Worker Productivity

Questions: When estimating the duration of effort-driven project activities, the resources expected to do the work must be specified. One of the factors that will determine the work duration estimate is worker productivity.A. Define worker productivity (in the context of project work) ?B. Describe at least 3 factors that will affect worker productivity and explain how these factors will influence the estimate of work duration?C. Describe two techniques, related to one or more of the factors described above, that may be used in directing workers or in establishing the work environment that will improve worker productivity? Answers: A. Worker Productivity: The productivity of the worker is defined as the assessment of how efficient a worker is. The productivity could be evaluated in the terms of the output of an employee in any given period of time. The productivity of any employee or the worker is calculated by using the average amount of time taken by the other workers or the employees doing the similar work. The success of any organization is dependent upon the productivity that is given by the workforce and it is an important consideration for the business involved. (Whatls.com, 2015) When one talks about the productivity of the worker or the labor, he is actually talking about the construction industry in which the cost and the quantity of the labor hours is involved for performing the task of construction. But it is really important to know that the measure of productivity of the labor is the measure of the overall effectiveness of the of any system that is utilizing the labor, equipment and the capital in order to convert the efforts of the labor into the useful output and is not a measure of the capabilities of the labor alone. In order to illustrate this, when the organization purchases any new equipment, then the number of hours of the labor will get reduced and the labor productivity will get increased. The main effectiveness of the operating system is in the process of utilizing the about, equipment and capital so as to convert the efforts of the labor into something that is useful. This is not the capability of labor all by itself. (pmbook.ce.cmu.edu., 2015) B. Factors that will affect worker productivity and explain how these factors will influence the estimate of work duration: The workers and the labor that is working on the site of the job have the characteristics that are either oriented. There are working conditions and then there are non-productive activities. The labor characteristics includes the following: The age, skill and the experience that is possessed by the workforce. The leadership and the motivation of the workforce involved. The project work includes the following stated factors: Size of the job and the complexity involved in it The accessibility to the job site The availability of the labor The utilization of the equipment The contractual agreements involved The local climate The local cultural characteristics, particularly in the foreign operations. The non-productive activities are associated with the project may or may not be paid by the owner but they take up the resources of the labor that could otherwise be directed to the project. The non-productive activities includes the following stated factors: The indirect labor that is required to maintain the progress of the project The rework for correcting the unsatisfactory work The stoppage of the work of the temporary staff due to the inclement weather or the shortage of the material Time off for the union activities Absentee time including the starting the work late or quitting the work early Non-working holidays strikes The following are other factors that contribute to the labor productivity: Time: the studies that have been conducted in the past have shown that the decrease in the productivity when the person or the labor or the worker is working overtime. The reasons for the same have been told as fatigue, increased absenteeism, decrease in the morale, reduction in the effectiveness of the supervision, poor workmanship. This further results in higher number of reworks, increase in the number of the accidents. When the person is working overtime, this would initially result in the increase in the output but later on, will reduce the productivity. The time that is used by the labor on the productive activities are about 30% of the total amount of time that is available. Schedule compression: when there have been early delays in the project, then there is a compression of the overall time frame for the later activity and they are the ones that compensate for the interruptions and to complete the task that has been assigned on the schedule. Type of the project: when any task has been assigned to the member, each of the member must carry out his task efficiently without letting his work to be affected by the work or the task of the other crew members. When the labor is allocate done task within a given set of time frame, then the interference with the other will occur. Further, when there are many trades that have been assigned some work in the same area, then the clashes are bound to take place. And when there are a number of tasks that have been assigned to the workers, then they will definitely interfere in each others work. Safety: the number of accidents that takes place on the site has a bearing on the labor productivity. Since, when the accidents occur, the work is totally stopped for a number of days or for weeks. When a fellow worker is injured and is hospitalized, the work of the crew gets reduced and this leads to the decrease in the productivity. Equipment: Improper working conditions: when the employer does not provide adequate and proper working conditions, then the productivity of the labor get further reduced. For example, when there is inadequate lighting, then the workers will not be able to work properly and their efficiency will come down and so would their productivity. Attitudes of the managers: the skills and the attitudes of the managers have an important bearing on the managers. In many of the organizations, the productivity of the labor is low since they have bene handed the latest technology that they have no knowledge as to how to use. The productivity of the labor is low because the management is indifferent and inefficient. The managers that are experienced and are committed are able to obtain many surprising results from the people of the average mind set. Manpower group: the recent studies have shown that if the experience of the labor is negative, then the same negatively affects the productivity of the labor and hence, proves that in order to achieve the good productivity of the labor, they play a very significant role. Motivation: the absence of motivation is another reason s to why the labor productivity decreases. (Library.ndsu.edu, 2015) (NBRI, 2015) C. Two techniques, related to one or more of the factors described above, that may be used in directing workers or in establishing the work environment that will improve worker productivity: Motivation: Motivation is one of the key factors in improving and exceeding the performance of the employee. It need not always be monetary. Some of the factors that contribute to motivation are as follows: The support from the management and an effective delegation of the work. Certificate of appreciation More and more responsibilities and the team management The training for an improved performance and the profile improvement Challenging opportunities and the projects A ear that listens to everything Providing an effective feedback Providing positive team environments Lack of the bias form the managers The manager with the head on his or her shoulders and an effective leadership. (Smarthr, 2015) Motivation is something that increases the willingness of the workers to work and increases the effectiveness in the organization. It helps in the following: Best utilization of the resources Reduction in the number of labor problems Cooperation Increase in the production and the product (Organization, 2015) Respecting the employees: The workers and the employees must be respected for the work that they do and also as the individuals. When the workers and the employees feel that they are genuinely being respected, then they will try to go to an extra mile in order to help the company to succeed. (Lipman, 2013) Many a times, we take the things for granted when we actually should not. People keep on saying that we must always look at the glass half full but the study has proved otherwise. The study states that the people who seen the glass as half full do not do better than the people who sees it as empty. The same thing applies to the life and to the business. When the employees and the workers are happy, they are more productive. When they are respected and tend to enjoy the status quo. When the employees are happy, they will take new challenges and try to prove themselves. (Businessweek.com, 2015)

African Masks Essay Example For Students

African Masks Essay CONTENTS 1. FIGURE LIST3 2. INTRODUCTION4 2. 1 Historical background and information 4 3. CONTEXT OF CEREMONIAL AFRICAN MASKING AND THE BASIC CHARACTERISTICS THEROF 6 3. 1 The Makishi Masquerades among the Chokwe and related people6 3. 2 Pwo Mask7 3. 3 The Ngidi and Makanda initiation Rites8 3. 4 Holo Mask9 3. 5 The Bambara tribe of Mali and the Chi Wara antelope Mask9 4. CONCLUSION11 5. BIBLIOGROPHY12 1. FIGURE LIST FigurePage Figure 1:Unknown Artist, Pwo Mask, Wood Carving, patina and plant material, 9. † x 10† x 10†, Private Collection, (Bastin, 1982:91). 7 Figure 2:Unknown Artist, Chi Wara antelope Mask, Wood Carving, plant material, horns, antelope skin, 9. 8† x 11† x 23. 5†, Private Collection, (Van Wyk, Garratt Stepan, 1998:88). 9 Figure 3:Unknown Artist, Chi Wara antelope Mask, Wood Carving, plant material, horns, antelope skin, 9. 8† x 11† x 10. 5†, Private Collection, (Chi Wara antelope mask. S. a. ). 10 2. INTRODUCTION It has been said that art in Africa is the visible expression of the invisible. We will write a custom essay on African Masks specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now With that in mind I will discuss and explain, with reference to the statement, the complex social role of the different types of masks used in traditional African societies. I will also explain the religious and political roles of these masks in the community. Through gathering information from books and electronic sources I will explain the context of ceremonial African masking and the basic characteristics thereof. I will do research on specific masks, their style and the purpose of their existence within their community. 2. 1 Historical background and information Masks are time and again depicted as the classic art form of Africa. If you look at the history of African masks, you will find that African masks can be traced back to long before the Palaeolithic times. African masks are being greatly hunted down by art lovers and collectors, as they are some of the most supreme art pieces in the art world today. The masks as it is normally seen in a western perspective, however, as a museum piece in a glass display case or hanging on a wall, is a single element artificially isolated from the context for which it was intended. In these masks, originally created for different masking ceremonies of different tribes you will find different types of materials such as leather, metal, fabric, organic materials and various types of wood. One example of this is the Chi Wara antelope mask of the Bambara culture of Mali, It is used in rituals associated with planting and harvesting. During celebrations like this, initiation ceremonies, war preparation and troubled times you can find a chosen person or an initiated dancer wearing these masks. The headpiece itself can have a range of greatly different significances depending on the precise local understanding of the spiritual agency involved in its performance. African masquerades are a highly complex and diverse range of cultural practices, few of which correspond closely to ideas associated with mask wearing in the West (African masks history and meaning, S. a. ; African art and architecture, 2001). Latest development and understanding of aesthetic principles, religious and ceremonial values, have brought about a grater insight into the ideas and moral values that African artists express in their art. Art is the expression or the application of creative skill and imagination, especially through a visual medium such as painting or sculpture. In the Oxford dictionary (2002:607) you will find the meaning of the word invisible to be something unable to be seen, either by nature or because of concealed. If you relate that in contents to the statement that African art is the visible expression of the invisible, you can say that African art, especially the making of masks in Africa, is not created for the sake of art, but that the creation of these special handcrafted objects go beyond the formal qualities that meets the eye. In this essay I am going to look at the Makishi Masquerades and the Transmission of knowledge among the Chokwe and related people together with the Pwo mask, the Bambara tribe of Mali and the Chi Wara antelope mask, and also at the role that the Holo mask plays in the Ngidi and Makanda initiation rites (African masks history and meaning, S. a. ; African art and architecture, 2001). 3. CONTEXT OF CEREMONIAL AFRICAN MASKING AND THE BASIC CHARACTERISTICS THEREOF 3. 1 The Makishi Masquerades among the Chokwe and related people The Chokwe are famous for art items produced to celebrate and legalize the royal court. The art objects can include elaborately carved stools and chairs used as thrones. Most of the sculptures are portraits, which represent the royal ancestry. Staffs, sceptres, and spears are among other implements sculpted to celebrate the court. Chokwe origin can perhaps be traced to the Mbuti and Pygmies. Between 1600 and 1850 they were under extensive influence from the Lunda states and were centrally located in Angola. In the second half of the 19th century though, substantial improvement of the trade routes between the Chokwe homelands and the Angolan coast led to increased trade of ivory and rubber. .uabdbf81a37f8ca6d17d9b12e1a0b8cea , .uabdbf81a37f8ca6d17d9b12e1a0b8cea .postImageUrl , .uabdbf81a37f8ca6d17d9b12e1a0b8cea .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uabdbf81a37f8ca6d17d9b12e1a0b8cea , .uabdbf81a37f8ca6d17d9b12e1a0b8cea:hover , .uabdbf81a37f8ca6d17d9b12e1a0b8cea:visited , .uabdbf81a37f8ca6d17d9b12e1a0b8cea:active { border:0!important; } .uabdbf81a37f8ca6d17d9b12e1a0b8cea .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uabdbf81a37f8ca6d17d9b12e1a0b8cea { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uabdbf81a37f8ca6d17d9b12e1a0b8cea:active , .uabdbf81a37f8ca6d17d9b12e1a0b8cea:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uabdbf81a37f8ca6d17d9b12e1a0b8cea .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uabdbf81a37f8ca6d17d9b12e1a0b8cea .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uabdbf81a37f8ca6d17d9b12e1a0b8cea .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uabdbf81a37f8ca6d17d9b12e1a0b8cea .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uabdbf81a37f8ca6d17d9b12e1a0b8cea:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uabdbf81a37f8ca6d17d9b12e1a0b8cea .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uabdbf81a37f8ca6d17d9b12e1a0b8cea .uabdbf81a37f8ca6d17d9b12e1a0b8cea-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uabdbf81a37f8ca6d17d9b12e1a0b8cea:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Disability act in affect EssayWealth acquired from this allowed the Chokwe kingdom to develop, eventually overtaking the Lunda states that had held sway over them for so long. Their success was short-lived, however, the effects of overexpansion, disease, and colonialism resulted in the fragmentation of Chokwe power (Van Wyk, Garratt Stepan, 1998:67). The Chokwe related people of Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo engage their ancestors to endow them with spiritual or supernatural support for various human activities. If you look at male initiation in context, ancestral spirits may assume the form of masks to dramatize cosmological principles and assist in transmitting knowledge through generations. The Chokwe people perform over one hundred types of masked masquerades called the Makishi. Makishi represents the spirits of the deceased individuals that return to the world of the living to guide, assist and protect the members of the community (Van Wyk, Garratt Stepan, 1998:67). Makishi often serve to authorize and validate social and political institutions, which are generally perceived as the domain of women. The Makishi most often preformed in combination with the mukanda initiation of girls, but they may also appear during annual confirmatory ceremonies. Makishi performances bring to mind the cosmological precepts of the Chokwe and related people. Principles of social and political organisation are presented publically through mukanda masquerades. In these masquerades you will find male and female characters. One of the most important Makishi characters that you will find during initiation ceremonies represents the ideal woman that is called Pwo or Pwevo. The short steps characterize Pwo dances and sensuous hip movements, which are emphasized by a bustle, tied around the hips, consisting of a bundle of cloth, strings and rattling objects. Pwo perform sexual behaviours by pretending to have intercourse with a mortar or with a figure that she may rapidly form from earth in the preformed space. These dances are a type of sexual education, presented openly to stress the fertility of this female ancestor. To highlight her supernatural attributes as an ancestral, Pwo sometimes dances on stilts or performs acrobatically skits. In this masquerades a Pwo performer will wear the Pwo mask while holding a flywhisk and a rattle made form of tin can. The Pwo mask dancer dances with the women who clap and sings to musically accompany the performer. In the following paragraph I will explain the style and elements of the Pwo mask (Van Wyk, Garratt Stepan, 1998:67-68). 3. 2 Pwo Mask Figure 1: Unknown Artist, Pwo Mask, Wood Carving, patina and plant material, 9. 5† x 10† x 10†, Private Collection, (Bastin, 1982:91). The Pwo mask is a semi stylized wooden facemask with eyes that are usually elliptical in shape. The facemask is the most common mask found in Africa. The mask covers the face and has holes on the side. The eyes are half-closed and swollen eyelids are prolonged down to the centre of the concave eye-sockets. Sometimes the eyes are spherical and have horizontal slits. Occasionally the forehead has a carved headband. The ears are curved or else semi-circular with the tragus shown. The traditional scarification is usually engraved, cut away, incrusted or carved in relief. The Mask measures 9. 5 inches tall x 10 wide x 10 deep and the use of wood with cam wood powder and plant fibre for hair can be seen in the Pwo Mask (Figure 1). The mask has well defined and expressive facial features as well as a wonderful worm patina to the wood. The facial scarification below the eyes also represents tears. This mask represents Chokwe ideals of feminine beauty. The idealized features, subtle contours and refined lines formally convey the elegance of a celebrated female ancestor. The mask was not created by a artist, as it has no aesthetic value to the tribe as it is used for ceremonies and worship, but one can say that the mask was certainly created by a unknown Chokwe master craftsman (Bastin, 1982:90). 3. 3 The Ngidi and Makanda initiation rites The Holo of the democratic Republic of the Congo live in the Kizamba area. They occupy the region between the Suka-Mbundu Falls on the Kwango River. The Holo society is composed of a number of independent clans. One of the secrete rites of passage of the Holo tribe is that Holo women undergo a ritual initiation called Ngidi, which parallels Mukanda. Mukanda is the initiation ceremony of young boys. Ngidi brings together women of all ages, not only those who are pubescent. Apart from preparing young men and women for adult life, initiation institutes among the Holo operate as forces of social unity. (Van Wyk, Garratt Stepan, 1998:88). The initiation ceremony of the boys of the Holo tribe is called the Mukanda. The festivities that go with the Mukanda initiation ceremonies, like communal rejoicing and a great ritual dance, are held on the eve of the circumcision. The community dances until dawn. A Holo masked is carved as a helmet to fit securely over a performers head. On the occasion of this rite of passage for the boys of the Holo tribe, the initiates’ farewell feast, they are the centre of community. The Holo mask plays a huge role in the initiation of the boys. (Van Wyk, Garratt Stepan, 1998:67). 3. 4 Holo Mask The Holo mask seen in figure 2 is a wood carved helmet mask. A helmet mask is carved from one single piece of wood and is hollow to cover the whole face. It has carved out openings for the eyes, mouth and nose. .ua613c28011a40c608baf79abfd7b956f , .ua613c28011a40c608baf79abfd7b956f .postImageUrl , .ua613c28011a40c608baf79abfd7b956f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua613c28011a40c608baf79abfd7b956f , .ua613c28011a40c608baf79abfd7b956f:hover , .ua613c28011a40c608baf79abfd7b956f:visited , .ua613c28011a40c608baf79abfd7b956f:active { border:0!important; } .ua613c28011a40c608baf79abfd7b956f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua613c28011a40c608baf79abfd7b956f { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua613c28011a40c608baf79abfd7b956f:active , .ua613c28011a40c608baf79abfd7b956f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua613c28011a40c608baf79abfd7b956f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua613c28011a40c608baf79abfd7b956f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua613c28011a40c608baf79abfd7b956f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua613c28011a40c608baf79abfd7b956f .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua613c28011a40c608baf79abfd7b956f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua613c28011a40c608baf79abfd7b956f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua613c28011a40c608baf79abfd7b956f .ua613c28011a40c608baf79abfd7b956f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua613c28011a40c608baf79abfd7b956f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Gospel of Mark Argumentative EssayA dancer puts on this mask before dancing at the initiation ceremonies of the Holo tribe. His whole body is covered with natural oil to serve as protection against evil spirits. (Van Wyk, Garratt Stepan, 1998:67). Figure 2: Unknown Artist, Chi Wara antelope Mask, Wood Carving, plant material, horns, antelope skin, 9. 8† x 11† x 23. 5†, Private Collection, (Van Wyk, Garratt Stepan, 1998:88). 3. 5 The Bambara tribe of Mali and the Chi Wara antelope Mask One of the largest ethnic and most dominant groups found mostly in the country of Mali is the Bambara culture. The Bambara live in the middle valley of the Niger River. The majority of the people of this culture are farmers. The most important crop for them is millet, but sorghum and groundnuts are also of high value to them as this is produced in high quantities. Maize, cassava, tobacco, and numerous other vegetables are grown in private gardens as well. As agriculture is so important to the people of the Bambara tribe, one of the religious traditions is to worship the Chi Wara in rituals associated with planting and harvesting. The Chi Wara was the Bambarian inventor of agriculture. Even though most Bambara declare to be Muslim, many people still follow their conventional beliefs in ancestor worship. The Bambara trust that the ancestral spirits may take on the forms of animals or even vegetables. In extraordinary ceremonies, the spirits are worshipped and presented with offerings of flour and water while the people taking part in this ceremony honours the Chi Wara through dancing while wearing the Chi Wara antelope mask as seen in Figure 3. pic] Figure 3: Unknown Artist, Chi Wara antelope Mask, Wood Carving, plant material, horns, antelope skin, 9. 8† x 11† x 10. 5†, Private Collection (Chi Wara antelope mask. S. a. ). The Chi Wara antelope mask is a semi- stylistic zoomorphic headdress, representing a fusion of antelope and anteater, and is danced in pairs to also honour champion farmers in the Bambara tribe. The headdress is carved out of wood and covered with antelope skin. The Chi Wara antelope mask consists of representations of animal heads. The oldest member of a family act as the negotiator between the living and the dead (Bambara, S. a. ). 4. CONCLUSION In Africa, art is not created for the sake of art. If you look at the different roles that art play in the different communities in Africa, you will find that the purpose of the art, especially the masks in Africa is created not by known artists, but by craftsmen. Also the style of their masks is not realistic but also not abstract. From an African point of view, works of art should be neither too rational nor conceptual. This is because of the lack of aesthetic value from the masks to them. In the above research you find that art is not for the beauty of art but created for the use of ancestral worship. If you look at the reason for the initial creation of African art, you will find that the art was created for religious, political and social events of communities and tribes. Thus one can state that African art is the visible expression of the invisible as were visible reveres to the creative mask, and were invisible reveres to the spiritual and ancestral worship of the African people. . BIBLIOGROPHY African art and architecture. 2001. In: Microsoft Encarta encyclopaedia (Deluxe) 2001 . African masks history and meaning. S. a. . Available from: http://www. rebirth. co. za/African masks history and meaning. htm . Bambara. S. a. . Available from: http://www. africaguide. com/culture/tribes/bambara. htm . BASTIN, M. 1982. La sculpture Tshokwe. France: Main et Francoise Chaffin. Chi Wara antelope mask. S . a. . Available from: http://www. controverscial. om/Antelo10. gif . South African Concise Oxford Dictionary. 2002. Southern Africa: Oxford University Press. VAN WYK, G. , GARRATT, K. , STEPAN, P. 1998. Chokwe, art and initiation among Chokwe and related peoples. New York: Prestel-Verlag, Munich. WordWeb. 2004. Available from: http://wordweb. info/ . Palaeolithic: The second part of the Stone Age beginning about 750,00 to 500,000 years BC and lasting until the end of the last ice age about 8,500 years B. C (WordWeb, 2004) Cosmological: Pertaining to the branch of astronomy dealing with the origin and history and structure and dynamics of the universe (WordWeb, 2004). Masquerade: A party of guests wearing costumes and masks (WordWeb, 2004). Zoomorphic: The attribution of animal forms or qualities to a god (WordWeb, 2004). African Masks Tshwane University of Technology Department of Fine and Applied Arts Art Theory 2 Assignment 1 Johann Claassens 209021536 2010

How to Visualize Your Research -

Last updated: June 2019Strategies on how to visualize data:Try flash spatial.Remember of maps.Create videos.Record vox pops.Draw an expressive design chart.Consider interactive charts, too.Make GIFs to illustrate street views/panoramas.Create infographics.Try data visualization software.What picture do you imagine when hearing of data visualization?Here is ours:Source: Bored PandaYes, its a pie chart, a pictorial representation of numerical data. Perfect for visualizing your research, right?Not really.Today, when people dont read but scan, the world goes crazy over videos and podcasts, and interactive content runs the show, data visualization goes far beyond pie charts, graphs, and diagrams. It takes so many forms that they even have a special course for it in colleges now! Students dont just write essays; they write visual essays and think of creative ways to represent their research to professors.No wonder:Proper visualization is the best way to make your data stand out. When illus trating a content asset by visuals, you increase its view rate by 94% and produce 180% more engagement, which multiplies its chances to get shared and remembered.(Okay, when a student, you hardly think of likes and shares. But what about impressing a teacher and, finally, getting that damned and so desired A+, huh?)Studies dont lie:Unique visualization types had significantly higher memorability scores than common graphs (circles, area, points, bars, and lines). It appears that novel and unexpected visualizations can be better remembered than the visualizations with limited variability that we are exposed to since elementary school.So, Why and When Use Data VisualizationVisuals are a new way to communicate information and make it easier for users to perceive. When you create a graphic essay or write a long read for your blog, visual elements are perfect to represent data because otherwise it would take many pages to convey.More than that, people respond to visual content better. Rea sons are many:The brain processes visual information 60,000 faster than text. (While it takes about 1/4 second to process a symbol meaning, it takes about 6 seconds to read 20 words.)Ideas presented graphically are easier to comprehend and remember than those presented as words.65 percent of the population are visual learners.Thats why all bloggers and marketing specialists focus on visualizing their projects for more reads, shares, and sales. Video is on its rise, interactive content (surveys, quizzes, calculators, infographics, e-books, emails) call the shots, and all they boost engagement, increase brand loyalty, and help marketers capture more data for their research.Hey, Im a student, okay? Whats in there for my essay writing? Do all these visual tricks meet academic requirements?Yes, they do.Most handbooks on evaluating research papers count tables and diagrams as the organization criteria and give 20% of a total grade for them. Content originality brings another 30%. Therefor e, if you decide to visualize your research in essays – you can get half of your paper grade in one go!The only detail to know is the proper places for visuals in your paper. Two options to consider:1) Within your essay, just after the reference to a visual.Like here:Or here: And remember of citing and referencing your visuals! This and this document will help you learn how to place visual data in the text of your essay, how to relate visuals to your writing, and how to create a caption.2) At the end of your essay, after the list of references. Known as the appendix, its a separate page at the end of your paper, including the additional information for readers. You can put visuals with corresponding captions there.If you have multiple items to include, create a separate appendix for each visual. Dont forget to format it according to essay standards (APA, MLA, etc.)The first mentioned is the most common way to use visuals in essays. But whatever option you choose, be consisten t: theres no need to place images or graphs both in the text and appendixes. Follow the instructions your teachers give, or just choose one option and keep to it.And now, for the most interesting part:Visual EssaysThey are quite a different story.To define visual essay, lets make it clear: its a set of pictures/other visual elements you use instead of words to complete a writing assignment. As a rule, its a mix of visuals and short written passages explaining what happens in your visual content.Important! Images you use to write visual essays should be original, i.e., made by you. (Keep on reading to find out what tools to use for data visualization.)Here goes a terrific example, â€Å"Who cares about the forest?† by Franke James):Full version hereHe combined photos, illustrations, and writing in 20+ visuals to craft an essay on the red hot issue of deforestation and its influence on our planet. Storytelling is not about words only, huh?The best visual essays include:A short introduction, with hooks and thesis statement.A sequence of visual elements, related to each other and set consistently.A short analysis of each visual element, explaining whats in there.Conclusion. (Yes, short again.)An average visual essay consists of 10-12 visuals and 500-700 words of the accompanying text, formatted in Word Doc or PDF. When teachers give you a graphic essay assignment, theyll evaluate your critical thinking, presentation skills, cultural competence, and ability to convey arguments and facts in graphic form.Writing visual essays, you stimulate creativity, attention, memory, and analytical skills.Want to get a better idea on how to create a graphic essay? Let us know in comments, and well craft an ultimate guide on visual essay writing here on blog. 🙂 What Essay Elements to VisualizeTogether with how to write essays with visuals, content creators often ask what exact elements to visualize and how to know if a particular method is relevant to their topic or niche.Heres how you solve this:First, consider the audience.SourceIf you are a student writing essays for teachers, everything will depend on many factors: a subject, a format (printed or online), and other specific requirements your teacher gives.For Geography-related majors, research papers require at least one map. Make it interactive et voilà  , it brings engagement.For Business and Management, Marketing and Data Science specialties, statistics presentation is a crucial skill that will get you extra points. Get wild with the charts, and you can do so much better than that old boring pie.History papers â€Å"tell the story† with data. GIFs are perfect for illustrating timelines in just one pic.English and Literature will rock if you support the text with visual features. For example, if writing an essay about Dickens – create a collage with that-era bookshelf and add pop-up descriptions of each book cover.If a digital copywriter or marketer, think of a specific visual presentation format that would engage your audience most. Consider a platform where youll land it: is it a blog post, your landing page, a YouTube channel, cold email, slideshow presentation at a conference?Two questions to answer:How can this visual best appeal to my audience in this specific setting?What is the simplest method for displaying this data? Which one will represent my information better? What data do I need to highlight most?And second, rely on these criteria when deciding what argument or fact to visualize:Is it exciting? – Boring topics will rarely benefit from visual adaptation.Is it complex? – Copybook maxims don’t need visualization.Does it spark a discussion? – If its unequivocal evidence, then it’s not worth the effort.But when its not a fact of common knowledge, and you understand its worth visualizing, the question arises as to what option and tool to choose for it.How to Visualize Data in Essays and Other ContentWhen you write visual essays or create content assets for marketing goals, forget about ready-made templates. They are boring. And big chances are, your peers or competitors have used them already.Be creative, design visuals on your own! Tools to use are many, and the most common ones are:Adobe FlashPhotoshopWindows Movie MakerPowerPointMicrosoft WordImovieBut if your ambitions go beyond diagrams, charts, and infographics, here go alternative options on how to visualize data.1. Flash spatialPerfect for Geography, History, Politics, or Social Sciences papers. If you have any map-based data, overlap two pictures and let the reader compare them by moving the slider back and forth. A small step from spatial comparison, yet far more engaging and impressive.Example:2. MapsCarto is a terrific tool for making amazing interactive maps. Leaflet is another one. Location-related facts will help to illustrate any scientific research. Gather the metrics and build up a visible backdrop for your thesis. Example:3. VideosNothing says â€Å"I gave a major damn about this research† like a video file in your professor’s inbox. Presenting your research in a 3-minute speech is the best way to sift through the backbone facts and wrap them in the perfect form. Don’t overlook the screen recording option!Example:And another one:4. Vox PopsThe favorite tool of many marketers, it works best with a study involving people and opinions.Record your respondents in their natural habitat or via Skype and edit into a convincing illustrative interview to support your thesis. Choose between â€Å"audience opinion† vs. â€Å"expert’s opinion,† depending on your subject.Check the examples of non-video vox pops here.5. Expressive Design ChartsStuck with charts to state your theses in Business and Management and related disciplines? Thy this trick: keep the chart but pimp it up in a creative way, so your paper will immediately stand out and get remembered.Example:6. Interactive ChartsNothing gets your reader more engaged than the possibility of tailoring your research to them personally. With a 5-dollar-help from a freelance programmer, you can turn your data into a fun personalized illustration. Add some back-end work: gather the data from your professors or peers for further use.Examples:Years You Have Left to Live, ProbablyHow You Will Die7. Street Views / PanoramasTen years from its launch, Google Street View has become a powerful tool for illustrating Geography and Communities research. You can use it to predict the city areas development over time, for example. Pull several layers in a timeline GIF to illustrate your findings.Example:QUOTE: â€Å"It’s always nice when your research checks out with the view outside your window.† – Scott Duke Kominers, the Harvard Business School MBA Class of 1960 Associate Professor8. InfographicsInfographics are a great help in learning because this content format requires you to sum marize concepts and identify certain things as significant. It helps your professor to better evaluate your knowledge, too. A whole host of handy (and free) tools are out there to help you with the designs: Visual.ly, Tableau, Venngage, and Infogram are just several to mention.NB: If you also need to promote the research among college communities or online, a comprehensive infographic increases your chances of getting noticed by far.Examples of infographic templates: here and here.9. SaaS Data Visualization SoftwareMany businesses leverage data visualization tools through a SaaS subscription. These tools help organizations translate big data and their key metrics into digestible charts and graphics, helping them better understand how they’re tracking towards their goals.But students, universities, professors, and other researchers can use these tools as well to create dashboards and turn big data/research sets into easy-to-interpret visualizations. Those looking to implement a tool such as these should look at online review sites to compare the over 200 data visualization software products on the market.Examples of SaaS Data Visualization Software:What Else Do You Need to Know?If you choose to work on your data visualization with a freelancer, make sure not to leave it to the final day before submission. Its time-consuming, so save yourself several wiggle days to input extra data as needed.When creating a complex visualization, skim to just one per academic paper to avoid clutter.One final piece of advice:Don’t assume that data visualization is research. Your paper still needs a strong hook, good thesis, and all the required chapters included. So make your impressive illustration a cherry on the top of this delicious cake.Sources:Spatial History ProjectData-Driven Guides: Supporting Expressive Design for Information GraphicsResearchers Use Google Street View to See the Future of Cities

Flowering Dogwood Care and Identification

Flowering Dogwood Care and Identification Flowering Dogwood grows 20 to 35 feet tall and spreads 25 to 30 feet. It can be trained with one central trunk or as a multi-trunked tree. The flowers consist of four bracts below the small head of yellow flowers. The bracts may be pink or red depending on cultivar but the species color is white. Fall leaf color on most sun grown plants will be red to maroon. The bright red fruits are often eaten by birds. Fall leaf color of Dogwood is more vivid in USDA hardiness zones: 5 through 8A. Specifics: Scientific name: Cornus floridaPronunciation: KOR-nus FLOR-ih-duhCommon name(s): Flowering DogwoodFamily: CornaceaeUSDA hardiness zones:: 5 through 9AOrigin: Native to North AmericaUses: Wide tree lawns; medium-sized tree lawns; near a deck or patio; screen; shade tree; narrow tree lawns; specimenAvailability: Generally available in many areas within its hardiness range. Popular Cultivars: Several of the cultivars listed are not readily available. Pink-flowering cultivars grow poorly in USDA hardiness zones 8 and 9. ‘Apple Blossom’ - pink bracts; ‘Cherokee Chief’ - red bracts; ‘Cherokee Princess’ - white bracts; ‘Cloud 9’ - white bracts, flowers young; ‘Fastigiata’ - upright growth while young, spreading with age; ‘First Lady’ - leaves variegated with yellow turning red and maroon in the fall; ‘Gigantea’ - bracts six inches from tip of one bract to tip of opposite bract. More Cultivars: Magnifica - bracts rounded, four-inch-diameter pairs of bracts; Multibracteata - double flowers; New Hampshire - flower buds cold hardy; Pendula - weeping or drooping branches; Plena - double flowers; var. rubra - pink bracts; Springtime - bracts white, large, blooms at an early age; Sunset - supposedly resistant to anthracnose; Sweetwater Red - bracts red; Weavers White - large white flowers, adapted to the south; Welchii - leaves variegated with yellow and red. Description: Height: 20 to 30 feetSpread: 25 to 30 feetCrown uniformity: Symmetrical canopy with a regular (or smooth) outline, and individuals have more or less identical crown formsCrown shape: roundCrown density: moderate Trunk and Branches: Trunk/bark/branches: Droop as the tree grows, and will require pruning for vehicular or pedestrian clearance beneath the canopy; routinely grown with, or trainable to be grown with, multiple trunks; not particularly showy; tree wants to grow with several trunks but can be trained to grow with a single trunk.Pruning requirement: Needs little pruning to develop a strong structureBreakage: resistantCurrent year twig color: greenCurrent year twig thickness: medium Foliage: Leaf arrangement: opposite/suboppositeLeaf type: simpleLeaf margin: entireLeaf shape: ovateLeaf venation: bowed; pinnateLeaf type and persistence: deciduousLeaf blade length: 4 to 8 inches; 2 to 4 inchesLeaf color: greenFall color: redFall characteristic: showy Flowers: Flower color: Bracts are white, actual flower is yellowFlower characteristics: Spring flowering; very showyThe showy flowers are, in fact, bracts that subtend a boss of 20 to 30 real flowers each of which are less than one-quarter inch in size. The actual flowers of Cornus florida are not white. Culture: Light requirement: Tree grows in part shade/part sun; tree grows in the shade; tree grows in full sunSoil tolerances: clay; loam; sand; slightly alkaline; acidic; well-drained.Drought tolerance: moderateAerosol salt tolerance: lowSoil salt tolerance: poor In Depth: Dogwood branches on the lower half of the crown grow horizontally, those in the upper half are more upright. In time, this can lend a strikingly horizontal impact to the landscape, particularly if some branches are thinned to open up the crown. Lower branches left on the trunk will droop to the ground, creating a wonderful landscape feature. Dogwood is not suited for parking lot planting but can be grown in a wide street median, if provided with less than full-day sun and irrigation. Dogwood is a standard tree in many gardens where it is used by the patio for light shade, in the shrub border to add spring and fall color or as a specimen in the lawn or groundcover bed. It can be grown in sun or shade but shaded trees will be less dense, grow more quickly and taller, have poor fall color, and less flowers. Trees prefer part shade (preferably in the afternoon) in the southern end of its range. Many nurseries grow the trees in full sun, but they are irrigated regularly. Flowering Dogwood prefers a deep, rich, well-drained, sandy or clay soil and has a moderately long life. It is not recommended in the New Orleans area and other heavy, wet soils unless it is grown on a raised bed to keep roots on the dry side. The roots will rot in soils without adequate drainage.

Compare and contrast Meyer and Stowers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Compare and contrast Meyer and Stowers - Essay Example In the essay, the worm at the Core of the Apple, there is a provision of an excellent concise statement and defense of the majority position. According to Stowers, gentiles and Jews play different essential roles in the constitution of ethnicity. He states in Paul’s world that it is difficult to distinguish between ethnicity from religion. This is because they are not ethnic groups but a constitution of Paul’s most central religious distinctions. According to him, Gentiles are ethnic-religious other of the Jews just as the Barbarian is ethnic-religious other of Greeks. However, Wayne Meeks describes the gentiles as a non-Jewish group of people who have the opportunity of getting preaching from Paul.According to him, there are many controversies as to why Paul is preaching to Non-Jews. This proves that Wayne does not view the Gentiles as a constituent group of the Jews, a different perspective from the one of Stowers. In all the texts, the writers have proven that there were differences among the communities in the time of Paul reaching. It is elaborated that the gentiles were viewed as a lesser group when compared to the Jews, but Paul used his preaching techniques to show that they were equal. Although the Jews have an expectation that Paul is supposed to administer to them, they are disappointed because his mission is to all people including the gentiles.According to Romans 5:12-20, Paul explains that one man’s actions can bring significant effects to many others.

The Fashion Industry and the Role of the Media in Shapin Dissertation

The Fashion Industry and the Role of the Media in Shapin - Dissertation Example The study "The Fashion Industry and the Role of the Media in Shapin" concerns the fashion and media and analyzes the Changing Perception of a Woman’s Physical Image. After World War I, with the popularity of fashion magazines, print media, television and the internet, the popular media has presented the perceived ‘ideal’ image of a woman. This mostly unrealistic perception, being pushed on to the people, has had a negative effect on the women’s own perception of their physical image often putting health on a lower priority or even contradicting healthy routines in favor of attaining such physical attire. The complicated perceptions of one’s own physical image make one concerned about this aspect. Research on this self perception has found discontent among women showing their body dissatisfaction and at a higher rate than males. Such false projections, which have nothing to do with a real drive to get a better appearance, put individuals at a risk of disturbance and discontent. The idealized thinness and prejudiced height, hair and weight projected by the media as being ‘attractive’ influences the masses and makes women match those descriptions which is not only destruction of originality but also dangerous for health the way it gets commercialized, rather littered, and then picked by the adolescents. The wrong message of ‘standards for acceptability’ that the models from fashion industry and the media send do not actually define the beauty; in fact, the repeated pushing of such image on the women.... ? that the models from fashion industry and the media send do not actually define the beauty (Dittmar & Howard, 2004; Thompson & Stice, 2001); in fact, the repeated pushing of such image on the women population puts a conflict between the actual standards and the depicted standard making a woman choose to be unhealthy in order to achieve that standard (Dittmar & Howard, 2004, p. 478). This has been found in previous research to have direct proportion to the time of exposure to such commercial propaganda (Schooler et al. 2004). Many times, the sole purpose of such depictions and portrayal is to create an artificial need of the products, which are not actually needed, and then to sell them to that audience. 2.0 Purpose of research The purpose of this research is to evaluate the change in perception of a woman’s physical image in the eyes of the population in general and in the eyes of woman herself. Researching on why and how these perceptions have changed over this period of ti me, which can safely be regarded as an era of contemporary change in this respect, can provide us with useful results that actually provide some insight on how the fashion and show business industry has driven this. Addressing everlasting concern over weight and appearance in a non issue approach can help minimize the prejudice on being slimmer from as young as 6 years old (Striegel-Moore & Franko, 2002). The dissatisfaction, which is one of the major issues in a woman’s teenage due to perception of one’s own physical image (Schwitzer, Bergholz, Dore, & Salimi, 1998; Stice & Whitenton, 2002), is a topic that needs special attention to guard young girls from further worsening their health situation in fear of weight gain (Striegel-Moore & Franko, 2002; Field et al., 1999). What you think of

Judy Bacas Great Wall of LA (Historical and Geographic and american Essay

Judy Bacas Great Wall of LA (Historical and Geographic and american dream aspect) - Essay Example The community in which it exists is also highly diverse, including residents of Mexican, Indian and African descent, making a history of this nature seem entirely appropriate for the area and necessary for the state. Each panel depicts a different event in California history while can be pieced together through the 1960s. By looking at the panels that depict the California Gold Rush and California’s role in World War II, it is possible to see how the American Dream was shared by people of all races in the first and defended by people of all races in the second. The panel depicting the California Gold Rush is an important point in history as it is the event that brought numerous white settlers out to the west to displace those individuals already living there. Panels before this depict the level of Indian and Mexican settlement that had already taken place, as well as Spanish domination. However, with the discovery of gold, more and more white settlers moved in from the east seeking their own fortunes. The panel begins innocently enough with the depiction of the discovery of gold and the arrival of gold seekers by ship. Here is the American dream in action, with people of all colors coming to the California coast to seek their fortunes and pursue the American Dream of some property, a home to call their own and the ability to make their own livings. Included in the image are portraits of Mifflin W. Gibbs, who is identified on the wall’s official website as the publisher of the first Black newspaper, and Mary Ellen Pleasant, also iden tified on the same site as a civil rights activist who helped defend Blacks arraigned under the fugitive slave laws. While the inclusion of these two figures is intended to indicate the positive impact of black people on California history, it also serves to remind viewers of the limited number of people of color that were able to have such an impact on the people of this time period. The inclusion of a