Presidential Debate Essays - Bush Family, Livingston Family

Presidential Debate Another four years another presidential debate. Before I go on to the current debates let me state a few facts about past ones. The Lincoln and Douglas debate was in important because it started Lincoln presidential career. The Debates lasted from August 21 October 15. There where seven of them, with two days to two weeks in between. Each debate lasted three hours; first candidate spoke for one hour; the second for one and a half hours; the first replying for a half hour. Candidates alternated going first. The topics involved where primarily slavery and the Union. Other important debates were the 48 and 57. They were the only debates before 1960; there were no presidential debates between 1960 and 1976. In 1960 the presidential debate was between President Kennedy and President Nixon. The topic was domestic issues. Over 66.4 million people either heard or watch the debates. 1992 was President Clintons first presidential debate. With over 62.4 million people watching President Clinto n, President Bush and Ross Perot debated with the rules being, no opening statements; each candidate questioned in turn with two minutes to respond; one minute rebuttal by other candidates; two minute closing statements. (http://www.debates.org/pages/debhis.html) Enough of ancient history lets get back to todays debates. In the rest of the essay I will explain what issues interest me and why. Also, I will explain my opinion on the issues I choose and why I chose that statement. The first issue I would like to address is on education. This issue was chosen for me. The moderator in the first debate asked the candidates Both of you have promised dramatically to change to change dramatically public education in the country. Of the public money spent on education, only 6% of that id federal money. You want to change 100% of the public education on 6% of the money, is it possible to change it?(Jim Lehrer) Bush stated that he wants more charter schools because they produce students of a high caliber. Its a school of strong discipline a high standards. Its one of the best schools in Houston. Thats my vision for public education all around America.(Governor Bush) Bush also wants to change Head Start to a reading program and also he wants people to ac cess reading money if they want to. Bush wants more kids to learn how to read and have more teach-for-the-children type teachers. Bush only cares for the children. Gore on the other hand agrees with only a couple of things that Bush stated. He strongly supports accountability; he also supports local control. Bush and Gore agree on both. Gore thinks every teacher should be tested including in the subjects that they teach. He also thinks that 100,000 new teachers should be recruited to reduce class size. The main reason for that is because a man gave him a letter from his daughter. The girl is the 36th student in her class; the picture attached showed that there was no room for one desk so she had to stand. He also wants to make college tax deductible (up to $10,000 a year). I believe that both of the candidates have very good points on education, they were to combine there ideas they would come up with a very good education plan. I like college being tax deductible and I also like the 100,000 more teachers for to reduce class size. However, when Gore said that he wanted more teachers, I have one question, where are you going to put all those teachers? Put two teachers in one classroom? Build more schools? Who will pay for all this? The other issue I would like to discuss is the legalization of the RU-486 drug. It is an abortion pill. The FDA approved just recently but it took them 12 years just to study it. It is available in Europe and China. Governor Bush says, I dont think a president can unilaterally overturn it. The FDA has made its decision.(Governor Bush) After that the Governor states that he is pro-life. He also wants to increase the quality of life. How is life going to be better for an unwanted child? Vice-President Al Gore on the other hand is pro-choice,

Catholic Relief Service essays

Catholic Relief Service essays Catholic Relief Service in Afghanistan The Catholic Relief Service (CRS) is an agency created by the catholic community, funded by the US government and donations, to help communities that are in need. In order to better understand the CRS, there has to be an understanding of what is CRS, what programs CRS offers, what programs CRS is offering to Afghanistan, and are those programs effective. Catholic Relief Services was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and disadvantaged outside the country. The fundamental motivating force in all activities of CRS is the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it pertains to the alleviation of human suffering, the development of people and the fostering of charity and justice in the world. CRS provides direct aid to the poor, and involves people in their own development, helping them to realize their potential. And CRS educates the people of the United States to fulfill their moral responsibilities toward our brothers and sisters around the world by helping the poor, working to remove the causes of poverty, and promoting social justice.(1) The programs that CRS offer to communities are very vast, but have a narrow goal. The programs help the community get back on there feet and become self-sufficient. Some of the programs that CRS offer are: agriculture and environmental programs, health programs, education programs, emergency response and transition programs, HIV/AIDS programs, microfinance, peace building programs, and safety net programs. These programs help the needy communities to reestablish itself and become self-sufficient. The agriculture and environmental programs provide the community with tools and seed to plant crops and harvest them. The health programs provide necessary health care to children and adults to improve health among the community. The education programs focus on access and equity, quality education, and community par ...

Maritime Trade Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Maritime Trade - Essay Example e the United Kingdom under either part 1 or 2 of the register, he can do so by making a provisional application to any British consular officer or to any British High Commissioner office .Such office will forward the application to the Registrar, and if he satisfies that the applicant is eligible for registration, then registration will be granted by the Registrar within a period of ninety days. All varieties of vessels like from oil rigs to pleasure yachts may be registered under Maltese laws provided, they are owned by individuals qualified to own a Maltese ship. Individuals who are qualified to own a Maltese ship are detailed below: In Malta, Minister of transport has been assigned with extra-ordinary authority to prescribe the degree of the class of ships of ownership of a ship eligible to be registered and may notify other regulations and conditions in associations with the necessary ownership for ships. To register a vessel under the Maltese flag by the foreign beneficial ownership, a shipping company must initially be incorporated under the Registry of companies of Malta. Again, a foreign shipping company can save a large sum of money as the minimum capital required by Maltese law is as low as with an authorised capital of  £ 1250 of which a minimum of  £ 250 must be paid-up. Further, the company registration expenses are very low amounting to just  £ 250 and every year, annual return has to be filed by paying a fee of  £ 125. There are several advantages for registering a shipping company in Malta as it has a quick process and also, it is inexpensive. For registering a shipping company at Malta, promoters need not personally present in Malta. They can register a shipping company by operating remotely by forwarding a power of attorney to their legal representative in Malta, which is generally a law firm. Further, the principal place of business of such shipping company need not necessarily be in Malta and there are no limitations whatsoever on the

Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 7

Project Management - Essay Example In order to ensure the success of the Scantel project, Brian Callister who is an engineer and the acting manager of CSU together with an engineer and a technician was given three months deadline to report to VIL board regarding the following: (1) expected outcome of possible technical problems; (2) assess the feasibility of developing the concept into a working prototype; and (3) plan the development tasks which would lead to the prototype stage. Based on Callister’s suggested Scantel network diagram, the researcher will analyze and identify the key factors that may contribute to the delay of project completion. In line with this matter, the researcher will provide reasons that could promote the projects’ potential risks of delays. Eventually, the researcher will provide some strategies that could keep the project done within the preferred schedule. To be able to analyze the possible cause of bottleneck in each stages of the network diagram that was proposed by Callister and eventually develop an effective strategy that could prevent the delay upon completing the Scantel project within the desired schedule. Based on the simplified network diagram proposed by Callister, the major bottleneck with regards to the Scantel project occurs more on: (1) display system; (2) the chassis & body; and (3) the lens and housing. (See Figure I – Simplified Network Diagram on page 16) The display system is referring to the simplified sub-system of the whole plan. It shows the major events that will be needed in order to manufacture, test and calibrate the end product within a specific period of time. The problem with the display system is with regards to its accuracy. Considering the fact that the time allocation for producing the lens and housing is unknown, the whole schedule based on the plan is making the display system less accurate. For instance, the time allocation for producing the lens and housing will take longer time to produce than

Need a management theory and explain it Research Paper

Need a management theory and explain it - Research Paper Example In this paper communication has been discussed within the context of helix and structuration theories. Globalization has exerted more pressures to operate efficiently and effectively and has pushed organizations to employ skillful means to enhance efficient organizational functions. The effectiveness of an organization’s employee is grounded on organizational culture, effective communication and solid leadership at the workplace. From the case study provided, it is evident that Ford clearly lacks these important elements that can motivate employees and hence increase productivity. It is obvious from the excerpt that there is a complete lack of leadership from the supervisors employing old school tactics to manage new age problems. Culture, communication and leadership are critical elements of an effective homogenous work force that is bent of increasing productivity. These three elements are intricately linked and must be continually sought by the dynamic and high achieving organisation out to make a competitive edge in business. the role of the leader with an organizational s et up is to steer the firm towards realization of a common objective goal. In the case study, Bob through application of this principles management to successfully meet and surpass his quotas daily, much to the chagrin of other supervisors. Communication enjoys a crucial place within organizations and its importance is not in doubt; in fact it is the lifeblood of any organisation that seeks to gel and improve as a unit. The success of an organization can be partly attributed to the degree of communication within an organization as it serves as an essential link for any formal organization, thereby linking the mutual objectives that people within the familiar setting seeks to achieve. In the case provided, communication between the management and the hourly employees has completely broken down and their mode lacks the essential elements that define

The City Of Timbuktu Environmental Sciences Essay

The City Of Timbuktu Environmental Sciences Essay The city of  Timbuktu  is located in the African nation of  Mali, near the Niger River. It is small trading town in central Mali and the Tombaugh Cato its official name. It was one of the richest commercial cities in Africa and a center of Islamic learning in the third and sixteenth centuries. It is population 20.483 inhabitants. This name comes from the language spoken by the Tuareg nomads who life in it. It was well known to Arabs and other traders when it served as a hub of culture and commerce during the 14th and 15th centuries Timbuktu  is also home to several famous mosques, including Sankore, Djingareyber, and Sidi Yahya, all of which are made from the distinctive mud which characterizes buildings in  Timbuktu. Due to  desertification  and related issues,  Timbuktu  is a very difficult city to live in it. [1] The objective of this research is to review the literature as it pertains to desertification, to define the current status of desertification, to document that designed to reverse the negative effects of desertification, and to analyze effect of desertification as well as their consequences. Review of Desertification [2] Desertification  is a type of  land degradation  in which a relatively  dry  land region becomes increasingly arid, typically losing its bodies of water as well as vegetation and wildlife. Desertification is known as Desert encroachment. Any drought on agricultural land or cultivable, and converted into barren land and is caused by long drought on the one hand, and human activity on the other. And desertification phenomenon is also known as: turning wide range of fertile areas and high production to poor areas of vegetable and animal for many reasons. Desertification has four types in term of dangerous the United Nations designated it. First, very severe desertification: a shift of land to a non-productive state completely. This can be reclaimed by expensive costs and only limited spaces and in many cases, the agricultural reform process becomes totally unproductive. There are many examples such as Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Somalia. Second, Desertification: when spreading of unwanted plants, and there is a decline of good vegetable production up to 50%, like land in the east and north-west of the delta in Egypt. Third, Moderate desertification: where good vegetable production declines. It causes salinization of the soil, which reduces production by 10-15%, and up to 25% such as Egypt. Fourth, slight desertification: when damage occurs or destruction very simple in vegetation and soil which can be negligible as in Saharan desert of the Arabian island. Desertification has a many reasons where causes or factors are divided into two categories: natural and human. Natural factors: climate, drought, quicksand, the high soil salinity and soil creep. Human factors: such as over grazing, poor irrigation methods, deforestation, creeping urbanization and pollution. We can overcome desertification in many ways, such as: sand dune stabilization, increase the area of agricultural land, the enactment of laws that prevent harvesting, water pollution prevention and the introduction of new crops more suited to the environmental conditions. Desertification in Timbuktu [3] Where it came from the sand on the vegetation that surrounded the city, the river and bridge branch with a length of about 7 km which connects the city by the main reaches of the River Niger that facilitates the transfer of goods to the city by river navigation. Although the exploitation of the financial governments reputation historic wide of the city in bringing Western tourists, ((the share of infrastructure projects is negligible)), which impact on tourism in the city itself, this as well as the resulting manifestations of poverty and misery, despite this bleak picture but Timbuktu seem always tall and a source of pride and pleasure if we look at the reality of cultural, as it is one of the few regions in the world that has maintained the kind of cultural Alkuzmosa, where managed city smelting several cultures in one pot, to make them their culture which rarely found elsewhere. The rolled on the Timbuktu region several crises of drought between the years 1970 1997, because of desertification which overgrazing was the most important causes of it. Where the regions population depends on livestock grazing in large numbers may increase the need for per household because it is the main source of livelihood. Also because of negligence or lack of awareness of the importance of other fileds such as agriculture and others. In addition to other influences such as global warming and the burning of fossil fuels which was and still have devastating effects on the environment of the region. Programs designed to reverse the negative effects of Desertification in Timbuktu These are a few of the relevant measures. Investment program and rural areas in northern Mali[4] The program aims to reduce rural poverty in the regions of Timbuktu and Gao restoring social networks and creating the conditions necessary to support economic activity. It operates the hydro-agricultural potential of the Niger River. The interventions under the program are concentrated in 14 municipalities along the Niger River and five common pastoral concern devices and small farmers, pastoralists, rural women, youth and marginalized social groups. The program aims to: Strengthen the capacity of local organizations and institutions to express their collective needs and to create and manage their investments. Develop the potential of agro-pastoral zone in a sustainable manner. Improve access to basic services through the development of community health centers. Contribute to the development of national policies to fight against rural poverty. Promote policy dialogue to promote the interests of local rural communities. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification [5] [6]   In those countries experiencing serious drought and / or desertification, particularly in Africa, the Convention to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that include long-term strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements. This Convention is the only agreement that has been drawn from the direct recommendation of the Conference Agenda 21, adopted in Paris on 17 June 1994 and entered into force in December 1996. The agreement is the first and only carry an international, legally binding and to put to address the problem of desertification. The Convention on the principles of partnership, participation and decentralization the backbone of good governance, sustainable development and the Convention has now 194 countries member making them bear recipe World to help in promoting the Convention announced in 2006 the International Year of Deserts and Desertification, but discussions broke on the effectiveness of the International Year on a practical level. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations[7] Desertification like illness Earth which seriously affects vegetation of land cultivated with crops, as well as pasture and forest areas.  Also have negative effects on the phenomenon of biodiversity and soil fertility and the hydrological cycle of water resources and crop yields, in addition to the production of livestock. t should be noted that the Food and Agriculture Organization supports and supports a number of countries in the world in the implementation of its country programs to combat desertification, and those countries are: Mali, Senegal, Turkey, Chile, Cuba, Yemen, Lebanon, and Cambodia. As the organization pays special attention to dry areas and through its Special Programme for Food Security. In Africa, seeking Food and Agriculture Organization to strengthen its cooperation with UNESCO and the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel region, in response to desertification in the Sahel and West Africa, has coordinated an initiative of the United Nations on the Horn of Africa, which includes the countries most affected by desertification. Effects of Desertification on the Mosques of Timbuktu [8] There are three great mosques, Djingareyber, Sankore and Sidi Yahia, recall Timbuktus golden age. Although these monuments are continuously restored, current desertification enhances desert encroachment and sand storms: the site is under threat. The satellite image shows the landscape surrounding Timbuktu, composed mainly of sand and desert. The temperature increased by 1.4 °C in that area and the impact of the drought was remarkable between 1901 and 1996. Research has shown that in the future region will face a decline in average rainfall, and an increase in the temperature and that will surely enhance the encroachment of the desert and sand blown damage in Timbuktu. Consequences of Desertification for Timbuktu Desertification has huge economic consequences the World Bank estimates that at the global level, the annual income foregone in the areas affected by desertification amounts to US$ 42 billion each year, while the annual cost of fighting land degradation would cost only US$ 2.4 billion a year. In all, more than 110 countries have dry lands that are potentially threatened by desertification. [9]Africa, Asia and Latin America are the most threatened by desertification. There are several things to do to reverse the negative consequences of desertification[10] Restore and fertilize the land: A simple and cheap way to fertilize the land is to prepare compost that will become humus and will regenerate the soil with organic matter. Reforestation: trees play several roles: they help fix the soil, act as wind breakers, enhance soil fertility, and help absorb water during heavy rainfall. Develop sustainable agricultural practices. Traditional lifestyles: as practiced in many arid zones offer examples of harmonious living with the environment. Combat the effects of the wind: By constructing barriers and stabilising sand dunes with local plant species. Developing education and training: It is important that every individual has access to information and understands the action proposals communicated by the media and literature. Reading and writing skills provide people the opportunity to become better informed and help them understand and organize projects that combat desertification. Education therefore enables them to share knowledge and better manage the available resources. Mandating environmental priority. Relieving pressure on forest. Investing more external aid in rural. Strengthening institutions.

American Era Best Choice :: essays research papers

During the period from 1865 to 1929, I think that the most important person, event and technology were Abraham Lincoln, The Civil War, and the airplane.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Abraham Lincoln, the person I felt most important, was an incredible man. Not only for his charisma, and character, but for his actions and what he believed in.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  He was a man from the North, who was for the abolishment of slavery. He was a Republican. Although good to the North, the Southerners declares him as the greatest evil of the century. President Lincoln won the election with 180 electoral votes and 1,865,583 of the popular votes. Winning the South by a hundred electoral votes and thousands of popular votes in 1860.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Confederates broke off with the United States, the civil war became a fight to keep as a union. Lincoln declared himself as commander in chief, forced his troops to emancipate slaves, as well as protect them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lincoln grew up poor, taught himself all that he knew, his belief of all men being created equal is what set's him apart from so many other people. During this time he was revolutionary in changing the lives of slaves and the mind of a white man.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  He signed the 13th Amendment, freeing all slaves. He also gave one of the most inspirational speeches of his time at Gettysburg. And along with his words, the country held together.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I feel that President Abraham Lincoln kept this country together, without his leadership, our country would not be one solid nation, rather broken into separate ruled states. Although being assassinated on April 15, 1865, to me he is still the most important man in American history.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The events that I thought were very important ties up with President Lincoln, the Civil War.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Civil War is what eventually kept the states together. It is said to be the war with the most loss of life on American soil.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This war started on April 12, 1861 at Fort Sumter and ended on June 8, 1863 at Fort Hudson on the border of Mississippi and Louisiana. Although it is said, the last battle was at Gettysburg.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The reason I feel the Civil War was so important to United States history and all the eras are because it was one thing that kept us all under one democratized government. Without the war, we would be just another jumbled, out of government and troubled country.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The most important technological development I think would have to be the airplane.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills Essay

Communication -the transfer of a message (information, idea, emotion, intent, feeling, or something else) that is both received and understood. Communication Levels 1. One-on-one level – this is you and your fellow colleagues or you and your manager and/or supervisor. 2. Team-or-unit level – level that is limited to the group and its members. 3. Company-level – larger than team level, communications with the different teams within the company or organization. 4. Community-level – how the company communicate to the different sectors of the community or society see more:explain how different forms of dementia may affect the way an individual communicates Inhibitors of Communication Kill the Messenger† Syndrome – we do not take this literally. This syndrome is our natural way of not listening to people we do not like. When we do not like the person talking, we do not listen to what he/she is trying to say because we are already assuming that everything that is coming out of their lips are not good Difference in Meaning – as seen in our activity earlier. The leader tries to explain the picture but some of us have a different perception. Maybe the misuse of words to explain is the root cause of this inhibitor Lack of trust – a symptom of the â€Å"Kill the Messenger† syndrome. Again, if you do not like and trust the person talking, you totally disregard the message the speaker is trying to convey. Information overload – sometimes called communication overload. People have a limit as to how much information one can take in a day. Notice when a person rests their forehead with their palm or fist. That is a sign that the brain needs rest in absorbing information. Yawning is another sign that the person is not yet ready to receive information and experiencing an overload. When this happens, just pause for a few second and let the listener recover for a bit then resume talking. Interference – interference may happen at any time. Whether it is through a person or an event like ringing of the mobile phone or a blast of the ambulance siren, these sudden noises can interfere the bridging of information from sender to receiver. Condescending tone – condescending from the word condescension which is synonymous to arrogance. A communication that indicates lack of respect by patronizing the recipient. Patronize meaning to talk down to. In Filipino, being â€Å"mata-pobre†. Poor listening skills – there are people who have not honed their skills in listening. All they want is talk, talk and talk some more. If everybody talks, nothing is understood. To prove my point, try to situate yourself in the middle of a busy public market and try to understand every word that each person says. Listening is an essential skill in communication. Without it, we cannot bridge out the ideas that is inside our heard. Premature judgments – this happens when we heard something bad that happened to the ones we love. A perfect example, your best-friend said that he saw your girlfriend with a guy. Before your best-friend can finish his story, you bolted out and quarrelled with your girlfriend. If only you listened to the continuation of the story, which is that the man that your girlfriend was seen with is actually her father. How embarrassing it would be, right? That is an example of a premature judgment, which leads us to the last inhibitor of communication, assumptions. Inaccurate assumptions – people love to assume things. We assume things in almost everything. Inaccurate assumptions can lead to mistakes to disastrous situations. For example, if people would assume a person immediately as a criminal just because of their looks, now that would be wrong. Remember, communications is not limited to the use of spoken words, as we will be discussing that further down the road. Assumptions are good, but remember to keep it to yourself until the assumption is accurate and proven. Listening– one of the most important communication skills Hearing- is a natural process, but listening is not. Good listening– means receiving the message, correctly decoding it, and accurate perceiving what it means Empathic listening– listening with the intent to understand Inhibitors of Effective Listening 1. Lack of concentration – this is because we do not pay attention or really not interested in listening at all. 2. Interruptions – sudden occurrence that brings our mind to focus on something else. 3. Preconceived ideas – even before the actual listening happens, our minds have a solid picture of the person who will be talking to us thus giving us the impression of not wanting to listen. 4. Thinking ahead – like preconceived ideas, our mind in preoccupied with something else, that’s why we are not listening effectively. 5. Interference – like interruptions, people or events that suddenly interrupt our listening. 6. Tuning out – not wanting to listen at all or sometimes because of communication overload that our mind shuts down momentarily to rest, thus tuning out. Listening Responsively 1. Active – Always show interest to the person talking to you. Being active gives you a good reception on what the sender is trying to say. 2. Alert – this goes hand in hand with being active. Being alert also gives you a good reception to the message the sender is giving. 3. Vigilant – Synonymous of being alert. Pay full attention to the speaker to grasp the message he/she is trying to convey. 4. Sensitive – being sensitive shows a sign of interest to the person talking. Sensing that the place have so many interferences, you can say to the speaker to go somewhere else so that you can understand what he/she is trying to say. 5. Creative – creative in a sense that you ask questions about the message the speaker has given. Asking questions is a good sign that the listener received the message properly. Improving listening skills -Upgrade your desire to listen -Ask the right questions -Judge what is really being said -Eliminate listening errors Non Verbal Communication Factors 1. Body Factors – these are our gestures and facial gestures. Whether we are the sender or receiver, we subconsciously act out our thoughts. Good readers of non-verbal cues can understand that as if you are an open book. 2. Voice Factors – these pertain to the pitch, intonation, and speed of our voice. Simple cough to interrupt the speaker means a lot of things, depending on how it was sent or received. 3. Proximity Factors – this pertains to the place or space of the listener to the speaker and vice-versa (ex. the farther we are to the speaker means that we are not interested in listening to the person talking) Communicating Verbally Show interest Be friendly Be flexible Be tactful Be courteous Asking Questions Effectively 1. Phrase questions carefully – choice of words are important, we should be sensitive as to not offend the speaker by questioning him/her inappropriately. 2. Use open-ended questions – these are questions that can give the speaker a chance to respond to further clarify the inquiry given. 3. Acknowledge emotions – be sensitive on the underlying emotions. Read the non-verbal cues of the speaker and from there you know how to handle the situation. 4. State your purpose – it is a sign of giving due respect to the speaker of stating the purpose of your question. In that way, both the speaker and the listener know that they are both on the same page on the topic. 5. Drop your defences – be objective in giving and answering questions. After all, the purpose of question and answer is to clarify things and needs further explanation. Being defensive will only inhibit the flow of communication Communicating in Writing Strategies for improved written communication 1. Plan before you write – just like in speaking, be sensitive on the reader of your written correspondence. Choose your words carefully before writing them down. 2. Be brief and direct – since the message is done in writing, might as well give your message brief. This can help the reader to understand your message and not experience eye-strain in reading a bunch of words that mean to tell him that he needs to brush his teeth in the morning for example. 3. Be accurate – go straight to the point on the message of the letter you are righting. 4. Practice self-editing – after writing, read your message as if you are the receiver. Feel the content and understand every word. Try to edit parts that you feel or notice that the reader will misinterpret what you are trying to say. Writing better reports Define the problem Develop a work plan Gather relevant data Process findings Develop conclusions Make recommendations Communicating Corrective Feedback Be positive – this is for both the manager and the employee in question. Remember to give due respect to everyone, whether you are the listener or the speaker. Watch your non-verbal communication and try to show to the one you face that you respect him/her as a person and ready to discuss anything with him/her. Remember that you subject yourself into this because it is for the better. Be prepared – think back of the reason why this activity is happening. Try to clear your head with negative thoughts as it will not help you not only in recalling past events, but also finding solutions to the  problem. Be realistic – when giving corrective feedback, look for solutions that are doable. In addition, try to focus on the subject at hand and base all of the topics on facts not hearsay or speculations. Don’t be completely negative – the negative form of corrective feedback is being reprimanded. But on the other hand, you can look at it as a form of an adv ice coming from top management to make you do better with work. So do not be negative. And if you are the one who will be doing the reprimanding, remember the â€Å"kiss and kick† principle, start with something positive then inject the negative. (i.e. â€Å"You know I like as to how you come in to work early but if only you could lessen the internet usage for surfing personal stuff, you could help the company a lot.†) Improving Communication Skills Keep up to date – this does not mean that you have to read a lot of magazines so that you can talk about what are the latest happenings in society, although it can help keep the interaction interesting. But other than that, keeping up to date means you talk and interact with your peers and superiors about what is happening inside the workplace. Keep yourself inside the loop so that you will not be left behind. Prioritize & determine time constraints – talks are good but do it efficiently. One can talk but make sure that you know what to talk and for how long you will be talking. It is not nice for someone to keep on talking and talking that you do not give the listener an opportunity to react. Time your talk and balance out the topics to keep the interaction going. Decide who to inform – if you know something sensitive, it would be wise to think first as to whom you will share the sensitive information with. Inappropriate sharing of information can lead to grapevine or worse can sue you for libel. Our word is our bond so be careful. Determine how to communicate – would it be proper to say it in front of his face or write it down in a memo? Just remember, saying it makes the receiver feel informal while putting it down on a piece of paper makes it more stern and formal. Analyze the message you want to convey and then choose the method of delivery. Communicate & follow-up – once you opened your communication line about a topic, keep it open. Learn to follow- up if there are updates that  you should know about. Always keep yourself in the loop. Check understanding & obtain feedback – doing follow-up makes you certain the level of understanding the listener has about the message you convey. Do not hesitate to ask if th ey understood what you mean and ask them for feedback. In feedback, you can gauge on how effective you conveyed the message and see what areas you can improve so that you can give clearer message delivery. There are three ways to convey our message across, they are: 1. Written – again, we said that this is the formal way of sending your message across. Written messages can hold you responsible and accountable on every word written. 2. Verbal – the most common method of sending the message across. It is informal and sometimes forgettable. So if you wish to send something important across using this method, make sure to ask the person if he/she understood what you are trying to say. Follow-up from time to time if the listener did understand the message you have sent across. 3. Electronic (E-mail) – emails these days have two forms, the written which we call email and voice which we call voicemail. This is the modern form of message carriers; it is fast, convenient and can be stored easily. Like the written message, you have to be careful on what you put there because each message is a file and these files can be stored and opened again if needed. Developing Interpersonal Skills Recognition of the need Careful selection Training Measurement and reward Promoting Responsiveness among Employees Value people Give people what you want to get back Make cooperation a habit Personality & Communication Personality used to describe a relatively stable pattern of behaviour, though, emotions, motives & outlook distinctive to a given individual & that characterize that individual throughout life Group of characteristics according to psychologists 1. Introversion Vs. Extroversion – are you a homebody or someone who likes to go out and have an adventure? 2. Neuroticism Vs. Emotional Stability – do you experience thinking negatively to others or you still have a clear conscience? 3. Agreeable Vs. Stubborn – do you always â€Å"go with the flow† or someone that â€Å"blocks the flow†? 4. Conscientious Vs. Undependable – do you always look into detail or are you just â€Å"happy-go-lucky†? 5. Open To Experience Vs. Prefers The Familiar – are you unafraid to try out new things or contented to the status quo? Overview of Team Building and Teamwork Team- A team is a group of people with a common, collective goal. Primary reasons for advocating teamwork are: †¢ Two or more heads are better than one. †¢ People in teams get to know each other better, build trust & as a result help each other. †¢ Teamwork promotes better communication. Rationale for Teams A group of people becomes a team when the following conditions exist: †¢ Agreement exists as to the team’s mission †¢ Members adhere to the team ground rules †¢ Fair distribution of responsibility & authority exists. There are three types of teams in the work place, they are: Department Improvement Team – their focus is improving work in the department. H. James Harrington and Kenneth Lomax have stated the importance of this type of team in their bookâ€Å"Performance Improvement Methods†. They  write, â€Å"Department Improvement Teams or DIT is one of the most valuable teams in the entire process. The team is made up of employees in a particular department reporting to the same manager. They focus on problems that they know about, has resources to use, and is empowered to solve with little or no outside approvals†¦ Since this team is looking at issues that affect its own efficiency and effectiveness, there are huge opportunities for saving organization resources.† Process Improvement Team – Harrington and Lomax has a description of this team. They write, â€Å"Another very valuable team in any organization is this team†¦ since they focus on a particular process, they are also called cross-functional teams.† Directly handled by management, its members consists of individuals who are deeply involved in that particular process. They will identify process issues that can be corrected through the use of a task team. Organizations will prioritize the critical business process and assign PITs to redesign and reengineer one to three processes at a time. In these cases that the PIT members will work on it between 50% – 100% of their time for three to six months. And just like the Department Improvement Team, thePITs has great opportunities to reduce internal cost by making process more efficient, more effective, and more adaptable. Task force-a task force is a temporary unit or formation established to work on a single defined task or activity. Members are based on experience and participation is mandatory. They are directed by management and it is also in the discretion of management on the task that they will be working on. Task mforces are formed to provide solutions as soon as possible so the urgency is very high and directly affect the entire organization. The process facilitator is optional and team leadership shall be appointed by management. Task forces are also called â€Å"ad-hoc committees† Being in a group, members should learn how to work together. Factors that influences teamwork are: Personal identity of team members Relationships among team members Identity within the organization To become a member of a team, one must: Gain entry Be clear on the team’s mission Be well prepared and participate Stay in touch Now, how can one be a leader of the team? He/she should be: Team Building and Teamwork Be clear on the team’s mission Identify success criteria Be action centered Establish the ground rules Share information Cultivate team unity And finally, the following characteristics should be present in order to exude team excellence and performance: Interdependence Stretching tasks Alignment Common language Trust/Respect Shared leadership/ followership Problem-solving skills Confrontation/ Conflict-handling skills Assessment/Action, celebration Building Teams and Making Them Work Following are the factors that influence team building & should be taken care of: Makeup & Size of Teams Choosing Team Members Responsibilities of Team Leaders Other Team Members Creating Teams Mission Statement Developing Collegial Relationships Promoting Diversity in Teams Four Step Approach in Team Building Assessing Team Needs – talk, communicate, and interact with fellow members. At this point there should not be roles played like leader and follower. Everybody is equal, therefore can equally express freely what the needs of the team are. In that way, people can identify what is essential and work on it in the process. Planning Team-Building Activities – once the needs are identified, the team should use it as basis for the activities. The activities should address a particular need, not one activity that can answer all of them. Executing Team-Building Activities – execution is key. The team should do the activities properly in order to address the need identified. Evaluating Team-Building Activities – not all activities go on smoothly. If it does, the team should not stop there. Meet and analyze the events that happened. The team can do a SWOT analysis to evaluate the activity and use the results on assessing a new set of team’s needs and do the same process all over again. Character Traits and Teamwork Following are few character traits required for Teamwork: Honesty Selflessness Dependability Enthusiasm Responsibility Cooperativeness Initiative Patience Resourcefulness Punctuality Perseverance Teams are not Bossed – They are Coached Bosses approach the job from â€Å"I’m in charge – do as you are told perspective†. facilitators of team development and continually improved performance. Following are a few characteristics of a Coach: Clearly Defined Character Team Development/Team Building Mentoring Mutual respect Human Diversity Handling Conflict in Teams Resolution Strategies for Team Conflicts: Plan & Work to establish a balanced culture Establish clear criteria Don’t allow individuals to build personal empires Encourage & Recognize risk-taking behavior Value constructive dissent Assign people of widely differing perspectives Reward and recognize both dissent & teamwork Structural Inhibitors of Teamwork Compensation and Recognition – let’s start from the most obvious. People will not lead if they will not be paid handsomely and recognized for the work. Let’s admit, it is human nature, no one will work for free.Even volunteers have their own intentions, not really working freely just for the heck of it. Planning and Control – Rank and file employees do not like additional work, work that they won’t get paid. Middle management on the other hand does not wish to work because of the length of time consumed plus the paper works. Again, people will do it, wherever he/she is in the organizational ladder, for compensation and recognition. Unit Structure – this is all about how the organization looks like. A rank- and-file cannot lead a team same as an executive becoming a memberof a team led by a rank-and-file. Unit Goals –  conflict of interest is sometimes a big hindrance for a team to move forward. Members that have a hidden agenda that sometimes conflicts with what is supposed to do can stumble or even halt the entire team’s operation. Accountability & Responsibility – I put them on top of the ladder because they are the toughest and at the same time most critical value a team must have. It is human nature that when something fails, we point fingers and not accept part or even full responsibility of the actions. Remember, a team should work as one, and working as one, the members should contribute. If members are weak in this area, the team will stumble and not reach their goal. Rewarding Team and Individual Performance The second figure shows the model for developing a team and individual compensation system. The steps are as follows: Step 1: Decide what performance to measure Step 2: Determine how to measure the performance Step 3: Identify the rewards to be offered Step 4: Integrate related process

Biography and Profile of Charles Lyell

Biography and Profile of Charles Lyell Learn more about famous geologist Charles Lyells life and his contributions to the Theory of Evolution. Early Life and Education: Born November 14, 1797 - Died February 22, 1875 Charles Lyell was born on November 14, 1797, in the Grampian Mountains near Forfarshire, Scotland. When Charles was only two years old, his parents relocated to Southampton, England near where his mothers family lived. Since Charles was the oldest of ten children in Lyell family, his father spent a lot of time helping to educate Charles in the sciences, and particularly nature. Charles spent many years in and out of expensive private schools but was said to prefer wandering and learning from his father. At the age of 19, Charles went off to Oxford to study mathematics and geology. He spent vacations from school traveling and making astute observations of geological formations. Charles Lyell graduated, with honors, with a Bachelors of Art in Classics in 1819. He continued his education and received a Masters of Art in 1821. Personal Life Instead of pursuing his love of Geology, Lyell moved to London and became a lawyer. However, his eyesight began to worsen as time went on and he eventually turned to Geology as a full-time career. In 1832, he married Mary Horner, the daughter of a colleague in the Geological Society of London. The couple had no children but instead spent their time traveling all over the world as Charles observed the Geology and wrote his field changing works. Charles Lyell was knighted and later bestowed with the title of Baronet. He was buried in Westminster Abbey. Biography Even while practicing law, Charles Lyell was actually doing more Geology than anything. His fathers wealth allowed him to travel and write instead of practicing law. He published his first scientific paper in 1825. Lyell was planning to write a book with radical new ideas for Geology. He set out to prove that all geologic processes were due to natural events rather than supernatural events. Up until his time, the formation and processes of the Earth were attributed to God or another higher being. Lyell was one of the first to propose these processes actually happened very slowly, and that the Earth was extremely ancient rather than the few thousand years old most Bible scholars purposed. Charles Lyell found his evidence when studying Mt. Etna in Italy. He returned to London in 1829 and wrote his most famous work Principles of Geology. The book included a large amount of data and very detailed explanations. He did not finish revisions on the book until 1833 after several more trips to get more data. Perhaps the most important idea to come out of Principles of Geology is Uniformitarianism. This theory states that all the natural laws of the universe that are in existence now existed at the beginning of time and all changes happened slowly over time and added up to larger changes. This was an idea that Lyell had first gotten from works by James Hutton. It was seen as the opposite of Georges Cuviers catastrophism. After finding much success with his book, Lyell headed to the United States to lecture and gather more data from the North American continent. He made many trips to the Eastern United States and Canada throughout the 1840s. The trips resulted in two new books, Travels in North America and A Second Visit to the United States in North America. Charles Darwin was greatly influenced by Lyells ideas of a slow, natural change of geological formations. Charles Lyell was an acquaintance of Captain FitzRoy, the captain of the HMS Beagle on Darwins voyages. FitzRoy gave Darwin a copy of Principles of Geology, which Darwin studied as they traveled and he collected data for his works. However, Lyell was not a firm believer in evolution. It wasnt until Darwin published On the Origin of Species that Lyell began to adopt the idea that species change over time. In 1863, Lyell wrote and published ​The Geological Evidence of the Antiquity of Man which combined Darwins Theory of Evolution through Natural Selection and his own ideas rooted in Geology. Lyells staunch Christianity was apparent in his treatment of the Theory of Evolution as a possibility, but not a certainty.

Nashville and its Origins essays

Nashville and its Origins essays Initially the land that occupied Nashville, Tennessee, was nothing other than an outpost for French fur traders around 1717. Just over sixty years later, on Christmas day 1779, the first permanent settlement of non-natives arrived under the leadership of an Englishman named James Robertson, to a place called French Lick, as he had been granted authority to expand North Carolina westward. It grew when more settlers arrived in April, and on April 24, 1784, the settlement, which at the time was a part of North Carolina, was named Fort Nashborough, in honor of the Revolutionary War general Francis Nash. Three years later, North Carolina named Davidson County for William Lee Davidson, another hero of the Revolution. The next year, in 1784, Fort Nashborough was renamed to Nashville in a legislative vote. The early settlers were harassed by Indian raids, until Robertson brokered a peace agreement in November 1794. In 1796, Tennessee earned the right to call itself a state, and sixteen years later, in 1812, Nashville enjoyed its first tenure as state capital. The capital then moved to Knoxville in 1815 and Murfreesboro in 1817. Finally, in 1826, Nashville regained its status as capital. The city was growing slowly, and in 1833 had 6,000 inhabitants. Ten years later, in 1843, the state legislature voted to make Nashville the permanent state capital of Tennessee. Due in large part to its designation as state capital, Nashvilles population grew more quickly over the next seventeen years, and by the dawn of the Civil War, Nashvilles inhabitants numbered seventeen thousand. The remainder of the century was a time of growth for Nashvilles economy, one of the major reasons for which was the railroad industry. The middle of the nineteenth century was a time of vast improvements in transportation, leading to economic growth throughout the country. Nashville was no exception. On December 4, 1951, the Tennessee Leg...

Exploring the major Sociological theme of Suicide Essay

Exploring the major Sociological theme of Suicide - Essay Example In the Lettres Persanes he speaks of "the misery of the human condition". Speaking of the suicide of Brutus and Cassius, this is what Montesquieu writes: In France, the end of the eighteenth century had seen the beginning of a shift from a moral discourse on suicide to a growing concern with suicide rates. By 1842, Quetelet was investigating the extent to which moral phenomena of suicide could be said to resemble physical phenomena, his answer being that large numbers served to cancel out individual peculiarities and to reveal the institutional and general features of society in the figure of the 'social man', a fictitious being conforming to the median results of statistical analysis. In France, Bertillon's statistical experimentation inspired Durkheim's later adoption of replicative analysis. By the 1850s, French social commentators linked industrialization and the expansion of urban, commercial life to the development of 'gosme' and 'odieux individualisme', both defined in terms Durkheim later applied to anomie, as consequences of moral paralysis. On one hand, pathological individualism was taken to be at the root of social disord er, apathy and exploitation; on both sides of the political spectrum, there was talk of a 'general malaise', of the possibility of social dissolution, and of a 'national decadence', one sign of which was taken to be a falling birth rate and it is interesting to note, as Lukes does, that Durkheim authored a paper on birth rates and suicide in 1888. There was a felt sense that the decline of those traditional moral controls associated with pre-revolutionary social formations had left a vacuum. If one were anticlerical, this vacuum was to be filled by a new, secular morality, answerable in the abstract to reason and in practice to a science of normalcy or health. If one were a Catholic traditionalist, it would be addressed by a revival of Christian moral education and the social authority of the Church. On the other hand, social anarchy, and political anarchism, was likened to forms of 'hysteria' arising from excessive individualism on one hand and the formation of 'crowds' on the other. The mass popularity of romantic literature was blamed for a degenerate aestheticism leading to a suicide 'mania' escorting the types designated social conditions affecting suicide rates, not motivations for individual acts. But it is worth noting that Durkheim's more specific images of the types of suicide are often couched in subjectively

Extreme sports Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Extreme sports - Essay Example Hatfield (2011) uses the analogy of triathlon to explain the difference between those perceived to be elites and non-elites by explaining that their distinct differences stem the fact that goal is vital after which being competitive follows. Mountain (2006) argues why these individuals live on the edge. Extreme sports are usually perceived by the public as acts of taking risks in an irresponsible manner. Mountain (2006) claims that they often burden the public especially the taxpayers in the event that an individual taking irresponsible risk is injured or even in need of being rescued. Interestingly, in public debates and discussion, rarely will you find individuals incorporating the negative implications of limiting accessibility to risky sports. Mountain (2006) further asserts that suppose these sporting activities are suppressed, these persons are likely to find outlet of their energy in a way that may even be more burdensome to the society. Despite the fact that extreme sports do not appeal to majority of the public, there are quite a number of persons who these activities fulfill part of their lives. Mountain (2006) points out that differences between people in the society makes the society interesting besides contributing to the diversity of cultures across the globe. It is indeed true that every person needs some level of adventure for the purpose of fulfillment. However, others need more to do so for their life excitement. According to Mountain (2006), these individuals have a personality trait referred to as Type T. Amazingly, these type of personality are not only risk takers but also the best in various fields such as entrepreneurship, innovation, management et cetera. The progress of the society can hugely be attributed to these individuals who are always willing to take risks. Unfortunately, person possessing such traits