SWOT Analysis Examples

SWOT Analysis Examples Running a business is no mean feat. There is an endless list of tasks that need to be done. Managing finances, bookkeeping, managing personnel, production, purchasing, marketing, customer service, you name it.With all these activities demanding your attention, you can easily get overwhelmed and forget about the big picture.Yet if you want your business to remain successful in the long term, you need to periodically look at things from a broader perspective. You need to look at how your business is performing at the moment and how you expect it to perform in future. This is where a SWOT analysis comes in.WHAT IS A SWOT ANALYSIS? A SWOT analysis is a simple yet powerful strategic planning model that helps both new and existing businesses to come up with a business strategy. The Term SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats.The SWOT analysis allows a business to look at its future potential by identifying what the business is doing well and where it needs to improve, both from an internal and external perspective. It also allows the business to identify and plan for changes that might impact the business’s future wellbeing.Strengths and weakness provide an internal look into the company. They represent factors that are within the control of the company, things that you have the ability to change.Examples of factors that might fall under strengths and weaknesses might include things such as your product, your business model, your team, your location, patents and intellectual property, and so on. Strengths and weakness also focus mostly on the present. They look at what you are doing now and its impact on your business’ wellbeing.Opportunities and threats, on the other hand, are external. They are things happening within the market and the larger business environment. There is nothing you can do to change them. You can only react to them by either taking advantage of opportunities or protecting your business against threats.Examples of factors that might fall under opportunities and threats include your competitors, government regulation, market trends, prices of raw materials, technological change, and so on.Unlike strengths and weakness, opportunities and threats have their focus on the future. They look at things that might happen in future with a significant impact on your business.SWOT analyses can be used to gain greater insights about the entire organization or individual projects within the company. For instance, you can use a SWOT analysis to evaluate the potential of a planned content project, an upcoming advertising campaign, a new product, and so on.SWOT analyses should typically be conducted at the beginning of a strategic planning process or when the organization/project wants to refresh its strategy. If possible, the entire leadership team should be involved in the SWOT analysis in order to have a comprehensive look into the company and the competitive environment and business landscape.BREAKING DOWN THE SWOT ANALYSIS PROCESSWhile we know what SWOT stands for, let’s take a more detailed look into each element of a SWOT analysis and how to perform the analysis on your organization or project.StrengthsStrengths refer to things that your company does well. They are the internal, positive attributes that help your business stand out from the competition.They include internal resources and tangible assets that help the business achieve its goals.Some of the questions you might ask yourself to help you identify your organization’s strengths include:What are we good at? Is it customer relationships? Are we good at coming up with innovations?Which of our business processes work well?What is our biggest source of financial growth? Is it a certain product? A certain customer segment?What are our competitive advantages over our competition?What do our customers love about our products?Where does majority of our customer growth come from?What resources do we have access to that our competitors do not?What is our unique selling proposition?What are our brand’s most positive attributes?What physical assets do we have? Is it equipment, cash, technology, customers, or patents?WeaknessesWeaknesses are the negative factors that make it harder for your business to achieve its goals.They include things that your company lacks, resource limitations, things that your competitors do better than you, an unclear unique proposition, and so on.Weaknesses are things you need to improve in order for your business to remain competitive. Some questions you might ask yourself to help you identify your organization’s weaknesses include:What are we not good at?What does our business need in order to be competitive?Do we have any skill gaps in our team?Which business processes do we need to improve?Are there any tangible assets, such as money or equipment, that our business is lacking?Is our location the most suitable in order for us to achieve success?What is our biggest finan cial weakness?What do our customers complain about the most? Where do they say they would like to see us improve?Why do customers stop buying from us?What are the biggest bottlenecks in our sales funnel?OpportunitiesOpportunities are the factors within your business environment that, if taken advantage of, can lead to improved business performance.Some questions you might ask yourself to help you identify your organization’s potential opportunities include:Are there trends in the market that might encourage customers to buy more of the type of products we are selling?Are there any forthcoming changes to regulations that might make it easier for our organization to do business?Is there an upcoming event that our organization can take advantage of to improve its business?What is the biggest opportunity we can take advantage of to grow the business? Is it introducing a new product? Going after a new market?Are there any upcoming technological innovations that will make it easier for us to do business?Are there some tools or resources that we are not taking advantage of or that we are not using to full capacity?What changes can we introduce to our products and processes in order to improve our business performance?In what way can we make our advertising resonate better with our target customers?Are there emerging forms of advertising that we can take advantage of?Do we expect any positive change within your external business relationships (vendors, partners and customers) that might have a positive impact on our business?ThreatsThreats refer to any external factors that might make it difficult for you to do business or