Monday, September 30, 2019

Dr. Martin Luther King Essay

Early in the 20th century, Mohandas Gandhi started his political career in South Africa, resisting the discrimination against the Indian people in South Africa. Despite some successes, segregation in South Africa remained a very real reality until the 1990’s. Gandhi went back to India and achieved perhaps one of the greatest feats in history, liberating India from the yoke of colonialism through nonviolent passive resistance. Gandhi’s strategy yielded much less spectacular results in South Africa. It may have been deducted then that nonviolent passive resistance does not work everywhere and was successful mainly due to Gandhi’s leadership or the culture of the Indian people. But then came along another great visionary. Martin Luther King Jr. showed the world that nonviolent passive resistance works, not just in India, not just under Gandhi’s leadership, but also in the Western world. What Martin Luther King Jr. achieved inspired millions of South Africans who knew very well what segregation and discrimination meant. His words and the example he set avoided a bloodbath in a racial civil war in South Africa as it did here in America. Our media was filled with reports of the civil rights struggle. Despite the South African government’s attempts to turn King’s work into an example of the anarchy that would explode should apartheid be abolished, people saw and understood that justice will prevail and that violence is not the answer. (Richard, 1989) South Africa’s own icon of peace and forgiveness, Nelson Mandela, was filled with hope and conviction by what King had achieved. There are so many parallels between the lives of these two great men. Mandela like King unleashed great power among his people that led to their liberation. Both men throughout their lives encouraged a path not of hate and violence, but of non-violence and love. It may be what gave Mandela the courage to walk out of prison after 27 years and conquer what must have been a strong innate urge to retaliate with bitterness and hate. It is possible that Dr King’s words and work gave Mandela the strength to forgive and the conviction to lead his people to reconciliation in the miracle that is South Africa. What touched me was Dr. King’s dedication to the dignity of the human being. He fought against all practices that robbed people of their dignity and pride. His speeches spoke to the best that resides in all of us. He reawakened my awareness of our ability to walk in righteousness and dignity, despite circumstances and the actions of others. (Kenneth, 1974) Dr. King’s vision went beyond racial discrimination and the borders of the USA. He remained committed to uplifting the poor and oppressed, white and black, and those committed in war. Dr King’s words have convinced me that the only way to heal this world is for all of us to realize that we are all one. We are all part of humanity and the suffering of any one of us, affects all of us. Uplifting the poor and the oppressed can only be done by allowing people respect, dignity and justice. In addition to food and shelter, we all need to hold our heads high in dignity, to be proud of our lives and ourselves. Martin Luther King, Jr was the leader of civil rights in United States. He has dedicated his life to the struggle for the racial equality of African Americans. In August 28th, 1963, King gave one of his most influencing speeches entitled â€Å"I Have A Dream. † The speech was a critical step toward civil rights movement, because without it, King’s opinions of freedom and equality would never reach the hearts of his people, and they would never stand up as a whole to defend themselves. During the speech, King successfully expressed his opinions, and emotionally affected many listeners. This success came from his sensitive approach to audience, his ingenious use of style, and his inspirational tone. (Harry, 1986) Primarily, the speech was given publicly to a huge number of audiences of both live and televised. King was fully aware that in order to let his audience to favor his point of view, he has to be sensitive to them in every possible way. First of all, King demonstrated sensitivity by selecting a universal topic: racial rights and freedom. This was an issue not only to the black community, but also to rest of the world. When King declared: â€Å"all of God’s children†¦ sing, free at last†, it is evident that he included all the people: blacks and whites, in the matter of freedom, and therefore became more appealing to his audience. (Marvyn, 2000) Furthermore, King tried to approach his audience through their emotions. He described his vivid dreams in which blacks and whites are able to live together in harmony and peace. â€Å"I have a dream†¦. † The audience was obviously deeply touched by these images, and they could all imagine what a new and joyous world they could be living in. King successfully achieved his emotive purpose through these words, and bonded with the hearts of his audience. Lastly, King had given hope to his audience. â€Å"The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges. † The hope King had promised for his audience brightened their future ahead, and the audience in return would have to listen to King in order for their dream to come true. (Marvyn, 2000) In summary, King’s selection of a universal topic, his sensitive approach to emotions and his promises of future freedom all contributed in achieving his emotive purpose, and only by doing that, he would be able to persuade the audience to do what he says. The language King used to convey his opinions was impressive. He used a lot of strong emotional words in crucial sentences, for example: â€Å"sweltering with the heat of oppression† or â€Å"seared in the flames of withering injustice. † (Garth Baker-Fletcher, 1993) All these metaphors were used very effectively to provoke passion of the audience. The vivid words used in these metaphors, such as sweltering, heat of oppression or withering injustice conveyed strong emotional feelings in the audience, which allowed them to think about the seriousness of the issue being discussed more clearly. (Keith, 1992) Again, King’s language helped and supported his emotive purpose toward his audience. Other than the figurative language, King also used connotative statements to arouse feelings and reactions from audience. (Clayborne, 1991) An example can be found in the sentence: â€Å"black men as well as white man, should be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. † In the sentence, King connoted racial equality, which is the big theme he had been discussing about, through common ideas of joy and freedom. This way, his audience would understand his opinions better and produce a more emotional reaction to him. To sum up, through King’s use of strong emotional words, figurative and connotative language, he was able to convey his opinions more effectively. In 1963, the centennial of the Emancipation Proclamation, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference decided on the audacious move of attacking segregation in one of its most prominent areas, Birmingham, Alabama. This has been coined â€Å"the Negro Revolution†? by many historians. The day after the city’s municipal elections, Martin Luther King Jr. ‘s Southern Christian Leadership Conference opened their campaign. The civil rights movement underwent a dramatic transition as the nation watched the brutality of segregationist retaliation in Birmingham, despite the SCLC’s commitment to direct, nonviolent action. (John, 1982) Working in conjunction with Birmingham’s civil rights leaders, King coordinated a campaign with the aim of attacking segregation with the use of rallies, sit-ins, picketing, and demonstrations. Eugene â€Å"Bull† Connor’s stubborn refusal to give way to the civil rights movement gave the movement the attention that it needed. Bull Connor was determined to maintain the status quo, even if that meant resorting to violent tactics. Birmingham was the last area of fortified segregation, a blue-collar city full of racially-motivated violence, in which two strong and opposing forces confronted each other in full view of the nation. Connor represented the force that wielded water hoses and police dogs; the other force was represented by Martin Luther King and a movement struggling to bring to light the plight of blacks. Connor’s popularity, as demonstrated by his six victories in city commission races, was due to white voters, workers and corporate leaders alike. (Lerone, 1968) In addition of Martin Luther King’s language, his tone used during the speech was also helpful in transmitting his ideas. Dr. King used a combination of negative, positive and neutral tones in the speech. All of these helped to develop a strong emotional feeling in audience, once again related to King’s desire of emotive purpose. The speech started with a historical fact that the Emancipation Proclamation â€Å"came as the great beacon light of hope for millions of Negro slaves†¦ but 100 years later the Negro still is not free. † Through this neutral tone, King implied that his people had been cheated by the great democratic nation, and such statements could let part of the audience to ponder if they were the ones responsible for the mistake, and consequently, they would start to feel regretful and change their attitude for racial equality. One example of negative tone is found in a metaphoric sentence: â€Å"America has give the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked â€Å"Insufficient Funds†¦ † in which King expressed his view on the situation of freedom, and implied his audience to take immediate actions to stop this ridiculous deed. And later on, he switched to a more positive tone: â€Å"I say to you, my friends†¦ † here, he was approaching his audience in a more friendly way, and this relates back to the sensitivity for audience: to evoke a sense of compassion in the audience. For these reasons, King’s use of tone was effective in leading his audience to favor his point of view, and to strengthen sensitivity toward audience. In conclusion, with a careful sensitivity toward audience, extraordinary language and an adequate tone, Dr. Martin Luther King was able to emotionally affect his audience, and ultimately to persuade them to follow the path to freedom. (Brian, 1985) It was once said that the future is like a locked door and that education is the key to open a new world of possibilities. Dr. King was a firm believer in education for the youth of America. He encouraged all children in his neighborhood to go to school and college. He also donated money to extremely poor families to keep their children in school. At any rate, Dr. King basically believed that a stronger America relied on a more intelligent America. Dr. King voiced his ideas and stood up for what he believed in like no other person has done before. During the 1960’s when society was living out a lie with segregation, Dr. King was like a booming voice of truth. Above all else, he suffered personal damage to his home as well as threats made to his family for his actions during the civil rights movement. However, Dr. King pushed on insisting that one-day people will realize that what they are doing is wrong and that he would be there protesting segregation until they did so. This beacon in the night kept his promise to convey his infuriation for segregation until the late 1960’s in which he was assassinated for nothing more than his personal beliefs. Without a doubt, if Dr. King were alive today the world would be a safer place for everyone. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the most influential man of the 20th century. He believed in equality for all in a time when America was separated like day and night. Also, he supported education, which in his eyes, served as the backbone of the betterment of society and the foundation for the future. However, the trait that most remember him for was his ability to voice his opinion like no other person has ever done before. References Brian M. Kane, â€Å"The Influence of Boston Personalism on the Thought of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. † (Boston University, 1985) Clayborne Carson , et al. , 1991; â€Å"Martin Luther King, Jr. as Scholar: A Reexamination of His Theological Writings,† Journal of American History 78:1 :95 Garth Baker-Fletcher: 1993, Somebodyness: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Theory of Dignity (Minneapolis: Fortress Press) Harry Emerson Fosdick, 1986; â€Å"Martin Luther King, Jr. Borrows a Revolution: Argument, Audience, and Implications of a Secondhand Universe,† College English 48:2: 249-65 John J. Ansbro, Martin Luther King, Jr. : The Making of a Mind ( Maryknoll, N. Y. : Orbis Books, 1982).

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Macbeth and Richard Nixon Essay

The tragic hero is an exceptional being capable of greatness. He often sets himself up as equal to superior to the cosmic powers, or at least he seems himself as an extraordinary man. This hero has a flaw. The hero falls from a high place of stature and pride. The tragic hero is in some way responsible for their fall and ultimately realizes their flaw too late before they are punished. Macbeth and Richard M. Nixon are tragic hero’s for these reasons. Macbeth is a tragic hero because he is capable of greatness he was born into a wealth family. Macbeth is the thane of Glamis and is a good general. King Duncan rewarded him for be so loyal to Scotland and for being brave in the battle against Norway and gave him the title thane of Cawdor. Richard Nixon is also tragic hero in some ways he is different from Macbeth and in other ways, he is the same as Macbeth. Richard Nixon unlike Macbeth was not born in to a wealthy family Richard Nixon is the son of a grocer, he was born on 9th January 1913. His father owned a small lemon farm in Yorba Linda, California. A good student, Nixon graduated from Whittier College in 1934. Macbeth has a weakness his ambition the witches and his wife Lady Macbeth control him by exploiting his ambition to be king. Macbeth has ambition to be king but at the same time, they brought his ambition to be king out his more. Lady Macbeth uses his ambition to get him to kill King Duncan. Similar to Macbeth Nixon’s weakness is his ambition to be president. Nixon’s ambition is the reason why he did all the things he did o become and to stay president such as cover ups ,phone taps. The three witches told Macbeth that he would be thane of Glamis, of Cawdor and he would be king. When two of the three predictions came, true Macbeth wanted to be king more. Lady Macbeth convinced Macbeth to kill King Duncan because he wanted the third prediction to come true. Macbeth killed King Duncan and became king. Macbeth became paranoid of someone taking the throne from him and kills people who were his friend, Mac duff family, servant, banqou, fleance. Lady Macbeth committed suicide due to the guilty of having murdered king Duncan. The lords abandon Macbeth and then Mac duff attacks with solider to take back the crown and give to Malcolm the true heir. Macbeth is behead and me his end. Richard Nixon and Macbeth are similar because they both made it to fame, high status, power, and the make a wrong decision. During his campaign for re-election, a break-in occurred on the night of June 17, 1972, as five burglars entered the Democratic National Committee offices inside the Watergate office building in Washington. This was just the start of problems for Nixon people suspected that he was connected but he denied it. Many questionable choices were made and cover-ups were found this all lead to his resignation of the presidency on Friday, August 9. Macbeth did not know if he should kill Duncan because two of the predictions came true on their own. When Macbeth goes to kill the king and is walking down the hallway, he has mixed feelings on what he should do then he sees a dagger going toward Duncan and deicide to do it. Macbeth thinks about what he is doing when he is standing over Duncan who is sleep but then murders him when he wakes up and sees the dagger. Both Macbeth and Nixon suffered had conflict. Richard Nixon suffered when ran and lost in many different elections. The conflict Richard Nixon had when he decided he was never going to run again in any election but then came back and ran for president. Macbeth’s nemesis is Mac duff because in the story, Macbeth has Mac duff’s entire family and their servant murdered . The murder of Mac duff’s family meant that Mac duff would want revenge. In the end Mac duff and Macbeth fight. During the fight, Macduff tells Macbeth that he was not of woman born, but rather â€Å"from his mother’s womb† (A5. S10. L15–16 Macbeth). The witches said that only someone who was not born by a woman can kill Macbeth and that is Mac duff who was taken from his mother’s womb not born by her. Although I would say Richard Nixon does not have a nemesis. Nixon did run unsuccessfully for the presidency in 1960, losing by a very close amount to John F. Kennedy. The tragic hero is an exceptional being capable of greatness. He often sets himself up as equal to superior to the cosmic powers, or at least he seems himself as an extraordinary man. This hero has a flaw. The hero falls from a high place of stature and pride. The tragic hero is in some way responsible for their fall and ultimately realizes their flaw too late before they are punished. That is why Macbeth and Richard M. Nixon are tragic hero’s.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Peace Like a River

You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. ‘ This is verse 14 from Psalm 77 in the Bible. This verse shows that God is constantly working in people's lives. It also shows us that He wants their faith to grow in Him. The miracles of Reuben continuing to live in spite of hardship, Jeremiah walking on air, and Jeremiah surrendering his life for Reuben are Important In the novel because they help him build his relationship with God. The first miracle Reuben witnesses is during his birth.After not breathing for twelve minutes, his father revives him. This miracle is significant for Reuben because he realizes that God is capable of doing anything. Also, He has something planned for Reuben because he lived and did not die. The miracle of Reuben's birth starts off with an understanding of how God works in mysterious ways. The second miracle Reuben witnesses is when he sees his father actually walk on the air. While he was walking, he was deep in pr ayer. This is Important because Reuben sees his father â€Å"walk on the hand of God†. This miracle shows Reuben that with God, all things are possible.It also pulls him Into a relationship with God. The third and final miracle that Reuben witnesses is the death of his father in a valiant effort to save his life. The miracle is important because Reuben realizes how blessed he is to have a humble, self- sacrificing father who loves him and would do anything for his children. Jeremiah's death symbolizes Christ's death on the cross for us. His love for Reuben represents Jesus' love for everyone. This miracle shows Reuben that even through tragedy; God will always be there and will never leave nor forsake him.Thus, allowing him to grow a close relationship with the Lord. ultimately, miracles are only miracles If they are witnessed. Reuben, the witness, develops an Inseparable relationship with God through the miracles of his birth, his father walking on air, and his father sacrif icing his life for him. Reuben knows that God is always with him because of the many hardships he has been through. This contributes to the meaning of Peace Like a River which Is: there Is more to life than the bad things. Life Is about witnessing to the good things that are more important than the bad things. Peace Like a River You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. ‘ This is verse 14 from Psalm 77 in the Bible. This verse shows that God is constantly working in people's lives. It also shows us that He wants their faith to grow in Him. The miracles of Reuben continuing to live in spite of hardship, Jeremiah walking on air, and Jeremiah surrendering his life for Reuben are Important In the novel because they help him build his relationship with God. The first miracle Reuben witnesses is during his birth.After not breathing for twelve minutes, his father revives him. This miracle is significant for Reuben because he realizes that God is capable of doing anything. Also, He has something planned for Reuben because he lived and did not die. The miracle of Reuben's birth starts off with an understanding of how God works in mysterious ways. The second miracle Reuben witnesses is when he sees his father actually walk on the air. While he was walking, he was deep in pr ayer. This is Important because Reuben sees his father â€Å"walk on the hand of God†. This miracle shows Reuben that with God, all things are possible.It also pulls him Into a relationship with God. The third and final miracle that Reuben witnesses is the death of his father in a valiant effort to save his life. The miracle is important because Reuben realizes how blessed he is to have a humble, self- sacrificing father who loves him and would do anything for his children. Jeremiah's death symbolizes Christ's death on the cross for us. His love for Reuben represents Jesus' love for everyone. This miracle shows Reuben that even through tragedy; God will always be there and will never leave nor forsake him.Thus, allowing him to grow a close relationship with the Lord. ultimately, miracles are only miracles If they are witnessed. Reuben, the witness, develops an Inseparable relationship with God through the miracles of his birth, his father walking on air, and his father sacrif icing his life for him. Reuben knows that God is always with him because of the many hardships he has been through. This contributes to the meaning of Peace Like a River which Is: there Is more to life than the bad things. Life Is about witnessing to the good things that are more important than the bad things.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Health Care Continuum Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Health Care Continuum - Assignment Example The concept is manifest in the application of life support machines for the extreme sick cases. Fayetteville, North Carolina has sufficient long-term care options including outsourcing of the health services. Additionally, the health centers in Fayetteville, North Carolina have acquired sophisticated medical equipment to cater for the long term health care services. The other option the region has is the offering of free guidance and counseling services because some terminal illnesses are caused by ignorance of the patients. The continuity health care services, which will be required in my community, include the provision of diagnostic equipment and proper prescription of drugs in order to promote prompt recuperation. Austine and Wetle’s claim that Mental Health Services are a Combination of Services is true because the delivery of medical services can never be unilateral. The health of a person is complex, thus it requires much attention from the medical practitioners. This initiative requires coordination of many health experts in various specializations. The recuperation of a patient results from concerted effort of more than one medical practitioner. In this regard, the continuum health care requires the service of many health care providers in order to achieve the goals and objectives of the health care sector. The integrated delivery systems ensure sound delivery of continuum health care. The continuum of healthcare ensures that there is integration of medical services in order to achieve efficiency and quality of the healthcare service. The headache of the integrated delivery system is the fragmented American health care system. According to Halloran, and Lowenstein (2010), there is a need for the integration of the health care in order to have a regulated health care system. In this regard, health care resources will be utilized for the welfare of the citizens. Additionally, the integration of the services will allow

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Huck Finn, Asher Lev and Emma Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Huck Finn, Asher Lev and Emma - Essay Example But his religion, Hasidic Judaism, does not encourage art. His father a staunch follower believes that art is for the devil. The authors of these three novels use a number of literary elements and techniques to portray the growth of the protagonists. Of these the three elements of theme, characterisation and setting have helped the authors in their endeavour to show the progress in the lives of the protagonists. On reading these three novels we find that all the three protagonists are in search of self-awareness and go on a journey to seek it. In Huckleberry Finn, the hero, Huck, goes on a journey down the Mississippi River, with a slave named Jim. As he journeys Huck gets to learn a lot about life. He learns about slavery, trust, death and all these lessons help him to improve as a man and also helps him to mature as a man. He learns to listen to his conscience. "Conscience says to me What had poor Miss Watson done to you, that you could see her nigger go off right under your eyes and never say one single word? What did that poor old woman do to you, that you could treat her so mean... I got to feeling so mean and so miserable I most wished I was dead" (Twain, 1985, chap.16). Asher Lev, the hero of My name is Asher Lev, unlike Huck does not go on any journey in the literal sense. Asher through his paintings throws light on what has been happening to him in life. We get to see a journey of h is life through his art. Austens heroine, Emma Woodhouse too does not set out on a journey in the real sense. The story is all about the journey Emma makes to enter womanhood and how she matures psychologically after marriage.

Your book identifies five factors that contribute to the growth of Essay

Your book identifies five factors that contribute to the growth of tourism. Discuss these trends and how they have become more relevant or less relevant in our current world situation - Essay Example Since the dual income family trend is increasing, the demand for tourism destinations is also increasing. The latter will increase the supply of tourism in the next few decades, which is good for the tourism industry. Unlike a few decades ago, travel has become more dynamic. Travel options for the disabled, the elderly and the able bodied has been increasingly receiving attention. As welfare associations pressure, air companies support disabled travelling amenities and they provide traveling options for the elderly. Improving travelling conditions is important to the tourism industry since the market range increases exponentially (Silva & Howard, 2006). Tourism industries nowadays accommodate all people interested in visiting different sites due to good travel amenities. It involves commissioning a company to cater for all the tour needs of related tourists. The company picks the site, caters for accommodation and organizes the activities. All the latter activities are done at a lower price, and they attract more tourists (Silva & Howard, 2006). Package tours help save money hence their relevance in the current world and economy is evident. Most people relate to the internet due to evolution of technology. It is easier to pick tourism sites and book the means of travel out of the comfort of one’s home. Eliminating the stress associated with queuing and doing things manually in a digital world makes the internet a relevant aspect in the current world (Silva & Howard, 2006). It is an aspect that almost everybody can associate with and maneuver, hence it will be relevant for a long time to

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

The Divided Kingdom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The Divided Kingdom - Essay Example In Samaria which was the capital of Israel at the time, people fed on their children (2 Kings 6:25-30). According to Collins, for both Judah and Israel, the offences against God were: idol worship, religious syncretism, desecration of the temple with idols, a litany of social and economic injustices and moral decadence. All these problems persisted because of Israel and Judah’s failure to listen to God’s word which came through the prophets. Bad leadership may also have exacerbated this unfortunate state of affairs. All the kings of Israel were not faithful to YHWH, while the bad kings in Judah were Rehoboam (930-913 BC), Abijam (913-911 BC), Jehoram (848-841 BC), Ahaziah (841 BC), Queen Athaliah (841-835 BC), Uzziah (781-740 BC), Manasseh (697-642 BC), Amon (642-640 BC), Jehoahaz (609 BC), Jehoiakim (609-598 BC), Jehoiachin (598-597 BC), Zedekiah (597-586 BC). The good kings of Judah were Asa (11-870 BC), Jehoshaphat (870-848 BC), Jehoash (835-796 BC), Amaziah (796-781 BC), Jotham (740-736 BC), Hezekiah (716-687 BC) and Josiah (640-609 BC) (Collins, 75). Question 2: The history outlined in 1 and 2 Kings is a theological history rather than an accurate accounting of events because therein, the authors were interested in giving an explanation for the division of Israel into two; the reason for the captivity; and hope for the future, rather than an accurate blow-by-blow chronicles of events. The Deuteronomistic History clearly shows that both Judah and Israel succumbed to unfaithfulness to YHWH, and that total destruction of both empires was the appropriate punishment. Again, there are those who trace Deuteronomistic History back to the Babylonian Exile of 585 BC, as the place and time of authorship. The gravity behind this standpoint is that the authors of these books may have been written out of retrospection, and not at the time the actual events contained in Deuteronomistic History materialised. This is to the effect that writing from memory may not be as detailed as a writing which may have been composed at the actual time an incident happened. While this absence of much specific detail may accost the books in Deuteronomistic History, it is not to be misconstrued as to mean contradiction. Instead, details such as exact timeframes and more details concerning Judah are characteristically missing from Deuteronomistic History. Being in Babylon, the authorship behind the Deuteronomistic History may have written to explain the reason behind God’s people being in exile, in lieu of giving a blow-by-blow account on the details which built up, in the run-up to the Exile. In another wavelength, other theorists such as Thomas Romer, a French scholar, have come to see a distinct party of authors who may have had different views (Raymond, 130). 3: David and Solomon as Both Good and Evil Kings Both David and Solomon are remembered simultaneously as both good and evil kings because their regimes were marked with faithfulness and u nfaithfulness to God. The good exploits David and Solomon exacted emanated from faithfulness to God, while their negative acts were are a result of their unfaithfulness to God. David’s goodness is exemplified in the fact that he is the only king, who presided over a united Israel, transported the Ark of the Covenant from Shiloh to Jerusalem, established Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, drove away Israel’s enemies from Jerusalem and Israel, extended mercy to Mephibosheth (the house

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Research design and data analysis, discussions and recommendations Paper

Design and data analysis, discussions and recommendations - Research Paper Example Likewise, the findings indicate there is no significant difference between the customers’ rank and the dependent variables (food quality, hotel staff service quality, and room quality). Management should accept the two null hypothesis statements. 1. Ramada took several steps to define the research questions. First, the researchers focused on different services offered by the company. The first group of services focused on customer’s criticism of the menu variety. Next, the questions veered towards the customer’s valued received in exchange for the amount paid. Third, the question veered towards determining if the customers’ liked the service promptness. Fourth, the question zeroed in on Ramada’s service quality. Fifth, the service focused on the resort’s food quality. Last, the questions veered towards the beverage quality served in the Ramada resorts. Further, management has to answer some questions. The questions focused on the hiring of the right resort employees. Next, management had to answer questions pertaining to the enhancement of the current training of employees. Training is one of management’s secret ingredients to increasing the current and future customers’ loyalty. Management must answer queries in the area of increasing the current motivation practices. Motivation increases the customer’s eagerness to return to Reamada resorts. Management must ensure all questions are answered by espousing the importance of hiring and training employees who will pamper each clients from check-in to check-out. The process was appropriate. Focusing on hiring the best employees will ensure better customer service. Training the best employees will ensure higher quality service quality. Motivation will ensure employees will continue to excel in all their individual tasks and responsibilities. 2. The secondary data played a vital part in the exploring part of the research (Craig 25). The

Monday, September 23, 2019

Relation between Media and Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Relation between Media and Culture - Essay Example The researcher asserts that the mass communication takes place in a particular people at a given time in a particular location. Perhaps there must be something that dictates such a people to be together. The researchers found out that those people stay together work together because of sharing common ideas and expressions, which he terms as a culture. The researchers discovered that such media has to affect the way such people in a community live or express themselves, which is an impact on culture either positively or negatively. Culture is defined in simple terms as expressed and shared morals, attitude, observes and philosophies in a given group of people.The second article is entitled â€Å"the implied audience in media and cultural theory† By Sonia Livingston.The article generally gives a view that the media has to a bigger extend globalized culture more especially the world is taking on the western culture. The article is focusing on the contemporary of the mass media, s uch as the Internet, satellites, and television that can send a message and received by almost everyone in every corner of the world. The researcher asserts that if the world did not have such a mass media it would be difficult to transmit such Western culture to the rest of the world. The researcher cites some examples such as Nike shoes, rock music or Coca-Cola drinks. The researcher also talks of an international communication theory and research, where he introduces cultural imperialism from the western world to the rest of the world.

Sunday, September 22, 2019

The Postive and Negative Health Effects Essay Example for Free

The Postive and Negative Health Effects Essay What are possible effects of cell phones on teenagers? There are several ways in which cell phones can affect teenagers, such as educational, social and health, which can all be both positive and negative. Social effects of cell phones can be sex-ting, cyberbullying and social networking. Educational effects are effects relating school and education of a teenager. Health effects are health risks and benefits for a teenager while using a cell phone. There are many different effects of cell phones on teenagers but the ost important ones that are mainly looked at are educational, social and health. This essay will cover the positive and negative educational, social and health effects of cell phones specifically on teenagers. 2. 0 Discussion 2. 1 Positive and Negative Social Effects of Cell Phones on Teenagers Firstly, mobile infrastructure has changed during the past decade and this increase has become so apparent that you hardly ever come in contact with someone who does not possess a mobile phone or other mobile device. It is becoming increasingly easy and inexpensive for teenagers to contact friends and access information via their mobile phones (Reid and Reid 2007, p. 424). Teenagers run their social lives on cell phones and today, 77 percent of teenagers aged 12-17 report having a cell phone (Tippin 2012). Cell phones have become prominent aspect of teenager’s everyday life; in fact the mobile phones have turned from a technological tool to a social tool. Especially text messaging has increased significantly and is teenagers most frequent way of communicating. Study shows that 63% of all teens said they exchanged text messages on a daily basis (Tippin 2012). As it is evident that majority of teen’s posses a cell phone it is important to understand the positive as well as negative social effects of it on teenagers. â€Å"Research on cyberbullying sponsored by Opennet has found that teenager who are heavy cell phone users are more likely to engage in the practice of bullying online, as well as become bullied themselves† (Osborne 2012). Cyberbullying is bullying with the intention to torment a person with the use of technology. Statistics show that 46 percent of heavy cell phone users experience cyberbullying on their phones (Osborne 2012). Cyberbullying through a cell phone can be a serious issue and can cause very negative effects on a teenager, in fact kids that are bullied are likely to experience anxiety, depression, loneliness, unhappiness, and poor sleep. Such negative effects of bullying are often overlooked, because many victims feel the need to hide the fact that they are being bullied, they become shy and fearful of further abuse. Typically they tend to become anxious, less confident, and quieter. As a result, bullying can be a hindrance to their academic performance. Therefore, bullying is a problem that if left unattended, can be a significant obstacle in child’s social development. (â€Å"American Osteopathic Association,† n. d). Even though there are negative social effects of cell phones on teenagers such as cyberbullying there are positive advantages as well. An obvious advantage of a mobile phone is that it can help teens to communicate with others. If a teenager was lost perhaps he or she can seek help immediately by a cell phone at any time, in any place and cell phones also allow its users to make long distance calls which makes it a lot easier for them to communicate with friends and family who are distant. With cell phones video and camera functions, teens now have more opportunities to record and report any criminal events which they have witnessed. These pieces of evidence could greatly help authorities solve crimes faster (Baker 2012). Cell phones are very useful devices for communication as well as they are compulsory as they used as safety devices especially in emergencies (Ravidchandran, 2009). Therefore it is important to understand the social effects of cell phones on teenagers because although it could harm teenager’s development, it can also benefit as well as provide safety and security for the child. 2. 2 Positive and Negative Educational Effects of Cell Phones on Teenagers Secondly, the topic of cell phones affecting teenagers’ education is very controversial. Cell phones can be a major distraction to learning when students use them improperly. Cell phones can affect teenagers’ grades by being distracted with sending text messages, playing games on their phones and receiving zeros if they are caught cheating during a test. When texting teenagers use short acronyms such as laugh out loud (LOL), be right back (BRB), talk to you later (TTYL) which can significantly lead to a decline in their language and grammar skills. (Connie, 2012). Edutopia, an educational website, conducted an online poll regarding this issue of whether text messaging harms students writing skills. Out of 3359 votes, 1788 votes (53%) chose â€Å"Yes, I believe students are carrying over the writing habits they pick up through text messaging into school assignments. † 851 votes (25%) chose â€Å"No. I believe students can write one way to their friends and another way in class. They can keep the two methods separate. † 613 votes (18%) chose â€Å"Maybe. Although text messaging may have some impact on how students write, I dont think its a significant problem† (Ring, 2009). As it is evident that the majority voted that students are using their habits they have picked up through text messages in school assignments, it shows the decline of teenage students grammar skills. Although cell phones can have such a negative effect on teenagers’ education it can also provide positive benefits such as an aid for learning. With a cell phone, the students could make organizers, research work and do their projects. Cell phones have applications which can be installed individually and there are thousands of useful apps that a teenager could use at school for education, such as dictionaries to define words and phrases. Students can now take part in a mobile device learning program called â€Å"Hotsteat,† which allows students to post comments on a Twitter-like feed from a question posted by a professor, and can be accessed through a mobile device with the app. Another program called â€Å"Remind101† which  is a free site that is created for teachers and students to create text, reminders for projects quizzes, test, labs, class activities and homework. Teacher have to create an account and upload all class projects, activities, homework and assignments, then students can log in to the website, subscribe to their class and automatically receive all reminders (Dunn, 2011). Therefore, it is important to understand the educational effects of cell phones on teenagers because although schools report that student’s mobile phone use disrupts teaching and reduces student’s attention in class, which results in a negative educational outcome. It is also important to understand the benefits that cell phones bring to teenagers education by having organizers, notes, reminders and discussion groups all at their finger tips. For these reasons, teenagers get more encouragement to initiate their learning. 2. 3 Positive and Negative Health Effects of Cell Phones on Teenagers Lastly, â€Å"teenagers who overuse cell phone texting or social networking Web sites have disturbingly high rates of a wide range of  health  risk  behaviors† (Jancin, 2011). Gaby Badre, M. D. , Ph. D. of Sahlgrens Academy in Gothenburg, Sweden conducted research on the affects of cell phone usage on sleep patterns in teens. Research focused on two groups: a control group of three men and seven women compared with variable group of three men and eight women. When compared the control group against the variable group, Badre found that adolescents with excessive cell phone habits are more habituated to disrupted sleep, restlessness, stress, more c onsumption of stimulating beverages and fatigue (â€Å"American Academy of Sleep Medicine† 2008). According to Badre, addiction to cell phone is becoming common. Youngsters (teenagers) feel a  group pressure  to remain inter-connected and reachable round the clock. Children start to use mobile phones at an early stage of their life. There seem to be a connection between intensive use of cell phones and health compromising behaviour such as smoking, snuffing and use of alcohol (â€Å"American Academy of Sleep Medicine† 2008). Dr. Frank conducted a survey which was completed by 4,257  teens  at 20 schools in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Based upon the responses these â€Å"hypertexters† who are teenagers that have self-reported texting an average of 120 or more times per day on school days are â€Å"twofold more likely to have ever tried alcohol, 43% more likely to be binge drinkers, 32% more likely to be current users of marijuana, and 40% more likely to have tried cigarettes than kids who texted less or, as was true for 22% of students, not at all† (Jancin, 2011). This shows the significant impact of cell phone effects on teenagers’ health, but although there are so many negative health effects of cell phones there are just as much positive effects. Certainly it is true that for teenagers, cell phones offer openings for conversations as well as ways of keeping up appearances by looking busy, appearing confident, popular, or relieving meeting boredom. And phones, like smoking, can be used as a defence mechanism, attention speaking behaviour as well as a way to stand out from the ‘Lonely Crowd’ (Cross, 2006) Texting with cell phones can provide health education, to campaign against smoking and behavior. For example in New Zealand an experiment was conducted with two groups, first group received text message support and the other group did not receive any text messages. The results showed that the number of people who stopped smoking was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group which did not receive text message based support. â€Å"Add this to the Action on Smoking findings five years ago and there is a real case for hailing mobile phone effectiveness in limiting smoking amongst Teenagers† (Cross, 2006) Although in this program cell phones did not provide direct health benefits but by constantly texting teenagers and giving them support it significantly decreased the number of smokers. Therefore it is important to understand the health effects of cell phones on teenagers because although mobile phones can have negative effects such as lead teenagers into drinking and drug use, it can also have positive effects and be used as a defence mechanism to cope with anxiety. 3. 0 Summary Cell phones are a tool of convenience and that is why almost 80% of all teenagers use one (Tippin, 2012). However having cell phones can be very negative effect on teenagers, â€Å"research on cyberbullying sponsored by Opennet has found that teenager who are heavy cell phone users are more likely to engage in the practice of bullying online, as well as become bullied themselves† (Osborne 2012) and teenagers that are bullied are likely to experience anxiety, depression, loneliness, unhappiness, and poor sleep. These social effects of cell phones on teenagers can also affect their health. Gaby Badre, M. D. , Ph. D. of Sahlgrens Academy in Gothenburg, Sweden conducted research and found that adolescents with excessive cell phone habits are more habituated to disrupted sleep, restlessness, stress, more consumption of stimulating beverages and fatigue (â€Å"American Academy of Sleep Medicine† 2008), which all contribute to negative health effects. Teenagers advantage of having cell phone at their finger tips can affect their school grades by being distracted with sending text messages, playing games on their phones and receiving zeros if they are caught cheating during a test. But having a cell phone now makes people reachable in almost any location and this makes individuals easier to contact. Ease of access is not the only benefit of cell phones; they offer features that have many other benefits. Cell phones have become an important part of society today, while schools think that cell phone usage should not occur in schools, it is imperative that they acknowledge that cell phones are extremely important to the safety of our children in school. Several schools state that you could use the telephone in the main office to call home in an emergency, but if there ever was a true emergency the phone in the main office would be surrounded by people trying to get in contact with their loved ones and chaos would be lurking. Having a cell phone enables them to contact loved ones with ease during an emergency. Also computers at schools can malfunction and stop students from getting information. However, new technology on cell phones allows them to access the internet and enable them to complete research with ease. Cell phones have organizers which help students write down their homework and help them to keep organized. 4. 0 Conclusion Cell phones are great invention. However, most schools in Ontario ban cell phone use at schools although, as it was stated in â€Å"The Japan Times† article â€Å"banning cell phones does not succeed in teaching students how, when and where an adult would use a  cell  phone (â€Å"The Japan Times†, 2008). Therefore, schools should not simply ban cell phones because of their negative effects on teenage students but teach them when and where the appropriate time and place is to use one. Schools should also look at positive side of cell phone use on teenagers because they can be a great educational tool. As Lisa Baker has mentioned â€Å"some high schools take advantage of educational games for cell phones. Educators can teach students how to use their phones as research tools, which encourages youth to take more initiative in their own learning (Baker, 2012). There are also social and health effects of cell phones on teenagers, which can be both also negative as well as positive. Before looking at negative effects of cell phone on teenagers, we should understand why they were first invented and the benefits they bring to our daily life. Therefore, although there are so many effects of cell phones on teenagers it is important to understand the main ones that are mainly looked at such as social, educational and health effects.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Managing Human Resources in Health and Social Care

Managing Human Resources in Health and Social Care Unit 13: Managing human resources in health and social care Question 1 1.1 Factors to be considered when planning the recruitment of individuals to work in health and social care. The first factor to be considered when planning employment is the overall aim of the recruitment with a particular focus on what the organisation wants to achieve (Chen et al, 2004). For example, whilst some recruitment may be to replace an existing worker due to retirement or career advancement, other recruitment may be due to the creation of a new job role (Buchan and Dal Poz, 2002). In the latter case, the organisation needs to have a clear understanding of the skill set, competence, education and experience levels of the individual they want to recruit (Thornley, 2000). From this, the organisation then needs to consider the availability of workers, that fulfil the job requirements, that either already work for the organisation (internal recruitment) or who reside within the area (external recruitment) (Dussault and Franceschini, 2006). If such workers are not available, the organisation must then consider the financial implications associated with either training individuals to the required levels or offering remuneration and relocation incentives to encourage skilled workers in from other areas (Dussault and Franceschini, 2006). Once these decisions have been made, the organisation then needs to consider how to attract the right candidates for the available roles (O’Brien et al, 2009). Advertisement of jobs in areas where there are adequate skilled workers in the local area is commonly carried out in local newspapers and in the local Job Centre, however, where this local skilled workforce is not available, the organisation may consider utili sing the power of the internet, recruitment agencies or job fairs to ensure they attract suitably skilled workers (Compton et al, 2009). 1.2 Legislative and policy framework that influence the selection, recruitment and employment of individuals. There are a number of legislative Acts that control the selection and recruitment of individuals within the UK. These Acts include the Employment Rights Act 1996, the Equality Act 2010 and the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 (Bewley, 2006). Each of these Acts is designed to minimise any discrimination of individuals on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, religion or beliefs within the selection, recruitment and employment process (Harcourt et al, 2005). These Acts are reinforced by a number of government employment and recruitment policies, such asImproving opportunities for older people (DWP, 2014), Making the labour market more flexible, efficient and fair (DWP, 2013) and Helping employers make safer recruiting decisions (Home Office, 2013). In addition to these government policies, the health and social care organisation will also have their own policy to control recruitment; these policies will often contain anti-discrimination elements. For example, the General Social Care Council (2010) issued a Code of Practice for employers of social care workers. This code of practice is designed to complement the legislative framework that has been developed by the Government and forms part of the wider package of requirements for the employment and recruitment of social care staff. Within this policy, employers are tasked with ensuring that individuals are suitable to enter the workforce and that written rules and procedures are in place to ensure that discrimination and exploitation are avoided within the workplace (GSCC, 2010). 1.3 Different approaches that may be used to ensure the selection and recruitment of the best individuals to work in health and social care. The selection process usually follows the submission of an application form and / or CV by the candidate (Miller and Bird, 2014). The prospective manager of the candidate will then review the applications and select those who display the correct skills, knowledge or level of training required for the job (MacFarlane et al, 2011). These individuals will then be invited for interview which can be carried out by an individual, a panel or a selection board (West et al, 2011). During this process, the candidate will be asked a number of questions and, in many cases; the quality of their answers is usually graded, thereby providing a score at the end of the interview (Harris et al, 2007). As such, the highest scoring candidate will be offered the job. However, this process may result in the more articulate individual being offered the job regardless of their actual ability to fulfil the role (Hendry, 2012). Another approach for recruitment is the assessment centre, where a number of exercises are utilised to mimic the available job role (Edgar and Geare, 2005). These can be in the form of group exercises, one to one role-plays, structured psychometric tests, behavioural tests or capability questions (Patterson et al, 2005). From these tests the assessor, or assessors, will observe the performance of the individual and thereby predict the aptitude of the individual for the available role (Gale et al, 2010). Question 2 2.1 How do individuals interact in groups? Make reference to relevant theories. The most famous theory of group working is Tuckman’s (1965) model. Tuckman (1965) divided the team’s interaction into four different phases; forming, storming, norming and performing. The first step, forming, is where all members are learning about the opportunities and challenges facing the team. There will be a high level of dependence on their manager for guidance and the team will be bonding together, sharing personal information and forming friendships and alliances (Armstrong, 2006). The second step, storming, is where different ideas to tackle problems or issues are developed. This step can cause conflict as each idea competes for consideration. Effective management of this step is vital to enable all members of the team to have their say and resolve any lasting conflicts (Armstrong, 2006). The third step, norming, is where the team members fall into agreement over the solutions for their team. In this step, the team members are able to talk openly about their opinions and have the ability to adjust their behaviour to avoid conflict. The team members agree on the team’s values, rules, professional behaviour and methods of work (Armstrong, 2006). The final step, performing, is where the team fully understands, co-operates and supports one another, thereby working as a single unit rather than individuals. Teams that have reached this step display high levels of motivation, knowledge, competence and autonomy (Armstrong, 2006). 2.2 Different types of teams in health and social care settings There are formal and informal teams within health and social care. The former of these is a structured team that has been formed with a specific purpose in mind (Taggar and Ellis, 2007). This team will have a definite leader and every individual within the team will have a distinct role (Taggar and Ellis, 2007). An example of this is a theatre team that is led by the surgeon, with the anaesthetist and other theatre staff supporting the surgeon during the operating procedure. Informal teams have no structure and every individual has an equal status (Farrell et al, 2001). Within the healthcare setting the formation of multi-disciplinary teams often follow this informal team description (Sheehan et al, 2007). A good example of an informal team can be given using a case study of a child in social care. This child may have special educational needs, may have behavioural or mental health problems or may require counselling. In such a situation, an informal team is developed between the foster carers, the education providers, a child psychiatrist and counselling services, who will all work together to ensure the best outcome for the child. 2.3 Factors that influence the effectiveness of teams working in health and social care The first and most significant factor is poor communication (Hambley et al, 2007). This may be in the form of poor discussion of ideas or solutions between the team members or may be as a result of conflict within the group preventing the effective flow of information between team members (Xyrichis and Lowton, 2008). However, both of these are a result of poor management, as the leader’s role is to encourage the development of relationships and to iron out conflicts within the group (Hambley et al, 2007). The second factor is that of poor understanding of the roles and responsibilities of each team member (Hall, 2005). This is more likely to be a problem within an informal, multidisciplinary team, who are not used to working together. As such, professional boundaries may be blurred, leading to confusion over who is responsible for certain aspects of the patient’s care (Xyrichis and Lowton, 2008). Another problem is that of information sharing (Mesmer-Magnus and DeChurch, 2009). Again this is more likely to affect the multidisciplinary team, however, it can also occur in the formal team, where one individual is reluctant to share information or knowledge as that knowledge is considered to be an aspect of power (Moye and Langfred, 2004). 2.4 Approaches that may be used to develop effective team working Many approaches exist to help develop effective team working. These include brainstorming and team building exercises (Borrils et al, 2000). However, it is the role of the leader to ensure that team harmony is maintained. This can be achieved by ensuring that all team members have ‘a turn’ at suggesting ideas or solutions, encourage an environment of listening through regular team meetings whilst ensuring that any problems, or solutions, are followed up and not ignored (Borrils et al, 2000). It is also vital to ensure that all feedback is constructive without being overly critical; negative feedback can restrict the flow of information and damage the morale of the team (Borrils et al, 2000). Finally, it is vital that the manager is able to keep all communication routes open to encourage the exchange of information (Leonard et al, 2004). This can be done through email, face-to-face, phone conversations or letter but it is necessary for each individual to be aware of their role in disseminating information to other team members (Leonard et al, 2004). Question 3 3.1 Different ways in which the performance of individuals may be monitored in health and social care. Monitoring of an individual’s performance can be done in several ways. The first step is to identify the current level of performance, identify where improvements can be made and form an agreement between manager and employee on how those improvements are going to be made (Bevan and Hood, 2006). In order for these improvements to be made, it is necessary for the manager to link them to the team’s aims and objectives. This enables the employee to understand their role within the team and have ownership over their own job (Bevan and Hood, 2006). Performance appraisal is the most frequently used tool to measure an individual’s performance. The appraisal has five key elements: measurement, feedback, positive reinforcement, exchange of views and agreement (Curtright et al, 2000). Another option is through the use of key performance indicators or the setting of team or individual targets (Bevan and Hood, 2006). 3.2 Identifying individuals training and development needs As previously mentioned, the performance appraisal is the most frequently used tool to measure an individual’s performance. However, this tool can also be used to identify areas of weakness which will highlight the training and development needs of the individual (Bevan and Hood, 2006). Non-achievement of team or individual targets also highlights a training need, however, the manager is required to keep a close eye on the performance of all the team members when team targets are used as some team members may be more efficient than others (Grigoroudis et al, 2012). Continued professional development (CPD) is another way in which a team member can ensure they have sufficient, ongoing training throughout their career. CPD includes formal courses, practice workshops, self-directed reading and attendance at conferences to ensure the level of skills is maintained or improved throughout the individual’s career (Legare et al, 2011). 3.3 Different strategies for promoting the continuing development of individuals in the health and social care workplace. The promotion of continuing development is achieved through a number of means. Torrington et al (2008) suggest that performance feedback (through the use of appraisals or targets) followed by an incentives package are the most effective way of ensuring continuous development. However, it is vital that the feedback is relevant, specific and credible and that it is done frequently to ensure that the employee remains focused on the team’s aims and targets (Torrington et al, 2008). Incentives are normally provided through an increase in salary, the provision of training or bonus rewards (Torrington et al, 2008). In addition, in some healthcare professions, CPD is an obligation to ensure that individuals maintain an adequate level of knowledge and expertise within their professional area (Legare et al, 2011). 3.4 Implementing an effective staff development program According to Gould et al (2007), there are a number of measures that need to be taken in order to implement an effective staff development program. Firstly, it is vital that all employees have a clearly written job description that is fit for purpose. This job description may include a set of skills or level of expertise to be worked towards, with development of the individual, through training and experience, being structured in accordance with their needs and level of knowledge upon commencement of the role (Gould et al, 2007). Another effective method of development is through the use of mentors (members of staff who are particularly good at their job) for new team members or for individuals who may be struggling with certain aspects of their work (Shah et al, 2011). Finally, it is vital that the manager implements regular performance appraisals to ensure that individual and team targets remain focused and relevant (Torrington et al, 2008). 3.5 The effectiveness of a specific staff development program Studies suggest that the most effective staff development programs are those which follow a structured approach (Poulton and West, 1999; Leatt and Porter, 2002; Forsetlund et al, 2009). As such, many promote the use of the performance appraisal as it focuses on the performance and the training and development needs of the individual (Gould et al, 2007; Torrington et al, 2008). This staff development program is also simple to implement and encourages conversation and the exchange of information between manager and employee. By tailoring the employee feedback and linking employee targets to the aims of the team, the manager can ensure that staff remain focused (Gould et al, 2007). In addition, the appraisal can highlight areas in which the employee has weaknesses or training needs, therefore effectively highlighting a logical development process for each employee (Gould et al, 2007). In these circumstances, specific training can be set as targets and can be achieved through self-study or through the attendance on specific courses. Question 4 4.1 Theories of leadership and applying them to management in a nursing home setting. There are four key theories of leadership that have recently replaced the traditional hierarchical-based leadership seen within the NHS. These four key domains of leadership are relational, personal, contextual and technical all of which can be applied to the nursing home setting. Relational leadership promotes organisational and individual change, encourages engagement and communication between staff and patients and focuses on the dynamics of working relationships and patient experiences (Bolden and Gosling, 2006). The personal leadership theory includes the promotion of reflective learning, personal resilience and self-awareness as a leader (Boaden, 2006). Contextual leadership utilises policy and strategy within the healthcare field to promote development by understanding the positions and strengths of various stakeholders and/or employees (Brazier, 2005). Technical leadership involves the improvement of methodologies, approaches and philosophies within the working environment. T his theory adopts the position of the leader changing things for the better while a manager maintains existing systems in good working order (Checkland, 2014). 4.2 The way of influencing individuals and teams by task allocation According to Dowding and Barr (1999), task allocation influences both individual and team performance. This is obvious when considering the role and skill set of each individual within the workplace. When considering a nursing home environment, a simplified task list may be used for the doctor to examine and diagnose the patient, the nurse to provide the correct medication and for the carer to feed or bathe the patient. As such, these tasks are allocated in accordance with the skill and expertise of the individual. Where tasks are not allocated effectively within the team and do not match the skill set of the individual, performance of both the individual and the team will obviously be impaired (Stewart and Barrick, 2000). However, if tasks are allocated effectively, team and individual performance will be enhanced. 4.3 Managing working relationships The most effective way of managing working relationships is by trusting your employees to carry out their role to a high standard (Williams, 2007). In addition, an effective leader should always respect their workforce, be honest, considerate and value their employees’ opinions and values (Williams, 2007). They should promote a culture of openness within their team and strive to understand the different backgrounds and perspectives of the team members. There should also be a great focus on communication both within the team and between the manager and team members (Barrick et al, 2007). This focus should be on utilising the most effective form of communication in each specific scenario. For example, when discussing weaknesses, a private meeting would be appropriate whilst for team targets, team meetings or group emails would be more effective. In addition, body language, listening skills, ability to maintain eye contact and attentiveness are all effective ways to develop and m aintain a working relationship. 4.4 Evaluating own development that has been influenced by management approaches My own development has been influenced through a number of leadership and management approaches. Firstly, through the use of personal performance appraisals, I have been encouraged to focus on areas of weakness as well as my strengths. By highlighting these weaknesses, I have then been able to concentrate on training or the gathering of information through self-directed reading, to improve my knowledge in these weak areas. Team-working has been improved through the promotion of working relationships between team members, through the use of team-building sessions and activity workshops. In addition, whilst it is acknowledged that everyone has a poor manager at some point in their career, these poor managers accentuate the skills of the effective leader and have helped me to develop good leadership skills. I have also been allowed to mentor new employees as I was very effective in my role. However, I consider the most effective management approach for me, to have been through the use o f task allocation and team target setting. Whilst I originally assumed that the task allocation was for an individual’s benefit, I can now see how this benefits the whole team. References Armstrong, M. (2006). A Handbook of Human Resource Management Practice, 10th edition, London, Kogan Page. Barrick, M. R., Bradley, B. H., Kristof-Brown, A. L., Colbert, A. E. (2007). The moderating role of top management team interdependence: Implications for real teams and working groups. Academy of Management Journal, 50(3), 544-557. Bevan, G., Hood, C. (2006). What’s measured is what matters: targets and gaming in the English public health care system. Public Administration, 84(3), 517-538. Bewley, H. (2006). Raising the standard? The regulation of employment, and public sector employment policy. British Journal of Industrial Relations, 44(2), 351-372. Boaden, R. J. (2006). Leadership development: does it make a difference?. Leadership Organization Development Journal, 27(1), 5-27. Bolden, R., Gosling, J. (2006). Leadership competencies: time to change the tune? Leadership, 2(2), 147-163. Borrils, C., West, M., Shapiro, D., Rees, A. (2000). Team working and effectiveness in health care. British Journal of Health Care Management, 6(8), 364-371. Brazier, D. K. (2005). Influence of contextual factors on health-care leadership. Leadership Organization Development Journal, 26 (2), 128-140. Buchan, J., Dal Poz, M. R. (2002). Skill mix in the health care workforce: reviewing the evidence. Bulletin of the World health Organization , 80(7), 575-580. Checkland, K. (2014). Leadership in the NHS: does the Emperor have any clothes? Journal of Health Services Research Policy, ahead of print. Chen, L., Evans, T., Anand, S., Boufford, J. I., Brown, H., Chowdhury, M., Wibulpolprasert, S. (2004). Human resources for health: overcoming the crisis. The Lancet, 364(9449), 1984-1990. Compton, R. L., Morrissey, W. J., Nankervis, A. R., Morrissey, B. (2009). Effective recruitment and selection practices. North Ryde: CCH Australia Limited. Curtright, J. W., Stolp-Smith, S. C., Edell, E. S. (2000). Strategic performance management: development of a performance measurement system at the Mayo Clinic. Journal of Healthcare Management, 45, 58-68. Department of Work and Pensions. (2013). Making the labour market more flexible, efficient and fair. Available online at https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/making-the-labour-market-more-flexible-efficient-and-fair accessed 14 October 2014. Department of Work and Pensions. (2014). I mproving opportunities for older people. Available online at https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/improving-opportunities-for-older-people accessed 14 October 2014. Dowding, L Barr, J. (1999). Managing in Health Care: A Guide For Nurses, Midwives Health Visitors, 5th edition, Prentice Hall. Dussault, G., Franceschini, M. C. (2006). Not enough there, too many here: understanding geographical imbalances in the distribution of the health workforce. Human Resources for Health, 4(1), 12-15. Edgar, F., Geare, A. (2005). HRM practice and employee attitudes: different measures–different results. Personnel Review, 34 (5), 534-549. Farrell, M. H., Schmitt, G. D., Heinemann, M. (2001). Informal roles and the stages of interdisciplinary team development. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 15(3), 281-295. Forsetlund, L., Bjà ¸rndal, A., Rashidian, A., Jamtvedt, G., O’Brien, M. A., Wolf, F., Oxman, A. D. (2009). Continuing education meetings and workshops: effects on professional practice and health care outcomes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2(2). Gale, T. C. E., Roberts, M. J., Sice, P. J., Langton, J. A., Patterson, F. C., Carr, A. S., Davies, P. R. F. (2010). Predictive validity of a selection centre testing non-technical skills for recruitment to training in anaesthesia. British Journal of Anaesthesia, 105(5), 603-609. General Social Care Council. (2010). Codes of practice for employers of social care workers. Available online at http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Document-library/Standards/codes-of-practice/Codesofpracticeforemployersofsocialcareworkers.pdf accessed 14 October 2014. Gould, D., Berridge, E. J., Kelly, D. (2007). The National Health Service Knowledge and Skills Framework and its implications for continuing professional development in nursing. Nurse Education Today, 27(1), 26-34. Hambley, L. A., O’Neill, T. A., Kline, T. J. (2007). Virtual team leadership: The effects of leadership style and communication medium on team interaction styles and outcomes. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 103(1), 1-20. Harcourt, M., Lam, H., Harcourt, S. (2005). Discriminatory practices in hiring: institutional and rational economic perspectives. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 16(11), 2113-2132. Harris, C., Cortvriend, P., Hyde, P. (2007). Human resource management and performance in healthcare organisations. Journal of Health Organization and Management, 21(4/5), 448-459. Hendry, C. (2012). Human Resource Management. Routledge. Home Office. (2013). Helping employers make safer recruiting decisions. Available online at https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/helping-employers-make-safer-recruiting-decisions accessed 14 October 2014. Leatt, P., Porter, J. (2002). Where are the healthcare leaders the need for investment in leadership development. Healthcare Papers, 4(1), 14-31. Là ©garà ©, F., Borduas, F., Jacques, A., Laprise, R., Voyer, G., Boucher, A., Godin, G. (2011). Developing a theory-based instrument to assess the impact of continuing professional development activities on clinical practice: a study protocol. Implementation Science, 6(1), 17-19. Leonard, M., Graham, S., Bonacum, D. (2004). The human factor: the critical importance of effective teamwork and communication in providing safe care. Quality and Safety in Health Care, 13(suppl 1), i85-i90. MacFarlane, F., Greenhalgh, T., Humphrey, C., Hughes, J., Butler, C., Pawson, R. (2011). A new workforce in the making?: A case study of strategic human resource management in a whole-system change effort in healthcare. Journal of Health Organization and Management, 25(1), 55-72. Mesmer-Magnus, J. R., DeChurch, L. A. (2009). Information sharing and team performance: a meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 94(2), 535. Miller, S., Bird, J. (2014). Assessment of practitioners’ and students’ values when recruiting: Sam Miller and Jim Bird explain how values-based recruitment is being used to create a workforce that is suitable to provide the care required by the NHS. Nursing Management, 21(5), 22-29. Moye, N. A., Langfred, C. W. (2004). Information sharing and group conflict: Going beyond decision making to understand the effects of information sharing on group performance. International Journal of Conflict Management, 15(4), 381-410. O’Brien, W., Soibelman, L., Elvin, G. (2003). Collaborative design processes: an active-and reflective-learning course in multidisciplinary collaboration. Journal of Construction Education, 8(2), 78-93. OBrien, M. J., Squires, A. P., Bixby, R. A., Larson, S. C. (2009). Role development of community health workers: an examination of selection and training processes in the intervention literature. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 37(6), S262-S269. Patterson, F., Ferguson, E., Norfolk, T., Lane, P. (2005). A new selection system to recruit general practice registrars: preliminary findings from a validation study. British Medical Journal, 330(7493), 711-714. Poulton, B. C., West, M. A. (1999). The determinants of effectiveness in primary health care teams. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 13(1), 7-18. Shah, S. K., Nodell, B., Montano, S. M., Behrens, C., Zunt, J. R. (2011). Clinical research and global health: mentoring the next generation of health care students. Global Public Health, 6(3), 234-246. Sheehan, D., Robertson, L., Ormond, T. (2007). Comparison of language used and patterns of communication in interprofessional and multidisciplinary teams. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 21(1), 17-30. Stewart, G. L., Barrick, M. R. (2000). Team structure and performance: Assessing the mediating role of intrateam process and the moderating role of task type. Academy of Management Journal, 43(2), 135-148. Taggar, S., Ellis, R. (2007). The role of leaders in shaping formal team norms. The Leadership Quarterly, 18(2), 105-120. Thornley, C. (2000). A question of competence? Re†evaluating the roles of the nursing auxiliary and health care assistant in the NHS. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 9(3), 451-458. Torrington, D, Hall, L Taylor, S. (2008). Human Resource Management, 7th edition, Prentice Hall. Tuckman, B. W. (1965). Developmental sequence in small groups. Psychological Bulletin, 63(6), 384-385. West, M., Dawson, J., Admasachew, L., Topakas, A. (2011). NHS staff management and health service quality. London: Department of Health. Williams, M. (2007). Building genuine trust through interpersonal emotion management: A threat regulation model of trust and collaboration across boundaries. Academy of Management Review, 32(2), 595-621. Xyrichis, A., Lowton, K. (2008). What fosters or prevents interprofessional teamworking in primary and community care? A literature review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 45(1), 140-153. Managing Human Resources in Health and Social Care Managing Human Resources in Health and Social Care 4.1 Explanation of theories of leadership that apply to the Health and Social Care workplace. There are four key theories of leadership that have recently replaced the traditional hierarchical-based leadership seen within the NHS. These four key domains of leadership are relational, personal, contextual and technical all of which can be applied to the nursing home setting. Relational leadership promotes organisational and individual change, encourages engagement and communication between staff and patients and focuses on the dynamics of working relationships and patient experiences. The personal leadership theory includes the promotion of reflective learning, personal resilience and self-awareness as a leader. Contextual leadership utilises policy and strategy within the healthcare field to promote development by understanding the positions and strengths of various stakeholders and/or employees. Technical leadership involves the improvement of methodologies, approaches and philosophies within the working environment. This theory adopts the position of the leader changing thin gs for the better while a manager maintains existing systems in good working orders. Definition[2CR2] of management: Management takes place within a structured organisational setting with prescribed roles. It is directed towards the achievement of aims and objectives through influencing the efforts of others. Classical management theory Emphasis on structure Prescriptive about what is good for the firm Practical manager (except Weber, sociologist) Henri Fayol (1841 1925), France 1.Division of work Reduces the span of attention or effort for any one person or group. Develops practice and familiarity 2. Authority The right to give an order. Should not be considered without reference to responsibility 3. Discipline Outward marks of respect in accordance with formal or informal agreements between firm and its employees 4. Unity of command Oneman superior 5. Unity of direction One head and one plan for a group of activities with the same objective 6. Subordination of individual interests to the general interest The interests of one individual or one group should not prevail over the general good. This is a difficult area of management 7. Remuneration Pay should be fair to both the employee and the firm 8. Centralisation Is always present to a greater or less extent, depending on the size of the company and quality of its managers 9. Scalar chain The line of authority from top to bottom of the organisation 10. Order A place for everything and everything in its place; the right man in the right place 11. Equity A combination of kindliness and justice towards the employees 12. Stability of tenure of personnel Employees need to be given time to settle into their jobs, even though this may be a lengthy period in the case of the managers 13. Initiative Within the limits of authority and discipline, all levels of staff should be encouraged to show initiative 14. Esprit de corps Harmony is a great strength to an organisation; teamwork should be encouraged Advantages Fayol was the first person to actually give a definition of management which is generally familiar today namely forecast and plan, to organise, to command, to co-ordinate and to control. Fayol also gave much of the basic terminology and concepts, which would be elaborated upon by future researchers, such as division of labour, scalar chain, unity of command and centralization. Disadvantages Fayol was describing the structure of formal organizations. Absence of attention to issues such as individual versus general interest, remuneration and equity suggest that Fayol saw the employer as paternalistic and by definition working in the employees interest. Fayol does mention the issues relating to the sensitivity of a patients needs, such as initiative and esprit de corps, he saw them as issues in the context of rational organisational structure and not in terms of adapting structures and changing peoples behaviour to achieve the best fit between the organisation and its customers. Many of these principles have been absorbed into modern day organisations, but they were not designed to cope with conditions of rapid change and issues of employee participation in the decision making process of organisations, such as are current today in the early 21st century. 4.2 Analyse how working relationships may be managed. The most effective way of managing working relationships is by trusting your employees to carry out their role to a high standard (Williams, 2007). In addition, an effective leader should always respect their workforce, be honest, considerate and value their employees opinions and values (Williams, 2007). They should promote a culture of openness within their team and strive to understand the different backgrounds and perspectives of the team members. There should also be a great focus on communication both within the team and between the manager and team members (Barrick et al, 2007). This focus should be on utilising the most effective form of communication in each specific scenario. For example, when discussing weaknesses, a private meeting would be appropriate whilst for team targets, team meetings or group emails would be more effective. In addition, body language, listening skills, ability to maintain eye contact and attentiveness are all effective ways to develop and maintain a working relationship. The way of influencing individuals and teams by task allocation According to Dowding and Barr (1999), task allocation influences both individual and team performance. This is obvious when considering the role and skill set of each individual within the workplace. When considering a nursing home environment, a simplified task list may be used for the doctor to examine and diagnose the patient, the nurse to provide the correct medication and for the carer to feed or bathe the patient. As such, these tasks are allocated in accordance with the skill and expertise of the individual. Where tasks are not allocated effectively within the team and do not match the skill set of the individual, performance of both the individual and the team will obviously be impaired (Stewart and Barrick, 2000). However, if tasks are allocated effectively, team and individual performance will be enhanced. 4.3 Evaluate[2CR4] how own development has been influenced by management approaches encountered in own experience. As a HR Manager for Smart Care Residential home my own development has been influenced through a number of leadership and management approaches. Firstly, through the use of personal performance appraisals, I have been encouraged to focus on areas of weakness as well as my strengths. By highlighting these weaknesses, I have then been able to concentrate on relevant training; the gathering of information through self-directed reading, to improve my knowledge in these weak areas. Team-working has been improved through the promotion of working relationships between team members, through the use of team-building sessions and activity workshops. In addition, whilst it is acknowledged that everyone has a poor manager at some point in their career, these poor managers accentuate the skills of the effective leadership and have helped me to develop good leadership skills. I have also been allowed to mentor new employees as I was very effective in my role. However, I consider the most effective management approach for me, to have been through the use of task allocation and team target setting. Whilst I originally assumed that the task allocation was for an individuals benefit, I can now see how this benefits the whole[2CR5] team. Management approaches Leadership style Motivation Mentoring Coaching Training Shadowing Task orientation Team orientation Individual orientation Own development Attributes Confidence Skill competency Knowledge Understanding Reference Urwick, L.F. (1968), Great Names in Management: Henri Fayol, 1841à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ 1925, lecture presented at the University of New South Wales, 19 June, Urwick papers, Henley Management College, ref. 3/5, unpublished. http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/ref/10.1108/00251740510634895 [2CR1]Explain the eight (8) leadership theories, such great man, trait, etc. [2CR2]Maslow may be good on working relationship or management approaches [2CR3]Review working relationship and analyse (break down and show relationship between each topic and the improved working relationship [2CR4]Answer this question in three parts (1) identify the management approaches (2) reflect on what your learn from management approaches (3) conclude how you can use your experience and skills acquired to manage other people [2CR5]How did these approaches make you a better manager to manage other people in future

Friday, September 20, 2019

Canadas Institutional Landscape And The Governments Ignorance Of Far :: essays research papers fc

Canada's Institutional Landscape and The Government's Ignorance of Farmer's Needs Saskatchewan farmers have been continually ignored in Canada's institutional landscape. Never has the situation been more evident as it is with the possibility of Quebec separation. The Canadian governments ignorance of farmers' needs has caused a cynical view of the political process in the eyes of farmers. One of the major sources of the cynicism is that Canadian federal institutions are developed so that most political of the clout is developed from the east. The eastern domination of the House of Commons, and indirectly the Senate, means that Saskatchewan wheat farmers do not have a strong voice in Canadian political decisions. But what does the Saskatchewan lack of representation in Canada's political institutions in Ottawa mean? What can Saskatchewan wheat farmers do to rectify the situation? And, following a Quebec separation what can wheat farmers do to uphold their livelihood? The intent of this report is to focus on the actions Saskatchewan wheat farmers can take to ensure their success in the future. A focus on the recent political policy decisions by the federal government, the need for intrastate institutional reform, and effects of a possible Quebec separation will all be analyzed. The current institutional landscape of Canada has not acted favorably for Saskatchewan wheat farmers. The development of the institutions, ie. the House of Commons and the Senate, and the policies that have developed from these institutions have continually ignored the needs of prairie farmers, emphasizing the cynicism Saskatchewan wheat farmers have towards the political process. The antipathy towards the political institutions has developed because of recent cost-cutting initiatives and deregulatory procedures by the government and by mis-representation of farmers' needs in government today. The failure of Saskatchewan wheat farmers to express their needs in the Canadian political arena successfully, when compared to other constituencies, is based on the fact that Saskatchewan's representation in Canada's political institutions is weak. The result is the development of policies contrary to what would be accepted by farmers. Saskatchewan wheat farmers, in accordance with most constituencies in the west, have desired a institutional change to the Upper House in Canada. In 1867, when the institutions were developed, the goal was to develop two different political "bodies". One, the House of Commons, would represent the Canadian people by means of elected representatives in a representation by population scenario. The second, the Senate, would be a source of "sober second thought." In its creation the senate was intended to protect the ideals of individual regions. However, to the chagrin of Saskatchewan wheat farmers, the intended regional focus of the senate never developed and, hence, the senate has

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Essay on A Woman Bound by Society in Steinbecks The Chrysanthemums

A Woman Bound by Society in John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums"  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When John Steinbeck's short story "The Chrysanthemums" first appeared in the October 1937 edition of Harper's Magazine (Osborne 479), Franklin D. Roosevelt had just been reelected president. The country was recovering from the Great Depression, unions were developing, and child labor in manufacturing was terminated (Jones 805-6). The first female cabinet member in American history, Frances Perkins, was appointed the Secretary of Labor (Jones 802). She was one of the few women in her time to gain equality in a male-dominated society. For most women, liberation was a bitter fight usually ending in defeat. In "The Chrysanthemums," this struggle for equality is portrayed through Steinbeck's character Elisa Allen. According to Stanley Renner, "The Chrysanthemums" shows "a strong, capable woman kept from personal, social, and sexual fulfillment by the prevailing conception of a woman's role in a world dominated by men" (306). Elisa's appearance, actions, and speech depict the frustration w omen felt in Steinbeck's masculine world of the 1930's. "Steinbeck's world," observes Charles A. Sweet, Jr., "is a man's world, a world that frustrates even minor league women's liberationists" (214). This frustration is evident when Elisa is first introduced. Her figure is described as "blocked and heavy" because she is wearing heavy gloves, heavy shoes, a "man's black hat," and a big apron that hides her printed dress (Steinbeck 330). Her home has the masculine qualities of being "hard-swept" and hard-polished" (Steinbeck 330). Elisa is bored with her husband and with her life (McMahan 455). Obviously, Elisa is unhappy with the traditional female role and is attempti... ...et al. America and Its People: Volume Two From 1865. London: Scott, Foresman, 1989. McMahan, Elizabeth E. "'The Chrysanthemums': A Study of Woman's Sexuality." Modern Fiction Studies 14 (1968-69): 453-8. Marcus, Mordecai. "The Lost Dream of Sex and Childbirth in 'The Chrysanthemums.'" Modern Fiction Studies 11 (1965): 54-8. Osbourne, William R. "The Texts of Steinbeck's 'The Chrysanthemums.'" Modern Fiction Studies 12 (1966-67): 479-84. Renner, Stanley. "The Real Woman Inside The Fence In 'The Chrysanthemums.'" Modern Fiction Studies 31 (1985): 305-17. Steinbeck, John. "The Chrysanthemums." Literature and the Writing Process. Ed. Elizabeth McMahan, Susan Day, and Robert Funk. 2nd ed. New York: Macmillan, 1989. 330-6. Sweet, Charles A., Jr. "Ms. Elisa Allen and Steinbeck's 'The Chrysanthemums.'" Modern Fiction Studies 20 (1974): 210-14.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Drama Portfolio :: Drama

Drama Portfolio When I entered the stimulus room my initial reactions were that it had been created in a way that it made you think about what was going on within each section of the room. For example none of the objects were straightforward and simple to figure out. A lot of the items were symbolic and had multiple meanings such as the mirror in the past section could mean a change of appearance or reflecting on the past. The room was divided into three different sections, past, present and future. There were dividers in-between the sections and these also seemed to have meanings. I interpreted the whole room as being one person’s past, present and future and the room told this persons story. The future section was covered by a large white cloth. On top of the cloth was a bench on which lay a shape that looked like a body. This instantly made me think of a funeral, as next to the body was a huge vase of flowers. Also in this section was a table set out for one, which I think indicates that the person who died was lonely when they died, as it is only set out for one. On the white cloth was painted a large question mark, which I think was placed there to symbolise the uncertainty of the future, and the mystery of death. Hanging up in the corner of this section was a larger than life railway ticket that read â€Å"On my way to meet Fiona.† This gave me the idea that maybe Fiona was somebody that the dead person knew and she passed away. Now that the mystery person has died too they are going to meet them in heaven. The divider between this and the present section was a row of blank newspapers on the floor, and I think these were put here to show that it was the future section (as the newspapers haven’t been written yet) and maybe to imply that the person who died was important or famous (as their death was in the newspaper). In the middle of the room was the present section. In this section the main theme was time. There were pictures of melting clocks stuck to the walls, on the floor and there was clock with no hands chalked on the floor. There was also a working clock placed on the floor. I think all of these objects were to symbolise time passing by, and that time is precious. Also in this section was a table laid out for two. I think this is to symbolise meeting someone – maybe a partner or

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Biography Og N.V.M Gonzales

The Winds of April. Manila: University of the Philippines Press, 1941. * Seven Hills Away. Denver: Alan Swallow, 1947. * Children of the Ash-Covered Loam and Other Stories. Manila: Benipayo, 1954; Bookmark Filipino Literary Classics, 1992. * Children of the Ash-Covered Loam and Other Stories. Manila: Benipayo, 1954; Bookmark Filipino Literary Classics, 1992. * A Season of Grace. Manila: Benipayo, 1956; Russian translation, 1974; Malaysian translation, 1988; Bookmark Filipino Literary Classics, 1992. * The Bamboo Dancers.Manila: Benipayo, 1957; first published in full in Diliman Review and Manila Times Sunday Magazine (three-part serial); Alan Swallow, 1961; Russian translation, 1964; Manila: Bookmark Filipino Literary Classics, 1992 * Look, Stranger, on this Island Now. Manila: Benipayo, 1963. * Selected Stories. Denver, CO: Alan Swallow, 1964. * Mindoro and Beyond: Twenty-one Stories. Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press, 1981; New Day, 1989 (emended edition). * The Brea d of Salt and Other Stories. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1993; University of the Philippines Press, 1993. * Work on the Mountain.Includes The Father and the Maid, Essays on Filipino Life and Letters and Kalutang: A Filipino in the World, University of the Philippines Press, 1996. * A Novel of Justice: Selected Essays 1968-1994. Manila: National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Anvil (popular edition), 1996. * A Grammar of Dreams and Other Stories. University of the Philippines Press, 1997. * The Winds of April. Reissue, University of the Philippines Press, 1997. N. V. M. Gonzalez once said. A teacher, author, journalist and essayist, Gonzalez is one of the most widely recognized, anthologized and closely studied among Filipino writers.His most notable works include the novels The Winds of April, The Bamboo Dancers and A Season of Grace, short story collections Children of the Ash-Covered Loam and The Bread of Salt and Other Stories and essay collections Work on t he Mountain and The Novel of Justice: Selected Essays. Gonzalez distinctively wrote of the Filipino life, of the Filipino in the world. Gonzalez is himself a Filipino in the world, traversing between the United States and the Philippines and exploring Europe and Asia. The affair of letters Gonzalez created is more than literature.It is the story of a Filipino in the world. It is his story. Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzalez, familiarly known as simply â€Å"N. V. M. ,† was born on September 8, 1915 in Romblon, Romblon and moved to Mindoro at the age of five. The son of a school supervisor and a teacher, Gonzalez helped his father by delivering meat door-to-door. Gonzalez attended Mindoro High School from 1927 to 1930, and although he studied at National University in Manila, he never obtained a degree. While in Manila, Gonzalez wrote for the Philippine Graphic and later edited for the Evening News Magazine and Manila Chronicle.His first published essay appeared in the Philippine Graphic and his first poem in Poetry in 1934. â€Å"For the good of my soul lately I have been reading Jose Rizal and as much as I admire Mr. Rizal's political sentiments, I must say I prefer Gonzalez as a novelist. † -Wallace Stegner, 1950| A Rockefeller Foundation fellowship, awarded to Gonzalez in 1948, allowed the aspiring author to travel to Stanford University in Palo Alto, California and Columbia University in New York City. While at Stanford, Gonzalez attended lectures and classes from many prominent writers, Wallace Stegner and Katherine Anne Porter amongst them.After Gonzalez returned to the Philippines in 1950, he began a long teaching career, beginning with a position at the University of Santo Tomas. Gonzalez also taught at the Philippine Women's University, but it was the lengthy position at the University of the Philippines that gave distinction to Gonzalez's career – as a teacher at the university for 18 years, Gonzalez was only one of two people to tea ch there without holding a degree. Gonzalez hosted the first University of the Philippines writer's workshop with a group who would soon form the Ravens.In addition, Gonzalez made his mark in the writing community as a member of the Board of Advisers of Likhaan: the University of the Philippines Creative Writing Center, founder The Diliman Review and as the first president of the Philippine Writers' Association. Gonzalez continued to teach when he returned to California in the 1960s, serving as a visiting professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara; professor emeritus at California State University, Hayward; and professor at University of California at Los Angeles' Asian American Studies Center and English department.Throughout Gonzalez's teaching career, the author produced 14 books and accumulated many awards along the way. Through these writings, Gonzalez received many prestigious awards, including repeated Palanca Memorial Award for Literature awards, the Jose Riz al Pro Patria Award, and the City of Manila Medal of Honor. In addition, his books became internationally recognized, and his works have been translated into Chinese, German, Russian and Bahasa Indonesian. Gonzalez received an honorary doctorate from the University of the Philippines in 1987 and became its first international writer in residence in 1988.He served as the 1998-1999 Regents Professor at the University of California at Los Angeles and continued to receive distinctions such as the National Artist Award for Literature in 1997 and the Centennial Award for Literature in 1998. In 1990 and 1996, â€Å"N. V. M. Gonzalez Days† were celebrated in San Francisco and Los Angeles, respectively. Despite Gonzalez's travels, he never gave up his Filipino citizenship. Critics feared that Gonzalez would someday settle into the Filipino-American genre of literature, but Gonzalez often pointed out with an all-familiar twinkle in his eye, â€Å"I never left home.True to his word, th e home that shaped Gonzalez's days is present in his writings, from the blossoming of a love story to the culture reflected in an immigrant experience. N. V. M. started his career at the age of 19; 65 years later, he was still creating affairs with letters. He passed away on November 28, 1999, due to kidney complications. He was 84. N. V. M. Gonzalez is remembered as an innovative writer, a dedicated and humble worker and an honest witty friend. He will be dearly missed.