International context in marketing and how media theories can be Essay

International context in marketing and how media theories can be apllied to ctreate strong relationship with consumers in the modern market - Essay Example ‘Marketing is an organizational function for creating, communicating and delivering value to customers and for managing customer relationships in ways that benefit the organization and its stakeholders. It is a management process of anticipating, identifying and satisfying customer requirements profitably.’ (Berzins) Globalization has created revolutionary changes in all over the world. Most of the organizational principles have been redefined because of globalization. Most of the organizations believe that globalization has opened up the doors of immense possibilities for them and hence they are spending millions of dollars in finding the right strategies to exploit the possibilities. For a business organization, globalization has created immense opportunities for marketing their products in international market. But for exploiting the possibilities of the modern global market, organizations need to innovate marketing strategies along with the existing ones suitable for different countries. The business world has already developed several types of new marketing techniques like telemarketing, direct marketing, marketing through ads, sensory marketing, etc apart from the conventional marketing activities. Most of the big business tycoons are expanding their activities to overseas countries in order to capitalize the possibilities of globalization. Small or medium scale businesses are suffering because of the immense competition from the MNCs. It is difficult for the small business groups to operate profitably by overcoming the stiff challenges for the corporate. Big organizations always have immense resources, and facilities which they will utilize to monopolize the market. Moreover they have the better equipped Research and Development (R&D) wing to facilitate their operations by providing required data about the changing trends of consumers. The conventional marketing

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe Essay Example for Free

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe Essay Summary: Things Fall Apart written by Chinua Achebe explores the coming of the white man and its effects on the culture of the people of Umuofia. The coming of the white man brought about culture conflict which affects the people of Umuofias religion, their agriculture, their judicial system and their social life. The coming of the white man affects the people of Umuofias religion and cause culture conflict. The people of umuofia have many gods. Agbala- the oracle of the Hills and Caves. People come from far and near to consult it . People consult it when they have dispute with their neighbors and also, they can discover what their future held for them from this god. Chi is also a personal god which judge people by the work of their hands. They also believed that if they say yes that their chi also says yes. The people of Umuofia are very obedient to their gods. They dont go to war without consulting their gods. When a daughter of Umuofia was killed in Mbaino, they didnt just decide to go for war or do things on their own; they consulted their gods and they were asked to demand s lad and a virgin from the people of Mbaino. However, if the people of Umuofia had not obeyed their gods, and had gone to war that they were told not to go, they would be defeated. Even when Okonkwo broke the week of peace by beating his youngest wife, he made the necessary sacrifice as was also demanded by their god. Okonkwo also shot Ezeudus son accidentally, he had to go on an exile for seven years which was a crime against the earth goddess. If they had disobeyed the law by allowing Okonkwo to stay in the village, the people believe that all the clan will be punished and their leaders said if one finger brought oil it soiled the others . More so, the people of Umuofia dont desecrate their gods. Their egwugwu who gives justice is feared by the women and their children. Whenever the egwugwu is approaching, the women and children always shout and run away . They also dont unmask the masquerade. The masquerades identity is not known by anyone who doesnt belong to the clans secret cult. The religion of the people of Umuofia is totally different from the white mans religion. This situation caused a culture conflict between the white man and the people of Umuofia. The white man wants to impose his religion on the people of Umuofia. The white man believes in one God which he believes to have made heaven and earth. Also said his God made the entire  world and the Umuofias gods. He wanted the people of Umuofia to abandon their gods and follow his own religion. The white men belittle the people of Umuofias gods by saying different things about their gods. The white man says that the people of Umuofias god are gods of deceit who tell them to kill their fellow and destroy innocent children. The white man says that their gods are not alive and cannot do them harm and that they are made of piece of wood and stone. Hearing and seeing all these from the white man, the people of Umuofia were not happy with the white mans religion which was a reason for a culture conflict. The economy of the people of Umuofia was out in conflict with the white mans economy. Agriculture is the source of living in Umuofia. Peoples riches are based on the number of barns they have. Peolple really work hard on their farm to make harvest. Both children and wives help on the farm to plant yams. The people of Umuofia have a very good scene of agriculture. For instance, during the planting season, Okonkwo planted his yam from the smouldering earth by making rings of thick sisal leaves around them. This yam is so precious to them that they celebrate a Fest of the New Year which was held every year before the harvest began to honor the earth goddess and the ancestral spirits of the clan. On the other hand, the white man was more interested in making money. They made the farming worthless because their convert can use money to buy the yams. Children no longer farm, they goes to school which was built by the white man. The white man has also brought a government and a system of running it . They also brought their own trade. These causes a culture conflict because the Umuofias economic value was disvalued. The white man set his own economy above their cash crop; thereby reducing them to poverty. Rich people were reduced to poor, everything they work very hard for will be bought with money. The coming of the white man also affects the form of justice in Umuofia. In Umuofia, everybody knows the law. The egwugwu is the highest and final court in Umuofia. They dont have lawyers and they dont tell liars when reporting their cases before the egwugwu. There judgment is based on the true evidence. This can be seen when Uzowulu and Mgbafo came before the egwugwu to settle their dispute. Each of them stands at different direction to state their cases. The egwugwu went to consult together in their house . The egwugwu settle their dispute and they were all satified with it. Although Uzowulu knows the law about beating his wife, he will not  listen to any other decision except from the egwugwu. However, the white mans form of justice is different, only the interpreters and the whites knows the rules. They alos had built a court where the District Commissioner judge cases in ignorance. The white man had court messengers who brought men to him for trial. The court messengers guard the prison, which was full of men who had offended against the white mans laws . The court messengers beat the prisoners and made them to work every morning clearing the government compound and fetching wood for the white commissioner and the court messengers. Aneto and Oduche were fighting a land, when Aneto killed Oduche, the white man judge this case by hanging Aneto to death and putting his family in the prison. One may think that the people of Umuofias social life were not affected but it was due to the culture conflict which was caused by the white man. The people of Umuofia form the in an hierarchy standard, that is, the father is at the top, followed by their wives, and children. Children fear their parents. Also, their warriors were also feared and respected. For instance, Okonkwo defeated a wrestler at the age of eighteen and was placed at a higher level. Although, he was still young, everyone respected him. At an early age, Okonkwo had achieved fame as the greatest wrestler in all the land. The outcasts or osu are the people they dedicate to a god, they will not marry nor be married by the free-born. They live in a special area of the village, close to the Great Shrine. They are the bottom of ladder children, and they were not to mix with the free-born in any way. On the other hand, the social life of the white man is totally different from that of the people of Umuofia which also lead to a culture conflict. The outcast or osu which are at the lower level in the village are now very important people. They made the rich poor and the poor rich. The clans were very rich but after the coming of the white man, they were poor and the outcast that was nobody was now rich. The white man allowed them to mix with free-born. Mr Kiaga told the church member that wanted to chase the outcast from the church that they are all children of God and they must receive these their brother . He also shaved the osus long and tangled hair before they were fully member of the church. White man also destroy the hierarchy of the people of Umuofia, Umoye who feared his father before the coming of the white man, disrespected his father after joining the white mans religion. He no longer talk or visit his father . He told Mr. Kiaga  that he had decided to go to Umuofia, where the white missionary had set up a school to teach young Christians to read and write. Their interpreters who the people of Umuofia know as weak people and not very strong, come from the village were they fear the warriors of Umuofia. Those are the people that are now interpreting words to them. The white spoke through an interpreter who was an Ibo man though his dialect was different and harsh to the ears of Mbanta . The white man humiliated the leaders of Umuodia. When they put them in prison, their hair was shaved and their hands were handcuffed. At night the messenger came in to taunt them and to knock their shaved heads together . The coming of the white man cause culture conflict in the people of Umuofias religion, their agriculture, their system of justice and their social life. The white man is ethnocentric and there was also language and non-understanding of culture barrier.

Reality, the Mind, and God Essay -- Philosophy Religion Essays

Reality, the Mind, and God The seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Great Britain are marked by a general and persistent concern about threats to orthodoxy in religion. Many doctrines and views were seen as threatening: theories about the origin and nature of human knowledge, metaphysical claims about the nature of the world, claims about human nature, about the person and action. (Yolton 3) According to the major viewpoints held in metaphysics, one of the four major categories in the study of philosophy, there are three major ways to regard the constitution of reality. Materialism is "[†¦] the view that all that exists is material or is completely dependent on matter [†¦]" (Gould 421) in order to be perceived and to exist. This is one of the two major, extreme views that exist concerning the substance of reality. The other extreme view, idealism, is the belief that reality consists of mental perception and ideas, that "[†¦] what exists is either an idea or a perceiver of that idea" (Gould 437). According to this view, matter contains no material substance. All matter is comprised of a collection of ideas and the one who is accepting and interpreting those ideas. Beyond these two extreme viewpoints is one of the most popular beliefs concerning reality, especially in Western culture. The belief of dualism denotes that reality is a uniform combination of both material and non-material substance. This view states that reality is made of objects that contain material substance to them. But this perspective of reality holds that there is also a component to reality that depends upon the perceiver, what mental impression he obtains from the material substance, and how he can manipulate th... ...ry expression" (Thayer xv). And Newton’s influence on literary expression as well as philosophical reasoning can be easily seen when viewing the works of such famous writers as John Locke or Isaac Watts. Works Cited Bennett, Jonathan. Locke, Berkeley and Hume: Central Themes. Oxford: Clarendon, 1971. Damrosch, David, et al., eds. The Longman Anthology: British Literature. Vol. 1. New York: Longman, 1999. Gould, James A. ed. Classic Philosophical Questions. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice, 1995. Randall, John Herman Jr. Introduction. Thayer. ix-xvi. Thayer, H. S. ed. Newton’s Philosophy of Nature: Selections from His Writings. New York: Hafner, 1953. Watts, Isaac. "Man Frail, and God Eternal." Damrosch, et al. 2638. Yolton, John W. Thinking Matter: Materialism in Eighteenth-Century Britain. Minnesota: U of Minnesota P, 1983.

Revenue Allocation Among The Three Tiers Of Government In Nigeria

IntroductionRevenue allocation is one of the Constitutional functions of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission. Specifically, Part I, Paragraph 32 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which states that the Commission is to â€Å"review, from time to time, the revenue allocation formulae and principles in operation to ensure conformity with changing realities. Provided the any revenue formula which has been accepted by an Act of the National Assembly shall remain in force for a period of not less than five years for the commencement of the Act† Nigeria system of government has three levels namely, Federal, State and Local Governments.Each tier has its own constitutional responsibilities. And in a situation where the allocation of tax powers creates a resource imbalance amongst the stakeholders, it necessitates the need for an arrangement to allocate centrally-collected revenue so that revenue and development coul d spread evenly throughout the country. This is manifested in the Nigerian case, where more lucrative taxes are controlled by the Federal Government.Fiscal FederalismFiscal federalism is a system of taxation and public expenditure in which revenue-raising powers and control over expenditure are vested in various levels of government within a nation, ranging from the national government to the smallest unit of local government (Anyafo, 1996). Basically, fiscal federalism emphasizes on how revenues are raised and allocated to different levels of government for development. There is the problem of how to allocate revenue to different tiers of government in relation to the constitutionally assigned functions.The discordance between fiscal capacity of various levels of government and their expenditure responsibilities, the non-correspondence problem, is a striking feature of the Nigerian federal finance. There is also the problem of how revenue should be shared among the states and local councils. According to the resource allocation function of the government, revenue is allocated to federating units of a country for economic development, otherwise called fiscal federalism. Nigeria’s fiscal federalism has emanated from historical, economic, political, geographical, cultural, and social factors. In all of these, fiscal arrangements remain a  controversial issue in allocating distributable pool account (DPA) of the federation since 1946 (Ekpo, 2004).

Improving Organization Retention Paper Essay

Organizations often experiences staffing issues; therefore, one department will be asked to cover for another. However, these issues can be generated from several aspects within an organization such as staffing issues, financial issues, and organization retention. Subsequently, the organization administration must endeavor to sort out the best strategy to resolve these issues. In this particular paper the underlying issues involves staffing. â€Å"Strategies for improving the employee selection process include tracking recruitment sources; using realistic job previews (RJPs); using assessment tools and interviews to predict turnover; and hiring for fit and motivation (Barrick & Zimmerman, p.1 Para 6 2005). Moreover, an organization that implements a successful staffing approach will essentially establish a positive influence regarding employee retention. Nevertheless with this paper organization retention will be discussed in details, and work motivation theories will be applied to improve employee recruitment and retention at JC’s Casino. An examination of potential occupational stressors that are considered as a negative influence on recruitment and retention as well as a significant proposal will be demonstrated. Furthermore, the role of job satisfaction and its influence on retention at the casino, and recommendations for improving job satisfaction of the employees, and how that can play a part in successfully improving retention will be discussed. Ultimately, a discussing regarding counterproductive employee behavior occurring at the casino as well as what suggestions that would reduce the counterproductive behavior and increase productive employee behavior will be demonstrated as well. JC’s Casino This particular casino is in disarray as the result of unpredictable staffing issues, which essentially caused the casino dealers to leave. In fact, the dealers obtain employment with other casino that merely offered a lower wage rate in contrast to his or her former employment. Moreover, the casino housekeeping staff itself was experiencing issues because of the absenteeism and the high turnover of rooms. Consequently, this issue essentially impinged on other departments within the casino because of the required staff needed to manage the casino was lacking. Indeed, this concern did not impress the casino customers; in fact, it merely produced more chaos as the hotel had to adjust the check -in times, and hire additional staff to work in the luggage room. The customers who arrived earlier had to be accommodating as the organization policy entailed. However, the owner is unaware of the magnitude of the issues, which surrounds the casino itself. In essence, the owner merely knows of the specifics such as the dealers was dropping off like flies, and casino customers were becoming increasingly displeased regarding the untimely check-in transformation. Following, these issues and the whole story enlighten; one could understand why this particular organization desires urgent assistance as a means to improving the organization retention. Motivation Work theories One of motivation work theories that will be employed involves the Douglas McGregor’s X-Y Theory. Douglas McGregor (1906-1964) was the creator of one of the leading exceptional management theories without comparison. He hypothesized that a management position is considered as one of the most significant position within a corporation. In essence, he proposed that it was the manager responsibility to encourage and unveil the vast creative capability within people. McGregor introduced two significant forms of management approaches, which essentially started the development of his X and Y theories: the authoritarian and the participative. The Theory X authoritarian management style, employees are inherently lazy, and the individual would generally have to be forced to work. Nonetheless, under the Theory Y participative management style, employees would discover work as favorable. McGregor also emphasize that, under the proper management, all employees are naturally Theory Y employees (Kallio, 2006). The X Theory is primarily centered on a fashion of management and leadership that is authoritarian, whereas the Y Theory tends to employ more constructive aspects of leadership. Consequently, McGregor’s theory can relate to JC’s Casino situation as it expresses organization development. The Y Theory will allow the staff members to make progress and advance. This way of thinking, in view of this aspect it would be a plus to employ as a means to enhance recruitment and retention within The JC’s Casino. To embark on this journey first, the Y Theory will permit the manager to support employees’ incentives in place of reprimand and demerits. The Y Theory managers deem that each employee like work, and work for the good of the organization, which generates capitalization on competency between the employees. The Y Theory manager would give employees the chance of an independence of creativeness, which would form motivated and faithful employees who appreciate his or her job. The Y Theory managers also work toward building meaningful and productive relationships with their employees. These managers contend with McGregor understanding that the responsibility of management is to allow their employees to express their vast creative potential (Skidmore, 2006). One significant aspect, the Y manager would offer an open dialog with employees and other departments and through displaying leadership by leading with example. Domination and reprimand are not always the best, and the only method to create profitable workplace. In fact, the work itself should be asked and not commanded as a manager subscribing to the X Theory would be more likely to perform. However, the success of either of these theories would essentially depend on -the -job as well as the individual. Some people require unvarying direction and others will excel with little or no direction. In essence, it would fall back on what the individuals work best with regarding Theory X and Theory Y would come into play motivational wise. Another significant theory is called the Z theory founded by William Ouchi. This particular theory is identified as the â€Å"Japanese Challenge† within the management, which is employs the Y Theory and modern Japanese management principals. Although the employee within this theory must have the proper mind-set at all times for tasks with complete liability regarding the ultimate result of tasks. â€Å"Nevertheless, Theory Z essentially advocates a combination of all that’s best about theory Y and modern Japanese management, which places a large amount of freedom and trusts with workers, and assumes that workers have a strong loyalty and interest in team-working and the organization. An individual behavior and environment can change unexpectedly; thus, this particular theory lacks the strength, and direction contrasting to the McGregor X-Y theory that involves great motivational suggestions and reasoning. Occupational Stressors JC’s Casino organization have a high stress level profession as well as a high stress level that often surfaces between employees. This type of environment entails customers who are commonly inebriated and often irritated; thus, workers must intervene if necessary. Consequently, recruitment and retention should be meticulous because a casino environment can be challenging and not for everyone. According to researcher’s casinos that implement â€Å"Anger Management† courses that include procedures for recognizing and managing stress, which displayed a higher results regarding employee contentment (Internet Reference, Anger & Stress in Casinos-www.andersonservices.com). Role of Job Satisfaction To implement employee satisfaction the primary focus would be directed toward researching other successful casino such as Ki-Joon Back, a Korean casino. This casino successfully has applied an employee job satisfaction and organizational assertion. The Korean casino embarks on requiring the employees to engage in a survey questionnaire; consequence aided management by enhancing the condition of employee satisfaction. Moreover, this type of method can be employed within JC’s Casino with the same results. One must first follow- up on the results such as provide ongoing training, health care benefits, and maintain an open dialog with employees. Each aspect should be permanent to ensure employee satisfaction, recruitment as well as retention. Furthermore, the organization should also present employees with necessary supplies according to the resources. When employees are provided with the required supplies it will create a better atmosphere and enhance self-respect and retention. It is significant to bear in mind that integrity generally starts on the top of administration and can seep into the workers (Internet Reference, CQX.com-Cornell Hospitality Quarterly Management). Employee Behavior According to Global Gaming Business regarding employee’s behavior within type of environment by which it emphasizes that when counterproductive behavior occurs in a casino the management should tackle the issue immediately as well as the peoples involved instead evading the situation. Casino policy should be made unquestionably and sincerely to employees who in turn create an appreciation amid management and staff. Management must be the voice of logic when dealing with rumor or complex concerns. Management must take the led to sort out personally grievances and issues on the floor during his or her shift, and one should by no means leave issues unresolved. However, JC’s Casino has two key vital focal points here concerning behavior perceived as counterproductive, which starts with Joe, the tyrannical pit boss, and the above rate of absenteeism among the housekeepers. Management must correct the issue with Joe; in fact, he needs to be taught that his method of working and dealing with his coworkers is causing counterproductive. His behavior is essentially causing the employees to perform inadequately, and resulting in employees to leave the casino. Joe must be retrained and needs to from this point on apply a Y Theory approach in which he works with his employees instead of his former method. In case for some reason he refuses or cannot adjust management must consider reinstating him or shifting him to a position because his behavior is not complimentary to the organization. Another point counterproductive to the company is the above rates of housekeepers as absent from work. The casino pays a fair wage, but because of the shortage of staff the housekeepers undergoing overworked and underappreciated beliefs. The casino needs to employ a new management agenda in which the managers had a better mentality and could create an enhanced working environment for the employees. Conclusion Indeed, based on this finding manager knowledge, skills, and abilities are highly necessary. A management position is considered as one of the most significant position within a corporation. The JC Casino entails numerous significant facets and layers that could be perceived as challenging and are causes for concern. If management maintains this model, change decision-making methods and mindsets, aid employees with healthier working conditions and with respect. This will lead to longer retention and will eventually lead to a better more efficient recruitment process, which will aid the JC Casino as it continues to soar, and becomes profitable. Management must correct the issue with Joe; in fact, he needs to be taught that his method of working and dealing with his coworkers is causing counterproductive. Ultimately, the corporation expects the manager to be prepared to work harder, and to put forth more effort than the others leading by the example. The effectiveness of either of these theories would ultimately come to depend on- the- job and the workers. References Barrick, M. R. & Zimmerman, R. D. (2005). Reducing voluntary, avoidable turnover through selection. Global Gaming Business Vol.9. No. 2, (Internet Reference, CQX.com-Cornell Hospitality Quarterly Management. (Internet Reference, Anger & Stress in Casinos-www.andersonservices.com (Internet Reference, Motivational theories-www.businessballs.com. (Internet Reference, http://www.businessballs.com/mcgregor.htm. Journal of Applied Psychology, 90, 159-166. Retrieved April 4, 2011 Kallio, B. (2006). Mcgregor, Douglas. Encyclopedia of Educational Leadership and Administration. Retrieved on April 4, 2011, from http://www.sage-ereference.com/edleadership/Article_n368.html Skidmore, M. (2006). Theory X, Theory Y. Encyclopedia of Educational Leadership and Administration. Retrieved on April 4, 2011 from, http://www.sage-ereference.com/edleadership/Article_n566.html /

The Beatles

The Beatles There are many different conversational ideas that The Beatles put into words with in their songs. John Lennon was a great man that only had a chance to live through his fans. His life was put onto files and films and records so that everyone in the world could see what the group was about. They werent scared of the fact that they were going to be chewed up by the people that disliked them. In his quote at the John Sinclair Concert, (a protest tribute), he said, We came here to show and say to all of you that apathy isnt it, we can do something, okay so flower power didnt work. So what, we start again. While he was speaking he was being recorded by the F.B.I. that had a plan of the own, to stop John and his group. John Lennon, and The Beatles, not only with their music, but also with his feared political powers changed American History with his stardom. It wasnt easy time for john while he was growing up. He never saw his father because he was always out at sea, as a ship waiter. His sister, Mimi raised him at age five, because his mother, Julia, wasnt able to care for him as a baby, she wasnt fit, or able to care for anyone at that point in her life. John, Mimi, and his only father figure, his sisters husband, George raised him on the little they had, in a respectable suburb, in Liverpool. When John was twelve he lost his uncle George and with that brought john and Mimi down to a lower social class. At age sixteen in 1956, one of his friends played him, Long Tall Sally, by Little Richard. Lennon said, When I herd it, it was so great I couldnt speak.(Connoly, John Lennon, pg. 32) This sparked johns new found interest in rock n roll. Hs passion was pushed by th

Should You Take the ACT With or Without Writing

Should You Take the ACT With or Without Writing SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Because ACT Writing is optional, many students are unsure whether they need to add the extra 40 minutes to the test. However, there’s a simple answer to whether you should take the ACT with writing or without writing: it depends on whether the colleges you want to apply to require a writing score. This guide will talk you through how the ACT writing got started, how to determine whether you should take the ACT with or without Writing, and some other considerations you may want to keep in mind. What Is ACT Writing? Since 2005, students have had the choice between two different versions of the ACT: the ACT and the ACT with Writing. The writing test is an optional 40-minute essay task that students can elect to take at the end of the multiple choice test. ACT, Inc. added the Writing section in response to the 2005 SAT overhaul, whichaddeda Writing section that included both grammar multiple-choice questions and an essay. The addition of thewriting task to the ACT was meant to keep the two tests equivalent and easily comparable. Nonetheless, the SAT's essay was required and the ACT's was optional. This discrepancy between how the two tests incorporated their essay portions caused a fair amount of confusion for students and colleges. Ultimately, each college set its own policy about the two tests’ Writing sections: some simply ignored SAT Writing scores and didn’t require the ACT Writing, others considered SAT Writing but didn’t require Writing with the ACT, and a third group considered SAT Writing and required the Writing with the ACT. To complicate the situation further, the SAT's essay is nowa separate, optional sectionlike the ACT’s. Nonetheless, the basic facts remain the same: whether you take the ACT with or without Writing depends on whether the schools' you're applying to require it. The Key Consideration: WhichColleges Require ACT Writing? Roughly 300 colleges require or recommend that applicants take the ACT with Writing. In general, more selective schools expect you to submita Writing score, while less selective ones don't. However,there are plenty of exceptions: University of Chicago doesn't require the Writing section but Florida International University does. Otherschools don't require the ACT with Writing but do recommend it. Given the range of policies, you'll need to check the requirements for every school you're applying to. To find this information, you can check our full list of schools that require the ACT Writing sectionor ACT, Inc.'s (semi-up-to-date) database. You can alsolook up schools’ most up-to-date standardized testing policies on their individual websites: just search for "[school name] ACT writing requirement" online. Keep in mind that these policies are especiallysubject to change right now, since some schools that previously required the ACT with Writing are dropping the requirement now that both the SAT and ACT essays are optional. Examples of schoolsmaking this change include Columbia University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and University of Virginia. If you’re not sure which schools you want to apply to, I would recommend taking the test with the Writing section, just to be safe. You unfortunately can’t take theWriting test alone, so if you later decide to apply to a school that does require the Writing, you’ll have to retake the entire test. Another minor note: if you’re taking the ACT through your school, you may or may not take it with Writing, depending on which state you live in. If your state doesn’t administer ACT Plus Writing and you are applying to schools that require it, you’ll need to retake the whole test with Writing. Florida State University requires applicants to submit the ACT with Writing. (Jackson Myers/Flickr) A Few Other Things to Keep in Mind Although whether the schools you're interested in require you to submit the ACT with Writing should be the primary factor in your decision about which version of the test to take, there are a couple of other pros and cons worth taking into account. A Good ACT Writing Score Can Boost Your Chances of Admission- Slightly Even if a school doesn’t require the test, a high score on the ACT Writing may give your application a slight boost, since it serves as an indication of strongwriting and analysis abilities. This is basically just a way of providing some extra information and will generally have only a minor benefit (similar to submitting both ACT and SAT scores). The main circumstancesin which it would be worth submittingthe ACT with Writing even if it isn't required would be if you're applying to especially competitive schools orschools that recommend the Writing section. Also be aware that some schools simply won’t look at your Writing score, even if you send it. Make sure to read each school’s policy carefully so you know what's worth spending time on. Costs of Taking the ACT With Writing So far I've focused on reasons you would want to take the Writing section, but there are also some costs associated with doing so. Registration Fee There is an extra fee ($16.50) to take the writing portion of the test. Extra Study Time If you take the Writing section you will need to study for the Writing section, which means investing extra hours into ACT prep. However, ACT Writing is relatively straightforward once you know how it works, so even just a few hours of prep (say, reading through the rubric and some examples and trying a practice essay) can be very helpful. Both of these costs are relatively minor and neither should prevent you from applying to schools that do require ACT Writing. If the added fee is a serious issue, you mayqualify for a fee waiver, which covers the writing section as well as the general registration. (Tori Rector/Flickr) Final Verdict Let's go through each possible situation you might be in and whether you should takethe ACT Writing. If even one of the schools you want to apply to requires the ACT with Writing... ...take the ACT with Writing. You won't be able to get in without it, so it's worth the slightly higher fee and extra time commitment. If you’re applying only to schools that won’t consider ACT Writing scores... ...skip taking the ACT with Writing. If schools won't even consider it, it's just a waste of time and money. If you're looking at schools thatdon't requireACT Writingand aren’t very competitive... ...only take the ACT with Writing if your application showsmajor weaknesses in English language skills. If you’re applying to more competitiveschools or schools that recommendACT Writing... ...take the ACT with Writing, unless thecost and stress profoundly outweigh the potential benefit of more information for colleges. If you’re not sure where you want to apply... ...take the ACT with Writing. It will save you from having to retake the test if you realize you need to submit ACT Writing scores later. No matter what your situation, make sure to double check whether the schools you’re applying to require you to submit ACT Writing scores. There's nothing worse than thinking you're completely finished with standardized testing, only to realize that you have to take the test all over again. What's Next? Just realized you need to take ACT Writing? Check out our complete guide to the new Enhanced Writing test and tips on how to get a 12 on the essay. If you're more focused on other sections of the test, check out our ultimate prep guides for ACT Reading, English, and Science. Want to improve your ACT score by 4+ points? Download our free guide to the top 5 strategies you need in your prep to improve your ACT score dramatically.