Making Connections - Three Tips to Keep Your Readers Focused by L Michelle Baker

Recently, I was milling about the lobby of a historic hotel, waiting for my husband to finish tooling around on the computer, and I heard a fellow complaining at the front desk. He had been under the impression that his room would feature a fireplace and was disappointed to find that it had been deactivated.

He soon realized that the hotel staff was accustomed to the complaint and skilled at ignoring it. Yet on he went, about how he had been so looking forward to settling down by a roaring fire until everyone's eyes were rolling. So I strolled a bit nearer and said, "did I hear you say you were looking for a fireplace?"

His eyes lit up as he rapidly nodded his head, and I continued, "because my husband and I are headed for this very cool English pub just down the street."

Apparently he found my silence baffling. So he asked, "does it have a fireplace?"

"No," I replied. "But it has a very pretty water fountain."

Readers need writers to make connections for them. There are a few simple ways to do this. One of them is by using a thesis statement. You should never compose a document without one. Take a look at my home page, and you'll see the one I wrote for my welcome statement: The key difference between associates and executives is the ability to communicate clearly.

A thesis statement acts as a signpost to show your reader where they are and where you will be taking them. It also helps you to clarify your thoughts and outline your main points. While you should think enough about your document to draft a thesis statement before you begin writing, you should go back and revise it to match the final product because the process of writing tends to clarify and even change our focus.

Another way you can make connections is by using topic sentences. Topic sentences announce the subject of a paragraph. They also include a transition that allows the reader to move from one thought to another while still keeping the big picture in mind. Take this paragraph as an example. My topic sentence is: Another way you can make connections is by using topic sentences. This paragraph is focused on topic sentences, in an article on making connections. The phrase "another way" signals that I'm introducing a new topic.

And that brings me to my final suggestion for today, transitions. Transitions are words and phrases that connect the dots. They're like the symbols in mathematical equations. A B C doesn't mean anything. But, A + B = C constitutes a statement that can be deciphered and understood.

Transitions include small simple words called coordinating conjunctions. There are 7 of them in English and you can remember them using the mnemonic FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So. By the way, it's okay to use them at the beginnings of sentences, no matter what your high school English teacher may have told you.

You can also use transitional expressions. Short phrases, like "by the way" or "in addition" help move the reader through your document. Or you can get really fancy and add a conjunctive adverb: Therefore, However, or Moreover.

Whichever you choose, remember that you are trying to direct your reader. So be sure the transition makes logical sense in its context. Don't use a therefore unless you've actually reached a conclusion. Reserve moreover for times when you're truly adding more information and not just moving on to a different topic.

So what do a fireplace and a water fountain have in common? I'm not really sure myself. But you should have seen his face! Happy writing.

L. Michelle Baker, PhD, is The Corporate Writing Pro. She has been teaching college students and adult professionals how to write faster, easier, and more clearly since 2000. Michelle earned her PhD from the Catholic University of America in 2008. Her passion is literature-specifically Postmodern British literature. But her business is business.

Before returning to graduate school, she worked as a bookkeeper, a legal secretary, and an accountant. During graduate school, she worked with venture capital companies, dot com startups, real estate moguls, and information marketing specialists. After a decade of teaching college students and adult professionals how to write clearly, she's bringing her expertise to the corporate professional. Michelle is on a mission to bring tools that work to the writers that need them most. Simple strategies like learning the differences between developing and mature writers, mastering the 6 stages in the writing process, or structuring a process that uses the writer's triangle can transform corporate professionals into professional writers, propelling them to the top of their field.

For more writing tips, subscribe to her blog, Keys to Easy Writing, at http://corporatewritingpro.com. You can also email michelle@corporatewritingpro.com.

And for daily updates, follow her on Twitter, @CorpWritingPro.

Scientists map what factors influence the news agenda

Computer scientists have analysed over a million news articles in 22 languages to pinpoint what factors, such as the Eurovision song contest, influence and shape the news agenda in 27 EU countries. This is the first large-scale content-analysis of cross-linguistic text using artificial intelligence techniques.

Every day hundreds of news outlets across Europe choose which story to cover from a wide and diverse selection. While each outlet may be making these choices based on individual criteria, clear patterns emerge when all these choices are studied over a large set of outlets and a long time.

The international team of researchers is led by Nello Cristianini, Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Bristol in conjunction with Professor Justin Lewis, Head of the School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies at Cardiff University. An article published in the issue of PLoS ONE (Dec. 2010), has discovered that the news content chosen reflects national biases, as well as cultural, economic and geographic links between countries. For example outlets from countries that trade a lot with each other and are in the Eurozone are more likely to cover the same stories, as are countries that vote for each other in the Eurovision song contest.

Deviation from "normal content" is more pronounced in outlets of countries that do not share the Euro, or have joined the EU later. The analysis the researchers have conducted could not have been done in the past, due to the sheer scale of the data, but is now possible using automated methods from artificial intelligence because of recent advances in machine translation and text analysis.

Professor Nello Cristianini from the University's Intelligent Systems Laboratory in the Faculty of Engineering said: "Automating the analysis of news content could have significant applications, due to the central role played by the news media in providing the information that people use to make sense of the world."

The researchers selected the top-ten news outlets, established by the volume of web traffic, for each of the 27 EU countries using the leading news feed of each or the main page of the news outlet. In total they gathered 1,370,874 news items from the top stories of the top outlets of each EU country for six months, from 1 August 2009 until 31 January 2010. The non-English language news items, 1.2 million, were translated automatically to English.

Several expected connections between countries were found such as Greece-Cyprus; Czech Republic-Slovakia; Latvia-Estonia; United Kingdom-Ireland; Belgium-France. Links between countries not explained by borders, trade or cultural relations, could be due to other factors and could be the basis of further research.

Professor Justin Lewis said: "This approach has the potential to revolutionise the way we understand our media and information systems. It opens up the possibility of analysing the mediasphere on a global scale, using huge samples that traditional analytical techniques simply couldn't countenance. It also allows us to use automated means to identify clusters and patterns of content, allowing us to reach a new level of objectivity in our analysis."

While this approach lacks qualitative analysis provided by people, this new research is a significant breakthrough in the study of media content especially due to the recent availability of millions of books and news articles in digital format.

English Pronunciation - Word Stress by Joe Ehman

Pronunciation is an important aspect of learning English. If you learn the incorrect pronunciation of a word, you may not understand it when someone pronounces the word correctly. Also, when you use the word, the person listening may not understand you.

Let me give you an example. An exchange student from Mexico asked me if we could go to a "boo-fet." I did not understand where he wanted to go. I asked him for clarification. He then asked if we could go to a "boo-fet" where you eat all you want. Now, I understood. He was trying to pronounce the word buffet (buh-fay). He learned the incorrect pronunciation from his teacher of English.

How many words do you know that start with photo? Let's make a list:

photograph, photographer, photography, photographic, photographed, photographically, photogenic

Do you know the correct pronunciation of these words? You probably can pronounce some of these words correctly.

In English, one syllable in any word is called the stressed syllable. The stressed syllable is the part of a word that you give the most emphasis to. Stressed syllables are often perceived as being more forceful than non-stressed syllables. Let's look at some examples. The following underlined syllables are stressed:

sofa, telephone, celebrity, computer

Here are the pronunciation rules. Remember, every rule has an exception or two.

When the word ends in -al (architectural), -crat (democrat), -ist (economist), -meter (thermometer), or -y, -cy, -gy, -fy, -phy, -ry, -try, the stress generally falls on the ante-penultimate syllable. For example, in architectural, "tec" is the ante-penultimate syllable.

architectural

ar chi tec tur al

al - ultimate syllable

tu - penultimate syllable

tec - ante-penultimate syllable

When the word ends in -ian, -ic, ics, -sion, -tion, the stress is usually on the penultimate syllable. For example, politician, "ti" is the penultimate syllable.

Politician

When the word ends in -ee,-eer the stress usually is placed on the last syllable.

Employee

Most other endings, for the most part, do not change the stress of the base word. For example, -able, -ed, -er, --ful, -ing, -ise, ize, -ist, -less, -ly, -ment, -ness, -ous, -ure.

architecture, employed, useless

Prefixes usally do not change the stress of the base word. Here are some examples.

generate / degenerate

believe / disbelieve

national / international

action / transaction

In the list below, underline the stressed syllable in the word families.

photograph, photographer, photography, photographic, photographed, photographically, photogenic

economy, economic, economist, economics, economical, economically

architect, architecture, architectural, architecturally

industry, industrial, industrially, industrious, industrialize, industrialization, industrialist, industrialism

democrat, democracy, democratic, democratically, democratize, democratization

employ, employer, employee, employing, employed, employment

use, used, user, useless, uselessly, uselessness, useful, usefully, usefulness, usable

Joe Ehman currently resides in Mexico where her spends the sunny days writing, reading, studying and relaxing. His blog, El Inglés is dedicated to students of English and their teachers. Joe publishes a newsletter which you can get for free by clicking here

English Grammar Rules on Subject-Verb Agreement by John Lismo

In the English grammar, the subject-verb agreement is perhaps the most important ground rule that every writer should master, if not perfect. However, it also a pit into, which, many writers, especially novices, fall from time to time. By definition, the term agreement means "the state of being in conformity." In the world of grammar rules, however, agreement is understood to mean harmony in the person, number, gender, and case. A subject is in a state of conformity with its predicate, when the subject and the predicate verb agree in person (i.e., first, second, or third) and number (singular or plural).

The faults in the subject-verb grammar rules happen often because verbs, with the exception of to be, follow only one form for singular and plural subjects, as well as for three persons, unless it is third person singular present. There are usually two reasons why grammar lapses occur in the language. First, there is confusion as to the subject's number, due to the other words that come between it and the predicate verb. Then, a verb is sometimes used for a subject, not according to its grammatical form, but to its meaning. In correcting mistakes of this nature, the base or true subject needs to be extracted and determine its number.

There are instances, however, when nous, even though stripped of all its modifiers and auxiliaries, can be the source of confusion for the writer or speaker. It is good to watch out for those nouns that appear plural, but are actually singular, and should, therefore, agree with a singular verb. There is no definitive list of all these nouns; so, a dictionary should accompany any writing endeavor. These nouns often have to do with fields of discipline, such as mathematics, physics, economics, politics, and ethics. Sometimes, writers, even experienced ones, think that mumps, whereabouts, headquarters, and news are plural nouns, when they are not.

On rare occasions, certain nouns appear singular, when they are essentially plural. Nouns like data, phenomena, cacti, strata, and alumni, are the plural forms for datum, phenomenon cactus, stratum, and alumnus. On the other hand, the noun information is always singular every time it appears in a sentence.

Collective nouns also can be a source of confusion in the English grammar rules. When considered as a whole or as a unit, nouns like committee, clergy, family, herd, mob, orchestra, are taken as singular collective nouns, e.g., "The clergy called for a new meeting." The same collective nouns agree with plural verbs only when members of the group are identified or separated: "The (members of the) clergy are in disagreement with regards to the use of artificial contraceptives." It can be tricky, but sometimes, common sense is required; the latter sentence conforms more with the plural verb, because the idea behind predicate object calls for it.

At the end of the day, getting it right takes more than keeping in mind and mastering the grammar rules. It is always good to have a reference book on grammar and usage and a dictionary nearby whenever one is in doubt.

Go to the official English Grammar website for more grammar lessons, rules, and news for everyday use - http://www.englishgrammar.org/

Widening our perceptions of reading and writing difficulties

Learning to read and write are complex processes, which can be disrupted in various ways, leading to disorders known as dyslexia and dysgraphia. Two new studies, published in a recent special issue of Elsevier's Cortex (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00109452) provide evidence of this variety, suggesting that effective treatment needs to take it into account.

A group of researchers from the Universities of Bari and Rome in Italy studied the reading and writing abilities of 33 Italian dyslexic children, comparing their performance with that of children with normal reading ability. Italian is an "orthographically transparent" language, meaning that letters tend to correspond to the same sounds, whereas many letters in the English alphabet change their sound from word to word (like the "c" in car and city). However, the new study showed that even in Italian, in which it is relatively straightforward to convert sounds into letters, children still have difficulties in spelling. Younger children with dyslexia generally performed worse than proficient readers; however, the older ones showed a more selective impairment when spelling words, suggesting that knowledge of vocabulary may be more important in spelling than previously thought.

The other study, from Tel Aviv University, Israel, provided the first systematic description of a type of reading disorder called "attentional dyslexia" in which children identify letters correctly, but the letters jump between words on the page, e.g., "kind wing" is read as "wind king." Teachers and neuropsychologists often notice that children substitute letters when reading, but in this type of dyslexia the substitutions are not caused by inability to identify letters or convert them to sounds; they result from migrations of letters between words. The findings showed that letters would mostly migrate to the same position in another word, so the first letter of one word would switch places with the first letter of another word. Awareness to the existence of this type of dyslexia is important, because it suggests a straightforward way to assist these children in reading - by presenting a ‎single word at a time, e.g., with the help of a word-sized window cut in a piece of cardboard.

Writing in English - 1 by Charles Nocis

For writing in English, one has to follow certain rules.

Rules regarding position of words -

1. If several nouns in the in the possessive case are used together to express possession of the same thing by each of them, the possessive sign 's is affixed to the last, of the nouns only, e.g., Jadu and Madhu's plans were uncertain.
2. But if several nouns in the possessive case come together to denote possession of different things, the 's must be affixed to the end of each noun, e.g., Jadu's and Madhu's books were on different tables.
3. When a noun in the possessive case has another noun in apposition, the 's is placed after the latter, e.g., This is Rabindranath, the poet's house.

Writing in English: Rules of syntax:-

1. Personal pronouns agree with the nouns or pronouns, for which they stand, in Gender, Number, Case and Person, e.g., we do not know how long it will take our government to realize their responsibility in this matter.
2. Relative pronouns agree with their antecedents in Gender, Number and Person, but not Case; e.g., those who doubt the utility of science ask question like this.
3. When the pronouns each, either, neither, are subjects, they take a verb in the singular number, e.g., either of us is responsible for this.

Writing in English: Rules of using the adverb:-

"A" is used before beginning with a consonant; "an" before vowels, e.g., a book; an eagle.

1. "a" or "an" is used with a noun when we do not specify a thing.
2. "The" is used with a noun when it is something specified and particular.
3. All common nouns in the singular number must take an article.
4. Abstract or Material nouns do not take an article when it expresses a general idea or quality, e.g., Perseverance is a virtue.

However, when a quality is specially indicated, it takes an article.

Writing in English: Rules of Punctuation:-

Commas should, as a rule, be used between three or more words of the same parts of speech coming together, except that the last two words of the series are joined by "and", without any comma, e.g., the honorable learned and distinguished members.

But when a final adjective is closed to the noun than the preceding one, the comma is omitted.

Commas are not necessary if the words are connected with "and", e.g., he was a good and helpful and obedient son.

1. Commas should be used after, or before and after such words as 'however', 'moreover' etc. while writing in English.
2. Commas should be used to mark off the subordinate clauses, e.g., the professor, who was very eloquent, spoke for the best part of an hour.
3. The semi colon is used chiefly to separate sentences closely connected in the sense that are or ought to be joined by co-coordinating conjunctions while writing in English, e.g., the sun was rising; waves of light rippled across the sky; it was a beautiful scene.

Charles Nocis is an expert on a variety of niches such as WordPress help, happiness, travel destinations, gardening, weight loss among others. Read the articles that he publishes on Free Articles Sites like Malpri, a contributing writer's fantasy Today English is one of the most important things you can learn. While you might feel that you know the language exceptionally well, remember that not everyone can write English as well. We have numerous English grammar exercises that can help you improve your English communications skills. With our impressive tips on writing, you will be able to have a firm grasping on what are the best methods and practices of speaking English correctly and efficiently. With free writing tips, you can ow speak English better!

Writing Effective Proposals For Corporate Training by Juanita Ecker

If you market your services as a corporate trainer, you have undoubtedly been asked to write a proposal. It can be stressful if you do not have a specific format in mind. Over the years, I have developed a template that includes the following sections-and I use it over and over to make proposal writing much easier. Feel free to use this template for your own proposals.

Learning Outcomes

List specifically what the participants will learn. For a business etiquette class, I might list how to remember names, make proper introductions, navigate cocktail receptions and be a host or guest at a client lunch.

Training Methods

Describe how you will train the group. Will you use role-play examples, case studies or interactive activities? Will you show slides or actual pieces of clothing? Will you use a workbook with fill-in-the-blank style, or will you provide handouts as a reference? Will you use a needs assessment or questionnaire that participants must fill out ahead of time? Will the participants have to complete an assignment prior to the session? Will they be asked to bring items of clothing? Will there be a system for follow-up after the training? The more details you provide in this section, the more your prospect will perceive the value in your services.

Outline

Include an outline of the topics to be covered. In your initial meeting, you undoubtedly uncovered the organization's particular challenges. Tailor the outline to fit those challenges.

Fees

Quote your fee for the session. If you are discounting your fee because you want the business or need the money, mention the discount in the proposal. For example, I cite my normal fee for a three-hour session, and then explain that I have adjusted the fee to the agreed-upon price. This is also helpful when the recipients of the proposal hire you again in the future. They won't assume the discounted rate is your normal fee.

Material Fees

List all reimbursable expenses for program materials. When I provide handouts, for instance, I normally charge $5.00 per person for the handouts. Include a statement to the effect that the program material is a proprietary product of your company, and that its use and reproduction are permitted only within the contract under which it was developed. This way, they cannot use your materials for another seminar. If you have additional training resources to sell-a book, training tape or video, for example-give the company the option to purchase those materials at an extra cost.

Payment

Explicitly spell out the terms for payment. Because most companies take six to eight weeks to pay-which can be brutal on cash flow-I require a 50% non-refundable deposit. I explain that the balance for the training is due the day of the seminar unless prior arrangements have been made. This way, the client has a check ready for me. To make the accounting for this arrangement easier, I provide a separate invoice for that check, so the client has the proper paperwork.

Equipment Needed for Training

Describe your equipment needs in detail. If you require an overhead projector, a flip chart, a slide projector or a screen, you will need to specify that in your proposal. Also, mention how you want the participants seated. I always request that no participant have his or her back to me (this eliminates round tables). Instead, I recommend the classroom or U-shape for training.

Travel Expenses

List any travel expenses that will be reimbursed-like mileage, hotel and food-and describe the procedure you will follow. Some consultants prefer to estimate the travel expenses and include these costs as part of the total fee. Other consultants prefer to turn in receipts and be reimbursed for the actual amount spent. Either way is acceptable.

Above all, as you develop your proposal, remember one essential fact: the more details you include, the better. It avoids confusion and misunderstandings later on.

With a clear, detailed proposal, you can enter your prospect's comfort zone, manage expectations, avoid surprises-and win more business. Happy selling.

Juanita Ecker, president of Professional Image Management, is a business etiquette and international protocol consultant. She can be reached by phone at (518) 279-9388 or online at http://www.professionalimagemanagement.com