5 More Sentences Rendered More Concise

5 More Sentences Rendered More Concise 5 More Sentences Rendered More Concise 5 More Sentences Rendered More Concise By Mark Nichol Each of the examples below illustrates a distinct strategy for shortening and simplifying sentences. A discussion and a revision follows each example. 1. You can go ahead and turn off the valve. The phrase â€Å"go ahead and† is a classic example of an extraneous phrase, preceding a verb, likely to turn up in speech when the speaker wishes to avoid seeming too assertive, but it has no place in writing, and the sentence can be further pared down by reducing it to a bare imperative statement with an implied subject: â€Å"Turn off the valve.† 2. If possible, take the rug outside and shake it to dislodge resistant dirt. Similarly, the two-step instruction in this sentence is easily truncated to a more concise direction by omitting the first verb and replacing it with the second one after the latter has been divested of the pronoun that follows it: â€Å"If possible, shake the rug outside to dislodge resistant dirt.† 3. It is not a matter of if such a risk event might occur, but more a matter of when it will occur and the organization’s preparedness to reduce the impact and proliferation of the event. The counterpoint phrases in the sentence are easily combined: â€Å"It is a matter of if, not of when, such a risk event will occur, and of the organization’s preparedness to reduce the impact and proliferation of the event.† 4. The Safe Harbor agreement was the framework used by companies in the United States and the European Union to exchange citizens’ personal data. This mechanism was declared invalid by the European Court of Justice on October 6, 2015. Simply constructed declarative statements are easily combined, usually by one of two methods- either insert one modified sentence into the other as a parenthetical, or, as here, revise both sentences so that one can be tacked onto the other: â€Å"The Safe Harbor agreement, the framework companies in the United States and the European Union used to exchange citizens’ personal data, was declared invalid by the European Court of Justice on October 6, 2015.† (Note, too, the shift from passive to active construction of the verb used. Also, the entire sentence could be rendered more active- and slightly shorter- by replacing the subject as follows: â€Å"On October 6, 2015, the European Court of Justice declared the Safe Harbor agreement, the framework companies in the United States and the European Union use to exchange citizens’ personal data, invalid.†) 5. Phorusrhacids were known as â€Å"terror birds,† and it’s clear why. They were prehistoric carnivorous birds. They were the largest flightless birds to ever walk the plant. They reached a height of up to ten feet. They were natural inhabitants of South America.   This annoyingly inelegant paragraph, written in simple, repetitive sentences as if by a child, is easily rehabilitated by employing the first method described in the previous example- incorporating a couple of the statements into the others: â€Å"Phorusrhacids, natural inhabitants of South America, are informally known as â€Å"terror birds,† and it’s clear why. These prehistoric carnivorous avians, the largest flightless birds to ever walk the plant, stood up to ten feet tall.† Find 5 more examples in this post. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Creative Writing 101Peace of Mind and A Piece of One's MindQuiet or Quite?

The Commonly Confused Verbs Shall and Will

The Commonly Confused Verbs Shall and Will The verbs shall and will both point to the future, but in contemporary  American English, shall is used only rarely. In  British English, shall and will are often used interchangeably with little or no difference of meaning. According to linguist R.L. Trask, traditional rules regarding  shall and will are little more than a fantastic invention. Internationally, will is now the standard choice for expressing future plans and expectations. However, in first-person questions shall is often used to express politeness  (Shall we dance?), and in legal statements, shall is used with a third-person subject for stating requirements (Rent shall be paid  when due,  in accordance with the terms hereof). Examples I signed the lease. Incredible. In the middle of all this fine print, there was the one simple sentence, There shall be no water beds.(John Updike, Gesturing. Playboy, 1980)   Stuttering, Bessie told him  what had happened to her. She showed him the handle of the key she had clutched in her hand all night.Mother of God! he called out.What shall I do? Bessie asked.I will open your door.But you dont have a passkey.(Isaac Bashevis Singer, The Key. The New Yorker, 1970)   [W]hen people come and see me they always say, Shall we meet in the local pub?(Simon Russell Beale, quoted by  Imogen Carter  and  Kathryn Bromwich, What Goes On in the Wings. The Observer [UK], November 20, 2016)   If you do not eat your potatoes, you will be upset, and I will be upset; your father, clearly, is already upset. If you do eat your potatoes, I shall be pleased, you will be pleased, your tummy will be pleased.(William Goldman, The Princess Bride. Harcourt, 1973)   I will go home, Bessie decided. People will not leave me in the streets.(Isaac Bashevis Singer, The Key.  The New Yorker, 1970)   Humans need to find a new  planet within 1,000 years to keep the species alive,  Stephen Hawking said in a talk this week. Hawking, the noted theoretical physicist, said that humans will likely expend the planet’s resources in that time.(Justin Worland, Stephen Hawking Gives Humans a Deadline for Finding a New Planet. Time,  November 17, 2016) Usage Notes [T]heres simply  no reason to hold on to shall. The word is peripheral in American English.(Bryan A, Garner,  Garners Modern English Usage, 4th ed. Oxford University Press, 2016) The Traditional Rules There is a traditional textbook ruling that runs as follows. For simple futurity, you use shall after I or we but will after everything else, while, to express determination or command, you use will after I or we but shall after everything else. By these rules, the required forms are We shall finish tonight (simple statement) versus We will finish tonight (expressing determination), but They will finish tonight (simple statement) versus They shall finish tonight (an order).As grammarians never tire of pointing out, these bizarre rules do not accurately describe the real usage of careful speakers at any time or in any place in the history of English, and they are little more than a fantastic invention. If you are one of the handful of speakers for whom these rules now seem completely natural, then by all means go ahead and follow them. But, if you are not, just forget about them, and use your natural forms.Do not try to use shall if the word does not feel entirely natural, and especia lly dont try to use it merely in the hope of sounding more elegant. Doing so will probably produce something that is acceptable to no one.(R.L. Trask, Say What You Mean! A Troubleshooters Guide to English Style and Usage, David R. Godine, 2005) The Hazy Distinction Between Intention and Futurity [T]he distinction between intention and futurity can be hazy, and grammarians of C17 and C18 devised an odd compromise whereby both shall and will could express one or the other, depending on the grammatical person involved. . . . Research by Fries (1925) into the language of English drama from C17 on showed that this division of labor was artificial even in its own time. These paradigms were however enshrined in textbooks of later centuries and still taught a few decades ago. Their neglect is one of the better consequences of abandoning the teaching of grammar in schools.(Pam Peters, The Cambridge Guide to English Usage, Cambridge University Press, 2004)​ British Uses of Shall and Will British people use I shall/I will and we shall/we will with no difference of meaning in most situations. However, shall is becoming very much less common than will. Shall is not normally used in American English. . . . Shall and will are not only used for giving information about the future. They are also common in offers, promises, orders and similar kinds of interpersonal language use. In these cases, will (or ll) generally expresses willingness, wishes or strong intentions (this is connected with an older use of will to mean wish or want). Shall expresses obligation (like a more direct form of should).(Michael Swan, Practical English Usage, Oxford University Press, 1995)​ Where Shall Survives In colloquial and indeed all spoken English . . . will is fast displacing shall in all cases in which shall was formerly used and in which we are recommended to use it. . . . It survives chiefly in first person questions, where it usefully distinguishes Shall I open the window? (as an offer or proposal) from Will I need a towel? ( will it be necessary). It is useful that the construction ll stands for both shall and will. (Eric Partridge, Usage and Abusage, edited by Janet Whitcut, W.W. Norton, 1995)​ AP Style Use shall to express determination: We shall overcome. You and he shall stay. Either shall or will may be used in first-person constructions that do not emphasize determination: We shall hold a meeting. We will hold a meeting.For second- and third-person constructions, use will unless determination is stressed: You will like it. She will not be pleased.(The Associated Press 2015  Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law, Basic Books, 2015) Practice (a) Lets go into the church, _____ we?(b) If you build it, he _____ come.(c) Martha _____ bring the salad. Answers to Practice Exercises: Shall and Will (a) Lets go into the church, shall we?(b) If you build it, he will come.(c) Martha  will bring the salad. Glossary of Usage: Index of Commonly Confused Words

How to Deal with Abusive Supervisors Research Paper

How to Deal with Abusive Supervisors - Research Paper Example An image of the tyrannical boss is evoked whenever the notion of abusive supervisors is discussed. This boss usually undermines those working under him or reporting to him and publicly ridicules his workers. In most of the studies, abusive supervision means the perception of workers about their supervisor of the extent to which they engage in nonverbal behaviors, verbal abuse and sustained display of hostile actions excluding any physical contact. The extent of abusive supervision is mostly dependent upon the perception of the subordinates. Different subordinates working under the same boss might feel differently about his behavior, some might perceive it as abusive and some might not. The behavior might also be labeled as abusive in different contexts by different workers (Tepper, Consequences of abusive supervision 2000). This behavior can result in the employee enduring the abuse or terminating the relationship or try to modify his supervisor’s behavior. The person being abused may remain in the relationship because he might feel powerless to take any corrective action, or he is dependent financially on the abuser or fears the results of terminating the relationship than the results of abuse. The abusive behavior may also be endured because the supervisor interchanges abusive behavior with normal behavior. Bies have identified manifestations of abusive supervision as loud and angry shouting, public criticism, rudeness, and inconsiderate actions. Not many studies have investigated the effects of abusive supervision on the behavior of employees and the performance of the company. Ashforth found out that abusive supervision resulted in helplessness, frustration, and alienation from work. It was also found by Keashly and his fellows that physical violence like punching, throwing things and threatening with a weapon occurred very rarely in comparison to nonphysical abuse.

The Advantages of teamwork Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Advantages of teamwork - Essay Example According to Hosftede, we get ourselves in life situations where we are dealing with people from diverse cultures and we have to work together for a common course. Hence, one needs to have knowledge of the cultural dimensions as illustrated by Hosftede. They include power, individualism, gender, uncertainty and long term orientation. Teamwork is a better illustration of the famous ancient phrase that says two heads are better than one. Teamwork enables people to share ideas among their team in relation to the shared task. It involves each person giving an idea and participating in decision making of the way forward in doing an activity or in the process of problem solving. Teamwork also saves time. Things get done much faster and efficient. When a group or team is assigned a task or responsibility, it is more likely that it will be done in less time with so many areas covered all at one time. Another merit of teamwork is the ability to account for weak areas. People are diverse; different cultures and each has their strengths and weaknesses that differ a lot. When people come together to do a similar task, it is easier to get solutions through each stage since there are possibilities of having one or two persons who are conversant with an identified area of weakness (McMillan & Reynolds, 2002, p. 23-34). In addition, teamwork is able to break the cultural differences that may present during a task. At workplaces, teamwork improves relationships among the work mates and the management of an organization. These relationships results to teamwork not only in the workplace but also outside work and across cultures (West, 2012, p. 56). In additions, it brings about job satisfaction and morale to engage in even bigger tasks. One thing that is essential for any manager to invest on in business or organization is teamwork. It saves a lot of time and dependency on the

Reverdie Recitation Essay Example for Free

Reverdie Recitation Essay I wanted to recite this poem to my father in father’s day last Sunday and I did it. Before I started memorizing the poem, I wanted to understand it very well. At the beginning, it cost me a little bit to understand the meaning of all those words and the poem in general, but after I read the poem a few times I could finally understand the meaning of the poem and what was the author trying to say. After I understood the poem, I started memorizing it. It cost me a few hours because this is the first time that I am reading books related to English literature, so all those words are phrases are totally new to me. Also, it took me while to memorize the poem because some of the lines had some words that do not make sense when they are written in the same phrase or sentence. After, I memorized all the poem and I understood word by word, I started practicing in front of the mirror and when I had nothing to do, because I really wanted to impress my father by reciting this in poem in his day. When I was reciting this poem, my father was making like a funny face because he did not understand a word of what I was saying. Before I started reciting the poem, I did not tell him that the poem was going to be with old English words, so he was not like prepared for a poem like this one. After, I recited the poem one more time, I tried to explain him the meaning of this poem, but after I explained it to him a few more times he could finally understood it. Also, I talked to him about Chaucer and the tales, so he could have a better idea of the context of the poem. I think that he really understood the poem when I explained to him from when the poem was and who the author was. This type of experience was new to me because this was my first reciting a poem like this. Also, I do not remember when was the last time that I recited a poem in front of my father, so I remembered the good times that I had when I was in high school. In overall, this was a good experience for me because I enjoyed memorizing it, even though it was difficult, but at the end it was worth it because my father liked it very much.

Comparing the View of Satan in Miltons Paradise Lost with Contemporary

Comparing the View of Satan in Milton's Paradise Lost with Contemporary Views of Satan In Milton's classic epic poem Paradise Lost the reader gains a judicious and even controversial vision of Satan as the protagonist of the epic. This is in direct contrast with our current idea and opinion of Satan as the leading nominal of evil and darkness. In Milton's Paradise Lost the Prince of Darkness is our hero. Perhaps not in the true sense of the word, but rather, he is the character that the reader is able to understand. The reader can see the "human" in the fallen angel, Lucifer. Satan and his seemingly righteous battle with God are the focus of the novel. He questions the orders from one who seems to be an overbearing dictator, an oppressive boss, (our Lord and Creator) God, and is, in the ensuing period, removed from Heaven. Satan is not portrayed as the embodiment of evil, but instead as a dauntless rebel. Satan rapidly gains a following of demons and dark angels who are drawn to his dynamic nature and ways. In his new-found home of Hell, Satan and his masses begin, to question what can be done to somehow gain control of Heaven, or at least get back at it. It is at this point that we are exposed to Satan's good qualities. The newly crowned Lord of Hell is given all the qualities of a great leader. Satan is influential, courageous, determined, and intellectual. This characterization further endears Satan to the readers. Satan is the protagonist in this novel, not God. Satan is shown in a positive light at every opportunity while God is shown in, not necessarily a negative light but simply not as a positive position. This role and image reversal is critical in Paradise Lost as Satan can be interpreted in a new fashion. .. ...iafra wrote a song entitled "Holiday in Cambodia", which included the verse: Well you'll work harder with a gun in your back For a bowl of rice a day Slave for soldiers till you starve Then your head is skewered on a stake Now you can go where people are one Now you can go where they get things done What you need, my son? Is a holiday in Cambodia Where you'll do what you're told A holiday in Cambodia Where the slum's got so much soul. Bibliography: Berdeja, Cesar. "Francis Ford Coppola's Interpretation of Dracula as a Love Story" April 9, 2002 Biafra, Jello. "Holiday in Cambodia" Give me convenience OR give me death. LP. Alternative Tentacles Records, 1986. Milton, John. Paradise Lost. New York, NY: Penguin Putnam Inc., 1968 "Pol Pot." April 9, 2002 Rodgers, Blake. "Satan and Colonization" April 8, 2002

Accutane associated Depression

Acne vulgaris or acne as it is commonly known, is a common skin disease mostly found in adolescent teenagers above the age of 14 and at times it may extend through to adulthood.According to the Dermatological disease database, acne develops as a result of secretions of the skin sebaceous glands and blockage of skin follicles which leads to eruption of pimples, blackheads and scars on the skin1.   It is not caused by eating certain foods such as chocolate, French fries or pizza as commonly believed.It has been reported by the British Dermatology Journal that, although not much data on acne's epidemiology is available, it has been discovered that about 40 to 85% of teenagers are or have already been affected by this disorder, making it the most common skin disease.For instance in America, every one out of three teenagers is or has had this disorder and the disease prevalence is not dependent on the race, sex, skin color or ethnicity.This disease occurs earlier in females than in male s a fact which can be attributed to the earlier onset of puberty and maturity in females than in males2.   On the contrary, the severity of this disease is more in males than in females especially when it occurs during the late teenage years due to androgen hormonal influences.In adulthood, acne is more prevalent in females than in males.   Some studies have further indicated that the prevalence of acne can be seasonal especially in women where it occurs just before the onset of their menstrual periods.More over, acne has been found to be more severe during the cold seasons than in the warmer weather conditions although these findings are not yet proven.   Some epidemiological data released by the Dermatological department of Munich University suggests that there is a close relationship between smoking and acne prevalence although still, this has not been confirmed3.Background Information.The history of acne disease dates back to ancient days and its origin is believed to be s omewhere in ancient Greece where people infected by this disease were treated using hot water baths mixed with sulfur4.   This method of acne treatment was used all through the 19th century till early 20th century when Benzoyl peroxide treatment was discovered.In 1950s, the use of antibiotics to treat the disease was invented especially tetracyclines although such antibiotics are no longer effective due to resistance of the disease causing germs.   More powerful antibiotics such as Retin-A were later discovered in 1960s and the disease control became much easier.   Such antibiotics are still in use especially in the U. S5.In 1980, the famous Accutane anti-acne drug was invented and this drug although controversial, it is very effective and is still in use today.   The year 1990 saw the emergence of Laser therapy which not only treats the disease but it clears the scars as well.   This treatment is quite expensive although it is very fast and effective.In 2000, the blue/red therapy was invented and this combined with the laser therapy invented earlier, led to more improved methods of acne treatment6.   This evolution shows how acne treatment has evolved with time, making the disease more manageable and easily treatable4.Acne prevalence has been on the decline in the past few years mainly due to increased knowledge on the disease, improved methods of prevention and treatment and better management of the disorder7.

Creon’s tragic Downfall Essay

Creon is the tragic hero of the play, Antigone, by Sophocles, and suffers the greatest downfall. It all begins when he maes his public announcment as the new king. He states his message loud and clearly to everyone, that if anyone feels the need to bury the body od Polyneices, they will be going against the law and will be sentenced to death. In this powerful speech, he shows the need for control and order in the way he plans to rule. At the same time, he is showing arrogance in the way he insures all of his choices in judgement are correct. Creon is told that someone has gone against his words and burried the body of Polyneices; he becomes outraged and orders the sentry to find him and turn him over at once. The sentry watches as he sees Antigone come out to bury her brother’s body for a second time. He catches her and she is presented to Creon. Creon questions her, and she does not deny what she has done. He orders her to death. She tells him her reasons for her actions, but they are completely ignored by Creon. Antigone is going to be taken toa vault and left to die. Creon, being stubborn, won’t even listen to the pleas and threats of his own son, but when Teiresias enters, he listens to what will happen if he does not change his decisions. So he takes a drastic turn. He pushed all of his arrogance aside, along with his stobbornness and he asks for help, â€Å"what shall I do?† At this moment he becomes weak in front of his people. Creon the king, asking for help? He is suppose to know it all! He is then told to go quickly and free Antigone from her vault and build a tomb for the body of Polynieces. Creon is ordered to do exactly what he stated was against the law, but in order to save himself, he follows everything that he is told. Immediately he performs a burial for Polynieces and digs out Antigone’s vault, in hopes of saving himself from the proce of paying flesh for flesh. Asking for help is not an easy thing to do, especially when you’re so head strong like Creon, but asking for help in a situation where you know you need it shows incredible courage. If only Creon had done it a little bit  earlier. After doing everything he could to change his stubborn choices, he fails. Mourning over what destruction he had caused, the deaths of his wife, son, and Antigone are his entire fault. He has tragicallu ruined himself, and now instead of dying,je os fprced to live in shame and in great pain in front of the people he ruled for his short time as king.

What Is a Pell Grant

What Is a Pell Grant SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips You might have heard about the federal Pell Grant and have some idea that it helps you pay for college. But you might not know the details, like how much you can get, whether you qualify, and how to apply. If you're looking for information financial aid, you should definitely learn about the Pell Grant. This annual award is given by the federal government to students who need help paying for college - if you meet all eligibility criteria, you're guaranteed to receive the money. Sounds like a great deal! In this guide,we'll cover the basic info about what a Pell Grant is, including: The history of the Pell Grant Award amounts What you can use Pell Grant money for Eligibility requirements Calculating your estimated award amount How to apply for a Pell Grant We'll explain each of these in more detail in separate guides that we'll link to, but this will give you a great overview of how Pell Grants work. History of the Pell Grant It wasn't always possible to get federal financial aid;there weren't many options for students who needed help paying for school outside of scholarships and private loans. This didn't present much of a problem for students who came from wealthier families, but the cost of higher education tended to prevent low- and middle-income students from attending college. During Lyndon B. Johnson's presidency, Congress passed the Higher Education Act of 1965, or the HEA. The HEA program provided federally-funded financial aid, in the form of grants and loans, to students who needed help paying for college or vocational school. Politicians reasoned that oneway to ensure better educational opportunities forcitizens was to mitigate financial burdens; why should motivated students be prevented from pursuing an education, if the only thing holding them back was cost? In 1972, Senator Claiborne Pell worked to expand and reform the HEA.Eligibility requirements for federal grants (formerly called Basic Educational Opportunity grants) were made more inclusive in 1978, and were renamed in honor of Senator Pell. Pell Grants have become an important financial aid foundation for many students across the US. The first year that grants were awarded, there were 176,000 recipients; for the 2013-2014 academic year, over 8.5 million students received almost 23 BILLIONdollars in Pell Grant money, with an average award amount of about $3,600! You could be one of those 8.5 million, and the Pell Grant amount will surely help you pay for college. Claiborne Pell, federal aid champion Pell Grant Award Amounts The amount of grant money students receive is based on a few different factors (which we'll touch on in a minute). For the 2015-2016 academic year, the maximum Pell Grant award is $5,775; the amount you'll receive if you're eligible will depend on financial need, and may be less than that. You can learn more about Pell Grant minimum/maximum awards here. What Does the Pell Grant Pay For? Because the Pell Grant is meant specifically to help students pay for school, it can only be used for school-related expenses (this does not come as a surprise, I'm sure). These expenses can include tuition, room, board, and school fees, but they can also include textbooks, supplies, transportation, and even food. Yes, the federal government could potentially fund late-night study fuel in the form of greasy pizza and/or energy drinks. Video games, not so much. You may not have to worry about managing your Pell Grant money, though. Oftentimes, it will go directly to your school, and will be applied to appropriate charges - most likely the big ones like tuition, room, and board expenses. You can get more information about Pell Grant limits here. As exciting as it may be to pay for your own textbooks, wouldn't it be great if you didn't have to? Eligibility Requirements Because the Pell Grant is a form of federal aid, you need to meet all federal requirements in order to be eligible to receive the grant. Basically, you need to have a high school diploma or GED, be a citizen or US national, and be enrolled (or accepted) in an eligible school. You can read more about the specifics of Pell eligibility requirements here. The Pell Grant is meant primarilyfor low-income students who don't already have a post-secondary degree (so, a bachelor's or vocational degree). Financial need is calculated by generating something called an Expected Family Contribution, or EFC; to receive the Pell for the 2015-2016 academic year, your EFC needs to be at or below $5081.Don't know what an EFC is? Don't worry - it's all explained in the next section. How to Calculate Your Estimated Award Amount It's possible to calculate how much Pell Grant money you're likely to receive before you even apply for federal aid. All you need is your family's financial information - you can get this from recent tax returns - in addition to information about your household size, family assets, and number of other family members in college. Go to this link, click onFAFSA4caster, and follow the prompts. The output will include Pell Grant estimates, in addition to other federal aid program estimates. Get more information about calculating your award by checking out our Pell Grant Calculator guide. Analyzing family finances can seem overwhelming, but I promise that calculating financial aid eligibility isn't this complicated. How to Apply for a Pell Grant There's no specific or dedicated application for the Pell Grant; you're automatically considered when you submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.The FAFSA is totally free to submit (as you may have guessed). Even if you don't think you'll receive Pell Grant money, you have nothing to lose by submitting a FAFSA. You can submit a FAFSA online here, or you can get a paper application from your school's guidance office. The application shouldn't take more than a few hours, but preparing to fill out the application (for example, gathering all the necessary paperwork and setting a timeline) can be confusing without a game plan. Get step-by-step instructions for submitting your FAFSA here What's Next? There are other opportunities to get help paying for school outside of federal financial aid. Did you know that you can receive scholarships based on your SAT scores? Learn more about getting top test scores here. Merit-based scholarships can also close the gap between what you owe and what you need. Doing well in school can get you access to those scholarships. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Biography of Vlad the Impaler, Inspiration for Dracula

Biography of Vlad the Impaler, Inspiration for Dracula Vlad III (between 1428 and 1431–between December 1476 and January 1477) was a 15th-century ruler of Wallachia, an east European principality within modern Romania. Vlad became infamous for his brutal punishments, such as impalement, but also renowned by some for his attempt to fight the Muslim Ottomans, even though Vlad was only largely successful against Christian forces. He ruled on three occasions- 1448, 1456 to 1462, and 1476- and experienced new fame in the modern era thanks to links to the novel Dracula. Fast Facts: Vlad III Known For: East European 15th-century rule who was the inspiration for DraculaAlso Known As: Vlad the Impaler,  Vlad III Dracula, Vlad Tepes, Dracuglia, DrakulaBorn: Between 1428 and 1431Parents: Mircea I of Wallachia, Eupraxia of MoldaviaDied: Between December 1476 and January 1477Spouse(s): Unknown first wife, Jusztina SzilgyiChildren: Mihnea, Vlad  Drakwlya Early Years Vlad was born between 1428 and 1431 into the family of Vlad II Dracul. This nobleman had been allowed into the crusading Order of the Dragon (Dracul) by its creator, the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund, to encourage him to defend both Christian east Europe and Sigismund’s lands from encroaching Ottoman forces and other threats. The Ottomans were expanding into eastern and central Europe, bringing with them a rival religion to that of the Catholic and Orthodox Christians who had previously dominated the region. However, the religious conflict can be overstated, as there was an old-fashioned secular power struggle between the Kingdom of Hungary and the Ottomans over both Wallachia- a relatively new state- and its leaders. Although Sigismund had turned to a rival of Vlad II’s soon after initially supporting him, he came back to Vlad and in 1436 Vlad II became voivode, a form of prince, of Wallachia. However, Vlad II then broke with the Emperor and joined the Ottomans in order to try to balance the rival powers swirling around his country. Vlad II then joined the Ottomans in attacking Transylvania, before Hungary tried to reconcile. Everyone grew suspicious, and Vlad was briefly ousted and imprisoned by the Ottomans. However, he was soon released and reconquered the country. The future Vlad III was sent along with Radu, his younger brother, to the Ottoman court as a hostage to ensure that his father stayed true to his word. He didn’t, and as Vlad II vacillated between Hungary and the Ottomans, the two sons survived simply as diplomatic collateral. Perhaps crucially for Vlad III’s upbringing, he was able to experience, understand, and immerse himself into Ottoman culture. Struggle to be Voivode Vlad II and his eldest son were killed by rebel boyars- Wallachian noblemen- in 1447, and a new rival called Vladislav II was put on the throne by the pro-Hungarian governor of Transylvania, called Hunyadi. At some point, Vlad III and Radu were freed, and Vlad returned to the principality to begin a campaign aimed at inheriting his father’s position as voivode, which led to conflict with boyars, his younger brother, the Ottomans, and others. Wallachia had no clear system of inheritance to the throne. Instead, the previous incumbent’s children could equally claim it, and one of them was usually elected by a council of boyars. In practice, outside forces (mainly the Ottomans and Hungarians) could militarily support friendly claimants to the throne. Factional Conflict What followed were 29 separate reigns of 11 separate rulers, from 1418 to 1476, including Vlad III thrice. It was from this chaos, and a patchwork of local boyar factions, that Vlad sought first the throne, and then to establish a strong state through both bold actions and outright terror. There was a temporary victory in 1448  when Vlad took advantage of a recently defeated anti-Ottoman crusade and its capture of Hunyadi to seize the throne of Wallachia with Ottoman support. However, Vladislav II soon returned from crusade and forced Vlad out. It took nearly another decade for Vlad to seize the throne as Vlad III in 1456. There is little information on what exactly happened during this period, but Vlad went from the Ottomans to Moldova, to a peace with Hunyadi, to Transylvania, back and forth between these three, falling out with Hunyadi, renewed support from him, military employment, and in 1456, an invasion of Wallachia- in which Vladislav II was defeated and killed. At the same time Hunyadi, coincidentally, died. Ruler of Wallachia Established as voivode, Vlad now faced the problems of his predecessors: how to balance Hungary and the Ottomans  and keep himself independent. Vlad began to rule in a bloody manner designed to strike fear into the hearts of opponents and allies alike. He ordered people to be impaled on stakes, and his atrocities were inflicted on anyone who upset him, no matter where they came from. However, his rule has been misinterpreted. During the communist era in Romania, historians outlined a vision of Vlad as a socialist hero, focused largely around the idea that Vlad attacked the excesses of the boyar aristocracy, thus benefiting the ordinary peasants. Vlad’s ejection from the throne in 1462 has been attributed to boyars seeking to protect their privileges. Some chronicles record that Vlad bloodily carved his way through the Boyars to strengthen and centralize his power, adding to his other, and horrific, reputation. However, while Vlad did slowly increase his power over disloyal boyars, this is now believed to have been a gradual attempt to try and solidify a fictionalized state beset by rivals, and neither a sudden orgy of violence- as some of the stories claim- or the actions of a proto-communist. The existing powers of the boyars were left alone, as just the favorites and enemies who changed position. This took place over several years, rather than in one brutal session. Vlad the Impaler’s Wars Vlad attempted to restore the balance of Hungarian and Ottoman interests in Wallachia  and swiftly came to terms with both. However, he was soon assailed by plots from Hungary, who changed their support to a rival voivode. War resulted, during which Vlad supported a Moldovan noble who would both later fight him and earn the epithet Stephen the Great. The situation between Wallachia, Hungary, and Transylvania fluctuated for several years, going from peace to conflict, and Vlad tried to keep his lands and throne intact. Around 1460 or 1461, having secured independence from Hungary, regained land from Transylvania, and defeated his rival rulers, Vlad broke off relations with the  Ottoman Empire, ceased paying his yearly tribute, and prepared for war. The Christian parts of Europe were moving toward a crusade against the Ottomans. Vlad may have been fulfilling a  long-term  plan for independence, falsely buoyed by his success against his Christian rivals, or planning an opportunistic attack while the sultan was east. The war with the Ottomans began in the winter of  1461-1462  when Vlad attacked  neighboring  strongholds and plundered into Ottoman lands. The response was the sultan invading with his army in 1462, aiming to install Vlad’s brother Radu on the throne. Radu had lived in the Empire for a long time and was pre-disposed to the Ottomans; they did not plan on establishing direct rule over the region. Vlad was forced back, but not before a daring night raid to try to kill the sultan himself. Vlad terrified the Ottomans with a field of impaled people, but Vlad was defeated and Radu took the throne. Expulsion from Wallachia Vlad did not, as some of the pro-communist and pro-Vlad historians have claimed, defeat the Ottomans and then fall to a revolt of rebel boyars.  Instead,  some of Vlad’s followers fled to the Ottomans to ingratiate themselves to Radu when it became apparent that Vlad’s army could not defeat the invaders. Hungary’s forces arrived too late to aid  Vlad- if they had ever  intended to help him- and  instead  arrested him, transferred him to Hungary, and locked him up. Final Rule and Death After years of  imprisonment,  Vlad was released by Hungary in 1474 or 1475 to seize back the Wallachian throne and fight against a forthcoming invasion by the Ottomans, on the condition he converted to Catholicism and away from Orthodoxy. After fighting for the Moldavians, he regained his throne in  1476  but was killed shortly after in a battle with the Ottoman claimant to Wallachia. Legacy and Dracula Many leaders have come and gone, but Vlad remains a well-known figure in European history. In some parts of Eastern Europe he is a hero for his role in fighting the Ottomans- although he fought Christians just as much, and more successfully- whereas in much of the rest of the world he is infamous for his brutal punishments, a byword for cruelty, and bloodthirstiness. Verbal attacks on Vlad were spreading while he was still very much alive, partly to justify his imprisonment and partly as a result of human interest in his brutality. Vlad lived at a time when print was emerging, and Vlad became one of the first horror figures in printed literature. Much of his recent fame has to do with the use of Vlad’s sobriquet Dracula. This literally means Son of Dracul and is a reference to his father’s entry into the Order of the Dragon, Draco then meaning Dragon. But when British author ​Bram Stoker named his vampire character Dracula, Vlad entered a whole new world of popular notoriety. Meanwhile, the Roman language developed and dracul came to mean devil. Vlad was not, as is sometimes assumed, named after this. Sources Lallanilla, Marc. â€Å"Vlad the Impaler: The Real Dracula Was Absolutely Vicious.†Ã‚  NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 31 Oct. 2013.â€Å"10 Fascinating Facts About The Real Dracula.†Ã‚  Listverse, 11 Oct. 2014.Webley, Kayla. â€Å"Top 10 Royals Who Would Have Been Terrible on Facebook.†Ã‚  Time, Time Inc., 9 Nov. 2010.

Education in Britain 1979 to Present Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Education in Britain 1979 to Present - Essay Example The period from 1979-1997 can be referred as neo-liberalism era as it was characterised by marketisation especially of public services. According to Gillard (2011) it was also a period of social and economic restructuring whereby Thatcher applied her unpopular aggressive policies earning her the title of ‘iron lady’. Prior to conservative government taking over office tremendous changes had been made in the education sector especially resulting from the 1944 Education Act. This Act saw the introduction of free and compulsory education to pupils aged 5-16 and also the famous selection tests known as 11+ (Jones, 2003: 25). The schools were put on Local Education Authorities who were involved in funding and management of schools. Parents, in this case, did not have much choice as to what schools their pupils should attend. Although the Act was aimed at creating equal opportunities for students’ social class differences were still apparent as students from the middle class attended good schools while those from poor backgrounds ended up in technical schools. It was a three tier system comprising of grammar schools, technical school, and secondary modern. Exclusion thus persisted. While in office, the secretary for education James Callaghan had instituted a youth opportunity program for 16-18-year-olds in 1978 after a great debate on the nature and purpose of education. When Thatcher came into office she did not abolish the system but rather expanded it in 1980 and renamed in 1983 to be the Youth Training Scheme. However, the debate in her time was one sided ads she did nit involve other actors such as parents, teachers and governors. In 1980 she also started the Assisted Places Scheme to help those poor students who passed entrance exams to get free places (Chitty, 2004: 45; Gillard, 2011). The first agenda for Thatcher concerning education was to do away with the 11 plus selection exam but her efforts were thwarted since comprehensive schooling still enjoyed great popularity (Richmond, 2007). The curriculum in place is determined by the government of the day hence prone to a lot of changes. The selection exam was

BUS303 MODULE 4 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

BUS303 MODULE 4 - Coursework Example straight forward, and does not give a good idea of the historical background and reason of introducing STP and what role it has played in company’s growth and achievements. In addition to this, point of educating employees about customer relation is not justified properly as customers vary with each other and it is not possible to learn to deal with all of them, just by attending a program. It requires experience and meeting and talking with customers practically. Another thing that can be criticized is the audience which is addressed in the presentation. It is largely focused on the impact and benefits of STP on general employees of the company. Its overall impact on the company and performances of managers and executives are not dealt in detail. If STP is eliminated, than managing strategy and tactics will be changed, which can bring either good or bad results to the sales and reputation of the company. This futuristic aspect of eliminating STP was left untouched. Using examples of companies and organizations, to portray the importance of such trainings, could have made the presentation more lively and captivating. It would have also helped in magnifying the need of sales training programs in a sport goods company. Moreover, the argument that it will push employees from being customer oriented to sales oriented cannot be justified as these programs are also focused on increasing company sales and thinking solutions which can earn more profit for the company. Recommendations of using less company resources in conducting such programs and implementing the technology of online learning to educate new hires about company’s structure and objective could have been included in the presentation. Baldwin, D. (2012). Creating an Environment for Innovation. Retrieved December 26, 2012, from Centre for Simplified Strategic Planning: http://www.cssp.com/CD0902/CreatingInnovativeEnvironment/default.php National Sales Center. (2011). The Overlooked Benefits Of Sales