Race, gender and class in Faulkners Literature Essay

William Faulkner’s short story A Rose for Emily depicts the need for a hierarchy by which to rank and organize individuals by merit of their importance. Class, gender and race each play a vital role in determining the interactions of Jefferson’s residents. Notably, these issues affect how Emily Grierson, Homer Barron, and Emily’s Negro servant Tobe are treated by the townspeople, as well as their behavior. Together race, gender and class portray and define the characters for who they are and act to elucidate their positions in society. The hierarchy in Jefferson dictates that class supersedes gender, which in turn, supersedes race. At the center of Faulkner’s story is Emily Grierson a proper, old-fashioned monument to the past.†¦show more content†¦As Emily was considered an aristocrat of sorts in the town, her actions, inappropriate by any other woman, continued without question. In Jefferson, class superseded the stereotypes against a gender, and to an extent even law and logic. With rumors of a romantic relationship between Homer and Emily, the townspeople’s first reaction was to reject the notion as folly. The women of the town speculate that a â€Å"Grierson would not think seriously of a Northerner, a day laborer† while the town elders believed that Emily would be unable to forget the â€Å"noblesse oblige†: the obligations of the higher class (Faulkner 311). In the eyes of the town, it would be improper for a woman of such high class to intermingle with a man of lower class. This, along with his affiliation with the Yankees, results in the town turning against Homer, despite his seemingly agreeable personality. Homer and Emily’s relationship created changes to the status quo. In turn these changes resulted in the summoning of Emily’s sister from Alabama; this decision, later regretted by the town, was a last ditch effort to preserve the conventional order of class within Jefferson. Despite the criticism Emily receives , she chooses to continue in her pursuit of Homer, demonstrating her continued indifference to the opinions of those around her, a benefit available to her because of her social class. Despite the abolishment of slavery across the United States in 1865, racism plays a role in the portrayal andShow MoreRelatedA Rose for Emily Psychoanalysis2422 Words   |  10 Pagesmetaphor in our analysis. The interpretation of these elements, the making of meaning out of them, then depends on the context or method of interpretation we apply to them. Thus we can easily see why a signifying elementlike the figure of the father in Faulkners A Rose for Emily-has so many different meanings. Do we interpret him historically as a metaphor of Southern manhood? Psychologically as the cause of Emilys neurosis? In a feminist context as a symbol of the patriarchal repression of freedom andRead MoreThe Cask Of Admontillado, By Edgar Allen Poe And The Yellow Wallpaper Essay1987 Words   |  8 PagesGender Roles in Literature Gender can be defined as the socially preconceived roles that are thought to be fitting for either men or women in a particular culture. These preconceived roles, stereotype men and women, ensnaring them into provincial boxes that prevent gender identity and expression (Fisher and Silber). Traditional gender roles, especially in the 18th and 19th century literature depicts women as delicate maidens, who are weak and submissive or as nurturing and sensitive characters takingRead MoreA Rose for Emily - Biography William Faulkner3892 Words   |  16 Pagespublished poet and an occasional screenwriter. Most of Faulkners works are set in his native state of Mississippi, and he is considered one of the most important Southern writers, along with Mark Twain, Robert Penn Warren, Flannery OConnor, Truman Capote, Eudora Welty, and Tennessee Williams. While his work was published regularly starting in the mid 1920s, Faulkner was relatively unknown before receiving the 1949 Nobel Prize in Literature. He is now deemed among the greatest American writersRead MoreHistory of the Development of the Short Story.3660 Words   |  15 Pages 6 (1892). At the same time, the first literary theories about the short story appeared. A widely known one is Edgar Allan Poes The Philosophy of Composition (1846). In 1901, Brander Matthews, the first American professor of dramatic literature, published The Philosophy of the Short-Story. In the first half of the 20th century, a number of high-profile magazines such as The Atlantic Monthly, Scribners and The Saturday Evening Post published short stories in each issue. TheRead MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 Pages.............................................................................................. 379 Using Venn-Euler Diagrams to Test for Invalidity ....................................................................... 385 The Logic of Only in Class Logic...................................................................................................... 395 Review of Major Points ...............................................................................................................

Social Networking at Workplace

Question: Discuss about the Social Networking at Workplace. Answer: Introduction Todays work environment is evolved from gossiping around the office premises to a series of likes, shares and tweets. Companies are recognizing the influence of social media in the workplace and its consequences. Social networking plays multiple roles in the workplace. It is a medium used to build relations with one another. Majorly it is a platform to build a strong relationship with the other employees. Today employers are using Facebook as a medium to screen the employees behavior. The main focus is to keep an eye over their activity. Employers are using Facebook and other social networking to screen the behavior of the present employees. It is justified with a theory that, the social networking is a personal platform which should not be used as a medium to judge personal life (Morgan, 2014). In recent years the recognition of social media has spread multiple times. The constant flow of information has created a more complex environment. Because information is available to anyone, the ability to use it in new ways has become an important characteristic of the current business atmosphere. Human has moved from the industrial era to the information era. Various reports show that, the use of global social media has increased greater. But the use of social media is an added advantage for the organization to create awarenesss (Jue et al, 2009). Social media is a significant platform to exchange information. It is affecting the personal and professional life of people largely. It is due to the social media which is creating a large difference in the life of people. It is a tool to overcome the differences which are caused due to continuous intervention. An employer keeps an eye on the activity of the employees activities. It is an unethical behavior per the privacy act. A result suggested that the employers are using social networking to find information about the candidate and his character. They are using social networking to monitor the activity of the employees. Some organization believes that, keeping an eye on employees helps the company to protect from any future wrong. Employees are disgracing the organization through social networking. It causes tensions and complete chaos in the organization. This may damage the reputation of the company. It can even lead to serious legal issues. Companies should not use social networking to check the social background of the candidate, whereas it is the duty of the employees not to defame the organization on the social platform. This is affecting the regulatory framework (Should Companies Monitor Their Employees' Social Media, 2014). Everyone is familiar with the term ethics and ethical conduct. It is associated with the words right and good, along with their opposites wrong and bad. In ethical terms right has different meaning. These are the obligations and duties towards others. The aim to understand ethical conduct is to improve the moral functioning of an individual (Shaw, 2016). Business ethics examines that ethical principles are well implemented in business environment. In this age of transformation, business ethics are a necessity to imply in day-to-day smooth functioning (Fryer, 2014) The internet has changed many human resource practices, and techniques of recruitment. However, the use of social networking website such as MySpace, Face book, LinkedIn for recruitment, hiring, and terminating individual is a new concept. Workplace ethics and behavior is an important dimension of an employment (Davison et. al, 2011). Ethics and behavior are equally important for the growth of the company as profits and team-work. The employee has to adhere to the guidelines which are issued by the company. Profits are subject to fluctuation, but business ethics helps in achieving overall goals without any extra costing. The impact of social media is increasing at the workplace. This growing trend is affecting the relationship in between managers, employees, and job applicants. It can change the boundaries between professional and personal life. Using social networking at workplace reflects the poor policies of the organization (Byrnside, 2008). Employers are using social networking profiles to shortlist the candidates for recruitment purpose. It is illegal to judge employment decision on the basis of social networking profile. The information available there is not fair and true to decide the fortune of the applicant. It is directly an invasion of privacy, discrimination, and violation of fair terms of service. They are keeping a check over employees daily activities. The use of social networking to make HR decisions is definitely on the rise. (Davison et. al, 2011). An organization culture comprise of the beliefs, values, and practices that have evolved for solving stakeholder relationship (Jones et al, 2007). To fight with the unethical HR practices at workplace, it is necessary to stick to the ethical and stakeholder theory. They focus on whistle blowing the awkward situations (Landers Schmidt, 2016). Interest of the business depends on the stakeholders. It is necessary to balance the rights of the employees. This is an unethical mean to judge an applicant s future (Trevino Weaver, 2003). Employers are using social networking to keep a check over employees activities. They keep an eye on the activities of the employees, to check whether employees are saying wrong things about the company. Employees should avoid adding false information, which can later harm them. Stakeholder theory helps in understanding the relationship in between internal and external group. They help in achieving the overall goal of the organization. It largely depends on the kind of relation one have with the outsiders. The interest of an organization lies in employees interest. The organization interest lies with the fulfillment of the goals of its employees. Social media can hinder the overall growth of an organization if misused. Older workers who continue to work have a different attitude from the young workers. These workers are persistent in the work, despite of continuing age difference. Older workforce have positive attitude towards their work. They are favored by the employers due to their dedication and positive attitude. Younger employees have different attitude towards posting things on social networking. They have no idea about adding inappropriate things on their profile. The younger generation is more expressive and impulsive. They follow a different value system based on their own knowledge and standards. They dont want to be questioned on the ground of ethics and values. Neither, have they wanted any kind of interference by employers in their personal life. The social networking profile is their personal place to post or share photos and comments. These conflicting situations are creating the problem. On one hand social networking sites are providing scholarly study whereas, there are subtexts l ike Facebook and twitter is causing damage to the internal structure of the organization. Employers are accessing employees profile to keep a check on their daily activity (Stoughton, J. et al.2015). It is due to their difference of attitude towards work. Younger generation seek more freedom and non-interference. The decision to ban or not to ban use of social networking by the employers need to be given importance. Employers should ensure that the policies are being adhered properly. The growing desire of social networking is due to enlarging friends circle. Vulnerabilities threaten the integrity of network security. One should understand the necessity to separate social and private life. But, collecting information from ones profile to judge their employability is not an ethical thing. As per the Australia law, retrieving personal information from personal profile is an illegal act. Employers are spying on their team profile to see, what they talk about their organization. They se e employees personal views about organization, their habits, etc. they judge employees credibility depending on their profile. But this does not provide employees the right to retrieve personal information from their profile. Sometimes the information mentioned is totally different from what they are. Taking decisions on the basis of profile is not fair on long run. Every employee has different views about their workplace. No employer has an authority to check employees personal actions to judge his professional life. This generation is more expressive about what they feel. Blogs, social networking is becoming a platform to express feelings. These days organizations are setting certain norms and conditions in advance. This measure is used to seek employee assistance in managing workplace ethics. They are mentioning in advance not to publish offensive information about the company. Employers need to find a middle way which satisfies everyones motive. A progressive employee focuses on interest of the organization and its employees. It is due to the changing behavior and growing social circle. Forward looking managers recognize the existing potential of the social media and incorporate them into the internal communication. A manager should improve idea by asking employees the processes which are not working properly and provide possible solutions to correct them. He should engage employees with the responsibility to go online to gather information. He should take employees advice to make the workplace more interesting. He should be focused on creating more effective communication in between employees and organization. Emplo yees who feel respected become an asset to the organization. Above all, employees wanted to be seen as real people. Face to face conversation with the employees can be an added advantage. The use of social media at workplace give arises to the new issues. It needs to be taken in a positive spirit (Rasmussen et al, 2012). The introduction of a social networking inside a large organization enables communication, both personal and professional. Internal use of intranet helps in building strong bond in between employees and the employers. It helps in providing huge motivation for professional development (Strater Lipford, 2008). In a good economy, unemployment is low and confidence is high. The younger generation is first to find a new job. Younger generation tend to switch from one job to another. A recent trend shows that, due to impulsive nature they jumpfrom one job to another in case of low job satisfaction (Edwards, 2016). Blurred social media boundaries have increased privacy related issue in an organization. Today, the employer emphasizing on employees online activities by monitoring their social media profile, evaluating applicants on the basis of their profile; moreover, they are limiting employees online activities. Young generation is more carefree than older generation. Despite giving employers all the access to the social networking profile, they want a segregated professional and private life (Abril et al, 2012)a study shows that continuous use of Facebook causes a treat to privacy. Social networking use is causing a big time threat to the personal privacy; whereas one ignores that their profi le is visible to a large section. Most users do not understand the restrictive use of social media. Restricting it to only close acquaintances will help in resolving the privacy threat. This generation is less careful about expressing their views through social media. Every detail about personal life is shared through Facebook, twitter, MySpace, etc. employers are becoming more attentive. They are using the social media as a tool to check the genuineness. They use it to see whether the employees are saying the truth or not. Nowadays, they are using social networking to cross check their activities outside the workplace. Some of the organizations are strict for using social networking at workplace. They keep a check on employees activities at workplace by keeping a continuous check. Personal information which cannot be asked in general interviews is retrieved through social networking (Rebecca et al., 2016). Todays generation is posting every small detail on their profile. The employ er finds it an easy way to gather information to shortlist the employees. Some considers it as an unethical practice some dont. But social networking is affecting the personal life. The only solution to this problem is by finding a middle way which resolve the ongoing war in between employees and employers(Debatin,2009). A large section of society has become obsessed with using social networking asa tool to share their personal life on a social platform. The young generation doesnt understand to limit sharing their life events on social networking. Implementing a social media policy makes a business fair in legal sense. It helps in managing employees by limiting their exposure to expensive legal problems. It provides information to the employees to use the social media in a responsible manner. It should contain a mix of guidelines pertaining to code of conduct. Effective rule includes provisions regarding appropriate language and content. It helps in avoiding serious issues that can arise when an employee misuses the social media. The organization following soft HRM practices is considered as the unitarist approach. These practices are harmonious in the interest of the organization. Pluralist approach recognizes the different approaches of the employees. It is noticed that strategic HRM is implemented to show the relationship within the organization. An aggressive strategy of human resource enhances the productivity, but hurts the sentiments of the employees. Strategic human resource management is not employees centric, but causes high level of job insecurity. It is noticed that the strategic HRM in the region of the Australia is a mixture of both. There is a necessity to draw the policies which helps in building mutual cooperation between employees and employers. Corporation has a social responsibility to help in overall well being of the communities by the compliance of business ethics and standards. It is the duty of the manager to harness mutual cooperation in the organization. Workplace ethics are an important aspect to be followed regularly. Employer needs to motive an employee towards positivity. The only solution to this problem is mutual understanding(Zgheib,2014). The technology has exerted large influence on the way of life. The modified concept of motivations has lead to many issues n day-to-day life. The event of internet abuse can only be controlled by keeping a check over the activities of the employees. There is a necessity to incorporate workplace ethics in regular life. It will enhance the overall productivity of an organization (Simmers et al, 2006) Conclusion: It is clear that social networking sites are causing major issue to the well being of the organization. Social networking plays multiple roles in an organization. Facebook is used by the employers for checking the activity of the employees. Vulnerabilities threatens the integrity of network security should not be used as a medium to judge. There is a necessity to draw the policies which helps in building mutual cooperation between employees and employers. The recent research has shown the trends related to employees using social networking in the benefit of the organization. Most of the decisions are based on information visible at social networking. This simply shows professional interference in employees personal space. Social networking is a place to share personal opinion, what one feels about. Professional etiquettes dont allow any employer to judge the character of an employee from his social profile. Moreover, it is the duty of the employees to restrict them by posting limited information. They should avoid posting wrong and defaming information. They should not write any offensive information on their social profile which may damage the interest of the organization. There is a need to build a friendly atmosphere in between employer and employee. This can only happen if both understand their rights and limitations. In this information age, the world has changed into a small place. It is necessary to harness mutual understanding among each other. References: Abril,P., Riego,A. Levin, A.2012.Blurred Boundaries: Social Media Privacy and the Twenty-First-Century Employee .American business law journal 2012 Buren, H Greenwood,M Sheehan, C.2011. International Human Resource Management: Theoretical and Strategic Advances. Human Resource Management Review Volume 21, Issue 3, Pages 159-256 (September 2011) Byrnside, I.2008. Six clicks of separation: The legal ramifications of employers using social networking sites to research. Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law 2008 Davison,H. , Maraist,C Bing,M. 2015.Friends Or Foe? The promise and pitfalls of using social networking sites for HR Decisions .Journal of Business and Psychology, Vol. 26, No. 2, Bridging the Gap Between the Science and Practice of Psychology in Organizations: State of the Practice Reflections (June 2011), pp. 153-159 Debatin, B.2009. Facebook and Online Privacy: Attitudes, Behaviours, and Unintended Consequences.Journal of computer mediated communication Edwards, V. 2016. Online. Retrieved from: Generational attitudes: younger workers on the gohttps://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/generational-attitudes-younger-workers-on-t2heo/news-story/bebf1ffd2c1339521ff81edfada6f0d4 Accessed on 15 September 2016 Felps, W.2007. Ethical theory and stakeholder-related decisions: The role of stakeholder culture - Academy of Management Review. Academy of Management Review2007, Vol. 32, No. 1, 137155. Online. Retrieved from:https://www.academia.edu/622389/Ethical_theory_and_stakeholder-related_decisions_The_role_of_stakeholder_culture_-_Academy_of_Management_Review Accessed on : 16 September 2016 Fryer,M.2014. Ethics Theory and Business Practice. USA:SAGE Jones, T. Felps,W. Bigley,G. Ethical Theory and Stakeholder-Related Decisions: The Role of Stakeholder Culture January 1, 2007 vol. 32 no. 1 137-155 Jue, A. ,Marr,J. Kassotakis,M.2009. Social Media at Work: How Networking Tools Propel Organizational Performance.USA: John Wiley Sons, Landers,R. Schmidt,G.2016. Social Media in Employee Selection and Recruitment: Theory, Practice, and Current Challenges. Springer, Marantoa,G ,Barton,M. 2010. Paradox and Promise: MySpace, Facebook, and the Sociopolitics of Social Networking in the Writing Classroom Computers and Composition Volume 27, Issue 1, March 2010, Pages 3647.Online.Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S8755461509000838 Accessed on 16 September 2016 Morgan, J.2014. [Online]. Retrieved from : https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobmorgan/2014/11/18/facebook-for-the-workplace-a-bad-idea-or-a-game-changer/#798217261a3c Accessed on 16 September 2016 Rasmussen,R. Aliisa Mylonas,A. Beck,H.2012. Investigating Business Communication and Technologies.UK: Cambridge University Press Rebecca,C.,Lori,V. Theodore.2016. Organizational Surveillance of Computer-Mediated Workplace Communication: Employee Privacy Concerns and Responses. Employee Responsibilities Rights Journal. Mar2016, Vol. 28 Issue 1, p23-43. Shaw,W.2016. Business Ethics.USA: Cengage Learning Simmers,C., Anandarajan,M. Teo,T.2006. The Internet and Workplace Transformation Volume 7 of Advances in management information systems.M.E.Sharpe Stoughton, J. et al.2015.Examining Applicant Reactions to the Use of Social Networking Websites in Pre-Employment Screening. Journal of Business Psychology. Mar2015, Vol. 30 Issue 1, p73-88. 16p. Strater,K Lipford ,H. Strategies and Struggles with Privacy in an Online Social Networking Community.Online.Retrieved from: https://www.bcs.org/upload/pdf/ewic_hc08_v1_paper11.pdf Accessed on 16 September 2016 The Wall Street Journal.2014. Should Companies Monitor Their Employees' Social Media? https://www.wsj.com/articles/should-companies-monitor-their-employees-social-media-1399648685 Trevio,L. Weaver,G. 2003. Managing Ethics in Business Organizations: Social Scientific Perspective. Stanford University Press, Zgheib, P.2014. Business Ethics and Diversity in the Modern Workplace Advances in Human Resources Management and Organizational Development.IGI Global.

Text Painting in LHeure Exquise by Reynaldo Hahn Essay Example For Students

Text Painting in LHeure Exquise by Reynaldo Hahn Essay Reynolds Hahn (August 9, 1875 -January 28, 1947) was a Venezuelan, naturalized French, composer, conductor, music critic, diarist, theatre director, and salon singer. Best known as a composer of songs, he wrote in the French classical tradition tot the m ©oldie. The fine craftsmanship, remarkable beauty, and originality of his works, Probably the most beautiful pieces (in my opinion) ever composed by Hahn was Allure issues with is simplicity and perfect illustration of text. The (Preach) text reads: La Lune balance ITT Dana Sees Bois De chase branches art nun voice souse la ram ©e. O been aim ©e. L ©tang reef ©et, profound mirror, la silhouette du sale noir o lee vent pleurae. R ©vans, test lures. Un vast et tender appeasement assemble descended du firmament queue Vaster irises. Chest Rehire issues! Translated: The White moon shines in the woods. From each branch springs a voice beneath the arbor. Oh my beloved, Like a deep mirror the pond reflects the silhouette of the black willow where the Wind weeps. Let us dream! It is the hour A vast and tender calm seems to descend from a sky dad iridescent by the moon. It is the exquisite hour! The accompaniment to the piece is quite lovely and is perfect for the txt of the piece. The speaker in this art song, which is usually sung by high voice although it has been transposed, is speaking of how perfect the setting is for them to be with their lover. While the meter of the music flows along in a docile sense it almost has a tedious sense about it. The detail to which the speaker lends their description gives a little bit of anxiety almost because of how delicate the scene seems to be. Its almost as if the speaker vans to be careful not to break the perfection as if it has the tensile strength Of a cobweb even. We will write a custom essay on Text Painting in LHeure Exquise by Reynaldo Hahn specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Small breaks in the accompaniment to be left to the soloist give a sense of very careful treading so as not to send anything Off kilter. The vocal line sits in the middle range providing ease and allowing the vocalist to portray simplicity and awe, these two characteristics being carefully energize in the sphere Of anxiousness and carefulness. The vocal line is occasionally taken into the higher part of the range UT is still kept quiet, almost in a kind of accidental excitement that must be quickly drawn back. In the last verse of the piece the text and rhythm are brought to their most excited state where Hahn almost doubles all of the rhythms used in the verse the duple meters where the poet speaks of a a calmness descending on them. This lines subtle tension is brought perfectly relieved by a last line entering the upper loftier part of the voice , yet still quieted, where it the brought almost into a homily like cadence that allows for some free mime to he taken between the collaborative instruments and the voice. I would say that this piece is loved by audiences of all kinds pretty much across the board and the text could almost not be taken in a romantic text although believe most people perceive it this way. It seems to me however to me that it could also be noticed as a lullaby, maybe between a mother and child. Either way the text would still be just as delicate and Hahn would have been just as brilliant in his interpretation.

Personal Development Plan

Personal Development Plan Introduction A Personal Development Plan (PDP) is cited in literature as a key step in defining and exploring one’s goals, and mapping out ways of turning the same goals into reality.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Personal Development Plan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Keynote Project (2002, p. 1) for example observes that students can use PDP to articulate the skills they are developing in the present and match the same to â€Å"opportunities in the future†. Cassidy (2012, p. 1) provides a more succinct definition of PDP by terming it a â€Å"form of self-managed learning that is owned by the individual and enables a strategic approach to setting learning and development goals†. In an educational setup, it would be expected that PDPs will enable students to receive feedback that will assist them in their personal and professional development, and benefit them with the feedback provided by their tutors. In this writer’s case, PDP will be used as a tool for managing own development. Additionally, the PDP as articulated hereunder will provide this writer with an opportunity to expand on own personal, academic and professional horizons. In other words, this exercise provides this writer with an opportunity to take stock of own position; set goals; and use the unique skills and competencies in the academic as well as the professional setup now and in the future. Additionally, the writer will identify areas that need more effort, and as such, will intentionally pay more effort in such areas in future in order to become effective in present or future roles.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Overall, it has been suggested that PDP is important for people who need (or are forced by circumstances) to take responsibility of â€Å"their own development and follow-through† with the same (Cassidy 2012, p. 1). Interpreted, the aforementioned means that every learner needs to use PDP not only because higher learning requires a degree of independent learner-directed learning, but also because it helps the students to identify what their learning needs are, and thus work towards fulfilling the same. Acculturation Acculturation has been has defined as â€Å"a dual process affecting members of two or more cultural groups as each adapts to the presence of the other† (Barjesteh Vaseghi 2012, p. 579). In higher learning, acculturation has become a commonplace thing as students from different cultures meet in the college environment each in the pursuit of an education. Foreign (international) students interact with students from the host country and the first-hand contact between the two groups of students eventually means that the original cultures of either side are affected. Notably, acculturation is important in group or te am dynamics since members need not only get a task done, but also need to work well together as suggested by Tidd, Bessant and Pavitt (2005, p.1). Without students understanding and respecting each other’s cultural differences, chances are that team work would not be successful. Barjesteh and Vaseghi (2012, p. 580) name language shock and culture shock as main factors that contribute to psychological distance among international students.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Personal Development Plan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Language is especially important for such students because as Schumann (1986, p. 385) notes, verbal interactions enable communication and negotiations among people from different cultures. Trawinski (2005, p. 14) further notes that the ability of a learner to benefit from academic input depends on their ability to understand and convert materials taught in class (most likely in a secon d acquired language) into meaningful information. For such students to benefit from course materials, Trawnski (2005, p. 18) argues that the communicative, integrative and expressive functions of language have to be efficient from both sides of the message divide (i.e. the message sender and the message recipient). This writer went through the full course of â€Å"the process of acculturation† as defined by Brown (1980 cited by Barjesteh Vaseghi 2012, p. 580). Specifically, the writer underwent the euphoria stage where excitement took precedence owing to the newness of the college environment. Next was the culture shock stage where the writer felt a sense of intrusion as the reality of the new surroundings, cultural differences and the loss of familiar signs and social symbols as suggested by Yue and Le (2012, p.134) started becoming a reality. Cultural stress then took over and during this phase, the writer started a gradual recovery of self-identity also understanding, acc epting and being accepted by others. By the time of this exercise, this writer has attained full recovery as suggested by Barjesteh Vaseghi (2012, p. 580) whereby, the writer has adopted, assimilated and accepted the new culture. Additionally, this writer has developed a new identity, which arguably fits well into the college environment.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 full recovery stage is especially essential in learning since this writer can now comprehend different types of communication in the host culture; however, the writer is still working on his verbal communication skills as indicated in the Skills Audit Report in Appendix A. The verbal communication skills are especially important in teamwork since they affect the writer’s ability to take up leadership position, his presentation skills, and his ability to communicate effectively with the team members. True to Lakey (2003, p. 111), people from diverse cultures â€Å"successfully acculturate themselves to the degree that they learn to code and decode messages in a way that they will be recognised, accepted, and responded to by an individual or group which they interact†; and while this writer can confidently state that he has been successful in decoding messages communicated to him, coding his messages in a manner that enables effective communication to his colleagues is still something that he is working towards. Team work and presentation skills Based on the Belbin’ Team roles personal inventory as illustrated in Appendix B, this writer scored highest in IM (Company worker/implementer) by acquiring 14 points, and in PL (Plant) by acquiring 9 points. Following Belbin’s (1993) roles on the corresponding individual types, it is thus apparent that the writer’s positive abilities include self-discipline, hard-work, practical commonsense, and the ability to organise. The corresponding allowable weaknesses indicate that the writer lacks flexibility, and is unresponsive to â€Å"new or unproven ideas† (Belbin 1993, n.pag). The high score in PL (Plant) are further indicative that the writer has additional positive qualities that include knowledge, intellect and imagination. The corresponding allowable weaknesses as indicated by Belbin include an inclination to pay no or little attention to practical details and/or protocol. A s indicated in the Skills Audit Report (Appendix A), this writer’s main weaknesses are in leadership, presentation skills, and in verbal communication. In the writer’s own perspective, the three weaknesses as interrelated owing to the fact that the inability to communicate effectively affects his presentation skills, and this invariably dents his confidence towards being a capable leader. As indicated in Appendix A however, the writer seeks to improve his verbal communication skills, and this will directly affect the presentation and leadership skills as well. Reports and Academic Journal Comparisons Despite the weaknesses noted above, and the indication that this writer is best suited as a company worker/implementer and plant position, it is common knowledge that finding a â€Å"perfect† person is impossible in real life. As such, the writers’ strengths and weaknesses although creating the impression of an imperfect learner/job applicant, also indicate t hat this writer’s qualities of being organised, knowledgeable and meticulous make him an ideal candidate for a team where all the nine skills as indicated in the Belbin model are necessary. Team-based management systems are increasingly considered necessary for enhancing the productivity and effectiveness in organisation as indicated by Gà ¼ndà ¼z (2008, p. 460), Partington and Harris (1993, p. 694) and Katzenbach and Smith (1993, p. 111). Similarly, and upon entering the postgraduate programs, and on proceeding further to the professional environment, this writer expects to be part of bigger teams as working alone in the current team-based workplace environments is to some extent, outdated. A team is defined as the â€Å"small group of people who make contributions to the common goal, who perform in accordance with the goals, who depend on each other with the mutual feeling of responsibility and who have complementary skills† (Gà ¼ndà ¼z 2008, p. 461). In other wo rds, this writer’s skills would need to compliment those of his team mates for purposes of attaining a common goal. The team roles of the writer as indicated in Appendix B â€Å"describes how suitable the member is for the team† as indicated by Belbin (2010, p.120). On their part, Fisher, Hunter and Macrosson (1998, p. 284) observe that team roles as stipulated in the Belbin Model should be used universally (even outside management teams). Notably however, Aritzeta, Swailes and Senior (2005, p. 20) observe that â€Å"Belbin did not report the theoretical foundations of his theory†, and as such, the theory has a limitation. Some critics like Broucek and Randel (1996, p. 403) further argue that the Belbin model is based on an anecdote. Despite the omission of not basing his model on any theoretical ground, Aritzeta et al. (2005, p. 21) observes that the empirical formulation of Belbin’s work can still be linked to established theories. Among authors who sup port the Belbin Model are Fisher et al. (1998, p. 284) who observe that although there are dominant team roles for each individual, it does not mean that he/she cannot play other team roles. The major factors that determine the roles that a person can play in a team include their intelligence, extroversion or introversion, stability or anxiety, and dominance or lack thereof (Fisher et al., 1998, p.285). The aforementioned factors affect how teams interact, and their level of productivity, while team roles obtain the balance needed for team members to work harmoniously and productively. Notably, and as indicated in the Skills Audit Report, this writer still needs to work on his verbal communication skills, his leadership skills, and his presentation skills if his contributions to a team will be realized. Without the finding a solution to the three weak areas, this writer acknowledges that the team roles of being an implementer or a plant that generates ideas through imagination or in novation, cannot be realized without the appropriate communication skills. Personal Planning and Action Plan The requirement of this writer’s role as a team player In the global environment where this writer (and others) lives in, it would be expected that working in teams would expose one to people from different cultures. In the management field therefore, it is essential for this writer to concentrate on finding solutions to the three weak areas identified in the Skills Audit Report (Appendix A), and finding ways to overcome the threats identified in the SWOT analysis report (Appendix C). In the latter, this writer identified homesickness and the global competition in the workplace as the main threats. To overcome them, this writer will therefore need to gain skills and knowledge that will give him a competitive edge over others (i.e. in case of the global competition), and will also need to find ways of overcoming the homesickness (e.g. by calling friends and families) of ten. This writer will also need to find solutions to the major weaknesses facing him and intends to do the following in order of sequence: Become a better communicator Become better in presenting ideas and innovations Become a leader As indicated in the Skills Audit Report (Appendix A), this writer’s main strengths include time management skills, self-motivation, and the ability to work well in teams. The writer’s strengths are further evident in the Skills, Knowledge and Attitude (SKA Analysis) (Appendix D), where time management, office skills, decision-making skills, and flexibility are his skills strong point. Additionally, this writer is knowledgeable in researching and has experience working in his specialty. Attitude-wise, this writer is a realist and as shown in Appendix E (Learning Style Questionnaire), the writer has three dominant learning styles namely activist, reflector and theorist. On self-evaluation though, this writer is more convinced that the refl ector and theorist learning styles are more applicable in his case. A SMART action plan Specific goal: To be a better communicator, presenter of ideas and innovations, and a leader in the next two years. Measurable: To communicate eloquently in the English language; to make presentations to my peers in college and colleagues in the workplace; and to assume emergent leadership positions in college and/or in the workplace. Attainable: Practice my communication skills more alone or with the help of a privately acquired tutor; practice my presentation skills with a friend with the view of perfecting them in readiness for a bigger audience; and vie for leadership positions in college and/or in the workplace. Relevance: The goals are meant to counter the weaknesses identified in the Skills Audit Report indicated in appendix A. Time-Bound: Activity Time Length Measurable Milestones Enabling factors Improve verbal communication skills 6 months Ability to communicate eloquently A budget to acquire a private tutor to help with the verbal communication skills; time; and motivation to learn Enhance presentation skills 6 -12 months Ability to make informative and attention-capturing presentations; eliciting audience response thus indicating effective communication A willing colleague/friend to act as an audience, and one who will be willing to comment and criticise where necessary. Become a leader 12 months Vying for leadership positions and getting support for the same as a sign of people’s confidence in this writer’s leadership abilities The availability of leadership positions; writer’s leadership potential and its appeal to other people in the college or organisational setup. Conclusions and Reflection As inferred in the above sections, this writer is not only studying in a culture that is different from his own, but is also likely to continue with the same working in the global environment where people from different cultures mee t to work for same organisations. As such, as one who intends to obtain a leadership position in future, this writer realises the need not only to understand what is communicated to him, but also to communicate efficiently to others. It is for such reasons that this writer identifies the inadequate verbal communications skills, the inadequate presentation skills, and the lack of leadership skills as the three main weaknesses that he needs to improve on. Notably, and as indicated elsewhere in this PDP, an improvement in one (i.e. verbal communication) will probably have an undeniable effect on the other two, since this writer has the knowledge in his area of specialty, with his main hindrance being in his inability to communicate effectively. As a realist, this writer acknowledges that the vision to become a leader can only be attained after successfully becoming a better communicator and an adept presenter of ideas and innovations. After all, leadership is earned, and such can only happen if one is clearly understood and supported by others. Additionally, leaders commune the mission and vision to their followers, something that would not happen if one is not able to communicate effectively. References Aritzeta, A, Swailes, S Senior, B 2005, ‘Team roles: psychometric evidence, construct validity and team building’, Research Memorandum- Centre for Management and Organizational Learning, Business School, University of Hull, no. 51, pp. 1-39. Web. Barjesteh, H Vaseghi, R 2012, ‘Acculturation model for L2 acquisition: review and evaluation’, Advances in Asian Social Science (AASS), vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 579-584. Belbin, R. M 1993, Team roles at work, Elsevier, London. Belbin, R. M 2010, The management of teams- Why they succeed or fail, Routledge, London; New York. Broucek, W. G Randell, G 1996, ‘An assessment of construct validity of the Belbin self-perception inventory and observer’s assessment from the perspective of the fi ve-factor model’, Journal of Occupational and Organisational Psychology, vol. 69, pp. 389-405. Cassidy, C 2012, ‘(b) Personal development Plan’, Appendix_3b. Web. Fisher, S, Hunter, T Mackrosson, W 1998, ‘The structure of Belbin’s team roles’, Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, vol. 71, pp. 283-288. Gà ¼ndà ¼z, H. B (2008), ‘An evaluation on Belbin’s team roles theory (the case of Sakarya Anatolian profession High School, Profession High School and Vocational High School for Industry)’, World Applied Sciences Journal, vol.4, no. 3, pp. 460-469. Katzenbach, J. R Smith, K 1993, ‘The discipline of teams’, Harvard Business Review, March-April, pp. 11-120. Lakey, P. N 2003, ‘Acculturation: a review of the literature’, Intercultural Communication Studies, Vol. XII, No. 2, PP. 103-118. Partington, D Harris, H 1999, ‘Team role balance and team performance: an empirical studyà ¢â‚¬â„¢, Journal of Management Development, vol. 18, no.8, pp. 694-705. Schumann, J. H 1986, Research on acculturation model for L2 acquisition, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, vol.7, pp. 379-397. The Keynote Project 2002, ‘Personal development planning guide’, The Nottingham Trent University. Web. Tidd, J, Bessant, J Pavitt, K 2005, ‘managing innovation- team building tools’. Web. Trawinski, M 2005, An outline of second language acquisition theories, Academic Pedagogic, Krakow. Yue, Y Le, Q 2012, ‘From â€Å"cultural shock† to â€Å"ABC framework†: Development of intercultural contact theory’, International Journal of Innovative Interdisciplinary Research, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 133-141. Appendices Appendix A: Skills Audit Report (.pdf file) Appendix B: Team Roles Personal Inventory (.pdf file) Appendix C: SWOT analysis Strengths: Good in time management Strong teamwork skills Orderly and good in plannin g Weaknesses: Very shy Problem with speech Irascible Opportunities: Study in Britain Unmarried Large family Threats: Competitive job opportunities Homesickness Appendix D: S.K.A analysis Skills : Time management Office skills Decision maker Flexible Knowledge : Experience in my specialty. Ability to do research. Readers interested in my specialty. Attitude: Optimistic Realistic Appendix E: Learning Style Questionnaire (.pdf file)

The Neuter Gender in Spanish

The Neuter Gender in Spanish Él and ella. Nosotros and nosotras. El and la. Un and una. El profesor and la profesora. In Spanish, everything is either masculine or feminine, right? Not quite. True, Spanish isnt like German, where in terms of gender nouns fall into three classifications (masculine, feminine, and neuter). Indeed, in Spanish, nouns are either masculine or feminine. But Spanish does have use for the neuter form, which can come in handy when referring to concepts or ideas. The thing to keep in mind about Spanishs neuter form is that it is never used to refer to known objects or people, and there are no neuter nouns or descriptive adjectives. Here, then, are the cases where youll see the neuter used: Lo as the Neuter Definite Article Chances are that youre familiar with el and la, which usually are translated as the in English. Those words are known as definite articles because they refer to definite things or people (el libro, for example, refers to a specific book). Spanish also has a neuter definite article, lo, but you cant use it before a noun like you do el or la because there are no neuter nouns. Instead, lo is used before singular adjectives (and sometimes possessive pronouns) when they function as nouns, usually referring to a concept or category, not to a single concrete object or a person. If youre translating into English, there is no one way in which lo is always translated; youll usually need to supply a noun, the choice of which depends on the context. In most cases, what is is a possible translation for lo. A sample sentence should help make this easier to understand: Lo importante es amar. Here importante is the adjective (generally in the masculine singular when used with lo) functioning as a noun. You could use a variety of English translations: The important thing is to love. What is important is to love. The important aspect is to love. Here are some other sample sentences with possible translations: Lo mejor es el baà ±o. (The best part is the bathroom. The best thing is the bathroom.)Lo nuevo es que estudia. (Whats new is that hes studying. The new thing is that he studies.)Me gusta lo francà ©s. (I like French things. I like what is French.)Le di lo inà ºtil a mi hermana. (I gave the useless stuff to my sister. I gave the useless items to my sister. I gave what was useless to my sister. Note that you couldnt use lo à ºtil for a specific object that has a name. If were referring to a useless spoon, for example, you could say la inà ºtil  because the word for spoon, cuchara, is feminine.  )Puedes pintar lo tuyo. (You can paint whats yours. You can paint your things.) It is also possible to use lo in this way with some adverbs, but this usage isnt as common as the cases above: Me enojà ³ lo tarde que salià ³. (It angered me how late he left. The lateness of his leaving angered me.) Lo as a Neuter Direct Object Lo is used to represent an idea or concept when it is the direct object of a verb. (This may not look like a neuter use, because lo can also be used as a masculine pronoun.) In such usages, lo is usually translated as it. No lo creo. (I dont believe it.)Lo sà ©. (I know it.)No lo comprendo. (I dont understand it.)No puedo creerlo. (I cant believe it.) In these cases, lo/it doesnt refer to an object, but to a statement that has been made earlier or that is understood. Neuter Demonstrative Pronouns Usually, demonstrative pronouns are used to point at an object: à ©ste (this one), à ©se (that one), and aquà ©l (that one over there). The neuter equivalents (esto, eso, and aquello) are all unaccented, end in -o, and have roughly the same meanings, but as is the case with the direct object lo, they usually refer to an idea or concept rather than an object or person. They can also refer to an unknown object. Here are some examples of its use: No olvides esto. (Dont forget this.)No creo eso. (I dont believe that.0 ¿Quà © es aquello? (What is that over there?) ¿Te gustà ³ eso? (Did you like that?)No me importa esto. (This isnt important to me.) Note that the final two sentences must refer to an event, situation, or process rather than an object with a name. For example, if youre walking in a dark jungle and get a creepy feeling about something that might happen, no me gusta esto would be appropriate. But if youre sampling a hamburger and dont care for it, no me gusta à ©sta would be appropriate (à ©sta is used because the word for hamburger, hamburguesa, is feminine). Ello Ello is the neuter equivalent of à ©l and ella. Its use these days is unusual, and only in literature are you likely to find it used as the subject of a sentence. It usually is translated as it or this. Note that in these examples, ello refers to an unnamed situation rather than a specified thing. Hemos aprendido a vivir con ello. (We have learned to live with it.)Por ello no pudo encontrar la trascendencia que hubiera deseado. (Because of it, he couldnt find the transcendence he had wanted.)

Homelessness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 6

Homelessness - Essay Example Governments as well as organizations have tried in combating the issue of homelessness but the fight is yet to be won. The state of homelessness is not pleasant. According to worldwide survey conducted in 2005, it was apparent that there were more than one hundred million people without permanent dwellings across the world; it is almost obvious that this figure has grown with time considering the exponentially advancing capitalism economy across the world. The worst hit is countries in Africa and some parts of Asia, the situation in the United States and Europe is better. According to a survey by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, there was a minimal reduction in the state of homelessness in America between 2009 and 2011; this reduction was by a margin of one percent (Coalition of the Homeless of Central Florida 1). The reduction was attributed to several advancements in the side of the Federal government as well as the state governments. A major breakthrough has been courtesy of an innovative program launched in 2010 by the federal government dubbed Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program ( Coalition of the Homeless of Central Florida 1). Various causes are accompanied by homelessness all across the world. It appears that the driving forces are the same, poverty. United States is one of the countries that enjoy low rates of homelessness courtesy of the well-established economy. Countries that are struggling in keeping up with economic instabilities are worst hit, some parts of Africa have reported up to millions of people living in muddy houses and makeshift houses if not tents. However, there are policies in development by individual countries to counter the menace. Enactment of workable policies and growing the economy seems to the lasting solution, the realization of these will be a contribution of all the relevant stakeholders. In order to prevent homelessness all individuals must take an active

Alan Greenspan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Alan Greenspan - Essay Example Both had different ideologies as Greenspan advocated for the deregulation of the financial markets and born propagated for the government regulation. The main source of conflict arose as a result of the Over the counter OTC derivatives that were private contracts between major players on the Wall Street on particular bets. Born cited a high likelihood of fraud taking place. But based on Greenspan he believed that the market would identify the frauds and corrects itself. These sentiments were in line with his core principles of a free market. The assumptions of a free market commonly no government intervention, free flow of information of information, the actions of an individual have no effect on the market and finally, there are no barriers to entry and exit the market. This was the principles that Greenspan stood by up to his retirement but later confessed that the philosophy had major drawbacks. The hedge fund long-term capital management was characterized by large banks secretly investing large amounts of money on the over the counter derivatives at the Wall Street. The hedge fund was additionally invested by a majority of the in the know investors. These dealings were shrouded in secrecy and the government didn’t have any clue about them. They were as a result of the wall stock brokers setting complex mathematical formula that guaranteed the investors of a significant return on their investment. Finally, there was a meltdown as the Wall Street brokers were unable to handle the situation causing a collapse.