Niccolò Machiavelli - His Life, Philosophy and Influence

Niccolà ² Machiavelli - His Life, Philosophy and Influence Niccolà ² Machiavelli was one of the most influential political theorists of Western philosophy. His most read treatise, The Prince, turned Aristotle’s theory of virtues upside down, shaking the European conception of government at its foundations. Machiavelli lived in or nearby Florence Tuscany his whole life, during the peak of the Renaissance movement, in which he took part. He is also the author of a number of additional political treatises, including The Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius, as well as of literary texts, including two comedies and several poems. Life Machiavelli was born and raised in Florence, Italy, where his father was an attorney. Historians believe his education was of exceptional quality, especially in grammar, rhetoric, and Latin. He seems not to have been instructed in Greek, though, despite Florence having been a major center for the study of the Hellenic language since the middle of the fourteen hundreds. In 1498, at age twenty-nine Machiavelli was called to cover two relevant governmental roles in a moment of social turmoil for the newly constituted Republic of Florence: he was named chair of the second chancery and – a short time after – secretary of the Dieci di Libert e di Pace, a ten-person council responsible for maintaining diplomatic relationships with other States. Between 1499 and 1512 Machiavelli witnessed first-hand the unfolding of Italian political events. In 1513, the Medici family returned to Florence. Machiavelli was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to overthrow this powerful family. He was first imprisoned and tortured then sent into exile. After his release, he retired to his country house in San Casciano Val di Pesa, about ten miles southwest of Florence. It is here, between 1513 and 1527, that he wrote his masterpieces. The Prince De Principatibus (literally: On Princedoms) was the first work composed by Machiavelli in San Casciano mostly during 1513; it was published only posthumously in 1532. The Prince is a short treatise of twenty-six chapters in which Machiavelli instructs a young pupil of the Medici family on how to acquire and maintain political power. Famously centered on the right balancing of fortune and virtue in the prince, it is by far the most read work by Machiavelli and one of the most prominent texts of Western political thought. The Discourses Despite the popularity of The Prince, Machiavelli’s major political work is probably The Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius. Its first pages were written in 1513, but the text was completed only between 1518 and 1521. If The Prince instructed how to govern a princedom, The Discourses were meant to educate future generations to achieve and maintain political stability in a republic. As the title suggests, the text is structured as a free commentary on the first ten volumes of Ab Urbe Condita Libri, the major work of Roman historian Titus Livius (59B.C.-17A.D.) The Discourses are divided into three volumes: the first devoted to internal politics; the second to foreign politics; the third one to a comparison of the most exemplary deeds of individual men in ancient Rome and Renaissance Italy. If the first volume reveals Machiavelli’s sympathy for the republican form of government, it is especially in the third that we find a lucid and pungent critical gaze at the political situation of Renaissance Italy. Other Political and Historical Works While carrying forward his governmental roles, Machiavelli had the opportunity to write about the events and issues he was witnessing first-hand. Some of them are critical to understanding the unfolding of his thought. They range from the examination of the political situation in Pisa (1499) and in Germany (1508-1512) to the method used by the Valentino in killing his enemies (1502). While in San Casciano, Machiavelli wrote also a number of treatises on politics and history, including a treatise on war (1519-1520), a recount of the life of the condottiero Castruccio Castracani (1281-1328), a history of Florence (1520-1525). Literary Works Machiavelli was a fine writer. He left us two fresh and entertaining comedies, The Mandragola (1518) and The Clizia (1525), both of which are still represented in these days. To these we shall add a novel, Belfagor Arcidiavolo (1515); a poem in verses inspired to Lucius Apuleius’s (about 125-180 A.D.) major work, L’asino d’oro (1517); several more poems, some of which amusing, the translation of a classical comedy by Publius Terentius Afer (circa 195-159B.C.); and several other smaller works. Machiavellianism By the end of the sixteenth century, The Prince had been translated into all major European languages and was the subject of heated disputes into the most important courts of the Old Continent. Often misinterpreted, the core ideas of Machiavelli were so despised that a term was coined to refer to them: ​Machiavellianism. To these days the term indicates a cynical attitude, according to which a politician is justified to do any tort if the end requires it.

Battle of Isandlwana - Anglo-Zulu War

Battle of Isandlwana - Anglo-Zulu War Battle of Isandlwana - Conflict The Battle of Isandlwana was part of the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War in South Africa. Date The British were defeated on January 22, 1879. Armies Commanders British Lieutenant Colonel Henry PulleineLieutenant Colonel Anthony William Durnford1,400 British, 2,500 African infantry Zulu Ntshingwayo kaMAholeMavumengwana kaMdlela Ntuliapprox. 12,000 infantry Background In December 1878, following the death of several British citizens at the hands of the Zulus, authorities in the South African province of Natal issued an ultimatum to the Zulu king Cetshwayo demanding that the perpetrators be turned over for trial. This request was refused and the British began preparations to cross the Tugela River and invade Zululand. Led by Lord Chelmsford, British forces advanced in three columns with one moving along the coast, another from the north and west, and the Centre Column advancing through Rourkes Drift towards Cetshwayos base at Ulundi. To counter this invasion, Cetshwayo mustered a massive army of 24,000 warriors. Armed with spears and old muskets, the army was divided in two with one section sent to intercept the British on the coast and the other to defeat the Centre Column. Moving slowly, Centre Column reached Isandlwana Hill on January 20, 1879. Making camp in the shadow of the rocky promontory, Chelmsford sent out patrols to locate the Zulus. The following day, a mounted force under Major Charles Dartnell encountered a strong Zulu force. Fighting through the night, Dartnell was not able to break off contact until early on the 22nd. The British Move After hearing from Dartnell, Chelmsford resolved to move against the Zulus in force. At dawn, Chelmsford led 2,500 men and 4 guns out from Isandlwana to track down the Zulu army. Though badly outnumbered, he was confident that British firepower would adequately compensate for his lack of men. To guard the camp at Isandlwana, Chelmsford left 1,300 men, centered on the 1st Battalion of the 24th Foot, under Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Henry Pulleine. In addition, he ordered Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Durnford, with his five troops of native cavalry and a rocket battery, to join Pulleine. On the morning of the 22nd, Chelmsford began vainly searching for the Zulus, unaware that they had slipped around his force and were moving on Isandlwana. Around 10:00 Durnford and his men arrived at the camp. After receiving reports of Zulus to the east, he departed with his command to investigate. At approximately 11:00, a patrol led by Lieutenant Charles Raw discovered the main body of the Zulu army in a small valley. Spotted by the Zulus, Raws men began a fighting retreat back to Isandlwana. Warned of the Zulus approach by Durnford, Pulleine began forming his men for battle. The British Destroyed An administrator, Pulleine had little experience in the field and rather than ordering his men to form a tight defensive perimeter with Isandlwana protecting their rear he ordered them into a standard firing line. Returning to the camp, Durnfords men took a position on the right of the British line. As they approached the British, the Zulu attack formed into the traditional horns and chest of the buffalo. This formation allowed the chest to hold the enemy while the horns worked around the flanks. As the battle opened, Pulleines men were able to beat off the Zulu attack with disciplined rifle fire. On the right, Durnfords men began to run low on ammunition and withdrew to the camp leaving the British flank vulnerable. This coupled with orders from Pulleine to fall back towards the camp led to a collapse of the British line. Attacking from the flanks the Zulus were able to get between the British and the campsite. Overrun, British resistance was reduced to a series of desperate last stands as the 1st Battalion and Durnfords command were effectively wiped out. Aftermath The Battle of Isandlwana proved to be the worst defeat ever suffered by British forces against native opposition. All told, the battle cost the British 858 killed as well as 471 of their African troops for a total of 1,329 dead. Casualties among the African forces tended to be lower as they filtered away from the battle during its early stages. Only 55 British soldiers managed to escape the battlefield. On the Zulu side, casualties were approximately 3,000 killed and 3,000 wounded. Returning to Isandlwana that night, Chelmsford was stunned to find a bloody battlefield. In the wake of the defeat and the heroic defense of Rourkes Drift, Chelmsford set about regrouping British forces in the region. With the full support of London, which wished to see the defeat avenged, Chelmsford went on to defeat the Zulus at the Battle of Ulundi on July 4 and capture Cetshwayo on August 28. Selected Sources British Battles: Battle of IsandlwanaIsandlwana Campaign

Communication management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Communication management - Essay Example The authors argue that the innovation sector demands new standards for international business and needs effective management of innovation to plan, implement, and assess innovation programs (Caywood, 2012:29). Efficient innovation management is also required to develop innovation capability and organise resources and potential for innovation. This occurs at both intra and inter-organisational standards. Communication has evolved to become a major determinant of successful innovation. Consequently, the new discipline of innovation communication enables the successful introduction of new products and services, the nurturing of stakeholder partnerships, and the enhancement of corporate image in the long-term. The modern business environment demands that corporations create a sound array of communication tools as a central component of their strategic innovation management operations. The authors have provided a critical appraisal of emerging techniques and strategies of integrating communication as a facilitator of strategic innovation. While reading the book, it is easy to realise that the provision of a holistic outlook to narrow the chasm between communication management and innovation management, at decision-making and operational levels, is a key theme (Grunig, 2013:18). The authors provide a valuable input to the dynamic discipline of communication by contributing numerous views to the latest studies on innovation communication, communication management, and strategic open innovation. The authors also offer important advice for managers at all levels who are interested in comprehending the variety of ways in which they can optimise communication to augment successful innovation. Positioning is a popular subject in marketing and communications. It is common to see and hear references to the positioning of ideologies, identities, political affiliations, ideas, products, etc. However, a majority of

Nuclear Family and Matrix Organizational Structure Essay

Nuclear Family and Matrix Organizational Structure - Essay Example In cases where the family cannot support itself and the 2 parent limitation is exceeded the family is better known as an extended family. The term extended family point to a situation where the immediate family members are living together with their own nuclear family and an extended family would comprise of grand parents, uncles, aunts etc. The nuclear family system has a number of advantages. The first one worth mentioning here is that there is no particular 'Head of The Family' and basically you are on your own. To put it in a colloquial representation there is basically no one to stop you from anything. Having labeled this as an advantage it is also worth mentioning that this can be a good or a bad thing. Since you are on your own you take your own decisions and therefore whatever the consequences of a particular be the person involves does not have to blame any one else but him/herself whenever a decision is thought bout in retrospect. The flip side to this is that normally the Head of a family has far more experience than the younger ones involved and normally the Head is in a better position to judge and decide if a particular step or decision can be helpful or not therefore in a nuclear family setup this fruit of experience is missed out. The next point is that you raise your children in your own style and there is rarely any interference from any elders. This again has both sides to it since having the choice of raising your kids your own way does help your kids to have orientations of the ways of life of the future and they don't have to be compliant to the standards of elders. At the same time again the experience of an elder of the family is missed out here. Compared to a joint family system in a nuclear family you earn and spend on your own luxuries without having to contribute anything towards the family pool. One note worthy issue here is that as soon as a marriage breaks the whole family come crumpling down in a nuclear family. As compared to this in a joint family the children of the broken marriage are normally taken care of by the grand parents. Two in a Box This concept is based on the idea of two leading roles in an organization/group where the two have different focuses as compared to each other but the two together help the organization move towards its goal in a very efficient manner. Matrix Organization In structure the team consists of multifunctional team members and encourages a horizontal communication and authority rather than the traditional vertical flow of authority. The matrix structure essentially abandons the concept of one boss or one head for a division/department. It normally enforces an amalgamation of individual skills by involving individuals from different departments; this structure is usually very effective for large projects or for a specific product's development. The way this structure works is that for a specific project, for which the matrix is enforced, the day to day progress report goes to the product of project head where as the individuals continue reporting for their over all performances to their main departmental head. The positive about this

Internet Article Review When to call the organization doctor Essay Example for Free

Internet Article Review When to call the organization doctor Essay Summary In the article, When to call the organization doctor by Robert N. Llewellyn discusses many techniques that are available for an organization and managers to use in determining how to properly identify organizational problems, or resolve current problems within the organization. Llewellyns article briefly describes eight-elements in accomplishing organizational effectiveness: Strategic Direction, Goal Alignment, Work Process and Projects, Organizational Structure, Performance Management, Rewards, Cultural Support Systems and Infrastructure. The article further points out that after a manager have identified the elements for effective organizational management than they should apply these elements to diagnosis problems within the organization. Furthermore, When a fit problem is identified one must use not only simple deductive thinking, but inferential thinking as well. (Llewellyn, p.79, 2002) Following this step puts management in charge of where the organization is going, strategically and systemically, and avoids the management-fad phenomenon. (Llewellyn, p.79, 2002) Effective Management In week, one Professor Sowunmi asked the class to explain, How does effective management impact organizational success? (Main newsgroup, February 4, 2004 DQ 2) In answering the question I stated, Effective management can have an endless impact upon the success of an organization. Interview Article 3 The main goals of any business are to make sure that its organization and its employees perform proficiently and productively. Any company can accomplish these goals if the employees are provided with appropriate guidance, enough flexibility, and supplied with the necessary information about what the organization is trying to accomplish. Moreover, a company that is successfully managed has a vision and knows how to make decisions that are consistent with the companys vision. In addition, an organization that has good management can make good decisions that not only improve the profits of the company, but also give the employees a sense of pride in their company. A company that is managed successfully recognizes and appreciates its customers and will go all the way in making sure the customer is place first. (Easter-Brown, DQ 2, February 7, 2004) This statement helps support the fact that if an organization fails to properly diagnosis problems within the organization they are most probably committing a form of organizational malpractice. In other words, thinking about the many ways organizations try to change and make themselves healthier makes it nearly impossible if they are unwilling to remember that prescription without diagnosis is malpractice, whether in medicine or management. On the other hand, the self-medication approach can sometimes have limited impact and can even lose headway. Without any external help or ideas, the side effects or self-treatment can be limited management thinking, stubborn devotion to traditional and comfortable viewpoints. Self-medication can work well, but management must be well informed about the range of effective remedies. Interview Article 4 Take the statement made by Kevin OConnell, one of my fellow classmates, Effective management uses mistakes as opportunities for learning and is able to recover and quickly adapt to changes in the business climate. Ineffective management points the blame on others and never learns nor takes ownership for mistakes. (Main newsgroup DQ2, February 5, 2004) Furthermore, preferring the self-medication approach, many organizations continually engage in various processes aimed at self-change. They may purchase current management books, videos and training materials the counterpart of over-the-counter medications but in general, they prefer to figure things out for themselves. Many firms are simply more comfortable with this do it yourself approach and have little attraction to the idea of bringing in outsiders to deal with their change agenda. Internal task forces, special initiatives, campaigns and focused training programs can be effective forms of self-treatment. If they have a core team of bright, well-qualified internal change agents, they could make great progress. Llewellyn states, managers should first correctly diagnosis organizational problems first, then, if needed, search for a consultant that has the experience needed. (pg. 79, 2002) Changes for SHS If I could make changes or recommendations for my own organization, they would defiantly be built around the guidelines of organizational effectiveness. Interview Article 5 The Stamford Health System is currently under new management and many of the guidelines stated in Llewellyns article are exceptional steps for improving the effectiveness of my companys organizational structure, for example, Performance Management, Rewards, and Cultural Support Systems are some good suggestions for improvement. In my recommendations for Performance Management, I would like to see a centralized scheduling streamlines access to the hospitals services that satisfy physicians and patients, for example, a Centralized-scheduling staff of stationed in close proximity to the Admitting office, increasing their efficiency due to the high volume of walk-in patients. The average 95 faxes and 30 calls received each day from physicians offices will be reduce to approximately 15 minutes to schedule. The training process for central scheduling staff is broader so that they can schedule all procedure/visit types Specific IT systems can now facilitate central scheduling by being smart about scheduling. If my organization wants to be competitive and increase their nurse retention, they need to provide major stimulus to restructure the hospital and organization. There needs to be an improvement in our internal reform strategy as well as a market alliance strategy. In order to be successful in the market environment of managed care and managed competition, my institution needs to expand market share through superior quality service; reduce management overhead with flat structure; increase productivity with self-directed teams; control expenses within budget; reinforce innovation and performance with incentives; and reinfuse employees and medical staff with a sense of shared optimism about the future. Interview Article 6 I believe the result will be a sweeping overhaul in organizational culture, driven by a radical shift in management philosophy and a permanent commitment to seek continuous improvements at all levels. Conclusion It is evident from my evaluation and the article When to call the organization doctor by Robert N. Llewellyn that careful evaluation and diagnosis of the central problems in an organization can help avoid expensive, disruptive, and often unnecessary intervention (pg.79, 2002) Overall, through a conservative position an organization can develop the capability to evaluate and diagnosis effective organizational skills to improve the many problems that may arise in the organizational structure. Fundamentally, as long as the organization is willing to strive for organizational effectiveness, they have a greater chance of solving problems within the company. Interview Article 7 References Easter-Brown, D. (Feb. 7, 2004). MGT 330 Main Newsgroup. How does effective management impact organizational success? Retrieved from MGT 330 Main Newsgroup on February 16, 2004 Llewellyn, R.N. (Mar. 2002). When to call the organization doctor HR Magazine. Vol. 47, Iss. 3, pg. 79. Retrieved from ProQuest database on February 2, 2004. OConnell, K. (Feb. 5, 2004). MGT 330 Main Newsgroup. How does effective management impact organizational success? Retrieved from MGT 330 Main Newsgroup on February 16, 2004 Sowumni, A. (2004). Overview of The Concepts of Management: Week I Lecture. Retrieved from MGT 330 Course Newsgroup on February 13, 2003. University of Phoenix (Ed.). (2002). Management: Theory, Practice, and Application [University of Phoenix Custom Edition e-text]. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Custom Publishing Retrieved February 13, 2003.

The American Association of Retired Persons Essay -- essays research p

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Founded in 1958 by Dr. Ethel Percy, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has been dedicated to addressing the needs and interests of older Americans. Percy felt that older Americans could attain a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment by remaining physically and intellectually active in society, thus came about his idea to form the AARP. The AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, membership organization open to anyone, working or retired, over the age of 50. Based in Wash-ington, D.C., the AARP pursues its goals through service, advocacy, and education. The AARP's ultimate goal is to help older Americans achieve lives of independence, dignity, and purpose. The AARP is spread nation wide through local chapters and is run mainly by volunteer board members at the local and national levels.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The 33 million members of the AARP can expect many benefits as well as support from the AARP. The wide range of services span anywhere from movie tickets to grants for re-search. The AARP also has many publications in the form of audio and publications. The most famous of these publications is the bimonthly Modern Maturity which targets all readers inter-ested in AARP issues.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The issues and goals the AARP advocates span a great deal throughout the political, economic, and social arena. While diverse in its areas of interest, the AARP mainly concentrates on social issues. Being a nonpartisan organization, the AARP does not nationally endorse or contribute any money to the campaigns of any candidate running for national positions including presidency. Politics in the AARP is basically left to the individual to decide whom he/she will support. The only participation the AARP takes is through the AARP/VOTE program. The goals of the AARP/VOTE program are to educate AARP members and the general public about important economic, health and consumer issues, and about the positions taken by candidates for public office on these issues. They also inform candidates and elected officials of AARP's positions on key policy issues and help elected officials be more responsive to the needs of their districts or states by promoting effective communication with their constituents. AARP/VOTE is successful because of its effective methods used t... ... Security and private pensions by increasing the amount of contributions with more people working and by delaying payments. Finally, the AARP stands firmly against age-related driver testing. They say it is discriminatory and isn't the solution to the elderly's driving problems. The solution the AARP proposes is education. They would like to educate the elderly more about driving as well as having tougher tests when renewing driver's licenses. Another suggestion is to have more conspicuous and highly visible road signs. These ideas all together, says the AARP, would make roadways safer for all drivers. Thus, through this small sample of their large interest for social issues, one can get a better idea how the AARP stands.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Being a member of the AARP has it's many personal benefits as well as having the satisfaction that as an older person, one is still involved in society at the political, economic, and social levels. The AARP has been around for 38 years strong, being very effective and providing a solid voice for older Americans, and its success so far will assure its survival into the 21st century becoming one of the most well rounded organizations.

Customer Service Essay

As a highly motivated and energetic person, I was excited to learn of your company’s opening for an Assistant Manager. In reviewing my resume, you will find that I possess all the attributes your are seeking, gained in over six years of hands-on progressive experience. A perfect match for your needs. You seek someone with motivational and leadership skills. I propelled my career to become the top Senior Sales Consultant for a fortune 500 company that serves 90 stores in 25 states. While increasing the bottom line of the company using innovative techniques, I utilized strong interpersonal skills to build a solid team of personnel with a high morale. Exceptional Customer Service has been demonstrated by my ability to manage customer’s needs while applying operations knowledge by implementing aggressive sales plans with a cutting edge technique, of particular value to your industry. A team player with the ability to work effectively with others, I developed training techniques that provided win-win results – Through a product-awareness program employees received intensive training, while customer’s benefited from well-informed and confident customer service personnel. For your convenience, I have kept this letter short. I can make an immediate and valuable contribution to In-Game Support Entertainment and look forward to meeting you where we can discuss in more detail your needs and my qualifications.

Howard Zinn: Use and Abuse of History Summary

Response to Howard Zinn article History is something we constantly refer to progress ourselves as humans, we learn from our mistakes and continue to strive from our successes. But who is to say what is a horrible mistake or a courageous act of valor? That which was documented about what happened so long ago, was done by a person who spread the story or wrote it down from their perspective. Howard Zinn’s argument that there is no such thing as impartial history clearly illustrates that when history is recorded there is always two sides to the story, that things are either left out or kept in to sway the reader to one side or the other. Everyone is biased, whether they know it or not, in possessing fundamental goals, purposes and ends. † (Zinn, Use and Abuse of History,51) Not only can history be recorded partially but also it can be preached partially. By that I mean that in today’s society many things are censored, not published or not publicized. If they don†™t share a view that the government doesn’t like, that a publisher knows will not sell a book or that will cause negative controversy the history probably won’t make it to the eyes of the public. (Use and Abuse of History,62).History is partial because no matter who tells it, all the details cannot be accounted for, things are left out or over emphasized to prove a point or show a certain view. In today’s school system children learn history the way it has been mandated by the government not out of teacher’s discretion. The way history is taught in America is very partial, the idea that America is this country that is oh so glorious and built on the fundamentals of a perfect and morally strong society is over-glorified. The story of Christopher Columbus is a great example that Zinn uses.American’s teach their youth about the courageous sailor who founded the new world and the glory he brought. But leave out the side notes of the genocide he had s tarted and the ruthlessness of slavery all for his own personal glory. (Use and Abuse of History 56-57) Two sides of the same story, though both sides are never told. The idea that the founder of a country was a ruthless murderer would never swing in elementary schools, no matter how much of a reality it is. â€Å"One must inevitably omit large chunks of what is available in historical information. But what is mitted is critical in the kind of historical education people get† (Use and Abuse of History 56). It is insane to think that children should be taught every shred of history in school, they focus on the main points but again these main points are synthesized to show what a regulated counsel of officials decides is appropriate knowledge to learn. The books however that detail accounts that hold a darker look at the events or people like Christopher Columbus are not hidden or burned. Instead they are out there but they are not brought to students in silver platters and sh oved down their throats.Rather they are off to the side and are available to those who look but if the schools do such a good job and proving how much of a hero Christopher Columbus was who would ever look for such a book? History is partial because society’s elected officials choose what is put in the public eye, the officials decide what the social norm for history will be and they over emphasize glory and nationalism for the sake of our their nation’s pride not because it is the right side of the story, but what the public will perceive as the right story. Whenever someone says, ‘history proves†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ and then cites a list of historical facts, we should beware. We can always select facts from history (there are lots to choose from) to prove almost anything†¦ † (Violence and human nature 41) The way we can use and abuse history is as easy as putting someone’s name into Google and hitting search. People can pick and choose what facts ab out something they wish to argue, again pushing for the partial use of history to make a point. An extreme example of course would be Adolph Hitler, you ask a student about Hitler their immediate response would be he was a monster.Many would agree, but what he did for the economy of Germany and how he brought a starving and poor country back to power can be considered in respects a tremendous act of great leadership and planning. (Trueman , The Nazis and the German Economy) The way history is presented is in a way that makes the presenter (the government) look good in the eyes of its citizens. The picking and choosing of facts only furthers the stereotype that â€Å"the world had good guys and bad guys, good countries and bad countries, and ours was good† (Violence and Human Nature 41).It makes sense in a way that it keeps the masses satisfied with their style and way of government. If the complete history of the U. S. governmental flaws and acts of murders were to be publish ed and used in schools of course the reaction would be to demand change and seek a new way of doing things. But that in itself would be using history in a partial way and again proving history his used to prove points and emphasis ideas based on who is telling them.Zinn’s idea that being partial is inevitable (Use and Abuse of History 51) cannot be denied, history is always told to prove a point and a point cannot be proven unless ideas are supported with the right facts chosen by those who document them. The ideas, beliefs and values we hold so strong to ourselves dictate the way we see art, literature and the world. The way we see history and record history is also based again on our values and beliefs, what we set in our mind to be so great, honest and true such as our country can be clouded by how attached we are to these values and beliefs we have. The chief problem in historical honesty is not outright lying. It is omission or deemphasis of important data. The definitio n of important, of course depends on one’s values. † (Use and Abuse of History51) The values that we hold to ourselves have come from our upbringing, from what we are taught growing up. It is no wonder that American’s see their country as beautiful, free and the birth of the ideal American business dream. Taking into my own perspective, â€Å"The Ludlow Massacre† (Use and Abuse of Hitory, 51-53) I initially held the idea that the American government always promoted the growth of its economy in positive measures.From what was taught to me in history class the only struggle I had known about in the America’s regarding the economy was the great depression and slavery. After reading that part of the article it seems very clear to myself why that was kept away from the public. The stock market crash, the great depression and slavery are all pieces of American history that are unavoidable that are known by the general public, but the Ludlow Massacre becau se of the scale and the remoteness of the incident, the American government was able to sweep it away out of view of the public eye.The depression and slavery were both triumphed by the government of America, where it was able to lead their country to economic prosperity and end slavery. But as for the massacre, they burned children and killed hundreds. If this were made general knowledge it may perhaps alter some beliefs of values held in the economic pride of the United States. I see that values lter how you view things because they’re essentially what you believe to be true, and the way history is portrayed it is clear to see that it is partial and that it does take sides. Zinn is very clearly telling the readers that history cannot be told as a whole, bits and pieces are left aside at the discretion of the author. A tiny part maybe left out, but the moral value it can hold can be tremendous even belief altering, that is why history it seems in a sense is regulated and a p roduct that is designed for the general public.The concept that history â€Å"inevitably takes sides† (Use and Abuse of History 51) is a main point in how Zinn argues that history is partial. A bias is always present no matter who the scribe is because the scribe themselves is on a side, or he/she has certain views that alter how they record or present the event they have witnessed. (Use and Abuse of History 51) If this bias is always present is there really a right and wrong way to see two sides given in history?There is also countless other factors that are prevalent in regards to a bias opinion; is this the idea the publisher wants to display, will this spark controversy, will this get my point across, will this show we are superior? (Use and Abuse of History, 59) Zinn brings forward many ways that would sway a historian to push one side of the story more than the other. â€Å"there is a conservative bias to history a tendency to emphasize what previous generations have e mphasized. The motive for that is safety, because the historian who breaks the pattern causes stares and suspicions. (Use and Abuse of History,59) The social norm stands dominant in the way history is engineered for the public, I think that it is harder for historians to avoid certain tendencies in what is written because of who will publish it and what controversies it will cause, and especially who will pay for it. History it seems today is more of a business to promote ideas and beliefs that are inside the box, it promotes uniformity in the believers of the past, that those who learn about history’s dark secrets must choose to, that nothing beyond the social norm will be willingly presented to them in fear that their ideologies and beliefs will change.History’s partial system of facts and the idea that entire civilizations are morally horrid or angelic is so biased because that is the way history has always been. Every story told is nothing but a point of view, that one side of a story always remains dominant to another that portrays a negative outcome for the storyteller. Howard Zinn’s idea that there is no such thing as impartial history because of how it is twisted to either include or ignore things or to emphasize or deemphasize certain ideas seems to do nothing but prove valid.History is something that has always been partial to emphasize values and ideas to prove something and make sure people interpret it in a certain way. The idea that you cannot ignore the past has a different meaning to me now, you can choose to ignore certain pieces of the past. History’s conservative outlook constantly pushes the same values and ideas this is because we specify which ideas and values should be pushed. The way history is sliced and diced reflects what the government and publishers think how we should view history.Events of the past are pushed to the side so that ideas of morality and righteousness still stand strong, even though our el ected leaders of the past commit crimes it isn’t in the best interest of the general public that this information become readily available. (Use and Abuse of History 56-62) Zinn’s arguments prove to show that history is partial, that things are left out for certain reasons and things are emphasized to prove points.History can never be impartial because there will always be a degree of bias in whoever records it, neutrality can never really present when describing a conflict because even the idea of neutrality is a personal opinion. History itself is a product to be consumed by the masses, the ideas are ingested and regurgitated so the social norm remains strong and that certain ideologies are always held. Bibliography: 1. Trueman, Chris. â€Å"The Nazis and the German Economy. † The Nazis and the German Economy. History Learning Site, n. d. Web. 10 Oct. 2012. . 2. Zinn, Howard. The Use and Abuse of History. Coursepack

Show, Dont Tell How to Show Not Tell in Writing With Examples

Show, Dont Tell How to Show Not Tell in Writing With Examples Show, Dont Tell: How to Show Not Tell in Writing With Exercises When you start writing a book, it’s as if everyone around you becomes the expert. They tell you to show dont tell, start with action, or even embellish your stories to sound â€Å"better.† But how do you know what advice to takeand what do those writing tips even mean in the first place?Were here to help you understand showing versus telling and how that will actually help you write better and stronger.It’s safe to say that the idea of showing not telling is one all writers should pay close attention to.Show don’t tell in writing is a piece of advice that’s been around for longer than you might realize. Even if it didn’t have a phrase attached to it yet, the best authors out there have been using it for the duration of their careers (and even before, most likely).Heres how to show dont tell in writing:Understand what show dont tell meansLearn from examples of showing versus tellingCut the sensing words to show dont tellAvoid emotional explain ing when showing not tellingDescribe body languageUse strong verbs to show dont tellFocus on describing sensesPractice showing not telling every dayIn fact, it’s why they’re known as the best writers of all time.But although these writers knew how to bring their writing to life instinctually, not all of us are so lucky. We have to learn the process of show don’t tell, which can be tricky if you don’t know where to start.NOTE: We cover everything in this blog post and much more about the writing, marketing, and publishing process in our VIP Ficiton Selfs:These examples are pretty basic but that’s the best way to gain an understanding of what this looks like. Keep in mind that your sentences may be more complex than these examples, but still full of tell words or phrases. Be on the lookout for the details.Show Dont Tell Example #1:Tell: I heard footsteps creeping behind me and it made the whole situation scarier.†Show: â€Å"Crunching hit my e ars from behind, accelerating the already rampant pounding of my heart.†Why this showing example is better:In an instance such as this, you want the reader to feel what you did: the surprise and the sense of urgency, the fear. Describing the crunching that hit your ears even through the pounding of your heart not only creates a powerful visual, but it also tells the reader the state your body was in during that intense moment. The first example is weak and does little to explain how you actually felt in that moment. Show Dont Tell Example #2:Tell: â€Å"She was my best friend. I could tell her almost anything.†Show: I met her at the town square, running in for our usual hug that carried on for far too long as we gushed about our lives with smiles lighting our faces.† Why this showing example is better: The first example of telling is shorter, but it doesn’t do a great job of really showing the impact you have on each other. Anyone can think of â€Å"best f riend† and form an overall thought about what that looks like. But this isn’t just â€Å"anyone.† This is your best friend. Showing your relationship with one another is vital to forging that deeper connection.Why should you show don’t tell in writing?The entire point of showing versus telling in writing is to make a stronger emotional connection with your readers and hook them.They already picked up your book for the killer title and eye-grabbing cover, but they need a reason to stay.The idea behind this writing technique is to put the reader in your shoes. Make them feel, hear, and sense the situation as you did.It’s about creating an experience for the reader instead of just a recount of events.Doing this makes the reader want to root for you. They want to hear your whole story and in turn, theyll read your whole book.Why is showing not telling also important for non-fiction?If you write fiction, you hear this advice all the time. However, all of you non-fiction writers out there, this piece of writing advice might be new to you.Show don’t tell isn’t always the first thing a non-fiction writer thinks of when it comes to adding more intrigue to your story.But it is the most vital for pulling your reader in and not only hooking them, but keeping them with you throughout the duration of your book.Many fiction writers hear this writing advice often because it’s one of the best ways to make real people feel deeply for fictional characters.When it comes to writing a story about your life and something you went through, the idea is the same. By showing and not telling, you’ll be able to guide them through your real-life situation as an experience and not just some book they’re reading while the kids are yelling at their video games and the oven alarm is blaring in the distance.If you can show don’t tell the right way, the reader won’t even notice those distractions.How to Show Donâ €™t Tell in WritingSo now you know what it is and why it’s important, but how the heck do you actually do it? The process of taking a single story and crafting it to create more emotion can be difficult.Thankfully, we have some of the best tips for showing not telling in writing.#1 Get rid of all basic sensory wordsPhrases like, â€Å"I heard,† â€Å"I felt,† and â€Å"I smelled,† are all very weak. These are â€Å"telling† words and phrases (also commonly referred to as filters) that force the reader further away from you and your experience.That’s exactly what you want to avoid.Instead, you need to pull them into your world and into your psyche the very moment you were encountering the situation.This is done through using strong verbs and other visual language.Show Dont Tell Exercise #1:Step 1: Read through your writing and circle every telling word you can find. Anything that explains one of the 5 senses.Step 2: Then write down speci fics for each. If you heard someone creeping up behind you, how did you hear it? Was it crunching on gravel? Was it the shuffling of shoes against carpet?Once you have these, rewrite those sections by explaining how the senses manifested to you and not just what you sensed (detailed below in the next writing exercise).#2 Don’t use â€Å"emotion explaining† wordsThis might be a bit tricky and you certainly don’t have to follow this one 100% of the time, but if you can get this right, it’ll make showing versus telling so much easier to grasp.Think of any word to describe an emotion. I’ll help you out a little:HappySadAngryFrustratedExcitedGiddyLoveAnxiousJoyDisgustI could go on, but I think you get the idea.These are all great words to describe how someone felt. However, theyre also very weak, unexciting ways to do so.If you need your readers to understand how excited you were at any given time, show them. Don’t just tell them, â€Å"I was s o excited!†Show them the sweat beading your forehead as you raced to your destination. Show them the lifting of your cheeks as your lips parted way for an uncontrollable smile.Show Dont Tell Exercise #2: Skim through your writing and circle every word that’s an emotion. Then, for every emotion-explaining word you find, write down physical reactions of feeling that way.Once you have a small list for each circled word, use it to craft a couple sentences to describe (and show!) just what that looked like.You can see the difference alone between these two paragraphs. By replacing all of the â€Å"telling† words and phrases, it develops into an experience for the reader and not just a retelling of what happened.#3 Describe body languageOne of the best ways you can show not tell in writing is to use strong descriptive language when it comes to body language.A person’s actions are really a gateway to their mind and how they feel.You can tell if another person ha s a crush on someone just by paying attention to the way their body adjusts when in that person’s presence, right?Showing versus telling in writing is exactly that. You want to show the reader what is happening and allow them to form a conclusion about how you or others in your story felt based on what they look like.In all honesty, a lot of this one is about having faith that your audience can put two and two together.Oftentimes, we tend to over explain in an effort to make something obvious when really, the emotion is in the guesswork; it’s in allowing someone to draw their own conclusions. That over-explaining is what comes across as â€Å"telly† and not as emotionally compelling. And honestly? Its also pretty boring and flat.If you do a great job of showing what you want readers to see, they’ll understand how someone feels and they’ll even feel that way themselves.That’s the power of showing not telling.#4 Use strong verbsShowing itsel f can be extremely impactful, but using strong language and verbs in specific situations is even more powerful for adding depth to your story. The way you make someone else actually feel how you did as you were going through the experience is to make sure the words you’re using directly reflect the emotions.This can be a difficult task for those who aren’t sure what â€Å"strong language† looks likes, but I’ll make it easier for you.Show Dont Tell Exercise #3: Think of a situation you want to explain in your book (or maybe something you already have written out).Now imagine what feeling you want to convey through that scene. What do you want your readers to take away from that specific moment in your story? List those emotions so you can see all of them.Take that list and start writing ways in which you can bring those emotions to life. What do those things mean for you? How would these emotions manifest during that specific time?Now take those stronger v erbs and words that depict a deeper emotion and craft your sentence or paragraph with those to reflect how you truly felt.How does this sentence make you feel? Do you feel comfort, relaxation, and a sense that I love being there?That was the purpose. It’s about taking one specific idea or vibe or feeling and using what you know to transform it into something that’s showing not telling.This specific example for show don’t tell can be a little time-consuming at first, but you will get the hang of it and these methods will soon become second nature to you.#5 Focus on describing sensesWe told you to cut sensing words in tip #1, and thats true, but with this comes the fact that you still have to describe what your character is feeling and sensing.Showing versus telling is largely about allowing your readers to interpret what your characters are going through without just telling them.This often means using all the senses you can to depict a scene.Instead of saying, She hated it there. you can use her senses to show the readers that emotion.For example: writing with showing like this The faint scent of stale cigarette smoke met her nostrils, pulling her face into a familiar grimace. allows your readers to understand that she finds where she is distasteful, without having to just say so.#6 Practice showing not telling every dayTo master the tip of show dont tell in writing, it takes time and practice to get it right. Theres a fine line of using showing versus telling in your writing.With regular practice (by writing every day, we suggest), youll learn when to use telling and when to use showing in order to give the reader the best reading experience they have.You can even practice by reading other books and your own writing. Recognizing areas of showing can help you do it more in your own works.Whatto do Next?Show don’t tell can be difficult to master unless you’re constantly thinking about it. But because this specific writing sk ill is vital for building strong emotional connections, you have to implement this information.Here’s what you can do going forward.#1 Join your FREE trainingYou can’t have too much knowledge when it comes to writing and publishing.

Pronouncing Words that Begin with WH

Pronouncing Words that Begin with WH Pronouncing Words that Begin with WH Pronouncing Words that Begin with WH By Maeve Maddox Maria Cypher wrote: Can you weigh in on whether the h in -wh- words (e.g., whether, white, overwhelmed) should be pronounced? This seems to be a regional thing, but I say yes, yes, yes! (And then my friends and relatives mock me.) Im with you, Maria. At least I am on many words that begin with the letter combination wh. Many of our wh words descend from Old English originals that began with the spelling hw: hwa (who) hwaem (whom) hwael (whale) hwaether (whether) hwit (white) The sound [hw] is an aspirate, rather like the sound one makes when blowing out a candle. Its a sound I teach for the phonogram wh. Even if one speaks a dialect that pronounces the spellng wh [hw] as [w] in words like white and whet, learning the wh as a phonogram distinct from the letter w and applying it as a spelling pronunciation is useful in learning to spell correctly. Not knowing the difference can result in writing that startles or misleads: By 1600, the British and Dutch had broken the Spanish and Portuguese naval hegemony, freeing up the spice trade. But trade in spices did not wet the North American palate for hot chili peppers.YaleGlobalOnline WordNavigator.com lists 941 English words that being with the wh spelling. Many of them are different forms of the same word, for example whistle and whistling. Many are words of interest only to Scrabble players. Eliminating the Scrabble words, multiple forms of the same word, and obsolete spellings, I narrowed the list to 70 or fewer. Of this short list, some are words in which the wh has mutated to an h sound (delabialization of /hw/), ex. who, whom, and whore. (I can remember the first time I came across that third wordI was in high schooland went around trying to pronounce it with a [hw]. Talk about being laughed at†¦) Words like white, whet, and whale belong to whats called the wine/whine merger. For most English speakers, the wh in these words is pronounced as a plain w [w]. Maria and I are in the minority. And Id guess that we dont pronounce the same wh words alike. In reviewing my short list of wh words, I find that Im not at all consistent. For example, I would pronounce whizz with the [hw] in this sentence†¦ The arrow whizzed through the air. †¦but Id probably pronounce it [w] in this sentence: Charlie stepped behind the hedge to take a whizz. The only reason I can think of is that I heard the second use of the word in conversation before seeing it written. Then theres whiz as in whiz kid. That, for me, would probably take a [w] sound. Here are some words that I know I pronounce with the breathy [hw] sound†¦ whale whinny whine while whether whisper whistle whiskers †¦but I think I may pronounce these words with a plain w sound: whisky whey whittle white Ah, the mystery of language! Heres a link to all you could ever want to know about The Phonological History of wh. 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 Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Types of Narrative ConflictList of 50 Great Word Games for Kids and AdultsI wish I were...

MGMT 3010 Managing People For A Competitive Advantage Essay

MGMT 3010 Managing People For A Competitive Advantage - Essay Example Human resource personnel play a major role in the management of people throughout the organization. The human resource department is responsible for recruiting and selecting new employees. Once an employee is selected the job of the human resource professional does not end because HR personnel help in the development of employees by providing training and educational opportunities. The HR department also serves as a protection barrier due to the fact that their job involves ensuring companies complies with the pertinent labor laws of the state. Whenever there are problems with employees the human resource department steps in to take disciplinary actions. They also step in to solve any employee disputes among co-workers. The first line managers of organizations have the critical job of overseeing the work of a group of subordinate workers for which they are responsible. A supervisor is a person that is responsible for the day to day performance of a small group of people (Reh). The su pervisor is supposed to establish close relationships with his crew of workers in order to be able to motivate them to achieve higher levels of performance. The supervisor is responsible for solving the day to day problems employees face at work. The position of a supervisor is considered a lower level management position. Companies depend on the efforts of the supervisor to ensure workers are doing their job well. Whenever an employee has a concern he or she must first contact the supervisor about the problem since the supervisor is the immediate managerial resource the workers have available to them. The person that is responsible for ensuring all HR practices are implemented within the organization is the human resource manager. The human resource manager is considered a part of the upper management of an organization. The typical educational and work experience of a human resource manager includes an MBA in human resources and 5-10 years of professional experience. The job of th e human resource manager presents challenges to tactically handle the human resource tools and help the firm attract talented people (Buzzle). The HR resource manager must continually study the new labor laws in order to stay on top of any changes that may affect the employees. The person that is responsible for the entire performance of the employees within an organization is the general manager or the chief executive officer. The general manager has to ensure that the organization is operating at its maximum capacity. It is very important for general managers to keep everyone motivated. Moral problems among the staff can cause operating inefficiencies. General Managers depend on the efforts of other managers to get their job done. They must keep close communication with first line supervisors in order to know if there are any problems with the floor employees. Larger corporations have a chief executive officer in charge of the operation. Human resources are a very important functi on that can add a lot of value to an organization. In the 21st century companies differentiate themselves by the quality of their human capital. Organizations such as Starbucks Cafe have been able to maintain a competitive advantage due to their good

Islamic Culture - Shari'ah Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Islamic Culture - Shari'ah - Essay Example As this occurs, there become boundaries that are created between the Islamic culture and those from other cultures. The more in which Islamic culture is defined without looking at the details of the neighborhoods, the more that the Shari’ah can be attacked while Islamic believers are created in one group of oppression. The Shari’ah, or the ethical standards of Islamic belief are widely accepted by the culture. However, there are also different areas of cultural acceptance that are throughout the world. The differences are based first on the segments of Muslims that are included in the religion and culture because of the generational approaches, such as children growing up in an Islamic community. This is followed by various communities that have changed according to the cultural location, specifically used to adapt to the region. The diversity of Islamic believers furthers with the sects that are a part of the Islamic religion, including most which are divided by the be liefs of Islam and the opposition which has been created to determine the value of the Shari’ah and other formations. The differences with Islamic belief are even further defined with more fundamentalist actions of individuals which interpret the writings of the religion in a different manner (Castells, 2010). The large number of differences of those in the Islamic culture is indicative of diverse thought and beliefs toward the Shari’ah as well as other actions taken in relation to the beliefs of the culture and religious identity. The differences which are associated with the Islamic community are often not recognized by others who are more distant from the religious beliefs and the cultural applications. This creates a sense of defining every individual who practices the religion or which lives in the culture as Islamic. Even though some groups are oppressed and others have various viewpoints, there is still the belief that each practices and performs the same belief s. The attack of others that are not familiar with the boundaries and divisions of Islamic belief then leads to an attack of the Shari’ah, specifically because this is the one account which every Muslim practices and lives by. The basic ethical code specifically defines the ways in which one should treat another. The attack against a specific group then indicates that the approach to treating others in the same regard is expected with the Shari’ah. This leads to expectations that the Islamic culture is expected to act or react in this specific manner. As this occurs, there is a direct affiliation with the Shari’ah being the main complexity that is associated with the community, as opposed to it belonging to the various Islamic groups (Tibi, 2010). Even though this is the specific approach that is taken with the expectations of the Islamic culture, there is a direct understanding that the actions based on oppression of specific segments or with the reactions take n against cultures are not aligned with the Shari’ah. The Shari’ah is one which focuses on the actions taken toward one’s neighbor as being important with acting in kindness and justice. This is further defined with the explanations of how to treat one fairly and with respect as well as actions which are not accepted in terms of Islamic culture and law. These various outlines toward one’s neighbor become the defining point of the Shari’ah (Hashimi, 1997). When there is a sense of a part of the Islamic commu