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ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION
SECTION II
Total time — 2 hours
Question 1
(Suggested time – 40 minutes. This question counts one-­third of the total essay section score.)
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has delivered communications for more than two centuries. During the QLQHWHHQWKFHQWXU\WKH8636KHOSHGWRH[SDQGWKHERXQGDULHVRIWKH8QLWHG6WDWHVE\SURYLGLQJHI¿FLHQWDQG
UHOLDEOHFRPPXQLFDWLRQDFURVVWKHFRXQWU\%HWZHHQDQGDORQHWKHQXPEHURISRVWRI¿FHVLQWKH United States grew from 75 to over 28,000. With this growth came job opportunities for postal workers and a boom in the cross-­country rail system. The twentieth century brought substantial growth to the USPS, including large package delivery and airmail. Over the past decade, however, total mail volume has decreased considerably as competition from electronic mail and various package delivery companies has taken business away from the USPS. The loss of revenue has prompted the USPS to consider cutting back on delivery days and other services.
Carefully read the following seven sources, including the introductory information for each source. Then synthesize information from at least three of the sources and incorporate it into a coherent, well-­developed essay that argues a clear position on whether the USPS should be restructured to meet the needs of a changing world, and if so, how.
Make sure your argument is central;; use the sources to illustrate and support your reasoning. Avoid merely summarizing the sources. Indicate clearly which sources you are drawing from, whether through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. You may cite the sources as Source A, Source B, etc., or by using the descriptions in parentheses.
Source A Source B Source C Source D Source E Source F Source G (Stone)
(graph)
(O’Keefe)
(Hawkins)
(McDevitt)
(Cullen)
(photo)
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Source A
Stone, Daniel. “Flying Like an Eagle?” Newsweek. Newsweek, 5 Oct. 2009. Web. 24 Sept. 2010.
The following is excerpted from an online article in a national news magazine.
Anyone who’s waited, and waited, in line at the old letter hub knows the service could probably be run better. NEWSWEEK asked a variety of management consultants and business futurists how to turn the old pony express into a sleek, 21st-­century moneymaker — or, at the very least, a breaker-­even. Listen up, Postal Service (and Congress): for this advice, we’ll let you cut in line.
1) Get into the e-­business. More people are e-­mailing? So meet their needs. “Give every American an e-­mail address when they’re born,” suggests futurist Watts Wacker. Might they look elsewhere for a different one? Sure, but at least you’ll maintain relevance in their mind. Plus, you can sell lucrative advertising on those accounts.
,QFUHDVHVHUYLFH'RQ¶WGURSIURPVL[WR¿YHGD\GHOLYHU\JRWKHRWKHUZD\VD\V.HOORJJ6FKRROPDUNHWLQJSURI Richard Honack — to all seven. It seems counterintuitive to add service when you’re losing money, but people have less faith in the system precisely because of spotty service. Consider tightening hours, but the USPS could be the ¿UVWFDUULHUWRUHOLDEO\GHOLYHUDOOZHHN
$GYHUWLVHZLWKFRXSRQV,WVRXQGVOLNHDQDUFKDLFZD\WRDWWUDFWFXVWRPHUVLQDQHZHUDEXWLISHRSOHDUHÀRFNLQJ to the Internet, give them an incentive to come back. “We’re a coupon-­cutting society,” says futurist and business strategist Marlene Brown. “Make people feel like there’s value added.”
4) Make a play for control of government broadband [Internet access]. With Congress considering an expansion of EURDGEDQGDFFHVVZK\QRWSXWLWXQGHUWKH8636DVNVIXWXULVW'DYLG+RXOH³7KDWZRXOGGH¿QHWKH3RVWDO6HUYLFH as a communications-­delivery service, rather than just a team of letter carriers. Don’t let the service’s tie to Congress PDNHLW¿]]OH,IXVHGULJKWZK\QRWXVHLWDVDQDGYDQWDJH"´
5) Rebrand. No one knows what the Postal Service stands for, says Wacker. “Fly like an eagle, what does that even PHDQ"´$FRPSDQ\¶VEUDQGLVLWVPRVWYDOXDEOHWRRORULWVELJJHVWOLDELOLW\&RQWUDFWRXWWR¿QGDQHZORJRDQG slogan that actually convey what you do and how you do it. And then use them. (In this week’s NEWSWEEK PDJD]LQHZHDVNHGWKUHHGHVLJQ¿UPVWRJHWVWDUWHG
6) Close branches if you must, but do it strategically. Franchise services by region, posits business strategist *XUXPXUWK\.DO\DQDUDP<RXGRQ¶WQHHGDIXOOVHUYLFHSRVWRI¿FHHYHU\IHZEORFNVLQ1HZ<RUNIRUH[DPSOH Some centers could be for letters only, others for packages. That way you cut down on staff size and service required to and from each.
5HRUJDQL]HDQGPRWLYDWHVWDII3D\LQJKLJKZDJHVZLWKLQÀDWHGMREVHFXULW\LVQ¶WDFRPSHWLWLYHVWUDWHJ\8QLRQV PD\EH¿HUFHEXWFRQVXOWDQW3HWHU&RKDQWKLQNVPDQDJHPHQWVKRXOGSXWHPSOR\HHFRQWUDFWVRXWWRELG$QGDGG incentives: if a worker saves money, give him a percentage. Inversely, put jobs on the line to avoid losses. In other words, run it like a real business.
From Newsweek October 5, 2009 © 2009 Harman Newsweek LLC, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission and protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States. The printing, copying, redistribution, or retransmission of the Material without express written permission is prohibited.
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Source B
“The Challenge to Deliver: Creating the 21st Century Postal Service: United States Postal Service 2009 Annual Report.” United States Postal Service. United States Postal Service, 2009. Web. 24 Sept. 2010.
The following graph is excerpted from the 2009 annual report of the United States Postal Service.
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Source C
O’Keefe, Ed. “Postal Service Expected to Announce µ6LJQL¿FDQW&KDQJHV¶´Washington Post. Washington Post Company, 2 Mar. 2010. Web. 27 Sept. 2010.
The following is excerpted from an online article in a national newspaper.
7KH863RVWDO6HUYLFHZLOOUHOHDVHSURMHFWLRQV7XHVGD\WKDWFRQ¿UPIRUWKH¿UVWWLPHWKHVXVSLFLRQWKDWPDLO volume will never return to pre-­recession levels. In response, the agency is pushing anew for a dramatic reshaping of how Americans get and send their letters and packages.
Customers are continuing to migrate to the Internet and to cheaper standard-­mail options, and away from the Postal 6HUYLFH¶VVLJQDWXUHSURGXFW²¿UVWFODVVPDLO3RVWPDVWHU*HQHUDO-RKQ(3RWWHUZLOOUHSRUWLQDQQRXQFLQJWKH
projections.
7KH3RVWDO6HUYLFHH[SHULHQFHGDSHUFHQWGURSLQPDLOYROXPHODVW¿VFDO\HDUPRUHWKDQGRXEOHDQ\SUHYLRXV decline, and lost $3.8 billion. The projections anticipate steeper drops in mail volume and revenue over the next \HDUVDQGPRXQWLQJODERUFRVWVRQO\FRPSOLFDWHWKHDJHQF\¶VSDWKWR¿UP¿VFDOIRRWLQJ
,QDQHIIRUWWRRIIVHWVRPHRIWKHORVVHV3RWWHUVHHNVPRUHÀH[LELOLW\LQWKHFRPLQJ\HDUWRVHWGHOLYHU\VFKHGXOHV prices and labor costs. The changes could mean an end to Saturday deliveries, longer delivery times for letters and SDFNDJHVKLJKHUSRVWDJHVWDPSSULFHVWKDWH[FHHGWKHUDWHRILQÀDWLRQDQGWKHSRWHQWLDOIRUIXWXUHOD\RIIV
“At the end of the day, I’m convinced that if we make the changes that are necessary, we can continue to provide universal service for Americans for decades to come,” Potter said Monday. “We can turn back from the red to the EODFNEXWWKHUHDUHVRPHVLJQL¿FDQWFKDQJHVZHQHHGWRPDNH´
The postmaster general called for many of these changes last year but failed to convince lawmakers. This time he’s armed with $4.8 million worth of outside studies that conclude that, without drastic changes, the mail agency will face even more staggering losses.
From The Washington Post, © March 02, 2010 The Washington Post. All rights reserved. Used by permission and protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States. The printing, copying, redistribution, or retransmission of the Material without express written permission is prohibited.
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Source D
Hawkins, Dawn. “Advantages of Using the United States Postal Service.” Associated Content. Associated Content, 14 Aug. 2009. Web. 27 Sept. 2010.
The following is excerpted from an online article.
0RVWSHRSOHUHIHUWRVHQGLQJPDLOWKURXJKWKHSRVWRI¿FHDVVQDLOPDLO7KHUHLVJRRGUHDVRQEHKLQGWKDW,WWDNHV days for mail to get to its destination through the postal service. When you compare that to sending an email or SD\LQJDELOORQOLQHLWGRHVQ¶WPDNHVHQVHWRXVHWKHSRVWRI¿FHWKDWRIWHQ8VLQJWKH8QLWHG6WDWHVSRVWDOVHUYLFHKDV a lot of advantages though.
Here is a look at some of the advantages of using he United States postal service:
1. Cheaper than other services — Using UPS or FedEx is very expensive. It costs far more to send packages through WKHVHVHUYLFHV<RXFDQJHWWKHVDPHW\SHRIVHUYLFHIURPWKHSRVWRI¿FHIRUVPDOOSDFNDJHVDWDQH[WUHPHO\ORZHU
price. If the bad economy hasn’t taught us anything else, it has taught us not to waste any money.
2. Personal touch — It’s nice to sometimes get a personally written letter in the mail. Email is great for a quick note here and there. It helps you keep up with people and it’s instant. However, nothing replaces a personally written letter to an old friend. It gives the message a more intimate feeling.
3. It keeps Americans working — One of the few jobs that can’t be outsourced to other countries is mail delivery. You know when you send a letter or your bills through the mail, you are helping other Americans keep their jobs. 0DQ\SRVWRI¿FHVDUHLQWKHSURFHVVRULQGDQJHURIFORVLQJGRZQEHFDXVHRIWKHLQFUHGLEOHLPSDFWWKHLQWHUQHWKDV
had on it. Making a point of sending one piece of mail once a month is one way to help.
4. People without technology — Even though the vast majority of people are connected to the internet, there are PDQ\SHRSOHZKRDUHQ¶W,IWKHSRVWRI¿FHZHUHWRVKXWGRZQLWZRXOGPDNHLWH[WUHPHO\GLI¿FXOWIRUWKRVHSHRSOHWR
get mail and packages sent. UPS and FedEx do offer package delivery, not everyone has one close by. It is also more expensive as discussed earlier.
5. Paperless isn’t always better — Everyone loves the idea of going paperless. It isn’t likely that this will ever completely happen. It’s important to keep paper copies of some things. Having copies of your bills helps keep better track of the information. Things happen with computers. Information can easily be lost including important documentation. Having a paper copy sent to you through the mail helps you back it up. . . .
6. 2WKHUVHUYLFHV²7KH8QLWHG6WDWHVSRVWRI¿FHRIIHUVVHUYLFHVIDUEH\RQGGHOLYHU\VHUYLFH<RXFDQJHWPRQH\
orders, set up P.O. boxes and use your debit card for purchases to get cash back.
Associated Content. Online Copyright 2010 by ASSOCIATED CONTENT. Reproduced with permission of ASSOCIATED CONTENT in the format Textbook via Copyright Clearance Center.
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Source E
McDevitt, Caitlin. “To Postal Workers, No Mail Is µ-XQN¶:LWK5HYHQXHV)DOOLQJWKH3RVW2I¿FH Owes Its Future to Stuff We Throw Out.” Newsweek. Newsweek, 27 Sept. 2008. Web. 28 Sept. 2010.
The following is excerpted from an online article in a national news magazine.
These are tough times for the U.S. Postal Service. It’s being pummeled by high fuel costs. The soft economy is crimping the overall volume of mail, which fell 5.5 percent in the past year. Its business is also falling as Americans opt for e-­mail over birthday cards and thank-­you notes. Now comes another threat: consumers like Colleen Plimpton RI%HWKHO&RQQ(DUOLHUWKLV\HDU3OLPSWRQEHFDPHWLUHGRIWKHFUHGLWFDUGRIIHUVFDWDORJVDQGDGYHUWLVLQJÀLHUVWKDW FORJJHGKHUPDLOER[6RLQ)HEUXDU\VKHSDLGWR*UHHQ'LPHVD¿UPWKDWKHOSVFRQVXPHUVUHGXFHWKHLULQÀRZRI ³MXQNPDLO´E\FRQWDFWLQJEXVLQHVVHVRQWKHLUEHKDOI³>-XQNPDLOHUV@DUHFXWWLQJGRZQWUHHVZLOO\QLOO\DQGWKDWKDV got to stop,” says Plimpton.
7RWKHSRVWRI¿FHFRQVXPHUVOLNHKHUDUHDVHULRXVWKUHDW³(IIRUWVWRFRQYLQFHSHRSOHQRWWRUHFHLYHPDLODUHUHDOO\ going to hurt,” says Steve Kearney, a Postal Service senior vice president.
The Postal Service lost $1.1 billion in its latest quarter. That number would be even larger if it weren’t for direct mailings, which now constitute 52 percent of mail volume, up from 38 percent in 1990. Revenue from direct mail “is WKH¿QDQFLDOXQGHUSLQQLQJRIWKH3RVWDO6HUYLFH²LWFRXOGQRWVXUYLYHZLWKRXWLW´VD\V0LFKDHO&RXJKOLQIRUPHU deputy postmaster.
But 89 percent of consumers say in polls that they’d prefer not to receive direct-­marketing mail;; 44 percent of it is never opened. That’s why 19 state legislatures have debated Do Not Mail lists, which would function just like the federal Do Not Call list. But partly due to opposition from postal workers, not a single bill has passed. When Colorado state Rep. Sara Gagliardi held a public meeting on a bill she was sponsoring, she was surprised when a crowd of postal workers showed up to express vehement opposition.
Both the Postal Service and the Direct Marketing Association say direct mail is a key source of customers for small businesses. “Advertising mail is a very valuable product to many consumers,’ says Sam Pulcrano, Postal Service vice president for sustainability, who points to two-­for-­one pizza coupons as especially welcome surprises. To blunt opposition, the DMA recently launched the Mail Moves America coalition to lobby against the restrictions.
GreenDimes founder Pankaj Shah isn’t sympathetic. Not only is his company providing a service to consumers, he says, but it has also used its fees to plant more than 1 million trees. “We’re all about giving consumers choice, not DERXWEULQJLQJGRZQWKHSRVWRI¿FH´KHVD\V6WLOODVPRUHFRQVXPHUVRSWRXWRIMXQNPDLOUDLQVOHHWDQGJORRPRI night may seem like the least of mail carriers’ problems.
From Newsweek October 27, 2008 © 2008 Harman Newsweek LLC, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission and protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States. The printing, copying, redistribution, or retransmission of the Material without express written permission is prohibited.
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Source F
Cullen, Kevin. “Sending, Getting ‘Real’ Mail Still Magic.” Commercial-­News. Commercial-­News, 20 Mar. 2010. Web. 28 Sept. 2010.
The following is excerpted from an online article.
E-­mail is fast and simple, but to me an old-­fashioned, handwritten letter has value in this speed-­obsessed world. I have deleted hundreds of e-­mails in one fell swoop, without taking the time to reread them, but I still have a b=letter that my Grandpa Cullen sent to me when I was 8.
I like to receive letters, thank-­you notes, birthday cards and Christmas cards, and I like to send them too. Even today, it costs just 44 cents to send one from Danville to Sandybeach, Hawaii, or Frozentoes, Alaska . . . a genuine bargain.
Historians worry about the disappearance of permanent, written records. If there were no “real” letters, diaries, JRYHUQPHQWDO¿OHVKDQGELOOVSDPSKOHWVPDJD]LQHVQHZVSDSHUVDQGERRNV²UHDOLQNRQUHDOSDSHU²ZKDWZRXOG be left? Will electronic records even survive for 100 years? And what will happen if they don’t? . . .
7KH3RVWDO6HUYLFHKDVEHHQUHTXLUHGWRSD\LWVRZQFRVWVVLQFHDQGLWPDGHDSUR¿WXQWLO6LQFHWKHQ declining mail volume has created major problems. It delivered 17 percent fewer pieces in 2009 than it did in 2006, and lost $1.4 billion. That money was borrowed from the U.S. Treasury.
0RUHGHFOLQHVLQYROXPHFRXSOHGZLWKWKHVRDULQJFRVWRIUHWLUHHKHDOWKEHQH¿WVFRXOGFUHDWHELOOLRQLQORVVHV RYHUWKHQH[W\HDUV3RVWPDVWHU*HQHUDO-RKQ3RWWHUUHFHQWO\VDLG$SSUR[LPDWHO\KDOIRIWKHSUHVHQW postal workers are expected to retire by 2020.
Eliminating Saturday mail delivery would save $40 billion over a decade. Potter also wants to close and consolidate SRVWRI¿FHV0RUHDQGPRUHSDUWWLPHZRUNHUVZRXOGEHKLUHGDVIXOOWLPHZRUNHUVUHWLUH
Clearly, mail delivery isn’t going away entirely. It’s an essential government function, like feeding the Army. No private contractor will carry a letter from the Florida Keys to Alaska for 44 cents.
I’m going to do my bit by sending more letters.
Our Christmas card list will be expanded. Birthday cards will go to more friends and family. And I’m going to thank more people, in writing, for more things. I will send more cards and letters to offer encouragement, interest and sympathy. It shows good breeding.
,KDYHVKRHER[HV¿OOHGZLWKNLQGOHWWHUVVHQWWRPHWKURXJKWKH\HDUVE\UHDGHUVZKROLNHGVRPHWKLQJWKDW,ZURWH, always thanked them by return mail. Many friendships began that way. Those messages weren’t deleted 100 at a time;; they were saved, and they can be reread. . . . .
It’s satisfying to write a “real” letter, put it in an envelope and drop it into the mailbox. A day or two later, I know, someone will hold it and connect with me. Who knows? It may be read by someone I will never meet, 100 years from now.
Not a bad investment, for 44 cents.
“Sending, Getting ‘Real’ Mail Still Magic,” by Kevin Cullen, copyright © 2010 by Commercial News. Used by permission.
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Source G
2FKRSHH3RVW2I¿FH)ORULGDV N.d. Photograph. Collection of the United States Postal Service. USPS.com. Web. 9 May 2011.
7KHIROORZLQJSKRWRIURPWKH:HEVLWHRIWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV3RVWDO6HUYLFHVKRZVWKH2FKRSHH3RVW2I¿FHWKH VPDOOHVWIUHHVWDQGLQJSRVWRI¿FHLQWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV
2FKRSHH3RVW2I¿FH)ORULGDV‹8QLWHG6WDWHV3RVWDO6HUYLFH$OO5LJKWV5HVHUYHG8VHGZLWK3HUPLVVLRQ
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2012 SCORING GUIDELINES
English Language, Question 1 | United States Postal Service
General Directions: This scoring guide will be useful for most of the essays you read. When it seems LQDSSURSULDWHIRUDVSHFL¿FSDSHUDVN\RXU7DEOH/HDGHUIRUDVVLVWDQFH$OZD\VVKRZ\RXU7DEOH/HDGHUERRNVWKDW
seem to have no response or that contain responses that seem unrelated to the question. Do not assign a score of 0 or – without this consultation.
<RXUVFRUHVKRXOGUHÀHFW\RXUMXGJPHQWRIWKHSDSHU¶VTXDOLW\DVDZKROH5HPHPEHUWKDWVWXGHQWVKDGRQO\
PLQXWHVWRUHDGWKHVRXUFHVDQGPLQXWHVWRZULWHWKHSDSHUWKHUHIRUHLVQRWD¿QLVKHGSURGXFWDQGVKRXOGQRW
be judged by standards appropriate for an out-­of-­class writing assignment. Evaluate the paper as a draft, making certain to reward students for what they do well.
All essays, even those scored 8 or 9, may contain occasional lapses in analysis, prose style, or mechanics. Such features should enter into your holistic evaluation of a paper’s overall quality. In no case should you score a paper with many distracting errors in grammar and mechanics higher than a 2.
——————————————————————————————————————————————
9
Essays earning a score of 9 meet the criteria for the score of 8 and, in addition, are especially sophisticated in their argument, thorough in development, or impressive in their control of language.
8
Effective Essays earning a score of 8 effectively develop a position on whether the USPS should be restructured to meet the needs of a changing world, and if so, how. They develop their position by effectively synthesizing* at least three of the sources. The evidence and explanations used are appropriate and convincing. Their prose demonstrates a consistent ability to control a wide range of the elements of effective writing but is not QHFHVVDULO\ÀDZOHVV
7
Essays earning a score of 7 meet the criteria for the score of 6 but provide more complete explanation, more thorough development, or a more mature prose style.
6
Adequate Essays earning a score of 6 adequately develop a position on whether the USPS should be restructured to meet the needs of a changing world, and if so, how. They develop their position by adequately synthesizing at OHDVWWKUHHRIWKHVRXUFHV7KHHYLGHQFHDQGH[SODQDWLRQVXVHGDUHDSSURSULDWHDQGVXI¿FLHQW7KHODQJXDJHPD\
contain lapses in diction or syntax, but generally the prose is clear.
5
Essays earning a score of 5 develop a position on whether the USPS should be restructured to meet the needs of a changing world, and if so, how. They develop their position by synthesizing at least three sources, but how they use and explain sources is somewhat uneven, inconsistent, or limited. The writer’s argument is generally clear, and the sources generally develop the writer’s position, but the links between the sources and the argument may be strained. The writing may contain lapses in diction or syntax, but it usually conveys the writer’s ideas.
4
Inadequate Essays earning a score of 4 inadequately develop a position on whether the USPS should be restructured to meet the needs of a changing world, and if so, how. They develop their position by synthesizing at least WZRVRXUFHVEXWWKHHYLGHQFHRUH[SODQDWLRQVXVHGPD\EHLQDSSURSULDWHLQVXI¿FLHQWRUOHVVFRQYLQFLQJ7KH
sources may dominate the student’s attempts at development, the link between the argument and the sources may be weak, or the student may misunderstand, misrepresent, or oversimplify the sources. The prose generally conveys the writer’s ideas but may be less consistent in controlling the elements of effective writing.
3
Essays earning a score of 3 meet the criteria for the score of 4 but demonstrate less success in developing a position on whether the USPS should be restructured to meet the needs of a changing world, and if so, how. They are less perceptive in their understanding of the sources, or their explanation or examples may be particularly limited or simplistic. The essays may show less maturity in control of writing.
2
Little Success Essays earning a score of 2 demonstrate little success in developing a position on whether the USPS should be restructured to meet the needs of a changing world, and if so, how. They may merely allude to knowledge gained from reading the sources rather than citing the sources themselves. These essays may misread the sources, fail to develop a position, or substitute a simpler task by merely summarizing or categorizing the sources or by merely responding to the prompt tangentially with unrelated, inaccurate, or inappropriate explanation. The prose of 2 essays often demonstrates consistent weaknesses in writing, such as grammatical problems, a lack of development or organization, or a lack of control.
1
Essays earning a score of 1 meet the criteria for the score of 2 but are undeveloped, especially simplistic in their explanation, weak in their control of writing, or do not allude to or cite even one source.
0
Indicates an off-­topic response, one that merely repeats the prompt, an entirely crossed-­out response, a drawing, or a response in a language other than English.
– Indicates an entirely blank response.
* For the purposes of scoring, synthesis means using sources to develop a position and citing them accurately.
Question 1
United States Postal Service
E
Charles Darwin discovered that animals which adapted to their situation survived while those which didn’t died. This theory of Natural Selection applies to corporations as well. Unless the USPS can keep up with a changing world it is as assured for H[WLQFWLRQDVD¿QFKZKRVHEHDNZRQ¶WDOORZLWWRHDW
The USPS has many important needs for the economy and record keeping of this nation. Therefore it is very necessary that it restructure itself.
As the USPS is right now, it will fail. People have no interest in sending paper mail when email is much faster. People even began using derogator terms like “snail mail” in reference to actual mail. (Source D). Also a large majority of the American population, 89%, dislike almost 50% of the mail they receive. (Source E). In the modern age people do not approve of ZDVWLQJWUHHV7KLVLQÀXHQFHVWKHPWRDFWLYHO\WU\DQG
stop mailing. This lack in interest causes the USPS to have a huge lack in funding. In the last year, they lost $3.8 billion dollars. (Source C). This, coupled with the projection that the USPS will lose $238 Billion in the next 10 years if they do not reform, is a horrible omon for the USPS.
The outside world seems to be moving away from paper mail, yet it is still vastly important that this industry be kept alive. Most information we have today about past civilizations comes from their writing. If we move completely away from paper, there is a possibility that in a thousand years no one will remember us. Furthermore, letter have a more more personal aura than mail sent electronically. Someone might keep a letter he or she recieved for the rest of his or her life, but no one will save an email for a paralleled amount of time. (Source F). Also paper mail represents a large section of the economy. In 2000 almost 800,000 people were employed through the USPS. Only 9 years later ¼ of those people found themselves out of a job. (Source B).
Clearly in order to save personal bonds and employment, the USPS must change. One thing the SRVWRI¿FHPXVWGRLVUHFDSWXUHVRPHRIWKHPDUNHWLW
lost to FedEx and UPS. The USPS is cheaper so why don’t people use it (Source D)? The answer: People can access FedEx or UPS on-­line when they buy something. The USPS needs to embrace the internet which was previously undermining it. Next it ispossible IRU3RVW2I¿FHVWREHVPDOOHU7KHSRVWRI¿FHLQ
Ochopee was miniscule, yet it still got the job done. Why not save money by reducing size. If the USPS doesn’t undergo some form of reform, it will soon meet exstinction, and with this fall out over 600,000 people ZLOO¿QGWKHPVHOYHVXQHPSOR\HG-XVWOLNHHYHU\RWKHU
living entity, the USPS must adapt to survive.
F
The world we live in today is fast paced and ever changing. If the United States Postal Service is unable to adapt to our changing society they will no longer have a place in it. The USPS needs to consider making changes to their systems or they will soon go out of business. The USPS needs to handle more material electronically, try to expand their business and ZRUNWRDFKLHYHDPRUHHI¿FLHQWPHWKRGRIVKLSSLQJ
and service.
We are living in a technologically advanced society. People are far more likely to send an email or text message than write someone a letter;; so the USPS must DGDSW6WRQHVXJJHVWHGWKDWWKH3RVW2I¿FHQHHGVWR
get into the electronic business. They could start by assigning each person an email address from birth. There are also a great number of ways to advertise online. They need to make it more well known that their lower prices are helpful in these economic times. 7KHSRVWRI¿FHFRXOGDOVRKDYHVSHFLDOKROLGD\GHDOV
and coupons that you could print online to lure people WRWKHSRVWRI¿FH
The time for USPS to expand and try new things is now. Stone brought up the idea from David Houle saying that the USPS should try to gain control over government broadband. Houle states that “That would GH¿QHWKH3RVWDO6HUYLFHDVDFRPPXQLFDWLRQVGHOLYHU\
service, rather than just a team of letter carriers.” Having control over Internet access would re-­brand USPS. It would also give them the freedom to advertise however they wish. The expansion of their business could greatly help how they are precieved and help EULQJEXVLQHVVEDFNWRWKH3RVW2I¿FH
0DMRUDFWLRQPXVWEHWDNHQWRLPSURYHWKHHI¿FLHQF\
RIWKH3RVW2I¿FH$VWKHFKDUWLQ6RXUFH%VKRZVWKH
amount of mail that needs to be delivered has greatly decrease over the past two years. The USPS needs to work on a streamlined and more effective method of sending mail. In O’Keefe’s article he states how Potter plans to improve the system. He states “that could mean an end to Saturday deliveries, longer delivery times for letters and packages, higher postage-­stamp SULFHVWKDWH[FHHGWKHUDWHRILQÀDWLRQ´,KRZHYHU
disagree with the methods they are using to attempt to improve the system. I think instead of cutting back on hours, more should be worked to get the mail to place TXLFNO\DQGHI¿FLHQWO\6LQFHRXUZRUOGLVDOODERXW
doing things fast, why would you have it take longer for mail to be delivered. The USPS needs to work out a system in which more mail can be delivered more quickly even if it involves branch closing and layoffs.
There is nothing wrong with a good old fashion letter. The only problem is the system needs to be improved. The USPS needs to work on doing more things electronically, as well as, expanding their FRPSDQ\DQGLPSURYLQJWKHLUVHUYLFHDQGHI¿FLHQF\
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could mean great change and a brighter future for the USPS.
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Since early America, the need of the postal VHUYLFHKDVEHHQSUHVHQW7KHSRVWDOVHUYLFH¿UVW
began its delivery on what we know as “horse and buggy.” Since then, various changes has molded the existence of the U.S. Postal Service. Improvements have proved present throughout the course of delivery. Americans now, have multiple ways of communicating, and the founding organization of mail delivery seems to be declining. With the inventions of things such as the world wide web, e-­mail, and social media, mail delivery is suffering in its business. One may wonder whether there is any need for the U.S. Postal Service due to these changes.
In the time period between 1790–1860, the number RISRVWRI¿FHVJUHZIURPDPHUHWRRYHU
With a growth such as this, many Americans were subject to more jobs;; however, with the increasing GHFOLQHRIXVHRIWKHSRVWDORI¿FHPDQ\MREVDUHEHLQJ
jeoperodized. Many feel as if the mal delivery is too tedious. Americans seek the easiest route in mail delivery, so many choose the internet;; however, is this the easiest route?
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reliable than sent via-­email. Many may disagree with this statement, but emails can be easily deleted with one click and never be retrieved again. How much would one pay to ensure the safety of their e-­mails? Source F states, that the protection of information is “not a bad investment, for 44 cents.”
The internet is known as a tool in which is easily accessible;; however, how much trust does one put into the internet when an e-­mail is sent? Does one not realize that the information sent may be toiled with? According to Source D, the USPS contains advantages that internet does not. It says, the USPS is “Cheaper than other services, keeps Americans working, allows the sender to add a “Personal Touch,” and is accessible for “people without technology.’ ” Although paying 44 cents and writing a letter may seem tedious, it is the better choice.
Lastly, the world’s taste is constantly changing. Although “The Postal Service experienced a 13 percent GURSLQPDLOYROXPHODVW¿VFDO\HDUDQGORVW
billion” (Source C) the realization for the need of The USPS will arise again. In deciding whether to to use The USPS or the world wide web, one must put into consideration whether they fully trust exposing information on the web.
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I believe that the United States Postal Service should meet the needs of a changing world in some ways but in others it should stay the way it is. Many different changes are going on in our world today, involving contacting someone and mailing someone. Today you can get on the internet and e-­mail someone and they can respond within the same hour and thats a lot more convinient for people. On the otherhand people like to recieve letters to prove documentation of a bill or important information that can be lost in a computer.
This is my reasoning to the changing world, The SRVWRI¿FHVKRXOGVWDUWDYHU\FRQYHLQLHQWVLWHRQWKH
internet that deals with mailing and it would be like e-­mailing but just with a little fee added on. This could JDLQORWVRIPRQH\IRUWKH3RVW2I¿FHEXWVWLOONHHSWKH
Old traditional way of mailing paper to someone. Paper seems to have a lot more value to someone because they can keep it forever and thats why you can’t get rid of mailing paper.
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In a fast-­pace society of sleek innovations and modern new technologies, it can be easy to get lost in the hype of popular new gadgets and trends while if not forgeting, moving away from the traditions and enterprises that were so vital to the United States as a developing county. One of these pioneering enterprises, the United States Postal Service (USPS), has become a casualty of the innovation we laud so highly. While we should not discount the progress made in the past decades that has facilitated a transition to faster and sleeker technologies, it is also paramount that we support and maintain traditions and symbols of the American dream like the USPS by applying modern principles and revamping the company’s image and organization.
The United States Postal Service not only serves to deliver mail, get money orders and set up P.O. boxes, but also to remain a symbol of our countries development and progress. (Doc D). It serves to remind the US population of where our country has been and can give citizens a feeling of pride that can be matched by few other countries. With this reminder of where we have been comes a respect for the traditions of our ancestors. Cullen argues, “E-­mail is fast and simple, but to me an old-­fashioned, handwritten letter has value in this speed-­obsessed world.” (Doc F). While new technology and trends come and go, a personal touch and sentimental value gives the USPS value more profound than speed or ease. Hawkins agrees, “It’s nice to sometimes get a personally written letter in the mail . . . nothing replaces a personally written letter to an old friend. It gives the message a more intimate feeling.” (Doc D). The USPS represents more than a JUDSKRISUR¿WRUGHOLYHU\SRLQWV,WUHSUHVHQWVDORQJ
standing tradition that unites Americans.
Furthermore, the USPS connects all citizens of the United States. While we come from all different parts of the world, we all can have at least one thing in common, we get our mail form the US postal service. We can all support our government and as of 2009, more than 600,000 USPS employees. (Doc B). Hawkins asserts “You know when you send a letter or your bills through the mail, you are helping other Americans keep their jobs.” (Doc D) While the internet may have certain advantages, we must keep in mind the larger, and frankly more important issues at hand;; not delivery time or total convenience, but national pride and support. Not only do we support our neighbors but according to Mc Devitt, we are also supporting small businesses. (Doc E).
The USPS must be maintained, but to do this effectively, certain important aspects must be changed and reorganized. First, the USPS must reorganize and revitalize its business strategy. From 2007 to 2009 the volume of mail carried decreased drastically 35 billion pieces while delivery points increased by 2.1 million. This sort of business model is not practical or HI¿FLHQW'RF%,QRUGHUWRFRQWLQXHWKH8636PXVW
WDNHVLJQL¿FDQWDFWLRQ6WRQHRIIHUV³FORVHEUDQFKHVLI
you must, but do it strategically” (Doc A). Decreasing delivery points by closing branches will make business PRUHHI¿FLHQW3RVWPDVWHU*HQHUDO-RKQ(3RWWHU
LVFRQ¿GHQWWKDW³$WWKHHQGRIWKHGD\ZHFDQ
continue to provide universal service for Americans for decades to come.” (Doc C) With the right kind of UHVWUXFWXULQJGLVWULEXWLQJFDQEHFRPHPRUHSUR¿WDEOH
and the business can return to its pre-­recession levels.
Furthermore, in order to meet the new and modern population, USPS must revitalize its image. Sone argues: “A company’s brand is its most valuable tool, or its biggest liability.” The USPS, while an important tradition, cannot stay stagnant in its mode of branding itself. This is an area in which the USPS should adapt to the new technology available and the trends of communication. The USPS needs to be known to US citizens and its image as part of the United States history should be capitalized. The company should also follow the “green” initiatives that appeal to so many consumers. Consumers like Colleen Plimpton stress, ³>-XQNPDLOHUV@DUHFXWWLQJGRZQWUHHVZLOO\QLOO\
and that has got to stop”. (Doc E). The USPS should use the opinions of Plimpton and Stone in tandem to create a new image, concious of the environment and traditional American values.
In conclusion, the US Postal Service is an important tradition and symbol of our county and should be supported and maintained. That being said, companies now must learn to adapt, however this does not mean it must lose its traditional values and charm.
Q
The last time I received a card in the mail was my birthday last September. The last time I received an email was this morning, and yesterday, and the day before, and . . . Electronic communication has clearly replaced paper mail in my life. But doesn’t that make receiving a note in the mail all the more meaningful? In recent years, the United States Postal Service has FRPHXQGHU¿UHIRUEHLQJDZDVWHRIPRQH\LQRXU
technology-­based society. No email, however, could ever replace the excited feeling I get when I see my name on a letter. Despite the growing trend of using alternative forms of mail, the United States Postal Service is an integral part of American society and should not be completely done away with.
Money. Everything in this nation eventually comes down to money. The biggest opposition to the USPS is an economic one. Ever since the advent of free communication on the Internet, who would want to pay money for a slower form of communication. The graph shown in Source B reveals the trend away from SDSHUPDLOYLDWKH8636-XVWEHWZHHQDQG
the mail volume dropped from 203 billion to 177 billion pieces of mail, despite an increase, from 149.2 million to 150.1 million, in the number of delivery points. The government money being pumped into the mailing service is not the best use of funds if people continue moving away from paper mail. In fact, the 3RVWDO6HUYLFHORVWELOOLRQLQWKH¿VFDO\HDU
(Source C). This loss of money will continue according to projections unless something is done to reform the USPS. The United States Postal Service is an economic black hole which continues to suck valuable dollars from our government’s budget.
Unemployment is the other American problem, which goes hand-­in-­hand with economic woes. Surely the USPS causes unemployment issues along with its money troubles. Wrong. The Postal Service is in fact one of the few occupations that cannot be outsourced to another country. (Source D). Americans need other Americans to deliver their physical mail. Keeping jobs in America is a key strength of the USPS. Even the VPDOOHVWIUHHVWDQGLQJSRVWRI¿FHLQWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV
provides much needed employment for Americans 6RXUFH*3RVWRI¿FHVDUHWKH$PHULFDQFKDPSLRQ
over outsourcing and unemployment.
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KLJK¿YH%RWKDKDQGVKDNHDQGDKLJK¿YHDUHXVHG
as a greeting, yet a handshake conveys a sense of respect and is more intimate. Likewise, paper mail and email are both a form of communication via writing, but emails feel far more impersonal than a thought-­out letter. “E-­mail is fast and simple, but to me an old-­fashioned, handwritten letter has value in this speed-­obsessed world.” (Source F). A handwritten letter says to the receiver, “You matter to me enough that I took the time to write this.” Letters give an emotional aspect that emails could never replicate.
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to claim that paper mail is not outdated. But outdated should not equate to done away with. The United States Postal Service must regrettably have budget cuts to help out the American economy in these tough economic times, yet completely eliminating the Postal Service would destroy American jobs and ruin the emotional aspect of mail. The United States Postal Service must be downsized, but kept alive.
V
For more than two centuries of American history, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has delivered letters and packages all over the world. Now, the world is changing and America is becoming more technologically advanced. People are using computers to send letters instead of the postal service. The USPS is losing customers and income which makes them have to cut workers and lessen salaries. If the USPS doesn’t get updated with technology, they will lose everything.
There are a few ways the USPS can change. Since more people are using email to send letters, they could create a company on the Internet. People would use their website to send emails, and USPS would get money for it. This website would also help the company save money, because websites do not need workers to run it. [Source A]
As well as technology, USPS could also make being a mail delivery person easier. If the workers had more ÀH[LEOHVFKHGXOHVWR¿WWKHLUQHHGVDQGZHUHSDLGPRUH
for their hard work, more people would want to be a PDLOGHOLYHUHU7KHVHÀH[LEOHVFKHGXOHVZRXOGDOVRKHOS
the customers because then they could come in with no worries of the package being delivered when they want it to be. [Source C.]
Even if the schedules made working their better, it ZRXOGQRWPDNHWKHFXVWRPHUVZKRXVHWKHSRVWRI¿FH
that happy. The thing that would make them happy is if using USPS or FedEx was not so expensive. Reducing the costs would make more people want to use the Post RI¿FH$OVRLIWKHUHZHUHQRWVRPDQ\SRVWRI¿FHVWR
keep running the company would be able to save more money. [Source D.]
America has grown over the last two centuries, and is still changing. The United States Postal Service (USPS) has been a great success for delivering mail in the past, but times have changed and now people use computers to send letters. It’s cheaper, easier, and more reliable. The USPS has to change and adapt what they have into the new era of technology if they want to NHHSWKHLUEXLVQHVVDÀRDW
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I believe the USPS should not be restructured because the use of technology is being forced upon us and causing less and less jobs. As Mailing Volume decreases, the number of empolyees decrease but Delivery Points increase (Source B). In 2000, there were 135.9 million Delivery Points and 787,538 USPS Employees. The mail volume was 208 billion. By 2009, 164,418 USPS Employees lost their jobs, Mail Volume decreased by 31 billion, and the Delivery Points increased by 14.2 million. This does not only affect the Employees and USPS, but it also affects the economy, stocks, and job markets, to name a few. Yes the internet is quicker and so is UPS and FedEx, but USPS is cheaper than these two (Source D). “If the bad economy hasn’t taught us anything else, it has taught us not to waste money.” This is indeed a very true statement. Due to wars, (Iraw for example), gas prices and food prices have steadily increased high and high. The third advantage in Source D is also very true. If technology is becoming more of an necessity, it is affecting those who do not have technology. Technology causes a domino effect on modern society. “The Postal Service lost $1.1 billion in its latest quarter. The number would have been larger if it weren’t for direct mailings, which now constitute 52 percent of mail volume, up from 38 percent in 1990.” (Source E) 0DQ\SHRSOHGLVOLNHWKHSRVWRI¿FHGXHWR³MXQNPDLO´
So companies like GreenDimes try to help both sides: technology and Postal Mail Service. For $20 they take your junk mail out and you only get the “important stuff”.
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As society has evolved into the 21st century, new technology, ideas, culture, and traditions have changed drastically. Communication plays a vital role in society as cell phones, social networking cites, and technology has ÀRXULVKHGDVDKXJHSDUWRIVRPHRQHVGDLO\OLIH:KHQ
I think about my grandparents and greatgrandparents I have heard many stories that they have told about the types of communication they had when they were young. They once told me they had to walk to the post RI¿FHEDUHIRRWDVDWHHQDJHUWRJHWWKHGDLO\QHVZSDSHU
or newsletter that their family recieved. As they got older, they remember the mailman dropping the mail off by their house and they would be so excited to meet KLPKHUHYHU\GD\-XVWOLNHZD\EDFNWKHQWKH8636
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United States. By delivering letters that tells of a young couple getting engaged, to even the tragic news of a VROLGHUORVLQJKLVOLIHZKLOH¿JKWLQJIRURXUFRXQWU\WKH
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we really realize it or not.
As I said earlier, technology and communication has evolved quickly throughout the past century, and this is why the USPS does need to change some of its way to conform into the needs of the changed and still changing world. Even though the USPS has some very well organized processes, who wants to still get mail the same way our greatgrandparents did? The world and especially the United States is becoming more and more technological everyday. Because of this, a way that the USPS could improve their systems would be getting into emailing (Source A). More and more Americans are getting computers and communicating WKURXJKHPDLOEHFDXVHLWLVTXLFNHUDQGPRUHHI¿FLHQW
For example, if you send a message, invitations, or document through e-­mail, you are almost gaurenteed that your message will get to the person receiving it within minutes. Also, if mail is sent by the USPS the letter may take days or even weeks to get to it’s destination depending on where it’s going. More people use email and technology, so why not meet their needs (Source A)?
The result of advances in technology is showing affects on how much mail is being sent. Customers of the USPS are resulting in less expensive options instead of the standard-­mail option (Source C). This shows that only 177 billion pieces of mail was sent in 2009, compared to 208 billion pieces in 2000 (Source B). These statistics show that more people are just getting tired of the standard-­mail option. Busy moms, single parents, and especially highly active teenagers DUH¿QGLQJWKHLQWHUQHWDQGHPDLOWREHWKHEHVW
version of communication. To slove this problem, the USPS could invent an emailing cite and provide one for each person (Source A). Eventually each person will probably create another cite, but at least it is there for everyone’s use when it is needed (Source A). This would bring the USPS into the 21st century and provide them with more business instead of the decline in their market.
Emailing will help get the USPS back into the order that it needs to be in. With providing an e-­mail per person, this will shift this company from a declining standard-­mail operation to a successful 21st century business that can keep up with today’s changing society.
ANSWER KEY
English Language, Question 1 | United States Postal Service
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