Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Essay on Music is the Only Universal Language - 895 Words

Music is the Only Universal Language When people think of the term literacy, they most commonly define it as the ability to read and write, in the verbal sense. But there is a wide range of literacy apart from that, which also requires mastering a set of crucial skills. One such example is musical literacy, which is the ability to read, write, or appreciate music. Musical literacy is not all that different from the verbal kind. Leonard G. Ratner, when speaking of 18th and 19th century music, writes Both language and music had their vocabulary, syntax, and arrangement of formal structures, subsumed under the title Rhetoric (xiv). In other words, music, like language, is based on its own set of learned rules, and both serve as a form of†¦show more content†¦Also, I am learning more and more how to sight-read, which increases the literacy factor. It is a great feeling to be able to pick out the basic melody of an unknown piece. On a greater scale, music literacy affects the entire world. Obviously, if musical literacy didnt exist, there would be no music. That would have cost the world a great deal, since music isnt confined to modern times. Music has been around as long as the first humans have, and it has been a part of defining each time period. The lyric music of ancient Rome exemplified an emphasis on storytelling, and the Harlem Renaissance served as a way for African Americans to finally be able to express themselves musically. During the 1960s, rock music became not only a new form of music, but also a form of rebellion for American youth. With the variety of life throughout the world, there are different expectations for musical literacy. For instance, the style of Japanese music is very different from that of Cajun music, or Hispanic from West African. These variances give each culture a particular style of expression. Music literacy isnt even confined within cultures; it also produces a way for different cultures to learn from each other. For example, western rock musicians often incorporated traditional Indian music into their style during the 1960s, which broke boundaries between different approaches to literacy. This shows that music literacy serves as aShow MoreRelatedMusic And Music : The Impacts Of Music In Globalization1162 Words   |  5 Pages Music in Globalization Esmael Abofakher ILSC Toronto â€Å"When words fail, music speaks.† Shakespeare, that’s what put the music on the top of the global languages for connecting people to each other however from any countries belong. Globalization of Music is very important because music is global language, makes people closer and music as treatment for many people. I. Music is global languages between all the people around the world. A. Music is the universal language of all mankindRead MoreQuestions On The Basic Elements Of Music859 Words   |  4 Pages What are the basic elements of music? The basic elements of music include: pitch, rhythm, beat, tempo, dynamics, timbre, melody, harmony and form. It appears other questions ask for the definition of these terms. Therefore, I assume this is the answer for this question. 2. What is pitch? Pitch is the frequency of a sound. Basically, this means it correlates to how high or low the tone sounds. In the West, there are typically 12 different pitches used in music. A octave is the repetition of theseRead MoreEvangelizing With Western Christian Music924 Words   |  4 PagesWestern Christian Music When does evangelization through Western Christian music provide the exact opposite of evangelization among indigenous cultures? Robin P. Harris, James R. Krabill, and Vida Chenoweth provide arguments based on the concept that Christian missionaries cannot fully preach the gospel through the utilization of Western Christian scriptural songs. While all three individuals provide logical arguments, I, under the acquirement of my viewpoint on the unspoken power of music on individualsRead MoreThe Blues, A Genre Of Music905 Words   |  4 Pagesblack and from the south to play the blues? The blues, a genre of music so well known and so universal, that one knows is associated with black culture; and forever connected to it. However, some may argue that not anyone can play the blues and blues is only black music. That being said, does it matter what the skin color of an individual may be to play the blues? In contrast I strongly believe anyone can play the blues because music is the purest form of creativity and communication. The realityRead MoreMusic And Perceptions And Emotional Responses1488 Words   |  6 Pagesover the value of musical training in schools. Although some people claim that music education in schools is a waste of time and resources, research has found that musical training can improve various cognitive processes and skills, such as the development of language, reasoning, pattern recognition, and memory. These skills can translate into other school subjects as well. This paper explores the relationship between music and perceptions and emotional responses, and also examines the cognitive benefitsRead MoreAbsolute Film Is Fine Art1654 Words   |  7 Pagesinnate desire for each of these artists to transcend pencil and paper, oil and canvas primarily; so what are these films’ connections to previous endeavors for these pioneers of abstract film? What drove these established artists to strive for a â€Å"universal language† and rhythm in the medium of moving image that cou ldn’t be achieved on canvas or paper? These particular questions will be focused specifically on and answered through an understanding of the advent of absolute cinema, between 1918 and 1925Read MoreClassical Music And Its Influence On The Modern World1430 Words   |  6 Pages There are many types of music in the world, with many different artists, backgrounds, and stories to tell. Every genre holds within itself a message, and this message shows a glimpse of the past as well as the possibilities of the future. People everywhere love music for these reasons and more, and I love one style of music in particular: a style that brings me comfort, makes me question the world, and gives me insight as to who I am. Classical music describes a genre that, for me, means more thanRead MoreMusic Is The Combination Of Organized Audio Frequencies Through Intricate Patterns Floating Through The Air And Clashing808 Words   |  4 Pages Music is the combination of organized audio frequenc ies in intricate patterns floating through the air and clashing in one’s ear. These patterns represent language, expression and unity. If you have never taken German before, you would have no way of knowing what â€Å"sprache† means. Sprache, in English, translates to the word â€Å"language.† Music, like English or German, is a language. For individuals who have never played an instrument or read music, a musical score or sheet music would just look likeRead MoreWhat Does Music Influence Social Interaction?1116 Words   |  5 PagesHahng, Rolin AP Seminar p.1 Mr. Henry January 28, 2015 IRR To What Extent Does Music Influence Social Interaction? Scientific Lens. Most, if not all of us, listen to music, and music heavily influences the way we interact with and view other people. But how does music affect the way we interact with others? Music is a universal language despite the variety of genres and cultures in which they differ. Because music is prevalent to all of us taking many shapes and forms, certain atmospheres can beRead MoreMusic Is an Art Form1504 Words   |  7 PagesTERM PAPER â€Å"Music is generally perceived as the most universal of all art forms.† The literal meaning of the word music according to any dictionary is: art of combining vocal or instrumental sounds in a harmonious or expressive way. But music has a meaning which is far broader than this. Music is life. Music means Self-expansion and oneness. It is an art by itself. Art, in any of its forms, is generated by a person, or a group of talented yet usually ordinary people, that express, willingly

Monday, December 23, 2019

The Relationship Between Job Satisfaction and Absenteeism...

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JOB SATISFACTION AND ABSENTEEISM IN A SELECTED FIELD SERVICES SECTION WITHIN AN ELECTRICITY UTILITY IN THE WESTERN CAPE BEVERLEY ANN JOSIAS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF COMMERCE IN THE FACULTY OF ECONOMIC AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE NOVEMBER 2005 SUPERVISOR: Mr Karl Heslop 1 ABSTRACT Absenteeism - employees not showing up for work when scheduled - can be a major problem for organisations. As pressures increase on the budgets and competitiveness of companies, more attention is being given to reduce workplace absenteeism and its cost. Most research has concluded that†¦show more content†¦9). One of these factors which have been cited by different researchers is an employee’s level of job satisfaction in the workplace. In conjunction with this, George and Jones (2002, p. 93) maintain that â€Å"†¦many researchers have studied the relationship between absenteeism and job satisfaction in an attempt to discover ways to reduce absenteeism.† Early job satisfaction research has emphasised the underlying assumption that job dissatisfaction represents the primary cause of absenteeism (Steers, Porter Bigley, 4 1996). McShane’s (1984) review as quoted by Steers et al. (1996) supported the notion that employees who are dissatisfied with various aspects of their jobs are more likely to be absent. Studies by McShane (1984) found â€Å"job satisfaction to be more highly related to frequency of absences than to number of days lost† (Steers et al., 1996, p. 409). Rhodes and Steers (1990) propose that employee attendance is based on an employee’s motivation to attend as well as their ability to attend. According to George and Jones (2002), job satisfaction is one of the factors affecting an employee’s motivation to attend. It becomes important to measure the strength of the relationship between absenteeism and job satisfaction as â€Å"†¦..positive attitudes can at times serve to â€Å"pull† the individual towards the organisation and the reverse can be expected when attitudes are more negative † (George Jones, 2002, p. 94). An employees’ ability toShow MoreRelated2.1.6.2 Functional And Dysfunctional Turnover. Functional1493 Words   |  6 Pagesnew area, death, permanent disability, regular retirements or a job transfer for a spouse. Avoidable turnover is something organizations can prevent by hiring, evaluating and motivating their employees more effectively (Curran, 2012). 2.1.6.4 Internal and external turnover Turnover can be classified as ‘internal or ‘external’. Internal turnover happens when employees send-off their current position and getting a new position within the same organization. It is related with the internal recruitmentRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesUniversity Timothy A. Judge —University of Notre Dame i3iEi35Bj! Boston Columbus Indianapolis New York San Francisco Upper Saddle River Amsterdam Cape Town Dubai London Madrid Milan Munich Paris Montreal Toronto Delhi Mexico City Sao Paulo Sydney Hong Kong Seoul Singapore Taipei Tokyo Editorial Director: Sally Yagan Director of Editorial Services: Ashley Santora Acquisitions Editor: Brian Mickelson Editorial Project Manager: Sarah Holle Editorial Assistant: Ashlee Bradbury VP Director of Marketing:Read MoreProject Managment Case Studies214937 Words   |  860 PagesPublished simultaneously in Canada No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, DanversRead MoreExploring Corporate Strategy - Case164366 Words   |  658 Pagesthe issues of strategic choices and strategy in action covered later in the book, it will normally be a prerequisite that som e type of analysis of the strategic position is undertaken, using the case material. When planning the use of these cases within programmes, care needs to be taken to balance the time taken on such strategic analysis so as to allow the time required to analyse the main issues for which the case has been chosen. Where the text and cases are being used as the framework for a

