Obesity Obesity And Obesity - 1637 Words

Abstract: In today’s society, the amount of overweight and obese individuals has been increasing at a drastic rate. The main discussion is the increase in rates of childhood and adolescent obesity, the health impacts this can have on a child immediately and in the future, and what are the contributing factors to this increase in obese youths. A possible contributing factor is food advertisements that contain poor-nutrient food and are targeted at children. Children and adolescents are constantly exposed to various advertisements on a daily basis. Many studies have suggested that there would be an overall reduction in obesity and overweight rates with the ban or reduction of nutrient-poor food advertisements. The combination of advertisements of poor food choices, with increased technology use, along with less time spent doing physical activities are all huge contributing factors to obesity. Based on the data from the various studies, there should be a ban on advertisements in order to help reduce the amount of obese and overweight children and adolescents. Introduction and Background of Topic: Throughout the past few decades, there has been a drastic increase in the rates of obese and overweight populations, specifically in children. In the past thirty years, the childhood obesity rates has more than doubled in children and more than quadrupled in adolescents (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2015). In 1980, 7% of children aged 6 to 11 years old wereShow MoreRelatedObesity : Obesity And Obesity986 Words   |  4 PagesObesity is one of the major health epidemics that human being struggle to deal with it. Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by excessively high body fat in relation to lean body mass. In the last 20 years, people started complaining that fast food is the main cause of rising obesity. However, a lot of research proves that fast food is not the source of obesity. The rising obesity problem cannot be blamed on the fast food industry; there are several other factors leads to obesity. OverRead MoreObesity : Obesity And Obesity798 Words   |  4 Pages Obesity Close to over one-third of adults living in the United States are obese (Diet and Obesity). Unfortunately, one third of children in the United States are also obese or overweight. Obesity has grown throughout the United States and has led to major health problem and can even be fatal. About 365,000 or more people die every year due to obesity. With numbers increasing obesity should be furthered examined to help prevent these conditionsRead MoreObesity : Obesity And Obesity1442 Words   |  6 Pages5/13/16 Take home Project: Obesity Obesity basically means having too much body fat. Not being overweight for your height, having too much muscle, or water in your body. What exactly is obesity? â€Å"Obesity is a condition that is associated with having an excess of body fat, defined by genetic and environmental factors that are difficult to control when dieting. Obesity is classified as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater. BMI is a tool used to measure obesity. Obesity increases your risk ofRead MoreObesity : Obesity And Obesity1318 Words   |  6 PagesObesity Epidemic Due to Fast Food or Something More Obesity is rising at a rapid rate here in the United States, especially childhood obesity. The obesity epidemic is one of the country’s most serious health problems. Adult obesity rates have doubled since 1980 from 15 to 30 percent, while childhood obesity rates have more than tripled. Is there a link in obesity and fast food eating? Are fast food restaurants to blame for our nation’s obesity issues? Or are we ourselves and our lack of knowledgeRead MoreObesity : Obesity And Obesity Essay1508 Words   |  7 Pagesleads to health risks and obesity, people are still putting unhealthy food into their body daily.   The United States has the highest obesity rate in the world by 6% and the government should be helping to lower that percentage (http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Health/Obesity).   The best for the United States to help the obesity rate is by implementing a fat tax.   A fat tax is a tax on foods that are considered unhealthy and are believed to lead people to obesity.   The main way fat taxesRead MoreObesity : Obesity And Obesity1417 Words   |  6 Pagesconcerned. Doctors often use a formula based on height and weight, called body mass index (BMI), to determine obesity. Children with a BMI over 21 is considered obese and over 18 is overweight (Arnett, J.J.2016). Adults with a BMI of 30 or more are considered obese. Severe obesity, also known as severe obesity or morbid obesity, occurs when a BMI of 40 or more is present. With morbid obesity, there may be serious health problems. If children do not have enough activities, they will not be able to burnRead MoreObesity : Obesity And Obesity1413 Words   |  6 Pagescertificates, diabetes was mentioned as a cause of death (6). The Centers for Disease Control refers to â€Å"twin epidemics of diabetes and obesity, because obesity greatly increases the risk of diabetes, and the number of Americans who are obese has been increasing rapidly† (9). A newly developed term, â€Å"diabesity,† is commonly used to represent the close relationship between obesity and diabetes (8). Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in childhood and is defined when the pancreas fails to produce a healthy amountRead MoreObesity : Obesity And Obesity892 Words   |  4 Pagesadults are considered obese in America. In recent years obesity is the health topic of choice these days because obesity in America is a growing epidemic. One out of twenty people in America have extreme obesity. According to a 2009-2010 survey conducted by the National Health and Nutrition examination this data states that about one third of children and adolescents ages six to nine are considered to be overweight or obese. Adolescent obesity has more than tripled in young adults and doubled in childrenRead MoreObesity : Obesity And The Obesity2209 Words   |  9 Pages OBESITY in America As the world is growing day by day the problem of obesity is also increasing all over the world. Since from1980 to 2014, the obesity has risen two times as compared to the previous years. The obesity is related to the how much energy is left, but the most important cause of having the obesity is â€Å"dysbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure† (Nazarii Kobyliak 1). The obesity is the excessive fat in the body and it can cause to any age group form child to the oldRead MoreObesity : Obesity And Obesity985 Words   |  4 Pages Obesity is one of the major health epidemic that human being struggle to deal with it. Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by excessively high body fat in relation to lean body mass. In the last 20 years, people started complaining that fast food is the main cause of rising obesity. However, a lot of research proves that fast food is not the source of obesity. The rising obesity problem cannot be blamed on the fast food industry ; there are several other factors leads to obesity.

Tobacco Regulation Essay - 497 Words

Tobacco Regulation The U.S. government regulates the sale and distribution of tobacco products in many ways. Some examples of the way the government regulates are setting an age limit and taxing tobacco products. In the economic world, the tobacco wars are a serious issue. The sale of tobacco as we know is very inelastic. The government puts heavy taxes on tobacco products to cut down on the sale of them. They know that the people will buy cigarettes no matter how much they cost. Elasticity has a lot to do with the taxation of cigarettes. The relatively low price elasticity of demand in the tobacco market results in higher tax revenues than in any other type of market. The government knows that the demand of tobacco is high†¦show more content†¦The government does not want the youth to start smoking at an early age because of the higher risks of cancer and other smoking related problems. They know how addictive tobacco is and how hard it is to kick the habit once you have started. Th ere have been many studies showing that people who smoke cigarettes are more likely to die from such diseases as cancer, emphysema, and asthma. On every single pack of cigarettes there is always a Surgeon Generals warning on it. This warning is used to let society know that there are consequences to smoking. Anti-trust regulations also have a great deal to do with the sale of tobacco. Tobacco companies tend to practice oligopolization. Oligopoly describes a market with only few producers and its entry into the market is relatively difficult. Government wants to control these private powers. Cigarette companies all work together to set their prices. If one company lowers or raises their prices the other companies will take notice of this and follow the other lead. From the early twentieth century tobacco companies have always had to deal with all types of anti-trust regulations. The laws are based on the principle of conserving and encouraging a free and competitive marketp lace. In the early days of tobacco sales, the government was afraid that the companies might be trying to monopolize the market, and set up its firstShow MoreRelatedBackground. â€Å"The Tobacco Control And Regulation Of Tobacco1860 Words   |  8 PagesBACKGROUND â€Å"The Tobacco Control and Regulation of Tobacco Products’ Manufacturing, Packaging and Advertising† is the Lebanon’s smoking ban stated in number 174 of the law which bans smoking in enclosed public areas such as cafes, restaurants, bars, government buildings and offices. The law was signed by 126 out of 128 members of parliament in August 2011(initial ban) and the legislation was enacted in 2012. But this edict had never been applied due to weak rule of law and practically unstable countryRead MoreTobacco Regulation Act Of 20031309 Words   |  6 PagesPhilippines campaign backed by Philippine’s Republic Act 9211, The Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, conducted two related important studies regarding smoking. Both researches were published last February 16, 2012 as factsheets for public references. The first study focuses on Youth/Student population and the second one was on adult. (http://www.smokefree.doh.gov.ph/index.php) Under the youth research, Philippines Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), it concluded that 46.2% of students had ever smokedRead MoreGovernment Regulation of Tobacco Products Essay634 Words   |  3 PagesGovernment Regulation of Tobacco Products Dawn BUS 250 Corporate amp; Social Responsibilit March 7, 2010 Government Regulation of Tobacco Products Government regulation of tobacco has come under some fierce opposition. Naturally the big tobacco companies do not want any type of regulation and yet one company was a quiet supporter. This company, the Altria Group which is a parent company of Philip Morris, believed the bill would pass so they wanted to make sure they had a say when theRead MoreStricter Strict Regulations For Tobacco Control Essay1935 Words   |  8 PagesThe need to enforce stricter regulations for tobacco control by local communities and individual states is the health policy issue being analyzed. According to The Healthy People (2010) tobacco use and the availability of its products are harmful to our population in various ways, ranked as one of the top ten leading indicators for health concern. The addictive nature of tobacco has created a high demand for their products, boosting the tobacco industry s profits tremendously, and states gainingRead MoreMarketing Regulations Of Indonesia s Tobacco1146 Wor ds   |  5 PagesAs the fourth most populous country in the world, the leniency of Indonesia‟s tobacco marketing regulations presents an opportunity for local and global tobacco companies to penetrate the market and aggressively expand their operations. Indonesia is among the five largest producers and exporters of cigarettes in the world (WHO, 2012). In 2011 Indonesia ranked third in the number of male smokers and 17th for female smokers (WHO, 2012). The number of cigarette consumers is the third-largest in theRead MoreMental Health, Tobacco Regulation, And Medical Marijuana1063 Words   |  5 PagesThe policies introduced at the state level were associated with mental health, tobacco regulation, and medical marijuana. The first bill is HB 1072, which seeks to grant prescriptive authority to psychologists who meet specific education, training, and registration requirements. Supporters include the Hawaii State Center for Nursing, Hawai’i Medical Association (HMSA), and the Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawai’i (CDFH). Due to the widespread shortage of mental health professionals in Hawai’i, theseRead MoreThe Government Regulation Of Tobacco And Alcohol Sales And Supply1848 Words   |  8 Pagesprovides limitations on how specific groups act, some groups are allowed more freedom while others can be more restricted. (Palmer, Short 2014) For example, the state government regulation of tobacco and alcohol sales and s upply. (AIHW 2014) While in pursuit of credibility and self promotion, organisations can develop a self regulation policy which can potentially reduce government interfering. (Palmer, Short 2014) Redistributive policies consist of the change of distribution of income, wealth, propertyRead MoreThe Toxic Truth About Sugar1291 Words   |  6 Pagespresenting readers with possible routes of regulation, the authors firmly suggest government intervention in the production and sale of sugary foods. Although the argument is well executed, I remain unconvinced that government intervention is actually necessary. Sugar is, and has always been, unavoidable; conversely, sugar has not always been toxic. Naturally abundant and technically enhanced, this substance has followed in the footsteps of tobacco and alcohol, becoming just as unhealthy andRead MoreEssay on Advertising Regulations857 Words   |  4 PagesAdvertising Regulation Abstract Advertising today comes in various forms of information such as television, newspaper, Internet, etc. With all these types of outlets of advertising, these regulations are put into place for the industry to follow on what can be put out there for the different type of audiences the advertising can affect. There are many types of advertising that these regulations pertain to for example tobacco and children. Currently, the market isRead MoreThe Importance Of Outside And Non Associating Scientists With Recognition817 Words   |  4 Pagesof tolling forms as hired workers would not be entitled of HR benefits of the company. b) Why this strategy works? The above discussed strategies are easily worked in any country beyond restrictions, litigation, and support of regulation in certain industries like Tobacco and pharmaceutical industries. The major reasons are lack of strong measures and support of law measures to large companies. For instance, in United States (US), the federal regulator authorities are underfunded and underpowered

