Understand the basics of business operations Week one Essay

Understand the basics of business operations Week one - Essay Example Organizations that lack organization and clear management policies are likely to face problems. Having everything in order in the organization is likely to bring proper communication and understanding. New ideas and concepts will always present themselves in this day and age. It is, therefore, crucial to stay on top of things to ensure success. The need to have operations managers is rising. This ensures the productivity efficiency in the organization stays at the top (Wagner, 2012). Organizing how things operate and move is an enormous responsibility for those who take up the mantle of operations manager. However, it is a task anyone ready for a challenge will gladly take. To prosper in business operations, one requires skills and aptitude to execute the responsibilities at hand. This is regardless of the business he/she is undertaking. These skills are beneficial because they help in creating quality operations, which leads to the provision of quality products and services. Through business operations, people in charge get to understand every subdivision and department in the organization, and help to ensure everything runs smoothly (Wagner, 2012). In conclusion, business operations are fundamental in the growth of an organization. Business operations have to help an organization compete globally; therefore, there must be the introduction of experts into the operations department. They can shape the organization’s operations to suit their every requirement, hence; offering consumers what they want, and providing themselves with the right amount of profit from all

Effects of Early Marriage Essay Example for Free

Effects of Early Marriage Essay Mark and Jane got married eight years ago. They have two young children. Their initial love and attraction has turned into constant bickering and argument. They now realize how different they are from each other. Every interchange seems to be a battle and is affecting every aspect of their lives. They wonder what happened to the love and affection they felt towards each other at the beginning of their relationship. They have been arguing about money, and how to spend it. Mark thinks his hard work is not appreciated. Jane feels overburdened with taking care of the children, her part-time work and taking care of the most of household duties. They each feel the other is not contributing enough. They do not want to give up on their marriage, and have heard that mediation can be effective in working through the practical problems they face. They hope by learning to appreciate each other’s efforts their love for each other will start to grow again. They have tried individual therapy, marital counseling, and group therapy, without results. The first few years of a marriage are a very intense period of adjustment. It’s very common for the couple to learn differences about each other and encounter extreme bouts of negativity that they never imagined possible. A newly married couple (and any married couple, for that matter) should try anything at their disposal. Sometimes marriage counseling does not work. It does not mean that the marriage is over or that the counseling was insufficient or even that marriage counseling may not work at a future time. Couples need to try different things at different times in order to break the log jam of disillusionment. Marital Mediation or other professional support may help break the impasse. The mediator will explain to Mark and Jane that, just like a new hobby, learning how to be married is a learnable skill. The mediator will teach them conflict resolution skills that they can begin to practice at home. Things can improve at home, and Mark and Jane can continue to work on (and enjoy) their marriage. They might even try counseling again (perhaps with a different therapist), and may find that they are ready to gain insight from it.

Ethan Frome Essays -- essays papers

Ethan Frome ‘He was but the ruin of a man’. What factors have contributed to Ethan’s tragic fate? The first factor which adds to Ethan’s tragic fate is time. The book is mainly set in the nineteenth century and in those times things like divorce and adultery were less acceptable. Ethan would have felt morally wrong to leave this wife working on a poor farm or just leaving her money. Ethan’s birth into a poor family and in the time he was born, meant that he couldn’t really do anything so he was left unhappy. There was no welfare state in the nineteenth century America so again Ethan had to accept the burden of looking after his parents and wife, paying all of Zeena’s medical ’needs’ with no help. Ethan must have found these times hard because he received no help, he was the one who had to help everyone else. Ethan Frome’s wife Zeena is quite a hypochondriac, as we hear in the prologue that the post-master at ‘intervals’ would hand him medicine packages. Again we hear of this at page forty seven that Zeenaâ€⠄¢s last visit to the doctor cost Ethan twenty dollars, money he can’t afford to be wasted. We are also told about Ethan’s desire to learn about science but with no university grants at that time and Ethan being part of a poor health stricken family he had to stop studying and go back to ’caring’ just like he does for the rest of his days. He runs a farm which seems to be run down and again because of the time there were no farm subsides to help Ethan out so the farm worries add to his plight. Mattie’s ‘coming to [the] house’ was due to her having no work to do or anywhere to stay. After her father’s death she was ’left on her own to make her way on fifty dollars’. There were fewer job... ...up’. Ethan and Mattie realise that because they can’t be with each other because of these factors I have discussed they discide to end it together. Both Mattie and Ethan express their love for each other on the top of the slope, the first time that they actually kissed and expressed love for one another. They sooner realised ’what’s the good of either of [them] going anywheres without the other one now?’ ‘Some erratic impulse’ and their love drove them to try and commit suicide. Ethan suffered after the ’smash up’. He became ’the ruin of a man’ through his ’warped right side’ and ’red gash’ across Frome’s forehead. The accident scared both Mattie and Ethan for life and changed their life forever and with the mental factors for example the economic problems along with the last physical factor, the ’smash up’ has contributed to his tragic fate.

The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion Chapter Fifteen

Klaus screamed, a scream that reminded Bonnie of ancient predators, of the sabertooth cat and the bull mammoth. Blood frothed out of his mouth along with the scream, turning that handsome face into a twisted mask of fury. His hands scrabbled at his back, trying to get a grip on the white ash stake and pull it out. But it was buried too deep. The throw had been a good one. â€Å"Damon,† Bonnie whispered. He was standing at the edge of the clearing, framed by oak trees. As she watched, he took a step toward Klaus, and then another; lithe stalking steps filled with deadly purpose. And he was angry. Bonnie would have run from the look on his face if her muscles hadn't been frozen. She had never seen such menace so barely held in check. â€Å"Get†¦ away†¦ from my brother,† he said, almost breathing it, with his eyes never leaving Klaus's as he took another step. Klaus screamed again, but his hands stopped their frantic scrabbling. â€Å"You idiot! We don't have to fight! I told you that at the house! We can ignore each other!† Damon's voice was no louder than before. â€Å"Get away from my brother.† Bonnie could feel it inside him, a swell of Power like a tsunami. He continued, so softly that Bonnie had to strain to hear him, â€Å"Before I tear your heart out.† Bonnie could move after all. She stepped backward. â€Å"I told you!† screamed Klaus, frothing. Damon didn't acknowledge the words in any way. His whole being seemed focused on Klaus's throat, on his chest, on the beating heart inside that he was going to tear out. Klaus picked up the unbroken lance and rushed him. In spite of all the blood, the blond man seemed to have plenty of strength left. The rush was sudden, violent, and almost inescapable. Bonnie saw him thrust the lance at Damon and shut her eyes involuntarily, and then opened them an instant later as she heard the flurry of wings. Klaus had plunged right through the spot where Damon had been, and a black crow was soaring upward while a single feather floated down. As Bonnie stared, Klaus's rush took him into the darkness beyond the clearing and he disappeared. Dead silence fell in the wood. Bonnie's paralysis broke slowly, and she first stepped, and then ran to where Stefan lay. He didn't open his eyes at her approach; he seemed unconscious. She knelt beside him. And then she felt a sort of horrible calm creep over her, like someone who has been swimming in ice water and at last feels the first undeniable signs of hypothermia. If she hadn't had so many successive shocks already, she might have fled screaming or dissolved into hysterics. But as it was, this was simply the last step, the last little slide into unreality. Into a world that couldn't be, but was. She'd never seen anybody hurt like this. Not even Mr. Tanner, and he had died of his wounds. Nothing Mary had ever said could help fix this. Even if they'd had Stefan on a stretcher outside an operating room, it wouldn't have been enough. In that state of dreadful calm she looked up to see a flutter of wings blur and shimmer in the moonlight. Damon stood beside her, and she spoke quite collectedly and rationally. â€Å"Will giving him blood help?† He didn't seem to hear her. His eyes were all black, all pupil. That barely leashed violence, that sense of ferocious energy held back, was gone. He knelt and touched the dark head on the ground. â€Å"Stefan?† Bonnie shut her eyes. Damon's scared, she thought. Damon's scared-Damon!-and oh, God, I don't know what to do. There's nothing to do-and it's all over and we're all lost and Damon is scared for Stefan. He isn't going to take care of things and he hasn't got a solution and somebody's got to fix this. And oh, God, please help me because I'm so frightened and Stefan's dying and Meredith and Matt are hurt and Klaus is going to come back. She opened her eyes to look at Damon. He was white, his face looking terrifyingly young at that moment, with those dilated black eyes. â€Å"Klaus is coming back,† Bonnie said quietly. She wasn't afraid of him anymore. They weren't a centuries-old hunter and a seventeen-year-old human girl, sitting here at the edge of the world. They were just two people, Damon and Bonnie, who had to do the best they could. â€Å"I know,† Damon said. He was holding Stefan's hand, looking completely unembarrassed about it, and it seemed quite logical and sensible. Bonnie could feel him sending Power into Stefan, could also feel that it wasn't enough. â€Å"Would blood help him?† â€Å"Not much. A little, maybe.† â€Å"Anything that helps at all we've got to try.† Stefan whispered, â€Å"No.† Bonnie was surprised. She'd thought he was unconscious. But his eyes were open now, open and alert and smoldering green. They were the only alive thing about him. â€Å"Don't be stupid,† Damon said, his voice hardening. He was gripping Stefan's hand until his knuckles whitened. â€Å"You're badly hurt.† â€Å"I won't break my promise.† That immovable stubbornness was in Stefan's voice, in his pale face. And when Damon opened his mouth again, undoubtedly to say that Stefan would break it and like it or Damon would break his neck, Stefan added, â€Å"Especially when it won't do any good.† Only the truth would do. And Stefan was telling the truth. He was still looking at his brother, who was looking back, all that fierce, furious attention focused on Stefan as it had been focused on Klaus earlier. As if somehow that would help. â€Å"I'm not badly hurt, I'm dead,† Stefan said brutally, his eyes locked on Damon's. Their last and greatest struggle of wills, Bonnie thought. â€Å"And you need to get Bonnie and the others out of here.† â€Å"We won't leave you,† Bonnie intervened. That was the truth; she could say that. â€Å"You have to!† Stefan didn't glance aside, didn't look away from his brother. â€Å"Damon, you know I'm right. Klaus will be here any minute. Don't throw your life away. Don't throw their lives away.† â€Å"I don't give a damn about their lives,† Damon hissed. The truth also, Bonnie thought, curiously unoffended. There was only one life Damon cared about here, and it wasn't his own. â€Å"Yes, you do!† Stefan flared back. He was hanging on to Damon's hand with just as fierce a grip, as if this was a contest and he could force Damon to concede that way. â€Å"Elena had a last request; well, this is mine. You have Power, Damon. I want you to use it to help them.† â€Å"Stefan†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Bonnie whispered helplessly. â€Å"Promise me,† Stefan said to Damon, and then a spasm of pain twisted his face. For uncountable seconds Damon simply looked down at him. Then he said, â€Å"I promise,† quick and sharp as the stroke of a dagger. He let go of Stefan's hand and stood, turning to Bonnie. â€Å"Come on.† â€Å"We can't leave him†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Yes, we can.† There was nothing young about Damon's face now. Nothing vulnerable. â€Å"You and your human friends are leaving here, permanently. I am coming back.† Bonnie shook her head. She knew, dimly, that Damon wasn't betraying Stefan, that it was some case of Damon putting Stefan's ideals above Stefan's life, but it was all too abstruse and incomprehensible to her. She didn't understand it and she didn't want to. All she knew was that Stefan couldn't be left lying there. â€Å"You're coming now,† Damon said, reaching for her, the steely ring back in his voice. Bonnie prepared herself for a fight, and then something happened that made all their debating meaningless. There was a crack like a giant whip and a flash like daylight, and Bonnie was blinded. When she could see through the afterimage, her eyes flew to the flames that were licking up from a newly blackened hole at the base of a tree. Bonnie's eye darted to him next, as the only other thing moving in the clearing. He was waving the bloody white ash stake he'd pulled out of his own back like a gory trophy. Lightning rod, thought Bonnie illogically, and then there was another crash. It stabbed down from an empty sky, in huge blue-white forks that lit everything like the sun at noon. Bonnie watched as one tree and then another was hit, each one closer than the last. Flames licked up like hungry red goblins among the leaves. Two trees on either side of Bonnie exploded, with cracks so loud that she felt rather than heard it, a piercing pain in her eardrums. Damon, whose eyes were more sensitive, threw up a hand to protect them. Then he shouted â€Å"Klaus!† and sprang toward the blond man. He wasn't stalking now; this was the deadly race of attack. The burst of killing speed of the hunting cat or the wolf. Lightning caught him in midspring. Bonnie screamed as she saw it, jumping to her feet. There was a blue flash of superheated gases and a smell of burning, and then Damon was down, lying motionless on his face. Bonnie could see tiny wisps of smoke rise from him, just as they did from the trees. Speechless with horror, she looked at Klaus. He was swaggering through the clearing, holding his bloody stick like a golf club. He bent down over Damon as he passed, and smiled. Bonnie wanted to scream again, but she didn't have the breath. There didn't seem to be any air left to breathe. â€Å"I'll deal with you later,† Klaus told the unconscious Damon. Then his face tipped up toward Bonnie. â€Å"You,† he said, â€Å"I'm going to deal with right now.† It was an instant before she realized he was looking at Stefan, and not her. Those electric blue eyes were fixed on Stefan's face. They moved to Stefan's bloody middle. â€Å"I'm going to eat you now, Salvatore.† Bonnie was all alone. The only one left standing. And she was afraid. But she knew what she had to do. She let her knees collapse again, dropping to the ground beside Stefan. And this is how it ends, she thought. You kneel beside your knight and then you face the enemy. She looked at Klaus and moved so that she was shielding Stefan. He seemed to notice her for the first time, and frowned as if he'd found a spider in his salad. Firelight flickered orange-red on his face. â€Å"No.† And this is how the ending starts. Like this, so simply, with one word, and you're going to die on a summer night. A summer night when the moon and stars are shining and bonfires burn like the flames the Druids used to summon the dead. â€Å"Bonnie, go,† Stefan said painfully. â€Å"Get out while you can.† â€Å"No,† Bonnie said. I'm sorry, Elena, she thought. I can't save him. This is all I can do. â€Å"Get out of the way,† Klaus said through his teeth. â€Å"No.† She could wait and let Stefan die this way, instead of with Klaus's teeth in his throat. It might not seem like much of a difference, but it was the most she could offer. â€Å"Bonnie†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Stefan whispered. â€Å"Don't you know who I am, girl? I've walked with the devil. If you move, I'll let you die quickly.† Bonnie's voice had given out. She shook her head. Klaus threw back his own head and laughed. A little more blood trickled out, too. â€Å"All right,† he said. â€Å"Have it your own way. Both of you go together.† Summer night, Bonnie thought. The solstice eve. When the line between worlds is so thin. â€Å"Say good night, sweetheart.† No time to trance, no time for anything. Nothing except one desperate appeal. â€Å"Elena!† Bonnie screamed. â€Å"Elena! Elena!† Klaus recoiled. For an instant, it seemed as if the name alone had the power to alarm him. Or as if he expected something to respond to Bonnie's cry. He stood, listening. Bonnie drew on her powers, putting everything she had into it, throwing her need and her call out into the void. And felt†¦ nothing. Nothing disturbed the summer night except the crackling sound of flames. Klaus turned back to Bonnie and Stefan, and grinned. Then Bonnie saw the mist creeping along the ground. No-it couldn't be mist. It must be smoke from the fire. But it didn't behave like either. It was swirling, rising in the air like a tiny whirlwind or dust devil. It was gathering into a shape roughly the size of a man. Mist was flowing out of the ground, between the trees. Pools of it, each separate and distinct. Bonnie, staring mutely, could see through each patch, could see the flames, the oak trees, the bricks of the chimney. Klaus had stopped smiling, stopped moving, and was watching too. Bonnie turned to Stefan, unable to even frame the question. â€Å"Unquiet spirits,† he whispered huskily, his green eyes intent. â€Å"The solstice.