Analytical Essay Sample on #8220;Oedipus Rex” by Sophocles

Analytical Essay Sample on #8220;Oedipus Rex† by Sophocles Greek tragic dramas are based on myths and are representations of human dilemmas, which often formed on conflicts between men and gods. The Oedipal myth was transformed into a compelling theatrical work, â€Å"Oedipus Rex†, by Sophocles. As conventional in Greek tragedies, Oedipus is portrayed as a heroic protagonist, led to his downfall by his tragic flaw, ‘hubris’, error of judgement, ‘hamartia’, and most importantly, fate. Symbolism reflects Oedipus’ entrapment by fate and foreshadows his future. Tension is built up in the audience through dramatic irony and released at the ‘catharsis’, which also arouses pity and fear. All these dramatic elements are characteristic of ancient Greek tragedies. Oedipus displays qualities of a classic Greek tragic hero. Arrogance and short-tempered determination form his hubris. His heroic self-pride is shown in his announcement, â€Å"The world knows my fame: I am Oedipus.† Oedipus’ hamartia is his decision to seek the truth of his birth and Laius’ death, disregarding advice from Tiresias to desist. Determination drives Oedipus to act upon his decision as he orders Tiresias to speak out. Oedipus’ short temper is conveyed in his immediate response to Tiresias’ unwillingness to speak, raging at the elderly, respected prophet, â€Å"You scum of the earth, you’d enrage a heart of stone.† This same short temper had led Oedipus to unknowingly slay his father in the ‘road rage’ incident, where Oedipus’ anger was sparked to a murderous extreme simply because he was pushed aside. Arrogance led Oedipus to believe he could escape fate. Like his parents, Oedipus was presented with fearful prophecies. Laius and Jocasta attempted to avoid these prophecies by killing their son. As in most Greek tragedies, the gods prevail and their son lives. Oedipus as a young man believed he could escape this horrific fate by leaving who he believed to be his parents. Fate directed him to his home town where he is destined to murder his father and marry his mother. However, the very quality of Oedipus’ hubris, his arrogance in defying fate and prophecy, is the same quality that enabled him to earlier confront and defeat the Sphinx and save an oppressed city. This theme of human paradox is carried in many Greek dramas. â€Å"Oedipus Rex† is notable for its use of dramatic irony, able to be employed effectively due to the familiarity of audiences with the Oedipal myth. The first instance of dramatic irony occurs when Oedipus claims to the citizens of Thebes and indirectly the audience, â€Å"you can trust me.† This is dramatically ironic as the audience, aware of the sin he has unknowingly committed, experience difficulty in drawing trust for the king, but later pities Oedipus’ innocent determination to help Thebes â€Å"drive corruption from the land†¦root it out!† Most irony is developed in Oedipus’ pursuit of Laius’ murderer, inadvertently pursuing himself. This irony is emphasised by Oedipus’ persistence of the matter, summoning and interrogating Tiresias and encouraging the citizens to speak out. Oedipus’ firm belief that those who raised him were his biological parents is also ironic. Dramatic irony involves the audience and encourag es viewers to feel sympathy for Oedipus before the fatal truth of his birth is revealed. The structure of â€Å"Oedipus Rex† reflects that of an Greek tragedy. Tension accumulates in the audience as the truth of Oedipus’ birth dawns on the shepherd and Jocasta. The anagnorisis marks the point at which the heroic protagonist, Oedipus, previously in ignorance, gains knowledge of the truth. This revelation of the truth is the emotional climax of the play, preceding the catastrophe, at which Oedipus blinds himself. The peripeteia is the reversal of situation from good to bad, and in â€Å"Oedipus Rex†, closely follows the anagnorisis as Oedipus’ previous strong state is hurled into a world of confusion and guilt. The end effect of his earlier actions is the denouement, where guilt and horror drive him to gouge out his eyes. This action provokes fear and horror in the audience. The catharsis, an essential part of tragedy and marks the play out as a classical Greek tragic drama, refers to the emotional discharge by the audience at the finale. The audience is relieved of tension and emotion accumulated throughout the play. Oedipus’ exile, separation from his daughters, and blind state arouse pity in viewers. The chorus reflects the audience’s thoughts in the play, crying, â€Å"I pity you but I can’t bear to look.† Symbolism is a dramatic element used to reflect Oedipus’ situation and foreshadow his future. Oedipus’ name, ‘swollen foot’ symbolizes the confinement and constraint of his movements by Apollo’s prophecy to Laius. Numerous references are made to eyesight and vision. Although famed for his clear-sightedness and quick comprehension, Oedipus is blind to the truth. Tiresias is blind, but sees the truth. He symbolizes the state Oedipus will become after gaining insight – blind, but with knowledge. Choral odes offer close commentary on the action of the play, acting as a mediator between gods and men and between the characters in the drama and the audience. The chorus, a traditional element of Greek tragedy, clarifies the situation to the audience and enables greater understanding of the play and philosophical values within it. For example, following Creon’s final words, the chorus comments on Oedipus’ fate, â€Å"now as we keep our watch and wait the final day, count no man happy till he dies, free of pain at last.† To Aristotle, a Greek tragedy critic, tragedy must arouse the emotions of fear, wonder and awe. He believed the best type of tragedy to involve reversal of a situation, recognition from a character, and suffering through a complex plot. â€Å"Oedipus Rex† satisfies all these characteristics and can therefore be considered a great example of an classical Greek tragic drama.

