Examine United States Foreign Policy SInce WWII Term Paper

Examine United States Foreign Policy SInce WWII - Term Paper Example It seeks to establish a strategy that will discuss the boundaries between the environment outside of the nation state and the domestic environment. For a well rounded foreign policy it is essential that it covers a wide array of sub-national sources of influence. The need for a foreign policy arises from the need to protect. Governments need some sort of a safety backing that ensures their country’s well being. The intent behind such policies is that they are designed to help guard a country. They protect the country on the grounds of national security, national interests, ideological goals, and economic prosperity. Two extreme methods used by governments to achieve safety are peaceful cooperation with other nations and exploiting weaker nations.1 An excellent example of how one issue is dealt with in a different manner by different countries is related to the War on Terrorism launched by the United States of America. Pakistan and Iran although neighboring countries, chose opp osing stances on the terrorism issue based on their individual foreign policies. Pakistan decided to help America in the terrorism that prevails in the region whereas at the same time Iran which is Pakistan's neighbor and exists in the same region decided not to extend its support to combat terrorism in its neighborhood. Every country wants a peace process to prevail in a turbulent region and wants to help a country that is trying to solve the prevalent problem of terrorism. Given facts such as that the United States was willing to bear the major portion of the costs of war in return for some support and a little bit of resources, Iran chose not to help. It was because of the history they share with America and their ideologies being complete opposite to each other’s. Exposition of such behaviors by countries in such delicate situations is driven by their foreign policy. Foreign policy of a country as the name suggests, governs a country's relationship with other countries in the international arena. Based on the example given above the obvious question that arises in the common man’s mind is related to what made Pakistan participate in the war on terror whilst Iran chose to stay aloof? Why were the policies of neighbors that share a border with one another so different? Why were their reactions to the same situation so vastly opposing? It must be noted here that foreign policies are not set in stone; they tend to change overtime owing to a number of different reasons. Even in today's global arena we can see numerous examples of countries that were allies at one time but are arch enemies now. Changes such as these all take place based on how the foreign policy of a country looks at a certain point in time. The guidelines, rather instructions contained in the foreign policy depend on a lot of factors. There are 3 key factors that influence the construct of most successful foreign policies. The framework of these factors includes domestic considera tions, policies of other states and geopolitical objectives.2 There are several other reasons that push a country to opt for changes in its foreign policy. As the world progresses and with the advent of rapid globalization foreign policies are becoming more and more volatile. A very obvious reason for changes is a country’s foreign policy is related to a changing government. Each government comes forth with its own unique manifesto, a document that dictates its stance on many issues, foreign policy being one very important

My first car Essay Example for Free

My first car Essay So, this is freedom. That was the first thought that crossed, ironically, through my mind as I shook the empty gas-can back and forth, hearing the trickle of fuel inside slosh around the conspicuously light container. My car had glided that March morning, on empty, into a rest-stop just off the Interstate. The rest-stop was pretty much deserted, though I spotted a highway patrol car parked in on one of the slanted slots nearby. I decided that would be my best bet for getting immediate assistance. As I sat in the silent car, looking at the fuel gauge which dipped far beneath Empty I drew a deep breath and savored the pine-scented odor of air-freshener (a rectangular, green ornament that hung on the rear-view mirror) mixed with the smell of vinyl and the faint, teasing, scent of gasoline and I suddenly realized my former calculations had been dead wrong. For the longest time, since I first rode the go-carts at amusement parks or at county fairs as a kid, Id dreamed of the day that Id own my own real car. The association between freedom and cars in my mind was so strong that it was almost painful to me for those long, pre-license years. When I finally found myself behind the wheel of my own car, with the key in the ignition, car-stereo booming, and my foot on the accelerator, it was thrilling! But as soon as I pulled into traffic, or got stuck at a red light, or found myself cut-off by some idiot on the road, my dream of absolute freedom became a bit more tainted. By the time Id run out of gas at the rest-stop, Id reached the conclusion that despite the myth which is generated about cars in American society, cars do not represent freedom, individuality, or escape from everyday troubles. In fact, cars represent the exact opposite of freedom. As I sat there, out of gas, and rehearsing my self-introduction to the highway patrolman, I thought about the reality of cars and how that reality conflicted, very deeply, with my dreams. If I thought about it deeply, I realized that the dent in the dream had actually occurred much sooner than my disillusionment regarding traffic-jams and one-way streets. The problems started right from the beginning when Id taken the written-test and road-test to acquire my drivers license. The stench of freedom-killing beureuacracy could not have been any stronger. Standing in a long-line for hours, filling out forms in triplicate, having your vision tested, your picture taken, having everything right down to the disposition of your bodily organs in the event of your untimely death pinpointed and notated on a handy, laminated card which you were to keep upon your person at all times these aspects alone should have told me, as clearly as the bleached and stained floor of the Secretary of States overcrowded facility that freedom and cars were actually conflicting ideas. The destruction of my dream continued, after registering the car and paying for the outsized insurance policy which was afforded to people of my age and gender, I realized that, because the car was a used-car, and already had nearly 100,000 miles on it, that Id better be at least somewhat selective about driving long-distances. In fact, due to a couple of strange knocks and bumps that seemed to crop up whenever the car was going over 55 mph, Id decided that taking long road-trips in the car was probably a very bad idea. That ditched my dream of visiting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in my own car, and my dream of taking a long trip to the coast of Florida or California. Id dreamed about all of these trips and many more in the years leading up to the day that I bought my first car. Realizing almost immediately, that my more flamboyant dreams were dead in the water, i consoled myself with happy thoughts of cruising around my town and the nearby outskirts with my friends. Unfortunately, this dream was also put to an early test when I realized that cruising costs quite a bit of money due to gasoline and other miscellaneous expenses like fast-food, sodas, snacks, and whatnot. The first time I went cruising with only a single dollar to put in my gas-tank, I actually paid that dollar in quarters, nickels, and dimes. Up to that point Id always envisioned gas-stations as friendly oasis that spewed forth fuel, snacks, and soda. Up to the point