Overcoming Adversity- The Alchemist free essay sample

All the adversity Eve had In my life, all the troubles and obstacles have strengthened me.. . You may not realize when It happened, but a kick In the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you. -Walt Disney. In The Alchemist by Paulo Cello, Santiago journey across the desert in search of his personal legend. He overcomes negativity, the love of a beautiful woman, and the fear of actually realizing his own dream.In the story, Santiago must overcome many obstacles so that he may achieve his personal agenda. These Include being told that you cant do It, risk losing the woman you love, and the fear of success. During Santiago Journey he Is told by the crystal merchant that he will never achieve his personal legend. The old merchant said, But you know that Im not going to Mecca, just as I know that you are not going to buy your sheep. We will write a custom essay sample on Overcoming Adversity- The Alchemist or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I was pure luck that Santiago would meet the crystal merchant. The man gave him a job, and a place to live.Santiago was very surprised when the man would not give him his blessing before he left. In the beginning when Santiago started working for the merchant he said that Santiago would not be able to make enough money In over a year to make It to the pyramids. It Is during this time that the boy mustve been thinking about whether or not he would continue with the journey. Finally, after leaving the merchants he decides to go to the caravan. Santiago doesnt give into the merchants negativity, but instead he decides to continue seeking his personal legend.While many people in our lives tell us things are impossible, we also must Orr about our loved ones. During the Journey to his personal legend, Santiago must risk losing his love, Fatima. On page 122 He even says, level found Fatima, and as far as Im concerned, Shes worth more than treasure This Is one of the hardest parts of the entire journey for Santiago. He knows he has just found the love of his life, but he knows he must continue his Journey. He wants his personal legend, but he doesnt want to risk losing Fatima. The way he overcomes this is by hearing the caring words of The Alchemist. The Alchemist says to the boy on page 120, muff must understand that love never keeps a man from pursuing his personal legend. If he abandons that pursuit Its because It was never true love. These words give the boy the courage to once again pursue his personal legend. Risking the peoples love that someone may care about is a common obstacle in attaining your personal legends, just like the fear of realizing your dream. Santiago fears realizing his dream once he is finally about to achieve it. If he wanted to he could now return to the oasis, go jack to Fatima and live his life as a simple Sheppard. (160) To the best of the boys knowledge, he has finally completed the Journey towards his personal legend. He believes that there Is nothing else to be learned so he can go back now. In sports this same feeling has been called, The fear of success and is what causes many athletes to choke. Many times along the Journey of life, people go through so much to achieve something that they might even forget what they are trying to achieve in the first place.Finally, after thinking it over, the regained his focus on achieving his goal. The fear of success can be very hard to overcome but Just like everything else, you must keep working. In the story Santiago over comes being told he cant achieve Walt Disney is trying to say in his quote is that even in the hardest times, adversity will only teach you and help you get closer to your dream. Everyone in life is going to have adversity on the path to their dream, but it is how you handle it that will determine whether or not the dream is realized.

The Second Shepherds Play essays

The Second Shepherds Play essays The Second Shepherds Play goes against many of the characteristics that Horace believes should be in a play. The play does not stay in the boundaries of genres by mixing comedy with seriousness. It is not consistent; it is not without surprises. Finally, the author did not completely believe in Dulce Et Utile or does he carefully weigh the judgment of his work. This play combines a little bit of comedy with extreme seriousness. The play begins with three shepherds guarding their sheep when a character named Mak joins them. Mak steals a sheep while the shepherds are sleeping and take it home to his wife. When the shepherds arrive at Mak's house to see if he has stolen the sheep they are fooled into believing that the sheep is a new born baby that Maks wife has just delivered. Even with a close up view of the sheep/baby, the shepherds believe it is just an ugly baby with a big snout. The punishment that the shepherds inflict on Mak when they finally realize the baby is a sheep is quite comical also. Stealing is a serious crime and it has been for quite some time. The shepherd simply place Mak inside a blanket and toss him up and down a few times. When the shepherds are finished inflicting their punishment on Mak they return to guard their sheep. At this point in the play the plot takes a complete turn from comedy to seriousness. Other than the three shepherds still being characters in the play, the whole plot changes. The three shepherds receive word that baby Jesus is born in Bethlehem. The play goes from one extreme to the other surprisingly fast; it is almost two separate plays. Dulce Et Utile is a Latin word that means to give pleasure and profit. When a writer has the gift of story telling they should share it by writing and publishing their stories or plays. Someone with a true gift of being able to write will give pleasure to those who read it. When a story or play is published and bought b ...

Research Methods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Research Methods - Essay Example An effective research process is characterized by detailed basic steps undertaken with caution to prevent errors that can affect the results. The first step is identifying the research problem. The problem is normally the issue being identified by the researcher or a concept that requires more information or clarification (Blankenship 2). Research problems are normally the common issues that affect the community and form the focus of the whole process. The second step involves the review of literature which enables the researcher to learn more about the problem under investigation. Reviewing documented literature about the problem provides the foundational knowledge that shapes the whole process. Literature review informs the researchers on how the earlier studies related to the research topic were conducted and the conclusions earlier formulated. The knowledge attained through literature review guides the researcher when narrowing down the research topic and clarifying the problem. The third step is clarification of the problem whereby the scope is narrowed down from the broad initial topic. The concepts gained through literature review offer guidance on the relevant topic under focus by addressing the stated problem. After clarification of the problem, the researcher should define the terms and concepts applied when describing the study. This helps in minimizing the confusion that may emanate from the readers of the study. This is because the interpretation differs depending on the person reading the project. Definition of terms and concepts should be followed by the definition of the population or group to be involved in the study. The research question and study purpose determine the population. Defining the population enables the researcher to know the population they are supposed to deal with and the target group. Once the population is identified, the plan for the study is developed. This serves as the framework for the entire study. Data is then collect ed among the identified population. Data collection involves surveys, questionnaires and observation of literature (Blankenship 2). The stated steps provide data that undergo analysis to answer the research question. Data is analyzed according to the stated instrumentation plan. Analysis involves breaking down the notes into categories of topic themes and making a decision on how these categories relates to the theme. The researcher identifies the loopholes in the research process and repeats the process to look for any missing information. The information is then synthesized through refining the thesis in relation to the earlier information compiled and read in the literature review. The results are reviewed and summarized according to the research questions. This is occasionally followed by communication or presentation of the results. The research should be communicated in the format required by the professor with proper use of citations to avoid plagiarism. Research process enab les researchers to inform action. The defined steps also negate any loopholes that may result to errors and eventual distortion of the conclusion drawn. Explain the Advantages and Disadvantages of Adopting the Case-Study Research Design. ADVANTAGES Case study is used to build upon the existing theory, formulate a new theory or challenge an existing theory. This provides the foundation for applying solutions to problems or during the description of a phenomenon. Case study is a

Case study analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Case study analysis - Essay Example As Shaw (2010) notes, the verdict of the Supreme Court in June 2012, that declared the Obamacare as constitutional,  supports the ethical principle of justice approach health care, and provides the roadmap for states, insurance companies, employers, and beneficiaries to effective implementation of the plan. The piecemeal implementation of Act is expected to climax in 2014, when major changes will take effect. Provisions in the legislation are intended to have more people under insurance cover, trim soaring medical costs, and prevent illnesses among vulnerable populations (Almgren, 2012). The Act targets adults aged between 19 and 64, since health care has been beyond their reach since the 21st Century began. Those who do not have insurance cover are given priority of health care under the law. Some of the major reforms in Obamacare include; pushing insurers to cover persons with pre-existing health conditions, lowering the bar for Medicaid applicants and beneficiaries, standardizin g insurance premiums, and giving business organizations incentives to provide medical cover for their employees (Almgren, 2012). The Act’s utilitarian spirit means insurers will have to absorb as many people as possible when major provisions of the Act become effective in 2014. The legislation is expected to better health services across all societal segments at affordable cost. The program is expected to boost life expectancy among American citizens by saving thousands from treatable illnesses. This is evident in the outcomes a recent research in the Act has been reputed for saving the lives of more than 5% of Americans in three states that extended affordable medical to low-income earners (Almgren, 2012). The end result was one adult life saved for every 176 people insured under the reformed Medicaid (Almgren, 2012). Conversely, despite these positive outcomes envisaged in the Act and the vote of confidence by the Supreme Court, some still feel that the pitfalls in Obamacar e outweigh the benefits. For example, allowing people with pre-existing conditions to benefit from insurance cover contravenes fairness to insurers, since they will have no option but to spend more in care provision than is reasonable and some may collapse. Impacts of Obamacare on society As Shaw (2010) has suggested, American citizens are in consensus on the four important goals that the health care system should achieve. Firstly, there is a need to access high quality services that can keep the highest number of Americans healthy in the long-term. Secondly, an effective health care law should be one that allows Americans to exercise their freedom to choose the right health care for them; when to adopt a particular care, and where to get services from. Thirdly, Americans expect a favorable health care system that a majority can afford. Lastly, there is need to share medical costs and gains of health care fairly. Despite the consensus, it beats logic to be divided in thought on Obam acare. Perhaps the point of departure on health care is that priorities of care vary across people, groups and business organizations. Social injustice and fairness should therefore be the guiding principle in the system, since the values advocate for the treatment of all parties with fairness, more so when the health care plan brings together the rich and poor, for-profit organizations and non-profit organizati

Journal Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Journal Paper - Essay Example Of the two, the latter is more influential since different people in a society may belong to different religions, yet they share the same culture. Since political ideology finds its roots in the religious and cultural concerns of the people, and religion and culture generally remain unchanged over the course of time, so does the political ideology. Ideologies may or may not be vehicles of individual and societal progress. It depends upon the sagacity of the society’s culture, though ideologies are definitely instruments of influence and power. The common opinion of a large body of public becomes weighty and influential and serves as a scale upon which the policies of government are evaluated. This can be estimated from the fact that in a conservative society with the domination of religion, sex education in schools is condemned by the public at large, whereas in an avant-grade society, people encourage the delivery of sex education in schools in order to inculcate awareness in children so that their susceptibility towards sexual diseases is reduced. Likewise, the level of exposure in media is looked at through the religious microscope.

Bureaucratic organization

Bureaucratic organization 2.1.0 Developing change process using a change models Unfreezing ) Movement ) Refreezing 2.2.0 Stakeholder Involvement in Change Process:- Customers Employees Owner/operators Suppliers Share holders Local communities Managing Change is a structured approach to Individuals, Team and Organizations from a current state to a desired future state. Introduction is a British-based international grocery and general merchandising retail chain. It is the largest British retailer by both global sales and domestic market share with profits exceeding  £6 billion. It is currently the third largest global retailer based on revenue, behind Wal-Mart and Frances Carrefour but second largest based on profit, ahead of Carrefour. Originally specializing in food and drink, it has diversified into areas such as clothing, consumer electronics, financial services, telecoms, home, health and car insurance, dental plans, retailing and renting DVDs, CDs, music downloads, Internet services, and software. Organizational Structure Jack Cohen founded Tesco in 1919 when he began to sell surplus groceries from a stall in the East End of London. The Tesco brand first appeared in 1924. The name came about after Jack Cohen bought a shipment of tea from T.E. Stock well. He made new labels using the first three letters of the suppliers name (TES), and the first two letters of his surname (CO), forming the word TESCO. The first Tesco store was opened in 1929 in Burnt Oak, Edgware, Middlesex. Tesco floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1947 as Tesco Stores (Holdings) Limited. The first self service store opened in St Albans in 1951 (still operational in 2008 as a Metro), and the first supermarket in Maldon in 1956. During the 1950s and the 1960s Tesco grew organically, but also through acquisitions until it owned more than 800 stores. The company purchased 70 Williamsons stores (1957), 200 Harrow Stores outlets (1959), 212 Irwins stores (1960).. 1.1.2 Product Originally specializing in food and drink, it has diversified into areas such as clothing, consumer electronics, financial services, telecoms, home, health and car insurance, dental plans, retailing and renting DVDs, CDs, music downloads, Internet services, and software. 1.1.3 Market characteristics As mentioned above, any super market can be analyzed for its attractiveness to a particular company or organization on a number of different characteristics. Some of the more significant market characteristics that should be considered are actual market size, market growth rate, number of competitors, Intensity of competition, Production level. Tescos UK stores are divided into six formats, differentiated by size and the range of products sold. Which is One stop, Tesco Express, Tesco Metro, Tesco super stores, Tesco Extra and now they are planning to open a Mega Tesco. Where customers will have more availability and they can get everything they 1.1.4 Operating Strategies. There are few competitors in the market so that Tesco has become much more competitive in the recent years. Tesco always changes its strategies to remain No.1 in UK. I Past Strategy. Almost a decade ago Tesco strategy was to beat other competitors prices and become the UKs cheapest brand. Tescos was fully focused on selling large quantities of poor quality products on low prices. II Current Strategy. Currently Tescos marketing strategy has been based around a database strategy driving a huge direct marketing campaign. There customer base (as recorded by the details provided by the hugely successful Club Card Scheme) almost exactly mirrors the demographic make-up of the UK. Simply this means they have somehow managed to be all things to all men. They have between 7m and 8m different variations on the mailings going out to their clients based upon demographic and transactional data. The objective has always been to up-sell to their existing customers through acquiring better customer data and meeting their needs. Now, through providing customers with what they want, the most significant strategy has been aimed at increasing the non-food section by capitalising on the growing need for one-stop-shopping created by an increasingly time-starved population. Drives of changes in todays economy As organizations evolve and come to be seen as dynamic, coping systems, the concept of how they change and methods by which they manage change has continued to be refined. Managing a process of change in an organization can be a highly complex task and is often essential for effective organizational development (OD). This article will provide an overview of the change process faced by many organizations. Different models of change will be highlighted and the resistance to change displayed by many employees will be examined. 1.2.1 Factors of Change Organizations face huge pressures to change, from both internal and external sources, internal forces to change are often as a result of long-term external forces. For example, a banks internal pressure to adopt an Internet banking system, as a result of more and more other banks going online. Internal factors of change The factors internal to an organization that force changes can be identified through a formal analysis method. Most common among these methods is S.W.O.T. analysis. Strengths An organizations strengths, which help identify a competitive advantage or unique selling point, are of vital importance when deciding on changing the focus of the company. Deciding to push certain products or features in favor of dropping others, (like Apple did in recent) years can reinvent the organization. Weaknesses An organizations weaknesses are a real motivation to change. Weaknesses identified internally in a companys product or service, will require immediate attention and changing. Quite often (especially with service based companies), the weakness would be resolved by a cultural change. Opportunities Opportunities that present themselves, like new contracts on other continents will force changes in the company, sometimes as simple as new working hours. With the differences in different customer expectations, modern companies need to remain flexible. Flexibility is a major cultural change that needs to be introduced. Threats Threats to an organization, usually in the form of competitors and substitution products force a company to react. To react effectively companies have to react quickly, which is a cultural change in a company. External Factors of change The factors external to an organization that force changes can be identified through the PESTELI acronym. Political Political factors would include the current and potential influences from political pressures such as unions and national pay agreements. Economic The local, national and world economy impact can force an organization into changing their work practices or even product prices. Social Changes in lifestyle absolutely force changes in organizations (e.g. iPod), but at a cultural level, socially changing attitudes towards work or ethical issues can also have effects on the culture inside an organization. Technical The ever-changing technical world in which we live has probably the most profound effect on organizational culture of all external factors. Technical advancements that allow employees to work from home, working teams to be separated by great distances and for customers to be located on the opposite side of the world from their suppliers. Anything that changes the day-to-day work of the employees has a profound effect on the organizations culture. Ecological The local, national and world ecological and environmental issues that have effects on culture at national levels filter down into the organizational culture within a company. Legislative The legal issues both locally and at an EU level, such as taxes and working time regulations also have effects on culture at a national level, filter down into the organizational culture within a company. Industry Industry changes have a huge effect on national culture. The move away from agriculture into industrial and now information economies has greatly changed the national working culture. Organizational Structure (Bureaucratic organization) Purpose: to track changes in management paradigms from the bureaucratic to the post-bureaucratic to the learning organization model, highlighting core differentiating features of each paradigm as well as necessary ingredients for successful evolution. Design/methodology/approach: the article takes the form of a literature review and critical analysis. Findings: the complexity of the learning organization necessitates gradual evolution. The successful integration of the characteristics of post-bureaucratic firms empowerment, teamwork, trust, communication, commitment, and flexibility coupled with an emergent systems perspective can provide improved understanding of how the learning organization disciplines may actually materialize. Originality/value: linking two traditionally encapsulated areas of research namely post-bureaucratic organizations and learning organizations, highlighting an interesting roadmap for successful convergence of post-bureaucratic organizations towards learni ng organizations The strengths of a bureaucratic organization are: More control over the employees with clear rules and regulations No confusion as the reporting relationships is clear and well defined. The system is centralized and all the decisions can be monitored There is standardization and everyone has to follow the same procedure The weaknesses are: The decision making and all the other processes are very slow The jobs may become boring for the employees The communication has to go through so many levels that it gets distorted. Too much control discourages innovation and creativity. There are too many levels in the hierarchy. The bureaucracy itself encourages political behavior and people try to use other means to go up the hierarchy 2.1.0 Developing change process using a change models Lewins (1951) initiated a model of the change process as one consisting of the three phases which are. i) Unfreezing, reducing the factors and behaviors which maintain the status quo. ii) Movement, creating and developing new behaviors and implementing the change. iii) Refreezing, stabilizing the new behaviors and structure. The first change implemented by the management takeover, which of replacing the HR and Engineering Manager for individuals versed in Japanese philosophy and production methods, sent out a company-wide signal that change could, and would impact everyone at any level within the company. Whether this was intentional or not, this marked the true starting block for cultural change in Byrashi Mouldings. The subsequent changes implemented by the management team, were widespread, with no facet of the company remaining untouched. The changes can be broken down into the following areas -Adoption of Japanese manufacturing systems modernization of plant, which implied by â€Å"two years of rebuilding the plant investment in company, it implies a future -Reshaping work practices cell manufacturing process, industrial workforce into work teams, skills training for all staff Everybody applied for the Team Leader position Flattening and streamlining the organization by eliminating unnecessary tiers of management, â€Å"redundancies, bit heavily into the middle management cadre.† Due to the unprofitability of Byrashi Mouldings, which was commonly known, the voluntary and compulsory redundancies, this created a ‘do or die culture, and assisted in creating an environment where the only viable option for all the employees was to embrace change. All these movements/changes from all over the company are implemented to assist the first stage of managing change, that of unfreezing the existing structure. Computer Room implies continuous learning and change, which is normal for Japanese companies, which do Continuous Improvement equal-opportunity to all the employees of the company. The continuous-training programme gives a stable refreezing stage upon the organisation. Cultural change is not incremental and each stage of the change is important to impact the organisational cultural change. On the respect of the cultural norms of workforce, on the short or medium term, the first two stage takes a more significant impact on; while on the long term, the last stage which establishes a continuous improving system will take a more important impact on. Stakeholder Involvement in Change Process:- Customers: Explain the customers at the shop level, every time they come for shopping they should be told about the change by cashiers or at customer service desk. At the same time toll-free numbers, email or website should be able to explain all the queries. Employees: Line managers should arrange one to one meetings with the staff and explain the change process. Also Free company magazine (Tescos One Team), Staff benefits website, weekly news, daily updates and Team 5 messages should be used to answers all the questions and communicate to everyone in the business. Owner/operators: Company owner/operator explain the benefits for long or short run in directors meeting and also sending them special notes or emails. Suppliers: Company directors/Area Managers have one to one meetings with suppliers and their representatives. Arrange the workshops or training if necessary. Shareholders: Share holders should be able to find information on websites. And also they should be told by their monthly reports and through the Agents. Local communities: Making sure local communities are also on boat by contacting them through their club card statements and displaying banners or posters inside the shops.

Development of the Montessori Method Essay -- Maria Montessori ISD Met

Maria Montessori and the ISD Model: Development of the Montessori Method Summary The paper I prepared begins with a description of the Montessori Method and a historical narration of the professional career of Dr. Maria Montessori. I also included some biographical information as to her origins and the identity of her parents. I then drew a comparison of her methods for developing the Montessori Method and her career to the ISD model. I compared significant events in her career to the analysis phase. Explaining that her experience with children lead her to develop her programs. Then I drew a comparison to her work with the design and development phases, citing her materials that she uses in her classrooms and the classrooms themselves. Finally I compared her implementation and subsequent discoveries to the implementation and evaluation phases in ISD. I concluded with my own personal opinion, that Maria Montessori was an innovator and mostly responsible for modern education. I used four directly quoted sources, one solely paraphrased, and one merely for research a nd background information. Since the late Nineteenth Century, educators and medical professionals have been concerned with the physical and mental development of children between the ages of two and seven years. During the first part of the Industrial Revolution and through the beginning of the Twentieth Century, conditions in the cities and industrial centers were deplorable. Adult workers were forced to work long hours and under extreme conditions, likewise children were made to endure arduous working environments with little or no concern for their well being, short of their ability to contribute to the work force. In Upton Sinclair's book, The Jungle, he des... ...ontessori, there is a distinct pattern to her development that is remarkably similar to those proposed by the ISD model. References Works Cited Gettman, D. (1987). Basic Montessori : learning activities for under-fives. New York: St. Martin's Press. Montessori, M. (1964). Dr. Montessori's own handbook. Boston: Robert Bentley, Inc. Pines, M. (1967). Revolution in learning: the years from birth to six. New York: Harper and Row Publishers. Sinclair, U. (1960). The Jungle. New York: The New American Library of World Literature. Standing, E.M. (1962). Maria Montessori: her life and work. New York: The New American Library of World Literature. Other Sources Braun, S. J. (1974). Nursery education for disadvantages children: an historical review. In Montessori in perspective. (pp. 7-24). National Association for the Education of Young Children: New York. Development of the Montessori Method Essay -- Maria Montessori ISD Met Maria Montessori and the ISD Model: Development of the Montessori Method Summary The paper I prepared begins with a description of the Montessori Method and a historical narration of the professional career of Dr. Maria Montessori. I also included some biographical information as to her origins and the identity of her parents. I then drew a comparison of her methods for developing the Montessori Method and her career to the ISD model. I compared significant events in her career to the analysis phase. Explaining that her experience with children lead her to develop her programs. Then I drew a comparison to her work with the design and development phases, citing her materials that she uses in her classrooms and the classrooms themselves. Finally I compared her implementation and subsequent discoveries to the implementation and evaluation phases in ISD. I concluded with my own personal opinion, that Maria Montessori was an innovator and mostly responsible for modern education. I used four directly quoted sources, one solely paraphrased, and one merely for research a nd background information. Since the late Nineteenth Century, educators and medical professionals have been concerned with the physical and mental development of children between the ages of two and seven years. During the first part of the Industrial Revolution and through the beginning of the Twentieth Century, conditions in the cities and industrial centers were deplorable. Adult workers were forced to work long hours and under extreme conditions, likewise children were made to endure arduous working environments with little or no concern for their well being, short of their ability to contribute to the work force. In Upton Sinclair's book, The Jungle, he des... ...ontessori, there is a distinct pattern to her development that is remarkably similar to those proposed by the ISD model. References Works Cited Gettman, D. (1987). Basic Montessori : learning activities for under-fives. New York: St. Martin's Press. Montessori, M. (1964). Dr. Montessori's own handbook. Boston: Robert Bentley, Inc. Pines, M. (1967). Revolution in learning: the years from birth to six. New York: Harper and Row Publishers. Sinclair, U. (1960). The Jungle. New York: The New American Library of World Literature. Standing, E.M. (1962). Maria Montessori: her life and work. New York: The New American Library of World Literature. Other Sources Braun, S. J. (1974). Nursery education for disadvantages children: an historical review. In Montessori in perspective. (pp. 7-24). National Association for the Education of Young Children: New York.

Borders in Our Minds Essay

Since the presidency under James Polk in 1844, many American citizens have, in one form or another, been in conflict with our neighbors to the south – the populace of Mexico. In the 19th century, however, those conflicts revolved mainly around ownership of land in what are now southwest regions of the United States (Scheffler, 2011). In modern society, American indifference toward Mexican immigrants exists in many other forms and plays a significant role in efforts to control Mexican natives entering the United States. It is my intention to bring to light various circumstances by which intolerance to Mexican immigrants and Mexican-Americans may have evolved. Such attempt will be made through: presentation of some of the various forms of bias currently in existence; application of the abstraction process as it applies to development of stereotypes; consideration of societal and cultural perspectives and how they may have precipitated non-acceptance of the Mexican immigrant into American society; and reflection on the roles in which Mexican immigrants have been placed that perpetuate stereotypes from an economic perspective. Finally, I will conclude by offering insight into that which I have derived from compilation of this paper from the perspective of one studying general semantics as part of an undergraduate program at Alverno College. This conclusion will include proposal for further consideration of the topic offered to the audience for which this paper is intended. The Basics of Bias Since 2000, the Hispanic population in the United States has grown from 35. 3 million (U. S. Census Bureau, 2000) to 50. 3 million (U. S. Census Bureau, 2010). This segment of the population has realized significant growth making then a large component of all American residents. One would tend to believe that given this growth, Mexicans would be viewed less as â€Å"aliens† and more as American citizens. In most instances, however, they are not considered the latter. They are considered different and in the past five years sociologists and civil rights attorneys have revealed many of the elements that play a role in the perpetuation of the bias numerous Americans hold toward Mexican immigrants. â€Å"They are [viewed as] disloyal . . . and refuse to assimilate† (Villareal, 2006) is one view of a Connecticut attorney who has spent many years defending minorities through legal activism (pg. 1). Villareal (2006) furthers his argument against American bias toward Mexican Americans by stating that â€Å"Mexican Americans will share in that dream and in that society only if they dream in English† (pg. 1). These biases obviously exist, but how they perhaps developed and why they conceivably sustain is the subject matter to follow. From Neighbor to Nuisance: The Power of Abstraction Objectivity and multi-perspective thinking is typically the product of the â€Å"constant interplay of higher-level and lower-level abstractions† (Hayakawa, 1990). It is the tendency to labor only at higher-levels of abstraction where one is inclined to stereotype. This is primarily due to the deduction that high-level abstraction is comprised of vagueness and generalities and it is this indistinct thinking that leads to standardized conceptions of common members of a group. These theories of high-level abstraction could very well account for bias against immigrants based upon linguistic differentials which reveal the tendency of individuals to stereotype or apply prejudice based upon language barriers. According to Nelson (2009), â€Å"linguistic bias mediates the extent to which people maintain stereotypic expectancies in the face of disconfirming information† (p. 499). Nelson predicates this concept upon studies of linguistic differences and how they produce negative behaviors. He describes this â€Å"linguistic bias effect† (p. 499) as existing at higher-levels of abstraction. While his research was done using Italian-Americans as test subjects, the linguistic bias theory assesses language barriers in a general sense and can account for negative predisposition toward Mexican immigrants based upon their unique dialect and possible inability to master language in a sense that individuals can assimilate as indigenous to the United States. The Societal and Cultural Gap A feeling of superiority as a people is likely a major contributor to American bias toward Mexican immigrants; highly distinct cultural attributes play a key role in this arena. In his in-depth studies and published works on cultural differences, Geert Hofstede (1984) reveals that â€Å"Americans see their own culture as very individualistic; and this individualism is interpreted as a major contributor to the greatness of the United States† (p. 150). Individualist cultures have great tendency to protect that which they feel entitlement to and possess a low desire to share. The United States is also a country very low on Hofstede’s scale measuring â€Å"power distance† which indicates a desire for a stable cultural environment where low power distance is â€Å"associated with highly individualistic cultures† (p.164). Based upon Hofstede’s research as it pertains to the cultural gap between Americans and Mexican immigrants, it can be inferred that intolerance toward Mexican immigrants has, in part, evolved from: an inability of Americans to accept cultural differences; ignorance to a culture that is based upon close, long-term commitment and shared responsibility rather than individualistic goals; and a desire to maintain a cultural environment of which they are familiar–an environment which they may view as threatened by change. In furthering the position of cultural disparity and its contribution to the intolerance of Mexican immigrants, various studies of ethnicity have yielded plausible explanation as to why many Americans have difficulty in the acceptance of Mexican immigrants into their native land. As is noted by Portes (1985), â€Å"Studies of ethnicity typically begin by noting the persistence of distinct cultural traits among groups formed by immigration . . . this situation can only be explained from an assimilation perspective, by the insufficient diffusion of the culture of the core to peripheral groups† (p.24). This perspective reiterates the strong role played by cultural disparity in fostering intolerance of immigrants. Economic Pigeon-Holing Some view Mexican immigrants as important only to a specific segment of the U. S. labor market and therefore, fail to see their role anywhere beyond this realm. It has become difficult for Mexican immigrants to transcend these barriers as Portes (1985) describes that â€Å"they have formed, each in their time, the mainstay of a segmented labor market . . . they constitute an indispensable component of the economic structure† (p. 25). He strengthens this argument by stating that â€Å"Granting such groups admittance into the core society on the basis of merit would jeopardize their utility to employers and to the entire dominant group† (p. 25). From this vantage point, it would be difficult for any one person to gain acceptance into a larger group if the economic success of that group were dependent upon that person remaining in one, very specific role. Given this, it is not difficult to understand the reasons why many Americans view Mexican immigrants as migrant workers, laborers, or maids—befitting of only a specific segment of the U. S. labor force. It is conceivable that this is not because they are unable to move beyond these stereotypes, but because they are unwilling to do so as it would upset their perception of an ideal economic structure. Discussion Investigation of the subject matter herein along with subsequent authorship of this paper has for me served as a catalyst toward multi-perspective understanding of current issues that impact the world from historical, social, political, and economic perspectives. I am now of the strong belief that effective communication is highly dependent upon successful integration of multicultural perspectives and diverse social perspectives. The ability to present an idea from multiple perspectives has also provided me an awareness of my ethical obligation as a communicator, that is, to inform without bias. It is difficult to argue that stereotypes precipitated by social, cultural, and economic perspectives exist as they pertain to Mexican immigrants in the United States. Thoughtful reflection upon the evolution of bias and stereotype can bring about greater understanding. To deny that diversity exists within our borders is to deny change. To attempt to keep that diversity out is to deny oneself the ability to live spherically and draw from cultural experiences that could serve to broaden perspective and intellect. A by-product of this dissertation is offered in the form of a challenge to those individuals who may be unaware of the levels of abstraction within which they operate. Heightened awareness of the levels of abstraction from which one functions both verbally and cerebrally can produce deeper understanding and subsequently the ability to understand and be understood. This may very well serve to lessen abhorrence and perhaps ultimately lead to the deterioration of intolerance to build a more peaceful society. References Elissa, G. (2001, August 11). Man Charged in Beatings Is Said to Have Used Racial Slurs. New York Times. p. 6. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Guitierrez, D. G. (1995). Mexican Americans, Mexican Immigrants, and the Politics of Ethnicity. Berkeley, CA: California Press. Retrieved March 23, 2011, from http://books. google. com/ books? hl=en&lr=&id=Had4W9odLX0C&oi=fnd&pg=PR11&dq=Mexican+immigrants& ots=Xb7xBvWz7o&sig=FRbC5aio9PLGrh14YK8pNrmEMnY#v=twopage&q&f=false. Hayakawa, S. I. (1990). Language in Thought and Action. (5th ed. ). Boston, MA: Thomson Wadsworth. Hofstede, G. (1984). Culture’s Consequences. Newbury Park, CA: SAGE Publications. Nelson, T. (2009). Handbook of prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination. Psychology Press, New York, N. Y. Retrieved March 21, 2011, from http://books. google. com/books? id=J1qeQ T4bkX0C&pg=PA499&lpg=PA499&dq=abstraction+and+prejudice&sourc.

Free Essays on Black Arts Movement

An Examination of The Black Arts Movement In a 1968 essay, "The Black Arts Movement", Larry Neal proclaimed the Black Arts Movement was â€Å"the aesthetic and spiritual sister of the Black Power concept†. The Black Arts movement, usually referred to as a 1960s movement, solidified in 1965 and broke apart around 1975. The movement’s major players were Amiri Baraka/Leroi Jones, Adrienne Kennedy, Ron Karenga, Larry Neal, Sonia Sanchez, and many more Black artists at this particular time in American history. This Black intellectual revolution examined and targeted many assumptions in the artistic world, specifically the role of the text, the timelessness of art, the responsibility of artists to their communities, and the significance of oral forms in the struggles of Black folk . This paper will explore several concepts promoted by the Black Arts Movement, in particular, cultural nationalism, the Black Aesthetic and the role of the artist in the community. Cultural nationalism was founded on the belief that blacks and whites have separate values, histories, intellectual traditions and lifestyles; therefore, in reality, there are two separate Americas. Cultural nationalism was often expressed as an abstract and aesthetic return to the motherland (rarely an actual return) and a recognition of traditional African roots, that biased education and stereotyped representations in the mass media had torn from the souls of African-Americans. Ron Karenga, one of the most prominent voices of the cultural nationalist, states, in his essay â€Å"Black Cultural Nationalists†, â€Å"Let our art remind us of our distaste for the enemy, our love for each other, and our commitment to the revolutionary struggle that will be fought with the rhythmic reality of a permanent revolution". The goal of the cultural nationalist was the realization of a Black community based on a common descent and language. Moreover, the cultural nationalis... Free Essays on Black Arts Movement Free Essays on Black Arts Movement An Examination of The Black Arts Movement In a 1968 essay, "The Black Arts Movement", Larry Neal proclaimed the Black Arts Movement was â€Å"the aesthetic and spiritual sister of the Black Power concept†. The Black Arts movement, usually referred to as a 1960s movement, solidified in 1965 and broke apart around 1975. The movement’s major players were Amiri Baraka/Leroi Jones, Adrienne Kennedy, Ron Karenga, Larry Neal, Sonia Sanchez, and many more Black artists at this particular time in American history. This Black intellectual revolution examined and targeted many assumptions in the artistic world, specifically the role of the text, the timelessness of art, the responsibility of artists to their communities, and the significance of oral forms in the struggles of Black folk . This paper will explore several concepts promoted by the Black Arts Movement, in particular, cultural nationalism, the Black Aesthetic and the role of the artist in the community. Cultural nationalism was founded on the belief that blacks and whites have separate values, histories, intellectual traditions and lifestyles; therefore, in reality, there are two separate Americas. Cultural nationalism was often expressed as an abstract and aesthetic return to the motherland (rarely an actual return) and a recognition of traditional African roots, that biased education and stereotyped representations in the mass media had torn from the souls of African-Americans. Ron Karenga, one of the most prominent voices of the cultural nationalist, states, in his essay â€Å"Black Cultural Nationalists†, â€Å"Let our art remind us of our distaste for the enemy, our love for each other, and our commitment to the revolutionary struggle that will be fought with the rhythmic reality of a permanent revolution". The goal of the cultural nationalist was the realization of a Black community based on a common descent and language. Moreover, the cultural nationalis...

Jimmie Lee Jackson essays

Jimmie Lee Jackson essays In 1951 a movement in the south which was an attempt to help civil rights and led to a serious of non-violent events. These events then later were disasters in black history and caused hundreds of African Americans to suffer. My story starts along that time line in which I had the devastation to watch my best friend fall to the people, the White community. I am a white male and I am proud of who I am and who I came to be. Jimmie Lee Jackson was born in 1938 the same year I was. We grew up as neighbors and I had known him very well all my life. An innocent young man who always wanted to look out for others black or white. His salary was also struck at $700.00 a year, and could not attend school with me for he was denied. The movement of civil rights was led by a man named Martin Luther King Jr. His non-violent approach towards helping blacks was hoped to gain a goal of what we know now as the salad bowl theory. Jackson was the youngest deacon at his church. As far as I know he was farming and logging for work. The movement began with marches and forceful action by the members of the Klan and police. American began to realize the pain of the black community. Around 9:30 pm of February 18, more then 200 marches began walking. The marchers were then asked to stop the revolt and leave. The lights in the street went out and caused total chaos. The troopers were beating men left and right, sometimes hitting the woman even. Jimmie and his family went inside a caf for cover, but his dad was hit with a club and Jimmie tried to take him to the hospital but they couldnt get out. A trooper then struck his mother of the head and Jimmie retaliated by hitting the trooper. The other troopers began beating him senseless repeatedly. A man pulled out his gun and murdered my best friend. All Jimmie was doing was marching for his ...

Supporting and assessing learning in practice settings NM3272 Essay

Supporting and assessing learning in practice settings NM3272 - Essay Example This method is found to be very effective as it provides feedback on what and how much a student has learnt, and on how effective the teaching methods are. A learner can be observed when presenting a certain procedure on a cadaver or volunteer and in this way, the tutor or assessor can grade the student on the basis of real life presentation. This enables in providing two way feedback the on effectiveness of teaching methods while at the same time, the learner gets to know his or her prowess on reproduction of skills. Learners can also be assessed by observation when checking proficiency of emergency equipment like cardiopulmonary machines. Interviewing is another way of assessing the learner in the same area. It can be done orally with previously prepared questions or orally where a learner explains a concept orally for assessment. Both methods are very effective as they allow direct assessment of specific knowledge and skills. They are also important in measuring application and synthesis cognitive skills. Unlike interviews, observation provides the opportunity to observe real practice for instance presentation on endo-tracheal suction on a dummy. Observations also provide less chance for cheating as random questions can be asked while the task is being performed. Interviews with pre-test questions allow a student to be more comfortable unlike observing a student, which can sometimes seem like prying on private space. Positive feedbacks were given during preparation and assistance in emergencies training sessions. Feedback is not to be considered as a single event the concept is more than that of an expert correcting a learner’s error. Formally, a learner is allowed to construct their own understanding of the task and formulating corresponding goals and strategies for achieving them (Nicole and Macfarlane 2006, p.303). In this way, positive feedback enables the learner identify problematic areas and direct all energy to

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