Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Using Google Analytics To Write Smarter Content

Using Google Analytics To Write Smarter Content Smart content is content that perfectly fits your audience. But who is your audience? Thats the BIG question, isnt it? Smart content is content that perfectly fits your audience. #ContentMarketingNearly every blog post that talks about content marketing starts with Know Your Audience and then tells you why thats important. Only if youre really lucky will they tell you how to figure out who your audience is, or how to write for multiple audiences.  But wouldnt you love it if they said click this button and were going to tell you who your audience is, what they like, and where they live? This is your lucky day. You can write smarter content thats a perfect fit for your audience using Google Analytics and their Audience data. Google Analytics has always been a great source of audience information, but these specific reports are even more helpful. To get started, youll want to log into your Google Analytics account. Find Audience in the left-hand column. Beneath that you can see the different sections and reports available. Clicking on these sections will reveal the sub-sections well be covering in this post. There are four key areas where Google Analytics can tell you specific traits about who is reading your content. #1 Demographics: Age And Gender Google Analytics can give us a good picture of what age and gender  our audience is made of. Using and the data we have as an example,  and see how this plays out. As we dug into our own data recently, we were blown away by the high Pinterest use by our users, and the pattern we saw in the topics of the blog posts in our system. 90% of social shares in came from Pinterest. The most popular topics for users on Pinterest were food and home. Heres what we know about the Pinterest network outside of users. 90% of Pinterest users are women. 52% of Pinterest pins are about food,  18% of pins are about home, 15% are about lifestyle. Does our blog attract a larger female audience or not? It would seem that that might be the case, with 90% of our social shares happening on Pinterest and with 90% of Pinterest users being women, but just because we have a high number of female users of doesnt mean thats who is reading our blog. By looking at the data Google Analytics provides, we can get a better picture. It looks like most of our audience is between the ages of 25-34, and it tips slightly toward more female readers. And that is super useful information, because: We can research to find out what topics that age group prefers. We can see that we are writing for two audiences at once, almost equally male/female. Think of it this way: If you were writing a blog that focused on fun things to do now that you are retired, you should see your readers age skew towards 55+. If you dont, something is wrong. Or, if you do see those ages topping your graph, but you decide to write about the latest technical gadgets and change directions, you will likely see your traffic take an initial hit because youll be shedding your current audience and trying to attract a new one. Knowing the age and gender of your audience helps you create content that is appropriate for them. If you want to take this even further, you can also see traffic spikes and dips on specific dates in the detailed Google Analytics report of age/gender demographics. If you dont publish more than one post a day, you can easily see which posts appealed to specific audiences the most. Youll note that this data isnt for 100% of your total sessions (upper right corner). Well talk about the missing data in a bit. Creating smarter content means knowing the demographics of your audience, and writing to fit them.#2 Interests: Affinity And Market Segment Discovering  what specific topics your audience is interested in reading about is like finding gold. According to Google, the affinity category was built for businesses interested in running a TV ad on a local station, or those currently running a TV ad who would like to extend the reach of a TV campaign to an online context for an efficient price. The In-market segment are those people  who are researching products and actively considering buying a service or product like those you offer. The Other category is for those who arent in either affinity or in-market, but are likely to visit your sites offerings based on interests theyve shown online. Google Analytics is providing this information to help you buy ads, not write content, so when it comes to the interest categories available, they are definitely ad-focused. Even though  you arent using this information to purchase ads, it can still help you see what topics your readers are interested in. For , we currently have readers that are interested in tech, entertainment, and social media. That makes sense; our content seems to be fitting the people who would be interested in our product.  Our content is  attracting the right reader. What is fascinating is the In-Market segment, which tends to resemble the kind of content users are creating. Remember how much of our user base was using Pinterest, and what the typical Pinterest content was? Home, food, and lifestyle!  Our users have distinct interests in the content they are creating, and have created an interest trail online that is reflected here. It helps to know what specific kinds of topics to write about, and to not have to worry that someone outside of your demographics might not like it. While you  dont purposefully want to alienate, you dont have to worry about making everyone happy, either. #3 4 Geography And Mobile The last two that will be useful are geography and mobile demographics. Knowing where your readers are located is helpful, not just because of language, but because it makes you aware of the different cultures you are addressing.  s readership is heavily skewed toward the United States, but we do have readers all around the world. This fits, again, with our user base. Being aware of the different cultures can help you: Know whether or not your holiday-themed posts will make sense to your audience. Avoid content that is a cultural/social faux pas in countries your audience resides. Avoid phraseology or comparisons that would confuse or offend your audience. If you have a younger, technologically skewed audience, youll probably see a similar level of mobile usage that we do. Other audiences may not be using their phones and tablets as much as they use a desktop. Knowing that your audience is skewed heavily towards mobile (as ours is)  reminds you to make sure  that your content is readable on the devices people are using to read it. Responsive web design, crisp graphics, sign-up forms that function in the mobile app–these are all things to keep in mind. At this stage in the game, most users are mobile for most sites. Using  Google Analytics Demographics  For Smarter Content Now that you know this is available, how can you put it to work for your own content? Learn About Demographics Knowing that most of your readers are female and around age 25 wont help you much if you dont know what kind of things interest the average 25-year-old female. There is plenty of research and information online, but you have to know how to find it. Here are a few sites that specialize in demographics: Pew Research Center Market Research Demographic Research As always, data is only as valuable as your ability to interpret it into something usable for you. Create Reader Personas This data that Google Analytics is providing you tells you who is reading your content now. It doesnt mean you cant change your content, but it does give you an idea of what to change it to if you want to keep your current audience. You can use the information Google Provides to  create a kind of reader persona that helps you stay focused on what you write. With a user persona in mind, you can write conversationally as if you were speaking directly to them. You know better what to write when you know who you are writing it for. The Missing Audience Data In Google Analytics Remember that 25% of total sessions issue I pointed out? The data that Google uses to compile these reports isnt the whole picture; it isnt 100% of your total sessions.  Google gathers this data using third-party DoubleClick cookie and device identifiers. That means that when a cookie isnt associated with a specific user, Google cant come up with demographics and interests for you. In other words, the data you have is only partial. Its a subset of your users, and doesnt match your overall traffic that you see elsewhere in Google Analytics.  Additionally, Google doesnt want you to be able to identify specific users, and so some data is removed if that data hits a threshold where an identity might be determined. Still, even with those two gaps in place, you are being given a wonderful amount of specific data about your current audience.  It is a significant tool for guiding you, and you wont find this level of information elsewhere.  Remember, Google Analytics audience reports are  not the end-all method of determining who your audience is, but they are  certainly another tool for your content marketing toolbox. Enable Google Analytics Demographics Before you can use Google Analytics demographics and accessing this information, you will need to enable it in your Google Analytics account. Google provides a step-by-step walk-through to help you do this. You may need to update your analytics tracking code to make demographics work, and adjust your privacy policy as well. Once you have everything in place, you can access data about your site visitors and create content better suited to them. Get This Free Audience Demographics Dashboard To make all of this easier to track in Google Analytics, I created a custom dashboard for us in our Google Analytics account. If youd like to use the same dashboard in your own Google Analytics, you can easily install our custom dashboard here. Each visual widget is linked to the report supplying the data, so its easy to dig into more detail if you want to just by clicking the title of the widget. Our custom Google Analytics audience demographics dashboard makes all of this easy. Feel free to customize this dashboard any way youd like for your own use.

Friday, November 22, 2019

This is Your Platform

This is Your Platform Jane Friedman is a brilliant woman in the publishing world. Shed been editor of Writers Digest and the Virginia Quarterly. Now shes just an in-demand guru, and trust me, I read everything of hers that comes across my screen. One of her most famous posts on her blog is A Definition of Author Platform https://janefriedman.com/author-platform-definition/   Platform building requires consistent, ongoing effort over the course of a career. It also means making incremental improvements in extending your network. It’s about making waves that attract other people to you - not about begging others to pay attention. The following list is not exhaustive, but helps give you an idea of how platform can grow. 1) Publishing or distributing quality work in outlets you want to be identified with and that your target audience reads. 2) Producing a body of work on your own platform - e.g., blog, e-mail newsletter, social network, podcast, video, digital downloads, etc- that gathers quality followers or a community of people who are interested in what you have to say. This is usually a longterm process. 3) Speaking at and/or attending events where you meet new people and extend your network of contacts. 4) Finding meaningful ways to engage with and develop your target audience, whether through content, events, online marketing/promotion, etc. 5) Partnering with peers or influencers to tackle a new project and/or extend your visibility. I have taught classes on platform, and the most common confusion I see across those seas of faces is how to clearly define what platform  is, so that those writers can follow some magical formula to get it. Its not a well-defined path. Here is my definition of platform: 1) Platform is you and your work and the magnetism it has on the public. 2) Add to that your ability to develop a reputation. 3) And finally add to that your ability to maintain a momentum, because platform isnt something you build and expect it to remain structurally sound forever. Platform is a long-term goal. Jane summarizes it as An ability to sell books because of who you are or who you can reach. Yes, thats spot on. But theres also an unspoken understanding that platform cant erode. Platform has no laurels to rest upon . . . you have to work with it every day to keep it alive and well.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Teams at Kluster Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Teams at Kluster - Case Study Example Individual team members must develop long-term working relationships with other individuals within the group and form solid operational procedures in order to perform their tasks efficiently. Additionally, the company will provide all material external support in order for the team to accomplish their short and long term objectives effectively. In the case of Klusters â€Å"Illuminator Team† its basic format is of a team that runs things. It is also a type of virtual team since the many team members are all from different geographical locations and often meet using web based groupware instead of face to face. There are advantages and disadvantages to a team based work environment. Some advantages of a team based approach to problem solving is that unlike traditionally structured organizations all team members participate in the decision making process instead of top management making all the decisions. As a direct result all employees are empowered to participate creating a work environment that is more efficient and effective at dealing with complex organizational problems while giving a competitive edge over the competition. Some disadvantages of a team based approach is that in many teams individual achievement is not as easily determined as in a traditional hierarchical organization which is a factor in determining compensation. Team based companys tend to focus on team achievements rather than individual performance. The lack of centralized decision making of a team based organization can lead to some disorganization and as well as control and coordination issues for management (Sch ermerhorn & Hunt & Osborn). The Illuminator team has addressed some of these challenges by placing team member reward mechanisms in order to recognize top performing individuals and their contribution to the team effort. Their system is designed to provide them with financial as well as member

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Hemmingway and O'Connor Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Hemmingway and O'Connor - Research Paper Example Her pleas not to go Florida are ignored by both her son, Bailey and the daughter in-law. Her grandson, John, asks her to stay at home whereas the granddaughter, June asserts that she would not stay behind for a million bucks. This brings out the disrespect that the children have towards their elders. Furthermore, both Bailey and his wife are not respectful towards Bailey’s mother. Bailey, for instance, does not pay attention to what his mother was telling him (O’Connor par 2). In fact, if he had been keen and attentive and had obeyed his mother pleas, he would have saved his family from the ordeal they face later towards the end of the story. Bailey as the head of the family had a responsibility to his family, to protect it and not to lead it towards harm way (Tonic par 4). The daughter-in law appears to be tongue-tied, as she does not say much throughout the story (Tonic par 3). She also had a responsibility to her family to ensure it was safe. The news of Misfits rele ase was good reason enough for her to agree with her mother-in law but instead she chose to ignore her (O’Connor par 2). As the story develops with the family now on the road, there is a depiction of a normal family with its hassles. For instance, Bailey and his wife do not seem to be in such good terms and each one of them seems lost in their own world (Tonic par 6). They do not release how noisy and out of hand their two kids get while playing games in the car. The grandmother intervenes by telling them a story to calm them down. When they stop for a barbecue, only the grandmother seems to engage in conversations with the shop owner (O’Connor par 14). Once they get back on the road, the grandmother suggests that they go visit an old plantation. Bailey refuses to give in to his mother’s suggestion; however, the children become adamant and insist that they visit the old plantation (O’Connor par 13). It is during this moment that the daughter in-law assert s that they should all stay in the car once they get there (O’Connor par 15). However, the family does not get to see the house since they get into an accident that is caused by the grandmother once she realized that the old plantation was in Tennessee and Toombsboro. It is after the accident that the family meets its demise and they are killed by Misfit (O’Connor par 25). In the short story ‘Hills like Elephants’, Hemmingway uses familial roles to set the story outline. In this story, Hemmingway uses a dialogue of a couple to narrate his story. In the conversation, the couple is having an argument on getting rid of the unborn child (Johnston par 3). The dialogue between the man and the girl as well as the body language infers the background as well as attitudes of both the girl and the man pertaining to situation in sight, and their approaches towards each other. From the inception of the narrative, the contentious character of the couple’s dialogu e designates unease and resentment. The conversation is a refinement of the differences amid stereotypical female and male relationship roles. For example, the girl draws elicits the analogy with ‘white elephants’, whereas the hyper-rational male immediately refutes it, disbanding the poetry bit into objective realism with ‘ I’ve never seen one(Hemmingway par ).’ The girl also asks his approval to order a beer. All through the story, she is distant; the man is rational. While the man tries to frame

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Through Another Pair of Eyes Essay Example for Free

Through Another Pair of Eyes Essay The perception of life through someone else’s eyes can alter one’s appreciation toward that particular lifestyle. Culture is perceived differently depending on the type of environment in which we grow accustomed to. It can also range from the type of location in which we live in. For instance, someone living in a different state would have a different perception of the way we do things compared to their ways. In the essay â€Å"Bumping into Mr. Ravioli,† by Adam Gopnik, the view on life is seen differently when viewed in Gopnik’s perception. However, this perception of life changes when viewed in a different point of view. Gopnik’s perception of life through the eyes of his daughter leads him to understanding and experience an unfamiliar type of lifestyle in which he is not accustomed to. As he begins to recognize and experience this new type of atmosphere, Gopnik starts to appreciate the New York experience and understands the type of lifestyle that he must adapt to in order to live in New York. Viewing life through someone else’s eyes can ultimately change the perception of someone to appreciate and accept the type of lifestyle that must be accustomed to living in that particular environment. To begin with, Gopnik’s perception of life through his daughter’s eyes leads him to acknowledge the lifestyle of a person living in New York and learn to appreciate it. Gopnik begins to realize how busy the city of New York really is and how no one ever has time to play or hangout. He notices this through his daughter’s perspective of her imaginary friend, Charlie Ravioli. Charlie Ravioli is always busy and never has time to play with Olivia. Gopnik soon realizes how vigorous the lifestyle of someone living in New York involves. In addition, Gopnik contacts his sister to resolve the issue of how Olivia’s imaginary friend never has time to play with her. She replies, â€Å"I’m sure that doesn’t occur anywhere in the research literature. That sounds completely New York.† (Gopnik 155). This quote implies that people in New York are usually busy and never has time to do anything. Gopnik learns about the busy lifestyle of Charlie Ravioli and begins to understand more of how a New Yorker lives. Gopnik also realizes that the environment contributes to the personality of Olivia’s imaginary friend. Gopnik states â€Å"Why is busyness the stuff our children make their invisible friends from, as country children make theirs from light and sand?† (Gopnik 156). According to Gopnik, children base their imaginary friends from the type of environment they live in. For example, since Olivia lives in New York, Her imaginary friend, Charlie Ravioli, has the personality of a busy person living in New York. However, a child living on the countryside would create an imaginary that has a personality based off that environment. These two quotes exhibit the idea of different lifestyles based off different environments. Gopnik beings to understand the busy lifestyle of people in New York and understands why Charlie Ravioli never has time to play with Olivia. He learns to appreciate this type of lifestyle and will eventually grow accustomed to it especially living in such a busy city. Gopnik also learns to understand more about his lifestyle and that in order to adjust to the busy lifestyle, he has to get involved with the routine. Furthermore, Gopnik perception of life allowed him to learn about the advances of technology and communications that has evolved overtime. Gopnik never experienced these types of technology when he was younger. Nevertheless, Looking at life in his own perspective, he distinguishes the different types of technological developments such as the train and communication devices. Gopnik asserts, â€Å"If the train crowded our streets, the telegram crowded our minds. It introduced something into the world, which remains with us today: a whole new class of communications that are defined as incomplete in advance of their delivery.† (Gopnik 157). This quote implies that the creation of trains and communication devices has lead to the foundation of the busy lives of many people. For instance, people crowded the streets in order to get from one place to another using the train. This made the streets of New York even more crowded. Likewise, the communication devices influenced people to c ontact by phone, which then frequently leads to requesting for email, and ultimately requesting for fax. Although the trains and communication devices created more hassle for many people, it also made it more convenient for some New York people, allowing them to conserve more time by contacting by phone and using the train to get from one destination to another much quicker. Gopnik’s perception of these technologies allows him to realize how busy some people are in New York and do not have time to consume these technologies. In addition, the busy streets of New York limits the amount of technology inhabited in New York. Gopnik claims, â€Å"New York, though, almost uniquely, got hit by a double dose of the first two technologies, and a very limited dose of the second two. Car life-car obsessions, car-defined habits-is more absent here than almost anywhere else in the country, while television, though obviously present, is less fatally prevalent here.† (Gopnik 158). Technology is widespread in many parts of New York, however, is very limited due to the busy lifestyles of many New York people. Cars, in particular, are rarely drove around in New York because of the busy streets and heavy traffic caused by many taxis and buses. Gopnik’s experience of New York allows him to witness the advances in technology and observe the busy streets of New York. This type of life requires more walking, which creates a populated street, in order to deal with the intense traffic.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Sonnet 138 Essay -- Literary Analysis, Shakespeare

Truth and honesty are key elements to a good, healthy relationship. However, in Shakespeare's Sonnet 138, the key to a healthy relationship between the speaker and the Dark Lady is keeping up the lies they have constructed for one another. Through wordplay Shakespeare creates different levels of meaning, in doing this, he shows the nature of truth and flattery in relationships. Shakespeare's Sonnet 138 is one of his sonnets about the Dark Lady. Dark both in appearance, and in her actions, she is once again the subject of the sonnet. The speaker is the lover of the Dark Lady. Whether the speaker is married to her or not is not completely clear. Based on lines regarding age â€Å"...she knows my days are past the best† (6), it seems that they have been together for a long time, but not necessarily married. The sonnet doesn't sound like the speaker is talking to anyone, but rather musing to himself. When reading aloud, the sonnet sounds like it could a soliloquy, simply the speakers saying his thoughts out loud to himself. The first quatrain In this sonnet the speaker starts to reveal more about the relationship between him and the Dark Lady, and also his fear of growing old. He starts the sonnet by saying â€Å"When my love swears she is made of truth/ I do believe her, though I know she lies† (1-2). In these first two lines the speaker contradicts himself right away by saying that he believes her, but knows she is not telling the truth. He is very aware of the delusion he is in, but he is willing to let it pass. He is willing to let it pass because of the mutual dishonesty that exists in the relationship. In the next two lines, he talks about youth, and age. He is talking about the Dark Lady considering him a younger ma... ...anings of the word. The ironic part about it, the only reason they lie together, in the sexual meaning of the word, is because they are lying to each other. Without the lie, their relationship would fall apart. There are a number of words used twice throughout the sonnet. The words â€Å"truth†, â€Å"lies†, â€Å"love†, â€Å"best†, â€Å"wherefore†, â€Å"think†, and â€Å"know† are all used twice. The fact that they are all used twice helps to emphasize the duality of their relationship. There are two sides to these people, and this relationship has two faces as well. All of these words can be used to describe the relationship between the speaker and the Dark Lady. More specifically, all the words can be understood multiple ways. They both know the truth about the other, but aren't willing to accept their own truths. They lie to each other while they lie with each other, and others.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Drug Literature Evaluation Saw Palmetto Health And Social Care Essay

Clinical Question # 1: Is saw palmetto proven to be every bit effectual as Finasteride in shriveling or halting the growing of the prostate secretory organ in work forces diagnosed with benign prostate hyperplasia ( BPH ) ? Phosphorus: male patients diagnosed with benign prostate hyperplasia I: proverb palmetto Degree centigrades: Finasteride ( Proscar ) Oxygen: To shrivel or halt the growing of the prostate secretory organ in work forces Thymine: Therapy/ Intervention Search Engines used ( 2 ) : OVID, Pubmed Search footings ab initio used ( based on PICO ) : Ovidi? Saw palmetto AND Finasteride AND BPH Pubmedi? Saw palmetto, finasteride, BPH Consequence: OVID ( 24 ) , PubMed ( 24 ) Search footings really used: Ovidi? Saw palmetto AND Finasteride Pubmedi? Finasteride, Saw Palmetto. LIMITS: English linguistic communication, worlds, work forces Consequence: Ovid ( 58 ) , PubMed ( 35 )Suggested Articles:1: Ovid # 28 Title: A prospective, 1-year test utilizing saw palmetto versus finasteride in the intervention of class III prostatitis/chronic pelvic hurting syndrome. Abstraction: Purpose: This survey was designed to measure the safety and efficaciousness of proverb palmetto or finasteride in work forces with class III prostatitis/chronic pelvic hurting syndrome ( CP/CPPS ) . Materials and Methods: A prospective, randomized, unfastened label, 1-year survey was designed to measure the safety and efficaciousness of proverb palmetto and finasteride in the intervention of work forces diagnosed with CP/CPPS. Patients were randomized to finasteride ( 5 milligram one time day-to-day ) or saw palmetto ( 325 milligrams daily ) for 1 twelvemonth. Patients were evaluated utilizing the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index, single spheres ( hurting, urinary symptoms, quality of life and intend hurting mark ) and the American Urological Association Symptom Score at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months. Consequences: A sum of 64 back-to-back work forces 24 to 58 old ages old ( average age 43.2 ) with a diagnosing of CP/CPPS were every bit rand omized to the 2 intervention weaponries. All 64 work forces had antecedently received antibiotics ( continuance of 3 to 93 hebdomads ) , 52 ( 82 % ) had been on alpha-blockade. There were 61, 57 and 56 patients evaluable at 3, 6 and 12 months, severally. At 1 twelvemonth mean entire National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index score decreased from 23.9 to 18.1 in the finasteride group ( P & lt ; 0.003 ) , and from 24.7 to 24.6 in the proverb palmetto arm ( p = 0.41 ) . In the finasteride arm the quality of life and hurting spheres were significantly improved at 1 twelvemonth ; nevertheless, micturition was non. Adverse events included concern ( 3 instances ) in the proverb palmetto group and decreased libido ( 2 instances ) in the finasteride group. At the terminal of the test 13 of 32 ( 41 % ) and 21 of 32 ( 66 % ) opted to go on saw palmetto and finasteride, severally. Decisions: CP/CPPS treated with proverb palmetto had no appreciable long-run betterment. In co ntrast, patients treated with finasteride had important and lasting betterment in all assorted parametric quantities except invalidating. Further surveies are warranted to determine the mechanism and duplicability of these effects in a placebo controlled test. Citation: Kaplan S.A. , Volpe M.A. , Te A.E. EMBASE Journal of Urology. 171 ( 1 ) ( pp 284-288 ) , 2004. Date of Publication: Jan 2004. [ Journal: Article ] Associate in nursing: 2003516940 2. PubMed # 4 Title: Saw palmetto and finasteride in the intervention of category-III prostatitis/chronic pelvic hurting syndrome. Abstraction: Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic hurting syndrome is a common entity for which a standardised direction has non been established. Patients frequently have a important symptom composite and impact on quality of life, but really small is known about the efficaciousness of second- and third-line interventions, such as the usage of herbal addendums. Many interventions studied in recent literature include antibiotics, alpha-blockade, anti-inflammatory agents, and cognitive behavioural intercessions such as biofeedback and psychotherapeutics. Citation: Yang J, Te AE. Department of Urology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA. Curr Urol Rep. 2005 Jul ; 6 ( 4 ) :290-5. Review.PMID: 15978232 [ PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE ] Clinical Question # 2: In corpulent patients enduring from schizophrenic disorder, is Clozapine more likely to do weight addition than other untypical major tranquilizers? Phosphorus: corpulent patients enduring from schizophrenic disorder I: Clozapine Degree centigrades: other untypical major tranquilizers Oxygen: control of corpulent patient ‘s schizophrenic disorder with untypical major tranquilizers while non doing an addition in weight Thymine: Therapy/ Intervention Search Engines used ( 2 ) : Trip Database, PubMed Search footings ab initio used ( based on PICO ) : Trip Databasei? Clozapine, weight addition, corpulent, schizophrenic disorder PubMedi? corpulent, Clozaril, weight addition, schizophrenic disorder Consequence: Trip Database ( 32 ) , PubMed ( 37 ) Search footings really used: Trip Databasei? Clozapine, weight addition, corpulent, schizophrenic disorder PubMedi? Clozaril, weight addition, corpulent, schizophrenic disorder, untypical major tranquilizers. Limits: worlds, English linguistic communication Consequence: Trip Database ( 32 ) , PubMed ( 28 )Suggested Articles:1.Trip Database # 4 ( nexus to PubMed ) Title: Weight addition during a double-blind multidosage Clozaril survey. Abstraction: Possible variables associated with weight addition during clozapine intervention include dosing, intervention continuance, baseline organic structure mass index ( BMI ) , sex, and plasma norclozapine concentrations. Weight additions during a double-blind, randomized Clozaril survey utilizing 100- , 300- , and 600-mg/d doses were analyzed. It was hypothesized that weight addition was associated with baseline BMI, Clozaril dosing, and demographic factors. The possible part of plasma Clozaril and norclozapine concentrations was explored. Fifty treatment-refractory schizophrenic disorder patients were randomized to 100- , 300- , or 600-mg/d doses of Clozaril for a 16-week, double-blind intervention in a research ward. Nonresponsive patients went onto a 2nd and/or a 3rd 16-week, double-blind intervention at the other doses. Weights of patients were measured every hebdomad. During the first Clozaril intervention, weight addition varied across 3 baseline BMI classs ( normal-wei ght patients [ 4.1 kilogram, P & lt ; 0.001 ] , fleshy patients [ 2.6 kilogram, P = 0.05 ] , and corpulent patients [ 0.36 kilograms, non important ] ) and harmonizing to dosing ( 600 mg/d [ 4.4 kilogram ] , 300 mg/d [ 2.6 kilogram ] , and 100 mg/d [ 1.3 kilograms ] ) . Sexual activity had no consequence after commanding for baseline BMI and dose, but the Afro-american race had a strong important consequence despite the little figure of African Americans ( n = 6 ) . At the terminal of the first Clozaril intervention, plasma norclozapine concentration was non significantly correlated with weight addition in the entire sample ( r = 0.16, P = 0.32, n = 43 ) , but seems to be strongly correlated in nonsmokers. Despite its restrictions, this survey indicates that baseline BMI, dosing, and, perchance, the Afro-american race may be major determiners of clozapine-induced weight addition. Citation: de Leon J, Diaz FJ, Josiassen RC, Cooper TB, Simpson GM. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. Mental Health Research Center, Eastern State Hospital, Lexington, KY 40508, USA. 2. PubMed # 12504074 Title: A reappraisal of the consequence of untypical major tranquilizers on weight Abstraction: Controlled research tests have shown that untypical major tranquilizers have of import advantages over standard major tranquilizers, including a broader spectrum of efficaciousness and improved tolerability profile, peculiarly with respect to neurological inauspicious events such as extrapyramidal symptoms ( EPS ) . Some untypical major tranquilizers, nevertheless, tend to do important weight addition, which may take to hapless conformity and other inauspicious wellness effects. The mechanisms involved in antipsychotic drug-related weight addition are as yet unsure, although serotoninergic, histaminic, and sympathomimetic affinities have been implicated along with other metabolic mechanisms. The untypical major tranquilizers vary in their leaning to do weight alteration with long-run intervention. Follow-up surveies show that the largest weight additions are associated with Clozaril and olanzapine, and the smallest with quetiapine and ziprasidone. Risperidone is associat ed with modest weight alterations that are non dose related. Given the tantamount efficaciousness of untypical major tranquilizers, weight-gain profile is a legitimate factor to see when building an algorithm for intervention due to the serious medical effects of fleshiness. Citation: Nasrallah H. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2003 Jan ; 28 Suppl 1:83-96. Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, 231 Albert Sabin Way, PO Box 670559, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0559, USA. Mesh Footings: Antipsychotic Agents/adverse effects* Clinical Tests as Subject Worlds Monitoring, Physiologic Obesity/chemically induced* Obesity/epidemiology Obesity/therapy* Overweight/chemically induced* Overweight/epidemiology Overweight/therapy* Schizophrenia/complications* Schizophrenia/epidemiology Weight Loss Clinical Question # 3: Is Crestor ‘s new indicant for the primary bar of cardiovascular disease, considered unique to the drug, or a category consequence of all lipid-lowering medicine drugs? Phosphorus: patients at high hazard of cardiovascular disease I: Crestor Degree centigrades: the â€Å" statin † drug therapy category Oxygen: bar of cardiovascular disease Thymine: Therapy/prevention Search Engines used ( 2 ) : OVID, PubMed Search footings ab initio used ( based on PICO ) : OVIDi? Crestor AND cardiovascular disease AND new indicant PubMedi? rosuvastatin, cardiovascular disease. Limits: worlds, English linguistic communication. Consequence: OVID ( 0 ) , PubMed ( 431 ) Search footings really used: OVIDi? rosuvastatin AND cardiovascular disease AND bar PubMedi? rosuvastatin, Cardiovascular disease bar. Limits: worlds, English linguistic communication. Consequence: Ovid ( 505 ) , PubMed ( 253 )Suggested Articles:1.From OVID- Lipid-lowering medicines for primary bar in older grownups: who is high hazard, who is old, and what denotes primary bar? Abstraction: Whether to handle older grownups with statin medicines for primary bar of cardiovascular events remains a clinical riddle. A figure of observations with respect to increasing age stoke this quandary: The association between elevated cholesterin degrees and cardiovascular hazard diminishes ( 1 ) , risk-prediction tools ( such as the Framingham hazard mark ) become less accurate ( 2, 3 ) , back uping clinical test informations become limited, and the decreasing life anticipation versus clip to medication benefit invariably displacements. Additional downsides of lipid-lowering medicines for older grownups include medicine cost, polypharmacy, and possible side effects. Conversely, age entirely makes older grownups inherently high hazard and lipid-lowering medicines cut down cardiovascular events and decease and may hold other good effects. Clinical test informations support secondary bar of cardiovascular events with lipid-lowering medicines for individuals 80 old ages or younger, but informations are light thenceforth. As the figure of individuals 65 old ages or older quickly additions, and more so the figure of individuals 85 old ages or older, this clinical inquiry demands to be addressedaˆÂ ¦ . Citation: Zieman S.J. , Ouyang P. EMBASE Annals of internal medical specialty. 152 ( 8 ) ( pp 528-530, W183 ) , 2010. Date of Publication: 20 Apr 2010. [ Journal: Note ] AN: 20404384 2. PMID: 20026779 Title: Rosuvastatin in the bar of shot among work forces and adult females with elevated degrees of C-reactive protein: justification for the Use of Statins in Prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin ( JUPITER ) . Abstraction: Background: Anterior primary bar tests of lipid-lowering medicine therapy that used cholesterin standards for registration have non reported important lessenings in shot hazard. We evaluated whether lipid-lowering medicine therapy might cut down shot rates among persons with low degrees of cholesterin but elevated degrees of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. METHODS AND RESULTS: In Justification for the Use of lipid-lowering medicines in Prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin ( JUPITER ) , 17 802 seemingly healthy work forces and adult females with low-density lipoprotein cholesterin degrees & lt ; 130 mg/dL and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein degrees & gt ; or = 2.0 mg/L were indiscriminately allocated to rosuvastatin 20 mg day-to-day or placebo and so followed up for the happening of a first shot. After a average followup of 1.9 old ages ( maximal, 5.0 old ages ) , rosuvastatin resulted in a 48 % decrease in the jeopardy of fatal and nonfatal shot as compared with placebo ( incidence rate, 0.18 and 0.34 per 100 person-years of observation, severally ; guess ratio 0.52 ; 95 % assurance interval, 0.34 to 0.79 ; P=0.002 ) , a determination that was consistent across all examined subgroups. This determination was due to a 51 % decrease in the rate of ischaemic shot ( hazard ratio, 0.49 ; 95 % assurance interval, 0.30 to 0.81 ; P=0.004 ) , with no difference in the rates of haemorrhagic shot between the active and placebo weaponries ( jeopardy ratio, 0.67 ; 95 % assurance interval, 0.24 to 1.88 ; P=0.44 ) . Decision: Rosuvastatin reduces by more than half the incidence of ischaemic shot among work forces and adult females with low degrees of low-density lipoprotein cholesterin degrees who are at hazard because of elevated degrees of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Citation: Everett BM, Glynn RJ, MacFadyen JG, Ridker PM. Circulation. 2010 Jan 5 ; 121 ( 1 ) :143-50. Epub 2009 Dec 21. Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Brigham and Women ‘s Hospital, 900 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Hum 176 Sylabus

The course provides an introduction to the most prominent forms of media that influence and impact social, business, political, and popular culture in contemporary America. It explores the unique aspects of each medium as well as interactions across various media that combine to create rich environments for information sharing, entertainment, business, and social interaction in the U. S. and around the world. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. †¢Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies govern ing your current class modality. Course Materials Campbell, R. , Martin, C. R. , & Fabos, B (2012) Media & culture: An introduction to mass communication (8th. New York, NY: Bedford/St. Martin’s. All electronic materials are available on the student website. Week One: The Formative Influence of Mass Media on American Culture DetailsDuePoints Objectives1. 1. Summarize the evolution of mass media. 1. 2. Identify the effects of mass media on American culture. ReadingRead Ch. 1 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and PreparationWatch â€Å"The Media and Democracy† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Agenda Setting and Gate-Keeping† on Video Central. Not graded Discussion Questions Respond to weekly discussion questions listed below. 15 Week One DQ#1Do traditional media have an advantage over emerging media? If so, what are they? If not, why not? Week One DQ#2 The Internet has provided many forms of social media and new forms are continuously emerging. Which forms of social media do you use on a regular basis and why? Are there any social media that you previously used but no longer use? If so, why? If not, why not? Week One DQ#3 Identify a single type of media (Internet, social media, newspaper, magazine, radio, or television) and describe the changes that have occurred to that type of media over the last 5 to 10 years.What implications so you see for the next 5 years? Explain. Week One DQ#4 If you were a reporter with access to all forms of media distribution, which do you choose first to tell a story? Why? How you might have answered this question differently 20 years ago? Week One DQ#5 In the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s, television news was broadcast by three major television networks. There were practically no opportunities to â€Å"talk back† to the television. Now, through the Internet, there are many ways to respond to both television and Internet news. Do you think this has had a positive or negative effect on A merican culture?Why? Week One DQ#6 Is new media â€Å"mass† or not? Why? ParticipationParticipate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. 10 Supplemental QuestionsMass Media: Research the evolution of mass media, which has changed significantly over the last 100 years. Some forms of mass media have changed so much that they are almost unrecognizable. What are the implications of these changes? How do you see these changes continuing to change the industry? Briefly describe how this activity applied to the weekly concepts. Mass Media Effects on American Culture:Choose an aspect of American life or culture that is or has been influenced by mass media. What are the effects of this influence? What effects does the media influence have on that part of the culture? Is this beneficial? Explain. Assignment Effects of Mass Media WorksheetResources: Week One Readings and Videos Compose answers to fill in the Effects of M ass Media Worksheet. 50 Week Two: Critical Approaches to Mass Media DetailsDuePoints Objectives2. 1. Explain the implications of media convergence, in terms of both technology and business. 2. 2. Identify issues resulting from dependency on mass media. . 3. Describe the value of media literacy. ReadingRead Ch. 1 and 2 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and Preparation Watch â€Å"Going Viral: Political Campaigns and Video† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Tablets, Technology, and the Classroom† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"The Impact of Media Ownership† on Video Central. Not graded Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. 15 Week Two DQ#1 From your own experience, think of an example in which the media have been accused of unfairness. Draw on comments from parents, teachers, religious leaders, politicians, and so forth.Do you think these criticisms were justified? Why, or why not? Week Two DQ#2 Although in some ways postmodern fo rms of communication, such as e-mail, smartphones, and Twitter, have helped people participate in global life, do you think these media have also caused harm to traditional or native cultures? If so, how and why? If not, why not? Week Two DQ#3 How would you define media literacy? What do you think it would take to be considered â€Å"media literate†? Week Two DQ#5 Imagine that you are in a situation for an extended period of time without access to mass media. Would your life style be significantly different?Explain. Week Two DQ#6 According to the textbook, which form of media convergence, technology or business, has the most influence on your news consumption? Why? ParticipationParticipate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. 10 Supplemental QuestionsMedia Convergence: The term media convergence refers to the merging of media content. One definition applies to technology, and the second refers to business: c orporate media conglomerates (see Ch. 1 & 12). Research the implications of this latter phenomenon.What conflicts of interest could occur within media conglomerates, and how could such conflicts affect society’s media consumption? Briefly describe how this activity applied to the weekly concepts. Mass Media: Consider the many different mass media resources for gathering information, such as the Internet, radio, television, and so on. If you were to obtain information from only one of the sources, would your information be reliable and accurate? Why or why not? Assignment Media Convergence WorksheetResources: Week Two readings and videos Compose answers to fill in the Media Convergence Worksheet. 50Week Three: The Significance of the Internet and the Digital Age DetailsDuePoints Objectives3. 1. Explain the implications of easily obtainable information in the digital age. 3. 2. Assess credibility issues regarding information on the Internet. 3. 3. Explain the concept of the dig ital divide. ReadingRead Ch. 2, 11, 13 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and Preparation Watch â€Å"User-Generated Content† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Net Neutrality† on Video Central. Not graded Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. 15 Week Three DQ#1 Do you think the Internet can make democracy work better?If so, how? If not, why not? Week Three DQ#2 Do you think the Internet has a significant influence on political campaigns? Why or why not? Week Three DQ#3 Do you think the concentration of media ownership limits the number of voices in the marketplace? Explain. Week Three DQ#4 How do you know whether you can trust Wikipedia or another online resource? Week Three DQ#5 The digital divide refers to people that have access to digital media versus those that do not. Are people who do not have a smartphone at a disadvantage (that is, are they on the wrong side of the digital divide)? ParticipationParticipate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. 10 Supplemental QuestionsArtists in the Digital Age: The Internet allows for numerous ways for the public to obtain music without paying for it. The Internet also provides numerous ways for artists to promote tours, new music, and memorabilia. Do you think the Internet has created more harm than good to artists in the music industry? Explain your answer. Ethical Responsibilities: What are the ethical responsibilities of Internet users? Include at least two basic ethical responsibilities to which Internet users should always adhere.Do you practice specific manners or â€Å"netiquette† during online interactions that you also expect from others? What kinds of ethical compliance do you expect in online transactions? Assignment Internet and Information PaperYour pen pal from a part of the world that lacks ready access to the Internet has written you a letter and asks you to explain several concep ts. Hello, I hear so many good things and am so fascinated with what you can do with the Internet. Finding all this information so quickly must make your life very easy. But please tell me: how do you assess the value of all this information you find on the Internet?How can you be sure that it is reliable and credible? Also, I have heard the term â€Å"digital divide. † What exactly does it mean, and how do you think this divide could be bridged? Thank you for helping me to understand these issues! Best regards, Your friend Resources: Week Three Readings and Videos Write a 700-to 1,050-word letter in which you respond to your friend’s questions. 50 Week Four: The Role of Social Media and Virtual Networks DetailsDuePoints Objectives4. 1. Explain the role of social media and virtual networks in a broader media culture. 4. 2. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of social media.ReadingRead Ch. 11 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and PreparationWatch â€Å"The Rise of Social Media† on Video Central. Not graded Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. 15 Week Four DQ#1 The Week Four Toolwire Learnscape explores the effectiveness of using social media to bring attention to WhizBang Games. In general, do you think the benefits outweigh the problems of publicizing any business in this way? Why, or why not? Week Four DQ#2 Social media appears to add different benefits and values. What benefits do social media offer for your personal use?What type of negative experiences, if any, have you had from social media? Compare your answers with those of your classmates. How do they differ? Week Four DQ#3 Do you think virtual interactive communities are genuine communities? Why, or why not? Week Four DQ#4 Given the trends in online gaming, what roles beyond entertainment do you see for gaming in the near future? Week Four DQ#5 Do you think the makers of violent and sexually themed games should be held responsible for the behavior of those who play them? Why, or why not? How much responsibility do parents have in allowing children exposure to these sources?Week Four DQ#6 At what age do you think is appropriate for a child to have access to social media? Why? ParticipationParticipate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. 10 Supplemental QuestionsControversial Issue in Gaming: In this week’s Toolwire ® Learnscape, you meet with advertisers for the game you are promoting for WhizBang. You must provide the VP with details regarding controversial issues in electronic gaming. What are the most controversial issues in electronic gaming today? Mass Media Posters:Social media has grown over the last few years, infiltrating many different categories of people. Choose an age group that you can identify with. Create two posters, using Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® slides, depicting the advantages and the disadvantages of social medi a on society. Take into consideration the effect that social media has on your age group. Share your two posters with your class as a reply to this thread. Read through your classmates’ posters and comment on the ideas expressed in the posters. Assignment Social Media AssignmentChoose one of the following options:Option 1: Toolwire ®: Examining the Use of Social Media Access the Toolwire ® Learnscape: Examining the Use of Social Media through the link located on the student website. Complete the Learnscape Activities. Complete the Toolwire ® Learnscape Assessment Part A and Part B. Write 250 word response to each of the following questions: †¢What are the advantages and disadvantages of social media? †¢How might knowing these advantages and disadvantages alter how a person might use social media? Option 2: Social Media Paper Write 700- to 1,050-word paper and address each of the following: Identify at least three different social media networks and describe ho w they are used. †¢Explain the advantages and disadvantages of social media. †¢Explain how knowing the advantages and disadvantages might alter how a person would use social media. Support your findings with specific examples. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. 100 Week Five: The Impact of Audio Entertainment: Music and Radio DetailsDuePoints Objectives5. 1. Explain the reflective relationship between American culture and the audio entertainment media. 5. 2. Assess how music and radio have affected American values. 5. 3.Analyze the influence of music and radio on social behavior. ReadingRead Ch. 6 and 7 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and PreparationWatch â€Å"Recording Music Today† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Alternative Strategies for Music Marketing† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Radio: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Going Visual: Video, Radio, and the Web† on Video Central. Not graded Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. 15 Week Five DQ#1 Over the last century, do you think music has changed from being about artistic expression to being more about money and business?Why or why not? Week Five DQ#2 Is it possible for a band or artist to make topical or political commentary in a song today while focusing on turning a profit? Week Five DQ#3 Can you think of a particular song or album that strongly affected your understanding of culture and society? If so, how did it do so? If not, why don’t you think you had that experience? Week Five DQ#4 Should National Public Radio (NPR), a source for news, commentary, and culture, continue to receive public funding? Why, or why not? Week Five DQ#5 Which of the two do you think had more influence on American culture: rock usic of the ’70s or talk radio of the ’90s? Why? Week Five DQ#6 What artists and bands have had the greatest effect on popular culture? Explain why. Do you t hink the changing genre of popular music influences the culture of different eras? If so, how? If not, why not? ParticipationParticipate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. 10 Supplemental QuestionsMedia Effectiveness: Select a breaking news story and find out how many ways that story is being delivered to an audience: online, traditional media, radio, or television.Which is most effective, and why? Did Music Rock Your World? Reflect back on your childhood and how you absorbed information and entertainment. Did you listen to music on the radio or from another source? How did music influence you as a child? How did music affect your social behavior? Assignment Influence of Music Presentation Resources: Week Five Readings and Videos Create a 5- to 8-PowerPoint ® slides to answer and illustrate the following: †¢In what ways have music and radio shaped American culture and its values? †¢Identify and introd uce your favorite musician, band, or type of music. Explain how American culture and social behavior have been shaped by the music you listen to. †¢Conclude your presentation by summarizing how audio media either reflect or influence social behavior and attitudes. 100 Week Six: The Power of Images: Television and Film DetailsDuePoints Objectives6. 1. Explain the reflective relationship between American culture and the visual entertainment media. 6. 2. Assess how television and film have affected American values. 6. 3. Analyze the influence of television and film on social behavior. ReadingRead Ch. 8, 9 and 15 of Exploring Media & Culture.Nongraded Activities and PreparationWatch â€Å"Blurring the Lines: Marketing Programs Across Platforms† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"What Makes Public Television ‘Public’? † on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Based On: Making Books Into Movies† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"More Than a Movie: Social Issues and Fi lm† on Video Central. Not graded Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. 15 Week Six DQ#1 Choose a movie or show of a time you are familiar with that best reflected the popular culture of this country. What cultural aspects were present that made the movie or show appealing?Do you think those movies or television shows are still relevant and accurate? Why, or why not? Week Six DQ#2 Imagine a world without movies. What would it be like? Why? Week Six DQ#3 Some people consciously decide to not own a television set. Do you think they are wise, or are they missing out? Why do you think so? Week Six DQ#4 YouTube could be called television of the future. Do you think YouTube and television are more alike or different? Why? Week Six DQ#5 In 1939 Gone With the Wind was released with a swear word in it: â€Å"Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn. † Today it would hardly be noticed.What do you think this change says about American culture? Participatio nParticipate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. 10 Supplemental QuestionsEntertainment Think of an entertainment event that influenced you in some way. What effect did that event have on your life? What influence does that type of event have on American culture? Good or Bad? Television and film have been intricately woven into the fabric of American culture over the last 60 years. Think of a specific television program or film that you think affected American culture in a positive or negative way.Explain your opinion. Did it have a lasting effect or create a permanent change? Do you see this as a good or bad result? Assignment Influence of Visual Media Paper Resources: Week Six Readings and Videos Write a 350- to 700-word paper in which you investigate the interrelationship between culture and the visual entertainment media, such as television and film. Include answers to the following questions: †¢In what w ays have various forms of visual entertainment media shaped American culture and its values? †¢Are the social influences of the visual entertainment media mostly positive or negative?Explain. Illustrate your answers with specific examples. Conclude your paper by summarizing how visual media either reflect or influence social behavior and attitudes. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. 75 Week Seven: The News Media: Journalism and Democracy DetailsDuePoints Objectives7. 1. Assess how information media affect American values. 7. 2. Explain the social responsibilities of the news media. 7. 3. Describe the role of the news media in politics. 7. 4. Evaluate the transformative effect of electronic media on journalism. ReadingRead Ch. and 14 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and Preparation Watch â€Å"Newspapers and the Internet: Convergence† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Fake News/Real News: A Fine Line† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"News papers Now: Balancing Citizen Journalism and Investigative Reporting† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Journalism Ethics: What News Is Fit to Print? † on Video Central. Watch â€Å"The Objectivity Myth† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"The Contemporary Journalist: Pundit or Reporter? † on Video Central. Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. Discussion QuestionsParticipationWeek Seven DQ#1 How comfortable are you with the credibility of the information you find on the Internet? For example, consider websites such as dailykos. com, drudgereport. com, huffingtonpost. com, mrc. org, and so on. What, if anything, makes you comfortable about the credibility of these sources? Why? Week Seven DQ#2 Many news media now attempt to increase popularity by incorporating entertainment value into their news items along with information value. Do you think this affects the ability of news media to uphold their social responsibilities? Week Seven DQ#3During the past election, did you ever find yourself following a political story or candidate on the Internet? Did you follow similar stories on candidates through television or in your local paper? What were the differences between Internet reporting and television/newspaper reporting? In your opinion, what are the general effects of the Internet on politics? Week Seven DQ#4 Do you think news reporting has changed significantly with the advent of the Internet and converging media? Why, or why not? Week Seven DQ#5 Do you think the media adequately holds politicians accountable for their actions?Why, or why not? Week Seven DQ#6 American newspapers are reputedly dying. Do you think electronic media have had a major or minor influence on their alleged demise? Explain. 15 Participate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. Supplemental QuestionsPrinciples of Journalism Walter Cronkite, a well-respected American journalist, defin ed the principles of journalism this way: fairness, balance, truth, and honesty. Do you think these principles exist in today’s news journalism? If so, how? If not, how does today’s practice diverge from them?Give specific examples. Political Balancing Act Think about a recent media event involving a political issue that interests you. What role did the news media play? In your opinion, did the news media act ethically? Did they present a balanced or unbalanced view of the event? In what ways? 10 Assignment News MediaChoose one of the following options: Option 1: Toolwire ® Learnscape Credibility and Impact Access the Toolwire ® Learnscape: Credibility and Impact: Exploring the Internet and Politics through the link located on the student website. Complete the Learnscape Activities.Complete the Toolwire ® Learnscape Assessment Part A and Part B. Write 250-word response to the following question: †¢Do the information media have social responsibility? If yes, in what ways? If no, why not? Option 2: Journalist E-mail You are a rookie news journalist, and you just completed your first major assignment covering a political campaign, including extensive research of websites to provide the political background of your story. Your best friend emails you and asks how it went. Write a 350-to 700-word e-mail to your friend in which you detail the challenges you faced regarding the following: Your responsibility as a journalist to provide fair, honest, and balanced coverage. †¢How you struggled with whether your story was socially responsible. †¢Assessing the credibility of the political Internet sites you visited for your research (consider Drudge Report, Daily Kos, Politico, Colbert Nation, The Hill, etc. ). Your awareness of how political news reporting might influence public opinion and American values. †¢100 Week Eight: Advertising and the Culture of Consumerism DetailsDuePoints Objectives8. 1. Explain the role of advertising i n a culture of consumerism. 8. . Outline key persuasive techniques used in consumer advertising. 8. 3. Identify critical issues in advertising. ReadingRead Ch. 12 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and Preparation Watch â€Å"Advertising and Effects on Children† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Advertising in the Digital Age† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Filling the News Hole: Video News Releases† on Video Central. Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. Discussion Questions ParticipationWeek Eight DQ#1 Can you think of an experience where advertising shaped your consumption? Explain.Week Eight DQ#2 Controversial topics in advertising include targeting children(sometimes even in schools); advertising alcohol, tobacco, and prescription drugs; creating a culture of excessive consumerism; promoting unrealistic ideals of beauty and gender roles; deceptive marketing; and aggressive political advertising. Which of these issues do you find most problematic? Why? Week Eight DQ#3 Are there particular advertisements that you find offensive? Which ones, and why? Week Eight DQ#4 Are there particular advertisements that you find annoying? Which ones, and why? Week Eight DQ#5The city of San Francisco in 2010 banned toys in McDonald’s children’s meals. McDonalds responded by offering the toys for a nominal additional cost to the meal. How important do you think the toys were to the sales of those meals? Why? 15 Participate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. Supplement QuestionsCommercial Comparison Find a commercial from the 1960s or 1970s from the Electronic Reserve Reading page or elsewhere, and then a recent one for the same brand or a comparable product. Write a 200-word paragraph comparing the two commercials.What elements have changed in the presentation of the product and in the strategies to sell it? Include links to both commerc ials. Consumer Advertising Techniques Paragraph Consumer advertising has infiltrated all aspects of life. Identify one online advertisement and the persuasive techniques it uses. Evaluate whether these techniques are effective or ineffective. Write a 200-word paragraph discussing the techniques. What elements have influenced the techniques? 10 Assignment Effects of Advertising PresentationResources: Week Eight Readings and Videos Choose a product or service from these examples: †¢Fast food Class of consumer product †¢Personal care †¢Automobile Research online to analyze how that product or service has been advertised. Prepare an 8-to 12-slide PowerPoint ® presentation in which you investigate the role of advertising in a culture of consumerism. Be sure to discuss the following areas: †¢What are the key persuasive techniques used in advertising for your selected product or service? Illustrate with specific examples, explaining how each technique works. †¢Di scuss whether any of the following critical issues that related or connected with you product or service: oChildren and advertising oAdvertising in schools Health and advertising oPolitical advertising †¢Find one example of a commercial or advertisement of your product or service that strikes you as particularly creative and appealing. Consider some of the following questions: oWhat are the elements that are unusual? oWhat is the target group of the commercial? oHow does the commercial appeal to consumers? oWhy do you believe this commercial to be effective in brand name recognition? oWho determines ethical standards for advertising? oHow are ethical standards met (or pushed to their limits)? †¢Summarize the ways in which advertising has affected American culture.Illustrate your findings with specific examples. If you use external references, make sure to list your references on the last slide. Format your presentation consistent with APA guidelines. 100 Week Nine: Freedom of Expression in the Digital Age DetailsDuePoints Objectives9. 1. Assess the tension between free speech and constraints on free speech in media. 9. 2. Explain the legal and regulatory safeguards on free speech in the media. ReadingReview Ch. 7, 15 and 16 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and Preparation Watch â€Å"Bloggers and Legal Rights† on Video Central.Watch â€Å"The First Amendment and Student Speech† on Video Central. Not graded Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. 15 Week Nine DQ#1 Do you think online content should ever be censored? Explain. Week Nine DQ#2 Do you think the current movie rating system serves its intended purpose, or should it be changed? Why, or why not? Week Nine DQ#3 Between 1949 and 1987, the Fairness Doctrine was an FCC rule designed to provide â€Å"reasonable, although not necessarily equal† opportunities in presenting opposing viewpoints in radio broadcasting in order to avoid one-sided presentations.The practice was repealed under President Reagan as part of a wider deregulation effort. Do you think the Fairness Doctrine should be revived, revised, or left dead? Why? Week Nine DQ#4 Some organizations and political figures have declared that Internet access is a civil right. Do you agree or disagree with this thinking? Why? Week Nine DQ#5 What if an Internet search engine limited results to one political viewpoint or another? Would that be legal? Ethical? Explain. Week Nine DQ#6Occasionally search engines and social media sites have been accused of bias or slanted results when they appeared to curtail or advocate one political stance or another. This becomes a subject of debate because these tools are so universally accessed. However, what if a search engine excluded results that promoted hate speech, Internet piracy, or pornography? Is it appropriate to violate some individuals' rights of freedom of speech in any of those cases, or does freedom of speech trump all other concerns? Explain your thoughts. ParticipationParticipate in class discussion.Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. 10 Supplement QuestionsFree Speech Paragraph Identify an aspect of free speech. What are the legal safeguards in the Constitution protecting it? Do these regulations apply differently at the personal level than at the media level? Free Speech Activity Identify an aspect of free speech. Research the legal safeguards around it. Create a single Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® slide depicting those safeguards. Include speaker notes. Share your slide with the class as a reply to this thread. Assignment Free Speech PresentationResources: Week Nine Readings and VideosSelect and research a recent controversial issue in the media that stretched societal tolerance of free speech. Create a presentation, using Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® (6 to 10 slides) or another multimedia tool, in which you explain and discuss the following: †¢The issue itself and why it caused controversy †¢What was done to resolve the controversy? †¢If a legal case, what were the grounds for the verdict? †¢Do you agree with the outcome, or would you have liked to see a more stringent or more lenient resolution? Why? Illustrate your responses. Format your presentation consistent with APA guidelines. 150

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Learn How To Write A Perfect Thematic Essay

Learn How To Write A Perfect Thematic Essay How to Write the Best Thematic Essay Sometimes, students are scared when being assigned a thematic essay. But don’t worry; we are sure you’ve written tons of thematic essays already, they just were called differently, for example, analytical or research essay. However, a thematic essay is not the same as those ones, but sometimes professors do not give exact writing instructions. A thematic essay is an essay discussing a phenomenon, concept, or theme. Here you should use all the skills you mastered when writing previous essays. The skills you will need to write your thematic essay include writing in a well-organized manner, presenting evidence, and supporting your thesis. Thematic Essay Definition Sometimes, professors call any assignment on literature a thematic essay. And, very often teachers assign any essays revolving a certain subject or theme in any branch of life as thematic essays. Some professors think that a thematic essay can be written only about literary devices, i.e. you will have to create a thesis around metaphor, symbolism, or hyperbole, for example. Your task will be to take a motif in the literature and create a thesis around that motif. The motif can be different, for example, success, self-knowledge, lost love, etc. As you can see, the approaches of teachers to thematic essays are very different. One of such common topics is How does William Shakespeare use young love bloom to spread the tragedy seeds in Romeo and Juliet? And here is the example of a thesis on that topic: Mental superiority and infallibility of youth are consistently demonstrated by Shakespeare as means of creating the fundament for the later tragedy. You can select a motif or literary device typical for the text and craft an original thesis. Eventually, your task is to prove the thesis with the help of evidence from the text in a coordinated way. Nowadays, teachers assign more thematic essays not related to literature, they simply link thematic essays with various challenged in social human existence.   It means that you will have to do some deeper research. However, you should realize that the reader might not see the thematic essay issue in the same way as you do. That’s why make sure to provide very tight evidence. A thematic essay might require you to write about some very sensitive social problems, so make sure to use light and elegant words not to make your reader disagree with you. Be focused on your central argument at all times. Let’s Write a Thematic Essay Step By Step Choose the best topic to cover your thematic essay. It can be abusage in the workplace if you write about the exploitation of servants in Victorian England, for example. Select a quote, fact, joke, or statistic related to your best topic and create a hook. Link that topic to the narrower one and discuss it in two-three sentences. Provide the thesis. Write three separate topic sentences for each paragraph provided. For example: 1) The exploitation of servants was a means of participating in darker impulses for the wealthy. 2) The exploitation of servants was caused by poor patterns of communication and politeness of the elite society. 3) The exploitation of servants used the most vulnerable society members, and, thus, was opportunistic. Support each topic sentence by providing evidence from history and top sources. State your thesis again in a different manner. Use new vocabulary to recap the main points in a conclusive paragraph. Now the perspective has to be linked to a bigger social issue. Outline Some students don’t pay much attention to writing an outline while they consider it to be a waste of time. However, writing an outline will make everything clearer and will guide you through your essay. Outline Sample Introduction Interesting fact, joke, statistic, or quote which will be a hook. Up to three sentences relating specific theme. Statement of thesis: Second paragraph First topic sentence supporting the thesis. Evidence supporting that claim and explanation of its relevancy or efficiency. Third paragraph Second topic sentence supporting the thesis. Evidence supporting that claim and explanation of its relevancy or efficiency. Fourth paragraph Third topic sentence supporting the thesis. Evidence supporting that claim and explanation of its relevancy or efficiency. Conclusion Reiterate your thesis. Recall three primary points. Link a perspective to a greater picture of life, history, society, etc. issue. Introduction In order to write an introduction, you should complete several tasks at a time, so it might be a bit confusing. From the very first line, it’s necessary to capture the attention of the reader, present him a wider topic and take them to a more specific one. When your experience in writing essays is not that big, it might be tough. However, if you have troubles with writing an introduction, you can go to your thesis and get back to it later. You will find it much easier to write an introduction after you have finished your essay already. Body Paragraphs The body of your thematic essay requires you to think well and write the strongest topic sentences. In your body paragraphs, you should show you’re able to research, collect and organize evidence and make an analysis. Remember that each topic sentence is to be supported by evidence. Initially, topic paragraphs can be written in a certain order, but later, you can restructure them if it is needed. Yes, it happens that the third paragraph should be first eventually, or the first paragraph should become second. Once the essay is written, take your time and check the body paragraphs order again, while the flow of your ideas has to be nice and understandable. Conclusion Before writing a conclusion, take a break and refresh your mind. The reader should have a clear closure after all. In conclusion, it is necessary to remind your reader about the most important points of the essay and help him understand the general sense of its ending. Topics for Your Thematic Essay History How the Civil displayed progress versus tradition? How the seeds of the Great Depression were sowed by the Roaring Twenties? How the notion of brotherhood was undermined in the Civil War? Discuss how human beings created a royal class in modern times and antiquity. What is the role of religion in civilized nations? Human Rights Can we deny the Holocaust? What are the LGBT rights trends in America for the last decade? Discuss the civil rights movements. Nationalism The Neo-Nazi and the KKK movements. American Revolution and nationalism. Is there any connection between nuclear weaponry and nationalism? We Can Help A thematic essay is assigned to you to check if you can create an original essay using the concepts or trends around the events in history or a piece of literature.   It is a real challenge to brainstorm a thesis unconventionally. Sometimes it seems impossible to find the most proper evidence for your thesis. We get lots of request from students like you, who get stuck with their thematic essay, and we are here to help. Our top writers have created tons of thematic essays and they are always inspired to create a masterpiece for you. Our experts know exactly what teachers want from you and how they evaluate your works, so they will be able to write a perfect thematic essay for you! Conclusion Don’t be scared when you are assigned a thematic essay, while it is the same essay you have already mastered before. All you need to do it to create a more specific thesis around more precise trend or concept. Once you do that, write an essay using the same structure as for all the previous ones. Your main problem might be connected not with writing itself but with finding unique ideas to support your writing. It’s necessary to set your imagination free and think in some new directions for your essay to be unique and successful. And if you need professional help and support, you know where to find us!

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Top 10 Facts About the Yucatan Peninsula

Top 10 Facts About the Yucatan Peninsula The Yucatan Peninsula is an area in southeastern Mexico that separates the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. The peninsula itself is home to the Mexican nations of Yucatan, Campeche, and Quintana Roo. It also covers the northern parts of Belize and Guatemala. The Yucatan is known for its tropical rainforests and jungles, as well as its being the home of the ancient Maya people. Top 10 Geographic Facts The Yucatan Peninsula itself belongs to the Yucatan Platform - a large chunk of land that is partially submerged. The Yucatan Peninsula is the portion that is above the water.It is believed that the mass extinction of the dinosaurs was caused by an asteroid impact in the Caribbean. Scientists have discovered the large Chicxulub Crater just off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and that, along with impact shocks shown on the Yucatans rocks, is likely to be evidence showing where the asteroid hit.The Yucatan Peninsula is a significant area for ancient Mayan culture as there are many different Mayan archaeological sites in the region. The most famous of these include Chichen Itza and Uxmal.Todays Yucatan Peninsula is still home to native Maya people as well as people of Mayan descent. Mayan languages are also still spoken in the area today.The Yucatan Peninsula is a karst landscape dominated by limestone bedrock. As a result, there is very little surface water (and the water that is pr esent is not usually suitable for drinking water) because drainage in these types of landscapes is underground. The Yucatan is thus covered with caves and sinkholes called Cenotes that were used by the Maya to access the groundwater. The climate of the Yucatan Peninsula is tropical and consists of wet and dry seasons. Winters are mild and summers can be very hot.The Yucatan Peninsula is located within the Atlantic Hurricane Belt which means it is vulnerable to hurricanes from June through November. The number of hurricanes that hit the peninsula vary but they are always a threat. In 2005, two category five hurricanes, Emily and Wilma, hit the peninsula and caused extreme damage.Historically, the Yucatans economy has been dependent on cattle ranching and logging. Since the 1970s though, the areas economy has focused on tourism. The two most popular cities are Cancun and Tulum, both of which attract millions of tourists yearly.The Yucatan Peninsula is home to many tropical rainforests and jungles and the area between Guatemala, Mexico, and Belize is the largest continuous area of tropical rainforest in Central America.The name Yucatan also includes the Yucatan state of Mexico that is located on the peninsula. It is a large state with an area of 14,827 square miles (38,402 sq km) and a 2005 population of 1,818,948 people. The capital of Yucatan is Merida. Sources Wikipedia. (20 June 2010). Yucatan - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.Wikipedia (17 June 2010). Yucatan Peninsula - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Capital budgeting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Capital budgeting - Essay Example The criteria for selection of projects is that any project evaluated having positive NPV should be undertaken. This method has the advantage of being that it recognizes the time value of money and risks associated with projected future cash flows. However, it has the limitation of not taking into account the scarcity of capital, and secondly, it’s overly simple (Baker and Kent 2005 pp. 234-86). The profitability index is also known as a cost-benefit ratio it works by ascertaining whether an investment is viable and how much profit will result from it. PI is evaluated as follows;Profitability Index = (Net Present Value + Initial Investment) / Initial InvestmentThe criteria for accepting a project is that if the PI is greater than one it should be accepted otherwise it should be rejected. Its drawbacks and advantages are similar to those of NPV (Pogue 2010 pp.86-146).IRR as investment evaluation technique is widely accepted and cushions against NPV and PI limitations. An interna l rate of return also known as the discounted cash flow rate of return offers a means to financial analysts to quantify the rates of return an investment is envisioned to bring if implemented. It is calculated NPV =∑_(n=0)^Nââ€"’Cn/ã€â€"(1+r)ã€â€"^n = 0 Which is equivalent to NPV/(1+IRR)^year) of all positive and negative cash flows While evaluating investments using IRR any project which has an internal rate of return greater than the opportunity cost of a project usually taken to be a weighted average cost of capital-WACC are accepted.