Thesis Statement In Hursts Short Story The Scarlet Ibis

The Scarlet Ibis James Hurst Part I Thesis Statement Thesis Statement In Hursts short story, The Scarlet Ibis, the narrator emerges from a arrogant, self-indulgent individual to an affectionate, knowledgeable young adult by experiencing the trauma of losing his brother because of his own selfish desires. I began to weep, and the tear-blurred vision in red before me looked very familiar. Doodle! I screamed above the pounding storm, and threw my body to the earth above his. For a long, long time, it seemed forever, I lay there crying, sheltering my fallen scarlet ibis from the heresy of rain. (Page 354). Quote Quote It was bad enough having an invalid brother, but having one who possibly was not all there was unbearable, so I began†¦show more content†¦Because the story is told in first person, the audience experiences the narrators fluctuation from resentment to love through the diction used to show the narrators spite for his brother include invalid, unbearable, kill, and smothering which reveal an hostile tone by showing that he is still a young boy who is bewildered about his brother. The Diction in the second paragraph such as kindest reveals more of a lighthearted and affectionate tone that shows the narrator has changed into a more devoted brother. Because the author tells the story in first person, the diction used by the narrator - hopeless, miracle, pride, proud, wonderful, terrible, and life and death - allows the reader to perceive a reflective tone and that the narrator has attained the knowledge of the benefits and handicaps of pride which can be th e burden of life or death. (Page 347). (Page 345). his brother. Diction Example: Heresy The word heresy shows that the narrator has realized the reason Doodle died was because he let his pride triumph his love for his brother. The use of first person point of view allowed the reader to be a part and experience what the reader was going through and his thoughts and actions. When the narrator threw his body to the Earth above his the audience felt like

Operating Financial Performance A Company â€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Operating Financial Performance A Company? Answer: Introduction Ratio analysis is a quantitative approach to analysing the financial performance of a company. The ratios are calculated from the financial statements including income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement. Ratio analysis helps in identifying the operating and financial performance of a company for a specific period (Bajkowski, 1999) Ratio analysis helps in comparison between two companies and also helps in identifying trends in a company by comparing the year over year performance. In the report, a ratio analysis of Gelato industries has been conducted to evaluate its financial performance for the years 2014 and 2015 and also comparing the ratios with the industry standards. Ratio analysis The ratios categorized into profitability, liquidity, asset management efficiency and capital structure are presented below: Ratio 2015 2014 Industry Average Profitability Ratio Operating profit margin 10.5% 9.6% 10% Return on assets 11.7% 6.1% 11.4% Return on equity 30.3% 12.2% 9.5% Liquidity Ratio Current Ratio 0.9 1.8 2 Quick Ratio 0.2 0.8 0.8 Interest coverage ratio 4.62 3.15 3.8 Asset Management Efficiency Ratio Average collection period 18.5 days 29.7 days 37 days Inventory turnover 4.06 3.10 2.5 Total assets turnover 2.05 1.33 1.14 Fixed assets turnover 3.50 2.42 1.4 Capital Structure Ratio Debt ratio 47% 41% 58% Gelatos financial position at end of 2014 The companys profitability is a little low as compared to the industry average in 2014. The operating profit margin is near to industry standards but the return on assets is very low as compared to the industry. This means the company is not utilizing its assets efficiently to generate revenue. The return on equity is higher than the industry average. This means the wealth of the shareholders is growing. The liquidity is also very near to the industry average. The current ratio is a little below 2, the quick ratio is as good as the industry average and the interest coverage ratio is also very near to the industry average. The current ratio of more than 1 means that the company has more current assets than current liabilities and can easily pay for its current obligations. The quick ratio has decreased to 0.8 implying a lot of funds tied up in inventory. But this is ok as it is the nature of the industry in which the company operates. The interest coverage ratio also shows company has 4 times more operating profits to pay for its interest expenses. Thus the liquidity of the company is good. The asset management efficiency is also better than the industry standards. All ratios except average collection period are more than the industry average. The company is managing its inventory well with turnover of 3 which means inventory is rotated 3 times in a year to generate sales. The company is using its fixed assets and total assets efficiently as compared to the industry to generate sales. The overall efficiency of working capital management is good. The debt ratio is less than the industry standard which means the company is using less debt to finance its business operations and investment. This makes the company less risky and thus solvent. Gelatos capital structure ratio in 2015 The capital structure ratios in 2015 are as follows: Ratios 2015 EPS 1.72 Price-earnings ratio 8.72 Market to book ratio 1.07 Analysis of financial condition and Performance of Gelato Industries The profitability of the company has improved in 2015 as compared to 2014. The operating profit margin is as per the industry standards now as a result of increase in sales and the return on equity has improved drastically to 30% due to increase in net profits. The liquidity is very low in 2015 and is even below the industry standards. This is because the companys short term liabilities have increased due to short term debt and payables. The current ratio is below 1 which means the current assets are not sufficient to pay for the current liabilities. The quick ratio is at 0.2 which means the immediate liquidity is extremely low. The interest coverage ratio has improved due to increase in profit margins. The asset management efficiency has improved in 2015. All the turnovers are above the industry average. The average collection period has reduced to only 18 days which means a very good operating cycle. The company is managing its assets very efficiently to generate sales. The debt ra tio has also improved to 47% and is below the industry average which means the company has leveraged itself but to an extent that it remains solvent. Conclusion From the above we can conclude that Gelato Industries financial performance has been satisfactory and has improved in 2015 over the previous year. The companys performance in terms of profitability, asset management efficiency and capital structure stability is better as per the industry average. However, only the liquidity has become low in 2015 over 2014 and is below the industry standards. The company has lot of funds invested in inventory which makes its immediate liquidity low. Overall the company is performing well. Warren Buffet Warren Buffet is known as the Oracle of Omaha and he is the chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, an investment company based on Omaha, Nebraska (Bloomeberg). He is one of the most successful investors and made his first investment at the age of 11. He believes in giving most of his fortune to charity. He launched The Giving Pledge which encourages billionaires to donate their wealth in partnership with Bill Gates (Forbes). The total wealth of Warren Buffet was $75.5 billion as of February, 2017. He was awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. Investing Techniques by Warren Buffet According to Warren Buffet, an investor should invest in a company based on its intrinsic value and when the price is at its low. The risk can be reduced by holding a few shares rather than large number of them. 75% of Berkshire holdings are comprised of five securities (Hagstrom, 2005). He suggests a stock should be bought when the company is having a temporary problem leading to a decrease in price or when the stock market is declining. One of the best examples is that of Coca Cola. Warren Buffet bought the stocks of Coca Cola in 1988 when the company was a cash cow and its shares were trading at a discount as compared to its intrinsic value. Having considered the brand as one with great future prospects he bought stocks worth $1 billion and till date he has made great profits from it (Crippen, 2007). One should invest in stocks that they can understand. Like Warren Buffet never invested in tech companies as he did not understand how they made. According to him, it is not necessary to research 1000 of companies, rather search for the ones you can understand and invest in a few of them. One should study the company facts and look at its future outlook. One must invest in a company with a long term perspective and not for short term gains. Like Warren Buffet mentioned he purchased the shares of Wrigleys chewing gum because chewing gum will remain in the market for a very long time and no technology can replace it (Elkins, 2015). Warren Buffet also emphasises on investing on oneself which means investing in education. One should work towards improving their talents and make them more valuable (Kirkham, 2015). To sum up we can say Warren Buffet believes in long term investing of valuable stocks with high intrinsic value and the portfolio should comprise of only a few good stocks. References Bajkowski, J. (1999). Financial Ratio Analysis: Putting the Numbers to Work. AAII Journal. Bloomeberg. (n.d.). Warren Buffest: Overview. Retrieved September 10, 2017, from Bloomeberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/warren-e-buffett/ Crippen, A. (2007, July 19). History Lesson: Warren Buffet's Crazy Coca Cola Bargain Buy. Retrieved September 11, 2017, from CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/id/19851070 Elkins, K. (2015, June 24). How Warren Buffet Chooses a Great Stock in 4 Steps. Business Insider. Forbes. (n.d.). Warren Buffet. Retrieved September 10, 2017, from Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/profile/warren-buffett/ Hagstrom, R. (2005). The Warren Buffet Way. New Jersy: John Wiley Sons,Inc. Kirkham, E. (2015, December 16). 10 Best Money Tips From Warren Buffett of All Time. Retrieved September 11, 2017, from The Motley Fool: https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/12/16/10-best-money-tips-from-warren-buffett-of-all-time.asp

Strawberry Dna Lab Report free essay sample

Data Processing and Presentation: In this experiment we extracted DNA from two strawberries. First, we made a solution consisting of 450 ml of water, 50 ml of dish soap, and 1 tablespoon of salt and mixed it in a beaker. The solution was mostly clear, but a little frothy and yellow from the soap. Then, in a plastic bag we mashed two of our strawberries with 40 ml of our solution. It became a pink, foamy puree with a few chunks of strawberry. Next, we filtered our strawberry mix into a test tube. It filtered very slowly because our mixture was so thick. Never the less, we got enough to continue on. We finally measured out 5 ml of isopropyl alcohol and added it to our test tube. The end result was pretty fascinating. The red strawberry mixture mostly stayed under the clear isopropyl alcohol in two layers. Then, little translucent strands, the DNA, floated up into the alcohol from the strawberry mix. We will write a custom essay sample on Strawberry Dna Lab Report or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page There it froze in a clump. Conclusion and Evaluation: This was a very successful experiment for my group. We extracted a lot of DNA from the strawberries. I found it fascinating how the isopropyl alcohol separated from the strawberry mixture and the DNA floated u p into it. However, I’m not exactly clear on why the DNA did that. I think it would be fun to try this experiment on other types of fruit and see if it was possible to collect their DNA as well. Overall, this was an exciting experiment and I now have a more realistic idea of what plant DNA looks like.

Free Essays on T.S. Eliots “The Wasteland“ And Sept 11th

The events of September 11 have forever changed America and on a smaller scale, the way in which I view T.S. Eliot’s poem, â€Å"The Wasteland.† Suddenly, a seemingly dark and distant poem about death and destruction evokes images of everyday men and women leaping from buildings and running for their lives, and creates an unsettling feeling that it could have been us. The first section of â€Å"The Wasteland,† The Burial of the Dead connected to my feelings and thoughts of current events the most. Death, the most final result of all evils is expressed with little subtlety or compassion. The tone is sorrowful and helpless, just as many felt when the terrorists attacked. If it snowed in New York today, we may feel an unconscious relief of our worries, just as Eliot suggested. â€Å"Winter kept us warm, covering earth in forgetful snow,† (Line 5-6) as the snow blanketed the rubble and physical destruction, sheltering our eyes from the horrific images. We are chilled by fear now, and are reminded of our possible fate every time we see the remains of the World Trade Center. The paradoxical image of winter keeping us warm is actually not that implausible, as our hearts find time to heal from the tragedies that occurred. America’s struggle to relax, watch a movie, or listen to music are supported by Eliot’s form of relaxation, â€Å"we stopped†¦ and went on in the sunlight†¦ and drank coffee, and talked for an hour.† (Lines 9-11) His tone about those activities seems calm, and peaceful, and it can most likely be assumed that the conversation was enjoyable, why else would one talk to someone for an hour? Eliot reflects about more innocent and carefree days, â€Å"My cousin’s, he took me out on a sled, and I was frightened. He said, Marie, Marie, hold on tight. And down we went.† (Lines 14-16) The narrator seems to long for a time like this, just as I long for innocence and untroubled days. He imagines a time when his biggest fear was... Free Essays on T.S. Eliot's â€Å"The Wastelandâ€Å" And Sept 11th Free Essays on T.S. Eliot's â€Å"The Wastelandâ€Å" And Sept 11th The events of September 11 have forever changed America and on a smaller scale, the way in which I view T.S. Eliot’s poem, â€Å"The Wasteland.† Suddenly, a seemingly dark and distant poem about death and destruction evokes images of everyday men and women leaping from buildings and running for their lives, and creates an unsettling feeling that it could have been us. The first section of â€Å"The Wasteland,† The Burial of the Dead connected to my feelings and thoughts of current events the most. Death, the most final result of all evils is expressed with little subtlety or compassion. The tone is sorrowful and helpless, just as many felt when the terrorists attacked. If it snowed in New York today, we may feel an unconscious relief of our worries, just as Eliot suggested. â€Å"Winter kept us warm, covering earth in forgetful snow,† (Line 5-6) as the snow blanketed the rubble and physical destruction, sheltering our eyes from the horrific images. We are chilled by fear now, and are reminded of our possible fate every time we see the remains of the World Trade Center. The paradoxical image of winter keeping us warm is actually not that implausible, as our hearts find time to heal from the tragedies that occurred. America’s struggle to relax, watch a movie, or listen to music are supported by Eliot’s form of relaxation, â€Å"we stopped†¦ and went on in the sunlight†¦ and drank coffee, and talked for an hour.† (Lines 9-11) His tone about those activities seems calm, and peaceful, and it can most likely be assumed that the conversation was enjoyable, why else would one talk to someone for an hour? Eliot reflects about more innocent and carefree days, â€Å"My cousin’s, he took me out on a sled, and I was frightened. He said, Marie, Marie, hold on tight. And down we went.† (Lines 14-16) The narrator seems to long for a time like this, just as I long for innocence and untroubled days. He imagines a time when his biggest fear was...

Active Listening

* We listen to understand. * We listen for enjoyment. * We listen to learn. Given all this listening we do, you would think we’d be good at it! In fact most of us are not, and research suggests that we remember between 25 percent and 50 percent of what we hear. That means that when you talk to your boss, colleagues, customers or spouse for 10 minutes, they pay attention to less than half of the conversation. This is dismal! Turn it around and it reveals that when you are receiving directions or being presented with information, you aren’t hearing the whole message either. You hope the important parts are captured in your 25-50 percent, but what if they’re not? Clearly, listening is a skill that we can all benefit from improving. By becoming a better listener, you will improve your productivity, as well as your ability to influence, persuade and negotiate. What’s more, you’ll avoid conflict and misunderstandings. All of these are necessary for workplace success! Good communication skills require a high level of self-awareness. By understanding your personal style of communicating, you will go a long way towards creating good and lasting impressions with others. About Active Listening The way to become a better listener is to practice â€Å"active listening. † This is where you make a conscious effort to hear not only the words that another person is saying but, more importantly, try to understand the complete message being sent. In order to do this you must pay attention to the other person very carefully. You cannot allow yourself to become distracted by whatever else may be going on around you, or by forming counter arguments that you’ll make when the other person stops speaking. Nor can you allow yourself to get bored, and lose focus on what the other person is saying. All of these contribute to a lack of listening and understanding. If you’re finding it particularly difficult to concentrate on what someone is saying, try repeating their words mentally as they say them – this will reinforce their message and help you stay focused. To enhance your listening skills, you need to let the other person know that you are listening to what he or she is saying. To understand the importance of this, ask yourself if you’ve ever been engaged in a conversation when you wondered if the other person was listening to what you were saying. You wonder if your message is getting across, or if it’s even worthwhile continuing to speak. It feels like talking to a brick wall and it’s something you want to avoid. Acknowledgement can be something as simple as a nod of the head or a simple â€Å"uh huh. You aren’t necessarily agreeing with the person, you are simply indicating that you are listening. Using body language and other signs to acknowledge you are listening also reminds you to pay attention and not let your mind wander. You should also try to respond to the speaker in a way that will both encourage him or her to continue speaking, so that you can get the information if you need. While nodding and â€Å"uh huhing† says you’re interested, an occasional question or comment to recap what has been said communicates that you understand the message as well. Becoming an Active Listener There are five key elements of active listening. They all help you ensure that you hear the other person, and that the other person knows you are hearing what they say. 1. Pay Attention Give the speaker your undivided attention, and acknowledge the message. Recognize that non-verbal communication also â€Å"speaks† loudly. * Look at the speaker directly. * Put aside distracting thoughts. * Don’t mentally prepare a rebuttal! * Avoid being distracted by environmental factors. For example, side conversations. â€Å"Listen† to the speaker’s body language. 2. Show That You’re Listening Use your own body language and gestures to convey your attention. * Nod occasionally. * Smile and use other facial expressions. * Note your posture and make sure it is open and inviting. * Encourage the speaker to continue with small verbal comments like yes, and uh huh. 3. Provide Feedback Our personal filters, assumptions, judgments, and belie fs can distort what we hear. As a listener, your role is to understand what is being said. This may require you to reflect what is being said and ask questions. * Reflect what has been said by paraphrasing. â€Å"What I’m hearing is,† and â€Å"Sounds like you are saying,† are great ways to reflect back. * Ask questions to clarify certain points. â€Å"What do you mean when you say. † â€Å"Is this what you mean? † * Summarize the speaker’s comments periodically. If you find yourself responding emotionally to what someone said, say so, and ask for more information: â€Å"I may not be understanding you correctly, and I find myself taking what you said personally. What I thought you just said is XXX; is that what you meant? † 4. Defer Judgment Interrupting is a waste of time. It frustrates the speaker and limits full understanding of the message. * Allow the speaker to finish each point before asking questions. * Don’t interrupt with counter arguments. 5. Respond Appropriately Active listening is a model for respect and understanding. You are gaining information and perspective. You add nothing by attacking the speaker or otherwise putting him or her down. * Be candid, open, and honest in your response. Assert your opinions respectfully. Treat the other person in a way that you think he or she would want to be treated. Listening is the ability to accurately receive messages in the communication process. Listening is key to all effective communication, without the ability to listen effectively messages are easily misunderstood – communication breaks down and the sender of the message can easily become frustrated or irritated . Listening is so important that many top employers give regular listening skills training for their employees. This is not surprising when you consider that  good listening skills can lead to: better customer satisfaction, greater productivity with fewer mistakes, increased sharing of information that in turn can lead to more creative and innovative work. Good listening skills also have benefits in our personal lives, including: a greater number of friends and social networks, improved self-esteem and confidence, higher grades in academic work and increased health and wellbeing. Studies have shown that, whereas speaking raises blood pressure, listening brings it down. Listening is not the same as hearing. Hearing refers to the sounds that you hear, whereas listening requires more than that: it requires focus. Listening means paying attention not only to the story, but how it is told, the use of language and voice, and how the other person uses his or her body. In other words, it means being aware of both verbal and non-verbal messages. Your ability to listen effectively depends on the degree to which you perceive and understand these messages. â€Å"The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention. † Rachel Naomi Remen We spend a lot of our time listening Adults spend an average of 70% of their time engaged in some sort of communication, of this an average of 45% is spent listening compared to 30% speaking, 16% reading and 9% writing. (Adler, R. et al. 2001). 10 Principles of Listening A good listener will listen not only to what is being said, but also to what is left unsaid or only partially said. Listening involves observing body language and noticing inconsistencies between verbal and non-verbal messages. For example, if someone tells you that they are happy with their life but through gritted teeth or with tears filling their eyes, you should consider that the verbal and non-verbal messages are in conflict, they maybe don’t mean what they say. Listening requires you to concentrate and use your other senses in addition to simply hearing the words spoken. Listening is not the same as hearing and in order to listen effectively you need to use more than just your ears. 1. Stop Talking â€Å"If we were supposed to talk more than we listen, we would have two tongues and one ear. † Mark Twain. Don’t talk, listen. When somebody else is talking listen to what they are saying, do not interrupt, talk over them or finish their sentences for them. Stop, just listen. When the other person has finished talking you may need to clarify to ensure you have received their message accurately. 2. Prepare Yourself to Listen Relax. Focus on the speaker. Put other things out of mind. The human mind is easily distracted by other thoughts – what’s for lunch, what time do I need to leave to catch my train, is it going to rain – try to put other thoughts out of mind and concentrate on the messages that are being communicated. 3. Put the Speaker at Ease Help the speaker to feel free to speak. Remember their needs and concerns. Nod or use other gestures or words to encourage them to continue. Maintain eye contact but don’t stare – show you are listening and understanding what is being said. 4. Remove Distractions Focus on what is being said: don’t doodle, shuffle papers, look out the window, pick your fingernails or similar. Avoid unnecessary interruptions. These behaviours disrupt the listening process and send messages to the speaker that you are bored or distracted. 5. Empathize Try to understand the other person’s point of view. Look at issues from their perspective. Let go of preconceived ideas. By having an open mind we can more fully empathise with the speaker. If the speaker says something that you disagree with then wait and construct an argument to counter what is said but keep an open mind to the views and opinions of others. (See our page:  What is Empathy? ) 6. Be Patient A pause, even a long pause, does not necessarily mean that the speaker has finished. Be patient and let the speaker continue in their own time, sometimes it takes time to formulate what to say and how to say it. Never interrupt or finish a sentence for someone. 7. Avoid Personal Prejudice Try to be impartial. Don’t become irritated and don’t let the person’s habits or mannerisms distract you from what they are really saying. Everybody has a different way of speaking – some people are for example more nervous or shy than others, some have regional accents or make excessive arm movements, some people like to pace whilst talking – others like to sit still. Focus on what is being said and try to ignore styles of delivery. 8. Listen to the Tone Volume and tone both add to what someone is saying. A good speaker will use both volume and tone to their advantage to keep an audience attentive; everybody will use pitch, tone and volume of voice in certain situations – let these help you to understand the emphasis of what is being said. 9. Listen for Ideas – Not Just Words You need to get the whole picture, not just isolated bits and pieces. Maybe one of the most difficult aspects of listening is the ability to link together pieces of information to reveal the ideas of others. With proper concentration, letting go of distractions, and focus this becomes easier. 10. Wait and Watch for Non-Verbal Communication Gestures, facial expressions, and eye-movements can all be important. We don’t just listen with our ears but also with our eyes – watch and pick up the additional information being transmitted via non-verbal communication. Do not jump to conclusions about what you see and hear. You should always seek clarification to ensure that your understanding is correct. Active Listening * We listen to understand. * We listen for enjoyment. * We listen to learn. Given all this listening we do, you would think we’d be good at it! In fact most of us are not, and research suggests that we remember between 25 percent and 50 percent of what we hear. That means that when you talk to your boss, colleagues, customers or spouse for 10 minutes, they pay attention to less than half of the conversation. This is dismal! Turn it around and it reveals that when you are receiving directions or being presented with information, you aren’t hearing the whole message either. You hope the important parts are captured in your 25-50 percent, but what if they’re not? Clearly, listening is a skill that we can all benefit from improving. By becoming a better listener, you will improve your productivity, as well as your ability to influence, persuade and negotiate. What’s more, you’ll avoid conflict and misunderstandings. All of these are necessary for workplace success! Good communication skills require a high level of self-awareness. By understanding your personal style of communicating, you will go a long way towards creating good and lasting impressions with others. About Active Listening The way to become a better listener is to practice â€Å"active listening. † This is where you make a conscious effort to hear not only the words that another person is saying but, more importantly, try to understand the complete message being sent. In order to do this you must pay attention to the other person very carefully. You cannot allow yourself to become distracted by whatever else may be going on around you, or by forming counter arguments that you’ll make when the other person stops speaking. Nor can you allow yourself to get bored, and lose focus on what the other person is saying. All of these contribute to a lack of listening and understanding. If you’re finding it particularly difficult to concentrate on what someone is saying, try repeating their words mentally as they say them – this will reinforce their message and help you stay focused. To enhance your listening skills, you need to let the other person know that you are listening to what he or she is saying. To understand the importance of this, ask yourself if you’ve ever been engaged in a conversation when you wondered if the other person was listening to what you were saying. You wonder if your message is getting across, or if it’s even worthwhile continuing to speak. It feels like talking to a brick wall and it’s something you want to avoid. Acknowledgement can be something as simple as a nod of the head or a simple â€Å"uh huh. You aren’t necessarily agreeing with the person, you are simply indicating that you are listening. Using body language and other signs to acknowledge you are listening also reminds you to pay attention and not let your mind wander. You should also try to respond to the speaker in a way that will both encourage him or her to continue speaking, so that you can get the information if you need. While nodding and â€Å"uh huhing† says you’re interested, an occasional question or comment to recap what has been said communicates that you understand the message as well. Becoming an Active Listener There are five key elements of active listening. They all help you ensure that you hear the other person, and that the other person knows you are hearing what they say. 1. Pay Attention Give the speaker your undivided attention, and acknowledge the message. Recognize that non-verbal communication also â€Å"speaks† loudly. * Look at the speaker directly. * Put aside distracting thoughts. * Don’t mentally prepare a rebuttal! * Avoid being distracted by environmental factors. For example, side conversations. â€Å"Listen† to the speaker’s body language. 2. Show That You’re Listening Use your own body language and gestures to convey your attention. * Nod occasionally. * Smile and use other facial expressions. * Note your posture and make sure it is open and inviting. * Encourage the speaker to continue with small verbal comments like yes, and uh huh. 3. Provide Feedback Our personal filters, assumptions, judgments, and belie fs can distort what we hear. As a listener, your role is to understand what is being said. This may require you to reflect what is being said and ask questions. * Reflect what has been said by paraphrasing. â€Å"What I’m hearing is,† and â€Å"Sounds like you are saying,† are great ways to reflect back. * Ask questions to clarify certain points. â€Å"What do you mean when you say. † â€Å"Is this what you mean? † * Summarize the speaker’s comments periodically. If you find yourself responding emotionally to what someone said, say so, and ask for more information: â€Å"I may not be understanding you correctly, and I find myself taking what you said personally. What I thought you just said is XXX; is that what you meant? † 4. Defer Judgment Interrupting is a waste of time. It frustrates the speaker and limits full understanding of the message. * Allow the speaker to finish each point before asking questions. * Don’t interrupt with counter arguments. 5. Respond Appropriately Active listening is a model for respect and understanding. You are gaining information and perspective. You add nothing by attacking the speaker or otherwise putting him or her down. * Be candid, open, and honest in your response. Assert your opinions respectfully. Treat the other person in a way that you think he or she would want to be treated. Listening is the ability to accurately receive messages in the communication process. Listening is key to all effective communication, without the ability to listen effectively messages are easily misunderstood – communication breaks down and the sender of the message can easily become frustrated or irritated . Listening is so important that many top employers give regular listening skills training for their employees. This is not surprising when you consider that  good listening skills can lead to: better customer satisfaction, greater productivity with fewer mistakes, increased sharing of information that in turn can lead to more creative and innovative work. Good listening skills also have benefits in our personal lives, including: a greater number of friends and social networks, improved self-esteem and confidence, higher grades in academic work and increased health and wellbeing. Studies have shown that, whereas speaking raises blood pressure, listening brings it down. Listening is not the same as hearing. Hearing refers to the sounds that you hear, whereas listening requires more than that: it requires focus. Listening means paying attention not only to the story, but how it is told, the use of language and voice, and how the other person uses his or her body. In other words, it means being aware of both verbal and non-verbal messages. Your ability to listen effectively depends on the degree to which you perceive and understand these messages. â€Å"The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention. † Rachel Naomi Remen We spend a lot of our time listening Adults spend an average of 70% of their time engaged in some sort of communication, of this an average of 45% is spent listening compared to 30% speaking, 16% reading and 9% writing. (Adler, R. et al. 2001). 10 Principles of Listening A good listener will listen not only to what is being said, but also to what is left unsaid or only partially said. Listening involves observing body language and noticing inconsistencies between verbal and non-verbal messages. For example, if someone tells you that they are happy with their life but through gritted teeth or with tears filling their eyes, you should consider that the verbal and non-verbal messages are in conflict, they maybe don’t mean what they say. Listening requires you to concentrate and use your other senses in addition to simply hearing the words spoken. Listening is not the same as hearing and in order to listen effectively you need to use more than just your ears. 1. Stop Talking â€Å"If we were supposed to talk more than we listen, we would have two tongues and one ear. † Mark Twain. Don’t talk, listen. When somebody else is talking listen to what they are saying, do not interrupt, talk over them or finish their sentences for them. Stop, just listen. When the other person has finished talking you may need to clarify to ensure you have received their message accurately. 2. Prepare Yourself to Listen Relax. Focus on the speaker. Put other things out of mind. The human mind is easily distracted by other thoughts – what’s for lunch, what time do I need to leave to catch my train, is it going to rain – try to put other thoughts out of mind and concentrate on the messages that are being communicated. 3. Put the Speaker at Ease Help the speaker to feel free to speak. Remember their needs and concerns. Nod or use other gestures or words to encourage them to continue. Maintain eye contact but don’t stare – show you are listening and understanding what is being said. 4. Remove Distractions Focus on what is being said: don’t doodle, shuffle papers, look out the window, pick your fingernails or similar. Avoid unnecessary interruptions. These behaviours disrupt the listening process and send messages to the speaker that you are bored or distracted. 5. Empathize Try to understand the other person’s point of view. Look at issues from their perspective. Let go of preconceived ideas. By having an open mind we can more fully empathise with the speaker. If the speaker says something that you disagree with then wait and construct an argument to counter what is said but keep an open mind to the views and opinions of others. (See our page:  What is Empathy? ) 6. Be Patient A pause, even a long pause, does not necessarily mean that the speaker has finished. Be patient and let the speaker continue in their own time, sometimes it takes time to formulate what to say and how to say it. Never interrupt or finish a sentence for someone. 7. Avoid Personal Prejudice Try to be impartial. Don’t become irritated and don’t let the person’s habits or mannerisms distract you from what they are really saying. Everybody has a different way of speaking – some people are for example more nervous or shy than others, some have regional accents or make excessive arm movements, some people like to pace whilst talking – others like to sit still. Focus on what is being said and try to ignore styles of delivery. 8. Listen to the Tone Volume and tone both add to what someone is saying. A good speaker will use both volume and tone to their advantage to keep an audience attentive; everybody will use pitch, tone and volume of voice in certain situations – let these help you to understand the emphasis of what is being said. 9. Listen for Ideas – Not Just Words You need to get the whole picture, not just isolated bits and pieces. Maybe one of the most difficult aspects of listening is the ability to link together pieces of information to reveal the ideas of others. With proper concentration, letting go of distractions, and focus this becomes easier. 10. Wait and Watch for Non-Verbal Communication Gestures, facial expressions, and eye-movements can all be important. We don’t just listen with our ears but also with our eyes – watch and pick up the additional information being transmitted via non-verbal communication. Do not jump to conclusions about what you see and hear. You should always seek clarification to ensure that your understanding is correct.

Fashion Brand - FCUK Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Fashion Brand - FCUK - Assignment Example The paper "Fashion Brand - FCUK" discusses the cause of FCUK’s current financial crisis and propose methods that can help the company re-strategise their branding and market position. French Connection or popularly known as ‘FCUK’ is a fashion-led clothing retailer and wholesaler business that was founded and based in the United Kingdom. Its retail and wholesale business operates mainly in the UK, in other parts of Europe, in the U.S., and other licensed stores around the world carrying several products such as its own French Connection/FCUK brand, a designer label called Nicole Farhi, a popular UK whole sale brand called Great Plains, and the mail-order business known as Toast. Aside from their clothing lines, French Connection has also expanded its product range by producing what they call ‘complimentary products’ to their fashion collections. These complimentary products are in the form of eyewears and various fragrances. The company was founded in 1972 by its current chairman and chief executive Stephen Marks. FCUK had eventually made its mark in the fashion industry by introducing fashionable clothes at very affordable prices catering primarily to the middle-market customers with ages ranging from 18 to 35 years old (News, 2006). For so many years, FCUK have managed to put up a competitive brand against its High Street counterparts; however, just recently, FCUK had been continuously incurring noticeable decline in its sales and profits. There were actually several reasons. behind this high turnover for the company's revenues, primarily it is due to the soaring up of its prices which seems to have become quite expensive for their High Street target market to afford; another reason would be the company's effort of changing its image - trying to level it with competitors of bigger labels in an attempt to improve its market share and position thus resulting to pricing themselves out of the High Street competition; and finally, the recent advertising tactics of the company simply did not made an impact to its target market, not only in Europe but in other parts of the world as well which even contributed to driving its customers away from the brand. FCUK Current Situation Since 2002, FCUK's annual reports on its sales and profits all over the world have been progressing positively; it only means that the company has been performing well on the High Street market competition. However, due to recent events, it would really be alarming to know that the company this year has been continuously issuing warnings to investors that profits would surely be lower than expected (News, 2006). French Connection has reported a substantial pre-tax loss of 3.6 million in the first half of the year which ended on the 31st of July 2006 compared with the 5.1 million pre-tax loss it incurred the previous year; group revenues had also fallen by 6% from the previous year to 112.2 million (Interim Statement French Connection Group PLC, 2006). The problem of these declining figures originated mainly from a range of smaller problems that the company must resolve in order to hopefully gain back its losses in the future. It was found that one of the problems is that the company gravely needs to rethink of the prices it is setting on the range of their clothing lines in relation to their target market - which is

Fieldwork Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Fieldwork - Assignment Example They have children programs in which volunteers can interact with kids, and offering direct services to other homeless persons. At the organization, there is always an opportunity that fits well in an individual’s preferences. There are many homeless children all over the city who are in dire need of someone to teach good behavior, and engage them. At BBBS, adults organize museum trips, make adventures in the urban area, or just relax with young residents in their childhood and adolescence stages. With only a residency of New York City, and a dedication of eight hours every month for one year as well as a job in town, one would qualify after a rigorous screening process. Despite the immense benefits, mere volunteer work will not rid most American streets of the homeless populations. This is because, even though many people are destitute, few often think of securing a place in organizations such as BBBS. The insignificant number of the homeless in organizations providing humani tarian services calls for the enactment of more effective laws to curb the menace. According to Swartz, homelessness means an increase in crime rate, and the spread of diseases in the affected towns (407). Voting for a visionary leader who has promised to implement anti-homelessness laws could be the best way to tackle the problem, rather than volunteer work. Swartz indicates that the formulation and enactment of city laws that illegalize homelessness and provide the destitute populations adequate shelter would effectively rid the streets of such people (409). Unlike previous archaic laws which grant law enforcement agencies absolute power to confiscate whatever form of shelter is used by the homeless, the enactment of humane laws, which provide for alternative resettlement programs, would improve security on the streets once and for all. An attempt to cart away the belongings of destitute populations by force only serves to create a bigger problem of exposing the victims to crimina ls and adverse weather conditions According to Swartz, the main problem of homeless populations really is having nowhere to seek refuge. City ordinances ban the erection of temporary structures serving the role of shelter, such as tents, on any piece of land (408). A proper legislation would secure government funding and support for the homeless community. Without the law, most city councils may lack the capacity to intervene appropriately due to budget shortfalls. Owing to the fact that the problem of homelessness is not usually caused by the shortage of housing, but by soaring costs of acquiring and renting one, legislation would enable the government to start affordable housing programs to reduce the number of people on the streets. Once elected into office, a visionary politician would explore the administrative options within his or her power, to press for a change to city bylaws, because by trying to stay on the streets, the victims pay a heavy price. The act is an outright vi olation of the city laws. Ritchie says regardless of the fact that some homeless people are fully aware of the violations of the laws, they opt to camp on the streets anyway (502). In reaction to laws criminalizing camping on the streets, the political leadership can pile pressure on local governments to review discriminatory ordinances favoring unilateral action by police. Without proper laws, volunteering work would