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Behavioral Sciences Free Essays

string(195) " Professionals have no equal credibility in giving information thus evaluation of information given needs to be done according to the following factors: training, experience, and specialization\." Economic status such as severe economic stress and unemployment is important to explore when a child protective service (CPS) worker tries to validate an abuse. The complexity of this area and its association with other factors makes it a significant field in the process of verification of the presence of child abuse. The economic constraints or poverty per se is not the direct cause of child abuse but rather the effects of it such as stress, substance abuse, domestic violence and depression(Index). We will write a custom essay sample on Behavioral Sciences or any similar topic only for you Order Now An increase in the number of child abuses due to stress caused by poverty, unemployment, and economic decline is reported(Health24). Poverty and unemployment are considered as important risk dynamics in maltreatment of children(Congress of the United States 1988). Studies concluded that in families with low annual income the occurrence of severe or fatal injuries because of physical abuse and neglect is high(Neil Guterman, 2005). Unemployment can bring stress to the family resulting to child abuse. The root of the stress in unemployment is money problem. When a parent loses a job the family will experience economic constraints and when interlinked with other factors this leads to child abuse. In child maltreatment, unemployment is considered as the most important forecaster of cases. Various studies done on the relation of unemployment and child abuse indicates that the incidence of child abuse increases proportionally with raises of unemployment cases(Congress of the United States 1988). Employed fathers are less likely to commit physical abuse to their children when compared to unemployed ones. Another study also resulted into the conclusion that the number of cases of maltreatment increases with the number of unemployed fathers. Hypothesis of researches indicates that fathers who lost there job tries to reinstate their provider persona through abuse in their children and any family member. Behavioral changes such as irritability, increased temper, and being tense are observed in fathers that has financial problems. These uncontrollable economic burdens tend to provoke the breakdown of a parent’s ability to regain control over the situation(Neil Guterman, 2005). It doesn’t mean though that child abuse only happens in poor households or communities. It has no social or economic boundaries but only with higher incidence in economically challenged families. There are also cases of child abuse that involves people with monetary capacity but those cases are in association with other factors like history of abuse, depression, and stress due to other factors. If I am a CPS worker I will explore the area first by getting the necessary historical information. Answers to questions such as who, what, when, where, how and why must be obtained(Justice, 2001 ). Interviews with the victim, the offender, and people in their environment will help in answering the aforementioned question(NY). Research should be done on the financial status of the family including the employment status of the parents, the amount of annual income, the capacity to sustain the family’s needs through the income of parents, any family need that are not sustain due to income constraints, and any debts that will affect the economic standing of the family. After data gathering, the analysis of the obtained information is done. Association between the financial profile and child abuse is analyzed. Evidences of the abuse should be searched in order to be able to substantiate the claim of child abuse. Information can be acquired by interview with the alleged offenders, the child, and individuals that can give information about the case like neighbors, and family friends(NY). Interview with the parent(s) of the alleged victim is conducted. Then interview with the alleged victim is done in a private setting with the permission of the parents of course. A medical examination of the victim is done especially in cases of sever injuries and sexual abuse. The supposed place where the incident happened is examined and documented. Then the alleged victim is visited unannounced to identify the condition in the home. Individuals that can contribute substantial information about the case are also interviewed privately(Services, 2006). In investigation of child abuse cases credibility of evidence is defined as the likelihood that the information gathered is accurate. There are two types of evidence used in investigating the finding; and, these are the direct and indirect evidence. Statements of witnesses are classified as direct evidences, while the indirect evidences rely on the presence of existence or nonexistence of circumstantial facts(Network, 2007). The investigator in order to determine if the information that will be used as evidence, he needs to assess the value and relevance of the information. The following are factors that affect the credibility of evidence gathered from all sources: corroborating evidence, source of information, and direct interest. Corroborating evidence are those that enables the pinpointing of facts and evidences that sustain prior statements. Evidences classified as corroborating evidence gain more weight of credibility than those without verification or with sources that are independent. An example of corroborating physical evidence is a loop mark that is can be seen in the back of a child that gave a prior statement that he was hit by an extension cord. A corroborating witness is a person that verifies the prior statement of a certain person -the accused, accuser, or other witness. Source of information is more credible when it is more direct source of information that provides the foundation for a source’s opinion. Example is that when a medical doctor gives his opinion using the medical records, it serves as a more credible source than that of a caseworker’s opinion of the injury. Direct interest offers greater accuracy when the person who stated the information has nothing to lose or to gain in doing so. The worker verifying the information must seek out independent verifications of the information given by suspects(Network, 2007). Professional sources credibility also has some factors that affect it. It does not necessarily apply that because the source of the information is a professional it’s already considered as accurate. Professionals have no equal credibility in giving information thus evaluation of information given needs to be done according to the following factors: training, experience, and specialization. The more training a professional has attended the more his credibility increases when compared to a professional with no training at all. Experience in the field of scope is necessary to increase the weight of credibility of the professional. Thus, a professional with more experience in the field of interest is more credible. Increase in relevance to the subject of interest of a professional specialization also increases the professional’s credibility(Network, 2007). Evidence gathered from non-professional sources needs to be verified and the factors that affect the credibility of these sources are: consistency, and plausibility. Especially if the non-professional source is the person being investigated, appropriate measures of caution should be employed. It necessitates independent verification of the evidence provided by this source or gathering of more sources. Consistent information is more credible and a plausible statement is the statement that seems true when the facts and circumstances are considered(Network, 2007). Credibility children sources are affected by the following factors: age and development of the child, plausibility, and evidence that an account of the facts has been influenced by others. The information given by an older child is greater in credibility than that of a younger child. But a younger child without exposure to sexual acts that is able to describe in detail the events that happen is more credible. In evaluating plausibility of the information from a child source the development of the child’s communication skills and abilities have to be considered. The credibility of a child’s statement is increased if other people are not present during the giving of the statement or no one is pressuring the child(Network, 2007). Credibility of the information depends on the credibility of the sources. Independent verifications of sources should be done to test the accuracy of the information. In doing interviews with a child (18 years old below) either a victim or accused their welfare should be considered first. They should not be subjected to situations that will make them more uncomfortable and will add to the burden of child abuse. 2. I will answer case vignette number 3. The indicator of abuse in case vignette number 3 is of a behavioral type in which the young woman became preoccupied and unable to study. Change in behavior is indicated in the symptoms of child sexual abuse(MedlinePlus, 2007). The young woman was preoccupied because there was this flashback of the sexual abuse that occurred. Basically the abuse done to the woman can still be classified under the child sexual abuse category because she was abused when she was only 15 years old. The types of abuse involved are: sexual abuse by the father and neglect on the part of the mother because she even accused her daughter of seducing her own father. What will I do with the information? I will search for the name of the woman and address then maybe I could go to her and encourage her to report the abuse that was done to her. If ever that the woman can not afford to report the case to the authorities because she loves her family, I will suggest that the entire family should undergo an emotional and psychiatric treatment. The treatment is especially important to the woman victim for her to be able to move on. Maybe I can also talk to the mother so that someone can advice her of the pain she is causing her child. Then maybe I might be able to convince her to be by the side of her daughter because in times like this a daughter can be helped much by a loving mother. The given information is not enough for me to report the case to a Child Protective Service so I need to gather more information. Other information needed in reporting cases of child abuse are: name and residence of the child/parents; age, sex, and gender of the child; name of suspect of the child abuse, and composition or profile of the family(Botash, 2007). The course of action that I will take is to report the case to the proper authorities which is the Child Protective Service because the incidence of child abuse continues to increase due to the lack of vigilance in reporting the cases. If each and every citizen will do his/her part in the reporting of these child abuse I think that it might help in decreasing the numbers of the incidence because the abusers will be afraid of the vigilance of the people and the punishments of their crime. I also think that the case needs to be reported so that the woman can have the proper treatments, psychiatric and emotional related. What would make me decide not to take action is if the woman herself already reported the abuse. I will make my stand in the vigilance of reporting so that the repetition of the abuse by her father can be prevented and the woman will be protected against her parents that abused and neglected her. Thus no matter what happens I will report the case for the safety of the woman, and for her father to be punished if proven guilty. Works Cited Botash, A. â€Å"Child Abuse Evaluation and Treatment for Medical Providers†. Retrieved October 29, 2007, from http://www. childabusemd. com/reporting/how-report. shtml. 2007. Congress of the United States, O. o. T. A. â€Å"Healthy children: investing in the future†. DIANE Publishing. 1988. Health24. â€Å"What causes child abuse? † Retrieved October 28, 2007, from http://www. health24. com/child/Abuse/833-859,12694. asp Index, L. † Causes and Effects of Child Abuse – Some Contributing Factors to Child Abuse†. Retrieved October 28, 2007, from http://www. libraryindex. com/pages/1388/Causes-Effects-Child-Abuse-SOME-CONTRIBUTING-FACTORS-CHILD-ABUSE. html Justice, U. S. D. o. â€Å"Law Enforcement Response to Child Abuse: Portable Guides to Investigating Child Abuse†. NCJ. 2001. MedlinePlus. â€Å"Child Abuse†. Retrieved October 29, 2007, from http://www. nlm. nih. gov/medlineplus/childabuse. html#cat5. 2007. Neil Guterman, Y. L. † The Role of Fathers in Risk for Physical Child Abuse and Neglect: Possible Pathways and Unanswered Questions†. Child Maltreat, 10, 136. 2005. Network, P. C. â€Å"Intake / Investigation†. Retrieved October 29, 2007, from http://www. prairienet. org/dcfs-project/investigation/investigation-07. html. 2007. NY, P. C. A. â€Å"A Parents’ Guide to the New York State Child Protective System†. Retrieved October 29, 2007, from http://www. preventchildabuseny. org/cpsandcourts. shtml#cps Services, O. D. o. H. â€Å"340:75-3-8. 2. Protocol for investigating reports of abuse in child care centers or homes†. Retrieved October 30, 2007, from http://www. okdhs. org/library/policy/oac340/075/03/0008002. htm. 2006. How to cite Behavioral Sciences, Papers

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Financial Accounting Impact on Decision Makers

Question: Discuss about the Financial Accounting for Impact on Decision Makers. Answer: Introduction: Management and financial accounting are both significant tools for an organization, though they serve different purposes. An organization utilizes accounting in determining operational plans in future, reviewing their past performance as well as checking their current business roles (Kaplan Atkinson, 2015). Financial and management accounting have diverse audiences as potential investors are not engaged in the daily operations of the company but they are usually concerned on their investments while managers require information faster in making their business decisions (Horngren et al., 2012). To be more specific, financial accounting is utilized in presenting overall financial health of the firm to different external stockholders. It usually present particular period of time enabling the audience in reviewing how the firm has performed. Management accounting on the other hand is utilized in making decisions regarding the daily operations of an organization. This is not based on past performance, but it is based on future and current trends. With these considerations creating the two roles; that is management accountant and financial accountant would be crucial for the company. This is based on the fact that the two distinct roles would help in ensuring smooth and financial health organization. Management accountant role would be crucial to the firm since it assist in managing accounting of the finance in an organization. The individual assigned the management accountant role is very knowledgeable on all accounting rules in particular organization. His or her responsibility would entail computing to preparation of the financial statements in an organization which would be passed on to the top management of a particular firm (Horngren et al., 2005). With all the skills and expertise the management accountant possesses, s/he would be in a position to making some wise decision for an organization to prosper as well as gaining maximum income. In addition, the role of management accountant would be very important for the organization since would also entails risk management, strategic management as well as performance management; hence, facilitating smooth operation of the organization. Further, management accountant role would also be crucial for the firm since the person opera ting under this role would have combined knowledge and skills of a manager and accountant enabling them to account for every activity and cost being spent in the firm (Anthony, Welsch Reece, 1985). Management accountant would also be in a position to account for the money generated in an organization properly, while advancing an organization towards better production for the bigger income. Furthermore, management accountant would also provide advices to the managers on handling financial projects properly, predicting consequences of any operation as well as in financial decision-making by an organization, making reports on rivals financial moves and making internal audits. On the other hand, financial accountant role would also be very important in the organization since it would enhance proper financial management. In essence, financial accountant performs numerous functions than the management accountant (Burns Vaivio, 2001). S/he works directly for different organizations, performing internal financial related roles. Financial accountant also prepares internal financial statements, actively contributes to personnels operations, strategic and financial plans as well as in performing management duties. In most scenarios, financial accountant would help in reviewing financial transactions records for proper account posting and for accuracy (Albrecht, Stice Stice, 2010). The financial accountant also reviews all the records and books in ensuring that they are accurately recorded and that they accurately reflects operating outcomes of an entity. S/he would help in organizing the organizations records and books in preparations of the annual external aud iting of the firm. After review of the firms records and books, financial accountant is responsible for provision of advice and feedback to the senior management, especially relating to liability position, revenue issues, asset quality as well as cash flow sufficiency (Meigs, Lam Mallouk, 2002). The financial accountant is also responsible for offering advices on the use and status of an organization resource, results of the projections in an organization plan, updates on budgets and latest financial news which could impact on the companys operations. Further, financial accountant would be responsible in providing tax advices to the management including recommending action plans which reduces tax liability, non-taxable asset swaps, tax differed investments as well as cash flow planning in order to enable the firm remain liquid at the tax paying or filling duties (Burns Vaivio, 2001). The financial accountant would also help in preparation of all the tax reports and forms or in reviewing work of the o thers in ensuring that all taxes are filed correctly and on time. Therefore, the two distinct roles would be of great help to the firm in ensuring smooth operations. These roles would help in improving on how the company files its taxes as well as how it manages its finances. They would also assist the companys management in ensuring accurate records and books are maintained and ensuring that there is no incorrect use of the companys resources by its employees. Five Likely Questions That the HR Manager Will Ask After Presenting a Briefing on the Two Positions After presentation of the above roles to the HR managers, I anticipate the HR manager to ask the following questions; First, I anticipate the HR manager to ask me some of the advantages of creating the two roles to the company Secondly, I anticipate the HR manager to ask me some of the major disadvantages of management and financial accountant to the organizations. Thirdly, I anticipate the HR manager to ask me about some of the key skills and professionalism individuals applying for these roles should hold. Fourth, I anticipate the HR manager to ask me the additional costs creation of the two roles would have on the organization Finally, I anticipate the HR manager to ask me how the salary of the two roles would be catered for by the firm. Product cost classification Total prime cost is usually the total amount of costs incurred during production of a specific product. In essence, prime cost is usually the manufactured products costs used in producing a specific product. It is the measure of how much of the total production costs an organization should incur in producing a given product. It calculates the direct labor and raw materials but it fails to factor in the indirect manufacturing expenses like gas utilized in delivering the product or cost of logo. It is used in measuring total cost of production inputs required in creating a specific output. Generally, prime cost is usually the sum of the direct costs required in producing a product. This comprises of direct labor, direct material as well as other direct costs. It is usually equal to direct material costs plus wages plus direct labor costs plus fringe benefits. Therefore, in this case, total prime cost is calculated as follows; Manufacturing overhead costs comprises of organizations factory operations. It comprises of cost incurred in an organization except costs of the direct labor and direct materials. In essence, manufacturing overhead costs are the indirect factory-related costs incurred when a particular products is being manufactured. Alongside with costs like direct labor and direct material, manufacturing overhead costs should be assigned to every unit produced so as costs of goods sold and inventories are reported and valued in accordance with GAAP. To be more specific, manufacturing overhead costs comprises of things such as electricity utilized in operating factory equipment, cost for factory personnel, factory supplies as well as depreciation of factory equipment. With these considerations, total manufacturing overhead is calculated as follows; Conversion costs Conversion costs are those costs used in converting unfinished goods to finished goods. In essence, conversion costs comprise of all indirect and direct production costs that are incurred on activities which covert the raw materials or the unfinished products to finished goods. Therefore, conversion costs comprises of two components; that is, manufacturing overhead costs as well as the direct labor costs. It is calculated by adding manufacturing overhead costs to direct labor costs. With these considerations, total conversion cost in this case is calculated as follows; Product cost is the cost utilized in creating a product. This includes direct material costs, direct labor costs as well as factory overheads. It can also be considered as the cost of labor needed in delivering services to the clients (Kimmel, Weygandt Kieso, 2010). In essence, product costs for the external reporting comprises of portion of an organization costs which do not differ with units produced. Such costs include labor costs, overhead costs as well as material costs. With these considerations, product costs in this case will be calculated as follows; ventory, expenses or the fixed assets (Porter Norton, 2012). It is more closely linked with passage of time as compared to transactional event. In essence, period costs are those cost which are not included in product costs and they are not part and parcel of the manufacturing process and thus are treated as expenses for period in which they are incurred. With these considerations, total period cost in this case is calculated as follows; Cost behavior Engineered variable costs are those costs that are directly linked with sales or production level in an organization (Libby, Libby Short, 2001). Further, discretionary fixed costs are those costs or expenditures for a fixed asset, which could be reduced or eliminated without having immediate effects on reported profitability of an organization (Horngren et al., 2002). On the other hand, committed fixed cost is usually an investment which an organization has already made and could not recover at all or obligations already made which an organization could not get out from such obligation. Costs Classification Of The Costs Reason For Specific Classification a. Cost of daily radio advertising on the local community radio station. discretionary fixed costs This is based on the fact that this cost could be reduced or eliminated without any immediate effects on organizations profitability. b. costs of the fabric used to make the T-shirts engineered variable costs This is because the cost differs or varies based on the output level. c. cost of the ink used in the designs engineered variable costs The reason behind this classification is that the cost differs or varies based on the output level. d. Salary of the managing director committed fixed costs The reason behind this classification is because the cost cannot be reduced or eliminated since it would impair operation of the organization. e. Wages of the production employees who sew and print the T-shirts Engineered variable costs This is based on the fact that the cost is directly linked with the number of T-shirts sewed and printed. f. Costs of movie tickets provided for the Employees of the month award each month Discretionary fixed costs This is based on the fact that this cost could be reduced or eliminated without any immediate effects on organizations profitability. g. Depreciation of the sewing machines, calculated on a units of production basis committed fixed costs This is based on the notion that depreciation is a cost that arises once the company starts its operations and therefore nothing much could be done in reducing such cost. h. Cost of electricity used in the factory building committed fixed costs This is committed fixed cost since the company cannot forego this costs no matter what without impairing its competence in meeting long-run objectives i. Rent of the building committed fixed costs This is because rent is a cost that must be paid by an organization to continue its operations in the building j. Wages of the staff who package the T-shirts. Engineered variable costs This is based on the fact that this cost is directly dependent on the number of T-shirts being packaged. k. Cost of sewing machine maintenance Committed fixed costs This is based on the fact that this cost could not be reduced or eliminated since it have to be there for normal operations of the company to be continue smoothly. l. Cost of the new advertising sign at the front of the factory. Discretionary fixed costs The reason behind this classification is that such a cost could be eliminated without causing any negative effect on the organizations profitability m. Cost of the company car used by the managing director Discretionary fixed costs The notion behind this is that this cost is set for a specific period by management during budgeting but can be eliminated completely without any affecting the companys operations. References Albrecht, W., Stice, E., Stice, J. (2010).Financial accounting. Cengage Learning. Anthony, R. N., Welsch, G. A., Reece, J. S. (1985).Fundamentals of management accounting. McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Burns, J., Vaivio, J. (2001). Management accounting change.Management accounting research,12(4), 389-402. Horngren, C. T., Bhimani, A., Srikant M.. Datar, Foster, G., Horngren, C. T. (2002).Management and cost accounting. Harlow: Financial Times/Prentice Hall. Horngren, C. T., Sundem, G. L., Stratton, W. O., Burgstahler, D., Schatzberg, J. (2005).Introduction to management accounting. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall Horngren, C., Harrison, W., Oliver, S., Best, P., Fraser, D., Tan, R. (2012).Financial accounting. Pearson Higher Education AU. Kaplan, R. S., Atkinson, A. A. (2015).Advanced management accounting. PHI Learning. Kimmel, P. D., Weygandt, J. J., Kieso, D. E. (2010).Financial accounting: tools for business decision making. John Wiley Sons. Libby, R., Libby, P. A., Short, D. G. (2001).Financial accounting. McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Meigs, R. F., Lam, W. P., Mallouk, B. M. (2002).Financial accounting. McGraw-Hill Ryerson. Porter, G. A., Norton, C. L. (2012).Financial accounting: the impact on decision makers. Cengage Learning.

