Staff Training and Motivation at Mcdonalds

Training and Motivation at McDonalds McDonald trains almost 55,000 employees each year. Each year, it also   dedicates over A? 10 million to ongoing employee training, providing   people with valuable skills. Work experience at McDonald's is a foundation for future employability, particularly as the UK labour market continues to   evolve. With the increased demand for skilled workers, a job which   offers ongoing training with a leading organisation – is a solid   career investment. People from all walks of life credit a first job at   McDonald's with having equipped them with the ingredients for success.Staff Training McDonald's Staff Training Programme is an on-the-job vocational   experience that teaches skills transferable to other industries. All new hires begin their McDonald's experience with an induction into   the company. Staff trainers work shoulder-to-shoulder with trainees   while they learn the operations skills necessary for running each of   the 11 workstations in each restaurant, from the front counter to the   grill area. All employees-learn to operate state-of-the-art   foodservice equipment, gaining knowledge of McDonald's operational   procedures.Step-by-Step manuals and video tapes cover every detail, from how to   make a Big Mac, to how to deliver exceptional service to customers. Employees also learn how to train and supervise others. For the first time employed, McDonald's is an important â€Å"mentor',   teaching the interpersonal and organisational skills necessary for   functioning effectively on any job. McDonald's business demands   teamwork, discipline and responsibility; McDonald's experience results   in enhanced communications skills as well as greater self-confidence;   and McDonald's stresses â€Å"customer care†, and attitude which industry   experts ecognise as an essential ingredient for business success. Management Development Conducted at regional offices and corpora te training centres across   the country, McDonald's Management Development Program (MDP) continues   to develop the potential leaders which the Crew Training Programme has   nurtured. This is followed by a series of training courses designed to back up   what is learnt in the restaurant and develop management, communication   and leadership.The Management Training Centre (MTC) is McDonald's premier UK training   facility, providing a variety of business management and restaurant   operations courses to franchise and management employees throughout   the United Kingdom. The UK Management Training Centre currently puts   through approximately 1500 managers annually. The Management Training Centre runs three courses that give the skills   required by different levels of management, from restaurant shift   management to mid – management. The Basic Operations Course (BOC) equips trainee management candidates   with the skills to manage their people and run successful restaurant   shifts.The Advanced Operations Course (AOC) is predominantly for new   restaurant managers and department heads, It aims to enhance the   candidates leadership and management skills, enabling them to achieve   results in all areas of the business by working through and developing   their people. The Mid-Management Course (MMC) goes into further leadership skills   and management systems, helping these managers to effectively lead and   develop their restaurant managers. These three core courses are supported by courses and seminars run by   the Regional Training Centres. In addition, managers will work through   theaâ‚ ¬?Management Development Programme (MOP) back at the restaurant. MDP gives managers at all levels the technical and functional   management skills needed to maintain McDonald's leadership role in the   quick service restaurant industry. Manager Trainee As a Manager Trainee, you are responsible for learning and   unde rstanding McDonald's policies and procedures in order to prepare   for managing shifts in a McDonald's restaurant. The responsibilities   include, but are not limited to: aâ‚ ¬? Learning the basics of restaurant operations through on-site   training, area management and floor management. â‚ ¬? Gaining experience with attaining and maintaining customer   satisfaction. aâ‚ ¬? Developing an understanding of basic supervision, human relations,   interpersonal communication and follow-up skills. aâ‚ ¬? Establishing an Individual Development Plan to help focus on   personal career development objectives. aâ‚ ¬? Ensuring that a respectful workplace exists in the restaurant. From Manager Trainee you will move to the Second Assistant Manager   position where you actually begin to apply the skills you have learned   as a Manager Trainee. Second Assistant ManagerAs a Second Assistant Manager, you are responsible for managing   people, products and equipment to execute outstanding Quality,   Service, Cleanliness and Value (QSC;V) on all assigned shifts. The   responsibilities include, but are not limited to: aâ‚ ¬? Developing and training crew employees. aâ‚ ¬? Maintaining critical standards for product quality, service speed ;   quality, cleanliness ; sanitation. aâ‚ ¬? Managing shifts and/or areas without supervision aâ‚ ¬? Ensuring all safety, sanitation and security procedures are   executed. aâ‚ ¬? Controlling food components, labour, waste and cash while managing   shifts and or areas. aâ‚ ¬?Completing all assigned shift paperwork. aâ‚ ¬? Ensuring that a respectful workplace exists in the restaurant. The next level of restaurant management is the First Assistant   Manager. Here you will explore the business skills involved with   managing a restaurant. First Assistant Manager As a First Assistant Manager, you are responsible for assisting the   Restaurant Manager in executing virtually all aspects of the   restaurant operations. The responsibilities include, but are not   limited to: aâ‚ ¬? Demonstrating and reinforcing the leadership behaviours and basic   people standards necessary to gain commitment from crew and other   shift managers. â‚ ¬? Recruiting, staffing, scheduling and retaining employees. aâ‚ ¬? Managing the development and training of crew and shift management   employees. aâ‚ ¬? Building sales and controlling costs to deliver optimum business   results for all areas of accountability. aâ‚ ¬? Maintaining critical standards for product quality, service speed   and quality, cleanliness and sanitation. aâ‚ ¬? Controlling assigned profit and loss line items. aâ‚ ¬? Ensuring that a respectful workplace exists in the restaurant. The next level of restaurant management is the Restaurant Manager.Your performance and available positions will determine the time frame   for progression from First Assistant Manager to Restaurant Manage r. Restaurant Manager As a Restaurant Manager, you are responsible for the entire operation   of a single McDonald's restaurant, including: aâ‚ ¬? Developing and training Assistant Managers. aâ‚ ¬? Measuring external customer satisfaction and executing plans to   increase brand loyalty. aâ‚ ¬? Implementing and conducting in-restaurant new products and   procedures. aâ‚ ¬? Ensuring execution of all security, food safety and maintenance of   the restaurant. aâ‚ ¬?Projecting and controlling accurate profit & loss line items. aâ‚ ¬? Administering all in-restaurant records and procedures including   benefits, payroll, inventories, security and employee personnel flies. aâ‚ ¬? Ensuring that a respectful workplace exists in the restaurant. Opportunities beyond the Restaurant Manager position are also   available based on interest and performance. These opportunities are   as follows: Operations Consultant aâ‚ ¬? Provide leadership, coaching and directi on to assigned restaurants. aâ‚ ¬? Maximize long-term sales and profit potential of each restaurant. aâ‚ ¬?Build a positive business relationship with Restaurant Managers and   Restaurant Leadership Team Training Consultant aâ‚ ¬? Conduct training that motivates and improves individual's   performance and contribution to restaurant results. aâ‚ ¬? Serve as operations expert and consultant on McDonald's operation   standards, management tools and training systems. Business Consultant aâ‚ ¬? Consult to an assigned group of franchisees to optimize sales, QSC,   profit, and people development. aâ‚ ¬? Assist with maximizing the business potential for the franchisee   organization. Human Resources Consultant aâ‚ ¬?Provide leadership and support to the operations team, regional   staff and franchisees on Recruiting and Staffing Management/Crew   Employees, Employee Relations, Management Development, Diversity   Development, Benefits/Compensation and Man agement/Crew Retention   systems. Management Programs are also available for personal development, which   will prepare you for each step along the way. These opportunities are   as follows: Shift Management Program When you experience the Shift Management Program, you will receive   instruction through a combination of self-study modules and on-the-job   coaching.You'll also participate in the Basic Shift Management Course   and the Advanced Shift Management Course, which are offered by the   Regional Training Department. The Shift Management Program assists you in developing and sharpening   management skills in: aâ‚ ¬? Area Managements aâ‚ ¬? Food Safety aâ‚ ¬? Basic People Skills aâ‚ ¬? Respectful Workplace aâ‚ ¬? Delivering QSC;V aâ‚ ¬? Customer Satisfaction and Customer Recovery aâ‚ ¬? Shift Management* aâ‚ ¬? Coaching and Counselling aâ‚ ¬? Valuing Diversity aâ‚ ¬? Understanding the Business * Indicates self-study modules McDonald 's Internal SeminarsSeminars are designed to establish a common foundation of leadership   and management knowledge and skills for McDonald's officers. These   seminars will focus on key business issues identified by senior   management and create a platform for effective implementation of   strategic business initiatives. A team of McDonald's senior management   and external providers lead the seminars sessions. The external   providers are recognized leaders in their area and have extensive   experience consulting with and teaching executives. Types of Conflict Within the Business ————————————-By evaluating a conflict according to the five categories below —   relationship, data, interest, structural and value — we can begin to   determine the causes of a conflict and design resolution strategies   that will have a higher probability of success. There are many type s of reasons why conflicts may happen between Human   Resources Functions, such as; Relationship Conflicts ====================== Relationship conflicts occur because of the presence of strong   negative emotions, misperceptions or stereotypes, poor communication   or miscommunication, or repetitive negative behaviours. Relationship   problems ften fuel disputes and lead to an unnecessary escalating   spiral of destructive conflict. Supporting the safe and balanced   expression of perspectives and emotions for acknowledgment (not   agreement) is one effective approach to managing relational conflict. Data Conflicts ————– Data conflicts occur when people lack information necessary to make   wise decisions, are misinformed, disagree on which data is relevant,   interpret information differently, or have competing assessment   procedures. Some data conflicts may be unnecessary since they are   caused by poor communication between the people in conflict.Other   data conflicts may be genuine incompatibilities associated with data   collection, interpretation or communication. Most data conflicts will   have â€Å"data solutions. † Interest Conflicts —————— Interest conflicts are caused by competition over perceived   incompatible needs. Conflicts of interest result when one or more of   the parties believe that in order to satisfy his or her needs, the   needs and interests of an opponent must be sacrificed. Interest-based   conflict will commonly be expressed in positional terms.A variety of   interests and intentions underlie and motivate positions in   negotiation and must be addressed for maximized resolution. Interest-based conflicts may occur over substantive issues (such as   money, physical resources, time, etc. ); procedural issues (the way the   dispute is to be resolved); and psychological issues (perceptions of   trust, fairn ess, desire for participation, respect, etc. ). For an   interest-based dispute to be resolved, parties must be assisted to   define and