The class is American Art and Architecture. Topic is the american Term Paper

The class is American Art and Architecture. Topic is the american artist John Singleton Copley - Term Paper Example He was one of the most successful artists in colonial America who was widely renowned for his portrait paintings and he was believed to be the master of great pieces of American history of arts. He was one of the finest portraitists in American history. His capacity of demonstrating the fantasies of people and objects in contrast with various combinations of light and dark enabled him to be recognized for a long time by the art historians. The parents of Copley were said to be poor and uncultured and he was the stepson of the artist Peter Pelham. By the time in 1760, although being difficult circumstances in life, Copley managed to gain the position of a supreme artist. And then in 1774, he left Boston and went to London, where he familiarize his style of painting with the British painterly approach and that was the time when he diversified his focus of the paintings from portraits to history paintings which enabled him in gaining global appreciation. Many people argue that Copley was not formerly trained under any professional artist, but this is not the reality. In the difficult times of his youth, Copley had to spend 3 years with his stepfather, Peter Pelham and there he got the chance to study and learn the drawing patterns, printmaking and the art of painting portraits. Not only his stepfather, but Copley also had witnessed the artistry works two English artists, John Smibert (1688 – 1751) and Joseph Blackburn (1752 – 1777). Copley had learned a lot from the copies of various old master paintings that were drawn by Simbert. The early work of Copley was mainly influenced by by  Joseph Badger (1707/8–1765), Robert Feke (about 1708–1751), and John Greenwood (1729–1792). Not only them, but his early works also reveal that they were influenced by Simbert and Blackburn. For instance, his painting of Joseph Mann which he painted in 1754 was influenced by the early works of Feke and Greenwood. He

Essay on Informal and Formal Griencance Essay Example for Free

Essay on Informal and Formal Griencance Essay This essay will explore the difference between formal and informal Grievance process, how it can be prevented and a sample of the authors own work of grievance investigation and conclusion As a shift Manager and part of my responsibilities to ensure that we have a harmonious working relationship between staff and management. For the purpose of this essay, I will cover the Grievance process, how it can be prevented and a sample of grievance proceedings that I handled. A grievance is generally any complaint that has been presented by an employee to a management representative about an aspect of the employee work, working conditions or relationships. They are usually set out to the employer, either verbally or in writing. However, it is important to note that grievance can be presented in many forms and it should always be dealt with to minimise the risk of employment tribunal claims and awards. As part of our company policy and in our contract of employment, the company has adopted a ‘Positive Work Environment, which states that the company is committed to create a harmonious working environment, which is free from harassment and bullying and in which every employee is treated with respect and dignity.’ We have three forms of communicating to all our employees the company’s stance on grievance related issues, which covers staff understanding of what is grievance, the consequences if a grievance case against fellow employee is proven and the reporting procedures. Firstly, we will discuss grievance to all employees through the employee induction process, in their written contract of employment, which is normally issued to the employee after successful three months probation. And finally through the company hand book, which every employee is issued a copy, signed for and advised to read and follow the company’s policies therein. In addition and under the employment act 2002 (Dispute resolution) Regulation 2004, it is the duty of the employer to detect whether a complaint from an employee amount to an informal grievance, and if it is, such complaint should be dealt with through the organisation or that company’s grievance process. The following are common issues that can easily lead to grievance: †¢ Bullying and Harassment  Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ Discrimination †¢ Poor Management Practice †¢ Inadequate training †¢ Poor communication †¢ Unfair treatment †¢ Unclear job roles †¢ Failure in providing equal opportunities †¢ Personalities, Values, Workload and Expectations †¢ Changes to accepted customs and practices Once the Management understands that the above possible causes can lead to employee grievance complaints, the initial method to prevent it from happening is to adopt it into the company continuous improvement programme, which must form part of the management daily working activities, since issues of grievance can come from all sectors of employees working activities. The secondary prevention measures are how noticeable grievance cases are dealt with appropriately and quickly. As a rule of thumb, the initial approach to deal with grievance is to try and resolve it informally if possible. As it is always the case, leaving or ignoring grievance to develop can often lead to an escalation of the problem, which can lead to Managers having to spend time on endless investigation, lose of good employee and expensive Employment Tribunal proceedings. There are also multiple symptoms that an employee with perceived grievance can exhibit, which in many cases can affect the productivity of the company. For example, an employee may take more time off or sick off from work, or not performed his or her work duties to the optimum, which in many cases is a result of stress or anxiety from work. An experienced Manager or Supervisor should be able to detect some of these signs, talk to the employee concerned and informally resolved the issue as soon as possible. In a situation whereby a Manager could not detect a grievance through the behaviour of one of his employees, but it is established that an employee complaint is a grievance, that Manager should tell that employee that his complaint is a grievance, and must also explained to him his right under the company’s grievance provision to raise or report that matter (instilling confidence). The employee should be assured that the matter will be investigated and dealt with and there will not be any retribution from the company for reporting that issue. As per the grievance procedure contained in the company handbook and under the employment act 2002 (Dispute resolution) Regulation 2004, the employee must put his case in writing, but if for some reason the employee is unable to do this, the Manager should make full notes of the grievance and ask him/her to sign it as being a true representation. Once the written notification or the signed grievance note is given to the employer, an immediate and formal investigation should ensued. The employer should invite the employee in writing to a meeting to discuss the issue. This is an investigatory meeting to review the complaint, and not to give value judgements or comments, and certainly not any form of decision. The investigative officer should have an open mind, as all the facts may not be available to him. He should not pre-empt the decisions that will later be made. The aim at this stage is to identify the grievance, and be clear about the matter so that the company can resolve the grievance.

Social Issues With Multiculturalism

Social Issues With Multiculturalism What are the main sociological issues raised by the idea of a multi-cultural society? ‘Multiculturalism is not about difference and identity per se but about those that are embedded in and sustained by culture’ (Parekh, 2000:2). Despite the fact that most countries today are culturally diverse, it would be impossible to discuss the main sociological issues raised by the idea of a multicultural society without explaining first, what is the meaning of culture itself? The most common definition of culture refers to a complex entity which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, customs and habits acquired by members of a society. Claire Alexander sees culture as a set of traditions and beliefs linked to ethnicity and common origins which led to the realisation that culture is not a fixed set of beliefs, but it is made and unmade in daily life. (1996) The query of multiculturalism is not a recent topic for debate since it has been present in the political life of European countries since 1945, year that does not only mark the Second World War but also the beginning of an era of concerns and changes. The main issues raised by this matter refer to immigration, delegation of power and growing numbers of political refugees and asylum seekers. Yet, further problems emerge concerning collective and political rights, liberal ideas, identity, and individual freedom. (Rex, 2003) Furthermore, Kymlicka suggests that the diversity of cultures we are experiencing today has led to a conflict between majorities and minorities over matters such as language, autonomy, political representation, and national identity (1996). He also argues that this, mainly affects democracies: ‘attempts to create liberal democratic institutions are being undermined by violent nationalist conflicts; volatile disputes over the rights of immigrants, indigenous peoples, and other cultural minorities are throwing into question many of the assumptions which have governed political life for decades’ (1996: 2) Until recently, multiculturalism was seen by politicians and monarchs as a positive trait of modern and nation-states. However, this perception changed due to ethnic conflicts within nations such as the ethnic cleansing in Yugoslavia or the riots in the United Kingdom between Asians and native British citizens. In the past few years, many philosophers and social scientists have taken an interest into the idea of cultural diversity and tried to define the image of a liberal society, answer the question whether individual rights should be expanded to groups and solve the problem of recognition which appeared it implied the denial of individual rights in the first place. (Rex, 2003) On this matter, Charles Taylor argues that in fact, recognition is an essential component of the concept of rights and individuals could be recognised as part of a group (1994). In order to expand his argument, he goes as far back as the collapse of social hierarchies and the ancient regime and states the common element that constitutes both a hierarchy and a democratic society. He claims that the ancient hierarchies were based on the notion of â€Å"honour† which even though it was a matter of choice, it defined the individuals of the society; the term we use today is â€Å"dignity†. On the other hand, Taylor states that recognition has acquired a different meaning with the new understanding of individual identity that emerged at the end of the eighteenth century. This new idea focused on the inner voice of the individual and on the concept of authenticity: ‘on the original view, the inner voice was important because it tells us what the right thing to do is; bei ng in touch with our moral feelings matter here, as a means to the end of acting rightly’ (1994:28) He also argues that identity is necessarily collective and that cultural rights cannot be enjoyed by individuals alone because they are collective by nature. However, Taylor’s position collides with the liberal tradition which is based on the idea of individual freedom and the neutrality. According to Henri Giordan, the pillar of the modern society is fighting for individual freedom rather than the traditional structures of societies. Thus, the progress of civilizations was reflected in the freedom of speech and press, liberty to gather political parties and vote, concepts which defined human rights that in Pareks` view: ‘represent a great historical achievement’ (2006: 17) Furthermore, he explains that: ‘for the first time in history (human rights) provide a universally accessible moral and political language in which to articulate our shared concerns and differences. In so doing it builds moral bonds between human beings in different parts of the world and helps create an awareness of our shared humanity.’ (2006:17) Nonetheless, Parekh suggests that human rights should follow three conditions: ‘firstly, they should be integrally related to and indispensable for a life of dignity; secondly, they should be universal or rather universalizable in the dual sense that all human beings are entitled to claim them and that this claim extends to all societies; thirdly, human rights should be widely accepted as such by a cross-cultural consensus.’ (2006:25) In order to sustain this point of view, Kymlicka states that minority rights are inseparable from human rights and mentions UNESCO: ‘the defence of cultural diversity is an ethical imperative inseparable from respect for human dignity. It implies a commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular the rights belonging to minorities and those of indigenous peoples. Cultural rights are an integral part of human rights, which are universal, indivisible and interdependent.’ (UNESCO, Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, 2001) However, the rise of democracy was brutally interrupted by the First and Second World War. National identity became a threat for ideologies such as fascism and Nazism which led to a tragic outcome (Kym1icka, 1992). Some minorities were exterminated, either by expulsion or by genocide while other minorities were assimilated and force to adopt the language, customs and religion of the majority group and were denied political rights. It became evident at the end of the Second World War that a different approach to minorities’ rights was necessary and attempts were made to redistribute collective rights to individuals rather than granting special rights to members of a group. (Kymlicka, 1996) Starting with the 1980s, a new dimension was given to minorities rights and Kymlicka suggests that ‘these changes have followed two tracks: there is one track for the specific case of â€Å"indigenous peoples†, and another track for â€Å"minorities† in general’ (2007:31) He goes on explaining that the rights that were exclusively given to indigenous peoples (the Indians and Inuit in Canada, Aboriginal in Australia, Indian tribes in the United States, the Maori of new Zealand) included land claims, language rights, customary law and representation in the central government: ‘this is a perception that is sometimes promoted by indigenous peoples themselves and their advocates, who assert that the status of indigenous peoples has nothing in common with the claims of â€Å"minorities†, and that the ideology of â€Å"indigenism† has no connection with more general theories of multiculturalism’ (2007: 34) The latter track that Kymlicka explains refers to the distinction between â€Å"historic minorities† (that were traditionally settled in the country and included groups that were considered â€Å"indigenous peoples† and long-standing â€Å"national minorities†: the Scots and Welsh of Britain, the Catalans and Basques in Spain, Puerto Rico in United States) and the â€Å"migrants† (2007). In what immigration is concerned, it appears that the countries with a high density of migrants (Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States) have approached the problem of immigration through a process of assimilation with the hope that they will blend in with the native-born citizens. Solid evidence for the progress of minority rights was given by the European Union when they declared that the promotion of minority rights was the â€Å"ascension criteria† for the countries that wanted to join the Union (Kymlicka 2007) Another topic that Kymlicka approaches in his theory refers to the distinction and the connection between â€Å"collective rights† and â€Å"individual rights†. He begins by explaining that there are two meanings of â€Å"collective rights†: ‘collective rights could refer to the right of a group to limit the liberty of its own individual members in the name of group solidarity or cultural purity (â€Å"internal restrictions†); or it could refer to the right of a group to limit the economic or political power exercised by the larger society over the group, to ensure that the resources and institutions on which the minority depends are not vulnerable to majority decisions (â€Å"external protections†)’ (1996: 36) The internal restrictions imply intra-group relations- the group may use the state power to limit the liberty of its own members which raised the question of individual oppression. As an example, Kymlicka refers to culture where women are oppressed or cultures were the religious orthodoxy is enforced. Moreover, he argues that some minorities would limit even further the rights of their members: ‘it is one thing to require people to do jury duty or to vote, and quite another to compel people to attend a particular church or to follow traditional gender roles. The former are intended to uphold liberal rights and democratic institutions, the latter restrict these rights in the name of cultural tradition or religious orthodoxy.’ (1996:36) External protections imply inter-group relations- the ethnic/ national group seeks to preserve its distinction and identity by limiting the effect of the decisions taken by the majority group. Doing so, this also raises yet another issue: not of individual oppression but of inequality between groups. However, Kymlicka makes it clear that ‘collective rights’ are indeed opposed to individual rights: ‘On one natural interpretation, ‘collective rights’ refer to the rights accorded to and exercised by collectivities, where these rights are distinct from, and perhaps conflicting with, the rights accorded to the individuals who compose the collectivity. This is not the only possible definition of collective rights—indeed there are hundreds of definitions in the literature—but almost everyone agrees that collective rights are, by definition, not individual rights.’ (1996: 45) This matter led to a conflict of ideas between individualists and collectivists on the priority of individuals within a community or the community itself. It appears that individualists argue that the individuals are essential for a community seeing that a community only matters if it contributes to the well-being of its constituent members. On the other hand, collectivists deny the idea of a community that`s meant to attend to its individuals. (1996) ‘Collectivists and individualists disagree about whether communities can have rights or interests independently of their individual members (). Most such rights are not about the primacy of communities over individuals. Rather, they are based upon the idea that justice between groups requires that the members of different groups be accorded different rights.’ (1996: 48) Despite the fact that multiculturalism and immigration have always been present in our lives and are essential components of the modern world, it is still impossible to find the answers to the always-present sociological issues that a multicultural society rises. What triggers the majority of problems is immigration: with it, emerge matters concerning minority rights, individual freedom and identity, oppression, riots, protests for human rights, violence and racism. Economical and political issues, religion and race concerns, language and culture barriers are also consequences of this cultural diversity that we are experiencing today. The topic looks as if it appealed to theoreticians and social scientists and it still remains an ever-present subject of discussion. It also led to conflicts of ideas between theoreticians such as Charles Taylor and Will Kymlicka, both Canadians but with opposing views. It is quite obvious that multiculturalism is now seen as a persistent problem, taking into account the changes that took place in the structures of societies. However, there is no doubt that immigration improved our knowledge of different cultures, languages, traditions and food; it had also thought communities to be tolerant and accept diversity even embrace it. Economy and trade between countries has developed and societies became â€Å"cosmopolitan†. Even thought, migrants have always been put in a bad light, they are not in fact, trying to deter natives. They have good working skills and are willing to work for low-paid jobs and extra hours. Usually, they do the jobs that the natives would not do and it app ears that there are more immigrants than natives that have a permanent job. It seems unfair to argue that migrants do not help the economy of the country they live in seeing that they still pay taxes and have less claimed benefits than the unemployed natives. Moreover, due to the fact they have a low wage they can always be found in the rough area of big cities, living in modest and dangerous conditions. On the other hand, language it is definitely a cause of having low-paid jobs since most migrants do not speak the language, thus making it more difficult to find employment. Another factor of immigration is religious discrimination. Considering the recent events in the United States, Arabs and Islamists in particular are discriminated and put in a bad light. Romanians and Bulgarians also have a bad reputation around Europe and a false image which may lead to cultural conflicts between migrants and natives. Somehow, it appears that the society makes it harder for migrants to obtain necessary documents in order to reside and work legally in the country. Until recently, Romanians and Bulgarians were bound to apply for a work permit in order to work legally in the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, attempts are being made to improve and solve these problems and it is quite obvious that many advantages have been gained from this. Moreover, it is evident that multiculturalism is the way forward and while modern societies need to become more tolerant of migrants and their values, the migrants have to accept the majority`s way of life and integrate in their community and nation. Unfortunately, these changes might not occur in the near future considering that minorities have more and more claims for rights and benefits and natives are becoming more and more reluctant to the controversial idea of multiculturalism, which seems to lead their lives.

Deception in Shakespeares Othello Essay -- Othello William Shakespear

Deception in Shakespeare's Othello Deception, which by its definition is a bad thing and has only one level or degree, is truly not this way at all. Deception appears many times in Othello, but in almost every incident the degree of deception is different. There are only a few characters that use deception, and those characters all use different degrees of deception to get what they want in the play. Deception is almost always used through verbal language or body language because it is the easiest way to deceive a person. The reasons, or intentions, a person has for deception determines the goodness (or badness) and (or) severity of the deception. If a person deceives others with good intentions, then, in a way, the deception is partially good. However, if a person has bad reasons or intentions in deceiving others, then the deception is bad. There is also, in contrast to the definition of deception, debate over what is deception because it is always different in the eyes of different people. Although deception is always meant to deceive, the degree of deception varies upon the context of the situation. Desdemona gives one example of deception when she hides her relationship with Othello from her father. Brabantio says, â€Å"O, she deceives me Past thought!† (1.1.166) Desdemona had reasons for deceiving her father. Her reasons were very simple, because she loved her father she wanted to protect him. Desdemona knew that her father would eventually find out the truth, but she felt that by hiding her relationship with Othello she would be delaying the inevitable pain that her father was going to feel. Since Desdemona loved her father, she felt that by delaying his pain she would be doing him a service, and because Desdemona deceived her father out of love, this deception was not severe. It was however bad, because there was no way in which Desdemona could avoid hurting her father. This shows that even though Desdemona deceived her father and the outcome was bad, it w as not severe because her intentions were good hearted. Another example of the degree of deception was when Iago said to Othello, â€Å"She did deceive her father, marrying you† (111.3.205). Iago’s deception, which in appearance looks similar to Desdemona’s deception, is in fact very different. When Iago says this to Othello, he is trying to anger Othello, and place doubt in Othello’s mind. Iago’s int... ... each interpretation, Iago is able to ask this question and honestly believe that what he does is not deceitful.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Even though deception is defined as malicious, trickery, cheating, and as a sham, it is evident that deception can be good through its intentions, can have different degrees, and is open to debate because of different interpretations. Because Desdemona wanted to spare her father from pain, it was not as deceitful as when Iago lied to Othello to put doubt in his mind. Desdemona’s deception to Othello was good because she did not want to upset him when she thought that she could fix the situation without him knowing. Iago’s deception was bad however, because he tricked Othello by lying to him and wanted to hurt him. Finally, Iago was able to believe that he was not a villain because deception is open to debate because it is different to each person. Shakespeare showed how deception is far different than it’s definition in the â€Å"OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY† by giving examples of deception which all differ from the standard definition. Works Cited Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd Ed. Volume 4. 1989. Shakespeare, William. Othello. New York: Penguin Books, 1968.

The Crucible Research Paper

John Doe The Crucible Research Paper Around the same, beginning in the 1940’s, both McCarthyism and the imprisoning of the Japanese after Pearl Harbor were taking place. Senator Joseph McCarthy went house to house searching and questioning people he believed were communist. If you were accused of being communist you were put on a list called the â€Å"red-list†, which meant that your passport was taken away, your job was at stake or you were sent to jail. Immediately after Pearl Harbor was attacked, the President declared that everyone of Japanese decent could be a possible threat to the American people.The Japanese families all over the nation were sent to internment camps, much like those of the Holocaust. The fortunate ones were told to pack one suitcase and leave their homes and move to their new location, given by the government of course. McCarthyism and the Japanese Internment Camps have several similarities and a few differences. To begin, in both cases, the sub ject at hand was blown out of proportion with inadequate evidence against both the so-called communists and the supposed Japanese spies. â€Å"McCarthy’s relentless pursuit of communist ‘subversives‘ took the witch-hunt to new heights. After the cold war, the threat of communism intensified. Several people, including celebrities, were red-listed. There was absolutely no proof that these people were even communist. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt was convinced that there were Japanese spies here in America. Again, with no factual evidence that these people of Japanese decent were spying for Japan, they were all taken from their homes and places in internment camps or moved to a different location with no explanation. The US justified their action by claiming that there was a danger of those of Japanese descent spying for the Japanese. † To wrap up, during McCarthyism and the Japanese Interment Camps, both were prisoned unfairly without evidence or trial. Secondly, the two topics at hand differed because with the Japanese, the only people that were moved and or imprisoned were those of Japanese decent, but with the red scare, anyone could possibly be accused. During the time the Japanese were being sent to the internment camps, under the order of President Roosevelt, everyone knew what was going on and exactly who the accused were.On the contrary, while McCarthy was persistently hunting for those who could possible be communists with the thought of overthrowing our Republic, none of the common people knew who or when the next ‘communist’ would be red-listed, or maybe jailed. Mad chaos went through the county in both cases. To conclude, both McCarthyism and the Japanese Internment camps compared and contrasted in a few ways. In both time periods, people were jailed without any proof that they were guilty, chaos was insane due to the random imprisonment of loved ones and friends.However the two contrasted because during McCarthyism several people of many different ethnic backgrounds were red-listed and when the Japanese were being sent to internment camps or relocated, specifically the Japanese were targeted. Works Cited â€Å"History Study Center – Home Page. † History Study Center – Home Page. N. p. , 2002. Web. 27 Nov. 2012. â€Å"Internment History. † PBS. PBS, n. d. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. Miller, Arthur. â€Å"McCarthyism. † PBS. PBS, 23 Aug. 2006. Web. 26 Nov. 2012. â€Å"World War Two – Japanese Internment Camps in the USA. † World War Two. N. p. , 10 Sept. 2012. Web. 30 Nov. 2012.

Colonization of a new world essays

Colonization of a new world essays Christopher Columbus discovery of a new world in 1492 led to a power struggle of enormous proportions throughout Europe over the next three hundred years. The taking of land and the treatment of its native peoples would define this struggle. Each major player in this chess game of colonization would have different means to reach their ultimate goals. The goals and means of these European powers would be have many similarities while at the same time differences that caused great animosity between countries. Columbus sailed for Spain and his arrival in the Caribbean would not only change the people and lands that he came into contact with, but it would change the entire world. Spain began its colonization of Latin America in search of wealth that could bring great power back home to Europe. The Spanish would claim land and control over it and its peoples through ceremony. On Columbus first journey he claimed islands for his king and queen with appropriate ceremony and words.1 These ceremonies and words were made official when recorded by the notary and land became official property of the Spanish empire.2 The Spaniards, while in search of wealth, had other goals as well. They believed it their duty to convert the heathens of this new land to Christianity.3 Many of the natives they would encounter would view the Europeans as spiritual beings. Hernan Cortes easily conquered the great Aztec city of Tenochtitlan because of these false beliefs. Upon his arrival in the city, the Aztec leader, Moctezuma Xocoyotzin, believed Cortes to be the god Quetzalcoatl returning to rule Mexico. Moctezuma decided not to resist the Spanish invasion directly and quickly lost his city and eventually the entire Aztec state. There are several other recorded cases in which the natives were very welcoming to their invaders because they believed they were supernatural spirits. Columbus concluded that the in...

Workshop 10 essays

Workshop 10 essays 9.1-1 Describe what yesterday would have been like if you had not used the capabilities of computers. Keep in mind that businesses with which you deal rely on computers and that many of your appliances are computer-based. Without the use of my computer and the Internet, I would not have had four job opportunities yesterday. Having posted my resume on numerous websites such as Monster.com and Militaryhire.com, and submitting my resume to hundreds of companies online through Washingtonpostjobs.com, I was finally able to draw enough attention to my resume that some employers contacted me. When they did contact me, I could look them up through my email and recall what position I had previously applied for. Yesterday the company that offered me a position ran a security clearance on their computers on me and discovered that I have an active clearance, which was the deal breaker for this particular job. Because of yesterdays phone calls, I know have a great job opportunity and it would not have happened if I had not had a computer yesterday. Yesterday, I also used my computer to complete a few of my college homework assignments. Because of my sloppy handwriting abilities, I probably would have stil l been re-writing them. 9.1-2 Two lawyers used the Internet to broadcast thousands of email messages advertising their services. They were subsequently flamed (sent angry e-mail messages) and vilified by Internet users for what they believed to be an inappropriate use of the Net. The attorneys broke no laws. Was the reaction of the Internet users justified? Explain. Because of the lack of Internet laws and standards of enforceable behavior, I do not believe they did. However, personally I think that this type of behavior is unethical and an invasion of my personal privacy, which is guarantied by the Constitution of th ...

Required High School Exit Exams

Required High School Exit Exams Free Online Research Papers Passing grades just doesn’t guarantee graduation and a high school diploma anymore in many public schools across the nation. To ensure that students who receive high school diplomas meet basic requirements of academic proficiency and job readiness, many states across the nation have adopted the exit exams that students must pass in order to graduate and receive a diploma. State exit exams are most often based on 10th grade proficiency standards; a few states aligned their exams to the 8th and 9th grade levels and some others to the 11th and 12th grade levels (www.cep-dc.org August 2006). The number of states that are implementing this law is on the rise throughout the United States. The high school exit exam covers skills in language arts and math. There are several mixed feelings on whether high school exit exams should be required both positive and negative. These mixed feelings come from many different kinds of people such as students, parents, teachers and even politicia ns. Along with these exit exam comes controversy, hidden cost, and the possibilities of drop out rates sky rocketing to record lows. The over all intentions of this law are set to help students and prepare them for the future in the â€Å"real world† as we sometimes refer to life after high school. There have been positive outcomes from states that have implemented the law that requires students to pass their high school exit exams in order to graduate and receive a high school diploma. According to the Center on Education policy (CED) about 90 percent of high school seniors ultimately pass the test, although a high percentage of students fail the first time they take it (Kavan Peterson, Stateline.org, 2005). There are many ways for students to prepare for these high school exit exams to include, preparation books, web sites and additional tutoring by high schools. The average exit exam is aligned with the 10th grade education level. The students can take the test up to eight times during their high school years, which offers plenty of opportunities and should be no problem for high school seniors to pass. It is arguable that the high school exit exams are necessary in order receive a diploma, but it also helps to maintain its value as academic achievement. By setting these sta ndards the value of diplomas will be credible for employers and institutions of higher learning, which use them as indicators of the possession of necessary skills to perform a specific employment. As I stated before states are providing different opportunities in order to help students pass the high school exit exams. In some cases Arizona, Washington, and Maryland have expanded their alternate paths in order to help students that are struggling to pass the exit exam. Some of the alternatives offered are substitution of SAT and ACT scores, receiving credit toward exam scores for satisfactory course grades, waivers and appeals process. There are currently twenty subject tests apart of the SAT, all of which fall under the general subjects of English, history, math, science, and languages. Some states allow students to use their exit exams even if they have transferred from another state. Out of the 25 states that currently require or are in the process of requiring exit exams, more than one third offer remediation to students as well as working to find the most effective type of remediation to be most beneficial to the student. Where as California has nearly tripled it’s spending; to help remediate students who have failed the exam. The implementation of high school exit exams could motivate schools to better serve the students and their educational needs therefore; by implementing the high school exit exam schools could see the number of high school graduates increase. As more and more states adopt the high school exit exam, schools are trying to align their curriculum with the exams in order to prepare students for the exam when the time comes. By implementing these high school exit exams it not only prepares students for job readiness and higher learning, but it points out particular areas where students have deficiencies, therefore, helping to improve and focus on the more effective education curriculum. While there are many people supporting the high school exit exams, there are many opposing the high school exit exam as a requirement in order to graduate and receive a diploma? Opponents of the high school exit exam requirement, complain that the exam will drive already low graduation rates even lower. Critics feel that it is fundamentally unfair to deny students their high school diploma after completing thirteen- years of school. Because of the high school exit exams many students who have planned to attend college or pursue a military career do not have that option unless they successfully pass the exam. Since the high school exit exam has been implemented, English language learners and students with disabilities tend to have the lowest pass rates on the exam, yet only 4 out of the 25 states with current or planned exit exams offer special options, other than test accommodations. While states participate and join the forces of implementing high school exit exams nation wide, th e cost in which it will take to finance these exams is not exactly covered. Most often the cost of exit exams is imposed on districts with little to no support from the state and districts reduce other education programs to cover these hidden costs (www.cep-dc.org September 2006). It is unfair to require students to pass test on material they haven’t been taught and schools have yet to get new textbooks, and teachers haven’t been trained to standards. By requiring students to take the high school exit exams, too many students would not be able to graduate from high school, putting them at risk of failure in life and increasing their chances of dropping out. Education researchers fear that the high school exit exams will intimidate students and lead to higher drop out rates, especially among low income or disabled students and Black and Latino high school students who fail at higher rates than white or Asian students. The Manhattan Institute for policy research uses two highly respected rate calculations to figure out if the high school exit exams are effective or not. The results show that adopting a high school exit exam has no effect on state’s graduation rate. Some states set the high school exit exam to a middle school level, with tha t in mind where is the high school student even being challenged or when students in high school should be preparing for college. The high school exit exam appears to be a waste of time. The â€Å"real† problems in the education systems that need to be fixed are the poor learning conditions, rather than a high school exit exam. A quote I came across that doesn’t support the high school exit exam said, â€Å"Exit exams aggravate existing inequalities and do NOTHING to enhance academic excellence. They are a phony fix to a complex problem.† (New York Times article by Applied Research Center, Feb. 24, 1999.) The most group of students that appear to be having the difficulties are the minorities. With that in mind, the high school exit exams could be singling out the minority group of students and causing a wedge between the many different cultures in our nation. High schools already have class grades, portfolios and final exam, requirements in order to graduate and receive a diploma, for that reason the added high school exit exam creates another stress for students and these measurements are far more accurate determinants of both their performance and their knowledge. After extensive research on whether high school exit exams are necessary and effective in order to graduate and receive a high school diploma, I’ve come to the conclusion to believe that high school exit exams should not be required in order to graduate and receive a high school diploma. I feel that yes they could help schools and teacher assess on areas in the learning curriculum that need improvement. Although, by demanding this exit exam many students who are barely making it could be held back and become discouraged, therefore dropping out of high school where they might have had a chance if it wasn’t for the exit exam. The high school exit exam is not completely aligned with the curriculum that is being taught in schools, so the students are hardly even prepared, when the time comes to take the exam. Students already have graduation requirements which they have to maintain in order to graduate, for example finals, reports, portfolios, therefore this high school e xit exam could be hurting them more than helping them. I believe there are many other problems within the education systems, such as qualified teachers, adequate learning environments and sufficient learning materials. So by applying the high school exit exam the real problems are not being fixed, but only being masked by a useless test. Work Cited Hoor Bahnpuri, Susuan K. Sexton, â€Å"State high school exit exam: hidden cost†, Center on Education Policy, 2006, cep-dc.org Daniel Weintraub, â€Å"High school exit exams under fire† Scientifically correct, July 21, 2003, scientificallycorrect.com Jack Jennings, â€Å"State high school exit exams: A challenging year†, Center on Education Policy, August 2006, cep-dc.org Kavan Peterson, High school exit exams on the rise†, Stateline, May 23, 2005, Statline.org Eric Kelderman, High school exit exams set low bar, Stateline, June 10, 2004, Stateline.org Jay P Greene, Ph.D., Push Out or Pulled Up? Exit exams and dropout rates in public high schools†, Manhattan institute for policy research, May 5, 2004, manhattan-institute.org Research Papers on Required High School Exit ExamsStandardized TestingPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyHip-Hop is ArtPETSTEL analysis of IndiaResearch Process Part OneArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)Genetic EngineeringDefinition of Export QuotasThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Essay

Stakeholders of Marks and Spencer Literature review

Stakeholders of Marks and Spencer - Literature review Example Center of discussion in this paper is the company that has a global reputation in fashion. It has many stakeholders who have helped build a global reputation. The contribution of stakeholders to the welfare of the company is very crucial. The company strives to maintain a high level and effective communication with its stakeholders. Marks and Spencer has both internal and external stakeholders. Internal stakeholders include the staff, management, owners, and shareholders. Staff and management devote time working for the company in order to earn a source of livelihood. Approximately, the company has 78000 workers. On the other hand, owners stand as internal stakeholders because the company’s profits are a source of income to them. Shareholders provide the company with capital of expansion while anticipating an increased a higher value of their shares as the company continues to make profits. On the other hand, it has stakeholders from the external front who include customers, s uppliers, competitors or substitutes and the public. The customers play a very crucial role as stakeholders. They buy the company’s products to derive a form of utility from them and through this way, the company’s sales increase. Suppliers form the other category of external stakeholders of the company. Through the sale of goods to the company, they gain profits while the company utilizes the supplies in its business. The public forms a larger category of stakeholders because the company’s products create an impact on the welfare of the society. ... Each of the stakeholders exerts a form of pressure that affects the standing of the company. Therefore, the type of communication and relationship that the company maintains with each of the stakeholders affects it. This has necessitated the company to have different forms of communication with each of its stakeholders. Relationship of the Organization with its Stakeholders The founders of Marks and Spencer emphasized on the importance of maintaining an effective and trustworthy relation with its stakeholders at all times. The basis of the relationship is the crucial value of trust. Trust has been the company’s value for the company for a long time. The company’s corporate and social responsibility department concentrates on formulating strategies of trust enhancement. The company strives to stay updated on the expectations of its stakeholders as circumstances change. For example, the emerging need for production and promotion of healthy food products has placed higher expectations from the customers. In addition, the public expects the company to maintain the trust by producing products that present limited adversity to the environment. The company has to maintain its trust with stakeholders at different fronts because the future of the company depends on these stakeholders (L'Etang, and Pieczka, 2006:216-225). In all of its dealings, the company believes strongly in using the right approach to tackle the right things. Marks &Spencer and its Customers Customers form the most important category of stakeholders of any organization. The same applies for Marks and Spencer. According to Davis (2010), the company realizes this important aspect and makes efforts to

Critical theory, philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Critical theory, philosophy - Essay Example that part of a person’s imagination which is justified through the knowledge he or she garners via various life experiences like reading, interaction as well as seeing and hearing. This understanding is a part of one’s overall perspective and subsequent take on life. Therefore, this book is an important one as human understanding is deeply connected with the written word and the way it has been written. If those words, whether in a philosophical text or otherwise, manage to justify an individual’s personal truth, or appeal to his or her sense of balance in life, then it contributes to his or her understanding. In this way, the choice of Locke’s text is an important one for this paper. Locke’s text starts with a study of innate notions. This portion of the book is a study of the elements that lead to speculation and a subsequent formation of perspective. Throughout this part, Locke has managed to hook the reader on to the idea that speculation is an element that must be used in very discreet doses as more of it can damage the practical side of things in one’s mind. (Locke, 2007) As a philosophical notion, this is an ideal that is true to writing. In writing, it is imperative to stick to a certain balance between factual information and a small amount of speculation. This holds on to people’s imagination and memories. Therefore, in this part of the book, Locke has merely described a style of writing. Further into the book, one will find ideals that are connected with principles in the mind. The mind is an organ that churns out thoughts and expressions of the same. These expressions are a part of the basic mental setup of the person concerned. While every individual does not need to be a writer, it has been said often that there is a book in everybody. This is largely an overthrow of the fact that literary skills have been highly respected in many people. It is a desirable quality. This quality, in turn, springs from an ability to form a successful

Ford and Toyota SWOT Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Ford and Toyota SWOT Analysis - Research Paper Example . TMC maintains a 16 percent market share in the US. In 2005, it was ranked 8th on the Forbes 2000 directory of the world’s leading companies. Toyota sales also rose by 9.2 percent mostly due to the demand for Camry and Corolla sedans. Weaknesses TMC, in the last quarter of 2009 through to the first quarter of 2010, recalled more than eight million cars and trucks in many recall campaigns and even stopped production and sales temporarily. Japanese car producers have numerously criticized the Toyota Motor Corporation as being more of foreign importers than local producers. Due to the numerous large- scale re-calls, Toyota faced a lot of criticism in 2005. The issue of the quality of their cars was also mentioned at a worrying level (Pershing, 2006).   Toyota was also hit badly by the global economic crisis of 2008. In the same year, Toyota recorded its first annual loss in its 70-year history. The Toyota Motor Corporation, in May 2009, reported a record yearly net loss of US $4.2 billion. This was a major blow to the company especially because it had also recorded a loss the previous year. While its competitors offer most of their brands worldwide, Toyota concentrates most of its brands in Japan and the US thus does not achieve global efficiency. Opportunities Due to the joint ventures with the French motoring companies Peugeot and Citroen, opportunities for Toyota to produce cars in France have risen. When the State Bank of India decreased interest rates on automotive loans citing decreased production as its reason in 2009, a major opportunity was created for Toyota. Due to the rise in gas prices and the growing need to conserve the environment, consumers in North America, mostly, shifted to more fuel efficient, eco- friendly and high quality cars from... Kiichiro Toyoda founded the Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) in 1937 with its headquarters at Toyota, Aichi, Japan. Being the largest automobile manufacturer, both by sales and production, Toyota employ more than 320,808 people throughout the globe. Here is its SWOT analysis. TMC is the world’s largest motor vehicle manufacturer by both sales and production. It is also a part of the â€Å"Toyota Group† which is one of the biggest conglomerates in the world. Toyota is well known for their environmentally safe, good quality, durable, reliable, convenient and value for money cars. Toyota, in 1997, began manufacture of the world’s best-selling car to date, the Toyota Prius. This was in the bid to provide the world with an environmentally friendly, cheap to maintain car (Liker, 2004). The Toyota Motor Corporation exhibits principles and a culture of continuous improvement and respect for people. Toyota has strong marketing and distribution efforts focused mainly on meeting the diverse needs of their clientele, close involvement of customer’s views in production and high quality sales and services. TMC maintains a 16 percent market share in the US. In 2005, it was ranked 8th on the Forbes 2000 directory of the world’s leading companies. Toyota sales also rose by 9.2 percent mostly due to the demand for Camry and Corolla sedans. their brands worldwide, Toyota concentrates most of its brands in Japan and the US thus does not achieve global efficiency. That provides the ability to produce fuel-efficient, high quality and smaller automobiles.

Week 7 discussion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Week 7 discussion - Assignment Example ication, under Mike Zafirovski embarked on an innovative transformation of the company by revamping its Research and Development department, and experimenting with the emerging technologies. Nortel Telecommunications spent an approximate amount of 2 billion dollars in revamping its R and D department. 20% of this amount was directed towards emerging technology, 60% towards supporting it core business operations, and 20% in boosting its declining products. As a result of these tendencies, the company developed the 2.0 web application that made it possible for employees to interact with one another while on the internet (Gertner, 2012). However, this was an effective innovation in turning the fortunes of the company. Gartner denotes that this was because the company was experiencing a decline in its sales revenue, and the 20% of the total amount given to R and D was not sufficient enough to facilitate the development of products that will improve the market share of the organization (2012). The web 2.0 was also not conducive for the organization, since the company needed a technology that could help it interact with the customers, as well as with its employees (Gertner, 2012). On this note, there was a disconnect between the objectives of the company, and the innovations developed. Gertner further denotes that the main objective of Mike Zafirovski was to increase the profitability of the company (2012). He was to achieve his objectives by developing products that reflected the needs of the customers. However, this was not the case. The results of this disconnection that amounted from failure of a company to develop an innovation product that reflected its objectives was a drop in its financial position, thereby resulting to losses and subsequent filling of bankruptcy on January 14th 2009 (Gertner, 2012). One of the strategies of solving this problem is highlighting the goals and objectives of the business organization. While innovating, it is essential to

Discussion Board 5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Discussion Board 5 - Essay Example The Washington Times, p. 1. Retrieved July 7, 2006, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001572892 sexually assaulted her, and the woman offered evidence in the way of a bite mark and DNA from certain articles of clothing. Because of Mr. Albert’s celebrity status, the case was closely followed by the public and much attention was given to the use of the forensic evidence, especially the bite mark left on the victim. Cases involving celebrities are often sensationalized by the media, perhaps giving more credibility to certain forensic evidence than is warranted, when in actuality forensic evidence such as bite marks, fingerprints, palm prints and lip prints should not alone be evidence enough to convict a person of a serious crime, especially a crime involving the death penalty. An article by Molly Burton and Donna Lyons, appearing in State Legislatures (2001), stated â€Å"Back in the 1970s, the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) did proficiency tests of crime lab hair comparisons, bite marks, serology, these types of things. They knew they were getting it wrong like fifty percent of the time. It was terrible. And then that sort of analysis disappeared with the LEAA (p. 1).† What Burton and Lyons are suggesting, is that each of these sources of evidence are, first, subject to lab error and one should not infer from the results of a test using these sources that the information stemming from the tests is infallible. Alone these sources of evidence should not be enough to cause a person to be convicted of a major crime, especially one that carries the penalty of death. â€Å"Fraudulent and junk science is a critical, critical area,† write Burton and Lyons, â€Å"Forensic science has not always been the discipline that the best pe ople in the profession want it to be (p. 1).† One case that brought attention to the infallibility of fingerprint evidence was an

Psychology - Mental Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Psychology - Mental Health - Essay Example g lack of evidence that Taylor and Brown supply for their analysis, including data that correlates, but does not necessitate causation from research study on college students, incorrect assumptions about the meaning of the overly positive illusions that depressed individuals have, the overwhelming belief of depressed individuals to believe they have more control over their situation then they do, and the idea that a positive belief about the future will necessitate a positive future (Colvin and Block 1994). While all of these concepts may be see as correlated to increased positive self image, Colvin and Block suggest that while this behavior may also be typical of normal subjects, it does not compel the reader to recognize these behaviors as healthy, when current psychological practise prefers that people have a realistic self image, as apposed to a highly illusionary self image (Colvin and Block 1994). One of the primary criticisms Colvin and Block suggest is the use of the terms â€Å"balanced† and â€Å"evenhanded.† They criticise these terms, in that Taylor and Brown do not give a definition of either term, and their meaning can be ambiguous. While Taylor and Brown’s article suggests the terms to mean â€Å"a subject ascribes to self a relatively equal number of positive and negative characteristics† (Colvin and Block 1994). Colvin and Block argue that a more realistic assumption of self would be an unequal characteristic organisation, which is a more accurate portrayal of the self (Colvin and Block 1994). Looking at research, Colvin and Block make a strong argument for the need for realism, not illusion in mental health. While most people rate themselves as happier or better of then others, this is the result of overly broad questioning, which makes answers incomparable. When questions are focused on specific traits, the better than others effect is severely diminished (Dunning, Meyerowitz, & Holzberg, 1989). Also, while mentally healthy individuals

Week 7 discussion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Week 7 discussion - Assignment Example ication, under Mike Zafirovski embarked on an innovative transformation of the company by revamping its Research and Development department, and experimenting with the emerging technologies. Nortel Telecommunications spent an approximate amount of 2 billion dollars in revamping its R and D department. 20% of this amount was directed towards emerging technology, 60% towards supporting it core business operations, and 20% in boosting its declining products. As a result of these tendencies, the company developed the 2.0 web application that made it possible for employees to interact with one another while on the internet (Gertner, 2012). However, this was an effective innovation in turning the fortunes of the company. Gartner denotes that this was because the company was experiencing a decline in its sales revenue, and the 20% of the total amount given to R and D was not sufficient enough to facilitate the development of products that will improve the market share of the organization (2012). The web 2.0 was also not conducive for the organization, since the company needed a technology that could help it interact with the customers, as well as with its employees (Gertner, 2012). On this note, there was a disconnect between the objectives of the company, and the innovations developed. Gertner further denotes that the main objective of Mike Zafirovski was to increase the profitability of the company (2012). He was to achieve his objectives by developing products that reflected the needs of the customers. However, this was not the case. The results of this disconnection that amounted from failure of a company to develop an innovation product that reflected its objectives was a drop in its financial position, thereby resulting to losses and subsequent filling of bankruptcy on January 14th 2009 (Gertner, 2012). One of the strategies of solving this problem is highlighting the goals and objectives of the business organization. While innovating, it is essential to

Psychology - Mental Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Psychology - Mental Health - Essay Example g lack of evidence that Taylor and Brown supply for their analysis, including data that correlates, but does not necessitate causation from research study on college students, incorrect assumptions about the meaning of the overly positive illusions that depressed individuals have, the overwhelming belief of depressed individuals to believe they have more control over their situation then they do, and the idea that a positive belief about the future will necessitate a positive future (Colvin and Block 1994). While all of these concepts may be see as correlated to increased positive self image, Colvin and Block suggest that while this behavior may also be typical of normal subjects, it does not compel the reader to recognize these behaviors as healthy, when current psychological practise prefers that people have a realistic self image, as apposed to a highly illusionary self image (Colvin and Block 1994). One of the primary criticisms Colvin and Block suggest is the use of the terms â€Å"balanced† and â€Å"evenhanded.† They criticise these terms, in that Taylor and Brown do not give a definition of either term, and their meaning can be ambiguous. While Taylor and Brown’s article suggests the terms to mean â€Å"a subject ascribes to self a relatively equal number of positive and negative characteristics† (Colvin and Block 1994). Colvin and Block argue that a more realistic assumption of self would be an unequal characteristic organisation, which is a more accurate portrayal of the self (Colvin and Block 1994). Looking at research, Colvin and Block make a strong argument for the need for realism, not illusion in mental health. While most people rate themselves as happier or better of then others, this is the result of overly broad questioning, which makes answers incomparable. When questions are focused on specific traits, the better than others effect is severely diminished (Dunning, Meyerowitz, & Holzberg, 1989). Also, while mentally healthy individuals

Psychological and Ethical Egoism Essay Example for Free

Psychological and Ethical Egoism Essay Egoism is a general term for the acknowledgement of human self-interest as a basis of action. There are several proponents of this theory. Basically it is a philosophical notion that was popularized by Hobbes. Whatever action that an individual would take is pursuant of his/her own self. This theory has famously been separated into two types. The first one is ethical egoism and the second is called psychological egoism. Ethical egoism talks about morality as the basis of action in order to uplift the person himself, while psychological egoism states that all of our actions are basically rooted on self-interest. Accordingly, psychological egoism is devised out of observation of common human behavior. A clear demarcation between the two lies on its structure, Ethical egoism is more prescriptive. On the other hand, Psychological egoism is descriptive or observational (Rachels, 2003). The Fallacy in Psychological Egoism Although Psychological egoism seems to be perfectly valid, it was widely refuted with respect to the fallacies that it had committed. One of the fallacies that can be found in the principles of psychological egoism, upon critical examination, would be the fallacy of â€Å"hasty generalization or converse accident†. According to some critics, the fallacy was rooted on confirming that indeed all human acts are self-interested due to the different instances that prove otherwise. This includes the fact that most people do actions that would damage or harm themselves such as smoking, self-mutilation and sometimes suicide. Also there are several altruistic behaviors that do not really come from self-interest. There are other things or notions such as conscience which also have an effect on ones action. If those who supports psychological egoism would argue that all actions whether it be an act of conscience or an act that hurts oneself is also form of psychological egoism in itself, then there are no actions whatsoever that is not a form of psychological egoism (Rachels, 2003). Thus, it will result to a fallacy of tautology. It cannot be verified or established if an action is indeed a form of psychological egoism because there are no other actions aside from a psychologically egoistic act. Two Sides of Ethical Egoism The weak version of ethical egoism takes on the side of the probability of altruistic behavior. However, they have specified that although they acknowledge that the person does benevolent actions, nevertheless, they maintain that the action is still in accordance to or made with respect to the individuals own interest. One would like to do good because doing good makes him/her feels good. The strong version denies the presence of altruistic behavior. It asserts that in any circumstances, the individual would act in accordance to his/her self-interest despite the fact that it is in the form of benevolence. (Lander University, 2006) Major Similarities and Their Differnces Thus, as presented above, ethical egoism differs from psychological egoism in the sense that ethical egoist incorporates morality as a basis for human actions. It expresses the human self-interest in the sense of the goodness or the rightness of the act. Psychological egoism, do not try to tell us what we should do, but instead states that whatever actions that we have is basically an expression of our self-interest, the individual does not need to be moral or does not have to subscribe to morality (Rachels, 2003). Motivations In ethical egoism, the motivation lies on the persons desires to do or aspire for something good or right. This is applicable when one is acting in able to help other people because it is in his nature to do so, as explained by David Hume. On the other hand, in psychological egoism, the motivation rest on the persons or individuals preference for self-interest. Psychologically egoistic behavior can best be interpreted when the individual is doing something in exchange of something that would benefit or would be in reference to his/her personal interest. Largely, those actions that are psychologically egoistic are selfish acts while those that fall under the ethical egoist are actions from self-interest. (Mosley, 2006) Selfishness versus Self-interest Selfishness is manifested through personal advantages, mostly sacrificing others in favor of ones own self. Self-interest is promoting ones interest either for the benefit of himself or of other people as well. Self-interest differs from selfishness in the sense that self-interest does not necessarily points toward selfishness because certain actions that would benefit one or would comprise self-interest may actually be altruistic actions. There are instances wherein you have to be helpful to other people in order for you to proceed towards your egoistic goals. Also there are some actions whether it is for oneself or for the sake of others that are not relevant basis in suggesting that it is selfish act or a self-interested act. For instance there were actions such as eating or drinking that can be classified as either a form of selfishness or a form of self-interest. As presented, the major key in understanding the points and relevance of each position lies on the individuals understanding of the term selfishness and acting for or out of self-interest. (Mosley, 2003) Reference http://philosophy.lander.edu/ethics/egoism.html

Martin Luther King: Montgomery Bus Boycott

Martin Luther King: Montgomery Bus Boycott In my opinion Martin Luther King was the most significant result of the Montgomery bus boycott. King played a key role in the organisation and leadership of the boycott which ultimately lead to its success. He was the focal point of the boycott; however, there were other factors that contributed to the success of this movement. For example, the successful effort of the 50 000 black population in Montgomery which demonstrated black unity and a new attitude to protest. The strength of the boycott developed from the unity of the black population to boycott the busses. It demonstrated the power and effectiveness of the black community when they worked as one. Martin Luther king actively encouraged the black unity by acting as a role model and an inspiration to many stressing the protest was not to be violent or passive resistance but an active non-violent resistance to evil. The role of King in the boycott was extremely important in keeping the unanimity of the black community, this was the fundamental factor if the blacks were going to win the boycott and challenge the segregation laws. Thus, King was the most significant result of the Montgomery bus boycott. The Montgomery bus boycott also emphasised the importance and the potential of the black economic power. Black shoppers were unable to go downtown without travelling on public buses so businesses owned by the whites lost in excess of one million dollars. This was a turning point for many white business men and resulted in them working against the segregation ordinance. If violent protest was used, which a large proportion of the population wanted, then victories such as this would not have occurred. Therefore Kings strength of leadership and his use of non-violent protest justifies that he was the most significant result of the boycott. The boycott highlighted the significance of organisations such as the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People) and the MIA (Montgomery Improvement Association). It showed the continuing effectiveness of these organisations strategies of going through the law courts to pursue equal rights for Black Americans. These particular associations challenged the bus segregation laws by taking them to the district court where they were proved unconstitutional (Browder V. Gayle). Although the district court declared the segregation laws unconstitutional, there was little change in the situation (De jure change) until the supreme court backed the ruling in December 1956. Therefore, the organisations working for the rights of blacks and the Browder V. Gayle Supreme Court ruling were also an extremely significant result of the boycott. In summary, although Martin Luther King had a major impact due to his inspirational leadership and motivational skills, other key factors, such as the ones mentioned above also played n important part and must have recognition. Other individuals involved in the boycott were also important such as Jo Ann Robinson, who decided to challenge the Brown V. Board of Education case by distributing propaganda leaflets to get support from the black population. Rosa Parks also played a big role in the protest; after all she initiated the protests which lead to the boycott which subsequently lead to the bus segregation laws being declared unconstitutional. This proves that although King was arguably the most significant result of the boycott, other individuals also played an important role. The success of the boycott inspired others like Melba Pattillo who volunteered as a guinea pig for the NAACP and church leaders during the Little Rock crisis in 1957. Pattillo volunteered to transfer to the all white high school with eight other black students where they were faced daily harassment from white students. Due to the courage and determination of Melba Pattillo and the other eight black students it proved that the Brown V. Board of Education (whereby it was declared that separate schools were unequal) was a De Jure change as it faced wide spread resistance from the white Americans. This forced President Eisenhower and the authorities to intervene as the constitution seemed threatened. This resulted in Cooper V. Aaron ruling which confirmed that keeping public schools segregated was unconstitutional. Individuals such as Pattillo were therefore a significant result of the boycott and although it brought King to the forefront of the movement there were other significant resu lts which arose from the success of the boycott. The SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) set up by King in 1957 aimed to improve the black situation in the South which had specific problems. The SCLC was set up to work alongside the NAACP but provide an alternative (direct non violent action) to the NAACPs litigation strategy. The SCLC attracted national attention to racial inequality an example of this is the march in Washington in support of Eisenhowers civil rights bill in May 1957. Therefore Martin Luther King was the most significant result of the Montgomery bus boycott as he also made a positive impact on the situation for black Americans in the South. In conclusion, I agree that Marin Luther King was the most important result of the Montgomery boycott. Kings leadership and motivation inspired the black community to unite and work as one to overcome the bus segregation laws in an active but non-violent resistance to evil. The boycott saw the rise of King as a civil rights leader and as a spokesman of the modern civil rights movement. However, there were other very significant results of the boycott such as the Browder V. Gayle Supreme Court ruling that proved that the bus segregation ordinance was unconstitutional. Other significant results of the boycott were that it challenged and invalidated many of the Jim Crow laws and that it inspired many other successful boycotts in Southern States. As a result, I believe there were many significant results of the boycott however; I feel I must agree that Martin Luther King was the most significant.

Perception is Reality in Virginia Woolfs Mrs. Dalloway Essay -- Woolf

Although the entire novel tells of only one day, Virginia Woolf covers a lifetime in her enlightening novel of the mystery of the human personality. The delicate Clarissa Dalloway, a disciplined English lady, provides the perfect contrast to Septimus Warren Smith, an insane ex-soldier living in chaos. Even though the two never meet, these two correspond in that they strive to maintain possession of themselves, of their souls. On this Wednesday in June of 1923, as Clarissa prepares for her party that night, events during the day trigger memories and recollections of her past, and Woolf offers these bits to the reader, who must then form the psychological and emotional make-up of Mrs. Dalloway in his/her own mind. The reader also learns of Clarissa Dalloway through the thoughts of other characters, such as her old passion Peter Walsh, her husband Richard, and her daughter Elizabeth. Septimus Warren Smith, driven insane by witnessing the death of his friend in the war, acts as Clarissa' s societal antithesis; however, the reader learns that they often are more similar than different. Thus, Virginia Woolf examines the human personality in two distinct methods: she observes that different aspects of one's personality emerge in front of different people; also, she analyzes how the appearance of a person and the reality of that person diverge. By offering the personality in all its varying forms, Woolf demonstrates the compound nature of humans. As an extremely unconventional novel, Mrs. Dalloway poses a challenge for many avid readers; Woolf doesn't separate her novel into chapters, almost all the "action" occurs in the thoughts of characters, and, the reader must piece together the story from random bits and pieces of information... ... more. All of these contrasts affirm Woolf's contention: no one can or should ever be denoted as someone with only dominant characteristic, because no one remains unvarying. Yet this novel isn't just about Mrs. Dalloway or her complex nature, but rather of Woolf's realization that as Mrs. Dalloway is multi-dimensional, every human is a mixture of his/her concepts, memories, emotions; still, that same human being leaves behind as many different impressions as there are people who associate with that person. Furthermore, Woolf evokes the following question: If everyone's impression of another is just a fragment of the whole, what is the "real world" like, where everyone's consummate nature is in view? Only then does one realize that such a thing, a consummate nature, doesn't exist, and with the human personality, what you see at this very instant is what you get. Â  

A Christmas Carol Essay example -- English Literature

A Christmas Carol Stave 1: Scrooge’s character is established early in stave 1. Dickens shows his popularity by showing us his relationships with people in his surroundings. We can tell scrooge is unpopular as the narrator portrays him as a â€Å"Tight fisted hand at the grindstone.† Scrooges name give us a similarity between the word scrounge what is to be tight with money and every opportunity to make money, this automatically helps us launch an understanding that he is tight with his money, what is necessary to associate him as nasty old man. When the narrator is describing Scrooge he uses words that help us negotiate an opinion that Scrooge is an aggressive and is detested by person. It helps us find out that scrooge is a bitter, mean, twisted, moody and selfish old man. The narrator Charles Dickens builds the foundation of our understanding of our knowledge that he is despised by referring to him as â€Å"a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner† that helps us portray that scrooge is tight with his money. Dickens also tells us that he is â€Å"External heart and cold had little influence on scrooge† and also that scrooge says â€Å"no warmth, and no wintry winter cold chill scrooge.† In general scrooge is described to have poor relations with other people and literally he is a loner, but this is what he wants. Scrooge is known by people as a bitter old man, as when he walks down the street people avoid his wicked ways. In a way it as if scrooge wants to stay alone and he may enjoy being despised by others. Dickens goes on to mention how he was avoided on the street, â€Å"No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle† and that no one would dare give a greeting as they would only be ignor... ...d people are beginning to accept scrooge. Extension: The narratorial voice and Christian morality enrich the reading experience of â€Å"A Christmas Carol† by making the play more enthusiastic. On the first page of â€Å"A Christmas Carol† dickens narratorial voice comes across when he describes Marley as â€Å"dead as a door nail.† The Christian morality in this story helps us navigate a decision that Dickens is a very true Christian. The moral of this story is hidden in the depth of the story, the moral is to be kind hearted and to be generous. These shows to be weary of what can happen if you are not generous and that, you will be punished and will feel guilty if you persist on being the same. In the form of scrooge it shows us that you can be happy and the richest man in the world for helping people, maybe not in the form of money but in the form of happiness.

Planning And Leading A Complex Team Activity Essay

Be able to plan a complex team activity Since Malta joined the European Union in 2004, the free movement of goods and services within the community, brought about through membership, has re-defined the roles and relationships between suppliersand retailers. It has therefore become increasingly common for retailers to bypass importers/suppliers and purchase directly from the source. In the meantime, Malta being a country with limited natural resources, a favourable climate and long history, Malta’s economy has traditionally been highly dependent on tourism. As a direct result of the current global recession, the number of tourists visiting our island is expected to decline over the next 5 years. This set off an alarm to all importation and tourism dependent businesses causing them to review their business strategy and identify additional business opportunities. My line of business is the importation and distribution of silver filigree jewellery to retail outlets, which target mainly tourists, and summer accounts for about 80% of my total business. So, after I experienced slower than prior year’s growth in sales last year, I started giving serious consideration to opening a single or chain of retail outlets. My primary objective was to deliver my products to tourists directly and at the same time promoting my products instead of relying on my retail competitors to do it. My greatest concern at first was how to deal with the reaction of loyal retail clients to this proposed new strategy. Will they still be willing to purchase goods form me once they perceive me as a competitor instead of a reliable â€Å"partner†? However, eliminating the middle person should almost double my gross profit margin as well as provides me with greater control of my own destiny. In order to go down this path I will also have to consider the capital investment which will be required and the increase in operating costs this change in strategy will bring about. My experience as an entrepreneur has taught me that the competitive analysis of a business plan should be a statement of the business strategy and how this relates to the competition. My objectives therefore includedidentifying the strengths and weaknesses of my competitors within the market, as well as strategies that will provide an edge to develop and prevent my competitors from increasing their market share, and any weakness that can be exploited through product development. When I discussed my concerns with my financial adviser he suggested that I should conduct a feasibility study before embarking on a major change in strategy, and to ascertain that it will be bear fruit for at least ten (10) years. When the study was completed it resulted that, not only was it necessary to adopt this strategy, but that it should also increase profitability on the long run. I then proceeded to put together a five year business plan which identified the need to open at least four retail outlets during the first two years after implementation. However, in order to implement the new business strategy without disrupting the ongoing operations, a qualified project manager had to be identified and recruited in order to lead this project. Once this person was on board, his or her primary objective would be to create and manage the expansion of my business into retail with minimal negative impact on the existing import/distribution business. A New Project Manager was indeed recruited and his first recommendation was to operate the new retail business through a subsidiary entity in order to insulate the already established import and distribution business. He then also proposed setting up a special team, made up of five individuals already employed in the existing organisation, which he would chair, and would be actively involved in creating an action plan leading to the opening and operations of four retail outlets and an organisational structure for the operations of this new subsidiary. This included setting up separate sales, marketing, IT and administration divisions with each division head reporting to an operations manager. My own role would be expanded to that of shadow director of the new subsidiary in order to minimise the risk of damaging our relationship with existing retail clients. Therefore, the four individuals  who were selected to be part of this new project team included one person from each of the fo ur divisions of the current business operations. Re-engineering an already profitable business organisation naturally involves risk. However, if properly managed this will be a calculated one as long as all potential obstacles should be anticipated and properly dealt with. I have learned in the past that whoever is not willing to take risk is not a good leader. â€Å"To win without risk is to triumph without glory† (Pierre Corneille, Pratt, J, J, 2009). One of the cornerstones of the new retail operations is to create uniformity for all four outlets. This included consistent decor, same opening and closing times and days and staffed by smartly dressed sales staff. The action plan created by the new project team listed the need to identify the locations of the four stores as top priority and that negotiating leases would be the responsibility of the project manager. The plan also called for staffing each store with two sales assistants and one store manager. The marketing department would be staffed by one individual to start and the administration department would require a full time human resources professional and one part-time person. This meant that we needed to recruit 15 new employees to make up four sales teams and support for these. The present IT manager’s role would be expanded to support the requirements of the new subsidiary. It will be necessary however to out-source the initial set-up and integration of the new subsidiary operations into the existing IT system and therefore create a centralised data base for all the silver items for all the shops to have access to all stocks. This would enable shops to offer customers special high value items which they do not typically stock in their outlet. Be able to communicate information on the activity to your team. The new project team was scheduled to meet every Tuesday and Thursday of each week from 8.30am till 10.30am. Minutes of each meeting were kept and shared at the beginning of each meeting with each team member. The team chairperson met with me every Friday from 8.30am till 10.30am to keep me  updated on progress and to obtain my feedback. This helped to set a clear framework for all the activities, roles, tasks and goals set by the team. Each team member was chosen to fill a specific role in order to achieve our final objective based on their expertise and experience. The first team meeting was attended by myself, the New Project Manager and the five team members. After introducing the New Project Manager to the team I briefed them on the purpose and aims of this new business activity and provided them the opportunity to ask questions, make any comments and even raise any concerns. The team member from the Sales Division was assigned the responsibility to make recommendations relating to the ideal locations and optimal size of the four shops, as well as the desirable qualifications of the retail Sales staff. Recommendations had to be both realistic and achievable, taking into consideration the high cost of retail space on the island and the limited number of applicants which would be available to choose from. The team member from the Marketing Division was assigned the responsibility to create an image of the retail shop network as well as to propose a three year advertising plan mainly aimed at tourists. Cost projections were to be presented with these recommendations and these had to be in conformity with the resources budgeted for this activity. A member from Finance was also selected to be included in this team. Finance was to first develop a detailed budget for this project which I had to approve. All expenditures related to this project were to be accounted for separately in the finance system in order to closely monitor the project activities. These costs were to be treated as nonrecurring in order to keep them separate from ongoing operations. The Finance team member was also required to set up a financial system for the new subsidiary, separately from the current financial system. However, the two systems were to be compatible in order to facilitate periodic consolidation. The team member from Administration was also responsible for human resource  matters. This team member was assigned the task of searching for the stores to lease in accordance venue recommendations made by sales team member. Human resources were asked to develop an organisation chart for the new subsidiary, preparing job descriptions for the prospective employees, designing vacancy notifications and interviewing prospective candidates. The IT team member would be responsible for identifying the hardware and software requirements for the integration of the subsidiary into the existing IT system. Input from the Sales and Finance team members were critical in identifying specifications required and preparing requests for quotations from at least three different suppliers for the acquisition and installation of these services and hardware. Each team member was required to provide a weekly update on their assignments to be presented at each meeting. Every communication needed to be clear and supported by a task chart. Each team member was also given the opportunity to ask for more details if they were not clear on some topic or if they felt that one member’s actions conflicted in any way with their own plans. For example, it was proposed by the Sales Team member that the shop assistants would need to prepare an order at the end of each week to replenish their stocks. The IT team member had proposed an automated system to do this instead. Be able to review own ability to lead a team through a complex activity This system, though slow to yield results in the beginning, worked well and continued to improve as each member saw how their role and contribution fit into the overall objective. The New Project Manager made sure that each member felt empowered and accountable for his or her role in the project and, as importantly, that the entire team would take credit for the success of the project, not just the team manager. This helped build up team spirit and made every team member feel committed to make the project a complete success. Each team member’s progress report was matched to the master time chart prior  to my weekly meeting with the New Project Manager who also came prepared with proposed solutions to solve any deviation from the plan. Once we agreed on the solutions, these were communicated to the team members at the next Tuesday team meeting. In order to effectively manage a team, such as the one assembled for this complex activity, motivating the team had to be a leader’s top priority. This was achieved by encouraging their participation and asking each member to share their ideas during team meetings. A leader’s role is that of facilitator and coordinator, allowing each team member to take responsibility for their share of the full task and obtaining their commitment to deliver. A leader’s effectiveness is therefore judged by the success of the team in achieving a goal such as the one at hand, namely to set up a chain of four retail outlets to compliment the import and distribution business. Bibliography Pratt, J, J, 2009. Turtle on a Fence Post: Wisdom Graduates Need to Make It in the Real World, 365 Days of Life Lessons. 1st ed. UK: Agio Publishing House, 2009.

Buddhism history

There are various religions in the world which people follow for their spiritual quest. Buddhism is one of the religions and disciplines that some groups of people adhere. Buddhism branched out from Hinduism that is considered as the reformation movement of the religion. The founder of Buddhism is Siddharta Gautama who was born in the warrior caste of India known as the Shakya clan (â€Å"Background of Gautama and Buddhism†, 2008). Born in leisure and luxury, Siddharta was shielded from the harsh realities of life and the suffering in life.One day when Siddharta made his rare trips outside the palace, he saw an old man, a sick man and a dead man which was his first encounter and witness personally the suffering of human life (Burns, 2009). After the mentioned experience, he decided to seek the truth that was hidden from him his whole life. He tried to attain the truth through the supervision of the Brahmin priests but he was disillusioned by the teachings of Hinduism. His self -mortification brought him closer to death instead of enlightenment (â€Å"Background of Gautama and Buddhism†, 2008).He decided to take a new path in search of enlightenment. He dedicated his life in meditation as he sat under a fig tree known as the Bodhi tree or the tree of wisdom. Through this, he attained the highest degree of consciousness referred to as Nirvana. Siddharta surpass the challenges and temptations and attained enlightenment. He was known to have found the way to escape the cruel causality of samsara or the cycle of rebirths. He also discovered the Four Noble Truths or the wisdom of Realization.Siddharta Gautama was known as the â€Å"enlightened one† as he found the answers on various life’s questions and why there is the existence of pain and suffering (â€Å"Background of Gautama and Buddhism†, 2008). One of the teachings of Buddhism is the samsara or the cycle of rebirths and the never-ending journey. It is described as the process of continuous birth, growing old, suffering and death (Buddhism Teacher, 2008). Samsara is a Sanskrit word for â€Å"journeying†. In Buddhism, as well as in other religions such as Hinduism and Jainism, samsara is defined as the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.Samsara is sometimes depicted as the opposite of Nirvana. However, in Mahayana school of Buddhism, Nirvana and Samsara are viewed as mental representations that a person appreciates the true nature of the world (O’Brien, 2009). Many people perceive samsara as a place, instead, it is a process to keep creating worlds and how people will move into the world. The worlds we create are associated with suffering from the date of our birth up to our adulthood (Bhikku, 2002). Samsara is the continuous life cycle of a person. It is believed that people are being born again as another person or entity.In India, some people are believed to be born in another caste or in another life situation. Samsara is also associated w ith Karma which is also another teaching in Buddhism wherein the life situation or the present existence of a person is based on the past life events. Karma explains to us the concept of cause and effect and helps us understand the idea of samsara. It explains to us in understanding interdependency, interconnectedness and unity (Buddhism Teacher, 2008). Karma is also taught in other religions like Hinduism that explains the punishment on the sins committed on the past life.It explains why some people are born in better life situations that the others. Some people believed that when they have done good in their present life, they will be rewarded in their future life. Buddhism is one of the religions that attempt to explain the worldly views and questions that concerns life’s sufferings and reincarnation. Buddhism incorporates the attainment of enlightenment or realization of the truth in life that will enable us to fully understand the ongoing events and our current life†™s situation.Buddhism relates to the people of various social classes who follow an esteemed and righteous path for spiritual wellness. References Background of Gautama and Buddhism. (2008). Let Us Reason Ministries. Retrieved May 22, 2009, from Bhikku, T. (2002). Samsara. Esolibris. Retrieved May 22, 2009, from Burns, M. G. (2009). Archangels Wisdom. Retrieved May 22, 2009, from Buddhism Teacher. (2008). Samsara. Retrieved May 22, 2009, from O’Brien, B. (2009). Samsara. About. com. Retrieved May 22, 2009, from

Leadership and Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Leadership and Change - Essay Example Although there is no universal definition of the structural behavioral interviews, these can be employed to produce strong outcomes that are similar to proven techniques such as, assessment centers and ability tests. The structural interviews can be conducted in phases, involving peer discussions and telephonic interview. The third phase or reference checking is necessary for quality purposes. Leadership is referred to the process of initiating, enabling, developing, implementing and maintaining change with the management structure of an organization, group or team. In a continuously evolving environment, the role of leaders is critical for managing and maintaining organizational performance. According to the Path Goal theory, effectiveness of a leader is greatly dependent on the circumstances wherein an individual works and the leaders tend to adopt various strategies to find the best solution so as to cope with the situation (House, 1996). Leaders exhibit different managerial styles to induce change management in an organization in order to keep pace with the radical changes occurring in the external environment. However, this fact does not explain that effective leadership is driven by subjective preferences. Along with the Path goal theory, the situational aspect of leadership is supported by Fiedler’s contingency model. The contingency model states that rigorousness in the relationship between leadership style and effectiveness can be reduced by increasing the ability of leaders to control a particular situation. The contingency model has proposed three components that influence situational favorability, namely leader-member relationship, task structure and power of the leader (Offermann, Kennedy & Wirtz, 1994). In context of the current paper, the organization in subject is Procter & Gamble, where questions regarding employee satisfaction and retention

Affect Social Network and Technology in Our Life Research Paper

Affect Social Network and Technology in Our Life - Research Paper Example In this research text, three articles will be evaluated on their mode of expressing the effects of social networking on our lives in which most of them highlight communication and socializing as being the most affected aspects of human life. Quan-Haase’s (2012) book provides both positive and negative aspects of technology and social networking as they affect human lives. It evaluates both sides of the issue, addressing what technology and social networking adds or deducts from our lives. On the positive note, it states that these two have reduced the social constraints caused by say geography, distance, and schedule in which case they enable the world to function like a small town where talking to anyone around the world is so easy. The internet has become a social tool for communication as there are emails, instant messengers, and distribution lists amongst others. These, unlike the traditional means of communication, enable one to expand their friend circles faster, make coordination easier, bring strangers together and all these come readily at a reduced cost. To support this, she defines a study conducted in Australia which suggested that the people who lived before television was available were less sociabl e. On the other hand, she evaluates the negative aspects of the same, adding that depending on use, these two can be hindrances to socializing. To support her argument, she give examples such as how an adult can spend hours during a weekend sitting down and just scrolling through their computers, consuming time which could have otherwise been used for one on one engagement with real people. They suggest that people should cut down on their use of technology and social networks so that they do not replace what should be done naturally. According to Rozenblum & Bates (2013), social networking and technology have contributed greatly