The effects of white privilege on the black body - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2323 Downloads: 9 Date added: 2019/07/30 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: White Privilege Essay Did you like this example? Evaluation of sources: Source A Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The effects of white privilege on the black body" essay for you Create order Origins: Source A is a primary source and was published online on the 12th of February 2017, on News 24 by City Press which is a well-known media, news outlet in South Africa under a journalist\writer by the name Theo Mapheto who is a youth activist and attorney based in Johannesburg, under the guest column. The purpose of this piece is to express the effect of white privilege on the black body more so society of South Africa. Validity\usefulness: the article contains the element of bias making it clear the writer has a anti-white and anti-white privilege view.as seen by its use of emotive language and the fact that it seems the writer is emotionally invested into the topic\article, rub salt into the wound. but once the reader of the article strips away the bias of the article the reader is able to see the article shows what power white privilege has and how it is utilized unconsciously by a white individual. The source furthermore points out white privilege is still at play in the South Africa society and the affects it has on the black body. The source is furthermore useful as it gives us (the readers) a situation in which we can now expect white privilege to show its nature and we can also link it to personal experiences and now finally put a label on it. Reliability: the sources reliability is questionable since it was written under the guest column meaning that it could to an extent be the opinion of a random individual and not of an actual journalist who performed research before writing this article. Apart from that elements of bias and generalization being sited throughout the article on a sense of justification of a single incident. The source is reliable for the purpose of illustrating the emotional views of black citizens in South Africans as well as the strength of white privilege on a deeper level on a black body. Limitations: the article is very limited as it not only tells one side of the story and does not seem to unpack the entire story from all perspectives. But as well as it is bias allowing for the reader to question the intention of the writer form being to inform to painting their opinion on the matter as fact. It furthermore accounts for a single incident as uses this as justification for generalization and blaming white privilege and the government for all that is wrong in South Africa. Source B Origins: Source B is a primary source by an anonymous writer who then published it on News 24 a well know online media outlet on the 12th of October 2017. Under the guest column. The purpose of this source is to show that it is possible for a white individual to acknowledge they are privileged and try getting others to acknowledge it as well. Validity\usefulness: the source is valid as firstly it doesnt contain an element of bias and more so gives us the point of view of a aware white person (aware in the sense they know they are at an advantage because of white privilege), furthermore the source goes on to explain the concept of privilege being an advantage bestowed to a set person or people even in explaining as to why in the case of white privilege black people carry anger towards white people. The source goes onto explains a solution that could be implemented by white people that would need them to be mindful of their white privilege and admit that they are beneficiaries of white privilege the source is also of value in showing it is possible for a white individual to see that they are privileged and to try solve it as an issue allowing for hope that more white people are out there and they too have acknowledged white privilege meaning that even more can as well. Reliability: the source is reliable in conveying a message of blacks need to realize whites did not ask to be privileged more so whites need to understand and admit they are privileged and either limit its effects on personal gain or try sharing its power. Limitations: the article goes on to discuss black people as being angry due to a single thing and it being white people are privileged and thats not the case or only factor as there are multiple such as inequality, or lack of employment. A further limitation is the solution given of whites being mindful but that can not be a viable solutiona proper reliable solution because it would be hard for such to be done if they are unconscious or ignorant about the privilege in the first place. Source C Origins: Source C is a primary source and was published online on a website called The Daily Vox. On the 1st of February 2017. Written by the name Lisa Golden a freelance journalist who is based in Johannesburg the purpose of this piece is to show white privilege is a poison to the white community and its time they remove it. Validity\Usefulness: the article is useful as it gives an account of a white individual who goes on to acknowledge that they are privilege and that white privilege exists in South Africa the author firstly gives out her experiences of encountering white privilege then goes on to explain the white community is to fix itself and rid this privilege as it is corrupting them. She went on further to describe how blacks are treated in this single case (of the woman working behind the patisserie counter being given a white tantrum).this piece is useful for the purpose of providing a personal account of white privilege and its being used on black individual and even a white individual as well. The source also shows us how corrupting this privilege is towards the white body. As it was thought that whites treat one another better than they treat black people by for the source to account for the women in the store to attack Lisa the white writer as well just shows white privilege has negative ef fects to both black and white people. Reliability: the source is written by a Lisa a white individual who lives in South Africa. She furthermore went on to discuss how white privilege exists and also needs to be challenged. The writer seems emotionally invested in the article but does not turn this into bias instead keeps her article very subjective which furthermore adds to the reliability of the source in showing that white privilege is still in play in South Africa, the article is furthermore written by a South African journalist, who lives within South Africa this assists in assuring the article is reliable and her article has been published on multiple trustworthy websites including Medium.com. The source furthermore according to what was written seems to have been written a day after the incident at Woolworths occurred meaning that everything was still there in detail in the writers mind Limitations: the source is limited as it does not contextualize the situation around white privilege. Yes it gives a single account but thats the issue the writer then tries to use this single event they witnessed as a means to substantiate her conclusion that white privilege has poisoned the white community. It does not explore the effects of white privilege on society nor does it actually give a proper representation of its effects. Source D Origins: Source D is a primary source and was published online on website called Tolerance under a writer by the name Jennifer R. Holladay and is a passage from White Anti-Racist Activism, which is a book published in the US (United States of America) and furthermore discusses white privilege as well as racism and gives us views on its advantages and affects in society. The purpose of this source is to explain the concepts of white privilege and racism and furthermore give out a way to try eradicate and solve them. Validity\Usefulness: the extract is of value as a primary source. It gives out accounts of the writer relating to the topic of white privilege and even racism and goes into depth on racism and white privilege and even goes on to list multiple examples of the advantages of being a recipient of white privilege. The source is valid and of value in explaining where this two concepts manifest Reliability: the source is reliable as it is firstly an extract from a book and has been published on multiple websites, secondly the article is reliable in discussing whit privilege and racism to full lengths Limitations: however the article fails at specifically analyzing white privilege in South Africa, the article mainly deals with racism and white privilege in USA, nowhere does it actually go in detail about White South Africans furthermore their counterparts neither does it give a proper concrete solution to help deal with these issues instead talks of initiating classes where the home language is diversified. Source E Origins: Source E is a primary source, published online by Zimbabwean born Jo Jackson and even furthered her studies in France and basically traveled the world, on the platform Matador network on the 7th of November 2017, the purpose of the article is to enlighten people on whats happening in South Africa in relation with white privilege, and to try and get those who are privileged to acknowledge they are and even attempt to get them to give it up as in means to working towards a equal society. Validity\Usefulness: the article is valid as a primary source, and of value because the writer goes on to give full examples on her experiences on how black people are made to basically live their lives due to white privilege, and how white privilege has basically resulted in white lives being firstly more successful, then living a much more easier life than black people and how we fail to see death as death as we value others more because they are white deaths, it even goes on to the point to compare South Africa and the rest of the world in the sense of the effect\damage of white privilege and how different we are to the rest of the world . Even more so the article is valid in showing us that white privilege still exists in South Africa and she the writer goes on to give multiple accounts for it. Reliability: the source is reliable for the purpose of illustrating an accurate painting of how life is in South Africa for black people, with the taxi example and explaining how they value cleanliness to the extent where one would struggle in pointing out where do the passengers in the taxi live as they all look like members of the middle class at that time majority of them are made up of the lower class. The source itself is useful as a primary source as it gives an actual account of the experiences\encounters of the writer with white privilege compared to secondary sources that may only describe the degrees of privilege thus not allowing for readers to see for themselves and analyze the source correctly. The source is bias due to it taking an anti- white privilege stance by only giving a black view of the issue showing a clear favorite. Limitations: the source is limited, as it only shows and explains the writers personal experiences and opinion, it does not fully explain the situation around white privilege as in it only takes the concept from one side the black peoples perspective and how they view everything. There is a lack in white representation well the white peoples point of view on this topic. Source F Origins: Source F is a secondary source, published online by a unknown writer who is a blogger, on the platform WordPress, the purpose of the article is to express the authors opinion on the topic of privilege and the types and their effects, as well as to provide knowledge to people on what is white privilege and why it should be dismantled Validity\Usefulness: the source is valid and of value as it serves its propose of explaining privilege and white privilege. Furthermore the anonymous writer is a white person further adding credibility to the topic of white privilege. The article then talks of how privilege is created and how it creates norms and frameworks in society and how the unprivileged bunch need to work to make their riches by following these frame works, more credibility is added on by the fact the writer went on to say the article is not yet complete as more research is being complied showing that this a extremely objective paper which will further get better with more substance. It goes on to quote from a book\essay where it gives examples of white privilege. He does go on to explain possible solutions to white privilege. Reliability: the reliability of the source can be questioned because firstly the author does not reveal anything about himself not his name, of place of birth, or where he currently resides, all we know is that his a blogger and share his opinion in his work but also said he edits his work if or once he gains more insight on the topic at hand therefore telling us the article is not yet complete and will soon be altered once he gets new or relevant information on the topic of privilege. But as for the article itself it is reliable for the purpose of clearly deconstructing the concept of white privilege and explaining it Limitations: the article is limited as since its written by a white writer about white privilege it fails to add in the black aspect of how black people feel about the concept and how the concept affects them on the daily.

