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Which statement best reflects the economic definition of “demand” and identifies the TWO essentials for a consumer to have effective demand?

Which statement best explains how division and specialization of labor, combined with voluntary trade in free markets, increase productivity and raise standards of living?

Which outcomes can result from imposing a price floor?

In “The Speech of Polly Baker” by Benjamin Franklin, a woman named Polly Baker defends herself in court for having children outside of marriage. She argues that she shouldn’t be punished for something men aren’t punished for, especially when she’s raising the children on her own. Franklin wrote this as a fictional speech to point out the unfair treatment of women in society. Your Task:After reading the speech, think about how Polly is treated and what message Franklin might be trying to send. Then, connect that message to something you see in today’s world.  In your response (250+ words, 1-2 paragraphs), make sure to: Explain what point Franklin is making through Polly’s speech. Give a specific example from today’s society that connects to the issues Polly talks about.

After reading this week’s selections, respond to the following prompt in a well-developed paragraph. Explain why Paine thought early America was in crisis, and detail your own idea of how you believe America might be currently in crisis today. Answer all parts of this prompt. 

Edgar Allan Poe is considered a master of Gothic fiction and a key figure in the anti-transcendentalism movement. His works explore themes of death, obsession, guilt, and the psychological depths of human nature. This week, we’ve read three of his most compelling pieces: “The Cask of Amontillado,” “Annabel Lee,” and “The Oval Portrait.” Prompt: Respond with two well-developed paragraphs (total of 250-300 words): Death and Memory: All three works deal with death, but each approaches it differently. Analyze how Poe presents death in one of the stories or poems, and discuss whether the narrator/speaker finds peace, torment, or something else in their relationship with mortality. What does this reveal about Poe’s view of death?

Both of Hawthorne’s stories show us characters who behave in troubling or mysterious ways. In “The Minister’s Black Veil,” Mr. Hooper wears a veil for his entire life and refuses to explain why, even though it ruins his relationships and isolates him from everyone he loves. The townspeople react with fear and suspicion instead of compassion. In “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment,” four elderly people get a chance to be young again, but they immediately make the same foolish mistakes they made in their youth. They learn nothing from their past. Your response should explore this question: Based on these two stories, what do you think Hawthorne believes about human nature? Does he think people are basically good, capable of learning and improving themselves? Or does he seem to believe that people are flawed, sinful, or unable to change? Use examples you remember from one or both stories to support your interpretation. Think about how the characters behave, what they choose to do, and what the endings of these stories suggest about whether people can truly understand themselves or become better.

Both Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau championed the ideals of non-conformity and self-reliance in their writings. Emerson declared, “Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist” and advised us to “Trust thyself,” while Thoreau demonstrated these principles through his deliberate living at Walden Pond and his act of civil disobedience. “Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist… Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Self-Reliance” First, explain what Emerson means in this quote. What is he telling us about how we should live? What does “the integrity of your own mind” mean? Second, think about whether this advice is realistic today. What makes it hard to be a nonconformist in 2026? Consider things like social media pressure, needing money to survive, or what family and friends expect from you. Can someone really follow Emerson’s advice today, or do we all have to conform in certain ways? Explain your thinking with specific examples. Respond with a well-written paragraph or two. 

You must acknowledge the following item by typing the entire bolded sentence while replacing”[insert my first and last names here]” with your first and last names: I, [insert first and last names here], acknowledge that Dr. Ward has the right to refuse any courseworkhe suspects was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence.

You must acknowledge the following item by typing the entire bolded sentence while replacing”[insert my first and last names here]” with your first and last names: I, [insert first and last names here], acknowledge that Dr. Ward has the right to require me to reviseand resubmit any coursework he suspects was created with the assistance of ArtificialIntelligence.