Thursday, December 26, 2019

How to Develop a Smart GMAT Study Plan

The GMAT is a challenging test. If you want to do well, youre going to need a study plan that will help you prepare in an efficient and effective manner. A structured study plan breaks the huge task of preparation into manageable tasks and achievable goals. Lets explore some of the steps you can take to develop a smart GMAT study plan based on your individual needs. Get Familiar With Test Structure Knowing the answers to the questions on the GMAT is important, but knowing how  to read and answer GMAT questions is even more important. The first step in your study plan is to study the GMAT itself. Learn how the test is structured, how questions are formatted, and how the test is scored. This will make it easier for you to understand the method behind the madness so to speak. Take a Practice Test Knowing where youre at will help you decide where you need to go. So the next thing you should do is take a GMAT practice test to assess your verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing skills. Since the real GMAT is a timed test, you should also time yourself when you take the practice test. Try not to be discouraged if you get a bad score on the practice test. Most people don’t do very well on this test the first time around — thats why everyone takes so long to prepare for it! Determine How Long You Plan to Study Giving yourself enough time to prepare for the GMAT is really important. If you rush through the test prep process, it will hurt your score. The people who score the highest on the GMAT tend to spend a large amount of time preparing for the test (120 hours or more according to most surveys). However, the amount of time that should be devoted to preparing for the GMAT comes down to individuals needs. Here are a few questions you need to ask yourself: What is my target GMAT score? Most business schools publish class profiles that contain an average GMAT score or score range for students who have been accepted to the program. Look up the average score for students at the business school youre applying to. This score should be your target GMAT score. If you have a high target GMAT score, youre going to need to study more than the average test taker.How well did I score on the practice GMAT? Take the score you got on the practice GMAT and compare it to your target score. The larger the gap, the longer you are going to need to study to close it.When do I need to take the GMAT? Determine how long you have before you need to take the test. You don’t want to wait too long into the application process to take the GMAT. It is important to give yourself enough time to retake it just in case. So think about the application deadlines for the schools you are applying to and plan accordingly. Use your answers to the above questions to determine how long you need to study for the GMAT. At a minimum, you should plan at least one month to prepare for the GMAT. Planning to spend two to three months would be even better. If you will only be devoting an hour or less each day to prep and need a top score, you should plan on studying for four to five months. Get Support A lot of people choose to take a GMAT prep course as a way of studying for the GMAT. Prep courses can be really helpful. They are typically taught by individuals who are familiar with the test and full of tips on how to score high. GMAT prep courses are also very structured. They will teach you how to study for the test so that you can use your time efficiently and effectively. Unfortunately, GMAT prep courses can be expensive. They might also require a significant time commitment (100 hours or more). If you cant afford a GMAT prep course, you should seek out free GMAT prep books from your local library. Practice, Practice, Practice The GMAT is not the kind of test that you cram for. You should stretch your prep out and work on it a little bit each day. This means doing practice drills on a consistent basis. Use your study plan to determine how many drills to do each day. For example, if you plan to study for 120 hours over four months, you should do one hour of practice questions every single day. If you plan to study for 120 hours over two months, youll need to do two hours worth of practice questions each day. And remember, the test is timed, so you should time yourself when doing drills so that you can train yourself to answer every question in just a minute or two.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Enron the Nigerian Barge Deal - 2218 Words

April 4, 2006 0 1 Introduction: The Nigerian Barge Deal Enron Corporation was an energy company based in Texas and created when InterNorth acquired Houston Natural Gas Company in 1985. Enrons growth was fast, it was named \Americas Most Innovative Company for six consecutive years and it soon became the seventh largest company in the United States, until its bankruptcy was declared in 2001. Accounting fraud, money laundering and conspiracy are some of the charges which Enron stood accused of in a series of scandals that nally came to a head in the largest bankruptcy in history. One of these scandals was named the Nigerian Barges case ([Fleischer1, 2005]). Enron tried to sell an interest in three power-generating barges in the coast of†¦show more content†¦Merrill Lynchs main interest was to accommodate a very important client, as Enron paid millions in fees to Merrill 2 Lynch ([Glisan, 2003]). Furthermore, it can be considered that there was an agreement between Enron and Merrill Lynch in this contract, since the latter accepted the o er and all the conditions of the former. The second requirement that needs to be ful lled by the parties in the contract is the consideration, which speci es what is exchanged, i.e., as commented in [Cornell, 2005], \the bene t or detriment which a party receives which reasonably and fairly induces them to make the promise/contract. Consideration can involve a wide group of things, everything that has a value and is involved in the contract. Money is one of the main factors. The contract between Enron and Merrill Lynch allowed Enron to perceive seven million dollars from Merrill Lynch, which acquired an interest in the three barges in Nigeria. Those millions of dollars helped Enron to in ate its earnings since that transaction was considered by Enron as a sale, and not as a loan. This constitutes the main problem of the contract, since the prosecutors were essentially charged for not following basic accounting rules. Consideration of the contract also includes the interest that Merrill Lynch purchased, including the 22:5% of pro t that Merrill Lynch made. Finally, Andrew FastowsShow MoreRelatedThe Corporate Culture Of Enron1474 Words   |  6 PagesHow did the corporate culture of Enron contribute to its bankruptcy? The Enron Corporation was an energy trading and utilities company that eventually failed due to the discovery that Enron was hiding large debts and losses in financial documents. â€Å"Through its subsidiaries and numerous affiliates, the company provided products and services related to natural gas, electricity, and communications for its wholesale and retail customers† (Ferrell, Fraedrich Ferrell, 2015, p. 486). A company’s corporateRead MoreEnron Corporation : The Biggest Gas Transmission System Essay1081 Words   |  5 Pages The Enron Corporation started in 1985 by Kenneth Lay and was the result of a merger between Houston Natural Gas and InterNorth Corporation (Madsen Vance, 2009). Enron had the biggest gas transmission system in the U.S which consisted of a network of 38,000 miles of pipeline (Giroux, 2008). After the addition of Jeffrey Skilling, Enron transformed itself from a producer and distributor of natural gas to a trading company (Chandra, 2003). Enron lobbied hard for deregulation and was capableRead MoreEnron And Corporate Culture Of Enron1322 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction In 1985 The Enron Corporation came into existence after a successful merger between two gas pipeline companies. The company nurtured a very competitive culture, which encouraged employees to win at any means necessary. Enron’s culture led employees to â€Å"cast loyalty and ethics aside in favor of high performance† (Ferrell, p. 494). The executives of Enron covered up their increasing debt by using special purpose entities. Meanwhile, Enron continued to report increasing profits to theirRead MoreEnron Of The Sarbanes Oxley Act Essay1358 Words   |  6 Pages Enron was a U.S. based energy-trading company. At its height of operation in the early part of 2001, it was booking revenues of about $140 billion (Enron Ethics). At the end of 2001 it declared bankruptcy. The Enron bankruptcy was the largest corporate economic failure at that time, and still remains an example of how corrupt practices magnify in the long run. What led to Enron’s failure was primarily a la ck of ethics, and poor accounting practices. This scandal was one of the reasons that new regulationsRead MoreEnron : Questionable Accounting History1364 Words   |  6 PagesEnron: Questionable Accounting Leads to Collapse Enron, a provider of natural gas, electricity, and communications began when two large gas pipeline companies merged together in 1985. CEO Jeffrey Skilling, CFO Andrew Fastow, and Chairman Ken Lay worked diligently throughout the 1990s to build the company to be the largest most successful of its time. Having its name in Wall Street was becoming a norm for the company as it grew beyond all hopes and expectations. The company had become unstoppableRead MoreEnron And Enron Of Enron1781 Words   |  8 Pagesâ€Å"During the Enron debacle, it was workers who took the pounding, not bankers. Not only did Enron employees lose their jobs, many lost their retirement savings. That s because they were at the bottom of the investing food chain.† In July of 1985, Houston Natural Gas merged with InterNorth, to create Enron, and Kenneth Lay became CEO the following year. In 1989, Enron began trading natural gas commodities. In 1997, Andrew Fastow devised the first steps to hide debts and i nflate profits and one yearRead MoreEnron And Its Impact On Enron s Corporate Bankruptcy Essay1811 Words   |  8 Pages Enron was founded in 1985 by Kenneth Lay and by the mid 90s under the tutelage of Jeff Skilling, it was being touted as a revolutionary company that was destined to change the face of business and the energy industry. However, by 2001 it became clear that Enron’s astronomical growth and sustained profitability was built upon fraudulent grounds. The company was stashing debt but continued to report profits. Employees were taking huge risk and gambling exorbitant amounts and many were outright stealingRead MoreCase Study Enron Scandal5642 Words   |  23 PagesCASE 3 Enron: Questionable Accounting Leads to Collapse Once upon a time, there was a gleaming headquarters office tower in Houston, with a giant Tilted ―Eâ€â€" in front, slowly revolving in the Texas sun. Enron‘s suggested to Chinese feng shui practitioner Meihwa Lin a model of instability, which was perhaps an omen of things to come. The Enron Corporation, which once ranked among the top Fortune 500 companies, collapsed in 2001 under a mountain of debt that had been concealed through a complex schemeRead MoreEnron Tyco Case Studies2163 Words   |  9 Pagespractices came about because one corporation, Enron, took risks their company could not withstand without taking some rather extreme measures in its accounting to hide the risk. Tyco International went down a different path in that the CEO used corporate accounts as his personal bank account. He placed certain business associates on the Board of Directors to ensure his behavior would not be found out nor questioned. As corporate ethics goes, Enron and Tyco Internat ional are prime examples of badRead MoreAssessment Performance of Public Utility in Nigeria: a Study of Nepa9699 Words   |  39 Pagesas suppliers, consumers and employer can influence management to favour them over the taxpayers. As a consequence of these peculiar characteristics and many other factors, the Nigerian parastatals soon started making continuous losses and became financial burden on public resources. It is estimated that successive Nigerian Governments have invested up to 800 billion Naira in public owned enterprises and annual returns on these investments have been well below 10 per cent, and in many cases huge losses

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Native son 2 Essay Example For Students

Native son 2 Essay Native Son by Richard Wright is a novel written about a black boy trying to grow up in a white mans world. Bigger, the main charter, is growing up in a typical black neighborhood. He is the only man of the house so he must help his mother support them. In this novel it is important to understand that Bigger is prone to violence. In every tough situation he gets stuck in he refers to a violent action. This can be seen by the way he treats his friends and family. Richard Nathaniel Wright was born on September 4, 1908 on a Mississippi plantation. During Wrights childhood he was often hungry. This allowed Wright to write passionately and eloquently about the meaning of suffering in the lives of oppressed and exploited people because that suffering was an integral part of his own life. The Communist Party had been the only one to take a deep interest in Wrights life and had at one time offered to teach him to write. Richard Wright died on November 28, 1960, at the age of 52 in Paris. Choose a person who had the most influence on Bigger. I feel that Max had the most influence on Bigger. Max helped Bigger realize what he had done wrong and how that not all white people were out to get the black man. At times Bigger felt that Max was only trying to hurt him but I think that deep down inside, Bigger knew Max was only there to help him. A wave of excited voices swept over the room. Biggers fingers gripped the arms of the chair. Maxs hand touched his shoulder, Bigger turned and Max whispered,Sit stillMr. Coroner?Yes?In the capacity of Bigger Thomas lawyer. Id like to state that he does not wish to testify here (328). This quote shows that Max was looking out for Biggers best wishes. Max knew that if Bigger had testified the lawyers would have pounded him with questions and made him seem more guilty that he already was. I also think that it showed Bigger that Max cared about him and showed Bigger that he was going to help him though the trial. Your honor, I have no desire to be disrespectful to this court, but I must be honest. A mans life is at stake. And not only this man a criminal, but he is also a black criminal. And such he comes into this court under a handicap, notwithstanding our pretensions thatall are equal before the law (382). Max is showing not only the court, but the nation as a whole, that there is no way that Bigger can receive a fair trial. Bigger and Max both know this. I also think that Bigger knows he is going to die Max is the only one trying to help him. Max is trying to do the impossible. That is make a black man innocent in a white mans court. Max not only had a major influence on Bigger, but he was one of the only people that cared about him and did not judge him by the color of his skin. I think that Max had a significant influence on the judge even though Bigger did receive the death penalty. Look at Jan and tell whether he is a realistic charter or not. I feel that Jan could be a realistic person but his views on topics are too exaggerated and Jan is too forgiving. In the pale yellow sheen of the street lamp they faced each other . . . Bigger had his hand insidehis shirt pocket on his gunWhat all this about, Bigger? I havent done anything to you Bigger. Jans presence condemned him it was Jans innocence that made anger rise in him (171). .u7b1dd7e8fbef693920cb8322580dd420 , .u7b1dd7e8fbef693920cb8322580dd420 .postImageUrl , .u7b1dd7e8fbef693920cb8322580dd420 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u7b1dd7e8fbef693920cb8322580dd420 , .u7b1dd7e8fbef693920cb8322580dd420:hover , .u7b1dd7e8fbef693920cb8322580dd420:visited , .u7b1dd7e8fbef693920cb8322580dd420:active { border:0!important; } .u7b1dd7e8fbef693920cb8322580dd420 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u7b1dd7e8fbef693920cb8322580dd420 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u7b1dd7e8fbef693920cb8322580dd420:active , .u7b1dd7e8fbef693920cb8322580dd420:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u7b1dd7e8fbef693920cb8322580dd420 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u7b1dd7e8fbef693920cb8322580dd420 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u7b1dd7e8fbef693920cb8322580dd420 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u7b1dd7e8fbef693920cb8322580dd420 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u7b1dd7e8fbef693920cb8322580dd420:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u7b1dd7e8fbef693920cb8322580dd420 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u7b1dd7e8fbef693920cb8322580dd420 .u7b1dd7e8fbef693920cb8322580dd420-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u7b1dd7e8fbef693920cb8322580dd420:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Criminology EssayJan, I think, is too forgiving to be realistic. How can a man that was just lied about be questioning his accuser on what was said about him? If I were Jan, I would want to kill Bigger for making up the whole story and lying about me. Jan not only forgives Bigger, but he wants to help Bigger by getting him a lawyer to defend Bigger in court. Let me be on your side, Bigger Jan said. I can fight this thing with you, just like youve started it. I can come from all of those white people and stand here with you. I got a friend his name is Max. He wants to help you (289). Jan wants to have his friend Max help him in court. How could any human being be this forgiving? Jan was not only accused of the crime but he was directly involved in it because of Mary being his girlfriend. Discuss two themes and choose which one you like the best. The two themes that I am going to discuss are: How Bigger awakes to the fact that he killed Mary and How Bigger thinks that it is Bessies and Marys fault that he killed them. At the beginning of Book II Bigger is struggling to come to reality that he has in fact killed Mary. He also must face the fact that he had killed and that he killed a white women. Subconsciously he denies killing Mary but I know that Bigger knows he killed her. He would have to go over his story andmake it foolproof . . . Oh, hell, what had happened had happened and he would stick to his story (126). This quote shows that Bigger knows that he has killed Mary. He is trying to prefect his story to the best of his ability but he is unable to comprehend that this is all very real and that he is in serious trouble. How does Bigger think that the murders he committed were Marys and Bessies fault? Bigger knows that he has killed two people, but for Biggers own sanity he tries to blame the two women. Bigger feels that it was Marys fault and that he had to smother her with a pillow when she came home drunk after making him eat and drink with her after he didnt want to. When he killed Mary, he had to kill her because it was Bessie that kept nagging him to tell her of his scheme. Bigger felt that he had to kill these two women. He was rigid; not moving. This was the way it had to be. Then he took a deep breath and his hand grippedthe brick and shot upward and paused a second and then plunged downward through the darkness (237). For choosing a topic I am going to choose how Bigger felt he had to kill the two women. I think that the murders prove one thing that Bigger can be a man himself. In Biggers life Bessie and Mary are the most meaningful things that ever happened to Bigger Thomas. Compare and contrast Native Son with The Awakening. I think that the two books can be compared in the basis of that in both novels someone was looking for freedom. In The Awakening Edna was looking for freedom from her husband. She was tired of being restricted in what she could do. Edna wanted to be her own person. In Native Son Bigger is looking for freedom in things that he is allowed to do. Bigger wants to be allowed to do the same things as the white man. Bigger has always been told that he cannot hold certain jobs in this world. Both Bigger and Edna wanted things that neither of them would see in their lifetimes. My opinion of this book is very good. I enjoyed reading Native Son. I was amazed with the graphic descriptions of how Richard Wright could describe how Bigger killed Mary and stuffed her in the furnace. Wright captured and held my attention throughout the entire novel. I hated the way the book ended though I thought that somehow it would go on and say that somehow, someway Bigger would get out of the death penalty. I feel that Max in his closing statement made an accurate description of what Bigger was feeling at the time that he murdered both Mary and Bessie.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Weimar Republic Essays (2325 words) - German Revolution Of 191819

Weimar Republic Weimar Republic There were various factors that contributed to the failure of the Weimar Republic of Germany and the ascent of Hitler's National Socialist German Workers Party into power on January 30, 1933. Various conflicting problems were concurrent with the result of a Republic that, from the outset, its first governing body the socialist party (SPD) was forced to contend with. These included the aspect of German imperialism, the unresolved defeat of 1918, financial collapse and the forced struggle against the activities of the National party as well as inflation. Other factors that influenced the failure of Weimar were the structural weaknesses induced by the constitution and the basic lack of support for the Republic among the German people particularly amongst the elite. All in all, these aspects were the major causes that doomed the Weimar republic to ultimate failure and the eventual ascent of Hitler's nationalist party to power. The new socialist government of Weimar (SPD), whose constitution was adopted on July 30, 1919, entered a situation they by no means created. The period during which they were appointed to rule was associated with defeat and misery, and when disorder was nationwide. The situation then, was that of revolution. However, rather than to make it a revolution of there own, they co-operated with the liberals and with the catholic centre party to lead Germany in a reformed version of her old self. In June 1919, they voted to comply with the treaty of Versailles. However, the signing of the Treaty served to promote protest and unrest amongst the soldiers, sailors and the German people generally, and democracy thus resulted in becoming an alien device. The imperial army, for instance, never got over the humiliation of surrender, which they felt, was a 'stab in the back' by their own countrymen. The sailors at Kiel mutinied in a last desperate effort on October 28 and on November 9 1919, the streets were filled with crowds marching to demonstrate at the center of Berlin. Furthermore, compliance with the Treaty of Versailles meant that Germany would have to make reparation payments it could scarcely afford. This fact placed a heavy strain on the already suffering economy of Germany which was bankrupted by four years of war thus ensuing in the ascend of inflation and the occasioning of the respite of payments by Germany in 1922. The French reacted by occupying the Ruhr, a major industrial area of Germany, in January 1923. This was felt a grave humiliation by the German people and eventuated in widespread discontent. Germany's currency was already fragile, and in face of the occurring circumstances consequent to the Ruhr invasion and the overprinting of currency, the Mark fell to chronic levels, eventually reaching the value of four billion against the US dollar, which therefore generated massive hyperinflation. The economic instability, on top of the disillusionment and resent caused by the humiliating peace settlement, resulted in vast sections of German society feeling alienated by the Republic. They responded by attacking the democracy and as a consequence it became impossible to control the hostility and discontent. The deteriorating economic and social situation also managed to wreak havoc on the political atmosphere of the time and the Republic wound up having no positive friends and too many enemies. The Republic faced opposition from the extreme left by Spartacists who resorted to force in efforts to overturn the Republic. In March 1920, the Freikorps who in Berlin launched a pro-Monarchist putsch in an attempt to install Wolfgang Kapp as Chancellor also challenged the Republic from the right. During this incident troops both refused to defend the Republic or take action against Freikorps. In protest the working classes then responded by organizing a general strike in Berlin, which had the effect of frustrating this putsch. The present regime was able to survive despite the numerous threats. Extremism remained to pollute the atmosphere, the evidence being represented in the alarming amount of political assassinations that continued occurring. In evidence, according to an estimate of the Minister of Justice, rightists committed 354 murders between 1919 and 1923. During this time, when the Republic was suffering most and was being threatened, practically from all sides, Hitler had been making affective attempts to capitalize on the resultant circumstances. He exploited the economic collapse by blaming it on all those he wished to portray as enemies. These were the same enemies he declared as the 'November criminals' who had brought about Germany's defeat in 1918. Hitler's plan was to seize power in Munich, and, with Bavaria as his base, to launch a march on Berlin not unlike