Project Planning Example

Project Planning Example Project Planning – Coursework Example Topic: Project PlanningName:Course:Date:Critical path in a projectBy using the knowledge of tracking the critical path in a project, the resources are always assigned to the critical tasks which are determined by the tasks that affects the project completion on a timely manner.1. These are the sequences of tasks that has no slack, and hence endorse the successiful finish date of the project. All tasks found here are fully on the critical path and therefore refered to as the project’s critical tasks.2. This is a sequence of tasks that do not drive the project’s finish date. All of this tasks are not critical.3. The total slack is the total ammount of time that this sequence of tasks can slip before affecting the finish day of the entire project.Critical tasksCritical tasks are tasks that cannot be delayed without affecting the successful finish of the project. In a project, the majority of tasks have a slack and therefore, their delay cannot delay the projects finishing date.A task becomes critical when it meets any one of the following conditions:Has got no slack. Has a Must Start on, or Must Finish On, date constraintMust have an as Late as Possible constraint in a project scheduled from a start date. Must have an As Soon As Possible constraint in project scheduling a finish date. Must have a finish date that is the same as or beyond its deadline dates. Critical risksThe project defines critical risks as those tasks that have no slacks. However you can amend when a task changes to a critical state. Slacks are determined by the early finish and the late finishing dates of the scheduled tasks. Early finish date is the most probable earliest date of task completion. ReferencesLockyer, K. G., & Lockyer, K. G. (1991). Critical path analysis and other project network techniques (5th ed.). London: Pitman.

Should I Take the PSAT as a Freshman

Should I Take the PSAT as a Freshman SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips It's never too early to start planning! When should you start preparing to apply tocollege? When you sign up for the SAT? The day you choose your freshman year classes? From the time you learn to read your first picture book? This might be a matter of debate between you and your parents, but we can all agree that planning starts long before you actually start filling out applications. So to put yourself on the track for college success, should you start freshman year off by taking the PSAT? First, what exactly is the PSAT for? Understanding this will let us see whether it suits your needs as a freshman. The PSAT Is For... National Merit Distinctions and Scholarships The PSAT is administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, or the NMSC. Based on your scores, the NMSC may award you distinctions like Commended Scholar, Semifinalist, or Finalist. Students in the top 1% might even win scholarships. Only high school juniors are eligible for NMSC awards. So your freshman year score, even if it's perfect, unfortunately can't count for National Merit. However, prepping and getting a practice run or two in before junior year can only improve your score, especially if you're aimingto make it into the top 1%. I strongly recommend takingthe PSAT in at least sophomore year to get in your trial run. As for freshman year? It can definitely be helpful, but it's also pretty early. You might be served just as well by focusing on your schoolwork, developing your academic skills, and doing test prep on your own for the next year. If you want to take the PSAT in 9th grade, then any real test experience can be valuable and help you score higher thenext time. Besides NMSC awards, the PSAT is helpful for another important test... Good Practice for the SAT The "P" in PSAT actually stands for "preliminary," not "practice," but this common misconception isn't too far from the truth. The new PSAT starting in 2015 is closely aligned to the content and types of questions you'll see on the new SAT. Both test your understanding of math, Critical Reading, and writing (though the PSAT does not have an essay component). Both testsfocus on determining meaning in context, whether it's analyzing a passage or interpreting data from a graph. Prepping for and taking the PSAT will help you develop the valuable skills you need to score highly on the SAT. It also helps you pace yourself under strict time limits and apply guessing strategies, like process of elimination. Both the new PSAT and new SAT feature multiple choice questions with 4 answer choices instead of the current 5, and neither has penalties for wrong answers. In addition to testing similar skills as the SAT, the PSAT helps you predict how you'll score on the SAT. The new PSAT is scored on a scale between 320 and 1520, with a range of 160 to 760 for Math and the same for Reading and Writing. The new SAT will be scored out of 1600, with a range of 200 to 800 for Math and the same for Reading and Writing. These scales are very similar, with the PSAT scores shifted down to account for the fact that it's a somewhat easier test than the SAT. How you do on the PSAT helpspredict how you'll do on the SAT, with the knowledge that the SAT is somewhat more challenging. Not onlycan you use your PSAT score as a predictor of how you are likely to score on the SAT, you can alsouse it to set goals and up your target scores. Because of this, it can only help you to begin to get familiar with the PSAT freshman year, as scoring well on these tests is all about practice and preparation. But again, it's up to you whether taking the official PSAT or simply practicing on your own, like with PSAT practice test pdfs, is most beneficial freshman year. Finally, the PSAT can put you in touch with colleges... To Connect With Colleges To state the obvious, the PSAT and SAT are tests that prepare you for applying to and succeeding in college.The PSAT can be helpful for providing your contact information to colleges (with your permission) so they can get in touch with you and share information about their campus events, deadlines, and scholarships. If you want to put yourself on colleges' radar early, then taking the PSAT may be one way to do this. Another way would be indicating interest through their individual websites. Now that you understand the various uses and applications of the PSAT, what's the final verdict: should you take the PSAT as a freshman? Final verdict? Should You Take the PSAT In 9th Grade? Freshman year is early to worry too much about the PSAT, but if you have the means and motivation, every real test is valuable experience. You'll get a sense of real testing conditions, along with an official score report that can help you set goals and design your study plan for next time. If you decide to take the PSAT in 9th grade, you'll want to talk to your school counselor about it. Juniors are usually automatically signed up for it through the school, but freshmen usually need to ask to register specifically. If you decide to skip the test for now, you'll be served well by taking practice tests and self-studying. That way, you can prep to take the PSAT as a sophomore and then be in great shape junior year, when it counts for National Merit. Want to get a head start on the PSAT NMQST? We have the industry's leading PSAT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and SAT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so that you get the most effective prep possible. Check out our 5-day free trial today: While you may or may not take the PSAT freshman year, you might want to consider taking an SAT Subject Test at the end of freshman year. The Subject Tests measure your mastery in a subject like Biology or Math. Depending on what courses you've taken, you may be prepared and have the content fresh in your mind as ninth grade draws to a close. Check out other considerations and SAT Subject Test dates here. Besides the PSAT, are there any other things you should focus on freshman year? Freshman Year Focus: The Essentials Colleges look at all four years of high school, whether it's the courses you select, your academic performance, your extracurricular and community involvement, or your summer activities. Colleges also love to see your involvement in a particular area deepen and develop into an area of expertise or leadership position. Admissions officers understand exploration freshman year, but they generally like to see commitment over the long run. To that end, it's a good idea to try out clubs and activities in freshman year and find ones in whichyou can not only make progress, but that might also put you in a position for leadershipor an internship later on in high school. It's also a smart move to challenge yourself in college prep and honors classes. Make sure you'll be taking Algebra and Geometry by the time you take the SAT. If you're interested in the ACT or the Math 2 Subject Test, then you also will need to have some understanding of precalculus and trigonometry. If you're reading about taking the PSAT as a freshman, then you're probably well aware of the power of prep when it comes to the PSAT and SAT. You're giving yourself a goodamount of time to get ready through studying, as well as developing critical reading, writing, and math skills in and out of the classroom. Some students even sit for the official SAT as freshmen as part of their study plan, to gauge their level and achieve a good 9th grade SAT score. Bystaying active and aware, you're already preparing to apply to college. Or maybe you've been preparing since you learned to read your first picture book! What's Next? How exactly is the PSAT scored? Check out this guide on what your PSAT score means, and the 3 steps you should take after the PSAT. Early studying is smart studying for the SAT. Learn why and how to start prepping well in advance of SAT test day. Are you taking the SAT as a sophomore? If you're scoring these scores, then you're in a good position for next year. Read about good 10th grade SAT scores and how to improve them even more. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses. We also feature thousands of practice questions, 10 official SAT practice tests, and personal feedback on your essays from an expert instructor. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Significance of Community College Faculty Development Programs Research Paper

Significance of Community College Faculty Development Programs - Research Paper Example Such is the philosophy behind faculty development. Colleges and universities encourage their faculty to engage in studies so they are well-equipped with the knowledge and skills to teach their students, who are mostly young adults who just graduated from high school, or even older adults who choose to keep on pursuing further studies. This paper aims to review, critique, and highlight the practical, and the scholarly significance of faculty development. Specifically, the review documents how faculty development impacts the duties, responsibilities and assigned tasks of faculty members, specifically in two-year colleges. II. Definition of Faculty Development In reviewing the literature, various definitions of faculty development are offered. One is by Nelson (1983): â€Å"Faculty development is any activity that is â€Å"designed to improve faculty performance in all aspects of their professional lives – as scholars, advisers, academic leaders, and contributors to institution al decisions† (p. 70). This definition identifies the roles that the faculty members take on when they assume their positions in their college or university. The roles enumerated reflect heavy responsibilities that require intelligence and skill. Sullivan (1983) agrees with Nelson’s definition in claiming faculty development’s concern in advancing the knowledge in one’s subject matter and mastering one’s own craft as it relates to teaching. Elbe & McKeachie (1985) follow suit in identifying faculty development as â€Å"college and university activities that are designed to "help faculty members improve their competence as teachers and scholars" (p. 35). These definitions point out to improving professional skills of the faculty, but on a more personal note, Rostek... This research illustrates that in reviewing the literature, various definitions of faculty development are offered. One is by Nelson: â€Å"Faculty development is any activity that is â€Å"designed to improve faculty performance in all aspects of their professional lives – as scholars, advisers, academic leaders, and contributors to institutional decisions†. This definition identifies the roles that the faculty members take on when they assume their positions in their college or university. The roles enumerated reflect heavy responsibilities that require intelligence and skill. Sullivan agrees with Nelson’s definition in claiming faculty development’s concern in advancing the knowledge in one’s subject matter and mastering one’s own craft as it relates to teaching. Elbe & McKeachie follow suit in identifying faculty development as â€Å"college and university activities that are designed to "help faculty members improve their competence as teachers and scholars". These definitions point out to improving professional skills of the faculty, but on a more personal note, Rostek & Kadivko add that the faculty’s professional development should include "purposeful learning experiences undertaken in response to individual needs". On a more collective scale, Centra defines faculty development as â€Å"college and university activities that are designed to "renew and maintain vitality of their staff†. Trends and issues in education develop in both breadth and depth. This process is faster due to technology and emerging modes of communication.

Hypospadia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Hypospadia - Essay Example When the opening is located in the shallow channel of the penis close to where the shaft meets the head, this form is Coronal hypospadias. When the opening of the urethra occurs anyplace along the underside of the shaft, this is understandably known as Penile shaft hypospadias. The least frequent type of hypospadias is Perineal hypospadias where the opening of the urethra occurs below the penis’ shaft, most commonly affecting the scrotum. All four types of hypospadias combined is still a rare birth defect. Less than one percent of males, one in 250 births, are affected by hypospadias (Retik/Borer, 2002). The causes of the birth defect are yet to be fully understood by the scientific and health care communities. It is commonly acknowledged that treating pregnant women with progesterone and other hormones could increase the chance that their son is born with the disorder. If the woman’s body experiences hormonal imbalances or if the levels of hormones in her body fluctuate greatly during the early period of pregnancy, this could cause the testes of the fetus to fail to manufacture sufficient amounts of testosterone. This hormonal imbalance could also cause the inability of the fetus to react to testosterone. Both situations increase the possibility that the fetus will develop a host of genetic disorders including hypospadias. Symptoms of hypospadias in its mildest forms are not readily apparent, particularly in the case of newborns up to children of school-age. Beyond this age, if the disorder is not corrected with surgery, males will often learn of their condition after they complain to a doctor that their urinary stream is consistently uncontrollable, spraying in random directions. In the case of severe hypospadias conditions, males are unable to urinate when standing. Teenage males with hypospadias experience a higher likelihood of their testicles remaining un-descended following

Human Resource Essay Example for Free

Human Resource Essay The paper would revolve around the discussion done over the concern regarding the rising wages of labor along with the decline in the supply of labor from China, which was previously considered to be the hub of labors from where the labor was supplied to other countries at a cheaper cost. Let’s discuss this issue in detail along with the explanation regarding the measures being taken by the organizations to change their human resource strategies. Answer – 1  Competing on the basis of labor costs can generate both positive and as well as negative outcomes for a company, or country. Talking about the brighter side, companies these days strive to achieve the optimum profitability level in order to stay in the competition. Therefore, what they do is to hire employees on part-time basis where employees would be paid on the basis of work they would do along with the working hours. This usually happens when the companies start a new venture such as, product development, its launching, or promotion. It does save huge costs for the company, but the turnover rate rises drastically. Talking about the negative side of the picture, either it is the company or country; it would result in a high turnover rate that often increases the costs such as, training costs. It is because when employees are hired by the companies, they must be trained about the job description that they are held responsible of. Therefore, investments are made by either sending them abroad or arranging workshops or training sessions. Obviously, when employees don’t get enough pay, they would leave their jobs; moreover, the supply of labor within the country would get minimized because workers might leave their country and go abroad to work for MNCs. Answer – 2 There is absolutely no doubt that many organizations consider their workforce as a main asset since the utilization of resources depend on their skills and abilities. Employees often demand the companies to value them, give them some autonomy, and involve them in the key managerial decisions where they can suggest new ideas. Companies, in order to keep their employees satisfied, introduce certain compensation packages and training sessions so that the employees think of themselves as part of the organization and get motivated. When managers invest over the training sessions and involve their subordinates in the key decisions, it becomes necessary for them to retain them at any cost or else they would leave their jobs. This would result in the loss of intellectual capital and loss of investment that was made to groom them by polishing their skills. As compared to the costs that incur for training the employees, the cost of labor force is much more than that. The reason is that when employees are trained and are retained by the company, it benefits the company not only in the short-run, but also in the long-run. Whereas on the flipside, when those skillful employees leave the company the labor costs take a domino effect because the firm would lose those employees, the investment made on them, and would have to recruit others, and then train them again. Consequently, these companies must focus on retention of employees, and that can be done by offering them attractive compensation packages, further training, giving autonomy, and promotion. Answer – 3 Companies these days are really focusing on reshaping their human resource strategies and forming them in such a way that not only keeps the employees contented, but also benefit the overall organization. There are several ways adopted by the firms these days and are explained below. Organizations these days encourage and support the presence of collectivist attitude. Collectivists define themselves by their group membership, give group goals priority over their personal goals, put more emphasis on harmonious relationships and experience more socially based emotions† (Robbins Judge, 2007) Moreover, individual rights is are also emphasized, that is to ensure the freedom of movement, physical security, and freedom of speech. Emphases are laid on the presence of health and safety and ensure the condemnation of actions or choices that are not safe for people, actions that violate law and ethical principles. Equal employment opportunities are ensured where they hire individuals based on their intellect, creativity, enthusiasm and the presence of Emotional Intelligence. In working structure, they value team relationship, team work, and team achievements; moreover, their employees value the importance of effective communication and employee involvement while making certain decisions and delegating the tasks. There ratio of discrimination seems to be getting lessened; everyone is given equal opportunities and there is no glass ceiling for females or people from different backgrounds. When it comes to improving and retaining the skills of employees, many organizations rely on the concept of Employability, i. e. – to continuously improve the employee’s working skills by the time to meet the requirements – (Daft, 1997). Answer – 4 Since the competition for workers in China is heating up where high wages are demanded by them and at the same time, companies seek to cut their redundant costs, especially from payrolls; therefore, employers would definitely shape some of the terms and conditions regarding the working conditions, job type, compensation, working hours, and job security. First of all, since the supply of well-educated and skillful workers is less in China, so firms would have to recruit those who are available even if they are demanding high wages. Of Among these workers, many of them come from abroad to find best possible job opportunity. Another change that can be made is in the working hours, where companies can decide the job type, job status, and working hours of a worker before recruiting him or her. In this case, a contract would be signed between the worker and the company in which all the responsibilities and liabilities of both of them would be outlined, along with the penalties that either party would have to pay in case of violating the contract. A very enticing strategy that can be brought on is to introduce the Performance-based compensation play, where the employees whether they are contractual or regular, would be paid on the basis of their performance and productivity level. Moreover, chances of promotion would only be for those who perform well and benefit the organization. This would result in provoking the motivation among the employees to gain more knowledge and skills, perform better, and abide by the rules and regulations. Not only this, the turnover rate that China is currently facing, would decline to a great extent and would attract the best available talent, which would be beneficial for both the employees and the business.

Free Essays - Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn :: Adventures Huckleberry Huck Finn Essays

Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn Essays In the Style of Twain The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is said to be " the source from which all great American literature has stemmed" (Smith 127). This is in part attributed to Mark Twain's ability to use humor and satire, as well as incorporating serious subject matter into his work. Throughout the novel Twain takes on the serious issue of Huck's moral dilemma. One such issue which is particularly important in the novel is pointed out by Smith: He swears and smokes, but he has a set of ethics all his own. He believes that slaves belong to their rightful owners, yet in his honest gratitude toward his friend Jim, he helps him to escape the bonds of slavery. (181) This is something that tears at Huck throughout the novel and helps Twain show how complex Huck's character really is. "The recognition of complexity in Huck's character enabled Twain to do full justice to the conflict of vernacular values and the dominant culture" (Smith 125). Throughout Huck and Jim's adventures Huck is constantly playing practical jokes on Jim who seems to take them all in stride. But unknown to the reader Twain uses this aspect as another notch in Huck's moral 2 growth. Critic Frank McGill points this out: Huck's humble apology for the prank he plays on Jim in the fog is striking evidence of growth in Huck's moral insight. It leads naturally to the next chapter in which Twain causes Huck to face up for the first time to the fact he is helping a slave escape.(119) Another serious issue addressed by Twain is the abuse that was given to Huck by his father. Huck was kidnaped from the Widow Douglas by his father who had heard of his inheritance. Huck's father then took him to a cabin far away in the woods where he kept the boy a prisoner, beating him and half starving him. Twain tells us how Huck felt about life with his father: Before long Huck began to wonder why he had even liked living with the widow. With his father he could smoke and swear all he wanted, and his life would have been quiet pleasant if it had not been for all of the constant beatings.

Benchmark Jobs

In the business world today, many companies are made up of benchmark jobs and also non-benchmark jobs. A benchmark job is an occupation that is common throughout that field of work. Therefore, it is a job that has standard responsibilities that can be found from one organization to another. A non-benchmark job is just the opposite. It is a job that it is unique to the organization and cannot be found in other organizations of the same occupation. Through our interviews one will be able to have a better understanding of a benchmark job, with it being applied to reality. Also, through reading, â€Å"Lectures on the Measurement and Evaluation† by Saul Rosen one will be able to clearly identify a benchmark job. Throughout this article, it goes into detail about real and synthetic benchmark job. As stated in the article, a synthetic benchmark job is one that has been designed specifically for inclusion in a benchmark model. They use this model of benchmark jobs for system measurements or testing of evaluation. Throughout the paper we will discuss the importance of benchmark jobs, the process of determination, what has been found in the past, future research, and discussion on personal interviews and information from articles and books. In the end the reader will be able to have a better understanding from our research on benchmark jobs. The importance of a benchmark job Many individuals may wonder why benchmark jobs are important to an organization. Companies use benchmark jobs as a form of evaluation in order to better their company. Through this information it opens the eyes of the organization to be able to see many new methods and ideas that they may not of otherwise been able to acknowledge. They use these methods and ideas towards improving their effectiveness within the company. Another benefit of a benchmark job is that they can be applied to many different kinds of jobs and also newly created jobs. It is not built to only benefit a certain type of career. The benchmark job process In order to determine a benchmark job, the company can do a survey to compare jobs throughout their industry. There are several questions that a company can ask themselves in order to determine what occupations within their company are classified as a benchmark job. Why does the job exist? What knowledge is needed? What does the job consist of? What couldn’t be done without it? Does almost every company in our industry have this job? Simple questions like these can help businesses determine what jobs are a benchmark job. Some examples of a benchmark job would be a secretary in an administrative company, a scientist in a technical group, or an inspector in a manufacturing business. In the reading â€Å"Handbook of Industrial Engineering: Technology and Operations Management† it discusses the benchmark job process and how it is used for evaluations. The first step is to select a benchmark job. This is very critical to an evaluation, because the entire method is based on them. These benchmark jobs serve as reference points. The number of benchmark jobs for the evaluation varies, because it depends on the range and diversity of the work to be evaluated. Next, one will want to rank the benchmark job. They are ranked on each compensable factor, they use the example of a job family consisting of six jobs is first ranked on mental requirements, 1 being the highest, then on experience and skills, and so on. After each benchmark job is ranked on each factor the next step is to allocate the current wages of that benchmark job among the compensable factors. â€Å"This is done by deciding how much of the wage rate for each benchmark job is associated with mental demands, how much with physical requirements, and so on, across the compensable factors (Salvendy, Gavriel). †

The Role of Mass Media in the World of Politics

The mass media plays a very important role in everyday life. It is often the only form of education which is available to some, and as such has a very powerful influence over people†s beliefs and opinions. This influence is never more evident than when analysing the relationship between the media and politics. Politics can justifiably be described as THE main determining factor in our lives, the major influence over many facets of day to day living, such as finances, healthcare and employment. The media is the major source of information about political affairs, and as such has control over what we actually know about the political system and what we may never find out. As a result of this, it becomes inevitable that the media has a certain ‘hold† over the political arena. The media can judge, approve and criticise. It can make or break political careers, even parties, and the information which the media provides helps the public to form attitudes, responses and opinions towards political events and actors. Thus it becomes very important for the political parties to keep the media ‘on-side†. It is obvious that the media does have some impact on politics, but the main question should be to what extent, how does it manifest itself and why should we care anyway? For the purpose of this essay the media will be described as the press, TV and radio. On the face of it the media is there simply to communicate, or act as a transmitter of information between the political world and the consumer. However, probably since the end of the second world war, it has become clear that the media can often have a hidden agenda when reporting politics. Indeed, one of the most contentious issues over the last few years, at least since I have been ‘consuming† media products, has been the debate over media ownership. This has been particularly evident in the press, the most notable case being the Rupert Murdoch 'empire† – News International. I will start off by discussing the case of the press, as I believe that this is traditionally where much of the impact on politics has occurred, although I will discuss later how this may be changing. One major area of concern about press reporting of politics is the apparent ‘dumbing down† of the coverage, even amongst the broadsheets, and the effect that this may have on politics. In 1993 Labour MP, and current Home Secretary, Jack Straw published a short research report into the press coverage of parliament, ( Negrine, 1998,p1). In doing the report he discovered how Parliamentary issues were now covered to a much lesser degree than in the past, going from between 400-800 lines per day in The Times in 1988, to fewer than 100 lines in 1992. This seemed to show that the broadsheets were following the tabloid example of dumbing down. This has led to the worry that the press is trivialising the political process in the UK. Politics is becoming increasingly personality led, rather than policy led. An event may have political significance or importance, but it will only really be seen as such if the press frames it in a way that makes it interesting and palatable to the reader. It therefore becomes a fact of political life that personalities are more interesting to the majority of the public than policies. This has inevitably led to a change in the political landscape, initiated and perpetuated by the media. There are now several key features to politics in the late twentieth century which were not there before. ‘Political marketing†, the use of ‘negative campaigning† and the introduction of spin doctors have all led to fear of an ‘Americanisation† of the political process. As well as the press, TV has played a major role in ushering in the age of the soundbite. The media has opened up a larger, more accessible audience to the politicians, which many of them find hard to resist. Institutions such as the House of Commons are becoming less and less a way of relaying policy issues and raising concerns, as the political arena is increasingly acted out in the media. Which publicity seeking politician, trying to gain support for their party, would choose the Commons over a highly publicised TV programme such as Question Time, or a high circulation newspaper such as The Sun. There has also been a decline in local party politics, as political communication has become more and more a national rather than local event. The American way of leader based, rather than party based politics has become a reality. This has been evident in the way that Tony Blair has become a media star, never more so than when his wife recently became pregnant. The celebrity image of the Prime Minister has also led to accusations that he lacks real political substance. Some would say another example of the ‘trivialising† of politics has been the introduction of TV cameras into the House of Commons. When it was first proposed in 1966 it was heavily defeated on the grounds that TV cameras would ruin the unique and intimate atmosphere of the house. In 1989 the house first appeared on television. Strict guidelines were issued over what could be shown, including the use of head and shoulder shots only and the banning of reaction shots. There was great unease amongst the sitting MPs, including the then Prime Minister Mrs Thatcher, who said at the time: â€Å".. if you are not careful you can freeze with TV there†¦. it is going to be a different House of Commons, but that is that†, (Politics UK, 1991, p208). There was a gradual thawing of hostile opinion towards the TV cameras, with some exceptions. David Amess, MP, protested that the cameras had managed to, â€Å".. trivialise our proceedings and spoil that very special atmosphere that we had here†, ( Politics UK, p208). The main political parties now recognise the crucial role the media has to play in their success and have reacted accordingly. Political strategies now incorporate media strategies. They try to manipulate the media in order to create a favourable image of themselves. In order to achieve this we have seen the introduction of professional media managers. The media dominated world of politics now needs professional management. Peter Mandelson and Alistair Campbell are two such media experts. They have been partly responsible for transforming the Labour Party from being unelectable to gaining a runaway victory in the 1997 general election. Indeed it has been said that Tony Blair spends more time in meetings with his image and media advisors than he spends discussing policies with his cabinet, which may be a worrying trend for UK politics. There are several ways that these people can attempt to manipulate the media. One such way, many would say to the detriment of the democratic process, is the manufacture of debates which are stage managed to ensure a friendly audience and the communication of well rehearsed answers. There is also a great deal of emphasis placed on image management, and specifically the image of the party leader. This is very evident when looking at the current leaders of the two main parties in the UK today. Despite the best attempts of Conservative central office to jazz up the image of William Hague, he still retains the image of a dull, almost incompetent twit. On the other hand Tony Blair has the image of a dynamic, if slightly shallow, leader. This tends to ignore the fact that Hague is possibly a more intelligent and thoughtful politician than Blair. Another good example of this is the differences between Ronald Reagan and Michael Foot. Reagan was a remarkably unskilled politician, but, being a trained actor, he was very good at conveying what was essentially a simple message. Foot, on the other hand, was a very skilled politician and public speaker. However, his unkempt appearance was not at all media friendly, and after defeat in the 83 general election he was cast aside in favour of a more media friendly Neil Kinnock. Reagan had two successful terms as US President. Many fear that this indicates a move away from real political issues towards a fickle political world where image is everything and political substance nothing. It is clear that a personality clash or a sex scandal can now be more damaging to a political party than an actual policy disagreement. But should we be very concerned about this, and exactly how much of the shifting political tide is down to the media. Some observers point to the fact that plain, unassuming politicians such as John Major and George Bush have enjoyed immensely successful political careers. This may suggest that the public can only be fooled to a certain degree by slick media management, and may eventually get sick of being ‘force fed† so called perfect politicians, with little or no political ability.

7 YouTube Channels to Replenish the Stock of Your Essay Writing Music

7 YouTube Channels to Replenish the Stock of Your Essay Writing Music 7 YouTube Channels to Replenish the Stock of Your Essay Writing Music Music is a great thing to have when you are working. Music in the background can truly be beneficial for you when writing. The reason for this is that the brain does not actually tell time on a regular basis; it tells time based on the surroundings and environment. It is for this reason that listening to a boring lecture can literally feel as though it made time slow down, or when you are having fun with a loved one, time seems to speed up. Music plays a big part in this. Music can dictate to the brain whether time is going by quickly or slowly. Below is a list of great YouTube channels for music you can enjoy while writing your essay: Study Music Club Relax Channel EnjoyStudying Study Music StudyMusicProject Classical Music Compilation Relaxing Study Music Upbeat music with a fast tempo tells the brain that time is moving quickly. This is a great choice for those evenings where you have been working for hours and you are trying to combat sleepiness. Having happier, uplifting and fast music will make you think the work is going by slowly. This is best reserved for those times when you are handling administrative tasks like printing papers, stapling them together, emailing copies to yourself and your teacher, etc†¦ Slow, classical music will convince your mind that time is slowing down. This is ideal for when you need to relax and focus solely on your reading or writing. With calming and relaxing music in the background, your mind and subsequently your body will naturally relax. This is a great thing to have in the background as you are reading over multiple texts for research or trying to calmly put together a well-organized paper. It is very important to remember though that music with lyrics will prove distracting. So if you are trying to write a creative paper, you will likely find it harder to do if the music you have playing (slow or fast) has lyrics. The reason for this is that the brain is listening to the lyrics and going back and forth between focusing on the writing and focusing on the lyrics. This causes many distractions and delays. This is exacerbated by songs to which you have memorized lyrics. If you have memorized a song, or have heard it enough to subconsciously memorize it, then your mind will focus on that instead. When you are writing an essay, it is good to have essay writing music to help you stay motivated, but remember that music plays an interesting role in our level of production. So if you want to slow your mind down, pick something that is relaxing. If you want to speed things up and make a list of mundane actions seem interesting, then pick something fast paced. Just remember to avoid the music with lyrics you know quite well or you will end up distracted more often than not.

Can You Take the ACT in College

Can You Take the ACT in College SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you took the ACT in high school, you were probably perfectly content to bid it farewell when you want on to college. If you didn't take it in high school, you were probably just as glad to get a pass on that particular trial. But what if you need to take it after you graduate? Can you take the ACT in college? Yes! It's absolutely possible to take the ACT in college; there's nothing standing in your way.This article will discuss reasons to take the ACT as a college student, what the process is like, and what makes it different than taking it in high school. Reasons to Take the ACT in College There are a few reasons a person might need to take the ACT in college. Some scholarships- and even jobs- require applicants to provide their scores. Usually that means scores from a high school test date, but, if youdidn't take the ACT in high school, or if you need higher scores and you think you can do better, then it may become necessary to take the test later on. Always be in contact with the organization you're applying to or through in order to get the most precise and specific information. Most of the time, if you're thinking about taking the ACT in college, it's connected to a prospective transfer.Many schools require ACT scores, and you want to put your very best foot forward. That may mean retesting, if your high school scores weren't great. Some schools have different requirements for different circumstances. They may require scores only for first-year and possibly second-year applicants. They may require scores only if students already took the test. Other schools are test-optional or test-blind. This means that you will not be required to submit test scores, whether you're a transfer or applying afresh. Test-optional schools will accept scores but do not require them, where as test-blind schools will not look at your scores at all. The moral of the story is, you need to know the policy of the college in question. If you can't find the necessary information online- and many colleges have web pages specific to transfer policies- it's important to contact someone at the school. The website may have an email address for the administrative offices; otherwise, you'll have to pick up a phone and call. This student iswondering just how badly he needs those ACT scores. Logistics of Taking the ACT in College The mechanics of taking the test will be largely unchanged for you as a college student. If you took it in high school, it's going to be the same basic deal, logistically, as it was then. How to Register You can register online or, technically, by mail. Now, it's not especially convenient to do it by mail, but it's possible. You'll berequired to submit a picture and providesome very basic personal information, and you'll be asked to answer a number of non-mandatory questions about coursework, etc.Online, the process is said to take about 40 minutes. Where Can You Take It You're going to be taking the ACT at a test center. This might be a high school, or it might be a college campus; either way, you'll be taking it with local high schoolers. The fact that you're a college student isn't treated specially. You'll be takingthe ACTthe same way, in the same place, as all the other test-takers. Advice for Testers in College Remember, the ACT is designed for high schoolers. Don't think, though, that it'll be a breeze for you just because you're in college. You've probably gotten a little rusty on some of those high school topics. Recall that the ACT tests reading, math, English, science, and writing. Depending on your major, you may not have been coveringall of these topics in your college coursework. In other words, one way or another, it's been awhile since you were fully fluent in everything the ACT tests you on. As such, it's important to prep for the testand get back up to speed on anything that's fallen by the wayside. Realize that the test does undergo changes from time to time. There hasn't been any major overhaul recently, but there have been a few pronounced adjustments. As of last year, there are nowpaired passages on the Reading test, and the Writing test has been completely redesigned.The test is going to be at least a little different than the last time you took it (if you've taken it at all). This is another reason to prepare. On the ACT, as in an emergency, it's always best to be prepared. 3 Key Tips on Preparing for the ACT in College The logistics of registration may not change much from high school to college, but your strategy on how to prepare should. Get Familiar with the ACT's Unique Style Questions on the ACT are not designed to mimic our everyday interactions; the questions are dense and rigid, as are the answer choices. It's definitely not anything insurmountable, but you don't want to let this fact slow you down on test day. Therefore, it's important to take a practice test and examine practice questions to get a feel for the style and tone of the test. Review Topics You're Not Fully Secure On As mentioned above, there are bound to be a few subjects you've kind of forgotten. It's not wise to take the test cold; if you do, you're taking a serious gamble. If your score is not what you want, you've lost the test fee and several hours of your weekend- for nothing. A little preparation in the first place will save you that headache and help you avoid needing to take the thing yet again. Consider Your Schedule and Your Needs College, for many people, is an extraordinarily busy time. It's a time when we're learning how to balance involvementin the activities we're passionate about with the need for downtime. Classes are already grueling; add on sports, clubs, jobs, and hanging out with friends, and things can get out of hand quickly. Be realistic, then, about your limits. Give yourself plenty of time to study. Check your schedule and your syllabi- don't commit to taking the ACT in the midst of midterms or anything like that! You don't want too many tests piling up on the horizon. Conclusion There are a few reasons to take the ACT in college, and we've talked a little about how to approach the task. The whole process is basically the same as it is for high schoolers: you'll be registering the same way, and you'll be in a test center with high schoolers. Still, you need to recognize that you're approaching it at a different age and from a different era in your life. The main relevance of this is the importance of studying for the test ahead of time; it's not designed for college students, so you need to get used to the way it works. What's Next? Read more about the logistics of the ACT in general. It's a good idea to be familiar with the process of the test. Remember that all questions on standardized tests can be viewed as analytical. Let that inform your approach onthe test. Since the essay may be a little different than what you're writing in your classes, take some time to get used to how to handle the Writing section. Want to improve your ACT score by 4+ points? Download our free guide to the top 5 strategies you need in your prep to improve your ACT score dramatically.

Critical Evaluation of Current Integrated Marketing Communications Essay - 3

Critical Evaluation of Current Integrated Marketing Communications Practice(BKK) - Essay Example This article looks at the communication tools that the Ford Motors Company deploy in ensuring effective communication and transfer of the message from the sender to the receiver as intended. The receiver in this case being the target market, the company has to ensure the right information is conveyed otherwise it may easily be knocked out of the market. The article further explores the various challenges that face the company in the process of implementation of its communication activities both in the internal and external environment of the company. Different companies use different communication tools and media to convey information to the target markets. The incorporation of the communication tools and media together to keep the customer updated is summarized in what is called integrated marketing communications. Such communication tools include personal selling, publicity, sales promotion and advertising. The communication tools are print media, broadcast media or electronic media. Many challenges are faced in the practice of integrated marketing communication that need to be looked into with as much concern as they deserve. Ford Motors Company promotes the sales of the automobiles it produces worldwide thereby enabling it to maximize profit from the broad market base due to the vast number of consumers. (Banham, 2002, p. 234)The commodore and falcon brands manufactured by ford motors have outdone all the other traditional cars in the Australian markets with more than 20% of the total number of new cars in the country being from Ford Motors Company. Ford also makes sales in the United States of America from which its headquarters is based. (Banham, 2002, p. 236) It’s the second largest automobile industry in the country after general motors. The company produces a wide variety of automobiles to capture maximum number of consumers. Cars are