The Best Way to Study for the ACT 4 Expert Tips

The Best Way to Study for the ACT 4 Expert Tips SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you just starting your ACT prep and wondering how to tackle the daunting task of readying yourself for the ACT? Have you been studying for the ACT but not getting your desired results? Do you just want to confirm that you're on the right track? In this article, I'll help you find the best way to study for the ACT by explainingall of your study options and letting you know how to figure out which ones to use. I'll also give you essential ACT study tips that are guaranteed to help you reach your target score. What's the Best Way to Study for the ACT? The truth is,there’s no single best way to study for the ACT. Rather,there are several options you can use, such as self-study, a tutor, a prep class, an online program, or any combination of these. The option you should choose ultimately depends on your resources and what you need. Regardless of which study method you go with, your ACT studying should include strategies that are essential for optimal ACT preparation. I’ll explain the different strategies you can use, and then discuss how to find the right way to study for you. 4Key ACTStudy Strategies Although there's no one-size-fits-all, perfect ACT study plan, there are four strategies that are vital for everyone preparing for the test. So what are these strategies? Let's take a look. #1: Determine Your ACT Target Score Before you begin your studying, you should determine the score you’re aiming for on the ACT. Having a target score will give you motivation and inform your studying. To figure outyour ACT target score, look up the 75th percentile ACT scores for the schools you’re applying to. (You don’t need to include your safety schools- just the ones you’re most interested in attending.)You can find this info by searching for "[School Name] PrepScholar ACT" on Google. Use the link to the PrepScholar page for your school to see what its 75th percentile ACT score is. Then, repeat this process for each school you plan to apply to. Below is an example of the PrepScholar page for the University of Nevada, Reno. Here, you can see the school's average ACT score as well as its 25th and 75th percentile ACT scores: Your ACT target score will be the highest 75th percentile score you find for your schools.Why is this an ideal score to aim for? If you get an ACT score that's equal to or above the 75th percentile score for a given college, you’ll have a great chance of getting accepted since you'll have received a higher ACT score than what 75% of admitted applicants got. Know what score you're aiming for. #2: Figure Out How Long You’re Going to Need to Study You can get a rough idea of how long you’ll need to study for the ACT by calculating the difference between your target score and your baseline score. To determine your baseline score, use the score from your last ACT. If you haven’t taken the ACT yet, take an official practice test. Be sure to simulate real testing conditions as you take it (i.e., find a quiet room and abide by official time limits). Here’s an estimated breakdown of point improvement per number of ACT study hours: 0-1 point improvement: 10 hours 1-2 point improvement: 20 hours 2-4 point improvement: 40 hours 4-6 point improvement: 80 hours 6-9 point improvement: 150 hours+ Say your ACT goal score is 30 and your baseline score is 25. This means you'll need to improve by 5 points in order to hit your target score. According to our estimates, 5 points equals about 40 hours of prep. Once you know how long you need to study, you can make a plan to help you put in enough study hours and reach your ACT target score.For example, if you need to study about 80 hours to reach your goal and you're planning on taking the ACT in eight weeks, you'll need to schedule at least 10 hours of study time per week. #3: Analyze Your Mistakes and Focus On Your Weaknesses It’s not enough to just put in study time; you need to study effectively. You’ll make the best use of your ACT study time by figuring out why you’re missing questions and focusing on improving your weaknesses. There are three major areas you might need to improve: content, time, and strategy. Content The ACT tests you on a number of skills related to reading, writing, and math. By determining the specific types of questions you’re getting wrong, you can identify the topics you need to learn better. For example, on the Writing section, maybe you’re struggling with pronoun agreement questions. On the Math section, perhaps you keep missing coordinate geometry questions. As soon as you know which topics are most challenging you, you can thenuse your study time to understand them better and do more practice questions to improve your weaknesses. Time The ACT is a strictly timed test, so even if you’re comfortable with the content, you might struggle to finish each section in time. If you're somebody who often rushes (i.e., you finish a section more than five minutes early and make careless mistakes) or you're somebody who struggles to complete a section in the allotted time, you’ll need to work on your time management. If you're running out of time, try to pay more attention to your time spent per question in your practice. Here's an overview of (roughly) how much time you have per question on the ACT: Section Total Time # of Questions Time per Question English 45 minutes 75 36 seconds Math 60 minutes 60 60 seconds Reading 35 minutes 40 52.5 seconds Science 35 minutes 40 52.5 seconds You might also need to improve your content knowledge or use differenttest-taking strategies depending on why you're having trouble finishing in time. Strategy The ACT is known for having questions that can be confusing or misleading. If you struggle to understand what a question is asking or often succumb to common ACT tricks, you’ll benefit by improving your knowledge of ACT strategy. For example, if you comprehend the content on the ACT Science section but are spending way too much time trying to figure out the conflicting viewpoints questions, you should spend more time learning how to decode these questions more efficiently. Or say you're missing ACT Reading questions because you're not reading the passages effectively. That's another sign that you need to improve your ACT strategy. More generally, if you can grasp the content being tested but are having issues understanding or approaching the questions, this is a clear sign that you should change your test-taking strategy. #4: Use Real or Realistic ACT Practice Questions Undoubtedly, the best questions to use are those that most closely resemble the questions on the ACT.A huge flaw of many ACT prep books is that their practice questions aren’t similar to you’d see on the actual ACT; they’re either too difficult or presented in a way that differs from the usual ACT question