† And then Bonnie understood. They were coming. From across the river, where the old cemetery lay. From the woods, where countless makeshift graves had been dug to dump bodies in before they rotted. The unquiet spirits, the soldiers who had fought here and died during the Civil War. A supernatural host answering the call for help. They were forming all around. There were hundreds of them. Bonnie could actually see faces now. The misty outlines were filling in with pale hues like so many runny watercolors. She saw a flash of blue, a glimmer of gray. Both Union and Confederate troops. Bonnie glimpsed a pistol thrust into a belt, the glint of an ornamented sword. Chevrons on a sleeve. A bushy dark beard; a long, well-tended white one. A small figure, child size, with dark holes for eyes and a drum hanging at thigh level. â€Å"Oh, my God,† she whispered. â€Å"Oh, God.† It wasn't swearing. It was something like a prayer. Not that she wasn't frightened of them, because she was. It was every nightmare she'd ever had about the cemetery come true. Like her first dream about Elena, when things came crawling out of the black pits in the earth; only these things weren't crawling, they were flying, skimming and floating until they swirled into human form. Everything that Bonnie had ever felt about the old graveyard-that it was alive and full of watching eyes, that there was some Power lurking behind its waiting stillness -was proving true. The earth of Fell's Church was giving up its bloody memories. The spirits of those who'd died here were walking again. And Bonnie could feel their anger. It frightened her, but another emotion was waking up inside her, making her catch her breath and clench tighter on Stefan's hand. Because the misty army had a leader. One figure was floating in front of the others, closest to the place where Klaus stood. It had no shape or definition as yet, but it glowed and scintillated with the pale golden light of a candle flame. Then, before Bonnie's eyes, it seemed to take on substance from the air, shining brighter and brighter every minute with an unearthly light. It was brighter than the circle of fire. It was so bright that Klaus leaned back from it and Bonnie blinked, but when she turned at a low sound, she saw Stefan staring straight into it, fearlessly, with wide-open eyes. And smiling, so faintly, as if glad to have this be the last thing he saw. Klaus dropped the stake. He had turned away from Bonnie and Stefan to face the being of light that hung in the clearing like an avenging angel. Golden hair streaming back in an invisible wind, Elena looked down on him. â€Å"She came,† Bonnie whispered. â€Å"You asked her to,† Stefan murmured. His voice trailed off into a labored breath, but he was still smiling. His eyes were serene. â€Å"Stand away from them,† Elena said, her voice coming simultaneously to Bonnie's ears and her mind. It was like the chiming of dozens of bells, distant and close up at once. â€Å"It's over now, Klaus.† But Klaus rallied quickly. Bonnie saw his shoulders swell with a breath, noticed for the first time the hole in the back of the tan raincoat where the white ash stake had pierced him. It was stained dull red, and new blood was flowing now as Klaus flung out his arms. â€Å"You think I'm afraid of you?† he shouted. He spun around, laughing at all the pallid forms. â€Å"You think I'm afraid of any of you? You're dead! Dust on the wind! You can't touch me!† â€Å"You're wrong,† Elena said in her wind-chime voice. â€Å"I'm one of the Old Ones! An Original! Do you know what that means?† Klaus turned again, addressing all of them, his unnaturally blue eyes seeming to catch some of the red glow of the fire. â€Å"I've never died. Every one of you has died, you gallery of spooks! But not me. Death can't touch me. I am invincible!† The last word came in a shout so loud it echoed among the trees. Invincible†¦ invincible†¦ invincible. Bonnie heard it fading into the hungry sound of the fire. Elena waited until the last echo had died. Then she said, very simply, â€Å"Not quite.† She turned to look at the misty shapes around her. â€Å"He wants to spill more blood here.† A new voice spoke up, a hollow voice that ran like a trickle of cold water down Bonnie's spine. â€Å"There's been enough killing, I say.† It was a Union soldier with a double row of buttons on his jacket. â€Å"More than enough,† said another voice, like the boom of a faraway drum. A Confederate holding a bayonet. â€Å"It's time somebody stopped it†-an old man in home-dyed butternut cloth. â€Å"We can't let it go on†-the drummer boy with the black holes for eyes. â€Å"No more blood spilled!† Several voices took it up at once. â€Å"No more killing!† The cry passed from one to another, until the swell of sound was louder than the roar of the fire. â€Å"No more blood!† â€Å"You can't touch me! You can't kill me!† â€Å"Let's take ‘im, boys!† â€Å"You can't kill me! I'm immortal!† The tornado swept away into the darkness beyond Bonnie's sight. Following it was a trail of ghosts like a comet's tail, shooting off into the night sky. â€Å"Where are they taking him?† Bonnie didn't mean to say it aloud; she just blurted it out before she thought. But Elena heard. â€Å"Where he won't do any harm,† she said, and the look on her face stopped Bonnie from asking any other questions. There was a squealing, bleating sound from the other side of the clearing. Bonnie turned and saw Tyler, in his terrible part-human, part-animal shape, on his feet. There was no need for Caroline's club. He was staring at Elena and the few remaining ghostly figures and gibbering. â€Å"Don't let them take me! Don't let them take me too!† Before Elena could speak, he had spun around. He regarded the fire, which was higher than his own head, for an instant, then plunged right through it, crashing into the forest beyond. Through a parting of the flames, Bonnie saw him drop to the ground, beating out flames on himself, then rise and run again. Then the fire flared up and she couldn't see anything more. But she'd remembered something: Meredith-and Matt. Meredith was lying propped up, her head in Caroline's lap, watching. Matt was still on his back. Hurt, but not so badly hurt as Stefan. â€Å"Elena,† Bonnie said, catching the bright figure's attention, and then she simply looked at him. The brightness came closer. Stefan didn't blink. He looked into the heart of the light and smiled. â€Å"He's been stopped now. Thanks to you.† â€Å"It was Bonnie who called us. And she couldn't have done it at the right place and the right time without you and the others.† â€Å"I tried to keep my promise.† â€Å"I know, Stefan.† Bonnie didn't like the sound of this at all. It sounded too much like a farewell-a permanent one. Her own words floated back to her: He might go to another place or-or just go out. And she didn't want Stefan to go anywhere. Surely anyone who looked that much like an angel†¦ â€Å"Elena,† she said, â€Å"can't you-do something? Can't you help him?† Her voice was shaking. â€Å"I can do something,† she said. â€Å"But I don't know if it's the kind of help he wants.† She turned back to Stefan. â€Å"Stefan, I can cure what Klaus did. Tonight I have that much Power. But I can't cure what Katherine did.† Bonnie's numbed brain struggled with this for a while. What Katherine did-but Stefan had recovered months ago from Katherine's torture in the crypt. Then she understood. What Katherine had done was make Stefan a vampire. â€Å"It's been too long,† Stefan was saying to Elena. â€Å"If you did cure it, I'd be a pile of dust.† â€Å"Yes.† Elena didn't smile, just went on looking at him steadily. â€Å"Do you want my help, Stefan?† â€Å"To go on living in this world in the shadows†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Stefan's voice was a whisper now, his green eyes distant. Bonnie wanted to shake him. Live, she thought to him, but she didn't dare say it for fear she'd make him decide just the opposite. Then she thought of something else. â€Å"To go on trying,† she said, and both of them looked at her. She looked back, chin thrust out, and saw the beginning of a smile on Elena's bright lips. Elena turned to Stefan, and that tiny hint of a smile passed to him. â€Å"Yes,† he said quietly, and then, to Elena, â€Å"I want your help.† She bent and kissed him. Bonnie saw the brightness flow from her to Stefan, like a river of sparkling light engulfing him. It flooded over him the way the dark mist had surrounded Klaus, like a cascade of diamonds, until his entire body glowed like Elena's. For an instant Bonnie imagined she could see the blood inside him turned molten, flowing out to each vein, each capillary, healing everything it touched. Then the glow faded to a golden aura, soaking back into Stefan's skin. His shirt was still demolished, but underneath the flesh was smooth and firm. Bonnie, feeling her own eyes wide with wonder, couldn't help reaching out to touch. It felt just like any skin. The horrible wounds were gone. She laughed aloud with sheer excitement, and then looked up, sobering. â€Å"Elena- there's Meredith, too-â€Å" The bright being that was Elena was already moving across the clearing. Meredith looked up at her from Caroline's lap. â€Å"Hello, Elena,† she said, almost normally, except that her voice was so weak. Elena bent and kissed her. The brightness flowed again, encompassing Meredith. And when it faded, Meredith stood up on her own two feet. Then she went to Damon. He was still lying where he had fallen. The ghosts had passed over him, taking no notice of him. Elena's brightness hovered over him, one shining hand reaching to touch his hair. Then she bent and kissed the dark head on the ground. As the sparkling light faded, Damon sat up and shook his head. He saw Elena and went still, then, every movement careful and self-contained, stood up. He didn't say anything, only looked as Elena turned back to Stefan. He was silhouetted against the fire. Bonnie had scarcely noticed how the red glow had grown so that it almost eclipsed Elena's gold. But now she saw it and felt a thrill of alarm. â€Å"My last gift to you,† Elena said, and it began to rain. Not a thunder-and-lightning storm, but a thorough pattering rain that soaked everything-Bonnie included-and doused the fire. It was fresh and cool, and it seemed to wash all the horror of the last hours away, cleansing the glade of everything that had happened there. Bonnie tilted her face up to it, shutting her eyes, wanting to stretch out her arms and embrace it. At last it slackened and she looked again at Elena. Elena was looking at Stefan, and there was no smile on her lips now. The wordless sorrow was back in her face. â€Å"It's midnight,† she said. â€Å"And I have to go.† Bonnie knew instantly, at the sound of it, that â€Å"go† didn't just mean for the moment. â€Å"Go† meant forever. Elena was going somewhere that no trance or dream could reach. And Stefan knew it too. â€Å"Just a few more minutes,† he said, reaching for her. â€Å"I'm sorry-â€Å" â€Å"Elena, wait-I need to tell you-â€Å" â€Å"I can't!† For the first time the serenity of that bright face was destroyed, showing not only gentle sadness but tearing grief. â€Å"Stefan, I can't wait. I'm so sorry.† It was as if she were being pulled backward, retreating from them into some dimension that Bonnie could not see. Maybe the same place Honoria went when her task was finished, Bonnie thought. To be at peace. But Elena's eyes didn't look as if she were at peace. They clung to Stefan, and she reached out her hand toward his, hopelessly. They didn't touch. Wherever Elena was being pulled was too far away. â€Å"Elena-please!† It was the voice Stefan had called her with in his room. As if his heart was breaking. â€Å"Stefan,† Elena called again, but her voice came as if from a long distance. The brightness was almost gone. Then, as Bonnie stared through helpless tears, it winked out. Leaving the clearing silent once again. They were all gone, the ghosts of Fell's Church who had walked for one night to keep more blood from being spilled. The bright spirit that had led them had vanished without a trace, and even the moon and stars were covered by clouds. Bonnie knew that the wetness on Stefan's face wasn't due to the rain that was still splashing down. He was standing, chest heaving, looking at the last place where Elena's brightness had been seen. And all the longing and the pain Bonnie had glimpsed on his face at times before was nothing to what she saw now. â€Å"It isn't fair,† she whispered. Then she shouted it to the sky, not caring who she was addressing. â€Å"It isn't fair!† Stefan had been breathing more and more quickly. Now he lifted his face too, not in anger but in unbearable pain. His eyes were searching the clouds as if he might find some last trace of golden light, some flicker of brightness there. He couldn't. Bonnie saw the spasm go through him, like the agony of Klaus's stake. And the cry that burst out of him was the most terrible thing she'd ever heard. â€Å"Elena!†

Managing Political Risks Essay

A firm must be able to manage the different kinds of political risks that it may have to face by investing in a particular country. Firm-specific risks are defined as risks that affect the multinational enterprise at the corporate and/or project level. The most consequential firm-specific risk is referred to as the â€Å"governance risk,† which entails that there may be a conflict of goals between the multinational enterprise and the host government (Frenkel, Karmann, and Scholtens 5). Volatility of foreign exchange rates is another example of a firm-specific risk (Frenkel, Karmann, and Scholtens). Country-specific risks must also be managed. These risks affect the multinational enterprise at the corporate and/or project level, too. However, the difference between firm-specific and country-specific risks is that the latter originate at the level of the country. Institutional and/or cultural risks in addition to â€Å"transfer risks† are examples of country-specific risks (Frenkel, Karmann, and Scholtens 6). While the latter involves the issue of â€Å"blocked funds,† the former involves problems such as corruption in the country where the multinational enterprise intends to invest its funds (Frenkel, Karmann, and Scholtens 6). Lastly, the multinational enterprise must seek to manage its global-specific risks. These risks affect the enterprise at the corporate and/or project level but originate at the level of the entire globe. Poverty and terrorism are examples of global-specific risks (Frenkel, Karmann, and Scholtens). Indeed, it is possible for the multinational enterprise to manage the three types of political risks. There are three principles methods of political risk management: â€Å"limiting, diversifying, and hedging (Frenkel, Karmann, and Scholtens 20). † The first method refers to the investor’s effort to limit the exposure to the political risk by â€Å"putting a cap on the exposure vis-a-vis a particular country, often as a percentage of overall exposure or own funds (Frenkel, Karmann, and Scholtens 20). † Netting is involved in this procedure, as the investor must calculate the net exposure before â€Å"trying to derive a smaller overall position (Frenkel, Karmann, and Scholtens 20). † Following this political risk management procedure, a parent company may decide to limit the amount of funds that it transfers to its subsidiary that directly faces a particular type of political risk (Frenkel, Karmann, and Scholtens). Diversification is another useful method of managing political risks. A multinational enterprise, when faced with political risks, may decide to spread the exposure among various countries that are not perfectly correlated. If the enterprise is faced with corruption in the countries of two of its subsidiaries, it may choose two more countries where corruption is not a political risk. As a matter of fact, this method of managing political risks tends to be the easiest and therefore most commonly used (Frenkel, Karmann, and Scholtens). Hedging is yet another way to manage political risks, but is typically understood to be possible only with investment and/or export insurance. As an example, the multinational enterprise may obtain such insurance from the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency of the World Bank. The insurance may provide covers against civil disturbance, war, expropriation, in addition to currency transfers. National insurance companies – run by the government – may similarly be approached by the investor to obtain cover for risks that arise from non-payment (Frenkel, Karmann, and Scholtens). Regardless of the kinds of political risks facing the investor, therefore, it is possible to invest by managing the risks after choosing one or more methods of political risk management. Works Cited Frenkel, Michael, Alexander Karmann, and Bert Scholtens (eds. ). Sovereign Risk and Financial Crises. New York: Springer-Verlag, 2004.

