Huck Finn Essays (2931 words) - English-language Films, Free Essays

Huck Finn Essays (2931 words) - English-language Films, Free Essays Huck Finn The narrator (later identified as Huckleberry Finn) begins Chapter One by stating that the reader may know of him from another book, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mr. Mark Twain, but it ain't t no matter if you have not. According to Huck, Twain mostly told the truth, with some stretchers thrown in, though everyoneexcept Tom's Aunt Polly, the widow, and maybe Marylies once in a while. The other book ended with Tom and Huckleberry finding the gold some robbers had hidden in a cave. They got six thousand dollars apiece, which Judge Thatcher put in trust, so that they each got a dollar a day from interest. The Widow Douglas adopted and tried to civilise Huck. But Huck couldn't stand it so he threw on his old rags and ran away. But he went back when Tom Sawyer told him he could join his new band of robbers if he would return to the Widow and be respectable. The Widow lamented over her failure with Huck, tried to stuff him into cramped clothing, and before every meal had to grumble over the food before they could eat it. She tried to teach him about Moses, until Huck found out he was dead and lost interest. Meanwhile, she would not let him smoke; typically, she disapproved of it because she had never tried it, but approved of snuff since she used it herself. Her slim sister who wears glasses, Miss Watson, tried to give him spelling lessons. Meanwhile, Huck was going stir-crazy, made especially restless by the sisters' constant reminders to improve his behavior. When Miss Watson told him about the bad place, Hell, he burst out that he would like to go there, as a change of scenery. Secretly, Huck really does not see the point in going to the good place and resolved then not to bother trying to get there. When Huck asked, Miss Watson told him there was no chance Tom Sawyer would end up in Heaven. Huck was glad because I wanted him and me to be together. One night, after Miss Watson's prayer session with him and the slaves, Huck goes to bed feeling so lonesome I wished I was dead. He gets shivers hearing the sounds of nature through his window. Huck accidentally flicks a spider into a candle, and is frightened by the bad omen. Just after midnight, Huck hears movement below the window, and a me-yow sound, that he responds to with another me-yow. Climbing out the window onto the shed, Huck finds Tom Sawyer waiting for him. Commentary In a few short dense pages, Twain manages to accomplish a great deal. Most importantly, the two introductory notes and the first chapter establish the author's use of humor and irony, the character of Huckleberry Finn, the novel's theme, narration, and the use of dialect. One hateful word the characters use has brought occasional condemnation onto the book and its author. The characters of the Widow Douglas and Miss Watson are also established. As well, the author establishes that the reader needs no familiarity with his previous work, Tom Sawyer, to understand Huckleberry Finn, though he fills the reader in on the pertinent information from the previous work. The brief Notice that introduces the book has been reprinted above in its entirety. In humorously highfalutin language, it states that the reader must not seek plot, moral, or motive the last two of which likely correspond to the present-day concepts of theme and character development. Of course, what the author really means by this notice is that the book does in fact contain all these thingsthat it is more than just a children's, adventure, or humor book. Twain is using irony, saying one thing but meaning the opposite of its literal definition. He is using this irony humorously, covering this declaration of the book's seriousness in a joke. The joke pokes fun at the seriousness of adult American society, with its rules and officials, especially with the citation to G.G., Chief of Ordinance. Twain will use humor and irony throughout the book, most often combining the two. Indeed, humor usually occurs as a result of irony, with the gap between the expected and the actual provoking a

Every Great Gatsby Character You Have to Know Complete List

Every Great Gatsby Character You Have to Know Complete List SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips This articleprovides a broad overview of all ofThe Great Gatsbycharacters, their relationships and connections, and any major issues and questions surrounding them. Throughout the guide, you will find links to each character’s page, as well as links to our character analysis, compare/contrast, and quotes pages. Use this page as your jumping-off point for discovering The Great Gatsby’s major and minor players! The Great GatsbyMainCharacters Click on each character's name for a detail-rich article featuring descriptions, quotes, and character analysis - including some answers to the discussion questions listed for each character! Jay Gatsby The titular â€Å"Great Gatsby,† a selfmademan who is desparate to be seen as part of the social elite andwhose ill-gotten wealth is always on display through his lavish lifestyle. Heis convinced that he can "repeat the past" andwin back the love of his life, Daisy Fay Buchanan. Relationships with Other Characters Meets Nick and Jordan at one of his parties and becomes particularly close to Nick DatedDaisy five years before the start of the novel;has an affair with her during the novel Rivals with Tom for Daisy's love In the car with Daisy when Daisy runs Myrtleover Killed byGeorge Major Issues, Theories, and Questions Why is Gatsby so intent on reliving the past? What makes Gatsby so â€Å"great,† anyway? What does Gatsby’s infatuation with Daisy represent? Is Gatsby a tragic hero? How would the novel be different if Gatsby actually won over Daisy? Would it be as powerful? Modern theories: Gatsby is black but passing as white, or Gatsby is Jewish but hiding it. How dothese theories change a traditional reading of the novel? Nick Carraway The first-person narrator, an observant Yale graduate who moves from the Midwest to NYC to be a bond salesman and quickly falls in with Tom, Daisy, Jordan, and Jay. He ends the novel completely disenchanted with the old money elite, who turn out to be horrible people. Relationships with Other Characters Friends with Tom Buchanan from college A second cousin of Daisy’s Jordan’s boyfriend during the book, though they break up near the end Meets Myrtle and George through Tom Meets Gatsby due to moving in next to him and being invited to one of Gatsby’s parties Major Issues, Theories, and Questions Is Nick a reliable narrator? Why or why not? How does Nickchange throughout the novel? Why does Nick come to admire Gatsby so much? Modern theory: Nick is gay. If he is, how does this affect our analysis of the novel? Daisy Buchanan A passive and increasingly unhappywoman married to Tom Buchanan. She was once in love with Gatsby, and reconnects with him as a way to escape her sense of purposelessness and hopelessnes. Relationships with Other Characters Second cousin to Nick DatedGatsby five years before the novel opens; has an affair with Gatsby In an unhappy, but stable, marriage to Tom Friends with Jordan from childhood Kills Myrtle in a hit and run car accident Major Issues, Theories, and Questions Does Daisy really love Gatsby? What does Daisy stand for in the novel? (Wealth, unrequited love, the American Dream†¦) Why is Daisy’s voice described as being â€Å"full of money†? How much do we actually know about Daisy as a character? Where in the novel do we get glimpses of her emotions and motivations? Is Daisy a flapper? How is she affected by the societal expectations of women in the 1920s? Recent discussion: why is Daisy so frequently despised by modern readers? Does that harsh criticism reveal misogyny on the part of the readers/critics of Gatsby? Tom Buchanan A wealthy old classmate of Nick’s, who is married to Daisy and is cheating on herwith Myrtle Wilson. He uses his physical and social power to bully those around him, but is the only one who sees through Gatsby's fake "Oxford man" persona. Relationships with Other Characters KnowsNick from their days at Yale Married to Daisy Friends with Jordan through Daisy Rival to Gatsby Patronizes George Wilson’s garage Having an affair with Myrtle Major Issues, Theories, and Questions Tom and Daisy arepeople â€Å"who smash things up and retreat into their money†: what does Tom and Daisy’s characterization reveal about Fitzgerald’s portrayal of old money? Jordan Baker A professional golf player and friend of Daisy’s who dates Nick during the novel. Jordan is calm, cynical, and self-centered - qualities which at first attrack Nick to her, and then repel him when he realizes the extent of her cold selfishness. Relationships with Other Characters Friends with Daisy from childhood Friends with Tom through Daisy MeetsGatsby during one ofhis parties; arranges for Gatsby to meet Nick and thus reconnects Gatsbyto Daisy DatesNick Major Issues, Theories, and Questions What’s Jordan'srole in the story? How would the novel be different without her? What does the section in Chapter 4 featuring Jordan’s narration reveal about the limitations of Nick as a narrator? What would the novel be like if it was narrated by Jordan? Myrtle Wilson A woman who is dissatisfied with her working class life as a car mechanic’s wife. She is having an affair with Tom partly because it allows her to experience some degree of freedom from her marriage and to indulge her materialist desires. Relationships with Other Characters Married to George Having an affair with Tom Run over and killed by Daisy Major Issues, Theories, and Questions What does Myrtle’s life and tragic ending say about the American Dream? Why do Tom and Myrtle get together? What do they see in each other, and how does their relationship reveal each character’s motivations? What does the novel's focus on Myrtle’s body say about itstreatment of women? George Wilson A depressed and weak-willed man who runs a car garage. He loves his wife, Myrtle, and has no idea that she is having an affair. Myrtle's death completely unhinges him. Relationships with Other Characters Married to Myrtle Trying to buy Tom's car for resale Meets Nick through Tom Kills Gatsby in revenge for Myrtle's death, then kills himself Major Issues, Theories, and Questions What does George’s tragic outcome reveal about the status of The American Dream? Why is George the only person who seriously mentions God during the novel? What is the significance ofthe eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburgto him? The Great GatsbyMinorCharacters Below, I've listed all ofthe second-string Great Gatsbycharacters: people who appear in the novel, but aren't integral to the plot. They're grouped according to which of the main characters they're mostly closely associated with. Associatesof Gatsby Dan Cody - a millionaire who befriendedJames Gatz, hired him to work on his yacht, and taught him how to be Jay Gatsby. Cody tried to leave Gatsby his fortune, but Cody's wife managed to claim the inheritance. Ewing Klipspringer - one of Gatsby's party guests who ends up living in Gatsby's mansion full-time. He is forced to play piano to entertain Daisy when she and Gatsby reconnect. After Gatsby's death, Klipspringer refuses to come to the funeral, calling Gatsby's house only to collect his tennis shoes. Owl Eyes - another of Gatsby's party guests who wears glasses that look like owl eyes. He is floored by the expansive and expensively furnished library in Gatsby's mansion, and by the fact that none of the books has been read. Owl Eyes is the only party guest who attends Gatsby's funeral. Meyer Wolfshiem - a gangster who fixed the 1919 World Series, gave Gatsby a job at the end of WWI, and became Gatsby's business partner and the source of his immense wealth. Wolfshiem's loyalty ends with Gatsby's death, and also refuses to come to the funeral. Henry C. Gatz - Gatsby's father, a shabby and poor man who is in awe of his son's accomplishments. He comes to Gatsby's funeral after reading about his death in the newspaper, and shows Nick a self-improvement schedule that Gatsby had written as a boy. FriendsofGeorge and Myrtle Catherine - Myrtle's sister and one of the guests of the party Tom and Myrtle host in a Manhattan apartment. She roots for Tom to leave Daisy so he and Myrtle can be together forever; later, she gives evidence that Myrtle has never had an affair, so that the police report about the car accident that killed Myrtle leaves the Buchanans out altogether. Michaelis - the owner of a coffee shop near George Wilson's gas station who overhears Myrtle and George fighting just before her death, and who has a conversation with an increasingly unhinged George about the fact that the billboard of the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg isn't God. Mr. and Mrs. McKee - two of Tom and Myrtle's apartment party guests who kowtow to her. Theories of Nick's homosexuality hinge on the strange, incomplete piece of the after-party narration where it sounds like Nick and Mr. McKee went home together. Friends and Family of Daisy and Tom Pammy Buchanan - the toddler daughter of Daisy and Tom Buchanan, who is mostly raised by a nanny, according to upper-class custom. Because she serves as visual proof that Daisy has had a life outside of Gatsby, Gatsby finds her presence extremely unnerving. Sloane and his woman friend - two of Tom's rich horseback-riding friends who stop by Gatsby's house, presume on his hospitality and are rude in return. What’s Next? Want to write a great essay on one of these characters? We've got tips and writing advice for how to knock yourcharacter analysis essayout of the park! Need help comparing and contrasting these characters? Check out our articles on how to write a compare and contrast analysis of the most common character pairings, and ondissecting the romantic pairings in the novel. Interested in seeing how these characters intesect with the novel's themes and symbols? Check out our in-depth guides! Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Cisco Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Cisco - Case Study Example Secondly, he reallocated the IT budget distribution system with the intention that each functional department can control their budget according to their needs instead of gathering all the IT expenses under one head, that is, G&A expenses. Each department could fund their projects according to its priority. He dispersed a central IT leading committee and changed it with a structure which gave the line organization authority to take IT investment decisions on application projects. At network level, the customer advocacy group wanted to establish a customer interaction network which could use Cisco’s technology to route calls. Pete Solvik also established an intranet network for the employees. A web based online resource at Cisco.com was also developed for the customers. ERP system was introduced in Cisco by Pete Solvik to manage Cisco’s manufacturing process and inventories. Further up gradation to the ERP was done by Boston for integrating all the functional units of the organization. By the end of 2001, CISCO faced a turning point. CISCO’s had a decline in its sales growth. People started spending less on technological products due to the internet bubbles burst and also due to the terrorist attack of 11th September. Pete Solvik also left the company and a new CIO, Boston was appointed. The need for change in the company’s IT strategy was felt due to the dynamic business environment (The Pennsylvania State University, â€Å"Personal PSU†). The intention behind the implementation of ERP system was to standardize the information which was being used in the company. Nevertheless, as a result of the IT liberty given to the different functional areas of the business, they programmed their own non-standard functional applications to interact with the ERP system. With the amalgamation of these new modified applications onto the ERP system, it was no longer possible to

Human resource in public sector (several topics to choose from) Essay

Human resource in public sector (several topics to choose from) - Essay Example It can further be said that a performance appraisal is an assessment and discussion of how a worker has performed in his or her work and this assessment is completely based on the performance of the individual workers. It is not based on the characteristics that are displayed by the individuals in the workplace and the latter are some of the most commendable aspects of performance appraisals. This process helps in the measurement of the skills that have been displayed and the things which a worker has accomplished with as much accuracy and uniformity as possible and this is done with the aim of ensuring that the improvement of the performance of the organization concerned. When this process is conducted within an organization, it more often than not leads to the understanding of the workers by the management of the said organization. ... In addition, this process is designed to ensure that the workers, through an assessment of their abilities, are provided with the opportunities that are necessary for the promotion of their professional growth. It can be said to be a methodical process which gives the direct supervisors of the workers being assessed the opportunity to determine the skills of the said workers so that they can measure the payments that are made to the workers in comparison to the aims and objectives of the organization (Kline & Sulsky, 2009). It is a process which also provides the management of the organization the opportunity to make an analysis of the factors that determine how the workers perform over a certain period. One would say that it is a process that helps the organization’s management to be in a position where it is able to provide guidance to its workers towards a path which will lead to the better performance of their work. In many organizations, the process that is performance ap praisal that is conducted among their workers is an activity which has to be conducted on an annual basis and has to be conducted regularly and in a standardized manner to ensure that there is a thorough assessment of the functioning of the organizations involved. While this can be said to be the ideal scenario, in many cases, the role that is given to the immediate supervisors of the workers under them as not only as the assessor, but also a judge, tends not to go down well with them and it is a fact that the entire procedure tends to be heartily disliked by many supervisors. This is because of the fact that many of the supervisors involved tend to hold the fate of their employees in their hands during this process, a situation which many individuals do not often lightly, since

Sample Outline for Case Study Essay Example for Free

Sample Outline for Case Study Essay I. Introduction: Overview of the type of substance abuse issue you are focusing upon, its impact (on society and this agency) and your interest in this agency. (Tip: Open with something shocking or startling which will grab your reader’s attention. Look at some of the articles you have read to get ideas.) II. Agency A. The agency/program you choose to examine and why B. History of the agency/program C. Current data on agency/program: size, number of personnel, service area, mission, etc D. Who you spoke to in the agency/program E. Conclusion you came to after conducting your initial interviews 1. What is the challenge this agency faces in regard to substance abuse? III. Issue you discovered A. Thought provoking discussion of the issue and what problems it causes 1. Challenges for society in general 2. Challenges for the agency/program 3. Challenges for those in the agency/program 4. Possible solutions or ways to address this problem that occurred to you before doing the research IV. Your research A. Articles you examined which relate to this issue B. Findings of those articles C. How you feel these findings relate to your agency/program and their challenges D. Follow-up interview 1. What did your interviewee say about your findings? 2. How might your findings relate to this agency? E. Thoughtful discussion of your conclusion(s) about how this issue should be handled, based upon your findings and your follow-up interview F. Wrap this part of your paper up in a compelling manner – perhaps refer back to the â€Å"shocking† part of your introduction Your assessment of this case study A. The procedures – what worked, what didn’t? What you learned How this assignment has impacted your career goals Reminders: †¢ Be sure you establish credibility of your interviewee and authors of scholarly articles you cite in your paper! †¢ Be sure you cite and discuss a minimum of two scholarly articles in this paper – you may use other sources, but must use at least two scholarly references!

cruelty :: essays research papers

Cruel Sports And How They Effect Animals "The referee shouts, "Ready, pit!" The birds explode from their handlers' grasps and collide breast to breast, a foot off the ground. Beak grabbing beak, hackles flaring like porcupine quills, they bounce apart and then collide, again and again. The hatch takes command. The roundhead rolls over, then revives. He pounds the Hatch with a foot, spearing a lung. The Hatch fades, hunkering down and refusing to budge. As he coughs up drops of blood, his breathing sounds like footsteps on gravel. The Roundhead, fatigued but intact, wins. The Hatch is carried off, most likely to die" (Kilborn 3). This is just one account of a cruel animal sport like cockfighting. This is a epidemic that needs to be stopped. Too many animals are killed for the illegal profit of a few. In today's advanced society there are still humans who thrive on the killing of defenseless animals. Some people do this for the fun and the sport, while others do it as a way to make a living. The three animals that are most commonly abused are cocks, bulls and dogs. These animals fight against other animals and humans. Usually these fights go to the death. The term cruel sports is most often used to describe these fights. Cruel animal sports can be defined as an arranged fight between two animals or an animal and a human for the fun and or profit of the people involved. In most cases these fights are illegal. Although with the amount of money to be won through illegal betting the risks are usually overlooked. Especially because of the lack of law enforcement that is delegated to cases like this. Stronger legislation needs to be adopted to completely stop cruel sports that abuse animals. There are two forms of cockfighting. Naked heel fighting is the less deadly of the two. Whereas artificial heel fighting is a lot more inhumane. Metal spurs of up to three inches are placed over the cocks natural spurs to cause a devastating effect to the other bird. These metal spurs can puncture a heart or a lung with one kick. When the birds fight with metal spurs the fights are for the most part quick and to the death. There is no need to provoke the birds once their in the ring. It is a natural instinct for them to fight over territory.

Cadaveric Dissection

Cadaveric dissection is a must experience for all medical student – either it brings a wonderful experience or a nightmare. My first impression about cadaveric dissection collapsed once I have experience the session myself. I though it must be in a creepy atmosphere, with a fleshy and bloody cadaver, bad smell and scary dissecting room. However, after my first session, I appreciated that it is not that bad and honestly I am starting to like it. I can still remember clearly the moment I walked into the dissecting room for the first time in my life- the atmosphere was kind of weird. I felt a mixture of feelings- scared, nervous, and confused but at the same time I felt extremely excited. After wearing the gown and goggles, I stepped into the dissecting room still with confusion. As soon as I arrived and stood beside my cadaver, I just couldn’t stand the smell but after going through the session I realised that I was able to get used to it. Throughout the dissecting session, I slowly built up a sense of feeling that my cadaver will be my greatest teacher for the next two years as it will virtually teach me about the complexities of the human body, how the systems work and link it to one another. I am touched by his generosity- his tremendous effort to donate his body and allow us to discover the greatest and the most amazing creation in the world- the complexities of the human body. I realised that the dissecting session was not just another session for learning anatomy but was absolutely more than that. It was a session which has taught me a precious lesson that I will remember for the rest of my life- a good person shall always benefit others anywhere, anytime, either they are alive or dead. When he died at the age of 73 due to ischaemic bowel problem, it did not mean his life ended there. He was actually entering a new phase in his life, being a wonderful teacher to my fellow group mates and me. He is the one who will guide us through a magical trip throughout the human body and experience a journey to body space. The identity of the cadaver remains anonymous and his face is being covered throughout the session. This basically teaches me an important lesson- the importance of confidentiality in medical profession. General medical council really stress out the importance of confidentiality for every doctor registered with it. For a doctor, confidentiality is an important duty since confidentiality is the central to trust between doctors and patients. [1] When I’m observing my GP consultation, I noticed that she really concern about the patient confidentiality and respect patients’ right to confidentiality. One important thing that I had observed at first was that everybody had their own style when dealing with different situations. Some people looked very calm, while the others, and me, especially, felt nervous. Helping each other to calm down brought us closer to one another. This introductory session helped us to build chemistry with one another, thus making our learning process easier next time. I still remember the moment when Professor Evan started to uncover the cadaver; some of my colleagues fell and collapsed. Everyone seemed to react in different way. However, even though I felt nervous and a little bit afraid, I was able to go on with the session after my fellow colleagues kindly comforted me. We held our hands together and tried to open up our minds and be strong. This situation basically taught me more about the meaning of teamwork and cooperation. From my personal point of view, working in a team for cadaveric dissection actually gives me the opportunity to learn more about teamwork and hopefully it will help me as a doctor in the future. When I’m having the† Inter-professional Learning Workshop† with nursing and social work students a few weeks later, I then discovered the significance of team work and how it can help me in the future when working in a big, inter-professional field. The dissecting session helped me to understand myself better, I found that I’m a kinaesthetic learner; I should involve actively in the learning process by touching, feeling and carrying out all the procedure myself in order to make me understand a particular lesson better. During the anatomy lecture, I thought I understood what the lecturer was trying to talk about- origin, insertion, ya I just took them for granted. But during the session, when my instructor asked me about the point of origin and insertion of pectoralis major and pectoralis minor, I was having difficulties recalling hat I have learned in lectures and relating it to the cadaver. Then I recognized that I should have prepared myself first before going to any session and should never have assumed that I understood something without ever reflecting on it. However, the experience of being able to see, touch and palpate the muscles, have definitely helped me understand more about the point of insertion and origin a nd thus being able to relate the structure with its function. I found that after the session, when I was doing revision, I could easily remember the structures by recalling what I have learned in the dissecting room. Seeing somebody cutting off a small piece of fat using a scalpel may sound easy but when you are doing it on your own, it is not as easy as that. However, as I went through the process, I realised we developed our skills through practice because practice definitely makes perfect. To be honest, I’m the type of person who is afraid to make mistakes. I felt a lack of confidence when the instructor asked me to fix the blade into the scalpel in front of everybody else. I didn’t want them to laugh at me if I was doing it the wrong way. However after the session, I kind of regretted it because I didn’t grab the opportunity to improve my skills. From the incident, I realised that in order to learn and improve my knowledge and skills, I should not be afraid of trying something new or making mistakes. Humans definitely learn from mistakes. Besides that, working in a group of 8 students really helped me to learn very well. After reviewing a particular structure, one of my colleagues would explain briefly about it. And then, every one of us would share any extra information we have about the said structure. Before this, with the limited time I have, I found that it was quite difficult for me to read and learn everything about a particular subject on my own. However, throughout this session, I observed and felt that interactive and active learning by sharing information much easier and enjoyable. Everyone has their own strength and sharing your knowledge with others would definitely make you become much better. Overall, cadaveric dissecting session is not just a normal academic session but it is more than that. I learned about humanity, respect and teamwork. This is a golden opportunity for me to reflect on what I have learned in lectures, explore my own strength and weaknesses, and thus help me understand myself better. I love my anatomy sessions. To my dearest cadaver, thanks a lot, you are my greatest teacher!

Congress Study Guide Essay

1.What is the paradox regarding Congress and public opinion? Congress is considered by many to be the system’s broken branch. It has probably been the object of more mass public distrust and more elite reform proposals than either the presidency or the federal judiciary combined. This is true although most incumbent members usually win re-election and congress has consistently expanded programs and adopted policies that most citizens favor. 2. How does the book describe partisan polarization in Congress? What is the explanation for why Congress today seems more polarized than it die up until the 1970s? The book describes partisan polarization as a vote in which a majority of voting democrats oppose a majority of voting republicans. Congress today seems more polarized than it was up until the 1970s because of social issues such as abortion. Democrats tends to be more liberal and republicans more conservative. 3. Summarize the differences between Congress and a parliament and ho w these fundamental differences influence the character of the U.S. Congress.What were the main issues in the development of the Senate and how were these issues settled? Make sure that you understand what these terms refer to: filibuster, cloture, Rule 22. A person becomes a candidate for representative or senator in the U.S. Congress by running in a primary election. Except in a few places, political parties exercise little control over the choice over who is nominated to run for congressional office. Voters select candidates in the primaries because of their personalities, positions on issues, or overall reputation. Parliament tends to be made up of people loyal to the national party issues. A congress tends to be made up of people who think of themselves as independent representatives of their districts who expect to vote as to their own constituents. Filibuster: The use of the Senate’s tradition of unlimited debate as a delaying tactic to block a bill. Cloture: shuts of the discussion on a bill.Rule 22: debate may be closed of on a bill if 16 senators sign a petition requesting it and if, after two days have elapsed, three-fifths of the entire membership vote for cloture. 4)Why is Congress a decentralized institution and why is Congress inevitably unpopular with voters. Members of Congress are more concerned with their own constituents and careers than with the interests of any organized party or program of  action. Congress doesn’t choose the president, they know that worrying about the voters they represent is much more important than worrying about whether the president succeed with his programs. Congress must worry about how voters feel, it’s inevitable that on controversial issues that Congress will engage in endless arguments, worry about interest groups, and work out compromise decisions. 5) Read through the six phases of the House of Representatives so that you are clear about the rules changes and the balance of power between the Speaker and committee chairmen. Briefly summarize phases five-six. (It is not important for you to learn the name of individual Speakers except for Newt Gingrich – unless you want to be a history major or quiz bowl whiz.) Phase 1- the powerful house – 1789-1820-under Washington’s administration the house was more powerful than the Senate, but still answered to Washington’s cabinet. Phase 2-The Divided House- 1820-1890- Jackson asserted his power over the house. Sectional tensions leading up to the civil war the House was again divided between Radical Republicans and Moderates and different opinions on Reconstruction. Phase 3- The Speaker rules- 1890-1910 GOP Thomas Reed, Speaker of the House obtained the power to name chairpersons. He decides what business would come up for vote. Phase 4- The House Revolts- 1910- 1911 Cannon replaces Reed as the Speaker but the House revolts against him. The Speaker can no longer name committee chairpersons or serve on the rules committee. The powers were given to Party Caucus. Phase 5 -The Members Rule- 1911-1965-Democrats take control of the House. Chairpersons kept civil rights from happening. Eventually, the committee rebelled. Phase 6 -The Leadership Returns- 1965-Present. Newt Gingrich takes power back from the House and gives it to himself as a speaker. Although voted on by Party Caucus, he dominated choices of the committee chairperson. 6) How has the history and structure of the Senate meant that it would be different from the House of Representatives? The Framers chose to create a bicameral legislature—with a House of Representatives, to be elected directly by the people, and a Senate, consisting of two members from each state, to be chosen by the legislatures of each state. Though all â€Å"legislative powers† were to be vested in Congress, those powers would be shared with the president, limited to powers explicitly conferred on the federal government, and subject to the power of the Supreme Court to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional. 7) What were the main issues in the development of the Senate and how were these issues settled? Make sure that you understand what these terms refer to: filibuster, cloture, Rule 22. The larger more populous states wanted a senate based on population. Of course the smaller states objected because they would have been severely outnumbered. So both sides compromised and made the House of Representatives (by population) and the Senate (everyone has 2 representatives) together these two bodies make up. Ben Franklin came up with the idea for Senate as a means of satisfying the small states. Filibuster: The use of the Senate’s tradition of unlimited debate as a delaying tactic to block a bill. Cloture: shuts of the discussion on a bill.Rule 22: debate may be closed of on a bill if 16 senators sign a petition requesting it and if, after two days have elapsed, 3/5 of the entire membership vote for cloture. 8)Summarize the points that Edmund Burke made in his speech to the Bristol Electors about the responsibilities of a representative to his constituents. He basically said that a representative should have good judgment and should be sacrificial to his constituents. He should also respect the opinions of his constituents and to always listen to the people’s problems. 9) Briefly summarize the trends in the sex and race of members of Congress. The House has become less male and less white since the 1950s. The Senate has been slower to change. In addition, Republican control of both houses prior to the midterm election of 2006 had reduced minority influence. How ever, the recent shift of control of both chambers to the Democrats resulted in African Americans and Hispanics becoming chairpersons of several important committees. 10) Why have more congressional districts become safer for incumbent reelection? Incumbents, with support and privileges of their status (such as franking privileges) have developed ways to make themselves popular by: using the mass media, making personal appearances with constituents, and sending newsletters, etc. These efforts have made more and more congressional districts become safer for incumbent re-election. 11) What are the possible explanations for why the Democrats dominated Congress from 1933-1994? Democrats tend to dominate Congress. This is mostly because Democrats tend to do better in low-turnout districts, while the Republicans do well in high-turnout districts. The advantages of incumbency became more pronounced during a time when Democrats controlled the Congress. Democrats generally  have more experienced congressional candidates, have more closely reflected district-level voters’ rights policy preferences, and have been able to fashion winning,district-lev el coalitions from among national Democratic constituencies. Democrats were the majority party in Congress when this happened. The anti-incumbent mood, coupled with the effects of redistricting after the 1990 census and the shift of the South to the Republican party, brought the Republicans into power in the House and Senate in the 1994 elections. In the past the Democratic party was more deeply divided than the Republicans, because of the presence in Congress of conservative Democrats from the South. Often these southern Democrats would vote with Republicans, thereby forming a conservative coalition 12)Why has Congress become more ideologically partisan since the 1980s? It has become more polarized than voters in terms of political beliefs. One result of this polarization is that members of Congress, especially those in the House, do not get along as well as they once did with members who disagree with them, and they are more likely to challenge one another 13) Summarize the three theories of how members of Congress behave. There are three theories about how members of Congress behave: representational, org anizational, and attitudinal. The representational explanation is based on the assumption that members want to be reelected, and therefore they vote to please constituents. The organizational explanation is based on the assumption that since constituents do not know how their legislator has voted, it is not important to please them. But it is important to please fellow members of Congress, whose goodwill is valuable in getting things done and in acquiring status and power in Congress. The attitudinal explanation is based on the assumption that there are so many conflicting pressures on members of Congress that they cancel each other out, leaving them virtually free to vote on the basis of their own beliefs. 14.Define malapportionment and gerrymandering. From the online article on Gerrymandering 101, summarize what Minority Gerrymandering and packing are. Malapportionment- drawing the boundaries of political districts so that districts are very unequal in population. Gerrymandering- drawing the boundaries of political districts in bizarre or unusual shapes to make it easy for candidates of the party in power to win elections in those districts Packing is to concentrate as many voters of one type into a single electoral district to reduce their  influence in other districts. 15.What is the sophomore surge? Why does it happen? What effects does it have? Sophomore surge is where the most newly elected members become strong in their districts very quickly. The reason for this surge is that members of Congress have figured out how to use their offices to run personal rather than party campaigns. They make use of their free privileges. They also cater to their constituent’s distrust of federal gov’t by promising to â€Å"clean things up†if reelected. If re-elected, they run for congress by running against it. 16.Summarize the issues involved and the resolution in Baker v. Carr and Wesberry v. Sanders Both Wesberry and Reynoldsdecisions were predicated on the landmark ruling in Baker v. Carr,369 US 186 (1962), in which the US Supreme Court decided reapportionment of state legislative districts was not a â€Å"political question† that should be resolved through legislation. The Court found legislative conflicts of interest raised justiciable issues that could be addressed and resolved by the Federal courts. 17)What are the principal jobs and responsibilities in the party leadership in the Senate? The majority party chooses one of its members usually the person with the greatest seniority to be president of the Senate. It is largely an honorific posit ion, required by the Constitution so that the Senate will have a presiding officer in the absence of the vice president of the United States. The real leadership is the hands of the majority leader (chosen by the senators of the majority party) and the minority leader (chosen by the senators of the other party). The senators of each party also elect a whip. The principal task of the majority leader is to schedule the business of the Senate. He has the right to be recognized first in any floor debate. The whip is a senator who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking, rounds up members when important votes are to be taken, and attempts to keep a nose count on how the voting on a controversial issue is likely to go. Each party also chooses a Policy Committee composed of a dozen senators who help the party leader schedule Senate business, choosing what bills are to be given attention and in what order. From the point of view of individual senators, the key party organization is the group that assigns senators to the standing committees of the Senate. These assignments are very important to newly elected senator. 18) What are the formal and informal powers of the Speaker of the  House? The Speaker is the most important person in the House. He is elected by whichever party has the majority, and he presides over all House meetings. He is the principal leader of the majority party as well as the presiding officer of the entire House. The Speaker decides who shall be recognized to speak on the floor of the House; he rules whether a motion is relevant; and he decides the committees to which new bills shall be assigned. He influences what bills are brought up for a vote and appoints the members of special and select committees.

Molly Pitcher (Mary Hays McCauly) Revolutionary Heroine

Molly Pitcher (Mary Hays McCauly) Revolutionary Heroine Molly Pitcher was a fictitious name given to a heroine, revered for taking her husbands place loading a cannon in the Battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778, during the American Revolution. The identification of Molly Pitcher, earlier known in popular images as Captain Molly, with Mary McCauly, didnt come until the centennial of the American Revolution.  Molly was, at the time of the Revolution, a common nickname for women named Mary. Much of Mary McCaulys story is told from oral histories or court and other legal documents correlating with some parts of the oral tradition. Scholars disagree on many of the details, including what her first husbands name was (the famous husband who collapsed and whom she replaced at the cannon) or even whether she is the Molly Pitcher of history. The Molly Pitcher of legend may be completely folklore or may be a composite. Molly Pitchers Early Life Mary Ludwigs birthdate is given on her cemetery marker as October 13, 1744.  Other sources suggest her birth year was as late as 1754. She grew up on her familys farm. Her father was a butcher. She is unlikely to have had any education and was likely illiterate.  Marys father died in January of 1769, and she went to Carlisle, Pennsylvania to be a  servant to the family of Anna and Dr. William Irvine.   Molly Pitchers Husband A Mary Ludwig married a John Hays on July 24, 1769. This may have been a first husband for the future Molly Pitcher, or it may have been a marriage of her mother, also named Mary Ludwig as a widow. In 1777, the younger Mary married William Hays, a barber, and an artilleryman. Dr. Irvine, for whom Mary was working, had organized a boycott of British goods in response to the British Tea Act in 1774. William Hayes was listed as one helping with the boycott. On December 1, 1775, William Hays enlisted in the First Pennsylvania Regiment of Artillery, in a unit commanded by Dr. Irvine (also called General Irwin in some sources). A year later, January 1777, he joined the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment and was part of the winter camp at Valley Forge. Molly Pitcher at War After her husbands enlistment, Mary Hays first stayed in Carlisle, then joined her parents where she was closer to her husbands regiment. Mary became a camp follower, one of the many women attached to a military camp to take care of support tasks such as laundry, cooking, sewing, and other tasks. Martha Washington was another of the women at Valley Forge. In 1778, William Hays trained as an artilleryman under Baron von Steuben. The camp followers were taught to serve as water girls. William Hays was with the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment when, as part of George Washingtons army, the Battle of Monmouth was fought with British troops on June 28, 1778. William (John) Hays job was to load the cannon, wielding a ramrod. According to the stories told later, Mary Hays was among the women bringing pitchers of water to the soldiers, to cool the soldiers as well as to cool the cannon and soak the rammer rag. On that hot day, carrying water, the story told is that Mary saw her husband collapse - whether from the heat or from being wounded is not clear, though he certainly was not killed - and stepped in to clean the ramrod and load the cannon herself, continuing until the end of the battle that day. In one variation of the story, she helped her husband fire the cannon. According to the oral tradition, Mary was nearly hit by a musket or cannonball that sped between her legs and ripped her dress. She is said to have responded, Well, that could have been worse. Supposedly George Washington had seen her action on the field, and after the British retreated unexpectedly rather than continuing the fight the next day, Washington made Mary Hays a non-commissioned officer in the army for her deed. Mary apparently began calling herself Sergeant Molly from that day forward. After the War Mary and her husband returned to Carlisle, Pennsylvania. They had a son, John L. Hayes, in 1780. Mary Hays continued to work as a domestic servant. In 1786, Mary Hays was widowed; later that year, she married John McCauley or John McCauly (various spellings of names was common in a society where many were not literate). This marriage was not successful; John, a stonecutter and a friend of William Hays, was apparently mean and did not adequately support his wife and stepson. Either she left him or he died, or he otherwise disappeared, about 1805. Mary Hays McCauly continued to work around town as a domestic servant, with a reputation for being hard-working, eccentric and coarse. She petitioned for a pension based on her Revolutionary War service, and on February 18, 1822, the Pennsylvania legislature authorized a payment of $40 and subsequent annual payments, also of $40 each, in An act for the relief of Molly MKolly. The first draft of the bill had the phrase widow of a soldier and this was revised to for services rendered. Specifics of those services are not noted in the bill. Mary Ludwig Hays McCauly - who called herself Sergeant Molly - died in 1832. Her grave was unmarked. Her obituaries do not mention military honors or her specific war contributions. The Evolution of Captain Molly and Molly Pitcher Popular images of Captain Molly at a cannon circulated in the popular press, but these were not tied to any specific individual for many years. The name evolved into Molly Pitcher. In 1856, when Marys son John L. Hays died, his obituary included the note that he was a son of the ever-to-be-remembered heroine, the celebrated Molly Pitcher whose deeds of daring are recorded in the annals of the Revolution and over whose remains a monument ought to be erected. Connecting Mary Hays McCauly With Molly Pitcher In 1876, the American Revolution centennial sparked interest in her story and local critics in Carlisle had a statue of Mary McCauley created, with Mary described as the Heroine of Monmouth. In 1916 Carlisle established a three-dimensional representation of Molly Pitcher loading a cannon. In 1928, on the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Monmouth, pressure on the Postal Service to create a stamp showing Molly Pitcher was only partially successful. Instead, a stamp was issued that was a regular red two cent stamp depicting George Washington, but with a black overprint of the text Molly Pitcher in capital letters. In 1943, a Liberty ship was named SS Molly Pitcher and launched. It was torpedoed that same year. A 1944 wartime poster by C. W. Miller depicted Molly Pitcher with a ramrod at the battle of Monmouth, with the text Americas women have always fought for freedom. Sources John Todd White. The Truth About Molly Pitcher. in The American Revolution: Whose Revolution? edited by James Kirby Martin and Karen R. Stubaus. 1977.John B. Landis. A Short History of Molly Pitcher, the Heroine of Monmouth. 1905. Published by the Patriotic Sons of America.John B. Landis. Investigation into American Tradition of Woman Known as Molly Pitcher. Journal of American History 5 (1911): 83-94.D. W. Thompson and Merri Lou Schaumann. Goodbye Molly Pitcher. Cumberland County History 6 (1989).Carol Klaver. An Introduction into the Legend of Molly Pitcher. Minerva: Quarterly Report on Women and the Military 12 (1994) 52.

Coordinate Geometry and Points on SAT Math Complete Guide

Coordinate Geometry and Points on SAT Math Complete Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Coordinate geometry is one of the heavy-hitter topics on the SAT, and you'll need to be able to maneuver your way through its many facets in order to take on the variety of questions you'll see on the test. Luckily, though, coordinate geometry is not difficult to visualize or wrap your head around once you know the basics. And we are here to show you how. There will usually be two questions on any given SAT that involve points alone, and another 2-3 questions that will involve lines and slopes and/or rotations, reflections, or translations. This makes up a significant portion of your SAT math section, so it is a good idea to understand the ins and outs of coordinate geometry before you tackle the test. This will be your complete guide to points and the building blocks for coordinate geometry- how to find and manipulate points, distances, and midpoints, as well as strategies for solving these types of questions on test day. What is Coordinate Geometry? Geometry always takes place on a plane, which is a flat surface that goes on infinitely in all directions. The coordinate plane refers to a plane that has scales of measurement along the $x$- and $y$-axes. Coordinate geometry is the geometry that takes place in the coordinate plane. Coordinate Scales The $\bi x$-axis is the scale that measures horizontal distance along the coordinate plane. The $\bi y$-axis is the scale that measures vertical distance along the coordinate plane. The intersection of the two planes is called the origin. We can find any point along the infinite span of the plane by using its position with regard to the $x$- and $y$-axes and to the origin. We mark this location with coordinates, written as $(x, y)$. The $x$ value tells us how far along (and in which direction) our point is along the $x$-axis. The $y$ value tells us how far along (and in which direction) our point is along the $y$-axis. For instance, This point is 7 units to the right of the origin and 4 units above the origin. This means that our point is located at coordinates $(7, 4)$. Anywhere to the right of the origin will have a positive $\bi x$ value. Anywhere left of the origin will have a negative $\bi x$ value. Anywhere vertically above the origin will have a positive $\bi y$ value. Anywhere vertically below the origin will have a negative $\bi y$ value. By breaking the coordinate plane up into four quadrants, we can see that any point will have certain properties in terms of its positivity or negativity, depending on where it is located. Distances and Midpoints When given two coordinate points, you can find both the distance between them as well as the midpoint between the two original points. We can find these values by using formulas or by using other geometry techniques. Let's look at each option. No distance is too much for a genius with a plan. Or a genius who is hungry. Either way. Image: Gwendal Uguen/Flickr Distance Formula $√{(x_2−x_1)^2+(y_2−y_1)^2}$ There are two options for finding the distance between two points- using the distance formula, or using the Pythagorean Theorem. Let's look at both. Solving Method 1: Distance Formula If you prefer to use formulas when you take standardized tests, then go ahead and memorize the distance formula above. You will NOT be provided the distance formula on the test, so, if you choose this route, make sure you can memorize the formula accurately and call upon it as needed. (Remember- a formula you remember incorrectly is worse than not knowing a formula at all!) Let us say we have two points, $(7, -2)$ and $(-5, 3)$, and we must find the distance between the two. If we simply plug our values into our distance formula, we get: $√{(x_2−x_1)^2+(y_2−y_1)^2}$ $√{(−5−7)^2+(3−(−2))^2}$ $√{(−12)^2+(5)^2}$ $√{144+25}$ $√{169}$ $13$ The distance between our two points is 13. Solving Method 2: Pythagorean Theorem $a^2+b^2=c^2$ Alternatively, we can always find the distance between two points by using the Pythagorean Theorem. This way takes slightly longer, but doesn't require us to expend energy memorizing extra formulas and carries less risk of us remembering the formula wrong. Remember that you are given the Pythagorean Theorem on every SAT math section, so you never have to fear mis-remembering it. It is also a formula that you've likely had to use much more often than most other formulas, so odds are that it's familiar to you. Simply turn the coordinate points and the distance between them into a right triangle, with the distance acting as a hypotenuse. From the coordinates, we can find the lengths of the legs of the triangle and use the Pythagorean Theorem to find our distance. For example, let us use the same coordinates from earlier to find the distance between them using this method instead. Find the distance between the points $(7, -2)$ and $(-5, 3)$ First, start by mapping out your coordinates. Next, make the legs of your right triangles. If we count the points along our plane, we can see that we have leg lengths of 12 and 5. Now we can plug these numbers in and use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the final piece of our triangle, the distance between our two points. $a^2+b^2=c^2$ $12^2+5^2=c^2$ $144+25=c^2$ $169=c^2$ $c=13$ The distance between our two points is, once again, 13. [Special Note: If you are familiar with your triangle shortcuts, you may have noticed that this triangle was what we call a 5-12-13 triangle. Because it is one of the regular right triangles, you technically don't even need the Pythagorean Theorem to know that the hypotenuse will be 13 if the two legs are 5 and 12. This is a shortcut that can be useful to know, but is NOT necessary to know, as you can see.] Midpoint Formula $$({x_1+x_2}/2, {y_1+y_2}/2)$$ In addition to finding the distance between two points, we can also find the midpoint between two coordinate points. Because this will be another point on the plane, it will have its own set of coordinates. If you look at the formula, you can see that the midpoint is the average of each of the values of a particular axis. So the midpoint will always be the average of the $x$ values and the average of the $y$ values, written as a coordinate point. For example, let us take the same points we used for our distance formula, $(7, -2)$ and $(-5, 3)$. If we take the average of our $x$ values, we get: $${7+(-5)}/2$$ $$2/2$$ $$1$$ And if we take the average of our $y$ values, we get: $${−2+3}/2$$ $$1/2$$ $$1/2$$ The midpoint of the line will be at coordinates $(1, 1/2)$. If we look at our picture from earlier, we can see that this is true. It is difficult to find the midpoint of a line without use of the formula, but by thinking of it as finding the average of each axis value may make it easier to visualize and remember, rather than thinking of it in terms of a "formula." Now, just measure the midpoint of an endless stretch of road- no problem. Typical Point Questions Point questions on the SAT will generally fall into one of three categories- questions about how the coordinate plane works, counting questions, and midpoint or distance questions. Let's look at each type. Coordinate Questions Questions about the coordinate plane test how well you understand exactly how the coordinate plane works, as well as how to manipulate points and lines within it. In the $xy$-coordinate plane, how many points are a distance of 4 units from the origin? A. OneB. TwoC. FourD. More than four For a question like this, it may be tempting to answer C, four. After all, there will be four distinct points 4 units from the origin, two on the $x$-axis (one right and one left), and two on the $y$-axis (one up and one down). But answering this way would disregard the realities of circles. Imagine that we have circle with a midpoint at the origin whose circumference touches each of the points 4 units from the origin. Now, if we remember our circle definitions, we know that all straight lines drawn from the center of the circle to the circumference will all be equal. We also know that there are infinite such lines. This means that there will be infinitely many point that are 4 units from the origin. These points may have "weird" coordinates (as in non-integer values), but they will be points 4 units from the origin all the same. Our final answer is D, More than 4. Counting Questions Counting questions are exactly what they sound like- you will be given a diagram of the coordinate plane (or, rarely, you must create your own) and then you will be asked to count distances from specific point to specific point. On occasion, you may also be asked to count seemingly "odd" measurements, like the values of your $x$ and $y$ coordinates. For instance, For this question, you must first understand what absolute values mean. From there, it is a simple matter of counting the x and y values from their coordinate points. For a question like this, the most efficient path is to work from our answer choices. Since our answer choices are NOT in order of "greatest to least," it will not help us to start with the middle answer choice and work our way from there, as we would normally do when plugging in answers. Knowing that, let us simply work in order from first to last, until we find our right answer. Point A is at coordinates $(-3, -3)$. So let us find the sum of their absolute values. $|x|+|y|$ $|−3|+|−3|$ $3+3$ 6 Since we are looking for the value 5, this answer is too large. We can eliminate answer choice A. Point B is at coordinates $(-4, 1)$ $|x|+|y|$ $|−4|+|1|$ $4+1$ 5 Success! We have found the answer choice that gives us coordinates whose absolute values add up to 5. Because there will only ever be one correct answer on any SAT question, we can stop here. Our final answer is B. Midpoint and Distance Questions Midpoint and distance questions will be fairly straightforward and ask you for exactly that- the distance or the midpoint between two points. You may have to find distances or midpoints from a scenario question (a hypothetical situation or a story) or simply from a straightforward math question (e.g., "What is the distance from points $(4, 5)$ and $(8, -2)$?"). Let's look at an example of a scenario question, Rosa and Marco met up for dinner and then drove home separately from the restaurant. To get home from the restaurant, Rosa drove north 6 miles and Marco drove west 8 miles. How far apart do Rosa and Marco live? A. 8 milesB. 10 milesC. 12 milesD. 14 miles First, let us make a quick sketch of our scenario. Now, because this is a distance question, we have the option of using either our distance formula or using the Pythagorean theorem. Since we have already begun by drawing out our diagram, let us continue on this path and use the Pythagorean theorem. Now, we can see that we have made a right triangle from the legs of distance we have already. Rosa drove 6 miles north and Marco drove 8 miles west, which means that the legs of our triangle will be 6 and 8. Now we can find the hypotenuse by using the Pythagorean theorem. $6^2+8^2=c^2$ $36+64=c^2$ $100=c^2$ c=√{100}$ $c=10$ [Note: if you remember your shortcuts for right triangles, you could have saved yourself some time and simply known that our distance/hypotenuse was 10. Why? Because a right triangle with legs of 6 and 8 is a 3-4-5 triangle multiplied by 2. So the hypotenuse would be $5*2=10$.] The distance between Marco's house and Rosa's house is 10 miles. Our final answer is B, 10 miles. "The worst distance between two people is misunderstanding"- Unknown. Or, you know, 10 miles. Strategies for Solving Point Questions Though point questions can come in a variety of forms, there are a few strategies you can follow to help master them. #1: Always Write Down Given Information Though it may be tempting to work through questions in your head, it is easy to make mistakes with your point questions if you do not write down your givens. This is especially the case when working with negatives or with absolute values. In addition, most of the time you are given a diagram with marked points on the coordinate plane, you will not be given coordinates. This is because the test makers feel it would be too simple a problem to solve had you been given coordinates (take, for example, the question involving absolute values from earlier). So take a moment to write down your coordinates and any other given information in order to keep it straight in your head. #2: Draw It Out In addition to writing down your given information, draw pictures of your scenarios. Make your own pictures if you are given none, draw on top of them if you are given diagrams. Never underestimate the value of marked information or a sketch- even a rough approximation can help you keep track of more information than you can (or should try to) in your head. Time and energy are two precious resourses at your disposal when taking the SAT and it takes little of each to make a rough sketch, but can cost you both to keep all your information in your head. #3: Decide Now Whether or Not to Use Formulas If you feel more comfortable using formulas than using the slightly more drawn-out techniques, then decide now to memorize your formulas. Remember that memorizing a formula wrong is worse than not remembering it at all, so make sure that you memorize and practice your formula knowledge between now and test day to lock it in your head. If, however, you are someone who prefers to dedicate your study efforts elsewhere (or you simply feel that you won't remember the formula correctly on the day of the test), then go ahead and forget them. Use the Pythagorean theorem instead of memorizing the distance formula and wash your hands of memorization altogether. There are multiple ways to solve most SAT math problems, so your choices should best match your own personal strengths and weaknesses Image: ljphillips34/Flickr Test Your Knowledge Now, let's test your point knowledge on some more real SAT math questions. 1. What is the midpoint of the line that begins at coordinates $(-3, 2)$ and ends at $(5, -10)$? A. (6, -4)B. (4, -1)C. (1, 4)D. (-1, -6)E. (1, -4) 2. 3. (Refer to information in question 2) 4. (Refer to information in question 2) Answers: E, D, A, B Answer Explanations: 1. To find the midpoint of the line connecting two points, we must take the average of each of the values along a particular axis. First, as always, it is a good idea to take a moment to map out the coordinates of our given points. This will help us keep track of our information, especially considering there are negatives involved. First, let us take the average of our two $x$-values. ${-3+5}/2$ $2/2$ 1 Now, let us take the average of our two $y$-values. ${2+(-10)}/2$ $-8/2$ $−4$ The midpoint of our line will be at coordinates $(1, -4)$ We can see that this is likely the correct answer, as it neatly fits into our diagram. Our final answer is E, $(1, -4)$. 2. Here, we have a counting question. We are not being asked to find the linear distance between two points, F and W, but to find them along a grid. So let us draw the various pathways from F to W. As you can see, the shortest paths from F to W are all 3 3$1/2$ units long, which makes 3$1/2$ the m-distance. Our final answer is D, 3$1/2$ 3. Again, we have what amounts to another counting question. This is also a definite case of when it is a good idea to draw pictures so that we do not repeat potential $m$-distance routes from F to Z. So let us find our routes. First, start by finding one of the most direct paths, which in this case is a distance of 4 units. Next, trace all the paths that follow the lines from F to Z. If any of our new paths span less than 4 units, it will of course become our new m-distance, but for now we are working under the assumption that the $m$-distance is 4. All of our paths travel a distance of 4 units, making this our m-distance. If you were careful to keep track of all your paths and not count any of them more than once, then you will see that there are 6 routes from F to Z that will measure the minimum distance. Our final answer is A, six. 4. Now, this question may seem tricky because it looks, at first glance, almost exactly like one of our questions from earlier in the guide, which asked us, "How many points are 4 units from the origin?" In that case, the answer was "infinitely many," because all the points 4 units from the origin formed a circle, and there are always infinite points on a circle. In this case, we are being asked to find all the points ${m-3}$-distance from a particular point. This is NOT the same as asking for the number of points 3 units from a point (in this case, point F). Why not? Because the problem defined $m$-distance as the minimum distance traveled along a grid, not the distance in all directions. So if we start tracing all the distances ${m-3}$-units from F, we can start to see the pattern. Once we've mapped out all the possible lines ${m-3}$-units from F in one quadrant of our map, we can expand it outwards to see the shape that emerges. We can see that all the points ${m-3}$-distance from F form a square. Our final answer is B, a square. Think you deserve a treat for all that hard work. The Take Aways Understanding the coordinate plane and how points fit in it are the basic building blocks for coordinate geometry. With these understandings, you will be able to perform more complex coordinate geometry tasks, such as finding slopes and rotating shapes. Coordinate geometry is not an insignificant part of the SAT math section, but luckily success is mostly a matter of organization and diligence. Be careful to keep track of your negatives and all your moving pieces and you'll be able to dominate those point questions and all the coordinate geometry the SAT can throw at you. What's Next? Ready to tackle more SAT math topics? You're in luck! We've got guides for every math topic on the SAT, so come check them out. From probabilities to polygons, fractions to functions- we've got you covered. Running out of time on the SAT math section? Check out our guide on how to beat the clock and maximize your SAT math score. Bitten by the procrastination bug? 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Company analysis - Sears Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Company analysis - Sears - Term Paper Example Henceforth, the study attempts to determine the recent corporate governance issues that are currently affecting the company's decisions and to report how the company is or should be handling the issues. Mission, vision, and primary stakeholders: The most important mission of the company is to build customer relationships by providing better qualities of wide ranges of goods and services, like clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, appliances, housewares, tools, and electronics. Profitability or the policy of making more money is another important mission of the company. The final mission of the company is to make improvements in each and every day in the business domain and also in the market and to the customer through achievement of greater customer satisfaction. The most important vision of the company is explained by the company itself which is: â€Å"Sears is committed to improving the lives of our customers by providing quality services, products, an d solutions that earn their trust and build lifetime relationships† (Vision, mission, values, 2012, p. 1). The company was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in 1886. From its beginning, the primary stakeholders of the company were Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck. In 2005, the company was merged with Kmart and created Sears Holdings Corporation. Since then, the owners of Kmart also become the primary stakeholder of the company (Corporate History: A retailing legend is born, 2012, p. 1). Five forces of competition and its impacts on the company: Threat of new entrants: The large size of the company, the large size of the market share of the company, the high level of customer satisfaction, cost-effective business strategies, as well as high level of profit making ability are creating potential threats for new entrants to enter into competition with the company. This is in effect raising the level of profit and market share of the company. Thr eat of Substitute Products: Since the company is only a departmental store of various goods and services which are products or services of other production houses, therefore, the theory of substitute is not directly related to the company. However, the company faces competition from other departmental store like WalMart. In this case, the company takes strategies like lowering prices of various products and/or increasing the quality of these products to create treats to substitute companies and their products. These strategies are helping the company to increase the share of the market and also to make more profits. Bargaining power of suppliers: The bargaining power of the suppliers of various goods and services supplied to the company depends upon the markets for those products and services. Since the markets for various products sold by the company are very large, therefore, these suppliers are also gaining little bargaining power in the market and, hence, the amount of earned pr ofits of the company is very high. Between 1950s and 1970s the high quality of products sold by Sears and greater volume of profits gave the company’s suppliers negligible amount of bargaining power. Bargaining power of customers: The greater level of customer satisfaction is the most important part of the success story of the company. In this regard, the level of bargaining power of the customers of the company is also low. However, this does not mean that the company implements whatever policies it wants to