Essentials of Human Resource Management free essay sample

The executives includes defining objectives and allotting scant assets to accomplish them. †¢Management is the procedure of effectively accomplishing the destinations of the association with and through individuals. †¢Primary Functions of Management Planning †building up objectives Organizing †figuring out what exercises should be finished Driving †guaranteeing the correct individuals are at work and spurred Controlling †observing exercises to be certain objectives are met 2. What is Human Resource Management? Definitions: . †¢Human Resource Management (HRM) is a subset of the investigation of the executives that centers around how to draw in, enlist, train, rouse and look after representatives. Solid workers become a wellspring of upper hand in a worldwide situation confronting change in an unpredictable manners at a fast pace. DeCenzo et al (2010:1) Human asset/work force the executives might be characterized as the arranging, sorting out, coordinating and controlling of the acquisition, advancement, pay, reconciliation and support and division of HR to the end that individual, hierarchical and cultural destinations are cultivated. We will compose a custom article test on Fundamentals of Human Resource Management or on the other hand any comparative point explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page Edwin B. Elippo †¢Ã¢â‚¬ËœAll those exercises related with the administration of business connections in the firm’Boxall and Purcell (2003: 1) †¢Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ The administration of work and individuals in organizations’Boxall et al (2007. ) HRM as ‘an unavoidable procedure that goes with the development oforganizations’Boxall and Purcell (2010: 29) †¢The approaches, practices,and frameworks thatinfluence employees’ conduct, mentalities, and execution. Noe et al (2011. 1) HRM covers exercises, for example, †¢human capital administration, †¢knowledge the executives, †¢organization structure and improvement, †¢resourcing (workforce arranging, enlistment and choice, and ability the executives), †¢performance the board, †¢learning and advancement, †¢reward the board, †¢employee relations and representative prosperity. HRM has a solid applied premise drawn from the conduct sciences and from human capital and mechanical relations hypotheses. The way of thinking of human asset the board As brought about by the pioneers during the 1980s, HRM is on a very basic level unique in relation to the staff the executives practices of the time. †¢Beer et al (1984: 1) (the ‘Harvard school’)started with the suggestion that: ‘Human asset the executives (HRM) includes all administration choices and activities that influence the idea of the connection between the association and workers †its human resources’. They recommended that HRM had two trademark highlights: (1) line chiefs acknowledge greater obligation regarding guaranteeing the arrangement ofcompetitive system and HR approaches; (2) HR has the strategic setting strategies that oversee how HR exercises are created and executed in manners that make them all the more commonly strengthening. †¢Fombrun et al (1984) †created what has been named their ‘matching model’, which showed that HR frameworks and the association structure ought to be overseen in a manner that is consistent with authoritative technique. The basic administration task is to adjust the conventional structure and human asset systemsso that they drive the key destinations of the organization’ (in the same place: 37). †¢Hendry and Pettigrew (1990: 20) saw that: ‘What HRM did now was to give a mark to fold over a portion of the detectable changes, while giving a concentration to testing lacks †in mentalities, extension, soun dness, and bearing †of existing work force management’. †¢Legge(1989: 25), whose examination of various HRM models recognized the accompanying ommon topics: That human asset approaches ought to be coordinated with vital business arranging and used to strengthen a fitting (or change a wrong) hierarchical culture, that HR are significant and a wellspring of upper hand, that they might be tapped most successfully by mutuallyconsistent strategies that advance responsibility and which, as an outcome, encourage an eagerness in workers to act deftly in light of a legitimate concern for the ‘adaptive organization’s’ quest for greatness. Story (2001: 7) noticed that the convictions of HRM incorporated the presumptions that it is the human asset that gives serious edge, that the point ought to be to upgrade worker responsibility, that HR choices are of vital significance and that in this way HR strategies ought to be coordinated into the business system. Supporting speculations of HRM David Guest (1987: 505) remarked that: ‘Human asset the board seems to lean intensely on hypotheses of duty and inspiration and other ideas derived from the field of hierarchical behaviour’. These hypotheses are summed up underneath. 1. Duty the strengthof an individual’s recognizable proof with, and association in, a specific association 2. Hierarchical conduct hypothesis portrays how individuals inside their organizationsact separately or in gatherings and how associations work interms of their structure, procedures and culture. 3. Inspiration clarifies the components that influence objective coordinated behaviourand in this manner impacts the methodologies utilized in human asset managementto upgrade commitment (the circumstance wherein individuals are focused on theirwork and the association and propelled to accomplish significant levels of execution). . AMO hypothesis set out by Boxall and Purcell (2003) states that performanceis a component of Ability + Motivation + Opportunity to take part. 5. Human capital hypothesis worried about how individuals in an organizationcontribute their insight, aptitudes and capacities to upgrading organizationalcapability and the hugeness of that commitment 6. Asset relia nce hypothesis. Asset reliance hypothesis gatherings and associations gain power overeach other by controlling esteemed assets. HRM exercises are accepted toreflect the dissemination of intensity in the framework. . Asset based theoryoften alluded to as the asset based view, blendsconcepts from authoritative financial aspects (Penrose, 1959) and vital management(Barney, 1991). The hypothesis expresses that upper hand is achievedif a firm’s assets are important, uncommon and expensive to mimic. HRM can playa significant part in guaranteeing that the firm’s HR meet those rules. 8. Institutional hypothesis. Associations comply with inner and outer natural weights inorder to pick up authenticity and acknowledgment. 9. Exchange costs hypothesis expect that organizations create organizationalstructures and frameworks that conserve the expenses of the exchanges (interrelatedexchange exercises) that happen over the span of their activities. 10. Organization hypothesis - otherwise called head operator hypothesis, clarifies that in mostfirms there is a detachment between the proprietors (the administrators) and the agents(the supervisors). Organization hypothesis demonstrates that it is alluring to work a systemof impetuses for operators, ie chiefs or supervisors, to rouse and rewardacceptable conduct. 1. Possibility hypothesis expresses that HRM rehearses are subject to the organization’senvironment and conditions. This implies, as Paauwe (2004:36) clarified: ‘the connection between the significant free variables(eg HRM approaches and rehearses) and the reliant variable (performance)will shift as indicated by the impacts, for example, organization size, age and technology,capital force, le vel of unionization, industry/part proprietorship andlocation’. The objectives of HRM The general reason for human asset the board (or individuals the executives) is to guarantee that the association can make progress through individuals. The accompanying approach objectives for HRM were proposed by David Guest (1991: 154â€59): †¢Commitment: social promise to seek after concurred objectives andattitudinal duty reflected in a solid distinguishing proof with theenterprise. †¢Flexibility: useful adaptability and the presence of an adaptableorganization structure with the ability to oversee development. Quality: this alludes to all parts of administrative conduct that beardirectly on the nature of merchandise and ventures gave, remembering themanagement of representatives and speculation for great workers. †¢Strategic mix: the capacity of the association to integrateHRM issues into its vital plans, guarantee that the different viewpoints ofHRM cling, and accommodate line chiefs to fuse a HRMperspective into their dynamic. Qualities of HRM Conceptually, t he attributes of HRM are that it is: †¢strategic with an accentuation on coordination; duty orientated; †¢based on the conviction that individuals ought to be treated as resources (human capital); †¢unitarist instead of pluralist, ie dependent on the conviction that administration and representatives share similar concerns and it is consequently in both their inclinations to cooperate †¢individualistic as opposed to aggregate in its way to deal with worker relations; †¢a the board driven action †the conveyance of HRM is a linemanagement obligation; †¢focused on business esteems, in spite of the fact that this accentuation is being altered The assorted variety of HRM Dyer and Holder (1998) have called attention to that HRM objectives shift as per serious decisions, advancements, attributes of workers (eg could be diverse for administrators) and the condition of the work showcase. †¢Boxall (2007: 48) commented that: ‘Human asset the board covers a huge swath of exercises and shows a colossal scope of varieties across occupations, authoritative levels, specialty units, firms, ventures and societies’. Hard and delicate HRM A

Human Function: Aristotle’s Basis for Ethical Value Essay -- Philosoph

Human Function: Aristotle’s Basis for Ethical Value I. Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics Depend on the Human Function Aristotle presents an arrangement of goodness morals in Nicomachean Ethics. This work presents a prescriptive hypothesis with the point of demonstrating how people may arrive at an appropriate condition of satisfaction where the normal human end is satisfied. This end is viewed as an end in itself to which subordinate finishes are connected. This ace end itself is comprehended as a sort of action as opposed to an express that can be accomplished with a constrained arrangement of activities, and this action is portrayed as a general act of acting great as per reason. The Ethics dispatches an investigation into what makes human joy, or eudaimonia, conceivable, and Aristotle accepts this is the most noteworthy useful for humankind. Aristotle communicates this great similar to the best quality that activity goes after, which is something independent, and he proposes that to comprehend activity we ought to get work. He presents his idea of the human capacity and says that people must capa city well so as to arrive at the most elevated great. Working great is what is comprehended as righteousness, thus his arrangement of goodness morals is generally worried about people working admirably. Working great is viewed as focusing on a mean among abundance and inadequacy. The excellence of a thing is comprehended as far as its capacity. A capacity satisfies a need, and a need is met by being given the perfect measure of something yet not all that much or excessively little. This is the reason a skilled worker plans merchandise without overabundance or insufficiency †so they will work well †and moreover human goodness must be comprehended as pointing among abundance and inadequacy. So the Nicomachean Ethics builds up a framework where all val... ...ve. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 1998. Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics. Trans. David Ross. New York: Oxford University Press, 1925. Irwin, Terence. Aristotle’s First Principles. New York: Oxford University Press, 1988. Kraut, Richard. Aristotle on the Human Good. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1989. MacIntyre, Alasdair. After Virtue. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1981. Plato. Protagoras. Trans. Stanley Lombardo and Karen Bell. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 1992. Reeve, C. D. C. Practices of Reason: Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992. 1 C. D. C. Reeve, Practices of Reason: Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics (New York: Oxford University Press, 1992) 124. 2 Richard Kraut, Aristotle on the Human Good (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1989) 313-16. 3 Reeve 125-26.

