Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Reading reflection Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reading reflection - Assignment Example Inner speech however may not be an excellent way of learning since the mind might be distracted. As a result of instances of inner speech, the learner shifts the focus from the subject being shared to him hence the learner may not benefit from the inner speech adequately. In reflection No. 2, it is interesting to find out that it is not every question asked that can engage the students in an active way while in class. It is surprising to note that from research, three questions out of five which are asked in class require students to recall learnt data. In addition, out of five questions, the other is a managerial question and only one requires students to think on high levels in their thought processes (Borich, 2013). The statistics are shocking since they punch holes in the other assertions from the book that the thought process is a critical part of the learning process. During such an instance, the students do not learn effectively from the class lessons offered. However, such knowledge provides a chance for teachers to learn and adopt new ways of asking questions the right way to benefit the students. Therefore, whenever asking questions, the teachers should structure them in a way that generates an answer that has been well thought about. The p ractice will lead to actively engaging the thoughts of the students in such a manner that they benefit in the learning process. The use of the correct word choice, tonal variation and emphasis on specific words captivates the mind of the student keeping the mind alert. The main goal of carrying out a dialogue in class in a self-directed learning is to allow students participate in the learning process so as to enable them to understand complex class work content. A teacher achieves the learning objective when the students show gain of knowledge, skills and even develop a

Monday, October 28, 2019

Affects of Westernization on Youth and Culture Essay Example for Free

Affects of Westernization on Youth and Culture Essay Youth are the back bone to a nation. The young generation occupies a special place in a society. They can change the future of the society with their spirited behavior. In a broader sense, the future of any society depends on the youth. The youth are ready to adapt changes because they are young, in search of truth and they are open to different ideas. Young people have better concentrating span contrary to old ones and that is how changes are brought in a society. All societies pay special attention to the youth. The youth acts as the motivating force of revolution. No revolution can be successful without the efforts of youth in a course of action. Their youthful energy enables them to perform great in every field and enables them to be innovative and skillful. Culture is the complete range of learned human behavior patterns. It includes a set of Customs, beliefs, and traditions. Culture is also shaped by Religion, language, festivals, dress, arts and craft. Culture is passed down from generation to generation. Youth of a society preserves its culture. All Cultures are naturally prone to change and, at the same time, to resist change. There are three general sources of influence that are responsible for both change and resistance to it: Forces at work within a society, Contact between societies and Changes in the natural environment. Within a society, processes leading to change include invention and culture loss. Inventions may be either technological or ideological. Technological inventions include new tools, energy sources, and transportation methods. Culture loss is an unavoidable result of old cultural patterns being replaced by new ones. For example, not many Pakistanis today know how to care for a horse. A century ago, this was common knowledge among many people because buggies and horse-riding were the only means of transportation. Since then, vehicles with internal combustion engines have replaced horses and horse care knowledge lost its importance. As a result, children are rarely taught these skills. Instead, they are trained in the use of the new technologies of automobiles, televisions, cellular phones, computers, and iPods. The processes leading to change that occur as a result of contact between societies are diffusion, acculturation and transculturation. Diffusion is the movement of things and ideas from one culture to another. When diffusion occurs, the form of a trait may move from one society to another but not its original cultural meaning. Acculturation is what happens to an entire culture when unfamiliar traits diffuse in on a large scale and significantly replace traditional cultural patterns. Transculturation is what happens to an individual when he or she moves to another society and adopts its culture. The word westernization is defined as â€Å"The social process of becoming familiar with or converting to the customs and practices of Western civilization†. The youth of Pakistan is talented and dedicated. Unfortunately, the youth today is involved in activities which are neither useful to them nor the nation. All that keeps them busy during the day are games, TV shows, movies and socializing with their peers which these days, is commonly called â€Å"hanging out†. At night, they’re busy chatting on the internet, listening to music, attending late night parties and some are even involved in illegal activities like smoking and drinking. They have no vision and instead of improving themselves or doing something productive, they choose to waste their time. All this is because of westernization of youth in Pakistan. Over the past decade, the youth of Pakistan has been adversely affected by western culture. A significant change has been observed in the culture of Pakistan. Many regional rituals have either been forgotten or replaced by western rituals; young people prefer western attire over national dress, fast food is preferred over regional food, family values are not practiced the way they used to, dating has become very common and violent behavior has become a trend among youngsters. In such a situation, culture cannot be passed on in its original form; it would rather be modified or to be more specific, westernized.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Responsible Executive Compensation for a New Era of Accountability Essa

Compensation and the Chief Executive Officer Executive compensation has come under increasing scrutiny in recent literature in the wake of the growing publicity surrounding managerial failures and executive self-interest. Financial experts have long been examining the problem of aligning the performance of executives with their salaries and benefits. Public discontent with the visible top-heaviness of the compensation structure has brought this issue into the spotlight throughout the business world. Experts point to the flaws of traditional payment schemes and offer a number of different solutions. Shareholder value and the success of the firm can be significantly affected by executive performance. Hence, understanding the advantages and costs of the current trends in executive compensation is crucial to the compensation committee of a Fortune 500 corporation. The compensation committee has a difficult task upon its shoulders. It must construct pay programs that attract and retain the best talent to address the individual organization’s needs. It must design a strategy that generates superior returns for investors, appropriately measure managerial performance, and institute a pay practice which is fair to both employees and shareholders and which really drives business results (Mercer p.4). There is abundant theory and research on the strategies thought to accomplish these goals, and the emerging trends in executive compensation seem to be highly successful. The growing public criticisms of ultra-high executive pay are not unfounded. According to Mr. Meizhu Lui, â€Å"the ratio of CEO pay as a multiple of average worker pay has grown tremendously, from 41 to 1 in 1960 to 411 to 1... ...an Resource Consulting. (Jan. 26, 2004). â€Å"Responsible Executive Compensation for a New Era of Accountability.† Perspective. Retrieved October 14, 2006, from http://www.mercerHR.com/responsibleEC Mercer Human Resource Consulting. (Aug. 9, 2004.). Tackling the Challenge of Aligning Pay with Performance. Perspective. Retrieved October 14, 2006, from http://www.mercerHR.com/perspective. Parrino, Robert. (2002). Rewrapping the package: Managerial incentives and corporate governance. Texas Business Review, 1(5). Retrieved Sept. 27, 2006, from the Business & Company Resource Center database. Traichal, Patrick A., George W. Gallinger, and Steve A. Johnson. (1999). The relationship between pay-for-performance contracting and external monitoring. Managerial Finance, 68(21). Retrieved Sept. 27, 2006, from the Business & Company Resource Center database.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Locating Macbeth at the Thresholds of Time, Space and Spiritualism Ess

In the preface to Folie et dà ©raison, Michel Foucault unmistakably locates madness at the limen of cultural identity: European man, since the beginning of the Middle Ages has had a relation to something he calls, indiscriminately, Madness, Dementia, Insanity. †¦ [It is] a realm, no doubt, where what is in question is the limits rather than the identity of a culture. (Foucault xi) By describing madness in this way, he demonstrates his understanding of madness as a cultural phenomenon, defined not by the analysis of a subject’s symptoms, but rather the shared assumption that a subject is not ‘right’, does not conform to the prevailing ideological norm. Written in the late twentieth century, his work is a treatise about the wider cultural effects produced by a policy of confinement of the social outsider. Three centuries earlier, William Shakespeare completed and staged what are now considered the greatest and most evil of all his tragedies, the tragedy of Macbeth. Themes of witchcraft, infanticide, suicide and death pervade the fabric of the play, which possibly contributes to the theatrical superstition that surrounds its production to this day. Nevertheless, it seems curious to me the play is seldom discussed as one that focuses on madness, when it deals with two of the most insane and depraved characters in all of Shakespeare. 1 It seems curious to me that Shakespeare’s tragedies so often revolve around common themes of â€Å"Madness, Dementia, Insanity,† and there is much scholarship as to how this discourse of madness should be interpreted1, but less with particular reference to Macbeth. Curiouser still is that Shakespeare’s Renaissance understanding of madness, as demonstrated in his portrayal of this madness is... ...ephen, et al. 2nd ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2008. Print. Somerville, Henry. Madness in Shakespearian tragedy. London: The Richards Press Ltd., 1929. Print. Styan, J. L. "The Drama: Reason in Madness." Theatre Journal 32 3 (1980): 371-85. Print. ---. Perspectives on Shakespeare in performance. Studies in Shakespeare vol. 11. New York: P. Lang, 1999. Print. Weimann, Robert. Shakespeare and the popular tradition in the theater :studies in the social dimension of dramatic form and function. Ed. Schwartz, Robert. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1978. Print. ii Wheelwright, Philip. "Philosophy of the Threshold." The Sewanee Review 61 1 (1953): 56-75. Print. Wilson Knight, G. The wheel of fire : interpretations of Shakespearian tragedy, with three new essays. University paperbacks, U. P. 12. [4th rev. and enl. ed. London: Methuen, 1965. Print. iii

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Library of Congress

Years ago, Martin Luther King had a dream that all men and women would be equal, all students would be equal. Our laws and progression of civil rights and immigration has changed the United States Public Education System. Racial inequality and color prejudice has damaged the United States; affecting the American education system through legislation meant to help students. The differences in culture background and heritage are being traversed. Borders are supposedly being crossed. Educational theories and classroom practices are taking up new forms in order to conform and meet the educational needs of the global societies.Educators and teachers are being expected to share views and recognize values from different cultures, races, societies and ethnic groups. They are expected to move outside the system and custom of the dominant society and incorporate beliefs other than those they are accustomed with. Our laws and progression of Civil Rights and immigration has changed the United Sta tes public education system. The challenges that face our nation’s children relates to the civil right movements and immigration laws that have guided us to a direction of multicultural education.During the civil rights movement, there were two America’s, a black America and a white America. The school, bathrooms, water fountains, restaurants, bus seats, libraries, movie theaters, hospital floors, and even the line to see Santa Clause were all segregated based on the color of skin. African Americans went to school four months out of the year because they needed to help earn incomes the rest of the months. Their schools had no cafeteria, most with outside bathrooms; and their books were passed down from the white schools so they were all out of date (AARP, LCCR, & Library of Congress, 2004).The school building that contained African American students were falling apart. The classes were overcrowded with too many students, and not enough room for all the needed classes a nd materials. For the most part, these students had teachers that were substitutes who didn’t know what they were doing. The teachers that were in these schools had fixed values for these students and did not provide curriculum that was interesting or pertained to the students who were learning.The assumption of teachers was that these African American students did not deserve â€Å"a great deal in life and that a little, even a very little, (a very little) for a Negro child is a great deal more than he or she has earned† (Kozol, 1990). Complaints were being vocalized with the school districts letting white students ride the bus to attend white schools, and black students had to walk to their school when they lived right next to an â€Å"all white† school (Rafferty, 1965).In 1951, the Supreme Court finally had to face and rule on the subject of Civil Rights. A group called the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), created in 1909 to work towards eliminating segregation and discrimination, came together in a court case Brown versus Board of Education. African Americans had started filing suits against the educational systems as early as 1845, but the Supreme Court combined five cases to hear in 1951.The issues brought before the court was because of school conditions, segregation, deficient curriculum, pupil to teacher ratio, teacher training, extracurricular activity programs offered, transportation deficiencies, and of course teacher salaries (Brown Foundation, 1996). The discriminatory environment derived from civil rights and immigration issues unlocked, and then caused the world to see that human tendencies are to prejudge, discriminate against, and stereotype people based on their ethnic, religious, physical, or cultural characteristics.In 1954, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (347 U. S. 483), also called Brown I ruled by Chief Justice Warren, acknowledged learning to be the most significant task of state and local government and â€Å"repudiated the separate but equal doctrine†, deciding that â€Å"racially segregated schools were inherently unequal† (Cambron-McCabe et al. , 2004). The decision had great impact and important to the civil rights movement. The Supreme Court ruled that school had no place for â€Å"separate but equal† status (AARP, LCCR, & Library of Congress, 2004).A year later the Supreme Court decision in Brown II defined how and when school desegregation would be achieved because there was no standard or deadline set in Brown I (Orfield & Eaton, 1996). The legal precedence of this time caused far reaching social and ideological implications that brought about changes in the 1960’s and beyond. On the other hand, the legal wrangling did not make immigration and civil right issues disappear because of the ambiguity of the legal decisions. The 1960’s brought about race riots all over the U.S. , deaths because of race, and more laws that declared discrimination illegal (http://www. cnn. com/EVENTS/1997/mlk/links. html%20). On January 20, 1964, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn into the Presidency, after the sudden death of President John F. Kennedy. As America mourned the death of JFK, President Lyndon B. Johnson placed his hand on the Holy Bible that was being held by his wife and took the oath of office. On that particular day, Lyndon B. Johnson launched his new program called â€Å"the Great Society.† The agenda was intended to produce a better quality of life for all Americans (Campbell, 1965). Reporters knew the Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson as a â€Å"legislative miracle. † In fact, Dick West of the Dallas Morning News wrote, â€Å"Mr. Truman couldn’t get started on a civil rights bill, because a rebellious congress passed an immigration law over a veto. Jack Kennedy took one whirl at federal aid to education, and then backed off. Then he tried to get Congress to set up a Department of Housing and Urban Development with Cabinet Status and was turned down in the House 264 to 150.† On the other hand, West writes that President Johnson was able to get these laws passed exactly the way he wanted them, thus being named â€Å"The Congressional Magician† (West, 1965 p. 2). President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on July 2, 1964, during a luncheon honoring late President Abraham Lincoln in the East room of the White House. The bill was about discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin (http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Civil_Rights_Act_of_1964).â€Å"The President sat at a small table in the center with racks holding 72 pens, which was an insufficient amount. † He actually used over 100 pens to sign this triumphant bill into law (â€Å"Big Audience†, 1964). Robert F. Kennedy sat in the front row, Martin Luther King sat in the second row, and other senators and cabinet members attended (â₠¬Å"Big Audience†, 1964). President Johnson’s speech was â€Å"swift but had great emphasis as he called on all Americans to close the springs of racial poison and eliminate the last vestiges of injustice in our beloved America† (â€Å"Big Audience†, 1964).The President spoke of the challenge that Lincoln bestowed upon America asking for â€Å"preservation of the union, enlargement of liberties for America and for being true to the Declaration of Independence which gives liberty to all. † The speech was a direct challenge for all Americans to ensure that all people including Black American’s will be a part of a â€Å"complete and equal† society (Negro Due, 1965). In 1968, the Supreme Court decision on Green v. County School Board of New Kent County gave the students the option to transfer from a black to a white school.The ruling states, â€Å"That schools must dismantle segregated dual systems root and branch and that desegregation mu st be achieved with respect to facilities, staff, faculty, extra-curricular activities, and transportation. † Because the Southern United States were fighting against the rulings of the Supreme Court because of their dissatisfaction of desegregation the case Alexander v. Holmes County Board of Education in Mississippi ruled that desegregation must be achieved in every district at once (Orfield & Eaton, 1996).Multi-cultural education is a program seeking to revise and reform both schooling and the political and cultural context of formal schooling and studying. It was designed to have a better impact to society by reducing racial tolerance brought about because of immigration and civil right problems that has plagued our nation. Several categories of programs that are designed encompass not only to restructure and reform subjects and curriculums at school but also to generate and increase contact among races.They are designed primarily to bridge the gap among races. However, in stead of harmonious co-existence and peace being attained, the proposed inclusion of cultures to curriculum, poses lots of intriguing questions. The public is uncertain with their thoughts regarding the changing of curriculum. Often times, multi-cultural education has become the topic of numerous debates and disputes, resulting to a further division of the nation. Multicultural education is intended to decrease if not totally abolish race, ethnic and gender divisions.By helping students achieve the necessary skills and by guiding them they are being prepared in facing the challenges they would soon be encountering. Students are trained to equip themselves with the attitudes needed in order to survive in the real world. However, before such programs can be implemented, a thorough understanding of the real issue at hand must first be achieved. Factors such as demography, social class, funding, quality of educators, student’s cultural backgrounds and public interest should be ca refully considered and taken in to account. ReferencesAARP, LCCR, & Library of Congress (2004). Save Our History: Voices of Civil Rights. The History Channel: The Hearst Corporation. Big Audience: Over 200 Guests See Bill Signed (1964, July 3). Dallas Morning News. Section 1 Page 8. Brown Foundation (1996). Brown VS Board of Education: About the Case. Retrieved October 1, 2007 from http://brownvboard. org/summary/. Cambron-McCabe, N. H. , McCarthy, M. M. , & Thomas, S. (2004). Public School Law 5th Edition. Pearson Education Inc: Boston. p. 149 Campbell, M. (1965). President Johnson Chosen 1965 Newsmaker of the Year.Dallas Morning News, December 24: page A12. Kozol, Jonathan (1990). Death at an Early Age. New York: Penguin Group. Negro’s Due Full Rights, Johnson Says. (1965, February 13). Dallas Morning News, Section A Page 1 Orfield, G & Eaton, S. (1996). Dismantling Desegregation: The Quiet Reversal of Brown vs. Board of Education. New York, NY. The New Press. Rafferty, Max (1965). Children Should Be Taught Sweep, Drama of U. S. Past. Dallas Morning News, December 16: Page A29 West, D. (1965). Johnson’s Legislative Miracle. Dallas Morning News, September 26: Section C page 2.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Everything You Need to Know About Writing Awesome Email Subject Lines

Everything You Need to Know About Writing Awesome Email Subject Lines First impressions matter. This is certainly true for email subject lines. Theyre the first thing recipients see in their inbox.  When written well, they inspire readers to open your email  newsletters and click through to read more. If theyre off target, however, they  let your reader know your email is a waste of time and space. No pressure, though. To make matters worse, we all get too many emails. Whether theyre from a store you dont remember visiting,  or your parents are wondering why you dont write more often (you should really drop them a line), the pursuit of inbox zero is a fabled achievement for knowledge workers (including marketers). So, how do you write subject lines that make your emails stand out? Thats exactly what well cover in this post. Youll learn: The emotional elements of subject lines that drive clicks. Best practices on how to write subject lines. The best way to run A/B tests so you can gather your own data about what works best for you. Make yourself comfortable.  Were going to  write sharp subject lines that demand the attention your email deserves. This Is How To Write Better Email Subject Lines To Get More OpensSnag Your Email Subject Line Template + Resource Bundle This post is packed full of advice. To make it easier to implement while youre on the job, weve rounded up these free templates: Email Subject Lines Template: 43 fill-in-the-blank templates to practice sharpening your subject line writing skills. 500+ Power Words Cheat Sheet: We made this with headlines in mind, but the same words work to infuse emotion into subject lines, too. Power + Emotion Words Cheat Sheet: Another reference sheet loaded with emotional words to drive more engagement. Email Subject Line A/B Test Spreadsheet: A simple Excel file for storing the outcomes of your email subject line A/B tests. ... And Try Our New Email Subject Line Tester You get one chance to write the perfect subject line for your email. Of course, there's no way to be sure how it'll perform until you hit "send." But, wouldn't be great if you could tilt the odds in your favor? That's where our Email Subject Line Tester comes in. Like our popular Headline Analyzer, it's a free and simple tool for testing email subject lines. Enter your subject line: And get your score: Plus, you'll get a detailed breakdown on how to improve your results: Give it a spin now and start optimizing every subject line you write (before sending it to your list). Why Are Subject Lines Important? Like we stated previously, your subject line is the first thing recipients see. In that crucial make-or-break moment when users find your email in their inbox, it's what determines whether they'll click through, or simply ignore your message. Worse, they might even put your newsletter in the trash without even opening it up. Let's start by asking exactly why paying attention to subject lines is important.  Here are some interesting  stats: Source: convinceandconvert.com/convince-convert/15-email-statistics-that-are-shaping-the-future/ When it comes to subject lines, these numbers tell us a few things: Subject lines shouldn't sound overly sales-driven. No one wants to start their day with a blunt sales pitch. Stay out of SPAM folders by sounding natural. Avoid spammy-sounding subject lines. People will learn to avoid your emails, even if you make it into their inbox. Subject lines have a considerable influence on click-through rates. Sure, 35% isn't an astronomical number. However, it's high enough to show subject lines carry weight. Ignore them at your own peril. Writing #email #subject #lines? Commit these three stats to memory.Can You Show Me Some Examples of Great Email Subject Lines? Now, you're probably wondering what good email subject lines look and sound like. There are a ton of great examples and resources out there, and we've rounded up some of the best below: 101 Best Email Subject Lines of 2017 (Digital Marketer) 164 Best Email Subject Lines to Boost Your Email Open Rates (OptinMonster) 13 Insanely Clickable Email Subject Line Examples (Sumo) 40 Great Email Subject Lines (ThriveHive) That should be plenty to point you in the right direction. Three Mechanics of Strong Subject Lines So, you've seen some examples of good subject lines. But, what actually makes them, well, good? Let's break down some mechanics. Write Short Subject Lines For Mobile Devices According to MailChimp, there is little correlation between subject line length and clicks. However, keeping them short may help their appearance on mobile devices. Communicate a Clear Benefit No one will open your marketing email if there is no benefit to the reader. So, make it clear that your recipient will gain something from opening it. In most cases, the benefit of your email will be clear.   Here are some examples: Move snow faster with this plow (benefit: clearing your driveway quicker). Cut grass like a champ (benefit: make lawn mowing easier). Improve your living room for 40% less (benefit: upgrade your furniture, saving money). These are basic examples, but they give you the picture. Use Words That Positively Impact Open Rates The best subject lines use terms shown to drive action. Here's a quick look at 100+ words you should consider: How Do Emotional Appeals Impact Email Open Rates? Subject lines are a lot like headlines. The more emotional, the better. People want to know how their life will be better, easier, or more enjoyable because they read your email. Those kinds of benefits aren't necessarily easy to convey. However, they're essential for optimal open rates. So, how can you pull those emotional levers to get more opens? Start by understanding which emotions you want to invoke, and learn the language necessary to drive that action. Recommended Reading: How to Write Emotional Headlines That Get More Shares Which Emotions Can Email Marketers Tap Into? So, we've established the need to give your emails some feeling. But, which emotions or sensations should marketers focus on eliciting? Let's focus on the following four: Urgency. Why should I act fast (and what will happen if I don't)? Curiosity. How can you  include enough detail to get readers interested, but leave enough mystery that they have to click through? Excitement. Can your subject line hype up your email content (and can your newsletter can back it up)? Joy. What can your subject line do to promote a positive emotional result for your reader? How to Write Subject Lines That Inspire Urgency Let's take a look at some easy subject line formulas and templates you can use to get readers moving. Give Your Reader a Deadline to Act Deadlines and "limited time" messaging can inspire immediate action. Example: Successful marketers will open this ... before time runs out. Tap into FOMO (The Fear of Missing Out) The "fear of missing out" is real, and no one wants to miss out on something good. Example: Limited spots available! Claim yours now. Imply Negative Outcomes Due to Lack of Action What happens if the recipient doesn't take advantage of what's in your email? Example: Don't let your lawn suffer under the summer sun. How to Write Subject Lines That Inspire Curiosity Everyone enjoys a little bit of mystery from time to time, right? Here's how to infuse some suspense into your emails to get more opens. Try the Cliffhanger Approach Leave out enough detail to stoke interest without telling the whole story. Example: Bob's  lawn got greener than ever using ... Start With the End Offer readers a conclusion that leaves them wondering how the story starts. Example: How did Bob's lawn get so green? Use an Open-Ended Question One that can only be answered by opening your email. Example:  What's new at Bob's Lawn Care Emporium? How to Write Subject Lines That Inspire Excitement Get readers excited to open their email (or, well, as excited as you can get while reading email). Here's how to infuse some hype into your subject lines. Incorporate Strong Action Verbs Use language that encourages people to get up and do something. Example: Blast your abs for less at Dave's Gym Give Your Reader a Sense of Exclusivity Email subscribers love feeling like they have the inside track on exclusive deals and information. Example:  Can you keep a secret? Here's some cool news coming soon ... Make an Offer People Can't Refuse Use an accurate but hard-to-believe statistic or incredible offer to generate excitement. Example: Did you know 73% of clients see improvement using this tactic?   How to Write Subject Lines That Inspire Joy You know the saying, "People won't remember what you say, but they'll remember how you made them feel?" That absolutely applies to marketing, your brand, and your email subject lines. Make people feel good and reap the rewards. Use Emojis Intelligently A well-placed emoji can be great for getting a chuckle. Example: Look your best and feel your best :) (this isn't the best example, but pretend that smiley face is a much cooler-looking emoji) Work In Humor (Carefully) Laughter is good for your health. Put people in a good mood, and they'll react more positively to your content. Example: So three marketers walk into a bar ... Give People an Opportunity to Do Good Because it feels good to do good. Example: Make a difference with us for our local animal shelter Apply Your Knowledge: Write Better Subject Lines in Six Steps It's time to take what you've learned  and put it into action. Follow these steps to start writing. Identify the Topic and Purpose of Your Email What is your email newsletter about? Here are some common possibilities: Promoting a sale. Sharing your most recent content. Announcing a new product launch. Offering helpful how-to tips. Getting event registrants. If your email is part of a broader campaign, make sure your messaging is consistent, too. Know Your Audience If you're doing marketing correctly, you should know who your audience is. But, your audience may be comprised of several different market segments. So, make sure you know exactly who you're targeting. Then, craft messaging that will appeal to them. Identify Your Benefit or Value Proposition Why would someone open this email? Think about what's in it for your reader, as much as what's in it for your brand. Some examples could include: Saving money. Completing a task more easily. Doing something charitable. Narrow it down to one core benefit. Pick Your Emotional Appeal Remember Urgency, Curiosity, Excitement, and Joy? Choose one to focus on. Or, consider writing several options targeting different emotional appeals. Whichever you choose, have clear intent behind your words. Match the Message in Your Email Copy Message-match means making sure your subject line aligns with your email's content. Typically, it's a term reserved for digital advertising, ensuring ad copy aligns with a landing page. But, we can apply the same principle here. For example, if you're promoting a sale, make sure your subject line and body copy are consistent with one another. If you're promoting a piece of content, make sure your subject line's message matches what they'll find on the destination page. Write Several Options With the Email Subject Line Tester It's a good idea to try tons of different options before settling on one subject line. If you're writing for a client, you might even give them five or six to choose from. As you write different options, the tester will keep track of your scores: Plus, the tool will help you learn what works (and what doesn't). It's an easy way to Ten Templates to Write Your Own Email Subject Lines As an exercise, try filling in these templates. Then, use the Email Subject Line Tester to see how your efforts perform. The best [AUDIENCE] are using this [TACTIC] to [BENEFIT] Do [ACTION] [PERCENT] better Save [PERCENT] on [PRODUCT] before [NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCE] [NUMBER] Ways to [BENEFIT] Using [PRODUCT] Achieve [GOAL] [PERCENT] Faster With [PRODUCT] Help [ORGANIZATION] do [BENEFIT] before [DEADLINE] The smartest [AUDIENCE] will be at [EVENT] ... Register for [EVENT] by [DEADLINE] and save [PERCENT] Here's how [INFLUENCER] does [ACTION] with [PRODUCT] [NUMBER] secrets the best [AUDIENCE] use to [BENEFIT] These writing prompts are simple, but should help get your creative gears turning. Get More Opens By A/B Testing Email Subject Lines Nearly every email service provider lets you send A/B tests for your email subject lines. Whether you use MailChimp,  Campaign Monitor, or something similar, most provide A/B testing options when building email newsletters. This video is specific to MailChimp, but it covers a lot  of A/B testing basics that should apply to most platforms: However, what  makes a good A/B test? Let's dig into some tips. 5 Effective Tactics for Email  A/B Testing The key to a good A/B test is to choose variables that really are different from one another.  If you test two subject lines that sound too similar, you won't learn much. There needs to be a substantial difference between your two options. Consider these five different approaches when you run your next A/B test: 1. Test Two Different Value Propositions Let's say your email content is promoting a post that both: Shows readers how to save time. Shows them how to save money. These are two different value propositions. So, write two options, one focusing on each benefit. Then, see which performs best. The data will tell you which benefit your audience cares about most. That'll help you continue to write more effective subject lines in the future. The key to a good A/B test is to have options that are different from one another.2. Target  Two Different Emotions Your audience might respond better to curiosity than urgency. Or, maybe they're looking for something that will brighten their day. So, find out. Try  targeting different emotions and see what drives a better response. 3. Test Subject Line Length You might find different subject line lengths work best for you. Or, different lengths may work better for different types of messages. Consider experimenting with short  (one or two words)  versus long (seven or eight words). 4. Test Questions Versus Definitive Statements Questions can help get readers curious. However, definitive statements can express authority. Try both and see what happens. 5. Test Using Stats Statistics can drive email opens, especially when they're difficult to believe. If your email content includes an interesting stat, try incorporating one into subject line A. Then, write subject line B without a stat. Recommended Reading: What 10 Studies Say About the Best Time to Send Email Now, An Exercise In A/B Testing Now, let's try applying what you've learned to an actual A/B test. Write Your Email Content Start by writing your email copy. This will make it easier to write your subject lines. Identify Which Two Variables You'll Test Write two different subject line options. Try to emphasize something different in each one. For example, you could target two different emotions, in order to sell people on reading the same newsletter. Or, you could include an emoji or statistic in one, but not the other. Whichever you choose, the point is to know exactly what you're testing. See Which Does Best Once your email has sent, you'll see relatively quickly which outperformed the other. Use the Email A/B Subject Line Testing template we included in this post to track performance over time: Here are some specific things to monitor: Winning and Losing Subject Lines: Which options perform best? Do certain types appear to fail more frequently than others? Open Rates: How many people opened each email? CTR (Click-Through Rate): How many people click through on each subject line? You'll need to set up and measure A/B tests in your email marketing platform provider. Here's how, using several popular email marketing tools: MailChimp Campaign Monitor HubSpot Pardot Constant Contact Emma Measure Your Results Use the analytics tools built into your email platform to monitor open rates. Use the template included in this post, or create your own following the graphic below. Use it to  track your winner and loser from the test, the difference in the results, and scrutinize the reason why your winner performed the best. This may require some subjective judgment. When  assessing the reason one subject line outperformed the other, keep the following in mind: If you set up clear variables in your A/B test, the reason subject lines succeed or fail should be obvious. For example, if one option includes a statistic, while the other does not, then that's a good indicator that stats resonate with your audience. Look for  patterns. The more you test, the more consistent patterns should  emerge. The days and times you send email can impact results as well. Remember that the actual content of your email may influence open rates (and in turn, your email conversion rates, too. If people aren't interested in the topic of your email, then simply following best practices might not be enough to drive opens and clicks. Great content will get attention. Following proper mechanics and technique merely maximizes great content's ability to make an impact. When it comes to email marketing, your own data beats best practices. The recipients on your email list are  different from anyone else's. What works for another business, might not work for yours. This is why it's better to know how to gather your own data than to simply follow someone else's. Don't use other's data as your guide. Use it to inspire you to get your own data.Now, Go Write Better Subject Lines! It's easy to overlook subject lines when we're writing marketing emails. They're short, so they should be easy, right? Not exactly. It's often tougher to write short, punchy messages than long, rambling pieces. When you only have about 50 characters to work with, every word counts. We can't tell you exactly what messaging will work best in your email.  However, you're now equipped with the knowledge you need to start experimenting with your own subject lines. By following the tips and best practices in this post, you'll be able to dramatically increase your odds of success. Try different things. See what works. Ditch what doesn't. Repeat for success.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Hochschilds King Leopolds Ghost

Hochschilds King Leopolds Ghost Introduction The book narrates the happenings of Congo in the 1890s during the reign of King Leopold II. He II was the ruler of the Congo Free State and during his time, more than half of the total population died because of the injustices caused by his government. The book provides a vivid account of what took place in the 23 years of Leopold’s reign. It informs the reader of the various crimes perpetuated by Leopold by referring to the African and European histories of the same period (Hochschild).Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on Hochschild’s King Leopold’s Ghost specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Book Review King Leopold II managed to put Congo under the colonial empire of Belgium through a process that was full of mischief and sleaze. Throughout the book, we see Leopold’s action depicting his thoughts of entitlement to the fate of the people, such that he treats them like his perso nal possessions, sometimes valueless. Although Congo was a colony of Belgium, King Leopold II acted with impunity concerning the resources of the state. He forced many Africans, in Congo, to work as slaves as he amassed resources from the colony, for personal gains. These included minerals and rubber. Other than vilifying the protagonist, the book also depicts Leopold as very smart. To cover his ill doings, he pretended to be the ally of one European power and used that as a defense against his accusers, who were other European countries. After sometime, he would change allies and play them against each other again. Back in the colony, Leopold used fear to put his subjects in line. For example, he allowed the cutting of hands, from people who disobeyed his rules, to serve as an example to the rest of his subjects. Within the book, the reader learns of a few individuals, who held various interests against King Leopold II. There is Edmund Dere Morel who told the world about the wrong things, done by Leopold. A black journalist named George Washington Williams decided to write an open letter to the king to express his disagreement with the type of leadership and the crimes against humanity perpetuated by the king’s government. Others like Casement did not confront Leopold directly but decided to inform his home country of the crimes, by sending numerous letters. While on one hand the resistance was informing the rest of the world of Leopold’s crimes, the king worked towards concealing his atrocities from everyone by exactly making the state records turn to ash. In his final remark of release, Leopold said that he was not intimidated with the act of handing over the colony; however, he clarified that none of his actions would get into history books. To provide a vivid account of the atrocities of Leopold, the writer relies on other witnesses who published various materials, which give, details of most of the events portrayed in the book.Advertising Looking for book review on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The author only gives a single version of the whole story, emphasizing on the depiction of the need for righteous actions by focusing on Leopold. The book starts with a commerce scene that, except for the manner of trade, would pass as an otherwise ethical business. Here, the reader learns of slave labor, which sets pace for the other atrocities exposed by Hochshchild (Hochschild 1-11). Within the introduction, the author’s imagination creates the preliminary understanding of the colony and its dealings in the reader’s mind. It resonates with the actions and intentions of the few individuals like Morel who receive the illustration of being resistant to the rule of Leopold (Hochschild). In part one, the author gives a contextual history of the relation between European countries and Africa. There are missionaries and explorers moving from northern parts of Africa into the hinterland and setting up colonies. Here, the various traditions and organizations of Africans appear as observed by the various settlers from Europe mentioned in the book. Likewise, Africans also show their opposite observations of Europeans. At this stage, it appears that Africa is learning the ways of the new settlers, while the settlers figure out their newly found land and its people (Hochschild 1-56). In subsequent chapters of the book, the author gives the first person’s narration of events using protagonists and combines their account with reviews from additional sources such as published works of other authors. Hochschild concentrates more on showing how eventually, the efforts of those opposing Leopold succeed (Hochschild 211-240). The reader receives a thorough account of Morel, his business and his way of persuading various people and institutions concerned with the affairs of Congo. Thus although the book is about Le opold, readers learn his story through the works of protestors to his rule who worked tirelessly in ensuring that information left the Congo to find ears across the world, especially Europe. The information traveled in various literary forms such as letters, poems, stories, witness account, sermons and conversations. Conclusion Finally, Hochschild uses external references, such as the Royal Museum of Central Africa, to show evidence of the various forms of European influences that took place in Congo during the period of study. He shows the irony of Europeans fighting off the slavery of other nations while encouraging slaves in Central Africa (Hochschild 292–293). The book succeeds is giving the reader a correct picture of Congo during the rule of Kind Leopold II.Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on Hochschild’s King Leopold’s Ghost specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Hochschild, Adam. King Leop old’s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 1998.