Argument Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Argument Analysis - Essay Example In order to build an excellent and convincing argumentative essay it is necessary for the writer to take in account various aspects that are involved in the construction of a good essay. This includes the tone, style of writing, use of statistical data and the art of building an essay on the basis of the data collected, targeting and securing an audience for his essay etc. similarly the author of this article is also observed to be using such techniques as a result of which his essay provides the readers with a lot of a variety of aspects to be explored. The approach used in depicting this essay is explicit because the article deals with a critical topic that can have hazardous affects if remedies are not taken. This essay reflects the writers concern for his environment as well as the health of his fellow beings because he tries to convince the readers about the adverse effects of using fossil fuels in contrast to the benefits of nuclear power plant. ... Yet at the same time analogies and facts are used to compare and contrast the state of his country with other governments without confining the comparison to a particular country. As mentioned in the article, ‘other governments are enthusiastically embracing nuclear power as a way to lessen their greenhouse emissions and their dependence on imported oil. Hence the writer’s point of view depicted in this article is not only acceptable but also gives the readers food for thought and consequently results in convincing them. The article very tactfully states all the pros and cons of starting a new power plant. The essay strategically first talks about the importance and the benefits of nuclear power plants and gradually moves towards the amount of risk and finance involved in this essay. So this gradual descend from the glory to the risk is a good strategy on the writer’s part. As states, ‘†¦with advanced designs, new construction techniques and strong over sight should be even safer†¦ The tab for a new reactor can run as high as $7 billion to $8 billion, and overruns can add more. There is a long lead time before a plant starts selling power and paying returns. The target audience of the writer appears to be the investors of the private sector as well as the government officials who are responsible for providing assistance to the citizens of the country in beginning a new venture. The tone of the essay is formal since the target audience is also the group of investors and the government officials. The use of formal tone helps in enhancing the over all impact of this article on the readers since the purpose of this article is to attract the citizens of

Peter The Great Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Peter The Great - Essay Example He was a true fighter and did not get discouraged by defeats. Rather he tried to strengthen himself so as to defeat his enemy. He has brought many reforms to Russia, be it be regarding marriages, taxes or the Church. Peter the Great also known as Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov, was a tyrant and ruler of Russia in the late 17th and early 18th century. He ruled, reformed and revolutionized the country in his own ways, bringing a storm of transformations. Peter was born on 9th June 1972 to Alexei Mikhailovich. He had a reign of forty two years over Russia, starting from May 7 1982 until his death. Peter was a curious man. He was receptive to all sorts of learning, whether it belonged to his own culture or not. He was also ruthless, having no mercy for those who rebelled. His list of achievements earned him many titles, such as "the Great", "Father of His Country" and "Emperor of all the Russias". Peter the Great had been given the gigantic responsibility of running the empire when he was a mere ten years old. Since then and till his death, Peter the Great's mind and body were always working to find ways in which he can improve Russia and make it better. His endeavours and successes made him great. Though he had been given power in 1682, he became the sole ruler of Russia in 1696 after the deaths of his mother, Naryshkina and half brother, Ivan V. Only then he had the authority and independence to take major moves and bring key reforms in Russia. Some of the accomplishments and reforms brought about by and the efforts put in by Peter the Great, in chronological order, are: Modernizing Russia Peter the Great was not one of the conventional types. He himself was eager to learn from other cultures and was willing to adapt their ways. He plays a big role in modernizing Russia. He had many Western advisors on the suggestions of whom he restructured the whole of the Russian Army on the standards and practices of the Europeans. Oppositions and criticisms were thrown at his new policies but he remained steadfast., showing utmost belief in his decisions. Peter cruelly suppressed everybody who rebelled against his new procedures, be it be the Streltsy, Bashkirs or the Astrakhans. Peter, during his visit to the West, realized that European ways and traditions were way superior to the Russian ones. As a result, he ordered all his courtiers and officers to get rid of their long beards. Moreover, Peter was so determined in sweeping westernization all over Russia that he passed the orders of collecting taxes from those who want to keep beards, in an attempt to decrease the number of people who keep beards. Not only his army, but other officials were also told to dress in European style. Furthermore, he endeavoured to bring a halt to the tradition of arranged marriages. He thought the custom was barbaric and led to domestic violence as the couple were being forced to stay with each other and the matrimonial ecstacy was missing. In 1699, Peter the Great changed the format of the calendar to incorporate the counting of years from the time Christ was born, rather than the old way of counting years from the Creation of the World. Now people had to celebrate New Year on 1st January, discarding the previous September 1. Russia - A

Tasks on Management Skills

Tasks on Management Skills Task 1 Identify and evaluate the importance of the personal and professional skills, outlined above, for a successful manager, which enable the manager to meet organizational and own goals (1.1a) The changing role of management: Mary Parker the mother of modern management ,defined management as the art of getting things done through people . At one time, that meant that managers were called bosses, and their job was to tell people what to do and watch over them to be sure they did it . bosses tended to reprimand those who didnt do things correctly and generally acted stern and bossy. Many managers still behave that way. Perhaps you have witnessed such managers yelling at employees at fast-food restaurants or shop floors. Today management is changing from that kind of behavior. Managers are being educated to guide, train, support, motivate, and coach employees rather than to boss them around. Modern managers in progressive companies emphasize teamwork and cooperation rather than discipline and order giving. Managers in some high-tech and progressive firms of all kinds dress more casually, are more friendly, and generally treat employees as partners rather than unruly workers. In general, therefore, management is experiencing a revolution. Managers in the future are much more likely to be working in teams, thisll appraise them below them as well as those above, and theyll be assuming completely new roles in the firm. The following table summarizes the managers different roles. Planning Setting organizational goals Developing strategies to reach those goals . Determining resources needed. Setting standards. Directing Leading, guiding, and motivating employees to work effectively to accomplish organizational goals and objectives. Giving assignments Explaining routines Clarifying policies Providing feedback on performance. Organizing: Allocating resources, assigning tasks, and establishing procedures for accomplishing goals. Preparing a structure (organization chart) showing lines of authority and responsibility. Recruiting, selecting, training, and developing employees.. Placing employees where theyll be most effective. Controlling Measuring results against corporate objectives. Monitoring performance relative to standards. Taking corrective action. Some modern managers perform all of these tasks with the full cooperation and participation of workers. Empowering employees means allowing them to participate more fully in decision making. Tasks and skills at different levels of management: Anyone who has ever played a sport such as basketball, football, or soccer knows theres a tremendous difference between being an excellent player and excellent coach (manager). Often a good player will volunteer to coach the neighborhood team and be disaster as a manager. The same thing happens in business. Few people are trained to be managers. Rather, the process of becoming a manger is similar to the sports example. A person learns how to be a skilled accountant or salesperson or production line worker, and then- because of his or her skill- is selected to be a manger. The tendency is for such managers to become deeply involved in showing others how to do things, helping them, supervising them, and generally being very active in the operating task. The further up the managerial ladder a person moves, the less such skills are required. Instead, the need is for people who are visionaries, good planners, organizers, coordinators, communicators, morale builders, and motivators. Managers must have three skills: Technical skills: involve the ability to perform tasks of a specific department such as selling (marketing) or bookkeeping. Human relation skills: include leadership, motivation, coaching, communication, morale building, training and development, help and supportiveness, and delegating. Conceptual skills: refer to mangers ability to picture the organization as a whole and the relationship of various parts to perform tasks such as planning, organizing, controlling, system development, problem analysis, decision making, coordinating, and delegating. The first line managers need to be skilled in all three areas. Most of their time is spent on technical and human relation tasks (assisting operating personnel, giving direction, and so forth). First line managers spend little time on conceptual tasks. Top managers, on the other hand need to use few technical skills. Instead, almost all of their time is devoted to human relations and conceptual tasks. One whos competent at one level of management may not be competent at higher levels and vise versa. The skills needed are different at different levels. The most difficult task for most managers to learn is delegating. Whats delegating? Delegating is assigning authority and accountability to others while retaining the responsibility for results. Managers are usually selected from those who are skilled at doing what the people they manage are doing. As we noted earlier; most progressive managers of the 21 st century will be team leaders. They will set specific goals in corporation with a team of workers, set up feedback and communication procedures (control procedure) , and minimize the tendency to continually look over the teams shoulder to make sure its doing things the managers way . Employees will be given freedom (empowered) to decide the hows and whens of completion of specific tasks as long as the goals are accomplished on time. Decision-making is choosing among two or more alternatives. It sounds easier than it is in practice. In fact , decision making is the heart of all the Management functions. We have six Ds of decision making, which are: Define the problem Describe and collect needed information Develop alternatives Decide which ethical alternative is best Do whats indicated ( implement solution)) Determine whether the decision was a good one and follow up. Managers often have computer terminals at their desks so they can get internal records and external data of all kinds. But again no data in the world can replace a manager who is creative and make brilliant decisions. Decision-making is more art than a science. Its the one skill most needed by managers and leaders in that all the other functions depend on it. Task 2 Provide a range of practical methods suitable for developing or improving the skills discussed in 1.1b Learning managerial skills: We have explored the broad categories of skills needed by various levels of management. Now lets be know more about specific skills needed to be a good manager. a) Verbal skills: The bulk of a managers duty will involve communicating with others. a communicate his idea to others. To prepare for such tasks, he should take oral communication courses. At least half of communication is skilled listening. A good manager mixes with other managers, workers, clients, stockholders, and others outside the firm . he or she listens to recommendations and complaints and acts on them. Active listening requires the asking of questions and feeding back what youve heard to let others know he is truly interested in what they say. b) Writing skills: Managers must also be able to write clearly and precisely. Much of what he want others to do must be communicated through memos, report, policies, and letters. Organizations every where is complaining about many graduates in ability to write clearly (which will affect our future managers). So if from now on, a future manager, develop good writing skills, he will be miles ahead of his competition. That means he must practice writing, it helps to write anything like, diary, letters, notes and so on. With practice he will develop the ability to write easily- just like he speaks. Also with this shill he will be more ready for his career in management. c) Computer skills: The office of the future will be an office full of computers and related technology. Memos, charts, letters, and most of other communication efforts will involve the computer. When a manger is practicing writing, practice on a word processor. The truly efficient manager of the future will be able to effectively use and take advantage of the continuing developments in technology. d) Human relations skills: A manger works with people and that means that good managers know how to get along with people, motivate them, and inspire them. People skills are learned by working with people. good leaders begin early by assuming leadership positions is sports, community groups, and so on. A manager must be aware of how others react with him. If he cause negative feelings or reactions, he has to learn why? He doesnt be afraid to make mistakes and upset others. That is how he could learn. But also he has to learn how to work with others . What is managing diversity? Is building systems and a culture that unite different people in common pursuit without undermining their diversity. Research has shown that heterogeneous (mixed) groups are more productive than homogenous (similar) groups in the work place .men and women, young and old, and all other mixes of people can learn not only to work together but also to work together with more success. In the future, mangers must learn how to deal effectively with people from different cultures. Managers will also be asked to work in foreign countries. The more skilled he can become in other languages and in working with diverse cultural groups, he will be an effective manager. e) Time management skills: One of the most important skills for new mangers to learn how to budget their time effectively. There are many demands on managers time that they need to learn to control telephone interruption, visits from colleagues, questions from subordinates, meetings scheduled by higher management, and such. . This could be by setting priorities, delegating work, choosing activities that produce the mot results and dealing with interruption. f) Technical skills: To rise through the ranks of accounting, marketing, finance, production or, any other functional area , the manager should be proficient in that area. About 60 percent of top mangers have taken courses beyond their bachelors degree. The most common areas of technical expertise among top managers are accounting and finance together. Marketing came in second. Slightly more than half of the top 1000 chief executive officers in the country has a graduate degree. As an example of the skills needed by managers to carry out their work successfully, Ill apply it on my organization and how they are trying to develop these skills from now .They believe that we are the future managers and professors, so we have to learn and apply these skills from now on . I work as a teacher assistant in MIU ( Misr International University). We use to have to attend workshops to improve and develop our ( assistants) skills. These work shops were mainly discussing the following topics : Lesson planning Class management Time management Presentation skills Look at these , these are skills needed from us to have as future professors in MIU.We have to learn how to control a class, how to deal with trouble makers, how to finish what we plan for in the time required..etc. They kept telling us that we are the managers of the class . They resembled the class as an entire organization and Im the leader, manager, controller and evaluator . also they train us to parctice talking in English all the time , to be able to handle all the class teaching in English. Also we have to have excellent computer skills. All of these skills is better off to be learned from now , to apply it in our future careers. This is a simple article from the internet disscussing what should managers do to develop their career. What is expected of me? How well am I doing? Sales Manager: You need to learn how to do relationship selling. Sales Associates response: What exactly does that mean? Executive to manager: You need to be more of a leader and less of a traditional manager. Managers response: What exactly does that mean? The world of work is changing so fast, its difficult to communicate changing expectations quickly and clearly. This is especially true in areas such as sales skills, project management skills and leadership skills. The changes expected in these areas arent easy to observe and measure and, up to now, most companies didnt attempt it. But with competition heating up and hierarchies melting down, the focus on performance and career development has become more intense. For this reason, competencies have become a new tool in the workplace. Competencies are clearly spelled out expectations for a certain role (a leader) or a job (sales associate). They go far beyond a job description to create a template for ideal performance. This tool can then be used for things such as hiring, day-to-day coaching, training and development and performance reviews. Once individuals know what the expected competencies are, the next question is, How am I doing on them now? Many organizations put the competencies into a format that can be used as a feedback instrument. Then they use it to gather 360 degree feedback. This refers to getting feedback from people all around you; your boss, your peers and your employees. Gathering feedback from other colleagues has many advantages. In addition to his or her managers feedback, it also reveals what peers and employees think. It is more comprehensive and less prone to individual bias, since there are multiple perspectives. For example, a manager, who may have thought that his boss was just being picky about his communication skills, will begin to take it seriously when everyone around him is also suggesting that he needs improvement in that area. But there are pitfalls to avoid when setting up competencies and a feedback system like this. If it isnt done well, the damage control will overshadow any good that may have come from it. Here are some things to consider:  · Create a participatory process, where representatives help to establish the competencies and how they will be used. If this process is done to them, rather than by giving them some control, there will be more resistance during implementation.  · Make the competencies as specific to the job as possible. The more generic they are the less effective they will be. In addition, it is key to word the competencies in behavioral language, so everyone knows what the competency means. For example, instead of Effective sales skills, include some behaviors, such as, Builds trust through accountability, honesty and follow-though, or Looks for additional ways to help clients solve their business problem before, during and after the sale, or Makes realistic commitments for themselves and the team, and does what it takes to keep those commitments.  · Use the feedback for coaching and development rather than a for a performance review or to weed out ineffective managers. Although it can eventually be folded into the performance review process, it creates less defensiveness if people have a chance to work on their skill gaps before they are evaluated on them. It isnt fair to surprise employees with a performance review on expectations they havent seen before.  · No matter how open the culture is, people are reluctant to be honest unless they can give feedback anonymously. Later, if managers are genuinely willing to discuss their feedback openly, individuals will come forward with their personal feedback and advice. Initially, each manager should collect data from a minimum of three or more peers and three or more employees so that confidentiality is preserved.  · Time and trouble can be avoided by using an experienced third party to guide the group and to independently gather and tabulate the feedback for each manager. When we help organizations with this process, we find that people are more willing to be honest when they know that a neutral party is doing the tabulation and individual feedback reports.  · Give the data and any summary report back to the manager, not to their boss. Hold managers accountable for creating an action plan that they will co-develop with their manager. The plan should include how they plan to leverage their top strengths and how they plan to improve their weaker areas. The plan should also include how the boss can help with that development.  · An overall report on the organizations strengths and development needs can be used to determine what the training priorities are, what should be included in a core curriculum and where training dollars should be spent.  · An independent third party can provide help to a manager who is struggling with his/her feedback and what to do about it. If they are unfavorably surprised by what their peers or employees think, they will probably appreciate guidance in how to approach their colleagues for more clarity.  · Managers should meet with their manager at least once a year to go over their action plan and discuss progress. The best career development happens on the job, so its important that manager play an active role by coaching their employee, giving them new and challenging assignments that will play to their strengths and develop weaker areas. Companies are realizing that more sophisticated performance management has a bottom -line pay off and individuals are demanding more coaching and development on the job. Systems like these can be a win/win for everyone. Outcome 2 Personal Skills Audit Task 3 Provide evidence of the various personal skills audits carried out as an aid to understanding where you stand with regards to achieving the objective of becoming a more effective manager. These to include the obligatory analyses of the personal learning style and skills audit. Choose from the strengths and weaknesses these reveal, samples that will affect the development of the 4 skills from outcome 1 (1.2a). SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES FOR EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT Good Time Management is an essential quality for anyone who needs to work efficiently and effectively in an everyday working environment. It is essential if you are to achieve the organizations objectives and indeed the individuals personal objectives. There are many techniques which, when combined, give an individual (or team) the skills required to time manage the task effectively. In a nutshell, time management is all about making the most efficient and effective use of your time. Some examples of these skills and techniques are as follows: a. Planning and Organization b. Prioritizing c. Delegating d. Review and Monitoring PLANNING AND ORGANISATION Information/Anticipation: Successful planning requires accurate information from which decisions are eventually made. This accurate information is crucial if these decisions are to be well judged and implemented successfully. An element of anticipation is also a bonus if you are able to best guess a possible arising which may influence your decision. Flexibility: The planning must also be flexible as not all plans are set in concrete Circumstances change and the overall plan must remain flexible and capable of change as the situation determines. Sufficient time spent planning can greatly reduce the overall time taken to complete an activity and should always consider all factors which may have an influence on the tasks final outcome. By giving the objective the correct amount of time in the planning phase, and by factoring in any events which could (if not considered) destroy or devalue the overall outcome of the task. Goal Setting: By ensuring clear goals are set from the outset, and by keeping a constant review of the tasks progress, a successful outcome should ensue when coupled with other skills and techniques in successful time management. Planning should be considered not just in the short term for each single objective but also include daily, weekly and long term planning. PRIORTISING As suggested, planning alone will not necessarily ensure successful objectives are met. Allocated time must also be prioritized in a manner that focuses on the goals set during the planning phase. Many people often spend their day in a frenzy of activity but because they are prioritizing their time correctly, they achieve a lot less output. PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS REQUIRED TO MANAGE EFFECTIVELY ATTRIBUTES OF A MANAGER To manage effectively, an individual requires many skills and various personal qualities to enable the successful completion of his, or her, objectives. The skills and qualities combine to shape the management style of the individual and the style can directly affect the final outcome of the task completion. These attributes could be broken into four main headings as follows: Proficiency Technical Competence Social and Human skills Conceptual Ability Within each of the above headings there are many sub groups which all combine to give the individual manager his unique style of management which can, or may not be, particularly effective. SPECIFIC COMPETENCES Communication: Managing well requires sound communication skills above all else. No manager can relay their planning and intentions without this basic skill. It is vital that communication, by whatever means, relays the information to the staff and that more importantly, the information is understood and deliverable. Two way communication is essential, everyone will have some part to play in the exchange of information and the communication process. Planning: Sound planning ensures the objectives are met and met within the framework of the organizations structure. Effective planning at the outset will ensure there is a realistic chance of completion in line with the goals set. Knowledge and Information gathering: Planning without the necessary information will very often prove unsuccessful. It is vital that the information is gathered and the plan drawn up based on this information. Accurate information is essential if the plan is to prove a success. Problem solving/decision making: As with any plan there are nearly always options and many ways to skin a cat This will involve decision making and problem solving which the manager can make more effectively if the correct information is in place and the correct people in the team consulted. Time prioritizing: Good time management is vital, without it the manager will become less and less effective as his or her time will be spent less and less productively. The art of successful time management is one which all successful managers must master. Training and Development: The workforce can only be as good as they training they receive and the same applies to management. Personal development and training aimed at improving managerial technique should always be encouraged. Review and Monitor: As with all managed tasks, the monitoring and review of the progress and outcome is essential if lessons are to be learned and improved techniques are to be developed. The process on review should encourage an exchange of information of all those personnel involved and sound two-way communication is essential. Goal Setting: The planning and information gathering stage will provide sufficient knowledge for a manager to set some targets and goals. If this information is accurate and the manager skilled in making judgment, a realistic goal can be set with achievable outcomes in the time given. Interpersonal Skills: The ability of the manager to relate to his staff is vital. It is this communication and personal skill which will persuade the staff member to perform for his manager, that feeling of inclusion and a belonging which the manager relays to his staff member. The successful manager needs to be caring, companionate, and where possible remain calm under a crisis. Listening skills are also essential as are negotiating skills. A good team player normally combines most of these interpersonal skills and uses them to good effect in everyday management. 3. PERSONAL SKILLS AUDIT AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN TABLE 1:- PERSONAL SKILLS AUDIT Skills Examples and evidence Score 1 5 (5 highest) Communication and Literacy skills Good use of written English gained from producing engineering assignments and written formal management reports during my seven years in the Aeronautical Research and Development. department at Bae Systems. Oral presentation skills adequate and improving. Many chances to practice them in seminars and presentations. Prefer making individual presentations to group presentations as then I am more in control of the structure and flow etc. In future I intend practicing any presentation that I have to give in front of a small audience of friends a few times in order to check that it has good content, structure and timing. I am also developing communication skills in a work context. Clear communication between myself and my sub contractors and boss is important. Also, am developing good interpersonal and communication skills in my contact with colleagues at work as well as in my dealings with customers. 4 Group Interpersonal Skills Working with others I have plenty of experience of working as part of a team and being an effective member of a group. This began with sport at school and continued throughout my 27 years in the armed forces where teamwork is essential and vital in certain situations. My current employment offers frequent opportunity to take part in group work as part of the weekly team planning and reporting meetings. I always try to make a positive contribution as my final decision on the outcome of the discussions will decide if the objectives are met, or not. At work, I play the lead role in decision making but consult all my team members on a democratic basis.. This ensures all the team members have a valued input and builds a healthy team ethos. I think that I am quite good at welcoming new employees and helping people to fit in and adjust to the pattern of work. I want to improve my leadership skills further through courses targeted in this area and by continuing to plan and organize team events and expeditions. 4 Organization Personal Skills Independent Learning and Working I am self-motivated as long as the task is interesting and holds my attention. The freedom to make decisions free from senior managers input helps greatly and means I can plan and schedule the work as I choose. Although I feel my Time Management is quite strong, I aim to improve my time management strategies regarding the meeting of programme deadlines for the customer. I currently hold three levels of Sports coaching award and coach Tennis at several different locations. This requires commitment and dedication as the lessons are not always charged for. I have had a number of jobs in the past two years and have been lucky in that I have had to take the responsibility and act on my own initiative in each of the roles. 3 Research Problem Solving Skills I try to view problems as challenges rather than major obstacles. I think that I am systematic and logical when it comes to thinking about problems and their solution. I have developed these skills both as an individual and as part of working in groups where the group task which we are set is frequently of a problem-solving nature, have also gained a good grasp of the processes which one needs to go through to solve problems i.e. problem definition, generating alternative solutions, selection of most appropriate response and the eventual implementation of a carefully-considered solution. 4 ICT Skills I started developing computer skills when I entered into the Research and Development department 9 years ago. I have since carried out the European Computer Driving Licence and work regularly with all MS Office products. I also use MS Project for my planning and scheduling of works but am without formal training on this software. I would like to spend some time on a placement course to improve my skills on this product. I am confident using e-mail and use it on a daily basis both to communicate with my clients, customers and sub-contractors. I also use email a great deal at home to keep in touch with my friends and family. I use the internet for research as well as online banking and booking holidays, reservations, flowers and shopping etc. 4 Application of Numerical Techniques Good basic grounding in maths skills including graphs/charts GCSE grade A and BTEC mechanical engineering. I have good skills at mental arithmetic which is vital for fast track quotations for the customer during unforeseen work and additional items not scheduled. 4 Outcome 3 PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Task 4 Provide a personal development plan- see format supplied by Edexcel showing how you intend to use the knowledge from outcomes 1 and 2 to further enhance or develop the skills you need to improve your managerial effectiveness. This to include a statement of objectives (SMART) and a SWOT analysis.(1.3a) DELEGATION Another important technique of successful time management is the ability to delegate work effectively. Delegation, used wisely, is an essential tool of the successful manager. It can free valuable time to enable the manager to target his or her time more effectively and thereby increasing the chances of a successful outcome. Delegation should be applied using the S.M.A.R.T. principles and not over ambitious. Where: S à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Specific M à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Measurable A à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Achievable R à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Realistic T à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Time The delegation should achieve the desired results through a clear, concise brief which should match the authority and responsibility of the individual and should be used consistently and through the management/staff chain as required. Another positive outcome of successful delegation include improved flexibility within the team, upskilling, increase in morale and motivation, reduced sick leave and a improved team environment where team members feel more informed and inclusive. Task 5 Provide evidence of the monitoring and feedback undertaken where relevant and any adjustments made to the plan so that

Philosophical Pluralism in the Service of Humane Governance :: Philosophy Philosophical Essays

Philosophical Pluralism in the Service of Humane Governance ABSTRACT: In recent times, the American Philosophical Association has been exposed in a serious way to the issue of pluralism in philosophy curriculums in the departments of philosophy of American universities and colleges. This conversation brings to the fore the fact that what is at issue in the prospect of pluralizing American philosophy departments is not merely the matter of deciding the discipline's boundaries of intellectual formation relative to the current generation of students, but the unforeseeen consequences of pluralism which challenge both 'the American canon' and the profession's self-understanding vis-Ã  -vis a 'Western' intellectual heritage that distinguishes the 'essential' from the 'marginal' by privileging essential figures, problems, and time-honored methodological commitments. Yet, to the degree that there is a quest for relation of differences, this need not presuppose the universality of philosophical discourse, comparative philosophy moving inevitably with in a logic of opposition rather than a logic of mutuality. Our thinking is surely problematic if at this World Congress we find an occasion for a confrontation between 'the West' and 'the margin,' the latter construed negatively as a 'mute, growing and menacing pressure.' In recent time the American Philosophical Association has been exposed in a serious way to the issue of pluralizing the philosophy curriculum in the departments of philosophy of American universities and colleges. John Lachs, Philip Quinn, John Stuhr, and Kathleen Wright each contributed thoughtful discussions to the "issues in the profession" section of the November 1996 Proceedings and Addresses. (1) As Lachs observed, there are those who conceive pluralism to mean "due representation of the analytic, Continental, and American philosophical traditions". Others who have explicit concern with the developing "sub-discipline" of comparative philosophy conceive pluralism to include "work in the complex traditions of Chinese, Indian, African, Latin American, Islamic, Jewish, feminist, and Native American thought, as well". Quinn perhaps speaks for a majority of philosophers when he suggests that hardly anyone would deny that "it is a good thing to expose students to the many ways in which philosophy has been done in various places and at different times", that "it is a good thing to carry forward philosophical inquiry in the many traditions that have proved to be of enduring value". Thus Quinn favors a more inclusive pluralism, one which "would consist of a conversation that contains many more non-Western philosophical voices". Notwithstanding Quinn's hopeful remarks, Stuhr noted that today pluralism is not widely endorsed.

Scientific Literacy in the Philippines

Module 6: Science Education in the Philippine Society Lesson 13: Scientific Literacy Science Literacy Science is frequently perceived to be of great importance because of its links to technology and industry which, from a national perspective, may be areas with high priority for development. Countries wanting to improve their people’s quality of life cannot escape the need to harness their science and technology capability as a way of developing competitiveness. Consequently, science is included as a core element in elementary and secondary levels despite conceptual complexity and high cost of implementation.Another justification for the inclusion of science in high school curricular is that all citizens need to achieve a degree of â€Å"scientific literacy† to enable them to participate effectively as citizens in modern societies. It is, therefore, important to be guided by past and present experiences in science education to be able to recognize the turning points for the country’s future which we need to decide now. Studies indicate however, that many of our Filipino learners are not attaining functional literacy, without which they find it too difficult to meet the challenges posed by our rapid changing world.Scientific literacy is a related concept to issue of cultural and technological literacy (a term used in recognition of the relationship between science and technology in everyday life). Some scientific educators have attempted to define or analyze it. The term ‘scientific literacy’ has been used in the literature for more than four decades (Gullagher and Harsch, 1997) although not always with the same meaning (Bybee, 1997). Benjamin Shen (1983) distinguishes 3 types of scientific literacy: practical, civic, and scientific cultural literacy.Practical scientific literacy is that kind of scientific and technical knowledge that can be put to use to help solve practical problems. The example given is that of the reduction in the dependence on infant formulae. Also, the use of alternative medicines like herbal plants instead of synthetic ones to prevent the cause of side effects that are harmful to one’s health. Civic scientific literacy enables the citizens to become more aware of science and science related issues so that he can face these issues with common sense. Shen defines civic scientific literacy as â€Å"a level of understanding of scientific terms and constructs sufficient to . . understand the essence of competing arguments on a given dispute on controversy†. An example common in many countries these days is the growing concern about the environment particularly the pollution of air, water and land. Media have contributed much to such awareness by bringing to public attention the activities of active environmental groups. However such concerns are more vigorous and numerous in developed countries than in developing countries. It is time that citizens of developing countries b ecame more aware and attentive to such matters. The third form is cultural scientific literacy.People who seek this form of scientific literacy desire to know something about science as a major human achievement. This group would come mostly from the intellectual community, those who watch television programs like Nova, Invention and similar discovery documentaries. The widely publicized subjects are based on the notion that scientific literacy has 3 components (Hodson) 1. substantive concepts with science 2. the nature of scientific activity 3. role of science in society and culture Norris and Philips(2003) argue that the term â€Å"scientific literacy† has been used to include various components from the following: a.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Knowledge of the substantive content of science and the ability to distinguish from non-science; b. )  Ã‚  Ã‚   Understanding science and its applications; c. )  Ã‚  Ã‚   Knowledge of what counts as science; d. )  Ã‚  Ã‚   Independence in le arning science; e. )  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ability to think scientifically; f. )  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ability to use scientific knowledge in problem solving; g. )  Ã‚  Ã‚   Knowledge needed for intelligent participation in science-based issues; h. )  Ã‚  Ã‚   Understanding the nature of science, including its relationship with culture; i. )  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Appreciation of and comfort with science, including its wonder and curiosity; j.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Knowledge of the risks and benefits of science; and k. )  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ability to think critically about science and to deal with scientific expertise. They cite references to illustrate this. The confusion as to a precise meaning has led to a call to remove such term as a goal for school science literacy for future adult life through a longitudinal international study (OECD, 2007), although this has been criticized, not least because its measures are through written tests and questionnaires, which generally show developing countries to be in poor shape to meet such a goal. Philippine SettingThe Philippines established the National Science Development Board, in 1958 and Philippine Science High Schools or schools with science and tech-oriented classes were established because there is no streaming, or grouping of students according to their intellectual capacity at the higher levels of secondary school. Aims and Objectives The government recognizes the importance of science and technology capability for the development of our industry and country. The education sector collaborates with other government agencies to contribute to the success of government goals.As such, DECS (now DepEd) has focused its efforts towards programs and projects aimed at improving English, Science and Mathematics education in basic education. The objectives of elementary and secondary school science: †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   At the end of grade VI, the student is expected to apply his scientific knowledge and skills in recogniz ing and solving problems in relation to health and sanitation, nutrition, food production, preparation and storage, environment and the conservation of its resources, and evolving better ways and means of doing things. Bureau of Elementary Education, 1998) †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Secondary Science Education Programme aims to develop understanding of concepts and key principles of science, science processes, skills and desirable values to make the students scientifically literate, productive and effective citizens (Bureau of Secondary Education, 1998). Education for three types of literacy can come from both formal and informal sources. In developing countries like the Philippines, informal sources are not as easily accessible as they are in affluent and developed countries.Much of such learning can be derived from museums, science centers, and botanical gardens, zoos, well-ordinate programme of lectures and experiments, visits to manufacturing companies and indus trial sites, science fair and camps, media, clubs and science-related organizations. With a minimum of such resources, most developing countries rely on formal education (generally up to elementary levels only) for the development of scientific literacy of their citizens. ProblemsThe Survey of Outcomes of Elementary Education (SOUTEL) reported the poor performance of elementary school pupils and the lack of difference in the achievement of 5th and 6th grade. Third International Mathematics and science study (1915) reported also that Philippines ranked among the lowest scoring countries. Problems are encountered in curriculum, learning materials, teachers and students performance. Factors of low achievement in science and mathematics (Ibe, M) ? Absence of a science culture ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Teacher training, the school curriculum   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Instructional material ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Teacher-learning process ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Languag e instruction ?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Governance of education Reforms I. Improvements are foreign-assisted projects implemented in the country. Among these are: †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Science and Mathematics Education Manpower Development Program (SMEMDP) of the Japan Bank †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Project in Basic Education (ProBE) funded by Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) †¢ National Science Teaching and Instrumentation Center, a project with German governmentII. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Enhancing scientific literacy through science education is developing an ability to creatively utilize appropriate evidence-based scientific knowledge and skills, particularly with relevance for everyday life and a career, in solving personally challenging yet meaningful scientific problems as well as making responsible socio-scientific decisions. But it is necessary to recognize that enhancing scientific literacy is also dependent on the need to:Develop collective interaction skills, personal development and suitable communication approaches as well as the need to exhibit sound and persuasive reasoning in putting forward socio-scientific arguments. The emphasis on enhancing scientific literacy is placed on an appreciation of science; the development of personal attributes and be acquisition of socio-scientific skills and values. (Holbrook and Rannikmae, 2007) The government has a lot to do to improve the quality of science and technology education in the country.The Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) should implement and develop the programs created. The school should nurture the talents and skills of students to develop their scientific literacy as well as appliying the knowledge in their lives. References: †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Batomalaque, A. Basic Science Development Program of the Philippines for International Cooperation. University of San Car los, Cebu City, Philippines. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hernandez, D. History and Philosophy of Science Education. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Holbrook, J. and Rannikmae, M. 2009. â€Å"The Meaning of Science Literacy† in Coll, R. nd Taylor, N. (Eds. ), Special Issue on Scientific Literacy. International Journal of Environmental and Science Education. Vol. 4 No. 3. July, 2009. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ibe, M. and Ogena, E. â€Å"Science Education in the Philippines: An Overview. † Presented at the Science Education Congress, ISMED, November 27-28, 1998. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www. ibe. unesco. org/fileadmin/user upload/ archive/ curriculum/China/Pdf/beijingrep. pdf †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www. suite101. com/article. cfm/mass communication/ 95438 †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   www. sensepublishers. com/catalog/files/9789087905071. pdf

Capital Budget Recommendation

As a dedicated furniture maker and businessman, a clear understanding of the techniques used to assist in capital budgeting is important. There are several techniques used, each having advantages and disadvantages. Within this recommendation, the advantages and disadvantages of each technique will be briefly discussed. Additionally, discuss how each technique will assist in determining the desirable capital budget technique to recommend. Concluding with a course of action Mr. Navallez should take, along with calculation to support the recommended course of action. Capital budget techniques Several techniques can be used to analyze an opportunity to invest in capital. Net Present Value (NPV) allows decision makers to analyze the present value (cost) of a capital investment and determine if the investment will compensate the cash outflow used for capital investment by an excess of the desired rate of return. Management â€Å"wants to know the rate of return to expect from investingâ⠂¬ , therefore, will â€Å"use the internal rate of return method. (Edmonds, Edmonds, Olds, McNair, & Schnieder, p. 1156)The internal rate of return produces the actual rate of return on an investment; where as, net present value allows management to select the desired rate of return on an investment. A simple and straightforward technique is the payback period; as the name suggests â€Å"payback† this technique â€Å"shows how long it will take to recover the initial cash outflow (the cost) of an investment. † (Edmonds, Edmonds, Olds, McNair, & Schnieder, p. 164) Although, the payback period furnishes the time period when the cost is likely to be recovered, the technique does not illustrate compensation in excess of the initial cash outflow or assist in evaluating different prospective capital investments. Additionally, modified internal rate of return technique shows the adjusted rate of return based on the expected return on investment after taxes, however, does n ot calculate compensation or assist in evaluation of alternatives. For the purpose of the recommendation further discussion of net present value and internal rate of return assist in determining the desired course of action Mr.Navallez should acquire. The two techniques demonstrate the ability to compare the two prospective investments Mr. Navallez is considering. With reference to each prospective investment within this recommendation each will be referenced as Alternative 1 and Alternative 2. Alternative 1 is the purchase of automated high-tech machinery and Alternative 2 is becoming a representative. Net preset value vs. internal rate of return Net present value (NPV) is determined by â€Å"subtracting the cost of the investment from the present value of the future cash inflows. † (Edmonds, Edmonds, Olds, McNair, & Schnieder, p. 156) The future cash inflow is a calculation that is computed by taking the future annual cash inflow of the investment (payments), number of peri ods, and desired rate of return. Two outcomes are determined by the use of this technique, a high rate of return or a below rate of return. The most favorable outcome is a high rate of return; a high rate of return indicates the future cash inflow of an investment is worth the current cash outflow (cost of the investment). In use, the cost of the automated machinery subtracted from present value of the future cash inflows will show the net present value of the investment.Cash inflow consists of representative fees, working capital recovery due to the decrease in labor and manufacturing cost. Net present value will show whether the prospective investment will compensate in excess of the desired rate of return. Internal rate of return is a desire rate, also called hurdle rate, or cutoff rate, or minimum rate set by the organization as the expected return on the investment. â€Å"The rate of return is the rate at which the present value of cash inflows equals the cash outflows. † (Edmonds, Edmonds, Olds, McNair, & Schnieder, p. 1156) â€Å"The higher internal rate of return, the more profitable the investment. (Edmonds, Edmonds, Olds, McNair, & Schnieder, p. 1160) The internal rate of return is calculated by taking the total values (cash inflow and outflow) and â€Å"guess† (rate of return). This technique assist in the decision making process because once the internal rate of return is determined, the desired investment can easily be decided. Taking the cash outflow and inflow from each alternative and the desired rate of return will offer the best comparison as which investment will present a return favorable. Recommendation The recommendation Mr. Navallez should take is alternative 1. Alternative 1 offers the best return on investment.The use of the net present value techniques presents the desired return on investment. Net present value over internal rate of return presents the expected return on cash outflows for the cost of the investment, th us allowing management to â€Å"compute a present value index. † (Edmonds, Edmonds, Olds, McNair, & Schnieder, p. 1160) Assume the desired rate of return is 8% over 10 periods, alternative 1 cash inflow would be $421,834 with cash outflow being $323,091 and alternative 2 cash inflow of $314,057 with cash outflow being $283,930. The present value of alternative 1 is $98,743 and alternative 2 is $30,127.Alternative 1 yields a higher rate of return, however, taking it a step further to confirm alternative 1 is the best investment the present value index offers an additional comparison of the two investments. Present value index is calculated by dividing cash inflows from cash outflows, â€Å"the higher the ratio, the higher the rate of return per dollar invested into the proposed project. † (Edmonds, Edmonds, Olds, McNair, & Schnieder, p. 1160) Alternative 1 ratio 1. 306 and alternative 2 ratio 1. 106; thus confirming alternative 1 the best investment and the most profita ble for Mr. Navallez. Capital Budget Recommendation As a dedicated furniture maker and businessman, a clear understanding of the techniques used to assist in capital budgeting is important. There are several techniques used, each having advantages and disadvantages. Within this recommendation, the advantages and disadvantages of each technique will be briefly discussed. Additionally, discuss how each technique will assist in determining the desirable capital budget technique to recommend. Concluding with a course of action Mr. Navallez should take, along with calculation to support the recommended course of action. Capital budget techniques Several techniques can be used to analyze an opportunity to invest in capital. Net Present Value (NPV) allows decision makers to analyze the present value (cost) of a capital investment and determine if the investment will compensate the cash outflow used for capital investment by an excess of the desired rate of return. Management â€Å"wants to know the rate of return to expect from investingâ⠂¬ , therefore, will â€Å"use the internal rate of return method. (Edmonds, Edmonds, Olds, McNair, & Schnieder, p. 1156)The internal rate of return produces the actual rate of return on an investment; where as, net present value allows management to select the desired rate of return on an investment. A simple and straightforward technique is the payback period; as the name suggests â€Å"payback† this technique â€Å"shows how long it will take to recover the initial cash outflow (the cost) of an investment. † (Edmonds, Edmonds, Olds, McNair, & Schnieder, p. 164) Although, the payback period furnishes the time period when the cost is likely to be recovered, the technique does not illustrate compensation in excess of the initial cash outflow or assist in evaluating different prospective capital investments. Additionally, modified internal rate of return technique shows the adjusted rate of return based on the expected return on investment after taxes, however, does n ot calculate compensation or assist in evaluation of alternatives. For the purpose of the recommendation further discussion of net present value and internal rate of return assist in determining the desired course of action Mr.Navallez should acquire. The two techniques demonstrate the ability to compare the two prospective investments Mr. Navallez is considering. With reference to each prospective investment within this recommendation each will be referenced as Alternative 1 and Alternative 2. Alternative 1 is the purchase of automated high-tech machinery and Alternative 2 is becoming a representative. Net preset value vs. internal rate of return Net present value (NPV) is determined by â€Å"subtracting the cost of the investment from the present value of the future cash inflows. † (Edmonds, Edmonds, Olds, McNair, & Schnieder, p. 156) The future cash inflow is a calculation that is computed by taking the future annual cash inflow of the investment (payments), number of peri ods, and desired rate of return. Two outcomes are determined by the use of this technique, a high rate of return or a below rate of return. The most favorable outcome is a high rate of return; a high rate of return indicates the future cash inflow of an investment is worth the current cash outflow (cost of the investment). In use, the cost of the automated machinery subtracted from present value of the future cash inflows will show the net present value of the investment.Cash inflow consists of representative fees, working capital recovery due to the decrease in labor and manufacturing cost. Net present value will show whether the prospective investment will compensate in excess of the desired rate of return. Internal rate of return is a desire rate, also called hurdle rate, or cutoff rate, or minimum rate set by the organization as the expected return on the investment. â€Å"The rate of return is the rate at which the present value of cash inflows equals the cash outflows. † (Edmonds, Edmonds, Olds, McNair, & Schnieder, p. 1156) â€Å"The higher internal rate of return, the more profitable the investment. (Edmonds, Edmonds, Olds, McNair, & Schnieder, p. 1160) The internal rate of return is calculated by taking the total values (cash inflow and outflow) and â€Å"guess† (rate of return). This technique assist in the decision making process because once the internal rate of return is determined, the desired investment can easily be decided. Taking the cash outflow and inflow from each alternative and the desired rate of return will offer the best comparison as which investment will present a return favorable. Recommendation The recommendation Mr. Navallez should take is alternative 1. Alternative 1 offers the best return on investment.The use of the net present value techniques presents the desired return on investment. Net present value over internal rate of return presents the expected return on cash outflows for the cost of the investment, th us allowing management to â€Å"compute a present value index. † (Edmonds, Edmonds, Olds, McNair, & Schnieder, p. 1160) Assume the desired rate of return is 8% over 10 periods, alternative 1 cash inflow would be $421,834 with cash outflow being $323,091 and alternative 2 cash inflow of $314,057 with cash outflow being $283,930. The present value of alternative 1 is $98,743 and alternative 2 is $30,127.Alternative 1 yields a higher rate of return, however, taking it a step further to confirm alternative 1 is the best investment the present value index offers an additional comparison of the two investments. Present value index is calculated by dividing cash inflows from cash outflows, â€Å"the higher the ratio, the higher the rate of return per dollar invested into the proposed project. † (Edmonds, Edmonds, Olds, McNair, & Schnieder, p. 1160) Alternative 1 ratio 1. 306 and alternative 2 ratio 1. 106; thus confirming alternative 1 the best investment and the most profita ble for Mr. Navallez.

Ethics And Organizational Development Essays - Ethics, Free Essays

Ethics And Organizational Development Essays - Ethics, Free Essays Ethics And Organizational Development For many organisations 'ethics' is something to be defined and managed by senior executives. Consider the arguments for and against this control-oriented position. In today's world it is all too prevalent to see more and more people hungry to gain success at an ever-increasing rate. Modern culture can and indeed is labelled 'greedy' and 'thoughtless'. Through my relatively short time spent in business, I have encountered many of these types of people. But who are they hungry for? Who benefits from their thoughtlessness, and why do they do what they do? More importantly, who is to blame when things don't go according to plan? These are all questions asked constantly in the business domain, questions that often seem to include the word 'ethics' in their answer. Whether we look to consequentialism and always consider the outcome of a particular action, or conform to a more deontological form of ethical thinking and focus on always acting in a manner that seems 'right', I believe that a person cannot always be 'ethical', all of the time. If it were that easy, ethics would be a very small area of study. So what does the word 'ethical' mean? To me, it is to take into account every aspect involved in any given situation, peoples' feelings, thoughts and well-being, both now and in the future, and act as best one can to achieve the most satisfactory outcome for all concerned. From my viewpoint, acting in an ethical manner comes from each and every individual, each having learned from the environment in which they have grown and developed. Should the judgement, therefore, always be left to the individual? This is certainly not the case, as more and more organisations in the business world develop codes of ethics that they expect each member to follow. This definition and management of ethics can be seen as a control-oriented position. This control paradigm for organisational ethics is largely concerned with extracting the best possible results for the organisation as a whole. When acting within a certain environment, be it local, national or global, the organisation must be seen to be 'socially acceptable'. I believe this idea of control of the organisation's self-interest together with maintaining a good standing in the public eye to be the main factor for preparing these ethical codes. Both of these can only be achieved through clearly defined codes of ethics from which individuals' roles can conform through a manner of standardisation. However, through the enforcement of ethical codes, people revoke to a basic level of thinking, judgement and acting as identified in Lawrence Kohlbe rg's pre-conventional level. When put simply, it allows little room for individual thought or expression, only rewarding good actions and punishing those that are bad. Can it be right to control tasks that involve ethical reasoning by individuals? This is certainly much different than, say, controlling how someone operates a particular machine. Conversely, the autonomy paradigm, present in some organisations' ethical policies, is put in place to promote individual critique through their moral thought and judgement. It emphasises a feeling of a 'moral community', seen before in Kant's work, and from which Kohlberg developed his post-conventional level, that allows people to apply their own reasoning to daily situations. As Durkheim suggests and with which I agree, individuals submit to the environment in which they work and how others have previously cast out norms and values. This applies to general situations and therefore the majority. At other times, in more complex situations, an individual would then be left to choose their own actions. McMahon identifies that the legitimacy of managerial authority lies within a contract or promise. An employee, therefore, willingly submits to the thoughts and ideals of the organisation when they sign the contract of employment. That is, the exchange of labour for wages in which employment consists involves a promise on the part of employees to accept the directives of managers. To be sure, employees may be expected to use their own judgement in carrying out the tasks assigned to them. But if a managerial directive conflicts with an employee's judgement, the directive must take precedence. Otherwise the employee is attempting to renege on a morally binding agreement (McMahon, 1989). Whilst this in law is

Definition and Examples of Platitudes in English

Definition and Examples of Platitudes in English Definition A platitude is a trite and obvious observation, in particular, one thats expressed as if it were fresh and significant. Adjectives: platitudinous and platitudinal. Verb: platitudinize. A person who habitually uses platitudes- or clichà ©s- is (among other things) a platitudinarian. Platitudes can be instruments of gentle criticism, says Karen Tracy. Platitudes are  especially useful in the context of public argument, for they promote the sense that a speaker is addressing a policy concern rather than actually criticizing or attacking a person (Challenges of Ordinary Democracy, 2010). Etymology: From Old French, flat, dull Pronunciation: PLAT-i-tood Related Concepts Platitudes are similar to some other terms, but can also be mixed up with some of these terms. Some of the related concepts and language terms are: CatchphraseChunkClichà ©CollocationDead MetaphorIdiomPet PhraseProverb Examples of Platitudes Youre as young as you feel.Crime does pay.It doesnt matter what youre doing, as long as youre having fun.Love will always get you through.Crime doesnt pay.He/she who laughs last, laughs best.Everybody needs somebody.Alls well that ends well.Honesty is the best policy.Life begins at 50 (or 60).Its okay to be silly.You have to act your age.Acting your age is for old people.Love what you do.Do what you love.The secret to a long life is doing what you love.Who cares what other people say? Observations About Platitudes There are already some four-star platitudes on the list, some old sayings, some repeats, and a few opposing ideas. (Jay Douglas, Stalking the Story. Alpha Books, 2011)His subjects are intriguing, but Coles is embarrassingly conventional and unreflective. He writes in platitudes (about lifes ironies, the dilemmas of our time, the richest nation in the world, peoples darker side, Freuds superior cast of mind, etc.). (William White, The Library Journal Book Review, 1975)He was fond of thinking in platitudes- but to him, all platitudes were profound and had the freshness and vigor of original thought.Like bubbles, he said to himself, human life is as momentary as a bubble.(Khushwant Singh, Posthumous. Not A Nice Man To Know: The Best of Khushwant Singh. Penguin, 2000)Everybody can repeat the platitude that the mob can be the greatest of all tyrants. But few realize or remember the corresponding truth which goes along with it- that the mob is the only permanent and unassailable high pries t. (G.K. Chesterton, Charles Dickens: A Critical Study, 1906) Anti-Intellectualism in Politics: Inspirational Platitudes and Partisan Punch Lines Instead of bringing arguments to the public deliberative sphere, [American] presidents are increasingly inclined to declare and assert, offering us a predictable inventory of inspirational platitudes and partisan punch lines. I turn first to George W. Bush and his use of inspirational platitudes as an instance of argument by declaration, then to Bill Clinton and his use of partisan punch lines as an instance of argument by assertion. It may appear at first glance that these two anti-intellectual strategies are polar opposites of each other. Platitudes articulate the obvious and are therefore assumed to be universal, while partisan punch lines are strategically one-sided and therefore particular. Both, however, are united by their rejection of the weighing and judging of reasons. Both are proffered as foundational beliefs that cannot be argued for or against. Self-evident truths can be declared without justification, just like partisan punch lines are asserted strategically to preempt consideration of the other side. Both paradoxically transmit ambiguous meaning in categorical language. Indeed, that is why partisan punch lines are often dressed up in the ambiguous language of platitudes. Phrases such as liberty, support our troops, and freedom in Iraq are often deployed as coded conservative punch lines delivered as creedal platitudes that cannot be denied, while fairness, universal health care, equal employment opportunity are the liberal analogs of projects that are self-evidently unobjectionable. (Elvin T. Lim, The Anti-Intellectual Presidency: The Decline of Presidential Rhetoric from George Washington to George W. Bush. Oxford University Press, 2008) The New Rhetoric of Civility The new rhetoric of civility misunderstands the role of argument as a social and socializing process. In so doing, it dissuades the public from embracing and refining argument as a means to achieve civility. In seeking a cure to incivility, todays discussions have characterized argument as a disease, when its cultivation might actually offer the most efficacious cure...If we fail to redeem ourselves through rhetoric, we condemn ourselves to recycling platitudes about civility. And through those platitudes, the new rhetoric of civility will continue to perpetuate the very stereotype about argument that, ironically, have led to todays calls for civility.(Rolf Norgaard, The Rhetoric of Civility and the Fate of Argument. Rhetoric, the Polis, and the Global Village: Selected Papers From the 1998 Thirtieth Anniversary Rhetoric Society of America Conference, ed. by C. Jan Swearingen and Dave Pruett. Lawrence Erlbaum, 1999) Platitudes in Drama That an idea is not available dramatically until it has become a platitude is itself one of the most platitudinous of dramatic platitudes. But there is a considerable difference in the mere availability of a platitude and the conversion of the platitude into lively and engaging drama. Good drama, in point of fact, consists in so veiling a basic platitude with the vari-colored gauzes of imaginative beauty that it shall be but vaguely perceptible to those who give it eye and ear. The greater the dramatist, the more successful he is in deceiving his audiences as to the existence in his work of the platitude. He is, in a way of speaking, a prestidigitator of platitudes: one whose infinite legerdemain of metaphor, fancy, wit, and surface originality is successful constantly in making the ever-present platitude seem to disappear. (George Jean Nathan, Materia Critica. Alfred A. Knopf, 1924)

Blood Words

Blood Words Blood Words Blood Words By Maeve Maddox Numerous scientific terms that describe the appearance or action of blood derive from the Greek word for blood: haima. From the Greek element comes an English prefix spelled haem in British usage and hem in American usage. haemoglobin / hemoglobin An iron-containing protein pigment occurring in the red blood cells of vertebrates. The protein is composed of heme and globin commonly in a ratio of four molecules of heme to one of globin. Note: Heme is a deep red iron-containing pigment. The British spelling of heme is haem. Both spellings are pronounced the same: /HEEM/. haematite / hematite A type of iron ore that is red, reddish-brown, or blackish with a red streak (like blood). haemorrhage / hemorrhage An escape of blood from the blood vessels; a flux of blood, either external or internal, due to rupture of a vessel; bleeding, especially when profuse or dangerous. Hemorrhage is also used as a verb. haematology / hematology A branch of biology that deals with the blood and blood-forming organs. haematoma / hematoma A tumor or swelling containing blood. haemorrhoid/hemorrhoid A mass of dilated veins in swollen tissue at the margin of the anus or nearby. Literally, â€Å"flowing with blood.† haemophilia / hemophilia A constitutional (usually hereditary) tendency to bleeding, either spontaneously or from very slight injuries. Hemophilia is sometimes called â€Å"the Royal Disease† because Queen Victoria and her daughters were carriers and passed it on to several European royal families, notably the Romanovs. Although the word hemophilia is a compound of the Greek words for blood and love, the German physician who coined the word was probably thinking of philia in the sense â€Å"a tendency to† rather than â€Å"a love of.† haemophobia / hemophobia Fear or horror at the sight of blood. Martin Ellingham in the PBS series Doc Martin suffers from haemophobia. (I spelled it that way because he’s British.) 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 Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Arrive To vs. Arrive AtWriting the CenturyPersonification vs. Anthropomorphism

Foreign Policy Formulation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Foreign Policy Formulation - Essay Example Gambia got independence in 1965 , and renamed the country to â€Å"The Gambia† to avoid the confusion with the country â€Å"Zambia†. Gambia is mainly surrounded by the country Senegal and it is one of the two countries surrounded by another. The river of the country called Gambia has been a bench mark for the country since it provides means for transportation and commodity provision. This river has given a unique identity for the country and it flows from west to east through the country and meets up with Atlantic Ocean. Gambia has historical ties with many other West African nations in the matter of slave trade. In 1816 British established a colony in Gambia .The first British settlement was termed as Bathurst, and it was known as the capital of the colony. It was in the year 1906, the slavery was completely abolished from the country. The economic policy of Gambia largely depended on the production and export of peanuts. Since Gambia was the smallest colony in Britis h rule, it was ignored and remained underdeveloped in infrastructure, manpower and institutional capacity. 1 According to Mwakikagile (2010,pg17) â€Å"When the country won independence, it lagged behind in many critical areas and could not function as truly independent nation†.... In 2005, Gambia accepted its willingness to establish full diplomatic relation with Turkish Republic. As per USA International (2007,pg 59)â€Å" The Gambia’s foreign policy is carved within the framework of the purpose and principles of the charters of both the United Nations and the African Union , on the basis of mutual respect for the sovereign equality , independence and the territorial integrity of the states.†. The main aim of their foreign policy is to maintain international peace and security and promote friendly relation among other foreign nations. The Gambia’s foreign policy is also committed to the doctrine of non alignment. Despite the developments in world affairs the foreign policy principles of Gambia has remained unwavering. The Gambia’s Foreign Relations The country Gambia has active involvement with United Nations and this acts as a cornerstone for its foreign policy. The main mission of United Nation is to strongly uphold international peace and security and to overcome underdevelopment and poverty among various nations across the world. In order to achieve this mission a close relation with individual countries is mandatory. The traditional and neutral approach of Gambia has given it a credible stand in its dealing with international organizations and developing partners. The foreign policy objective of the country is advanced due to its active participation in African Union affairs. The country also has a bilateral relation with The Republic of China as there had been many official visits between both the countries. Gambia established a diplomatic relation with Russia in 1965, and has an embassy situated in Moscow. The United States also intent to hold a improved relation with Gambia considering its historical ties,

Touched by nonprofit organizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Touched by nonprofit organizations - Essay Example This paper discusses the benefits that a community reaps from non-profit organizations or rather reflects at how lives have been touched by activities and or presence of non-profit organizations in the society. Sheppard and Oehler (2009) posit that non-profit organizations bring awareness to infrequent and or otherwise neglected issues, problems and causes within the society at large. In a society, many social, health and or financial problems are evident and most are rarely addressed by the relevant local authorities. Non-profit organizations are often at hand to address such abandoned people hence restoring some sense of hope to those suffering from such problems. In addition, most non-profit organizations provide job training services to the untrained members of the society as well as to those seeking further development. These services are made available to the people with ease which helps improve the community’s character and quality. The economies associated with these organizations on average stretch less funds from the private sector, the public sector and the foundation itself via reduced costs of operations for the organizations existing in a given location (Tess, 2003). Consequently, Tess (2003) reveals that the centers are able to serve more people as well as provide increased services hence impacting more people. With continued growth and development come increased investments into new infrastructure in the community thus expanding the impact of the organization. Most non-profit organizations develop centers in economically distressed areas. According to Shaffer, Deller and Marcouiller (2004), the presence of new infrastructure in these areas results in the development of new property, renovation of property, establishment of new business ventures, expansion of current business organizations as well as increased investment in public amenities and infrastructure. The availability of these entities requires management forces and as such many

American History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 5

American History - Essay Example Fernlund states that one of the conditions for becoming a world power was to have a large, standing army (161). The expansion and might of the United States’ sea power was exemplified in 1899, when the U.S was able to conquer the Spanish in the Philippines. The war with Spain was orchestrated by the fact that Spain was drawing closer to the United States frontier at California. The United States was, thus forced to fight off the Spaniards and in the process ended up acquiring the Philippines. The assertion of U.S rule on the Filipino led to American imperialism, a factor that further established the position of the U.S as a growing world power. The U.S became openly involved in world affairs. The most significant of this and which probably led to the United States becoming a world power was World War 1. Fernlund states that as a matter of foreign policy, the U.S had opted to remain neutral in the war (178). Nonetheless, when the Germans started a submarine warfare, sinking enemy and neutral vessels, the U.S joined the war on the Allied side. The victory of the Allies over the central powers and the role played by the U.S cemented the position of the latter as a world power. 1. 21-2. In his work, Mahan’s was concerned over the lack of sea power by the United States to defend herself in case of danger. Fernlund states that Mahan argued that incase of danger, the U.S could be forced to establish a blockade on her extensive sea-coast, a deed which needs a standing naval army (162). More sea power would, thus ensure that the United States stayed clear of harm’s way and that trade and commerce would not be affected by an external war. The work of Mahan led to increased military buildup in the U.S by the close of the century that saw the U.S defeat Spain in the Philippine war. It is the same sea power that enabled the U.S to participate in the First World War. 2. 21-4. Twain was a critic of the American annexation of the Philippines and his article led to the

China's economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

China's economy - Essay Example When per capita income is measured in terms of purchasing power, it has gone up by three times – as per the International Monetary Fund, from $2800 in 2002 to almost $9100 in 2012. That is certainly a commendable achievement by any standard! China is now no more a poor country but is placed in the middle-income bracket. China became a member of World Trade Organization in 2001 and that gave a big boost to Chinese exports. Chinese exports grew by average 30% between 2002 and 2007 making it the worlds largest exporter then. In exports, China holds 10% of the global market. Real estate contributed significantly in the GDP growth after 1998 when the establishment opened the market. Between 2002 and 2010, real estate of China registered average growth of 17%. That has now gone down to almost 12 % due to controls enforced by the government. All said and done, the moot question is whether China will be able to maintain such spectacular growth in the years ahead. China is more poised to follow a well-known economic principle – the law of diminishing returns that with each unit of fixed investment, the marginal return declines meaning each fresh unit of capital will produce less output than the previous one. In other words, to maintain same growth, the country needs to invest higher and hiher capital each year. China is now integrated with the world economy. Post 2008 financial crisis, China is unable to push more exports to the developed world due to large scale unemployment that prevails with stagnating GDP numbers . Export growth rates for China will be declining in the years ahead compared to what has been registered in the first decade of new millenium. That leaves little scope for China to maintain 10% GDP growth in the years ahead. Chinas cost advantage in the world market is declining rapidly because its average wage rates have gone up four times since 2000. Moreover,

Applying Theories to Children's Literature Essay

Applying Theories to Children's Literature - Essay Example It is at this stage how seriously their questions are taken, how well they are answered and how deep impact these answers lay on the young minds; together set the institution of thoughts, perception, outlook and information. A well inculcated thought carries a deep meaning all through the child's life. It is essential for the care takers of the tender age children not to bring negative influence on children's mind rather motivate them and fill them with enthusiasm towards life, towards world and towards every living organism (Theories of Child Development and Learning). History reveals that the child development was never given much attention and there was no necessity to answer their questions but with growing awareness the outlook changed and now various theories have been postulated to understand the psychology of the child to mould them well, to explain them in the best possible manner either by means of animations, games, books or designing props to convey the moral values throu gh stories (Theories of Child Development and Learning). It is imperative to understand the child development for cognitive, emotional, social and physical development, beginning from the birth and continues up to the adolescence. Considering the child development carries a deep impact on the adulthood theories proposed encompass Psychoanalytic Child Development Theories- Sigmund Freud- According to Freud, events that occur in childhood and also the good or bad experiences leaves a deep impact on the development of an individual. This theory is mostly devised for the mentally challenged children (Cherry). Erik Erikson- According to this theory the conflicts encountered at each stage of life influences the entire functioning of the individual. If a child fails to establish an identity then it results in the role confusion at later stages of life. It is therefore imperative to have an identity at an early stage of life. Parents and care providers should make the child understand about the self identity (Cherry). Cognitive Child Development Theories- It is established by Piaget that children have a different thinking as they are unaware about the consequences and happenings going around. They have different outlook as compared to the adults who have experience of life and therefore their thoughts are different. Children are inquisitive about the world around them and hence they try to explore with their own sense and wisdom. A little guidance could bring wonders, it is therefore imperative to preach them with a sound sense of understanding to generate moral values and also devise a character to follow (Cherry). Behavioral Child Development Theories- According to this theory it is essential to understand that the environment do plays an imperative role in shaping the personality of the child. It deals with the observation (Cherry). Social Child Development Theories- The social interaction plays a crucial role in the development of child. It is essential that a chi ld interacts with everyone in the society, these interaction develop a sense of co-operation with others in the society. If the child does not get proper exposure, the chances of developing fear towards others, a sense of insecurity towards every creature develops. A child may not develop a trust and empathy and it becomes difficult to tackle and deal with any situation to which a child come across, the similar tendency lingers till the

EVALUATE THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE WITHIN Dissertation

EVALUATE THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE WITHIN FINANCIAL INSTITUTION(ASDA) LEAD TO THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS - Dissertation Example †¦...22 3.2 Limitations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.23 3.3 Ethical Considerations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..23 3.4 The Design of Questionnaires†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦24 4.0 Results and Findings†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..25-29 5.0 Discussion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...30-33 6.0 Conclusion and Recommendations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.34-37 7.... ?†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.27 Figure 2: Relationship among ASDA’s Employees†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..28 Table 1: Table 1: Employees’ Reasons for ASDA’s Near Bankruptcy in 1990s†¦.25 1.0 Introduction This paper critically addresses the impacts of organisational culture on performance of a financial institution (ASDA), and investigating how this culture could lead to global financial crisis. It must be stated at this earliest time that this paper dwells mainly on the Human Resources aspect of organisation culture; it highlights how employees of ASDA, based on their varying experiences, trainings, personal integrity and conformity to organisational policies, could cause a spiral global financial crisis. It is no longer a new phenomenon that organisational culture is a potent factor in determining the success of operations in a com pany (Schein, 2004). ASDA, a financial institution, also derives its efficiency from the realization that its human resources must be revamped in order to achieve optimum performance in credit and financial services (ASDA, 2010a). ASDA requires its array of employees to demonstrate high-quality professionalism so as to be able to discharge its statutory duty as a viable credit facilities’ institution (ASDA, 2010a). One important feature of ASDA that would not be overlooked in this study is it size, huge market reach, and the magnitude of the effect of its eventual collapse, in case there is a financial crisis. Big financial institutions like ASDA faces increasingly threat as it deals out its credit-issuing services to its many customers (Kidwell et al, 2000). However, for the purpose of clarity and concentration, this study only looks into the effect of organisational culture on the activities of ASDA as a

Applying Theories to Children's Literature Essay

Applying Theories to Children's Literature - Essay Example It is at this stage how seriously their questions are taken, how well they are answered and how deep impact these answers lay on the young minds; together set the institution of thoughts, perception, outlook and information. A well inculcated thought carries a deep meaning all through the child's life. It is essential for the care takers of the tender age children not to bring negative influence on children's mind rather motivate them and fill them with enthusiasm towards life, towards world and towards every living organism (Theories of Child Development and Learning). History reveals that the child development was never given much attention and there was no necessity to answer their questions but with growing awareness the outlook changed and now various theories have been postulated to understand the psychology of the child to mould them well, to explain them in the best possible manner either by means of animations, games, books or designing props to convey the moral values throu gh stories (Theories of Child Development and Learning). It is imperative to understand the child development for cognitive, emotional, social and physical development, beginning from the birth and continues up to the adolescence. Considering the child development carries a deep impact on the adulthood theories proposed encompass Psychoanalytic Child Development Theories- Sigmund Freud- According to Freud, events that occur in childhood and also the good or bad experiences leaves a deep impact on the development of an individual. This theory is mostly devised for the mentally challenged children (Cherry). Erik Erikson- According to this theory the conflicts encountered at each stage of life influences the entire functioning of the individual. If a child fails to establish an identity then it results in the role confusion at later stages of life. It is therefore imperative to have an identity at an early stage of life. Parents and care providers should make the child understand about the self identity (Cherry). Cognitive Child Development Theories- It is established by Piaget that children have a different thinking as they are unaware about the consequences and happenings going around. They have different outlook as compared to the adults who have experience of life and therefore their thoughts are different. Children are inquisitive about the world around them and hence they try to explore with their own sense and wisdom. A little guidance could bring wonders, it is therefore imperative to preach them with a sound sense of understanding to generate moral values and also devise a character to follow (Cherry). Behavioral Child Development Theories- According to this theory it is essential to understand that the environment do plays an imperative role in shaping the personality of the child. It deals with the observation (Cherry). Social Child Development Theories- The social interaction plays a crucial role in the development of child. It is essential that a chi ld interacts with everyone in the society, these interaction develop a sense of co-operation with others in the society. If the child does not get proper exposure, the chances of developing fear towards others, a sense of insecurity towards every creature develops. A child may not develop a trust and empathy and it becomes difficult to tackle and deal with any situation to which a child come across, the similar tendency lingers till the

To Change Helmet Law with no exceptions Essay Example for Free

To Change Helmet Law with no exceptions Essay Motorcycle is a popular means of transport in United States of America. It is used either for sports or purely as a means of travel. In Law terms motorcycle is defined as a motor vehicle that has rider’s saddle designed to be moved on the land by less than three wheels. Just like any motor vehicle, motorcycle has devices that are meant to protect a rider from: strong wind, falling objects and injuries in case of an accident. Protective devices include jackets, special pants, helmets among others. Helmets are very important devices that protect the rider by reducing the impact in case of an accident. It protects the head, one of most important parts of the body that houses the brain, eyes, nose and other vital organs. Studies have shown that in case of an accident most of the riders who had helmets had none or had less serious injuries. This shows how vital this protective gear is, it’s a matter of life and death. It is not enough to just wear a helmet a rider should only use a gear that meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to ensure maximum protection.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   United States motorcycle laws require that riders wear helmet but there are exceptions when it come to the age of a rider. States laws have the same exception clause for example in Florida if a rider is over 21 years of age one is exempted as long as he or she has a at least a medical insurance cover of 10,000 dollars while in Louisiana the law makes it optional for those who are over 18 years and has a proof of a medical cover of a at least 10,000. Some states such as Iowa and Illinois have no restriction as far as helmets are concerned. It is not mandatory to wear this protective device in these states. They leave it to the rider’s discretion to choose on whether a helmet will be part of their safety devices or not. (Adams J.G., 1983)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In   the September 1979 issue of Institute of Transportation Engineers journal Chang C.S states that laws recognize the importance of wearing helmets in protecting the riders against serious head injuries, but when it exempts some groups of people, their lives which it purports to protect are exposed from danger of their own making. These exceptions relaxes the law making it less effective in terms of safeguarding our safety at the same time entertaining violations since it is impossible to know whether one has fulfilled the conditions of age and personal accident cover unless thorough scrutiny is employed and in some cases an accident and probably death will have occurred.[34-8]   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In spite of the fact that law requires people of minority age wear helmets, this age group is known to violate these rules and when an accident occurs they suffer serious head injuries which are in some cases fatal. At the same time accident knows no age boundary, riders who are over 18 years and in some states over 21 are prone to accidents. Therefore having exceptions on assumption that a person of majority age is either responsible or will ride cautiously is baseless.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Some of the motorcyclists who cruise on our highways at dangerous speeds are inexperienced and careless they not only put the lives of others in danger but theirs also. Since most of them are ignorant of their safety and so much in hurry, protective device will be the last thing in their mind but if some strict rules are put in place having no exemptions, the rider will stop and think about a helmet if not for protection to avoid rubbing the law enforcers the wrong way. This will go along way in reducing fatalities and permanent disabilities in our highways making them safer. Hurtunian N.S. et al [1983] in their article The economic of safety deregulation. noted that there are millions of motorcyclists in United States, this is enough to take some urgent measures and make our laws to safeguard their lives and make millions of others who directly depend on them have a peace of mind. [14] These policies were supposed to be in place yesterday meaning time is of essence, further delay indicates that many Americans will continue to die due to causes which are preventable. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report shows that more than 4000 motor riders died in United States roads in 2004, this figure represented an eight percent increase. Fatalities as result of motorcycles accidents account for five percent of all accidents in United States. If this is not enough to make our lawmakers take a step and put the necessary measures in place this figure can only move northwards.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Dare, C.E. et al [1979] argues that since it is mandatory for every auto mobile using roads in United States to have safety belts. It is not stated that those who are of certain age are exempted from this rule, since motorcycles use the same highways it leaves no doubt in my mind that the same no exception rule should be applied to motorcyclist. Applying laws selectively only makes implementation difficult. Motorcyclist in Illinois and Iowa are at the same risk of injury and probably death as those in Texas.Harmonisation of policies requiring use of helmets for all will make this man made machine a safe vehicle for use regardless of age.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is common knowledge that motorcycle account for only two percent of all the motor vehicles that use our roads yet in terms of fatal accidents involving them the figure is a worrying nine percent, surely something must be done here. All motorcyclists should be required to have this device whenever on ride and this should also apply to any other occupant. In states where policies have been strengthened requiring all rider use helmet there have been a significant drop in fatalities. Through implementation of laws in California exempting no one in 1992 there was a reduction in fatalities by thirty six percent. Relaxation of rules has had serious implication with Texas reporting decline in usage of helmet and increase in serious injuries and fatalities. Luna G.k. et al in the August 1981 edition of The Western Journal of Medicine emphasized that helmets can save lives and I truly agree with his sentiments and its high time that our policy makes understood this and change the laws in all our states requiring all to wear helmets and help reduce the motor accidents fatalities and serious head injuries [135-9] Work cited Chang, C.   A Cross cultural Classification of Effective Use of Helmets in motorcycle,   Ã‚   Accident Injuries, Institute of Transportation. Engineers Journal. September. 1981 Hurtunian N.S., Et al.   The Economics of Deregulation: Lives and Dollars Lost Due to    Repeal of Motorcycle Helmet Laws. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law. 1983 Dare, C. Et al. Effects of Motorcycle Safety Helmet Use on Injury Location and Severity:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Before and After Helmet Law Repeal in Colorado. Institute of Transportation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Engineers Journal, October. 1979; 14-18 Luna G.K. Et al. The role of helmets in Reducing Head injuries a From Motorcycle   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Accidents: Apolitical or Medical issue? The western Journal of medicine. August,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   1981. Adams J.G, Public Safety legislation and the Risk compensation hypothesis of   Ã‚   Motorcycle helmet Legislation Environment and planning. 1983; 45-50