Hobbes vs the Fool Free Essays

Hobbes vs the Fool In Hobbes case, justice is characterized supporting a covenant, and for those who shatter their covenant will be penalized accordingly. The fool first expresses his assertion having â€Å"said in his heart: ‘there is no such thing as justice’† (L p. I ch: xv [4]). We will write a custom essay sample on Hobbes vs the Fool or any similar topic only for you Order Now If there are no covenants to be broken, this would signify neither just or unjust actions exist. The fool by rejecting the reality of fairness is rejecting the achievement of covenants in general, yet as we currently understand from our own know-how, the fool’s contention is unsound. In every day interactions persons manage in diverse examples support their covenants. Here, Hobbes makes the fool’s place appear blatantly untrue for its conspicuous betrayal of the genuine world. Yet, as he extends, it is not the case that the fool refutes the reality of fairness in this way. He answers, â€Å"[the fool] does not therein refute that there be covenants and that are occasionally broken, occasionally kept, and that such break of them may be called injustice, and the observance of them justice† (L p. I ch: xv [4]). However the fool accepts as factual that it is precisely his right of the covenant, one made in evolving part of a commonwealth, that it is flawlessly in good standing to better ones place even if he will take from his or another covenant. The period covenant from Hobbes viewpoint identifies a kind of agreement in which both parties either acquiesce to fulfill their part, one presently and the other in the future, or both at a subsequent time. This is distinct from a normal agreement in which both parties proceed presently, neither having the possibility to falsify their activities from their agreement. Hobbes identifies a covenant’s susceptibility to deceitful agreement, when one or both parties acquiesces to their part with shady aims, or when one or both parties makes a legitimate responsibility and subsequent end up shattering it. For the fool, if he has a possibility to better himself in any way whatsoever he will manage so despite of any covenant made. But the fool solidly accepts as factual that he has the right to shatter one covenant if he feels that he has revealed himself to strike needlessly increasing his vulnerability as the covenant continues. Hobbes composes as the fool saying â€Å"every man’s conservation and contentment being pledged to his own care, there could be no cause why every man might not manage what he considered conduced thereunto, and thus furthermore to make or not make, hold or not hold, covenants was not contrary to cause, when it conduced to one’s benefit† (L p. I ch: xv [4]). From the fool’s viewpoint it is only sane to shatter covenant with other ones, being foes with all other ones rather than of holding covenants with those who might traverse him in a world where every individual is just seeking to survive. At this issue protecting against of one’s own life as well as exploitation of other ones, premier in numerous situations to their decrease of life, are revealed with some rationale. Hobbes subsequent recounts the likely situation of vying persons and their procedure of attack. Hobbes sees the right of the one-by-one to manage anything is essential to endure, not less than while dwelling inside a State of Nature and Ware, ethics in a sense non-existent. Hobbes refutes the fool, carrying the reality of fairness inside a commonwealth. It is the individual’s right as it is recounted in the State of Nature and Subsequently the State of War of which we are all a part, as long as we subsist without affirmation on and acknowledgement of a mutual sovereign, is therefor habitually called into inquiry while at the identical time identified and supported. Hobbes states â€Å"in a status of conflict wherein every man to every man is an foe, there is no man can wish by his own power or wit to fight back himself from decimation without the assist of confederates† (L p. I ch: xv [5]). Thus in eager to eliminate one’s self from a state of conflict, banding simultaneously is the only salvation and this needs covenant finally producing in a commonwealth. For Hobbes, the less sensible is that considered which adds one to live as an one-by-one contrary to all other ones, shattering covenants or producing none. The more sensible considered then: acknowledging reality as part of a assembly of others; sustaining some allowance of fairness, some reality in affirmation between young individuals under a mutual rule. Some decisive affirmation upon the situation of interactions of persons should be made, identifying a widespread power distinct and overhead the body of the assembly, and more mighty than any one-by-one so as to sustain control. In confederacy Hobbes contends, power and security can be discovered, asserting â€Å"he affirms he conceives it cause to deceive those that assist him can in cause anticipate no other entails of security than what can be had from his own lone power† (L p. I ch: xv [5]). Here, Hobbes weighs the scale between the just and the unjust, the one-by-one and the assembly, honesty and self-centred cunning, revealing the benefit of calm over war. The fool is only involved in short viewed goals, instant retribution for one’s activities, which live mostly in the state of nature. Hobbes considers the larger advantage of relying on other ones, or not less than living in a assembly with a widespread aim contending that living inside a commonwealth is the favorable alternative because the advantages outweigh the loss. He considers the essential situation for the reality of just and unjust actions when he composes, â€Å"there should be some coercive power to compel men identically to the presentation of their covenants†¦ †¦ and to make good that propriety which by mutual agreement men come by, in recompense of the universal right they abandon; and such power there is no one before the erection of a commonwealth† (L p. I ch: xv [3]). Hobbes states that attaining the â€Å"secure and perpetual felicity of heaven† is vein, â€Å"frivolous†, in   a State of Nature, â€Å"there being but one way imaginable, and that is not shattering, but holding of covenant† (L p. I ch: xv [6]). This is his direct objection to the fools fondness for completely acknowledging and exploiting freezing hard individualism. He conceives that not anything will convey us out of a State of Nature and War other than mutual acknowledgement of a sovereign power which can, because of it’s power, preside over all men (in commonwealth) such that no one-by-one see’s it in his better concern to disobey. This salvation for man, without rejecting that he actions for the advantage of himself, Hobbes explains:   â€Å"The last origin, end or conceive of men (who routinely love liberty and dominion over others) in the introduction of that restraint upon themselves in which we glimpse them reside in commonwealths is the foresight of their own preservation, and of a more contented life thereby; that is to state, of getting themselves out from that sad status of conflict, which is inevitably consequent†¦ †¦ to the natural passions of men, when there is no evident power to hold them in awe, and bind them by worry of penalty to the resentation of their covenants and fact of those regulations of environment set down in the fourteenth and fifteenth chapters. † (L p. II ch: xvii [1]) Here, Hobbes recounts the trade off. One should vitally stop certain one-by-one privileges, and in come back are exempt from a state of war. The steadiness of the commonwealth, of the current face t of calm, and likewise of the sovereign are all reliant upon this â€Å"awe† Hobbes converses about and the worry which is essential for binding one to the fulfillment of covenant. He contends that acquiescing to covenant out of worry of one’s own life, deserves that one should fulfill it, saying that in â€Å"covenant to yield ransom, or service, for my life, to an foe [in the state of Nature], I am compelled by it† (L p. I ch: xiv [27]). Hobbes indicates the untrue compromise that in dealing away some of you’re right to manage anything you delight, so much as it is permitted in preservation of you’re life in the State of Nature, which has no restrict, you rather than gain worry, not only of the sovereign and it’s direct, but furthermore a worry about those round you who may select to exploit your believe in justice. In the ‘natural’ state worry is glimpsed as essential for the reasonable and tired to sustain protecting against of their life. When matching the State of Nature, to that of a commonwealth we glimpse worry lives non the less, when there is a ruling sovereign. Fear is like the equipment which drives the motor of the commonwealth, which Hobbes states defends contrary to a state of war. This worry he states, is the â€Å"terror of some penalty larger than the advantage they anticipate by the break of their covenant† (L p. I ch: xv [3]). However, worry lives as an absolutely crucial survival constituent in the State of Nature as well, and therefore is not certain thing profited or swapped in justice. Hobbes devotes us the idea of The Third Law of Nature to classify truth, saying that because of that â€Å"which we are obliged to move to another such privileges, being kept, hinder the calm of mankind†¦ †¦ [and thus] men present their covenants made, without which covenants are in vain†¦ and the right of all men to all things residual, we are still in a status of war† ( L p. I ch: xv [1]). Either it is fairness living in a state of calm, or not anything just or unjust living in a state of war. In a very considerable way, the fool presents Hobbes with a grappling colleague, one who can both articulate the ‘other side’ of what he is saying, but furthermore extends to be that sticker in his neck which he can’t assist but fiddle with, its stubbornness departing a fee ling of nearly anxious discomfort. It is unclear at times if Hobbes really contends with the fool or contrary to him, as Edwin Curley remarks â€Å"The place Hobbes ascribes to the fool is very like the one Grotius ascribes to Carneades, who he takes as agent of those who refute natural law. Since Hobbes himself had appeared to be close to carneades’ place in Dcv I, 10 (proclaiming that ‘in the state of environment earnings is the assess of right’)† (L p. I ch: xv [4] 2 ). How to cite Hobbes vs the Fool, Essay examples

Walgreens Case Study free essay sample

INTRODUCTION: It was in 1901 that Charles Walgreen Sr. opted to purchase the Chicago drugstore where he worked as a pharmacist (David, 2013). He offered his own drug line and expanded the drug store with other items (David, 2013). His success allowed him to open a second drug store by 1909; over 100 stores in the next nine years, went public with stock shares by 1933, and in 1946 Walgreens pursued a philanthropic venture, opening a non-profit drugstore in the pentagon (David, 2013). Currently, Walgreens has stores located in all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico (David, 2013). Walgreens dedication to be the first choice in the health and the daily living category has helped it expand globally and maintain a competitive advantage. They currently offers prescription labels in 14 languages and were the first to offer child-resistant containers before law required them (David, 2013). Walgreens has proved to be innovative and adaptable to the times, which contributes to many years of success. We will write a custom essay sample on Walgreens Case Study or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page However, in the past few years the economy has seen high unemployment rates, changes in the health care industry and price matching in response to consumer price sensitivity (David, 2013). Walgreens will have to work on offering attractive pricing and other service offerings to maintain its high ranking and competitive advantage. CURRENT MISSION, GOALS, STRATEGY: Walgreens current mission is â€Å"To be the most trusted, convenient, multichannel provider and advisor of innovative pharmacy, health and wellness solutions, and consumer goods and services in communities across America. A destination where health and happiness come together to help people get well, stay well and live well† (David, 2013). To maintain a competitive advantage, Walgreens offers their employees career advancement and training opportunities for career development. They are extending their pharmaceutical services by offering preventative health care services and daily HDL, glucose and cholesterol testing (David, 2013). Walgreens is conscious of the opportunities that have emerged in the industry and are pursuing strategies focused on: pricing, customer service, patients and other categories that will help enhance the Walgreen’s name. They are currently marketing their products through different mediums to promote their private-label brands, and focusing on price and quality. Their current focus on pursuing these strategies will help them become aggressive competitors against major stores like Wal-Mart and Costco to become the largest drug retailer in the U. S. INTERNAL ANALYSIS: See attached IFEM Walgreens is a strong company internally with an IFEM score of 2. 98. FINANCE: Walgreens is very strong financially, as indicated by the following financial measures. Walgreens most recent year-end results indicate that demand is still high. Revenues increased by 6. 4% and net income increased by 4. 2% year over year (David, 2013). This is good news for a company that has faced increased costs and extreme competition. Walgreens increased the rate of store conversions which increased conversion costs over the prior year from $5 million to $45 million (David, 2013). Although Walgreens has seen an increase in operating costs over the prior year, their gross margin of 28. 15% is the highest among the industry (David, 2013). The current ratio stands at 1. 60 which suggests that Walgreens is fully capable of paying its short-term obligations (David, 2013). The company’s quick ratio is at . 61 which suggests that a high rate of the company’s assets derive from product inventory which isn’t considered as liquid as other assets (David, 2013). Although the quick ratio doesn’t suggest a favorable liquidity rating of short-term obligations, the company has a low debt to assets ratio. The debt to assets ratio stands at . 09 which is a small decrease over the prior year of . 2% which indicates that Walgreens is less dependent on debt to grow their business (David, 2013). Should Walgreens face any drastic downward market changes, they are in a position that would allow them to borrow, or liquidate assets. MANAGEMENT: Over the course of 113 years, Walgreens has grown from a single location pharmacy to a chain of nearly 8,000 locations (David, 2013). The great leadership of Walgreens has helped to grow the company into one of the largest pharmacies in the world. The company has a strong organizational structure, culture, vision, and mission. The company’s management has continued to build its core pharmacy business as well as find ways to innovate and expand its product offerings. Fast Company ranked Walgreens as the sixth most innovative health care company for leadership in health care services (David, 2013). This ranking is well deserved and identifies the management’s determination to move forward, in the competitive business world. Walgreens management faces the challenge of diversifying its business portfolio. Nearly 65% of Walgreens business derives from prescription drugs and 10% derive from non-prescription drugs (David, 2013). As the number of competitors continues to grow, management must continue to innovate through technology and introduce new products and services to limit risk. Walgreens can also benefit from providing career growth opportunities for its employees. The company offers a variety of career advancement and training opportunities for their employees. On-the-job training, professional career development, financial assistance programs for pharmacy students, and management and pharmacy internships are among the career development opportunities Walgreens has provided to its employees (David, 2013). The company’s commitment to employee growth will provide a satisfied and well trained workforce that will help the company succeed for years to come. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: Walgreens has a clear vision and mission of who they want to be and what their business is. This clarity has helped them identify and quickly respond to changes in consumer shopping habits. Walgreens is a fierce competitor and through acquisitions has increased their market share in the industry. Drugstore. com, with $456 million in sales and an addition of 3 million customers, was acquired to compete with CVS Caremark, a leader in mail-order prescriptions (David, 2013). They also added an online chat service and a mobile application for prescription refills. Walgreens must keep this momentum to meet the demand expected to rise for prescription drugs due to the increase of insured Americans in the upcoming years, resulting from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. According to the U. S Census Bureau, 32 million Americans will have health coverage in the next decade, 95 percent by 2019 (www. census. gov). MARKETING: Walgreens has extended their advertising to publicize their private-brand as well as branded health and wellness products to its customers (David, 2013). However, they need to better promote their mobile application and online services and sell the convenience of shopping online and filling up prescription refills via their mobile application to maintain their competitive advantage. Many current and potential customers are not aware of these helpful tools. EXTERNAL ANALYSIS: See attached EFEM Walgreens appears to be responding to external threats and opportunities well as indicated by the EFEM score of 2. 74. COMPETITION AND THE INDUSTRY: Three of the fourteen EFEM factors are â€Å"competitive,† including two major threats and one minor threat. The external environment is certainly competitive due to the recognition and resources available to competitors such as Wal-Mart and CVS. The industry itself includes a minor threat of prescription sales slowing over the past half century (David, 2013). This is something that is affecting all competitors and will likely be alleviated by the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which is predicted to increase health care coverage to 95% of Americans by 2019 (David, 2013). The growth of in-store health clinics is a major opportunity. â€Å"Retail clinics offer superior convenience by curing the ills and the frustrations of waiting patients (i. e. , no appointments needed, evening and weekend operating hours, and 15-minute-or-less wait times) and by situating themselves in convenient locations† (Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, 2008, p. 6). Walgreens already operates in all 50 states (David, 2013). Growing the number of in-store health clinics seizes the opportunity for additional revenues and recognition by customers on the convenience of their stores. The increase in consumer spending on nondurable goods provides the opportunity for Walgreens to offer promotions for non-health related items to increase foot traffic in the stores and use of the online store. This will continue to make Walgreens a staple in customer’s routine of going to Walgreens to become more of their one-stop shopping experience. TECHNOLOGY: During Fiscal year 2010, the Walgreens online pharmacy received an average of 15,000 visits per month (David, 2013). A U. S. Census Bureau â€Å"E-Stats† online publication showed that for 2010, Online sales were less than 40 percent of total sales† for prescription drugs (U. S. Census Bureau, 2012, p. 3). However; â€Å"[r]etailers’ e-commerce sales increased by 16. 3 percent. As a share of total retail sales, e-commerce sales was 4. 4 percent ($169 billion), up from 4. 0 percent ($145 billion) in 2009† (U. S. Census Bureau, 2012, p. 1). This shows how a minor opportunity could very well transform into a major opportunity for Walgreens. Competition is certainly high with retailers such as CVS and Wal-Mart that already have a major online presence. Walgreens success will depend on how they invest and market their online presence as the consumer trend towards ecommerce continues. ECONOMIC: High unemployment rates and the increasing costs of energy are both considered minor threats. Although higher rates of unemployment coupled by increases in costs will decrease their spending, Walgreens offers over the counter and prescription medical products that in many cases are considered by consumers as a basic need. Consumers will likely trend towards decreasing spending on items of entertainment rather than those of basic needs. Subsequently, â€Å"[a]s the economy expands further, the rate of unemployment is projected to continue declining until, in 2016, it reaches 5 percent† which is much more favorable than the 2010 rate of 10 percent and will likely allow for the trend of consumer spending on nondurable goods upwards (Congressional Budget Office, 2010, p. 23-25). Increased revenues at Walgreens from all product types and more income available for consumers will decrease the effect of higher energy costs on both the business and the consumer. STRATEGIC OPTION ANALYSIS: See the I/E, SPACE, TOWS and QSPM THE IE MATRIX: The IE Matrix places Walgreens in a difficult position. The matrix officially places Walgreens in the Hold and Maintain position, but borders on Build and Grow. Both the EFEM and IFEM averages are favorable and strong consecutively. This would be expected since the company does have a large amount of stores. The issue lies in building those stores to customer demand and company standard instead of building new stores. This can be seen with the suggested strategies to advance the old and incorporate the new. Walgreens has a strong foundation giving it the ability to expand and evolve. The Space Matrix: The Space Matrix shows Walgreens positioned in the AGGRESSIVE quadrant in the lower left portion towards COMPETITIVE. With a strong financial position (FS+4. 5), moderate competitive position (CS-2. 8), moderate environmental position (ES-2. 33), and very strong industry position (IS+4. 75), confirm the plot position. The SPACE Matrix follows the placement of the IE Matrix’s Hold and Maintain position. The very strong industry position confirms the previous suggestions of evolving existing products to compete with competitors. THE TOWS MATRIX: The TOWS MATRIX YIELDED FOURTEEN STRATEGIES. Of the fourteen strategies, eleven are B/C strategies and three are functional strategies. The functional strategies fall into the categories of management and innovation. The B/C strategies developed include an assortment of retrenchment, combination, marketing, market penetration, market development, service development, technology and innovation. The QSPM and the QSPM score Summary Sheet: The eleven distinct B/C strategies were evaluated by the QSPM and QSPM Summary. The strategies developed aligned with the TOWS Matrix yielded low Max Possible Scored (MPS) on all strategies. The highest strategy was #2, determining strategies to increase online sales revenue and membership, with a MPS of 36%. This would be considered as weak to moderate. This being said, this strategy and other B/C strategies should still be considered based on the results of the IE Matrix and Space Matrix. RECOMMENDED STRATEGIC THRUST AND SUPPORTING STRATEGIES: Walgreens should plan its strategic thrust on evolving and developing established locations. The industry is aggressive and Walgreens is a key player. As seen in the case, Walgreens is one of the top three competitors with 7,562 drugstore locations across all 50 states (David, 2013). It would be unnecessary to develop too many more new facilities without evolving and expanding on current locations. FUNCTIONAL STRATEGIES The following functional strategies should be carried out in the time frames indicated. F/MK: Focus on online shopping format and build it bigger and stronger. Time Frame: Short-Range. F/MK: Launch of new label marketing campaign. Time Frame: Mid-Range. F/SK: Focusing on getting the attention of the 600K people who connect via Social Media such at Facebook and Twitter. Time Frame: Short to Mid-Range. F/SV: Building and growing so that they can operate globally. Time Frame: Long-Range. B/C (BUSINESS/CORPORATE STRATEGIES) SHORT RANGE-INITIATE IMMEDIATELY AND IN PRIORITY: Strategy #1– MK (SO): Incorporate more advertising and deals via media. Try to focus on adding more advertising on television, radio, and online. Speak with different social media groups to advertise with them. This should include but not be limited to Facebook and Twitter to reach the younger generation. Strategy #4 – MP (SO): This is also similar to strategy #1, but expands on reaching the younger generation. This is all about advertising and creating products and marketing them to the younger generation. Strategy #6 –MK (WO): Add more incentive programs for getting prescriptions filled with Walgreens by promoting other store goods. Offer customers deals for switching their prescriptions to Walgreens as well as offering deals for each time they refill by offering free store products. Strategy #10 – RT (WT): Look at leasing options within existing retail outlets to avoid construction expenses. Instead of building and spending the time and money it would easier and more cost effective to lease buildings already in existence. MID RANGE – BEGIN PLANNING IMMEDIATELY FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN 2 TO 3 YEARS. Strategy #9 – MD (ST): Increase marketing expense for Walgreens. com and phone application. This expense should go towards updating the website so it’s easier to navigate and making the telephone system easier for the elder population to use. Strategy #2- TC (SO): Determine strategies to increase online sales revenue and membership. Work on different programs and specials to interest people into purchasing products as well as membership. Strategy #3- SC (SO): Expand on in-store health clinics. Expand current clinics to handle a different variety of vaccines, physicals, and diagnosing as well as prescribing commonly used medications. Strategy #11 – CB (WT): Look to partner with popular health brand as some competitors have done. Securing the partnership would help to gain and keep brand-loyal customers. LONG RANGE-BEGIN PLANNING NOW FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN 4 TO 5 YEARS. Strategy #8 –SD (ST): Invest in remodeling out-of-date stores to add convenience. Customers are more inclined to visit stores that make them feel comfortable and especially for a store selling medications, cleanliness and modernization is a must. Strategy #5 – MK (WO): Add In-Store Health Clinics. While some of the stores offer in-store health clinics, this should be expanded to include all of the stores. NOT RECOMMENDED: Strategy #7 – IN (ST): Continue to acquire like businesses to build strong national recognition. Work with and join forces with other companies to build their national recognition. Walgreens has strong national recognition already. They need to continue to build the company to increase revenue. In Conclusion, there are many different threats to the success of Walgreens. The threats include direct competition from large retailers such as Wal-Mart and CVS as well as a variety of grocery stores, and even small â€Å"Mom and Pop† pharmacies. The economic market is also affecting the sales and profits of Walgreens. Walgreens should focus on factors that will help raise Walgreens from sixth most innovative health care company to first or even second as well as work on their online products, and make getting products or prescription easier for the older population. This includes utilizing on-line access to refilling prescriptions and ordering products. END