Essay on The Origins Of Our Species - 1945 Words

The latest discovery of a fossil skull in Kenya, more than three million years old, once again demonstrates the complex evolution of humankind. The following article examines the evidence and sees how it fits into the ideas of human origin formulated by Frederick Engels more than 100 years ago. quot;There is a grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.quot; (Charles Darwin, The Origin of the Species, pp. 459-60, Penguin 1985.) The latest discoveries in paleontology†¦show more content†¦It is understood that, as with the Australopithecus, the Kenyanthropus also walked upright. The emergence of these bipedal apes was a revolutionary breakthrough in human evolution. What forced these creatures in this direction is likely to have been the climatic changes that swept through the African continent some fifteen million years ago. The transformed geography, driven by the separation of two tectonic plates, running from the Red Sea in the north through Mozambique in the south, saw faulting and uplifting of mountains and the creation of the Great Rift Valley. This transformation caused the forests to shrink and fragment, creating radical changes to the habitat of the ape populations. quot;The land to the east of the valley was no place for apes, with its forests rapidly disappearing as rainfall levels diminishedquot;, states Richard Leakey and Roger Lewin. quot;One very persuasive theory for the origin of bipedalism, the feature that established the human family, is that it was an adaptation for more efficient locomotion between widely distributed food sources. 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California DMV Written Test Free Essays

California DMV written test #1 1 . It is illegal for a person 21years of age or older to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (bac) that is or higher. a. We will write a custom essay sample on California DMV Written Test or any similar topic only for you Order Now 0. 08%- Eight hundredths of one percent 2. You must notify DMV within 5 days if you: a. Sell or transfer your vehicle. 3. Highways are typically most slippery: a. When it first starts to rain after a dry spell. 4. A police officer is signaling you to continue driving through a red traffic light. What should you do? a. Do as the officer tells you 5. When planning to pass another vehicle you should: a. Not count on other drivers making room for you. 6. What is the difference between traffic lights with red arrows and those with solid red lights a. You cannot turn on a red arrow, even if you stop first. 7. Which of the following increases your chances of having a collision? a. Continually changing lanes to pass other vehicles. 8. Which of these statements about drugs and driving is true a. Even over-the- counter drugs can impair your driving. 9. You should allow more space in front of your vehicle when following large trucks because: a. You need the extra room to see around the truck. 10. You may cross double yellow lines to pass another vehicle if the: a. Yellow line next to your side of the road is broken. 11. You must use your seat belt: a. And failure to do so will result in a traffic ticket. 12. Which of these statements is true about road work zones? a. You must â€Å"slow for the cone zone†.. 13. Animals may be transported in the back of a pickup truck only if: a. They are properly secured 14. If you drive slower than the flow of traffic, you will most likely: a. Interfere with traffic and receive a ticket. 15. When changing lanes on a freeway, you should: a. Signal for at least five seconds. 16. You want to pass a bicyclist riding on the tight edge of your lane. You: a. Must not squeeze past the bicyclist. 17. At intersection, crosswalks, and railroad crossings, you should always: a. Look to the sides of your vehicle. 18. You want to turn left ahead. In the middle of the road there is a lane marked as shown. You must. a. Merge completely into this lane before you make your left turn. 19. This yellow sign means: a. Merging traffic ahead. 20. You are driving on a city street and see an emergency vehicle with flashing lights behind you. What should you do? a. Drive to the edge of the road and stop. 21 . which statement is true about motorcyclists and motorists a. otorcyclists he same rights/responsibilities as other motorists 22. When making a right turn from a highway with two lanes in your direction, you may turn from. a. The lane nearest the curb or edge of the road. 23. Which of these vehicles must stop before crossing railroad tracks? a. Tank truck marked with hazardous materials placards. 24. If you have trouble seeing other vehicles beca use dust or smoke blowing across the roadway, you should drive slower and turn on your: a. Headlights 25. Large trucks turning right onto a street with two lanes in each direction: a. Often have to use part of the left lane to complete the turn. . You should not start across an intersection if you know you will block the intersection when the lights turn red: a. Under any circumstances. 27. Pedestrians crossing at corners have the right-of-way: a. Whether or not a crosswalk is marked. 28. Which of the following will help you avoid being hit from behind? a. Decreasing your following distance. 29. You want to make a right turn at the corner. A pedestrian with a guide dog is at the corner ready to cross the street in front of you. Before making your right turn, you should: a. Wait until the person crosses the street. 30. Smoking inside a vehicle when a person younger than 18 years of age is present is: a. Illegal at all times. 31 . You must file a report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR 1) with DMV within 10 days if you: a. Are in a collision that causes $750 in damage. 32. When is it legal to use a cell phone without a hands-free device while driving? a. When making a call for emergency assistance. 33. This white sign means: a. Stay in the right lane if you are driving slower than other traffic. 34. You should use your horn when: a. It may help prevent a collision. 35. You are driving on a one-way street. You may turn left onto another one-way street: a. If traffic on the street is moving to the left. 36. At dawn or dusk, or in rain or snow, it can be hard to see and be seen. A good way to let other drivers know you are there is to turn: a. On your headlights. -rest 1. You must notify DMV within 5 days if you: 2. It is illegal for a person 21years of age or older to drive with a blood alcohol 3. You are driving on a five-lane freeway in the lane closest to the center divider. To exit the freeway on the right you should a. Change lanes one at a time until you are in the proper lane. 4 A large truck is driving in the middle ot three lanes. You want to pass the large truck. It is the best to pass: a. Quickly on the left and move ahead of it. 5. You are driving on a divided street with multiple lanes in your direction if you need to make a U-turn, where should you start? a. In the left lane. 6. When you are in a dedicated turn lane controlled by a green arrow, which of the following is true? a. All oncoming vehicles and pedestrians are stopped by red light. 7. Always look carefully for motorcycles before you make a turn because: a. Their smaller size makes them harder to see. 8. When looking ahead of your vehicle while driving, you should: a. Scan your surroundings. 9. Unless otherwise posted, the speed limit in a residential or business district is: a. 25mph 10. There is one lane in your direction and the vehicle ahead of you often slows down for no apparent reason. In this situation you should: a. Increase the following distance between you and the other vehicle. 11. If an oncoming vehicle has started to turn left in front of you: a. Slow or stop to prevent a collision. 12. You should usually drive your vehicle more carefully when you: a. Are near schools, playgrounds, and in residential areas. . This yellow sign means: a. Divided highway ahead. 14. Do not cross double solid yellow lines in the center of the roadway to: a. Pass another vehicle. 15. Where should you stop your vehicle if there is no crosswalk or limit line? a. At the corner. 16. You are approaching an intersection. The traffic signal light is flashing red. What should you do? a. Stop before entering, then proceed when safe. 17. which statement is true about motorcyclists and motorists a. motorcyclists have the same rights/responsibilities as other motorists 18. Use your high-beam headlights at night: a. Whenever it is legal and safe. How to cite California DMV Written Test, Papers

Importance of Auditor’s Independence and Professional Skepticism

Question: What is Importance of Auditors Independence and Professional Skepticism? Answer: Introduction The present report specifies the importance of independence and professional scepticism while planning and conducting an audit of an organisation. It is necessary that sufficient appropriate evidence should be attained by auditor so that a fair opinion can be presented relating to financial statements. The main objective of the external auditor is to apply professional standards conducting an audit and the same adhere the call for the appropriate application of professional scepticism and independence for the formation of appropriate opinion on the financial statement (Rahman, Moniruzzaman and Sharif, 2013). Scepticism is a required attitude for enhancing the auditors ability in exercising professional judgment is ascertaining and responding to circumstances which indicate the possibility of material misstatements in financial statements. Further potential threats relating to same have also been discussed in the report with appropriate safeguards relating to them. Literature review The importance of independent audit is heightened as the same increase the degree of user confidence in financial statements and other documents. Various organisations have to face difficult economic conditions which give rise to financial reporting challenges like the existence of going concern assumption, evaluation of fair value and policies adopted for selecting appropriate accounting policies for the preparation of financial statements (Nickell and Roberts, 2014). Australian Securities and Investment Commission have also presented concern regarding the application of professional scepticism in auditing. In order to enact a measure of appropriate scepticism it is necessary that there must be enough understanding of concepts and the factors which underlie at different structural levels which influence it. U.S. and international standard stress on questioning the critical assessment of audit evidence and a varied interpretation are available relating to it. The factors which enhance the application of appropriate professional scepticism assist organisation in avoiding alleged audit deficiencies. It has been analysed that unless all the parties completely understand all the factors which affect the professional scepticism; the solutions will be not to assess completely for the same and cost would overweighs benefit. For the purpose of enhancing the application of proposed solutions must consider the manner in which it affects each structural level and mitigates factors which are already in place (Libby and