Go tell it on the mountain by James Baldwin Essay

Go tell it on the mountain by James Baldwin - Essay Example â€Å"He awoke on this birthday morning with the feeling that there was a menace in the air around him’’ (Baldwin 1985, 19). The thought of sinning makes John depressed. John’s relationship with the father deteriorates because of his sin. He feels that obeying God requires submitting to his father. John tells Elisha that: â€Å"Elisha†¦ no matter what anybody says, you remember –please remember-I was saved. I was there.’’ This shows John depressed because of masturbating. â€Å"Then John knew that a curse was renewed from moment to moment, from father to son.†(Baldwin 1985, 288). This highlights John’s depressed state. Sinning is an innate behavior therefore should not cause depression. Instead, one should ask for forgiveness. The bitter relationship between John and Gabriel shows the theme of hatred. There is conflict between Gabriel and his son John. John did not understand the reason of Gabriel’s hate towards him. He tries all he could to appease Gabriel in vain. However, towards the end of the novel, John realizes that Gabriel hate could be because he was not his biological father but his stepfather. â€Å"He lived for the day when his father would be dying and he, John, would curse him on his death-bed.†(Baldwin 1985, 23) .This shows John’s hate for his father. â€Å"Satan, at the moment, stared out of John’s eyes while the spirit spoke.† This quote highlights Gabriel regarding John as a Satan. â€Å"And John did†¦to stare forever into the bottom of Gabriel’s soul.† This shows John disturbed looking for possible reason for Gabriel’s hate. The religious norms practiced by the community are hypocritical. Most of the church leaders and the congregation did not practice the Christian ideals they preached. The fact that Gabriel hated John despite the fact that he was a deacon shows religious hypocrisy. Gabriel does not seem pleased with John even after he became a saint. â€Å"They stood before each other in

Effect of Technology Development on Entertainment

Effect of Technology Development on Entertainment Table of Contents (Jump to) Introduction Delivering superior content Enhancing user experiences Platform mobility Conclusion References Introduction Over the years, the advancement of the digital technology has created a revolution in TV. Nielsen’s 2012 report stated that the number of homes with high definition TV grew in the US by more than 8 million (Nielsen 2011). This suggested that TV continues to be the dominant platform media for many households. Watching live or time-shifted TV programmes or games connected online via Internet are now using more of this conduit to deliver their contents to the many TV users. The continuous development and advancement in the digital technology continue to make a tremendous impact on television, playing an important part of family lives’ by offering quality entertainment and increasing the way of family bonding. They are achieved through delivering superior content, enhancing the user experiences’ in watching TV and offer excellent platform mobility for both network producers and users. Delivering superior content With the advancement of technologies like streaming video, high-quality video and Internet, it has offered different delivery platforms to deliver TV programs and dramas. However, the real focus remains on the content. In Kelly Scott Madison’s State of media report, it reiterated that â€Å"content is and always will remain, king† (Madison 2013). With quality programming content like ‘Who is HBO’s Girls for?’ (Smith 2012) that shows about different women and their lives, the show has differentiated itself from other media programming content. The show not only caters to mostly female audience demographics where most females are at home watching TV; the audience are able to relate their lives to the series show and this creates the ‘stickiness’ to the television drama series because of its content. This is similar to other shows like â€Å"Sex and the City†. Subscription TV penetration of TV households in Australia is increasing over the years. It is forecasted to increase from 30% in 2008 to 35% in 2017 (Maurer, Emmanuel Parker 2013). Through subscription TV, it provides different content and choices to the viewers like sport, movies, cartoons, variety shows. It also allows, through digital set-top boxes, the viewers can record and view the program as and when he prefers. This is not available in the traditional broadcast TV when the viewers have to watch a show through a fixed schedule. The regulatory environment for free-to-air television in Australia continues to change. In 2012, the Convergence Review highlighted the need for diversity in media and more Australian content (ABC News 2012). With digital and primary channels, it allows broadcasters the flexibility to provide more Australian content. (Cosgrove, Schaffer Horlin 2013) Through digital technologies, viewers can watch ‘live’ broadcast shows like Formula-1 racing, AFL, English Premier League or Australian Open Tennis. In most networks, it also allows viewers to have video-on-demand in which the viewer can select the movies at their own convenience. Viewers can also use time-shifting features in their set-top to skip the advertisements if they would like to. Thus, with superior content and rapid advancement in technology, TV providers and networks can create more value to the TV consumers (Maurer, Emmanuel Parker 2013). Consumers will now spend more hours watching TV and be willing to spend more money in subscription or video-on-demand fees. Enhancing user experiences TV has advanced tremendously in recent years because of digital technologies advancement. From traditional black and white or colour TV, it now has features like high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), Dolby surround effects to 3D technology offering real-life effects to viewers. In addition, in the digital era, TV has provided more connectivity with other devices such as Nintendo wii or Xbox 360 game machine, Internet access for online games, music and many more. Many of these devices provide multi-user games that allow family members to enjoy playing the games in the living room together. Imagine the effects on family bonding when parents and their children can enjoy a game of tennis for several hours in front of the television in the living room. Through technologies, TV has created a ‘cocooning impulse’ (Tryon 2012, p. 291) that unite families and brings them together (Cosgrove, Schaffer Horlin 2013), creating bonding and harmony in the family. User experiences are also enhanced through the superior content delivery through digital technologies. Movies are more readily available in household TV through Pay TV or Subscription TV options. TV drama series like ‘Serangoon’ made by Australian TV or Lena Dunham’s ‘Girls’ are some examples where these sitcoms series which are made for television (Mundell 2013) have created a ‘glueing’ effects on user experiences to the TV. Technologies like video-on-demand and built-in program recorders of TV show allows time-shifting, thus watching TV becomes a ‘pleasure and a treat’ for housewives (Venkatraman 2013). Statistics have also shown that users are now more than doubled spending time watching time-shifted TV using their DVR (digital video recorder) (Madison 2012). Interactive TV also allows viewers to interact with other viewers through polls, chats, online shopping or voting. 3D technology in TV has now experienced a worldwide resurgence together with high definition video capability and superior sound quality standards. It also brought about a drastic change in television viewing, creating vibrant three dimension and captivating real life effects on the viewers. This has created a ‘3D revolution’ (Uniyal 2012) in the user experiences watching TV at home and not only in cinemas. Technological innovations in 3D technology for TV offer a more interactive television user experience through captivating user interfaces like 3D animations or real-time interaction with online apps like Facebook and Twitter (Connected Media World 2013). Platform mobility Traditional scheduled television broadcasts and viewing through receive-only television sets have been increasingly supplanted by digital technologies offering viewer engagement and convenience through video-on-demand, viewing of television programs across a multitude of devices such as smart mobile phones, Apple iPad tablets, Smart Internet-Ready Television, and sophisticated digital set-top boxes provided by cable and internet television operators. As pointed out by Sterne, people can spend many hours of their time watching specific programs using their mobile devices and still not realizing and thinking of themselves ‘as watching television’ (Sterne 2012). Tyron defines â€Å"platform mobility† as the â€Å"idea that films and television shows can move seamlessly from one device to another with minimal interruption† (Tyron 2012). He also noted that digital delivery technologies allowed workers and families with hectic schedules, the ability to watch television programs ‘wherever and whenever they would like’ (Tyron 2012). This provides them the individual and personalized experiences that cater to their own tastes and needs, enhancing the overall compelling user viewing experiences. Tyron (2012) further argues that the viewer empowerment through digital technologies has an overarching impact on viewer engagement as more mobile devices like iPad tablets, laptops and smartphones can provide the platform mobility to the users. Members of the family can watch different or same television program in different places within the house. This also empowered individual viewer to access to a wide range of choice selection like viewing on-demand movies on personal mobile device, online chat using social media applications such as Twitter and Facebook or speaking with their friends on their mobile phones while watching a sport game. Platform mobility also allows producers like Warner to sell their films through this mode of digital delivery to viewers who can purchase them via iPhone apps. Viewers can choose to view their favorite movies as and when they would like, in the living room or on a bus. Thus it can be said that the resurgence of TV as a home for â€Å"quality† entertainment can be partly attributed to demand spawned by viewers’ mobile and digital era lifestyles, and their desire to be an engaged viewer instead of being a passive one. Conclusion In conclusion, it is apparent that digital technologies will continue to remain a dominant force in the television industry as a home for ‘quality’ entertainment. TV network services providers continue to capitalize on the advancement of the digital technologies so as to explore and offer more innovative and value-add services to TV subscribers. Advancement in the Internet or other media delivery channels like satellite, broadcast via cable, allows service providers to increase their revenue streams by offering more superior content and options and enhancing user experiences by making use of newer technology like 3D. Platform mobility remains the focus of the future research in the digital technologies in the TV industry. This is because of the ever changing lifestyles and demanding needs of the younger generation for more contents and mobility. Hence, we will not see the demise of the television but rather a revolution that television plays an important part in the home for quality entertainment, through the digital technologies; and it continues to provide intrinsic value in family bonding. References ABC News 2012, ‘Government releases convergence review’, viewed 7 June 2014, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-30/govt-releases-convergence-review/3980316>. Cosgrove, C, Schaffer, B Horlin, S 2013, ‘Free-to-air television’, PWC Outlook: Australian Entertainment Media, viewed 7 June 2014, https://outlook2013.ezimerchant.com/category31_1.htm>. Connected Media World 2013, ‘The evolution of the TV User Experience’, viewed 7 June 2014, http://www.connectedmediaworld.com/NewsArticle.aspx?ArticleID=c73b0e36-43ca-4a84-93be-835f4bfe222e>. Madison, K.S 2012, ‘2012 State of media’, Chicago: KSCMedia Madison, K.S 2013, ‘2013 State of media’, Chicago: KSCMedia Maurer, D, Emmanuel, R Parker, A 2013, ‘Subscription television’, PWC Outlook: Australian Entertainment Media, viewed 7 June 2014, https://outlook2013.ezimerchant.com/category38_1.htm>. Mundell, I 2013, ‘Smallscreen fare makes a big splash’, Variety, viewed 2 June 2014, http://variety.com/2013/film/news/smallscreen-fare-makes-a-big-splash-1118064535/>. Nielsen 2011, ‘The cross-platform report’, State of The Media, pp. 2-10. Smith, S.E. 2012, ‘Who is HBO’s Girls for?’, Global Comment, viewed 7 June 2014, http://globalcomment.com/who-is-hbos-girls-for/#>. Sterne, J 2012, ‘Formatted to fit your screen’, FlowTV, vol. 15, no. 5, http://flowtv.org/2012/01/formatted-to-fit-your-screen/>. Tyron, C 2012, ‘’Make any room your TV room’: digital delivery and media mobility’, Autumn, 53(3), pp. 286-300. Uniyal, D 2012, ‘3D Technology: Shaping the future of entertainment’, Journal of Mass Communication, 10(1), pp. 50-55. Venkatraman, M 2013, ‘Consuming digital technologies and making home’, Journal of Business Research, Issue 66, p. 2 1

Captain Picard: Is He a Good Leader? Essays -- Star Trek Essays Papers

Captain Picard: Is He a Good Leader? In Star Trek the Next Generation : "The Defector," does Captain Picard prove himself to be a good leader? In trying to answer this question, I thought "Well, what makes a good leader? Who do we (the general public) consider to be good leaders?" The most obvious choices popped into my head: President of the United States, Congress Representatives, CEO's of large companies. But after considering these leaders, I did not see how Picard compared to them. After all, he is the Captain of the Enterprise, a military space ship. I guess that makes him more of a Colin Powell type-a U.S. military officer of the highest ranking. It makes sense that U.S. military officers are considered to be good leaders. But, does Picard (as a military officer himself) measure up to the standards of a U.S. military officer? Well, what are the standards of a U.S. military officer? I mean, what characteristics must a person posses in order to reach the level of Colin Powell? I am certain that there are more than a few characteristics one must exhibit in order to become an officer in the U.S. military (not just anyone can be an officer, you know), but the three that I find the most essential are: a person must be able to think rationally in the time of a crisis; a person must display determination and confidence when confronting a crisis; a person must keep in mind those who depend on the decisions he or she is making. If someone possesses these three abilities, I think the person can be considered a good leader. In "The Defector," Captain Picard faces a crisis similar to one a U.S. military officer may face (of course, science fictional war and real-life being understood as two separate occurrences). A Romulan ... ...hat the Federation can definitely depend on to make the right decisions in the time of any crisis. He is a man of rationality, confidence and determination, and understanding of others who depend on him; he is a good leader. That is a fact that cannot be second guessed. Works Cited Star Trek The Next Generation: "The Defector. Videotape. Dir. Robert Scheerer. With Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Levar Burton, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, and Wil Wheaton. Paramount Pictures, 1990. 46 min. Lynch, Timothy. The Defector: a Synopsis and Review. n. pag. Online. Internet. 15 January, 1995. Available : http://cruciform.cid.com./~werdna/sttng/tlynch/defector.rev.html. Shakespeare, William. Henry V. n. pag. Online. Internet. Available: gopher://spinaltap.micro.umn.edu:70/11/Ebooks/By%20Title/shake/ Histories/King%20Henry%20V

Of Mice And Men †Review Essay

The novel ‘Of Mice And Men’ is set in the early 1930’s, in the American state of California. America at this time was suffering from the effects of the depression, which followed the Wall Street Crash. This had caused many businesses to go bankrupt. Also, in this period of time America had great problems on the agricultural side of it’s economy. Large areas of farmland had been lashed by hurricane winds, and this had caused much of the topsoil to been blown away, leaving vast areas of land unable to grow any kind of crops. Logically this meant that less workers were needed to tend the land, so many were laid off, and as mentioned earlier many businesses had gone bankrupt following the Wall Street Crash, the combined effect of these two events led to vast numbers of people being left jobless. This gave rise to a new group of society ‘drifters’; people who would travel from place to place doing manual labour, or working in the fields. This worked to the advantage of the business owners who managed to survive the crisis, (many of these were in California, a rich state which had not been hit as badly by the depression) because it meant that there were lots of workers for few jobs. Employers could make working conditions awful, knowing that if anyone complained they could fire them and there would be five people eager to fill the place. We do not know if John Steinbeck’s story is based on true characters or not, but we do know that he gives a very accurate depiction of what life was like at the time, as he himself was a drifter for a period of time. One thing that becomes evident during the story is that most of the characters suffer from loneliness. One of the ways in which they coped with the loneliness was by holding onto a belief in the American dream, the dream that every man can better himself through his own efforts, and live a long and happy life. The first two characters that we meet are George and Lennie, two drifters. George comes across as the leader of the two; his job is to keep Lennie out of trouble. He shows great patience in dealing with Lennie whose mental age is the equivalent of a small child. During the book we do see George lose his temper with Lennie because it appears that he is always messing things up for George. For example when they are on their way to the new ranch Lennie produces a dead mouse from his pocket and George gets angry, â€Å"You crazy fool†, â€Å"You gonna give me that mouse or do I have to sock you?† and â€Å"Blubberin like a baby? Jesus Christ! A big guy like you.† George claims he only keeps Lennie around because he made a promise to his Aunt Clara that he would. Even if this is true she is now dead, and so George has no real reason to keep looking after Lennie, especially as Lennie seems to mess up everything that goes right for George. However, George still puts up with Lennie and this, it would seem, is mainly to avoid the loneliness that is caused by all the travelling. While Lennie may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, he is still someone to converse with on long lonely walks. We learn from early on in the book that George and Lennie also share the American dream, they dream of one day having, â€Å"a little house and a couple of acres an a cow and some pigs†.This ambition highlights one big difference between George and Lennie’s grasp on reality, whilst George says he dreams of this, he must know deep down inside of him that they will never fulfil the dream. Lennie on the other hand is completely different he believes so deeply in the dream that at one point George actually threatens to not let Lennie tend the rabbits when they achieve their dream. The dream that these two share leads us to meet the next character that also suffers great loneliness. We first meet Candy when Lennie and George arrive at the ranch. He is the first person they meet. He is also the one who takes them to see the boss. Candy only has one arm and we find out later that he lost his arm in a machinery accident in the fields. However, the ranch still employs him and he was given compensation for his injury. Due to the loss of his arm he cannot work in the fields, instead he has to stay behind and sweep up. This causes him great loneliness because he has no one to talk to, his best friend is his dog, but tragically later in the story the other workers convince Candy to shoot him because he is old and useless. While the other workers can go into town at the end of the month, giving them the opportunity go out and have a good time, Candy cannot join them because he is too old to be out drinking until late in the night. His circumstances cause him to suffer from great loneliness, so it is not surprising that when he over hears Lennie and George talking about their dream, he tries to buy in to it. With the money that Candy got in compensation for his arm, it begins to look as though the dream may become a reality more quickly than George or Lennie imagined. The next character that we meet is Crooks the stable buck. He suffers from loneliness because he is black. This means he has to sleep in his own dorm and is not allowed to stay in the same dorm as the other workers. He is lonely purely because he is alone all the time and has no one to talk to. Crooks is also a cripple as a horse kicked him when he was working, leaving him with a crooked back, this prevents him from joining in many activities. He pretends, when Lennie goes into his dorm to be really angry, â€Å"I ain’t wanted in the bunk-house, and you ain’t wanted in my room.† But as time goes on he begins to warm to Lennie, â€Å"Come on in and set a while†, â€Å"Long as you wont get out and leave me alone you might as well sit down.† I think this is mainly because he was just glad to have someone to talk to, after being on his own for so long. Even after this though he could not resist getting revenge on the white folk, he teases Lennie asking him, â€Å"S’pose George don’t come back no more.† And he persists and begins to scare Lennie until finally Lennie gets so scared he decides to go and check if George was back yet. But Crooks quickly apologises at the thought of being left all alone again. A few minutes later Candy turns up and although Crooks acts as though he is resentful he still invites him in. The next character to appear at Crook’s door is Curley’s wife. She is the only woman on the ranch, and the guys refuse to talk to her because of Curley. He is very protective and jealous of her and will try and beat up anyone who he thinks might be making a move on her. When the guys in Crooks dorm seem to shut her out she begins to insult them, â€Å"Standin here talking to a bunch of bindle stiffs- a nigger an’ a dum-dum and a lousy ol’ sheep.† Showing a spiteful side to her character. She only married Curley to spite her mother in the first place. One night in a bar she met a man who claimed he could make her a great star actress. We are not told how the man took advantage of her. He said that he would send a letter to her, but she never received it and blamed her mother, accusing her of destroying the letter, then to spite her she ran off and married Curley. The story has a tragic ending, all the way through the story George had warned Lennie about getting to close to Curley’s wife. But this turned out to be the ‘downfall’ of their dream, which had seemed so much more likely since the addition of Candy to the plot. Lennie is in the barn when she appears and starts talking to him. They start sharing stories, and she asks him why he is so obsessed with rabbits. He tells her about his obsession with stroking nice things, and she allows him to stroke her hair. She starts to complain that he will, â€Å"muss it up†, but when she pulls away Lennie’s grip tightens and she begins to scream. He puts his hand over her mouth and begs her not to because George will get angry. Her body, ‘flopped like a fish’, Lennie had broken her neck. The first people to find the body were Candy and George. They new it had to be Lennie. It is at that point that the dream is thrown into real jeopardy. Candy recognising this, immediately tries to convince George that they can still achieve their hopes, â€Å"You an me can get that little place, can’t we, George? Can’t we?† But Candy already knew the answer. George knows that Lennie was such a big part of the dream, it could not continue without him, it would almost be disloyal. George knows that the other workers, especially Curley would not allow Lennie to live after this. George goes off to find the other workers. Candy is now alone with the body of Curley’s wife in the barn, he blames her for destroying the dreams of three men, himself, George and Lennie. He actually begins to shout at her, â€Å"You god damn tramp.† â€Å"s’pose you’re glad.† George follows the other workers into the barn. He acts as though it is the first time he has seen the body. The other workers assure him that they think he had nothing to do with it, and they set off in search of Lennie. The story ends with George and Carson, one of the ranch hands, standing over Lennie. George has the gun to the back off Lennie’s head. He and Lennie have been talking about the dream, before Lennie knows it George pulls the trigger and Lennie is dead. The last thing we see is George going to the highway with Carson, Curley and Slim. He and Slim walk away to get a drink, George knowing that it’s all over. The dreams that he and Candy have shared, and that have kept them going have been destroyed.

A Game of Thrones Chapter Forty-three

Eddard Through the high narrow windows of the Red Keep's cavernous throne room, the light of sunset spilled across the floor, laying dark red stripes upon the walls where the heads of dragons had once hung. Now the stone was covered with hunting tapestries, vivid with greens and browns and blues, and yet still it seemed to Ned Stark that the only color in the hall was the red of blood. He sat high upon the immense ancient seat of Aegon the Conqueror, an ironwork monstrosity of spikes and jagged edges and grotesquely twisted metal. It was, as Robert had warned him, a hellishly uncomfortable chair, and never more so than now, with his shattered leg throbbing more sharply every minute. The metal beneath him had grown harder by the hour, and the fanged steel behind made it impossible to lean back. A king should never sit easy, Aegon the Conqueror had said, when he commanded his armorers to forge a great seat from the swords laid down by his enemies. Damn Aegon for his arrogance, Ned thought sullenly, and damn Robert and his hunting as well. â€Å"You are quite certain these were more than brigands?† Varys asked softly from the council table beneath the throne. Grand Maester Pycelle stirred uneasily beside him, while Littlefinger toyed with a pen. They were the only councillors in attendance. A white hart had been sighted in the kingswood, and Lord Renly and Ser Barristan had joined the king to hunt it, along with Prince Joffrey, Sandor Clegane, Balon Swann, and half the court. So Ned must needs sit the Iron Throne in his absence. At least he could sit. Save the council, the rest must stand respectfully, or kneel. The petitioners clustered near the tall doors, the knights and high lords and ladies beneath the tapestries, the smallfolk in the gallery, the mailed guards in their cloaks, gold or grey: all stood. The villagers were kneeling: men, women, and children, alike tattered and bloody, their faces drawn by fear. The three knights who had brought them here to bear witness stood behind them. â€Å"Brigands, Lord Varys?† Ser Raymun Darry's voice dripped scorn. â€Å"Oh, they were brigands, beyond a doubt. Lannister brigands.† Ned could feel the unease in the hall, as high lords and servants alike strained to listen. He could not pretend to surprise. The west had been a tinderbox since Catelyn had seized Tyrion Lannister. Both Riverrun and Casterly Rock had called their banners, and armies were massing in the pass below the Golden Tooth. It had only been a matter of time until the blood began to flow. The sole question that remained was how best to stanch the wound. Sad-eyed Ser Karyl Vance, who would have been handsome but for the winestain birthmark that discolored his face, gestured at the kneeling villagers. â€Å"This is all the remains of the holdfast of Sherrer, Lord Eddard. The rest are dead, along with the people of Wendish Town and the Mummer's Ford.† â€Å"Rise,† Ned commanded the villagers. He never trusted what a man told him from his knees. â€Å"All of you, up.† In ones and twos, the holdfast of Sherrer struggled to its feet. One ancient needed to be helped, and a young girl in a bloody dress stayed on her knees, staring blankly at Ser Arys Oakheart, who stood by the foot of the throne in the white armor of the Kingsguard, ready to protect and defend the king . . . or, Ned supposed, the King's Hand. â€Å"Joss,† Ser Raymun Darry said to a plump balding man in a brewer's apron. â€Å"Tell the Hand what happened at Sherrer.† Joss nodded. â€Å"If it please His Grace—† â€Å"His Grace is hunting across the Blackwater,† Ned said, wondering how a man could live his whole life a few days ride from the Red Keep and still have no notion what his king looked like. Ned was clad in a white linen doublet with the direwolf of Stark on the breast; his black wool cloak was fastened at the collar by his silver hand of office. Black and white and grey, all the shades of truth. â€Å"I am Lord Eddard Stark, the King's Hand. Tell me who you are and what you know of these raiders.† â€Å"I keep . . . I kept . . . I kept an alehouse, m'lord, in Sherrer, by the stone bridge. The finest ale south of the Neck, everyone said so, begging your pardons, m'lord. It's gone now like all the rest, m'lord. They come and drank their fill and spilled the rest before they fired my roof, and they would of spilled my blood too, if they'd caught me. M'lord.† â€Å"They burnt us out,† a farmer beside him said. â€Å"Come riding in the dark, up from the south, and fired the fields and the houses alike, killing them as tried to stop them. They weren't no raiders, though, m'lord. They had no mind to steal our stock, not these, they butchered my milk cow where she stood and left her for the flies and the crows.† â€Å"They rode down my ‘prentice boy,† said a squat man with a smith's muscles and a bandage around his head. He had put on his finest clothes to come to court, but his breeches were patched, his cloak travel-stained and dusty. â€Å"Chased him back and forth across the fields on their horses, poking at him with their lances like it was a game, them laughing and the boy stumbling and screaming till the big one pierced him clean through.† The girl on her knees craned her head up at Ned, high above her on the throne. â€Å"They killed my mother too, Your Grace. And they . . . they . . . † Her voice trailed off, as if she had forgotten what she was about to say. She began to sob. Ser Raymun Darry took up the tale. â€Å"At Wendish Town, the people sought shelter in their holdfast, but the walls were timbered. The raiders piled straw against the wood and burnt them all alive. When the Wendish folk opened their gates to flee the fire, they shot them down with arrows as they came running out, even women with suckling babes.† â€Å"Oh, dreadful,† murmured Varys. â€Å"How cruel can men be?† â€Å"They would of done the same for us, but the Sherrer holdfast's made of stone,† Joss said. â€Å"Some wanted to smoke us out, but the big one said there was riper fruit upriver, and they made for the Mummer's Ford.† Ned could feel cold steel against his fingers as he leaned forward. Between each finger was a blade, the points of twisted swords fanning out like talons from arms of the throne. Even after three centuries, some were still sharp enough to cut. The Iron Throne was full of traps for the unwary. The songs said it had taken a thousand blades to make it, heated white-hot in the furnace breath of Balerion the Black Dread. The hammering had taken fifty-nine days. The end of it was this hunched black beast made of razor edges and barbs and ribbons of sharp metal; a chair that could kill a man, and had, if the stories could be believed. What Eddard Stark was doing sitting there he would never comprehend, yet there he sat, and these people looked to him for justice. â€Å"What proof do you have that these were Lannisters?† he asked, trying to keep his fury under control. â€Å"Did they wear crimson cloaks or fly a lion banner?† â€Å"Even Lannisters are not so blind stupid as that,† Ser Marq Piper snapped. He was a swaggering bantam rooster of a youth, too young and too hot-blooded for Ned's taste, though a fast friend of Catelyn's brother, Edmure Tully. â€Å"Every man among them was mounted and mailed, my lord,† Ser Karyl answered calmly. â€Å"They were armed with steel-tipped lances and longswords, with battle-axes for the butchering.† He gestured toward one of the ragged survivors. â€Å"You. Yes, you, no one's going to hurt you. Tell the Hand what you told me.† The old man bobbed his head. â€Å"Concerning their horses,† he said, â€Å"it were warhorses they rode. Many a year I worked in old Ser Willum's stables, so I knows the difference. Not a one of these ever pulled a plow, gods bear witness if I'm wrong.† â€Å"Well-mounted brigands,† observed Littlefinger. â€Å"Perhaps they stole the horses from the last place they raided.† â€Å"How many men were there in this raiding party?† Ned asked. â€Å"A hundred, at the least,† Joss answered, in the same instant as the bandaged smith said, â€Å"Fifty,† and the grandmother behind him, â€Å"Hunnerds and hunnerds, m'lord, an army they was.† â€Å"You are more right than you know, goodwoman,† Lord Eddard told her. â€Å"You say they flew no banners. What of the armor they wore? Did any of you note ornaments or decorations, devices on shield or helm?† The brewer, Joss, shook his head. â€Å"It grieves me, m'lord, but no, the armor they showed us was plain, only . . . the one who led them, he was armored like the rest, but there was no mistaking him all the same. It was the size of him, m'lord. Those as say the giants are all dead never saw this one, I swear. Big as an ox he was, and a voice like stone breaking.† â€Å"The Mountain!† Ser Marq said loudly. â€Å"Can any man doubt it? This was Gregor Clegane's work.† Ned heard muttering from beneath the windows and the far end of the hall. Even in the galley, nervous whispers were exchanged. High lords and smallfolk alike knew what it could mean if Ser Marq was proved right. Ser Gregor Clegane stood bannerman to Lord Tywin Lannister. He studied the frightened faces of the villagers. Small wonder they had been so fearful; they had thought they were being dragged here to name Lord Tywin a red-handed butcher before a king who was his son by marriage. He wondered if the knights had given them a choice. Grand Maester Pycelle rose ponderously from the council table, his chain of office clinking. â€Å"Ser Marq, with respect, you cannot know that this outlaw was Ser Gregor. There are many large men in the realm.† â€Å"As large as the Mountain That Rides?† Ser Karyl said. â€Å"I have never met one.† â€Å"Nor has any man here,† Ser Raymun added hotly. â€Å"Even his brother is a pup beside him. My lords, open your eyes. Do you need to see his seal on the corpses? It was Gregor.† â€Å"Why should Ser Gregor turn brigand?† Pycelle asked. â€Å"By the grace of his liege lord, he holds a stout keep and lands of his own. The man is an anointed knight.† â€Å"A false knight!† Ser Marq said. â€Å"Lord Tywin's mad dog.† â€Å"My lord Hand,† Pycelle declared in a stiff voice, â€Å"I urge you to remind this good knight that Lord Tywin Lannister is the father of our own gracious queen.† â€Å"Thank you, Grand Maester Pycelle,† Ned said. â€Å"I fear we might have forgotten that if you had not pointed it out.† From his vantage point atop the throne, he could see men slipping out the door at the far end of the hall. Hares going to ground, he supposed . . . or rats off to nibble the queen's cheese. He caught a glimpse of Septa Mordane in the gallery, with his daughter Sansa beside her. Ned felt a flash of anger; this was no place for a girl. But the septa could not have known that today's court would be anything but the usual tedious business of hearing petitions, settling disputes between rival holdfasts, and adjudicating the placement of boundary stones. At the council table below, Petyr Baelish lost interest in his quill and leaned forward. â€Å"Ser Marq, Ser Karyl, Ser Raymun—perhaps I might ask you a question? These holdfasts were under your protection. Where were you when all this slaughtering and burning was going on?† Ser Karyl Vance answered. â€Å"I was attending my lord father in the pass below the Golden Tooth, as was Ser Marq. When the word of these outrages reached Ser Edmure Tully, he sent word that we should take a small force of men to find what survivors we could and bring them to the king.† Ser Raymun Darry spoke up. â€Å"Ser Edmure had summoned me to Riverrun with all my strength. I was camped across the river from his walls, awaiting his commands, when the word reached me. By the time I could return to my own lands, Clegane and his vermin were back across the Red Fork, riding for Lannister's hills.† Littlefinger stroked the point of his beard thoughtfully. â€Å"And if they come again, ser?† â€Å"If they come again, we'll use their blood to water the fields they burnt,† Ser Marq Piper declared hotly. â€Å"Ser Edmure has sent men to every village and holdfast within a day's ride of the border,† Ser Karyl explained. â€Å"The next raider will not have such an easy time of it.† And that may be precisely what Lord Tywin wants, Ned thought to himself, to bleed off strength from Riverrun, goad the boy into scattering his swords. His wife's brother was young, and more gallant than wise. He would try to hold every inch of his soil, to defend every man, woman, and child who named him lord, and Tywin Lannister was shrewd enough to know that. â€Å"If your fields and holdfasts are safe from harm,† Lord Petyr was saying, â€Å"what then do you ask of the throne?† â€Å"The lords of the Trident keep the king's peace,† Ser Raymun Darry said. â€Å"The Lannisters have broken it. We ask leave to answer them, steel for steel. We ask justice for the smallfolk of Sherrer and Wendish Town and the Mummer's Ford.† â€Å"Edmure agrees, we must pay Gregor Clegane back his bloody coin,† Ser Marq declared, â€Å"but old Lord Hoster commanded us to come here and beg the king's leave before we strike.† Thank the gods for old Lord Hoster, then. Tywin Lannister was as much fox as lion. If indeed he'd sent Ser Gregor to burn and pillage—and Ned did not doubt that he had—he'd taken care to see that he rode under cover of night, without banners, in the guise of a common brigand. Should Riverrun strike back, Cersei and her father would insist that it had been the Tullys who broke the king's peace, not the Lannisters. The gods only knew what Robert would believe. Grand Maester Pycelle was on his feet again. â€Å"My lord Hand, if these good folk believe that Ser Gregor has forsaken his holy vows for plunder and rape, let them go to his liege lord and make their complaint. These crimes are no concern of the throne. Let them seek Lord Tywin's justice.† â€Å"It is all the king's justice,† Ned told him. â€Å"North, south, east, or west, all we do we do in Robert's name.† â€Å"The king's justice,† Grand Maester Pycelle said. â€Å"So it is, and so we should defer this matter until the king—† â€Å"The king is hunting across the river and may not return for days,† Lord Eddard said. â€Å"Robert bid me to sit here in his place, to listen with his ears, and to speak with his voice. I mean to do just that . . . though I agree that he must be told.† He saw a familiar face beneath the tapestries. â€Å"Ser Robar.† Ser Robar Royce stepped forward and bowed. â€Å"My lord.† â€Å"Your father is hunting with the king,† Ned said. â€Å"Will you bring them word of what was said and done here today?† â€Å"At once, my lord.† â€Å"Do we have your leave to take our vengeance against Ser Gregor, then?† Marq Piper asked the throne. â€Å"Vengeance?† Ned said. â€Å"I thought we were speaking of justice. Burning Clegane's fields and slaughtering his people will not restore the king's peace, only your injured pride.† He glanced away before the young knight could voice his outraged protest, and addressed the villagers. â€Å"People of Sherrer, I cannot give you back your homes or your crops, nor can I restore your dead to life. But perhaps I can give you some small measure of justice, in the name of our king, Robert.† Every eye in the hall was fixed on him, waiting. Slowly Ned struggled to his feet, pushing himself up from the throne with the strength of his arms, his shattered leg screaming inside its cast. He did his best to ignore the pain; it was no moment to let them see his weakness. â€Å"The First Men believed that the judge who called for death should wield the sword, and in the north we hold to that still. I mislike sending another to do my killing . . . yet it seems I have no choice.† He gestured at his broken leg. â€Å"Lord Eddard!† The shout came from the west side of the hall as a handsome stripling of a boy strode forth boldly. Out of his armor, Ser Loras Tyrell looked even younger than his sixteen years. He wore pale blue silk, his belt a linked chain of golden roses, the sigil of his House. â€Å"I beg you the honor of acting in your place. Give this task to me, my lord, and I swear I shall not fail you.† Littlefinger chuckled. â€Å"Ser Loras, if we send you off alone, Ser Gregor will send us back your head with a plum stuffed in that pretty mouth of yours. The Mountain is not the sort to bend his neck to any man's justice.† â€Å"I do not fear Gregor Clegane,† Ser Loras said haughtily. Ned eased himself slowly back onto the hard iron seat of Aegon's misshapen throne. His eyes searched the faces along the wall. â€Å"Lord Beric,† he called out. â€Å"Thoros of Myr. Ser Gladden. Lord Lothar.† The men named stepped forward one by one. â€Å"Each of you is to assemble twenty men, to bring my word to Gregor's keep. Twenty of my own guards shall go with you. Lord Beric Dondarrion, you shall have the command, as befits your rank.† The young lord with the red-gold hair bowed. â€Å"As you command, Lord Eddard.† Ned raised his voice, so it carried to the far end of the throne room. â€Å"In the name of Robert of the House Baratheon, the First of his Name, King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, by the word of Eddard of the House Stark, his Hand, I charge you to ride to the westlands with all haste, to cross the Red Fork of the Trident under the king's flag, and there bring the king's justice to the false knight Gregor Clegane, and to all those who shared in his crimes. I denounce him, and attaint him, and strip him of all rank and titles, of all lands and incomes and holdings, and do sentence him to death. May the gods take pity on his soul.† When the echo of his words had died away, the Knight of Flowers seemed perplexed. â€Å"Lord Eddard, what of me?† Ned looked down on him. From on high, Loras Tyrell seemed almost as young as Robb. â€Å"No one doubts your valor, Ser Loras, but we are about justice here, and what you seek is vengeance.† He looked back to Lord Beric. â€Å"Ride at first light. These things are best done quickly.† He held up a hand. â€Å"The throne will hear no more petitions today.† Alyn and Porther climbed the steep iron steps to help him back down. As they made their descent, he could feel Loras Tyrell's sullen stare, but the boy had stalked away before Ned reached the floor of the throne room. At the base of the Iron Throne, Varys was gathering papers from the council table. Littlefinger and Grand Maester Pycelle had already taken their leave. â€Å"You are a bolder man than I, my lord,† the eunuch said softly. â€Å"How so, Lord Varys?† Ned asked brusquely. His leg was throbbing, and he was in no mood for word games. â€Å"Had it been me up there, I should have sent Ser Loras. He so wanted to go . . . and a man who has the Lannisters for his enemies would do well to make the Tyrells his friends.† â€Å"Ser Loras is young,† said Ned. â€Å"I daresay he will outgrow the disappointment.† â€Å"And Ser Ilyn?† The eunuch stroked a plump, powdered cheek. â€Å"He is the King's Justice, after all. Sending other men to do his office . . . some might construe that as a grave insult.† â€Å"No slight was intended.† In truth, Ned did not trust the mute knight, though perhaps that was only because he misliked executioners. â€Å"I remind you, the Paynes are bannermen to House Lannister. I thought it best to choose men who owed Lord Tywin no fealty.† â€Å"Very prudent, no doubt,† Varys said. â€Å"Still, I chanced to see Ser Ilyn in the back of the hall, staring at us with those pale eyes of his, and I must say, he did not look pleased, though to be sure it is hard to tell with our silent knight. I hope he outgrows his disappointment as well. He does so love his work . . . â€Å"

Free Essays on Tragedy In Macbeth

IS THIS A TRAGEDY? "In Shakespeare’s tragedy, one element is consistent- the tragic hero. Each tragic hero shares certain traits that contribute to his tragedy. Such as Macbeth, each hero is a man of high estate or high ranking. Also, they each possess some flaw or obsession that will eventually lead to their demise. The character does not have to be â€Å"good†, or moral, but he or she does have to have some unknown potential that makes the reader feel that they could do great things. The reader admires and pities these characters for that reason, but when the death of the tragic hero comes it often brings a sense of relief. Macbeth is one of the best examples of a tragic hero, and proves that this story is a tragedy. At the beginning of the play, Shakespeare defines Macbeth as a hero very clearly. For the couragous defense of Scotland he is easily seen to be a hero. When it is discovered that the Thane of Cawdor has surrendered, Duncan decides to give Macbeth this title: â€Å"What he hath lost noble Macbeth hath won† (1.2.70). This shows Macbeth’s rank, which starts him in the right direction for a tragic hero. As Macbeth starts to believe the prophecies of the witches that he will be the Thane of Cawdor, and the King, it is easy to see his obsession with his destiny. This great ambition will turn into the flaw that brings Macbeth to his demise. When Duncan named Malcolm the Prince of Cumberland, Macbeth decided to murder Duncan. When Duncan arrived at Inverness, Macbeth controlled his ambition for the time being and did not kill Duncan. The failing of his decision was soon reflected by Lady Macbeth who called him a coward. From then on, after the murder of Duncan, Macbeth ent ered into a life of evil. When Macbeth is crowned King, he seems to be isolated from the people who he began this journey with. When the Macbeth plans to kill Banquo, it is obvious that Macbeth has transformed into a completely evil character: ï ¿ ½... Free Essays on Tragedy In Macbeth Free Essays on Tragedy In Macbeth IS THIS A TRAGEDY? "In Shakespeare’s tragedy, one element is consistent- the tragic hero. Each tragic hero shares certain traits that contribute to his tragedy. Such as Macbeth, each hero is a man of high estate or high ranking. Also, they each possess some flaw or obsession that will eventually lead to their demise. The character does not have to be â€Å"good†, or moral, but he or she does have to have some unknown potential that makes the reader feel that they could do great things. The reader admires and pities these characters for that reason, but when the death of the tragic hero comes it often brings a sense of relief. Macbeth is one of the best examples of a tragic hero, and proves that this story is a tragedy. At the beginning of the play, Shakespeare defines Macbeth as a hero very clearly. For the couragous defense of Scotland he is easily seen to be a hero. When it is discovered that the Thane of Cawdor has surrendered, Duncan decides to give Macbeth this title: â€Å"What he hath lost noble Macbeth hath won† (1.2.70). This shows Macbeth’s rank, which starts him in the right direction for a tragic hero. As Macbeth starts to believe the prophecies of the witches that he will be the Thane of Cawdor, and the King, it is easy to see his obsession with his destiny. This great ambition will turn into the flaw that brings Macbeth to his demise. When Duncan named Malcolm the Prince of Cumberland, Macbeth decided to murder Duncan. When Duncan arrived at Inverness, Macbeth controlled his ambition for the time being and did not kill Duncan. The failing of his decision was soon reflected by Lady Macbeth who called him a coward. From then on, after the murder of Duncan, Macbeth ent ered into a life of evil. When Macbeth is crowned King, he seems to be isolated from the people who he began this journey with. When the Macbeth plans to kill Banquo, it is obvious that Macbeth has transformed into a completely evil character: ï ¿ ½...

The Wind in Willows Book Review

'The Wind in Willows' Book Review The Wind in the Willows is a childrens story that lives in the hearts and minds of its readers well into adulthood. With its subtle blend of anthropomorphism and very-British humor, the book is a classic tale of river life and friendship. The Wind in the Willows is surprisingly dark and thrilling in placesparticularly in the later chapters and the battle of Toad Hall. The book provides something that few novels of its time can claim: all-round entertainment for all ages. The story confirms the power of close friends and courage to make a difference in the lives of others. Overview: The Wind in the Willows The novel begins with Mole, a peace-loving little animal, doing some spring cleaning. He soon meets another of the people who live by the river, Ratty, who enjoys nothing more than messing about in boats. After a number of pleasant afternoons having picnics and spending time on the river, Mole and Ratty decide to visit one of Rattys friends, Toad whowhen they arriveexplains to them his latest obsession, a horse, and cart. They go for a ride with Toad, but whilst on the road, they are tipped over by a speeding motorcar (which completely breaks Toads little cart). Far from being upset by the loss of his favorite toy, Toads first thought is that he, too, wants one of those incredible automobiles. This obsession leads him to trouble, however. Much to Mole, Ratty and their old and wise friend Badgers sadness, Toad is soon arrested and sent to prison for stealing a motor car. However, within the gaol, one of the guards daughters soon feels sorry for the poor Toad (who certainly wasnt made for prison life), and gives him some old washerwoman’s clothes and helps him to escape. Toad returns to the river and is welcomed by his friends, who tell him that his home, Toad Hallonce his pride and joyhas been overtaken by the cruel woodlanders: the stoats and the weasels. Some hope does seem to be in sight. Badger tells Toad that there is a secret tunnel leading back into the very heart of Toad Hall and the four friends follow it, leading them right into the lair of their enemies. An enormous battle ensues and Badger, Mole, Ratty and Toad manage to rid the hall of stoats and weasels, placing Toad back where he belongs. The rest of the book suggests that the four friends will continue in their easy-going lifestyle, occasionally taking trips on the river and eating picnics. Toad manages to curb his obsessive behavior, somewhat, but cannot completely cure himself. Englishness in The Wind in the Willows The true joy of The Wind in the Willows is the image of English life: a very Georgian, upper-middle-class take on the world in which the countryside is covered by an incessant summer time and which days can be spent idling by the riverside and watching the world go by. Because of the success of The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame was able to leave his unhappy job in a bank and live very much the life he represented in the pages of the booka life full of cake at tea time, and the soothing sound of the river running past. The novel is also very much loved for its characters: the slightly pompous and ridiculous toad (who is completely carried away by his latest obsession), and the wise old badger (who is crotchety, but who has very high regard for his friends). They are characters who embody the English values of fortitude and good humor. But, these creatures are also incredibly honorable and willing to fight (even to the death) for their little piece of England. There is something ineffably comforting about Grahames little storyfamiliar and also very powerful. The animal characters are completely humanized, but their personalities and characteristics are still linked to their animals characters. The Wind in the Willows is wryly humorous and tremendously fun. This book is one of the greatest childrens books of all time.

10 Demographic Names and Expressions

10 Demographic Names and Expressions 10 Demographic Names and Expressions 10 Demographic Names and Expressions By Mark Nichol In researching various words used to describe the common people, I came across a scattering of other demographic denominations, including a couple (bobo and clerisy) I hadn’t known before. Like the previous list, this collection, which ranges in nature from sociological designations to synonyms for the learned to slang (and which is annotated with notes about each term’s connotation), may also help enrich your vocabulary: 1. Bobo: Someone with conflicting bourgeois and bohemian tastes; the word is a partial abbreviation of those two descriptors. The offspring (or modern equivalent) of yuppies, bobos favor liberal and progressive causes but are also conspicuous consumers thought of as having bad taste and banal interests. Pejorative. 2. Boomer: A person born during the post-World War II baby boom (roughly 1946-1964), a period in which, due in part to postwar prosperity, the US birthrate increased dramatically. The connotation is of a sociopolitically influential demographic growing up during a period of rapid and volatile social change. It also implies, at this point, a significant proportion of the US population becoming elderly and, because of boomers’ concerns and values, having a dramatic impact on issues of employment, retirement and retirement benefits, and health and welfare. Neutral. 3. Clerisy: Intellectuals as a class. From the German word Klerisei (â€Å"clergy†), derived from the Latin term clericus (â€Å"cleric†); at one time, literate people were for the most part confined to the clergy. Neutral, but obscure. 4. Demimonde: Originally, mistresses and prostitutes as a class, whose only attachment to respectable society is their benefactors and clients; the term, French for â€Å"half-world,† now has a broader sense of a social group segregated from society as a whole. Euphemism. 5. Hipster: An affectedly unaffected person, characterized by a self-conscious appearance and ostentatious about following cutting-edge social and technological trends. Derogatory. 6. Homeboy: A close friend, or a fellow gang member; originally applied to someone from one’s hometown. The term and its diminutive, variably spelled homey and homie, derived from usage by black and Latino twentieth-century urban migrants who associated with others who had come from the same city or town. Generally neutral, but also can be negative, because of racial associations. 7. Intelligentsia: Intellectuals as an elite subculture. From the Russian intelligentsiya, based on the Latin word for â€Å"intelligent.† Neutral, but dated. 8. Literati: Intellectuals, or those interested in the arts. The word, with a slight spelling change, is directly from Latin. Neutral. 9. Philistine: A materialistic, anti-intellectual person. The name (generally styled lowercased) stems from that of a tribe referred to in the Bible as being hostile to the Israelites, and therefore, by extension, inimical to culture. Derogatory, but also usually somewhat facetious. 10. Yuppie: A materialistic, social-climbing white-collar worker, socially liberal but economically conservative. This term, a diminutive of the acronym for â€Å"young, urban professional,† originated in the economic boom of the 1980s but faded with the downturn of financial fortunes later in the decade, though the stereotype, and those who inspired it, are still extant. Pejorative. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 English Grammar Rules You Should KnowPeace of Mind and A Piece of One's Mind50 Words with Alternative Spellings

The Black and the Blues Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Black and the Blues - Research Paper Example † which depicts the distinct difference between their personality and insights can be considered as the focal points of the story. Truly in the trajectory of life, people are pushed and weathered with numerous battles either economically, personally, socially, or conflicts within the family. Through these most who prefer to stay on the safe side, surrender and be submissive to what is dictated by the society as they deem that this is a more practical and rational path to take. For the other free spirits, they opt to follow their dreams no matter how surreal the idea may seem yet for them it is something worth believing and following. Baldwin’s story though written in 1957 depicted a crucial message on bitter realities within the society which strongly affected him and the black community of his time and still somewhat remained unchanged in some parts of the world today. The story focused on the narration of an algebra teacher in Harlem who struggled to earn and maintain a middle class status and keep his wife and kids on a safe part of the society; and his antonym relationship with his brother Sonny, a man who elected to navigate the road less traveled and pursued to become a jazz pianist though ended up behind bars from possession and addiction to heroin. Trimmer and Urbana (p.165) discussed that the differences between the brothers represent the division within the black community where the narrator represents the middle class men who strives to live the American dream and aspires for an improved standard of living in the United States; while the other group, as represented by Sonny, are those who just accept the fact that they will forever be locked up from the privileges the white people savor. Take note that the setting happened on a post war as the narrator cited his military service to the US government. It is an era where people, particularly the blacks, are rallying for equality and their war against racism. The narrator tried to understan d his brother and struggled to reach out to find answers to his questions though remained blindly to accept the truthful answers. The story reminds us on the importance of listening and true understanding in every form of relationship and in using these rather than coercion or rigid authority. There was a scene in the story, after their mother’s funeral, when they discussed the future of the teenage Sonny. There was tension between the brothers as Sonny declared that he wants to be a jazz musician while the older brother sees that dream to be irrational. This scene together with the one when he offers his wife Isabel’s place to be Sonny’s home manifests the narrator’s sense of responsibility to his younger brother’s welfare. Throughout the story, issues on racism and inequality were strongly reflected. During his time there was strong discrimination for the black people in the racist America. On strong reflection of Baldwin’s personal strugg le is the part of the story where the narrator recollects the death of their uncle who was driven over by a group of drunken white Americans and recklessly left the carcass on the street. Depression from racism was not confined to the character’s family but it extends to the entire black community during that time (Reilly 56). Baldwin succeeded in

Hamlet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Hamlet - Essay Example It seemed to me that he was different from Oedipus or Macbeth in that he did not jump into thoughtless action. I searched for the possible reasons for this and interrogated the differences in the notion of tragedy among these heroes. Apparently, Hamlet was different from the others because he was faced with serious domestic problems soon after he returned home from the University. The learned Prince took the world seriously and tried to comprehend it to the fullest, and to his utter dismay discovered that time was out of joint. I focused on the specific pattern in which Hamlet tried to discover the truth and the ways in which he tried to avoid action. I searched for the possible reasons for his ambivalent relationship with his mother Gertrude and lady love Ophelia, and a specific pattern evolved with which I could argue that Hamlet’s inaction did not show his inability, and that it was part a well thought out plan of action which the Prince had conceived. The paper revolves around the idea that Hamlet’s inaction was related to the careful study of the situation at hand which he had to resolve. It is argued that instead of jumping into thoughtless action like Oedipus or Macbeth, Hamlet took as much time as possible to interrogate the existential questions he was faced with and realized that the state of the world did not adhere to any idealistic notion. Hamlet’s quest for truth is not something that would lead to a happy state of affairs. He realizes that he is doomed to be a tragic hero whose actions can only result in irrevocable sorrow. The paper introduces the psychoanalytic readings that have established the possible reasons for the procrastination of Prince Hamlet and goes on to analyze the Apollonian and Dionysian traditions in the Greek culture. In this section, Hamlet is seen as possessing more of the Apollonian elements in contrast with Oedipus, who

MGT302 - Org. Behavior and Teamwork CA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

MGT302 - Org. Behavior and Teamwork CA - Essay Example Unfortunately, it takes a certain mix of educated thought processes and considerations to be able to make the best decision that would apply to a given situation. The article entitled, â€Å"Herb’s Concoction (and Martha’s Dilemma): The Case of the Deadly Fertilizer,† Customer Affairs Department personnel Martha Wang needs to decide on how to handle information from a customer complaint claiming that the best-selling product of their company, Herb’s Garden, allegedly caused the death of the customer’s animal. Thus, Martha needs to make what is called a non-programmed decision. Non-programmed decisions are so unique and important that they require conscious thinking, information gathering, and careful consideration of alternatives. This is in contrast with programmed decisions which occur frequently enough that one already develops an automated response to them. . Martha faces quite a dilemma in this case. First, she herself has had a previous experience that is similar to the issue being raised by the customer. However, when she addressed this issue to upper management, it was simply dismissed as being a case of an overreacting customer. Furthermore, the company’s owner personally requested Martha to take care of the situation. in such a crucial situation, individuals may be overwhelmed by the pressure that they face. Therefore, Martha must carefully analyze the situation and weigh all alternatives to come up with the best option. Furthermore, in turning decision making into a more manageable affair, Bauer and Erdogan (2005) suggest that one asks the following questions: For Martha, the necessary first step would be to do some background research. She could try to look into the company’s history in terms of customer feedback, especially concerning the particular product which is Herb’s Special Fertilizer Mix. If she feels that there is indeed sufficient customer complaints similar to the one brought up by the client that

Are issues of immigration and refugee status questions concerning Essay

Are issues of immigration and refugee status questions concerning human rights or just the basic rights of citizenship - Essay Example Immigration is the unidirectional inward movement of individuals into a population or population area, departure from ones native land to settle in another, or â€Å"entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence†. 1 Reasons for immigration are most often economic, though religious and political factors may also be present. Reasons such as unbearable economic conditions and poor future prospects in the home country are called â€Å"push factors†.2 Immigration for education, retirement migration to countries with lower living costs and migration for reasons of health are examples of ‘pull factor’ immigration. Immigration due to persecution, abuse, ethnic cleansing and war risks are examples of push factor immigration. Some immigration takes place for personal reasons, such as for being with family or loved ones. Very wealthy persons move to countries with liberal tax structures. Highly skilled persons or those with exceptional talent are often invited to immigrate. The definition of refugee now includes persons fearing persecution for ethnic or religious reasons, nationality, group membership or political opinion, and persons who have fled from their homes to other places in their own countries. Refugees are displaced persons, but not all are included in the definition of "refugee" under international law, such as internally displaced people. Refugee status is determined on the basis of interpretation of persecution and the grounds for determining status. Persecution has meanings that are liable to different interpretations. Grounds for determination of refugee status depend on the grounds for persecution: race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion. 4 Human rights are ‘The basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled, often held to include the right to life

Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Case study - Essay Example A patient might not understand why a particular medication may not be available in his/her country. For instance, a 46-year old woman who purchased an over-the-counter weight loss medicine in South America cannot buy the similar medication in US. Your health teaching as a care provider is to inform them of the role of FDA and the process underlying the issue. The FDA restricts and regulates imported medications to address safety of individuals. In addition to this regulation and unavailability of some drugs is the time it takes for a drug approval. The time it takes from a drug approval starting from the drug discovery to the FDA’s Inspectional Background and Data is 22 months duration of waiting (Hertzman, 9). Aside from FDA’s restriction in the drug approval process, a comprehensive risk assessment is performed to determine safety and efficacy of a certain drug to human subjects. In line with this are phases of clinical development and are categorized in Phase I to Ph ase III (Madzarevic, 49).

Should polygamy be made legal in the United States Essay

Should polygamy be made legal in the United States - Essay Example This enabled a division of labor. It also relieves the difficulty of child bearing. Few women in Zimbabwe desired to be a single wife in a marriage because of the numerous responsibilities customs and the larger society would give her (Zeitzen 2008). In contrast, Western societies has championed two conflicting principles of marriage’s purpose, one rooted in collective or joint principles, and the other rooted in personal satisfaction and companionship (Gordon 2002). This fusion of principles has generated laws that rigidly control sexual behavior in accordance to a monogamous definition of marriage. The United States, as such, bans polygamy (Zeitzen 2008). In my opinion, it should remain to be so. The success of polygamy depends on the culture which hosts it. For instance, as shown in the above discussion, in largely agricultural or labor-intensive societies such as Zimbabwe polygamy is more favorable than monogamy. But in a society like the United States, which is highly ind ustrialized or mechanized, monogamy is more acceptable than polygamy. Polygamy, in my opinion, should not be legalized. According to my research, some of the most compelling reasons for the prohibition of polygamy are the following: (1) Legalizing polygamy will further deprive women of some basic rights.

Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Case study - Essay Example A patient might not understand why a particular medication may not be available in his/her country. For instance, a 46-year old woman who purchased an over-the-counter weight loss medicine in South America cannot buy the similar medication in US. Your health teaching as a care provider is to inform them of the role of FDA and the process underlying the issue. The FDA restricts and regulates imported medications to address safety of individuals. In addition to this regulation and unavailability of some drugs is the time it takes for a drug approval. The time it takes from a drug approval starting from the drug discovery to the FDA’s Inspectional Background and Data is 22 months duration of waiting (Hertzman, 9). Aside from FDA’s restriction in the drug approval process, a comprehensive risk assessment is performed to determine safety and efficacy of a certain drug to human subjects. In line with this are phases of clinical development and are categorized in Phase I to Ph ase III (Madzarevic, 49).

College personal statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

College - Personal Statement Example caring and loving grandparents, I always longed for the presence of my own parents and for a lifestyle where I would be able to spend more time with them and share even little details of my day. My grandparents always ensured that my studies would not affected by the irregular working hours of my parents and taught me how to be focused towards the attainment of personal goals. The vacuum of the special bond with my parents never made me bitter about life, rather it always proved to be a driving force for my existence to lead a different life than theirs. After I completed my high school, my parents moved back to my city but it was too late for me to get close to them and nurture our relationship. One day, a fear that often came to my mind became a reality; my parents asked me to join their business. My lonely childhood had already taught me that this decision would not just be a choice of a career, rather a lifestyle that can influence one’s values and ideas due to its demanding nature. I declined their offer and decided to live my life on my own terms while standing on my own feet. Needless to state that their commitment to their business gave me a lifestyle and commendable opportunities to acquire education, however a balance should have been struck between work and personal life to provide their child with the things that money cannot buy. One of the facts that my life has made me believe is that family, friends, hopes and dreams do not accumulate to define us as much as what we do for a living. Everything can be influenced and changed by what we do in the real world to make our presence in the professional life. I aspire to get admission in your esteemed university and prove my own identity and existence which is free from other people’s ideologies. My independent childhood and focused vision has taught me how to organize myself and achieve personal goals. Alongside earning the status of a reputable and successful professional, I want to lead a family

Risk Management In Naval Operations

Risk Management In Naval Operations The concept of risk management has been around the Navy since its inception. During the drawdown of the 1990s, the risk management concept was formalized into the Operational Risk Management (ORM) program. This approach was initiated to mitigate the risks associated with such a massive reorganization. This paper examines the Naval Directive Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Instruction 3500.39C OPNAVINST 3500.39C (02 July, 2010) that explains the ORM process as five basic steps, four principles and a risk management process and measurement that is applied on three levels of operation; in-depth, deliberate, and time critical. As stated in OPNAVINST 3500.39C; risk is expected in all military tasks, training, missions, operations, and personal activities. The most common cause of task degradation or mission failure is human error, specifically the inability to regularly manage risk. ORM reduces the risks by identifying hazards and measuring and controlling the expected risks, allowing decisions to be made that compare risks against the mission benefits. Navy personnel are responsible for managing risk in all tasks while leaders are responsible for ensuring proper procedures are in place and appropriate resources are available for personnel to perform assigned tasks. The Navy vi sion according OPNAVINST 3500.39C is; to develop an environment in which every officer, enlisted, or civilian person is trained and motivated to personally manage risk in everything they do, including on- and off-duty evolutions in peacetime and during conflict, therefore enabling successful completion of any task and mission. Keywords: Operational Risk Management, OPNAVINST 3500.39C I. Statement and significance of the Issue The ORM origins goes back to 1994 when The US Navy team made ORM an integral part of planning, training, and operations. This stemmed from a need to improve operational readiness in peacetime-and to achieve success in combat-during a period of reduced resources and personnel. The Department of the Navy (DON) Safety Objectives for FY 2008 and Beyond (9 Oct 07) stated; Integrate Safety and Risk Management into all on and off-duty evolutions to maximize mission readiness and to establish DON as an organization with world class safety where no mishap is accepted as the cost of doing businessà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Establish a risk management training continuum to ensure all DON personnel receive targeted [ORM] training and that all formal professional training courses are infused with examples of how effective risk management improves both safety and mission readiness.. Risk is common nature in all military tasks, training, missions, operations, and personal activities. The most common cause of task degradation or mission failure is human error, specifically the inability to regularly manage risk (OPNAVINST 3500.39C, 2010). Navys goal is; to develop an environment in which every officer, enlisted, or civilian person is trained and motivated to personally manage risk in everything they do, including on- and off-duty evolutions in peacetime and during conflict, therefore enabling successful completion of any task and mission (OPNAVINST 3500.39C, 2010). The ORM process minimizes risks to acceptable levels, commensurate with task or mission accomplishment. Correct application of the ORM process will reduce losses and associated costs resulting in more efficient use of resources. Zero risk is not the intent of ORM. Risk management is a continuous process that is integral from the strategic level of planning through the tactical level and execution. It is a tool to help improve mission readiness and mission accomplishment. The ORM benefits when applying the ORM process ensures mission or task success by providing more effective use of resources, improving on- and off-duty risk decision making, reducing injury and property damage, and improving the readiness of all personnel (FAA System Safety Handbook, Chapter 15, 2000) ORM is a process that assists organizations and individuals in making informed risk decisions in order to reduce or offset risk, thereby increasing operational effectiveness and the probability of mission success. The ORM process is applicable across the spectrum of operations and tasks. It should be used by everyone all the time, whether on- or off-duty in their military or civilian life. II. Review of Relevant Research What is ORM? The term Operational Risk Management (ORM) is defined as a continual cyclic process which includes risk assessment, risk decision making, and implementation of risk controls, which results in acceptance, mitigation, or avoidance of risk, (OPNAVINST 3500.39C, 2010). ORM is the oversight of operational risk, including the risk of loss resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes and systems; human factors; or external events. How does it work? The ORM process assists you in making smart and informed decisions. Actually, we apply ORM every day. At times, we may not even be aware of it as you carry out a task or mission. An example of this is as simple as crossing the street; we look both ways because we were taught this at a young age. However, today we dont even look at this as risk management, but something that we know is the right thing to do before crossing the street. Every person has a role to play in managing risk during a commands task or mission, and every person is vital to the success of the Navy team, (ORM Fundamentals, Navy Knowledge Online, 2011). The Five Steps The ORM process is a systematic, continuous, and repeatable process that consists of five basic steps (OPNAVINST 3500.39C, 2010). Identify hazards Assess hazards Make risk decisions Implement controls Supervise (and watch for changes) The first two steps comprise the risk assessment portion of ORM and provide enhanced awareness and understanding of a given situation. This awareness builds confidence and allows for timely, efficient, and effective protective measures. The remaining three steps are the essential follow-through actions to either eliminate the hazard or mitigate the risks. The Four Principles. ORM incorporates the following four principles (OPNAVINST 3500.39C, 2010): 1. Accept Risk When Benefits Outweigh the Cost 2. Accept No Unnecessary Risk 3. Anticipate and Manage Risk by Planning 4. Make Risk Decisions at the Right Level 1. Accept Risk When Benefits Outweigh the Cost The process of weighing risks against the benefits and value of the mission or task helps to maximize success. Balancing costs and benefits can be a subjective process. Therefore, personnel with knowledge and experience of the mission or task must be engaged when making risk decisions (OPNAVINST 3500.39C, 2010). The goal of ORM is not to eliminate risk but to manage the risk so that the mission or task both on- and off-duty can be successful. The bottom line is, if no benefit can be achieved then do not take the risk. 2. Accept No Unnecessary Risk If all detectable hazards have not been identified, then unnecessary risks are being accepted. Additionally, an unnecessary risk is any that, if taken, will not contribute meaningfully to mission or task accomplishment or will needlessly jeopardize personnel or material. The risk management process identifies hazards that might otherwise go unidentified and provides tools to reduce or offset risk. The acceptance of risk does not equate to the imprudent willingness to gamble. Take only risks that are necessary to accomplish the mission or task (OPNAVINST 3500.39C, 2010). 3. Anticipate and Manage Risk by Planning Integrating risk management into planning as early as possible provides the greatest opportunity to make well-informed risk decisions and implement effective risk controls. This enhances the overall effectiveness of ORM and often reduces costs for your organization and yourself when off duty (OPNAVINST 3500.39C, 2010). 4. Make Risk Decisions at the Right Level Anyone can make a risk decision. However, the appropriate decision maker is the individual who can eliminate or minimize the hazard, implement controls to reduce the risk, or accept the risk. Leaders at all levels must ensure that their personnel know how much risk they can accept and when to elevate the decision to a higher level. Ensuring that risk decisions are made at the appropriate level will establish clear accountability. Therefore, those accountable for the mission must be included in the risk management process. If the commander, leader, or individual responsible for executing the mission or task determines that the controls available to them will not reduce risk to an acceptable level, they must elevate the risk decisions to the next level in the chain of command (OPNAVINST 3500.39C, 2010). Risk Assessment Matrix ORM Matrix Card OPNAVINST 3500.39C, (2010). Risk Assessment Matrix. Retrieved from http://safetycenter.navy.mil/ 1 March, 2011. This Matrix uses Risk as an expression of possible loss, adverse outcome, or negative consequences; such as injury or illness in terms of probability and severity of failure (Salas Maurino, 2010, p. 57). Risk Assessment is a structured process to identify and assess hazards. An expression of potential harm, described in terms of severity, probability, and exposure to hazards. Accomplished in the first two steps of the ORM process. Risk Assessment Code (RAC) is an expression of the risk associated with a hazard that combines its severity and probability into a single Arabic numeral which can be used to help determine hazard abatement priorities. This is typically accomplished through the use of the risk assessment matrix. The basic RACs are: 1-Critical, 2-Serious, 3-Moderate, 4-Minor, and 5-Negligible. Another definition not included in this matrix is, Residual Risk and that will be the Risk remaining after controls have been identified and selected. Bringing back the concept that Zero Risk is not the primary purpose of ORM. Also, for the use of this matrix an Operational Analysis of the task at hand has to be made. This means a chronological or sequential list of the major events or elements in a mission or task. This is the complete picture of what is expected to happen and assures all elements of a mission or task are evaluated for all potential hazards. Very important to define what a Hazard is before assigning it a number in this matrix, because a hazard is any real or potential condition that can cause injury, illness, or death to personnel; damage to or loss of equipment or property; degradation of mission capability or impact to mission accomplishment; or damage to the environment, this is also synonymous with the term threat. Last for this chart is the Risk Decision or the ability to make a decision to accept or not accept the risk(s) associated with an action; made by the commander, leader, or individual responsible for performing that action. The Three Levels The risk management process is applied on three levels: in-depth, deliberate, and time critical. The basic factor that differentiates each level is time; that is the amount of time available to dedicate to the preparation and planning of missions or tasks (OPNAVINST 3500.39C, 2010). There is no definitive separating line between the three levels (in-depth, deliberate, and time critical. It is important to know we have resources to tap into. At each level of the planning process, hazards and associated risks are identified and appropriate controls are developed and implemented. These controls become resources upon which we can draw for the next level of planning and ultimately for execution. III. Summary of Major Findings and Conclusions On and Off-duty mishaps are extremely detrimental to the Navys operational capability. Because the Navy works as a team 24/7, the actions one person takes can affect the readiness and operational capability of the commands mission or task, therefore affecting the Navy as a whole. Thus, we must constantly be aware of all risks involved in our everyday off-duty activities. Benefits of using ORM: Reduction of operational loss. Lower compliance/auditing costs. Early detection of unlawful activities. Reduced exposure to future risks. The ORM process minimizes risks to acceptable levels, commensurate with task or mission accomplishment. Correct application of the ORM process will reduce losses and associated costs resulting in more efficient use of resources. IV. Recommendations All Navy military, civilian, and contractors under the direct supervision of government personnel should apply the ORM principles and processes in all activities in order to optimize mission success and maintain readiness. Leadership should be held accountable for the use of ORM processes in their command. An organizations success requires the commitment of leaders to manage risk while meeting the commands mission. Leaders must lead by example and provide thorough policies and goals, with buy-in from all personnel. All personnel must fully trust that they have the support for risk decisions made in the interest of completing the mission, while also recognizing that intentional breaches of regulations will not be tolerated. The responsibilities as a Leader and /or Commanding Officer, or officer-in-charge should include: Establish command policy and expectations for the application of ORM on- and off-duty. Address the ORM process in mission, training, safety, and lessons learned reports. Inform the chain of command of those hazards identified by the ORM process that cannot be controlled or mitigated at the command level. Ensure ORM risk decisions are being made at the appropriate level within the command.

What is Research? :: The Definition of Research

Research. Function: noun, verb transitive Etymology: Middle French recerche, from recerchier to investigate thoroughly, from Old French, from re- + cerchier to search Date: 1577 Research is a process of investigation. An examination of a subject from different points of view. It's not just a trip to the library to pick up a stack of materials, or picking the first five hits from a computer search. Research is a hunt for the truth. It is getting to know a subject by reading up on it, reflecting, playing with the ideas, choosing the areas that interest you and following up on them. Research is the way you educate yourself. Research is the systematic process of collecting and analyzing information to increase our understanding of the phenomenon under study. It is the function of the researcher to contribute to the understanding of the phenomenon and to communicate that understanding to others. Research is a process through which we attempt to achieve systematically and with the support of data the answer to a question, the resolution of a problem, or a greater understanding of a phenomenon. Research is defined as human activity based on intellectual application in the investigation of matter. The primary aim for applied research is discovering, interpreting, and the development of methods and systems for the advancement of human knowledge on a wide variety of scientific matters of our world and the universe. DIAGRAMATIC REPRESENTATION OF RESESARCH PROCESS: WHAT IS REPORT? An account presented usually in detail. A formal account of the proceedings or transactions of a group. In writing, a report is a document characterized by information or other content reflective of inquiry or investigation, which is tailored to the context of a given situation and audience. The purpose of reports is usually to inform. Reports may include persuasive elements, such as recommendations, suggestions, or other motivating conclusions that indicate possible future actions the report reader might take. Reports can be public or private, and often address questions posed by individuals in government, business, education, and science. KINDS OF RESEARCH REPORT: ïÆ'Ëœ DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH: This research is the most commonly used and the basic reason for carrying out descriptive research is to identify the cause of something that is happening. For instance, this research could be used in order to find out what age group is buying a particular brand of cola, whether a company’s market share differs between geographical regions or to discover how many competitors a company has in their marketplace.

The National Review Essay -- Magazine Conservative Essays

The National Review The National Review is a widely known classic conservative magazine. Founded in 1955 by William Buckley Jr., the magazine was the idea of William S. Schlamm, an Austrian Jewish immigrant. Buckley, a conservative, now serves as the chief editor for the magazine. The views expressed in the National Review generally follow the opinions of conservatives, who prefer current circumstances and only desire change in moderation. In the four consulted issues of the National Review evidence of its conservative nature can be found in the printed images, chief editor, section compiled by the editor, and articles published in the magazine. The political cartoons in the National Review provide evidence to the fact that it is a conservative magazine. A cartoon found in the July 23, 2001 issue displays a donkey about to be hit with a missile. The donkey, which symbolizes a Democrat, is saying, â€Å"Give me one good reason why I should support a missile defense system†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (44). Unlike the conservative’s beliefs of having a strong military and high government spending to support the military, Democrats, generally known as having liberal views, believe in pacifism. Thus, this cartoon is showing the stupidity of Democrats not supporting government spending for military even though a missile is headed right for them. By denouncing liberals this cartoon gives proof that the magazine is conservative. Another image that provides proof that the magazine is conservative is an advertisement found in the November 5, 2001 issue of the National Review. In large bold print at the top of the advertisement the words â€Å"What’s Wrong with This Picture?† sit above a picture of four liberals speaking at college campuses. These lib... ...s believe that marriage is defined as a union between a man and a woman. This would be a drastic measure to ban same-sex marriages in the United States. Thus, both of the articles contribute evidence to the fact that the National Review is a strongly conservative magazine. The National Review, a widely known conservative magazine, does not hide its conservative nature. It openly ridicules Democrats (liberals), such as President Clinton, and widely praises Republicans (conservatives), such as former President Bush. Most of the articles in the magazine are written about subjects that have two clearly defined political positions, liberal and conservative. These articles, as well as the images found in the magazine, explicitly show that the magazine is strongly conservative. The National Review is one of the best examples of a classic conservative magazine.

CIPD Assignment Submission Declaration Essay

Candidate declaration: I confirm that the work/evidence presented for assessment is my own unaided work. I have read the assessment regulations and understand that if I am found to have ‘copied’ from published work without acknowledgement, or from other candidate’s work, this may be regarded as plagiarism which is an offence against the assessment regulations and leads to failure in the relevant unit  and formal disciplinary action. I confirm that 75% of this submission comprises my own written work, in my own words. I declare that the word count limit includes all aspects of my written submission. I agree that title/contents page, references/bibliography are the only part of the submission that do not form part of the word-count’ I also agree that if my assessment is +/ – 10% of the word count the assessment will returned with the appropriate advice to reduce/ increase the word count, which may delay assessment feedback following the submission. I agree to this work being subjected to scrutiny by textual analysis software if required. I understand that my work may be used for future academic/quality assurance purposes in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998. I understand that the work/evidence submitted for assessment may not be returned to me and that I have retained a copy for my records. I understand that until such time as the assessment grade has been ratified through internal and external quality assurance processes it is not final. Name: (typed) Lucianne Powell Date: 1/12/14 1. Explain at least 2 purposes of performance management and its relationship to business objectives One purpose of performance management is to enhance and maintain a high level of individual and employee performance so an organisation can perform at its best. It is essential that employees are  appropriately managed so they can work to their full potential and understand what is expected of them. Another purpose of performance management is to motivate and engage employees. Employees’ should feel involved with this process by contributing to the organisations future direction and path. The more involved employees are means the more motivated employees will be to want to develop themselves within their roles. The benefit of motivating and engaging staff is that this will increase commitment to the organisation and decrease retention. In conclusion to these two purposes, if all employees are kept motivated and encouraged to work to their best abilities, it will result in individuals meeting their targets and sharing aims that are aligned to the overall business objectives. 2. Identify three components of performance management systems 1) Performance appraisal – The purpose of the appraisal is to review performance over a fixed period of time and discuss future development. This should be a two way discussion and should not involve any surprises to the employee. 2) Delivering feedback – Feedback is a vital part of a performance management system. It is important that an employee is given appropriate feedback that is open and transparent as this will identify part of the employees’ future development and training needs. Positive feedback should also be told to the employee as a way of recognising their good performance and keeping the employee motivated. 3) Managing under performance – Employees that are under performing need to be managed in an effective way so they can clearly understand what they need to improve on in a certain period of time. This can be done by setting clear objectives and communicating a deadline that the objectives need to be met at. These objectives should both be mutually agreed by both parties. 3. Explain the relationship between motivation and performance management, referring to at least two motivational theories. Motivation and performance management are very closely linked within an organisation. Motivation is established by the setting of incentives. We are all motivated from believing that if we take on certain behaviours, a reward will follow after. The more motivated and incentivised an individual is, the more likely they are to take a discretionary effect in their work by going above and beyond what is already expected of them. These extra efforts would certainly have a  positive impact on the revenue, retention and status of an organisation. One theorist that supports this belief is Vroom. Vroom’s expectancy theory assumes that an individual will decide to behave or act in a certain way as it will lead them to a desired outcome of what they are wanting. According to Vroom, an individual’s level of motivation depends on the three following beliefs: Expectancy is the perception on if we put more of an effort in our work; it will lead to increased performance. An employee must be confident that their efforts will result in better productivity and they have the ability to perform their work tasks well. Instrumentality is the belief that our actions will lead to a desired outcome. An employee must be confident that such increased performance with result in them achieving the desired reward or outcome. Valence is how much the individual values the expected outcome. For example, if someone is mainly motivated by money, they may not value the benefits of additional time off. Each individual will have different motivations at different points in time. A successful organisation needs to take into consideration the different motivational factors for each of its employees so that they can develop, increase and maintain motivation. Whilst remuneration and promotion are very obvious motivations, we also know that employees are motivated by other intangible factors such as having a feeling of belonging and personal growth. Abraham Maslow discovered a great way of structuring the motivation at different points in time. Maslow believed that individuals are motivated by their needs and when one need is fulfilled, an individual will strive to fulfil the next one. Maslow created a ‘hierarchy of needs’ pyramid. Maslow believed that if the deficiency needs aren’t fulfilled, individuals will not be able to move up to the more complex growth needs and therefore this will have an effect on their development. Maslow’s theory can be applied in the workplace but it is the manager’s responsibility to effectively identify each of its employees needs and know when they have fulfilled each one. For example, safety needs could mean a safe working condition to reduce stress and anxiety for an emplo yee. 4. Identify two purposes of reward within a performance management system. One purpose of reward within a performance management system is to attract and retain good employers. Low turnover and employee retention bring  benefits to an employer as it spends less time hiring and training new workers. Competiveness between organisations in the job market is always increasing so any organisation that develops a reputation as ‘cheap’ is unlikely to be desirable as potential employees will assume it does not reward effort fairly. Another purpose of reward within a performance management system is to motivate employees to be flexible and perform to the fullest extent of their capabilities. Although motivation has to come from within, reward can be used to encourage employees to go above and beyond in their roles. Reward can only motivate employees if the reward is attractive to the employee and the employee knows that the level of performance is achievable to them. 5. Describe at least 3 components of a reward system, 1 of which should be non-financial. A reward system is built up of the financial and non-financial components that are provided to employees in exchange for their time, talents, and efforts. Financial rewards are all rewards that have a monetary value and will add up to the total remuneration of an employee. Non-financial rewards are those which focus on the physiological needs employees have such as appreciation, influence and personal growth. Three key components of a reward system are; Recognition is awarding the employees who go above and beyond in their roles and behave in a way that is in line with the organisations business strategy. This will increase employee satisfaction by making employees feel more appreciated and invested in. Some examples of these rewards in the workplace are employee of the year awards, appreciation luncheons, long service awards and recognition programmes. Benefits – A benefits package is provided in addition to an employee’s total remuneration and form part of the total rewards package. These additional elements can include a pension, sick pay, private healthcare, life assurance, childcare vouchers and annual leave. An organisation should carefully consider and maintain what benefits it is going to have as each employee will have difference needs and circumstances. Developmental opportunities – A manager should acknowledge its employees’ developmental areas and should therefore offer the employee ways of ma stering that area. Some examples of learning opportunities within  workplaces are coaching, mentoring, on the job training and attending courses or seminars. 6. Explain the factors that should be considered with managing good and poor performance. Managing performance should be a continuous process that aims to improve an individual/organisational performance. It is a way of measuring what an employee contributes to the goals of their teams and the business as a whole. When managing performance we must consider the following factors; Employees must be able to understand their objectives and know what they need to do in order to meet them. Objectives are usually agreed at the start of a year so the individual can start the year knowing what they need to achieve and can then be reviewed at the end of the year. Agreeing the objectives should be a two way discussion between the line manager and employee. An effective objective should be achievable but challenging, it should be relevant to the department and business, should be easily measurable and it should have a timeframe of when it needs to be achieved. It is important that an employee re ceives regular feedback when it comes to managing performance. Feedback needs to be given to employees so they can understand how they are progressing and what they need to improve on. Feedback shouldn’t have any mix messages. If improvements need to be made to an employees’ performance, the constructive feedback should be given in a timely and effective manner so the employee can soon think of solutions. It is important to focus on the resources that the employee uses within their role as this could be having an effect on their performance. A manager should listen and address any issues that an employee may have but the manager needs to be sure that these issues are genuine as employees’ can often blame external sources before admitting their own fault. When managing poor performance, a manager should identify what is causing the employee to underperform; they should do this by addressing the underperformance with the employee in one to one meetings. Managers need to be trained in handling difficult conversations and need to feel confident in handling any sensitive conversations. It is important that a manager provides the relevant support as it will help the underperforming employee understand the opportunities for improving their performance and taking the necessary action. Organisations often manage poor performance formally through a performance improvement plan (PIP). The PIP should be closely monitored and should set out the following; The performance problem The timescale for achieving this improvement A review date Specify possible consequences if performance standards are not met Any training that the employer will provide to assist the employee. 7. Describe at least 2 items of data, including 1 external to the organisation. There are many integral documents to a performance review. Documentation helps to structure a performance review and give clear guidelines of what needs to be covered during the meeting. An item of data that can be used internally is a self-appraisal. A self-appraisal forms part of an employees’ performance review. The self-appraisal influences an individual to reflect on their performance and as a result they are more aware of their behaviour and actions which have had a consequence on their performance. The self-appraisal should give examples of what the employee believe they have done well in the past year and what they think they can improve on in the future. A manager and employee will use the self-appraisal to form the basis of discussion during the meeting. A job description can be used as a way of measuring performance as the description provides a useful guide as to what is expected of an employee. The job description can cover the core competencies that the employee is required to be fulfilling. Visualising these competencies will help a line manager to determine how an employee is performing and what their developmental needs are. An external form of data that can be used is gathering external feedback. This is a process when an employee will ask its customers for feedback usually through use of a questionnaire. This can help determine whether an employee is meeting their objectives. The benefit of gathering external feedback is that it takes into consideration other people’s views and therefore is viewed to be more objective and valid. The disadvantage of external feedback is it can be very costly and has over-reliance on technology. 8. Explain the frequency, purpose and process of performance review. Performance reviews usu ally take place twice a year in the form of a mid-year review and then an annual review which would take place at the end of a financial year. The purpose of a performance review is to provide employees’ with feedback on their performance The review should take place in a private and comfortable room away from any disruptions. The line manager should start the meeting off by explaining its purpose and what they will be discussing. The line manager would usually open up discussion by asking how the employee has felt the past 6 months or year has gone for them and discuss if the employee has effectively met their objectives. If an employee has completed a self-appraisal before the meeting, this can also form the basis for a discussion. It’s important to talk about any developmental areas for the employee and suggest ways on how this could be tackled. Managers should discuss any feedback that had been gathered on the employee and it’s important to discuss any developmental areas for the employee with suggestive ways on how this can be tackled. If there had been regular catch ups, the employee should have an idea of how the year has gone and therefore, nothing should come as a big surprise. Managers should encourage employees’ to suggest their own objectives for the coming year and any plans that are agreed should be noted on the appraisal form. An organisation with performance related pay would have a rating scale which shows the level of performance an employee has reached. The employee should be told of their decided rating in their review with what their salary increase and bonus payment will be. CHRP/CLDP ASSESSMENT Supporting Good Practice in Performance and Reward Management (3PRM) Ref No F306A – Version 2 June 2012 Student name: CRITERIA MET/ NOT YET MET COMMENTS LO1: Be able to explain the link between organisational success, performance management and motivation (Activity 1) 1 Describe the purpose of performance management and its relationship to business objectives. 2 Explain the components of performance management systems 3 Explain the relationship between motivation and performance management LO2: Be able to explain the relationship between performance management and reward (Activity 1) 1 Explain the purpose of reward within a performance management system 2.2 Identify and explain the components of an effective total reward system LO3: Be able to contribute to effective performance and reward management in the workplace (Activity 1) 3.1 Identify and explain the factors that need to be considered when managing performance. 3.2 Describe the data required by individuals involved in performance and reward management processes. LO4: Be able to conduct and reflect upon a performance review (Activities 1 & 2) 4.1 Explain the frequency, purpose and process of performance review. 4.2 Conduct a performance review meeting. 4.3 Reflect on the outcomes of the performance review ASSESSMENT OUTCOME Students should please note that the above Assessment Outcome for this Unit is provisional and is subject to Internal Acacia Learning verification (IV) and external CIPD Verification (EV). Tutor’s signature Date BOTOX UK LTD PERFORMANCE REVIEW FORM Date of Review: 11 November 2014 Period Covered: 1 May 2014 – 1 November 2014 Name of Manager: Lucianne Powell Name of employee: Becki Thomas Job Role of Employee: Sales Consultant 1. Summary of discussion on performance over the last six months Becki and I discussed the areas of her job that she has performed well in the last 6 months and the areas of her job that she would like to develop and improve on. Becki has mainly felt that the last 6 months could have been better for her in regards to her sales targets but we have discussed the ways in which this can be overcome and Becki is very motivated in doing anything she can to increase her sales so I have every faith in her that she will. 2. The quality of the work provided, recording areas that have gone well and those where improvement is required Becki has shown herself to be a great team player which is one of the main attributes to becoming successful here at Botox. Becki always actively contributes to and supports her team and the team find Becki great to work with. Customers have given very positive feedback on Becki to say that they have all found her very pleasant on the phone and can fully trust that she will complete a task that she is given which is brilliant. Becki’s sales targets have dipped in the last 6 months and this has been very concerning for the Management team. As time goes on, Becki will need to continue to build up relationships with different clients and this will increase her sales. 3. Record performance against targets set and in those cases where they have not been met, record the reasons given and your views on these Objective 1) Increase number of sales by 50% over the next 6 months. Becki has not met this objective but we have discussed the reasons why she has not met this. Becki has been going through a difficult time at home the last few months and this has been affecting her work. I have agreed that this can be an on-going objective for Becki and we will have regular catch ups to discuss if Becki’s sales targets are increasing. Objective 2) Build up client relationships by attending more networking opportunities. Becki has met this objective by successfully attending the networking events and I have witnessed her actively socialising to potential clients. This is an excellent opportunity for Becki to gain more sales in the coming future. 4. Outline agreed actions to overcome any shortfall against targets including such factors as training and development needs, equipment needs or medical support Actions by line manager: Actions by employee: To arrange a temporary change to Becki’s hours of work and regularly meet with Becki to discuss if the working arrangement is working and agree on a date for the Becki to go back to her full time hours. Once Becki’s hours are temporarily changed, she will need to make it to work on time every day and start to increase her sales. To arrange for Becki to go on a sales course and request her feedback on the course. To attend the sales course. This should hopefully get Becki back into the swing of selling. 5. Indicate whether a performance related bonus should be made at current rates. (In circumstances where the full target has not been met a case must be made before any partial bonus payment can be paid, with reasons provided for that recommendation) I have taken into consideration that Becki has been through a difficult time recently at home and I know that when focussed Becki is fully capable of reaching the desired sales targets so I have agreed to award Becki with a bonus of  £500. I hope that once her childcare is in place, she can then become more focussed on increasing her sales. Signed: Employee: Becki Thomas Date: 11 November 2014 Line Manager: Lucianne Powell Date: 11 November 2014 OBSERVATION RECORD – 3PRM Candidate’s name: Lucianne Powell Observation Assessment: PASS Unit 3PRM – Learning Outcome No 4: Be able to conduct and reflect upon a performance review. Skills required Assessor feedback – to be completed by the assessor with notes to support the decision Identify purpose Informative account given to Becki at the start of the meeting re its purpose and what you planned to cover during the course of the discussion Plan meeting: 6. aims and objectives 7. questions 8. roles/resources 9. structure. Your supporting notes demonstrated that you had spent some time preparing for the meeting and it followed a logical path. Key elements of a review meeting were addressed e.g. reviewing performance, setting objectives and bonus payment considerations, Prepare suitable environment. Used the table and sat side by side to each other/the table. Both parties appeared comfortable with this arrangement Open meeting appropriately: introductions aims and objectives. A little bit ‘programmed /scripted’ at first with an over-reliance on your  notes, but once you settled into the role and nerves were dispelled your discussion became much more natural. You let Becki know the format of the meeting and that notes would be taken and that she would be able to see them – good. Establish rapport and put candidate at ease. Your personable style and empathetic manner helped to establish a rapport and relax the interviewee. Plenty of ‘positive strokes’ telling her how much she was valued as an employee and giving her the positive feedback received from her colleagues /customers all helped to make for congenial discussion and for her to feel supported – good Use appropriate questioning techniques: open questions clarifying. Open questions were used to encourage Becki to talk and reflect – I particularly liked your question asking for her thoughts on where she had performed well – this helped to ensure the discussion did not just focus on her immediate personal problems – well done! Control meeting without dominating. You adopted the ‘manager’ role by setting the scene, keeping the meeting focused and controlling its structure but this was all done in a collaborative and non-threatening manner. Communicate (listening and speaking) effectively with candidate, using appropriate body language. Good listening skills evidenced, lots of head nodding, eye contact made to encourage Becki to talk and to show you were interested; your body posture was open and non-threatening. You gave lots of motivational and supportive comments which certainly helped to show Becki that she was appreciated and supported. Very helpful and willing to meet her needs although in the real world, a line manager may not be so accommodating! Invite, and deal with, candidate questions. Invited Becki to ask questions and self-reflect – responded to these thoughtfully and constructively Identify any development needs and actions. Learning and development needs were touched upon but not explored fully – a more detailed discussion would need to take place regarding the ‘sales course’ and her longer term career ambitions once she was ‘back on track’. Advise asking the reviewee if they had any objectives to bring to the table before outlining yours! Conclusion and summary A clear account given of actions going forward and kindly informed that she would get  £500 bonus even though sales had dipped – nice touch! Conduct meeting within legal and ethical requirements. Legal and ethical considerations were duly adhered to. Advise to take notes during the meeting – doubt you would not remember all the key points without them!