Price, Consumer Behaviour and Marketing Activities Essay Example for Free

Price, Consumer Behaviour and Marketing Activities Essay Ferraris are a luxury good, known for their performance and prestige with prices of up to  £500,000. In this study there will be an effort to evaluate if a Ferrari would still be as desirable if it was available at  £20,000. To do this we must examine the relationship between the behaviours of consumers and price with a further examination of marketing activities. Firstly we need to define what consumer behaviour, price and marketing activities are, by understanding the consumer we can then create products that meets their wishes and needs which is vital in achieving success. An investigation of the Utilitarian (rational) consumption model will follow allowing the identification of driving factors that affect consumer’s decisions. This allows the introduction of Pricing, viewing towards perceived quality and value. The contrasting Hedonic view allows the introduction of socio-psychological factors on consumer behaviour such as personality and social class. We must appreciate our level of involvement with the product and what factors this may cause. This will allow us to fully appreciate whether the change in price will result in the Ferrari still being as desirable as when it was at a higher price. The study of consumer behaviour â€Å"is the study of the processes involved when individuals or groups select, purchase, use or dispose of products, service, ideas or experiences to satisfy needs and desires† (Soloman et al, 2002, p4). Therefore by studying what factors affect how and why consumers make these consumption decisions, marketers may be able to understand and therefore adapt to these decisions. Consumer behaviour incorporates ideas from many different disciplines such as psychology, sociology and economics. (Schiffman and Kanuk, 2000), in a marketing context we take note of all these concepts and try to come to a balanced answer. A full examination of consumer behaviour looks at how consumers maximise their utility (satisfaction) based on a cost-benefit analysis of price and product scarcity, this was thought of the Utilitarian or rational way of behaviour. (Baines et al, 2011). The key determinant is that the functional benefits must be greater than the costs exp ended. Very often we would class the cost expended as being the price paid for an item, this is a difficult term to classify but is best explained by Baines, Fill and Page (2011), (p331) â€Å"we consider price as the amount the customer has to pay or exchange to receive a good or service†. This however fails to mention that how consumers â€Å"perceive a price-as high, as low, as fair- has a strong influence on both purchase intentions and purchase satisfaction.† (Schiffman and Kanuk, 2000, p 144). For example a passenger who paid  £1 for his Ryanair flight will feel more satisfied one who paid  £71 due to purchasing at a later date. Here we look at whether a Ferrari is still as desirable at a lower price, to do this we must examine how customers affect to a change in prices, known in economic terms as the elasticity of demand. This measure how much demand will shift as a result of a change in price. To do this we can look at how in rational thinking consumers wish the be nefits to outweigh the costs, the benefits of buying a new Ferrari may be the quality and value you get for the price you paid. However as each person has a different wished level of quality we use the term ‘perceived quality’, often based on â€Å"informational cues that they associate with the product† (Schiffman and Kanuk, 2000, p145). Looking at the relationship between the perceived qualities and pricing often it is thought that price reflects quality (Baines et al, 2011). This is challenged by the aspect we take our perceived quality from many cues, not just price, such as more extrinsic values such as brand image. Therefore it can be classes that â€Å"consumers use price as a surrogate indicator of quality if they have little or no information to go on† (Schiffman and Kanuk, 2000, p150). The idea of brand image as a cue introduces the more hedonic concept of feelings, desires and perceptions into the consumer’s decision. As already discussed prices and quality are not measured in purely rational terms they encompass our perceptions of the product, price and measure of quality. Our perceptions are personal to us and it is vital for marketers to understand what factors may affect these perceptions. To do this we must understand how consumption may be irrational (hedonic) involving the â€Å"multi-sensory, fantasy and emotional aspects of consumers’ interaction with products† (Soloman et al, 2002, p37). This view stresses that we purchase products because of how they make us feel or look to others. This is sometimes classed as emotional or socio-psychological buying (Baines et al, 2011). The stark difference between utilitarian and hedonic consumption can be seen in the process of proposition acquisition. We draw up a motive for acquiring the product; this may be out of functional (rational) or desire (irrational) means. We then gather information on the product drawing up a shortlist of brands, followed by an evaluation of the proposition. When it comes to the purchase of the item it is important to consider â€Å"the personal importance a person attaches to a given communication message† (Baines et al, 2011, p 90) this is classes as the person’s involvement. As discussed in Fill (2009, p174) the characteristics involved with involvement can be seen in three phases, that of contextual elements, the influencers and the outcomes. Our level of involvement with a product can play a role in the price fairness we perceive for this product. At states of low involvement where â€Å"the purchase suggests little risk to the consumer† (Fill, 2009, p176) we require little information and use past experiences to make our decisions. However at high levels of involvement where, â€Å"a consumer perceives an expected purchase that is not only of high personal relevance but also represents a high level of perceived risk† (Fill, 2009, p 176), consumers will invest a great deal of time researching the item to reduce the perceived risk and will draw on extrinsic information and may draw more on hedonic terms. The relationship between price and involvement can be seen at both levels, at low levels price allows individuals to discriminate between low-involvement purchase decisions as â€Å"price, packaging, and point of purchase displays and promotion’s work together to cue and stimulate an individual into trying a product.