Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems

c) The Economic Environment

Britain possessed a national market: there were no internal customs borders and a single currency. Furthermore, Britain controlled a vast empire, enabling British companies to obtain raw materials and sell manufactured goods globally.

d) The Intellectual Environment

Adam Smith, a Scottish economist, was the most important economic philosopher of the Enlightenment. In 1776, he published The Wealth of Nations. In this book, he defended three main ideas:

• Anti-mercantilism: The wealth of a nation is not its gold reserves, but the goods and services it produces.

5. Consequences of the Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution (IR) was not only a technical and economic process; it also transformed society. The main social... Continue reading "Industrial Revolution: Economic Shifts and Social Structures" »

Collision theory 

- In order for a successful collision to occur, they must collide with the right amount of energy, and in the right orientation

       - Not all collisions are effective, only those that meet the minimum activation energy are effective

- The reaction rate also depends on how frequently reactant molecules collide

        - By colliding more often, reactant particles have more opportunities to undergo effective collisions

INCREASE CONCENTRATION OF REACTANTS: 

- More Particles, More Collisions: Higher concentration means more reactant molecules packed into the same volume.

- Increased Frequency: With more particles, the number of collisions occurring per second goes up significantly.

- More Successful Collisions: A greater... Continue reading "Temperature remains unchanged or decreases slightly as altitude is increased?" »

T1: What are the Social Sciences (SSCC)?

The Social Sciences are a group of disciplines that study human beings in their social dimension. Their main objective is to understand how people live together, organize societies, create cultures, and establish social, political, and economic relations.

Social Sciences are considered an umbrella term, as they include different disciplines that analyze social reality from various perspectives. They focus on the relationship between the individual and society, not on the individual in isolation. It is important to distinguish Social Sciences from the Humanities, which focus on philosophical and artistic thought, and from Social Studies, an educational field that integrates content from different Social... Continue reading "Social Sciences Teaching: Curriculum, Methods and Cultural Heritage" »

Differentiation in Language Learning

Differentiation occurs when one category in the L1 corresponds to two or more categories in the L2. For example, English has one verb "to know," but Catalan differentiates this meaning into two verbs: saber and conèixer. An English speaker learning Catalan must learn to distinguish between these two verbs where English has only one. For this reason, differentiation is considered the most difficult category in the learning hierarchy.

Working Memory and Language Acquisition

Working Memory (WM) is a limited cognitive system that temporarily stores and processes information at the same time. In Second Language Acquisition (SLA), it allows learners to hold linguistic information in mind while understanding, comparing,... Continue reading "Key Concepts in Second Language Acquisition and Cognition" »

Common Logical Fallacies in Argumentation

1. Ad Baculum (Appeal to Force)

This fallacy replaces logical reasoning with intimidation or coercion. Instead of offering evidence, the speaker uses a threat—physical, social, or economic—to compel agreement.

Example: “Approve this project or you will lose your position.” It violates rational debate because persuasion under threat does not prove correctness.

2. Ad Verecundiam (Appeal to Authority)

This fallacy incorrectly bases truth on an authority's statement without evaluating evidence. While expert opinions can inform arguments, they do not replace proof.

Example: “A famous athlete uses this supplement, so it must be safe.”

3. Ambiguity Fallacy

Occurs when vague, double-meaning, or undefined... Continue reading "Common Logical Fallacies: Identification and Analysis" »

The IMC Strategic Process in Public Relations

The Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) approach ensures coherence between what an organization does and what it says. In Public Relations, IMC functions as a strategic blueprint for building reputation, credibility, and legitimacy, ensuring that communication is aligned with real organizational behavior.

The 10-Step Strategic Framework

Situation Analysis (SWOT)

• Theory: Analysis of internal and external environments to identify reputational risks, ethical pressures, and opportunities.

• PR Significance: Decisions must be grounded in real data rather than assumptions to avoid legitimacy and trust issues.

Define the PR Problem & Challenge

• Theory: Identification of negative perceptions and their connection

The IMC Strategic Process in PR

The Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) approach ensures that "what the company does" matches "what the company says." In PR, this is the blueprint for building reputation and legitimacy.

The 10-Step Strategic Framework

1. Situation Analysis (SWOT)

Theory: Analyzing internal/external environments to identify reputational risks and ethical pressures.

PR Significance: Actions must be based on real risks, not assumptions, to prevent legitimacy problems.

2. Define the PR Problem & Challenge

Theory: Identifying how the company is perceived negatively and linking it to ethics.

PR Significance: A clear problem definition acts as a "north star" for all communication decisions.

3. Set SMART Objectives

Theory: Goals must... Continue reading "IMC Strategic Process for Public Relations Success" »

White-Collar Crime: Definition and Context

White-collar crime cannot be understood only by looking at the illegal act. It refers to crimes committed from positions of social and economic power, usually within organizational or corporate contexts. What defines these crimes is not only illegality, but the status of the offender, their access to power, and the abuse of trust and authority involved. According to Sutherland, white-collar crime differs from street crime because it is embedded in legitimate institutions.

Survival-Based Crime vs Elite Crime

The main difference between survival-based crime and elite crime lies in motivation. Survival-based crime is motivated by necessity or subsistence, while elite crime is motivated by profit, advantage,

Why Barcelona Changed Its Image

Why has Barcelona changed its image in recent years? In recent years, Barcelona's branding has slowly changed, mainly because the old tourist image started to cause problems.

In the past, Barcelona was mostly known for tourism, beaches and nightlife. This image attracted many visitors and became very popular. However, over time the negative effects of mass tourism began to accumulate. For many people from the working and middle classes, the city started to focus more on visitors with a premium price tag.

From Tourism to a More Realistic City Image

Because of this, the city decided to change its image. Nowadays, Barcelona tries to show a more realistic side. Recent campaigns focus more on local neighbourhoods, culture... Continue reading "Barcelona Rebrands: From Tourism to Local Life and Events" »