of paying for gas myself, Id always thought of gasoline pretty much as I thought of water: ubiquitous and unending. After only a week of car ownership, IU started to watch the gas-needle like a hawk and I got miffed if anyone asked me for a ride somewhere without also offering to pay for gas. Not only was it a hit to my wallet, but the expense of maintaining the car was embarrassing because I simply couldnt handle the expenses. Or chose not to handle them. Given the choice between a lube job and an oil change or buying a new video game or C. D. , I usually, if not always, chose the latter. If it was a choice between having the (retread) tires rotated, or going out to see a band, I always chose what was fun adn not what was practical. Eventually, the car became little more than a loadstone around my neck. The interior of the car became almost like a closet because I pitched a lot of my stuff in there and forgot about it; other people pitched stuff there and in the trunk. Most of the time, the car sat, gas-needle tipping toward empty and it usually looked like it needed to be washed. A couple of the service engine soon lights also blinked on at intervals and the knocking noises kept on knocking. I had descended from my dream of freedom into the reality of ownership. The car , as a dream, represented freedom and escape to faraway places; the car, in reality, represented a responsibility and expense which pretty much insured that the only use I would be able to get out of the car would be to drive it back and forth to work. IN fact, due to thee expense of the car, I was forced to take an extra part-time job, the following Spring, in order to have some work done on its transmission. As it happened, the job was in a town a few miles away from my home, but, because I had a car, getting there and back posed little obstacle. That is: until I ran out of gas in the rest stop. Sitting there in the mostly-empty parking lot, I contemplated the dissolution of my dream but comforted myself one small triumph. My car had run out of gas, but, steering into the rest-stop on fumes, Id guided my car into an empty parking slot. It was the first time I could remember not having to circle a parking lot searching for a place to park. Outline: Thesis statement: Cars represent not freedom but responsibility. 1. Cars are promoted in America as emblems of freedom. 2. Cars are actually part of a complex beureuacracy. 3. The costs of maintaining a car are high. 4. Mostly, cars are used to take people back and forth to work. To pay for their cars. 5. Rather than freedom, cars usually represent responsibility.

The Media Coverage Of Womens Sport In Australia Media Essay

The Media Coverage Of Womens Sport In Australia Media Essay In past centuries, women were discouraged from participating in any physical activity. Women were seen as having inadequate strength and ability to perform any physical activity instead were expected to be submissive and obedient supporters of their male relatives in this one sex activity. In the contemporary world, women have the rights to participate in different sports, and are acknowledged for their expertise to a degree; however, it is obvious that mens sport is still dominant. It is evident in nearly all societies that men were and still are receiving the majority of the media coverage, and are more recognised and rewarded for their athletic efforts. When images are presented in the media for sport, they are often of muscular men who have achieved excellence in their sport. At a young age, children are influenced to follow the stereotypes created through the years. Young girls are often excluded in school sports and pressured to express themselves as more passive and beautiful beings. As a result, young boys are given higher opportunities in sport and are rewarded for such things as getting dirty in a game of football and tackling players is rugby. As George Orwell said, Sport is war without bullets. Sometimes the language of sport borrows the language of war: we hear about battles, warriors, and some very real-life injuries. By comparing sport to past events such as war, where women were subjected to roles that only supported men as they were seen as weak, feminine and vulnerable, it is clear that the media is encouraging this disempowerment. While girls are increasingly encouraged to participate in sport, they are brought up believing that they are much weaker than boys, and cannot perform at the same level or intensity. Boys that do not fit the male stereotype norm in sports are often portrayed as having feminised gender characteristics. A young boy to be told that he throws like a girl or runs like a girl is considered an insult to normalised masculinity. Sport and masculinity are closely entwined, and as a result femininity has been defined as the other and distanced from sport. Men who enter the industry in traditionally female sports such as gymnastics, dance and diving are stereotyped as performing in a more feminine domain. Women in Australia have become largely involved in a majority of sports and sporting events including the Olympics and the Commonwealth games. Over 40 percent of the total participants in the Athens Olympic Games in 2004 were women, and Australia had one of the largest contributions to this percentage. However, their achievements are less acknowledged as those of men, through receiving less media coverage on TV and in the print media, newspapers and magazines. Womens sport receives a total of 9% of all sports coverage in all Australian television news and current affairs (Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, 2010). On the other hand, male sport receives over 80%. This unequal coverage has unfortunately created a difficult situation for sportswomen. Women are given less opportunities for professionalism and their media representation commonly portrays them as sexualised and feminine. Unfortunately the limited numbers of women in management within the industry means that changing this disempowerment is a difficult issue for women. The minimal coverage describes women in ways that stress feminine beauty, weakness, passivity and insignificance, deflecting attention from their athleticism. As women are not seen as equally skilful nor worthy of this media coverage, women find it vital to have a strong focus on their appearance to attract the attention of viewers. In a majority of womens sports, the outfits worn by female athletes are minimal and tight, and hair and makeup is flawless which portrays women as glamorous rather than skilful. Womens sport in Australia sees the Opals in basketball wearing tight fitting bodysuits in contrast to the mens knee length oversized shorts and baggy jerseys and women in beach volleyball wearing skimpy bathers while men play in shorts. This image attracts the wrong attention from viewers and even though the number of viewers (usually men) may increase due to this, women are stereotyped and their true abilities are made insignificant. Women are forced to contest each other to find ways to attract coverage to grow their profile and draw much-needed sponsorship dollars. After attracting sponsorship women are pressured by their sponsors to continue to emphasise femininity and look glamorous and beautiful, in order to be successful. Martina Navratilova is one athlete that never followed the stereotype, and relied on her athletic skills in order to be successful. Todays women tennis stars are good athletes who shouldnt have to wear dresses with plunging necklines to grab headlines (Navratilova, M 2000) On the other hand, Tennis superstar Anna Kournikova, has never won a professional tennis tournament, yet is one of the most famous women athletes. She relies on her looks and chooses to promote herself sexually, generally in mens magazine. The courts are as a stage, people love to see attractive players. Yes it is true I always try to be as seductive as possible but I wouldnt be here if I couldnt play tennis (Kournikova, A 2010). Majority of women athletes understand that to be entirely successful, they must have to follow the stereotype and have a strong feminine look to attract viewers. The language used by the media to describe women athletes subjects them to downgrading and sexist language. Women are often described using words such as vulnerable, choking and defeated while male athletes are given empowerment through the language used to describe them. The majority of descriptions of men include words such strong, powerful and gutsy giving them confidence to perform. Commentators and writers in the media push this disempowerment by not only using this language, but by relating women to children and treating them as amateur, unprofessional athletes through using their first names only. Lack of sponsorship hampers the growth and professionalism of womens sports. As the women are unable to obtain substantial sponsorship, they are unable to receive an increase of media coverage and vice versa, therefore the situation is difficult to overcome. The Australian Bodyboarding Pro Tour has been around as a contest for men to express their surfing abilities. For women, this contest has only been available for a few years, with most girls funding their own participation and travel expenses. Out of over 20 women entrants from Australia, only 4 received sponsorship. For women to be able to continue to perform like men, and grow in professionalism, they need to acquire funds like men do. The minimal of coverage is limiting the sponsorship opportunities therefore restricting career and training opportunities. Earning a minimal income from their competitions makes women unable to balance a professional sporting career and a family life. Without sponsorship, or a high winning income, women are forced to also work for a living in order to support their sport, and their family lives. Their busy schedules mean their hours to daily exercise and training are limited, which affects their chances of performing at their best ability. It was once thought that perhaps male athletes were more powerful athletes and therefore deserving of a higher salary. Society believed that the athletes performed at a harder and more exciting standard and for longer periods of time. However, this fact is entirely false and majority of sports are played, and at the same standard, by both men and women. Kira Llewellyn, who surfs for a living, is usually paid between $1000 and $5000 for her competition winnings. She received $20,000 US prize for the Sintra Pro in Portugal which was the largest sum for a woman in this contest. However, this prize money is not acceptable when the male winner received double the amount. Society has minimal understanding and knowledge of the sports due to the restricted coverage. Shelley Maher, president of Womens Lacrosse Australia said Australia is number one in the world in womens lacrosse and yet a very small percentage of the population would know about our sport, let alone that we were champions. Women strive hard to accomplish their goals in their sport. Sadly though, the lack of coverage means they are not credited for those achievements. Its not fair that a tennis player, for example, gets a half page article for breaking into the world top ten and we have the best in the world right here under our noses and nobody outside the sport seems to care, body boarding enthusiast Amanda Dahl says. In fact, the sportswomen from Australia in the 2006 Commonwealth Games won more gold and silver medals than men. Consistent media coverage can benefit a sport by creating positive role models for societys younger generations. These roles models sadly are limited in the world today because of this minimal coverage. Roles models are needed in contemporary Australia to help girls to set goals and accomplish their dreams. Once children reach adolescence, participation in physical activity declines immensely. Having role models in the media, allows the children see that women athletes do exist and therefore these children will begin to see athleticism as an important part in the female identity. The media needs to show a diversity of models, some with a strong athletic ability to ensure, to ensure that the younger generation is able to break through the construction on feminity. In conclusion, women have always been seen as the second sex when it comes to sport. Even though it is evident that coverage has increase over the years, it is clearly still a major disempowerment. Womens sport needs to be given equal coverage as men and needs to focus on their talents rather than the stereotypical images of women such as beautiful and sexualised. This will help create a standard for Australia that both women and men are equal beings, and will be expressed to the world through their media coverages. These factors as above need to be addressed to allow women to succeed in the sporting industry. Being given equal income, and not making women sexualised will create role models for the younger generations and will allow the industry to grow positively. Providing more physical education for girls in school based institutions will encourage young girls to continue exercise and understand it is achievable to perform at an elite level. As Kate Ellis, the Federal Minister for Sport stated, In a country with such a rich sporting culture as Australia, where womens sport is competitive and very successful on the international stage, it is incredibly disappointing that female sport remains so starkly under-represented in the media.

Loneliness In Of Mice And Men :: essays research papers

Loneliness is the central theme in the novel Of Mice and Men. Many of the characters show signs of being lonely, some more than others. Loneliness haunts Crooks deep inside. Crooks accepts things the way they are though. Crooks does not talk to the other men and they do not talk to him. This causes the greatest amount of loneliness in Crooks out of all the characters. Rejection can cause most people to become crazy, as it did to Crooks. Other characters on the ranch show signs of loneliness also. But what makes the others different is the fact that Crooks does not have anyone to talk with, the others atleast have one person to talk to. Crook’s actions along with not having any friends show why he must be the lonelinest character.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Not having any friends is one of the reasons why Crooks is lonely. The other workers on the ranch take place in fun activities, such as horseshoes and card games. Crooks never gets invited to play. This resentment is due solely to the color of his skin. The other characters all have someone to talk to. George and Lennie have each other, Candy had both his dogs. The other workers are friends with one another. Curley’s wife is also lonely, but still has Curley. The men sit in the bunk house, talk and have fun on occasion. Meanwhile Crooks is in his shed all alone. Crooks tries to explain to Lennie in the shed why he is lonely. “ A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody. Don’t make no difference who the guy is, long’s he’s with you...I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an’ he gets sick'; (80). This is showing Lennie exactly how Crooks is feeling. Also, it explains what Crooks has to deal with. He is trying to scare Lennie. Crooks is forced to explain that he needs someone to talk to. The reader now becomes aware of Crooks terrible loneliness   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Readers can infer Crook’s loneliness by the way he acts. There are many signs throughout the novel that support this. Because Crooks stays in the shed all day one can detect a sense of loneliness. Since Crooks does not ever talk to anyone his social life is all in books. Crooks reads very much to suppress his loneliness and to When Lennie comes into the shed a conversation arises between the two.

Euthanasia: Death and Life-sustaining Treatment Essay

Physicians are committed to sustaining life and relieving suffering. Where the performance of one duty conflicts with the other; the patient’s wishes should prevail. Physicians are required by the principle of patient autonomy to respect a competent patient’s decision to forgo life-sustaining treatment, which prolongs life without reversing the underlying medical condition. Life-sustaining treatment includes, but is not limited to, mechanical ventilation, renal dialysis, chemotherapy, use of antibiotics, other drugs, and artificial nutrition and hydration. Define euthanasia and identify the difference between the types of euthanasia (passive/active euthanasia) Euthanasia is defined as the administration of a lethal agent by another person to a patient for the purpose of relieving the patient’s intolerable and incurable suffering. Some opponents feel that euthanasia is incompatible with the physician’s role as healer, would be difficult to control if made public policy, and would pose serious societal risks. Instead of practicing euthanasia, physicians should be sensitive to the needs of dying patients. Patients should not be abandoned when cure is impossible and should continue to receive emotional support, comfort care, adequate pain control, respect for autonomy, and effective communication. Discuss your beliefs regarding euthanasia. Are there any circumstances when you feel it is justified? Explain your answer. When it becomes evident that a patient’s disease is incurable and death is imminent, palliative care may serve the dying patient better than curative care. Palliative care is directed toward providing relief to terminally ill patients through symptom and pain management. The goal is not to cure but to provide comfort and maintain the highest possible quality of life. Going beyond relief of disease symptoms, palliative care includes relief of emotional distress and other problems so that a patient’s last months and days may be as comfortable as possible. Traditionally, in educational Define and describe the special populations as presented on the Pro/Con web site, and how this population might be adversely affected by euthanasia. Discuss your beliefs regarding euthanasia and these special populations. Identify and describe the law(s) concerning physician assisted suicide in the state you reside or the state you consider your â€Å"home state.† Compare and contrast laws in your home state against either Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act or another state of your choice.

What Exactly Is the ACT Aspire Why Should You Care

What Exactly Is the ACT Aspire Why Should You Care SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips In 2014, ACT Inc. replaced the ACT Plan – a pre-test very similar to the ACT – with the ACT Aspire. Aspire has a very different format, age range, and goals than either the ACT Plan or the regular ACT. So why did the ACT release a new test, and how can it help you prepare for the ACT? We will explore what makes Aspire unique and what you can expect from it. History: The ACT Plan Before ACT Aspire, ACT offered the Plan. The Plan was a straightforward ACT practice test designed for 10th graders. It tested the same subject areas as the ACT and used the same format: a paper and pencil multiple-choice test. The Plan was seen as the ACT’s version of the PSAT. (The PSAT is the SAT’s practice test.) However, unlike the PSAT, the Plan did not enter you into a scholarship competition. It was just a test to let 10th graders (and their schools) know if they were on track to meet college readiness benchmarks and do well on the ACT. The ACT also offered the Explore, a test with the same format but less difficult content, meant to show middle school students if they were on track for high school. The Plan was scored between 1 and 32, while the ACT is scored between 1 and 36. As such, the Plan predicted an ACT score between 1 and 5 points higher than a Plan score. For example, a Plan score of 32 predicted an ACT score between 33 and 36. However, in 2014, ACT discontinued both the Plan and Explore and replaced them with the ACT Aspire. ACT Aspire also predicts an ACT score, but its format and scoring are very different, and it has much broader goals. Why Did ACT Create the Aspire? ACT is hoping the Aspire will become a widely-used test not just for ACT practice, but to assess Common Core standards. The Common Core is a new series of education standards being adopted by many states in the US. The standards are supposed to be more rooted in critical and creative thinking, so they are less straightforward than the old standards. As an example, an old Algebra standard for linear equations could be something like this: â€Å"Interpret the equation y = mx + b as defining a linear function, whose graph is a straight line.† The Common Core expects students to â€Å"Distinguish between situations that can be modeled with linear functions and with exponential functions† and to â€Å"Prove that linear functions grow by equal differences over equal intervals, and that exponential functions grow by equal factors over equal intervals.† In other words, the content is the same, but the expectations and methods are different. Since the Common Core has a different approach, it also requires different standardized tests to monitor student progress. This is where ACT hopes the Aspire will come in. (The PARCC and Smarter Balanced are other examples of tests being offered for the same purpose.) Because of this, the ACT Aspire isn’t just a 10th grade test – it is designed to be given every year starting in 3rd grade all the way through 10th grade, so it can assess student growth from year to year. In that sense, Aspire is a much larger and more ambitious undertaking than the Plan or Explore. The goal of Aspire is to identify learning gaps early on to help students stay on track for college readiness, while also preparing students for the content on the ACT. To do that, Aspire will also track college readiness using the ACT’s benchmarks. What Is the Aspire Like? The Aspire has five sections that align with the ACT Plus Writing subject areas: Reading, English, Math, Science, and Writing. (The Plan did not include a writing section.) However, unlike the ACT, Aspire includes a wide variety of question types. Aspire questions can be multiple choice, short answer, or long answer (including essays and narratives). The questions also make students rearrange lists, correct math problems, or pick multiple answers from a set of choices. So even though the content is similar to the ACT's, the Aspire as a test is quite different. As an example, here are two short answer questions featured on a sample Aspire test: A short-answer reading question. A short-answer math question. Via ACT Aspire. If you want to see more sample questions for yourself, go to this website and enter the login information for the test section and grade level you're interested in. Note that the Aspire is a timed test, like the ACT. Aspire can be offered either on computers or on paper. The paper option is more expensive, so it’s likely many students will end up taking it on the computer. This is also different than the ACT, which is a paper-and-pencil bubble test. How Is Aspire Scored? The Aspire does not use an ACT-like scale the way the Plan did. Instead, the Aspire assigns scores between 400and 460 for each subject. The score ranges are tied to grade levels, with an expected increase for each grade. When you get a score report, it will include your score, how you compare to others in your grade, your strengths, and where you can still improve. The ACT still uses those scores to predict future ACT scores, based on when you took the test. For example, they would predict a higher future ACT score if an 8th grader earned a 410 versus a 10th grader, since an 8th grader has more time to learn and improve. However, the prediction is less straightforward than just adding a few ACT composite points. Furthermore, since the Aspire is so different, the prediction is not at all set in stone. (See our Aspire to ACT Score Predictions article for more on Aspire scoring and ACT predictions.) What's a Good Aspire Score? What score should you be aiming for on the Aspire?ACT has provided low, high, and benchmark scores for each of the five subjects tested in grades 3 through 10. Benchmark scores are what you need to reach to be considered "on track", a low score is below average, and a high score is above average. You can use this chart to figure out how well you/your child is scoring on the Aspire or to set goal scores for the next exam. Grade Tested Subject Low Score High Score Benchmark 3 English 400 435 413 3 Reading 400 429 415 3 Math 400 434 413 3 Science 400 433 418 3 Writing 408 440 428 4 English 400 438 417 4 Reading 400 431 417 4 Math 400 440 416 4 Science 400 436 420 4 Writing 408 440 428 5 English 400 442 419 5 Reading 400 434 420 5 Math 400 446 418 5 Science 400 438 422 5 Writing 408 440 428 6 English 400 448 420 6 Reading 400 436 421 6 Math 400 451 420 6 Science 400 440 423 6 Writing 408 448 428 7 English 400 450 421 7 Reading 400 438 423 7 Math 400 453 422 7 Science 400 443 425 7 Writing 408 448 428 8 English 400 452 422 8 Reading 400 440 424 8 Math 400 456 425 8 Science 400 446 427 8 Writing 408 448 428 9 English 400 456 426 9 Reading 400 442 425 9 Math 400 460 428 9 Science 400 449 430 9 Writing 408 448 428 10 English 400 456 428 10 Reading 400 442 428 10 Math 400 460 432 10 Science 400 449 432 10 Writing 408 448 428 Will Aspire Help You Prepare for the ACT? Since Aspire is given over several years and uses different question types, you may be wondering how it will help you prepare for the ACT, which is mostly multiple-choice and usually taken by 11th and 12th graders. The main way Aspire will help you prepare for the ACT is by testing the same content, with the same benchmarks. Aspire will show you if you are learning enough, content-wise, to do well on the ACT. Aspire will also give you more time to improve for the ACT. For example, if you learn as a sixth grader that your math scores are lower than your peers’ scores, you have five years to improve your math skills before taking the ACT. If you learned that from the Plan, you would have only had one year to study and improve. That said, the actual ACT’s format is quite different from Aspire – all multiple-choice unless you take the ACT Plus Writing – and has more intense pacing. Getting a great score on the ACT requires good pacing and multiple-choice test strategy as well as knowing the content. The Aspire will help you learn content, but it won’t help you prepare for the ACT’s format. Since the ACT’s format is different, you will have to put in some time to study for the ACT outside of class, even if you take Aspire every year from 3rd grade onward. Even if Aspire predicts you will get an excellent ACT score, you can’t just walk into the ACT without studying and expect a 36. Bottom Line: ACT Aspire Although you might hear about students studying for the PSAT to qualify for scholarships, don’t stress about the ACT Aspire – it will give your school data on your progress, but it won’t be used in college admissions or scholarship competitions. Just look at it as another way to gauge your progress as you approach college. Also, as we explore in our score predictions article, the Aspire is not an absolute predictor of your ACT score. If you’re wondering how you’ll do on the actual ACT, it might be more efficient to just take a practice test. And don’t worry too much even if Aspire predicts a low score – with smart studying, you can beat the prediction easily. What’s Next? We recommend beginning your ACT studying early. Getting a good score can really improve your college admissions chances! Get an ACT study plan if you have a year or more to study. Need to prep for the ACT, ASAP? Get an intensive 10-day study plan. Considering taking the SAT instead? Learn which test is easier, and which one you will do best on. Want to learn more about the PSAT and how it qualifies you for the National Merit Competition? Check out our guide. 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:

Green Energy Brand Strategy Chinese E

Green Energy Brand Strategy Chinese E Introduction In data analysis, the study analysed data obtained from 439 participants, who are Chinese E-car consumers. The study employed Microsoft Excel in the analysis of frequencies and the presentation of data in pie charts and bar graphs.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Green Energy Brand Strategy: Chinese E-Car Consumer Behaviour specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Background Information Do you own an E-car? Figure 1 is a bar graph showing the distribution of respondents according to the ownership of the E-car. The figure shows that 8.9% of the respondents own E-car and the remaining 91.1% do not own E-car. Figure 1 Are you interested in purchasing E-car? Figure 2 is a pie chart displaying the proportion of respondents interested in purchasing E-car as 27.7% and those not interested in purchasing E-car as 73.3%. Figure 2Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More When you buy your next car, is E-car one of the options? Figure 3 below shows that the proportion of respondents who would choose E-car as their next option is 68.6% whereas the proportion of respondents who would not choose E-car as their next car is 31.4%. Figure 3 The First Hypothesis What time for the E-car charging can you accept? The respondents provided diverse opinions regarding the charging time of E-car. Out of 439 respondents, 26.2% of respondents indicated that they accept charging period of less than 2 hours and 30.3% of respondents showed that they accept charging period of between 2 and 4 hours. Moreover, 20.5% of respondents accept charging period of between 4 to 6 hours. The remaining portions of the respondents, 