Effect of DDT on the Environment

Effect of DDT on the Environment Effect of DDT to This Environment Pesticides became a bad forebode in agriculture since mid-twentieth century. In agriculture, pesticides are an important element to control the major vector-borne diseases such as malaria and visceral leishmaniasis. There are 4 major groups of pesticides: insecticides, rodenticides, herbicides and fungicides. Although pesticides are vital to protect the crop and also human health in the whole world, but due to their detrimental effects on natural ecosystems more deaths are cause by the pesticide poisoning than infectious diseases. Hence, we should focus more on the short and long term harms of pesticides on the environment. Most of the pesticides are highly toxic and will have immediate adverse effects on human health and also wildlife. Besides that, pesticides which spray on the plant at ground will easily contaminate the soil, water and air. The chronic consequences cause by pesticide including neurotoxic, carcinogenic, immunotoxic, hormonal and reproductive effects. One of the hig hly problematic pesticides is the insecticide dichlorodiphenlytrichoroethane also known as DDT. 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis-(p-chlorophenyl)ethane is the scientific name of DDT and the chemical formula is C14H9Cl5. DDT is build up by 14 carbon, 9 hydrogen and 5 chlorine atoms (Figure 1). Figure 1. Molecular structure of DDT. In its nature form, DDT is crystalline powder with odorless to slightly fragrant in white color. The melting point is at 108.5ËÅ ¡C, and boiling point at 185ËÅ ¡C. DDT is highly insoluble in water but is soluble in most organic solvents. This molecule is lipophilic and partitions readily into the fat of all living organisms. Biomagnification and bioaccumulation in the food web make this molecule become more negative impact to the organisms. When the DDT break down the product will be 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDD or TDE) and 1,1-dichloro-2,2bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene)(DDE). These two compounds are actually also present everywhere in the environment and are more persistent than the parent compound (Ritter, Solomon, Forget, 1996). DDT is an organochlorine insecticide and is considered a persistent organic pollutant (POP) (PAN Germany for PAN International, 2009). According to Turusov et al. (2002), in year 1874, DDT was first synthesized but until year 1943 its insecticidal properties just discovered and in 1943 large-scale industrial production are started. DDT is contributed to worldwide use and widely accepted by people because of its low price and effectiveness to control malaria and typhus during and immediately after World War II. In order to control the agriculture and forest pests, much more DDT was used after 1945. About 400,000 tons of DDTs were used yearly in this world at 1960s, and 70 – 80% was used for agriculture (Turusov et al., 2002). DDT is a persistent, widespread environmental contaminant that causes significant anatomical, behavioral abnormalities and physiological in humans and also wildlife (Iwaniuk, et al., 2006). In January 1970, the first country – Sweden had banned the use of DDT. In the same year, the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R) was prohibited all DDT and DDT-based products for use as pesticides because of their destruction and persistence effect by bioaccumulation and the carcinogenicity. The production and use of DDT in agriculture were banned too in 1981, but the use for public health purposed was still allowed. In year 1972, most uses of DDT were banned in other countries. The use of DDT has been banned in 34 countries and severely restricted in 34 other countries. Argentina, Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Finland, Hong Kong, Japan, Mozambique, Lebanon, Switzerland, Norway, and USA are the countries that have banned DDT. The countries that have severely restricted its use include Thailand, Israel, Panama, Kenya, Mexico, Belize, India, Ecuador and the EU (Ritter, Solomon, Forget, 1996). DDT is not very strong toxic like most of the organochlorine insecticides, but this chemical is widely use and spread (Ritter, Solomon, Forget, 1996). In Turusov et al. (2001) study showed that the process of biodegradation of this chemical is very slow and it will persists for a long time in the environment. DDT will likely to accumulate in the food chain and in the tissues of living organisms. When expose to DDT and digest it, this molecule will store in all the tissues, especially in fat. Bioaccumulation occurred by accumulate the DDT from small concentration to high concentration in the food web. Due to it widespread, uncontrolled, and intensive use, this chemical has resulted in worldwide pollution. In the body of all birds and fishes analyzed in the study of Turusov et al. (2001), DDT residues are found even in those living in desert areas or in the depths of the oceans. Human are most likely to be exposed to DDT from the food they eat. Almost all the meat, fish, and dairy products are contaminating with DDT. Hence, by eating, breathing or touching the products which contaminated with DDT, this chemical will easily absorbed into our body. After ingested, DDT will convert into several breakdown products called metabolites that included DDE and stored in the fatty tissues. For the pregnant women, DDT and DDE can be passed to the fetus by breast feeding (Centers for Disease Control and Preventation, 2009). If human expose to high concentration of DDT, the symptoms like vomiting, tremors or shakiness, and seizures will occur. Besides that, DDT also considered a possible human carcinogen. Birds usually played a major role in creating awareness of pollution problems. Birds are most probably believed to expose to DDT by ingestion (Enrlich, et al. 1988). The pesticide can be swallowing by the birds directly or the birds eat the contaminated prey. Besides that, they may also ingest pesticide residues off feathers while preening, or they may drink or bathe in contaminated water. When the birds expose to aerially spread DDT, the chemical will absorbed through the skin or inhaled into the body (Edwards, 2004). DDT and DDE are persistent as they tend to concentrate as they move through the food chain (Figure 2). In the marine communities, the contaminated planktons are eaten by small fishes, and then bigger fishes will consume small fishes. DDTs are passing from a small concentration in planktons to bigger fish. DDT will store in the fatty acid of fishes, when fish-eating birds consume the fish, all the bio accumulated DDT will pass into the bird’s body. Most of the DD T from numerous fishes ends up in the body of few birds. Bioaccumulation of DDT in birds high on food chains occurs not only because there is usually reduced biomass at each step in those chains, but also because predatory birds tend to live a long time. DDT take in only a little per day, but when they keep most of what they get and they live many days (Deinlein, n.d.). Figure 2. Bioaccumulation of DDT. DDT with high concentration does not usually kill the bird outright. However, DDT and its relatives will alter the bird’s calcium metabolism in a way that results in thin eggshells (Edwards, 2004). Since the eggshells are too thin and are unable to support the weight of the embryo of bird, heavily DDT-infested Brown Pelicans and Bald Eagles tend to find omelets in their nests. DDT resulted in the decimation of the Brown Pelican populations in much of North America and the extermination the Peregrine Falcon in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. Shell-thinning caused lesser declines in populations of Golden and Bald Eagles and White Pelicans, among others (Enrlich, et al. 1988). Fortunately, the scientists are able to figure out the cause of the breeding failures in time, and the use of DDT was banned almost completely in the US at 1972. The Arctic, polar bears also become one of the victims of DDT. Chemical pollutants are carried towards the Arctic Ocean by the great continental rivers of Russia and Canada. DDT that in the sea are wafted northwards by the currents. Even the DDT molecule in the air will be carry by winds to the Arctic, where they condense in the cold and fall to the ground in snow or hail. The most direct and effective way to bring DDT that will cause an effect to polar bear and its offspring is biomagnification. DDTs are biomagnify as they move up the food chain from the small plankton to polar bear. As polar bear is the carnivores, it accumulates the most concentrated amounts of them. Before the hibernation, polar bear will consume large amount of fish to store as fat. DDT which accumulates in the fish will then store in the fatty tissues. When the polar bear start to use the fat during hibernation, DDT is being release and causes the death. In addition, DDT will also reduce the polar bear capacity to bread and lower their immune system (Polar bears: Walking on thin ice, 2006). The available epidemiologic and scientific data indicate that the presence and persistence of DDT and its metabolites worldwide are still problems of great relevance to public health. It has been debated at the United Nations Environment Program whether DDT should have been totally banned together with 11 other persistent organic pollutants. However, the total ban of DDT was sharply criticized in South Africa. This is because, a temporary total ban on the use of DDT for indoor spraying resulted in a sudden increase in malaria. Now, 11 countries in Africa, 7 in Asia, and 5 in Latin America still use DDT for vector disease control (Turusov et al., 2002). There is a general consensus that limited and strictly controlled use of DDT should be allowed for public health purposes, in particular where other effective, safe, and affordable alternatives are not available, and the benefits are clearly far superior to possible risks. In conclusion, to solve the problem of DDT an efficient pestici des that do not have the negative properties of DDT and its metabolites should be sought with the goal of replacing DDT completely. References Centers for Disease Control and Preventation (CDC), (2009). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/pdf/DDT_FactSheet.pdf Deinlein, M. (n.d.). Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. When it comes to pesticides, birds are sitting ducks. Retrieved from http://nationalzoo.si.edu/scbi/migratorybirds/fact_sheets/fxsht8.pdf Edwards, J. G. (2004). DDT: A case study in scientific fraud. Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, 9, 3, 83-88. Ehrlich, P. R., Dobkin, D. S., Wheye, D. (1988). DDT and birds. Retrieved from https://web.stanford.edu/group/stanfordbirds/text/essays/DDT_and_Birds.html Iwaniuk, A. N., Koperski, D. T., Cheng, K. M., Elliott, J. E., Smith, L. K., †¦, Wylie, D. R. W. (2006). The effects of environmental exposure to DDT on the brain of a songbird: Changes in structures associated with mating and song. Behavioural BrainResearch, 173, 1-10. Polar bears: Walking on thin ice. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/polar-bears-walking-on-thin-ice-523207.html Ritter, L., Solomon, K. R., Forget, J. (1996). Persistent organic pollutants. Retrieved from http://www.chem.unep.ch/pops/ritter/en/ritteren.pdf Turusov, V., Rakitsky, V. Tomatis, L. (2002). DIchlorodiphenytrichloroethane (DDT): Ubiquity, persistence, and risks. Environmental Health Perspectives, 110, 2, 125-128.

battle for the muddy mississippi :: essays research papers

Battle for the Muddy Mississippi "Take Cover!" This phrase was used daily as the citizens of Vicksburg scattered from the raining of mortars by Union guns. Vicksburg, Mississippi is a city in the heartland of the deep South. It sits on high bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River near the mouth of the Yazoo River. Settled in 1790, Vicksburg was and is an important shipping and trading center (Leonard 40). During the Civil War, Vicksburg was a key factor in the control of the entire Mississippi River. After the surrender of Natchez, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans, the Union wanted Vicksburg. The city wouldn't go easy. "Mississippians don't know, and refuse to learn how to surrender†¦"(Ward 420). Confederates fortified it with guns and field artillery to keep the city out of the Union's hands. The Union knew it wasn't going to be easy. In the siege of Vicksburg, Farragut tried to take the city, Grant took over, and he seized the city. General Farragut, a Union general, reaches Vicksburg on May 26, 1862. His ships fired 20 shots and continued down stream. The following day Farragut returned and bombarded the city for 12 hours (Miles 194). The civilians left to live in the country until things calmed down (Foote 395). Van Dorn, leader of defense for Vicksburg, sent the "Arkansas" to Vicksburg. The "Arkansas" destroyed three warships for an estimated loss of $3,000,000 (Foote 386). The ship was later grounded and her own crew destroyed her (Miles 224). The process of trying to run past Vicksburg's guns became too difficult. The Union tried to build canals to bypass the city. Farragut started a canal across a peninsula north of Vicksburg that would return to the river 10 miles past the city but his attempts failed (Miles 202). He finally withdrew from Vicksburg and headed south to Baton Rouge (Miles 229). In October of 1862 the commander of Tennessee was brought in to clear the Confederates off the ir turf. Ulysses S. Grant replaced Farragut to finish what he started. Gen. Pemberton was brought in to lead in Vicksburg's defenses. Gen. Pemberton found many of the defenses inadequate and replaces cannon, rebuilds forts, and placed them in more effective locations (Miles 283). Major Sam Lockett was chief engineer under Pemberton. He worked on the layout of the forts. The main forts protected the entrances of the 6 main roads entering the city.

Essay examples --

Since the mid-1990s, the United Nations (UN) and other multilateral bodies have asserted authority for the administration of war-torn territories and shouldered the responsibility of placing them on the trajectory of political change (Knoll 2008: 2). In 1995, right after Dayton Peace Agreement, the UN assumed responsibility in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Chesterman 2004: 2). In 1999, following NATO’s armed intervention in Kosovo, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1244 establishing the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (Brabandere 2009: 37). Just a few months later, a transitional administration was created with effective sovereignty over East Timor until independence (UNTAET). These expanding mandates continued a trend that began with the operations in Namibia in 1989 and Cambodia in 1993, where the United Nations exercised varying degrees of civilian authority in addition to supervising elections (Chesterman 2004: 2). However, although the UN had assumed responsibility in 68 countries since 1948, the missions in Bosnia, Kosovo, and East Timor are commonly seen as unique in the history of the United Nations (Chesterman 2004; Doyle 2001; Chopra 1998; Wolfrum 2005; Stahn 2008). First, international administrations of these countries represent the most comprehensive missions ever deployed by the United Nations. Second, these cases also represent clear examples of democratic regime-building efforts on the part of international administrators. In the three cases, democratic regime-building has been an explicit goal, and international administrators have sought to oversee and involve themselves in a full process of regime change (Tansey 2009). Lastly, the three cases also display variation on both independent a... ...lack of interviews or surveys represents a limitation in this respect. These gathering-data techniques could enormously supplement the present paper in addition to primary documents, academic literature and non-academic materials published by think-tanks and NGOs. Second, following Przeworski et. al. (2000) and Mainwaring et. al. (2001), the present paper it leaves out substantive results such as social equality and economic development. Nevertheless, although these caveats are significant and may serve as the impetus for further research they do not overshadow the modest endeavor of the present paper. As Mainwaring et. al. (2000) suggests, by applying a trichotomous scale with a modest information demand, the number of coding errors significantly would be reduced and thus achieve greater reliability than would be possible under a more demanding measurement scale.

Theme of Guilt in Hamlet & Fifth Business

There is one human emotion that can paralyse us, lead us to lie both to ourselves and others, to commit actions that we don’t endure, and to cripple any rational thought processes. It is self perpetuating if allowed to get out of control. Its side effects are anger, aggressiveness, fear or reclusiveness. Its symptoms are irrational behaviour, lying, anguish, and lack of self-esteem. It is the strong emotion that can affect our conscience, like an acid drop it corrodes the soul within and in extreme conditions it demolishes one’s life, it is better known as guilt. Guilt is a reoccurring theme in Robertson Davies’ Fifth Business, and William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, that is demonstrated by various characters including, Dunstable Ramsay, Paul Dempster, Hamlet and Claudius and this essay shall compare the theme of guilt between the two literatures. In the novel Fifth Business, guilt is a plague that has spread throughout the lives of Dunstan Ramsay, and Paul Dempster; both characters are drenched with guilt that was a result of a tragic incident caused by Percy Staunton Boyd when he threw the snowball and it â€Å"hit Mrs. Dempster on the back of the head. † (Davies, 2). Dunstan experiences guilt early on in his childhood, realizing it is him who ultimately caused the premature labour of Paul, â€Å"Nevertheless this conversation reheated my strong sense of guilt and responsibility about Paul. † (Davies, 136). As the guilt overtakes his life, Dunny compares what he is feeling to what dying feels like and questions whether that would be better than dealing with this overwhelming guilt: â€Å"Ah, if dying were all there was to it! Hell and torment at once, but at least you know where you stand. It is living with these guilty secrets that exacts the price† (Davies, 19). Born prematurely, Paul Dempster was convicted of being guilty as he was responsible for robbing his mother of her sanity, as explained to him by his father, Amasa Dempster, â€Å"My father always told me it was my birth that robbed her of her sanity. So as a child I had to carry the weight of my mother’s madness as something that was my own doing. † (Davies, 148). Moreover Paul was forced to feel the guilt at a young age, causing him to become frustrated, and that is when he decides to escape from Deptford and runs away with Le grand Cirque forain des St. Vite (Davies, 148), â€Å"‘He was my only teacher till I ran away with a circus. † (Davies, 265). Equivalently in the play Hamlet, the theme of guilt was developed through Hamlet and his most hateful enemy, King Claudius. Hamlet experiences guilt when he recognizes that he has not yet avenged his father’s death and in Act I Scene ii Hamlet reveals that he is upset and disappointed with himself, as he has not taken any actions to attain revenge from Claudius, the murderer of his father. Hamlet then calls himself, â€Å"a peasant slave† and questions, â€Å"What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, That he should weep for her? What would he do, Had he motive and cue for passion That I have? † (Shakespeare, II, ii, 529. 38-541). Furthermore, Hamlet later decides to relief his overwhelming guilt by commanding the actors to re-enact his father’s death through The Murder of Gonzago, (Shakespeare, III, ii, 284), in order to confirm that the ghost was being truthful and Claudius did kill his father, â€Å"May be the devil, and the devil hath power T' assume a pleasing shape. Yea, and perhaps Out of my weakness and my melancholy, As he is very potent with such spirits, Abuses me to da mn me. I’ll have grounds More relative than this. The play’s the thing Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king. † (Shakespeare, II, ii, 561- 567). Eagerly wanting the throne Claudius murdered his brother, King Hamlet by poisoning him when he was sleeping in the garden, â€Å"He poisons him i’ th’ garden for‘s estate. † (Shakespeare, III, ii, 246); his crime was soon revealed by the intelligent Hamlet, when he ordered the actors to create a play outlining the murder of King Hamlet, â€Å"Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue. †(Shakespeare, III, ii, 190-191). Claudius provoked and disturbed from the play, orders for it to be stopped, â€Å"Give o’er the play. † (Shakespeare, III, ii, 253) and leaves the scene, â€Å"The king rises. (Shakespeare, III, ii, 250) as his dirty crime is now evident. Devoured with the guilt of killing his brother, Claudius confesses and prays to God, hoping that it will cost him less time in Purgatory, â€Å"Oh, my offence is rank. It smells to heaven. It hath the primal eldest curse upon ’t, A brotherà ¢â‚¬â„¢s murder. Pray can I not. Though inclination be as sharp as will, My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent, And, like a man to double business bound, I stand in pause where I shall first begin, And both neglect. † (Shakespeare, III, ii, 37-44). Silent yet deadly, its side effects are anger, aggressiveness or fear and reclusiveness. Its symptoms are irrational behaviour, lying, anguish, and lack of self-esteem. It is the strong emotion that can affect our conscience, like an acid drop it corrodes the soul within and in extreme conditions it demolishes one’s life, it is better known as guilt. The theme of guilt is an important reoccurring phenomenon in Robertson Davies’ Fifth Business, and William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, as demonstrated by a number of characters including, Dunstable Ramsay, Paul Dempster, Hamlet, and Claudius, and this essay compared the theme of guilt between the two literatures.

A Game of Thrones Chapter Twenty-five

Eddard Lord Arryn's death was a great sadness for all of us, my lord,† Grand Maester Pycelle said. â€Å"I would be more than happy to tell you what I can of the manner of his passing. Do be seated. Would you care for refreshments? Some dates, perhaps? I have some very fine persimmons as well. Wine no longer agrees with my digestion, I fear, but I can offer you a cup of iced milk, sweetened with honey. I find it most refreshing in this heat.† There was no denying the heat; Ned could feel the silk tunic clinging to his chest. Thick, moist air covered the city like a damp woolen blanket, and the riverside had grown unruly as the poor fled their hot, airless warrens to jostle for sleeping places near the water, where the only breath of wind was to be found. â€Å"That would be most kind,† Ned said, seating himself. Pycelle lifted a tiny silver bell with thumb and forefinger and tinkled it gently. A slender young serving girl hurried into the solar. â€Å"Iced milk for the King's Hand and myself, if you would be so kind, child. Well sweetened.† As the girl went to fetch their drinks, the Grand Maester knotted his fingers together and rested his hands on his stomach. â€Å"The smallfolk say that the last year of summer is always the hottest. It is not so, yet ofttimes it feels that way, does it not? On days like this, I envy you northerners your summer snows.† The heavy jeweled chain around the old man's neck chinked softly as he shifted in his seat. â€Å"To be sure, King Maekar's summer was hotter than this one, and near as long. There were fools, even in the Citadel, who took that to mean that the Great Summer had come at last, the summer that never ends, but in the seventh year it broke suddenly, and we had a short autumn and a terrible long winter. Still, the heat was fierce while it lasted. Oldtown steamed and sweltered by day and came alive only by night. We would walk in the gardens by the river and argue about the gods. I remember the smells of those nights, my lord—perfume and sweat, melons ripe to b ursting, peaches and pomegranates, nightshade and moonbloom. I was a young man then, still forging my chain. The heat did not exhaust me as it does now.† Pycelle's eyes were so heavily lidded he looked half-asleep. â€Å"My pardons, Lord Eddard. You did not come to hear foolish meanderings of a summer forgotten before your father was born. Forgive an old man his wanderings, if you would. Minds are like swords, I do fear. The old ones go to rust. Ah, and here is our milk.† The serving girl placed the tray between them, and Pycelle gave her a smile. â€Å"Sweet child.† He lifted a cup, tasted, nodded. â€Å"Thank you. You may go.† When the girl had taken her leave, Pycelle peered at Ned through pale, rheumy eyes. â€Å"Now where were we? Oh, yes. You asked about Lord Arryn . . . â€Å" â€Å"I did.† Ned sipped politely at the iced milk. It was pleasantly cold, but oversweet to his taste. â€Å"If truth be told, the Hand had not seemed quite himself for some time,† Pycelle said. â€Å"We had sat together on council many a year, he and I, and the signs were there to read, but I put them down to the great burdens he had borne so faithfully for so long. Those broad shoulders were weighed down by all the cares of the realm, and more besides. His son was ever sickly, and his lady wife so anxious that she would scarcely let the boy out of her sight. It was enough to weary even a strong man, and the Lord Jon was not young. Small wonder if he seemed melancholy and tired. Or so I thought at the time. Yet now I am less certain.† He gave a ponderous shake of his head. â€Å"What can you tell me of his final illness?† The Grand Maester spread his hands in a gesture of helpless sorrow. â€Å"He came to me one day asking after a certain book, as hale and healthy as ever, though it did seem to me that something was troubling him deeply. The next morning he was twisted over in pain, too sick to rise from bed. Maester Colemon thought it was a chill on the stomach. The weather had been hot, and the Hand often iced his wine, which can upset the digestion. When Lord Jon continued to weaken, I went to him myself, but the gods did not grant me the power to save him.† â€Å"I have heard that you sent Maester Colemon away.† The Grand Maester's nod was as slow and deliberate as a glacier. â€Å"I did, and I fear the Lady Lysa will never forgive me that. Maybe I was wrong, but at the time I thought it best. Maester Colemon is like a son to me, and I yield to none in my esteem for his abilities, but he is young, and the young ofttimes do not comprehend the frailty of an older body. He was purging Lord Arryn with wasting potions and pepper juice, and I feared he might kill him.† â€Å"Did Lord Arryn say anything to you during his final hours?† Pycelle wrinkled his brow. â€Å"In the last stage of his fever, the Hand called out the name Robert several times, but whether he was asking for his son or for the king I could not say. Lady Lysa would not permit the boy to enter the sickroom, for fear that he too might be taken ill. The king did come, and he sat beside the bed for hours, talking and joking of times long past in hopes of raising Lord Jon's spirits. His love was fierce to see.† â€Å"Was there nothing else? No final words?† â€Å"When I saw that all hope had fled, I gave the Hand the milk of the poppy, so he should not suffer. Just before he closed his eyes for the last time, he whispered something to the king and his lady wife, a blessing for his son. The seed is strong, he said. At the end, his speech was too slurred to comprehend. Death did not come until the next morning, but Lord Jon was at peace after that. He never spoke again.† Ned took another swallow of milk, trying not to gag on the sweetness of it. â€Å"Did it seem to you that there was anything unnatural about Lord Arryn's death?† â€Å"Unnatural?† The aged maester's voice was thin as a whisper. â€Å"No, I could not say so. Sad, for a certainty. Yet in its own way, death is the most natural thing of all, Lord Eddard. Jon Arryn rests easy now, his burdens lifted at last.† â€Å"This illness that took him,† said Ned. â€Å"Had you ever seen its like before, in other men?† â€Å"Near forty years I have been Grand Maester of the Seven Kingdoms,† Pycelle replied. â€Å"Under our good King Robert, and Aerys Targaryen before him, and his father Jaehaerys the Second before him, and even for a few short months under Jaehaerys's father, Aegon the Fortunate, the Fifth of His Name. I have seen more of illness than I care to remember, my lord. I will tell you this: Every case is different, and every case is alike. Lord Jon's death was no stranger than any other.† â€Å"His wife thought otherwise.† The Grand Maester nodded. â€Å"I recall now, the widow is sister to your own noble wife. If an old man may be forgiven his blunt speech, let me say that grief can derange even the strongest and most disciplined of minds, and the Lady Lysa was never that. Since her last stillbirth, she has seen enemies in every shadow, and the death of her lord husband left her shattered and lost.† â€Å"So you are quite certain that Jon Arryn died of a sudden illness?† â€Å"I am,† Pycelle replied gravely. â€Å"If not illness, my good lord, what else could it be?† â€Å"Poison,† Ned suggested quietly. Pycelle's sleepy eyes flicked open. The aged maester shifted uncomfortably in his seat. â€Å"A disturbing thought. We are not the Free Cities, where such things are common. Grand Maester Aethelmure wrote that all men carry murder in their hearts, yet even so, the poisoner is beneath contempt.† He fell silent for a moment, his eyes lost in thought. â€Å"What you suggest is possible, my lord, yet I do not think it likely. Every hedge maester knows the common poisons, and Lord Arryn displayed none of the signs. And the Hand was loved by all. What sort of monster in man's flesh would dare to murder such a noble lord?† â€Å"I have heard it said that poison is a woman's weapon.† Pycelle stroked his beard thoughtfully. â€Å"It is said. Women, cravens . . . and eunuchs.† He cleared his throat and spat a thick glob of phelm onto the rushes. Above them, a raven cawed loudly in the rookery. â€Å"The Lord Varys was born a slave in Lys, did you know? Put not your trust in spiders, my lord.† That was scarcely anything Ned needed to be told; there was something about Varys that made his flesh crawl. â€Å"I will remember that, Maester. And I thank you for your help. I have taken enough of your time.† He stood. Grand Maester Pycelle pushed himself up from his chair slowly and escorted Ned to the door. â€Å"I hope I have helped in some small way to put your mind at ease. If there is any other service I might perform, you need only ask.† â€Å"One thing,† Ned told him. â€Å"I should be curious to examine the book that you lent Jon the day before he fell ill.† â€Å"I fear you would find it of little interest,† Pycelle said. â€Å"It was a ponderous tome by Grand Maester Malleon on the lineages of the great houses.† â€Å"Still, I should like to see it.† The old man opened the door. â€Å"As you wish. I have it here somewhere. When I find it, I shall have it sent to your chambers straightaway.† â€Å"You have been most courteous,† Ned told him. Then, almost as an afterthought, he said, â€Å"One last question, if you would be so kind. You mentioned that the king was at Lord Arryn's bedside when he died. I wonder, was the queen with him?† â€Å"Why, no,† Pycelle said. â€Å"She and the children were making the journey to Casterly Rock, in company with her father. Lord Tywin had brought a retinue to the city for the tourney on Prince Joffrey's name day, no doubt hoping to see his son Jaime win the champion's crown. In that he was sadly disappointed. It fell to me to send the queen word of Lord Arryn's sudden death. Never have I sent off a bird with a heavier heart.† â€Å"Dark wings, dark words,† Ned murmured. It was a proverb Old Nan had taught him as a boy. â€Å"So the fishwives say,† Grand Maester Pycelle agreed, â€Å"but we know it is not always so. When Maester Luwin's bird brought the word about your Bran, the message lifted every true heart in the castle, did it not?† â€Å"As you say, Maester.† â€Å"The gods are merciful.† Pycelle bowed his head. â€Å"Come to me as often as you like, Lord Eddard. I am here to serve.† Yes, Ned thought as the door swung shut, but whom? On the way back to his chambers, he came upon his daughter Arya on the winding steps of the Tower of the Hand, windmilling her arms as she struggled to balance on one leg. The rough stone had scuffed her bare feet. Ned stopped and looked at her. â€Å"Arya, what are you doing?† â€Å"Syrio says a water dancer can stand on one toe for hours.† Her hands flailed at the air to steady herself. Ned had to smile. â€Å"Which toe?† he teased. â€Å"Any toe,† Arya said, exasperated with the question. She hopped from her right leg to her left, swaying dangerously before she regained her balance. â€Å"Must you do your standing here?† he asked. â€Å"It's a long hard fall down these steps.† â€Å"Syrio says a water dancer never falls.† She lowered her leg to stand on two feet. â€Å"Father, will Bran come and live with us now?† â€Å"Not for a long time, sweet one,† he told her. â€Å"He needs to win his strength back.† Arya bit her lip. â€Å"What will Bran do when he's of age?† Ned knelt beside her. â€Å"He has years to find that answer, Arya. For now, it is enough to know that he will live.† The night the bird had come from Winterfell, Eddard Stark had taken the girls to the castle godswood, an acre of elm and alder and black cottonwood overlooking the river. The heart tree there was a great oak, its ancient limbs overgrown with smokeberry vines; they knelt before it to offer their thanksgiving, as if it had been a weirwood. Sansa drifted to sleep as the moon rose, Arya several hours later, curling up in the grass under Ned's cloak. All through the dark hours he kept his vigil alone. When dawn broke over the city, the dark red blooms of dragon's breath surrounded the girls where they lay. â€Å"I dreamed of Bran,† Sansa had whispered to him. â€Å"I saw him smiling.† â€Å"He was going to be a knight,† Arya was saying now. â€Å"A knight of the Kingsguard. Can he still be a knight?† â€Å"No,† Ned said. He saw no use in lying to her. â€Å"Yet someday he may be the lord of a great holdfast and sit on the king's council. He might raise castles like Brandon the Builder, or sail a ship across the SunsetSea, or enter your mother's Faith and become the High Septon.† But he will never run beside his wolf again, he thought with a sadness too deep for words, or lie with a woman, or hold his own son in his arms. Arya cocked her head to one side. â€Å"Can I be a king's councillor and build castles and become the High Septon?† â€Å"You,† Ned said, kissing her lightly on the brow, â€Å"will marry a king and rule his castle, and your sons will be knights and princes and lords and, yes, perhaps even a High Septon.† Arya screwed up her face. â€Å"No,† she said, â€Å"that's Sansa.† She folded up her right leg and resumed her balancing. Ned sighed and left her there. Inside his chambers, he stripped off his sweat-stained silks and sluiced cold water over his head from the basin beside the bed. Alyn entered as he was drying his face. â€Å"My lord,† he said, â€Å"Lord Baelish is without and begs audience.† â€Å"Escort him to my solar,† Ned said, reaching for a fresh tunic, the lightest linen he could find. â€Å"I'll see him at once.† Littlefinger was perched on the window seat when Ned entered, watching the knights of the Kingsguard practice at swords in the yard below. â€Å"If only old Selmy's mind were as nimble as his blade,† he said wistfully, â€Å"our council meetings would be a good deal livelier.† â€Å"Ser Barristan is as valiant and honorable as any man in King's Landing.† Ned had come to have a deep respect for the aged, white-haired Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. â€Å"And as tiresome,† Littlefinger added, â€Å"though I daresay he should do well in the tourney. Last year he unhorsed the Hound, and it was only four years ago that he was champion.† The question of who might win the tourney interested Eddard Stark not in the least. â€Å"Is there a reason for this visit, Lord Petyr, or are you here simply to enjoy the view from my window?† Littlefinger smiled. â€Å"I promised Cat I would help you in your inquiries, and so I have.† That took Ned aback. Promise or no promise, he could not find it in him to trust Lord Petyr Baelish, who struck him as too clever by half. â€Å"You have something for me?† â€Å"Someone,† Littlefinger corrected. â€Å"Four someones, if truth be told. Had you thought to question the Hand's servants?† Ned frowned. â€Å"Would that I could. Lady Arryn took her household back to the Eyrie.† Lysa had done him no favor in that regard. All those who had stood closest to her husband had gone with her when she fled: Jon's maester, his steward, the captain of his guard, his knights and retainers. â€Å"Most of her household,† Littlefinger said, â€Å"not all. A few remain. A pregnant kitchen girl hastily wed to one of Lord Renly's grooms, a stablehand who joined the City Watch, a potboy discharged from service for theft, and Lord Arryn's squire.† â€Å"His squire?† Ned was pleasantly surprised. A man's squire often knew a great deal of his comings and goings. â€Å"Ser Hugh of the Vale,† Littlefinger named him. â€Å"The king knighted the boy after Lord Arryn's death.† â€Å"I shall send for him,† Ned said. â€Å"And the others.† Littlefinger winced. â€Å"My lord, step over here to the window, if you would be so kind.† â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Come, and I'll show you, my lord.† Frowning, Ned crossed to the window. Petyr Baelish made a casual gesture. â€Å"There, across the yard, at the door of the armory, do you see the boy squatting by the steps honing a sword with an oilstone?† â€Å"What of him?† â€Å"He reports to Varys. The Spider has taken a great interest in you and all your doings.† He shifted in the window seat. â€Å"Now glance at the wall. Farther west, above the stables. The guardsman leaning on the ramparts?† Ned saw the man. â€Å"Another of the eunuch's whisperers?† â€Å"No, this one belongs to the queen. Notice that he enjoys a fine view of the door to this tower, the better to note who calls on you. There are others, many unknown even to me. The Red Keep is full of eyes. Why do you think I hid Cat in a brothel?† Eddard Stark had no taste for these intrigues. â€Å"Seven hells,† he swore. It did seem as though the man on the walls was watching him. Suddenly uncomfortable, Ned moved away from the window. â€Å"Is everyone someone's informer in this cursed city?† â€Å"Scarcely,† said Littlefinger. He counted on the fingers on his hand. â€Å"Why, there's me, you, the king . . . although, come to think on it, the king tells the queen much too much, and I'm less than certain about you.† He stood up. â€Å"Is there a man in your service that you trust utterly and completely?† â€Å"Yes,† said Ned. â€Å"In that case, I have a delightful palace in Valyria that I would dearly love to sell you,† Littlefinger said with a mocking smile. â€Å"The wiser answer was no, my lord, but be that as it may. Send this paragon of yours to Ser Hugh and the others. Your own comings and goings will be noted, but even Varys the Spider cannot watch every man in your service every hour of the day.† He started for the door. â€Å"Lord Petyr,† Ned called after him. â€Å"I . . . am grateful for your help. Perhaps I was wrong to distrust you.† Littlefinger fingered his small pointed beard. â€Å"You are slow to learn, Lord Eddard. Distrusting me was the wisest thing you've done since you climbed down off your horse.†

Direct Order Strategy

Methods of Development: Writing Routine, Good-News, and Goodwill Messages Most business communications can be prepared by following one of three patterns or methods of development: Direct Order, Indirect Order, or Persuasive Order. This lecture will discuss the direct order that is used for most routine, good-news and goodwill messages. Learning Objectives: ? To understand methods of development for writing routine business messages. ? To recognize structure of presenting routine messages. ? To identify situations which require the routine method of development. Lecture Outline Planning Your MessageBasic Components of the Direct Message Strategy Examples of Routine Messages Routine Request Main Idea Details Close Placing Orders Requesting Action and Information Making Claims and Requesting Adjustments Requesting References or Recommendations Routine Announcements, Replies and Positive Messages Issuing Informative Messages Requesting Information and Action Claims and Adjustments Recom mendations and References Announcements Goodwill Conclusion Planning Your Message Most business communications can be prepared by following one of three patterns or methods of development: Direct Order, Indirect Order, or Persuasive Order.When planning your message, you should analyze your audience and choose an organizational approach that will effectively communicate your main idea. Analyze the audience—ask yourself these important questions ? Who is the audience? ? What are their needs? ? What cultural differences exist? ? What do I want them to do? ? What tools will help persuade the audience? ? Would emotional or logical appeals be best? You should consider your audience’s demographics: age, gender, occupation, income, education, and other quantifiable characteristics.Also consider your audience’s psychographics: the psychological characteristics of a person such as personality, attitudes, and lifestyle. Satisfying audience needs is the most effective way t o motivate your audience. Because needs differ, people respond to messages differently Choose an organizational approach ? Use the direct approach when –Audience is objective –Audience prefers to hear the â€Å"bottom line† first –Message is long or complex –Corporate culture encourages directness ? Use the indirect approach when –Audience is negative –Audience won’t object to indirect approach -Message is short and clear Top Basic Components of the Direct Message Strategy Main idea: Because you will use the diamond arrangement, the opening paragraph should be short. It should express the main idea as a positive message with the single most important idea, concisely stated. It should be a clear idea of the focus of the letter or memo. This is what the reader wants to know and what you want the reader to know. In a memo or e-mail, you expand the subject line into a topic sentence. Remember, getting right to the point does not me an being abrupt or tactless.It’s important to use cordial statements such as please or I would appreciate. Details: Middle paragraphs will be longer because they contain all the necessary information, questions, justification or explanation. This should satisfy the reader’s informational needs. Give all details necessary to support the main idea in your opening paragraph. Make sure this section is clear, complete and concise. Revise to eliminate repetition or wordiness. Positive close: The closing paragraph will be a short paragraph. It could summarize the main point, indicate what should happen next, and/or highlight reader benefit.It should have a positive tone and may include a call to action when you need the reader to respond with additional action. Make compliance easy such as including information about how you can be reached or how the reader is to respond. Why is the direct method of development appropriate for most business messages? Most business messages (m ore than 80%) are routine requests for information or action. They should be organized directly unless they involve sensitive issues. The everyday transactions of a business will be directed at an audience whose reaction will be positive or neutral. What are some examples of routine messages? Requesting information or action ? Placing orders ? Making straightforward claims See checklist p. 265 ? Complying with requests ? Granting claims and making adjustments ? Writing letters of recommendation See checklist p. 275-276 ? Goodwill messages See checklist pp. 280-281 Looking at the checklists, you will notice that all of these routine messages follow the basic direct order strategy: main idea, details, positive close. The content will vary depending on your purpose but because they are still routine messages to a positive or neutral audience, the direct approach is the easiest and fastest method of development.Let’s look at several examples. Top Examples of Routine Messages Rout ine Request Whenever you ask for something, you are making a request. A request is routine if it’s part of the normal course of business and you anticipate that your audience will want to comply. Like all routine messages, routine requests may be thought of as having three parts: an opening, a body, and a close. Using the direct approach, you place your main idea (a clear statement of the request) in the opening. You use the middle to give details and justify your request.Then you close by requesting specific action and concluding cordially. As you prepare your routine requests, keep in mind that despite their simple organization, they can still cause ill will through ambiguous wording or a discourteous tone. In fact, even the briefest note can create confusion and hard feelings. As with any business message, keep your purpose in mind. Ask yourself what you want readers to do or to understand as a result of reading your message. [pic] Begin routine requests by placing your re quest first—up front is where it stands out and gets the most attention.Of course, getting right to the point should not be interpreted as a license to be abrupt or tactless: Be specific. State precisely what you want. Pay attention to tone. Even though you expect a favorable response, the tone of your initial request is important. Instead of demanding action (â€Å"Send me your catalog no. 33A†), soften your request with words such as please and I would appreciate. Assume your audience will comply. An impatient demand for rapid service isn’t necessary. Generally, assume that your audience will comply with your request once the reason for it is clearly understood.Avoid beginning with personal introductions. Don’t be tempted to begin your request with a personal introduction such as â€Å"I am the senior corporate writer in the corporate relations department of ABC Company, and I am looking for information that . . . † Punctuate questions and polite requests differently. A polite request in question form requires no question mark (â€Å"Would you please help us determine whether Kate Kingsley is a suitable applicant for this position. †) A direct question within your message does require a question mark (â€Å"Did Kate Kingsley demonstrate an ability to work smoothly with clients? ) Top [pic] Use the middle section of your message to explain your initial request. Make the explanation a smooth and logical outgrowth of your opening remarks. You can use the middle section of your routine request to list a series of questions. Just keep a few basics in mind: Ask the most important questions first. If cost is your main concern, you might begin with a question such as â€Å"What is the cost for shipping the merchandise by air versus truck? † Then you may want to ask more specific but related questions about, say, the cost of shipping partial orders.Ask only relevant questions. So that your request can be handled quick ly, ask only questions central to your main request. If your questions require simple yes-or-no answers, you might provide readers with a form or with boxes to check. If you need more elaborate answers, pose open-ended questions. â€Å"How fast can you ship the merchandise? † is more likely to elicit the information you want than â€Å"Can you ship the merchandise? † Deal with only one topic per question. If you have an unusual or complex request, list the request and provide supporting details in a separate, short paragraph.Try using paragraph headings to make your reader’s job easier. Top [pic] Use the closing to request a specific action and to ask that readers respond by a specific and appropriate time (â€Å"Please send the figures by April 5 so that I can return first quarter results to you before the May 20 conference†). Help your reader respond easily by including your phone number, office hours, and other contact information. Conclude your messag e by expressing your goodwill and appreciation, but don’t thank the reader â€Å"in advance† for cooperating. If the reader’s reply warrants a word of thanks, send it after you’ve received the reply.The various types of routine requests are innumerable, from asking favors to requesting credit. However, many of the routine messages that you’ll be writing will likely fall into major categories: placing orders, requesting information and action, making claims and requesting adjustments, and requesting recommendations and references. Top Placing Orders Messages placing orders are considered some of the simplest types of routine messages. When placing an order, you need not excite your reader's interest; just state your needs clearly and directly.Most orders refer to a product that the reader knows about, so these messages are usually processed without objection. Most companies today are moving toward paperless ordering by using computer-generated order forms. Still, if you need to draft an order letter, follow the same format as you would on an order blank. Main Idea: Open with the general request. Details: In the middle, include specific information about the items you want. Present this information in column form, double-space between the items, and total the price at the end.Positive Close: In the close, be sure to specify the delivery address, since it may differ from the billing address. Also indicate how the merchandise is to be shipped: by air or ground, by a specific delivery services, and so on. Otherwise, the seller chooses the mode of transportation. Finally, in any letter including a payment, mention the amount enclosed, explain how the amount was calculated, and if necessary, explain to what account the amount should be charged. Top Requesting Action and Information When you need to know about something, to elicit an opinion from someone, or to suggest a simple action, you usually need only ask.If your reader can do what you want, such a straightforward request gets the job done with a minimum of fuss. In more complex situations, readers might be unwilling to respond unless they understand how the request benefits them, so be sure to include this information in your explanation. Internal: Requests to fellow employees are often oral and rather casual. However, as long as you avoid writing frequent, long, or unneeded messages, sending a clear, thoughtfully written memo or e-mail message can save time and questions by helping readers understand precisely what you want.External: Business writers often ask businesses, customers, or others outside their organization to provide information or to take some simple action: attend a meeting, return an information card, endorse a document, confirm an address, or supplement information on an order. Such requests are often in letter form, although some are sent via e-mail. These messages are usually short and simple. In more complex situations, readers might be unwilling to respond unless they understand how the request benefits them, so be sure to include benefit information in your explanation. Top Making Claims and Requesting AdjustmentsWhen you’re dissatisfied with a company’s product or service, you make a claim (a formal complaint) or request an adjustment (a claim settlement). Although a phone call or visit may solve the problem, a written claim letter is better because it documents your dissatisfaction. Moreover, even though your first reaction to a clumsy mistake or a defective product is likely to be anger or frustration, the person reading your letter probably had nothing to do with the problem. So a courteous, clear, concise explanation will impress your reader much more favorably than an abusive, angry letter.In most cases, and especially in your first letter, assume that a fair adjustment will be made, and follow the plan for direct requests. Begin with a straightforward statement of the problem. In the midd le section, give a complete, specific explanation of the details. Provide any information an adjuster would need to verify your complaint about faulty merchandise or unsatisfactory service. In your closing, politely request specific action or convey a sincere desire to find a solution. And don’t forget to suggest that the business relationship will continue if the problem is solved satisfactorily. Top Requesting References or RecommendationsIf you’re applying for a job and your potential employer asks for references, you may want to ask a personal or professional associate to write a letter of recommendation. Or, if you’re an employer considering whether to hire an applicant, you may want to write directly to the person the applicant named as a reference. Because requests for recommendations and references are routine, assume your reader will honor your request and organize your inquiry using the direct approach. Begin your message by clearly stating that you're applying for a position and that you want your reader to write a letter of recommendation.If you haven't had contact with the person for some time, use the opening to recall the nature of the relationship you had, the dates of association, and any special events that might bring a clear, favorable picture of you to mind. If you're applying for a job, a scholarship, or the like, include a copy of your resume to give the reader an idea of the direction your life has taken. If you don't have a resume, use the middle of your letter to include any information about yourself that the reader might use to support a recommendation, such as a description of related jobs you've held.Close your letter with an expression of appreciation and the full name and address of the person to whom the letter should be sent. When asking for an immediate recommendation, you should also mention the deadline. You'll make a response more likely if you enclose a stamped, preaddressed envelope. Top Routine Anno uncements, Replies and Positive Messages Like requests, routine announcements, replies, and positive messages have an opening, a body, and a close. Readers receiving these messages will generally be interested in what you have to say, so you’ll usually use the direct approach.Place your main idea (the positive reply or the good news) in the opening. Use the middle to explain all the relevant details, and close cordially, perhaps highlighting a benefit to your reader. Innumerable types of routine announcements, replies and positive messages are used in business every day. Most of these messages fall into six main categories: issuing informative messages, granting requests for information and action, granting claims and requests for adjustments, providing recommendations and references, announcing good news, and sending goodwill messages.Top [pic]Issuing Informative Messages [pic]Requesting Information and Action All companies send routine informative messages such as reminder notices and policy statements. When writing informative messages, use the beginning of the message to state the purpose (to inform) and briefly mention the nature of the information you are providing; use the body to provide the necessary details; and end with a courtesy close. Most informative communications are neutral. That is, they stimulate neither a positive or negative response from readers.Some informative messages, however, require additional care. Policy statements or procedural changes, for instance, may be good news for the company and employees (the company can save money which will provide additional resources and even raises for employees) but such benefits may not be obvious to employees. In instances where the reader may not initially view the information positively, use the body of the message to highlight the benefits from the readers’ perspective. Top If your answer to a request is yes or is straightforward information, the direct plan is appropriate.Your prompt, gracious, and thorough response will positively influence how people think about your company, its products, your department, and you. When you're answering requests and a potential sale is involved, you have three main goals: (1) to respond to the inquiry and answer all questions, (2) to leave your reader with a good impression of you and your firm, and (3) to encourage the future sale. Top [pic]Claims and Adjustments When your company is at fault and your response is positive, you must protect your company’s image and try to regain the customer’s goodwill by referring to company errors carefully.Explain your company’s efforts to do a good job, implying that the error was an unusual incident. When your customer is at fault, you can (1) refuse the claim and attempt to justify your refusal or (2) simply do what the customer asks. If you refuse the claim, you may lose your customer—as well as many of the customer's friends, who will hear only one si de of the dispute. Weigh the cost of the adjustment against the cost of losing future business from one or more customers. When a third party is at fault, you have three options: †¢ Simply honor the claim.You can satisfy your customer with the standard good-news letter and no additional explanation. †¢ Honor the claim, but explain you’re not at fault. This option corrects any impression that the damage was caused by your negligence. You can still write the standard good-news letter, but stress the explanation. †¢ Refer the claimant to the third party. When you suggest filing a claim with the firm that caused the defect or damage, you fail to satisfy the claimant’s needs. The exception is when you're trying to dissociate yourself from any legal responsibility for the damaged merchandise.In such a case, write a bad-news message. Top [pic]Recommendations and References When writing a letter of recommendation or reference, you want to convince readers that t he person being recommended has the characteristics necessary for the job or benefit being sought. Your letter must contain all the relevant details. Your audience will have trouble believing uninterrupted praise for someone's talents and accomplishments. So illustrate your general points with a specific example or two that point out the candidate's abilities.You have an obligation to refer to any shortcoming that is serious and related to job performance. If you must refer to a shortcoming, you can best protect yourself by sticking to the facts, avoiding value judgments, and placing your criticism in the context of a generally favorable recommendation You can also avoid trouble by asking yourself the following questions before mailing a recommendation letter: †¢ Does the person receiving this personal information have a legitimate right to it? †¢ Does all the information I’ve presented relate directly to the job/benefit being sought? Have I put the candidate's case as strongly and as honestly as I can? †¢ Have I avoided overstating the candidate's abilities or otherwise misleading the reader? †¢ Have I based my statements on firsthand knowledge and provable facts? Top [pic]Announcements To develop and maintain good relationships, companies recognize that it's good business to spread the word about positive developments, whether the company is opening new facilities, appointing a new executive, introducing new products or services, or sponsoring community events.Writing a letter to the successful job applicant is a pleasure. Such a letter is eagerly awaited, so the direct approach is appropriate. A company announcing a new discount program to customers would begin the letter by trumpeting the news. The middle section would fill in the details of the discount program, and the close would include a bit of resale information and a confident prediction of a profitable business relationship. However, when the audience for a good-news mess age is large and scattered, companies often communicate through the mass media.The specialized documents used to convey such information to the media are called news releases. Top [pic]Goodwill You can enhance your relationships with customers, colleagues, and other businesspeople by sending friendly, unexpected notes with no direct business purpose. To come across as sincere, avoid exaggeration and back up any compliments with specific points. One prime opportunity for sending goodwill messages is to congratulate someone for a significant business achievement—perhaps for being promoted or for attaining an important civic position.Other reasons for sending congratulations include the highlights in people's personal lives. It is important to recognize the contributions of employees, colleagues, suppliers, and other associates. Your praise does more than just make the person feel good; it encourages further excellence. Moreover, a message of appreciation may become an important part of someone's personnel file. So when you write a message of appreciation, try to specifically mention the person or people you want to praise. In times of serious trouble and deep sadness, written condolences and expressions of sympathy leave their mark.Begin condolences with a brief statement of sympathy, such as â€Å"I was deeply sorry to hear of your loss. † In the middle, mention the good qualities or the positive contributions made by the deceased. State what the person or business meant to you. In closing, you can offer your condolences and your best wishes. Top Conclusion You should write positive or neutral messages using the direct order method of development. By introducing the main idea in the first paragraph, the reader immediately understands the purpose.The body of the message should provide all the details the reader will need to understand or respond. The closing will be a positive statement, a call to action, or a statement of good will and will keep t he reader well disposed to you and your company. [pic] Sources: Bovee, Courtland L and John V. Thill. Business Communication Today. 6th edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2000. Guffey, Mary Ellen. Business Communication: Process and Product. 4th edition. Thomson—South-Western, 2003. ———————– Main Idea Details Positive Close

Henry Lawson Essay

Henry Lawson, conflicted and brilliant was hailed as one of the â€Å"greatest writers of Australia† during the Colonial Period. Famous for his authenticity and vivid realism, many historians have often noted that Lawson acted as a spokesman of sorts for Australians and is acclaimed as a landmark in Australian literature. From one of his many works stems the short poem entitled â€Å"Poverty† depicting the themes of poverty, penury and hypocrisy. Lawson attempts in two stanzas to capture the emotions of those who are under financial difficulties. He also touches upon several social issues of how people, specifically preachers and poets, often try to glorify and romanticize poverty as a virtue. He criticizes the hypocrisy of those who cite poverty as an asset, something to be thankful for and a building block of character when they themselves know nothing of the realities and actualities of being poor as it goes against all his personal notions and sentiments of poverty being the root of all evil –â€Å"the cause of half the crime, the cause of half the error! – The new mantra nowadays is how everybody is looking to lead a more â€Å"meaningful† life. Greed and avarice is now copious in nearly every social circle and it compels practically everyone to step back once in a while to ask: Is this worth it? Most often the temptation and thirst dominates the small seeds of doubt and it is on this note which is most similar to â€Å"Poverty†. World population has nearly tripled in the last 50 years alone and the intense pressure and the constant rat race to make more money [and lots of it] increases along with the competition. Despite the fact the many people hold the opinion that poverty is a curse, statistics and surveys on people with a lower quality of life has indicated quite the opposite. On the contrary, poorer people tend to be more at peace and contented with life. With none so many material possessions to blind them from the true essence of life, they are able to lead a humble existence and learn to enjoy small joys and little surprises, in exact accordance with the phrase: Money can’t do you everything. Throughout the ages, this world has changed and shifted until it has become the nearly unrecognizable haven it is today to nearly 6. 3 billion people, modifying and shaping societies and judgements along with it. Stronger and more dominant personalities may prevail over weaker minds but the essential truth remains the same. You are your own person with individual opinions. So the same principle applies to the question: â€Å"Is Poverty still relevant today? † This being a firmly subjective question, there is no real universal truth or answer for it. Only what you think.