The Importance Of Effective Written Communication

The Importance Of Effective Written Communication A communication has two ends to the stick it is composed of a speakers intention and a listeners reception of what is said. -Linda Slakey. Communication is neither transmission of message nor message itself but it is the mutual exchange of understanding, originating with the receiver. Effective communication is very necessary in business. Communication is an essence of management. The basic functions of management i.e. Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Directing and Controlling cannot be performed well without effective communication. Business communication involves constant flow of information. Feedback is an integral part of business communication. Organizations these days are very large and it involves number of people. There are various levels of hierarchy in an organization. Greater the number of levels, more difficult is the job of managing the organization. Communication here plays a very important role in process of directing and controlling the people in organization. Immediate feedback can be obtained and misunderstandings if any can be avoided. There should be effective communication between superiors and subor dinated in an organization, between organization and society at large. It is very essential for success and growth of an organization. Communication gaps should not occur in any organization. Business Communication is basically goal oriented. The rules, regulations and policies of the company have to be communicated to people within and outside the organization. Business Communication is regulated by certain rules and norms. In early times, business communication was limited only to paper-work, telephone calls etc. But now with advent of technology, we have cell phones, video conferencing, emails, and satellite communication which support business communication. Effective business communication helps in building goodwill of an organization. Business Communication can be of two types: Oral Communication An oral communication can be formal or informal. Generally business communication is a formal means of communication, like: meetings, interviews, group discussion, speeches etc. Grapevine is an example of Informal business communication. Written Communication Written means of business communication includes agenda, reports, manual, letters, journals etc. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION The University of North Carolina defines written communication as, clear expression of ideas in writing; includes grammar, organization, and structure. To put it simply, written communication is communication by means of written symbols that is communicated by or to or between people or groups. Thus, written communication is presentation of ideas or essays that make a clear point, supply details supporting that point and demonstrate unity and coherence of thought. It can be in form of letters, memos, circulars, bulletins, reports, instruction cards, manuals, magazines etc. The Importance of Effective Written Communication Effective written communication is an important aspect of business and personal communication because it sends messages that are flat, lacking other elements of communication such as tone of voice, body language and gestures. Written communication can be confusing, offensive and ineffective if it is poorly written, uses vague terminology or doesnt provide concrete definitions for message attempting to be sent. Importance of effective communication is: Print this article Purpose The purpose of effective written communication is to send a message with the intention of the receiver understanding the message and responding to it. For example, if a supervisor needs to get a profit-and-loss statement to his manager, he may print it out, email it or fax it with the required information in writing. If the purpose of written communication is not achieved, the needed information may not be understood, which can cause the manager to appear to his superior as being unorganized or unable to perform her duties appropriately. Requirements Effective written communication should use appropriate spelling, punctuations and grammar. It communicates the information in such a way that the reader can understand, logically organizes the information, takes into consideration the format and style of writing based on the who its intended for and accurately outlines the information. Outcome The outcome of effective written communication is purpose, productivity and clear direction. Written communication has become integrated into daily life through email, text messaging and online chats. If written communication is effective, the receivers know what is expected and how to accomplish the goals. If its ineffective, more time will be spent to clarify than was originally needed. Types Written communication is any form of using written words to send a message. The different types of written communication are a handwritten letter, typed letter, email, text message and online chatting. Consideration Written communication is appropriate in one situation, but may be inappropriate in others. For example, if a person is supposed to appear in court, calling the court house is an ineffective way to communicate with the government. Written communication is expected and functional way to communicate with the government. In order for communication to be effective, it must be sent to the appropriate people. For example, if a person has an issue with his boss, sending a letter to the customer service department would be ineffective way of communication because that department handles external complaints, not employee issues. IMPORTANCE OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATION Written communication has great significance in todays business world. It is an innovative activity of mind. Effective written communication is essential for preparing worthy promotional materials for business development. Speech came before writing, but writing is more unique and formal than speech. Effective writing involves careful choice of words, their organization in correct order in sentences formation as well as cohesive composition of sentences. Also, writing is more valid and reliable than speech. Advantages are: Written communication helps in laying down apparent principles, policies, procedures and rules for running of an organization. It is a permanent means of communication. Thus, it is very useful where record maintenance is required. It helps in proper delegation of responsibilities. While in case of oral communication, it is impossible to fix and delegate responsibilities on the grounds of speech as it can be taken back by the speaker. Written communication is more precise and explicit. Effective written communication develops and enhances an organizations image and reputation. It provides ready records and references. Legal defences can depend upon written communication as it provides valid records. DISADVANTAGES OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATION Written communication does not save upon the costs. It costs huge in terms of stationery and manpower employed in writing/typing and delivering letters. If the receivers of the written message are separated by distance and if they need to clear their doubts, the response is not spontaneous. Written communication is time-consuming as the feedback is not immediate in this case. The encoding and sending of message takes time. Effective written communication requires great skills and competencies in language and vocabulary use. Poor writing skills and quality have a negative impact on organizations image. Too much paper work and e-mails burden is involved. GUIDELINES FOR EFFECTIVE WRITTEN COMMUNICATION In a personal or business setting, the ability to effectively communicate through written correspondence is a must. Written communication can take on many forms including email, text messages, memos, or letters. No matter what format you are using, there are a few basic rules you should follow to ensure that written communication is correct and effective. These are: Simplicity Use simple sentence structure should be there. Complex sentence structure can complicate what you are trying to say and can be easily misunderstood. Sentences should be concise and to the point. Instead of saying I would like to schedule a meeting to discuss the pertinent facts of the case at your earliest convenience, it should rather said Please let me know when we can meet to discuss the case. Avoid Jargon Use jargon or language that only select group of individuals understand should not be used. Written communication should be accessible to your audience, no matter who you are communicating with. Technical language and jargon should only be used when more simplistic language will not work. Specificity Provide specific details whenever possible and avoid writing in ambiguous or unclear details. Instead of writing I have a lot of experience working in this field, write I have worked as an engineer for three and a half years. Be Conversational Written communication is different from academic or scholarly writing and it should be more conversational in nature. As a rule of thumb, write in similar fashion as talk. Read your message aloud to ensure that your writing sounds conversational. Avoid Gendered Language Avoid attaching masculine or feminine pronoun to your writing. While it is technically sound grammar to use he or his when gender is unknown or when referring to a group of people, the language may offend some people. To be on the safer side, do not use a gendered pronoun unless you are sure of the persons gender you are referencing. Avoid Passive Language Choose active verbs instead of passive verbs to add interest to your written communication. Write I drove to the beach on Sunday, instead of When I was driving to the beach on Sunday. Using active voice will also allow you to sound more conversational, as we rarely use passive voice in verbal communication. Be Personable If you know the person you are writing to, acknowledge this relationship and Instead of using blanket pronouns such as you, use the persons name. Make the information you include in your written communication pertinent to the reader. Depending on the relationship you have with the person, begin and end your writing with an appropriate greeting. Medium Selection Right medium should be chosen for written communication. Whether you use email, text messaging, or a letter depends on who you are writing to and what you are writing about. If you have never used text messaging in the work environment, it may not be the best way to correspond with a coworker. Appropriate Humor Use humor in moderation, and only when appropriate for the situation. If you are unfamiliar with the reader, avoid making jokes so as not to offend the reader. If you have a good relationship with your reader, feel free to use humor in your written communication. Even if you know the reader well, avoid offensive humor. Proof Read No matter how good at writing you may be, it is critical to proof read your written communication. Check for spelling or grammatical errors in your writing. Make sure that what you have written effectively communicates the intended message. Confusing language Confusing language means confusing words that can mislead the reader and can cause communication breakdown or barriers between the writer and the reader. Some words are ambiguous, bombastic, vague, trendy, exaggerated, inflated and archaic. It is better to use the familiar word to the far-fetched, the concrete word to the abstract, the single word to the circumlocution and the short word to long. Verbosity Verbosity means the use of too many words. The overuse of words interferes with understanding. Sometimes they are unnecessary as they interrupt the readers understanding of the message. If verbosity persists, it may confuse and bore the reader. For example: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Hes quick. (Ok) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ He moves quickly. (Better) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Mohit was the winner! (Ok) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Mohit won! (Better) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The stability and quality of our financial performance will be developed through the profitable execution of our existing business, as well as the acquisition or development of new businesses. (Too long, too wordy, passive voice) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ We will improve our financial performance not only by executing our existing business more profitably but by acquiring or developing new businesses (Better, shorter, active voice) Information Overload Information overload means giving too much information, hence, reader becomes overwhelmed and confused. This may also cause frustration and cast doubts on the writers credibility. Therefore, as a writer, you must decide what sort of information is required in order to produce a clear, concise and relevant written work. CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD BUSINESS LETTER A business letter has to be courteous and considerate. It has to be precise and clear. It has to be complete. It has to be brief. It should be neat and have good appearance CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD BUSINESS REPORT It should be accurate It should be simple It has to be precise and clear There should be consistency in writing reports Brevity and timeliness It should be neatly presented and should be carefully documented Use graphs, pie-charts, etc to show the numerical data records over years. CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD MINUTES It should be complete in all aspects such as all details should be included such as record topics discussed, decisions made, and action items. Positive language should be used rather than describing the discussion as heated or angry, use passionate, lively, or energeticall of which are just as true as the negative words. It should be clear and accurate

A Comaprison of the Millers Tale and Merchants Tale Essay -- compari

Comparing Miller's Tale and Merchant's Tale Alison in the Miller's Tale and May of the Merchant's Tale are similar in several ways. Both are young women who have married men much older than themselves. They both become involved with young, manipulative men. They also conspire to and do cuckold their husbands. This is not what marriage is about and it is demonstrated in both tales. What makes the Miller's Tale bawdy comedy and the Merchant's tale bitter satire is in the characterization. In the Miller's tale we are giving stereotyped characters. The principals are cardboard cut-outs sent into farcical motion. The Merchant's Tale gives us much more background and detail of the character's lives. The reader is more involved and can feel their situations. Here we will focus on the two women of each tale and how they demonstrate this difference. Alison is described as young and wild. She is like an animal: " Thereto she koude skippe and make game/ As any kyde or calf folwynge his dame" (I. 3259-60). We know that she would be willing to go along with any idea as long as it is "fun". We can see her childish immaturity in the scenes where she lets Absalom "kiss" her. We do not learn the details of her marriage such as her feeling toward John, her husband. We simply know that it is a mis-matched marriage with a large age gap between them. May is not described in much detail compared to Alison. She is simply young, meek and beautiful. The disgusting details of her marriage though are clearly shown. January makes speeches about his desire to consummate his marriage and loathingly promises to take his time. We are with May when the real horror she feels at having to sleep with January is describe... ...In response she acts impertinent and insulted: "'This thank have I for I have maad yow see/ Allas,' quod she, 'that evere I was so kinde!'" (IV. 2388-89). How ridiculous and awful that January believes her explanation. Therefore we can see while both stories have similar elements, the Miller's Tale is straight comedy. The reader is not shown the emotions of the characters. Alison is not a fully developed character. She is and stays what she was described as in the beginning of the tale: an eighteen year old wild girl. The tale is more a parody on courtly love. In contrast, in the Merchant's Tale the reader is shown the disgusting details of January's motives and subsequent marriage. May's character is more fleshed out, the assaults against her explicitly shown. We may feel sorry for the carpenter but January never gets our sympathy.

The Platonist Tradition and the Ordering of Knowledge Essay -- Educati

The Platonist Tradition and the Ordering of Knowledge ABSTRACT: I argue that the contemporary crisis in education — that nothing appears valid as a discipline unless it has a utilitarian value — may be challenged from the perspective of the Platonist tradition. The ascent through philosophy to the vision of Beauty in itself in Plato's Symposium affirms the perception of beauty or nobility as the ultimate end and value of all knowledge. Marsilio Ficino's adaption of Plato in the Renaissance articulates a more metaphysical ascent which broadens the objects of knowledge in order to include the cosmos and the arts as well as philosophy. Together, these two accounts provide a foundation for understanding the ordering of all knowledge toward the end of the perception of beauty or nobility. There is no dichotomy between the sciences and the humanities: there is only a hierarchy of disciplines according to a scale of metaphysical nobility. The sciences, the arts, history, and philosophy are the steps toward knowledge of Beauty in itself. They constitute a vision of liberal education that is not utilitarian, but whose value must be understood precisely through the moral concept of nobility that is the end of such an education. In embracing the concept of beauty or nobility, liberal education affirms the value of life itself. The task of education today is beset increasingly by utilitarian pressures. Mathematics and the sciences seem to be of little interest in themselves, valued only for the Cartesian goal of making humanity the "masters and possessors of nature." (1) The arts are despised, and history and literature simply dismissed—for these require not only reading with care, but the perception of significance within the daunti... ...tary VI. 4, p. 112. (12) Ibid. V. 2, p. 86. Pulchritudo is Ficino's word for "beauty." (13) Ibid. V. 6, pp. 93-94. (14) Ibid. VII. 15, p. 172. (15) On this development, see Kristeller, "The Modern System of the Arts," in Renaissance Thought and the Arts, pp. 163-227. (16) Alberti, On Painting, trans. Cecil Grayson, ed. Martin Kemp (London: Penguin, 1991), p. 71; On the Art of Building in Ten Books, trans. Rykwert, Leach, and Tavernor (Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1988), p. 303. (17) See the selections in Elizabeth G. Holt, ed., A Documentary History of Art, 2 vols. (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1982), 2: 74-86, 141-46. (18) On the importance of narrative, see MacIntyre, After Virtue, pp. 215-16. (19) Aristotle, The Politics, I, 1-2, 1252 a1 - 1253 a35. (20) See G.W.F. Hegel, The Philosophy of History, especially the Introduction.

The Mediatization of Politics in Western Democracies Essay example --

This growing influence of the mass media and changes in communication has led to the subordination of the power of other influential institutions in society. â€Å"This process is referred to as â€Å"mediatisation† and as a result of mediatisation institutions in society and society as a whole is shaped by and ultimately dependent on the mass media† (Mazzoleni and Schulz 1999: 247 – 261). This ultimately means a â€Å"media logic† has formed. In relation to politics the theory of mediatisation is extremely relevant as it is argued that the media shapes political campaigns and political figures. However others argue that the theory of mediatisation and the media has no influence over politics nor does it shape politics. Also that politics remains in control of political processes and functions. In this essay I plan to delve into these arguments to then come up with a conclusion to answer the question of whether there has actually been a â€Å"mediatisatio n† of politics. The first aspect of the mediatisation of politics is the degree to which the media constitutes to be the dominant source of information and channel of political information. This raises the question on whether the media is the main source of information for politics in society. The mass media in politics plays an important role in campaign strategies, communications and opinion polling. An election campaign involves many activities such as speeches, rallies, and press conferences and so on. It is the media which covers these activities and ultimately which political party is winning. This constant coverage of political affairs in the media shows that the media is the main source of communication for politicians in order for the public to find out what is happening in relation to po... ...rketing of Politics Oxford: Blackwells (Chapter 10) Lilleker, D., 2008, Key Concepts in Political Communications. SAGE London Negrine, R. (1996) Communication in the Future of Democracy, Cambridge: University Press Neil T Gavin (2009) Addressing climate change: a media perspective Environmental Politics, 18(5), 765-780 Plasser, F. And Plasser, G. (2002) Global political campaigning: a worldwide analysis of campaigning professionals and their practices_ Praeger Scammel, M. (1995) Designer Politics Basing stoke: Macmillian. (Chapter 8) Web referencing Gordon Brown: I will continue to use YouTube: PM says he will continue using YouTube because it is 'one of the most important mediums' after Tory MP Bill Cash congratulates Brown on his 'comedy turn' accessed 21 Nov. 2012 at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/apr/29/gordon-brown-youtube-video

Anne Fausto-Sterling’s “The Five Sexes”

Exploring the Social Standards of Sex and Gender There are several sources that tell a person how to be a man or woman. Science tells us by recognizing the X or Y chromosomes. The media shows us through the physically ideal celebrities that grace the covers of magazines and flaunt their bodies in commercials. Sports, wrestling, cars, and blue for the boys. Dresses, make-up, painted nails, and pink for the girls. All of these sources, as well as others, have evolved into an expectation that has become institutionalized within society.This expectation, is placement and belonging into the binary system of person: the man or the woman. In Anne Fausot-Sterling's acrticles â€Å"The Five Sexes† and the â€Å"The Five Sexes, Revisited†, the binary system is exposed as being faulted. The author explores the harsh physical and psychological costs that come with the conforming to social standards. In order to understand this phenomena, an explanation of the â€Å"ideal† bo dy, and how that is determined is needed. Also, an explanation of any deviation to what is â€Å"ideal†, and how those people are treated, are important in understanding society's standards of sex and gender.Fausto-Sterling explains the ideal make-up of a man and a woman. â€Å"Males have an X and a Y chromosome, testes, a penis and all of the appropriate internal plumbing for delivering urine and semen to the outside world. They also have well-known secondary sexual characteristics, including a muscular build and facial hair. Women have two X chromosomes, ovaries, all of the internal plumbing to transport urine and ova to the outside world, a system to support pregnancy and fetal development†¦ †. (â€Å"The Five Sexes, Revisited†2). In the idealized world, Fausto-Sterling points out how human beings are a â€Å"dimorphic species†, that is, two kinds. Science takes into account the biological DNA sequence of chromosomes to determine male or female. T he genitalia of a person, his/her biological parts, are the visible factors. This is reinforced by the celebrities whose ideal bodies' are worshiped by society. But what about people who fall in between? Besides the genders male and female, there is also intersexed. Within that group of intersexed, there are subgroups.Fausto-Sterling explains this in her â€Å"The Five Sexes: Why Male and Female are Not Enough†: Firstly, the term â€Å"intersex† is used in medical literature to describe the â€Å"so-called true hermaphrodite† (possesses one testis and one ovary), â€Å"the male pseudohermaphrodite† (possess testes and some aspects of the female genitalia, but no ovaries), and â€Å"female pseudohermaphadites† (possess ovaries and some aspects of the male genitalia but lack testes). I had no idea that there were subgroups to the â€Å"intersexed†.Due to social conformity, along with the advancement of technology and surgical procedure interse xed persons are aimed to be â€Å"fixed† at birth. Although otherwise healthy, there is a need to perform surgery on the baby in order to remove certain sexual organs that don't fit with the perfect idea of what a girl or boy should look like. This often leaves scars, and the psychological and emotional confusion along with it. â€Å"The Five Sexes Revisited† focused on the importance of therapy over surgery. Medical ethicist Laurence B.McCullough of the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor Collefe of Medicine in Houston, Texas â€Å"contend[ed] that in the process of assigning gender, physicians should minimize what he calls irreversible assignments: taking steps such as the surgical removal or modification of gonads or genitalia that the patient may one day want to have reversed†. (4) It is a dangerous gamble to perform â€Å"corrective† surgery and assign a sex shortly after birth because although that child may grow to accept his/her gender identity, there is no guarantee.The consequences of that gamble can cost the patient a lifetime of psychological trauma. The debate on the dangers/benefits of â€Å"corrective† surgery is strong no both sides. To argue in favor of it, one must remember how it was growing up. Children, more-so than adults, want to fit it. There really is, however, a yearning to fit in as a child growing up. As an intersexed child, fitting in would be nearly impossible because of his/her confusion of self.Sterling's insights on what pushed people to surgically alter themselves in order to comply to what society has determined to be â€Å"ideal†. The media constantly reinforces what a man should look like and what a woman should look like, and these, sometimes unrealistic, notions of ideal bodies, distorts people. It reflects how society forces people into a box, and judges anyone who do not fit into that box. These dilemmas stem from a society flawed sense of standard genders, and why a five sex system is a refreshing suggestion.Anne Fausto-Sterling's notion of a five sex system stems from the culture in which we live. There is a cultural idea that mandates that there are only two standards, man and woman, and everything in between is a deviation that needs to be fixed. In â€Å"The Five Sexes, Revisited†, Fausto-Sterling makes an analogy to the placement of intersexed and transgendered people. She says that â€Å"masculine and feminine, cannot be parsed as some kind of continuum. Rather, sex and gender are best conceptualized as points in a multidimensional space†.5) This is a fitting way to look at gender variation, unfortunately however, that is not the way society sees as the standard. This standard has been institutionalized within modern culture, and begins immediately at birth, and continues throughout life. Newborns are given a blue blanket if a boy, and a pink one if a girl. Bathrooms are either for men, or for women, with a cartoon fi gure to represent each. Passports, birth certificates, driver licenses, and other official documents, all require a declaration of male or female. There are no in-betweens.While the introduction of five sexes is certainly a noble idea, its practicality is limited. In Fausto-Sterling's â€Å"The Five Sexes Revisited†, the author postulated that 1. 7% of the general population is intersexed. That being said, introducing five sexes would call for a revamping of the infrastructures and institutions that were built on the binary system of sex and gender. The process would be costly and timely. Introducing the five sexes institutionally may seem out of reach, at least within the foreseeable future, however, its recognition certainly is not.Accepting the five sexes is progress. It can be comparable to the institutionalization of segregation in the United States. Segregation, the separation of black and white, was so embedded into the culture and laws of the United States that nobody ever imagined it would be done with. But through the determination of civil rights movements, segregation became illegal. Through the same determination, LGBQT would be able to achieve the same sense of acceptance, but it won't happen overnight, and probably not even in our lifetime.

Obesity and Government Control

Obesity and Government Control In today’s society there are many Americans who are either overweight or obese and have diabetes. David Zinczenko in â€Å"Don’t Blame the Eater† argues that fast food companies ate to be blamed for the obesity that is now very common in the US. Radley Balko argues in â€Å"What You Eat is Your Business† that the government is responsible for the obesity epidemic that the US is found in today. The government should have some in not all control or regulations on what the people of the country decide to eat.With no control the US is headed for a nation of overweight, obese, diabetic, and unhealthy people. Before the early 1990’s, diabetes found in children were usually because of genetic disorders and around five percent of the children were obsess or had Type Two diabetes. According to the National Institute of Health, about thirty percent of the children population has Type Two diabetes. Because of the increase in the amount of people who are being diagnosed with diabetes, the amount of money spent on health care costs is a surprising one hundred billion a year.Since 1969 that has been a dramatic increase of about ninety-seven billion. (Zinczenko) Zinczenko argues that many fast food restaurants don’t give information on the calorie count their food contains. Unlike grocery items, there aren’t many fast food companies that provide their clients with the calorie information on their food labels. By not giving out this important information, consumers aren’t aware of the unhealthy consumptions.Although this is a good point, we as humans are smart enough to know that if we walk into a fast food restaurant, the food we buy isn’t going to be the healthiest and that if we eat this type of food twice a day every day or even every other day, we will eventually put on a great amount of weight and make our body vulnerable to health risks such as diabetes. The government should m ake it a law for restaurants such a McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s put exactly how many calories each thing on their menu has.The fast food industry doesn’t only target adult but also children by selling kids meals that come with a toy from that popular movie every child wants or has watched or that popular toy company. This is how they attract kids but in return for the money, they give kids that delicious but unhealthy burger with a toy that usually ends up lost or in the garbage after a few days or even hours. Instead of giving a side of fries and soda, what they should do is give kids a daily fruit serving with he choice of either orange or apple juice. There should be a regulation on the amount of calories children can consume at these restaurants. These children are the future of the country and if they grow up having horrible eating habits, how this country going to get anywhere with people who aren’t able to do a certain job because of their health problems? The government should put very tight restrictions on how the fast food industry carries itself when it comes to selling food that isn’t healthy.According to Zinczenko, â€Å"prepared foods aren’t covered under Food and Drug Administration labeling laws. † (Zinczenko 393) This is one very important thing that the government should definitely change. People need to be informed with the amount of calorie intake that delicious Whopper has. If the person sees how many calories they are eating they may second guess about eating fast food four times a week. Changing this regulation can make a difference on someone’s life.Balko states that, â€Å"state legislatures and school boards across the country have begun banning snacks and soda from school campuses and vending machines,† (Balko 396) and that this is not the way to combat obesity. By the government banning the unhealthy foods we eat, they are taking responsibility on our health car e and wellness, instead of us worrying and taking care of ourselves. Although Balko makes a good point, right now the government had no control on our food consumption choices and we are still making horrible health choices.If the government takes control on the food we can and can’t eat, we soon will accustom ourselves to pick a fresh apple over some deep fried onion rings. Pretty soon the US will find itself in a society where the amount of people who are diabetic and obese isn’t sky rocketing. Like everything, there is always going to be those people who don’t agree with the government telling us what to eat and what not to eat. The way I see it right now, in this specific time in life, I would agree with the government helping us out.A little push won’t hurt and in the long run it can make a huge difference on our own health and for the health of those we care most, them being our children, parents, family, and friends. Works Cited Graff, Gerald, and Cathy Birkenstein. â€Å"Don't Blame the Eater. † They Say / I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing. New York: W. W. Norton &, 2010. 391-94. Print. Graff, Gerald, and Cathy Birkenstein. â€Å"What You Eat Is Your Business. † They Say / I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing. New York: W. W. Norton &, 2010. 395-99. Print

Why Was Cinema Going so Popular in the First Half of the Century?

Frances Connolly Year 1 Modern Britain Linda Polley 16th May 2006 Essay Why was cinema going so popular in the first half of the century and why did it decline after 1950? Both the rise in popularity of cinema going and its spectacular decline are not only well documented and discussed, but surprisingly, have generated little general disagreement among historians. Eddie Dyja states categorically that cinema popularity is easily explained, ‘it is cheap accessible and glamorous’1. Where as most of the blame for the decline is attributed to the advent of television.Each is correct; however neither is the complete explanation of either scenario. No study would be complete without examining the social aspects of the cinema going experience, audience participation as well as demographics. The impact of the war cannot be ignored. A war time social survey in 1943 found that seventy percent of the adult population admitted attending the cinema regularly. James Chapman tells us th at during this period ‘larger groups of the population are relatively better represented in the cinema audience than they are in the publics reached by other media’2.Similarly, to explain the decline in cinema solely in terms of television is to ignore the fact that television had actually been around for some time before the decline. Also although the rapid decline began in 1945 television wasn’t widely available until after the coronation in 1953. 3 In addition, an examination of both what was happening in the industry and particularly to the cinema buildings themselves sheds further light on the decline of audiences.The first public screening of a film in this country before a paying audience was on 20th February 1896. It was orchestrated by French magician Felicien Trewey using a Lumiere cinematograph, at Regent Street Polytechnic in London. Admission was 1s and it marked the beginning of Britain’s fifty year love affair with the cinema. Luke Mc Kernan and Stephen Herbert tell us that by ‘the close of the nineteenth century it was firmly established as a medium of entertainment, instruction and experiment’. During the first 10 years of the twentieth century Britain was at the cutting edge of developments with the work of men like William Friese Greene who made the first moving picture on celluloid film in Hyde Park. Another British man, George Albert Smith, actually devised the first colour system Kinemacolour in 1908. Interest in innovation and scientific advancement coupled with a political will to change the lot of the poor meant that this new, cheap form of entertainment appealed to an increasing number of people.Social developments in the early twentieth century, for example Lloyd George’s ‘peoples budget, meant that a slowly increasing number of people had money to spend on non essential items. Also increasingly, those people with money to spend were women and they needed a socially acceptable venu e for their entertainment, the cinema fitted the bill. As they bore the brunt of the drudgery of daily life so their need for escape and a vision of another world was greater. Not only the choice of film but the whole nature of cinema going were factors which drew audiences.The early small ‘flee pits’ where local communities gathered to socialise, Marwick suggests that ‘eating, dozing and, for young couples courting, were all part of the experience’5. Behaviour was somewhat less than decorous; it was accepted practice for audiences to shout at the screen and across the auditorium, making it a much more interactive experience. The films either in the silent era or the early talkies showed a world that the average working class audience could not know about any other way.Even when the images were idealised and less than accurate they provided a glamorous escape from the reality of poverty. When the ‘dream palaces’ typified by the Odeon cinemas bu ilt by Birmingham Businessman Oscar Deutsch began to replace these small local cinemas they simply added to the glamour of the occasion by providing atmosphere from the moment a person entered the building. Film choice was a similarly crucial indicator of the reasons people went to the ‘pictures’. The most popular films were in general the American imports.The industry there had expanded exponentially, the studio system created by the major studio owners and the huge home audiences allowed for the production of big budget high quality films on a tremendous scale. The studios spent vast amounts of time and money marketing not only their films but their stars. Creating a culture of stars, Hollywood royalty who’s every action was big news, world wide and whose salaries could not be conceived of, by the poor working class audiences in Britain who devoured their films.Cinema really came to pre eminence as ‘the entertainment of the masses’ during the war. Michael Sissons and Phillip French tell us that ‘whether it involved Rita Hayworth and Betty Grable cheering up the boys with displays of leg, or Noel Coward and John Mills inspiring them with displays of stiff upper lip,’6 the cinema made a significant contribution to the war effort. In effect, as well as entertaining the cinema now served a higher purpose. War was declared on 3rd September 1939, and although war fare did not immediately reach British shores the effects began to show quickly.Gas masks were issued, blackouts enforced, shelters built, rationing introduced and sand bags were stored everywhere space could be found. On 7th September 1940 the Blitz began and London saw seventy six consecutive nights of bombing. Altogether sixty thousand British civilians were killed and two out of every seven houses was damaged. The brunt of this devastation was born by the working class, in such circumstances it is easy to see why the need for escape was greatly increased. Add to this the social changes brought about by necessity during the war and the rise in cinema attendance is easily understood.Conscription drained the country of young men, (in fact conscription was extended to single women between the ages of nineteen and twenty four,) at a time of greatest need. This drew women, particularly significantly married women into the general work force for the first time. This gave women economic and social freedoms as never before. This same lifting of traditional restrictions was extended to the young. Many young people had to be left to their own devices and the cinema provided a couple of hours of cheap baby sitting. Matinees were a staple for the young and dreaded by the cinema owners.The best seats were only a shilling and at least half the audience paid less. Combined with this, the war years saw an eighty percent rise in wages. An average weekly wage in 1938 was approximately fifty three shillings and three pence; by 1945 this had risen to nin ety three shillings. The cost of living in this same period was only thirty one percent. 7 With married women working some households now had two incomes for the first time put simply there was more money to be spent on leisure when there was limited choice of suitable leisure so the cinema was an excellent option.When we come to examine the evidence for the decline in cinema attendance it is blatantly obvious that television played a considerable part. The opportunity to watch events of national significance such as V. E. Day parades and the marriage of Princess Elizabeth from the comfort of the home was a great advantage and gradually did draw an audience. When the Queen was crowned in 1953 there was a concerted effort made to ensure that the whole nation could see the coverage on television if they so wished and twenty million did.After this date the steep incline of the attendance figures graph can without much fear of contradiction be attributed to the upsurge in television pur chases. However, by this stage the decline in audience numbers had already been significant. Many of the reasons for the increase in popularity can also help to explain its demise. An examination of the cinema building themselves shows several points. Firstly the change from the small local cinema had brought about a change in the experience which actually reduced the social aspect of the experience.By moving the location from town centres people no longer met their friends and neighbours, the new cinemas discouraged rowdy and licentious behaviour so the experience became less of an interactive, social occasion. The purposes the old cinema building were put to adds another dimension to the debate. Many were converted to dance or bingo halls, the former for the young the later for their parents. The variety of activities which had become acceptable during the war had increased, when people particularly the young went out they wanted to interact with the opposite sex as well as their friends.Youth as a separate group with expendable cash were now demanding other forms of entertainment as well as the cinema. In addition to this many of the big cinemas were no longer that new and provided a much less glamorous environment at an ever increasing cost. In his study of the geography of cinema going in Great Britain Barry Doyle found that during the period when cinema attendance was at it’s peak the number of cinemas especially in urban areas was correspondingly high. As new large out of town cinema complexes began to spring up many of the more convenient cinemas closed.He suggests a possible correlation between the decline of cinema attendance and the availability of access to cinemas. 8 Another factor in the decline in cinema attendance can be found in the film industry it self. The British film industry at this time was experiencing a ‘golden age’; its films were well received and more critically successful then ever before. However the picture w as something of a mirage. During the late twenties the financial situation for British production companies was so dire that production was all but at a standstill.In an attempt to bolster the industry The Cinematographers Trade Bill was introduced in 1927, in essence it was a quota system whereby owners were forced to show at first five percent (rising as high as forty five per later), British films in their theatres. 9 In practice what happened was that the British production companies had neither the money nor the infrastructure to produce sufficient good quality films. They made terrible film which in turn gave the American studios the excuse and the opportunity to buy up or into British companies.Films could then be made in Britain using British talent using American money which could be shown within the quota system as British. This did have the short term effect of supporting the British film industry but drained revenues out of the country. So when the Americans hit problems as happened after the war there was no way of filling the gap. After the war the studio system in America could no longer sustain itself, the stars were demanding independence and freedom to choose their own material this meant ever increasing production costs.At the same time the studios lost their other main source of revenue, ownership of the distribution and theatre chains. This monopolistic practice was curtailed when they were forced by the American government to divest themselves of their theatre empires in 1949. 10 American Film simply cost more and there were less of them available. Perhaps the greatest threat to the British cinema came from the British Government who’s interference in the industry had devastating consequences at this time. An audience once lost is hard to regain.In 1947 Dr Hugh Dalton was Chancellor of the Exchequer and in an attempt to curtail the flow of revenues from the country to America decided (without any consultation with the industry), to impose a seventy five percent duty on all imported films. This resulted in the American film industries embargo on Britain. No films until the tax was rescinded. After many machinations committees and discussions, it was lifted and the only tangible action taken was to raise the price of admission thus alienating the public even further.According to the figures of the British film Institute five of the top ten films of all time were made in the nineteen forties and one, the oldest in the list Snow White and the seven Dwarfs was made in 1937. This is because cinema attendance in that decade were ten times higher than today. The changing face of British society throughout the early part of the century meant that the majority working class group had both time and money to spend on entertainment and the cinema provided a social and socially acceptable environment to spend that time and money.In the ‘Good Housekeeping’, Magazine of 1942 there is an article entitled ‘B udgeting for Victory’. In it the housewife is advised to reduce costs as much as possible, yet some provision for ‘Holidays and amusements’ is still allowed. 11 So even at a time of great national crisis spending on entertainment is accepted as an essential all be it a minimal one. The decline in popularity was more complex than it seems at first with many factors playing a small part not least access. However it cannot be disputed that television with its convenience and it aid to status put the final nail in the coffin.It has been estimated that more people owned a television in 1960 than owned a refrigerator. 12 Showing it to be of significance in its own right as a symbol of the growing affluence of British society. By the late fifties early sixties entertainment and the need to be seen to be doing well was of more importance than any convenience which might be gained from the purchase of an item that could not be displayed. So the cheap medium of the enterta inment of the masses to the occasional, one option out of many, in under a decade. ReferencesChris Wrigley, ‘Blackwell Companion to British History, A Companion to Early Twentieth Century Britain’, (Blackwell Publishers ltd, 2003) Alan G. Burton, ‘The British Consumer Co-operative Movement and Film,1890-1960’, (Manchester University Press, 2005) Brian McFarlane, ‘The Encyclopedia of British Film’, Methuen, London,2003) Eddie Dyja, ‘BFI Film Handbook 2005’, (London 2005) Shay Sayre, Cynthia King, ‘Entertainment and Society Audiences Trends and Impacts’, (Sage Publications,London,2003) Claire Monk, Amy Sargeant,’British Historical Cinema’, (Routledge, London 2002) Robert A.Rosentone, ‘Revisioning History, Film and the Construction of a New Past’, (Princton University Press,1995) Marcia Landy, ’British Genres Cinema and Society 1930-1960’, (Princeton University Press,1991) Jeffrey Richards, ‘The Age of the Dream Palace Cinema and Society in Britain 1930-1939’, (Routledge, London,1984) John Hill, Pamela Church Gibson, ‘The Oxford Guide to Film Studies’, (Oxford University Press, 1998) Paddy Scannell, David Cardiff, ‘A Social History of British Broadcasting’, (Basil Blackwell Ltd, Oxford, 1991) John Barnes, ‘The Beginning of the Cinema in England 1894-1901’, ( University of Exeter Press 1998) Charles Barr, ‘Ealing Studios’, (Studio Vista, London,1993) Robert Murphy, ‘Realism ans Tinsel Cinema ans Society in Britain 1939-49’, (Routledge, London, 1992) Michael Sissons, Phillip French, ‘Age of Austerity’, (Greenwood Press,Connecticut,1976) Arthur Marwick, ‘British Society since 1945’, (Penguin Books, London,2003) Arthur Marwick, ‘War and Social change in the Twentieth Century’, (Macmillan, London,1974) James Chapman, ‘The British At War Cinema State and Propaganda 1939-1945’, (I. 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