Friday, November 29, 2019

The Arts Of Russia Essay Example For Students

The Arts Of Russia Essay The Arts play a large role in the expression of inner thoughts and beauty in life. From dance and music to art the concept of life is shown through the various ways in which we interpret it. The arts play a valued role in creating cultures and developing and documenting civilizations. Russia has been developing the its culture for as long as anybody could think. Nowadays, Russian painters and musicians are quickly becoming well known among each and every one around the world. It should be no surprise that the rich Russian culture is producing so much talent, and everyone around the world seems to enjoy it. Great artists such as Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky music, Valery Yakovlevich Bryusov literature, and Marc Chagall art have shared Russias culture with the rest of the world. Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky is mostly known for his great musicals. One of his greatest musicals The Nutcracker has been turned into an ice show in United States of America. We will write a custom essay on The Arts Of Russia specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Peggy Flaming, Nicole Bobek, Todd Eldredg, and Brian Orser along with others star in the beautiful and magical ice show. The Nutcracker is a story of a young girl Clara who receives a Nutcracker doll as a Christmas present from her Godfather Drosselmeier, and with the help of a little magic, the doll comes to life in her dreams. Everybody, especially children, love to watch how these ice champions bring the Christmas story of the Nutcracker to life. The Swan Lake is also a very known production of Tchaikovsky. The well-known theme of the tragic Swan-Princess from Swan Lake seems to embody the intense, heartfelt, romanticized suffering which Tchaikovsky music gives voice to so often. Numerous people around the world listen to Tchaikovsky when they are either in a bad mood and want to relax or just to break away from the world and go to an imaginary world. In music competitions countless of musicians perform Symphony no. 6 in B minor to have a chance at winning the competition. Valery Yakovlevich Bryusov is a very known poet, novelist, playwright, translator, and essayist who pioneered Russian modernism. He first gained critical recognition when he published with A. A. Lang Russkie simvolisty 1894-95; Russian Symbolists, an anthology of original poems by Russian Symbolists as well as of translations from the French. This work was an important landmark in the Russian modernist movement, and Bryusov eventually became the recognized leader of Russian Symbolism when he assumed in 1904 the editorship of its leading critical journal, Vesy The Scales. The most important of Bryusovs own ten volumes of original poetry published between 1895 and 1921 were Tertia vigilia Third Vigil, Urbi et orbi To the City and the World, and Stephanos. As a poet Bryusov displayed great technical skill and erudition in his mystical and eroticized treatments of history and mythology. Poets, all around the world, after reading his poems started to write in a more spiritual way. His highly ornate and cerebral poetry also evinces qualities of coldness, detachment, and artificiality. His prose fiction includes the novels Ognenny angel The Fiery Angel and Altar pobedy Altar of Victory. Having broken with the Symbolist movement in 1910, Bryusov taught literature after the Russian Revolution and held teaching and publishing posts until his death. He is best remembered for his efforts as a translator, critic, and essayist to raise the stature of modern poetry in Russia. He influenced people such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. to pursue a modernist movement. Marc Chagall, one of many Russian born, great painters and designer. He is distinguished for his surrealistic inventiveness. .ud6dec8e56989fb092391fd987bf11d02 , .ud6dec8e56989fb092391fd987bf11d02 .postImageUrl , .ud6dec8e56989fb092391fd987bf11d02 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ud6dec8e56989fb092391fd987bf11d02 , .ud6dec8e56989fb092391fd987bf11d02:hover , .ud6dec8e56989fb092391fd987bf11d02:visited , .ud6dec8e56989fb092391fd987bf11d02:active { border:0!important; } .ud6dec8e56989fb092391fd987bf11d02 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ud6dec8e56989fb092391fd987bf11d02 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ud6dec8e56989fb092391fd987bf11d02:active , .ud6dec8e56989fb092391fd987bf11d02:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ud6dec8e56989fb092391fd987bf11d02 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ud6dec8e56989fb092391fd987bf11d02 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ud6dec8e56989fb092391fd987bf11d02 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ud6dec8e56989fb092391fd987bf11d02 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ud6dec8e56989fb092391fd987bf11d02:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ud6dec8e56989fb092391fd987bf11d02 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ud6dec8e56989fb092391fd987bf11d02 .ud6dec8e56989fb092391fd987bf11d02-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ud6dec8e56989fb092391fd987bf11d02:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Street to Mbari-Painting Review EssayChagall distinctive use of color and form is derived partly from Russian expressionism and was influenced decisively by French cubism. Crystallizing his style early, as in Candles in the Dark, he later developed subtle variations. His numerous works represent characteristically vivid recollections of Russian-Jewish village scenes, as in I and the Village. His works have been displayed all over the world. A canvas completed in 1964 covers the ceiling of the Opera in Paris, and two large murals hang in the lobby of the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. His works have influenced many of the artists in his era. Some of his influences have reflected on the works of Edvard Munch The Scream and Vincent Van Gogh Starry Night. His works are displayed in Museum of Modern Art, New York City and the Art Institute of Chicago. His Biblical themes characterize a series of etchings executed between 1925 and 1939, illustrating the Old Testament, and the 12 stained-glass windows in the Hadassah Hospital of the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center in Jerusalem. In 1973 MusAÂ ©e National Message Biblique Marc Chagall was opened in Nice, France, to house hundreds of his biblical works. As you could see, Russias culture has influenced many other places and is further spreading. Many Russian writers like Anton Chekov had his works on stages of famous places such as Broadway in New York City. A writer by the name of Fedor Dovskoevsky has written loads of books, from which a quantity of books have been translated to 150 Languages.

Monday, November 25, 2019

My 3 Components to a Successful Relationship

My 3 Components to a Successful Relationship Free Online Research Papers What exactly is an ideal relationship? This is a question that for many people, may be very difficult to answer. According to Jennifer Baker of the Forest Institute of Professional Psychology, first marriages end in divorce 50 percent of the time. Second and third marriages only increase in percentage telling us that their second and third companion is even less compatible. According to the same website (www.divorcerate.org), the percentage numbers do change somewhat, but the trend stays the same with the first marriage having the lowest percentage at 41 percent. So I ask again, what exactly is an ideal relationship? An ideal relationship to me consists of three main components. You must share a similar personality as your companion, be looking to get the same things out of the relationship, and the most important thing I feel is that you both must have similar religious beliefs. I know a lot of men date women because of their good looks, or they feel they would have an easy lay with a particular girl they know, according to Professor Brod. Although I agree that having a spouse that you feel is good looking, I do not feel this is one of the main qualities that are needed for a successful relationship. On the other hand, I feel a more needed quality is looking for the right personality. Based on personal experience, I have found that if you have a similar personality, the relationship you have will more likely last longer. I, personally, am not a big dater. I have only truly dated one girl in my life. The relationship lasted a little over two years, but there was definitely a personality conflict, which I believe ultimately led to the failure of the relationship. At first I felt that we shared close to the same personality, which led to us dating, but as I obviously found out later, there were some major differences. The second component of my ideal relationship is that both partners in the relationship must be looking to get the same types of things out of the relationship. This will more than likely be something that is found out later in the relationship. The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of getting the same thing out of a relationship is much later down the road when you are married, and that is kids. If you want kids and your companion does not, then there is no way that you could have a long term relationship, unless you aren’t passionate about having kids. Another decent example of this that I can think of would be what type of work you were wanting to do and if your partner would be willing to go with it. For example, if your job would mean you having to leave and go somewhere a further, then of course your companion would have to agree or you would have to find a new job which would cause problems. The last and most important component of my ideal relationship is sharing similar religious beliefs. I do not feel that you have to be exactly the same religion in order to have a successful relationship. For example, there are many types of Christianity. I am not saying any type of religion is better than the other because I do not believe in that; I am just using this as an example. If you and your companion can share similar beliefs, then this is one less thing you have to worry about making the relationship run rough. I’m not saying it could not be done because I’m sure it has been done, that is being with someone with different beliefs, but for me I know I am looking for someone with at least similar beliefs so that we have one of the most important aspects of life in common. As mentioned earlier, I have only had one real relationship. We happened to both share the same religion which did make it very nice, and is one reason I believe the relationship lasted as lon g as it did. Although I have not been in many relationships, I have had one that lasted long enough and opened my eyes to what I am really looking for in a relationship. This relationship was one that just kind of happened. Maybe I was not dating her for the right reasons and maybe the same was for her, but now that I have had this relationship, I know more of what I am looking for. I also take it as a learning experience. I obviously would like to have other relationships while I am in college, and this may lead to other components of a relationship that I am looking for that I do not know about right now. As of now, based on my one relationship, I know what I am looking for and hopefully this will lead to a more successful relationship sometime in my future. Research Papers on My 3 Components to a Successful RelationshipComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenThree Concepts of PsychodynamicAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)Personal Experience with Teen PregnancyRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever Product

Friday, November 22, 2019

Art and Humanities Project Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Art and Humanities Project - Research Paper Example I do remember that these songs always made me feel happy, hipper-active and jovial. They gave me an outlet for feelings that I could not always comprehend or find words for. These songs made childhood experience an erasable experience. They made childhood seem to be filled with fun and activities, plays, dances and smiles. They simply made me view the world and all round me as welcoming and full of joy. Oh! How I miss the childhood day. What music do you associate with adolescence? Was this music a way to fit in or rebel? The adolescents are people caught up in the mix of transition between childhood and adulthood. During this period, they tend to copy a lot from the media, want to be heard, and have their decisions respected by their elder. Music plays a great deal in influencing the way they think and acts (Kerchner & Abril, 2009). The music that I associate with them would be those that make them feel that they have a place in society. This music includes Love ballads and blues, H ip pop, Rap, fork songs and Rock (Anonymous, 2009). It is only in rare occasions that one can associate them with Spiritual or religious songs. At this stage of life, most of them want to be associated with a carefree lifestyle. As an adolescent, I used to listen to Rap music, Hip-pop and Rock and roll. I was at locker heads with my parents in most instances because of this music. They yield in me the rebellious spirit because of their precise nature. Most of this music is full or provocative, derogatory and foul language. Most of them are performed with artists who abuse drugs, making them live carefree lifestyle. At this stage in life, I thought that, that was... Art and Humanities Project Music has lived up to be known as a universal language that expresses that which one cannot afford to remain silent about or put into words. Music has made its position as an extremely significant part of our lives because everyone tends to identify with it. In this paper, I have explained the roles of music in different stages and aspects of our lives. Music psychology is the science that investigates the interaction and relationship between music and the human mind. It uses psychological methods and theory to try to understand and interpret how the brain responds to music. The effect of music on people’s attitude, mind and emotion, is always eminent in their behaviors (Davis, 2010). People do connect to music because it directly relates to all sorts of human feelings and emotions. That is, whether a person feels confused or frustrated, sad and lonely, happy and jovial, or even spiritual, music that rightly suits the mood is always there. The effects of having deep connection to music are always positive not negative. With the help of the following questions, I am going to illustrate the association of music with different stages of life and emotions. I’d like to point out that music forms an integral part of our lives. It is one of the things that give most people an easy going with the world’s constraints. It affects people of all creeds, color and ages different, while evoking all sorts of feelings and emotions, which lead to the formation of deep connection with it in all phases of our lives.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Capstone Part 2 Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6250 words

Capstone Part 2 - Term Paper Example In attempting to achieve its goal, Telsa uses batteries and powertrains that are designed to reduce worldwide reliance on fuel powered transport and at the same time, reduce the price of electric vehicles. Telsa cooperates with automobile makers with a view to putting more electric cars on the market. So far the list of Telsa vehicles are the Roadster which was introduced in 2008; the Model S which was introduced in 2012 and the Model X which is forthcoming in 2015 (Telsa Motors, Inc., 2014). Telsa’s Roadster was introduced as a sports car with the ability to accelerate from 0 mph to 60 mph in just 3.7 second and could travel 245 miles for each charge. The Model S, a sedan, goes from 0 mph to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and travels 265 miles for each charge. This car was awarded the car of the year and the U.S. National Highway Safety Administration conferred a 5-star safety rating on the car. The forthcoming Model X is a cross between a SUV and a minivan (Telsa Motors, Inc., 2014). Telsa’s recorded revenue is US$2.01B and its sales growth for 2013 was 387.2%. Telsa’s main competitors are Mitsubishi Motors Corp. ADS, Peugeot A.A. ADS, Tata Motors Ltd. ADS, Mazda Motor Corp.; Kia Motors Corp., Renault S.A., Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. ADS and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. The competitors are listed in order of ranking and Telsa ranks near the bottom directly above Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. ADS (Market Watch, 2014). Telsa as an organization is managed by a board of directors. Elon Musk, one of the founders of Telsa is the Chairman of the board and Telsa and is in charge of Product Architect and CEO of Telsa. Musk maintains oversight of Telsa’s product strategy which includes the design, manufacturing and engineering of increasingly cost friendly electric vehicles for the average consumer. As the company’s CEO, Musk oversees the company’s daily

Monday, November 18, 2019

Leadership Approach Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Leadership Approach - Assignment Example Police chiefs in all areas are bombarded with several challenges related to crime and administration, be it in a large city or small vicinity. A pressing challenge faced by police chiefs is fighting crime. The police chief may lack the acquaintance required when dealing an upcoming crime especially crimes involving ever changing technology. The next challenge is finding balance after being promoted to the post or being posted in a new region where they are not familiar with. This is a stressful situation as the new police chief is faced with a dilemma of trying to fit in the shoes of the one before him. The third challenge is dealing with young blood. The police chief may lack the practical know how which is required when dealing with the young police officers, staff members and citizens who have recently joined the force. The police chief has to make sure that the young officers don’t get over carried with zeal while they are shaped into responsible officers. In addition, pol ice chiefs in all areas have a challenge of building a link between the police and minority communities. These communities feel left as, as thought they are not part of the citizens in America. Mending this gap has proved to be a challenge both in big cities and counties (Schafer, 2009). The duty of police chief in a large city or county sheriff is to manage officers, communicate with the public and keep police departments under his command strong and active. Police chiefs set tone for the officers and keep order for other staff members in his department. They are also entitled to serve as links and provide guidance among the city officials, departments and the public. In order to successfully execute all this tasks that are within their jurisdiction, the police chiefs are supposed to have excellent leadership skills. The police chiefs undergo an extensive series of training which offers an array of courses specifically designed for them. These trainings help them

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Architecture of the 20th Century