† (Fill, 2009, p 180) At high levels of involvement price is not such a determining factor, with other factors playing a more significant role. Involvement does not juts affect the importance placed on price it also affects how a product is marketed to the consumer. This raises Ratchfords (1987) thoughts of involvement being linked with feeling and thinking. He sought to think how people thought about products and class them as high/low involvement and whether they were a product you bought rationally, what you thought of the product, or irrationally, how the product made you feel. In this instance the purchase of a Ferrari which would have been a high involvement/feeling product there is â€Å"a need for emotional advertising† (Baines et al, 2011, p91). With the shift in price it can be argued that the product has now became a high involvement/thinking product so more informative advertising is needed. Further links between price, consumer behaviour and price can be seen in Fill (2009, p 181) arguing that at low levels of involvement consumers will â€Å"decide upon their usual brand until they notice a price promotion† ,this then may be become there habitual buying pattern. As discussed earlier at high levels of involvement, more emotional and informative advertising is used there are many reasons for this including that factors such as lifestyle, social class and personality can all affect our hedonic consumption. In the sphere of personality there are three main approaches. Firstly the psychoanalytic approach Freud outlined how we are driven by subconscious drives in three parts our ID, Ego and Superego. It is argued that certain products are bought to fulfil our needs and urges such as the purchase of a Ferrari. The reduction of price may then not allow us to fulfil this urge. A differing approach is that of Trait theory, where we are classified by our types of personality. The purchase of a  £500,000 car may be seen as fulfilling one personality type, by reducing the price to  £20,000 the market segment may change and as â€Å"car manufacturers market products on the basis of personality types† (Baines et al, 2011, p96) this may change th e whole marketing process and the way this process is presented. The final school of thought is the Self Concept Approach that we â€Å"buy goods†¦ for the brand they represent and its relation to the buyer’s perception of their own self-concept or personality.†(Baines et al, 2011, p96). In this model it may be argued that price is a determinant factor as we may buy to show we can pay high prices to others. Added to this is the idea that the brand gives you a self-image therefore a change in the price can affect the branding and may lead you to a different purchase decision. The price change may also change what reference group a Ferrari would belong to it may no longer be an aspiration so may become less desirable. The change in price may however be beneficial when looking at consumer behaviour in relation to lifecycle and social class. Focussing on lifecycle â€Å"we hypothesize that people in the same stages of life purchase and consume similar kinds of products† (Baines et al, 2011, p108), a £500,000 Ferrari may fall into the stage of empty nest 1, where there is large disposable income, the shift downwards in price will allow a Ferrari to become more accessible to different stages of the lifecycle, thus making it more desirable to these groups. To conclude pricing, consumer behaviour and marketing activities are all linked. By determining whether the consumption is either rational or irrational we can investigate the level of involvement one may have with that product. This then allows us to look at how perceived values, price and quality link with the way the consumer behaves. As consumer behaviour study evolves from â€Å"early emphasis on rational choice†¦to a focus on apparently irrational buying needs† (Holbrook and Hirschman, 1982, p132) we are able to investigate other factors that may relate to consumer behaviour such as lifestyle, social class and what level of involvement is involved. As we can see in rational decisions there is a link between price and behaviour, with the benefits outweighing the costs, the same can be said at decisions of low involvement. However other extrinsic factors have to be considered when making higher involvement decisions. The decrease in price therefore may make the Ferrari more desirable if you are making the purchase at a low involvement level however at a higher level other factors need to be considered to give a true representation of its desirability. Reference List Books and Ebooks Baines, P. Fill, C. Page, A., (2011), Marketing, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press Fill, C. (2009), Marketing Communications : Interactivity, Communities And Content., 5th ed., Harlow: Pearson Education Limited Schiffman, L,G. and Kanuk, L,L. (2000), Consumer Behaviour, 7th ed., London: Prentice Hall International (UK) Limited Solomon, M., Bamossy, G., Askegaard, S. and Hogg, M. K. (2006) Consumer behaviour: a European perspective, 3rd ed., Harlow: Financial Times. Lecture Notes C18FM1 2012/2013 Online Journals Holbrook, M, Hirschman, E (1982),. The Experiential Aspects of Consumption: Consumer Fantasies, Feelings, and Fun, Journal Of Consumer Research, 9, 2, pp. 132-140, Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 22 October 2012.

