Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Writing An Academic Paper - 12 Easy Steps To Success

Writing an academic paper remains a difficult, trying, and intimidating task for many students. This is unfortunate because much of the course subjects a student will take while in a university requires paper writing as an academic exercise. In the same manner, expressing one's self well in writing is frequently a critical ability in the professional community. Although eloquence and knowledge in composition are prized skills in any industry, writing an academic paper demands even more expertise. With academic writing, one need not only develop the ability to express one's self in words, but also the ability to conduct research from a continuously widening range of sources in order to select and decide which among the relevant morsels of data are actually the most relevant. The writer must be able to properly provide his/her own observations, discussions, and conclusions. Nonetheless, academic writing does not simply constitute the expression of a person's own opinions alone, but more importantly, it likewise calls for the expression of facts already established by others juxtaposed with one's logical opinions and conclusions based on the research.

Why does writing an academic paper fill many students with dread? My observation following my exposure to the most common (and even the most uncommon) problems in the course of my work where I review thousands of papers is quite simple. The fear stems from not knowing much about the technical aspects of writing a paper. There are no clear-cut rules or, in a manner of speaking, no black and white method to guide scholars on how to compose an effective academic paper.

There are multitudes of references on formatting bibliographic entries, using search engines, creating outlines, and using word processors, among other things. However, in most likelihood, one cannot find a correct, concise, and simple description of the modern method of research, which includes building a paper from scratch and into its varied stages of composition, and scaling efforts to the needs of the assignment. I have searched and have not found any material focused on this subject, presenting me with the realization that such literature is greatly needed by aspiring (and even seasoned) academicians. With this article I have written, I aim to address this deficiency by presenting you a supplemental tool to writing academic papers, arranged in easy and numbered steps, beginning with Step 1 and continuing through to Step 12.

Writing An Academic Paper - 12 Easy Steps To Success

STEP 1. Begin early.

If you are currently busy and thinking there will be more time later, you might do better to think again. The future may only seem in order because it is yet to arrive. When it does, it will be as chaotic as the current situation is. So how do you end up being late? It all happens a day at a time. It is impossible to know when you will have a clear chunk of time later, so proceed to the next step as soon as a paper is assigned. Not doing so immediately lands authors, and yourself, on the road to being late-and it all happens a little as each day passes.

STEP 2. Create a budget of pages.

Let us assume that the assignment is a descriptive essay or, alternatively, a common "compare/contrast" paper. For matters of example, let us take the latter:

Compare and contrast the roles played by Freedom Park and Liberation Field in immigrants' lives in America in the 1800s.(Please note that Freedom Park and Liberation Field are fictitious places and are only used as examples in our white paper.)

Let us say that the paper is intended to be around 2500 words (about six pages) in length when it has a margin of 1" all around and single-spaced. Let us further suppose that the paper will not have a cover page. We also have to remember that the bibliography is never included in the page count.

The page budget for the paper also serves as the outline of your paper. You would have to decide what the elements of the paper would be, and the allocation of the necessary number of words/pages for each element. In the sample assignment, the logical page budget is established as follows:

1/2 page Opening statement. What is the paper all about? What are the subjects that will be presented? What are the paper's objectives?

One page Facts about Freedom Park. Where is it located? When was it built? Who uses it? Are there noteworthy events that it has hosted?

One page Facts about Liberation Field. Where is it located? When was it built? Who uses it? Are there noteworthy events that it has hosted?

One page Immigration to New York, in general. What immigrant groups arrived during the time period specified? Are there interesting and relevant facts that may be cited for each group?

Two pages The meat of the paper; addressing the topic. What are the similarities and/or differences between the immigrant groups concerned, their respective involvement in their field/park, and the reason for their involvement?

1/2 page Summary and conclusion. How was the topic explored? What was determined / proven?

Page outlines provide authors with an overview of the appropriate coverage of each element of the paper. Without this outline, it is very easy to write excessively about issues you are already greatly familiar with, and much easier to write too little of issues you are not very familiar with. Moreover, you may not be able to address all issues involved. With a page outline, you can focus on addressing all issues within the corresponding amount of space coverage. More often than not, we find that with page outlines, we tend to edit down (lessen page coverage) than drag word count up with redundancies and/or generalizations. This is always a far much better position to have as an author.

Some professors specify page limits, while others do not. Thus, it is of extreme importance that you be able to plan your paper properly with the aid of a page outline. Writing is not about simply setting down on ink what comes to your mind, and then extending the words/phrases to meet page length limits. More than anything, it involves careful development of the proposed research statement or position on any given issue.

STEP 3. Gather resource materials.

Begin the paper with the assigned text if such is supplied. Academic textbooks usually contain bibliographies and/or footnote citations in reference to other books/articles. Hard copy publications remain excellent sources as the first set of resource materials to look for. When there is no assigned textbook relating to the assignment, you can begin with a search in an online library and with a subject search. The bibliographies and citations in this first batch of sources, if researched correctly, guarantee that much of the task will already be accomplished.

Next, build a list of the resources the first source of references point to. If the research task is small (less than 25 pages output, less than 15 sources), then a handwritten/typewritten breakdown is normally sufficient. However, if the research effort is greater (not too many undergraduate papers are, or will ever be), putting together the list in a spreadsheet and/or a Word document should be considered. Larger lists need search capabilities of the journal sources/references for better tracking of the subjects in each journal against subjects that cannot be found.

After locating the references/resources, prepare them for mark-up (always remember to do this only to photocopied/printed out copies and not to the original documents):

o For journals, always remember to photocopy journal covers and content tables because these pages usually contain the citation information for the articles that will be used.

o For Internet sources, print out the article/source and ensure that the URL (Web address of the source) is printed.

o Treat journal sources as you would your book sources.

Always remember that sources with their own bibliographies are the best references. As such, journals remain the most credible academic sources as opposed to ordinary publications like magazines. Unless your source is an acknowledged staple (or unless the paper's subject is historical) in your field of study, try to find the most recent references as they more often prove to be more credible than earlier literature; this is especially true in the areas of science/technology.

STEP 4. Make a first reading of gathered resource materials.

A first reading is a quick browse through your references. You would need a general concept of the subject matter at hand to help form your own ideas regarding the topic. Mark the references that appear important and/or related to the concepts and/or facts of the task. Do not hope to gain in-depth knowledge at this time, but try to form a specific judgment regarding the references.

First readings should be conducted even while the resources are still being gathered. This saves much time. Always have some journals available for a quick read at any given time; this may be between classes, while in a bus, on a train ride, during lunch, and practically anywhere else. Always remember where you left off reading so no time is wasted when the material is picked up again.

At this stage of research writing, you will find seemingly essential materials/information that may prove worthless in the end. Cull liberally. It is best to differentiate the mash from the real grain at this point. Once the first read is done, ensure that the selected references are properly marked within one's source sheet.

STEP 5. Draft a research statement.

After the first read, one should be ready to draft a research statement, which will be the core of the research paper. It is a simple statement with specific points that will form the coverage of the paper. Ideally, it is a paragraph composed of three to four sentences. Using our sample, the suggested research statement reads as follows:

The Irish were among the first big immigrant groups to land in New York. Through the years, these groups also came: the Swedes, the Germans, the Italians, the eastern Europeans, the Chinese, the Greeks, the Koreans, and more. The first generation of settlers often brought with them games that they played in their places of origin, but their second generations chose to adopt "American" sports, particularly baseball. Immigrant groups with access to venues such as Freedom Park and Liberation Field are most likely to develop skills needed to become sports professionals.

STEP 6. Read the selected references a second time around.

After having formed the research statement, one should read each of the selected sources a second time and in a more in-depth fashion, specifically searching for quotable passages that can support the research statement. Ensure that each potential quotable passage is marked for convenient reference, and that each of the reference sources is properly marked once the second reading is done for them.

STEP 7. Create the "backbone" of the document with a word processor.

First, set up the margins to 1" on all sides (or to what is specified by the professor/publisher). Next, create a header including page numbers, and footers with file name and path. Form a first page with name and title lines, and insert a page break to create a second page. Finally, label the second page as the "Bibliography." Note that there are no entries to be typed into the Bibliography at this stage, but citations will be added as quotes/references are typed in while the paper is written. Therefore, the paper now has pages: a start page with paper title, plus a blank Bibliography page.

Two points to keep in mind:

The bibliography documents whole books/articles.

Notes (these may be footnotes at the bottom of each page, or endnotes at the end of the research) link quoted phrases/sentences/concepts in the paper to a specific page in the bibliography.

Footnotes may be made in an MS Word document from the menu bar: Insert > Reference > Footnote

STEP 8. Type in the marked quotations, ensuring each has a comment regarding its relation to the research statement.

At this point in the paper, only typing is required. Transfer/type in all quotes that have been marked in the sources into the Bibliography page. Ensure that each entry is indented half an inch from the margin, and the entries are listed in alphabetical order. As each entry is typed in, form the citation footnote for the entry. These footnotes should be page specific to the reference being cited. Using this method, a credible citation list is created with minimized ambiguity, addressing imprecise citations that may be suspect.

As this step is largely mechanical, it may be started, paused, and re-initiated. With this stage, two significant aspects of the paper are remembered: the bulk of the paper is built with academically sound content and it completes the bibliography as well.

Once this step is completed, roughly 80% of the paper is also completed, given that proper care and attention have been placed in selecting the passages that are typed in.

STEP 9. Develop the thoughts of the content, ensuring each is supported by quotes.

Insert several blanks at the beginning of the paper before the first quote that will be used, and begin the draft of the paper's content. Note that this starting point will ultimately fall into the middle part of the paper, but writing begins here because it is the most significant content of the paper.

Next, introduce another point, and then cut and paste quotations from the list completed in Step 8. Explore (by adding supporting sentences), support (by citing/quoting the author/s of the reference), or simply elaborate on the idea. Following this, cite two or more powerful quotations from the completed list in Step 8, citing different sources, and finally restating and summing up the idea with one's original thoughts on the matter.

This pattern of writing should be followed until all the concepts of the core statement are addressed.

A nearly finished paper will emerge from this step.

STEP 10. Write the Introduction and Conclusion of the research paper.

In the example used, the Introduction would discuss details about Freedom Park and Liberation Field. This section does not form the heart of the paper, but ensure that quotes are still used to anchor the content to facts from the resources.

Make the conclusion concise and succinct. Re-state the major concepts explored by the paper, highlighting what has been "proven" using quotes and facts derived from the paper's main body (constructed in Step 8). Avoid redundancy in terms of word use and sentence structure, a common mistake committed by less experienced authors worried about word count. Trust that a careful execution of Step 8 guarantees that word count limits are met for the paper.

STEP 11. Write the Abstract of the research paper.

It may seem strange that writing the Abstract of the paper is reserved toward the final stages of drafting a paper, but this is the best time to introduce what is going to be discussed in the paper - after the actual paper has already been actually written.

At this step, there is clarity in purpose to present what has already been presented (once due consideration has been given to the content that has been drafted).

STEP 12. Have the paper go through a final English review by a professional editor.

This step presents the final opportunity to find any spelling, grammar, or comprehension lapses in the paper that has just been drafted.

Writing An Academic Paper - 12 Easy Steps To Success
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Kenneth Joe Galloway is the Regional Director of Knowledge/Growth Support, a leading English language solutions provider that offers superior round-the clock services and support to academics, professionals, and businesses, at the most reasonable costs. For more information about Knowledge/Growth Support and a link to more useful articles, go to http://www.kgsupport.com

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Sunday, January 20, 2013

Productivity and Productivity Analysis

Productivity analysis refers to the process of differentiating the actual data over the estimated data of output and input measurement and presentation.

In economics, productivity is the ratio of the output production per unit of input. It may also refer to the technical efficiency of production relative to the allocation of resources of enterprises.

If the goal is to increase productivity, enterprises must produce more with the same level of input. The goal can also be done by maintaining the same level of output using fewer inputs. The drive to increase productivity can be caused by various factors, but perhaps the most apparent is the aspiration of an enterprise to increase profitability.

Productivity and Productivity Analysis

There are certain factors affecting the productivity of entities. General categories of the factors concerning productivity include the labor force, product, quality, process, capacity, and external influences. Resources are also important to consider in assessment of productivity of an entity.

Measuring the production level of an entity may take certain processes that include data acquisition, data summary, and comparison. In obtaining data, documenting the activities of an entity helps in creating tangible reports of certain group transactions. Documents and files can be extremely valuable, particularly during the performance evaluation.

Productivity analysis may be seen as an evaluative activity of the performance of an entity. The purpose of it being employed is to provide the appropriate solution to a problem that hinders the attainment of production goals in the present and future of the company. The findings from productivity analysis being undertaken are indeed of great help in providing an entity the necessary changes to be implemented for the realization of its production goals.

How can productivity analysis be executed?

The process of productivity analysis involves conducting detailed comparisons on production reports and the checking of each source used in the creation of the report. In other words, the process does not only occur from distinguishing the items found on the report, but also determining the data and documents which are relative to the items and elements of production report.

Budgeted and actual time sheets, materials requisition forms, purchase orders, and material withdrawal slips are some of the documents that may have certain values in productivity analysis.

Reports may not be adequate in the provision of findings and recommendations in analysing the productivity of an entity. Random examination of the workplace can also be undertaken as part of the analytic process.

How important is productivity analysis?

An entity that is aiming for increased profitability should focus on the improvement of the aspect of productivity. Productivity analysis can be an important tool to employ to determine the things that need changes or improvement.

Who executes the productivity analysis?

Productivity analysis may be a part of performance evaluation exercise of an entity. It may be conducted after the production report is made and finalized. This activity may be undertaken by someone from the management level or an expert production analyst.

A third party analyst may also be hired to conduct productivity analysis. Expert analysts independent from the entity could provide professional findings and effective recommendations using the proven formula.

Productivity and Productivity Analysis
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Monday, January 14, 2013

Top 10 Unusual Jobs That Pay 100K and More!

If you thought that the truck driver was a poor man by world standards, think again. Because this unusual list will surely make you sit up, notice and make you seriously think about having such a job!

1.Air Traffic Controller: We are not referring to the ATC tower, of course! We mean the people sitting inside the glass dome sitting over a high pole and share every message between the airplane and the controller. Their job is a very busy one and they get paid well over 0,000!

2.Restaurant Manager: If you own the business, you probably earn a hell lot more but here we are talking about the people who have been hired. These people are highly paid and have a relatively easy job that that of the ATCs. They are responsible for the up keeping and everything needed to run a restaurant. The next time you dine at the restaurant, be jealous of him!

Top 10 Unusual Jobs That Pay 100K and More!

3.Pressman: These people are responsible for the printing to actually happen. Seemingly a menial job, this job requires a lot of skill and great technical expertise. They also get handsomely paid after some years of experience.

4.Court Reporter: If you can type blazingly easy and have an agile mind, this place belongs to you. Welcome to the unconventional job that a court reporter has. Skilled reporters sometimes earn more than a restaurant manager!

5.Mine Manager: Do not think twice if the underground mines and darkness fascinates you! You may be one for the mines. So what it is a hazardous job? The manager takes home a fat pay packet every year!

6.Coach: Move over coaching the school team or the neighborhood basket ball team. It is time to turn into a pro. As we all know that the managers of the top football teams in the world get paid more than we can even think of. Plus, the benefits they get are immense. One word: It is a risky job and if you're not performing, you're fired immediately.

7.Sales: Invariably the sales people figure in every list that has been made! There are no limits to the earnings of a sales person and can even earn a million dollars, if they want - if they have the zeal to excel under any condition.

8.Tech Writer: Eat, dream and live gadgets? Then this exciting position is for you! What's more, they are highly paid too!

9.School Principal: Bad news for those who hated the 'weird' faced tormenting guy at school whom they called their principal! The guy is a clever one after all and maybe earns more than your dad does!

10.Truck Driver: Never in your dreams would you have ever thought that truck drivers earn that much! Not all of them do, but most of them do - at least Forbes says so!

Top 10 Unusual Jobs That Pay 100K and More!
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Silas Reed, Writer for 100KCrossing writes articles that inform and teach about different 100K job profiles. Please visit http://www.100Kcrossing.com/lcjobtypelisting.php for a list of some of the many jobs we offer in the 100K profession.

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Thursday, January 3, 2013

Job Skills - 7 Essential Skills That Are Required For Any Job

In this highly competitive economy, employers are looking for workers who can do more than just fill a vacancy - they are looking for people who can help them grow. While any job has a specific skill set associated with it, companies want workers with "evergreen" job skills that are always useful in changing times.

If you want to find a job that will let you grow professionally, you'll want to make sure that you have skills that will help your company grow right along with you. These skills will make you a highly sought-after candidate in any field, and will help you to keep the job you get:

1. Research skills

Job Skills - 7 Essential Skills That Are Required For Any Job

Nobody has all the information they'll ever need in their head (or on their desk) already, but if you know how to do research, you'll always be able to find the information in a timely manner.

2. Logic and reason

Every company runs into problems, and those problems need to be solved. A firm grasp of logic and reason will make you an invaluable asset.

3. Technological literacy

Computers have taken over the workplace, and every worker needs to have at least a basic level of skill and comfort with modern technology, just to be able to function.

You don't need to have a degree or special training in computers or information technology, but you'll be expected to have a basic level of ability to work with computers.

4. Communication skills

Every job will require you to communicate with other people, in speaking and often in writing as well. Employers are interested in workers who can express themselves clearly in their dealings with supervisors, underlings and co-workers.

5. Organization

A messy desk may be acceptable (though it is never recommended), but a messy approach to your work is never something an employer is looking for. You'll probably have to do a lot of different tasks, each with a different schedule and deadline, and being able to organize your work is crucial.

6. Interpersonal skills

Every workplace has people in it, and those people often have different personalities and temperaments. Being able to work well with others, and communicate across barriers of culture and personality is necessary.

7. Career-minded orientation

If you don't know where you're headed, neither does your company. Having a plan for your own career will make your employer more willing to help you achieve your goals since they will benefit from your growth.

These skills aren't the only ones that you'll need for your specific job, but they are skills that will make you an asset to any employer, and serve you well in any position that you'll find yourself in.

Job Skills - 7 Essential Skills That Are Required For Any Job
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John Glover has been helping people to find jobs for many years. On his website [http://blog.freejobhuntingtips.com] he is offering tips on how to find and keep that perfect job. If you want to go from "Fired" to "Hired" by tomorrow then enroll in John's free 10 day job hunting course today at http://www.freejobhuntingtips.com

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Friday, December 21, 2012

Effective Communication - A Key to Success in Business

By communication, people exchange. Communication is an essential attribute of human life, which is why we all spend most of our time either receiving or requesting for information. Lack of communication creates tensions and destroys personal and business relationships. The ability to exchange information or conversation with others is crucial to the success of the individual, family or business organization. It should be noted, however, that it is one thing to communicate but quite another thing to communicate effectively.

Ineffective communication usually results in failure, as it doesn't elicit the desired response in form of feedback from the receiver. This is the bane of many business organizations. Many managers do communicate, but often not very effectively. Lack of capacity to communicate effectively on the part of managers is the reason for the failure of many businesses. Every firm or business organization needs an effective communication network in order to function properly and achieve its set objectives. In this article, the focus will be on the indispensable role which effective communication plays in the daily functioning of a business organization. We shall start by looking at the meaning of effective communication from different angles and go on to examine its importance as well as how it can be achieved in business.

Looking at the Meaning of Effective Communication from Different Angles

Effective Communication - A Key to Success in Business

The ultimate goal of every form of communication - face-to-face meeting, telephone discourse, teleconferencing, videoconferencing, interview, email, letter or memo - is to get an expected response in form of feedback from the receiver to the sender. This is what effective communication is about. It is about ensuring that the information is well-packaged and properly transmitted, so that the recipient understands the message and responds positively. In other words, effective communication is the one that achieves the results for which it is intended.

Communication can be looked at from different angles, such as the mode of expression (oral or written, or even non-verbal communication), the purpose of communication, the audience, the information flow (vertical, horizontal or diagonal), etc. Communication can be internal (within the organization) or external (with outsiders). It can also be interpersonal or group communication; interpersonal when it involves two people and group when it takes the forms of meetings, discussions, symposia, conferences and workshops. There is also mass communication which has to do with communicating with the masses by the means of the radio, the television, the newspaper, the internet, etc.). From whichever angle it is looked at, communication can only be considered to be effective when it results in the desired feedback.

Oral communication involves the use of spoken words and could take the form of face-to-face conversation, interview, telephone discourse, voice mail, meetings, group discussions, oral instructions, teleconferencing, videoconferencing, etc. Oral communication is quick and permits immediate feedback as well as immediate response to feedback. Participants can ask questions and get immediate clarification. Moreover, gesture and facial expression can be used to reinforce the intended message. The limitations of oral communication include susceptibility to errors and misinterpretation and lack of permanence.

Written communication, as the name implies, involves the use of written words. It can come in the forms of business letters, memoranda, reports, minutes of meetings, written speeches, etc. Written communication has the advantages of revision before transmission, permanence and accessibility for reference purposes. It also reduces the risk of distortion in meaning; thus, it can be considered as an ideal medium for long and complex messages which, if relayed orally across many intermediaries, can easily be distorted or misinterpreted. Another advantage of the written medium is that it can easily be reproduced in many ways (e.g. photocopying) and distributed to many recipients. One of its major limitations is delayed feedback; the reading of long documents may be boring and the writing of a reply could also be delayed by a number of other factors. Written communication also lacks the presence of gesture, facial expression and other forms of body language capable of reinforcing meaning in communication.

The choice of medium of communication depends on the nature of the message to be transmitted. As earlier observed, while the written medium is the perfect medium for transactions that require permanent documentation, the oral medium is ideal for messages that require immediate feedback. One has to consider the circumstances in order to determine whether to use a telephone call, a face-to-face meeting, an email, a typed and signed document, etc. The factors to be considered when choosing the medium of communication include: urgency, formality, risk of misinterpretation, confidentiality, legal implications or the need for future reference, the nature and size of the audience, etc.

Communication in business is usually intended to achieve specific purposes, such as giving information, making inquiries, providing explanation, persuasion, reassurance, making transactions, etc. Communicating to inform is frequently an act of introducing, notifying, announcing or reporting; it is usually aimed at informing people about new product lines, prices, names, addresses, etc. If the purpose of communication is to persuade, the message has to be packaged with a view to moving the audience to action by the use of words. This type of communication is ideal for advertising a product or motivating employees.

When communication is purely for business transactions, such as contracts, agreements, receipts, etc., the message has to be packaged in a way that gives no room for misinterpretation or legal actions. In this type of communication, the emphasis is on the accuracy and appropriateness of given information, such as the date of transaction, the agreed terms and conditions, the agreed prices, the total sum and currency, names, addresses and signatures of parties to the agreement, etc. The point being made here is that, in order to achieve effective communication, the message must be packaged to serve the specific purpose as well as the particular occasion of communication.

How to Ensure Effective Communication in Business

It is important to note that poor or ineffective communication is responsible for a situation where the receiver doesn't understand what he or she has read or heard and thus cannot give any positive feedback. This implies that the hallmark of effective communication is a well-packaged and properly transmitted message - that is, a message that is capable of attracting the receiver's response in form of positive feedback.

Language should be seen as the most important form of effective communication. The communicator must ensure that the language he or she uses is clear, accurate and appropriate to the audience, purpose and occasion for which the message is intended. The use of informal language where a polite and formal register is required, for instance, can render the message ineffective. Wordiness or the use of unnecessarily complex constructions can only create room for misinterpretation; hence the acronym 'KISS': Keep it short and simple.

Also, the use of expressions, jargons and buzz-words that the audience is unfamiliar with can present barriers to them and thus hinder communication. Where technical language and terms are used, they must be defined and explained in accordance with the knowledge of the audience. Whatever is the purpose of the communication, the communicator must connect with the audience by using clear and precise language and removing every form of ambiguity or barrier so the audience can have a full understanding of the message.

Effective communication is best achieved when the purpose or central idea of the message is stated clearly and the subordinate ideas effectively identified and related to the main purpose in a naturally convincing manner. It is important to ensure that the material is arranged in a logical and coherent order, with each paragraph containing only one main idea that is clearly stated and supported with relevant, sufficient and persuasive points. To achieve coherence, new information must be linked to previously discussed information in a way that engages the reader and reinforces the main points. The conclusion of the message must restate the main purpose and specify the action to be taken.

Ensuring correctness or grammatically is also a vital aspect of effective communication, because ungrammaticality is capable of distorting meaning or undermining credibility, thereby hindering communication. It is very important to ensure that rules of grammar and syntax are followed, that correct words are used to convey the intended meaning and that punctuation reflects standard usage. Finally, the entire work must be proofread to ensure that the final copy is free of mechanical errors.

Above all, it should be noted that the purpose of business communication is, in broad terms, buying and selling. Business communication is usually about practical matters, such as products, prices, discounts, sales, delivery, payments and so forth. The successful businessman is one who achieves his goals, and to achieve his goals, he must communicate effectively through clearness of expression. He has to present his messages to his audiences in the clearest and most straightforward manner.

Every business communication aims to invoke some material and immediate response or action. Whether it is a face-to-face meeting, a telephone discourse, a sales letter, a letter of inquiry, a memo or a report, the aim is to get something done. Therefore, every business communication has to use clear and persuasive language in conjunction with appropriate action in order to connect with the audience and invoke the desired response.

Effective Communication - A Key to Success in Business
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Saturday, December 15, 2012

Teaching Christian Religious Education - A Review

In ten chapters or one hundred and eleven pages, the author presents a compendia of methodology of teaching Christian religious education. The purpose of the study, countless misconceptions of students, the etymology of the word 'methodology', definition and reason for religious education, kinds of research methods and hints of note taking are discussed in the first chapter. These give students the opportunity of revising when writer rather than presenting new information to them. The importance of the second chapter is that it gives a systematic approach to finding research/project problems, approach to find a research topic, formulating the research topic, sources of information, reviewing relevant literature, sources of information, reviewing relevant literature, hypothesis and format for research writing. Like the first chapter, the dimensions are not new but serve as a useful guide. The Nigerian approach to moral and religious instruction as stated in the 1981 Revised National Policy on education moved from rote memory of biblical passages to affect the psychomotor and affective domains. Approaches to the study of Christian religious education discussed in Chapter 3 include the Bible-centered or salvation history approach, the phenomenological approach, teacher-centered approach, and the Bible to life, life experiences and life-centered approaches. New life was therefore injected in teaching religious education as students discovered the religious implication of their actions.

Working on the premise that there are several teaching methods in each discipline, the writer identifies some methods and factors that determine their suitability and the right time to use them in the fourth chapter. He rightly observes that the Christian religious studies teacher should not be dogmatic but should apply a method as the situation demands. These methods are divided into teacher centered (lecture, questioning), learner centered (project, assignment) and joint (drama, field trips, story telling, role play) methods.

In Chapter 5, the writer successfully defines technical terms like teaching and teaching practice. Parameters used to identify the competency of the teacher are discussed. The section of preparing to teach is in consonance with Hendrick's law of readiness. The discussion on the management, organization and administration of teaching practice and micro-teaching and its advantages are geared towards enabling the teacher to teach effectively especially if the assessment instruments at the end of the chapter are implemented.

Teaching Christian Religious Education - A Review

The sixth chapter clearly traces the history of the religious studies curriculum which protects the child from receiving any instruction that is contrary to the wishes of his parents. The origin and objective of the word 'curriculum' and the vital role of parents, learners, teachers, local community, religious bodies, ministries of education and other national bodies are discussed. The seventh chapter expands on the discussion in earlier chapters. The sample of a syllabus is a useful reference material to every Christian religious education teacher.

The eighth chapter on lesson plan logically follows the seventh since the classroom experience tests what has been planned. The writer realistically observes that the success of the teacher is dependent on the mastery of the subject and his/her job is incomplete until evaluation is done. The importance of educational objectives, the cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains cannot be overemphasized.

Commenting on the application of teaching materials, the writer observes that a good material among others should relate to the objective and age of the learners, match their ability and elicit interest in them. The penultimate chapter presents a vivid description of the use of instructional materials in teaching. The impact of visual and audiovisual materials is amazing. Although they create an opportunity for students to come face to face with reality, they should be seen as a means to an end.

The last chapter clearly presents justification for moral education in the school in an era of moral decadence. The aim of religious education therefore is to facilitate desirable changes in an individual since it encompasses theoretical, practical, moral, spiritual, human and divine aspects. The entire society - the home, school, church, voluntary organizations, mass media- has a role to play.

Although the book presents a rather interesting evaluation of Christian religious education methods, the author himself admits that he is not trying to offer new dimensions in the first two chapters. Even though he presents a format for research writing, the technical terms are not defined leaving the reader in a difficult position to see the relationship among them. Several typographical errors undermine the richness of the presentation. The above notwithstanding, this illustrative text of the Nigerian educational experience has graphic illustrations and review questions which stimulate critical thinking. A commendable insight is the lucid distinction made between the curriculum and syllabus which are treated as synonymous terms. The clear presentation of Bloom's taxonomy of educational objectives is also imperative. Perhaps another insight is how the wrong use of textbooks could hinder self-initiative and transforms learning merely into a routine.

Teaching Christian Religious Education - A Review
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AUTHOR SIGNATURE Oliver L.T. Harding, who obtained his GCE O & A Levels from the Sierra Leone Grammar School and the Albert Academy respectively, is currently Senior & Acting Librarian of Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. He is a part time lecturer at the Institute of Library, Information & Communication Studies (INSLICS), Fourah Bay College and the Extension Program at the Evangelical College of Theology (T.E.C.T) at Hall Street, Brookfields; Vice President of the Sierra Leone Association of Archivists, Librarians & Information Scientists (SLAALIS); a member of the American Theological Library Association (ATLA) and an associate of the Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals (CILIP). His certificates, secular and sacred, include: a certificate and diploma from the Freetown Bible Training Center; an upper second class B.A. Hons. Degree in Modern History (F.B.C.); a post-graduate diploma from the Institute of Library Studies (INSLIBS, F.B.C) a masters degree from the Institute of Library, Information & Communication Studies (INSLICS, F.B.C.) and a masters degree in Biblical Studies from West Africa Theological Seminary, affiliate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he won the prize for academic excellence as the Best Graduating Student in 2005. Oliver, a writer, musician and theologian, is married (to Francess) with two children (Olivia & Francis).
Email: oltharding@yahoo.com
Mobile: 232-2233-460-330

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Sunday, December 2, 2012

Adjective Order - Teach Your Students the Correct Order of Adjectives

Did you know that when more than one adjective is used in a sentence, that they need to be written in a specific order?

Most English speakers, including your students do this automatically. When they speak or write they use what sounds correct to guide the order of adjectives. They know that "the brick last house" sounds odd and can quickly and confidently adjust it to "the last brick house". This is fine for commonly used adjectives.

However, if your students need to use adjectives that are not as common, especially ones that are not used in everyday conversation, it can be very difficult for them to determine what the correct adjective placement is.

Adjective Order - Teach Your Students the Correct Order of Adjectives

Give your students opportunities to explore and practice how adjectives should be placed in a sentence and their skills and confidence will increase.

Here is the correct order for adjectives.

1) OPINION (lovely, useful)

2) SIZE (big, enormous)

3) AGE (mature, ancient)

4) SHAPE (square, oval)

5) COLOR (red, burgandy)

6) ORIGIN (American, English)

7) MATERIAL (wooden, cotton)

8) PURPOSE (typing, sun)

Use these exercises to get your students practicing adjective placement.

1) Write the order of adjectives on the board and ask your students to suggest examples. Write two examples for each type of adjective.

2) Ask your students to copy what you have written on the board and include two more examples for each adjective type.

3) Write 3 or 4 adjectives on the board and ask your students to use all of them in a sentence. Here are some adjectives that you could use (hairy, big, yellow), (cold, silver, English), (roasted, salty, chilli), (fluffy, young, white). This activity could be done a few times.

4) Write 3 or 4 adjectives on the board. Include one or two words that your students will not know. Here are some examples (re-hydrated, orange, African), (dusty, brown, marsupial), (acidic, salty, Greek). Ask your students to look the words that they don't know up in a dictionary and then use all the words in one sentence.

5) Ask you students to find three examples of adjective order in books that they have been exploring in class.

6) Write a sentence on the board that includes at least three adjectives. Ask your students to write the opposite of that sentence. When they do this it will become clear that even though the meaning of the adjectives can change dramatically the order of adjectives stays the same.

For example, "The boy saw the long, dusty, dirt road" becomes "The boy saw the short, clean, concrete road".

Adjective Order - Teach Your Students the Correct Order of Adjectives
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Print out an adjective order worksheet and link to other adjective resources for the classroom at
http://www.free-teacher-worksheets.com/adjective-order.html

Find a wide range of free printable classroom resources at
http://www.free-teacher-worksheets.com/

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