Marriage Essays - Marriage, Wedding, Premarital Sex,

Marriage Most couples spend a great deal of time, energy and money on a wedding ceremony that lasts a couple of hours. It is much easier to prepare for a successful wedding than a successful marriage. Marriage is an exciting process that does not come with a clearly outlined instruction book. Those who prepare for marriage and work at their relationship are among those most likely to experience personal and relational satisfaction. Marriage is an excursion that will touch every phase of your life. It will bring you many joys and many challenges. Preparing for marriage means you need to take time to share feelings positive and negative. Carefully preparing for marriage not just the wedding has become an increasingly important and popular option for couples. Recently, Florida passed legislation that gives couples a discount on the cost of their marriage license if they first take a course on communication and conflict resolution. Florida was the fourth state to pass legislation promoting preparation for marriage. At least ten other states, including Illinois, are considering some form of legislation in this area. In Lenawee County, Michigan, couples that wish to have a public official marry them must complete a premarital education class. Couples who stay together happily know how to relate to each other in positive ways. It is a fallacy to think that some couples have magically harmonious relationships and that the rest of us must travel the story shores of marital conflict. All couples have conflict and difficulties. The d ifference between a healthy marriage and a troubled one is how they handle conflict(Gale).Your marriage is the most important thing in your life. If you believe that and if youre ready to work for it and it is hard work then you will succeed. (McManus) Social Issues

Regional Disparities in Canada essays

Regional Disparities in Canada essays There is a crisis in Canada, a crisis that won ¡t go away. I am talking about the many disparities that face Canadians everyday. Regional disparities are not new to Canada, nor are they unique to this country. There is little evidence of progress toward greater economic equality of income, and employment opportunity. This country must get to the root of the problem. All Canadians are or should be aware that Canada is a regional country. We usually think of six regions; But most of the time we reduce that to three areas; Income is one of the most obvious measures of inequality. This is a measure of income earned from employment, from employment, farm income, business, income and investment income, plus income received from government transfer payments. Without these transfer payments the poorer countries would be worse off then they are at present. Canada ¡s economic growth is taking place unevenly across the country. As a result, the income disparities among provinces show little sign of decreasing. There is a saying  ¡The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. ¡ Even per capita the situation is the same. The wealthiest, as well as the most populous provinces are Ontario and Quebec, followed by British Columbia and Alberta. Average per capita income is highest in B.C., Alberta and Ontario and lowest in Newfoundland and P.E.I. *There ¡s a chart in your blue books on page 537* Follow this by Economic differences. However it is not only the low level of wages that contribute to lower incomes in the poorer regions. With the exception of the Prairies the l ...

Politics and Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Politics and Society - Essay Example From 1753 through 1801, William Pitt came up with the right bestowed on the prime minister to request other ministries to reign and establish it. The only record up to year 1916 evidencing the decisions of the cabinet was a letter done by the Prime Minister to be sent to the Monarch. Some of the posts that were created in year 1916 were the secretary of the cabinet and the secretariat of the cabinet. (number10.gov.uk, 2011) Peele in his book says that in 2004, the system of government in Britain was that of cabinet. This system has all the political as well as executive leadership being provided by the cabinet. This cabinet is made up of few senior ministers who are heads of various main departments. The head of the cabinet is the Prime Minister. The position of premiership is devoid of formal powers, but is usually above the other ministers in superiority. The power bestowed to the Prime Minister is, thus, legitimate in the collective government. Therefore, the Prime Minister is jus t but the ministers’ team leader. This government in entirety is the one responsible for all the decisions reached in parliamentary proceedings. Despite the fact that Macmillan in 1957 to 1963 suggested how a cabinet type of governance should be, the current cabinet system in the UK is altogether different. Changes are evident in many levels of the system, with the prominence of premiership being a source of power imbalance in the cabinet. (Peele, 2004 p127) The most senior of the positions in the cabinet are usually filled by the appointments made by the Prime Minister subsequent to an election. All persons holding the positions in the cabinet of the UK are usually serving members of parliament. The senior most positions in the cabinet are Foreign Secretary, Deputy Prime Minister, Exchequer’s Chancellor and the Home Secretary. The holders of the office are usually announced immediately after every general election’s result. This is mostly after one or two days afterwards the appointments of minor positions in the cabinet are made public knowledge. (historylearningsite.co.uk, 2011) In Britain, coalitions approach of governance have happened severally and arrangements as well as pacts alike. Coalitions are usually established to bring resolutions to predicaments. Some of these predicaments arise from crisis nationally like the popular Great Wars in the 1900s, while some of the crisis that call for coalition governments are economic (for instance, the 1930s National Government). Other crises that bring about a coalition government are political like the 1970s’ which was formed due to a small majority by the labour party. (Oaten, 2007 p11) A coalition government is defined as simply a system of governance where a government is made up of at least two parliamentary parties. This type of governance is not common in systems where there is a plural system of election and two-party systems. It is a common occurrence in proportional represen tation systems of governance, though. There are also special circumstances that require for this type of governance like where after an election, none of the contesting parties makes plural votes in a convincing manner or even scenarios needing a united purpose nationally. Parties

