Prep101 - Free Writing Sample Feedback (summer 2011)

[jdr44]

Hello there - I am looking for some help. Due to the new Princeton Review website - I am one day away from test day - and have not received ANY of my up to date writing sample scores - my test in on Tuesday so I am pretty freaked out about that.

 

I really appreciate ANY help thanks so much!

 

Businesses succeed by taking advantage of consumers weaknesses

 

Businesses, described as the individuals making or producing the products being sold, get ahead in the business world by taking advantage of consumers', described as the buyers in an economy, weaknesses. This can be seen commonly in instances of want. Businesses using soft sale advertisements, use tactics such as photographs of models, etc to create an image, worthy of wanting, connected to their product. This can be seen among most fashion businesses. In most cases, consumers purchase the image connected to the product, rather than the product itself. Take for example, a Louis Vuitton handbag, displayed in the magazine on the shoulder of a tall, slender, blonde haired, blue eyed model walking alongside her handsome, tall, dark featured partner. This advertisements plays to the consumers weaknesses and essentially allows Louis Vuitton to succeed as one of the top luxury handbag producers worldwide.

 

However, in some instances, a businesses' success doesn't depend on taking advantage of the consumers' weaknesses, this is true in times of need. Hard sale advertising is a specific type of advertising containing statistics, facts, figures and numerical data (versus the images connected to soft advertisements). Such tactics can be seen among advertisements for computers, a product that is needed in our society. For example, when looking specifically at Dell Computers, during their advertisements on television, Dell includes information about the product itself, such as memory, hard-drive, exact prices etc and includes only a picture of the computer itself. Such advertisements do not take advantage of their customers, rather they equip the consumer with the proper knowledge in order to make a firm decision about their product.

 

The factors determining whether or not the success of businesses' come from taking advantage of the consumers' weaknesses depends on whether or not the consumer wants or needs the product being sold by businesses. If the buyer wants an item, such as a Louis Vuitton handbag, he or she is taken advantage of by Louis Vuitton through soft advertisements, selling the image attached to the handbag, rather than the product itself. Such tactics lead to impulse buying, a consequence of soft ads, allowing businesses to play towards consumers' weaknesses. This is in comparison to consumers purchasing goods in order to fulfill their daily needs. Individuals buying a Dell Computer are equipped with the appropriate information in order to make an efficient decision about their purchase, thus impulse buying is decreased among the world of computers, thus decreasing the companies ability to take advantage of the buyers weaknesses. Essentially, in order to take advantage of a customers' weakness, businesses must employ soft advertising techniques when attempting to sell items, not necessary for everyday living.

[jdr44]

Thanks again

 

Education makes everyone equal.

 

Education can be described as the act of learning seen in most Western societies. Education can be taught to students of many different ages and at numerous levels. Equality among individuals can be seen after completing their education at an elementary level. At this point, education is taught with a primary focus on morals versus skills. Thus, at the end of 8 years in Canada, for example, children are seen at an equal level or playing field as other children the same age. Thus, in the case of the elementary curriculum, education allows everyone to be equal.

 

However, in some instances, such as after the completion of post-secondary education, education does not lead to equality. In post-secondary education, skills are primarily taught (because values are already established in elementary school). Thus individuals who take their degree in Medicine are differently equipped, in terms of the skills taught, than those taking their degree in Law, leading to inequality among students, stemming primarily from education.

 

Essentially, the determinants that makes individuals equal with one another, depends on what primarily is being taught at that level as well as on the want to pursue further education. In the instance of education at an elementary level, students in Western society are forced to attend school, whether it be private, public or home-school. During these years, students are introduced and taught values and morals one should possess in Western society. Thus, upon completion from elementary school, graduated students are all equal to one another in terms of the morals/values they know. It's what an individual decides to do next in their lives that eliminates the equality at graduation. If an individual decides to pay the fees associated with attending College/University, and completes their post-secondary education, these individuals have gained an increased number of skills (specific to their degree) than those individuals whom have not attended post-secondary education. This inequality can be seen further when individuals with differing degrees are investigated. When an individual completes Medical school, they possess a completely different set of skills than their companions whom have completed Law School, leading to an inequality, stemming once again from education.

 

Thus, in order to determine the equality among individuals, it is important to be aware of their completed level of education and perhaps even further, which degree in particular was completed.

[anitarama]

Score: 5.5/6

 

Task 1 (Supporting): Very good example, perhaps a bit more explanation about what things American Idol specifically reveals about the younger age group.

 

Task 2 (Refuting): Great Refuting Paragraph.

 

Task 3 (Resolution): A strong resolution and explanation of the criteria.

 

A popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does.

 

Describe a specific situation in which a popular television show might not reveal more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper would. Discuss what you think determines whether or not a popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does.

 

Although the media serves to entertain and inform the population, it is also a representation of the population that is serves. The general values, goals, and beliefs shared within a population can be seen through the various outlets of media, such as television shows, newspapers, radio shows, etc. Under certain situations, some forms of media better portray the the values of the population better than others do. For example, the popular television show American Idol is a televised game show that narrows out one individual from a large pool of candidates as the singing idol of the audience. The popularity of the show reflects the emphasis of values that the target audience holds because the audience is the driving force behind the production of the show and the selection of the candidates. In this case, American Idol is most popular with the age group between 12 to 24 years. This means that American Idol best represents the values, goals, and beliefs of the youth population because they are the main consumers and driving force behind American Idol.

 

While American Idol serves to represent the nation's younger population, the show and other media outlets targeted at the youth does not adequately represent the entire nation. A newspaper editorial is a better demonstration of the goals, values, and beliefs of the older population. Once such example is the focus on one's health. The older population is more likely to be more concerned with their healths because they will experience health problems with their age. Dr. Sanja Gupta has an editorial column in the Times Magazine, which focuses on long term health issues such as the consumption of Omega 3 fatty acids. Since the older population is the audience who is more concerned with their long term health, they are the primary readers of Dr. Gupta's column. This relationship between Dr. Gupta's column and his elderly audience reflects upon the goals, beliefs, and values of the older population, a different subsection of the nation.

 

Therefore, the age of the population is the determinant of which media outlet, either a popular telvision show or the editorial column of a newspaper, better reflects the people of interest. For age groups that are younger than the rest of the nation, an entertainment outlet such as American Idol will better reflect the opinions of the young population because they are the ones that the show caters to the most. On the other hand, newspaper editorial columns tend to seek the older populations because they are more likely to be the readers of the newspapers as opposed to the youth. Since both entertainment and informative outlets would be nothing without its audience, they reflect the opinions of their audience in order to cater to their desired interests and get their attention.

[anitarama]

Score: 5.5/6

 

Task 1 (Supporting): Great job defining terms. Good example.

 

Task 2 (Refuting): Excellent example used for this refuting argument.

 

Task 3 (Resolution): This was great criteria and your entire essay led up to this point, so it was extremely cohesive.

 

A popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does.

 

In order to analyze the meaning of the above statement, the keywords "popular", "reveals" and "editorial" must be analyzed. A popular television show refers to a show that many people with televisions choose to watch. If people enjoy the content they are watching or find it enlightening, there will inevitably be a large amount of viewers watching the program, rendering it "popular". By using the term "reveals" the sentence is talking about the discussion and discovery of information pertaining to a nation. A television show that is revealing would encompass the release of significant information about relevant national issues. An editorial is an opinion piece often found in the newspaper. It should be noted that the opinions of an individual writing an editorial may or may not be shared with the majority of people, and that only one person writes an editorial. Overall, the statement is asserting that a television show many people watch discusses more national information than an opinion based article in the newspaper. An example of this would be a political show which aims to discuss matters in the news by bringing a variety of guests with differing opinions. This could be a show that airs on a news network such as CBC or the BBC, where the main goal is to provide information to viewers. Consider an editorial whose primary goal is to persuade readers to join the author's viewpoint; for example, an opinion on the recent health care reform in the US. It is clear that this biased type of writing would not fairly represent both sides of the issue, and therefore not be as revealing, as listening to the opinions of people on a news network. In this situation, where the main goal of the TV show is discussion and discovery of information, the show can reveal more about a nation than an editorial page.

 

However, not all popular television shows are effective at revealing information about a nation compared to an editorial. Consider the satire of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart. These individuals have popular TV shows that many people watch, and they discuss politics. However, the nature of their television shows, while being truthful most of the time, is still comedy. They are trying to get laughs, and therefore they may not address both sides of an issue if it would not elicit audience enjoyment and laughter. An editorial which fairly discusses both sides of an issue and their own opinion may be more revealing in this case than a satirical TV show. The main point of an editorial is not laughter; it is information and persuation, in which case the editorial may be better suited by revealing pertinent information and discussing it.

 

In order to determine whether a popular television show reveals more about a nation than an editorial page, the primary goal of the television program needs to discussed. A television show which may be found on a news network such as the BBC or CBC is focused on generating and discussing information about topics in the news and about the nation. In this case, to achieve their goal the network must fairly and reasonably discuss information and this will be quite revealing. On the other hand, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert among others are focused on satire, thus they may not discuss both sides of an issue and adequately reveal much about the nation at hand. Overall, a television show can reveal more about a nation than an editorial page if the aim of the show is to provide fair, accurate information. Conversely, if a television show's primary goal is comedy or satire, they will be far less likely to reveal much about a nation, in comparison to an editorial page that is well written and fair.

[anitarama]

Score: 5/6

 

Task 1 (Supporting): Solid example, well-explained.

 

Task 2 (Refuting): Great Refuting example.

 

Task 3 (Resolution): I think your criteria could have been a bit more fleshed out at the beginning of this paragraph, but once you reached your conclusion it was strong.

 

A popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does.

Much of our knowledge about the world comes to us through media such as newspaper and television. Sometimes we are making impressions about the world, or a certain nation, just by watching a regular television show for entertainment. Popular television shows today are those that have captured a wide audience because of some gripping factor, examples being reality shows, comedies and dramas. It seems sometimes that these television shows tell us more about a country than the editorial page of a newspaper does, that is the opinion page of a newspaper conveying the general stance held by the editors of that particular paper. An example of a popular television show that reveals a great deal about the life of a high school American is the musical comedy-drama show “Glee” that exaggerates various facets of the high school years of a teenager. Through its overly-done drama, we come across many of the problems that the young generation of Americans face, such as clique-forming, bullying, weight problems, sexual relationships and their consequences, etc. The young generation of a nation is its future and that is the exact group of people that are showcased on this drama. “Glee” may be a dramatic version of high school life in the United States, but it brings out many of the pressing issues in a nation, therefore revealing more about that nation.

 

On the other hand, sometimes the editorial page of a newspaper will reveal more about a nation, especially in terms of current, heated debates. Take for example, the editorial page of Toronto daily “Globe and Mail” which has the saying “The Globe’s take on issues that matter to Canadians”. In essence, the editorial page will contain opinionated topics about current issues that are being faced in Canada, such as political elections, or public protests. Someone who wants to learn about these issues can read that page. Furthermore, letters to the editor in response to these opinionated pieces are often published so a reader can learn about the current events from more than one perspective (editors as well as audience). Therefore, the editorial page of a newspaper can also reveal a lot about a nation.

 

What determine when a popular television show reveals more about a nation compared to a newspaper’s editorial page is the exact nature of the information that is revealed. In particular, with popular television shows such as “Glee”, the audience get an insight into societal trends in a country, such as high school life, problems teenagers face, health issues, parental styles, liberal/conservative lifestyles, etc. On the other hand, a newspaper’s editorial page gives the audience a take on current events in order to increase readership and provoke responses. The ultimate difference between these two styles of communication is basically the type of issues about a nation that each of them address – one addresses general societal trends in the country, while the other address specific current events that are going on in the country. Both methods of communication are a window into the nation.

[Alchemist11]

Score: 5.5/6

 

Task 1 (Supporting): Great job defining terms. Good example.

 

Task 2 (Refuting): Excellent example used for this refuting argument.

 

Task 3 (Resolution): This was great criteria and your entire essay led up to this point, so it was extremely cohesive.

 

Well my MCAT is tomorrow so this is a great note to go off from.

 

Thanks a lot for the help! Good luck with your future studies

 

EDIT: While I'm here I'd like to ask you a question.

 

In the future, for task 3, identifying a criteria that determines whether... <whatever>, can the criteria be "the primary goal of <> must be analyzed"? I see you didn't mind it when I used it in my previous essay.

 

I'm wondering if, for example, I said:

"In order to determine whether a revolution is destructive or creative, one must look at the main goal of the revolution". Is that circular logic? Or is it fine?

 

Thanks again!

[anitarama]

Score: 5/6

 

Task 1 (Supporting): Strong introduction and Supporting example.

 

Task 2 (Refuting): Good example and explanation given.

 

Task 3 (Resolution): Your criteria explanation was somewhat convoluted.

 

Popular television, usually dramas or sit-coms which the whole family can enjoy, are designed for people who simply want to relax and enjoy the show without being challenged on any particular controversies that they face in real life. These shows often convey some kind of moral such as the value of respect or kindness by depicting a drama which offers the perspectives of different characters who are dealing with some sort of challenge. In this way popular television shows reveal more about a nation and the ideas it agrees upon than does the editorial page of a newspaper where the editor and members of the community offer their opinions on controversial issues. For example, the Cosby Show is a popular American sit-com which has been enjoyed by families for decades. In one episode, Mr. Cosby’s son Theo struggles with difficulties between him and his girlfriend. Through humor and patience Mr. Cosby encourages Theo to persevere and show love to his girlfriend. Thus, this episode of the show helped its veiwers to relax and enjoy the show by affirming in their minds the value of perseverance and love: traits that are accepted by most Americans. This popular television show reveals universally appreciated values of Americans.

 

On the other hand, the editorial page of a newspaper rarely contains an article which simply emphasizes an idea that everyone agrees upon. This page is meant to explain the opinion of the newspaper on a controversial topic such as a political issue. For example, in Ontario Canada, the local newspaper has published letters to the editor about the issue of whether the local government should replace several in-town schools with one out-of-town school. Some argue that the new school would be more economical, but others place an emphasis on the importance of keeping schools inside the town for the sake of convenience. In this case the editorial page of the newspaper discussed a controversial issue where different citizens had different opinions within the same nation.

 

Whether or not a popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper depends on how universally accepted an idea is held by that nation. The popular American television series “The Cosby Show”, emphasized ideas that are accepted by most Americans such as respect, love, and perseverance because viewers watch television in order to enjoy a unique drama which can simply help them to relax by affirming their beliefs. However, when a consumer is interested in learning about a controversial topic, such as whether the local government should replace several in-town schools with one out-of-town school which is more economical, the editorial page of a newspaper is a better source of information because it is where opinions are expressed on controversial ideas. Popular television reveals a great deal about the universally appreciated ideal of a nation, but information on controversial issues being discussed within a nation can be found more easily on the editorial page of a newspaper.

[anitarama]

Score: /6

 

Task 1 (Supporting): Great introduction. Well-explained example.

 

Task 2 (Refuting): Another solid example for your Refuting Paragraph.

 

Task 3 (Resolution): Your criteria is a complicated one; the simpler your resolution criteria the stronger your essa s.

 

A popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does.

Popular television shows are a showcase of our society's need to be entertained; whether through comedy, drama, action or reality TV, the masses seem to have a universal inherent desire to watch and identify with this media. The trends in television are often difficult to track, or even identify, at any given time, but any show that experiences a significant surge in popularity is usually well-liked by a very wide variety of audiences. Television shows are designed to attract the greatest number of viewers. Whatever the majority want to see, is what will continue to be aired.

 

The realm of educational television shows has recently gained popularity as people seem to appreciate intelligent stimulation more and more. Shows like Discovery Channel's Mythbusters have gained massive followings with topics often centered around scientific discussion and explanation, especially Newtonian physics and chemistry (as much as it concerns highly exothermic reactions). It is clear when watching episodes of Mythibusters, however, that any science they use is always explained thoroughly, usually with the use of simple but effective diagrams, and in easy-to-follow layman's terms. Any technical jargon is explicitly defined, and the viewer is assumed to have no background in science beyond middle school. In this case, the television program shows that the general population is interested in science, so long as it is presented in ways they can understand. The editorial page of a newspaper presents opinions, usually regarding political or social issues. While there are millions, if not billions, of people "tuning-in" to watch television each evening, there are comparitively very few people reading the editorial page of their local or national newspapers. This is because the editorial page represents the view of a few individuals, and is often presented as a rebuttal to the current opinion of the masses. Television, on the other hand, is designed to appeal to the widest range of people.

 

conversely, there are television shows far more popular than Mythbusters, which, one must logically assume means that they are more appealing to the masses. Jersey Shore, for example, showcases the party-centered life of a group of twenty-somethings. Most people that enjoy the show would quickly defend their interest as only a form of entertainment, not because they can identify with the characters or their lifestyle. While people may desire to expand their knowledge and learn more about the world around them, reflected in the popularity of Mythbusters, we must know that the masses do not aspire to model their lifestyles after the characters of Jersey Shore. In this case, if asked to give their opinions, most regular Jersey Shore viewers presented with the editorial page from their local newspaper would probably fine one or more editorial writers whose point of view, they felt, was a much better representation of their own than any of the characters of Jersey shore.

 

We know then that popular television shows can gain popularity because people identify with the characters or story, they feel that they gain something from watching the show, or because they find it comical or amusing, among other reasons. If a show gains popularity because the scenes are purely entertaining to the masses, but they would not condone or partake in the behaviour of the characters, a statement true of most reality TV shows, then it must not reveal the feelins of a nation more than the editorial page of a newspaper. If, however, the television show is enjoyed and appreciated by its audience because they can identify with the characters or because they learn from the episodes, then it is likely that it is a much better representation of the views of a nation than the individual opinions of an editorial page.

[anitarama]

Score: 4.5/6

 

Task 1 (Supporting): Your example could have used more explanation as to how exactly Korean variety shows reveal an idol's persona off-screen.

 

Task 2 (Refuting): This is a good, well-explained example.

 

Task 3 (Resolution): Your criteria is good, though your explanation could be more focused.

 

A popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does.

 

Mass media of a nation reveals many things about a nation ranging from its culture to its political priorities and landscape. Things like television (TV) and newspaper are representations of a nation because they are catered towards its citizens, and in order to appeal to them, the media has to be able to relate to the population. In doing so, the media inevitably represents aspects of the nation which can help an outsider understand the socioeconomic context of the nation. A TV show usually reveals how people interact with each and more so the social background of a nation, in comparison to a newspaper. This is because culture is something that is deeply embedded in a citizen’s everyday life and how he/she interacts with people at home or at work. Therefore, a TV show, which usually attempts to link to the people’s everyday life, in an effort to increase viewership represents a nation’s culture more than anything else. For example, Korean variety shows reveal that celebrities are an important part of the culture, as many shows are aimed to introducing the celebrities outside of their stage persona; the celebrities are in a sense ‘idols’ to their nation and brings the whole nation together – a cultural tradition for the nation. However, this information could not have been extrapolated from an editorial page of a newspaper because people would hardly submit their encouraging opinions about a celebrity to a newspaper, unless a scandal, an extraordinary circumstance, was involved.

 

However, there are instances when an editorial newspaper reveals more about a nation than a popular TV show. A newspaper is a venue for people to learn about what is going on in the country. Consequently, in an editorial page of a newspaper people express their opinions about the political policies that the government has enacted. In such the editorial represents more of the nation’s political opinion, and thus represents to some extent the political stability of a nation. For example, in a popular Canadian newspaper, such as The Globe and Mail, one can find the citizens’ opinions regarding the government’s decision to raise interest rates. They express their approval or disapproval of new laws being made in the country, such as the new law which bans cell phones while driving. An outsider can use this to judge whether the citizens are content with their government or not, and this gives an indication as to the overall political stability in the country, which is a function of economic stability among other factors.

 

All in all, mass media allows someone foreign to a country to learn about the nation. However, different media types represent different aspects of a nation. A TV show is more helpful in revealing the cultural identity of a nation: does a nation comes together under the umbrella of celebrities, like in Korea, or under religion? However, a popular TV show, designed to connect to the citizens’ daily life rarely gives insight into the current political and economic conditions of the country. A newspaper editorial would be more useful for understanding the economic and political background of a country, as people use the newspaper to learn about the affairs of the country and express their opinions regarding the governments. This is illustrated by the editorial section of The Globe and Mail, where one can often find criticism regarding the government’s new laws, and economic policies. Giving an insight into whether or not the people are satisfied with their government. Of course, there are exceptions to this general rule, as can be the case in extraordinary circumstances, such as scandals regarding celebrities.

[anitarama]

Score: 4.5/6

 

Task 1 (Supporting): Good example, though you could have brought in American Idol earlier and then had some space to further explain it.

 

Task 2 (Refuting): The example is fine but a more contemporary one would make the essay stronger, as it would be comparing editorials and televisions shows in the same timeframe.

 

Task 3 (Resolution): Good Resolution Paragraph. The finale sentence works, I didn't find anything improper about it.

 

A popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does.

 

In today's fast paced world, we are constantly bombarded with information from a myriad of media sources. In fact, if one sums up all of the time an average citizen of a technolgically-developed society spends watching television, listening to the radio, surfing the internet, and reading the newspaper, we conceivably spend more time interacting with the media than doing anything else. However, a common critique of such a media-driven lifesytle, is that with all of this information constantly thrown around them, people generally focus on the frivilous content. In other words, most attention is devoted to entertainment, such as that from a television show, rather than more impactful information, such as that would be obtained from a newspaper editorial column. For example, in 2004, it was found that more Americans participated in the voting for the winner of the American Idol reality show, than did in the National Presidential election. This may indicate that Americans are more interested in light-hearted entertainment issues than issues regarding their national politics.

 

However, that is not to say that the viewership of television shows necessarily reflects the psyche of a nation. The key is that in times of important social movements, political-based media sources increase in their influence. For example, during the push to legalize birth control products in Canada in the 1960s, news periodicals were instrumental in convincing the public of the advantages of contraception technology. Numerous editorial peices were published that opined the necessity for legalization of all birth control and the need for Canadians to lobby their Members of Parliament on this issue.

 

In determining whether popular television shows or editorial pages say more about a nation, then, we must distinguish the current psyche of the nation from its potential future path. Popular television shows, in order to appeal to the most widest audience, often reflect current attitudes and interests of a nation. However, editorial pieces often focus on pertenant social issues, which may make them less popular for the average reader, but more reflective of what is to come in the near future. During the 1960's, Canadians certainly enjoyed popular television shows that reflected their current values, but the editorial pages discussing the coming-of-age of contraception products was more indicitive of the future direction of the country. We may take this as a warning then, that as Americans currently focus on entertainment shows such as American Idol, current editorial pages are rife with dire predictions of the collapse of the American economy, which may be around the corner.

[anitarama]

Score: 4.5/6

 

Task 1 (Supporting): Good example, well-explained, along with the change as time went along.

 

Task 2 (Refuting): You didn't need to separate the first few sentences into its own paragraph.

 

Task 3 (Resolution): Your criteria is somewhat convoluted. Try to simplify your resolution criteria as much as possible to make your explanation straightforward.

 

A nation is to a large extent characterized by the values and beliefs held by people constituting it. The value system of a nation influences all activities in the nation which include attitudes, governance and media. Television shows can be a more powerful tool that can give insight to a nation than the editorial page of a news paper. Reviewing episodes of a television show from the time it premiered till the current day reveals a disparity in values and behaviours that are reflective of a nation evolving in ideals. Take for instance the popular family, comedic television show, Papa Ajasco shown in Nigeria. This show premiered during the time where homosexuality and public expression of love were taboo, and as such, the show lacked such depiction of the mentioned taboos. But the current episodes, show some of the casts acting out scenes of homosexuality and some sexual connoted scenes. These current episodes are an indication of the more lax morals held by the nation.

 

Editorial pages of a newspaper are fusions of discussion and opinions of an event and may not give knowledge about a nation. The writer can write about goals won by an international football team. This has no bearing with the happenings in a nation.

 

However, editorial pages can be immensely useful when issues plaguing a nation are discussed. The writer may interview members of the nation or politicians on a particular event or issue. Take for instance, an editorial on the twenty year oil spillage in the Niger delta and the government negligence to the consequent poverty of the people residing there due to deprivation from food and jobs (that heavily depended on marine life) and water (that was now polluted). This editorial reveals the nation's government as greedy and nonchalant towards its people. Popular television shows on the other hand, become less informative of a nation when it is adopted from another nation. An example would be an European tv show which does not reflect in a manner, the beliefs or ideals held by the nation.

 

So, what determines whether a popular tv show reveals more about a nation than an editorial newspaper page would depends is dependent on the relatedness of the values depicted by the show and those held by the nation's members. This determinant also holds with whether the content of an editorial page gives knowledge of a nation. The papa ajasco show revealed how the nation has evolved in its values, from being stringent in its morals, to being more tolerative of behaviours that were otherwise considered wrong. The editorial page discussing oil issue of the nation reveals how seriously the nation's government takes its environmental regulations.

[anitarama]

Score: 4/6

 

Task 1 (Supporting): Your first and second paragraphs work perfectly fine as one. Your example is fine.

 

Task 2 (Refuting): Good example used for your Refuting Paragraph.

 

Task 3 (Resolution): Always remember to directly refer back to the examples you have used in your Resolution Paragraph when you explain your criteria.

 

Dialogues and actions of popular TV show characters can show the ideologies/current affairs of a nation quite extensively, compared to editorials in newspapers.

 

Primarily, the reason behind this is that TV shows can display the opinions of a wider demographic through their fictional characters. For instance, the popular tv show, The Big Bang Theory, follows a group of friends who are highly intelligent graduate students but lack social skills. One of the scenes showed a Russian caretaker who was able to solve a complex equation which the group of friends were unsuccessful in doing so. When questioned about his methods, the caretaker replied that in his hometown Russia, even “cleaners” are scientists. This displays the contrast in the American and Russian education system, where individuals with blue collar jobs are considered to be “less educated” in America because of their economic condition.

 

However, in some instances, newspaper editorials can provide a deeper insight of a country’s affairs. This would be seen with issues which are more serious and need thorough research. For example, editorials about a country’s outlook on the Libyan revolution may need research on that country’s previous political ties with Libya and the outlook of the country’s allies. Such an opinion would be too complex to show in a TV show, which has to appeal to the mass audience and may do so by not showing sensitive issues.

 

In essence, the extent to which a TV show or an editoral describe a nation boils down to how each method is received by the mass audience. Characters in TV shows can express opinions both visually and verbally. Also, a character does not have to be “well-read” or know how to write well to express an opinion, which means a larger demographic can be represented. Through this, more of a country’s attitude towards an issue can be seen. However, newspaper editorials, by using a more formal written language, can discuss a point of view in a more sophisticated manner with a great deal of research, which is needed for serious issues such as wars. Therefore, both popular TV shows and newpaper editorials can express a nation’s outlook better in different instances.

[anitarama]

Score: 5/6

 

Task 1 (Supporting): Great explanation of value and price as well as your example.

 

Task 2 (Refuting): Another solid example.

 

Task 3 (Resolution): Your Resolution Paragraph explanation is a little hard to follow and not as strong as your other paragraphs.

 

Price is not necessarily a reflection of value.

 

Task 1:

The question of value has resonated within the mind numerous times. What does it mean when value matches its price? The two terms "price" and "value" hold two very different meanings - price being a quantified measure of how much someone would give in exchange for an item. Value is the degree to which someone feels an item is of personal importance. The statement asserts that price is not necessarily a reflection of value. This holds true in situations where materialistic objects are considered. Let us consider the price of a cylindrically-shaped wooden sculpture. It may cost thousands of dollars to purchase this sculpture, made from a world-renound artist. Does that mean that the expensive sculpture is necessarily valuable to everyone? The same sculpture may be of significant meaning to an artist, while an affluent family might buy the same sculpture merely to use as an umbrella holder. The sculpture might not be as valuable to the affluent family since they might not appreciate the aestheic value of such art. Essentially, when it comes down to reflecting upon the value of some objects, a stated price might not necessarily quantify its value.

 

Task 2:

On the other hand, similar to how the artist purchased the sculpture, when one feels that an object is very valuable and is willing to pay an agreed sum of money in exchange for it, that is an instance where price may be a reflection of value. For instance, a wedding ring, the symbol of marriage, is worth quite a lot to a husband and his wife. This is because the wedding ring means more than its materialistic composition of carbon and metal. It is a symbol of their commitment to each other, a sense of value that the wedding ring holds that a regular ring cannot hold. Therefore, couples may be inclined to spend a certain amount of money in order to purchase this ring that they consider valuable. In this case, the price certainly does reflect upon its value. The husband might pay "three months of salary" to demonstrate commitment to the marriage. Therefore, in situations where an object might symbolize something valuable, the price might indeed reflect upon its value.

 

Task 3:

How to determine if price is a reflection of its value would be determined by how value and price is defined for the individual. Certainly, price is gauged differently among individuals. A wedding ring is more valuable to a newlywed couple than to a single man. Hence the expensive price for the ring would reflect upon its value to the couple, but not to the man. Similarly, the cost of an item might not reflect upon its value or usefulness, as illustrated in the example with the wooden sculpture. A family may pay an ample amount of money but regard the value as something negligible, while an artist may give all their savings to purchase the same sculpture that they will cherish and find very valuable. Ultimately, price and value of items are arbitrary to the individual. The individual has a definition of how valuable something is to them, and they might have an idea of how much money they are willing to spend to purchase it. There is a small, delicate balance between value and price; yet in many instances this balance is offset, which may bring one to decide whether something was worth its price. When value increases, the price is less significant. When value decreases, the price becomes much more significant - people want to ensure that they get their "money's worth" at that point.

[anitarama]

Score: 5.5/6

 

Task 1 (Supporting): Great explanation of the prompt and first example.

 

Task 2 (Refuting): Well-explained example.

 

Task 3 (Resolution): Interesting criteria for your Resolution Paragraph. You could have explored the premise more, but it was still strong.

 

Price is not necessarily a reflection of value.

 

Describe a specific situation in which price is an accurate reflection of value. Discuss what you think determines when price reflects value and when it does not.

 

 

In economic terms, the price of an object or service fluctuates depending on supply and demand. On the demand side, how much an object or service is worth to a person determines how much he is willing to pay for it. When there is a market with many variations of a product, the price does not reflect the value of the product to the consumer. For example, the grocery store Safeway occasionally sells three husks of corn for the promotional price of 99 cents. Since corn is only one of the many kinds of food that people eat, its prices are kept low so that people are enticed to buy it. Therefore, the price of corn is not an accurate reflection the value it brings to the consumers because its price is driven down when alternatives are present.

 

On the other hand, when there are no alternatives, then the price is raised to the point that reflects the value that the product brings. One example of this is health care in the United States. There is a constant demand for health care, but the supply of medical resources is limited. Under the cirumstances, the price of a hospital visit can be astronomically high. When my mother received appendectomy, the hospital charged us $40,000. Since the only choice to treat a life threatening condition is to operate, my family is willing to pay a price that equals to the value of saving my mother's life from appendicitis.

 

Therefore, the ultimate determinant of whether or not there exists alternatives in the market. An abundance of supply brought on by alterantive products means the price is lowered so that people will choose to purchase one particular product over others. However, when there is no other choice at the moment, the vendor does not have to compete with alternatives. It is then free to set the price at a point that is determined by the product's value to the consumer.

[anitarama]

Score: 5/6

 

Task 1 (Supporting): You have defined relevant terms well. Your example is good.

 

Task 2 (Refuting): Another great example.

 

Task 3 (Resolution): You have given a good resolution criteria. Maybe expand on this more in your next essay and provide more of an exploration of the idea.

 

Human nature dictates that everything must be categorized into neat numbers the mind can comprehend. Everything may be labeled with a name and a number to define it. Price is the monetary value attributed to an object for the purpose of selling or trading. Value is the intrinsic worth of the object, based on its cost of production and physical substance. A simple metal spoon, without a brand or any elegant decorations, may be priced at a reasonable dollar at a local store. This is a price that accurately reflects its cost of materials, labor from mining and crafting its shape, and transportation to a store.

 

Although price can in fact be an accurate reflection of value, when the object represents more than its physical state, the price can be inflated. Jeff Koons is a contemporary artist who fashions majestically large replicas of childhood items, such as balloon animals or teddy bears, out of shiny metal. Auctioned for millions, making his art the most costly for any living artist in the 21st century. Sculptures made of metal would not amount to more than a thousand dollars in their raw material form, even if accounting for the labor of Koons as he created the object. The price may be inflated due to its reflection of the artist’s fame, and even if it was recreated by a lesser-known artist, it would not be priced at the same level. His work supposedly represents childhood dreams, thus the price of it reflects more than its material worth and encompasses its artistic significance.

 

Both the spoon and Jeff Koon’s sculptures are objects of metal but the price is drastically inflated in the latter because of how they are perceived by people. The spoon represents nothing more than itself, whereas Koon’s pieces symbolize hidden meanings that are not apparent in their physical substance. When the price includes more than just the physical object, such as incorporating its artistic worth, its creator’s fame, and what ideas it represents, then the price may be inaccurate and significantly more than the value.

[anitarama]

Score: 4.5/6

 

Task 1 (Supporting): This example should be expanded upon. Perhaps explain more about brand names, etc.

 

Task 2 (Refuting): This example is more clearly explained.

 

Task 3 (Resolution): You have mentioned brand names in your conclusion but not in your Supporting Paragraph. Make sure that the threads of your argument are present throughout the entire essay.

 

Paying a certain monetary amount for an object does not accurately reflect the value of the object. To elaborate, the amount paid for a purchase may not be proportional to the quality of the purchase. For example, grocery items come in a huge range of prices even though they offer the same quality, such as taste. Due to this variety, an individual can obtain similar features but at a lower monetary amount.

 

In other situations, value can be determined by price. To illustrate, the price of housing can be determined by its location and size. It is a general trend that the bigger a property and the more accessible nature of the property, such as being close to a city centre, the higher its price. Size and accessibility gives a higher quality housing because an individual gets more out of the purchase, such as status and convenience, hence reflecting the value of the house.

 

Under certain conditions, the price of something may or may not show its value. The main factor is the type of purchase made. Buying a property, such as housing, is considered to be a huge monetary purchase that is usually done once. In such a case, the money paid is a reflection of the value of the product because more features that are important to an individual, such as accessibility, can be added with increasing money. Relatively speaking, buying everyday items, such as groceries, does not involve spending a great deal of money and can be done frequently. A “brand name” item could possibly have the same features and quality as another generic brand, which could be at a lower price. Therefore, depending on the nature of the purchase, price may or may not reflect its value.

[anitarama]

Hi there. I will give you feedback on your essay, but I will PM you, as to not clutter up this thread since yours are not the same prompts.

 

Hello there - I am looking for some help. Due to the new Princeton Review website - I am one day away from test day - and have not received ANY of my up to date writing sample scores - my test in on Tuesday so I am pretty freaked out about that.

 

I really appreciate ANY help thanks so much!

[anitarama]

Well my MCAT is tomorrow so this is a great note to go off from.

 

Thanks a lot for the help! Good luck with your future studies

 

EDIT: While I'm here I'd like to ask you a question.

 

In the future, for task 3, identifying a criteria that determines whether... <whatever>, can the criteria be "the primary goal of <> must be analyzed"? I see you didn't mind it when I used it in my previous essay.

 

I'm wondering if, for example, I said:

"In order to determine whether a revolution is destructive or creative, one must look at the main goal of the revolution". Is that circular logic? Or is it fine?

 

Thanks again!

 

In that specific example the logic does seem rather circular (though I guess in certain contexts and with a good explanation it might not be), but discussing the purpose of an act/event as a resolution criteria is perfectly fine in many contexts.

[peppermint5039]

Thanks for the help Anita, this was my first essay so it is a little rough

 

Price is not necessarily a reflection of value.

 

Describe a specific situation in which price is an accurate reflection of value. Discuss what you think determines when price reflects value and when it does not.

 

The only thing you take to your grave are your memories. This is a common saying that has been echoed by many people throughout the world. The idea that experiences and memories are much greater in value than physical possessions is derived from the fact that a person's belongings will not be with them after death. Depending on the beliefs of an individual, their memories could be extremely important to them due to the emotions that accompanied these experiences. In this sense, a monetary price cannot be assigned to one's memories and would not be an appropriate measure of value.

 

Nonetheless, in modern society, the economy relies heavily on the trading of goods and services in exchange for money. The prices assigned to goods are usually the product of careful thought and calculations by companies based on how much the product is worth in terms of quality, demand, and profits. From a trading and business point of view, prices can accurately predict how valuable an object will be in the market. The price for a Tiffany necklace made with diamonds will undoubtedly cost more compared to a necklace manufactured with fake stones. In this case, price is an accurate representation of the object's worth due to the rarity of the materials that was used to manufacture the product.

 

Ultimately, the suitability of price as a representation of value depends on how value is defined. If an object's worth is viewed in terms of monetary worth in a strict business sense; companies usually price their goods according to the demand and quality of the product. In this case, an object's price will accurately represent its trading value. On the other hand, if one defines value in the sense of sentimental worth, a price cannot be used to value an individual's memories and feelings.

[pacemaker]

Price is not necessarily a reflection of value.

 

In the modern society, money plays a major role. Money is something that individuals can use to acquire goods and services that they need or want. Given this phenomenon of trade or exchange of goods and services using money, sellers often price the goods and services that they are offering. Price dictates the asking amount of the seller for a particular good and service and it is the amount that the buyer must pay in order to purchase that item or service. In contrast, when one mentions the term value, it often dictates their evaluation of what the price of the good or service should be. Many believe that price is not a good reflection of the value of the good or service in question. This is especially true for goods and services that are “invaluable”. For example, education is something that can empower an individual towards a better future, allow him/her to acquire a better understanding of the world and in turn, allow him/her to be productive member of society. Education can allow an individual to acquire the necessary skills and problem solving abilities that he/she can use to survive and to give back to others in their communities, regardless of the profession they decide to enter. As such, education is often thought to be an invaluable asset that one can acquire and thus, it is hard for one to place a monetary amount or price on something of this sort. Moreover, education holds a different meaning to different individuals. For some individuals, a better education is the road to a better paying job while for other individuals, education on a certain topic or subject area is purely for self interest. Therefore, in this case, price may not necessarily be an accurate refelection of the value of education.

 

In contrast, there are many other goods and services for which price is an accurate reflection of the value. For example, many highly prized commodities such as gold and silver are greatly valued by people. This means that they realize that the good or service is very valueable and as such, should be sold at a high price. Thus, many people around the world are willing to pay large sums of money for a commodity such as gold or silver. It is also important to note that unlike in the previous example of education, price in the case of a commodity such as gold or silver is a reflection of what it means to people. For a materialistic good such as gold, the meaning is more or less the same for most individuals around the world. However, the reasons for one to purchase gold can vary from personal use to gifts to investment purposes. Therefore, price can be thought to be an accurate refelection of the value of a materialistic good such as gold or silver which are also thought to be a prized possession in our modern society.

 

In conclusion, price may or may not be an accurate reflection of the value of a good or service. Price is not necessarily an accurate refelection of the value of the good or service when we are talking about an invalueable asset that can help imporve the lives of the individual and of those around him/her. This was clearly illustrated in the example of education which is thought to be invaluable. Education holds tremendous power to change the lives of individuals by empowering them to better tackle problems in their everyday lives. Regardless of the field in which an individual is educated, with a higher education, he/she can get a better job, better provide for his/her family, give back to their communities and also have the power to change the world on a much broader level. Therefore, it is difficult to place a monetary price on something like education which is often thought to be invaluable. On the other hand, for materialistic items and for highly prized commodities such as gold and silver, price can be seen as an accurate reflection of the value. Gold or silver is a hihgly prized commodity in our society and its price often reflects its meaning and value to people.

 

Thanks Anita!

[anon1234]

Hello, thank you for reading this Anita, I would really appreciate your feedback!

 

Price is not necessarily a reflection of value

 

Describe a specific situation in which price is an accurate reflection of value. Discuss what you think determines when price reflects value and when it does not.

 

 

As consumers of goods and services, we live in an era in which we can find conveniently find overpriced items for sale. The price, or the monetary value, of items we purchase can often be inflated due to inflation in the currency, or as per the manufacturer's criteria which instructs its employees to maximize net profits. The common consumer can often find the price of "brand name" goods from popular companies, to be well above the price for items by smaller, less popular companies. Such overly priced items may not necessarily reflect the quality or durability of the item; price then, is not always a reflection of the actual monetary value of an item. This is especially true in the fashion industry. Designers may start their careers with producing items of high quality due to more attention paid to every piece, with prices that are affordable so that the maximum number of individuals can purchase these items. However, as the popularity of a designer or a brand grows, the item may go into mass production, and this production is carried out via cheap labour, at the expense of workers in impoverished companies. An example of such a company is Tommy Hilfiger, which was under significant pressure from protestors for their use of sweatshops in Asia to mass produce items, which were not necessarily of superior material or quality, but were priced extremely high simply due to the brand name and the design. According to the designer, the value of the item was not in the quality of the good produced, but rather in owning the brand. This is an example which shows that the price paid for an item is not necessarily indicative of how valuable or strong that item actually is. A consumer may be fooled into thinking that a more expensive item is of higher quality, whereas this might not be true and the higher priced item could indeed be of inferior quality but have an expensive name attached to it, due to which its price is hiked up.

 

There are however situations in which the consumer may pay ridiculous amounts of money for an item or service, but this would not be a waste. An example of such a situation is when an individual is critically ill, and spends money on his/her health in terms of drugs or alternative treatments. For example, a cancer patient who is terminally ill due to colon cancer in Canada is covered for treatment for a certain number of months, or if their tumour size is below a certain limit. Those individuals who wish to continue their treatment once funding is unavailable, have to purchase the medicine themselves, which can cost a significant amount of money, often adding up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. If the treatment can save a person's life though, the high price for the drug would accurately reflect its value.

 

Therefore, when determining if the price of a certain item or service is a reflection of its value, once must consider the long term benefits derived from spending a high amount of money. If it is a perishable item such as a piece of clothing which may tear or be out of fashion within a few months, a highly priced piece of clothing may not actually be valuable because it does not provide the consumer with the benefits that should be expected of an item for which one pays a lot. However, if it is a service such as healthcare, which can potentially save a person's life, the high price would reflect the value, and spending this money would be highly beneficial for that individual in the long run because they may be able to regain their health and live longer. Therefore, high prices are only indicative of value when the potential of gaining a significant benefit from spending that money, is very high in the long run.

[cdawso23]

Thank you! This is so helpful for you to do, especially since TPR refuses to mark any of my essays.

 

Price is not necessarily a reflection of value.

 

Describe a specific situation in which price is an accurate reflection of value. Discuss what you think determines when price reflects value and when it does not.

 

When a consumer looks into making a new purchase oftentimes there are two main factors that they consider: the price and quality of the product. In an ideal world, these two factors would coincide; a more expensive product would signify that the value or quality of the product is higher than its cheaper counterpart. This is not always the case though for a few reasons. Most importantly, an increased price may be a result of the product being in high demand due to a popular trend. If a celebrity is seen wearing a certain item, consumers often clamour to wear it as well and a related spike in price often follows. Take for example, Converse Shoes, when the brand first started, it was a cheaper running shoe people would wear who couldn’t afford more expensive shoes. When the brand suddenly became more popular and part of a trend, their price increased dramatically and Converse shoes were no longer the affordable price they started at. The quality of the product never changed but retailers saw that the demand for them had increased and so accordingly, they could increase the price and still make sales.

 

On the other hand, there are certain times when the price of a product will in fact reflect its quality. If the product being sold is not one that is subject to popular trends or fads, it is less likely for the price to fluctuate without an increase in quality. Products that are sold to other companies or service providers are unlikely to be prevalent in the public mind and so will not be subject to the trends that other products such as clothing or shoes are. Also, for a company that is providing a service, it is important for the products its purchasing to work properly (ie have a higher quality) and so is more likely for these companies to be unbiased towards what they buy and go for quality over popularity For example, a hospital must be supplied by a company with all its medical equipment, bedding, needles etc. but these items are not ones that the public will look at and take an interest in. Without trends dictating the importance of having certain items, retailers cannot increase the price of certain medical equipment without also increasing the quality.

 

Whether or not the price of a product will correlate with its value is dependent on the type of product being sold and whether it is involved in popular trends. When an item becomes more desired by the public due to some fad, retailers can increase the cost without increasing the quality since they know the public is not looking truly at the quality of the product but just wanting to own it for the sake of being with the trend. Contrarily, if the product being sold is not subject to popular fads, it is more likely that the product will be looked at solely for the quality vs. price ratio and that consumers will not purchase an over-priced product if it doesn’t have a high value. This is shown through Converse shoes and hospital purchases. Since Converse shoes are a type of product that is subject to trends (e.g. clothing, shoes, technology) they can be marketed at a price higher than their value. Hospital purchases on the other hand are a type of product not subject to fads (e.g. service products such as construction materials or laboratory equipment) and so cannot be marketed at a price higher than their value or they would not sell.

[natalie]

Score: /6

 

Task 1 (Supporting): Great introduction. Well-explained example.

 

Task 2 (Refuting): Another solid example for your Refuting Paragraph.

 

Task 3 (Resolution): Your criteria is a complicated one; the simpler your resolution criteria the stronger your essa s.

 

Hi Anita,

Thanks for the feedback. It's the same trouble that I had with my last writing sample, so at least I know exactly what I need to work on. In this feedback you didn't actually give me a mark out of 6 though. Could you tell me what that is, and also (if possible) what you think that would roughly convert to as a letter grade if I got that for all 4 marks. I'm working for a Q...

 

Thank you again!

[natalie]

Price is not necessarily a reflection of value.

 

Describe a specific situation in which price is an accurate reflection of value. Discuss what you think determines when price reflects value and when it does not.

 

ESSAY

 

While price is a simply defined property of an item meant for sale, the value is highly subjective. At its simplest, we can determine the value of an item by the value of it's component parts or raw materials along with the cost associated with the manufacturing or labour, plus a percentage for profit. Even this guideline, however, is subject to many other factors, and can't be applied to the price of every product or service. Certain items or servies have an increased value due to factors apart from their component parts. To any individual looking to purchase a product or service, he or she must independently evaluate their perceived value of the product, and compare this to the price set by the other person or party. In many cases, the price is a fair reflection of the value of a product, which makes the process easier for a consumer, who can estimate the quality or quantity of their purchase according to the price, and vice versa. For example, consider the purchase of a simple 10 Karat gold chain. With the mass manufacturing that occurs now, the labour involved in producing a gold chain from the raw materials, gold and other alloy metals, has a comparitively minimal cost compared to the value of it as its base parts. Even the alloy metals offer little to increase the value of the chain over what the mass of gold is worth. In this case, it is very easy to calculate, according to the market price of gold, how much is a reasonable price for a gold chain of a given mass. One must simply account for the price the manufacturer paid for the gold, a profit margin for the wholesaler, and a profit margin for the retailer. For this reason, many independent retailers sell their gold chains at a set price per gram, that varies on a daily to weekly basis according to the market value. This makes it simple for a person shopping for a gold chain to determine what value they are getting for the price that they pay.

 

On the other hand, the price of an investment commodity, such as gold, has a rapidly changing "value" in the stock market. Logically, one ounce of gold in 2006 should have an equal value to one ounce of gold in 2011, assuming that supply-and-demand has not changed significantly. However, this is not the case. The gold is the same, but the price has more than doubled in five years' time. The value of gold as a metal has not doubled; only the value of gold as an investment has increased. It only has a greater value if it is resold. In this case, price is not necessarily a reflection of value, depending on the point of view.

 

These murky definitions can be confusing and frustrating for consumers, investors, and the general public. This simply stems from the difficulty in assigning absolute value to any goods or services. As a general guide, one could say the the price of a product or service reflects the value of the product or service if both parties, the buyer and seller, feel that they have made a reasonable gain through the transaction. Like a symbiotic relationship, both parties will only feel positive about the exchange if it was mutually beneficial. If the price of an item meant that the seller gained a reasonable profit, and the buyer gained a reward that, in the buyer's opinion, was worth the money he or she offered, than the price was a good reflection of the value of the product or service, for both parties. Conversely, if either party feels dissatisfied with their end of the bargain, then the price was not a fair reflection of the value to both parties.

 

 

---

With my last two posts you commented on my final paragraphs' being too complex and difficult to follow. I tried to work on this, so if you could comment on that aspect of my essay in particular I'd really appreciate it.

 

Thank you, Anita!

 

P.S. Is it right for us to use Canadian spelling on the MCAT (i.e. labour)? I would assume so, but I thought it was worth double checking.

[bored]

This was a hard one for me.. What sort of category would this prompt fall under?

 

Price is not necessarily a reflection of value

 

Describe a specific situation in which price is an accurate reflection of value. Discuss what you think determines when price reflects value and when it does not.

 

"You can't get something for nothing" are some of the great words to live by. Everything in our modern world requires payment. The price for goods is determined often determined by the price for time and work spent into making the good. For example, when a company Apple or Research In Motion (RIM) sells their product to the general public, they are charging for the cost necessary to produce that particular product. The amount of competition these companies have to go through force them to charge the bare minimum for their product. According to many Wall Street journalists, Apple and RIM only make about 10% of what they are charging to their customers for electronic-ware. All the rest of the price is used up to build the item. The Value therefore of these items is very close to the price that we as customers pay for them. Value is something that is determined by the cost that item would require us to make it ourselves. The Value of these items is slightly below the cost.

 

This is not the case for all industries. Many clothing companies have opened up their factories in third world nations so that they may take advantage of the situation. They use the labour force of the country to produce items for cheap and they sell it to the people of firstworld nation with cheap prices so that the company may stay in the competition. A company that employs this strategy is Tommy Hilfiger. This company uses child labour of third world countries like Indonesia and India to produce cheap goods which could be sold for cheap. The hard work and time of the kids is not taken into account into the price of the time.

 

What than determines when price is an accurate representation is based on what is producing the item. If the item is produced by a human hand, and time and hard work is spent into producing the item, than the price of this item in our world does not represent the value of it. The Value of an item made in a factory using robots is minimal. We only use the energy that is already out there to produce computers and cell phones. The robots do all the hard work for us and for that reason the price accurately represents the value of the item.