Online Pre-Algebra Tutor

Online Pre-Algebra TutorYou can always find an online pre algebra tutor to help you with the concept of algebra and for that reason, you don't have to worry about a teacher or someone else in class trying to be helpful. It is almost always free to attend class, but if you are a pre-schooler or you are a college student, you will probably have to pay a fee to attend class so you can actually do the work.You can find an online pre algebra tutor to help you. You will need to do some research to find one that works well with your schedule. Most teachers use this type of program, which is made for them, but there are some that specialize in teaching for different age groups.The online pre algebra tutor will be able to help you learn the process of doing algebra. This is what a teacher will teach you in the beginning but you will be able to take it up on your own when you get ready to go back to school. There are usually a few tutors online who are specially trained to help younger student s like you as well as older students who may need a little more help.There are various ways to find a tutor to help you with the theory of the subject of algebra. The easiest way is to look for one who has reviews. Go to your favorite search engine and type in 'pre algebra tutor' and then choose from the options provided.Be sure to read the feedback from students who have used the tutor, which means they may have a review written by the tutor himself. It may also mean that the tutor is willing to answer any questions you have about the program or that the teacher is willing to explain the curriculum and the different ways in which the subject is taught.Online tutors can also make and ship the materials that are needed. While some are sent through the mail, it can be sent through the internet. If you are not one to shop around, you may want to take a look at the packages offered.When you look for a tutor online, be sure to ask for a free trial before paying the full price. You may fi nd the tutor you choose works well with your schedule and that you will enjoy your lessons.

What Drum Equipment Do I Need

What Drum Equipment Do I Need What Gear Do You Need to Play the Drums? ChaptersDrum ThronesStands for Drums and CymbalsDrum Carriers for Marching BandsDrum Maintenance 101Percussion Sticks for Your Drum SetPractice Assistants for Playing the DrumsYou’ve signed up for your first drum lessons, eager to start grooving like Buddy Rich. Now you’re ready to buy your first drum(s). But is a conga, bongo, marching snare drum or acoustic drum set really all you need to start playing paradiddles and drum fills?It all depends on the type of music you want to play. Some hand drums are portable and really only need the musical instrument and your hands, while others need sticks, stands, pedals…Here is a small overview of the sort of accessories you might need to be able to learn to play the drums.Have you started your drum lessons for beginners already?The more drums and cymbals you add, the harder it is to keep them organised. Photo credit: Hapshaw on Visual HuntFloor stands and pedalsMost large drums have floor stands of some sort, often with wheels for bett er mobility.Floor stands come in many different variations. Photo credit: nano.maus on Visual HuntFloor stands for modern drum sets are for bass drums and floor toms.A floor tom can be set onto a low cradle or mounted on a low stand, depending on what you feel most comfortable with. The cradle will hold it vertical, stands will allow it to be tilted slightly.Bass drum  stands come in two variations:Concert stands are hanging stands that lift the bass drums off the ground and allow them to be tilted at any angle. They are wide and take up a lot of space, being conceived for use in an orchestra.Bass drums for drum kits usually come with feet and a kick pedal. If the feet become damaged or you prefer another type of bass drum pedal, both are removable. Bass pedals come in slightly different shapes, with different features and feedback.You can also buy separate kick drum stands, including some designed for snare drums or similar smaller drums if you want an extra, foot-operated option i n your kit.Discover how much drum lessons cost anywhere in the UK...Cymbal standsCymbal stands come in simple and boom variations. Booms have a swinging arm so you can adjust not only the height but how close you need the cymbal to be to you and the other elements. Booms are practical if you have a lot of stands and can’t actually place each one exactly where you need the cymbal to be.Hi-hats have their own stand; otherwise, most hanging cymbals such as crash cymbals or ride cymbals use the same type of cymbal stand. There are stackers allowing you to attach a second cymbal to an existing stand; make sure the stand can take it and won’t overbalance.Drum racksDrum racks are more practical than individual stands, especially if you are on the move a lot. It’s basically one stand that lets you attach several drums and cymbals to it. Rather than setting each drum up individually, you just slot your rack together and attach the drums to that.Basic drum racks will have attachments fo r a certain number of drums and cymbals; extras will still need their own stands.Only compliment a lady on her huge rack if she is a drummer. Photo credit: Gibraltar Hardware on Visualhunt.comHowever, some drum racks out there are modular, and let you build up and expand at will -a ride cymbal here, a crash cymbal there, an extra snare drum over there, a cowbell over that way. These are, of course, generally more expensive.Drum rugsDrum rugs are generally made of rubber or some other high-friction material. They are there to prevent your stands or rack from sliding when you play. Even if you play with more feeling than power, the vibrations of the drums can cause a stand to wander.You might have noticed, if you're taking drum lessons near me, that every music store's drum kit is set up on such a rug!drum heads. To check if it’s time to fit a new drum skin on your drum, loosen it slightly and see if the part you are hitting looks pocked. If it does, it’s time to change the drum h ead.Some drums need tension keys to adjust the pitch and loosen the skins for changing. These are generally provided when buying the drum, but if you lose it or find it more practical to have several keys, they can be bought separately, too.Your ideal drum teacher will show you how to maintain and tune your kit.How to store your drums?Extreme climates - whether in terms of temperature or humidity - are generally bad for musical instruments. Try to keep your drums in a dry, temperate space; but even worse than less-than-ideal-conditions is the abrupt change from one climate to another. If you live somewhere very cold or very humid, store them someplace they won’t crack or get mouldy, but won’t experience too much of a shock when you take them out of storage.This video offers tips on storing a drum kit when you don’t have the space to keep it set up.Percussion Sticks for Your Drum SetUnless you are playing hand drums, you are going to be hitting your drums with something. Differ ent types of sticks or rods give a different sound:Hard taps with little reverberation: traditional drumsticks, wooden rods with small knobs at the ends. There are ethnic variations such as the Japanese bachi, which are straight without knobs.Deep, resonating tones: padded mallets, often used in orchestrasRutes or multi-rods are bundles of thin wooden rods, usually birch. Rutes for band drumming come in bundles of nineteen (Hot Rods or Cool Rods with thinner canes) or seven (Lightning Rods or the thicker Thunder Rods).Brushes are bristles of metal or plastic set into a handle in a fan shape. Some are retractable to protect the bristles in transport. They swish nicely on a drum head.Tippers are double-ended sticks used for hand drums such as the bodhran.There are many different options for beating your drums. Photo on VisualHuntSome drums such as the African talking drums use curved mallets with a flat disk at the end. The mallet can be struck against the drum head or rubbed against it.Most of these are made of wood. You need something sturdy with a good varnish on it (or polished as smooth as possible) to avoid splinters. When buying anything with several parts (brushes, padded mallets), go for higher quality. Cheap variations will fall apart at inopportune moments - bristles falling out, padding loosening… However, even high-quality wares will experience wear and will have to be replaced on a regular basis.Practice Assistants for Playing the DrumsFinally, here are a few accessories you might consider investing in to help you practise playing the drums:A music stand is useful when learning songs or if you play very long orchestral pieces. You can put your sheet music on it until you know the song by heart.A metronome is essential when learning how to play the drums. A metronome has a long metal hand on which a weight is attached. This lets it swing like a pendulum, marking time. It ticks the time, so you know just when to hit for your eighth notes or sixteen th notes. Your drum teacher will certainly have one and it’s practical to have one at home to practise your drum beats. There are metronome apps to download if you don’t want to bother with a physical specimen.A drum pad is a means of practising your drumming without actually doing it on a drum. It’s a pad that makes a noise when it’s struck - lightweight, small and not very loud. Drum pads useful for on the road or if your neighbours are less than understanding about late-night practise jams, but the practice pad does have its limitations. It’s good for practising rhythm and ironing out sloppy stick use, but if you want to work on subtleties of sound or rim work you will need the real thing.But of course, the main thing you will need to learn to play the drum is passion!Now read more about learning how to play the drums!

Types of Tea in Japan

Types of Tea in Japan The Varieties of Tea in the Land of the Rising Sun ChaptersSencha: The Most Common Tea in JapanBancha: Japan’s Second TeaGyokuro: Japanese Luxury TeaMatcha: The Tea Used in the Japanese Tea CeremonyGenmaicha: A Mix of Tea and Roast Popped RiceTamaryokucha: Fruity Japanese TeaOther Types of Japanese Tea“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” - C.S. LewisYou’d be surprised at just how much tea is consumed in Japan.4.1 million tonnes of tea are produced yearly and China is the main producer. The Japanese tend to consume everything they make. Only 3% of their production is exported. There are dozens of Japanese tea varieties with the main differences occurring during manufacturing and how they’re consumed.Let’s have a look at the different types of tea in Japan. NanaJapanese Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EllyJapanese Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MomokoJapanese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Melan ieJapanese Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YukoJapanese Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamesJapanese Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PippaJapanese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarikoJapanese Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsSencha: The Most Common Tea in JapanSencha is a green tea that accounts for two-thirds of production in Japan. Leaves are steamed for a minute to stop them oxidising during the drying process. It’s hard to come by outside of Japan and most sencha produced is consumed in Japan. If you find tea growing in Japan, it'll probably be sencha. (Source: Pharaoh_EZYPT)It’s green and has a slightly bitter taste. It needs to be infused at 80 ºC minimum. If you want a stronger taste, you can increase the temperature. It only takes between a minute and 90 seconds to infuse.There are different levels of quality and the first harvest tends to be of the highest quality and most sought after. This is known as sencha.Did you know that green tea is a non-oxidised tea?Learn more about attending a Japanese tea ceremony.Bancha: Japan’s Second TeaBancha is a lower-quality tea whose production is very similar to that of sencha. Bancha is from tougher leaves which are usually harvested from the second flush. As a result, it’s cheaper than sencha. Bancha tea is considered to be of a lower quality than sencha. (Source: xegxef)There are several different types of bancha:Hakuta bancha and kyobancha: The leaves are steamed and then sun-dried. This results in large brown leaves.Kageboshi bancha: The entire plant is harvested and then hung out to dry in the shade.Kancha: This is the bancha harvested in winter.Hojicha: The Cheapest Japanese TeaInvented in Kyoto in the 1920s, this is a green tea that comes from bancha, sencha, or kukicha. It’s roasted at 200 ºC before being rapidly cooled. Its leaves take on a red colour and it has caramel flavours.It barely contains any caffeine and can even be given to children despite its strong taste. It’s served in Japanese restaurants and aids digestion.Did you know that differences in tea comes from the manufacturing process and harvest not the plant?Discover what happens in a Japanese tea ceremony.Gyokuro: Japanese Luxury TeaThe gyokuro, literally “jade dew”, is one of the most luxurio us teas in Japan. 20 days before the harvest, the plants (usually yabukita) are put into the shade under a komo to protect them from the sun. The chlorophyll and flavours concentrate in the softest leaves. Afterwards, the process is the same for sencha and bancha tea. The leaves are steamed and then dried. The leaves are then rolled into small pine-coloured needles.The result is a tea that’s less bitter as there’s less catechin. This production method originated 2 centuries ago in the Uji region while nowadays, gyokuro is cultivated near Kyoto, Nagoya, Okabe, and Yame.The tea can be infused at a lower temperate (50-55 ºC) for two minutes maximum or 60 ºC for a minute. It has a very pronounced taste and contains a lot of caffeine. Drink it slowly on account of how strong the taste is. NanaJapanese Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EllyJapanese Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MomokoJapanese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free !Discover all our tutors MelanieJapanese Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YukoJapanese Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamesJapanese Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PippaJapanese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarikoJapanese Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsMatcha: The Tea Used in the Japanese Tea CeremonyMatcha is made from tencha, which is why you’ll find the two names. The leaves for this tea often come from gyokuro. The unrolled tencha is turned into a powder using a machine that takes up to an hour to make just 50g of matcha. Matcha is the tea used in Japanese tea ceremonies. (Source: naturalogy)Matcha originates in China where the tea was used as a medicine once turned into a powder.  Nowadays, it’s often used in Japanese tea ceremonies (Chanoyu). You don’t need to infuse matcha as you can just pour 85 ºC water over it and whisk it for 30 seconds to create a foam. Matcha is also used in baking.Learn about the history of the Japanese tea ceremony.Genmaicha: A Mix of Tea and Roast Popped RiceGenmaicha is often served in restaurants. This is sencha, bancha, or even gyokuro that’s mixed with puffed rice. In some cases, matcha will be added to create an even more original blend.  There’s a very particular taste and the flavours from the tea mix with the flavours from the rice to create notes of dried and roasted fruit. It’s brewed in water at 80-85 ºC for between 3-5 minutes.Tamaryokucha: Fruity Japanese TeaOther types of green tea use the ancient Chinese method of steaming the leaves just after har vest. Tamaryokucha uses the current Chinese method of drying the leaves out.  The result is a fruity and flowery flavour which is unlike the usual flavours you find in Japanese teas.Other Types of Japanese TeaTea lovers will have a great time in Japan! There are so many varieties of tea that you could spend your entire trip trying them. Forget about flavoured teas like Earl Grey and Darjeeling and enjoy Japanese flavours tea:Aracha: The term means “unrefined”. The production process is the same but omits the sorting process. This tea is sold in bulk where a third party will often charge to sort or process it. Several teas can be made from these leaves.Fukamushicha: This is more a production method than a type of tea. All teas can be fukamushi. The leaves spend between 1 and 2 minutes being steamed. The result is a brittle tea that can dissolve in water.Funmatsucha: This is a process that’s similar to matcha but at a much lower quality.Kabusecha: Much like gyokuro, the leaves a re covered before harvest but only for between 10 and 15 days. The result is a tea that’s halfway between the flavour of gyokuro and sencha. It’s quite a rare variety that only accounts for 4% of Japanese production.Kamairicha: Here the leaves aren’t steamed but rather cooked at 45 ºC.Kocha: From black tea, the leaves are oxidised a lot.Konacha: This is made from the dust after processing gyokuro and sencha. It’s a strong-flavoured tea powder.Kukicha: This is a tea made from stems, stalks, and twigs. It’s refreshing with a nutty and creamy sweet flavour.Mecha: This is made from the early leaf buds.Sanpincha: This is a jasmine tea that’s consumed a lot in Okinawa. Japan has many different types of tea. (Source: chezbeate)The Japanese are also fans of oolong tea that’s harvested in Taiwan and China. It’s a lightly oxidised tea that’s been steamed. Similarly, you can also find pu’er tea which is an affordable dark tea from China.So which Japanese tea will you try?If you'd like to learn the language before you go to Japan or a Japanese tea ceremony, you should get in touch with one of the many talented and experienced private Japanese tutors on Superprof. With three main types of private tutorial available, face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials, there's a solution for every type of learner and budget.Group tutorials are great for those on a budget as the cost of the tutor's time is shared amongst all the students in attendance. While you won't get as much one-on-one time with your tutor in these tutorials, if you and a group of friends are going to Japan and would all like to learn a bit of the language, they're a great option.Face-to-face tutorials tend to be the most effective tutorials because they're tailored to an individual student who'll have the tutor's undivided attention throughout the session. However, with all the extra work the tutor will put into tailoring their tutorials, you can expect to pay more and these types of tutorials are usually the most expensive.Online tutorials are similar to face-to-face tutorials but your tutor won't be in the room with you. Thanks to the internet, you can get Japanese tutorials via webcam. Your tutor might even be in Japan!Before you decide upon your tutor, remember that many of the tutors on Superprof offer free tuition for the first hour. Try a few of them out and see who you get along with, who offers the best tuition, and ask them about their teaching approach, rates, and what you'd like to learn.Personally, when you first start learning a language, you might want to start with the cheaper option of group tutorials and move onto online or fa ce-to-face tutorials once you start to get a better idea of what you want to learn. However, at the end of the day, the choice is yours.

6 Ways to Achieve Career Growth - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 6 Ways to Achieve Career Growth - Introvert Whisperer 6 Ways to Achieve Career Growth All too often when the discussion about career growth rolls around, most people think in terms of promotion to management. While taking a management position can signify career growth, it isn’t the only possibility. Career growth is really all about your ability to learn new things and apply them. That learning curve, just like going to school, means you increase the depth and complexity of knowledge about your work. It is like the difference between grade school and high school. Career growth is important to us all because as the pesky humans we are, we get bored easily, and boredom is created when there is nothing new to stimulate our thinking. Boredom can easily turn to job dissatisfaction, which should be avoided at all costs. I want to help you accelerate your career. Connect with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€"CLICK HERE Here are some ways to create career growth: 1. Take classesYou may think since you graduated your brain is as full as it needs to be. Wrong. Now that you are in an actual work setting, you will discover many things to enhance how you do your work or to prepare you for the next step. There is a class for everything from computer applications to how to communicate more effectively. 2. Ask for new assignmentsYou might even suggest some tasks that you would like or that are in need of attention. Learning a new task expands your qualifications for doing new jobs. 3. Become an expert  All groups usually have a person who is the definitive expert at something. They spend time learning all they can about that one thing and when you ask them a question â€" they either know the answer or can get it better than any other person. As the “go-to” person your learning continues, because people will seek you out for help in solving the big, complex issues. 4. ReadYou should be reading about your company regarding such things as the business direction, business results, and market strategies. Knowing these things will give you an idea of where you fit. Also, reading is a good way to increase your learning; and just like classes, you can find a book that will apply to all situations and challenges you might be facing. 5. Change jobs  When you change jobs, you go through another learning curve; and that continues to expand your professional knowledge base. You also become more valuable because you’ve expanded your skills. 6. Look for improvements All businesses have more challenges and work than they have man-power to tackle. You can easily look around your own department and find many things you could work on that would help the overall company. You need to ensure that what you are doing still allows you to perform all your assigned responsibilities. Pick out things that will cause you to learn something new in the process. Career growth is primarily about expanding your knowledge and skills. When you are continuously increasing your capabilities, there is usually an offsetting reward of pay and promotion at some point. Even without those financial rewards, you will feel better about yourself and your future. Do you know what your next career step is? Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

7 Tips for Your Kids As They Go Back To School

7 Tips for Your Kids As They Go Back To School 0SHARESShare Going back to school after holidays is not that pleasant an activity for a kid. Enjoying hours of sleep, leisure and pastimes come to an end and there they are ready with their backpacks to return to school. What are the tips to ensure a safe return of your child to school? Road safety is the foremost factor of concern. Remind your kids of the traffic rules and safe measures of crossing the road Personal safety is the next thing. Instruct your kids not to talk to strangers and complain at once in case of a suspect able adult Next comes the health matter. The child must have got into loose routines like untimely meals and irregular snacks. Bring a pattern of healthy meal and timely food to cope with the school work and time management. Then, you concentrate on the mental health of your child. He may not like to go to a new school or enter the next grade. You approach an  online tutoring  centre and ask them to revive your child’s mind with pleasant aspects of learning to prepare the child   for getting back to school. Next, take care of the school supply essentials. Do everything the previous night to avoid emergencies and embarrassments. One more thing- do pre-plan the homework schedule and study plan of your child. You could have known the weaker areas of your child previously and make arrangements to make for it at the outset itself- suppose the child needs  pre calculus homework help, arrange with an online tutor to motivate the child. Not the least tip- take care of the backpacks of your kids. They worry your children too much, causing aversion towards school going It would be good, if you find options to strengthen your kid’s studies through proper tutoring to avoid future disappointments. Suppose the child is weak in Biology, an  online biology tutor  could make the child understand the pleasantries of Biology and drive away the learning disabilities from the child. [starbox id=admin]

10 Famous Economic Theories

10 Famous Economic Theories What Is An Economic Model? ChaptersThere’s More Than One Economic ModelEach Great Economist Has Their Own Economic TheoryOther Examples Of Economic ModelsFind Out More About Your Favourite Economic TheoryAn economic model seeks to explain our economic reality, for example why markets behave the way they do. What's more,  an economic model seeks to test an assumption or theory about economic behaviour. However, how this is tested depends on the model used.Sam Ouliaris, a senior economist at the IMF Institute, suggests that economists will use either a theoretical economic model or an empirical economic model to test their theories.He argues that whilst a theoretical model will focus on providing qualitative answers and predictions of an individual's behaviour or market behaviour, an empirical model will seek to provide numerical substantiation to such theories. Further, how simple, or indeed complex, a model is, will depend on the economist creating the model, and what aims they are seeking to achieve.The div ision of labour;Free trade; andA laissez-faire economic system, including the belief that markets have a tendency to self-regulate.It is interesting to note that Adam Smith was a most controversial figure in his time.One reason for the derision his writings were often subjected to was the fact that the economic model he proposed was so contrary to the political machine of his day.It just so happened that Adam Smith was alive in a time of great change in his country.He was a mere babe when Scotland signed the Treaty of Union with England, releasing his country of onerous tariffs levied by England and opening lucrative trade routes with the American colonies.Naturally, he was not aware of these events, young as he was but, in his later years, they surely must have played a role in his theorising of economic matters.When he was in his teens â€" now, surely able to grasp the ramifications of events, the Bank of Scotland suffered accusations of being Jacobite sympathisers. In 1727, that bank’s rival received its Royal Charter.The two institutions attempted to drive each other out of business. These ‘bank wars’ ended in 1751 â€" coincidentally, only a few years before our Mr Smith published his Theory of Moral Sentiments.Essentially, the overarching belief of this school was that markets should always move to be in equilibrium. For example, over time, any change to supply should be equalled by a corresponding move in demand.In this work, he alludes to ‘the invisible hand’ in his contemplation of the rich; namely that they are compelled, not by law but by a moral imperative to distribute onto the poor the necessities of life â€" presumably wages and/or goods.Turns out that Mr Smith was an economist by default; his theories were formulated on morality rather than on any fiscal sense. Thus it comes as no surprise that he is considered an Enlightened thinker!My economics teacher London is a classical economist!Laissez-Faire CapitalismThe theory of Laissez-fair e capitalism is closely linked to classical economics as well as thinkers such as Adam Smith.Far from the lackadaisical impression this term suggests, this economic theory rests on five fundamentals:The basic unit of any society is the individualThe natural right to freedom mustn’t be denied to any individualNature herself is a harmonious and self-regulating systemIndividuals must closely watch corporations and other entities of the State because of their inclination to disrupt (the Smithian) spontaneous order.Even today, we find evidence of this economic model. Shareholders have the right to review company balance sheets, for example. Governments also apply this theory by instituting oversight committees and submitting to external audits.The fifth, most important tenet is that markets should always be competitive. Here is where the concept of Laisser Faire runs into trouble!Governments routinely adjust interest rates to stimulate their economies, meet their target inflation rates or add value to their currency.While these practices could be considered manipulation, they are generally accepted as a legitimate means of maintaining an economy.Corporations, on the other hand, are not permitted such tactics.When a company artificially inflates its stock, it shows as more valuable than it actually is on the stock markets, effectively forming an economic bubble with nothing to sustain it.Such pump and dump schemes are illegal and the perpetrators are generally caught... not by individuals, as the Laisser Faire doctrine states but by government overseers.Those that advocate such a system argue that markets are effectively self-regulating and that as a result government interference in economic policy, for example through imposing import or export tariffs, is harmful. As such, to obtain the most benefit for all, capitalism should be free to run its own course.There are different types of economic modelling. (Source: CC BY-SA 3.0, Jarry1250, Wikimedia Commons)Marxism Karl Marx may be better remembered as a philosopher, but it’s equally true that he contributed much to the field of economics.His two major works in economics and economic history were:Title (English)Title (German)First PublishedAuthorsThe Communist ManifestoManifest der Kommunistischen Partei1848Karl Marx and Friedrich EngelsCapitalDas Kapital1867Karl MarxAs many will be aware, Marx was not an advocate of capitalism and saw many faults with the system, including conflict and instability.As divergent as their thinking was, Marx and Smith’s philosophies were grounded in the same plot: economic modelling must be driven by a moral code.Karl Marx believed no one person was any better, more worthy or more deserving than anyone else.That being the case, why should one have riches and the other not? Or, more specifically, why should anyone suffer any lack when there is enough for everyone to have at least basic necessities, education and health care?His philosophies flew in the face of the day’s commonly-held beliefs.Bear in mind that his pronouncements came at a time when everyone who was able was fighting to get rich.After the Revolutions of 1848, when most European monarchies were overthrown, the transition from serfdom to an economic model where people bartered their labour proved far more difficult than anyone had foreseen.Young Marx deplored the idea of people selling their time and abilities for just enough sustenance while those they laboured for essentially took the place of the so recently vacated nobility class.It might seem contrary that Marx had no problem with capitalism as an economic model. Rather, he baulked at the concept of capital; the propensity of workers to become the tools of the business owners.Contrary to thinkers such as Adam Smith, Marx believed that at the heart of capitalism was the history of class struggle itself. In an almost Hegelian-vein, Marx argued that ultimately it would be this struggle that would destroy capitalism and t hat it would drive society towards a new age of communism.Efficient Market HypothesisThe Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) is a theory within the field of financial economics and is often referenced in relation to investments and the stock market.Essentially, EMH proposes that an investor can never “beat the market” because the stock market reflects all possible available information. Although this theory is commonly referenced and used, it has been the subject of fierce debate and criticism, with detractors arguing, for example, that figures such as Warren Buffett have been able to consistently beat the market for decades.The Efficient Market Hypothesis supposes that all checks and balances are in place and working, that every entity is absolutely honest and that market fluctuations are always predictable.Essentially, it is an effective way of embracing Laisser Faire economics and the ‘Invisible Hand’ postulate; a combination which would naturally foster fair trade.Because these economic fundamentals are in place and working well, no entity â€" investor or business would be able to play the market  to their advantage.Were it not for the human factor, this would be a lovely, compact economic theory.Let’s examine the effects of international policy in America on world financial markets, just for illustration purposes.Information bias, the propensity to seek more information about a situation even though it has no direct impact on any action, is an example of cognitive bias that affects the economy.Will my earnings be safe? Will other countries want to buy my products?Will investors continue to support my venture in good faith even though it seems that this government intends to disturb the equilibrium we’ve so far enjoyed?Even after absorbing all the possible information about the situation, these entities resort to their own, perhaps irrational thinking about it. Past practice shows they would likely shed more volatile stocks in favour of buying gr owth stocks, often at a higher rate.This trend has a dual effect on the economy.For one, it reduces the value of the riskier stocks and compels investors to bypass them.On the other hand, others would profit by buying those neglected stocks at a reduced rate as well as from the over-reaction of those selling growth stocks.That would be the Buffett formula, in case you were wondering.Each Great Economist Has Their Own Economic TheoryAs we mentioned above, there is a wide range of economic theories in existence. However, if you want to study the most influential or widely-supported economic theories, try reading the key theories of major economists.The Invisible HandAdam Smith, an 18th-century philosopher, is a pivotal figure in economics and has been associated with the classical school of economics.One of Smith’s most famous concepts was that of the “invisible hand,” which he describes in his work The Wealth of Nations. Illustrative of a free market economy, Smith argued that there was an invisible hand that guided the economy towards balance and equilibrium, despite the self-interest of individuals.Adam Smith's economic model has been hugely influential. (Source: CC BY-SA 3.0, Guinnog, Wikimedia Commons)Keynesian EconomicsJohn Maynard Keynes is one of the most famous figures in economics, largely due to the wide influence that his theories had on global markets in the 20th century.The key tenet of Keynesian economics was the idea that the government should involve itself in the running of a capitalist economy.Specifically, Keynes argued that governments should spend more during times of economic downturn in order to stabilise the economy and raise demand for goods and services. This, in turn, should help the economy to grow.As with all of these economic philosophies, we have to look at what was happening in the world and with various economies, to get a real sense of what, exactly, the economist intended by his model.There is little argument among econo mists today that America’s Great Depression was caused by that country’s central bank, The Fed, not taking action in the face of the banking crisis.Actions that might have averted the monumental economic collapse include lowering interest rates and regulating banks.Prior to the Great Depression, banks in the US were largely unregulated; they had the power to print money to meet all of their fiscal obligations. The Fed made no corresponding moves, leading to a disparity of worth between the two systems.The ensuing monetary contraction led to panic, causing people to rush to banks and withdraw all of their funds.That is if funds were available for withdrawal.The Keynesian model revolves around the idea that, if the central bank had oversight and control of local banks, the depression could have been avoided.In times of slowing economy, the government must run deficits in order to keep people employed because private sector businesses cannot be counted on to invest enough in produc tion to keep the economy afloat.Such deficits may include lowering taxes and increasing government spending (which would represent a deficit in their budget).Although he is not without his critics, as his ideas marked a step away from Laissez Faire policies espoused by the likes of Adam Smith, there is no denying the influence Keynes’ theories have had.Friedman MonetarismMilton Friedman, a U.S. economist, was, in contrast to Keynes, an advocate for the free market, and has been closely associated with the theory of monetarism.The Keynesian model advocated for the government manipulating the economy through fluctuating tax rates and varying government spending to suit the times.Monetarism, on the other hand, advocates for the government controlling how much money is in circulation but taking no action.In other words: the government should focus solely on maintaining sustainable rates of economic ability.Believing that manipulation of money’s growth rate or, indeed, the supply of money itself would destabilise the economy, Friedman proposed a fixed money rule, whereby the supply of money would be increased by a set percentage each year.Friedman believed in keeping wages and prices flexible as part of a Laissez Faire economy. In particular, the theory of monetarism argues that the amount of money in supply within an economy should be kept constant, with just enough room to grow naturally.As such, in contrast to Keynes, the concept of monetarism goes against proposals or suggestions for excessive government intervention or regulation.The monetarist economic theory calls for the government to keep their hands off of your money! Source: Pixabay Credit: JarmolukOther Examples Of Economic ModelsNew economic theories and models are developing all the time, and there have been major contributions to new economic fields, such as behavioural economics, over the past fifty years or so. We outline some of the more recent economic theories that any economics student or u niversity graduate should know about below.Asymmetric InformationThe concept of asymmetric information was brought to prominence by three economists:George Akerlof;Michael Spence; andJoseph Stiglitz.The argument is that, in a transaction, often one party (usually the seller) has access to more information and knowledge than the other party (usually the purchaser).Information asymmetry is not solely an economic problem: military leaders constantly miscalculate their prospects of victory â€" a classic case of information asymmetry.We see examples of unequal equations everywhere today: we don’t really know if North Korea is continuing to operate their nuclear facilities, whether the forces of ISIS really are decimated or how the European Union will trade with us post-Brexit â€" no matter what they say.In a perfect world, such negotiations would function like a chess game: all the pieces on the board and all of the possible moves obvious to anyone who studies the pieces.The implicatio n of this theory is that, contrary to some economic models that assume perfect information symmetry, markets do not, in fact, operate in this manner, and that the existence of asymmetric information can lead to “adverse selection.”Prospect TheoryDaniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky were the minds behind prospect theory. The theory posits that individuals, contrary to the assumptions in most economic models, are not always fully rational decision makers.Kahneman and Tversky used their research to argue that individuals value gains and losses differently, with greater emphasis placed on possible gains than possible losses. For this reason, this theory has also been described as the “loss aversion” theory.As a result, Kahneman and Tversky argue that some of our decisions are based more on emotion and our memories than logic. This theory falls within the field of behavioural economics and can be used to illustrate why people sometimes follow less than logical behaviours in financial markets.Game TheoryGame theory has wide-reaching applications, from  psychology to politics and  biology to  business.Naturally, it has also been welcomed within the area of economics. Essentially, the theory studies human conflict and co-operation in times of competition, and the strategies that individuals adopt as a result.You could say that Game Theory as applied to economics underscores the principles of classical economics:Division of labour: ‘players’ help each other outFree trade: participants assign their own values for bartering.Laisser-Faire: the game’s outcome would be self-regulatingThe Invisible Hand component refers to every game participant’s common sense of fair play and equanimity.Game theory has helped to address some issues that could not be explained by other schools of economic thought. For example, game theory helps to explain the concept of imperfect competition, which not all economic models allow for.One of the first pioneers of the field was John von Neumann, although there have been many other contributors, such as John Nash, who developed the Nash Equilibrium.Game theory is becoming an increasingly popular economic theory. (Source: CC BY-SA 2.0, brewbooks, Wikimedia Commons)Find Out More About Your Favourite Economic TheoryAlthough there are a number of economic theories and models out there, it’s worthwhile spending some time familiarising yourself with the most famous economic models. You can do so by reading books on the subject. This is for a variety of reasons, not least because:You can learn more about a particular school of economic thought;You can develop your understanding of a major economic thinker â€" from Keynes to Friedman; andYou can help improve your knowledge of your course or university curriculum.The best way to learn about particular economic models is to read the relevant works by their proponents, for example, The Wealth of Nations or Das Kapital, but if you need any extra help understanding key eco nomic theories you could also turn to a tutor for help, especially if you don't have the time to read every major economic text in detail.If you decide that an Economics tutor would be the best way to help you learn more about these important economic theories, then you could look for your A Level Economics tutor on an online tutoring site. Sites such as Superprof have a range of economics tutors who are very familiar with all the major economic theories listed above, and they would be happy to help you deepen your knowledge of these models.Superprof has economic tutors online!If you'd like to read up on the financial crisis of 2008, click here.

What to Do Once You Receive Your PSAT Scores

What to Do Once You Receive Your PSAT Scores Receiving your PSAT scores can be stressfuland confusing. Its all too easy to transfer how you feel about your results onto your overall academic self-esteema natural but not necessarily helpful connectionand its easy to feel at a loss for what to do next. So what should you do once you receive your PSAT scores? Take these three steps. Once you receive your PSAT scores, assess your strengths and weaknesses If you took the PSAT in October 2018, you will be able to access your scores between December 10 and 12, depending on what state you live in. (Visit The College Board to find out which date corresponds to your state.) Your score report will include results that correspond to math, reading, and writing and language. Youll also receive section scores for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and for Math. Additionally, there are cross-test scores, which pull out selected questions across the previously mentioned subjects of math, reading, and writing and language, and analyze them for your performance in history/social studies, as well as science. Finally, your report will include subscores, or more detailed sections under the umbrellas of: Math Reading Writing and Language. These results will give you more information about what content areas you were strong in, as well as which areas you need more practice inwhether youre planning to retake the PSAT as a junior or in preparation for the ACT or SAT. [RELATED: What is an Average PSAT Score?] Create a study plan for the ACT or SAT once you receive your PSAT scores The next step is to make a study plan for the ACT or SAT, depending on which test you would like to take. In addition to analyzing your subscores/content areas, look at your score report to see how you did on easy, medium, and hard questions. This can help you come up with the best test-taking strategies for yourself. For example, if you frequently missed easy questions, it could be because of careless mistakes. Youll want to spend a bit more time, then, reading carefully so as not to miss easy points. If, on the other hand, you missed a lot of hard questions, use best practices like checking that youre not missing anything at every step, and again, that youve read the question carefully. Not only can online resources be helpful at this juncture, but ACT/SAT test prep books can be great. You may also want to sign up for ACT tutoring or SAT tutoring. Lastly, once youve decided on your SAT or ACT test date, create a plan in terms of how much time you want to spend studying daily, weekly, and monthly leading up to the exam. This will help you stay on track in terms of content areas, as well as taking practice tests (which youll want to do in the weeks leading up to the actual test). Once you receive your PSAT scores, visit your guidance counselor After youve received your scores, visit your academic counselor. They will be able to give you tips and insight into how to move forward. If your PSAT score qualifies you for the National Merit Scholarship Program, which offers funding for college, and youre not sure what to do next, your guidance counselor can help you. They can also help you look up colleges that may be good matches for you, depending on your scores and your overall academic progress. In addition to a counselor, a teacher or other academic professional may be a great resource for you as you look ahead to the next standardized test and to college. When youve received your scores, you should celebrate regardless of whether youve received the score you wantedyouve taken an important test, youve come through to the other side, and you now have more information about yourself as a test-taker. Now its time to look forward. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

English Grammar When to use the Present Continuous Tense

English Grammar When to use the Present Continuous Tense The following sets out the use of the Present Continuous format of verbs. There are examples given in each situation. How to Form the Present Continuous Tense The Present Continuous tense is formed with the present  tense  of the verb to be and the present participle of the verb (verb + -ing). Verbs are not normally used in the Present Continuous Some verbs are not normally used in the Present Continuous form. We usually use the following verbs in simple tenses only:knowunderstandforgetpreferwantrememberlikehateneedPresent Continuous relates to something that is usually happening at the time we are speaking.For example:Michael goes to work every day in his car. Today he is driving to work in his car. Michael is in his car now so we can use the Present Continuous to describe the act.Michael is driving  to work in his car (the verb: to drive, the present continuous: is driving). There are several other situations when it is appropriate to use the Present Continuous. These are as follows:1. When you are doing something not necessarily now at the time we are talking but close to that time.e.g. Michael and his friend Mary are talking over lunch. Michael says “I am reading (to read) a really good book now. I will tell you about it when I finish”.This does not mean he is reading it whilst talking to Mary but is reading it around that time and continues to do so.2. When something is being done around a period of time close to the present.e.g. Michael is working (to work) hard today. Or Michael is not skiing (to ski) this winter because he injured his knee.3. Finally we use Present Continuous when we talk specifically about situations that are changing.e.g. The weather is improving (to improve) quickly. or The temperature is falling (to fall) fast. or The winter snow is melting (to melt) now. Signal Words used with the Present Continuous nowat the momentListen!Look!tonightin the morning/in the afternoon/in the eveningthis week/this month/this yeartodayrightnowthese days List of State Verbs in English Check your understanding by doing this short exercise. You can write your answers below.Exercise:Try this exercise. You need to put the verb in brackets into the correct format using Present Continuous.Please be quiet. I ____________(try) to concentrate.Look! It ________________ (snow).Why _________________ (you/look) at me like that? Did I say something wrong?You ____________(make) a lot of noise. Can you be a little bit quieter?Excuse me, I ___________________ (look) for a phone booth. Is there one near here? When to Use the Present Continuous Tense - Video Lesson This video English lesson explains when to use the Present Continuous Tense in English. The Present Continuous Tense is also called the Present Progressive Tense. The Present Continuous Tense can be used in a number of ways.