Emmett, 2014). External auditors already know the responsibility relating to appropriate professional scepticism throughout the audit. Auditors independence requires a free state of mind which permits the provision of opinion not being influenced or compromise the professional judgment and allow the allow the auditor to take a decision with integrity, objectivity and professional scepticism. The International Federation of Accountants has specified a framework of principles which provide assurance to team members, and it used for identifying threat for independence and measuring the significance of that threat. In case the threat is clearly insignificant and in such state, then safeguards are being applied for reducing them to an acceptable level such that independence of appearance, as well as the independence of mind, is not compromised. Auditors Independence Auditors independence requires independence of mind as well as the independence of appearance. In accordance with the Singapore Standard on Auditing (SSA) Auditor is allow to act with integrity and exercise professional scepticism while conducting and planning audit. Independence of appearance means the state of mind which allow the auditor to provide opinion without being affected or compromise in terms of professional judgment is known as the independence of mind (Soliman and Ragab, 2014). This standard ensures that all facts and circumstances are avoided; knowledge is availed from third parties while forming an opinion or conducting an audit. Independence word itself lead to suppose that professional judgment is to be applied and the same ought to be free from all the economic, financial and other relationships. The same was concluded in a matter of Rosenberg Rich Baher Berman Co. et at and SEC Administrative Proceeding Release no. 34-69767,2013 that auditor independence is viola ted in case he provides prohibited non-audit services. Further in the case of LIAN BENG: DECONSTRUCTING REMUNERATION same judgment was provided. In this case intense scrutiny has been done by the Singapore Exchange (SGX), as well as experts. Auditor independence plays a pivotal role in providing unbiased and honest professional judgment which is the primary duty of auditor. It has been observed that doubt is expressed relating to the independence of the external auditor (Knechel and Salterio, 2016). At the same time, it is being argued that it is very necessary that corporate governance measures are in place for an auditor to providing an appropriate opinion regarding financial statements. In the case of Total Wealth Management Inc, SEC Administrative Proceeding, 2014 WL 3401161 it was concluded that auditor does not provide an independent opinion in case he assesses his own work. The significance of economic, financial and other relations are evaluated after considering the informa tion received from third parties and at the same can be attained only if independence is provided to the auditor. Professional Skepticism Professional scepticism can be said as an attitude for being alert for the circumstances which might indicate possible misstatements or contradict with available audit evidence. As per provisions of SSA 200 the independence of auditor is important so that the opinion which is formed on financial statements is not influenced by any relationship between them. Professional scepticism is important for enhancing the effectiveness of audit procedure. Study of Ikechukwu (2013) shows that the same decreases the possibility of selecting inappropriate audit procedures, misapplication of inappropriate audit procedures; neglecting unusual transactions and misconstruing audit results. It provides assistance in taking a decision relating to nature, timing and selection of audit procedures; ascertains and evaluating sufficient appropriate evidence; assessing the managements results as well as judgment and concluding the base which is to be formed for the purpose of attaining audit evidence. Profess ional scepticism required to be applied at every level that is engagement level, planning and conducting an audit and forming an opinion on financial statements (Ikechukwu, 2013). In the case of James T Adams, CPA SEC Administrative Proceeding it was concluded that individual auditor and associate company is treated as one entity and as in this professional scepticism was not applied the same was concluded that auditors independent is impaired, and the penalty was charge from the claimant. At engagement level, it is necessary for ascertaining the integrity of owners as well as management. With this case, regulations regarding professional scepticism has been rigid for auditors as well as companies. Application of professional scepticism ascertains as well as assesses the risk of material misstatement and the same is done through performing risk assessment procedures and evaluating assessment of risk through modification of audit procedures. Same has been violated in the case of Wal- Mart and News Corp, FCPA due to which modification in regulation has been made. Analysis of potential threat to independence and Professional skepticism in planning and performing in audit A variety of threats have been recognised relating to auditor independence and professional scepticism such as self-interest threat; familiarity threat; self-review threat; intimidation threat; advocacy threat and the same have been specified with their safeguard: Self- Interest Threat: In case auditor is financially dependent on the audit client or in case he is closely associated with him due to any other interest; in that situations, circumstances exist for self-interest threat. The risk relating to this threat can be mitigated by making understand management the importance of auditors independence and its role in the formation of opinion (Tassadaq and Malik, 2015). Familiarity Threat: This threat exists when there is a relationship between auditor and the client or in case the auditor provides advice or acts in a management The safeguard that should be applied are: an independent individual can be appointed for overviewing the work and providing suggestion so that in case any material misstatement exist the same can be lowered to an acceptable level (Contessotto and Moroney, 2014). The same threat arose in the case of Scott London, CPA,SEC, 2013 in which partner provided inside information to his friend in exchange for jewellery and cash , and it was concluded that independence rules had been violated and audit is not done independently. Self Review Threat: This specific threat arises in circumstances when the auditor has to audit work done by a member of his audit team, colleague or partner. As a threat of biases arises in these situations that the transaction would have been entered appropriately or the work has been assessed in an appropriate manner, and no material misstatement exists (Weiss, 2014). For mitigating the risk relating to same threat independence issue should be discussed with management including audit committee so that the same is made available to the auditor and appropriate opinion is formed by the auditor. Another method which can be applied is a review of the accounts by a qualified and independent individual so that it can be appropriately assessed that whether any material misstatement exists or not. Intimidation threat: These threats arises in situation where auditor is in a position of being overtly or covertly compelled by managing authorities or by other interested parties. For example this threat arise, if an audit team is threatened with replacement if they made disagreement regarding the application of auditees regarding particular accounting principle, or if an auditor is forced to believe that that an expression of auditees of client dissatisfaction will impose significant threat to their career within the firm Inherent Biases: The brain quickly makes an unconscious decision in accordance with detail provided in first impressions. Thus the same as believing subsequent colour thinking in accordance to which the person thinks about further issues. Professional Scepticism can be said as a conscious tool for dealing the issue relating to biases while auditing (Abdullatif, 2013). It is true that safeguard requires time and continuous efforts and is successful only in case the same is implemented with diligence. Therefore the present threat can be mitigated with the application of professional scepticism while planning as well as conducting an audit. Other general safeguards which can be applied for mitigating the risk relating to independence and professional scepticism of auditor are to discuss with management regarding the importance of ethical behaviour and make them act in public interest. Policies and procedures relating to the identification of ethical threat should be in associate with the policies followed by the organisation (Young, 2013). Conclusion It can be concluded from above discussion that auditors independence and professional scepticism plays a pivotal role in forming an appropriate opinion on financial statements. Thus scepticism can be said as a necessary attitude which is to be applied by the auditor in all the stages while conducting an audit for attaining sufficient appropriate evidence. Therefore it can be said that consistent application of professional scepticism imperative auditor in the formation of opinion on financial statements. References Books and journals Abdullatif, M., 2013. Fraud risk factors and audit programme modifications: Evidence from Jordan. Australasian Accounting Business Finance Journal. 7(1),P.59. Contessotto, C. and Moroney, R. 2014. The association between audit committee effectiveness and audit risk. Accounting Finance,.54(2).Pp.393-418. Ikechukwu, O.I., 2013. Earnings management and corporate governance. Research Journal of Finance and Accounting, 4(3), pp.51-56. Knechel, W.R. and Salterio, S.E., 2016. Auditing: assurance and risk. Routledge. Libby, R. and Emmett, S.A., 2014. Earnings presentation effects on manager reporting choices and investor decisions.Accounting and Business Research, 44(4), pp.410-438. McKee, T.E., 2014. Evaluating financial fraud risk during audit planning. The CPA Journal, 84(10), P.28. Nickell, E.B. and Roberts, R.W., 2014. Organizational legitimacy, conflict, and hypocrisy: An alternative view of the role of internal auditing. Critical Perspectives on Accounting, 25(3).,Pp.217-221. Rahman, M.M., Moniruzzaman, M. and Sharif, M.J., 2013. Techniques, motives and controls of earnings management. International Journal of Information Technology and Business Management, 11(1), pp.22-34. Soliman, M.M. and Ragab, A.A., 2014. Audit committee effectiveness, audit quality and earnings management: an empirical study of the listed companies in Egypt. Research Journal of Finance and Accounting. 5(2).Pp.155-166. Tassadaq, F. and Malik, Q.A., 2015. Creative Accounting Financial Reporting: Model Development Empirical Testing. International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, 5(2). Weiss, J.W., 2014. Business ethics: A stakeholder and issues management approach. Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Young, M.R., 2013. Financial Fraud Prevention and Detection: Governance and Effective Practices. John Wiley Sons.

