The Right and Wrong of Writing

The Right and Wrong of Writing The Right and Wrong of Writing The Right and Wrong of Writing By Mark Nichol Who or what determines what is correct form in writing, and what is incorrect? Many nations have an official body that regulates the national language to protect it from extinction or at least from degradation. (France’s Academie Francaise, in particular, seems to exist primarily to prevent pollution of the French language by importation of English words let me know how that works out, mes amis). This paternal protection, however, does not extend to grammar and punctuation and the like. The United States is not among those countries with prose police, but our library and bookstore shelves groan with dictionaries and grammar, usage, and style manuals as well as handbooks that guide us in our use of punctuation and the Internet abounds with more of the same. These resources are not necessarily engrossing reading (unless you’re a word nerd), but they are exemplary models in practicing what they preach, and they are likely to be much more reader-friendly than the dread-inducing language arts textbooks of our schooldays. Why, then, has the quality of writing declined so dramatically that we might benefit from an English Academy one devoted not to language purity (which words we use, and which ones we don’t) but to monitoring the written form of that language? The democratization of publishing is primarily responsible, I think. Because, thanks to the dramatic increase in options for businesses and organizations to disseminate information by way of text online and in print, and because of the ease of self-publishing the same media affords anyone with access to them, more and more people who don’t pay attention to such details are writing and being read, which of course exposes so many more people to the errors. Thus, erroneous usage not just in hyphenation, punctuation, spelling, and other mechanical mistakes but also in infelicities of grammar, syntax, usage, and other more substantial elements of writing is multiplied virally because of the shift in the signal-to-noise ration: Fewer people are reading rigorously written and edited prose, and more people are reading writing crafted with less care. This, I believe, is the culprit in the decline of quality in published writing I’ve observed over the years both as an editor and as someone who takes a busman’s holiday every time I read for information or pleasure. The reason for the decrease in consumption of meticulously produced content is twofold. Fewer people actively seek good writing. But equally culpable are the publishing industries, the erstwhile guardians of good writing, which compromise the quality of periodicals and other publications because they discourage labor-intensive practices necessary for producing high-quality writing, practices inimical to lean-business strategies that result in high profits. This issue brings up a question I’m surprised people don’t ask more often: In the realm of writing, if so many people do something seen as wrong or nonstandard, doesn’t that make it right? After all, that’s how new laws are written and how societal mores changes. And that’s how language changes. So, if the majority of writers write, â€Å"You and me† at the head of a sentence instead of â€Å"you and I† (or reverse their preferences when the phrase is the object of a sentence), why is the former usage considered incorrect and the latter one deemed the acceptable way? The majority seems to beg to differ. Because language doesn’t turn on a dime. For sanity to prevail, there must be a period of time between shifts in rules of usage and punctuation and other elements of writing in which we respond to â€Å"Everybody else does it† the way a parent would react to that type of justification uttered by a willful teenager: â€Å"Well, if everybody else went and jumped off a cliff, would you?† By the same token, we need to scold writers by saying, â€Å"Well, if everybody uses comma splices, does that mean you should, too?† At the risk of seeming like a strict parent, that’s why I’m going to defend my rigor by saying that popular usage is not a standard. It is not a guidebook. And I will follow my own counsel: I will adhere to the rules (unless I have an indefensible reason to break one now and then), and I will exhort others to do the same. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:75 Synonyms for â€Å"Angry†50 Idioms About Meat and Dairy ProductsPreposition Mistakes #3: Two Idioms

How Reporters Can Write Great Follow-up News Stories

How Reporters Can Write Great Follow-up News Stories Writing a single basic breaking news article is a pretty straightforward task. You start by writing your lede, which is based on the most important facts in the story. But many news stories are not simply one-time events but rather ongoing topics that can last for weeks or even months. One example would be a crime story that unfolds over time - the crime is committed, then police search for and finally arrest a suspect. Another example might be a long trial involving an especially complex or interesting case. Reporters must often do what is called follow-up articles for long-lasting topics such as these. The Lede The key to writing an effective follow-up story starts with the lede. You cant write the same lede every day for a story that continues over an extended period of time. Instead, you must construct a fresh lede each day, one that reflects the latest developments in the story. But while writing a lede that includes those latest developments, you also need to remind your readers what the original story was all about to begin with. So the follow-up story lede really combines new developments with some background material about the original story. An Example Lets say you cover a house fire in which several people are killed. Heres how your lede for the first story might read: Two people were killed last night when a fast-moving fire swept through their house. Now lets say several days have passed and the fire marshal tells you the fire was a case of arson. Heres your first follow-up lede: A house fire that killed two people earlier this week was deliberately set, the fire marshal announced yesterday. See how the lede combines important background from the original story - two people killed in the fire - with the new development - the fire marshal announcing that it was arson. Now lets take this story one step further. Lets say a week has passed and police have arrested a man who they say set the fire. Heres how your lede might go: Police yesterday arrested a man who they say set the fire last week that killed two people in a house. Get the idea? Again, the lede combines the most important information from the original story with the latest development. Reporters do follow-up stories this way so that readers who may not have read the original story can figure out what is going on and not be confused. The Rest of the Story The rest of the follow-up story should follow the same balancing act of combining the latest news with background information. Generally, the newer developments should be placed higher in the story, while the older information should be lower down. Heres how the first few paragraphs of your follow-up story about the arrest of the arson suspect might go: Police yesterday arrested a man who they say set the fire last week that killed two people in a house. Police said Larson Jenkins, 23, used rags soaked with gasoline to set the fire at the house that killed his girlfriend, Lorena Halbert, 22, and her mother, Mary Halbert, 57. Detective Jerry Groenig said Jenkins was apparently angry because Halbert had recently broken up with him. The fire started around 3 a.m. last Tuesday and quickly swept through the house. Lorena and Mary Halbert were pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was injured. Again, the latest developments are placed high in the story. But they are always tied to background from the original event. This way, even a reader learning about this story for the first time will easily understand what has happened.

ETHICS, LAW AND CHANGE MANAGEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

ETHICS, LAW AND CHANGE MANAGEMENT - Essay Example Although, the augmenting complexity of business, because of the extensive transformations and developments of the technologies and globalization offers an apparent indication that now we have in an extremely complex business environment and is turning out to be more complex due to novel ethical, cultural, social and legal transformations (Maniam & Teetz, 2009). Business and corporate â€Å"Ethics† is an everyday incidence in the business world as well as in someone’s life. Business ethics is the similar to a normal ethics. These both kinds of ethical practices offer us to identify, what is wrong or right, or else we are in process of discovering what is wrong or right in the environment in which one is concerned. An ethical matter can not have a tangible response; therefore a persons preference can rely on that persons state of affairs. This can take place for the reason that "business and corporate ethics is a large and murky area as well as the place of work is full o f ethical problems and issues. As a result, workers reaction to force to perform can resort to unprincipled decisions so as to convene the objectives they experience are difficult. This can take place at some level of administration (Tutor2u, 2009). This report presents the detailed analysis of the Wal-Mart business and its associated ethical factors. The Wal-Mart is acknowledged as the king of marketplace because of its huge size. It has driven lesser retailers out of commerce; forced companies to be well-organized, frequently leading these suppliers to move industrial jobs overseas; and changed the method that up till now large and established productions do business. Wal-Mart has existence or death decisions over all the customer supplies industries that survive in the US, for the reason that it is the number-one supplier-retailer of the majority of our customer goods, not still toys, clothes, shoes but home applications, electronic goods,

Response Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Response Journal - Essay Example He jumps to safety and despite losing consciousness due to blood loss, he somehow gets back tom the train safely and to the doctor who takes him to Sherlock’s home. We discover later that the machine was actually a press used in the counterfeiting of coins by the criminals that had tried to end his life. This story is starts off with some rather tempting proposition which gets us thinking is it right for the engineer to accept the job despite the man acting as suspicious as he did? The engineer we can say acted in good faith and also was ethical enough in promising not to talk about the job to anyone. According to the code of ethics for engineers from the National Society of Professional Engineers, section II rules of practice sub section c states that, â€Å"Engineers shall not reveal facts, data, or information without the prior consent of the client or employer except as authorized or required by law or this Code.† So he actually acted ethically here. There is the question of how willing was the engineer to be beguiled in his haste to make quick money after his long stay without a client. Was he a bit greedy for the money promised? In part 8 of Doyle’s ‘The Adventure of The Engineers Thumb’ the engineer actually points out â€Å""I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they would be to me. He then proceeds to tell the man ‘Not at all, I shall be very happy to accommodate myself to your wishes.† This makes him easy to cheat and use for the crooks. The very first questions asked by the thin man should have put the engineer on guard as they are very telling in themselves. He enquires if the engineer is an orphan and if he has no wife or dependants. This already shows the thin man planned to kill him after his work as his disappearance would be easy to cover having no one to look for him. This should have been telling questions or was the engineer too concerned with

Subject of Course Project Essay Example for Free

Subject of Course Project Essay In today competitive economy, we need information system in every aspect of the organization because Information systems help in decision making process in a cost effective way. Using technologies to discover, analyze and act in real time on the large volumes of data in research laboratories will be beneficial to the organizations. Every organization produces large amount of data and we need a system to contain it and extract information effectively. Databases management systems are design to ease difficulties in maintain complex information systems. An organization such as Mayo Clinic not only has the clinical heath care system but also has the larger department focuses on research and innovations. These types of organizations contain many different research laboratories that use different database system and technologies, bio specimens and produce many different results. This indicates that they have large valuable data yet missing a system that can link them together so that we can compare and contrast all the pertaining data out there. Business Problem Statement The core problem to be solved is inefficient database systems of each disconnected database systems to a system that can communicate many different databases with easy to pull information out of. Due to difference in needs of each research labs, it would be very unproductive to use one type of database for all the labs. However, we need a system that can communicate different databases and queries all the information quickly. Name of the Organization The name of the organization is Mayo Clinic. I want to specifically focus the issue of database system of research department and more specifically about the database system of the lab that I am currently working with. At my lab, we are currently using a Microsoft Access Database to store both clinical and laboratory information by saving in it the share folder for other team members to access. However, there is no tracking system in place and with multi users involve, we have no way of know who or where the information could be wrong. Many other labs also have issues with current databases that they are using due to limited user abilities, missing tracking in place, and waiting time for programmer to give us reports. General Benefits By building a system that can give both clinical information and research information help save time and money of the organization and employees. It will encourage more collaboration within the institutes. If we have information on the samples that other labs already worked on, we no longer need to waste resources to produce the same data by sharing the results. There will be more time for innovations by removing the repetitive experiments. This system can also help at finding more resources such as which labs are working on the similar samples or experiments thus increase collaboration either by exchanging samples or working on the ideas together. It is also important to point out the sharing contents will be control by the users to avoid conflict. A system that can communicate with other database can pull up information of the same patients without needing to re-enter them in many different databases will save time and employee can focus on different tasks. High Level Approach Building a database system will take hours of mapping connections and writing a program that can be customized by users. The best way is to have web base database systems for the labs which don’t have a good relational database yet. Then, build a system that can link the entire relational databases to talk to each other and pull out data. There is two ways we can build the system either by outsourcing or in-house program development. Another step is to find out which way is more cost effective with the time we need to have them ready. Also, it would be important to have a research server and a team to maintain the systems. Audience The needs of an effective research laboratories database system are obvious yet it is costly and time consuming to build one. All the principle investors need to be participating and build the system together and budget into their lab cost. Senior managements and mangers of the labs of Mayo Clinic need to know the importance and benefit of having central research database system.

Root Surface Caries Essay -- essays research papers

Root Surface Caries Caries can affect any surface of the teeth. The most commonly seen caries are found on the crown of a tooth, above the cemento-enamel junction, it is also possible for caries to form on the root surface, below the cemento-enamel junction. Dental root caries has received a great deal of attention in the past few decades. A variety of different patients are at risk for root surface caries. Dentists use several methods of treatment. Root surface caries are also called cemental caries, cervical caries, or radicular caries. (Wilkins) Root surface caries only involves the roots of teeth. The cementum and dentin located just below the crown of the tooth is involved. No involvement of enamel is seen with root surface caries. Bone loss and corresponding gingival recession are the first symptoms to be seen in the caries process. These result in exposed root surfaces, which are more prone to forming caries because caries does not form in the root surface while periodontal fibers are still attached. Clinically, the lesion starts on the root surface. It has been found that root caries spreads in a lateral or circumferential manner, and over time can extend completely around the tooth, undermining the enamel. (Wilkins) In general, root caries have the same etiology as coronal cavities. S. mutans, Lactobacilli, and sometimes, Actinomyces are involved and are found in high numbers in root caries, but there are two main differences between enamel and root surface caries. (Flaitz) These differences cause the lesion on a root surface to be more destructive than that in enamel. First, because the pH at which demineralization will occur is higher for root cementum (approx. pH 6.0) than for enamel (approx. pH 5.0).(Wilkins) Therefore, root cementum has potential for demineralization at an earlier point in time than enamel does. Secondly, once the cementum is demineralized, the dentin contains dentinal tubules which, if present, are potential methods of entry for the pathogenic microbes as mentioned previously, such as S. mutans, Lactobacilli, and sometimes Actinomyces; whereas, enamel consists of tightly-arranged crystal prisms, which have a much lower chance for bacterial entry. The process of caries form ation begins with colonization by acid-producing bacteria plaque. In the next step, Gram-positive bacteria invade the dentinal tubules, which leads to the ... ...at more tentatively, with fluoride gels and varnishes or a chlorhexidine varnish. Some dentists may restore root caries with amalgam restorations. Another treatment option used by some dentists to restore root caries is Glass Ionomer Cements. Glass ionomer cements were first introduced in the early 1970s. They have good adherence to mineralized tooth tissue, which keeps the removal of tooth structure to a minimum. Glass ionomer cements also have the ability to leak and absorb fluoride into the tooth, which decreases the rate of secondary caries. These factors have increased the potential for glass ionomer cements to replace amalgam as a restorative material. (Hammel) Although the most common caries seen are coronal, root surface caries present just as much of a problem. Once root caries are detected, the bacteria have already begun to demineralize the cementum or dentin and create a great deal of damage. There are several different ways that root caries may appear clinically. A variety of different patients are at risk for root surface caries. Different measures can be taken to prevent root surface caries. Methods of treatment differ among dentists, but there are several choices.

Formative Strictly Ballroom

Texts represent certain perspectives on belonging which challenge us to understand our own world. This is evident in the film â€Å"Strictly Ballroom† directed by Baz Luhrmann. The style of the film is â€Å"Red Curtain† cinema which means conveys the ballroom dancing world is surreal and artificial. This film explores what it means to belong or not belong to a well-defined group. This is presented through the opening sequence by showing how Scott, Fran and Doug don’t belong to the group of ballroom dancers. The director grew up in the world of ballroom competitions.Luhrmann’s purpose was to be able to tell a story in his own particular way, â€Å"telling our own stories in our own way that is what the film is about for me†. The opening scenes explore aspects of not belonging and no being accepted. The ballroom dancing group demonstrates a veneer of belonging. The group itself is the same in appearance and behaviour but lacks emotional connection wi th other. They value tradition and authority. To belong to this world means sacrificing individual identity. A high angle shot is used to show the dancers competing in the competition, it also show the walls of the room they are dancing in.This represents their confinement to the outside world as well as their conformity because they are all dancing the same steps. We understand that when people conform to a group they become restricted and separated from the rest of the world. The close ups of Barry Fife and the judges sitting above the dancers shows that they have more power. This symbolises that they have authority within the ballroom dancing group and are the people that enforce the tradition of strict rules and regulations.From this we understand that when there is authority and power in a group there are rules to be followed that stop people from having an individual identity. The make-up of the women defines them as belonging to a certain group and symbolises their values, fo r example the women of the ballroom dancing wear bright and over the top coloured make-up. This represents them as being ‘fake’ due to being part of an artificial world. The idea of them all having exaggerated make-up tells us they all belong to the one group. From this we understand that to belong to certain groups you have must conform to their ways.The idea of not belonging is also conveyed in the opening sequence. This is represented through peoples’ individual choices and the exclusion of those who do not fit in. Scott Hastings is the protagonist in the film and as an individual he chooses not to belong. He chooses to dance his own steps, meaning he doesn’t conform and therefore does not belong. Scott shows rebellion in the first scenes where he challenges the authority by breaking the rules. He does this because he is looking for his own identity away from the group. The close up of Scott’s shoes when he dances show he is about to dance his ow n way.This demonstrates his desire for freedom and individual identity as well as his rebellion against a restrictive type of belonging. This gives us the understanding that when people wish to find their own identity they rebel and makes choices which can lead to exclusion. Scott’s costume is black pants and a white singlet which is what he wears when he dances his own steps. This indicates his difference to the group and the authenticity of his motivation as he attempts to create his own identity. Lighting affects the mood in the film and Scott is often shown in close ups with low key lighting which is more natural.In the scene where he dances in and out of the spotlight indicates his developing sense of independence from the group. Fran and Doug are two other characters who also do not belong to the ballroom dancing group. Fran is excluded because of her different attitudes to the others. Her costume is plain and simple. She wears a long T-shirt and black tights, large gla sses and no make-up. This is contrasted to the other women who wear a lot of bright make-up making them look false whereas Fran appears more natural and this makes her isolated from the group. Doug first appears as a dull man on the outside of the group.However, in these scenes we find out he also dances his own steps in the secrecy of the studio. He dances in the shadow and a single spotlight and quirky music which gives mystery and difference to his dancing. We are positioned to understand that not belonging can be caused by having different attitudes and values or it can be cause voluntary by not conforming to the rules. From the film’s opening sequence we learn that sometimes to belong to a group you have to lose your individual identity. If you rebel against conformity to a group it can result in isolation. You can also be excluded from a group due to different attitudes and values.

Prescriptive Grammar Essay

This lesson highlights the important fact that linguists describe the grammatical system of a language on the basis of what people actually say, not what they should say. To a linguist, grammar consists of those constructions judged acceptable by a native speaker’s intuitions. This is what it means to say that linguistics is descriptive and not prescriptive. Linguistics is descriptive, not prescriptive. Many people associate knowing a language with speaking and writing it according to the grammatical rules established for that language in grammar books and dictionaries. The study of linguistic competence does not include the study of prescriptive standards that claim that one sentence rather than another is correct. Instead, linguists are interested in what speakers of a language actually say and what they accept as possible in the language, regardless of whether the construction matches the grammar rules posited by the grammar â€Å"police.† This approach to grammar is descriptive rather than prescriptive. Descriptive grammar is what speakers say, and when, why and how they say it (and not whether they should or shouldn’t say it.) Linguists concern themselves with discovering what speakers know about a language and describing that knowledge objectively. They devise rules of descriptive grammar. For instance, a linguist describing English might formulate rules such as these: 1.Some English speakers end a sentence with a preposition (Who do you want to speak to?) 2.Some English speakers use double negatives for negation (I don’t have nothing.) 3.Adjectives precede the nouns they modify (red book, nice guy) 4.To form the plural of a noun, add -s (1 room, 2 rooms; 1 book, 2 books) 5.The vowel sound in the word suit is produced with rounded lips. Linguists don’t make judgment calls as to whether the speakers should or shouldn’t speak a certain way. Descriptive grammar, then, is created by linguists as a model of speakers’ linguistic competence. Prescriptive grammar is what speakers should or shouldn’t say. When most people think of â€Å"grammatical rules,† they think of what linguists call rules of prescriptive grammar. Prescriptive rules tell you how to speak or write, according to someone’s idea of what is â€Å"good† or â€Å"bad.† Of course, there is nothing inherently good or bad about any use of language; prescriptive rules serve only to mold your spoken and written language t o some norm. Here are a few examples of prescriptive rules; you  can probably think of others. 1.The subject of a sentence must agree with the verb (The instructions are clear NOT The instructions is clear.) 2.Use much for count nouns. Use many for non-count nouns (We don’t have much coffee AND We don’t have many cups of coffee.) 3.Capitalize the first letter of a sentence (The television is broken. It needs to be fixed.) 4.Use subject pronouns after the verb be (It was I who called you NOT It was me who called you.) 5.Use the definite article the before names of rivers and geographical areas but not before the names of lakes or continents (the Nile, the Middle East AND Lake Tahoe, Asia) Notice that the prescriptive rules make a value judgment about the correctness of an utterance. Descriptive rules, on the other hand, accept the patterns a speaker actually uses and try to account for them. Descriptive rules allow for different varieties of a language; they don’t ignore a construction simply because some prescriptive grammarian doesn’t like it. If linguistics is descriptive and not prescriptive, then why do we have prescriptive rules anyway? So, if prescriptive rules are not based on actual use, how did they arise? Many of these rules were actually invented by someone. During the 17th and 18th centuries, scholars became preoccupied with the art, ideas, and language of ancient Greece and Rome. The classical period was regarded as a golden age and Latin as the perfect language. The notion that Latin was somehow better or purer than contemporary languages was strengthened by the fact that Latin was by then strictly a written language and had long ceased to undergo the changes natural to spoken language. For many writers of the 17th and 18th centuries, the rules of Latin became, whenever remotely feasible, the rules of English. It is somewhat surprising that rules that do not reflect actual language use should survive. There are several reasons, however, for the continued existence of prescriptive rules. 1.Rules provide a standard form of a language that is accepted by most speakers of that language. Adherence to prescriptive rules allows a speaker to be understood by the greatest possible number of individuals. This is especially important for a language such as German, which has dialects so different from one another that their speakers cannot always understand each other. 2.A set of standard rules is necessary for students learning English (or any other language) as a second language. Imagine the chaos if there were no guidelines for learning English  (or Spanish, or Japanese, or Arabic, etc.) Thus, rules serve a very useful purpose for language teachers and learners as well. 3.Most importantly, there are social reasons for prescriptive rules. Nonstandard dialects are still frowned upon by many groups and can inhibit one’s progress in society. The existence of prescriptive rules allows a speaker of a nonstandard dialect to learn the rules of the standard dialect and employ them in appropriate social circumstances. Therefore, prescriptive rules are used as an aid in social mobility. This does not mean, however, that these judgments about dialects are linguistically valid. The idea that one dialect of a language is intrinsically better than another is simply false. From a strictly linguistic point of view all dialects are equally good and equally valid. To look down on nonstandard dialects is to exercise a form of social and linguistic prejudice. We’ll learn more about language and identity in our next module. According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, the term dates from 1706 and is defined as â€Å"a person who adheres strictly and often excessively to a tradition†, especially â€Å"one preoccupied with the purity of a language and its protection from the use of foreign or altered forms.† A purist is one who desires that an item remain true to its essence and free from adulterating or diluting influences.

Free Essays on Fifth Business

â€Å"Carpe diem!† â€Å"question authority†, â€Å"live long and prosper.† If one lives long enough, one will encounter such clichà © statements. These statements become a part of life and many individuals acquire their lives to following them. The significance comes in why people adopt certain clichà ©. The answer may lie in that the world is composed of assorted people who think, and act in their own personal beliefs. And everybody plays their own role in the world: roles such as religious leaders, authoritative leaders, and materialistic leaders. This form of macrocosm is captured in the microcosm in the town of Deptford in Robertson Davies‘ Fifth Business. The roles of the characters in Fifth Business demonstrate how a small village in the first half of the twentieth century can represent the diversity of the entire world. Religion is a rather large role is our world, and is an unavoidable issue of contemplation. An obvious depiction of religion in Fifth Business, in a microcosm setting, is Sam West (the atheist)’s character. Although he was finely tuned in Christian theory, â€Å"as a boy (Sam) he had been kept hard at the Bible,†(54) he believed â€Å"that morality has nothing to do with religion† (54). This character is a symbol of those in reality who question orthodox religion and choose paths of self-righteousness. Of course there is more to religion than the atheist. Dunstan’s character represents those who are indifferent to the standard structures of religion. Although he was responsible for placing â€Å"the Devil’s picture book - into the hands of his (the Reverend) son Paul (42), Dunstan did not feel he had done wrong, â€Å"I had been a fool to forget how dead set Baptists were against cards. As for the stories about saints, they were tales of wonders, like Arabian Night, and when the Reverend Andrew Bowyer bade all us Presbyterians to prepare ourselves for the Marriage Feast of the Lamb, it seemed to me... Free Essays on Fifth Business Free Essays on Fifth Business â€Å"Carpe diem!† â€Å"question authority†, â€Å"live long and prosper.† If one lives long enough, one will encounter such clichà © statements. These statements become a part of life and many individuals acquire their lives to following them. The significance comes in why people adopt certain clichà ©. The answer may lie in that the world is composed of assorted people who think, and act in their own personal beliefs. And everybody plays their own role in the world: roles such as religious leaders, authoritative leaders, and materialistic leaders. This form of macrocosm is captured in the microcosm in the town of Deptford in Robertson Davies‘ Fifth Business. The roles of the characters in Fifth Business demonstrate how a small village in the first half of the twentieth century can represent the diversity of the entire world. Religion is a rather large role is our world, and is an unavoidable issue of contemplation. An obvious depiction of religion in Fifth Business, in a microcosm setting, is Sam West (the atheist)’s character. Although he was finely tuned in Christian theory, â€Å"as a boy (Sam) he had been kept hard at the Bible,†(54) he believed â€Å"that morality has nothing to do with religion† (54). This character is a symbol of those in reality who question orthodox religion and choose paths of self-righteousness. Of course there is more to religion than the atheist. Dunstan’s character represents those who are indifferent to the standard structures of religion. Although he was responsible for placing â€Å"the Devil’s picture book - into the hands of his (the Reverend) son Paul (42), Dunstan did not feel he had done wrong, â€Å"I had been a fool to forget how dead set Baptists were against cards. As for the stories about saints, they were tales of wonders, like Arabian Night, and when the Reverend Andrew Bowyer bade all us Presbyterians to prepare ourselves for the Marriage Feast of the Lamb, it seemed to me...

How to Become a Meteorologist at Any Age

How to Become a Meteorologist at Any Age If you or someone you know watches the Weather Channel for hours at a time, gets excited when weather watches and warnings are issued, or always knows what this and next weeks weather will be, it may be a sign that a meteorologist in-the-making is in your midst. Heres my advice (from a meteorologist herself) on how to become a meteorologist- regardless of your education level. Elementary, Middle, and High Schoolers   Find Ways to Focus on Weather in the ClassroomMeteorology isnt a part of a core curriculum, however, most science classes do include lesson plans on weather and the atmosphere. Although there may not be many chances to include weather in daily learning, one way to express your individual interest is to make use of any choose your own show-and-tell, science project, or research assignments by focusing on a weather-related topic. Be Math-MindedBecause meteorology is whats called a physical science, a solid understanding of mathematics and physics is important in order for you to grasp the advanced concepts youll learn later in your weather studies. Be sure to take courses like Calculus in high school- youll thank yourself later! (Dont be discouraged if these subjects arent your favorites...not all meteorologists were members of the math club.) Undergraduate Students   A Bachelors degree (B.S.) is typically the minimum requirement needed to obtain an entry-level meteorologist position. Unsure if youll need more training? One simple way to find out is to search the job boards of companies youd like to work for or do a Google search for job openings for a position you think youd like to do, then tailor your skills to those listed in the position description. Choosing a universityLess than 50 years ago, the number of North American schools offering degree programs in meteorology was under 50. Today, that number has nearly tripled. Those accepted as top schools for meteorology include: Pennsylvania State University (University Park, PA),Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL),and the University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK). Are Internships a Must Do? In a word, yes. Internships and co-op opportunities provide hands-on experience, give entry-level resumes a boost, and allow you to explore different disciplines within meteorology which will ultimately aid you in discovering which area (broadcasting, forecasting, climatology, government, private industry, etc.) best suits your personality and interests. By connecting you with a professional organization, a diversity of scientists, and perhaps even a mentor, an internship also helps build your professional network and network of references. Whats more, if you do a stellar job as an intern youll likely increase your chances of getting employed at that company after graduation. Keep in mind that you wont be eligible for most internships until your Junior year. Even so, dont make the mistake of waiting until the summer of your Senior year to get involved- the number of programs accepting recent graduates is far and few between. What sorts of opportunities should you, an underclassman, consider in the meantime? Possibly a summer job. Most weather internships are unpaid, so working in the summers prior can help ease that financial burden. Graduate-Level Students   If your heart is set on a career in atmospheric research (including storm chasing), teaching in a university setting, or consulting work, you should be prepared to continue your education at the masters (M.S.) and/or doctorate (Ph.D.) levels. Choosing a graduate degree programWhile returning to your alma mater is one option, youll also want to shop around for schools whose facilities and faculty support research that matches your interests. Professionals   The above advice is helpful to individuals planning their academic career, but what options exist for individuals already in the workforce? Certificate programsCertificates of Meteorology are a great way to gain training in weather without the full commitment of entering into a degree program. Not to mention these are earned by completing a fraction of the coursework required for degree programs (10-20 semester hours vs. 120 or more). Some classes can even be completed online in a distance learning manner. Well-known certificate programs offered in the U.S. include Penn States Undergraduate Certificate in Weather Forecasting  and the Broadcast and Operational Meteorology certificate programs offered by Mississippi State.  Ã‚   Leisurely Meteorologists Not interested in going back to school or participating in a certificate program, but still want to feed your inner weather geek? You could always become a citizen scientist. Whatever your age, its never too early or too late to grow your love and knowledge of weather!

Business Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Business Management - Essay Example Google has succeeded in taking advantage of opportunities in emerging technologies. The process has involved a deliberate attempt to streamline search engines, revolutionize the advertising industry and centralize data and tools. In addition, it has embarked on a mission to digitize books and provide open source mobile phone operating system. Android has emerged as a great operating system for low-cost mobile phones. Furthermore, the organization has focused on changing the way human beings interact with technology every day. In the process, it has succeeded in creating a diverse portfolio of products that range from desktop, mobile, web and hardware products. Moreover, it has managed to be a consistent top performer in surveys on the most attractive organizations for graduates. The organization has also benefited from the ability to maintain high rates of employee retention. As a result, it has managed to utilize some of the most talented minds in the technology industry. Google is involved in a very competitive market. The plethora of products and services that it offers ensure that the organization is faced with competition from many sectors. However, the organization has managed to create new sources of competitive advantage. The new sources include integration and a keen understanding of the external environment (Foss 2012, p. 1). Google has a robust infrastructure that cannot be replicated easily by other organizations. The organization has established a strong reputation for having a vast technology infrastructure. Competing search engines such as Bingo and Yahoo would have to find a way for ensuring that the organization has the speed and comprehensiveness that it possesses. The services offered by the organization cannot be possible without its robust infrastructure. The resources make it difficult for its rivals to provide a similar service. For instance, an organization