Hindrance to Effective Communication Essay Example for Free

Hindrance to Effective Communication Essay New technology such as smart phones should be a great asset and a powerful aid to helping us work more efficiently. We can respond to urgent emails on the go, refer to useful websites and look up quick facts. However, these gadgets, as well helping us, can also prove to be a hindrance providing information overload and constant interruptions. We receive so many emails and are exposed to so much information that it can be hard to distil what is actually important and what isn’t. We fill our brains with clutter and lose the ability to focus on our priorities and spend our time responding to trivial emails. We think we are multi-tasking but actually we are becoming less productive. We read each email but don’t always process the information we need. As a result, we risk irritating the sender by asking them to remind us what they said or to send the email again. More worryingly, we allow ourselves to be distracted from more important tasks by the seeming urgency of each email that comes in. This information overload doesn’t only impact the way we process information ourselves but can also have a negative impact on the way others perceive us. It is all too easy to give the impression that you are not listening to the other person. It can be quite obvious even on the telephone that you are distracted by your inbox rather than giving the speaker your full attention. In a face-to-face meeting, of course, it is only too apparent when the person you are talking to is distracted by their smart phone rather than focusing on the content of the meeting. In the past several years, texting and instant messaging have become phenomena that few of us have been able to escape. Though most popular with the younger generations, it is becoming increasingly common to see people of all ages absorbed in silent conversations on their cell phones. The availability of constant, instant communication makes many people feel connected to their friends in ways they never were before. But do these printed messages and instant responses help or hinder us socially? The instant messaging fad brought abbreviations such as LOL (Laugh Out Loud) and BRB (Be Right Back) into our language as commonly accepted words. The younger generations chatted happily in this new language while everyone else struggled to understand what BTW (By the Way) and IDK (I Dont Know) meant. This phenomenon spread over into texting as children as young as five received the latest models of cell phones to communicate with their friends and family. Though everyone with a cell phone is clearly well-connected to other people, the question remains whether engaging in such constant, abbreviated communication is a help or a hindrance in personal relationship skills. Over the past decade there has been a dramatic difference in the attitudes and communication styles of the younger generations, but how much of this change has been compounded by the lack of face to face communication advocated by the texting craze? There is no way to tell for certain whether texting and instant messaging have actually caused the breakdown of one-on-one, face-to-face communication with people, but I believe it has not helped. Instead of using cell phones as a mere communication tool, many young people view them as a necessity they could not possibly live without. We have all seen people glued to their phones, their fingers flying over the keys as they stand in line at the store, or are walk down the mall, and even frighteningly enough, while they are driving. In one case, a pair of girls walking together in the mall admitted that they were texting each other! I have even been engaged in a conversation with someone when they whipped out their phone to send a text message to someone else! Is this the kind of society we are encouraging by allowing young people to be so dependent on their phones? A society where face to face communication all but ceases to exist in place of disembodied text messages, even when the person you are talking to is standing beside you? It may be true that the people sending and receiving those text messages are communicating with each other, but what does it say to the people who are actually physically around them? What happened to the days when you could walk through the store and complete strangers would smile and greet you as you passed? Have the basic societal manners of years gone by disappeared for good? Using cell phones to talk or text is not a bad thing in itself. However, it is my opinion that certain rules of etiquette should be applied when using them in order to maintain a respectful relationship with everyone you are in contact with. Being glued to your cell phone puts off a very distinct signal that you are unavailable and unapproachable to everyone around you. If you text a friend while talking to someone else you are telling the person in front of you that the friend is more important than they are. Bad grammar and spelling are also compounded by electronic communication. Constantly using abbreviations and fragments in instant communication ingrains these bad habits into a person. English teachers have always struggled to encourage correct spelling and grammar in their students. Now, with texting and instant messaging becoming so prevalent, their jobs are that much harder. And it is not just in the classroom where spelling and grammar have fallen by the wayside. Businesses who are interested in maintaining a high level of professionalism are often hard-pressed to find applicants who can spell, speak, and write properly. So, what can we do to help those people who are addicted to their phones remember that there is more to life than texting and instant messaging? I believe that parents should try to encourage their teenagers to talk on the phone for long conversations, rather than texting back and forth 500 times. Doing so will help teens develop real conversation skills which are not possible in the lingo of texting. Also, everyone should be encouraged to give their full attention to the person they are talking to. If you are engaged in a conversation with someone who starts texting some0one else, kindly ask them to finish talking with you first. If they refuse, simply walk away. I have used this method myself very effectively. Usually, if the person cares about you at all, they will realize how rude their behavior is. So, is texting and instant messaging a help or a hindrance? I believe it is both. Texting and instant messaging can be wonderful forms of communication when implemented correctly, but they can also be abused and have adverse effects. People of all ages need to realize that moderation is the key when using alternate forms of communication. By understanding when these forms are appropriate and when they are not, people can gain valuable communication skills, be more likely to absorb correct spelling and grammar principles, be more productive in the business world and appear far more approachable to the world in general. Since society as a whole is becoming increasingly dependent on the instant communication provided by cell phones, I believe that we must all do what we can to engage in respectful behavior ourselves and encourage it in others. Excellent communication, proper grammar and spelling do not have to be things of ages past. With a little effort and encouragement we can all help ensure that these important values of yesteryears are around for future generations. Texting is the preferred method of communication for young people. According to an article by Mike Flacy, DigitalTrends, One in ten young adults between the ages of 18 to 24 report that they send or receive at least 200 text messages per day (approximately 6,000 messages per month). The next age group, 25-34 year olds, typically average about 42 texts per day and this trend continues to decrease down to about 5 texts a day for the 65 and older group. 200 text messages per day? Do they have time to do anything else in life? Will these young adults get carpal tunnel syndrome of the thumbs? Do you prefer to text rather than talk? According to the survey, Most people are too occupied and busy in todays world that they hardly get enough time to have an elaborated conversation on phone, and hence prefer to communicate via text. I can see the attraction to texting, however I do like to hear a persons voice. The emotions and flavor of the conversation can be misunderstood more easily through texting. After all, you cant hear the sighs and laughter while texting. Yes, you can text little acronyms like LOL and put little smiley faces in your text, but sarcasm and irony are lost in texting. I do like to get little morning text messages from my friends far away, and it is how I communicate with my son most of the time. But I would have to say, my preferred method of communication is voice or Skype. With texting taking over, hands-free devices are even more important. Many of the Smartphones have the capability of translating voice into text to send text messages without typing. A good quality Bluetooth headset with noise canceling makes this process much better. Do you have a Bluetooth mobile headset? I have a Droid X, which is a bit cumbersome to hold up to your ear to talk. I love having my Bluetooth headset to use, especially for multitasking around the house while talking on the phone. And of course with more and more states requiring hands-free devices while driving, a good headset is essential. Do you have one? Whats your favorite? Meanwhile, dont get into any thumb wrestling contest with anyone under 30 years of age. You KNOW their thumbs are agile and strong from texting a bazillion words per minute.

Analysis of Three Scenes in Raging Bull Essay -- Movies Film Cinematog

Analysis of the Raging Bull We analyzed two scenes in a movie called the Raging Bull. There were lots of clever techniques that were used. I was looking for five factors in those two scenes: the editing, the lighting and color, the use of the camera the sound and the mise en scene. I will analyze the scenes as much as I can and explain what they signify if possible. Scene 1 This first scene was actually the introduction of the movie. There was no editing or camera movement involved in this scene. The scene was filmed in black and white, I believe the director did this to connote to the audience that this is a piece of history. Black and white pictures also connotes the idea of something legendary and historic. This could fit in the topics of mise en scene or lighting and colour. However I believe it is more in the mise en scene topic because it creates an atmosphere that this is something historic and legendary. The intro was also filmed in slow motion with a slow song. I believe that the non-diegetic soundtrack was a parallel sound because it matched with the use of slow motion. The director uses these two together intentionally to manipulate the audience and to allow them to get into the mood of this movie. I felt like I was watching something important and historic. The soundtrack was the only sound you could here during that first scene. This scene took place in an arena, where there was a ring. The boxer was continuously jumping up and down, warming his self up on the left hand side of the ring. This was an asymmetrical piece because of how the boxer was always on the left hand side of the ring wi... ...ers. We felt like we were in the ring and part of the action. I noticed a few other things which I felt were also important. The darkening of the audience during the fight showed that they were not important and that the director wanted us to focus on the fight. I realised that the sound during the brawl in the audience was loud, and there was a use of low key lighting, which showed how intense and important this game is, that even the crowd got involved. There was silence at the start of the final round which signified how crucial and important this final round is. I realised that there was smoke behind that opponent’s head during the break, which could signify that he was the bad one. I conclude that these five important factors were used to create atmospheres and to connote to the audience what is the situation.

Community Corrections Essay

Introduction: 1. Corrections and the tools used to punish and rehabilitate offenders. 2. Introduce Community Corrections. 3. Introduce Thesis- A community corrections sentencing strategy applies a range of intermediate punishments and would better meet the needs of the penal system, convicted offenders, and the community by lowering costs and prison overcrowding, while keeping intermediate crime offenders out of jails and prisons. Body Paragraphs: 1. How Community Corrections provides alternatives to imprisonment. 2. How Community Corrections is designed to consider both the safety of local residents as well as the treatment and rehabilitation needs of the offender. 3. How Community Corrections reduces prison overcrowding. 4. How Community Corrections allows judges’ a more graduated sentencing system that offers an selection of intermediate sanctions including fines, community service, electronic monitoring, house arrest, intensive probation and boot camps. Conclusion: How a Community Corrections sentencing strategy is effective in its ability to help rehabilitate offenders and keep prisons clear of intermediate offenders. Reference Page: APA formatted reference page. Using community corrections to better meet the needs of the penal system, convicted offenders, and the community. The United States correctional system serves two main specific functions in relation to criminal offenders. The correctional system serves as a tool for punishing offenders and forcing the offender to pay for their crimes, it also serves as a means for rehabilitating offenders and preparing them for successful reentry into society. The correctional system today uses probation, parole, imprisonment, and the death penalty to both punish and rehabilitate offenders. A community corrections sentencing strategy applies a range of intermediate punishments and would better meet the needs of the penal system, convicted offenders, and the community by keeping intermediate crime offenders out of jails and prisons. Community corrections describes programs that provide alternatives to the imprisonment of offenders in jails or prisons. These programs include activities located in the same areas in which offenders live and work. Community corrections options are designed to consider both the safety of local residents as well as the treatment and rehabilitation needs of the offender. According to (Morris & Tonry, 1990), a more comprehensive sentencing strategy that relies on a range of intermediate punishments including; fines, community service, intensive probation, and electronic monitoring would better meet the needs of the penal system, convicted offenders, and the community. Community corrections can be very beneficial to the individuals who are placed on probation in a sense that it gives them a second chance to redeem their wrongs in society. (Foster, Burk, 2006). Community corrections vary from city to city and state to state, and were originally decentralized under the control of local courts. (Foster, Burk, 2006). Currently, community based alternatives to prison are either state run programs, or county run programs subsidized by the state. Community corrections affect society in a number of positive and negative ways. The positive effect is that probation cuts down on prison and jail costs, and can save hundreds of thousands of tax payer dollars that it would cost to feed and house offenders if they were sentenced to prison or jail. A negative effect on society is that you honestly cannot determine whether, the probationer or parolee will abide by the terms of release. Most prisons are experiencing overcrowding. Several states in the south were ordered by federal mandate to either relieve the overcrowding of the prison system or adapt to other forms of corrections (Petersillia, 1998). This created the concept of intermediate sanctions. Intermediate sanctions are the end result of the idea that imprisonment and probation are both used excessively. (Morris and Tonry, 1990). It was argued that intermediate sanctions could relieve overcrowding, enhance public safety and rehabilitate offenders while producing cost saving to the jurisdictions that imposed them (Petersillia, 1998). (Morris and Tonry, 1990) argued that imprisonment and probation are both used exceptionally, with a near emptiness of useful alternatives in between. They argued that judges should be allowed a more graduated sentencing system that offers an selection of intermediate sanctions including fines, community service, electronic monitoring, house arrest, intensive probation and boot camps. This, they felt, was crucial as different punishments are viewed differently by various criminals. Boot camp prisons were designed to relieve the overcrowded prison system by reducing the financial costs to the state with the secondary goal of rehabilitating offenders (Mackenzie and Shaw, 1990). (Mackenzie and Shaw, 1990) found the majority of boot camp participants showed stronger positive feelings about their prison experience and were more motivated about the possibility of personal change rather than those who served their sentence in traditional prisons. (Hermes, 2008) stated, â€Å"From 1987 to 2007, the amount that states spent on corrections increased 127 percent, more than six times the 21 percent increase that states directed to higher education over the same period, according to the report. The report written from the Pew Center stated that, â€Å"the Pew Center on the States also shows that increases in states’ corrections budgets are far surpassing those for higher education.†(Hermes, 2008). The report from the Pew Center also showed that Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, Oregon, and Vermont spend more on corrections than on higher education. Corrections expenses are higher than ever and are on the rise. If the corrections system does not change it will continue to cost states more and more every year. Funding these prisons this way takes money away from higher learning universities and colleges and the students of our future, the time for change is now. A community corrections sentencing strategy is effective in its ability to help rehabilitate offenders, keep prisons clear of intermediate offenders, all while serving the community by lowering costs of prisons and leaving room for the most violent offenders out in the community. Reference Page Community Corrections. (2002). In World of Criminal Justice, Gale. Retrieved from http://lib.kaplan.edu/login?url=/login?qurl=http://www.credoreference.com.lib.kaplan.edu/entry/worldcrims/community_corrections. Deschenes, E. & Petersilia J. (1994) . What punishes? Inmates rank the severity of prison vs. intermediate sanctions. Federal Probation, Vol. 58 Page: 3 Gale. (2008). West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, Edition 2. capital punishment Hermes, J. J. (2008). 5 States Spend More on Prisons Than on Colleges. Chronicle Of Higher Education, 54(27), A17. Mackenzie, D. & Shaw J. (1990). Inmate Adjustment and Change during Shock Incarceration: The Impact of Correctional Boot Camp Programs† Justice Quarterly, Vol.7: 1:125-150 Morris, N., & Tonry, M. (1990). Between prison and probation: Intermediate punishments in a rational sentencing system. New York: Oxford University Press. Pearson Education, Inc. (1995-2010). Sentencing and the Correctional System Summary, Chapter 11. Petersilia, J. (1998). A Decade of Experimenting with Intermediate Sanctions: What Have We Learned† Federal Probation. 62:7-20. Schwarzenegger, A. Governor (2010).http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/jan/08/overcrowded-and-expensive-governor-addresses-calif

Conjugating Servir in Spanish

The Spanish verb servir has most of the meanings of to serve but is used more often than the English verb in describing how things are used. The cognates come from the Latin servire, which originally referred to being a servant or slave. Its meaning of being beneficial developed later. Servir is conjugated irregularly, using the same pattern as pedir and competir. The stem of serv- changes to sirv- when stressed in the indicative mood and always when used in a simple form of the subjunctive mood. The conjugations of the present-tense indicative (the most-used conjugation) are as follows: yo sirvo, tà º sirves, usted/à ©l/ella sirve, nosotros/nosotras servimos, vosotros servà ­s, ustedes/ellos/ellas sirven. Using Servir To Indicate Use or Suitability Although it can stand alone, servir is often followed by the preposition para to indicate how something is used and/or what it is used or useful for. Less common is using the reflexive form servirse followed by the preposition de. Examples with possible translations: Mi mà ³vil me sirve para estar en contacto en las redes sociales. (My cellphone is useful for me to stay in touch with the social networks.)Las vitaminas sirven para la adecuada funcià ³n del cuerpo humano. (Vitamins are used in the proper functioning of the human body.)No todos servimos para todo, pero todos servimos para algo. (Not all of us are good at everything, but all of us are good for something.)No sirve para nada. (Its not helpful for anything.)La jefa de la policà ­a quiere dos perros que sirvieron para detectar narcà ³ticos y explosivos. (The police chief wants two dogs that would be used to detect drugs and explosives.)Nuestro programa de seguridad puede servir como modelo para otras escuelas. (Our security system can be used as a model for other schools.)Esta clase sirve a alumnos con discapacidades graves. (This class serves students with severe disabilities.)Me servà ­ de la llave para abrir la puerta. (I used the key to open the door.)Muchos oradores se sirven h istorias humorà ­sticas para establecer una relacià ³n con la audiencia. (Many speakers use funny stories to make a connection with the audience.) Using Servir To Refer To Serving Someone Although servir often has a domestic connotation such as when it refers to serving food, it can be used in a wide variety of contexts involving helping someone or something. El mesero puso azà ºcar en las tazas e inmediatamente sirvià ³ el tà ©. (The waiter put sugar in the cups and immediately served the tea.)Hay varios mà ©todos de servir la mesa. (There are several ways of setting the table.)Mi abuelo sirvià ³ en el ejà ©rcito durante la guerra. (My grandfather served in the army during the war.)El gobernador dice que quiere servir al pueblo. (The governor says he wants to help the people.) ¿Dà ³nde se sirve el desayuno? (Where is breakfast served?)Me servà ­ la leche en el refrigerador. (I helped myself to the milk in the refrigerator.) ¿En quà © puedo servirte? (How can I help you?) Using Servir in Sports Sports where a ball is served in English typically use servir in Spanish: Si un jugador sirvià ³ fuera de su turno, ese juego queda anulado. (If a player serves out of order, that game wont count.)