The Story A & P By John Updike Is A Tale Of A Young Man Who Lets His D

The story A & P by John Updike is a tale of a young man who lets his desires and his anger get a little to far ahead of him and in the end winds up quitting his job. The main character of the story is Sammy. An eighteen year old boy from a small suburb outside Boston who works at an A & P Supermarket. Sammy seems like an average boy who seems a tad bit tired of the regular customers who come into his store. Regular customers including those older married women with multiple kids, the overweight lady who has no regrets wearing her bathing suit that doesn't quite cover, and the nit picking old ladies who spend years trying to catch an error by a cashier. It's the last ditch effort to make an impression on a beautiful young lady that ends up leaving Sammy unemployed. The story starts out in an A & P outside of Boston when in through the door walks three young lady sporting nothing except for revealing two piece bathing suits. Quickly noticed by Sammy, he changes his focus towards the three girls and critiques them in his head as he watches them shop about the store. It's the leader of the pack, which Sammy coins the nickname Queenie, that really catches his eye. A tall brown haired girl whose shoulder straps had fallen off of her shoulders and just dangled around her arms. Entranced by her beauty and feeling blessed when Queenie and her pack enter Sammy's line, he begins to ring up her can of fancy herring snacks. As Queenie reaches into the center of her bikini to remove the dollar to pay for the snack in walks Lengel. Lengel, Sammy's uptight dreary manager quickly notices the outfits of the three girls which sticks out like a full moon on a clear night begins to walk over and confront Queenie. Lengel proceeds to harass and embarrass Queenie and her friends about their attire. Sammy was quick to ring up the purchase and hand Queenie a bag with her food in it. Now was the time Sammy was to make his move, whether it be his hope just to catch the attention of such a thing of beauty or maybe it was his anger toward Lengel for ruing this beautiful moment that cashiers dream about . Not surprised at the girls attempt to speed out the store, Sammy quickly hollered out I quit. The girls had heard him, but that's it, they continued to walk across the parking lot, it was just Sammy and Lengel now. Realizing what he had done, and still hoping by that some slim miracle the girls would turn around and crown him their hero. It wasn't gonna happen and Sammy knew he could now go back now and that his decision, as wrong it may have been was final. The story A & P by John Updike is a tale of a young man who lets his desires and his anger get a little to far ahead of him and in the end winds up quitting his job. The main character of the story is Sammy. An eighteen year old boy from a small suburb outside Boston who works at an A & P Supermarket. Sammy seems like an average boy who seems a tad bit tired of the regular customers who come into his store. Regular customers including those older married women with multiple kids, the overweight lady who has no regrets wearing her bathing suit that doesn't quite cover, and the nit picking old ladies who spend years trying to catch an error by a cashier. It's the last ditch effort to make an impression on a beautiful young lady that ends up leaving Sammy unemployed. The story starts out in an A & P outside of Boston when in through the door walks three young lady sporting nothing except for revealing two piece bathing suits. Quickly noticed by Sammy, he changes his focus towards the three girls and critiques them in his head as he watches them shop about the store. It's the leader of the pack, which Sammy coins the nickname Queenie, that really catches his eye. A

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The Presidents Role in the U.S. Federal Budget Process

The Presidents Role in the U.S. Federal Budget Process The annual federal budget process begins the first Monday in February of each year and should be concluded by October 1, the start of the new Federal Fiscal Year. In some make that most years, the October 1 date is not met. Here is how the process is supposed to work. The President Submits a Budget Proposal to Congress In the first step of the annual U.S. federal budget process, the President of the United States formulates and submits a budget request for the upcoming fiscal year to Congress. Under the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, the president is required to submit his or her proposed budget to Congress for each government fiscal year, the 12-month period beginning on October 1 and ending on September 30 of the next calendar year. Current federal budget law requires the president to submit the budget proposal budget between the first Monday in January and the first Monday in February. Typically, the president’s budget is submitted during the first week of February. However, especially in years when the new, incoming president belongs to a different party than the former president, submittal of the budget may be delayed. The president’s budget proposal may also be delayed by pressing government financial difficulties. For example, President Barack Obama did not submit his FY 2014 budget proposal until April 10, 2013, due to ongoing negotiations with Congress over the implementation of the budget sequester and mandatory spending cuts dictated by the Budget Control Act of 2011. In fiscal year 2016, the federal budget called for the expenditure of nearly $4 trillion. So, as you might imagine, deciding exactly how that much taxpayer money is to be spent represents a major part of the president’s job. While the formulation of the president’s annual budget proposal takes several months, the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (the Budget Act) requires that it be presented to Congress on or before the first Monday in February. In formulating the budget request, the president is assisted by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), a major, independent part of the Executive Office of the President. The president’s budget proposals, as well as the final approved budget, are posted on the OMB website. Based on the input of the federal agencies, the presidents budget proposal projects estimated spending, revenue, and borrowing levels broken down by functional categories for the coming fiscal year to start on October 1.The president’s budget proposal includes volumes of information prepared by the president intended to convince Congress that the president’s spending priorities and amounts are justified. In addition, each federal executive branch agency and independent agency includes its own funding request and supporting information. All of these documents are also posted on the OMB website. The presidents budget proposal includes a suggested level of funding for each Cabinet-level agency and all programs currently administered by them. The presidents budget proposal serves as a starting point for the Congress to consider. Congress is under no obligation to adopt all or any of the Presidents budget and often makes significant changes. However, since the President must ultimately approve all future bills they might pass, Congress is often reluctant to completely ignore the spending priorities of the Presidents budget. House and Senate Budget Committees Report the Budget Resolution The Congressional Budget Act requires passage of an annual Congressional Budget Resolution, a concurrent resolution passed in identical form by both House and Senate, but not requiring the Presidents signature. The Budget Resolution is an important document providing Congress an opportunity to lay out its own spending, revenue, borrowing and economic goals for the coming fiscal year, as well as the next five future fiscal years. In recent years, the Budget Resolution has included suggestions for government program spending reforms leading to the goal of a balanced budget. Both the House and Senate Budget Committees hold hearings on the annual Budget Resolution. The committees seek testimony from presidential administration officials, Members of Congress and expert witnesses. Based on testimony and their deliberations, each committee writes or marks-up its respective version of the Budget Resolution. The Budget Committees are required to present or report their final Budget Resolution for consideration by the full House and Senate by April 1. Next Steps: Congress Prepares its Budget Resolution

Kindly see the attachment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Kindly see the attachment - Research Paper Example However, these fractions of art are not restricted from critique based on academic approaches. Therefore, this paper will identify three artists from high Renaissances, compare and contrast two works from each of them. The term Renaissance was derived from French, whereby it was a word referring to "rebirth" (Burke, 1). This period marked a transition for the classical styles, which had been obtained from the Greek and Roman artist. In high Renaissances, Raphael Raffaello Sanzio, Michelangelo Buonarroti and Leonardo da Vinci were considered geniuses due their astounding talent; in fact, there were other hundreds of artists during this period, since "Renaissance" reigned in entire Europe (Burke, 2). On the other hand, "Renaissance" was a process that existed for a long period; in fact, it occurred over centuries. However, numerous artists during the high Renaissance created their masterpieces under the influence of their religion, and their value was based on techniques and accuracy ( Burke, 2). Raphael Raffaello Sanzio Works of Art Artist name: Raphael Raffaello Sanzio Title: The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple Year: 1511 Medium: Handmade Oil Painting Kren Emil and Marx Daniel. â€Å"Raphael Raffaello Sanzio: The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple† Web Gallery of Art. 1996. Web. 11 April 2013. ... The composition of this painting is enhanced through breaking of symmetry and colorful effects depicted through the Stanza della Segnatura (Kren and Marx, 1). Furthermore, the focal point of this scene is shifted at the right side of the painting, where Heliodorus is lying beside the stolen treasures. Pope Julius is dominating the left side of this painting as a bystander, who reappears subsequently in the scene (Kren and Marx, 1). Nevertheless, in this painting there is an illumination of caused by a reflection of glow in the vault at the center, and a section of blue sky appearing via coffered ceiling. Artist name: Raphael Raffaello Sanzio Title: The Vision of Ezekiel Year: 1518 Medium: Oil on panel Kren Emil and Marx Daniel. â€Å"Raphael Raffaello Sanzio: The Vision of Ezekiel† Web Gallery of Art. 1996. Web. 11 April 2013. Ideas in this painting were derived from the Bible, whereby Raphael took this chance to describe four Cherubim, which was inspired by iconography from B abylon (Kren and Marx, 1). Therefore, this painting offers a portrayal of conventional divinity incorporated with conventional symbols of Evangelists. There is a turbulent sky visible in the painting; some trees are dominating low wide background, while the divine group hovering in the midst of the clouds, while they are encircled by bright illumination. Some of Evangelists symbols in this painting include the angle, eagle, lion, ox and cherubs (Kren and Marx, 1). Ezekiel has been insignificantly depicted through this painting at the background; in fact, he is hardly noticeable due domination of balanced composition of colors

Differences of Perceptions of the Amount of School Bullying Between Research Paper

Differences of Perceptions of the Amount of School Bullying Between Students and Staff - Research Paper Example The results of the study were illustrated by the answers to the following questions provided by 129 respondents from students and 32 respondents from school staff. The range of questions illustrated different representations of the issues connected with bullying, its prevention and post-reactions for it. In the result of the survey, both teachers and students reflected the presence of bullying at school. First of all, both male and female students confirmed that there were possible fights at school. The students were often arguing among each other. The most interesting fact was that some students were often beaten up by other students or are teased more often than other students. Therefore, it could be seen that both male and female students underlined the presence of a special group or victims of bullying. Moreover, the girls confirmed the presence of arguments or fights more readily than males do. What was important to note was that both males and females felt safe on the playgroun ds and in cafeterias, hallways and school bathrooms, classrooms (more than 70%). Therefore, it can be seen that there were cases of bullying, but students feel safe at school in general. The students were aware of behavior they were expected to show (more than 70%). Fortunately, the students showed a lot of trust for their teachers and principals concerning the issue of school safety. The principles were too severe and strict in their rules of order and teachers were reliable to keep the order at school (69% and 18, 6% respectively). The next set of questions concerned verbal threats at school or cases of physical violence. There were no cases of verbal or physical violence at the school. No alcohol or drug consumption. But there were cases when students... This essay approves that the divergence between the students’ and teachers’ perceptions of bullying was evident. It should be noted that despite the limitations this study might have, it provided new information regarding teachers’ and students’ perceptions of bullying. Both teachers and students agreed upon the presence of bullying at school. It should be noted that teachers were more concerned on evident types of bullying, while students were more aware of concealed forms of bullying. It is possible to underline the necessity of school based interventions for bullying in order to prevent social and emotional problems among students and teachers. This report makes a conclusion that the implementation of anti-bullying programs means determination of the engagement level of interest among students and teachers concerning bullying. Therefore, it is relevant to develop anti-bullying programs at schools and promote intervention policies directed on elimination of bullying practices. Prevention practices are more effective than post-bullying negative outcomes experienced both by the teachers and the students. With the help of this research it is possible to bridge the gap between students and teachers perceptions of bullying by implementation of informing strategies directed on bullying prevention. Practical implications of the study in relation to the recent developments in the research of bullying at school are a perfect basis for logical developments and inventions in this field.

Storytelling in Achebe Essay Example for Free

Storytelling in Achebe Essay In Achebe’s novel â€Å"Anthills of the Savannah† storytelling is presented as a means to escape the effects of colonialism in Africa. He presents Storytelling in many different ways: through myth and folklore, Beatrice, Ikem and the Abazonian elder and it is clear to the reader that storytelling plays an important part in Kangan. Achebe also explores storytelling as a way to pass down historical values from generation to generation, as shown by Beatrice’s process of enlightenment at the sight of the bird. He also uses storytelling to weave traditional religious elements with that of modern society. Ikem is a clear storyteller, and the reader sees this even more as the book progresses, after he witnesses the Abazonian elder’s speech. Achebe’s purpose to have the â€Å"Hymn to the sun† written by Ikem is to set the semi-religious elements of Kangan/Nigeria, against modernity, which in, chapter 3 particularly, is shown through the combustion of traffic that Ikem faces. This shows the reader the struggle in Post-colonial African countries. Ikem writes â€Å"like anthills surviving to tell the new grass of the savannah about last year’s bush fire. † which can be a symbol or metaphor for the oppression of women in post-colonial Africa and gives the title a relevance as it shows that the corruption and political struggles in kangan is a cyclical process. The oppression of women is further explored in Ikem’s â€Å"love poem† which he reads to Beatrice to thank her for the gift of â€Å"insight†. Ikem’s love letter states that the oppression of women is a problem in post-colonial societies but it is not only a problem in Kangan as â€Å"there is no universal conglomerate of the oppressed† and this is important to understand. The reader is further enlightened on the chaos when Ikem says â€Å" Reform may sound like a dirty word but then it is beginning to look as if it is the most promising route to success,†. The supposing style of his saying created through the words â€Å"most promising†, and â€Å"may† show that there may not be a solution to the chaotic problems. It also signals a change in Ikem’s character, as the tone and style of his saying show that he has changed his mind about what could be the best solution (before he was a passionate revolutionist). This version of storytelling is what ultimately leads to his tragic death later in the novel because he voices these opinions in his radical editorials. Beatrice, on the other hand is also a storyteller but in a different way than Ikem. Through her version of storytelling, she proves that there is indeed hope for women to have a better future in a post-colonial society. She is described as a â€Å"priestess† as through her character, Achebe has fused the Kanganese woman and the woman from the â€Å"house of the unknown god. † One particular stage which plays an important part in her evolution into a â€Å"priestess† is through her experience with the bird. The bird is a symbol for the fact that the effects of colonialism are starting to be evident. This is because even the bird is given a colonial voice, through an English proverb taught to her by her mother: â€Å"Is the king’s property correct?† and this questions whether the political government in place after colonialism is right. This has allowed Beatrice to realise the struggle between the African and English culture. The reader sees her assuming the role of â€Å"Priestess† more frequently as the novel progresses as she connects to the culture of Africa. She learns the story of â€Å"Idemili† a goddess in the African myth and although she does not know the story, she herself grows into a wiser and more compassionate woman, emphasising her evolution into a â€Å"priestess†. In chapter 16, just before Chris’ departure to Abazon, he spends one last night with Beatrice, and in this particular chapter, she exerts a â€Å"jest of godessy† which Chris is attracted to. Her â€Å"jest† as a goddess gives a sense of religious ritual to their intimacy, and her role is further reinforced when they talk about the â€Å"bedbug’s excuse† as Beatrice is weaving traditional elements of African culture with that of post-colonial Africa, and through this Achebe is exploring storytelling as being everlasting. The notion that the â€Å"story is everlasting† is further explored through the Abazonian elder’s speech. He speaks at great length about the power of storytelling and tells the Abazon community a story of the â€Å"Tortoise and Leopard† which can be interpreted as a metaphor for the struggle between Sam and Abazon. Here he is conveying that the people of Abazon need to have a voice in the political regime. He goes on to say â€Å"Because it is only the story that can continue beyond the war and the warrior .. . The story is our escort; without it, we are blind,† and this shows how through storytelling, a community can retain its history and tradition and how it can seek advice on how society can progress in the future. This is why storytelling is everlasting. Ikem however, contrasts this view in his lecture at the University of Bassa, and expresses through the same story of the â€Å"tortoise and the leopard† that the role of a writer is to ask questions and not suggest solutions to them. The idea that â€Å"Storytellers are a threat† is shown as the power of writing manifests into a threat for Ikem, who is later taken away in the middle of that night and is shot and killed, and thus, another view with which Achebe explores storytelling with. Overall, storytelling is a major technique which Achebe uses, emphasising the novel’s purpose, to question the political regime that is in place in post-colonial African society and this is why storytellers are perceived as a threat. As Ikem, Achebe’s alter-ego says, the role of the writer is not to propose solutions to problems in post-colonial Africa. However, the â€Å"story is everlasting† as it allows a community who is struggling to maintain it’s History and tradition, and perhaps, even seek guidance on how to progress in the future. Achebe has used 2 very contrasting views on storytelling in order for the reader to gain a deeper insight into the events of the novel. His reason to explore storytelling links back to the multi-narrative structure employed in this novel, which shows that people must take into account different views in order to both question the problems in post-colonial Africa and find solutions to them.

Macbeth :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Macbeth†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When a play is presented on film, the director takes the script, and with poetic license, interprets it. A film not only contains the actual words of the author (in this case Shakespeare), but it includes action, acting, and cinematographic techniques; the three are used to better portray the author’s story. Using these elements, the director’s interpretation of the plot is reinforced. The film provides symbolic images and a visual interpretation, hence Shakespeare’s play â€Å"Macbeth† is better understood by the viewers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The use of action was essential in the film. Murder, parties, battles, dancing, and embraces were actions that were focused upon the most. For example, in the scenes of Duncan’s murder, the actions of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, the two guards, and Duncan were emphasized. The director used close-ups and long pauses in dialogue and action to give the viewer more time to focus on details in the scenes. Also, the long pauses and close-ups add to the drama, and overall mood of the film. Facial expressions, body movements, and speech were combined to portray â€Å"Macbeth† in such a way that the characters, and their emotions could be better understood. Thus, reinforcing the plot. For example, the close-ups of Macbeth’s face in the scenes surrounding Duncan’s murder clearly convey to the viewer his fear, guilt, uncertainty, anxiety, confusion and horror. Without these close-ups, these emotions might possibly have not been c learly sent to the viewer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The actions of the characters as a whole in the film portray the change in mood over the course of the film. For example, in the beginning scenes, the soldiers rode high on their horses, the children played and laughed, townspeople seemed to be bustling about in a pleasant manner, and smiles were on all faces, especially at the party at Macbeth’s house the night of Duncan’s murder. Towards the end of the fourth act, the soldiers, townspeople, and children were crying, moaning and showed signs of suffering. In conclusion, these overall actions of the characters portrayed the mood change over the course of the film, thus emphasizing the fact that Macbeth had brought poverty, sorrow and horror to Scotland.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The cinematography enforced the mood, drama, and plot. The use of color in the film was telltale of the mood. The colors were drab, lifeless, mellow colors. These colors were telltale signs of the setting and mood of the play. The setting was in a sorrowful, dirty, suffering country; the mood was sorrowful and suffering as well. Macbeth :: essays research papers   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Macbeth†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When a play is presented on film, the director takes the script, and with poetic license, interprets it. A film not only contains the actual words of the author (in this case Shakespeare), but it includes action, acting, and cinematographic techniques; the three are used to better portray the author’s story. Using these elements, the director’s interpretation of the plot is reinforced. The film provides symbolic images and a visual interpretation, hence Shakespeare’s play â€Å"Macbeth† is better understood by the viewers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The use of action was essential in the film. Murder, parties, battles, dancing, and embraces were actions that were focused upon the most. For example, in the scenes of Duncan’s murder, the actions of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, the two guards, and Duncan were emphasized. The director used close-ups and long pauses in dialogue and action to give the viewer more time to focus on details in the scenes. Also, the long pauses and close-ups add to the drama, and overall mood of the film. Facial expressions, body movements, and speech were combined to portray â€Å"Macbeth† in such a way that the characters, and their emotions could be better understood. Thus, reinforcing the plot. For example, the close-ups of Macbeth’s face in the scenes surrounding Duncan’s murder clearly convey to the viewer his fear, guilt, uncertainty, anxiety, confusion and horror. Without these close-ups, these emotions might possibly have not been c learly sent to the viewer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The actions of the characters as a whole in the film portray the change in mood over the course of the film. For example, in the beginning scenes, the soldiers rode high on their horses, the children played and laughed, townspeople seemed to be bustling about in a pleasant manner, and smiles were on all faces, especially at the party at Macbeth’s house the night of Duncan’s murder. Towards the end of the fourth act, the soldiers, townspeople, and children were crying, moaning and showed signs of suffering. In conclusion, these overall actions of the characters portrayed the mood change over the course of the film, thus emphasizing the fact that Macbeth had brought poverty, sorrow and horror to Scotland.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The cinematography enforced the mood, drama, and plot. The use of color in the film was telltale of the mood. The colors were drab, lifeless, mellow colors. These colors were telltale signs of the setting and mood of the play. The setting was in a sorrowful, dirty, suffering country; the mood was sorrowful and suffering as well.

Essay on Recession

Downturns are stressful and typically increase people's desire for simplicity. (Flatters and Wolcott, 2009, up. 3). Credit crunch has affected consumers massively. Consumers have to think where they need to shop and what they need to look for to avoid struggles during recession. Things Like food, bills, and mortgage have to be prioritize Instead of buying new house, furniture, going on holiday, spending money on social activities or buying trendy clothing. During recession consumers have to make sure that they find the products for the money they pay.Brand names are getting less important for people as their priorities are different this tough time. Customers are more likely to shop for clothes in supermarket now instead of designer clothing as they have to think about the future living and getting bargains is essential to survive. A lot of consumers changed the way they shop and where they shop. People started looking for bargains and they didn't care which shops offered them as lon g as It was the best deal. In other hand, a lot of consumers remained within their favorite shops.Rust and Cohort, (1993), tied In McCormick (2002,p. 1 1 2) found that loyal shoppers are more likely to ‘forgive' occasional service failures and the inertia factor within loyalty makes them less likely to switch stores. A lot of people don't like change and staying loyal is important for them as well as for the company. Conclusion Downturn has influenced consumer in different ways. Consumer had to change their lifestyle and adapt to the changes, but now people think about their future strongly avoiding the struggles created by recession.

Mughal Inspiration: Art Forms Increasing Culture

After the Mughals arrived in India, a great cultural growth occurred in many different forms of art, such as music, visual art, architecture, and literature. India was already a country with many different cultural aspects, but the Mughals, of Turkish-Mongolian descent, expanded the realm of art even further. This Mughal art and architecture was considered an Indo-Islamic-Persian style, which combined different aspects of Islamic and Persian art with indigenous Indian art. This style thrived during the Mughal Empire from approximately 1526-1857 A. D. The monarchs of the Mughal dynasty encouraged art in areas such as literature and painting and created many great buildings and gardens that are still a great display of beauty today. The presence of the Mughals in India added to Indians’ cultural life through the beautiful and rich forms of art such as architecture, painting, literature, and music that they introduced to the subcontinent. First, the Mughals made many great contributions in architecture. The mausoleums, mosques, palaces, and cities that the Mughals created were very rich and intricate. In the words of A. L Basham, â€Å"The Mughal period was one of great splendour, and has left its mark on India in the form of many lovely buildings, wherein Islamic and Hindu motifs often blended in perfect unity. † The most noticeable contribution that the Mughals made in art was architecture, because they left so many great mausoleums, mosques, and palaces. Perhaps the most famous piece of architecture even in the worl d today is the Taj Mahal, which is a mausoleum that was built by the Mughal monarch Shah Jahan to entomb his third wife’s remains after she died in childbirth. Construction on this beautiful structure began in around 1632 and was completed in the year 1653. This structure was built mainly of marble, and it includes many tranquil gardens and canals. It is an Islamic structure, but it still was a â€Å"symbol of beauty and excellence for all Indians regardless of religious or sectarian affiliation. † Although this structure was built for an Islamic woman and was influenced by the Islamic style, people from all backgrounds and religions appreciated it for its beauty and symbol of eternal love. The first three Mughal emperors, Babur, Hamayun, and Akbar, each used the Iranian Timurid style of combining marble and red sandstone in the structures that they built. For example, Akbar, the third monarch of the Mughal Empire, built a new capital city called Fatehpur Sikri, which sat on a rocky plateau and overlooked a lake. A royal mosque with a palace was set to the west with the residential town area residing below. The city was gated with a grand entrance made of the red sandstone, and a lofty flight of steps were climbed to reach the city. There was also a marble tomb for Salim Chishti inside the city. Chishti was a Sufi mystic who told Akbar that he would eventually have three sons. The tomb was made of marble, and consisted of geometric shapes and inscribed verses from the Quran. The design of the inscribed verses was considered an abstract form of Islam. This shows the influence that Islam had on the tomb, and therefore on the rest of the citizens who saw this mausoleum in their city every day. Other Mughal monarchs made their mark on Indian architecture as well. Jahangir and his wife Nur Jahan built tombs for Akbar, his father, at Sikandra and for her father at Agra, respectively. These tombs both incorporated the marble theme that the Mughal emperors before them had started. Overall, the Mughals devoted most of their greatest efforts to burial places for their loved ones. They also developed many fortress-like palaces with intricate details. For example, many of the rooms and corridors in these palaces were shielded from the outside by jalis, or latticework windows. They contained â€Å"mirror rooms†, wall alcoves, small waterways to provide air conditioning, and many statues and sculptures. Many intricate details were used in not only the palaces but also all of the structures that the Mughal monarchs built. The architecture of the Mughals added a very noticeable elegance and beauty to the Indian subcontinent. Another example of a form of art that enriched Indian culture with the arrival of the Mughals was painting. Mughal paintings were and still are very treasured Indian art. Generally, the paintings that the artists created from that time had a realistic yet imaginative style to them. Annemarie Schimmel stated in her book on the Mughal Empire that Mughal style â€Å"developed from the interaction between the refined Persian style and the strong, lively version of the Hindu artists. † There was a naturalistic style in these paintings, which was not seen in Iranian tradition or in early indigenous paintings of India. Some believe that it may have been both Akbar’s interest in realism and the European prints that arrived at court that influenced the artists to create this style and use naturalistic colors. The second monarch of the Mughal dynasty was Humayun, who was very intrigued by paintings. If an exotic bird flew into his tent, he caught it and ordered his artists to paint it. This shows his love and passion for painting, even if it was just of a small bird. Akbar, the third emperor, seemed to be the most enthused of all the Mughal emperors about paintings. He encouraged artists to paint and to show him their work; if he enjoyed it, he would give them rewards. Sometimes, he would even honor the especially talented artists with titles or positions close to the throne. In some of the paintings of Akbar’s time, Islamic attitudes towards the representations of living things were considered. Akbar had stated that the reason that the paintings of living things were somewhat imaginative was because the artists could not make anything individualistic, because every arm looks the same and every body looks the same. Therefore, they put their own spin on whatever they were painting, making it unique and abstract. Akbar also believed that painting deepened faith in God, while many others believed it to be blasphemous. The Mughals also showed interest in allegorical themes. They had paintings of Christ, the Last Supper, St. John, and other religious allegories that were not affiliated with their own religion. The reason for their possession of this artwork, though, was nothing more than curiosity. The fact that the Mughal emperors were willing to have paintings of Christian descent shows that they appreciated any and all forms of paintings that they came across, and it added to the diversity of the artwork that they had and broadened their cultural life. The Mughals greatly enjoyed paintings and made this form of art a part of their daily lives by having their own artists with them at all times and by rewarding those who showed them their creations. The Mughals’ arrival also influenced of other forms of art such as literature, music, and even textiles. The first emperor, Babur, and all of his descendents shared a love of fine books. They also thought that calligraphy was very important too; it was not just the contents of books that mattered; they appreciated the calligraphy as well. Akbar was supposedly illiterate, but he worked around this by having people read to him and having scribes take his dictation. His library contained over 24,000 books, of a variety of subjects. Much of his library had books of important Sufi writings, which showed his devotion to his Islamic religion. Also, because Akbar was tolerant of various religions outside of Islam, his library contained translations of Hindu texts. The great variety in these books show the appreciation they had for all kinds of books, no matter what they were about. Each of the emperors were also interested in textiles, but especially Akbar. He appreciated fine-quality velvets, silks and cottons. In each of the Mughal monarchs’ palaces, tombs, and tents, there were fine carpets that were used to cover the floors. They appreciated anything fine and beautiful that they could use to decorate their homes. Lastly, the Mughals brought a unique twist on the music of that time period in India. During the Mughals time period, Indian Classical music arose as two different traditions. There was the north Indian Hindustani and the south Indian Carnatic, which arose mainly because of the Islamic influence. The Hindustani tradition was a mixture of traditional Indian music and aspects of Persian performances. Many new musical forms and instruments formed under the Mughal rule. While some of these musical forms began to form a few centuries before the Mughals arrived, they reached their pinnacle under the rule of the Mughals. The Indian Carnatic music, on the other hand, focused more on the vocal portions of the music and less on the instruments. Most of the Carnatic compositions were written to be sung and performed in a singing style with less focus on the instruments. Each of these forms of Indian classical music, Hindustani and Carnatic, were from Hindu origins. This music helped to evolve Hinduism and allowed its people to practice their religion in a different way. In a more negative light, though, Aurangzeb, perhaps one of the least flexible rulers of the Mughal empire, allowed only strict interpretations of Islam, therefore barring music. This caused music to be driven underground and caused the performers of music to become social outcasts. Overall, though, the Mughal Empire had more lenient rulers that allowed music to flow through India and influence people in a positive light. The Indians were able to expand their musical preferences and appreciate newer forms of music. Directly following the arrival of the Mughals, a great increase in Indian culture occurred through various forms of art such as architecture, painting, literature, and music. Although the Mughals were descended from warriors, they had a great eye for beauty and displayed their love for art through the pieces of work that they contributed to their empire. The great cultural varieties that the Indian people were exposed to by the Mughals allowed their already rich and diverse culture to have even more variety. With art to join them, both Hindus and Muslims were able to live together in harmony during most of this time period. This is also due to the rulers who allowed it, of course, but with these new ways to express art it allowed the Indian people to be united regardless of their religious views and backgrounds. People were influenced to share their own artwork and their cultural diversity expanded even further. Because of the Mughals presence in India beginning from the sixteenth century, Indians’ cultural life was broadened through the beautiful and rich forms of art like architecture, painting, literature, and music that the Mughals brought to them.

10 Fundamental Ways To Boost Your Facebook Organic Reach By 193% - CoSchedule Blog

10 Fundamental Ways To Boost Your Facebook Organic Reach By 193% Blog Frustrated with your Facebook organic reach? You aren’t alone. Facebook marketing has changed a lot over the past few years.  The days are gone when you could throw up a Facebook post and then sit back and do nothing while tons of engagement filled your page. Now most brands are lucky if 10% of their fans see their posts in the news feed. But we can help! At Facebook’s F8 conference in April, everyone finally learned how the news feed algorithm actually works.  What’s the bottom line? Facebook wants marketers to step up their game. If you want to increase your organic reach on Facebook, I encourage you to be laser-focused on a proven strategy that works. 10 Fundamental Ways To Boost Your #Facebook Organic Reach By 193% via @PostPlannerWhat is organic reach on Facebook? Its a measurement of how many folks see your organic content. In this post, I’m going to show you how to DOUBLE your Facebook organic reach. How do I know you can do this? Because we did it.  Our Post Planner Facebook page  grew 193% from January 1, 2015–December 31, 2015. 193% is a crazy number. At the time I’m writing this, we are at 379,000 fans. And yes, it’s 99% organic growth. Simply Measured, the most respected data analysis tool, analyzed the insane growth on our page.  They recently completed their case study, and we compiled an ebook with their results. You can read more about that here- Case Study: How to Grow Your Facebook Page by 193%. Every tip in this post comes straight from our playbook.  These are the strategies we used to more than double our own Facebook organic reach. We hope you use these strategies to blow up your own page, too. Let’s get started! 1. Find The Right Content Mix For Your Audience As a Facebook marketer, you’ve probably read a few articles about how to find the type of content that resonates with your audience. If your content doesn’t click, your fans aren’t going to engage with it.  If your fans don’t engage with it, you’re going to struggle with growing your reach. But think about this- the success of your content goes beyond the value it provides.  Let me explain what I mean. It’s important to choose the right mix of content and post it in the right order.  In other words, you want to post the right content to the right audience at the right time. Josh Parkinson, Post Planner CEO, talks about this a lot in our Social Media Bootcamp  training every week.  On our page, we typically alternate between engaging photos (ie. funny pictures) and links. We find the engaging photos in Post Planner. Each time someone likes, comments, or shares that engaging content,  they send a signal to Facebook that they want to see more of our content. This helps us get seen more in the news feed when we post the links that go back to our blog. Your fans are people, and people like to be entertained. They want you to show your personality. And, they want to know you’re real. Your fans want to see your personality, be entertained, and know you're real.For the past few months, we’ve also started tossing a Facebook Live video into the mix several times a week, too. It humanizes our brand and lets people see behind the scenes. Are you just posting links on your page? If so, you’re most likely not getting the engagement you want. Consider mixing up the variety of your content. Once you find the right formula for your audience, you’ll keep them coming back for more! 2. Get To Know Your Facebook Insights Inside And Out Test your content often. Dig into your Facebook Insights like crazy. Get to know each page of your Insights inside and out. But don’t just read the data. Learn from it. Learn what each metric means and how to interpret the numbers. Here's an example of  Facebook Insights: Most of all, learn how to use the info in your Insights to make data-driven decisions about your Facebook marketing. Be agile and quick to change your strategy as needed. The content that worked well last week might fall flat this week. A wise woman once said, â€Å"Amateurs guess, professionals know.† Take the guesswork out of your Facebook marketing by attacking your Insights like a pitbull! 3. Use Visual Marketing As Eye Candy To Stand Out In The News Feed I’m not talking about just posting photos. As a sophisticated marketer, you already know the power of using photos on Facebook. According to Buzzsumo, Facebook posts with images get 2.3 times more engagement than those without images. I’m talking about using visual marketing to tell your story and to communicate your brand’s message.  Visual marketing has become a force to be reckoned with on Facebook! It’s no longer an option to post visual content on Facebook. It’s become necessary for marketers to at least learn the basics of image creation. There are so many ways to use visual marketing to grow your Facebook page: Create branded quote images. Pull tips from your blog posts and put them on images. Use powerful imagery to develop thought leadership in your niche. Use visual marketing as eye candy to stand out in the news feed. Choose any of the easy-to-use apps that are available, and you’ll be creating branded images in a minute or two. Here’s a post with the apps we like to use to create images: 13 tools for creating engaging Facebook images. This list is a good place to start if you’re looking for help with this! For example, here’s a simple image we created. It lists the five  things we consider when creating viral quote images for Facebook. Recommended Reading:  How To Make The Best Social Media Images The Easy Way (+ 84 Free Images) 4. Show People You’re Listening And Paying Attention Nobody wants to go to a Facebook page, leave a comment, and then hear crickets. Instead, they want to feel special! Real people want to connect with other real people. They want to know you’re approachable. Most of all, they want to know you’re paying attention to your page. Once they know you’re listening, they’ll be more likely to visit your page and engage with your content again. When someone takes the time to interact with your page, acknowledge it. Even if all you do is â€Å"like† their comment, you’ve still acknowledged it. Facebook reach tip #4: Respond  when your fans mention you.5. Recycle Your Evergreen Content If you’re trying to increase your Facebook organic reach, this is important! It’s one of the cornerstones of our 193% page growth. Evergreen content is the content you create that never gets old. It stands the test of time, and it remains relevant and useful to your fans. Recommended Reading:  How To Make And Repurpose Evergreen Content To Get 283% More Results Each time that content posts on your Facebook page, it reaches a new audience. At Post Planner, we have around 500 evergreen blog posts that rotate on our page. Not only do these posts consistently drive traffic to our website, but they continue to build thought leadership in our niche. There’s a recycle feature within the Post Planner app. We just click the recycle button, and then we don’t have to think about it again. Each time a piece of evergreen content posts, it goes to the bottom of the list to post again someday. If you have a library of evergreen content (even if it’s just 10 or 15 posts), start recycling on your Facebook page. It will contribute to your page growth and become a consistent source of website traffic for you! 6. Be Strategic About Your Posting Times There are lots of opinions about the best posting times on Facebook. The way we see  it at Post Planner, nobody knows the best times to post on your page except you. You are the only one with access to your Insights. Posting at the right time can mean the difference between going viral and not being noticed at all. Posting at the right time makes the difference between virality and not being noticed.The key here is to make this decision based on your data. If you have an online business and your audience is global, look at the times you’ve selected. Are there any holes that need to be filled? Some marketers suggest posting at peak times when people are on Facebook. Others suggest posting at non-peak times since there’s less competition in the news feed. We suggest that you test different times to see what works best on your page. Even if you only test this for a few weeks, you’ll start to see patterns emerge in your Insights. Remember, the best times to post on your page might not be the times when you are typically on Facebook. Be flexible and open to change. Recommended Reading:  What 16 Studies Say About The Best Times To Post On Social Media At Post Planner, we oftentimes post at 45 minutes past the hour. We do this because people have appointments and meetings during the day that begin at the top of the hour. In the few minutes before those meetings start, what do they do? Yep, they grab their phones. We want our post to be sitting there waiting for them in their news feed when that happens. So far, this posting strategy has worked well for us. 7. Work To Become A  Valuable Resource In Your Niche We all have those go-to Facebook pages we count on for valuable info in our industry. They are the pages that always have something interesting to share, and they help us stay up-to-date about what’s going on. Make it your goal to be a valuable resource like that for your niche. How do you go about doing that? Here are three actionable steps you can take today to start moving in in that direction: Think about the problems your fans/users are facing. Be empathetic about their struggles. Solve their problems. Be the SOLUTION. Share other people’s content. By doing so, you show your audience that your focus is on them, not you. Share a piece of content that will be valuable to them (even if it doesn’t direct them back to your website or blog). Give away your knowledge. Don’t hold back. Give people a reason to like your page and engage with your content. Share your secret sauce. Doing this will establish thought leadership and exude confidence! Recommended Reading:  How To Schedule Your Social Media Content Curation For Massive Growth 8. Plan Your Content In Advance If your audience loses interest in your page,  you’ll lose your ability to increase your Facebook organic reach. It’s a tough pill to swallow when you’re working hard to post high quality content consistently. That’s why it’s so important to plan your content in advance. If you plan and schedule your content ahead of time, you can be more strategic about each piece of content you post. These are the five  types of content we’ve talked about in this post so far: Your own website or blog content Other people’s content Branded images Funny pictures Facebook Live video What kind of content can you curate or create for each one of those categories? Prepare and plan that content in advance. In doing so, you’ll always be confident in knowing that the right piece of content is going out at the right time- consistently. You’ll also avoid the stress of trying to find content to post at the last minute. 9. Consider Posting More Than You’re Posting Now Like I mentioned at the beginning, Simply Measured’s case study shows that our page grew 193% in 2015. 99% of that growth was organic. But even more interesting was learning that 65% of that growth was from October–December. What did we change during those last three  months of 2015? We increased our posting frequency by 29%. During the first nine  months of 2015, we averaged 247 posts per month. But during October–December, we averaged 319 posts per month. The last thing a Facebook marketer wants is for fans to hide their posts or unlike their page. But what if your fans are craving more from you?  What if you could increase your Facebook organic reach by simply posting more frequently? Increasing your Facebook posting frequency can increase your reach.At Post Planner, it was a risk we were willing to take, and it paid off. I’d like encourage you to test this strategy on your own page. Watch your Insights along the way. 10. Post Audience-Tested Content Anytime you can post audience-tested (proven) content on Facebook, you’ll be setting yourself up for success. If a piece of content has already been successful on Facebook, then chances are, it will be successful again. This theory can be applied to different types of content. For example, look in your Insights to see which blog posts have gotten the most reach. Those are posts that resonate with your audience. Be sure to post those again. Here's an example of how used a Twitter Poll to collect almost instant feedback to find  audience-tested content ideas: All the content within Post Planner is audience-tested and ranked with our 5-star rating system. Whether you’re choosing a funny picture or a trending article in your niche, you can look at the star rating to see how likely it is that it will perform well on your page. It’s predictive content. It takes even more of the guesswork out of trying to figure out what content will work on your page and what content won’t. Final Thoughts On Facebook Organic Reach Increasing Facebook organic reach has gotten tricky- but it’s definitely still do-able! No matter how you look at it, you’ll need to be savvy and agile to get seen more in the news feed and noticed by your fans. The tips in this post are the exact things we did to increase our Facebook organic reach 193% in 2015. We hope you’ll take these strategies and apply them to your own page! And we’d love to hear about your Facebook journey and your results along the way. If you’d like to get more detailed info about what you can do to double your Facebook organic reach, consider reading our free ebook. We put it together using the case study data provided by Simply Measured. You can grab your copy at 10 Data-Driven Ways to Grow Your Facebook Page by 193%. Thank you for reading my post and happy Facebooking!

Helping ESL Students Understand and Participate in Small Talk

Helping ESL Students Understand and Participate in Small Talk The ability to make small talk comfortably is one of the most desired objectives  of almost any English student. This is especially true for business English learners but applies to all. The function of small talk is the same the world over. However, which topics are appropriate for small talk can vary from culture to culture. This lesson plan focuses on helping students develop their small talk skills and addresses the issue of appropriate subjects. Difficulties in small talk skills can arise from a number of factors including grammar uncertainties, comprehension problems, lack of topic-specific vocabulary, and a general lack of confidence. The lesson introduces a discussion of appropriate small talk topics. Make sure to give students ample time to delve into the subjects if they seem particularly interested. Aim: Improving small talk skills Activity: Discussion of appropriate small talk subjects followed by a game to be played in small groups Level: Intermediate to Advanced Small Talk Lesson Outline Write Small Talk on the board. Brainstorm as a class to define small talk. Write examples on the board.Discuss the importance of small talk skills with the class.Divide students into groups of 3 - 5.Give students the small talk worksheet.Students begin by reviewing key functions and grammar by matching purpose,  expression, and form. Review as a class. Discuss any questions in usage.Ask students to discuss  whether the topics provided in the second section  are appropriate for making small talk. Students can also decide that some topics are appropriate in certain situations  but not in others.  Once students have discussed the various situations, solicit responses on the various subjects from the class as a whole. Make sure to ask for examples of comments on appropriate subjects, as well as  explanations for those topics which students feel are not appropriate. Feel free to let students debate their opinions to help develop  conversational skills.Have students get back into their groups and play the small talk game in the third section. Circulate around the room helping  students when they run into difficulties. Take notes on subjects that students find difficult. As a class,  brainstorm on appropriate comments. Understanding Forms Used in Small Talk Match the conversational purpose to the expression in the second column. Identify the appropriate grammar structure in the third column. Purpose Expression Structure Ask about experienceGive adviceMake a suggestionExpress an opinionImagine a situationProvide instructionsOffer somethingConfirm informationAsk for more detailsAgree or disagree Open the package. Fill out the Forms.Where can I find out more?Im afraid I dont see it that way.Have you ever visited Rome?Lets go for a walk.To me, that seems like a waste of time.You live in San Francisco, dont you?Would you like something to drink?If you were the boss, what would you do?You should visit Mt. Hood. Conditional formQuestion tagUse of some in questions rather than anyTo me, In my opinion, I thinkInformation questionModal verbs such as should, ought to, and had betterImperative formLets, Why dont you, How about Present perfect for experienceIm afraid I dont see / think / feel that way. Hit Your Small Talk Target Which Topics are  Appropriate? Which topics are appropriate for small talk discussions? For  topics which are appropriate, think of one interesting comment to make when the teacher calls on you. For topics which are not appropriate, explain why you believe they are not appropriate for small talk. The latest filmsThe One True Path to Eternal LifeThe local basketball teamCarsA product you would like to sell to everyoneThe Death PenaltyYour hometownHow much you makeYour last holidayYour favorite movie-starThe correct political partyThe weatherGardeningYour health problemsYour family Small Talk Game Throw one die to move forward from one subject to the next. When you get to the end, return to the beginning to start again. You have 30 seconds to make a comment about the suggested subject. If you dont, you lose your turn! Your best friendThe last film you sawPetsRock and rollA magazineLearning a languagePlaying tennisYour current jobAn interesting excursion nearbyThe InternetMarilyn MonroeKeeping healthyHuman cloningYour favorite foodFinding a job in your countryThe last book you readYour worst holidaySomething youve never done, but would like to doTeachers - what you likeTeachers - what you dont like

Cultural Communications Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cultural Communications - Essay Example Business communication in the United States has distinct features that differentiate it from communication in other cultures. Communication style in the United States focuses on the message as opposed to development of long-term relationships during a communication process. Interactions are therefore short-term based and are limited the tasks to be performed. Another feature of the United States communication protocol is individualism culture. People put their self-interest before others, operate independently, and are identified with the culture of â€Å"self promotion† (Nafsa, n.d., p. 1). The American business communication protocol is further informal and disregards social class. Individuals prefer interacting with peers to underscore rank recognitions and even communications with people at higher social classes or ranks are informally conducted without consideration to the ranks (Nafsa, n.d.). Nature of interpersonal relationships is another characteristic behavior in Ame rican business communication. The individualistic approach undermines development of strong interpersonal relationship. Consequently, the culture reports loosely formed relationships that only last for short periods. The loose interpersonal bonds together with the culture of independence also identify lack of long-term obligations in business communications because interactions are limited to tasks. American business communication culture is also direct, involving confrontations. An emerging issue is directly criticized, and people are not afraid to â€Å"discuss controversial topics† (Nafsa, n.d., p. 1). Further, individuals in American culture always feel free to communicate their thoughts (Nafsa, n.d.). Business communication in the culture is also proactive and aligned to applicable rules of law. An American manager would for example comfortably initiate communications to discuss issues and similarly observe legal constraints and consequences of elements of the communicat ions, and agreements made thereof (Li, 2012). A direct approach to communicating feedback also characterizes the culture’s business communication protocol (Hrmagazine, 2008). How the protocols would create challenges The identified protocols in U.S. business communication create challenges by inducing culture based communication barriers in communication with individuals from a different culture. The Americans individualistic approach to communication may not be acceptable to a person from a collective culture, and may lead to suspicions. Similarly, an individualistic approach to communication with a party from a collective culture would communicate selfishness against the communist morals, a factor that would identify ethical concerns and lead to withdrawal from communication as the collectivist seeks to maintain his or her expected moral standards. The United States culture that disregards social hierarchy and cultural practices is also likely to raise ethical concerns and negatively influence communication with a person from a different culture. A person from a culture in which people regard social hierarchy and integrate culture in communication would for example lose interest in a communication in which a young American manager fails to recognize the party’s seniority while negotiating. Failure, by Americans, who do not