Topic For Speculating About Causes Essay

<h1>Topic For Speculating About Causes Essay</h1><p>You can absolutely utilize the themes for estimating about makes article set the point up. There are a few different ways to do this. You should simply choose one that is best for you. Here are a few approaches to it.</p><p></p><p>You can begin by deciding the causes that you wish to talk about. Record the causes that you need to discuss. You can think of them in the request for their significance. This will permit you to compose as fast as could reasonably be expected, and for a great many people the subjects for theorizing about causes expositions are the most ideal approach to do this.</p><p></p><p>After you have chosen the causes you wish to talk about, the time has come to compose the paper. Use sentences that are short and to the point. Keep away from long composing that will hinder you and make it difficult to finish.</p><p></p><p>It is the occasions where we live in this day and age that cause a lot of discussion and dispute. It is reasonable that you should examine them all. Nonetheless, you will before long understand that this will make it hard to compose an article and the peruser won't care whether you are discussing a solitary reason. Consider making the point about a particular reason instead.</p><p></p><p>If you don't wish to concentrate on a solitary reason, and you might want to take a gander at a couple of causes together, you can break the subject into a few themes. You should choose the amount to incorporate, since certain understudies may compose ten themes. Start off with one subject for each cause. You can begin with general causes, and afterward move onto the more point by point ones. Proceed with thusly until you have composed eight points, which is useful for an eight-page essay.</p><p></p><p>When you choose which subjects to expound on, ensure tha t they identify with each other, and that they all fit into one major reason. Talking about any of the littler subjects won't add to the general tone of the paper. It will cause the peruser to feel that you are going thinking about something else, which won't be an appealing feature.</p><p></p><p>As you can see, there are numerous ways that you can approach the subject for theorizing about causes exposition. The choices are yours.</p>

Argumentative Essays Topics 10 Pages Essay

<h1>Argumentative Essays Topics 10 Pages Essay</h1><p>First of all, any factious article ought to be a unique work. You are permitted to make reference to the writer and the subject of the exposition. In any case, it isn't proper to utilize their name in the title of the essay.</p><p></p><p>The subject for this paper is a unique thought or theme that you will have the option to consider later on. It is proper to discuss new thoughts or better approaches forever. For instance, you can talk about another method for maintaining your business or making an intriguing new advertising procedure. Remember that the idea for the exposition ought to be fascinating and animating for you.</p><p></p><p>Also, undoubtedly, you should abstain from being redundant. On occasion, we will in general recurrent similar thoughts over once more. This could really ruin the whole essay.</p><p></p><p>There ought to likewis e be a subtopic in the paper, which is identified with the point. The subtopic ought to be identified with the subject of the paper. At the end of the day, in the event that you are composing an exposition on language, you should remember for the paper the subtopic of syntax. In the event that you are composing an exposition on homeopathy, at that point the subtopic of homeopathy ought to be discussed.</p><p></p><p>For model, a subject like employer stability in the United States or remote occupations would be an intriguing theme. Yet, in the event that the subject is about migration, at that point the conversation may go on to another topic.</p><p></p><p>Sometimes understudies compose enormous papers without thinking about the theme. Some understudies compose the subjects after they have completed the papers. This can really nullify the point of composing the essay.</p><p></p><p>The most ideal approach to get w hat you need to compose is to find out about it direct understanding. You can visit a library or utilize a web internet searcher to locate the sort of theme you are keen on. Along these lines, you will have the option to get the perfect measure of data to give your article a reasonable and expert look.</p>

How to Format the Sample of an Analytical Essay

How to Format the Sample of an Analytical EssayAs a student, you may have realized that the most difficult aspect in writing your college essay is analyzing the sample of an analytical essay. If you were to start writing without any of these tips, you would probably make mistakes and find yourself stuck at the wrong end of your paper.The purpose of using the samples of an analytical essay is to provide you with ideas for your topic and develop certain character traits and personal characteristics. It is like presenting your research and summarizing your whole argument.You can use several different types of samples such as laboratory experiments, independent experiments and qualitative data to support your point of view. These samples can be in written form or video form. In the online article section of your college website, you should be able to upload several samples from each of the two formats.The next best way to get information is to use a sample of an analytical essay, but mak e sure that it is one that is well established. Find the academic reference for the essay. Find out if it has been published by any authority. Do this before you write your own article.One way to provide the readers with your point of view is to provide them with quotations, which will help you emphasize certain points that you feel is important. Finally, summarize what your research has revealed and why you believe it is important.If you need assistance on how to format your samples of an analytical essay, you can ask for it at your college writing center. They will provide you with all the tools and tips needed to make your articles more readable and complete. They will also provide you with sample essays from popular authors who have taken a strong stance in defending their arguments.Using samples of an analytical essay will aid you greatly in creating your own college essay. Use them to help you formulate your own unique personal opinions for each chapter.

Essay on The Definition of Dramaturgy - 2075 Words

Dramaturgy is often referred to as being a very ‘slippery’ and indefinable word; though there are standard definitions available for us to find, we cannot seem to comprehend these definitions without exceptions arising. For example, the online Oxford English Dictionary defines dramaturgy as either being a ‘dramatic composition; the dramatic art’ or as ‘dramatic or theatrical acting.’ However, words such as ‘composition’ can be highly vague, leaving itself open to broad interpretations and debates via the scholars of drama and theatre studies. Similarly, we are left to question what exactly the role of a dramaturg is, and whether they perform this role alone or share it; as no one has actually established a clear definition of what†¦show more content†¦However, the Age of Enlightenment was an elite movement which opposed traditional religious norms and values. It aimed at getting people to think for themselves, and for peopl e to use their own creativity and ingenuity instead of merely relying on the words of those with authority and status. In the words of Enlightenment philosopher Emmanuel Kant (1784), ‘Enlightenment is mans emergence from his self-incurred immaturity. Immaturity is the inability to use ones own understanding without the guidance of another’. As a result, dramaturgy acted under the banner of the Enlightenment, freeing theatre from the limitations placed upon it by societies which were entrenched in tradition. At the forefront of the dramaturgy movement was the 18th century dramaturg, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. Though the procedure of creating and analysing dramatic compositions had been present in the world of theatre for many years prior to Lessing’s writings, it was indeed his own work, Hamburgische Dramaturgie, which finally coined the term ‘dramaturgy’; giving it worldwide recognition and opening it up to scholarly discussion. Lessing wanted to use dramaturgy to reshape German theatre. For example, Lessing ‘concentrated on the establishment of a â€Å"Bà ¼rgerliches Theatre†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢, which would introduce a brand new genre of bourgeois tragedy to German theatre (Barnett, 1987, p. 408). However, he alsoShow MoreRelatedDramaturgical Perspective Views Our Daily Interaction Like We Are On A Stage Performance All The Time933 Words   |  4 PagesDramaturgy Concepts in NCIS Introduction The dramaturgical perspective views our daily interaction like we are in a stage performance all the time. In the Tv show NCIS there are so many examples of dramaturgy. This shows so many of the concepts of dramaturgy. This show is the navy version of CSI. NCIS is only called when it involves a Navy officer that was either kidnapped or murdered. The cast on NCIS are Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, forensic specialist Abby Sciuto, chief medical examiner DonaldRead MoreThe Goffman s Theory Of Dramaturgy1715 Words   |  7 PagesPretend you are playing the role of a character named Jordan, while discussing Erving Goffman’s theory of dramaturgy. Jordan finally made it. Jordan finally graduated university and has been lucky enough to receive an offer for an interview at the institution that he had been working towards his entire university career, an interview at the top law firm in all of Toronto. Now it is time to prepare. It is time for Jordan to show the firm that he is mean t to be there. To show the firm that this positionRead MoreDifferent Forms Of Impression Management945 Words   |  4 PagesBesides that, there were four selfie photos when she was getting ready to go out. She called that were the check in pictures. In much the same way as Goffman described life as a play; it called â€Å"Dramaturgy†, people are learning to perform their self in everyday life. Erving Goffman defines dramaturgy, â€Å"in which social life is analyzed in term of drama or the stage;† (115). Social media allows people to use different forms of impression management. According to Henslin defines impression managementRead MoreGoffman Theory1754 Words   |  8 PagesThursday, January 14, 2010 Erving Goffman DRAMATURGY Read: Appelrouth Edles 478-518 Goffman’s books include: Asylums, The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, Encounters, Behavior in Public Places, Stigma, Interaction Ritual, Strategic Interaction, Frame Analysis, and Gender Advertisements. Article: â€Å"The Interaction Order.† Goffman was considered a symbolic interactionist (for good reason), although Goffman himself found the label wanting. Denying an allegiance to that tradition orRead MoreChurchill : A Single Issue Struggle Essay1649 Words   |  7 Pagespublications focus explicitly on this detail, including â€Å"Caryl Churchill: The Gestus of Invisibility,† a section of Elin Diamond’s book 1997 Unmaking Mimesis: Essays on Feminism and Theatre and â€Å"Caryl Churchill: Socialist Feminism and Brechtian Dramaturgy,† the third chapter of Janelle Reinelt’s After Brecht: British Epic Theatre (1994). Elaine Aston’s chapter â€Å"Caryl Churchill: Telling Feminist Tales† in her 2003 book Feminist Views of the English Stage: Women Playwrights, 1990-2000 and Janet Gardner’sRead MoreThe Social Construction Of Gender978 Words   |  4 Pagessocial discourses. I verify the accountability of my performance specifically when participating in interactions with fema les. In Candace West and Don H. Zimmerman’s â€Å"Doing Gender,† they recognize gender and sex as two separate concepts. While their definition of sex is based on biology, they defined gender as a â€Å"routine, methodical, and recurring accomplishment† that involves a â€Å"complex of socially guided perceptual, interactional, and micro political activities that cast particular pursuits as expressionsRead MoreThe Gym, As a Social Scene Essay1731 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"popular media, cultural stereotypes, and some empirical literature depict gyms as places to meet people, where sexualized interactions are likely to take place, where bodies are on display as objects of desire† (pg. 40). This may be the perfect definition of the situation that I found in my observations. Shari L. Dworkin and Faye Linda Wachs, in Body Panic: Gender, Health, and the Selling of Fitness, acknowledge â€Å"mainstream media construct men as active and women as inactive. In t his view, womenRead MoreReality Of Cinem A Subjective Perspective1506 Words   |  7 Pagesphilosophical posturing, a bit of existentialist thought is required when asking the question of whether or not an objective view of reality exists and is capturable through film. By simple means of deduction and logic, one can infer that the very definition of the word â€Å"reality† ensures that a wholly realistic film cannot exist. In general, â€Å"reality† is highly subjective and personal to every human being. Because all films are directed through the vision and opinions of the director, a film that representsRead MoreShaping Identity Using Social Structure1487 Words   |  6 Pagesinteraction, and reflect upon oneself as an object.(PJB, a sociological approach to self and identity). This essay explores how components of social structure can be more important in shaping an individual identity than social interaction. 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Human Resource Planning CB&M

Question: Discuss the key factors in play in the competition for skilled and values employees in todays globalised business world? Answer: Introduction: The discussion suggests the key factors that play an important role in todays competition for values and skilled employees in reference to todays globalised business. The aim of the discussion is to portray the significance of return on Investment and the connection of human capital investment and the resource-based view of the company. The modern business today confronts complex and numerous challenges that force the organization to exploit opportunities and transform. Factors like globalization make a major impact for an organization and its human resource. Globalization has widened the pool of talent for efficient fluid workers as well as marginal labors. Talents in an Organization are considered as the source of maintained competitive advantage that can affect significant outcomes of an organization such as employee performance, customer level of satisfaction, profitability and survival. In this context the role of Human resource is to grab the maximum outcome from data analytics and technology in order to form a global HRIS which could speculate the requirement of strategies to fulfill the needs. Background: The company CBM is a prosperous consulting and accounting firm that performs activities like business strategy, auditing and accounting for their corporate clients. They have around two-hundred qualifies professional of accounting who holds degree on either Chartered accountancy or CPA. It is a part of the Industry of Australian accounting. The industry of Australian accounting comprises of specific firms who are connected with the provision of bookkeeping, auditing and accounting systems. The services of the firms include all areas of financial activities (Australia.gov.au, 2015). The firms under Industry of Australian Accountancy also offer assistance and advice on business as well as services aforementioned. This industry belongs to those categories of industries who had narrowly escaped from the global financial crisis as there was just a marginal fall in their revenue. In fact during the strike of financial crisis globally, people started to consult the accounting industry in order to create and implement strategies of cutting cost. Planning on Human Resource and Strategic HRM and: The strategic HRM is a discipline which includes the practices and concepts that aligns and guides HR management philosophy, practice and tactical planning with the organizational goals focusing particularly on the human capital (Sekhri, 2010). The strategic management of Human resource provides instruction on how to erect the basis of strategic advantage by generating an efficient structure of Organization and its design (Huselid and Becker). The SHRM also creates effectual systems thinking, communication strategy, organizational culture, systems thinking and proposition of employee value which includes mergers and acquisition and downturns. The discipline also includes social responsibility of corporate and business ethics in accordance to the expression and values of decision making of an Organization. The SHRM approach (Truss, Mankin Kelliher, 2012): SHRM attempts to connect activities of human resource with measures which are competency based. SHRM connects the goal of an organization with the activities of Human Resource. The approaches identify two major factors, one is the business surplus and the other is the human factors. It is widely considered that human resources are exclusively important for an organization for the sustenance of the business (Rees and Smith). In the company CBM their employees are very much valued for their qualification and their contribution. CBM encouraged further studies but they did not provide any kind of compensation for that. Many employees were completing professional studies which they were paying by their own. But as a result it was found that many employees are looking for further prospect of their career once they completed their course. This concluded to a high labor turnover ratio. In order to deal with this situation strategic Human Resource Management was applied. Similarly, in organizations where there are issues on labor turnover and labor productivity the human resource management applies SHRM. SHRM benefits: Clarifies the strategy of business in order to chase their vision in future. Increases the supply of competitive intelligence. Motivates recruits and retains employees. Provides opportunity to retain and develop high competent people. Provides information regarding the weakness and strength of the organization. Enhances the level of satisfaction for customers (Crawshaw, Budhwar Davis, 2014). Ensures a high level of productivity and surplus of business. Strategic HRP: The strategic HRP is one of the major components of SHRM. It helps to connect between the management on Human Resource directly to the strategies applied in an organization (CHUANG LIAO, 2010). Every organizations with a good number of employees implements plan on strategy based that efficiently guides them in to reach their mission (Lengnick-Hall et al.). The Strategic HRP helps to find the requirements of Human Resource. The integration of HRP is with business planning is supported by the management which is based on competency. In the case study, the HR of CBM company worked out with some strategic plans that would help them to retain their present employees and decrease the labor turnover for the firm. The proposal included a policy which was designed to establish CBM as an established firm in regard to professional development. The proposal included necessities for funding of professional studies in finance for not more than 50 members. It also provided funding for courses in MBA and 60 hours of paid leave for their employees to study and attend classes. The resource-based view of the company: The resource-based view is a perspective which helps in achieving the competitive advantage for a company. According to the proponents of Resource based view, it is ore valid to destroy exterior opportunities using resources that exists in an innovative process instead of trying new skills for every varying opportunity. There are basically two types of resources in an organization, Intangible and Tangible. Intangible asset refers to things that cannot be touched or feel and has no evidence of its physical appearance. Things like the goodwill, the trademarks, the brand reputation, the intellectual property and things that cannot be bought form the market. For CBM Company, its intangible assets are its reputation, its intellectual property and similar things (Chen, 2014). Tangible assets: Those entire things that are required in a business which are tangible are known as tangible assets. Those can be easily bought in the market so that they bestow little benefit to the company in the long run because of the possibility of the competitors to buy (Stickney Stickney, 2010). In this view there are two significant assumptions, one is that the resources should be immobile and the resources should also be heterogeneous. Resources like capabilities and skills, which are possessed by a firm varies according to organizations (Becker, n.d.). If a firm would have possessed the same quantity of combined resources, then there wouldnt have been any kind of competition. This scenario is like that of a perfect competition market. The competition between two giant conglomerates cites a good instance for heterogeneity. These types of competition paves way to innovation, and the more innovative style they adapt the more they establish themselves as distinguished. In the second assumption that resources are immobile, this means that resources cannot be transferred from one place to another, but in reality resources are mobile in long run (Boyd, Bergh Ketchen, 2009). Due to the mobility of resources, firms tries to imitate their competitors resource and implement similar strategies. Properties which are intangible in nature like brand equity, intellectual property are generally immobile in nature. In view of CBM the resources they have are the skills and knowledge of their employees. In broader sense the employees are their most important resource on which they depend. This is because the company survives on the efforts given by their employees and the knowledge they are applying in their job. Consultancies provide analytical data and financial statements that help companies to understand their financial position. A firm like CBM has to compete with other companies on basis of their employees productivity. Thus in this view strategic HRM and planning acts its vital role for maintaining their competitive advantage. Investment made on Human Capital: In a countrys development on economy, investment made on Human capital plays a key role. Human capital refers to the availability of personal attributes. Skills, creativity, and social habits which are personified as to produce economic value form their capability to perform labor. Collection of resources like experience, training, intelligence, knowledge, talents and skills possessed by the labors of an organization that helps an organization for its economic growth is known as human capital (Psacharopoulos Patrinos *, 2004). An organizations primary and biggest investment is its human capital. The return of assets is frequently being measured so as to evaluate whether the investment made has brought its proper return. Investment made on human capital is also measured, because a company expects that investing on their human capital would increase their level of productivity. The level of productivity determines the profitability of an organization hence investing on the human capital makes a significant change. Investing on tangible assets doesnt increases productivity but human capital does. The productivity of CBM would increase if they invest on the benefits of human resource (Blanpain, Bromwich, Rymkevich, Spattini Alessandrini, 2010). If they invest on buying table and chairs then the ambiance may change and it may give the employees a temporary satisfaction but in long run they would hardly affect the productivity level. Return on Investment: The Investment return is a general assumption and expectation of the investors on their investment. When a shareholder invests on a hare he expects a minimum return that would cover his investment. Similarly investment return also works in case of human capital. Human capital investment is not just about educating their employees but about providing facets for development of their human resource (Almeida Carneiro, 2009). Investment on human capital can be of various types like providing formal and informal education, skill development, good morals and health considerations. While investing on these, the employer considers the risk of return (Russ, n.d.). He may or may not get a proper return in regard to his investment. In regard to CBM firm, the strategies suggested by the HR of the company are funding their employees for further studies. In that case it is an investment that the company will make for their employees. But there are certain risks which are involved with return on investment on human capital. Earlier the company use to encourage their employees to do professional course, and the employees after completion of their course they started leaving the organization and joined the competitive firms. Here the risk lies that even after investing a good amount of time and money on their employees, an employee would choose a better opportunity where they will have a better career prospect. Conclusion: In todays globalised business the major factors that play key roles in order to retain their competitive and valued employees are the strategic human resource planning, the employee benefits, the investment on human capital and the organizational structure. For the prospective of a successful organization it is very important to globalize their human capital. Companies with high skilled employees possess the potential to have access on new pool of human resource worldwide which can have a reflective influence over their structure and strategy. Along with risk benefits also come, which can be termed as the proper return in investment. It happens when employees gets attracted to the facets and decides to stay in that firm. Similarly new talents would also find it attractive to join the organization because of its effective strategies. The availability of global human capital also depicts how firms should manage themselves in order to take advantage of the global opportunity. Giant manufacturing industries invests on their human capital in order to enhance their skills. This is identified when an organizations climatic change occurs.thi can be due to technological advancement or due to a change in strategy or organizational structure. CBM considers their employees as a vital factor of production and treats them as human capital. In order to retain their employees they required strategic HRM and planning which could lead them for a better future. The responsibility of a firm for its human capital doesnt rests here in order to improve their resource they themselves also need to improve. There should be flexibility in their adaption process. References Almeida, R., Carneiro, P. (2009). The return to firm investments in human capital.Labour Economics,16(1), 97-106. doi:10.1016/j.labeco.2008.06.002 Australia.gov.au,. (2015).Financial regulation | australia.gov.au. Retrieved 13 March 2015, from https://www.australia.gov.au/topics/economy-money-and-tax/financial-regulation Becker, G.Human capital: a theoretical and empirical analysis with special reference to education.. [S.l.: s.n. Blanpain, R., Bromwich, W., Rymkevich, O., Spattini, S., Alessandrini, G. (2010).Labour productivity, investment in human capital and youth employment. Austin: Wolters Kluwer Law Business. Boyd, B., Bergh, D., Ketchen, D. (2009). Reconsidering the Reputation--Performance Relationship: A Resource-Based View.Journal Of Management,36(3), 588-609. doi:10.1177/0149206308328507 Chen, S. (2014).Financial constraints, intangible assets, and firm dynamics. [Washington, D.C.]: International Monetary Fund. CHUANG, C., LIAO, H. (2010). Strategic human resource management in service context: taking care of business by taking care of employees and customers.Personnel Psychology,63(1), 153-196. doi:10.1111/j.1744-6570.2009.01165.x Crawshaw, J., Budhwar, P., Davis, A. (2014).Human resource management. Los Angeles: SAGE. Harrison, Linda J et al.Clearing The Gap. 1st ed. Australian Goverment, 2012. Web. 13 Mar. 2015. Huselid, M. A., and B. E. Becker. 'Bridging Micro And Macro Domains: Workforce Differentiation And Strategic Human Resource Management'.Journal of Management37.2 (2010): 421-428. Web. Lengnick-Hall, Mark L. et al. 'Strategic Human Resource Management: The Evolution Of The Field'.Human Resource Management Review19.2 (2009): 64-85. Web. Psacharopoulos, G., Patrinos *, H. (2004). Returns to investment in education: a further update.Education Economics,12(2), 111-134. doi:10.1080/0964529042000239140 Rees, Gary, and Paul Smith.Strategic Human Resource Management: An International Perspective. SAGE Publications Ltd, 2014. Print. Russ, M.Management, valuation, and risk for human capital and human assets. Sekhri, A. (2010).Human resource planning and audit. Mumbai [India]: Himalaya Pub. House. Stickney, C., Stickney, C. (2010).Financial accounting. Mason, OH, USA: South-Western Cengage Learning. Truss, C., Mankin, D., Kelliher, C. (2012).Strategic human resource management. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Motivation in Kazkom Bank Essay Example

Motivation in Kazkom Bank Essay Table of Contents Table of Contents1 I. Overview of Internship2 II. Organization Part4 About Kazkommertsbank4 History of Kazkommertsbank4 Kazkommertsbank business segments5 Corporate banking5 Banking for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME)5 Retail Banking5 Kazkommertsbank Group6 Management issues6 Marketing issues7 Market dynamics7 Competitive dynamics7 SWOT analysis8 Strengths8 Finance/Accounting issues9 Operations management and Information system issues9 Summary and Recommendations10 References17 I. Overview of Internship a. Name: Yekaterina Surname: Andriyachshenko ID: 20073468 Bachelor of Science in Administration and Accounting (BSc) Major in Management Tel: 8  705  610 18 17 e-mail: [emailprotected] com b. Internship dates/Period: Starting date: January, 19 Ending date: March, 30 c. Internship company name and address, contact information JSC â€Å"Kazkommertsbank† 135 zh, Gagarin ave. , 480060, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan. Phone: +7(727) 2-58-56-70 Phone: +7(727) 258-51-85 Fax: +7(727) 258-52-29 web-site: http://www. kkb. kz d. Internship company supervisor’s name and position Mr. Abai Smailov, Senior Risk Manager Tel: + 7  701  758 14 49 e-mail: [emailprotected] kz e. Student’s career interest(s) To get working experience in a big multinational company or financial institution in order to have good career opportunities. f. Internship objectives The main objective of an internship is to gain a practical experience and apply all theoretical knowledge in management and financial areas. Moreover, it is beneficial to pass an internship in order to get and develop personal skills in professional environment, to understand some obstacles that can be faced while applying a job in the future. We will write a custom essay sample on Motivation in Kazkom Bank specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Motivation in Kazkom Bank specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Motivation in Kazkom Bank specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer As well as this, one of the objectives is to understand whether it is the sphere and the company where I want to start my career. g. Job description/duties responsibilities I have performed jobs and tasks according to the functional duties of specialists, in particular I provided help in conducting everyday procedures connected with the risk management of a bank, carried out market research on statistical data that was useful for performance of the department. In addition to this I classified and sorted out the documentation of the department and worked with clients’ databases, as well as did some work connected with optimization of data. . Student’s contribution to the company Passing internship at Kazkommertsbank had benefits for the company such as: †¢ Help in routine work; †¢ Fresh ideas; †¢ Ability to accomplish required tasks earlier than is set by deadlines; †¢ Good candidates for future job offer i. Benefits to the individual/Student †¢ It was the first working experience; †¢ Ability to apply theoretical knowledge to practical; †¢ Enhance classroom experience; †¢ Develop and practice skills to solve business problems; †¢ Becoming confident in business sphere; Develop personal skills by developing professional talent. j. Problems and difficulties if any faced during the internship period One of the main difficulties was to combine studying and working processes. Another obstacle was connected with the language. The theory that we obtain at KIMEP is in English, while business communication at JCS â€Å"Kakommertsbank† primarily is in Russian, therefore, many terms were new for me, but it was extremely beneficial to work with such difficulties. II. Organization Part About Kazkommertsbank Established in 1990, Kazkommertsbank is one of the largest private full-service banks in Kazakhstan, measured by total assets. It provides corporate banking, retail banking and other financial services. The Bank’s principal activities traditionally have been the acceptance of deposits and the provision of loan and credit facilities in Tenge and foreign currencies. It also offers a wide-range of current account-related services, such as direct debit payments, and also retail (banking) loans. The bank has affiliated banks in Kyrgyzstan (Open Society  «Kazkommertsbank Kyrgyzstan »), in Russia (Moskommertsbank) and in Tajikistan (JSC  «Kazkommertsbank Tajikistan ») (www. kkb. kz). As for October, 1 2009 owner’s equity equaled to 384  484 millions Tenge, ROA was 0,52% and ROE amounted to 3,80% (www. kase. kz). Essential source of attraction of means there are bank deposits which make about third in total amount of funding. According to the bank’s official web-site, the bank also offers a ide spectrum of activities in service of current accounts of clients, such as payments, debit and credit cards and retail banking. Kazkommertsbank is a unique bank in Kazakhstan, emitting credit and debit cards of all three largest international payment systems-VISA, MasterCard (Cirrus/Maestro) and American Express. Moreover, the bank released the first credit bonus cards called GoCard in 2005. Kazkommertsbank is the leader in a Kazahstani banking system in the market of remote bank service. In the beginning of July, 2008 the number of the registered users of a financial portal for physical persons Homebank. z has exceeded a mark of 150 000 people, among which are not only clients of Kazkommertsbank, but also owners of payment cards of joint-stock company KazInvestbank, joint-stock company  «Citibank Kazakhstan » and Subsidiary Bank of the joint-stock company  «SBERBANK ROSSII » (www. kkb. kz). Except actually bank services, the bank renders also other financial services. Being one of the major participants of a securities market and the currency market of Kazakhstan, it provides management of monetary resources, including currency-conversion operations, operations in the monetary markets, and operations with securities. According to the general Bank license, the bank has the right to carry out transactions (sale, purchase and storage) with valuable metals, including gold and silver. Since 2001 the bank offers trusting services, mainly, confidential management of money resources and actives to the corporate and retail clients History of Kazkommertsbank AS it is stated on www. kkb. kz, the history of Kazkommertsbank (further – Bank) takes the start from â€Å"Medeu† Bank which was formed on July, 12, 1990 as an open joint-stock company according to the legislation of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic. After the country became the sovereign state, â€Å"Medeu† Bank has been re-registered into an OJSC Kazkommertsbank and received the license of National bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan â„â€" 48 as of October, 21, 1991 on carrying out bank operations. This day also is considered as an official birthday of the Bank. In April, 1994 the Bank united with other Kazakhstan commercial bank â€Å"Astana Holding†. Since 1994 the Bank participated in a number of the special programs prepared and ponsored by National Bank of RK and Ministry of Finance RK, and also the international financial institutions such, as The World Bank, European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, Islamic Bank of Development, Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau and The Asian Bank of Development (www. kkb. kz). In 1995 Kazkommertsbank actively participated in economically and politically significant processes of re-structuring and privatization of the enterprises of oil-and-gas branches as an officia l adviser of RK Government. During 1996 the bank tried to achieve basic standards to conform to the international standards of bank activities. So, â€Å"Kazkommertsbank† became one of the first Kazakhstan banks that received the international auditors report (from â€Å"Deloitte and Touche†). In May 1998, Kazkommertsbank was the first who issued Eurobonds for the sum of 100 million US dollars and for the period of 3 years. In total for the next years the Bank has issued internal and international bonds for the sum more than 1,5 billion US dollars (www. kkb. kz). In December 2005 Kazkommertsbank has signed an agreement on the syndicated loan in 1,3 billion dollars, which was the largest agreement among similar transactions not only in Kazakhstan, but also in all Central and the Eastern Europe and the CIS region. In March 2006 â€Å"Kazkommertsbank† won a nomination  «the Best bank on emerging markets successively: Kazakhstan » following the results of annual research of international magazine Global Finance. Besides, it won the nominations  «Best Bank in Trading Financing » and  «Best Bank in the Currency Market ». All this time Kazkommertsbank has been receiving the rank  «Best Bank of Kazakhstan » (www. kkb. kz). Kazkommertsbank business segments Corporate banking KKB is the largest lender to medium-sized companies and international companies operating in Kazakhstan. KKB’s competitive advantages in corporate banking include its ability to provide larger and longer-term facilities than its peers, and its access to cheaper financing. KKB currently provides payroll services to its main corporate clients, which is used for cross-selling into retail products. Banking for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) (www. kkb. kz). KKB is rapidly increasing its banking services for SMEs, the market is regarded as underserved and as offering high-yielding lending opportunities. Retail Banking KKB offers its retail customers a comprehensive range of products, including residential mortgages, consumer loans, e-banking, debit and credit cards, and deposit and current accounts. It has one of the top three positions in terms of market share, residential mortgages and retail loans, retail deposits, and credit cards, and ATM services. KKB had about 253,000 retail customers as of 30 June 2006 and plans to increase its retail operations by expanding its branch network to 240 by 2010 and launching an aggressive marketing campaign focused on cross-selling opportunities. Management issues As it is stated on the web-site of â€Å"Kazkommertsbank†, their management issues are the following. Mission is to provide high quality products and services to predominantly medium- and large-sized Kazakhstani and international corporations operating in Kazakhstan. Vision is to maintain its position as a leading bank and financial services company in Kazakhstan, while increasing profitability through managed growth and increased operating efficiency. The Bank’s strategy is to maintain its position as a leading bank and financial services company in Kazakhstan, while increasing profitability through managed growth and increased operating efficiency. In order to implement this strategy, the Bank intends to focus on the following: †¢ Expansion of Banking Services. The Bank will focus on expanding its services. In particular, â€Å"Kazkommertsbank† intends to develop its corporate client base and improve the quality of its loan portfolio. In order to diversify the portfolio, the Bank will seek to proportionately increase its lending to SME. †¢ Improvement of management information systems and operating efficiencies. The Bank has been working to improve operating efficiencies through organizational restructuring and investments in human resources and information technology. The Bank continues to introduce more advanced information systems in the future. †¢ Improvement of funding base. The Bank aims to increase its capital markets funding, including subordinated and senior debt issues, asset securitization programs, co-operating with multilateral financial institutions and foreign export credit agencies and by increasing its market share in term deposits from corporate and retail clients in particular. †¢ Expand into other financial services markets. To capitalize on expected opportunities at securities market, the Bank is taking steps to further its expertise and position itself through the operations of its subsidiaries such as JSC Kazkommerts Securities and JSC Kazkommerts Policy, rendering insurance services. Management of the Bank is responsible for the preparation of the condensed interim consolidated financial statements that represent fairly the financial position of the Bank results of operations, cash flows and changes in accordance with Financial Reporting Standards. In preparation the condensed interim consolidated financial statements management is responsible for selecting suitable accounting principles and applying them consistently. In addition, management should make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent and check whether IFRS have been followed, as well prepare the condensed interim consolidated financial statements on a going concern basis, unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Bank will continue in business for the foreseeable future. Management is also responsible for: designing, implementing and maintaining an effective and sound system of internal controls, throughout the Bank. Besides this, it should maintain statutory accounting records in compliance with legislation and accounting standards of the Republic of Kazakhstan as well as take such steps that are available to them to safeguard the assets of the Bank; and detect and prevent fraud and other irregularities. Marketing issues Today the main marketing strategy of the Bank is enhancement of new customers. To reach this goal the following marketing strategy is developed by the Bank: †¢ Development of the advertising and promotion materials hat accurate in terms of legislation and services/products that bank provides †¢ Identify cost effective marketing channels that will cover the particular target market †¢ Make competitive analysis and define advantages and disadvantages of the Bank’s products †¢ Make analysis of the target market to understand customer’s preferences and expectations from banking products and services †¢ Build positive image of Bank as the Bank i nnovator and Bank that is close and accessible for customers (recently, Bank had an image of very expansive bank that provides banking products and services only for reach people) †¢ Develop customers loyalty to the Bank and customers satisfaction †¢ Increase Bank’s market share in retail banking particular market share of retail credits. Market dynamics The latest situation on the banking market has been quite tough; however, it has been improving now. Bank started to recover from the world financial crisis so banks give loans again and continue to attract funds from the population. So, nowadays banks begin to act aggressively and develop their marketing strategies to stay competitive and to acquire new customers. Today, clients are attracted not only by lucrative rates and terms but by offering complex services that include as â€Å"initial banking services† as modern demanded tools, such as Internet banking, Client-bank software and others. Competitive dynamics Kazkommertsbank is one of the leaders at Kazakhstani banking market and one of the main contributions to this was made by their well-elaborated marketing strategy. Kazkom offers almost unique products such as Internet banking and bonus scheme Go-card. These two tools are attractive to many customers and help to develop strong relationships with clients. Besides this, the bank has several advertising campaigns, including TV commercials and street banners, in order to attract new customers, i. e. extra funds. SWOT analysis â€Å"Kazkommertsbank† is one of the largest and prosperous banks on financial market of Kazakhstan. As every organization, the bank has its own strengths and weaknesses, faces various opportunities and threats. Summary of the SWOT analysis is given in appendix (Table ), and more detailed information is presented below. Strengths â€Å"Kazkommertsbank† is one of the largest banks in Kazakhstan that offers its services to more than 60 000 clients which is wide customer base. It allows the Bank to earn considerable amount of revenues from operating them. Another strong aspect of the Bank is its well-developed products, such as large deposit options with gainful rates, low mortgage terms, various types of credit and debit card and many others. As well as this, many clients find it very convenient to use Internet banking. Kazkommertsbank† was the first bank in Kazakhstan to offer such a service to its customers which was definitely a plus. Besides this, many customers appreciate the Go-card bonus system. It encourages people to pay for their purchases and receive either dis counts or bonuses that range from 3 to 30 percent. And the last but not least strong side of the Bank is a large number of ATMs around Almaty and other cities of Kazakhstan. â€Å"Kazkommertsbank† clients do not have to look for ATM because they can be found almost everywhere. Weaknesses Although â€Å"Kazkommertsbank† has a number of awards, â€Å"Best Bank of Kazakhstan† among them, still it has some weak points. External dept can be one of them, as the Bank owes a great amount of money to foreign financial institutions. It can cause some significant problems in the future. This weakness automatically brings up another issue that is low liquidity. The Bank does not have appropriate amount of current assets and may face troubles if many clients want to have their money back. Opportunities â€Å"Kazkommertsbank† currently operates in Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The Bank can also expand to other regions, for instance it can go to other Central Asia countries like Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, as well as to CIS counties such as Ukraine and Belarus. This will increase customer base and bring new money to the bank. In addition, the Bank can offer new services to its current clients, for example introduction of derivatives or exotic options, compound products. Threats Financial crises caused a lot of problems in banking sector not only in Kazakhstan, but around the world. So, currently the situation in the banking sector is very unstable. Consequently, many customers may become less sure about their bank and withdraw their deposits which will decrease the number of cash in the bank. In addition to this, foreign banks are unwilling to lend money to Kazakhstani bank which can cause problems with cash liquidity at â€Å"Kazkommertsbank†. Finance/Accounting issues As it was mentioned above, the Bank is organized on the basis of three main business segments: †¢ Retail banking – representing private banking services, private customer current accounts, savings, deposits, investment savings products, custody, credit and debit cards, consumer loans and mortgages. †¢ Corporate banking – representing current accounts, deposits, overdrafts, loan and other credit facilities, foreign currency products, guarantees and letters of credit and derivative products. †¢ Investment banking – representing financial instruments trading, structured financing, corporate leasing, and merger and acquisitions advice. Transactions between the business segments are conducted on normal commercial terms and conditions. Funds are ordinarily reallocated between segments, resulting in funding cost transfers disclosed in operating income. Interest charged for these funds is based on the Group’s cost of funds attracted. There are no other material items of income or expense between the business segments. Segment assets and liabilities comprise operating assets and liabilities, being the majority of the balances sheet, but excluding items such as taxation and borrowings. Internal charges and transfer pricing adjustments have been reflected in the performance of each segment. Revenue sharing agreements are used to allocate external customer revenues to a business segment on a reasonable basis. In order to protect tself from different types of risks connected with the main business of a bank there is a department that is concentrated on preventing bad scenarios, like the department where I had a chance to pass my internship, the department of â€Å"Monitoring and Analysis of Credit Portfolio and Ri sk-management†. Operations management and Information system issues To be a leader on the market, Bank needs to use highly innovative and operative information technologies and systems. One of them is system of electronic workflow, which allows optimizing paper work and many businesses processes in Bank. Optimization of the business processes leads to decrease in operation costs and to customer’s satisfaction with banking services. Automation of banking processes helps to appropriately and accurately define customer’s creditability and pay ability, so minimize credit risks that are assumed in credit processes. As well as this, many departments in the bank use highly efficient programs that allow them to stay in touch with National Bank and other regulatory institutions. Besides this, locally developed programs let them to make quick transactions through system of Internet banking. In addition to this, standard programs of Microsoft office are widely used across the bank in day to day activities. Summary Many economic zones in which the Bank work, are characterized by the raised risk since there is no sufficient knowledge of behavior of consumers, positions of competitors, about a correct choice of partners, there are no reliable sources of reception of commercial and other information. The current situation in banking is unclear due to the liquidity crises that expanded to Kazakhstan as well. Crises in Banking involved into economy of Kazakhstan, so inflation rates in increased, bringing with it increase in prices of retail products and decrease in consumption rates of Kazakhstan population. This factor lead to reduction in necessity of banking precuts especially retail credits. It is hard to make appropriate prognoses of future situation and stay a leader on a market. That’s why it is very important to have well-developed strategic plan, to define mission and vision of the company, to set concrete goals. There is a vital importance for every manager of the Bank, from low level to the top, to know the answer to the major strategic questions: Where is the company at present time? Where it is going to be? And how is it going to achieve this position? In their strategic plan, marketing plan and management issues, KKB answers all these questions, so they definitely know in what direction to move in short and long-run periods. How motivation influence employee performance at JSC â€Å"Kazkommertsbank†. Introduction In today’s highly competitive conditions among companies employee performance becomes a very important issue. The better employees work, the better results organizations show. According to the web-site www. managementstudyguide. com, motivation â€Å"improves the level of efficiency of employees†. An inspired worker will show outstanding performance that will boost his or her productivity. That will lead to decreased costs of operations and as the result total efficiency will go up. Employee performance is a function of ability multiplied by motivation (Whetten, 2007). Ability refers to employees’ knowledge and education, their expertise and past experience. So, human resource managers should choose the best people that fit open positions. However, it is vital not only to select the right people but also to choose appropriate motivation techniques to inspire employees. A motivated worker does his job better and likes it more than those who are not so motivated. In addition to increased performance and productivity, the satisfaction with the job itself will rise. Every good manager understands the significance of this subject, however not every executive knows how to implement theory into practice. Consequently, this may lead to some undesirable outcomes, for example, low sales, high turnover rates, increased number of mistakes and errors, conflicts among subordinates, lack of new ideas and creativity. Problems may arise if a manager does not know the nature of his or her subordinates. According to the web-site www. accel-team. com, appreciation of this fact is â€Å"a prerequisite to effective employee motivation in the workplace†. The objectives of this paper are to understand current motivation level at â€Å"Kazkommertsbank† and to propose other motivation techniques that could help increase employees’ satisfaction with work and boost their productivity. Methodology Data collection In order to write this report I used various sources to gather information about â€Å"Kazkommertsbank† and to conduct analysis. The facts and figures that tell about the history of the bank and its operations were taken from Internet sources such as www. kkb. kz, www. afn. kz and www. kase. kz. In addition to these data, I also made conclusion from my personal observations during my working time. While working on the report I held an interview with one of the employee of â€Å"Kazkommertsbank†. The respondent’s name is Kanat Khalilov whose position is a risk manager at Risk Management Department Modeling Division of JSC â€Å"Kazkommertsbank†. I have decided to choose this particular person because he has good education and broad experience in various financial institutions. He was asked several questions concerning motivation in the organization (the script of the interview is attached in appendix). This was the primary source of data based on which the proceeding research was conducted. Although, an interview is a good way of collecting information; it is used to get qualitative data. To obtain general view on what is happening in the bank, I prepared questionnaires based of the interview questions with sixteen questions out of which two questions were open. I distributed fifteen copies among the employees of Risk Management Department and the response rate was one hundred percent. Theoretical part Motivation can be defined as anything that affects behavior in pursuing a certain outcome. A great number of theories have been developed in order to help managers motivate their employees; unfortunately in our local organizations not many of them are used. However, the importance of motivation is huge for any organization. As it was mentioned by the site www. managementstudyguide. com, effective motivation can lead to the accomplishment of organizational goals and objectives. That means that finding the right way to motivate subordinates will result in better co-ordination and co-operation, which are the two components of assisting in attaining organizational goals. In addition to what was mentioned above, motivation can bring stability of workforce (www. managementstudyguide. com). It is clear that stable workforce is significant in terms of reputation and goodwill of a company. If employees feel that they take part in managing their organization, they stay devoted to their company. This will cause employees to show their best in performing and create a good public image in the market. And if the organization has good reputation, the number of clients will be increasing constantly and good specialists will strive to work there. The most popular motivation theory is the hierarchy of needs theory that was developed by Abraham Maslow in 1943. According to the web-site www. learning-theories. om, the basis of Maslows motivation theory is that human beings are motivated by unsatisfied needs, and that certain lower factors need to be satisfied before higher needs can be satisfied. According to Maslow, there are general types of needs (physiological, survival, safety, love, and esteem) that must be satisfied before a person can act unselfishly. Another famous theory is two-factor theory by Frederick Herzberg. According to his theory, people are influenced by two factors: motivation factors that bring satisfaction and psychological growth, and hygiene factors that cause dissatisfaction (http://en. wikipedia. org). In his opinion, hygiene factors are needed to ensure that employees do not become dissatisfied. These factors do not lead to higher levels of motivation, but without them there is dissatisfaction. Motivation factors are needed in order to motivate employees into higher performance. These factors result from internal generators in employees. As Herzberg stated, achievement, recognition, responsibility, advancement and growth can lead to satisfaction, while work conditions, salaries, supervision and company policies can cause dissatisfaction. Vroom’s expectancy theory is very popular as well. It states that people are motivated when they believe they can accomplish the task, they will get the reward, and the rewards for doing so are worth the effort (Whetten, 2007). The same statement can be rephrased that motivation force is a product of expectancy, instrumentality and valence (www. quickmba. com). This means that a person expects himself to accomplish some objectives (expectancy), and he believes that performance will result in getting the reward (instrumentality) and at the end what value a person places on the outcome or reward (valence). One more motivation theory is connected to the person personality and has to be applied to each person individually. That is acquired needs theory by McClelland developed in 1961 (www. strategies-for-managing-change. com). It states that every person has his own needs, need for power, affiliation or achievement. These needs can be identified with a help of special test. After getting the result a manager can understand how he or she can motivate a particular employee. For example, for those who fall in the achievers category managers should set them even harder goals and stretch their limits. The goal-setting theory by Locke is also a good way of motivating employees. Goals are the source of motivation because they indicate what has to be done and how much effort should be exerted. Attainment of goals satisfies the individual’s achievement drive, boosts the self-esteem. Thus, it can be said that specific goals increase the performance than general goals. â€Å"Lockes research showed that there was a relationship between how difficult and specific a goal was and peoples performance of a task† (www. mindtools. com). It means that the manager should set goals and objectives to his subordinates but these goals should be SMART, or specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and have time-bound. However, not only the goals are important, executives should give their feedback when the task is finished in order for employees to know whether they are succeeding or whether they need to change direction. Reinforcement theory is known to be one of the most powerful motivation tools that can increase desired behavior and eliminate undesired behavior (http://faculty. mdc. edu). It means that there are two types of reinforcement: positive and negative. Positive reinforcement results when the occurrence of a valued behavioral consequence has the effect of strengthening the probability of the behavior being repeated. Negative reinforcement results when an undesirable behavioral consequence is withheld, with the effect of strengthening the probability of the behavior being repeated. Punishment attempts to decrease the probability of specific behaviors being exhibited. Punishment is the administration of an undesirable behavioral consequence in order to reduce the occurrence of the unwanted behavior. Findings and Analysis Personal observations During two months of internship I had a chance to understand how a real organization operates, to observe the chain of command and to get a view of who reports to whom, to identify the relationships between employees. As well as this I had a chance to see how some management concepts are used, motivation issues in particular

The 9 Literary Elements Youll Find In Every Story

The 9 Literary Elements You'll Find In Every Story SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The AP Literature exam is designed to test your ability to analyze literature. That means you’ll have to know how to use analytical tools, like literary elements, to uncover the meaning of a text. Because literary elements are present in every piece of literature (really!), they’re a good place to start when it comes to developing your analytical toolbox. In this article, we’ll give you the literary element definition, explain how a literary element is different from a literary device, and look at the top nine literary elements you need to know before taking the AP Literature exam. So let’s get started! WhatAre Literary Elements? Take a minute and imagine building a house. (Stick with us, here.) What are some of the things that you would absolutely have to include in order to make a house? Some of those non-negotiable elements are a roof, walls, a kitchen, and a bathroom. If you didn’t have these elements, you wouldn’t have a house. Heck, you might not even have a building! A literary element’s definition is pretty similar. Literary elements are the things that all literature- whether it’s a news article, a book, or a poem- absolutely have to have. Just like a house, the elements might be arranged slightly differently...but at the end of the day, they’re usually all present and accounted for. Literary elements are the fundamental building blocks of writing, and they play an important role in helping us write, read, and understand literature. You might even say that literary elements are the DNA of literature. How Is a Literary Element Different From a Literary Device? But wait! You’ve also learned about literary device (sometimes called literary techniques), which writers use to create literature! So what makes a literary element different from a literary device? Let’s go back to our house metaphor for a second. If literary elements are the must-have, cannot-do-without parts of a house, then literary elements are the optional decor. Maybe you like a classic style (a trope!), or perhaps you’re more of an eclectic kind of person (a conceit)! Just because you decorate your house like a crazy person doesn’t make it any less of a house. It just means you have a...unique personal style. Literary devices are optional techniques that writers pick and choose from to shape the style, genre, tone, meaning, and theme of their works. For example, literary devices are what make Cormac McCarthy’s western novel, Blood Meridian, so different from Matt McCarthy’s medical memoir, The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly. Conversely, literary elements- especially the elements that qualify both works as â€Å"books†- are what keep them shelved next to each other at Barnes Noble. They’re the non-negotiable things that make both works â€Å"literature.† Top 9 Literary Elements List (With Examples!) Now let’s take a more in-depth look at the most common elements in literature. Each term in the literary elements list below gives you the literary element definition and an example of how the elements work. #1: Language The most important literary element is language. Language is defined as a system of communicating ideas and feelings through signs, sounds, gestures, and/or marks. Language is the way we share ideas with one another, whether it’s through speech, text, or even performance! All literature is written in a recognizable language, since one of literature’s main goals is sharing ideas, concepts, and stories with a larger audience. And since there are over 6,900 distinct languages in the world, that means literature exists in tons of different linguistic forms, too. (How cool is that?!) Obviously, in order to read a book, you need to understand the language it’s written in. But language can also be an important tool in understanding the meaning of a book, too. For instance, writers can combine languages to help readers better understand the characters, setting, or even tone. Here’s an example of how Cherrie Moraga combines English and Spanish in her play, Heroes and Saints: Look into your children’s faces. They tell you the truth. They are our future. Pero no tendremos ningà ºn futuro si seguimos siendo và ­ctimas. Moraga’s play is about the plight of Hispanic migrant workers in the United States. By combining English and Spanish throughout the play, Moraga helps readers understand her characters and their culture better. #2: Plot The plot of a work is defined as the sequence of events that occurs from the first line to the last. In other words, the plot is what happens in a story. All literature has a plot of some kind. Most long-form literature, like a novel or a play, follows a pretty typical plot structure, also known as a plot arc. This type of plot has six elements: Beginning/Exposition: This is the very beginning of a story. During the exposition, authors usually introduce the major characters and settings to the reader. Conflict: Just like in real life, the conflict of a story is the problem that the main characters have to tackle. There are two types of conflict that you’ll see in a plot. The major conflict is the overarching problem that characters face. Minor conflicts, on the other hands, are the smaller obstacles characters have to overcome to resolve the major conflict. Rising Action: Rising action is literally everything that happens in a story that leads up to the climax of the plot. Usually this involves facing and conquering minor conflicts, which is what keeps the plot moving forward. More importantly, writers use rising action to build tension that comes to a head during the plot’s climax. Climax: The climax of the plot is the part of the story where the characters finally have to face and solve the major conflict. This is the â€Å"peak† of the plot where all the tension of the rising action finally comes to a head. You can usually identify the climax by figuring out which part of the story is the moment where the hero will either succeed or totally fail. Falling Action: Falling action is everything that happens after the book’s climax but before the resolution. This is where writers tie up any loose ends and start bringing the book’s action to a close. Resolution/Denouement: This is the conclusion of a story. But just because it’s called a â€Å"resolution† doesn’t mean every single issue is resolved happily- or even satisfactorily. For example, the resolution in Romeo and Juliet involves (spoiler alert!) the death of both main characters. This might not be the kind of ending you want, but it is an ending, which is why it’s called the resolution! If you’ve ever read a Shakespearean play, then you’ve seen the plot we outlined above at work. But even more contemporary novels, like The Hunger Games, also use this structure. Actually, you can think of a plot arc like a story’s skeleton! But what about poems, you ask? Do they have plots? Yes! They tend to be a little less dense, but even poems have things that happen in them. Take a look at â€Å"Do not go gentle into that good night† by Dylan Thomas. There’s definitely stuff happening in this poem: specifically, the narrator is telling readers not to accept death without a fight. While this is more simple than what happens in something like The Lord of the Rings, it’s still a plot! #3: Mood The mood of a piece of literature is defined as the emotion or feeling that readers get from reading the words on a page. So if you’ve ever read something that’s made you feel tense, scared, or even happy...you’ve experienced mood firsthand! While a story can have an overarching mood, it’s more likely that the mood changes from scene to scene depending on what the writer is trying to convey. For example, the overall mood of a play like Romeo and Juliet may be tragic, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t funny, lighthearted moments in certain scenes. Thinking about mood when you read literature is a great way to figure out how an author wants readers to feel about certain ideas, messages, and themes. These lines from â€Å"Still I Rise† by Maya Angelou are a good example of how mood impacts an idea: You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes,You may kill me with your hatefulness,But still, like air, I'll rise. What are the emotions present in this passage? The first three lines are full of anger, bitterness, and violence, which helps readers understand that the speaker of the poem has been terribly mistreated. But despite that, the last line is full of hope. This helps Angelou show readers how she won’t let others’ actions- even terrible ones- hold her back. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from the Harry Potter book series #4: Setting Have you ever pictured yourself in living in the Gryffindor dormitories at Hogwarts? Or maybe you’ve wished you could attend the Mad Hatter’s tea party in Wonderland. These are examples of how settings- especially vivid ones- capture readers’ imaginations and help a literary world come to life. Setting is defined simply as the time and location in which the story takes place. The setting is also the background against which the action happens. For example, Hogwarts becomes the location, or setting, where Harry, Hermione, and Ron have many of their adventures. Keep in mind that longer works often have multiple settings. The Harry Potter series, for example, has tons of memorable locations, like Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, and Gringotts. Each of these settings plays an important role in bringing the Wizarding World to life. The setting of a work is important because it helps convey important information about the world that impact other literary elements, like plot and theme. For example, a historical book set in America in the 1940s will likely have a much different atmosphere and plot than a science fiction book set three hundred years in the future. Additionally, some settings even become characters in the stories themselves! For example, the house in Edgar Allen Poe’s short story, â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher,† becomes the story’s antagonist. So keep an eye out for settings that serve multiple functions in a work, too. #5: Theme All literary works have themes, or central messages, that authors are trying to convey. Sometimes theme is described as the main idea of a work...but more accurately, themes are any ideas that appear repeatedly throughout a text. That means that most works have multiple themes! All literature has themes because a major purpose of literature is to share, explore, and advocate for ideas. Even the shortest poems have themes. Check out this two line poem, â€Å"My life has been the poem I would have writ,† from Henry David Thoreau: My life has been the poem I would have writ But I could not both live and utter it. When looking for a theme, ask yourself what an author is trying to teach us or show us through their writing. In this case, Thoreau is saying we have to live in the moment, and living is what provides the material for writing. #6: Point of View Point of view is the position of the narrator in relationship to the plot of a piece of literature. In other words, point of view is the perspective from which the story is told. We actually have a super in-depth guide to point of view that you can find here. But here’s the short version: literature can be written from one of four points of view. First person: This is told by one of the characters of the story from their perspective. You can easily identify first-person points of view by looking for first-person pronouns, like â€Å"I,† â€Å"you,† and â€Å"my.† Second person: second-person point of view happens when the audience is made a character in the story. In this instance, the narrator uses second person pronouns, like â€Å"you† and â€Å"your.† If you ever get confused, just remember that â€Å"Choose Your Own Adventure† books use second person. Third person limited: this is when the narrator is removed from the story and tells it from an outside perspective. To do this, the narrator uses pronouns like â€Å"he,† â€Å"she,† and â€Å"they† to refer to the characters in the story. In a third person limited point of view, this narrator focuses on the story as it surrounds one character. It’s almost like there’s a camera crew following the protagonist that reports on everything that happens to them. Third person omniscient: in this point of view, the narrator still uses third-person pronouns...but instead of being limited to one character, the narrator can tell readers what’s happening with all characters at all times. It’s almost like the narrator is God: they can see all, hear all, and explain all! Point of view is an important literary element for two reasons. First, it helps us better understand the characters in a story. For example, a first person point of view lets readers get to know the main character in detail, since they experience the main character’s thoughts, feelings, and actions. Second, point of view establishes a narrator, or a character whose job it is to tell the story, which we’ll talk about in the next section! #7: Narrator Like we just mentioned, the narrator is the person who’s telling the story. All literature has a narrator, even if that narrator isn’t named or an active part of the plot. Here’s what we mean: when you read a newspaper article, it’s the reporter’s job to tell you all the details of a particular event. That makes the reporter the narrator. They’re taking a combination of interviews, research, and their own eyewitness account to help you better understand a topic. The same is true for the narrator of a book or poem, too. The narrator helps make sense of the plot for the reader. It’s their job to explain, describe, and even dramatically reveal plot points to the audience. Here’s an example of how one of the most famous narrators in literature, John Watson, explains Sherlock Holmes’ character to readers in A Study in Scarlet: He was not studying medicine. He had himself, in reply to a question, confirmed Stamford’s opinion upon that point. Neither did he appear to have pursued any course of reading which might fit him for a degree in science or any other recognized portal which would give him an entrance into the learned world. Yet his zeal for certain studies was remarkable, and within eccentric limits his knowledge was so extraordinarily ample and minute that his observations have fairly astounded me. Surely no man would work so hard or attain such precise information unless he had some definite end in view. Desultory readers are seldom remarkable for the exactness of their learning. No man burdens his mind with small matters unless he has some very good reason for doing so. John Watson tells the story from a first person perspective (though that’s not evident in this quote). That means he’s giving readers his own perspective on the world around him, which includes Sherlock Holmes. In this passage, readers learn about Holmes’ peculiar learning habits, which is just another part of his extraordinary nature. Grant Snider/Incidental Comics #8: Conflict Because conflict is a part of plot- and as we’ve already established, all literature has some sort of plot- that means conflict is a literary element, too. A conflict is the central struggle that motivates the characters and leads to a work’s climax. Generally, conflict occurs between the protagonist, or hero, and the antagonist, or villain...but it can also exist between secondary characters, man and nature, social structures, or even between the hero and his own mind. More importantly, conflict gives a story purpose and motivates a story’s plot. Put another way, conflict causes the protagonist to act. Sometimes these conflicts are large in scale, like a war...but they can also be small, like conflict in a relationship between the hero and their parents. One of the most important things to understand about conflict is it can be both explicit and implicit. Explicit conflict is explained within the text; it’s an obvious moment where something goes wrong and characters have to fix it. Bram Stoker’s Dracula uses explicit conflict to fuel its plot: a vampire has come to England, and the heroes in the story have to kill him as soon as possible. Implicit conflict is more common in poetry, where there isn’t a specific occurrence that obviously screams, â€Å"this is a problem.† Instead, you have to read between the lines to find the conflict that’s motivating the narrator. Take a look at Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s â€Å"How Do I Love Thee?† for an example of implicit conflict in action: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and heightMy soul can reach, when feeling out of sightFor the ends of being and ideal grace.I love thee to the level of every day’sMost quiet need, by sun and candle-light.I love thee freely, as men strive for right.I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.I love thee with the passion put to useIn my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.I love thee with a love I seemed to loseWith my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,I shall but love thee better after death. The conflict here is actually a happy one: the narrator is so in love that she’s struggling with expressing the depth of her emotion! Cyanide and Happiness/Explosm.net #9: Characters A piece of literature has to have at least one character, which can be a person, an object, or an animal. While there are many different character types (and archetypes!), we’re going to talk about the two you absolutely need to know: the protagonist and the antagonist. The protagonist of a work is its main character. The plot circles around this person or object, and they are central to solving the conflict of the story. Protagonists are often heroic, but they don’t have to be: many stories focus on the struggles of average people, too. For the most part, protagonists are the characters that you remember long after the book is over, like Katniss Everdeen, David Copperfield, Sherlock Holmes, and Hester Prynne. Antagonists, on the other hand, are the characters that oppose the protagonist in some way. (This opposition is what causes the conflict of the story!) There can be multiple antagonists in a story, though usually there’s one major character, animal, or object that continues to impede the protagonist’s progress. If you ever forget what an antagonist is, just think of your favorite Disney villains. They’re some of the best bad guys out there! What's Next? If you’re not taking AP practice tests, there’s no way to know how you’ll do when you’re taking the exam for real. Here’s a list of practice tests for every AP exam, including the AP literature exam. It might seem like extra work, but we promise- practice tests are one of the best ways to help you improve your score! Listen: we know you’re busy, so it can be hard to schedule time to study for an AP test on top of your extracurriculars and normal class work. Check out this article on when you need to start studying for your AP tests to make sure you’re staying on track. What does a good AP score look like, anyway? Here’s a list of the average AP scores for every single AP test. This is great for seeing how your practice scores stack up against the national average.