Summarize the following:
Credit unions and banks both offer options for personal loans, but each comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages for you to consider.  Before choosing to apply for a loan, you should determine what type of lending establishment you'd like to apply for your loan through.  Credit unions are non-profit organizations that are member owned, whereas banks are often controlled by a board of trustees.  Credit unions often offer lower interest rates than banks, but usually also offer fewer benefits to paying off your loan early. Most credit unions have eligibility requirements you must meet in order to become a member.  These requirements may be that you work in a certain industry, live in a certain region, or belong to a specific association, religion or fraternal group. If you don't have good credit, you may want to consider applying for a secured loan instead of a strictly personal loan.  Most personal loans do not require collateral, but require higher credit scores and result in higher interest rates due to the risk being assumed by the bank.  Collateral in secured loans can be anything you possess of value that a bank is willing to accept as collateral toward a loan.  Some people choose to use their car, house, or business as collateral. You can also use your savings as collateral toward a secured loan. Another way you can move forward despite less than perfect credit is by having a co-signer.  A co-signer can help you get approved for a loan if your debt to income ratio is too high or you don't mean the minimum income requirements as well.  Loan co-signers share in the responsibility of repaying the loan and will have to take over payments if you fail to make them properly. Failure to repay the loan will negatively impact both you and your co-signer's credit. If you already have a bank account with a bank you like, you may want to start by looking at their personal loan options, then look into some of the options provided by their competition.  Each time you apply for a loan, an inquiry is triggered in your credit report, lowering it slightly, so don't apply for loans from multiple institutions.  Instead, conduct preliminary research to help you decide which bank or banks you're sure you want to apply to.  Contact lenders and ask them what their minimum credit score requirements are for personal loans.  If you don't meet their minimum, you know to skip those lenders. Review loan options on lender websites.  Some offer programs where additional payments will go toward the principal of the loan, reducing your remaining debt.  Others add additional payments toward interest on future payments. If you are unsure about the options presented on a lender's website, contact them to ask for clarification.

summary: Choose between a credit union or bank. Decide if you want to provide collateral. Consider having a co-signer. Compare loan options from different banks.


Summarize the following:
Why is the author writing this piece? Knowing this purpose can help you better understand the meaning of the text. To determine the purpose, ask yourself the following questions:  What is the topic and discipline? What does the text accomplish? What does the author make you think, believe, or feel? Are the ideas in the text new or borrowed from someone else? The writer’s word choice, especially when it comes to jargon, can give you more perspective on the text. You can determine the intended audience, as well as the tone of the text.  Using jargon and technical language shows the author is writing for people in their field. They might be trying to instruct or may be presenting research ideas. If you're unsure of a writer's intended audience, technical terms and jargon can be a good indicator. The tone is the mood of a text. For example, a researcher might use a formal, professional tone to present their research findings, while a writer might use an informal, casual tone when writing a magazine article. Consider the author’s thesis, as well as any claims stated within the text. In a shorter piece, the entire argument may be presented clearly in the thesis, but a longer text may include multiple claims.  If you’re struggling to find the author’s argument, review the evidence they provide in the text. What ideas does the evidence support? This can help you find the argument. For example, the thesis could read as follows: "Based on data and case studies, voters are more likely to choose a candidate they know, supporting the ideas of rational choice theory." The argument here is in favor of rational choice theory. Evaluate the type of evidence used, such as data, facts, or anecdotes. Then, determine if the evidence fully and accurately supports the argument, or if the evidence is weak.  For example, evidence that includes research and statistical data may provide a lot of support for an argument, but anecdotal evidence might result in a weak argument. You may want to write out the evidence in your own words, but this may not be necessary. Although the text is nonfiction, the author will likely include their own viewpoints. Both the factual information and the author’s ideas are important to your analysis, but you need to know the difference between the two. Read with an eye for the author's use of rhetorical or persuasive techniques.  For example, you might highlight facts and opinions using different colors. Alternatively, you might create a chart with facts on one side and opinions on the other. For instance, the writer might state, "According to the survey, 79% of people skim a ballot to find the names they know. Clearly, ballots aren't designed to engage voter interest." The first sentence is a fact, while the second sentence is an opinion. Does the writer achieve what they set out to do? Based on your analysis, decide if the text is effective, as well as why or why not. For example, you might find that the paper on rational choice theory contains few statistics but many pieces of anecdotal evidence. This might lead you to doubt the writer's argument, which means the writer likely didn't achieve their purpose.

summary: Determine the author’s purpose. Examine the writer’s use of language, including jargon. Identify the author’s argument. Examine the evidence the author uses to support the argument. Separate facts from opinions in a nonfiction text. Determine if the text accomplishes its purpose.


Summarize the following:
Use a soft nylon broom to brush off the stones. This removes dirt and debris, along with helping dislodge weeds that may be growing between the stones. Try doing this at least once a week. Polymeric sand can be used between the stones to help maintain them throughout the season. Sand can keep weeds from growing between the stones, so you don’t have to keep pulling them up every month. You can buy polymeric sand at home improvement stores. Sand can also help bugs from raising between the stones and making their way through the patio to your house. Surface protector can help keep moss and dirt from collecting on surfaces during the winter months. You can also treat your stone patio with surface protector at the beginning of the season to help keep dirt off the stone.  You mix this solution with water and spray it on the stone. Follow the directions on the bottle to mix the proper ratio of solution to water. This should be done every four months. You can find patio and stone surface protector solution at home improvement stores. Fill a spray bottle with distilled white vinegar. Add one teaspoon of dish soap to the vinegar. Stir the solution to mix the ingredients. Aim the nozzle at the weeds between the stones and cover them in the vinegar spray. Use on sunny dry days. Rain, cool, cloudy days don’t yield the same results.
summary: Sweep the stones often. Use sand between the stones to protect them. Cover the patio with a surface protector during the winter months. Mix a vinegar solution to kill weeds.