Current Situation Essay Example for Free

Current Situation Essay Tien Tzuo was the chief strategy officer at Salesforce.com and K.V. Rao was head of strategic marketing and business development at WebEx. Both Tien Tzuo and K.V. Rao worked on building their respective billing solutions that was a big barrier to many SaaS companies. Once realized that this is a huge unaddressed problem for SaaS companies, they saw this an opportunity to exploit this new e-commerce niche in the SaaS Industry, thus creating Zuora. Cheng Zhou, the head of Bliss joined them and they were able to obtain . 5 million start-up investment from Benchmark, a venture capital company, and Benioff, Tien Tzuo’s former boss, the founder of Salesforce.com Analysis of Zuora Inc as a business Tien Tzuo and K.V. Rao founded Zuora to address the need for billing efficiency. They are aware that there’s an increase in products being offered as a subscription service (i.e. Netflix offering a monthly subscription for a library of shows and movies, Zipcar offering a pay as-you-go utility that eliminates the need to buy cars etc). Their vision is to provide an e-commerce platform that provides a low-cost, state-of-the-art and highly efficient billing systems. Before the launch of their billing module, they tested their program to 5 alpha customers. Their feedback caused Zuora to create a payment module that handles payments, and signed a partnership contract with PayPal. With their launch in October 2008, their Z-billing product sold to over 70 customers. In January 2010, Zuora released another product, Z-commerce, a billing platform aimed towards cloud developers What is wrong? Zuora currently faces the following threats: †¢The rise of Cloud Computing †¢Offline Subscription of Zuora’s current services offered by their competitors such as ATT or Zipcar †¢Given the constant change in the market dynamics of the technology industry, Zuora must be able to ‘quick think’ of opportunities in order to strengthen its current position as a major player in the SaaS Industry What is the impact? †¢The rise of Cloud Computing oZuora shouldn’t be thinking of Cloud Computing as a threat just because the IT industry had not yet clearly defined what role cloud computing will play. oCloud Computing is very advantageous to Zuora because all cloud services needed a billing and payment solutions and Zuora, with its state-of-the-art, highly efficient and low-cost billing platform, can differentiate itself with the rest in the Saas Industry by combining its platform with cloud computing †¢Offline Subscription offered by ATT or Zipcar oWith the offline subscription offered by ATT or Zipcar, they still present a disadvantage because pricing for services was more complicated than pricing for products especially when time dimension was introduced. Thus, with offline subscription of billing and payment, introducing a new pricing for subscription systems could take as long as 6 to 12 months and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars †¢The constant change in the market dynamics of technology industry

The Cable Tv Industry Media Essay

The Cable Tv Industry Media Essay The rapid development in the area of technological innovation that has occurred over the last decades in the telecommunication industry, has led to a thriving growth in the digital entertainment media, shown by the emergence of new sophisticated products and a wide variety of services. This evolution has caused an increment in competition in the cable television industry. The development of these new technologies and the convergence of media and telecommunications have allowed consumers to access a greater number of services. Within this context, streaming sites to watch movies and TV shows over the Internet have become a direct competitor to the powerful business of cable television in the U.S. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the strategies used by major cable TV providers in the U.S. to counter, or even avoid, the emergence of new competitors. These strategies generate controversy because they might pose a risk against free market competition. Two main branches, one in charge of production and the other in charge of the distribution form the Cable TV industry in the U.S. Together they share an estimated $300 billion market value (Arango, 2009). The multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) such as cable television systems, direct-broadcast satellite providers, and wireline video providers give the distribution part of the equation. These companies generate revenues close to $100 billion per year, and it mostly comes from monthly cable subscriptions, additional charges from premium channels, and rental fees from set-top boxes (Shen, 2011). These companies are generally known as Multiple System Operators (MSOs) and include firms such as Time Warner and Comcast. These two providers serve almost half of the demand for cable TV in the U.S. The video programming networks that produce the content consumers watch integrate the second component of the industry. Broadcaster networks such as ABC, NBC, and CBS, that produce their content, make it available on cable TV and over-the-air, form the producers network market. There are also non-broadcasters such as MTV, Comedy Central, and TBS whose content is only available through cable subscriptions (Ammori 2010). As the distribution network, the programming network is a highly concentrated market dominated by a few powerful and prevailing programming networks. These companies mainly derive their revenue from advertising and retransmission fees. Contrasting broadcast television that relies on advertising to originate its revenue, cable networks receive revenue from fees paid by cable operators. For example, Comcast pays closely to $1 billion a year to carry ESPN (Arango, 2010). However, as the costs of pay-TV grow and consumers spending power stays the same, the traditional business model follow by cable providers appears to need a major change. Furthermore, the appearance of new online companies like Netflix and Hulu has put pressure on the cable industry to change their business model. For many years, both systems have harmonized and work together in a model, that now many predicts will eventually decline thanks to the proliferation of internet TV. In an attempt to minimize the effect of this new internet trend and keep the revenue stream and business model of subscription TV, the cable TV providers have discussed the need to prevent the spread of television programs, most of which are now available online free. Consequently, they have discussed the introduction of a new model commonly known as TV Everywhere. The objective of this initiative is to ensure the delivery of the online content as a natural extension of the existing Cable TV model. Through this system, consumers can view programming online only if they identify themselves as cable TV subscriber, that is, only the cable subscribers can view the most popular content through the internet. The agreement reflects the profound concern of the satellite TV, telecommunications companies and cable industry to allow free access to this content, as it could lead to problems similar to those faced by the music industry and the news, which nowadays have to struggle to establish su bscription-based business models. Another argument for the introduction of these barriers lies in the lack of regulation regarding access Internet content, which could push subscribers to cancel their TV service and use only the Web. The main promoters of this campaign have been the cable companies, but satellite and telecommunications companies are joining the fight. Due to fear of violating antitrust law through collusion, the cable television executives have tried to hide their actions by eliminating a paper trail. Their strategy has been to have informal discussions, leaving nothing in writing. According to reports by the New York Times, the electronic media chiefs, including [Time Warner CEO Jeffrey] Bewkes, Jeff Zucker [CEO] of NBC Universal and Philippe P. Dauman [CEO] of Viacom, among others, have been more careful to avoid being accused of collusion. Much of the discussions have been on the phone and in private, one-on-one conversations during industry events. Price is rarely, if ever, discussed, according to executives involved in the discussions (Arango, 2009). The executives have emphasized the importance of finding an industry-wide solution, and this can be achieved only if they collude, as such solution is not in a companys interest unless others agree with one another on the solution. A focal point of a free market economy is that consumers are better off if each company follows its own self-interest rather than colluding with its competitors to raise prices, allocate markets, or otherwise harm consumers and competitors (Ammori, 2010). Stephen B. Burke, the chief operating officer of Comcast, has publicly admitted that if each current operator and programmer merely followed its own self-interest, just like each should do it under the law in a competitive market), then each company would be worse off. As the New York Times reported, the problem is that if each goes in different directions some offering more shows free, others holding them back only for cable subscribers then the economics of the industry could crumble. The industry have come a predictable conflict between two discordant models for broadcast content: cable TV and the Internet. The circumstances seem difficult, and it suggests the possibility facing the prisoners dilemma. Setting it in a simple scenario, broadcasters and cable companies play the role of the prisoners. Thus, given that both cooperate to maintain unlicensed Internet-delivered TV programming off connected-TV sets, they both obtain gains (Frank, 2010). Whereas broadcast gets its large retransmission fees, cable providers get to sell diverse premium services at a substantial profit. However, the appearance of internet TV has come to propose the dilemma. In the case of broadcasters, internet TV offers the opportunity to sell programming direct to consumers, at potentially higher margins than through the cable companies. In addition, it allows a more straight control over advanced advertising and interactive capabilities that currently the cable companies are trying to cont rol. Conversely, to cable providers, internet TV gives them the opportunity to gain more advantage in retransmission negotiations by potentially offering content that is free on the Internet for free to their cable customers as well. In most cases, the result of the prisoners dilemma is the desertion of both players, since in terms of game theory the defection strictly dominates over cooperation. Although the situation of Internet TV has not yet predict this result, the benefits of desertion still clearly outweigh the benefits of cooperation. Broadcasters are not likely to get more money from online TV providers that cable companies, and cable companies are not likely to gain enough influence to offset the potential loss of subscribers in case of losing access to popular programming. However, the evolution of Internet TV can lead to broadcasters have to choose between the programming offered on the Internet knowing that people can watch on TV as well, and the loss of a large part of the growing online audience. Distributors, meanwhile, will have to choose between continuing to pay increasing rates of carriage to holdout broadcasting or take their chances with online television. To avoid this step in the dilemma, the distributors are working with broadcasters on the TV Everywhere concept, which lasted subscriber based on conditional access to video on any device. C. Anticompetitive effects of this new strategy On the markets On the consumers V. Conclusion

Justice and Aeschylus Oresteia :: Oresteia Essays

Justice and Aeschylus' Oresteia      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   At first glance, the picture of justice found in the Oresteia appears very different from that found in Heraclitus. And indeed, at the surface level there are a number of things which are distinctly un-Heraclitean. However, I believe that a close reading reveals more similarities than differences; and that there is a deep undercurrent of the Heraclitean world view running throughout the trilogy. In order to demonstrate this, I will first describe those ways in which the views of justice in Aeschylus' Oresteia and in Heraclitus appear dissimilar. Then I will examine how these dissimilarities are problematized by other information in the Oresteia; information which expresses views of justice very akin to Heraclitus. Of course, how similar or dissimilar they are will depend not only on one's reading of the Oresteia, but also on how one interprets Heraclitus. Therefore, when I identify a way in which justice in the Oresteia seems different from that in Herac litus, I will also identify the interpretation of Heraclitus with which I am contrasting it. Defending my interpretation of Heraclitean justice as such is beyond the scope of this essay. However I will always refer to the particular fragments on which I am basing my interpretation, and I think that the views I will attribute to him are fairly non-controversial. It will be my contention that, after a thorough examination of both the apparent discrepancies and the similarities, the nature of justice portrayed in the Oresteia will appear more deeply Heraclitean than otherwise. I will not argue, however, that there are therefore no differences at all between Aeschylus and Heraclitus on the issue of justice. Clearly there are some real ones and I will point out any differences which I feel remain despite the many deep similarities.    It is definitely possible to find views of justice in the Oresteia which appear to be very different from what we see in the fragments of Heraclitus. I will identify and describe what I think are the four major differences which one notices on an initial reading of the trilogy. These differences are with respect to 1) the apparent linear movement and progress in the Oresteia. 2) the necessity of conflict and its relationship to justice and harmony 3) the origin/creation of justice and 4) the implications for justice of the fundamental unity of nature.

Internet Censorship Essay examples -- essays research papers fc

Everyone has heard of the Internet and how it is going to help set the world free. The Internet is the fastest growing form of communication and is becoming more and more common in the home. Companies these days do big business over the Internet, and online shopping has grown tremendously in the last few years. For instance, the online auction site eBay sells millions of items every year online. Many companies are making even more plans to expand their business to the Internet. Unfortunately, there have been numerous attempts lately to censor the Internet. If the Internet is controlled, regulated, restricted, or censored it will have harsh effects on its capabilities. In recent years, America’s economy has become increasingly dependent on the need to instantly move large amounts of information across long distances. Computerization has changed everyone’s life in ways that were never before possible. The global network of interconnected computers allows people to send electronic mail messages across the world in the blink of an eye and stay updated on world events as they happen; the world has become a much smaller place as a result of this global communication and exchange of ideas. There have also become thousands of online â€Å"communities† of people who share common interests through message boards, chat rooms, and electronic mailing lists (Wilmott 106). Right now, the Internet is the ultimate demonstration of the first amendment: free speech. A place where people can speak their mind without being punished for what they say or how they choose to say it. â€Å"The Internet owes its incredible worldwide success to its prot ection of free speech, not only in America, but also in countries where freedom of speech is not guaranteed. For some, it is the only place where they can speak their mind without fear of political or religious persecution†. (â€Å"Cyberchaos†). The Internet is also one of America's most valuable types of technology; scientists use email for quick and easy communication. They post their current scientific discoveries on online newsgroups so other scientists in the same field of study all over the world can know in minutes. Ordinary people use the Internet for communication, expressing their opinions in the newsgroups, obtaining new information from the WWW, downloading all types of media files, or just â€Å"surfingâ€Å" for their own personal enjoyment. User... ...aphy is legal. The solution to keeping kids from getting into inappropriate websites is to monitor their access, use filtering software, and teach them morals. Censoring the Internet can only be harmful to everyone else who uses it. Works Cited Cleaver, Cathleen A. â€Å"Cyberchaos: Not First Amendment’s Promise.† http://www-swiss.ai.mit.edu/6805/articles/cda/cleaver-cyberchaos.html â€Å"Current Internet Censorship Efforts.† [Online]. Available www.epic.org/freespeech/censorship. 3 April 2001. Dibbel, Julian. â€Å"Muzzling the Internet.† Time 18 December, 1995: 75. Hentoff, Frances. "Indecent Proposal." Entertainment Weekly 31 March, 1995. â€Å"Legal Definition of Obscenity/Pornography.† [Online]. Available http://censorware.net/essays/obscene_jt.html. 23 March 2001. Levy, Steven. â€Å"U.S. v. the Internet.† Newsweek 31 March 1997: 77-79. Miller, Michael. "Cybersex Shock." PC Magazine 10 Oct. 1995; 75-76. â€Å"Parental Control Ware.† Newsweek 12 February 1996: 12. Rheingold, Howard. â€Å"Rheingold's Tomorrow: Why Censoring Cyberspace is Dangerous & Futile.† [Online.] Available http://www.well.com/user/hlr/tomorrow/tomorrowcensor.html. Tyre, Jim. â€Å"Sex, Lies, and Censorware.†

The Hardships Of A Teen Christian :: essays research papers

Teen Christians have to deal with a lot of pressures like when at school, because when a Christian teen does talk about what they believe in they are mock or criticized. And when the fact that when a teen does believe in Jesus it causes them to lose friends so that causes teens to not want to be with god, or talk about it because of what there friends will think and do to them. Their friends want them to go out to parties where there are drugs, alcohol, sex, and violence. And if a teen has just recently become a Christian and was living life like that then they have to deal with harder problems like facing there problems a different way. And when you go from living bad to doing good you really have a problem trying to figure yourself out, teens feel really confused in what is right and what they should do. Teens reflect a culture all of there own within American society. The language that they speak, music that they listen to, and many aspects of their lives differ from that of past generations. Therefore, many people of older generations tend to make judgments and assumptions about teenagers. These assumptions are typically based on the manner in which teenagers speak, dress, and present themselves. Because of these generalizations, faith of many teens is commonly overlooked. In a society where violence seems to be accepted and many teens are lost about whom they are faith can be the one bond interlining a group of many. Our laws say you can’t talk or teach Christianity in our schools but they can’t figure out why there is all this violence and school shootings. Even if it was just a little something about Jesus it would help show people that there are better things in life, like life after death. I think that we should bring back teachings of religion in our schools so that teens mite see that there is a better things then violence and you don’t need drugs, and stuff to make u feel better. I think that there is a slight chance that if we did have religion in our schools that it would make them a better place to learn not so many problems.

Information Technology and Logistics Integration Essay

Information technology can help logistics integration by simplifying complex processes within the company or organization. Through simplification, long processes are streamlined thus creating more opportunities to improve the quality of services and goods. It can also make a company more productive and be very flexible to any business demands. Information technology has helped Sunsweet Growers meet their logistics needs on both the supply and demand sides by integrating and updating the company’s processes, simplifying them and offering a reliable feedback system to sustain the rewards of a successful sales and operation planning (S&OP). Sunsweet faces challenges where both supply and demand are constraints due to factors that the company cannot control like weather and crop yield among other variables. It faced the challenge on how to deliver products to customers and fill the store-shelf space that the company had purchased in advance. Recent retail consolidation had increased buyers’ clout at the expense of suppliers putting additional pressure to its profit margin. Another constant challenge is the scheduling and line utilization of the company. It has also been working for a number of years to advance the efficiency of its supply chain, including the reduction of inventory and reducing transportation costs as well as improving order lead time. The final challenge is the sophistication of scheduling and planning in the packaging of its products due to its wide variety. Sunsweet for years of its operations has used paper-based spreadsheet system to manage its supply chain. It has limitations though, since as the company business becomes more complex, so as the complexity of using such spreadsheets based on Excel. Corporate data using Excel based spreadsheets are not systemized and synchronized. Data can be easily lost. Complex planning and scheduling issues were often encountered. Continuity of work was also a concern because many of the business rules embedded in the spreadsheets are lost when a planner leaves his or her job. Excel lacks the required optimization, simulation, and statistical tools needed to model the business. It is not a flexible tool especially when business becomes complex. When formats are changed, considerable manual effort is required to resynchronize the spreadsheets when they are passed from one person to another. It is also a very slow and manual process for the company when making changes in the fruit-crop forecast and how the crop would be processed and packaged. Mistakes in the sales forecast could result in too many changes to the set-up of the processing line as well as production overruns. Finally, planners were spending a great deal of time managing the spreadsheets, and most of the work was repetitive and could be eliminated. Elimination or streamlining then the unnecessary and repetitive works within the Sunsweet operations was a key for development through the integration of information technology to its S&OP. With the above mentioned challenges, Sunsweet realized that there’s a need for a viable, simple and repeatable supply chain planning. It recognized the importance of S&OP as the heart of this supply chain planning. For an optimized supply chain that can reap profitable rewards, it has considered to implement an S&OP program backed -up by an excellent communication facility integrated by advance technological tools as provided by a supply chain consultant. For this purpose, Sunsweet has tapped the services of Supply Chain Consultants’ Zemeter S&OP supply chain planning suite to replace its Excel-based planning system. The system basically integrates all the aspects affecting the company’s operations. The tools and processes provided up-to-date information in sales, production, and inventory that allowed the entire planning team to meet on a weekly basis instead of on a monthly one. This then resulted to an increase of the company’s ability to meet customer demands while continuing to improve production efficiencies with smooth, long term requirements. The company has successfully integrated its S&OP processes concentrating on 5 well–defined process steps namely demand visibility, demand planning, inventory planning, supply planning and finite scheduling. Implementation of these steps is realized through the tools introduced by Zemeter. It made the needed data available to all departments through direct access on the same data or information. Better understanding on the other departments’ goals and challenges synchronized the company’s operations. Decision making also now becomes faster in each of the department allowing more flexibility in allocating the company’s resources. Under demand visibility, planners were immediately able to access data and create detailed, automated reports. In demand planning, Zemeter’s Demand Planner provided a complete forecasting solution. It provided Sunsweet’s planners to accurately create and update statistical forecasts; plan for price changes and promotions; and analyze demand data, such as orders and shipments. With this, the company now uses historical data to manage items that are either dropped or discontinued. An early warning system that can trigger e-mail alerts to planners will prompt them to review immediately appropriate matrix in the system specifically when significant orders are coming in from new customers. In inventory planning, the company can now be able to use volume loss to manage inventory beyond stock levels to effectively identify slow-moving items and reduce product loss that results from outdated or obsolete products. With the Supply Planner module, the company has now a 15-month rolling forecast of all production and supply chain restrictions. Long term production requirements are then built smoothly like the maintenance of a uniform labor force throughout the year. Lastly, the Finite Scheduling tool developed for Sunsweet handles slightly different size constraints on each of the company’s three manufacturing lines. Details about the finite schedule, daily production, and inventory levels are updated daily through this system so that all of the planning processes are using the most up-to-date information. Without the new technology provided by Supply Chain Consultants’ Zemeter S&OP supply chain planning suite, the company will eventually cannot compete well due to higher operational costs and cannot increase its sales by capturing the majority of the market demand. With such an information technology tool, better understanding of how to work together to reduce production costs and improves order lead time is achieved. This then is how information technology can help integrate logistics of a company like Sunsweet Growers.

Fast Food Whos to Blame On-Demand Essay

You will have 45 minutes to plan and write an essay on the topic assigned below. Before you begin writing, read the passage carefully and plan what you will say. Your essay should be as well-organized and carefully written as you can make it. As Americans add pounds, critics are increasingly blaming the fast-food industry. Teenagers have filed lawsuits blaming McDonalds for their health problems, and a public health group in California has asked the governor to declare childhood obesity a state of emergency. But parentsnot the fast food companies, not the governmentare in the best position to fight the epidemic of overweight children. Parents are responsible for teaching healthy eating and exercise habits. Parents are to blame if they let their kids eat unhealthy foods and sit in front of the television or computer for hours at a time. We have laws against parents leaving a loaded weapon where children can find and use it to hurt themselves or others. Its time to get parents to take the same responsibility to protect their children from unhealthy foods and lack of exercise. Adapted from Daniel WeintraubsThe Battle Against Fast Food Begins in the HomeThe Sacramento Bee, December 17, 2002 Explain Weintraubs argument and discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with his analysis. Support your position, providing reasons and examples from your own experience, observations, or reading. The sample student essays that follow reflect the EPT Scoring Guides criteria. Sample student essay with a score of 6 Daniel Weintraub, in The Battle Against Fast Food Begins in the Home, states that parents are responsible for the increasing epidemic of child obesity. Parents need to be responsible enough to teach their children healthy eating exercise habits. In our world today, children sit around play video games all day, if they are allowed to. Weintraub argues that parents need to step up to the plate and get children involved in some type of exercise. I agree that parents need to take more responsibility for child obesity, but schools, fast food companies the government also need to take that same initiative. Parents have a lot of influence on their children from the day that child is born. Children learn how to talk from their parents, how to respect their elders and they should learn healthy eating exercising habits from their parents. There are many steps to take in showing a child what is healthy unhealthy. A parent could make sure that a child receives a serving of fruits or vegetables at lunch  dinner, eliminate soda from the house and even eliminate all junk food from the house. From a young age, my parents taught me to have an apple for a snack instead of a cookie that I should be getting 5 servings of fruits or vegetables a day. This lesson has influenced me even until today when my friends I will go and eat a salad at lunch instead of pizza or chips. I have also eliminated all soda from my diet. Parents need to show their children that exercise is not a bad thing. At a young age, parents need to show children that there are other things to do, like playing tag or playing at the park, than just watching t.v. Parents could introduce their children to different sports until the child finds one that he or she is interested in. My parents entered me in dance class were lucky in finding that that was what I enjoyed. I have been dancing since I was three years old I also played soccer for 8 years. It isnt very difficult to turn off a t.v. and send your children outside to play. Parents are not solely responsible for child obesity schools, fast food companies the government also need to take action against child obesity. Schools today do not provide a great selection of healthy food. My student body is luck that we have an off-campus lunch but even then it is difficult to find healthy food. Fast food companies definitely need some blame. With advertising that appeals to children, it is no wonder that America is fat. Through whining for that toy that a child can get with a kids meal, the parent is pressured to go to a fast food place. Daniel Weintraub argues that parents are responsible for child obesity. I agree with Weintraub but schools fast food companies also need to help in the fight against child obesity . Commentary This essay illustrates the EPT Scoring Guides criteria for a score of 6. The superior response indicates that the writer is very well-prepared to handle college-level reading and writing. The writer clearly explains Weintraubs argument regarding childhood obesity in the first paragraph and takes a thoughtful position, contending that Weintraub is right to a degree but that schools, fast food companies the government also need to take that same initiative. The writer skillfully restates Weintraubs argument in the first paragraph and makes a further connection in the second paragraph by saying, they should learn healthy eating exercising habits from their parents. However, the emphasized should suggests that the writer questions whether this always happens. The conclusion again refers back to Weintraub. The essay demonstrates quality  and clarity of thought with its careful analysis of both the strengths and weaknesses of Weintraubs somewhat overstated position. The essay reflects an effective use of topic statements and strong personal examples to both support Weintraubs argument that parents are responsible for childhood obesity with respect to eating and exercise habits and make the case that others are responsible as well. Sentence structure is varied and word choice is precise. The essay has few errors. Sample student essay with a score of 5 America is now known as the fattest country in America. Many of our countrys people blame the fast food industry for over-advertising, selling unhealthy food, and selling oversized portions. However, others feel that Americas obeisity is a matter of personal responsibility. In his article The battle against fast food begins in the home, Daniel Weintraub explains that parents need to take responsibility for the eating habits of their kids, and I agree with his opinion in this matter. As Americans, we are given the freedom of choice, however, before we become adults, it is our parents that have to teach us how to make the right decisions. This is Weintraubs point. If parents are not willing to teach their kids the dangers of eating too much fast food and not getting enough exercise, then those kids have no way to make the right choices. Kids learn best at an early a ge, therefore, teaching them good habits will allow them to make the correct decisions later. I agree with Weintraubs opinion that parents are responsible. Obviously, fast food companies are going to market towards kids they are more impressionable. Because of this, if parents would start teaching kids early on, they could use that impressionable quality to their advantage. The benefits of education are apparent in almost everything we do. For example, a better educated person can solve problems quickly and easily. The same goes for someone educated in terms of health habits. They can make the best choices because they have been taught to do so. Fast food companies provide a service. It is up to us, or our parents if we are not yet of age, to decide how much of that service we should use. In conclusion, Daniel Weintraub is correct in his assesment of one of the causes of Americas obeisity. The truth is that no child can grow up to be an intelligent human being without a proper education, wether it be in mathematics or eating habits. Fast food companies are always going to compete for customers and try to make money, but they cannot control our  decisions. The only people that can make choices for us our ourselves, and we canno t make the right choices without proper education from our parents. We cannot blame others for our own problems. Only when parents and the population of American in general are educated and choose to live healthy lifestyles will the countrys obeisity cease. Commentary This essay illustrates the EPT Scoring Guides criteria for a score of 5. The clear competence of the essay indicates that this writer is quite ready to handle college-level reading and writing. The writer addresses the topic of childhood obesity clearly, summarizing and then agreeing with Weintraubs position. Further references to Weintraub in the body and conclusion maintain a clear focus on the argument. The essay presents a well-reasoned response, indicating that various factors contribute to childhood obesity but finally siding with Weintraub in placing the responsibility on parents We cannot make the right choices without proper education from our parents. The essay shows some depth of thought in making the case that adults are responsible for making their own sound choices while parents are responsible for the choices their children make. However, the writer simply dismisses the responsibility of the fast-food industry without analysis. The essay is fairly clearly organized around the ideas that parents are responsible for their childrens choices and that the best way to counter fast-food advertising is through education however, some repetition and a lack of strong examples weaken the writers argument. The sentences are varied and word choices are generally precise and effective. The essay has only a few minor errors failure to use a semicolon with however, misspelling of obesity, and the distracting repetition of America in the first line. Sample student essay with a score of 4 Obesity Can Be Stopped Within the Home The article titled, The battle against fast food begins in the home, is the authors Daniel Weintraub, point of view on the rising obesity problem in America. Mr. Weintraub wrote this particular piece with one intention to educate the readers with his own views. Mr. Weintraub doesnt blame the Government, or advertising for Americans weight problem. But, instead he feels that parents are the sole component. He not only blames parents for their childrens poor eating habits, but also for they lack of exercise, and physical activity. I strongly agree with Mr. Weintraub because of the dynamics and regimne of parents lives today and parents wanting to blame  everyone and thing but themselves. I strongly agree with Mr. Weintraub because of the dynamics and regimne of parents lives today. Mr. Weintraub makes the point in his article that, Fast Food is fast., and It can also seem cheap. (Weintraub) This is just what parents who work all day want. They want to feed their children, not cook but feed, and relax after a hard days work. They may not mean to, but they are already to blame for their childs eating habits. However, taking the easy route, they have already put their children at risk. The dynamics of their daily regimne naturally allow them to feed their child junk. Not only do I believe that Mr. Weintraub is correct because of the dynamics and regimne of parents lives today, but I also strongly Agree with Mr. Weintraub because of parents wanting to blame everyone and thing but themselves. First off, in an article written by Shannon Brownlee titled, Its Portion distortion that makes America fat, a mother who was suing McDonalds stated, 1 always believed McDonalds food was healthy for my son. (Brownlee) This statement shows a parent who is willing to blame a company, whose sole purpose is making money, for her childs obesity. All the while parents eat, themselves, the exact same food as their child. They dont hold any responsibility that maybe their child will mimic these same habits. In the Letters to the Editor section a woman, Patricia Gonzalez, poses a good question Why arent they (parents) home cooking them (children) healthy food (Letters to Editor) Instead of parents complaining about how companies made their kids fat, or how advertising hooked their kids, why dont they eliminate these factors and cook their children a meal they know is healthy I strongly agree with Mr. Weintraub because of the dynamics and regimne of parents lives today and parents wanting to bl ame everyone and thing but themselves. Mr. Weintraub expressed the right point. As Americans, we need to take responsibility ourselves and not just blame other people. Parents could eliminate obesity before it became a problem in their childs life. That is why I strongly agree with Mr. Weintraub. Commentary This essay illustrates the EPT Scoring Guides criteria for a score of 4. This adequate response to the topic suggests that the writer should be able to handle college-level reading and writing. The writer clearly addresses Weintraubs argument that parents are responsible for the epidemic of childhood obesity but fails to explain why the fast-food companies, whose sole purpose is making money, do not share responsibility.  The writer generally understands the passage and develops a sensible, if somewhat simplistic, response why dont they . . . cook their children a meal they know is healthy The essay has a clear organization around the issues of parents lack of timedynamics and regimne of parents livesand parents desire to shift blame to others. However, wel l-chosen examples would strengthen the support for this argument. The essay demonstrates adequate use of syntax and language however, word choice is sometimes imprecise. For example, The article . . . is the point of view . . . and hold any responsibility. Dynamics and regimne are used both imprecisely and repetitively. The writer has general control of grammar and usage however, errors in punctuation and capitalization are frequent and distracting. Sample student essay with a score of 3 Who is to blame the parents, fast food companies, the government or yourself People now a days are so quick to sue fast food companies for making them fat but its all about self control. One should know his or her own body and watch what they eat. Fast food places are on almost every corner but doesnt mean their making you eat there. In New York a teenager is sueing McDonalds for making her fat. He weighs in at 400 pounds. His mother says I always believed McDonalds food was healthy for my son. How is this possible Two patty cheeseburgers, deep fried potatoes, and a large cup of soda is clearly not healthy. This kid probably ate at McDonalds majority of the time but I doubt he ate there everyday for every meal so how is McDonalds fully to blaim. Whatever happen to exercising, if this teenager was getting the required exercise there is no way he could way in at 400 pounds. Dont get me wrong Im not just on the fast food companies side. Yes McDonalds super-sizing most of their meals is a little extreme. Having good deals like dollar nugget Tuesdays is also a big temptation. Fast food companies could cut down on the location of there restuarants. Being that its so convinent that its close to your house, cheap and fast is another way that makes Americans so addicted. In conclusion, Both Americans and Fast Food Companies can change for the better. Americans start taking some responsibility for what you put into your own body. Fast Food Companies think of how many lives are at risk because of what your feeding them and cut back on expanding your franchises. Commentary This essay illustrates the EPT Scoring Guides criteria for a score of 3. Although the essay indicates a developing competence on the part of the writer, it is flawed in  significant ways that suggest the writer needs additional practice before being able to succeed in college-level reading and writing. The writer does not arrive at a thesis until the conclusion, which states, In conclusion, Both Americans and Fast Food Companies can change for the better. Even if this thesis had been presented in the introduction, however, it would need to be made more specific. The writer does not summarize or explain Weintraubs argument and fails to respond to the argument that parents are primarily responsible for their childrens eating and exercise habits. The writer does not use Weintraubs argument about the role of parents to develop the response as a result, the essay is not focused on Weintraubs argument but instead focuses entirely on the responsibility of the individual and the fast-food industry. The essay demonstrates simplistic thinking. It ignores the socioeconomic and developmental issues that can impede children and parents from making wise decisions about what they eat. It also ignores the imperative for businesses to make money when it suggests that McDonalds could cut down on the location of there restaurants. A skeletal organization is present, with the two body paragraphs each addressing a single idea that is summarized in the conclusion. The paragraphs are underdeveloped they need additional specifics and analysis. In addition, the role of parental responsibility needs to be explored. The paragraphs need effective topic sentences relating back to a controlling idea or thesis. The writers language is highly informal, relying on a series of rhetorical questions and colloquial comments (Who is to blame . . . How is this possible Whatever happen to exercising Dont get me wrong.) in place of analysis. The writer uses vague or incorrect pronoun reference (one should know . . . and watch what they eat but doesnt mean their making you eat there), and sentence structure is weak (Being that its so convinent . . . is another way that makes Americans so addicted.). The main errors, however, are in the mechanics, with numerous errors in punctuation, spelling, and capitalization. Sample student essay with a score of 2 Bigger isnt always better Last year a Bronx teenager who weighted in at a wooping 400 pounds sat in a confrence room while their mother tryed to file a suit againt McDonalds for make her kid fat. When ask why she replyed I always believed McDonalds food was healthy for my son. More and more americans are trying to blame fast food for the reason they are fat, but is it what they eat or how  much. Shannon Brownlee asked this question and this is what she found. Portion sizes has been creeping up ward science 1972. That when McDolands introduced its large size fries. (which now was smaller than a medium today.) And now they make more money then ever, they do it by consumer manipulation. Example 7-Eleven can sell the 64-ounce Double Gulp for only 37 cents more the 16-ounce 89 cent regular Gulp. Youd feel ripped off if you bought the s maller size. And thats just the way I feel when I go to fast food why not get the bigger size your pay just as much as a regular. After reading Shannon Brownlees article I understand and agree that people arnt getting fat from the food but from how much they eat. So maybe all those moms should stop getting mad that their kid are getting fat and be mad at their kid for eating so much and throwing away money on food that 70 of the time they dont finish Commentary This essay illustrates the EPT Scoring Guides criteria for a score of 2. The serious flaws here indicate that this writer will need considerable additional practice before being able to succeed in college-level reading and writing. The writer does not summarize or respond to Weintraubs argument, instead lifting portions from another article by Shannon Brownlee about fast food. The writer does not use the passage at all. Sample student essay with a score of 1 Many people blame the fast food industry for making them obese. But its not their fault it is the fault of the parents. It is theirs for not teaching the person how to eat right. It is the parents responsibility to teach their children o eat right and to excise at lest once a day. Americans have taken the blame of obesity and put it one that fast food industry. Many parents have filled lawsuits against McDonalds for their health problems. Commentary This essay illustrates the EPT Scoring Guides criteria for a score of 1. The fundamental deficiencies of this essay clearly indicate that the writer needs much additional practice to be ready to succeed at college-level reading and writing. The essays lengthsix sentencesis insufficient to respond to the question. The writer misunderstands the passage and fails to refer to it. The essay is repetitive. The first and fifth sentences repeat each other, as do the second, third, and fourth sentences. The writer culls the idea of parental responsibility from the passage but offers no support, reasons, or examples as the prompt instructs. The essay appears to be incomplete. It ends with a (misstated) statement of fact from the passage  that either belongs in the summary portion of the essay or should be omitted in lieu of the writers own opinions and supportthe better option. The writer lacks basic control of syntax and vocabulary. The writer has serious and persistent errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics that severely interfere with meaning. Pronoun confusion (It is theirs . . . ), preposition misuse (blame of obesity), and punctuation errors are profound.