Chapter 8 Problems Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Part 8 Problems - Coursework Example Question 4: The presentation of an item into another market is consistently the most troublesome part of showcasing; the objective market has no data about the item and along these lines requires however much data about the item as could reasonably be expected. Such is the scrape that faces ACO, which tries to enter the Flint Michigan advertise. The company’s starting showcasing methodology ought to accept common instruction structure with the organization attempting to teach and advise the objective market of the nearness and quintessence of its item. This infers the new organization should put more cash in running media adverts. The adverts should convey a ton of data about the items focusing on the qualities and advantages of the items. At the point when the organization brings a second item into the market, the promoting system should in this way change so as to join the new item and license it to guarantee its own piece of the pie. The new item will be an opposition to th e company’s beginning item. Moreover, the new item depicts decent variety an advertising methodology that will extend the company’s piece of the pie. The media messages for the two organizations inferable from the presentation of the new item should change. The new adverts ought not repudiate each other yet show the qualities of the two items. Such messages should guarantee the decent variety they present in the market yet should do whatever it takes not to go after a similar market. Moreover, the advert ought not run simultaneously yet on the off chance that they do, the messages they convey must supplement one another. Question 5: The arrangement between the Vietnamese government and the Stanford clinical focus present a problematic showcasing circumstance that requires the two gatherings to exchange off a few parts of their tasks and markets. By giving the American clinical school and chance to run the national emergency clinic in Vietnam, the administration denies the nation a chance to set up such her very own focal point. By executing such an activity, the Vietnamese’s government denies the neighborhood populace a chance to put resources into the potential training place. A similar dilemma circumstance faces the clinical school, which must build up a conclusive arrangement of tapping onto the chance to extend its activities. The new office will request more to work than its previously working office in America (Berkowitz, 2011). The scholastic foundation should bargain its neighborhood market to set up the office in the new district. This infers it should utilize a portion of its best human asset to supervise the setting up of the new business to the detriment of its market position in the United States. Moreover, the open door furnishes the scholarly organization with an opportunity to broaden its administrations and adventure into the travel industry too. While this may improve its income and piece of the overall industry, it will introduce bunch the board challenges that may influence the notoriety of the mother association. Question 6: Apparently, the multispecialty bunch presents various difficulties to the organizations since the gathering is both enormous and differing. It requests in this way continue changing hence smothering any endeavor by any of the organizations to keep up a consistent gracefully of items. In spite of the eccentric idea of the market, Eclipsis stands a decent chance to claims a portion of the market since

Unit 12 Btec P1 – Task P1A

P1 †Describe the job web promoting has in an advanced showcasing setting utilizing chosen associations as models Internet advertising has assumed a significant job as a methods for publicizing. A wide range of organizations have profited by web showcasing with regards to cost, relationship building and deals. In a flash a great many individuals can approach an organization, its items or administrations, and this should be possible whenever anyplace on the planet. Generally correspondence is done by means of email decreasing expenses in calls also. Furthermore, this advantages not just organizations which don't have to spend enormous wholes of cash on conventional methods of publicizing yet in addition benefits buyers who don't have to make calls to find out about an organization and its items or administrations; it is conceivable to discover everything with a couple of snaps. Web promoting is likewise used to close arrangements which make the procedure simpler and less expensive for the business and the client. Indeed, even a cell phone contract arrangement should be possible through web these days. Web promoting additionally helps focusing on abroad customers as items or administrations effectively arrive at clients anyplace on the planet through web showcasing. Relationship building is likewise one reason why organizations use web showcasing; this should be possible through messages got to refresh clients with most recent items, administrations or news; another approach to fabricate great connection with clients is by offering them benefits that should be possible online without the issue of going out to determine an issue. One model is web based financial where banks offer clients the office of dropping direct charges, make installments or moves in no time.

Manila and Jose Rizal Essay

1. What is the significance of Rizal’s Life, Works and Writings? The significance of Rizal’s Life, Works and Writings ought to be cherished preeminent by the Filipinos, since he is â€Å"The Greatest Man of the Malay Race†. Rizal enlivened the Filipinos of Republic in Asia. Furthermore, all together us to know, comprehend and acknowledge what is the life, works and compositions of our most noteworthy legend as Filipino residents. 2. Why Jose Rizal is our National saint? The best saint of the Philippines was a â€Å"many-splendored† virtuoso. He was lavishly dowered by God with heavenly intelligent, good and physical characteristics and he does numerous things in our nation that anybody can’t do. 3. Who made Jose Rizal the first legend of the Philippines? The guardians of Dr. Jose Rizal was the person who made him the principal legend, likewise one of the patrons that made Rizal a saint is her family members, tutors and companions. 4. What is the Republic Act. 1425? Republic Act. 1425 known as a law orders all instructive establishment in the Philippines to offer courses about Jose Rizal’s life, works and compositions remember for the Curriculum of all Public and Private schools, universities and colleges courses. 5. Why Dr. Jose Rizal was executed in Bagong Bayan field on December 30. 1896? It is known as the â€Å"executioners place† there were numerous who were executed however Jose Rizal was the most questionable. Early morning of December 30, 1896 was executed.

An Overview of Perinatal Depression

An Overview of Perinatal Depression January 30, 2020 More in Depression Types Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Childhood Depression Suicide In This Article Table of Contents Expand Symptoms Causes Diagnosis   Treatment Coping Pregnancy and the weeks immediately following birth are physically, emotionally, and mentally challenging. It’s not uncommon to experience feelings of elation and happiness one minute, only to feel sadness, fatigue, and increased anxiety the next. While these emotions can reflect expectable  mood swings during pregnancy  and postpartum, there are instances when these changes in mood may be reflective of something more serious.   Perinatal depression is one of the most common medical complications during pregnancy and the postpartum period, affecting one in seven women.?? There are several terms used to describe mood disorders that result in depressive feelings during pregnancy or after birth including, postpartum depression, maternal depression, prenatal depression, and postnatal depression. Perinatal depression covers the period of pregnancy through the first 12 months after delivery.   Symptoms It’s natural to experience emotional ups and downs during pregnancy and the postpartum period; mild mood changes during pregnancy are common. However, if they persist or get worse, it’s time to talk to your doctor. Symptoms of perinatal depression include: Persistent sadnessFeelings of emptinessFeelings of hopelessnessFrequent cryingReduced ability to think or concentrateTrouble sleepingFatigue or low energyIrritability  Increased feelings of anxiety and worryLoss of interest in caring for self and/or childLoss of interest in activities you once enjoyedPoor bonding with babyChanges in appetite and weightThoughts of death or suicide In general, if feelings of depression or anxiety persist for a few weeks or interfere with daily activities, it is time to ask for help.?? Do You Know the Signs of Clinical Depression? Causes The causes of perinatal depression range from a variety of medical, social, and psychiatric vulnerabilities. That said, depression is more common in women than men, with twice as many women being affected. The initial onset of symptoms often peaks during the reproductive years, which points to hormonal activity as one of the causes of perinatal depression. ?? Shifting hormones during pregnancy and in the postpartum period may play a role in symptoms of depression.   Several risk factors exist for perinatal depression including:?? Personal or family history of depressionMaternal anxietyLife stressLack of social supportUnintended pregnancySmoking  Poor relationship qualityHistory of physical or sexual abusePregnancy complications Women with current depression or anxiety that become pregnant should be closely monitored during pregnancy and the postpartum period.   Factors That Could Increase Your Risk of Depression Diagnosis   Diagnosing perinatal depression follows some of the same guidelines as diagnosing other forms of depression, but your doctor will consider the peripartum onset as an important specifier, often resulting in a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) with Peripartum Onset.?? That said, there are some slight discrepancies in the time frame of perinatal depression between the DSM-5 and other organizations such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). The DSM-5 cites symptom onset as occurring any time during pregnancy or within four weeks of delivery, yet many professional organizations, including the ACOG, acknowledge that symptoms of perinatal depression can occur up to 12 months after delivery. The ACOG recommends screening women at least once during the perinatal period for depression and anxiety symptoms, with a follow-up screening during the comprehensive postpartum visit.?? The ACOG and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) both recommend screening with a validated tool such as the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), which is a simple, 10-question screen that is completed by the mother. Depending on the responses, your doctor may treat you, or refer you for additional mental health services.   Living With Generalized Anxiety Disorder When Youre Pregnant Treatment Even though the daily symptoms can feel overwhelming and permanent at times, perinatal depression is treatable. Through a combination of different therapies, medications, and self-care, you can begin to feel better.   Since perinatal depression is under the umbrella of depressive disorders, adhering to the proven therapeutic options for treating depression should be followed. That said, special consideration needs to be given to antidepressant medications while pregnant and breastfeeding. Psychotherapy is often the first line of defense when treating perinatal depression. During therapy, you can begin to understand your diagnosis and how it impacts your life. A therapist will also work with you to develop strategies that decrease the severity of the symptoms. There are several forms of psychotherapy, but two, in particular, have been studied in treating perinatal depression.   Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) emphasizes the link between thoughts and feelings. Through counseling sessions, you will work to identify and reframe negative thinking patterns into positive thoughts. This can help you recognize how your thinking influences your emotions.   The use of interpersonal therapy has also been successful in treating perinatal depression. This type of therapy focuses on treating interpersonal issues thought to contribute to the development of depression, with the goal of social adjustment and improving your relationships with other people. Get Treatment With the 7 Best Online Help Resources for Depression Your doctor may also talk to you about antidepressants, which are a group of drugs commonly prescribed for treating depression. They work by increasing levels of a group of chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters (primarily serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine) which are involved in regulating mood. While differing opinions exist on the use of antidepressants during pregnancy, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants during pregnancy and the postpartum period. ?? Talk with your doctor about the risks associated with taking medication during pregnancy, as well as any risks associated with untreated depression. They can help you decide what’s best for you. Additionally, acupuncture during pregnancy may be a helpful intervention in the management of depression symptoms.  ?? Taking Antidepressants During Pregnancy Coping Managing the symptoms of depression while pregnant and caring for a newborn can feel overwhelming at times. In addition to any treatment plan that involves therapy or medication, there are some self-care and coping tips you can try in order to alleviate some of the symptoms. hile  help them cope with stress and reduce symptoms of maternal depression Exercise and physical activity. Staying physically active and engaging in exercises that you enjoy not only benefits your health, but it can also reduce the symptoms of depression.?? Try to include some form of exercise most days of the week. Talk with your doctor if you’re unsure of the safety of a particular activity.Adequate rest. Quality sleep and rest during pregnancy and the postpartum period is critical to managing the symptoms of depression and the health of your baby. Insufficient sleep can make coping with the stressors of life more challenging. While waking up during the night is common, try to get seven or more hours of sleep each night, which is the recommended amount for adults.  Healthy diet and nutrition. Your body needs additional calories and nutrients when pregnant and breastfeeding. To support overall health, focus on a diet full of fresh fruit, vegetables, healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, and lean protein.  Support groups. One way to help ease some of the s tress and feelings of loneliness is to find your community. Whether it’s friends, other women going through the same thing, family members, or  a support group run by a therapist, sharing this experience with others can help you feel supported and find new ways to cope.   8 Ways to Improve Your Mood When Living With Depression A Word From Verywell Pregnancy and motherhood can produce a range of feelings from sheer excitement and joyful celebration to sadness, loneliness, and emptiness. For some women, these ups and downs are temporary, but for others, these feelings persist or increase in intensity as time goes on. If you’re experiencing any symptoms of perinatal depression, the most important thing to remember is that you are not alone. There are safe and effective ways to treat and manage the symptoms of depression. That’s why it’s important to talk to your doctor right away. Asking for help is the first step in finding ways to feel better so you can begin to enjoy this incredible time in your life.   Why Getting Treatment for Prenatal Depression Is so Important

