Assureâ€I Mean, Ensureâ€Good Writing

Assure- I Mean, Ensure- Good Writing Assure- I Mean, Ensure- Good Writing Assure- I Mean, Ensure- Good Writing By Mark Nichol Once upon a time, professional and amateur writers alike could count on books and publications to help guide them in writing clearly, coherently, and concisely. They knew that when they opened a book, a magazine, or a newspaper, they could generally be assured that they would find carefully crafted prose that adhered to principles of proper grammar, syntax, and usage and would not only enhance comprehension of the content but also serve as a model for their own effective writing. Unfortunately, that assurance has long since ceased to exist across the board. Over the last quarter-century, socioeconomic forces have eviscerated the editorial infrastructure in the publishing world. Into the late twentieth century, at least most book publishers were assiduous in making sure not only that fiction and nonfiction narratives were well constructed but also that attention was paid to the mechanics of sentence structure. In the periodical world, veteran magazine and newspaper editors passed their skills in telling stories (and finessing them down to the detail of using just the right punctuation for the job with each keystroke) to younger editorial staff members, preserving a tradition of editorial excellence even for niche magazines and small-town papers. Not every publication adhered to such high standards, of course, and objectivity was not always maintained (or sought), but readers usually could count, at least, on being exposed to good, clean writing. Those standards have now eroded, thanks in large part to budget cuts in editorial departments and a deterioration in the informal newsroom mentor-protà ©gà © tradition, in addition to a growing indifference in our society to excellent writing. Some publications keep the bar high, but the general readership is exposed to much mediocre writing in print and online media alike, and sloppy prose from one writer infects other writers like a virus, passing on clichà ©s, errors, and poor habits. One recent example stood out for me- perhaps a persnickety detail, but symptomatic of an erosion of precision in usage that encourages lazy writing. In a local metropolitan newspaper, an editorial about the crisis of homelessness misused assured not once, not twice, but thrice: 1. The city needs to evaluate and track people in homeless programs to assure that they are put in the most suitable settings. 2. San Francisco needs to work together with Oakland and San Jose, which are experiencing their own struggles with homelessness, to assure that they are not merely shifting the burden to one another. 3. It would be a colossal waste of money to make the necessary investments in supportive housing and other services without a commensurate commitment to assure that the people who are offered this array of assistance are no longer afforded the option to flout the law with impunity. Careful writers know that assurance does not occur in isolation; it is given. (One would say, for example, â€Å"I assured them that they are not merely shifting the burden to one another.†) The proper word for this context is ensure. (Insure, meanwhile, is best confined to matters of indemnity.) In popular usage, these words are used interchangeably, and historically, they have not always been employed distinctly even by more erudite writers, but preserving such distinctions helps us maintain a rich, diverse language. I’m all for relaxed, flexible usage in in appropriate contexts, but maintaining a firewall between ensure, insure, and assure, or between eager and anxious or between enormity and enormousness, or any such fraternal twins or triplets, helps writers produce and readers consume high-quality prose. If so many book and periodical (and online) publishers have abandoned their traditional role as standard-bearers for good writing, where does the developing writer (read: every writer) go for guidance? Some publishers still strive to deliver well-written content, and many corporate and organizational websites are impressively edited, but ultimately, the careful writer will consult writing guides such as this site and the many excellent writing manuals available in print and sometimes online. (Search for â€Å"book reviews† on DailyWritingTips.com for recommendations- or cautions.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Avoid Beginning a Sentence with â€Å"With†7 Tips for Writing a Film ReviewAffect vs. Effect

Supernatural Forces In Macbeth Essays - Characters In Macbeth

Supernatural Forces In Macbeth Essays - Characters In Macbeth Supernatural Forces In Macbeth Supernatural Forces in Macbeth Supernatural forces in Shakespeares Macbeth aid the play in creating a suspenseful atmosphere. The use of the supernatural in the witches, the visions, the ghost and the apparitions are the backbone of the climax and provide excuses for Macbeths change of character. Because conscience plays such a central role in Macbeths tragic struggle, many critics have used spiritual and supernatural theories both historical and modern to illuminate the dramas character development and world view. The play opens with the use of the supernatural when three witches encounter Macbeth on his way home from a battle and proceed to predict his fate. This gives the audience a glimpse of path the play will follow. When the battles (battle is) lost and won (I. I. 1-4) is when the witches plan to meet again. This is a recurring theme throughout the play. It can be noted that the witches meet after every battle is lost and won, and every battle, whether man against man, man against nature or man against himself is always lost by one side and won by another. Eventually Macbeth will lose the battle for his soul. After the prophecies of the witches revealed the fate of Macbeth was to be king, he begins to develop an immoral plan to carry out the prophecy. The only way for Macbeth to have the throne is to wait or to kill King Duncan. Macbeth already knew he was going to be king because the witches forecasted it in his future, so how he went about getting there was not a concern of Macbeths. T he three sisters were capable of motivating Macbeth to kill Duncan by planting the idea in his head that he could be king. The ghostly dagger, which led Macbeth to Duncans chamber, also represents the supernatural forces that cause the fall of Macbeth. and in the grim irony of his pledge of loyalty just 30 lines after his horrible imagings (1.3.138) of murder. His benumbed isolation before, during and right after Duncans murder is one of the most vivid memories, and we can see him in the same abstraction again among the mourners after Duncan is found. (Manyard 62) Macbeths memories of the murder of king Duncan were too cloudy for him to remember because the disallusionment and distraction of the knife influenced him to go through with killing Duncan. Macbeth was led towards Duncans room by the bloody knife and even had second thoughts of the murder of the king, until Lady Macbeth stepped in. These deeds must not be thought. After these ways, so make us mad. (II.II.32-33) This convinces Macbeth to go back and finish his deed. I feel the floating dagger along with emotions and adrenaline coaxed Macbeth to the murder. Had it not been for the dagger he probably wouldnt have ever traveled up the stairs to Duncans chamber.

Apprenticeships for the 21st Century

Apprenticeships for the 21st Century Introduction The selected reports address the need to reform the Australian Apprenticeship system to give participants the right skills that will impact the Australian labor market positively. The report of the Panel chaired by Mr. Jim McDowell titled A Shared Responsibility – Apprenticeships for the 21st Century mentions that there is need to come up with a system that is more efficient and capable of producing a large number of highly trained, skillful and highly inspired workers (McDowell et al 2011).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Apprenticeships for the 21st Century specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Other reports echo on this sentiment, for example, the report by Amy Simons titled Report savages apprenticeship system blames the current system for causing young Australians to relinquish their occupations (Simmons 2011). The reports stress the need to simplify and streamline the system to impart skills tha t are crucial to the growth of the Australian economy (Evans 2011), similar calls are made by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) (ACTU 2011). The Housing Industry of Australia (HIA) contends that plans to reform the system are welcome, but the industry must be involved in coming up with a better system that ensures apprentices get employment opportunities (HIA 2011). The final report by the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) commends the report by McDowell et al and says that it presents ‘the opportunity for real reform of the apprenticeship system after many years of tinkering’ (Ai Group 2011). Points or Arguments The reports agree on one issue: the Australian Apprenticeship system needs urgent reforms, and the recommendations by the government-appointed panel chaired by Mr. McDowell are vital towards achieving the reforms. The reports cite several weaknesses in the current program as a justification for the reforms, majorly, the low completion rates. Simm ons mentions that more than half of those enrolled in apprenticeship programs drop out of the system. This anomaly is due to the low pay rates. Senator Evans mentions that since 42 percent of those enrolling in apprenticeship programs are aged 25 and above, there is need for a new system that recognizes previous experience or skills, this will motivate more persons to enroll in the program (Evans 2011). Quoting one of the recommendations by the panel, HIA reports that reforms will address the issue of high dropout rates and the will make the system simpler. The reforms will reduce Australia’s over-reliance on imported labor and meet demands of Australian labor market (ACTU 2011). A weakness of the current system is that it contains many difficulties and inconsistencies, and hence the reforms are vital towards overcoming the obscurities (Ai Group 2011).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More While the Australian Apprenticeship system continuously provides skilled labor to the market, there is a need for urgent reforms that will lead to the production of a skilled and flexible labor force that has the ability to meet the challenges of the Australian economy in competing with other global economies (McDowell et al 2011). Besides, the new system will meet the changing skill requirements as well as the ambitions and anticipations of the participants. Factors that might Influence the Perspective of the various Stakeholders The assertion that the Australian Apprenticeship system requires urgent reforms is a genuine. However, to win the vote of the various stakeholders in effecting the reforms, the following points must be said of the current system: There have been high dropout rates among persons who enroll in apprenticeship program under the current system. The low completion rates are caused by low wages, a lack of motivation among the particip ants, and receiving education that is obsolete, especially with the constantly changing labor market requirements. In some jobs, an apprentice receives less that $200 a week, this discourages other individuals from taking up apprentice programs. Globalization has increased the movement of labor across the world, the situation is no different in Australia. The current system does not impart knowledge required by the economy, hence it has had to import skilled labor. If this situation persists, the more than 400,000 students enrolled in the Vocational Education and Training (VET), or nearly 4% of the workforce, may lack employment. The youth form the largest proportion of our economy, yet, this is the group that suffers most from unemployment. In the future, social ills and poverty may begin to crop into our society if the current situation is not rectified. This is a wake up call and the first step towards averting the future disaster is to reform the apprenticeship system to avail j obs. References Australian Council of Trade Unions. (2011). Apprenticeship reforms are long overdue  and must be acted on to provide a skilled labour force. Available from actu.org.au/Media/Mediareleases/Apprenticeshipreformsarelongoverdueandmustbeactedontoprovideaskilledlabourforce.aspx Australian Industry Group. (2011), Apprenticeship report an opportunity for real reform. Available from getbusinessadvice.com.au/features/70-education-a-training/1638-apprenticeship-report-an-opportunity-for-real-reform.html?211a80a7893753f6d94e3fcaa7840466=4434ffbfd083e7deb3fe4ae3022cc686 Evans, C. (2011). Reforming the Australian Apprenticeship system. Available from deewr.gov.au/Ministers/Evans/Media/Releases/Pages/Article_110221_112019.aspx Housing Industry of Australia (2011), National Apprenticeship Reform Needs Industry  Input. Available from getbusinessadvice.com.au/the-news/1637-national-apprenticeship-reform-needs-industry-input.html?211a80a7893753f6d94e3fcaa7840466=048772114661331 d1aaa6c5f232214af McDowell, J., et al. (2011). A Shared Responsibility – Apprenticeships for the 21st  Century. Available from www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Apprenticeships for the 21st Century specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Simmons, A. (2011). Report savages apprenticeship system. ABC News, February 2011. Available from abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/21/3143831.htm

How to Use a Library for Research

How to Use a Library for Research For some students, one of the biggest differences between high school and college is the amount and depth of research that is required for research papers. College professors expect students to be quite adept at researching, and for some students, this is a big change from high school. This is not to say that high school teachers dont do a great job of preparing students for college-level research- quite the contrary! Teachers fill a tough and essential role in teaching students how to research and write. College professors simply require students to take that skill to a new level. For example, you may soon discover that many college professors won’t accept encyclopedia articles as sources. Encyclopedias are great for finding a compact, informative accumulation of research on a specific topic. They are a great resource for finding the basic facts, but they are limited when it comes to offering interpretations of the facts. Professors require students to dig a little deeper than that, accumulate their own evidence from broader sources, and form opinions about their sources as well as the specific topics. For this reason, college-bound students should become familiar with the library and all its terms, rules, and methods. They should also have the confidence to venture outside the comfort of the local public library and explore more diverse resources. Card Catalog For years, the card catalog was the only resource for finding much of the material available in the library. Now, of course, much of the catalog information has become available on computers. But not so fast! Most libraries still have resources that haven’t been added to the computer database. As a matter of fact, some of the most interesting items- the items in special collections, for instance- will be the last to be computerized. There are many reasons for this. Some documents are old, some are hand-written, and some are too fragile or too cumbersome to handle. Sometimes it’s a matter of manpower. Some collections are so extensive and some staffs are so small, that the collections will take years to computerize. For this reason, it’s a good idea to practice using the card catalog. It offers an alphabetical listing of titles, authors, and subjects. The catalog entry gives the call number of the source. The call number is used to locate the specific physical location of your source. Call Numbers Each book in the library has a specific number, called a call number. Public libraries contain many books of fiction and books relevant to general use. For this reason, public libraries often use the Dewey Decimal System, the preferred system for fictional books and general use books. Generally, fiction books are alphabetized by the author under this system. Research libraries use a very different system, called the Library of Congress (LC) system. Under this system, books are sorted by topic instead of the author. The first section of the LC call number (before the decimal) refers to the subject of the book. That is why, when browsing books on shelves, you will notice that books are always surrounded by other books on the same topic. Library shelves are usually labeled on each end, to indicate which call numbers are contained within the particular aisle. Computer Search Computer searches are great, but they can be confusing. Libraries are usually affiliated or connected to other libraries (university systems or county systems). For this reason, computer databases will often list books that are not located in your local library. For instance, your public library computer may give you a â€Å"hit† on a certain book. On closer inspection, you may discover that this book is only available at a different library in the same system (county). Don’t let this confuse you! This is actually a great way to locate rare books or books that are published and distributed within a small geographic location. Just be aware of codes or other indication which specify the location of your source. Then ask your librarian about interlibrary loans. If you want to limit your search to your own library, it is possible to conduct internal searches. Just become familiar with the system. When using a computer, be sure to keep a pencil handy and write down the call number carefully, to avoid sending yourself on a wild goose chase! Remember, it’s a good idea to consult the computer and the card catalog, to avoid missing a great source. If you already enjoy research, youll grow to love special collections departments. Archives and special collections contain the most interesting items youll encounter as you conduct your research, such as valuable and unique objects of historical and cultural significance. Things like letters, diaries, rare and local publications, pictures, original drawings, and early maps are located in special collections. Rules Each library or archive will have a set of rules relevant to its own special collections room or department. Normally, any special collection will be set apart from the public areas and will require special permission to enter or to access. You may be required to put most of your belongings into a locker as you enter the room or building where special items are held. Things like pens, markers, beepers, phones, are not permitted, as they could damage delicate collection items or disrupt other researchers.You may find special collections materials by doing a normal library search with index cards, but the search process may differ from place to place.Some libraries will have all the collections materials indexed in their electronic databases, but some will have special books or guides for the special collections. Dont worry, someone will always be on hand to guide you and let you know where to find materials that sound interesting.Some material will be available on microfilm or microfiche. Film items are usually kept in drawers, and you can probably retrieve either of these yourself. Once you find the right film, you will need to read it on a machine. These machines may differ from place to place, so just ask for a little direction. If you conduct a search and identify a rare item youd like to view, you will probably have to fill out a request for it. Ask for a request form, fill it in, and turn it in. One of the archivists will retrieve the item for you and tell you how to handle it. You may have to sit at a specific table and wear gloves to view the item. Does this process sound a little intimidating? Dont be frightened off by the rules! They are put into place so that archivists can protect their very special collections! Youll soon find that some of these items are so intriguing and so valuable to your research that theyre well worth the extra effort.

EnronBlack GoldP2P Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

EnronBlack GoldP2P - Essay Example This is a documentary film that is based on the book "The Smartest Guys in the Room". Basically, it dramatizes the rise and fall of Enron. It is quite entertaining due to smart use of storytelling devices, imagery and soundtrack. In fact, it is amazing to look on leading role played by banks, financial media, accounting firms and government. The film Enron is weak on clearing up how the company brought up its image from a simple gas pipeline business to a post-modern corporate megalith. One of the most important things regarding the film's strength is in its representation of the massive group thinking within and outside of the corporation that helped enormously to support the rise in Enron's. The film, explains how the earning loads of money by exploiting commodities trading and accounting methods at the same time how it is losing plenty of money in real world undertakings. In fact the film portraits beautifully and makes it understandable even for a lay man how Enron set up its fir st commodities trading desk to take advantage of on inside knowledge of the gas business, and then tried to implement the same model with water, broadband, electricity, etc. In reality as a trading firm, Enron avoided investment firm policy by portraying itself as an industrial firm. The films dramatization of Enron's role and the political manipulations behind the California energy-crisis is well portrayed.In fact through the film there is great deal of emphasis given on the fact that this can happen again. It has happened before for instance in the cases of leveraged buyouts, the Savings and Loan crisis, the burst Internet IPO bubble, the 1920s Stock Market crash etc and it can happen again in future. It can be said that Enron, the film, is a lesson on how one corporation recently stole from investors, employees and its "customers" (Independent Lens). Additionally, as an investigation of corruption in corporate sector the film gives a sensible look at the culture and the intrinsic problems within the companies. The movie provides a few mechanisms such as the vitality curve and the Milgram experiment. This is especially for attractive an immensely immoral and profit-driven corporate culture. In fact the vitality curve represents the idea of invariable contest in the work place. To be more specific the individuals are ambitious to compete with each other because wherever possible the employees who are not performing will be thrown out of the company at any moment. In the film it is clearly shown how Enron constantly hired new staff just because of the reason that even with high profits it was firing people for production of less than 1000 times what they were being paid. Therefore the environment was such that it caused people to not only ignore the law, but also to take action competitively in breaking the law. This film clearly shows that how the top officials of the company and the government play a role in bringing in an energy crisis in the state of California. In the film it is shown that the Enron employees makes plan for the transfer of electricity from the state of California into nodes in other states where there was a surplus and was not required at all. California had signed legislation allowing for a free market in energy and as an answer to this, Enron shaped a demand by causing blackouts across the state. As soon as this happened the price of electricity increased drastically, and Enron made billions and billons of dollars in profits to ship back the energy they took out of California back into California. Breaking laws and doing illegal acts were encouraged in Enron. With a goal derived from the hunt of profit, Enron employees were always asked to break laws or perform acts that could be considered immoral. In fact it was seen that none of the Enron employees ever came forward to report the corruption. The factor that unavoidably led to people coming forward was a "sinking ship" feeling, resulting in some of the Enron executives

Stories on Gender and Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Stories on Gender and Society - Essay Example These three ‘Ks’ involved ‘kitchen, kids and kin’. Women had to care of house, children and family. The most intolerable thing was constant observations and control to not permit any deviations from women’s side. The most suffering group of females was women of middle class society as they could not protect their freedom due to their position or money. The horrid Cult mostly influenced women’s self-determination, the lack of which caused male-female inequality in family, social and professional spheres. Therefore, husbands decided what was the best for wives, society justified women’s morality and employers gave women lower positions and less salary. This paper will discuss the three stories where all these three spheres heavily injured women’s self-determination but all the three heroines attempted to get rid of the Cult norms and to free themselves. The stories to be discussed are: ‘The Yellow Wall Paper’ by Charlotte Gilman, ‘A Rose for Emily’ by William Faulkner and ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ by Ernest Hemingway. ‘The Yellow Wall Paper’ is a story of ‘ill-nervous’ woman whose husband is a doctor and he is quite confident in what treatment is the best for his wife: ‘He is very careful and loving, and hardly lets me stir without special direction.’ (chapter I). The heroine’s freedom is restricted by an old house room furnished by the yellow wall papers. Her husband even refuses her to change the room when she hates these yellow wall papers: ‘[then]he took me in his arms and called me a blessed little goose, and said he would go down cellar, if I wished, and have it whitewashed into the bargain.’ (chapter I) He even forbids her to write although writing is her passion: ‘There comes John, and I must put this away,—he hates to have me write a word.’ (chapter I) Having thrown into loneliness and idleness in the yellow papered room the woman begins hating her husband’s ‘good care’ and

An Analysis of Cross-Cultural Communication and Negotiation in the Assignment

An Analysis of Cross-Cultural Communication and Negotiation in the International Management Arena - Assignment Example This move is particularly important because Ashby (2008) advises that â€Å"these unpalatable truths contribute to the increasing problems† facing companies. This is so because even though misconceptions are generally accepted to be falsehood, they at times impact on the lives of natives such that they begin to adapt their ways of life towards them (Osei, 2009). In the first place, it is believed that Nigeria is a country blighted with the problem of political and civil tension, instability and unrest. This is considered as a misconception not necessarily because Nigeria never records any instances of political unrest but that the degree of occurrence might be more than suggested. In a typical example of political tension, â€Å"On 19 October 2010, a militant group threatened to attack political campaign gatherings attended by Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan† (Australian Department of Affairs, 2011). Such political tensions are believed to impact negatively on busi nesses wishing to start new ventures in the country because investors cannot be fully assured of the defense of the constitution of the country, which protects the investor and other foreigners. This not withstanding, it is important for Fosters to be aware that for the past fifteen (15) years, Nigeria has upheld it national constitution without a coup d’etat that overdraws the constitution (Dawodu, 2007).