3 Key Tips for How to Write an Argumentative Essay

3 Key Tips for How to Write an Argumentative Essay SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If there’s one writing skill you need to have in your toolkit for standardized tests, AP exams, and college-level writing, it’s the ability to make a persuasive argument. Effectively arguing for a position on a topic or issue isn’t just for the debate team- it’s for anyone who wants to ace the essay portion of an exam or make As in college courses. To give you everything you need to know about how to write an argumentative essay, we’re going to answer the following questions for you: What is an argumentative essay? How should an argumentative essay be structured? How do I write a strong argument? What’s an example of a strong argumentative essay? What are the top takeaways for writing argumentative papers? By the end of this article, you’ll be prepped and ready to write a great argumentative essay yourself! Now, let’s break this down. What Is an Argumentative Essay? An argumentative essay is a type of writing that presents the writer’s position or stance on a specific topic and uses evidence to support that position. The goal of an argumentative essay is to convince your reader that your position is logical, ethical, and, ultimately, right. In argumentative essays, writers accomplish this by writing: A clear, persuasive thesis statement in the introduction paragraph Body paragraphs that use evidence and explanations to support the thesis statement A paragraph addressing opposing positions on the topic- when appropriate A conclusion that gives the audience something meaningful to think about. Introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion: these are the main sections of an argumentative essay. Those probably sound familiar. Where does arguing come into all of this, though? It’s not like you’re having a shouting match with your little brother across the dinner table. You’re just writing words down on a page! ...or are you? Even though writing papers can feel like a lonely process, one of the most important things you can do to be successful in argumentative writing is to think about your argument as participating in a larger conversation. For one thing, you’re going to be responding to the ideas of others as you write your argument. And when you’re done writing, someone- a teacher, a professor, or exam scorer- is going to be reading and evaluating your argument. If you want to make a strong argument on any topic, you have to get informed about what’s already been said on that topic. That includes researching the different views and positions, figuring out what evidence has been produced, and learning the history of the topic. That means- you guessed it!- argumentative essays almost always require you to incorporate outside sources into your writing. Argumentative essays are unique(just like this umbrella)...which means you need to use specific techniques to write them! What Makes Argumentative Essays Unique? Argumentative essays are different from other types of essays for one main reason: in an argumentative essay, you decide what the argument will be. Some types of essays, like summaries or syntheses, don’t want you to show your stance on the topic- they want you to remain unbiased and neutral. In argumentative essays, you’re presenting your point of view as the writer and, sometimes, choosing the topic you’ll be arguing about. You just want to make sure that that point of view comes across as informed, well-reasoned, and persuasive. Another thing about argumentative essays: they’re often longer than other types of essays. Why, you ask? Because it takes time to develop an effective argument. If your argument is going to be persuasive to readers, you have to address multiple points that support your argument, acknowledge counterpoints, and provide enough evidence and explanations to convince your reader that your points are valid. Our 3 Best Tips for Picking a Great Argumentative Topic The first step to writing an argumentative essay deciding what to write about! Choosing a topic for your argumentative essay might seem daunting, though. It can feel like you could make an argument about anything under the sun. For example, you could write an argumentative essay about how cats are way cooler than dogs, right? It’s not quite that simple. Here are some strategies for choosing a topic that serves as a solid foundation for a strong argument. Choose a Topic That Can Be Supported With Evidence First, you want to make sure the topic you choose allows you to make a claim that can be supported by evidence that’s considered credible and appropriate for the subject matter...and, unfortunately, your personal opinions or that Buzzfeed quiz you took last week don’t quite make the cut. Some topics- like whether cats or dogs are cooler- can generate heated arguments, but at the end of the day, any argument you make on that topic is just going to be a matter of opinion. You have to pick a topic that allows you to take a position that can be supported by actual, researched evidence. (Quick note: you could write an argumentative paper over the general idea that dogs are better than cats- or visa versa!- if you’re a) more specific and b) choose an idea that has some scientific research behind it. For example, a strong argumentative topic could be proving that dogs make better assistance animals than cats do.) You also don’t want to make an argument about a topic that’s already a proven fact, like that drinking water is good for you. While some people might dislike the taste of water, there is an overwhelming body of evidence that proves- beyond the shadow of a doubt- that drinking water is a key part of good health. To avoid choosing a topic that’s either unprovable or already proven, try brainstorming some issues that have recently been discussed in the news, that you’ve seen people debating on social media, or that affect your local community. If you explore those outlets for potential topics, you’ll likely stumble upon something that piques your audience’s interest as well. Choose a Topic That You Find Interesting Topics that have local, national, or global relevance often also resonate with us on a personal level. Consider choosing a topic that holds a connection between something you know or care about and something that is relevant to the rest of society. These don’t have to be super serious issues, but they should be topics that are timely and significant. For example, if you are a huge football fan, a great argumentative topic for you might be arguing whether football leagues need to do more to prevent concussions. Is this as â€Å"important† an issue as climate change? No, but it’s still a timely topic that affects many people. And not only is this a great argumentative topic: you also get to write about one of your passions! Ultimately, if you’re working with a topic you enjoy, you’ll have more to say- and probably write a better essay. Choose a Topic That Doesn’t Get You Too Heated Another word of caution on choosing a topic for an argumentative paper: while it can be effective to choose a topic that matters to you personally, you also want to make sure you’re choosing a topic that you can keep your cool over. You’ve got to be able to stay unemotional, interpret the evidence persuasively, and, when appropriate, discuss opposing points of view without getting too salty. In some situations, choosing a topic for your argumentative paper won’t be an issue at all: the test or exam will choose it for you. In that case, you’ve got to do the best you can with what you’re given. In the next sections, we’re going to break down how to write any argumentative essay- regardless of whether you get to choose your own topic or have one assigned to you! Our expert tips and tricks will make sure that you’re knocking your paper out of the park. Think of your thesis as the trunk of a tree. Its job is to support your arguments- which are like the branches. The Thesis: The Argumentative Essay’s Backbone You’ve chosen a topic or, more likely, read the exam question telling you to defend, challenge, or qualify a claim on an assigned topic. What do you do now? You establish your position on the topic by writing a killer thesis statement! The thesis statement, sometimes just called â€Å"the thesis,† is the backbone of your argument, the north star that keeps you oriented as you develop your main points, the- well, you get the idea. In more concrete terms, a thesis statement conveys your point of view on your topic, usually in one sentence toward the end of your introduction paragraph. It’s very important that you state your point of view in your thesis statement in an argumentative way- in other words, it should state a point of view that is debatable. And since your thesis statement is going to present your argument on the topic, it’s the thing that you’ll spend the rest of your argumentative paper defending. That’s where persuasion comes in. Your thesis statement tells your reader what your argument is, then the rest of your essay shows and explains why your argument is logical. Why does an argumentative essay need a thesis, though? Well, the thesis statement- the sentence with your main claim- is actually the entire point of an argumentative essay. If you don’t clearly state an arguable claim at the beginning of your paper, then it’s not an argumentative essay. No thesis statement = no argumentative essay. Got it? Other types of essays that you’re familiar with might simply use a thesis statement to forecast what the rest of the essay is going to discuss or to communicate what the topic is. That’s not the case here. If your thesis statement doesn’t make a claim or establish your position, you’ll need to go back to the drawing board. Example Thesis Statements Here are a couple of examples of thesis statements that aren’t argumentative and thesis statements that are argumentative The sky is blue. The thesis statement above conveys a fact, not a claim, so it’s not argumentative. To keep the sky blue, governments must pass clean air legislation and regulate emissions. The second example states a position on a topic. What’s the topic in that second sentence? The best way to keep the sky blue. And what position is being conveyed? That the best way to keep the sky blue is by passing clean air legislation and regulating emissions. Some people would probably respond to that thesis statement with gusto: â€Å"No! Governments should not pass clean air legislation and regulate emissions! That infringes on my right to pollute the earth!† And there you have it: a thesis statement that presents a clear, debatable position on a topic. Here’s one more set of thesis statement examples, just to throw in a little variety: Spirituality and otherworldliness characterize A$AP Rocky’s portrayals of urban life and the American Dream in his rap songs and music videos. The statement above is another example that isn’t argumentative, but you could write a really interesting analytical essay with that thesis statement. Long live A$AP! Now here’s another one that is argumentative: To give students an understanding of the role of the American Dream in contemporary life, teachers should incorporate pop culture, like the music of A$AP Rocky, into their lessons and curriculum. The argument in this one? Teachers should incorporate more relevant pop culture texts into their curriculum. This thesis statement also gives a specific reason for making the argument above: To give students an understanding of the role of the American Dream in contemporary life. If you can let your reader know why you’re making your argument in your thesis statement, it will help them understand your argument better. An actual image of you killing your argumentative essay prompts after reading this article! Breaking Down the Sections of An Argumentative Essay Now that you know how to pick a topic for an argumentative essay and how to make a strong claim on your topic in a thesis statement, you’re ready to think about writing the other sections of an argumentative essay. These are the parts that will flesh out your argument and support the claim you made in your thesis statement. Like other types of essays, argumentative essays typically have three main sections: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. Within those sections, there are some key elements that a reader- and especially an exam scorer or professor- is always going to expect you to include. Let’s look at a quick outline of those three sections with their essential pieces here: Introduction paragraph with a thesis statement (which we just talked about) New paragraph that starts with a topic sentence presenting Argumentative Point #1 Support Point #1 with evidence Explain/interpret the evidence with your own, original commentary (AKA, the fun part!) New paragraph that starts with a topic sentence presenting Argumentative Point #2 Support Point #2 with evidence Explain/interpret the evidence with your own, original commentary New paragraph that starts with a topic sentence presenting Argumentative Point #3 Support Point #3 with evidence Explain/interpret the evidence with your own, original commentary New paragraph addressing opposing viewpoints (more on this later!) Concluding paragraph Now, there are some key concepts in those sections that you’ve got to understand if you’re going to master how to write an argumentative essay. To make the most of the body section, you have to know how to support your claim (your thesis statement), what evidence and explanations are and when you should use them, and how and when to address opposing viewpoints. To finish strong, you’ve got to have a strategy for writing a stellar conclusion. This probably feels like a big deal! The body and conclusion make up most of the essay, right? Let’s get down to it, then. How to Write a Strong Argument Once you have your topic and thesis, you’re ready for the hard part: actually writing your argument. If you make strategic choices- like the ones we’re about to talk about- writing a strong argumentative essay won’t feel so difficult. There are three main areas where you want to focus your energy as you develop a strategy for how to write an argumentative essay: supporting your claim- your thesis statement- in your essay, addressing other viewpoints on your topic, and writing a solid conclusion. If you put thought and effort into these three things, you’re much more likely to write an argumentative essay that’s engaging, persuasive, and memorable...aka A+ material. Focus Area 1: Supporting Your Claim With Evidence and Explanations So you’ve chosen your topic, decided what your position will be, and written a thesis statement. But like we see in comment threads across the Internet, if you make a claim and don’t back it up with evidence, what do people say? â€Å"Where’s your proof?† â€Å"Show me the facts!† â€Å"Do you have any evidence to support that claim?† Of course you’ve done your research like we talked about. Supporting your claim in your thesis statement is where that research comes in handy. You can’t just use your research to state the facts, though. Remember your reader? They’re going to expect you to do some of the dirty work of interpreting the evidence for them. That’s why it’s important to know the difference between evidence and explanations, and how and when to use both in your argumentative essay. What Evidence Is and When You Should Use It Evidence can be material from any authoritative and credible outside source that supports your position on your topic. In some cases, evidence can come in the form of photos, video footage, or audio recordings. In other cases, you might be pulling reasons, facts, or statistics from news media articles, public policy, or scholarly books or journals. There are some clues you can look for that indicate whether or not a source is credible, such as whether: The website where you found the source ends in .edu, .gov, or .org The source was published by a university press The source was published in a peer-reviewed journal The authors did extensive research to support the claims they make in the source This is just a short list of some of the clues that a source is likely a credible one, but just because a source was published by a prestigious press or the authors all have PhDs doesn’t necessarily mean it is the best piece of evidence for you to use to support your argument. In addition to evaluating the source’s credibility, you’ve got to consider what types of evidence might come across as most persuasive in the context of the argument you’re making and who your readers are. In other words, stepping back and getting a bird’s eye view of the entire context of your argumentative paper is key to choosing evidence that will strengthen your argument. On some exams, like the AP exams, you may be given pretty strict parameters for what evidence to use and how to use it. You might be given six short readings that all address the same topic, have 15 minutes to read them, then be required to pull material from a minimum of three of the short readings to support your claim in an argumentative essay. When the sources are handed to you like that, be sure to take notes that will help you pick out evidence as you read. Highlight, underline, put checkmarks in the margins of your exam . . . do whatever you need to do to begin identifying the material that you find most helpful or relevant. Those highlights and check marks might just turn into your quotes, paraphrases, or summaries of evidence in your completed exam essay. What Explanations Are and When You Should Use Them Now you know that taking a strategic mindset toward evidence and explanations is critical to grasping how to write an argumentative essay. Unfortunately, evidence doesn’t speak for itself. While it may be obvious to you, the researcher and writer, how the pieces of evidence you’ve included are relevant to your audience, it might not be as obvious to your reader. That’s where explanations- or analysis, or interpretations- come in. You never want to just stick some quotes from an article into your paragraph and call it a day. You do want to interpret the evidence you’ve included to show your reader how that evidence supports your claim. Now, that doesn’t mean you’re going to be saying, â€Å"This piece of evidence supports my argument because...†. Instead, you want to comment on the evidence in a way that helps your reader see how it supports the position you stated in your thesis. We’ll talk more about how to do this when we show you an example of a strong body paragraph from an argumentative essay here in a bit. Understanding how to incorporate evidence and explanations to your advantage is really important. Here’s why: when you’re writing an argumentative essay, particularly on standardized tests or the AP exam, the exam scorers can’t penalize you for the position you take. Instead, their evaluation is going to focus on the way you incorporated evidence and explained it in your essay. Focus Area 2: How- and When- to Address Other Viewpoints Why would we be making arguments at all if there weren’t multiple views out there on a given topic? As you do research and consider the background surrounding your topic, you’ll probably come across arguments that stand in direct opposition to your position. Oftentimes, teachers will ask you to â€Å"address the opposition† in your argumentative essay. What does that mean, though, to â€Å"address the opposition?† Opposing viewpoints function kind of like an elephant in the room. Your audience knows they’re there. In fact, your audience might even buy into an opposing viewpoint and be waiting for you to show them why your viewpoint is better. If you don’t, it means that you’ll have a hard time convincing your audience to buy your argument. Addressing the opposition is a balancing act: you don’t want to undermine your own argument, but you don’t want to dismiss the validity of opposing viewpoints out-of-hand or ignore them altogether, which can also undermine your argument. This isn’t the only acceptable approach, but it’s common practice to wait to address the opposition until close to the end of an argumentative essay. But why? Well, waiting to present an opposing viewpoint until after you’ve thoroughly supported your own argument is strategic. You aren’t going to go into great detail discussing the opposing viewpoint: you’re going to explain what that viewpoint is fairly, but you’re also going to point out what’s wrong with it. It can also be effective to read the opposition through the lens of your own argument and the evidence you’ve used to support it. If the evidence you’ve already included supports your argument, it probably doesn’t support the opposing viewpoint. Without being too obvious, it might be worth pointing this out when you address the opposition. Great conclusions get your readers to check the "I Agree" box on your entire essay. Focus Area #3: Writing the Conclusion It’s common to conclude an argumentative essay by reiterating the thesis statement in some way, either by reminding the reader what the overarching argument was in the first place or by reviewing the main points and evidence that you covered. You don’t just want to restate your thesis statement and review your main points and call it a day, though. So much has happened since you stated your thesis in the introduction! And why waste a whole paragraph- the very last thing your audience is going to read- on just repeating yourself? Here’s an approach to the conclusion that can give your audience a fresh perspective on your argument: reinterpret your thesis statement for them in light of all the evidence and explanations you’ve provided. Think about how your readers might read your thesis statement in a new light now that they’ve heard your whole argument out. That’s what you want to leave your audience with as you conclude your argumentative paper: a brief explanation of why all that arguing mattered in the first place. If you can give your audience something to continue pondering after they’ve read your argument, that’s even better. One thing you want to avoid in your conclusion, though: presenting new supporting points or new evidence. That can just be confusing for your reader. Stick to telling your reader why the argument you’ve already made matters, and your argument will stick with your reader. A Strong Argumentative Essay: Examples For some aspiring argumentative essay writers, showing is better than telling. To show rather than tell you what makes a strong argumentative essay, we’ve provided three examples of possible body paragraphs for an argumentative essay below. Think of these example paragraphs as taking on the form of the â€Å"Argumentative Point #1 → Evidence - Explanation - Repeat† process we talked through earlier. It’s always nice to be able to compare examples, so we’ve included three paragraphs from an argumentative paper ranging from poor (or needs a lot of improvement, if you’re feeling generous), to better, to best. All of the exampleparagraphs are for an essay with this thesis statement: Thesis Statement: In order to most effectively protect user data and combat the spread of disinformation, the U.S. government should implement more stringent regulations of Facebook and other social media outlets. As you read the examples, think about what makes them different, and what makes the â€Å"best† paragraph more effective than the â€Å"better† and â€Å"poor† paragraphs. Here we go: A Poor Argument Example Body Paragraph: Data mining has affected a lot of people in recent years. Facebook has 2.23 billion users from around the world, and though it would take a huge amount of time and effort to make sure a company as big as Facebook was complying with privacy regulations in countries across the globe, adopting a common framework for privacy regulation in more countries would be the first step. In fact, Mark Zuckerberg himself supports adopting a global framework for privacy and data protection, which would protect more users than before. What’s Wrong With This Example? First, let’s look at the thesis statement. Ask yourself: does this make a claim that some people might agree with, but others might disagree with? The answer is yes. Some people probably think that Facebook should be regulated, while others might believe that’s too much government intervention. Also, there are definitely good, reliable sources out there that will help this writer prove their argument. So this paper is off to a strong start! Unfortunately, this writer doesn’t do a great job proving their thesis in their body paragraph. First, the topic sentence- aka the first sentence of the paragraph- doesn’t make a point that directly supports the position stated in the thesis. We’re trying to argue that government regulation will help protect user data and combat the spread of misinformation, remember? The topic sentence should make a point that gets right at that, instead of throwing out a random fact about data mining. Second, because the topic sentence isn’t focused on making a clear point, the rest of the paragraph doesn’t have much relevant information, and it fails to provide credible evidence that supports the claim made in the thesis statement. For example, it would be a great idea to include exactly what Mark Zuckerberg said! So while there’s definitely some relevant information in this paragraph, it needs to be presented with more evidence. A Better Argument Example Body Paragraph: Over the past several years, one of the biggest consequences of the lack of regulation of social media platforms has been the mining of Facebook user data, which has been exposed by the news media and the U.S. government. Investigations by the Federal Trade Commission (F.T.C.) have shown that Facebook allowed its data-sharing partners to mine user data without disclosing this information to Facebook users. Specifically, Facebook allowed Cambridge Analytica, a political data firm, to gather the personal information of tens of millions of people- information the firm then used to aid a particular 2016 presidential campaign. In the future, increased government regulation of Facebook’s data sharing partnerships could prevent such things from happening. What’s Wrong With This Example? This paragraph is a bit better than the first one, but it still needs some work. The topic sentence is a bit too long, and it doesn’t make a point that clearly supports the position laid out in the thesis statement. The reader already knows that mining user data is a big issue, so the topic sentence would be a great place to make a point about why more stringent government regulations would most effectively protect user data. There’s also a problem with how the evidence is incorporated in this example. While there is some relevant, persuasive evidence included in this paragraph, there’s no explanation of why or how it is relevant. Remember, you can’t assume that your evidence speaks for itself: you have to interpret its relevance for your reader. That means including at least a sentence that tells your reader why the evidence you’ve chosen proves your argument. A Best- But Not Perfect!- Argument Example Body Paragraph: Though Facebook claims to be implementing company policies that will protect user data and stop the spread of misinformation, its attempts have been unsuccessful compared to those made by the federal government. When PricewaterhouseCoopers conducted a Federal Trade Commission-mandated assessment of Facebook’s partnerships with Microsoft and the makers of the Blackberry handset in 2013, the team found limited evidence that Facebook had monitored or even checked that its partners had complied with Facebook’s existing data use policies. In fact, Facebook’s own auditors confirmed the PricewaterhouseCoopers findings, despite the fact that Facebook claimed that the company was making greater attempts to safeguard users’ personal information. In contrast, bills written by Congress have been more successful in changing Facebook’s practices than Facebook’s own company policies have. According to The Washington Post, The Honest Ads Act of 2017 â€Å"created public demand for transparency and changed how social media companies disclose online political advertising.† These policy efforts, though thus far unsuccessful in passing legislation, have nevertheless pushed social media companies to change some of their practices by sparking public outrage and negative media attention. Why This Example Is The Best This paragraph isn’t perfect, but it is the most effective at doing some of the things that you want to do when you write an argumentative essay. First, the topic sentences get to the point . . . and it’s a point that supports and explains the claim made in the thesis statement! It gives a clear reason why our claim in favor of more stringent government regulations is a good claim: because Facebook has failed to self-regulate its practices. This paragraph also provides strong evidence and specific examples that support the point made in the topic sentence. The evidence presented shows specific instances in which Facebook has failed to self-regulate, and other examples where the federal government has successfully influenced regulation of Facebook’s practices for the better. Perhaps most importantly, though, this writer explains why the evidence is important. The bold sentence in the example is where the writer links the evidence back to their opinion. In this case, they explain that the pressure from Federal Trade Commission and Congress- and the threat of regulation- have helped change Facebook for the better. Why point out that this isn’t a perfect paragraph, though? Because you won’t be writing perfect paragraphs when you’re taking timed exams either. But get this: you don’t have to write perfect paragraphs to make a good score on AP exams or even on an essay you write for class. Like in this example paragraph, you just have to effectively develop your position by appropriately and convincingly relying on evidence from good sources. Top 3 Takeaways For Writing Argumentative Essays This is all great information, right? If (when) you have to write an argumentative essay, you’ll be ready. But when in doubt, remember these three things about how to write an argumentative essay, and you’ll emerge victorious: Takeaway #1: Read Closely and Carefully This tip applies to every aspect of writing an argumentative essay. From making sure you’re addressing your prompt, to really digging into your sources, to proofreading your final paper...you’ll need to actively and pay attention! This is especially true if you’re writing on the clock, like during an AP exam. Takeaway #2: Make Your Argument the Focus of the Essay Define your position clearly in your thesis statement and stick to that position! The thesis is the backbone of your paper, and every paragraph should help prove your thesis in one way or another. But sometimes you get to the end of your essay and realize that you’ve gotten off topic, or that your thesis doesn’t quite fit. Don’t worry- if that happens, you can always rewrite your thesis to fit your paper! Takeaway #3: Use Sources to Develop Your Argument- and Explain Them Nothing is as powerful as good, strong evidence. First, make sure you’re finding credible sources that support your argument. Then you can paraphrase, briefly summarize, or quote from your sources as you incorporate them into your paragraphs. But remember the most important part: you have to explain why you’ve chosen that evidence and why it proves your thesis. What's Next? Once you’re comfortable with how to write an argumentative essay, it’s time to learn some more advanced tips and tricks for putting together a killer argument. Keep in mind that argumentative essays are just one type of essay you might encounter. That’s why we’ve put together more specific guides on how to tackle IB essays, SAT essays, and ACT essays. But what about admissions essays? We’ve got you covered. Not only do we have comprehensive guides to the Coalition App and Common App essays, we also have tons of individual college application guides, too. You can search through all of our college-specific posts by clicking here. Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article! Tweet Ashley Robinson About the Author Ashley Sufflà © Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams. 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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How to proofread business documents - Emphasis

How to proofread business documents How to proofread business documents The meeting room is booked and youre waiting for your clients to arrive. The reception is strangely quiet and no-one turns up. Its a mystery. After 15 minutes, you resort to re-reading the invitation you sent out, and a horrible realisation dawns on you: instead of writing there will now be a meeting, you wrote there will not be one. Such a costly mistake is down to a simple slip of the fingers that could have been picked up through proper proofreading, of course. But such a simple-sounding process is not so simple to get right unless you know the proper techniques. Love is blind As the writer of a document, its harder to spot any errors in it. You know what you meant to say, and so your brain will conveniently skip over missing words, typos and jumbled sentences. For this reason, its always best to get someone else to proofread your work. But even then, if your colleague doesnt have a toolkit of proofreading techniques, they can wade through your words without really improving your work. Whether youre writing for an internal or an external audience you need to make sure that your writing is accurate. This means always checking your work (and that of others) thoroughly. A speedy skim before you hit the send button or distribute a document will rarely be enough. It is one thing for your colleagues or clients to snigger over a humorous typo and quite another to find yourself in legal or financial hot water because of an overlooked error. So follow the tips below to make sure your business writing says what you want it to. Seven ways to proofreading success Print out a hard copy while proofreading on screen. Arm yourself with two copies. Its likely that errors will stand out in one version even if youve glided over them in the other. Ensure the document makes sense. Correcting grammar and punctuation can often seem to be the point of proofreading. But your top priority should be ensuring the document is readable. If its difficult to understand, change it. Remember, plain English is best, so weed out all the complicated words and replace them with no-nonsense alternatives. Use your computer spellchecker. But remember that Bill Gates doesnt have all the answers. Your spellchecker doesnt read for sense, only accuracy it doesnt know whether you mean mountain peak or peek. So dont be a slave to it. Always use a dictionary if youre not sure. Use a pencil to point to every single word. Scientists have found that in normal reading we dont scan every word. Instead, our eyes move in little jumps, fixating on key words. Using a pencil and ruler slows your brain down. Check the title or headline. Its easy to overlook the most obvious thing on the page and get bogged down in the details. Also, make sure the title is relevant to the document. Check telephone numbers by calling them. Its surprisingly easy to transpose numbers when writing them. Misplacing one digit can ruin a marketing campaign, for instance. Dont waste valuable time and money by sending out documents with incorrect phone numbers. Make sure youre not the only person to read the last proof. If the document is important and youre the only one whos seen it, hold fire until you can get a second pair of eyes to see it. Show your colleagues these proofreading tips and make sure they follow each one before giving you the go-ahead. Getting to the good stuff You now have a beautifully proofread piece of work thats grammatically correct, accurate and makes sense. But unless its written in a punchy style, you cant guarantee that your readers will sit up and take notice. The next step is to read through and make sure that every word counts. For instance, you may be able to squeeze a whole paragraph into a short newsletter item simply by removing wasteful words here and there. Change It was some time in the long hot summer of 1976 to In the summer of 1976 for example. Unless youre writing a novel (or a piece about the weather), you can take out the adjectives. Your readers will thank you for getting to the point. And if you improve your colleagues work, theyll no doubt be grateful that youve helped them shine. Just make sure you get someone else to proofread your handiwork! Take heart though because some small errors will always slip through. So, if youve done the writing equivalent of skidding on a banana skin, dust yourself off with pride. The meeting can wait practising your proofreading cant. Robert Ashton is the Chief Executive of Emphasis. From proofreading to document structure, the active voice to keeping it short and simple, we can help you write better documents. See our courses for individuals or our courses for groups. Alternatively, send us a message or call one of our friendly advisors on +44 (0)1273 961 810

The Basics of Keynes's Monetary Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Basics of Keynes's Monetary Theory - Essay Example Keynes cautioned against free market systems as he pointed it out to be the cause of an unexpected rampant increase in unemployment rates. As Keynes differed with the classical perspective of economists on employment he keenly explained that employees were interested in the nominal wage rather than a real wage. Keynes further describes how employees respond to the levels of unemployment based on prices of wages in terms of frictional, seasonal and voluntary unemployment. Keynes biggest contribution is based on the money illusion by workers that lead to involuntary unemployment. In addition, Keynes came up with the liquidity preference theory of interest rates that focuses on the uses of money in differences classes. This is because money could be held for transaction motive as an individual wish to make normal purchases besides money for a precautionary motive that is for unforeseen incidences and money for a speculative motive of investments to get returns. In addition, the governme nt can control the amount of money borrowed from financial institutions by increasing the interest rate during periods of high inflation. Both the New Keynesian economists and New Classical economists have made contributions to the field of economics in the twentieth century. As a group opposed to the Keynes theory perspective, the new classical group of differs as they point out that Keynes did underestimate the impact of the quantity of money on aggregate demand and prices in the economy. In addition, the new classical economists argue a different notion on unemployment and inflation (Meltzer, 2005). This is because they advocate for a stable inflation-unemployment trade-off through the Phillips curve that involves the assumption of changes in the price level in the private sector freely. In addition, this class of economists conceptualized that the expectations-augmented in the Phillips curve could reduce the unemployment rate to a further extent below its natural level leading t o higher levels inflation in the long run (Meltzer, 2005). The new classical economists differ with the Keynes economists as they believe both monetary and fiscal policy lead to increased inflation rates because of the response of suppliers to the economic market. Based on the classical assumption on flexible prices a consecutive increase in aggregate demand automatically leads to higher prices; that cause unexpected shift as suppliers will increase production to take advantage of increased relative prices. The New Keynesian economists are based on the theory contributions made by Keynes as they believe that in the economy the nominal variables can affect real variables and understanding of market imperfections in the economy. This new group of Keynes economists believes that imperfect competition will solve several problems that deal with wages and prices levels thus, reducing the possibility of involuntary unemployment (Meltzer, 2005). This new class of Keynes economists believes that the welfare of the citizen is in increasing output and employment. Therefore, this class of economists believes that both monetary and fiscal policy allows for changes in price levels as it affects both the demand and supply.

Art of Modern China Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Art of Modern China - Research Paper Example â€Å"Chinese painting, which is based on graphic conventions, builds from a planar, rather than an optical, structure. Early pictorial representation, using graphic symbols, reads both horizontally along register lines and vertically in an open field in the picture surface.† (Fong, 2003, no page number.) This close relationship between the written word and the pictorial image lasted for many centuries right into the twentieth century. The administrators and courtiers of successive imperial dynasties were generally the only people who possessed the literary skills necessary to be an artist and they produced beautiful monochrome pictures in black ink, sometimes with washes of carefully chosen colors, representing landscape or birds, fish and animals. In the sixth century a set of six laws of painting were formed by Xie He (active c. 500-535) and they are Spirit Resonance, or vitality; Bone Method, a type of brushwork; Correspondence to the Object, or depicting of forms, Suitabi lity of Type, a method of laying on colors; Division and Planning, which means arrangement or composition; and Transmission by Copying, which is a way of ensuring that ancient models are passed on to future generations. (Clunes, 2009, p. 46). As technologies such as woodblocks and various kinds of printing developed, so the range of colors grew, and experimentation in the use of lines and washes also. The key ancient features of Chinese painting styles were cumulative, and change was gradual, that is to say, successive generations of artists consciously incorporated the earlier techniques of the masters, and carried them forward by synthesizing them into new compositions. Copying older works was advocated as a way of improving, and this is why there is such a consistent and recognizable line of tradition all the way through Chinese ink painting so that â€Å"every compositional detail, every outline, texture and ink wash had its origin in an ancient source.† (Sullivan, 2000, p. 258). Simpler peasant styles, especially portraits, with clear ink outlines were popular alongside the more sophisticated literati styles. Contribution of The Shanghai School to Chinese Ink Painting. Things began to change, however, in the middle of the nineteenth century when China began to open up to influences from the West, and one city in particular was most receptive to this new phenomenon: Shanghai. As a thriving port city it was the point of arrival for many ships and it became the most international of all art scenes in China, fuelled by the profits of traders from within China and beyond. Artists from the provinces flocked to Shanghai in the hope of finding buyers and patrons for their work. In the 1840s and 1850s the prevailing style was still was traditional bird-and-flower paintings using a wash without outlines. This style was used by Zhang Xiong (1803-1886), a

Business accounting - Lampeter Builder's Merchants Essay

Business accounting - Lampeter Builder's Merchants - Essay Example Vehicle running expenses 44,000 Electricity 3,000 Insurance 15,000 Stationery 2,000 208,000 Net profit 540,000 (2) Profit and Loss Statement LAMPETERS BUILDERS MANAGEMENT BALANCE SHEET AS AT MARCH 31, 2011 Amount in ? Non-Current Assets Fixed Assets (Cost) 200,000 Accumulated Depreciation (100,000) Fixed Assets (WDV) 100,000 Current Assets Trade debtors 18,000 Bank (9,000) Closing Stock 478,000 Total Assets 587,000 Current Liabilities Trade creditors 43,000 Capital 28,000 Drawings (24,000) Profit for the year 540,000 Total Equity and Capital 587,000 (3) Value Added Taxation Research The prime resource for research was the website ‘HM Revenue and Customs’ Planning and ordering What are the prevailing VAT rates in UK What rates are applicable on the business that the company is currently engaged in What are the methods and procedure of filing the VAT returns How the VAT is calculated What are the deadlines for submission of the return Presentation VAT is applicable on diff erent rate depending on the type of Goods and services offered by the company. In addition, there are some goods and services that are exempted from VAT. The VAT rates are divided into three segments Standard Rate 20 per cent Reduced Rate 5 per cent Zero Rate 0 per cent [1] Since the Company, Lampeter Builders’ Merchants is involved in the construction and material business, the following rates are applicable on the company Type of work VAT rate Construction of a new house or flat zero Converting a building into a house or flat reduced rate Renovating or altering an empty house or flat reduced rate Supplying and installing certain mobility aids for elderly people reduced rate Supplying and installing certain energy saving materials and equipment reduced rate Supplying and installing certain...VAT is applicable on different rate depending on the type of Goods and services offered by the company. In addition, there are some goods and services that are exempted from VAT. The VAT rates are divided into three segments Standard Rate 20 per cent Reduced Rate 5 per cent Zero Rate 0 per cent [1] Since the Company, Lampeter Builders’ Merchants is involved in the construction and material business, the following rates are applicable on the company At the end of every three months, the company already registered for VAT needs, to file a quarterly VAT return. The return can be filed either electronically or through paper returns. The returns, after properly completing are then sent to the following address

How culture has influenced accounting

How culture has influenced accounting Many studies have demonstrated that culture diversity had influenced accounting practice within national and international borders. Accounting can therefore be said to have been influenced by its environment, which includes the culture of the country in which it is being operated (Nobes Parker, 2008) Mueller et al. (1994), cited in Alexander.et al, also stipulate that each accounting system is a product of its specific culture and environment, and that different patterns of accounting are associated with a range of cultural factors such as societal values, religion, political systems and historical values. It is however no thought that those countries with same or similar cultural values or background are practicing accounting similarly. The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the extent to which these cultural values influence the practice of accounting and how the understanding of the role of culture in accounting can help us understand international accounting standards. The work of Hofstedes cultural value differences and Grays accounting values will be the major focal point of this paper. The relationship that exists between cultural values, accounting values and financial reporting will be examined as well. DIFFERENCES IN CULTURAL VALUES Culture is a way of life of a group of people, which includes the behaviours, beliefs, values, and symbols that they accept, generally without thinking about them, and that are passed along by communication and imitation from one generation to the next. The position that the ideas, meanings, beliefs and values people learn as members of society determine human nature. To support this definition, Hofstede, one of the greatest researchers of culture differences, defined culture as the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes members of one human group from another,( cited in Nobes parker 2008. p 25) For the purpose of comparability, this paper will base its analysis on Hofstedes work on cultural value difference and grays work on accounting values to see their impact on accounting practice and reporting. (Hofstede, 1984 p. 83, 84) defined and summarized four Cultural dimensions as, individualism and Collectivism, Large versus small power distance, Strong versus weak uncertainty avoidance, masculinity versus femininity. He also stipulates that there exist specific relationship in these cultural dimensions. Individualism versus collectivism is how in a society one group will prefer a much closed family system while the other group prefer belonging to an expanded family system. This cultural dimension looks at how society handles interdependence among individuals. The second cultural dimension, large versus small power distance seeks to divide a society between those few powerful groups of people who prefer power to be distributed unequally through institutions and organizations and those who feel that power should be distributed equally. This dimension addressed how a society handles inequalities amongst a people when they occur. The third cultural dimension by Hofstede, is the strong versus weak uncertainty avoidance which is, the extent to which members of a society feel uncomfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity .This feelings leads them to believing in promising certainty and to maintain institutions protecting conformity. He explained that a society with strong uncertainty avoidance maintained rigid codes of belief and behaviour and are intolerant of deviant people and ideas. The weak uncertainty maintain a more relaxed atmosphere in which practice counts more than principles and deviance is more tolerated. Masculinity and femininity, which is the last but not the least of the four cultural dimensions, describes masculinity as the preference, in a Society for achievements, heroism, assertiveness, and material success. Femininity on the other hand was said to represent a society where preference for relationships, modesty, caring for the weak and the quality of life is high. ACCOUNTING VALUES AND CULTURAL VALUES It is based on these Hofstedes classification of cultural dimensional differences that Gray (1988) also proposed a connection between those cultural dimensions and accounting values by specifically identifying four accounting values which includes; professionalism(implies self-regulation by the accounting profession itself) versus statutory (implies control by the government), uniformity (adherence to consistency and detailed regulations) versus flexibility (implies able to amend or adjust to suite a situation), conservatism (implies the tendency to under state profit and assets) versus optimism and secrecy (implies a preference for confidentiality) versus transparency ( implies disclosure of true state of affairs). The first two relates to authority and enforcement of accounting practice at a country level while the second two relates to the measurement and disclosure of accounting information at a country level as (cited in Nobes and Parker, 2008). Grays accounting values and Hofstedes cultural difference can be group into two categories. This paper will like to refer to these two groups as the collectivism category and the individualism category. The individualism category is made up of Professionalism, flexibility, transparency, optimism, individualism, small power distance, weak uncertainty avoidance and femininity. This category has the characteristic of self-reliance or self-interest and therefore in a society where individualism, small power distance, weak uncertainty and femininity dominate, accounting practice and financial reporting is likely to be professional, flexible, transparent and optimistic. Secondly the individuals quest for information to make decision on investments to satisfy his/her personal needs will prefer detailed report of a financial statement. This paper will like to associate this category to that of a capitalist society where the accounting regulations are not part of the common law but rather are in the hands of professional organisations of the private sector as stipulated in Alexander et al. (2009 p. 28). For instance in the UK, accounting laws and regulations are control by professional bodies such as the ACCA, CA, CIMA, and IASB. It can again be said that countries that practice the common law are also likely to practice accounting the same way. They are considered to be capitalism countries since they raises funds from the capital. They include, United Kingdom, Ireland Canada, Australia and the United States of America The second category of Hofstede cultural value difference and that of grays accounting values The collectivism category is made up of collectivism, large power distance, strong uncertainty avoidance masculinity and grays accounting values of statutory control, uniformity, conservatism and secrecy. This category has the characteristics of being control from a common source or being centrally planned. Countries or societies found to be dominant with these cultural and accounting values are more likely to practice accounting in the same way. The practice of accounting in this society or country is control by statutory institutions with detailed rules and regulations. The practice of accounting and reporting in these societies or countries will be geared towards the dictates of those in powers or in control. No detailed accounting is required and secrecy and conservatism dominates in the financial reporting (Kosmala-Maclullich, 2003). Here again this paper will associate this category of a society or a country to that of a socialist country where accounting laws and regulations are enshrine in the coded laws of the country. Governments in these countries use financial reports for their own purpose. The Democratic Republic of Germany adopted the Soviet Unions socialist ideologies after the Second World War. This adaptation included a methodological guidance in designing accounting information systems (Berry, 1982: 1890). Bailey (1990) also stipulates that the Marxism Theoreticians view the western-style accounting as an instrument for the exploitation of workers by the capitalists, accounting and financial reporting was therefore geared towards the dictates of those in authority. Young and David (1999) argued that Accounting activities at the enterprise level were focused exclusively on the preparation of reports required by the planning bureaucracy, and during this period, accounting was only seen as a primary source of information for the provision of financial statistics for the use in the preparation of budget; it was therefore a list of quantities instead of values. Accounting was more or less reduced to a clerical job; there was no professionalism in the practice. Judgemen t of reports (true and fair) was not entertained; standardisation was non-existence and so was the concept of profit, in short accounting standards and procedures were not in existence. Accounting in China Another country worth looking at is china which has a long history of cultural value which is characterise with collectivism, high in power distance, strong uncertainty avoidance and femininity. The Chinese will not mind sacrificing himself for the good collectivism or country (Yao F. 2007). The practice of accounting and reporting is control by the state under the auspices of the ministry of finance and the aim of this control is to gear the practice towards the general benefit of the planned economy. The user of accounting information is mainly the government, because most enterprises in china are owed by the state. The few individual who try to do some investments do not know much about accounting and finance. (Yao F. 2007). Although the state had accounting standards for Business Enterprises, they were just mere basic rules which were issued in conjunction with basic standards, as argued by Lin et al. (2001). There where however restrictions on some important accounting principles such as making provision for bad debts and obsolete inventories, recognition of impairments of assets, disclosure of financial information and many more. Secrecy and conservatism was dominant in financial reporting. Professionalism, transparency and flexibility were non-existence. Accountin g profession was reduced to a very low status. The dynamics of cultural values brought about a change in financial reporting by these countries with strong cultural values. As a result of the world becoming a small village and the growing of Multinational companies across the world, there is the need for comparability of financial Reports since its purpose is to help investors make informed and sound decisions. Based on the fact that the world is becoming a small place and countries need each other for their survival, most of the socialists countries like the East Germany, Portugal, Poland, Italy, and France have all adopted the capitalism system of financial reporting. The Chinese government, also have realise the need for adopting the international financial reporting standard (IFRS) which is being champion by the International Accounting Standard Board (IASB), but yet it only talked about the convergence of the accounting standard and not a totally acceptance. (Yao F. 2001) Conclusion It is quite obvious that cultural values have influenced the practice and reporting of accounting and countries with similar cultural values practicing accounting similarly. With the world becoming a global village and the fast cultural changes across the world, the need for harmonization and convergence of accounting standards was given a serious consideration by centrally planned countries, but a country like China, although have made efforts to embrace international financial reporting system, is still holding on to some of its cultural accounting practices. This is an indication that so far as cultural values remain different, accounting practice will be affected and the only way out is the harmonization and convergence of accounting standards.