Analysis of Lee the Last Years, Charles Flood Essay -- Robert E. Lee Es

In his extraordinary book, Lee the Last Years, Charles Flood gives a rare blend of history and emotion. After Lee’s surrender at Appomattox courthouse, he only lived a total of five years before his death. Some people might think that he was just a general, but the best years of his life were after the war because he changed the minds of the south and he changed education. Even though Robert E. Lee is best remembered for his military campaigns, this is a part of history not told in many history books because he did more than any other American to heal the wounds of the south and he served as a president for Washington College, which was later renamed after his death to be Washington and Lee University. The beginning of the book begins with surrender at Appomattax. On April 9, 1865 General Robert E. Lee signed the letter in which he accepted Grants terms for the surrender of the northern army of virginia. The terms required by Grant were generous compared to the what Lee expected. He feared that his army would face humiliation and prison camps, but the terms only required the release of the prisoners and the surrender of Lee’s army, with the prerequisite of the army laying down there arms. From this moment to the end of his life, Lee never allowed an unkind word about Grant to be spoken in his presence. Throughout the war, Lee had been awed by his soldiers dedication. He issued General Order Number 9, which was his last official communication to his army. The order told the army of his admiration and appreciation for them. The tribute was so eloquent that generations of southern school children would recite it as their counterpart to Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. As Lee arrived back to his home in Richmond, his only desir... ...olds the story of a man dignified in history. This book is truly an admirable piece of litature. In conclusion, although some people might think that he was just a general; the best years of his life were after the war for two main reasons. First, he changed education. But most importantly, he changed the minds of the south. Without Lee’s character during his last five years, the south might have been in chaos. Lee shows evidence to the power of healing, and the difference education can make. This man truly represents what a true christian was, and should be studied for ages to come, but as the man he was, as opposed to the general. The last years of this mans life are by far the most amazing, and should get just as much attention as his years in the war. Works Cited Flood, Charles Bracelen. Lee the Last Years. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1998. Print. Analysis of Lee the Last Years, Charles Flood Essay -- Robert E. Lee Es In his extraordinary book, Lee the Last Years, Charles Flood gives a rare blend of history and emotion. After Lee’s surrender at Appomattox courthouse, he only lived a total of five years before his death. Some people might think that he was just a general, but the best years of his life were after the war because he changed the minds of the south and he changed education. Even though Robert E. Lee is best remembered for his military campaigns, this is a part of history not told in many history books because he did more than any other American to heal the wounds of the south and he served as a president for Washington College, which was later renamed after his death to be Washington and Lee University. The beginning of the book begins with surrender at Appomattax. On April 9, 1865 General Robert E. Lee signed the letter in which he accepted Grants terms for the surrender of the northern army of virginia. The terms required by Grant were generous compared to the what Lee expected. He feared that his army would face humiliation and prison camps, but the terms only required the release of the prisoners and the surrender of Lee’s army, with the prerequisite of the army laying down there arms. From this moment to the end of his life, Lee never allowed an unkind word about Grant to be spoken in his presence. Throughout the war, Lee had been awed by his soldiers dedication. He issued General Order Number 9, which was his last official communication to his army. The order told the army of his admiration and appreciation for them. The tribute was so eloquent that generations of southern school children would recite it as their counterpart to Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. As Lee arrived back to his home in Richmond, his only desir... ...olds the story of a man dignified in history. This book is truly an admirable piece of litature. In conclusion, although some people might think that he was just a general; the best years of his life were after the war for two main reasons. First, he changed education. But most importantly, he changed the minds of the south. Without Lee’s character during his last five years, the south might have been in chaos. Lee shows evidence to the power of healing, and the difference education can make. This man truly represents what a true christian was, and should be studied for ages to come, but as the man he was, as opposed to the general. The last years of this mans life are by far the most amazing, and should get just as much attention as his years in the war. Works Cited Flood, Charles Bracelen. Lee the Last Years. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1998. Print.

Legalization of Marijuana Essay

Legalization of Marijuana Several topics in modern day society cause controversy, but one topic that out ranks them all is the legalization of marijuana. The main argument is whether not marijuana should be treated the same as already legalized drugs, such as tobacco and alcohol. Many Americans use marijuana illegally; the people using the drug range from the age of teens to even adults in their eighties. Marijuana is considered by most, especially in legal terms, as a dangerous drug. Although the drug is seen as such, many still continue to use it and argue it should be legalized for several reasons. Both citizens and government officials alike debate this topic. To successfully develop and argument for the legalization of marijuana the topic must be defined, the history of the topic must be unveiled, an argument must be made, and a good solution should be proposed. Yes, both sides of the argument both have well supported positions, but marijuana should be legalized by the United States government because the facts supporting legalization far outweigh the arguments keeping the drug as it is. Proponents for the legalization of marijuana offer several valid reasons to support their positions. The most common reason is that marijuana is proven to be no more harmful to a person’s body then legal drugs, alcohol and tobacco. They believe that the marijuana only affects the mind for a short term and the long-term effects are only minor. Lawyers Adam Ford and Andrew Walter concur, â€Å" Arguments against legalizing marijuana can usually be applied with equal validity to legal substances such as alcohol and tobacco: alcohol and tobacco can be addictive, can lead to financial or social problems when used in excess, and can lead to serious health problems† (1). These two well recognized attorneys agree that marijuana should be treated the same as tobacco and alcohol because most of the reasons opponents give to not legalize marijuana all fall under bad aspects of those legal drugs. Another argument for the legalization is that the legal selling of marijuana would stimulate the economy. According to researcher, by placing a hardy tax on the drug, the American government could help cure the drastic economic situation America is in today. In the state of California the senate stated that just the crop of marijuana is worth fourteen million dollars. Thus,  legalization would help, well hardily, to stabilize the economy (Russell 230). This large amount of money that legal marijuana is worth just by being taxed would benefit the economy instead of the drug dealers. While there are many reasons for marijuana to be legalized, an equal number of arguments support its current illegal status. An argument against legalization involves the fact that is the government deemed it to be wrong, then it is simply wrong. George Wright and Heather Newton agree, â€Å"One function of government is to protect citizens from harm, whether it is from foreign enemies or from internal causes such as poisonous food or contaminated water. Similarly, the ban on marijuana protects citizens from the dangers of drug consumption, as well as potentially destructive behaviors associated with marijuana use† (1). Many people believe that the US government has everything under control and have full faith in the institution, so if the government says it is harmful then it is harmful. Marijuana is a drug, so, of course, it is a mind-altering substance. This aspect of the drug is a strong argument against its legalization. Mind-altering drugs severally affect the user of the drug and become a long-term â€Å"destroyer† of the weed smoker. This supported by Newton and Wright who claim, substances like marijuana distort an individual’s perceptions and cause an artificial sense of pleasure or satisfaction that can become addictive. Further, intoxicants rob individuals of the ability to see a clear path out of difficulties or toward being a fully productive individual in society† (2). The way that marijuana affects the human brain is its own enemy. Why would a government allow its citizens to use something that interrupts the natural order of thinking? Furthermore, several key terms relating to the topic, help clarify the issue. The terms one must be aware of to understand to the topic are the several different names that are used for marijuana. These names include: weed, â€Å"Mary Jane†, pot, dope, cannabis, reefer, and many slang words. While there are several names for the drug, marijuana is the most commonly used name and is the name used throughout most documents referring to the debate. Gateway drug is a term used throughout the argument of whether the drug  should be legalized or not. A gateway drug is a drug that is used to push a person to do more harmful and destructive drugs. Gateway drug is a term used by those opposing the legalization of marijuana to show its destructiveness. Another term is mind-alerting substance. This term is thrown around on both sides of the issue. A mind-altering substance is something g that cause one to loose judgment and common sense, something that literally affects the brain and its functions. These terms must be understood to be able to fallow the arguments throughout the issue. The legalization of marijuana is argued by all people from teenagers debating in a school function to senators arguing over a proposed bill. Marijuana is an illicit drug that thousands of people want to legalize for many reasons, personally and morally. It is also a drug that thousands of people want the status to be the same as it is right now and never changed. This fact is the reason why the legalization of marijuana is such a controversial topic that is constantly argued over by all kinds of people. To be able to truly understand the debate of a topic, one must be aware of the background and history of said topic. The marijuana plant has been used in the world for hundreds of years. Cannabis was first used as a medical drug in India, in the year 1200 (â€Å"The History†). Over the next seven hundred years marijuana ventured its way across Asia and Europe, ending up in the Americas. Americans were introduced to drugs in the late nineteenth century. According to researchers, the first law banning in type of illegal drug in the US was in 1914, the Harrison Narcotics Act (Russell 533). This act banned the recreational use of opium and cocaine type drugs. A few years after this marijuana was introduced to America by immigrants from central America and the Caribbean Islands. Marijuana use began to progress throughout America very quickly, especially in the Hispanic and African American communities. As the use of the drug began to expand, state governments began to realize it was a problem and acted accordingly. Russell relates that, by the 1930’s twenty-four states banned the use of cannabis in any possible way (533). This was the beginning of the widespread prohibition of marijuana in all of the country. Around this same time the Federal Bureau of Narcotics was created and was  led by Harry J. Anslinger, who was know as the â€Å"father of marijuana prohibition (Russell 533). With the criminalization of marijuana beginning to become a nationally understood topic, people began debate even more on the