14.1%, 5.5%, and 2.7%, accept charging period of 6-8 hours, 8-10 hours, and more than 10 hours respectively. Figure 4Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Green Energy Brand Strategy: Chinese E-Car Consumer Behaviour specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More What is the shortest mileage for the E-car can you accept? Figure 5 below indicates the distribution of responses regarding the shortest mileage that E-car can cover. From the figure, it is apparent that most respondents (29.8%) accept E-car that can cover between 201km and 300 km. Respondents who accept short mileages of less than 100 km and between 101 and 200 km constitute 3.4% and 16.9% respectively. Respondents who require long mileages of 101-200 km, 301-400 km, 401-500 km, and more than 501 km constitute 20.5%, 13.7%, and 15.7% respectively. Figure 5 What price do you think is suitable for an average mid-range E-car like the BMW i3? Figure 6 shows that most respondents (35.5%) think that the suitable price range for a mid-range E-car is between  £110,000 and  £200,000 while 28.9% of the respondents think that the suitable price range for a mid-range E-ca r is between  £210,000 and  £300,000. Respondents who think that the suitable price range for a mid-range E-car is less than  £100,000 constitute 17.5%. Moreover, 12.5%, 3.4%, and 2.1% of respondents think that the suitable price ranges for a mid-range E-car are  £310,000- £400,000,  £410,000- £500,000, and more than  £500,000 correspondingly. Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Figure 6 Brand Personality Which product attribute do you associate with the E-car? To determine the level of awareness of BMWi3, the study asked the respondents about the attributes they associate with E-car. Figure 7 shows that most respondents (5.59%) selected practical as a tribute associated with E-car followed by 4.12% of respondents who selected stylish as an attribute associated with E-car. Elegant and environmental friendly attributes received an equal review as both had 2.65% of customers who associated these attributes with E-car. Complicated technology (2.35%), dynamic (2.06%), eco (0.88%), and modern (1.18%) are other product attributes that respondents associated with E-car. However, some respondents (less than 0.3%) associated E-car with negative attributes such as slow, old-fashioned, and not stylish. Figure 7 Figure 8 below indicates frequencies of positive attributed associated with E-car. Practical is a positive attribute that gained the most frequencies (143). E nvironmental friendly, dynamic, stylish, and modern attributes ranked second, third, fourth, and fifth with 121, 79, 62, and 61 frequencies respectively. Easy to handle and sportive are attributes that have the lowest frequencies of 37 and 21 respectively. Figure 8 Figure 9 shows frequencies of negative product attributes associated with E-car. Complicated technology is a negative attribute that has the most frequencies (88) followed by eco attribute (75) and elegant attribute (45). Slow, old-fashioned, and not stylish are three negative attributes with 1, 2, and 5 frequencies respectively. Figure 9 Product Associations If you consider the BMWi3 as a status symbol, which attribute do you associate the most with it? Figure 10 indicates how respondents rated BMWi3 as a status symbol among the Chinese E-car consumers. From the figure, it is apparent that over three-quarters of respondents (76.5%) consider BMWi3 a status symbol for people who have average lifestyles. Moreover, the fig ure shows that 20.5% and 3% of respondents consider BMWi3 as status symbol for very successful and not successful people respectively. Figure 10 What personalities can you associate with BMWi3? The question provided seven options of personalities, namely, creative, funny, extrovert, honest, eccentric, introvert, and dishonest, for the respondents to choose the ones that associate with BMWi3. From Figure 11, it is evident that creative personality has the most frequencies (270) followed by funny personality (125). Extrovert and honest personalities have frequencies of 100 and 56 respectively. The above personalities are positive personalities that the brand strategy aims to associate with BMWi3. However, respondents associated BMWi3 with negative personalities such as eccentric (56), introvert (36), and dishonest (23). Figure 11 The Second Hypothesis Which added value of E-car such as BMWi do you perceive? Table 1 Values of BMWi3 Perceived Importance Not important Important V ery important Indispensable Total High degree of safety 155 50 102 116 423 Less environment damage 23 66 83 34 206 No fuels costs 38 53 48 74 213 High degree of comfort 61 94 32 22 209 Good acceleration 50 32 35 43 160 High degree of quality 14 60 41 37 152 Know brand 41 21 23 20 105 Good price/quality ratio 31 48 52 59 190 Great product design 25 14 22 33 94 Total 438 438 438 438 1,752 Figure 12 The figure above (Figure 12) shows that most respondents (35%) perceive the high degree of safety as unimportant added value to BMWi3. The figure also shows that 14%, 11%, 9%, and 9% of respondents rated high degree of comfort, good acceleration, know brand, and no fuels respectively as unimportant added values of BMWi3. Figure 13 From Figure 14, 21% and 15% of respondents perceive high degree comfort and less environment damage as important added values of BMWi3. Good price/quality ratio and high degree of safety have equal ratings as 11% of respondents perceived t hem as important. Figure 14 Most respondents perceive a high degree of safety (23%) and less environment damage (19%) as very important added values of BMWi3 (Figure 15). Moreover, the figure also shows that 12% and 11% of respondents perceive good price/quality ratio and no fuel costs as very important added values. The figure below (Figure 15) indicates that most respondents (26%) perceive a high degree of safety as indispensable added value of BMWi3. Other added values that respondents perceive as indispensable are no fuel costs (17%), good price/quality ratio (13%), and good acceleration (10%). Figure 15 The Third Hypothesis Do you have trust in the expertise of BMW, a traditional engineer car manufacturer, in producing E-cars? From the pie chart (Figure 16), it is apparent that 86% of the respondents trust in the expertise of BMW in producing E-cars while the remaining 14% do not trust in the expertise of BMW in producing E-cars. Figure 16 Which feelings do you have when you think of the brand BMWi? From Figure 17, it is apparent that most respondents associate BMWi3 with positive feelings. Fun (14%), curiosity (18%), excitement (9%), liking (14%), trustworthiness (21%), and interest (10%) are all positive feelings that capture the brand strategy of BMW. In contrast, few respondents, namely, lack of interest (1%), unhonesty (3%), confused (2%), and uncertainty (1%), associated BMWi3 with negative feelings. Figure 17 Do you think the BMWi will be successfully sold in the future? Figure 18 The pie chart (Figure 18) indicates that 52% of respondents think that BMW would successfully be sold in future whereas 6% think that it would not be sold. Moreover, the figure shows that 42% of respondents are unsure whether BMW would be sold successfully or not. The Fourth Hypothesis Do you believe that the BMW is honestly interested in reducing CO2 emissions to be environmental friendly? The pie chart below (Figure 19) indicates that 57% of respondents believe tha t BMW is really honesty in manufacturing E-car to reduce CO2 emissions while 35% are unsure about the motive of BMWi3. Moreover, 8% of respondents hold that BMW has no intention of reducing CO2. Figure 19 Which impression do you associate with the BMWi3? Figure 20 indicates frequencies of impressions associated with the BMWi3. From the table, it is evident that 25.7% of respondents associate BMWi3 with eco-car while 19.4% of respondents associated it with trend. 14.1%, 1.03%, 9.1%, and 6.8% of respondents associated BMWi3 with business, family, sport, and luxury respectively. However, 14.6% of the respondents do not associate BMWi3 with anything. Figure 20 Discussion Background Information The background data effectively describe purchasing behaviours of customers because they indicate ownership of E-car, interest in purchasing, and options for their car of choice. According to Creusen (2010), demographic attributes are central to the understanding of consumer behaviours because t heir ability to purchase certain products. From the background information, the study infers that 8.9% of the respondents own E-car, 27.7% are interested in purchasing E-car in future, and 68.6% would consider purchasing E-car as their next car. Pavlou and Fygenson (2006) argue that change in consumer behaviour is a gradual process that is dependent on awareness. Such a trend of increasing percentages indicates that there is an impending shift in the purchasing behaviour from normal cars to E-cars. Increased awareness of environmental problems caused by the use of fossil fuels has changed consumer attitudes and behaviours of Chinese consumers (Ivan Penev 2012). In this view, the background information indicates that there is a progressive acceptance of E-car among the Chinese consumers. The First Hypothesis The first hypothesis is that the brand reputation of the BMWi electric cars is low among the majority of the Chinese consumers. Tan et al. (2014) concur that the reputation of E -cars in China is low due to inadequate awareness among potential consumers. In testing this hypothesis, the study examined product information, brand personality, and brand associations as three main independent variables. These variables hold important data for analysis, which the study used in hypothesis testing. Product Information The analysis of data related to the product information shows that brand perception is relatively low among Chinese E-car consumers. The analysis shows that most respondents 77% can accept E-car with charging period of less than 6 hours while 23% of the respondents can accept E-car with charging period of greater than 6 hours. Lebeau, Lebeau, Mairesse, Macharis, and Mierlo (2013) hold that consumers require E-car that charges within a short duration. Figure 4 illustrates the distribution of frequencies in the percentage form. From the figure, it is apparent that most respondents require E-car, which takes the shortest period possible to charge. Howeve r, BMWi3 takes approximately 6-8 hours to charge fully depending on the charging system (BMW: BMWi3 2015). In this view, only 23% of the respondents can accept a charging period of above 6 hours. This acceptance level shows that the Chinese E-car market only targets 23% of the consumers in the automobile industry. A recent development in the E-car industry aims at reducing the charging period to improve the convenience of E-car (Song Yang 2011). Additionally, the reduction of the cost of charging would enhance the cost-effectiveness of E-car (Li Ouyang 2011). Hence, the study recommends the reduction of the charging period and the cost to increase the consumers of E-car in the Chinese E-care market.  Regarding the shortest mileage, 20.3% of respondents accept E-car that can cover less than 200 km whereas the remaining 79.7% can accept E-car than can cover over 200 km. When the battery is fully charged, E-car can cover a minimum distance of 160 km (BMW: BMWi3 2015). In this case, 16.9% of the respondents accept the current model of BMW. In the aspect of a suitable price for a mid-range E-car, most respondents (82%) think that it costs less than  £300,000. In this view, it evident that the product information is low among the Chinese consumers of E-cars because about 20% of them are aware of the BMWi3 features. Comparative analysis indicates that 82% of respondents consider the price of BMWi3 to be less than  £300,000. Hence, the study recommends BMW to manufacture affordable E-car because most respondents (35.5%) imagine the price range to be between  £110,000 and  £200,000. Product Personality Analysis of the product personality shows that there is still a low brand perception among Chinese E-car consumers. It is evident that the major attributes that respondents associated with E-car are practical, stylish, elegance, environmental friendly, complicated technology, dynamic, eco, and modern. Lebeau et al. (2013) assert that consumers of E-car prefer practical, dynamic, and environmental friendly attributes of BMWi3. Low awareness is evident because a considerable number of potential consumers associate E-car with negative attributes such as complicated technology, elegant, old-fashioned, and not stylish. Sucky and Werner (2011) assert that BMW designed BMWi3 with the objective of not only reducing carbon dioxide emission, but also incorporating dynamic, practical, and modern features, which meet the unique needs of consumers in the automobile industry. Jansson (2011) states that consumers consider eco attribute because they associate it with affordability and safety. Thus, the study recommends BMW to educate consumers to understand features of BMWi3 so that they can associate it with positive attributes. Product Associations Regarding product associations, most respondents (76.5%) associate BMWi3 with people who are averagely successful in life. In this view, the study infers that most respondents consider BMWi3 for people in the middle class. In the aspect of the impression, 25.7% of respondents consider BMWi3 as an eco-car. Mingde and Yixiang (2010) hold that fuel cost is an attribute that consumers consider because they require economical cars. Extrovert, funny, and creative are the leading personalities that respondents associated with BMWi3. In this view, funny, eco, extrovert, creative, and trend are the leading attributes associated with BMWi3. Egbue and Long (2012) argue that negative attributes are barriers that prevent the adoption of E-car in the automobile markets. Therefore, product information and brand personality support the hypothesis that brand information is relatively low among the Chinese consumers. In this view, the study recommends that BMW needs to undertake extensive marketing for consumers to understand the importance of BMWi3 in the automobile industry and associate it with positive status symbols, impressions, and personalities. The Second Hypothesis The second hypothesis stat es that the number of people who are interested in BMWi electric vehicles is considerably small as consumer attitudes towards BMWi brand are low. The following question examines perceived importance of BMWi3 using a scale of 1 to 4, which indicate the importance of added values from ‘not important’ added value to ‘indispensable’ added value. Table 1 shows the distribution of responses, which rate the importance of added values of BMWi3. Analysis of the distribution of perceptions of BMWi3 added values does not reveal any patterns or trends. Table 1 depicts that there is no apparent trend regarding how respondents perceive the importance of the added values of BMWi3. Almost the same proportions of respondents perceive added values as not important and indispensable. For example, most respondents (35%) perceive high degree safety as an important while most respondents (26%) perceive high degree of safety as indispensable. Joshi and Mishra (2011) argue that en hanced awareness of E-car and pollution has made consumers perceive safety and less environmental damage as very important added values of BMWi3. Random distribution of responses is indicative of a low interest in BMWi3 and negative perceptions. Therefore, BMW should undertake extensive marketing and consumer education so that consumers could develop interest in BMWi3 and dispel negative attitudes towards the brand. The Third Hypothesis The third hypothesis assumes that the majority of the aspiring BMWi consumers are concerned about the future of electric-supported BMWi vehicles because of low trust. The analysis supports the hypothesis that the majority of the aspiring BMWi consumers are concerned about the future of electric-supported BMWi vehicles because of low trust. Although 86% of respondents believe in the expertise of BMW, 42% of the respondents doubt the future of BMWi3. The question aimed at establishing the nature of feelings that respondents associated with BMWi3. The r esponses from the respondents indicate that they have both negative and positive feelings. Moreover, 13% and 6% of the respondents associated BMWi3 with negative feelings and unsuccessful sale in future respectively. Thus, the study recommends that BMW should build trust among the Chinese consumers by demonstrating and assuring them about the sustainability of BMWi3 in the automobile industry. The Fourth Hypothesis The fourth hypothesis states that the Chinese consumers cannot associate themselves with any of the BMWI marketing activities because BMW has not reinforced the BMWi brand. Consumer beliefs support the hypothesis that the Chinese consumers cannot associate themselves with any of the BMWI marketing activities because BMW has not reinforced the BMWi brand. From the pie chart (Figure 20), it is evident that a significant proportion of respondents (8%) believe that BMW is not honest in its bid to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Dodson (2012) avers that automakers normally ad opt green technology as a marketing strategy. Additional 35% of the respondents are unsure whether BMW is honest or not in its objective of reducing carbon dioxide emission. In this view, a third proportion of respondents, which is significant, are unsure about the intentions of BMW in manufacturing E-car. The negative impressions are against the brand strategy of portraying BMWi3 as a normal car in terms of consumption of energy and daily usage. Fundamentally, eco is a negative attribute of BMWi3 while trend is a short-term brand image, and thus, are not in line with the brand strategy of BMW. Hence, BMW should reinforce its brand by providing relevant information to customers through customer care, and thus, enabling customers gain confidence in BMWi3. Conclusion BMW aims to transform consumer behaviours in the automobile industry by introducing green energy brand strategy. The strategy seeks to change consumer behaviours and make them purchase BMWi3, which is a brand of E-car. Ho wever, the green energy brand strategy of BMW faces numerous challenges in the Chinese E-car markets. Evidently, consumer behaviours in the E-car industry are very dynamic in China. Understanding of the dynamics is imperative for BMW to influence consumer behaviours in the Chinese E-car markets. The application of the utility theory, the hierarchy of effects model, and the consumer acquisition process model elucidate brand reputation, brand attitudes, sustainability, and the nature of associations. The analysis of the consumer behaviours using these theories indicates that the brand reputation of BMWi3 is low among the majority of the Chinese consumers. Moreover, the analysis shows that most respondents have negative brand attitudes, believe that BMWi3 is unsustainable, and associate BMWi3 with negative impressions, personalities, and feelings.  In this view, the study recommends BMW to improve its brand by transforming consumer behaviours for them to adopt green technology and be come avid consumers of BMWi3 and related products. The first recommendation is that BMW should educate consumers to understand features of BMWi3 and its importance in the automobile industry. The analysis of beliefs, attitudes, associations, and impressions indicate that most consumers do not understand BMWi3. The second recommendation is that BMW should shorten charging period and improve the cost-effectiveness of BMWi3 because a significant proportion of customers requires affordable eco-car. Given that a considerable proportion of consumers do not trust, the third recommendation is that BMW should focus on building trust among the Chinese consumers by demonstrating and assuring them about the sustainability of BMWi3 in the automobile industry. As the fourth recommendation, BMW should reinforce its brand because a significant number of Chinese consumers do not want to associate with it. References BMW: BMWi3 2015. Web. Creusen, H 2010, ‘The importance of product aspects in c hoice: The influence of demographic characteristics’, Journal of Consumer Marketing, vol. 27, no.1, pp. 26-34. Dodson, B 2012, China fast forward: The technologies, green industries, and innovations driving the mainlands future, John Wiley Sons, London. Egbue, O Long, S 2012, ‘Barriers to widespread adoption of electric vehicles: An analysis of consumer attitudes and perceptions’, Energy Policy, vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 717-729. Ivan, C Penev, A 2012, Chinese consumer attitudes towards the electric vehicle. 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