Architecture of the 20th Century While discussing the subject of architecture of the 20th century, the discussion is incomplete without a special mention of Robert Venturi. The man started his life in Philadelphia on 25th June, 1925 he went on to become one of the most prevalent names in American architecture. The information on Venturi includes a special mention of his wife Denise Scott Brown. 1960 was the year they first meet , got married in 1967 they have always been together ever since . This husband and wife team did remarkable work in the region of architecture, launching themselves with their joint venture better recognized as Venturi, Scott Brown Associates (VSBA). Architecture steeped in popular symbolism. Kitsch had become art in designs which exaggerate or stylize cultural icons. [1] Some of the most important design strategies adopted by Brown were theory is not the rule of thumb, learn to copy, drawing-a must have, ideation is constant etc. According to Robert and Denise, theory is not the rule of thumb. While most architects glued to theory when it comes to planning designs, Robert Venturi and Denise Scotte Brown thought the opposite way. According to them design process should not be dominated by the theory. This was despite the fact that both of them were well known theoreticians. Venturi even went on to say that the artist is not someone who designs in order to prove his or her theory and certainly not to suit an ideology[2] While most of the architects followed the philosophy of not copying, Venturi and Brown had a different point of view here too. They believed that they could learn more by copying the works of the masters. As Venturi correctly puts forth, It is better to be good than to be original. [3] But, this in no way meant a complete imitation. To this, Denise Scott Brown makes it clear that they copy ideology that they copy ideologies. The duo only took copying to the extent of drawing inspiration. Their inspiration was a base to develop further designs. Venturi says, You have to have something basic that you either build on or evolve from or revolt against. You have to have something there in the first place and the only way to get it is to copy, in a good sense of the word.[3] One, of course, needs to possess certain skills to leave a mark the field of architecture. According to Robert and Denise, drawing was the most essential one. Referring to the skill as a facility between hand and mind, Denise Scott Brown also said that it was essential for designers to master drawing in order to succeed. She believed that it often happened that the hand draws something, which the mind interprets in a different way and you draw a whole new idea from it. In an era where everyone thought that handwriting has a little significance as everything can be done using specially designed software, the duo has its arguments ready. People who can draw very well and who control line weight well in hand technique are the ones who use the computer imaginatively,[4] they asserted. Who says that you need to sit down in a board room to ideate? Well, not Venturi at least. In his opinion ideation cannot be bound by place or time; he believed that one could ideate anytime and anywhere, even while talking. Venturi alleged that even while talking one suddenly sees something else out of the corner of their eye and they think of something they wouldnt have done otherwise. He also opined that you ideate more while working on other projects and averred the idea only comes after great struggle and agony.[5] Some of the important buildings built by the duo are The Vanna Venturi House, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1962, Brant House in Greenwich, Connecticut in 1973, Gordon Wu Hall in Princeton, New Jersey in 1983, Bank building in Celebration in Florida in 1994 and many more. Since mid 1960s Robert and Denise greatly altered the landscape of the American Architectural thought their processes and practices with their design strategies. Robert Venturis book Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture became a uniting point for budding architects around the globe who had become cynical with the stylistic restrictions of the International Style as a result of which the book provided a manifesto for the Post-Modern movement in architecture. Followed by this out of his teachings at Yale came his 1972 book Learning from Las Vegas which was co-authored by Steven Izenour and Denise Scott Brown. The architectural world was once again astonished by this work. The the gaudy and the sign-filled Vegas strip was transformed from being an architectural aberration to a vernacular art form which deserve serious study. Venturi felt that the Decorated Shed and various other types of roadside buildings offered design lessons that could not be left attended, an he argued that architects require to face the reality and symbolize the popularly built environment with buildings corresponding to that environment.[6] Kitsch is reflected as a form of art that is substandard and is a tasteless copy of an a complementary style of art or is a nugatory replica of art of recognized value.[7] The deliberate use of elements that may be considered as cultural icons is what this concept is related to Kitsch can also be defined as the genres of art that aesthetically lack whether or not being theatrical, sentimental, glamorous, or creative and that make creative gestures which simply reflect the superficial appearances of art by means of repeated conventions and formulae. This term is often associated with excessive sentimentality. [8] The emergence of postmodernism in the 1980s, blurred the borders between kitsch and high art yet again. The approval of what is called camp taste which may be related to, but is not the same as camp when used as a gay sensibility was one development. An unreal or an assumed illustration from the world of painting would be a kitsch image of a deer by a lake. In making camp, panting a sign beside it, saying No Swimming. The majestic or romantic perception of a stately animal would be punctured by humor; the conception of an animal receiving a a penalty for the breach of the rule is out rightly ludicrous. The primordial, reflective sentimentality of the motif is neutralized, and thus, it becomes camp. A few things that posed as interesting challenges were the conceptual art and deconstruction, because, talking of kitsch, in favour of elements that enter it by relating to other spheres of life they downplayed the formal structure of the artwork. Inspite of this fact, many in the art world continue to latch onto some sense of the dichotomy between art and kitsch, excluding all sentimental and realistic art from being considered seriously. This has come under the scanner of the critics, who now argue for a renewed art and figurative painting, without the concern for it appearing innovative or new. Whatever may be the scenario, there is difficulty in defining boundaries between kitsch and fine art since the beginning of postmodernism, the word kitsch is commonly used to label anything seen as being in poor taste still. This postmodern architecture influenced by Venturi was further prejudiced by many architects like Philip Johnson and Robert A.M Stern. When talking about American architecture, there is no way one can miss out on Philip Johnson. One of the most notable and renowned American architects, he was the winner of the first Pritzker Architecture Prize. For establishing the Department of Architecture and Design at the Museum of Modern Art, New York is credited to him. Philip was born in 1906 in Cleveland. He played a vital role in creating and understanding the urban skyscrapers through America. Johnson was an advocate of simple style and thus he played a significant role in strengthening the minimalist trend. The work of various modern architects, including Mies van der Rohe, Walter Gropius and Le Corbusier was comprehensively supported by Johnson. He was a co-author of the popular book, The International Style. The techniques of the Bauhaus were introduced to America by this book. By the time Johnson reached the age of mid-thirties he  was discontented with his role of an author and curator. So he studied under the architect Marcel Breuer at The Graduate School of Design. Johnson designed his own home in New Canaan, Connecticut soon after his graduation. His first architectural work, his house is considered one of his most remarkable works. The house was a glass house and featured an exposed steel frame. Johnson continued with his architectural quest and went on to design numerous public buildings and houses after his own house. Johnson designed some of his well-known works, notably the Seagram Building in New York City during this time. Johnson had a more inspired than individualistic stint with architecture initially. His initial work carried a strong bear mark of Mies van der Rohe. However, an individualistic touch could be seen in his work by 1960s. Infused with historical elements, his style of architecture showcased how one could aesthetically incorporate domes and colonnades in a building. He created some of his most monumental works of his life only after he discovered his individualistic architectural sense. Some of these include the Sheldon Art Gallery at the University of Nebraska, the New York State Pavilion at the Worlds Fair and the New York State Theater in New York City. By the 1970s and 1980s, he began experimenting with the texture and color of the exterior of his creations at large though he was still stuck with his original style of architecture. Today in his nineties, Johnson is considered as one of the last modern architects that we have. With a run of nearly 70 years in the field of architecture, he has surely carved his niche and will continue to inspire many architects in the times to come. Another popular name in American architecture is of Robert Arthur Morton Stern, also known as Robert A.M. Stern. He is an American architect and presently the Dean of Yale University School of Architecture. His work is usually described as postmodern. However, a dominating emphasis on continuity of tradition in his work is witnessed which cannot be ruled out. No wonder, he recently used the phrase modern traditionalist to describe his work. As a designer in the office of Richard Meier he started his career in 1966. But he soon quit from his job and established his own firm, Stern and Hagmann in 1969. He formed the firm with a fellow student at the Yale University named John S. Hagmann. This was followed by the establishment of the successor firm, Robert A.M. Stern Architects, a name still very popular in American architecture. He has a broad portfolio to his credit when talking about his work. Some of his more notable projects in the public domain include Lakewood Public Library in Lakewood, Ohio, the main library in Columbus, Federal Reserve Bank in Atlanta and many more. Stern was also a notable author apart from being a successful architect. He has authored New York 1880, New York 1960, and New York 2000- a series that documents the evolution and history of the architecture of New York City. This postmodern architecture has his roots deep in the past, as is evident from his work. His buildings showcase a deep affection for the past. His most notable project with The Walt Disney Company reiterates the same. He served the company in the position of Board of Director for the tenure 1992-2003. His boardwalk at Disney World is suggestive of an American seaside village from the early 20th century. You will be reminded of how architecture has evolved from Victorian to the Vienna Secessionist movement while you have a look at his buildings. The mini village beautified with artifacts from various eras, though not exactly historical, comes across as a dream like walk. And not to forget the Beach club, that reflects the 19th century American Resort architecture in its true form. With a huge pool of work and a design philosophy that combined the best of modernism and tradition, Stern is certainly not a name to be forgotten in the architectural realm. Though his broad horizon of work is a feat in itself, he has several other achievements to his credit as well. A Driehaus Prize laureate, he went on to win several awards. In the year 1984, he was awarded with the AIA New York Chapters Medal of Honor. He was also conferred the Chapters Presidents Award in 2001. He also has to his credit the Scully Prize from the National Building Museum, Athena Award from the Congress for the New Urbanism and the Board of Directors Honor from the Institute of Classical Architecture and Classical America. Since long and even now Philips designs in PoMo mode reveal a decent to the level of kitsch that appears lest camp in its motivation than simply and unmitigately cheap in its effect [9]. In the aesthetic program of Robert Venturi kitsch and the area of everyday culture was used. But at the same time in his artistic designs, he generally elevated them. In the circle of architects Robert Venturi an Robert A M Stern, the so called Greys Designers whose work used the hybrid culture idioms of American day to day life as starting points of their new artistic direction including kitsch and pop. [10] Thus Robert Venturi, Philip and Robert A M Stern are three flamboyant modern architects whose contribution to architecture have a made a difference to the architectural world.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Travels Abroad with Goethes Italian Journey :: Traveling Goethe Analysis Essays Papers

Travels Abroad with Goethe's Italian Journey Foreign travel, I think, is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have in life. You never really get a chance in life to explore who you really are and what you believe until you're able to leave your daily life and spend time in a place where everything's drastically different. Of course, not all travel is mind opening and horizon broadening. Some people just go abroad in a tourist frame of mind. The only thing they want to do when they visit somewhere else is visit famous sites, eat local food, and buy presents for those back home. Tourists really have no interest in local cultures and ways of life, and don't want to think about these things while on vacation. I admit: I've been both a traveler and a tourist in my life. Who hasn't? When I went to Disneyland, I wasn't interested in the local cultural structure and values of the inhabitants of Anaheim; I just wanted to get my picture taken with The Little Mermaid. And being a tourist is fine in its time and place, but when one goes places as a travel, ah that's when the really life changing experiences begin. This past week, my group did a presentation on the Italian Journey of Johann Wolfgang van Goethe, and while I didn't do the hardcore analysis of the literary text (I did the biography and web encoding), the topics my group discussed are still an interesting look into the character of a traveler and his discoveries abroad. What I've gathered from his diary entries is that Goethe went as a traveller and tried his best to understand the spirit of the Italian people, not just savour local wines and see the works of great Renaissance artists. He seems to be staying with Italian friends and trying to experience the daily life of inhabitants in Rome and Naples and other places he stayed. I myself have had two major experiences at being a traveler. In November 2000, I was lucky enough to be accepted on a homestay in Japan. This meant that for a week and a half I got to visit Sapporo, Japan while living with the Suzuki family and attending Nishi High School with their daughter who was about my age. Much like Goethe who had been told about Italy all his life by his father and

Monday, November 11, 2019

Compare and Contrast Christians vs Muslims

As with most religions studied all around the world both Islamic and Christian faith are viewed as powerful and life changing lifestyle in a religious aspect. Although, they are both unique in their own way both religions have helped to shape the people in which they are practiced by. In the essay below you will encounter the differences and similarities which make these religions what they are to the people who practice them. Although, no one religion is greater than the other they are only as great as the people who vow to live them daily.Christian and Muslim faith have both help to develop the country, America as two of the most widely practiced religions, and although they are different they both have made positive impact in the development of the country. With a place like America, considering the freedom of the people, the views and morals and values of the people, who inhabit this beautiful country it is not hard to figure out why they call it the â€Å"melting pot. † D epending on who is describing its beauty, to most it would be known as the American dream, mostly to those who do no live here and want to come here.When people speak of America they speak of freedom, freedom to live as they want, freedom to say what they want, freedom to do as they want and the freedom to dream as they want. All of these things and more make up what America is known for. However, although, living freely is something that is precious to those who come here, one of the most important aspects to living freely as they would like is the fact that they are welcomed here no matter what religion. With religion being such a big part in most people's lives it is not uncommon to see people engaging in it everyday.Although there are many different religions, in America two of the most common religion happens to be Christianity and the Islamic religion, Muslim. Although, these two religions differ, they also have their similarities, both religions believe that there is only one true God that sends down a messenger to observe the people, they both believe in a better reward in the after life if they live their lives well and according to the commands of their God. Both religions rely on a books in which they use to guide them through life.They both praise and worship their Gods, although in different ways and they both practice certain commands of their God to show their appreciation for life given to them by the Gods they serve. However, to accurately pick apart these two religions, and translate their full value, would probably be impossible, because neither religion nor how it’s practiced is fully understood by the people who practice it. However, both do have their own views as to how things came about, how things should be done, and the consequences of not doing as their God would have them to do.To know the difference between the two, to understand that aspect, it is first important to understand what each religion is, and how they came about. Practicing Christianity means to practice a religion based on the belief in Jesus Christ. They believe that Jesus, by dying and rising from the dead, made up for the sin of Adam and thus redeemed the world, allowing all who believe in him to enter heaven. Christians rely on the Bible as the inspired word of God.The Bible is their book of direction, written by the disciples and followers of God and translated to them from Him so that the people will follow these directions for their daily lives. To them the word was breathed by God. It is even fair to say that one of the biggest differences between the two is that Christianity is more about the relationship with God rather than the religious practice. The Christian population believe that in order to truly worship God, one must get close to him and develop a relationship with him, with that, the closer you are to him, the more you will become like him.It is believed that God allows each and every Christian to develop and grow their own relationship with God so as to get to a place of love shared between the two. In a sense, if the love you have for God grows outside of a religious sense it is still acceptable by God, and the more the love grows the more you are accepted by him. Although, religious practices go hand in hand with worshiping him so the more love you have for God the more you will do at his command because you know it will show the love you have for him.Other big differences are the belief that God exist as one in three persons which includes The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit. In the Muslim religion there is one God, or better known as Allah. Period. Its beliefs are different from the teaching of the Christian faith. To Muslims, there is but one God, and Jesus, is merely a prophet, just as Muhammad was, for the people, born a virgin, but created just as Adam and all mankind was. However, Muhammad is who was chosen by God. The people of Muslim faith do not believe in Jesus dying on the cross, because they do not believe thatGod would allow such a torturous death to one of his followers, with that though Christians believe the death was needed in order to show salvations for all the sins of the people. For the Muslim, the Qu'ran is their book of direction; however it was not created until after the bible. As the Christians believe that the Bible is the only holy word direct from God, Muslims believe the Qu'ran has just the same importance. Christians believe their bible to be the only word, and that nothing can be added or taken away from it which is exactly what the Islamic people did by erecting the Qu'ran.Because of these essential differences and contradictions, Islam and Christianity cannot both be true. The Bible and Qur’an cannot both be God’s Word. The truth has eternal consequences. As stated above both believe in an eternal reward for good deeds, but the way in which you receive them differ as well. In the Christian religion, Jesus died for all si ns and as long as his existence is believed and people repent of their sins they can be forgiven, only by God's grace and granted access to a heavenly existence after earthly existence is finished.As far the Islamic religion is concerned paradise is only earned by keeping the five pillars, which include: The testimony of faith. This means, â€Å"There is no deity but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. † A person can convert to Islam by stating this creed. The shahada shows that a Muslim believes in Allah alone as deity and believes that Muhammad reveals Allah. Prayer, Five ritual prayers must be performed every day. Giving, this almsgiving is a certain percentage given once a year. Fasting. Muslims fast during Ramadan in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.They must not eat or drink from dawn until sunset. Pilgrimage. If physically and financially possible, a Muslim must make the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia at least once. This is performed in the twelfth m onth of the Islamic calendar. These five pillars, are what Muslim followers believe if lived by will assist them in obtaining eternal life with the God in which they serve. When comparing these two religions, the contrast is also apparent in their way of life as well. Education and marriage are also two things common in both religions and cultures but very different.One thing is certain when analyzing the union of marriage or the importance and significance of education in the Muslim faith, religion goes hand in hand with each of these subjects because faith and religious growth is what determines the lifestyle of Muslims in every aspect. The Qur'an lays out clear guidelines for marriage. One of the main traits you should look for in a potential spouse is a similarity in religious outlook. For the sake of compatibility, and the upbringing of future children, it is most recommended for a Muslim to marry another Muslim.However, in some circumstances it is permissible for a Muslim to m arry a non-Muslim. The engagement is the biggest part of the wedding. Once the father has found a groom for his daughter, the wedding plans start rolling. The father than receives a bag of money as a thank you from the man who is about to marry his daughter. These are the oldest form of arraigned marriages and dowry is still a very important part of the proceedings. This is a token of his gratitude and loyalty to his daughter. Muslim beliefs are very strict when it comes to their marriages and the relationships within them.The man in the relationship is just that. He runs the household and everything that needs to be taken care of. In a Muslim relationship, the woman is meant to reproduce and take care of the home while her husband is at work. As the wife you are required to give your husband the utmost respect in absolutely every way. You are also required to accept and deal with any punishment that he feels you require. These are the beliefs of a Muslim marriage. However, these pu nishments and disciplines are not handed out the way that the media would have you believe.While a modern woman in America would have no part of this type of marriage, Muslim women have been taught no other teachings, and the faith is to be respected. While both religions look to their religion to lead their marriage, the Islamic faith is more likely to follow theirs to the letter. Christians also believe in the sanction of marriage and believe the same principles such as not cheating and staying true to the spouse. But, Christians are less likely to follow every step in the process. The penalties in one religion are nothing compared to the penalties in another.If you are a Muslim woman you cannot divorce your husband, he can only divorce you, adultery is punishable with death by stoning and there are almost no second chances, because the faith of the Islamic people are so strong this is excepted. However, Christianity is quite different; a woman may divorce her husband. Both men an d women are equal in marriage and one does not rule the other. However the woman should submit to the man in order to help their marriage to be successful. To be educated is also something that has noted differences between the two religions Education is the birth right of every Muslim and Muslimah.Islam puts considerable emphasis on its followers to acquire knowledge. Investment in education is the best investment one can make, because it eventually leads to intellectual property. Intellectual property is the intangible property, which no one can steal or destroy. This is the property on which no Government can levy a tax. In the Western World the purpose of education is to provide for the economic prosperity of a nation. At a personal level the purpose of education is to acquire academic and professional skills that enable one to earn a respectable living with riches and fame, and also a luxurious and comfortable life.For a Muslim providing economic prosperity of a nation does not contradict his /her Islamic belief, however focusing the goals of education solely for the purpose of money making is unpalatable. Muslims want to impart Islamic education. Women are educated differently than men as well.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Marx and Nietzsche

In these paragraphs Marx takes into consideration the first ‘illusion of German Ideology’ and questions it validity. German philosophy based its premises about human consciousness on idealism whereas Marx develops it from the material existence of humans.   He says that ‘[t]he premises from which we begin are not arbitrary ones, not dogmas, but real premises†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (Marx, p. 311), these premises are based on â€Å"the real individuals, their activity and the material conditions under which they live† (p. 311) whereas German premises does not originate from human existence but is a production of mental exercise. Marxian method is historical materialism but it does not mean that it is not based on premises but unlike German premises, it is based on real life. So Marx says; ‘In direct contrast to German philosophy which descends from heaven to earth, here we ascend from earth to heaven. That is to say, we do not set out from what men say, imagine, conceive, nor from men as narrated, thought of, imagined, conceived, in order to arrive at men in the flesh. We set out from real, active men, and on the basis of their real life-process we demonstrate the development of the ideological reflexes and echoes of this life-process.’ (Marx, p. 315) Marx is of the view that primarily human beings are productive as they must develop a system of production to comply with their means of subsistence and only hence they can satisfy their material needs. This necessity generates a chain reaction i.e. new needs and new production. And these productive forces and processes develop the social existence of human being. So it is the material life that determines the social life of humans. So materialism directs the social and hence the human consciousness. â€Å"Consciousness is, therefore, from the very beginning a social product, and remains so as long as men exist at all.† (Marx, p. 317) According to Nietzsche, Greek Tragedy was evolved from the traditional chorus that was innovative and original drama evolved from Greek ritualism.—Nietzsche refutes   Aristotelian theory pertaining to origin of Greek tragedy and rests his premises on the theory of Schiller. Schiller theory is of the view that chorus is a living wall that has enveloped the Greek tragedy in order to detach itself from the real world and its realities. And thus it has retained its poetic autonomy and saved itself from naturalism. â€Å"The satyr, as the dionysian chorist, lives in a religiously acknowledged reality under the sanction of myth and cult.† (Nietzsche, p. 322) Chorus, an epitome of myth and cult of religions becomes the basic of Greek Tragedy in opposition to naturalism prevailing in the contemporary intellectual world. The tragedy chorus replicates this natural occurrence in an artistic way. Nietzsche illustrates that tragedy as an art form is valuable for humanity. In contrast to Schopenhauer, Nietzsche demonstrates that tragedy as the art form of corporeal recognition and approval of pathos and miseries of life and exulting in these harsh realities adoration of pre-destination. Apollonian and Dionysian differences on Tragedy stem from their intellectual differentiations and practical manifestation of this form of art. Nietzsche is of the view that tragedy is endangered when music is discarded. To Nietzsche, Apollonian music was â€Å"Doric architecture in sonic mode† but Dionysian music was of supreme kind with poignant power of sound and melodious current. Nietzsche further points out the differences between the Dionysos and Socrates thematic expression. Overall, Nietzsche considers tragedy as beautiful fusion and manifestation of Dionysian astuteness and Apollonian art.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

How Homeschooled Students Should Prep for the SAT

How Homeschooled Students Should Prep for the SAT SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips According to a recent report by the U.S. Department of Education, about 1.7 million students are homeschooled. If you're part of this 3.4% of the population and are planning to apply to a 4-year college, then you'll probably be taking the SAT (or ACT). This guide will go over the best preparation strategies for succeeding on the SAT, while keeping in mind theunique strengths you bring to the tableas a homeschooled student. Before delving intospecifics of the SAT, let's consider the advantages that your homeschooled education has afforded you. Reflect On Your Strengths Homeschooled students don't always take as many timedor standardized tests as those in traditional schools. If you're concerned that homeschooling puts you at a disadvantage for doing well on the SAT, pause and reflect on some of homeschooling'spositive aspects. You likely have a more individualized curriculum and have been encouraged to pursue your individual interests. Perhaps you've had the freedom to reallyreflect on your strengths and weaknesses, where you excel and where you need to grow as a learner. This kind of self-awareness is hugely helpful for homeschool SAT prep, as you can target your weak areas, customize your study plan, and focus your energies where you can make the most progress. If you feel you've had less practice with standardized tests like the SAT, consider the kind of learning you have had and how it caninform your approach to test prep. Self-Awareness and SAT Prep Having a sense of your strengths and weaknesses can be a huge aidfor designing your SAT study plan. Do you speed through geometry problems, but get tripped up by probability? Do you absorb vocabulary like a sponge, but feel like it's impossible to write a whole 5-paragraph essay in only 25 minutes? Try to get a realistic sense of where you have cultivated skills and developed strong content knowledge. Rather than delving into everything at once, you can set small, manageable goals for yourself and make progress towards them with steadiness and purpose. To address the above examples, you could gather official SAT sample questions about probability and thoroughly studythe problems and answer explanations. You could read strategies about how to time your essay writing and come into the SAT prepared with versatile examples that work for many different essay questions. The best way to achieve your target scores on the SAT is to identify the areas that most need improvement and focus your test prep there. How (and where) do you learn best? Customization and Self-Teaching Does your homeschooled education allow you to be relatively self-directed in your learning? If your educators agree with Lee Binz,founderof The HomeScholar, then their "long-term plan is to make learners who can absorb material by themselves." If you have received this kind of "self-teaching curriculum," then you've had the opportunity to develop your independence, perhaps more so than have students in traditional school settings. Students who are most successful on the SAT don't study every concept all at once or mimic someone else's study and test-taking schedule. Instead, they customize their test prep for their own unique learning styles and needs. They take control of their test prep by setting aside time each week to focus on the material and benefit from being a self-directed learner on their homeschool SAT scores. Besides having the independence to shape your study plan and follow through with it, you may also have some input into shaping your curriculum and homework assignments and projects. If this is the case, it would be helpful to ask if you can integrate SAT prep into your classes and therebyconnectyour math, reading, and writing to SAT practice questions. Tilt YourCurriculum If you're encouraged to explore and articulate your interests and goals, as Binz described above, then your educators may be open to your suggestions. Gaining admission to a 4-year college is a notable goal, and gaining strong SAT scores are an important part ofachieving this goal. If this is your motivation, find out if you can integrate SAT prep into your curriculum. Perhaps you could add SAT math questions to your math studies, or practice writing timed persuasive essays. In addition to whatever other books you're reading, perhaps you can incorporate Critical Reading passages and questions. Practice answering objective multiple choice questions, which may or may not be a skill you're accustomed to in English class. Review SAT grammar rules and edit writing samples to practice for "improving sentence," "improving paragraph," and "identifying sentence error" SAT Writing questions. If you can integrate homeschool SAT prep into your studies, then you can link your classroom learning with the test and apply your understanding of math, reading, and writing to each section of the SAT. In order to do this successfully, you must have a thorough understanding of the content and skills that are tested on the SAT. Throwsome SAT prep in the mix. Understand the Content of the SAT Do you know how many questions are in each section of the SAT, and how much time you have to answer them? In order to effectively incorporate test prep into your curriculum or out-of-school studying, you should gain a deep understanding of what exactly is tested on the Math, Critical Reading, and Writing sections of the SAT. The following is a quick overview of the content in each section. Math tests number and operations, probability/statistics, algebra, and geometry. Most of the questions are multiple choice, but there are 10 grid-in questions that you will answer directly on the bubble sheet. Critical Reading asks you to read long, short, and paired passages and answer multiple choice comprehension questions. These often ask about the general purpose of the passage, along with tools of literary analysis like tone, style, inference, and interpretation of various details. These questions also often ask you about vocabulary in context, while the current SAT has stand-alone vocabulary fill-in questions as well. The new SAT in 2016 will continue to ask about vocabulary, but is eliminating these stand-alone questions in favor of providing more context. Writing starts out the SAT with the 25-minute essay, in which you are asked to provide your opinion and support it with examples from reading, observation, current events, or any other area. Additionally, you will answer multiple choice questions and use your understanding of grammar rules to identify sentence errors and improve sentences and paragraphs. Even if you are unused to timed standardized tests, all of these skills are basic math, reading, and writing skills that you practice inyour general education. Again, if you have some input into shaping your curriculum and homework assignments, then you can try to incorporate SAT practice and essay questions and reinforce your learning on the context of the SAT's tricky questions and strict timing. Outside of your classroom learning, you will need to make time devoted specifically to prepping for the SAT. Make Time for Test Prep Before you take your test, I would recommend spending at least ten hours really getting to know the content, format, and instructions of the test so you know exactly what to expect on test day. A study plan involving about 40 hoursmight get you ready to take the test for the first time, but a regimen of around100 hours of targeted practice would be more effective for improving your scores. While the amount of time you need to put in to boost your scores varies for each students, these are rough estimates of how many hours you should prep to raise your overall scores. SAT Composite Point Improvement 0-50 points - 10 hours 50-100points- 20 hours 100-200 points - 40 hours 200-300 points - 80 hours 300-500 points - 150 hours+ If you start early and spread your study plan out over months or even a year or more, then you can gradually improve and these hours won't seem like such a daunting task. You could spend about 2 to 3 hours a week starting 6 months before your test, and then increase your study time as the test date approaches. Of course you also don't want to put in more time than you need to, when you could be focusing on other areas of school, life, and preparing for college. So how can you maximize the effectiveness of your study time? One important part of test prep is simulating testing conditions to train your time management. Time flies when you're taking the SAT. Practice Timing Yourself The SAT is a strictly timed test, and once you've finished a section you can't revisit it or revise any answers. I would say these strict time limits are perhaps the biggest source of stress for students, especially those who like to process information at a more relaxed pace. Luckily, you can use strategies to improve your efficiency, as well as time yourself while you study and take practice tests to get better and better at working fast and well. I would recommend starting with a diagnostic practice test and simulating testing conditions. Sit in a quiet room with fewdistractions and time each section. Yourinitial score will just be a baseline. After studying and targeting your weaknesses, take another timed practice test and note your progress. Even if finishing in time is something you struggle with, practicing this skill at home will help you pace yourself on the SAT and manage your time effectively. You should also learn about and experiment with different strategies, like speed reading and using process of elimination to answer multiple choice questions. Get Strategic On Each Section While an understanding of certain math concepts and skills in reading and writing are important for doing well on the SAT, so is simply learning the tricks of the test and developing your ability to work quickly. For example, you don't have time to leisurely read the Critical Reading passages and take notes on what you find interesting. Instead, you should practice habits of skimming for important introductory points, transitions, and details related to the corresponding questions. While the essay might seem like a hard part of the SAT, you can basically use a tried-and-true 5 paragraph formula and show up prepared with dynamic examples that will work for most questions. Strategies for how to tackle each section, answer questions, and even fill in the bubble sheet (answering in chunks in your booklet and then transfering all at once can help save time) arehugely helpful in combination with your content knowledge for conquering the SAT. By trying out strategies, reviewing concepts and vocabulary, and sticking to your study schedule, you will see improvements in your SAT scores. Besides the strengths many homeschooled students bring as self-directed, independent learners, do they have any extra responsibilities when it comes to taking the SAT? Homeschooled Students and the SAT As a homeschooled student, you might not have as large a community of college-bound peersand guidance counselors as those in traditional school settings. Depending on your situation, you may have to shoulder more responsibility for designing and sticking to your homeschool SATprep schedule, keeping track of your academic progress and application materials, and meeting your college deadlines. If this sounds like, what can you do to stay on top of things? Be Proactive About Your Schedule This is easier said than done for a lot of students, but try to make the most of your time and establish routines for yourself, just as you would when learning how to playguitaror practicing soccer. Use a planner with hourly (or half-hourly) time increments or an online tool like Google Calendar. Set aside time to work towards your goals, like achieving your target SAT scores, and fulfill your college aspirations. If you're someone who's motivated by an approaching deadline or test date, then design your schedule to reflect that (while still leaving enough time to learn). If you prefer to spread out studying or practice and reap the benefits slowly over time, then honor that approach. These skills of actively taking control of your time will help you stay organized and achieve your goals in high school, college, and beyond. Do Your Research Part of your SAT prep plan is knowing what your target scores are, and part of determining that (apart from your own personal goals) are knowing your colleges' expectations. What are the average SAT scores for last year's accepted students? How much are SAT scores emphasized in the admission process? Does the school have a test flexible policy? When are your deadlines? Planning for college starts early. Check out websites, visit campuses, speak to admissions officers, and gain a clear sense of your colleges' expectations and requirements. Then figure out how to tell your story and stand out from the competition. Since you probably don't have a guidance counselor keeping you up to date on the SAT and prep courses, you need to seek out helpful homeschool SAT test prep resources. PrepScholar's online test program is one way to prepare, along with official practice tests, books, and SAT Question of the Day. Khan Academy is another good online resource, especially because it has recently offered sample questions for the upcoming redesigned SAT. Besides online and book resources, you can also make an appointment with a counselor at your local high school and seek his/her advice on SAT prep and college planning. Through it all, work onstaying organized to keep track of requirements, deadlines, and all the online passwords you're sure to collect. Stay Organized The best way to plan your schedule and keep track of your college planning is to create a system of organization that works for you. Write everything down, whether on paper or virtually, and stay on top of deadlines and test dates. If you start early with SAT prep, you can take the test several times and prep between each real test to improve your scores. If your homeschooled education helped you develop independence in your organization, learning, and time management, then use these skills to your advantage in the SAT and college planning process. Start early, study the test, and put in the time and effort to achieve your target SAT scores and gain admission into your college of choice. What's Next? Using official practice questions from the testmakers and taking timed practice tests are an essential part of your study regimen. Download official SAT practice tests and score them to diagnose your level and gauge your progress toward hitting your target scores. When exactly should you register to take the SAT? Are some test dates preferable to others? How many times should you take it, anyway? Learn how to choose your test dates and shape your study plan accordingly. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses. We also feature thousands of practice questions, 10 official SAT practice tests, and personal feedback on your essays from an expert instructor. We work with a lot of homeschooled students who like the self-paced, self-guided nature of our online prep program. Check out our 5-day free trial: