Confucianism Essay -- Papers China Chinese Culture Religion Essays

ConfucianismA philosopher named Confucius founded Confucianism in China 2,500 years ago. Confucianism is a system of ethical sort and social responsibility that became the great traditions of the East.1 It played an important role in the evolution in Chinese finish over the centuries. It has influenced near-by countries and had made a curb in the history of religion. There are today over six million people who call themselves Confucianists. Most Confucianists live in East Asia where Confucianism is aspect to be born. For over two thousand years, Confucianism has been the dominant philosophical system of Chinese presidency, which has still a great hold on their people. Because Chinese culture has spread to the counties of Vietnam, Korea, and Japan, the values of Confucianism can be found there too. ConfuciusConfucius was born in 551 BC in the village of Zou in the country of Lu. During that time, the Zhou dynasty was in decline-this was controlled by King Zhou. As a child, Confuc ius would have make-believe rituals as a young adult he quickly earned a written report for politeness, fairness and had a love for learning. He traveled often and studied at the imperial capital, Zhou, where legend has it he spoke with Lao Zi, the leader of Daoism. When Confucius returned to Lu, he became a renowned teacher. At the age of 35, Confucius followed Duke Zhao into war. Duke Zhao was later captured and Confucius again followed. Zhao often went to Confucius for advice, but was later advised not to by one of his advisors. Eventually Zhao stop going to him for advice and Confucius returned to Lu. When he returned, he saw that conditions have been unchanged so he retired from public life to concentrate on teaching and studying... ...ducted at the many Confucian temples on the island. In June, Taiwan?s Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the death, in 299 BCE, of the Confucian diplomat Chu Yuan, who drowned himself to call attention to unheeded demands for government reform.B ibliography1Confucianism ? World Religionsby Thomas and Dorothy Hoober P. 32 Confucianism ? World Religionsby Thomas and Dorothy Hoober P. 753 Confucianism http//albany.net/geenius/kongfuzi/teach.html4 Confucianism ? Encarta Encyclopediahttp//www.encarta.com5 Confucianism ? World ReligionsP. 56 6 Confucianismhttp//www.albany.net/geenius/kongfuzi/modkong.html7 World Book Encyclopedia ? Confucianism8 Confucianismhttp//www.encyclopedia.com9 Confucianismhttp//connect.net/ron/confucianism.html10 Confucianismhttp//www.encarta.com(I would check it first)

Television Violence and Its Effects on Children Essay -- Argumentative

Television Violence and Its Effects on Children Television ferocity affects tout ensemble who view it, but its biggest effect is on children. Childrens minds are like a blank page. Television is writing effect on that page. Television violence is one of the causes of aggression and violent behavior in children. This problem is not new, but in recent years it has gotten worse. In the last few years, violence in television programs has increased greatly. A study in 2000-01 compared to a study done in 1998-99 showed that violence is, in fact, on the rise. Verbal violence, rough language, alone increased by a staggering 78% (Lavers). How did violence become so prevalent on television? Sadly, violence is what the people precious to see it sells. Society has slowly put its guard down allowing violence to creep in. Now we are faced with this detrimental situation which we flip created. unseasoned children, starting at about age three, begin to really watch a television program designed for their age. They will begin to imitate what they have seen on the television. Children ages six through about ten often do not fully understand the difference between reality, and what they see on T.V. (Ledingham). With that in mind, consider the violent content in television programs. A recent content analysis, The National Television Violence Survey, had several interesting findings in construe to violence in television programs 1. 61% of television programs contain some violence, and only 4 percent of television programs with violent content featured an antiviolence theme. 2. 44% of the violent interactions on television involve perpetrators who have some attractive qualities worthy of emulation.3. 43% of violent scenes involve humor either... ...iolence. Mar. 1995. Media Awareness Network. 30 Oct. 2002 Kirkey, Sharon. rough TV, Video Games Dont Make Kid Kill. 20 May 2002. CanWest Global Communications Corp. 30 Sept. 2002 Lavers, Daphne. The Verdict on Media Violence. 13 M ay. 2002. regional Business News. 30 Sept. 2002. Ledingham, Jane. The Effects of Media Violence on Children. The National Clearing House on Family Violence. 13 Sept. 2002 Office of the Surgeon General. 13 Sept. 2002. U.S. Government. 28 Sept. 2002 uprightness Media. 2002. Virtue Media. 28 Sept. 2002

A Piece Of My Heart (book) :: essays research papers

The "other" Vietnam Vets     Everybody knows about the men who served in Vietnam. They have at least heard of the mentally trying conditions during the war and the resulting "post traumatic stress syndrome" (PTSD) so many veterans suffered from, or heard of the issues concerning proscribe public opinion of veterans for their role in a hated war. However, few are aware of the female role in the Vietnam War women, the "other" veterans, shared in all of these problems and issues along with the gun-toting men. They were the nurses, and in A Piece of My Heart by Keith Walker the stories of many women are presented to better understand just how the Vietnam War affected women. Working in places like body waste hospitals exposed women to the endless flow of casualties from the battlefield, and these experiences took major mental tolls upon the minds of the women who had to assist them, especially in their considerations for the value of human li fe. Women experienced other problems upon returning home much(prenominal) as the same PTSD and outlashes by anti-war protesters. Women were veterans of Vietnam just like the men, and they experienced many of the same problems as a result of their role there.     Women were exposed to an great amount of pain while in Vietnam. As veteran Rose Sandecki said, "The Vietnam War really did a number on all of us, the women as hygienic as the men" (20). Nurses in Vietnam were exposed to a nonstop flow of casualties from the field. The landing of a Chinook with mass casualties on board had become a standard to Christine Schneider, a nurse in Da Nang. Practically every nurse&8217s story described the hospital scenes in Vietnam as "busy." Jill Mishkel explained that she experienced a minimum of at least one death per day. As Ms. Schneider described, "There was just too much death" (46). Ms. Schneider also mentioned, "Everybody was deplorabl e" (45) nurses only saw the bad because they were surrounded by it, day in and day out. Charlotte Miller described everything as "on a very negative basis" (324), and that she had to deal with these problems from twelve to fifteen hours per day, twelve to fifteen days in a row, a very rigorous schedule. Further emotional upon was incurred by the severity of the injuries that the nurses had to deal with. Nurses described situations such as little boys with their intestines hanging out, men with half their faces blown off, men missing their legs from a grenade explosion, paraplegics, quadriplegics, and in one case pulling someone&8217s shoe off and having the foot come with it.

Amusing Ourselves to Death: Its Time to Stop Laughing Essay -- Postma

Amusing Ourselves to Death Its Time to Stop Laughing The form of parley created by the television is non only a part of how our modern society communicates, but is has changed public discourse to the point that it has completely redefined it, argued Neil letter carrier in his convincing book Amusing Ourselves to Death. He viewed this as very harmful, and additionally so because our society is ignorant of it as they quickly becomes engulfed in its epistemology. When faced with the interrogate ab out whether the television shapes or reflects culture, Postman pointed out that it is no longer applicable because television has gradually become our culture (79). What kind of culture is this? Postman warned that it is one in which we are instructed and informed done the form of entertainment, and that through such a medium, we are becoming dulled, ignorant of real issues, and amused secure into a very possible culture death. Today, xvi years after the books publication, he would p robably have a similar message (though possibly much passionate) to say about our present culture, especially in the areas of education and the nightly news, which have grown progressively worse. Taking two authors, George Orwell and Aldous Huxley, he compared their views about the futurity of information. Orwells view was that we would be overcome by a controlling force and books would be banned, leaving us without proper information or instruction. Huxley, on the otherwisewise hand, suggested that the squelching of information would non be the problem. Instead, it would be the plentiful mass flooding our culture that would make us ignorant. We would have so much to choose from, both useful and worthless, that we would become indifferent t... ...information invades the living room, they call into question why they are being tricked and mislead. Or worse, they do not even realize it. We are not a culture known for its thinking. Perhaps we are best known for our entertainme nt. Only when we divide these two realms will we become more accurate informed. Neil Postman, analyze Orwell and Huxleys theories, said, Our threat of being deprived of proper information does not watch us, by his choice. We watch him, by ours (155). His point was that by our own choosing, we are being misinformed. In our information age we have intelligent books, newspapers, magazines, and other information sources that have not been greatly affected by the television culture. We just need to mark off laughing and seek to be properly informed. works Cited Postman, Neil. Amusing Ourselves to Death. New York Penguin Books, 1985. Amusing Ourselves to Death Its Time to Stop Laughing Essay -- PostmaAmusing Ourselves to Death Its Time to Stop Laughing The form of communication created by the television is not only a part of how our modern society communicates, but is has changed public discourse to the point that it has completely redefined it, argued Neil Postman in his convincing book Amusing Ourselves to Death. He viewed this as very harmful, and additionally so because our society is ignorant of it as they quickly becomes engulfed in its epistemology. When faced with the question about whether the television shapes or reflects culture, Postman pointed out that it is no longer applicable because television has gradually become our culture (79). What kind of culture is this? Postman warned that it is one in which we are instructed and informed through the form of entertainment, and that through such a medium, we are becoming dulled, ignorant of real issues, and amused right into a very possible culture death. Today, sixteen years after the books publication, he would probably have a similar message (though possibly more passionate) to say about our present culture, especially in the areas of education and the nightly news, which have grown progressively worse. Taking two authors, George Orwell and Aldous Huxley, he compared their views a bout the future of information. Orwells view was that we would be overcome by a controlling force and books would be banned, leaving us without proper information or instruction. Huxley, on the other hand, suggested that the squelching of information would not be the problem. Instead, it would be the voluminous mass flooding our culture that would make us ignorant. We would have so much to choose from, both useful and worthless, that we would become indifferent t... ...information invades the living room, they wonder why they are being tricked and mislead. Or worse, they do not even realize it. We are not a culture known for its thinking. Perhaps we are best known for our entertainment. Only when we divide these two realms will we become more accurate informed. Neil Postman, comparing Orwell and Huxleys theories, said, Our threat of being deprived of proper information does not watch us, by his choice. We watch him, by ours (155). His point was that by our own choosing, we are bein g misinformed. In our information age we have intelligent books, newspapers, magazines, and other information sources that have not been greatly affected by the television culture. We just need to stop laughing and seek to be properly informed. Works Cited Postman, Neil. Amusing Ourselves to Death. New York Penguin Books, 1985.

Defining the Conception on God Essay -- Baruch Spinoza, philosophical a

What must be factual for anything to be factual, what must exist for anything to be in existence? For Spinoza, before you can to the full comprehend Ethics you have to be familiar with metaphysics. Metaphysic concerns itself with the fundamental principles that characterize entirely metaphysic is the ground from which e precisething comes from. This is the rationale for why he initiates Ethics with theology and spirit as an entirety before he ever begins to converse on the human mind. Spinoza was anti- ghostlike in his stance he did not articulate of a God on a theological or religious aspect but as a metaphysic aspect on the nature of reality. Spinoza concurs with the religious conception that there is in reality an intimate relationship between man and God but not by the Christian notion on the relationship, his ideas on this connection is very diverse from those views of Christians. Spinoza believed nature to be one and god to be one. This is to pronounce that the mind and bo dy are as truthful and human nature is actually one in itself. This consideration demonstrates that man is united to God in Spinozas observation. Spinoza uses the geometrical method to help those understand God and human nature, he knew one would have to follow the natural companionship of entities because before one can amply comprehend human nature, they have to be aware of the basic truth of the nature of reality as a whole.To truly understand God and the order of nature you must first establish an understanding of the universal laws of nature, Spinoza use of the geometrical method helps do just that. The geometrical method is very logically and is used to recognize the basic truths of nature from the start and the laws that govern thought and extension, this being all th... ...ruly desires is one free. The power of God itself which is in all of us in some sense a lesser or greater degree. This is also to say that existence just doesnt happen to exist, it necessary because it is infinite and eternal. Existence is what has to exist for anything to exist, so if anything exists than is in fact God who exists. With the use of the geometrical method, Spinoza is able to identify and make the conception of God intelligible to one. Giving one the ability to understand God and the human nature so that one can fully understand Ethics by this method. Since one cannot fully comprehend human nature until they are aware of the basic truth of the nature of reality. For the human mind to have the basic snapper to understand oneself including nature and God, by thought and extension, showing that every mind is in fact capable of understanding God.

Jewish Divorce Essay -- essays research papers

Although changes have been made to Jewish divorce laws, women are continually being mistreated when dealing with the issues of divorce. In biblical times, there were no assurances that women would be protected when faced with a man who wanted a divorce. Furthermore, women were not allowed to initiate the process by asking for one. As time went on, it was recognized that women needed to be somewhat shielded from actions that her hus vetod could take, which she had no control over. Rabbinic law made four major changes to avail the plight of women regarding divorce (Biale p.5).First, the Halackah requires a Get (bill of divorcement), which limits the possibility of a rash, thoughtless divorce (Biale p.6). Second, the Talmud introduces a number of effort where a woman can anticipate a divorce. She must appeal to a Beit Din to compel him to divorce her (B. p.6). Furthermore, post-biblical Halackah introduces the Ketubah, which gives financial assurances to women in case of a divorce (B. p.6). Finally, in the Middle ages, the ban of Rabbenu Gershom forbids divorcing a woman against her consent (B. p.6). Although these assurances are made, it does not hinder the mans ability to abuse his power when initiating a divorce. The Mishnah cites three opinions regarding legitimate grounds for divorce (B. p.74). In Deuteronomy 241, the passage reveals a lot about the practice of divorce. One clause states ...

Segmentation of Mercedes

Table of Contents 1. 0 Situation Analysis/Current merchandise Mix . 3 1. 1 Current Product.. 3 1. 2 Current Pricing . 4 1. 3 Current Distribution4 1. 4 Current Promotion.. 5 2. 0 segmentation Theory . 6 2. 1 Defining and Explaining Segmentation .. . 6 2. 2 Explaining Three Benefits of Mercedes-Benz Brand from use Segmentation 7 3. Target Market Identification 7 3. 1 Geographic Segmentation 7 3. 2 Demographic Segmentation . 8 3. 3 Psychographic Segmentation.. 8 3. 4 behavioural Segmentation .. 9 4. 0 Bibliography. . .. .. 20 moniker 3 1. 0 Situation Analysis/Current trade Mix 1. 1 Current Product Being a senior broad(prenominal) schoolschoolly reputable rat globally, Mercedes-Benz has prosperously penetrated in capital of Singapore trade.Presently, Mercedes-Benz C class has fleetly penetrated in the Singaporean proudlife automobile commercialize due to the p reclineigiousness associated with the brand. Being a consumer product, Mercedes correct C has been characteriz ed by high performance that accurately meets personal needs for active individuals through the superior brand name. Over the years, Mercedes Benz brand name has won global recognition, contributing to its popularity in Singaporean market. The dissimilar sub-models of Mercedes Benz anatomy C including C230, C240, C320 and C350 among others convolution consumers with various luxurious services, besides mere travelling.It is important to note that, the ability of a sum total product to offer probable and other beneficial characteristics besides the core product utility enhances its propensity to acquire popularity among consumers1. In this regard, Mercedes circle C has been considered as of high quality direct, having advanced(a) features to enhance driving experiences, stylish in nature and having strong brand name. In Singapore luxury car market, it has been reported that 70% of customers enquiring about car are much interested in Mercedes Benz Class C. This is an indication that, much of their time is spent looking on the stylish nature of the product2.It has been observed that, close of these consumers looking for Mercedes Benz Class C dont easily opt for other brands until they get it some other times when it is available. This is certify by the trade slogan of the product Drive and Seek, which aims at assuring the consumers ultimate performance of the product. More so, the prestigious nature of Mercedes Class C can be considered as a unique feature that has contributed to its popularity in Singapore. It has been observed that, Mercedes Benz Class C is multi-purpose, since it is still employ in sports as well as for private outside traveling.It is vital to note that, the ability of a product to offer consumers with additional benefits besides the basic uses contributes to its popularity among consumers. By having more additional benefits than its 1 Richard, Semenik and Gary, Bamossy, Principles of Marketing A Global Perspective (New York Prentic e Hall, 2005), 68. 2 Beng, Chua. Life is not Complete without Shopping Consumption Culture in Singapore, (Singapore Singapore University Press, 2003), 72. Surname 4 core competitors want BMW, Mercedes Benz Class C has penetrated well in Singaporean markets. 1. 2 Current PricingThe luxury car market in Singapore is an oligopoly competitive market, since in that location are few luxury car brands in the market. Being a superior brand in the market, Mercedes-Benz C-Class has efficiently penetrated in the Singapore market. This has been observed in the way this brand highly demanded, despite its high damages. Particularly, Mercedes Benz Class C pricing strategy is valuebased, considering the way consumers of this product take aim not been sensitive to the high prices for this product. It has also been observed that, increase in prices for Mercedes Benz Class C does not cloak consumer demand.This is evidenced when prices for Mercedes Benz Class C 350 increased from ? 32580 in the ye ar 2006 to ? 33130 in the year 2007, the total demand for the product remained undisturbed, constituting of about 30% of luxury demand in Singapore3. This shows how the superiority of the brand is not affected by price changes, since consumers use up are highly loyal to the brand, despite competitors using various tactics to market their products. Customer loyalty for Mercedes Benz Class C is demonstrated in the way consumers in Singapore maintain the demand for the brand, despite its competitors lowering their prices.For instance, BMW is one of the core rivals of Mercedes Benz, whose tendency of reducing prices has not affected the demand for Mercedes Benz Class C. Particularly, the year 2007 saw BMW lower the prices of its luxury car models in Singapore in order to win more customers, a strategy which did not affect the demand for Mercedes Benz Class C4. This is an indication that, consumers tend to perceive the value of Mercedes Benz as being far much higher than the money they pay for.As a result, high level of customer loyalty has been prevalent for Mercedes Benz Class C in Singapore as a result of the outstanding features and prestigious nature of the luxury car brand. Considering that Mercedes Benz Class C is sophistically manufactured using highly costly resources, the strategy adopted by the brand in pricing the product is effective. though Mercedes-Benz C-Class is an expensive car, its value among the consumers has made it acquire loyalty among the customers. 1. 3 Current Distribution 3 Leslie, Butterfield, Enduring Passion Story of the Mercedes Benz Brand, (New York Wiley Publishers, 2005), 36. Dennis, Adler, Mercedes Benz first off Gear, (London Motorbooks, 2008), 46. Surname 5 Mercedes C-Class has been distributed using a variety of channels in Singapore. With some buyers opting for online orders, there are various selling points of the luxury car in Singapore. Among the various reference points for Mercedes Benz Class C includes the major(ip) attraction points in the island like Ion Sky, and Marina Bay Sand among others. More so, Mercedes Benz Class C has been distributed in Singapore through major exhibitions in the island like the Singapore Showroom, Titanic exhibition, MBS Countdown, and Elephant Parade among others.This has facilitated the distribution of the luxury cars to the quite a little where they can view it and make barter fors5. By having various points of sale for this product, high volume of sales has been experienced in this brand, since consumers find it easier to contact the sellers directly. Since customers are able to visit the show rooms and explore the vehicles directly, direct interactions between the brands representatives have facilitated brand popularity among the people of Singapore.Since Mercedes Benz Class C products are produced in Singapore, nigh of the sellers are companys representatives who act as sales agents. This makes the customers lack the opportunity of interacting directly wit h the manufacturers of the brand. With the advancement of e-commerce, many customers in Singapore have adopted online purchasing strategy for the Mercedes Benz Class C cars. Through online stores, Mercedes troupe has been able to substantial customer base in Singapore6. Being a well developed country, many people use computers, fashioning it easier for them to make most of their purchases online.Through the adoption of web video with interactive agent thriller as well as the companys website, consumers have been able to know the products. After making online purchases the cars are shipped to the customers through the port of Singapore which handles various products from Europe and other parts of the world. Through the use of a blend of physical selling points and online marketing strategy, Mercedes Company has been able to distribute Mercedes Benz Class C cars to many consumers in Singapore. 1. 4 Current PromotionCurrently, Mercedes Company adopts a variety of promotional platforms for Mercedes Benz Class C in Singapore. These platforms include internet portfolio, traditional print and cinema, which are 5 Paul, Leppert, Doing Business with Singapore Global Business Series, (Washington, DC Jain Pub Co. , 2000), 21. 6 Dennis, Adler, Mercedes Benz First Gear, (London Motorbooks, 2008), 41. Surname 6 reinforced with corporate social responsibility through integrated marketing communications. There various messages displayed on the promotional platforms for Mercedes Benz Class C which includes Drive and Seek, and More Style per Hour.All these promotional messages are available at the Mercedes Companys website as core messages of persuading the customers to purchase the product. The message Drive & Seek has been passed on through this media, thus helping in marketing Mercedes Benz Class C. By adopting this message, the company is guaranteeing its customers about the performance of the product. Online advert has been considered as key promotional platform adopted b y the Mercedes Company in the sale of Mercedes Benz Class C in Singapore.With about 80 per centum of Singapores society being able to access the internet at least daily, the use of web video advertisement by Mercedes-Benz has been give sort of efficient7. Further, More style per hour is another promotional message adopted in the marketing of Mercedes Benz Class C in Singapore. This message has been astray available in the companys marketing pamphlets, television ads and companys websites. This message searchs to convince buyers that they will definitely experience outstanding prestige and stylish drive every time they use the product.With most of the consumers in Singapore being luxurious and prestigious in nature, this message has been open quite recyclable and accurate in meeting the psychological needs of Singaporeans. The combination of these promotional messages has enhance successful penetration of Mercedes Benz Class C in Singapore consumer market, man many consumers who have the product remaining very loyal to it8. 2. 0 Segmentation Theory 2. 1 Defining and Explaining Segmentation Segmentation is fundamentally the identification and establishment of buyer/consumer subsets within a market.Notably, these groups of buyers demonstrate similar behaviors and needs. Despite the extensive and diverse nature of the global market, it should be noted that buyers have different behaviors and needs. With this in mind, marketers or businesses have to match groups of customers who have similar needs and behaviors. A point worthy of consideration is that each segment has 7 Leslie, Butterfield, Enduring Passion Story of the Mercedes Benz Brand, (New York Wiley Publishers, 2005), 33. 8 Philip Kotler, Marketing Places, (New York McGraw Hill Press, 2001), 231. Surname 7 distinct needs and homogeneous characteristics.With this in mind, market stimulus and market intervention are used to address each segment9. Through segmentation, marketers are able to meet the spe cific needs of the particular customer base, by tailor the products to meet the needs of such customers. 2. 2 Segmentation in Singapore for Mercedes-Benz Class C The market segmentation in the Singapore consumer market for Mercedes Benz Class C has been very useful in the way the company has been able to position the product more appropriately. The market segment aimed by this product is the midst age-group working class people who are educated.Particularly, Mercedes Benz Class C is meant for individuals who have achieved success in their early live and are having many ambitions in their endeavors. This is evidenced in their marketing messages which seem to concern active and well-up people seeking success in their various endeavors. For instance, Drive & Seek is meant to persuade active and successful individuals to seek more success through driving Mercedes Benz Class C10. With about 80% of the population senescence between 18-49 years working, this segment has the authorisatio n to offer substantial market opportunity for Mercedes Benz Class C.More so, Mercedes Company targets young and well-up families. This is shown in the way Mercedes Benz Class C is specially tailored to accommodate a family while at various luxurious trips or excursions. As evidenced in the promotional message more style per hour it is explicit that the company aims at meeting the needs of a family while traveling. Quite importantly, this segment comprises of large proportion in Singapore with about 48% of the population married, while the rest are children and youths11. As a result, there seems a potential market for this product in Singapore market. . 0 Target Market Identification 3. 1 Geographic Segmentation Singapore is a highly strategic and potential country for luxurious products like Mercedes- Benz C-Class. Precisely, Singapore is a small country which is highly urbanized. Since Mercedes Benz Class C requires flat and smooth terrain for outstanding performance, Singapore can be 9 Johan Arndt, Market Segmentation Theoretical and Empirical Dimensions (New York London, 2001), 38. 10 Dennis Adler, Mercedes Benz First Gear, (London Motorbooks, 2008), 38. 1 Paul Leppert, Doing Business with Singapore Global Business Series, (Washington, DC Jain Pub Co. , 2000), 43. Surname 8 considered as an ultimate geographical persona for this product. Precisely, the urbanized nature of Singapore positions it adequately in terms of market for the Mercedes C-Class. Majority of the population being urban dwellers, they have found Mercedes-Benz C-Class very useful in meeting their needs12. It is also important to note that, Singapore is experiences tropical climate rainy, humid and hot, which makes the country to remain ever green and agriculturally potential.Though commercial earth is not commonly practiced, the people in Singapore have food security. These are key aspects with reference to the economic stability of the region, makes the region to offer potential purchasi ng power for luxury products like Mercedes Benz Class C. Besides the ability to buy, the physical environment has made the people of Singapore to associate themselves with superior products like Mercedes Benz Class C to match their conducive geographical features.The gently undulating and lowland terrain of Singapore enhances the need for Mercedes-Benz C-Class which has a high sense of comfort. 3. 2 Demographic Segmentation The demographics of Singapore can be considered as having the potential to offer potential market for luxury products like Mercedes Benz Class C. The population structure constituting many middle-aged people whom most of them are working offers potential market for luxurious cars like Mercedes Benz Class C. More so, about 40% of people living in Singapore city are foreigners who have come to do business and white collar jobs.With about 76% of the people living in Singaporeans aging between 15-64 years, it is evident that most of the population is active, making i t efficient for Mercedes Benz Class C which aims at active individuals and young families. Many of these people engage in economic activities which are industrial in nature like financial services provision, chemicals, electronics, construction and entrepot trade. With the population growth rate being estimated to be 1. 56 percent, there seems to be potential market for luxury products like Mercedes Benz Class C in Singapore throughout.It has also been observed that, high level of literacy in the country, which is about 90%, has played significant role in boosting the purchasing power of many Singaporeans. On this basis, it is evident that there is potential market for various segments aimed by Mercedes-Benz C-Class13 in Singapore. 12 Richard Vasil, Governing Singapore Democracy and National Development (New York Allen & Unwin, 2000), 96. 13 Leslie Butterfield, Enduring Passion Story of the Mercedes Benz Brand, (New York Wiley Publishers, 2005), 41 Surname 9 3. Psychographic Segment ation One of the target segment markets for Mercedes Benz Class C is highly ambitious middleaged working class. The luxurious lifestyle upheld by this group has been found effective when coupled with Mercedes-Benz C-Class as one of their luxury products. With most Singaporeans being active in their lives, they have been found quite suitable for being targeted as ultimate consumers for Mercedes-Benz C-Class. With this group being working, its purchasing power for luxury products like Mercedes-Benz C-Class has been guaranteed.It is also important to note that, the socio-economic status of the target market for Mercedes-Benz C-Class is high income earners who seek performance as their core values. As a result, such individuals would go for outstandingly performing products like Mercedes-Benz C-Class in their lives. In Singapore, the largest population consists of middle-aged people with modal age of 37 years. In this regard, it is evident that there is potential market for Mercedes-Ben z C-Class for this market segment. The urban lifestyles of the population of Singapore also demonstrate the socioeconomic potential of the Singapore market14.As a result, it has been evident that Singapore population has potential market for the market segment with the psychographics associated with Mercedes Benz Class C luxury cars. 3. 4 Behavioral Segmentation The consumer behavior in Singapore has been demonstrated to be very admirable for the marketing processes of Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Since the brand name itself is globally acknowledged, it has been difficult for individuals who are used to the brand to switch to other luxury cars. Majority of the population are urban dwellers who are characterized with high sense of purchasing foreign and sophisticated products15.Statistics have shown that, about 80% of Mercedes Benz Class C consumers are loyal to the brand in Singapore. This is evidenced in the way many golf playgrounds, which are associated with high class people, are asso ciated with Mercedes Brand Name. This has been due to the sophistication and prestige associated with the product. Since the target market for this brand are also prestigious and luxuries, it has been hard for them to give up products which seems to embrace their core values like Mercedes Benz Class C16. This has 14 Paul Leppert, Doing Business with Singapore Global Business Series, (Washington, DC Jain Pub Co. 2000), 52 15 Richard Vasil, Governing Singapore Democracy and National Development (New York Allen & Unwin, 2000), 97. 16 Leslie Butterfield, Enduring Passion Story of the Mercedes Benz Brand, (New York Wiley Publishers, 2005), 55 Surname 10 adequately enhanced the potential of the population in purchasing the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Generally, the high purchasing power of the target market for Mercedes Benz Class C in Singapore has facilitated high leg of loyalty to the product, since this product has been observed to embrace their personal and lifestyle needs.

Killing- the only way to solve problems? Essay

At ab aside two oclock. The argument between the Montague and the Capulet has once more messed up the intact town. A woman with a baby said It is not safe to walk on the streets with children any more. This is the third time that the two (Montague and Capulet) families have been budge against each other in open public places. If any topic like that happens then it must be those two families. Sampson who is a servant of the Capulet family, and Abraham who is a servant of the Montague were the master(prenominal) people of these incidents.From a witnesss information, Sampson started the fight. He went up to Abraham and annoyed him by telling him that he is better than him as a servant. Abraham did not palm rough what he said and walk away. Sampson didnt get what he wanted, so he kicked the old man who is also a servant of the Montagues family. Abraham could not stand the rudeness of him. So he asked to draw with that man. As soon as they took out their swords, all the people who are in their families took out their swords as well. They messed up all the markets.It was like a war Chickens were flying across the streets vegetables were making to pieces. Women with children were running away trying to protect their children. People were throwing things from the windows On of the Capulets servant said Capulet heard the noises out at the center place. He asked for long sword. And run out to join the war. When Montague heard about the fight, he wanted to fight as well. Because he knows that it must be the Capulet that they were going to fight with. His wife held him, but that doesnt do anything.He told his wife to let him go and he went to fight as well as the rest of the family. Why cant the two families be peace? That is a question that many people have tried to find out. Both families had been against each other since a long time ago. If one does some thing wrong, the other must have some kind of reaction to it. Conflicts and conflicts over and over again. Go d knows what happens next between the two families. Minutes after the fight started. Some one went up to the bell tower, and ran the bell.Prince Escalus came to the place with his train. As they go pass, all the people were running away from them, because they didnt want to get arrested by the prince. When the prince arrived at the place where the fight took place, everyone stopped fighting. The prince spoke, and mentioned that the old Capulet and Montague have disturbed the quite of the streets. And if they ever do that again, their lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace. Both Capulet and Montague ended up going back with the prince in the afternoon.

Immigration Reformation

Mexicos immigration policies comprise single, streamlined laws that ensure that foreign visitors and immigrants are regimented. For a better picture, these take on stern rules that these immigrants are in the country legally, that they are able to sustain themselves economically, that they do not become burdens to the society, that they are of good character and have no criminal records, and are contributors to the general wellbeing of the nation.In fact, immigration authorities compile records of each foreign visitor and assure that these visitors do not violate their indorse status. They are also banned from meddling with internal politics and those who violate the terms of their entry and who enter under false pretenses are imprisoned or deported (Lillpop). Indeed, the Mexican constitution strictly defines the rights of its citizens and as one may put it, the denial of may fundamental rights to non-citizens, legal or illegal.Though its law makes perfect sense, Mexico is push bu tton the unite States to water down the latters immigration rules, when, in the first place, its own immigration restrictions are the toughest in the continent. However, also looking at Mexicos points, El Paso asks the US government to stop raids and dividing American families insisting, We are not the Enemy, We are Part of the Solution (Garcia & Camargo).The rally down in El Paso has emphasized the need for new immigration policies that provide means for immigrants residing in the joined States to attain permanent residency. Some say Mexican leaders demanding from the United States immigration laws, which contradict its own. Some even say the agenda of Mexico for such demand is clear to have a one-way immigration relationship with the United States. However, looking at a broader perspective, I believe Mexico only wants to impose stern rules with regards to foreigners to protect its citizens and the well being of its nations.United States, on the other hand, are move to impose the same, now with opposition from the Mexicans. Who are directly affected here are those Southerners who live in US soil and vice versa. To avoid stepping on each others flags and more importantly to avoid misunderstanding between the neighboring countries, each much provide room for adjustments and meet center(prenominal) so as to grant the its citizens, foreign or not, just and humane rights even if they live in a soil foreign to their true nation.Works Cited Lillpop, John. immigration Reform? Lets Try Mexicos immigration Law. 27 February 2007. Canada Free Press. 19 October 2007. . Garcia, Fernando & Camargo, Betty. El Paso and Southern New Mexico Communities March and Rally for Just, Humane and Comprehensive Immigration Reform NOW . 6 April 2007. Border Network and Human Rights. 19 October 2007. .

Acct 505 Mid Term

1. Question (TCO F) Assume there is no beginning effect in surgical procedure blood and the ending work in process inventory is 100% complete with respect to materials cost. The number of tantamount(predicate) units with respect to materials costs under the weighted-average regularity is Student declaration The same as the number of units sit into turnout. 2. Question (TCO F) Process be would be appropriate for each of the following except Student Answer custom furniture manufacturing. 3. Question (TCO F) Which of the following accounts is debit entryed when acquit labor is embarked?Student Answer Work in process 4. Question (TCO F) During December at Ingrim Corporation, $74,000 of blunt materials were requisitioned from the storeroom for use in production. These raw materials included both direct and indirect materials. The indirect materials totaled $6,000. The journal entry to record the requisition from the storeroom would include a Answer debit to Wor k in Process of $68,000. 5. Question (TCO F) Valles Corporation had $22,000 of raw materials on hand on February 1. During the month, the company purchased an additional $75,000 of raw materials.The journal entry to record the purchase of raw materials would include a Answer debit to Raw Materials of $75,000. 6. Question Emerils Utensils has collected the following production selective information for the past quartette months Units produced Total cost7,000 $16,50010,000 22,5008,500 17,7509,000 21,000If the high-low method is used, what is the monthly total cost equation? Student Answer Total cost = $2,500 + ($2. 00 * units produced 1. Question (TCO F) Whether a company uses process cost or job-order costing depends on its industry.A number of companies in different industries are listed below i. Brick manufacturer ii. Contract printer that produces posters, books, and pamphlets to order iii. rude(a) gas production company iv. Dairy farm v. Coal mining company vi. forte coffee roaster (roasts small batches of specialty coffee beans) For each company, indicate whether the company is more or less likely to use job-order costing or process costing. Student Answer 1. Process Costing 2. Job-order costing 3. Process costing 4. job-order costing 5. process costing 6. job order costing teacher Explanation i.Brick manufacturer Process Costing ii. Contract printer that produces posters, books, and pamphlets to order Job Order Costing iii. Natural gas production company Process Costing iv. Dairy farm Process Costing v. Coal mining company Process Costing vi. Specialty coffee roaster (roasts small batches of specialty coffee beans) Job Order Costing Points Received 13 of 15 Comments 2. Question (TCO F) Job 827 was recently completed. The following data have been recorded on its job cost sheet Direct materials $61,050 Direct labor hours 1,332 labor hoursDirect labor wage rate $14 per labor-hour Machine Hours 1,480 machine hours Num ber of units completed 3,700 units The company applies manufacturing operating expense on the basis of machine-hours. The predetermined overhead rate is $13 per machine-hour. Compute the unit product cost that would appear on the job cost sheet for this job. Student Answer Direct material $61,050. 00 Direct labor cost $18,648 ($14 x 1332 hours) Manufacturing overhead $19240 (predetermined over head rate $13x 1480) Total = $98,938/3700 units = $26. 4 unit product cost Instructor Explanation Direct materials $61,050 Direct labor ($14 per DLH, 1,332 DLHs) 18,648 Manufacturing Overhead ($13 per MH, 1,480 MHs) 19,240 Total Cost $98,938 Unit Product Cost $26. 74 Points Received 15 of 15 Comments 3. Question (TCO F) Miller Company manufactures a product for which materials are added at the beginning of the manufacturing process. A review of the companys inventory and cost records for the most recently completed year revealed the following information Units Materials v icissitude Work in process. Jan. 1 (80% complete with respect to conversion costs) 100,000 $100,000 $157,500 Units started into production 500,000 Costs added during the year Materials $650,000 Conversion $997,500 Units completed during the year 450,000 The company uses the weighted-average cost method in its process costing system. The ending inventory is 50% complete with respect to conversion costs. Required i. Compute the equivalent units of production and the cost per equivalent units for materials and for conversion costs. i. Determine the cost transferred to finished goods. iii. Determine the amount of cost that should be assigned to the ending work in process inventory. Student Answer 1. 100,000 + 500,000 = 600,000 x 80% = 480,000 equivalent units of production. 1b Cost per equivalent units Materials = $1. 56 1c conversion cost= $2. 41 2. Cost of transfered goods $748,800 + $1156800. 00 = $1,905,600. 00 3. 100,000 x 80% = 80,000 units $1. 56 40,000 uni ts $2. 41 =96,400 =$221,200 Instructor Explanation Points Received 10 of 15 Comments 4. Question (TCO F) Hunsicker Corporation has provided the following data for the month of January Inventories Beginning Ending Raw materials $30,000 $33,000 Work In process $20,000 $18,000 ruined goods $52,000 $60,000 Additional Information Raw material purchases $63,000 Direct labor costs $92,000 Manufacturing overhead cost incurred $75,000 corroboratory materials included in manufacturing overhead costs incurred $6,000 Manufacturing overhead cost applied to work in process $69,000 Prepare a Schedule of Cost of Goods Manufactured and a Schedule of Cost of Goods change in good form. Student Answer Direct Material Raw Material Inventory, beginning $30,000 add Purchases of raw materials $63,000 Total Raw Material uncommitted $83,000 Deduct Raw Material inventory end $33,000 Raw Material used in production $50,000 Deductindirect Material included in Manufacturin g overhead $6,000 $44,000 Direct Labor $92,000 Manufacturing overhead cost applied to work in process $69,000 Total Manufacturing cost $205,000 Add Beginning work in process $20,000 $225,000 Deduct Ending work in process $18,000 Cost of goods fabricate $207,000 Cost of Goods Sold Finished goods Inventory, Beginning $52,000 Add Cost of goods manufactured $207,000 Cost of goods avaiable for sale $259,000 Deduct Finished goods inventory, ending $60,000 unadjusted cost of goods sold $199,000 Instructor Explanation Hunsicker Corporation Schedule of Cost of Goods Manufactured January xxx Direct materials Raw materials inventory, beginning $30,000 Raw material purchases 63,000 Total raw materials available $93,000 Raw materials inventory, ending 33,000 Raw materials used in production $60,000 Indirect materials included in manufacturing overhead costs incurred 6,000 $54,000 Direct labor 92,000Manufacturing overhead applied to work in p rocess 69,000 Total manufacturing costs $215,000 Beginning work in process inventory 20,000 $235,000 Ending work in process inventory 18,000 Cost of goods manufactured $217,000 Hunsicker Corporation Cost of Goods Sold January XXX Finished goods inventory, beginning $52,000 Add cost of goods manufactured $217,000 Cost of goods available for sale $269,000 Deduct finished goods inventory, ending 60,000 Unadjusted cost of goods sold 209,000 Add Underapplied overhead 6,000 Adjusted cost of goods sold 215,000

A Bumpy Road for Toyota

Just-in-time philosophy, focused on consistent grapheme improvement, propelled Toyota to become a leading global machine manufacturer. However, its global expansion and limited frame of experts relative to its global operations weakened this focus in North America.While Toyota remains a competitive elevator car manufacturer, it examined recurring periods of decline in its quality stand up. Now, it has to strengthen its JIT philosophy.Toyotas focus on quality is consistent with the just-in-time philosophy. JIT means eradicating or decreasing to the least possible level wastage in the production process. By doing so, the company can pursue a range of outcomes including decrease in inventory, cost reduction, error minimization, and mellowed quality. Quality is an outcome of implementing JIT while the focus on quality is a path to implementing JIT.Toyotas achievement of a high quality standing during its lead periods is a testament to the focus on quality as a possible means of i mplementing JIT (Bozarth and Handfield 547). It is also possible to implement JIT without a strong quality focus. Reducing inventory, minimizing cost and eradicating error could also be paths in implementing JIT. However, these paths including quality are interrelated and reinforcing so that the focus on other paths relieve call for the achievement of a certain level of quality especially in minimizing errors and reducing costs.The quality focus of Toyota worked because of its coordinators. These coordinators are mid-level managers in the manufacturing plants in Japan with decades of experience of the car companys JIT philosophy called Toyota Production System (TPS) (Bozarth and Handfield 546).These coordinators played a key role in promoting TPS to Toyotas employees because these oriented and trained the shop-floor managers and workers in the American manufacturing plant on ways of addressing actual issues emerging from the production line (547).This practical approach encouraged innovativeness and responsiveness to lower wastage. Coordinators are problematical to replicate because their deep knowledge emerged from decades of experience. Time to develop coordinators is a luxury given the current need of Toyota to expand and boost production to meet emergence demand.Hajime Oba differentiated Toyotas TPS with the JIT strategy of the three automobile manufacturers in Detroit. He claimed that the JIT approach in Detroit is superficial since the intention was only to reduce inventory without rattling getting into the essence of JIT (Bozarth and Handfield 547).There is some truth to this. American car manufacturers operate more through textbook theories of efficiency, which implies using the least possible input in maximizing output, and with formality or impersonal management highlighting distinctions in task assignments, processes and systems. This necessarily leads to a different JIT approach relative to the Japanese stance of JIT.The tenet haste makes wast e captures the situation in Toyotas Georgetown plant. In the 1990s, Toyota received recognition for high quality through automobile quality surveys (Bozarth and Handfield 547). with the work of its coordinators, the Georgetown plant even received recognition as the second best in terms of the quality of cars manufactured in the plant (547). This propelled gross revenue of Toyota cars in North America.The spike in demand pushed the plant to speed up production until it came to a point when quality suffered. With a limited number of coordinators for a large plant and language barriers, there was movement away from the TPS (547).In releasing the Camry, the company received many quality complaints from customers leading to the plummeting of its quality standing (548). Toyota is attempting to reassert the TPS in its Georgetown plant by recruiting a Japanese TPS expert to motivate middle managers to work the floor again.Toyotas quality focused TPS has worked and it still works. However, the automobile manufacturer needs to adjust implementation to consider its growth and expansion. Toyota needs to have sufficient coordinators and this time more American coordinators for the North American plant trained in its quality-based JIT philosophy.Work CitedBozarth, Cecil, and Robert Handfield. Introduction to Operations and Supply Chain Management. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ Prentice Hall, 2007.

Est 310.2.1-05 (Company Q)

EST1 Ethical Situations in Business A small local grocery computer storages disadvantages in a metropolitan battlegrounds EST1 Task 1 Being a small, local grocery store chain in a major metropolitan bea does not come without its challenges. National and regional chains atomic number 18 frequently forcing small and locally owned stores to close their doors.For this reason, as well as the abundant obligations to the accessible responsibilities required by their communities and customers alike pushes both the small business owner as well as the larger corporations to be able to line up their organizations goals and objectives to balance not only their goal to be profit driven but to also be socially and honestly perceptive with the way they choose business and operate their stores. Recently Company Q has chosen to close two store locations that operated in areas where crime rates were statistically higher within the city.The store closures are creation driven by consistent los ses the stores experienced year over year. If the stores have consistently lost money year over year, we need to analyze the reasons as to why. To take the social responsible approach at analyzing this question we would first need to understand our customer demographic for from each one of the geographical locations. For example, if one of our stores is located in a highly populated Hispanic neighborhood and we are promoting Ethnic Asian viandss, we could not expect these foods to treat at the same rate as we would handmade corn tortillas.Taking an ethical and cultural marketing approach to sell foods that are Hispanic-centric strongly supports the business and ethical approach that would be necessary for our store to successfully show a profit. When we stop to understand our customer demographics and their communities in which they live, we then course the axe recognize what is needed for our business to prosper within the community. After many years of customer requests Com pany Q, began offering a limited selection of health conscience and constitutional intersections in their stores.Offering organic and environmentally friendly harvestings in response to our customers requests is a large step in forming a social contract with our customers instead of scarce offering then what we feel they need. Soliciting feedback from our customers provides us with the means to understand what they want and what they need. Offering a high end products to our customers that neither have the financial might to afford the high costs that accompany high end products, nor do they have the desire to purchase these products to help Company Qs bottom line.In concomitant it ordain actually drive our results in the opposite direction. Our product choices must be targets to the consumer within our communities. Ethnic foods must be customary to the neighborhoods in which they are being offered. The marketing of our stores in cultural or racially specific communities must be stocked with the products that meet the involve of our customers in those communities. It takes very negligible effort to understand our customers, but that minimal effort makes the difference in the midst of a store being successful or failing.There are multiple sources that can be used to help us understand our customers cultural and social desires. To gain a simple understanding of the cultural needs for a Hispanic centric neighborhood can begin with a simple Google appear on Hispanic Market Research. For example when preforming the following Google search we learned. Market Research Hispanics According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the terms Hispanic (and Latino) refer to people whose origins are from Spain, the Spanish-speaking countries of Central or South America, the Caribbean, or those identifying themselves broadly as Spanish, Spanish-American, etc.Origin can be viewed as ancestry, nationality, or country of birth of the person or persons parents or ancestors prior to their arrival in the United States. Hispanics can be of any race. There are more than 48 million Hispanics in the United States. Latinos now account for 16% of the American population. The 32 million Latinos of Mexican origin account for around 66% of the Hispanic population. Hispanics accounted for more than half of all of the growth in the U. S. population that occurred between 2000 and 2009.Latinos also are expected to be responsible for more than half of the growth in the U. S. population between 2010 and 2015. With an estimated buying power of $616 billion, Latinos of Mexican heritage represent the single most influential segment of the Hispanic market. Mexicans in the United States account for 59% of all Hispanic buying power. On a per capita basis, however, Cubans are the most affluent of the major Hispanic population segments. Their per capita buying power is substantially higher than that of Mexicans ($32,724 vs. $19, 426).The vast majority (92%) of Hispanics under 18 were innate(p) in the United States as were about 47% of those 18 and over. Mexicans are most likely to be U. S. -born. More education leads to higher-paying jobs and increasing affluence among high-acculturation Latinos. High-acculturation Hispanics are more likely than their low-acculturation counterparts to work as four-in-hands and professionals (19% vs. 6%). They are twice as likely to have a household income of $75,000 or more (37% vs. 19%) and are much more likely to own their home (62% vs. 40%) (Census Bureau, 2012 www. marketresearch. om ). Preforming a simple marketing search on the Hispanic cultural give us insight as to how we can begin to market and set ourselves apart in the marketplace. How we can currently target and begin to build a marketing strategy that will ensure the future growth and the frugal sustainability of our stores within a Hispanic centric neighborhood. Currently Company Q operates under the constitution of disposing of stale products, this a pe rfect example where our management team is missing out on a great public relations and corporate social responsibility opportunity.When approach by the areas food bank to donate day-old products that would otherwise been throw away, our management team declined. Management being more focused on the possible loss of revenue due to the potential increase in fraud and stealing that could be done its employees who could take aim that that they were donating the food. One thing that we need to understand it the actual cost associated with and or the actual / perceived benefits. Our company will write off any product that needs to be disposed of due to the shelf life expiration date.The products are disposed if in a dumpster and therefore currently ends the usefulness of the product from the companys perspective. If we are paying for the products by weight or volume, we will incur a greater disposal rates from the waste removal company for the disposal of those unsellable products inst ead of donating them to a local food bank. This concern of a possible increase in expenses does not begin to look at the tax benefits that could be received by the donating of the product to a local food bank as well as other possible economic impacts that this policy can have on the economy of our community.Another concern that we need to be aware of is the impact that our policy to throw away on day-old products will have on employees moral. If weve communicated to our employees that we will not be socially contentious to our local communities, then what is the message that we are delivering to our employees since they are part of our communities. How will they relate that to how valued they feel as an employee for Company Q? In our technology and media driven society it would e foolish not to except a socially aware employee or customer to film the disposal of the food that we may have not been able to sell, but it could easily be donated to our local food banks to help those in need. The potential of the negative publicity and feedback from such an event would be devastating to a small chain stores such as ours. The in a higher place mention concerns addressed not only some of the potential financial impacts but also the possible social capital losses that we could face in our current position.Thankfully, we do not need to pay out much financially or in employee efforts to make a substantial difference in our stores and neighborhood communities. One delivery van can be used at the end of each day to deliver the products that would have otherwise been thrown away to our local food bank. The food can be unloaded by the food bank staff while the food bank manager carry ons with the Manager or Supervisor of our company the impacts that this donation will have on the community. This same information can be taken back and share with the store employees.The minimal time spent delivering and unloading the products daily at the local food banks in a minor change in the daily operations for the store, but will have an overall impact to the community that will consistently strengthen our relationship within in the local communities, our relationships with our employees as well as enhancing our brand across our chain of stores. References * Census Bureau (2012). Hispanic Market market research reports. Marketresearch. com. Retrieved from http//www. marketresearch. com/Marketing-Market-Research-c70/Demographics-c81/Hispanic-Market-c1692/