Research Paper on GPS

Research Paper on GPS Introduction The topic of this study is related to the introduction of the Global Positioning System (GPS) in the United States (U.S) and its effect on the U.S in the past ten years. Purpose The purpose of the report is to analyse the political factors influencing the development and introduction of the GPS. Hughes (1991) views on technological development will be used to support the political influences that governed the introduction of the GPS. Winner’s (Beder 1998, p.72) theory will also be used to explain the relationship between these political factors with the GPS. This report will also use Basalla’s (1988) views on social needs and choices to provide an understanding towards the relationship that existed between the society and the GPS after it has been in operation. Scope The scope will only be covering the political influences that governed the introduction of the GPS and its development. The study will also analyse the social factors that affected the use of the GPS after its introduction. Other factors such as technical, geographic and environmental would not be covered by this study. Methods of Investigation Factual and technical books regarding the GPS would be used to support the study. Government reports from the U.S will also be used in aid to support the analysis of this study. Theories used in this study would be taken from the Engineering for Sustainability text. Background The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a radionavigation systems that have been created by the United States Department of Defence (Dod). The system is made up of a constellation of 24 satellites and its various ground stations. The series of satellites called â€Å"Nav star† orbits around the earth in several orbits. The navigation system uses radio frequencies sent out by the series of satellites which can locate a position where a transmitter is present (El-Rabbany, 2002). The GPS was built for military purposes (Andrade, 2001). The development of the GPS used about US10 billion in taxpayer’s money (El-Rabbany, 2002). The GPS came to public attention after the classified information of its usage became known during the Persian Gulf War (DoD Report to Congress, 1992). The GPS was used for navigation, tracking, bomb and missile guidance, rescue and map updating (Andrade, 2001). This information is crucial in times of war for through the GPS, allied troops are able to launch assaults in the night, carry out rescue and covert operations and infiltration of enemy base camps (DoD Report to Congress, 1992). The system has only been available for public use for a decade ago. This was due to demand for the need of locating objects for various reasons and also the need of reducing cost which is the restricted limitation of applications and usage of the GPS. (Drake Rizos, 1998). The host of the GPS is the Department of Defence in the United States of America. Due to public demands, the DoD has researched and innovated the GPS system to be ready for public use. One of the aims of the system was to develop a single unified application. A single unified application that allowed more civilian use and user friendly (Logsdon, 1995). This was very attractive to real time users such as businesses and the public. Local government authorities can also benefit from it such as the police and fire departments for life and death situations. To an extent, it will also have value in terms of security of the property of a private owner. Initially, it was only affordable to large corporations, largely because of the need for insurance of a valuable item. It was a gradual process where the GPS was available for use by the general public. Due to other technological advances such as more efficient communication systems, geographic databases and innovations and breakthroughs in the microchip industry and the availability of Internet access, the GPS became more affordable; hence, it is now widely used (Andrade, 2001). In 1980, a GPS receiver cost approximately US10 000 and through innovations in the microchip industry, smaller GPS receivers were built at a fraction of the price which led to the introduction of the first hand-held receiver priced below $1000 in 1992. In 1997, the cheapest receiver up to date was introduced to the public, priced at $100 running on two AA batteries (Andrade, 2001). Although built for military purposes, due to social needs, the GPS has been innovated for the use of the public. Such uses can be seen in the field of transportation, geographic research and weather prediction (El-Rabbany, 2002). The information of position can be invaluable in these areas if given in relation to the intended path, showing points of interest and potential hazards: an aircraft position in relation to a destination; a car on a moving street map; or a boat in relation to islands and obstacles. Combined with communication technology such as the cellular phone, the knowledge of position can be life saving, reducing search and rescue mission to simply rescue mission (El-Rabbany, 2002). Transportation with GPS monitoring can keep unwanted traffic away in certain places (Drake Rizos, 1998). An example of this would be the prevention an oversize truck to travel along residential roads, against the regulations, by having a GPS tracking device on them (Drake Rizos, 1998) In business management where there are mobile goods such as a concrete truck, the truck can be fixed with a GPS tracking device. This could help improve productivity as the company can keep track of where it is. Hence, the customer can ask the concrete company where the truck is and when precisely her/his delivery can arrive. The GPS can also aid in environmental research such as wild life research and help to locate rehabilitated animals which have been released. Thus locating them through the GPS, researchers can observe their tracks and have a better understanding of the specie (Kreiter, 2001). Engineers at Purdue University and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have developed a way to use GPS satellites to monitor the environment, which could lead to better weather prediction models (Kreiter, 2001). They had been trying to develop a system using GPS signals to image things on the ground, measuring soil moisture and the thickness of ice on the Earth’s surface (Kreiter, 2001). The advantage of using the GPS signal to make the measurements over existing equipments is that it cuts the amount of the hardware necessary by more than half. The GPS measurements appear to be just as accurate as dedicated transmitters and receivers currently in use, and are more reliable during storms (Kreiter, 2001). Finally it can be seen that the use of the technology has gone to shape itself so that society can use it in a common fashion and affordable manner. The future prospects of this technology will depend on how well it copes with other advancing technology. Analysis Hughes Theory Hughes (1991) presented that, every technology or technological change will have political, economic and technical factors. This report will analyse the relationship between the political factors and the GPS technology. In this case, the U.S government realized that the GPS is a powerful and useful technology, so they have spent a lot of money to research it (El-Rabbany, 2002). The GPS was built for military purposes to increase the military might of the U.S and with this came political power (Andrade, 2001). It is evident because in 1991, the â€Å"Navster GPS† was used in the Persian Gulf War and with it; it gave the U.S an advantage over the Iraqis forces (DoD Report to Congress, 1992). For this positioning equipment, it can increase their control over land vehicles, ships, aircraft and precision-guided weapon around the world (Andrade, 2001). This gave the U.S a huge military advantage and gave victory to the U.S over the Iraqis. Winner’s Theory Winner (Beder 1998, p.72) presents theories that explain the relationship between politics and a certain technology. GPS, as mentioned was developed by the U.S military. However, politics is the main supplier to provide support to the development of this technology (Andrade, 2001). In this we can see that the military department was the one who developed the GPS, but its development was spurred by political needs. The government of U.S needed a technology that could monitor the movements of governments around the world. For this would give them an advantage over countries that should wish that wage war against the U.S (Andrade, 2001). For the GPS to be researched and developed, it required a huge sum of funding (El-Rabbany, 2002). Only through government grants, did the GPS project take place. (Andrade, 2001). This can be supported by Winner’s (Beder 1998, p.72) theory that a technology â€Å"appears to require or to be strongly compatible with particular kinds of power relationships†. With Winner’s theory, we can conclude that politics was the driving force to the creation of the GPS. This conclusion is made because political factors are the ones that govern the distribution of government money and fund, and through this, the GPS was provided the necessary funds to begin operations (Andrade, 2001). Basalla’s Theory Basalla (1988) introduced the idea of social and cultural choice involving the adoption of a certain technology. He also mentioned that an invention alters itself due to meet the needs of the society. The GPS was brought to use in the early 1990s and has since influenced the society gradually. Although the U.S. Department of Defence created the system to serve the sole purpose of military applications, it has evolved since its launch (Andrade, 2001). Through the needs of the general public and commercial demand, it has far transformed from its original role to aid in the transportation business, geographic research field and also in weather prediction and surface monitoring (El-Rabbany, 2002). This demonstrated Basalla’s (1988) theory of social and cultural choice, where the invention alters itself due to meet the desire of the user. It can be seen that the GPS has been put to different uses after its introduction although built for a different purpose. Conclusion Through the analysis of the study, it can be seen how political factors needs and goals were the driving force into the introduction of the GPS system. Built for military purposes, it has managed to strengthen the military might of the U.S forces rendering them an advantage as seen in the Gulf War. Through Hughes’ and Winner’s theories, it is evident to see the relationship that existed between the political factors and the GPS system. In concluding with Basalla’s views on social choices, it can clearly be seen that ultimately it was social choice that dictated how the GPS was used in the U.S. Used by the U.S for military purposes, but the constraints of public needs and demands, dictated that the uses of GPS be changed to meet its needs. In the past decade, the uses of GPS have increased tremendously rendering the world virtually smaller. Users are now able to communicate with each other even in remotest part of the world owing to this technology. In realizing the relations of the theories of technological developments with our daily lives, engineers are able to understand and more equipped towards the task are creating a more sustainable future.

Free Essays on Islam

Islamic civilization has been the last great world civilization to appear to date. The fundamental ideas and values of Islam have their roots in Muhammad’s recitation of the Qur’an from the city of Mecca. Despite the simplicity of this single event, Islam spread far beyond its Arabian beginnings. As a result of the Arab conquests of the seventh century, many people were attracted to the unity of this Islamic society. The rise of Islam as an international tradition of religious, political, and social principles and institutions is one of the greatest revelations of all time. In the fifth century C.E. a merchant aristocrat called Muhammad from Mecca claimed to have received a divine prophecy from God’s messenger, Angel Gabriel. This prophecy is known as the Qu’ran. Mecca was a thriving commercial town that was a pilgrimage site where Ka’ba stood and was the center of the caravan trade. Mecca also held the origins of Islam. Muhammad was motivated to begin this new religious tradition because he saw what materialism and idolatry was doing to the world. After Muhammad’s proclamation of God’s last call to the people, him and his followers fled to Medina in 622 due to the religious persecutions they had received. This flight is known as the hegira, which is also the beginning of the Islamic calendar. In Medina, the organization of this new religious tradition began to develop. Muhammad, the prophet and founder of Islam, defined his followers as being Muslim, which is being submissive to God’s will. Their beliefs were held in the Five Pillars of Islam: absolute obedience to one God, five daily prayers facing Mecca, charity, fasting during Ramadan, and a pilgrimage to Mecca. Muslims were also to abstain from pork and alcohol and to have allegiance to their Islamic community. The message of the Qur’an was that the way to paradise lay in gratitude to God for forgiveness and guidance, worship of false gods would not be tolerate... Free Essays on Islam Free Essays on Islam The literal meaning of Islam is peace or surrender of one’s will; in other words, losing oneself for the sake of God and surrendering one’s own pleasure for the pleasure of God. Islam is a religion which impacts every part of life, from eating and sleeping to working and playing. Allah, the almighty one, is the name of the God of the Muslims. The Muslims believe that Allah is an all-powerful, magnificent God who has created the universe and controls even the smallest detail of everything, much like the beliefs of Christians and Jews. Muslims believe that Allah is one, indivisible, and they believe in all the prophets and holy figures of the Christians and Jews including Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, Mary, Jesus, and others. Muslims also recognize another prophet named Muhammad, who is a direct descendant of Abraham through his first born son, Ishmael. Muhammad was born in Mecca in 570 A.D. and is the heart and soul of Islam. His father died just before he was born and his mother died when Muhammad reached the age of six. As an adult, he worked as a caravan driver and married several times. As a sacred person, Muhammad would retreat to caves and ponder over the differences of many diverse religious beliefs. At the age of forty, he had his first revelation which he initially thought might have been a hallucination. However, after confiding in his wife, Khadijah, he became convinced that his experience was a true communication from God. Muhammad had many more revelations after the first in which he began to communicate more openly with his people. Following the death of his wife and uncle, Muhammad experienced his â€Å"Night Journey† in 620 A.D. At this point, the angel Gabriel guided him upwards to the heavens where he encountered the angels, the great prophets, and at last, the all-mighty God. This was the confirm ation Muhammad needed to confirm that he was a prophet and messeng... Free Essays on Islam Islam is the name given to the religion preached by the Prophet Muhammad in the A.D. 600’s.Isalm is an Arabic word that means submission or surrender. God is called Allah, which means â€Å"The God†, and one who follows these teachings and beliefs is called a Muslim. Muhammad was born about A.D. 570 in the Arabian city of Mecca. Many believe that he began to receive revelations from Allah that were sent through Gabriel. These revelations took place in Mecca and Medina in a 22-year period and are now recorded in the Muslim holy book, the Qur’an. The Qur’an and the Sunna, the example of words and practices of Muhammad, make up the foundation of Islamic law. Islam is the second largest religion in the world, following Christianity. Over 1.1 million people follow this religion. Today, Muslims live in every country in the world. The central concept of Islam is tawhid, the oneness of God. Muslims are much like Christians in that they believe in one god who is the lord of the universe. They believe that they owe worship and obedience to God since He is the creator of the universe and He knows all. Every act performed in obedience to God is considered an act of worship in Islam. Most Muslims take care in their daily lives to respect their parents and elders, to be kind to animals and human beings, and to do their daily tasks to the best that they can. The formal acts of worship, called the Five Pillars, provide the framework for all aspects of Muslim life. The pillars consist of (1) Faith, (2) Prayer, (3) Charity, (4) Fasting, and (5) Pilgrimage. Faith is the main pillar since it is the basis surrounding the religion. They must have faith in God, and only Him. The pillar of prayer is important to most Muslims since they pray five times a day. They pray just before dawn, at midday, in mid-afternoon, just after sunset, and at night. Before they pray, they must wash their hands, their faces, parts of their arms and ... Free Essays on Islam Islam More Than A Religion Despite its huge following around the world and the growing Muslim communities in the United States, Islam is foreign to most Americans who are familiar with Christianity or Judaism. Because most Americans know little or nothing about Islam, they have many misconceptions about Muslim beliefs and rituals. The negative image many people in the United States and Europe have of Islam and the Muslim world has a long history. Many have judged Islam without making an effort to consider this religious tradition on its own terms, without bothering to become acquainted with its teaching and the ways in which Muslims practice their faith. Like Judaism and Christianity, Islam is a monotheistic religion, based on the belief in one God.. This religion was proclaimed by the Prophet Muhammad in Arabia, in the 7th century A.D. The term Islam virtually means â€Å"surrender†. Within Islam the believer (called a Muslim) use the Arabic word for God, Allah , to refer to the creator of the world and of all life within it. Allah is viewed as the creator, sustained, and restorer of the world. The will of Allah, to which man must submit, is made known through the sacred scriptures, the Quran. Allah revealed the Quran to his messenger, Muhammad (praise be upon him). According to Islamic beliefs, Muhammad is the last of a series of prophets. Muhammad's message concurrently perfect and do away with the â€Å"revelations† attributed to earlier prophets. From the very beginning of Islam, Muhammad had portrayed a sense of brotherhood and a bond of faith to his followers. The Prophet fled to Medina in AD 622, it was during this time that his preaching was accepted and the community-state of Islam emerged. During this early period, Islam acquired its characteristics as a religion uniting in itself both the spiritual and temporal aspects of life. Islam also seeks to regulate not only the individual's relationship to God... Free Essays on Islam Islamic civilization has been the last great world civilization to appear to date. The fundamental ideas and values of Islam have their roots in Muhammad’s recitation of the Qur’an from the city of Mecca. Despite the simplicity of this single event, Islam spread far beyond its Arabian beginnings. As a result of the Arab conquests of the seventh century, many people were attracted to the unity of this Islamic society. The rise of Islam as an international tradition of religious, political, and social principles and institutions is one of the greatest revelations of all time. In the fifth century C.E. a merchant aristocrat called Muhammad from Mecca claimed to have received a divine prophecy from God’s messenger, Angel Gabriel. This prophecy is known as the Qu’ran. Mecca was a thriving commercial town that was a pilgrimage site where Ka’ba stood and was the center of the caravan trade. Mecca also held the origins of Islam. Muhammad was motivated to begin this new religious tradition because he saw what materialism and idolatry was doing to the world. After Muhammad’s proclamation of God’s last call to the people, him and his followers fled to Medina in 622 due to the religious persecutions they had received. This flight is known as the hegira, which is also the beginning of the Islamic calendar. In Medina, the organization of this new religious tradition began to develop. Muhammad, the prophet and founder of Islam, defined his followers as being Muslim, which is being submissive to God’s will. Their beliefs were held in the Five Pillars of Islam: absolute obedience to one God, five daily prayers facing Mecca, charity, fasting during Ramadan, and a pilgrimage to Mecca. Muslims were also to abstain from pork and alcohol and to have allegiance to their Islamic community. The message of the Qur’an was that the way to paradise lay in gratitude to God for forgiveness and guidance, worship of false gods would not be tolerate... Free Essays on Islam RELIGION ISLAM DEFINATION: The Arabic word â€Å"ISLAM† simply means â€Å"submission† , and derives from a word meaning â€Å"peace† . In religious context it means complete submission to the will of God. â€Å"Mohammedanism† is thus a misnomer because it suggests that Muslims worship Muhammad rather than God. â€Å"ALLAH† is the Arabic name for God, which is used by Arab Muslims and Christians alike. Who believes in ISLAM? Why? Muslims believe in ISLAM they believe in One God who is unique, Incomparable he is all powerful he is supreme power he has all authorities. God’s complete authority over human destiny and in life after death. Muslims believe in a chain of prophets starting with Adam and including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, john, and Jesus, peace be upon them all. But God’s final message was brought by prophet Muhammad and he was the last prophet. Who are the Muslims ? Over one billion people from a vast range of races, nationalities and cultures across the globe. From the southern Philippines to Nigeria – are united by their common Islamic faith.About 18% live in the Arab world; but the world’s largest Muslim community is in Indonesia(130 million),30% of Muslims live in the Indian sub continent,20 % in sub Saharan African,17 % in South east ASIA, 10 % in the Soviet Union and China. All Muslims are not Arabs you will see black Muslims, Indian Muslims, American Muslims Bosinian Muslims, Turkish Muslims and etc Muslims are in many countries and are in many colors. Why does Islam often seem strange? Muslims always lead their live according to laws and teaching of their religion(ISLAM) where as in Christianity they don’t do that. Muslims have religion always uppermost in their minds,and make no division between secular and sacred. They b... Free Essays on Islam Islam The word â€Å"Islam† comes from the Arabic language and means â€Å"submission to God†. A Muslim belongs to the Islamic religion. The Arabic word Muslim means â€Å"one who is submitted to God, wholly committed to the divine power and authority (Speight 2). Islam is the youngest and one of the largest major religions with more than one billion followers (Hopfe 329). Muhammad, the founder of Islam, was born around A.D. 570 in Mecca. His mother died when he was six and his father died before he was born. Muhammad’s uncle, Abu Talib, a traveling merchant, raised him. Muhammad often traveled with his uncle to Syria and other regions for trade. At twenty-five years old, Muhammad married a wealthy widow, Khadija, who was forty at the time. They worked together as caravan merchants. Once Muhammad was allowed more leisure time, he started visiting a popular cave at Mount Hira, three miles from Mecca, to meditate. In the year 610, he received a vision of the angel Gabriel while at the cave. Gabriel brought this command from God: Recite: In the Name of thy Lord who created, created Man of a blood clot. Recite: And thy Lord is the Most Generous, Who taught by the Pen, Taught man what he knew not. From this point forward, Gabriel was to be the middle-man of communication between God and Muhammad, at the frequent revelations throughout the rest of Muhammad’s life (Braswell 12). These communications were transferred over time to become the scriptures of Islam, or the Qur’an. This sacred text teaches about God as well as how to lead a good, faithful life. The scriptures set harsh penalties for evils such as stealing or murder. After three years of silence about his experiences, Muhammad started his prophetic mission. At first, he only converted a few followers; most under forty years old from some of the most worthy families in Mecca. He preached against the idols in the Ka’ba , whic... Free Essays on Islam Next to Christianity, Islam is the next most popular religion of the world, with 1.3 billion followers accounted for in 2002. The word â€Å"Islam† comes from the Arabic word which means the submission or surrender of one’s will to the only true god worthy of worship, which they call â€Å"Allah†. Anyone who follows the religion of Islam is termed a â€Å"Muslim.† The main focus of Islam is the worship of Allah alone and the avoidance of worship directed to any person, place, or thing other than Allah. Islam rejects the worship of Allah’s creation and instead encourages the worship of Allah himself. Similar to the other major religions, such as Christianity and Judaism, Muslims believe in one unique God. Unlike Christianity and Judaism though, Muslims believe that Allah has neither a son nor partner and should be worshipped alone; no one shares in His divinity or attributes. Islam also rejects the existence of any human form of God. They acknowledge Jesus as a prophet, not the son of God. Any human form of God is considered blasphemous because God is far removed from every human imperfection. Some other beliefs of Islam are the belief in the existence of angels and the belief that God revealed books to His messengers as guidance for them. Among these books is the Holy Quran, which Allah revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. The Quran, which is the last revealed word of God, is the primary source of Islam faith and practice. It deals with all subjects which concern human beings, but its basic theme is the relationship between God and humans. It also provides guidelines and detailed teachings for a just society, proper human conduct, and an economic system. Muslims believe that by following the Quran, one will live a satisfying life. On the other hand, one who turns away from the Quran will have a life of hardship. The second source of Islam is the Sunnah. The word Sunnah has come to denote the way the Prophet Muhammad l... Free Essays on Islam Islam is the religion of mercy. Islam was very clear concerning women; it gave them their full rights and never considered them as inferior to men. According to Smock and Youssef, â€Å"The introduction of Islam†¦undoubtedly compromises the single most important determinant molding the character of Egyptian culture and as such had a profound effect on the status of women†(quote taken from Smock 35). Although Egypt and the whole Arab world are Islamic countries, Arab women are still denied some of their rights, and are still treated as the ‘weak sex’ that needs to be supported and guided by men. In ancient civilizations, such as Roman women were mistreated A woman didn’t have any rights, her approval in marriage wasn’t necessary, and she was treated like the property of her parents or husband (Badawi 7) Islam honors women and places them highly. Smock and Youssef state, â€Å"Islam, as an integral religion, formulates a total pattern for living rather than focusing primarily on theology. Hence Mohammed was concerned with the role of women† (Smock 37). Islam gives women specific rights, as well as duties and responsibilities. It doesn’t differentiate between man and woman; all people are equal and are judged according to their actions and deeds, not according to their sex. God says in the Holy Qur’an, â€Å"Whoso acts righteously, whether male or female and is a believer, We will surely grant him a pure life (4:123; also 16:19)† (quote taken from Agbetola 134). Islam has defended women starting their early childhood; it forbade infant icide, and also required parents to treat their daughters kindly and fairly. Prophet Muhammad stated â€Å"Whosoever has a daughter and he does not bury her alive, does not insult her, and does not favor his son over her, God will enter him into Paradise† (quote taken from Badawi 15). As adults, Islam has also ensured that women would lead an honorable and dignified life. In the Qur’an it is cl... Free Essays on Islam Orthopraxy in Islam Islamic life is centered on the physical practice of prayer (salat). With that the religion of Islam itself is based in the methodical movement through which Muslims show their devotion to Allah. The prayer begins with the devotee standing, bending slowly into a sitting position and ending in full prostration. Bowing fully onto the ground is a practice that shows humility and represents the true devotion of members. Practice-centered religion differentiates itself from â€Å"orthodox† religion in that it focuses primarily on ritual practice, rather than theology or doctrine, orthodox meaning â€Å"correct opinion†. The most visible orthodox religion of America is Christianity. Christianity centers life around the opinions of the church with less emphasis on purity and behavior. Islamic life is distinctly based on what can be defined as â€Å"orthopraxy† or the importance of religious practice. The orthopraxy of Islam can be seen in at least three of the Five Pillars of Islam, salat, Ramadan and the hajj, which are also representative of Muslim faith and duties. Salat, as mentioned earlier, is the performance of prayer five times a day. The prayer, which includes full prostration, is performed facing Mecca. In the The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, (the earliest source of Islamic writing as dictated to Mohammed), it is written, â€Å"Whencesoever thou comest forth (for prayer, O Mohammed) turn thy face toward the Inviolable Place of Worship. Lo! it is the Truth from thy Lord. Allah is not unaware of what ye do (Surah 2:149).† Implicit directions for prayer also display the amount of emphasis on practice. Salat must be performed five times daily, at specific times of the day: early morning, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and evening. Each Friday a congregational service is held at the mosque and every male is required to attend. Before prayer, four ritual aspects are required: ritual purification, proper co... Free Essays on Islam â€Å"The Pillars of Islam†, by Frances Gumley and Brian Redhead briefly explains the basic principles which guide the lives of Muslims all over the world. Frances Gumley is a producer for religious programs for the British Broadcasting Commission and a free lance producer for Radio Four. Brian Redhead is a well known broadcaster for Radio Four. The two have worked together before on two occasions, â€Å"The good book† and â€Å"The Christian Centuries†. â€Å"The pillars of Islam†, is their third collaborative achievement. Gumley and Redhead adopt a very simple and logical style of presenting their views. They use quotations from the Koran and support their views by referring to viewpoints of distinguished Muslim scholars. The authors describe the five pillars in detail using a chapter for each one. The book being an introduction to the Islamic faith, I think that the authors have succeeded in capturing the essence of this particular religion. In my opinion ‘the five pillars of Islam’ is something of a misnomer. I think the first pillar, the statement of faith, Is not a pillar but the basis upon which all else rests. On this foundation rests the other four pillars. If they did not then they would not be important for they are expressions of worship and thus a form of giving, though also, like worship, a form of receiving. For in these pillars rests great inner peace and social peace- a harmony and serenity that is only possible if one is living the life for which one was created. For example everything manufactured works best when the manufacturers instructions are followed. Likewise for man: our proper performance depends upon carefully following the instructions of the manufacturer’s manual. It is therefore our obligation to seek and realize and to obey the word of the creator. The Five Pillars of Islam are the foundation of the Islamic religion. These basic laws are very significant and stand as a way for Muslims to e... Free Essays on Islam The strong impact slavery had on the spread of Israel The word of the Quran had a strong influence on many cultures. The Muslims holy word was fitting to many and easily answered people’s questions on how to get into heaven and how to stay out of flaming hell. The spread of Islam moved quickly considering the extensive geography and different regions that were involved. While the word to the Quran brought guidance to many, Islam spread by word of mouth while trading and military conquests took place. (Stearn,68) Throughout this paper I hope to show how the African Diaspora and slavery both economically and geographically played a huge role in the spread of Islam. The Islam faith offered rules that where easily followed, and it didn’t condemn or renounce material wealth. Economically Muslims brought strong skills in navigation, trade, and commercial exchange. (Fiero, 50) The famous Jihad also translated as the â€Å"holy war† was used as a defense in faith against non-Muslims. Although the Muslim armies did have success in defending there faith and it was thought that the Muslim religion brought power and triumph. As Africans where traded into the Islamic world many of them accepted and agreed with the Islamic faith. (Stern, 68) One example of a military slave that converted to the Islamic belief was a man named Ammar bin Yasir. He was one of the first African’s to embrace Islam, which he did at 48 years old. He told his father, an old Sabena freedman and his mother, also an old black African slave-woman that he had converted to Muslim. They also decided to embrace the Islam culture. When Ammar made and early conversion to Islam he suffered a great deal for his decision. He was punished and tortured, he was forced to sit and witness the brutal and horrifying death of his mother and father for their decision to convert to the Muslim faith and embracing Islam. The pagan Quraysh put a burning rod through Ammara’s chest ... Free Essays on ISLAM The first thing that one should know and understand about Islam is what the world â€Å"Islam† means. The religion of Islam is not named after a person as in the case of Christianity which named after Jesus Christ, Buddhism after Gotama Buddha, and Confucianism after Confucius and Hinduism after the Hindus. Islam is the religion of â€Å"Allah† (God). â€Å"The Arabic word â€Å"Islam† means the submission or surrender of one’s will to the only true god worthy of worship â€Å"Allah† and anyone who does so is termed a â€Å"Muslim†, the word also implies â€Å"peace†Ã¢â‚¬ . The name of God’s religion Islam was not decided upon by later generations of man. It was chosen by Allah Himself and clearly mentioned in His final revelation to man. Islam is the world’s second most popular religion. It began 1400 years ago in Arabia, but swiftly become a world faith, and now has around 1,200 million adherents. There are between 1. 2 and 1.6 million Muslims in the UK, about 600,000 of who are active in the faith. Those who are not active still regard being a Muslim as an important part of their identity. Islam was the religion of the first couple, Adam and Eve. It was also the religion of messengers of God like Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus. The real meaning of their message was the same. Islam teaches that â€Å"believe and obey one true God and obey his messengers†. Jesus (peace be upon him) was the second last prophet of God. He foretold the coming of the last Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). While the message of the earlier messengers, including Jesus was limited, but the message of Prophet Mohammad is universal and will remain so till the end of this world. Belief in Islam means belief in One God, belief in all of God’s messengers, belief in all the books sent down to His Prophets. These books include Torah and Gospel (not the Bible), belief in the existence of angels, and belief in the Day of Judgment and Life after Death, heaven and hell...

How to Build an ACT Study Plan 4 Sample Schedules

How to Build an ACT Study Plan 4 Sample Schedules SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The best way to attack the ACT is to use an ACT study plan. With a study plan, you can manage your prep time more easily, figure out your weaknesses, and hone the skills you need to get the score you want on test day. We give you four top-notch ACT plans to choose from, based on your ACT score goals. Before we take a look at those, though, let’s go over the benefits of having an ACT schedule and the steps needed to find the right ACT study plan for you. What Are the Benefits of a Study Plan for ACT Prep? Everyone studying for the ACT should start with a thorough study plan. But what are the benefits of having one? For one, having an ACT study plan allows you to balance your prep time so that you’re spending enough time on the topics you need to study- but aren’t overworking yourself. For example, if I had four months to prep for the ACT, my plan would tell me how many hours to study per week as well as how I could arrange these hours to fit my schedule. ACT plans are also highlyadaptable. This means you can change your ACT schedule to better suit your study needs and work around any obligations you have. So if you’re struggling with math but have already completed your "ACT Math Review" day, you could spend some of your â€Å"ACT Reading Review† day reviewing more math concepts you need to know. Finally, an ACT prep schedule can tell you whether you’re en route to hitting your goal score. A good study plan will tell you when to take ACT practice tests (starting withofficial ones) so that you can gauge your overall progress and pinpoint your weaknesses. Clearly, there are many benefits of having an ACT study plan. But how can you find the right schedule for you? Choosing a Study Plan for ACT Prep: 5 Preliminary Steps Before you decide on an ACT schedule, you need to figure out where you’re currently scoring, what your goal score is, and how much prep time you’ll need. Below, we cover the five preliminary steps you must take to find the best ACT study plan for you. Step 1: Set a Goal Score The first step is to set an ACT goal score. This is the score most likely to get you admitted to all of the schools you’re applying to.You'll want to aim for this score on test day, but to do this you must prep accordingly (which we help you do in our study plans below!). To set a goal score, look for the 25th and 75th percentile ACT scores for each of your schools. These scores represent the middle 50 percent, or average range, of scores of admitted applicants. Ideally, you’ll get an ACT score in at least the 75th percentile for your schools. This will mean you've scored higher than 75 percent of admitted applicants! The easiest way to keep track of ACT score info for your schools is to make a chart (you can also download our pre-made chart). To find your schools’ ACT score info, go online and search for â€Å"[School Name] PrepScholar.† This will bring up links to our database. Click on the â€Å"Admission Requirements† page for your school. On this page, scroll down to find your school’s ACT score info.You'll see a big banner containing your school's average ACT score. Beneath that are your school's 25th and 75th percentile ACT scores. Here’s an example of how this looks onNotre Dame's PrepScholar page: Once you’ve gathered the 75th percentile scores for all of your schools and recorded them in your chart, look for the highest score. This will be your goal score, as it’s the one most likely to get you accepted to all of the schools you're applying to. Let's say I applied to Notre Dame, the University of Michigan, Indiana University Bloomington, and Indiana State. In this case, my ACT goal score would be 34 (the highest 75th percentile score, for Notre Dame). Step 2: Find Your Baseline Score Next, it's time to get your baseline score. A baseline score is essentially your starting point in ACT prep- it’s the score you’d get right now on the ACT, without any prep. To find your baseline, take an official ACT practice test. Official tests are the best resources to use for getting your baseline score since they’re by far the most realistic tests out there. As you take your practice test, make sure to simulate real testing conditions as closely as possible: take the test in a quiet room, use an ACT-approved calculator, and abide by theofficial time limitson all sections. When finished, use your test’s scoring guide to calculate your scaled scores. Your composite score (that is, the average of your four section scores) will be your baseline score. For example, if I got 32 on English, 25 on Math, 28 on Reading, and 30 on Science, my final ACT score would be 29 (since 28.75 rounds up!). Step 3: Calculate How Many Hours You’ll Need to Study Now, it's time to use your baseline and goal scores to figure out roughly how many hours you’ll need to prep for the ACT. First, subtract your baseline score from your goal score. Then, match the difference to a point range below to see how many total hours you’ll need to study: 0-1 point improvement: 10 hours 1-2 point improvement: 20 hours 2-4 point improvement: 40 hours 4-6 point improvement: 80 hours 6-9 point improvement: 150 hours+ The more points you need to improve by, the more hours you’ll need to study. In my examples above, my goal score was 34 and my baseline score was 29. This comes out to a 5-point improvement, equaling about 80 total hours of prep. Step 4: Pick a Test Date When picking an ACT test date, you'll need to consider the following three factors: How much time you want to prepare for the ACT How busy your schedule is around a test date Your college application deadlines The most important point to remember is this:the more hours you need to study, the more time you should give yourself before test day.If you're planning to make large gains of 4 or more points, choose a test date that’s further out so that you have ample time to prep for the exam (and relax as needed!). I suggest prepping forthree to six months,though you might need more or less time depending on how big of a point improvement you want to make. Additionally, choose a test date that works well with your schedule. If you have tons of activities or commitments with little to no time to study, go with a test date at a different, more relaxed time to make your schedule less stressful for you. Finally, if you’re a senior, make sure to take the ACT well before your college application deadlines. If your scores arrive after deadlines, your application could get disqualified, so always choose an early test date. Generally, seniors should be able to do the September and October test dates and possibly the December test date- but not anything later! Step 5: Gather ACT Study Materials Before you begin your ACT prep schedule, spend time gathering high-quality study materials. Far and away, the best resources you can use are official ones (i.e., anything created by ACT, Inc.). Here are some of the top official ACT resources: Official ACT practice tests: These free, full-length practice tests are the best out there and offer highly realistic ACT test-taking practice. Use these to check your progress and monitor your score improvement. Official sample test questions:ACT, Inc., offers online batches of sample questions for each ACT section. This free resource comes with detailed answer explanations and is ideal for both general practice and drilling weaknesses. The Official ACT Prep Guide: At about $25, this official ACT prep book offers three full-length practice tests, 400 practice questions, and test-day guidance. Just be aware that if you already have the 2016-17 version, the 2018 one is essentially the same. Additionally, all three practice tests sharesignificant overlap with the free tests above, so you might want to get the third edition of the book instead (which comes with five unique tests). You can also use high-quality, unofficial ACT resources to supplement your prep. Our guide to the best ACT prep books gives you our top recommendations for official and unofficial ACT prep books. Pro tip: always be pickier when buying unofficial ACT resources since many are low quality and don’t contain realistic practice questions. Get your popcorn ready as we preview four Oscar-worthy ACT study plans! 4 ACT Study Plans for You to Choose From You are now ready to pick an study plan for ACT prep! Below, we offer four study plans to choose from. Each one differs in intensity (how many hours you need to study per week) and length (how many months the program is). Each plan also comes withsuggested time frames to help you balance your prep. That said, you are free to tweak our plans so that you’re spending more or less time on certain topics and skills. Remember,a good ACT study plan canadaptto fit your needs. If you’re struggling with Math and Science, for example, but are strong at Reading and English, you could (and should) focus more on honing your Math and Science skills. Just be sure you’re generally following your ACT schedule so that you’re not missing any critical practice, review, or progress checks. The four ACT study plans we offer are as follows: A three-month, medium-intensive plan A three-month, low-intensive plan A six-month, medium-intensive plan A one-month, high-intensive plan ACT Study Plan #1: 3-Month Program, Medium Intensity This moderate study plan lasts three months and requires a total of 80 study hours, or about six and a half hours a week.With this plan, you’ll be able to raise your total ACT score by up to 6 points. This is a great plan to use any time of the year but works best if you’re studying over the summer (to take the September or October ACT) and have more free time to dedicate to ACT prep. First tip for your ACT Reading studies: don't remove your glasses! Month 1: English Reading Basics For the first month, you’ll get to know the ACT, specifically the English and Reading sections. Week 1: Learn the ACT Format 1. Take an official practice test. To get your baseline score, take a full-length ACT test. Be sure to recreate real testing conditions as closely as possible- this means taking the test in a quiet room without interruptions. Suggested Time: 3.5 hrs 2. Score your practice test and analyze your results. Your composite score will be your baseline score (the score you start with before beginning any test prep). You should also take some time to go over your results and see what questions you got right and wrong. Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs 3. Learn the overall format of the ACT. Familiarize yourself with the basics of the ACT: what kind of content it tests, what kinds of questions it has, and how much time you’ll have on each section. Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs Week 2: Focus on English 1. Learn the English test format. Understand what it tests and what types of passages you’ll need to edit. Suggested Time: 2 hrs 2. Study all ACT grammar topics and punctuation rules. You’ll need to know all of the major English rules that can appear on the ACT, from pronouns to apostrophes. Suggested Time: 2.5 hrs 3. Learn and practice the graf-by-graf reading strategy. This passage-reading strategy is by far the best one for ACT English. With this strategy, you'll read a passage one paragraph at a time and answer questions for each paragraph. Once you understand how this strategy works, practice it using realistic ACT English passages. Suggested Time: 2 hrs Week 3: Turn to Reading 1. Learn the Reading test format. Understand how this section differs from the English section, what kinds of passages there are, and what sorts of questions you'll be answering. Suggested Time: 2.5 hrs 2. Find the passage-reading strategy that works best for you. You’ll want to use a strategy that’s both quick and effective. To figure out which one you like most, test out a few different strategies using Reading practice tests. The strategy that gives you the highest score is the one you'll use in your prep and on test day. Suggested Time: 2.5 hrs 3. Practice your chosen passage-reading strategy. Once you've decided on a strategy, continue practicing it using quality Reading practice tests. Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs Week 4: Learn Reading English Strategies 1. Memorize common ACT vocabulary words. Our ACT vocabulary list contains 150 common words you should know for the exam. Suggested Time: 2 hrs 2. Learn English and Reading strategies. Most importantly, practice the #1 critical rule for Reading so that you can know how to eliminate incorrect answer choices. Suggested Time: 2.5 hrs 3. Practice strategies. Use official practice questions or high-quality, unofficial questions to test out the various English and Reading strategies you’ve learned. Suggested Time: 2 hrs On the ACT, you get to play the part of a scientist- but, sadly, do not get to work with red goo. Month 2: Math Science Basics Now, you’ll move on to math and science topics. This month teaches you the format of the Math and Science sections and how to strategize for them. Week 5: Move Toward Math 1. Learn the Math test format. Get to know the basic structure of the section and what kinds of topics it tests. Suggested Time: 2 hrs 2. Go over basic math concepts. Readour basic guide to integersfollowed byour advanced guide to integers. Then, learn about fractions and proportions. Suggested Time: 2 hrs 3. Review algebra. Key topics include the following: Single-variable equations Systems of equations Operations Functions Word problems Suggested Time: 2.5 hrs Week 6: Learn More Math 1. Study key geometry concepts. These include the following: Lines and slopes Reflections, translations, and rotations Lines and angles Polygons Circles Triangles Solid geometry Suggested Time: 3 hrs 2. Go over all other math topics- in particular,trigonometry. Suggested Time: 2 hrs 3. Memorize all critical formulas. You won’t get any on test day, so definitely get these down pat! Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs Week 7: Switch to Science 1. Learn the Science test format. Understand what kinds of passages you’ll have and what the questions will look like. Suggested Time: 2 hrs 2. Find the passage-reading strategy that works best for you. This strategy might be different from the ones you use for Reading and English. To find the right one for you, test out a few different strategies using Science practice tests. Whichever gives you the highest score is the one you'll use in your prep. Suggested Time: 2.5 hrs 3. Practice your chosen reading strategy. Use high-quality Science practice tests to help you get used to reading scientific passages and answering questions. Suggested Time: 2 hrs Week 8: Learn Math Science Strategies 1. Learn Math and Science strategies. For Math, the most important ones include plugging in numbers and plugging in answers. In addition, make sure you know what kind of science is on the ACTand how to read tables and graphs. Suggested Time: 2.5 hrs 2. Practice strategies. Use high-quality practice questions to test out the Math and Science strategies you’ve learned. Suggested Time: 2 hrs 3. Learn the Writing test format.If you're planning to take the ACT essay, you'll need to know what kind of essay you'll be writing, how much time you'll have for it on test day, and what kinds of prompts there are. Suggested Time: 2 hrs Month 3: Progress Check Review Now, it’s time to review everything you’ve learned and check your progress to make sure you’re on track to getting your goal score. Week 9: Check Your Progress 1. Take an official practice test. This will tell you how much your score has improved since your baseline test. Suggested Time: 3.5 hrs 2. Score your test and determine your weaknesses. Look at the questions you got wrong and try to see whether there are any patterns in your mistakes. These will be the areas you’ll need to drill more in your prep. Suggested Time: 3 hrs Week 10: Practice Writing Strengthen Your Weaknesses 1. Practice writing ACT essays using high-quality prompts.This way you'll get used to writing quickly and effectively. I suggest getting someone to score your responses so that you can figure out what skills you need to work on in order to produce more cogent essays. Suggested Time: 2.5 hrs 2. Use high-quality practice questions to drill general weaknesses. For example, if you’re having problems solving algebra problems, spend more time reviewing algebraic concepts and practicing them as they appear on the ACT. Suggested Time: 4 hrs Week : Check Your Progress (Again) 1. Take your third and final practice test. As always, take it in a quiet place and in one sitting to get an accurate reflection of your scoring ability. Suggested Time: 3.5 hrs 2. Score your test and closely analyze your results. Are there any question types or topics you’re still getting wrong? What’s eating up your time and taking more energy than it needs to? Get a feel for what’s holding you back and then figure out how to fix your approach. Suggested Time: 3 hrs Week 12: Review as Needed 1. Continue reviewing concepts and strategies you want to work on. Use high-quality practice questions and resources to help you hone your skills. Just don’t overdo your prep at this point- it's OK to take some time to relax and mentally prepare yourself for the test! Suggested Time: 6.5 hrs (with 0 hrs on test day and the day before) ACT Study Plan #2: 3-Month Program, Low Intensity This is another three-month program but of a much lower intensity. With this plan, you’ll study for a total of 40 hours, or just three and a half hours per week. At this rate, you'll gainup to 4 total points on the ACT. This ACT schedule should work well for those prepping during the school year since it’s lighter and less demanding than the plan above. However, because you're only studying a handful of hours a week, you're limited in the number of points you can gain. Therefore, only choose this plan if you need to make small gains on test day. Grammar is a key part of ACT English. And, uh, graminivorous is not. Month 1: English Reading Basics During this first month, you’ll familiarize yourself with the ACT format and learn the basics of the English and Reading sections. Week 1: Find Your Baseline Score 1. Take an official ACT practice test and score it. This week will slightly exceed your weekly time limit. You’ll spend about 3.5 hours on the test and a half hour scoring it. Remember to recreate real testing conditions to give yourself a more accurate indicator of where you’re currently scoring. Suggested Time: 4 hrs Week 2: Learn the ACT Format 1. Analyze your results from your baseline test. A score doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about your ACT abilities, so take some time to analyze your practice test's results and see where your strengths and weaknesses lie. Suggested time: 2 hrs 2. Learn the format of the ACT. You must understand how the ACT tests concepts and sets up questions in order to do well on it. Specifically, you should know what's on the ACT, what its time limits are, and how it's scored. Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs Week 3: Focus on English 1. Learn the English test format. Understand what kinds of passages you’ll see, how grammar questions are presented, and how many questions there are in total. Suggested Time: 1 hr 2. Study all ACT grammar topics and punctuation rules. Get down the most important grammar and rhetorical topics likely to appear on the ACT. Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs 3. Learn and practice the graf-by-graf reading strategy. This strategy is the best one out there for the English section. You’ll read passages in paragraphs and answer questions for each paragraph. Suggested Time: 1 hr Week 4: Turn to Reading 1. Learn the Reading test format.Get to know the types of passages you'll read, what Reading questions look like, and how much time you'll have. Suggested Time: 1 hr 2. Practice the best passage-reading strategy for Reading: read the questions first and then skim the passage. This strategy is ideal for the ACT, as it teaches you to identify correct information fast. Always practice with high-quality Reading practice questions. Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs 3. Memorize common ACT vocabulary words. Our list contains 150 ACT vocabulary words and their meanings for you to study. Suggested Time: 1 hr The ACT assumes you know the basics of math and don't need to count on your fingers for everything. Month 2: Math Science Basics This month focuses primarily on the fundamentals of the Math and Science sections. Week 5: Move Toward Math 1. Learn the Math test format. You should know what kind of math you’ll face on the ACT, how questions are worded, and approximately how much time you’ll have per question. Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs 2. Go over basic math concepts. Read our basic guide to integers and our advanced guide. After, get started on reviewing the basics of fractions and proportions. Suggested Time: 1 hr 3. Memorize all critical ACT Math formulas. Oftentimes, an ACT Math problem can only be solved with a formula, so getting these down will help you get a great Math score. Suggested Time: 1 hr Week 6: Learn More Math 1. Review algebra. Algebra plays a key part on ACT Math, so make sure you understand the following concepts: Single-variable equations Systems of equations Operations Functions Word problems Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs 2. Study key geometry concepts. Like algebra, geometry plays a big role on the ACT. The most important topics you should know include the following: Lines and slopes Reflections, translations, and rotations Lines and angles Polygons Circles Triangles Solid geometry Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs 3. Go over all other math topics. Trigonometry, for example, is a less commonly tested but still important topic you'll need to know for the ACT. Suggested Time: 30 mins Week 7: Switch to Science 1. Learn the Science test format. Know what kinds of passages and questions you'll encounter on test day. Suggested Time: 1 hr 2. Practice the best passage-reading strategy for Science: read the questions first and then skim the passage. This is similar to the approach you’ll use for the Reading section. Be sure to use high-quality Science practice tests when practicing this method. Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs 3. Review the science topics you’ll need to know for the ACT.Generally, you won't need any specialized knowledge to do well on ACT Science, but you should still be familiar with certain biology, chemistry, physics, and math concepts. Suggested Time: 1 hr Week 8: Check Your Progress 1. Take an official practice test and score it. As always, find a quiet place to take the test and take it all in one sitting. This will let you see how much you’ve improved since your baseline test. Suggested Time: 4 hrs Acing the ACT is all about strategizing. Month 3: Strategies Review To wrap up this ACT study plan, you’ll spend your last month learning key test-taking strategies, checking your progress, and reviewing topics you’re still struggling with. Week 9: Learn Strategies for Each Section 1. Practice English and Reading strategies.Above all, be sure to practice the #1 critical rule for Reading, which teaches you how to eliminate incorrect answer choices. Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs 2. Practice keyMath and Science strategies, such asplugging in numbers and plugging in answers. For Science, practice reading tables and graphs. Suggested Time: 2 hrs Week 10: Check Your Progress (Again) 1. Take your third and final practice test and score it. This will give you a last look at what kinds of weaknesses you still have and what topics or skills you should review more before test day. Suggested Time: 4 hrs Week : Strengthen Your Weaknesses 1. Drill any weak spots you have.Use your third practice test's results to get a clearer picture of what areas you're still having trouble with. Then, practice these mistakesand test out strategies to help you overcome them. Suggested Time: 3.5 hrs Week 12: Review as Needed 1. Continue drilling any difficult concepts, skills, or strategies. Just be careful not to overdo it. This week isn't only for practicing but also for calming your nerves. So don’t study the day before the test or on test day- your brain will appreciate the break! Suggested Time: 3.5 hrs (with 0 hrs on test day and the day before) By the time you finish this next plan, it'll be spring! ACT Study Plan #3: 6-Month Program, Medium Intensity Need more study time? This six-month ACT schedule offers you a more relaxed and balanced approach to test prep. With this plan, you’ll study a total of 150 hours, or six to six and a half hours a week, to improve your composite score byup to 9 points! This plan is ideal for high-achieving sophomores wanting a head start on ACT prep. Ideally, you’ll take your first ACT in the fall of your junior year (in September or October), meaning you'd likely study the end of your sophomore year and over the summer. Juniors, too, can use this plan for a spring or summer ACT. Since this schedule lets you spread out your prep across several months, you'll feel less overwhelmed by homework and ACT prep. Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Month 1 Find Your Baseline Score Take an official practice test (3.5 hrs) Score your test to see your weaknesses (1.5 hrs) Learn the ACT format (1.5 hrs) Understand Structure Learn the English test format (3 hrs) Learn the Reading test format (3 hrs) Understand Structure Learn the Math test format (3 hrs) Learn the Science test format (3 hrs) Choose a Passage-Reading Strategy Practice the graf-by-graf strategy for English (1.5 hrs) Choose and practice a passage-reading strategy for Reading (2.5 hrs) Choose and practice a passage-reading strategy for Science (2.5 hrs) Month 2 Learn Math Content Review basic math concepts and formulas (3 hrs) Build algebra foundation (3 hrs) Learn English Reading Content Go over major English grammar and punctuation topics (2 hrs) Study vocabulary (2 hrs) Practice reading comprehension (2 hrs) Learn More Math Some Science Build geometry foundation (3 hrs) Learn additional math topics such as trig (2 hrs) Learn basic science topics (1.5 hrs) Check Your Progress Take a practice test (3.5 hrs) Score it, analyze your answers, and re-solve missed questions (3 hrs) Month 3 Learn English Reading Strategies Practice eliminating wrong answer choices (3 hrs) Practice other English and Reading strategies (3 hrs) Learn Math Science Strategies Practice plugging in answers and numbers for Math (2 hrs) Practice reading graphs and tables for Science (2 hrs) Practice other Math and Science strategies (2 hrs) Review Practice Practice questions for each section, reviewing concepts as needed (6.5 hrs) Check Your Progress Take a practice test (3.5 hrs) Score it and analyze your answers (3 hrs) Month 4 Study the Essay Format Learn the Writing section (essay) format (2 hrs) Practice writing timed essays (4 hrs) Review Practice Practice questions for each section, reviewing concepts as needed (6.5 hrs) Review Practice Practice questions for each section, reviewing concepts as needed (6 hrs) Check Your Progress Take a practice test (3.5 hrs) Score it and analyze your answers (3 hrs) Month 5 Review Needed Math Topics Practice any Math topics or strategies you’re still struggling with (6.5 hrs) Review Needed English Topics Practice any English topics or strategies you’re still struggling with (6 hrs) Review Needed Science Topics Practice any Science topics or strategies you’re still struggling with (6 hrs) Review Needed Reading Topics Practice any Reading topics or strategies you’re still struggling with (6.5 hrs) Month 6 Check Your Progress Take a practice test (3.5 hrs) Score it and analyze your answers (3 hrs) Review Needed Concepts Practice any English, Math, Reading, or Science topics you’re still struggling with (6 hrs) Review Needed Concepts Practice any English, Math, Reading, or Science topics you’re still struggling with (6.5 hrs) Prep Lightly Review Zero in on any final topics you want to practice, and rest up before test day (6 hrs) ACT Study Plan #4: 1-Month Program, High Intensity This high-intensity plan requires a lot of commitment to make it work. For this brief one-month program, you’ll study a total of 40 hours, or 10 hours a week, to get amaximum 4-point increaseon the ACT. In truth, onemonth isn’t a particularly long time to prep for the ACT, but you can be successful if you're willing to put in the effort and stick to a regular schedule. This ACT study plan works best if you don’t have a lot of activities or commitments going on and can therefore focus primarily on test prep. If you’re using this plan while in school, you’ll need to carve out study time during the week, as prepping for 10 hours every weekend is fairly difficult. For more advice on how to study for the ACT in a month, check out our step-by-step guide. Week 1: Study Structure 1. Take an official practice test to get your baseline score.Find a quiet room with no distractions and time yourself using official time limits. Suggested Time: 3.5 hrs 2. Score your test and analyze your results.Use your baseline test results to determine your weaknesses and look for any patterns in your mistakes. Suggested Time: 1 hr 3. Learn the overall ACT test format. Know how long the test is, what’s on it, and how it’s scored. Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs 4. Learn the English test format. Get to know the kinds of questions and passages you'll encounter on test day. Suggested Time: 1 hr 5. Learn the Reading test format. Acquaint yourself with the different types of Reading passages and how questions are worded. Suggested Time: 1 hr 6. Learn the Math test format.Briefly review how the math section is set up, what kind of math you’ll need to know, and how much time you’ll have for this section and per question. Suggested Time: 1 hr 7. Learn the Science test format. Go over how long the section is, what kind of science it tests, and what role passages and data play. Suggested Time: 1 hr Week 2: Get Down Key Content 1. Review themost important English grammar topics and punctuation rules. Knowing which grammar rules are most likely to be tested is key to doing well on English. Suggested Time: 2 hrs 2. Learn and practice core ACT Math topics. Understand the basics of integers as well as ratios and proportions. Above all, know the ins and outs of algebra and geometry. Specific topics in these fields include the following: Algebra Single-variable equations Systems of equations Operations Functions Word problems Geometry Lines and slopes Reflections, translations, and rotations Lines and angles Polygons Circles Triangles Solid geometry Suggested Time: 5 hrs 3. Memorize the most important ACT Math formulas. Many questions can only be solved with a formula, so knowing these guarantees you’ll have a better shot at getting a high Math score. Suggested Time: 1 hr 4. Practice reading graphs and tables for Science.Understand how data is presented in this section and what kinds of questions will be asked about it. Suggested Time: 2 hrs Week 3: Strategize Check Your Progress 1. Practice your passage-reading strategies for English, Reading, and Science. The best one to use for English is the graf-by-graf method. For both Reading and Science, I recommend reading the questions first and then skimming the passage. Suggested Time: 3 hrs 2. Learn and practice key strategies for all sections of the exam. The most important ones include plugging in numbers and plugging in answers for Math and the #1 critical rule for Reading. Suggested Time: 3 hrs 3. Take and score a practice test to check your progress. Use the test to see how much you’ve improved since your baseline test, and look for any weaknesses you'll need to target in your final week of prep. Suggested Time: 4 hrs Week 4: Review Practice 1. Review and practice difficult ACT topics and strategies. This is the time to zero in on your weaknesses so that you’ll feel more confident and make fewer mistakes on test day. Additionally, if you're taking the ACT with Writing, you can use some of this time to go over the format of the essay and practice answering prompts. Just don't study the day before or the day of the test- you need to give your brain a rest! Suggested Time: 10 hrs (with 0 hrs on test day and the day before) Which plan will lead you to victory? Recap: What's the Best ACT Study Plan for You? A good study plan for the ACT not only helpsyou reach your goal score but also fits easily into your schedule, changes to fit your study needs, and gives you ample confidence on test day. Before choosing a plan, make sure to complete these five preliminary steps: Set a goal score Find your baseline score Figure out how many hours you’ll need to study Choose a test date that works well for you Gather high-quality ACT study materials Finally, here are some key points to remember as you consider what type of ACT schedule might work best for you: Remember your commitments. Don’t choose a study plan or test date that’ll interfere with any major obligations or activities in your life. You should have plenty of time to dedicate to ACT prep, so choose a test date that’s got less going on around it. Find a routine. You’ll get the most out of your ACT study plan by following a routine. This means you should try to prep on the same days and at the same times each week. In turn, you’ll be less likely to procrastinate and won't forget to study. Customize your schedule. An ACT study plan should always adapt to fit your needs, so feel free to change up our plans to give yourself more or less time with certain topics. Just avoid completely skipping any major concepts or strategies! Be confident. Last but not least, stay calm and go into the test optimistically. As long as you’ve followed your ACT study plan and targeted your weaknesses, you’re sure to get a great ACT score! Good luck with your ACT studies! What’s Next? Need more help preparing for the ACT?Read our guides to learn how long you should study for the ACT andhow many times you should take it. Aiming for a perfect ACT score?Our expert guide can show you what steps to take and what strategies to use to get that coveted 36 on test day. Taking the SAT, too?Then get started today with one of our four SAT study plans! 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: