Friday, August 21, 2020

Mining group gold: How to cash in on the collaborative brain power of a team for innovation and results Essay

Mining Group Gold Presentation  â â â â â â â â â â To be a synergistic pioneer, there are essential practices that one needs to comprehend. It expects one to be acceptable at building synergistic associations. Also, this requests help of cooperation inside individual gathering and across work gatherings, boards of trustees, critical thinking groups and in teams. Contemplating bunch gold mining empowers one to figure out how to be progressively cultivated in the field of facilitative authority, whereby one leads from the focal point of the group as opposed to from the highest point of individual pyramid (kayser, 2011). This helps with procuring significant assistance systems and aptitudes essential in conveying an individual group higher than ever in the quest for creative reasoning. This exposition will talk about the five essential strides for digging bunch gold for the group meeting the board while sketching out the means for managing feelings. What's more, the paper will clarify and portray how mi ning bunch gold procedure will improve collaboration strengthening and compelling correspondence.  â â â â â â â â â â The gathering meeting establishment is an away from of its motivation, and the ideal result. The motivation behind the meeting is the motivation behind why the gathering has been called and it ought to be unmistakably composed. Then again, wanted results which may likewise be called objectives are explicit explanation recognizing what is to be in the hour of the meeting during the time spent in the meeting. In this way, when individuals leave a meeting, they will know explicitly what was finished, and what wasn’t .The ideal result gives a depiction of the meeting being led, give center during the meeting and make normal desires for all the members. Likewise, they give a benchmark against which the results can be contrasted with increase a feeling of the session’s efficiency. A group without an ideal result will fall flat. Confounded and baffled gathering individuals might be tangled in unlimited contentions over each motivation behind t he gathering. Besides, a group’s reason and the ideal result helps a gathering refocuses when fundamental.  â â â â â â â â â â A facilitator enables a gathering to liberated from interior deterrents or challenges with the goal that it might adequately seek after the accomplishment of the ideal results of the gathering. Assistance happens whenever a gathering part acts in a way that makes the gathering advance towards creating or refining a structure, making certain data and information are shared and disposing of any inside blockages frustrating the achievement of the ideal result of the meeting. Albeit just a single individual is delegated to be the facilitator, the various colleagues are assigned to be auxiliary facilitators. The recorder and the time attendant additionally go about as help for the facilitator also. The time attendant does this by precisely considering the time taken for every plan and alarming the facilitator when the gathering is utilizing pretty much that he dispensed time the scriber helps the gathering, not just by making exact notes of the gathering meeting, yet additionally by posting whatever activity things may have been distinguished.  â â â â â â â â â â For the chief or the group head, going about as the essential facilitator, having the option to manage sentiments is the absolute most basic help expertise to be sharpened. Feeling is data that should be prepared and an essential facilitator should manage that procedure utilizing the accompanying grouping: sentiments, realities and feelings. (Kayser, 2011) To start with, when a gathering is in the sentiments stage, it is inconsequential to overlook them.to handle this stage, emotions must be recognized as genuine and acknowledged. Whenever in this stage, the essential facilitator urges people to communicate their feelings in a sorted out manner. Furthermore, the essential facilitator is in a situation to enable the gathering to create and utilize actuality and to distinguish and break down the issue. The gathering should the realities in a less passionate manner. When the realities have been distinguished, the gathering is presently prepared to produ ce the potential arrangements.  â â â â â â â â â â The mining gold gathering will help improve collaboration by welcoming everybody to take an interest in the gathering and during customary work assignments. For example anybody can encourage the gathering and everybody has their own duties. The procedure can help engage individuals since the pioneer tends to the gathering around as opposed to in a pyramid where it is difficult to contact him. The recorder and the time guardian are likewise engaged in a gathering. Representatives cooperate consequently it fortifies their relationship with one another and with the leader.in a gold mine gathering, anybody can voice their sentiment and what they feel about a circumstance like fresh recruits, cutback and cutoff times. This improves communication.in expansion, they have a strategy where part are to each imparting to one another and not at one another conversing with one another and not at one another. This empowers individuals to hear each out other.  â â â â â â â â â â To summarize, bunches are the existence blood of associations. Plunking down with gathering of individuals is regularly the correct method to process the data and accomplish objectives. Gatherings are better since they can think in greater verity and they can process more information. Shockingly in some cases the targets are not understood (kayser, 2011). Then again, the gathering may understand its maximum capacity and produce a better yield which energizes individuals than be focused on it and they feel happy with it. In this manner mining bunch gold is an exceptionally incredible strategy. References Kayser, T. A. (2011). Building group power: How to release the community oriented virtuoso of groups for expanded commitment, profitability, and results. New York: McGraw-Hill. Kayser, T. A. (2011). Mining bunch gold: How to take advantage of the collective mental ability of a group for development and results. New York: McGraw-Hill Source report

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Book Review Barrons Writing for the TOEFL iBT, 6th ed.

Book Review Barrons Writing for the TOEFL iBT, 6th ed. My Grade for Writing for the TOEFL iBT: FI love the idea of a full-length TOEFL writing textbook, so I must acknowledge the effort that Barrons and author Lin Lougheed put into this book. Sadly, Writing for the TOEFL is a terrible book.Like the team from Kaplan, the folks at Barrons seem incapable of writing proper integrated writing questions. This book contains page after page after page of terrible integrated writing practice questions. The questions in the model tests at the back of the book are bad as well.It shouldnt be hard for authors to realize that the integrated writing question always includes an article with four paragraphs, paired with a lecture that when transcribed contains four matching paragraphs, each of which casts doubt on a specific point from the reading. Likewise, it shouldnt be too hard to notice that the specific counterpoints from the lecture are presented in the same order as the reading points. Just sitting for the TOEFL a few dozen times will teach them that.I just dont know how major publishers mess this up, since they can afford to let their authors take the test as many times as they want. Barrons has been publishing this book for 17 years, and they still havent figured it out. The integrated writing questions all have articles that consist of four paragraphs and three points. Frustratingly, though, the matching lectures often dont include specific counterpoints, and they arent broken down into a four paragraph structure.The lectures here are merely descriptive. Most of the time they describe the topic at hand, without challenging the specific points made in the reading. This is similar to the flawed practice test contained in the Official Guide, which the author of this text might have leaned too heavily on.For instance, Model Test 4 (page 169) presents three details related to the bubonic plague of the 1300s. They are: (i) it was transmitted starting in China, (ii) Italian ships spread it to Europe, and (iii) social order brok e down because of it. The lecturer (page 309), though, spends about 2/3 of his time talking about how ancient Egyptians also suffered from plague, before talking about how people in the modern world also suffer from plague. The matching point/counterpoint style of the real TOEFL is completely missing.The other error that experienced teachers will notice is that the article in this case lacks an overall argument. It merely describes the plague. A proper question would make some argument about the plague. For instance, the introduction would establish that the main argument is that the plague started in China. Each body paragraph, then, would present one piece of evidence in favor of this. The matching lecture would suggest that the plague did not start in China, and would challenge each of the authors points in turn.Model test 2 (page 169) is pretty much the same. It lacks an argument, and presents three details about animal intelligence. The lecturer babbles on about mirrors for the full three minutes.Model test 1 (page 167) also lacks an overall argument. Dealing with the effects of technology on learning, body paragraphs 1 and 3 suggest that it is beneficial, while body paragraph 2 suggests that it is not helping. The lecture, meanwhile, presents one story of success and one story of failure.It must be said that model test 3 (page 171) is almost a perfect TOEFL integrated writing question. It does everything right it presents a clear argument that Shakespeare did not write his famous plays, while the lecturer challenges each of these in turn. Evidently Barrons is capable of coming up with proper questions, but are unaware of the fact that this structure is used every time the test is offered.As far as the independent writing question goes, Barrons has again leaned too heavily on the Official Guide. Indeed, theyve pretty much reproduced the entire list of sample independent questions from that guide. As Ive noted in an earlier post, though, that list has pro blems. This does lead to the books single strong point a whopping 144 sample essays at the back of the book which answer these questions. These essays may be responding to slightly faulty questions and they dont really utilize the structure I prefer, but they are a wonderful source of ideas and inspiration for students who might be struggling to come up with content on test day. With a proper warning from a teacher to ignore the rest of the book this could be a helpful resource for students.That said, this highlight isnt enough to save this faulty book. I cant really recommend it.

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Literary Devices In The Golden Speech - 1110 Words

â€Å"The Golden Speech† was given by Queen Elizabeth I of England in 1601 to the Members of the Commons and the Speaker in the Palace Council Chamber. It was initially supposed to be addressing economic concerns. Queen Elizabeth I converted England back to Protestant after she gained the throne from her half-sister, Mary I. This caused hostility between Spain, which was a Roman Catholic country and England. Queen Elizabeth started to put most of her efforts into raising funds which would prepare England for when the Spanish Army came. One of her efforts was to revoke monopolies from forming in order to save money to be able to defeat the Spanish. This was supposed to be the point of â€Å"The Golden Speech† but it turned into her farewell speech†¦show more content†¦She tried to make the people feel as if they were equal rather than the people being inferior to her, even though they were. Queen Elizabeth I seemed to be a humble leader by saying, â€Å"For it is not my desire to live nor reign longer than my life and reign shall be for your good. And though you have had, and may have, many princes more mighty and wise sitting in this seat, yet you never had nor shall have, any that will be more careful and loving† (Greenblatt 766). Queen Elizabeth’s reasoning for using sprezzatura may have been because she was the second female monarch of the Tudor dynasty and she wanted to win over the people trust and respect so they would not revolt against her wishes. She used her maternal love and feminine instinct to make the people believe she was all for them. In the days after her speech was made, the royal printer, Robert Baker, released the official copy of the Queens speech. It is thought to be a summary of the original speech. â€Å"HER MAJESTIES† is the largest words on the page which id opposite to the word â€Å"monopolies† signifying that the monopolies were of least importance. This copy was also a folded quar to with very thin paper which indicate that is was a book that was on the pricier side. This copy also has a woodcut picture at the top of the first page and two pictures on the second page. This along with the vast amount of white space also signifiesShow MoreRelatedHow Do the Literary Devices Construct Meaning in ‚Äà ºthe Visit‚Äà ¹?1003 Words   |  5 PagesHow do the Literary Devices construct meaning in â€Å"The Visit†? The book â€Å"The Visit† is a play which is composed by literary devices. All of the messages and ideas that this play contains are expressed through literary devices, thus giving life to the major themes. Literary devices give meaning to â€Å"The Visit† because they construct the main theme, which is money can corrupt anything. To begin, there are many literary devices in â€Å"The Visit†, and they are continuously used with the purposeRead MoreThe Silver Age Of Latin Literature898 Words   |  4 Pages18-133. The Silver age has been generally criticized as being inferior to the Golden Age which had produced many writers of distinction, many of them men of action such as Julius Caesar and statesmen and orators such as Cicero who was able to express abstract thought with clarity. The golden Age gave rise to the idea that an author should not try to say new things but to say old things better, with rhetorical thoughts and speech being mastered until they had become instinctive. The Silver Age saw theRead MoreCanterbury Tales Character Analysis997 Words   |  4 Pagesof the common people (Morrison). 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Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Secret Circle The Power Chapter Nine Free Essays

Cassie’s piece of amethyst was quite large. It was a pendant, hanging from the claws of a silver owl with outspread wings, and it felt cool against Cassie’s chest under her blue and white sweater. She checked in Diana’s mirror to make sure it didn’t make a bump and then touched it nervously. We will write a custom essay sample on The Secret Circle: The Power Chapter Nine or any similar topic only for you Order Now Cassie had had three stones so far: the chalcedony rose Adam had given her, the quartz necklace Melanie had put around her neck at the Homecoming dance, and the piece of hematite she’d found at Number Thirteen. She hadn’t kept any of them long. The chalcedony she’d had to give back to Adam, the quartz had been lost that same night at the burying .ground, and the hematite had been stolen. She just hoped nothing was going to happen to this amethyst. Clouds had gathered in the night, and the sky was steely-gray as Diana drove them to school that morning. And school these days was about as bleak as the weather. Hall monitors, wearing badges and wintry expressions, stood in every corridor waiting for someone to break the rules. Which usually didn’t take very long; there were so many rules that it was impossible not to break one or two just by being alive. â€Å"We almost got sent up for wearing a noisemakin’ device,† Chris said as they were walking down the hall at lunchtime. Cassie tensed. â€Å"What did you do?† â€Å"Bribed him,† Doug said with a wicked grin. â€Å"We gave him a Walkman.† â€Å"My Walkman,† Chris said, aggrieved. â€Å"I wonder what the penalty for bribing a hall monitor is?† Laurel mused as they reached the cafeteria. Cassie opened her mouth, but the words froze on her lips. Through the glass windows of the cafeteria she could see something that wiped all thought from her mind. â€Å"Oh God,† said Laurel. â€Å"I don’t believe it,† Diana whispered. â€Å"I do,† Adam said. In the very center of the cafeteria was a wooden structure that Cassie recognized from her history books. It was made in two parts, which when closed held a person’s wrists and neck securely in place, protruding through holes from the other side. The stocks. And they were occupied. There was a guy inside them, a big husky guy Cassie recognized from her algebra class. He’d danced with her at Homecoming, and he’d been overly familiar with his hands. He liked to talk back to teachers, too. But she’d never seen him do anything deserving of this. â€Å"He won’t get away with it,† Diana was saying, her green eyes blazing with intensity. â€Å"Who, the principal?† Deborah asked. She and Suzan and Nick were standing by the cafeteria door, waiting for the others. â€Å"He already has. He was taking some parents on a guided tour a few minutes ago and they came through here †¦ he showed it to them, for God’s sake. Said it was part of a ‘tough love’ program. Said other schools made troublemakers stand on tables so everybody could look at them, but that he thought the stocks were more humane because you could sit down. He almost made it sound reasonable. And they were just nodding and smiling – they ate it up.† Cassie felt queasy. She was thinking of the Witch Dungeon at Salem, where she and Chris and Doug had scuttled through narrow corridors lined with tiny dark cells. The stocks gave her the same sick feeling in her stomach. How can people do this to other people? she thought. † – passing it off as part of our heritage,† Nick was saying, his lip curled in disgust, and Cassie knew he felt the same way. â€Å"Can we talk about it while we eat?† Suzan asked, shifting from one foot to the other. â€Å"I’m starving.† But as they made their way toward the back room – the private domain of the Club for the last four years – a short figure with rusty hair stepped in front of them. â€Å"Sorry,† Sally Waltman smirked. â€Å"That room is for hall monitors only, now.† â€Å"Oh, yeah?† said Deborah. Two guys with badges appeared from nowhere and stood on either side of Sally. â€Å"Yeah,† one of them said. Cassie looked through the glass windows of the back room – there was no crowd of hangers-on standing in front of it today – and saw Portia’s tawny head. She was surrounded by girls and guys who were looking at her admiringly. They all wore badges. â€Å"You’ll just have to sit somewhere else,† Sally was telling the Club. â€Å"And since there aren’t enough seats at any one table, you’ll have to break your group up. What a shame.† â€Å"We’ll go outside,† Nick said shortly, taking Cassie’s arm. Sally laughed. â€Å"I don’t think so. No more eating out front. If you can’t find a place to sit in here, you stand.† Cassie could feel Nick’s muscles cord. She held on to his arm tightly. Diana had a similar hold on Adam, whose blue-gray eyes were like chips of steel, fixed on the guys beside Sally. â€Å"It’s not worth it,† Diana said quietly, with forced calm. â€Å"It’s what he wants. Let’s go stand over there.† Sally looked disappointed as they all started to move to the wall. Then triumph flashed in her eyes. â€Å"He’s in violation already,† she said, pointing to Doug. â€Å"He’s wearing a radio.† â€Å"It’s not on,† Doug said. â€Å"It doesn’t have to be. Just wearing it is a Type-A offense. Come with me, please.† The two guys surged forward to help Doug come. â€Å"Nick, don’t. Wait – † Cassie gasped, getting in front of him. A fight in the cafeteria was all they needed. Doug’s eyes were glittering wildly. He looked mad enough to hit Sally, not to mention the two guys. â€Å"Bring him,† Sally said in an exultant voice. The guys reached for Doug. Doug’s fist jerked back. And then a throaty voice cut through the confusion. â€Å"What’s going on here?† Faye said, her amber eyes smoldering. She was wearing another of the little business suits; this one black and yellow. Sally glared at her. â€Å"They’re refusing to comply with the orders of a hall monitor,† she said. â€Å"And he’s wearing a radio.† Faye reached over and unhooked the Walkman from Doug’s belt. â€Å"Now he’s not,† she said. â€Å"And I’m telling them to go eat somewhere else – outside, maybe. On my authority.† Sally was sputtering. Faye chuckled and led the Club out of the cafeteria. â€Å"Thanks,† Diana said, and for a moment she and Faye looked each other in the eye. Cassie thought of the candles burning in a circle on the road. A new stage of life – was Faye entering a new stage of life? Coming back to the coven? But Faye’s next words undeceived her. â€Å"You know, there’s no reason that you can’t eat in the back room,† she said. â€Å"You can all become hall monitors. That’s what he wants – â€Å" â€Å"He wants to take us over,† interrupted Deborah scornfully. â€Å"He wants to join with us. He’s one of us.† â€Å"No, he’s not, Faye,† Cassie said, thinking of the shadow under the rock. â€Å"He’s nothing like us.† Faye gave her a strange glance, but all she said was, â€Å"There’s a hall monitors’ meeting in C-207 last period. Think about it. The sooner you join him, the easier things will be.† She tossed Doug’s Walkman back to him with a negligent gesture and walked away. Lunch was uncomfortable; it was cold in the front yard of the school, and nobody but Suzan had much of an appetite. Sean showed up late, after all the excitement was over. They discussed plans to fight Black John, but as always they came back to the single issue of power. They needed power to fight him effectively. They needed the Master Tools. Everyone had a different idea of where to search. Adam proposed the beach – especially around Devil’s Cove, where Mr. Fogle, the former principal, had been killed by a rock slide. Deborah thought maybe the old burying ground. â€Å"It’s been here since the 1600s,† she said. â€Å"The original coven could easily have hidden things there.† Melanie and Diana discussed the possibility of making a crystal pendulum designed to seek out traces of â€Å"white energy† the tools might be giving off. Cassie sat quietly, close to Nick, not saying much. She had the stupid, desperate urge to forget all of this and bury her head in his shoulder. She didn’t know New Salem as well as the others – how could she come up with a reasonable place to search? And she had such a feeling of dread, of evil things just waiting to happen. We’re going to lose, she thought, listening to the worried voices of the others. We’re just kids, and he’s got centuries of experience. We’re going to lose. The feeling of dread got worse as the day went on. She ran into Nick as she was walking to her last class and he stopped in the hall. â€Å"You look awful,† he said. â€Å"Thanks.† Cassie tried a wry smile for him. â€Å"No, I mean you’re so pale – you feeling okay? Do you want to go home?† â€Å"Leaving school grounds without permission,† Cassie quoted automatically, tiredly, and then she was in his arms. Nick said, â€Å"They can take their permission and – â€Å" Cassie just clung to him. Nick was so good to her; she wanted to love him. She would make herself love him, she decided. Maybe they should go back to Crowhaven Road; go someplace where they could be alone. Nick didn’t like doing this kind of thing where people could see. â€Å"Hold me,† she said. He did. Then he kissed her. Yes. Just go with it. Be part of Nick – that was safe. Nick would take care of her. She could stop thinking now. â€Å"Well, well, well . . . looks like a Type-A violation to me,† an officious voice said. â€Å"Public displays of affection, inappropriate to the serious and dignified purpose of formal education. What do you say, Portia?† Nick and Cassie broke apart, Cassie flushing. â€Å"I think it’s just too revolting,† Portia Bainbridge said. Behind her was a gaggle of hall monitors, on their way to the meeting, apparently. There were maybe thirty of them. Cassie’s heart was suddenly beating hard and fast. â€Å"And it’s her fault,† Portia went on, looking down her aristocratic nose at Cassie. â€Å"I heard her initiate it. Let’s take her in.† â€Å"That’s right, the little flirt,† Sally said. Cassie remembered Sally’s voice in the bathroom; the anger in it, the viciousness. This one had every guy at Homecoming dance following her around with his tongue hanging out – including my boyfriend. She’d come to think of herself so differently since she’d overheard Sally talking about her that day. Nick was looking at the group of monitors, his face cold – like the old Nick, the one Cassie had first met. Cold as ice. â€Å"Take her where? The penalty for a Type-A offense is supposed to be detention. Or don’t you read your own rules?† he said. â€Å"We decide what the penalties are – † Portia began, but Sally interrupted. â€Å"She was refusing to cooperate with a hall monitor at lunchtime,† she said. â€Å"That’s what we’re taking her in for. Mr. Brunswick gave us special instructions. â€Å"We’re going to take her to the office – she can talk to him.† â€Å"Then you can take both of us,† Nick said. His arm tightened on Cassie. There were too many of them. Cassie’s eyes skimmed over the crowd of hall monitors, seeing not a friendly face among them. All seniors, all kids who hated witches. And Faye wasn’t here now. â€Å"Nick,† she said, her voice soft and careful over the thumping of her heart, â€Å"I think I’d better go with them.† She glanced back at Sally. â€Å"Can I just say good-bye to him?† Looking sardonic, Sally nodded. Cassie put her arms around Nick’s neck. â€Å"Get the others,† she whispered in his ear. â€Å"The monitors will be in their meeting – you’ll have to find a way to get me out.† As he drew back, Nick’s mahogany eyes met hers in acknowledgement. Then, with an expressionless look at Sally, he stood aside. The group of monitors surrounded Cassie and escorted her down the hall, treating her like a mass murderer. She had a wild impulse to giggle, but as they reached the office the urge disappeared in a flood of sheer dread and anxiety. He planned this, she thought. Maybe not this specifically, today. But he knew he’d get us somehow, one by one. She tried to ignore the little voice whispering, he knew he’d get you. It’s you he’s after. Because she was an outsider – or because she didn’t fit in with his plans. A vision of Kori flashed through her mind: Kori lying stiff and motionless with a broken neck at the bottom of the hill. She’d seen what happened to people who didn’t fit in with Black John’s plans. â€Å"Maybe if you bat your eyes at him he’ll let you off,† Sally whispered spitefully and pushed her in the office door. Cassie didn’t answer. She couldn’t. She hadn’t been in this office since she’d gone to Mr. Fogle to complain that Faye was persecuting her. It looked the same, except that there was a crackling fire in the fireplace now. And the man behind the desk was different. Don’t look at him, Cassie thought, as the door swung shut behind her, but she couldn’t help it. Those black eyes held hers from the instant she glanced toward the desk. That hawklike face betrayed no sign of surprise that she was there. The principal put a slim gold-plated pen on the desk with a barely audible click. â€Å"Cassandra,† he said. Cassie’s knees felt weak. It was the voice of the shadow. A dark, liquid voice. So quiet, so insidious – so evil. Under his hematite-black eyes she felt naked, exposed. As if he were looking at her mind. Looking for a crack to get in. â€Å"Mr. Brunswick,† she said. Her voice sounded strange to her own ears. Polite, but distant. He smiled. He was wearing a black turtleneck and a black jacket. He stood, resting his fingertips on the desk. â€Å"So brave,† he said. â€Å"I’m proud of you.† It was the last thing she expected. Cassie just stared at him. Her fingers flew automatically to the bump of the amethyst pendant under her sweater. His eyes followed the movement. â€Å"I wouldn’t bother,† he said, smiling faintly. â€Å"That crystal is much too small to be effective.† Cassie’s hand dropped slowly. How had he known? She felt so confused, so off-balance. She stared at the man in front of her, trying to connect him with the burned creature that had crouched over her grandmother in the kitchen, with the seventeenth-century wizard who had led a frightened coven to New Salem. How was he here at all, that was the question. What was the source of his power? â€Å"And amethyst is a weak stone, a stone of the heart,† he was going on softly. â€Å"Purity of purpose, Cassie; that’s the secret. Purity and clarity. Never forget your purpose.† She had the strange feeling he was answering her question. Oh God, why didn’t Nick come? Her heart was pounding so hard . . . she was frightened. â€Å"Let me demonstrate,† the dark man said. â€Å"If you would give me that pendant? For a moment only,† he added, as Cassie stood motionless. Slowly, Cassie reached around the back of her neck. With cold fingertips she undid the silver chain and removed it. She didn’t know what else to do. Slowly, precisely, he took it. Suddenly, wildly, Cassie thought of a magician about to do a trick. Nothing up those sleeves, she thought. Only flesh that shouldn’t be there in the first place. Still holding the necklace in the air, the principal turned away from Cassie. The fire leaped and crackled and Cassie felt her pulse in her throat and fingertips. I can’t stand much more of this, she thought. Nick, where are you? â€Å"You see,† the principal said, in a voice that seemed oddly distorted, â€Å"amethyst is a stone riddled with impurities. For power, quartz is always my choice . . .† He began to turn around. No, thought Cassie. Everything had gone into slow motion, as if she were watching one frame after another of a video. A video played on a very superior machine, each frame crisp and bright and sharp-edged, with no blurriness. Cassie didn’t even know where the No had come from, except that something deep in her own brain was screaming in protest, trying to warn her. Don’t look, oh, don’t look. Cassie wanted to stop the action, to freeze the frame. But she couldn’t. It was taking forever, but the dark man was still turning. He was facing her. She saw the elegant black jacket, the black turtleneck sweater. But above the turtleneck was a monstrosity that forced tears from her eyes and clogged the scream in her throat. The man had no face. No hair, no eyebrows, no eyes, no nose. No mouth, only a grinning outline of clenched teeth. Even that, even the stark bones which faced her, were as clear as water. Cassie couldn’t scream, couldn’t breathe. Her mind was out of control. Oh God, oh God the skull isn’t gone no wonder we couldn’t find it, it didn’t explode at all because it’s in his head, oh Diana oh Adam it’s in his head †¦ â€Å"You see, Cassandra,† came the inhuman voice from behind those clenched teeth, â€Å"purity plus clarity equals power. And I have more power than you children have ever dreamed of.† Oh God I won’t believe this I won’t believe this is happening I don’t want to see any more †¦ â€Å"My spirit is not confined to this body,† the voice went on calmly, with terrible lucidity. â€Å"It can flow like water wherever I direct it. I can focus its power anywhere.† The hollow eyesockets tilted down, toward the amethyst pendant which hung from a perfectly normal-looking hand. Firelight flickered deep inside the crystal. Then Cassie felt it – an outrush of power like the one she’d sent to scare the dog and to warn Sean and to light the match. Only this was much stronger, much more concentrated than her feeble bursts had been. She could almost see it, like a blaze of light. The amethyst pendant shattered. The silver owl swung, but nothing hung from its claws now. The crystal was gone. Cassie’s ears caught the tinkle as bits of it fell. But she didn’t really notice the sound consciously. She was blind and deaf with panic. â€Å"Now, Cassandra,† the voice was beginning again, and then it was interrupted by a noise so loud that even Cassie couldn’t ignore it. A roar was coming from the front yard of the school, a sound like a pep rally, only angry. Shrill screams rang out against the background of deep shouting. The principal dropped the silver chain and strode over to the window which overlooked the front of the school. And Cassie’s brain woke up. It wanted only one thing, to get out of here. With the dark man’s attention distracted, she dove for the door. She ran straight through the office without looking at the secretaries. There was chaos in the second-floor halls. Everyone was flooding out â€Å"of classrooms. â€Å"It’s a fight!† some guy on the stairs was yelling. â€Å"Come on!† It’s like a riot; they can’t control everybody at once, Cassie realized dimly. She was still running. She ran down the stairs and then down a hallway, instinctively heading for the center of the confusion. â€Å"Cassie, wait!† Not a man’s voice, but a threatening one. Faye. Cassie paused for an instant, looking around desperately for Nick or Diana or Adam. â€Å"Cassie, stop, for pity’s sake. No one is trying to hurt you. I’ve been running after you all the way from the office.† Warily, Cassie edged backward. The hall was deserted now. Everyone was outdoors. â€Å"Cassie, just listen to me. He’s not trying to murder you, I promise. He wants to help you. He likes you.† â€Å"Faye, you’re insane!† Cassie’s control broke, and she screamed the words. â€Å"You don’t know what he is! Everything you see about him is an illusion. He’s a monster!† â€Å"Don’t be ridiculous. He’s one of us – â€Å" â€Å"Oh, my God, oh, my God,† Cassie said. Reaction was setting in and her knees were shaking so badly that she had to lean against the wall. She slid down, tearing a poster about the Thanksgiving football game. â€Å"You didn’t see him. You don’t know.† â€Å"I know you’re being a baby. You didn’t even stay to listen to what he had to say to you. He was going to explain everything – â€Å" â€Å"Faye, wake up!† Cassie cried. â€Å"For God’s sake, will you please wake up and look at him? He’s nothing that you think. You’re completely blind.† â€Å"You think you know so much about it.† Faye stood back, arms crossed over her chest. She tilted her chin up and looked down at Cassie with heavy-lidded, queerly triumphant eyes. Her blood-red lips curved in a smile. â€Å"You think you know everything – but you don’t even know what his name was when he was here last. When he came to our parents and he lived at Number Thirteen.† The strength of terror Cassie had felt moments earlier was gone, and the ground suddenly felt very unstable. She pressed a hand against the floor. Faye was still looking at her with those strange, triumphant eyes. â€Å"No,† Cassie whispered. â€Å"‘No’ you don’t know? Or ‘no’ don’t tell you? But I want to tell you, Cassie, and it’s time you did know. The name he used last time was John Blake.† How to cite The Secret Circle: The Power Chapter Nine, Essay examples

Friday, April 24, 2020

The Land of the Dead Review Essay Example

The Land of the Dead Review Paper Essay on The Land of the Dead Well, I got to the glorified forums Boyar hundred. Boyar hundred a mezhavtorsky project, in which he noted Prozorov, Khaetskaja Morozov, Chekalov, Dyakov and a number of other authors. Cycle natsinaet novel Land of the Dead, thats about it for now and Ill write (will desire to write about all the cycle of the book, as you read them). Roman liked, although impressions contradictory delight to slight bewilderment and even anger. Interesting and exciting describes the life of people of the XVI century, characters, characters, the relationship between people of different classes. Reading a novel, you catch yourself thinking that you yourself are present at the scene. The author apparently did a great job, so to describe in detail all, and could not escape, unfortunately, many inaccuracies and inconsistencies. This also applies to historical events and the types of weapons and household items. Protagonist of the novel, oprichnik fairing, turned colorful figure. He watches over the interests of the sovereign one hundred percent, intelligent, uncompromising, but at the same time violent and fanatical. Probably a child of his age. Very peculiar its relations with representatives of the XXI century, all incomprehensible and unnecessary discards it, trying to take advantage of people who are, in principle, had to be destr oyed. Here on the position and activity of the protagonist and there is a feeling of unease for the author. I wanted to show guardsmen in all its glory, well, look in reference books, because there oprichnina only after more than ten years after the events described. People razbirayushiesya in the XVI century history argue that this type of work is not the guardsmen performed: get the sort of local police with additional features border guard. But if you close your eyes to all these flaws, it can be read with great interest. (I do not recommend reading serious historians, you do not like it. Believe me, we do not study the history of such works, but just to enjoy reading.) We will write a custom essay sample on The Land of the Dead Review specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Land of the Dead Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Land of the Dead Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer As for our contemporaries, then I have to tell you is not going smoothly as mogloby be if historical realizations described in very detail, the life of the device and ours while somehow very primitive, chtoli, well, like, here we are so smart and all we get. Lets see what will happen in the sequel. Time will tell.

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Business

Business Introduction There has been an increased level of business competition in the business environment as a result of the highly dynamic nature of the current world, as well as the rapidly changing customer needs. The advancement in technology has also been a factor that has contributed to the increase in the level of competition.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Business-Level Strategy: Alibaba specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Organizations find themselves under pressure because they need to maintain their high performance, despite the stiff competition facing them (Hill and Jones 10). They strive to emerge the most competitive or get the highest share of the market to maximize their sales and profitability. A business organization that needs to be in a position to compete favorably is required to have a strategic plan that is usually developed by the strategic managers. Strategic management usually constitutes the formu lation of the primary objectives that a company wants to achieve in a specified period (Hill and Jones 11). The plan outlines how the objectives are to be achieved, given the available resources, internal, as well as the external environment in which the business is operating. Strategic management typically provides direction on how the organizational goals will be achieved. It also generates policies and guidelines on how the available resources should be allocated to maximize the company’s potential. In business, there could be business level strategies that generally guide the operations of that specific company. This essay will focus on the business level strategies of Alibaba. Alibaba is a company that is based in China, and it provides online business services to its clients. E-commerce has become increasingly common in organizations following the current advancements in technology. Technology has led to the establishment of organizations like Alibaba, whose core busine ss is e-commerce. The company has adopted a generic strategy, as well as a grand strategy that has been guiding its business activities.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Alibaba’s Generic Strategy The generic strategy that the company has adopted is cost leadership. It is a strategy whereby the company sells its goods at a low price. It is also a strategy that normally targets the mass market. Most customers are willing to buy goods at the lowest possible price, but they want quality products at the same time (Kozami 32). Alibaba has been able to lower its costs of operation through the use of technology. As mentioned earlier, the company’s core business is based on e-commerce. It means that technology is the major factor towards the success of Alibaba’s business. It is imperative to note that technology has been essential in the cost reduction of many organizations across the world. Alibaba is a company that sells goods at a relatively small price. First, it has been able to reduce its operations costs because the costs that are related to stock are either not incurred, or they are very low. The company does not need to have warehouses for storing finished goods. Instead, the goods are displayed on the website, whereby the customers can view them online and make the purchases through the online purchase methods that have been provided on the Internet by Alibaba. Operating as an online business contributes to huge reductions in the cost of holding stock, ordering costs, and other stock related costs. Secondly, the company does not have physical shops or outlet stores. It means that Alibaba does not incur costs like rent for the stores or lease costs. Therefore, Alibaba can cut down its operation costs significantly, as well as other expenses that the company is either able to eradicate or reduce significantly by virtue of being an online business. The benefits are reflected in the selling price of goods and services that the company offers. One important point that should be noted is that the primary objective of the company is to provide a basis through which the Chinese manufacturers can link up with customers from overseas. It means that Alibaba does not actually have its stock, which reduces the operational costs.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Business-Level Strategy: Alibaba specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The buyers from the international market can search for goods manufactured in China through the help of the shopping search engine that is provided by Alibaba. They also can make orders online from the Alibaba website. From the other end, the manufacturers can see the orders and organize deliveries. However, Alibaba charges a small fee for the service. Alibaba enables the manufacturers’ goods to be viewed by many peo ple, thereby increasing the chances of making high sales for the manufacturers. The costs are, therefore, low on the side of the customer. It should be noted that the customers of Alibaba are the manufacturers or companies whose goods are available on the website, as well as the overseas buyers. The international customer does not have to travel all the way to China to make a purchase or view the goods. Therefore, the buyer can reduce costs significantly. On the other hand, the manufacturer does not have to open stores overseas for displaying goods. Therefore, the manufacturer can reduce the operations costs because they are not necessarily required to open stores. The reduction of costs reflects on the selling price of the company’s goods because they are relatively low-priced. Alibabas strategy is based on cost leadership; therefore, it aims to lower the operating costs as much as possible. It also targets the mass market where many people can access the website. Alibabaâ⠂¬â„¢s Grand Strategy The grand strategy is more or less the same as the corporate strategy of a business. It is a strategy that guides the operations of an enterprise organization and shapes the business, in general. Grand strategies help a business to achieve its long-term goals and objectives.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Therefore, in its grand strategy, a business organization should plan all its operations right from its product design and development to liquidation. Different business organizations have different grand strategies, based on the nature of the business and their surrounding situations. The major factors that are notable in grand strategic planning are market growth, product development, strategic alliances, organization development, and turnaround strategies, among others (Kozami 169). The grand strategy of Alibaba is market growth. The company looks into a future whereby it will have more people seeking its services. It wants to expand its services such that users will be in a position to find whatever they want in the website. According to Mr. Joe Tsai, who is the executive vice chairman of the organization, Alibaba wishes to stretch its services to banking, entertainment, education, and travel, among other areas of operations (Carsten and Miller par. 3). The company also wishes t o develop a mobile application whereby customers will be able to purchase mutual funds from Alibaba using their phones. In addition, the company aims to offer insurance services whereby customers will be able to safeguard their homes using insurance cover that will be referred to as the Alibaba Insurance. It will also create an Alibaba credit card that will facilitate the ordering process and speed up delivery of the ordered goods. Alibaba wishes to reach as many customers as possible in the future. It wants to expand its market in any area that will be effective in increasing the number of users that will be visiting the website in the search for various services. Once the company can expand its market, it will be in a position to increase the sales and revenue it gets from the services it offers. There are a number of advantages that are associated with the grand strategy that Alibaba has sought to adapt. The market growth strategy is a strategy whereby the company bears a very lo w risk in relation to other grand strategies. The company can decide to expand its market through expanding the market niche of its products. It means that Alibaba will not have to invest in research and development or create new products; this lowers risks significantly. On the other hand, the company can decide to develop new products with the aim of expanding its market. Expansion should come after a comprehensive market feasibility study to determine what the market needs. If the company conducts the market feasibility study, then it lowers the risks as it is sure of what the market needs before developing or producing the same. In the case of Alibaba, it does not need to establish links with various manufacturing and service companies. Consequently, it will be able to provide the various services to the different customers and expand its market growth. The company will face very small or no risks in executing this strategy. How Well Alibaba’s Current Strategy is working and the Major Strategic Issues that Management Needs to Address Having been established in the year 1999 and grown to become one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world, it is an indication that Alibaba’s strategy is working in its favor. It is an approach that has enabled Alibaba to achieve its objectives, both in the short-run and in the long-run. The cost-leadership generic strategy has helped Alibaba acquire many customers, thereby maximizing its sales and revenues. Alibaba helps in simplifying the process of buying goods sold through its website without compromising the quality. The simple process of purchasing items on the website could, probably, be the major factor that has led to the company achieving the success it has acquired today. It is expected that pursuing this strategy will lead to more success in the future. On the other hand, the grand strategy of Alibaba is to expand its market in the future and get as many users as it can. It is also a strategy that is highly viable. It puts Alibaba in a prime position for success in the future by the virtue of it being a low-risk strategy. It is important to note that managers of organizations are always looking for ways that can increase the business performance, but maintain as little risk as possible at the same time. Managers aim to maximize returns at the lowest risk possible (Kozami 34). Through its current grand strategy, Alibaba will be able to reduce the risk and at the same time increase its users and its performance. The strategy is working for the company, as Alibaba has been engaged in various additional services, such as the venture into the entertainment industry, among others. The only major strategic issue that the management of Alibaba should, probably, address is the market growth strategy. In the growth strategy, Alibaba’s management might need to invest in more research and development. The company may need to understand the current market trends, the changing needs of customers, and the varying demands of goods and services. In doing so, it will be in a position to offer products and services that the market needs, rather than offering many services that may not be required by the customers. The market research should consider the fact that the needs of clients are changing rapidly, thereby calling for organizations to be highly dynamic. Organizations that fail to evolve with the needs of the clients stand a high chance of being rivaled. Strategic Options that Seem Viable for Alibaba First, it should be noted that the current generic strategy best fits Alibaba. Moreover, it may not be feasible to adopt other generic strategies. For instance, it might be difficult to adopt the differentiation strategy, given the fact that Alibaba does not produce goods on its own. Moreover, it would be difficult to influence the quality of products. In addition, it would not be easy to limit the availability of the website to specific classes of customers . Therefore, the cost-leadership strategy could be the only viable generic strategy for Alibaba to adopt. On the other hand, Alibaba has a viable option in its grand strategy. It can opt to adopt strategic alliances as a grand strategy. This is a strategy that will more or less serve a similar purpose as the current market growth strategy. In the strategic alliance strategy, the company will seek to collaborate with other organizations that have goods or services that will boost its operations. Strategic Recommendation(s)/Conclusion Alibaba has been able to achieve great success in its operations over the years. It is an indication that Alibaba has a strategy that has been working well. The cost leadership strategy has been highly successful for the company. In fact, this could be the only viable generic strategy that the company has because the others, differentiation and focus strategies, might difficult to even integrate or establish in its operations. The grand strategy has also been successful and helped the company achieve its objectives. However, I would recommend that the company should combine its market growth strategy with the strategic alliance strategy. Although either of the two strategies would achieve good results, a combination of the two would increase the magnitude of success because the company would be able to expand its market growth. At the same time, it would also be able to create alliances with other business organizations that would boost it in its strategizing activities. Alibaba would collaborate with organizations that would complement its operations. This would have an enormous impact in terms of organizational growth and development, as well as goal achievement. Alibaba, therefore, does not need to change its current strategy, but it may opt to combine the two strategies, which are market growth strategy and strategic alliances for better results. Carsten, Paul, and Matthew Miller. Alibaba’s Grand Vision for E-Commerce E mpire Includes Insurance Wells Media Group, 2014. Web. https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2014/04/03/325351.htm Hill, Charles W. L., and Gareth R. Jones. Strategic Management. Mason: Cengage Learning, 2012. Print. Kozami, Azhar. Business Policy and Strategic Management. New-Delhi: McGraw-Hill Published, 2005. Print.