express their individual interests so that all of these   interests may be jointly addressed.Interest-based conflict is best   resolved through the maximizing integration of the parties' respective   interests, positive intentions and desired experiential outcomes. Structural Conflicts ==================== Forces external cause structural conflicts to the people in dispute. Limited physical resources or authority, geographic constraints   (distance or proximity), time (too  little  or too much), organizational   changes, and so forth can make structural conflict seem like a crisis. It can be helpful to assist parties in conflict to appreciate the   external forces and constraints bearing upon them.Structural   conflicts will often have structural solutions. Parties' appreciation   that a conflict has an external source can h ave the effect of them   coming to jointly address the imposed difficulties. Value Conflicts =============== Value conflicts are caused by perceived or actual incompatible belief   systems. Values  are beliefs that people use to give meaning to their   lives. Values explain what is â€Å"good† or â€Å"bad,† â€Å"right† or â€Å"wrong,†Ã‚   â€Å"just† or â€Å"unjust. † Differing values need not cause conflict. People   can live together in harmony with different value systems.Value   disputes arise only when people attempt to force one set of values on   others or lay claim to exclusive value systems that do not allow for   divergent beliefs. It is of no use to try to change value and belief   systems during relatively short and strategic mediation interventions. It can, however, be helpful to support each participant's expression   of their values and beliefs for acknowledgment by the other party. Working Hours One fu nctions working hours may be flexible than another functions   working hours, the employees are prone to complain as they want more   flexible working hours as well. TechnologyThere may conflicts between different functions technology wise in a   sense that one function may get better technology than another   function, e. g. one function within human resources may get the newest   state-of-the-art computers so they will be able to work more   efficiently, as opposed to another function who may have computers   which are 4 or 5 years old so they will not be able to work as   efficiently, so the will complain and the business as a whole will not   work as efficiently. Placement ; Selection Placement and selection are both important factors to be considered   when assessing conflicts between human resources.This can be caused   by a many number of things such as, if a new employee has been   recruited into the business and as soon as he starts work the business    puts him as a manager, but there has been someone there working with   the business for 20 years and has worked his way up the hierarchy to   become assistant manager to the manager before and was looking to fill   in the place of manager but this new recruit has just filled that   place, the business will expect them to work together, but they will   be conflicts between the two managers. WagesOne-function employees might get paid more for the same job that   another functions employees are doing. This will cause friction   between the functions as pay is a high motivation factor in how   efficiently the staff work. Training/Costs Training and costs are a major conflict factor as they contribute a   lot to the efficiency of the function, for example if a function has   better training and training facilities they will be able to work more   efficiently. As apposed to a function who has little money to spend on training and bad training facilities, this wi ll result in poor   training throughout the function and poor efficiently.Performance Management Performance management is the systematic process by which an agency   involves its employees, as individuals and members of a group, in   improving organizational effectiveness in the accomplishment of agency   mission and goals. The revisions made in 1995 to the Government wide performance   appraisal and awards regulations support sound management principles. Great care was taken to ensure that the requirements those regulations   establish would complement and not conflict with the kinds of   activities and actions practiced in effective organisations as a   matter of course.Planning In an effective organization, work is planned out in advance. Planning   means setting performance expectations and goals for groups and   individuals to channel their efforts toward achieving organizational   objectives. Getting employees involved in the planning process will   he lp them understand the goals of the organization, what needs to be   done, why it needs to be done, and how well it should be done. The regulatory requirements for planning employees' performance   include establishing the elements and standards of their performance   appraisal plans.Performance elements and standards should be   measurable, understandable, verifiable, equitable, and achievable. Through critical elements, employees are held accountable as   individuals for work assignments or responsibilities. Employee   performance plans should be flexible so that they can be adjusted for   changing program objectives and work requirements. When used   effectively, these plans can be beneficial working documents that are   discussed often, and not merely paperwork that is filed in a drawer   and seen only when ratings of record are required. Monitoring ———-In an effective organization, assignments and projects are monitored   continually. Monitoring well means consistently measuring performance   and providing ongoing feedback to employees and work groups on their   progress toward reaching their goals. Regulatory requirements for monitoring performance include conducting   progress reviews with employees where their performance is compared   against their elements and standards. Ongoing monitoring provides the   opportunity to check how well employees are meeting predetermined   standards and to make changes to unrealistic or problematic standards.And by monitoring continually, unacceptable performance can be   identified at any time during the appraisal period and assistance   provided to address such performance rather than wait until the end of   the period when summary rating levels are assigned. DEVELOPING ———- In an effective organization, employee developmental needs are   evaluated and addressed. Developing in this instance means increasing   the capacity to perform through training, giving assignments that   introduce new skills or higher levels of responsibility, improving   work processes, or other methods.Providing employees with training   and developmental opportunities encourages good performance,   strengthens job-related skills and competencies, and helps employees   keep up with changes in the workplace, such as the introduction of new   technology. Carrying out the processes of performance management provides an   excellent opportunity to identify developmental needs. During planning   and monitoring of work, deficiencies in performance become evident and   can be addressed. Areas for improving good performance also stand out,   and action can be aken to help successful employees improve even   further. RATING —— From time to time, organizations find it useful to summarize employee   performance. This can be helpful for looking at and comparing   performance over time or among various employee s. Organizations need   to know who their best performers are. Within the context of formal performance appraisal requirements,   rating means evaluating employee or group performance against the   elements and standards in an employee's performance plan and assigning   a summary rating of record.The rating of record is assigned according   to procedures included in the organization's appraisal program. It is   based on work performed during an entire appraisal period. The rating   of record has a bearing on various other personnel actions, such as   granting within-grade pay increases and determining additional   retention service credit in a reduction in force, although group   performance may have an impact on an employee's summary rating, a   rating of record is assigned only to an individual, not to a group. Rewarding ——— In an effective organization, rewards are used well.Rewarding means   recognizing employees, individually and as members of groups, for   their performance and acknowledging their contributions to the   agency's mission. A basic principle of effective management is that   all behaviour is controlled by its consequences. Those consequences   can and should be both formal and informal and both positive and   negative. Good performance is recognized without waiting for nominations for   formal awards to be solicited. Recognition is an ongoing, natural part   of day-to-day experience. A lot of the actions that reward good   performance – ike saying â€Å"Thank you† – don't require a specific   regulatory authority. Nonetheless, awards regulations provide a broad   range of forms that more formal rewards can take, such as cash, time   off, and many no monetary items. The regulations also cover a variety   of contributions that can be rewarded, from suggestions to group   accomplishments. Managing Performance Effectively ———— ——————– In effective organizations, managers and employees have been   practicing good performance management naturally all their lives,   executing each key component process well. Goals are set and work is   planned routinely.Progress toward those goals is measured and   employees get feedback. High standards are set, but care is also taken   to develop the skills needed to reach them. Formal and informal   rewards are used to recognize the behaviour and results that   accomplish the mission. All five-component processes working together   and supporting each other achieve natural, effective performance   management. THEORIES OF MOTIVATION Writers such as FW Taylor (1856 – 1915) believed workers would be   motivated by obtaining the highest possible wages through working in   the most efficient / productive way.In short, the more money you   offer the worker, the more motivated they will be to work. Ta ylor,   identified as the Father of Scientific Management, was obsessed with   optimising efficiency and productivity in all areas of life. (Whilst   out walking he would attempt to ascertain the optimum length of stride   required to cover a distance! ). His most well known research focused   on scientifically analysing the tasks performed by workers, and it is   through these studies that we can understand Taylor's approach to   motivation of the worker.Through the scientific study of work Taylor sought to enable the   worker to achieve the maximum level of output, and in return gain the   maximum financial reward for their labour. The best way to pay a   worker according to Taylor was on a performance related basis. In one   study he looked at the work of steel workers, and by identifying the   optimum load of coal per shovel, which would enable the worker to lift   the maximum tonnage each day, the steel works plant reduced its   workforce from 600 to 140.The reward for those workers lucky enough   to keep their jobs – 60% higher wages if they met their scientifically   calculated targets for the week, by following the instructions laid   down by Taylor, on how to do their jobs. Unfortunately, the way in which Taylor appeared to view the ‘worker'   as just a pair of hands, and the job losses, which seemed to follow   him round the companies he advised, labelled Taylor as ‘The Enemy of   the Worker'. In truth, F. W. Taylor only sought to enable the worker to   reach their full earning potential, and honestly believed his work was   in the best interests of the worker.Subsequent motivational theorists have pointed to Taylor's limited   appreciation of the fact that ‘workers' are you and me – people,   complex individuals, with heads and hearts – and not just simple pairs   of hands. This said, Taylor's ideas are just as prevalent today as   they were in the early 1900s , consider the current wave of dot. com   start-ups, which offer large share options to their staff, and thus   the potential for huge financial rewards in the future, if they work   hard now. There is no escaping the fact that money is still a central   reason why people work, but is it the key to motivating people.

Trench warfare

World War I occurred in the years 1914-1918. The following countries were involved in Trench Warfare; Britain, France, and Germany. Trench warfare was a common form of battle on the Western Front during World War 1. Trench warfare is a military operation in which the soldiers fight from protected ditches. At the beginning of August 1 914, soldiers had a positive attitude going off to war. They thought they were going to have a fun adventure. However, everything did not go as they planned.There were many casualties as well as deaths. Shell shock was a common condition that caused trauma on these soldiers. Their hands shock and their eyes twitched. Some could not even hear or speak. Some screamed and shivered violently when guns were fired. If guilty Of cowardice, they were shot by a firing squad. Soldiers used gas attacks and machine guns as well as artillery. The machine guns fired 8 bullets a second. They even made up a theory behind charging towards enemy trenches and machine guns. The theory was that if enough soldiers charged, then no matter how many were killed or wounded on the way, there loud be still be enough men alive to capture the machine guns in the enemy trenches. Daily life was monotonous and often very dull. It involved the cleaning and inspection of weapons; the removal of dead and wounded from trenches and no man's land; the transfer of supplies, food rations and new equipment; observing enemy activity and movement; repairing barbed wire defenses; delousing of uniforms. Infantry soldiers spent much of their time digging new trenches or repairing old ones.They carted supplies and equipment up and own communication trenches. They spent long hours on sentry duty or in secret listening posts near the enemy trenches. Sappers also helped dug tunnels below enemy trenches and placed huge mines there. Trench positions became formidable fortresses with barbed wire belts, tens of yards deep in front of them with concrete shelters and emplacements often be low ground level. They generally formed zigzag patterns to help protect the trench against enemy attack. Fire steps and scaling ladders enabled troops to go over the top.Other than all of this, it was muddy and had a bad stench of dead bodies. The trenches were a place full of disease, a part played largely by the rats. Rats in their millions infested trenches. There were two main types, the brown and the black rat. Both were despised but the brown rat was especially feared. This rat could grow up to the size of a cat. Lice caused Trench Fever, a particularly painful disease that began suddenly with severe pain followed by high fever. Recovery, away from the trenches, took up to ;level weeks.Also, Ross by the score were found in shell holes covered in water. Trench Foot was an infection in the foot. Due to muddy conditions, the soldiers always got this. It was caused by exposure to damp conditions for more than half day. Men were expected to keep their feet warm and dry. Soldiers we re paired and responsible for the feet of the other. 3 pairs of socks were given to change regularly. In conclusion, trench warfare had a big impact on our heroes today. With all the conditions, they were still able to defend for our country.

The History of Knitting - UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

The History of Knitting - UK - Essay Example This trajectory demonstrates two qualities of knitting: it is a highly practical, flexible and expressive art form which encourages creativity in design, and it has a deep cultural significance which uniquely combines tradition and modernity in British fashion. These two qualities have ensured thus far that knitwear will remain an important part of any fashion designer’s collection. Origins and early history. The origins of knitting as a hobby and as a fully-fledged industry are lost in the mists of time, and it is impossible to say with any certainty where it first began. The general consensus is that knitting may have been invented in the Middle East by nomadic peoples and have been brought to Europe along with traders in the early Middle Ages. (Hubert: 2010, p. 7) Earlier Roman socks dating from the first centuries AD were made by a knotting technique which is not fully understood by modern scholars, but it is agreed that these were not proper knitting. There are references to the activity in the United Kingdom from as early as AD 1100, and there is evidence of this in the Anglo Saxon verb cnytte which means â€Å"to join, fasten, or fuse with knotting† (Wilson: 1988, p. ... ons of knitting, partly because the ready availability of high quality wool from sheep provides good raw materials and partly because their cool climates ensure a steady demand for warm garments. One advantage of knitting over weaving is that all of the processes from the gathering of the wool, to its cleaning, combing, spinning, knitting and sewing into a garment can be carried out in a small space such as a living room. Looms are large and unwieldy, while knitting can be done on wooden, or later metal needles, with minimal outlay in terms of equipment. From the very beginning cottage workers provided the backbone of the knitting industry and this is an important part of its appeal to wearers. Wearing a knitted garment can identify the wearer with a particular local community and this attribute is still a feature of woollen garments to the present day. Another advantage of traditional knitting over sewing techniques is that the manufacturer can tailor each garment to the wearer by m odifying stitch numbers within a general pattern. This is a highly skilled, but extremely economical use of expensive yarns and ensures that the finished article has an excellent fit. It was not until the mid-sixteenth century that the purl stitch was invented and from then on techniques and styles diversified, with complex new stitches and patterns emerging in different regions of Europe. The geography of knitting in the UK: regional specialisms. Across the UK, different regions developed their own specialities in the production of knitwear. Even within one region, such as Scotland, there can be quite significant geographical segmentation because traditionally individual knitters develop their own unique styles and over time specialize more and more in these directions, with the end result

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

Character Analysis - Essay Example Their similarities in handling situations in the story were evidently exhibited from the manner by which they apparently lived in secrecy. At the beginning of the story, it was revealed that when Emily Grierson died, the townsfolk, especially women, were immensely curious to see the inside of the house since no one, except â€Å"an old man-servant--a combined gardener and cook--had seen in at least ten years† (Faulkner 1). Emily, on the other hand, was noted to have been in recluse and has kept â€Å"her front door remained closed, save for a period of six or seven years, when she was about forty† (Faulkner 7). These traits exhibited these two characters preference for isolation, secrecy and reclusion by keeping the doors to the house close: â€Å"the front door closed upon the last one and remained closed for good† (Faulkner 8). In addition, it was revealed in the story that both characters hardly even talked; either to each other or even with other people. They manifested coldness, indifference, and obliviousness of what other have to say. As cited about Tobe: â€Å"we had long since given up trying to get any information from the Negro. He talked to no one, probably not even to her, for his voice had grown harsh and rusty, as if from disuse† (Faulkner 8). Of Emily, the townspeople allegedly describe her as passing â€Å"from generation to generation--dear, inescapable, impervious, tranquil, and perverse† (Faulkner 8). She apparently had not interacted with any other character in town, except when Emily was visited by the members of the Board of Aldermen to collect taxes; of which, her response were cold and firm, as her actions indicate banishment and indifference to abiding by their purpose. As such, both characters where seen by the townsfolk only as fleeting and described them as aging figures. Tobe was described as frequently seen going in and out of the house; without much interaction and interpersonal relationships wi th the townsfolk. As disclosed, â€Å"daily, monthly, yearly we watched the Negro grow grayer and more stooped, going in and out with the market basket† (Faulkner 8). Concurrently, the same physical description was noted for Emily: â€Å"during the next few years it grew grayer and grayer until it attained an even pepper-and-salt iron-gray, when it ceased turning† (Faulkner 7). Finally, these characters showed similarities in handling challenges and trials in life: they kept everything to themselves and seemingly denying the realities of life. Tobe, who apparently knew everything that was going on in Emily’s house, refused to neither divulge any secrets nor defy the confidence given him by his master. Emily, on the other hand, handled both deaths in her family (through denying his father’s death; and again, for poisoning Homer Barron and keeping his dead body in the house) through fits of denial. It could actually be inferred that Emily could be exhibitin g symptoms of mental illness: â€Å"the inability to either feel or demonstrate appropriate affect, or emotion, that is congruent to a particular situation is one of the

Social media critical analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Social media critical analysis - Essay Example There are several instances where differences arise in the way people perceive others, something that has resulted in ethnicity, racism and other perspectives that carry negative impacts and connotations. This paper examines the issue of racism and ethnic connotations that are continually becoming the main agenda across social media and other platforms in the society. It focuses on how these thoughts and perspectives are taking toll on the society and the perceived implications they are creating, as well as steps being taken to create a cross-cultural social platform. In our contemporary society, ethnicity is standing out as the cause of disagreements across human societies. Our society penalizes people that openly talk about racial issues; these gaps provide perfect grounds upon which honest conversations effecting their particular communities are raised (Miller 3), this statement continues to elicit mixed reactions across many platforms. Currently, marketers across the business world are realizing the need to make objective communications in order to attract clients that have different origins in terms of their ethnic affiliations, race and preferences. This is because; businesses create products that are destined to fulfill the needs of all people in the society irrespective of their differences. This has yielded efforts and strategies in creating a non-polarized media that appeals to all the needs of the different groups of people for all the good reasons. While marketers have been making efforts in dropping their long-held traditional ethnic media, they are scrambling to establish a platform that is cross-cultural, and lacking ethnic connotations. These efforts are expected to eliminate the hate and related outcomes that are often brought about by ethnic connotations and perspectives that people hold in the physical societies that we live in. Currently, people want to be associated with others of their own race, ethnicity,

Organizational assesment Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Organizational assesment - Term Paper Example I believe the problem with their reward systems, affecting performance has been a long-standing problem prior to the current economic crises. Problem Identity Clients have constantly complained about the quality of service in which they receive from Ramapo Manor and report a decline not only in the services offered, to help them sustain during this economic crises, but also the attitudes, performance, timeliness and quality of service they receive from the employees. This assessment will research the lack of reward systems in place and the cutting of reward systems, which kept employees providing better service and increasing productivity. The nature of the problem is Ramapo Manors current reward system, which is causing employees to leave their current positions for either a different department/division within Ramapo Manor, which has not been affected greatly by the economic crises. They are returning to pursue their education in different fields, which yield a more promising livab le status, they are leaving Ramapo Manor and pursing positions in a different organization, there are gaps in positions, which are crucial to running Ramapo Manor effectively. This causes budget cuts, not allowing for reward systems and incentives to keep their current employees or encourage potential employees. Lay-offs, mandatory unpaid furlough days, holiday pay, bonuses and hourly pay cuts are the core to the nature of this problem. This problem cannot be pointed to one single figure. It could be pointed to Kathleen Falk, executive for Ramapo Manor state wide, as the ultimate decisions fall on her, her decision-making process and communication to her subordinates. On the other hand, the problem affects and becomes all employees within the organization, the clients who depend on the organizations services and the potential candidates who have taken test after test just to get an interview, to be considered for a position in Ramapo Manor. This problem is unfortunately a part of a larger problem, which has affected the entire world and the United States, yet there are related problems that stemmed from poor planning and budgeting skills. The economic crises, which has caused unemployment to soar to unspeakable numbers, the closings of small and large businesses due to the lack of funding from banks, budget cuts which force organizations to prioritize needs, wants and necessities which are crucial to the survival during the deficit. Ramapo Manor was once the most sought out organization for potential candidates. People would wait years, test and retest just to be considered for hire at Ramapo Manor, due to its exceptional reward systems and benefits for their employees. LTE workers (Limited Term Employees), looked to gain no health benefits in terms of extrinsic rewards, but in terms of intrinsic rewards, they gained skills, received a great starting wage, became a part of the Union for Ramapo Manor, flexible hours and would be first on the list to possible be come a FTE (Full Time Employee). FTE enjoyed the extrinsic benefits of being paid for a full 40 hour work week, even if a day or two was missed, full health care coverage, including dental and vision, 401k, profit sharing, PTO (Paid Time Off), holiday pay, amazing starting wages and the ability to transfer between departments within the Ramapo Manor

Conference And Exhibition Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Conference And Exhibition Management - Essay Example Generally, conference buyers are the event organizers or planners who purchase or employ event-related commodities or services (e.g. venues, specialist services) (Rogers 34). In the conference industry, there are two major kinds of conference buyers: the corporate buyers and the association buyers. Corporate buyers, as the name suggests, are buyers and organizers of corporate events for a financial gain (Rogers 34). The association buyers, on the contrary, work for not-for-profit organizations and merely rare are those who hold events with the purpose of benefiting financially from such events (Rogers 45). However there is also another kind of conference buyer: academic buyers. Academic buyers are those who plan for academic conferences such as the 2010 Museums and Heritage Conference. Academic conferences are usually an interaction among researchers in a specific field of study (Caroll-Clark). The 2010 Museums and Heritage Conference will mostly constitute delegates who are from universities to convene about one social and educational purpose - preserving and conserving museums and the heritage. Therefore the University of Bright People falls under the context of academic buyers. Since the conference is academic, the venue may not be luxurious however not inferior of taste to suit the varying preferences of the students, academics and industrialists. The venue is where the participants will be able to interact with each other; meet new acquaintances and/or opportunities for trade (Marx, et al. 15). The following are the criteria for selecting the conference venue. The delegates should be able to access the location without hassles so the conference site must not be hard to locate on the map. Otherwise, it is best recommended that the venue be a common knowledge to all, or in a word, popular. The conference venue should be able to accommodate at least 350

How and Why Starbucks Is Affected By both Internal and External Essay

How and Why Starbucks Is Affected By both Internal and External Challenges - Essay Example This paper illustrates that increased globalization and trade liberalization of markets has resulted in the facilitated growth of international business. However, together with opportunities for increased revenues and new markets’ potential, many firms have faced with a challenge of managing organizational behavior in different environments. Organizations, especially those that operate in multiple regions or continents are continuously exposed to divergent legal, political and socio-cultural environments. One of the great examples of such organizations is Starbucks Corporation. Starbucks is a leading multinational corporation operating in the specialist coffee retailing sector. Its values share in the world coffee shops category has reached 0.7% in 2013. While the company’s largest business unity is in the US (63% of sales), it has managed to establish a substantial international presence. The company pursues a strategy of global business expansion. As the company opera tes in numerous international markets it faces with various external factors that influence the company’s strategy and operations. In order to overcome all these challenges and other difficulties, it is vital for a business organization to have efficient and appropriate organizational structure. The company has implemented a functional organizational structure and combined it with a divisional approach, whereas organizational structure is comprised of various departments and divisions that are responsible for performing different functions. After Howard Shultz, the founder of the Starbucks returned to the organization as the CEO in 2008, he has introduced some transformational changes to the organizational structure. The company has decreased the number of partners and the number of existing positions, and also reduced its workforce. Furthermore, in 2012, the company has redefined its organizational structure of retail business focusing on geographic principle and identifying three-region structures: Americas (US, Latin America, and Canada), China/Asia Pacific, and Europe, Middle East and Africa. Thus, the company has supplemented its structure with geographically based divisional structure design.

Demonstration Presentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Demonstration Presentation - Essay Example During my presentation am going to talk about the history of animation, types, and demonstrate how they can be designed using basic equipments. I will also elaborate on how one can benefit from the different animation designs. 1. Based on â€Å"historical dictionary of animation and cartoon† by Nichola Dobson, he mentioned that the invention of animation designs is attributed to Etienne Gaspard.This was first discovered in 1798 when he projected moving images using â€Å"Magic Lanteren†. 2. However the first animation graphic design to be produced to the public was in 1908. It was in the form of stop motion produced by a French film maker named Èmile Cohl’s with title â€Å"fantasmagorie† = â€Å"phantasmagoria† 4. During those days there were different types of animation designs. At this juncture I would kindly request all of you to be attentive as I mention some the designs. They include: 2D †¦ â€Å"2D, 3D, stop motion, and Sculpture. A. Since last year, I have been using my hobby of designing animations to get some benefits. I started by drawing free animation designs in the youth magazine until I became a member in animation

Teamwork and Motivation Essay Example for Free

Teamwork and Motivation Essay An organization should take steps that would best benefit the organization as a whole to strategize a motivation plan. It first must identify what employees value and then determine how the organization can reciprocate that what the employees want is being heard. This can be done by taking the initiative to communicate first-hand with employees so that the plan is clear and concise. In the following motivation plan, I will explain how the plan encourages high job satisfaction, low turnover, high productivity, and high-quality work. Stacy Harris (2013) tells us that â€Å"the work environment is an important talent retention tool for any workforce, but it is particularly important for the skilled labor workforce. Work environments for the high-tech, healthcare, and manufacturing industries share several common issues: long hours, high stress, and often lower pay scales than positions that may require higher levels of education†. That is why creating and structuring a plan that is intended to motivate employees is such a significant piece to retaining skilled employees. When developing this plan I had to first answer the question, what behaviors will be rewarded and how. In this organization, we manufacture and sell a commodity and although sales are high, our products and delivery services are losing credibility. We are incurring costs that are avoidable and may be losing the trust of our customers if we don’t do something fast. Therefore, employee motivation is significant in rectifying the issues at hand. Quaratul-Ain Manzoor (2012) explains that â€Å"a motivated employee is responsive of the definite goals and objectives he/she must achieve, therefore he/she directs its efforts in that direction†. To achieve high job satisfaction and high quality work, we have created a system that will reward points for incentives that will be very appealing to our employees and we found this out by taking a poll of the most desired perks. Since no one motivation plan will satisfy all employees we have taken the initiative to strategize our plan to cater to each department in different ways. Each department has goals that need to be met and when employees exceed these goals their acts will be recognized and rewarded. In our sales department, we have employees that are experiencing frequent interaction with our consumers. In order for us to know what is really happening in those interactions we have implemented a survey system that is completed by consumers in reference to how our employees handled them. Once we receive surveys we will reward those exceeding the 91 percentile rating of satisfaction with points towards obtaining a free vacation day. Also, in all departments attendance will be recognized, especially since sales and assembly are high-priority human resource areas. When an employee misses no days within a six month to one year period we will have an award presented at our annual employee recognition program. Also, employees will be recognized every quarter for outstanding service according to their points and consumer ratings. This recognition will be displayed on our STAR employee board and they will receive gift certificates to the restaurant of their choice. For those employees that do not meet those requirements, throughout the year gas cards will be given to employees who are meeting targets, showing growth. In our assembly department the key to increasing the morale is encouraging employee motivation. Keeping employees engaged at the organization will satisfy their need to feel a part of the organization and also the company’s need of high-productivity. As suggested by Philip Mirvis (2012), â€Å"there is a daunting â€Å"employee engagement gap† in business†. To close this gap at WooWoo we are striving to promote from within. Giving employees the opportunity to rise up in the assembly department to become trainers, supervisors and line leaders will be an intrinsic reward available to them. Encouraging team members to treat everyday like an interview day will keep them aware that they have the potential to move up the ranks as fast as they produce high-quality work. To effectively motivate our administration team we decided to analyze their position to the organization and what they view as perks. Since this group of employees is more focused on the processes running smoothly we have decided to reward their dedication to the company in regards to recognizing and resolving human resource issues in a timely manner. From our research the most desired perks for this group are employee recognition and developmental pay increases. Our technology department is a significant piece to the puzzle and the most difficult to chose a motivational strategy for. This department focuses on the logistics of the organization and maintaining the functioning of equipment we use. Therefore, to encourage and motivate this department we focused on the tools they need to excel. When it comes to training and recertification for this group of employees it’s really important to maintain their credibility, so we have decided to reward their outstanding services with tuition reimbursement, and free certification for every 6 months they meet and exceed their goals. To address achieving low-turnover, we as an organization have decided to create a sense of job security for our employees. We have managed to do this by offering benefits such as employee assistance programs, on-site child care, extended severance pay (should we ever have to downsize), and a defined contribution plan that constitutes the organization matching the employees contribution. Turnover can take a huge toll on an organization and we have taken the necessary steps to decrease our turnover rates and to increase our employees’ satisfaction. Methods Two methods that could be used to motivate all of the employees here are: (1) addressing their needs and wants and (2) encouraging goals to be met by praising the work they currently are doing. The most significant method would be to address the employees’ needs and wants. Once a person feels a sense of belonging; they long to know that the interested party cares about them. Employees especially have a need to know that they are not just viewed as a number that makes money for the company. Also, taking the time to recognize the work employees have already completed motivates them to do more so that they can continue to receive praise and not criticism. In return, the organization has an opportunity to yield high-satisfaction from the employees that value this type of motivation. The minimum wage worker is not motivated by the perks that are appealing to regular full-time employees. Therefore, it is a task and requirement to be creative in catering to motivate them. Three ways to motivate the minimum wage worker are: (1) encouraging participative leadership/learning, (2) employee recognition, and (3) showing them that there is potential to grow and make a career in the industry wherein they will have full benefits. These methods are used in combination to cater to what appeals to this group of workers. In today’s workforce, most minimum wage workers are in the Generation Y age group and they are not working to stay in that pay grade, so turnover is inevitable. However, using these methods to show employees how you value them can sometimes encourage them to consider making a career in the industry. The theory that best fits this scenario is the Hierarchy of Needs Theory. This theory focuses on individual needs and it places them in order of importance. In this theory the two needs classified as the higher-order needs, are closely related to the suggested methods that could be used to motivate minimum wage workers. The first need addressed in this theory, self actualization, coincides with the first suggested method of motivating minimum wage employees. This need highlights that employees have a sense of fulfillment. The need which is entitled, esteem, would benefit from the second suggestion of employee recognition. Today’s Individual Worker – Organizational Relevance In today’s organizational context the individual worker is still significant and it would not be possible to consider otherwise. Individuals are what make organizations diverse and they keep the operating procedures flowing. Today’s businesses mainly depend on teamwork and teams are made of individuals. Without individuals, organizations would produce mediocre results and have no differentiation whatsoever. I believe that is why a lot of organizations are recruiting more diverse populations so that in return they aren’t hiring employees that are like them. It is wise of organizations to value each individual in their organization especially if those individuals are growing with the organization and not benefiting from the status quo. Conclusion In conclusion, organizations truly have their work cut out for them when analyzing the best method to use when creating a motivation plan. This task is not a one-size-fits-all deal and company executives must factors in all of the key questions to reach their ultimate goal of retaining employees. Motivating employees can be a difficult task if an organization does not ask themselves the right questions. Having a clear and concise plan that is encouraged and communicated throughout the organization on a regular basis is grounds for the retaining of highly-satisfied employees.

Information communication technology

Information communication technology Resistance is Useless Introduction: Todays world or society is changing very fast with the help of ICT (Information Communication Technology). Everyday new technologies were developed to simplify the every days work, but there is a resistance to accept those new technologies among people. This is because of many people doesnt like the CHANGE because they dont like being changed. When change comes it brings resistance and fear to cope up with that or lose something valuable. Even many people could not understand how to use those new technologies or equipments. Many People have natural tendency to stuck with the way of work with whom they used to ,They often change and have faltering to change the way of work or equipments, Some people could not afford to adopt new technology or there is no support to demonstrate the way of   using new technology. In medical field every day new technique or method or equipments were introduced but many physician, nurses and medical personal   does not adopt these new technologies ins tead they continue working in there conventional way. New technologies are invented to reduce the work load as well as significantly improve the patient safety, patient satisfaction in the heath care system and also improve the hospital efficiency. As a example most of the hospital introduce the information database system where the hospital store all the information about the patients medical records, doctors information and all the staffs information about their education, salary, training etc. In medical field or can say in eHealth the amount of resistance for the new technologies or equipments are much larger than other fields. In eHealth new technologies or methods are for better health care and lowered the healthcare costs, but physician, nurses and medical personals are hesitated to adopt these at first time because they came from different background. Even sometime the researchers or developers in medical technologies run out of budget or get budget to go or pass the research stage because of medical personal are unresponsive to those technologies or equipments. Objectives What are the factors while designing a system? How a new system or technology will evaluate? What are the ways to convince the people or the organization staffs who will to use this system or technology? How would an organization introduce the new system or technology and prepare their employees to get the most of the system? What are the reasons behind these resistances to new technology and methods in health care? Discussions: Lecture 4 (slide 46,48) advantages disadvantages + Slide 32-37 (for evaluation) Slide 8 focusing on benefits Slide 24 slide 30 Old people are pessimistic of new technology for usability inconvenience Conclusion: It can be said that resistance is useless. Resistance is the biggest obstacle in developing new technology.   Not only resistance always create problem there are lots of other factor involving to create problem to develop new technology both in medical sector as well as in other sectors. Most of the people have natural tendency to create resistance to the new things because they have fear to change the way of doings jobs. In other since resistance is useful to some extent it helps the developer to develop the new technology in more efficient and user friendly way, So that the end user can get the most of the system. It is more important to have in mind while developing new technology for whom they are developing, in which situation and context the user will use this tools, As well as which task it will solve otherwise resistance will always come to adopt the new technology. Reference: Improve ICT systems in healthcaImprove by Dr. Isabella Scandurra [Ph.D] http://www.icup.org.uk/reports%5CICUP763.pdf http://www.bridges-to-technology.com/page26.html http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6947/6/1 http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_US/us/press/Press-Releases/press-release/8696c52c23d85210VgnVCM100000ba42f00aRCRD.htm http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/change_resistance.html http://www.schulersolutions.com/resistance_to_change.html

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Essay: The Identity of Characters

Identity of Characters in A Midsummer Night’s Dream Where Shakespeare's tragedies will tell the story, chiefly, of a single principal character, this is rarely the case with his comedies. The comedies are more social and deal with groups of characters. In the case of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the principal groups are, at first, introduced severally. Though, one group may interact with another (as when Puck anoints Lysander's eyes, or Titania is in love with Bottom) they retain separate identities. While each of the groups is separate, there are symmetries which appear among them: Theseus and Oberon (and, in a way, Bottom) are rulers and figures of authority in their proper spheres. Hippolyta and Titania are consorts who defy their lords, but ultimately submit to their lordship. Often one pair is to be contrasted with another: the well-matched lovers Lysander and Hermia contrast with the ill-matched Demetrius and Helena (they resemble Pyramus and Thisbe). Even Puck has his human counterpart in Philostrate. The serious strife of the young nobles contrasts with the good fellowship of the mechanicals while it resembles the contention of the fairy rulers. Complete depiction of a complex character (as in Hamlet) is not attempted here, and would be wholly out of place. This is not a fault but reflects the different concern here of the playwright. But we do find very economical portrayal of strong and vivid characters, in Puck, Bottom, Oberon, Titania, Theseus, Helena and Hermia. Of t hese, the first two stand out as among the greatest of Shakespeare's creations. Puck first appears at the start of Act 2, and is rarely off the stage from this point. He is essential to the narrative: he carries out his master's orders obe... ...ically as anything in the tragedies, his anti-greeting ("Ill met by moonlight...") almost a snarl. But his concern for the lovers, and his pity for the ridiculous dotage of Titania show how he is capable of gentler feeling. Theseus' obvious sympathy for Hermia in 1.1, has a parallel in his concern not to belittle the efforts of the mechanicals to celebrate his wedding: "The best in this kind are but shadows, and the worst are no worse, if imagination amend them". His prose speaking here might indicate a concern that the workmen should understand him, to lessen their sense of awe. In Theseus, Shakespeare brings dignity and humanity to the familiar mythical hero; in Oberon, he embodies the most benign qualities of Elizabethan woodland sprites in a fairy king more vivid, concrete and passionate than any original of Oberon on whom he may have based his depiction. A Midsummer Night’s Dream Essay: The Identity of Characters Identity of Characters in A Midsummer Night’s Dream Where Shakespeare's tragedies will tell the story, chiefly, of a single principal character, this is rarely the case with his comedies. The comedies are more social and deal with groups of characters. In the case of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the principal groups are, at first, introduced severally. Though, one group may interact with another (as when Puck anoints Lysander's eyes, or Titania is in love with Bottom) they retain separate identities. While each of the groups is separate, there are symmetries which appear among them: Theseus and Oberon (and, in a way, Bottom) are rulers and figures of authority in their proper spheres. Hippolyta and Titania are consorts who defy their lords, but ultimately submit to their lordship. Often one pair is to be contrasted with another: the well-matched lovers Lysander and Hermia contrast with the ill-matched Demetrius and Helena (they resemble Pyramus and Thisbe). Even Puck has his human counterpart in Philostrate. The serious strife of the young nobles contrasts with the good fellowship of the mechanicals while it resembles the contention of the fairy rulers. Complete depiction of a complex character (as in Hamlet) is not attempted here, and would be wholly out of place. This is not a fault but reflects the different concern here of the playwright. But we do find very economical portrayal of strong and vivid characters, in Puck, Bottom, Oberon, Titania, Theseus, Helena and Hermia. Of t hese, the first two stand out as among the greatest of Shakespeare's creations. Puck first appears at the start of Act 2, and is rarely off the stage from this point. He is essential to the narrative: he carries out his master's orders obe... ...ically as anything in the tragedies, his anti-greeting ("Ill met by moonlight...") almost a snarl. But his concern for the lovers, and his pity for the ridiculous dotage of Titania show how he is capable of gentler feeling. Theseus' obvious sympathy for Hermia in 1.1, has a parallel in his concern not to belittle the efforts of the mechanicals to celebrate his wedding: "The best in this kind are but shadows, and the worst are no worse, if imagination amend them". His prose speaking here might indicate a concern that the workmen should understand him, to lessen their sense of awe. In Theseus, Shakespeare brings dignity and humanity to the familiar mythical hero; in Oberon, he embodies the most benign qualities of Elizabethan woodland sprites in a fairy king more vivid, concrete and passionate than any original of Oberon on whom he may have based his depiction.

The Art Of Torture Essay -- History Punishment society Essays

The Art of Torture Going by the title of this paper you are probably asking yourself â€Å"How in God’s name can torture be seen as an art, were these people mentally ill?† well it was, but I talk about that later, let me tell you a little about the history of torture. Torture has been around since the times of Ancient Greece and is still around today, usually in the Mafia. Other than the mob, torture isn’t very common in our society. Punishments aren’t near as harsh as they used to be back in medieval times. The only punishments we have now are jails, the punishments there were in medieval times were numerous and downright inhuman. Torture would keep criminal from doing something wrong again, assuming he lived through the torture. The punishments we have today are laughable and dumb. Big deal, you are thrown in prison for a few years, you don’t suffer one bit, but to the inmates, being thrown on a chain gang is so terrible. Being given hundreds of paper cuts and being rolled in salt, now that’s terrible and I’m sure the convict will never break the law again. Places like Singapore still operate like this. It happened to that one teen who decided to spraypaint some cars. He thought he could get away with it and he almost did, but he shortly found out that he had a little pay-back coming to him. The kid was caned, and he hasn’t done anything dumb since. Torture like this works, torture is a way that can really make you have second thoughts before you do anything stupid. Torture was practiced in numerous ancient civilizations. Convicts and war prisoners were put to death by using torture to give them a slow, humiliating death. To some American Indian tribes, it is a custom to torment and burn prisoners. Crucifixion was a popular torture technique in ancient Rome. Rome also used torture to get slaves, criminals, just about anybody, to get them to talk about secretive information. You see in these ancient Roman times, people were given information and were told that they should never tell this information to no one, well the Romans found out about this and this caused a major uprise in the use of torture. In 12th century Europe torture became very widespread like it had just did in Rome. Before Europe began using torture, they relied on a more common judicial type of settlements for crimes, by the 13th century confessions and... ... is when the victim throat is slit open and the tongue of the victim is pulled through the opening. This is one of the few tortures still used today, this technique is usually used by mobs. To conclude this paper on the history, art, and tools of medieval torture, all I can say is that the Middle Ages were a time were crime was not tolerated. Punishments were sever and done to keep a criminal from ever breaking the law again. This use of severe punishments worked unlike the legal system of today where criminals are living a better life in prison than most of the poor are living. Prisoners just go back to what they were doing after they are released from prison, and they usually end up back in prison. Not too many criminals in the Middle Ages were dumb enough to go out and break the law after being tortured, there was no prison were they could spend years in, torture was a fast and effective way of showing a criminal to never ever break the law again. â€Å"Torture, one of the few legal systems that worked†. Works Cited The Gullotine and the Terror, Arasse, Daniel.1987 Penguin Press. The Executioner's Homepage, http://www.luh.K12.ca.us/%7Ebg659808/torture.html

Comparing Irony of War in Dulce et Decorum, Regeneration, and Quiet on

Irony of War Exposed in Dulce et Decorum, Regeneration, and Quiet on the Western Front    Many of the young officers who fought in the Great War enlisted in the army with glowing enthusiasm, believing that war was played in fancy uniforms with shiny swords. They considered war as a noble task, an exuberant journey filled with honor and glory. Yet, after a short period on the front, they discovered that they had been disillusioned by the war: fighting earned them nothing but hopelessness, death and terror. They had lost their lives to the lost cause of war, which also killed their innocence and youth. They were no longer boys but callous men. Wilfred Owen's poem "Dulce et Decorum Est", Pat Barker's novel Regeneration, and Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front, all portray the irony between the delusive glory of war and the gruesome reality of it, but whereas Owen and Sassoon treat the theme from a British point of view, Remarque allows us to look at it from the enemy's. The poem "Dulce et Decorum Est", an anti-war poem by Wilfred Owen who was an English footsoldier, states that it is not sweet and fitting to die a hero's death for a country. Right off in the first line, Owen describes the troops as being "like old beggars under sacks" (1). This metaphor indicates that the men are battle weary and suggests reluctance. They also have been on their feet for days and appear to be drained of youth as they "marched asleep" (5) and "limped on, blood-shod" (6). Overall, in the first stanza, Oundjian 2 there seems to be a tension between old and young because it shows how the impact of an endless war has reduced these once energetic young men to the point where they could be referred to as "old" (1), "lame" (6) and... ...s, demonstrated through the author's talent, are denouncing the authority figures who were supposed to guide his generation into adulthood but instead turned the youth against each other in the pursuit of superficial ideals. The soldiers were simply the victims of a meaningless war. In conclusion, Remarque's firsthand encounters with trench warfare, Owen's vivid descriptions of the soldiers' experiences and Baker's touching accounts of the lives of historical figures, all state that there were no victors in war, only losers in a hopeless battle for territorial supremacy. Works Cited Barker, Pat. Regeneration. Toronto: Plume, 1993. Owen, Wilfred. "Dulce et Decorum Est." The Faber Book of War Poetry. Ed. Kenneth Baker. London: Faber, 1997. 3-4. Remarque, Erich Maria. All Quiet on the Western Front. Trans. A. W. Wheen. New York: Ballantine, 1982.

Pit and the pendulum analysis Essay

Edgar Allan Poe’s â€Å"The Pit and the Pendulum† takes place during the Spanish Inquisition. The morbid short story consist on an innocent man’s fears coming to life after he is sentenced to death. â€Å"The Pit and the Pendulum† showcases the theme of terror and cruelty by developing descriptive setting, intense plot, and creative irony. Setting is a major part of the thesis because it captures the readers attention to see what the character sees. One of the most influential setting Poe creates is when the main character is engulfed in total darkness. The quote, â€Å"the blackness of eternal night encompassed me,† help the reader fully imagine what it would be like to see absolutely nothing creating a sense of terror of not knowing what’s around. Another impactful setting was when Poe writes the pendulum scene. The pendulum quickly starts to descend swinging back and forth, all the while â€Å"ravenous† rats circle around you like p redators waiting to devour what’s left. Read Also:  Topics for an Analytical Essay The theme, cruelty, is more than clear in this setting, trapping the reader in true suspense. Further more, Poe builds a sense of suspense and suspicion with the uncertainty of the fate that is to come to the main character. â€Å"It seemed evident that mine was not, at least, the most hideous of fates.† Through out the story the character always manages a way to cheat his death. However, that doesn’t stop his torturers. With this in mind, Poe intensifies the plot by providing more nail-biting situations. For example, when the character has to choose his death. The walls are closing in on him, forcing him to either jump into the pit or get crushed to death. What could be more terrifying? The building up of the plot promotes the theme, terror, by having the main character make the ultimate decision. It is all too ironic the fact that despite all the character’s best efforts to save himself, he fails because the enemy is there to impede them. For instance, â€Å"w hen the motion of the hellish machine ceased and I beheld it drawn up, by some invisible force†¦ My every motion was undoubtedly watched. Free!- I had but escaped death in one form of agony, to be delivered unto worse†¦Ã¢â‚¬  However, when he gives up all hope at the end of the story, he is surprised to have been saved by General Lasalle. The sick recognition of irony supports themes such as terror and cruelty by showing how the character  succeeds only to fail, just to be saved in the end. In conclusion, Poe does an impeccable job at developing the themes of terror and cruelty by truly including the reader in every aspect of the story. â€Å"The Pit and the Pendulum† by Edgar Allan Poe proves to be outstanding in all perspectives of settings. He always keeps the reader interested through the suspense of the plot. The irony in the story oozes out of every word. The themes are easy to pick out only because the story is so well developed.

Be Fruitful and Multiply

â€Å"Be fruitful and multiply. † This is a line we commonly hear at Mass, but what does it really mean? If we read the bible, we can find this line in Genesis, at that moment after God has created heaven and earth, plants and animals, and Adam and Eve. This sentence is redundant and simple, yet it holds a deep meaning.â€Å"Be fruitful and multiply†Ã¢â‚¬â€this is God’s way of telling us to reproduce, to have children who represent God as we represent Him as we are created after His likeness. In the bible, however, there are certain instances that somehow contradict this line’s purpose.Two examples are the tower of Babel and the pharaoh’s order to gather and eliminate all Hebrew male babies. The tower of Babel was constructed after the Great Flood. Noah’s descendants have already multiplied—they have formed a very large family that uses the same language.They have built the tower to raise themselves to the heavens and seek glory highe r than God’s. At such insolence, God punished them by scattering them throughout the world and confusing their language. Thereafter, God’s people continue to multiply and be fruitful. However, they started to bear fruits of different natures, different colors, and different tongues.The pharaoh, at the time of Moses’ birth, ordered for all male Hebrew babies to be killed and cast to the sea for fear that, as their population continued to thrive, the Egyptians will be overthrown. This act contradicted God’s command of being fruitful and multiplying. However, though this had been the case, God’s words still found its way to being made possible.The Hebrews, led by the grown-up Moses, were able to break free from the Egyptians’ oppression. They were able to reach the Promised Land that overflows with milk and honey, and since that time, they were again able to be fruitful and multiply.

Decision Making Process Essay

There are times in everyone’s lives where decisions have to be made. Some decisions are small, some large and some life changing. Whatever type of decision you are faced with there is a process that is taken to determine the best possible outcome. In a personal aspect when I have a decision that needs to be made I tend to weigh all the possible outcomes and determine which one benefits me the most. For instance when I decided to go back to school at the University of phoenix I weighed the [possible outcomes of going back to school with the possible outcomes of not going back to school. Determining pros and cons is a typical weigh to reach an outcome when debating what to do in a scenario. I decided that the pros far outweighed the cons and I could potentially make a lot more money by going back to school in the long run than if I had decided not to re-enroll back into college. It is good for people to be able to see both sides of an outcome when making a very important decisio n in life. For the major decisions and choices people have to make it is essential they they be aware of the positive and the negatives of the potential outcome they choose. I have found that when a decision is to be made on very important issues I like to be able to play the â€Å"what if† game, the â€Å"what if† game is basically putting yourself into the different scenarios of the possible outcomes. For example, when I was debating on whether or not to return to school I put myself in the scenario of what if I don’t go back to school. That scenario would have played out with me being stuck in the same old dead end job and not making the effort to change my future for the better. When I put myself in the scenario where I went back to school I could see myself graduating, getting a good job and living a more prosperous life. In concluding the decision making process is one that helps people make real life decisions in real life situations. Some people use diff erent methods to help them figure out which decision is best for them. The majority of the time it pays to weigh your options and look ahead to what the potential of each decision could be.

Computer Virus and Prentice Hall Essay

Reports of computer security failures appear frequently in the daily new. Cite a reported failure that exemplified one (or more) of the principles listed in the chapter: easiest penetration, adequate protection, effectiveness, weakest link. There has been a lot of reports of security breaches in the news, for example the Sony Playstation Network, RSA Lockheed Martin compromise, Hyundai and so on, these have been of recent and these all show how vulnerable we are to security threats out there on the world wide web which has very little to do with borders of the country or state. The Internet is a gateway of information all over the word where people are connected and providing and absorbing information. Many of the security restrictions that apply in a physical sense do not in the cyber world. I have picked the Sony Playstation Network (PSN) compromise as my topic of discussion to show the areas covered in chapter one that talk about penetration, protection, effectiveness, weakest link. A successful penetration into the PSN by the attacker, has compromised peoples credit card information, birthdates, addresses, phone numbers and more. The successful penetration was delivered disguised in the form of a purchase as stated by Sony Chief Information Officer Shinji Hajesima (Ogg, 2011). The systems were unable to detect the attack going through as it went through has a purchase transaction. This show lack of adequate protection, in the article it also mentions that the vulnerability that was exploited by the hacker was also known. This shows that it is absolutely important to make sure that the patches for known vulnerabilities are deployed and the systems are patched accordingly, though one may argue if the patching introduces other forms of vulnerability. The successful exploitation of the system led to the loss of personal details of up to 70 million (Schreier, 2011) customers, this information could be used for identity theft, credit card theft, and besides that the down time for customers who are using the system that they have paid for. The effectiveness of this attack is shown by the shutdown of the PSN for a number of days. This shows that the effectiveness of the protection on this system was lacking, the inability to pickup on the intrusion as it happened and thus showing us a weak link in the system security. The article shows us the combination of things that have come into play that have led to the successful compromise of the PSN network. Starting with the vulnerability that was known by Sony with the systems and left unattended, secondly the inability of the intrusion detection system to pick up the actual attack or the delivery of the malformed data that exploited the vulnerability to permit access to the attacker, lastly the storage of data in an unencrypted but hashed form which is reversible to obtain the credentials and personal details of the PSN users or customers.

Police stress Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Police stress - Essay Example Stress, actually, is a result of physical and emotional nervousness and anxiety that a person suffers due to pressures from people living in his surrounding or events happening in his life. Stress results in tension, touchiness, lack of concentration, nuisance, bad temper, and a number of physical indications such as headache. Segal et al. assert that â€Å"while some stress is a normal part of life, excessive stress interferes with your productivity and reduces your physical and emotional health, so it’s important to find ways to keep it under control†. A little stress is beneficial as it keeps one going and forces him to maintain his good performance. This is called positive stress. It adds to a person’s wellbeing and health as it leads him to manage things properly. On the other hand, stress becomes an emotional rollercoaster when the police officers are constantly worrying about their performances, input and output, out of fear of their officials. In cases wh ere the officers are constantly bullied, or are taken for granted, or are threatened for delayed or cut down salaries, or are treated harshly, there they undergo negative stress more commonly known as distress. Causes of Stress / Stressors in Police Since police officers are consistently facing human indecency, violence, fights, gore, arrests, threats, and negative behaviors, thus they are very much prone to negative stress. Police officers are also human beings just like us and there is a limit to their forbearance. Some of the major stressors in police are described below. Constant Danger The life of a police officer is constantly in danger. The constant feeling of being under peril takes its toll on the police officer causing him permanent stress. This ever-present danger is a part and parcel of the duty of a police officer. Internal Stressors These are the stressors that arise from within the police departments causing the officers to make sudden mobilizations and then occurrenc e of boredom for longer periods. Sudden shifts for longer periods causes boredom during which the officer has to remain alert for sudden actions. The presence of a gun all the time; the confronting of the jailed criminals; the administrative policies; the need to obey the commands from a senior officer even unwillingly; and, investigations and procedures, all add up to police stress. Lack of Reward Layoffs, delayed salaries, low budgets, and pressure from senior officers put strain over police officers’ minds which then results in decreased productivity and poor output. They undergo fear, become irritable, suffer through nuisance, and all this reflects in their relationship with the seniors and co-officers. Fatigue due to overworking without lunch or rest breaks or working for longer hours without naps; dissatisfaction caused by lack of motivation when the officers are not given their due rewards; and, lack of interest in the job due to constant pressure coming from seniors a nd poor communication with the co-officers form some of the major stressors in police work. When a police officer puts his sincere efforts in meeting deadlines and producing good results, he definitely needs an appreciation, a compliment, or some feedback from his seniors. If he is not given his due credit, he comes under stress. Workload Police officers complain about undergoing stress when the

Lggerhead Sea Turtles and their migration and why they are protected Research Paper

Lggerhead Sea Turtles and their migration and why they are protected - Research Paper Example The U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) has also listed sea turtles species as being one of the most endangered species on the planet. Unfortunately, scientists claim that Loggerhead sea turtles could face extinction in less than five decades. The loggerhead sea turtles are under the threat of extinction in the near future due to the human activities on their habitat that has seen their number decrease exceptionally fast, according to a report. Loggerheads sea turtles are also regarded as the species that migrate frequently over their lifetime particularly during the breeding period (Bowen et al., 1995). This paper will explore the loggerhead sea turtles in light of their features, distribution, and migration behavior, why they need protection and the protection measures already initiated to conserve the species. The loggerheads are arguably the largest hard-shelled turtle on planet, observed Kobayashi et al. (2008). The species were named so because of extra large head comprising of h orny beak, which is thicker than other sea turtle species are. Loggerhead sea turtles have exceptionally turf jaws, which enables them feed comfortably hard-shelled prey such as the conch and whelks. The adult loggerheads have carapace that is heart-shaped, and reddish-brown in color. Adult males differ from the female in the sense that they have long tails that protrude beyond the rare carapace (Kobayashi et al., 2008). Additionally, adult male loggerheads have narrow carapace tapering towards the rear. These species have been listed as being among the over 15,000 animal species facing the threat of extinction. Loggerheads were listed as endangered species in 1978, and since then efforts are being made to ensure that they are accorded the necessary protection to abate the extinction threat. Research shows that loggerhead sea turtles are among the species that make the longest journeys than any other sea turtle species (Witherington, Herren, and Bresette,  2006).   They migrate long distances easily due to their adaptation for such movement. Report indicates that loggerheads usually migrate more than 7,500 miles between their nesting beaches in Japan and Mexico here they feed, notes Witherington, Herren, and Bresette  (2006). Since loggerheads are slow in movement, they have turf shell that protects them from predators in the event of an attack. Distribution Loggerheads are regarded as a circumglobal animal present throughout tropical and temperate regions of Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Researchers have shown that loggerheads are the most abundant sea turtles in the United States’ coastal waters. The loggerhead sea turtles in the Atlantic Ocean range extend from Newfoundland to Argentina. The species nests mainly during summer seasons in the subtropics. In the U.S., the species nesting concentration is found in North Carolina through to the southwest Florida. Research indicates that very few nesting occurs outside this range particularly in Texas and Virginia. Adult loggerheads normally migrate frequently between foraging areas and nesting beaches. However, during non-nesting periods, adult female loggerheads from the U.S. beaches distribute themselves in waters off eastern U.S., the Gulf of Mexico, Greater Antilles, Bahamas, and Yucatan (Kobayashi et al., 2008). Most loggerhead nesting takes place in the western part of Indian and Atlantic Oceans. A study

The Birds and Psycho Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Birds and Psycho - Essay Example Considering that these two movies are horror movies, the sound and the music tracks involved plays a great role in developing the suspense and tension, which are the major reactions elicited by the movies. While moving from one scene to the other, the sound track keeps changing and advancing in their menacing nature, making the audience feel as if the next scene is happening right there with them. This sound technique has been extensively applied in the movie† the Bird.† At the scene where seagulls set themselves on children during Cathy’s party, the soundtrack that precedes the scene is definitely warning. Additionally, when Melanie goes to check on Cathy at school, out of fear that she might be harmed on her way from school, there is sinister sound track that plays, as the crows are amassing themselves in the school’s play ground ready to attack children, raising tension and creating suspense on the audience as they wait to see what happens next (Raubicheck and Walter, 28). The same ominous application of sound can be identified in the movie â€Å"Psycho†. The sound track that is applied in the scene where Marion enters a bathroom to shower is terrifying. The sound track precedes the coming of a shadowed-figure of a woman, who stabs her to death. The sounds playing before the scene where the detective is attacked by the shadowed woman figure , creates great tension and suspension, which makes the audience anticipate, without any doubt that something terrible is going to happen. And sure enough, the suspense and tension is confirmed by the sudden stabbing of the detective to death (Raubicheck and Walter, 56). Strange and undisclosed character use is yet another comparison between the movies, "The Birds" and â€Å"Psycho". In both movies, it is not clear what causes the attacks and deaths that occur. Alfred Hitchcock uses strange characters in both movies, where in â€Å"the Bird†,

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

Physical Science - Essay Example For instance, individuals who are severely suffering from incurable diseases and other deadly diseases; they should be allowed to choose between life and death since they endure much pain. Furthermore, motive of euthanasia is to "aid-dying" painlessly, therefore, the laws should consider approving it even among the children. This will reduce pain, suffering and even low esteem suffered by patient. By doing so, the rights of an individual will have been respected. It is true that killing oneself is a way of protecting yourself from other forces and hence a defense mechanism, but it is totally different from mass killing, law does find it worth approving. When providing medical care and emotional care, the doctor always gives the patient medicine no matter the gross effects. Putting that into consideration, pain and agony should be prioritized. Hence our terminally ill children should be given a soft way out from such problems; hence legalizing euthanasia will be the only way out. The medicine given may not help and they may finally die. Therefore, legalization of euthanasia helps to avoid wastage of resources when buying medicine and it should be legalized. Law should forbid Mercy killing. It is unaccepted and a taboo for one to kill or to kill themselves. Human life deserves exceptional security and protection hence we should all stand against euthanasia Family members may have ill intention into forcing the patient to commit euthanasia hence unaccepted in the society. To protect evil and personal gains euthanasia should be demolished and should not be legalized in the current society. Thirdly, killing of oneself is biblical and religious unaccepted hence it will be abuse to the existing religion when euthanasia is legalized. The whole world should stand and protect the existing religions. Personally, I would not support euthanasia law since it will cause recklessness in the society. People will just be thinking about euthanasia whenever they are ill

UAE's need to have Preparedness and Response Plan for Chemical Essay

UAE's need to have Preparedness and Response Plan for Chemical Terrorism Attacks - Essay Example An individual or state is liable to face criminal charges if found guilty of trying to use toxic substances for malicious gains. Furthermore, the fight against biochemical terrorism has been boosted especially through continued support of the United Nations Organization. Despite the fact that detecting such attacks has proven to be a hard nut to crack, nations cannot just sit back and watch thinking that everything is usual. Prevention is better than cure and so there is a need to categorically shun away from this inhuman act. It is only by coming up with adequate measures in the health sector and the intelligence service too. These are basically substances that are commonly used during military operations to kill or cause adverse injuries due to their physiological effects. Chemical effects range from nerve to blister and chocking effects. Nerve agents are very toxic warfare agents. They came to the existence during World War II. Some of these agents include GA-tabun, GB-sarin GD-soman, GF-cyclosarinand the VX-methylphosphonothoic acid. â€Å"G† agents are non-persistent unlike the â€Å"V† agents which are persistent (Hamid & Antu, 2006). Most of the â€Å"G† agents are blended with other substances to increase their effects hence causing the total amount of the toxic substance concentration into the skin by a bigger percentage. At room temperature, it is believed that the GB is highly volatile as GA though to a lesser extent. However, VX is a non-volatile liquid and; therefore, it is not that harmful as compared to other agents. Nerve agents are colorless and mobile liquids while o thers are characterized with a faint fruity like smell (Falkenrath et al., 1998). Victims who inhale GB and VX die after 15 minutes of absorption. Despite GA being less toxic as compared to GB and VX, its low concentration is more irritating to the eyes; its symptoms are often observed in the skin dosage rather than

MGM600-0803B-02 Applied Managerial Decision-Making - Phase 4 Essay - 1

MGM600-0803B-02 Applied Managerial Decision-Making - Phase 4 Discussion Board - Essay Example The equation for a regression analysis analyzes the relationship between one dependent variable and one or more independent variables (Curvefit 2008). In the regression equation, the dependent variable is modeled such that it is a function of the independent variables, constant, and an error term which is an estimation of the variations in the independent variable. A simple regression equation is one which tries to explain the dependent variable with a single explanatory for variable. For example, we know that the level of income of an individual can be explained by education, position, race, gender, and even age. When we would like to isolate the effects or relationship of income with race alone, this is called simple regression. However, when we take two or independent variables such as education, age, and race, then it is called multiple regressions (Curvefit 2008). Regression analysis has been a very useful tool in economists who are closely watching the relationship between variables. Regression analysis is used to forecast the GDP growth of the country by looking at the historic GDP data (Regression Analysis 2008). It is also used to determine the relationship between foreign exchange rate and the money supply in a given country. In business organizations, regression analysis is frequently utilized in order to make important decisions like pricing strategies (Regression Analysis 2008). WidgeCorp’s entry to the cold beverage sector should further be assessed by looking at the attractiveness of the market and the potential that it has in serving the customers. The company’s decision of coming up with a forecast of its monthly sales will be beneficial in decision of production levels. The monthly sales can be forecasted by using monthly sales as the dependent variable. In the regression equation, independent variables should include the amount investment in advertising, season, and time. The amount investment in advertising is important

Reality TV in relation to television Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reality TV in relation to television - Essay Example As mentioned earlier, the concept of surveillance society has influenced reality TV greatly due to the relationship that exists between the two (Lyon, 2001). For most of the time, TV shows come to the audience in a well scripted and practiced format. Because of this, it becomes very difficult to know what actually takes place in the lives of participants in a very normal life situation. Because such forms of TV programmes are the commonest, the audience finds it difficult to satisfy their surveillance society demands, which demands that they will know what goes on in the lives of people as realistic agents of society. In a study, Trottier (2011) noted that most audiences are constantly looking for the answer to the question of how other people will behave if the people found themselves in situations that audience found themselves in real life. To get a candid answer to such questions, social surveillance becomes the tool that can be used. This is because the concept of surveillance s ociety requires that people will be monitored in their most natural environments. Using reality TV shows â€Å"Big Brother UK†, audience come face to face with how other people behave in everyday natural situations. Basing on Foucault’s idea of a panopticon, however, reality TV may be subdivided into those that inmates are aware they are being surveyed and those that they are not. This is because, from the concept of a panopticon, those who are being monitored are not expected to be aware that there is any surveillance on them.

Linguistics and Language Essay Example for Free

Linguistics and Language Essay Language Comprehension †¢Language Production †¢Language Acquisition Psycholinguistics is a branch of cognitive science What will be covered in this class? †¢ How do we produce and recognize speech? †¢ How do we perceive words, letters, and sentences? †¢ How do we learn and recall information from texts? †¢ How can we improve texts to make them easier to understand? †¢ How does the brain function to process language? †¢ What are the causes and effects of reading disabilities? Is there language in other species? Central themes in psycholinguistics 1)  What knowledge of language is needed for us to use language? Tacit (implicit) knowledge vs. Explicit knowledge †¢ tacit: knowledge of how to perform something, but not aware of full rules †¢ explicit: knowledge of the processes of mechanisms in performing that thing 2)  What cognitive processes are involved in the ordinary use of language? How do we understand a lecture, read a book, hold a conversation? Cognitive processes: perception, memory, thinking, learning Some definitions of basic components of language: Semantics: The meaning of words and sentences Syntax: The grammatical arrangement of words in a sentence or phrase Phonology: The sound pattern of language Pragmatics: How language is used in a social context Examples from psycholinguistics Parsing garden path sentences The novice accepted the deal before he had a chance to check his finances, which put him in a state of conflict when he realized he had a straight flush. 1) The defendant examined by the lawyer turned out to be unreliable 2) The evidence examined by the lawyer turned out to be unreliable The process of parsing is the process of making decisions The effect of prior knowledge on comprehension The procedure is actually quite simple. First you arrange things into different groups. Of course, one pile may be sufficient depending on how much there is to do. If you have to go somewhere else due to lack of facilities, that is the next step; otherwise you are pretty well set. It is important not to overdo things. That is, it is better to do too few things at once than too many. In the short run this may not seem important, but complications can easily arise. A mistake can be expensive as well. At first the whole procedure will seem complicated. Soon, however, it will become just another facet of life. It is difficult to foresee any end to the necessity for this task in the immediate future, but then one never can tell. After the procedure is completed, one arranges the materials into different groups again. Then they can be put into their appropriate places. Eventually they will be used once more, and the whole cycle will then have to be repeated. However, that is part of life. Bransford amp; Johnson, 1973 Recall: No context: 2. 8 idea units out of a maximum of 18 Context afterwards: 2. 7 idea units Context before: 5. 8 idea units Child language development How many words do you know? Hint: Dictionary has about: 450,000 entries Test high school graduates: How many words do they know? About 45,000 english words About 60,000 including names and foreign words The average six year old knows about 13,000 words. Learning about 10 words per day since age 1. (One every 90 minutes) How much do we have to teach children to learn language? Do you have to teach a child to walk? Is it the same way of learning a language? My teacher holded the baby rabbits and we patted them I eated my dinner A brief history of psycholinguistics Wilhem Wundt (early 1900s) Interest in mental processes of language production Sentence as the primary unit of language †¢ Speech production is the transformation of complete thought processes into sequentially organized speech segments. Behaviorism (1920s-1950s) †¢ Rejected the focus on mental processes †¢ Measurement based on objective behavior (primarily in lab animals) †¢ How does experience (reward and punishment) shape behavior? B. F. Skinner: Children learn language through shaping (correction of speech errors) Associative chain theory: A sentence consists of a chain of associations between individual words in the sentence What’s wrong with the behaviorist approach? Noam Chomsky (1950s present) 1) Colorless green ideas sleep furiously 2) Furiously sleep ideas green colorless. 3)  George picked up the baby 4)  George picked the baby up. Almost every sentence uttered is a new combination of words The Poverty of stimulus argument: There is not enough information in the language samples given to children to account for the richnes and complexity of children’s language The pattern of development is not based on parental speech but on  innate  language knowledge Linguistic Diversity vs. Linguistic Universals Linguistic diversity There appears to be a lot of diversity among languages Even within languages there is diversity When are two languages different? We speak the same language if we can understand each other Exceptions: Norwegian and Swedish Cantonese and Mandarin Dialects within languages: The myth of pure language How/why do languages change? Why does there seem to be a correct English? Members of the dominant (most powerful) sub-culture tend to speak one dialect and may punish those who do not Linguistic Chauvinism Belief that one’s own language/dialect is the best of all possible languages Black English Vernacular (BEV) Study by William Labov Interviewed African-American street youth You know, like some people say if you’re good an’ sh*t, your spirit goin’ t’heaven . . . ‘n if you bad, your spirit goin’ to hell. Well, bullsh*t! Your spirit goin’ to hell anyway, good or bad. [Why? ] Why? I’ll tell you why. ‘Cause, you see, doesn’ nobody really know that it’s a God, y’know, ‘cause I mean I have seen black gods, white gods, all color gods, and don’t nobody know it’s really a God. An’ when they be sayin’ if you good, you goin’ t’heaven, tha’s bullsh*t, ‘cause you ain’t goin’ to no heaven, ‘cause it ain’t no heaven for you to go to. †¢ Place holders: There vs. It in the copula Copula: Is, Was optional †¢ Negatives: You ain’t goin’ to no heaven BEV just as linguistically complex as Standard American English We don’t see/understand the complexity in other languages Moral: All languages seem to permit as wide range of expressions as others Linguistic Universals What is in common with all languages? Sentences are built from words based on the same physiological processes †¢ All languages have words †¢ All humans have ways of making sounds. †¢ Languages tend to use a small set of phonemic sounds †¢ Phoneme: The minimal unit of sound that contributes to meaning How many phonemes in a language? English: 40 phonemes †¢ Range: Polynesian 11 to Khoisan 141 Discreteness Messages in human language (e. g. speech sounds) are made up of units of which there is a discrete (limited) number Arbitrariness The relationship between meaningful elements in language and their denotation is independent of any physical resemblance between the two. Words do not have to look or sound like what they describe Openness †¢ New linguistic messages are created freely and easily †¢ Languages are not constrained in a way so that there are a limited number of messages that can be created.