even threaten the existence of your business.Threats include things like emerging competitors, changing government regulations, changing customer attitudes towards your company or industry, negative media coverage, and so on.Understanding any potential threats to your business helps you to come up with contingency plans for dealing with the threat s in case they occur, before they occur.Some questions you might ask yourself to help you identify your organization’s potential threats include:Are there any potential competitors that might enter the market?Are there market trends that might negatively impact the business?Are there any upcoming technological changes that might disrupt our business model or even our entire industry?Are there any upcoming regulatory changes that might negatively impact our business or our industry?Will we be able to continue getting your raw materials from your suppliers at favorable prices?Are there any changes to consumer behavior and attitudes that might have a negative impact on our business?Are there economic changes, such as a recession, that might make it difficult for your customers to continue buying your products?Are your employees satisfied? Is there anything that might lead to a high turnover within your organization?Is there a risk of political changes, such as war or instability, tha t might affect your ability to do business?Is there anything you are doing within your business that could potentially fail?The questions listed in the above section are just a way to help you dig deep into your organization and business environment and identify your business’ strengths and weaknesses and any potential opportunities and threats.Of course, the questions might change depending on your business and industry.To make it easier for you to get started with your SWOT analyses, below are three real life examples of SWOT analyses from some of the biggest companies in the world. Going through them will make it easier for you to come up with ideas that might be more relevant to your business.EXAMPLE ONE: NIKENike is an American multinational corporation that focuses on the design, manufacture and sale of sports and leisure footwear and apparel. It is also the biggest sports shoe brand in the world.Below is Nike’s SWOT analysis for 2018.StrengthsStrong brand image â€" Nike i s the biggest brand in the sports footwear and apparel category. Its brand is associated with ethical and customer centric business, high quality and stylish products and innovation. Nike’s is the most valuable brand in the sports apparel industry, with a brand value of 28 billion.Excellent marketing capabilities â€" Nike has an innovative, well-crafted marketing strategy, coupled with a big marketing budget. The company spent $3.3 billion on marketing in 2017. This allows Nike to remain ahead of the competition.Financial strength â€" Nike has a lot of financial clout compared to its competitors. The company grew its revenue to $34.4 billion in 2017, representing a 6% increase from the previous year.Global presence â€" Nike has a presence all over the world, with 790 stores and factories outside the United States.Large distribution network â€" Nike has a wide and well managed distribution network, working with over 500 suppliers across 42 countries.WeaknessesOverdependence on US M arket â€" Despite its wide global presence, Nike is still very dependent on its US market, which accounted for about 46% of its revenue in 2017.Increasing expenses â€" The increasing competition in the sports footwear and apparel market has resulted in an increase in Nike’s marketing expenses.OpportunitiesDigitization â€" For Nike to retain its position as the biggest sports wear brand, it needs to invest even further in digital marketing and ecommerce. As more and more people continue shifting to online shopping, investing in these areas can significantly increase the company’s growth and profits.Acquisitions â€" The company also has potential to grow even faster by acquiring companies in related fields.Global expansion â€" Nike’s ecommerce websites are currently available in 45 countries only. The company has room to grow even further by expanding to even more countries, particular in the Asian region, which is one of its fastest growing markets.Changing customer attitude †" More and more people are becoming conscious of their health and trying to adopt healthier lifestyles. This means that the global market for sports and lifestyle brands will grow, presenting an opportunity for Nike to further grow its sales.Manufacturing revolution â€" The manufacturing revolution has brought with it an increasing focus on 3D printing and new, innovative materials. This presents an opportunity for Nike since it has the potential to improve the manufacturing and production process.ThreatsCurrency fluctuations â€" Being a global company, the fluctuation of foreign currencies against the US dollar negatively affects Nike’s earnings.Increased competition â€" There is increasing competition from other sportswear brands, such as Adidas and Under Armour. This has forced Nike to invest more heavily in marketing and operations.Growing marketing and HR expenses â€" The increasing competition and the continued growth of the company have increased its marketing and HR relate d costs.Legal issues â€" There are increasing industry ethics and standards that the company has to comply with. Compliance to these standards can increase costs for the company, while failure to comply can hurt the company’s reputation.EXAMPLE TWO: STARBUCKSStarbucks is the world’s largest coffee chain, with a presence in 75 countries and a revenue of $22 billion in 2017.The company operates franchised stores situated in high-traffic, high-visibility locations. Below is Starbucks SWOT analysis for 2018.StrengthsSuperior financial performance â€" Starbucks experienced superior financial performance in 2017 as a result of great operating efficiency and growth, both financial and physical. The superior financial performance gives investors confidence in the company and allows it to make speculative investments.Fast growing presence in China â€" Starbuck’s store network in China has grown very rapidly, from 570 stores in 2011 to 2936 stores in 2017, which are more than those of a ll its competitors combined. With China being the second fastest growing market, Starbucks is well positioned to conquer the Chinese market.Strong brand image â€" Starbucks has a strong brand image that is associated with premium products, ethical business and a customer centric focus.Premium quality coffee â€" The company goes to great lengths to get the best coffee beans from the best coffee producers, which allows Starbucks to provide coffee beverages that are way better than its competitors.Customer loyalty â€" Starbucks has built a strong brand image, which has in turn led to a very high level of customer loyalty.WeaknessesLittle focus on marketing â€" Since its founding, Starbucks relied on publicity and work of mouth marketing rather than huge marketing campaigns. While it has recently started focusing more on marketing, its marketing expenditure remains low compared to competitors.High overhead â€" Starbucks’s high operating expenses limit its profitability. The company sp ent more than 83% of its entire revenue in 2017 on operating expenses.Premium pricing â€" Due to its premium pricing strategy, Starbucks has a limited customer base.OpportunitiesDigital marketing â€" Digital technology provides an exciting opportunity for Starbucks to engage with customers and market the brand even better. By taking advantage of digital technology and AI, Starbucks can engage better and establish a deeper connection with customers, leading to increased customer satisfaction.Growing Asian market â€" The rapidly growing Asian markets present a lot of opportunity for Starbucks. The brand is investing in capturing huge portions of the Chinese and Indian markets.Mobile technology â€" Smartphone penetration is increasing around the world and more and more people are depending on their phones for shopping and payments. Incorporating the use of mobile apps can lead to increased revenue and profits for the brand.Acquisitions and partnerships â€" Acquisition of smaller food a nd beverage brands and partnerships with other brands also presents an opportunity for Starbucks to grow even faster.ThreatsIncreasing competition â€" There has been increasing competition in the beverage industry. Starbucks also faces competition from other fast food brands that are do not focus exclusively on beverages. This has led to Starbucks increasing its marketing expenditure.Increasing overhead costs â€" Starbucks increasing operating costs are resulting in a decline in the company’s income.Changing customer trends â€" People are becoming more aware of health concerns and are looking for healthier beverages. This is a threat to beverage companies like Starbucks since they might have to change their menu to incorporate the new customer preferences.Regulatory pressure â€" Businesses with an international presence are subjected to higher legal and regulatory pressures, which lead to compliance expenses and difficulty in international expansion.EXAMPLE THREE: FACEBOOKFacebook is the world’s largest social media platform. What started as a college project now enjoys over 2 billion users and is worth an estimated $138 billion.Below is Facebook’s SWOT analysis for 2018.StrengthsLeading social media network â€" Facebook is the leading social media network, popular among individual users, businesses and other groups. Facebook keeps the platform engaging and attractive for users by introducing various features to the platform.High number of users â€" Facebook has over 2.3 billion users, which is more than a third of the world’s entire population. This huge number of users gives Facebook a very significant competitive advantage over its competitors.One of the leading online advertising businesses â€" While Facebook falls behind companies like Google when it comes to online advertising, it is still one of the leaders in this area. The company generated a revenue of close to $40 billion from online advertising in 2017.Owns multiple platforms â€" In additio n to the Facebook platform, Facebook Inc. also owns several other social media platforms, including Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Oculus. This gives the company reach an even wider reach.Excellent human resource management â€" Facebook is one of the best companies to work for. It pays its staff well and has policies that provide its staff with numerous opportunities for growth. This has helped Facebook attract some of the best talent in the world.Research and development â€" To keep its platform attractive and engaging for users and remain technologically ahead of its competitors, Facebook invests heavily in research and development. In 2017, Facebook spent about $7.8 billion in research and development.WeaknessesUser privacy concerns â€" Lately, Facebook has been under a lot of fire due to its user data policies. This has led to a decline in Facebook’s popularity, resulting in the company missing some of its revenue targets.Tainted reputation â€" In addition to user privacy concerns, Facebook’s reputation has also been tainted by concerns over fake news and breeches like the Cambridge Analytica scandal.Management issues â€" Most of Facebook’s problems, including the user privacy concerned, are directly linked to the company’s management problem.OpportunitiesDiversification â€" Through its other platforms, Facebook has the opportunity to diversify its business and increase its sources of revenue.Acquisitions â€" Already, Facebook has made several acquisitions. The company still has the potential to increase its revenue by acquiring even more technology startups.New user segments â€" Facebook user base mostly comprises of young to middle age people. By targeting older users and adding extra features that make the platform attractive to businesses and institutions, Facebook can tap into additional user segments and increase its number of users and revenue.ThreatsCompetition â€" Facebook is facing a lot of competition from other tech companies such a s Google, Amazon, Apple and Microsoft.Regulations â€" Due to the user privacy concerns and the Cambridge Analytica scandal, Facebook has been forced by governments to become more accountable and transparent.Operational costs â€" Facebook growth has led to an increase in its operational costs, mostly due to the increased demand for data centers and technical infrastructure.WRAPPING UPA SWOT analysis is a useful tool for evaluating your business’s current performance and its future potential.By now, with the help of the examples provided above, you should be able to conduct a SWOT analysis for your business or project.Remember that the SWOT analysis is a strategic planning model. This means that after you are done conducting the SWOT analysis, you should use it to come up with a strategy for your business.To do this, ask yourself how you can capitalize on your strengths, how to improve on your weaknesses, how to take advantage of your opportunities and how to protect yourself from t hreats.

William Shakespeare s Life And Life - 1307 Words

William Shakespeare s life was very interesting, to say the least about him. â€Å"An English playwright and poet, William Shakespeare is often considered the greatest dramatist the world has ever known and the most recognized poet in the English language† (Lindaman). From a very young age, William was a very bright kid, who had gained a love for theater. Ever since that love as a kid, it only grew stronger. Not only did he have a love for theater, but also poetry. Throughout Shakespeare’s life family has been a huge part in all of his successes, especially his father. William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564. The exact date of William’s birth is not clear, although it is said to have been April 23. William was the third oldest of eight siblings. William although was not the oldest sibling, but he was the first son. William had 3 younger brothers and 4 sisters, two of which were older than him and two being younger. Out of the four sisters, Wil liam had only one, Joan Shakespeare, that lived past her early childhood years, due to the plague. William’s three other brothers all lived fairly old. One brother died in 1607, which was when William was 43. Shakespeare’s other two brothers both lived within the last five years of William’s life. His father John Shakespeare raised all eight siblings by himself. John owned a small glove making shop, in which he had gained by trade. John Shakespeare provided William with a sound education at Stratford’s school, forShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Life And Life3795 Words   |  16 PagesResearch Paper March 23, 2016 William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden. Shakespeare was assumedly educated at the King?s New School in Stratford with an ?emphasis on the Latin classics, including memorization, writing, and acting classic Latin plays,? writes an article entitled Shakespeare?s Life, found on Foldger Shakespeare Library. He most likely attended until around age fifteen. In late 1582, Shakespeare at age 18 married Anne HathawayRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Life And Life3055 Words   |  13 PagesResearch Paper March 23, 2016 William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden. Shakespeare was assumedly educated at the King?s New School in Stratford with an ?emphasis on the Latin classics, including memorization, writing, and acting classic Latin plays,? writes an article entitled Shakespeare?s Life, found on Foldger Shakespeare Library. He most likely attended until around age fifteen. 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He grew up attending a school called King Edward VI School, where he learned to read, write, and use proper grammar. He continued to attend school until his family had some economic hardships and he was unable to attend university. Instead he got marriedRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Life And Accomplishments1819 Words   |  8 PagesAs we all know William Shakespeare was a well known and a highly sought after writer, but did he really deserve all that fame? As early as 1709, with Nicholas Rowe s publication of his edition of Shakespeare s works, the little information that we had about William Shakespeare began to show. Other than several early minor accounts, the preface of Nicholas Rowe s edition contained the first biography of William Shakespeare. Rowe presented eleven known facts about Shakespeare s life. By 1821, howeverRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Life And The Elizabethan Age Essay1474 Words   |  6 PagesWilliam Shakespeare was the great poet, actor, and playwright from the Elizabethan age. William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564 and would then die exactly fifty two years later. Throughout time, his plays have continued to grow in popularity and notoriety. Many of the saying first penned by William Shakespeare, we still use today. Such lines as; â€Å"As good luck would have it (The Merry Wives of Windsor), Dead as a doornail (2 Henry VI), Full circle (King Lear), and Milk of human kindness (Macbeth)†Read MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Life Of The English Language1425 Words   |  6 Pagestown northwest of London (Biography 2016). William Shakespeare grew up modestly throughout the early years of his life, but the influence that he had in the literary world was anything but. His childhood education and young-adult jobs aided him in creating a name for himself gradually to t he theater. With patience and commitment towards his writings, Shakespeare became known as the finest poet of the English language (Lineback 2016). As a child, Shakespeare had two older sisters and three younger brothersRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Life And Work Transcends Time1092 Words   |  5 PagesElizabethan time period, William Shakespeare began his remarkable career as a playwright changing/impacting blank. William Shakespeare’s life and work transcends time because of their relative relatability. William Shakespeare’s childhood was privileged in some ways. In â€Å"William Shakespeare; Life of Drama,† a documentary produced by by Rod Caird, Shakespeare was christened on April 26th in the year 1564. According to the website â€Å"Shakespeare of Stratford† published by Mabillard, Shakespeare was enrolled inRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s A Good And Lasting Legacy822 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Shakespeare William Shakespeare left a good, lasting legacy that we see almost every day and we don t even know it s there. A legacy is something that you leave behind weather good or bad, Shakespeare s left a legacy of books and being thought as one of the greatest writers in the world. In William’s life he created many pieces of literature and words that people use everywhere today. We may not know a whole lot about William Shakespeare’s life but we can see that he was a veryRead MoreEssay On William Shakespeare1127 Words   |  5 PagesThis is an informational essay about Poet, Actor, and Playwright,William Shakespeare. In this essay you can find much information ranging from fun facts to his death. This essay tells much about his life and includes some details of family members. The key purpose of this essay is to inform curious people about William Shakespeare. â€Å"I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human

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Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary Free Essays

There has been a long debate about the Constitutionality of paid military chaplains. Is there a legal basis for such or is it a mere supposition? Does the government have a legitimate and legal basis to pay chaplains for their services or is it doing so â€Å"just because† and is getting away with it? Could it be legally challenged and done away with? These are the questions. The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights to the United States Constitution is the legal basis of the military chaplaincy. We will write a custom essay sample on Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary or any similar topic only for you Order Now Here is how. The First Amendment states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. The amendment is generally viewed as being composed of two separate clauses; the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause. Each of these clauses is designed to protect those fundamental human rights which are so foundational to the ideals of our nation: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. There are many references to the military chaplaincies as legitimate exceptions to the â€Å"Establishment Clause† because they provide the right of â€Å"free exercise† of religion that is equally guaranteed under the First Amendment. It is this most important point that the chaplaincy clearly provides the military with a constitutional function, the â€Å"free exercise† of religion. The legal debate over paid chaplains sits on both clauses of the First Amendment: 1) Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, 2) or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; Describe your understanding of praying in â€Å"Jesus Name. I have been fortunate in that I have not experienced any direct pressure in regards to praying in Jesus’ name. However, during public prayer in which soldiers are required to be in attendance, I always make the statement â€Å"As I pray in my tradition, I encourage you to prayer in yours. † This should be a common statement among chaplains. `Generally speaking, it is not soldiers of other faith traditions that are offended by prayers in Jesus’name, it is usually soldiers of no faith tradition whatsoever. Furthermore, although there are stories of religious persecution on both sides of the issue (Religious soldiers and Non- Religious soldiers), these issues have a tendency to be very allocated and reflect the particular command environment that the Chaplain is serving under. This is a very troubling issue and the best resolve is the development of a healthy relationship between the Chaplain and the Command in which the chaplain has the opportunity to advise the commander on these complicated issues. In reality, this can become quite complicated and some commanders have strong views on this topic (on both sides of the argument). Is it worth derailing many years of representing Christ to soldiers over the particular views of one commander? I would suggest that sometimes it is prudent to just get in the basket and go over the wall. Finally, I also understand that Chaplains and Chaplain Candidates like myself, that pray Christian prayers should be prepared to hear and support the right of Jewish and Muslim Chaplains to pray in their particular tradition as well. Finally, describe your understanding of the â€Å"Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell† Policy and other issues of which you may be concerned. According to the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal, service members will not be involuntarily separated for lawful homosexual conduct. Sexual orientation remains a personal and private matter. Sexual orientation and lawful homosexual conduct (statements, acts or same-sex marriage) are not a basis for separation, reassignment or special consideration. Sailors may inform others of their sexual orientation at their own discretion. In fact, the Department of Defense will not ask service members to identify their sexual orientation. The Department of Defense will not collect or maintain data on an individual’s sexual orientation. This Department of Defense policy on sexual orientation applies equally to all members of the Active, Reserve, and National Guard components of the military. With that being said, what does this mean in relationship to providing worship and counseling services to men and women who can now be open with their lifestyle. Chaplains will continue to have the very same freedom to practice their religion according to the tenets of their faith. In the context of their religious ministry, chaplains are not required to take actions that are inconsistent with their religious beliefs (e. g. , altering the content of sermons or religious counseling, sharing a pulpit with other chaplains or modifying forms of prayer or worship). However, when it comes to ministering to someone who is a homosexual, I feel that it is the pastor’s or chaplain’s duty to do so. The Title â€Å"pastor† suggests two functions of church leaders so designated: nurturing and guidance. The nurturing aspect includes the general Christian responsibility of showing compassion for others, but his responsibility is accentuated because a pastor must set the example. Pastors or Chaplains must indeed set the example. Homosexual or not, that person who seeks counsel is still one of God’s children only in a fallen state. Then again, aren’t we all? We are all still a work in progress. There isn’t a human being on this Earth that has defeated sin or struggle with sin. So I think some compassion is warranted when it comes to ministering to homosexuals. How to cite Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, Papers

Vincent Van Gogh Essays (1541 words) - Vincent Van Gogh,

Vincent Van Gogh Vincent Van Gogh Vincent was born on March 30, 1853, in the village of Groot Zunbert in the Dutch province of North Brabant. His father, Theodorus, was pastor of a small Dutch Reformed Church. Vincent's mother, Anna Cornelia Carbentus, was a similarly mild and uninspired soul. It is common for biographers to dismiss Van Gogh's parents with a wave of the hand. Vincent had two brothers and three sisters. At the age of twelve Vincent was sent to boarding school in the village of Zevenbergen, fifteen miles away. At sixteen he left school. Through the influence of Uncle Cent a place was found for him in the office of Goupil and Cie at The Hague. Goupil's was a conservative house, specializing in well-made reproductions of famous paintings. When he was twenty Vincent was transferred, with a fine recommendation, to the London branch of Goupil's. He found a room in the home of Mrs. Loyer, who with her daughter Ursula, and therefore began the first of his several disastrous encounters with wo men. He fell in love with the girl, but evidently did not bother to tell her. When Vincent shared his feelings with Ursula, he discovered that the thought of loving him had never entered her head. In 1875 Uncle Cent arranged for him to be transferred to the Paris office in the hope that his spirits might be revived by a change in scene. Here he became increasingly careless in his work. He was given three months notice, and then six years of training as an art dealer came to an end. He was almost twenty-three, unemployed, and had not the slightest idea what he would do next. Vincent decided to return to England, where he found a job as a teacher in a boarding school. After he gave up that job, he took another teaching job at a school in Isleworth. Alexander 2 As a young man Vincent Van Gogh's strongest compulsion was to love and help mankind. The son of a minister, he chose quite naturally to take up religion. If he had been successful as an evangelist, as he tried to be for several years, he might have drawn and painted as a hobby but he almost surely would not have become an artist. His evangelical mission was a disaster. If anything he tried too hard. At the age of twenty-five, when he went out to serve the peasants and coal miners of the Borinage, in southern Belgium, his manner was so intense, and his devotion to Christ's teachings so literal, that he antagonized his clerical superiors and probably frightened the people he wanted to help. Although he loved humanity, he could not communicate with individuals and, at twenty-seven, he turned to art to communicate for him. The major reason Van Gogh committed him to being an artist was that through art he could pour out his feelings. If he could not alleviate the hard life of the poor Dutch peasant, at least he could show his compassion in drawing and paintings. Perhaps this was his way to a communion with God. In any case, it was in this crucible that his art was formed. In his short life Van Gogh wrote nearly a thousand letters, often several a day. Most were written to his brother Theo, possibly the one person in the world who understood him. Only to Theo could Van Gogh describe the impressions and feelings that boiled within him. The letters are extraordinary; literary critics have compared them to the works of the great 19th Century Russian masters of confessional writing. But even as he was writing so expressively Van Gogh apparently felt that words were not as distinct as pictures. Alexander 3 Having decided at twenty-seven that his mission in life was to become an artist, he established his first studio in the cottage of a Borinage coal miner. He paid the rent with small sums sent by his father and commenced his education in a rage of work. From Paris, Theo forwarded sheaves of prints for him to study and copy, and from The Hague the manager of Goupil's branch office sent textbooks on anatomy and perspective. Theo suggested that Vincent

Free Essays on Goya

His name, Francisco Goya, born in 1746, one of Spains most innovative painters and etchers; also one of the triumvirate-including El Greco and Diego Velzquez-of great Spanish masters. Much in the art of Goya is derived from that of Velzquez, just as much in the art of the 19th-century French master Édouard Manet and the 20th-century genius Pablo Picasso is taken from Goya. Trained in a mediocre rococo artistic milieu , Goya transformed this often frivolous style and created works, such as the famous The third of May, 1808, that have as great an impact today as when they were created Goya was born in the small Aragonese town of Fuendetodos (near Zaragoza) on March 30, 1746. His father was a painter and a gilder of altarpieces, and his mother was descended from a family of minor Aragonese nobility. Facts of Goya's childhood are scarce. He attended school in Zaragoza at the Escuelas Pias. Goya's formal artistic education commenced when, at the age of 14, he was apprenticed to a local master, Josà © Luzan, a competent although little-known painter in whose studio Goya spent four years. In 1763 the young artist went to Madrid, where he hoped to win a prize at the Academy of San Fernando. Although he did not win the desired award, he did make the acquaintance of Francisco Bayeu, an artist also from Aragà ³n, who was working at the court in the academic manner imported to Spain by the German painter Anton Raphael Mengs. Bayeu (the brother of Goya's wife) was influential in forming Goya's early style and was responsible for his participation in an important commi! ssion, the fresco decoration of the Church of the Virgin in El Pilar in Zaragoza. In 1771 Goya went to Italy for approximately one year. His activity there is relatively obscure; he spent some months in Rome and also entered a composition at the Parma Academy competition, in which he was successful. Returning to Spain about 1773, Goya participated in several other fres... Free Essays on Goya Free Essays on Goya His name, Francisco Goya, born in 1746, one of Spains most innovative painters and etchers; also one of the triumvirate-including El Greco and Diego Velzquez-of great Spanish masters. Much in the art of Goya is derived from that of Velzquez, just as much in the art of the 19th-century French master Édouard Manet and the 20th-century genius Pablo Picasso is taken from Goya. Trained in a mediocre rococo artistic milieu , Goya transformed this often frivolous style and created works, such as the famous The third of May, 1808, that have as great an impact today as when they were created Goya was born in the small Aragonese town of Fuendetodos (near Zaragoza) on March 30, 1746. His father was a painter and a gilder of altarpieces, and his mother was descended from a family of minor Aragonese nobility. Facts of Goya's childhood are scarce. He attended school in Zaragoza at the Escuelas Pias. Goya's formal artistic education commenced when, at the age of 14, he was apprenticed to a local master, Josà © Luzan, a competent although little-known painter in whose studio Goya spent four years. In 1763 the young artist went to Madrid, where he hoped to win a prize at the Academy of San Fernando. Although he did not win the desired award, he did make the acquaintance of Francisco Bayeu, an artist also from Aragà ³n, who was working at the court in the academic manner imported to Spain by the German painter Anton Raphael Mengs. Bayeu (the brother of Goya's wife) was influential in forming Goya's early style and was responsible for his participation in an important commi! ssion, the fresco decoration of the Church of the Virgin in El Pilar in Zaragoza. In 1771 Goya went to Italy for approximately one year. His activity there is relatively obscure; he spent some months in Rome and also entered a composition at the Parma Academy competition, in which he was successful. Returning to Spain about 1773, Goya participated in several other fres...

The Secret to ACT Math Mastering the Time Crunch

The Secret to ACT Math Mastering the Time Crunch SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The ACT is a complex test thatrequires both an understanding of how the test works and a strategic approach to beat. The more you know about the secrets of each section, the better you'll be at maximizing your overall point-gain and getting the scores you want. And today we're here to walk you through how to do your very best on the ACT math section. Each subject section requires its own unique approach, and the ACT math section can give even some of the highest math achievers a run for their money. But luckily we’re here to help! We'll takeyou through the most important strategy you’ll need toknow andteach you how toconquer the ACT math section once and for all. ACT MathBasics Before we talk strategy, it’s crucial that you understand exactly what the ACT math section looks like and how it’s structured. The ACT math section is- like all the ACT subject sections- complete and contained.This means that there is only one math section in the entire test, and you cannot come back to it once the time is complete. You must maintainyour focus duringyour allotted time, as you will get only one chance to do well on your math section per ACT. Every ACT will give you60 math questions in 60 minutes- an average of one minute per question- and the questions get more and more difficult as you go. So questions1-10 will be fairlysimple and quick to complete, while questions 50-60 will be considerably more difficult. Don't be alarmed if completing 60 math questions in 60 minutes sounds like a trickyprospect! This is a fast paced test for almost all students, but coming prepared and knowing the secrets for how to tackle the math section will help you to raise those scores. The Secret to Doing Well on the ACT Math Section Long story short? The biggest hurdle of the ACT math section is the time crunch. If allowed to take the test at a leisurely pace, many students find that they only miss a small number of ACT math questions (either from misunderstanding the question or because of a lack of math content knowledge).But putting students on such a fast clock tends to ratchet up anxiety, leads students to make sloppy mistakes, and can make even the most level-headed student forget how to work through familiar problems. Keep in mind that many students do not finish the math section in the allotted 60 minutes.The test is purposefully designed so that a large number of students don’t make it to the end of the section having read and answered each question.So don’t feel like you’ve done something wrong if you can’t complete your math section before the time is up. The secret to doing well on the ACT math section lies in mastering yourtiming.You must keep track of the clock, develop a timing plan before the test (and stick to it!), and walk that fine balance between speed and accuracy.After all, if you can reach the end of your 60 questions but get33% of themwrong due to sloppy errors, then you’re no better off than had youslowed down and answered the first 40 questions perfectly Do keep in mind that youwon'thave any kind of outside force to help you measure your time or keep track of the progression of that 60 minutes, so definitely bring a watch (or at least keep careful track of the classroom clock). Your best friend during the ACT. How to Improve Your ACT Math Performance Because the secret to doing well on the ACT math section is all about your timing, you'll want to have a game plan and timing schedule worked out before test day. Your timing schedule willbe based on your practice performance, your personal math pace, and your scoring goals, so don't worry if your game plan looks different than anyone else's. Keep focusedon how you, and you alone, can maximize your ACT math section point gain. To begin, break the math section into chunks and set timing goals for completing each one.(Note that your timing will besomething to fine tune as you complete your study regimenand as you take your practice tests. Over time, you will improveand will have to tweak your final timing, which iswhy practicing and keeping track of your progress overtime is essential.) It's simplest to break the math section into three parts: the first 20 questions (â€Å"easy†), questions 21-40 (â€Å"medium†), and questions 41 - 60 (â€Å"hard†), and allot a specific amount of time to each section. We'll break down more specific timing strategies based on your current and ideal scoresbelow, but there is still one tip to keep in mind for all scorers: because the question difficulty increases in ascending order, it’s not optimal to give each math section (easy, medium, hard)the same amount of time. You'll instead make the most out of your time if you giveyourselfless time for the first section, spend the majority of your time on the middle section, and dedicatetheremaining time tothe lastsection. As you try your timing techniques, experiment by increasing your pace until the point at which your accuracy significantly drops off. Then back up a step from there.Maybe you only need 10 minutes to accurately answer the first 20 questions, or maybe you need 20 or 25 minutes. You’ll find your best pace through trial and error, so take our timing schedules as a baselinewith which to start. Now, depending on what your score goals are, let's see how this works in action by breaking down the timing into more detail and setting those baselines. For Students Aiming for a Score of≠¤ 26 If you're looking to get a maximum score of 26, then your best bet is to ignore those last 20 "hard" questions altogether. Focus your attention and your timing strategies on the first 40 questions only. This will maximize your chances for getting those first 40 questions correct, while still leaving you an opportunity to gainout a handfulofpoints in the "hard" section. (How will you still earnpointsfrom questions 41-60? Make sure you always guess on any question you don't know the answer to. For more information about how to make the most of your guesswork, check out the best strategy for "blind" guessing on the ACT.) By focusing your time and attention on the first 40 questions alone, you'll be able to slow down and give each question your best shot. Start by breaking your timing down into three chunks like so: Questions 1-20: 25 minutes Questions 21-40: 32 minutes Questions 41-60: 3 minutes (just to fill in the bubbles) Again, your timing will change over time and you can feel free to tweak it here and there as it suits you, but take this as a place to begin your timing strategy. For Students Aiming for a Score of 26 - 30 If you're aiming for a mid-high score in the 26-30 range, you'll focus most of your time on the first 50 questions and give yourself a relatively short amount of time for the last 10. Start by breaking down your timing into the following chunks: Questions 1-20: 15 minutes Questions 21-40: 25 minutes Questions 41 - 60: 20 minutes It may feel strange not togive yourself the most time on the difficult section, but remember that each question is worth the same amount of points (one). Slowing down to maximize your point gain in the mid-level section can often garner you more points overall than trying to speedthrough the test or spending too much time attemptingto answer the most difficult questions. Because you're focusing most of your attention on the first 50 questions, just skim the last 10 questionsand select the ones you feel you can do quickly and accurately.Allot yourself 5-10 minutes for questions 51-60, but don’t approach them one-by-one in order.Instead, take a minute or two to briefly look over each question and mark the ones you feel that you can do (or even just the ones you know enough about to be able to eliminate an answer choice or two). Answer the ones you marked as best you can and make your best blind guesses for the rest. By sacrificing some of your short remaining time to selecting the easiest or most familiar questions of the last 10, you will be able to maximize your overall points. And it will help prevent you from taking on a question that will occupy too much of your limited time, effort, and concentration. For Students Aiming for a Score of ≠¥ 31 If you're aiming for a score of 31 or above, you'll need to look at and (at least attempt to) answer every questionon the ACT math section. Though you'll still want to dedicate the slight majority of your time to the middle 20 questionsof the test, you'll need to minimizeyour time spendon the first 20 questions and increase your time for the last 20 as much as you comfortably can. But why spend the majority of your time in the middle section still? Doing well on the ACT is a constant balance between speed and accuracy. Questions 21-40 are where the test shifts gears and these questions can be deceptive, often appearing"easier" than they actually are. If you can maintain accuracy in the first40 questions while going faster, then feel free to do so. But try this timing schedule to start: Questions 1-20: 12 minutes Questions 21-40: 25 minutes Questions 41 - 60: 23 minutes Always keep in mind that your job is to maximize your overall points, so don’t get hung up on any one question.Learning how and when to move on from a question is all about being strict with your timing and paying attention to how you’re using it. Mastering the ACT is a matter of strategy. Take the time to prepare beforehand and you'll have the edge. Conclusion: Mastering ACT Math Timing For most students, the "math" part of the ACT math section isn't actually the most difficult aspect of the test- it's the time crunch. If you were allowed to take the test in as leisurelya manner as you wanted, you'd probably shock yourself with how high you scored. Thus learning how to master the timing of the test is priority one. Everyone will develop their own personal timing paces, but starting your practice with a baseline timing strategy is crucial.Start with one of our schedules, based on your current and projected scores, and then finagle it until you find the best balance between speed and accuracy you can manage. Stick to your plan on test day and then celebrate, because you rocked that ACT math section! What's Next? Want to know the number one secrets for success on theother ACT subjects?Check out the top strategies for conqueringthe ACTscience, reading, and writingsections. Need more ACT math section study help? We've put together a complete list of all the ACT math study you could possibly need, all in one place. Don't know where to get your practice materials?Check out our complete list of where to get your free ACT practice tests. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Math lesson, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands ofpractice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial: