College Reputation

Checkmate!

Scholar's Mate:
Fool's Mate:
Some Opening Principles and Chess Strategies

1. It is Better Chess Strategy to Develop the Knights before Their Respective Bishops.
2. A good chess strategy is to Develop Both Knights before the Queen’s Bishop.
3. A good chess strategy is Do Not Develop your Chess Pieces Exclusively on One Side.
4. A good chess strategy is as a Rule Do Not Play a Piece beyond Your Own Side of the Board in the Opening.
5. A good chess strategy is if You Have Castled Do Not Permit the Opponent to Open a File on Your King.
6. A good chess strategy is to Avoid Pinning the Opponent’s King’s Knight before He has Castled, Especially When You Have Yourself Castled on the King’s Side.
7. A good chess strategy is to Avoid Making Exchanges which Develop Another Piece for the Opponent.
8. A good chess strategy is to Avoid Exchanging Bishops for Knights Early in the Game.
9. A good chess strategy is to Avoid Premature Attacks.

http://www.johnpratt.com/items/chess/menu.html

Sample Outline for a Talk

Be sure to put your name on your outline!

Include your speech title here

Audience

Analyze your audience. What do they already know about your topic? Are they interested in the topic?

Refine and limit topic

Based on your analysis of the audience you may need to slightly change your topic, by either changing the focus, or the scale of the topic.

Purpose: (Why are you giving this talk?):

Write down a clear statement of what it is you intend to achieve. What is the goal of your speech.

For example, you can write; The purpose of this speech is to inform the audience how to travel in Japan without spending to much money.

Thesis: (What is your major argument?)

Now, convert the purpose statement into a 'thesis statement'. A thesis statement is one sentence in the introduction in which you declare your purpose and topic.

For example, a thesis statement of the above purpose statement would be; 'Traveling in Japan need not be an extravagance.'

I. Introduction

A. Greeting: "hello, my name is ....."
B. Attention getter: think of a sentence that will make the audience sit up and listen.
C. Credibility statement: this means explaining to the audience why you are 'qualified' to speak about the subject.
D. Thesis statement: see above
E. Preview of main points: what are your main points? Tell your audience why you think your presentation will be useful to them.

Transition: think of a sentence that will make it clear to the audience that you have finished the introduction, and are now about to start the body of the speech.

II. Body: Main Points #1, #2, #3

Main ideas	Supporting ideas	Details & Examples	Visuals
Write your main points and ideas here	What ideas will you tell the audience to support your main points?	What details or examples do you have?	Will you have any visuals to help explain your points?

Transition: think of a sentence that will make it clear to the audience that you have finished the body and are now coming to the end of the speech.

III. Conclusion

A. Signal closing: "and in conclusion...."
B. Restate thesis
C. Review main points: summarize your main ideas and think of which piece of information you really want the audience to remember.

1. Main point #1
2. Main point #2
3. Main point #3

D. Memorable statement or call to action: think of a final sentence to help the audience remember your speech.
E. Thank audience for listening

Remember to: smile, make eye contact with most friendly audience, look confident, keep good body posture, and use hand/facial gestures to signal main points (thumbs-up).

Bibliography

Be sure to include non-print expert sources (e.g., those experts you have interviewed or heard on a broadcast).

Use a standard format such as APA, MLA, or Turabian. (URLs are not sufficient.) Go to the APA Style Wizard for assistance at http://www.stylewizard.com/index.html

http://www.nsknet.or.jp/~peterr-s/public_speaking/detailoutline.html
http://people.whitman.edu/~weilercs/TalkingTips/How_to_give_a_speech.pdf

Gestures: Get Moving!

Let go of your stiff death grip on the lectern and learn how to make your speeches interesting through body language.

The human body contains more than 700 muscles, but few of those are used by speakers – except when using their arms and fingers in a life-preserving clutch of lecterns and laser pointers or frenetically clicking on PowerPoint slides. Speakers tend to focus most of their efforts in search of the perfect word to illustrate their precious points, despite overwhelming evidence proving that, in fact, our bodies speak louder than words.

Your effectiveness as a speaker is directly related to your ability to invoke emotion and interest through the use of non-verbal communication. Your listeners judge you and your message based on what they see as well as what they hear. In public speaking, your body can be an effective tool for adding emphasis and clarity to your words. It’s also your most powerful instrument for convincing an audience of your sincerity, earnestness and enthusiasm. Whether your purpose is to inform, persuade, entertain, motivate or inspire, your body language and the personality you project must be appropriate to what you say. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “What you are speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.” So be sure your appearance, posture and attire is appropriate as well.

Here’s how you can incorporate appropriate body language into your speeches:

• Start with eye contact. Being prepared – having control of your message – is a prerequisite for being able to project and establish a bond with the audience. Don’t just pass your gaze throughout the room; try to focus on individual listeners and create a bond with them by looking them directly in the eyes for five to 10 seconds.
• Smile!
• Express emotion with your facial muscles. For inspiration, take a look at the The Human Face, a BBC documentary narrated by John Cleese of Monty Python fame, now available on DVD.
• Avoid distracting mannerisms – have a friend watch as you practice and look for nervous expressions such as fidgeting, twitching, lip biting, key jingling, hands in pockets or behind the back.
• Telling a story? Highlight the action verbs and look for ways to act out one or more parts. Speaking about marathon running? Run a few steps.
• Stay true to your personality. Don’t copy gestures from a book or other speaker, but respond naturally to what you feel and say.
• Make gestures convincing. Every hand gesture should be total body movement that starts from the shoulder – never from the elbow. Half-hearted gestures look artificial.
• Vary your speaking position by moving from one spot on the stage to another. For example, walk to the other side of the stage as you move to a new topic or move toward the audience as you ask a question.

http://www.toastmasters.org/MainMenuCategories/FreeResources/NeedHelpGivingaSpeech/TipsTechniques/GesturesGetMoving.aspx

10 Tips for Public Speaking

Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and even beneficial, but too much nervousness can be detrimental. Here are some proven tips on how to control your butterflies and give better presentations:

1. Know your material. Pick a topic you are interested in. Know more about it than you include in your speech. Use humor, personal stories and conversational language – that way you won’t easily forget what to say.
2. Practice. Practice. Practice! Rehearse out loud with all equipment you plan on using. Revise as necessary. Work to control filler words; Practice, pause and breathe. Practice with a timer and allow time for the unexpected.
3. Know the audience. Greet some of the audience members as they arrive. It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than to strangers.
4. Know the room. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.
5. Relax. Begin by addressing the audience. It buys you time and calms your nerves. Pause, smile and count to three before saying anything. ("One one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand. Pause. Begin.) Transform nervous energy into enthusiasm.
6. Visualize yourself giving your speech. Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear and confident. Visualize the audience clapping – it will boost your confidence.
7. Realize that people want you to succeed. Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative and entertaining. They’re rooting for you.
8. Don’t apologize for any nervousness or problem – the audience probably never noticed it.
9. Concentrate on the message – not the medium. Focus your attention away from your own anxieties and concentrate on your message and your audience.
10. Gain experience. Mainly, your speech should represent you — as an authority and as a person. Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking. A Toastmasters club can provide the experience you need in a safe and friendly environment.

http://www.toastmasters.org/tips.asp

College Public Speaking

Aida: The Grand March

Steve Jobs

My model for business is The Beatles: They were four guys that kept each other's negative tendencies in check; they balanced each other. And the total was greater than the sum of the parts. Great things in business are not done by one person, they are done by a team of people.

Campus Safety Tips

1. Never walk alone. Use the buddy system.
2. Be aware of your surroundings.
3. Park in well lit and busy areas.
4. Know the locations of all Emergency Telephones on campus.
5. Report all suspicious persons and activities to campus security
6. Carry your purse or book bags close to your body.
7. Be alert and look around when using ATMs.
8. Do not use a shortcut through alleys.
9. Always let someone know where you are going and what time you expect to return.
10. Keep the campus police number, near your telephone or store it in your cell phone.

Top 20 Skills – EDGE (Rhodes Scholar)

1. Long term Career Plan & Goals: 10yr – HS Diploma, AA, BA, MCAT, Med Sch, Residency
2. Study Skills & Time Mgt. Cornell map, daily calendar, master problem sets, essay outline, map lecture, memory skills
3. Low Stress College Education: Max 3-4 subjects sem; Mix 1-2 science courses; No Science Major; 5yr BS Plan
4. Financial Mgt. & Budgeting: How to reconcile a bank stmt; P&L to manage a home; How to shop wisely (Mint.com)
5. Public Speaking: College Courses + Toastmasters (video taping), get out of comfort zone
6. Leadership Skills: Coll club membership
7. The Art of Networking, Resume writing, References Letters
8. How to Think Creatively – Out Of The Box
9. 2nd very Fluent Language Skills
10. Business Hobby: Writing, Piano, Archery, Cycling, roller-skating, Amateur artist,
11. Publish articles – BC school paper, The Observer
12. Sex Education: Girls Can Program; Date Rape; Drugs; Sexual diseases; Dating guidelines
13. Home Economics: Cooking; self-grooming; CPR; Power Tools; Proper Etiquette
14. Mentoring & Teaching
15. World Knowledge: Time, National Geo; The Atlantic
16. Think Like A Genus: quickie math; Speed Reading; (know the unusual)
17. Positive Thinking - Understand that failure is a temporary situation
18. Home & Personal Safety: Campus etiquette; Gun range; RAD self-defense classes; pepper spray
19. 2nd income: real estate

Home Security

1. Bright external Motion Lights
   
2. Visible Fake/Real Cameras @ strategic locations
   
3. No Trespassing Signs
4. Locked external Gates
5. Low-cut trees/scrubs
6. Prickly/Spiny plants under windows areas
7. Barking dog
   
8. Windows screened (limit passer-by views)
   
9. Key-Lock each Window (fire exits)
   
10. Central Alarm System - Motion Activated
11. All entrance ways - Battery operated alarm system
12. Sliding door pin-locks & cross bars
    
13. Main doors - security slide-latch for limited opening
    
14. Bedroom - dead bolt locks (including all doors)
    
15. Garage door - bolted inside (universal remote opener)
    
16. Bolted Fire and Theft Safe
17. Easy sliding & dark window shades/blinds (grommet holes)
    
18. Internet computer camera system
19. Radio turned-on upon leaving
    
20. Expensive electronic item viewable upon entry (early warning)
    
21. S&W Revolver - .38 spc (The Bodyguard) - Holster, trigger plug, ring activation trigger, bio-metric safe.
22. Alert Police Station, neighbors when on vacation (fill out form)
    

Imagine Leadership

The Keyword Memory System

The Keyword system is the most effective memory system for learning medical terms. I've provided examples below to show you how to use this method. A good time to use this system is when you have a term for which there is no readily-available mnemonic.

The way you use the Keyword Method is by combining the use of substitute words with visualization (a two-step process). First you convert the sound of the word into smaller, simpler concepts. Then you associate those concepts with an image representing the actual meaning of the word.

Remember that when using any of the memory systems, you must make an effort to clearly visualize the images. The images are the "cues" (or clues) that help you retrieve the information from your memory, much like the label on a file folder.

Example 1 - "ginglymoid". This word means "pertaining to or shaped like a hinged joint." If you could somehow associate the phrase "hinged joint" with this term in your memory, you'd easily be able to remember the definition. The first step with the Keyword system is breaking down the word phonetically into smaller sounds you can word with.

The word ginglymoid is pronounced "jing-lei-moyd" according to Taber's medical dictionary. Thinking carefully about the sound of this word, I realize it sounds a bit like "jingly mud" (of course, you would use whatever phrase pops into your mind).

For jingly mud, a silly but memorable image could be a gigantic bell stuck in the mud. I am trying and trying to ring it, but the mud is very thick and I'm breaking my back trying to pull it out. Try to see this in your mind's eye in great detail - what color is the bell? what metal is it made of? does it have a wooden handle? And so on.

To associate that image with the definition, I modify the picture to imagine the handle of the bell is not straight, but actually has a human elbow (a hinge) in the middle! As I pull on the bell, this elbow bends, making it even more difficult to pull the bell out of the mud.

There you have it. When I read or hear the word "ginglymoid", it will automatically make me think of "jingly mud", which instantly calls to mind the bell stuck in the mud. The image I visualized will remind me that this is no ordinary bell, but it has a hinged joint on the handle. Therefore, ginglymoid => hinged joint.

Explaining this out took a lot of words, but when you perform these steps in your mind using images, it goes very quickly.

Don't forget, you need to periodically review your image to set it firmly in your mind. It only takes a second to review an image. Review images after 10 minutes, then 30 minutes, then 2 hours, then less frequently (perhaps after one day, then one week). This will really put the image and the associated medical term into long-term memory.

Example 2 - "Minimata's Disease". This disease is a neurological disorder caused by accidental ingestion of mercury, which is a poison. To remember this fact and the name of the disease, we simply need to associate Minimata (pronounced "mee-nee-mah-tah") with mercury.

Remember that the visual images are cues, which means they don't have to include every part of the word or definition to remind you of the true meaning. If you study and understand a concept, then the visual image cue simply acts like that filing cabinet label and allows you to access the part of your memory where that information is stored.

"Minimata" sounds to me a lot like "meany mat". I picture a very mean door mat with arms, legs, and an angry face. This could be like the Welcome mat that many people have by their front doors. Now, most people know that your typical thermometer contains mercury (the silver liquid inside).

I visualize this angry mat taking a huge thermometer out of his mouth (I guess he was sick, and that's why he's mad) smashing the thermometer on the front porch. This splashes the silver mercury all over and gets broken glass everywhere, which is very hazardous.

You see with that image, it is not only silly, but it also adds exaggeration (a "huge" thermometer) as well as action (smashing the thermometer). These all help make the image more memorable.

When I read or see the phrase "Minimata's Disease", I'll realize it sounds like "meany mat". This will remind me of the mean mat who smashed his thermometer and spilled mercury every where. Oh yeah! Minimata => mercury poisioning.

http://www.medicalmnemonics.com/

A Successful Man

"Not every successful man is a good father, but every good father is a successful man"