format. It won't help your ACT score much to focus on questions that aren’t like those you’ll encounter on the ACT.Therefore, be sure to useofficial ACT practice tests in your studying. Also, the official ACT website offers additional practice questions you can access for free. Furthermore, you can get more official questions by buying The Official ACT Prep Guideand/or ACT, Inc.'s online ACT prep program(which is mainly worth it for the extra full-length practice test). How Should You Study for the ACT? 4 Options Now that you know the strategies you should use to study for the ACT, let's go through the various options for ACT studying to help you determine which one will be the best for you. Option 1: Self-Study It’s possible to reach your ACT target score by studying on your own. While some test takers prefer to study independently, others might have to if they don’t have the resources to pursue other prep options. Ultimately, effective self-study for the ACT requires you to be extremely disciplined, organized, and motivated. You should set a definitive study plan and stick to it as closely as possible. Other than real practice tests and any prep books you use, I highly recommend using the articles on this blog to help guide your studying. We've written content and strategy articles for English, Math, Reading, Science, and Writing. Option 2: Private Tutor A private tutor may be a good option for you if you’re looking for customized instruction or you need more help learning the material that’s tested on the ACT.Meeting with a tutor can also help you stay on track if you need a little extra push for motivation. Keep in mind that tutors can be expensive and often vary greatly in terms of their knowledge and effectiveness. Before hiring a tutor, learn what ACT tutors do and how much they cost. Equip yourself with the knowledge to decide if you should work with a tutor or on your own. Monrovia Public Library/Flickr Option 3: In-Person ACT Prep Class In-person prep classes have a set curriculum, and, like tutoring, they’re a good option to help you stick to your ACT study plan. A prep class can be a great idea for you if you want to learn test strategies and increase your overall familiarity with the ACT. The best classes will provide you with a solid foundation to help you study more effectively on your own.In addition, some students learn better in a traditional classroom setting and enjoy being able to socially interact with their peers. Prep classes do have some significant drawbacks, though. In my opinion, the biggest disadvantage of a prep class is that it's not customized to your individual needs.There will be students of varying skill levels, and much of the content of the class might feel like review. Some of the content might be too challenging as well if you've never been exposed to the material before. Depending on the length of the course, you might not have enough time to thoroughly cover all the material on the ACT. Finally, ACT classes can be expensive- many prep classes cost more than $1,000. Option 4: Online ACT Prep Course Online ACT prep courses can be a great option for students who want some structure and the freedom to work independently.The biggest advantages of a good online prep course are that you’ll get an effective study plan along with thorough content instruction. The course will also be customized to your particular skill level. I might be biased, but our PrepScholar ACT program is an exceptional online ACT prep course. It focuseson improving your weaknesses, and all the practice test questions were written by ACT experts who scored in the 99th percentile on the ACT. Like all the other options, however, online prep courses do have their disadvantages. You need to have the self-motivation to push yourself to put in the necessary hours. In other words, you won’t have the encouragement of a teacher or tutor to help you stay focused. Aquality tutor can keep you engaged with material you might not find overly exciting, while a prep course might not be able to do the same. How to Decide the Best ACT Study Method for You Finally, let's take a look at the four key questions to askyourself as you determine the best way to study for the ACT. #1: How Much Money Are You Willing to Spend on ACT Prep? While I think spending money on ACT prep can be a worthy investment, some students simply can’t afford an ACT tutor or prep course. If you want to take a prep course but can’t afford one, consult your school counselor or look online to see whether there are any free prep courses available in your area. #2: How Do You Learn Best? Personally, I’ve always preferred studying independently. In school, I learned better when I was alone reading from a textbook than when I was in class listening to my teacher. So ask yourself: which ACT study option will work best for yourlearning style? Keep in mind that you can alwayscombine study options.For example, you could primarily self-study and then hire a tutor for a couple of hours to help you understand a puzzling concept. Or you could take an in-person ACT course to learn fundamental test strategies and then enroll in an online course for further content instruction. #3: How Likely Will You Be Able to Stick to a Study Plan? Self-studying and online courses work best for the most disciplined and determined students who are able to stay on task without the help of an instructor. However, even if you take a class or hire a tutor, you need to be motivated enough to do the necessary work to reach your target score. #4: How Much Help Will You Need? If you're only 1 point away from your target ACT score, you might be able to reach your goal with a couple of weekends of self-studying or a short in-person prep course. However, if you need to raise your score by 7 points and you’re struggling to understand important test concepts, you'd probably benefit from more intensive instruction, either from a tutor, online prep course, or multi-week class. Regardless of how you decide to study for the ACT, you can get your desired results, as long as you improve your weaknesses, analyze your mistakes, and use real/realistic practice problems. What's Next? Is time running out for your ACT prep?Get tips on how to study for the ACT in a month, and find out how to properly cram for the ACTif you've got just 10 days before the test. Are you using real ACT practice tests to study but not improving by as much as you'd like? Maybe you need to learn what to avoid when you're taking practice tests. Do you already have a high ACT score? Figure out how to improve even more. Who knows- you might even be able to get a perfect 36! Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses. We also have expert instructors who can grade every one of your practice ACT essays, giving feedback on how to improve your score. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Writing Secondary Essays

Writing Secondary Essays Secondary essays are personal statements required of medical students by admissions directors to fill in the blanks. Having already written primary statements on such topics as education and/or personal goals, many students use the secondary statement as a way to beef up their application overall. For more information regarding secondary statements, I encourage you to read on. Like personal statements, secondary essays are not simple to compose. Many students, as a matter of fact, find secondary papers more difficult to write due to the fact that they require a more personal approach. Questions such as Where do you hope to be in ten years and What effect would you like your career goals to have on the medical community are commonly used in secondary statement guidelines. Before writing your secondary essay, it is important to take some time in order to properly evaluate the question asked. If, for instance, the application requires you to answer a question regarding your educational selection, do some research on the school itself. Think less about what you believe the review board wants to hear and more about how you honesty feel so that when you begin to write your answer, it will come straight from the heart. Secondary essays might just be some of the most difficult compositions to write. That been said, dont get frustrated if you find the overall process arduous and/or emotionally taxing. In the meanwhile, if you would like more information regarding med school secondaries and/or med school application essays, please access the link provided.

Article response Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Response - Article Example These include the European Language Portfolio or ELP, American Lingua Folio, and Global Language Portfolio (GLP). The researchers on the portfolio assessment have been building on the work of Dewey (1933), which is titled, â€Å"We Thing: A restatement of relation of reflective thinking to education process.† He built basic premises, which are still evident in both ELP and GLP, and involves reflecting on and summarizing what has already done. The article provides an overview on how the EPs can be used to learn, teach and assess in the United States and Europe based on ELP, CEFR, GLP and American I.F. The EPs function is based on the national standards and ACTFL proficiency scale. There are several advantages that EPs has over paper based portfolio. The functionality of EPs allows the learner, teacher and program coordinator to track the progress of the program throughout the course duration. It allows the learner to share data with both the teacher and the institution. It improves motivation and evaluation of learners’ outcomes. Through the cooperation of scholars from Europe, North America and other parts the world, the effectiveness of EPs for language acquisition will be realized. As the transatlantic partnership grows and higher learning institutions do joint programs, the three-part EPs will be a common technology in Europe and North America. Advancement in technology will facilitate information sharing among international institutions and their joint programs. The Electronic Portfolio (EP) is a digitized collection of artifacts, which include demonstrations, resources and accomplishments representing an individual, group, organization, institution or community. According to Lorenzo & Ittelson (2005, p. 2), these collections can comprise of text-based documents, graphics, and multimedia features archived on websites or other electronic media such as CD-ROM or DVD. The above features make Electronic Portfolio to be the best in

G COMMUNICATIONS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

G COMMUNICATIONS - Essay Example The globalization movement is still in a growth phase since there are lots of areas for improvement and the need for further integration. According to economist Shapiro in order for greater globalization to be reached by the year 2020 economies must embrace globalization and reject regulation and social welfare (Shapiro, 2008). The economies that are more open have a greater chance to succeed, while those that embrace controlling tendencies are doom for failure and will ultimately face hard economic times for its population. The People’s Republic of China is an example of an economy that realized in the 1980’s that the only way the country would succeed was to begin a process to open its market to integrate itself to the rest of the world. Sound investment infrastructure along with economies policies aligned with the globalization movement allowed China to achieve a yearly economic growth of nearly 10% for the last three decades. The globalization movement has been help along a lot by the alliances being form between nation to facilitate trade and reduce or eliminate tariffs. The appearance of different regional free trade zones have been essential to speed up the process of globalization and fostering economic activity between neighboring countries. A free trade zone is bloc of countries with regional proximity that form a treaty among the participating nations to improve the terms and conditions of trade between the nations in order to increase interstate trade. Three examples of free trade zones are the European Union, NAFTA and MERCOSUL. The European Union is one of the oldest agreements form with started in the year 1957. The ideas at the time was to create a single European market that would reduce barriers to allow the free flow of products, services, finances and labor among member countries and to establish policies of trade between non member nations (Kotler, 2002, p.388). The factor that

The Truth of All Truths Essay Example for Free

The Truth of All Truths Essay Suppressing is suffering but suffering is better than admitting Suffering is better than hurting Suppressing is better. People are the worst LIARS, not simply because of not telling the truth but liars for being completely ignorant of the real thing or two about what one truly feels, what one truly wants Liars for putting up an act of being perfectly fine when in truth, one is really messed up Liars for making others feel certain warmth Liars for secretly thinking bad for a thing Liars for hiding what the inner persona is shouting Look at the bigger picture of life. Try to note the people who are living apart from their REAL selves. â€Å"I don’t want that†; but deep inside, that’s what they really long for. â€Å"I’m not mad†; but in truth, they’re really firing up. â€Å"It’s a joke†; but it’s the truth. â€Å"I don’t like you†; but deep inside, their hearts are breaking apart. â€Å"I’m okay†; but the reality is different. The truth is a word commonly associated with facts but the truth is hard to fathom, hard to interpret and hard to admit. You know what is the real truth governing the twists and turns of truths? It is the fact that person has the tendency to deny things because it’s the heart which tells each and everyone to stop and gather up, suppress. Not accepting things is a primary hindrance. Have you ever been into a situation when you want something so badly but then ended up not getting it? Have you ever been afraid of going prank with someone you treasure? Have you ever made something to get noticed? People, in one way or another, have undergone all of this, whether unconsciously or not, and reacted differently. However, what most people are doing is clinging onto something even if they know that it can’t be anymore. There will come a time when they may say they have already moved on; but, unconsciously, there really are wounds in their heart which bother them every time and the common mistake is denying this fact. People tend to move on without accepting their real limits and denying everything that their heart feels. The ultimatum of it all is that most people are afraid of hurting themselves- afraid of rejection, afraid to let it all out, afraid of negative reactions Why is there a need for that? The truth will set you free! Don’t make up an excuse because you’re having a lie with the most important factors in your life- you and your heart. The greatest truth to be realized is to know yourself, your own feelings and emotions. Wake up, people! Take it slow Live with it!

Essay --

Chief Joseph was the Nez-Pierce chief. He became famous when he tried to get his tribe to the Canadian border to be free. He did it so he and his tribe don’t go to reservations. He was considered to be one of the best chiefs ever. He took his fathers place as chief. His early life, leading years, and the end of his life tells what he had to go through to lead his tribe to freedom, even though it ended in vain. Joseph was born on March 3, 1840, in Wallowa Valley, Oregon Territory. His formal Indian name translates to Thunder Rolling Down the Mountain, but he goes by Joseph. He was named after his father, Joseph the Elder. He was named after he was baptized. His father’s relationship with the whites was unclear. He had been one if the first Indians to convert to Christianity. He forged a new treaty that created a reservation for the Nez Perce. When gold was discovered in the territories, white people began to come onto their lands. The treaty was soon destroyed after the U.S. government began to take back millions of acres that they had promised to Joseph the Elder. When Joseph the ...

Benefits of online learning Essay

When taking an online program, it’s easy to balance your work with family work. A student can access and participate in the learning programs whenever he feels convenient for him and when he feels is right for him. Compared to convectional learning, where a student is required to be in class and must participate in learning program when the lecturer is available, the student can log in study and can pause his program and continue later. Distance is not an issue in e-learning. A student can participate in a school of choice no matter the geographical location provided there is required infrastructure, computer and internet. A student can take the programs any time even when the school location is at late night. In convectional courses, classes are mostly done during the day, thus limiting time for work and other social responsibilities. During public holidays, most schools do not hold classes. An e-learning program does not recognize this and a student can take classes. This gives a student convenience because this could probably the time he is available for studies. On the other hand, the students are allowed to work at their convenient pace in a week and schedule their discussion and also have convenient time set for their exams. Students are able to accept examinations and assignments when they are ready compared to convectional learning where the examinations are done according to the convenience of the lecturer.

Marxist Critique of Desiree’s Baby Essay

The Antebellum south, or merely the word plantation, conjures images of white, columned manses shaded by ancient oaks bowed beneath the weight of Spanish moss and centuries. Somehow these monuments of Greek revivalist architecture sparkle in their ivory-coated siding, even while the trunks of their aged arboreal neighbors hide under layer upon soggy layer of dense, green lichen. The white house is a reflection of the inhabitants, its cleanliness in the damp, soiled environment standing as a stark reminder of the hegemony governing the lives of those living not in the house, but hidden nearby. L’Abri, the plantation home of the Aubigny family in Chopin’s Desirà ©e’s Baby, is yellow and has a foreboding black roof made more sinister by the gloomy shadows cast by its requisite antiquated greenery. L’Abri is not unlike any other antebellum mansion of the pre-Civil War era; it represents its inhabitants. The mansion is excellently presented as an example of how little authority color truly wields without an underlying power structure to give it substance. While race figures prominently in Desirà ©e’s Baby, the story is an exemplary specimen for the application of Marxist criticism. Marxist criticism is the recognition of â€Å"inequalities in power between characters† (Gardner 146). It purposes to â€Å"expose the inequalities that underlie all societies† (Gardner 146). These inequalities can have multiple sources, though often the main source is race. But is race a biological reality? Miles posits that races are imagined, in that they â€Å"have no real biological foundation† (26). Miles further observes that differentiations between groups are â€Å"simultaneously inclusive and exclusive† (27) as the characteristics describing one group stand in contrast to another group. The destructive nature of racial categorization is in the claims that biolo gical types determine â€Å"the endowment and behavior of individuals† (Miles 28) depending on their race, and that conflict between them is the â€Å"consequence of their biological constitution† (Miles 28). Furthermore, race can be used to argue that there exists a natural hierarchy that determines positions of inferiority, and by extension, superiority (Miles 28). These assertions give credence to the ownership of slaves and the race-based denial of rights, and are foundational to the idea that the mixing of races is unnatural and even destructive. But race mixing is not mixing if race does not exist as a biological category. While science can find ways to assign race, those categories are blurred as races blend and eventually they will disappear. As a danger to the idea of race, blending is anathema to the superior category. Plantation life was a microcosmic picture of the idea of a need for segregation, wherein each category was given â€Å"its own territory within which its distinctive capacity for ‘civilization’ can be realized† (Miles 30). But Chopin gives an excellent (and perhaps accurate) portrayal of the lack of any real biological basis for what constituted race in Antebellum Louisiana. Chopin describes Armand as dark (402), and Desirà ©e points out to Armand that she is fair-skinned and whiter than he is (403). The baby is â€Å"their child† (Chopin 403) when Armand reveals the ‘truth’ to Desirà ©e, but is Desirà ©e’s child alone only four paragraphs later as she decides to leave (Chopin 404), notwithstanding the actual biological basis upon which the child’s parentage is based. Desirà ©e walks away with the â€Å"golden gleam† (Chopin 404) of the sunlight in her brown hair, taking nothing with her, as befitting her new-found but false identity. She does not take the beaten path, but instead walks through the newly-harvested October fields (Chopin 404), again behaving in a way that befits the new category with which she now identifies. Desirà ©e’s biology belies the reality that she now accepts as â€Å"the stubble bruised her tender feet† (Chopin 404), and she does not know to walk where the branches will not shred her delicate clothing. If Desirà ©e were actually black in the Antebellum south, she would know these things from early childhood. Desirà ©e disappears â€Å"among the reeds and willows that grew thick along the bank of the deep sluggish bayou; and she did not come back again† (404). Desirà ©e’s disappearance is not only her physical departure from L’Abri; it is the disappearance of the white woman that was Desirà ©e. And none of these circumstances is decided by biology, but by what Marxists refer to as a â€Å"struggle for power between different social classes† (Gardner 145). Chopin is delivering a message that power transcends race. What sets Desirà ©e apart in terms of her subjugation by Armand? It is not race, but the lack thereof. Desirà ©e is unable to hide anything about herself because her origins are unknown (Chopin 401). She is a willing captive to Armand as a result of her love and her marriage, but she is not an unwilling captive to race; she is an unwilling captive to her otherness. She does not have doubts about her race, but must live with the reality that â€Å"Armand has told me I am not white† (Chopin 404). Because her origins are unknown and she does not have a name, she must acquiesce to the whims of Armand, who had at first decided to be unconcerned about â€Å"the girl’s obscure origins† (Chopin 401). Armand is the power here. He makes all of the decisions regarding the lives of those within his circle of power, and he does so because he is allowed to do so. Madam Valmondà © has even decided to be unconcerned about Armand’s questionable origins. It is interesting that Desirà ©e’s mother perceives evidence of the baby’s blackness (Chopin 402), but does not explore the possibility that Armand’s blood is the cause. Madam Valmondà © is part of the power structure and victimizes her own daughter, whom she claims to love deeply and sees as a gift from â€Å"a beneficent Providence to be the child of her affection, seeing as she was without child of the flesh† (Chopin 401). Had Desirà ©e been a child of the flesh of Madam Valmondà ©, she would have been accepted, and Madam Valmondà © could have exercised her superiority over Armand and the unanswered questions of his origins. It is remarkable that no one questions Armand’s pedigree even though his mother lived and died in France (Chopin 401). Armand’s mother is perhaps one of the more interesting subjects of Marxist study in the story. One cannot help but wonder why Chopin portrays Monsieur Aubigny as â€Å"easy-going and indulgentâ⠂¬  (Chopin 403). He is a slave owner who married a woman of a different race overseas and asserted his white superiority over her, which is evident in her letter at the end of the story (Chopin 405). She credits God with having given her the ability to hide the reality of her inferiority from her son (Chopin 405). She is lost in the shame of her otherness. She has been so fully convinced by her perceived superiors of her inferiority that she sees the ability to hide her true nature as a gift from her creator. To Monsieur Aubigny’s hidden wife, this is as much a gift as Madam Valmondà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s child of affection. One must question why Aubigny moved to France to marry this woman. And what was the arrangement that allowed her to stay hidden? Did she commit suicide? Is the letter that Armand is reading a final word from her before taking her own life? Note that this was only â€Å"part of an old letter† (Chopin 405), which leaves the true nature of her death unknown. This is power beyond ownership of chattels or social superiority; this power is God-like. Aubigny has happy slaves and is an indulgent tyrant, but to what dark magic has he subjected his French wife? Even if she is dying from something natural at the writing of the letter, it is remarkable that she perceives such powerlessness in herself. Armand is not as devoted as his mother to God. He finds that God has â€Å"dealt cruelly and unjustly with him† (Chopin 404) when he discovers that all is not as it seemed. Armand has a beautiful wife who â€Å"loved him desperately† (Chopin 402) and â€Å"asked no greater blessing of God† (Chopin 402) when he smiled. He has inherited a plantation and slaves to work it. He is rich and possesses the legacy of a good name. Yet in unmitigated spite of all that he has been given, Armand finds God unjust. His world has been suddenly and completely turned on its head because he has reason to believe that his child has inherited inferiority, never guessing that he himself is the source in more ways than one. Armand is a name similar to Adam, and Chopin seems to model him in part after the biblical first man. With the expulsion of Desirà ©e, L’Abri is reminiscent of the biblical garden east of Eden, with the exception that Armand remains. The Mosaic account of the creation of man includes a guideline for marriage, with the command that â€Å"they shall become one flesh† (NASB, Genesis 2.24). A married couple in this sense should be regarded in the same manner as a child and parent – inseparable by nature, regardless of wounds or emotions. This is a picture that does not give place to the other as each partner is regarded equally. It should be noted here that the name Desirà ©e is a French articulation of desire, and it was Adam’s desire that inspired God to give him a mate (NASB, Genesis 2.20). But Adam failed to regard his wife as equal to himself, standing by as she was tempted and choosing not to intervene (NASB, Genesis 3.6). In witnessing her deception and choosing not to intervene, Adam has made Eve the other. He has separated himself from her. Armand allegorically models the actions of Adam, but he gives himself the God-like power to expel his Eve from the garden, while choosing to ignore his own nature. Adam was Armand’s example in choosing to act in spite of all that he had been given, and in Adam’s attempt to fool God into believing that he had been blameless (NASB, Genesis 3.11), he set up a struggle for power. Armand falls easily into this struggle. It is not a stretch to believe that he has doubts about his own race. Exiling Desirà ©e is a tactic that Armand uses to maintain his hegemony. He does not have a foundation of support apart from the societal acceptance of slavery and white superiority. Desirà ©e and Madam Valmondà © are victimized by the very system that they tacitly support. They support it both by their participation as landowners and probable slave-holders and by their acceptance of it even when it forces them to accept inferiority. The superstructure of power in their society is so strong that it can be enforced with nothing more than words, even when those words have no basis in biological fact. It is not the taint of the wrong skin color that makes Desirà ©e a tragic figure; it is her support of a tainted system from which she benefitted until it turned on her. Skin color is a biological reality, but it has been manipulated in support of hegemony. The Antebellum south stood as a physical representation of the realities of race. Large, sparkling, white houses stood proudly fronting the large plantation estates of the white owners therein, while the dark-skinned slaves abode in small, mean cottages hidden in the rear. Kate Chopin depicts a plantation mansion in her short story Desirà ©e’s Baby with a paint color that is darker than the standard, modeling the color of the inhabitants. Nonetheless, the Aubigny family is powerful, benefitting from a superstructure that assigns power by the perception, rather than the reality, of skin color. While race is an important feature of the story, Chopin has written a work that is perfect for a Marxist critique. Works Cited Chopin, Kate. â€Å"Desirà ©e’s Baby.† Anthology of the American Short Story. Ed. James Nagel. Boston, New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2008. 121-135. Print. ISBN: 978-0-618-73220-3 Gardner, James. Writing about Literature: A Portable Guide. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2009. Print. ISBN: 978-0-312-60757-9 Miles, Robert. â€Å"Recent Marxist Theories of Nationalism and the Issue of Racism.† The British Journal of Sociology 38.1 (1987): 24-43. Web. 9 Jun. 2012. New American Standard Bible. Trans. The Lockman Foundation. New York: Oxford UP, 1971. Print.

Free Essays on French Revolution Vs American Revolution

American and French Revolutions The French Revolution was an indirect result of the American Revolution. The American Revolution began with colonists fighting against Great Britain’s monarchial rule. The still bitter French aided in the independence of the American. During the same time, France was increasing literacy and the idea of the Enlightenment was spreading. The Bourgeoisie learned how successful the colonists were and when the French monarchy did not respond to the new American ideals the French just fought for, the Bourgeoisie reacted in rebellion. In the end, the French Revolution did not end as successfully as the American Revolution. Once Great Britain gained control of the land east of the Mississippi River, the thirteen colonies formed. The colonies were both prosperous and thickly populated. However, defending the colonies was very costly and at the end of the Seven Years War (otherwise known as the French and Indian War) Britain sought to acquire new revenues from the colonies. Britain believed the colonies needed to be ruled by a single empire and Parliament as the supreme authority. In contrast, the colonist did not believe in a monarchial rule; they wanted their own voice and representation for taxes. This led to Britain creating legal acts such as the Sugar, Stamp, Townshend, and Tea Acts. These all resulted in the colonists protesting by rioting. The largest and most remembered was the Boston Tea Party, which resulted in the retaliation of Britain via the Boston Massacre. The final effort from Britain was the Intolerable Acts, which led to the formation of the Continental Congress. The first Continental Congress failed to form an agreement and attempted to make amends with Britain. This was also unsuccessful and resulted in the Lexington and Concord battles which lead to the 2nd Continental Congress. In 1776, the Continental Congress and the colonists decided to declare their independence from ... Free Essays on French Revolution Vs American Revolution Free Essays on French Revolution Vs American Revolution American and French Revolutions The French Revolution was an indirect result of the American Revolution. The American Revolution began with colonists fighting against Great Britain’s monarchial rule. The still bitter French aided in the independence of the American. During the same time, France was increasing literacy and the idea of the Enlightenment was spreading. The Bourgeoisie learned how successful the colonists were and when the French monarchy did not respond to the new American ideals the French just fought for, the Bourgeoisie reacted in rebellion. In the end, the French Revolution did not end as successfully as the American Revolution. Once Great Britain gained control of the land east of the Mississippi River, the thirteen colonies formed. The colonies were both prosperous and thickly populated. However, defending the colonies was very costly and at the end of the Seven Years War (otherwise known as the French and Indian War) Britain sought to acquire new revenues from the colonies. Britain believed the colonies needed to be ruled by a single empire and Parliament as the supreme authority. In contrast, the colonist did not believe in a monarchial rule; they wanted their own voice and representation for taxes. This led to Britain creating legal acts such as the Sugar, Stamp, Townshend, and Tea Acts. These all resulted in the colonists protesting by rioting. The largest and most remembered was the Boston Tea Party, which resulted in the retaliation of Britain via the Boston Massacre. The final effort from Britain was the Intolerable Acts, which led to the formation of the Continental Congress. The first Continental Congress failed to form an agreement and attempted to make amends with Britain. This was also unsuccessful and resulted in the Lexington and Concord battles which lead to the 2nd Continental Congress. In 1776, the Continental Congress and the colonists decided to declare their independence from ...

Research Paper Introduction about Abortion

Research Paper Introduction about Abortion Research Paper Introduction about Abortion The attitude towards abortion has always been and still is very controversial. It has, however, changed throughout the history of humanity: for example, it was commonly accepted in the times of Ancient Greece and Rome. On the other hand, the majority of men were against abortion as they felt they were entitled to have a baby. There are a few references to abortion in an Old Testament, where a fetus was perceived rather than an object, not a living being. In other words, there was a law, that if a person causes a miscarriage, he must be punished for that. There are no references to this topic in the New Testament. Later on, abortion in the western world was not considered a crime if done before a certain period, usually before 18-20 weeks. It was a common practice in the colonial America, but was usually kept in secret, as sexual activity before marriage was disapproved by the society. The Abortion Act of 1967 in England fully legalized abortion, but under certain conditions. It s tates that a doctor has the right to perform an abortion if other two doctors agree that this is done for the sake of the woman. For example, doctors are sure that giving birth to a child will cause physical or mental harm to a woman. Still, there are lots of debates concerning whether abortion should be legalized or not. The cons of abortion usually include the following facts: Abortion is a crime. Even if it is a fetus, it is still a process of killing someone who deserves to live. Abortion can often lead to serious complications, injury to the uterus or cervix if done by unskilled doctor, or serious infection. Some of the factors, including the above mentioned complications, can lead to a risk of not being able to become pregnant again. It is a stressful and unpleasant experience, and a person can feel depressed and guilty for the rest of the life. On the other hand, there are facts that prove that abortion is legal and should be done in certain cases: Only a woman who is pregnant has a right to decide whether to do abortion or to keep a baby, provided she is of sound mind. Neither doctors, nor anti-abortion activists will have to take care of a baby, but it is a woman who has to decide whether she is capable and ready for that. The current stage of the medicine development enables doctors to detect any possible problems that a woman can have while giving a birth to a child. So, if doctors are sure that giving a birth to a child can be dangerous for a woman, they may convince her to make an abortion. The similar situation is with a baby. If doctors diagnose that a baby is very likely to have a disease after birth, a woman has to decide whether to make an abortion or to give a birth to a child, who can later on suffer for the rest of its life. If a woman got pregnant after a rape, then having an abortion is a way to get rid both of an unwanted baby and the psychological trauma after such a dire experience. There will probably never be a clear answer to whether abortion should be legal or not, whether it is morally right, or if it is the biggest crime a person can commit. Anyway, people have to deal with someone elses life, one of the most valuable things a person can have, so it is necessary to think carefully and consider every detail. Tips on Writing a Research Paper Introduction on a Controversial Topic: To write a good introduction for abortion research paper, you have to provide the readers with clues to what the paper is going to be about. Stay close to the point and keep the introduction short. As your topic is controversial, make it clear what position you take on the matter. Make sure that you conclusion and introduction coincide. Re-read the introduction and conclusion and compare them. Also you can hire a research paper writer to have a custom paper on abortion topic written from scratch. Just visit our site and fill in the order form!

Capital Structure and Dividend Policy Theory Essay

Capital Structure and Dividend Policy Theory - Essay Example instance Sainsbury's being a retailer basically having a huge presence in the UK, has been described as one of the least leveraged firms with 1.6 billion in debt capital and 8.4 billion in equity. Its total capital value has been estimated at 10 billion (www.j-sainsbury.co.uk). The dividend payout for the financial year 2007/08 was 12.0p per share. Sainsbury's retails sales made profits of 543m on sales of 20.4 billion in 2009 (ending May). This shows an 11% rise over the previous year. Dividend cover is calculated by suing the formula (after tax profits/total dividend paid out). For example if a company made an after tax profit of 75 million and paid out 25 million in dividends in the same period, then (75 m/25 m) 3 is a better dividend cover. Any dividend cover less than 1.5 is considered to be a sign of future trouble for shareholders because there is more likely to be a cut in dividends. In fact Sainsbury's dividend cover for the three years - 2006, 2007 and 2008 - was 1.3, 1.5 a nd 1.63 respectively (Friedrich, 2007).This demonstrates that Sainsbury's is having a difficult time because of its lower leveraged position in the capital/financial markets. Though the company has been making efforts to keep the dividend cover between 1.5 and 1.75, right now its dividend cover is coming down due to the lower leverage. The company has been advised to increase its debt capital by borrowing in financial markets against debentures and bonds rather than issuing ordinary shares. This is where the agency problem plays a pivotal role. Theoretically agency problem arises when managers (agents) have more information about investment related outcomes as against shareholders or owners (principals). This principal agent problem is very strongly seen at Sainsbury's. 2.... The capital structure of the firm refers o the ratio of debt to equity and therefore it’s relevant to know how the dividend policy of the firm is influenced by the theoretical underpinnings of the firm’s capital structure determination process. For example, Sainsbury’s as the retailer in the UK has been seeking to raise more equity as against debt. Next, its inability to increase dividend cover in the recent years to match with its expectations between 1.50 to 1.75 shows that the company has depended on the less risky way of equity financing its capital rather than adopting the riskier way of debt financing. Thus the dividend policy at Sainsbury has run into difficulty. On the other hand, Easyjet has adopted a policy of non-payment of dividends to its ordinary shareholders since its launch in 1995. Just now under pressure from its principal shareholder, Stelios, the Board has agreed to pay dividends from next year. Currently, the company has a debt ratio of 53.72 % thus achieving a marginally higher debt financing ratio. However, its position is no better than that of Sainsbury though the company has made good profits.