Chinese popular culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Chinese popular culture - Essay Example To be more specific, this paper will also drill into the deep contrast between college graduates and peasant laborers in terms of the issue. The roles of crime and corruption and social stability and mobility will also be discussed to understand the spread of the issue in China fully. Unemployment and Population The current population of The People’s Republic of China has climbed to 0.01% since last year’s update. To date, the country’s population is approximately 1.354 billion, which is 363.3 people per square mile, basing on its total land area—still the largest in the world (World Population Statistics n.p.). The huge population of China is said to be one of the primary reasons why the problem with unemployment still continues. There are so many advancements in China like the establishment of the world’s largest building called the New Century Global Center, which has an area of 1.7 million square meters alone could provide more job opportunities for fresh graduates and other job seekers (Beam n.p.). However, because of their population density, it is still very difficult to accommodate all of those who are jobless. Aside from large buildings for businesses, there are also amusement and entertainment parks that aid in the country’s tourism industry. ... It is twice as difficult for the peasant laborers coming from poor families in rural areas with less or no education at all because they are most likely discriminated or abused at work compared to educated Chinese (Ren 105). In addition, because of the increase in population, landing a job will even be harder for both the white collared and the peasants in the neoliberal globalization era of PRC. Increase in population will also mean increase in social issues because it will be difficult for the government to balance everything by tending to the issues one by one. Problems in housing, education, and social services are also rooted from overpopulation in China. These problems remain unsolved, and they badly need to be paid attention to by the government. Housing, Education, and Social Services The problem of providing houses to so many people also springs from overpopulation. It will be stressful to provide land areas for families to build houses on that is why most of the families li ve in apartments or other high rise buildings in order to save space. However, not all can afford this type of housing. They may be a really rich country, but there is still poverty in some areas there. In terms of education, many are able to go to school, but there are also unlucky ones who do not have the chance. Thus, the competition becomes biased to those who are more educated when it comes to choosing the people for a job position. In the socialist China, they developed a household registration system that has also a connection with education and benefits. This has created a great divide between the rural and urban China creating different levels of social classes.

Answer the three discussion questions Assignment - 1

Answer the three discussion questions - Assignment Example Despite the rising level of crime, there are several impediment that block efforts to reduce crime. First, poverty is a significant force that curtails efforts to reduce crime. in some third world countries, poverty motivates citizens into engaging in crime. Second, corruption is another ill that allows criminals to roam in the open as they bribe police enforcement agencies from arresting them. Lastly, poor reforms and infrastructure are reasons that have contributed to lack of adequate measures to combat crime in many third world countries. Increased crime rates have significant political impact in third world countries. With high crime rates, governments have to build more prisons, increase sentencing structures and execute police reforms (Clear, Cole & Reisig, 2010). These efforts are critical in containing rising crime, but it also draws significant amount of taxpayers’ money. Increased crime is therefore, a force that has a severe political implication in third world countries. Virtual private networks offer organizations with security over public infrastructures that are unsecure. In a virtual private network, organizations use tunneling and security procedures to protect user data from hackers during transport. When organization uses the internet as a medium of connecting their systems, they face security risks such as eavesdropping (Whitman, & Mattord, 2012). However, a virtual private network use unsecured network to provide organizations with encryption that protects their data from hackers. An implementation of VPN, secures data transfers between remote locations. Organization networks play a significant role, but lack of security policies can lead to network breaches. In most cases, some organizations lack appropriate policies that govern how users utilize network infrastructure. As the e-Activity outlines, lack of proper regulations on the use of network infrastructure allowed the attack on the network. In the future, the use of network

