Tuesday, December 31, 2019
The Relationship Between Literacy Achievement And Social...
The Relationship Between Literacy Achievement and Social Communication: A Review of the Literature Capstone Research Paper SLP 6070 Research Methods Nova Southeastern University July 24th, 2016 Priya Singh Abstract Schools are social environments in which students learn through collaboration with their teachers and peers (Zins, Bloodworm, Weissberg, Wallberg, 2003). From a preschool to high school, students are forced to collaborate to lead to the sharing of resources and ideas, clarification of directions, and problem solving strategies for academic success. The purpose of this paper is to present current scientific research findings about the relationship between literacy achievement and social communication skills from referee literature. Method: Eight research articles retrieved from the electronic databases: ERIC (ProQuest) and CINAHL Complete. Results: Recent findings indicate that childrenââ¬â¢s social communication skills is a predictor of literacy success. Keywords: Social Communication, social skills, literacy achievement, school success, Social Skills Rating System (SSRS), pragmatics. Introduction The phenomenon of integrating reading and social skills is not new in public school education (Selman, 2003). What is new, is the recent research of interconnection between literacy and social communication in children. According to ASHA, social cognition, social interaction, pragmatics (verbal and nonverbal communication), and language processing areShow MoreRelatedTechnology Has Changed The Way People Communicate983 Words à |à 4 Pagestelephone replaced the telegraph. Today cell phones, email and the Internet top the list of preferred communication methods in society. As more businesses and educational institutions use technology to communicate, society seems to have accepted, if not embraced, the increased role technology now plays in daily lives. Age has an impact on an individual s preferred method of communication. Communication today is entirely different compared to thirty years ago. Today we communicate via text, email, InstagramRead MoreDiversification Continues To Rise In The United States1626 Words à |à 7 Pagespoverty level living and lower levels of educational achievement. The mixture of low education and an increase in poverty effects individual and population health. Additionally, health disparities are growing and impacting the health care field. Cultural competency and communication across language barriers are influential in producing quality care for socioeconomically challenged minorities. However, educational attainment and health literacy are the most influential factors for minoritiesââ¬â¢ well-beingRead MoreThe Importance Of Reading In English1306 Words à |à 6 Pagescomes to English literacy. In the United States, around one half of Deaf students read at or below a fourth grade reading level upon completion of high school, with only around 7% reading at or above a seventh grade reading level (Strong Prinz, 1997). This level of reading barely reaches the level needed to read a newspaper (Goldin-Meadow Mayberry, 2001). The lack of ability to acquire written and spoken English is an obstacle in many aspects of life, beyond academic achievement and into vocationalRead MorePart Iv Issues On Chinese Language Teaching1194 Words à |à 5 PagesPart IV Issues on Chinese Language Teaching As a state school situated in a low SES area, Loganlea SHSââ¬â¢s vocational education outperforms its academic education. Its disadvantaged geographic location make it very hard for the school to promote literacy and numeracy development among the majority of vocational students who are with low level of general skills and academic aspirations and lack of motivations. It is likely that subjects with cognitive engagement would not attract students by natureRead MorePersonal Narrative Indicates Ones Relationship to Language611 Words à |à 3 PagesName: CRN: Date: Word Count: 583 words Personal Narrative Indicating Relationship to Language: The relationship between an individuals language i.e. any language is usually indicated by his/her character, personality, and culture. This is demonstrated in the fact that an author usually explains his/her relationship to language and literacy through his/her own experiences with a wider social and cultural framework. Generally, language is considered as a code since it comprises of words and chainRead MoreTrends of Social Networking1362 Words à |à 6 PagesThe growth of social networking is one of the fastest growing digital trends to exist. Many social networking sites boast with millions if not billions of members. Prominent examples of these social sites are Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Members of these networks use them daily to communicate, share various types of information or to collaborate with other members. Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook in 2004 and its sole purpose is to give people the power to share and connect with the world.Read MoreLibraries Features Within Childhood And Family Life1465 Words à |à 6 Pagesââ¬ËLiteracy and communication skills are vital in society today and early introduction to literacy though a breadth of experiences of rhymes, stories, pictures and books supports these skills.ââ¬â¢ (Rankin and Brock, 2015, p1). Rankin and Brock cite that ââ¬ËStart with the Childââ¬â¢ (CILIP, 2002) recognised that reading is a central part of the childââ¬â¢s development. Reading inspires their imagination, this enables them to grow emotionally, and develop their understanding of the world and where they stand in theRead MoreKey Factors of Early Language Development and Learning 1496 Words à |à 6 Pagesinvolvement and kind of relationship developed between a parent and a child is of great influence and may benefit the childââ¬â¢s cognitive and behavioral development. The kind of parent-child rapport obtained can also hinder these developments if the relationship fails to fulfill the common day-to-day necessities of a child while he or she goes through developmental changes. After much deliberation, reading and research it is to no surprise that the kind of relationship established between a parent and a childRead MoreA Journey Through The Valley Of Literacy Coaching Essay1186 Words à |à 5 P agesCurrently, I am embarking on a captivating journey through the valley of literacy coaching. Before, enrolling in this program, I was apprehensive and unsure of how I would balance work, school, and home, but somehow I managed. I am roughly, two semesters away from my goal and anxiously awaiting everything to come in to fruition. Over the past two years, I have gained a great deal of knowledge and I have expanded my teacher tool-box. Focusing on adult learning, organizational change, professionalRead MoreThe Role of Multicultural Literature Essay1213 Words à |à 5 Pageslearning English challenging therefore affecting their literacy learning. Moreover, it becomes difficult for the ELL to do academically well in school. A study done by National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in 2011 shows there is a significant achievement gap between the reading scores of ELLs and non-ELLs, with the non-ELLââ¬â¢s scores being much more higher than the ELLs( NAEP 2011). There have been many ways argued to help improve ELLââ¬â¢s literacy skills in order to raise their reading scores, one
Monday, December 23, 2019
The Vietnam War and Rock and Roll Music Essay - 1572 Words
Fan blades/helicopter blades rotating slowly above a troubled dreamer, Jim Morrisons voice singing The End... Young soldiers, on their way to Vietnam in the summer of Woodstock, marching on board their plane at Ft. Dix singing Fixing To Die... Correspondent Michael Herr catching helicopter rides out to the firebases, cassette rock and roll in one ear and door- gun fire in the other, or crouched under fire in a rice paddy while Jimi Hendrix music blares from the recorder held by the soldier next to him... Grunts linking arms in a beery E.M. club and screaming out the lyrics to the Animals We Gotta Get Out of This Place... The rock and rollâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Other songs grew directly out of the Vietnam experience: songs about flying at night along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, defoliating triple-canopy jungle, engaging in firefights with an unseen enemy, or counting the days left in a 365-day tour. In some cases both the words and music were original, usually new lyrics were set to folk, country or popular tunes. Barry Sadlers Ballad of the Green Berets alone spawned dozens of parodies. These songs served as a strategy for survival, as a means of unit bonding and definition, as entertainment, and as a way of expressing emotion. All of the traditional themes of military folksong can be found in these songs: praise of the great leader, celebration of heroic deeds, laments for the death of comrades, disparagement of other units, and complaints about incompetent officers and vainglorious rear-echelon personnel. Like soldiers and sailors from time immemorial they sang of epic drinking bouts and encounters with exotic young women. Songs provided a means for the expression of protest, fear and frustration, of grief and of longing for home. Some of the songs show empathy with the enemy; Chip Dockery, who served with the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Udorn, wrote a superb series of songs from the point of the North Vietnamese truck drivers on the Ho Chi Minh trail. Others display a kind of black humor mixed with violence: Strafe the Town and Kill theShow MoreRelated The Effects Of War And Music Together Essay737 Words à |à 3 PagesEffects of War and Music Together How are music and war related? Music puts a voice in the peopleââ¬â¢s ears, and tells them whether or not we should be involved in that war. It helped out the troops when they were over seas to not be so home sick. Also, every war preceding the Vietnam War had music to help or support the war, but the Vietnam War is where music during wartime changed. The Vietnam War has been called quot;Americas first rock-and-roll warquot; because of rock music that was playedRead More Music During the Vietnam War Essay1291 Words à |à 6 PagesMusic During the Vietnam War Throughout time, music has been an influential part of society. As a form of entertainment and expression, its impact has always been felt both economically and emotionally. During the Vietnam war, music evolved into more a form of expression rather than pure entertainment. Emotionally charged songs became a method to oppose the war, and vent frustrations. While many songs opposed the war, numerous others focused on peace and happiness. They provided a positiveRead MoreThe Song American Pie Is A Representation Of Loss During The Transition Into The 1960s893 Words à |à 4 Pagescountry by using music, faith, and war as examples of the changes and loss his generation faced. Music heavily influences and creates a voice for the people of the time period it is written in and also reflects the tone of the time period. Mcleanââ¬â¢s generation was impacted greatly by classic rock and roll artists, such as Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly. Music direction and message portrayed the prosperous nature of the 1950s and what life was like before the 1970s. The change in music direction rootedRead MoreMusic Of The 60s Help Shape Modern Australian Society1259 Words à |à 6 Pages In what ways did music in the 60s help shape modern Australian society ââ¬Å"People today are still living off the table scraps of the sixties. They are still being passed around - the music and the ideas.â⬠This was pronounced by Bob Dylan, a folk musician of the sixties: an era in which the music heavily influenced the culture of the time and continues to influence the music and culture today. The music and artists of the 60s influenced radio and television, the music, fashion and lifestyles of theRead MoreMusic And Cartoons Of The Vietnam War1710 Words à |à 7 PagesAjax Diamandis Ms. Harris AP US History June 8, 2015 Art as History: Music and Cartoons of the Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1955-1975) was the longest war the United States has ever fought in and also the most controversial. Many Americans protested against sending their children across seas to fight in a war that did not involve the United States. Millions asked for a return to isolationism such as the 1920s. Meanwhile many protests went viral as the National Guard interfered, killing four at KentRead MoreEssay about Music throughout Society961 Words à |à 4 PagesMusic throughout Society Weve been talking a lot about social rituals. Well, just what exactly is a social ritual? Social rituals are, basically, traditions or customs that a society has followed for many years. For example, in America, most people follow the custom of dating. In Israel, they tend to follow the tradition of arranged marriages. Yet, in some countries, they use courtship. Even though all three of these approaches to finding a mate are different, they all are very similar becauseRead More Music Of The 60s Essay1359 Words à |à 6 Pagesof discontentâ⬠because of the race riots in Detroit and La, and the demonstrations against the Vietnam War. Other people called it the decade of ââ¬Å"peace, love, and harmonyâ⬠. It was called this because of the peace movement and the emergence of the flower children. (Britannica) The sixties were about assassination, unforgettable fashion, new styles of music, civil rights, gay and womenââ¬â¢s liberation, Vietnam, Neil Armstrong landing on the m oon, peace marches, sexual freedom, drug experimentation, andRead MoreI Can t Sing It Without Thinking About Syd1647 Words à |à 7 Pagesââ¬Å"I canââ¬â¢t sing it without thinking about Syd.â⬠For the members of the 1960s and 1970s rock and roll band, Pink Floyd, the title track to their album Wish You Were Here uncovers emotional thoughts and feelings regarding their band mate, Syd Barrett, in a highly broad sense. At the height of the Vietnam war, tensions were high in America due to the anti-war movement. For those involved with this movement, a series of different emotions may be evoked from this song. Pink Floyd struggled as an ensembleRead More Youth Rebelliion In The 1950s Essay1028 Words à |à 5 Pagesdissatisfied with certain conservative aspects of society and their conduct reflected this. They embraced the rock and roll culture, the new style of music and also the new styles of dancing and dress that were associated with it shocked the older more conservative people. Young people were also quick to protest against the controversial issues of the 1950ââ¬â¢s. Civil Rights, the Vietnam War and general politics provided fuel for an already blazing fire. Mass production meant cheaper motorcycles andRead MoreThe ââ¬Ë60s: Culture and Music Essay1478 Words à |à 6 PagesThroughout history, music have defined or depicted the culture and social events in America. Music has constantly played an important role in constituting American culture, where people have expressed themselves through music during flourishing and turbulent times. In the 1930ââ¬â¢s, Swing music created a platform for audiences to vent their emotions in the midst of Great Depression and political unrest. Such strong relationship between music and culture can be seen throughout history, especially in
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Management Challenges Free Essays
Shrinking budgetary allocation is common in many businesses, which can be caused by external factors such as lack of profit, or internal factors such as a deliberate decision to cut costs. Whichever the cause may be, people tasked with the management of a business should learn how to deal with such eventualities. A choice has to be made and a strategy undertaken in order to ensure that the business would not only survive, but even succeed in its venture. We will write a custom essay sample on Management Challenges or any similar topic only for you Order Now Shrinking budgets are nothing more than challenges on the management of scarce resources (Tjosvold Poon, 1998). Contrary to instinct and common belief, shrinking budgets do not hinder the productivity of an organization. True, shrinking budgets do demand more efficient actions and grounded decisions, but they also push managers into performing better. Tjosvold and Poon note the opinion of researchers on organizational power and politics to the effect that ââ¬Å"conflicts over scare resources intensify competition (Tjosvold Poon, 1998).â⬠They also claim that conflict over scarce resources lead to effective distribution of resources. The scarcity of resources brought about by the shrinking budget can be productive because of the demand to step up to a higher level. This breeds a sense of competition in the team, which pushes people to work harder to produce better output (Tjosvold Poon, 1998). On the other side of this perspective is one that denies the usefulness of competition (Tjosvold Poon, 1998). This side emphasizes cooperation among members of a management team in order to come up with a business plan that manages the effects of the lowered budget (Tjosvold Poon, 1998). Thus, shrinking budget could lead to unity, cooperation, relationship development and organizational power theorizing (Tjosvold Poon, 1998). Thus, taken in the proper perspective, shrinking budgets could actually raise productivity to a higher level (Tjosvold Poon, 1998). Workplace Diversity Diversity is another aspect of business management that has caught the interest of many practitioners and researchers. Generally, the widely held opinion is one in favor of various kinds of diversity in the workplace, such as gender and cultural diversity (Miller,1999). For example, promoting gender diversity in a business organization is now being considered as an effective way of building good human resources. Women are often seen as a minority in various business firms, since they occupy a small percentage in a corporationââ¬â¢s workforce (Miller,1999). However, present changes are reversing this trend through the increased hiring of women in business organizations (Miller,1999). The policy towards increasing the number of women recruits in business and professional organizations is a positive and bold move that is directed towards removing undue discrimination in the professional setting. Provided that the woman applicant possesses the qualifications required by the available position, there is no reason to choose a male employee possessing the same qualifications over a female employee, if such decision is based solely on the applicantsââ¬â¢ genders. Thus, simultaneous with the recognition of the inequalities in society regarding hiring of men and women, promoting gender diversity in the workplace shows a deliberate policy of equalizing the market for men and women alike. Another aspect of diversity is cultural diversity. This concept works optimally for a multinational business, which has business connections in various localities (Miller, 1999). Hiring people from all sorts of cultural backgrounds would allow the business organization to reach out to the locals of the place, thereby increasing the companyââ¬â¢s goodwill, and eventually, profit (Miller, 1999). Thus, a company that has sales agents of the same cultural background as the consumers has more chances of capturing that market (Miller, 1999). Cultural diversity also leads to a better understanding by the company of possible issues that lead to misunderstanding and disagreements among people working in the same workplace (Miller, 1999). Thus, it is apparent that cultural diversity can play a major role in promoting the well being of a business organization. It should be noted, however, that the organization must ensure equal treatment to people even though they are coming from different cultural backgrounds (Miller, 1999). This way, cultural diversity would only benefit the business organization, and not hinder its development (Miller, 1999). Ethics and the Organization Ethical principles and policies play a big role in the operations and success of a business organization (Hamner, 2006). While ethics is commonly treated as a legal concept, it deals more with proper behavior of people in any situation (Hamner, 2006). The concern about ethical or unethical behavior of members of a business organization springs from the realization that such behavior has great effects on the success or failure of such organization (Hamner, 2006). In particular, unethical behavior within an organization has adverse effects, which could consist in loss of huge sums of money (Hamner, 2006). The best effect of having a clearly formulated ethical policy and ethical code within an organization is the influence of such policy and code on the conduct and attitude of members of the organization (Hamner, 2006). A strong support by the management in favor of ethical behavior will breed a culture of ethics that would make people value ethics, to the extent that unethical behavior would seen out of place in the organization (Hamner, 2006). To be effective promoters of ethical behavior in a business organization, the management must devise incentive schemes for members of the organization who follow ethical rules (Hamner, 2006). Moreover, the ethical rules and policies should be able to cover all facets of ethical behavior, which includes moral, economic, and legal aspects (Hamner, 2006). In sum, managing business necessarily means that one will have to deal with different challenges, such as shrinking budgets, workplace diversity, and ethical issues. However, all such challenges can be dealt with and used as means to succeed. Proper management would actually make organizations stronger and better once such kinds of challenges are met squarely. References Hamner, M. (2006). Management. Aerospace America. Retrieved October 17, 2007 Miller, S. (1999). Poltical Correctness in the Office. Office Systems 16(4). Tjosvold, D. Poon, M.à (1998). Dealing with Scarce Resources: Open-Minded à à à à à à à à à à Interaction for Resolving Budget Conflicts. Group Organization Management 23(3): 237-255 à How to cite Management Challenges, Essay examples
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Marketing Starts Essay Example For Students
Marketing Starts Essay Marketing starts with the needs of the Customers and ends with the satisfaction Of the customers Marketing : is the management of creating and exchanging products and value in order to satisfy the needs and wants. ; Marketing satisfy customers at a profit. ; The goal of marketing is (1) to attract new customers by promising superior value (e. G. Ritz-Carlton memorable experiences, Always Coca Colon and (2) to keep current customers by delivering satisfaction. Needs, Wants, and Demands ; Consumers have needs (physical, social, individual etc. Wants, and demands to be satisfied. Consumers view products as bundles of value (benefits) and choose products that give them the best value for their money. E. G. Honda Civic ( transportation, low price, fuel economy; Mercedes ( comfort, luxury, status Products ; A product (persons, places, organizations, activities, ideas) is anything that can satisfy a need or want. Producers must see themselves as providing a solution to a need rather than just selling a product. Otherwise, even a new product satisfies the needs better or less expensively, they would not make none. ; Research is a must to understand the needs and wants of the customers to produce the right product. E. G. At Disney World, each manager spends a day in the park in a Mackey costume or work on the front line taking tickets, selling pop-corn. Creating Customer Value and Satisfaction : Value, Satisfaction, and Quality How do customers choose among these many products? Consumers make choices based on; Value is the difference between owning the product and the cost of obtaining the product, in an way profit to the customer. Customers do not judge product ales objectively, on the contrary they act on perceived value. E. G. Is Hilton really the best hotel company? Satisfaction: is the difference between the products performance and buyers expectations. If the products performance falls short of expectations, the buyer is dissatisfied. Fifth performance matches or exceeds expectations, the buyer is satisfied. Smart companies aim to satisfy customers by promising only what they can give, then giving more than they promise. Benefit Of satisfying customers: Customer satisfaction create an emotional tie (customer loyalty) to a product. Highly satisfied customers make (I) repeat purchases, (2) are less price sensitive, (3) talk positively to their friends. Quality: simply quality can be defined as freedom from defects. Today, most companies define quality in terms of customer satisfaction. E. G. According to Motorola if the customer doesnt like the product, its a defect. Quality starts with customer needs and ends with customer satisfaction, The concept of total quality management is in a away total customer satisfaction. Improving the quality of a product that customers want increases customer satisfaction, Hereford increases profit. Exchange, Transactions, and Relationships ; Marketing occurs when people decide to satisfy needs and wants through exchange. Exchange (transaction) is the act of getting an object (product, service, idea from someone by giving something in return. ; Marketing should create mutually beneficial relationships (good for both parties) to generate profitable transactions. ; Marketing is the art Of attracting and keeping profitable customers. Customer satisfaction Customer satisfaction refers to the extent to wh ich customers are happy with the reduces and services provided by a business. Customer satisfaction levels can be measured using survey techniques and questionnaires. Gaining high levels of customer satisfaction is very important to a business because satisfied customers are most likely to be loyal and to make repeat orders and to use a wide range of services offered by a business. Custom ere foci used Studies carried out by companies like Argos and Caduceus have found very high levels of customer satisfaction. It is not surprising because these companies emphasis market research and marketing as the tools to find out what customers want. Knowing what your customer wants then makes it possible to tailor everything you do to pleasing the customers e. . Providing the goods that customers want, in the packaging that they want, in retail outlets which are convenient to use and well place There are many factors which lead to high levels of customer satisfaction including: ; Products and services which are customer focused and thence provide high levels of value for money. Customer service giving personal attention to the needs of individual customers. ; After sales service following up the original purchase with after sales support such as maintenance and updating (for example in the updating of computer packages). .udb8dc009ac7ee09c793b1836ff698a03 , .udb8dc009ac7ee09c793b1836ff698a03 .postImageUrl , .udb8dc009ac7ee09c793b1836ff698a03 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .udb8dc009ac7ee09c793b1836ff698a03 , .udb8dc009ac7ee09c793b1836ff698a03:hover , .udb8dc009ac7ee09c793b1836ff698a03:visited , .udb8dc009ac7ee09c793b1836ff698a03:active { border:0!important; } .udb8dc009ac7ee09c793b1836ff698a03 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .udb8dc009ac7ee09c793b1836ff698a03 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .udb8dc009ac7ee09c793b1836ff698a03:active , .udb8dc009ac7ee09c793b1836ff698a03:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .udb8dc009ac7ee09c793b1836ff698a03 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .udb8dc009ac7ee09c793b1836ff698a03 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .udb8dc009ac7ee09c793b1836ff698a03 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .udb8dc009ac7ee09c793b1836ff698a03 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .udb8dc009ac7ee09c793b1836ff698a03:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .udb8dc009ac7ee09c793b1836ff698a03 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .udb8dc009ac7ee09c793b1836ff698a03 .udb8dc009ac7ee09c793b1836ff698a03-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .udb8dc009ac7ee09c793b1836ff698a03:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Great Gatsby And The American Dream EssayWhat is clear about customer satisfaction is that customers are most likely to appreciate the goods and services that they buy if they are made to feel special. This occurs when they feel that the goods and services that they buy have been specially produced for them or for people like them. This relates to a wide range of products such as razors that are designed for ease of use and good quality finish, petrol products that are environmentally friendly and customized to meet the needs of particular types of engines, etc.
Friday, November 29, 2019
Business Ethics Is an Oxymoron
Introduction Business ethics refers to application of rules and regulations that govern business conduct by both individuals and organizations (Shaw 35). It forms a basis for the philosophy that gives a business or an organization a purpose to operate. The complexity and demands of business in todayââ¬â¢s world have changed how business is executed. Business owners determine what is ethical and what is unethical (Duska 73).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Business Ethics Is an Oxymoron specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Business and ethics are incompatible and that is why business ethics is an oxymoron. The main purpose of a business is to make profits. However, this is difficult to achieve without adopting stringent measures considered unethical by the society such as aggressiveness and competition. These measures ensure that business transactions are profitable and lead to growth of a business despite being co nsidered unethical. Discussion Business ethics is an oxymoron because business and ethics are incompatible. Therefore, businesses should focus on what they do and leave ethics to individuals. Looking at their respective definitions gives an indication of two contradictory sets of principles. To ensure success in business, it is necessary to prioritize personal interests. This requires aggressive competition with other businesses, an insatiable appetite for money and power, and stringent business principles. It is difficult to achieve these business ideals by being overly ethical (Shaw 43). The contradiction presented by business ethics is similar to that which faces employees when required to make decisions that involve conflict of interest. Business and ethics have different objectives that are incompatible. Business values conflict whereas ethics does not. The globally accepted concept of business is competition for available resources while trying to hoard as much resources as po ssible (Duska 77). Aggressive competition leads to creation of a hierarchy that divides people into different economic classes leading to elimination of those who are unable to compete. This is considered unethical because it does not give equal opportunities to everyone. However, that is the foundation for success in business. Business ethics does not play a role in the business world where making profit is the motivation for setting up and running a business (Duska 78). Examples of contemporary use of unethical measures include Enron, Bernie Madoff, and the subprime mortgage scandal that led to the great recession.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The examples show that even though business ethics is lauded as vital in business, it does not apply in the business world and only exist as a concept (Shaw 55). In most cases, high profits are attained by engaging in unethical pr actices. In addition, business ethics involves doing the right thing. Businesses prioritize by first doing what is right for their operations and then what is right for customers. Furthermore, business ethics is an oxymoron when looked at from an altruistic perspective. For example, in some religions such as Islam, taking interest is unethical. However, it is ethical in many other religions (Boatright 63). This view represents an extreme side of business ethics that is determined by religion. Many business decisions and operations involve intricate situations that are neither fully ethical nor fully unethical. As such, it is difficult for businesses to do the right thing. Values such as respect, honesty, and trust determine an individualââ¬â¢s ethical behavior. However, they are disregarded during tough situations that demand stringent measures. The same principle applies to business. Some situations are so difficult that they necessitate measures that are otherwise considered un ethical (Boatright 66). Businesses deal with numerous challenges such as inappropriate use of resources and mismanagement of business operations. These activities are executed by unethical individuals who fail to put the interests of the company first. It occurs automatically that businesses are forced to share the consequences of these unethical behaviors among all stakeholders (Boatright 68). Otherwise, they fail to achieve their goals and objectives. It is the responsibility of a buyer or customer to conduct due diligence to ensure that a product or service on sale is of high standards (Duska 84). Businesses should focus on providing the product. Businesses provide goods and services that match the financial abilities of customers. For example, during an economic recession, customers have little money to spend. Therefore, businesses cannot provide the same goods and service they provide when customers have a lot of money to spend (Shaw 58). This is because products of high qualit y have more expenses and that is why they are expensive. However, customers consider it their right to receive the same quality of service all the time. To businesses, this is hard to achieve unless customers are willing to spend more money. Otherwise, services will be of a lower quality. Conclusion Business ethics is an oxymoron because of the incompatibility between business and ethics. They both have different aims. Success in business requires practices that are considered unethical by the society. For example, aggressive competition and elimination of competitors by stringent measures is considered unethical because it denies other businesses an opportunity for prosperity. Business and ethics are incompatible. Therefore, businesses should focus on what they do and leave ethics to individuals.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Business Ethics Is an Oxymoron specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Works Cited Boatrigh t, John. Ethics and the Conduct of Business, 6/e. New York: Prentice Hall, 2000. Print. Duska, Ronald. Contemporary Reflections on Business Ethics. New York: Springer, 2007. Print. Shaw, William. Business Ethics. New York: Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. This essay on Business Ethics Is an Oxymoron was written and submitted by user Christine Adkins to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.
Monday, November 25, 2019
Gay Marriage A Subject of Controversy essays
Gay Marriage A Subject of Controversy essays The subject of gay marriage is one that has sparked much controversy in recent months. Gay activists have been arguing for some time that they have a constitutional right to have their union recognized by the letter of the law. Conservative representatives however and religious leaders oppose any legislation that would afford gay couples the right to recognition of their marriage by law. Part of this opposition stems from deep seated religious beliefs that marriage is a sacred institution and should be protected as such from the government. Some have gone as far as arguing that the purpose of marriage is to bear children, and since gay couples can't do this they shouldn't marry. This controversy is explored in Many people have vocalized their support of legalizing gay marriage. An equal number of people or more oppose gay marriage. Supporters of same sex unions argue that a ban on gay marriage violates their constitutional right to equality. There is evidence indicating that many support the right of gay couples to wed regardless of the situation. For example, recently a poll revealed that Arizonans oppose an amendment to the constitution that would ban gay marriage (Kiefer, 2004: 1). The poll observed 600 respondents, 51% of which were against having a ban on gay marriages (Kiefer, 2004: 1). The poll also revealed however that a great deal of people were still unsure of their opinion on the topic of gay marriage, and could likely be swayed one way or another. Similar polls have been conducted in many states, as the topic of gay marriage has fueled a great Those that oppose legalizing a gay union would argue that marriage is a sacred institution and therefore should be protected and regulated by the law. According to Arizona House Speaker Jake Flake, "Most of the people that I surround myself with agree with me that marriage is a sacred institution and it should be entered...
Friday, November 22, 2019
Holcim Italia S.p.A Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6250 words
Holcim Italia S.p.A - Essay Example While the company's sales continue to grow, Holcim loses its market share as the market develops more rapidly. In order to solve this problem the case study fulfils the following objectives: The case study is divided into two main sections: situation analysis and presentation of possible solutions. The situation analysis starts with drawing the general picture of Holcim's market environment. Further on main competitors of the company are introduced. Then the market analysis by segments proceeds. The situation analysis ends with interim summary of the information acquired. The next section, alternative solution is divided into five subsections discussing what changes can be made in order to affect the whole cement market and each of its segments. Conclusion sums up the information acquired from the case study. Italian cement market has experienced decline and recovery of the demand in the past decade. The volume of national demand was 34.868 million tons in 1994. Then in two years it fell down by 2.95% to 33.623 million tons. In 1998 national demand has almost recovered from the downfall getting back to the volume of 1994: 34.685 million tons. The next two years marked a significant increase of demand: 36.147 million tons in 1999 and 38.338 million tons in 2000. ... The changes in volumes of demand were conditioned with changes in the building industry. Its recession in the first half of 1990s caused the decline of cement demand volumes. Then this setback stopped and cement market resumed its growth. In the meantime, some qualitative changes occurred in purchasing processes during these years. While personal relations between sellers and buyers of cement were important in the past, their value has recently declined along with the increase of importance of technical requirements and information exchange. The demand has become more sophisticated, and purchasing process has become more professional in the cement industry. Introduction to main players in Northwestern region Unlike other European countries, Italian cement industry consists of large number of independent manufacturers, competing fiercely with each other. The scope of our case study requires us to look not on the competition on the whole national market but only on its Northwestern region. Therefore it is important to add that, while the behaviour of the demand in Northwestern region is almost the same as in the whole country, the latter regional increase of demand in 1999-2000 was even higher: 10.9 million tons in 2000 against 8.717 million tons in 1994, which means a 25% increase. Thus, the regional cement market of the Northwestern Italy grows faster than the whole national market. Holcim Italia S.p.A., which is a "main character" of our case study, has 3 factories in the Northwestern region and a market share of 23% in 2000. It is a multi-regional company with long and proud history, and it is perceived by customers as a solid and prestigious cement manufacturer. The advantages of the company are: high-tech machinery and sophisticated
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
The impact of subculture on consumer behavior Research Paper
The impact of subculture on consumer behavior - Research Paper Example The paper discusses the different types of subcultures. The age and the ethnic subculture are discussed in detail. Due to the varied nature of consumer preferences that have emerged as a consequence of subcultures, the managers have to spend time and resources in construing a marketing mix that caters maximally to the diverse needs of consumers. A business culture is defined as the set of shared values, perceptions, attitudes and the philosophies of an organization. These values are instilled into the employees through the mission statement of the organization. The mainstream culture of the organization is reflected in its subcultures. Consumption helps to construct an identity for the consumer (Saren, 2007). Subculture refers to the pockets or segments of culture that show variations in attitudes, customs, values and norms as a result of geographical distances or the departmental aims or job requirements of an organization (BusinessDictionary.com, 2010). The Consumer Culture Theory helps to explain the relationships between the consumers, their consumption practices and their socio-cultural systems and analyzes cultural meaning systems (Arnould & Thompson, 2005). Subcultures operate within the broader perspective of the professional culture; yet, subcultures are different from the main culture since the people forming the subculture have some degree of difference in their values and behaviors. There are various types of subcultures present in an organization. Some subcultures have a major impact on the organizational policy, whereas others are barely conspicuous and unimportant. This paper attempts to explore the impact subculture has on consumer behavior. Gattorna (2009) observes that the dynamic alignment concept involves the alignment and integration of four elements: the market place, the responses to consumer demands, the internal cultural
Monday, November 18, 2019
Theme of corruption in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and Waiting Essay
Theme of corruption in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and Waiting for the Barbarians - Essay Example ndroids Dream of Electric Sheep it was in an admonition that the protagonist Rick Rick Deckard will be required to do corrupt and wrong things that he does not like to the point that he will be required to violate his own identity. In the end however, Rick Deckard managed to overcome those tendencies that corrupts him. It always pained me in the old days to see these people fall victim to the guile of shopkeepers, exchanging their goods for trinkets, lying drunk in the gutter, and confirming thereby the settlersââ¬â¢ litany of prejudice: that barbarians are lazy, immoral, filthy, stupid. Where civilization entailed the corruption of barbarian virtues and the creation of a dependent people, I was opposed to civilization (38). "You will be required to do wrong no matter where you go. It is the basic condition of life, to be required to violate your own identity. At some time, every creature which lives must do so. It is the ultimate shadow, the defeat of creation; this is the curse at work, the curse that feeds on all life. Everywhere in the universe (Chapter 15)" John Maxwell Coetzee Waiting for the Barbarians exposition about the nature of corruption is quite odious and inescapable. In their present state, the natives were vulnerable to the guile of shopkeepers and that they are called many unpleasant things. The Empire of which takes hold of the settlement even capitalized on this as a precursor and justification of its attack on the natives by branding them as barbarians and savages. It can even be taken that they were sowing anxiety among the settlers and natives so that their stay will be justified. Col Joll and his empireââ¬â¢s manner of ââ¬Å"civilizingâ⬠these barbarians meant the corruption or the destruction of their own selves and culture to be civilized. This lamentation of the magistrate is in fact a metaphor of how a superior (in force) entity would subjugate another such as the case of the Americans to its native Indians and of that African
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Effect of Molecular Weight in the Rate of Diffusion
Effect of Molecular Weight in the Rate of Diffusion Jarrel Dean A. Yecyec ABSTRACT The effect of molecular weight in the rate of diffusion was determined by placing potassium permanganate (KMnO4), potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7), and methylene blue in a petri dish of agar-water gel with three wells. After a drop of each in well the petri dish was covered then, the diameter of the colored area was measured with three minute interval. It was measured ten times. Methylene blue has the lowest molecular weight but, Methylene blue showed the longest diameter. Thus, Molecular weight affects the rate of diffusion the higher the mass the slower the rate of diffusion. INTRODUCTION According to the experiment of diffusion, two feet glass tube was fasten horizontally to a ring stand. After moistening two cotton balls of the same size, one with hydrochloric acid and the other with ammonium hydroxide it is plugged to one end and the other end. White smoke was observed inside the tube. When you measure the distance from the cotton to the white ring, ammonium hydroxide exhibits the longer distance. Diffusion demonstrates random motion that proceeds from a region of higher concentration to lower concentration. Diffusion it is when molecules try to achieve equilibrium. Diffusion of gases always happens gradually, it takes a relatively long time. For example, when you open a bottle of perfume inside a room it will take time before a person smell it in the other side of the room. This is explained by the numerous collisions of molecules while moving from one end to another. The root-mean-square speed is a way to estimate molecular speed. We can estimate how fast a molecule move, on the average, at any temperature. By interpreting the formula it shows that the heavier the gas, the slowly its molecules move. Molecular weight it is the mass in grams of one mole of molecules of formula units of a substance. It is also called as molecular mass. The hypothesis was arrived based on previous observation, the hypothesis is if molecular weight affects the rate of diffusion then the higher the mass the slower the rate of diffusion. Agar is a polymer made up of subunits of galactose, it is also a component of some cell walls. When dissolved in boiling water and cooled, agar looks gelatinous. Potassium permanganate (KMnO4), potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7), and methylene blue are the compounds that will be used in this experiment. This study aimed to determine the effect of molecular weight to the rate of diffusion. The specific objectives were. To describe the effect of diffusion To explain why heavier molecules tend to be slower than lighter molecules. MATERIALS AND METHODS A petri dish of agar-water gel with three wells with a diameter of 5 millimeter was prepared. Potassium permanganate (KMnO4), potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7), and methylene blue were obtained. The color of potassium permanganate is red-violet, potassium dichromate is yellow, and methylene blue is blue this is based on observation. One drop of each prepared solution was then placed into each well and then the petri dish should be immediately covered, a dropper was used. A ruler was used for measuring the diameter of the colored area of each substance. The set up was then recorded at a regular three-minute interval for a half hour, for every interval the colored area was measured and recorded in table 4.2. A phone was used in recording the time. After thirty minutes, the colored area was measured and recorded. The zero minute and the thirty minute were compared. A graph comparing the three solutions was then plotted and analyzed. Partial rate of diffusion was calculated at each interval. The formula for the partial rate of diffusion is final minus initial diameter of colored area divided by the final minus initial time measured. The average rate of diffusion (mm/min.) will be calculated and graphed. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION As seen in Table 1 results showed that Potassium permanganate diffuse faster than the other two. There are times that they are constant showed in Figure 1. The diameter increases as time increases but there are points that there is no change in the diameter. Potassium permanganate with the lowest molecular weight is the fastest to diffuse and Methylene blue with the highest molecular weight is the slowest to diffuse. As seen in Table 2 Potassium permanganate has the highest average rate of diffusion, it is moving 0.37 millimeters per minute. It is the fastest compared to others. Figure 2 completely showed the comparison of average rate of diffusion. The hypothesis if the molecular weight affects the rate of diffusion then the higher the mass the slower the rate of diffusion is accepted. It is supported by the root-mean-square speed because you can compute for the speed of a molecule and by the experiments. Table 1. The diameter of the three solutions at a regular three-minute interval for thirty minutes. Figure 1. A line graph comparing the three solutions and showing the Effect of time in the diameter of the colored area Table 2. The partial rates of diffusion of the three solutions. Figure 2 Comparison of the partial rates of diffusion of the three solutions. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION The effect of the molecular weight in the rate of diffusion was determined. One drop of each prepared solution was placed into each well and the diameter was measured at a regular three minute interval for a half hour. The average rate of diffusion was computed and supported the experiment. The data we gathered is credible because there is no source of error. The results showed that Potassium permanganate exhibits fast diffusion compared to others. Therefore, molecular weight affects the rate of diffusion, the heaver the compound the slower the rate of diffusion. I recommend this experiment. add more compounds with different molar weight and different kind of samples too. If you are dealing with gases try to compute the theoretical speed of a molecule by using the root-mean-square speed and compare it with the one you observed. LITERATURE CITED Dorland, W.A.M. 2012.Agar, Dorland's Medical Dictionary. Retrieved January 17, 2013 Zumdahl, S.S 1998. Chemical Principles. 3rd edition. Houghton Mifflin. A37. Chang, Raymond. Chemistry. 6th edition. New York: McGraw-Jill. p. 183-185 Duka, A.I.M, Diaz, Q.M.G, Villa, O.N. 2009. Biology 1 laboratory manual: An investigative approach. Ninth edition. UP Los Banos, College, Laguna, Philippines. No author. Diffusion and Osmosis.
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Analysis of Major Characters :: English Literature
Analysis of Major Characters Although Lennie is among the principal characters in Of Mice and Men, he is perhaps the least dynamic. He undergoes no significant changes, development, or growth throughout the novel and remains exactly as the reader encounters him in the opening pages. Simply put, he loves to pet soft things, is blindly devoted to George and their vision of the farm, and possesses incredible physical strength. Nearly every scene in which Lennie appears confirms these and only these characteristics. Although Steinbeckââ¬â¢s insistent repetition of these characteristics makes Lennie a rather flat character, Lennieââ¬â¢s simplicity is central to Steinbeckââ¬â¢s conception of the novel. Of Mice and Men is a very short work that manages to build up an extremely powerful impact. Since the tragedy depends upon the outcome seeming to be inevitable, the reader must know from the start that Lennie is doomed, and must be sympathetic to him. Steinbeck achieves these two feats by creating a protagonist who earns the readerââ¬â¢s sympathy because of his utter helplessness in the face of the events that unfold. Lennie is totally defenseless. He cannot avoid the dangers presented by Curley, Curleyââ¬â¢s wife, or the world at large. His innocence raises him to a standard of pure goodness that is more poetic and literary than realistic. His enthusiasm for the vision of their future farm proves contagious as he convinces George, Candy, Crooks, and the reader that such a paradise might be possible. But he is a character whom Steinbeck sets up for disaster, a character whose innocence only seems to ensure his inevitable destruction. George Like Lennie, George can be defined by a few distinct characteristics. He is short-tempered but a loving and devoted friend, whose frequent protests against life with Lennie never weaken his commitment to protecting his friend. Georgeââ¬â¢s first words, a stern warning to Lennie not to drink so much lest he get sick, set the tone of their relationship. George may be terse and impatient at times, but he never strays from his primary purpose of protecting Lennie. Unlike Lennie, however, George does change as the story progresses. The reader learns that he is capable of change and growth during his conversation with Slim, during which he admits that he once abused Lennie for his own amusement. From this incident George learned the moral lesson that it is wrong to take advantage of the weak. Of Mice and Men follows him toward a difficult realization that the world is designed to prey on the weak. At the start of the novel, George is something of an idealist. Despite his hardened, sometimes gruff exterior, he believes in the story of their future farm that he tells
Monday, November 11, 2019
Reflexive Dialogue and Small Report
Setting of the InterviewI asked one of my friends to visit me in my place of residence to have some cup of coffee. This friend of mine came also from Saudi Arabia, and went to the university to take graduate courses. After having dinner, I asked him if he was willing to share some of his problems with me. And as a compensation for his ââ¬Å"taskâ⬠, I offered my friend the chance to read my personal narrative. This is one of the course requirements in this subject.My friend told me some of his problems. For one, he was having a little problem learning English. English for him was a very difficult subject; with clear rules on pronunciation and verb usage. He said: ââ¬Å"English has the most number of words in all the written languages of the world; learning such would be a headache.â⬠I agreed to the assertion of my friend. English is really a complicated language.Not only that spelling and verb-subject agreement should be taken into account, but the whole situational use o f, say, an English statement should be clearly presented (to the general audience). He added that he must take the bitter pill of learning English since this is required in the academic world. Communication today in almost any field; in the office, in the academe, took place with the assistance of the English language. The more pressing need to learn English comes from studying abroad. Almost all universities in many Western countries do not use Arabic as a means to transmit academic information. Hence, for him, learning English was an inevitable need. (I did not include his other problems in this report).I then presented my personal narrative to him and asked him to read it. After sometime, my friend finished reading my personal narrative. He was almost speechless upon reading my personal narrative. My personal narrative detailed some of my experiences of culture shock. It was an almost daily account of my activities (although the entries were irregular). Included in my personal na rrative were my experiences upon leaving the Sydney airport to studying in the university (I gave the details of some accounts in the problem-posing vignette section). Included also in the personal narratives were my personal feelings towards the events, the participants, and the general values or beliefs in question.I asked my friend for his personal opinions of, or reactions to my personal narrative. He said that he also experienced events that could be classified as culture shock. Added to that, my friend stated that in the beginning, he was not very sure of the appropriate term for such experiences. Only upon reading my personal narrative did he know that they were part of a phenomenon called culture shock. He said that my personal narrative might give him some advice on how to handle culture shock. Here are some of the excerpts of the dialogue (translated from Arabic). The first part is a discussion of my experiences of culture shock.Friend: So culture shock is the right term f or such things. When I left the airport, I really did notice that people like to walk in the street which is not a common sight in our country. It was embarrassing in the first instance but in due time I found it to be a common practice here.Omeir: I was also embarrassed but when I began to ask my classmates why people usually walk in the streets, I was somehow enlightened. In the case of Australia, for example, walking is simply an expression of either friendship or liberty. It is an expression of friendship when a person walks with another person; an expression of liberty when a person exercises his right to privacy. This was an uncommon sight in our country since most people have cars.Friend: What about that instance when you saw that a female professor taught a predominantly male class? This is impossible in Saudi.Omeir: I found it very interesting, although shocking at first glance. It was not very bad as you have said in our previous conversation. Female students in the univer sity are educated as much as their male counterparts.Friend: It seemed that you are beginning to understand the workings of Australian culture. I also understand some aspects of Australian culture like religion, dance, music, etc. This is part of my role as a graduate student studying abroad. In my opinion, they ought to be learned, not for selfââ¬â¢s sake but for the sake of respect.Omeir: That is true. Having a right attitude towards a foreign culture is a must when studying abroad. Understanding the dynamics of an alien culture, though horrifying or embarrassing in many instances, should be viewed with an unbiased eye. This is the primary and first rule of culture respect.Friend: Personally, I am still bothered by cultural practices here in Australia. What is your personal reaction?à Omeir: After some time, through constant communication with the students of the university, I found those practices to be not embarrassing anymore. Although it is far from acceptance, that is, p articipation in the cultural activities itself, it gave me an avenue to view things from the perspective of those who are members of that particular culture. I remembered that in my undergraduate years, there was a term to describe this phenomenon. Well itââ¬â¢s unimportant.The second set of excerpts is about the resolution phase of the problem (how we went about researching and responding to the problem through a thorough self-study). Here are some of the excerpts of the conversation.Omeir: One of my subjects introduced to me a method for assessing my problems, in this case about culture shock. I was really surprised that personal experiences, guided with some research materials can really result to clear grounded knowledge.Friend: How was that so?Omeir: Well, experiences serve as the grounding point of all theoretical problems in a field of subject for example. In my case, when I analyzed many of my experiences, I found out that there are methods or techniques that can be used to reduce it. It was not only first hand knowledge, it was knowledge applied. Academic journals related to my inquiry were very useful.Friend: You mean that those personal experiences were transformed into a problem. And that these problems were put in a table of inquiry. And that based from this inquiry, you were able to learn some methods to reduce that problem (culture shock).Omeir: Precisely, I have learned that constant interaction with other people who came from different cultural settings is a plus in absorbing culture shock. Nonetheless, because interaction is mostly done in conversations, I am forced to learn some of the appropriate gestures and idioms to use. In such way, I am able to communicate and express my concerns to my foreign friends. I also researched some of the strategies for reducing culture shock. I intend to share it with some of my friends who are currently experiencing culture shock.Friend: I have learned many things from this conversation. I will follow yo ur advice with regard to managing culture shocksâ⬠¦Reflective Response to the DialogueNote that in the first lines of the script, I established the fact that both my friend and I are located in the same cultural setting (Saudi Arabia). The experience which I described to my friend served as a stimulating factor to enable him to judge the validity of my experience; through his own personal experiences. The next dialogue was about the nature of Australian culture (or culture in general). This dialogue cleared some of the misconceptions of culture. Added to that, it was also implicitly stated that culture shock is a natural response of graduate students working abroad.This usually helps the interviewee erase his earlier conceptions of Australian culture. Exposure and discussion shed light to some of the most puzzling things about Australian culture (it is natural for a foreigner to be puzzled to a foreign culture). The second part of the interview is the resolution phase of the pro blem. Here I shared some of the ways to reduce culture shock (culture shock management). I also introduced problem-posing vignette as a preliminary method in assessing personal experiences which can be theoretically substantial.ConclusionBased from the rigors of personal experiences, I was able to communicate to my friend the basic steps in problem or inquiry formation. Because problems in the academe are usually theoretical in nature (form), there is a tendency for personal experiences to be treated as personal biases. In this task, I was not only able to give some advice on how to manage culture shock (culture shock reduction) ââ¬â this is a form of help to a friend who really want to reduce the effects of culture shock (as I had indicated in the question of the problem-posing vignette section), I was also able to give my friend a systematic method in analyzing problem-posing vignettes.à Added to that, I was able to learn that problem-posing vignettes can be a useful tool i n transforming personal experiences into theoretically sound propositions.ReferencesBochner, S. (Ed.). 1981.à The mediating person:à Bridges between cultures. Cambridge, Mass.: Schenkman.Jacobs, Katrina. 2007. Culture Shock (Strategies for Managing Culture Shock). NY: MacMillan Publishing House.Milton, Thomas J. 1997. Understanding Culture Shock. Virginia:à Foreign Area Officer Association.
Saturday, November 9, 2019
The Critique for Bassanios speech
The Critique for Bassanios speech Free Online Research Papers In the play, ââ¬Å"The Merchant of Veniceâ⬠a Shakespearean comedy by William Shakespeare, the author expresses the idea of appearances versus the intentions in reality through Bassanioââ¬â¢s speech (3.2.73-107). This speech takes place when Bassanio is deciding which of the three caskets: contains the portrait of Portia but more importantly the grant to marry Portia and to be given all her inheritance. Bassanio reveals that the gold and silver caskets are too threatening based on the casketsââ¬â¢ looks and picks the lead casket which as we know did have the portrait of Portia. Through the use of literary devices such as figurative language, symbols, imagery, tone, form of the passage, and narrative voice, Shakespeare reveals the idea of appearance versus the intensions behind the characters and significant objects in The Merchant of Venice. He also discusses that first impressions can be deceiving by covering up the truth or intentions behind the people or objects. Shakespeare uses imagery, tone, and symbols: throughout the passage to suggest the intentions of objects are not what they are appeared to be. ââ¬Å"The worldâ⬠really hasnââ¬â¢t change based on the idea that it ââ¬Å"is still deceived by ornamentâ⬠. People still have different intentions that they appear to have, and they still try to trick others into getting their own way. The world is ââ¬Å"so tainted and corruptâ⬠that ââ¬Å"the outward shows be least themselves.â⬠Even ââ¬Å"in lawâ⬠, there are things that are ââ¬Å"seasoned with a gracious voice [that] obscures the show of evilâ⬠which is referring to the government that is covering up its selfish behavior from the public for the leaderââ¬â¢s self interests of money and riches. Shakespeare also uses ââ¬Å"religionâ⬠as an object that is ââ¬Å"hiding the grossness with fair ornamentâ⬠which is their god Jesus and all its followers: hiding the true about Christianity and its evil doings from the rest of the world and the youth. Shakespeare compares and contrast ââ¬Ëcowardsâ⬠to different objects and people. Their ââ¬Å"hearts are as false as stair of sandâ⬠, hearts usually represent love, bravery and are the color red but to compare it to something like sand which have no life, either very hot or cold and which is yellow shows that Shakespeare is showing that these cowards may look the same in ââ¬Å"the outward showâ⬠but what is inside is a whole different object. Shakespeare mentions ââ¬Å"the beards of Hercules and Marsâ⬠to be ââ¬Å"upon [the cowardsââ¬â¢] chinsâ⬠to show how the cowards are wearing something to be seen as wise but when ââ¬Ëinward searchââ¬â¢d, [they] have livers white as milk.â⬠Shakespeare says their livers are white: livers are usually red and refer to the seed of courage, so Shakespeare brings forth the idea that these cowards have no courage as their livers are milk and that they do nââ¬â¢t have a hint of red or courage in them. Shakespeare uses ââ¬Å"beautyâ⬠as something that can appearance fake by ââ¬Å"purchased by the weightâ⬠through products like makeup which ââ¬Å"work a miracle in natureâ⬠since there is basically no difference in real or fake beauty in todayââ¬â¢s times but ââ¬Å"the woman who wear it the most are respected the leastâ⬠(line 19 of passage) this refers to the women who are prostitutes and hooker in the past as they dress up themselves and are not respected. Makeup is similar to a ââ¬Å"beauteous scarfâ⬠that is ââ¬Å"veiling an Indian beautyâ⬠as it covers the face of the person inside, but it may have the intentions to fool as it could be used to hide an inconvenient truth about them. ââ¬Å"Crisp snaky golden locks, which make such wanton gambols with the wind,â⬠create an image of beauty ââ¬Å"upon supposed fairnessâ⬠but it is soon broken when Shakespeare reveals that the golde n locks of hair may have been fake and that they are from a ââ¬Å"dowry of a second head, the skull that bred [the golden hairs is in] the sepulchreâ⬠or tomb. The skull is linked to the gold casket so here the golden casket is compared to a tomb to represent the life entrapment to the rules that Portiaââ¬â¢s suitors had to accept. ââ¬Å"The guiled shoreâ⬠may seem nice to sailor in a ââ¬Å"dangerous seaâ⬠but it avoid the fact that the cunning shore may have greater danger than the stormy sea itself. Gold is used as a symbol of ââ¬Å"ornamentâ⬠that is existent ââ¬Å"to entrap the wisestâ⬠like how there was ââ¬Å"hard food for Midas,â⬠but lead is ââ¬Å"pale and commonâ⬠ââ¬Å"which rather threatenest that dost promise aught.â⬠Bassanio feels the gold and silver casket are threatening and the lead casket though it is common will promise the most. Bassanio last phrase ââ¬Å"joy be the consequenceâ⬠leaves his faith upon god but it is unclear if he has realized Portiaââ¬â¢s hints about which casket containing her portrait. Shakespeare further develops the idea of appearances may not be the same as the intentions of the objects or people in this play as it could be used to fool. Shakespeare applies figurative language like similes, and allusions in Bassanioââ¬â¢s speech to state the misconception between the intentions of what is real and what is not. He uses an allusion when describing ââ¬Å"in religionâ⬠¦hiding the grossness with fair ornamentâ⬠, refers to how Christianity is the eyes of Christians is non threatening but the truth is covered up by the elders which is that Christians ââ¬Å"approve with a textâ⬠says that you must believe in Christianity or you will go to hell. The imposing of religion onto non Christians believers is the evil that is ornament by the force of the people believing in that religion. Allusions referring to ââ¬Å"Herculesand Marsâ⬠, are contrasted to ââ¬Å"cowards, whose hearts are all as falseâ⬠. Hercules is the son of Zeus and Mars is the god of war. He compares Herculesââ¬â¢s and Marsââ¬â¢s beards to the beards of cowards that ââ¬Å"are as false as stairs of sand, {that they} wear yet upo n their chins.â⬠These cowards are wearing a noble beard on their chins to disguise themselves to appear as mature and brave men. It is ironic that Bassanio is saying that appearances and the intentions of a person or object donââ¬â¢t some reflect upon each other, because Bassanio had borrowed money from Antonio to impress Portia and become a suitor for her: so he had used appearance to deceive and cover up the truth about himself. The theme also reflects on the irony how the objects used in the speech relate to Portia some way or another who is seen as an innocent little girl but as we find out later in the play is actually very clever and smart like how she used the ring as a certain control over Bassanio and how she saved Antonio of his bond with Shylock. ââ¬Å"[Every sin in the world manages to make itself look good somehow]â⬠(lines 8-9) is a hyperbole since not are sins are covered up and people know the truth of some but certainly not all. ââ¬Å" The hearts [o f cowards] are all as false as stairs of sandâ⬠since cowards have fake intentions and are not true at heart this also raises up the question if Bassanio is a coward since at first his intentions were Portiaââ¬â¢s wealth but throughout the story is unclear if Bassanio loves Portia or her wealth. Shakespeare uses religion as in the allusion ââ¬Å"veiling an Indian beautyâ⬠which refers to the Indian customs that a woman must cover her face during her marriage, Shakespeare uses this to describe the scarf that cover the face as an ornament to cover what is inside. ââ¬Å"Midasâ⬠is a god who had an ability to turn anything to gold with a single touch but the first impressions of this ability overlooked the long term effects which were that Midas had issues eating food because it turned to gold. There irony when Bassanio says ââ¬Å"skullâ⬠which we known was in the golden casket but how did he know. Shakespeare uses figurative language to express the idea of fi rst appearances can be deceiving based on the personââ¬â¢s or objectââ¬â¢s intentions. Shakespeare utilizes narrative voice, form and structure of Bassanioââ¬â¢s passage, to further reflect upon the uncertainty of what is real or fake. The speech Bassanio says before he makes a decision about which casket he will choose, is 35 lines. Certainly, the passageââ¬â¢s length is relative to the time Bassanio is taking his time to choose the casket since his future is determined by the outcome of his choice. He wants to be seen as a very wise man like ââ¬Å"Hercules and marsâ⬠, which is why he is taking his time and explaining his decision. Since Portia has been giving hints to Bassanio about which casket contains her portrait, it is questionable if he is really thinking about his choice or just improvising to present himself as a wise man and it is questionable if he does or doesnââ¬â¢t realize the hints that Portia is giving. This uncertainty where Bassanio is either fake or true goes back to the theme of appearance versus reality where Bassanio has either re alized Portiaââ¬â¢s hints and improvising for time or if he is really thinking about his decision. The purpose of Bassanio saying ââ¬Å"the world is still deceived with ornamentâ⬠¦ [and]seasoned with a gracious voiceâ⬠refers to how he thinks the gold and silver caskets are ââ¬Å"so tainted and corruptâ⬠as they are disguised with golden and silver ornament to hide their evil intentions ââ¬Å"to entrap the wisestâ⬠. Explaining that the golden and silver caskets are deceiving as they ââ¬Å"[hide their] grossness with fair ornamentâ⬠which he says ââ¬Å"obscures the show of evilâ⬠. He likes the ââ¬Å"palenessâ⬠of the lead casket, chooses it based on it unthreatening appearance and because the lead casket ââ¬Å"rather [than threatening, it] promise youâ⬠fortune which later on we find the Bassanio was right and the lead casket had all the fortune. Certainly as all the other suitors had explained their choices of casket, Bassanio had t o with this passage. There are many uncertainties about why Bassanio said his passage. There are some ideas about his purpose. First, Portia is related to these symbols in some way, so it is strange that Bassanio is saying these things to Portia and her followers. He could being saying something about Portia or is a just a coincidence. Secondly, Bassanio could be referring to himself since he uses appearance to impress Portia by showing other peopleââ¬â¢s wealth and how he could be a coward wearing a noble beard by him saying this wise speech about the casket. Furthermore, Bassanio may have realized Portiaââ¬â¢s hints and expressed this speech as a cover up of his truth like the theme of the passage. Shakespeare uses form, structure of the passage and the narrative voice to further develop the concept of appearances covering up the intentions of the person or object. In the play, ââ¬Å"Merchant of Veniceâ⬠by William Shakespeare, Shakespeare presents an idea of the appearance of objects and characters versus the truth or reality behind them and their true intentions. By the use of symbols, imagery, tone, figurative language, narrative voice and form of Bassanioââ¬â¢s passage, Shakespeare develops the character of Bassanio and talks about many key objects and people in the play. Times havenââ¬â¢t really changed from Shakespearean times based on people and objects, now more than ever, try to deceive people since the assumed intentions based on first appearance are almost never the same as the intentions of that object or person in reality. Today, society is stilled fooled and baffled from shocking incidences and we still havenââ¬â¢t learned from the past. Research Papers on The Critique for Bassanio's speechHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsMind TravelWhere Wild and West MeetHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenHip-Hop is ArtCapital PunishmentRelationship between Media Coverage and Social and
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Easy Rider essays
Easy Rider essays Easy rider characterizes the spirit of the sixties by involving freedom, dreams, and struggle. Peter Fonda plays Wyatt a 20-something purpose seeker along with his best friend Billy (Dennis Hopper), a true Californian hippy. Like many others these two friends set out on a trip to discover true America; to discover them selves. Funding their trip was a quick drug deal with some Mexican dealers. The main message of this film is that people are scared to live or to see others live. That difference threatens people and their action is to get angry and violent, as the film expressed numerous times. Violent acts portrayed by common comfortable country people. This film is relevant today, because of that. Everywhere you go you are going to find similar people that are impartial to change and feel threatened by freedoms of others and how others express it. Jack Nicholsons character, George Hansen, a part time lawyer/alcoholic said it very well, They can talk to you and talk to you about individual freedom but once they see a free individual it scares them. Wyatt and Billy met George in jail after they illegally joined a parade through a small town in Louisiana. Georges quote is ironic considering that just a few hours after he said it he ends up beaten to death from expressing his individualism. I think this movie was pivotal because it didnt sugar coat the true events that took place in the sixties. People were angry and they acted on it, people struggled for food and struggled for purpose in there lives and the film portrayed that clearly. The film had a good response on myself because it broke down the cliche sixties stoner happy decade by focusing on the violence and anger that also occurred in that time. The theme was emotionally impressing to understand the truth about the sixties. Easy Rider was typically well received by younger society; mainly because of the heavy drug content. Bu ...
Monday, November 4, 2019
Building Sustainable Communities Through Green Action Plans Research Paper
Building Sustainable Communities Through Green Action Plans - Research Paper Example Technology has evolved to such a magnitude that people are now able to intensively and extensively exploit each and every aspect of their environment. This is evidenced by the rapid population increase where it is estimated that the global population would stand at about nine billion by 2070 from the current six billion (Harrell). Other potential negative impacts of over-exploitation of the environment include a decline in the vital ecosystems. Thirdly, such over-exploitation of the natural environment has led to global climate change with the climate changing to the extremes. Taking into account the aforementioned consequences of unsustainable human practices, there is no doubt that human life is jeopardized. For these very reasons, the time is now to take action. If the people of the world want to continue to live on this planet in the future, the creation of sustainable communities through green action plans is an imperative key for human survival. Sustainability initiative through green actions is indispensable for human survival. The UN World Commission on the Environment and Development defines sustainable development as that which ââ¬Å"meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needsâ⬠(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). The concept of sustainability thus entail all those efforts to find a mid-point whereby there is a balance between what humanity demands from the ecosystem and the ability of this ecosystem to replenish itself. Taking more from the environmental without allowing for replenishment of what has been taken will eventually lead to the depletion of the system. With a depleted environment, the future generations will have to labor in scarcity and these could eventually lead to an end to humanity.
Saturday, November 2, 2019
To What Extent Were Women Victims of National Socialism Essay
To What Extent Were Women Victims of National Socialism - Essay Example The era is also criticised and condemned for confining the role of the women from social, economic and corporate fields to the four walls of their houses, where they were meant to conceive the children of this superior German race, and to serve and soothe their husbands on their return from the jobs and battlefields as well. Kolingsky (1993) submits to state that the woman under Nazi Germany had been assigned the only task of sustaining and maintaining their beauty in order to attract their husbands or lovers for conceiving children. It was not a novel thing for the females, as ââ¬Å"the female bird preens herself for the male, and hatches the egg for him. In return, the male provides the food.â⬠Before embarking upon the topic under analysis, it would be advisable to look into the history of inclusion and exclusion of women in professional activities outside their homes. German Women 1871ââ¬â1933: The disintegrated Prussian states had launched a long and dedicated struggle in order to turn the dream of united Germany into reality. They had to win three successive battles against Denmark, Austria-Hungary, and France in 1864, 1866 and 1871 respectively in order to accomplish the arduous unification process of the shattered Prussian states under one banner and in one unit. German Iron-Chancellor Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898) was determined to make his country as the leader of the world in all aspects. Consequently, he assured the active participation of men and women in various occupations. Bismarck had played the decisive role in the upsurge of the German nation, and Kaiser Wilhelm II turned the country into a tremendous military and economic giant of the entire region for the future years to come. He did not confine the flow of progress to men only; on the contrary, he invited women folk too to step forwards and render their valuable contributions to their nation on the basis of their educational qualifications, experiences, and skills. As a result, w omen started working shoulder to shoulder with the male folk in the health, education and nursing sectors, and even military services of the country too. Imperial Germany, under the Reichstag, promoted an active female role as teachers, nurses, soldiers and political activists (Mahajan, 2002). Although the courageous and dauntless political and strategic policies devised by the then German leadership during 1871 to 1914 turned the country into a marvellous state of Europe, and invited and included all strata of society, including men, women, young and old into nation-building programmes, yet the entire developments made by the political leadership in order to make Germany as unchallenged created rivalries against the constantly rising economy. However, rapid industrialization also invited the high crime rate, urbanization and prostitution etc in its wake. The disquiet caused by these factors was simultaneously exacerbated in Germany by the increasingly vociferous demands of the Germ an womenââ¬â¢s movement which emerged most strongly at the turn of the century. (Rowe, 1995)Ã
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Personal Development Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1
Personal Development Plan - Essay Example It shall also evaluate team building theories and the implications for effective management of practice. Finally, this paper shall justify my managerial style within the workplace. In effect, this paper shall critically analyse the evidence base for the action plan with the application of current management theories. Discussion As stated in the personal development plan, I need to develop my communication skills. At present, my communication skills are limited and they need improvement; more particularly, my English speaking skills need improvement. Communication is an important part of effective management because it assists in my self-improvement and it aids in successful management (Adair, 2009, p. 4). By increasing reading materials, I can improve my reading and writing skills; and by enrolling in private English classes, I can improve my grammar and syntax, as well as my technical writing skills. These methods can help inject confidence into my speaking, reading, writing, and li stening skills (Lehman, 2007, p. 69). Improving communication is a basic need or skill which has to be fulfilled before I can move on to bigger goals. Fulfilling this need is very much in keeping with the theory as set forth by Abraham Maslow and his hierarchy of needs (Outward Bound, 2007, p. 56). There are different theories and motivation and leadership, and these theories affect the management of organizations. According to Maslowââ¬â¢s hierarchy of needs, people start off fulfilling first their physiological needs and then go on to fulfil their safety, social, esteem, and finally self-actualization needs (Owston, n.d). People therefore can be motivated by their basic needs and also by other more noble goals or causes. For some employees, their motivation in working can start off with the basic need to feed their families (Marchionini, 2006, p. 42). At this stage, they would not look beyond the purpose of their work besides feeding themselves and their family. However, once t heir basic purpose is served, they go beyond that basic goal into higher goals ââ¬â perhaps, that of saving for their family, and later serving humanity through their work (Marchionini, 2006, p. 42). In my case, my motivation for improving on my communication and eventually my information technology (IT) skills is to maximize use of our organizationsââ¬â¢ IT programs. In terms of leadership, the loftier goal for many world leaders has been on the motivation of their armies ââ¬â with one side insisting that his goal has more moral worth than the others (Owston, n.d). In this case, some leaders may see the need to deliver pain or threats in order to motivate, and others believe that doing so would not be effective ways of motivating people. In other ways, promising more tangible things like money, food, and even excitement can serve better ways of motivating people (Owston, n.d). In managing change, Maslowââ¬â¢s approach to leadership basically welcomes change because a member or even a leader eventually moves up in the hierarchy of needs. Once he fulfils a need, he has to change and move beyond that need on to bigger and better things (Koltko-Rivera, 2006, p. 302). Maslowââ¬â¢s theory therefore, handles and manages change well. McGregor divided human management into the
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
No Phones in School Essay Example for Free
No Phones in School Essay Cell phones are good for education. Cell Phones are good for education for many reasons. First you can use cell phones for research purposes. Although most schools have at least 1 computer in the classroom and a computer lab, sometimes this still isnââ¬â¢t enough. It can also be expensive to provide a computer to each student at school, so a good option is to use cell phones for research instead. Next, I want to talk about why apps are good for education. Some people think that some apps are bad and kids will get distracted and use them in class. And the truth is that cell phones have many educational apps as well. Which do you think would be more fun and exciting for a student? Either studying with a boring book that is hard to understand, or playing an educational app that is still studying, but much more exciting. I would definitely choose the second choice. Here are some good features of phones that are good for school: 1.Calculator. It doesnââ¬â¢t matter if your phone is expensive or not, almost every single phone has a calculator. Lots of students are required to have a calculator as one of their school supplies, but if they have one on their phone, then they donââ¬â¢t have to get one. 2. Stop Watch. Lots of phones have a stopwatch, which can be used in science class. I know that when I was in public school we used stopwatches all the time for experiments, and the teacher only had 3 stopwatches so we had to take turns. 3. Dictionary. Cell phones can be used as a dictionary, which can be VERY useful in a classroom setting. You can always search on the Internet for the definition, or if you classroom or school doesnââ¬â¢t have wi fi, you can text to 466-456 the word you need defined and Google will text you back the definition of that term.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
A history of hand gestures
A history of hand gestures In this paper I will talk about the part of nonverbal communication called gestures. A gesture is a movement of the body or a part of it that is expressive of thought or feeling. However there is a degree of voluntarism. If someone pinches you and you flinch that is not a gesture. (Kendon, 1997) Gestures are a common part of communication that we all use to communicate everyday and most of us do not even think twice about using them. As gestures can include a wide range of things a narrower focus is required. For this paper I will be focusing on gestures specifically involving the use of hands and/or fingers. First I will talk about research done on gestures. Second I will talk about the interaction between gestures and verbal language. Lastly I will apply the use of gestures to personal friendships using , examples from an episode from the television show Smallville. Research Let us first consider primates such as apes and chimpanzees. Primates are mostly visual animals. Just as in humans, for primates vision is more highly developed than any of the other four senses including the sense of sound. Consider for a moment what this might mean. Primates, with the exception of humans, have much better cortical control over hand movements than over voice, which is mostly restricted to emotionally based sounds controlled by sub cortical structures. This means that early hominids would have been better at expressive, voluntary communication using hands. Perhaps this explains why it is much easier to teach higher level primates sign language than it is to teach them to speak. One early study showed that a chimpanzee raised by humans could learn to speak only three or four words but gorillas and chimpanzees have learned several hundred manual signs. (Corballis, 1999) However primates other than humans are restricted in using hands for communications because the arms and hands are also involved in postural support and locomotion. Most primates are adapted for living above ground in the tress. Apes live on the ground but move in a four legged fashion. Our closest genetic relatives, chimpanzees and gorillas, use what is known as knuckle walking in which the upper body is supported by the knuckles. Hominids are bipedal, walking upright which leaves their hands and arms free. (Corballis, 1999) There is speculation that the split that resulted in some great apes becoming hominids may have been caused by the formation of the Great Rift Valley in Africa. Those apes which were to become hominids were largely confined to the east of the valley. The discovery of a 3.5 million year old fossil in Chad which is west of the valley has caused some argument. However all other hominid fossils from between four million and two million years ago have been found to the east of the Great Rift Valley. Here the forests gave way to open grasslands called savannas. This new environment would have provided unique challenges for early hominids. They would have been vulnerable to specialized hunters and killers, the ancestors of tigers, lions, and hyenas. In this environment communication using gestures would have been much more effective than vocal communication. It is silent so predators are not alerted. It is also fundamentally spatial, and most of the information would be spatial, such as loc ations of predators, easy prey, or food. The earliest language being gestural would help explain how words came to be abstract rather than iconic. (Corballis, 1999) A leading figure in gesture research is psychologist Susan GoldinMeadow who has done several studies about the role of gestures in learning. It is a well established fact that students learn better if both words and hand gestures are used. Consider for example a teacher trying to illustrate water being poured into two containers of equal volume but different heights. The teacher will place one hand on top of the other and move them to illustrate differences in height. (Watts, 2006) Context We do not always gesture when we speak. Also the type of gesture, the role in relation to what is being said, and the role in relation to the situation vary. If you wanted a person to stay away you would not use a gesture telling them to come closer. Someone of the other gender gesturing for you to come closer has different meaning then if it is done by a friend or parent. If you are talking about a fish you caught you will hold your hands apart horizontally versus if you are describing how big a baby has gotten your hand would be vertical. (Kendon, 1997) Just like language gestures are not uniform to a culture or country. In the United States you wave your hand to say hello and goodbye. If you were in northern Europe you would wag your hand at the wrist. In Greece and Italy your palm would face inward and your fingers would be curled in. In Japan you bow slightly. How long and how deep you bow depends on the person. Lets go back to my earlier example of a gesture that means to come here. Here we curl one finger, usually the index, or all four fingers towards us. In the Philippines do not use the index finger. It is only used for dogs. In Latin America the index finger is a come on. In Indonesia and Australia its used for prostitutes. In southern Europe using all your fingers would be saying goodbye. In Korea you would hold your arm out and move your fingers up and down. If someone puts their hand out in front with the fingers outspread here it means stop. In Lebanon it means no. If you were in Greece its a curse. In Spain, Nigeria, a nd Chile it also has rude meanings. In the United States you typically point with your index finger to someone or something. In Europe pointing is not considered polite. In Africa you only point the index finger at inanimate objects. In China and Japan pointing is very rude. In Indonesia pointing with your index finger is very rude but you can use your thumb. In Zambia it is all right to point to objects. And In France if you do point it is best to do it discretely. (Kachka, 2008) Some gestures are country specific. In the Netherlands grabbing a nonexistent fly in front of your face is saying someone is nuts. In Poland flicking a finger against someones neck means you want them to join you for a drink. You only do this with close friends. In Russia giving someone a thumbs up and making a sprinkling motion over it means job well done. In India you say sorry by tapping someone on the shoulder and touching your forehead. In Turkey pretending to throw salt over your shoulder with an open palm means dont worry about it. (Kachka, 2008) Just like words gestures have their own origins. But since gestures predate verbal communication and thus written record the origins are difficult to trace. This does not keep people from speculating. Here is a myth behind a common gesture; the Roman emperors thumbs down gesture telling the gladiator to finish off the other gladiator. Todays popular culture has it that a thumbs down meant death while a thumbs up would grant the loser his life. There is no evidence of this. In fact most scholars now believe that the finish him gesture was a thumbs up while a thumb hidden inside a fist spared the loser. This is not absolutely verified. However since the thumbs up was an insult in Roman times this makes more sense than the accepted folklore. (Kachka, 2008)Application Now we will exam hand gestures in friendship. To do this we will be examining an episode of the CW show Smallville. As you might guess this show centers around the character Clark Kent played by actor Tom Welling. The series follows Clark as he deals not only with his developing powers and fighting meteor freaks (people exposed to Kryptonite who gain special abilities) but also school, friends, and crushes. Clark has two best friends, Pete Ross and Chloe Sullivan. The episode we will be focusing on is the episode Duplicity in which Pete finds out Clarks secret. The other notable characters in the episode include Clarks parents, Lex Luthor, and Dr. Hamilton. After Lex refuses to give Dr. Hamilton, who is dying from exposure to meteor rocks, any more funding for his research Dr. Hamilton runs someone off the road. Pete comes along and while helping the man comes across Clarks spaceship which was lost in a tornado in the season one finale. Pete gets Clark to help him hide it in his shed although Clark tries to get him to leave it but cant come up with a logical reason. Dr. Hamilton talks to the hurt driver in the hospital who admits he saw a spaceship and that the boy who saved him saw it too. When Clark tells his parents about Pete finding the spaceship his father makes him go with him to get the ship. But when they get there it is already gone. They drive away and Pete sees them leaving. When Pete confronts Clark he shows Pete his powers. Furious that Clark has been lying to him for so long Pete leaves. Clarks attempts to talk to him are rebuffed. But when Pete goes home Dr. Hamilton is searching the shed and Pete is kidnapped. Hamilton tortures him to see what he knows about the ship. Just as he is about to kill Pete by injecting him with meteor rocks Clark bursts in. Unfortunately he collapses due to the Kryptonite. Pete saves him by pushing Dr. Hamilton into a shelf full of meteor rocks. After they return the ship to the Kents cellar Pete says he understands why Clark and that he wont tell anyone. We will examine three scenes from the episode: the scene where Pete gets Clark to come with him to the cornfield, the scene in the cornfield where they are talking about what to do with the ship, and the scene where Pete confronts Clark about the missing ship and Clark reveals his powers. When Clark is shooting baskets from a hundred feet Pete drives up. ââ¬Å"Clark, Clark, Clark. Youre dreaming if you think youre gonna make a basket from there.â⬠Pete makes an exaggerated pointing motion towards the basketball hoop. ââ¬Å"No, no, no. The ball rolled out here.â⬠Clark makes a waving motion to indicate the spot. ââ¬Å"Want to play a game of horse?â⬠ââ¬Å"Forget basketball. We gotta borrow your dads truck.â⬠Pete makes a waving motion with one hand. ââ¬Å"For what?â⬠ââ¬Å"Ill explain on the way. Come on, we dont have much time.â⬠ââ¬Å"Whats going on?â⬠Clark holds his hands out at this side with palms turned out. ââ¬Å"If I told you, youd never believe me.â⬠Pete places his palms on his chest when he says. ââ¬Å"You gotta see it with your own eyes.â⬠Pete puts his hand on Clarks shoulder urging him to move. Pete leads Clark to the spaceship clapping his hands together and making trumpeting sounds. ââ¬Å"Pretty mind-blowing, huh?â⬠He gestures to the ship with his hand. ââ¬Å"What do you think it is?â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh, Clark, its a spaceship!â⬠Pete motions to the ship again. ââ¬Å"What the hell else would it be?â⬠Pete waves his arms in a questioning gesture. Kneeling down beside the ship Clark says, ââ¬Å"Well, I mean, I dont know if it was some, like, downed specialty aircraft or a Russian satellite or something.â⬠After he says this Clark also motions to the ship. As Pete kneels down beside the ship and runs his hands over it, he says ââ¬Å" No, no, no. This things got extraterrestrial written all over it.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, I bet theres little green guys running around the cornfield too, Pete.â⬠ââ¬Å"Im serious, Clark. Have you ever seen anything like it?â⬠Pete spreads one hand palm out and motions to the surrounding area with the other one. â⠬Å"If the aliens came to Earth, dont you think theyd find a place a little more exciting than Smallville?â⬠ââ¬Å"No, no, no, think about it. Crop circles, cattle mutilation. Theyd be like kids in a candy store here! Come on, man, lets load it into the truck!â⬠Pete waves his arms wildly at the surrounding area. Then he grabs the ship. Clark moves to stop him. ââ¬Å"Wait, youre not just gonna take it.â⬠ââ¬Å"Clark, when the sheriff questioned me about the accident, I told him in all the confusion I couldnt remember where the truck went off the road. But its only a matter of time before he shows up. Come on. Come on!â⬠When talking about the sheriff Pete spreads his arms with palms out and then motions to the ship. ââ¬Å"All right fine. Well take it to my house.â⬠ââ¬Å"No, no, no, Clark! I know your dad. Hell make us turn it over to the authorities.â⬠Pete puts his hand on Clarks chest with the palm out. ââ¬Å"I wont even tell him. He wont know its there.â⬠Clark spreads his arms out with his palms out. ââ¬Å"Clark, were taking it to my house. Well hide it in the tool shed in my backyard. No one ever goes back there.â⬠ââ¬Å"Pete, my house would be perfect. Itll be safe there.â⬠ââ¬Å"Clark, last time I checked, I found this thing. Youre acting like you got license and registration on it, man. Lighten up. Were taking it to my place.â⬠When Pete saysâ⬠Iâ⬠he places his hands on his chest. When he talks about Clark owning the ship he flips his hand out towards him. When he says â⬠lighten upâ⬠he holds his hand up with his palm facing out and his fingers spread. When he saysâ⬠my placeâ⬠his hands are yet again on his chest. ââ¬Å"Pete. Hey, I was just gonna come talk to you.â⬠ââ¬Å"Really?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, about the shipâ⬠ââ¬Å"Oh, someone broke in to my shed last night and stole it.â⬠Pete holds his hands out palms up. ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Really?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah.â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, did you tell anyone it was there?â⬠No, did you?â⬠ââ¬Å"No, my lips have been sealed.â⬠ââ¬Å"Youre such a liar.â⬠ââ¬Å"What do you mean?â⬠ââ¬Å"I saw you and your dad driving away from my shed last night.â⬠Pete motions to Clark. ââ¬Å" All night long I kept telling myself theres gotta be some sort of logical explanation. Clark Kent would never do anything like this.â⬠Pete holds his hands out slightly with the palms facing out. ââ¬Å"Pete, I swear we didnt take the ship.â⬠Clark spreads his arms holding his hands out with the palms spread. ââ¬Å"And all these years I used to think you were my best friend.â⬠Pete motions to Clark again and starts t o get into his car. ââ¬Å"Pete, wait. You dont understand.â⬠Pete turns around and says holding his arms out slightly at his sides with palms facing out, ââ¬Å"What dont I understand? Go ahead, explain it to me, Clark.â⬠Clark doesnt know what to say. ââ¬Å" Thats good, really illuminating. Wait till Chloe hears about this. I can already see the headlines. The Real Clark Kent Exposed!â⬠Clark puts his hand on the car door. Pete starts to drive away. Clark watches him drive away and waves his arms then he appears in front of the car holding it to stop it from moving forward. ââ¬Å"Pete, we need to talk.â⬠The screen fades to black and then they are in the cellar talking. ââ¬Å"So youre some sort of what? Youre not a human?â⬠Pete holds both hands out at Clark with his palms facing each other. ââ¬Å"I dont know what I am.â⬠Clark spreads his arms with his palms facing out. ââ¬Å" I dont know where that ship brought me from. I just know that I grew up in Smallville, and everything that I care about and everyone that I care about is here.â⬠Clark motions to the surroundings and to Pete. ââ¬Å"If you care about me so much, how come you never told me sooner?â⬠ââ¬Å"Pete, believe me, there wasnt a day that went by where I didnt want to tell you, but my parents thought it was too dangerous. Not just for me, but for anyone else who knew the truth.â⬠When Clark says ââ¬Å"youâ⬠he gestures to Pete. ââ¬Å"You didnt think I could handle it?â⬠Pete holds his arms out to Clark. ââ¬Å"Can you?â⬠Pete starts walking around Clark looking at him like hes an exhibit in a museum. ââ¬Å"Pete, another reason why I didnt say anything is because I knew people would look at me the exact same way that youre looking at me right now.â⬠ââ¬Å"And hows that?â⬠â⬠Like a freak.â⬠Pete motions at Clark with his palm facing up. ââ¬Å"Pete, Ive tried my whole life just to blend in, to try and be mor e normal than anyone else. Would you just say something? Call me call me an alien, call me a monster. I dont care, just say something.â⬠ââ¬Å"Its like I dont even know you.â⬠Yet again Pete motions to Clark. ââ¬Å"Yes, you do know me. Im the same kid that used to camp in your backyard.â⬠Clark motions to Pete. ââ¬Å" We used to ride our bikes in the woods, we used to play basketball with your brothers. Nothing has changed.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, right.â⬠Clark holds his hand out and steps towards Pete, ââ¬Å"Pete.â⬠Pete backs away and waves him arms. ââ¬Å"Back off, man!â⬠ââ¬Å"Pete, I would never hurt you.â⬠ââ¬Å"Too late.â⬠Pete walks out. Conclusion Gestures are a part of nonverbal communication that movement of the body or a part of it that is expressive of thought or feeling. Gestures were used by primates as communication before verbal communication was developed and primates are much more able to learn sign language than verbal language. Early hominids would have found gestures much more useful than verbal communication for avoiding predators. There is evidence to support that both gestures and verbal language are required for effective learning. Gestures vary depending on the role in relation to what is being said, the role in relation to the situation, and the cultures in which they are used. There are many example of gestures in the media and one of those is the television show Smallville. Ponder this information the next time you have a conversation. It might be useful. References Corballis, M. C. (1999, March/ââ¬Å'April). The gestural origins of language. American Scientist, 87(2), 138-45. Retrieved from http://library1.kvcc.edu:2086/ââ¬Å'WebZ/ââ¬Å'FSFETCH?fetchtype=fullrecord:sessionid=fsapp5-59149-g7mfsff0-h2lwg1:entitypagenum=3:0:recno=4:resultset=1:format=FI:next=html/ââ¬Å'record.html:bad=error/ââ¬Å'badfetch.html:entitytoprecno=4:entitycurrecno=4:numrecs=1 Kachka, B. (2008, April). Hand Gestures. Condà © Nasts Traveler, 43(4), 112. Retrieved from http://library1.kvcc.edu:2048/ââ¬Å'login?url=http://library1.kvcc.edu:2081/ââ¬Å'pqdweb?did=1616098011sid=2Fmt=3clientId=17874RQT=309VName=PQD Kendon, A. (1997). Gesture. Annual Review of Anthropology, 26, p. 109-28. Retrieved from http://library1.kvcc.edu:2086/ââ¬Å'WebZ/ââ¬Å'FSQUERY?format=BI:next=html/ââ¬Å'records.html:bad=html/ââ¬Å'records.html:numrecs=10:sessionid=fsapp5-59149-g7mfsff0-h2lwg1:entitypagenum=2:0:searchtype=advanced Watts, G. (2006, April 29). You need hands. The Lancet, 367(9520), 1383. Retrieved from http://library1.kvcc.edu:2048/ââ¬Å'login?url=http://library1.kvcc.edu:2081/ââ¬Å'pqdweb?did=1033983921sid=2Fmt=4clientId=17874RQT=309VName=PQD
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