Asian-Americans and their Progress towards Essay Example for Free

Asian-Americans and their Progress towards Essay During the many years of the continuous immigration of various nationalities in the United States, it could be noted that many immigrants have already absorbed the culture that Americans have. One of the many ethnicities which had migrated in the United States is the Asians. In the current society of the United States it is known that these groups of people are one of the many ethnic minorities that is housed by the United States. In fact, many of the families of the past migrants have now stayed in the United States had had lived their lives similar to full blooded Americans. However, although most of these immigrants have already acquired all the culture, the language and life style of the Americans it is still not enough for the society that they would be called Americans. On the other hand, the Asian-Americans like other ethnic minorities in the United States are somewhat confused to on the proper identity that they must maintain. One of the main examples of the uncertainty is the Asian-American popular culture which presents evidences regarding such group in the society. In the current popular culture, it is noticeable the many of Asian-Americans had been inclined with certain identity which could be very noticeable in the choices of their consuming behavior. In addition, personal choices such of the music, clothing style and etc. In the written work of Min Zhou and Jennifer Lee (2004), they have clearly stated that the Asian-American youth is directly seen by the American culture as not fitting to the popular images which are most associated with the current popular culture. Such popular cultures that are being discussed were being rap artists, skin heads, punks and the likes. For the longest time, Asian-Americans are seen as stereotypically geek who only focuses directly on their studies instead of being socially active. (Zhou Lee, p. 1, 2004). Many of the Asian-Americans are obviously shying away from these concepts of being geeks and nerds. Instead, they follow the popular culture and act similarly to the demands of the American society. First and foremost, we could see that many of the Asian-American youth are more inclined to look like a gangster rather than a typical Asian-American. In many television shows and advertisements, there are numerous Asians who steps away from the light that they are individuals who are very serious in being successful that they study very well. Due to the very advanced technological innovations that we have such that of YouTube people could truly see that Asian-Americans are truly absorbing and creating new a type of culture when it comes to music. One of the best examples is David Choi who is known to be a Korean-American. Choi is singer, songwriter and guitarist on his own channel in YouTube. As noticed, Choi is very far from the typical stereotype of Asian who shies away from the crowd. After attaining success and massive support from different individuals he was able to have his own album. Instead of being the stereotypical Asian-American, he proclaims and continuously re-invents his music to suit his fans and the current trend in the society. In the film industry there had been few individuals who are known to be popular in the United States due to the certain film which they have done. One of the most famous Asian-American is Lucy Lui who played one of the Charlie’s Angels. In the movies, it is not often that an Asian-American plays a â€Å"kick-ass† role and presents her self as a strong assertive woman. In the stereotypical eyes of most Americans, Asian-Americans are simple and mostly quiet and demure because this is how they are culturally trained. However, due to such character played by Lui, the concept of how and what a woman should be (through an Asian context) is changed. With such, the Americanization of the Asian woman is clearly seen through the portrayal made by Lui. (â€Å"Is Lucy Liu a Heroine or a Curse? †) In terms of music, an article was written regarding the sudden boom of the Asian-American artists in the music industry. In the article, the author stated that various American-Asian artists are suddenly emerging into the music scene within in various localities in the United States. Most of the tunes that these musicians and artists play are mostly western music when do hip-hop and RB, as well as a DJ in various clubs. Such artists were Yellow Peril, Seoul Brothers, Mountain Brothers, and a lot more. These artists are said to have gained significant success and a symbolic presence of the developments of the Asian-Americans (Wang, 1998). Therefore, Asian-Americans were already able to join the band wagon of having the same musical preference as the Americans. In addition, they are not only listening to type of music Americans hear but also imitating or innovating towards a new genre of music. In the most current popular culture many Asians are excelling in the freestyle dancing, break dancing and etc. (Tseng, 1998) From the lessons that we have taken, it is known that through consumption and consumerism that the factors of living is defined. From my own personal point of view, I do believe that consumption is a cultural issue that must be deeply studied due to the various concepts attached such as social class, cultural norms and etc. Cultural consumption is also affected by advertising as well as the culture of being brand conscious rather than quality conscious. I have stated this due to my personal experiences as a consumer. As I have observed in the super markets most of the time people spend so much time in thinking on what type of brand they would buy. Just last week I needed to do my grocery when I saw a Filipino woman and her son in the cereals and oats lane. She meticulously surfs for the proper brand of cereals while her son stated that â€Å"Mom, why are we staying too long in this section? We don’t really eat cereals for breakfast. I want rice. † Then the mother replied, â€Å"No darling, rice is too heavy for you, studies say that it could cause diabetes. And your playmates eat cereals every morning so you should also eat cereal. † Being in a class that studies such concept of culture, I was amazed on how real the concept of Americanization is. I do know that most Filipinos prefer rice for breakfast because it is a custom meal for them everyday. But through my first hand experience, I did see that people who are not Americans are in need to attain cultural citizenship in order for them to be accepted. Although I do believe that Asians are accepted in the American society, the acceptance is not as whole in comparison to being a white American. In a sense, the mother who was with her child in the grocery would want her son to be culturally American that she is shifting the norms which her son know in order for him to be suitable in the American society. Just like the story presented in â€Å"Consumption Fantasies of Upward Mobility,† Richard wanted to move away from the typical concepts of Asians. Therefore, Richard wanted to be a professional who is likely to be the choice of a typical American who works inside the office. In addition, there is a concept of attaining the â€Å"American Dream in which most important thing for Asian-Americans. Moreover, due to the desire to attain such, they also want to be treated like Americans. As a result, they act and absorb the American culture and norms which they believe will grant them cultural citizenship (Hee Park, p. 112, 2005). In conclusion, the current Asian-American culture is still in the process of attaining acceptance in the American society. In addition, they want to change the stereotypical concept that most of them are geeks and losers thus, the Asian-American community is shifting towards a much western culture. The community is not only doing such in order to be within the trend of the popular culture but also to be accepted and not discriminated by others. In terms of consumption, it is real that it is one of the factors which could justify the Americanization of an individual not only Asian-Americans. Through decision making and choosing what type of product must be used is obviously dictated by the society around them. In addition, professional choice is also an aspect the shows that Asians are Americanized or desires cultural citizenship. Like one of the most famous saying stated: â€Å"If you can’t beat them, join them. † Reference Is Lucy Liu a Heroine or a Curse?. GoldSea . Retrieved 9 December 2008 from http://www. goldsea. com/Air/Issues/Liu/liu. html. Lee, J. and Zhou, M. (2004). Asian American Youth.United States of America: Routledge Publishing. Sun-Hee Park, L. (2005). Consuming Citizenship. United States of America: Stanford University Press. Tseng, J. (1998). Asian American Rap: Expression Through Alternate Forms. Model Minority. Retrieved 9 December 2008 from http://www. modelminority. com/article128. html. Wang, O. (1998). Asian Americans and hip-hop. Asian Week. Retrieved 9 December 2008 from http://asianweek. com/111298/coverstory. html. David Choi : http://www. youtube. com/user/davidchoimusic? ob=4

Medicare :: Long term care

http://www.govreform.org/wws201.pdf Where we Stand? Personal Retirement Accounts: The Opportunity to Choose and Control our Future: February 2001 working ratio 2:1 by 2030 http://www.keytocare.com/pay_for_it.htm Long Term Health Care Are you likely to need long-term care? This year about seven million men and women over the age of 65 will need long-term care. By the year 2005, the number will increase to nine million. By the year 2020, 12 million older Americans will need long-term care. Most will be cared for at home; family members and friends are the sole caregivers for 70 percent of elderly people. But a study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicates that people of age 65 face at least a 40 percent lifetime risk of entering a nursing home. About 10 percent will stay there five years or longer. The American population is growing older, and the group over age 85 is now the fastest-growing segment of the population. The odds of entering a nursing home, and staying for longer periods, increase with age. In fact, statistics show that at any given time, 22 percent of those age 85 and older are in a nursing home. Because women generally outlive men by several years, they face a 50 percent greater likelihood than men of entering a nursing home after age 65. You may never need a nursing home. But the longer you live, the greater the chance that you will need some form of long-term care. Copyright  © 2000 Health Insurance Association of America http://www.aarp.org/confacts/health/privltc.html What you should know about Long Term Health Care †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Should I buy long-term care insurance?

Culture in Organization

What do you see as the main organizational problems that are likely to be associated with implementation of a transnational strategy? The transnational strategy is an international marketing method that â€Å"seeks to combine the benefits of global-scale efficiencies with the benefits of local responsiveness† rather than settling for the limitations of either strategy. The transnational strategy also strives for local responsiveness and external flexibility within the foreign subsidiaries at the cost of integration.The transnational strategy creates a mutually dependent relationship between the central hub and foreign subsidiaries, thereby empowering both worlds. The strategy also becomes difficult to implement due to its conflicting nature. Most firms find it difficult to implement transnational strategy. In the long run, almost all firms want to include some elements of localized decision-making because each country has its own eccentric characteristics. For example, very fe w people in Japan prefer a computer that includes English-language keyboard. Another example would be how Coca-cola differentiates its ingredients for each country.Consumers in US prefer sweeter coca-cola while Chinese consumers prefer less sugar. There are several issues associated with implementing transnational strategy. Organizational issues include: Cultural differences, Language barriers, Geographic barriers, technical challenges and sound knowledge of local market. Implementation difficulties include communication issues, trust issues, multiple roles, flexibility and cultural issues, among many others. For example, with GM, some European operations may need to collaborate with operations in Latin America.Significant performance ambiguities may occur with transnational strategies. A way to address these challenges is with a very strong culture and many integrating mechanisms. I personally believe that handling the technical challenges would be the most critical of all challeng es. While, information technology and improvements in global telecommunications are giving international firms more flexibility to shape their global strategies, not many managers are willing to adapt to the change. The IT systems department needs to be up to date and should be unctioning smoothly at all times. The advances in communication technology coupled with the authority and affordability of information technology, has transformed the way companies conduct business both nationally and internationally. The affordability of these technologies has allowed smaller companies to compete in markets dominated by large companies as well as compete in progressing and new markets. As the technology has progressed, businesses have also gradually engaged in international business as the tools and opportunities have been presented.Transnational operations can provide organizations with many advantages in several different levels, and if managed correctly, the organizations can offset the p ossible problematic aspects that exist, providing these organizations with an optimized structure that can transform the business into a successful company operating globally. Disadvantages are if not properly accounted for and controlled, transnational operations can present several aspects that can negatively affect an organization.Among these aspects are technological infrastructure of the foreign nation, political and economic stability, cultural difference, and technical knowledge. Understanding the particulars and differences of the foreign nation is fundamental to the success of business conducted in an international environment. Not every country has access to the technological infrastructure enjoyed by most first and second world countries. Also, not all business segments may have access to highly efficient communication networks or infrastructure. The price of such services may be disproportionate and out of the reach of most small businesses.For example, India still does not have Internet facilities everywhere and cost for using them is exorbitant. Traditionally, technological innovations in developing nations are significantly higher in price and, in terms of communication infrastructure, also less reliable. Even when readily available, the local service levels may be below the standards that the organization requires. Given that optimal communication and efficient communication channels are essential to the success of international business, the infrastructure available needs to e clearly understood and alternatives to account for communication must be in place prior to the commencement of business operations in the foreign nation. Problems in infrastructure can lead to difficulty in the transfer of work or meeting project deadlines and can lead to quality issues. Another major difficulty of the transnational operation is to design an organizational form that is capable of being efficient and responsive, and which enables the transfer of knowledge across locations.In addition to the basic structural issues in designing a global organization, a company must decide to what extent: decision making should be held in a few key centers (centralized) or distributed to a large number of business units (decentralized). According to me, decisions should be made at both a centralized and decentralized level depending on the company’s needs. There needs to be a mix of informal and formal integrating mechanisms. Differences in culture can present several issues.If not managed properly, these issues can turn into major disadvantages. An atmosphere where there is a respect towards local customs needs to be established and simple actions such as having an understanding of local holidays, cultural customs, religious traditions, and language variances can make the organization have a corporate culture that transcends borders. Finally, transnational organizations have the inherent advantages of flexibility, diversity, global market reac h, and efficient cost structures, among several others.Even though several disadvantages have been presented, the commodization of bandwidth technology and the globalization trends of economies and politics are driving companies to meet an ever-expanding global market. As these tendencies continue, fueled by the expansion in use and popularity of global communications, the disadvantages will be reduced at a similar pace. While issues such as quality of work and service levels that have traditionally plagued international corporations, the evolution of technologies and the experience gained from transnational operations are also vastly improving these areas and thinning the negative view.

Koreans in California

United States is the land of opportunities. With open society offering freedom and liberty, United States has always been an attractive place for immigrants from through out the world. The influx of people having diverse culture and background in one society on one hand has been benefiting and on the other hand, it has been posing serious problems as well. New people take some time to adjust in new environment. The inter-cultural and ethnic confrontations are major impediments in their growth. But time allows the dust to settle down. Same is the story of Korean immigrants coming to this large hearted country, who began their journey almost hundred years ago. They found tough resistance but had high ambitions. Through their sheer hard work and docile nature, Korean immigrants are now considered as an integral string of US societal fiber. This paper aims at scrutinizing the history of Korean immigrants to United States specially in California, highlighting the start of their journey, problems they encountered, reasons for their coming to America, their present state, current issues faced by them, and their business activities. History of Korean Immigration Koreans are one of the largest, fastest growing Asian groups in the United States. Their immigration to the U.S. started between 1902 and 1905 when a total of 7,200 Koreans arrived in Hawaii as sugar plantation workers (Lee 21). The difficult working conditions on the plantations motivated some Korean Americans to move to the mainland where many continued in agricultural work. Since their initial numbers were limited therefore they did not formed groups and rather stayed fairly dispersed. After the abolishment of the Immigration Act in 1965, large numbers of Koreans, including some from the North that have come via South Korea, have been immigrating ever since, putting Korea in the top five countries of origin of immigrants to the United States since 1975. Initial Problems Faced by Korean Immigrants In the beginning, Koreans experienced the same kinds of discrimination that other Asian groups encountered including being prohibited from attending school with whites in San Francisco, being unable to intermarry with whites (California Anti-Miscegenation Law, 1901) and being unable to own land in California (1913 Alien Land Law). The years from 1910-1940, were particularly difficult for many Korean Americans as they thought of themselves more as exiles than immigrants and felt they were without a country. They had problems in getting jobs, and even were restricted from going to public places (Takaki 10-25). Reasons for Korean Immigrations to US Koreans came to America for a variety of reasons like family reunions, fleeing from military regimes or the threat of war, better employment opportunities, and a good education for their children. Besides that the other reasons for immigration include their desire for increased freedom, especially for women, and the hope for better economic conditions. In short, they came here to realize their own â€Å"American dream.† The Present State of Korean Immigrants Today there are over a million Korean Americans. They have continued their early patterns of not being as concentrated as other Asian groups in particular locations. Currently 44% live in the West, 23% in the Northeast, 19% in the South, and 14% in the Midwest. The state with the largest population is California with 33% of the total; New York is second with 12%. Even in California the population is scattered with only 20% of the Koreans in Southern California living in Koreatown, Los Angeles. Korea town is located about five miles west of City Hall and is roughly bounded by Beverly Boulevard and Pico Boulevard to the north and south and Hoover and Crenshaw on the east and west. In Southern California they own 45% of liquor stores, 46% of small grocery markets, and 45% of one-hour photo shops (Takaki, 40-50). The Current Issue Faced by Korean Immigrants The 1992 Los Angeles incidents have left many marks in the memory of Korean Americans. The Korean community is yet to recover from the aftermath of Rodney King verdicts. Much of the destruction was caused to many Korean markets and businesses which were located in those areas of the inner city (South Central and Korea town) which were burnt down. According to estimates 50% of Korean American property was lost. At that time there was little or no police presence in those areas and Koreans were left at their own. The frustration still continues due to lack of due support of the state, and 40% of the Korean businesses lost have not been able to reopen. The Koreans business in those areas still struggle to fight high rate of crime, violence, and interethnic tension (Hwangbo 1-2). Conclusion Like America, Koreans are tough, resilient, and sincere. They know how to survive through crises. As with most other Asian groups, California is increasingly preferred by new Korean immigrants as a permanent place to settle down. As community, they are peace loving, and they strongly believe in Confucian teaching of family culture. They had tough times in California and faced discriminations, but they stuck to their aim of creating harmony and striving for a better future. They are still confronted with ethnic challenges but are successful in negotiating the problems as and when they arise. Works Cited Hwangbo, Kay. â€Å"Human Dramas in The Their Own Voices.† LA Times, April 4, 1996: 1-2 . Lee, Lauren. Korean Americans. New York: Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 1995. Takaki, Ronald. Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans. NY: Penguin, 1989.

Function and Development Questions on ACT Reading

Function and Development Questions on ACT Reading SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Function questions (also sometimes known as â€Å"meaning in context† questions) make up approximately 20% of all ACT Reading questions (based on my survey of four publicly available ACTs). The ACT Reading will also occasionally have "development" questions, which are sort of like larger-scale versions of function questions (they ask about the structure of the passage or passages). Both function and development questions require you to judge the effect of a phrase in a certain place (as opposed to little picture and vocab in context questions, which are just concerned with meaning). So how do you get asked function questions on the ACT, and what strategies can you use to answer them? Keep on reading to find out! feature image credit: The Thinker by Japanexperterna.se, used under CC BY-SA 2.0/Cropped from original. What Are Function Questions? Function questions are those questions that ask you to describe what the effect is of a phrase, sentence, or paragraph in the context of a passage. The wording of function questions makes them seem as if they are asking â€Å"The author [wrote a thing] in order to†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Figuring out the right answer to these questions can be problematic, because the way function questions are phrased often makes it seem as if they're asking â€Å"Why did the author do this thing?† Unless you're the author, your immediate reaction is probably going to be "How should I know? I'm no psychic!" (unless you are able to read the author's mind, in which case this test just got a whole lot different for you). A better way to answer function questions would be to rephrase them like this: â€Å"What effect does [this thing] have in the context of [the lines, paragraph, or passage]? Regardless of whether or not I am a psychic?† Another name sometimes used for these questions is â€Å"meaning in context,† which is fine†¦except that they’re not exactly asking about meaning. Rather than asking you what a particular phrase MEANS (which would be an inference question), function questions ask â€Å"what does [that phrase] DO† or â€Å"what is the effect of this meaning in context?† For example, let's make up a scenario where the public transportation in my town was basically shut down for two months due to massive amounts of snow, and just as the trains were starting up again on their normal schedule, there was another snowstorm, prompting me to sing (sarcastically) "It's the most wonderful time of the year." The MEANING of the words "most wonderful" in this context would be "worst" (as in "It's the worst time of the year"); the FUNCTION of the words "most wonderful" would be "to suggest that the speaker actually feels the opposite is true." Like primary purpose questions, function questions usually have answer choices in the form of â€Å"verb a noun† (as in "illustrate the narrator's frustration with the city infrastructure" or "convey the joy the narrator felt in the unseasonable snowfall"); the main difference between the two is that function questions ask about relatively small amounts of text (phrases or lines), rather than entire paragraphs (which are asked about with big picture questions). In fact, having a good understanding of the big picture/main point of a passage can often assist you in answering function questions. Take the following example: you're asked "The phraseâ€Å"live and die depending on her whimsy† primarily serves to..." If you know that the main point is, for instance, about desert life, you’re unlikely to assume the phraseâ€Å"live and die depending on her whimsy† illustrates that there is an insane and murderous empress ruling over every desert on Earth. Instead, it's far more likely that the function of the statement is to support the idea that in the desert, even a small change in the amount of rainfall can have drastic effects on desert life. Here are a few examples of the most common ways you’ll see function questions presented on the ACT (adapted from ACTual ACT questions): â€Å"The quotation by Finck and Cranor in lines 32–41 is used in this passage to support the idea that:† â€Å"The author uses the fourth paragraph (lines 27–33) primarily to:† â€Å"The main purpose of the second paragraph (lines 6–18) is to:† â€Å"The main function of lines 64–66 in terms of the eighth paragraph (lines 59–66) as a whole is to:† â€Å"It is reasonable to infer that the primary reason the author included the information in the eleventh paragraph (lines 59–64) is to:† â€Å"In relation to the first paragraph’s earlier description of the nightmare, the narrator’s comments in lines 10–13 primarily serve to:† Sidebar: Development Questions Development questions involve the same skill set as you use for function questions, but generally ask about larger chunks of text. Instead of asking â€Å"what does this paragraph DO,† development questions seems to ask â€Å"what happens in this paragraph?† In order to lower the possibility of interpretation (and more than one correct answer), ACT Reading usually frames development questions as being about the "author's approach. It's a little hard to explain what I mean in the abstract, so here’s an example: Which of the following best describes the author’s approach to presenting the story of the narrator’s discovery about himself? F. Revealing the narrator’s self-awareness about a trait through a blend of personal reflection and scenes from the narrator’s youth and adulthood G. Starting immediately with a statement of the discovery in the narrator’s voice and continuing with scenes that reveal how the discovery came about H. Describing the physical details of scenes and summarizing their significance in a concluding statement in the narrator’s voice J. Using dialogue in the midst of scenes fraught with tension to indicate what the narrator is experiencing internally For paragraphs, it's possible to ask about the function (you can ask â€Å"what’s the main function of this paragraph†), but it's more difficult to do this for entire passages without the questions turning into primary purpose questions. Development questions differ from primary purpose questions because they're not about authorial intent; instead, development questions are closer to the flip side of function questions. If the above example were a function question, rather than a development question, it might go something like this: The author describes the physical details of scenes and summarizes their significance in order to... A. Present the story of the narrator's self-discovery. Compare with answer choice H and the original question: Which of the following best describes the author’s approach to presenting the story of the narrator’s discovery about himself? H. Describing the physical details of scenes and summarizing their significance in a concluding statement in the narrator’s voice Here are other ways I've seen development questions asked on ACT Reading: â€Å"Which of the following best describes the structure of the passage?† â€Å"The narrator develops the third paragraph (lines 19–29) mainly through:† â€Å"In terms of developing the narrative, the last two paragraphs (lines 67–87) primarily serve to:† â€Å"In terms of the passage as a whole, one of the main functions of the third paragraph (lines 13–19) is to suggest that:† Strategies for Conquering ACT Reading Function Questions Some of the advice below works best for certain ways of approaching the passage, while other advice is useful for everyone, regardless of your passage reading strategy. In the end, you should mix and match strategies in a way that works for you - these are just suggestions to help get you started. Understand What The Question Is Really Asking For me, this is the key component needed to consistentIy answer function questions correctly. This isn't to say that you don't need to know what other ACT Reading questions are really asking, of course - it's more that function questions have the weirdest wording. Often, it seems like you need to read the mind of the author (or character) in order to answer these questions. I can understand why the ACT words the questions the way they do: questions that say â€Å"What does the mentioning of the two events listed in lines 77-79 do† are too open to interpretation, while questions like â€Å"The author uses the events listed in lines 77–79 primarily to" can only have one right answer. Understanding the motivation behind the wording doesn't make the wording any less confusing at first glance, though. So what's the best way to grapple with the wording of function questions? Learn to translate the questions into ones that are actually answerable (i.e. that don't require mind-reading abilities). Here's a sample function question: The author most likely includes the information in lines 53–57 to suggest: Wrong way to rephrase it: Why does the author include the information in lines 53-57? The answer to this question (unless you know the author and/or can read minds) will probably be along the lines of "Because it was his birthday? Because he felt like it? I have no idea." Right way to rephrase it: What does the information in lines 53-57 suggest/do? This is a question that can be answered (in this case, the information in lines 53-57 illustrates Armstrong’s highly developed skills.). Corollary: Answer In Your Own Words For most questions on ACT Reading, it's helpful to come up with the answer in your own words before you look at the answer choices. This strategy is particularly helpful with function questions because the answer choices for these questions tend to be complex, and so coming up with your own answer before looking at the answer choices can help prevent you from getting confused. True, your answer for â€Å"what best describes the transition the author presents in lines 80-84† will probably not be as nicely as the correct answer choice. However, the answer choice you come up with should only include relevant and accurate information, while the wrong answers may have irrelevant information or interpretations that â€Å"COULD be true, I guess." Why do the wrong answer choices include wrong or irrelevant information? Because this is one of the ways ACT Reading tries to trick you – the people writing the questions know that you’re used to trying to see things from multiple perspectives as part of school (which is ordinarily a good thing), when in fact there is only ONE right answer on the ACT. Figuring out the answer in your own words forst, then, makes it a lot easier to find that one correct answer. But how do you find the function of a phrase, line, or sentence in a passage in the first place? Question mark by the Italian voice, used under CC BY 2.0. Look For Context On ACT Reading, sometimes questions give you the specific lines where the information being asked about is located, which is nice (since the passages are so long). Alas, for function questions, the lines that the question gives you are not necessarily the only lines you’ll need to answer the question - sometimes, you just need more context. If you’re having trouble answering a function question, your best bet is to take a look at the sentences before and after the phrase/sentence/lines you’re given in the question and see if that helps make it clearer. On occasion, though, it may end up that you need even more context to answer a particular function question (like knowing the bigger picture/main point/perspective of the text/author). In these cases, if you don't already know that context and are having difficult answering the question, mark it and come back to it after you’ve answered the relevant big picture questions (questions about the paragraph/section the lines in question are in, or even questions about the whole passage). Answer Questions In The Order That Works For You This is a strategy that depends heavily on how you read the passage. You may also decide that this strategy works well for certain passage types better than others. For instance, you might be able to get away with looking at the questions first and skipping around Natural Science passages, but feel like you need to read Prose Fiction passages all the way through before you start answering questions. Basically, don't lock yourself into one way of doing things. That being said, if you read thoroughly first, then answer questions, I really recommend answering big picture questions first, then function and inference questions. It's better to answer questions about larger amounts of text while that text is still fresh in your mind, and starting out with big picture questions first might also give you information/context that is useful when it comes to answering the function questions. If you read quickly enough that you can read all the passages thoroughly and have still have plenty of time to answer the questions, just answering the questions in order is certainly a valid choice, because it lowers the chance that you'll accidentally fill in an answer in the wrong place or miss a question. Because there is so much text to get through on ACT Reading, however, I do not recommend the "read everything through" strategy (and yes, this is coming from someone who reads 60-100 pages/hour). If you start out by reading through all the questions, then going back to the passage, I recommend starting with little picture and vocab in context questions before getting to function questions. The answer to these more focused questions provide you with information about the author and topic being covered, which can assist you in answering function questions; if you do end up needing to know the big picture in order to answer a particular function question, you can always circle it and come back to it later. If you skim through first, then questions, then back to passage, it's best to answer both big and little picture questions before getting to function questions. Why? Well, unless the phrase, sentence, or lines being asked about were in part of the passage you read during your skim (at the beginning or end of a paragraph or passage), you probably didn’t read the necessary information during your skimming. If you're going to skim, you might as well make the most of it by answering questions that would be better served with a quick skim (questions about the passage as a whole and questions about specific details you might have mapped during your skimming). Eliminate Answers The fundamental rule for ACT Reading is that you must eliminate 3 wrong answers. For function questions, the answer choices are often complex, which can make eliminating just one answer choice seem daunting. After all, how can you figure out if the answer is right when there are so many parts of it to check? First of all, if you've successfully answered the question in your own words, you might not even have to worry about eliminating answers – only one answer choice should match yours. If it does turn out you need to eliminate answers, however, you're in luck - complicated answers are actually easier to eliminate, because if any part of the answer choice does not match with the passage, then you can cross it out. Example: Which of the following best describes the structure of the passage? A. A dialogue between two people in which both relate their dreams in an almost equal amount of detail B. An account of the narrator’s perspective on the woman revealed primarily through the narrator’s report of their conversations C. A character sketch of two people as related by a narrator who knows both of them and their thoughts D. A detailed narration of several of the narrator’s dreams accompanied by a description of the woman’s reactions to them Let's say you think the answer is probably B, an account of the narrator’s perspective on the woman revealed primarily through the narrator’s report of their conversations.In order for that to be true, it must pass the following obstacles: Is it an account of the narrator’s perspective? If not, ELIMINATE Is it about the narrator’s perspective of â€Å"the woman†? If not, ELIMINATE Is the information revealed primarily through the narrator’s report (or someone else’s)? If not, ELIMINATE Is the report of their conversations? If not, ELIMINATE As you can see, there are many chances for elimination as you consider the answer choices. For this question, the correct answer, B, passes this test: yes, it is an account of the narrator’s perspective on the woman, and it is revealed primarily through the narrator’s report, which is about their conversations. Function Questions: A Demonstration And now, before I leave you to your practice questions, a full breakdown of answering a function question on ACT Reading. First, the question: The main function of lines 64–66 in terms of the eighth paragraph (lines 59–66) as a whole is to: F. give a sense of proportion to the numbers provided earlier in the paragraph. G. point out the limitations of the evidence provided by the Iowa scientists. H. supplement the paragraph’ s description of the comets with additional details about their size and capacity. J. provide readers with a sense of how old the planet really is. Before I even take a look at the lines (and the paragraph) cited in the question, I’m going to rephrase this question in a way that is answerable: What effect do lines 64-66 have in the 8th paragraph? ...Well, that wasn’t as drastic a change as I expected. Oh well. Time to take a look at the paragraph! Based on their images, the Iowa scientists estimated 20 comets an hour- each about 30 feet or so across and carrying 100 tons of water- were bombarding the Earth. At that rate, they would produce water vapor that would add about an inch of water to the planet every 10,000 years, Frank concluded. That may not seem like much, but when talking about a planet billions of years old, it adds up. Out of this paragraph, here are lines 64-66 (since they don’t specify that you should begin at the beginning of the sentence, I’m including all of line 64 in all its glory): planet every 10,000 years, Frank concluded. That may not seem like much, but when talking about a planet billions of years old, it adds up. My first thoughts: So what do lines 64-66 say? Basically that while the information given doesn’t seem impressive on its own, it actually is when considered over a long period of time. What does that do in terms of the paragraph as a whole? Well, what does the paragraph look like without those lines? Based on their images, the Iowa scientists estimated 20 comets an hour- each about 30 feet or so across and carrying 100 tons of water- were bombarding the Earth. At that rate, they would produce water vapor that would add about an inch of water to the It’s basically just giving information about tiny comets hitting the Earth (with water). If you don’t have lines 64-66, you don’t get the sense that this creates a significant amount of water over time, so the function of those lines is to put the amount of water the comets could have brought to Earth into perspective, I guess. I’ve reworded the question to make it easier to answer and answered in my own words considering the context of the paragraph. Next: eliminating answers. The main function of lines 64–66 in terms of the eighth paragraph (lines 59–66) as a whole is to: F. give a sense of proportion to the numbers provided earlier in the paragraph. Yeah, that seems right – my answer was that those lines â€Å"put the amount of water the comets could have brought to Earth into perspective,† which matches up pretty well with that answer. Let’s just look over the rest of the answers to double check†¦ The main function of lines 64–66 in terms of the eighth paragraph (lines 59–66) as a whole is to: G. point out the limitations of the evidence provided by the Iowa scientists. No, no limitations are pointed out. In fact, lines 64-66 actually bring the information from the first part of the paragraph into a larger context. ELIMINATE. The main function of lines 64–66 in terms of the eighth paragraph (lines 59–66) as a whole is to: H. supplement the paragraph’s description of the comets with additional details about their size and capacity. Hmm†¦it has additional details, but it’s not about the size of the comets at all, so even if capacity is somewhat related (because of the amount of water they could add to the Earth) this answer must be ELIMINATED. The main function of lines 64–66 in terms of the eighth paragraph (lines 59–66) as a whole is to: J. provide readers with a sense of how old the planet really is. I mean, the age of the planet is sort of mentioned (billions of years old), but there’s nothing in lines 64-66 that provide â€Å"a sense of how old the planet really is.† I guess you could try to twist this answer so it works, except F already is a clear answer choice because this question is asking about the MAIN function. So even if A function is that you get a sense of how old the planet is, it’s not the main function. ELIMINATE. The correct answer is F. Comet activity, 21 June by European Space Agency, used under CC BY-SA 2.0/Cropped from original. Function Questions: Your Turn To Practice! The following questions are all on the same passage, taken from an official (and currently public and free) ACT: 1. The main purpose of the last paragraph is to: A. reveal the enduring impact of Mr. Marsh’s lessons on the author. B. acknowledge that the author came to doubt some of Mr. Marsh’s teachings. C. describe a typical class as taught by Mr. Marsh. D. present a biographical sketch of Mr. Marsh. 2. The author mentions Melody Maker, the top 20, and articles about musicians primarily to suggest that his: A. early interest in music has remained with him to the present. B. time spent playing music should instead have been spent reading. C. fascination with pop music and musicians gave focus to his life for a time. D. commitment to study enabled him to perfect his drumming technique. 3. Viewed in the context of the passage, the statement in lines 55–56 is most likely intended to suggest that: A. schools should require students to take philosophy courses. B. students can become passionate when learning about science in school. C. schools need to keep searching for ways to tap into students’ deeply held interests. D. students should resolve to take school courses that interest them. 4. The author calls pen and paper â€Å"rudimentary tools† (line 80) as part of his argument that: F. the use of computers has made the use of pen and paper obsolete. G. students should become skilled with pen and paper before moving on to better tools. H. while writing with pen and paper can be pleasant, it can also be physically painful. I. although seemingly simple, pen and paper allow people to perform great feats. Answer key (scroll down when ready): 1. A 2. C 3. C 4. J In Conclusion Function questions on ACT Reading ask you â€Å"what effect does this [phrase, sentence, or series of lines] have, in context,† or, more simply put, â€Å"what does this [phrase, sentence, or series of lines] DO?† Development questions involve the reverse of function questions and ask "What is the structure of this passage/paragraph?" The most important part of answering function questions correctly is making sure you understand what the question is asking. Answer the question in your own words before looking at the ACT’s answer choices. If the lines cited in the question don't provide enough context, look to the surrounding sentences. Depending on your passage reading approach, you may wish to answer function questions after answering other types of questions first. Eliminate three wrong answers What’s Next? Want more practice with real ACT questions? Go to our guide and find links to free ACTs and information about what other official tests are out there. Interested in more ACT Reading skills articles like this one? We’ve got a whole series of articles that cover each ACT Reading skill - be sure to read my articles on main point, little picture, vocab in context, inference, and paired passage questions. Not sure how to finish all 40 questions on ACT Reading without running out of time? Learn about the three different ways to approach the passage on the ACT and figure out what works for you. Are these articles all very well and good, but you need more structured help to reach your ACT goal? Then why not try out our very own PrepScholar test prep platform FREE for five days? Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Reading lesson, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands ofpractice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Globalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Globalization - Essay Example Globalization as a phenomenon requires the imposition of certain types of values and traits which are mostly Western in their orientation. Such outcome therefore results into the diminishing of the local values and thus gradually erodes the local culture and replaces it with more modern Westernize culture. Appiah’s arguments therefore of relatively more important considering the fact that the systematic overhaul of the different social values may further result into discernment for globalization rather than generating a widespread acceptance for it. The universalization of the values under globalization therefore can create significant resistance to the same despite the fact that globalization can actually result into the transfer of economic and technological benefits for the developing countries. (Jameson and Miyoshi). Appiah’s arguments therefore are more critical considering the fact that globalization may adversely affect the local cultures and superimpose other cu ltures on local cultures thus creating so called moral disagreement between developed and developing countries. This moral disagreement therefore can result into the clash of civilization and globalization as a whole may fail to provide the desired results. It is also critical to understand therefore that in order to make globalization a successful process and phenomenon, it is critical to understand that globalization must support or allow local cultures and civilizations to grow with the global culture also. The mismatch between the two may create the critical differences between the nations and cultures and thus forcing globalization to fail to provide the desired results to the less developing countries. Foer’s arguments however, offer a deep and practical aspect of how globalization actually failed to erode the local culture. Considering the example of soccer, Foer presents the argument that the local culture associated with the global game of soccer has not changed over the period of time despite the fact that global clubs such as Manchester United and Real Madrid are considered as global icons being followed across the globe. The critical difference between the arguments of both the authors therefore provides a rare glimpse of the possible and concrete differences between theory and practice. Appiah’s arguments are more theoretical in nature suggesting the normative aspects of globalization and how this may result into the overcoming of the local culture through universalization of culture. Foer on the other hand however, has offered a different opinion regarding the failure of the globalization to actually overcome the local culture in its real settings thus potentially failed to achieve its intended aims. Foer believed that the soccer and the culture associated with it is actually a deep impression of the generations of the individuals who carried forward the tradition from generation to generation. However, soccer is also considered as anti-American because it is perhaps the only non-American trend which is dominating the world and which has remained purged from the increasing power of America and its value systems. In fact Soccer is seen as a threat in America because of its resilience to maintain its local cultural orientation. Western values therefore have failed to dampen the real spirit of soccer despite the fact that the sport as a whole has become more commercialized over the period

Chinese American discussion homework Research Paper

Chinese American discussion homework - Research Paper Example Due to their racial affiliation, they are discriminated by the Whites. The diversity of culture of the Asian Americans is also an issue especially when they mingle with their White counterparts. Education attainment will also be an issue as the gap between the races is difficult to be narrowed. Friedersdorf indicates that for the previous twenty years, the number of Asians scooping the top most academic awards in the California Institute of Technology has escalated and most of them have been named semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarships (1). Nonetheless, the performance of the Chinese is exemplary regardless of the challenges they meet due to their racial affiliation. They performed well at school as they were forced to study both during daytime and nighttime by their parents in order to be at par with their White counterparts. The fact that the Chinese Americans are undermined based on their race, makes them more motivated to study harder and attain their grades based on merit and diligence (Zakaria 1). Friedersdorf, Conor. â€Å"Is the Ivy League Fair to Asian Americans?† The Atlantic, 21st Dec, 2012. Web. 16 May 2014.