Factors Contributing Factors That Causes Obesity Among...

Childhood obesity is a major health issue that takes place when a child is beyond the average weight for his or her age and height (Mayo Clinic, 2014). According to Sameera and Amar childhood obesity is a major public health crisis nationally and internationally, which arises because of the differences in lifestyle consequences among different cultural people in New Zealand (2012). This abnormality can cause various health risks such as diabetes and heart disease (World Health Organisation, 2014). The purpose of this essay is to analyse 3 major contributing factors that causes obesity among children in New Zealand. This essay will commence by identifying the behavioural factor such as lack of physical activity for children furthermore, it will discuss environmental factors, for instance, media and portion sizes of fast food intake in New Zealand. Lastly this essay will discuss sociocultural factors regarding cultural family background and how socio-economic status affects the rising issue of childhood obesity. THESIS STATEMENT? The New Zealand Health Survey established that â€Å"1 in 9 children aged 2–14 years were obese (11%)†, in New Zealand (Ministry of Health, 2014). Weight loss can be achieved through regular exercise and interventions on nutrition. It can help protect an individual from being obese and reduce risks, complications and control health issues. For example, lowering sugar intakes to better aid diabetes, consume healthy foods for example more fruits andShow MoreRelatedFactors Contributing Factors That Causes Obesity Among Children Essay1364 Words   |  6 PagesWhat are the causes of obesity among children in New Zealand? Introduction Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height (Mayo Clinic, 2014). According to Sameera and Amar childhood obesity is a major public health crisis nationally and internationally, which arises because of the differences in lifestyle consequences among different cultural people in New Zealand (2012). This abnormality can cause various healthRead MoreChildhood Obesity And Its Effects On Children And Adolescents1427 Words   |  6 PagesLiterature Review Many children living in the world are well nourished and consume foods that contain sufficient amounts of protein, carbohydrate, fat and micronutrients in order to meet their nutritional requirements. However, there has been a downfall of recommended dietary standards considerably fallen short within children’s diets. Furthermore, an insignificant diet as well as physical inactivity, results in an energy imbalance and can lead to a major social issue of childhood obesity. The World HealthRead MoreRisk Factors for Stroke in Young Adults1635 Words   |  7 Pages Risk Factors for Stroke in Young Adults Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States (CDC para. 1), affecting more than 7 million Americans over the age of 20 and representing 3% of the population (Rogers et al. e68). Current estimates suggest close to 800,000 Americans will experience a stroke each year; however, symptoms related to strokes often go undiagnosed. The prevalence of undiagnosed strokes is estimated to be 17.8% of the population over the age of 45, but some minoritiesRead MoreThe Food And Beverage Industry1410 Words   |  6 Pagesspecialized in food that appeals to children alone. From the exciting music, vibrant colors, celebrity filled commercials and the prizes promised in every box of cereal, children have become one of the main targets of the food and beverage industry. For many years obesity among youths was over looked but now there is an epidemic of among school aged children in the United States. According to W.H.O. (World Health Organization 2013), there are over 42 million chil dren under the age of five overweightRead MoreEssay on Outline for Speech1256 Words   |  6 PagesInformative Speech Outline Title: Child Obesity, a â€Å"Growing† Concern Topic: Most Prevalent Causes of Obesity in the U.S. Specific Purpose: To educate the audience on the key causes of the increasing obesity rate in the U.S. among adults, but especially among youth. Thesis Statement: The main contributors to obesity among adults, but mostly among youth are environmental factors, lack of choosing nutritious meals, portion distortion and the factor that fuels all of these, advertising mediaRead MoreChildren And Type 2 Diabetes1533 Words   |  7 PagesChildren and Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been reported with increased frequency over the last twenty years in adolescents and children in the United States. As a result of T2DM glucose metabolism within the body of affected adolescents and children is severely compromised. Formerly known as adult onset and/or insulin resistant diabetes T2DM occurs due to the cell inability to properly use insulin which then results in lowered secretion of insulin as well as insulin resistanceRead MoreDefining Overweight And Obesity : Bmi Interpretation1475 Words   |  6 Pages†¢ Defining overweight and obesity – BMI interpretation is review. The Body Mass Index (BMI) formula is used to estimate the proportion of fat a person has based on their HEIGHT and WEIGHT. Adults with a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 are considered to be at a normal or healthy weight, adults with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 are considered to be overweight, and adults with a BMI of 30 or higher are considered obese. †¢ What challenges do people face in trying to lose weight, even when they know the healthRead MoreObesity And Its Effects On The Health Of Americans And People All Across The World1514 Words   |  7 Pages Obesity is a very serious threat to the health of Americans and people all across the world. A plethora of studies have been done to confirm the adverse effects of obesity on an individual s health. Obesity rates have been skyrocketing in the past 30 years. The year 2000 marked the first time in human history that the percentage of obesity in the human population rose over 50% (Obesity: A Cultural and Biocultural Perspective). Obesity, as well as childhood obesity, is more prevalent than everRead MoreChildhood Obesity Essay1712 Words   |  7 PagesChildhood obesity is an important issue because of the staggering proportions that this disease has reached in the past few years. Certain genetic factors paired with changing lifestyles and culture has produced kids (and adults) who are generally not as healthy as people were just a few decades ago. Widespread obesity has been the extreme result of these changes. I chose this topic because I have worked with children all of my life. I plan to continue my work with children in the futureRead MoreChildhood Obesity And Its Effects1551 Words   |  7 PagesChildhood obesity has become an epidemic in our nation. Currently, more than one in six American children is obese, which is three times the rate as that of the 1970s [1]. Obesity contributes significantly to cardiovascular disease, different types of cancers, as well as diabetes. About 70% of obese children/adolescents have at least one risk factor for heart disease, such as hyperlipidemia and hypertension, and almost 40% of obese youths have at least two additional risk factors. Increase in rates

The Effects of Media on Teenagers Free Essays

As a teen, I myself think it’s pretty safe to say that TV, as well as movies and other media, are some of our primary sources of information about sex and sexuality. Statistics estimate that the average teen will be exposed to around 15000 references to sex each year on TV. TV shows and movies make it seem normal for teenagers to have sex. We will write a custom essay sample on The Effects of Media on Teenagers or any similar topic only for you Order Now And let’s be honest, it probably is. But the fact of the matter is the media has a whole lot of influence over the way we perceive sexuality, and actually a great deal of it comes from the music industry, especially through music videos. You try to think of one song that’s been on MTV music channel, that hasn’t mentioned anything remotely to do with sex or a broken relationship. Now think of one music video you’ve watched on 4music channel that didn’t include one scrap of sexual imagery or expose and focus on a scantily clad female. Yeah, didn’t think you could. What’s worse is that a recent study of video games teenage boys regularly play found that the few female characters in those games are often highly sexualized—wearing tight revealing clothing and having unrealistically large breasts, and unnaturally disfiguring small waists. Is this distorting the way guys view real women? Well, sorry for the wakeup call boys, but you’re in for a shocking discovery. Another study of network television commercials found that nearly one in 4 commercials includes some type of sexual attractiveness as a base for the message. What is going on with the world? Are we so unimaginative we’ve resorted to sexual attraction as a method to persuade people to buy shampoo? Is this nation as gullible to believe that ‘when you buy this insanely expensive bottle of shampoo, you’ll automatically transform from your naught-over-average self into this booby-blonde bimbo who probably eats an average of 200 calories a day’ really? Why don’t we just change it from ‘Advertising Executives’ to freaking ‘Pornography Wholesale’ and be done with it?! Which brings me to another point. Young girls were quoted as saying that they would prefer to have cancer, lose both their parents, or live through a nuclear holocaust than be fat. You might be thinking, ‘Is this a joke? ’ I really wish it was. Because take it from someone who has grown up with only one parent, being fat is the least of your worries. And this problem isn’t limited to just girls, oh no. Because the amount of males with eating disorders has in fact doubled over the past decade. Sorry lads, but you’re not faultless. On the other hand, nobody is. Even the media can’t hide from you that basic fact – the new Rimmel girl, quite frankly, looks almost the double of a frogmouth catfish. Not that they don’t put up a good fight. Take one look at any middle-shelf magazine and you’ll see exactly what every single other woman in the country no doubt sees, – today’s airbrushed perception of the perfect beauty. The elementary trend in the media industry at present is to promote slim, almost unnaturally skinny women’s bodies, and sell it out as the only way to be accepted as beautiful. Women, especially young women, take one look at magazines, TV programmes, movies and other media products and accept this falsified version of a human being, and distressingly of all, believe in it. These images are distinguished in the mind of young women as being a role model to follow, and aspire to be like. Unfortunately girls, attaining this emaciated look doesn’t come naturally (unless you’ve been blessed with an insanely high metabolism – for which, I am extremely resentful), and inevitably leads to exercising some form of diet, excessive amounts of exercise or aberrant eating behaviours. In actual fact, the number of people with some form of eating disorder is triple the amount of people with AIDS. Two in five women have admitted that they were unhappy with their bodies, which means 40% of you reading this know exactly what I’m talking about. The media does affect us, and there isn’t much we can do about that. What you can do, is stop comparing yourself to the cover models – because they’re not real women. Beauty is natural, not airbrushed, and natural is how you are in yourself – not how you adapt yourself around an image’s expectations. How to cite The Effects of Media on Teenagers, Papers

Marketing of Starbucks in Global Economy

Question: Discuss about the Marketing of Starbucks in Global Economy. Answer: Introduction This report is related to the strategic marketing plan of a company for next three years. For the discussion, the famous company Starbuck Corporation has taken. It is well known that Starbucks is operating at global level. Starbucks is well-settled Washington-based Company which is famous for its good taste of coffee. It is one of the fastest growing companies in the United States. The company has started operating in 1992 and over ten years company has set new revenues with the growth rate of 20%. This report considers the competitive position of Starbucks and defines three year marketing strategy for the company. Along with this, competitive advantage, current position, future desired position and about the advantages which can be achieved by the Starbucks to get desired position in the market (Aiello Dickinson, 2014). During the past year, the stock of Starbucks has declined in terms of value. Now, Starbucks is improving its financial position by store sale. Primary strategy of S tarbucks is to expand its higher as compared to the competitors. Although Starbucks has faced many difficulties due to many factors these challenges i.e. financial downturn in US which affected the business of Starbucks. After the crisis, company has added total estimated 338 million to the UK economy. Based on the current research, total consumption of coffee in world is 2.25 billion. There is about 22.1 gallon of coffee per capita consumption in US in which 4% of sales is helpful to get higher rates for Starbucks. It is expected that Starbucks will be largest coffee chain in 2020 (Latif et al, 2014). Where are we now From the analysis of the surroundings of Starbucks, it is clear that for Starbucks, technological, environmental and sociological factors are favorable and on the other hand, economic, legal and political factors are unfavorable for the Starbucks (Gupta, Sahi Chahal, 2013). In terms of competitive advantage, the company has major threats i.e. legal issues, and threats of new entry etc. But, Starbucks has strong competitive advantage among the customers. Competitive advantage can be achieved by doing something better and innovative as compared to the competitors. If the number of small advantage can be combined than company can be able to achieve competitive advantage in the industry (Baines, Fill Page, 2011). Competitive advantage is important or necessary to develop and impellent the winning strategy and to achieve growth and profits. Starbucks is doing different practices as compared to the competitors (Khan, 2010). Starbucks has strong brand name among the customers. Brand name can be described as the specific term, name, symbol, sign, design, which is used to differentiate itself from its competitors. The green and white logo of Starbucks is the symbol of high brand awareness among the customers. Most of the international tourists have visited in the Starbucks by identifying its logo in another country. Company has positive brand image which impact the decision making process of the customers and build customer loyalty to the Starbucks (Geereddy, 2015). Product and service standardization: Quality of the product can be described as the perception of the customers by the degree of excellence of the characteristics. Quality is the main factor in the relationship marketing which impact the customers satisfaction (Cadogan, 2012). There is loyalty reward program offered by the Starbucks which improves the purchasing behavior of customers towards the products. Starbucks is doing well in brand building. Having good taste of coffee, Starbucks provides different type of experience to the customers. Starbucks is famous as third place where people can meet with friends and business partners. This is the position which improves the sales of the company (Boychenko, 2012). Starbucks is well known as the innovator having good management of innovation for the high sales and success in the market. The aim of Starbucks is to provide good taste of various coffee brands in one store. The company has ability to do new innovations in the products which is considerable in the competitive strength. Starbucks has adopted the changing preferences and taste of customers. Flexibility is the part of success of Starbucks. So, the company has introduced almond milk in stores and non-dairy alternatives such as soy milk and coconut milk. According to a research, there are 49% of consumers who consume non-dairy milk products. So, it is estimated that sales of dairy milk will decrease by 11% by 2020. So, Starbucks is focusing on non-dairy milk products (Marchi, Maria and Micelli, 2012). With the tasty coffee, Starbucks is social conscious as compared to the other companies. It is the proof that how the company treats with the employees. This is the reason, the company has low attrition rate. In America, Starbucks has announced a program related to economic development for the low medium income communities. According to Starbucks, it is the job opportunity for many people to grow the business (Bose, 2012). Where do we want to be Starbucks is continuously delivering high financial performance. Customers experience different types of coffee and good environment in the stores of Starbucks. Company has strong position in the market. Now, Starbucks want to gain some more positions with new strategies. In upcoming years, Starbucks has some new goals for upcoming years. In the year of growth and profitability, Starbucks is now planning to get higher standards in the coffee industry. The strategy of Starbucks is to develop its core competencies to add more values in the products and establish the image of the company as luxury and stylishness for the customers. According to Hamel (1990), core competencies can be defined as the collective learning of the organization to coordinate different production skills and implement various streams of the technologies. The core competencies of the Starbucks can be seen in its capability, superb market strategies, operational efficiency, human resource management and management capabilities (Lapersonne, 2013). Further, another strategy of Starbucks is to maintain the competitive advantage by cost leadership, focus and differentiation. Cost leadership includes the strategy in terms of producing low-cost with high quality products. It also includes reducing operational cost in all area of operations. With this, strategy of Starbucks is to adopt differentiation of the products. By differentiation strategy, customers perceive the products to be unique and value added. Starbucks has the strategy to reduce the cost of the products for the growth and profit. The aim of the company is to expand the stores effectively. Basically, strategy is to focus on cost efficiency. To reduce the cost, there is one way i.e. specialize and focus on the core marketing of the coffee. Further, long term strategy of Starbucks is to build and retain the customer loyalty in the market (Hooley, Piercy Nicoulaud, 2012). Along with this, next objective of the Starbucks is to look good location for its stores. This strategy of Starbucks is based on traffic pattern and demographic criteria. Company is willing to open the outlets based on the plan and criteria i.e. weather condition, customers behavior, taste and preferences. The long term objective of Starbucks is to provide convenient place for the overworked people in every country. The management team of the company is focusing on more efforts. Image building is the core objective of the company by creating a revolution in the business world (Seaford, Culp Brooks, 2012). Starbucks is planning to invest heavily in improving and creating brand image of the company as comfortable coffeehouse where consumers can enjoy luxurious moment away from stressful environment of the workplace. From starting, Starbucks has become recognized company in the coffee industry which is providing immersive coffee experience to the customers. The aim of the company is to provide Starbucks Experience across the world. By achieving this objective, the plan of the company is to provide roaster experience to the entire world (Lynn et al, 2011). In current time, marketing is more dependent on the technologies. Starbucks is also trying to adopt new technologies for the suitability of the customers. The objective of the company is to improve the customers base by social media and online marketing. Now, Starbucks is offering largest and most robust mobile ecosystem as compared to other companies in the coffee industry. Company is planning to improve its mobile app and by mobile app, customers are able to order their desired products by call or message (Fitzgerald, 2013). How will we get there This is the final section of the report which provides the plans related to the strategies to make Starbucks successful. In this section, plans will be explored to execute the strategy and to achieve objectives. On the basis of these plans, the marketing mix of the Starbucks is helpful for future success. Marketing mix of a company can be described as combination of principles purpose the creation of demand for the product and service of the company (Cravens Piercy, 2013). Marketing mix of Starbucks is as follows: Product- Product is the most important factor of any company. By the product-mix, Starbucks has become more competitive against its competitors. The products of Starbucks include hot chocolate, brewed coffee, teas, and espresso. Along with this, Starbucks offers blended beverages to target non-coffee drinkers including juice, oatmeal, salads, sandwiches, muffins, cakes, and ready-to-eat pastries to satisfy the customers. The products of the Starbucks can be divided into two catagories i.e. standardize or differentiate. Starbucks always use standardization in the products. Starbucks changes its products catalogue based on the demands of the customers in various countries (Forbes, 2013). Price- To differentiate the company from the competitors, Starbucks uses main factor of premium price. So, the prices of products in the Starbucks are slightly higher as compared to the competitors. Customers are ready to spend money for high quality services and products so they consider the products of Starbucks. But in some cases, company has dropped its prices. For example, in Japan, company has dropped the prices from 230 yen to 190 yen as coffee industry in Japan has deflation prices and tough competition so it is the big challenge for Starbucks to keep the customers loyal in such kind of situation (Dawson, 2013). Place- Key factor in the place-mix of Starbucks is its stores which can be found in any surrounding. Starbucks provides better environment to the customers to enjoy their reading, free Wi-Fi, meeting and listening the music. On the basis of demand, Starbucks is able to keep its competitive position by managing grown crowd of the customers and proving good services in the stores. Along with this, Starbucks is implementing entry mode strategies including licensing, wholly-owned subsidiaries and joint ventures (Forbes, 2016). Promotion- Promotion can be described as the marketing activities to encourage the actions of customers to buy the product in order to achieve the target market sale. Starbucks has lower advertisement cost than its competitors such as Subway, KFC and McDonalds. Starbucks has sixth position in the market share in terms of advertisement cost and it is spending less on the media advertisements. Starbucks has its own way to maintain strong relationship with the customers i.e. Starbucks cards, internet, social network and so on. Along with this, information technology plays an important role in the strategy of Starbucks by website, My Starbucks idea, Starbucks Gossip, Newsroom, Starbucks melody and Starbucks homepage in every country (Dibb et al, 2012). Conclusion From the above analysis, it has observed that Starbucks has strong position in the coffee industry. It is clear that after the crisis in US economy, Starbucks has adopted new strategies to get high share prices in the market. From the situation analysis, it is observed that technological, environmental and sociological factors are favorable and on the other hand, economic, legal and political factors are unfavorable for the Starbucks. Further, there are some strategies of Starbucks for next three years i.e. to maintain the competitive advantage by cost leadership, focus and differentiation, to look good location for its stores and to adopt new technologies for the suitability of the customers. To achieve the strategic objectives, Starbucks is implementing effective marketing mix strategies in its business operations. References Khan, S. (2010). Starbucks International Marketing Strategy. Retrieved on 25th April 2017 from https://www.slideshare.net/sk_prince/starbucks-international-marketing-strategy-3900413 Baines, P., Fill, C. Page, K. (2011). Marketing. (2nd). New York: Oxford University Press Boychenko, M. (2012). It's Not Just Coffee, It's Starbucks. Retrieved on 25th April 2017 from https://thecoffeeteam.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/3-more-ps.html Cadogan, J. W. (2012). International marketing, strategic orientations and business success: International Marketing Review, 29(4), 340-348 Bose, T. (2012). Market Segmentation and Customer Focus Strategies and Their Contribution towards Effective Value Chain Management: International Journal of Marketing Studies. 4(3). 113-121 Cravens, D., Piercy, N. (2013). Strategic Marketing. (10th). Singapore: McGraw-Hill Dawson, T. (2013). How Starbucks Uses Pricing Strategy for Profit Maximization. Retrieved on 25th April 2017 from https://www.priceintelligently.com/blog/bid/184451/How-Starbucks-Uses-Pricing-Strategy-for-Profit-Maximization Dibb, S., Simkin, L., Pride, W. Ferrell, O. (2012). Marketing Concepts Strategies. (6th). Hampshire: Cenage Learning EMEA Fitzgerald, M. (2013). How Starbucks has gone digital: MIT Sloan Management Review, 54(4), 1-8. Forbes. (2013). Starbucks And McDonald's Winning Strategy. Forbes. Retrieved on 25th April 2017 from https://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2013/04/25/starbucks-and-mcdonalds-winning-strategy/ Forbes. (2016). Let's Look At Starbucks' Growth Strategy. Retrieved on 25th April 2017 from https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2016/09/19/lets-look-at-starbucks-growth-strategy/#7c1724f33d71 Kotler, P., Keller, K., Brady, M., Goodman, M., Hansen, T. (2012). Marketing Management. (2nd). Essex: Pearson Education Ltd Gupta, M., Sahi, G., Chahal, H. (2013). Improving market orientation: the theory of constraints-based framework: Journal of Strategic Marketing. 21(4). 305-322. Geereddy, N. (2015). Strategic Analysis Of Starbucks Corporation. Harvard. Retrieved from https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/nithingeereddy/files/starbucks_case_analysis.pdf Latif, M., Qurat-ul-ain, H., Gulzar, H., Bukhari, S. R., Sameen, S. N. (2014). Starbucks sustained during economic crisis: International Journal of Accounting and Financial Reporting. 4(1). 307-321 Lynn, David J, C.R.E., Wang, T., Mehlum, C. (2011). Investing in emerging markets: China, india and brazil: Real Estate Issues. 36(2). 21-26. Hooley, G., Piercy, N., Nicoulaud, B. (2012). Marketing Strategy and Competitive Positioning. (5th). Essex: Pearson Education Seaford, B. C., Culp, R. C., Brooks, B. W. (2012). Starbucks: Maintaining a clear position: Journal of the International Academy for Case Studies. 18(4). 39-57 Marchi, V., Maria, E. and Micelli, S. (2012). Environmental Strategies, Upgrading and Competitive Advantage in Global Value Chains. 22(1), pp.62-72. Lapersonne, A. (2013). Managing Multiple Sources of Competitive Advantage in a Complex Competitive Environment. FSRJ. 5(2). pp.221-251. Aiello, G. and Dickinson, G. (2014). Beyond authenticity: a visual-material analysis of locality in the global redesign of Starbucks stores: Visual Communication. 13(3). pp.303-321

Instant Global Radio, Or Web Radio, Is The Latest Manifestation Of The

Instant global radio, or Web radio, is the latest manifestation of the Internet's multimedia successor, the World Wide Web. Improved technology and content are turning Web radio into a mass medium. (Hickman 30) The Web radio concept is mainly underlined by the concept of Webcasting, or broadcasting station content over the Internet. Online users who visit the Web pages of Webcasting stations can find archived and live audio covering news, business, sports, and many different types of music. (Thomas 38) Although the most prominent reason for the increase in Web radio activity is advancement in related technology, there are multiple other reasons. The key has been the development of software that allows a digital recording stored on a computer to be transmitted over the Internet and played instantly and continuously as it is received by the listener's computer. (Your Very Own 516) This technique is known as streaming, and was pioneered by RealNetworks. In the streaming process, the digitized clips are sent over the Internet as a stream of compressed data packets. (O'Malley 64) Free audio-player software that works with Web browsers then decompresses and assembles these packets at the user's computer and automatically plays them back as they are received. Streaming systems typically use a buffering system that stores an extra few seconds worth of data to prevent Internet "hiccups" from disrupting the steady flow of audio ? not unlike the shock-protection systems on portable compact disc players. (O'Malley 64) As reported in 1995, listening to broadcasts on your computer is akin to dialing in a tinny transistor radio on the fringes of reception area ? even with hotshot multimedia speakers. (Silverthorne A1) Advancements have made it so Web-based audio now offers near-CD quality, even over a modem of average speed. (Hickman 30) The broadcast quality depends largely on the amount of traffic on the Internet. (Your Very Own 516) Sites will have varying degrees of quality, and the only way to ensure pure transmission is a fast connection from a fast site. On September 5, 1995, the first broadcast of a Major League Baseball game was made over the Internet on ESPN's Web site. The next week, ABC Radio Net became the first organization to provide live Internet newscasts, with coverage of the O.J. Simpson trial. (Silverthorne A1) These early firsts by big-name network stations sparked the initial interest in Web radio, and the networks have been the biggest contributors towards the widening spectrum of quality content, as well as setting professional standards for content. In Spring of 1998, ABC Radio Network signed a deal with Real Networks to broadcast all 27 of ABC's radio stations on the Web. (Hickman 30) Despite network advancement, the sheer number of Internet-only Webcasters has helped to ensure better content, wider variety, and more Web radio usage. (Thomas 39) Where before there were difficulties with waveband congestion, access to unlimited space for Webcasters has become available through the Internet to virtually anyone, and p ositions even small alternative stations with potential to thrive alongside mainstream powerhouses. (Internet Radio 1) The biggest fans of Web radio include people who have moved away from an area and like to tune in an Internet site to check the news or sports from their previous home town. Web radio also is popular with people who have exotic musical tastes and want to sample sounds that aren't available from traditional broadcasters in their area. In addition, some people like to listen to commentary, or comedy programs playing in the background as they surf other sites. (Thomas 41) Web radio, unlike the old sort, is interactive. Screens can supplement radio sound with song titles, liner notes and banner advertisements. Listeners can chat to each other, rate songs or click on a banner ad to buy a disc of the music they've just heard ? all while listening to the radio. (Internet Radio 1) Many music Webcasters get payment for generating these types of music sales. Audio ads as normally run by traditional commercial stations can take up ten to fifteen minutes per hour. Audio ads on the Web usually take up a mere three minutes. This lost advertising is made up in the visual portion of the Website, and the broadcast itself suffers from little

Essential Facts About the South Carolina Colony

Essential Facts About the South Carolina Colony The South Carolina Colony was founded by the British in 1663 and was one of the 13 original colonies. It was founded by eight nobles with a Royal Charter from King Charles II and was part of the group of Southern Colonies, along with the North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Maryland. South Carolina became one of the wealthiest early colonies largely due to exports of cotton, rice, tobacco, and indigo dye. Much of the colonys economy was dependent upon slave labor that supported large land operations similar to plantations.  Ã‚   Early Settlement The British were not the first to attempt to colonize land in South Carolina. In the middle of the 16th century, first the French and then the Spanish tried to establish settlements on the coastal land. The French settlement of Charlsefort, now Parris Island, was established by French soldiers in 1562, but the effort lasted less than a year. In 1566, the Spanish established the settlement of Santa Elena in a nearby location. This lasted about 10 years before it was abandoned, following attacks by local Native Americans. While the town was later rebuilt, the Spanish devoted more resources to settlements in Florida, leaving the South Carolina coast ripe for the picking by British settlers. The English established Albemarle Point in 1670 and moved the colony to Charles Town (now Charleston) in 1680. Slavery and the South Carolina Economy Many of the early settlers of South Carolina came from the island of Barbados, in the Caribbean, bringing with them the plantation system common in the West Indies colonies. Under this system, large areas of land were privately owned, and most of the farm labor was provided by slaves. South Carolina landowners initially acquired slaves through trade with the West Indies, but once Charles Town was established as a major port, slaves were imported directly from Africa. The great demand for slave labor under the plantation system created a significant slave population in South Carolina. By the 1700s, the population of slaves nearly doubled the white population, according to many estimates.   South Carolinas slave trade was not limited to African slaves. It was also one of the few colonies to engage in the trade of American Indian slaves. In this case, slaves were not imported into South Carolina but rather exported to the British West Indies and other British colonies. This trade began in about 1680 and continued for nearly four decades until the Yamasee War led to peace negotiations that helped end the ​trade activity.   North and South Carolina The South Carolina and North Carolina colonies originally were part of one colony called the Carolina Colony. The colony was set up as a proprietary settlement and governed by a group known as Carolinas Lords Proprietors. But unrest with the native population and fear of slave rebellion led white settlers to seek protection from the English crown. As a result, the colony became a royal colony in 1729 and was divided into the colonies of South Carolina and North Carolina.

The 13 Hardest SAT Math Questions Ever

The 13 Hardest SAT Math Questions Ever SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Want to test yourself against the most difficult SAT math questions? Want to know what makes these questions so difficult and how best to solve them? If you’re ready to really sink your teeth into the SAT math section and have your sights set on that perfect score, then this is the guide for you. We’ve put together what we believe to be the 13 most difficult questions for the new 2016 SAT, with strategies and answer explanations for each. These are all hard SAT Math questions from College Board SAT practice tests, which means understanding them is one of the best ways to study for those of you aiming for perfection. Image: Sonia Sevilla/Wikimedia Brief Overview of SAT Math The third and fourth sections of the SAT will always be math sections. The first math subsection (labeled "3") does not allow you to use a calculator, while the second math subsection (labeled as "4") does allow the use of a calculator. Don't worry too much about the no-calculator section, though: if you're not allowed to use a calculator on a question, it means you don’t need a calculator to answer it. Each math subsection is arranged in order of ascending difficulty (where the longer it takes to solve a problem and the fewer people who answer it correctly, the more difficult it is). On each subsection, question 1 will be â€Å"easy† and question 15 will be considered â€Å"difficult.† However, the ascending difficulty resets from easy to hard on the grid-ins. Hence, multiple choice questions are arranged in increasing difficulty (questions 1 and 2 will be the easiest, questions 14 and 15 will be the hardest), but the difficulty level resets for the grid-in section (meaning questions 16 and 17 will again be â€Å"easy† and questions 19 and 20 will be very difficult). With very few exceptions, then, the most difficult SAT math problems will be clustered at the end of the multiple choice segments or the second half of the grid-in questions. In addition to their placement on the test, though, these questions also share a few other commonalities. In a minute, we'll look at example questions and how to solve them, then analyze them to figure out what these types of questions have in common. But First: Should You Be Focusing on the Hardest Math Questions Right Now? If you’re just getting started in your study prep (or if you’ve simply skipped this first, crucial step), definitely stop and take a full practice test to gauge your current scoring level. Check out our guide to all the free SAT practice tests available online and then sit down to take a test all at once. The absolute best way to assess your current level is to simply take the SAT practice test as if it were real, keeping strict timing and working straight through with only the allowed breaks (we know- probably not your favorite way to spend a Saturday). Once you’ve got a good idea of your current level and percentile ranking, you can set milestones and goals for your ultimate SAT Math score. If you’re currently scoring in the 200-400 or the 400-600 range on SAT Math, your best bet is first to check out our guide to improving your math score to be consistently at or over a 600 before you start in trying to tackle the most difficult math problems on the test. If, however, you're already scoring above a 600 on the Math section and want to test your mettle for the real SAT, then definitely proceed to the rest of this guide. If you’re aiming for perfect (or close to), then you’ll need to know what the most difficult SAT math questions look like and how to solve them. And luckily, that’s exactly what we’ll do. WARNING: Since there are a limited number of official SAT practice tests, you may want to wait to read this article until you've attempted all or most of the first four official practice tests (since the questions below were taken from those tests). If you're worried about spoiling those tests, stop reading this guide now; come back and read it when you've completed them. Now let's get to our list of questions (whoo)! Image: Niytx/DeviantArt The 13 Hardest SAT Math Questions Now that you’re sure you should be attempting these questions, let’s dive right in! We've curated 13 of the most difficult SAT Math questions for you to try below, along with walkthroughs of how to get the answer (if you're stumped). No Calculator SAT Math Questions Question 1 $$C=5/9(F-32)$$ The equation above shows how temperature $F$, measured in degrees Fahrenheit, relates to a temperature $C$, measured in degrees Celsius. Based on the equation, which of the following must be true? A temperature increase of 1 degree Fahrenheit is equivalent to a temperature increase of $5/9$ degree Celsius. A temperature increase of 1 degree Celsius is equivalent to a temperature increase of 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit. A temperature increase of $5/9$ degree Fahrenheit is equivalent to a temperature increase of 1 degree Celsius. A) I onlyB) II onlyC) III onlyD) I and II only ANSWER EXPLANATION:Think of the equation as an equation for a line $$y=mx+b$$ where in this case $$C= {5}/{9} (F−32)$$ or $$C={5}/{9}F −{5}/{9}(32)$$ You can see the slope of the graph is ${5}/{9}$, which means that for an increase of 1 degree Fahrenheit, the increase is ${5}/{9}$ of 1 degree Celsius. $$C= {5}/{9} (F)$$ $$C= {5}/{9} (1)= {5}/{9}$$ Therefore, statement I is true. This is the equivalent to saying that an increase of 1 degree Celsius is equal to an increase of ${9}/{5}$ degrees Fahrenheit. $$C= {5}/{9} (F)$$ $$1= {5}/{9} (F)$$ $$(F)={9}/{5}$$ Since ${9}/{5}$ = 1.8, statement II is true. The only answer that has both statement I and statement II as true is D, but if you have time and want to be absolutely thorough, you can also check to see if statement III (an increase of ${5}/{9}$ degree Fahrenheit is equal to a temperature increase of 1 degree Celsius) is true: $$C= {5}/{9} (F)$$ $$C= {5}/{9} ({5}/{9})$$ $$C= {25} /{81} (\which \is ≠  1)$$ An increase of $5/9$ degree Fahrenheit leads to an increase of ${25}/{81}$, not 1 degree, Celsius, and so Statement III is not true. The final answer is D. Question 2 The equation ${24x^2 + 25x -47}/{ax-2} = -8x-3-{53/{ax-2}}$ is true for all values of $x≠ 2/a$, where $a$ is a constant. What is the value of $a$? A) -16B) -3C) 3D) 16 ANSWER EXPLANATION: There are two ways to solve this question. The faster way is to multiply each side of the given equation by $ax-2$ (so you can get rid of the fraction). When you multiply each side by $ax-2$, you should have: $$24x^2 + 25x - 47 = (-8x-3)(ax-2) - 53$$ You should then multiply $(-8x-3)$ and $(ax-2)$ using FOIL. $$24x^2 + 25x - 47 = -8ax^2 - 3ax +16x + 6 - 53$$ Then, reduce on the right side of the equation $$24x^2 + 25x - 47 = -8ax^2 - 3ax +16x - 47$$ Since the coefficients of the $x^2$-term have to be equal on both sides of the equation, $−8a = 24$, or $a = −3$. The other option which is longer and more tedious is to attempt to plug in all of the answer choices for a and see which answer choice makes both sides of the equation equal. Again, this is the longer option, and I do not recommend it for the actual SAT as it will waste too much time. The final answer is B. Question 3 If $3x-y = 12$, what is the value of ${8^x}/{2^y}$? A) $2^{12}$B) $4^4$C) $8^2$D) The value cannot be determined from the information given. ANSWER EXPLANATION: One approach is to express $${8^x}/{2^y}$$ so that the numerator and denominator are expressed with the same base. Since 2 and 8 are both powers of 2, substituting $2^3$ for 8 in the numerator of ${8^x}/{2^y}$ gives $${(2^3)^x}/{2^y}$$ which can be rewritten $${2^3x}/{2^y}$$ Since the numerator and denominator of have a common base, this expression can be rewritten as $2^(3x−y)$. In the question, it states that $3x − y = 12$, so one can substitute 12 for the exponent, $3x − y$, which means that $${8^x}/{2^y}= 2^12$$ The final answer is A. Question 4 $${8-i}/{3-2i}$$ If the expression above is rewritten in the form $a+bi$, where $a$ and $b$ are real numbers, what is the value of $a$? (Note: $i=√{-1}$) ANSWER EXPLANATION: To rewrite ${8-i}/{3-2i}$ in the standard form $a + bi$, you need to multiply the numerator and denominator of ${8-i}/{3-2i}$ by the conjugate, $3 + 2i$. This equals $$({8-i}/{3-2i})({3+2i}/{3+2i})={24+16i-3+(-i)(2i)}/{(3^2)-(2i)^2}$$ Since $i^2=-1$, this last fraction can be reduced simplified to $$ {24+16i-3i+2}/{9-(-4)}={26+13i}/{13}$$ which simplifies further to $2 + i$. Therefore, when${8-i}/{3-2i}$ is rewritten in the standard form a + bi, the value of a is 2. The final answer is A. Question 5 In triangle $ABC$, the measure of $∠ B$ is 90 °, $BC=16$, and $AC$=20. Triangle $DEF$ is similar to triangle $ABC$, where vertices $D$, $E$, and $F$ correspond to vertices $A$, $B$, and $C$, respectively, and each side of triangle $DEF$ is $1/3$ the length of the corresponding side of triangle $ABC$. What is the value of $sinF$? ANSWER EXPLANATION: Triangle ABC is a right triangle with its right angle at B. Therefore, $\ov {AC}$ is the hypotenuse of right triangle ABC, and $\ov {AB}$ and $\ov {BC}$ are the legs of right triangle ABC. According to the Pythagorean theorem, $$AB =√{20^2-16^2}=√{400-256}=√{144}=12$$ Since triangle DEF is similar to triangle ABC, with vertex F corresponding to vertex C, the measure of $\angle ∠  {F}$ equals the measure of $\angle ∠  {C}$. Therefore, $sin F = sin C$. From the side lengths of triangle ABC, $$sinF ={\opposite \side}/{\hypotenuse}={AB}/{AC}={12}/{20}={3}/{5}$$ Therefore, $sinF ={3}/{5}$. The final answer is ${3}/{5}$ or 0.6. Calculator-Allowed SAT Math Questions Question 6 The incomplete table above summarizes the number of left-handed students and right-handed students by gender for the eighth grade students at Keisel Middle School. There are 5 times as many right-handed female students as there are left-handed female students, and there are 9 times as many right-handed male students as there are left-handed male students. if there is a total of 18 left-handed students and 122 right-handed students in the school, which of the following is closest to the probability that a right-handed student selected at random is female? (Note: Assume that none of the eighth-grade students are both right-handed and left-handed.) A) 0.410B) 0.357C) 0.333D) 0.250 ANSWER EXPLANATION: In order to solve this problem, you should create two equations using two variables ($x$ and $y$) and the information you’re given. Let $x$ be the number of left-handed female students and let $y$ be the number of left-handed male students. Using the information given in the problem, the number of right-handed female students will be $5x$ and the number of right-handed male students will be $9y$. Since the total number of left-handed students is 18 and the total number of right-handed students is 122, the system of equations below must be true: $$x + y = 18$$ $$5x + 9y = 122$$ When you solve this system of equations, you get $x = 10$ and $y = 8$. Thus, 5*10, or 50, of the 122 right-handed students are female. Therefore, the probability that a right-handed student selected at random is female is ${50}/{122}$, which to the nearest thousandth is 0.410. The final answer is A. Questions 7 8 Use the following information for both question 7 and question 8. If shoppers enter a store at an average rate of $r$ shoppers per minute and each stays in the store for average time of $T$ minutes, the average number of shoppers in the store, $N$, at any one time is given by the formula $N=rT$. This relationship is known as Little's law. The owner of the Good Deals Store estimates that during business hours, an average of 3 shoppers per minute enter the store and that each of them stays an average of 15 minutes. The store owner uses Little's law to estimate that there are 45 shoppers in the store at any time. Question 7 Little's law can be applied to any part of the store, such as a particular department or the checkout lines. The store owner determines that, during business hours, approximately 84 shoppers per hour make a purchase and each of these shoppers spend an average of 5 minutes in the checkout line. At any time during business hours, about how many shoppers, on average, are waiting in the checkout line to make a purchase at the Good Deals Store? ANSWER EXPLANATION: Since the question states that Little’s law can be applied to any single part of the store (for example, just the checkout line), then the average number of shoppers, $N$, in the checkout line at any time is $N = rT$, where $r$ is the number of shoppers entering the checkout line per minute and $T$ is the average number of minutes each shopper spends in the checkout line. Since 84 shoppers per hour make a purchase, 84 shoppers per hour enter the checkout line. However, this needs to be converted to the number of shoppers per minute (in order to be used with $T = 5$). Since there are 60 minutes in one hour, the rate is ${84 \shoppers \per \hour}/{60 \minutes} = 1.4$ shoppers per minute. Using the given formula with $r = 1.4$ and $T = 5$ yields $$N = rt = (1.4)(5) = 7$$ Therefore, the average number of shoppers, $N$, in the checkout line at any time during business hours is 7. The final answer is 7. Question 8 The owner of the Good Deals Store opens a new store across town. For the new store, the owner estimates that, during business hours, an average of 90 shoppers per hour enter the store and each of them stays an average of 12 minutes. The average number of shoppers in the new store at any time is what percent less than the average number of shoppers in the original store at any time? (Note: Ignore the percent symbol when entering your answer. For example, if the answer is 42.1%, enter 42.1) ANSWER EXPLANATION: According to the original information given, the estimated average number of shoppers in the original store at any time (N) is 45. In the question, it states that, in the new store, the manager estimates that an average of 90 shoppers per hour (60 minutes) enter the store, which is equivalent to 1.5 shoppers per minute (r). The manager also estimates that each shopper stays in the store for an average of 12 minutes (T). Thus, by Little’s law, there are, on average, $N = rT = (1.5)(12) = 18$ shoppers in the new store at any time. This is $${45-18}/{45} x 100 = 60$$ percent less than the average number of shoppers in the original store at any time. The final answer is 60. Question 9 A grain silo is built from two right circular cones and a right circular cylinder with internal measurements represented by the figure above. Of the following, which is closest to the volume of the grain silo, in cubic feet? A) 261.8B) 785.4C) 916.3D) 1047.2 ANSWER EXPLANATION: The volume of the grain silo can be found by adding the volumes of all the solids of which it is composed (a cylinder and two cones). The silo is made up of a cylinder (with height 10 feet and base radius 5 feet) and two cones (each with height 5 ft and base radius 5 ft). The formulas given at the beginning of the SAT Math section: Volume of a Cone $$V={1}/{3}Ï€r^2h$$ Volume of a Cylinder $$V=Ï€r^2h$$ can be used to determine the total volume of the silo. Since the two cones have identical dimensions, the total volume, in cubic feet, of the silo is given by $$V_{silo}=Ï€(5^2)(10)+(2)({1}/{3})Ï€(5^2)(5)=({4}/{3})(250)Ï€$$ which is approximately equal to 1,047.2 cubic feet. The final answer is D. Question 10 If $x$ is the average (arithmetic mean) of $m$ and $9$, $y$ is the average of $2m$ and $15$, and $z$ is the average of $3m$ and $18$, what is the average of $x$, $y$, and $z$ in terms of $m$? A) $m+6$B) $m+7$C) $2m+14$D) $3m + 21$ ANSWER EXPLANATION: Since the average (arithmetic mean) of two numbers is equal to the sum of the two numbers divided by 2, the equations $x={m+9}/{2}$, $y={2m+15}/{2}$, $z={3m+18}/{2}$are true. The average of $x$, $y$, and $z$ is given by ${x + y + z}/{3}$. Substituting the expressions in m for each variable ($x$, $y$, $z$) gives $$[{m+9}/{2}+{2m+15}/{2}+{3m+18}/{2}]/3$$ This fraction can be simplified to $m + 7$. The final answer is B. Question 11 The function $f(x)=x^3-x^2-x-{11/4}$ is graphed in the $xy$-plane above. If $k$ is a constant such that the equation $f(x)=k$ has three real solutions, which of the following could be the value of $k$? ANSWER EXPLANATION: The equation $f(x) = k$ gives the solutions to the system of equations $$y = f(x) = x^3-x^2-x-{11}/{4}$$ and $$y = k$$ A real solution of a system of two equations corresponds to a point of intersection of the graphs of the two equations in the $xy$-plane. The graph of $y = k$ is a horizontal line that contains the point $(0, k)$ and intersects the graph of the cubic equation three times (since it has three real solutions). Given the graph, the only horizontal line that would intersect the cubic equation three times is the line with the equation $y = −3$, or $f(x) = −3$. Therefore, $k$ is $-3$. The final answer is D. Question 12 $$q={1/2}nv^2$$ The dynamic pressure $q$ generated by a fluid moving with velocity $v$ can be found using the formula above, where $n$ is the constant density of the fluid. An aeronautical engineer users the formula to find the dynamic pressure of a fluid moving with velocity $v$ and the same fluid moving with velocity 1.5$v$. What is the ratio of the dynamic pressure of the faster fluid to the dynamic pressure of the slower fluid? ANSWER EXPLANATION: To solve this problem, you need to set up to equations with variables. Let $q_1$ be the dynamic pressure of the slower fluid moving with velocity $v_1$, and let $q_2$ be the dynamic pressure of the faster fluid moving with velocity $v_2$. Then $$v_2 =1.5v_1$$ Given the equation $q = {1}/{2}nv^2$, substituting the dynamic pressure and velocity of the faster fluid gives $q_2 = {1}/{2}n(v_2)^2$. Since $v_2 =1.5v_1$, the expression $1.5v_1$ can be substituted for $v_2$ in this equation, giving $q_2 = {1}/{2}n(1.5v_1)^2$. By squaring $1.5$, you can rewrite the previous equation as $$q_2 = (2.25)({1}/{2})n(v_1)^2 = (2.25)q_1$$ Therefore, the ratio of the dynamic pressure of the faster fluid is $${q2}/{q1} = {2.25 q_1}/{q_1}= 2.25$$ The final answer is 2.25 or 9/4. Question 13 For a polynomial $p(x)$, the value of $p(3)$ is $-2$. Which of the following must be true about $p(x)$? A) $x-5$ is a factor of $p(x)$.B) $x-2$ is a factor of $p(x)$.C) $x+2$ is a factor of $p(x)$.D) The remainder when $p(x)$ is divided by $x-3$ is $-2$. ANSWER EXPLANATION: If the polynomial $p(x)$ is divided by a polynomial of the form $x+k$ (which accounts for all of the possible answer choices in this question), the result can be written as $${p(x)}/{x+k}=q(x)+{r}/{x+k}$$ where $q(x)$ is a polynomial and $r$ is the remainder. Since $x + k$ is a degree-1 polynomial (meaning it only includes $x^1$ and no higher exponents), the remainder is a real number. Therefore, $p(x)$ can be rewritten as $p(x) = (x + k)q(x) + r$, where $r$ is a real number. The question states that $p(3) = -2$, so it must be true that $$-2 = p(3) = (3 + k)q(3) + r$$ Now we can plug in all the possible answers. If the answer is A, B, or C, $r$ will be $0$, while if the answer is D, $r$ will be $-2$. A. $-2 = p(3) = (3 + (-5))q(3) + 0$$-2=(3-5)q(3)$$-2=(-2)q(3)$ This could be true, but only if $q(3)=1$ B. $-2 = p(3) = (3 + (-2))q(3) + 0$$-2 = (3-2)q(3)$$-2 = (-1)q(3)$ This could be true, but only if $q(3)=2) C. $-2 = p(3) = (3 + 2)q(3) + 0$$-2 = (5)q(3)$ This could be true, but only if $q(3)={-2}/{5}$ D. $-2 = p(3) = (3 + (-3))q(3) + (-2)$$-2 = (3 - 3)q(3) + (-2)$$-2 = (0)q(3) + (-2)$ This will always be true no matter what $q(3)$ is. Of the answer choices, the only one that must be true about $p(x)$ is D, that the remainder when $p(x)$ is divided by $x-3$ is -2. The final answer is D. 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: You deserve all the naps after running through those questions. What Do the Hardest SAT Math Questions Have in Common? It’s important to understand what makes these hard questions â€Å"hard.† By doing so, you’ll be able to both understand and solve similar questions when you see them on test day, as well as have a better strategy for identifying and correcting your previous SAT math errors. In this section, we’ll look at what these questions have in common and give examples of each type. Some of the reasons why the hardest math questions are the hardest math questions is because they: #1: Test Several Mathematical Concepts at Once Here, we must deal with imaginary numbers and fractions all at once. Secret to success: Think of what applicable math you could use to solve the problem, do one step at a time, and try each technique until you find one that works! #2: Involve a Lot of Steps Remember: the more steps you need to take, the easier to mess up somewhere along the line! We must solve this problem in steps (doing several averages) to unlock the rest of the answers in a domino effect. This can get confusing, especially if you're stressed or running out of time. Secret to success: Take it slow, take it step by step, and double-check your work so you don't make mistakes! #3: Test Concepts That You Have Limited Familiarity With For example, many students are less familiar with functions than they are with fractions and percentages, so most function questions are considered â€Å"high difficulty† problems. If you don't know your way around functions, this would be a tricky problem. Secret to success: Review math concepts that you don't have as much familiarity with such as functions. We suggest using our great free SAT Math review guides. #4: Are Worded in Unusual or Convoluted Ways It can be difficult to figure out exactly what some questions are asking, much less figure out how to solve them. This is especially true when the question is located at the end of the section, and you are running out of time. Because this question provides so much information without a diagram, it can be difficult to puzzle through in the limited time allowed. Secret to success: Take your time, analyze what is being asked of you, and draw a diagram if it's helpful to you. #5: Use Many Different Variables With so many different variables in play, it is quite easy to get confused. Secret to success: Take your time, analyze what is being asked of you, and consider if plugging in numbers is a good strategy to solve the problem (it wouldn't be for the question above, but would be for many other SAT variable questions). The Take-Aways The SAT is a marathon and the better prepared you are for it, the better you'll feel on test day. Knowing how to handle the hardest questions the test can throw at you will make taking the real SAT seem a lot less daunting. If you felt that these questions were easy, make sure not underestimate the effect of adrenaline and fatigue on your ability to solve problems. As you continue to study, always adhere to the proper timing guidelines and try to take full tests whenever possible. This is the best way to recreate the actual testing environment so that you can prepare for the real deal. If you felt these questions were challenging, be sure to strengthen your math knowledge by checking out our individual math topic guides for the SAT. There, you'll see more detailed explanations of the topics in question as well as more detailed answer breakdowns. What’s Next? Felt that these questions were harder than you were expecting? Take a look at all the topics covered in the SAT math section and then note which sections were particular difficulty for you. Next, take a gander at our individual math guides to help you shore up any of those weak areas. Running out of time on the SAT math section? Our guide will help you beat the clock and maximize your score. Aiming for a perfect score? Check out our guide on how to get a perfect 800 on the SAT math section, written by a perfect-scorer. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep classes. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our classes are entirely online, and they're taught by SAT experts. If you liked this article, you'll love our classes. Along with expert-led classes, you'll get personalized homework with thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step, custom program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Try it risk-free today:

DKNY Advertising Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

DKNY Advertising Rhetorical Analysis - Essay Example Because women, just like everyone else, have one chance to make a first impression, cosmetics are indispensible to their lives. The strategy that a company adopts to publicize and market its products determines how much of an advantage a company can make from this fact. The success of an advertisement, in turn, depends, on the ability of a company, to make a strong first impression on the consumer-to produce a â€Å"wow† effect-and, obviously, it only has the chance to do it. Advertising is, therefore, a high stake game with the success or failure of a commercial being an issue of life and death for a product. The advertisement above is that of a perfume manufactured by DONNA KARAN NEW YORK, also referred to as DKNY. What catches the consumer’s eyes first is the exotic woman who is also young and beautiful with a confident expression that seems to looks right into the camera (Faigley and Selzer87). The non-verbal expression conveys a message, which is not very hard to d ecipher, this is qualified by the caption right below; it translates the expression for the consumer-BE DELICIOUS. It may be noted that the location of the caption is to the right center of the advertisement, rather than to the advertisement’s bottom or corner. This caption, in its block letters and bright color, is just as striking as the young woman is. It is one of the first elements of the advertisement, which catch the consumer’s eye. The caption and the image make up most of advertisement and are so striking that everything else, including the background, becomes irrelevant.. The caption-BE DELICIOUS- is not a phrase or a clause, but it is a sentence. The caption is an imperative sentence. The subject of these sentences is quite clear without being explicit and it seems to command subtly the consumer to try it. The advertisement’s exhortation is for the woman to be delicious with the temptation to try the product being hard to resist. If the viewer is a wo man, it gives the user an â€Å"x-factor† that can make them more attractive. On the other hand, when viewed by a man, the advertisement challenges the man to discover what women want, and when this challenge is from a woman, it makes it all the more irresistible. In addition, the look of the young woman, as well as her body language, seems to carry conviction, whether the viewer will trust the product or censor if they do not. The impact of eye contact on the viewer cannot be overestimated, evoking a feeling of self-esteem and self-confidence. How popular a product will become is also aided by how popular an advertisement is. For this reason, a lot of care must be observed when selecting and structuring of the images in the advertisement (Faigley and Selzer226). The measure on how effective the images used in the advertisement are is whether the viewer will take a pause after reading the magazine, newspaper, or driving, past the billboard, to come back to the advertisement a fter seeing it the first time. The overall outcome of the words, pictures, and colors on the consumer or viewer is durable. The image remains in one’ mind for a while; the caption is immediately recognizable and memorable. The colors are also bright green, which contrasts with the flawless tan of the young woman, which makes her skin, and the advertisement, all the more memorable. Advertisements must, not

Critically discuss why technology is important within the operations Essay

Critically discuss why technology is important within the operations domain but that its implementation is problematic - Essay Example In this manner the application of CIM makes strategic management more effective. Therefore its importance in the operations domain cannot be questioned. However the expectations from technology are not always realized because of the lack of end-user involvement which makes implementation problematic. If the end-users are not involved in the implementation cycle, then the finished software may not address all the operational processes as required. Since the end-users are directly responsible for the operational processes, they should be involved in the implementation cycle in order to ensure that the technology is integrated into the operations environment in the right way. However facilitating end-user involvement may not always be possible. An important element of the implementation cycle is project management. A project management team consisting of qualified personnel must be formed in order to ensure that the implementation is strategically aligned. However the formation of the p roject management team is separate from the day-to-day operations of the organization. Therefore the management may not be in a position to provide the required personnel when it comes to managing the project of technology implementation.

Cari’s Story Essay Example for Free

Cari’s Story Essay How could an infection in Cari’s nasal passages and pharynx spread into her sinuses? An infection will spread because the pharynx, larynx and sinuses are all connected, so the infection is going to spread to the sinuses and the surrounding areas. What is the cough reflex? Describe the process that Cari’s respiratory system is using to clear her lungs by coughing? The cough reflex is a deep and long inhalation that is followed by the closing the glottis, this causes a strong exhalation that will push the glottis open and sends the air through the respiratory passage. The coughing occurs when a foreign body is in the larynx, trachea or the epiglottis. Cari is coughing because the mucous and fluid buildup in her lungs and her body is to get rid of it. Which structures found in the terminal bronchioles and alveoli normally would protect Cari’s lungs from infectious pathogens and particulate matter? The alveolar macrophage protects her lungs because they wonder around the alveoli space and it collects dust, particles and debris. Cari does smoke and it has caused the cilia in her respiratory passage way to become paralyzed and then it secretes the excess amounts of mucus. The macrophages are sent to the lungs and it gets stuck in the mucus and it can’t fight off the pathogens. How would the resistance of Cari’s airways be affected by excess mucus and fluid in her lung? Cari isn’t getting adequate oxygen because the pressure of fluid and the mucus buildup in her lungs. This is not allowing her lungs to expand so she can get the breath her body needs. The fluid buildup and the pressure are not allowing her oxygen to disperse to the areas it needs. How would Cari’s lung compliance (the effort required to expand the lungs) be altered as her alveoli fill with fluid due to pneumonia? The fluid in her lungs makes it hard to expand because the fluid makes the alveoli sticky and it can’t expand and open. How would fluid in Cari’s lungs affect her total lung capacity? Cari’s lung capacity would go down due to the fact that the air space is being taken up by the fluid in her lungs. How does the elevation of Cari’s respiratory rate alter her minute ventilation? Cari’s respiratory rate will increase her minute ven tilation. Normal blood oxygen saturation levels are greater than 94 percent; Cari’s blood oxygen saturation levels are greater 90 percent at the time of her exam and an initial arterial blood gas analysis done when  she was admitted to the hospital revealed her arterial Po2 was 54mmHg. How do these clinical findings relate to the internal respiration in Cari’s body? Cari’s oxygen saturation level was 90% and the Po2 of mmHg would show that her arteries are having too much oxygen. A normal resting mmHg is 40% and exercises lower Po2level. A normal resting oxygen level is 94%. Which of the symptoms Cari has described are due to the lack of oxygen and reduced oxygen exchange at her tissues? Cari said she is â€Å"panting like a dog† is due from the lack of oxygen and t reduces her oxygen exchange. As Cari’s Pco2 rose, how was the oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin affected? The oxygen carrying of hemoglobin volume with the rise of Pco2 will decrease since the Co2 will take O2’s seat. How would you have expected Cari’s decreased Pco2 and alkaline blood pH to have affected her breathing? Cari’s pH and Pco2 will decrease and her rate of breathing will also be decreasing. How would administration of oxygen enhance Cari’s central drive to breathe? Cari would be able to breathe better when oxygen was administered to her. Which anatomical structures in Cari’s respiratory system were initially involved? The structures involved are the trachea, nasal, pharynx, and larynx, and the lungs. Why was Cari plagued with a chronic smoker’s cough? Cari is plagued with a chronic smoker’s cough because she has a 20 year history of smoking. Which damaging effects of tobacco smoke led to Cari’s impaired respiratory defense mechanisms? There are damages to the epithelial with those damages comes the body’s repair process. How did the pneumonia affect Cari’s lung function? Cari’s was having problems getting adequate oxygen, because of the fluid in her lungs. The pneumonia is an infection from bacteria that can affect the body, because of her smoking it made it hard for her lungs to get air.

Sexuality Education in America Essay -- Education Sex Ed

Sexuality Education in America What do the American people as a whole want their youth to be taught about sex? That is the ongoing question that not only state and federal governments are asking, but also local school districts, churches, and parents of all aged children. In the early twentieth century, disputes focused on whether or not to teach sexuality education at all; while currently it has shifted to which method is more successful in the school curriculum. Sexuality education does not just solely include the education of the sexual act itself and the diseases associated with it, but also the way us as humans feel we are as people; how we dress, talk, move, and the way we feel towards others (Families). Sex education and sexuality education are two separate things. Sex education is a learning opportunity that helps individuals understand and prepare for intimacy in their adult lives (Baer). Whereas, sexuality education is the field of study that examines the relationship skills and knowledge, attitudes and behaviors, and the values that promote healthy relationships with one another (Baer). Of course, conservative Americans like to believe that all teens are choosing the path of abstinence. Abstinence is the choice not to be sexual with anyone in any way. However, a recent study showed that is not the case at all; with seventy-five percent of the United States teens from the ages of fifteen to nineteen are sexually active with t heir peers (Baer). That is a number that is continuing to grow; in return it is resulting in unwanted teen pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Sex education is taught in most tenth graders health class curriculum. There are two main methods used for sex educ... ... that can be examined or reviewed (Wiley). A national review helped outlined a range of effective ideas that could be helpful to teachers in the classroom, they should: (Collins) Adapt dialogue to the proper age and experience of the audience. Focus on dangerous sexual behavior. Provide a strong academic foundation. Provide basic facts about the high risks of diseases. Acknowledge the social pressures by their peers and the media to have sex. Provide practice in healthy communication, and refusal skills. A program is deemed successful if it brings about one or more of the following results: delaying initiation of sexual intercourse, decreasing the frequency of unprotected intercourse, and increasing condom use (Sanderson). It is up to the American public ultimately to decide what is the best way to educate the nation's teens on sex.

Anger Management

It can stem from feelings of frustration, hurt, annoyance or even disappointment. Sometimes displeasure, hostility or antagonism towards someone or something, usually combined with an urge to harm. It is a complex emotion and when released improperly, it can have devastating effects on the party on the receiving end regardless if the party is a mere object, or person. Once someone is placed on that end, it is not unusual that they may want to escape the violent encounter. Not everyone is a natural born fighter. And then there are others†¦ The ones who become defensive. More often than not, these people stop listening or counter attack. Whether you run away or choose to fight, none of these results in any type of resolution whatsoever and most of the time sows more bad feelings that creep up behind us later on in life. Anger is a very natural emotion that is experienced by all people. Everyone with proper discipline could put anger in its place. Anger isn’t a bad thing. It becomes bad when released in a poor fashion. Today, I will be discussing anger. -Specifically, techniques that enhance interpersonal communication and in turn, possibly reducing and managing poorly expressed anger. Now let’s define what is meant by â€Å"anger management†. The term anger management commonly refers to a system of psychological therapeutic techniques and exercises by which someone with excessive or uncontrollable anger can reduce the triggers, degrees, and effects in an angered emotional state. In the paragraphs to follow I will discuss what communication authors, scholars and experts had to say about anger management, including my findings and conclusions drawn from experiments and observations I have conducted and have noted utilizing these techniques. Rationale: Admittedly, I wasn’t going to do my research paper on anger. I had to contemplate. I thought is this something that I have trouble dealing with at times as do the people that are around me. Every time I asked it, in any manner, the answer always remained the same. Why not? So it reeled me in like a fish on a hook. Through my experiments and research paper I hoped to encounter everyday methods to help me release my anger in a constructive way, as I do tend to bottle up feelings inside and then â€Å"blow my top†. I am grateful that I don’t have what is described as an anger â€Å"problem† by any means –as it isn’t frequent- but I do release it improperly at times. Sometimes being referred to as a child since children hold their feelings in and then make the world pay after, I would like to correct that. Furthermore, I had previous knowledge that a lot of research has been done on anger management and I was curious to see what was to be said on this topic since we all deal with angry people every day. Not only do I want to help myself, but I would rather like to help those that I know are less fortunate than I and spread the word to them so their lives could be a little less hectic then what it is. Research: When researching about this topic, I came across the following information by Henry Kellerman. He posted an article stating the following information: Anger all on its own is said to have its own personality. According to Henry Kellerman’s, Ph. D, Anger is the Key, he depicts anger as having, â€Å"six key characteristics. Those characteristics are described as the following: Anger is inborn so it has an aggressive drive. It makes itself expansive; wanting to get bigger and bigger. It wants to burst forth so it has explosive potential. Anger also constantly wants to attack. It has an entitled frame of mind feeling that it has the right to get tough. And lastly, it also sees itself as an empowerment so it eliminates feelings of helplessness. If one could keep in mind th e six main things that anger manifests itself by, then you could begin to learn to how to begin to work with you emotions. Meaning, we change how we see things. More so our perception. When we are angry or upset, we tend to view another’s behavior as, â€Å"controllable, characterological, and permanent. † Saying how you feel, why and what you want and calming down are all ways to prevent unwanted anger. Sometimes we may not be able to control the situations that we’re placed in so we look for ways to change the reaction even when changing the situation may not be possible. Let’s face it. We get angry and sometimes there is nothing we could really do. One way we can learn to lessen anger is by lessening the emotional impact so you would know how to express your anger in a manner that can promote resolution for the situation that triggered the anger in the first place. In my research I have found that anger is an expression of another emotion that lies underneath. In many situations, anger can be linked to intent to preserve personal worth to preserve essential needs, or to preserve basic convictions. Identifying these unmet needs is one of the goals of anger management counseling. Once these needs are identified, you may need to determine how to address those situations and relationships that may lack boundaries, or healthy structure. In the article Anger Management, by Harry Mills, he states that, â€Å"People tend to go through a predictable set of several stages while working through life-changes. Progress through the stages is largely due to a combination of motivation, technique and dedication. Some people move quickly through the stages, while others move more slowly, perhaps even taking a step or two backward before continuing on to complete their change. Since we want to enhance our communication skills, we need to first be able to learn effective anger management techniques which in turn would allow us to recognize the situations that make us angry so that we may be able to change. The four steps he says that can bring you better interpersonal skills are, awareness, preparation, action and maintaining gains. In awareness, the angry person seeks infor mation about anger management; what anger is, how anger affects health and relationships, and how anger can be controlled. In preparation, you make a decision to actually make a change in the way you will express anger. In the Action stage you start making real changes and perform the way you prepared to do. And finally, in the management stage you learn to accept the fact that you are not perfect, that you will make mistakes and act inappropriately and that you can recover from lapses in your behavior when they do occur. Achieving sustained behavior change is a project. It may take multiple attempts and multiple failures before you will achieve this goal. Each time you do lapse into old behavior, you can use the tools and strategies you have learned along the way to help you pick yourself up and recover. Anger Management Anger is an emotion we have all displayed every once in a while. However, when the anger gets out of control it is time to seek therapy. Here are some suggestions on how to handle anger management problems and how cognitive therapy may help. Controlling oneis anger is something we all have to deal with at some point. Yes, we tend to get angry with our spouse, the kids, co-workers and bosses. Or we vent our anger in situations involving motorists, or simply when someone pushes the wrong buttons. Anger management control via cognitive therapy is one way in which we can understand where the anger is coming from and how to effectively deal with any given situation in an appropriate and non-combative manner. In cognitive therapy sessions, certain techniques are utilized. These include relaxation methods and visualization techniques which allow the person to use certain images or words to relax when the anger inside rears its ugly head. For example, road rage has become quite prevalent in our society. One of the methods used in anger management is to have the person visualize an instance wherein they become angry at another motorist, and then use the relaxation methods to rid themselves of that anger. In cognitive therapy, psychologists offer different ways for patients to react to the anger. For example, they may ask the patient to look at a situation in a more appropriate and positive manner instead of flying off the handle in a negative way. There are several ways in which psychologists may use these techniques. The first is assisting their patients to become more aware of their anger. Secondly, they may show the patients how to avoid situations in which they can become angry. Thirdly, teaching patients how to recognize what exactly causes the anger. And finally, offering a plan that the patients can utilize to change the way they react to others and avoid situations that trigger the anger to begin with. The one thing that is emphasized by psychologists is that for any treatment to be effective, it should not entail a person ranting and raving about all of the things that make him or her angry. Instead, focusing on the cues that trigger the anger and utilizing relaxation techniques has been viewed as widely effective. While research is still ongoing to determine the underlying cause of anger, cognitive therapy is one method that is effective in controlling and monitoring such behavior. We all get angry, but it is how we deal with the anger that separates those who need anger management from those who do not. How many of you are guilty of yelling at your kids? If you are a yeller, these easy strategies to stop yelling at your kids may provide you with the help you need to change your yelling habits. For anyone who does yell at their kids, you know it’s a hard habit to break. You may be so used to yelling that you don’t even realize you’re doing it. Remember your children will learn more by example than what is told or explained to them. So if you yell a lot, your children are more likely to follow suit. Once you’ve broken that cycle of yelling, you’ll find life as a family is much calmer. Are your children loud? You may have started yelling out of necessity so you would be heard. However, in many cases, yelling is done to release frustrations. No matter the reason for it, many parents who yell are embarrassed and wish things could change. Plan ahead. You know your children are going to frustrate you at some point, so plan ahead how you will handle it. Pay attention to the warning signs such as clenching your teeth or fists, a slight raise to your voice or possibly shaking. * Ask for help. Allow them to give you a signal if your voice begins getting louder. This could be a ‘catch phrase’ which someone not in-the-kn ow won’t understand but you will recognize it as a clue to control yourself. * Develop coping mechanisms. Walk out of the room, take a deep breath or count to ten. Find a coping mechanism that works for you and continue using it when you realize you’re about to yell. Some people snap a rubber band which is around their wrist. * Think about your child’s temper tantrums. Why do they have a meltdown? They’re tired, hungry or frustrated. Are you experiencing the same things? * Pay attention to the times you’re more liable to yell. Perhaps you yell when you’re more stressed than usual. Once you understand when you yell, you’ll be better able to avoid those situations. * Find new ways to get your children’s attention. Don’t yell if your children aren’t paying attention to you. Use a whistle, stand on a chair or try anything out of the ordinary. * If all else fails, seek professional help. Some people have a hard time breaking habits and yelling is one of them. Speak to someone who can hold you accountable or a professional who deals with anger management. They may be able to provide you with the help you need. There are many reasons to stop yelling. It could affect your children’s self-esteem and it causes your blood pressure to rise. Using these easy strategies to stop yelling at your kids, you can change the dynamics of your home from stressful to peaceful. Give it a try and see if these methods work for you. One type of free anger management activity is relaxation, where the individual learns different techniques to help him to relax and calm down before saying or doing anything rash. Deep breathing is one technique individuals can use where they concentrate on breathing deeply in through the nose and out through the mouth, taking a minute to calm down. This breathing should be done through the diaphragm, which means the air should be pulled down toward the gut rather than just through the chest. While breathing, the individual can say a calming word or phrase to himself such as â€Å"calm down† and can picture a soothing scene or person in his mind. Exercise is another free anger management activity that individuals can use to calm down. This does not mean that an individual has to go to a sports gym, but can merely take a time out where he or she walks down the hallway or around the building a coupe of times to get some fresh air, expend some energy, breathe and work to calm down. Another free anger management activity is to work on changing the way a person thinks when he becomes irritated. This includes changing inner thoughts to more constructive patterns such as reminding himself that getting angry does not help or change anything about a situation, only finding a solution or resolution to the situation is helpful. Using a journal or notebook during this phase or reconditioning in free anger management activities can be helpful since some individuals process their thoughts better when written out on paper where they can review them to see which ones are rational and which ones might need to be re-evaluated. In addition to these free anger management activities, it is also wise to plan some fun time into every day so that the individual has time to unwind and let loose of all the burdens that he has been carrying over the course of the day. Many angry people are really at the root stressed out, feeling like they cannot carry any more burdens on their shoulders so that the least irritations seem huge and lead them to anger. Reducing stress also reduces anger in these people and building in personal time can help with this.

Health and safety in a care home Essay

I have gained my A-Level qualifications at City Of Westminster College (Maida Vale) I have studied the following subjects English Literature, Psychology and Media Studies. I have also accomplished certificates at College Of North West London (Kilburn) in IT, English and Math’s. Therefore it is fair to say that I know how to use various Microsoft Office programs i.e. Words, Excel, and PowerPoint, I have gained my GCSE’s overseas in India, New Delhi as an international student following subjects included: Math’s, English, Social Science, Hindi and Science. I believe that I have gained valuable learning skills throughout my educational experience which has set a clear stepping stone into furthering my career. Not do I only learn in educational establishments but also I have learned a great deal on actual jobs that I have done previously. I have gained great skills such as being able to communicate with people from all walks of life, taking responsibilities for my du ties, being able to prioritize my work and take initiative. I have a positive outlook overall on life and believe that I can do anything if I set my mind to it.I have a friendly approach and a positive attitude towards work, I have always been keen on excelling my targets and to constantly perfect myself in any way that I can. I therefore find  feedback very important as it allows me to keep improving the quality of the work I do and review myself through someone’s opinion. As a Market research Interviewer (IPSOS) I spoke to participants from all walks of life about various important issues, this role required me to listen attentively to respondent, be empathetic, accurately input gained responses into the database and reach set targets on a daily basis. I find it important to always be up to date about the latest information, product knowledge and offer someone a service that will leave them with no further questions. I am a keen learner, and at the same time I like to mot ivate others to benefit from the opportunities they have available for them. Communication is very important and my main aim is always to articulate my ideas appropriately and in a way that is understood by everyone. During my time working for Beethoven Community Center as a community worker I have learned to multitask through taking up various duties i.e. by providing educational information for those that sought advice, interpret when needed for elderly residents whom could not speak English, help organize events and trips for local youth. I have gained strong organizational skills, being able to prioritize workload and have always taken full responsibility for all tasks. Having strong administration skills is essential as I had to maintain the database, input clients data acquired during sessions and provide fellow colleagues with up to date information. Being able to liaise with clients and fellow colleagues thus ensuring that everything went as agreed. I have good people skills as I have picked this up early on from working as a Social worker at Caxton Youth Club, I have developed a thorough understanding working with vulnerable people, assist youth with learning difficulties and provide the m with the right tools enabling them to better themselves. I am self motivated and have high level of energy which is a must when you’re working in any sector , as you are constantly on your feet assisting elderly and ensuring that their needs are met at all times. I am very tolerant and flexible to different situations mainly because working with people is always unpredictable. Therefore I find this no problem at all as I am able to adjust myself to different levels from young children to elderly people. I am a good team player as I listen carefully to others when they are speaking and can assimilate the messages into one vision. For  example, if my colleague is part of a project team, I’ll listen to the ideas and concerns of others. I am also patient and respectful to the voice of other team members and understand that to be a team player; I have to have an open mind to other points of view. I am quite flexible in terms of hours/days. I know that working in this field can be both stressful and rewarding however I am fully prepared for all the ups and downs. I can take ownership of projects and make sure that all boxes are ticked upon completion; I take my work at all times seriously. I am the type of person that likes to go the extra mile. I always ensure that I keep myself updated on the actual role I am fulfilling i.e. maintaining administration in the most efficient manner and ensure to being organized at all times. Being open for suggestions for example take negative feedback and transform that into something positive. I am fully aware of my surroundings and easily adaptable to environment and fellow colleagues. I am a quick learner and I want to help make a difference towards other people’s lives. I have gathered early on during my work experiences that I get a great satisfaction from seeing others improve from services provided by me. I have always completed training programs and I am someone whom sees her targets through and I hope that you provide me with the opportunity to prove this to you. I am an open-minded person and take suggestions on board that will help me better my work at all times analytical/logical approach to tasks and the ability to work under pressure. I am able to work well both on my o wn initiative and as part of a team. My main strengths are adaptability, dependability and the determination to get a job done as proven by my varied work experiences. I try to learn something new from every experience because I believe there is always room for self-improvement both personally and professionally.

Conflict in Syria Opportunity for Future Democratisation

Conflict in Syria Opportunity for Future Democratisation Literature Review The literature review seeks to analyse democracy in a conceptual framework that explores the politics of the Arab world against that happening in the rest of the world.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Conflict in Syria: Opportunity for Future Democratisation? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In so doing, it seeks to demonstrate the meaning of democracy, explore democracy in the Middle East, while tackling political science’s view on democracy, and the concept of faith as well as its influences in the Syrian politics to exploit the major issues in the Syrian democratic question. The meaning of democracy The word democracy emanates from two Greek terms ‘demos’ meaning the people while ‘Kratos’ refers to a form of Aristocracy denoting a leadership that is decided upon by the people (Sen 1999, p. 8). In the American context, Lagon (2011) opines that democracy refers to a people chosen government. This definition is shared by other civilised societies that recognise the sovereignty of the people in the concept of governance. However, the lack of universal meaning of democracy has made different societies pursue different approaches to democracy. The lack of universality of democracy could be traced back to the ancient civilisation in the Athens communities where democracy literally allowed only men above the age of 21 to partake active roles in civic activities such as voting and voicing of their opinions in public. The vast economy of the ancient Athena City State pigeonholed on slavery of women who as per the dictates of the systems had no amount of say in the affairs of state whatsoever, nor were they permissible to voice honest opinions in the public. Politics, debate, public utterances, and arguments of any kind were the preserve of men. However, democracy in much of the developing world can never be equated to that prevailing in the developed nations such as those in the west. The overwhelming civil strife in Syria and the raging debate over Assad’s administration intolerance to opposition groupings remains a complex domestic question to solve. Democracy in the Middle East In the years following the Second World War, the world turned its focus from the contest between democracy and totalitarianism to emerging threats such as the global balance of power (Hunter 2007, p. 1). The escalating war in most parts of the world provoked the vast continental Europe to endow their colonial holdings with independence.Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In part, the succeeding up-thrust of the newly independent and susceptible nations greatly worried the United States, especially with regard to its positioning in world politics. In the culminating sequence of events, Berlatsky (2012, p. 145) observes that the United States sought to ascertain that the enormous human and massive monetary sacrifices it offered in conquering the Second World War were not in vain, and that the newly established nations would become its allies and further reinforce its eminence as the world power. According to Husseini (2012, p. 234), the power vacuum in the years following the post-war history greatly troubled the United States, especially in the oil opulent and war ravaged Middle East. Much of the Middle East was a deep concern to the West, and this was mainly because of its inclination to communist thinking. In totality, the civic authority was largely presumed in the West as either weak or lacking in form. Another factor that worried the West was the fact that several nations in the Middle East were deeply engrossed in the traditional systems of governance characterised by the Arab dynasties. However, the conquest of the nationalistic movements as well as the collapse of the Pan-Arabism after the overthr ow of Egyptian President Col. Gamal Abdel Nasser shocked several Middle East nations. According to Merrill (2006, p. 29), the 1957 Eisenhower Doctrine took course to extend the primacy of the Truman Doctrine, which essentially increased the US’s commitment and containment to the Middle East. Observers note that this was a move to contain Pan-Arabism nationalistic vendetta, and further sought to check on the proliferation of communism, which, at the time, was America’s greatest headache. America and Europe sought to nurture a democratic system of government in the Arab world to make their regimes accountable and all-inclusive of their people. How democracy differs from one country to another Democracy can never be complete without liberalism. Essentially, liberalism makes democracy to be different from one country to another (Lagon 2011). In an illiberal society, the people are limited in their ability to voice honest opinions. In other words, freedom of speech is curta iled.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Conflict in Syria: Opportunity for Future Democratisation? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In such countries, certain individuals like the poor and women are disenfranchised from all forms of political activities. Most countries in Africa and much of the Muslim world are typical illiberal democracies. According to King (2009, p. 167), most counties in the Middle East, especially those that are currently struggling with shedding off the shreds of the Arab Spring such as Syria have only known the converse of democracy, which is dictatorship. Within the precipice of democracy, right thinking individuals in all corners of the world consider such countries failed states. The word democracy, according to King (2009, p. 168), denotes an all-inclusive political system that drives its power from the people. Therefore, in a democratic society, all eligible citizens have the endowment to participate in decisions that affect them in the concept of governance. Mature democracies such as the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Canada are governed by representative democracies. Different countries have different attitudes towards the idea of democracy. Many people in different countries have a feeling that promoting democracy should be the preserve of the state. However, in Syria and other Middle East nations, there is reluctance on the part of government to make democracy a central theme in its promotional stratagem (Lagon 2011). Citizens in these countries feel a moral obligation to explore the full meaning of democracy, and, most often, there is substantial rebuttal from the government. A modest minority rule in the Middle East favours promotion of limited democracy in these somewhat friendly authoritarian democracies, which often lead – in some cases – to unfriendly governments. Consequently, majority chose to put both diplomatic and publ ic pressure on the states to reconsider democratic rights of their citizens. The prevailing democracy in the United Arab Emirates, for example, is a substandard type of democracy whose parallelism cannot be argued on the same table with the American type of democracy (King 2009, p. 169).Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More To a given degree, all these discrepancies in the concept of democratisation of global politic show openly the lack of universality in democracy. Viewing democracy as a western ideology Promoting democracy in countries that view it as a western ideology is often characterised by stiff objection from the governments whose authorities view it as a promotion of strategic policies of the West (Heydemann 2013, p. 60). Of late, there are concrete stakes for Syria, and, indeed, the Arab world in their quest for democratisation – namely, prosperity, pluralism, and greater peace in all parts of the world (Rahbek 2005, p. 245). Controversial pathways of achieving the full dimensions of democracy and the archetypical mismatches between words and deeds continue to cloud appreciation of democracy in Syria. Sharp and Blanchard (2012, p. 267) underscore that the quest for democracy in Syria exhibit conflicting priorities, and the Assad regime holds that promotion of democracy is not a panac ea for the Syrian problem whatsoever. Yet, among the tried, tested, and trusted findings in international community studies, reports hold that established democracies are never at war, especially with their people. Democracy by any means is the preserve of an equal opportunity society where everyone has a say in the concept and nature of governance. Democracy, as Morlino (2002, p. 23) notes, makes sovereignty meaningful; dictatorial regimes make sovereignty a mockery of the people. Other governments, such as Syria advocates sovereignty even when democracy of the people is trapped underfoot. The oligarchies in Syria have vested interests that have continued to deprive their people of meaningful human rights. However, what makes it hard to achieve the wholesomeness of democracy in Syria is the fact that international foreign policy is not cast on a stone. Many civilised societies continue to work with the Syrian government without considering its legitimacy (Henry and Springborg 2001, p. 45). If this trend were not the case, then mature democracies would only enter into any kind of dealing with countries that have attested to the willingness of exploring the full dimension of democracy. Notably, what most civilised democracies fail to figure out is that durable stability emanates from domestic politics founded on peaceful competition in elective politics, which in turn promotes the much-desired conduct by the governments. The premised pretext on elections as a model of democratic fallacy in Syria While periodic elections are important pointers to democracy in the concept of governance, elections on their own do not necessarily constitute a democracy (Shin 2013, p. 2). Liberalism, freedom, and civility matters most. The all-pervasive lack of free and fair elections in Syria shows how there are great discrepancies in the concept of democracy. In remote democracies such as in the Arab world and several African nations, Ehteshami (2008, p. 67) notes that elections a re predetermined, not contested, but awarded to the ruling dynasties, making a sharp mockery to election as a civic duty. In the United States, by comparison, elections are highly contested and candidates are elected based on their suitability to the hold a state office. Overall, it make sense to argue that democracy as a concept of governance, where the citizens freely and equally participate in the civic duties while elected individuals remain accountable to the people’s preferences is a far cry from being achieved in Syria, at least at the moment. Achieving democracy in Syria warrants the masses to unconditionally sanction and steer the essentials ideals of true democracy. This has not been the case not only in Syria but also in the Arab world, as well as in most parts of Africa. In much of the developing world, democracy is only a paper representation to some appealing political tune that thrives under authoritarian rule. Political science’s views on democracy Poli tics is a study that embroils both humanistic and scientific facets of socio-economic and political establishments. As a social science discipline, political science is concerned primarily with the studies of state, governance, politics, political parties, and policies that inform them (Lust-Okar 2006). Political science as a study deals exclusively in the theory and practicality of politics as well as the analysis of political parties and systems of governance such as democracy or authoritarianism. Most constitutions in democratic societies, according to Burnell (2004, p. 5), recognise the existence of political theories with pragmatic establishment of political institutions and practices. Political Science advocates for a highly scientific and fastidious attempt to explore human behaviour and events that have shaped political history and democratic processes. Moreover, political science as a study prepares individuals not just for employment, but also for survival given its effica cy in making informed citizenry that has the capacity to participate in the political processes within political parties and interest groups that nurture democracy (Freeman 2003). Political science further seeks to expand the scope of political advocacy. The discipline holds that democracy is a form of community organisation that explores service by the elected or appointed officials to the people. Therefore, democracy is the power behind the formation of political parties, and its efficacy is usually instrumental in revealing the underlying relationships between political events and the conditions that generate such parties (Jnos 2003). In essence, democracy seeks to construct the general principles for which societal politics works in line with the constitution and the policies under which a government operate. In practice, democracy intersects with political parties, theories of governance, and comparative politics. Political parties in a democracy The aim of every political part y is to position itself to form a government. Political science is more concerned with the allocation as well as the transfer and separation of power in decision-making. Political parties advocate for greater democratic space. In a way, they are effective channels to develop a politically moral society. Democracy guarantees what measures political parties can use to gauge the success or failure of a system within the rights and freedoms bestowed upon them by the constitution. Political science holds that under good administration, political parties are necessary for long-term political growth in emerging democracies. As Noel (2009, p. 2) notes, political parties have been instrumental in advocating for human rights and inclusivity in the concept of governance as a concrete system that seeks to extend the concept of democracy. Political scientists hold that democracy is the preserve of a meaningful civilised society. Without democracy in a society, governments may become a fetter to freedom, thus denying the parties the meaning for which they exist. Accordingly, political science holds that democracy can never be complete without liberalism. Essentially, this fact makes one political party to be different from another, and nations to be different in their approach to democracy (Lagon 2011). Consequently, different societies subscribe to different political positioning making democracy function differently in different societies. As such, democratic political parties recognise the eligibility of all their members, and the citizens have the endowment to participate in decisions that affect them as an entity. Autonomous political parties such as those found in the developed world are governed by representative democracies that recognise the power of the people. The fact that different political parties have different attitudes towards the idea of democracy makes parties to assume different approaches to governance, especially upon the commencement of state power. Promoting the concept of democracy Political science holds that promoting democracy in politics should be the preserve of all people in a society. Many parties would like to have a strong association with democracy, yet they usually fall short of the democratic standardisation measures. As Rahbek (2005, p. 229) observes, memberships in parties that do advocate for social equality usually feel a moral obligation to explore the full meaning of democracy without which, members usually quit. A modest majority rule in political parties favours the promotion of limited democracy in many liberal democracies. Whereas parties are inclined to dictatorial tendencies, the fear naturally is upon the assumption of power by such parties. Parties in power may turn to be more dictatorial, hence becoming undemocratic and consequently unpopular with the masses. In societies that are more inclined to undemocratic policies such as in Syria, the larger majority are usually left out hence yielding a feeli ng of marginalisation and consequently revolt. In such situations, the masses naturally regroup to put both diplomatic and public pressure on the states to reconsider the democratic rights of their citizens. Governance is a duty of every single individual in a society; as such, political parties in Syria must first seek to accommodate the aspirations of the Syrian people to have a wider appeal in the fight towards democratisation of the region (Saikal 2003, p. 293). Political parties that do not nurture democratic policies are substandard types of entities whose efficacy often demeans the concept of typical democracy that the people of Syria yearn for. To a given degree, all the discrepancies in the fight for democracy in the Syrian politics show open lack of a universal concept of democratisation. Political science holds that democracy is paramount in extending the hegemony of political parties; as such, political parties have an obligation to nurture democracy as a practice in all their endeavours. In dictatorial societies like Syria and Zimbabwe that view the West as a threat to their wellbeing, promoting democracy in political parties has always been an uphill task. In Syria, particularly, democracy is more of a western ideology, and often characterised by stiff objection from party stalwarts whose viewpoint mirror democracy as a promotion of strategic policies of the West (Heydemann 2013, p. 64). However, in mature democracies political parties view democracy as a concrete stake in extending the process of democratisation that gives rise to prosperity, pluralism, and greater peace in their regions. Political scientists often argue that without democracy in political parties, parties may end up being extremely radicalised, thus making them seek power through clandestine activities such as keeping private armies to overthrow the government. Controversial pathways of achieving the full dimensions of democracy and the archetypical mismatches between words and deeds continue to cloud appreciation of democracy in regions that does not nurture it in their political outfits. Political parties in Syria, as Sharp and Blanchard (2012, p. 275) note, exhibit conflicting priorities, and the Assad regime may not relent to give more space that is deemed democratic. If all political parties were democratic in Syria, then it would be easy to make elections free, fair, and transparent. Given that the realisation of democracy in the Syrian political parties is far from the truth, political activism within these parties is always imminent. Such activism often seeks to make the political parties more realistic to the desires of their membership. Moreover, political scientists hold that as parties become more democratic, their appeal progresses, thus making such parties secure greater membership. With minimal boundaries to membership, parties become more relevant to the masses, making them have greater positioning to take up the government in a free and f air election. Foreign policy naturally have the feeling of the masses and usually find it easy working with governments or political parties that cherish their ideals. Liberalism in the concept of governance is usually the interest of international community irrespective of which political parties are in power, and they habitually extend an olive branch to all elected governments. Recognising the mandate of political parties that are in government legally helps to preserve democratic appeal while making other less democratic parties to own up and nurture democratic practices (Lagon 2011). Most governments advocate sovereignty at the expense of democracy. Such practices deprive the political parties their meaningful roles in advocating for human rights and democracy in Syria. The popular opinion amongst civil society groups in Syria is that there is need to cut any link with political parties or governments that do not nurture democratic practices. Sheer interests by different bodies make it possible for parties to seek governance regardless of their approach to nurture democracy. The all-pervasive lack of free and fair elections in several parties in Syria show the great discrepancies in the realisation of this moral societal concept. In remote democracies such as Syria, party primaries are predetermined, not contested, but awarded to the ruling dynasties, or the money bugs, making party politic a big sham (Haldon 2010, p. 242). In civilised societies by comparison, party primaries are highly contested based on the suitability of individuals to the hold a public office. The idea of democracy in the developed world makes such governments robust and consistent in the delivery of their pre-election pledges. Overall, it makes sense to argue that democracy is the preserve of most, if not all, political parties. It explores the freedom where the citizens freely and equally participate in the civic duties while elected individuals remain accountable to the peopleâ₠¬â„¢s preferences. With democracy, political parties stand a formidable chance of appealing to the masses, thus making them accrue greater membership in readiness for state duty (Stepan and Linz 2013, p. 18). With greater democracy, political parties have the capacity to rule with the power of majority, which makes parties in power to govern smoothly with limited interference from the opposition. In many parties of the world today, democracy is the measure for which parties appeal for greater membership. As such, the political parties in Syria needs still have a lot to do in order to nurture democracy within their outfits before they face off with the undemocratic ruling regime. Without democracy, even the parties that stand a fair chance of winning elections may become intolerant, weak, and, finally, obsolete. This is so because many subscribers to an undemocratic party may opt out and seek allegiance in other parties that nurture democratic ideals. Democratic participation in Syri a The concept of participation in democratic process as a political or civic duty emphasises the link between the levels to which individuals within a society are informed. Observers of democratic participation reckon that institutional setup may not offer sufficient grounds to establish why some democracies flourish while others wallow in abject political limbo (Sharp and Blanchard 2012, p. 276). Of great importance in any democratic arena are the political orientations of individual citizens and the extent to which such individuals show congruency to the values of the institutions that make up a democratic system. Judging from the nature of political parties and their administration, this congruency is still a mirage. Political parties in Syria have shown a tendency towards militarisation and lack of consistency in the concept of democracy. While arguing the case for consistency with the political domains that characterise a people, active participation in the politics of extremis m is not necessarily the case. What has been the face of politics in Syria is not of active participation, but rather political extremism and ideological intolerance. There is a big disconnect with the knowledge for a greater common good that democracy pursues. Elements of a democratic stability, as Sharp and Blanchard (2012, p. 277) argue, consists of exclusively cognitive mobilisation. This in turn is propelled by an individual’s interest in public affairs as well as the possession of sufficient knowledge and the willingness to participate in a democratic process. Essentially these assumptions hold that individual citizens are doing the society the good whenever they take up their democratic roles in a political process. The logic of civic competence The logic of civic competence and the drive to have an impact in the concept of political life and shape the democratic process of a people delves essentially on the ability to grasp the political concepts that defines a people (Congress of Local and Regional Authorities 2011). Elements such as the logic of civic competence are essential ideals of democracy that the Syrian political landscape lacks in abundance. While this may be construed as true in the Syrian context, other schools of thought hold that active political participation and high levels of self-expression are essential for healthy democracy. In other words, these cliques of people insinuate that individual citizens are ill informed about political issues that characterise a people. The approach to democracy in Syria might be progressing on a lopsided scale considering their militarisation of politics. Whereas the Syrian leaders make little effort to shape the democratic process, the Syrian democratisation process, as Saikal (2003, p. 89) notes, could be under serious attack and great violation by the very people who should shape it, and give it a lifeline. Under these schemes of things, Shen and Liang (2014, p. 235) note that high levels of political consultation and participation are in great demand for a healthy democratisation process. Political scientists view mature democracy under the lenses of active participation in public life with an extremely well informed political background of the institutions of democracy that defines a people. The concept of faith in Syrian politics Faith is the basis of any religion; it is not just the conviction of the actuality of a given principle, rather it is the essentiality of the recognition of a principle as the basis for action. Faith is a complete trust in the Supreme Being, and it is a belief not necessarily based on proof whatsoever. The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) known precisely as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has its names and acronyms used interchangeably for the perfection of faith (A precarious balancing act Lebanon and the Syrian conflict 2012, p. 175). Accordingly, with faith, the believer finds the right path, seeks the truth, and s talks out the course of life in the concept of reality. On the other hand, the unbeliever surges towards one misconception after the other while groping into the dark. Faith reveals to the believers the promise of unconstrained progress with the resounding success in the land of the living, whereas ignominy and failure are essentially the category of those who refuse to profess their faith. In fact, the ISIS concept of faith is a revolutionary model. Amongst the ISIS, faith is a tremendously potent doctrine, which is the very foundation of Islam. However, the dissimilarity existing between unbelievers and believers is not the result of clinging to a particular faith. The prehistoric religious divide continues to fuel a resurgence of political hard-line in much of the Muslim world (Council on Foreign Relations 2012). Perpetual struggles between Shia and Sunni Arabs are nothing less than a region sharply divided on political positioning and religious rivalries that threaten to alter t he map of the Arab world. Between the Sunni and Shia Arabs, there is deep-rooted suspicion that spurs violence, creating tensed relationships in the Syrian politics (Council on Foreign Relations 2012). In addition, sectarian affiliation plays an impeccable role in the politics of the Sunni and Shia Arabs in Syria, making democracy hard to realise. While the political standoff between Sunni and Shia Arabs has deep roots in a history of treachery and sadism that runs through the centuries, the government in Syria has made no effort to stem this historic outrage. Shia identity is entrenched in victimhood culminating to the killing of Prophet Mohammed’s grandson, Husayn, during the last quarter of the seventh century. Moreover, the Shia has had a long history of marginalisation and domination by their Sunni counterparts (Council on Foreign Relations 2012). Islam’s dominant faction, the Sunni Arabs, who constitute the world Islamic largest population, view Shia Arabs with s uspicion, and the radical Sunni dissidents have portrayed Shias as traitors and heretics, hence the persistent conflicts in Syria. Conclusion It is no doubt that the mounting sectarian hard political positioning based on an approach to succession politics and differing opinions on Islamic religious conviction continue to spark the revitalisation of transnational jihadist networks that keep on scuttling the democratic process in Syria. Mass support for a democratic process is entirely a good idea for a healthy democracy, especially as far as it is passionately motivated. Concerted support for political militarisation as a process to achieve democracy could a trajectory that defines the path to a democratic meltdown. Self-expression, moral political values and high levels of political participation and consultation reflects a valuation of political tolerance capable of nurturing a mature democracy in Syria. In fact, such values do imply, to some extent, the inherent preferences for a kind of political institution that most efficiently guarantees human choice - knowledge. Since knowledge is the basis of independent thinking, citizens must be well versed with the institutions that guarantee the democratic process to shape the course of their public life. Clearly, high levels of self-expression values and political participation are essential for healthy democracy in Syria. References A precarious balancing act Lebanon and the Syrian conflict 2012, International Crisis Group, Beirut. Berlatsky, N 2012, The Arab-Israeli conflict, Greenhaven Press, Detroit. Burnell, P 2004, Westminster foundation for democracy: Building better democracies, wfd.org/upload/docs/wfdbbd5_noprice.pdf. 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