, you should treat them as separate exams that call for their own study plan and test-taking strategies. In closing, let’s review the main points that non-native English speakers should remember about these two important exams. The SAT and TOEFL take a lot of prep and planning, but in the end, they're your passport to the college of your choice! What to Remember Aboutthe SAT and TOEFL Most non-native English speakers applying to college in the U.S.will be required to take the TOEFL and the SAT (or ACT, if you prefer). The TOEFL shows that you have the English language skills to succeed at the college level. The SAT is meant to test all students on an equal playing field and evaluate their reasoning and problem-solving skills. Since the SAT requires advanced English language skills, it may be cause to waive the TOEFL requirement. You should check with your prospective colleges early in the college planning process to learn about their policies. Unless you’re scoring very highly on SAT practice tests, I wouldn’t suggest ignoring the TOEFL on the assumption that you won’t have to take it. You wouldn’t want to put it off and then run out of time to prep or test dates to improve your scores. Even though you probably won’t apply to college until senior year, you should start preparing for and taking the SAT and TOEFL much earlier. By readying these components of your application early and achieving your target scores, you’ll have a huge number of options when it comes time to apply to college. What’s Next? Are you an international student applying to college in the US? Checkout our complete guide on how to apply to college as an international student, step by step (coming soon). Are you wondering where to apply? This article will help you research colleges and find the ones that are the best fit for you. Another key factor in planning your tests and other parts of your application are college deadlines. This article discusses the important college deadlines you can’t miss. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: