Battle Of Chickamauga Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Battle Of Chickamauga - Research Paper Example With the help of operation process the commander implemented mission of command. In this battle both the commanders gave direction, support and guidance to the army working under him. As per ADRP 5-0, during this war MG Rosecrans was unable to describe, understand and direct his army properly. The main roles of a commander are to analyze its operations, utilize its resources and communicate effectively with the army for implementing decision properly. MG Rosecrans used cavalry for delivering messages and establishing courier lines which failed miserably. He focused more on La Fayette Road for reaching Chattanooga. But if he had used Dry Valley and Vittetoe roads then he could have gained various opportunities to win the battle. MG Rosecrans was highly involved in managing different small issues of army. He was not concerned about the end result and was generating feasible options. He did not understand the operational environment of the war. Moreover MG Rosecrans failed to deliver his command properly on 20th September which made his army weak in the war. Calvary was used in the war for delivering message and developing courier line. MG Rosecrans used cavalry for managing the army during the war. The misuse of cavalry made the Army of the Cumberland weak. The commander was unable to important information through cavalry. If the commander used cavalry for gathering intelligence then he could have gained strong position in the war. The commander should have focused on exploring various routes for conducting surveillances by using cavalry1. MG Rosecrans relied mainly on couriers for communicating information. He did not used Signal Corps effectively for communicating with its subordinates. There was a need for improved communication in the war. But lack of planning and inefficient use of assets made the communication process weak.

1981 Springbok Tour Essay Example for Free

1981 Springbok Tour Essay Focus Question: What was the background to the 1981 Springbok Tour of New Zealand? For 56 days in July, August and September 1981, New Zealanders were divided against each other in the largest civil disturbance seen since the 1951 waterfront dispute. More than 150,000 people took part in over 200 demonstrations in 28 centres, and 1500 were charged with offences stemming from these protests. To some observers it might seem inconceivable that the cause of this unrest was the visit to New Zealand of the South African rugby team (the Springboks). Although not a major sport on a global scale, rugby has established itself not only as New Zealand’s number one sport but as a vital component in this country’s national identity. In many ways the playing of rugby took a back seat in 1981, and the sport suffered in the following years as players and supporters came to terms with the fallout from the tour. Some commentators have described this event as the moment when New Zealand lost its innocence as a country and as being a watershed in our view of ourselves as a country and people. See more: Distinguish between problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping Essay Usefulness of evidence to focusing question: This is useful because it shows me evidence on what New Zealanders thought on about rugby. It shows that rugby sport is a background to New Zealanders because it’s their number 1 sport. This is part of a useful website, www.nzhistory.net.nz. Source reliability: This source is reliable because this source is that its not something someone has said or someone has typed that was from the 1981 springbok tour. It is basic facts.

Essay on Greed for Power and Money in Catch-22 -- Catch-22

Greed for Power and Money in Catch-22    Although Catch-22 is a novel that entirely takes place at war, the book uses comedy to emphasize the physical and emotional pain of war. The novel shows us how people are changed by war and how their focuses are changed through different experiences. Many of the people in the book are disgusted by their commanding officers and the conditions around them. Joseph Heller served in the war and witnessed crazy occurrences and met strange people like those in the book. By reading the novel, we can see that he strongly disliked war. There are many themes in the novel, two of the main themes are the greed for power and money.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Power greed is a major theme in Catch-22. There are many characters who put others aside for their own gain of power. Perhaps the most notorious power greedy character in the book is Colonel Cathcart. Colonel Cathcart desperately wants to be a major. If he is promoted, he will have much more power, and the power is what he wants. Cathcart is constantly raising the number of missions the pilots and bombardiers must complete to be discharged. Cathcart raises the missions to appeal the commanding officers. The men vehemently hate Cathcart for doing this because it changes their lives. Every time they think they are near being freed from the war, he raises the missions and ruins their plans. The problem with Cathcart is that he is competitive, and only thinks of how he is doing in comparison to how others are doing. He knew that most all men his age were not majors, so his only purpose was to become a major at his young age of 36. He would do anything to those below him to achieve major status.      Ã‚  Ã‚  &nbs... ...plating sticking wire between the men's wrists and hips. He wanted to surgically install copper wiring so that the men did not move their arms while marching, but forgot about it only after realizing that the wire and surgery would cost too much and the men could not fall down drunk at the end of the parade. Scheisskopf thought of the men as toy soldiers that he could manipulate in any way so that he could be the greatest march coordinator ever. He wanted to manipulate them only so he could be famous and move up in rank to General.    . There are many themes in Catch 22, two of the main themes are the greed for power and money. The greed for power and money takes control of many men in this novel. These men are presented to send a clear message.   Heller is saying that war is a terrible thing because it corrupts people and confuses them.      

The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle Chapter Eleven

â€Å"The nameis Salvatore. As in savior,† he said. There was a brief flash of white teeth in the darkness. Elena looked down. The overhang of the roof obscured the balcony, but she could hear shuffling sounds down there. But they were not the sounds of pursuit, and there was no sign that her companion's words had been overheard. A minute later, she heard the french windows close. â€Å"I thought it was Smith,† she said, still looking down into the darkness. Damon laughed. It was a terribly engaging laugh, without the bitter edge of Stefan's. It made her think of the rainbow lights on the crow's feathers. Nevertheless, she was not fooled. Charming as he seemed, Damon was dangerous almost beyond imagination. That graceful, lounging body was ten times stronger than a human's. Those lazy dark eyes were adapted to seeing perfectly at night. The long-fingered hand that had pulled her up to the roof could move with impossible quickness. And, most disturbing of all, his mind was the mind of a killer. A predator. She could feel it just beneath his surface. He wasdifferent from a human. He had lived so long by hunting and killing that he'd forgotten any other way. And he enjoyed it, not fighting his nature as Stefan did, but glorying in it. He had no morals and no conscience, and she was trapped here with him in the middle of the night. She settled back on one heel, ready to jump into action at any minute. She ought to be angry with him now, after what he'd done to her in the dream. She was, but there was no point in expressing it. He knew how furious she must be, and he would only laugh at her if she told him. She watched him quietly, intently, waiting for his next move. But he didn't move. Those hands that could dart as quickly as striking snakes rested motionlessly on his knees. His expression reminded her of the way he'd looked at her once before. The first time they'd met she'd seen the same guarded, reluctant respect in his eyes – except that then there had also been surprise. â€Å"You're not going to scream at me? Or faint?† he said, as if offering her the standard options. Elena was still watching him. He was much stronger than she was, and faster, but if she needed to she thought she could get to the edge of the roof before he reached her. It was a thirty foot drop if she missed the balcony, but she might decide to risk it. It all depended on Damon. â€Å"I don't faint,† she said shortly. â€Å"And why should I scream at you? We were playing a game. I was stupid that night and so I lost. You warned me in the graveyard about the consequences.† His lips parted in a quick breath and he looked away. â€Å"I may just have to make you my Queen of Shadows,† he said, and, speaking almost to himself, he continued: â€Å"I've had many companions, girls as young as you and women who were the beauties of Europe. Butyou're the one I want at my side. Ruling, taking what we want when we want it. Feared and worshipped by all the weaker souls. Would that be so bad?† â€Å"Iam one of the weaker souls,† Elena said. â€Å"And you and I are enemies, Damon. We can never be anything else.† â€Å"Are you sure?† He looked at her, and she could feel the power of his mind as it touched hers, like the brush of those long fingers. But there was no dizziness, no feeling of weakness or succumbing. That afternoon she'd had a long soak, as she always did these days, in a hot bath sprinkled with dried vervain. Damon's eyes flashed with understanding, but he took the setback with good grace. â€Å"What are you doing here?† he said casually. It was strange, but she felt no need to lie to him. â€Å"Caroline took something that belonged to me. A diary. I came to get it back.† A new look flickered in the dark eyes. â€Å"Undoubtedly to protect my worthless brother somehow,† he said, annoyed. â€Å"Stefan isn't involved in this!† â€Å"Oh, isn't he?† She was afraid he understood more than she meant him to. â€Å"Strange, he always seems to be involved when there's trouble. Hecreates problems. Now, if he were out of the picture†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Elena spoke steadily. â€Å"If you hurt Stefan again I'll make you sorry. I'll find some way to make you wish you hadn't, Damon. I mean it.† â€Å"I see. Well, then, I'll just have to work onyou , won't I?† Elena said nothing. She'd talked herself into a corner, agreeing to play this deadly game of his again. She looked away. â€Å"I'm going to have you in the end, you know,† he said softly. It was the voice he'd used at the party, when he'd said, â€Å"Easy, easy.† There was no mockery or malice now; he was simply stating a fact. â€Å"By hook or by crook, as you people say – that's a nice phrase – you'll be mine before the next snow flies.† Elena tried to conceal the chill she felt, but she knew he saw anyway. â€Å"Abusiness proposition?† â€Å"Exactly. You came here to get a diary. But you haven't got it.† He indicated her empty hands. â€Å"You failed, didn't you?† When Elena made no reply he went on. â€Å"And since you don't want my brother involved , he can't help you. But I can. And I will.† â€Å"You will?† â€Å"Of course. For a price.† Elena stared at him. Blood flamed in her face. When she managed to get words out, they would come only in a whisper. â€Å"What – price?† A smile gleamed out of the darkness. â€Å"A few minutes of your time, Elena. A few drops of your blood. An hour or so spent with me, alone.† â€Å"You†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Elena couldn't find the right word. Every epithet she knew was too mild. â€Å"I'll have it anyway, eventually,† he said in a reasonable tone. â€Å"If you're honest, you'll admit that to yourself. Last time wasn't the last. Why not accept that?† His voice dropped to a warm, intimate timbre. â€Å"Remember†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I'd rather cut my throat,† she said. â€Å"An intriguing thought. But I can do it so much more enjoyably.† He was laughing at her. Somehow, on top of everything else today, this was too much. â€Å"You're disgusting; you know that,† she said. â€Å"You're sickening.† She was shaking now, and she couldn't breathe. â€Å"I'd die before I'd give in to you. I'd rather – â€Å" She wasn't sure what made her do it. When she was with Damon a sort of instinct took over her. And at that moment, she did feel that she'd rather risk anything than let him win this time. She noticed, with half her mind, that he was sitting back, relaxed, enjoying the turn his game was taking. The other half of her mind was calculating how far the roof overhung the balcony. â€Å"I'd rather do this,† she said, and flung herself sideways. She was right; he was off guard and couldn't move fast enough to stop her. She felt free space below her feet and spinning terror as she realized the balcony was farther back than she'd thought. She was going to miss it. But she hadn't reckoned on Damon. His hand shot out, not quick enough to keep her on the roof, but keeping her from falling any farther. It was as if her weight was nothing to him. Reflexively, Elena grasped the shingled edge of the roof and tried to get a knee up. â€Å"Let go of me,† said Elena through her teeth. Someone was going to come out on that balcony at any second, she was sure of it. â€Å"Let go of me.† â€Å"Here and now?† Looking into those unfathomable black eyes, she realized he was serious. If she said yes he would drop her. â€Å"It would be a fast way to end things, wouldn't it?† she said. Her heart was pounding in fear, but she refused to let him see that. â€Å"But such a waste.† With one motion, he jerked her to safety. To himself. His arms tightened around her, pressing her to the lean hardness of his body, and suddenly Elena could see nothing. She was enveloped. Then she felt those flat muscles gathering themselves like some great cat's, and the two of them launched into space. She was falling. She couldn't help but cling to him as the only solid thing in the rushing world around her. Then he landed, catlike, taking the impact easily. Stefan had done something similar once. But Stefan had not held her this way afterward, bruisingly close, with his lips almost in contact with hers. â€Å"Think about my proposition,† he said. She could not move or look away. And this time she knew that it was no Power that he was using, but simply the wildfire attraction between them. It was useless to deny it; her body responded to his. She could feel his breath on her lips. â€Å"I don't need you for anything,† she told him. She thought he was going to kiss her then, but he didn't. Above them there was the sound of french windows opening and an angry voice on the balcony. â€Å"Hey! What's going on? Is somebody out there?† â€Å"This time I did you a favor,† Damon said, very softly, still holding her. â€Å"Next time I'm going to collect.† She couldn't have turned her head away. If he'd kissed her then, she would have let him. But suddenly the hardness of his arms melted around her and his face seemed to blur. It was as if the darkness was taking him back into itself. Then black wings caught and beat the air and a huge crow was soaring away. Something, a book or shoe, was hurled after it from the balcony. It missed by a yard. â€Å"Damn birds!† said Mr. Forbes's voice from above. â€Å"They must be nesting on the roof.† Shivering, with her arms locked around her, Elena huddled in the darkness below until he went back inside. She found Meredith and Bonnie crouching by the gate. â€Å"What took you so long?† Bonnie whispered. â€Å"We thought you were caught!† â€Å"I almost was. I had to stay until it was safe.† Elena was so used to lying about Damon that she did it now without conscious effort. â€Å"Let's go home,† she whispered. â€Å"There's nothing more we can do.† â€Å"I know.† For a moment Damon's proposition swam in Elena's mind. But she shook her head to clear it. â€Å"I'll think of something,† she said. She hadn't thought of anything by the next day of school. The one encouraging fact was that Caroline didn't seem to have noticed anything amiss in her room – but that wasall Elena could find to be encouraged about. There was an assembly that morning, at which it was announced that the school board had chosen Elena as the student to represent â€Å"The Spirit of Fell's Church.† All through the principal's speech about it, Caroline's smile had blazed forth, triumphant and malicious. Elena tried to ignore it. She did her best to ignore the slights and snubs that came even in the wake of the assembly, but it wasn't easy. It was never easy, and there were days when she thought she would hit someone or just start screaming, but so far she'd managed. That afternoon, waiting for the sixth-period history class to be let out, Elena studied Tyler Smallwood. Since coming back to school, he had not addressed one word to her directly. He'd smiled as nastily as Caroline during the principal's announcement. Now, as he caught sight of Elena standing alone, he jostled Dick Carter with his elbow. â€Å"What's that there?† he said. â€Å"A wallflower?† Stefan, where are you? thought Elena. But she knew the answer to that. Halfway across school, in astronomy class. Dick opened his mouth to say something, but then his expression changed. He was looking beyond Elena, down the hall. Elena turned and saw Vickie. Vickie and Dick had been together before the Homecoming Dance. Elena supposed they still were. But Dick looked uncertain, as if he wasn't sure what to expect from the girl who was moving toward him. There was something odd about Vickie's face, about her walk. She was moving as if her feet didn't touch the floor. Her eyes were dilated and dreamy. â€Å"Hi there,† Dick said tentatively, and he stepped in front of her. Vickie passed him without a glance and went on to Tyler. Elena watched what happened next with growing uneasiness. It should have been funny, but it wasn't. It started with Tyler looking somewhat taken aback. Then Vickie put a hand on his chest. Tyler smiled, but there was a forced look about it. Vickie slid her hand under his jacket. Tyler's smile wavered. Vickie put her other hand on his chest. Tyler looked at Dick. â€Å"Hey, Vickie, lighten up,† said Dick hastily, but he didn't move any closer. Vickie slid her two hands upwards, pushing Tyler's jacket off his shoulders. He tried to shrug it back on without letting go of his books or seeming too concerned. He couldn't. Vickie's fingers crept under his shirt. â€Å"Hey, Vickie, leggo. Don't do that.† But Dick remained at a safe distance. Tyler shot him an enraged glare and tried to shove Vickie away. A noise had begun. At first it seemed to be at a frequency almost too low for human hearing, but it grew louder and louder. A growl, eerily menacing, that sent ice down Elena's spine. Tyler was looking pop-eyed with disbelief, and she soon realized why. The sound was coming from Vickie. Then everything happened at once. Tyler was on the ground with Vickie's teeth snapping inches from his throat. Elena, all quarrels forgotten, was trying to help Dick pull her off. Tyler was howling. The history room door was open and Alaric was shouting. â€Å"Don't hurt her! Be careful! It's epilepsy, we just need to get her lying down!† Vickie's teeth snapped again as he reached a helpful hand into the melee. The slender girl was stronger than all of them together, and they were losing control of her. They weren't going to be able to hold her much longer. It was with intense relief that Elena heard a familiar voice at her shoulder. â€Å"Vickie, calm down. It's all right. Just relax now. With Stefan grasping Vickie's arm and talking to her soothingly, Elena dared to slacken her own grip. And it seemed, at first, that Stefan's strategy was working. Vickie's clawing fingers loosened, and they were able to lift her off Tyler. As Stefan kept speaking to her, she went limp and her eyes shut. â€Å"That's good. You're feeling tired now. It's all right to go to sleep.† But then, abruptly, it stopped working, and whatever Power Stefan had been exercising over her was broken. Vickie's eyes flew open, and they bore no resemblance to the startled fawn's eyes Elena had seen in the cafeteria. They were blazing with red fury. She snarled at Stefan and burst out fighting with fresh strength. It took five or six of them to hold her down while somebody called the police. Elena stayed where she was, talking to Vickie, sometimes yelling at her, until the police got there. None of it did any good. Then she stepped back and saw the crowd of onlookers for the first time. Bonnie was in the front row, staring open-mouthed. So was Caroline. â€Å"Whathappened !† said Bonnie as the officials carried Vickie away. Elena, panting gently, pushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. â€Å"She went crazy and tried to undress Tyler.† Bonnie pursed her lips. â€Å"Well, she'd have to be crazy towant to, wouldn't she?† And she threw a smirk over her shoulder directly at Caroline. Elena's knees were rubbery and her hands were shaking. She felt an arm go around her, and she leaned against Stefan gratefully. Then she looked up at him. â€Å"Epilepsy?† she said with disbelieving scorn. â€Å"I think class was just dismissed,† Stefan said. â€Å"Let's go.† They walked toward the boarding house in silence, each lost in thought. Elena frowned, and several times glanced over at Stefan, but it wasn't until they were alone in his room that she spoke. â€Å"Stefan, what is all this? What's happening to Vickie?† â€Å"That's what I've been wondering. There's only one explanation I can think of, and it's that she's still under attack.† â€Å"You mean Damon's still – oh, my God! Oh, Stefan, I should have given her some of the vervain. I should have realized†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"It wouldn't have made any difference. Believe me.† She had turned toward the door as if to go after Vickie that minute, but he pulled her gently back. â€Å"Some people are more easily influenced than others, Elena. Vickie's will was never very strong. It belongs to him, now.† Slowly, Elena sat down. â€Å"Then there's nothing anyone can do? But, Stefan, will she become – like you and Damon?† â€Å"It depends.† His tone was bleak. â€Å"It's not just a matter of how much blood she loses. She needshis blood in her veins to make the change complete. Otherwise, she'll just end up like Mr. Tanner. Drained, used up. Dead.† Elena took a long breath. There was something else she wanted to ask him about, something she'd wanted to ask him for a long time. â€Å"Stefan, when you spoke to Vickie back there, I thought it was working. You were using your Powers on her, weren't you?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"But then she just went crazy again. What I mean is†¦ Stefan, youare okay, aren't you? Your Powers have come back?† He didn't answer. But that was answer enough for her. â€Å"Stefan, why didn't you tell me? What's wrong?† She went around and knelt by him so that he had to look at her. â€Å"It's taking me a while to recover, that's all. Don't worry about it.† â€Å"Iam worried. Isn't there anything we can do?† â€Å"No,† he said. But his eyes dropped. Comprehension swept through Elena. â€Å"Oh,† she whispered, sitting back. Then she reached for him again, trying to get hold of his hands. â€Å"Stefan, listen to me – â€Å" â€Å"Elena,no. Don't you see? It's dangerous, dangerous for both of us, but especially for you. It could kill â€Å"Only if you lose control,† she said. â€Å"And you won't. Kiss me.† â€Å"No,† said Stefan again. He added, less harshly, â€Å"I'll go out hunting tonight as soon as it's dark.† â€Å"Is that the same?† she said. She knew it wasn't. It was human blood that gave Power. â€Å"Oh, Stefan, please; don't you see I want to? Don'tyou want to?† â€Å"That isn't fair,† he said, his eyes tortured. â€Å"You know it isn't, Elena. You know how much – † He turned away from her again, his hands clenched into fists. â€Å"Then why not? Stefan, I need†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She couldn't finish. She couldn't explain to him what she needed; it was a need for connection to him, for closeness. She needed to remember what it was like with him, to wipe out the memory of dancing in her dream and of Damon's arms locked around her. â€Å"I need us to be together again,† she whispered. Stefan was still turned away, and he shook his head. â€Å"All right,† Elena whispered, but she felt a wash of grief and fear as defeat seeped into her bones. Most of the fear was for Stefan, who was vulnerable without his Powers, vulnerable enough that he might be hurt by the ordinary citizens of Fell's Church. But some of it was for herself.

The 15 writing habits of people who build amazing careers

The 15 writing habits of people who build amazing careers The 15 writing habits of people who build amazing careers One of the great pleasures of my job is that I frequently get a chance to talk to people who really are at the top of their game. Over the last 18 years, my colleagues and I have worked with over 40,000 people. And among them have been many industry leaders who have built seriously impressive careers and truly made a difference in their particular sector. These people are undeniably successful –Â  regardless of whether you define success in monetary terms, in what theyve been able to achieve, or both. Along the way, Ive noticed certain characteristics coming up again and again in the documents and emails that these super-successful people write – and in the approach they take to writing them. Clear patterns have emerged: ways of writing that so many successful people seem to share that I strongly suspect they are habits that underpin their success. Some of these patterns are in the way they write. Others are in what they write (and in how they develop that content). Together, these things propel them forwards, enabling them to make the kind of progress that others can only dream of – and often to earn many times more than those people. No single person exhibits all the traits, or even most of them. And these extraordinary individuals may not even be aware that the way they approach written communication is special or know why their approach works so much better than what other people do. But the fact that they do it that way has almost certainly been a major factor in their rise to the top. So here are those characteristics: 1. They write with confidence It takes courage to tell it like it is, but these people have it in spades. Theres a fine line between being arrogant and being confident, and these people are definitely the latter. They exude belief in their messages by never hiding behind flowery language or using 30 words when ten will do. 2. They nurture their ideas So much writing advice (and presentation training, for that matter) focuses on methodology. But even the most articulate wording will not disguise lazy thinking. Effective thinking needs to come first and it takes time. It cant be done between emails or checking Facebook. These people make and take that time, building and developing their ideas. As a result, what they write has real value. In the longer term, this builds their personal PR, and their organisations begin to recognise that value more and more. 3. They keep notes Neuroscientists have made many real breakthroughs in the last 20 years. One of these is the discovery that there are two distinct types of thinking: focused thought and free association (sometimes called mind wandering mode). Our brains cant do both at the same time, needing instead to switch between the two. (Brain researchers have even identified the neural switch that does this – the cingulate cortex.) The best ideas often spring from the second type of thinking, which typically happens when you are not sitting at your desk. In fact, it tends to happen when youre doing something completely unrelated to work – like shopping or loading the dishwasher. Successful people tend to capture ideas from these moments of mind wandering by noting them down on their smartphones or on a small pad, which they keep with them at all times for that purpose. 4. They are careful readers Successful people often seem to recognise that their attention and mental capacity are precious resources that they must spend wisely and renew regularly. As such, they use social media and other websites judiciously, reserving them for free thinking time rather than getting sucked down into all-day Facebook fests that drain them of energy and original thought. They also allow time to focus on one thing –Â  which benefits them not just because they can develop their ideas but because continually switching attention drains mental energy. 5. They look after their mind This habit often extends into other areas of their lives. For example, they make sure they get enough sleep and they eat sensibly: avoiding the highs and lows of sugar binges or overdosing on caffeine. Of course, they are human. But their secret is self-awareness. So, if the ideas arent there, they do something about it: whether thats going for a walk, stimulating their mind – with more reading or music, for example – or simply stopping and picking things up tomorrow. 6. They are conscious writers This one is critical. People who build extraordinary careers are expert influencers, so they are acutely aware of the effect both poor and good writing can have on others. They know that every document or email is an opportunity to influence many more people than they will ever meet, so they never squander that opportunity. That means they think before they write (unlike their less successful colleagues, who typically think while theyre writing –Â  or even afterwards, when it may well be too late). 7. They write to express, not impress The most successful writers never waste time or screen space posturing with verbose language. Theyd much rather engage directly with the brains of those they seek to influence in the most efficient way possible. 8. They know that its not all about me The first and main focus for them is their reader: who they are, what interests them, what they might be thinking and what they want them to think. That focus underpins their planning and stays with them throughout the writing process. (This is in contrast to less effective writers, whose focus tends to be on just getting the thing written and crossed off their list.) 9. They see the big picture This is another aspect that truly marks out highly successful people from the rest. Ive noticed that they develop a keen understanding of where their organisation is going and make sure they keep that at the front of their minds, rather than dwelling on the minutiae of the day-to-day. But that doesnt mean they ignore minor tasks or issues. They just see those as part of the bigger picture and keep that in mind when theyre writing. As a result, they often have a direct connection with the executives in the C-suite, who tend to be similarly focused. 10. They know when enough is enough The most successful people make their written communications only as long as they need to be: never longer. They also know that those communications usually need to be a lot shorter than many of their colleagues think they do. 11. They set clear objectives and they plan Uncommonly successful people know exactly what each report or proposal needs to achieve. Often, they write down those objectives; always, they base them on a knowledge of their readers. (See point 8.) This is part of an essential planning process. Many people start their documents by immediately firing up Word (or, if theyre a management consultant, more likely PowerPoint) and starting to type. But not these people. They know that planning is essential and they take time to work out a structure for their document before they even touch their keyboard. 12. They know how to build a persuasive argument By the time they start typing, they already have a clear idea of who their reader is, where they need them to go and –Â  crucially –Â  how theyre going to get them there. The most successful people know that persuasive writing is more of a science than an art. So they build their argument carefully first. As a result, their battle is half won even before they open up their laptop. 13. They are politically aware Awareness of organisational politics – and how to use that knowledge to your advantage –Â  is a sensitive issue. In an ideal world, everyone would work together selflessly and and logically for the greater good. But the real world is populated by humans, with all their foibles, ambitions and emotions. Successful people know that their documents will have to work with those too. So, regardless of what theyre writing, they take into account human psychology and how its played out in their particular workplace. 14. They dont rely on writing alone Its tempting to think that the written word is the only tool in your communication toolbox. The most successful people know that there are other tools too, and theyre careful to choose the right one for the job each time. So their documents often include captivating charts, diagrams or pictures. And these people know when to talk to someone instead of emailing them (sometimes as a way to ensure a document hits its mark). 15. They sweat the small stuff Ive deliberately left spelling, punctuation and grammar to the end of this list – even though those are the things that most people think of if you mention effective writing. Thats because a technically perfect document can still be devoid of original thought, totally disengaging and, therefore, potentially useless. However, it is still important to make sure that silly mistakes in accuracy dont undermine all your hard work. Successful people use spell-check and proofread their work. This list is still evolving and its not exhaustive. You may well have noticed other habits that make all the difference. Id love to hear what they are, so do let me know in the comments below. Image credit: mimagephotography / Shutterstock

Writing Tighter How to Cut Your Writing Down to Size

Writing Tighter How to Cut Your Writing Down to Size â€Å"I apologize for writing such a long letter. I didn’t have time to write a short one.† – Mark Twain It’s debatable what the actual quote is and whether it is actually Mark Twain’s, but either way it’s a great statement of the truth. It does indeed take longer - much longer - to write a short letter, blog post, essay, resume, etc. than it does to write a long one. I have frequently taken two-page resumes and cut them down to one without loss of content. Five-page single-spaced personal statements reduce to 500 words. Remarkable right? An example: I worked with a social media marketing expert to create the â€Å"perfect† blog post for LinkedIn. The original draft was 5,504 characters long - 1,777 characters over the LinkedIn limit! In 15 minutes, we had edited the blog down to size. How did we do it? Here are some tips to help you make the grade: Look for anything that could be characterized as â€Å"window dressing.† That’s the stuff you write around the important points! Find the nugget and stick to it! Are you repeating yourself? Stop! Once is enough. We get it. Stay organized. Often the source of rambling language is simply lack of organization and focus. Ask yourself about each and every sentence: How many words can I remove from this sentence and retain its meaning? Go ahead†¦ remove those extra words! You can do it! (Yes, there are extra words in that last sentence. Can you find them?) If you’re really in a bind, remove or reduce the space between bullet points or paragraphs. Only take this drastic measure as a last resort. White space is a prized commodity, especially in a blog or resume! If you remove something and your message no longer transmits, put it back in! Theres always somewhere else you can cut out. The process takes time, but it’s worth it. Your newly trimmed writing will be snappy, punchy and geared to today’s short attention spans! If you are reading this sentence, I’ve followed my own advice.

Argue against texting and driving Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Argue against texting and driving - Essay Example According to research, texting while driving is considered as being more dangerous than drunk driving. This is especially due to the fact that this activity diverts the attention of a driver at a minimum period of 5 seconds, which is equivalent to a blind person driving for a distance of approximately 100 meters (Kiesbye 41). According to 2008 statistics, distracted driving caused the death of more than 5000 people and more than 500000 injuries in the US alone (Regan 39). Clearly, this is a significant loss, which could have been avoided were there a national ban on some of the distractions such as texting while driving. Drivers should be aware of the fact that life is precious, therefore, should be protected by all means as it cannot be compared to a text message no matter how urgent it might be. They are in control of their vehicles and as such, they have the liberty and the right to stop at convenient places to text after which they can continue driving. Indeed, a disciplined driver should always switch off his mobile phone, while driving, especially if the phone is not connected to a Bluetooth headset. Most of the phones in the market have the capability to record voicemails and also to hold incoming messages until the user switches on his handset, therefore, there is no justified reason as to why a person should end up in hospital or dead as a result of accidents caused by careless utilization of mobile