Wednesday, October 30, 2019

DS Assignment 9 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

DS Assignment 9 - Coursework Example Moreover, science helps us in understanding the universe by freeing us from reliance on gut-feelings hopeless reasoning of our brains (Joomee, 2012). Additionally, common sense basically is a poor master when it comes to decision making. The other difference between science and common sense is that science has an established mechanism of controlling or eliminating other concepts (Joomee, 2012). This is precisely directed to concepts that do not explain a phenomenon with evidence. Contrary to this, use of common sense only pretend to use analytical methods in decision making but the truth is it is never used. Most philosophers always refer the term belief to mean the attitude we have whenever we acknowledge something to be the case or regard it to be true (Douglas, 2000). It is considered that most people have the tendency of believing in anything that comes from them even when it is blatantly contradicting (Douglas, 2000). There is connection between belief and common sense. It is clear that both don’t involve in active reflection of the scenario before making decision. In both cases decisions are reached on without engaging the mind in seeking evidence based on knowledge about the situation. The other connecting factor between beliefs and common sense is faith. In both scenarios most decision to do something arises due to strong faith the person has toward the belief or what his senses are directing (Friedman, 2004). Belief perseverance can broadly be defined as the tendency of passionately rejecting convincing proof or evidence and become even more tenaciously held when the belief has been publicly announced to the others (Douglas, 2000). This is a critical decision since it has adverse impact when it comes to critical thinking. Most psychologists have revealed that there people who naturally have the tendency of failing to admit foundational premises are incorrect

Monday, October 28, 2019

People often complain about life in the U.S. Essay Example for Free

People often complain about life in the U.S. Essay People complain when most of their needs are not met. The irony of it lies when complaints are just piled up without any further insights on how to solve such problems. In the long run, complaints become a part of the lifestyle of people who are good at pointing at the loopholes most especially of the government, and of the leaders. As there would always be a reason for every action that is done, and for every result that is produced, man is also by nature never contented. Furthermore, the will to seek for the ‘best’ is always an intention to make life worth living. Power, fame, and money tops the priority of why people choose the option of fulfilling their daily agenda from dusk ‘til dawn. Although, with the exception of the few who does their work for the common people’s welfare and interest. It may also be considered a selfish ambition to seek good only for one’s self advantage and leave or ignore others behind while they struggle for the well being of everyone. From birth, the very basics of life are taught –following instructions, and that it is in the individual’s prerogative to obey, and afterwards reap the consequences of such actions. On the other hand, citizens do have their obligations and responsibilities. From simple instructions of following the rules and regulations or by becoming a â€Å"law abiding citizen† then, at least one is a big step ahead of fulfilling his obligations and responsibilities. Other concerns such as the payment of taxes for which some would dare not to are obligations that are intentionally forgotten. These are just simple, and few to mention that when taken for granted are enough reasons for making a citizen’s life fluctuate. Self-examination is important and should be carried before bursting in dismay the various injustices committed by the government and by the leaders or officials. For whatever reasons people complain about life in the U. S. is according to their own generalization and judgement on whatever situation or experiences they are basing it. On the other hand, a patriot will readily and passionately criticize his government when it is evil, corrupt, and infamous; and that refusing to do so is considered treason. It is the duty of every citizen to criticize, censure and scourge the political fiends that pretend to serve the public when those villainous brutes serve only tyranny, greed, hatred, and prejudice. In addition, complaints may have been germinated and nurtured from the compost heap of tyranny, imperialism, and international widespread liberal acts of butchery, despotism, and horror. The exposure of such a regime and its operations has become a primary duty of citizens who still believe in the Rule of Law and in the freedoms, which a country is supposed to represent. On the other hand, as a citizen who loves his country, his nation or his homeland, such complaints should be put aside and instead â€Å"take part† in the reforms that are taking place and â€Å"be a part† of whatever changes that will occur. For what would one gain complaining against the government – it only leads to further chaos and destruction that would later affect the stability of a country. Instead, an action of commitment is necessary for a change. Citizens cannot be required to take part in the political process, and they are free to express their dissatisfaction by not participating. However, without the lifeblood of citizens’ action, there can be no hope of making life much better. Teamwork is at its best when everyone participates in the fulfillment of such goals and objectives. For this reason, citizens play a very major role in the development of a country or a nation. Their â€Å"actions† speak â€Å"louder† when joined in one voice for the rehabilitation and development of their country. Most often, people are only joined on an aftermath, citing the 9/11 as an example. World leaders were heard on radio and seen on television joining against terrorism as worldwide threat to political-economic progress of every state or nation. Citizens therefore, should not take their responsibilities only as an option but as a mandate for which they should put into action and make commitments. US enjoy a government whereby the supreme power lies in the body of citizens who are entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them. In which case, election of public officials is the most visible and common form of participation for which people could exercise their genuinity as citizens. However, there are problems faced by the electorate before and during election that would stop or make them have a second thought in casting their votes. Thus, the agenda of â€Å"making life better† by taking part in the election is at stake. Needless to say, as a citizen who loves his country, taking part on a crucial endeavor is worth an honor for standing on such beliefs and life principles – taking part for the better. In other areas, opportunities in which to participate to be able to have a part in the development and rehabilitation of a country and make it a better place to live is to take advantage of joining a host of private organizations, associations, and volunteer groups. For which many of these are concerned with issues of public policy and pay close attention to public opinion, making every effort to widen their base of support as they seek simultaneously to educate the public and influence government policies. The right of individuals to associate freely and to organize themselves into different sorts of nongovernmental groups is fundamental in shaping a better society, a better environment. When people of common interest band together, their voices can be heard and their chances of influencing the political debate increases. As there are no perfect leaders and perfect government that provides and meets the demands and expectations of its citizens, there are the advantages of opportunities vested upon the people to exercise their civil rights whenever it is necessary and while maintaining public order and countering attempts that ignites violence. Every circumstance that an individual faces everyday is a part of the spices of life that one should face courageously. That with his body, mind, and his character, should consider it as strengths for further growth and development. To make life better entails a long practice of patience and humility from which one could invest and influence others to follow. History records of people who have done it, and were able to successfully pursue their agendas after a long historic battle. Furthermore, citizens have the option of either to criticize and act, or to criticize and watch how complaints get piled and returns like a boomerang that backfires. It takes time, effort and most often investing money to make a goal successful. However in the long run, it pays an action for a legacy worthy for future generations. As the world advances, and so do the expectations of every individual, of every citizen. In addition, as government leaders occupy government offices from time to time, new agenda are always sought. Accordingly, to the best interest of the people! Whosoever leads, citizens’ action makes a difference when joined with a common goal – to make life better. REFERENCES: Felkins, Leon. â€Å"How to Avoid Wasting Your Vote†. The Election. 26 May 1996. 19 http://www. spectacle. org/1096/felkins. html Kettenhofen, Colleen. â€Å"Difficult People: Dealing with Difficult People 101†. Beyond Better Communications. 19 March 2007 http://www. livingbeyondbetter. com/difficult101. html â€Å"Politics, Economicsc, and Pluralism†. USINFO. STATE. GOV. 19 March 2007 http://usinfo. state. gov/products/pubs/whatsdem/whatdm8. htm

Saturday, October 26, 2019

The Conservation of Energy Essay -- Physics Science Conserving Essays

The Conservation of Energy Physics Essay: The Conservation of Energy Since the beginning of time, energy has pervaded our earth. These days we rely on it to advance in our technological developments. We also need energy for a variety of other things such as: to keep our bodies alive and healthy, to run our machines and other technical devices, we also rely on energy to keep warm in winter and cool in summer. Energy is the ability to do work. People and other things can run out of energy (e.g. a marathon runner) in which case they can no longer have the ability to do work. In a mechanical situation, if a machine has energy it has the ability to apply a force to another body. There are many different forms of energy and there are many different places by which energy can be gathered. Forms of energy include: Potential energy, kinetic energy, gravitational potential energy, elastic potential energy and there are many more. Energy can be gathered in many ways using our natural recourses from the environment, for example: solar energy (from the sun) and hydroelectricity (where electricity is gathered by rushing water) Hydroelectricity is when electricity is generated by rotating coils of wire (rotors) between the poles of a magnet. The rotors are turned by rushing water falling over them. In a hydroelectric plant, water in usually stored in a damn. As the water falls down and rushes over the vanes connected to the rotors it looses gravitational potential energy and ga...

Thursday, October 24, 2019

The Relationship Between Journalism and Public Relations

The relationship between journalism and public relations has been described as tumultuous. Hitchcock (2012) says there is a shifting dynamic between the two and has found that journalists are starting to become more and more reliant on public relations ‘(PR)’, while Jackson (2009) says that up to 80% of media content has come from a public relations source. In this instance, Evans (2010) says, â€Å"it is time to admit that the two disciplines of journalism and PR are two sides of the same coin and that there is now complete freedom of movement between them† (p? ). FIND PAGE NUMBERThis essay will discuss the role of both public relations and journalism in the media, followed by an examination of the symbiotic relationship these two professions share. Differing views and issues surrounding the relationship will also be considered. Furthermore, media relations and new media technology will be examined regarding the tension between PR and journalism. A conclusion wil l then be summarized to support the idea that the relationship between public relations and journalism is symbiotic to an extent, however there are other factors also to consider when making such a statement.The Oxford Dictionary (2012) defines the term symbiosis as ‘a mutually beneficial relationship between different people or groups’. In this case we are examining the relationship between PR and journalism and how they mutually benefit from their day-to-day dealings with each other. According to Tench (2009), PR plays an important role in shaping the news by persuading other people to convey important messages to the organisations publics. This is done with support from media outputs and can also be described as ‘endorsement’.Furthermore, the PR practitioner should use sound media relations to gain editorial coverage in appropriate media channels. By doing this, Comrie (2007) elaborates that the organization’s reputation will impact positively by integrating a strategic plan in line with the company’s mission. Journalists in the media are wary of public relations practitioners, regardless of the fact that they deal with them daily. According to White and Hobsbawn (2007) they view PR practitioners as ambiguous sources to deal with and are often cautious and wary of whether the information given could be misleading or deceptive.Furthermore, Callad (2007) says that journalist’s gut reactions to ‘PR’ in general are almost immediately related to specific PR people in which they may have had a bad experience with, instead of the response to the profession its self. This type of stereotyping is a typical occurrence in their professional relationship. The relationship between PR and journalism is seen to mutually benefit both parties. Edward Bernays (in Evans, 2010) talks of the crucial importance of the press. This is because newspaper coverage can translate social ideas into facts, which in turn can infl uence the target publics of an organisation.Jackson (2009) also supports the idea that there is a symbiotic relationship of some kind existing between PR and journalism by saying â€Å"PR is a fact of life. Journalists should recognize it as an important channel† (p2). Jackson then elaborates on the role of PR by stating that there is a very significant amount of PR material in the media and that therefore plays an important role in news making. Furthermore, Grunig and Hunt (in Tench, 2009) underwent a survey in 2000 that indicated PR sources are responsible for around half of the news printed in newspapers.Press releases sent out by the Press Association are likely to include contribution from practitioners. (Mersham et al,. 2009) says that both sport and not for profit charities use emotional content in the promotion of their organisation, which in turn appeals to media outlets. These situations support the idea of symbiosis between PR and journalism, as journalists like to run stories with high emotional content, which will then in turn generate positive publicity for the organisation.Many journalists don’t like to admit that they do rely on PR in one way or another and unfortunately in this day and time, journalists are pushed for time as media channels have rapidly increased and budgets have been tightened. Because of this, little time is left for journalists to investigate stories independently. (Lewis et,. al 2008) found that up to 60% of stories coming from either articles or broadcast news contained elements of ‘pre packaging’. This can be described as a press release being regurgitated by a journalist into a news story, with very few facts missing.Callard (2011) further describes the symbiotic relationship that is evident between PR and journalism. These two professions interact with each other daily for the production of news. PR practitioners provide journalists with a suggested story and information shaped in the way the y would like it to be publicized in a specific media channel. Moreover, journalists then request information and sources from PR practitioners that may aid them in developing a story for the public. Although this seems both parties mutually benefit from each other’s presence, it doesn’t come without its controversies.Issues with credibility of both PR practitioners and journalists are said to always exist. Journalists should only post stories of interest to the audience, while PR practitioners should use media relations to get print or broadcast coverage without interference from the owners of the publication. (Tench, 2009) agrees with this by saying that these current priorities of confliction are said to describe the tension that exists between the agenda’s of these two competitors. Similar views are expressed such as (Mersham et al. 2009) with some journalists and PR practitioners seeing each other as allies, but are more frequently seen by each other as the enemy or people that they cannot trust. In saying this, PR practitioners are also wary of journalists. Gregory (2002) says that PR practitioners have a responsibility to keep a considerate distance between themselves and journalists but continue to provide them with material that reflects the truth. Moreover, we see that they continue to hold a symbiotic relationship in relation to the work they do, but whether they value each other on a personal level is very much debatable.According to (Davis, 2007) journalism traditionally was seen to hold power over PR as they had control over what was to be published. Due to cutbacks in resources and the continuing change in media channels, PR material and sources have developed which is resulting in a change over who holds that power. Moreover, Greenslade (2003) argues that this causes tension in the relationship as journalists like to think they are more powerful and rather believing that PR can benefit them, they feel conflicted to use posit ive, helpful sources of materials that PR practitioners provide them (Haller, 2007; Tilley & Hollings, 2008).Media relations must be understood as less about breaking news, and more about tactical work that is going to target the key stakeholders of your organisation. Gonring (in Comrie, 2007) suggests that it is also about â€Å"learning to strategize and manage press coverage to shape the opinions of important constituents† (p63). To put more simply, Tench (2009) mentions that we can view media relations as a relationship between an organisation and the press. The skilled practitioner needs to make sure they form sufficient relationships with journalists so that accurate, effective stories can be produced.This is important for both parties as White and Hobsbawm (2007) say â€Å"mutual exchange of information between these two groups of information gathers and providers is necessary, and not a matter for disapproval† (p290). New media developments are having an impact on both professions and the symbiotic relationship they share. White and Hobsbawm (2007) mention that journalism is heavily dependant on PR sources regardless of their personal relations and therefore more demands are needed to produce new and exciting material for new channels of media. The phenomenon of social media is changing the way we communicate.Because of the social aspect of new media, practitioners can present information that individuals can talk directly to each other and find truth themselves. There needs to be a more realistic approach to the relations between PR and journalism, as they may not possess the same interests, but they face the same threats and the context in which they operate is the same. The main points outlined above demonstrate that a symbiotic relationship between PR and journalism does exist. It is evident that both professions require some kind of reliance on each other.In saying this however it must be considered that although some symbiosis occur s, it doesn’t come with out scrutiny from both professions. White and Howsbawm (2007) elaborate by saying journalists are heavily dependant on PR practice in spite of the fact the views they hold of them. Media relations also contribute to the love-hate relationship in which they share, but also the need of each other for the growing world of technology. The above views suggest that although the relationship between PR and journalism is symbiotic, it is also seen as unstable, and that is not likely to change in the near future.References: Bailey, R. (2009). Media Relations. Harlow, England; New York: FT Prentice Hall Callard, H. (2011) Attitudes and perceptions of newspaper journalists towards public relations practitioners in New Zealand. Retrieved from http://scholar. google. co. nz/scholar? hl=en&lr=&q=related:Bcq7pKS7k_QJ:scholar. google. com/&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&ei=1cAwULHIMo2WiQf87oCoDw&ved=0CD0QzwIwAA Comrie, M. (2007, October 29). Media relations: From tactics to strat egy. Retrieved from  http://publicrelations4u. blogspot. co. z/2007/10/media-relations-from-tactics-to. html Davis, A. (2000). Public relations, news production and changing patterns of source access in British National Media. Media, Culture and Society, 22(1), 39-59. Evans, T. (2010). We are all in PR now. British Journalism Review  2010 21: 31 DOI: 10. 1177/0956474810374531 http://bjr. sagepub. com/content/21/2/31 Gower, K. (2007). Public relations and the press: The troubled embrace. Evanston, IL:Northwestern University Press. Greenslade, R. (2003) Press Gang: how newspapers make profits rom Propaganda, Basingstoke:Macmillan. Gregory, A. (2002). To Spin or Not to Spin? – The Ethics of Public Relations  [Lecture]. Retrieved from Leeds Metropolitan University. Grunig, J. E. , & Hunt, T. (1984). Managing Public Relations: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Haller, M. (2007). Symbiosis or antagonism: The neurotic double bind. In Merkel, B. , Russ-Mohl, S. , & Zavaritt, G. (Eds. ). A complicated, antagonistic and symbiotic affair: Journalism, public relations and their struggle for public attention (pp. 95-99). Lugano, Switzerland: European Journalism Observatory.Hitchcock, S. (2012, February 18). Tumultuous relationship between journalism and PR thawing says Waikato researcher. The University of Waikato. Retrieved August 19th, 2012, from http://www. waikato. ac. nz/news-events/media/2012/02tumultuous-relationship-between-journalism-and-pr-thawing-says-waikato-researcher. shtml Hollings, J. , Lealand, G. , Samson, A. , & Tilley, E. (2007). The big NZ journalism survey: Underpaid, under-trained, under-resourced, unsure about the future – but still idealistic.Pacific Journalism Review, 13(2), 175–197. Jackson, S. (2009, May 4). PR driving up to 80pc of content. The Australian. Retrieved August 19th, 2012, from  http://www. theaustralian. com. au Lewis, J. , A. Williams. , B. Franklin. , J. Thomas. , and N. Mosdell (2008). â€Å"The Quality a nd Independence of British Journalism’, Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies. Report found at http://www. cardiff. ac. uk/jomec/research/researchgroups/journalismstudies/fundedprojects/qualitypress. html Mersham, G. M. , Theunissen, P. , & Peart, J. G. M. (2009). Public

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

12 Angry Men: Jury’s Conflict Involved on Verdict Essay

Any jury trial is bound to have some sort of conflict involved when coming to a verdict. The portrayal of a murder case in the movie, 12 Angry Men, involves many different examples of conflict, as well as the approaches to conflict used by different characters. Almost every conversation in the film involves conflict, since the characters are all debating whether or not the boy being tried for murder is guilty or not, but there are a few scenes in which different types of conflict and different approaches to conflict seem to stand out. The room in which the men are sitting and debating the case has a table with each of the men sitting around it. Jury member number one, who sits at the head of the table, takes on the role as the leader of the discussion by formatting how the voting goes and asking all members whether they agree to any decisions made. In one scene, the older man with the summer cold comes over to jury member number one and tells, â€Å"stop being a kid. K. I. D. Kid.† Jury member number one responds, â€Å"Just because I am trying to keep this thing organized? Here, you take the responsibility. I’ll just keep my mouth shut, that’s all.† This scene is an example of Ego/Identity conflict because of the beliefs that the man with the cold see’s jury member number one as being a kid because he is younger than him. Jury member number one seemed to take the responsibility of leading the group just because of his number, but the man with the cold seemed to get upset and cre ate a conflict with him because of his age. See more:  Social Satire in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay The different types of characters in the jury decision create many different examples of approaches to conflict. Jury member number two, the quiet man with the glasses, becomes the target of many of the other characters. When the men are all going around and explaining their reasons for why they feel the boy is guilty, Jury member number three interrupts and says, â€Å"what about the switch-knife found in the man’s chest?† Jury member number two says, â€Å"Wait a second, there are some people who haven’t talked yet, shouldn’t we go in order?† Jury member number three says, â€Å"forget about the people who haven’t gone yet, be quiet will ya?† This causes jury member number two to quiet down and not respond. This approach to conflict is an example of competing because of the win-lose outcome of the conflict. Jury member number three makes sure that he uses his alpha male status and shuts down jury member number two without any complai nt. The last situation is an example of conflict as well as the approach to conflict. When the men choose to make an anonymous vote and one of them writes â€Å"not guilty† on the paper, jury member number three calls out the man who had grown up in the slums and says that he changed his vote because he fell for the preaching of the first member who felt the boy was not guilty. After yelling at the man, the old man finally admits to changing is vote. Later, jury member number three attempts to apologize for calling out the man who grew up in the slums and he just walks right past him without responding. This is an example of Ego/Identity conflict because jury member number three judged the man who grew up in the slums and expected him to change his vote because of his past. The approach to the conflict later is avoidance because the man who grew up in the slums chooses to not respond to the apology and walk right past the man without getting into any type of conflict.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Time Management Tips and Section Strategy on ACT Science

Time Management Tips and Section Strategy on ACT Science SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Most students struggle with the timing of the ACT Science.I really struggled with it when I was a high school student.With only 52.5 seconds to answer each question or five minutes per passage, you have no time to waste. I improved my ACT science score by five points between my first official test and my second. Did I learn more sciencebetween the first and second test? No, but I did practice certain time management tips and ACT Science strategies specific to the section. In this article, I'll show you the lessons I learned so you can finish the section with time to spare. Time-Saving Tip 1: Do Not Read the Instructions I know you were taught to always read instructions, but do not read them on the day of the test. If you've taken ACT Sciencepractice tests before, you know what's coming, and instructions are a complete waste of time. The instructions will just slow you down. Here are the instructions, read them now and then never again: â€Å"DIRECTIONS: There are several passages in this test. Each passage is followed by several questions. After reading a passage, choose the best answer to each question and fill in the corresponding oval on your answer document. You may refer to the passages as often as necessary. You are NOT permitted to use a calculator on this test.† Not very helpful, right?The instructions never change; so do not waste your time reading them the day of the test. But I want to read the instructions! Time-SavingTip 2: Which Passage Do You Answer First? Every correct answer is worth the same, so spend your time on the least time costly questions first as this will maximize the number of points you get. To maximize your time and score. Start With the 3 Data Representation and 3 Research Summaries Passages You'll be able to identify these passages by the fact that they both include visuals, such as graphs, charts, or tables as part of or at the end of the passage. For more information on these types of passages, read about thethree types of ACT Science passages. Attack both passages the same way.Start by trying to answer the questions with visuals alone.Skip the ones you can’t answer with the visuals and come back to them after answering all of the other questions in that passage.Read more about this strategy in our other article. Save the Conflicting Viewpoints Passage for the End This passage takes the longest because there are no visuals. Instead, Conflicting Viewpoints passages include two short essays that have differing viewpoints. You have to read the entire passage to answer the questions. If you read the Conflicting Viewpoints Passage first or somewhere in the middle, it'll slow you down on the other passages.The Conflicting Viewpoints Passage requires an entirely different strategy and way of thinking. It'll break you out of your focused mindset of reading graphs, tables, and other visuals. So be sure tosave it for the very end. Try to make sure you have at least five minutes to attempt it.If you only have three minutes or less when you get to this passage, skip reading, jump to the questions and try to go back and skim to answer as best you can.It's better to read the whole passage first but with three minutes or less, you will not have time. Time-SavingTip 3: Know When to Skip Questions Keep track of your timing.You should not spend more than 1.5 minutes on any question. Ideally, you should be spending exactly 52.5 seconds on each question. However, some questions you'll be able to answer faster, so it'll allow you to spend a little more time on harder problems. Use process of elimination.Try to get rid of all the answer choices you know are wrong.Then, pick your favorite answer choice among what is left over.Even if you're not 100% sure, bubble it in, and put a small star next to it so you can go back to it if you have time. Don't spend more than 1.5 minutes lingering on a question.Going off of this point, you should not spend more than seven to eight minutes on any one passage (unless you have leftover time at the very end of the section).If you can’t do any process of elimination (more than likely you will be able to do some), leave it blank, put a mark by it, and come back to it if you have time. Try to avoid wasting a lot of time on a single question. Time-SavingTip 4: Figure Out Where You Are Getting Stuck This problem is person specific, but I'll try to show places where certain kinds of people get stuck. For the Math thinker, you sometimes get stuck in the numbers and lose sight of the main point.Don’t recalculate all the data or get lost in numerical details.Focus on the main ideas of the passage. If you get frustrated obsessing over numbers and then realizing you didn't need them to answer the question, you are getting stuck. Try to refocus your attention by looking at the questions first, figuring out exactly what you need to answer the question, and then going back and looking for only that information. For the English thinker, you might get stuck and overwhelmed by the visuals, numbers, or big science terms.Don’t panic over the numbers.Write your own notes in the margins to help you stay focused.If you need more visual reading practice, read abouthow to read graphs, tables, and data. Also, learnthe best strategy forreading ACT Science passages. For the Science thinker, don’t get stuck in dissecting the experiment or the science terms.Do not overthink the passage content. If you find yourself trying to fully understand the experiment and then realizing you didn't need to (which you shouldn't), you are getting stuck. Focus on the questions asked, read the questions first, and don't read the whole passage unless absolutely necessary to answer the questions (which it shouldn't be for the Data Representation and Research Summaries Passages). For the overachiever/perfectionist, you might get stuck wanting to be 100% sure you have the right answer.You do not have that luxury on this time-crunched test.Don’t linger.Move on. No one wants to end up stuck in the mud Time-SavingTip 5: Bubble inthe Blanks at the End Leave yourself 30 seconds to one minute at the end of the section to bubble in a letter for the ones you could not get to or skipped.DO NOT leave any blanks. There is no penalty for guessing on the ACT, so if you leave blanks, you are giving up free points. Every additional question or two that you answer correctly raises your score one point especially in the 30-36 range.There is no best letter to guess (even if you have heard C is the most used).All letters are used randomly and equally. Time-Saving Tip 6:Keep Your Energy Up The ACT Science section is always the last section of the test. You'll be tired. You'll have already been sitting for over an hour and a half.Your wrist will hurt from writing, and your butt will hurt from sitting. You'll be wondering if you answered that Math problem correctly. You must let go of what happened on the last three sections of the test and power through. You need to stay focused on this time-crunched ACT Science section. Have energy-packed snacks to eat at the break for an energy boost.Practice sitting for at least threefull-length practice tests before you take the actual test. Don't just sit for the 35-minute science section. As I said before, take three full-length practiceACTs, all five sections (including the essay if you'll be taking it) in one sitting. Want to learn more about ACT Science? Check out our new ACT Science prep book. If you liked this lesson, you'll love our book. It includes everything you need to know to ace ACT Science, including deep analysis of the logic behind ACT Science questions, a full breakdown of the different passage and question types, and tons of expert test-taking and study tips. Download our full-length prep book now: Recap Do not read the instructions! Don’t waste your time. Start with the Data Representation and Research Summaries Passages. Save the Conflicting Viewpoints Passage for last. Figure out where you are getting stuck and don’t do it! Skip if you have spent more than 1.5 minutes on it. Use process of elimination, pick your favorite answer to bubble in, mark it to come back to if you have time. Give yourself time to fill in the blanks and the end. Never leave blanks.You are giving up free points! Keep your energy up to get the best score! What’s Next? I hope you feel ready to maximize your time on the ACT Science! Trust yourself, know when to move on, and you will do great!Continue your ACT Science learning byreading aboutthe only actual science you need to know for ACT Science, andthe big secret of ACT Science. Having trouble with time management in other sections? Check out our time-saving strategies for ACT Readingand ACT Math. Like this article? Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Sciencelesson, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands ofpractice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Monday, October 21, 2019

Clinical psychology essayEssay Writing Service

Clinical psychology essayEssay Writing Service Clinical psychology essay Clinical psychology essayThe Asperger Syndrome (and High-Functioning Autism) Diagnostic Interview (ASDI): A Preliminary Study of a New Structured Clinical Interview.What is the proposed purpose of the ASDI?The article makes it clear that the purpose of the Asperger Syndrome Diagnostic Interview (ASDI) is to diagnose such psychiatric disease as autism spectrum disorder in children and adults of certain age groups. The interview is intended especially for clinical psychiatrists who are well acquainted with the symptoms and methods of treatment of the Asperger syndrome and other psychiatric or psychological disorders in the autism related spectrum. The interview is based on the investigations of the clinicians and aimed at diagnosing the Asperger Syndrome in the autism spectrum. The article’s purpose is to investigate the affected children and adults who find it difficult to socially interact having delayed motor development and uncoordinated movements.It is well known that chil dren and adults with the Asperger syndrome have difficulties in cognitive or language development. In this regard, the interview presented in the article takes into account all of the peculiarities of children affected by the Asperger syndrome or other autism related disorders. The sphere of diagnosis included impaired social interactions, speech, communicative challenges, verbal skills, movements and other signs of disorder of the interviewed group of people who suffer from Asperger syndrome. Thus, the major aim of the ASDI is to investigate the symptoms of the disorder in order to find the best means of its treatment. It needs to be mentioned that ASDI proved to be effective in diagnosing siblings or parents who comprised the major part of the informants. Finally, it is worth saying that with the help of self-awareness and therapy, the majority of children and adults learn how to cope with all the challenges of the Asperger syndrome. Thus, ASDI is not only an effective way of diag nosis, but also a way of helping the affected individuals to cope with the challenges related to the Asperger Syndrome.What are the strengths and weaknesses of using the ASDI for clinical psychologists interviewing clients who may fall on the autism spectrum?The major strength of the interview lies in the fact that it turns to be an effective way of diagnosing the Asperger Syndrome. It is proved by the results of the ASDI carried out by clinical psychologists. However, the established diagnoses of the Asperger Syndrome are impossible to distinguish from other psychiatric or psychological disorders and normality. It turned out that the interview failed to show the distinction between the Asperger Syndrome and autism. Thus, there must be certain exclusive criterion for autism.Moreover, the interview has a number of other weaknesses as well. Thus, it needs to be mentioned that as the informants were either parents or their siblings, the results obtained could be applied to only first-d egree relatives as a key group of informants. Furthermore, the results of the interview are applicable to only those cases when the informants have known the individual with the Asperger Syndrome or other autism spectrum disorder for certain period of time. However, there should be carried out separate studies apart from the interview. The studies should be conducted with the involvement of informants other than siblings and parents.In such a way, it would be reasonable to recommend the ASDI for making preliminary diagnostic decisions when young people or adults are supposed to suffer from autism spectrum disorders, including the Asperger Syndrome. Taking into account all of the above-mentioned weaknesses of the interview, it is worth saying that the ASDI cannot be used as a final means of diagnoses, but rather as a direction for further deep clinical examination of adults and children suffering from the autism spectrum disorders and the Asperger Syndrome in particular.Clinical psyc hology   essay part 2

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Surefire Tactics to Meet Girls in College

Surefire Tactics to Meet Girls in College High school is over and its time to matriculate in more ways than one. With the passing of a momentous occasion in your life you now find yourself poised and prepared to head off to college where, among the homework, study sessions, pizza, and parties, you will have the chance to meet what you have been dreaming of for your entire high school life College Girls! While you may have been a maverick at the school you were just at, you might find that girls in college arent as impressed by your achievements as your previous interests might have been. For some, meeting new people in a new environment can put knock you off of your game and make others retreat to the sidelines completely to avoid the ever so brutal rejection shots. For others, meeting people was never their forte, and at a time when hormones are high and the urge to experiment is even higher, meeting girls in college can seem like an insurmountable task. But it doesnt have to be! Girls in college, like every other human being, ARE PEOPLE! And because they are people, you can do typical people things to meet, chat, and evenwait for itgo on dates with them! It doesnt matter if you are: Shy Quiet Nervous Inexperienced Have a Fear of Rejection You can learn to push through the fear, worry, stress, and over excitement with The Best Guide To Meeting Girls In College! Common Sense Knowledge First and foremost, we want to point out that while meeting girls in college requires talking, it ALSO requires listening. Consent is REAL. If someone doesnt want to talk to you, dont shame, blame, or harass them. We all have our own lives going on and right now, for her, life has you two moving in different sequences. Respect that and move on to the next girlunless she isnt interestedthenrespect her right to consent and keep looking until you have found someone who values their time and yours. Secondly, there are a few things that you are just going to have (or do) to meet girls in college. It isnt anything you havent heard but we will cover it with a quick list in case you need a refresher: Be Polite Be Confident Be Authentic Be Noticeable Be Precise Manage Your Appearance Make Eye Contact (We will go deeper into this later) While we cant tell you how to be some of these things, we can tell you some tips for using your natural talents to meet college girls! Meeting College Girls in Social Scenarios Parties The most well-known scenario for meeting girls is the college party. Notorious for being wild, loud, and a fantastic gathering of (what is for tonight) the most amazing girls you have ever seen. And after soaking up the vibes of everything going on around you, you want to talk to one of those college girls now. But what do you do? Approach her? Wait for her to approach you? Talk to one of her friends first? Do something stupid? Maybe Dangerous? The answer is simple. Pay attention to the situation around you and work your environment to your benefit! If there is a game she is playing, go over and play. If she is talking with a group of her friends, invite them all to join in on a party activity. If she is alone in a corner not talking to anyone, maybe check to see if she needs anything. Maybe she has been waiting for someone to talk to her all night. If you can juggle, just start juggling, girls will notice and they will come over. The trick is to add to the situation not diminish it. Avoid overt gestures that single a girl out or ruin the vibe of the party. If you arent sure whether your plan to meet a college girl is something that is going to create unforeseen negative consequences ask a friend. Be confident and loosen up a bit. You are at a party for goodness sake! Sports Games Organized Activities Meeting girls at a college sports game is very similar to meeting college girls at parties except you have the benefit of already having an icebreaker to lead with. The score of the game. While it may not be the most creative line on the planet, it breaks the ice for the conversation to continue. For example: Dude: â€Å"Hey, do you happen to know the score of the game?† College Female: â€Å"Ummm I dont know, but I think we are winning? I dont really follow sports, just came to support my friend.† Dude: â€Å"Oh cool, is your friend playing?† College Female: â€Å"No, they are in the marching band.† Dude: â€Å"Right on. Are you into music as well? I am Dude by the way, and you?† College Girl: â€Å"I am College Girl. Yeah, I like music! I play an instrument myself† As you can see here, with a simple question related to what is already happening, you can start, build, and continue a conversation with an actual college girl! If you are someone who never knows what to say, meeting college girls at sports games or other organized campus activities is probably a really good option for you. It is a singular and focused event that sets up every opening line for you. Meeting College Girls in Low Key Scenarios The Library For a lot of students, the library is one of two places: a place to get work done, or a place to blow off work and look for ways to procrastinate while looking like you are getting work done. If partying isnt your thing and you prefer to meet a college girl in a setting that has a bit less chaos to it then the library is the perfect spot! Talking to a girl in a library can be tricky because, as we stated earlier, people are there for a purpose and dont necessarily want to be disgraced. Our advice is to make sure that you are not perceived as a distraction. This includes: Comment on a book that she is reading/holding Reach for something that she needs that is out of her reach Find common ground by complaining about the paper you are writing Ask if she knows where the ::insert category:: section is. (Doesnt matter if you even need it) At a library, people are focused on the task in front of them. While you might not be able to pull them away from it completely, you can at least do your part with a nice gesture, a curious request, or a mutual dislike for the current days work. No matter how you do it one fact remains: You will be talking to and meeting more girls in college this way than by hiding in the stacks desperate for that girl to come and talk to you. On campus Sometimes you just see a girl walking out of class or around campus and you think, I want to meet that girl! Bogged down by nerves, fear, or a combination of the two you pass and let her go just as you have done any other day. If you see a college girl walking around and you want to meet her, there are a few things you can do to make that scenario go a lot smoother: Have something that you want to say Make sure that whatever you say isnt rude, shaming, or â€Å"negging† Make eye contact. But also blink. But not too much. Staring creeps everyone out. And not looking at someone makes them feel unimportant. Both things that wont help you meet girls in college A good opener for this type of meeting could be: â€Å"Hey, I have seen you around campus a few times and always notice your backpack. It is really cool. Where did you get it?† A line like that is simple, non-threatening, and leads to follow up answers and questions. Those answers and questions could provide the foundation for getting a phone number, making a date, hanging out, studying together, etc. Things to Never Worry About We know that as you have been reading this there have probably been a series of what ifs and buts and I just couldnt running through your mind. We want you to add the following frames of thought to your own as a way of reminding you that you are not alone: Yes. Rejection is real and it hurts. But there are other fish in the sea. You will probably make an ass of yourself in an attempt to meet a girl in college. If it works who cares? No girl is out of your league. You need to get in the game. Funny matters. A lot. Sensitivity Matters. A lot. Your body type is not indicative of the person you are on the inside. You can make someone happy if you first learn to make yourself happy. The Takeaway College is a melting pot of people, interests, and ideas. College girls are part of that pot and if you want to meet them, you need to first find the confidence to talk to them. Once the first few words are out, it is easy to build a dialogue, learn about mutual interests, throw in a charming compliment or two, and seal the deal whatever your intentions may be. By the way, do you know these 10 things about dating a college classmate? Everyone has their own tastes when it comes to body type, personality, and characteristics. While you may not be one college girls specific type, it doesnt mean that there arent a million other college girls out there who would really like to get the chance to meet you. So, take a shower, brush your teeth, put on something that makes you look approachable, and go start meeting girls in college!

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Research Paper for Master of Midwifery Details to follow Essay

Research Paper for Master of Midwifery Details to follow - Essay Example to these are the development of rapid diagnostic tools in molecular biology like the polymerase chain reaction, microarray technology and DNA sequencing facilities (Berg et al, 2002; Mathews andVan Holde, 1996). In obstetrics, many antenatal tests are offered at different gestational periods (British Columbia Reproductive Care Program, 2003). Options for genetic testing are given to the mother once she presents as pregnant following the guidelines set by the country’s National Health Service (Department of Health, 2007). Issues that surround antenatal genetic screening are those that pertain to the safety of the fetus and the mother due to the sampling procedures, the implications for the termination of the pregnancy if the tests come out with a prediction or detection of serious genetic illness, the provision for an informed choice to the mother and/or father, and the roles that the medical practitioner play during the antenatal period (Rothenberg and Thomson, 1994; Kent, 2005). The aim of this paper is to present basic antenatal screening procedures, the difficulties and genetic counseling associated with the decision-making process towards pregnancy termination, the roles that health care personnel play during this period, and antenatal care of the mother who decides on the fate of her unborn child. Each person is different from all others because of his distinct DNA. This DNA codes for his genes, and these genes are translated to the proteins or enzymes that are involved in basic metabolic processes of life (Mathews and Van Holde, 1996; Alberts et al,2002). When there is a defect in the genetic code, an erroneous protein is produced and the metabolic process where this protein participates in is affected resulting in disease. There are many causes of genetic defects because of the several essential processes leading to the correct translation of the protein code (Kornberg and Baker, 2005). Single errors or mutations in copying a piece of DNA can lead a

Friday, October 18, 2019

Managerial account decision making Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Managerial account decision making - Essay Example st 2008 financial crisis, the company began focusing on lean practices reducing time and cost in several of its processes and its outcome, subsequently, reflected in its annual reports right from 2009 through 2013. Starbucks is facing stiff competition from McDonalds Corp and Dunkin’ Brands Inc. The paper aims at exploring how Starbucks has been able to carve a niche through lean approach in the market place. As such, lean production is a new buzz word among companies vying for a place in a highly competitive arena. Toyota, a popular Japanese auto manufacturer, is known to have pioneered the lean approach in their operations successfully. Taking clue from it, Starbuckss management focused on lean approach aiming at not only on waste reduction but also on how to reduce time on several processes. (Yunos, 2013). Carter(2014) argues that lean thinking firm focuses on customer value enhancement through carefully choosing work processes. That means lean thinking takes a diversion from the traditional approach eliminating non-value added activities such as procedures, policies in their work flow. In a lean company, the most important parameter to consider is time. That means the lean organization focuses on time reduction methodologies. Work must flow continuously and uninterruptedly so that the cycle time of the entire value stream is reduced and throughput enhanced. Traditional firms focus only on crucial operations – all hidden or less important operations are neglected. However, in this process, less important operations interrupt the flow of work increasing customer lead time. Not only more time is consumed but cost also increases. Lean organizations create and share information among employees and assess performance by measuring the cycle times and lead times of all activities. Jargon, (2009) argues that Starbucks Corporation began its business as the anti-fast food outlet. Scott Heydon, the Vice President of the company, is a major force behind lean thinking

'Fair values good, historical costs bad' (after Orwell; Animal Farm) Essay

'Fair values good, historical costs bad' (after Orwell; Animal Farm). Discuss - Essay Example Have the bean-counters tired of numbers? What in the balance sheet’s name is happening? The simple reason for the new mantra is that the accounting profession has decided on a new set of standards for the valuation of assets. Perhaps never before in accounting history has an issue generated such controversy as the debate between fair value and historical cost, which is reaching mythic proportions as a battle between good and evil. The accounting profession is one of the pillars of capitalism, a great invention of the modern era because it allows for transparency, fairness, and trust in the conduct of business (Johnson, 1975). Without accounting standards, it would have been impossible for the world of business to have gone as far as it has, simply because we would not have many of the aspects of business that we now take for granted. Valuation of corporate shares, borrowing and lending of funds, capitalisation of assets, and even pricing of products and services would have been problematic, as it was in the early days of business when the words caveat emptor (Buyer Beware!) was the norm. In addition, it is easier to calculate profit and loss and to price risk because accountants have agreed on generally accepted accounting practice. Investors are better informed, owners of corporations can sleep better at night, and millions of workers can get instant feedback on their collective performance thanks to the accounting standards that help establish share prices, cash flows, and liquidity, giving each stakeholder a clearer picture of its position. Accounting reports have come a long way in the last hundred years as to report the true position of a company’s accounts, but as recent events have made clear, notably the scandals associated with formerly high-flying companies Enron and WorldCom in the U.S., accounting standards need to be continuously and carefully defined

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Te Uku - wind farm project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Te Uku - wind farm project - Essay Example Networks that constructed the 33kV transmission line with a length of 25 kilometers in order to distribute electricity generated by the 28 wind turbines of the wind farm. Overall, the wind farm has a capacity of 64.4 MW coming from 28 turbines, with an average of 2.3MW of power from each turbine (Discover Te Uku, 2014). The Te Uku Wind Farm project in Waikato is very efficient in terms of energy production in supplying the area which it is supposed to supply with electrical power. Moreover, when it comes to sustainability, the assessment of environmental effects shows that the wind farm has mostly a neutral relationship with its surrounding flora, fauna and earth. However, in terms of its earthworks, the Te Uku Wind Farm project somehow falls short of some of the requirements of the RMA. Nevertheless, the company’s continued existence proves otherwise. Lastly, the economic value of the wind farm is that it has somehow provided so many jobs to workers. The Resource Management Act, or RMA, is the specific national policy or the aspect of the law that explains the laws that govern the establishment, maintenance and operations of certain projects, firms and infrastructures in New Zealand. Specifically, when it comes to the operation of wind turbines, wind farms do not actually qualify as â€Å"rural industries† because the term â€Å"rural industries† excludes the generation of electricity (Resource Management Act, 2007). Therefore, wind farms are known as a â€Å"Discretionary Activity† and may not comply with some of the standards of Permitted Activity as specified by the law (Resource Management Act, 2007). Nevertheless, the continuous operation of the Te Uku Wind Farm up to this day implies that its requirements as a discretionary activity have been complied with. The earthworks plans for the project have also been considered questionable by virtue of the provisions of the Resource Management Act, but the fact that the wind farm operates until now somehow

Culture awarness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Culture awarness - Essay Example The course was designed according to what the students wanted and needed. The students wanted to learn about the cultures of certain countries and specifically, the way business is conducted in these countries (Vollmer, Alnuaimi and Macku 3). A flaw in our needs assessment design was our failure to determine the student’s level of awareness. We failed to ask questions concerning much they already knew about the cultures of the different countries. In hindsight, we forgone general awareness questions because we gave the students the choice of which countries they would like to learn about. Doing this made it difficult to assess any prior knowledge of the countries the students may have had. Another flaw within our course was we realized in hindsight more emphasis could have been given to the industries that have the greatest potential in the country. We now realize we could have been more industry specific within our presentation since most of the students communicated their concerns about jobs and business. Information about how to perform during business meetings within the different countries was included in the course because the survey results indicated the students agreed upon the importance of learning about different cultures in light of the recent globalization of the business world. Dining etiquette and dress codes were also included within the course because of unanimous agreement within our group that both topics are extremely significant to a country’s culture and therefore should be included within cultural awareness training. Based on research evidence, students realize the need for cultural awareness especially with the trend of business moving towards globalization. Students agreed that they will need the necessary skills to be able to prepare for expatriatism. Two-thirds of the students, deem it important to be aware of the different cultures of the world because they will need that knowledge and skill base for their future jobs. The

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Te Uku - wind farm project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Te Uku - wind farm project - Essay Example Networks that constructed the 33kV transmission line with a length of 25 kilometers in order to distribute electricity generated by the 28 wind turbines of the wind farm. Overall, the wind farm has a capacity of 64.4 MW coming from 28 turbines, with an average of 2.3MW of power from each turbine (Discover Te Uku, 2014). The Te Uku Wind Farm project in Waikato is very efficient in terms of energy production in supplying the area which it is supposed to supply with electrical power. Moreover, when it comes to sustainability, the assessment of environmental effects shows that the wind farm has mostly a neutral relationship with its surrounding flora, fauna and earth. However, in terms of its earthworks, the Te Uku Wind Farm project somehow falls short of some of the requirements of the RMA. Nevertheless, the company’s continued existence proves otherwise. Lastly, the economic value of the wind farm is that it has somehow provided so many jobs to workers. The Resource Management Act, or RMA, is the specific national policy or the aspect of the law that explains the laws that govern the establishment, maintenance and operations of certain projects, firms and infrastructures in New Zealand. Specifically, when it comes to the operation of wind turbines, wind farms do not actually qualify as â€Å"rural industries† because the term â€Å"rural industries† excludes the generation of electricity (Resource Management Act, 2007). Therefore, wind farms are known as a â€Å"Discretionary Activity† and may not comply with some of the standards of Permitted Activity as specified by the law (Resource Management Act, 2007). Nevertheless, the continuous operation of the Te Uku Wind Farm up to this day implies that its requirements as a discretionary activity have been complied with. The earthworks plans for the project have also been considered questionable by virtue of the provisions of the Resource Management Act, but the fact that the wind farm operates until now somehow

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Reflective Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Reflective Review - Essay Example In the process, they critically analyse strong and weak points as well as asses the opportunities and threats that can improve or compromise their professional achievements. Ignorance of the reflection stage in one’s life is a common mistake based on the misguided notion that reflection is a stupid activity similar to soul searching which is largely subjective. On the contrary, reflection is a very objective and very specific process through which we contemplate our past, earn form our mistake through a deliberate observation of our lives through the disinterested eyes it requires we use. Therefore, one of the models of reflecting one can assume is an imaginary dialogue with younger version of themselves. I selected this particular model so that I could consider my growth in the eyes of the person who originated many of the ambitions I am striving to achieve. My career pathway was very clear to start with, I knew I wanted to work in marketing because I had been inspired and me ntored by my father who had been a successful marketer for as long as I could remember. After high school, I applied to study business in college with the intention of majoring in marketing. College has taught me invaluable lessons both from inside and outside the classroom about how to improve my chances of success while am on the business pathway, especially the many skills that I need to acquire so as to improve my employability and make me more marketable in the corporate world. For one, I have come to appreciate the need for taking the initiative in whatever I do, as opposed to waiting to be directed or instructed. Today’s business world requires innovation and creativity, therefore I have learnt to think outside the convectional parameters, and otherwise when by simply doing thing according to the textbooks you will likely only produce mediocre results. Social work is a vital part of my business-oriented pathway considering that business involves interacting with people and convincing them to visit in the product you are selling. This often requires that one presents himself as trustworthy and dependable, in the words of one of my lecturers who introduced me to marketing and finance, when one markets products, he or she has to put themselves in the market first and if the client decides that they are a worth investment, they can risk putting their money on them. Therefore, in addition to my business classes, I enrolled to a few sociology classes; moreover, I spent some of my free time volunteering to do social work and community service in our local church fund drive. These excursions provided me with numerous opportunities to learn interpersonal interaction, when you talk to people even especially when you are not trying to sell them something. I developed confidence and even more importantly gradually learnt how to make people trust me, it not difficult really, all one needs to do is to be sincere and passionate. This is because once people beli eve what one is saying; they are more inclined to believe him as opposed to when they think you have an ulterior motive. In addition, I have come to realize that business and politics are inseparable, no matter how talented or bright one thinks he/she is, they must recognize the hierarchy that exists. One’s seniors must be respected and even when one sometimes feels

Monday, October 14, 2019

Thomas the Apostle in India Essay Example for Free

Thomas the Apostle in India Essay The essay will discuss the debate concerning the arrival of Thomas Apostle to India. Based on the information available to researchers, the paper will argue that St. Thomas had actually lived in India. Two different theories that present opposing views concerning this topic will be presented in this paper. One theory argues that Thomas the Apostle had stayed in South India, while another theory argues that Thomas the Apostle did not come to India. There is also controversy regarding the place that was visited by the great saint. One group argues that he had stayed in North India while another group of scholars argue that in actuality he had stayed in the south. The essay will cover various facts, issues, and debates concerning Thomas the Apostles’ arrival to India. Malabar, the land where the apostle is said to have arrived, maintained trade and cultural contact with the western world. This was the center of the Jewish and Christian settlements, the remains of which can be seen even today. Many Christians decided to stay in Cranganore, a Malabar port, in order to avoid their harassment by the Roman Empire in Jerusalem. This shows that from historical times, Christians showed their liking for South Indian regions. (Coipuram, 2002)   Therefore, it is not surprising that Jesus Christ ordered St. Thomas to go the East particularly to India and China in order to spread the message of Christianity. St. Thomas arrived in South India in the year 52 AD. (Coipuram, 2002)   St. Thomas worked with the Christians as well as the local community. He was able to impress the people and the kings through his miracles. At the same time, his acts inspired the orthodox Brahmins of South India to kill him in 72 AD in Mylapore in the present Tamil Nadu, a South Indian state. (Coipuram, 2002)     The remains of the saint were taken to Turkey in 8th century and later they were sent to Rome. (Coipuram, 2002) It is stated that St. Thomas had constructed seven churches in different parts of Malabar. Christians of the region celebrate several festivals that are connected with the activities of St. Thomas. Many Christian communities came to India from Turkey. In the year 345 AD, some Christians settled in Cranganore. The Christians of the regions are known as the St. Thomas Christians. (Coipuram, 2002) Information regarding the activities of St. Thomas in India is found in the book â€Å"Acta Thomae† or Acts of Judas Thomas, which is dated to the end of 1st century AD. (Ninnan, n.d) The book is available in various languages including Syrian, Greek, Latin, Armenian, and Ethiopic. According to this book, St. Thomas and other apostles shared the whole world among themselves for the purpose of propagating Christianity. Jesus Christ sold Thomas to Habban of India who was looking for a carpenter. (Ninnan, n.d)   This forced Thomas to accompany Habban to India. Thomas reached the kingdom of Gondaphorus where Thomas was asked to build a palace.   St. Thomas performed various miracles winning the hearts of many people in India. Consequently, he was able to convert a few Indians. St. Thomas converted the Gondaphorus king, king of Mazdai, a noble lady named Mygdonia, and Tertia, the queen of Mazdai. (Ninnan, n.d)   The book â€Å"Acta Thomae† also states that the apostle became an apostle outside the city of the kingdom as he was killed by four soldiers. (Ninnan, n.d)   The book reveals that St. Thomas had arrived and stayed in India. (Ninnan, n.d)   There are many local traditions that claim that St. Thomas had arrived and stayed in South India. Such traditions are found in the works such as Songs of Nazranis, Thomma Parvam (1601 AD), and Veeradian Pattu. (Ninnan, n.d.) The local traditions claim that St. Thomas had stayed in Cranganore and converted the local people into Christianity. It is said that during the initial years of the stay of St. Thomas in Cranganore, he converted the Jewish settlers in the region. (Ninnan, n.d)   In the next phase, he converted 75 Brahmin families and 3000 others, who were obviously impressed by his miracles. (Ninnan, n.d.) The South Indian connection of St. Thomas is proved by the theory that due to the discovery of Hippalus wind in 45 AD, many westerners used to sail from Yemen directly to the Malabar Coast. (Ninnan, n.d.) Therefore, it is suggested that Thomas had stayed in the Malabar region. Apart from this theory and local traditions, there are no other strong evidences to state that St.Thomas had actually stayed in South India.    St. Thomas’s stay and death in North India is mentioned in the ancient Syrian texts. There are archaeological and literary evidences to state that the king of Gondaphorus had maintained contact with Christian saints and that he was finally converted to Christianity. (Ninnan, n.d.)   Nevertheless, it is not important whether St. Thomas had stayed in North India or South India. The Gospel of Thomas, an apocryphal book, gives information pertaining to the work of St. Thomas in India. This book was not given much importance by the church authorities as it was believed that the book had undermined the teachings of Jesus, but researchers do not accept such allegations as this book does not contradict the teachings of Jesus Christ. (Gjorgjievski, 2001, p. 1) The book the Gospel of Thomas mentions that since St. Thomas refused to go to India, he was compelled by Jesus Christ to go to the East by selling Thomas to Abban, an envoy of the king Gundaphor. (Gjorgjievski, 2001, p. 1) It is stated that after coming to India, the apostle, instead of constructing a palace as he was asked by the king, distributed the money among the poor, which enraged the king who imprisoned the saint. (Gjorgjievski, 2001, p. 1)   Eventually, the king realized the divine power of the saint and accepted Christianity. The evidence of this book also shows that St. Thomas had come to North India although South Indians claim that he had stayed in South India.   (Gjorgjievski, 2001, p. 1) There are two phases of Thomas’s activities in India. In the first phase, he taught the Parthians ruled by the famous king Gondaphares who lived during 1st century AD. (Medlycott n.d.) In the earliest ecclesiastical writings, one gets the information pertaining to the first phase of the stay of Thomas in India. During the second phase, he seems to have visited South India. (Medlycott n.d.) This is because it is widely believed that St. Thomas died in Mylapore and his tomb could be found in this city although later his body remains were taken to Turkey. (Medlycott n.d.) This is proved by the evidences provided by various scholars who visited this region from the early years of Christian era to the Portuguese period. The Portuguese scholars have mentioned the existence of Christian traditions in Mylapore. (Medlycott n.d.) Therefore, this study has presented an eclectic view concerning the place where St. Thomas lived. The study shows that St. Thomas lived both in western India as well as in South India. (Medlycott,   n.d.) Evidences regarding St. Thomas are available in the works of Syrian writers, liturgical books and calendars of the Syrian Church, works of the fathers belonging to western church, works of fathers belonging to Greek and Abyssinian churches. (Medlycott, n.d.) The study of Prof. Carl Schmidt regarding the â€Å"Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles† has proved the authenticity of apocryphal works that describe the activities of St. Thomas in India. (Medlycott n.d.) Therefore, without any doubt one may accept the ancient Syrian and Latin works that describe the stay of St. Thomas in India. (Medlycott, n.d.) In ancient but revised Syriac work, â€Å"The Teaching of the Apostles†, it is mentioned that St. Thomas the apostle had actually lived in India. St. Thomas, who was also called Didymus was invited by Jesus to become his apostle and spread the message of Christianity in the east. (Jesuvera, 2006)     The St. Thomas feast day is celebrated in the Malabar on July 3rd every year. (Jesuvera, 2006) The Christians theologians believe that St. Thomas had preached to the people such as Parthians, Medes, Persians, Bactrians, Margians, and South Indians. (Jesuvera, 2006)   In the work, â€Å"Assumption of Mary†, a work belonging to 400 AD, there is reference to St. Thomas of India staying near the body of Virgin Mary on the day of her â€Å"body assumption†. (Jesuvera, 2006)  Ã‚     Evidences concerning Thomas apostle’s life in India are found in Syrian Christian literature and traditions found in India. (Jesuvera, 2006) With the arrival of the European missionaries to India after 16th century, many Europeans were informed that in India there existed a Christian community called â€Å"St. Thomas Christians†. Based on this, it was suggested that St. Thomas had really stayed in India and convinced a few Indians to accept Christianity. (Sharan, n.d.)   Contrary to this belief, it is argued that the Christian communities of Kerala were given the name only after 14th Century with the arrival of the European missionaries to Malabar. (Sharan, n.d.)   It is argued that this Christian community was actually called Syrian Christians and not St. Thomas Christians. (Sharan, n.d.) It is argued that Europeans propagated the myth of St. Thomas in order to achieve the political and religious agendas of converting India as a part of European or British imperialism and to convert large numbers of Indians into Christianity. (Sharan, n.d.)   To support this argument, correspondence of Fr. A. Mathias Mundadan who was satisfied with the fact that evidence existed to prove that St. Thomas had stayed in India. (Sharan, n.d.) It is argued that based on inaccurate evidences or hagiographies one cannot suggest that St. Thomas had lived and died in India. (Sharan, n.d.) It has been argued that St. Thomas never came to India. In reality, Christianity was established in India for the time in 345 AD by a merchant called Thomas Cananeus. (Sharan, n.d.)   Based on similarity of names, it has been suggested that St. Thomas had come to India and established Christianity in South India. (Sharan, n.d.) Traditions related to Thomas are found not only in India but also other countries of the orient such as Syria, Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, Brazil, and Mexico. (Merrilat, 1977) This shows that many oriental countries have constructed their own myths concerning the arrival of St. Thomas to their land and introducing Christianity. Therefore, there is need for strong evidences to accept the belief that St. Thomas actually lived and died in India. Recently, a controversy has been created when the pope Benedict XVI suggested that St. Thomas had come to Western India. Implicitly, this statement has negated the assumption that the apostle had come to South India. (Pope denies, n.d.)   This statement also shows that the pope accepts the fact that St. Thomas had stayed in India although this statement has hurt the sentiments of the Christians of Kerala who strongly believe that St. Thomas had come to the Malabar region in the 1st century AD. (Pope denies, n.d.) The statement of the pope also shows that the apostle had actually come to North India and not to South India. This statement has been used by the scholars to suggest that St. Thomas had never stayed in India. The scholars, who refused to accept that St. Thomas had visited the present India, argue that he had actually visited the regions of Pakistan. (Pope denies, n.d.) This statement cannot be accepted because as already mentioned, there are many evidences showing that St. Thomas had actually lived in some parts of India. Most of the predecessors of the present pope had accepted that St. Thomas was an apostle of India. (Pope denies, n.d.) The church sources do not deny that St. Thomas had lived in India. The debate is regarding whether the apostle had stayed in North India or in South India. Already it has been mentioned that works such as Gospel of St. Thomas and Act of Thomas refer to the work of St. Thomas in India. The statement made by the pope has created controversy among the Christians of Kerala as a few churches in the region are dedicated to the memory of St. Thomas. (Pope denies, n.d.) In conclusion, there are sufficient evidences ancient, medieval, and modern to suggest that St. Thomas had actually lived and died in India. During the first phase of his stay in India he worked in Western India with the king Gondaphares. During the second phase, he visited South India and spread Christianity in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The saint’s tomb can be found in Mylapore although later his remains were taken to Turkey and eventually to Rome. Thus, he lived both in North India as well as South India. The books such Gospel of St. Thomas and Act of Thomas describe the various events related to the life of St. Thomas when he stayed in India. Therefore, there are solid evidences to assert that St. Thomas lived and died in India. References Gjorgjievski, B.T. (2001). On the Gospel of Thomas. Retrieved April 10, 2007, from the web site: http://darktreasures.com/Strangelore/Stuff/on-thomas.pdf Jesuvera. (2006). Feast of St. Thomas – Apostle to India. Konkani Catholics Blog. Retrieved April 10, 2007, from the web site: http://www.konkanicatholics.com/ Medlycott, A.E. (n.d.). India and the Apostle Thomas. Retrieved April 10, 2007, from the web site: http://www.indianchristianity.com/html/chap4/chapter4b.htm Merrilat, H.C. (1997). The Gnostic Apostle Thomas. Retrieved April 10, 2007, from the web site: http://members.aol.com/didymus5/intro.html Ninnan, M.M. (n.d.). Story of St. Thomas Apostle and St. Thomas Churches of India A Short History. Retrieved April 12, 2007, from the web site: http://www.acns.com/~mm9n/marthoma/marthoma.htm Pope denies St. Thomas came to South India. Retrieved April 10, 2007, from the web site: http://www.hamsa.org/index.htm Sharan, I. (n.d.). The myth of St. Thomas and the Mylapore Shiva temple. Retrieved April 10, 2007, from the web site: http://www.hamsa.org/01.htm

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Non Verbal Communication Skills in the Workplace

Non Verbal Communication Skills in the Workplace Given todays technology-driven communication systems, people have fewer face-to-face interactions. As a result, it is crucial to maximize their impact. Dr. Gorman provides a valuable guide for doing just that by helping the reader understand how the nonverbal aspects of a conversation often say much more than the verbal ones. Jon Peters, President, The Institute for Management Studies. It is well-known that body language refers to nonverbal mode of communication. On scientific analysis, it has been found that the different aspects of communication comprise 55% bodily movements and gestures, 38% vocal tone and only 7% words or verbal communication. It is thus clear that about 93% of communication is nonverbal, as many times, words are inadequate. This shows that correct use of body language serves as an effective nonverbal communication tool to convince fellow-workers at workplace, as well as family and friends, eventually leading to overall organizational success through self-development. It further leads to personal and professional growth of an employee, ultimately benefiting the organization. An attempt has, therefore, been made in this paper to discuss the importance, modes and effective use of body language in successful organizational development (Rane, 2010). A thorough understanding of the role that body language plays in our day-to-day business activities is vital. Executives, managers, and salespeople who arent reading the clear signals of others or who dont have a clue how their own nonverbal communication is sabotaging their efforts. At a time when it is widely recognized that professional success is achieved with or through other people, the power of, and the need for, good interpersonal skills couldnt be greater (Gorman, 2008). 1. Nonverbal Communication: Definition. Any form of  communication  that is not expressed in words.  Nonverbal  communication  is estimated to make up 65-90% of all  communication, and understanding, interpreting, and using it are essential skills.  Forms of  nonverbal  communication  include actions and behaviour such as silence, failure or slowness to respond to a message, and lateness in arriving for a meeting.  Body language is also an important part of  nonverbal  communication. Nonverbal  elements of  communication  may reinforce or contradict a verbal message (Bloomsbury Business Library Business Management Dictionary; 2007, p5154-5154, 1p). Body language is like a computer. Everybody knows what it is, but most of us are never exactly sure how it works. Thats because the process of receiving and decoding nonverbal communication is often done without our conscious awareness. It simply happens. Human beings are genetically programmed to look for facial and behavioural cues and to quickly understand their meaning. We see someone gesture and automatically (Gorman, 2008). Everyone knows someone who can walk into a room full of people and within minutes give an accurate description about the relationships between those people and what they are feeling. The ability to read a persons attitudes and thoughts by their behaviour was the original communication system used by humans before spoken language evolved. Before radio was invented, most communication was done in writing through books, letters, and newspapers, which meant that ugly politicians and poor speakers such as Abraham Lincoln could be successful if they persisted long enough and wrote good print copy. The radio era gave openings to people who had a good command of the spoken word, like Winston Churchill, who spoke wonderfully but may have struggled to achieve as much in todays more visual era. Todays politicians understand that politics is about image and appearance, and most high-profile politicians now have personal body-language consultants to help them come across as being sincere, caring, and honest, especially when theyre not. It seems almost incredible that, over the thousands of years of our evolution, body language has been actively studied on any scale only since the 1960s and that most of the public has become aware of its existence only since the book  Body Language  was published in 1978. Yet most people believe that speech is still our main form of communication. Speech has been part of our communication repertoire only in recent times in evolutionary terms, and is mainly used to convey facts and data. Speech probably first developed between two million and five hundred thousand years ago, during which time our brain tripled its size. Before then, body language and sounds made in the throat were the main forms of conveying emotions and feelings, and that is still the case today. But because we focus on the words people speak, most of us are largely uninformed about body language, let alone its importance in our lives (Pease, 2008). Body language is also known as  kinesics.  A pioneer in the field, Ray Birdwhistell (Ray L. Birdwhistell, Kinesics and Context. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1970, p. 80.), writes, The isolation of gestures and the attempt to understand them led to the most important findings of kinesic research. This original study of gestures gave the first indication that kinesic structure is parallel to language structure. By the study of gestures in context, it became clear that the kinesic system has forms which are astonishingly like words in language. Researchers have observed people involved in the communication process. They have studied body language and other nonverbal behaviour, and they have then related or identified these actions with actual content of the message being transmitted. 2. Relationship Between Verbal and Nonverbal Communication. There are several ways in which the nonverbal behaviour is seen clearly related to verbal behaviour. This relationship is one of dependence and also of independence. There are nonverbal communicative acts that are easily and accurately translated into words. Several gestures clearly illustrate this relationship. For example, the gesture of folded hands for namaste, the gesture of handshake, a smile, a frown, etc., are generally translatable into words. There is also a class of nonverbal acts that are very much a part of speech and serves the function of emphasis. Examples are head and hand movements that occur more frequently with words, and phrases of emphasis. There are acts which draw pictures of the referents tracing the contour of an object or person referred to verbally. Yet another class of acts is employed for displaying the effects (feelings). Another class refers to acts that help to initiate and terminate the speech of participants in a social situation. These regulators m ight suggest to a speaker that he keep talking, that he clarify, or that he hurry up and finish (Ekman and Friesen, 1969). There are the ways in which the relationship between verbal and nonverbal communication can be characterized. These are as follows: -The relationship between verbal and nonverbal communication is one of the latter playing a supplementary role to the former. The nonverbal acts that are supplementary to verbal acts may precede or follow or be simultaneous with the verbal acts. For example, in many verbal acts one notices an accompaniment of one or more nonverbal acts, such as gestures, facial expressions, and movement towards or away from the addressee, to illumine the meaning of the former. While for any verbal acts such an accompaniment may only be considered redundant, for several others, such and accompaniment explicitness, clarity, emphasis, discrimination and reinforcement. -The relationship between verbal and nonverbal communication is also one of the former playing a supplementary role to the latter. In many verbal acts, both in children and adults, in normals with all the linguistic organs intact, and normal with some handicap to the linguistic organs, as well as in abnormal individuals, nonverbal acts may take precedence over the verbal acts in several ways. In the normal with all the linguistic organs intact, occasions demand the use of nonverbal acts such as pantomime and gestures for aesthetic purposes, and for purposes of coded (secret) communication. Indulgence in nonverbal acts as primary medium is also necessitated by the distance that separates the parties which can, however, retain visual contact while engaging themselves in communication. -The relationship between verbal and nonverbal communication could be one of correspondence as well. That is, there are several nonverbal acts that can be accurately translated into words in the language of a culture in which such nonverbal acts are performed. A handshake, shaking a fist at someone, a smile, and frown, etc., are all nonverbal acts translatable into verbal medium in a particular language. The functions of these nonverbal acts, context to context, are also codified in aesthetic nonverbal acts, such as dance, sculpture and other arts. The correspondence is sometimes translatable into words, sometimes into phrases and sentences, and several times translatable into compressed episodes involving lengthy language discourses. But the correspondence is there all the same and the import of this correspondence is shared between individuals within a community. There is also yet another correspondence of nonverbal acts in the sense that similar nonverbal acts could mean different things in different cultures. -Yet another relationship between a verbal act and a nonverbal act is one of dependence. A verbal act may depend for its correct interpretation entirely on a nonverbal act. Likewise a nonverbal act may depend for its correct interpretation entirely on a verbal act. In extreme circumstances, the former is caused because of deliberate distortion of the verbal act, or because of the difficulty in listening clearly to the verbal act, or because of the difficulty in reading with clarity what is intended to be read in the written verbal message. Deliberate distortion is not found only in contrived acts such as poetry or drama. It is done in day to day language itself. Distortion and opacity of the verbal message are also required in certain socio-cultural contexts wherein it is demanded that verbal acts be suppressed and made dependent on nonverbal acts. The dominant nonverbal acts also depends on verbal acts for clarity. This dependence also depends on verbal acts for clarity. It also occ urs in daily life. -Verbal and nonverbal acts can be independent of one another. Something is communicated through a verbal act. The continued manifestation of this communicative act may be in the form of nonverbal acts. That is, in a single communicative act, part of the message may be in verbal form and the rest in nonverbal, in an alternating way. Each part is independent of the other. This is contrived in poetry and drama. It is also found in every day life. An extreme form of this independence is the gulf that we notice between what one says and what one does. Also prevarication both in word and deed derives its strength, among others, from this feature. -Another relationship between verbal and nonverbal acts in one of non-relevance. This is most commonly found in normal adult speech and its accompanying gestures which are produced simply without any communicative intent. We move our hands, snap our fingers, move our bodies while speaking, with these gestures having no relevance to the speech we make. When this non-relevance between verbal and nonverbal acts found in normal is shifted to non-relevance or irrelevance within the ingle domain, within speech itself or within nonverbal act itself (during which coherence in speech or act is lost), we start considering the individual abnormal in some way. That is, non-relevance across the verbal and nonverbal media is normal, but non-relevance within a single medium is abnormal. The non-relevance is idiosyncratic and could be imitational as well. In the normal the excessive non-relevance of nonverbal acts accompanying speech comes to hamper the understanding of the verbal acts. 3. Types of Nonverbal Communication and Their Effects on Business. The types of nonverbal communication are almost limitless. However, there are the types that are most applicable to business communications: facial expressions and eye contact, other body movements and gestures, clothing and personal appearance, distance and personal space, physical environment, and time (Hamilton, 2011). Reading faces is not just a matter of identifying static expressions but also of noticing how faces subtly begin to change. People in face-to-face exchanges watch each others expressions to gauge reactions to whats being said and heard. Even when some words are missed, observing the expression on a speakers face can help the listener follow a conversation (Goman, 2008). The smile is a very potent form of facial expression. It opens the door to communication.  A natural, pleasant smile carries great significance in establishing and sustaining human  relationships, be they in a family, society, community or a business organization. Significance of smiling is beautifully brought out in the saying, You are never fully  dressed unless you wear a smile. Smile speaks the language of love, compassion,  sincerity, courtesy, confidence and dependability. A smile emits positive signals. A smile  can create a favourable impact and earn goodwill. All the same, it is also true that all  smiles are not genuine. In the service industry, the sales force is specifically taught to  cultivate genuine smiles and smile liberally in their day-to-day transactions with  colleagues and customers (Marwijk,2002). The eyes have been described as the gateway to the soul. They speak in the most revealing and accurate language because of the vast amount of information they convey about internal processes (Gorman, 2008). Probably everyone has had some experience with eyes as nonverbal communicators. Most of us have been stared at and have wondered why. Was it curiosity or ill manners? Or perhaps the starter had poor vision and was merely trying to get us in focus. But then there is the possibility the observer found us attractive and interesting and was issuing an invitation to get better acquainted. Most of us have decoded eye language even if we did not know about body language or nonverbal communication. There are numerous messages that can be sent with the eyes, but the stare is the most important technique a person has. In our culture one does not stare at another person-one stares at things. Therefore, a stare can have a devastating effect because it reduces a person to nonhuman status. There is an endless number of messages which can be sent when one thinks of eyes combined with different positions and movements of the eyelids and eyebrows. As with all forms of nonverbal communication, messages sent by the eyes should be decoded in terms of the words accompanying them (Marwijk, 2002). Daniel was well qualified (overqualified, in fact) for the job he was seeking, so when he didnt get hired he was shocked. But when Daniel called the recruiter who sent him out, he was told, You were fabulous in all the technical aspects, but you freaked out the interviewer because you couldnt look her in the eye (Goman, 2008). How can anyone hope to communicate without using hands and arms? And even legs are for something besides walking. No doubt each of us knows someone who talks with his or her hands. Some people punctuate communications with such extravagant gestures that it is extremely dangerous to get too close to their nonverbal exclamations. Do you know people who during a conversation or a card game drum or tap incessantly with their finger tips? Are there people you know who constantly click the on-off switch of their ballpoint pens? Do you know people who frequently pop their knuckles? Do you notice individuals who tap their feet, who cross and uncross their legs, or who cross their legs and then swing their crossed legs back and forth? What do these nonverbal messages tell you? Is the person nervous? Insecure? Bored? Thinking? Happy? Craving attention? A nuisance? Perhaps the messages mean nothing. On the other hand, if nonverbal signs reveal the emotional side of a communication, it is often important for you to try to determine what message is being transmitted along with the verbal one. Sometimes they are the same; other times they are drastically different. Many people are devoting their entire life to the study of body language. Body language is an interesting, fascinating area of nonverbal communication; much remains to be learned about it. By becoming a better observer, by sharpening your powers of perception, and by knowing as much as possible about your audience (decoders), you should be able to translate more accurately nonverbal and verbal messages (Marwijk, 2002). Elements such as physique, height, weight, hair, skin colour, gender, odours, and clothing send nonverbal messages during interaction. For example, a study, carried out in  Vienna,  Austria, of the clothing worn by women attending discothà ¨ques showed that in certain groups of women (especially women who were in town without their partners) motivation for sex, and levels of sexual hormones, were correlated with aspects of the clothing, especially the amount of skin displayed, and the presence of sheer clothing, e.g. at the arms. Thus, to some degree, clothing sent signals about interest in courtship. Research into height has generally found that taller people are perceived as being more impressive. Melamed Bozionelos (1992) studied a sample of managers in the UK and found that height was a key factor affecting who was promoted. Often people try to make themselves taller, for example, standing on a platform, when they want to make more of an impact with their speaking. Environmental factors such as  furniture, architectural style,  interior decorating, lighting conditions, colours, temperature, noise, and music affect the behaviour of communicators during interaction. The furniture itself can be seen as a nonverbal message. Proxemics  is the study of how people use and perceive the physical space around them. The space between the sender and the receiver of a message influences the way the message is interpreted The perception and use of space varies significantly across cultures and different settings within cultures. Space in nonverbal communication may be divided into four main categories: intimate, social, personal, and public space. The term territoriality is still used in the study of proxemics to explain human behavior regarding personal space.  Hargie Dickson identify 4 such territories: Primary territory: this refers to an area that is associated with someone who has exclusive use of it. For example, a house that others cannot enter without the owners permission. Secondary territory: unlike the previous type, there is no right to occupancy, but people may still feel some degree of ownership of a particular space. For example, someone may sit in the same seat on train every day and feel aggrieved if someone else sits there. Public territory: this refers to an area that is available to all, but only for a set period, such as a parking space or a seat in a library. Although people have only a limited claim over that space, they often exceed that claim. For example, it was found that people take longer to leave a parking space when someone is waiting to take that space. Interaction territory: this is space created by others when they are interacting. For example, when a group is talking to each other on a footpath, others will walk around the group rather than disturb it. When we discuss space in a nonverbal context, we mean the space between objects and people. Space is often associated with social rank and is an important part of business communication. Who gets the corner office? Why is the head of the table important and who gets to sit there? As the context of a staircase has norms for nonverbal behavior, so does the public speaking context. In North America, eye contact with the audience is expected. Big movements and gestures are not generally expected and can be distracting. The speaker occupies a space on the stage, even if its in front of the class. When you occupy that space, the audience will expect to behave in certain ways. If you talk to the screen behind you while displaying a PowerPoint presentation, the audience may perceive that you are not paying attention to them. Speakers are expected to pay attention to, and interact with, the audience, even if in the feedback is primarily nonverbal. Your movements should coordinate with the ton e, rhythm, and content of your speech. Pacing back and forth, keeping your hands in your pockets, or crossing your arms may communicate nervousness, or even defensiveness, and detract from your speech (Scott McLean, 2008). Do you know what time it is? How aware you are of time varies by culture and normative expectations of adherence (or ignorance) of time. Some people, and the communities and cultures they represent, are very time-oriented. The Euro Railways trains in Germany are famous for departing and arriving according to the schedule. In contrast, if you take the train in Argentina, youll find that the schedule is more of an approximation of when the train will leave or arrive. When you give a presentation, does your audience have to wait for you? Time is a relevant factor of the communication process in your speech. The best way to show your audience respect is to honour the time expectation associated with your speech. Always try to stop speaking before the audience stops listening; if the audience perceives that you have gone over time, they will be less willing to listen. This in turn will have a negative impact on your ability to communicate your message. Chronemics  is the study of how we refer to and perceive time. Tom Bruneau at Radford University has spent a lifetime investigating how time interacts in communication and culture. As he notes, across Western society, time is often considered the equivalent of money. The value of speed is highly prized in some societies.  In others, there is a great respect for slowing down and taking a long-term view of time. When you order a meal at a fast food restaurant, what are your expectations for how long you will have to wait? When you order a pizza online for delivery, when do you expect it will arrive? If you order cable service for your home, when do you expect it might be delivered? In the first case, you might measure the delivery of a hamburger in a matter of seconds or minutes, and perhaps thirty minutes for pizza delivery, but you may measure the time from your order to working cable in days or even weeks. You may even have to be at your home from 8 a.m. to noon, waiting for its installation. The expectations vary by context, and we often grow frustrated in a time-sensitive culture when the delivery does not match our expectations. Across cultures the value of time may vary. Some Mexican American friends may invite you to a barbecue at 8 p.m., but when you arrive you are the first guest, because it is understood that the gathering actually doesnt start until after 9 p.m. Similarly in France, an 8 p.m. party invitation would be understood to indicate you should arrive around 8:30, but in Sweden 8 p.m. means 8 p.m., and latecomers may not be welcome. Some Native Americans, particularly elders, speak in well-measured phrases and take long pauses between phrases. They do not hurry their speech or compete for their turn, knowing no one will interrupt them. Some Orthodox Jews observe religious days when they do not work, cook, drive, or use electricity. People around the world have different ways of expressing value for time (Bruneau, 1976). 4. Improving Nonverbal Skills The words that you say in a conversation are only a small part of what you communicate to another person. Your tone and body language play a much larger role in what you are communicating to another person. For example, the words great job can be taken as a sincere compliment or as a sarcastic barb, depending upon the nonverbal skills used. If you are saying the right words but not backing them up with your nonverbal skills, then you are not going to be a very effective communicator. Here is how to improve nonverbal skills. -Recognize that nonverbal skills are a very important part of communication. The way that you position your body and the voice tone that you use during a conversation can speak even louder than the actual words coming out of your mouth. By improving your nonverbal skills, you can become a much more effective communicator in all areas of your life. -Make eye contact. The fastest way to improve your nonverbal skills is to make eye contact with the other person during a conversation. By making eye contact, you are connecting with that person, which makes it much easier for both of you to understand each other. When your eyes are wandering during a conversation, you are sending the nonverbal message that you are not invested in the conversation. -Pay attention to your tone. Most of us have had the misfortune of sitting through a speech in which powerful words were killed because the speaker was clearly bored, which made what could have been a dynamic speech unbearably boring. If you want to motivate another person, you need to put some energy into your speech. If you want to put another person in his place, use a deeper and more firm voice. Use your tone to energize your words. -Watch your body language. The way you position your body during a conversation speaks volumes, and you can use the way you position yourself to improve your nonverbal skills. If you want to end a conversation sooner, make of point of looking at your watch, which says, I have somewhere else that I need to be. If you want to be in a power position during a conversation, stand while the other person remains seated. If you want to communicate that you are open to the other persons ideas, then uncross your arms. -Pay attention to other peoples nonverbal cues. When you are in a meeting, observe two people talking with each other. Notice the tone of their voices and the positions of their bodies. You can often tell who is going to win a disagreement based upon the nonverbal body language used. -Incorporate effective nonverbal skills into your own communication style. When you see another person use a nonverbal skill effectively, try to incorporate that nonverbal skill into your own communication style. For example, if you see a person effectively raise his eyebrows in a way that sends the message, I really do not believe you, without having to say a word, then incorporate that nonverbal skill into your own way of communicating when you are in a similar situation. -Practice improving your nonverbal skills. At first, you might feel self-conscious as you start focusing on your nonverbal skills. However, with a little practice, your nonverbal skills will become second nature, and other people will be learning from you (Marwijk, 2002). 5. Conclusion Nonverbal communication variables play a major role in affecting the meaning of messages in business communication contexts. Consequently, business communicators need to have a general understanding of nonverbal communication and to recognize how such behaviors as body posture and movement, eye contact, facial expression, seating arrangement, vocal cues, spatial relationships, and personal appearance affect the ways their verbal messages are received by others. Quite often nonverbal communication provides metacommunication, or communication about communication, serving to repeat, contradict, substitute, complement, accent, and regulate verbal communication. If business communicators want to ascribe meaning to others nonverbal behaviors, they should take care to interpret the nonverbal message in its proper context, realizing that people respond differently to different stimuli and that some nonverbal behaviors vary in meaning across cultures. Businessmen can apply their understanding of nonverbal communication to personal interviews to show their true feelings of immediacy, potency, and responsiveness, to relax others, and to achieve maximum effect from the interview situation. They can also observe and adjust seating arrangement, room decor, and eye contact between group members to increase productivity at conferences and in small group discussions.