Natsume Soseki’s Kokoro

Few novels dare to touch the inner vulnerability of humankind. It is Soseki’s Kokoro that captures the essence of friendship and loneliness, truth and betrayal, and life and death. The novel is, after all, about human nature. Any one reading this powerful work will quickly relate to the characters who go through tremendous strife, personal changes and much reflection. While Kokoro was written in Japan many years ago, it may be valuable to a reader even in contemporary society as its attributes may be embraced today, despite its age and cultural focus. Natsume Soseki’s Kokoro explores a great deal of subject matter. Several themes are woven into the pages of this older novel. It is fair to say, at least based on a personal experience, that one might have a tendency to discount the credibility of the work or deem much of the information irrelevant due to ages age and cultural differentiation. However, it will be shown that Kokoro is a novel that, like so many others, breaks the barriers of time. Soseki successfully creates deep characters that permeate the weak boundaries of the human character. We recognize that this novel shares a sense of timelessness supporting the entire foundation; the themes we see explored here are quite applicable to the lives we live today. Naturally, the Japanese component of the work is what makes the clear distinction between Japanese culture and Western mentality. But all the same, the morals in Kokoro seem to be fundamental enforcing great personal reflection upon the reader. As the reader progresses through the novel, contemplating themes and depicting the characters, specifically the student and Sensei, he begins to develop the notion that indeed the characters possess a sense of timelessness. They could have been born in the twentieth century and experienced the same sort of friendship and turmoil. However, the relationship between the two men is out of the realm of ordinary fiction. It is unique and something that this author explores quite candidly. The fact that the two are in a close friendship and that the young student explores new territory is in some way allowing the older character to live up to his title of â€Å"teacher†, or Sensai. Yet, in exploring the issue of timelessness, and applicability to other situations, the particular point about the friendship between the two is omething that could have taken place anywhere and anytime. While other portions of the work are pertinent to Japanese culture, the exploration of such a friendship is something that is truly universal. The reader might note perhaps the anomaly of their relationship, though, considering the ages of the men. Yet, such friendships do form between old and young; youthful intellectuals mi ght find greater knowledge in those older individuals who experienced history than what is written in a book. Clearly, their relationship differs from that of the bonds between grandparents and grandchildren though. They are peers, respectful and yet colloquial in their manners. In the case of Kokoro, the relationship begins between two strangers but the friendship formed becomes intense very quickly. There are yet more ways to explore relationships between men in the novel. It must be emphasized that these relationships all too often go unnoticed and unexplored by fiction. Soseki looks at not only the student’s relationship with Sensei but also with his dying father. Here we have a young man, his father on his death-bed and his mentor stating to have ended his life. What was the student to do, where was he to go, who would he want to be with during those men’s last minutes of life? Quite a lot of pressure for any individual. He was caught up in the times, the evolution of modernization and the uncertainty as to remain in the traditional realm of Japanese culture and stay by his father’s side or perhaps continue to pursue his education and knowledge, returning to Sensai to demonstrate his gratitude, devotion, and friendship. Ironically, it is Sensei who commits suicide! The emotions that well up in the young man, however, are truly universal. A sense of betrayal and sadness permeate the work and create a void. After all, things were going quite well in the world of friendship and male bonding until the young student’s mentor of sorts would commit this ultimate act. This story is about one man’s journey through self-realization and the revelations he makes after befriending a man. In one way, it is more about a personal journey than about a relationship. What is most troubling, and lends the work a somber tone, is the main character’s loneliness, yet another theme illustrated in this novel. In some way, Sensei helps to break through that barrier. After K’s suicide, he realized the atrocities of his actions and the heinous development of his character from diligent student to human betrayer. After much time of personal torment, K confided in him of his love for Ojasan. Why Sensai seemed surprised as to the context of the confession somewhat confuses the reader as clearly anyone could have seen that K was also in love with her, in fact, surely Sensai knew, but he reclined to a state of denial. He states, â€Å"I felt as if I had been turned into stone by a magician’s wand. I could not even move my lips as K had done† (205). As Sensai came to understand it was he who was responsible for the death of this man, he felt he had no choice but to cease all human actions and remain an outcast in society, secluding himself to his home and his wife. Surely, no one could understand what he had done or what he had been through, not even his wife as he states, â€Å"I was saddened by the thought that she, whom I loved and trusted more than anyone else in this world, could not understand me. And the thought that I had not the courage to explain myself to her mad me sadder still. I was very lonely. Indeed, there were times when I felt that I stood completely alone in this world, cut off from every other living person† (240). He began to realize he was no longer innocent like the student who visited him often, the student he had once been, but he became his betraying uncle who robbed him of the only money his parents left him after they died. And even more than this pitiful character, Sensai then evolved into a character such as K, burying himself in books, avoiding people and friendships, bottling up all of his emotions inside and eventually ending his life as a means of escaping loneliness. Certainly another significant theme explored in this novel is the assumption that by losing one’s identity, one learns to value it. What is meant by identity is that by rejecting ones own particular understanding of themselves, they are likely to find it once again, a theory that that cannot be ignored as the student learned this by befriending the old man. And he did not do this in the easiest way. His challenge was between the two cultures, that of a liberal nature and that of a traditional nature. He imply did not know which one to turn to in times of need and in desperation to seek knowledge. In fact, perhaps what makes the novel so powerful is it’s thought provoking style, allowing the reader to analyze his own life through the main character’s journey. The loss of one’s identity perhaps creates a blank slate to enable one to find it. We see quite a change in the young man as he learns that Sensai will commit suicide. While it is difficult to read abo ut suicide and how it affects others, this is a major theme as the concept of suicide is universal. When it is brought up, the ultimate questions must be asked and answered. Sometimes there are no answers. The young man wrestles with a great deal of conflict throughout the novel but it is the knowledge of the suicide that perhaps becomes the final straw— the young man’s loneliness is accentuated. What does he have left? Many people have experienced such trauma in their lives and may be able to relate to what he felt. There is that sense of betrayal and self-blame, â€Å"what if I had done or said something differently? † Such thoughts are enough to drive any individual to insanity. There are moments when emotions of remorse and guilt are so overwhelming they cloud all better judgment and force the individual into a deep state of depression. The ultimate questions of free will and fate come rushing to consciousness. Sensai even declares that it was his pre-destined fate that his life would conclude this way as he states, â€Å"Her fate had been pre-ordained no less than mine had been† (244). The themes carried through the book are certainly something inherent in more modern fiction, thus proving that the theme has a sense of timelessness. The novel is further a testimony that suicide does indeed affect more than ones self. Of course, even if suicide is not legal or does not conform to a society’s standards, there is nothing one can do to punish the person who commits such an act. Speaking of suicide, Sensai states, â€Å" Some may say that this was a vain sort of thing to do. But who are we to judge the needs of another man’s heart? † (247). He is already dead. It is those who are living who must bear the brunt of the act and that is what, above all, this novel shows. With the use of Sensei, the author is able to tell more about the young student. This technique also creates empathy for the father who additionally served to create conflict within the reader. Loyalty is sometimes split and there is sometimes a sense of tension in the air. The characters reveal something every reader can use, something perhaps the author was conscious of. The author may not have realized that these characters, and their predicaments, would be so moving as to inspire its audience to examine ones own self. Soseki creates a difficult situation and through the main characters, is able to inspire a number of emotions that the reader likely can use and identify with. The reason is because although the author uses a certain predicament, the problem can be easily applied to other situations. Thus, it is quite easy to look at Kokoro and think about ones own personal dilemmas that are somewhat related to the problems that torment these characters. The idea that the book permeates time and is applicable to today’s world, through use of the characters, has been demonstrated. It would be difficult to argue against it as Soseki’s characters certainly live today. Reading Kokoro is like looking in a mirror, sometimes at things no one wants to see. It begs the reader to question his or her own personal relationships and how far they would go for a friend. How far would they go to protect their own honor? What would one do if a friend did kill himself? What would it take for the reader to commit the ultimate act? And yet, time would continue. That it a message that emanates from the pages of this great work and breaks through the boundaries that time tries to inflict. The concepts inherent in the work are certainly applicable in modern society despite the fact that the author lived so long ago in Japan.

A Schenkerian Analysis of Preludio from Bach’s Unaccompanied Violin Partita Essay

Very few theorists touch upon the topic of motivic and structural coherence in Bach’s dance suites. The keyboard and lute suites deservedly have more published analyses than the string suites – considering there are simply more of them – leaving the cello and violin suites pristine and practically untouched, and unjustifiably so. The most obscure are the violin suites, particularly the BWV 1006 in E major. With the exception of the well-known published analysis by Schenker of the Preludio, Carl Schachter’s analysis of the Gavotte en Rondeaux, no other analysis can be found of this partita. Building on Schenker and Schachter, I present my own Schenkerian analysis of the Preludio. With the help of David Beach’s book on unity in Bach suites and Joel Lester’s book on Bach’s solo violin works, I address motivic and structural coherence in this partita with some observations that apply to all of Bach’s violin suites. Bach composed six unaccompanied works for the violin in the year 1720, three Sonatas da chiesa and three Partitas. The â€Å"partita†, as understood during Bach’s time, was a set of variations; as one might infer, this definition implies that some or all movements of each partita are variations of each other. The BWV 1006 has seven movements and the only violin partita that begins with a prelude. David Beach addresses the first two of three violin Partitas in his book, observing the importance of the neighbor motion as a motivic pattern in the first and second Partitas. I wish to call attention to the great significance of the neighbor motion that is present in the third Partita as well. The Preludio opens with a lower-neighbor figure E-D#-E, and the figure occurs within every modulation. It’s noteworthy that Urlinie itself, in fact, contains an incomplete neighbor. The Gavotte en Rondeaux is the literal embodiment of the variation concept. Being the only violin partita with a Rondo movement, the notion that a partita is a set of variation is most evident through this partita. Regarding Gavotte en Rondeaux, Carl Schachter suggests that as the episodes increase in complexity, the ritornello seems more and more parenthetical. In a sense the two episodes can be organically linked over the ritornello, and thus the concept of the Rondo is realized even more so beyond its surficial sectionalized design. Continuing with this notion, I suspect that as a whole, the movements of BWV 1006 can be linked together specifically because it is a set of variations, despite its superficial differences. Structural coherence of the partita can be inferred from the Preludio. The piece is typically heard as two sections that are quite similar, while this division seems insignificant, it suggests a subtle element of variety. Being a prelude, it would not be presumptuous to assume either one the two things: the other movements will have similar two-part divisions, or other movements will also have varying sections. To facilitate an in-depth analysis of the Preludio, I have produced foreground and middle ground graphs. However, I made my graphs after consulting Schenker’s own analysis of the Preludio. As one of Schenker’s earlier analyses, it is noteworthy that he reads the Urlinie as an 8-line; this octave-line interpretation creates more problems than a reading from 3. However, the basic, fundamental idea Schenker presented provides a blueprint for a reading, which, in my view, is more accurate. Schenker offered FIG. 1 in conjunction with the 8-line Urlinie, without specifying exactly what the relationship is. I propose that Schenker intuited the significance of the neighbor motion in the Urlinie, and read 8 as a cover tone. From Schenker’s figure above I present my notion of the incomplete upper neighbor [FIG. 2]. The de-emphasis of the returning 3 as a passing tone from 4 to 2 lends importance to the incomplete upper neighbor A, supported by IV. This self-contained tonal area stretches over half of the Preludio. A reprise of an opening passage at the initiation of the A prolongation gestures its independence from its surrounding, indeed a smaller organism enveloped within the larger animal. This is evident through the internal auxiliary cadence to A that accompanies the tonal area IV. In retrospect, the IV is already a long-term goal from the beginning. The first 58 measures properly set the stage for the emergence of IV. The first step on the path to IV is the movement to VI as a short-term goal. This is done by first moving to G# (m. 39) through F# (m. 37), creating a third progression E-F#-G# in the process. The G# is employed first in the top voice as primary tone and then in the bass as pedal point, also the fifth to the incoming C# (m. 51) [FIG 4.  EX. 1]. The C#, in a sense, is a midway stopping point from E major on its way to A major. A# in measure 53 leads to B, creating yet another third progression G#-A#-B. The B is to be read not as V of E but as II of A, unfolding to tonic through two consecutive fifths B-E-A [EX. 2]. As we shall see, the contour of the bass forecasts what is to come; additionally this prelude within the Preludio presents the material for further elaboration and development. Now firmly in A, a memorable passage from measures17-28 is restated in the new key, as though a second beginning. This reiteration casts upon listeners a sense of home, even though the music has strayed to a new tonal area. As I stated before, the 58-measures prelude will matured and grow in its new environment. The bass progression moves in the similar contour as the early 58 measures. The F# (VI) in the bass being a third below A, serves as a short-term goal as a midway stopping point on its way to D# (V65). The long-term relationship between A and D# results in a tri-tone which intensifies the arrival of V [E, 4]. The midway F# is unfolded from G# the same manner as the unfolding of A from B, through two consecutive fifths F#-D#-G# [E, 3]. The internal Urlinie is initiated by C# over A in [E, 2], and falls upon an implied B above the D# as 2, the B is prolonged over the V in a 6-5 motion [E, 5]. The path between V on its way back to I is quite sophisticated. In the treble, a sequential circle of fifths is used to take the fifths (E-B) to the octaves (A-A) [E, 5. 5]. With an 8-7 motion, the A octave becomes a B7 chord. The B acts as pedal point at this point in the bass [E, 6]. As the seventh of B resolves to G#, B leaps a third to D#, which then is registrally shifted to a lower register through arpeggiation. The low D# then compose out a D#7 chord reaching a high A, thus the end of the internal Urlinie is reached. It should be noted that Schenker pointed out a large-scale voice exchange, consisting of B and D# between measure 120 and measure 128 [see foreground graph pg. 8]. The V in the bass arpeggiation is now approached with utmost anticipation as the weight of the entire Preludio shifts upon its imminent arrival; with only a few measures left, one has to onder in what magnificent way the V will be executed to counterbalance the monumental build to the IV? As the internal Urlinie is fulfilled in measure 131, two descending third progressions in parallel sixths [E, 7] bring forth the most dramatic, German style of violin execution: one dotted quarter B7 quadruple stop that brings the Preludio to a single halt, as the V is finally in place. The effective but swift gesture is sustained by A, the seventh, no longer an incomplete upper neighbor but supported by V. As the A moves through G# to F#, a 7-6-5 motion is created over V as Urlinie scale degree 2 is reached [E, 8]. The bass returns home to its original tonic E in measure 137, and the Urlinie is satisfied as well with E in the treble. The last two measures are coda, finishing the piece in a similar manner as it opened, unfolding itself back into the high E through two octaves. Extended bow technique is demanded to perform the Preludio, perhaps more so than the other movements; but that is not to say the big shifts and the frequent adjusting to unconventional positions is any more comfortable for the left hand. The consistent stream of sixteenth notes in a fast ? nvokes immediate association to a keyboard prelude. Furthermore, the multiple voices created through exploiting the full range of the instrument allows for keyboard features such as pedal point, register shifts. Combined with multiple subject entries and modulations, this piece contains mature Baroque characters of a Bach keyboard prelude. Ironically, Bach wrote such a prelude for a most unsuitable instrument, perhaps with the knowledge that only with correct and virtuosic execution can its full intended effect be achieved. As I begin to understand the purpose of each note, I play the piece better. Mindless playing and practicing is unfulfilling and futile, and can only produce the most stiff and lifeless imitations of music, if I may quote Schenker. As for the issue concerning unity in all of Bach’s work, both Lester and Beach discussed first two violin partitas at length but strangely failed to address the last partita, I think the research on this topic remains incomplete without consideration of this partita. It would be interesting, if not absolutely necessary to look into the rest of the partita to see what it has to offer.

Essential of investments Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Essential of investments - Assignment Example The accrued interest on the bond turned out to be $2.42. The YTMs were calculated using the YIELD function on excel, with settlement date and maturity date taken at a difference of 10 years, coupon rate being 14% and then reduced to half at 7%, the bond price being $900, redemption value being $1000, and 1 coupon annually. The YTM based on what the firm promised is 2.55%. However, based on what the investors expect after the lenders and the firm agreed to lower the payments the YTM became 1.80%. The expected YTM is lower than the YTM investors were actually promised. a. The initial price is calculated as P=$705.46, with [n=20, I/Y=8, PMT=50, FV=1000]. The price in the next period would be P=$793.29, with [n=19, I/Y=7, PMT=50, FV=1000]. Therefore the HPR is 19.53% calculated as, [{50+(793.29-705.46)}/705.46] c. The 6% coupon bond performed better than the zero coupon bond in either case, when the interest rose or when they fell. This is probably due to the fact that the 6% coupon bond has a higher convexity. This shows that whenever we compare the change in yields of bonds by equal amounts as is in this question, the bond with higher convexity will always outperform the one with lower convexity. The duration was approximately equal but the convexity of both the bonds were different in this example which is always positive implies that the convexity effect always favors the higher convexity bond. d. Such a scenario where the bonds would be priced at the same yield to maturity if the rates changed in equal amounts cannot exist. No investor would buy a bond with a lower convexity as it always underperform the higher convexity bond. The price of the lower convexity bond will be low with a high YTM, which means that the higher yield is to compensate the investor for investing in a lower convextiy bond. The top-down method of security valuation is approach used

Working with Your Tentative Quantitative Research Question Assignment

Working with Your Tentative Quantitative Research Question - Assignment Example Internal validity answers the effect of subject variance in the experimental and control group. Additionally, in one-subject research it resolves the cause of a treatment in the behavior of the subject compared to other factors. In descriptive research, is concerned with the study’s quality and accuracy. There are various extraneous variables that jeopardize and control the internal validity of an experiment (Acheson, 2010). They include history, maturation, testing, instrumentation, selection, statistical regression, experimental mortality, and selection interaction. In selection interaction, the methods of selection interact with single or multiple threats, thereby biasing the results of the study. In experimental mortality, the variables drop out of the research. If one group incurs a greater subject level of mortality and withdrawal than others, then the differences between the subjects become questionable. Consequently, the elements in comparison need to be equivalent at the research start. Their equivalence makes the difference between the subjects measured by the dependent variables at the research end are caused by independent variables rather than orgasmic ones. ... Also, when the human observers are used, the observer’s judgment changes every time rather than the performance of the subjects. Consequently, the subjects are always pretested to find out that the subjects are beginning the study at an equal level. An after math of pretesting protocols is that they can change the performance of the subjects on later tests that measure similar domains above the effects that are caused by the same treatment. However, the degree to which the result of the study can be applied or generalized to other people shows its external validity (DuPont & Plummer, 1990). The group research that employs randomization will possess greater external validity than the research that does not employ random assignment. The factors that affect the external validity of a study include: interaction, pretesting, setting, and interventions. The interaction between two variables shows their treatment and selection. If the elements are not selected from the population ran domly, then their orgasmic features may be performance biased and the results of the study may not apply you the other \group that represents the features of the population (Faull et al., 2007). Pretesting a subject causes them to either react less or more strongly to treatment than if pretest lacked. In some instances the researcher cannot conclude that population members who did not under pretest would perform in same manner to those subjects in the study. The subject performance is a more reaction or product to the setting of an experiment than in variables that are independent. For instance, subjects knowing they are participants in a research, or who knows of being observed, reacts differently than the experienced subjects who have know no knowledge.

Can be on anything to do with microbiology (you can chose the topic) Article - 1

Can be on anything to do with microbiology (you can chose the topic) - Article Example The greatest microbial risks are because of ingestion of water contaminated with animal or human feces. Other sources of contamination are waste water discharges. Children under 5 years of age are the most affected population with these infectious diseases. Common diseases which are transmissible by water are cholera, typhoid and bacillary dysentery. Cholera is caused by gram negative rods Vibrio cholerae which are facultative anerobes. The organisms are aquatic bacteria and their distribution depends on sodium and temperature of the water. The incubation period of the disease is 1-3 days and the disease is characterised by acute and intense diarrhoea leading to dehydration. Cholera is associated with high mortality if not treated timely. Infection due to Vibrio cholera is dependent on adhesion of the cells of the bacteria to the mucous membrane of the intestine and production of cholera toxin. Cholera is very famous for its pandemics. The genes responsible for toxin production are h arbored in the CTX? segment (7–9.7 kb) of the chromosome. The strains of the organism are common in the environment, especially is estuaries. Non-culturable but viable bacteria are responsible for episodic nature and the sudden appearance of violent cholera outbreaks, followed by a rapid slowing down.

PERSONAL ETHICS ACTION PLAN Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

PERSONAL ETHICS ACTION PLAN - Assignment Example My personal conviction is to do good to all even to those that have done evil to me. I want to serve God with all my mind and spirit and achieve harmony with Him. I want to do my best in contributing to the society in the way of social work, community programs, and propagating hope in these last days. To be more precise, I want to follow the golden rule that recommends doing to others what you want others to do to yourself. I have absorbed a lot from my parents and grandparents from my infancy. As I grew, I researched holy books, philosophy and read world’s great thinkers. I used my values to understand the world and myself. I learnt how to behave and developed my own personal set of morals. The in discrepancies in human behavior made me think of my value system. It strengthened it further than weakening my system. I got involved in education and this helped me understand how the mind of a child functions and how maturity is attained. I witnessed the process objectively. I could even see people getting into the use of drugs for escape from reality. I was too deep rooted in my values that I said a strong ‘no’ to everything to be considered old fashioned odd person. My moral convictions helped me withstand peer pressure. My personal experience only made me realize how difficult it is for people to accept reality. I learnt to be awake always and stay away from illusions and get deceived by them. Probing questions about life and its meaning posed deep interest to me. Service held a special meaning. Love lies in serving and not being served. To love a person is to exercise it. Help the needful, support the poor, listen to the frustrated ones. I feel that life is to be guided by the values and morals one upholds. Being stronger in the convictions help building a better personality that is both flexible to accept people as they are and strong in not giving up the

Identify and explain both the immediate and underlying causes of Essay

Identify and explain both the immediate and underlying causes of stress in your life. Give clear, detail, derailed example that - Essay Example Some of the most common ways to handle stress include focusing on the cause of stress, working on what you can control, stop thinking about negative prospects, believe in your own abilities, and find pleasure in what you have. If I talk about myself, I would say that stress that directly affects my ability to think or react appropriately. In this paper, I will describe the immediate and underlying causes of stress in my life. The thesis statement of this paper is, ‘whatever the immediate cause of stress is, the primary reason or underlying cause behind all stresses in most of the cases is the way we perceive things’. Stress is a problem that does not have any particular reason to occur. It has unique reasons to occur for all of us (Koplow). It may occur due to personal life reason or due to some matter related to professional life. In my professional life, one of the main sources of stress for me is my manager’s order to deliver my work quickly. As Akrani states, â€Å"excessive work load leads to stress as it puts a person under tremendous pressure† (1). For example, when my manager asks me to upload completed work within a short span of time, I feel stress on me that not only affects the quality of work but also make me nervous at times. The underlying cause of this stress is often my own personal responsibilities due to which I cannot show required work progress. Because of this, the work continues to compile for me and ultimately causes stress when my manager asks me to deliver it. Less opportunities or chances of promotion in my company is also a source of stress for me that I often feel both at work and at home. I want to make a quick professional progress but in the company where I work, I have seen many people working on the same positions for years. I have the aim to reach one of the top management positions in whatever company I work. For example, if I am working in a call center company as a sales official, I would like to jump onto the position of sales team manager within weeks. I do not want to work for the same position for longer periods. Whenever I see some of my teammate or some other employee getting promotion to some higher level, I feel stressed. The underlying cause of this stress is again my own will to gain promotions as early as possible. It is obvious that one has to work hard for years or at least for a few months to get promotion. Promotion to the next level is not given on the performance of a few weeks in any company to anyone. I know this fact but still want to make quick progress, which is the underlying cause of stress for me whenever I see someone getting promotions. Here, I would also like to mention one of the main sources of stress related to my personal life. I cannot put up with criticism of any type from anyone. I want everyone to praise me in whatever I do and when I feel that someone is trying to teach me or guide me about something which, according to my own perception, I am doing right, I feel stressed. For example, while driving my car, I do not want anyone to instruct me how I should drive. It is my habit to drive a little fast. Often the traffic cops stop my car and say to me, ‘hey, how are you driving, don’t you know the way to drive?’ Such comments from others put me in stress. I know I should not feel such comments because the mistake is at my end in these types of cases but I start feeling pressure on my nerves. The underlying reason of stress in such cases is again my attitude of not accepting the criticism of others.

Unit9englassignm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Unit9englassignm - Essay Example Initially not intended to house non-violent criminal offenders, current trends indicate that youths convicted of crimes, even very minor offenses, are being increasingly committed to detention centers in preference to the implementation of less stringent methods of punishment and rehabilitation (Foley, 2001). However, the large-scale use of detention centers as the sole method of deterring youth crime is insufficient to the purpose as it increases the familiarity and acceptance of criminal attitudes and behaviors, has a negative impact on the mental condition of detainees, and hinders both education and the healthy development of acceptable social behaviors. The detention of minors who have exhibited criminal tendencies and/or engaged in illegal activities within this type of large, secure holding facility does not result in a direct, significant level of discouragement to future crime. On the contrary, communal youth housing practices used in such detention facilities has been proven to create an atmosphere which aggravates the rate of recidivism among minors. Studies based on information compiled from multiple states suggest that as many as 60 percent of young offenders sentenced to time in a juvenile detention center have later been required to return, often to the same facility, following the commission of new criminal offense(s) (Sander, Sharkey, Tanigawa, and Mauseth, 2010). Such an excessively high rate of recidivism does little to support the notion of rehabilitation through detention. Though many factors have been blamed for the high rate of recidivist practices among delinquent youths, one influential element of this recurring criminality is the reinforcement of negative behaviors and attitudes within detention facilities themselves. Statistics concerning a seeming reduction in youth crime rates fail to consider this

Week Two Discussion Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Week Two Discussion Questions - Essay Example Three types of communication tools the internet provides are emails, instant chat, and forum mechanisms. Emails are the most popular type of communication used on the internet today. Anyone can open a free email account at popular websites such as Yahoo, Google, and Windows Live. Emails are a great communication option for businesses because it is free and the message reaches the inbox of the recipient’s email account instantly. Chatting is an informal form of communication people used on the internet. Chat rooms mechanism can be used by companies to improve their customer service capabilities since chatting occurs in real time and its costs are a fraction of what it cost to set up a call center. Person to person communication is the most effective form of communication. One of the advantages of this form of communication is that people are able to utilize all senses which include vision, hearing, and body language during the communication session. Also in face to face meeting s the sender can take advantage of other technological tools such as projectors to transmit the message to a larger audience. A few years ago I worked for a company as an administrative assistant. My boss told me to take over the job duties of a certain employee during her vacation. I never spoke with the employee. When the person got back the employee was mad at me for taking over her duties. According to her my intervention with certain customers caused her a lot of inconveniences. My boss told me not to worry, but I suddenly had a person mad at me work due to a lack of communication. The proper thing would have been for a face to face meeting to have place between myself, the employee, and our boss prior to her vacation to discuss how to deal with her work area. I remember a few years ago I started a job for a company. I was the new employee there and I did not understand the corporate culture of the

Judging Lines Between Imagination and Reality in Attonment Essay Example for Free

Judging Lines Between Imagination and Reality in Attonment Essay As I read Atonement, by Ian McEwan, on the beach in Long Beach Island I was confronted with a somewhat new style of writing that I did not recognize. The splitting of the novel into three main parts only made sense to me after I had finished it; the account of the crime that took place at the Tallis household, Robbie Turner’s adventures at war, and Briony’s tales as a nurse were all connected and ended up â€Å"coming together† much more smoothly than I had anticipated. The characters Briony, Robbie, Cecilia, and Lola are all faced with very different problems which all have the same fundamental root: the attacks on Lola and the â€Å"attack† on Cecilia. Briony is only 13 when the novel begins. She is desperate for attention and lives in her own, dramatic world through writing. â€Å"Nothing in her life was sufficiently interesting or shameful to merit hiding; no one knew about the squirrel’s skull beneath her bed, but no one wanted to know† (5). Briony’s need for attention is not helped by the fact that her mother is usually unavailable due to acute migraines. She does not have the constant love and attention of a mother and both her siblings are grown up and lead their own lives. This leaves Briony as somewhat of an only child and certainly fuels her love for writing and creating her own fantasy worlds. Briony is â€Å"one of those children possessed by a desire to have the world just so† (4). She is an innocent pre-adolescent which later creates a huge catastrophe in the lives of Robbie Turner, her long-time family friend, and Cecilia Tallis, her sister. I feel that Briony at times felt homesick, but not in the typical way a person would feel homesick. I thought that Briony feels homesick for her imaginative life when something real life happens. When a real life situation strikes she is forced to live in the real world away from her imagination and the world she created for herself. The accidental letter Robbie sends to Cecilia spawns the bulk of the problem of Briony, Robbie, and Cecilia’s characters. It is the culminated with their first intimate encounter, his return from jail and his first adventures as a soldier. Briony’s innocence as a child is first revealed in her take on the encounter between Robbie and Cecilia by the fountain. The rising tension between Robbie and Cecilia due to repressed feelings was taken as Robbie asserting authority over Cecilia. â€Å"It was extraordinary that [Cecilia] was unable to resist him. At his insistence she was removing her clothes, and at such speed. What strange power did he have over her? Blackmail? Threats? † (36). Briony recognizes that â€Å"she did not understand, and that she must simply watch. Unseen, from two stories up, with the benefit of unambiguous sunlight, she had privileged access across the years to adult behavior, to rites and conventions she knew nothing about, as yet† (37). McEwan then inserts a little passage that seemed to me to contain a bit of foreshadowing. Briony had her first, weak intimation that for her now it could no longer be fairy-tale castles and princesses, but the strangeness of the here and now, of what passed between people, the ordinary people that she knew, and what power one could have over the other, and how easy it was to get everything wrong, completely wrong. (37) This passage is foreshadowing the events that take place next and Briony’s misinterpretations of those events. This passage also demonstrates my point that at times Briony wishes that she could always be in her â€Å"fairy-tale† like world where everything was perfect. She finds that when she is confronted by reality she does not know what do with it and wishes she was living in her imagination. Briony is disgusted by what the letter contains. â€Å"With the letter, something elemental, brutal, perhaps even criminal had been introduced, some principle of darkness, and even in her excitement over the possibilities, she did not doubt that her sister was in some way threatened and would need her help† (106). Briony is clearly deeply affected by the contents of this letter. â€Å"That the word had been written by a man confessing to an image in his mind, confiding a lonely preoccupation, disgusted her profoundly† (107). Briony felt there was â€Å"danger contained by such crudity† and that it â€Å"threatened the order of their household† (107). This leap from crudity to evil that Briony makes in her head is a sign of her ignorance to adult feelings. After reading the letter, Briony speaks to Lola about it. Lola labels Robbie a â€Å"maniac. † â€Å"A maniac. The word had refinement, and the weight of a medical diagnosis† (112). Her ignorance is proved even further when she walks in on Robbie and Cecilia in the library. Her confusion, as a child, is understandable, however. She misinterprets the situation to be an attack rather than an encounter of lovers. â€Å"Though they were immobile, her immediate understanding was that she had interrupted an attack, a hand-to-hand fight† (116). Briony, of course, sees Robbie as a maniac rather than a lover. â€Å"He held her forearm which was raised in protest, or self-defense† (116). Briony became the self-proclaimed protector of Cecilia and when the twins Jackson and Pierrot go missing and everyone goes out looking for them in the night, Briony resolves to protect Cecilia from Robbie. She goes out alone, â€Å"conscious that she was sharing the night expanse with a maniac† (146). When Briony sees two figures in the distance and then is called out to by Lola, she immediately assumes it was Robbie attacking her. â€Å"She had no doubt. She could describe him. There was nothing she could not describe† (155). Briony asks Lola, â€Å"‘Who was it? ’ and before that could be answered, she added, with all the calm she was capable of, ‘I saw him. I saw him’† (155). Lola â€Å"couldn’t say for sure. † Briony replies with, â€Å"Well I can. And I will† (157). Briony’s conviction that it was Robbie who attacked Lola grew stronger by the minute. â€Å"Briony’s certainty rose whenever her cousin appeared to doubt herself† (157). Lola just went along with everything Briony was claiming. Briony’s â€Å"certainty† ultimately sends Robbie to jail. Briony went off of her first instinct of what she thought she had a quick glimpse of. This was a mistake, which demonstrates her immaturity and ignorance to the real world. She based her thoughts on Robbie over a misconstrued letter, and it led her to misjudge a situation. And at the end of the novel we discover that Briony was wrong in accusing Robbie for the attack of Lola. Briony is a very immature character. She failed to recognize that what she caught a quick glimpse of, may not actually have looked as it seemed. She used prejudgments she had on people to determine what she saw. I think this has to do with her strong imagination, because I feel at times throughout Atonement Briony was confused on the lines between reality and fiction. Sometimes she did not consider the outcomes to her actions and made mistakes because of them. Her strong imagination you could say persuaded her actions in reality. The events that occur in reality have much stronger repercussions then those in an imagination. As a 13 year old Briony had trouble understanding this, and mad many mistakes. Briony’s opinions as a young girl were very frustrating for me to read. As a whole, Atonement was frustrating to read. Its only redeeming characteristic was that Robbie and Cecilia ended up together. While reading I definitely lost sight of Briony’s predicament being real. I sometimes started thinking that she was purposely out to get Robbie, forgetting that, in her childish innocence, she really would find something wrong with him. Briony was a very confusing character because she had a tough time judging the difference between reality and imagination at her premature age. She was conniving towards Robbie and I felt as though she was trying to make her life dramatic in hopes of creating a better story. Most of the issues presented in this novel were not even solved by the end of the book. Robbie was not rid of blame, Briony could not undo her mistakes from the past, and Lola ended up marrying her rapist. That is probably one of the reasons that it was such a frustrating novel to me; everything was made just so that it could not be fixed. I felt at times that the title of, â€Å"Atonement,† was a poor choice because I did not think that this book ended up fixing a wrongdoing. However while writing this journal one thing proved me wrong, fixing something. Briony started the novel as a character that felt homesick at times when dealing with the real world, and found refuge in her imagination. This led her to sometimes lose the distinction between fantasy and reality. But by the end of Atonement Briony realized that there were strict lines between actuality and imagination, and that when that line is blurred the results can be disastrous.

How HRM contributes to organizational objectives

How HRM contributes to organizational objectives Human Resource Management is the effective use of people to achieve both the organization and individual goals. It is actually effective recruitment, selection, development, compensation, and utilization of human resource by organization Human Resource Planning and Development is the framework for helping employees to plan and develop their personal and organizational skills, knowledge, and abilities. Human Resource Development includes such opportunities as employee training, employee career development, performance management and development, coaching, succession planning, and organization development. I have worked for Masood Textile Mills Ltd  [1]  . and completed my assignment in perspective of this organization as assigned by the Dr.Helen Ford A short and snappy foreword of organization is given as under Masood Textile Mills Ltd is striving to lead in creating, developing and manufacturing of knitted apparel products right from basic to highly fashioned garments thus responding to emerging trends in the industry. MTM translates conceptual ideas of its customers into reality and shape them through its technical bent and professional acumen. MTM establish on 1998 and now has a recognized name in the textile industry. MTM is one of the biggest exporters of apparels. Competent professional staff, a team of talented merchandisers, excellent supplies support services, and state-of-the-art technology is the driving force behind MTM phenomenal growth in the past years. MTM has the technology with expertise, products with knowledge and most importantly the right mindset to achieve total customer satisfaction. The HR manager of Masood Textile Mills Ltd. is continuously striving for making parallel the needs of the changing organization so that it can become more adaptable, resilient, quick to change directions, and customer-centered. Within this environment, the HR professional are learning how to manage effectively through planning, organizing, leading and controlling the human resource and knowledge of emerging trends in training and employee development. Objectives of Organisation (MTM) Objectives are pre-determined goals to which individual or group activity in an organization is directed. MTM respect for the individual, integrity, speed, simplicity, self-assuredness, and a 100% commitment, values are non-negotiable; they are never to be jettisoned. Objectives of mtm can be defined as: To provide market leadership and brand coverage To pursue technological innovation To partner with operators for their maximum productivity HRM Contribution to achieve objective Objectives of human resource management are influenced by organizational objectives and individual and social goals. MTM is not just satisfied with this goal, further the goal of MTM is growth and / or profits. Institutions procure and manage various resources including human to attain the specified objectives. Thus, human resources are managed to divert and utilize their resources towards and for the accomplishment of organizational objectives. Therefore, basically the objectives of HRM are drawn from and to contribute to the accomplishment of the organizational objectives. For the MTM, its ability to attract and retain human capital will depend on its reputation as an employer. The reputation about the organization says something about who you are, what you stand for, and how you relate to others including yours employees. All this is partially formed through the organizations commitment to the employees. To gain their commitment, MTM is trying to smooth communication channels with the employees, assess their capacity to engage in various initiates, give honest feedback, and invest in aligning its objectives with employees aspirations. The goal of HRD is to improve the performance of MTM by maximizing the efficiency and performance of people. HRM has a critical role to play in the achievement of organizational goals and helping the organization to achieve and maintain excellence. MTM believe that good people and a good culture make good organization to achieve and maintain excellence. HRM has the responsibility of getting the right kind of people, creating and maintaining a culture that nurtures and rewards talent. In MTM, human resource management give tools that need to manage and operate in organizations. HRM develop strategies relating to everything production, management, marketing, sales, research development for more productive. MTM have made its known recognition in the last 12 years of its establishment .It has been possible only for the factor of recruiting right people in the right number and right time. They recruit highly qualified and experienced individuals-both at entry level and for vacancies arising at various levels-who would prove to be assets for the organization. They provide opportunities for improving personal capability to enable staff to take on greater responsibility. HUMAN RESOURCE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT HRD predicts its future employment needs even if they dont estimate their sources of supply. The challenges that determine this demand and method of forecasting it merits are given below: Cause Of Demand: Employees need in the MTM, for whole organization or in specific department need when some sort of external Challenges, extension of project or department, turnover exist in the department, Lay off are temporary loss of employment Forecasting Techniques: Forecasting techniques is consist of following techniques Expert forecasts Trend Projection Forecasts Staffing Table Recruitment Employees are selected or hired as the requirements of departments. These requirements can be reached out from the database, which is name as HCM (Human Capability Management) software. When any change occurs in above mentioned conditions, this program informs to the Human resource Department. This department hires new employees as the requirement of the specific department. Recruitment Resources of the MTM can be defined as under. Internal Resources The organization motivates and upgrades their employees when the organization feels to hire the services of the particular person for the particular job within the organization. Because employees are familiar with the environment of the organization. It saves the cost of time, recruiters time and trainees time. Communication with Other Department Other departments inform to the Human Resource Manager by the internal E-mail system about the need of the employees. That specific department tells the only designation the number of employees required. Next, the Human Resource Management starts his work, they see the requirements of the job from the H.C.M (Human Capability Management) program that require the followings Experience, Education, Age Limit, Personality, Intelligence External Resources For the post of Management Trainee MTMs web site is the biggest source of recruitment also Advertisement is another source of recruiting the highly qualified people. When MTM needs highly skilled, energetic, and qualified personnel for a specific job, then it uses the external resources. Selection HR InterviewMasood Textile Mills Ltd follows the following steps for selecting the Management Trainee: Management Interview Written Test Realistic Job Previews Medical Test Reference Check Written Tests: At the first step of selection written test is taken by the HR department of the selected applicant who fulfill the basic requirements of the job description. If applicant passes this test then he/she forward to the next step of selection which is HR Interview HR Interview: At this step the HR manager and Ht deputy Manager conduct the interview of the selected candidates. Management Level Interview: At this step the HR manager, General Manager and other panel team from the senior level management evaluate the applicants. Both types of questions are asked by the panel for assessing his/her capabilities to perform the job. Reference Checks: Reference is checked by the Human Resource Manager for the position of the Management Trainee. These include: Personal Ex- Employer During the selection criteria for Management Trainee, Human Resource Department gives importance to reference checks about 30% to 40% weight age out of total selection marks. Medical Test: Medical test from the Allied Hospital and Civil Hospital is must for checking the ability to perform the job having physical fitness. Realistic Job Review: Realistic job review is also conducted in MTM when Management Trainee is going to be appointed for new job. The HRD working environment is shown to employees where they are expected to be after selection. Hiring Decision: The final authority which takes the decision about the hiring of the Trainee Officer is the director of operation named as Mr. Arif Ali. At the end this authority will take decision about the hiring or not hiring because there is a centralize environment in Masood Textile Mills Ltd. HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT IN AN ORGANIZATION Professionalism and Human Resources The management of MTM has continued its policy to arrange in house training programs and to send the employees to management courses arranged by reputed management institutes and universities to further to further improve and update their professional knowledge. In order to develop and groom their management skills, employees are encouraged to attend and participate in top management meetings. Fresh qualified professionals are being employee on regular basis and a pre designed career path in given to them to encourage each person to develop his potential and consistently improve his performance. Human Resource Development The management of Masood Textile Mills Ltd. has a firm belief that their continuing success is dependent upon the quality of each individual associated with the Company and how well their knowledge and creativity is being utilized. In this regard, on the job training programs are being regularly arranged to develop and groom their talent. During the year under review more than 120 employees have also attended various management courses to improve and update their knowledge in their respective fields held at Pakistan Institute of Management (PIM), Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Pakistan Institute of Quality Control (PIQC), etc. TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT Training of Management Trainee In Masood Textile Mills Ltd. on the job training is given for the post of Management Trainee. It is vertical integrated organization where A to Z processes are performed by MTM itself. All expenses of training programs are beard by MTM. Criterion for Training MTM not only train the employees of the job but also focus on the development of the employees so, providing the employees competency for fulfilling the potential requirements of the organization as well as their career development. This period is called probation period in which no increment is given to the MT. Types of Training: The training of Management Trainee consists of two phases which are given below: Management Level training Production Level Training Management Level Training This type of training is given to the MT in the HR department, which is located at Sarghodha Road Faisalabad. The Consultants, Experts and immediate officers of the MTM conduct this training. In management level training following training programs are conducted. Cross Functional Training is given for the purpose that when there is any person absent and no other employee available then Management Trainee can do his/her job. Un-parallel training is given to employees. Human Resource department of MTM offers numerous programs and activities of interest that are related to diversity. The Human Resource Development (HRD) Group offers courses to employees that are targeted to public sector managers, supervisors, administrative support specialists, Human Resources professionals, and employees who want to increase their knowledge and improve their skills to be more productive and effective. HR offers a variety of personal and professional skill development courses such as: Conflict Resolution, Negotiation, Interpersonal Communication, Behavioral-Based interviewing to faculty and staff. Production Level Training As the MTM is vertical integrated organization therefore production level training is also given to the Management Trainee. This training is given in the Production department of MTM which is located at sheikhupura road. The purposes for the training are given below. To enhance the performance of employees. To emphasize expertise in the production sector. To enhance the productivity and efficiency of employees. Execution of Training At Masood textile Mills Ltd. for the job of management training officer the following method is adopted: First of all lectures are delivered to management trainee in which the most important issues discussed are how to improve the communication skills, how to evaluate the employees, how increments are provided, what benefits would be given to employees working under their supervision. Secondly the management trainees are given 1-month training at training centre 15 kilometer away from the main office branch of MTM at Sargodha Road. After 1 month the management trainees are given the training at Human resource department for 2 months. This 3 month period is called the probation period in MTM. During these 3 months management trainees are paid Rs. 7,000 per month. Career Planning Development Masood Textile Mills Ltd. provides opportunities for improving personal capability to enable staff to take on responsibility. Having a rich and diverse history, the firm encourages its employees to venture forth in new and dynamic areas leading to organizational progress along with individual growth. Career Counseling The firm provides best opportunities for its employees to develop their career through the conduction of training programs. Career Counselor: The career counselors at MTM try to explain those points to management training officers which are not known to them and can help their career development. Also career counselor points out the steps needed for MT officer to become qualified for next job opportunity. Mentors: Mentors are provided by MTM to counsel the employees their career development. Mentors help employees to make progress through exposure in such a way that management trainees become known to their supervisors who are the ultimate deciders of their promotions. Methods of Career Assessment: Two types of assessment methods are used for the trainee officer. These are as follows: Self assessment: Self assessment is taken by MT officers themselves in order to overview their own activities. In this process, personality and personal behavior is assessed by him. They want to know if theyre making any mistakes and if so how they should correct them. Self Assessment is done in evaluation forms in which they are able to answer themselves the following questions: How am I doing? I need to know where I am, so I can plan how to get ahead. Organizational assessment: Organizational assessment is also done by HR manager and supervisor of MT officer for the purpose that employee work is in accordance with the organization or not. Ways for Organizational Assessment: Human resource department of Masood textile Mills Ltd. uses evaluation forms to assess the performance of MT officers. IMPROVEMENT IN HR PERFORMANCE First we will talked about the challenges and problems faced by mTm then solution to that problems and challenges. The HR manager of Masood Textile Mills Ltd. is continuously striving for making parallel the needs of the changing organization so that it can become more adaptable, resilient, quick to change directions, and customer-centered. Within this environment, the HR professional are learning how to manage effectively through planning, organizing, leading and controlling the human resource and knowledge of emerging trends in training and employee development. Followings are the human resource challenges in Masood Textile Mills Ltd.: 1) Rapid Change: The internal environment of the organization is changing very rapidly because of noise of the machines, high temperature where product is produced, quality control and cultural environment of the organization. The external environment of the organization is change in the technology, economic factors and industry based products. 2) Work Force Diversity: The values, norms and attitudes of the workers are not homogeneous so the workers have to be trained by the different kinds of courses which relate to the work force diversity. The dimensions of workplace diversity include: age, ethnicity, ancestry, gender, physical abilities/qualities, race, sexual orientation, educational background, geographic location, income, marital status, military experience, religious beliefs, parental status, and work experience. 3) Legislation: The rules and regulation, government policies, contract act, services act and taxation laws are being changed every year so MTM must be updated with them. 4) Competitive Challenge: The competitive edge of the organization is Cost, Quality and Availability of the goods. So, MTM has to be updated according to customer preferences and competitors technologies for improving qualities and reducing costs. Human Resource Problems Although there are many HR problems in MTM as we have visited the human resource department yet the most identifiable was that of downsizing of employees. Masood Textile Mills have been using the downsizing strategy in order to cover its budget and to cut down the costs that become high due to increase in the pays of operational level employees. MTM has increased the salaries of low level production workers from Rs. 3,000 to Rs.4,000. In this way the budget increases and MTM has to cover up so, it used to downsize the employees. Downsizing Impacts Overall: It is effecting the overall economy as more people are downsized the un-employment persist in the economy. Mixed effects on firm performance: some short-term costs savings, but long-term profitability valuation not strongly affected. Firms reputation as a good employer is suffering. Downsizing Effects on Employee Morale: Employee motivation disrupted: increase in political behaviors, anger, fear which is likely to negatively impact quality of customer service Violation of psychological contract, leads to cynicism, lowered work commitment, fewer random acts of good will Survivors experience more stress due to longer work hours with re-designed jobs, and increased uncertainty regarding future downsizings. Solutions to Downsizing: Employment  Changes in  Pay/Benefits can be an effective alternative to downsizing. Outplacements can be another good alternative to downsizing in which organization help present employees find new jobs with other firms. Attritions which mean the voluntary departures of employees must be encouraged in this situation. Voluntary Quits  by employees must be appreciated. Offer voluntary early retirement or other packages to people within a certain category, such as particular position or years of service. If this offer does not result in enough savings, it is extended to a broader pool. Offer early retirement incentives to pension-eligible employees in a specific area. If that doesnt get sufficient response, expand the pool and so on. Hiring freeze can be done by not allowing job openings fill with external employees. Internal job recruitment by succession planning can be done in order to fill new job opening.    Relocation  can be done by sending the employees overseas to another branch of MTM where there is HR shortage instead of hiring new employees there. It would definitely cut costs. Voluntary  Pay cuts of employees can be done by making sure that they will get the accumulated pay at the end of year with some increment in it. Involuntary Separation policies must be strict enough to maintain employee commitment to organizational policies and in case of dis-obey must be separated.   Early Retirements can be granted to employees. Organization may include the golden handshake benefit. Temporary Layoffs  can be done. This will help organization to maintain its employee loyalty and also cut down its work force for some period. Other implications to improve HR performance: Successful organizations have a focus on the performance of their employees. Here employees are rewarded based purely on their performance on set criteria. Their performance goals and targets are clearly defined and communicated to them in a formal way. The employees feel motivated and accountable for their performance and strive to achieve/exceed the targets set for them. The only thing that pleases the managers and leadership is higher achievements and performance delivery. Regular Feedback to Employees. Supervisors must have to get feedback on regular basis from workers.This feedback should be on day to day basis to improve the current targets rather than to to rectify the errors / mistakes of past.This approach needs to observe and evaluate the efficiency of employees.This is also ensure that the manager also involved to give positive feedback for the job well done. Authoized overtime payment: The surest way to aggravate a wage and hourly claim is not to pay overtime to those employees who have worked. The Department of Labor (DOL) regulations has been clearly mad that if you know that an employee had worked more time than is scheduled, you must paid him, even if you did not depute him for additional work. Exempted employees treat properly: Employers expects that their exempt employees (those exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)) to worked as long as the job done.Some of the employers also punish their exempted employees to do work for paid vacation or sick time. Review HR policies and procedures. There should be clearly written policies can be both effective employee relationship.The policies that are out of date applied improperly should have opposite effect.There should be regular review of policies that should be matched with new laws,rules regulations.Experts suggest that a thorough review of policies should be made once a year.

Comparing Satire in Canterbury Tales, Pride and Prejudice and The Rape

Use of Satire in Canterbury Tales, Pride and Prejudice and The Rape of the Lock Jane Austen and Alexander Pope had had a myriad of writing styles and techniques from which to express the desired themes of their works.   Satire, however, seemed to be the effective light-hearted, yet condescending, tool that enabled them to surface the faults and follies of their moral and elite society.   In Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, satire is used to the full extent in revealing the glutton within a pious and sacrificing nun, the vain hunter within a poor and meditative monk, and the vulgarity within a honorable woman of society.   In Pride and Prejudice and The Rape of the Lock, Austen and Pope use contrasting forms of satire to obtain the same result as Chaucer:   to ridicule society's hypocritical and supercilious   manner by forcing it to see the absurd truth of what society pretends to be and what it really is.   In order to create satire in their literature, Austen and Pope must place an ironic, mocking language in an environment, and allow the la nguage to transform its surroundings into a parody of human moral regression.   The essence of satire in Pride and Prejudice and The Rape of the Lock begins with the writer's mocking use of diction, and then spreads to how the characters, tone, and theme of the literature are heightened to a level that identifies with supercilious society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Characters in Pride and Prejudice and The Rape of the Lock are necessary tools in establishing satire within the stories.   Austen uses a range of different character types in order to highlight the absurdity of society.   For example, Elizabeth Bennet differs greatly from her other sisters and young ladies of Hertfordshire because h... ...rning within society to undermine its flaws.   Austen and Pope were great writers and observers of their time, and though they have passed, their writings continue to reveal the hidden follies of humanity.   Humanity has not made any extremely valuable changes beside the obvious advancements that are expected through time.   However, there will always be literature to magnify humanity's growth and regression, urging its readers to never hide from the truth. Works Cited: Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Ed. Donald Gray. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1996. Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales. Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces. Ed Mack, Maynard et al. W. W. Norton and Co. New York, NY. 1992. Pope, Alexander. "The Rape of the Lock". The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. M.H. Abrams et al. 6th ed. Vol. 1. New York: Norton, 1993.

Essay on Flashbacks, Thrid Person Narration, and Harsh Language in Anot

Use of Flashbacks, Thrid Person Narration, and Harsh Language in Another Country James Baldwin's novel, Another Country , is enhanced by Baldwin's unique narrative style. The majority of the exposition of Another Country is presented through flashbacks. Baldwin uses the third person omniscient point of view to narrate his characters' personal thoughts and develop the characters. Lastly, Baldwin intensifies the rage and anger through his uncommonly harsh diction. Quite often Baldwin oversteps the traditional bonds of appropriate language. Although his diction is not appealing, it is both strong and effective. Such words evoke emotions in all readers. "You took the best, why not take the rest?" is the opening statement of Another Country. Readers begin the novel with the description of a man who has sunk to a low position in life. This man has fallen from his position as a prominent jazz musician to the lowest of street bums. His hair is uncombed; his body is unclean. He has descended from a very public position to a place where he hides from family, friends and police. And finally, in desperation, this man sells his body to another man for food and drink. All this action takes place in two pages. It is at the bottom of the second page that Baldwin give... ...the novel. Through harsh language Baldwin intensifies the anger. One such example is this passage: "I'll be back," he (Vivaldo) said. "No, you won't," said Rufus. "I'll kill you if you come back" (58). This passage expresses great rage when it is placed in context. Rufus is talking to his one true friend. His words are abrasive and at times abusive. Baldwin's diction represents the anger of his characters and his time. Another Country is written in an intense narrative style. James Baldwin utilizes the techniques of flashback narration, omniscient point of view and harsh language to increase the power of his novel.

Bilingual Education Blows Away the Competition :: Essays Papers

Bilingual Education Blows Away the Competition "It would be scary if bilingual education wasnt there, because I wouldnt be able to understand the teacher, and I wouldnt know what to do, and I would have problems," said one young supporter of bilingual education (Keifer 10). Education is the single most important tool for future greatness. It is necessary for success in all endeavors. Those who need more assistance in their learning still deserve to receive the best education possible. Just because they do not learn in the same way, does not mean that they can be neglected in this meaningful aspect of life. Language minority children are part of that category. They have trouble learning because they are Limited English Proficient (LEP). In Arizona, these children are most likely to come from a Mexican heritage since the state is so close to Mexico. For over a hundred years schools have been implementing a program that teaches LEP children in their native language first, then slowly transitioning them into learning in English. During their entire education the students are continually learning the English language. This long-term focus of learning English as well as learning standard subjects in the native language is geared so the students will not fall behind on their general studies. This method is highly regarded because it develops the childrens native language as well as English. They need this type of bilingual education to keep their communication skills within their culture. In the past there has been a large controversy surrounding the education of minority children. The quality of education in the bilingual education programs across the country is being questioned. The battle to eliminate bilingual education has succeeded in California. In 1998, the "English for the Children" initiative, led by Ron Unz, met strong opposition as well as strong agreement. The initiative called for only one year of "structured English immersion" for LEP students, followed by reclassification into an English-only classroom. This means that these young children will be thrust into an English-speaking classroom with only one year of English instruction. They will be left to "sink or swim" in these classes, a method which the Supreme Court found to violate their right to an equal education. This thoughtless initiative went on to win a victory in California at the expense of many children who will now find it even more difficult to survive in the education system.

Spring Days Ahead

Spring is a magical season for me. I love the sound of birds chirping, the smell of rain in the air, and the vibrant colors of the flowers starting to bloom. It awakens the senses. The winter cold is gone, yet the unbearable heat and humidity of summer in the south has yet to arrive. I love that daylight savings time puts an end to the long dark evening hours of winter. The phrase â€Å"spring forward† is a reminder to set our clocks ahead one hour during spring. Springing forward is what the season is all about and what I look forward to the most. The increased sunlight and ability to spend more time outdoors brings a new outlook on life and lifts my spirits. My husband and I become rejuvenated as we begin to get outdoors more and take pride in renewing our home and yard. Whether it is a small project, such as giving the front door a fresh coat of paint, or starting a garden, we look forward to it with excitement. Spring has been called â€Å"the season of growth† and it is when I start a new vegetable and flower garden each year. There is nothing better than freshly picked vegetables from my garden. The vegetables are free from pesticides and provide a healthy snack for our family. The smell of fresh cut flowers in a pretty vase on my kitchen table reminds me of the small pleasures in life. The beautiful colors of the flower garden help bring color and vibrancy to the world. Spring is a busy time of the year for my family. Spring brings on a fresh round of taking the children to school, sporting events, and birthday parties. Trying to keep up with two young children can be exhausting. The occasional spring rainstorm provides a welcome relief from all this activity and gives me a badly needed break. There is nothing better than curling up on the couch with a good book, listening to the rain beat upon the roof, and enjoying the feeling of not being rushed to get somewhere. Spring is my favorite season. New color and life appear in the world. The long dark nights of winter are behind us. Everyone and everything is filled with a new sense of urgency and vibrancy. Others prefer the oppressive heat of summer, the dark cold of winter, and the dreary days of fall, but I will take spring over them all.

Analysis of “the Chrysanthemums”

In the world created by John Steinback, in the story of â€Å"The Chrysanthemums†, being an intelligent girl whose accepted into the society is a hard task. Elisa is caught up in all the household work while not being able to enjoy any of the outside world. She’s shown to have the life and struggles of a typical house wife, who is passive and not strong enough, lacking the attributes it takes to step out of her comfort zone and take responsibility and action to make herself content. The setting sets the mood of the story, as the fog represents her being unable to clearly see the realities of life. The author does a great job of keeping the narration somewhat discreet, which keeps the reader thinking, and let’s us figure out the motivations of the characters ourselves. When Elisa and Henry are first introduced, their relationship seems friendly but lacking love and passion. The way they compare their work, her garden and his business, and how they go about their daily routines makes them seem like friends or business partners, but not much more. This reminds me of â€Å"The Painted Door† by Sinclair Ross, in which Ann and John live in a passionless isolation on their farm. I noticed the use of literary devices such as similes to enhance the story; for example, â€Å"like a fawning dog. † I also noticed that Elisa's bulky and restrictive clothing was a metaphor for her true desires and personality being suppressed, as a woman. The theme of gender inequality is present, and can specifically be seen in the conversation Elisa has with the man from the wagon, in which he says the life he lives is not for a woman. I also noticed the author employed symbolism to enhance this message through the chrysanthemums. The chrysanthemums could be seen as a symbol for women, in that they are pleasant to look at, yet when they are offered up for a purpose, they are often rejected, as the chrysanthemums were. More specifically, the flowers symbolize Elisa, in that they are strong and beautiful, but also face rejection as she does. I think the author's purpose of writing this story is to say that the unfair treatment of women is a prevalent and existing issue that needs to be addressed. In evaluation, the story was quite effective, as it got to the point clearly, concisely, and quickly, while portraying a strong and meaningful message.

Conventional Accounting Systems Essay

Advantages of a Computerized Accounting System The Difference Between Net Income & Pretax Accounting Income The Difference Between Strategic & Traditional HR Before the advent of fast and cheap computers, accounting traditionally was processed manually with all transactions recorded in columnar papers and kept in voluminous binders. Once computers became popular and software affordable, accounting tasks moved into this medium, where concepts stayed the same but mechanics changed from papers to programs. Sponsored Link Diesel Exhaust Brakes Exhaust Brakes On & Off-Highway Euro 6 & Tier 4 Compliant www.GTPP.co.uk Speed The most glaring difference between traditional and computerized accounting is the speed of operations. With an accounting program, data is entered once and it is saved. The program provides management with reports in a speed never dreamed possible in the traditional days. No more waiting days or weeks to know whether your business is making a profit. Using computerized accounting, information can be accessed in a matter of minutes. Once data is available in the system, it can be used in reports, queries and analysis. Accuracy Computerized systems have drastically increased accuracy of calculations when compared to the traditional, manual system, in which columns had to be added up, numbers moved from one page to the next, and trial balance and financial statements manually compiled. If errors occurred, many hours had to be spent trying to find and correct them. With accounting software, this problem is eliminated. In the case of accounting spreadsheets, adding simple formulas still may be needed, but it is an easier and more accurate process. Efficiency goes through the roof when a computerized system is used. Costs The traditional manual accounting system with paper and pencil is cheaper than the computerized version, in which a firm needs a computer, software, printer and other expenses associated with a system. The manual system may work for small businesses up to a certain point, but with the affordable costs of computers and software, many firms are opting for the computerized system. They are easy to use, and finding experienced employees to run the system is not a hurdle. Backups When using a manual system, the risk of losing data is real. If important papers are damaged or destroyed, that work may have to be re-created. Copies of the original work can be made, but that could be expensive and time-consuming. Accounting on a computerized system offers the choice of saving work on a CD, portable or external hard drive, flash drive, or even online. Many firms back up data every night as a precaution. If something happens the next day, the data can be restored from the backup. Considerations Using a computerized accounting system keeps all of the information organized and in one place—the computer hard drive. Finding and accessing information on an accounting software program is much easier than the traditional method. Specific data can be found using system functions, which usually include a "find" or “search” key. For example, finding information about a vendor on a manual system could take many steps and significant time. The same process in a computerized system most likely would yield the information in a snap, with less confusion and aggravation

Reflection and Refraction of Light Essay

Objective The purpose of this experiment is to prove the laws of reflection and refraction, and to determine the angle of the total internal reflection and the index of refraction in the experiment. Theory The theory being experimented in this procedure is that of Willebrord Snell. From his theory we understand that the incident ray, the normal line and the refracted ray all lie on the same plane. We also understand that the relationship is defined in a ratio with the following equation; Which means that the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction, I equal to the ratio of the speed of light in the original medium and the speed of light in the refracting medium. Procedure We set up the optics track, light source and the ray table. We then aligned the flat side of the mirror with the ray of light from the light source. We rotated the ray table in increments of 10 ÌŠ. The first set were done going clockwise. Once done we then did the same thing but going counterclockwise. This gave us the Angles of Reflection. FromThe two Angles of Reflection we were able to calculate the average Angles of Reflection, listed in Table 1. For the Law of Refraction, we replaced the mirror with a Acrylic cylindrical lens. We rotated the ray table clockwise by increments of 10ÌŠ again. We repeated the same measurements but instead with counterclockwise angles. From the two angles of refraction we were able to calculate the average angles of refraction. Finally, we aligned the flat side of the lens so that incoming light ray struck the cylindrical surface. We rotated the ray table until the refracted ray disappeared completely and only the reflected ray was visible. This is the angle of incidence. This gave us our angle of incidence theoretical value. From this we were also able to calculate the angle of refraction.

Hitch Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Hitch - Essay Example During the time when Hitchens tries to help out Albert he also falls for Sara who was a gossip columnist. Thus the movie moves forwards with the interplay of the four characters in different situations. (Tenant, 2005). As the movie moves forward it is able to capture the attention of the audience because it is a movie to which most of the audience is able to relate easily. The goal of the paper is to explore how closely sociological issues are related to the movie Hitch. The main issues which have been addressed through the movie are primarily social interaction, race and gender. This is because we see in the movie Sara the gossip columnist had a strong dislike for men and she believed that men are worthless. From the feminist perspective it can be said that Sara wanted to protest against all men of the society by showing complete disregard and disgust for them. Moreover we also see in the movie that she thinks Alex Hitchens as a man who teaches other men to use women according to their fancy. This is because one of the clients of Alex had a one night stand with Sara’s best friend. Taking cue from this we can say that the movie Hitch also tries to focus on the objectification of women from the perspective of Sara. Through Sara the message which we get is that objectification of women by men was a very common phenomenon and women were aware of such a system existing and here in the movie Sara’s desire to unmask Hitchens is basically a p rotest which women want to undertake against men. Therefore Sara is determined to unmask Alex in front of the world. Devereux in the book, â€Å"Media Studies: Key Issues and Debates† says that the casting of the movie â€Å"Hitch† has remained an example of the inadequate representation of the minority groups like the Blacks in the mass media. Alex played by William Smith is an example of African representation in the media and the presence of stars like him point to the fact that though Blacks have received

How can social policy eradicate child poverty Essay

How can social policy eradicate child poverty - Essay Example eople have different thoughts on who is responsible for tackling the issue of child poverty; although the entire burden of blame would be on the government, families, communities and organizations, - all who have to play the biggest role since they face and handle the problem often. Referring to the UNICEF, child poverty is expressed â€Å"as the deprivation of a range of both material and social supports and services that it considers to be essential to ensure children’s well-being† (Minujin, et al., 2006, p. 485). Helping the children escape poverty has to occur early in life when a problem is discovered, so that rectification takes place. By assisting the children, their future is secured; but also their families and the entire community’s lives benefit from the process. The power to prevent child poverty is within human reach making it possible to formulate social policies, which are action oriented through use of both economic and non economic resources, in equal redistribution as a way of improving the child welfare. Through the government, social policies are delivered through the enactment and reforms of law. The administration comes up with programs and initiatives just like community organizations to benefit the child welfare, by improving their economic and social state. The social policies help to protect the child and uphold their fundamental rights, which may entail helping the children or the young individuals directly or providing extensive support to their families. Children are sensitive beings who do not have the power to vote, or form petition authorities to foster programs that could defend their right. Whether being born in poverty or suffering from it during the childhood, the social policies provide rescue plans if not reducing the impact it causes in their lives. Some of the social policies are government pensions, welfare to the poor, health care, food stamps, unemployment benefits, affordable housing initiatives, educational

Society Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Society - Assignment Example The invention of the steam engine accelerated industrial revolution in Europe and later the entire world. However, although the intended purpose of this invention was met, there were other side effects due to the invention, and all this will be discussed in this write up. Keywords: Steam Engine, Invention, Science, Society, Inventor, Industrial Revolution, History of Steam Engine The power of steam is given credit for its earlier and current application in the power industry. Long ago, steam power made a lot of difference in industries, it still does. Its history is dated back to the first century. There were a lot of life challenges that required innovations to reduce the human labour and increase production. Miners during the 18th century faced a lot of challenges relating to the mining industry; they had to look for the ways of overcoming these obstacles. Their effort for minimizing challenges led to the introduction of steam energy to pump water from deep mines; this slowly trans formed to the fully developed steam engine (â€Å"Industrial History: The History of the Steam Engine,† 2013). Before the introduction of steam, power was obtained through wind, animals, and water. The steam engine was the first form of power generated by human beings (â€Å"A Brief History of Steam Power,† n.d.). Steam engine invention is not credited to one single individual, every inventor put in some small effort and with time, there was an improvement. One of the important principles used in the development of the steam engine was the principle of condensation of water vapor so that it could create a vacuum. In the steam engine, water and water vapor are the key ingredients, â€Å"work is done by the pressure which the substance exerts while its volume is undergoing change† (Ewing, 2013, p. 2). Historical Development of Steam Engines The historic development of the steam engine defines the beginning and the progress of the steam engine invention. It started with the need to have more power to solve the issues that were at hand. First, there was a lot of cold, people wanted to get warmth therefore they had to invent fire, as life went on, there were other developments in the industrial sector, for example for glass makers, there was a lot of firewood to be used in these glass industries, and since there were large forests around, the firewood was to be used to provide heat in the furnaces. As the needs increased, requirements for fuel also increased to meet the requirements of the increasing operations. Coal was then invented; a furnace that generated higher temperatures and used less fuel was invented by Abraham Darby (â€Å"A Brief History of Steam Power,† n.d.). Pumps were then needed to drain the coal mines. During the 1600’s, a German scientist called Otto Van Guericke invented the first air pump; this was after his discovery of gas as the third matter. He realized that he could remove air from a glass globe, leaving behind an empty space called a vacuum. Later on, he discovered static electricity and abandoned his work on pumps and vacuums, with this, he was already setting up some pace for the invention of the steam engine, although he had no idea about it. The progress that he had already made was enough for Denis Papin to pick up the idea about a piston and cylinder. His idea was that if air

Brand management in Irelands indigenous sector Essay

Brand management in Irelands indigenous sector - Essay Example 442). Brand assets are difficult and expensive to develop, maintain, and adapt. The offering environment is cluttered, confused, and complex in part because of the proliferation of products, brands, and sub-brands. Dynamic market contexts with the emergence of new sub-categories make it necessary to adapt and stretch brands, putting additional strain on their ability to deliver the needed support. Consequently to understand the dynamics of brand management and assess whether or not they are successful in communicating the brand to consumers and whether or not those strategies enhance their brand equity, this proposal was developed. The organization of this proposal is the following. Firstly, a description of the project is presented. Secondly, the methodology is proposed. Thirdly, an approximated time schedule of research is developed. Finally, a provisional table of contents is suggested. The aim of this research is to assess whether a firm is successful in communicating the brand to consumers and whether their strategies enhance their brand equity of three Ireland companies. Consequently, the general objective is: In reference to academic relevance, this research pretends to support empirical evidence to the field of marketing metrics. The suggestion of Rust et al. (2004) about search for empirical support to the chain of marketing activities has been taken into account. With respect to managerial relevance, th... 1.3. Academic and Managerial Relevance of the Subject In reference to academic relevance, this research pretends to support empirical evidence to the field of marketing metrics. The suggestion of Rust et al. (2004) about search for empirical support to the chain of marketing activities has been taken into account. With respect to managerial relevance, this research pretends not only to tell the board that brand management contributes to the company, but also to give them the effectiveness of marketing in money terms. 2. Description of the Project 2.1. Literature Review in Short 2.1.1. Brand Management Brand Management is the best way for firms to manage their precious brand assets (Low and Fullerton 1994). Additionally, brand managers are responsible for the performance of brands as well as central coordinators of all marketing activities for their brand and responsible for developing and implementing marketing plan. Along the years the research in Brand Management has been associated with Corporate approach, Retailing, Strategies, Alliances, Brand Extension, new Research methodology approaches, Non-profit firms, International decisions, and others. One reason for studying brand arises from a strategy-based motivation to improve marketing productivity (Keller 1993). Perhaps a firm's most valuable asset for enhancing marketing productivity is the knowledge that has been created about the brand in consumers' mind from the firm's investments in previous marketing programs. What consumers know about brands is the brand knowledge. On the other hand, brand Awareness is related to the strength of the brand node or trace in

Business Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Business Research - Essay Example This trend of use of celebrities in adverts is not likely to change in the near future. The media have contributed to this obsession through overloading the society with information and demonstrations of celebrities and giving them entertainment. The use of celebrities in adverts accrues benefits not only to the organization but also to the celebrity. Through the use of a celebrity, the consumer feels a positive feeling of association and security. The consumers deem their celebrities as idols, and once they recommend the use of a product, they deem such products as of high quality. Consumers like to be associated with celebrities, and they end up buying such products because they would like to be like the celebrity. In essence, the use of a celebrity makes a product stand out and be recalled by the consumers. The use of a celebrity makes the products or services stand out. Celebrity endorsement has been regarded as a way of getting the brand noticed amidst the high competition in th e market environment. There are huge impacts of the use of celebrities in adverts among consumers through audio visual commercials. ... Relevance of the Research Numerous studies have been carried out to identify the impact of celebrity endorsements on sales and marketing. Nevertheless, there is disagreement and debate on the precise role of celebrity endorsement on customer discernment towards the brand. Customer attitudes form the basis for increased sales and marketing of a product. Some studies note that there is a weak correlation between the two while others state that there is a strong correlation between the two. This research proposal will provide a basis on the acquisition of insights in the field of consumer discernments towards a brand or product and the impact of celebrity endorsements on them to influence sales and marketing. This proposal will structure a systematic review with respect to these associations to offer marketing economists a useful guide on celebrity endorsement. Because this proposal will assist clarify the role of celebrity endorsement in adverts, it will also serve societal and practic al relevance. For organizations, it is particularly significant to identify the positive and negative effects of celebrity endorsement on the discernment of the customer towards the product and brand so purchase decision making and purchasing behavior can be increased. This paper will give insights on the significance of celebrity endorsement through giving reference to an example of celebrity endorsements such as David Beckham by Adidas. An enhanced comprehension of celebrity endorsement unquestionably prompts managers to take on an effective policy by which sufficient customer discernment will be engendered. This will lead to increased customer purchase intents, which will positively affect the

Narrative Structure in A Farewell to Arms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Narrative Structure in A Farewell to Arms - Essay Example Even though the emotions of the story have an emotional depth and complexity of spirit, the language that is used throughout the novel is that of simplistic sentence structures and short, pointed sentences that move the story forward. Using skills that reflect his ability to construct a complexity of emotion, Hemingway also provides the male perspective, the use of language designed to reflect the way in which a male experiences his story. The narrative style in the novel by Hemmingway is based upon tensions that are placed at intervals so that the reader is pulled from one end to the next through styles and motifs that alternate from one extreme to the next. As an example, the dialogue will run until a certain point has been achieved, and then will be contrasted with an active element, the contrast providing a narrative structure that provides the building of tension through episodes of revelation that place context into the action of the work. The build up throughout the work is ac complished in this back and forth contrast through themes, narrative styles, and the development of the ways in which these contrasts develop the emotional build up provides for a momentum that carries the reader through the novel.