How to make better decisions

The film â€Å"How to Make Better Decisions† was quite interesting. The beginning of the film highlighted how based on science, It shows that the decisions we make are bad. We assume that we have a strong awareness of our choices and the reason why we do certain things. I agree with that because every time I make a decision, I always think that I know what the outcome would be, but really I am only making a decision based on my emotions and I am only assuming to think the outcome will be great. When I was in high school, there was a pair of sneakers that I really wanted.These sneakers were about $100 and my mother thought I was crazy for wanting them. At that time In my life, I convinced myself that I should buy these sneakers because they were cute and I really wanted them. Looking back now, that was a very bad decision. I could have saved that money and used it for something else. The only reason why I wanted those shoes was simply because everyone in school wanted them, but only certain students could afford them. It was like I had to prove something by buying hose shoes, and I did not make a logical decision when purchasing them, I acted out on emotions.At that time In my life, my â€Å"grip on reality† was not as tight as I thought. I found It quite hilarious In the documentary, when Mathematician Garth Sunder spoke to the four men about how compatible they may be when finding a potential partner at the party. The four men Levi, John, Cal, and Chris were very brilliant, but they were all single because they do not know how to approach women. Sunder believed that he can help the four men find suitable girlfriends by using algebra equations. It was called the â€Å"Do I Stand a Chance with Her equation.Cal was told that he would have a 95% chance with the girl he liked because he was a â€Å"witty conversationalist† and he was much more attractive than the girl he Liked. Well after talking to the girl for not too long, It seemed as thou gh she was not the least bit interested in him. John was told that he had a 41% chance of finding someone compatible, but he seemed to be doing fine when talking to one of the women at the gathering. Chris was told that he would have a 43% chance, so he cited Just to be himself and be honest with the woman he was talking to and it seemed to work out well for him.The fourth guy from the group Levi did not want to follow the math equation, and he ended up not meeting or talking to anyone that night. I really found the math equation to be ridiculous. I still can't see how a math problem can determine if someone will like you or not. That is based on the individual. Like the saying goes â€Å"beauty is in the eye of the beholder†. It was a bit shocking to see that Garth Sunder actually wrote a book that has an equation of every tricky situation that life has to offer.He believes that to come to a truly logical factor, the decisions must interact with Algebra. I searched for the b ook on Amazon and It Is called â€Å"Geek Logic: 50 Foolproof Equations For Everyday Life†. With a price of $2. 45 plus a $3. 99 shipping fee, I'm strongly considering purchasing this book. I'm not purchasing the book to help me with creating equations to assist me on decision making, but I'm interested to see how the equations are set up. I'm sure out of curiosity I am going to try and use one of those equations just to see if it sakes me make decisions rationally. He marketplace. He gave many of the people options to either keep the twenty pounds or gamble for the other thirty pounds in hopes of walking away with fifty pounds, or to Just keep a portion of the money without gambling for the extra thirty pounds. The risk takers were the one who decided to gamble, while the ones who are not risk takers simple opted out of gambling and decided to walk away with the money they already had. I am a risk taker and if I was in that situation, I would definitely gamble for the extra thirty pounds.I would first convince myself that I'm not really losing anything even if I don't win the extra thirty pounds. If I had not come into the market place then I would not have even had the opportunity to try and gamble for the money. Even if I did not win the fifty pounds, I'm still leaving with the same amount of money that I came in with. I felt sympathetic towards the woman in the video who had the brain damage that affected her frontal lope. Tasks such as remembering to take her medicine or simply going to the grocery store can be very difficult for her.With our frontal lopes being the largest part of our brain and also playing a role in how we reason and make decisions, I can see how it may be difficult to have that part of the brain destroyed. The test with the warm and hot cup that was done by the Yale University students was quite fascinating. The students who held the warm cup had a much more positive response when asked if they would hire the young man as Projec t Manager whereas the students who held the cold cup all stated that they would not hire him. I see this same behavior with myself everyday!One the days that I am able to grab myself a nice cup of hot coffee in the morning, I tend to be in a very good mood at work. The warm feeling that the coffee gives me, puts me in a very good mood and for some strange reason I feel very determined to get my work done. Then on the days that I may be running late to work and cannot stop to get a cup of coffee, I will go to the vending machine in my office building and grab a soda. After the first sip I stats to get cold and irritated. I start wishing that I was home in bed instead of being at work.I find myself sighing a lot and constantly looking at the clock and waiting for my lunch break to run to the nearest Way for a warm drink. I believe I watched that part of the film three or four times. The first two times I watched it I said to myself â€Å"Oh my gosh! That is so me! † I truly enj oyed watching this documentary and I believe it was a great film. Although it may not be 100% accurate, some of the ways we make decisions are influenced by our emotions. I would have never thought that a simple beverage can really change my mood, or affect how I choose to go through my work day.

Martin Luther King, Jr.: Dreaming a Reality

Thesis:Martin Luther King was a leader that was born in a segregated world but was determine to change it so everyone live in a equal nation. And he did this by his words and action that don’t need any bloodshed. He used brain over bronze to accomplish what he set out to do. Martin Luther King jr. was as born as a middle child in Atlanta Georgia in January 15th 1929 into a family which was actively involved in the civil right movement. Martin father and grandfather was lead preacher at Ebenezer Baptist Church. Martin Luther King mother was a teacher and thought him how to read, she also try to taught Martin about prejudice and the Jim Crow law that separated Black and White . Martin father was preacher , and was strong Blackman who help black get job and black teacher that same pay as white teacher. Martin got married to Coretta Scott in Alabama in June 18, 1953. Martin Luther King Jr. had four children Yolanda Denise, Martin Luther III, Dexter Scott, and Bernice Albertine. Martin Luther King began his education at Yong Street Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia he attended Booker-T Washington High and later on graduated and went to Morehouse College with a scholarship from his high because he got an high school entrance examination he even skip ninth and twelve grade he entered at age fifteen. He graduated collage with a Bachelor of Divinity in sociology King then began doctoral studies in systematic theology at Boston University and received his Doctor of Philosophy on June 5, 1955. Martin inspiration was a civil rights leader, theologian, and educator Howard Thurman who was actually Martin father friend use to mentor The Kings and his friend. King played a big role in the founding of Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957; this organization was created so non-violent black people to protect. King also organized and led marches for the right to vote, desegregation, and labor rights in addition to basic civil rights. One of Martin most famous rallies(marches) was the March On Washington where lack people from all over the nation came together to fight for their God given right at that event their were many speeches given one of them was the famous â€Å"I Have A Dream Speech† all this was held August 28, 1963. Other things you might find interesting about that event was that their wasn’t only black people their even white that had the same mind set as black were their trying to fight along with them for civil right and what they believe in . There were performance by Gospel legend Mahalia Jackson who sang â€Å"How I Got Over†, also musician Bob Dylan performed several songs, including â€Å"Only a Pawn in Their Game. Their criticism from many people and this might even surprise that â€Å"black nationalist Malcolm X, in his Message to the Grass Roots speech, criticized the march, describing it as â€Å"a picnic† and â€Å"a circus†. The March on Washington isn’t the only event that happen for the civil right of the black, another event that happen was a Boy Cott which Martin Luther was still a pastor back then, well by now you are asking what really happen to cause that Boy Cott?. And the answer was that a African-American amed Rosa Park who was an seamstress came from a hard day of work and went to the back of the bus and a white told her to get up so he can sit there and she refuse for doing that she arrested for this anger was spark in the Alabama community. And so a meeting was called by the black community and an overflow crowd came to Ebenezer Baptist church for a meeting concerning Rosa Park situation and so Dr. King told them the only way that they could them was to Boy Cott the bus company. So on Dec. 5, the African-American residents of the city refused to use the buses. Most walked, those few with cars arranged rides for friends and strangers, some even result to even riding mules. Only a very few numbers of African-Americans rode the bus that day. Martin Luther king gave a lot of speeches such as the famous â€Å"I Have a Dream†, â€Å"The Purpose of Education† speech, and his other famous â€Å"Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech† and I See the Promised Land (a. k. a. I've been to the Mountain Top) which was his last speech. The â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech was famous because King talk about the dream he has for the nation and the peech goes like this I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal. † I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream th at one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, â€Å"My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my father’s died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring. † And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania! Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado! Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California! But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia! Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee! Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring. When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, â€Å"Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last! † This speech was the captivate the nation because of the words behind that it meant behind it. Martin Luther King Jr. as such a hard worker and a strong believer of equality and worked so hard on his nonviolence protect for civil right that he was even recognize as a modern prophet and even a modern day Moses. For all his hard work he was given the most honorable reward of all time which was the Noble Peace Prize on December 10, 1964 this prize which is only given to a person that done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of sta nding armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses when Martin receive his prize he gave a very good acceptation speech. Unfortunately on April 4, 1968 while Dr. King stood on a Memphis motel balcony probably taking a fresh breath of air was shot with a sniper bullet and died on the spot the shooter James Earl Ray was opposite of Martin Luther King’s Jr. motel where it was easy to aim and shoot at king . James Earl Ray was arrest in London at a airport, on March 10, 1969, Ray entered a plea of guilty and was sentenced to 99 years in the Tennessee state penitentiary. Even though the killer was found and punished it wasn’t even to filled the sadness in people hearts. Dr. King’s death wasn’t only a family issue it was a nationwide issue because he was a Great man who was trying to make the world a better place for every race. Conclusion: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was black man who was born into unequal world but tired his all best to change it without bloodshed he was willing to die for his believes. He was even critics by many people that don’t have the same mind set as him; his life and family life were put in danger but No that didn’t stop him he kept moving on. Like the old saying goes â€Å"Every charitable act is a stepping stone toward heaven† and Martin did a lot for us and gave us a big push toward equality so he probably in his grave or in heaven smiling down at the nation because his dream finally came to pass.

Coke/Pepsi Swot Analysis Essay

Strengths: 1. In 1993 Coke held a 59% share of the fountain market—using it to promote the brand further. 2. Coke earned a high percentage of its profits in the international market. They established themselves with the help of â€Å" ‘anchor bottlers’—large, committed, and experienced bottling outfits like Norway’s Ringnes and Australia’s Amatil† 3. During WWII Coke was able to establish itself in the European and Asian markets with the help of the government because it was being sold to the American troops in those regions Weaknesses: 1. Coke’s imagine could not compete with Pepsi’s â€Å"Pepsi Generation† campaign because it was perceived as being one of small town and outdated 2. Business relationships with bottlers have not been standardized 3. Carbonated drinks faced completion of â€Å"new age† drinks. Opportunities: 1. Quick response to â€Å"new age† beverages with the introduction of PowerAde, Nordic Mist, Tab Clear and its partnership with Nestea. 2. The potential growth of the international market of 7% to 10% per year (Eastern Europe, China India) 3. Overhauling image to target the youth market Threats: 1. India’s government requesting that the formula be disclosed to them 2. Pepsi’s marketing campaigns like the â€Å"Pepsi Challenge† & the â€Å"Pepsi Generation† 3. FTC looking into the franchise territory agreements Pepsi: Strengths: 1. Aggressive and innovative marketing campaigns 2. Acquisition of restaurants 3. Introduction of 13 new products 4. Michael Jackson as a celebrity endorser Weaknesses: 1. Carbonated drinks faced completion—â€Å"new age† drinks 2. Youth was main target group 3. Lack of presence in the international market Opportunities: 1. Acquiring Seven-Up’s international operations 2. Acquired bottling operation systems 3. Response to growth in the Tea market –partnership with Lipton Threats: 1. Coke’s quick responses to all marketing strategies 2. Market focus was strongest in North America/too little international focus 3. Private label phenomenon in supermarkets

Latin American Bond Markets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Latin American Bond Markets - Essay Example an that, it examines Latin Americas international capital markets access starting 1980 to 2005 while dwelling mostly on the role of factors both domestic and external. Since the nineties, several of the Latin American countries have undertaken major policy reforms directed at ensuring the development of bond markets that had previously been non-existent. This has resulted, decades later, in an unevenly developed bond market, with thriving government and private bond markets that are still yet to be consolidated. These markets mainly concentrate on small numbers of large suppliers and show spurs in monetary growth that is unsustainable over time. As such, in several of these countries, bank credit is still the main source of financial credit to date. However, market based financing has experienced a lagging performance. Several efforts to explain this lag in performance have been made, none of which has explicit focus on the bond markets. This has left many questions regarding these markets unanswered. 1Empirical approaches to the capital markets have been descriptive with no intent to pursue models looking into market participant behavior. This raises the question as to whether, basing on policy, private bond markets development is crucial for the growth and development of economies of the involved countries, and if so, to what extent? In recent years, domestic bond markets in Latin America have constituted a growing finance source for the economies of respective countries and for global investors, a portfolio allocation. This brings up the question as to whether the region’s countries can borrow, at longer maturities, in local currency. Over the past decade, domestic issuance of securities has had a rapid expansion. This growth has led to fixed income markets domination as a funding source for both private sector and public sector. It is clearly evident that bond markets in Latin America have a long way to go in as far as policy reformation is concerned.

Stokers company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Stokers company - Essay Example The furniture brand is a trusted brand in UK. Stokers Fine Furniture is coming up with new strategies to capture the potential untapped market, especially the style conscious families. The brand falls in the category of expensive and traditional product brand. Situation analysis and clearly defined objectives The market for fine furniture in the United Kingdom is rising strongly due to the effect of the country recovering from property market affects. The housing market industry is in a buoyant mode with increased demand for home furniture and furnishing. The store sales as well as the online sales of this industry have accelerated. The market has been highly influenced by the advent of the internet. The customers are more oriented towards electronic commerce due to their preference of buying from the home without having to go to the stores. The future of the UK furniture industry is showing positive trends. Consumers are likely to renew their homes much more frequently than before, therefore surging up the demand for stylish furniture. Earlier home wares like furniture and carpets were kept for a long time, but now the trend shows that they are replaced within a few years (Forbes, 2012). A SWOT analysis is conducted for the company to assess the internal and the external factors affecting the business. Since the business can control the internal factors, it may gain competitive advantage by improving upon its strengths and weaknesses. By transforming the weaknesses into strength, the company can also take up opportunities and offset the threats. Strengths: Strong brand name, cost and competitive advantage over other players in the market are core strengths of the company. Sufficient resources are available within the business for creating and maintaining a dynamic website and an extensive database system. The company can provide strong customer service from their team dedicated towards the digital marketing strategies. Weaknesses: Implementation of technology in the corporate culture, the business runs in a seasonal pattern. Opportunities: Digital marketing is the keyword for ensuring more success. It is an inexpensive marketing model aimed to capture a potential untapped market. Use of innovative technologies is another opportunity for the business. Threats: Competitors are also implementing the digital marketing strategy, expensive software upgrades resulting from pending security laws. There is stiff competition for the SCF market. The main competitors of Stokers fine furnishing are Sofa.com, Sofa and Stuff, Next, John Lewis, Marks and Spencer. The macro environmental analysis for the business is done through the PESTEL Analysis. Political: The corporate and consumer taxes regulation by the authorities highly impact the company’s income after tax. In UK, taxation is done as 30% of the profits for the businesses operating there. Since the company is more dependent on local suppliers than imported goods, therefore the trade barri ers and tariffs have negligible impact on the business. Economic:

Failure of the UN in Preventing Rwandas Genocide Dissertation

Failure of the UN in Preventing Rwandas Genocide - Dissertation Example The international community and the United Nations failed to prevent the atrocity when they could have intervened. A genocide is not an accident that can happen all over sudden or without warning. It requires organization and constitutes a deliberate strategy, especially one that has been carried out by the government or state-controlled apparatus. Information on the way genocide occurs and ability the to recognize signs that could result in genocide is necessary to avoid such horror incidents. For the case of Rwanda, the signs of an impending genocide were evident, yet those who could have prevented it neglected all warnings. The international community’s reluctance to act can be attributed to numerous interconnected multifaceted issues, such as the misguided views of Africans, peacekeeping fatigue and the bureaucratic nature of the United Nations. The United States was not ready to intervene because the events of Somalia were still raw, and they didn't we didn't lose soldiers like it in Somalia (Uvin 2001). The United Nations was also not willing to engage in another peacekeeping mission in Africa, after the protracted one in Somalia. The second reason for inaction was due to national interests, and United Sthe rates did not intervene because they did not have any national interest at stake in Rwanda. For France, they should have prevented the genocide but rather, they facilitated it further by providing ammunition and weapons. The media also failed to report on the genocide hence there was no pressure.

Management accounting and control Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Management accounting and control - Coursework Example This approach was developed by Kaplan and Norton through the development of a set of measures otherwise called by them as â€Å"a balance scorecard.† The approach has the ability of giving the managers of organization a fast and quick view of the organization in terms of measures and management of performance information which includes both process and results measures (Swain, Krumwiede and Eaton 1999). The balanced scorecard is compared to the dials and the indicators in an airplane cockpit due to its ability to give comprehensive information simultaneously about the current and the predicted environment needed by managers for effective and efficient management. Information from this approach is ought to be gathered using the four model approach as follows:- in the customers perspectives, the managers are required to know if they are able to satisfy their customers’ needs hence the need for them to respond to the question as to how the customers see them. Secondly, the model will allow the managers to focus on the critical internal operation which enables the organization satisfy the customer needs, this is known as the internal business perspective. Thirdly, the approach gives the innovation and learning perspective which shows the ability of the organization to innovate, improve and learn. ... Therefore, the balanced scorecard is an organizational framework used in the implementation and management strategy at all the levels of the organization. It does this by linking objectives, initiatives and measures to an organization’s strategy. Hence, the approach can be termed as a strategic management system as opposed to only a measurement system due to its ability to function in both ways (Lipe and Salterio 2000). In addition, the tool enables the organization to be able to clarify their vision and strategy while translating them into action. The full use of the balanced scorecard enables an organization to transform their strategic planning to merely an academic exercise into the nerve center of the organization and its operations through the provision of the overall performance of the organization. This is done through the integration of all the financial measures like ROI, RI and EPS with the other key performance indicators of the organization which are found around the customer’s perspective, internal business processes, organizational growth as well as learning and innovation (Swain, Krumwiede and Eaton 1999). As opposed to Kaplan and Norton, Robert Simons in the explanation of the levers of control and how they can be used in understanding the scope and practice of management control argues that management control systems are formal, information based routines and procedures that are used by managers to maintain and alter patterns in organizational activities (Swain, Krumwiede and Eaton 1999). Hence as compared to the four perspectives in the balanced scorecards, this approach gives us the four levers of control which can be summarized as the control framework used by managers for the

Managment Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Managment - Case Study Example These new values were identified by him as they were in keeping with the current competitive and changing environment to which airlines around the world were being forced to adapt if they wished to survive. This case clearly shows that even if you have the potential and capital, if work is not organized properly, the company cannot survive. This is what this company did. Motivation and redesigning work organization structure are keys to success here. Using James Hoogan as an example of effective leadership, this essay will argue that effective leadership is a combination of strategic and operational leadership values rather than a one dimensional energizing or motivational leadership. Leadership that combines the strategic and the operational is the key requirement to turning around an organisation that is in danger of going under, because there is a lot more at stake in such a company than just a workforce that is not motivated or skilled enough. There are faulty strategies that need to be identified and isolated and changed operational values that need to be put in place to fit the strategy outlined. There is no room for experimentation as in many cases the situation is a do or die one. These situations require leaders who can do a lot more than just motivating and training the workforce with new skills. Very often motivation falls in place once the workforce sees new procedures in place and becomes convinced of the changed st rategies. Research indicates that the leadership model suggested by Kenneth Blanchard is the best for effective leadership. With competition getting stronger, leadership is the key to the success or failure of any company as the many mergers, takeovers, chapter 11s, lay offs and the few hard won success stories of the corporate world will bear out. Those companies that have the right leader in the right place at the right time manage to scrape through after resorting to stringent measures and in almost all cases after bringing in a complete change in strategy and work culture, almost a revolution. Many companies even move on to be highly successful and competitive, because their changed business strategy makes them adaptable to a changed business environment. The right leadership is crucial to ensure that this transition from a floundering business to a successful one happens smoothly and successfully. The Gulf Air story is one of a successful transition which happened only because the management of the airline was pragmatic enough to appoint James Hoogan as CEO the right time; the right man at the right time. Three years after he took over the story was a completely different one, he gave Gulf Air a completely new face, quite literally because they even sported a new uniform. In considering the role of leadership in the management of a company, this paper will compare the much acclaimed Jack Welch model with the model given by the Kenneth Blanchard Company, a model that is more acceptable today. The most successful and known model of leadership n corporate literature was given by Jack Welch which he developed with the intention of revolutionizing GE and turning it into the most competitive company in America. He himself led GE for over 20 years and during that tenure he succeeded in transforming it completely. The model of leadership given by him defines a leader as one who possesses the 4 qualities

Motivation for Crusades Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Motivation for Crusades - Essay Example The Moslems themselves kept the routes open to Christians, and the Byzantine Empire safe, until 1071, when Seljuk Turks took the lands, and persecuted Christians on the way. Lost land, religious conflict, and internal pressures were the background to Western Europe's initiation of the Crusades. R.W. Southern notes that "The worsening position of the Eastern Empire, and the genuine desire of some to save it: the even more potent though secret desire of others to profit by its disintegration; the dim realization that Islam constituted athreat to Christendomsome hoped to be saved by going; others didn't care if they were damned so long as they found new fields for profit and adventure. There was something in the Crusades to appeal to everyone." (Southern, 56) The crusades were, as Riley-Smith states "A holy war fought against those perceived to be external or internal foes of Christendom for the recovery of Christian property or in defence of the church or Christian people" (Riley-Smith, 1987, xxviii). This was certainly the overt motivation for the first Crusade, as initiated by Pope Urban II in November of 1095. This Crusade had a peculiar beginning, and Riley-Smith has made extensive note of this: "Few nobles turned up, and the theatre must have been riskyeven so, his appeal for knights to liberate Jerusalem struck a chord in western society" (Riley Smith, 1995). Urban openly declared "'Dieu le veult' - 'God wills it!'" (Bishop, 105); for many hearing the religious leader of the Western World declaring God's Will, the Crusades must have seemed to be a religious duty. In considering why this speech made such an impression, it should not be forgotten that the majority of Western Europe was, by this time, Christian in name at the very le ast. Europeans had been making the arduous pilgrimage to Jerusalem for decades, and in some ways the early Crusades might be considered another form of pilgrimage. Personal penance and justification by faith were still quite strong issues of faith, and would remain so until at least the mid-fourteenth century (Flagellants during the Black Death being one example of this). Being a Crusader, not only fighting for Christ but also traveling to the Holy Land to do so, was therefore a religious duty, atonement for sin, and a Holy Quest, similar to that being written about in Early Medieval romances. In fact, it seems as though Urban did not intend to have such a dramatic effect upon the nobles of Europe: the impression is that "The pop was taken aback by the success of his proposal. No plan had been made for the prosecution of the crusade" (Bishop, 106). The organization of the First Crusade was rather like a mopping-up exercise, after the disastrous People's Crusade in 1096. Poor people such as this marched under their own steam to free Jerusalem, and rather than the idealism of the nobility, their motivations appear to be genuine religious concern for the Holy Land. It should be clear, therefore, that the overt motivation, religion, was also an emotional force for many of the participants in the first Crusades, Kings and princes, such as Richard I of England, who were not struggling to maintain a fief, were probably

Types of Personality Essay Example for Free

Types of Personality Essay According to the test, my personality type is ENFJ (Extraverted Intuitive Feeling Judging). For extraverted my percentage was 56, for Intuitive 38 percent, feeling was 50 percent and judging was 67. This numbers describe me as moderately expressed extravert, moderately expressed intuitive, moderately expressed feeling, and distinctively expressed judging. I believe this test is partially right. I’m easily sympathized for others. I don’t feel I judge a lot, so I think this part is not too accurate, unless I’m unaware of this personality. The extrovert part, I also believe this part is inaccurate because at times, I follow my instincts, but at others I rely on logic. My energy is primarily directed towards school and family. Those are the two most important things around me. Besides that, I like having fun with friends an going out, but that’s not occasional. My decisions are made based on environmental factors and cognitive factors. I think that depending on your beliefs and what is going on around you the decision changes. So depending on my surrounding and cultural background, my decision varies. (Pg 458) The ways I process information is by understanding the subject of something and not only try to memorize it but learn it. I do this a lot when studying for tests. Also when working with something, when I observe someone do something, I have to try it to learn it. I have one type of personal organization, long term plan. I plan my future, for example graduating from school and going to school of medicine. I don’t frequently organize my short term plans. They just happen as life goes on. I sometimes do, but it has to be something very important.

American Foreign Policy In The 20th Century Politics Essay

American Foreign Policy In The 20th Century Politics Essay ..every nation which desires to maintain its freedom (and), its independence must ultimately realise that the right of such independence cannot be separated from the responsibility of making good use of it. The 20th century has often been referred to as the American Century. Throughout the last century, the United States of America (USA or US) has been involved in every significant international political event and incident. Despite war having been brought to its shores only once during the Century, with the bombing of Pearl Harbour during the Second World War, the United States, as it is commonly referred to, has participated in several international wars and regional military conflicts during the 20th century, either directly or indirectly. Today American strength, prestige and influence are so great that Washington is inevitably a factor in every international equation and the global dynamics, whether it is nuclear disarmament, combating terrorism, environmental change or economic slowdown. As the sole superpower in the world today, Americas influence in world affairs can simply not be escaped. In achieving such stature, a substantial role has been played by Americas Foreign Policy. Several scholars generally tend to regard the nature of American Foreign Policy to be reactionary. The common refrain that emerges from their studies and analyses is that American Foreign Policy in the 20th century has been primarily a defensive response to the actions of other world powers. They claim that during the initial decades after independence, the United States largely followed a policy of Isolationism and aspired to remain neutral in the international political upheavals of the period. Later, when the United States commenced proactive participation in international affairs, American Foreign Policy, it is claimed, never harboured hegemonic aspirations. On the other hand, a large section of the world considers the United States to be essentially an imperious state. The champion of liberal democracy has often been labelled a neo-imperialist country and its Foreign Policy perceived to be predominantly pursuing parochial and self-seeking agenda. It is claimed by this section that, under the garb of altruistic intent, the United States endeavours to spread its hegemony in the world. Over the decades, American Foreign Policy is seen to have acted purely in response to its own appraisal of emerging international situations and incidents. These appraisals have not been based on a collective assessment by the worlds leading nations but instead have been overwhelmingly based on American thoughts and habits. The Foreign Policy of any nation is indeed pursued to promote its interests and to further its objectives in the international arena. Every nation seeks to engage other nations of the world fundamentally to safeguard its own interests and ensure prosperity, whether economic or political, for itself. It is widely accepted that such engagement must occur in a manner that does not transgress the sovereignty of a nation or violate the accepted norms of civilised existence. American Foreign Policy is commonly perceived to often cast aside these norms and aggressively pursue what is considered by many as a parochial agenda. Even as the sole superpower maintains that its actions are motivated by altruistic intent and benevolence towards the lesser privileged nations, its influence and stature in international affairs has grown over the years which in turn, has apparently intensified the imperiousness and hegemonic attitude of the United States. METHODOLOGY Statement Of The Problem The aim of this research is to study the Foreign Policy of the United States of America and the appraisals that have influenced such policy actions so as to conclude whether the United States has engaged in an imperious conduct in international affairs and pursued a hegemonic outlook. Hypothesis Common beliefs and perceptions predominantly suggest that American Foreign Policy has been a reaction to the developments in the world, implying that the United States had essentially been an innocent victim of circumstances. Such perceptions emphatically harp upon the Isolationism policy and neutral attitude of American Foreign Policy as proof of Americas altruism. This research holds such inferences to be only partly correct, if not completely incorrect. It is maintained that the United States of America has always pursued a foreign policy purely to further its own interests without regard to international norms and opinion. The country has steadily shaped its foreign policy well in anticipation of developments and in some cases even without reasonable instigation. American Foreign Policy is considered to be parochial and imperious in nature. Scope Of The Research The turn of the 19th century was a watershed event in American Foreign Policy. It marked a distinct change from the earlier non-interventionist attitude to an outward looking and global approach. This altered stance has been the essence of the American Foreign Policy ever since. This research will examine the principal episodes and events relating to American Foreign Policy between the years 1900 to 2000. Foreign Policy is a reflection of a nations past as much as it is the response to contemporaneous matters. Therefore, to lend perspective as well as a background to the study, this research will briefly dwell upon Americas historical foreign relations prior 1900. History and past events can be objectively assessed only if they are examined in a detached manner. Their study must not influenced by present happenings and current thoughts or perceptions. This research will therefore terminate with the year 2000 because only a decade has elapsed since, which may not adequate to lend objectivity to the study after that period. Organisation Of The Research Foreign Policy of a nation is invariably an evolutionary process. While being a response to current and likely future issues, it relies heavily on past experiences. It either builds upon and consolidates the past successes or learns from its past mistakes and failures. Foreign policy responses to completely new issues tend to derive lesson from past instances of similar nature. This research has, therefore, been undertaken in a chronological order. The study has been chapterised into periods between key international events that influenced the American Foreign Policy. The study is accordingly divided as follows :- Chapter I Introduction and Methodology. Chapter II Historic Backdrop. (Covers the period from the American Independence to the end of the 19th century.) Chapter III Upto the First World War. (Covers the period from the beginning of the 20th century till the First World War.) Chapter IV Inter War Years. (Covers the period between the two World Wars.) Chapter V Cold War Era. (Covers the period following the Second World War till the fall of Communism in the early 1990s.) Chapter VI Post Cold War. (Covers the last decade of the 20th century.) Chapter VII Conclusion. (Summary and Inferences.) Method of Data Collection The data referred to during the course of this research was obtained from published books on the subject. Opinions, analyses and facts were also obtained from various internet resources, journals, periodicals and newspapers of repute. It was endeavoured to consult material from both sides of the divide. Works of Western as well as non-Western authors were referred, to lend objectivity to the study. All sources used for this research have been listed in the bibliography at the end of the research. Important citations and references for specific parts of the study have also been mentioned in the main part of the study in the form of end-notes after each chapter.

The Current And Future Prospect Of Accor Hotels Tourism Essay

The Current And Future Prospect Of Accor Hotels Tourism Essay This proposal is to put into action and find new instructions of business by using over the last three years economic and profitable performance to characterize the answers. The suggestion seeks different essentials of business performance, such as: marketing development; Crisis management; and Functional level strategy of Accor Hotels to categorize the results. The outcome shows with the purpose of Accor Hotels are performing well in the past three years company performance. But still, there are a number of improvements are necessary in industry growth. Crisis Management needs to be compulsory that can helps the organisation to perform more effectively. Analysing the Past trends and issues that causes the crisis related to the organization and businesses are able to stop, manage, or moderate the belongings of crises in the future. Accor have opportunity to develop the business by geographical extension around the world. Market development strategy focusing in particularly at Asian and pacific region that has future development like constructing Accor brands like Suite Hotel and Motel6. That gives strength and also helps to geographical extension of the company in order to attain the customer satisfaction and brand image. Accor should have functional level strategy in human resource management that are rewarding and motivating the employees, customers and reselling by various methods like Gift vouchers, prepaid cards, rewards to enhance the relationships with the customers and employees. Contents Executive Summary: 2 1. Introduction: 4 2. Background of Accor hotels: 4 3. Future Strategy for Accor: 6 3.1 Crisis Management: 6 3.2 Market development: 8 By analyzing the (Table 3) Asian pacific region have a huge growth in Travel and Tourism between 2008- 2018. Where constructing and building of Suite hotel and Motel 6 of Accor brands in Asian and pacific region. Focusing on new customers with the same product and service but in different geographical areas is the Market development. However China and India are the emerging market building more suite hotel and motel 6 for the customers. So, Market development strategy for Accor hotels to develop the geographical extension around the globe. 10 3.3 Functional level Strategy: (Human Resource Management (HRM)) 10 4. Conclusion: 10 5. Reference 11 6. Appendix A 14 Introduction: This report is about the Strategic of Accor Hotels past, current and future prospect. Section one evaluates the background of the Accor hotels in their past three years strategies between 2007-2009.Section two, it will be the future strategies that will consider the Internal and external Issues and trends on the hotel with SWOT analysis. Finally, it concludes and summaries the whole report. Background of Accor hotels: Around the world Accor is one of the foremost hotel operator in the world (Accor, 2008a), European organizer in hotels and tourism and the global organizer in Services to business customers and communal organization, Accor works in nearly  100 nation  with extra than  150,000 employees (Accor, 2008a). Past 40 years, it has offer consumers with knowledge get in its two center businesses, Hotels and Service (Accor, 2008a). Hotels: Hotels has a geographically and structurally reasonable business portfolio. Hotel action contains further than  15 corresponding product from comfort to wealth that are recognized and respected around the world for their service value (Accor, 2008a). Accor offers various luxury hotels brands like see Appendix A. Many lodging companies have developed many brands to give out multiple market segments (Jing, Dev, and Rao 2002). Service: It operates over  40 nations; Accor Services plans, expand and handle elevated value-added services for corporation (Accor, 2008a). Accor Services propose  a entire choice of prepaid services  in the region of  worker and community benefits (Accor, 2008a). Accor hotels past and current strategies were evaluated with annual reports of the company and message given by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Accor Hotels. In 2006, Accor hotels have increased the number of rooms and available nearly double in 2010. The expansion model of 40,000 rooms per year focuses on organization contracts and franchise Accor (2010a).Accor has preferred  four drivers to distribute the 40,000 new rooms per year by Expanding in Western Europe in Eco and Budget, and by franchise it increase the market share in established markets, Strengthen the location in rising countries, Management networking to expand the upmarket and luxury Accor (2010a). Accor has changed its strategy to focus more on increasing the business through franchising and organization contracts and less on construction of new hotels (Walsh, 2003). Figure 1 Expansions and investment of Accor hotels around the globe. Source: Accor (2010a) The word strategy refers to the wide direction, or holistic point of view, taken by an organization to plan for and make safe its long period goals (Marginson, 1988). Accor introduced acquisition of Motivano software in functional level Strategy of Human resource management (HRM) in the technological developments, which enables online management of employee benefits (Accor 2008b). Rewards and motivation for the employees, Customers and reselling by various methods like Gift vouchers, prepaid cards, Rewards to enhance the relationships with the customers and employees (Accor, 2009a). Kotler (2003) says that it is significant to make an excellent link among customers; and the suppliers in order to develop the issue of consumer faithfulness. Accor have product development for their customers relationship towards the organisation by having a multi brand A| Club loyalty program across the worldwide (Accor 2008b). An expansion method Accor service makes stronger its faculty for technical m odernism with the gaining of Prepay Technologies Ltd. The achievement of Prepay Technologies makes stronger for Accor Services management and expands its collection of stuff and services in the UK (Accor, 2007b). Accor focus strategy on French Polynesia for leisure travelers. It presents visitors the possibility to treat individuals with the crucial in leisure and luxury at three of its limited resorts in French Polynesia. Accor hotels are focusing particularly on the Le Spa at Sofitel, Sofitel Bora Bora Beach Resort and Sofitel Motu Bora Bora, a private island in French Polynesia (PR Log, 2007). Divertiture Strategy says that Selling a division or part of an organization (David, 2009). During 2007 Accor sold out 30 hotel properties in the United Kingdom for à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬711 million (Accor, 2007a). Because due to economic crisis and loss (Accor, 2007b). In product development Accor service start on UUB Premium card in the United Kingdom and the Commuter Check card in the United States (Accor 2008b). That helps to hold the customers and employees within the organisation. Accor Hospitality is to promote all its brands, collectively. That has various ranges of Facilities and low prices. That i nitially target business travelers and leisure break customers (Marketing magazine, 2009). Accor Hotels had a Net Loss of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬282 million due to the economic crisis and restructure costs totalling à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬514 million (Accor, 2010). Future Strategy for Accor: 3.1 Crisis Management: A crisis is the perception of an unpredictable event that threatens important expectancies of stake holders and can seriously impact on organizations performance and generate negative outcomes Coombs (2007: 2-3). Meyers (1986) categorized disaster into main belongings on community perceptions, product failures, sudden changes in the marketplace and changes in top administration. Meyers as well argue that crises can be caused by troubles with financing, business relations, take-overs, global events and changes in rules and policy. For example, following the 9/11 attacks, most of the political and media debate on terrorism has decided on avoidance policies (Kahn and Weiner, 2002). Economic impact of 9/11 is sensibly incalculable; though the global travel and tourism council has approximate reduce of the travel and tourism demand worldwide to be 10%. This compare to the jobs loss of 8.8 million people worldwide including airlines, hotels and tour operators, generate a 1.7% decline of wh ole GDP for the global wealth. They were two different viewpoints about concerning crisis management. One group of Researchers (e.g., Perrow 1984; Gephart 1984) argued that crises are repeated and not avoidable; whereas others (e.g., Mitroff, Pearson, and Harrigan 1996; Roberts 1990) contended that in attendance are conduct through which association can stop, run, or moderate the belongings of crises. Accor, which function the Sofitel, Ibis and Novotel brands in the UK, said it will cut 10% of its staff at its French head offices as it seem to make a 15% decrease in maintain costs due to the crash of the unprecedented worldwide crisis (Sharkey,2009). But Parsons (1996) put forward three categories of crises: 1. Immediate crises: Everywhere small or negative caution survives hence organizations are not capable to examine the crisis or arrange a preparation ahead of the problem or disaster strikes. 2. Emerging crises: These crises are identified and possibly it can be blocked or restricted through business act. 3. Sustained crises: This possibly will carry on for weeks, months or still for longer duration. The Bali terror operations in 2002 probably lost Indonesia half a million Visitors and $4.0 billion in revenue.  And also in Jakarta hotels bombed in 17 July 2009 (Telegraph, 2009). Hotels in Indonesia have been bombed which leads to afraid tourists will go to some other nation now, and hotels will have to expend a buttload more money on security to try to calm those panicky travellers down (Telegraph, 2009). In Mumbai, terrorist attacks train situation, a hospital, a cafà © and two hotels locations used by foreigners as well as local businessmen and leaders (BBC News 2008). It results in Negative travel advisories on India around various countries. According to the Federation of Hotels and Restaurant Association of India Booking by overseas travellers mainly from U.S and Europe comes down by 40% to 60% (Singh, 2008). According to Kash and Darling (1998) crisis prevention and planning can be managed by the following tools, strategic forecasting, contingency planning, issues analysis, scenario analysis. This prevention and planning are helpful to manage the crisis that affects the organization. According to Mitroff crisis can be prevented, manage, or moderate t he effects of crises in the organization will helpful for the future crisis to be prevented. Accor should provided security to their visitors is unavailable very seriously, Sofitel Brussels Europe is endowed with a video recorder observation system communicate by 60 cameras and magnetic keys guarantee secure access to the hotel floors (Accor, 2010c). The Crisis Management Strategy is useful for the organisation of Accor in the future to overcome the economic crisis and threats of the organisation. 3.2 Market development: Suggestion with the intention creates a character designed for an intangible body, products tell to customers feeling (Kim and Kim 2004). According to David, 2009 focusing on new customers with the same product and service but in different geographical areas. Brand justice besides let a group to enlarge and increase the product in a range of marketplace (Maharajan, Rao, and Srivastava, 1994). A hotel brand initially creates an importance for visitors by serving to declare them of a identical stage of excellence (O Neil and xiamo 2006). The table1 shows Accor hotel brands geographic presence in the world, that there is a huge opportunities for start business in emerging market like Asia and Pacific regions. Because they have Table 1 Accor hotel brands geographic presence in the world BRAND EUROPE MIDDLE EAST AFRICA ASIA PACIFIC NORTH AMERICA LATIN AMERICA TOTAL Total 2,310 143 402 1,076 174 4,111 Sofitel 34 24 45 9 9 121 Pullman 25 5 15 _ 1 46 Novotel 264 20 85 7 19 395 Mercure/MGallery 483 30 105 _ 81 699 Suite hotel 24 2 _ _ _ 26 all seasons 42 _ 33 _ _ 75 Ibis 691 31 80 _ 59 861 Motel 6 _ _ _ 1001 _ 1,001 Unbranded hotels 22 7 15 0 1 45 Source: Adapted from Accor (2010a) Construction of Suite hotel and Motel 6 in Asia Pacific region, that has largest volume of Travel Tourism Demand in the future prospective and increase the market place and exceeding the geographical perspectives around the globe. World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) says that, Table2. China has climbed two places by beating Japan and Germany and it occupied the second position. Travel Tourism service is lead by China (WTTC, 2008). Table3: Over the next one decade, the image will change to some extent as emerging tourism markets start to gather greater benefits from their investment in Travel Tourism development. whereas the USA, China, Japan and Germany will keep their current top four slots in terms of total Travel Tourism Demand (in absolute terms), India will be the worlds number one in terms of yearly growth in Travel Tourism require between 2008 and 2018, averaging 9.4% per annum ahead of China, Libya, Vietnam and Montenegro (WTTC, 2008). Table 2 Countries expected to generate the largest volume of Travel Tourism Demand (TTD) in 2008 TTD, S.No Countries (US$ bn) 1 USA 1,747.5 2 China 592.0 3 Japan 514.3 4 Germany 505.7 5 France 418.8 6 UK 403.7 7 Spain 338.2 8 Italy 302.9 9 Canada 231.4 10 Mexico 157.6 Source: WTTC, 2008. Table 3 Expected countries growth in Travel Tourism Demand between 2008 and 2018: S.No Countries 2008-18 (% annualised real growth) 1 India 9.4 2 China 8.9 3 Libya 8.1 4 Vietnam 8.1 5 Montenegro 7.4 6 Romania 7.1 7 Macau 7.1 8 Namibia 6.9 Source: WTTC, 2008. By analyzing the (Table 3) Asian pacific region have a huge growth in Travel and Tourism between 2008- 2018. Where constructing and building of Suite hotel and Motel 6 of Accor brands in Asian and pacific region. Focusing on new customers with the same product and service but in different geographical areas is the Market development. However China and India are the emerging market building more suite hotel and motel 6 for the customers. So, Market development strategy for Accor hotels to develop the geographical extension around the globe. 3.3 Functional level Strategy: (Human Resource Management (HRM)) Hotels are the most important components in tourism business and Human resource issues exist dangerous to examine value, and revolve the answer to global competitive (Jones and Haven- Tang, 2005). The significance of trouble describing to skills deficiency for the hospitality sector is clearly shown by (Zhang and Wu, 2004:425). Zhang and Wu observed that in China the qualified candidate have to be promoted by the hotelier to handle the decision-making or administrative tasks. So by rewarding and motivating to the employees, customers and reselling by various methods like Gift vouchers, prepaid cards, rewards to enhance the relationships with the customers and employees. Conclusion: The evaluation of past three years annual report, environmental opportunities and threads is set up much helpful information about the conditions of Accor Hotels located in all over the world. However, it is essential for the organization to think again to put into practice the necessary strategic performance for the future business development. The Current trends and issues faced by the Tourism and Hospitality organisation in Crisis thats hits both the economic and the Organization background. So Accor hotels should have the Crisis Management strategy to overcome the threats like terrorism and issues like recession that they have currently facing. And Accor have an opportunity to expand their geographic existence in the Asian pacific region by focusing on the new segmented customers. Accor are increasing the rooms per year for the customer to retain with their strong portfolio in nature. Accor have weakness in man power shortage that can be solved by the future Functional level stra tegy that is managed by Human Resource Management. Rewarding and motivating of staffs in the organisation.

Essay --

Richard Wright and William Faulkner both examine the psychologies of excluded members of society. While in Native Son, Wright studies someone oppressed and downtrodden beneath society, Faulkner looks at a family of outsiders cast far away from a common community in As I Lay Dying. For both, a central question becomes the function of their characters’ minds in relation to one another, and to reality. Through different approaches, both Wright and Faulkner conduct modernist explorations of the social outcast’s interiority. To accomplish this, each author’s narrative voice traverses the gradient from realism to experimental fragmentation, Wright constructing a vertical consciousness, articulate and omniscient regarding Bigger’s psychological world, and Faulkner accessing a horizontal one, mostly illustrating the Bundren’s surface thoughts and emotions. In Native Son, Wright’s principally naturalistic style, momentarily interrupted by rebellious points of fragmented, modernist language, reflects in form Bigger’s overwhelming repression throughout the novel and his liberating moments of agency. The naturalism contributes to a narrative voice that can articulate Bigger’s fears, impulses, and desires with much greater sophistication than Bigger himself is capable of. This allows Wright to explore Bigger’s consciousness in a vertical manner, omnisciently understanding emotional mechanisms not apparent to Bigger. It is as though we are looking narrowly down at Bigger, and through him. While the narrative voice sees that Bigger’s violent mood swings are the result of his frustrated potential in a segregated society, Bigger only knows these moods as â€Å"the rhythms of his life... ebbing and flowing from the tug of a far-away, invisible force† (... ...ngs their interior lives into such vivid relief that it suggests inadequate or meaningless external existences. For the Bundren’s, such vivid interiors, without constrictions, seem to suffer from lack of compression, while for Bigger, extreme downward pressure on his psyche makes him a volatile character. By exploring this outcast’s interiority through a vertical consciousness, Wright has proven the dangerous lack of agency a young black man has, in segregated Chicago, even over his own actions. Faulkner, by exploring the Bundren’s interior life through a horizontal consciousness, has proven their lack of agency in a different way. They have control over their actions, but their actions, overshadowed, seem to have no affects. By either being oppressed or ignored, both groups of people have damaged consciousnesses, in which they nevertheless discover some relief.

Importance of Strategic Planning when Entering International Markets Es

Importance of Strategic Planning when Entering International Markets When a company decides to take their business international, there are many different factors that they need to take into account. There are differences in management styles, international laws and treaties that regulate international business, trade barriers, tariffs, taxes, exchange rates as well as cultural customs that come into play. Each of these is significant and needs to be taken into account in order to minimize potential problems. It is essential to an expanding company to study these factors and integrate them into taking their business abroad. Many times, lack of knowledge can create serious problems and in some situations stop a business deal from happening all together. If such matters are not ever correctly dealt with they can completely destroy the entire business. All a company needs to do to reduce this risk is some research in the international market. Today it is difficult to completely stay out of the international market place. Even if a business is completely based in a specific country, it is very possible that another company outside their country supplies them. Even if there is a small company that is simply importing some parts from Mexico, there are rules that must be met for NAFTA. It is almost impossible today for a company to avoid dealing with international issues. That is why all companies should have some understanding of international business. When first discussing international business, one must realize how beneficial international trade is to the world. Trade amongst countries has been growing very rapidly since the end of the Second World War. One way of looking at international trade is the simpl... ...se Expatriate Managers in Canada.† Journal of International Business Studies 27 (1996): 443-466. 9. Robicheaux, R. A. and Bandyopadhay, S. â€Å"Working With Dealers in India.† Journalof Managerial Issues 7 (1995): 379-402. 10. Saimee, S. â€Å"Costomer Evaluation of Products in a Global Market.† Journal of International Business Studies 25 (1994): 579-604. 11. Simos, Evangelos O. and Triantis, John E. â€Å"International Economic Outlook.† The Journal of Business Forcasting Methods & Systems 18 (1999): 32-36 12. Srinivasan, T. India. New York: Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 1994. 13. â€Å"There’s No Such Thing as Simple in International Business.† Agency Sales 29 (1999): 4-6 14. Walter, Ingo and Murray, Tracy. Handbook of International Business. New York: Ronald Press Publication, 1982. Importance of Strategic Planning when Entering International Markets Es Importance of Strategic Planning when Entering International Markets When a company decides to take their business international, there are many different factors that they need to take into account. There are differences in management styles, international laws and treaties that regulate international business, trade barriers, tariffs, taxes, exchange rates as well as cultural customs that come into play. Each of these is significant and needs to be taken into account in order to minimize potential problems. It is essential to an expanding company to study these factors and integrate them into taking their business abroad. Many times, lack of knowledge can create serious problems and in some situations stop a business deal from happening all together. If such matters are not ever correctly dealt with they can completely destroy the entire business. All a company needs to do to reduce this risk is some research in the international market. Today it is difficult to completely stay out of the international market place. Even if a business is completely based in a specific country, it is very possible that another company outside their country supplies them. Even if there is a small company that is simply importing some parts from Mexico, there are rules that must be met for NAFTA. It is almost impossible today for a company to avoid dealing with international issues. That is why all companies should have some understanding of international business. When first discussing international business, one must realize how beneficial international trade is to the world. Trade amongst countries has been growing very rapidly since the end of the Second World War. One way of looking at international trade is the simpl... ...se Expatriate Managers in Canada.† Journal of International Business Studies 27 (1996): 443-466. 9. Robicheaux, R. A. and Bandyopadhay, S. â€Å"Working With Dealers in India.† Journalof Managerial Issues 7 (1995): 379-402. 10. Saimee, S. â€Å"Costomer Evaluation of Products in a Global Market.† Journal of International Business Studies 25 (1994): 579-604. 11. Simos, Evangelos O. and Triantis, John E. â€Å"International Economic Outlook.† The Journal of Business Forcasting Methods & Systems 18 (1999): 32-36 12. Srinivasan, T. India. New York: Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 1994. 13. â€Å"There’s No Such Thing as Simple in International Business.† Agency Sales 29 (1999): 4-6 14. Walter, Ingo and Murray, Tracy. Handbook of International Business. New York: Ronald Press Publication, 1982.

My Life as a College Student

GORDON KUSSI TABIRI English Writing: From Start to Finish My life as a college student Seven years ago I gained admission to pursue a B. A program in one of the prestigious universities in Ghana. The name of the university is Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). I was offered a four year bachelor degree program leading to a degree in Sociology and Social Work. Thus, I read BA Sociology and Social Work. I was so happy at the time because of two reasons.One was that, I had tried twice to be admitted into the countries universities but refused until finally the third time of which I succeeded. The second reason why I was happy was related to the fact that I had the opportunity to continue my education to a level that I had always dream about. My first year as a fresher on campus was very interesting for me. I was to read sociology and social work as a major and Geography as my minor.I therefore registered for my courses for the first year which included subjects s uch as introduction to sociology, traditional social structure of Ghana, introduction to human geography, development of geographic thought, introduction to physical environmental systems, communication skills, introduction to computers, and ethics and etiquette in traditional systems. I read these subjects for the first and second semesters as my first year program. I attended all lectures, wrote my assignments and the years exams. The results of the exams came and I had a Cumulative Weighted Average (CWA) of 59. 17.I was so disappointed about my results and decided to make better grades no matter what it takes to do so. I wrote the second semester exams and improved upon my performance by obtaining a CWA of 60. 32. I realized the fact that increasing the hours of my studies yielded good results. My second year on campus was very exciting. This was because I made very good friends and also had acquainted myself with campus life in general. I had a good friend by name Christian Boat eng who happens to be an old classmate at Akrokerri College of Education where we both obtained our diploma in basic education in the year 2001.Christian was very instrumental in my life on campus because he taught me how to study for long hours. We actually took similar courses together in the first two years of our education in KNUST College. We were also roommates for three years and shared a lot of things together. My second year courses also included literature in English, introduction to geomorphology, theory and practice of geography, principles of cartography, concepts and theories in sociology, social structure of modern Ghana as well as the nature of social work. The courses were very challenging especially those related to geography.I had a successful year and also improved on my performance. This second year was very significant to my life because it was during this period that I decided to read a master’s program after graduation. That year helped me realized a l ot of my potentials and also changed my perception of life in general. My third year in KNUST also saw me reading courses such as perspectives in sociological theory, research methods, theoretical framework for social work methodology, industrial sociology, medical sociology, and also bamboo and rattan processing.I enjoyed reading these courses especially industrial sociology, medical sociology as well as sociological theory. During my third year, we were made to drop our minor course, so I concentrated only on the major which was sociology and social work and also other borrowed courses. I also managed to secure the same room on campus with my friend, Christian. We both studied hard and had very good grades in our third year exams. We also had lots of fun on campus until school vacated. Christian was actually based in Kumasi which is the city in Ghana were KNUST was located whereas I was also based at Accra, the capital city of Ghana.In view of this, I spent most of my school holid ays in Accra with my family. During the long vacation after the end of the third year, I had an attachment with Tetteh Quashie Memorial Hospital situated at Akuapem Mampong. I was attached to the social welfare department of the hospital where I performed generic social work. It was a great experience since I had practical training in dealing with social welfare cases of clients at the hospital, district court and the district family social welfare cases. My mentors taught me so well that by the time I finished my attachment, I had developed a passion of working as a social worker someday.After my attachment, I prepared for my final year academic work. On arriving on campus for my final year, I registered for courses such as social psychology, social development, human resource management, approaches to counselling in social work, environmental sociology and a long essay dissertation. I had actually started writing my BA thesis in the third year of my studies. My topic was, â€Å"t he role of non-formal education to the contribution of the social and economic development of Ghana: a case study of the Ejisu- Juaben Municipality†.It was a great and challenging topic to write, in that there wasn't much literature on the subject of non-formal education. Owing to that, I researched the web widely in writing this project. My supervisor by name Mr. Barnie gave me all the directions and support so well that I obtained an excellent grade in this long essay. I was very excited because I was constrained by time in combining my academic work with writing of this thesis. In spite of all the challenges, my hard work paid off with me obtaining very good grades in all my final courses I took.Thus, I completed all my forth year course exams and was ready for graduation. We were to graduate exactly one month after completion of all the necessary course requirements. I was among one of the students who were to graduate with second class upper (honors) degree in sociology a nd social work. During graduation, my uncle and a cousin of mine accompanied me, and it is a day that I will never forget in my life. I dressed neatly in my graduation gown and went through the ceremony very happy of my accomplishments. After the ceremony I took several pictures with friends and my family and we had a great party after the occasion.I would never forget my experience on campus because it transformed my life. My general outlook of life has changed tremendously. I now understand that I have great capabilities as well as weaknesses. My college experience has contributed in shaping my personality today. I have learnt to work hard to overcome my weaknesses as well as develop my potentials and capabilities. This is the reason that I had saved money to pursue a master’s program in Switzerland to be able to actualize my dreams and aspirations in life.

Changing Our Lives Essay

Changing Our Lives There are several reasons I decided to go to college at this point of my life. The first reason was simply because when I first received my G. E. D. I couldn’t decide which occupation was right for me. There were so many different and interesting career paths to choose from. It became overwhelming trying to narrow it down to the best choice. I honestly didn’t want to waste time and money going to school for a job I didn’t enjoy or that I could not excel at.I wasted the next part of my life using drugs and gambling. I made a lot of bad decisions that led me to become involved with law. I have never been charged with any felonies, but I have plenty of misdemeanors to show for my behavior. This limits me to what jobs I can receive. Once the company does a background check the hiring process usually stops there. Even though I have changed my life for the better most employers won’t give me a chance to prove myself. My record definitely limit s me when choosing an occupation.I am embarrassed and not very proud of my mistakes I have made in life but I will not let the past slow me down. Being enrolled in college will help prove myself as a responsible adult and show others that I can shine in any situation. Going to college will give me that chance to make my family proud. I also think it is setting a great example for my children. They see every day how hard it is to work for a job you don’t like and not receiving the pay you deserve.Deciding to go to college will teach them that no matter what happens in life it’s never too late to make a change for the better. After a lot of thought and time I decided that I would receive my bachelors degree in business administration with a concentration on management. This opens many different outlets upon graduation and will help me decide on a specific career. I will also have the knowledge to hold a management position and make more money while still attending colleg e. My ultimate goal is to one day own a couple of small businesses of my own.I already have the creativity, passion, and drive to be successful. Going to college will give me the understanding about the business world and bring me closer to my career goals. Waiting to go to college has been frustrating, but definitely worth it. I feel like I finally have enough time to manage work, school, and family life. I am more responsible and am able to make better choices. After changing my life I am finally on the path to seeing my dreams come true. Hopefully I will achieve my final goal of one day being my own boss.

Explain How External Environment Influence Essay

External environment aims to help an organisation to obtain opportunities and threats that will affect the organisation’s competitive situation. External opportunities are characteristics of the external environment that have the potential to help the organization achieve or exceed its strategic goals. External threats are characteristics of the external environment that may prevent the organization from achieving its strategic goals. Therefore, organisations must formulate appropriate strategies to take advantage of the opportunities while overcome the threats in order to achieve their strategic goals. The external environment consists of variables that are outside the organization and not typically within the short-run control of top management. They may be general forces within the macro or remote environment, which consists of political-legal, economic, socio-cultural, technological forces – usually called PEST. Political-legal force influences strategy formulation through government and law intervention. For example, the environment law requires the world’s automobile manufacturers to reduce emission of green house gasses, and therefore these manufacturers have to reformulate their product strategy. Economic force influences strategy formulation through economic growth, interest rates, exchange rates and the inflation rate. For example, exchange rates affect the costs of exporting goods and the supply and price of imported goods in an economy, and thus influence strategy formulation of exporters. Socio-cultural force is about the cultural aspects, health consciousness, population growth rate, age distribution, career attitudes and emphasis on safety. Trends in social-cultural factors affect the demand for a company’s products and how that company operates. For example, increasing health consciousness can influence strategy formulation of fast-food companies that may have to adopt product innovation strategy. Technological factors include technological aspects such as R;D activity, automation, technology incentives and the rate of technological change. For example, rapid development of the information technology has significantly influenced the strategy formulation of logistics service providers who are now able to provide superior express services. There may be specific forces within the micro or near environment, which involves analyzing the threat from the new entrant, rivalry among the existing players, pressure from the buyers, pressure from the suppliers and pressure from the substitutes. This is introduced in Porter’s Five-Forces Model. Profitable markets that yield high returns will attract new firms which eventually will decrease profitability for all firms in the industry unless the entry of new firms can be blocked by incumbents. The existing firms therefore need to formulate new strategies against potential entrants. For most industries, the intensity of competitive rivalry is the major determinant of the competitiveness of the industry. For example, high intensity of competitive rivalry in the automobile industry forces competitors such as Ford, Honda, to form strategic alliances or adopts the strategy of M;A. The bargaining power of buyers is the ability of customers to put the firm under pressure. For example, strong bargaining power of buyers in the computer industry put Dell under pressure. To deal with such pressure, Dell has to focus on relationship marketing strategy by offering value-added services to its customers. The bargaining power of suppliers is also described as the market of inputs. Suppliers of raw materials, components, labor, and services (such as expertise) to the firm can be a source of power over the firm, when there are few substitutes. Suppliers may refuse to work with the firm, or charge excessively high prices for unique resources such as Microsoft software and Intel chips which affects the formulation of price strategy of PC makers. The existence of products outside of the realm of the common product boundaries increases the propensity of customers to switch to alternatives. In order to retain customers, companies must formulate appropriate strategies to compete with the substitutes. For example, milk producers compete with soy milk producers. However, strategy formulation is also influenced by the degree of turbulence of the external environment. A high degree of turbulence exists if changeability is high and predictability is low. Companies need to formulate strategies based on the planned prescriptive approach if turbulence is low, whereas based on the unplanned emergent approach if turbulence is high. How organization’s overcome environmental changes? Organisations need to deal with environmental changes with appropriate strategies. First, organisations may choose to wait and see. Such strategy has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, facing a significant technological change, some companies may choose to integrate the new technology into their products. If they are successful, the rest companies’ ‘wait and see’ strategy is obviously unwise. However, if they failed, the rest companies’ ‘wait and see’ strategy appears wise. As a result, strategic decision making is impacted on and opportunities may either be lost or capitalised on. Second, organisations may choose to change in response to environmental changes through either proactive or reactive. Proactive change involves actively attempting to make alterations to the work place and its practices. Companies that take a proactive approach to change are often trying to avoid a potential future threat or to capitalize on a potential future opportunity. Reactive change occurs when an organization makes changes in its practices after some threat or opportunity has already occurred in the external environment. As an example of the difference, assume that a hotel executive learns about the increase in the number of Malaysians who want to travel with their pets. The hotel executive creates a plan to reserve certain rooms in many hotel locations for travelers with pets and to advertise this new amenity, even before travelers begin asking about such accommodations. This would be a proactive response to change because it was made in anticipation of customer demand. However, a reactive approach to change would occur if hotel executives had waited to enact such a change until many hotel managers had received repeated requests from guests to accommodate their pets and were denied rooms. In reality, companies may use a combination of both proactive and reactive approaches. Proactive approach is highly common when an industry is new with little or no change. The bellwether company entering the industry is making all of the strategic decisions or being proactive. However, because of its success, competitors gradually enter the market, resulting in the turbulent change of the competitive environment. Consequently, the reactive change is on the part of the new competitors as well as the bellwether company. To overcome environmental changes, companies may also choose the merger or acquisition strategy. A merger is defined as the joining of two or more organizations to constitute a new combined, legal entity. An acquisition is defined as the purchase of more than 50 percent of the voting shares of one organization by another, but the two organizations are still separate legal entities with the acquiring organization running as the parent company and another as a subsidiary. For example, recent study discloses that the merger and acquisition strategy in the global automobile industry will be further enhanced in the near future in order to deal with the threat of global financial crisis which decreased the consumers’ disposable income and increased the debt of auto makers and suppliers that have to save their organisations through merger and acquisition Ddiscuss the importance of organisational culture in strategy implementation Organisational culture can be defined â€Å"as the system of shared beliefs and values that guide and direct the behaviour of members, can have a strong influence on daily organisational behaviour and performance. † (1) Reflection to leadership Successful strategy implementation needs strategic leadership. Strategic leadership is the ability of influencing others to voluntarily make decisions that enhance prospects for the organisation’s long-term success while maintaining short-term financial stability. It includes determining the firm’s strategic direction, aligning the firm’s strategy with its culture, modelling and communicating high ethical standards, and initiating, shaping and implementing changes in the firm’s strategy, when necessary. Strategic leadership sets the firm’s direction by developing and communicating a vision of future and inspires the organization’s members to move in that direction. (2) Enable to create mission & vision The vision is the source and the main idea of a company. The mission aims to give the direction which presents the unique scope of business, its vision nd specific competence & competitive advantages, and to tell employees, consumers, and shareholder what the firm is. For example, IBM’s vision is: solutions for a small planet. Mission is: At IBM, we strive to lead in the invention, development and manufacture of the industry’s most advanced information technologies, including computer systems, sof tware, storage systems and microelectronics. Create a shared vision to manage strategic change: objectives and vision of both individuals and organization should coincide. There should be no conflict between them. Senior managers need to constantly and consistently communicate the vision not only to inform but also to overcome resistance through proper communication. Strategy implementers have to convince all those concerned that the change is not superficial. The actions taken have to be credible, highly visible and unmistakably indicative of management’s seriousness to new strategic initiatives and associated changes. (3) Help to create a better strategy (4) Staff motivation Strategy implementation requires special motivation to achieve objectives. The motivation system functions according to the qualities and mechanisms of motivation, which is developed during the stage of entry strategy preparation. First and foremost, this system has to inspire employees involved in the process of strategy development and implementation to orient their mindset toward a strategic way of thinking. Formalizing the strategic motivation system includes establishing a system of daily incentives for employees, especially those who are responsible for strategy development and implementation. The formal system is presented in a document, where all suggestions about motivation and incentives are developed and described. It includes all moral, social, and financial instruments of motivation of individual employees and groups of employees. Special recognition and awards should be given to those who go above and beyond in creating and implementing strategic ideas. (5) Increase or enhance adaptability skills How to use organisation culture to develop competitive advantages 1. Develop CA An organization that is able to maintain a positive culture is likely to enjoy many benefits. When organization members identify with the culture, the work environment tends to be more enjoyable, which boosts morale. This leads to increased levels of teamwork, sharing of information, and openness to new ideas. The resulting increased interaction among employees activates learning and continuous improvement because information flows more freely throughout the organization. Additionally, such a culture helps to attract and retain top employees. For example, Wal-Mart’s founder, Sam Walton, showed concern and respect for his employees from the company’s inception. This created an environment of trust that persists to this day. Walton also modeled the behavior that he desired from his employees, especially customer service (both to internal and external customers), by visiting his stores, meeting customers, and greeting employees by their first names. Walton also embraced and encouraged change in order to remain competitive, and developed employees by having them work in a variety of positions. Wal-Mart considers its culture the key to its success, and to this day employees continue to think about â€Å"how Sam would have done it’’ when making decisions. 2. Proactive ; reactive Today’s globally-competitive business environment has made a positive corporate culture a critical aspect of success for firms. No longer just a competitive advantage, it has become a prerequisite for success, allowing companies to attract and retain top employees. Therefore, where the culture is serving to lower morale, it is recommended that management take proactive rather than reactive steps to change the corporate culture using a top-down approach, establishing a new vision and demonstrating new behavior consistent with the revised vision. 2. Ability to change 3. Strong learning curve

Types of Speeches Essay

â€Å"There are always three speeches for every one you actually gave: the one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.† – Dale Carnegie, Writer and lecturer Public speech comes in dozens of forms. From the motivational to the ceremonial, the christening to the eulogy, the rehearsed best man to the impromptu – the chances are good that in your lifetime, you will experience just about every genre of public speaking. We will explore a variety of speeches styles in this course, so here is a preview of the speeches we’ll attempt! Memorable Speech No matter where your career takes you, at some point you’ll engage in conversation with a business partner, a client or a customer about a previous job, an unusual experience or even your family. It will be your opportunity to â€Å"wow† them with a good story. In this assignment, let’s pretend that you’re in that situation, and you want to wow us with a good story! This speech is simply a well told story or event from your life. It should be interesting, it can be entertaining – but ultimately, I want it to be a story that you’re familiar with and enjoy telling. Treat us as if we were friends at a round-table discussion, and you want to tell us something that you know we’ll enjoy. Pop Culture Speech This assignment will give you the freedom to reenact a speech that is relevant to our current popular culture or current events landscape. President Obama’s inaugural address. The Tiger Woods’ apology speech. Jeff Bridge’s Oscar acceptance speech. Make sure you define the speech and illustrate its social significance. Become the speaker and transport your audience to the scene. Invoke the same emotion that the speaker gave. Demonstration Speech This assignment will give you an opportunity to educate the audience on how to do something, how to create something, how something is done, or how something works. Audience consideration is key here – it’s important to keep in mind that we’re in a collegiate, professional classroom, so ‘How to Water Your Garden’ might not be particularly interesting! But, something like: techniques for drawing a sketch book, or how to make the perfect fettuccini alfredo, or how to create a secure network for a wireless router, might appeal to your listeners. Start thinking about visual aids that you could use for this assignment, as these will be major assets to your presentation. Informative Speech The choices are truly endless for this assignment! To help scale down your options, pick something that interests you, that you think will interest the audience, and that the audience doesn’t know a lot about. Provide valuable information in this speech – open our eyes to a subject we barely know. Describe pros and cons. Briefly summarize the history. But be careful not to drift into persuasion – there is a fine line between informing us about a topic and persuading us to think a certain way about it. Your task in this assignment is to present unbiased, objective facts. Persuasive Speech In this assignment, you will have the opportunity to persuade your audience to think a certain way. In many cases, this serves as a natural progression from your informative speech, because now you are tasked with taking a stance on something and defending your viewpoint. Make sure you clearly state data and statistics that support your claims. Give us facts thatconvince. Appeal to the beliefs and sensibilities of your audience. Visual aids always add great value to one’s argument, so use them when you can. Strengthen your side by disclosing an opposing view, but discredit it – a great way to bolster support for your side. The Fear of Public Speaking â€Å"According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.† — Jerry Seinfeld, comedian What is it about public speaking that sends chills down our spines? The causes of glossophobia (public speaking anxiety) have long been studied, and although no single cause has been identified as the key culprit, studies have repeatedly shown that more people are afraid of public speaking than death. Consider the following statistics: The Top 10 Global Fears are: 1.Fear of public speaking (Glossophobia) 2.Fear of death (Necrophobia) 3.Fear of spiders (Arachnophobia) 4.Fear of darkness (Achluophobia) 5.Fear of heights (Acrophobia) 6.Fear of people or social situations (Sociophobia) 7.Fear of flying (Aerophobia) 8.Fear of open spaces (Agoraphobia) 9.Fear of thunder and lightning (Brontophobia) 10.Fear of confined spaces (Claustrophobia) Research has proven that a fear of public speaking can have negative effects on careers, and hinder success if not addressed. Three out of four individuals across the world suffer from speech anxiety. Simply put, 75 percent of all humans fear public speaking. Up to five percent of the world’s population (hundreds of millions of people) experience glossophobic symptoms in a given year. Some studies have found that a larger percentage of females suffer from speech anxiety related problems. More men than women seek treatment to cure fear of public speaking through means like hypnosis therapy, beta-blockers or self-help literature. Social phobias often start with shyness in childhood or early adolescence, and progress during maturation, according to scientific studies on fears of public speaking. What is Extemporaneous Speaking? Extemporaneous speaking (sometimes referred to as extemp or extempo) is a speech format where an orator delivers to an audience without assistance from notes, teleprompters or the like. In its finest form, it is a smooth, dynamic performance that mixes subject knowledge, humor, research and fact. Conduct this exercise: Look around the room you are in right now. Choose an object at random. Something on a shelf, the window sill, the floor, just a random object near you right now. Now look at a mirror and try talking about that object for 60 seconds without stalling, stopping, pausing, or using any fillers like ‘umm’ or ‘uhh.’ Whatever comes to your mind about that object, just rattle it off! Can you fill a full 60 seconds with substance? You don’t have note cards, you didn’t rehearse, you just chose something you were familiar with and spoke on it for a minute. That’s speaking extemporaneously! Here are 10 tips to speaking extemporaneously: 1.Start your extemp with a good summation that grabs attention, the state the theme. 2.Develop between three and five main points. Each one should be a distinguished idea. 3.Tie each idea back to your main topic. 4.Tie each idea to the next idea. Go for smooth transitions and sensible bridges. 5.Keep it simple. Don’t try to impress your audience with fancy words. Impress them with powerful expressions and convincing facts. 6.Your subtopics should reinforce the main points. They should describe or elaborate. 7.Revisit your thesis on occasion. Remind the audience of what your main point is, and how this ties into the smaller items. 8.Cut to the chase! The audience appreciates detail, but not so much that they get lost in minutia. 9.Don’t be afraid to make a joke about your nervousness. The audience will appreciate it, and you’ll feel better about it. 10.Quit while  you’re ahead! Start smooth, support your stance, finish strong†¦ depart respectfully! Know Your Audience â€Å"Be sincere; be brief; be seated.† – Franklin D. Roosevelt, on speechmaking (1882-1945, 32nd President of the United States) Finding a connection with your audience can be the key to delivering a successful, comfortable presentation, or it can lead to the exact opposite. Chances are good that you will deliver speeches where you don’t know every audience member – and the reality is, you don’t really need to. But you do want to find some common ground early, which will help your credibility, but also help your nerves. So how do you connect? An easy and painless way is to mingle. It’s an audience analysis technique that is too often overlooked. Shake hands. Introduce yourself. Talk about the weather. When you stand before the podium or take the mic, gather your surroundings for just a moment. Smile as you survey the scene and make some inclusive observations. What’s everyone wearing? What’s the body language like? What do their facial expressions say? And where are the emergency exits Just kidding! The audience wants to feel like you’re talking to them, and they want to feel that way individually. Although eye contact is an enormous part of public speaking (and we’ll discuss it further in future lectures), it’s not realistic to look each person in the eye. So, focus on points to your west, north and east. Pick a listener at each point of the room, and focus on thosemembers. As you look left at your first focal point, then center at your second focal point, then right at your third focal point, you’re glancing over the entire audience equally. You’re pulling them into your  speech and making them feel like you’re talking to them – personally. This is a trick that doesn’t fail! In an online class, it goes without saying that your audience isn’t present – but that doesn’t mean there’s not an audience. We’re here! So treat the camera like it’s us. The window is a portal into the classroom and we’re here observing, listening attentively. So how will you connect? Think about what you’ve learned about your classmates in the Cyber Cafà © and through the video introductions. Use it to your advantage! Additional Types of Public Speaking Every speaker has a mouth; An arrangement rather neat. Sometimes it’s filled with wisdom. Sometimes it’s filled with feet. — Robert Orben, professional magician and comedy writer Each week we’ll take a close look at some of the different types of public speeches out there. This week, let’s look at three that you may be familiar with: Specialized, Entertaining, and Political Rhetoric. Specialized Have you ever gone to hear a doctor discuss a new type of study? Did you ever walk past an auditorium and catch a teacher for students with disabilities, talking to a group of other teachers about the difference in pedagogical approaches? Or what about a police chief, discussing law enforcement practices to a group of safety administrators in a different city than his hometown? The purpose of specialized speeches is to inform, educate and demonstrate to a professional audience. Listeners find credibility in the speaker based on similarities in professional or social interests. A common example would be a speaker at an educational information technology convention, where an orator addresses other faculty or school administrators in an effort to inform them of emerging technologies or best practices in the field. Entertaining Most often referred to as the ‘after-dinner speech,’ this form of public speaking is intended to entertain the audience through laughter, anecdotal humor or irony. It differs from a stand-up routine because it flows more logically, with a distinct beginning, middle and end. Speakers of this variety use entertaining material typical woven around a central premise. It’s important to note that not all entertaining speeches are aimed at the funny bone. Sentimental stories can trigger tears, and many tales are meant to appeal to the emotions in some way. Political One form of public speaking that we’re all familiar with is the political speech arena. Whether it’s your local politician lobbying to knock down an aging shopping center or President Obama rallying public support to approve national healthcare, we’re exposed to political rhetoric nearly every day. This form of speech is unique because politicians are typically speaking to like-minded people (those who would vote for him/her regardless of the topic) or skeptics (those who exhibit wariness or suspicion) simultaneously – only on the rarest of occasions do they speak to crowds of unanimous approval. Regardless, there are a few tricks to writing and delivering effective political speeches: †¢Take a stand. Clearly state your stance and support it. It’s unrealistic to be all things to all people; in fact, supporting everything means (ironically) that you support nothing. †¢Stay Energized. Every topic is important to somebody. Not every topic is spicy, but audience members are savvy and they’ll detect even the slightest bit of disinterest in a subject. Be enthusiastic and stay upbeat! †¢Facts. Check your facts. Have your staff check the facts. Double check the facts after they check the facts. Know statistics. Know dates. Know your opponents’ stances and what s/he supports. Be 110% certain that what you’re saying is true. †¢Overlook vocal naysayers. Politicians expect protesters or booing from the audience – and how a political hopeful handles such antagonists says a great deal about his/her character. The ability to approach such  behavior with a sense of humor or by ignoring the noise altogether goes a long way toward building credibi lity with those you’re attempting to persuade. Overcoming the Anxiety â€Å"They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.† – Carl W. Buechner, American author You’ve gotten your first two speeches under your belt. How do you feel about them? How did you feel leading up to them? In all likelihood, you were just a bit nervous as you got ready to record, and that’s normal! Preparation for public speaking is a process, and even the best of the best get butterflies right before taking the microphone. Public speaking is an art, not a science. A few common misperceptions of public speaking are: 1.That you have to be perfect to succeed. Nobody’s perfect – you’re human! You don’t have to be perfect to do anything successfully; in fact, the audience is not nearly as critical of you as you are of yourself. 2.That you have to provide a ton of information all at once. Imagine asking a server ‘What’s on special’ and getting the history of the restaurant in response. Did that answer your question? Probably not – so don’t overload your audience with information that isn’t relevant or they may already know. Give them something valuable. Send them home feeling like they’ve learned something. 3.That you have to please everyone. This is not only an unrealistic approach to audience consideration, it’s unhealthy. You can’t be all things to all beings, so don’t strain yourself trying. The audience will appreciate your message far more than your efforts to please. 4.That tremendous preparation will yield better results. Studies have shown the complete opposite – that too much preparation causes a speaker to over-think and over-scrutinize. Have a solid, working knowledge of your material, but don’t dissect every word. 5.That if you’re serious, the audience will take you seriously. The audience wants to relate to you. They  want to see your human side. Share a memory. Tell a story. Let them in on a personal experience. Never underestimate the power of humor in public speaking; humility and a good joke can go a very long way. So how can you overcome your fear of public speaking? 1.Breathe. A simple, deep inhale sends a wave of relaxation through your body. Take a deep slow breath as you walk toward the podium or approach the front of the room, and itwill calm your nerves. 2.Practice. Rehearsing in front of your family or friends is great way to get instant feedback, because if anybody is going to be honest with you, it’s your friends and family. Engage in positive visualization: close your eyes and picture yourself standing before the audience. Visualize your surroundings. Use note cards to keep you focused and highlight the main points to emphasize. Use a mirror to help gauge your eye contact and your nonverbal behavior (like swaying, shifting or playing with your hair or tie). 3.Mistakes happen. If you lose your place or stumble over a few words, just glance down at your cards, find the next highlighted word or topic, and move on. Take a deep breath and smile – the audience probably didn’t even notice. 4.Avoid Caffeine. A lot of speakers think that a quick rush of adrenaline through the system will electrify them into a phenomenal delivery. Not true. It can make you jittery, shaky and make you rush through the speech at an unhealthy pace. Go for a water or a juice to avoid dry mouth. 5.Find a target. Recall what we mentioned in an earlier lecture about your focal points. Locate a person at east, north and center to glance at every couple of seconds. That way, when you look left and right, you still have a target at center on which to focus. 6.Gesture for Emphasis. Speak conversationally and you’ll find a very natural, comfortable way of using your hands. If you get distracted by buttons or pockets, wear clothes without buttons or pockets. These are two very costly distractions! Time to Write the Speech! The task seems daunting, for sure – but it’s a task we each face at different times! Writing a speech can be an assignment that’s so open-ended it seems like there’s a never-ending abyss of possibilities, but below are some tips that may get you going! Before The Speech†¦ †¢Visualize! I cannot stress this point enough, and you’re probably tired of reading about it! Nevertheless, as soon as you receive your assignment, start the positive visualization process. Imagine yourself at the podium, or in front of the class, or on the stage. Positive visualization is subliminal preparation. †¢Start the research portion early. Even if it’s a topic you’re familiar with, it never hurts to freshen up. Find new angles on the topic. Document negative aspects that may fend off dissenters and help you prepare for tough questions. †¢Get it on paper! Jot your ideas down as they come, and begin to formally organize your thoughts. They don’t have to be lucid, elaborate ideas at this point – but capturing some of your initial considerations or inclinations ensures that they won’t get lost in the shuffle. You’ve got some ideas down, you think your subject has potential, now frame it! †¢Prepare to introduce yourself. Just a few lines about who you are before you delve into your subject builds credibility with the listener. †¢Organize your major points. Depending on the time parameters, you might be limited to as few as one or unlimited entirely – but you want to have substantive, quality information on each point. It’s widely accepted that a speech contains three major points. †¢Conclude and Convince. Summarize your speech and reiterate the most important speech. What do you want your audience to take away from this speech? Express them here once more. Done! You’ve just delivered a top-notch speech! You prepared, you researched, you organized†¦ what are you going to do now? Consider these two additional closing activities that will separate you from the rest! †¢Take some questions if time and the forum permits. This is a great opportunity to interact with listeners. It proves that they were interested, that your message hit home – but also can illuminate what areas of the speech can be tweaked. †¢Share references and resources with your audience. Unless you did  the experiment or discovered the anecdote yourself, your information came from somewhere! Acknowledge those whose information you used while creating your speech – it’s a great way to put a polished touch on the closing minutes! Additional Types of Public Speaking â€Å"The human brain starts working the moment you are born and never stops until you stand up to speak in public.† -George Jessel, Academy Award winning movie producer Each week we’ll take a close look at some of the different types of public speeches out there. This week, let’s look at three that you may be familiar with: Ceremonial, Acceptance, and Motivational. Ceremonial This speech format is most common at formal events such as recitations, graduations, weddings, etc. For example, the ‘Best Man Speech’ is the most common ceremonial speech. Ceremonial speeches are also known as epideictic speech, and language of the speaker should be inspiring, rousing and vivid. Two techniques of epideictic speech are identification (which creates a feeling of closeness, familiarity and universality), and magnification (which exemplifies overcoming obstacles, exceeding boundaries or achieving the unachievable. Five simple guidelines can direct you to a successful ceremonial speech. †¢Use concrete terms (not abstract) †¢Use personal references (not impersonal) †¢Use simple sentences (not complex) †¢Use active verbs (not passive) †¢Use repetition of ideas to enhance comprehension and memory Acceptance After receiving an award or honor, you may be expected to respond with an acceptance speech. Express gratitude, acknowledge the person or group that’s giving the award, recognize what the award stands for or represents. Four simple guidelines can direct you to a successful acceptance speech: †¢Accept the honor with grace and humility. Use magnification in an acceptance speech. †¢Give credit where credit is due. Mention those who assisted you or influenced your life. †¢Give back to the audience. Express your awareness of its deeper meaning and leave the audience with a tribute to their work or what inspired you. †¢Contextualize the future: what does this award mean to society, to the group, and express how you will continue this work. Motivational Motivational public speakers, arguably the most popular type of speaking out there, uses stories, anecdotes, illustrations, and allegories to capture the audience. Typical of motivational speaking is the delivery of a moral lesson that will uplift, inspire and or have an impact on the listeners. The most common goal is to encourage self-improvement, with the orator telling a story that crafts the mind to form a mental attachment that enables members of the audience to think: â€Å"I can do that, too.† Motivational speakers should be leery of adding political or religious elements to their content – because of the diversity of audiences, this can render a speech to be less effective, or even offensive. Verbal Style The words we choose and the terms we use define how impactful or ineffective our speech will be. Below are some typical devices used by public speakers to illustrate comparisons, repetition, magnification of a significant point, or a contrast of ideas. Devices that illustrate comparisons †¢Analogy: Occurs when similar statements are placed near one another. Analogy illustrates commonalities between ideas. ââ€" ¦Example: He tackled that question the way a linebacker would tackle a running back! †¢Metaphor: Occurs when applying a term of phrase to a statement that enhances or embellishes – but not literally applicable. ââ€" ¦Example:He jumped so high I could’ve sworn he was a kangaroo! †¢Allegory: Occurs when objects, characters or occasions are given metaphorical definitions. Typically gives identity to items that lack identity. ââ€" ¦Example: The landlord was so mad I thought he was going to spit fire! †¢Onomatopoeia: Occurs when a clever play on words uses a sound descriptor associated with the item or thing being named. ââ€" ¦Example: Did anyone else see that gaggle of geese swim by? †¢Synecdoche: Occurs when something is identified or categorized based on a part of the whole. Can often be sensational, exaggerated or a skewed view. ââ€" ¦Example: To understand the history of Italy, just read about the mafia. Devices that argue through repetition †¢Alliterations: Occurs when a succession of words carries identical sounds. ââ€" ¦Example: Nobody knew Nate could never knot his Nikes. †¢Antimetaboles: Occurs when words are repeated within the same sentence, but reversed. ââ€" ¦Example: Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country! †¢Climaxes: Occurs when items are placed in series to illustrate rising importance of emotional escalation. ââ€" ¦Example: Hope springs eternal; and with that hope springs eternal youth; and with that youth comes the hope of a generation! Devices that magnify a significant point †¢Allusions: Occurs when disconnected terms or items are mentioned in reference to a relevant discussion. ââ€" ¦Example: Bill Gates would so mad at you for using that old machine! †¢Cumulation: Occurs when related items are compiled and weight is added to an  argument. ââ€" ¦Example: How can we get any work done when the phone keeps ringing? Not to mention the internet keeps blinking †¦ and I’ve had people at my desk all day!? †¢Oxymoron: Occurs when a contradiction is obvious. ââ€" ¦Example: Thank goodness for decaffeinated coffee; how else would I get through the day? Devices that contrast ideas †¢Hyperbole: Occurs when exaggeration evokes a colorful reality. ââ€" ¦Example: The head of that department might as well be 10 years old. †¢Irony: Occurs when a statement’s meaning is recognizably opposite of the literal translation. ââ€" ¦Example: I love how it hasn’t rained for three weeks but then rains on our wedding day. †¢Understatement: Occurs when what is said is considerably less than what’s actually meant. ââ€" ¦Example: Boy, that hurricane made such a mess out of traffic. What Makes Some Speeches Great? â€Å"I gave a speech in Omaha. After the speech I went to a reception elsewhere in town. A sweet old lady came up to me, put her gloved hand in mine, and said, †I heard you spoke here tonight.† â€Å"Oh, it was nothing,† I replied modestly. †Yes,† the little old lady nodded, â€Å"that’s what I heard.† – Gerald R. Ford, President of the United States, 1974-77 What makes some speeches great? Why can Americans separated by two generations recite President Roosevelt’s Declaration of War in 1941? How is it that children less than 10 years old understand the meaning behind Dr. Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech? Why do our hearts sink when we hear Lou Gehrig tell a teary Yankee Stadium that â€Å"Today, I feel like the luckiest man on the face of the earth†? These speeches have overcome the test of time for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, they are filled with passion. There is nothing submissive or passive about them. These speakers deliver powerful jolts with every word, and the listener has no choice but to feel the subsequent emotional stir. Some historical speeches touch upon human conditions that remain fixed through each passing generation, keeping them relevant. They touch upon circumstances to which mankind relates – things like war, prejudice, tragedy and triumph. Use of urgent language emphasizes the importance of the situation. Some of the most everlasting speeches were given during times crises or social unrest, so an elevated sense of urgency is inherent in these orations. Famous speakers use their words with craft, and you’ll often find them repeating themselves for dramatic emphasis and stress. Repetition is a device used to make a direct, earnest point (this idea is explored in Week 4 Lecture 1). This also allows for listeners to more easily recall an important point, if it’s been spoken more than once. Think about a speech in your lifetime that made a major impact on you. Who delivered the speech? What was it about? How did it impact you? Speeches that impact us can range from something with international magnitude (such as President Bush addressing the nation following 9/11) to a one-on-one disciplining from a parent. Think about some of the speeches you’ve witnessed in your life – why do you remember them? Additional Types of Speeches â€Å"It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.† -Mark Twain Each week we’ll take a close look at some of the different types of public  speeches out there. This week, let’s look at three that you may be familiar with: Debate, Inspirational, and Newcasting/Broadcasting. Debate Debate is a formal interaction of persuasive exchange and argument. Logical consistency, factual accuracy, and a modest level of emotional appeal typically allows one side to triumph over the other through representation of a superior context and framework. Some valuable tips to debate successfully include: Never say ‘never,’ and never say ‘always.’ Don’t challenge an obvious truth. Refrain from pointing out errors, but admit if you’re mistaken. Challenge the idea, not the person. Don’t exaggerate – truth is easier to remember. Say ‘some’ rather than ‘many’. If it happens ‘often’ or ‘generally,’ you’re permitting exceptions. Say ‘many’ rather than ‘most’. Numbers and figures came from somewhere – quote them. Do not present opinion as fact – if it’s opinion, say so. Disagree with a smile on your face. Stress the positive any way every time. You can lose some battles and win the war. Concede minor points. Tone – it can empower or belittle. Be cognizant. Winning a debate isn’t worth losing a friend. Inspirational Inspirational speeches are highly emotional, motivational speeches that push listeners to pursue previously unachieved goals in life. These speeches give listeners tools and proper awareness of goal pursuit and bolster the possibility of accomplishment. A few common topics include personal growth, career advancement, team building and leadership development. Inspiration has no limits, so audience consideration hinges on social and practical factors like education, status, class and personal interests. Inspirational speech writing is often considered a five-stage scheme: †¢Stage 1: Include a word structure that attracts the attention of the audience. †¢Stage 2: Diverse testimonies that expose the ineffectiveness of current solutions, but proposes promising, successful solutions to all problems . †¢Stage 3: Attainment of satisfaction – innovative thoughts empower the audience to learn of new ways to satisfy a need. †¢Stage 4: Positive visualization of new pra ctices through imagery, emotional representation and visual aids. †¢Stage 5: Motivate the audience to transform plans into actions. Newscasting/Broadcasting This type of public speaking constitutes a professional brand of speech transmitted through media outlets such as radio, newspapers or other print publications, television and internet services. Broadcast speech is typically written in present tense to convey a sense of urgency – a unique twist on delivering information from speaker to listener. It delivers a sense of ‘now’ and when written in active voice, can be very dramatic and breaking. When writing or speaking to the masses, it’s best to stay with a less-is-more mantra. Sentences in journalism tend to be short and economical – as in, they are easy to read, easy to understand, and say a lot with few  words. Contractions are usually permissible with one exception: be very careful contracting ‘not’ – sometimes the audience can’t hear the –n’t—following the verb and it can lead to serious miscommunication. Always, always, always attribute your infor mation to its source. Humor is not typically a part of journalistic prose – it can blur the line between serious and lighthearted. Nonverbal Communication, Part I What does it mean when we smile? When you see a person sitting on a bench with a cell phone to her ear smiling, what can you conclude about her conversation? When a couple is walking through a parking lot holding hands, what can you surmise about their relationship? When you see a man motoring down a sidewalk with a stronghold on his briefcase and frantically checking his watch, what can you deduce about his day? Nonverbal communication surrounds us – in fact, it’s been estimated that as much as 90 percent of all communication is nonverbal. That’s a staggering amount that’s worthy of deeper discussion. Since the topic is so vast, we’ll focus on a few common, key points about nonverbal communication. †¢Physical Environment: The study of proxemics focuses on how people use and perceive the space surrounding their physical presence. Enviro-factors like noise, lighting, crowd, temperature, furniture, even the way you decorate your bedroom – it all impacts you nonverbally. There are four distinct territories of proxemics: ââ€" ¦Primary: Space allotted to someone who has specific rights to it. Example: Your home, apartment, dorm – these are primary spaces that are exclusively yours. Others require your consent and knowledge to enter. ââ€" ¦Secondary: Space not allotted to someone, but people may still feel a specific ownership of that space. Example: You go to a restaurant once a week, and sit in the same booth each time. If you enter the restaurant and someone is sitting in that booth, you are slightly irked by the fact that they’ve occupied your secondary space. ââ€" ¦Public: Space that is available to all, but not always. Example: Anyone is free to park  anywhere they like, unless a space is already occupied. †¢Interaction: Space created during an interaction. Example: If two people are sitting at a table talking to one another, nobody will sit in between or obstruct their view of one another (they would be disrupting the interaction space). †¢Movements: The study of kinesics began in the early 1950’s with a study of how people communicate through facial expression, gesture, body movement and posture. ââ€" ¦Posture can indicate a person’s degree of interest, a status separation between communicators, or the level of fondness the listener has for the communicator. Arm position, body orientation, direction of lean and body openness are all examples of posture. ââ€" ¦Have you ever given someone a wink? Chances are you have – and your gesture was probably well received! Gesturing is a silent body movement that can indicate a number of verbal messages. A hand wave to say hello, a thumbs up to indicate approval, an eye roll to indicate a negative reaction â€⠀œ all gestures that speak. †¢Nonverbal Cues of the Voice: Have you ever been told to â€Å"Watch your tone†? If so, you were warned to be careful of your paralanguage. Qualities like volume, pitch and tempo; even articulation and eloquence give each of us a unique voice print. The voice set describes the context within which someone is speaking, and can encompass mood, age, gender, even culture. †¢Eye Contact: Studying eye contact during public speaking, or oculesics, is a fascinating experiment. Eye contact typically indicates interest, attention and engagement. This is not to be confused with eye gazing. So what does it all mean? What does nonverbal communication really tell us? It expresses emotions and interpersonal feelings; it accompanies speech in managing the cues of interaction between speakers and listeners; and it manages inaudible cues between speakers and listeners. When Do You Say No? â€Å"There are two types of speakers, those that are nervous and those that are liars.† – Mark Twain, American author and humorist Could you stand up and give us a presentation on nuclear biophysics? How about pharmacology or pathophysiology of the lifespan? Neither could I – because we’re not knowledgeable on the subjects. These topics are well out of our comfort zones. Now†¦ could you stand up and tell us how to make Ramen noodles or eggs benedict? Probably! As important as it is to know your facts on things that interest to you, it’s equally important to know your boundaries. When is it ok to pass on a speaking opportunity, or even pass on a particular topic? †¢If the topic is too technical or methodological, and you’re simply not versed enough in the material to discuss it, move on. Choosing a topic that’s rich with medical terminology would produce unsatisfactory results. Your heart wouldn’t be in it, and you’d lose interest quickly or worst of all – procrastinate until it was too late. Regardless, the resulting performance would not please. †¢If the audience knows more than you do, you’re likely to be recognized as a fraud quickly. I wouldn’t recommend speaking on a topic that you’re modestly familiar with, when the listeners are experts or considerably more savvy than you. Don’t even think about a question-and-answer segment! †¢If you’re under the weather, it’s simply not your day. You would not want to sit through a lecture where the speaker was coughing, snee zing, had a raspy, scratchy voice and looked generally unhappy to be there – so don’t be that person. If venues can reschedule concerts, hosts can reschedule your presentation. Even in this class – it might be worth waiting an extra day to hit the record button, to make sure the germs are gone! Make no mistake – I’m certainly not advocating that you not research new things, or explore new topics or investigate new puzzles. I’m simply saying – I want you to put yourselves in a position to succeed! Nonverbal Communication, Part II While the study of nonverbal behavior dates back to the late 19th century,  there’s one thing that we don’t need experimentation to prove: that nonverbal behavior is a real entity that influences interpretation, meaning and communication in general. As we discussed last week, the physicality of nonverbal behavior extends from our eyebrows down to our leg stance, and includes everything in between. But what do we get when verbal and nonverbal communication mesh? There are six ways in which verbal and nonverbal communication can interact: complementary, substitution, confliction, repetition, regulation, and moderating. †¢Complementary: Messages are interpreted more accurately when verbal and nonverbal communications complement each other. Messages are remembered better when there is no chance for misinterpreting. A smile that accompanies a positive statement, a wink that accompanies a congratulatory remark, a thumbs up that accompanies an approval – all are forms of complementary nonverbal gestures. †¢Substitution: Messages can be replaced entirely by facial expressions, body movements or gesturing, or positioning. Waving hello or goodbye replaces the spoken salutations. A slouching student can indicate disinterest or exhaustion, without the student saying as much. Raised eyebrows can indicate surprise or shock, without uttering a single syllable. †¢Confliction: Messages can be misinterpreted, misconstrued or even misleading if nonverbal cues indicate one thing, and the verbal cues indicate another. Someone on trial may be expressing a truthful statement, while avoiding eye contact or fidgeting – an indication that s/he may not be telling the truth. You are probably familiar with the clichà ©: â€Å"mixed signals.† This could serve as nickname for confliction. †¢Repetition: Messages can be repeated and reinforced simply through gesturing, for emphasis. An instructor may announce a particular topic, then point to it on a smart board, for example. †¢Regulation: Messages can be regulated through physical touches that cause no bodily harm or threat, but merely call attention. For example, if two people are speaking and a third person touches the arm of one, that clearly means that s/he wants the attention of one of the participants. Raising your hand in class when you have a response is another form of regulation. †¢Moderating: Messages can be emphasized, highlighted or even dramatically  altered with moderating gestures. Someone angry might shake a fist or experience a changed pace of breathing. Someone nervous might pace. Someone excited might fidget or rock in a chair. How Can You Create a ‘Great’ Persuasive Speech? As we get closer to delivering the final Persuasive Speech, I want to offer you a few tips to keep in mind as you make your final preparations! †¢Support your claims with solid evidence.   If you are hoping to put an end to something like the global greenhouse crisis, prove that such a crisis exists first. The funny thing about evidence is: more doesn’t always mean better. Think quality, not quantity. †¢Give your audience a way to help. Assert your stance and call for action. Propose a solution or a way for the audience to get involved. Audience members are often asking: â€Å"What can I do to help?† Don’t leave them wondering. †¢Make sure what you’re asking of the audience is reasonable. â€Å"We need to switch to all-organic diets and never drink non-filtered water again!† That’s probably a bit far-fetched, and highly unlikely that you’ll be taken seriously. †¢Expect and embrace controversy! Speak about a topic that emotionally impacts you and tell us why. You’ve chosen a topic some time ago, so make it clear why you’re so vested in this debate. †¢Honor the time limits.   The persuasive speech will be 8-10 minutes long. I have worked with some faculty who watch up to the maximum time, and grade how you’ve done to that point. So if your speech is 11 minutes long, this instructor would’ve missed the last minute! Be conscious of the clock. †¢Strive to challenge and change your audiences’ attitudes, values, and beliefs. You’re not going to convince everyone, but you can certainly ask your audience to hear you out and respect your opinion. Always be polite, courteous, and direct. †¢Nobody knows it all, and your information came from somewhere. So tell us where! This ties into the first point about supporting your claims with solid evidence. Cite your sources, give credit where it’s due, and your  credibility will benefit as a result. Additional Types of Public Speaking â€Å"Make sure you have finished speaking before your audience has finished listening.† — Dorothy Sarnoff, American musical theatre actress and self-help expert Each week we’ll take a close look at some of the different types of public speeches out there. This week, let’s look at three that you may be familiar with: Award Presentations, Eulogy, and Roast. Award Presentations Award presentations are typically straightforward and simple. Unless the award or recognition is meant to be a surprise, always start with the awardee’s name (and always make sure you pronounce it correctly). Talk about the criterion for the award – why was the winner chosen? Who recommended him/her? List the achievements that made the winner worthy, and use vivid, powerful examples to illustrate why the winner is deserving of the recognition. Touch on the interpersonal side, too. What characteristics does the winner possess, that are admirable and commendable? Point them out. Usually there’s a trophy, plaque or certificate involved in an award presentation, so make sure you explain the significance of the item the winner is receiving. And one last bit of advice: when the winner comes to the stage to receive the award, hand it to him/her with the left hand, so that you can shake with the right! Eulogy Without question, eulogies can be the most painful and emotionally drawing speech there is. But it can also be uplifting. Eulogies offer hope – they combat grief with happiness and emphasize the positive qualities of the person who has died. Eulogies are commonly linked to religious figures, but  that’s not always the case. Sometimes family members or close friends of the deceased speak on his/her behalf, as the orator is required to offer perspective, comfort and reassurance to in attendance. When delivering a eulogy, it’s critical to acknowledge the feelings of loss, sadness, shock, even anger – but touch on them, don’t linger. Try to stay on brighter notes, and recall positive memories and recollections that others might not have experienced. Highlight the person’s legacy and their contributions to those around them. Use language of inclusion – things like â€Å"I know that many of us have seen†¦Ã¢â‚¬  or â€Å"All of us who cared for†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . Tie concepts of life and death together with universalities like the circle of life or the immortality of the human spirit. Roast Roasts are most commonly known for their comedic value, as has been demonstrated on various celebrity roasts on the television channel, Comedy Central. These speech engagements are meant to be light-hearted and poke fun at a suspecting target – but it’s not spiteful or angered. It’s a teasing, satirical style that parodies a person’s life, lifestyle, occupations, habits, history, etc. Anything goes in a roast – and the irony is that it teases with the truth. Roasts are an art that has evolved into a vastly different engagement that it was a few short decades ago. It’s best illustrated by showing, rather than telling. Consider: Ronald Reagan’s roast of Frank Sinatra in 1977: I chose question B. I felt she was very energetic and did an excellent job using gestures and adjusting her vocal tone and pace to keep your attention.  She put in some of her own humor which always keeps the crowd interested. I also feel she did a great job with her eye contact. She didn’t stay focused on one area of the room for too long. Overall she had a great speech and it showed that she does this often. Wonderful self confidence and presentation.