Assignment 3.2
1. What is the title of this CD? What does it mean? If you saw this CD in a music
store, would the title capture your interest? Why or why not?
The title of the CD is "Heavier Things". If I saw it in a music store I would be attracted to the title because, I love all of the singers CD's.
2. According to the reviewer, what are the strengths of this CD?
The strengths of the CD are his that the songs are consistent to the CD prior. The CD also has a good blend of sounds, and the singer has good range.
3. How is the CD an unusual tribute to the “19th-century master of the macabre”?
N/A
Assignment 3.3
In the CD "Heavier Things", there are quite a few reviews. Some say that his music is "smart, inquisitive, articulate." John Mayer is my favorite music artist, and I believe he has a lot tobring to the table. His sound is consistant, and his mood is real. In that, I believe he's more relatable.
Assignment 3.4-A
How would you edit the following phrases to eliminate the redundancies?
1. at about- about
2. up above-above
3. add up-add
4. and etc.-etc.
5. payout-pay
6. repeat again-repeat
7. both alike-alike
8. new beginning-beginning
9. same identical-identical
10. connect up-connect
B.
1. We chartered each salesperson’s sales for the week.
-We charted each persons sales for the week.
2. The computer has all ready prepared the printout.
-The computer has already prepared the printout.
3. This computer has required a great deal of maintenance.
-This computer requires a great deal of maintenance.
4. The work will be divided between Robert and I.
-Robert and I will divide the work.
5. Its a great pleasure to have you as a customer.
-It's a pleasure to have you as a customer.
6. I can not understand two aspects of your report.
7. Will you introduce me to your employer’s?
-Will you introduce me to your boss?
8. I spent many hours in the Iiberry yesterday.
- I spent many hours in the library yesterday.
9. The government changed their policy.
-The policy of the government has changed.
10. 10 of the employees were absent today.
-Ten employees were absent today.
Assignment 3.5
1. Sue differs with Sally in personality.
[Sue differ Sally in personality.]
2. Who besides Joe sat in back of you?
[Who else besides Joe sat behind you?]
3. Dolores’s report of the incident is different than yours.
{Dolores's report is different than yours.}
4. If he isn’t to work today, where is he at?
[If he isn'at at work today, where is he?]
5. I walked in the office and sat besides Ed.
[In the office I sat besides Ed.]
6. One among us was a spy.
[One of us was a spy.}
7. Who took the receiver off of the hook?
[Who took the reciever off the hook?]
8. The boss will be angry at you if you don’t tell him where you went to.
[The boss will be angry if you dont tell him where you went.]
9. I don’t like to differ from you, but I cannot agree with the proposal.
[I dont like to differ, but I can't agree with the proposal.]
10. I agree with you that the property should be divided between us four.
[I agree that the property should be divided among the four of us.]
11. Someone had broken in the office and had knocked the vase off of the desk.
[ Someone broke into the office, and knoced a vase off of the desk.
12. We collected the money off the others.
[We collected the money from the others.]
13. The manager was angry at the slow service.
[The manager was angered by the slow service.]
14. Eileen and I walked besides the office buildings.
[We walked besides the office buildings.]
15. My answer is different than his.
[My answer differed from his.]
16. I walked respectfully in back of him.
[I walked respectfully behind him.]
17. Ms. Harris borrowed the computer off Father.
[Ms. Harris borrowed the computer from Father.]
18. You were out of the office yesterday. Where did you go to on your vacation?
[Where did you go on your vacation since you weren't at the office yesterday.]
19. I was in the pool when he dived into it.
[I was in the pool when he dived in.]
20. I was to home sitting in an easy chair.
[I was at home sitting in a chair.]
Assignment 3.6-A
A.
1. Newbie.org offers newbies a place to come and learn about the internet and electronics. Our forum is quite popular for people needing help with their computer or anything tech related.
2. The website doesn't state the webmaster.
B.
1. Giant Squid- Caught on Camera comes on tonight at 8.
2.The title os the article is called: Dino's Vacuum-Shaped Mouth Packed With Teeth. It was written by Randoph E. Schmid and it's about the discovery of a certain type of dinosaur with an oddly shaped mouth that almost resembles a "vacuum".
C.
1. George A. Olah won the nobel prize in literature in 1982.
2. a.) Across Conventional Lines: Selected Papers of George A Olah
b.) Across Conventional Lines: Selected Papers of George A Olah
D.
1. Sunshine and mixed clouds. Slight chance of rain showers. High 82.
2. A warm, dry wind experienced along the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada.
E.
1. We confabulated over a cup of coffee.
2. http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/freeplay.pl?game=sc
Assignment 3.6-B
1. What is the Bureau of Labor Statistics? [A federal agency in the US Department of Labor engaged in fact-finding in the field of labor economics.]
2. How do I read or interpret an index? [ An index is a tool that simplifies the measurement of movements in a numerical series. For example, most of the specific Consumer Price Indexes (CPIs) have a 1982-84 reference base. That is, BLS sets the average index level (representing the average price level)--for the 36-month period covering the years 1982, 1983, and 1984--equal to 100. The Bureau measures changes in relation to that figure. An index of 110, for example, means there has been a 10-percent increase in price since the reference period; similarly an index of 90 means a 10-percent decrease. Movements of the index from one date to another can be expressed as changes in index points (simply, the difference between index levels), but it is more useful to express the movements as percent changes. This is because index points are affected by the level of the index in relation to its base period, while percent changes are not.] 3.What is the Consumer Price Index? [A measure of change in consumer prices, revised monthly by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.]
4. How is the Consumer Price Index used? [The consumer price index is a measure which is used to track the change in prices for common household goods over time. The consumer price index is developed using a "market basket" approach. That is, researchers determine the cost of a particular set of goods and services every year. This cost is then compared against the cost of goods and services from other years.]
5. Is the Consumer Price Index a cost-of-living index? [The CPI frequently is called a cost-of-living index, but it differs in important ways from a complete cost-of-living measure. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has for some time used a cost-of-living framework in making practical decisions about questions that arise in constructing the CPI. A cost-of-living index is a conceptual measurement goal, however, not a straightforward alternative to the CPI. A cost-of-living index would measure changes over time in the amount that consumers need to spend to reach a certain "utility level" or "standard of living." Both the CPI and a cost-of-living index would reflect changes in the prices of goods and services, such as food and clothing, that are directly purchased in the marketplace; but a complete cost-of-living index would go beyond this to also take into account changes in other governmental or environmental factors that affect consumers' well-being. It is very difficult to determine the proper treatment of public goods, such as safety and education, and other broad concerns, such as health, water quality, and crime that would comprise a complete cost-of-living framework.]
6. What goods and services does the Consumer Price Index cover? [Answer: The CPI represents all goods and services purchased for consumption by the reference population (Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers or Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers). The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has classified all expenditure items into more than 200 categories, arranged into eight major groups. Major groups and examples of categories in each are as follows:
FOOD AND BEVERAGES (breakfast cereal, milk, coffee, chicken, wine, full service meals and snacks);
HOUSING (rent of primary residence, owners' equivalent rent, fuel oil, bedroom furniture);
APPAREL (men's shirts and sweaters, women's dresses, jewelry);
TRANSPORTATION (new vehicles, airline fares, gasoline, motor vehicle insurance);
MEDICAL CARE (prescription drugs and medical supplies, physicians' services, eyeglasses and eye care, hospital services);
RECREATION (televisions, cable television, pets and pet products, sports equipment, admissions);
EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION (college tuition, postage, telephone services, computer software and accessories);
OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES (tobacco and smoking products, haircuts and other personal services, funeral expenses).]
7. Which index is the "Official Consumer Price Index (CPI)" reported in the media?
[the index level (for example, August 1999=167.1)
the 12-month percent change (for example, August 1998 to August 1999=2.3 percent)
the 1-month percent change on a seasonally adjusted basis (for example, from July 1999 to August 1999=0.3 percent)
the annual rate of percent change so far this year (for example, from December 1998 to August 1999 if the rate of increase over the first 8 months of the year continued for the full year, after the removal of seasonal influences, the rise would be 3.1 percent)
the annual rate based on the latest seasonally adjusted 1-month change. For example, if the July 1999 to August 1999 rate continued for a full 12 months, the rise, compounded, would be 3.7 percent.]
8. Can the Consumer Price Index for individual areas be used to compare living costs
among the areas? [No, an individual area index measures how much prices have changed over a specific time period in that particular area. It does not show whether prices or living costs are higher or lower in that area relative to another. In general, the composition of the market basket and relative prices of goods and services in the market basket during the expenditure base period vary substantially across areas.]
9. Is the Consumer Price Index the best measure of inflation? [Inflation has been defined as a process of continuously rising prices or equivalently, of a continuously falling value of money.
Various indexes have been devised to measure different aspects of inflation. The CPI measures inflation as experienced by consumers in their day-to-day living expenses; the Producer Price Index (PPI) measures inflation at earlier stages of the production and marketing process; the Employment Cost Index (ECI) measures it in the labor market; the BLS International Price Program measures it for imports and exports; and the Gross Domestic Product Deflator (GDP Deflator) measures combine the experience with inflation of governments (Federal, State and local), businesses, and consumers. Finally, there are specialized measures, such as measures of interest rates and measures of consumers' and business executives' expectations of inflation.
The "best" measure of inflation for a given application depends on the intended use of the data. The CPI is generally the best measure for adjusting payments to consumers when the intent is to allow consumers to purchase, at today's prices, a market basket of goods and services equivalent to one that they could purchase in an earlier period. The CPI also is the best measure to use to translate retail sales and hourly or weekly earnings into real or inflation-free dollars.]
10. How do I use the Consumer Price Index for escalating contracts? [DEFINE clearly the base payment (rent, wage rate, alimony, child support, or other value) that is subject to escalation.
IDENTIFY precisely which CPI index series will be used to escalate the base payment. This should include: The population coverage (CPI-U or CPI-W), area coverage (U.S. City Average, West Region, Chicago, etc.), series title (all items, rent of primary residence, etc.), and index base period (1982-84=100).
SPECIFY a reference period from which changes in the CPI will be measured. This is usually a single month (the CPI does not correspond to a specific day or week of the month) or an annual average. There is about a 2-week lag from the reference month to the date on which the index is released (e.g., the CPI for May is released in mid-June). The CPI's for most metropolitan areas are not published as frequently as are the data for the U.S. City Average and the 4 regions. Indexes for the U.S. City Average, the 4 regions, 3 city-size classes, 10 region-by-size classes, and 3 major metropolitan areas (Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York) are published monthly. Indexes for the remaining 23 published metropolitan areas are available only on a bimonthly or semiannual basis. Contact the BLS address at the end of this fact sheet for information on the frequency of publication for the 26 metropolitan areas.
STATE the frequency of adjustment. Adjustments are usually made at fixed time intervals, such as quarterly, semiannually, or, most often, annually.
DETERMINE the formula for the adjustment calculation. Usually the change in payments is directly proportional to the percent change in the CPI index between two specified time periods. Consider whether to make an allowance for a "cap" that places an upper limit to the increase in wages, rents, etc., or a "floor" that promises a minimum increase regardless of the percent change (up or down) in the CPI.
PROVIDE a built-in method for handling situations that may arise because of major CPI revisions or changes in the CPI index base period. The Bureau always provides timely notification of upcoming revisions or changes in the index base.]
11. Do you have breakdowns of the Employer Costs for Employee Compensation by
state? [We do not have ECEC data by state. We published one table in this series in which the data are shown by region, such as Midwest, Northeast and so on. This Table is included in the quarterly Employer Costs for Employee Compensation news release.]
12. Does the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages /ES-202 program provide
information on the number of employees in particular companies? [ Does the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages /ES-202 program provide
information on the number of employees in particular companies?]
13. What is a benchmark of payroll survey estimates from the Current Employment
Statistics survey? [Benchmark revisions, which are usually published in early June, are a standard part of the payroll survey estimation process. The benchmark adjustment is a once-a-year re-anchoring of the sample-based employment estimates to full population counts available principally through unemployment insurance (UI) tax records filed by employers with State Employment Security Agencies. By early November of each year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) completes preliminary tabulations of these universe counts for the first quarter of the year and routinely shares that information with the public at the time of the issuance of the October Employment Situation news release.]
14. What types of hours and earnings data are available from the Current Employment
Statistics survey? [National estimates of average weekly hours and average hourly earnings are made for the private sector, with detail for about 500 private industries as well as for overtime hours in manufacturing.
Hours and earnings are derived from reports of gross payrolls and corresponding paid hours for production workers, construction workers, or nonsupervisory workers in the service sector. The payroll for workers covered by the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey is reported before deductions of any kind, e.g. for old-age and unemployment insurance, withholding tax, union dues or retirement plans. Included in the payroll reports is pay for overtime, vacations, holidays and sick leave paid directly by the firm. Bonuses, commissions, and other types of non-wage cash payments are excluded unless they are earned and paid regularly (at least once a month). Employee benefits paid by the employer, as well as tips and payments in kind, are excluded.
Total hours during the pay period include all hours worked (including overtime hours), and hours paid for holidays, vacations, and sick leave. Total hours differ from the concept of scheduled hours worked. The average weekly hours reflects effects of numerous factors such as unpaid absenteeism, labor turnover, part-time work, strikes, and fluctuations in work schedules for economic reasons. Overtime hours in manufacturing are collected where overtime premiums were paid if hours were in excess of the number of straight time hours in a workday or workweek.]
15. What are the causes of benchmark revisions of payroll survey estimates? [In general, differences between universe counts and sample-based estimates result from both sampling and non-sampling error. Although sampling error is present in the payroll survey, as it is in all surveys, the Current Employment Statistics (CES) sample is so large (almost 400,000 reports covering about one-third of universe employment) that sampling error is not usually an important factor in explaining the differences.
Nonsampling error arises in the survey estimates, and in the universe counts, from both the Unemployment Insurance (UI) data and the alternative sources used to establish the noncovered population benchmarks. Nonsampling error is a more significant cause of benchmark revisions. Sources of nonsampling error include coverage, response, and processing errors in both data series. Additionally, the survey is potentially subject to sample design and estimator biases.]
16. How do strikes affect Current Employment Statistics estimates? [Employment: Anyone paid for working any portion of the reference pay period (pay period that includes the 12th of the month) is counted as employed. Therefore, to be counted as not employed for purposes of the CES survey, a person on strike or strike-related layoff must not receive pay for the entire reference pay period.
Average weekly hours (AWH) and Average Hourly Earnings (AHE): These are hours for which production workers are paid for work or on paid leave for the reference pay period (including paid vacation, holidays, sick leave or other paid leave).
When strikers or laid off employees work part but not all of the reference pay period, then they are counted as employed according to the CES survey but with reduced hours. The magnitude of the reduction on average weekly hours depends on the proportion of workers in the industry’s sample with reduced hours and the number of hours they worked.
Workers who are on strike or layoff for the entire reference pay period do not have any effect on the average weekly hours estimate unless their normal hours differ significantly from the average for the industry. Similarly, average hourly earnings estimates will be little affected unless the normal hourly earnings of those on strike or layoff differ significantly from the average for the industry.]
17. Can I get a list of the companies in the samples of the Bureau of Labor Statistics
surveys? [No. Data are collected under a pledge of confidentiality. We cannot reveal either the companies that participate or the data they provide.]
18. What is the Producer Price Index? [A measure of changes in wholesale prices. The index is calculated monthly by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.]
19. How are Producer Price Indexes used? [It is often assumed that the direction and magnitude of price change in the Producer Price Index (PPI) for finished goods anticipates a similar change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all items. When this assumed relationship is contradicted by the actual movements of the two series, as it often is, many data users ask why the PPI and CPI show different price movements.
The answer is that conceptual and definitional differences between the PPI and CPI--differences which are consistent with the uses of the two measures--contribute to the differences in their price movements. A primary use of the PPI is to deflate revenue streams in order to measure real growth in output. A primary use of the CPI is to adjust income and expenditure streams for changes in the cost of living. The different uses cause definitional differences that can be categorized into two critical areas: (1) the composition of the set of commodities and services they include and (2) the types of prices collected for these items]
20. How does the Producer Price Index differ from the Consumer Price Index? [The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods tracks the average change in prices over time of domestically produced and consumed commodities. The index is comprised of prices for both consumer goods and capital equipment, but excludes prices for services. Weights for the finished goods PPI are currently based on the value of shipments of products as reported by producers for the 1997 economic census.
The All Items CPI measures the average change in prices over time of goods and services purchased for personal consumption by urban U.S. households, regardless of the item's country of origin. This index is comprised solely of prices for consumer goods, thus it excludes prices for capital equipment. In addition, CPI weights correspond to the Consumer Expenditure Survey (currently for the years 2001-2002).
21. How are labor hours calculated for productivity measures? [Answer: The primary source of hours and employment data is the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Current Employment Statistics (CES) program, which provides data on total employment and average weekly hours of production and nonsupervisory workers in nonagricultural establishments.
For the quarterly productivity measures, the Hours at Work Survey is used to convert the CES hours to hours at work by excluding all forms of paid leave. In manufacturing, average weekly hours for nonproduction workers are developed from BLS studies which provided data on the regularly scheduled workweek of white-collar employees. For nonmanufacturing sectors, all employees are assumed to work the same hours as nonsupervisory employees. Because CES data include only nonagricultural wage and salary workers, data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) are used for farm employment as well as for nonfarm proprietors and unpaid family workers. Government enterprise hours are developed from the National Income and Product Account estimates of employment combined with CPS data on average weekly hours.
For the industry productivity measures, for manufacturing industries, the nonproduction worker hours are developed, similar to the quarterly measures, from BLS studies, which provided data on the regularly scheduled workweek of white collar workers. For nonmanufacturing industries, supervisory worker average weekly hours are a constant and total hours vary according the changes in employment.]
22. What are some uses of Export and Import Price Indexes? [ Deflating trade statistics: There are three major government trade statistics that are deflated using the export and import price indexes--the monthly U.S. trade statistics, the quarterly Balance of Payments Account (BPA) numbers, and the foreign sector of the quarterly National Income and Product Accounts (NIPA). The International Price Program price indexes can, however, be used to deflate any type of import or export value statistic into real terms.
Measure inflation: A primary reason for measuring import prices is to track the impact they have on domestic inflation. Movement in import prices can often be an indicator of future inflation since some inputs to domestic production, as well as consumption, are imported.
An input to fiscal and monetary policy: The Federal Reserve Board frequently uses the import and export price indexes when deciding the nation's monetary policy. In addition, the indexes can be used to determine the impact of trade legislation as part of overall fiscal policy.
Forecasting future prices: Anticipating future price trends is important to both the business community and individuals doing research on international prices. One important input into any model to forecast price trends is past prices. Although past price behavior is not a perfect predictor of future trends, historical patterns and relationships in the time series would contribute knowledge about the future level of prices.
Performing elasticity studies: A topic related to measuring industry price changes and trends is the creation of price and income elasticity estimates to distinguish how much of a trade volume change is due to price effects and how much is attributable to income effects.
Deriving terms of trade indexes: The export and import price indexes can be used to measure the U.S. terms of trade. A terms of trade index is the ratio of an export index over an import index. An improvement in the terms of trade can be perceived as an improvement in competitiveness because imports are becoming cheaper in terms of the country's exports.
Analyze exchange rates: The export and import price indexes can be used to determine the impact of exchange rate movements on the prices of exports and imports.
Negotiating trade contracts: International price data have been useful for both multilateral and bilateral trade agreements. Import and export price data have been utilized to negotiate trade agreements for tin, coffee, cotton textiles, oil, and airfreight services. Government agencies that have used the data in negotiating trade contracts include the Department of State, the Department of Commerce, and the office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Analyzing import prices by locality of origin: The International Price Program produces import indexes broken out by locality of origin. These can be used to study how economic variables in other regions affect the U.S. economy. One example where a locality of origin index was helpful was the economic crisis in Asia that took place in late 1997. The index of imports from the Newly Industrialized Asian Countries indicated to what degree prices of U.S. imports were impacted by that situation.]
23. Does the Bureau of Labor Statistics have employment projections for specific
occupations? [Answer: For more than 50 years, the BLS' Occupational Outlook Handbook has been a nationally recognized source of career information. It describes what workers do on the job, working conditions, the training and education needed, earnings, and expected job prospects for a variety of occupations.]
24. How are "wages" defined by the Occupational Employment Statistics survey? [Answer: Wages for the OES survey are defined as straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay.
Included in the collection of wage data are:
base rate
cost-of-living allowances
guaranteed pay
hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay including commissions and production bonuses
on-call pay
tips
Excluded from the wage data are:
back pay
jury duty pay
overtime pay
severance pay
shift differentials
nonproduction bonuses
tuition reimbursements ]
25. What types of benefit data are published by the Employee Benefits Survey? [Answer: The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Employee Benefits Survey is an annual survey of the incidence and provisions of selected benefits provided by employers to their employees. The survey collects data from a sample of approximately 6,000 private sector and state and local government establishments. The data are presented as a percentage of employees who participate in a certain benefit, or as an average benefit provision (for example, the average number of paid holidays provided to employees per year).
The survey collects incidence and provisions of the following benefit areas: Paid holidays, paid vacations, paid personal leave, paid funeral leave, paid military leave, paid jury-duty leave, paid and unpaid family leave, paid sick leave, short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, medical care, dental care, vision care, life insurance, defined benefit pension plans, defined contribution plans, flexible benefits plans, and reimbursement accounts.
Data are also collected on the incidence of the following additional benefits: Severance pay, supplemental unemployment benefits, travel accident insurance, nonproduction cash bonuses, child care, adoption assistance, long-term care insurance, subsidized commuting, flexible work place, wellness programs, fitness center benefits, job-related and non-job-related educational assistance, and employee assistance programs.]
26. What are the fastest growing occupations? [Home health aides, Short-term on-the-job trainingNetwork systems and data communications analysts, Bachelor's degreeMedical assistants, Moderate-term on-the-job trainingPhysician assistants, Bachelor's degreeComputer software engineers, applications, Bachelor's degreePhysical therapist assistants, Associate degreeDental hygienists, Associate degreeComputer software engineers, systems software,Bachelor's degreeDental assistants ,Moderate-term on-the-job trainingPersonal and home care aides, Short-term on-the-job trainingNetwork and computer systems administrators, Bachelor's degreeDatabase administrators, Bachelor's degreePhysical therapists, Master's degreeForensic science technicians,Associate degreeVeterinary technologists and technicians, Associate degreeDiagnostic medical sonographers, Associate degreePhysical therapist aides, Short-term on-the-job trainingOccupational therapist assistants, Associate degreeMedical scientists, except epidemiologists, Doctoral degreeOccupational therapists, Master's degreePreschool teachers, except special education ,Postsecondary vocational awardCardiovascular technologists and technicians Associate degreePostsecondary teachers,Doctoral degreeHydrologists,Master's degreeComputer systems analysts ,Bachelor's degreeHazardous materials removal workers, Moderate-term on-the-job trainingBiomedical engineers, Bachelor's degreeEmployment, recruitment, and placement specialists, Bachelor's degreeEnvironmental engineers, Bachelor's degreeParalegals and legal assistants Associate degree.]
27. How are the labor force components (i.e., civilian noninstitutional population, civilian
labor force, employed, unemployed, and unemployment rate) defined? [Answer: The official concepts and definitions of the labor force components used in the Current Population Survey (CPS) are described below. For a complete description, see Definitions of Labor Force Concepts (PDF 102K).
Civilian noninstitutional population: Persons 16 years of age and older residing in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, who are not inmates of institutions (e.g., penal and mental facilities, homes for the aged), and who are not on active duty in the Armed Forces.
Civilian labor force: All persons in the civilian noninstitutional population classified as either employed or unemployed.
Employed persons: All persons who, during the reference week (week including the twelfth day of the month), (a) did any work as paid employees, worked in their own business or profession or on their own farm, or worked 15 hours or more as unpaid workers in an enterprise operated by a member of their family, or (b) were not working but who had jobs from which they were temporarily absent. Each employed person is counted only once, even if he or she holds more than one job.
Unemployed persons: All persons who had no employment during the reference week, were available for work, except for temporary illness, and had made specific efforts to find employment some time during the 4 week-period ending with the reference week. Persons who were waiting to be recalled to a job from which they had been laid off need not have been looking for work to be classified as unemployed.
Unemployment rate: The ratio of unemployed to the civilian labor force expressed as a percent [i.e., 100 times (unemployed/labor force).]
28. What are "household" and "establishment" data, and how do they differ? [Answer: "Household" data, as from the Current Population Survey (CPS), pertain to individuals and relate to where they reside. "Establishment" data, such as those from the Current Employment Statistics (CES), a survey of businesses, pertain to jobs (persons on a payroll) and where those jobs are located. The data developed through the Local Area Unemployment (LAUS) program are based on the household concept of the CPS. For information on these surveys and how they differ, see Household vs. Establishment Series.]
29. What is seasonal adjustment? [A process of estimating seasonal effects and removing them from the original data.]
Assignment 3.7
ACTIVITY
1. Describe the Amistad America™ Web site. [Amistad America has to do with travel and is hosted by Delta Airlines. This site shows recent articles of places that Amistad America has recently traveled to.]
2. Who do you think is the target audience for the Website? Explain how you came
to this conclusion. [The target audience of this website is set more towards flyers interested in flying on the Amistad American Airline. I came to this conclusion because of the persuasive articles.]
3. How would visitors be able to judge the accuracy of the information presented? [They can read the actual names of the people that traveled to certain regions on this specific airline.]
Assignment 3.12
Exercise: Identify an issue in your school or community about which decisions must be
made. Analyze the issue and follow the decision-making steps listed in this guide as you
make a decision about your stance on the issue. Explain your decision and its basis in
a short essay.
1. Decisions must be made in my community everyday. An example of an issue that my community deals with is crime rate. In order to make educared decisions, there are a few steps. For example, people must be hired to do certain jobs, pro and cons must be looked at very carefully, and the outcome of the decision must be put into consideration.
Assignment 3.13
Let’s review the numbers, shall we? A research biologist from the University of
Tennessee, Stuart Pimm, calculates that some 50 percent of the world’s species could
be in danger of extinction in another hundred years. That includes
mammals, plants, birds, fish, and insects. Pimm believes that 11 percent of bird
species, or 1,100 of the nearly 10,000 species, are “on the edge of extinction.” Even the Cape Sable sparrow is headed for extinction. The picture for plants is
no better, according to a respected team of botanists—people who study plants. Their
findings: one-eighth of the earth’s plants is at risk of becoming extinct.
They understand that extinction is happening everywhere. It’s not just in the rain
forests or in the disappearing wetlands—it’s everywhere. The most recent period—
the one that killed off the dinosaurs—was caused by a meteorite that crashed into the
earth in a blaze of fire. The rate of extinction, report experts, is even greater than what
occurred 65 million years ago when the dinosaurs were dying out.
Assignment 3.14
Many applications of technology during the Civil War should receive attention. People had flown in lighter-than-air balloons before the war, but Thaddeus Lowe was first to locate enemy positions from the vantage point of his balloon basket. On the Communications front, the telegraph had been around for some years. However, the Civil war was the first war in which the telegraph played a “crucial role. 12 Prior to the war, railroads was just beginning to boom. Only after the war started did people realize how valuable the railroads were. Railroad tracks and bridges become frequent targets of enemy attack. Crippling the enemies means of transportation was an accepted and usually effective battle strategy.
Assignment 3.15
• Describe your audience. What is their position? Why will they read your report? [My audience would be the students and staff of Building C. We're hoping that their position is guided in our direction. They might read my report because they might be interested in the topic we've presented.]
• What does your audience already know about this topic? [I'm not sure. It all depends on what they've been told on the subject previously.]
• What information will be new to your reader? [ I'm not quite sure what would be new to them.]
• What is the most important thing for your reader to understand from your report? [ The most important thing the reader could get from my presentation is the ability to learn how to sort recycled goods.]
• List terms and/or procedures that are important to your research but that your
audience may not be familiar with. Include terms that you are using in a new or
unique way. [Sorting recycled goods, getting bins, etc. are all important of the process.]
• Thoroughly report analytical data supporting your conclusions. [I'm not sure what'll happen with the expierment yet. That is still in the works.]
Assignment 3.16
a. Entrepreneur-b
b. scuba diver-m
c. critical thinker-b
d. funny-b
e. cheerful likes children-f
f. lifeguard-b
g. intelligent good cook-b
h. romantic-f
i. fussy horseback rider-f
j. skydiver-m
k. impetuous impatient-b
l. too sensitive-f
m. persistent assertive-m
n. intense-b
o. nurturing committed-f
p. talkative-b
q. hates spiders dynamic-b
r. aggressive-m
s. fashionable independent-f
t. daring-b
u. competent outspoken-b
v. compassionate-f
w. driven logical-b
x. intuitive-f
y. gentle-f
z. warm-f
aa. likes flowers-f
bb. self-starter emotional-b
cc. competitive-m
dd. football fan-m
Assignment 3.17
Throughout history, various groups have suffered because of widespread acceptance of
stereotypes. From your reading, identify a stereotype that is prevalent in society today
and explain some of the consequences that result from the acceptance of that
stereotype.
[ A stereotype that seems to prevelant in society is people assuming if you wear black, that you're automatically some kind of satanic worshiper. People in society are sometimes unforgiving and cruel to people tat might wear something different than themselves.]
Gather examples of stereotypical statements about teenagers or any other group.
Record each example and explain how you can recognize it as a stereotype. [ There are all typesif different stereotypes today in teenage life. Everyday you'll hear atleast one type or stereotype such as gangsters, skaters, preps, nerds, jocks, emos, goths, and the list goes on.]
The following sentences contain stereotypes. Describe the error in each.
1. Men are better with tools than women are. [This is just an assumption because men are usually the ones who deal with the tools. It doesn't mean that women don't use tools. It means that typically men use tools more often than women.
2. Professional athletes are greedy. [This is just an assumption we've made. We've made this assumption because of prior incidents with pro. athletes.]
3. Journalists are ruthless and persistent.
4. Now that we have a woman as our boss, we have a manager who will listen to
us.
5. Pickup truck owners are tough.
6. Girls that age spend more time on looking good than doing good.
7. SUV drivers are aggressive.
8. She a typical absent-minded professor
Assignment 3.18
1.no
2.yes
3.yes
4.yes
5.no
Assignment 3.19
1. he/she; his/her
2.that person
3.his/her;his/her
4.his/her
5.his/her
6.his/her
7. his/her; he/she
8.humankind
9.worker's
Assignment 4.1
Harold's problem
assignment 4.2
Harold went to Muriel away from everyone else and told her that when she uses names like "gramps" and "geezer" it makes him feel like his age is a hindrance to the workplace productivity. He expressed how he knows that isn't true and why it was bothering him. He told her that if she just treated him like everyone else that things would get a lot better. The consequences of doing this would be good. If she stopped calling him names he knows they will get along great.
assignment 4.3
assignment 4.4
I don't think I would shop at that store again because of how they handled the situation. I am a customer who's willing to spend my money there they should do everything possible to make me comfortable and to get me the help I need. If they start out annoyed it will only make things harder and wind up making the customer mad. Which isn't good!
assignment 4.5
A1. I would expect fast respectful service.
2. They would lose business from that person and from that persons friends because I'm sure they will be telling everyone they know about the aggravation they had to deal with. They might also get fired.
3. Yes I have, I have had many pleasant experiences with stores and their employees.
4.5 B-
assignment 4.6
1. Responsiveness: She got them comfortable and knew exactly what they would like
2. Reliability: She told them that she would be "right over there"
3. Assurance: She assured them that she would be able to help them out with any questions they had which made them comfortable enough to ask them and they knew that if they did she wouldn't get an attitude.4. Empathy: She related to them with how hot it was outside.
Assignment 4.7
Delores provides unique customer service to her customers by saying normals things in a very unormal way. She gets people excited about getting their drink and food. I like her, I like the way she makes things fun.
Assignment 4.8
Bad customer service
Jake (employee):"Yo, lemme getcha order man."
Krista (customer):"excuse me?'
Jake (employee): "GIRLLLL, you heard me. What do you want?"
Krista (customer): "Well, I'd like a cheeseburger with no cheese and no pickles also.
Jake (employee): "Ma'am that would be called a hamburger. Wow, you must of been born in a barn.
Krista (customer): "Yes, as a matter of fact I was. Come to think of it, I don't want that stinkin hamburger yuh big jerk."
Jake (employee): "FINE!"
Good customer service
Kaitlin (employee):"Hello there ma'am! How can I help you?"
Krista (customer):"Yes, you sure can. May I have some of that rainbow ice cream?"
Kaitlin (employee): "Well of course you may sweetie! How many scoops would you like?"
Krista (customer): "Two would be great!"
Kaitlin (employee): "Here you go. You're total is 2.77. Have a wonderful day!"
Krista (customer): "Thank you very much, and you do the same."
assignment 4.8
#2 http://mt.essortment.com/telephoneetique_rbpa.htmYou
1. need to answer the phone with Hello not "yes" because if you answer it like that it gives people the impression that you aren't interested and that you are aggravated already.You also need to be aware of what time you call. 7 am isn't really a good time because kids are getting ready for school and parents are getting ready for work and there is no time to talk. 9 or 10 pm is family time and you don't want to be interrupting them.
Assignment 4.9
www.customerserviceawards.com :
1. Sainsbury's Guisborogh
2. Yorkshire Water
3. Ultra High Value, Vodafone4. Procter & Gamble UK
5. Retention Centre, Norwich Union Direct
Assignment 4.10
1. Becuase the first impression is usually what that individual is all about. It also can tell a business what their work ethic is like. It aids them alot in selecting the right kind of person for a particular job.
2.A. Responsiveness: A customer in a supermarket asks for help, a worker comes RIGHT over.
B. Reliability: Provides service immediately, does it the right way.
C. Assurance: A waitress promises she wil be back with silverware, she does it quickly.
D. Empathy: An older person needs extra help and a young worker walks slowly, helps carry there backs, helps them in and out of there chair/vehichle etc.E. Apperance: A worker looking presentable
3. That we are here to serve them so no matter what they say or do you have to put on a smile and help them even if they make you angry.
4. Maybe it's that the person can't complain because they are your friend and they might make up stuff.
Assignment 4.11
1. The post office! That place is always so jam packed with people, and it's so boring. I hate the post office because there's never anything interesting to look at. People are usually annoyed from having to stand there for so long.
Assignment 4.12
Assignment 4.13
He needs to get to the point. There were to many words and I got bored so I stopped comprehending what I was reading. Which isn't good, if you're trying to convey a message.
Assignment 4.14
1. List at least five types of documents you might write in the workplace.
-Product descriptions /Flyers and announcementsPress releases /Status reportsMemos /E-mail correspondenceSales letters /Traditional letter correspondencePolicy statements /Instructional manuals
3. List and describe at least four guidelines for effective writing.
Keep words simple and few.
Choose the active voice when appropriate strive for a professional tone
Proofread for an error-free product
Assignment 4.15
Marshum is stupid. He needs to take a chill pill. I mean it wasn't nice for Orlando to snarl but once Marshum realized that maybe he thought it was a sarcastic joke he should have calmed down.
Assignment 4.16
The problem is sales are down, and Robert is getting defensive about the situation. His employees obviously dont see eye to eye about the situation. If they sat down, in spoke candidly than possibly the issue could be resolved. I'm not saying either of them are right, but that they should both calm down.
Assignment 4.17
Sales are down and the boss needs to increase sales in order to avoid layoffs. So he asked his employees to do all they can to increase the sales. Which they already have and they feel unappreciated . But the boss really doesn't know what is going on in the sales room. But if he did he would have a much better understanding of what is going on and how to fix the problems.
Assignment 4.18
1. What does “walking in someone else’s shoes” mean?To understand someone elses point of view and what they are going through
2. Name and describe a good strategy for understanding another person’spoint of view.Take a step back and listen to them and also just like the quote try to imagine what they are going through.
Assignment 4.19
Yes i do think he would have been more receptive is Janice had shown him.Well, because its degrading and downright embarrasing if someone that works there that is significantly "lower" then him, and doesnt even (HAVE) to know about that process has to show him through baby steps.If a manager comes in and shows him, that makes more sense. It isnt as embarrasing.
Assignment 4.20
1. Define listening and understanding.the act of hearing attentively; "you can learn a lot by just listening"
2. What strategies does an effective listener use?1. Give the other person your full attention. Avoid interrupting, look directly atthe other person, and minimize distractions.
3. Encourage the other person to talk. Make good eye contact and nod yourhead to show that you understand what the other person is saying. Leanforward and use supportive phrases such as "Oh, I see" and "Really?" tohelp the speaker know you’re listening and interested. Relax and focus onwhat is being said and how it is being said.
4. Show the other person that you want to understand. Ask questions toshow the other person that you want to understand, not judge. Use neutrallanguage, and restate the speaker’s words.
5. What are three behaviors of people who speak to share?"Speaking to share"—projecting an open, approachable listeningstyle—will set an example of how others should listen to you.
6. What are three strategies for defusing emotions during a conflict?Count and breathe.Take a brisk walk.In a crisis, think challenge.Watch your self-talk.Find the cause.
Assignment 4.21
Well when your going to an interview for a certain company its a good idea to know as much as you can before hand about that company. Especially if you through out facts to the interviewer that will make you seem that your seriously interested in this job. It makes you more appealing. It also doesn't make you look like an idiot if he asks you a random question about the company. Also dress appealing you need to look like you are respectable and you aren't going to go around mouthing off to people.
Assignment 4.22
1. It's important to prepare and rehearse interview questions, just in case you don't get stuck. If you know the answer , you probably won't stumble with your words and you will sound more confident like you know what you are talking about.
2. I would try to actually get over that weakness. It really seems to me that it can hardly be a strength. So the only strength that I think it could bring is getting over it, and you performing so much better.
Assignment 4.23
1. First impressions are always important while trying to get a new job. If you are nice and enthusiastic to everyone then it willl be easier to get the job than if you are a mean stiff.
2. Prepare a list of job interview questions and answers.
3. List some questions you would ask if conducting a job interview.Have you been convicted of a felon?Have you been addicted to any form of illegal drugs?Are you a hard worker?Do you lie often?
4. Describe the three main things you should know before an interview.Wear something niceAnswer truthfullyLet them know what you can bring to the table5. Describe an effective way of organizing information to prepare for interviewstFolder. or portfolios.
Assignment 4.24
Craig thought his last boss was unprofessional and unfair in his treatment of workers.But instead of complaining, he said, "I think I had reached a point where I needed more challenges and responsibilities. It was time for me to move on and use my skillsmore effectively."It is unprofessional to talk badly or complain about a former employer. It also makes the interviewer feel like you will quit their job for the same reasons.
Assignment 4.25
1.Enthusiasm
Self-confidence
Interest in the job
Honesty
Initiative
Attention
2. Explain how weaknesses and strengths are best described in a job interview.Interviewer: "What is your biggest weakness?"Craig understood that an interview is an opportunity to express one’s best qualities. Turn any weaknesses into strengths for the company
3. Describe how problems with past employers are best handled during an interview.Only describe the good attribuutes of working in the past instead of any bad ones.
4. Identify the content of an effective interview closing.Recognize when the interview is finished.Shake hands firmly.Use the interviewer’s nameThank the interviewer for taking the time to see you.Restate your interest in the job.
