Music Concert Report Essay Example

Music Concert Report Essay Concert Report Guidelines Listening to live performances is an essential part of learning to appreciate and understand music. Treat this report as though you were a music critic writing for your local newspaper. In other words, what did you like/not like and why? Here are some general guidelines to help you listen, think, and write about a concert. Basic Information to Include When and where did the concert take place? How many pieces were performed? What were they called and how many movements were in each? Who composed each piece? Who were the performers (name of the ensemble and/or names of the soloists)? If there was a conductor, what was his or her name? What types of instruments were played and/or what types of voice parts were featured? Was there any special purpose to the concert? If so, explain. General Questions to Keep in Mind What was your general reaction to the concert? How did the performance sound to you? Was the music performed well? Were the musicians rhythmically â€Å"together†? Were they playing/singing in tune? Did any instruments or voices stick out? How would you rate the musicians’ technical ability and the energy of their performance? Did they seem well prepared for the concert? We will write a custom essay sample on Music Concert Report specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Music Concert Report specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Music Concert Report specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Which composition did you like best? Why? (e. g. , what specifically did you like about the piece itself or the way it was performed? ) Which composition did you like least? Why? Did any of the compositions trigger an emotional response from you? What were your specific feelings or thoughts in response to the music? Specific Points to Consider You may want to focus your discussion and analysis of the concert on one or more of the following points. Describe what you heard and observed using the following musical terms, elements, and concepts discussed in class when applicable. Genre (symphony, concerto, string quartet, etc. ) Stylistic period (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, etc. ) Mood (emotion conveyed by the music and performers) Pitch To what extent does pitch vary throughout the piece? How do changes in pitch reflect changes in mood? Rhythm (beat, accent, tempo, meter, syncopation) How were the elements of rhythm used to create special or interesting musical effects? Dynamics (level of sound) Identify changes in dynamics and discuss the effect these changes create. Tone color (bright, brassy, warm, ringing, hollow, etc. Mode (major, minor) Harmony/Melody Discuss the balance (or lack of it) between the melody and its accompaniment. Did you hear consonance, dissonance, or a combination of both? Motives/Themes Identify and note where individual motives and themes are first introduced and subsequently reappear in each piece. Texture (monophony, homophony, polyphony, etc. ) Form (sonata form, A B A, theme and variations, etc. ) Using the musical terminology and concepts covered in class, discuss the most interesting musical elements or features of the pieces that were performed. Compare the pieces from this performance with other compositions you have studied in class, noting similarities and differences. (Note: In selecting a composition from class, you may want to look for a piece by the same composer, from the same style period, or of the same genre as the piece(s) from the performance. ) How does this concert compare to the performance(s) you attended previously? Describe the behavior of the performers and the audience. What, if any, interaction occurred between the two? What kind of behavioral expectations do performers and audiences bring to the concert? How are these expectations satisfied or frustrated? Other VERY Important Information Concerts should be semi-professional/collegiate level or above. (For example, attending a younger sibling’s high school band concert will not be accepted. ) The purpose of these concerts is to attend a concert you might not normally attend in an attempt to expand your horizons. This means attending a rock/country/pop concert is out of the question. A good rule of thumb is when debating whether a concert is appropriate or not, ask your professor! Once you attend a concert, please submit the report within five days of the event. Any papers handed in beyond that point will NOT be accepted. Paper requirements: a minimum of two pages, double-spaced, 12-point font, one-inch margins. Please edit your paper for accuracy. Include the program (or ticket stub if no program is given out) with the report. Organizations With Community Events Calendars on the Web: AM: http://performancestudies. tamu. edu/ Blinn: http://www. blinn. edu/odonnell/index. htm MSC OPAS: http://opas. tamu. edu/ Arts Council – Brazos Valley: http://www. acbv. org/ KBTX: http://www. kbtx. com/ KAMU: http://events. publicbroadcasting. net/kamu/events. eventsmain

Christine de Pisan essays

Christine de Pisan essays The subject that I have chosen for my biography is Christine de Pisan. I chose her because I have never heard of her before and therefore; her life and her work would shed light on my knowledge of history and open up new avenues to work on. Furthermore, I was curious as to what the women had done during her life that inspired and changed the society during that Cultural and political setup of that time In the early fifteenth-century in England, majority of the young male members of the aristocrats received their education in the patriarchal family, where they were educated and skilled on the subjects of estate management, jousting, hunting, heraldry and ethics. As time progressed, this customary approach was changed by a classical education that emphasized logic and discipline, as well as prepared the young for service to a country that was progressively more preoccupied with colonial The new educational literature comprised of translations and versions of the philosophers and historians of prehistoric Rome, particularly Seneca and Cicero. The writings of classical authors had been popularized all through the control of Charles V of France (1364-80), who had commissioned French translations of Levy, and the Morals and Politics of Aristotle. Translations of Seneca and Cicero followed in the period of influence of Charles VI (1380-1422). Christine de Pisan (1364-c. 1430), who matured at the court of Charles V, sought after a wider view of the purposes of the governing class as skilled civil servants rather than as preserved nobility. Seeing the solution to this developing function as education, she was the first to employ these authors in this way (Willard, 4). Christine de Pizan was able to develop into a flourishing writer in a time when women had no lawful rights and ...

Is the ACT Easier Than the SAT

Is the ACT Easier Than the SAT SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Because all US colleges accept scores from either the ACT or SAT, picking the test on which you’ll perform better is critical to your admission chances. But when parents and students ask whether the ACT is easier than the SAT, it can be hard to give a good answer. You might not know how the tests compare with each other or which one you're more likely to do better on. There aredifferences between the SAT and ACT that can make one or the other legitimately easier or harder for test takers. So how do you know whether the SAT or ACT is easier for you? Keep reading to learn the eight key factors that'll help you determine whether the ACT or SAT is easier. Although theACT and SAT differ in a lot of ways, only a few are really important to understanding whether the ACT or SAT is a better fit for you. Each student is different in each of the below factors. As a result,one testwill be easier for you depending on your own strengths and weaknesses. We’ve broken down our analysis into two major sections: content-related and format-related. ACT and SAT Content-Related Abilities: 6 Factors Before we get into specific content-related abilities, let's quickly go over the structures of the two tests. The SAT contains three sections: Reading Writing and Language (hereafter Writing) Math By contrast, the ACT contains four sections: English Math Reading Science Both tests also have an optional essay.Each section has a different format on the ACT than on the SAT, but only some of these differences really matter. Here are the most crucial factors to consider as well as our tips on what these might indicate about which test is easier for you. Factor 1: HowBroad Is Your Mathematical Knowledge? While the SAT and ACT both emphasize algebra questions in their math sections,the ACT's Math section typically tests a wider range of mathematical concepts- such aslogarithms, graphs of trig functions, and matrices- that the SAT doesn't cover. The ACT also has significantlymore questions dealing with geometry and trigonometrythan the SAT does.On the ACT's Math section, about a quarter to a third of the questions will be about geometry or trigonometry, while less than 10% of the SAT's math questions will focus on either of these topics. More SAT Math questions will focus on algebra, along with some other topics such as data analysis and modeling. In addition to testing a wider range of math topics,the ACT doesn't give you any math formulas at the beginning of the Math section, so you’ll need to have them all memorized. On the contrary, the SAT will give you most of the major math formulas you'll need for the test. Here are some key questions to ask yourself: Can I memorize all the formulas I'll need to know? Do I have strong geometry and trigonometry skills? Would I prefer to have primarilyalgebra-related questions? Bottom Line:If you’re more comfortable with algebra than you are with geometry and trigonometry, SAT Math will likely be easier for you than ACT Math will be. Factor 2: How Confident Are You Without a Calculator? Students are not allowed to have a calculator for part of the SAT Math section. The SAT Math section has two parts: a No Calculator part (20 questions) and a Calculator part (38 questions). By contrast, the ACT allows you to use a calculator for all math questions. Every question on the SAT No Calculator subsection is solvable by hand; however, these problems will sometimes require complicated calculations. If you aren't comfortable solving these questions without having a calculator to help you out, this part of the SAT might be challenging for you. Bottom Line:If you prefer always having access to a calculator on math problems, you might find ACT Math easier. Factor 3: Are You Comfortable With Scientific Terminology for ACT Science? Lots of people make a big deal out of the ACT Science section, but the truth is thatit's not actually about science. It doesn't test much knowledge of actual scientific facts, such as freezing points or solubility rules, but it does use a lot of scientific language. The Science sectionalso uses charts and graphs that will be familiar to students with strong science backgrounds. While the SAT incorporates some of these concepts into its three sections, you'll still be answering more questions like thison the ACT. The sample data below is typical of the ACT Science section: Source: Official ACT Practice Test 2005-06 You can answer questions about this information without knowing thatMg means magnesium, or that mol stands for the unit of measurement mole, or that˚C means degrees Celsius. That said, it's a lot faster and easier if you do know these things. And because your Science score factors into yourACT composite score, if you don't know Science well, the Science section can lower your overall score. Bottom Line:Comfort with scientific terms and experience gathering scientific data from charts and graphs will give you a greater advantage on the ACT. While you don't need experience in a lab, you should have some basic science knowledge for the ACT. Factor 4: Can You Remember the Location of Details in Reading Passages? An often-overlooked aspect concerning whether the SAT or ACT is easier for a student is the detail questions on the Reading sections of each test. In short, the SAT gives you more information to work with than the ACT does. Look at it like this: after you read about two pages of an academic book, do you tend to remember where the different pieces of information are located in that reading? Or do you need to go back over it to find specific details? Your answer to these questions canmake adifference between your SAT and ACT Reading scores. This is because one big, somewhat odd difference between the SAT and ACT is their treatment of details in their respective Reading sections. While both tests have questions about small, specific details from the readings,the SAT will usuallytell you what line they're referring to, whereas the ACT frequently does not. Here's a simple example from an ACT Reading section: This kind of question (we call it "fact-finding" at PrepScholar) isn't a challenge if you have the line numbers where the information is located. During the ACT, though, it can be difficult and time-consuming to skim a passageto figure out which specific parta question is referring to. On the SAT, most questions have a line number. Even if they don't, SAT Reading questions always proceed in chronological order. This means you'll have a general idea of where the key information is even if you're not given an exact line reference. If you can easily remember where information is located in a passage, these ACTquestions will be a piece of cake and give you extra time for the harder ones. If you don't, ACT Readingwill frustrate you and simply suck up your precious time. Bottom Line:The ability to remember the locations of details in reading passageswill give you a greater advantage on the ACT. Factor 5: How Easily Can You Cite Evidence for Your Answers? On Reading, the SAT has questions calledevidence-support questions, whichthe ACT doesn't have. These are two-part questions: thefirst question will ask you something general about the passage, whereasthe following question will ask you to cite the specific evidence that supports your answer to the previous question. Here's an exampleof one of these question pairs on the SAT: Source: Official SAT Practice Lesson Plans for Teachers by Teachers As you can see, these questions can be tricky because theyrequire higher-level thinking and strong reasoning skills. If you're stuck on the first question, you likely won't get the second one right either. Take the ACT, though, and you won't have to worry about Reading questions like these. Bottom Line:If you aren’t used to finding evidence to support your reasoning, SAT Reading might be more challenging for you than ACT Reading. Factor 6: Which Types of Writing Questions Do You Prefer? Both the SAT and the ACT Writing/English sections have passage-based questions, but the topics these questions focus on differ between the two tests. ACT English is slightly more focused on grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. This sectionalso includes big picture questions thatask about the main idea of the passage, whereas SAT Writing doesn't include these types of questions. On the other hand,the SAT focuses more on questions about writing style. It also includes what are known as precision questions; these require you to select the most appropriate word or phrase. Because of precision and other similar questions, the SAT tends to test vocabulary a little more than the ACT does. Bottom Line:The Writing/English sections for both testsare highly similar. However, if you have a solid knowledge of grammar and sentence structure, youmight find ACT English easier, whereas if you prefer questions aboutwriting style and vocabulary,SAT Writing might be easier for you. Instead of flipping through a dictionary to learn vocab, why not check out our SAT vocab list? ACT and SAT Format-Related Abilities: 2 Factors For this section major section, we look at format-related abilities. Unlike content-related abilities, which deal with the content of the ACT and SAT, format-related abilities deal with the overall structures of the two tests and the testing requirements of your state. Below are the top two format-related factors to consider as well as our advice on whether the ACT or SAT might be easier for you. Factor 7: Are You Able to Avoid Getting Stuck on Challenging Questions? Especially in the Math sections of both tests and theSciencesection of the ACT, it's easy for many students to get wrapped up in trying to figure out a particularly challenging problem. This can turn into spending four or five minutes on a single question and missing other ones as a result. Why is this important? The ACT gives much less time per question. Here is a chart showing the time per question on both tests, for reference: Test Section Total Time # of Questions Time per Question ACT English 45 minutes 75 36 seconds Math 60 minutes 60 60 seconds Reading 35 minutes 40 53 seconds Science 35 minutes 40 53 seconds SAT Reading 65 minutes 52 75 seconds Writing 35 minutes 44 48 seconds Math No Calculator: 25 minutes Calculator: 55 minutes No Calculator: 20 Calculator: 38 No Calculator: 75 seconds Calculator: 86 seconds As you can see from this comparison chart, in all sections the ACT offers less time per question than the SAT does.While the ACT English and SAT Writing sections only differ by 12 seconds per question, the two tests' Reading sections differ by 22 seconds- that's almost half a minute more per question! With the Math sections, too, the ACT offers far less time per question. On the SAT Math Calculator subsection, you'll get about 86 seconds per question; however, you'll get 26 seconds less on each ACT Math question. Bottom Line:The ability to move on from difficult questions and work quickly will give you a greater advantage on the ACT. Factor 8: Do You Live in a State That Requires ACT or SAT Testing? This last factor is pretty cut and dried: if your state requires you to take one of the two tests, you'll likely find that test easier. The following 15 states use the ACT as part of their statewide testing regimen: Alabama Hawaii Kentucky Louisiana Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada North Carolina North Dakota (students must take ACT or WorkKeys) South Carolina Utah Wisconsin Wyoming And the following eight regions use the SATas part of their testing regimen: Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Illinois Maine Michigan New Hampshire Having a required test can help you be more prepared for that exam. For example, if you live in a state that requires you to take the ACT, you'll likely receive significant in-school preparation for that exam, and yourteachers will be more familiar with how the ACT is formatted and what skills it tests. Even though you can still take the test your state doesn't require, you'll likely be less familiar with it and won't have had as much exposure to it as you did with the one required by your state. Bottom Line:Living in one of the states where the ACT or SAT is requiredwillgive you a slight advantage on that test.That said, if you’re committed toprepping seriously, you’ll get so much exposure to whichevertest you choose that this initial boost won’t make much of a difference in the end. What's your move: ACT or SAT? ACT vs SAT: How Do I Decide Which Test to Take? In this article, we’ve listed tons of important factors to help you figure out whether the ACT or SAT will be easier for you. But is there a quicker way to determine which test you should take? We recommend using the chart below to help organize your thoughts. For each question, answer yes or no (by marking it with an X or check mark) in accordance with your own personal strengths and weaknesses. Once finished, tally up your yes marks and give yourselfonepoint for each yes. For example, if you answered yes to the first question about trigonometry, you'd get one point. However, if you answered no, you'd earn zero points for that question. Question Yes No Are you good at applying trigonometry and geometry skills? Do you like being able to use a calculator on math questions? Are you good at memorizing lots of math formulas? Are you comfortable with scientific terms? Can you easily remember the locations of details in passages? Do you have strong grammar and punctuation skills? Can you work quickly and efficiently? Do you live in one of the mandatory ACT testing states? Are you OK with answering questions that arenot in chronological order? Is it difficult for you to find evidence in passages to support your answers? Do you struggle to answer questions about writing style? Do you often have trouble with vocabulary questions? Once you've tallied up your points, find your score below to learn what it means about which test will be easier for you: 1-4 points: The SAT's got your name on it! If you answered mostly "no" in the chart above, then you'll likely find the SAT easier than the ACT. With the SAT, you don't have to worry about as many geometry questions or a science section, and you'll get more time per question. 5-8 points: You can take the ACT or SAT If you answered "yes" and "no" an equal (or nearly equal) number of times, you can take either test. In other words,the SAT and ACT will be roughly the same difficulty based on the combination of strengths and weaknesses you noted above. 9-12 points: The ACT's the one for you! If you answered mostly "yes," then the ACT will be the easier test for you. With the ACT, you'll get to flex your science and trig muscles. You'll also get to focus more on grammar and punctuation knowledge and less on vocab and writing style. What's the Best Way to Figure Out Whether to Take the ACT or SAT? The above factors we covered are just general principles to guide your thinking. In the end, the best gauge of which test fits you better is to take a full-length practice test of each test and compare your scores on them.You can access all officialSAT practice tests and ACT practice testsfor free on our blog. We’ve also written guides on how to figure out what your target SAT score and target ACT score should be. Knowing this can help you determine how far you'll have to improve on each test. If your practice test score for one test is higher than it is for the other in relation to your target score, you'll likely have a better shot at getting into your target colleges using that test! What's Next? If you're aiming for a top ACT or SAT score, check out our guides togettinga perfect SAT scoreand a perfect ACT score. Both were written by our resident full scorer! Not sure when to take the ACT or SAT? Figure out the best test dates to take the SAT or ACT, and learn how to create an ACT/SAT study schedule for yourself. Whether you decide to take the SAT or ACT,youhaveto know what your target score is. Figure this out using ourSAT target score guideandACT target score guide. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT and ACT prep classes. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160+ points or your ACT score by 4+ points. Our classes are entirely online, and they're taught by experts. If you liked this article, you'll love our classes. Along with expert-led classes, you'll get personalized homework with thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step, custom program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Try it risk-free today:

Questions in law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Questions in law - Essay Example The magistrate courts are the basic legal structure in the courts hierarchy. Magistrate courts handle immediate cases such as crime and low valued civil cases. County courts are next in line after the magistrate courts and they handle complicated cases. Cases that cannot be handled in county courts are referred to the crown courts. The High Court deals with criminal cases that cannot be handled at lower courts. The court of appeal handles appeals for cases passed by the High Court or other lower courts. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the English legal system and it handles cases that involve the state (Best, 2007, p. 132). Ratio decidendi is a Latin term applied in courts to imply the basis of a decision. These are principles used by judges to make decisions in a court ruling. In addition, ratio decidendi create a binding precedent. Such precedent binds inferior courts to decision-making principle applied in a superior court. On the other hand, Obiter dicta is a Latin word meaning â€Å"other things said†. Obiter dicta provide principles for decision making in a law court. Unlike ratio decidendi, obiter dicta does not have a binding precedent. Overruling involves declaring pervious case ruling incorrect and terminating their application in current courts case. However, overruling does not have an effect on the previous court decisions. On the other hand, revising involves revisiting a previous court decisions. Revising takes place at the court of appeal and it can overturn a court ruling. Distinguishing is the process whereby a court analyzes the facts and principles of a binding precedent to establish their applicability in a current case. Distinguishing is applied to avoid mistakes and inconveniences committed at earlier rulings. Under section 2(a) of the contract Act 1950, an offer indicates the willingness of a person or a party to do or abstain from doing something. On the other hand, an invitation involves making a proposal for an

The Earth Liberation Front(ELA) is a serious terrorist threat and Research Paper

The Earth Liberation Front(ELA) is a serious terrorist threat and should be taken as such - Research Paper Example Eventually, ELF was spread in 17 countries as their actions were reported and recorded. It is now known as an international movement that carries out its actions in many of the major European countries1. The ELF movement can be greatly related to the Animal Liberation Front as both of these organizations operate in the same context. ELF is known to be the descending of the Animal Liberation Front as both of these movements operate is in very good terms, relations and cooperation. Both of these movements also use the similar guidelines under which they operate and they tend to have the same leaderless resistance. They gain sympathy at the hands of the people and call themselves an eco-defense dedicated group. Sympathizers also say that this group is dedicated to work without the profit motive on environmental destruction. They cause economical destruction to businesses in order to save the environment by damaging businesses’ property2. With such policies and activities, the ELF movement was known to be the top ‘domestic terror’ threat in 2001 according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in United States. The term which is still used for the members of the ELF is ‘eco-terrorists’. ... ?ELA – A Serious Terrorist Threat ? The Earth Liberation Front operates in a different way than other welfare organizations and other terrorist organizations. Their system of management has no leadership, hierarchy or any official representative or spokesperson. It is a decentralized organization rather than choosing individuals to use the terms as banners. The members if this cooperation who are the individuals on their own are known to work together in different cells which are bounded groups and these individuals are usually self-funded hence creating no space for leadership or membership which is centralized. These individuals are said to be the eco-terrorists as they work with each other to prepare and plan techniques of reducing exploitation of the natural environment3. The technique which is most commonly recorded to be carried out the most by these individuals is destruction to property. Different tools are being used by them to carry out such activities and one of the m is arson in which they burn the property. Many of the activists today believe that arson is used to injure animals, people and the environment. The eco-terrorists use such techniques to handle the property which they believe is destroying the natural environment despite the people or animals being harmed in the process. These techniques are operated differently in the United States and in the UK. However, they are also sometimes called ecotage. The reasons why the ELF carries out such terrifying methods of saving the environment or use terrifying techniques such as arson are many. Researchers have found many reasons that mark the activities of the eco-terrorists and the

An Argument Supporting a Thesis on the Effective Use of English Essay

An Argument Supporting a Thesis on the Effective Use of English - Essay Example Additionally, whenever a person wishes to travel to a place in the globe, they have to communicate throughout their journey. For instance, if a person does not understand the language at a place in the globe, he or she would communicate their concerns to those inhabitants through talking English. If we could imagine of a person who does snot confer the English language travelling to a distant land whose language they may not understand, they would find it extremely intricate to express their sentiments. Thus, it is a benefit to learn and comprehend the English language. Communicating in English with a foreigner would be an easy thing to do, since numerous people have an understanding of English. This explicates on the reason behind why most media publications are expressed in the English language. These publications include newspapers, magazines and broadcasts. If one gets a magazine or newspaper and are interested in reading it, he or she would pick it and start reading. If they do not understand the English written in the initial sentences, they would stop reading the newspaper. Another advantaged person with prior knowledge of English would read it comfortably. Tan has communicates in different English languages, something that she notes peculiar (Tan). She asserts, â€Å"It has become our language of intimacy, a different sort of English that relates to family talk, the language I grew up with.† Thus, the truth that her environment implicated on her English quality proves that backgrounds immensely contribute to incompetence in talking in effective and perfect English. In the case of immigrants from a distant country seeking, employment or residence in a neighbouring country, prior knowledge of the English language would aid them in interacting with workmates or neighbours. Since English appears to be the most commonly used language for instruction and communication in workplaces, it is pertinent and an added advantage if the immigrant understood how to communicate effectively in the language. Knowledge of English as an instruction language would minimize erring and people would interact effectually with their counterparts. Ability to organize themselves coherently in communication of their sentiments to their counterparts or fellow people, immigrants can be at a merit. For instance, Rodriquez had an immense challenge in speaking English and was disadvantaged when communicating with other English speakers. He asserts that they had to bend lower to hear what he was saying properly (Rodriques 154). This shows how important English language is for immigrants, since Rodriquez must have communicated in English to express his sentiments. Additionally, those immigrants who are in the process of seeking employment in chief industries or companies would have an advantage if are conversant with English speaking. Conversely, their counterparts who have no experience in communicating in English fluently would have a hard time procuring emp loyment. This means that English speakers are at an elevated advantage than those who are not competent in the English language. Because effectual communication is a pertinent activity when operating in the workplace, people who can communicate effectively in English always have an added advantage than their counterparts. In the case of Malcolm X, he felt that he was having difficulties even in writing a simple letter to Muhammad (Malcolm X). He was overly frustrated and could not articulate himself properly and effectively. However, his prison

Business Research Methods 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business Research Methods 2 - Essay Example Like any other business, it is crucial for American Express Travel Agency to find out two things: 1) whether or not the customers are satisfied with the services, and 2) the nature and/or level of the dissatisfaction. Business research brings up a number of challenges for managers in a global economy. Research is a process through which information is turned into knowledge. This knowledge is vital because it is essential to the decision-making process. The amount of information available to managers to make decisions has exploded in the recent years. Business research is made up of a number of inter-dependant components. The core of the business involves serving the consumers through participating in a value-addition process with give-and-take as its essence. Therefore, business research is a function that is concerned with gathering, analysing, interpreting and reporting information so that the corporate decision makers can perform their tasks more effectively. The scope of the busi ness research is far-reaching, and the areas of phenomena that the researchers study are increasing quickly (Hair, Celsi, Samouel, Page, 2011). The main purpose of the market research is to identify the needs and wants of the customers, find out how these needs and wants can be met, and how we can distinguish ourselves from the competition (Authenticity Consulting, 2011). Often, it is seen that corporations want to know everything about their programs, services and products. The research plan that is adopted often depends on the information that needs to be collected in order to make vital decisions about the product portfolio. The more focused a company is on what it wishes to find out through the market research process, the better the results are. Also, the time taken to collect the relevant information will be shorter, as the time taken to collect irrelevant information is eliminated. There is an opportunity cost regarding the breadth and depth of the information that one wants to collect. Generally, it is seen that the more breadth the information has, the less depth one will get. On the other hand, if a company wants to research on a specific aspect of a product or service, vital information about the other aspects might be lost in the process (Authenticity Consulting, 2011). The two types of marketing research available to any business include primary research and secondary research. Secondary research focuses on gathering information or data that is already available, mostly by studies performed previously by government agencies etc. This kind of information is already available in the libraries as well as on the Web. There are a number of advantages and disadvantages of using secondary research. It might not always be relevant as it was collected for another purpose. Moreover, it might be out-dated or inaccurate if it is very old or wasn’t collected by a relevant source. However, on the upside it is not as expensive as the primary research and it provides guidelines for a customized primary research to be carried out later. Hence, it is a basis for the design of primary research. Secondary research is essential for travelling agencies such as American Express travelling agency because it can provide them with the necessary statistics that are essential for decision-making. The statistics could include the number of people who go on a holiday, their preferred destination, as well as the amount they are