Posttraumatic Stress Disorders in Ambulance Paramedics Essay

Posttraumatic Stress Disorders in Ambulance Paramedics - Essay Example Critical incident stress debriefing is an intervention that is purposed to promote the effective processing of distressing events through normalization of reactions and preparation for anticipated future experiences (Feder, 2008). There is a treatment that is designed to take care of the emergency service personnel who could attend the critical incident session voluntarily or when instructed by a superior. The main aim of the review that was conducted was to identify literature that is related to interventions aimed at preventing and treating the disorder. Though emergency work is rewarding, the emergency personnel are more vulnerable to post-traumatic stress in long term and short term. This is because they are supposed to deal with potentially traumatizing circumstances. Some of the distressing situations include: mass incidents, major fires, burns patients, murder scenes, violent scenes, accident involving children, cot death and many others (Frieman, 2003). It is clear that emergency medical technicians are at higher risk of stress compared to other medical professionals and fire-fighters; they normally get involved in disasters and may be at high risk of severe stress disorder, which can lead to post-traumatic stress. ... Various research methods were used in this review and it is clear that, various databases were performed and research strategy made as wide as possible. These research methods included hand searching for journals, internet searching, keywords to search online database among others. The research that was done showed that the mass disasters are the major contributors of stress and that emergency workers are always the victims of this disorder (Feder, 2008). Medical study was carried to evaluate the risks of stress and to summarise the methodological limitations of the conducted research. The limitations found include: varying degree of trauma, small sample size and lack of uniformity, low response rate, sampling bias, non-prospective studies, no control group and timing variance. The researchers concluded that, it was not possible to fully determine the effectiveness of critical incident stress and it was cautious to conduct a proper evaluation. A recent review recommended that research should be on psychological debriefing of emergency attendance as a main concern for the study. According to Brewin (2005), methodological matters concern with determination of the level of psychological impairment after a disastrous incident. The methodological issues include: comparability issues and dimensions of disaster. The discussion of these issues was done, including the need to precisely define the study cases and population. Some researchers were concerned with the interpretation of questionnaire and the interview results; these can give different psychopathological estimates. Moreover, the type of data that was collected varies broadly and this leads to problems of generalisation of results. The aspect of

Anselms Cosmological Argument Essay Example for Free

Anselms Cosmological Argument Essay Anselm seeks to explain the existence of a greatest being, i. e. God. He approaches this task not via our experience of the universe, but rather attempts to explain it solely based upon reason. Anselm attempts to prove the existence of God by providing us with a logical explanation, based upon our understanding, definition, and necessity of God. It is inconceivable for God not to exist. There is a certain nature through which everything that is exists, Anselm explains, is caused to exist by something. Everything that is, exists by virtue of something, and nothing is able to exist through nothing. The underlying assumption here is that things do not exist through themselves for there is no need for their being. Leading to conclude that it is implausible that anything at all is able to exist because of nothing, and that nothing should exist because of something. Building upon earlier argument, Anselm concludes that â€Å"whatever is [†¦] does not exist except through something. † Since, according to him, this premise is true and since, as pointed out earlier in his argument, everything that is exists either through itself or through something, there must be one, or many, beings though which all things that are exist. Our existence and the existence of everything there is, therefore, must be explained by a virtue of a higher being, or several of them. Anselm identifies and explores several possibilities of existence of a higher being, or beings. He points out that there may be several beings, rather than one, that are the ultimate cause of everything that exists, and presents one with his critical analysis of such idea. Anselm argues that if there is more than one of such beings then they themselves must exist either through (a) one being, (b) separately through itself, or (c) mutually through one another. If, he states, these beings exist through one supreme being, then all things that exist cannot exist through more than one being. Following this premise, Anselm concludes that all things that exist must therefore exist through this one supreme being. If, however, there are many beings, which exist separately and each through itself, then there must be a certain â€Å"power or property of existing through self†, by which they are able to exist. Building upon this premise, Anselm goes on to explain that it is because of this particular â€Å"power or property† that each of these beings is able to exist. Thereby concluding that these beings exist by virtue of one greater power, without which they cannot exist. Once again we are back to the same argument that only one being can exist, for plurality does not explain itself. Lastly, a third alternative proposed by Anselm deals with beings existing mutually through one another. He argues that such thought is contrary to reason. For, it is irrational that â€Å"anything should exist through a being on which it confers existence. † In other words, there cannot be a being that is a giver and a taker. That, which exists by its own virtue and is yet dependent on itself for existence. Taking all of the arguments and points stated above, Anselm concludes that there can only be one greatest being, i. e. God, and it is through him that everything that is exists. If everything that is, exists by virtue of something, and nothing is able to exist through nothing, then God simply cannot be conceived not to exist. God is that, â€Å"which alone exists in the greatest and highest degree of all† and nothing greater can be conceived. For, everything that exists, exists through this greatest being, but it alone exists through itself. One aspect of Anselm’s argument that stands out in particular is a premise upon which the whole argument is based. Explicitly, â€Å"Everything that is, exists either through1 something, or through nothing. But nothing exists through nothing. For it is altogether inconceivable that anything should not exist by virtue of something. † This, he holds to be the self-evident truth. Once again, the underlying assumption here is that things do not exist through themselves for there is no need for their existence. Such things therefore cannot be the cause of their own existence. Therefore, it must exist by virtue of a greater being. BIBLIOGRAPHY S. D. Deane, (Trans. ), St. Anselm, Basic Writings (Second Ed. ), La Salle, Illinois: Open Court Publishing Company, 1994.

Importance of organizational behavior in improving modern efficiency

Importance of organizational behavior in improving modern efficiency The main objective of drafting this document is to justify importance of organizational behavior in todays context; Organizational behavior is targeted towards studying and analyzing behavior of different people within an organization. Organizational behavior is defined as The study and understanding of individual and group behavior, and patterns of structure in order to help improve organizational performance and effectiveness (Laurie J. Mullins, 2004). Therefore studying of organizational behavior is vital to improve efficiency in establishments. Essay will emphasize on following key aspects of Organizational behavior. Leadership Group Behavior Training and development Change management Leadership can be defined as simply getting others to follow; there are many definitions to leadership. It is difficult, therefore, to generalize about leadership, but essentially it is a relationship through which one person influences the behavior or actions of other people. (Laurie J. Mullins, 2004). Leadership directly connected with motivation, interpersonal behavior and the process of communication. Leadership helps to develop team work and increase integrity within employees. Good leadership is important in the time of change; leaders should able to change peoples perception from identifying change as a threat to see it as an existing challenge (Laurie J. Mullins, 2004). The key aspects discussed above, depicts the importance of leadership within an organization. Everyone in an organization belongs to one or more Group. Work is more group based activity and if an organization to be successful, it requires good team work. A group can be defined as any number of people who (1) interact with one another; (2) are psychologically aware of one another; and (3) perceive themselves to be a group. (Laurie J. Mullins, 2004). Groups are the moral fiber of an organization and it is the key to performance. Not only members of groups should work efficient to gain organizational objectives but groups should work together with other groups to maximize the efficiency in the establishment. Teamwork is important within groups and following are some of the competencies that can be gained by teamwork;( Laurie J. Mullins, 2004). Productivity can be improved Quality of work and innovation will be maximized Technological advantages Employee motivation and commitment will be improved. Training and development is one of the most vital aspects to increase performance and motivation within employees. It is well-known that training directly affects success of any organization. Organizational training is important to keep employees up to date with technology and to be knowledgeable with relevant job that they perform. Training also assists employees in career advancement and to improve their motivation. Following are some of the advantages individuals and organizations can gain by performing training and development ;( Laurie J. Mullins, 2004). Increase motivation, confidence and commitment of the employees. Recognition and promotions Satisfaction Improve quality and skills of staff Organizations are widely get affected by the external environmental aspects. Companies should adopt these external factors to ensure success in the business. These factors can be technology, government policies, globalization etc. In order to acclimatize to these external environmental factors, it is vital to have proper change management practices in place. According to John F. Kennedy Change is the law of life and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. This also can be applied to organizations, Example: It is vital for organizations to replace their exiting outdated technology along with the latest technology available in the world in order to maintain sustainability of the business. Change also can be raised within the organization itself. Literature Review Hellriegel, Slocum and Woodman suggests that: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ One way to recognize why people behave as they do at work is to view an organization as an Iceberg. What sinks ships isnt always what sailors can see, but what they cant see. Following are the key areas to be discussed during understanding organizational behavior; (Laurie J. Mullins, 2004). The behavior of people The process of management The Organizational context in which the process of management takes place. organizational processes and the execution of work; interactions with the external environment of which the organization is part From the above framework we can identify 4 main aspects influence on organizational behavior; the individual, the group, the organization and the environment. Any organization consists with individuals; individuals are main feature of any establishment. If needs of an individual and demands of the organization is incompatible, this can result in conflicts (Laurie J. Mullins, 2004). Therefore it is a responsibility of the management to integrate individual and organization to avoid frustration and conflicts. Groups are gateway to performance in any organization. It is a fact that almost every individual within an organization is a member of a group. Group has a major capability of influencing behavior of an organization; therefore it is important to understand group structure and behavior in order to maximize performance in an establishment. Individuals and groups interact by using the structure of an organization; the organization structure is defined by management to meet goals within an organization. External environment affects the organization in many different ways, for an example new technologies will lead to change in the organization. Interacting with environment will lead to opportunities and risks within the organization. Leadership There are many ways to examine leadership. Following are some of the approaches; The qualities approach The functional or group approach Styles of leadership Transformational leadership The qualities approach is more concern about the persons, not the job itself. It suggests that attention should give to select leaders than training them. Qualities or traits approach depicts that Leaders are born and not made. The functional (Group) approach focuses not on the personality, but on the functions and contents of leadership. Unlike The qualities approach, functional approach believes that leadership could be learnt and developed. Leadership style is the way in which the functions of leadership are carried out, the way in which the manager typically behaves towards members of the group. (Laurie J. Mullins, 2004). Styles of managerial leadership can be categorized into three broader classifications; The Authoritarian style: Power is with the manager. All the interactions are made via the manager. Manager is making the decisions and less opportunity for group members to take decisions. The Democratic style: Power is more within the group. Leadership functions and decisions are made within the group and the manager is a member of the group. Laissez-faire style: Manager is basically observing the members of the group working on their own. This is also called genuine style. Group members are given with freedom to make their own decisions and to do what they think is best. However leader must be readily available for any help needed. Transformational leadership is more concern about how leaders revitalize or transform organizations. Transformational leadership is scattering higher level of motivation and commitments among followers. Transformational leadership consists with four basic components; Idealized influence: Personality of the leader and the respect of the followers. Inspirational motivation: the behavior of the leader which provides meaning and challenge to the work of the followers. Intellectual stimulation: leaders who are innovative in finding new approaches for problem solving. Individualized consideration: Leaders who put attention on developments of subordinates. Group Behavior There can be two types of groups within an organization; Formal Groups Formal Groups are part of organizational structure. Main objective of structuring formal groups within an organization is to achieve division of work and organizational objectives. Example: grouping employees with specific skills into a one group. Furthermore individuals with same status within an organization could form a formal group, i.e. Managers within an establishment can form separate formal group. Informal Groups There can be groups within an organization with informal structure. These groups are formed with social relationships and individual relationships. Objective of informal groups are to satisfy physiological needs and social needs. Informal groups consists with people from different parts of the organization and different status levels. Following are the reasons to form groups within an establishment, (Laurie J. Mullins, 2004). If specific task cannot be completed without relating multiple individuals. To avoid conflicts within members, example: by sharing unpopular tasks. Individuals to feel belonging to a group within an organization. To follow correct behavior in an ambiguous situation Protect their self from outside pressure and threats. Cohesive groups will always generate benefits for the organization. Following are some of the factors affecting group performance and cohesiveness. (Laurie J. Mullins, 2004). Membership: When groups are too large it is difficult to maintain the cohesiveness. It is always best to have manageable amount of members in a group. Work environment: Individuals with similar job descriptions, sharing a common task with facing common problem will increase cohesiveness within an organization. Furthermore facilitating proper communication in the work environment directly affects the performance and cohesiveness of an organization. Organizational factors: Factors like how manager encourage group will directly affects on group behavior. Group development and maturity: Cohesiveness of a group also depends on how groups carryout task in each stage before executing the real one. Training and Development Training should consider as an investment in employees (Laurie J. Mullins, 2004). It is crucial to have a proper plan to gain maximum advantages over training. Therefore planned and systematic approach in training plays a key role in any organization. Planned and systematic approach Following are some of the key points involved in planned and systematic approach (Laurie J. Mullins, 2004); There should be a commitment from entire organization for training. Assessment of training needs to be evaluated. Staff should feel the involvement. A clear set of objectives and policy should define for the training. Carefully plan the training program Select most appropriate method of training Link external courses and training programs for the system. There should be an effective and proper system for review and evaluation. Evaluation should be related to objectives. Change Management It is a well known fact that people do not accept change easily. Therefore managers should clearly identify reasons for resistant and initiate change by adopting appropriate strategy. According to Christensen and Overdorf , there are three main factors affect organizational responses to change; (Laurie J. Mullins, 2004). Resources: Access to high quality resources increases chances of people to accept change. Processes: The pattern of communication, interaction, coordination and decision making to transform resources into products and services. Values: Standards how employee set priorities. There are three main ways managers could use to adopt with organizational change; (Laurie J. Mullins, 2004). Create new organizational structure Split new organizational from the existing one and define new processes and values. Gain access to a new organization whose processes and values are similar to required change. Furthermore Kotter and Cohn suggests following eight steps for successful change; (Laurie J. Mullins, 2004). Create sense of urgency Build a guiding team Create visions Communicate the vision and strategy Empower action and remove obstacles Produce Short-term wins to create credibility Dont let up but maintain the momentum Make change stick Relevance in todays context Leadership in todays context Yesterdays idea of the boss, who became the boss because he or she knew more than the person working for them, is yesterdays manager. Tomorrows person leads through a vision, a shared set of values, and a shared objective. Jack Welch Leadership is essential in any organization to boost team work and integrity within individuals. Todays Establishments are focuses on discovering more leaders than appointing managers to maintain sustainability of the business. Organizations should emphasis to scatter many leaders across the establishment than suggesting one leader on the top of the hierarchy. In todays scenario companies are more concern about discovering leaders than trying to train individuals without any leadership qualities, i.e. qualities approach of leadership has become the trend of todays organizations. However identifying leaders within an organization has become a major challenge in todays context. To overcome this challenge organizations are trying various methods to discover true leaders, one of the best examples from todays context is Apples Store Leader Program, where people will given with leadership opportunities after 24 month operational program covering all the aspects of managing and operating an Apple Store. (Apple Jobs at Apple Apple Store Leader Program (us). 2011) Ray Croc quoted that The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves. A good leader should continue to amplify his/her knowledge by experience and training. Group behavior in todays context Today organizations are captivating many advantages over forming formal groups within their establishments. By providing structure of division of work and responsibilities within the company, employees are with clear agreement between them on their duties and responsibilities. This will lead to achieve company objectives more efficiently. Furthermore individuals with specific expert knowledge can be added into one group to gain more productivity end of the day. Another advantage of grouping employees is that unpopular tasks can be shared among persons, this leads to employee motivation. In todays context this strategy is widely used within organizations to maximize productivity and motivate employees. Todays organizations are keener into forming Strategic Business Units (SBU) within their establishments. SBU can be defined as Autonomous  division  or  organizational unit, small enough to be  flexible  and large enough to  exercise  control  over most of the  factors  affecting its  long-term  performance. Because SBUs are more agile (and usually have  independent missions  and  objectives), they  allow  the owning conglomerate  to respond quickly to changing  economic  or market  situations. (Strategic business unit (SBU) definition. 2011.). Therefore each SBU is treated as a one group within the company with different objectives. Example: Tacony Corporation is today organized into four strategic business units: Sewing, Home Floor Care, Commercial Floor Care and Ceiling Fans Lighting.( Tacony Corporation: Strategic Business Units) Todays Training and Development Most of the organizations are treating their employees as the most valuable asset. Therefore employers are more concern about personal development of each and every employee. Every organization allocate significant amount of money for employee training programs. Following graph illustrate Sonys Employee Training Programs in Japan in Fiscal Year 2009 (Sony Global Personnel Development. 2011) However for organizations to get maximum return out of an employee training program, it is essential to follow a Planned and Systematic approach for each training program. Training needs can be identified within the organization by introducing a Training Requisition form, which can be made available to every employee of the company. Filled Training requisition forms will be evaluated by employees line manager and forward it to HR department. Alternatively, organizations can identify required training programs and maintain Annual Training Calendar to keep track of each program. Every employee can be given with a feedback form to fill and submit to HR department to accomplish evaluation and review process. Change Management in Todays context Change Management is one of the most widely discussed topics in todays context. In order to successfully implement change within an organization, appropriate change management practices are very essential. Following are some of the challenges organizations face before, during and after implementing of change; Resistant to change by employees Insufficient time Economical difficulties Etc Most of the organizations perform change due to new technologies, limited staff participation, limited resources etc. Todays organizations are using strategy of creating new culture within company to successfully implement change. Furthermore organizations are keener into providing high quality resources along with the change. Subsequently, employee resistant to change will reduce by significant percentage. Implementation of change should happen gradually within organizations. Following graph illustrate the gradual implementation of change in todays organizational context; If the change is large scale, most of the todays organizations are outsourcing the change management process to a consulting agency. These agencies are with subject matter experts to cater client requirement from the initiation to the post implementation of the project. Example; Accenture US. Conclusion For an organization to be successful, all the above discussed key aspects of organizational behavior should utilized within the establishment. Studying of organizational behavior has become one of the most essential topics in todays context. Organizational behavior helps managers to understand individuals better so they can improve productivity of the organization.

The Quest for the Good :: Essays Papers

The Quest for the Good Is the Good something concrete to be obtained, or is it a way of life unique to individuals? This question is asked most assuredly in a biased manner, directing us along a path to the answer. It raises many logical questions of how, exactly, the Good is framed, and what it means to live a good life. To do this, an understanding must be found of what exactly the Good is. The questions of how the Good is structured and what the Good is are intricately tied together, and as such both shall be explored. The most important step in terms of the Good is the quest, as shall be found, because it is only by actively seeking the Good that one can find any understanding of it. As such, the quest for the Good shall be explored in The Republic by Plato, Confessions by Saint Augustine, and Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather. These works will help give a full understanding of what the quest for the Good is, and how it is difficult to define because it is so multiplicitous. Also, an outside framework will be explored, to be able to look at a world conception that includes many o f the themes explored by the authors, and the opposites which tend to be left out. Overall we will find the Good and the quest. To understand the breadth of the answer, the meanings of the question must be understood. The important questions are: can the Good be concrete? Can the Good be obtained? Is the Good a way of life? How is it unique? A concrete Good would be an immutable, unchanging Good. This would be a Good that exists in an abstract realm, something of a Platonic Form of the Good. If there were a less abstract Good, one more easily attained, we would all know it explicitly. Therefore, if there is an exact idea of what the Good is, it is hard enough to find that philosophers exist. The corollary to this question is, can the Good not be concrete? In other words, can the Good change or evolve, or is there always the same Good, forever? St. Augustine saw the Good as God, and saw God as non-physical and unchanging (Augustine, 4, ii(2)). As such, the Christian lifestyle, the Good life, would be a single path, the same throughout the ages.

Misclassification bias arising from random error in exposure measurement: implications for dual measurement strategies Essay

This research study was done by Chlan and Savik, (2011) in an attempt to explore the anxiety patterns in the ICU patients using mechanical ventilation support. The research employed descriptive statistics for ordinal and interval data that were presented as medians with ranges and provided the skewed data distributions. The categorical data was analyzed and presented as frequencies. The initial analysis graphed the anxiety trajectories for every participant to discern the pattern changes. The mixed model effects were then employed in the analysis since they accommodate nonhomogeneous and correlated residuals that were expected in the repeated measures. The research underscores that the mixed models provides ideal models for analysis of data with disparate time assessment missing points of data or both from the subjects being unwilling or unable to complete the daily assessment of anxiety due to mental status, medical condition of level of fatigue. The research estimated a series of m odels do determine the preferred change model for the study VAS-A (Chlan & Savik, 2011).The unconditional model means were then estimated to determine the appropriateness of further modeling. Each outcome Yii combined the individual deviations and the linear of the grand mean from the grand mean. The unconditional model means were used to assess the two null hypotheses (a) no changes across occasions (b) no variation between participants. Further, an unconditional model of growth with DAY was added to predict the estimation of change coefficients (Chlan and Savik, 2011). The models with multiple within-person error covariance compatible structures with the pattern of correlation between VAS-A scores at dissimilar points of time were then explored. Study Design The researchers employed subjects that included subgroup of participants enrolled in a multi-site, ICU-based randomized trial testing patients undergoing through mechanical ventilatory support (Chlan & Savik, 2011). The study participants were recruited from five medical centers multi-site trial representing 12 separate ICUs. The patients that were receiving mechanical ventilatory support for primary pulmonary problem such as respiratory distress who were alert and interacted with the medical staff were also enrolled to participate in the study. The study employed descriptive design and the subjects in the secondary analysis were those randomized to usual care control condition. Bordens and Abbott, (2014) writes that usual care includes the standardized nursing care protocols and standing medical orders for ever representative ICU whereby registered nurses provide care in 1:2 nurse to patient ratio. The use of randomized trials could possibly cause bias in section of the participants (Friedman, (2004). Delgado-Rodriguez and Llorca, (2004) also highlights that the use of randomized descriptive study design leads to under-representation or over-representation leading to elements of biases. The participants were enrolled at separate times during their stay in the ICU and on course of the mechanical ventilatory assistance. Therefore, there was a possibility of selection bias as a result of random sampling could be controlled by use of population-based controls or controls with disease not related to the exposure (Greenwood & Levin, 2007). Bias and Variable Control The number of missing scores on the VAS-A scale due to systemic error bias when the patients were fatigued to complete the assessment provided a challenge to the study. However, the study did not attempt to discern the anxiety sources and only used the anxiety ratings recorded on one assessment time point per day. While the participants were enrolled at separate times, the results of the study provide that there was no relationship between the initial ratings of anxiety obtained and the number of days in the mechanical ventilatory support and this possibly minimized the chances of selection bias in the study (Koplan, Thacker & Lezin, 1999). The dependent variable of the study was anxiety while dose frequency, sedative exposure, and time represented the independent variables. The dose frequency variable was used as a control variable to control the effects of sedative exposures. Sedative exposures to the ICU patients were instrumental since the patients received robust sedative and an algesic medications that could influence the ratings of their anxiety (Brenner & Blettner, 1993). References Bordens, K. S., & Abbott, B. B. (2014). Research design and methods: A process approach (9th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Friedman, G. D. (2004). Primer of epidemiology. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Medical. ISBN: 9780071402583. Brenner, H., & Blettner, M. (1993). Misclassification bias arising from random error in exposure measurement: implications for dual measurement strategies. Am J Epidemiol.;138:453–461. Chlan, L., & Savik, K. (January 01, 2011). Patterns of anxiety in critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilatory support. Nursing Research, 60, 3.Delgado-Rodriguez, M., & Llorca, J. (2004). Bias. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 58(8), 635–641. Greenwood, D. J., & Levin, M. (2007). Introduction to action research: Social research for social change (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. ISBN: 9781412925976. Koplan, J. P., Thacker, S. B., & Lezin, N. A. (1999). Epidemiology in the 21st century: Calculation, communication, and intervention. American Journal of Public Health, 89(8), 1153–1155. Source document

6 Reasons Youre Having Problems Concentrating

6 Reasons You're Having Problems Concentrating There are many reasons why your mind might wander. Some of the most common factors are non-medical and can be treated by making small changes in your routine. 1. Fatigue Fatigue from sleep deprivation is the most common cause of an inability to concentrate on one topic for a long time. Many studies have shown that people are not getting enough sleep, and sleep deprivation have serious physical, emotional, and cognitive effects. The first step in attempting to solve your concentration problem is finding a way to get at least eight hours of sleep every night. This isnt easy to do. We have busy lives and develop habits that make it difficult to get to sleep early enough. However, if you have a severe concentration problem, you may need to make some sacrifices to find a solution. Try getting plenty of sleep and see if you get results. 2. Anxiety Anxiety can cause the inability to concentrate too. Are you worried about something? If so, you might need to isolate your source of anxiety and confront it head-on. We deal with many pressures from our peers, and this social force can become quite damaging in extremes. Are you dealing with pressure? If so, it may be time to change your life to eliminate some of the stressors. Is your schedule too heavy? Are you involved in a toxic friendship? Is something else bothering you? If you are dealing with some pressure that might lead you down a dangerous path, it might be time to get a second opinion from someone. You can talk to a parent, a doctor, a guidance counselor, a co-worker, or a teacher. Depending on the situation, your emergency contact might be different. Find people you trust and let them know that youre dealing with anxiety and would like some support. 3. Excitement Excitement is related to anxiety, but a little more fun! There are lots of things that come along from time to time that grab our attention and make us daydream. This can be a big problem when weve got to pay attention to something! Make the conscious decision to set aside your daydreams until after class. 4. Love A big distraction is a physical attraction or being in  love. Are you having a difficult time concentrating because you cant get someone out of your head? If so, you need to find a way to discipline yourself. It is sometimes helpful to establish healthy routines in your habits by setting up parameters both inside and outside your head. Outwardly, you can establish a physical space and a concentration time. Inwardly, you can set rules about thoughts that are and are not permissible during concentration time. 5. Diet and Caffeine Your diet and, for those who drink coffee, consumption of caffeine, are other potential problems when it comes to concentration. Your body is just like a machine in some ways. Just like an automobile, a body needs clean fuel to keep it running well. Different people are affected in different ways from foods and chemicals-and sometimes those effects can be unexpected. For example, it may surprise you to know that some studies have linked low-fat diet with symptoms of depression! And depression can affect your concentration. Caffeine is another potential trouble-maker when it comes to diet and moods. Caffeine consumption can cause insomnia, headaches, dizziness, and nervousness. These symptoms are sure to affect your concentration. 6. Boredom Boredom is another big culprit when it comes to staying focused on your studies. Boredom stems from doing something that lacks meaning and motivation. What can you do? Every time you prepare to enter a study environment, take a moment for a reality check. What do you need to accomplish? Why? Concentrate on a goal for the next hour and think of a way to reward yourself for reaching that goal.

5 Examples of Misplaced Modifiers

5 Examples of Misplaced Modifiers 5 Examples of Misplaced Modifiers 5 Examples of Misplaced Modifiers By Mark Nichol You’ve heard that timing is everything. In writing, however, placement takes first place when it comes to conveying meaning. Consider these examples. 1. â€Å"So far, the book has only come out in Italian.† It has only come out in Italian? It hasn’t done anything else in that language? No, it is only in Italian that it has come out. This revision says so clearly: â€Å"So far, the book has come out only in Italian.† (The placement of only within a sentence is the most common type of misplaced modifier. It’s forgivable in spoken English, but in writing, it’s best put in its place.) 2. â€Å"Then you’ll be able to survive just about anything that life throws at you with confidence and style.† What, exactly, does life throw at you with confidence and style? Nothing. It’s you, not your life, that exhibits these traits: â€Å"Then you’ll be able to survive, with confidence and style, just about anything that life throws at you.† 3. â€Å"She broke ground as the first woman to run for president of the United States in 1872.† This sentence implies that the subject was the first woman to register as a presidential candidate that year. But the meaning is that in that particular year, she became the first such candidate in history. This revision communicates that point: â€Å"In 1872, she broke ground as the first woman to run for president of the United States.† 4. â€Å"She got a job with an organization that developed policy for youth and children while she was a political science major.† The impression one gets from this sentence is that the organization carried out its mission only during the duration of the subject’s time at the university. But what it means to say is that she obtained her job with an organization that pursued that objective independently of her tenure, and that she was a student when she did so, as conveyed here: â€Å"While she was a political science major, she got a job with an organization that developed policy for youth and children.† 5. â€Å"Smith recently presented a paper at a conference titled ‘Averting Bloodshed: The Benefits of Community-Based Mediation Services.’† To what does the title refer the paper, or the conference? The proximity of conference to the title implies that the event was so named, but this revision reveals the truth: â€Å"Smith, at a recent conference, presented a paper titled ‘Averting Bloodshed: The Benefits of Community-Based Mediation Services.’† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Bare or Bear With Me?Grammar Quiz #21: Restrictive and Nonrestrictive ClausesHow Many Sentences in a Paragraph?

Two-Letter Words in Spanish

Two-Letter Words in Spanish If youve played Scrabble or similar games, you know how handy two-letter words can be. Thats true in Spanish versions of Scrabble as well as online games such as Apalabrados (Angry Words) and Wordfeud too. Following is a list of the two-letter words of Spanish that are listed in the Spanish Royal Academys dictionary, along with definitions and links to relevant articles and lessons. The list may not coincide with words that are legal to use in a specific game. Not all possible definitions are given. Words containing the combinations of ch and ll are also included here, as they used to be recognized as separate letters of the Spanish alphabet and are still treated as such in some games. ad - Word used in Latin phrases such as ad hoc ah - Interjection used to express sympathy and other emotions, sometimes similarly to ah aj - ailment (seldom used, and then usually in the plural) al - contraction of a el ar - interjection used in the military to order the immediate execution of a movement as - ace ax - ouch (antiquated) ay - ouch, oh be - the letter b bu - boo ca - a synonym for porque (antiquated) ce - the letter c cu - the letter q da - a conjugated form of dar de - of, from di - a conjugated form of dar do - do (first note of the musical scale) ea - interjection of encouragement or resolution eh - interjection used to get attention el - the masculine singular definite article en - in, on es - conjugated form of ser et - and (antiquated) ex - former fa - fa fe - faith fo - exclamation indicating displeasure or disgust fu - snort ge - the letter g ha - conjugated form of haber he - conjugated form of haber hi - shortened form of hijo (son) used in some expressions (antiquated) id - conjugated form of ir in - Word used in Latin phrases such as in promptu ir - to go ja - ha je - ha ji - ha; 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet ju - ha la - the feminine singular definite article le - a third-person object pronoun lo - a word of various uses as a pronoun or neuter definite article lle - variation of le (antiquated) me - me mi - my mu - moo na - contraction for en la (antiquated) ne - synonym for ni (antiquated) ni - nor no - no, not à ±a - shortened form of seà ±ora (antiquated) à ±o - shortened form of seà ±or (antiquated) à ±u - gnu oa - a Honduran childrens game oc - Occitan (a language related to Catalan) oh - oh os - the plural familiar second-person pronoun ox - interjection used to frighten birds and other animals pe - the letter p pi - pi pu - variation of puf (interjection used as a reaction to a bad smell) re - re (second note of the musical scale) ro - interjection, usually repeated, used in calming children se - the third-person reflexive pronoun so - under (rarely used); variation of su (antiquated); whoa su - his, her, your ta - interjection imitating a knock on a door te - you (as the second-person singular object pronoun) to - interjection used for calling dogs; whoa tu - second-person familiar singular possessive adjective (the pronoun form is tà º, although most games dont distinguish between accented and unaccented vowels) uf - whew, yuck uh - interjection of hesitation or disdain un - a, an, one va - conjugated form of ir ve - conjugated form of ver vi - conjugated form of ver xi - 14th letter of the Greek alphabet ya - adverb of vague meaning often used to add emphasis ye - the letter y yo - I (first-person singular subject pronoun)

Smoking should be made illegal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Smoking should be made illegal - Essay Example This essay discusses the reasons why smoking should be made illegal. Smoking can cause serious health damage. "Smoking increases the risk of getting lung cancer, larynx cancer, COPD, oral cavity, throat cancer and oesophagus cancer." (Nationaal Kompas Volksgezondheid, RIVM, 25 September 2007) Smokers not only damage their own physical health, but they can also harm the same of the people who do not smoke. If a person breathes in cigarette smoke from the environment, it is called passive smoking. "Passive smoking is responsible for several thousands of deaths a year in The Netherlands." (Nationaal Kompas Volksgezondheid, RIVM, 25 September 2007) So the stressed out mother that desperately needs a smoke, while her kids are finally asleep on the couch, could indeed be damaging her children's health and of her own. In these times of financial crises we might want to cut back on our expenses a little bit. Since smoking is quite an expensive habit, this might be the time to save some money which otherwise would be spent on cigarettes. Most tobacco products are probably not that expensive on their own, but the taxes that are put on tobacco make cigarettes a lot more expensive. Also individual and national medical expenses could be reduced drastically. A counterargument could be that smoking is enjoyable and relaxing. ... 1998, Page 24) However, because of these stimulating effects, nicotine can be highly addictive. A person may grow dependent on nicotine to calm nerves, fight boredom, and keep focused as well as other reasons. As the body gets used to it, a person may experience detoxification symptoms as soon as he doesn't take his cigarette every two hours. Another counterargument may be that the tobacco industry highly contributes towards the Dutch economy. "The Netherlands is one of Europe's major suppliers of tobacco products. Several tens of thousands of Dutch citizens have tobacco to thank directly or indirectly for their welfare." (500 jaar tabakscultuur, Peter Bulthuis, Bzzth, 1992, Page 95). On the other hand stands the costs that smokers make for medical care, when they become ill from smoking, while the doctor already tells them to quit smoking time and time again. Also the discouraging campaigns against smoking by the government cost quite a lot. "A budget of about half a million Euros for the prevention of smoking among youth" (Genotmiddelen in Nederland, maatschappelijke en economische aspecten. A. Vreeken. Stichting Maatschappij en Onderneming. 1998, Page 48). In my opinion, there is nothing enjoyable about smoking, because it makes you physically ill, makes your breath smell bad, costs money and can cause damage to others whilst becoming an addiction. I believe that its dangers easily outweigh its pleasures. Of course, enjoyment is something that cannot be missed in a person's life, but there are also a lot of alternatives that are not as damaging to people's health. What if your daughter started smoking when she was 14, while you, as a parent, are in a hospital bed, terminally ill because of lung cancer, caused by smoking. Conclusion Smoking

Global Financial Crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Global Financial Crisis - Essay Example The crisis had great impact as it led to slow growth which translated into unemployment further worsening the situation. The paper will discuss the origin or causes of the financial crisis and how it affects individuals and the economy as a whole. Loose monetary policy in USA has mostly been blamed for the crisis. According to Taylor (2009, p. 20), low interest rates led to depreciation of the dollar and consequently rise in oil prices from $70 a barrel in August 2007 to over $140 per barrel in July 2008. This consequently led to the increase in commodity prices especially housing prices. Davies (2010) argues that the crisis was precipitated by financial innovations and laxity in monetary policy which were used as measures to offset the impact of income inequalities on aggregate demand. Households were encouraged to borrow funds to finance consumption hence growth of leverage in American households. Credit expansion led to economic growth thereby pushing up the value of equities, com modities and real estate (Jackson, 2009). The increased housing prices were the beginning of the crisis. There was speculation in the market that the prices would continue rising in future creating an opportunity for banks to offer mortgage-backed loans even to subprime borrowers. Households were being encouraged to own homes and hence were given mortgages at low interest or waiver of interest for two years and no down payment (Kolb, 2010). The mortgage brokers then sold the mortgage to a bank at a commission hence transferring risk to the bank. The banks then bundled the mortgages into one complex product and got the services of credit rating agencies for valuation. Due to complexity of the product, the rating agencies gave a good rating to the product. The bank then securitized the loans and due to the high rating, the securities were worth much more than government securities thereby attracting investors. Banks could borrow funds to buy more mortgages so as to securitize and earn high returns. The easy money and overconfidence due to speculation of high housing prices in future led to excessive risk-taking by banks and other financial institutions. Davies (2010) argues that the financial market regulators are to blame for allowing speculation and not offering adequate risk management controls. Due to speculation, there was decline in risk perceptions by banks as well as risk tolerance such that investors were accepting low returns for mortgage-backed securities. The investors did not know the value of the securities or risks involved as they were relying on credit rating agencies who were giving wrong ratings due to complexity of the mortgages. Swan (2010) on the other hand, argues that the government programs aimed at promoting home ownership and increasing profits of real estate investments were to blame. The government enterprises and mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac promoted the program by deducting interest for owner-occupied home loans. The y were buying mortgage-backed securities including those that were formed with risky subprime mortgages.  

Out group culture experience Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Out group culture experience - Movie Review Example I am a Chinese national and would very often compare my socio-cultural with what happens in United States of America. Every year from the movie, many people hope to land in the USA from Southern as well as Central America to evade poverty implications in their countries. They experience a jungle of a nightmare while traveling along a stretch of the desert of ‘death corridor’. Many migrants have perished at this place. The in-group culture identity would range from religion (Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism), arts (Kung Fu, traditional dance, acrobatic,) and immigration policies. The Chinese government regulates the issue of immigration; favoring skilled labor to unskilled labor (Diestro-Dopido 2014). The unique hukou system of China distinguishes Chinese internal migration from migration in other developing countries; China founded the global hukou system, which restricted the mobility of the people. It aims to tie farmers to land, secure agricultural supply.The in-group experience is more pleasing and reliable. The cultural activities in China enhance peace and harmony in the soc iety because people meet very often to participate. There are many advantages of in-group because of a common language- a contributor to unity (Pedzich

NUCOR Corporation Case Analysis Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

NUCOR Corporation Analysis - Case Study Example Nucor’s mission to take care of their customer has been realized through quality products manufactured within the broader parameter of sustainable business practices. Hence, ethically considered decision making and promoting environment conservation at all levels of operations have been its hallmark that has helped it to meet the challenges of time. Analysis of Nucor’s business practice therefore would not only give insight into its success but also help identify factors and issues which would help it maintain the competitive advantage within the industry. Nucor’s business strategy for competitive advantage The major factors of current competitive advantage have been its ability to exploit its internal competencies like strong team work and innovative approach of managerial leadership towards production and research. There is strong trust and mutual respect between the management and workforce that is based on uniform code of benefits spread across the hierarchy of management and employees. The shared goals and collective decisions encourage empowered decisions resulting in optimal performance. The entrepreneurial leadership of its managers has significantly influenced its operational efficiency. Byrnes (2003) believes that product flow can increase earnings while raising customer service levels. Hence, Nucor’s use of mini steel factory is its key element of competitive advantage because it not only reduces pollution but also significantly cuts the operating costs by using scrap material, giving nearly 25% return on equity. It also uses considerably less energy than traditional steel factories. Its use of recycles goods has greatly contributed towards environment conservation and highlight is sustainable business practices that have enabled it to produce goods at competitive costs. Its acquisition of David J Joseph Co., a metal scrap supplier, has been a highly beneficial. It not only provides it with raw material but has also come w ith 2000+ railcars which can significantly boost its transportation logistics. This could facilitate competitive advantage in the recessive environment. Its ability to be innovative is another key element of its competitive advantage. The ongoing experiment of liquid steel could be a major breakthrough for the industry and could become its major strength in staying ahead of its global competitors Area of threats and weakness The major threat comes from the import of low cost steel from emerging economies like China where the lack of regulations help the indigenous firms to export steel at low cost to developed countries. The company has also not made any initiative to expand across the globe and this could adversely impact its business prospects, especially as the globalization and technology has made businesses more competitive. Nucor is quite rigid in its principles and does not give discounts to bulk buyers. This could threatened its market scope in the contemporary environment o f cut throat business Recommendations Many scholars have affirmed that major imperatives of the corporate world have fundamentally relied on improvement initiatives of business processes (Laraia et al., 1999). Thus, Nucor must make efforts to exploit the global financial downtrend and take advantage of weak

LEADING Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

LEADING - Essay Example through a process of training; education; self-study and experience and anyone can become a leader, provided he has the willpower and the desire to do so. Successful leaders, lead by example; establish missions; make a roadmap for success in the future; are decisive and solution-oriented. They do not isolate themselves from others; rather, they work as a part of the team; communicate on a positive level; are emotionally stable, and have the ability to deal with all kinds of emotionally stressful situations without keeling over. They are follower-centric and stand tall and strong with their followers. They are competitive with a high-level of conscientiousness; are bold and ready to take action and risks spontaneously. Judgment -The ability to judge is highly related to the ability to listen; absorb; as well as; to learn from other people; by asking questions of wise people and learning from their answers. Judgment and courage go hand in hand. One leader whose sense of judgment has often been spoken about and appreciated was President Reagan. He made some very correct judgments, on major issues of great national importance. (Johnson, P. 2005; Forbes 175 (10), 31) Humor is also a very essential ingredient of leadership. Although there have been a few leaders who were not known for their humor; even some of those leaders e.g. Margaret Thatcher has been known to crack the odd joke or two. President Lincoln, and President Reagan were known for their stories and one-liners respectively. (Johnson, P. 2005; Forbes 175 (10), 31) Subordinates always work with more gusto when there is laughter behind their work and the person they are looking up to in a leadership position makes them laugh and feel comfortable. Moral courage is probably one of the most important traits of a leader. It leads a person to adhere to whatever he believes in, despite every adversity; criticism or obstacle thrown in his way. Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi all had moral

Expert Testimony Reliability Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Expert Testimony Reliability - Case Study Example Incompetent experts in criminal cases might be more newsworthy, but surveyors in civil courts face the same pressures. Last year, Geoffrey Wright, of EA Shaw, and I discussed the important role that expert witnesses have to play in dispute resolution (EG 23 July 2005, p90). The General Medical Council had just held that the evidence given by Professor Sir Roy Meadow at the criminal trial of Sally Clarke was "naà ¯ve, grossly misleading, incompetent and careless". He was found guilty of serious professional misconduct and stripped of his licence to practice. On 17 February, Collins J ruled that Professor Meadow had acted "honestly and in good faith": see Meadows v General Medical Council [2006] EWHC 146 (Admin); [2006] 09 EG 182 (CS). The appeal was allowed on the basis that his conduct should not have exposed him to such a sanction. In the same week, Lord Goldsmith, the attorney general, announced new measures designed to ensure that expert witnesses in criminal trials give their ob jective opinion only and do not act as advocates. Expert witnesses will have to reveal all of their evidence, and its source, to investigating police. They will also have to declare anything "that might adversely affect their credibility or competence as an expert witness "and must "not give expert opinion beyond their area of expertise". In contrast to a liberal admissibility view, Paul Milich maintains that "the jury's obvious limitations in evaluating complex scientific disputes cannot be overcome by the mythically powerful tools of cross-examination and closing argument." 2 He suggests that it may be over-hasty to assume that an adversarial proceeding will succeed in enabling a jury to understand scientific testimony satisfactorily. According to Mulch, when jurors are presented with complex scientific issues, they might choose to ignore these issues and make a decision based on other factors, such as an expert's physical appearance and his/her demeanor. Mulch's argument seems pl ausible because jurors might have to resort to this alternative if they really do not understand the proffered testimony. Since judges and juries do not share a common base of experience with an expert witness on the specialized matters being discussed in his/her testimony, they can have a difficult time probing into and evaluating the expert's reasoning and opinions. The accessibility of proffered claims can vary greatly depending on a number of factors, some of which were mentioned previously. The subject matter of some expert testimony can be inherently confusing, if not unintelligible, to laypersons. To return to a point made before, one

NUCOR Corporation Case Analysis Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

NUCOR Corporation Analysis - Case Study Example Nucor’s mission to take care of their customer has been realized through quality products manufactured within the broader parameter of sustainable business practices. Hence, ethically considered decision making and promoting environment conservation at all levels of operations have been its hallmark that has helped it to meet the challenges of time. Analysis of Nucor’s business practice therefore would not only give insight into its success but also help identify factors and issues which would help it maintain the competitive advantage within the industry. Nucor’s business strategy for competitive advantage The major factors of current competitive advantage have been its ability to exploit its internal competencies like strong team work and innovative approach of managerial leadership towards production and research. There is strong trust and mutual respect between the management and workforce that is based on uniform code of benefits spread across the hierarchy of management and employees. The shared goals and collective decisions encourage empowered decisions resulting in optimal performance. The entrepreneurial leadership of its managers has significantly influenced its operational efficiency. Byrnes (2003) believes that product flow can increase earnings while raising customer service levels. Hence, Nucor’s use of mini steel factory is its key element of competitive advantage because it not only reduces pollution but also significantly cuts the operating costs by using scrap material, giving nearly 25% return on equity. It also uses considerably less energy than traditional steel factories. Its use of recycles goods has greatly contributed towards environment conservation and highlight is sustainable business practices that have enabled it to produce goods at competitive costs. Its acquisition of David J Joseph Co., a metal scrap supplier, has been a highly beneficial. It not only provides it with raw material but has also come w ith 2000+ railcars which can significantly boost its transportation logistics. This could facilitate competitive advantage in the recessive environment. Its ability to be innovative is another key element of its competitive advantage. The ongoing experiment of liquid steel could be a major breakthrough for the industry and could become its major strength in staying ahead of its global competitors Area of threats and weakness The major threat comes from the import of low cost steel from emerging economies like China where the lack of regulations help the indigenous firms to export steel at low cost to developed countries. The company has also not made any initiative to expand across the globe and this could adversely impact its business prospects, especially as the globalization and technology has made businesses more competitive. Nucor is quite rigid in its principles and does not give discounts to bulk buyers. This could threatened its market scope in the contemporary environment o f cut throat business Recommendations Many scholars have affirmed that major imperatives of the corporate world have fundamentally relied on improvement initiatives of business processes (Laraia et al., 1999). Thus, Nucor must make efforts to exploit the global financial downtrend and take advantage of weak

Expert Testimony Reliability Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Expert Testimony Reliability - Case Study Example Incompetent experts in criminal cases might be more newsworthy, but surveyors in civil courts face the same pressures. Last year, Geoffrey Wright, of EA Shaw, and I discussed the important role that expert witnesses have to play in dispute resolution (EG 23 July 2005, p90). The General Medical Council had just held that the evidence given by Professor Sir Roy Meadow at the criminal trial of Sally Clarke was "naà ¯ve, grossly misleading, incompetent and careless". He was found guilty of serious professional misconduct and stripped of his licence to practice. On 17 February, Collins J ruled that Professor Meadow had acted "honestly and in good faith": see Meadows v General Medical Council [2006] EWHC 146 (Admin); [2006] 09 EG 182 (CS). The appeal was allowed on the basis that his conduct should not have exposed him to such a sanction. In the same week, Lord Goldsmith, the attorney general, announced new measures designed to ensure that expert witnesses in criminal trials give their ob jective opinion only and do not act as advocates. Expert witnesses will have to reveal all of their evidence, and its source, to investigating police. They will also have to declare anything "that might adversely affect their credibility or competence as an expert witness "and must "not give expert opinion beyond their area of expertise". In contrast to a liberal admissibility view, Paul Milich maintains that "the jury's obvious limitations in evaluating complex scientific disputes cannot be overcome by the mythically powerful tools of cross-examination and closing argument." 2 He suggests that it may be over-hasty to assume that an adversarial proceeding will succeed in enabling a jury to understand scientific testimony satisfactorily. According to Mulch, when jurors are presented with complex scientific issues, they might choose to ignore these issues and make a decision based on other factors, such as an expert's physical appearance and his/her demeanor. Mulch's argument seems pl ausible because jurors might have to resort to this alternative if they really do not understand the proffered testimony. Since judges and juries do not share a common base of experience with an expert witness on the specialized matters being discussed in his/her testimony, they can have a difficult time probing into and evaluating the expert's reasoning and opinions. The accessibility of proffered claims can vary greatly depending on a number of factors, some of which were mentioned previously. The subject matter of some expert testimony can be inherently confusing, if not unintelligible, to laypersons. To return to a point made before, one

The Gifts of Investigation Essay Example for Free

The Gifts of Investigation Essay Throughout history there have been various rumors that King Richard III murdered his two nephews known as the princes of the tower. When Detective Alan Grant received a portrait of Richard Plantagenet, his desire to solve the mystery was peaked. As Grant investigates the allegations against Plantagenet, an abundance of information was recovered. Alan Grant’s ability to make wise selections, view a variety of perspectives, and thoroughly analyze the information allowed him to solve the mystery. Alan Grant discovers and receives a plethora of information during his investigation. He begins his investigation by requesting information from everyone that he came in contact with about the princes of the tower and King Richard III. Grant was informed several times that the princes were smothered with a pillow. During his search, he receives information from several resources such as textbooks from the â€Å"Amazon† and historical accounts, he noticed many inconsistencies. For example, he learned that More was only five years when Richard III ascended to the throne and eight years old when Richard III died, therefore his historical account had to be hearsay information. However, Grant regarded information by Miss Ellis and evidence that was corroborated by several witnesses. As Grant reviewed the perspectives of his sources, he came to notice that the bias of the source deeply affected the information. Detective Alan Grant’s ability to determine which information was reliable and unreliable aided him in the process of solving this mystery. While Grant reviews his sources’ accounts, he was able to see through their eyes. In this novel, Alan Grant views the perspectives of Cicely Neville, Richard III, and King Henry VII. As Grant reads the account of Cicely, he learns more about Richard’s personality. The detective learned that â€Å"In Richard’s hero-worshipping eyes, everything Edward did had always been right† (60) and Richard deeply cherished his brother. As Carradine and Grant read King Richard III’s letter, it became apparent that Richard’s â€Å"instinct to see a friend happy was apparently greater than his instinct for revenge† (129). They also discovered that Richard was personally bound by his loyalty (97). Grant’s view of his sources’ perspectives allowed him to gain more  information about Richard’s personality and behavior. In the beginning of the Daughter of Time, Detective Grant receives a portrait of King Richard III. As he analyzed the portrait, he believed that Richard dealt with deep sorrow and lacked suppressed hatred. With Grant’s new found discovery, he disregards information that said that greed and jealousy hardened Richard III’s heart. With that being said, Alan Grant began looking at suspects who had much to gain by the death of the princes. Henry VII brought a bill of attainder before Parliament which accused King Richard III of tyranny and cruelty but failed to mention the murder thereby leading Grant to believe that the princes were not dead at that point in time. As Grant and Carradine thoroughly researched King Henry VII’s actions during his reign, many peculiarities were recovered. Within eighteen months of Henry’s ascension to the throne, he sent his wife, Elizabeth to a convent and attempted to repeal the Titulus Regius which made Elizabeth a legitimate prospect as Edward IV’s daughter and heir apparent. Grant and Carradine began following Henry’s trail of destruction and noticed that Tyrrel received a castle for services rendered and given two pardons within one month. This made Tyrrel a prime suspect of the murder of the princes ordered by Henry VII. As Grant and Carradine continued to analyze the collected information, the facts and events began to fall in place. Alan Grant possessed a unique ability to disregard unreliable information and to thoroughly analyze data led him to accurately deduce the culprit’s identity. By studying the characteristics of King Richard III through other’s perspectives, Grant was able to eliminated Richard as a suspect because of his lack of motive. However, Grant noticed the peculiar actions of King Henry VII during his reign that him to discover that Tyrrell was ordered to murder the princes by Henry. A thorough analysis of the information collected and the bias of the historical accounts were the key this successful investigation. Works Cited Tey, Josephine. The Daughter of Time. New York City: Simon Schuster New York, 1995. Print.

Total Reward Approach to Reward Management

Total Reward Approach to Reward Management Every human being relationship blooms in the light of reward. As the world is going through a serious phase of recession, the amount which is paid to the employees and the form of payment done is therefore the issue that matters. The importance of Rewards is increasing in the world of commercial organisation and is definitely one of the major indicators of profitability and competitive advantages. One of the biggest determinants of rewards lies in the financial position of a particular organisation. The organisations are in constant pressure of producing reward schemes which accumulate all the factors from attraction to motivation of their employees, simultaneously while maintaining the viability of the companys financial and commercial scenario. Absence of reward schemes may have a devastating effect on the organisations performance. The concept of Total Reward has been evolving ever since, Management today is trying to widen up the meaning of the word Reward including both tangible and intangible aspects of rewarding their employees, (Armstrong and Brown,1999). On one side the tangible rewards ensure financial stability of the employee while on the other side the intangible rewards looks after the employees luxuries and compensates for future loss. Now a days managers and scholars are using Total Reward Management more and more as the modern management method According to the Human resources management Total Reward strategy needs to b examined and experienced often to obtain perfect and efficient results. This strategy guarantees a remarkable profit for the organization improving the staffs performance as well as contains the potential to solve and compensate the existing issues in the organization. Rewarding employees in any organization can affect attitudes, behaviour and motivation. Influence on the behaviour of workers seems to be particularly important, it will tend to extra effort if an employee knows that his achievements, work, creativity etc. will be measured, evaluated and rewarded accordingly. The increasing efforts of the employees will result into the companys increasing profitability and better customer service. It must mobilize the growing individual and collaborative involvement of all employees. Literature review: Today organizations are looking forward to increase their employees efforts by encouraging them to improve their performance beyond the organisations expectations and reducing labour cost to a minimum. Thus the study of employee motivation has constantly remained a managerial concern. This essay considers some of the main views of the organisations adopting a total reward approach to reward management. While answering such questions as what do you mean by total reward? How it is benefits the employees as well as the company? How does it motivate the employees? How is it monetarily profitable for the company? Etc. Reward management is concerned with the formulation and implementation of strategies and policies that aim to reward people fairly, equitably and consistently in accordance with their value to the organisation. It deals with the design, implementation and maintenance of reward processes and practices that are geared to the improvement of organizational, team and individual performance (Armstrong and Murlis 2006). If the organisation has a fairly distributed reward management then it not only progresses the company but also enhances employees skills and performance. Hence the organisation is under tremendous pressure of having a non bias reward distribution so as to avoid any chaos within the organisation. The reward management literature emphasizes the need to shift from short-term, ad hoc approaches to pay management to a longer-term, strategic approach. Changes in pay and benefits systems have therefore been prescribed as key HRM objectives, pulled together in the US literature under the rubric of the new pay (Lawler, 1995) It is therefore a major managerial concern about how they approach to the concept of total reward. Each organisation can have different criteria about elements that constitute total rewards. Paul Thompson (2001), further gives an elaborated definition of total reward by emphasises it not only encompasses rational scientific elements like wages, changeable pay and profits, but also more intangible non money related elements such as scope to attain and implement responsibility, career opportunity, education and development, the inherent motivation delivered by the work itself and the quality of working life provided by the organization. Essentially, the notion of total reward says that there is more to rewarding people than throwing money at them. Planning a long term reward holds the employee and motivates them to enhance their performance for better customer satisfaction. As Murlis and Watson (2001) refer to the importance of monetary values in designing a reward package but also about these not being the sole factors. She describes cash as being a weak tactic in the overall reward strategy and stresses that total reward policy should be based on building a much better understanding of what the employees expect in their rewards packages. Relationship between the organisation and the employees can be strengthened with the total reward approach. Therefore we need to see a very integrated and holistic approach while considering all aspects of rewards (Armstrong and Murlis, 2006) Hence it is essential to have a coherent reward strategy which helps to create a work experience that meets the needs of employees and encourages them to contribute extra effort, by developing a deal that addresses a broad range of issues and by spending reward dollars where they will be most effective in addressing workers shifting values. ONeal (1998). CIPD reward faculty members Wright and Murlis have created a significant diagram to present visually the various types of total reward. Its definition incorporates a wide range of approach but it is not the only solution for employee energetic. The idea of reward exchange is emphasized although quite frequently left out in the area at work definition. In combination unique and common motivation methods are provided to employees in exchange accordingly for their effort, results, work time, creativity, talent etc. There are five main key elements to keep secure and retain talented workers and also to motivate them optimally to accomplish possibly best business results (Davis, 2007:4). The key points stated by CIPD (2005) in the world at works total rewards: Compensation, Benefits, Work life, Performance, Development and career opportunities. Manas and Graham (2003) emphasize that developing and implementing a total reward approach has much in common with reward strategy development. According to Purcell (2004) and colleagues the organisation can contribute by communicating the values, giving employees a voice, setting up improved performance management processes, instituting formal recognition schemes and taking steps to improve work/life balance. Decisions such as giving voice to the employees by an organisation leads to the delegation of some powers to them regarding their respective expectation about rewards which helps the management in developing appropriate strategies. Developing and implementing a total reward approach may be difficult but the benefits are considerable. The employment relationship created by a total reward approach, which makes the maximum use of relational as well as transactional rewards, will appeal more to and engage individuals involving people in their own reward package design, dives them strong messages about the organisation and its values. At its best, it builds relationship capital. Pfeffer (1998) implicated a new idea to total reward approach in a powerful manner, Employees are able to use their skills in an effective and efficient way with interest and motivation in an enjoyable, challenging and empowered work environment, for which they should be shown appropriate appreciation by the organisation. This scenario creates such an environment for the employees, by which they got motivated and enhance their performance thereby proving beneficial for the company, but it would be less time consuming and simple to reward the employees monetarily then to plan and arrange intangible rewards. Case Study: Total Reward Statement as a document is created annually for every working member of the company on a regular basis. This document allows the employees to receive all the details regarding their benefits that have been received over the course of the year. As total rewards deals with tangible and non-tangible benefits it informs the employees about the salary drawn by them as well as a breakdown of all the other non-tangible profits that have been taken in exchange for their employment. Presenting the reward to the employee in cash terms proves to be very beneficial for the company as well as the employee. For example: if an employee has received shares. The reward statement shows the value of the shares and might as well show their trading history since the issue of the previous statement. There are many companies which have been adopting total reward strategies in the last few years and gaining benefits and improving their labour power. This paper shows a few companies dealing in different products and implementing total reward strategy. Beginning with one of Europes leading telecommunication services BT COMMUNICATIONS. The new reward framework is one of the biggest change initiatives in BTs history, covering more than 40,000 employees in total.(e-reward.co.uk research report, no. 35, July 2005). The idea of transforming its reward strategy from fairly traditional multi-grade pay structure to a total reward system was BTs essential Organizational Program.One area of focus in the new strategic HR agenda was to look at reward and address BTs Paternalistic approach to reward Says Kevin Brandy, HR Director Reward. (e-reward.co.uk, no. 35, July 2005). As the management of BT states, the alleged reasons for switching from the previous reward arrangement was to develop the changed view of the BT peoples regarding rewards. The organisation wasted Millions of pound annually on rewards because of the limitations of the employees in view of companys bonuses. Taking into consideration, the limitation of the earlier adopted reward strategy bounded employees to appreciate their benefits as well as lack understanding and awareness capabilities. By implicating the new reward framework BT affect 250-plus market based roles in 18 job families. BTs strategy is basically based on the role and performance of the employees. As on the other hand, benefits and bonuses given are based on the external market. Giving total reward an broader offer BT has tried to renovate the reward strategy, by going beyond the standard remuneration of the base pay including bonuses. For BT, total reward is not just an ordinary reward strategy used for paying wages to the employees. Its about bonus and benefits, such as company cars and health insurance, shares and pensions, role-based reward, performance-based pay and choice and flexibility in benefits provision. Henceforth three main elements of the reward package influence BTs new total reward approach: Base Salary, Bonus, Benefits (Armstrong and Thompson, 1999). STARBUCKS being one of the worlds largest speciality coffee retailer having 1300 store worldwide, hire around 200 people per day and grow US revenues by 25 to 30 percent on top of US$4.1 billion in revenues from the previous fiscal year. According to Chet Kuchinad, SVP of Total Pay We build the Starbucks experience by delivering pay elements to our partners that drive financial rewards in the success of the company in a meaningful way. In order to strengthen and constrain the culture of Starbucks, innovative reward strategy and payment programs have been introduced. Full- and part-time partners (who meet eligibility criteria) are offered health, dental, and vision insurance, as well as access to an employee assistance program (EAP), reimbursement accounts, short- and long-term disability, and Working Solutions, Inc. (a resource and referral service) to help manage work and family issues (Wilson group.com, case study on Starbucks).The employees receiving the rewards greatly appreciate and value the reward and, as a result, provide a better a service to the customers. According to Starbucks, total reward has played a very important role in benefitting the company but there are many other factors in human resources which affect the companys stability. Examples include employee education, an open n highly communicative environment and a unique program adopted by Starbucks called Mission Review, which is a part of a broader program called Partner Snapshot. Partner Snapshot deals with gaining feedback from the companys partners. However the functions of human resources in Starbucks continue. Rewards and profits were considered by the introduction of total reward that included additional health benefits, maturation of healthcare delivery, and coverage for same sex partners, and an employee assistance program. However, pay alone will not attract people. Our Total Pay philosophy and our culture of teamwork and community are all key parts of why people join and stay with Starbucks. (Starbucks) The next case study deals with Audit, Consulting, Financial advisory, Risk management and Tax services. DELOITTE also known as Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (DDTL), is a UK private company limited by guarantee. Mark Carman, sales and marketing director of Motivano, Deloitte says Total reward can b a win-win from the perspective of en employee as the reassurance and support available from knowing exactly what your salary and benefits package is worth can have a huge impact on their performance, engagement and motivation. With the rising value of rewards and benefits the company proprietor are using total reward to improve and support their affiliation with employees. Deloitte explains five main steps in creating effective total reward communication: Create clear and concise messages. Think about brand and design. Check the accuracy of your data. Consider security of your personal information. Work with other internal experts. BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB is a US-owned pharmaceuticals company. Bristol-Mayers Squibb was going through a mystification of employees regarding reward strategies. As compared to the external competitive market the company was not able to reward the employees, employees were lacking the understanding of the reward which they received and there was an awareness that the wages and the benefits given to them were not as fine as the competitive market offered. Transformation to a flexible reward strategy was very necessary for Bristol-Mayers Squibb which supports the recruitment and maintenance, bringing all the strategies together Bristol introduced the total reward strategy. Portraying everything as work experience, Bristol-Mayers Squibb kept the usual peculiarity between rewards and remuneration. As a result the company received employees which consists appreciation, work-life balance, civilization, employee development and the working environment HENNES MAURITZ (HM) is a 100 billion SEK company, Engaged in designing and retailing of fashion apparel and accessories. Hennes Mauritz appears to provide a total reward framework, with greater emphasis on relational rewards even though transactional rewards are provided (Armstrong (2006), pp.639-631). Hennes Mauritz reward strategy includes many other human resources area like organizational traditions, conscription or selection etc. Implementing total reward management was a very successful concept in the history of Hennes Mauritz. The increasing sales are the evidence of the profitability of HM business as the employees are motivated with job satisfaction as a reward and perform their job as well as contribute their best to ensure customer satisfaction. This case study acknowledges about the companies adopting total rewards from a long period of time and improving their business skills. Though there are some disadvantages to this approach. Starting with the employees, they find it very difficult to understand and expensive to set up as well as complicated to maintain. Although the advanced technology is helping organization to reduce burden as well as reduce cost. The vast range of choices may create a problem both to the company and the workers. There might also be wastage as the employees may not appreciate the full reward package. Conclusion: The reward approach not only takes care of the financial security of the employees but also looks after the overall development of their employees in the society. Its a delicate matter that should be perfectly balanced especially when the organization is rewarding different people working in one team. The advantages of total reward approach are substantial, but developing and putting it into practice may be a difficult task, by the use of relational and transactional rewards the employment relationships created by total rewards approach can be maximised. The total reward approach creates a strong communication about the organisation and its values by satisfying the employees and engaging them in their own designed reward package. At its best, it builds relationship capital.

scarlet letter, ethan frome, lesson before dying :: essays research papers

Dignity and Respect Many people try to escape the prison that suppresses them, but fail to because of their moral obligations to themselves and others. Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome, Ernest J. Gaines’ A Lesson Before Dying and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter, portray the struggles one acquires through their own conduct. Ethan in Ethan Frome, Grant in A Lesson Before Dying and Hester in Scarlet Letter each try to elude their life dilemma’s, but are hindered due to their obligations. Ethan is obligated to his wife though he loves Mattie, while Grant is obligated to his society, but wants to leave. Hester accepts her punishment but wants to be within society though they shunned her. Wharton, Gaines and Hawthorne all use various language devices to accentuate the gain of dignity and respect through moral struggle. In Ethan Frome, Wharton uses symbols and archetypes to create Ethan’s anguish to his moral obligation to his wife Zeena which keeps him from his true love, Mattie. His moral prison is established with the headstone of another Ethan Frome and his wife that bores that they â€Å"dwelled together in peace for fifty years,† which interests Ethan (Frome 66). Later on, his own neighbors â€Å"don’t see there’s much difference between the Fromes up at the farm and the Fromes down in the graveyard† (Frome 140). The symbol of â€Å"the Fromes down in the graveyard† establishes Ethan’s similarities to the dead illustrating his moral obligation to Zeena for eternity (Frome 140). When Ethan feels Zeena’s presence, coincidently Zeena’s grey cat â€Å"[elongates] its body in the direction of the milk-jug, which stood between Ethan and Mattie† (Frome 69).The cat then tries an unobserved retreat and â€Å"[backs] into the red pic kle-dish, which [falls] on the floor with a crash† (Frome 69). The color archetypes of ‘red’ establish Ethan and Mattie’s love while the ‘grey’ cat establishes Zeena who breaks their love, the dish. Ethan is always besieged by Zeena even when lacking her presence. He wants to stay with Mattie yet his obligation to his wife thwarts him from her. When Ethan and Mattie finally reach the point by his mill â€Å"they descended [and] the darkness descended with them, dropping down like a black veil† (Frome 125). The â€Å"darkness† symbolizes Ethan’s obligation and his moral duty to his wife (Frome 125).He cannot leave her though he scorns her because it is his morally obliged to reside by her side.

A Lesson Before Dying :: essays research papers

A Lesson Before Dying I thought that the book A Lesson Before Dying was all right overall. I think Ernest Gaines did a good job with the plot but the idea of the book was not to interesting to me. A book about a black man becoming a man on his way to the electric chair is a very dull plot to me. I give Gaines credit for making the book semi-interesting even though the plot was terrible. Personally after reading Things Fall Apart and Song of Solomon I was looking for a little more action in this book. Those two books were ten times better than A Lesson Before Dying so I can say that I was probably expecting too much. A Lesson Before Dying has a superb depiction of the theme â€Å"you can’t judge a book by its cover†. Grant went to help Jefferson with a notion that Jefferson was sewer trash and he would not learn anything from this situation. In the end Grant was wrong because he learned a lot from his short relationship with Jefferson. Grant had certain feelings for Jefferson he never had for a man before. They became real close friends and talked about a lot of things. I really like how they portrayed this theme throughout the book.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the book each character had their own characteristics and personality. There was something special about each character in the book. Each of them had their strong points and weak points for example Grant was always running away from his problems. There were a lot of things in his life that he could not handle and he just wanted to run away. He didn’t know what to do about Jefferson at first and wondered why he had to teach him. He didn’t really know how to handle his job as teacher in the Quarter. He couldn’t make his mind up about God so he just decided to leave it alone. Aunt Emma was a very strong character in the book. She would do almost anything to help Jefferson before he died. She begged to the Guidry’s on several occasion to help Jefferson feel more comfortable while he was in jail. She begged Grant for his help even though Grant did not want to help Jefferson. She got Mose Ambrose and Grant to finally work together to help Jefferson instead of always arguing.

Learning Portfolio Essay

During the semester, I have had to develop a unique study structure that was going to maximize the efficiency with which I utilized my study time. Before starting the course, I read the study handbook so that I could get a rough idea of what the course entailed and the nature of information I would be required to familiarize myself with. This enabled me to identify other relevant sources of information besides the books suggested in the recommended reading list. In the process of reading these materials, I took brief notes of the ideas and points that appeared noteworthy. Being in a non-English speaking country, obtaining relevant books and other resource materials was somehow challenging. I learned to utilize the internet to get books and journal articles from electronic libraries and databases. I also had to subscribe to various journals so that I could get updated news about the course since I realized that criminology is a dynamic topic and it requires one to get case studies and briefs. After the onset of the course, I had to develop effective study habits so that I could organize my time while staying on top of my work. I realized that in order to succeed, I had to make the right decisions about managing my time and resources. I had to give my studies the priority they deserve and I did not let friends or family dictate to me on what aspects of my life were more important than others. My concentration and grasping ability is at its peak during the morning hours, at quiet and cool surroundings which do not offer any distraction. I engaged in discussions and debates surrounding the course material since I know getting the perspective of my fellow students and their contributions on the points I might have missed is very important. Concerning my assignments, I always make sure I have completed them on time and I review them before every class. I also co-relate assignment content and what is in my notes to ensure that I have completed them satisfactorily. I rely on my notes for this because they are very comprehensive since I review and update them after every class; usually including paraphrasing content in my own words and including examples. These study strategies I adopted during the semester are very effective, and after cross-checking with my fellow students and a collection of study guides available in the internet, I found out that they are still very relevant. Of course, I know there will always be ways of improving them as challenges mount. For example, I found out that I had actually misunderstood some concepts and ideas I had assumed I fully understood, so I need to liaise with my professor and study group more. When I started this course, I did not have a clear understanding of what was really expected of me. I did not know if what I was doing was right or wrong, so I had to get the help of my fellow students, friends who had already graduated from the course and my professor to help me learn how to express my points and ideas. I always want to feel that I am living up to expectation, so I always seek feedback to help me identify areas I can improve on. I have formed a consistent effort to request my colleagues and supervisors so that I can refine my perspective regarding key concepts and ideas. In my attempt to be an all-rounder, I specify the kind of feedback I need from my colleagues, professors and supervisors at work. I do not just ask for a critique of the quality and quantity of effort I put in my studies or my work, but I also seek to find out other people’s perception of how effective or ineffective my interaction with other people and the system is. I also gave some of my essays to friends and colleagues to read; and used their criticism and opinions to improve on my essay writing skills. I feel that I can use the feedback I obtain regarding my study and work strategies and quality to improve by developing plans of action based on it on a regular basis. Feedback is effective only if it is involved in the review of strengths and weaknesses so that the actions taken can be specifically tailored to build on my strengths and work on my weaknesses. It is however important to note that feedback can only be genuine if the seeker also reciprocates by giving feedback to the people he or she seeks opinion from. Even though some people may not like getting feedback on their performance especially if it is negative, I try as much as possible to reciprocate by giving genuine feedback to those willing to acknowledge it so that I can receive an equal measure in return. I would be honest if I say that this course has been an eye opener for me. Through planning my time to fulfill course requirements like attending to classes and completing my assignments in time, I have learnt to be more organized not only in class but in other spheres of my life. The need for efficiency made me engage in research in an attempt to identify better, faster and more effective reading styles, and I perfected these on this course. I have attained a better reading speed and I have become better in both written and spoken English. Through research and preparation for writing my essays, I have improved on my writing skills a great deal. I have learnt several referencing styles and I could even take a chance at professional writing as of now. Criminology requires articulate presentation of ideas, facts and arguments; and this course has increased my analytical skills and the depth of my thinking. In the past, I have sort of been what social scientists would call a right brain thinker. To me, an occurrence or a phenomenon was true or false, black or white. But the course has taught me to think from different perspectives. This has been a big change for me bearing in mind that I have been quite opinioned about criminology issues; but I have learned to pay attention and get many sides to any event. Starting university has had an enormous impact on my academic, personal and work life as well. Being a student and working at the same time is a challenge for many people. I work and study; and since I realize that both are important to my life, I don’t let one take the time of the other. I do not take time off to study or skip classes to work or because I worked late; but I do take some hours off to catch up on my assignments and to engage in extracurricular activities to refresh my faculties and also to write my essay. As far as my private life is concerned, my academic engagements have made it necessary to study on most nights and weekends; but the experience has been good since I have gained the ability to see things from an academic and professional angle and reason likewise. This course has definitely induced a lot of changes in me. For starters, I have learned to be flexible to divergent thoughts and ideas, and since I have learned so much in the process, I have found out that some of the opinions I hold regarding other people and occurrences are not necessarily justified. With an increase in knowledge comes a change in heart, and the new ideas, concepts and facts I have learned have changed my opinion and attitude a great deal. Since the beginning of this course, I have continually learned that there is so much information out there for me to absorb and apply in my essays, arguments and in my professional life. Information for real has the capacity to change someone’s beliefs. The more I am challenged, the more I have become aware of the need and the virtue of being able to tolerate the values, beliefs and attitudes of other people. By virtue of the amount of literature I have had to cover, my attitude towards work has changed. Work, be it academic or professional, is no longer an obligation to me, but an opportunity to improve my vistas of knowledge and my capacity to interact with people, information and real life circumstances. In other words, the course has given me an opportunity to grow in character as a person. Through the study of moral values as they apply in criminology and psychology, I have learned that morality is a very personal issue; and that not a single person can rationally claim to have more superior values as compared to others. In as such, my attitude to people has changed a lot, and I am no longer quick to judge the actions of others without first establishing the motives behind their actions. Creative and research and essay writing has taught me the importance of respecting intellectual property. I have come across so much written material in this course; materials which have increased my knowledge base in ways I could not have imagined. It is a matter of fact that people somewhere took their time to do research, derive facts and write them down plus their relationship to and application in real life situations. It is not only responsible but also ethical therefore to respect their rights to their work by responsibly using these works. Responsible use of literary material is achieved by avoiding plagiarism. This entails proper use of resources and the application of correct referencing techniques to cite the contribution of existing literature in any produced essays or research papers. I had never done any referencing before, but the resources providing guidelines for referencing available at the university website helped me a lot in learning how to responsibly utilize literary materials without abusing intellectual property. As I pointed out earlier, I did not know what was expected of me before actually joining this course. As the course progressed, I came to realize that it is actually a very interesting course. Even though it is quite challenging in terms of difficulty in comprehending some of the concepts taught, I do not regret taking it. The course has made me understand people better and have valuable insight on the motivations people have while committing some of the activities they commit. As I said earlier, I had to work as I undertook this course. The responsibilities could have been overwhelming for most people and their families, but the experience brought me closer to my wife who supported me throughout the duration of the course and has still continued to support me. In terms of my professional experience, the course has opened up my mind and conscience. I have met a lot of interesting people and the experience has made me a better communicator, improving the relationship between me and my work colleagues. I am a very ambitious person and I want to continue growing professionally, that is why I decided to further my education in the first place. My ambition sometimes brings me at odds with my colleagues, but I have known how to effectively handle their aggressions. I hope that these skills are going to push me up the professional ladder, even though this is going to take some time considering the system of my place of work.