topic. Even well known people such as professors and government officials began to debate on the drug. Among these includes professor David F. Mutso, who stated, in 1935, that Anslinger was not an anti-marijuana â€Å"crusader,† and that he was focused more on heroin (Russell 534). Although this was the case many people were pushing for the federal prohibition of marijuana. These â€Å"people† include newspapers and public informing institutions, such as the New York Times. This largely spread information began to change United States officials mind and in 1937 the Marijuana Tax Act was passed (Russell 534). Although the name is discerning, this act prohibited the use of marijuana in all of the United States, and soon after all state governments banned the use of weed as well (â€Å"History of Cannabis†). In that same year, Samuel Caldwell was the first person to be convicted of selling drugs on the federal level (â€Å"The History†). In the 1960’s and 1970’s America began to undergo a grand social change. With this social change many citizens began to smoke marijuana illegally with no concern for the law. Even soldiers at war consumed the drug. The Times wrote that even one soldier smoked cannabis every time he was out on patrol during the Vietnam War (Russell 535). The use of Marijuana began to show up in media forms to such as music and movies. This blatant use proved that laws were not going to stop people from doing what they want: to smoke weed. Russell states, â€Å" Marijuana use by twelfth graders climbed during the seventies in all regions and among all racial and ethnic groups . . . . [reaching] by then an all-time high of 50.8 percent of all high school seniors [who] had used marijuana† (536). With many American using this drug with out respect of the law, people of importance in the government began the debate of legalizing the use of marijuana. In 1969, the Supreme Court outlawed the Stamp Act, making cannabis legal for a short time until 1970, when the Controlled Substance Act was passed (â€Å"History of Cannabis †). This embarked the beginning of one of the largest debates in American history. By the 1990’s the government began to place a zero tolerance rule on drug convicts, meaning they receive no sympathy. The government had become much stricter and more abusive on making sure that marijuana stayed illegal and that Americans knew it. As the government became harder on drugs, including marijuana, this caused US citizens to want it legalized even more, thus strengthening the debate on the issue. According to Russell, as people began wanting it to be legalized, researches also began realize the medical uses for marijuana and soon after in the state of California marijuana was legalized for medical uses only (534). This was one small step for marijuana to be fully legalized. This medical marijuana sparked even more debate on the issue, and as the government debated more and more, Hawaii and Colorado pass medical marijuana laws aswell (Russell 534). In 2006, the FDA sated that marijuana was harmful and had no medical use and vetoed the medical-marijuana law (â€Å"The History†). Although medical marijuana is considered illegal in federal standings, the Obama administration has stated that that they will defer to state medical marijuana laws. This means that the federal government will allow the states to decide how to deal with the issue. So with the debate of legalizing marijuana also come with the smaller debate of the legalization of medical marijuana. (Russell 534). As the United States entered the new millennia, many Government officials began to propose bills for the legalization of marijuana (â€Å"The History†). They did this stating many things such as that it could help stabilize the economy by taxing the drug and that weed is no worse then legal drugs. Of course, these bills were never passed, but it put the ideas into the heads of several people in Washington. Today, there are more Senators and House Representatives who agree with marijuana legalization than ever. With more leaders of our country beginning to change sides of the argument, many citizens are fallowing by example and agreeing. The history of the issue is not long in terms of world history but it is something that needs be understood to know why the debate of the legalization is such a controversy. As the history of marijuana continues to grow, so does the strength of the  controversial debate of legalization. The legalization of marijuana is a controversial topic, which on almost every American adult has an opinion. The topic has been argued for many years, but there must be a side that is right in the end. Both sides, pro and con, of legalizing marijuana have very convincing arguments, but the reasons of pro legalization are far more convincing than the opponents’ side. Legalization of marijuana is very beneficial to the United States as a whole and its citizens. There are several very well thought out reasons that support the legalization marijuana. First and foremost, marijuana effects on the human body are no more harmful to then legal drugs, such as tobacco and alcohol. Marijuana is a mind-altering drug that can be dangerous in certain situations, but alcohol is also a drug that greatly affects the mind that causes even more destruction than marijuana (â€Å"Facts†). If marijuana is no more harmful to the mind than alcohol, should it not be treated the same? If an individual consumes too much alcohol at one time, it could result in alcohol poisoning and the individual could die, but someone cannot die from over consumption of marijuana, making marijuana safer than alcohol (â€Å"Facts†). Researchers agree that alcohol is one of the most intoxicating drugs, while marijuana is one of the least, and that there has never been a single death from an overdose of weed (â€Å"Facts†). Opponents of legalization argue that because marijuana is smoked and inhaled, it can cause lung and throat problems, but tobacco is also inhaled and can cause the exact same effects as cannabis. Tobacco is actually the leading cause of lung cancer found in US citizens. Although opponents of the argument contest that marijuana effects the mind in an entirely different way than legal drugs, weed is equally, if not less, dangerous to people and their minds. Ford and Walter agree, â€Å"Marijuana should be placed in the same category as alcohol and tobacco: a legal, regulated intoxicant† (1). So if the marijuana is no more dangerous than legal drugs, alcohol and tobacco, and the government says these drugs are safe, then the United States government in turn agrees that marijuana is sa fe. Moreover, a federal tax on legalized marijuana could play a significant role in helping stabilize the failing American economic system. The United States is in an economic turmoil, and the country has been stuck in a recession for the past years. Taxing marijuana could pump billions of dollars into the system causing a theoretical inflation, which could initially help propel America to stabilization. Even the Californian governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger agrees that the US should look at the economic benefits of legalized marijuana (Russell 527). Opponents argue that a simple tax on one drug could not have a long-term effect on the American economy, but a marijuana tax would produce revenue into the system without any type of government spending. Also, the mass production of marijuana will require thousands of jobs. This means thousands of people would obtain jobs causing the unemployment rate to lower substantially. The amount of money that would be produced by legalized marijuana is outstanding. Americans already spend millions of dollars on an illegal drugs, even with the dangers of being charged with a crime, so with it legalized these Americans will be willing to spend even more money annually. Thirdly, marijuana can be used for medical purposes, to help treat diseases for example, cancer and glaucoma. This drug has scientific proof that it can help patients with the awful pain that comes with many illnesses. Researchers state, Doctors already use highly addictive drugs such as dolodin and morphine to help treat patients with severe pain. Both of these drugs are completely legal for medical use and are used on an everyday basis (â€Å"Medical Marijuana†). If the government can allow these drugs, which are potentially dangerous, they should also allow medical marijuana be a regularly practiced treatment. Medical marijuana has been passed by state legislation in several states including California, Hawaii, and Colorado (â€Å"Medical Marijuana†). State level officials recognize that marijuana’s medical uses are very feasible and that it is worth legalization. If states want medical marijuana, then soon the federal government will follow by example and do the same. Legalization of marijuana will make it easier for those, who would benefit form its medical uses, to be able to obtain the drug.Finally, with cannabis’s legalization would result in the crime rate associated with the drug to lower at an exponential rate. The individuals that obtain and sell illicit drugs come with many dangerous and illegal things other than the drugs they sell. Most â€Å"drug dealers,† that sell large supplies of marijuana are also involved with many other crimes such as murder and assault. Although opponents of legalization argue that  marijuana being legalized would not have a big effect on crime, with law enforcement not having to deal with crime around marijuana they would have much more time to handle other more life threatening crimes.Chris Collins is a narcotics police officer at the Memphis Police Department. He patrols the highways fiv e days of the week searching vehicle after vehicle trying to find large amounts of marijuana and other drugs. He wastes many of his days searching for marijuana and usually coming up with nothing, when he could have used this time doing something else such as patrolling the streets for criminals committing more dangerous crimes. Collins agreed, â€Å" I wish sometimes I could spend more time searching for more dangerous illicit drugs such as cocaine or crystal meth or stopping crimes that affect the lives of Memphis citizens† (2).Several reasons support the legalization of marijuana: marijuana is no more dangerous than legal drugs, a tax on legal marijuana would have positive effects of the economy, marijuana has medical uses, and legalized marijuana would cause a safer US. The topic has been argued over for many years, yet these valid reasons help prove that marijuana should be legalized. No argument for either side of a controversial topic is any good without a solution that follows it. The legalization of marijuana is argued over and over again, but nothing will be done unless a co mpromising solution is reached. Cannabis should be legalized, but to prevent the dangers that opponents of legalization fear for the drug, the law should contain certain parameters. These parameters include an age minimum and a limit on how much marijuana an individual can purchase at one time. Both sides of the argument must make sacrifices to make an ending decision to the controversy. If marijuana is legalized, certain concessions are necessary. To begin, the age minimum that would be set for legalized marijuana would help protect young people who are not wise adults from the dangers of abusing the drug. If people who do not know their own limits does not carefully consume marijuana, then it could be harmful to their bodies. Ford and Walter conclude that marijuana is not dangerous until someone uses and abuses it the wrong way (1). Children and teenagers do not know how to handle potentially dangerous substances such as drugs. This is evident also because other legalized drugs have age minimums set by the United States government. No one under the age of twenty-one can consume alcohol; likewise tobacco is not allowed to be sold to citizens  under the legal age of eighteen. The drug being legalized gives the people what they want, but the age boundary allows the government to continue to protect them. Moreover, if the federal government set a limit on the amount of marijuana that someone could purchase at one time, it would prevent the drug from being abused but still allow its consumers to enjoy its benefits. Americans are known around the world for their over consumption of wants. This is evident in our increasing obesity problem. So if cannabis were legalized then many United States citizens would end up over consuming the drug and put themselves, their bodies, and their minds in danger (Russell 540). The l imit of obtaining the drug would save lives, allowing the government to still have some control over the usage, while it will not have one hundred percent control. With a proposed solution to the controversy of the legalization of marijuana, the argument pro legalization is completed. There are several reasons that marijuana should be legalized. Although opponents of the controversy have facts supporting their argument, the facts supporting proponents far out weigh the other side. Marijuana has been a drug that has struck argument among arguments in the past decades. The legalization of cannabis is a topic that will stir up controversy until a final solution has been made that has elements pleasing both sides of the argument. The legalization of marijuana could find a ending solution by both sides coming together to create a balanced and sacrificial decision. If this happens not only will proponents of legalization but also opponents will be happy and satisfied with the final decision Works Cited Collins, Chris. Personal Interview. 30 March 2011. â€Å"Facts on Cannabis and Alcohol†. SAFERchoice.org. N.P.. 2007. Web.3 Apr. 2011. Ford, Adams and Andrew Walter. â€Å"Point: Marijuana Should Be Legalized.† Point ofView: Legalization of Marijuana. 2009. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 8 Mar. 2011. â€Å"History of Cannabis Prohibition.† Legalize.org. N.p., 2005.Web. 29 Mar 2011. â€Å"The History of Marijuana.† LegalizationofMarijuana.com. N.p., 2008.Web. 29 Mar 2011. â€Å"Medical Marijuana.† Drugpolicy.org. Drug Policy Alliance. 2011. Web. 4 Apr. 2011 Newton, George and Heather Newton. â€Å" Counterpoint: There Are No Good  Reasonsto Legalize Marijuana.† Point of View: Legalization of Marijuana. 2009. Pointsof View Reference Center. Web. 2011. â€Å"Medical Marijuana.† ProCon.org. N.P.. 2011. Web. 3 Apr. 2011 Russell, Julia. â€Å"Legalizing Marijuana.† CQ Researcher. (12 Jun. 2009). CQ Press.Web. 8 Mar. 2011.

Interactive Writing Essay

Animated productions and video games offer customers a world to get lost in. In this world, creative writing plays an integral role producing an atmosphere that progresses and sustains fluidity. Although graphics and user controls are typically the talk of animated production writing is just as significant. Without creative writing these worlds of animation might be a little bleaker and less interactive. Graphics would have no bearings if they did not have a background of description to be created from. Game and Production writers play a crucial role in the development of the media. Video games usually have paths to follow, and offering misdirection, speed bumps and challenges to overcome. It takes a large amount of skill to transfer ideas into a media, and that is where developers come in, but if they do not have a game plan to follow a mess can occur. Writers are becoming increasingly more involved in the video game and animated production business. In order to efficiently supply these elements a production has to be planned out or time lined. In this time line, it takes writer’s input to create a structured story which is critical for the flow of the game and the story being portrayed. A well developed story or plot can draw in players to purchase the media and any games that might follow. One writers expresses why a well written video game is more than important, â€Å"As gamers age, the complexity of both the plot and the theatric elements tend to resemble short skits along the lines of â€Å"Godfather,† leaving the days of Super Mario Brothers long lost in the dust† (Brewer, 2002). Writers are essential in creating a world beyond any gamers’ imagination. Typically animated productions or video games are stemmed from a developer’s idea, but it is the writing that carries the developer’s initial thought. It is up to writers to be very descriptive. After the story board and character development it is up to an interactive writer to begin on a script. The script can make or break a game’s potential. A productions script must be carefully combed using effective words that will spark user’s imaginations as well as guide them easily through the set path. A writer must be very descriptive in their script leaving little discrepancy over the visual settings. Also, the game’s story will need to be broken into parts in order to have levels or sense of accomplishment for the user. A article suggests,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"There are three main points to the written script: describe the environment; what does everything look like -and what does it feel like, what is the accompanying material, is there music, and sound effects , what are the things that are going to happen, what decisions will be made, and what rooms or areas are the decisions tied to† (Kalif, 2008)?It is the writer’s job to create substance. If a game is not well put together and has only one path to the end of the media, then it is less likely to be played again. When productions set on a buyer’s shelf it means they are less likely to buy the game when a new version is created. Video game companies now spend sufficient money to hire creative writers. If a gaming company is known for their extraordinary atmospheres, settings, and characters, users are more likely to try games from the company without much knowledge of the particular game. These writers become so involved in their stories, they create more opportunities to make a game company more money with the ability to produce other games, movies, action figures. A video game writer said in an interview, â€Å"I fall in love with every game story that I work on, enough so that I can envision countless stories, sequels, movies, and books all emanating from within this one world† (Duffy, 2007). Animated production and video game writers are essential in the development process. These productions have progressed significantly over the past ten years and a lot of the progression can be accredited to the ever more use of writers. As we have seen, writers take an idea and form it into something more tangible that users can relate to and are drawn to in order to continually play a game. A creative writer can serve in many roles and typically do not get as much credit as the producers or developers, but it is these unsung heroes that provide the developers with an atmosphere and a descriptive setting for their characters. Old games like â€Å"Pacman† are fun and can be entertaining, but it is the new games like â€Å"Grand Theft Auto† that drive the industry even more toward creative and efficient writing. References Brewer, Melissa, (2002). Writing for the Gaming Industry. Retrieved on December 15, 2008 from http://www.writing-world.com/freelance/games.shtmlKalif, Will (2008). Writing a Script for a Video Game. Retrieved on December 19, 2008 from http://www.stormthecastle.com/video-game-design/writing-a-video-game-script.htm. Duffy, Jill, (2007). How I Became a Game Writer. Retrieved on December 19, 2008 from http://www.gamecareerguide.com/features/424/how_i_became_a_game_writer_an_.php?page=4.

Learn How to Calculate Molarity of a Solution

Learn How to Calculate Molarity of a Solution Molarity is a unit of concentration, measuring the number of moles of a solute per liter of solution. The strategy for solving molarity problems is fairly simple. This outlines a straightforward method to calculate the  molarity of a solution. The key to calculating molarity is to remember the units of molarity (M): moles per liter. Find the molarity by calculating the number of moles of the solute dissolved in liters of a solution. Sample Molarity Calculation Calculate the molarity of a solution prepared by dissolving 23.7 grams of KMnO4 into enough water to make 750 mL of solution. This example has neither the moles nor liters needed to find molarity, so you must find the number of moles of the solute first. To convert grams to moles, the molar mass of the solute is needed, which can be found on  certain  periodic tables.​ Molar mass of K 39.1 gMolar mass of Mn 54.9 gMolar mass of O 16.0 gMolar mass of KMnO4 39.1 g 54.9 g (16.0 g x 4)Molar mass of KMnO4 158.0 g Use this number to convert grams to moles. moles of KMnO4 23.7 g KMnO4 x (1 mol KMnO4/158 grams KMnO4)moles of KMnO4 0.15 moles KMnO4 Now the liters of solution is needed. Keep in mind, this is the total volume of the solution, not the volume of solvent used to dissolve the solute. This example is prepared with enough water to make 750 mL of solution. Convert 750 mL to liters. Liters of solution mL of solution x (1 L/1000 mL)Liters of solution 750 mL x (1 L/1000 mL)Liters of solution 0.75 L This is enough to calculate the molarity. Molarity moles solute/Liter solutionMolarity 0.15 moles of KMnO4/0.75 L of solutionMolarity 0.20 M The molarity of this solution is 0.20 M (moles per liter). Quick Review How To Calculate Molarity To calculate molarity: Find the number of moles of solute dissolved in solution, Find the volume of solution in liters, andDivide moles solute by liters solution. Make certain to use the correct number of significant figures when reporting your answer. One easy way to track the number of significant digits is to write all your numbers in scientific notation.

What is a History Research Paper

What is a History Research Paper Whats the difference between a history essay and a history research paper? Read here to get the answer. What Is a History Research Paper? A history research paper differs from a common history essay by requiring greater effort while doing background research, organizing structure, reviewing the literature and so on. These factors are actually lying on the surface, but if you dig deeper, you will see at least a dozen other parameters that need to be taken into account. Unlike a simple history essay, which only requires proper structuring and language, research papers on history topics require a more substantial approach, which will be discussed further. Although the topics below are aimed to write a history essay on, they may serve you as good ideas for your research paper topic: 50 Ideas for History Essay Topics General Tips for Writing a History Research Paper 1. Select a topic  that is neither too broad nor too narrow. The pitfalls of either choice are obvious: if the topic is too narrow you will have nothing to research or write about. 2. Present an argument. Your research paper should be designed in such a way that it should give your opponents the chance to ask questions. Your role is substantiating your claim by referring to the background research. The quality of your argumentation will determine the overall success of your paper. 3. Rely on primary information. Your history project should rely on primary sources and thoroughly analyze secondary information. History projects require that you work with primary facts and then interpret them, showing your judgment and analysis. Again, dont forget to back up your claims with facts and research. 4. Think of a title. Think of a good eye-catching title for your paper, it will provoke readers interest in your paper, at least on initial stages. 5. Consider your opposition. You take into account the audience you are writing for and write having your specific audience in mind. 6. Use proper language. Research papers require a use of formal language, dont allow any slang, contractions and also demand that the overall voice of your research paper remains consistently objective throughout the text. Needless to say that your paper should be proofread for errors, should contain no mistyped words and flow nicely. 7. Dont forget formatting structure. The structure and format are generally dictated by the writing format. Depending on whether you have APA, MLA, Chicago or Harvard standards to follow, you should modify your paper accordingly. The writing standard will impact almost everything in your research paper, starting from your cover page and formatting to referencing and the bibliography page. Therefore format should be paid great attention to from the start. Bear in mind the above-mentioned tips to write your research paper on history. If this writing task is too complicated  for you, we are here to assist you. Visit our Order Page for details.

Application for Head Teacher Position Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Application for Head Teacher Position - Essay Example I will achieve this by reviewing and simplifying the customer facing processes (NSW Department of Education and Communities). I have worked in the position of a head teacher for three years. Therefore, I will bring the experiences I have gained working as both a faculty manager and a head teacher. In addition, I have a bachelor’s degree on Information Technology, which will enable me steer the development of online resources. Getting an opportunity to work as a head teacher will enable me improve, develop, and sustain high quality skills in teaching. The head teacher opportunity will also develop my skills in financial management like operational budgets and using programs like TIPA, BUDDY, and COST IT. Besides the skills gained from my previous experiences, I am very creative and a problem solver. I hope my achievements, nominations, and awards will Illustrate my character and make me a suitable candidate for this position (NSW Department of Education and