Tuesday, November 26, 2019

3 Cases of Poorly Constructed Points and Counterpoints

3 Cases of Poorly Constructed Points and Counterpoints 3 Cases of Poorly Constructed Points and Counterpoints 3 Cases of Poorly Constructed Points and Counterpoints By Mark Nichol In each of the following sentences, a point and a counterpoint are posited, but the phrasing that supports them is poorly constructed; explanations and revisions that follow each example describe the problem and provide a solution. 1. The cynic in me believes it’s rarely done for aesthetic reasons but for strictly commercial ones. This sentence requires an adverb complementary to rarely, and because that word and its opposite must share the verb done, the verb must precede both adverbs: â€Å"The cynic in me believes it’s done rarely for aesthetic reasons but often for strictly commercial ones.† 2. The audience doesn’t quite receive the events of the movie as a crisis, but rather as a calamity. Similarly, for the point and counterpoint in this example to effectively share the verb receive, that word should immediately follow the subject, which requires delaying the not from its disguised appearance in the front-positioned doesn’t to immediately before the point, parallel with rather positioned before the counterpoint: â€Å"The audience receives the events of the movie not as a crisis, but rather as a calamity.† 3. Don’t fear the enemy that attacks you, but the fake friend who hugs you. This sentence may appear correct at first glance, but it is flawed in that the second half of the sentence doesn’t work as an independent clause (it lacks a verb following the conjunction but) or a dependent clause (it is complementary to, rather than dependent on, the main clause). The revision â€Å"Don’t fear the enemy that attacks you, but fear the fake friend who hugs you† is technically correct but flat, and it does not bear the same emphasis. â€Å"Fear not the enemy that attacks you, but the fake friend who hugs you† is valid because positioning fear before not allows â€Å"the enemy who attacks you† and â€Å"the fake friend who hugs you† to be parallel in construction. However, the archaic-looking syntax may be off-putting, so consider revising the statement so that it consists of independent clauses separated by a period or, better yet, a semicolon: â€Å"Don’t fear the enemy that attacks you; fear the fake friend who hugs you.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Masters Degree or Master's Degree?Try to vs. Try and20 Classic Novels You Can Read in One Sitting

Friday, November 22, 2019

ACT English Prep The Best Methods and Strategies

ACT English Prep The Best Methods and Strategies SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Preparing for the ACT English section can feel overwhelming. This section covers a lot of material that is often not taught in school, and the format is probably different from that of any other test you’ve taken. Even more confusing, there are a ton of differentsources forACT English prep. How do you decide which ones to use? How do you make the most efficient use of your study time? What should you do to prepare for ACT English to reach your target score? In this article, I will break down the best way to prepare for ACT English. I've arranged my tips by how important I feel they are to ACT English success, but you need to follow them all if you want to be fully prepared on test day. By following these tips, you can have a more disciplined, focused approach to your ACT prep, and you can be more confident in the methods you’re using to prepare. #1: Comprehensively Learn the Grammar Rules on the ACT Understanding the grammar rules the ACT tests isessential to doing well on the ACT English section. The ACT tests the same grammar rules repeatedly; if you can master these rules, you'll be well on your way to reaching your ACT English target score. On the PrepScholar blog, we have written articles on the grammar rules and errors that appear on the ACT. Each article provides real examples, explanations, and strategies for answering related questions: Subject-Verb Agreement Verb Tense and Forms Comma Rules Punctuation Pronoun Agreement Pronoun Case Wordiness and Redundancy Idioms Run-On Sentences/Sentence Fragments Parallelism Faulty Modifiers Adjective and Adverb Errors Relative Pronouns Word Choice/Diction Focus your studying on the rules that are most commonly tested, but ultimately you should be familiar with all the rules, especially if you're targeting a 36. Check out this article on the distribution of appearance of the grammar rules on the ACT. #2: Review the Types of Rhetorical Skills Questions and Strategies for Answering Them Many of the rhetorical skills questions differ greatly from the grammar questions, as theytest your reading comprehension andyour ability toanalyze the passage rather than your knowledge of conventions. To tackle these questions,you need to be able to identify what you're being asked and know how to find the correct answer. On the PrepScholar blog, there are articles on each type of rhetorical skills question, examples, and strategies for correctly answering each type of question. Here are links to these articles: Macro Logic Transitional Logic Relevance Add/Delete Author Main Goal Author Technique Formality Understanding the content and questions that appear on ACT English is imperative to doing well. However, if you want to prepare yourself fully, you need to repeatedly test your understanding by doing practice problems. #3: Do Tons of Practice Problems and Understand Every Mistake Doing tons of practice problems will make you more confident with the material and increase your comfort level with the unique format of the ACT English section. Make sure you keep doing practice problems consistently. Use official practice tests, when possible, because the problems on those tests are most representative of what you're likely to see on the ACT. I highly recommend you follow the advice in this post on the best sources for ACT English practice.Additionally, PrepScholar has over 1500 practice problems customized to each skill. It's important to note, however, that just doing practice problems isn't enough. Why You Need to Understand Your Mistakes Even though doing a ton of practice problems will be beneficial to your ACT English preparation, if you keep repeating the same mistakes, your score won't improve. You have to understand why you're getting questions wrong so you can address your weaknesses and continue raising your score. Students often neglect to take the necessary time to understand their mistakes and figure out how to correct them in the future. Understanding your mistakes can be more difficult than just doing practice problems, but it's an extremely important step in the preparation process. How to Understand Your Mistakes Fully understanding your mistakes takes time and effort. Here is the process I recommend you use to comprehend why you made each mistake and know how to improve your deficiencies. This process is somewhat rigorous, but it's the best way to prepare for ACT English. On every practice test andproblem set you do, circleevery question onwhichyou're even 20% unsure what the answer is. When you grade your test or quiz, carefully review eachquestion you circledor answered incorrectly. This way you'll be reviewing bothyour missed questions and the questions that you got right by guessing. On your computer or in a notebook, write down the gist of the question, why you missed it, and what you'll do to avoid that mistake in the future. Create different sections for each grammar rule and type of rhetorical skills question. Try to determine why you got questions wrong on your own. However, if you're having trouble figuring out why you made mistakes, the ACT website has a test with explanations and The Real ACT Prep Guide has 5 tests with explanations. Take notes on what you specifically missed and how to improve in the future. Be as thorough and specific as possible. For example, don't just write that you missed a comma question. Did you add a comma unnecessarily? Did you forget that you should put a comma before and after an appositive phrase? What resources will you use to learn this rule and ensure that you don't make the same mistake again? Also, don't just take notes on your content issues. Write down any information about your careless errors and what steps you'll take to prevent repeating them. Did you forget to read the whole sentence? Do you need to look at the answer choices more closely? You want to really dig into why you're missing questions and focus on specific ways to improve. #4: Identify Your Weaknesses and Drill Them As long asyou do a thorough job of categorizing your missed questions, you should be able to easily determineyour weaknesses. Spendadditional time practicing the areas in whichyou're struggling. Maybe there's a specific grammar rule like pronoun agreement or parallelism that's causing you difficulties. Maybe you struggle with a specific type of rhetorical skills question like author main goal or macro logic questions. Do extra content review and practice problems related to those types of questions. We thinkPrepScholar is a great resource for this type of practice because it's designed to customize your ACT prep to focus on your weaknesses.If you'd prefer to try something else, the best ACT prep books and websitesalso have real and realistic practice problems for each type of ACT English question. Additionally, you should continue reviewing all the questions you missed and marked. Focus your studying on the areas where you're having problems. If you spend the majority of your time practicing stuff you already know, you're not using your time effectively. #5: Determine If You Have a Time Management Issue and, If So, Address It How to Determine if You Have Time Management Issues Find an official ACT and take the ACT English section. Use a timer and treat it like a real test. If time runs out and you're not finished, keep going,but for every new answer or answer you change after the allottedtime, mark it with a note as "Extra Time." Grade your test, but we want two scores: 1) The Realistic score you got under normal testing conditions and 2) The Extra Time score. If the difference is more than 4 raw points, then you need to address your time management issues. How to Fix Time Management Issues Generally, time management improves as you become more familiar and confident with the content. If time management is a lingering issue, you may have to change how you approach ACT English passages. Also, you may need to monitor your time spent per question. Easier grammar questions should take around 15-20 seconds. Big picture rhetorical skills questions can take up to a minute. I recommend never spending more than a minute on any individual question. Keep in mind that you have an average of 36 seconds per question in ACT English. While some of you may struggle completing the ACT English section, others may find that they're rushing. This is an equally serious problem. If you're finishing the section with more than 5 minutes left and you're getting more than a couple of questions wrong, you need to slow down. Reread the previous sentence. Slow down! Read the questions more carefully, take a closer look at the answer choices, and spend time reviewing your answers. Don't Rush. #6: Build Your Test Endurance The ACT can be mentally draining and it's easy to lose focus during the test. Fortunately, the ACT English section is always first, so you should have plenty of energy. On the other hand,you won't have time to ease into the test. Before test day, take at least 3 official tests simulating test-taking conditions. Mimic the test day experience as closely as possible. Use a timer. Bubble in your answers. Only take the ACT-allowed breaks. Turn off your cell phone. Yes, you read that correctly. Turn off your your cell phone! I know that will probably be scary and cause you anxiety, but you have to turn off your cell phone during the ACT, so you might as well practice going a few hours without posting an Instagram pic. If you follow all these tips, I guarantee you'll be ready for the ACT English section when test day arrives. You'll know the content, be comfortable with the format, and be confident that you can successfully complete the section. What's Next? As you continue your ACT English prep, I encourage you to study this post on the 5 critical concepts you must understand to ace ACT English. If you're striving for a perfect score, learn how to get a 36 on ACT English from a perfect scorer. You'll also find helpful advice in this article on my top tips for ACT English success. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this English lesson, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands ofpractice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Gender Based Violence in Immigrant Families Research Proposal

Gender Based Violence in Immigrant Families - Research Proposal Example This research paper will examine the amount of gender based violence that occurs among immigrant families and what the root cause is from those living in this domestic environment. Basis of Gender Based Violence The importance of gender based violence of immigrant families living in Italy is not only created from the basic problems associated with the acts of violence. The concept also links to cultural associations that create an acceptance of the acts of violence. The association with Sub – Sahara Africa is one of the links that is created from this. Marital authority is a common association of those living from the region, leading to spouses not carrying specific rights in the family and a lack of rights which are available, specifically to women, living within the household. The result is a direct link to honor killings, sexual violence, criminal abuse and relations to intra-familial violence. The violence is not only related to the cultural beliefs but often causes women to not receive help because of the associations with culture and the rights of each spouse within the household. result is a direct link to honor killings, sexual violence, criminal abuse and relations to intra-familial violence. The violence is not only related to the cultural beliefs but often causes women to not receive help because of the associations with culture and the rights of each spouse within the household. The immigrants which come to Italy often don’t link to criminal proceedings and are likely to not respond to the gender based violence, instead causing harsh conditions to continue to subside until medical assistance is needed (Barazzetti, Garreffa, Marsico, 2007). The complexity of gender based violence of Sub-Saharan Africans in Italy has become a compound problem because of the association with culture. Reporters are stating that the difficulty is the honor based violence and killing based on gender is acceptable among the culture and is therefore not able to create the right responses from those within the families. It is noted that 32% of women living in Italy have suffered from a form of violence with 80% of this being inside the home. However, only 10% of women from various cultures state that the gender based violence are a crime, while the other 90% believe it is an acceptable form of status that is within the household. It is also being stated that because of this mentality, the forms of domestic violence are continuing to rise with many overlooking the violence within their own household or becoming a part of the crimes based on honor violence and killings (Momigliano, 2010). Domestic Violence among Immigrants in Italy While there a re many that believe the gender based violence is acceptable, there are also figures which show that the hindrances of this form of violence is continuing to rise within Italy, specifically among different cultural groups. It is noted that there are 69% of rapes which are conducted by a family member or friend while only 6% occur by strangers. It has also been found that almost 50% of the rapes occur by immigrants and within the same household. It has also been found that over 60% of women have suffered from domestic violence which is gender based while only 26% have considered this a crime. An average of 21% of women that have reported the violence as a crime say they have been unsatisfied with the responses from the police with little to no help available. The main problem is shown through women that are immigrants and which receive discrimination within the household and from police as well as a lack of policies available for all women who are suffering from domestic vio

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Bilingual Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Bilingual Education - Essay Example In his autobiography Hunger of Memory, Rodriquez unintentionally portrays himself as an exception to his own beliefs. (Rodriquez 12) This book tracks this Mexican American from the time that he was a "schoolchild until he became a literary scholar and nationally acclaimed memoirist. His memoir also describes his gradual alienation from his cultural roots as his assimilation into mainstream culture deprives him of his native tongue and his connection to his past. The book achieves popularity at a time when multiculturalism is becoming a force in American education." (Burt 2004) In order to make sense of the factors that make up Rodriquez's life, he chooses his love for languages to explain how his persona is formed. Rodriquez surmises that it is better to have used English in school rather than to have had a bilingual education. As he struggles to prove this, he represents himself with a paradox of emotions, thoughts, and beliefs. It is his opinion that it was the different uses of languages and his reaction to them that sets him apart. According to Rodriquez, "It is not possible for any child ever to use his family's language in school. " He thinks that "not to understand this, is to misunderstand the public uses of schooling and to trivialize the nature of intimate life and a family's language." (Aria 13) In his writings Rodriquez appears to... In his failure to study these anomalies, Rodriquez does a disservice to himself. When he started school, Rodriquez could only speak "fifty stray English words." (Rodriquez 1) Unlike his brother and sister who attended a Roman Catholic school, Rodriquez went to an all white school with children whose parents were professionals. In his mind, this must have presented a sharp contrast to his own parents who were poor and spoke little English. During this time, he also observed that his brother and sister enjoyed a relationship of togetherness, one that left him feeling alone. His sense of alienation continued to grow as he listened to them " communicating among themselves in Spanish." (Rodriquez 1) Rodriquez has been criticized for cutting himself off from his roots. A better argument would be that the languages barriers that were forced upon him caused this gap. Had he been given a bilingual education this would have been different. Instead of living in language compartments at his home and school, his new English language would have blended into that of his native tongue. As his brother and sister did, Rodriquez would have used both languages interchangeably.If one reads Rodriquez's work closely, they sense his great affection for his family. The feelings of shame that he talks about are more general than personal. Nevertheless, it is easier to attack the character of Rodriquez than to discover the bonds that exists between him and his people in spite of their physical and psychological differences. While addressing the relationship between his brother and sister, it is evident that he has the feeling that he is an only child. Rather than to see how a bilingual education might have made a difference, he chooses to feel

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Organisation and Behaviour Essay Example for Free

Organisation and Behaviour Essay Organizational structure can be described as the framework in which an organization operates. There are three main types of organizational structure: functional, divisional and matrix structure. A functional structure is set up so that each portion of the organization is grouped according to its purpose. In this type of organization, for example, there may be a marketing department, a sales department and a production department. The functional structure works very well for small businesses in which each department can rely on the talent and knowledge of its workers and support itself. However, one of the drawbacks to a functional structure is that the coordination and communication between departments can be restricted by the organizational boundaries of having the various departments working separately. A divisional structure typically is used in larger companies that operate in a wide geographic area or that have separate smaller organizations within the umbrella group to cover different types of products or market areas. For example, the now-defunct Tecumseh Products Company was organized divisionallywith a small engine division, a compressor division, a parts division and divisions for each geographic area to handle specific needs. The benefit of this structure is that requirements can be met rapidly and more specifically; however, communication is inhibited because employees in different divisions are not working together. Divisional structure is costly because of its size and scope. Small businesses can use a divisional structure on a smaller scale, having different offices in different parts of the city, for example, or assigning different sales teams to handle different geographic areas. A matrix structure is a hybrid of divisional and functional structure. Typically used in large multinational companies, the matrix structure allows for the benefits of functional and divisional structures to exist in one organization. This can create power struggles because most areas of the company will have a dual managementa functional manager and a product or divisional manager working at the same level and covering some of the same managerial territory. Organizational structure is closely related to culture. Culture refers to the deep-seated beliefs, values and norms that represent the unique character of an organization and also the shared goals and visions for the people in the organization. Organizational structure and culture are difficult to separate as they are intertwined and dependent on each other. Arguably, Greenscape operates a matrix structure. Organizational structure can be described as the framework in which an organization operates. How its tasks are delegated and its leadership structure i.e. its lines of authority and communication. ‘Organization structure determines how information flows between different levels of management and employees. How roles, power and duties are delegated controlled and coordinated.† The structure an organization chooses is dependent on its objectives and the strategy employed to achieve them. Pre-globalization most organizations had a centralized structure where the power was concentrated at the top. With globalization we has seen a shift in many organizations to a more decentralized structure where decision making is more participative and decision making is power is shared and more autonomy is given to divisions and departments. The motivation of the individuals goals and aspirations, needs met in one, and not the organization: what drives us in life and in business in partic ular, managerial tasks to recognize the individual motivations and management tools are linked to organizational goals with individual can move resources to achieve organizational goals. Lawler (1981) argue that the factors determining the balance motivation the efforts and expectations concerning performance relationship and the perceived attractiveness of reward. These factors are simply related links to each other, where each link is irrelevant. If an employee receives a job, which is calculated as a challenge to your skills, and be able to complete this task successfully with very nice rewarded, so trying to maximize the performance. If, however, the challenges we face are too big or too small, it will not sufficiently able to feel, or to solve the problem for the reward is not attractive enough, and it will not be effective enough. Youll be motivated and do not feel the job is important it is not going to make an effort to get the best out of the employee. Leadership is the backbone for the success of an organization. Normally there are four types of leadership styles, which are Autocratic, Participative, Delegative and Free Reign. These leadership styles have different effectiveness in different circumstances. Differences and similarities between the leadership styles of Max Worthy and Brenda Hogan We can argue that Max Worthy was operating in a free reign/autocratic leadership styles where everyone had to mind its own business. Brenda Hogan was a manager using a participative management approach. The participative approach will promote integrity, great observation skills and high emotional intelligence. It also promotes openness to effective communication. Hogan wanted to involve everyone in taking part at the formulation of decisions that affected them. She created the environment for the staff to learn from each other and acquire new skills, especially managerial. In contrast, Max Worthy dictated what needed to be done to staff from a distant office. Employees became accustomed to his practices and were reluctant to adopt the new approach from Hogan. Hogan leadership style can inspire her entire team to achieve excellence by example. Her hard work and caring nature set an example for all her coworkers. Management takes place within a structured organisational setting with prescribed roles. It is directed towards the achievement of aims and objectives through influencing the efforts of others. Below is a discussion of three well known management theories. Classical management theory: It puts emphasis on structure and prescriptive what is good for firms. One of the advantages of the classical management structure is a clear organizational structure with distinct management levels. Each management group has its own objectives and responsibilities as there is division of labour. Projects are broken down into smaller tasks that are easy to complete and employees responsibilities are clearly defined. This approach allows workers to specialize in one specific area and leads to increased productivity. Employees are motivated by monetary rewards (‘a fair day pay for a fair day work’). The leadership style is autocratic. Managers direct the employees and all decisions are made at the top level and communicated down. This is the case for the management style adopted by Max Worthy. Human Relations Theories: Classical theorists were concerned with structure and mechanics of organizations. But human relation theorists were concerned with the human factors at work. This was undoubtedly the management style adopted by Brenda Hogan. The human relations theory focus is on motivation, group motivation and effective leadership. At the heart of this theory is the relationship between employer and employee. According to the Human relation theory peoples needs are decisive factors in achieving an organisations objectives. Individuals cannot be treated in isolation, but function with group members. Contingency Theories From the late 1950s, a new approach to organisation theory was developed which became known as contingency theory. According to this theory, there is no one best way to structure an organisation. When deciding on how it should be structured, how it should be organized and how it should be managed, an organisation will face a range of choices. Successful organisations adopt appropriate structures in response to a number of variables, or contingencies, which influence both the needs of the organisation and how it works. Theorists in favour of the contingency approach recommend a diagnosis of people/ task/ technology/environment then suggest the development of appropriate solutions (e.g. Pugh).

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Fear of Terrorism :: Personal Narrative Writing

Fear of Terrorism Since the events of 9/11, we in the Western World have finally gotten ourselves in tune with the most basic and vital of human instincts: fear. From the beginning of time, as we cocooned ourselves in our cave dwellings (early precursor of the gated community), and trembled at the prospect of roving sabre toothed tigers, passing storms, and even clouds crossing the face of the moon, fear has been our constant companion. It has been fear of one kind and another that has been responsible for all of the wars, laws and technological developments that have shaped and guided our great civilizations. If it weren't for fear of barbarian invaders, we wouldn't even have nations to begin with. If not for fear of shuffling off this mortal coil, there would be no organized religions. Fear of growing old has fuelled any number of delightful and innovative multi billion dollar industries. Fear of being left behind economically has allowed our cherished multinational corporations to become the most powerful and dominant political forces on the planet, unencumbered by parochial, obsolete laws that had once protected the environment and so-called human rights. Sure, there are naysayers who would point to some of the less savoury aspects of our Western history - witch burnings, wars, genocides - and say that perhaps fear is something negative, something that we need to evolve out of if we are going to survive as a species. It is exactly this sort of namby-pambyish attitude that was directly responsible for the tragic events of 9/11. Fear, and fear alone, could have prevented those despicable acts. Furthermore, I denounce anybody who says otherwise as an intellectual terrorist. Of course, there is no end of things to be afraid of: contaminated water, child abductions, children, AIDS, people with AIDS, unpleasant odours, poor people, drug addicts, teenagers, greasy build-up, bad breath, home invasions, poetry, foreigners, gays, artists, countertop bacteria, organ thieves, unfashionable clothes, brown lawns, shark attacks, dandruff, socialists. Fortunately, there are dedicated corporate scientists working around the clock on solutions - everything from pesticides to space age polymers to missile defense - that will eventually eliminate each and every one of these potential threats. In the meantime, though, it is up to each of us to do our part. If there has been one positive thing that has come out of the terrible events of that September day, it has been the fact that we are now able to give one, all-encompassing label to the seemingly endless sources of our fear.

Monday, November 11, 2019

King Kong Movie Comparison

The King of Kong The movies King Kong (1976) and King Kong (2005) based on the 1933 film are some of the most captivating films that offer to the audience memorable characters, resonating emotions, thrilling actions and archetypal narratives. Bierman indicates that the heart-stopping and jaw-dropping King Kong films have been made to expand visual languages mostly expressed by motion pictures to capture the core appeal which many classic movies have (57).As this paper examines, the 1976 King Kong movie and its 2005 re-make display certain similarities and differences in terms of art, style and technological wonder as well as poignant character development. These are indicative of the evolution of the Hollywood style. Besides, as movies of high polysemy quality, their audience draw attention to aspects like overt sexism, misogyny, cultural portrayal of women as fault makers and victims, fears of miscegenation, racist ideologies and capitalist fables.It is against this front that this paper holistically examines the two King Kong movies and concludes by exploring the American culture, society and politics at the time when both films were made. The movie King Kong made in 1976 was produced by Dino De Laurentis alongside John Guillermin as the director. Being an American monster movie, King Kong (1976) remarkably reflected the 1933 King Kong classic film (Farber 104). This movie stars Jessica Lange, Charles Grodin and Jessica bridges.According to credible sources, the King Kong 1976 movie whose cost of making is estimated to have been $24 million was done by the universal studio and distributed by Paramount Pictures. While the 1976 movie has been considered by critics to bear a lot of fun, one would agree with the common wisdom which contends that in comparison to the classic 1933 film and the 2005 re-make, the 1976 King Kong movie was considerably below the expected standards. According to Stymeist, this was reflected in its lack of original magic as it was in the earlier movie (400).This is reflected in Rick Baker who in his monkey suit robs the movie stop motion technology thereby making it void of craftsmanship. However, it is agreeable that the rendition of the 1976 movie has a breezy feel and is also quite thrilling to the target audience. Both the 1976 and 2005 King Kong movies bring out the story of a voyage in a ship to a discovered island where Petrox and Fred Wilson and Carl Denham believe that they were vast oil deposits. The movie made in 1976 is a reflection of the oil crisis that was a problem in the 1970’s.While in the ship, certain characters such as Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange join each other with a unique mission. On the island, they meet island tribes, many monsters just as depicted in the 1933 film. Later on after a series of events, Kong is brought to New York and concludes by a major battle between Kong and the American army at the top of the World Trade Center. On the other hand, the 2005 King Kong film is a remarkable fantasy adventure film starring Andy Serkis, Adrien Brody, Jack Black and Naomi Watts.The producers of the movie include Frank Walsh, Peter Jackson, Carolynne Cunningham and Jan Blenkin. Besides, the studio that produced the movie is said to be the Universal studio and its US distributor is the Universal Pictures. It is imperative to point out that the choice of re-making the American iconic masterpiece King Kong (1973 movie) by Peter Jackson has been termed as a major fulfillment of a Hollywood dream. This movie is a combination of the 1976 and 1933 versions that represents the definitive King Kong.Albeit the several wrinkles and changes it has, the storyline pays few direct homage one of which includes the hammiest verbatim dialogue snatch where the absence of Fay Wray is experienced as she prepares something for Cooper. Schleier in his view points out that the 2005 film displays the kind of dislike where Jackson shows towards the 1976 version (40). This is mirrored in the manner in which he freely borrows from the 1976 movie and changes others. For instance, the 1973 movie has a one-way relationship between the monkey and the girl while in the 2005 film, the relationship is reciprocal.Even so, it is without doubt that the movie is more touching, daring, and energetic. Its two hours displays intense series of action most movies lack. It offers a cinematic experience that is richer and satisfying. However, some critics are of the view that the presence of monkey opus in the 2005 film is excessive. This makes the movie less enjoyable. The two movies have one basic theme that is being developed. The self-promoting and obsessive filmmakers of both movies load the crews of the films in a venture ship to a mysterious destination known as the Skull Island.When at the island, the crew’s expectations appear to be changed by the hostile tribes and monsters they meet. Kong then appears and rescues the girl from the hostile environment, and also ends u p taking charge of the rest of the movie. From the American Cinema/America Culture textbook stand point, both movies and their style of production are very impressive. The plots of the movies are considerably straight forward as depicted by the flow of events from the arrival at the skull island to the kidnapping of the girl by islanders whose cultures are different from that of the crew.Besides, apart from the modernized changes in the 2005 film, both movies display character development and cultural diversity. Though this is not quite prominent, the personalities of Kong and individuals in the island community are well explored. In addition, Prime argues that the re-make of the 1976 film in 2005 reflects Jackson’s utmost reverence and best intention in keeping the originality of style (64). While the American social setting and culture is a factor that changes from time to time, Jackson appears to underscore the need to maintain originality.Even so, there are traces of diff erences in the film in terms of use of technology and theme development. However, Prime admits that the 2005 movie unlike that of the 1976 is choked with homages from the 1933 film. This is indicative from the design of the opening title to the various cut versions of the of the 1933 film that include snippets of dialogue and the attack by bugs. The obsequiousness of Jackson in the 2005 version compared to the 1976 is not merely fawning, but also makes the movie excessively long.To concur with the above argument, it is indeed true that 2005 edition has a monkey business that lasts for almost three hours. While its style resembles those of the original plot with culture and society matters, the mass population of monstrous creatures led by the monstrous Kong seems to be excessive. Critics are not shy to point out that the style of the re-make is full of extra characters, side plots and back-story. However, Belton is of the view that these are critical in bringing adequate comparison of performance, richness, diversity and magical experience (66).The theme of the 2005 film is surprisingly on loneliness than fighting the gargantuan monsters. The intense emotional display brings out Kong as an uber-furball played off by Naomi Watts. It is imperative to point out that the movie essentials in the 2005 re-making remains faithful in terms of basics contained on the 1973 movie. However, Jackson gives this movie his own artistic style. Unlike the monster-kind of movie displayed in the 1973 film, Jackson appears to make King Kong more sympathetic and deeply emotional. Farber indicates that this appears to torture the film (110).From the American Cinema perspective, one of the most difficult parts of a movie is the aesthetic and technological category whose confinements can be mise-en-scene to shot limits or frame borders (Belton 57). In the movie, the reaction of characters to unseen noises and voices continuing over cuts and outside the frame stands out. In addition, it is imperative to note that the movies are shot on different locations and yet music, sound effects and dialogue extend from scene to scene. Belton points out that the editing process of King Kong has its integral aspect on sound editing cut from shot to shot (57).While its score in music is nondescript, its recording is unique and the music is less intrusive. Visually, the movie is marvelous, a factor that is attributed to no location shooting and technology. This makes its scenes especially the Skull Island to appear claustrophobic and eerie. On a technical level, the special effects in King Kong appear amazing and polished. It is without doubt that the visual technique used in the re-make is exclusive with all features of Kong – which has been manipulated by hand.One would argue that the re-make in 2005 puts life in the Hollywood magical experience. While this may be true, it is also undeniable that King Kong reflects the culture and style of the past five decades and has occasional antiquated styles and various deficiencies (Sexton 40). Furthermore, both films have sufficient pictographic representations of the dynamism in society that gives them a thematic score. Notably, there emerges a technical difference in the films whereby each version portrays the actual occurrences during the various times they were produced.For instance, the visual displays of the new vision have colorful designs and even the costume provide a clear evidence of social evolution in the modern world. Needless to say, the films portray three-point illumination that gives them a classical look in the scene. On the same note, there is a clear coordination of the music, dialogue and sound effects in the scene. Nevertheless, for the new version, it appears more realistic. In this case, the combination of sound mix with the tracks in the scene creates an appealing attitude for the audience.The sound effects from the music actually create and make the dialogue and the acting scene more intelligible. The matches on the scene such as actions and graphics create a continuous sequence. Consequently, this credits the film as one of the groundbreaking versions of a renowned movie. It is evident from the paper that the movie King Kong of 1976 and its 2005 re-make are some of the most captivating films that offer everything from memorable characters, resonating emotions, thrilling actions and archetypal narratives which keeps its legacy continuing.As noted earlier, the 1976 movie was shot at a time when there was an oil crisis in the US. This event is displayed in the movie as Carl Denham moves to the Skull Island to seek oil. Besides, the culture of that time as reflected in the manner of worship, social and political relations were different from the time when the movie was undergoing re-making. Vices and cultures like human sacrifice and worship of gigantic beasts were common. The changes made by Jackson in the re-make 2005 movie reflect a different society.One su ch change is that emergence of a technical difference where each version portrays change in technology and culture. Works Cited Belton, John. American cinema/American culture. Rockefeller, New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008. Print. Bierman,  Joseph. â€Å"Cinema at the periphery†. Journal of Film and Video  63. 2  (2011):  56-58. Print. Farber, Helmut. â€Å"King Kong: One more interpretation, or, what cinema tells about itself. †Ã‚  Discourse  22. 2  (2000):  104-127. Print. Loxton,  Daniel. â€Å"Skull Island, Canada. †Ã‚  Skeptic  14. 1  (2008):  12-14. Print. Prime, Rebecca. â€Å"Living dangerously: the adventures of Merian C.Cooper, Creator of King Kong. Film Quarterly  60. 2  (2006):  63-64. Print. Schleier,  Merrill. â€Å"The empire state building, working-class masculinity, and King Kong. †Ã‚  Mosaic: a Journal for the Interdisciplinary Study of Literature  41. 2  (2008):  29-54. Print. Sexton,  Jared. â€Å"The ruse of engagement: black masculinity and the cinema of policing. †Ã‚  American Quarterly  61. 1  (2009):  39-64. Print. Stymeist,  David. â€Å"Myth and the monster cinema. †Ã‚  Anthropologica  51. 2  (2009):  395-406. Print. King Kong (2005). Movie. Universal Pictures. WingNut Films. King Kong (1976). Movie. Dino De Laurentiis Company.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Retail Store Manager

Retail Manager as TrainerBy  Malcolm Fleschner, Monster Contributing Writer Since founding The Friedman Group, a global retail consulting and training organization, in 1980, Harry Friedman has heard plenty of excuses from retail store executives who refuse to provide much training to their front-line store employees. One of the most common is: â€Å"What if I train them, and they leave? † Friedman says this is the exact opposite approach they should take. He suggests a better question is, â€Å"What if I don't train them, and they stay? † Cost of Not TrainingThe unfortunate reality, which anyone who ventures into a mall these days can confirm, is that today's retail store employees often lack basic sales and  customer-service  skills. This is especially true at the big-box stores where management is unconcerned about high turnover, Friedman says. Retailers that expect high turnover essentially ignore training but pay a price for doing so. â€Å"The decision to ne glect training is typically made by someone at the top who does not appreciate the value of a human asset and what they can mean to sales and the bottom line,† Friedman says. Retail is a merchandise-driven business, not a people-driven business, after all. † Nevertheless, Friedman estimates that with more effective training, most retail organizations could increase sales 15 percent to 25 percent. â€Å"That's a lot of money,† he says. â€Å"There's no chance they could hit those numbers any other way. † Management by Numbers Individual store managers would no doubt also appreciate increasing the six to eight hours that Friedman says retail stores typically devote to training new employees.But since a boost in training time is unlikely to happen, store managers must focus on those aspects of employee management they can control. To start, he suggests looking at two key numbers. The first is conversion rates, which means if a sales associate talked to 10 cust omers, how many bought something? â€Å"If you sold two out of the 10 people you talked to and you can bump that up to three of the 10 people you talked to, you've just increased your sales 50 percent,† says Friedman, author of  No Thanks, I'm Just Looking: Professional Retail Sales Techniques for Turning Shoppers into Buyers.The second number is average sale per customer. â€Å"There are two ways to increase this number,† he says. â€Å"One [is] by selling them the $40 item instead of the $30 one. Second [is by selling] the customer the $30 [item] and also $10 in batteries to make it work. † What Seems to Be the Trouble? Armed with this information, store managers can then determine which sales associates are performing well and which aren't. The next step is to uncover the source of any problems.If you have one sales associate with a low conversion rate, for example, you need to determine whether the problem occurs when the associate is demonstrating the mer chandise or when he is trying to close the sale, Friedman says. â€Å"You might find out it's up front,† he says. â€Å"[The associate] keeps approaching customers and saying, ‘Can I help you? ‘ and the customers say, ‘No thanks, I'm just looking. ‘ It doesn't matter whether he can close, because he's not getting out of the blocks in the first place.That's the opportunity for the manager to intervene and explain to this guy that he's using a terrible opening line. † Hit the Floor This type of hands-on coaching leads to another of Friedman's suggestions for store managers: Get into the fray. â€Å"The biggest missing ingredient I see in retail today is that managers are not running the store from the floor,† he says. â€Å"A lot of managers are either too busy with operational paperwork or making sales for themselves to do more than just hope their salespeople are doing a good job. The best store managers, Friedman says, are always  "pointing, pushing, doing and working the floor. They listen in, see how employees behave and what they say so that they can step in to reinforce the good behaviors and correct areas that need improvement.A good store manager is like a cop with a whistle directing traffic at a busy intersection. † You Can Survive the Behavioral InterviewBy  Carole Martin, Monster Contributing Writer When asked a traditional question like, â€Å"What would you do if you had a customer who wasn't interested in buying the product? you can make up a story. But when you're asked behavioral questions, the interviewer is listening for specific examples of how you have handled situations or problems in the past. When presented with interview questions beginning with phrases like â€Å"tell me about a time when† or â€Å"give me an example of† the interviewer wants to hear your real-life examples. When interviewers ask such behavioral interview questions, they are listening for example s of how you handled situations similar to the ones you may handle for this company. This is your chance to talk about your accomplishments.If you can demonstrate through examples (preferably recent ones) that you've succeeded in certain areas of interest, you'll likely be considered a strong candidate for the position. After all, if you did it somewhere else yesterday, you can do it for this company tomorrow. Your success stories should include the situation, the action you took and the result. Here is an example if you were interviewing for a sales position: The Situation:  I had a customer who did not want to hear about the features of my merchandise because of a prior interaction with my company.The Action:  I listened to her story and made sure I heard her complaint. I then explained how I would have handled the situation differently and how I can offer her better service. I showed her some facts that changed her mind about dealing with the company again. The Result:  She not only bought the merchandise, but also complimented how I handled her account. She is now one of my best customers. One way to prepare for behavioral interview questions is by writing out your stories before the interview. Determine what stories you have that would be appropriate for the position based on its job description.If the job requires dependability, write your story about a time when your dependability was recognized or made a difference with a customer. You can use the stories you prepare even when the interviewer does not ask behavioral questions. If you are asked a traditional question, use your prepared story and preface it with, â€Å"I can give you an example of a time when I used that skill on a previous job. † By  preparing for the interview  ahead of time and recalling your past successes, you will be able to have examples in mind and will not be caught off guard.There is no way you can predict what the interviewer is going to ask you, but you can p repare what you want him to know about your past as a predictor of your future performance. Retail Manager Job Interview Questions and AnswersHere are some of the retail interview questions that are related to the career in retail management: Tell us a bit about your professional background/educational qualificationThis question is asked, basically because the person applying for a retail management position would either have an educational degree as well as experience or a great experience in sales.Therefore, this question is aimed at finding out the professional details of the person. What do you feel is the role of a retail manager? This question is basically asked to find outfit you have a general idea of a retail manager’s job. Therefore, this is your chance to speak to the interviewer about what you know of the retail management business and what you think would be your responsibilities. Once you present the fact to the interviewer that you are aware what the role of a retail manager is, they will also be convinced that you are ready to take on the role of a retail manager.Some duties and qualities required of the retail manager are:†¢   Team leader and Team development†¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Hiring process, HR activities and employer’s training†¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Workplace scheduling – Day to day operations†¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Problem solving skills – Communications skills†¢Ã‚   Sales management†¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Product and project management – proffesional qualities and priortizationIf you have worked as a retail manager before, what did you like the most in your job and what did you not like?All jobs have their advantages and their disadvantages. Therefore, if you have worked somewhere as a retail manager, you would certainly have some good things to share as well as bad things to share. This question will give a deeper insight into your experience as a retail manager and whether you are fit for the job. What would you consider your biggest advantage as a retail manager?As a retail manager, or even as a novice, you would have a fair understanding of what would be the biggest advantage that a retail manager would require, or what is that something that a person learning to be a retail manager should have. Possible answers could be – Leadership (a born leader), sales manager or good communications skills. What do you feel are the basic qualities that a retail manager should have? The post of a retail manager is one that requires the person to have experience.Rarely will a novice be hired as a retail manager. Therefore, these questions will be posed at you to understand whether you have the knowledge required for a retail manager. If you are asked about the basic qualities of a retail manager, the safest answer would beplanning and vision. A retail manager is more or less the proprietor of the store and has many responsibilities as compared to the other store employees. If a retail manager is good at planning and has a vision for the future, he or she can take the company to the next level.Deliver excellent customer service and maintain a high standard of customer management, at all times Take full responsibility for the set-up and effective operation of the pub, within company policy, at all times Take full responsibility for the results achieved in the pub, including profit and loss (P&L) performance, Megastock, standards, Cask Marque and audits Ensure that opening and closing procedures are adhered to, in line with company policy, taking account of security and the health & safety of people and property Work in all areas of the pub, bar, floor, cellar, kitchen and office, to ensure that best practice is maintained by the team and that any areas requiring improvement may be identified Control all aspects of finance in the pub, including sales, gross profit, stock control, core wages and controllable expenditure Control all office administration procedures and ensure th at the management team complies with company standards Be accountable for all cash management throughout the pub, including third-party providers (such as ATMs, Securitas, AWP and SWP Machines etc); conduct thorough investigations for all cash-loss issues Review P&L account monthly with the team and area manager, agreeing on clear targets for improvements for any targets not achieved Maximise all sales opportunities in the business, including quality of food and drink service and availability, using all company point-of-sale as directed; have an understanding of all promotions and point-of-sale requirements and work with the team and area manager to maximise sales at every opportunity Forecast sales and wages weekly/quarterly, using the standard forecasting planner Be responsible for accurate rota-planning, based on forecast sales and core wage budget Plan all rotas in line with budgeted targets and forecasts, taking the necessary daily action to reduce/increase hours, in line w ith sales Manage all delivery processes, including checking in orders, storage, stock rotation, security, loss investigation and staff training Manage all stock-management processes, including timely stock counts, line checks, wastage reports, loss investigation and staff training Complete roduct-ordering on time, every time; ensure full availability of all drink, food and non-consumable items Follow all company security procedures, including loss prevention measures and procedures for the security of staff and premises, at all times Carry out risk assessments to ensure staff and customers’ safety; ensure the adherence to children-specific guidelines Monitor and manage all maintenance issues and manage third-party contractors, including cleaners, where applicable Be aware of and adhere to licensing, data protection, Health & Safety at Work and COSHH legislation, at all times Carry out commercial activities as instructedManage the pub team, including motivating and leading the team to work to the highest standards, at all times Identify and monitor training needs and take an active role in developing people Manage the day-to-day performance of staff and managers, in line with company personnel policies and procedures Manage the day-to-day attendance of staff and managers, in line with company sickness and absence management policies and procedures Deal with any employee complaints and/or grievances promptly, in line with company guidelines Manage and maintain correct staffing levels, in line with targets and in relation to sales-forecasting Communicate effectively with the team, through regular meetings – manager’s meetings to be held weekly and staff meetings to be held monthly, in line with the communications calendar Manage the timely distribution and briefing-in of all company communications Manage and maintain employee personnel & training files Identify recruitment needs and take an active role in search and selection activiti es and the appointment of staff, in line with the company recruitment process, ensuring that all paperwork (including ‘proof of right to work’ documentation) is certified, copied and completed, in line with Home office and company guidelines Maintain personal knowledge by completing in-house training, attending courses and completing workbooks Always adhere to all company policies and procedures and licensing laws Carry out any duties as instructed by area manager and head office

Thursday, November 7, 2019

this way for the gasladies and gentlemen essays

this way for the gasladies and gentlemen essays Over the past 25 years, management has emerged as the most sought after profession not only in the United States, but worldwide. Traditionally, managers orchestrate the activities of others and use financial and other resources to accomplish organizational goals. Nowadays, in the midst of corporate downsizing and global expansion, they also must orchestrate their own careers to get the most out of them. Are you a good ideas person looking for skills to make them happen? Do you lead a group in your school or community? Then Management may be the right major for you. There are thousands of management positions in the United States, ranging from chief executive officer (CEO) to shift supervisor. Persons filling these positions are involved in administration, supervision, and leadership. While the positions vary, the managers occupying them employ the same basic skills in carrying out their functions. Interpersonal skills are essential. At certain levels and in certain situations conc eptual, technical, analytical, and diagnostic skills are also essential. During the early-career stage, the first challenge will be to get into an industry, company, and position that fit the needs, values, strengths, and weaknesses of the management candidate. During this time, a person attempts to gain valuable experience and increase his or her power in the organization. Paying attention to developing business knowledge, reputation, interpersonal skills, and informal networks are more important than getting rapid promotions and big pay raises. Persons with limited work experience must cope with longer hours, fewer vacations, more pressure to perform, and difficult coworkers and bosses. However, being given the opportunities to grow and develop will be much more important during this time than short-term benefits. Such opportunities can sharpen professional and social skills plus develop the manager's ability to deal successfully with organizational p...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Atomic Number Definition - Chemistry Glossary

Atomic Number Definition - Chemistry Glossary The atomic number of a chemical element is the number of  protons in the nucleus of an atom of the  element. It is the charge number of the nucleus since neutrons carry no net electrical charge. The atomic number determines the identity of an element and many of its chemical properties. The modern periodic table is ordered by increasing atomic number. Atomic Number Examples The atomic number of hydrogen is 1; the atomic number of carbon is 6, and the atomic number of silver is 47, Any atom with 47 protons is an atom  of silver. Varying its number of neutrons changes its isotopes while changing the numbers of electrons makes it an ion. Also Known As: The atomic number is also known as the proton number. It may be represented by the capital letter Z. The use of capital letter Z comes from the German word Atomzahl, which means atomic number. Before the year 1915, the word Zahl (number) was used to describe an elements position on the periodic table. Relationship Between Atomic Number and Chemical Properties The reason the atomic number determines the chemical properties of an element is that the number of protons also determines the number of electrons in an electrically neutral atom. This, in turn, defines the electron configuration of the atom and the nature of its outermost or valence shell. The behavior of the valence shell determines how readily an atom will form chemical bonds and participate in chemical reactions. New Elements and Atomic Numbers At the time of this writing, elements with atomic numbers 1 through 118 have been identified. Scientists typically talk about discovering new elements with higher atomic numbers. Some researchers believe there may be an island of stability, where the configuration of protons and neutrons of superheavy atoms will be less susceptible to the quick radioactive decay seen in known heavy elements.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Hezbollah organization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Hezbollah organization - Essay Example However, various acts of attack by the Lebanese terrorist group have proved it a radical terrorist organization that is intolerant of divergent views. Indeed, it is a terrorist organization with a long history, a clear organization structure, and with strong views on religious, political, and social issues. Normally, the organization accomplishes its agenda by issuing terrorist threats or carrying out terrorist attacks at various public places (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2014). In this regard, this paper explores the history, structure, objectives, ideals, and targets of Hezbollah as a Lebanese terrorist organization that strikes mainly in the Middle East nations. Having been founded in 1982, Hezbollah, which is also referred to as ‘The Party of God’, is an extremist ‘Shi’a’Â  Muslim organization whose main motivation is to fight the alleged imperialism by the western countries and Israel mostly in Lebanon. In October 1997, the State Department of the U.S. branded the organization as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) chiefly due to its refusal to recognize the legitimacy of the Israeli government and Israel as a State (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2014). Due to the alleged oppression against the Muslim nations that the organization purports to fight for, it has since transformed into a radical revolutionist group. Although not all the Muslim and Arab nations may conform to the ideologies of this terrorist organization, the group is focused on its main objective, which is to unite all the Arab nations into forming one government in order to liberate Jerusalem and Israel by extension from alleged western impe rialism (Jewish Virtual Library, 2013). Essentially, Hezbollah, as a terrorist group, was founded in 1982 on the onset of the First Lebanon War that lasted until the years 2000. However, the Iranian Revolution played an instrumental role in defining and determining the ideologies and origins of the Hezbollah group (BBC News,