Fair Trade Coffee Starbucks Marketing Essay

Fair Trade Coffee Starbucks Marketing Essay Fair trade is a structured social movement that applies marketing approach whose goals and objectives is to help producers and farmers in developing countries get better trading deals for their produce and thus produce sustainably. The social movement campaigns for better pay, higher prices, better social and environment standards to the farmers in developing countries (Valkila Nygren, 2010, p. 321; Weber, 2007, p. 112). The main target is mainly on exports that are delivered to developed countries from developing countries where minerals, farm produce are targeted. Farm produce such as; cotton, fresh fruit, cocoa, coffee, chocolate, sugar, wine, honey, bananas, tea, and flowers where producers benefit from free trade movements (Davis, 2008, p. 22). Fair trade ensures responsible coffee production and trading in terms of product quality, economic accountability, social responsibility, and environmental leadership. Fair Trade Certified coffee has ensured that small scale farmers remain empowered while they are organized in cooperatives to invest in and develop their farms and society, look after the environment and equip themselves with business proficiency that will help them compete in a global setting (Valkila, Nygren, 2010, p. 324; Davis, 2008, p. 23). Thesis Statement In view of the fact that Starbucks were seen as exploitative due to their unfair handling of small scale producers of coffee in third world countries e.g. Ethiopia; this paper tackles fair trade movement and mainly focuses on fair trade coffee practices with respect to Starbucks Company. Fair trade Governance systems related to global production and trade have come under intense criticism from broad coalition of social movements which have been branded as distorted and lack justice (McDonald, 2007, p. 794; Fridell, 2009, p. 87). The social movements have tried to mobilize societies to end exploitation by firms that buy the products from farmers and campaigned for poverty eradication procedures and social justice. The coffee industry has been most hit where farmer and workers in the farms continue to survive and work in terribly poor conditions and adverse poverty levels. The social movements through Fair Trade Systems have enabled the stakeholders especially the companies that trade in coffee to be accountable to the society that produces the coffee. As cited in FINE 2001 by Weber, 2007 p.109 Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers- especially in the South. This means that any company willing to trade globally must act responsibly and ensure sustainable development in the developing countries and see to it that the lives and conditions of living of the marginalized in the trading society are improved. An example of coffee injustice is the Nicaraguan case where coffee is a major export accounting of 30% of the total export in income; on the other hand poverty levels among the workers and farmers remain very high (Valkila, Nygren, 2010, p. 324; Weber, 2007, p. 110). The farmers are faced with low, undeserved, unstable prices coupled with inadequate infrastructure, rampant insecurity, poor housing, and sanitation, poor health services access, poor social structure, and poor educational provisions (Weber, 2007, p. 110; McDonald, 2007, p. 793; Reed, 2002, p.226). Even those workers on large scale farms complain mainly on harassment and poor pay from their employers. In the developed countries where the coffee is traded the persons enjoy huge profits from the coffee that has been bought at low prices in developing countries. Minimizing this disparity is the role of Fair Trade systems. They tend to instill discipline and justice in the global coffee market especially for small scale farmers that are in democratic cooperatives. The bargain for fair price for the producer and better living conditions and other social benefits are pushed for by the free trade organizations. Free Trade coffee is certified by the Fair-trade Labeling Organizations international (FLO). Weber, 2007, p. 112 in his article Fair Trade Coffee Enthusiasts Should Confront Reality indicates that free trade organizations linked to coffee have fairly achieved improved living standards for farmers but the system remain unsuccessful in delinking promotional material and the real situation on the ground, excessive supply and marginalization of the producers and groups that are economically disadvantaged. Starbucks and CAFÉ The success of Starbucks which is a global coffeehouse chain with its headquarters in Seattle Washington can be linked to the trade of coffee from developing countries. With over 12440 stores in 37 countries and 145,000 baristas (employees) the company boasts of $7.8 billion net revenue and a yearly profit of $564 million in 2006 (Davis, 2008, p. 21; Valkila, Nygren, 2010, p. 325). It has remained at sustainable growth and can boast of serving 40 million customers globally. Since its inception in 1971 it has expanded year in year out with many joints being set up to serve high quality coffee (Davis, 2008, p. 21; Fridell, 2009, p. 86; Starbucks, 2004 para.3). Its success can be traced with the collapse of the International Coffee Agreement in 1989 where prices started declining and Starbucks maximized on the low prices with its growth at 5% annually since 1991 (Anonymous, 2003, p.22; Davis, 2008, p. 23; Fridell, 2009, p. 87).Despite this tremendous growth of the company workers in the company and farmers in the producing countries continued their outcry of poor prices and poor living conditions (McDonald, 2007, p. 794; Fridell, 2009, p. 88). The middlemen have also participated in fleecing the farmers who buy the coffee at reduced prices and resell at higher prices. Starbucks on its part never did anything at the time. Public outcry from the farmers in producing countries and workers was not enough to reverse the situation at the time. The establishment of the Coffee and Farmer Equity (CAFE) standards also seemed to be unfavorable to farmers in that only an approximate 30% met the Starbucks standards of the CAFÉ guidelines (Starbucks, 2004 para.4; Reed, 2002, p.224). This meant that the benefits trickled down to other sources other than those producing the coffee. In addition the standards were vague to implement and just acted as a blinding of the farmers. The CAFÉ has sets of product quality, economic accountability, social responsibility, and environmental leadership for farmers to qualify. For the product quality they must meet the green preparation and cup quality (Starbucks, 2004 para.6; Fridell, 2009, p. 89). For economic accountability they must demonstrate financial transparency, equity of financial rewards, and be financially viable. Social responsibility is graded in wages and benefits, freedom of association, working hours, child labor discrimination and forced labor avoidance, access to housing, education, health services, and work safe practices. The environmental guidelines include; protecting water and soil resources, biodiversity conservation, managing the environment and monitoring, waste management, effective energy use, and water conservation (Starbucks, 2004 para.7; McDonald, 2007, p. 795). Other companies such as; Nestle, Procter Gamble, Kraft, and Sarah Lee also contributed to the misery of farmers by buying coffee way below the production costs (Davis, 2008, p. 21; Reed, 2002, p.221). Farmers remained exploited without fair trade that will ensure the fair treatment from the companies dealing with coffee and other farm produce. Fair trade has given hopes to farmers and producers and societies in the producing regions of mutual benefits for their efforts to produce any cash crop (Reed, 2002, p.224; Fridell, 2009, p. 85). Starbucks and the CSR strategy According to Fridell, 2009 p. 87 in the article The Co-Operative and the Corporation: Competing Visions of the Future of Fair Trade major coffee companies have over the past few years started dealing in fair trade coffee that is integrated with their programs of Cooperate Social Responsibilities (CSR). The standards given by the FLO to the south have also not been applied in the north and regulations such as (a guaranteed price and social premiums, advanced partial payments, licensing fees and long-term commitments have been at times evaded in the north. Fair trade is mission driven while CSR is money driven; this explains the need for fair trade since it will help achieve society needs while still aiming at better trading terms. While CSR represents a shareholders move toward ethical business fair trade yearns for a stakeholders approach that benefits all stakeholders. CSR are seen as personal driven objectives that pursue business goals which is referred to as self regulatory while free trade aims at a integrated approach that is highly domineering to improve the well being of the stakeholders. During the start of the millennium only 1-2% of Starbucks coffee was from free trade, the company adjusted to a passive way of supporting free trade then but has currently changed. Starbucks has become successful in the coffee industry buying 1% of the worlds green beans and approximate 10% specialty green market coffee beans. Its acceptance to free trade was necessitated by immense pressure by the US/ Guatemalan Labor Education Project (US/LEAP) for the companies to put into operation a code of conduct for the Southern coffee producers (Fridell, 2009, p. 81; Valkila, Nygren, 2010, p. 326). The company was still passive to accent to the agreement but after a sequence of protest globally they agreed. This commitment would not be compared to its huge sales that it was enjoying at this time and thus selling FLO certified products would ensure the benefits went back to peasant farmers. But Starbucks was reluctant to such moves and as Fridell, 2009, p. 82 quotes When it comes to support for fair trade, Starbucks commitment is limited to the minimum needed to keep public criticism at bay. Starbucks management saw more importance in concentrating on its CSR rather than engaging in free trade; but the CSR was mainly done to improve its brand image as an alternative of benefiting society (McDonald, 2007, p. 797; Davis, 2008, p. 27). They have developed an atmosphere of a trendy cafà © where customers can hang around and read thus portraying a local community. This atmosphere has necessitated concentration to interior design, customer service, and public relations that make the customers feel at home at the expense of producers, workers and farmers (Fridell, 2009, p. 82; Valkila, Nygren, 2010, p. 327). The most awful bit is that this image has been widely accepted world over. Further it has invested in CSR that tend to neutralize negative publicity from neo-liberal reforms. The CSR build in on the self regulatory approaches that are effective in sustaining the brand image prominence in the market and building of the shareholders and stakeholders trust. The company aims to employ cheap labor such as prisoners who require low wages and fewer benefits and are dispensable at any time with minimal consequences while they hide in CSR (Fridell, 2009, p. 84; McDonald, 2007, p. 797). Comparing the wages of the Starbucks employees, services workers are paid very minimal wages while the management is among the highly paid in North America. Starbucks has the lowest employee turnover rate in the fast food industry which is a strategy embedded in the CSR and the brand image (Fridell, 2009, p. 85). Despite better benefits such as; basic medical, dental, and vision coverage, short-term counseling and basic mental health and dependency treatment than other service industries Starbuck employees are remunerated with low wages thus many opt out in less than one year. Other benefits the employees enjoy include a free pound of coffee per week free beverages while working, and financial assistance that is based on payroll deductions for emergencies which are all gimmicks of boosting a corporate image that ensure profitability at the expense of the workers. The 2000 case between Canadian Auto Workers, Local 3000 (CAW 3000) and Starbucks bring into the spotlight the commitment of the company to its employees since CAW 3000 tried to negotiated for a third phase of increased wages for workers while Starbucks still maintains it is an anti-union employer; the commitment to fair trade proves otherwise in view of the above fact (Davis, 2008, p. 25). Starbucks in 2002 imported 1.8 million pounds shade grown coffee that was certified by Conservation International (CI); 1.7 million pounds certified coffee and 1.1 million pounds of fair trade coffee this was a very small proportion i.e. 1 to 2% of fair trade (Fridell, 2009, p. 87; Davis, 2008, p. 24). Working with CI is a major cover up to fair trade since CI is mainly involved in conservation of trees in areas where they are extinct but they have no clear social role. Also CI cannot be ethically cleared since it works with other major environment destroyers globally such as; McDonalds, Chiquita, Mobil Foundation and Exxon; therefore it can be not be trusted as a corporate identity of fair trade (Davis, 2008, p. 27). It is clear that Starbucks have relied on the CSR for a successful implementation of its profits strategies. This method may however be risky for the sustained growth of the business (Fridell, 2009, p. 91; Davis, 2008, p. 28). Disadvantages and advantages Despite fair trade call there are issues that revolve around it that must be ironed out. Firstly include identifying the culprits of the process. Fair trade organizations may be blaming organizations who only work on profits as exploiting the society but the companies may be profiting through legal means. They may then blame corporations of breaking free trade agreements while they have used stretched resources to survive (Topik, 2010, p. 146; Fridell, 2009, p. 89). The participation of successful firms in transforming society may work but major issues such as a large gap divide may shift the advantage to the producer, therefore the producers expect more from firms which is unfair. Also a major concern on what signifies a living wage is a problem as firms make sales to improve the living income of the producers; in this case fair trade cannot guarantee anything to farmers (Weber, 2007, p. 109; Davis, 2008, p. 27). Fair trade is pegged on cooperatives of producers and thus the individual producer may be left out; the cooperatives mediate the prices and thus the producers only get what is quoted by the contracts. The prices quoted must meet or surpass fair trade limits with a deduction of the expenses incurred by the organization. The organization eliminates intermediaries and thus costs of sorting, processing and exporting may surpass the expected prices before payments to farmers. These costs may be so high to make fair trade markets be unreasonable (Weber, 2007, p. 111; Fridell, 2009, p. 88). Hired laborers are also believed to receive minimal wages somehow, since the fair trade agreements dont apply to those hired. The fair trade has also adequacies of trying to control the markets by establishing minimum prices; this however doesnt work since most fair trade certified produces trade only a fraction of their produce. This translates that farmers are never induced to grow more coffee in a bid to earn more from the dominant prices. This creates an imbalance between supply and demand and as Weber, 2007, p. 112 reports it has go on for more than 10 years. This was so grave that in 2002 FLO had to temporarily close out new members. Excess certified coffee in the market does not lead to dumping but rather increases barriers to entry and consequently increased producer competition for the limited contracts. And this can lead to exclusion of marginalized farmers that are purportedly supported by fair trade (Weber, 2007, p. 112; Davis, 2008, p. 26). With increased quality standards in the market FLO resulted to charging more to producer organizations this increases expenses and creates barriers to the market; this locks out young organizations that have no funds. Also they need extra funds to pay for inspections and other expenses thus the fair trade objective is not achieved since marginalized farmers are locked out (Weber, 2007, p. 113; Davis, 2008, p. 27). The main aims and objectives of fair trade are to bring change to the lives of the producers and workers that suffer in the farms, but the bad implementation has made the farmers be left out of the benefits (Fridell, 2009, p. 89). With good implementation fair trade can be expressed in its benefits to the society where there will be no exploitation of the farmers. There will be better living conditions, improved well being, and better working conditions for the workers (Valkila, Nygren, 2010, p. 326; Weber, 2007, p. 114). The benefits that come with fair trade are yet to bear fruit especially when markets are not regulated properly and farmers become marginalized. Conclusion Starbucks being the leading coffee server in the world has a mandate to transform the lives of peasant farmers who live from hand to mouth by sharing the huge profits they make annually. They can contribute to the welfare of the producers and workers through providing better prices, adequate infrastructure, security, better housing and sanitation, better health services access and better educational provisions in the producing areas to ensure sustained growth. In conclusion Fair trade certified coffee has brought about reforms to the society in certain areas but in other areas it still remains an elusive dream due to the management of the organizations that govern coffee. Standards of transparency and accountability should be established at all levels so that the coffee produced by farmers can contribute to their social well being rather than making huge profits in developing countries leaving the producers fleeced.

Domestic Violence: Loopholes in the Arizona Legal System Essay

The United States has a long history of domestic violence. Nearly six million American women will be battered by their spouses every year (United Way, 1998). Tradition gives men the right to control their family including their wife. Violence is tolerated under these traditional conditions as discipline (Cohen, 1996). Domestic violence is overwhelmingly committed by men ".. to discipline and coerce women" (Cohen, 1996). "Husbands use violence against their wives as a way of coercing them, establishing control, and conveying rules to regulate 'proper' female behavior (Dobash & Dobash, 1977-1978)." This type of abusive behavior often comes from the ideology that women are subordinate to men (Cohen, 1996). This way of thinking was dominant until the feminist movements when women protested for equal rights and got them. It has still been a struggle to get women's issues recognized by law, however. Domestic violence is a serious issue that needs to be thoroughly addressed, especially in border states like Arizona which have a large Mexican immigrant population, often with traditional views. To have an effective legal system which thoroughly addresses domestic violence, abusers must be held accountable by law for their a ctions and all victims need to be able to receive aid and support from the state. Currently, these requirements for an effective legal system regarding domestic violence are not met in Arizona. Every year there is some 16,000 domestic violence charges filed in the Tucson Police Department and Pima County Sheriff's Office combined (United Way, 1998). The state does have punishment for these abusers. There are many laws is Arizona regarding domestic violence, however there are problems with the... ... Social Policy, and Violence, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 70, No. 5, 1996. Moore, Roberta. Advocate for the Oasis Crisis Center, University of Arizona, 1999. Neff, James; Holamon, Bruce; Schluter, Tracy. Spousal Violence Among Alglos, Blacks, and Mexican Americans, Journal of Family Violence, Vol. 10, No. 1, 1995. Vargas, Alexia. Split Decision, Wall Street Journal, Vol. CCXXII, Nove. 18, 1998. Wabnik, Alisa. Bill Proposes Prison for 3rd Offense, Arizona Daily Star, March 16, 1998. http://www.azstarnet.com/plusb-cgi/fastw... National Research Council. Lack of Research Hampers Strategies to Stem Violence Against Women. May 1, 1996. http://www.nap.edu/bookstore/lsbn/0309054257.htm. United Way of Greater Tucson. Special Report on Domestic Violence, 1998. http://www.unitedwaytucson.org/unitedway/report/domestic.htm.

California, a Place, a People, a Dream

California, A Place, a People, a Dream In â€Å"California, A Place, a People, a Dream,† James J. Rawls gives his version of the California dream, and describes the paradoxes that are associated with that dream. According to Rawls, the California dream is a love affair with an idea, a marriage to a myth, or fantasy. (Rawls 22, 23) Everyone has their own version of the California dream. It might be something, or nothing at all. As I began reading Rawl’s essay, I found it interesting how the world views the environment that you live in, and how different they think your life is from theirs. The California dream is often viewed in the imaginations of Americans and immigrants as the optimal land of opportunity, sunshine, jobs, and Hollywood glamour. â€Å"Founded on expectation and hope, the California Dream promises to fulfill our deepest longings for opportunity and success, warmth, sunshine and beauty, health and long life, freedom, and even a foretaste of the future,† says Rawls. (Rawls 23) For many people, they think of California as their own perfect world. According to Rawls, one paradox for California is a land of great expectations and disappointment. The gold rush experience was forged on this paradox of expectation. (Rawls 26) For many people their expectations of California came from what they heard: California is the land of great opportunity. Another paradox is growth. In 1962, California became the most populous state. Land was being quickly developed into track homes, and twisted freeways. By 1973, cities across the state 1. were passing ordinances to limit growth. The land of dreams and opportunities was quickly turning into a land of nightmares. The paradox of plenty and getting rich is what immigrants and people from other parts of America believed California was all about, and part of the California dream. Many argue that the dream that once was is no longer a reality with all of the social, political, and environmental issues. This morning I read a blurb on the internet that named the ten most expensive cities in the United States to live in were located in California: Palo Alto, San Francisco, Pasadena, and Newport Beach were a few of those named. I have often read about the American dream, but not the California dream. Being a native Californian, perhaps I have taken for granted all that California has to offer, as it just seems part of my every day life. I could never understand why my in-laws would always say how lucky I was to live in California, and so close to the beach. Why did they make such a big deal when they visited? There were beaches in New Jersey where they were from. They always insisted on going to Santa Cruz or Monterey each time they came to visit. They live three hours away from the beach, or shore as they called it. Until I visited the east coast, little did I realize at the time how living on the east coast was very different from living on the west coast. It is hot and humid during the summer, and cold and wet during the winter. At least in the bay area the seasons are not so drastic. I do not believe there is a California dream. I have always felt that people make their own dreams. For some it is the roll of the dice, and luck. For others it is the way things were meant to be. Promise and paradox are at the center of the California dream. † (Rawls 29) â€Å"In spite of the withering analysis of the past, the promises of California remain undiminished, bringing 2. new generations of newcomers from around the world. † (Rawls 29) There are new perceptions and new dreams. Everyone dreams. Whether it is a life in a different place – or where they currently live people have been dreaming since the beginning o f time – and will continue to dream. What one perceives as the California dream, another may perceive it as something entirely different. 3.

Iraw essays

Iraw essays 1. In the aftermath of a war in Iraq, the possibilities of creating a stable post-Saddam state will depend on managing Iraqs multiple social cleavages. Describe and evaluate Iraqs primary social cleavages. How have they impacted Iraqi politics until now? The history of Iraq has been dominated by two factors the wealth of its oil fields and the turbulence of its politics. The countrys oil and its key strategic position in the world made it a focus of Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union. In its ancient past it was the home to various empires: Sumer, Mesopotamia, Assyria, as well as the Babylonian Empire. During the spread of the Islamic influence under the Prophet Mohammed, Baghdad became a center of art, science, and literature. With the coming of the Turkish Ottoman Empire the area of Iraq again was assimilated. With the coming of the First World War and the defeat of the Turks, England acquired Iraq as a protectorate and utilized for oil exploration. In each of these circumstances, the rule by a singular individual with ultimate authority was the norm. The right to rule was by conquest and not by local consensus. Therefore, the tradition of singular rule by force continued to be the norm. Indeed, the very formation of Iraqs boundaries failed to take into account the diverse backgrounds of the various peoples living there. Even though grateful that the Ottoman forces were removed, the victorious Allies didnt take into account their wishes for any autonomy or sovereignty of tribal regions. Oil exploration and not cultural considerations remained the primary focus. With Iraq gaining its independence from the British, a weak monarchy was toppled by a Pan-Arab group known as the Baath Party. Under this nationalist organization, the call went forward to other Arab nations to break with their differences and form a new identity through a...

How to Improve Reading Comprehension 8 Expert Tips

How to Improve Reading Comprehension 8 Expert Tips SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Reading is a skill many people take for granted, but the act ofreading and properly comprehending a textis a complex and interactive process.It requires several different brain functions to worktogether and most often requires one to puzzle through multiplelayers of context and meaning. Because reading comprehension is so complicated, we can often find ourselves understanding the most basic interpretation of a text, but missing the emotional core or the â€Å"big picture.† Or we might just find our brains spinning with no clue at all as to what atext is attempting to convey. But luckily for everyone who struggles in English classes, on standardized tests, or in daily life, reading comprehension can be improved upon (and it’s never too late to start!). In this guide, I explain step-by-step how to improve reading comprehension over time and offer tips for boosting your understandingas you read. What Is Reading Comprehension? Reading comprehension is the understanding of what a particular text means and the ideas the author is attempting to convey, both textual and subtextual.In order to read any text, your brain must process not only the literal words of the piece, but alsotheir relationship with one another, the context behind the words, how subtlelanguage and vocabulary usagecan impact emotion and meaning behind the text, and how the text comes together as a larger, coherent whole. For instance, let's look at the first line from Jane Austen's novel, Pride and Prejudice: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." Now, a completely literal interpretation of the text, just based on word-meaning, would have us believethat'all rich men wantwives.' But the context, word choice, and phrasing of the text actually belie that interpretation. By using the phrases "universally acknowledged" and "must be in want of" (emphasis ours), the text is conveying a subtle sarcasm to the words. Instead of it being an actual truth that 'rich men want wives,' thisone sentenceinstantlytells us that we're reading about a societypreoccupied withmarriage, while also implyingthat the opening statement is something people in that society may believe, but that isn't necessarily true. In just a few short words, Austen conveys several ideas to the reader about one of the main themes of the story, the setting, and what the culture and peopleare like. And she does so all the while seeming to contradict the literal words of the piece. Without practice in reading comprehension, nuances like these can become lost. Andso it can happen thatsomeonemay find themselves reading, butnot truly comprehending the full meaning of a text. As you can see, reading comprehension involves many processes happening in your brain at once, and thus it can be easy for some aspects of a text to get lost in the muddle.But the good news for anyone who struggles is that reading comprehension is a skill just like any other.It must be learned through practice, focus, and diligence, but it absolutely CAN be learned. Want to get better grades and test scores? We can help. PrepScholar Tutors is the world's best tutoring service. We combine world-class expert tutors with our proprietary teaching techniques. Our students have gotten A's on thousands of classes, perfect 5's on AP tests, and ludicrously high SAT Subject Test scores. Whether you need help with science, math, English, social science, or more, we've got you covered. Get better grades today with PrepScholar Tutors. Why Reading Comprehension Is Important Proper reading comprehension can be difficult, so why bother? Even though learning how to properly read and comprehend texts is a complicated process, it is a necessary skill to master, both for work andfor pleasure. You will need to know how to read and interpret all kinds of different texts- bothon the basic, literal level and on a more in-depth level- throughout your schooling, in college, and in the working world (as well as in your recreation time!). If we think about "reading" just as a literal or surface understanding of a piece and "reading comprehension" as the completeunderstanding, a personcan only get by in the world on pure "reading" for so long. Readingcomprehensionis essential for many significant aspects of daily life, such as: Reading, understanding, and analyzing literature in your English classes Reading and understanding texts from your other class subjects, such as history, math, or science Doing well on both the written and math sections of the SAT (or all five sections of the ACT) Understanding and engaging with current events presented in written form, such as news reports Properly understanding and responding to any and all other workplace correspondence, such as essays, reports, memos, and analyses Simply taking pleasure in written work on your own leisure time Just like with any goal or skill, we can master reading comprehension one step at a time. How to Improve Reading Comprehension: 3 Steps Because reading comprehension is a skill that improves like any other, you can improve your understanding with practice and a game plan. Dedicate yourself to engaging in a combination of both "guided" and "relaxed" reading practice for at least two to three hours a week.Guided practicewill involvestructure and focused attention, like learning new vocabulary words and testing yourself on them, while relaxed practice will involvemerely letting yourself readand enjoy reading without pressure for at least one to two hours a week. (Note: if you already read for pleasure, add at least one more hour of pleasure-reading per week.) By combining reading-for-studying and reading-for-pleasure, you'll be able to improve your reading skill without relegating reading time to the realm of "work" alone. Reading is a huge part of our daily lives, and improving your comprehension should never come at the cost of depriving yourself ofthe pleasure of the activity. So what are some of the firststeps for improving your reading comprehension level? Step 1: Understand and Reevaluate How You’re Currently Reading Before you can improve your reading comprehension, you must first understand how you’re currently reading and what your limitations are. Start by selecting excerpts from different texts with which you are unfamiliar- text books, essays, novels, news reports, or any kind of text you feel you particularly struggle to understand- and read them as you would normally.As you read, see if you can notice when your attention, energy, or comprehension of the material begins to flag. If your comprehension or concentration tends to lagafter a period of time, start to slowly build up your stamina. For instance, if you continually lose focus at the 20minute mark every time you read, acknowledge this and push yourself to slowly increase that time, rather than trying to sit and concentrate on reading for an hour or two at a stretch. Beginby reading for your maximum amount of focused time (in this case, twenty minutes), then give yourself a break. Next time, try for 22minutes. Once you've mastered that, tryfor 25and see if you can still maintain focus. If you can, then try for thirty. If you find that your concentration or comprehension starts to lag again, take a step back on your timing before pushingyourself for more. Improvement comes with time, and it'll only cause frustration if youtry to rush it all at once. Alternatively, you may findthat your issueswith reading comprehension have less to do with the time spent readingthan with the source material itself. Perhaps you struggle to comprehendthe essential elements of a text, the context of a piece, character arcs or motivation, booksor textbooks with densely packed information, or material that is heavily symbolic. If this is the case, then be sure to follow thetips belowto improve these areas of reading comprehension weakness. Improving your reading comprehension level takes time andpractice, but understanding where your strengths and weaknesses stand now is the first step towards progress. Step 2: Improve Your Vocabulary Reading and comprehension rely ona combination of vocabulary, context, and the interaction of words. So you must be able to understand each moving piece before you can understand the text as a whole. If you struggle to understand specific vocabulary, it's sometimespossibleto pick up meaning through context clues (how the words are used in the sentence or in the passage), but it’s always a good idea to lookup thedefinitions of wordswith which you aren't familiar. As you read, make sure to keep a running list of words you don't readily recognize andmakeyourself a set of flashcards with the words and their definitions.Dedicate fifteen minutes two or threetimes a weektoand quizzing yourself on your vocab flashcards. To get started, you'll need some blank index cards and a system to keep them organized. Thesebasic cardsare an affordable option that arealso available infun colors. You can keep them organized with plastic baggies or rubber bands, or you can get anorganizer. Alternatively, trytheseeasy-flip flashcardsthatinclude binder clips.Though we strongly recommend making your own flashcards, you can also buy pre-made ones - the best option is Barron's00 Words You Need to Know, a series of exercises to master key words andidioms. In order to retainyour vocabulary knowledge, you must practice acombination of practiced memorization (like studying your flashcards) and make a point of usingthese new words in your verbal and written communication.Guided vocabulary practice like this will give you access to new words and their meanings as well asallow you to properlyretain them. Step 3: Read for Pleasure The best way to improve your reading comprehension level isthrough practice. And the best way to practice is to have fun with it! Make reading a fun activity, at least on occasion,rather than a constant chore. This will motivate you to engage with the textand embrace the activity as part of your daily life (rather than just your study/work life). As you practice and truly engage with your reading material,improvement will come naturally. Begin by reading texts that are slightly below your age and grade level (especially if reading is frustrating or difficult for you). This will take pressure off of you and allow you to relax and enjoy the story. Here are some fun, easy reads that we recommend to get you started: Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roksani Chokshi Brown Girl Dreamingby Jacqueline Woodson Ghostby Jason Reynolds The Westing Game by Ellen Rankin From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E.Frankweilerby E.L. Konigsburg The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson I Am Malala byMalala Yousafzai Harry Potter and the Sorcerer'sStoneby J.K .Rowling Once you feel more comfortable reading and practicing your comprehension strategies (tips in the next section), go ahead and allow yourself to read at whatever reading or age level you feel like. Even if you feel that you don't understand some of the text right now- or even a large portion of it!- if you enjoy yourself and give it your best shot, you'll find that yourreading comprehension levels will improveover time. Ultimately, reading should be a fun and functional activity. So try to keep yourreading exercises balanced betweenwork and pleasure. 5 Reading Comprehension Tips Improvingyour vocabulary and increasing the amount of time you spend reading overall will help you to improve your reading comprehension over time, but what do you do to help you tocomprehenda particular piece of text? Here, I'll walkyou through the steps to take as you're readingso that you can understand the text and improve how you're reading, when you're reading. Tip1: Stop When You Get Confused and Try to Summarize What You Just Read As you read, let yourself stop whenever youlose focus or feel confused. Just stop.Now, without re-reading, summarize aloud or in your head what you've comprehended so far (before the place where you became confused). Skim back through the text and compare how you've summarizedit with what's written on the page. Do you feel you've captured the salient points? Do you feel a little more focused on what's going on now that you've put the material into your own words? Keep readingwith yoursummation in mind and let yourself stop and repeat the process whenever the piece becomes confusing to you. The more you're able to re-contextualizethe work in your own words, the better you'll be able to understand it and lock the information in your mind as you keep reading. Tip 2: If You’re Struggling, Try Reading Aloud Sometimes, we can form a sort of â€Å"mental block† that can halt our reading progress for whatever reason (maybe the sentence looks complex or awkward, maybe you’re tired, maybe you feel intimidated by the word choice, or are simply bored). Reading these problematic passages aloud can often help circumvent that block and help you to form a visual of what the text is trying to convey. Tip 3: Re-read (or Skim) Previous Sections of the Text For the most part, reading is a personal activity that happens entirely in your head. So don’t feel you have to read just like anyone else if "typical" methodsdon’t work for you. Sometimes it can make the most sense to read (or re-read) a text out of order. It is oftenhelpful to glance backwards through a piece of text (or even re-read large sections) to remind yourself of any information you need and have forgotten- what happened previously, what a particular word means, who a person was...the list is endless. Previous sentences, sections, or even whole chapterscan provide helpful context clues. Re-reading these passages willhelp torefresh your memory so that you can better understand and interpretlater sections of the text. Want to get better grades and test scores? We can help. PrepScholar Tutors is the world's best tutoring service. We combine world-class expert tutors with our proprietary teaching techniques. Our students have gotten A's on thousands of classes, perfect 5's on AP tests, and ludicrously high SAT Subject Test scores. Whether you need help with science, math, English, social science, or more, we've got you covered. Get better grades today with PrepScholar Tutors. Tip 4: Skim or Read Upcoming Sections of the Text Just like with the previous step, don’t feel that the only way to read and understand a text is to work through it completely linearly. Allow yourself the freedom to take apart the text and put it back together again in whichever way makes the most sense to you. Sometimes a current confusion in a work will be explained later on in the text, and it can help you to know that explanations are upcoming or even just to read them ahead of time. So skip forward or backwards, re-read or read ahead as you need to, take the piece in whatever order you need to in order to make sense of the text. Not everyone thinks linearly, and not everyone best understands texts linearly either. Tip 5: Discussthe Text With a Friend (Even an Imaginary Friend) Sometimes discussing what you know so far about a text can helpclear up any confusion. If you have a friend who hasn't read the textin question, then explain it to them in your own words, and discuss where you feel your comprehension is lacking. You'll find that you've probably understood more than you think once you've been forced to explain it to someone who's completely unfamiliar with the piece. Even if no one else is in the room, trying to teach or discusswhat a passage says or meanswith â€Å"someone else†can be extremely beneficial.In fact, software engineers call this technique â€Å"rubber duck debugging,† wherein they explain a codingproblem to a rubber duck. This forcesthem to work through a problem aloud, which has proven time and time again to help people solve problems. So if a piece of text has your headspinningfrom trying to work through it by yourself, start chatting with your nearest friend/pet/rubber duck. You'll be surprised with how much easier it is to understand a text once you've talked it through with someone. Even if that someone is a duck. Quack. The Take-Aways Improving reading comprehension takes time and effort, but it can be done. Be patient with yourself, work through your reading comprehension steps, andtrynot to get frustrated with yourself if you feel your progress is slow or if you feel you’re â€Å"falling behind.†You will utilize your reading skills throughout your life, so go at a pace that works for you, andtake care to maintain thatbalance between reading for pure pleasure andreading for dedicated improvement. As you begin to incorporatemore and more reading into your daily life, you'll find that comprehension will become easier, and reading will become more fun. In every piece of text, there are worlds of meaning to explore, and learning how to uncover them can be the ultimate rewarding journey. What's Next? Can't get enough reading?Whether as part of your reading practice or just for fun, check out our picks for the31 best books to read in high school. Problems with procrastination? Whether you're studying for the SAT's or studying your reading comprehension vocabularycheck out how to beat procrastination and get your studies back on track. Want to earn better grades? Our guide will help you get that 4.0 you're striving for. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links PrepScholar may receive a commission. Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article! Tweet Courtney Montgomery About the Author Courtney scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT in high school and went on to graduate from Stanford University with a degree in Cultural and Social Anthropology. She is passionate about bringing education and the tools to succeed to students from all backgrounds and walks of life, as she believes open education is one of the great societal equalizers. She has years of tutoring experience and writes creative works in her free time. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Get FREE EXCLUSIVE insider tips on how to ACE THE SAT/ACT. 100% Privacy. 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