Is C the Most Common Answer on the SAT

Is C the Most Common Answer on the SAT SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips No doubt you’ve heard one piece of advice more than any other when it comes to test-taking: â€Å"If you need to guess on a multiple choice test, always pick C.† But is the popularity of this strategy an indication of its efficacy? Do you have a better chance at gaining points if you guess C on your SAT questions in comparison toany other guessing strategy? And if not, what can you do to improve your odds when guessing? Let’s look at the facts. Why You Should Answer Every Question on the SAT First things first: the old SAT is dead and gone, and so is any guessing penalty. You will not be penalized for getting a wrong answer on the SAT, so make sure to never leave a question blank! For every correct answer you choose, you’ll earn one point, and for every blank or wrong answer, you’ll earn zero points. If you don't know an answer and guess it wrong, you'll gain the same number of points that you would have had you left it blank (zero). And if you guess the question right, you'll earn yourself one point! Of course, guessing is still a last resort, sinceit’s always better to try to find the correct answer first whenever possible. But sometimes you’ll have no choice but to guess and that'swhere guessing strategy is key. There are two main types of guessing- educated guessing and blind guessing- and you’ll have to figure out which one to use based on the situation you find yourself in. So let's break down how and when to go about making each type of guess. Educated Guessing An educated guess is a guess based on some amount of reason and understanding, whether it be large or small. Typically, an educated guess means you’re able to eliminate one or more answer optionsor estimate a reasonable ballpark range in which the correct answer can lie. For instance, you can make an educated guess if you: Understand the gist of a question, but don't have the time to work through it completely Understand parts of a question, but don’t quite know how to work through it completely Are torn between a few answer options, but have some idea of what the answer can or can’t be For example, let's look at an SAT math problem: If you're not familiar with either the coordinate plane or slopes, or you just don't think you can solve this problem for any reason, then you can at least make an educated guess and increase your chances of picking the correct answer. It's all too easy to panic and choose an obviously wrong answerwhen you're taking a marathon test like the SAT, so try to take a beat and think strategically before you fill in a bubble. In a geometry problem like this, figures will generally be drawn to scale unless there's a specific line of text that says otherwise. If you know that coordinates are written as (x, y), then you know that p represents the value along the x-axis. (And if you didn't know this, then you can still infer it by seeing that the point (p, 0) has a rise of 0, which means thatp must be the value along the x-axis, not the y-axis.) You can immediately eliminate answer choices A and B, since they will be too small to equal p. Why? Ifyou eyeball where the -5 is along the x-axis and place a rough approximate at the opposite side on +5, you'll see why you can cross off A and B straight away. C or D must be the correctanswer because they are the only answer options where p is greater than 5. And, since the estimated location for +5 looks about halfway between 0 and p, Dis probably the best guess between the two options. [Spoiler: D is totally the right answer] Blind Guessing The second category of guesswork is blind guessing, which is a guess based more on chance than on reason. It's time to make a blind guess if you: Come up against a question and have absolutely no clue where to begin Areabout to run out of time and still have questions left to answer If you can’t eliminate any answer options (or don’t even have the time to read the question), you just have to fill in an answer bubble and keep going. Leaving a question blank is tantamount to throwing your points away, so you may as well fill in something. But when you have to make a blind guess like this (or multiple blind guesses), are you better off choosing C than any other answer choice? Let's see. Having a strategy makes any journey easier, and it's no exceptionfor the SAT Fact or Fiction: Is C the Most Common Answer on the SAT? If it were true that you're better off choosing C than any other letter, itwould mean that correct answer choices weren't randomly assigned.After all, if the answer keys were randomized, why should C be any more likely to be the right answer than any other letter option? Now, true randomization will depend on the type of test in question. Someof your high school teachers likely design their tests by hand, which means that their answer keys will not be statistically random. No matter how much your teachers may try to randomize their choices, human beings are NOT random and cannot properly randomize a series. For instance, a truly random sampling will actually produce bizarre strings of patterns- six B’s in a row, or twenty questions without a D- and most people do not (or cannot) create these patterns when they try their best to be â€Å"random.† Fortunately or unfortunately, this is NOT the case on the SAT. Unlike many of the tests you take in high school, SAT answer keys are completely computer generated. And computers are very good at being random. Every answer choice on the SAT will have a statistically even distribution of 1 in 4 for each answer choice letter, A, B, C, or D. In other words? There is no most common answer on the SAT. Ultimately, guessing C (or any letter!) will give you the correct answer only a statistical 25% of the time. Which means it's NOT true that choosing C will give you a better rate of success than choosing any other letter for your blind guessing. What to do, then? So How Should You Guess? If C isn't the most common answer on the SAT, then how should you guess? The truth is, that when it comes to making blind guesses, it doesn't matter which letter you pick, only that you stick to the one you choose every time you make a blind guess. The best strategy, and the one that will maximize your overall point gain, is to pick your favorite letter and fill it in for every blind guess. Whether that letter is A, B, C, or D doesn't matter- just be sure to stick with it every single time. So, if you like it best, then definitely go right ahead and choose C to be your designated letter! (Just don't expect C to be abetteranswer choice than A, B, or D.) But maybe youthinkthat this strategy soundsillogical. Why would you be better off filling in the same letter over and over again instead of doing your best to create a random guess spread? Let’s see. Once you pick a guessing path, just keep going forward and don't deviate! Why Does Sticking to One Letter Increase Your Odds of Guessing the Right Answer? Sticking by the same letter for every blind guess won’t increase your chances of getting any one particular question correct, but it will maximize your total point gain potential. Why? Because people aren’t random. If you’re making your own "random" blind guesses in a spread, you’ll almost certainly reduce your overall guessing odds. Your best attempt at random guessing can never replicate computer-generated randomness. By sticking to your same designated letter when making blind guesses, you are re-introducing an element of randomness and maximizing your chances for success over time. Let’s see this in action to better demonstrate why this works. Scenario: you’re down to the wire, and you’ve run out of minutes on the clock. You have 15 questions left and only a few seconds to bubble in your answers. There’s no time to even look at the questions, so now you’ll have to make the best blind guesses you can and figure out how to get as many points as possible before it’s pencils down. You’re left with two options: make a random guess spread, or fill in every letter with the same answer choice. Let’s see how each option does when compared to a real SAT answer guide [note: we are using the first 15 answers from the reading section of the 2016SAT test #1]. (Note: for our random spread, we tried to guess as randomly as we could without looking at the answer key, and for our consistent letter, we simply went with C.) â€Å"Random† Spread Consistent Guess (C) Correct Answers D C B A C B A C C D C A C C C B C D B C D B C B D C C C C B D C A A C B C C D B C A D C A By trying our best to guess randomly, we earned 2 points, but by sticking by a consistent choice of C, we earned 3 points (and spared ourselves the effort of trying to be "random"). Again, sticking to the same letter won't work better for each individual question, but on average and over a spread, the strategy will let you maximize your total point-gain. If you gotta roll the dice anyway, you may as well learnhow to do it in your favor The Take-Aways Is C the correct answer more often than any other? No. But is it the best letter to choose when you're in a bind and don't know what the right answer choice is? Well, yes and no. When it comes to making guesses, try to eliminate answer choices whenever possible. But if you can't, and you must make a blind guess, then stick to one letter and run with it every single time. If you want this letter to be C, then go right ahead! Just make sure you stick with it for each and every guess. C isn't any better or worse than any other letter, or any more likely to be the correct answer, but if you decide to stick with it for every blind guess you make, you'll have a better chance of success than if you try your best to be "random." What's Next? You've learned how to make the best possible guess on the SAT when you're in a bind, but remember that eliminating answer choices is always better! Check out our guideto eliminating answer optionson the SAT. Want more SAT practice? We've gotall the SATs available online, free and available for you to take aspractice. Not sure what SAT score to aim for? Check out what makes a "good" or "bad" SAT score and how to find the perfect score goal for you. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep classes. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our classes are entirely online, and they're taught by SAT experts. If you liked this article, you'll love our classes. Along with expert-led classes, you'll get personalized homework with thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step, custom program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Try it risk-free today:

Ionization Energy of the Elements

Ionization Energy of the Elements The ionization energy, or ionization potential, is the energy required to completely remove an electron from a gaseous atom or ion. The closer and more tightly bound an electron is to the nucleus, the more difficult it will be to remove, and the higher its ionization energy will be. Key Takeaways: Ionization Energy Ionization energy is the amount of energy needed to completely remove an electron from a gaseous atom.Generally, the first ionization energy is lower than that required to remove subsequent electrons. There are exceptions.Ionization energy exhibits a trend on the periodic table. Ionization energy generally increases moving from left to right across a period or row and decreases moving top to bottom down an element group or column. Units for Ionization Energy Ionization energy is measured in electronvolts (eV). Sometimes the molar ionization energy is expressed, in J/mol. First vs Subsequent Ionization Energies The first ionization energy is the energy required to remove one electron from the parent atom. The second ionization energy is the energy required to remove a second valence electron from the univalent ion to form the divalent ion, and so on. Successive ionization energies increase. The second ionization energy is (almost) always greater than the first ionization energy. There are a couple of exceptions. The first ionization energy of boron is smaller than that of beryllium. The first ionization energy of oxygen is greater than that of nitrogen. The reason for the exceptions has to do with their electron configurations. In beryllium, the first electron comes from a 2s orbital, which can hold two electrons as is stable with one. In boron, the first electron is removed from a 2p orbital, which is stable when it holds three or six electrons. Both of the electrons removed to ionize oxygen and nitrogen come from the 2p orbital, but a nitrogen atom has three electrons in its p orbital (stable), while an oxygen atom has 4 electrons in the 2p orbital (less stable). Ionization Energy Trends in the Periodic Table Ionization energies increase moving from left to right across a period (decreasing atomic radius). Ionization energy decreases moving down a group (increasing atomic radius). Group I elements have low ionization energies because the loss of an electron forms a stable octet. It becomes harder to remove an electron as the atomic radius decreases because the electrons are generally closer to the nucleus, which is also more positively charged. The highest ionization energy value in a period is that of its noble gas. Terms Related to Ionization Energy The phrase ionization energy is used when discussing atoms or molecules in the gas phase. There are analogous terms for other systems. Work Function - The work function is the minimum energy needed to remove an electron from the surface of a solid. Electron Binding Energy - The electron binding energy is a more generic term for ionization energy of any chemical species. Its often used to compare energy values needed to remove electrons from neutral atoms, atomic ions, and polyatomic ions. Ionization Energy Versus Electron Affinity Another trend seen in the periodic table is electron affinity. Electron affinity is a measure of the energy released when a neutral atom in the gas phase gains an electron and forms a negatively charged ion (anion). While ionization energies may be measured with great precision, electron affinities are not as easy to measure. The trend to gain an electron increases moving from left to right across a period in the periodic table and decreases moving from top to bottom down an element group. The reasons electron affinity typically becomes smaller moving down the table is because each new period adds a new electron orbital. The valence electron spends more time further from the nucleus. Also, as you move down the periodic table, an atom has more electrons. Repulsion between the electrons makes it easier to remove an electron or harder to add one. Electron affinities are smaller values than ionization energies. This puts the trend in electron affinity moving across a period into perspective. Rather than a net release of energy when an electron is gain, a stable atom like helium actually requires energy to force ionization. A halogen, like fluorine, readily accepts another electron.

Business communication assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Business communication - Assignment Example Currently I am working for Department for Naturalisation and Residency Dubai as an internal auditor. This position is extremely difficult to acquire, but I got the position on merit. This was made largely possible due to the excellent education I got from University of Sharjah. During my time at the university, I was able to considerably improve my English and Arabic skills with my interaction with American and fellow Arab students. I would also like to draw your attention towards my good observation skills which help me becoming member of Dubai Sama Media Group and member of Dubai Chess Club. These skilled helped me streamline the operating environment of Dubai customs where I helped the company to reduce unnecessary paperwork and tried to help the company to move towards more efficient operation. My help was greatly appreciated there and average time of completing a task was significantly reduced due to decreased paperwork and formalization. I am someone who give great importance t o time management and have demonstrated excellent leadership skills in my current organization. In the end, I would like to tell you I would be delighted to work with your excellent organization.

The Importance of Strategy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Importance of Strategy - Assignment Example Instead, he proposes that a good strategy is a simple and spontaneous act of thinking on best realistic ways to achieve what one wants, and acts on them swiftly. Roger explains that developing a good strategy is a rough-and-ready process, devoid of comfort. Roger’s assertion that a good strategy does not need a lot of time to develop has some strengths as well as weaknesses. This assertion holds significance in relation to the world environment today being dynamic and competitive. Some of those changes require quick solutions, and due to scarcity of time, managers should come up with the most realistic strategy at short notice. Survival in very competitive environments is usually determined by strategic agility, flexibility and mindfulness (Marianne, Constantine & Wendy, 2014). Concerning long-term plans, Roger’s assertion has a major weakness. Ample time is needed to properly develop the best strategies. It is tempting for firms to delay making strategic decisions until the critical uncertainties are resolved (Ram, 2014, p. 80). An explanation by Roger that strategizing is not a comfort zone is valid. In an environment where things keep changing; competitors plotting moves and counter moves, or organizational goals keep shifting, new strategies are needed from time to time to address those changes. It is preferable to measure performance more than once a year to evaluate the effect of particular actions towards achieving long-term goals (John, 2002). Strategic planning and business planning are two closely related issues; as a result, they are usually confused to mean the same. However, the two issues have fundamental differences as explained below. A business plan is established by a company for a specific product or service, while a strategic plan is established for the entire company. In comparison, a business plan can be carried out at

Literature Review on Lime Essay Example for Free

Literature Review on Lime Essay LIME Grenada Ltd is a well established company that has been in operation since 1989 on the island of Grenada. Currently, LIME Grenada serves a customer base of over 109,000 residents, excluding the large number of visitors to its shores. This company has a significant role to play in bringing the telecommunication services to the nationals of Grenada. They are referred to as the market leader in fixed-line services and broadband services in the state of Grenada. As a result, this company has the competitive advantage of offering the widest range of broadband and fixed-line services. With one competitor namely DIGICEL, LIME Grenada operates as one of the leading providers of mobile technology and as such, facilitates an important aspect on the path towards globalisation. â€Å"Mobile communications have fundamentally changed the way in which we are able to live our lives. The way we work, the way we play, the very way in which we communicate have all changed since the advent of the mobile phone† (Cable Wireless Communications Plc. 010). This company, competing strongly with its market challenger DIGICEL, offers a wide choice of quality, leading-edge mobile devices including the latest blackberry, Samsung galaxy and much more of the latest gadgets used in data and voice services to ensure that nationals of Grenada is on the same level with the rest of world. In terms of fixed-line services, LIME Grenada stands strong since they are the sole provider of this service which facilitates the quick and easy communication amongst nationals themselves and the rest of the world. With the provision of broadband services via fibre-optic submarine cable and satellite system, LIME Grenada proves be very valuable in the transformation of various means of conducting activities. In the education sector, LIME Grenada facilitates E-learning through the provision of internet or broadband services. Students are no longer confined to the walls of a classroom since LIME Grenada makes it possible for persons to pursue education through distant learning via the internet. Individuals are now able to access, interact and share information without the physical classroom. Importantly, this company allows easy access to a wide choice of sources of information for educational purposes to enhance learning and teaching. Added to this, is the implementation of videoconference connectivity to link campuses on the island and thus, allow access to a wider range of programmes to all individuals. This was not possible many years ago, however, with the assistance of LIME Grenada this has become a reality. The education sector is therefore transforming in this rapidly evolving digital society as Grenadians are now privileged to capture and utilize various educational opportunities. In Grenada’s domestic business sector, there is an increasing use of the internet, a key factor propelling ICT use, for conducting business transactions. In the banking sector, LIME Grenada makes available the opportunity for banking institutions to provide 24-hour online services to their customers. Persons can visit the various websites and access their accounts to conduct and view transactions. Among the many companies are Grenada Cooperative Bank, Republic Bank Grenada Ltd and First Caribbean International Bank. Furthermore, individuals and businesses can also conduct electronic commerce (e-commerce) via the internet. One such example of this is Carriasoap. com where numerous electronic, household, office and even party supplies are sold over the internet. Besides the aforementioned, LIME Grenada also provides employment opportunities in the business sector as the company endeavour to meet the needs of its market. In the not too distant future, there is high anticipation for the potential use of the broadband services provided by LIME Grenada to include E-taxation services through the Electronic Governance Regional Infrastructure Project (E-GRIP) within the country. This would comprise persons registering online and obtaining a tax identification number, taxpayers filing their monthly and annual returns online and taxpayers paying their taxes online thereby avoiding long lines. With the introduction of this system, the Inland Revenue Division will provide 24 hour online services to all taxpayers (Mitchell, Keith C. 2013). There is also the potential for development of an ICT knowledge park, the provision of WI-FI service in public buildings such as Government offices, schools, hospitals and police stations, which has already begun as stipulated by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell in his budget presentation in March of this year. With this, the importance of the telecommunication sector in Grenada is certainly visible. With proper measures in place the telecommunications sector is bound to encourage technology transfer across the globe which results in improved productivity in all sectors and increased standard of living. On the contrary, there are many hurdles that may be faced by LIME Grenada Ltd in the telecommunication sector. With globalisation, competition among mobile operators is inevitable. In Grenada, this is evident with the establishment of DIGICEL, a company offering mobile services to nationals of the country. This has ended LIME Grenada’s monopoly in that aspect and increased the potential for the penetration of other mobile service providers. Although competition amongst companies results in low costs and continuity in bridging the digital divide, LIME Grenada has to critically improve services in order to effectively compete with its rivals. This company has to look critically at the services they can offer and at the pricing strategies they can use so as to counteract the hindrances or threats that new competitors present. They have to effectively monitor their competitor’s strategies and develop many ways to counteract their plans and tactics to gain customers. Another hurdle that LIME Grenada may be faced with is the ability to speedily obtain updated technological and communication infrastructure and to modify operations. As with many other developing countries in the Caribbean region, lack of resources, particularly financial and qualified human resources, may also significantly hamper their development process. The telecommunication sector in Grenada is not alone in facing challenges on the path towards rapid growth and expansion via the globalisation process. According to Hylton, Shallon (2012), in Jamaica the challenges encountered with the provisions of telecommunication services vary in nature. Despite the many employment opportunities, there still remains a shortage of trained and highly qualified workers in the field. There is also the problem of cybercrime ranging from software conspiracy, the spreading of software viruses, software hacking and phishing. In Barbados, the high cost of the underlying transport network is creating a drag on the economy. Service firms are keen on liberalization of telecommunications services. Hotels, tour operators and travel services recognize the need for a state-of-the-art network infrastructure for local and international clients. Banks, insurance firms and retailers are heavy data users that require economically priced telecommunications services to be competitive.. Service companies are already at a disadvantage in the lending market due to regional loan practices that fail to recognize intellectual property and soft assets as a basis for working capital. Barbadian service firms advocate telecommunications reform to lower the cost of communications (Schmid, Linda. 2013). Overall, in previous years, people could not communicate across the world or interact without barriers, delays or difficulty (Hylton, Shallon. 012. p. 3). Currently, the new digital and mobile technologies along with the internet services offered by LIME Grenada allow persons to operate as if the world has no boundaries. Grenada in undertaking the liberalisation of its telecommunication market enhances its competitive position and economic growth and improvements in many sectors. Though there are challenges, the benefits outweigh them signif icantly. The literature exploring the significance and impact of telecommunication in this globalising world is quite extensive. Jeniffer Mohammed in Caribbean Studies– An Interdisciplinary Approach (2007) provides a critical insight into information on globalisation and information and communication technologies (ICT’s) which has guided this research thus far. Mohammed stated, â€Å"What a truly globalized world is about is one where there is a ‘level playing field’, where, for instance, everybody can benefit from the trade in technology. This has been happening with cell phones. From the nomadic people of the Sahara to Caribbean people in shanty towns to fishermen going about their trade, almost everyone uses cell phones to communicate. This is an example of something that has been truly globalized and gives us a good understanding about what globalization as a process is really about. It is not that those groups of people are necessarily communicating globally, but the use of the cell phones is a global phenomenon touching all income groups†. (p. 270). â€Å"Digital technologies, the internet and cell phones truly operate as if the world has no border†¦This is the logical meaning of – globalisation – whether applied to trade, finance flows or communication- for some commodity to be equally available to all, anywhere, as if the nation- state did not exist†(p. 70). Moretti, Marco (n. d), in his writing in Globalisation of Mobile and Wireless Communication: Today and in 2020 (2010) stated â€Å"what is happening to the mobile communication market is a good example of positive globalization: in few years mobile phones have spread all around the world becoming a low-cost tool capable of providing wireless connectivity almost everywhere†(p. 19). â€Å"Mobile communications, thanks to the effect of a globalized process of development, are probably one of the most effective means to close the digital divide†. p. 23). The World Bank in their June 2012 publication stated â€Å"Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have great promise to reduce poverty, increase productivity, boost economic growth, and improve accountability and governance. That promise only grew when ICTs underwent a revolution in the 2000s. Nearly 5 billion people in developing countries now use mobile phones, up from 200 million at the last decade‘s st art, and the number of Internet users has risen 10-fold. People across the globe do much more than chat and play games. They learn where best to fish and what market to sell their produce in. They trace cattle from pastures to supermarkets. They report illegal logging and misuses of local budget. They pay bills, send money back home, and receive cash transfers. They do business on mobile phones. They use ICTs to prevent violence against women—and community radio to empower them. They get state-of-the-art schooling online. Governments can use ICTs to transform public service delivery across sectors—health, education, social protection, justice, agriculture, water, energy, and transport—both central and local. ICTs offer an opportunity to revolutionize public service management by capturing information efficiently in shared databases accessible to all government agencies (such as a national database of electronic identification of citizens). ICTs help governments to simplify administrative procedures and share services (such as citizen authentication and payment systems). And governments can pool resources, reduce costs, adopt common standards for information exchanges, and perform government functions more efficiently (with faster response time and fewer errors)† (The World Bank. 2012).

Hitlers Victory at the 1936 Summer Olympics :: World War II History

Hitler's Victory at the 1936 Summer Olympics Adolf Hitler, the leader of Greater Germany, August 1, 1936, opened the 1936 World 11th Summer Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany. Adolf Hitler was a perfect host; he welcomed the world's athletes to the Berlin Olympic Stadium, which was designed to seat an audience of 110,000. During the 1936 Summer Olympic Games, Hitler applauded both German and American athletes, as well as winning athletes from all other nations. Even though a perfect host at the 1936 Summer Olympics, Adolf Hitler was still the leader of Greater Germany. Yes, one could be a great host, and still support the home team, as other world leaders were demonstrating at that time. Each world leader, at that time, wanted their nation's team to win at the 1936 Summer Olympics. Adolf Hitler felt the same towards the German team. Hitler wanted to demonstrate two concepts at the 1936 Summer Olympics: 1. An all White Nordic Christian Olympic Team could come in first place. 2. Working Class Participants could raise their status in the world through their own efforts. Participants in all situations, could be judged on their individual actions, not on the economic status of their parents or ancestors alone. The German 1936 Summer Olympic Team did not let Hitler down. The German team, consisting completely of White Nordic Christian members, came in first place during the 1936 Summer Olympic Games held in Berlin, Germany. Among the working class German athletes to win a Gold Medal during the 1936 Summer Olympics, Karl Hein, a carpenter, won a Gold Medal for the Olympic event called: THE HAMMER THROW. Karl Hein broke a world record, which was held for 24 years. During the 1936 Summer Olympics, held in Berlin, the German team won 33 Gold Medals, and 89 Medals in total Olympic categories. Adolf Hitler was very proud of the German 1936 Summer Olympic Team. Hitler was able to prove that an all White Nordic Christian Olympic Team could come in first place, and an individual could raise one's status in life through individual efforts, in spite of coming from a humble working class background. The American team came in second place at the 1936 Summer Olympic Games. Hitler was very impressed by all American athletes at the 1936 Summer Olympics and applauded them. The Olympic Team from France, impressed by their host, Adolf Hitler, gave the Nazi solute as they entered the Berlin Olympic Stadium in 1936 the first time.

Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome

Ancient Greeks and Romans Contributed Ideas on Government The first societies to experiment with ideas on government that would later influence Americans were Ancient Greece and Rome. The Ancient Greeks and Romans developed the ideas of democracy and representative government more than 2,000 years ago. A Democracy in Ancient Greece. The cities of Ancient Greece were organized into city-states, or small independent nations. Athens was one such city-state. For many years, Athens was ruled by a small group of wealthy and powerful men known as the Great Council.Members of the Council passed laws that favored wealthy people like themselves. Between 750 B. C. and 550 B. C. , however, this system of rule began to change. Poorer Athenians, such as farmers and small merchants, protested the great power of the Council. They believed that the laws made by the Council harmed the interests of the middleclass and poor. Many Greeks wanted to participate directly in making laws affecting their lives . Greeks used the word â€Å"demos kratia†, to explain what they wanted.The equivalent word in English is democracy, which means government by the people. Gradually, Athenian leaders agreed that more Greeks should be allowed to participate in the Great Council's decision-making process. They developed a political system now known as a direct democracy. In a direct democracy, people not only vote for leaders, but actually serve in the government. In order to decide who should be allowed to serve in the Great Council, Greek leaders developed the idea of citizenship.Those Athenians who were citizens had the right to participate directly in government. But how was citizenship determined? Greek leaders decided that only men who owned large plots of land were citizens. Women, slaves, and people with little or no property were not given the rights and responsibilities of Athenian citizenship. While the Ancient Greeks restricted democratic rights to a small portion of the population, the idea of democracy was born. A Republic in Ancient Rome. Ancient Rome was the first nation to create a republic.A republic is a form of government in which people elect representatives to govern them. Between 750 B. C. and 350 B. C. , the Romans established a republic. At first, only patricians – members of the Roman upper-class were allowed to vote or serve as representatives. Over several centuries, however, the right to vote was extended to plebeians – the lower class. As more Romans gained the right to vote, they used their new power to bring about other changes in the political system. About 450 B. C.Roman citizens demanded that laws governing their lives be written down. They wanted to know what the laws were and that laws could not be changed any time their leaders wanted to. Many Romans believed that codified, or written, laws would prevent Roman leaders from abusing their power. They called this the Twelve Tables and it was posted in the Roman Forum for al l of Rome’s citizens to see. Ancient Greek and Roman ideas and practices concerning government eventually spread to Europe and to the United States.

Gambling in College Football Essay

Today’s new generation has accepted gambling more than any previous generation. People are playing poker and betting on games one the internet and even on college campus. According to them it is a social activity and there is nothing wrong in gambling. This negative attitude has made this problem seep down to the highest level of human population, its intellect (Oregon Department of Human Services, 2005). Gambling is a social problem which not only threatens the academic success of a student but also depletes the financial resources. Risking money in the hope of winning is called gambling. Gambling includes lottery tickets, online betting games, cards, dice, dominoes etc (University of Texas, 2004). In past few months various football gambling stories have created a chaos among the coaches and administration of various colleges. Colleges are constantly trying to find new ways of finding and punishing the culprits. The main concern however, is to create such rules which can prevent students from placing a bet and hence getting involved in this organized crime. In past few years gambling incidents have been recorded from quite known and influential colleges. These include Arizona State University, Boston College, University of Colorado, Columbia University, Fresno State University, and Northwestern University etc. According to a research done by a student from the University of Michigan, almost 72% of the students had gambled in one way or the other. Almost 80% of these were male students (Cross & Vollano, n. d). In order to understand the issue of student athlete gambling in more than an anecdotal way, this study was developed to learn the extent and nature of student athlete gambling. According to The National Association of Student Personnel Administration (NAPSA), gambling is a problem not just in athlete students but in all students. They constantly urge college management to develop programs which aware students about the potential hazards of gambling (The National Association of Student Personnel Administration, 2007). In 1874, college professional sports had its first scandal. Louisville college football players were accused of gambling against their own team. According to Arnie Wexler, who was a former College football gambler, and is now a recognized expert on compulsive gambling; â€Å"It’s easier to place a bet on a college campus than it is to buy a can of beer or a package of cigarettes, you just pick up a telephone and call a bookie on campus. You don’t even have to leave your room† (Kindred, 1996). This is absolutely true. The college administration usually does not care about such things. They burry their heads in the sand and if asked pretend as if nothing is wrong is happening. For past half century the college football and basketball has been full of wagering incidents. The National Collegiate athletic Association (NCAA) did a survey in 2003. According to that survey almost one percent of the total college football players accepted money for poor performance. Moreover, half the time they played, they were able to change the outcome of the game by their performance. It was also found that almost 15% of the non athlete students also gambled. It is not just the gambling part, but the players usually provide inside information to the gamblers and help them win (National Collegiate athletic Association, 2003). Students who gamble risk their careers to fulfill their need and obsession to gamble. Such activities do not necessarily occur in the isolation of college but the culprits might get together in a friends place in order to place the bet. Bets can be placed in the internet and in some cases via phone also. In 2004, two student bookies were caught. They were convicted of sports bribery. Stevin Hedake Smith owed almost $10,000 to a student bookie. In order to pay him back he agreed with the bookie to play poorly at the game. The FBI became suspicious and later caught him and his friends. After this incident the NCAA changed quite a few rules of the game. Though before gambling was always condemned, but it was never a definite rule. However, after this event, the NCAA has anti gambling rules in black and white (Gabriel, 2004). Sometimes even a simple thing as accepting gift certificate can be termed as gambling too. In a simple event, few women participated in a simple ‘pick a winner’ game and earned gift certificates of $50. When the college administration found out about this they banned those students from playing in the football team. Due to this event, accepting gift certificates was against the rules (National Endowment for financial education, 2004). According to the NCAA; â€Å"You may not place any bet of any sort on any college or professional sports event. You may not give information to anyone who does place bets on college or professional sports† (National Endowment for financial education, 2004). Moreover, the NCAA further explains these rules as: – There can be no betting on any sport, whether it involves your college or not. There can be no wager for any item i. e. cash, shirt, dinner etc. – No sports pools – No internet gambling – No fantasy leagues (this means no fee for participation and no prize for winning) – No information exchange about your or any other team (including injury, or anyother problems) (NCAA, 2005; NCAA, 2003). Looking at the table below it can be determined how many students playing college football engage them selves in wagering activities and how many think that the rules above have really made a difference. Figure: Comparison of proportion of S_As who gamble on college sports versus proportion who says that NCAA Rules discourage sports wagering Source: NCAA, 2004 The change in the rules of college football has certainly reduces the amount of bets placed. Though at some level students are still gambling, but if caught they know that their careers will come to an end. The amount of shame and humiliation caused by the media coverage also has an impact on the number of bets placed every year. According to the new rules by NCAA, any student who is caught violating the game rules will not be allowed to play in any of the plays he has formerly registered too. This means his entire career comes to a halt. Such strict rules have helped in the reduction of wagering issues (NCAA news release, 1999). In August 2007, several students complained that the coaches were using text messages to gamble or place bets. Almost 75% of the people voted in favor of banning text messaging. Due to the gambling problem, yet another rule had to be placed. According to the New York Times, the NCAA has now placed a ban on text messaging. The president of NCAA was disappointed so much that he called this â€Å"an embarrassment to all of intercollegiate athletics† (Thomas, 2008). The coaches have tried to work around this rule too. According to many coaches as there is no ban for e-mailing they can place bets on the e-mails. Many cell phone companies allow e-mailing also, so coaches are now trying new ways without breaking any rules (Miller, 2008). The administration should always clearly state the rules, as not doing so means leaving a loop hole, with the help of which the students can gamble. Sometimes, the committee can accuse somebody of gambling, but such a person might not have understood the rules properly. In 2004 a former football coach was accused of gambling. He later sued NCAA for accusing him and later firing him. According to him he did not understand the way NCAA operates. Hence it is not just about defining rules, but explaining them in such a way that everybody understands them (Yaeger et al, 2004). Gambling in college football has very grave consequences. A student can get expelled from college, get humiliated in news stories, can become an embarrassment for himself and his family, get banned from all professional sports, become a victim of organized crime, ruin his financial resources and sometimes even end up in jail. To summarize, wagering can destroy a person’s life. It is not only the responsibility of the students themselves, but the responsibility of the college administration to help create awareness among students so that no student get involved in these matters and does not become a victim of bookies. Even though the generation today has certainly got more involved in gambling, poker, wagering etc, but measures can be taken in order to help these students. Many organizations are working and are constantly trying to help these students break their habits. It might be difficult but not impossible. The management and the administration of the colleges should also instead of ignoring these things, in order to help prevent scandals and create a bad name of their schools, should help students get over this habit. Rules should be devised which are clear and strict. College students are the most important part of any population, and if they get involved in these things, this means that the human intellect has been affected. References Cross, Michael E. & Vollano, Ann G. (n. d). Gambling Education. University of Michigan. Retrieved January 3, 2008 from: http://www. umich. edu/~mgoblue/compliance/gambling/summary. html Gabriel, Walter (2004). Gambling common at colleges during March Madness: Office pool cost coach his job. Louisiana State University. The Daily Reveille. Retrieved January 3, 2008 from: http://media. www. lsureveille. com/media/storage/paper868/news/2004/03/11/Sports/Gambling. Common. At. Colleges. During. March. Madness-2048935. shtml Kindred, David. (1996). Ignoring gambling won’t make it go away – gambling at college campuses – Column. The Sporting News. November 18. Retrieved January 3, 2008 from: http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n47_v220/ai_18869994 Miller, Phil (2008). Like Water Around A dam. Retrieved January 2, 2008 from: http://marketpower. typepad. com/market_power/college_football/index. html National Collegiate athletic Association (2003). Sports wagering; study on collegiate sports wagering and associated behaviors. Retrieved January 3, 2008 from: http://www. ncaa. org/library/research/sports_wagering/2003/2003_sports_wagering_study. pdf National Endowment for financial education (2004). Don’t bet on it: put your money on a real winner, yourself. Retrieved January 3, 2008 from: http://www. ncaa. org/gambling/dontbetonit/2004. pdf NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). (2005). NCAA rules and regulations. Retrieved January 3, 2008 from: http://www. iupui. edu/~athlete/handbook/rules. html NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). (2003). Protect: Retrieved January 3, 2008 from: http://www. ncaa. org/library/general/general_brochure/2003/2003_gen_info. pdf NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). (2004). Comparison of proportion of S_As who gamble on college sports versus proportion who say that NCAA Rules discourage sports wagering. Retrieved January 3, 2008 from: http://www. ncaa. org/gambling/2003NationalStudy/slideShow/sld028. htm NCAA News release (1999). Report Of the NCAA Division I Working Group to Study Basketball Issues. Retrieved January 3, 2008 from: http://www. ncaa. org/releases/basketballissues/1999082001bi. htm Oregon Department of Human Services (2005). Gambling and College Students: Literature Review. Retrieved January 3, 2008 from: http://www. oregon. gov/DHS/addiction/gambling/collegestudents-gambling. pdf Thomas, Katie. (2008). N. C. A. A. Ban on Text-Messaging as Recruiting Tool Will Remain. The New York Times. 13th Jan. Retrieved January 3,2008 from: http://www. nytimes. com/2008/01/13/sports/13ncaa. html? _r=3&ref=ncaafootball&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin The National Association of Student Personnel Administration. NAPSA. (2007). Students affairs administrators in higher education. Retrieved January 3, 2008 from: http://www. naspa. org/pubs/index. cfm University of Texas (2004). Gambling; You bet your life. The councelling and mental health centre. Retrieved January 3, 2008 from: http://www. utexas. edu/student/cmhc/booklets/gambling/gamb. html Yaeger, Thomas, E. Benjamin A. Converse, Doug Ulrich, David Codron, Ryan Restivo (2004). Your turn. Retrieved January 3, 2008 from: http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_46_228/ai_n6362465

Status through self-improvement Essay Example

Status through self Status through self-improvement Essay Status through self-improvement Essay Chapter thirty-nine can be seen as a pivotal section of Great Expectations due to the climax that is forced upon Pip. However, it helps Pip realise that wealth and social class are not everything, but that friends and relationships are a lot more valuable. His relationship with Magwitch develops and he is now a lot more grateful towards him. There is a definite similarity between Joe Gargery and Magwitch as they have both been watching over Pip. Both men are kind and giving but also of the lower class and uneducated. Joe and Magwitch have educated Pip and given him an opportunity to grow up and become something. However, Pip does not see the as worthy of him and feels he is above them even though both men still love him. Pip has now completely accepted Magwitch as a second father and as a friend in one of the possible climaxes in chapter fifty-six. His understanding of life and of other people is at its fullest and he has now developed into his most mature phase in relation to his character. Now that Magwitch is dying, Pip is visiting him as he sympathises for the sick man.  Dickens refers to God in several ways in the last chapter of Great Expectations. He lets the reader see Magwitchs death as God forgiving him for what he has done and lets him pass away instead of meeting his death through execution. The write uses religion as a symbol to demonstrate the peace between Magwitch and Pip. Glittering rays of April sun shows us how dickens felt that God was looking down on the courtroom and that he had the final say. Dickens makes the audience believe that Magwitch has come to peace with god who in return, forgives him with a quiet death. The Sunrise also suggests a victory for the old man as he passes away. The shaft of sunlight links together the judge and the convicts which shows that there was a sense of equality and that only one person decides what the outcome is. Dickens also uses the weather in pathetic fallacy where the rain symbolises sadness, as Magwitch will be executed, and the sunlight showing his happiness, as he will be able to die at peace with the world. Dickens emphasises the theme of Victorian attitudes towards criminality especially in the courtroom. All of the convicts who are to be tried and hanged are dealt with all together and at the same time as if they were a pack. This lets the reader see how Dickens saw how society viewed the lowest class. They were not treated as individuals and not worthy of being treated fairly. The courtroom could almost be seen as some sort of show. This gives the reader the impression that people were there to receive some sort of entertainment as if it was a circus. This reduces the convicts to the lowest in the community as people used their suffering and eventually death as a form of enjoyment. Dickens can relate to the scene in the courtroom as he has previously worked in one. His father was also arrested and humiliated which I believe left a deep impression on Dickens about how the system was run. He says, I could scarcely believe when all the people were about to be tried which shows a sign of hatred towards the court. He shows how people were demoralised in front of an audience and presents Magwitch as a victim of society. Dickens shows how the corrupt and biased court system favours the richer people and will not look at how Magwitchs life has changed in a positive way. Towards the end of Magwitchs death, Pip tells him about his long-lost daughter; Estella. She is a lady and very beautiful. And I love her! By telling Magwitch about his daughter he reveals that he can finally prioritise of the things, which matter in life. Pip stays with his benefactor until the end and is worried for his fate; while in contrast Magwitch is calm and is finally at peace with the world. This gives Magwitch everything he needs to die a peaceful death in knowing that he has made a true gentleman out of Pip. Magwitch is in many ways responsible for the alterations that have occurred throughout Pips existence. He has made him a more social and wealthy gentlemen as well. But, in many cases it has been Pip who has appreciated and regretted what he has done wrong in the past. With the help of Magwitch, Pip has been able to understand the importance of relationships and love, over wealth and social class. Dickens has used Pip to show how he has learned how to put his main concerns in front in many situations. He has helped the reader see how Pip has always wanted to improve himself as an idealist. This is shown when he wants to learn how to read and become a gentlemen on the whole. However Pips ambitions were morally wrong at first even though Magwitch helped him achieve them, but then, Magwitch also helped him become a true gentleman as well. Magwitch and Joe were both influential in the upbringing of Pip. But, I believe that Magwitch can be seen as a catalyst in regards to Pip as he has supported him financially and emotionally. Dickens has explored the differences in class during Great Expectations. He has discovered the poor and wretched criminals such as Magwitch, but he has also looked at the very rich and rude upper class including Mrs. Havisham. This is why the central theme of Charles Dickenss novel is social class and Pip is used to investigate this through him upgrading his status through self-improvement. The continuous development of Magwitchs and Pips characters are therefore dependent on this theme. Their relationship has helped uncover the attitudes of crime as it has shown through the various characters and is a theme that is repeated many times in the novel.

An Introduction to Puritanism

An Introduction to Puritanism Puritanism was a religious  reformation movement  that began in England in the late 1500s. Its initial goal was to remove any remaining links to Catholicism within the  Church of England (Anglican Church) after its separation from the Catholic Church. To do this, Puritans sought to change the structure and ceremonies of the church. They also wanted broader lifestyle changes in England to align with their strong moral beliefs. Some Puritans emigrated to the New World and established colonies built around churches that fit these beliefs.  Puritanism had a broad impact on England’s religious laws as well as the founding and development of the colonies in America. Beliefs Some Puritans believed in total separation from the Church of England, while others simply sought reform, wishing to remain a part of the church. Uniting these two factions was the belief that the church should not have any rituals or ceremonies not found in the Bible. They believed that the government should enforce morals and punish behavior such as drunkenness and swearing. Puritans, however, did believe in religious freedom and generally respected the differences in belief systems of those outside the Church of England.   Some of the major disputes between the Puritans and the Anglican church regarded the Puritan beliefs that priests should not wear vestments (clerical clothing), that ministers should actively spread the word of God, and that the church hierarchy (of bishops, archbishops, etc.) should be replaced with a committee of elders.   Regarding their personal relationships with God, Puritans believed that salvation was entirely up to God and that God had chosen only a select few to be saved, yet no one could know if they were among this group. They also believed that each person should have a personal covenant with God. The Puritans were influenced by  Calvinism and adopted its beliefs in predestination and the sinful nature of man. Puritans believed that all people must live by the Bible and should have a deep familiarity with the text. To achieve this, Puritans placed a strong emphasis on literacy and education.   Puritans in England Puritanism first emerged in the 16th and 17th centuries in England as a movement to remove all vestiges of Catholicism from the Anglican Church. The Anglican Church first separated from Catholicism in 1534, but when Queen Mary took the throne in 1553, she reverted it to Catholicism. Under Mary, many Puritans faced exile. This threat, combined with the increasing prevalence of Calvinism, which provided writings that supported their viewpoint, further strengthened Puritan beliefs. In 1558, Queen Elizabeth  I took the throne and re-established the separation from Catholicism, but not thoroughly enough for the Puritans. The group rebelled and, as a result, were prosecuted for refusing to abide by laws that required specific religious practices. This was one factor that led to the eruption of the English civil war between the Parliamentarians and the Royalists in 1642, fought in part over religious freedom.   Puritans in America   In 1608, some Puritans moved from England to Holland, where, in 1620, they boarded the Mayflower to Massachusetts, where they would establish Plymouth Colony. In 1628, another group of Puritans founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Puritans eventually spread throughout New England, establishing new self-governing churches. In order to become a full member of the church, seekers were required to give testimony of a personal relationship with God. Only those who could demonstrate a godly lifestyle were permitted to join.   The witch trials of the late 1600s in places like Salem, Massachusetts, were run by the Puritans and fueled by their religious and moral beliefs. But as the 17th century wore on, the cultural strength of the Puritans gradually waned. As the first generation of immigrants died out, their children and grandchildren became less connected with the church. By 1689, the majority of New Englanders thought of themselves as Protestants rather than Puritans, though many of them were just as sharply opposed to Catholicism.   As the religious movement in America eventually fractured into many groups (such as Quakers, Baptists, Methodists, and more), Puritanism became more of an underlying philosophy than a religion. It evolved into a way of life focused on self-reliance, moral sturdiness, tenacity, political isolationism, and excess-free living. These beliefs gradually evolved into a secular lifestyle that was (and sometimes is) thought of as a distinctly New England mentality.

The Principles of Economics Applied in Real Life Essay

The Principles of Economics Applied in Real Life - Essay Example One of the latest major layoffs occurred at GM which let go of over 20,000 employees as the company filed bankruptcy. The severe job loss has implication at the micro and macro economic level. Since less people are working in America it means that the amount of money in circulation in the economy is lower. When there is less money moving around there are many symptoms that occurred as consequence of such an economic environment. Business activity lowers because the demand for goods from consumer diminishes due to their ability to afford the goods and services they used to purchase when they were employed. Auto manufacturers such as GM, Chrysler, and Ford are impacted as their overall levels of production supply goes down since there are not as many potential customers in the marketplace that can afford to purchase a new vehicle. The government is affected by the rising unemployment. Suddenly the demand for governmental programs and assistance goes up as more people become unemployment. The amount of participants of programs such as unemployment benefits, welfare, and student scholarship programs goes up. Many unemployed persons choose to back to school in order to keep these occupied and achieve professional development while they wait for the economy to begin producing once again so they can become a part of the workforce once again. During these harsh economic times some industries actually benefit and the demand for there products and services goes up. An example is the fast food industry and other cheap food establishments. People can not afford to eat at luxury restaurants, thus they meet their needs to go out and take family out to eat by going to neighborhood food stands and other lower price establishments. The recession which according to economic experts started in December of 2007 has costs the United States a total of 6 million jobs. If we assume that on the average these jobs

Buddism Versus Christianity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Buddism Versus Christianity - Essay Example It is a monotheistic group of practices and beliefs founded on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament, highlighting the role of Jesus as the Savior. In Christianity, it is believed that Christ Jesus came to the world to die for the sins of mankind. This salvation is free to anyone who believes in Jesus and accepting all that He did on the cross. God’s Holiness, forgiveness of sin, propitiatory atonement, and the free gift of salvation that came through faith in Christ Jesus are the fundamental ideas that are involved in Christ’s saving role, are all foreign to Buddhism. In Buddhist religion on the other hand, Karma and Karma doctrines are the cornerstones. Buddhism is a religion that believes in fate. Karma is defined as an important metaphysical perception that is concerned with action and its consequences. This law explains the problem of suffering, the predestination of some religions, the mystery of the fate and the clear inequ ality of all mankind. Karma essentially explains that one’s past genetic inheritance, the previous experiences, plus the current choice and experience explain where and what one is today. According to Christianity, suffering is a reality that is comprehensible and it is because of sin and the fallen nature of man. Christians believe that suffering is not a mystery and most of these suffering are due to the mankind’s own injustices to one another. Christianity argues that instead of blaming the past, present and trusting the future for some mysterious Karma, God has wonderful plans for each and every person and knew us even before we were born. Buddhists do not accept the theory of transmigration of a permanent soul, whether it emanated from a heavenly essence or created by God. Buddhists believe in loving kindness (maitre or metta in pali) and compassion (karuna) to all the living creatures including animals. Buddhists strictly forbids killing an animal or eating meat for any reason and they recommend vegetarian. Buddhism teaches that if a person behaves badly, they can be reborn as animals. They do not believe in the idea of sin or the origin of sin. People are taught that everyone is fundamentally good and if they try more, they might make it to nirvana. Christians on the other hand, believe that sin exist in the world and is in human nature. They believe that the sin nature is due to the man’s rebellion towards God by being disobedient and this has been passed on through generations. Christians believe that the only way is through the salvation of Jesus Christ. Buddhism was founded by Gautama Buddha. Buddhism sees no problem in following more than one path. It is a dharmic religion and is usually practiced alongside other religions. They believe that the first central figure is Buddha. They do not believe in the supreme God. They believe in deities that are enlightened. They are striving to stop the process of rebirth and believe that t he soul is expected to lose all form, conscience and self in order to achieve Nirvana. Its branches are Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. Geographical distribution and predominance of Buddhists are Began in North eastern India. It is also very popular in Sri Lanka, many parts of East Asia and South East Asia. Christianity is an Abrahamic religion and views all non-Abrahamic religions as paganism. Christianity was founded by The Lord Jesus Christ It