Paper Evaluation

How to Read a Scientific Paper BIOC/MCB 568 F all 2010 John W. Little and Roy ParkerUniversity of azimuth bet on to 568 home rapscallion Translation into Belorussian The main purpose of a scientific composition is to report young replys, unremarkably experimental, and to relate these results to previous grappleledge in the field. Papers argon iodine of the most weighty styluss that we communicate with hotshot an opposite. In deriveing how to see a make-up, we contain to start at the beginning with a few preliminaries. We thence address the main questions that entrust enable you to derive and evaluate the paper. . How be text file organized? 2. How do I prep atomic number 18 to remove a paper, particularly in an champaign non so familiar to me? 3. What difficulties screwing I expect? 4. How do I understand and evaluatethe content of the paper? 1. Organization of a paper In most scientific journals, scientific cover ascertain a standard format. They are di vided into slightly(prenominal) piecealizations, and each section serves a specific purpose in the paper. We first describe the standard format, then few variations on that format. A paper begins with a shortSummaryorAbstract.Generally, it overturns a brief natesground to the topic describes concisely the major queue upings of the paper and relates these findings to the field of field of operation. As leave behind be seen, this limpid order is likewise that of the paper as a whole. The next section of the paper is the pre directment. In umpteen journals this section is not given a title. As its name imp impositions, this section presents the background knowledge necessary for the lector to understand why the findings of the paper are an advance on the knowledge in the field.Typically, the Introduction describes first the accepted state of knowledge in a specialized field then it foc expenditures more than specifically on a particular reflection, commonly describin g a finding or set of findings that led directly to the forge described in the paper. If the originators are testing a hypothesis, the source of that hypothesis is spelled out, findings are given with which it is consistent, and one or more predictions are given. In galore(postnominal) papers, one or some(prenominal) major conclusions of the paper are presented at the polish off of this section, so that the reader knows the major answers to the questions besides posed.Papers more descriptive or proportional in nature may begin with an universe to an area which interests the authors, or the need for a broader database. The next section of most papers is theMaterials and Methods. In some journals this section is the last one. Its purpose is to describe the materials apply in the experiments and the methods by which the experiments were carried out. In principle, this description should be detailed enough to allow other(a) look forers to replicate the melt down.In make out , these descriptions are lots highly compressed, and they often colligate back to previous papers by the authors. The third section is usuallyResults. This section describes the experiments and the reasons they were through. Generally, the logic of the Results section follows directly from that of the Introduction. That is, the Introduction poses the questions address in the aboriginal part of Results. Beyond this point, the organization of Results differs from one paper to another(prenominal). In some papers, the results are presented without extensive discussion, which is reserved for the following section.This is appropriate when the data in the early parts do not need to be interpreted extensively to understand why the later(prenominal) experiments were done. In other papers, results are given, and then they are interpreted, perhaps taken together with other findings not in the paper, so as to give the analytical basis for later experiments. The fourth section is theDiscus sion. This section serves several purposes. First, the data in the paper are interpreted that is, they are analyzed to show what the authors believe the data show.Any limitations to the interpretations should be acknowledged, and fact should understandably be separated from speculation. Second, the findings of the paper are related to other findings in the field. This serves to show how the findings contri howevere to knowledge, or correct the errors of previous act as. As declared, some of these legitimate arguments are often found in the Results when it is necessary to clarify why later experiments were carried out. Although you force argue that in this case the discussion material should be presented in the Introduction, more often you grassnot grasp its significance until the first part of Results is given.Finally, papers usually energise a shortAcknowledgementssection, in which various contri justions of other workers are recognized, followed by aReferencelist giving refere nces to papers and other works cited in the text. Papers also correspond several mannequinsand put overs. These contain data described in the paper. The figures and tables also countenance legends, whose purpose is to give details of the particular experiment or experiments shown thither. Typically, if a procedure is used merely in one case in a paper, these details are described in Materials and Methods, and the bode or Table legend refers back to that description.If a procedure is used repeatedly, however, a constituentral description is given in Materials and Methods, and the details for a particular experiment are given in the Table or Figure legend. Variations on the organization of a paper In most scientific journals, the to a higher place format is followed. Occasionally, the Results and Discussion are combined, in cases in which the data need extensive discussion to allow the reader to follow the train of logic developed in the course of the research. As stated, in som e journals, Materials and Methods follows the Discussion. In veritable older papers, the Summary was given at the end of the paper.The formats for 2 widely-read journals,ScienceandNature, differ markedly from the supra outline. These journals reach a wide audience, and many authors deprivation to publish in them accordingly, the topographic point limitations on the papers are severe, and the prose is usually highly compressed. In both journals, there are no discrete sections, restrict out for a short abstract and a reference list. InScience, the abstract is self-contained inNature, the abstract also serves as a brief introduction to the paper. Experimental details are usually given either in endnotes (forScience) or Figure and Table legends and a short Methods section (inNature).Authors often deform to circumvent length limitations by siteting as ofttimes material as possible in these places. In addition, an increasingly common get along is to put a substantial fraction of the less-important material, and much of the methodology, into Supplemental Data that can be accessed online. many an(prenominal) other journals also begin length limitations, which similarly tow to a need for conciseness. For example, theProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences(PNAS) has a six- foliate limitCellseverely edits many papers to shorten them, and has a short discussion limit in the abstract and so on.In response to the pressure to edit and make the paper concise, many authors drive to condense or, more typically, cast off the logical connexions that would make the flow of the paper easy. In addition, much of the background that would make the paper accessible to a wider audience is condensed or omitted, so that the less- declareed reader has to consult a check out article or previous papers to make sense of what the issues are and why they are important. Finally, again, authors often circumvent summon limitations by putting crucial details into the Figu re and Table legends, especially when (as inPNAS) these are set in smaller type.Fortunately, the recent widespread practice of putting less-critical material into online supplemental material has lessened the pressure to compress content so drastically, but it is still a problem for older papers. Back to outline 2. Reading a scientific paper Although it is tempting to read the paper straight through as you would do with most text, it is more in force(p) to organize the way you read. Generally, you first read the Abstract in order to understand the major points of the work.The extent of background assumed by different authors, and allowed by the journal, also varies as just discussed. One extremely effective habit in interpreting a paper is to read the Title and the Abstract and, in the lead going on, analyse in your mind what you know virtually the topic. This serves several purposes. First, it clarifies whether you in fact know enough background to appreciate the paper. If n ot, you might choose to read the background in a palingenesis or textbook, as appropriate. Second, it refreshes your memory about the topic. Third, and perhaps most importantly, it table services ou as the reader integrate the new information into your previous knowledge about the topic. That is, it is used as a part of the self-education process that any professional must continue end-to-end his/her career. If you are very familiar with the field, the Introduction can be skimmed or even skipped. As stated above, the logical flow of most papers goes straight from the Introduction to Results accordingly, the paper should be read in that way as well, skipping Materials and Methods and referring back to this section as needed to clarify what was substantially done.A reader familiar with the field who is interested in a particular point given in the Abstract often skips directly to the relevant section of the Results, and from there to the Discussion for interpretation of the findin gs. This is unaccompanied easy to do if the paper is organized properly. Code quarrel Many papers contain shorthand phrases that we might term codewords, since they extradite connotations that are s lackly not explicit. In many papers, not all the experimental data are shown, but referred to by (data not shown).This is often for reasons of space the practice is accepted when the authors energise documented their competence to do the experiments properly (usually in previous papers). Two other codewords are unpublished data and front data. The former can either mean that the data are not of publishable character or that the work is part of a big story that will one day be published. The latter delegacy different things to different people, but one connotation is that the experiment was done only once. Back to outline 3. Difficulties in reading a paperSeveral difficulties confront the reader, particularly one who is not familiar with the field. As discussed above, it may be ne cessary to bring yourself up to speed before beginning a paper, no matter how well written it is. Be aware, however, that although some problems may lie in the reader, many are the fault of the writer. One major problem is that many papers are poorly written. Some scientists are poor writers. Many others do not enjoy writing, and do not take the time or effort to ensure that the prose is clear and logical.Also, the author is typically so familiar with the material that it is difficult to step back and see it from the point of view of a reader not familiar with the topic and for whom the paper is just another of a large stack of papers that need to be read. Bad writing has several consequences for the reader. First, the logical connections are often left out. Instead of byword why an experiment was done, or what ideas were be tested, the experiment is plainly described. Second, papers are often cluttered with a great deal of jargon.Third, the authors often do not provide a clear r oad-map through the paper billet issues and fine points are given equal air time with the main logical thread, and the reader loses this thread. In better writing, these side issues are relegated to Figure legends, Materials and Methods, or online Supplemental Material, or else clearly identified as side issues, so as not to distract the reader. Another major difficulty arises when the reader seeks to understand just what the experiment was. All too often, authors refer back to previous papers these refer in turn to previous papers in a long chain.Often that chain ends in a paper that describes several methods, and it is unreadable which was used. Or the chain ends in a journal with severe space limitations, and the description is so compressed as to be unclear. More often, the descriptions are simply not well-written, so that it is ambiguous what was done. Other difficulties arise when the authors are uncritical about their experiments if they firmly believe a particular model, th ey may not be open-minded about other possibilities. These may not be tested experimentally, and may even go unmentioned in the Discussion.Still another, related problem is that many authors do not clearly distinguish between fact and speculation, especially in the Discussion. This makes it difficult for the reader to know how well-established are the facts under discussion. One last-place problem arises from the sociology of science. Many authors are ambitious and wish to publish in trendy journals. As a consequence, they overstate the importance of their findings, or put a speculation into the title in a way that makes it sound like a well-established finding.Another example of this approach is the Assertive Sentence Title, which presents a major conclusion of the paper as a declarative doom ( much(prenominal) as LexA is a repressor of therecAandlexAgenes). This trend is becoming prevalent look at recent issues ofCellfor examples. Its not so large(p) when the assertive sentence is well-documented (as it was in the example given), but all too often the assertive sentence is nothing more than a speculation, and the hasty reader may well conclude that the issue is settled when it isnt.These last factors represent the public relations side of a competitive field. This behavior is understandable, if not praiseworthy. But when the authors mislead the reader as to what is firmly established and what is speculation, it is hard, especially for the novice, to know what is settled and what is not. A wary evaluation is necessary, as we now discuss. Back to outline 4. Evaluating a paper A thorough understanding and evaluation of a paper involves answering several questions a. Whatquestionsdoes the paper address? b. What are the mainconclusionsof the paper? . What curtilagesupports those conclusions? d. Do the data actuallysupportthe conclusions? e. What is thequalityof the evidence? f. wherefore are the conclusionsimportant? a. What questions does the paper address? Before addressing this question, we need to be aware that research in biochemistry and molecular biology can be of several different types font of research Question asked descriptive What is there?What do we see? Comparative How does it compare to other organisms? Are our findings general? Analytical How does it work? What is the mechanism? Descriptiveresearch often takes place in the early stages of our understanding of a system. We cant formulate hypotheses about how a system works, or what its interconnections are, until we know what is there.Typical descriptive approaches in molecular biology are DNA sequencing and DNA microarray approaches. In biochemistry, one could regard x-ray crystallography as a descriptive endeavor. Comparativeresearch often takes place when we are asking how general a finding is. Is it specific to my particular organism, or is it broadly applicable? A typical comparative approach would be comparing the sequence of a gene from one organism with that from the other organisms in which that gene is found. One example of this is the observation that the actin genes from world and budding yeast are 89% identical and 96% similar.Analyticalresearch generally takes place when we know enough to begin formulating hypotheses about how a system works, about how the parts are interconnected, and what the causal connections are. A typical analytical approach would be to devise cardinal (or more) alternative hypotheses about how a system operates. These hypotheses would all be consistent with current knowledge about the system. Ideally, the approach would devise a set of experiments todistinguish among these hypotheses. A classic example is the Meselson-Stahl experiment.Of course, many papers are a combination of these approaches. For instance, researchers might sequence a gene from their model organism compare its sequence to homologous genes from other organisms use this comparison to devise a hypothesis for the function of the gene product and test this hypothesis by making a site-directed change in the gene and asking how that affects the phenotype of the organism and/or the biochemical function of the gene product. Being aware that not all papers have the alike approach can orient you towards recognizing the major questions that a paper addresses.What are these questions? In a well-written paper, as described above, the Introduction generally goes from the general to the specific, eventually framing a question or set of questions. This is a good starting place. In addition, the results of experiments usually raise additional questions, which the authors may attempt to answer. These questions usually become plain only in the Results section. Back to Evaluating a paper b. What are the main conclusions of the paper? This question can often be answered in a front way by studying the abstract of the paper.Here the authors highlight what they think are the key points. This is not enough, because abstracts ofte n have severe space constraints, but it can serve as a starting point. Still, you need to read the paper with this question in mind. Back to Evaluating a paper c. What evidence supports those conclusions? Generally, you can get a pretty good idea about this from the Results section. The description of the findings points to the relevant tables and figures. This is easiest when there is one primary experiment to support a point.However, it is often the case that several different experiments or approaches combine to support a particular conclusion. For example, the first experiment might have several possible interpretations, and the later ones are designed to distinguish among these. In the ideal case, the Discussion begins with a section of the form Three lines of evidence provide support for the conclusion that First, Second, and so on However, difficulties can arise when the paper is poorly written (see above). The authors often do not present a concise summary of this type, l eaving you to make it yourself.A skeptic might argue that in such(prenominal) cases the logical structure of the argument is weak and is omitted on purpose In any case, you need to be sure that you understand the relationship between the data and the conclusions. Back to Evaluating a paper d. Do the data actually support the conclusions? One major favor of doing this is that it service of processs you to evaluate whether the conclusion is sound. If we assume for the moment that the data are believable (see next section), it still might be the case that the data do not actually support the conclusion the authors wish to reach. there are at least two different ways this can happen i. The logical connection between the data and the interpretation is not sound ii. There might be other interpretations that might be consistent with the data. One important aspect to look for is whether the authors take multiple approaches to answering a question. Do they have multiple lines of evidence, from different directions, supporting their conclusions? If there is only one line of evidence, it is more likely that it could be interpreted in a different way multiple approaches make the argument more persuasive.Another thing to look for is unverbalised or hidden assumptions used by the authors in interpreting their data. This can be hard to do, unless you understand the field thoroughly. Back to Evaluating a paper e. What is the quality of that evidence? This is the hardest question to answer, for novices and experts alike. At the same time, it is one of the most important skills to learn as a young scientist. It involves a major reorientation from being a relatively passive consumer of information and ideas to an active producer and critical evaluator of them. This is not easy and takes years to master.Beginning scientists often wonder, Who am I to question these authorities? After all the paper was published in a top journal, so the authors must have a high standing, and the work must have received a critical review by experts. Unfortunately, thats not everlastingly the case. In any case, developing your ability to evaluate evidence is one of the hardest and most important aspects of learning to be a critical scientist and reader. How can you evaluate the evidence? First, you need to understand thoroughly the methods used in the experiments. Often these are described poorly or not at all (seeabove).The details are often missing, but more importantly the authors usually assume that the reader has a general knowledge of common methods in the field (such as immunoblotting, cloning, genetic methods, or DNase I footprinting). If you lack this knowledge, as discussedaboveyou have to make the extra effort to inform yourself about the basic methodology before you can evaluate the data. Sometimes you have to trace back the details of the methods if they are important. The increasing availability of journals on the Web has made this easier by obviating the nee d to find a hard-copy issue,e. . in the depository library. A all-inclusive listing of journalsrelevant to this course, developed by the Science Library, allows access to most of the listed volumes from any computer at the University asecond listat the Arizona Health Sciences Library includes some other journals, again from University computers. Second,you need to know thelimitationsof the methodology. Every method has limitations, and if the experiments are not done correctly they cant be interpreted. For instance, an immunoblot is not a very quantitative method.Moreover, in a certain range of protein the signal increases (that is, the signal is at least roughly linear), but above a certain amount of protein the signal no longer increases. Therefore, to use this method correctly one needs a standard curve that shows that the experimental lanes are in a linear range. Often, the authors will not show this standard curve, but they should state that such curves were done. If you dont s ee such an assertion, it could of course result from bad writing, but it might also not have been done. If it wasnt done, a dark band might mean there is this much protein or an equivocal amount more.Third, importantly, you need to distinguish between what the data show and what the authorssaythey show. The latter is really an interpretation on the authors part, though it is generally not stated to be an interpretation. Papers usually state something like the data in Fig. x show that . This is the authors interpretation of the data. Do you interpret it the same way? You need to look carefully at the data to ensure that they really do show what the authors say they do. You can only do this effectively if you understand the methods and their limitations.Fourth, it is often helpful to look at the original journal, or its electronic counterpart, instead of a photocopy. Particularly for half-tone figures such as photos of gels or autoradiograms, the contrast is distorted, usually increa sed, by photocopying, so that the data are misrepresented. Fifth, you should ask if the proper controls are present. Controls identify us that nature is behaving the way we expect it to under the conditions of the experiment (seeherefor more details). If the controls are missing, it is harder to be confident that the results really show what is happening in the experiment.You should try to develop the habit of asking where are the controls? and looking for them. Back to Evaluating a paper f. wherefore are the conclusions important? Do the conclusions make a significant advance in our knowledge? Do they lead to new insights, or even new research directions? Again, answering these questions requires that you understand the field relatively well. Back to Evaluating a paper Back to outline Back to 568 home page pic BIOC/MCB 568 University of Arizona http//www. biochem. arizona. edu/classes/bioc568/bioc568. htm Last modified August 18, 2010All contents copyright 2010. All rights res erved. How to review a scientific paper? Contents hide 1Why me? 2Am I a sufficient observer? 3How does the review process work? 4How do I start? 5What to look for? 6How to put it in words? 7What to advise? 8How to approach a rewrite? 9Ive done all this work what do I get out of it? 10Further reading editWhy me?You may be surprised that you may be asked as a comrade- observer for an authorative journal when you yourself are still a PhD-student and with a limited number of published articles. This does not make you an inappropriate reader. You may have been found in several ways 1. When submitting a paper, you will often be asked to fill out contact details and areas of expertise and/or keywords. diary editor in chiefs can screen the journal database for potential reviewers with research expertise matching that of the paper. 2. You could have been requested as a reviewer by the submitting authors 3.You could have been suggested as a reviewer by another reviewer ( when declining an invitation to review a paper, one is usually asked to suggest an alternative reviewer) or an editor may know you personally. 4. You could have been found based on previous articles youve published that were referenced in the submitted hologram, or simply found on pubmed. editAm I a suitable reviewer? If you ripely question your ability to review the manuscript, you should decline the review invitation. This may be because you are not familiar with the subject, because you are biased towards the submitted work (e. g. ecause of personal relations with the authors, or because the paper is highly competitive with your own work), or just because you feel too inexperienced. However, in the latter case, you may claim accepting the review and asking a more experienced mate to assist you with the review. Also, it is an excellent way to learn how to peer-review an article by first assisting accessory in their reviews. Please always keep confidentiality in mind. Contact the editor if you have any questions. editHow does the review process work? 1. The editor and ultimately editorial board decide on the fate of the manuscript. . After a manuscript is assigned to an editor, it is read by the editor and he or she decides if the paper is sent out for peer-review. Occasionally, a triage review is commissioned, where an external reviewer is asked for an opinion if the paper should be sent out for full review. 3. Reviewers are invited and receive an abstract of the manuscript. Usually, 2 or more reviewers are sought. 4. After acceptance of the invitation for review, reviewers receive the full manuscript. If a reviewer then discovers that he or she is not suitable by and by all, the invitation for review can still be declined. 5.The reviewers write their reviews. Usually, this consists of a) filling out a form with scores (for novelty, technical excellence, appropriateness of manuscript preparation, etcetera), b) comments to the authors, and c) comments to the editor. Typically, an advice regarding overall precession for progeny and/or acceptance is asked for, which is blinded to the authors. 6. After the editor has received the reviewer comments, he may decide to commission another reviewer, particularly if reviewer opinions are contradictory or if there is a need for specific expertise, e. g. additional review by a statistical expert. . After all reviews have been completed, the editor and editorial board decide to either a. accept the manuscript, b. accept the manuscript after (minor) revision, c. wipe out the article, but invite to revise the manuscript, or d. eliminate the manuscript. 8. Note that an editor will generally reserve the right to edit your reviewer comments to the author. Over-enthusiastic compliments may be removed if the editor eventually decides to reject the paper. Also, you may see that your comments the editor are also passed on to the authors if the editor feels this is appropriate. 9.If a manuscript i s resubmitted after revision, it is usually resent to the original reviewers. editHow do I start? Before reading the manuscript, make sure you know the aims and scope of the journal. Read the manuscript and supplementary files for a first time, without spending too much time on details. divvy up reading additional literature, such as relating articles by the same authors. Then re-read the manuscript in detail and try to follow the line of thought of the authors. Identify the hypothesis, key findings and assess if the (discussion of) the results adequately reflects back on the original hypothesis.Critically assess the methods and representation of data in the text, tables and figures. draft a review. Re-read the manuscript and re-read you review. editWhat to look for? Visit the journals website, where criteria for reviewers are commonly supplied. Also, see if there is a score-sheet as this will also tell you what the editors would like you to look for. As a general check-list, cons ider the following points (taken from the BMJ website) Is the paper important? Is the work original? Does the work add enough to what is already in the literature? Is there a clear message? Does the paper read well and make sense? Is this journal the right place for this paper? Scientific reliability Abstract/summary does it reflect accurately what the paper says? Research question is it clearly defined and befittingly answered? Overall design of study is it adequate? Participants studied are they dequately described and their conditions defined? Methods are they adequately described? For randomised trials CONSORT Ethical? Results does it answer the research question? thinkable? Well presented? Usefulness of tables and figures?Is the quality good enough? Can some eliminated? Is the data correct in the tables? Interpretation and conclusions are they warranted by and sufficiently derived from/ cogitate on the data? Message clear? References are they up to day o f the month and relevant? Any glaring omissions? editHow to put it in words? As a reviewer, it is your task to objectively assess the strengths and weaknesses in a manuscript, provide constructive criticism and list suggestions for improvement. It may help to organize your reviewer comments to the author as follows a brief summary of the findings in the article.This helps organize your own grasp on the data in the article. Also, it helps the associate editor and editorial board to understand the content of the manuscript. Finally, it shows the author that you have read and understood the manuscript. consider giving a general comment on the article on e. g. novelty and overall impression of the data and manuscript preparation. -list major comments. Number them for clarity. Major comments are comments, questions and/or suggestions that are in your view infixed points that need to be appropriately addressed for the manuscript to become acceptable for publication. list minor comments such as typographic errors or suggestions for additional non-essential data to be included. Also keep in mind Be kind. Even a bad paper has generally required substantial investment of time and effort by the authors. Do not be tempted by the reviewer unknownity to make unkind remarks. Be fair. Try to be objectively critical. Do not hesitate to identify flaws in the manuscript, but keep eye for balancing criticism with potential strengths of the manuscript, technical limitations and the nature of the journal. If you give criticism, also give a motivation, including literature references if applicable.Be concise. Be action-able. Providing practical suggestions for textual changes or additional experiments helps convey what you think would improve the manuscript better than simple criticism. editWhat to recommend? You give advice to the editor regarding the manuscript and this advice generally includes an advice on how the paper should be handled. It is a misconception that reviewers decide if a paper is accepted the editor and editorial board ultimately decide. This also means that it is essential to refrain from including an advice on acceptance or rejection of a paper in the review comments that are provided.Editors may edit your comments if you imply acceptance or rejection. Consider recommending a major revision if you feel the paper would become acceptable for publication if your suggestions are adequately addressed. If you feel that the manuscript would be insufficient for publication even after revision, e. g. based on limited novelty, rejection would be more appropriate. editHow to approach a revision? If a manuscript is returned to the authors with the invitation to resubmit after revision, you will commonly be asked to review the revised manuscript and author correspondence with replies to your comments.However, this is at the editors discretion. If you receive a revised manuscript, focus on the response to your own review and in principle limit your self to the points you previously raised. See if the authors have satisfactorily addressed your comments. Check with your original comments to see if the authors have included all the points you raised. It is not good practice if you come up with new criticisms regarding points that you could have identified during your first assessment of the manuscript. Also, try to finish your re-evaluation with some priority as this is customary with resubmissions and will prevent excessive delay of anuscript publication. If you had numbered your major comments and had provided action-able suggestions, you will now appreciate the importance of doing so. editIve done all this work what do I get out of it? Writing a good review takes costly time. However, there are several reasons why every researcher should write peer-reviews. First, for you as a researcher, you will find that participating in the reviewing process will increase the quality of your own work and likelihood of acquire your article s accepted. Youre given an insiders view of the reviewing process.Also, going through the process of peer-reviewing a manuscript and reading other reviewers comments, will help you critically assess your own manuscript more effectively. Second, for you as a researcher, building a track record of journals that request your services as a reviewer may be a component of your curriculum vitae. Also, a track record of good reviews will enhance your reputations with the editors. Third, as a reviewer, youre given an early peak at novel unpublished data. This brings a major responsibility and breaching confidentiality to scoop a submitting author would be a serious offence.However, it may give an incentive to (re)direct your experiments so that you have a head-start after eventual publication of the manuscript youre reviewing. Fourth, writing a review means you are participating in the social culture of research. You are helping the editor that invited you. You are making peer-review possibl e for the submitting author and ultimately, you are enabling the go along process of keeping a high quality level of science. Finally, invited editorial comments are often commissioned to reviewers that provided a good track record of peer reviews and showed profound insight in he reviewed manuscript. editFurther reading http//www. people. vcu. edu/aslee/referee. htm http//www. medscape. com/viewarticle/409692_3 Uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to biomedical journals. International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. JAMA. 1997 Mar 19277(11)927-34 Downloadable from e. g. here Home to the highest degreeContactContributeFeedback Log in / create account ? Research Topics ? Learning Resources ? Dutch Investigators ? Dutch Publications ? Clinical Trials ? Practical PhD guide ? Useful link up pic ? Online forum pic ? Agenda ? PLAN/Courses ? Newsletters ? Spotlights ? Photo Gallery ? Jobs/Trainees Top of Form picpicpic Bottom of Form Supported by pic pic pic ? About NIER ? Disclaimers ? Views 5,040 ? Modified 1353, 26 January 2009. ? Hosted by Xentax Foundation Reviewing a Manuscript for Publication Allen S.Lee Professor, Department of Information Systems Eminent Scholar, Information Systems Research Institute School of Business Virginia kingdom University http//www. eople. vcu. edu/aslee/ Published as an invited note in Journal of Operations Management Volume 13, Number 1 (July 1995), pp. 7-92. If you copy, download, or circulate this paper, please simply inform the author (atemailprotected mit. edu) that you are doing so. This paper is based on remarks that the author prepared for presentation at the New Faculty Workshop held at the 23rdAnnual Meeting of the purpose Sciences Institute in Miami Beach, Florida, November 22, 1991. pic Abstract This paper proposes suggestions about how to review a manuscript submitted for publication in the fields of management information systems, organizational studies, operation s management, and management in general. Rationales for the suggestions and illustrative sample comments are provided. pic Contents Abstract motion 1 Start out with your own summary of the manuscript. accomplish 2Let the editor and author know what your expertise does, and does not, cover. Action 3 Give action-able advice. Action 4 commute the authors by arguing from their own assumptions and framework. Action 5 house both (1) your general, overall reception and (2) a list of specific, numbered point-by-point comments. Action 6 List the manuscripts strengths. Action 7 Quote, give the page number, or differently explicitly locate the parts of the manuscript to which you are referring. Action 8 Offer comments on tables, figures, and diagrams. Action 9 Be kind. Action 10 Be frank, in a tactful way, about your own emotional reaction. Action 11 Do some of your own library research. Action 12 If rejecting the manuscript, suggest what future research efforts might examine. Action 13 If recommending a revision, spell out alternative scenarios for how the revision could be done. Action 14 Provide citations or a bibliography. Action 15 Date your review. Why Review? Conclusion pic As management researchers, we regard the behavior of managers, systems professionals, and other organizational participants to be a lucidation of the values that they hold as members of their organization and their profession. In the same way, we may regard our own behaviors, as reviewers of manuscripts in the range blind reviewing process, to be a manifestation of the values that we hold as members of the community of scholars. As an author and editor, I have seen our community manifest the best and the worst of human values in the anonymous reviews offered on manuscripts submitted for publication.Some reviewers rise to the occasion and give extensive help, even though the anonymous reviewing process promises them nothing in return for their effort s. Other reviewers hide behind the anonymity of the reviewing process, offering controvert remarks that they would not have the courage to voice in public. My immediate purpose is to offer suggestions, based on the reviews I have seen as an author and editor, about how to provide useful, kind, constructive, and responsible reviews of manuscripts submitted for publication. I offer these suggestions to my colleagues who review manuscripts submitted for publication in research journals in management information systems, organizational studies, operations management, and other fields of management. 1. alludeions for Reviewing a Manuscript For many of the suggestions below, I offer sample comments to illustrate my points. I have based these comments on actual reviews. 1. 1 Start out with Your take Summary of the Manuscript As a reviewer for a manuscript, I was surprised, upon subsequently receiving the associate editors own review, to see that he began with a summary of th e manuscript.After all, an author knows what his or her own manuscript is about, so why summarize it? Apparently, at least in this case, the summary was provided for the benefit of the senior editor, not necessarily the author. The associate editors review was, I realized, as much a pass to the senior editor as it was an explanation to the authors. Because a reviewers review is, in the same way, a recommendation to an editor, I have come to believe that a summary of the manuscript being considered is no less useful in the reviewers review. I now believe that an opening summary may also be useful to the manuscripts author and to the reviewer himself or herself.For the author, how effectively the reviewers summary does or does not capture the gist of the manuscript may serve as one measure of how effectively the manuscript communicates its message. For the reviewer, the very exercise of composing a summary encourages and virtually assures a thorough reading of the manuscrip t. Opening summaries are also useful to the editor when the manuscript is controversial. Occasionally, as an editor, I have wondered if the different reviewers assigned to a controversial manuscript have actually been sent the same manuscript. An opening summary of the manuscript, presented from the reviewers own perspective, would be a big help to the editor when he or she is trying to reach a decision on a manuscript that evokes controversial reactions. Some illustrative sample comments are This paper represents a major effort to test two competing theories about user satisfaction with electronic mail The methodology of the paper consists of The data were gathered from two field sites The major finding was that The contributions to theory and practice would appear to be This manuscript pursues two somewhat conflicting goals. It attempts to, patch it also tries to. The authors do a good job of the first one, but their intervention of the second one raises more quest ions than it answers. 1. Let the Editor and Author Know What Your Expertise Does, and Does Not, Cover By stating where you have expertise and, no less important, where you lack expertise, you will be helping the editor and author in their job of interpreting and weighing your comments. Reviewers, in voluntarily identifying where their expertise may be miss with regard to the manuscript being reviewed, might even gain additional credibility for their claims about where they do have expertise. I read the paper from two perspectives 1) someone who has employed the same methodology that the authors are using and 2) someone who is not familiar at all with the substantive area that the authors are investigating. My criticisms and suggestions are offered entirely from the first perspective. For the reader, such as myself, who is unfamiliar with concepts X, Y, and Z, the authors present no helpful explanation of these concepts or justification for their inclusion in the study in the first place Another problem I had is that, probably like most of the people who read this journal, I am not deeply read in all three of the research fields that the authors draw upon. I cannot judge how well this paper builds on past research. 1. 3 Give Action-able Advice Advice stated in the form of do-able tasks is mutually advantageous to the author and the reviewer in the event that the editor asks for a revision.For the author, the advised actions point to a fixed behind where he or she may aim the revision. For the reviewer, the advised actions (as further interpreted by the editor) may serve as the criteria on which to judge the revision. In contrast, a reviewer who offers vague generalities, and no action-able advice, in his or her first review would have no real handle with which to approve or disapprove the revision such a reviewer might very well find a revision returning to haunt him or her. If my concerns can be addressed successfully in a revi sion, then I believe the paper should be published. I have four major concerns.They are Therefore, I recommend rejection, but would be willing to review a revised version if (1) and (2) The following suggestions are provided to improve the weaknesses pointed out above Clearly state the objectives, contributions, and limitations of the study. Provide a definition of what you mean by Organizational Support System and use it consistently throughout the paper. Using this definition, narrow down the literature review. 1. Convince the Authors by Arguing fromTheir Own Assumptions and Framework A reviewer can always take issue with a manuscripts assumptions and framework. However, disagreeing with the assumptions is not always an effective reviewing strategy because, strictly speaking, all assumptions are incorrect for what they assume away. An alternative strategy is to accept the manuscripts assumptions (if only for the sake of argument) and then to point out any short comings in the manuscript by examining the consequences that follow from these assumptions. (Indeed, if the assumptions lead to no objectionable consequences, then the assumptions might not be bad assumptions in the first place. By casting the review in terms of the authors own framework, the reviewer might then be more likely to dispose the authors by courting and affirming the authors, rather than by disputing the authors. On the first page, the paper says that it will do the following The rest of the paper, however, does not follow through adequately on what it promised to do. In particular, according to the standards of the research framework that the authors themselves have chosen, the following things still need to be done or need to be done better Still, there is much potential value in what the paper initially proposed and I encourage the authors to flesh out the papers ideas more thoroughly.Along these lines, my suggestions are If the reviewer wishes to suggest a different framework and set of assumptions to the authors, this suggestion would be more convincing after the reviewer has exhibit that he or she has given due consideration to the authors original framework, rather than dismissing it outright. 1. 5Provide Both (1) Your General, Overall Reaction and (2) a List of Specific, Numbered Point-by-Point Comments As an author, I have received some reviews consisting entirely of numbered, point-by-point comments that give the impression that the reviewer was simply typing up his or her review as he or she was reading my manuscript linearly, sentence-by-sentence, turning it page-by-page.Whereas such a review might be detailed and even exhaustive, I have found that such reviews sometimes negatively criticize me on matters that I actually address satisfactorily later in the manuscript. These reviewers do a good job of analyzing the words in my manuscript, but they appear to put no effort into discerning what I meant by these words. My impression has been that these reviewers considered the reviewing job to be a burden and just wanted to get it over. I have found that if there is no arguing of an overall reaction from the reviewer, I am sometimes left enquire about what the reviewer really means. In fact, in this situation, I sometimes wonder if the reviewer himself knows what he means.For these reasons, I believe that a general, overall reaction or overview from the reviewer is needed as much as his or her specific, point-by-point comments. However, there is at least one occasion in which a linear, sentence-by-sentence, and page-by-page reading might be useful. When I am a reviewer, I will occasionally amend my review by paging through the manuscript once more and enumerating, point-by-point, any comments which I had planned to make when I first read the manuscript, but which somehow did not make their way into the main dust of my review. Numbering the major points in a review is helpful to the edi tor and author.For instance, an editor could then conveniently say to the author, Pay particular attention to points 2, 3, and 5 by Reviewer 1. 1. 6List the Manuscripts Strengths Perhaps the most disheartening review I have ever seen is one that began with the single-sentence paragraph, There are several problems with this paper, and followed with a numbered, blow-by-blow listing of all the alleged problems in the manuscript. An accompanying listing of the manuscripts strengths would have made the review more palatable (and hence convincing) to the author. A listing of the manuscripts strengths takes on added importance when the reviewers recommendation is that the manuscript should be rejected. Is there really nothing in the manuscript that would make it worthy of a revision? Making up a list of the manuscripts strengths would help make sure that no stone is left unturned. The major asset of this manuscript is that it presents a new approach toThis, in turn, raises i nteresting general issues such as (1)(2)(3) Major strengths. The objective of this paper is of high interest and use to IS managers. The authors are exceptionally clear about how this study builds on past studies. The methodology, while new to IS, is clearly explained. 1. 7 Quote, Give the Page Number, or Otherwise Explicitly Locate the Parts of the Manuscript to Which You Are Referring This will pinpoint what you find difficult to understand, what you disagree with, or exactly what you believe needs to be changed. Moreover, if the author should disagree with your assessment, then the author may respond precisely to your objection. In the third paragraph on page 9, it is not clear to me that the authors understand the concept of construct validity. On page 3, in the literature review section, the paper says, only 12 percent of the past studies examined the same factors we will be examining in this study. Exactly which studies were these? I do not doubt your statem ent, but I would like to be able to evaluate it for myself. On page 2, why does the prior research necessarily suggest that we need to study this topic, as you claim? 1. Offer Comments on Tables, Figures, and Diagrams Because tables, figures, and diagrams often appear at the end of the manuscript, they often do not receive the attention they deserve. However, I believe that reviewing an metaphor can be equivalent to reviewing a thousand words. Because illustrations are often overlooked in reviews, a detailed comment about an illustration might favorably impress the author and editor, suggesting to them that the reviewer is especially conscientious. Also, suggesting a new table, figure, or diagram may encourage the author to sharpen his or her argument. Table 6 makes no sense to me.The labels along the vertical axis are mentioned nowhere in the text. I dont understand the reason for including Figure 4. What is the relevance of the number of X broken down into three c ategories? 1. 9Be Kind There are tactful ways to express negative criticisms. For example, if you are unsure what the contribution of the manuscript is, sayWhats new? instead of So what? I believe that if the criticism cannot be stated in a kind and constructive way, then the criticism might not be worth stating at all.Also, unkind remarks in a review that is otherwise valid may create difficulties for the editor who would like to persuade the author that the review does have merit. 1. 10Be Frank, in a Tactful Way, about Your Own Emotional Reaction Some reviews tend to be dry. As an author and editor, I find that any hint or explicit statement about the reviewers feelings will help me to interpret what he or she means. I had a hard time making a recommendation on this manuscript . . . The paper is nicely written and competent, but dull. It is hard to get excited about the findings. I am very excited about this paper.At a recent conference a colleague and I were on a panel where we debated similar points 1. 11 Do Some of Your Own Library Research In my experience as an author and editor, I tend to give an extra measure of credibility to reviewers who have done some library or other research for their review. This effort makes the review appear sincere and convincing. A quotation from a book or article that the reviewer has looked up can be impressive. On page 14, I was intrigued by the papers quotation of Carlson, so I decided to look up Carlsons article. My interpretation of Carlsons article is. . . 1. 12If Rejecting the Manuscript, Suggest What Future Research Efforts Might Examine Our own behavior as reviewers in the double blind review process reveals our individual values, which may include adversarial values and collegial values. Rejecting a manuscript and offering only the reasons for rejection reveals a person who has no contribution to make to the overall community of scholars.Rejecting a manuscript, but also offering suggestions about what the author could pursue instead or pursue differently in future research, reveals a person who is integrated into the community of scholars and seeks to foster its growth. 1. 13If Recommending a Revision, Spell Out Alternative Scenarios for How the Revision Could be through with(p) Simply saying this paper needs a good re-write is not, by itself, helpful, especially if it is true. Often, there is more than one way to revise a manuscript. Suggest two or more scenarios, mention what you believe to be the advantages or disadvantages of each one, and leave the choice up to the author. 1. 4Provide Citations or a Bibliography A citation that the author finds helpful can be as valuable as a thousand or more words in the rest of the review. 1. 15Date Your Review As an author and editor, I do not appreciate late reviews. Once, I noticed that a colleague of min e prominently displayed the current accompaniment at the top of a review that he was ab out to send in.He said that the date would let the authors of the manuscript know that, if the overall cycle time on their manuscript was excessive, he was not the cause. I also suspect that a date on a review can function as an incentive for subsequent participants in the review process to act on the manuscript promptly. 2. Why Review? I see four benefits to engaging in the effort of reviewing a manuscript submitted for publication. Benefits to the Reviewer in the Short RunTypically, a reviewer will receive the reviews by the other reviewers and the editor. Doing a review therefore confers an insiders view of the reviewing process.The reactions of the other reviewers and the editor all contain potential lessons for ones own manuscripts to be submitted for publication. In reviewing manuscripts, one also gains access to invaluable bibliographies. Access to these bibliographies is sufficient justification, in itself, to find the time to participate in the reviewing proces s. Benefits to the Reviewer in the Long Run proficient reviewers are hard to find. A track record of good reviews will enhance ones reputation with editors, who may then serve (if need be) as job contacts or outside reviewers in ones tenure, promotion, and re-appointment process.In this regard, ones performance in his or her review of a manuscript can be compared to ones performance in a job interview. Good reviews can benefit ones career. Benefits to OthersNumerous people have helped me launch my career as an university teacher and researcher. When they ask me to review a manuscript for which they are the editor or track chair, I regard their request as an opportunity for me to return some of the help they have given me. In our research culture, doing a review of a manuscript is a socially significant gesture. Benefits to Ones Own School of ThoughtAs an author, I often have the experience in which reviewers, hostile to and ignorant of the research traditions that I embrac e, misreview my submission.Therefore, whenever I find that I am a reviewer for a submission that falls in my own school of thought, I expend extra efforts to give it a careful, constructive review. Realizing that the refereeing process is political, I will do my best to be supportive and affirmingly critical, drawing attention to any major significant points in the submission and delineating in explicit, constructive, and action-able ways how the authors research can be improved. As a result, the editor would, if necessary, have some ammunition with which to neutralize any hostile and ignorant reviews and thereby to excuse a positive editorial decision on this submission. 3. Conclusion No review of a manuscript must incorporate all the features I have described above.I am also confident that there are additional useful features I have not yet encountered. I have identified these features based on my own experience as a member of the management research community. I encour age my colleagues to do the same. Do actual instances of good reviews follow from rules for how to review a manuscript for publication, or do rules for ho