The Progressive Era And The Social Consciousness Of The Race

The Progressive Era was a period of the acknowledgements of the social and economic conditions in America during the 1890s to the 1920s. A social activist/reformer named John Dewey believed that â€Å"all education proceeds by the participation of the individual in the social consciousness of the race†. What he is trying to explain is that all the advancements towards education has to be done by the participations by the people who are aware of the different racial matters. In John Dewey’s book, â€Å"The School and Society†, he firmly states â€Å"what the best and wisest parent wants for his own child, that must the community want for all of its children.† which means that all parents should want the best opportunities for their kids just like a whole community would want schools to supply to all the kids. If all of his beliefs were pulled together into one, you start to notice that Dewey actually kind of works away from this goal rather than towards it. This is why, we should question his intentions and what he actually wanted for the education system in America. John Dewey is a very educated man, but he doesn’t want children to be at his standard, rather they should learn about social skills in school, not actual things that are needed to be taught to get a proper education. John Dewey’s beliefs are often questioned because how can one brilliant man cause so much damage for education in America? Based on his philosophies, we should question whether his intentions were to help theShow MoreRelatedRethinking Marx’s Concept of Class: Does the emergence of the so-called identity politics indicating the â€Å"fall† of class politics?1716 Words   |  7 Pagesremarkable particularly at the 19th century era, when the implication of The Age of Reason (Aufklarung) in Europe had contributed significant supports of changes in the development of sciences and the historical of thought at that time. Nevertheless, Marx progressive thought that was manifested in the concept of class has been questioned for decades since its capacity is considered ‘limited’ and somehow ‘irrelevant’ if it is applied to the contemporary social phenomena in the late 20th and the beginningRead MoreThe Conflict Of The American Civil Rights Moveme nt Essay1309 Words   |  6 Pagesintellectual. In Moses’s view, DuBois is more complicated than other leading Black figures. He notes that DuBois is a Progressive but even some of his ideas are different such as his â€Å"double consciousness†. Like Lewis, Moses invokes the religious connections in DuBois’s message to the people. He writes, â€Å"DuBois progressivism†¦ was a secularized social gospel with roots in†¦ Social Christianity†. Again, another historians draws parallels between his message and religion, using it to uplift African-AmericansRead MoreCharles Manson Essay1297 Words   |  6 PagesThe 1960s were a volatile era of social and political turbulence – a majority of which was centered in culturally progressive areas (San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, etc.). In 1969, Charles Manson, an American criminal, rose to infamy with his orchestration of seven gruesome murders in Los Angeles, California. Whats even more shock ing than the murder scenes, was the fact that Manson did not perpetrate any of the murders himself, but instead convinced others to commit the crimes for him: theRead MoreThe White Slave Trade By Emma Goldman1021 Words   |  5 Pagesinspectors, investigators, detectives, and so forth.† Goldman rejected the ideals of Progressive Era abolitionists. She insisted, â€Å"To the moralist prostitution does not consist so much in the fact that the woman sells her body, but rather that she sells it out of wedlock.† Contrarily, Maude Miner Hadden, wished for prostitutes to be sent to reform schools or institutions for the feebleminded during the Progressive Era. Hadden said, â€Å"These girls have not been, except in rare instances, physically enslaved;Read MoreThe Earliest Movements For Repatriation By Black Americans1421 Words   |  6 Pagesnineteenth-century reflected the ways in which the gratuity of violence of both colonialism and slavery created a dialectical tension between Black Americans and Continental Africans. The psychological and social effects of this violence manifested in the concerns W. E. B. Du Bois discusses in relation to double consciousness. Amongst the most important of them would be the ways in slavery and colonialism had shaped Black Ame ricans perspectives of themselves, Continental Africans and Africa as a land. While manyRead MoreCombatting Institutionalized Racism1534 Words   |  6 PagesWhen examining the timeline of slavery in the United States of America, it can seem like a distant problem. The 13th the social implications of this act still echo in our society today. It is hard to believe that it was less than a century ago – barely even fifty years – that the events detailed in Freedom Riders took place, that the actors in this major direct action movement are still alive to tell their stories. It is the goal of this paper to describe what took place across the southernRead MoreGuess whos coming to dinner2087 Words   |  9 PagesKramer’s film, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, is about an interracial marriage between a black man and a white woman as well as the generational divide between the alarmed parents of both races and the optimistic young couple. There are aspects of the film that can be construed as progressive and influential for the era, the film more accurately serves as a reflection of the larger socio-political context of 1960’s America in regards to both attitudes of antagonism and acceptance of interracial marriageRead MoreRacial Prejudice And Superstition During The Age Of Discovery Europeans1403 Words   |  6 Pageshistory or race have interlaced histories. This paper aims to explore the genealogy of race through the monogenist, polygenist and Darwinian paradigms by exploring the development and implementation of racial mechanisms that were constructed by Western Philosophers and which have shaped the development of race ideology till date. PRE-EVOLUTIONARY PERIOD EARLY MODERN PERIOD MONGENISM In the Early Modern period inequality and difference were fundamental fixtures in the consciousness of the social and naturalRead MoreThe Many Faces Of Social Darwinism1496 Words   |  6 Pages Kimberly Hollman HIS356K March 3, 2016 The Many Faces of Social Darwinism Hollman 1 of 5 The second half of the 19th century was a time of great flux in the United States. The impact of the Civil War perturbed all spheres of American domestic life, leaving its citizens in a state of anxiety regarding their beliefs, government, and even their fellow man. These changes happened concurrently with advances in the sciences: on the eve of the Civil War, Charles Darwin published his influential On theRead MoreHistorical Background Of The Era Essay1481 Words   |  6 PagesThe Historical background of the era According to Evans, Marissa K. â€Å"Apartheid is the name of the racial institution that was established in 1948 by the National Party that governed South Africa until 1994. The term, which literally means â€Å"apartness,† reflected a violently repressive policy designed to ensure that whites, who comprised 20% of the nation’s population, would continue to dominate the country. Although the policy began officially in 1948, the practice of racial discrimination

Cross-Dressing in Merchant of Venice Essay - 1305 Words

In William Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, gender roles are explored, culminating in two distinct scenes of cross-dressing. The men of Elizabethan society enjoy a prominent status based solely on gender, to which women are clearly outsiders. This is particularly evident in Jessica’s newfound freedom when dressed as a pageboy in Act 2 and Portia’s and Nerissa’s immediate elevation in social standing when they take on male personas in Act 4. Through these two instances of cross-dressing, Shakespeare presents class not in terms of socioeconomic status but in the benefits of being male. Although the three women all partake in cross-dressing as a means of undermining patriarchal constraint, the consequences vary as there are several†¦show more content†¦The very fact that Jessica is forced to pose as a male in order to gain freedom –thus shirking the cultural norm –highlights the subjugation of women in Shakespeare’s time. F urther enforcing Jessica’s lower social standing is her acceptance to be Lorenzo’s torch-bearer. Shakespeare provides a negative connotation because â€Å"torch-bearer† insinuates the image of a servant or otherwise owned individual, which the audience equates with what Jessica will become after her marriage ceremony. Other less pronounced limitations arise in regards to Jessica’s transvesting. The practice of cross-dressing becomes exceedingly important to practical applications later in the play because the women, specifically Portia, must interact with mainstream society. The resulting consequence of taking on a male faà §ade ultimately provides empowerment for the otherwise subjugated women. Jessica’s cross-dressing, though it was insightful and served its purpose well, remains ineffective and powerless to change Lorenzo or impact society in any way. In Portia’s case, however, the potential for change exists because her character a ctively undercuts male conceptions of female frailty and inability, unlike Jessica’s enforcement of that very claim. Shakespeare initially introduces Portia in a way that her wealth and socioeconomic status are immediately evident. Not only is Portia rich and stunningly beautiful, but she rounds out the image of aShow MoreRelated Merchant of Venice: The Effects of Cross-Dressing Essay1866 Words   |  8 PagesShakespeare challenges the assumption that men hold more power than women do. He subtly hints that the power men posses is superficial when Jessica dresses like a boy, and later when Nerissa and Portia disguise themselves as men in The Merchant of Venice. Masculinity is merely a costume that can be donned or doffed at will; therefore its associated power can be removed and redistributed as well. Shakespeare emphasizes gender barriers, yet also challenges them to show their inconsistencies. 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Rosalind and Portia demonstrate the concept of cross-dressing as both disguise themselves as men in their stories and in doing so, pose questions about the validity of femininity. In The Merchant of Venice and As You Like It, cross-dressing is central to both the complicationRead MoreShakespeare s Romeo And Juliet And The Merchant Of Venice Essay2340 Words   |  10 PagesThe Two Representations of Sexuality in Romeo and Juliet and The Merchant of Venice Sexuality is a major part of Shakespeare’s plays because he responds to the controversial ways women are represented and the actions that they are involved, like women cross dressing and marriage at a young age. In the two plays, Romeo and Juliet and The Merchant of Venice, the female characters’ representations, Juliet and Portia are written differently. Shakespeare wrote these two female characters’ sexualitiesRead MoreThe Merchant Of Venice By William Shakespeare1102 Words   |  5 Pagespassed, but even today, women are being treated unfairly in certain situations. However, in The Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare challenges the concept of women being unequal to men. He conveys this message through the actions of Jessica, Portia, and Nerissa. The female characters empower themselves, accomplishing various tasks in order to gain control over the men in their lives. The Merchant of Venice is a highly effective feminist play, which is demonstrated throug h the assertive and cleverRead MoreThe Merchant Of Venice By William Shakespeare1153 Words   |  5 Pagesprogressed as time has passed, but even today, women are treated unfairly. However, in The Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare challenges the concept of women being unequal to men. He conveys this message through the actions of Jessica, Portia, and Nerissa. The female characters empower themselves, accomplishing various tasks in order to gain control over the men in their lives. The Merchant of Venice is a highly effective feminist play, which is demonstrated through the assertive and cleverRead MoreThe Societies Portrayed By Machiavelli And Shakespeare1423 Words   |  6 Pagesor leaders see fit, and they usually always use it to benefit themselves. The individuals that have the most power in a society determine what justice is, in order to benefit themselves; this is depicted by the individuals in The Prince and Merchant of Venice. According to Machiavelli, princes must exert a certain level of justice in order to acquire and maintain control over their principality. In The Prince, it is clear that the princes have the most power in the society and can determine whatRead MoreGender Roles And Roles Of William Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice 1837 Words   |  8 Pages Gender plays an important role in Shakespeare’s comedies. Cross gender roles and cross dressing are essential not only for the inherent humour of the situation but also for the advancment of the plot. English Renaissance stereotypes of women and men and their various roles and responsibilities in society are reflected in Shakespeare. What sets Shakespeare apart is the fact that he also challenges, and at times even breaks down those stereotypes especially in his comedies. Hamlet may proclaim â€Å"FrailtyRead MoreThe Merchant Of Venice By Michael Radford1309 Words   |  6 PagesThe Merchant of Venice has never been Hollywood’s favorite Shakespeare play. With deep homoerotic and anti-Semitic undertones, the closest thing we’ve had to a mainstream version of the movie was a parody on The Critic called The Merchant of Venice Beach starring Keanu Reeves. Other than that, the story of the Jew moneylender Shylock and the comic relief relationship between Bassanio and the cross-dressing Portia hasn’t hit the silver screen since the silent-film days. 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Strategy and the human resource management - Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss about the Strategy and the human resource management. Answer: Introduction The company under study is Energex located in Queensland. It is among the largest electricity corporations operating within the boundaries of Australia. Furthermore, this is a government owned company operating under the provision of Government Owned Corporation Act 1993. The administration was transferred from Brisbane City Council to Government owned corporation on 1995[1]. They are responsible for distributing electricity from NSW border north to Gympie and west to the base of the Great Dividing Range. Current assets held by the company worth around $12 billion, which includes, 52,800 km of total underground and overhead lines, 670,000 poles, 355,000 streetlights and 48,500 transformers. Mission Statement The mission statement proposed by the company is Powering Lifestyle Forever. Powering stands for the technical capabilities of the company to maintain a sustainable growth in the industry that will ensure the other two components of the company. Lifestyles communicate the capabilities of Energex in supporting the range of customers with the variety of their needs related to the electric supply. Lastly, Forever stands for their promise to their sustainability of the network and corporation that will serve the population over years in the future. The company further holds six core values by which the company is bounded[2]. They are, Put safety first, respect and support each other, impress our customers, set a great example, be a team player and deliver balanced results. Employee Relation Strategy Energex holds a vision of forming a positive relation with their individual employees that will support them to increase workforce capability, workplace safety, staff engagement, and high performance customer service. They follow three principles to maintain the standard employee relationship that are positive leadership, working relationship and meaningful consultation. The company has based their employee relationship strategy on the four pillars. First, one is alignment with strategic direction that helps conforming the employee relation matches values and vision of the company. The second element is the governance and compliance. Governing body ensures the implementation of the policies set by the company for maintaining healthy environment in the company, whereas, the compliance stands for the two-way support. This seeks both the employee and the employer to perform their responsibility in an accountable way to ensure the transparency in the workplace[3]. The third is to focus on the business outcome, which facilitates in confirming the consistency in employee relation initiatives and business practices. Last but not the least; constructive workplace relationship helps the company in attaining the common goals of the company that are productivity, safety, quality, efficiency satisfaction, and career opportunity. This also involves the employees in decision-making and promoting issue resolution in the ground level. Recruitment and Selection Strategy Energex not only strictly follows their policy of equal opportunity in their selection process, but also takes necessary steps on the practices that discriminates and alters their stated policy against discrimination based on race, sex, age, relationship status, or what so ever. The only thing that is taken into consideration in the selection process of Energex is merit. The applicants are provided opportunity basing of the talent and the drive to join the corporation[4]. The selection process includes information gathering, interviews, and reference check. Furthermore, the company runs a simulation test and objective psychological to identify the ability or personality of the applicant positions offered as per company requirement. Employee Benefits of the organization The benefit in Energex is strictly based on the employee performance as the company believes in dedication recognition and reward. They have listed a number of rewards for the committed and dedicated employees who reflects the mentioned through their work deliverance[5]. Some of them are as follows: Well-being program for the staffs Performance pay scheme that enables salary hike for the deserved employees. Study leave for learning and development Leadership and career development prospects Salary sacrifice options on superannuation Flexible working conditions Outstanding remuneration Recreation activities and social clubbing Internationally benchmarked management systems Best safety reputation in the industry. Employee Safety and Well-being Key value of the company that states to put the safety prior to everything else ensures the safety culture in the organization for both their employees and the customers. The company has established a number of safety programs to attain the goal of zero injuries[6]. Energex conducts safety survey to identify the flaws if occurs in their principles of care, learning, trust and ownership. Proactive health and well-being initiative programs taken by the company seeks to train their employees and make them compatible for working under different environment and pressure.Energex have opted a number of strategies that includes the following: Program to target specific group of employees with coaching, auditing and system improvement activities. Provide risk assessment training to their employees to identify possible hazards and avoid them in time. Formulated a Safety Operational Committee for navigating across the system and identify desirables for ensuring safety in the workplace. Formulated a health and Safety policy to increase the safety of the organization and the employees are expected to work accordingly. Performance development training Energex has a performance development committee that is constituted with senior engineers and human resource specialists to guide the employees on the development program set by the organization. The role of the committee further extends to the review of the graduate employees working in the organization on a regular basis to ensure the relevancy of the program and maintain the standards. Energex also have a number of training program for nurturing and nourishing the possible talents that will possibly ensure the future success of the company. They have recently launched electrical apprenticeship, graduation program, and technical traineeships[7]. Apart from these on the job training facilities to their employees, they provide them the opportunities to undertake a series of postgraduate courses that will support their professional development. Employment Agreement, contract and Awards Energex have diversified types of employment options for hiring their employees. The types of agreement offered by Energex are full time, part time, job share, maturing workforce arrangements, fixed term and specified tasks, casual employment, individual flexible arrangement and alternative employment arrangement[8]. These different types of employment agreements and contracts serves to fill the positions offered by the company based on the job requirements. Award on the other hand is of two types in Energex. One is performance based and another is loyalty reward. The employees are provided bonus on the basis of the performance. It is incorporated in their culture and they recognize the effort put into by the dedicated employees and give them appraisal. The loyalty reward on the other hand is offered to the employees who had been with the company for more than 25 years. The employees are offered with gifts ad parties for the long service they provided to the company. Conflict and Negotiation Energex tries to solve all the issues that occur within the organization itself. They try negotiating with the employee and resolving the issue, which does not seem to happen every time. However, the employees will be bound to provide their service to the company until the time the issue is resolved. They have a number of strategies to solve the issues that might occur. They are: Workplace Resolution Process Conciliation Arbitration Appeal from decision of Fair Work Australia The above strategies are chronologically adopted on the failure of the previous one to resolve the issue that has occurred[9]. Diversity policy with Recommendations The company has strict policy against the discrimination. Their equal employment opportunity policy seeks to maintain equality in their workplace based on various factors. Diversity as stated in their policy address the extent to which the employees of Energex workforce is composed. This means that the employees working in Energex comes from a diversified range of backgrounds and every individual employee is treated equally regardless of their cultural background, ethnicity, religion, language, disability, age, gender or what so ever[10]. They have distinguished every form of discrimination based on the diversified characteristics and have stated actions for solving the issues that might occur related to these concerns. Work-life balance Energex promises to look after the employees work-life balance by providing them the opportunities that helps them in maintaining the same. They offer a number of paid leaves to each of their full time employees and the part time employees. However, the leave structure is different in both the cases. The employees are entitled of annual leaves, sick leave, concessional sick leaves, career leaves, parental leaves, maternity leaves, and many others as stated in the Energex union collective agreement (2011)[11]. This allows the employees to get socialize and spend quality time with their family members and friends. The company believes in the idea that it is necessary for maintaining a harmony between the professional life and personal life to get the optimum performance from the employees. These facilities provided by the companies ensure the same. The company further has overtime schedules for the employees wants to put extra effort. However, it falls under the companys responsibility to ensure the safety, hence limiting the overtime possibilities for an individual employee. Employee relation Risk management The employee relation strategy discussed above are successful in maintaining healthy relationship between the employer and the employee in the workplace in all level of the company. However, this can have adverse effect on the operation of the company. For example, companys employee relation strategy includes constructive workplace relationship, which incorporate employees in the decision-making at the ground level operations and shares information with the employees. Employees can easily misuse the information shared and take false decisions that might have significant impact on the company. These kinds of risks needs to be resolved by developing a committee who will be responsible for identifying the risk in employee relations. Moreover, the company can have policy to control such risks[12]. Review of HR facilities for Employees The company offers a number of benefits to its employees that have been mentioned in the above section. They discourage any kind of discrimination in the workplace and promote equality to maintain the healthy workplace environment. Moreover, they prioritize the safety of their employees. This led them to initiate different training programs and policies for ensuring the same. They also have transparent reward policy for the employees who deserve it. Moreover, they look after the balance in work life and personal life. The overall HR facilities provided to the employees are both transparent and ethical. However, some modification can always be made to improve and gain competitive advantage in the market. They can further motivate their employees by introducing earned leave facility in their organization[13]. The best performer will be eligible for claiming an extra leave for the following month. Termination and Disciplinary issues Energex have transparent termination policy for their employees on various grounds. The notice period that an employee have to serve depends on the duration of continuous service the employee is offering to the company. For example, employees the tenure of one year will have to provide service for one week after receiving the termination letter. Employee between one to three year, three to five year and above five year will have to serve 2 weeks, 3 weeks and 4 weeks respectively. Moreover, the employee can take one leave within while serving the notice period for avoiding any kind of salary deduction. Employee applying for leave falls under the same regulation. The company has the full authority to terminate an employee on the violation of companys policies stated on various grounds[14]. For example, if an employee violates the discrimination policy stated by the company and harasses any of their co-worker, he or she is likely to receive a termination notice from the employers end. Overall Recommendation and conclusion It is possible to conclude from the above report that the companys employee relation strategy are covered by specific rules that successfully ensures the safety of the company. They put tremendous effort in ensuring the workplace safety and equality through their strategies. However, it is possible for an employee to exploit the facilities provided by the company. Hence, the company requires an employee retainment policy to ensure the long-term relation with their employees, so that the amount of energy spent on an individual employee would be paid. References 'About Us - Energex' (Energex.com.au, 2017) https://www.energex.com.au/about-us accessed 11 December 2017 'About Us - Energex' (Energex.com.au, 2017) https://www.energex.com.au/about-us accessed 11 December 2017 'Benefits' (Careers.energex.com.au, 2017) https://careers.energex.com.au/your-career/ENERGEX-advantage---benefits.aspx accessed 11 December 2017. Boxall, P. and Purcell, J., 2011.Strategy and human resource management. Palgrave Macmillan. Daley, D.M., 2012. Strategic human resources management.Public Personnel Management, pp.120-125. 'DIVERSITY AND EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY' (Careers.energex.com.au, 2017) https://careers.energex.com.au/getdoc/ce4be0aa-2569-4c90-92a6-e46188a28fb2/EEO--Diversity-Policy.aspx accessed 11 December 2017. Employee relation strategy (Careers.energex.com.au, 2017) https://careers.energex.com.au/getdoc/69023c90-625a-4aa7-87af-e23aaf58bb74/2-2_employee_relations_strategy.aspx accessed 11 December 2017 'ENERGEX Careers - About Us - ENERGEX Values' (Careers.energex.com.au, 2017) https://careers.energex.com.au/about-us/ENERGEX-Values.aspx accessed 11 December 2017 'ENERGEX UNION COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT 2011' (Careers.energex.com.au, 2017) https://careers.energex.com.au/getdoc/08fc19be-6f58-410e-a83a-a5adcc63baed/EUCA-2011.aspx accessed 11 December 2017. 'Safety' (Careers.energex.com.au, 2017) https://careers.energex.com.au/about-us/ENERGEX-Values/Health-Safety---Wellbeing.aspx accessed 11 December 2017. 'Selection Process' (Careers.energex.com.au, 2017) https://careers.energex.com.au/apply-today/selection-process.aspx accessed 11 December 2017 'Training Development - Graduate Programs' (Careers.energex.com.au, 2017) https://careers.energex.com.au/your-career/training-development/Graduate-programs/More-Information.aspx accessed 11 December 2017. [1] 'About Us - Energex' (Energex.com.au, 2017) https://www.energex.com.au/about-us accessed 11 December 2017 [2] 'ENERGEX Careers - About Us - ENERGEX Values' (Careers.energex.com.au, 2017) https://careers.energex.com.au/about-us/ENERGEX-Values.aspx accessed 11 December 2017 [3] Employee relation strategy (Careers.energex.com.au, 2017) https://careers.energex.com.au/getdoc/69023c90-625a-4aa7-87af-e23aaf58bb74/2-2_employee_relations_strategy.aspx accessed 11 December 2017 [4] 'Selection Process' (Careers.energex.com.au, 2017) https://careers.energex.com.au/apply-today/selection-process.aspx accessed 11 December 2017 [5] 'Benefits' (Careers.energex.com.au, 2017) https://careers.energex.com.au/your-career/ENERGEX-advantage---benefits.aspx accessed 11 December 2017. [6] 'Safety' (Careers.energex.com.au, 2017) https://careers.energex.com.au/about-us/ENERGEX-Values/Health-Safety---Wellbeing.aspx accessed 11 December 2017. [7] 'Training Development - Graduate Programs' (Careers.energex.com.au, 2017) https://careers.energex.com.au/your-career/training-development/Graduate-programs/More-Information.aspx accessed 11 December 2017. [8] 'ENERGEX UNION COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT 2011' (Careers.energex.com.au, 2017) https://careers.energex.com.au/getdoc/08fc19be-6f58-410e-a83a-a5adcc63baed/EUCA-2011.aspx accessed 11 December 2017. [9] 'ENERGEX UNION COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT 2011' (Careers.energex.com.au, 2017) https://careers.energex.com.au/getdoc/08fc19be-6f58-410e-a83a-a5adcc63baed/EUCA-2011.aspx accessed 11 December 2017. [10] 'DIVERSITY AND EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY' (Careers.energex.com.au, 2017) https://careers.energex.com.au/getdoc/ce4be0aa-2569-4c90-92a6-e46188a28fb2/EEO--Diversity-Policy.aspx accessed 11 December 2017. [11] 'ENERGEX UNION COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT 2011' (Careers.energex.com.au, 2017) https://careers.energex.com.au/getdoc/08fc19be-6f58-410e-a83a-a5adcc63baed/EUCA-2011.aspx accessed 11 December 2017. [12] Daley, D.M., 2012. Strategic human resources management.Public Personnel Management, pp.120-125. [13] Boxall, P. and Purcell, J., 2011.Strategy and human resource management. Palgrave Macmillan. [14] 'ENERGEX UNION COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT 2011' (Careers.energex.com.au, 2017) https://careers.energex.com.au/getdoc/08fc19be-6f58-410e-a83a-a5adcc63baed/EUCA-2011.aspx accessed 11 December 2017.

Miles Davis Essays (276 words) - Jazz, Music, Miles Davis

Miles Davis There are very few musicians who, with their music, can impact our lives for the better. There are even less that can do it over their entire career. Such is the case of Mile Davis. A jazz-trumpeter who's sound transcended American culture for over 40 years. In this report I will be reviewing his great life which touched so many people. Miles Dewey Davis was born May 25, 1926, in Alton Illinois. (J S. Bowmen). He was born to a prosperous African-American family near St. Louis Missouri. At the age of ten he took up the trumpet in school. (J S. Bowmen). He of course learned very quickly, and soon he was playing with local jazz band. At the age of 17 he dropped out of school and headed out for New York to be part of the great New York jazz scene. (J S. Bowmen). It was in New York that he would meet his idol, saxophonist, Charlie Parker. Miles became part of Charlie's bebop quartet for several years. This was just a stepping stone however, for in 1948 he started his own 9-piece band. (J S. Bowmen). This band created a new sound "cool jazz". They released "The Birth of Cool" an album that to this day is considered one of the most influential jazz albums ever. He later left the band to pursue other projects. For the next five or six years he face a very serious heroin problem. (J S. Bowmen). He released a series of what he called "uneven albums". But in 1955 he would kick the habit for good and began a legendary come back. He formed a new band with other great jazz musicians such as saxophonist John Coltrane and pianist Bill Evans.

Soft and Hard Power Essays

Soft and Hard Power Essays Soft and Hard Power Essay Soft and Hard Power Essay Essay Topic: Hard Times Soft Power and American Foreign Policy There is a growing anti-American sentiment across the globe. The Eurobarometer showed that Europeans think Americans tend to play a negative role in fighting poverty, protecting environment and maintaining peace. There is growing unpopularity amongst the youth of the world against the US. The US policy makers are not really concerned about this growing unpopularity because there is this notion that America is very strong. Because of this attitude American foreign policy also pays very little attention to soft power. * However, the US needs soft power for three reasons: It cannot tackle the new security threats with old security strategy. Example, while US was able to successfully topple the Taliban regime in Afghanistan after 9/11 it was not able to successfully over throw Al-Qeada which has presence in over 60 countries. * Unpopularity and disregard for softpower can have a negative effect on US image, which in turn can reduce its hard power. * In a growing global information age it is very important to have alliance across the globe. If the US keeps emphasizing on hard power it will become difficult for US to find alliances. For example if a Swede hacks into the Pentagon the US needs the help of Sweden to extradite their citizens. However, if relationship with Sweden is not good then it becomes difficult for the US to tackle cyber warfare. In recent times neo-conservatives have taken over foreign policy where they have a desire to spread democracy. However, unlike their predecessors who emphasized on the building international institutions along with democracy promotion, neo-cons want to spread democracy with the use of hard power. According to Joseph Nye this is a wrong strategy. However Nye states that all is not lost for the US and it can still overhaul its foreign policy. He suggests: a) Promote more economic development policy focused on the world’s poor. He credits George Bush for emphasizing long term assistance to African poor. b) To build alliance through international institutions. For example, the war in Kosovo had broad legitimacy and actually improved the image of US because US went through the security council where it got an overwhelming majority to go ahead with its plans. In the end Nye states that what the US needs is a Jeffersonian ideology towards foreign policy rather than a Jacksonian one.

Must-Reads on Every 12th Grade Reading List

Must-Reads on Every 12th Grade Reading List This is a sampling of the titles that often appear on high-school reading lists for 12th-grade students, and are often discussed in greater depth in college literature courses. The books on this list are important introductions to world literature. (And on a more practical and humorous note, you might also want to read these 5 Books You Should Read Before College).   The Odyssey, Homer This epic Greek poem, believed to have originated in  the oral storytelling tradition, is one of the foundations of Western literature. It focuses on the trials of the hero Odysseus, who tries to journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy The story of Anna Karenina and her ultimately tragic love affair with Count Vronsky was inspired by an episode in which Leo Tolstoy arrived at a railway station shortly after a young woman had committed suicide. She had been the mistress of a neighboring landowner, and the incident stuck in his mind, ultimately serving as the inspiration for a classic story of star-crossed lovers. The Seagull, Anton Chekhov The Seagull by Anton Chekhov is a slice-of-life drama set in the Russian countryside at the end of the 19th century. The cast of characters is dissatisfied with their lives. Some desire love. Some desire success. Some desire artistic genius. No one, however, ever seems to attain happiness. Some critics view  The Seagull  as a tragic play about eternally unhappy people. Others see it as a humorous albeit bitter satire, poking fun at human folly. Candide,  Voltaire Voltaire offers his satirical view of society and nobility in Candide. The novel was published in 1759, and it is often considered the authors most important work, representative of The Enlightenment. A simple-minded young man, Candide is convinced his world is the best of all worlds, but a trip around the world opens his eyes about what he believes to be true. Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky This novel explores the moral implications of murder, told through the story of Raskolnikov, who decides to murder and rob a pawn broker in St. Petersburg. He reasons the crime is justified.  Crime and Punishment is also a social commentary on the effects of poverty. Cry, the Beloved Country, Alan Paton This novel set in South Africa just before apartheid became institutionalized is a social commentary on the racial inequities and its causes, offering perspectives both from whites and blacks. Beloved, Toni Morrison This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is the story of the lingering psychological effects of slavery told through the eyes of escaped slave Sethe, who killed her two-year-old daughter rather than allow the child to be recaptured. A mysterious woman known only as Beloved appears to Sethe years later, and Sethe believes her to be the reincarnation of her dead child. An example of magical realism, Beloved explores the bonds between a mother and her children, even in the face of unspeakable evil. Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe Achebes 1958 post-colonial novel tells the story of the Ibo tribe in Nigeria, before and after the British colonized the country. Protagonist Okonkwo is a proud and angry man whose fate is closely tied to the changes that colonialism and Christianity bring to his village. Things Fall Apart, whose title is taken from the William Yeats poem The Second Coming, is one of the first African novels to receive universal critical acclaim. Frankenstein, Mary Shelley Considered one of the first works of science fiction, Mary Shelleys master work is more than just a story of a terrifying monster, but a Gothic novel that tells the tale of a scientist who tries to play God, and then refuses to take responsibility for his creation, leading to tragedy. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte The coming-of-age story of one of the most remarkable female protagonists in Western literature, Charlotte Brontes heroine was one of the first in English literature to serve as first-person narrator of her own life story. Jane finds love with the enigmatic Rochester, but on her own terms, and only after he has proven himself worthy of her.

Contemporary Latin America Politics Research Proposal

Contemporary Latin America Politics - Research Proposal Example While Venezuela is not presently engaged in any attritional conflict with its neighbors, its relationship with the United States has declined steadily over the recent past. The escalating tension between the United States and Venezuela is attributable to both ideological and material reasons. On the side of ideology, Venezuela is presently led by Hugo Chavez, a highly popular Socialist Party member. His party and its policies derive from Marxist doctrines, which are anathema to the capitalist economic organization seen here in the United States. Moreover, Mr. Chavez is not hesitant to openly condemn American leadership and its alleged hegemonic impulses. A diplomatic flashpoint occurred during the United Nations General Assembly of 2006 when Hugo Chavez cited American leftist intellectual Noam Chomsky’s book ‘Hegemony or Survival’ to support his criticism of high handed foreign policy measures of the United States government. The speech is unprecedented in terms of its audacity and confrontational tone, which almost no diplomatic goodwill was left between the two nations ever since (Tinker-Salas, p.52). Adding to the Venezuelan problem is the open and tacit support that it receives from Latin and Central American nations. For example, Venezuela’s attempt to garner a UN Security Council seat was supported by several countries with influence in the General Assembly, including China, Russia, Malaysia and India. American trading partners in the region such as Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile are also likely to back Venezuela. If Venezuela’s bid should succeed in the future, then it will give a new thrust to the Non-Aligned Movement, by shifting its headquarters out of New York and into a city in the hemispheric South such as Brasilia, Havana or Caracas (Tinker-Salas, p.53). If this does become a reality in the near future, it will be a huge

Primary criticisms of American Cinema and Griffith's montage by Sergei Assignment

Primary criticisms of American Cinema and Griffith's montage by Sergei Eisenstein - Assignment Example At the core of their opinions, the ideas have come out of different philosophies asserting the importance of arts and esthetic medium to provide education or entertainment to people. In later age, as the American cinema was highly influenced with its industrial structure American Cinema tended more and more towards the entertainment which could provide good returns of investment in filmmaking. On the other hand, Russian cinema had devoted much to the ideas which regarding cinema as a medium of awareness and provoking. Due to such difference of opinions, Sergei Eisenstein, who was most profound of early Russian filmmakers had critiqued some of the concepts developed and defined by D.W. Griffith. One very important part of that criticism was Eisenstein’s criticism of Griffith’s theory of montage. In the modern day theory of montage Sergei Eisenstein’s assumption for montage are widely accepted for providing a ground for cinematic understanding for fast cutting and expression through montages. As followers to Griffith’s theories Sergei Eisenstein had developed Montage theory according to his philosophical set back based in Hegel and Marx. Although, developed over Griffithian grammar, Eisenstein’s theory to montage shows some contrasting difference as well. Utilization of montages in Griffithian Cinema In a modern day scenario, the term montage briefly suggest a number of small sized shots arranged in a manner to express a particular part of story or an effect. The montages are quite common is almost all the movies made nowadays. Depending on its use and requirement montage may be musical, action packed, blurred or deluding. A profound example of modern montages include David Fincher’s ‘Fight Club’ (Pitt 1999) using a sequence of shots expressing protagonist Jack’s nausea from its surrounding and further his remembrance of his own past that he had been unaware of. Another example contains Martin Scorsese’s depiction of police training in ‘The Departed’ (Nicholson 2006). D.W. Griffith’s earlier movies are supposed to set the basic grammar of cinema. There are number of occasions when Griffith has used sequencing shots without a direct connectivity of moment. Griffith’s montages were involved in compressing the happening of an event. However, without giving much for dialectical montages or other philosophical esthetical presentations, Griffith had designs the base for montage which could already establish montage as a different and particular approach to cinematic timeline. Anyways, the conceptualization and development of those theories is due to Sergei Einstein. How Eisenstein could identify power of Griffithian montage and could be motivated to enhance his own montage theory comes out in his quote I can’t recall who speaks with whom in one of the street scenes of the modern story of Intolerance. But I shall never forget the mask of the passer-by with nose pointed forward between spectacles and straggly beard, walking with hands behind his back as if he were manacled. As he passes he interrupts the most pathetic moment in the conversation of the suffering boy and girl. I can remember next to nothing of the couple, but

Interrelationships with Culture and Visual Entertainmen Essay Example for Free

Interrelationships with Culture and Visual Entertainmen Essay Culture and visual entertainment media have an interrelationship with each other such as film and television. As the years go by and more and more television shows and movies have been created they have in my opinion become of a reflection of our cultural times. Society is watching the films and television and seeing that they can relate to what they are watching which then they are able to take away a message. People can see visual instead of having to read to learn which can give them a different perspective that they may not have thought of on their own. As people view the visual entertainment they and see what is being influenced from the way people act, dress, talk, and so forth since it is what is shaping our culture. The Brady Bunch is an example of how families were starting to see that families can merge together and become one family, the outfits and hairstyles were being mimicked by people in everyday life. I remember watching this show thinking how â€Å"cool† is it to have two families merge together. This showed that the social influences of visual entertainment media can be positive. People can still watch visual media that is been out dated but still learn about American culture with such shows. Another example is â€Å"The Breakfast Club† this movie is a classic and still very relevant to how our American culture is shaped. In this movie they look at individuals and show that even though we are from all walks of life such as a jock, nerd, snob, shy, and criminal that we all have similarities in the end if we stop and take a moment to see. I Love Lucy† was a huge influence on visual entertainment people wanted to have the grace, the silliness, and could also see that they lived modestly which made it relate to society. Visual media can be negative as well a positive influence on social behavior. When we view visual entertainment I would say majority want to emulate the celebrities that they are viewing which can be negative or positive depending on that moment. People want to fit in society and with visual entertainment that can shape them in to something different. I remember during the eighty’s all of the shows and movies I watch were all the underdog wins in the end and I felt that this is what I want I want to be the underdog the stand along and befriends with everyone. Guess what I was that person I still am that person as well as I take up for the underdog and befriend everyone as well as treat everyone with respect no matter what. I can thank â€Å"Sixteen Candles, Full House, The Breakfast Club, The Outsiders, and I Love Lucy† were all visual entertainment that made me who I am as well as a lot of others.

Pacific Colors :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Pacific Colonial Acquisition in the Pacific/ Colonization in the Pacific: Colonization in the Pacific began with the arrival of the first missionaries who came to spread the good news of God, the traders and whalers who came to trade and to do whaling, the prisoners and deserters who escaped ships that passed the Pacific islands on voyages, and the brave explorers who discovered other lands for their country. Then the colonial powers grew attention to the islands, wanting to claim it before others could, because of the great abundance of the mineral wealth, natural resources, and uses for strategic military purposes. The major colonial powers during this time were: Britain, Spain, Germany, France, the United States and other places such as New Zealand and Australia. During the 1780s to the 1890s Britain took Pitcairn, ceded Fiji, and established protectorates over South East New Guinea, Southern Cook Islands, Tokelau, Tuvalu, and the Solomons. Meanwhile Spain had colonized the Miranas and then loses all its possessions in the South Pacific due to the 1898 Spanish American War. After, the United States took Guam from Spain and also took Western Samoa by cession. Germany bought the northern Miranas and Cardines from Spain and took Western Samoa by Cession. They also established protectorates over North East New Guinea, the Bismarck Islands, and over the Marshall Islands. And then in the South American country of Chile, leaders annexes Easter Island. As you can see already most of the Islands of the Pacific are been annexed, bought, and influence with the culture, language, and lifestyles of the western worlds. American Samoa was not really wanted because it lacked the abundance of natural resources (except for copra) and mineral wealth. So the United Stated took Samoa and used its Harbor, which is now known as Pago Harbor. Remittance:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Remittance is the sending of money home. In the early days of development in the Pacific Islands, work was scarce and hard to find due to unqualified workers. Schools were not formed yet and for the schools that were opened, money was a problem. So the families sent their children to the States where they received formal education and got jobs with better salary. In return, they would send some of the money from their paychecks back to mom, dad, and the family. (This is an example of remittance.) This helped the family while they worked. And it still happens today. Pacific Colors :: essays research papers   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Pacific Colonial Acquisition in the Pacific/ Colonization in the Pacific: Colonization in the Pacific began with the arrival of the first missionaries who came to spread the good news of God, the traders and whalers who came to trade and to do whaling, the prisoners and deserters who escaped ships that passed the Pacific islands on voyages, and the brave explorers who discovered other lands for their country. Then the colonial powers grew attention to the islands, wanting to claim it before others could, because of the great abundance of the mineral wealth, natural resources, and uses for strategic military purposes. The major colonial powers during this time were: Britain, Spain, Germany, France, the United States and other places such as New Zealand and Australia. During the 1780s to the 1890s Britain took Pitcairn, ceded Fiji, and established protectorates over South East New Guinea, Southern Cook Islands, Tokelau, Tuvalu, and the Solomons. Meanwhile Spain had colonized the Miranas and then loses all its possessions in the South Pacific due to the 1898 Spanish American War. After, the United States took Guam from Spain and also took Western Samoa by cession. Germany bought the northern Miranas and Cardines from Spain and took Western Samoa by Cession. They also established protectorates over North East New Guinea, the Bismarck Islands, and over the Marshall Islands. And then in the South American country of Chile, leaders annexes Easter Island. As you can see already most of the Islands of the Pacific are been annexed, bought, and influence with the culture, language, and lifestyles of the western worlds. American Samoa was not really wanted because it lacked the abundance of natural resources (except for copra) and mineral wealth. So the United Stated took Samoa and used its Harbor, which is now known as Pago Harbor. Remittance:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Remittance is the sending of money home. In the early days of development in the Pacific Islands, work was scarce and hard to find due to unqualified workers. Schools were not formed yet and for the schools that were opened, money was a problem. So the families sent their children to the States where they received formal education and got jobs with better salary. In return, they would send some of the money from their paychecks back to mom, dad, and the family. (This is an example of remittance.) This helped the family while they worked. And it still happens today.

Fiction and Work

1970. Choose a character from a novel or play of recognized literary merit and write an essay in which you (a) briefly describe the standards of the fictional society in which the character exists and (b) show how the character is affected by and responds to those standards. In your essay do not merely summarize the plot. 1970 Also. Choose a work of recognized literary merit in which a specific inanimate object (e. g. , a seashell, a handkerchief, a painting) is important, and write an essay in which you show how two or three of the purposes the object serves are related to one another. 971. The significance of a title such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is so easy to discover. However, in other works (for example, Measure for Measure) the full significance of the title becomes apparent to the reader only gradually. Choose two works and show how the significance of their respective titles is developed through the authors' use of devices such as contrast, repetition, allusion, and point of view. 1972. In retrospect, the reader often discovers that the first chapter of a novel or the opening scene of a drama introduces some of the major themes of the work.Write an essay about the opening scene of a drama or the first chapter of a novel in which you explain how it functions in this way. 1973. An effective literary work does not merely stop or cease; it concludes. In the view of some critics, a work that does not provide the pleasure of significant closure has terminated with an artistic fault. A satisfactory ending is not, however, always conclusive in every sense; significant closure may require the reader to abide with or adjust to ambiguity and uncertainty. In an essay, discuss the ending of a novel or play of acknowledged literary merit.Explain precisely how and why the ending appropriately or inappropriately concludes the work. Do not merely summarize the plot. 1974. Choose a work of literature written before 1900. Write an essay in which you present a rguments for and against the work's relevance for a person in 1974. Your own position should emerge in the course of your essay. You may refer to works of literature written after 1900 for the purpose of contrast or comparison. 1975. Although literary critics have tended to praise the unique in literary characterizations, many authors have employed the stereotyped character successfully.Select one work of acknowledged literary merit and in a well-written essay, show how the conventional or stereotyped character or characters function to achieve the author's purpose. 1975 Also. Unlike the novelist, the writer of a play does not use his own voice and only rarely uses a narrator's voice to guide the audience's responses to character and action. Select a play you have read and write an essay in which you explain the techniques the playwright uses to guide his audience's responses to the central characters and the action.You might consider the effect on the audience of things like settin g, the use of comparable and contrasting characters, and the characters' responses to each other. Support your argument with specific references to the play. Do not give a plot summary. 1976. The conflict created when the will of an individual opposes the will of the majority is the recurring theme of many novels, plays, and essays. Select the work of an essayist who is in opposition to his or her society; or from a work of recognized literary merit, select a fictional character who is in opposition to his or her society.In a critical essay, analyze the conflict and discuss the moral and ethical implications for both the individual and the society. Do not summarize the plot or action of the work you choose. 1977. In some novels and plays certain parallel or recurring events prove to be significant. In an essay, describe the major similarities and differences in a sequence of parallel or recurring events in a novel or play and discuss the significance of such events. Do not merely su mmarize the plot. 1978. Choose an implausible or strikingly unrealistic incident or character in a work of fiction or drama of recognized literary merit.Write an essay that explains how the incident or character is related to the more realistic of plausible elements in the rest of the work. Avoid plot summary. 1979. Choose a complex and important character in a novel or a play of recognized literary merit who might on the basis of the character's actions alone be considered evil or immoral. In a well-organized essay, explain both how and why the full presentation of the character in the work makes us react more sympathetically than we otherwise might. Avoid plot summary. 1980. A recurring theme in literature is the classic war between a passion and responsibility.For instance, a personal cause, a love, a desire for revenge, a determination to redress a wrong, or some other emotion or drive may conflict with moral duty. Choose a literary work in which a character confronts the demand s of a private passion that conflicts with his or her responsibilities. In a well-written essay show clearly the nature of the conflict, its effects upon the character, and its significance to the work. 1981. The meaning of some literary works is often enhanced by sustained allusion to myths, the Bible, or other works of literature.Select a literary work that makes use of such a sustained reference. Then write a well-organized essay in which you explain the allusion that predominates in the work and analyze how it enhances the work's meaning. 1982. In great literature, no scene of violence exists for its own sake. Choose a work of literary merit that confronts the reader or audience with a scene or scenes of violence. In a well-organized essay, explain how the scene or scenes contribute to the meaning of the complete work. Avoid plot summary. 1983. From a novel or play of literary merit, select an important character who is a villain.Then, in a well-organized essay, analyze the natu re of the character's villainy and show how it enhances meaning in the work. Do not merely summarize the plot. 1984. Select a line or so of poetry, or a moment or scene in a novel, epic poem, or play that you find especially memorable. Write an essay in which you identify the line or the passage, explain its relationship to the work in which it is found, and analyze the reasons for its effectiveness. 1985. A critic has said that one important measure of a superior work of literature is its ability to produce in the reader a healthy confusion of pleasure and disquietude.Select a literary work that produces this â€Å"healthy confusion. † Write an essay in which you explain the sources of the â€Å"pleasure and disquietude† experienced by the readers of the work. 1986. Some works of literature use the element of time in a distinct way. The chronological sequence of events may be altered, or time may be suspended or accelerated. Choose a novel, an epic, or a play of recog nized literary merit and show how the author's manipulation of time contributes to the effectiveness of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot. 987. Some novels and plays seem to advocate changes in social or political attitudes or in traditions. Choose such a novel or play and note briefly the particular attitudes or traditions that the author apparently wishes to modify. Then analyze the techniques the author uses to influence the reader's or audience's views. Avoid plot summary. 1988. Choose a distinguished novel or play in which some of the most significant events are mental or psychological; for example, awakenings, discoveries, changes in consciousness. In a well-organized ssay, describe how the author manages to give these internal events the sense of excitement, suspense, and climax usually associated with external action. Do not merely summarize the plot. 1989. In questioning the value of literary realism, Flannery O'Connor has written, â€Å"I am interested in making a good case for distortion because I am coming to believe that it is the only way to make people see. † Write an essay in which you â€Å"make a good case for distortion,† as distinct from literary realism. Analyze how important elements of the work you choose are â€Å"distorted† and explain how these distortions contribute to the effectiveness of the work.Avoid plot summary. 1990. Choose a novel or play that depicts a conflict between a parent (or a parental figure) and a son or daughter. Write an essay in which you analyze the sources of the conflict and explain how the conflict contributes to the meaning of the work. Avoid plot summary. 1991. Many plays and novels use contrasting places (for example, two countries, two cities or towns, two houses, or the land and the sea) to represent opposed forces or ideas that are central to the meaning of the work. Choose a novel or play that contrasts two such places.Write an essay explaining how the places di ffer, what each place represents, and how their contrast contributes to the meaning of the work. 1992. In a novel or play, a confidant (male) or a confidante (female) is a character, often a friend or relative of the hero or heroine, whose role is to be present when the hero or heroine needs a sympathetic listener to confide in. Frequently the result is, as Henry James remarked, that the confidant or confidante can be as much â€Å"the reader's friend as the protagonist's. † However, the author sometimes uses this character for other purposes as well.Choose a confidant or confidante from a novel or play of recognized literary merit and write an essay in which you discuss the various ways this character functions in the work. You may write your essay on one of the following novels or plays or on another of comparable quality. Do not write on a poem or short story. 1993. â€Å"The true test of comedy is that it shall awaken thoughtful laughter. † Choose a novel, play, or long poem in which a scene or character awakens â€Å"thoughtful laughter† in the reader. Write an essay in which you show why this laughter is â€Å"thoughtful† and how it contributes to the meaning of the work. 994. In some works of literature, a character who appears briefly, or does not appear at all, is a significant presence. Choose a novel or play of literary merit and write an essay in which you show how such a character functions in the work. You may wish to discuss how the character affects action, theme, or the development of other characters. Avoid plot summary. 1995. Writers often highlight the values of a culture or a society by using characters who are alienated from that culture or society because of gender, race, class, or creed.Choose a novel or a play in which such a character plays a significant role and show how that character's alienation reveals the surrounding society's assumptions or moral values. 1996. The British novelist Fay Weldon offers t his observation about happy endings. â€Å"The writers, I do believe, who get the best and most lasting response from their readers are the writers who offer a happy ending through moral development. By a happy ending, I do not mean mere fortunate events — a marriage or a last minute rescue from death — but some kind of spiritual reassessment or moral reconciliation, even with the self, even at death. Choose a novel or play that has the kind of ending Weldon describes. In a well-written essay, identify the â€Å"spiritual reassessment or moral reconciliation† evident in the ending and explain its significance in the work as a whole. 1997. Novels and plays often include scenes of weddings, funerals, parties, and other social occasions. Such scenes may reveal the values of the characters and the society in which they live. Select a novel or play that includes such a scene and, in a focused essay, discuss the contribution the scene makes to the meaning of the work as a whole.You may choose a work from the list below or another novel or play of literary merit. 1998. In his essay â€Å"Walking,† Henry David Thoreau offers the following assessment of literature: In literature it is only the wild that attracts us. Dullness is but another name for tameness. It is the uncivilized free and wild thinking in Hamlet and The Iliad, in all scriptures and mythologies, not learned in schools, that delights us. From the works that you have studied in school, choose a novel, play, or epic poem that you may initially have thought was conventional and tame but that you now value for its â€Å"uncivilized free and wild thinking. Write an essay in which you explain what constitutes its â€Å"uncivilized free and wild thinking† and how that thinking is central to the value of the work as a whole. Support your ideas with specific references to the work you choose. 1999. The eighteenth-century British novelist Laurence Sterne wrote, â€Å"No body, but he who has felt it, can conceive what a plaguing thing it is to have a man's mind torn asunder by two projects of equal strength, both obstinately pulling in a contrary direction at the same time. From a novel or play choose a character (not necessarily the protagonist) whose mind is pulled in conflicting directions by two compelling desires, ambitions, obligations, or influences. Then, in a well-organized essay, identify each of the two conflicting forces and explain how this conflict with one character illuminates the meaning of the work as a whole. You may use one of the novels or plays listed below or another novel or work of similar literary quality. 2000. Many works of literature not readily identified with the mystery or detective story genre nonetheless involve the investigation of a mystery.In these works, the solution to the mystery may be less important than the knowledge gained in the process of its investigation. Choose a novel or play in which one or more of the ch aracters confront a mystery. Then write an essay in which you identify the mystery and explain how the investigation illuminates the meaning of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot. 2001. One definition of madness is â€Å"mental delusion or the eccentric behavior arising from it. † But Emily Dickinson wrote Much madness is divinest Sense- To a discerning Eye-Novelists and playwrights have often seen madness with a â€Å"discerning Eye. † Select a novel or play in which a character's apparent madness or irrational behavior plays an important role. Then write a well-organized essay in which you explain what this delusion or eccentric behavior consists of and how it might be judged reasonable. Explain the significance of the â€Å"madness† to the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot. 2002. Morally ambiguous characters — characters whose behavior discourages readers from identifying them as purely evil or purely good — ar e at the heart of many works of literature.Choose a novel or play in which a morally ambiguous character plays a pivotal role. Then write an essay in which you explain how the character can be viewed as morally ambiguous and why his or her moral ambiguity is significant to the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary. 2002, Form B. Often in literature, a character's success in achieving goals depends on keeping a secret and divulging it only at the right moment, if at all. Choose a novel or play of literary merit that requires a character to keep a secret.In a well-organized essay, briefly explain the necessity for secrecy and how the character's choice to reveal or keep the secret affects the plot and contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole. You may select a work from the list below, or you may choose another work of recognized literary merit suitable to the topic. Do NOT write about a short story, poem, or film. 2003. According to critic Northrop Frye, â€Å"Tragic hero es are so much the highest points in their human landscape that they seem the inevitable conductors of the power about them, great trees more likely to be struck by lightning than a clump of grass.Conductors may of course be instruments as well as victims of the divisive lightning. † Select a novel or play in which a tragic figure functions as an instrument of the suffering of others. Then write an essay in which you explain how the suffering brought upon others by that figure contributes to the tragic vision of the work as a whole. 2003, Form B. Novels and plays often depict characters caught between colliding cultures — national, regional, ethnic, religious, institutional. Such collisions can call a character's sense of identity into question.Select a novel or play in which a character responds to such a cultural collison. Then write a well-organized essay in which you describe the character's response and explain its relevance to the work as a whole. 2004. Critic Rol and Barthes has said, â€Å"Literature is the question minus the answer. † Choose a novel, or play, and, considering Barthes' observation, write an essay in which you analyze a central question the work raises and the extent to which it offers answers. Explain how the author's treatment of this question affects your understanding of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary. 004, Form B. The most important themes in literature are sometimes developed in scenes in which a death or deaths take place. Choose a novel or play and write a well-organized essay in which you show how a specific death scene helps to illuminate the meaning of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary. 2005. In Kate Chopin's The Awakening (1899), protagonist Edna Pontellier is said to possess â€Å"That outward existence which conforms, the inward life that questions. † In a novel or play that you have studied, identify a character who outwardly conforms while questioning inwardly.Then write an essay in which you analyze how this tension between outward conformity and inward questioning contributes to the meaning of the work. Avoid mere plot summary. 2005, Form B. One of the strongest human drives seems to be a desire for power. Write an essay in which you discuss how a character in a novel or a drama struggles to free himself or herself from the power of others or seeks to gain power over others. Be sure to demonstrate in your essay how the author uses this power struggle to enhance the meaning of the work. 2006. Many writers use a country setting to establish values within a work of literature.For example, the country may be a place of virtue and peace or one of primitivism and ignorance. Choose a novel or play in which such a setting plays a significant role. Then write an essay in which you analyze how the country setting functions in the work as a whole. 2006, Form B. In many works of literature, a physical journey – the literal movement from one place to a nother – plays a central role. Choose a novel, play, or epic poem in which a physical journey is an important element and discuss how the journey adds to the meaning of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary. 2007.In many works of literature, past events can affect, positively or negatively, the present activities, attitudes, or values of a character. Choose a novel or play in which a character must contend with some aspect of the past, either personal or societal. Then write an essay in which you show how the character's relationship to the past contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole. 2007, Form B. Works of literature often depict acts of betrayal. Friends and even family may betray a protagonist; main characters may likewise be guilty of treachery or may betray their own values.Select a novel or play that includes such acts of betrayal. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze the nature of the betrayal and show how it contributes to the meaning of the work a s a whole. 2008. In a literary work, a minor character, often known as a foil, possesses traits that emphasize, by contrast or comparison, the distinctive characteristics and qualities of the main character. For example, the ideas or behavior of a minor character might be used to highlight the weaknesses or strengths of the main character. Choose a novel or play in which a minor haracter serves as a foil for the main character. Then write an essay in which you analyze how the relation between the minor character and the major character illuminates the meaning of the work. 2008, Form B. In some works of literature, childhood and adolescence are portrayed as times graced by innocence and a sense of wonder; in other works, they are depicted as times of tribulation and terror. Focusing on a single novel or play, explain how its representation of childhood or adolescence shapes the meaning of the work as a whole. 2009.A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents something or t hat creates a range of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning. Select a novel or play and, focusing on one symbol, write an essay analyzing how that symbol functions in the work and what it reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot. 2009, Form B. Many works of literature deal with political or social issues. Choose a novel or play that focuses on a political or social issue.Then write an essay in which you analyze how the author uses literary elements to explore this issue and explain how the issue contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot. 2010, Form A. Palestinian American literary theorist and cultural critic Edward Said has written that â€Å"Exile is strangely compelling to think about but terrible to experience. It is the unhealable rift forced between a human being and a native place, between the self and its true home: its essential sadness can never be surmounted. † Yet Said has also said that exile can become â€Å"a potent, even enriching† experience.Select a novel, play, or epic in which a character experiences such a rift and becomes cut off from â€Å"home,† whether that home is the character’s birthplace, family, homeland, or other special place. Then write an essay in which you analyze how the character’s experience with exile is both alienating and enriching, and how this experience illuminates the meaning of the work as a whole. You may choose a work from the list below or one of comparable literary merit. Do not merely summarize the plot. 2010 Form B. â€Å"You can leave home all you want, but home will never leave you. —Sonsyrea Tate. Sonsyrea Tate’s statement suggests that â€Å"home† may be conceived of as a dwelling, a place, or a state of mind. It may have positive or negative associations, but in either ca se, it may have a considerable influence on an individual. Choose a novel or play in which a central character leaves home yet finds that home remains significant. Write a well-developed essay in which you analyze the importance of â€Å"home† to this character and the reasons for its continuing influence. Explain how the character’s idea of home illuminates the larger meaning of the work.Choose a work from the list below or another appropriate novel or play of comparable literary merit. Do not merely summarize the plot. 2011. In a novel by William Styron, a father tells his son that life â€Å"is a search for justice. † Choose a character from a novel or play who responds in some significant way to justice or injustice. Then write a well-developed essay in which you analyze the character’s understanding of justice, the degree to which the character’s search for justice is successful and the significance of this search for the work as a whole. 2011 , Form B.In The Writing of Fiction (1925), novelist Edith Wharton states the following: At every stage in the progress of his tale the novelist must rely on what may be called the illuminating incident to reveal and emphasize the inner meaning of each situation. Illuminating incidents are the magic casements of fiction, its vistas on infinity. Choose a novel or play that you have studied and write a well-organized essay in which you describe an â€Å"illuminating† episode or moment and explain how it functions as a â€Å"casement,† a window that opens onto the meaning of the work as a whole.Avoid mere plot summary. 2012. â€Å"And, after all, our surroundings influence our lives and characters as much as fate, destiny or any supernatural agency. † Pauline Hopkins, Contending Forces. Choose a novel or play in which cultural, physical, or geographical surroundings shape psychological or moral traits in a character. Then write a well-organized essay in which you an alyze how surroundings affect this character and illuminate the meaning of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

Assess the success and failures of Thatcherism Essays

Assess the success and failures of Thatcherism Essays Assess the success and failures of Thatcherism Essay Assess the success and failures of Thatcherism Essay Margaret Thatcher and her time in British politics have had a profound impact upon not just Britain but on world politics too. Thatcher’s high profile of governance began from May 1979 and she continued to be the Prime Minister of Britain for eleven and half years. During her time in office, Thatcher had been the talk of Britain and the world. The reason being her strong public personality moreover she was judged in terms of her political, social and economic ambitions. Thatcher’s governance led to the political phenomena of Thatcherism. The term Thatcherism obviously derives from Margaret Thatcher but can be defined generally as the system of powerful political beliefs which were based on ‘monetarism and a belief in reducing the power and actions of the state in economy and society’, but also the promotion of the private sector. Thatcherism wasn’t only based around Thatcher’s policies but equally as important on her leadership style, for example the reference made by the Russians to the ‘Iron Lady’. However the concept of Thatcherism was deeply rejected and regarded as a failure by socialists and social groups. This essay intends to assess the two sides of Thatcherism, the success as well the failures. It will also examine Thatcher’s personality and politics, i. e. policies, which contributed to the formation of Thatcherism. The legacy of post-war Conservatism and Thatcher began when the Labour party’s time in office ended inevitably. This was highlighted under James Callaghan’s government. The Labour government faced immense difficulties such as inflation rise, British power cuts and especially in 1979, where the ‘Winter of Discontent’ was a key event. The Winter of Discontent subsequently led to a rash of strikes in crucial public services which deemed that the country was ungovernable. This led to the destruction of Labour’s party image and subsequently forced Callaghan to call an early general election, which paved way to Thatcher’s victory. Labour’s defeat also meant that it would allow Thatcher to ‘reverse the relative decline from which Britain was acknowledged to be suffering’. Furthermore to break from the ‘Post-war consensus’, which characterized Britain’s governing tradition since 1945. The first Thatcher government was probably the most pragmatic; she was elected with a working majority of 43. The early years of Thatcher’s governance, particular attention was paid to the economy. And the intentions of the Conservative government were transparent before they came into power but were particularly successful and appealing amongst the affluent worker social group in 1979, which was used as evidence for the ‘electoral preference for lower taxation rather than higher public spending’. The Conservative party manifesto also highlighted Thatcher’s pledges other than lower taxation which were to restore the health of Britain’s economy by ‘controlling inflation’, to encourage private enterprise and promote individualism. Therefore the period from 1979 was clearly an important one for economy policy as the government were faced with an exceptionally high annual inflation rate of 20 per cent. Furthermore, the economic forecasts of November 1979 highlighted that ‘output in the economy was expected to fall by 3 percent in 1980; unemployment to rise to 2 million by 1981†. This was the aftermath of Callaghan’s struggling Labour government, therefore there needed to be a serious restructuring of the economy. The Conservative’s economic aims were set by Geoffrey Howe, the first Chancellor of the Exchequer under Thatcher, whom introduced the tax-cutting budget of 1979. This programme was underpinned by the doctrine of ‘monetarism’, which is a school of thought based upon the control of the supply of money circulating in the economy and that aims of ‘monetary policy are best met by targeting the growth rate of the money supply’. As a result, her monetarist economic policies started by increasing interest rates to slow the growth of money and increases in various taxes to quell inflation. The battle against inflation was succeeded at reducing inflation from ‘20% to between 4 and 5% percent in the period 1983 to 1987†. It could be said that these monetarist policies and budgets distinguished her from previous governments. The reduction of inflation meant a success for the Conservative party but also a turning point for Thatcherism. Although Thatcher was successful at reducing inflation at the lowest level in 13 years; this was largely achieved by the mass closure of factories and recession. The world recession of 1979 – 81 was felt particularly badly so the rate of unemployment had risen 3 million in 1983. This highlights the impact of Thatcher’s governance had reached to epic proportions already in her first term and also a great failure. It could be argued that the issue of the Falklands war in 1982 led to a recovery in Thatcher’s popularity but more importantly she faced the most challenging crisis of her career. The war which lasted for 74 days for the control over the Falkland Islands was a result from the long running dispute between Argentina and Britain. This was over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. The invasion demonstrated Thatcher’s sheer toughness and strength. It could also be said that the liberation the Falklands was reckoned as a ‘personal triumph’ and was proved to be the ‘defining moment of her premiership’. The Falklands war and a distrusted divided opposition helped Thatcher win the 1983 general election. And one of Thatcherism’s innovations during her second term was the attitude towards the trade unions. Thatcher was determined to weaken the stranglehold labour unions held over the industries and government in Britain which resulted in enacting the trade union reforms. The main aims of Conservatives were to reduce the ability of the trade unions to challenge the government and stand in the way of economic change and reforms, which broke the traditional relationship with them. This could be highlighted by the uprising of the militant miners in 1984. The miners union and strike was led by Arthur Scargill for a year, with the stated aim of ‘roll back the years of Thatcherism’, as he needed a show of force with large numbers of pickets to stop coal being transported. And also Scargill needed to ensure that the strike held by ensuring that miners did not return to work. On the other hand Thatcher’s attitude throughout the strike was to hold firm and regarded it as ‘more a political insurrection than an industrial dispute; picket violence met police force’. This meant that Scargill’s flying pickets and his resolution to roll back the years of Thatcherism had ended in bitter defeat. The strike was a clear demonstration of the politics of Thatcherism, which were radical, uncompromising but very divisive. Two of the lasting legacies of Thatcherism were arguably the privatisation programmes and the government’s right to buy scheme. The Tories as a party have long upheld the policy of self-reliance from state and Thatcher believed strongly in the freedom of the individual. Therefore the government promoted the privatisation of public owned public services, with it being called â€Å"a crucial ingredient of Thatcherism†. The process of de-nationalisation of state owned industries meant the privatisation of gas, water, electricity and steel, which are a few to name. The privatisations helped to reinforce enterprise, small state, gave individuals the chance to buy shares and increase their wealth. As stated by Holmes, one junior minister thought that ‘the political advent of privatisation was a clear way of influencing the electorate – it was a sensible and popular policy’. Privatisation of council housing was another success of Thatcherism. The ‘right to buy’, as it was commonly called, the policy could be argued that it targeted particularly at non traditional Conservatives. The Thatcher government had foreseen the electoral prospects by the support of those who had bought their homes under the right to buy scheme and who would lose their home under compulsory purchase orders with the return of a Labour government. Inevitably the growth of party de-alignment and class de-alignment grew in the 1980’s as working class voters helped to return a Conservative government. This highlights the changing nature of British voting ethos which was influence by Thatcherism. Apart from the fact that inflation returned again in 1990 to destroy the economy, Thatcher’s implementation of the poll-tax was proving controversial and unpopular. The poll-tax was another classic piece of Thatcherism and it was aimed at exposing high spending Labour councils. It worked not by taxing properties but by levying a tax on the individual people within those households. Therefore, those at the top of the income scale paid little more than middle class and working class voters. These very voters that had voted the Conservatives soon opened revolt with the series of mass disturbances known as the ‘Poll Tax Riots’ in 1990. Thatcher defended the poll tax, which an opinion poll had found 12% favoured it. This highlights as perhaps one of the greatest failures of Thatcherism, which subsequently contributed to Thatcher’s downfall. Another reason to contribute towards Thatcher’s downfall and resignation was the discontentment within the party and also due to her unpopularity. It could be argued that during her years in office, Thatcher had the second-lowest approval rating, at just 40 percent and was consistently deemed as less popular than her party by polls. To support that statement, opinion polls in September 1990 reported that ‘Labour had established a 14 percent lead over the Conservatives’. However the resignation of Geoffrey Howe was fatal to Thatcher’s premiership later, with Michael Heseltine’s challenge for the leadership of the Conservative party had completely destroyed Thatcher’s ability to stay at 10 Downing Street. It could be said that the Thatcherism still had a profound influence on British politics after Thatcher left office, as John Major sought to build upon her legacy by attempting to secure her legacy whilst smoothing over the rough edges. And more notably, Tony Blair’s New Labour was built upon Thatcher’s reforms such as the privatisation programme was left intact as Labour itself carried out mini privatisations such as air traffic control. Furthermore business and enterprise had been courted by New Labour, corporation tax cut and employee rights were strengthened rather than the ties with the Trade Unions. As this essay has provided arguments for the successes and the failures of Thatcherism and the Thatcher government, it without a doubt, highlights the unique political style and political substance that was present for over eleven years. It could be said that Thatcherism radically departed from the norms and traditions of British politics, especially after the post-war consensus. The policy in regards to the economy from the period of 1979 demonstrated a significant shift from accepting previous government’s Keynesianism orthodoxy to Thatcher’s belief in monetarism. The contrast between previous Labour governments and Thatcherism could not be sharper. The Labour party’s incentive was to nationalize more whereas it was the Conservatives that privatized industries with the individualistic approach enacted effectively under Thatcher. However the arrival of Thatcherism marked something which could be claimed as revolutionary, as Blair strategy was based upon third way politics. It could be said that Thatcherism was a success as the school of thought is still applied to today’s politics however times are once again changing in British politics, so the success of Thatcherism in the future is yet to be decided.

How to Get More Traffic From Every Post

How to Get More Traffic From Every Post by Noah Kagan, Chief Sumo at SumoMe.com (free tools to grow your website traffic) Traffic can feel a bit like catch-22. You need people to share your posts but if you have no traffic there’s no one to share At the start of 2014, I decided to prioritize my email list and grow my blog from a small side project to one of the top marketing blogs. In less than a year, traffic grew by more than 400%! Today, I want to show you 10 actionable strategies you can use to grow your own blog’s traffic each time you publish a new post.How to Get More Traffic From Every Post (Plus How OkDork Grew Traffic 400% In 8 Months)  @noahkagan1- Start Building And Prioritizing Your Email List Growing your email list is an amazingly vicious cycle. You get subscribers, email them when an article goes live, they go read it and then share it with people. Then those people subscribe and the cycle delightfully continues. But, to build an email list you have to ask for visitors email addresses. The easiest way to do that is to use plugins for your blog. I use the SumoMe plugin (built by AppSumo) and the apps List Builder and Scroll Box. The tools will help you start building an email list without any technical knowledge. (Scroll Box is a great way to ask engaged readers to sign up towards the end of a postyou can set it to appear only after someone has read 50% or 75% of your post.) The blog is a great example of what you should be doing if you want to build an email list. Each blog post there is a chance to sign up at the top and in the middle of the post. They also have a pop-up that has a persuasive offer to first time or one-off visitors Now, if you had to pick only one place to ask for emails, where would you ask? It’s not in a pop-up or a scroll box: it’s your homepage. Before 2014, my homepage included links to recent blog posts, archives, and the menu bar. After using heatmaps, I removed all of the distractions and left visitors with only 1 option: Now my most trafficked page is also my #1 email address generator. If you’re serious about growing your email list, make it extremely simple for each visitor to give you their email address. Pro tip: How To Turn Your Blog Readers Into Paying Customers 2- Be Part Of A Community I got involved in two key communities for marketers: GrowthHackers and Inbound.org. Before asking for anything from these communities, I did my best to spend time where my readers are, add value, comment in the forums, share articles and upvote other posts (not just OkDork posts). Being part of these communities helped pinpoint what posts our target audience (other marketers) wanted to read, the common elements of the most liked/upvoted posts, and made it more natural to ask for help promoting OkDork content. As a result, by mid-2014 GrowthHackers and Inbound.org were the two largest referring sites to OkDork. Engage your readers (or customers) where they are already spending time. Respond to their questions, suggest resources, add value every time you login or visit the site. Find a forum, sub-reddit, or a similar site that carries your target audience, become part of the community, add value back, and then begin to submit your own high-quality content. Pro Tip: 50% Places To Repurpose Your Content 3- Publish Long Content Arguably the biggest change that brought traffic to OkDork was reaching out to writers who had lots of marketing data that could be put into long form content. Why? Because the content was outrageously good and exactly what our target audience/community wanted. In fact, the majority of viral articles are over 3,000+ words and explore a single topic in depth. The longer the post the most shares it got. (Plus each guest writer notified their own email list and shared the post on Twitter which brought additional targeted traffic to OkDork.) Although it may be tempting to write lots of short content or to ask guest writers to write short posts, set your standards high and publish long content that contains more of what your audience wants. Take note of the posts that get lots of share within your community and make sure you do the same with each post. If your community is data driven include 10x as many statistics or if they are image driven add 10x more images than usual. Pro Tip: 5 Things That Will Change Your Mind About Long Form Content Marketing 4- Build An Inner Circle In May 2014, I put together a list of 15 to 20 friends, colleagues, fans that a) wanted to help me and b) were already enjoying the content on the blog. This â€Å"Inner Circle† or â€Å"Insiders List† reviewed upcoming posts and provided an early traffic boost to new posts - often by sharing it 24 to 48 hours before the post was sent out by email to my main list. Here’s the first email I sent to the Inner Circle: To build your own â€Å"Inner Circle† first list out: Interesting people within the community you are a part of; Customers/readers who provide constructive feedback; People who regularly send you the best articles or resources; Any people connected to special sites or channels you want to be on; And a few influencers who seem too good to be true. After you have the list, send an email like the one above that explains why they were selected, what the list is, and what they’ll get. Offer them a way out so that you’re not spamming people each week. Once you have their permission send an email from your personal account once a week or once every two weeks with a link to the latest blog post. It’s also important to occasionally help your Inner Circle with whatever they are working on. 5- Post On Popular Aggregate Sites In the past, when a new post was live on OkDork I occasionally shared it on a few sub-reddits or a community site like GrowthHackers. There was no system and in the busyness of running a blog, there were times when it wasn’t shared at all. To solve this two things happened: I developed an â€Å"Inner Circle† (above) Created a checklist of the top aggregate sites that referred traffic in the past. The checklist helped me see which aggregate sites and sub-reddits had not yet posted the article. Most of the time the Inner Circle took care of sharing it on their favorite sites, but if a site was missing it was easy to remember to add it or reach out to someone I knew was active in that particular community or site. To create your own checklist list out the top sites/groups/sub-reddits where your customers/visitors spend time. 6-   Make Images and Posts Easy to Share As traffic grows on your site, one of the most obvious ways to help it along is to make it easy to share the content on multiple channels. If a visitor has to copy the link, create a new email, and then share it you’ll only have a few people sharing the article. Again does an awesome job at this with its floating social icons on the left of each post and with an image sharing plugin to make sharing images easier. On OkDork I added the Share plugin to so that on each post people can easily share it on the usual channels Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn. The plugin also offers a bunch of other services like Evernote, Amazon Wishlist, Digg, and plain ol’ email. I’m convinced that great long form content gets shares 1) because great content and 2) everyone wants their friends to think they read an indepth article whether they actually read it or not so make sure it’s as easy as possible to share! Pro Tip: Where Is The Best Place To Put Social Media Buttons On Your Blog 7- Repromote Your Old Content Repromoting old content was one of the easiest ways to grow traffic on OkDork. Every two months, we used Google Analytics to find content that hadn’t been visited over a certain threshold in the previous three months. (That threshold should vary depending on your own site.) Then we scheduled each post to reshare it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, etc. over the next three months. The advantage of this is you don’t have to do much work (no creativity required). You can also repromote and schedule content you just posted as well. Here’s a simple graphic from to show you how: Pro Tip: How Promote Your Blog With Social Media (And Double Your Traffic) 8- Quotes In my most popular posts (most shared and organic search), I added quotes throughout. While this had a smaller impact on overall traffic than some of the other methods, it is a more organic way to ask someone to share the post. When you select the best quotes from an article you make it easier to read, share, and re-share. As you repromote old content, you’ll also see an uptick in the number of shares. If you’re not already, you should be using the Plugin to make tweeting selections of your blog post a breeze. SumoMe also offers a highlighter that allows a user to â€Å"† their own selections. It’s a nice complement to the plugin. 9- Send The Highlights Of Each Post In An Email By now the tactics are getting really easy†¦but this is an important one. One of the biggest contributors to traffic came through the email list, but we found a simple way to drive traffic and get a boost in click through rates: making it easier and sexier to click through. Emails announcing a new blog post tend to do one of three things: Mention 1 new post and include a lead paragraph Link out to multiple new posts each with a lead paragraph Include an entire post in the email The first two aren’t terribly convincing- the meat of an article is almost never in the first paragraph! And the third option provides 0 reasons to actually click through and visit the site (meaning no additional traffic). Beginning this past summer, when an OkDork goes out it mentions only 1 new post and breaks out the 3 of the most valuable insights. It’s extremely simple (example below) and doubled click through rate from an average of ~5-6% to ~12-15%. Spend time figuring out what is most valuable to your audience and include those highlights in the email. Pro Tip: 5 Easy Lead Conversion Tips For Your Email Marketing Program 10- Publish on a Regular Schedule The other thing I did was create a calendar that we followed closely to make sure that new posts were going out every week and we didn’t fall behind. If you’re reading this on you already know that publishing regularly is critical to traffic. Not only does it help you be consistent, it creates a healthy expectation within your community and for your readers. A regular schedule made all of the other 9 strategies above doubly effective. In fact, if you’re not publishing regularly or at least with a consistent rhythm many of the tactics above will fall flat or produce few results. Pro Tip: Start A Free Trial Of Now