The Bosnian Genocide - Free Essay Example

The Bosnian Genocide The term Genocide may just be another term in the dictionary but the weight of the meaning of the term is tremendous. The term Genocide was first spotted in the book Axis Rule authored by a Polish Lawyer named Raphael Lemkin in the year 1944. Genos means Race or tribe and cide means killing. The author coined this term in response to the various mass killings that had taken place in history. Genocide was not recognized as a crime until the year 1946. The UNGA was the committee behind making genocide a crime. In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: Killing members of the group; Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. (United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/genocide.html) Genocide is something that cannot happen without preparation and takes a lot of tactical and strategical planning. There are precisely 8 stages involved in genocide. The 8 stages are; Classification, Symbolization, Dehumanization, Organization, Polarization, Preparation, Extermination and Denial. These eight stages were given by Dr. Gregory. H. Stanton. He stated that these stages can occur simultaneously or in any order. He also stated that it could be stopped at any stage.   The psychological state of mind of a person who wishes to commit genocide is indeed fascinating. The thoughts that are needed to perform such a heinous crime is in fact dark and inhuman. The impact a genocide leaves on society is unnerving. Genocide is by far the worst way to die and the most soulless crime. The Bosnian Genocide Bosnia is located on the northern part of the nation called Bosnia and Herzegovina. The entire nation is informally known as Bosnia. Bosnia is a place haunted by what its people did to one another during times of war. In the aftermath of WW2, the states of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia etc fell into the peoples republic of Yugoslavia. After a few years of growing nationalism since the death of Josip Broz Tito (Yugoslavs leader) Bosnia, Croatia and Macedonia declared independence. After his death, politicians of Serbia and Croatia were at each others throats competing for supremacy. Following this, war broke out in Yugoslavia which lasted for about 5 years. The siege of Sarajevo marks the beginning of the genocide. The militants of Serb opened fire on innocent civilians and took a lot of lives. After this, approximately 400,000 civilians were trapped and were deprived of food, water and shelter. The United Nations tried to intervene and deployed troops sending food and medicine to the dispossessed muslims. But these troops were not allowed to interfere. The Serbs were so confident that the U.S government, United nations and the European community wouldnt intervene.   By the time the siege was over, the city of Sarajevo had lost around 200,000 people. Bosnia boasted the single largest muslim population by the year 1971. Bosnia had a population of 4 million people out of which 44% were Bosniak, 31% were Serb and 17% were Croatian.   Few years after independence, The Bosnian Serb forces allied with the Serb dominated Yugoslavs army committed heinous acts of crime on the large population of the Bosniak muslims. This was the worst act of genocide after the holocaust. The violence and killings didnt stop there. The next worse thing to happen was the Srebrenica Massacre. Srebrenica was a small town dominated by Bosniak muslims. The UN had shipped around 600 Dutch soldiers as a part of the peace keeping force because this place was deemed to be a ?Safe Haven. Those troops were very inefficient and weak. Serb militants forcefully separated men, women and children. Men were sent for questioning and women and children were deported. Some men were sent to concentration camps where they were tortured, beaten and exposed to inhuman conditions and the other men were all lined up and shot dead. Women were taken hostage to places commonly described as Rape camps which needs no explanation. The kind of environment these people were exposed to wouldve made them feel less human and wouldve wanted to choose the cowards way out. But they were tortured and killed slowly. The people who did this enjoyed dropping bodies and seeing people lose their loved ones in fro nt of their own eyes.   This is not only mass killing but mass rape as well. The families of the men and women that were sent off to such places are still called to identify bodies that are being found even to this day. The mental trauma they undergo is indescribable. The Serbs who did all this felt that they were much superior than the Bosniaks and felt that the Bosniaks needed an ethical cleansing. Now this ?they vs us mentality automatically created a barrier between the two and established a power distance between them. By the end of all this horror, the death toll was approximately over 200,000. And another 2 million people were separated from their own homes and families. Was Justice served? While the war was still in place, the UN finally decided to step in and start prosecuting the people responsible for this. The UN set up the ?International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands. 161 people were indicted, and 90 people were convicted and sentenced. The main culprits involved were Radovan Karadzic, Slobodan Milosevic and the infamous ?Butcher of Bosnia Ratko Mladic. (Retrieved from https://worldwithoutgenocide.org/genocides-and-conflicts/bosnia ) Radovan Karadzic was charged with genocide and crimes against humanity for carrying out the siege of Sarajevo and the Srebrenica massacre which claimed the lives of over 8000 boys and men. He was given a sentence of 40 years. Milosevic was indicted but was found dead in his prison cell. Due to this, all the charges against genocide, war crimes etc had to be dropped. Ratko Mladic, the head of the Serb army was charged with genocide, murder, inhumane acts etc. His most noticeable roles were in the siege of Sarajevo and leading the Srebrenica massacre. He was found guilty for all the charges and now faces a lifetime in prison. The worst part about Mladics sentencing is that he was found guilty for all those charges on November 22, 2017. To conclude, researching about this was indeed very painful. Reading about the death toll and the methods that were used to torture and kill people gave me goosebumps. The fact that people do this just to prove their supremacy over you is heartening. I cannot even put myself in their shoes even for a second to understand why they did what they did. We live in a world where we have the constant urge to fight each other or prove that were number 1. Its high time we start living to bring each other up and to make life peaceful and harmless for our future generations. Bosnia and its people are still haunted by the things that happened to them and will never be able to forgive or forget any of this.

What You Need to Know About the Weak Force

The weak nuclear force is one of the four fundamental forces of physics through which particles interact with each other, together with the strong force, gravity, and electromagnetism. Compared to both electromagnetism and the strong nuclear force, the weak nuclear force has a much weaker intensity, which is why it has the name weak nuclear force. The theory of the weak force was first proposed by Enrico Fermi in 1933 and was known at that time as Fermis interaction. The weak force is mediated by two types of gauge bosons: the Z boson and W boson. Weak Nuclear Force Examples The weak interaction plays a key role in radioactive decay, the violation of both parity symmetry and  CP symmetry, and changing the flavor of quarks (as in beta decay). The theory that describes the weak force is called quantum flavourdynamics (QFD), which is analogous to quantum chromodynamics (QCD) for the strong force and quantum electrodynamics (QFD) for the electromagnetic force. Electro-weak theory (EWT) is the more popular model of the nuclear force. The weak nuclear force is also referred to as the weak force, the weak nuclear interaction, and the weak interaction. Properties of the Weak Interaction The weak force is different from the other forces because: It is the only force that violates  parity-symmetry (P).It is the only force that violates charge-parity symmetry (CP).It is the only interaction that can change one kind of quark into another or its flavor.The weak force is propagated by carrier particles that have significant masses (about 90  GeV/c). The key quantum number for particles in the weak interaction is a physical property known as the weak isospin, which is equivalent to the role that electric spin plays in the electromagnetic force and color charge in the strong force. This is a conserved quantity, meaning that any weak interaction will have a total isospin sum at the end of the interaction as it had at the beginning of the interaction. The following particles have a weak isospin of 1/2: electron neutrinomuon neutrinotau neutrinoup quarkcharm quarktop quark The following particles have a weak isospin of -1/2: electronmuontaudown quarkstrange quarkbottom quark The Z boson and W boson are both much more massive than the other gauge bosons that mediate the other forces (the photon for electromagnetism and the gluon for the strong nuclear force). The particles are so massive that they decay very quickly in most circumstances. The weak force has been unified together with the electromagnetic force as a single fundamental electroweak force, which manifests at high energy (such as those found within particle accelerators). This unification work received the 1979 Nobel Prize in Physics, and further work on proving that the mathematical foundations of the electroweak force were renormalizable received the 1999 Nobel Prize in Physics. Edited by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Men versus Women - 1650 Words

Whenever you ask a man who is supposed to be the head of the house, 9 times out of 10 he will say that men are supposed to be. Some Men believe that they are the ones who are supposed to run everything and the women are just supposed to follow them. However, throughout this whole interpretation the women are supposed to act like dogs and supposed to just follow them around and listen to whatever they say. Most men think this way and it is very true in their heads and they feel the need to generalize all women and put women into the place where they belong. They do not see any distinguishing factors to make women any different. They think they all look the same and act the same way. In the play, â€Å"A Doll’s House†, by Henrik Ibsen it tells of a family and roles each gender is supposed to have between the man and woman. You can see the husband is constantly belittling her and showing her that she does not belong where she is. Helmer, the husband, feels the need to put Nora, the wife, where she belongs. He feels that he has a certain masculinity to him that he must keep up and flaut. To show that he is the one making money and he needs to be the head of the household. Not all households are the same, some men feel the need to be the head of a household and become the â€Å"breadwinner† because that is what society portrays and that is the role most men display trying to prove their masculinity and enforcing gender roles. Women were viewed as being below men and having to adapt toShow MoreRelatedDiscount Or Equality Men Versus Women Wage Disparities Essay1503 Words   |  7 PagesDiscount or Equality Men versus Women Wage Disparities According to statistics, there are disparities with pay in the workplace. Men are paid more in wages, comprehensive packages, and benefits than women who performed the same job responsibilities and roles in the workplace. The big question is why are women being unvalued? Since, this is a common practice in the workplace, is this fair to both genders and is this the most favorable outcome for the greatest number affected by this businessRead MoreGender Roles, Religion, And Overall Treatment Of Men Versus Women During Slavery1707 Words   |  7 Pagesterrible for men; but it is far more terrible for women. Superadded to the burden common to all, they have wrongs, and sufferings, and mortifications peculiarly their own.† ( Harriet Brent â€Å"Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl† page 119). Gender played a key role in slavery and after reading â€Å"Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl† it is obvious that women in slavery received far worse treatment t hen that of men. Not to take away the incredible injustices that were dealt upon men during slaveryRead MoreThe Society Today, People Still Belittle Women And Treat Them Like Second Class Citizens1457 Words   |  6 PagesBruce Guu Raven Pfister Communication 412 5 May 2015 Theme Analysis In our society today, people still belittle women and treat them like second-class citizens. Women are just as important as men, if not better, and should be treated equally in society. I do acknowledge the fact that we are living in a heternormative society put upon us in the United States. As a heterosexual male, I see the bias, prejudice, and injustice that go toward gays, lesbians, transgenders, and woman. Even though some sayRead MoreComparison Between The Bacchae and The Medea1010 Words   |  5 Pagesterms, such as good versus bad. Binary opposition is used to present both sides of a contrast (Marvin, 1). In The Bacchae and the Medea, Euripides used binary opposition to highlight the central themes. The significant binary oppositions that are used are men versus women, foreigner versus citizen, and god versus man. The contrast between men versus women is an important opposition in both plays. The women in the Greek society have no control of their life; the men are in control (BarlowRead MoreLeadership Prejudices of Men and Women in the Workplace Essay1592 Words   |  7 Pagesprejudices of men and women in the workplace. The age-old debate of inequality for women in executive position will now be examined through online periodicals that show gender stereotypes in the workforce, different strategies men and women use to break the glass ceiling of the workplace, a focus on the interactions and reactions of a male Chief Executive Officer (CEO) versus a female CEO, leadership prejudices among women and women, and various studies regarding leadership of men and women. Because ofRead MoreWomen And Employment Is Unfair1556 Words   |  7 Pagessociety women have more access to doing the same thing as men such as working in higher positions. However, women are getting paid fifty five cen ts of every dollar that men make. The way society treat women with employment is unfair because as women we do the same work or sometimes twice as more. Even though time have change equality for the workplace only change by 6% of a 100% scale. We as individuals have so much work to do when it comes to improving our workplace not for just men but women too.Read More The Fight for Equal Education: The Book Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi1456 Words   |  6 Pagesthere are some rights that are undeniable to humans, it is not always the case that they are made available. This is especially prominent for the rights of women, who since the domestication of plants and animals have been sent to the bottom of society, and used to carry out the purpose of men. One way in which men have taken the power away from women is by taking away their education, and in turn their ability to develop independently and to be. functional parts of society. In her book Persepolis, MarjaneRead MoreGender, Gend er And Gender Stereotypes1582 Words   |  7 Pagesshows how early on humor preference is introduced. The jokes were presented to the children in the form of drawings. Taken from the text; â€Å"The pairs included the following comparisons: boy- versus girl-victim, son- versus father-victim, son- versus mother-victim, daughter- versus father-victim, and daughter- versus mother-victim†(McgeeLloyd925). The findings concluded that both the boys and girls in this experiment did not care about the gender as long as the victim of the joke was not a child, thereforeRead MoreMarriage Essay : The Merchant s Tale 985 Words   |  4 Pagesmatrimony. The corruptness of societies views on marriage lead to a loveless marriage. Chaucer reflects on how much societies views influenced marriages in the 1300’s; he shows this by using conflicts in marriage of man verses himself, women versus herself, and man versus women. Marriages in the 1300’s have to deal with the conflict of man verses himself due to the roles and powers society believes a man should full fill instead of the way a man wants to operate. â€Å"The Merchant’s Tale† illustrates throughRead MoreSalvage The Bones As A Feminist Critic Changes Your View On The Story986 Words   |  4 Pagespoint of view, my thought about why Esch is not feminine changed. In Peter Barry’s book on page 128 at the bottom is a section called â€Å"What feminist critics do†. Number seven on that list stuck out to me, it says, â€Å"Raise the question of whether men and women are ‘essentially’ different because of biology, or are socially constructed as different†. That question made me think of Esch, is Esch different because of biology or was she socially constructed differently? When you think about if Esch’s mom

Definition Of Customary International Law - 1710 Words

Within the scope of customary international law there are some varying norms that the international law community must deal with, which can be broken down into three different categories from most important to least important: 1) norms in which the international community allows no derogation, these are known as peremptory norms or jus cogens, 2) norms that might allow for derogation, and 3) norms that aren’t binding but some might argue should be. The classification of these customary norms is based off of both state practice and opinio juris. In order to determine state practice the states may look towards each other and how they react in similar scenarios. One debate surrounding this area is determining how many states need to sign off on an action to determine that sufficient state practice is occurring. Two sides of the argument are the actual number states versus the regionalization of the states. Opinio juris is defined as a state engaging in a certain activity because they believe they are under legal obligation to act. The idea of peremptory norms is older than modern international law itself (113). The idea of peremptory norms stems from the belief that certain actions are so heinous that in order for these to be prevented states shall not be allowed to derogate from adherence. The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties shows the importance of peremptory norms in both Article 53 and 64. Article 53 states that a treaty is void if at the time of itsShow MoreRelatedPublic International Law Is Formed By Sovereign States1463 Words   |  6 PagesPublic International law is formed by sovereign states, for sovereign states and governed by the notion of consent. The international Court of Justice under the statute of Article 38, states that when disputes are presented they shall apply International Conventions (also known as treaties), international customs and general principals of law and it shall draw on judicial decisions and the teachings and writings of highly qualified publicists in determin ing rules of law . The domain of the sourcesRead MoreNicaragua Case1655 Words   |  7 Pagesarticulate what the law is and where it can be found. The sources of international law can be found in article 38 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice. Article 38 of the Statute of the ICJ states: ‘The Court, whose function is to decide in accordance with international law such disputes as are submitted to it, shall apply: a. international conventions, whether general or particular, establishing rules expressly recognized by the contesting states; b. international custom, as evidenceRead MoreThe Sources Of International Law1060 Words   |  5 PagesThe sources of international law are laid down in the Statute of the International Court of Justice Art.38 and include: â€Å"1. The Court, whose function is to decide in accordance with international law such disputes as are submitted to it, shall apply: a. international conventions, whether general or particular, establishing rules expressly recognized by the contesting states; b. international custom, as evidence of a general practice accepted as law; c. the general principles of law recognized byRead More The Great Tuna Boat Chase and Massacre case Essay1260 Words   |  6 Pages The Great Tuna Boat Chase and Massacre Case has Ecuador claiming that the United States is in violation of its 200-mile territorial sea. From it’s inception, Ecuador had accepted the customary three mile limit as the demarcation of its territorial waters. However, after 130 years, Juan Valdez achieved power in 1952. Under his regime, he proclaimed that the three mile boundary was never meant to be considered a fixed and unalterable boundary, and that historical practices as well as the natural featuresRead More2.1 The Birth Of Free Speech . It Is Difficult To Pinpoint1267 Words   |  6 Pagesthe concept of the inherent human rights to voice one’s opinion publicly without fear of censorship or punishment. Free speech was in existence long before the concept of human rights, as we know it today came into being. The definition of freedom of speech, as recognized by law, has been evolving. When the United Nations General Assembly met the very first time in January 1946, one resolution that it passed recognized freedom of information as a fundamental human right and the touchstone of all theRead MoreDevolution : The Law And Policy1388 Words   |  6 Pagescountry, devolved territories have the power and statutory will to apply uniquely apply legislation to their specific area, allowing the principle of such legislation more relevant and practical to their own local communities. (Devolution: The law and policy - the law society, no date) .B. Legislative competence is the capacity, powers and authority to give, enact or make rules that are statutory binding for that particular jurisdiction and therefore to whomever enters such. An example of legislativeRead MoreThe Security Council And International Law1590 Words   |  7 PagesThere has been difficulty in defining terrorism in international law due to changes in terrorist methodology and the lack of any precise definition of the term terrorism’† . The United Nations General Assembly also condemned acts of terrorism without defining it. Therefore a functional approach had been adopted through treaties dealing with the forms of terrorism considered to be unacceptable. Although, it is agreed upon in international law that terrorism is unlawful, it is not addressed whetherRead MoreThe Sexual Offences Bill 2015 Essay1255 Words   |  6 Pages2.4 Sexual offences Bill 2015 A Sexual offences Bill was passed by the Nigerian senate on the 27th of Mat 2015 but is yet to get the presidential accent which would make it into law. Given the status of the bill pending the accent of the president it is not yet law and thus is not yet legally binding; however the SOB in its mandate to protect all persons from sexual offences such as rape, defilement, indecent exposure, sexual assault and a varying newly introduced elements of sexual offences hasRead MoreLegal Corruption In Nigeria1620 Words   |  7 Pagesnotwithstanding the weight of any corruption allegation against them. Article 5 (1) of the Rome Statute sets out the crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court: 1. The jurisdiction of the Court shall be limited to the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole. The Court has jurisdiction in accordance with this Statute with respect to the following crimes: (a) The crime of genocide; (b) Crimes against humanity; (c) War crimes; (d) The crime of aggression. The Nuremberg TribunalRead MoreDifferences between: Legal, Moral and Customary Rights Details on various NGOs that protect and define human rights.1547 Words   |  7 Pages1. Distinguish between a) Legal, Moral and Customary Rights. A legal right is one that is enforceable by law. Any citizen and can discover these rights. They can validly be argued in court and generally take preference to other rights. Moral rights are those that particular groups believe are right and just. They are generally derived from religion and reflect the values and attitudes of the group that holds them. Usually the moral rights held by the majority of the population are closely reflected

Company Profile, Environmental And Swot Analysis And Key...

CHAPTER THREE COMPANY PROFILE, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SWOT ANALYSIS AND KEY MANAGERIAL ISSUES This study seeks to develop a five year human resource strategic plan for the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE). Specific objectives of the research were (a) to identify the current gaps in human resource management at NCCE; (b) to note the effect of the human resource gaps on organizational performance; (c) to ascertain what steps NCCE has put in place to address the human resource gaps; (d) to propose alternative solutions to help effectively address the gaps in human resource management at NCCE; and (e) to turn the alternative solutions into an action plan by way of a human resource strategic plan to be implemented by the management of†¦show more content†¦To develop policies for the consideration of Government from time to time and organize programmes at the national, regional and district levels aimed at realizing the objectives of the Constitution; 4. To formulate, implement and oversee programmes intended to inculcate in the citizens of Ghana, the awareness of their civic responsibilities and an appreciation of their rights and obligations as free people; 5. To assess for the information of Government, the limitations to the achievement of true democracy arising from the existing inequalities between different strata of the population and make recommendations for re-dressing these inequalities. Environment Analysis To be able to effectively analyze and formulate effective policies as to the human resource of the NCCE, it is important to learn about the external factors that can affect the organization. Reasons for this include the fact that, formulated policies would only work if it takes into account external factors that affects an organization. These factors could either strengthen or weaken the established project or formulated policies. According to Zalengera et al. (2014), a macro environment analysis can be diagrammatically illustrated as below: Macro Environment Analysis (PESTLE) Political Factors: It refers to the stability of the political environment and the attitudes of political parties or movements. This may manifest in government influence on public sector organisational policies, or government

Modern Art Essay Free Essays

Pablo Picasso, one of the most renowned European painters of the 20th century, has passed through various stages in his art reflected in numerous paintings. Two of his paintings, â€Å"Girl with Mandolin† (1911) and â€Å"Les Demoiselles d`Avignon† (1907), refer to the Cubist period in Picasso’s art. The two works are in many ways similar as they have been painted by the same artist, carrying traces of Picasso’s crisp and thoughtful style, and refer to the same period in Picasso’s life and same artistic movement – Cubism. We will write a custom essay sample on Modern Art Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now At the same time, the artist does not repeat himself in his paintings over and over again, so the two works are different in many ways. The earlier work, â€Å"Les Demoiselles d`Avignon†, is a group portrait of five prostitutes from this French town. They are naked, and their postures indicate that they are trying to be seductive. Even so, the women are represented in grotesque manner: their shapes are distorted, their faces are just a combination of features inadequately fitting one another, and two of the women look as if they put on rather intimidating masks on their faces. In fact, the painter here implied a connection to the traditional African masks that fascinated him at the moment when this picture was created. Picasso himself named â€Å"Les Demoiselles d`Avignon† â€Å"first exorcism painting† (MoMa). The prostitutes are depicted as ugly, intimidating creatures that have little femininity despite their obvious wish for attraction. The specific Cubist forms serve to underscore this brutality of their looks. The setting of the brothel, as will become typical of Cubist works, is not explored in depth. Rather, it serves as a pale background for the picture that is simply there in order not to leave the girls hanging in the air by themselves. The background then serves mostly as framing for the figures that take on the primary importance in the picture. The fruits on the table, the walls – all of this is only secondary to the group in the foreground. â€Å"Girl with Mandolin† (1911) is a much more Romantic image. Here the Cubist manner begins to converge with Abstract art, a tendency that is yet to assert itself. The form disintegrates even further, the surroundings are unclear, and only the girl’s figure stands out from the background of the picture, appealing to the viewer with its elegant, shapely form. The girl, much like Avignon prostitutes, is presented as a set of cubes, but these cubes unite to create a simple and elegant whole rather than a disgusting shape. The mandolin, a musical instrument, is represented in a much more realistic way, but the whole environment in which it placed creates a light air of surreal music. The viewer is seeing a picture that creates the impression of uttering a sound so that the audience can feel the sounds emanating from the work. The Cubist shapes are there not to make the girl lose her feminine shape and look ugly; on the contrary, they make her look like a celestial creature that is too elevated and unreal to be depicted in gross, realistic terms that will depict in detail the texture of her dress, color of the hair, etc. instead, the artist presents a generalised picture of nearly pure femininity. Thus, the two pictures are similar in the first place through their Cubist method. Among the styles developed by Picasso, Cubism is perhaps the best known, focused on dealing â€Å"with envisioning objects from multiple vantage points at the same time† (Pablo Picasso).   The composition of the painting as an object consisting of several perspectives of the same object creates the peculiar angular form that is present in both â€Å"Girl with Mandolin† and â€Å"Les Demoiselles d`Avignon†. At the same time, the later â€Å"Girl with Mandolin† is in a sense even ‘more Cubist’ as it completely leaves out the traces of realism, such as depiction of fruits on the table in â€Å"Les Demoiselles d`Avignon† that are not broken down into the Cubist multiple shapes. The message of â€Å"Girl with Mandolin† is totally different from that of â€Å"Les Demoiselles d`Avignon†, as the first picture is a hymn to ethereal femininity, while the second is the grotesque portrayal of the five prostitutes who strike the viewer with their awkward forms. Thus, viewers of the two paintings can trace in them the evolution of Picasso’s style as he progresses from the initial conception of Cubism to the well-developed idea of that style that has in itself become a certain canon for other artists. Cubism, with its emphasis on the sculptural form of the objects, is also focused on the unexpected representation of the portrayed figures. Like in many classical works, the artist strives for generalization of either attractive or unattractive womanhood, portraying its different poles. The two paintings are a vivid example of how an artist can use the same method to convey two different messages, that of glorifying and denigrating an object, and be successful in both cases. Picasso in each case creates a vivid and memorable image that chimes in with the reader’s innermost ideas and perceptions. Bibliography Picasso, Pablo. Girl with a Mandolin (Fanny Tellier). 1911. 5 December 2005 http://www.artchive.com/artchive/P/picasso/tellier.jpg.html. Picasso, Pablo (1883-1971). 5 December 2005 http://www.incompetech.com/art/picasso.html. Picasso, Pablo. Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. Paris, June-July 1907. 5 December 2005 How to cite Modern Art Essay, Essay examples

AGL Energy Limited - Comparative Analysis Of Financial Free Sample

Question: Discuss about the Comparative Analysis of Financial for AGL Energy Limited. Answer: Introduction Ratio analysis is the financial statement analysis, which helps to gather a quick suggestion regarding the financial performance of the firm in several key areas. Ratios can be of different types depending on the liquidity, profitability, market performance, and solvency of the specified firm. In this report, two companies named AGL Energy Limited and Genesis Energy Limited of the same industry (energy sector) have been selected to analyze the financial condition of both the firms by comparing and contrasting the ratio values and their trends. In order to analyze the trends and ratio of both the firms, the historical value of last two years 2014 and 2015 of both the firms have been gathered from their respective annual reports. Company Background Genesis Energy Limited Genesis Energy Limited was founded in the year 1999 and it is a public type company enlisted in both NZX and ASX as GNE. It belongs to the energy sector and is the predecessor of the company named Electricity Corporation of New Zealand (Genesis Energy 2016). The particular company deals with LPG, electricity generation, natural gas and electricity retailing company. Genesis Energy Limited is the largest natural gas as well as electricity retailer in New Zealand as in the financial year 2013-2014, the firm had a market share of 42% and 26% respectively (Genesis Energy 2016). AGL Energy Limited AGL Energy Limited was founded in 1837 as the Australian Gas Light Company; however, later it was founded as AGL Energy in the year 2006. It is a public company enlisted in ASX and is head quartered in North Sydney (Agl.com.au 2016). AGL Energy Limited belongs to the energy as well as utilities sector and its key products are coal seam gas and hydroelectricity, energy, natural gas generation and wind power (Agl.com.au 2016). It has been found that AGL Energy has more than 3.8 million residential as well as business consumers across South Australia, Victoria, Queensland, and New South Wales. Profitability Ratio: Return on Assets: AGL Energy Limited Genesis Energy Limited 2014 ($Million) 2015($Million) 2014 ($Million) 2015($Million) Return on Assets (Net income/ Average Total Assets) 0.013768 -0.027937551 0.013502342 0.029761905 Table 1: Showing the Return on Assets (Source: Genesis Energy 2016 and Agl.com.au 2016) The return on assets of AGL Energy mainly declined from 2014 to 2015 indicating low sales generated from operations. However, the return on assets of Genesis Energy mainly increased, which indicates an effective deployment of management function. After the effective comparison of both the company it could be concluded that based on ROA Genesis energy could be identified as the most valuable stock for investment. Christensen and Nikolaev (2013) argued that during an economic crisis the overall valuation of the company assets and revenue could be hampered, which projects a low ROA of the company. Net Profit Margin: AGL Energy Limited Genesis Energy Limited 2014 ($Million) 2015($Million) 2014 ($Million) 2015($Million) Net Profit Margin (Net Income/ Net Sales) 0.020415808 -0.036591928 0.024475524 0.050529355 Table 2: Showing the Net Profit Margin (Source: Genesis Energy 2016 and Agl.com.au 2016) With the help of table 2, net profit margin of AGL Energy could be identified as weak compared to Genesis Limited. This reduced net profits margin of AGL Energy could be because of the declining sales or increasing administrative expenses incurred by the company to conduct its operations. Moreover, the rising net profit margin of Genesis Limited could be helpful for investors to receive higher dividends. Stahl et al. (2012) stated that with the help of net profit margin investors are able to identify the overall administrative expenses incurred by the company to generate sale, which might be helpful in achieving sustainable growth. Liquidity Ratios: As commented by Healy and Palepu (2012), liquidity ratios help in vivisecting the capability of a firm in order to write off its existing debts and obligations. Hence, these ratios help in gauging the cash availability of an organisation to convert its assets into cash. Current Ratio: AGL Energy Limited Genesis Energy Limited 2014 ($Million) 2015($Million) 2014 ($Million) 2015($Million) Current Ratio (Current Assets/ Current Liabilities) 1.457648546 1.405013709 1.44534413 1.119354839 Table 3: Current ratio of AGL Energy Limited and Genesis Energy Limited (Source: Genesis Energy 2016 and Agl.com.au 2016) According to the above table, it has been found that the current ratio of both the firms has experienced a marginal decline in the subsequent years. This depicts the increase in the liability base of both the organisations in contrast to the average current asset base (Hoberg, Phillips and Prabhala, 2014). Therefore, it could be inferred that both the organisations are suffering from poor liquidity position as far as the current ratio is concerned. Quick Ratio: AGL Energy Limited Genesis Energy Limited 2014 ($Million) 2015($Million) 2014 ($Million) 2015($Million) Quick Ratio [(cash + cash equivalents + short-term investments +current receivables)/ Current Liabilities] 1.29 1.242 1.064 0.861 Table 4: Current ratio of AGL Energy Limited and Genesis Energy Limited (Source: Genesis Energy 2016 and Agl.com.au 2016) According to the above table, it has been evaluated that the quick ratio of both the organisations has declined over the consecutive years. In case of AGL Energy Limited, the ratio has been high compared to the ideal standard and vice-versa for Genesis Energy Limited. This implies that the former organisation has focused on accumulating higher inventory compared to that of the market demand. The latter firm, however, has been struggling to meet off its existing debts and obligations. Capital Structure Fan et al. (2012) mentioned that the process through which the business entity gathers external finance through the various sources of fund has to evaluate by the management of the business enterprise. The debt equity ratio as well as the equity ratio for both the business entities has to be computed . Debt to Equity Ratio The debt to Equity ratio calculates the amount of finance coming from creditors as well as the investors (Refer to Appendix). AGL Energy Limited Genesis Energy Limited 2014 ($Million) 2015($Million) 2014 ($Million) 2015($Million) Debt to Equity (Total Liabilities/ Total Equity) 0.44323 0.4572 0.4819 0.4827 Table 5: Debt to Equity Ratio of AGL Energy Limited and Genesis Energy Limited (Source: Genesis Energy 2016 and Agl.com.au 2016) It can be stated that the ratios of both organizations can be considered healthy in the context of the global market. Robb and Robinson (2012) mentioned that this indicates the strong financial health of the company. In the context of AGL Energy Limited, the debt to equity ratio of the organization was 0.44 in the year 2015. The debt to equity ratio in the context of the Genesis Energy Limited has enhanced from 0.481 in the year 2014 to 0.482 in the year 2015. Therefore, the liabilities of both the firms have shown substantial growth. Equity Ratio The equity ratio is the financial ratio that indicates the portion of equity that facilitates the financing of the assets of the company (Refer to Appendix). AGL Energy Limited Genesis Energy Limited 2014 ($Million) 2015($Million) 2014 ($Million) 2015($Million) Equity Ratio (Total Equity/ Total Assets) 1 1 1 1 Table 6: Equity Ratio of AGL Energy Limited and Genesis Energy Limited (Source: Genesis Energy 2016 and Agl.com.au 2016) From the table, it can be stated that the equity ratio of both the organizations have shown consistency in growth for both 2014 and 2015. From the equity ratio, it can be identified that both the organizations have shown similar trends, and have delivered consistent business performances over a period of time Market Performance: In the words of Loughran and McDonald (2014), the market performance portrays a vivid description of the organisational performance in the target market. Therefore, in order to dissect the market performance of both the firms, the ratios related to dividend per share and earnings per share have been taken into consideration. Dividend per share: This ratio helps in gauging the percentage of the actual net profit, which is distributed to the stockholders on the part of the organisation. AGL Energy Limited Genesis Energy Limited 2014 ($Million) 2015($Million) 2014 ($Million) 2015($Million) Dividends per share (Sum of dividend/ No. of outstanding shares) 0.591 0.68 0.079 0.8 Table 7: Dividend per share of Genesis Energy Limited and AGL Energy Limited (Source: Genesis Energy 2016 and Agl.com.au 2016) According to the above figure, it has been inherent that both the organisations have increased their dividend payout to the shareholders over the subsequent years. In case of AGL Energy Limited, the dividend payout has increased from 0.59% in the year 2014 to 0.68% in the year 2015. However, this ratio has been high in case of Genesis Energy Limited, since the same has increased from 0.079 in the year 2014 to 0.8 in the year 2015. The possible reason behind such increase is the rise in net profit, which might have resulted from the higher amount of sales in the Australian market. Thus, the amount of dividend for both the firms has increased over time due to the higher income earned over the subsequent years. Hence, it could be inferred that both the firms have increased their dividend payouts; however, Genesis Energy Limited is enjoying a competitive advantage. Earnings per share: AGL Energy Limited Genesis Energy Limited 2014 ($Million) 2015($Million) 2014 ($Million) 2015($Million) Earnings per share [(Net income Preferred Dividends)/ Weighted average common shares outstanding] 0.33 0.23 0.1 0.12 Table 8: Earnings per share of Genesis Energy Limited and AGL Energy Limited (Source: Genesis Energy 2016 and Agl.com.au 2016) Based on the above graph, it has been evident that AGL Energy Limited has experienced a decline in its share earnings possibly due to the indifferent motive of the investors to invest in the organisation. However, the scenario has been opposite in case of Genesis Energy Limited, since the company has experienced an increase in its earnings per share. Therefore, Genesis Energy Limited is enjoying a competitive advantage over AGL Energy Limited as well. Comparing AGL Energy Limited and Genesis Energy limited: Both AGL and Genesis energy are from the energy sector and the ratio comparison effectively helps in evaluating the overall performance of companies. In addition, with the help of liquidity, profitability, market performance, and capital structure the overall performance of both the companies are effectively evaluated. Moreover, Genesis energy limited is mainly identified as the most valuable stock, which could provide investors with adequate invested return. Ally (2013) stated that with the help of ratios investor are able to identify the most favourable stock, which might help in providing higher return from investment. Conclusion It can be concluded that Genesis Energy limited and AGL Energy Limited require more improvements in order to run the businesses successfully in future. It has been noted that both companies need to put more effort on their profitability, solvency and liquidity ratios for improving their financial conditions. Recommendations The investors should invest more in AGL Energy Limited as Genesis Energy has a relatively poor solvency situation. Additionally, it has been found that AGL Energy has a better financial position in liquidity and market performance ratios. Reference and Bibliography: Agl.com.au. 2016.AGL Energy Limited. [online] Available at: https://www.agl.com.au [Accessed 26 Aug. 2016]. Ally, Z., 2013. Comparative analysis of financial performance of commercial banks in Tanzania.Research Journal of Finance and Accounting,4(19), pp.133-143. Callen, J.L., 2015. A selective critical review of financial accounting research. Critical Perspectives on Accounting, 26, pp.157-167. Christensen, H.B. and Nikolaev, V.V., 2013. Does fair value accounting for non-financial assets pass the market test?.Review of Accounting Studies,18(3), pp.734-775. Fan, J.P., Titman, S. and Twite, G., 2012. An international comparison of capital structure and debt maturity choices. Journal of Financial and quantitative Analysis, 47(01), pp.23-56. Genesis Energy. 2016.Power Company - Electricity Companies - Genesis Energy NZ. [online] Available at: https://www.genesisenergy.co.nz [Accessed 26 Aug. 2016]. Healy, P.M. and Palepu, K.G., 2012.Business Analysis Valuation: Using Financial Statements. Cengage Learning. Hoberg, G., Phillips, G. and Prabhala, N., 2014. Product market threats, payouts, and financial flexibility.The Journal of Finance,69(1), pp.293-324. Kirkham, R., 2012. Liquidity analysis using cash flow ratios and traditional ratios: The telecommunications sector in Australia.The Journal of New Business Ideas Trends,10(1), p.1. Loughran, T. and McDonald, B., 2014. Measuring readability in financial disclosures.The Journal of Finance,69(4), pp.1643-1671. Robb, A.M. and Robinson, D.T., 2012. The capital structure decisions of new firms. Review of Financial Studies, p.hhs072. Stahl, F., Heitmann, M., Lehmann, D.R. and Neslin, S.A., 2012. The impact of brand equity on customer acquisition, retention, and profit margin.Journal of Marketing,76(4), pp.44-63.

Racial Issues in Music Essay Example For Students

Racial Issues in Music Essay Articles all over the internet have the same remarks to pose Rap these days is all about pitches, hoes, and drugs. In a sense, rap is generalized by a few songs and the assuages poised by the songs are assumed to be the three things listed above. In actual, this is untrue and there are various artists that rap about problems they faced in the ghetto and real life situations that African Americans face in their day to day life. However, for this blob write up the main purpose is to prove that songs like Hot Amiga by Bobby Samurai coincide with the stereotypes that rap songs are basically portraying African Americans as violent individuals who partake in illegal actions such as the consumption of drugs and the use of weapons. The specific idea of race Ewing portrayed negatively in this song is very easy to comprehend. Almost everyone in this song is an African American residing in East Flatfish, Brooklyn. Samurai goes onto rap about his friends and gang members that carry weapons such as a 9 millimeter pistol. It is also evident in the video that Samaras actions specifically reference the use of weapons. This links in with the stereotype that black people are linked with violent actions and connected to the use of weapons. Moving on, there are also references made in the lyrics of the song and the video where the listener as a glimpse of the use of marijuana, another point that helps connect African Americans to the use of illegal substances and unruly behavior. However, not every African American should be generalized into a category of gangsters that Samurai portrays them to be, the general public feels it is right to paint every African into the same category. This is the reason why in America there are brutal killings of innocent African Americans. The population of people postulate the African race to be indulged in matters of violence and illegal activities due to people like Samurai. Myself am an avid listener to Rap music and artists like Bobby Samurai, however his songs have a beat that helps me liven up the atmosphere. When it comes to lyrics and actual rap music, I would pick artists like Kindlier Lamar who rap for the African race and outline the struggles they go through. I feel it is wrong label the African American race as gangsters because at the end of the day they are humans and should be treated with due respect even though due to a few rotten apples their name is tarnished in society.

Spanish Settlement Of The West Essays - Presidency Of James K. Polk

Spanish settlement of the west International borders have always been centers of conflict, and the U.S.-Mexican border is no exception. With the European colonizing the New World, it was a matter of time before the powers collided. The Spanish settled what is today Mexico, while the English settled what is to day the United States. When the two colonial powers did meet what is today the United States' Southwest, it was not England and Spain. Rather the two powers were the United States and Mexico. Both Counties had broken off from their mother countries. The conflict that erupted between the two countries where a direct result of different nation policies. The United States had a policy of westward expansion, while Mexico had a policy of self protection. The Americans never had a written policy of expansion. What they had was the idea of "Manifest Destiny." Manifest Destiny was the belief that the United States had the right to expand westward to the Pacific ocean. On the other hand, Mexico was a new country wanti ng to protect itself from outside powers. Evidence of U.S. expansion is seen with the independence of Texas from Mexico. The strongest evidence of U.S. expansion goals is with the Mexican-American War. From the beginning, the war was conceived as an opportunity for land expansion. Mexico feared the United States expansion goals. During the 16th century, the Spanish began to settle the region. The Spanish had all ready conquered and settled Central Mexico. Now they wanted to expand their land holdings north. The first expedition into the region, that is today the United States Southwest, was with Corando. Corando reported a region rich in resources, soon after people started to settle the region. The driving force behind the settlement was silver in the region. The Spanish settled the region through three major corridors; central, western and eastern. The first settlements were mainly through the central corridor. The Spanish went thorough what is now the modern Mexican state of Chihuahua into the U.S. state of New Mexico. Eventually the Spanish established the city of Santa Fe in 1689. The eastern corridor was through modern day Texas and led to the establishment of San Antonio. The eastern expansion was caused by the French expansion into modern day Louisiana. The Spanish crown wanted a buffer between the French in Louisiana and central Mexico. The last corridor of expansion was in the west, through the sea, which led to the establishment of San Diego in 1769 and Los Angles in 1781. The Spanish were not the only European power to colonize the new world; French, English and the Dutch also settled North and South America. The Spanish and the French settled what is present day U.S.-Mexico border region. The French settled modern day U.S. midwest, while the Spanish settled present day Mexico and U.S. southwest. As time went on, European influence in the region diminished.. The French sold there claims to the United States, in 1803 with the Louisiana Purchase. Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821. Once the United States bought the Louisiana Purchase, western expansion began. This set the stage for major conflict in the region. The United States gained independence from England in 1775. After 1775, the Americans started to expand west. By the time Mexico gained independence, the United States had reached the Mexican frontier. Mexico needed to protect its northern borders. To protect the border region, Mexico needed to populate the area. Mexico continued the policy started by Spain of allowing Americans to settle Texas. The Americans had to follow Mexican law, religion and customs. The settlement of Texas played into the United States' expansion plans. Eventually Mexico City closed Texas from more Americans from entering. This angered the Americans wanting to enter and Americans already living in Texas. Texas revolted from Mexico in 1833. Mexicans did live in Texas, and fought for the independence of Texas. The majority of Texans were Americans and fought for their independence. After the war the Americans intentionally or non-intentionally forced most Mexicans out of Texas. The ones that stayed faced racial tensions that continue to today. After gaining independence from Mexico, Texas wanted to join the United States immediately. The U.S. Congress voted

The Best ACT Diagnostic Test and How to Use It

The Best ACT Diagnostic Test and How to Use It SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips An ACT diagnostic test is an important part of your ACT prep, but there’s a lot more to it than just answering a few questions and seeing how you score.A diagnostic test can be one of the best tools for shaping your ACT study plan, but you need to know where to find the right ones and how to take them properly. In this guide, we explain what an ACT diagnostic test is, why it’s such an important study tool, where you can find the best diagnostic tests, and every step you should take to get as much valuable info from your diagnostic test as possible. What’s an ACT Diagnostic Test and How Can It Help You? An ACT diagnostic test is a practice test that you take at the beginning of your studying. This is more than just any practice test though. You can use your diagnostic test results to figure out your strengths and weaknesses on the ACT, how well you’re currently scoring, and how much you need to improve.All of these are key pieces of information for developing an effective study plan that’ll get you the ACT results you're aiming for. Without an ACT diagnostic test, you’ll find it much harder to study effectively for the ACT because you won’t know how much progress you need to make or which areas you should be focusing on. We recommend that every person studying for the ACT take a diagnostic test early in their prep. What Are the Best ACT Diagnostic Tests? There are lots of free ACT diagnostic tests out there, but the best ones to take will always be official ACT practice tests.Official ACT practice tests are retired real ACTs, so they'll be very similar to the ACT you see on test day. This is key because, if your diagnostic test isn’t a good replica of the real ACT, your diagnostic test results won’t give you a very accurate idea of how well you’d score on the ACT, so you could end up studying too little, studying too much, or studying the wrong subjects. It’s key that your diagnostic test mimics the difficulty, content, and format of the real ACT.Fortunately, this is easy to do. There are lots of high-quality and free ACT diagnostic test pdfs out there.We actually have links to every free and official ACT practice test available online. Use one of these for your diagnostic. If you’re looking for a shorter free ACT diagnostic test, your options are somewhat limited. There are many unofficial practice quizzes available, but we don’t recommend them since they aren’t as high-quality as official resources.ACT Inc. offers short quizzes for each section of the exam. There are five quizzes for each exam section, and each quiz has five questions. If you choose to take some of these quizzes for your diagnostic test, know that you won’t be able to get an accurate score estimate from them since their format is so different from the format of the actual ACT.Instead, you can use the quizzes to get a general idea of the areas where you’re doing well and where you need to study more. How Should You Take an ACT Diagnostic Test? When you take your ACT diagnostic exam, it’s crucial to mimic real testing conditions as closely as possible so that you can get the most accurate score from your diagnostic.If you give yourself more breaks or time than you’d get on the real test, your diagnostic test results won’t be as useful. Here are the main rules you should follow when taking your diagnostic: Take the test with pencil and paper (You’ll be taking the real ACT this way, so we don’t recommend taking your ACT diagnostic online.) Take the test all in one sitting Keep strict timing for each section (don’t give yourself even one minute extra to complete a section!) Use only the breaks you’d get on the official exam (10 minutes after the Math section and 5 minutes before the Writing section if you’re taking it) Minimize distractions (no music, TV, people talking in the room, etc.) For a more in-depth look at the best way to take ACT practice tests, check out our guide specifically on the topic. How Should You Analyze Your ACT Diagnostic Test Results? Big Picture Questions After you’ve taken your diagnostic test, you’ll need to break down your test results to understand exactly what you need to work on and where you can improve. Here are three of the first questions you should ask yourself. Which Sections Were Your Best? Your Worst? After you’ve looked at your overall score, review your section scores for English, Math, Reading, and Science. How do they compare to each other? Are some section scores significantly higher than others?Students often divide their study time equally between each of the ACT sections or read entire prep books all the way through to make sure they’re learning everything they can. However, if your section scores vary widely, this isn’t the most efficient use of your time. You want to concentrate more study time on the section(s) where you need to make the biggest improvement. So if, say, your Science score is the lowest of your section scores, you’ll want to spend more time studying Science than you would studying for Math, English, or Reading. Which Types of Questions Did You Struggle the Most With? When your review the results of your ACT diagnostic test, you’ll be able to see not only which sections you were stronger or weaker on, but also which question types you struggled with the most.For example, the Science section has three different types of questions. Maybe you did pretty well on Data Representation questions but struggled on the Conflicting Viewpoints questions. The more detailed your analysis is, the more it’ll help you develop a study plan that effectively targets your weaknesses and helps you raise your score.We have guides that explain the different question types you’ll see on each section of the ACT: English, Math, Reading, and Science. Were You Pressed for Time? The ACT is strictly timed, and if you ran out of time on any section of your diagnostic, that’s absolutely something you need to focus on during your studying.Leaving just a few questions blank on each section because you didn’t have time to answer them can have a major impact on your score. The ACT expects you to answer many questions in a limited amount of time, and many students struggle with completing the test within the time limits.If you felt you knew most of the information being tested but just didn’t have the time to answer all the questions, working on your timing skills will be key to improving your ACT score. How Should You Analyze Your ACT Diagnostic Test Results? Nitty Gritty Questions Once you’ve looked at the big picture info you got from your diagnostic, it’s time for a more detailed analysis. To do this, you should go through every question you got wrong (or just guessed on) on your diagnostic ACT and figure out why you answered it incorrectly. For each question you answered incorrectly, think about why you got it wrong. There are generally four reasons people make mistakes on exams: Time Issue: You didn’t have enough time to answer the question. Question Comprehension Issue: You knew the information needed to correctly solve the question, but the question was too complicated, you weren’t sure what exactly was being asked, or you were tricked by the question. Procedural/Content Issue: You weren’t sure how to solve a question, or you didn’t have the background knowledge needed to solve it. Careless Error: You knew how to solve the question, but you made a silly mistake that caused you to choose the wrong answer. We give detailed explanations for how to overcome each of these issues in our guide to going over ACT questions you got wrong, but below are key solutions for each of the four issues. Time Issue To get a better handle of the ACT’s timing and maximize the amount of time you get on each section, there are several techniques to try.First, don’t get stuck on a single question and waste so much time on it you don’t have a chance to answer other questions. If you’ve stared at a question for 60 seconds and have no idea how to solve it, skip it and move on. You can always come back to it at the end of the section if you have more time.Second, for many questions, you’ll see some questions that are obviously incorrect. Do yourself a time-saving favor and cross these off in your booklet immediately. The faster you can eliminate wrong answer choices, the faster you can solve for the correct answer. Finally, one of the best ways to get faster on the ACT is to take lots of practice tests. By doing so you’ll become more familiar with the test and know what to expect and what shortcuts you can use to answer questions. Question Comprehension Issue This issue is especially common with people who read questions quickly in hopes of saving time. Even though you’ll be pressed for time on the ACT, spending an extra few seconds to figure out exactly what a question is asking you is well worth your time. Many students underline key parts of a question to make sure they’re not missing any important information when they read it.This can be particularly helpful for Reading and Science questions, where you’ll need to get your information from long passages. Knowing exactly what you’re looking for can help you save time and ensure you’re looking for the right information. Procedural/Comprehension Issue Both of these issues can be solved by building up your knowledge of what the ACT tests and how its questions are worded.For procedural problems, the best way to improve is to answer lot of practice questions so you become familiar with what ACT questions look like. ACT prep books can also give you insight into how to solve questions.For comprehension issues, you can brush up on the content the ACT tests by using class notes, textbooks on the material, or an ACT prep book. Careless Error In order to stop making careless errors, you need to figure out what’s causing them in the first place.Were you pressed for time? Then improving your time management skills will help.Did you get tripped up by one of the ACT’s common tricks, like only solving for x when you were supposed to solve for 2x? Reading prep books to learn common tricks can help you avoid making those mistakes again.Leaving yourself a few minutes at the end of each ACT section to go over your answers can also help you catch any careless mistakes you may have made. 6 Steps to Creating the Best ACT Prep Plan for You After you’ve taken your ACT diagnostic test and reviewed your results, you can use that information to create your ACT study plan. Below are the six steps to follow to create a study plan that’ll help you strengthen your weaknesses and get the ACT score you’re aiming for. #1: Set an ACT Goal Score Once you have the results from your ACT diagnostic, you need to set a target score so you know what your goal is when you take the actual ACT.To set a target score, first make a list of the colleges you want to apply to. Then find the average ACT scores of admitted students for each of those schools. (This info is usually available on each school’s class profile.)Find the highest average ACT score on your list. That's your goal score because reaching it will give you a good shot at getting into each of your potential schools. Once you have your goal score, compare it to your diagnostic score. Are they close? Far apart? Are there certain sections where you met your goal score but others where you didn’t?Having this info will help you determine your actions for the rest of the steps in your study plan. #2: Figure Out How Long You Need to Study How much you need to study for the ACT depends on the difference between your diagnostic test results and your goal score.Here are our estimates for the total number of hours you'll need to prep based on the ACT score improvement you want: Composite ACT Points You Want to Improve Hours of Study Needed 0-1 points 10 hours 1-2 points 20 hours 2-4 points 40 hours 4-6 points 80 hours 6-9 points 150+ hours Once you know how long you plan on studying, you can decide how many hours you want to study a week and work backwards to figure out how many weeks/months you’ll need to prepare and when you should take the ACT. #3: Get High-Quality Study Resources In order to have a great study plan, you’re going to need to use the best study materials out there.We’ve already discussed the importance of using official practice tests when you study for the ACT. Unofficial practice tests can sometimes vary greatly from the real exam, which means you’ll be taking tests that don’t help or, worse, prepare you for the wrong material. Always use official practice ACTs when you can. A prep book can also be one of the most useful tools for your ACT studying. They can be especially helpful at explaining tricky concepts and breaking down how to solve different types of ACT problems.Check out our guide to the top ACT prep books to learn which are the best prep books out there. #4: Focus on Your Weaknesses As we discussed above, it’s important for you to identify your weak areas and prioritize strengthening them. Once you know which subjects or question types you want to improve in, there are several ways to go about doing this: Reviewing content: either in a prep book or school notes Answer practice questions Asking for help if needed: If you’ve read through all your relevant notes on a subject, you may want to try asking a classmate who is also taking the ACT for help or look into getting a tutor. #5: Take Regular Practice ACTs Your ACT diagnostic isn’t the only practice test you should take before exam day. Regular practice tests will help you track your progress and get more familiar with the exam.We recommend taking three to six full-length practice ACTs before test day.There are currently five official practice ACTs available for free, so definitely make use of them. #6: Regularly Check Your Progress As you study for the ACT, you should regularly step back and analyze how things are going. Are you making the progress you’re wanting? If not, what do you think you should change about your study plan? Are you able to get in the number of study hours you want to? Where are you still struggling? How can you fix that issue? This is a key step to follow because if something’s not working, you’re not going to see the improvements you want, no matter how often you keep doing it.If you’re stuck you might consider looking at tutors or reading our list of the 18 best tips for the ACT to get some new study ideas. What's Next? Ready to get a perfect ACT score? Read our famous guide on what it takes, written by an expert 36 scorer. Looking for more ACT practice tests?Check out our massive collection of official and unofficial ACT practice tests. Not sure when you should take the ACT?Get a complete study plan for the ACT to figure out the best date for you. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses. We also have expert instructors who can grade every one of your practice ACT essays, giving feedback on how to improve your score. Check out our 5-day free trial: