Digestion: Describe the digestion of a burger Essay

Digestion A burger is broken down mechanically by biting into it. The food in the mouth sets off salivary glands that secrete salivary amylase, which breaks down amylase in the burger. When the food is broken down enough, the tongue shapes the food in a bolus, or a ball. The bolus is pushed back to the pharynx at the back of the throat. The food stimulates the opening of the flap so the good goes down the esophagus, rather than the windpipe. Because of peristalsis, rhythmic waves created by muscles in the throat, the food slides easily down the digestive tract. Salivary amylase continues to break down the starch all the way down the esophagus. When the burger reaches the stomach, the epithelium, or stomach wall, secretes gastric juice which has a very high concentration of hydrochloric acid and breaks up the burger. In the gastric juice is also an enzyme that hydrolyzes proteins called pepsin. This pepsin starts out as the inactive pepsinogen, and is activated by hydrochloric acid in the epithelium. After this, the burger is churned in the stomach and becomes chyme, or vomit. From the stomach, the burger goes through the pyloric sphincter and into the small intestine. In the first 25 cm of the small intestine, the food goes through the duodenum, a place where pancreatic enzymes and bile from the live are stored. Bile, along with the enzyme lipase, breaks down fat while the enzyme nuclease breaks down nucleic acids and various enzymes, such as trypsins and peptidases, break down the proteins. These substances are called by hormones which act based on stimuli received, such as the food in the duodenum. Absorption also occurs in the small intestine because of its large surface area. It has a very large surface area because villi, or finger like projections on the surface, contain microvilli, smaller projections on the surface of the villi. Because of this, the surface area of the small intestine is greatly increased. The large intestine, or colon, has the job of retaining water. It reabsorbs water and nutrients that remain in the lumen. The undigested materials are then excreted in feces, and the digestion of the burger is completed.

Mind and Matrix Essay

Epistemology is the nature of knowledge. Knowledge is important when considering what is reality and what is deception. The movie â€Å"The Matrix† displays a social deception in which Neo, the main character, is caught between what he thought was once reality and a whole new world that controls everything he thought was real. If I were Neo, I would not truly be able to know that I was in the matrix. However, it is rational to believe that I am in the matrix and will eventually enter back into my reality later. The proof that that I can know that I am in the matrix and that I will return to reality comes from the responses of foundationalism, idealism, and pallibalism. To begin, foundationalism is the essence of what we are certain of. Many philosophers argue on the basis of foundationalism to find out where knowledge begins. This will help determine if Neo would be able to know or not know if he is dreaming up the matrix or in fact that it is reality. The popularity of foundationalism starts with Descartes. He challenged the previously popular skepticism. In Descartes Meditations he discusses many issues relating to the question of â€Å"where does knowledge come from? † His main arguments appear in his dreaming argument. He first begins by stating 1. I often have perceptions very much like the ones I usually have in sensation while I am dreaming. Then he goes on to say 2. There are no definite signs to distinguish dream experience from waking experience. These two premises lead to the conclusion that 3. It is possible that I am dreaming right now and that all my perceptions are false. This shows that there is no real way to know to know anything. Descartes add to his argument using foundationalism. â€Å"‘Throughout my writings I have made it clear that my method imitates that of the architect. When an architect wants to build a house which is stable on ground where there is a sandy topsoil over underlying rock, or clay, or some other firm base, he begins by digging out a set of trenches from which he removes the sand, and anything resting on or mixed in with the sand, so that he can lay his foundations on firm soil. In the same way, I began by taking everything that was doubtful and throwing it out, like sand †¦ (Replies 7, AT 7:537)’ (Lex, Newman)†. This explains how foundationalism works; you must remove all of your doubt to advance to the foundationtion of which you are sure of. This is called the method of doubt. Once you know what you are sure of, you can build up knowledge from there. Many wonder how we can wonder we are not dreaming. Some agree that you cannot feel pain in a dream, but others say they have. The argument that dreams are not related to memory is strong because most people do not remember their dreams. Descartes explains that in a dream you can feel as if you are using all of your senses, but they seem to be more vague than when awake. Descartes struggles with the dream issue until he comes upon his conclusion. â€Å"‘I now notice that there is a vast difference between [being asleep and being awake], in that dreams are never linked by memory with all the other actions of life as waking experiences are. †¦ But when I distinctly see where things come from and where and when they come to me, and when I can connect my perceptions of them with the whole of the rest of my life without a break, then I am quite certain that when I encounter these things I am not asleep but awake. (Med.6, AT 7:89-90)’ (Lex, Newman)†. This dream argument attributes to how we can know anything. For Neo’s sake it helps him decide weather he is really in the matrix or not. In addition to foundationalism proving that knowledge is built up from what we are certain of, idealism plays an important role of arguing that all reality is in the mind. Descartes’ argument for idealism explains how knowledge of reality is possible. He goes through the process of using an example like a pen and justifying its existence. There are 3 steps to this process: 1. I know I perceive the pen. 2. To exist is to be perceived (Berkeley). 3. I know the pen exists. Another philosopher, Berkeley, argues esse est percipi, which translates to â€Å"to be is to be perceived†. This means that if you are perceived you exist and the same thing goes for reality. There are issues that argue against idealism; one of these arguments is that we have no conception of unperceived matter. As soon as you perceive it you can conceive it. The only problems with this argument are the fact that many people perceive the distant path. An example of this is the â€Å"Big Bang† theory. Also the perception of the atom and distant galaxies furthermore cause a problem. So idealism still stands strong. Neo’s perception of the matrix exists so therefor Neo believes that the matrix is real. Yet there remains one more response to furthermore prove that Neo is rational to believe he is in the matrix. This is the response to Pallibalism, the theory that knowledge does not require certainty. This response goes about saying that we are certain of our minds and our own existence. Neo has knowledge of the matrix, but there is no certainty with his knowledge. Noe is able to perceive the surroundings around him in the matrix and he can be sure he is not dreaming, but he can not know for sure if the matrix is truly real. The case for this is that he could be just a brain in a Vat in a giant virtual reality. Another example similar to â€Å"The Matrix† is â€Å"The Trueman Show†. In this case it is a local deception rather than a social deception. Pallibalism agrees with foundationalism and idealism in the fact that knowledge is an abstract notion and the only thing that one can be certain of is them selves. Clearly then, foundationalism, idealism, and pallibalism all fit together to prove that Neo can not be certain of the matrix, but only himself. Also it further explains how it is rational for him to believe that the matrix exists through his perception of the matrix and the knowledge he obtains when he is there. The growth of knowledge in Neo’s mind is possible what is his deception. The more he perceives could possible be more he is deceived. What we know about reality is all in our minds and if we can only be certain of ourselves and our own existence then the reality that we perceive and conceive does exist. So the answer is yes, Neo can know that he is in the matrix, but this does not necessarily mean the matrix exists. As far as Neo knows the matrix does exist and that he will return to what he thought was his reality later, knowing that there is more than just his world. Works Cited Newman, Lex, â€Å"Descartes’ Epistemology†, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 1999 Edition), Edward N, Zalta (ed. ), URL= http://plato. stanford. edu/archives/spring1999/entries/Descartes.

Health Care Teams

1) Health Assisting -Health Care Team Health Care Team A health care team is all of the people who provide care and services to patients. Every employee at a health care facility is a member of a health care team. Some members of the team, such as nurses and therapists, work directly with patients. Other members, like billing officers and maintenance staff, have very little contact with patients. The health care team also includes a patient's family and caregivers. Each member of a health care team has an important role.All members of the team must work as a cohesive unit to provide the best possible health care to patients. Health Services Pathways There are many careers in health care. Each career is categorized into one of the following pathways, or areas: †¢Diagnostic Services – Careers in diagnostic services involve evaluating the health status of patients at a single point in time. Careers in diagnostic services include phlebotomists, electrocardiograph technicians, and medical laboratory technologists. †¢Therapeutic Services – Careers in therapeutic services involve improving the health status of patients over time.Careers in therapeutic services include medical assistants, nursing, and physicians. †¢Information Services – Careers in information services involve documenting patient care. Careers in information services include medical transcriptionists, medical records technicians, and medical librarians. †¢Support Services – Careers in support services involve creating an environment in which to provide patient care. Careers in support services include central supply workers, food services, and housekeeping. Team Member Roles The roles of health care workers within a single pathway vary widely.For instance, in therapeutic services, a registered nurse has more advanced education and different responsibilities than a nursing assistant. Below is a list of specific careers that have multiple levels of job titl es and job duties. †¢Medical †¢Nursing †¢Diagnostic †¢Therapeutic †¢Dietary †¢Health Information †¢Emergency Medical Services †¢Mental and Social Services †¢Mortuary Medical Team Members Medical careers focus on diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases and disorders. There are various members of health care teams who may perform medical services for patients. †¢Physicians diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases and disorders. Physician assistants and nurse practitioners do many of the tasks that physicians do, including prescribing medications. They refer patients with more complicated cases to physicians. Physician assistants work under physicians. However, nurse practitioners do not need to work under physicians, so they may be patients' primary health care providers. †¢Medical assistants work under physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. They perform clinical tasks. Nursing Team Members Nursing careers u sually make up the largest group of employees at a health care facility.These employees provide personal care to patients. The care includes all areas of a patient's well-being, including the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health. †¢Registered nurses (RNs) work under physicians. They are responsible for all of the care a patient receives and perform a variety of technical procedures. †¢Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) work under RNs or physicians. They perform nursing procedures that require specialized training, but state and facility regulations may limit the types of procedures that LPNs and LVNs can do. Nurse assistants work under LPNs/LVNs or RNs. They provide daily care to patients, such as bathing, feeding, and assisting with ambulation. Diagnostic Team Members Diagnostic careers involve evaluating the health status of patients at a single point in time. There are a variety of diagnostic careers, including: à ¢â‚¬ ¢Medical laboratory technologists (MTs), who work under physicians called pathologists. They perform complex tests on specimens from a patient. †¢Medical laboratory technicians (MLTs), who work under medical laboratory technologists or pathologists.They perform routine tests that do not require advanced training. †¢Medical laboratory assistants, who work under medical laboratory technicians, technologists, or pathologists. They perform basic tests, prepare specimens for testing, and maintain equipment. †¢Phlebotomists collect blood from patients and prepare it for testing. †¢Electrocardiograph technicians operate electrocardiogram (ECG) machines that record electrical impulses from the heart. †¢Radiologic technologists work under physicians called radiologists. They take X-rays, operate ultrasound equipment and magnetic resonance imaging devices.Therapeutic Team Members Therapeutic careers involve improving the health status of patients over time. †¢Audiologists diagnose and treat patients with hearing and balance problems. †¢Speech-language pathologists diagnose and treat patients with speech, language, and swallowing problems. †¢Physical therapists improve the mobility of patients following injuries and illnesses. Physical therapy assistants work under physical therapists. They help carry out treatments. †¢Occupational therapists help patients with physical, mental, and emotional problems to correct or adjust to their problems.They use activities to assist patients in daily living and job skills. Occupational therapy assistants work under occupational therapists. They help carry out treatments. †¢Recreational therapists develop leisure activities for patients in health care facilities. Recreational therapy assistants work under recreational therapists. They help with and may arrange activities. Therapeutic Team Members (continued) †¢Respiratory therapists work under physicians. They treat patients w ith breathing problems and test respiratory function. Respiratory therapy technicians work under respiratory therapists.They perform basic treatments and tests. †¢Pharmacists dispense prescribed medications, check for interactions with other medications being taken, and provide patient education. Pharmacy technicians work under pharmacists. They help prepare medications, maintain records, and order supplies. Dietary Team Members Dietary careers involve encouraging the proper nutrition of patients. †¢Registered dieticians (RDs) assess patients' nutritional needs. They plan menus and teach patients about good nutrition and therapeutic diets. †¢Dietetic technicians (DTs) work under registered dieticians.They help plan menus and educate patients. †¢Dietetic assistants work under dietitians. They help prepare food, assist patients in selecting foods, and keep the service area clean. Health Information Team Members Health information careers involve admitting patients, maintaining medical records, and handling billing. Workers in these careers must be able to use computers and a variety of software. †¢Medical record administrators (RAs) manage and organize the medical record system of the facility. They also compile reports for local, state, and federal agencies. Medical records technicians work under administrators. They organize and gather patient information. †¢Medical assistants often specialize in health information and work under physicians and administrative managers to perform clerical and accounting duties. †¢Medical transcriptionists type an electronic copy of information that has been dictated on an audiotape. Emergency Medical Service Team Members Emergency medical service (EMS) provides expert care for patients in a critical medical situation. The service is typically available by dialing 911.Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) provide immediate care to victims of critical injuries and illnesses and transport victims to hospitals. There are several levels of EMTs, which are based on the amount of training and the type of certification. Social and Mental Health Team Members The goal of social and mental health team members is to help patients with mental, emotional, or developmental problems function at their full potential. †¢Social workers help patients who are having problems coping with a life situation. They counsel patients and refer patients to support services. Psychiatrists are physicians who specialize in diagnosing and treating mental illnesses. †¢Psychologists help patients deal with life situations. They have a background in psychology and usually specialize in a specific area, such as child psychology. †¢Psychiatric technicians work under psychiatrists or psychologists. They help patients carry out treatments and provide emotional support. Support Services Team Members Support services include careers that involve creating an ideal environment in which to provide pati ent care. †¢Health care administrators are responsible for managing health care facilities.They supervise department heads, set guidelines, and develop the financial plan of the facility. †¢Housekeeping performs basic sanitation duties. They may also be responsible for bed-making. †¢Central supply workers are responsible for ordering and maintaining facility supplies. They sterilize medical instruments and make sure that equipment in the facility is operating correctly. Mortuary Team Members Mortuary careers involve the preparation and presentation of a deceased patient. †¢Funeral directors discuss the family's wishes for the body, ceremony, and burial or cremation. They also file legal papers related to the death. Embalmers are responsible for preparing the body for burial. Additionally, they must maintain lists of clothing and valuables. †¢ Mortuary assistants work under the funeral director or embalmer. They assist with preparing the body, arranging cerem onies, and filing records. * Includes careers that involves improving the health status of patients over time. Therapeutic Service * Include careers that involve creating an environment in which to provide patient care. Support Service * Include careers that focus on diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases and disorders.Medical Service * Provide expert care for serious emergencies and are typically available by dialing 911. Emergency Medical Service * Include careers in which health care workers perform nursing procedures and provide personal care to patients. Nursing Service * Include careers that involve documenting patient care. Health Information Service * Include careers that involve evaluating the health status of patients at a single point in time. Diagnostic Service Interdependence of Team Members All members of the health care team are dependent on each other.This means that if one worker does not fulfill the required duties, the entire team is hindered. Patients do n ot receive the quality care that they deserve when the team does not function properly. This connection among all areas and levels of workers is called interdependence. Imagine what might happen if a medical assistant at a medical office stopped answering the telephone. Patients would not be able to make appointments, and the team would not be able to perform its duties. Or imagine what could happen if the housekeeping department stopped cleaning. Many patients would feel uncomfortable receiving treatment in a dirty facility.In addition, patients and health care workers would be at risk of getting infections. Lines of Authority Each health care worker is an important member of the health care team. Within the health care team, though, there are lines of authority. Lines of authority determine workers' positions within the team's structure. Members of the health care team must understand their positions. Lines of authority also establish levels of supervision. Members of the health c are team must report to their immediate supervisor. This includes when getting information on job tasks and when there are problems.Question # 1 Every health care worker is a member of a health care ____. Correct Answer(s): team, teams Question # 2 What do medical careers focus on? Diagnosing diseases and disorders Treating diseases and disorders Preventing diseases and disorders -All of the above Question # 3 What type(s) of responsibilities do health care workers in nursing services have? Performing nursing procedures Providing personal care to patients -All of the above Question # 4 Nurse assistants are able to do all of the procedures that registered nurses (RNs) can do. True -False Question # 5Diagnostic services include careers that involve evaluating the health status of patients at a single point in time. -True False Question # 6 Who is a member of a health care team who provides therapeutic services to patients? Nurse assistant Medical laboratory assistant -Physical therapy assistant Physician assistant All of the above Question # 7 What type of services include careers that involve documenting patient care? Nursing Therapeutic Diagnostic Medical -Information Question # 8 Medical assistants in information services may perform reception, clerical, and accounting tasks. – True False Question # 9What responsibilities do emergency medical technicians have? Provide immediate care to victims of critical injuries and illnesses Transport victims to hospitals -All of the above Question # 10 What is the connection among all areas and levels of health care workers called? -Interdependence Independence Dependence Question # 11 What is one purpose of the line of authority? -To define health care workers' positions within the team To verify salary rates To determine the importance of a health care worker Question # 12 Members of a team should report to the highest level of authority when there is a problem. True -False

Class Discussion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Class Discussion - Essay Example There is no other better way that could explain of economic globalization that this. According to Mittelman (53), globalization goes through macroregionalism supported by economic and states forces that seek to open larger markets as a way towards greater competitiveness. This is certainly true. Others have referred to the process of continental globalization in line with North America indicating that regionalism is the force through which globalization is conveyed (Scholte 7). Likewise, Mittelman’s analysis points to the emergence of global regions as the key factor leading to globalization. Take Europe for instance. The continent houses a majority of the world’s economic giants because of its regionalism policy advocated by the European Court for Human Rights. This body advocates for a ‘Social Europe’, the proposal of a federalist post-national Europe, which a majority of European nations have embraced, (Scholte 7). In these, the countries see the likelih ood of a non-neoliberal, progressive regional system of authority in which the freeing of the markets for capital, goods, and labor occurs in the context of a rights-based, progressive, social system. These regional financial arrangements are rather different and range from foreign exchange reserve pooling and government financing to currency swap arrangements. What is widespread to all these schemes, in spite of their intrinsic variety, is that they all wish to promote regional integration along with financial and macroeconomic stability. Even though, there is a considerable stream of academic contributions on economic regionalism, people’s understanding of financial regionalism is fairly limited, despite its potentially wide-ranging effects in shaping the global financial structures (Veseth 40). Take for instance a continent like Europe, where the newly projected European Stability Mechanism is projected to be a legal tender union lending arrangement to offer direct assista nce to countries in Europe and other regions. In Europe, just after the Second World War, the interdependence of the continent’s economies led to the formation of the European Payments Union, a forerunner of a much advanced framework, which culminated with the creations of the currency union in 1999. The organizations have been able to influence globalization all through Europe (Scholte 7). Latin America, on the other hand, boasts the oldest, even though less renowned tradition of regional assimilation efforts among the developing nations. These economic relations, in South America, also go as far back as the 50s. Hoping to produce a regional common market for countries in South America, lawmakers, in the region, have succeeded in setting up clearing arrangements for intraregional expenses, FLAR and two development banks. FLAR refers to a small and cozy membership of seven small, as well as medium-sized, economies with strong traditional ties. They also portray a wide set of common interests (Veseth 50). In reality, FLAR offers a direct proof to the potential of regional associations to offer greater ownership to member countries that would otherwise put a lot of efforts to be heard in the international, 188-member IMF. The search for alternative futures for the region, in the Americas, in many ways, reflects the talks taking place within the broader "anti-globalization" movement. They perceive

Com 425 Week 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Com 425 Week 4 - Essay Example The arguments of the article may seem obvious, but the author has a point. Many people send and receive emails without prior consideration of who is being addressed. There is need to evaluate and assess all parties involved, appreciate their position within the business line and consequently address them accordingly. It is important to uphold mutual respect in such email exchanges. The tips provided seem obvious, but they are equally essential. The author of the article has identified mishaps in sending and receiving of emails between and among communicating parties. Some of the presented cases and points to remember are rather an application of mere common sense. However, the same points are hardly applied b senders and receivers of emails. The article may be analyzed for and against its arguments. Most of the tips however are sensible and should be observed when sending emails. Ignorance of such tips is likely to trigger misunderstandings or conflict of interest in business undertakings when the recipient gets different information from an email other than the one intended by the sender (Heather & Graves, 2011). The only tip that appears kind of absurd is that of watching one’s tone when composing an email. This is a hard to determine as the sender composes an email. Due to the ambiguity associated and brought about by the watch your tone tip, the author should have outlined a way through which email senders can evaluate the tone of their composed emails before sending them. The tip should have been elaborated and a guideline to determining one’s tone in writing provided. Computer-mediated communication is integral to almost every bit of sending and receiving information. Technological advancements have aided this process with computer communication making a contemporary mode of communication around the world. Knowledge and skills of computer use have highly increased.

Statistics Canada, Lafour force surve of, Victoria, Bristish Essay

Statistics Canada, Lafour force surve of, Victoria, Bristish coloumbia, Canada - Essay Example Forestry, fishing, mining, quarying, oil and gas industry. In 2003 this industry was on the peak of the employment rates in B.C., before trade dispute between the Unites States and Canada took place. This trade dispute resulted in a drop in the price of lumber to the extremely low point and penalties imposing on shipment of Canadian lumber (Exports 2002). Some of the mills were closed and obviously had its impact on the employment in the B.C. Construction has shown employment growth tendency by 2005 and has achieved its lowest point in 2012 during the whole period from 2003-2013. Obviously, the growth in 2005 in this sector relates to doubling of housing starts in British Columbia, strength in building permits and investment in non-residential building (Labour Force Statistics 2004). Accommodation and food services sector has been a strong sector in the region during 2004-2005, however in 2005 there was observed continuous decline of the employment share in this sector. However, by 2006 this sector had one of the largest shares of the workforce even during its falling in 2006. Statistics Canada (2013). Table 282-0061 – Labour force survey estimates (LFS), employment by economic region and North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), annual (persons). Available at

Research Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Research - Case Study Example (Baer, 34) Implementing a fixed exchange rate in Brazil is not a plausible concept because the value of the currency is constantly decreasing with the constant flooding of the currency in the market. The availability of the currency has prompted the currency to continuously lose its value, hence the increase in inflation (Taylor, 76). The same strategy (of using a fixed system) was applied in Zimbabwe, but the country succumbed to the harsh nature of inflation, this led to the country disregarding the local currency and using US Dollars instead. The URV or Unidade Real de Valor is a currency that is used in Brazil that is not subjected to the effects of inflation in Brazil. The aim was to absorb the effects of inflation in the country. The Brazil government implemented a fixed exchange rate for the URV to the Dollar (1 URV = 1 USD). However, the main problem was the fact that obtaining the URV was expensive as compared to using cruzerios reais, which is widely used in Brazil (1 URV = CR$ 2,750). The demand for the URV has only served to increase the exchange rate, and it is playing its part in the inflation that has plagued Brazil. (Blanchard, 54) Implementing a free-floating exchange rate will allow the currency to trade based on the conditions and regulations that are implemented in the market. The advantage is that the exchange rate will be stabilized by these market forces hence serve to regulate the exchange in the best interest of the market. However, the major disadvantage is that, excess freedom in the market, may encourage cartels to manipulate the exchange rate to their advantage, which may inconvenience other players in the market. Implementing both fixed and free-floating exchange rate mechanisms would be the ideal setting for the market. There should be freedom in the market that will allow the market to determine the suitable exchange rate for the operations of the market (Lagassa, 98). The

Book Report Asian Americans Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Book Report Asian Americans - Essay Example Considerably, this fact is noticeably evident in her book thus aiming to show how much importance there is in need of being placed so as to be able to describe and define a society that lives within another society and how that particular matter affects the people in a rather direct manner. In the society, cultural diversity is an evident and become dominant concept wherein it commonly affects the social structures and processes in the society. This is mainly because cultural diversity significantly cause the society to be segregated into their respective social minority groups with their cultural differences serving as the gap and blocking wall between these groups. In addition, cultural diversity also has caused certain negative social problems such as discrimination and oppression worsening the difficulty of social separation. Because of which, the negative aspect of multiculturalism and the social tension it has produced should be sufficiently addressed. Different social groups and institutions are making different steps and approaches to bridge the gap of multiculturalism in every individual and social minority. ... addition, community groups are also establishing social groups and institutions that request participation from different cultural groups giving them a chance to communicate and relate to other groups tearing down themselves the walls created by multiculturalism. These programs and community efforts are established to promote communication and social involvement of each social minority in the campaign to address social unity. Multiculturalism in the present society serves as a hindering wall thus, this hindrance must be torn down using intercultural communication and social participation. Intervention must also be done in facilitating cooperative approaches to ensure its advantage. With this approach implemented, society as a whole would be one-step closer in making a harmonious relationship between culturally diversified social groups. With the growth of worldwide globalization systems, it could not be denied that many people are transferring from one country to another. Some for business reasons, some for educational reasons and others just transfer for tourism purposes. Whatever it is that the different races transfer places, it could not be denied that in many ways, the said progressive movement of the human society towards the future raises several points of consideration in the human identity belonging to a certain ethnic group. Along with the global development come the exchange of culture and other aspects of racial contributions such as language have been exchanged through immigration activities. This is the reason why it is very important for people to see to it that even though there is so much diversity in the world, language is still one of the keys by which a certain race's ethnicity could be identified amidst diversity. In many continents around the

Pathophysiology of diverticulitis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Pathophysiology of diverticulitis - Essay Example The exact pathogenesis of diverticulitis is yet unknown (Hobson and Roberts, 2004). An insight into the structural changes in the diverticular disease has been found through studies on various postmortem and surgical specimens (Sheth et al, 2008). Initially, gastroenterologists proposed that a fecolith obstructing an abscessed diverticulum led to diverticulitis. However, in 1976, Sethbhakdi reported that studies on resected sigmoid diverticulitis specimens failed to support fecolith based pathogenesis theory. Infact, according to the author, these studies found perforation of the fundus of the diverticulum associated with pericolic or peridiverticular inflammmation in the resected specimens (Sethbhakdi, 1976). Also, 30 percent of the specimens showed no features of inflammation, but showed thickening of the intestinal wall (Sethbhakdi, 1976). The thickened and contracted colon part is known as mychosis. Mychosis was initially thought to be due to muscular hypertrophy. But now, it is understood to be due to elastin deposition and shortening of the bowel. Elastin deposition is thought to be due to increased uptake of a specific substance called proline from the Western diets (Sheth et al, 2008). ... Smaller perforations get covered by the pericolic fat. However, larger perforations can lead to other complications like abscess formation, rupture of intestine, fistula formation and peritonitis (Crowe et al, 2011). Fistulas can occur with other adjacent organs or with skin. The most common fistulas in men are colorectal fistulas. Fistulas are uncommon in women (Crowe et al, 2011). In population from the Western countries, the diverticula, especially in the colonic regions are "pseudo diverticula" because, the diverticula involve only the mucosal layer and submucosal layer and not the muscular and serosal layers (Sheth et al, 2008). There is whopping evidence that such pseudodiverticuli occur because of diets that are low in fibre. Among Asian population, the diverticuli are true diverticula (Sheth et al, 2008). They involve all the layers of the intestine and they are mainly seen in the proximal colonic region, unlike pseudo diverticuli which are seen in the distal colon, mainly th e sigmoid colon (Sheth et al, 2008). Decreased dietary fiber leads to low-volume stools which alter the motility of colon, causing increased luminal pressures. Such high pressures occur when the sigmoid colon undergoes a process called segmentation during smooth muscle contraction. Segmentation leads to distinct compartments of the sigmoid colon. When the stool volume is low, segmentation is exaggerated and the elevated intrasegmental pressures are transmitted across the colonic wall leading to the development of diverticula (Sheth et al, 2008). Typically diverticuli occur at weak points in the intestinal wall like points where vasa recti penetrate the smooth muscle of the intestine (Sheth et al,

LinkedIn Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

LinkedIn - Essay Example It is expected that by the year of 2015, that the majority of the individuals within the workforce of United States will represent those who are younger than 35 years old and in other nations such as Asian nations, the workforce population will represent even a younger generation. LinkedIn needs to change its strategy and needs to target the younger portion of thee workforce and implement ideas that will help promote younger generations in the corporate world. Another weakness in LinkedIn is that there is a major percentage of the population that are recognized as temporary workers, or blue collar employees who have low level of skills and do not have a college level or university level degree attached to their names. LinkedIn needs to focus on these individuals and provide them with assistance that can help them promote themselves promotionally. They can help them by keeping the current system of information sharing and adding the features of profile and picture sharing to enhance c hances of employment for this side of the workforce. Sundberg, Jorgen. "Global LinkedIn Demographics and Statistics January 2012 [Slides]." The Undercover Recruiter. N.p., 1 Jan. 2012. Web. 9 Dec. 2012.

State's Rights v. Federal Supremacy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

State's Rights v. Federal Supremacy - Essay Example Thus, the South Carolina Ordinance of Nullification was written and passed by the legislature of South Carolina in November 24, 1832. The South Carolina Ordinance of Nullification was enacted in response to the Tariff of 1828 passed by Congress with force and effect in all states. The Southern states felt that the law has favored the northern states which are basically into manufacturing industries over the southern states which are based on agriculture. The State of South Carolina led by Calhoun took the stand and actually passed the nullification ordinance which described the tariff laws as â€Å"acts, purporting to be acts laying duties and imposts on foreign imports, but in reality intended for the protection of domestic manufactures and the giving of bounties to classes and individuals engaged in particular employments, at the expense and to the injury and oppression of other classes and individuals†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The South Carolina ordinance thus declared the tariffs laws as un constitutional. It argued that the federal government has â€Å"exceeded its just powers under the constitution†¦ and hath violated the true meaning and intent of the constitution, which provides for equality in imposing the burdens of taxation upon the several States and portions of the confederacy.† Calhoun justified his theory of nullification using the arguments made by Jefferson when he wrote the Kentucky Resolution in 1798 which declared that, â€Å"the several states who formed that instrument, being sovereign and independent, have the unquestionable right to judge of its infraction; and that a nullification, by those sovereignties, of all unauthorized acts done under color of that instrument, is the rightful remedy.† In addition to the power of nullification, Calhoun also added that the state of South Carolina, or every other state for that matter, has the right to secede from the union if the federal government denies its power of nullification and uses m ilitary power to force its federal laws upon the dissenting state. In clear and very specific terms, Calhoun declared that the state of South Carolina and its people â€Å"will not submit to the application of force on the part of the federal government, to reduce this State to obedience.† He declared further that any attempt to coerce the state through military or economic means is â€Å"inconsistent with the longer continuance of South Carolina in the Union.† The South Carolina Ordinance may have borrowed some ideas from the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions. All three documents reminded the federal government as to where its powers come from and that these power-givers will never just sit in the sideline when these powers are abused and misused. Likewise, all three legislations strongly promote the individual state’s power to nullify an act of the federal government that are not in accord with the spirit and purpose of the constitution. However, Calhounâ€⠄¢s ordinance differs from Madison and Jefferson’s resolutions because the former did not just stop at declaring an act of Congress as null and void. It went on to declare that if the federal government does not recognize its nullification ordinance and uses force to coerce them into obedience, then the state has the concomitant power to secede from the Union â€Å"and will forthwith proceed to organize a separate government, and do

Managing Human Resources Essay Example for Free

Managing Human Resources Essay This assissment is going to be about Human Resource Management and it’s going to contain information about different perspectives of human resources management and what the role involves. . HRM system is based on HR system , both work together to the same way. The example is HR strategies defining the direction in which HRM intends to go. We got few models of HRM , one I want to describe is Guest’s Model of HRM. David Guest’s model of HRM has 6 dimensions of analysis : HRM strategy HRM practices HRM outcomes Behaviour outcomes Performance outcomes Financial outcomes This model is prescriptive in the sense that it is based on the assumption that HRM is different from traditional personal management. How guest’s model is adopted in Harrods? In my opinion is adopted by having similar commitments for example the Guest model is prescriptive on the sense that it is bases on the assumption that HRM is distinctively different from traditional personnel management and rotted in strategic management. Also the Guest’s model of HRM outcomes are fairly similar as Harrods engages employees to continues success of the business by committing to what they are doing and one of the outcomes that the Guest’s model states is commitment. David Guest’s analysis financial outcomes in his model of HRM and when looking at the financial outcome at Harrods, we can see that they are loosing money due to the employee turnover. When looking at the case study it shows that the research that has been done about the turnover indicates that the employee turnover has significant cost and performance effects to the business. For example the employee turnover at Harrods measures the rate at which employees leave their employer normally after one year. The claim of the Guest model that it is superior to others is partly justified in the sense that it clearly maps out the field of HRM and delineates the inputs and outcomes. But the dynamics of people management are so complex that no model (including the Guest model) can capture them comprehensively. P. 1. 2 The purpose of HRM is to ensure that the employees of an organization are used in such a way that the employer obtains the greatest possible benefit from their abilities and the employees obtain both material and psychological rewards from their work. Personnel management is the traditional approach to managing. It deals with the reactive side, which are rules, and regulations, wages, pension, and leave administration. It is administrative in nature. Human Resource Management are people oriented an treats employees as an asset. It is the modern approach to managing an organisation and people in the organisation. It is the proactive side of managing which puts people first. The term industrial relations has developed both a broad and a narrow meaning. Industrial relations is increasingly being called employment relations or employee relations because of the importance of non-industrial employment relationships. Industrial relations has three faces: science building, problem solving, and ethical. In the science building phase, industrial relations is part of the social sciences, and it seeks to understand the employment relationship and its institutions through high-quality, rigorous research. From this perspective, an industrial relation covers all aspects of the employment relationship, including human resource or personnel management and employee relations. The difference between personnel management and human resource management is that personnel management basically deals with the employees, for example they deal with payroll recruitment. Where the HRM deals with the management of the work force, training and the well-being of all employees. Also we can say that Human Resources is to incorporate and develop personnel management tasks, while at the same time seeking to create and develop teams of workers to the advantage of the organization. Personnel management comprises mainly of administrative tasks that are considered to be traditional and routine. The Human Resources management at Harrods helps to build a competitive edge by positively getting involving the employees. The HRM at Harrods use an appropriate leadership style and they use two-way communication, which is very effective as it allows information to be passed on correctly and quickly. Similar organization which adopted IR practice and Personal is NHS. The NHS UK practice managers work within the primary care sector, where they manage the overall running of general practices surgeries. Practice managers come from a variety of backgrounds and do not necessarily need to be a qualified healthcare professional. Industrial relations in the UK health care sector are characterised by high levels of social dialogue and joint regulation, particularly in the public part of the sector. P. 1. 3 At Harrods the role of the line manager is to encourage communication targets and advice to employees through face-to-face interactions. This might involve sitting down in the staff room, or in a more formal setting, to agree objectives and to give advice about improvements and new ways of working. Acting as a coach helps the line managers to develop their managerial skills, build relationships and reinforce trust at Harrods. Employees play the most vital role in HRM because they are the key advantage and we also must remember that high-performing and innovative employees are the foundation of productivity. Some major implications for HRM are, they can set direction and implement a company strategy, which builds commitment to what they do. Employees at Harrods help to develop performance metrics for on going improvements in the business. In order to increase the productivity at Harrods the line manager or HRM support their employees by communicating effectively and giving them regular feedback on their performance and by them doing that it decreases the errors and frustration caused to employees at work. Also an effective reward system for employees at Harrods motivates them towards better performance. Non-monetary factors like better status can motivate employees in addition.

Strategic Planning Essay

Strategic Planning Essay Introduction: Planning is the most important thing for all organization. A successful plan means a successful mission to goal of a business or organization. It doesnt matter the organization big or small. Plan will bring you to face the challenges and opportunities. This will enable to deliver more effectively to meet the needs of target people and strengthen the organization. Planning is the first step towards sustainable funding. Planning should be creative process, simple and straightforward that brings demonstrable benefits. The process of making systematic decisions about proposed future outcomes, the process includes evaluating an organization and the environment in which it operates, establishing long-term goals, and mapping a plan to achieve the goals that have been identified. Strategic planning assumes and incorporates the likelihood of a changing environment that will require adjustments in the identified goals and the process of achieving them. Strategic planning process: Environmental Scanning Developing the environmental scanning structure. The environmental scanning process. Searching for information resources Selecting information resources to scan. Identifying criteria by which to scan. Determining special actions to take on the scanning results Scanning for the institution. Evaluating the process. Key stages of strategic planning process: There are several key stages of strategic planning process: Develop Vision and Mission Business and operation analysis Develop and select strategic option Establish strategic objective Strategy execution plan. Establish resource allocation Execution summary â€Å"Strategy can be seen as an on going ‘positioning process for an organization and strategic planning can be seen as a separate activity reviewed at periodic well- defined intervals†. Strategy involves achieving a competitive advantage for an organization in meeting the needs of customers and fulfilling the expectations of stakeholders. â€Å"An organization with an ‘active strategy will have a ‘plan on which to base its decisions. This plan may be in the form of a written document, or it may be a way of approaching matters as they arise†. Example: In the case of Marks Spencer in the late 1990s, its surveys showed that customer satisfaction did fall over a period of months, but there were a combination of factors causing problems, including a general recession in High Street shops in 1998. Other possible problems for MS that were out limited TV advertising, its supply lines were relatively expensive, and it had difficulties with its product range and with the presentation of its clothes. Although the company recorded profits of over  £1 billion in 1997 and 1998, there was a 23 per cent drop in profits in November 1998. The CEO left the company in 1999 and there were further changes in senior management in the following two years. Major credit cards became accepted, product ranges were altered, product presentation was reviewed and a TV advertising campaign was undertaken under the slogan ‘Exclusively for everyone. (Tim Hannagan, Mastering @Strategic Management, 2002, Palgrave, New York, pg 60) Task 2: Involvement of stakeholders in the strategic planning process. Stakeholders are involved in the effects of strategic management because the actions and the development of the organization will result in change in their circumstances in one way or another. Stakeholders can be described as individuals and groups who are affected by the activities. It can be argued that the most important stakeholders are those who have the most to lose from the organizations actions. It is also important for an organization to be able to assess the power of these groups to influence events and the attitudes of the most powerful groups individuals. Stakeholders include a range of people involved with a company: The shareholders- who own the company and receive dividends. Financial bodies such a banks- who fund organizations in one way or another, and receive added value through interest or by other means. The employee- who receive some of the added value through their pay. The management- who receive added value through their pay and other benefits. The government- which receives part of the added value in the form of taxes. The customers- who consume the results of the value added to a commodity or service through the value chain. The mission and the objectives of an organization have to be developed taking into account the interests of the organizations stakeholders. Stakeholders Expectations Shareholders Financial return Creditors Interest, Creditworthiness, Prompt payment Suppliers Payment, long-term orders Employees Pay, stability, job satisfaction Managers Pay, benefits, power and control Customers Supply of goods and services, quality Government Taxes, employment, economic growth Strategic Management In terms of strategic management the major issue is to identify the relative power of the various stakeholders so that it is clear which of them is the most important to satisfy. On the one hand, it can be said that form any organization the customer comes first, second and third because comes without the customer the purpose of the organization will not exit, on the other hand, there may be other stakeholders who if not satisfied have the power to bring the organization to an end. For an example, Creditors have the power to close an organization if they are not paid, and employees can bring a company to its knees by withdrawing their labour. Every organization has to decide which are its most influential stakeholders and balance out their interests. Task 3: SWOT analysis of an organization: SWOT is an abbreviation for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. SWOT analysis is an important tool for auditing the overall strategic position of a business and its environment. Once key strategic issues have been indentified, they feed into business objectives, particularly marketing objectives. The key distinction: Internal and External Issues. Internal Issues: Strengths and Weaknesses are internal factors. For example, an strength could be specialist marketing expertise. A weakness could be the lack of a new product. External Factors: Opportunities and Threats are external factors. For example, an opportunity could be a developing distribution channel such as the internet, or changing consumer lifestyles that potentially increase demand for a companys product. A threat could be a new competitor in an important existing market or a technological change that makes existing products potentially obsolete. (S)trengths: Diversifying away from areas of major threat to more promising opportunities. Focusing on modifying weaknesses in spots of significant opportunities. Taking defensive measures in areas of threat where you are weak. (W)eaknesses: Make mind up which weaknesses need to be addressed as a priority. Other weaknesses have got to be accepted and respected until time and resources let find a solution. Some weaknesses can be developed into strengths or opportunities. For instance, it might be feasible to turn a shortage of production capacity into increased value for your product. (T)hreats: Build successful relationships with suppliers and customer. Cultivate good employee relations. Ensure clear and reasonable contracts with suppliers, customers and employees. Procure insurance against evident debacles. Make realistic contingency plans to deal with potential. Establish the right types of service contracts for key personnel. Invest in legal protection for intellectual property. Task 4: The differences between balance scorecard, scenario planning, cost benefit analysis and sensitivity analysis. Balance scorecard: The balanced scorecard is a strategic planning and management system that is used extensively in business and industry, government, and nonprofit organizations worldwide to align business activities to the vision and strategy of the organization, improve internal and external communications, and monitor organization performance against strategic goals. Kaplan and Norton describe the innovation of the balanced scorecard as follows: The balanced scorecard retains traditional financial measures. But financial measures tell the story of past events, an adequate story for industrial age companies for which investments in long-term capabilities and customer relationships were not critical for success. These financial measures are inadequate, however, for guiding and evaluating the journey that information age companies must make to create future value through investment in customers, suppliers, employees, processes, technology, and innovation. Examples: Department Areas Finance Return on Investment Cash Flow Return on Capital Employed Financial Results (Quarterly/Yearly) Internal Business Processes Number of activities per function Duplicate activities across functions Process alignment (is the right process in the right department) Process bottlenecks Process automation Learning and Growth Is there the correct expertise for the job Employee turnover Job satisfaction Training opportunities Customer Delivery performance to customer Quality performance for customer Customer satisfaction rate Customer percentage of market Customer retention rat Scenario Planning: Scenario planning where choices can be screened by matching them to possible scenarios. This is a ‘what if? approach based on possible changes in the organizations environment. This leads to the formation of contingency plans in order to meet the requirements of each of these possible scenarios. For this approach to be useful, the strategic manager has to recognize the onset of the elements of a particular scenario so that the appropriate contingency plan can be introduced. Tim Hannagan, Mastering Strategic Management, 2002, Palgrave, New York, pg 60 Scenario planning or scenario thinking is a strategic planning tool used to make flexible long-term plans. It is a method for learning about the future by understanding the nature and impact of the most uncertain and important driving forces affecting our world. â€Å"Change has considerable psychological impact of the human mind. To the fearful, change is threatening because it means that things may get worse to the hopeful, change is encouraging because things may get better. To confident, change is inspiring because the challenge exists to make thing better â€Å"King Whitney, Jr.† Cost benefits analysis: A cost benefit analysis finds, quantifies, and adds all the positive factors. These are the benefits. Then it identifies, quantifies, and subtracts all the negatives, the costs. The difference between the two indicates whether the planned action is advisable. The real trick to doing a cost benefit analysis well is making sure you include all the costs and all the benefits and property quantify them. Example of a Cost Benefit As the Production Manager, proposing the purchase of a $ 1 million stamping machine to increase output. Before present the proposal to the Vice President, know the need some facts to support suggestion, decide to run the numbers and do a cost benefit analysis. Itemize the benefits. With the new machine, it can be produced 100 more units per hour. The three workers currently doing the stamping by hand can be replaced. The units will be higher quality because they will be more uniform and be convinced these outweigh the costs. There is a cost to purchase the machine and it will consume some electricity. Any other costs would be insignificant. Calculate the selling price of the 100 additional units per hour multiplied by the number of production hours per month. Add to that two percent for the units that arent rejected because of the quality of the machine output. Also add the monthly salaries of the three workers. Thats a pretty good total benefit. Then calculate the monthly cost of the machine, by dividing the purchase price by 12 months per year and divide that by the 10 years the machine should last. The manufacturers specs tell what the power consumption of the machine is and get power cost numbers from accounting then figure the cost of electricity to run the machine and add the purchase cost to get a total cost figure. Now subtract total cost figure from total benefit value and analysis shows a healthy profit. Sensitivity analysis: Sensitivity analysis is a method for testing the degree of sensitivity of a system or models variables by applying incremental changes. The system can be physical or notional and represent the whole project or major element the analysis determines which variables are the most significant having the most impact on results and so helps the selection of the optimal settings or best solution. A technique used to determine how different values of an independent variable will impact a particular dependent variable under a given set of assumptions. This technique is used within specific boundaries that will depend on one or more input variables, such as the effect that changes in interest rates will have on a bonds price. Sensitivity analysis is a way to predict the outcome of a decision if a situation turns out to be different compared to the key prediction(s). Example: An analyst might create a financial model that will value a companys equity (the dependent variable) given the amount of earnings per share (an independent variable) the company reports at the end of the year and the companys price-to-earnings multiple (another independent variable) at that time. The analyst can create a table of predicted price-to-earnings multiples and a corresponding value of the companys equity based on different values for each of the independent variables. Conclusion: Strategy can be seen as an on going positioning process for an organization and strategic planning can be seen as a separate activity reviewed at periodic well defined intervals. References: http://www.yourdictionary.com/business/strategic-planning horizon.unc.edu/projects/seminars/futuresresearch/stages.html http://ezinearticles.com/?7-Steps-Effective-Strategic-Planning-Processid=588763 Tim Hannagan, Mastering @Strategic Management, 2002, Palgrave, New York, pg 60 Tim Hannagan, Mastering @Strategic Management, 2002, Palgrave, New York, pg 50, 51 Kaplan and Norton http://www.businessballs.com/balanced_scorecard.htm Tim Hannagan, Mastering @Strategic Management, 2002, Palgrave, New York, pg 60) http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/tools/scenario-planning King Whitney, Jr. http://management.about.com/cs/money/a/CostBenefit.htm http://www.maxwideman.com/issacons1/iac1112b/tsld002.htm http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sensitivityanalysis.asp

Building Rapport By Listening English Language Essay

Building Rapport By Listening English Language Essay PR people need a few theories and models to help get to grips with the bigger picture and why communications matters. But for most of us we need to get on with it and be able to deliver material results. Here we look at some of the practical skills we need to master in order to do the job well. If we look at job descriptions for PR and communications professionals, the skills required can be sorted into three broad groups Briefing Skills Writing Skills Presentation Skills Finally being assertive is essential for any professional and PR practitioners particularly need this skill in their role as consultants so well look at this as a practical skill. Briefing Skills Building rapport by listening, questioning and observation of body language As communications specialists we are likely, through our careers, to work with a wide variety of people, particularly colleagues and clients. We may also need to conduct research with target audiences, by interviewing them on a one-to-one or small group basis. We may also need to work with and interview case history subjects in order to obtain material to write up afterwards. So skilful questioning and listening, along with competent note and minute taking, are all essential skills. We may take a brief in a relaxed and supportive environment on an aspect of business that requires a planned and proactive communications strategy. Or we may take a briefing when an issue has gone live or an incident has taken place where people are rushed, anxious and concerned, where we are expected to come up with a professional, immediate reactive response. Some briefings are excellent and all the information is there: a written version supplements a verbal briefing; there is complete openness; questions are answered thoroughly. Other briefings are partial, thin on detail, assumptions are made, the verbal briefing is poorly delivered, and sometimes the person taking the brief is and feels less senior and so potentially rather intimidated so the right penetrating questions may not be asked or assumptions go unchallenged. Mistakes get made this way hence the ability to handle a briefing competently is vital. Listening During a briefing we often need to get a lot of information out of people quickly and efficiently. And to do this we must be active listeners as well as skilled questioners. We must be able to concentrate on whats being said and to sometimes draw out what really matters. We need to hear what the client whether an internal or external client is anxious about, is excited about and what the core business issues really are. Listening is an active skill, not a passive exercise. Listening is more demanding than speaking, in terms of concentration. Because we lead busy lives, we can be distracted by other thoughts and this can get in the way of good listening. You have to get into the right frame of mind to listen. There are three levels of listening Peripheral Listening Done at subconscious level, formal and informal situations cocktail party syndrome eg at party, restaurant Apparent Listening We do it all the time look like we are listening but not really concentrating Active Listening Concentrating on the message being transmitted by trying to understand not only what is being said but how and why it is said Interpreting Understanding Evaluating Reacting Planning Responding Most people talk at c.125 words per minute but think at four times that speed. So listeners have spare mental capacity (which they could use to make useful notes) but which in practice means they can also go off on one, their minds can wander, they daydream and are distractedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦unless they concentrate and listen actively. People feel unimportant, insignificant and disrespected if they sense their ideas, concerns, feelings and not being paid close attention or being taken seriously. But not only can the working relationship suffer, the ineffective listener can simply get things wrong! If you ask a question and get the answer you were expecting, you make assumptions and so miss some enlightening, new or additional important information. If you are busy getting your next question together in your mind you wont be listening to the current answer. Listening well Prepare to listen. If you can, do some research/reading before you go into a briefing session. For example read last years PR programme, an annual report, the latest media coverage and so on. Get into the right frame of mind Win:Win is what you should be aiming for, even if previous meetings with those briefing you have been challenging. Observe participants body language and speed of speaking (to pick up clues about areas of concern, urgency and any anxiety). Dont make assumptions but observe and tune in to the people involved. Sit to see. A fundamental point but having clear visual contact will aid concentration. Dont forget that placing your back to the sun means that the person youre listening to may not be able to see your eyes or facial expressions clearly. Likewise you want to see them clearly too. We gain so much more information if we listen to body language too. Avoid distractions. Apart from worrying about how much you have to do, other distractions can interfere with concentration; open plan offices, external sound, glass walls, television screens and mobile devices that people cant get their eyes and attention away from. Be careful about these interfering with your concentration when you are listening. Show empathy and build rapport. At the opening stages of a briefing its useful to show empathy so that rapport is built with the other person. Empathy is an attempt to understand the other person, to understand how the person feels and thinks and sees the world. Its getting a sense of their perspective. The issue is not to agree, disagree, or make judgements but to make a genuine effort to understand how the person briefing you sees the opportunity or issue. Look at it from their point of view and then add your own perspective as a communications consultant. At the start of a meeting use similar or matching language and body language to assist in building rapport. Show you are interested in the subject so that the person briefing you feels more inclined to engage and communicate back. Practise. Take every opportunity to practise and improve your listening skills. A colleague of mine listens to Radio Four documentaries and then recalls key points afterwards and includes these in her blog posts. Practical active practical listening techniques Checking understanding One of the ways to check your understanding of what has been said is to use feedback. In your own words, repeat back to the speaker what you understood her/him to have said. This will: Check your understanding of whats being said. Help eliminate any unintended messages which the speaker didnt mean. Demonstrate your interest in whats being said. Demonstrate that you really understand. Let the speaker think about whats being said. Encourage a clearer explanation of complex points. For example, you may hear: Its a sensitive situation because of the potential financial impact on the business. You could check understanding by responding: So youre saying that there may be a knock-on effect on profitability? Re-statement reflects a genuine attempt to understand the other persons point of view and helps to identify any issues that arise. Summarising This is more than re-statement or reflection, it is drawing together the main themes and key points from what you have heard. This facility can often be essential when the briefer has given a rather rambling and incoherent brief. Summarising what you have heard will help to check back the facts and assumptions. Summarising can also: Indicate that you have understood what has been said. Move the conversation on. Make an effective break point or end to the meeting. Establish a starting point at a subsequent meeting. 10 rules for great listening: Stop talking. Try to put the briefer at ease, get them to feel that they have your attention and you will respect their thoughts. Show that you want to listen. Look and act interested. Remove distractions. Empathise with the briefer. Be patient as far as you can. Monitor and supress any impulse to judge or counsel too soon. Avoid argument and any implied criticism. Ask questions Stop talking! Questioning The ability to ask great questions is, in my opinion, one of the most crucial skills anyone working in communications should master. Great questioning helps you get the information you need: to prepare a sound PR proposal, to understand the opinions, thoughts and feelings of a stakeholder, to write a focused report, to assess a situation, to get to the heart of the matter. The right questions achieve clarity, promote reflection, enhance creativity and help work out solutions. As you get more senior and are responsible for coaching and mentoring others, great questions are a key way to help people reflect and learn. Whatever the context, great questions show you are listening and paying attention to your subject. Its not simply a question of the right questions either; its also the way you ask them so pay attention to your tone of voice and body language too. Using the Right Questioning Style Open questions help the other person define the opportunity or issue and to explore it. They provide factual information and the other persons thoughts and possibly their feelings behind it. Open questions can also generate thinking and reflection and ensure that focus is kept on the issue. Well timed open questions can change how someone looks at an issue too and can help identify actions to take. Open questions are always a good place to start a discussion or a briefing as they do exactly that open up the dialogue. Open questions most often start with What, How, When and Where or Tell me aboutà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ What can I/we do for you? What do you think the opportunity is? Whats your role in this issue? What have you tried so far? What worked? What didnt? Have you experienced anything like this before? (If so, what did you do?) What can you do for yourself? What are the business needs? How will that benefit the business? What is important about that? What is holding the business back? What if you do nothing? What is this costing? How much control do you have in this situation? What options do you have? What support do you need to assure success? What do you need us to do for you? What do you hope for? Whats preventing you from ? If you could change one thing, what would it be? How will you know you have been successful? What does success look like? Imagine a point in the future where your issue is resolvedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦how did you get there? What would you like to ask us? Journalists use these open questions frequently when interviewing subjects for features and news pieces: Did youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦? Are youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦? Whatsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦? How manyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦? Whereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.? Depending on the situation, be careful when asking open questions that begin with why. A why question makes people feel defensive, accountable to justify their actions. You do need to ask why questions to clarify causation especially when working out what has happened if an incident has taken place just be careful of the phrasing so it doesnt look like any blame is being apportioned and that it doesnt sound like finger pointing. 2. Closed questions can be used to check facts, or as a summary. Use them sparingly as they tend to elicit simple yes or no answers. Have you toldà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦? What I think Im hearing isà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ is that right? 3 Clarifying questions help you and your subject understand the key point and get to the bottom line. They can uncover the root cause of issues. These are especially useful when conducting research interviews and doing in-depth profiles of case histories. Ask questions about the persons point of view, perspectives, beliefs, values and actions. Great provocative questions can prompt light bulb moments which can shift things positively and quickly. When you launched your brand what what did you imagine would be the impact on your life? When did you first consider you had achieved success? 4. Reflecting questions enable the questioner to clarify what has been said and to get the subject to talk freely and in depth. Reflecting questions call for the questioner to engage in active listening. Using their own words you encourage further information. Reflecting questions often begin: You said thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ You sound as if à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. I get the feeling that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. 5. Extending questions are used to invite further explanation and to prompt a further answer: How else couldà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦? Could you tell me more about..? 6. Comparative questions are useful where the questioner may need to compare a situation on a before and after basis: What has it been like sinceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦? What difference has à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. 7. Hypothetical questions may allow the subject to explore ideas and issues in a non-threatening theoretical environment: Imagine a future whereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦how would you feel? If you were faced with the same situation again would you do anything differently? 8. Rephrasing or paraphrasing may be used when the questioner is not clear what the subject thinks, feels or means and allows you to play back what has been said: Are you saying thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦? Let me see if I understand the problem completelyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ 9. Linking questions are useful for picking up clues but depend on active listening. The question is formed by picking up an earlier response from the subject: You mentioned earlier thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ how would youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦? Leading questions (a sub-section of closed questions) should generally be avoided. A leading question is asked in order to lead another to a pre-determined answer or conclusion. This sort of question comes across as dishonest and manipulative. You can recognise leading questions because they are statements that can often can be answered yes or no. That said, journalists may use leading questions in interviews Youre a Conservative, arent you? How did you react? Were you furious? How much money went missing more than a million pounds? Assumptive questions (which can be annoying but, if phrased well, can get into interesting areas) are also used extensively by journalists. Were you educated in a private or state school? How many redundancies will there be? Are you married or single? (when the answer may be neitherà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) When did you last beat your wife? Direct, suggestive or loaded questions which are manipulative but are often used again by journalists to provoke a response and add tension into proceedings Scientists have proven that cigarette smoking cause cancer so why should manufacturers be allowed to continue to promote them at all? What sort of person would disagree with campaigns to control birth rates? Ghandi said non-violent protest was the only way dont you agree? Socratic Questioning Academics often use Socratic Questioning to facilitate investigation and dialogue. The US-based Foundation for Critical Thinking published a paper in 2006 by Richard Paul and Linda Elder that defined nine types of Socratic questions, useful for critical enquiry Questions of clarification What do you mean by X? What is your main point? How does this relate to X? Could you put that another way? Could you say more about that? Why do you say that? Let me check I understand do you mean X or Y? Can you explain that further? Can you give me an example? Would this be an example of X? How does this relate to the brief/issue? Is your basic point X or Y? What do you think David meant by that remark? What do you believe he actually meant? Questions That Probe Purpose What is the purpose of X? What was your purpose when you said X? How do the purposes of these two people vary? How do the purposes of these two groups vary? What is the purpose of addressing this question at this time? Questions That Probe Assumptions What are you assuming? What is Karen assuming? What could we assume instead? You seem to be assuming X . Do I understand you correctly? All your conclusions depend on the idea thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Why have you based your reasoning on X rather than Y? You seem to be assuming X. How would you justify taking this for granted? Is it always the case? Why do you think the assumption holds here? Questions That Probe Information, Reasons, Evidence and Causes What would be an example? How do you know? What are your reasons for saying that? Why did you say that? What other information do we need to know before we can address this question? Why do you think that is true? Could you explain your reasons to us? What led you to that belief ? Is this good evidence for believing that? Do you have any evidence to support your assertion? Are those reasons adequate? How does that information apply to this case? Is there reason to doubt that evidence? What difference does that make? Who is in a position to know if that is the case? What would convince you otherwise? What would you say to someone who said ? What accounts for ? What do you think is the cause? How did this come about? By what reasoning did you come to that conclusion? How could we go about finding out whether that is true? Can someone else give evidence to support that response? Questions about Viewpoints or Perspectives You seem to be approaching this issue from perspective. Why have you chosen this perspective rather than that perspective? How would other groups or types of people respond? Why? What would influence them? How could you answer the objection that would make? Can/did anyone see this another way? What would someone who disagrees say? What is an alternative? How are Kens and Roxannes ideas alike? Different? Questions That Probe Implications and Consequences What are you implying by that? When you say , are you implying ? But if that happened, what else would also happen as a result? Why? What effect would that have? Would that necessarily happen or only probably happen? What is an alternative? If this and this are the case, then what else must be true? Questions about the Question How can we find out? Is this the same issue as ? How could someone settle this question? Can we break this question down at all? Is the question clear? Do we understand it? How would put the issue? Is this question easy or difficult to answer? Why? What does this question assume? Would put the question differently? Why is this question important? Does this question ask us to evaluate something? Do we need facts to answer this? Do we all agree that this is the question? To answer this question, what other questions would we have to answer first? Im not sure I understand how you are interpreting the main question at issue. Could you explain your interpretation? Questions That Probe Concepts What is the main idea we are dealing with? Why/how is this idea important? Do these two ideas conflict? If so, how? What was the main idea guiding the thinking of the character in this story? How is this idea guiding our thinking as we try to reason through this issue? Is this idea causing us problems? What main theories do we need to consider in figuring out ? Are you using this term in keeping with educated usage? Which main distinctions should we draw in reasoning through this problem? Which idea is this author using in her or his thinking? This there a problem with it? Questions That Probe Inferences and Interpretations Which conclusions are we coming to about ? On what information are we basing this conclusion? Is there a more logical inference we might make in this situation? How are you interpreting her behaviour? Is there another possible interpretation? What do you think of ? How did you reach that conclusion? Given all the facts, what is the best possible conclusion? How shall we interpret these data? Understanding body language Non-verbal communication is often the way we show the emotional side of our relationships with others. Effective body language works alongside our spoken words in order to convey meaning more clearly. Give positive signals by Arriving on time Show you are committed to the aims of the meeting Show interest in what is being said When you talk in the meeting give everyone some eye contact by moving your eyes around the room Try and control the tone of your voice so that it is calm and unflustered with variation in tone and pitch Dont yawn Pick up signals from other peoples body language You can watch other participants and try to assess their thoughts and feelings even if they are not saying anything. Some important signals to look for are; Eye contact people who are looking at you are likely to be listening. People who look away from you when you talk to them may be nervous Body direction usually in meetings everyone sits facing the chairperson. If someone turns their body away they may be unhappy with what is happening, changing direction completely or possibly pushing their chair back may show a great degree of dissatisfaction Posture this can be interpreted in many different ways. Sitting back may be a sign of disinterest or of being relaxed. At an informal meeting sitting on the edge of the seat may be an indication of fear or tension. Head movements the obvious ones are the nod or shake of agreement or disagreement. Most people will unconsciously nod or shake their heads and this provides you with a lot of information. Facial expressions again at a meeting facial expressions such as smiling frowning questioning are often unconscious and can reveal information about what the person is thinking. Body language clues that often reveal whats going on with the listener Smiling, open and positive gestures, standing or sitting close, lots of eye contact, nodding, tilting head = empathy and rapport Sitting with crossed leg towards you = defensiveness, distrust Sitting with crossed leg away from you = willingness to trust Rigid or tense body posture, staring eyes, clenched fists, clasped hands, tightly folded arms, foot tapping, finger pointing = anger, aggression, irritation, nervousness, Downcast eyes, hand over mouth, frequently touching face, shifting weight from one leg to another, fidgeting = nervousness Picking fluff from clothes, pulling at ears, stifled yawning, gazing around the room = boredom Non-verbal communication By developing awareness of the signs and signals of body language, you can more easily understand other people, and more effectively communicate with them. The difference between the words people speak and our understanding of what they are saying comes from non-verbal communication, otherwise known as body language. There are sometimes subtle and sometimes not so subtle movements, gestures, facial expressions and even shifts in our whole bodies that indicate something is going on. The way we talk, walk, sit and stand all say something about us, and whatever is happening on the inside can be reflected on the outside. By becoming more aware of this body language and understanding what it might mean, you can learn to read people more easily. This puts you in a better position to communicate effectively with them. Whats more, by increasing your understanding of others, you can also become more aware of the messages that you convey to them. This article will explain many of the ways in which we communicate non-verbally, so that you can use these signs and signals to communicate more effectively. How We Communicate A famous study by Albert Mehrabian found that non-verbal language makes up 55% of how we communicate in face-to-face interactions. He also concluded that we communicate as much as 38% of our message through our voice (tone, pitch, and so on), with as little as 7% through the words we actually say. Understanding and recognizing the signs and signals that make up this 55% can help you when you communicate with others. There are times when we send mixed messages we say one thing yet our body language reveals something different. This non-verbal language will affect how we act and react to others, and how they react to us. So, lets take a look at some scenarios, and see how body language influences your perception and reactions. First Impressions and Confidence Recall a time when you met someone new at work. Or think about the last time you watched a speaker deliver a presentation. What were your first impressions? Did you sense confidence or a lack of confidence in them? Did you want to associate with them or not? Were you convinced by them? Did they stride into the room, engage you and maintain eye contact or were they tentative, shuffling towards you with eyes averted, before sliding into a chair? What about their handshake firm and strong or weak and limp? Moving along in the conversation, did they maintain solid eye contact or were they frequently looking away? Did their face appear relaxed or was it tight and tense? What about their hand and arm movements? Were their gestures wide, flowing and open or were they tight, jerky and closed? As you observe others, you can identify some common signs and signals that give away whether they are feeling confident or not. Typical things to look for in confident people include: Posture standing tall with shoulders back. Eye contact solid with a smiling face. Gestures with hands and arms purposeful and deliberate. Speech slow and clear. Tone of voice moderate to low. As well as deciphering other peoples the body language, you can use this knowledge to convey feelings that youre not actually experiencing. For example, if you are about to enter into a situation where you are not as confident as youd like to be, such as giving a big presentation or attending an important meeting, you can adopt these confidence signs and signals to project confidence. Lets now look at another scenario. Difficult Meetings and Defensiveness Think of a time when you were in a difficult meeting perhaps a performance appraisal or one where you are negotiating deadlines, responsibilities or a contract. In an ideal world, both you and the other person would be open and receptive to hearing what each other has to say, in order to conclude the meeting successfully. However, often, the other person is defensive and doesnt really listen. If this happens during an appraisal meeting, and its important for you to convey to your colleague that he or she needs to change certain behaviors, you really want them open and receptive to you so they take on board what you are saying. So how can you tell whether your message is falling on deaf ears? Some of the common signs that the person you are speaking with may be feeling defensive include: Hand/arm gestures are small and close to his or her body. Facial expressions are minimal. Body is physically turned away from you. Arms are crossed in front of body. Eyes maintain little contact, or are downcast. By picking up these signs, you can change what you say or how you say it to help the other person become more at ease, and more receptive to what you are saying. Equally, if you are feeling somewhat defensive going into a negotiating situation, you can monitor your own body language to ensure that the messages you are conveying are ones that say that you are open and receptive to what is being discussed. Working with Groups and Disengagement Have you ever delivered a presentation, and had a sense that people werent really buying into what you had to say? What about working with a group to facilitate a consensus on responsibilities and deadlines? Was everyone on board with the ideas, or did some appear disengaged? Ideally, when you stand up to deliver a presentation or work with group, you want 100% engagement with all concerned. This often doesnt happen on its own, though. But you can actively engage the audience when you need to if youre alert to some of the typical signs and signals of people not being engaged. Some of these signs and signals include: Heads are down. Eyes are glazed, or gazing at something else. Hands may be picking at cloths, or fiddling with pens. People may be writing or doodling. They may be sitting slumped in their chairs. When you pick up that someone appears not to be engaged in what is going on, you can do something to re-engage him or her and bring their focus back to what you are saying, such as asking them a direct question. And while this is going on, make sure that your own body language is saying what you want it to. Lying Of all the non-verbal body language that we may observe, being able to tell whether a person is lying or not will stand you in good stead. Some of the typical signs and signals that a person is lying include: Eyes maintain little or no eye contact, or there may be rapid eye movements, with pupils constricted. Hand or fingers are in front of his or her mouth when speaking. His or her body is physically turned away from you, or there are unusual/un-natural body gestures. His or her breathing rate increases. Complexion changes such as in color; red in face or neck area. Perspiration increases.

Abortion Policy Essay -- Rights Birth Pregnancy Papers

Abortion Policy Abortion is one of about six major issues that the public considers when voting (Witwer). It is a complex issue that has been passionately debated for centuries. The various methods used to carry out the procedure range from disassembling the fetus and crushing the skull in order to suck it all out of the woman’s womb to the procedure called RU-486, that gives the woman a pill to prevent her body from giving the fetus the nutrients to stay alive. Also, some consider certain forms of birth control, Norplant, IUD, and emergency contraceptives to be abortions as well. Many people argue about when in the pregnancy abortions should be allowed, if there should be an age limit, if abortion should be allowed only in certain circumstances, if states should decide the legality of it, and if only certain procedures should be allowed. However, the key issue is: should abortion be totally legalized, totally banned, or remain the way it is? Numerous people have a stake in this issue. The issue of abortion affects every woman worldwide as well as men who find themselves involved in a situation related to abortion, and/or men who choose to concern themselves with such an ever-growing issue (Wlezien). Also, this issue affects the fetuses aborted, or permitted to live. There are generally two opposing sides to the issue where most people find themselves: the pro-life side and the pro-choice side. While it is true that men may find themselves involved in a situation related to abortion, the debate over it still remains predominantly female (Wlezien). Surveys, facts, and figures have indicated that the two sides are made up of vastly dissimilar people and their lifestyles (Wlezien). Pro-choice usually consists of young... ...89), pp. 229-230{primary scholarly, print via internet in original, authoritative} Wlezien, Christopher B.; Goggin, Malcolm. â€Å"The Courts, Interest Groups, and Public Opinion about Abortion†. Political Behavior, Vol. 15, No. 4. (Dec., 1993), pp. 381-405. {primary scholarly, print via internet in original, authoritative} â€Å"Unjust Punishment, Forced Contraception, and Poor Treatment of Women by the Courts and Prisons.† NARAL Pro Choice America Foundation. 27 April 1999. 22 March 2004. http://www.naral.org/facts/loader.cfm?url=/commonspot/security/getfile.cfm&PageID=1784. {unrestricted, internet publication, apparently credible} U. S. National Library of Medicine. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. 2002. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002398.htm - 29k - Mar 8, 2004. {primary scholarly, print via internet in original, authoritative}

Analysis of Keats To Autumn Essay -- Keats To Autumn Essays Poetry

Analysis of Keats' To Autumn  Ã‚   John Keats' poem To Autumn is essentially an ode to Autumn and the change of seasons. He was apparently inspired by observing nature; his detailed description of natural occurrences has a pleasant appeal to the readers' senses.   Keats also alludes to a certain unpleasantness connected to Autumn, and links it to a time of death.   However, Keats' association between stages of Autumn and the process of dying does not take away from the "ode" effect of the poem.      The three-stanza poem seems to create three distinct stages of Autumn:   growth,   harvest, and death.   The theme going in the first stanza is that Autumn is a season of fulfilling, yet the theme ending the final stanza is that Autumn is a season of dying.   However, by using the stages of Autumn's as a metaphor for the process of death, Keats puts the concept of death in a different, more favorable light.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the first stanza, the "growth" stanza, Keats appeals to our sense of visualization.   The reader pictures a country setting, such as a cottage with a yard full of fruit trees and flowers.   In his discussion of the effects of Autumn on nature, Keats brilliantly personifies Autumn.   A personification is when an object or a concept is presented in such a way as to give life or human characteristics to the idea or concept.   Not only does Keats speak of Autumn as if it had life, (e.g., in lines 2 and 3, where he creates a friendship between Autumn and the sun, in which they "conspire" to "load and bless" the trees with ripe, bountiful fruit), but he also gives personality to the life-form Autumn.   He first defines Autumn as a "season of mist and mellow fruitfulness."   The references to both "mist" and "mellow... ...ch as funerals, or recessionals.   It is appropriate that this change of imagery into musical imagery in the final stanza because it is not only the end of the poem, but it is the description of the end of Autumn as well ("While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day").   The use of the word "soft" in "soft-dying day" helps to take away the "Grim Reaper" sense of death and define it as a natural, inevitable occurrence that ends a cycle.      The final line "and gathering swallows twitter in the skies" gives the reader a definite sense of ending (the swallows are preparing to migrate for the winter season).   At this point, the poem seems to comes to a rest, and this final line creates an effective sense of closure. Bibliography: "To Autumn". The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. M.H. Abrams. New York: W.W. norton, Inc., 2000.          Analysis of Keats' To Autumn Essay -- Keats To Autumn Essays Poetry Analysis of Keats' To Autumn  Ã‚   John Keats' poem To Autumn is essentially an ode to Autumn and the change of seasons. He was apparently inspired by observing nature; his detailed description of natural occurrences has a pleasant appeal to the readers' senses.   Keats also alludes to a certain unpleasantness connected to Autumn, and links it to a time of death.   However, Keats' association between stages of Autumn and the process of dying does not take away from the "ode" effect of the poem.      The three-stanza poem seems to create three distinct stages of Autumn:   growth,   harvest, and death.   The theme going in the first stanza is that Autumn is a season of fulfilling, yet the theme ending the final stanza is that Autumn is a season of dying.   However, by using the stages of Autumn's as a metaphor for the process of death, Keats puts the concept of death in a different, more favorable light.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the first stanza, the "growth" stanza, Keats appeals to our sense of visualization.   The reader pictures a country setting, such as a cottage with a yard full of fruit trees and flowers.   In his discussion of the effects of Autumn on nature, Keats brilliantly personifies Autumn.   A personification is when an object or a concept is presented in such a way as to give life or human characteristics to the idea or concept.   Not only does Keats speak of Autumn as if it had life, (e.g., in lines 2 and 3, where he creates a friendship between Autumn and the sun, in which they "conspire" to "load and bless" the trees with ripe, bountiful fruit), but he also gives personality to the life-form Autumn.   He first defines Autumn as a "season of mist and mellow fruitfulness."   The references to both "mist" and "mellow... ...ch as funerals, or recessionals.   It is appropriate that this change of imagery into musical imagery in the final stanza because it is not only the end of the poem, but it is the description of the end of Autumn as well ("While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day").   The use of the word "soft" in "soft-dying day" helps to take away the "Grim Reaper" sense of death and define it as a natural, inevitable occurrence that ends a cycle.      The final line "and gathering swallows twitter in the skies" gives the reader a definite sense of ending (the swallows are preparing to migrate for the winter season).   At this point, the poem seems to comes to a rest, and this final line creates an effective sense of closure. Bibliography: "To Autumn". The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. M.H. Abrams. New York: W.W. norton, Inc., 2000.