Individualized Education Programs That Support Self Esteem

Individualized Education Programs That Support Self Esteem Self-esteem has fallen from the pinnacle of academic and scientific practice.  There is not necessarily a direct link between self-esteem and academic success. Resilience is getting a great deal of attention because the culture of coddling children for fear of injuring their self-esteem often discourages them from risk-taking, which has been shown to be related to success in school and life. Still, children with disabilities do need some extra attention paid to activities that will build their ability to take those risks, whether we call that resilience or self-esteem.   Self Esteem and Writing Positive Goals for IEPs The IEP, or Individualized Education Program- the document that defines the students special education program- should attend to ways in which instruction is mediated and success is measured that will enhance a childs self-confidence and lead to further success.   Certainly, these activities need to reinforce the kind of academic behavior you want, while at the same time pairing the childs sense of self-worth to success in school activities. If you are writing an IEP to ensure that your students will be successful, you will want to make sure that your goals are based on the students past performance and that they are stated positively. Goals and statements must be relevant to the students needs. Start slowly, choosing only a couple of behaviors at a time to change. Be sure to involve the student, this enables him/her to take responsibility and be accountable for his/her own modifications. Be sure to provide some time to enable the student to track and or graph his/her successes. Accommodations to Develop and Enhance Self-Esteem: Academic expectations will be reduced to ensure success. Be very specific about the exact curricular expectations that will be omitted or modified. Recognize and reward quality performance.Student strengths will be highlighted by recording and sharing evidence of growth.Honest and appropriate feedback will occur on a regular basis.Opportunities for the student to demonstrate strengths will be maximized as often as is possible. This could include, oral presentation and opportunities for the child to share his responses as long as the child is ready and can be successful.The student will be encouraged to become involved in extracurricular activities that support his/her interests and strengths.The student will use a form of personal expression which will include teacher response/feedback through a journal, one to one, or computer entries. Goal-Writing Tips Write goals that can be measured, be specific as to the duration or the circumstance under which the goal will be implemented and use specific time slots when possible. Remember, once the IEP is written, it is imperative that the student is taught the goals and fully understands what the expectations are. Provide him/her with tracking devices, students need to be accountable for their own changes.

Company Research - Australain Stock Exchange Paper

Company - Australain Stock Exchange - Research Paper Example In April and May, the share price has a general decline trend with slight increases. For the month of June, the share price is initially stable, declines and then starts rising. In July, it declines, becomes stable and then starts rising. Between August and November, the share price steadily declines, and rises, stabilizes, then declines and finally stabilizes in November. In December, there is a steady decline in share price with little stability towards the end of the month and starts rising in January 2012, then stabilizes till almost the end of February when it starts declining, stabilizes a bit, then undergoes a steady decline in March 2012.Therefore, the general trend in the share price for the last twelve months has been volatile. The ASX General Index has mainly been unstable. There is a general decline in the share index with slight increases between March and May 2011.From May, the share index rises with slight declines. It stabilizes a bit at the beginning of June, and then undergoes a steady decline. In July, it rises and declines steadily. In August, there is a steady decline till the minimum share index, then it rises and undergoes an unsteady decline and rise till March 2012. Therefore, the share index has been volatile for the last twelve months. The AYI share index has generally performed better compared to the ASX General Index. As the ASX General Index declines, the AYI share index also declines, especially between the months of March and May, and as the ASX General Index rises, the AYI share index also rises, at times even higher than the General Index, especially between May and August (ASX.com). The company’s last announcement to the public was made on 1st March 2012 and it was titled `The Competent Person’s Statement.† The announcement was significant because it is a requirement by the ASX as part of the listing rules.

Magic of Language in the Starbucks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Magic of Language in the Starbucks - Essay Example The iconic cultural status quo of the Starbucks manifests through its modern dà ©cor, expressive and bold latte lingo and its corporate ambiance. Global structures of the mutual divergence organize and uphold cultural diversity along particular scopes. Such diversity that Starbucks emanates corresponds to the prototypical qualities of middle-level outlets. Such middle-level outlets such as the taverns, coffee shops, and pubs exist in the middle of two spheres. These spheres include the work scenario mainly characterized by seriousness and formality and the domestic sphere that tends to elicit intimacy and privacy. These outlets tend to be best suitable for casual and informal conversations between friends and other association within the society. However, Starbucks provides the entire middle-level ambiance with a touch of the global aspect. Starbucks offers hundreds of conceivable drink blends. One can get any drink from a plain black coffee to more specialized and custom-made bever ages, for instance, a hot grande decaf mocha latte with foam to go. Starbucks believes that its consumers need. Despite being a global brand, the formal language in all the Starbucks outlets is English. Above the sugars, cinnamon shakers and milk, brochures written in English elaborate on social responsibilities done. A drink at the Starbucks sends various notions to the consumers and the community at large. Owing to the prices of beverages provide, more individuals tend to believe that consumption supersedes the necessity of making savings.

Preventing Obesity to Prevent Diabetes Essay Example for Free

Preventing Obesity to Prevent Diabetes Essay Diabetes is an ailment in which the human body refuses to produce or make appropriate use of insulin. Insulin happens to be a hormone which is required to convert starches, sugar and other foods into energy for everyday life. Although the causes of diabetes remain as a mystery, many medical experts believe that genetics and poor lifestyle choices – e g. lack of exercise – that result in obesity may very well be responsible for the disease (â€Å"Diabetes†). Of course, when insulin is prevented from converting starches, sugar and other foods into energy, metaphorically speaking, it is as though a person has lost a leg or an arm, especially when the individual is just a child. At a growing stage, children’s bodies should be effectively converting foods into energy, so that they can develop into mentally and physically healthy people – the future of our world. Besides, all kinds of preventable abnormalities are equally harmful. Imagine the effect on a child’s self-esteem, not only when he or she is called ‘fat and clumsy’ by his or her slim and fit classmates, but also when he or she must undergo treatment for diabetes at the time that his or her classmates are at play. The International Obesity TaskForce reports that almost 1. 7 billion people around the world â€Å"are at a heightened risk of weight-related, non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes (â€Å"Diabetes and Obesity†). Moreover, the International Diabetes Federation has predicted that by 2025, the number of people with diabetes, including children, may reach at least 333 million (â€Å"Diabetes and Obesity†)! Insulin is responsible for taking the sugar from the human blood to the human cells. If glucose starts to build up in the blood rather than going to the cells, two problems may result: (1) The cells could become energy-starved; and (2) Eventually the high blood glucose level may start to hurt the eyes, nerves, kidneys or heart (â€Å"Diabetes†). Unsurprisingly, such suffering is very difficult for a child to bear. Fortunately, however, individuals that are suffering from diabetes may seek their doctors’ advice apart from making changes in their lifestyles to prevent these problems. If the person suffering from diabetes is overweight, the doctor may recommend weight loss. Effective weight reduction plans, in addition to â€Å"increased physical activity,† may help the diabetic person to a large extent (â€Å"Diabetes and Lifestyle†). According to a report published by the World Health Organization, â€Å"more than 22 million children under five years old are obese or overweight, and more than 17 million of them are in developing countries. Each of these children is at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes†¦ (â€Å"Fight Childhood Obesity to Help Prevent Diabetes†). † Obviously, this is expert opinion on the relationship between obesity and diabetes. If a child is watching television or playing video games most of the time and becoming obese, his or her parents should be sending the child to run around with his or her friends in a park instead. Seeing that children in developing countries are also suffering from obesity, and therefore the risk of developing diabetes, it is clear that obesity may be inherited to boot. Children of poor families do not get enough to eat in any case. What is more, if and when they develop diabetes, their families cannot afford to get them treated. But, even if a child’s parents can afford to get him or her treated, medical treatment is more expensive than prevention of obesity. The California Department of Education reports that â€Å"[o]verweight children and youths are more prone to developing serious health problems now and in the future (â€Å"Final Task Force Recommendations†). After all, this is the age of McDonald’s and Burger King, which makes it even more important to prevent obesity in children as well as adults. It is easy to buy a hamburger from Wendy’s on the way back from school – both for the mom and the child. However, the cost of sickness is much higher than the convenience of a drive through fast food restaurant. Everybody wants children to flourish and help the nation and the entire world to prosper as well. Besides, all health experts are of one voice as far as the relationship between diabetes and obesity is concerned. The fact that most people diagnosed with diabetes are obese, be they adults or children – makes it necessary to check obesity. It has been timelessly stated: we are what we eat. Therefore, it is best for both children and adults to be nourished by healthy foods. Fruits and vegetables are always considered superior to fats and hamburgers. Exercise and keeping fit are always better than excess weight. Nobody has ever doubted that human beings love to eat good food. At the same time, however, it must be borne in mind that obesity may turn into a severe disorder. It may negatively affect the individual’s mental state, by lowering his or her self-esteem. What is more, a child that is fed on McDonald’s five times a week may eventually become incapable of studying in school if diabetes ends up hurting his or her eyes. Mothers too may be rendered helpless as far as housework is concerned. Undoubtedly, therefore, in the case of diabetes, it must be timelessly stated: obesity prevention is better than cure.

The Malaysian Economy: Booming :: essays research papers

The Malaysian Economy: Booming The Economy: Following a period of severe and prolonged recession, the Malaysian economy has returned to growth aided by a relaxation of monetary and fiscal policies and by increased export demand, particularly in the electronics sector. While the world economic slowdown was more severe than expected and the unprecedented September 11 events in the United States had widespread implications for all economies, Malaysia was able to steer away from a major economic contraction and GDP growth for the year remained in positive territory. However, given the openness of its economy with trade accounting for about 200 percent of GDP, Malaysia was not spared from the negative effects of the United States economic slowdown. These effects came in the form of declining manufacturing production and negative export growth, particularly of electronics. Nevertheless, the government’s initiation of strong monetary and fiscal policies to stimulate economic growth through accelerating domestic economic activi ties and reducing the over-dependence on exports helped the nation to sustain a positive real GDP growth. Since 1998 the Government has relaxed the equity guidelines for investment in the manufacturing sector. Foreigners can now own 100% equity regardless of the level of exports and several incentives have also been introduced recently to promote the manufacturing-related services sector. Foreign Direct Investment has been the key to the country's remarkable success in recent years. Hundreds of international companies have so far established themselves in the country, attracted by the favorable investment environment has made Malaysia one of the world’s top locations for offshore manufacturing operations. Manufacturing is now the largest export sector of the economy (contributing around 34% of GDP and employing nearly 28% of the labor force in 2000). The electronics sector (radios and television) is the main export earner followed by processed foods, rubber, chemicals, timber, petroleum-refining and automobile manufacturing. In 2001, the impact of the slowdown in economic activity was also felt by the labor market, particularly in terms of unemployed workers in the manufacturing sector. However, given the flexibility accorded by the labor market, alternative measures that were adopted by employers (such as pay cuts and temporary layoffs) helped contain the number of workers unemployed. The Malaysian exchange rate remained pegged to the US dollar at the rate of RM3.80 per US dollar in 2001 (an arrangement that has been effective since 2 September 1998). The ‘Ringgit’ appreciated against all major currencies, including regional currencies in tandem with the strong U.

A Brief Literature Review of Qualitative Research

The application of qualitative research to social science studies has received mixed reviews. Some social scientists subscribe wholeheartedly to the use of qualitative research as a counterpoise to the traditional quantitative research methodology, which has been the vogue in social science research. Other social scientists however question the application of qualitative research to social science studies. Some reviewers, for example, question the appropriateness in retrospective evaluation of programs of programs in organizational change (Blackler and Brown, 1983, p.  349).Other reviewers of the same research argue that good qualitative evaluation â€Å"entails close and continuous involvement with the process of change. † Blacker and Brown employed qualitative research methodology in their study of retrospective evaluation of programs of organizational change. They concluded that â€Å"unlike some natural science paradigms, competing paradigms should not be thought of as mutually exclusive† in application of qualitative research in social science. (Blacker and Brown, ibid)Crawford titled his paper ‘Putting money in research pays: How companies large and small – benefit from research plans’. In it he discussed the advantages gained by business enterprises in the United States of America through both quantitative and qualitative research. (Crawford 2006). Dale in his study: ‘Partnering with management to implement ergonomics in the industrial workplace’, concluded that for implementation of any research to be effective in changing workers’ attitude, there must be effective collaboration between the researcher and the management of the industrial establishment.(Dale, 2004). Harris in his article entitled: ‘Business to Business comes of age in qualitative research’, highlights the use of modern information technology in advancing the frontier of qualitative research in business and industry. It is Harris’s opinion that use of such technology as teleconferencing will not only ensure objectivity in data collection, but can allow the researcher to administer his protocol to large respondents at the same time. (Harris, 1995)The role of qualitative methodology in ergonomics is discussed by Hignett in his paper ’Theoretical Issues to Ergonomics Science’ Here, a four stage sampling method of qualitative research was used in the interview of academics and management practitioners to gain their views on all areas of ergonomics. (Hignett and Wilson, 2004). Karami, Rowley and Analoni studied some research methodologies used in generating knowledge for management through research. They concluded that whereas earlier research was skewed in favor of quantitative methodology, present day studies tend to favor qualitative research methods.(Karami et al 2006). McPhee employed a qualitative research approach to his study of the organizational behavior of business practi ce in Europe. He concluded that although until recently, the pyramidical hierarchy structure was the norm in organizational framework of European companies, globalization of the world economy has forced many European firms to employ qualitative research in their transition to a more democratic organizational arrangement (McPhee, 2002). Russell in his paper titled ‘Dangerous Intersections’ x-rays the use of qualitative research as a tool in the campaign sponsored by an insurance company.The thrust of the campaign was on awareness, education and safety promotion within the United States. (Russell, F. 2002). Yates in his paper drew attention to the opportunities which practitioners in business communications now have to shift emphasis away from quantitative methods to qualitative methodology in their research. (Yates, J. 1993). This brief literature review leads us to the analysis of the qualitative research methodology employed by Maximillian Brown in his dissertation tit led: ‘Trust, Power and Work place democracy: Safety and Health Works Councils in Oregon’. Description of Methodology:In analyzing the qualitative research methodologies used in ‘The Brown Dissertation’ salient aspects of each methodology will be highlighted. The sum total of the evaluation of the ‘Brown Dissertation’ will reflect the contributions of all the different paradigms to the overall results of the qualitative research. The following are the research methods employed by Brown for his case studies. †¢ Preliminary contacts with employees and management in of target firms selected for his studies in the summer of 2002. †¢ Actual interviews took place in Fall 2002. †¢ Designing of research project. †¢ Gaining access to the worksites†¢ Process of actual interviews. Preparation for Field Work In order to become familiar with the environment of his research, Brown became an insider of the work stations. Brown used his membership of the Safety Committee in his university, and participated actively in its programs in order to gain first hand information on the philosophy underlying the Safety Committee operations. Moreover, in order to have a comprehensive knowledge of the safety operations in his university, he sought and obtained permission to attend meetings of those safety subcommittees in which he was not a member.Furthermore, brown received training conducted by the State of Oregon in safety committee operations. By his own admission, Brown’s experiences as a member and active participant in safety committee meetings strongly influenced his research design and the process of conducting interviews with his subjects. The oral questions put to his subjects were structured along the lines of his experience as a participant rather than an outsider. Being an insider conferred on him certain advantages which he utilized in preparation of his research protocols.Brown was able to ask questions which were directed at specific areas of operation of the safety councils; which an outsider might not be privy to. Brown also gained leverage on his subjects by being knowledgeable about their schedule of duties. More so, Brown’s membership of a university committee whose functions are similar to those of the subjects of his enquiry influenced his tailoring his questions to more specific subject matters which an outsider will not be aware of. Brown’s research protocols were gleaned from Richard Freeman and Joel Rogers book with the title: ‘What Workers want’ which was published in 1999.Furthermore, Brown had gained prior and valuable hands-on experience of the workings of the industries in which he was to later conduct his qualitative research. After choosing two very different industries in which he wanted to conduct his research, Brown set out to get a working knowledge of these industries. He relied heavily on authoritative publications of the Oregon State Occupational Safety and Safety Administration for first hand information on the industries of his choice. These publications complemented his own practical experience in one of the industries; while filling the gaps in his knowledge of the other.With these preparations, Brown was thus able to formulate intelligent questions for his target interviewees. Brown acknowledged the obvious fact that an outsider cannot know as much about a factory as those who work in the place. As an icing on his cake, the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) assisted Brown to select target factories relevant to his research. Visits to Target Factories Brown approached his target audience in three stages. He first made preliminary visits to the factories in order to get himself familiar with the people and places where he was to conduct his research.His initial visit to each of the two factories afforded Brown the opportunity to conduct background checks on the facilities avail able in the factories. Some of the background information he had earlier obtained from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration website came in handy during his preliminary visits. From OSHA website he had obtain vital statistics about each factory. These included the number of employees in each factory, products manufactured, and the mission statement of each organization on their safety and health programs. The next stage of his approach was to make a preparatory visit to each factory.He was able to obtain a tour of each factory. He also used the opportunity of the preparatory visit to collect in-house documents which came in handy to him while preparing his research protocols. These documents included minutes of committee meetings, training materials, and other records germane to his investigations. Brown’s subsequent visits represented the third and last phase of his plan. This was the stage at which he conducted open-ended interviews to representatives of both m anagement and labor in the premises of the two factories earlier chosen. Equal numbers of representatives of labor and management were interviewed.The interviews were conducted in private. The identities of those interviewed were kept confidential as per university policies on such matters. After explaining the purpose of the research project to the subjects, their written consent was individually obtained before the interview started. Since his project was targeted at the safety policies and practices in the selected factories, only members of the safety committees were interviewed. The interviews which were conducted in a free and friendly manner, employed the ‘active interview’ format designed by Holstein and Gubrium.(Holstein and Gubrium, 1995). In this interview approach, subjects were asked questions which had been prepared in form of a protocol. At the onset, subjects were asked general questions pertaining to their working experiences at the factory. Subjects we re also asked questions of personal interest to the respondents with respect to the issue central to the research This phase formed the preliminary stage as formulated by Holstein and Gubrium. The next set of questions centered on the perception of the respondents regarding the effectiveness of the program of the committee in which they were members.The subjects were asked of the perception of their fellow workers on their election or selection into the committee. This formed the overview question stage of the interview. The next stage of the interview centered on training. The respondents were asked to assess the depth and relevance of the training which they received towards performance of their duties as committee members. Questions on the perceived quality of the content of their training, the methods of dissemination of information and the net change effect of the training on the participants, concluded the set of questions on training.The next set of questions for the subjects , centered on the meetings of the committee. Subjects were asked to analyze the interpersonal relations among members of the committee, the atmosphere of the meetings; the procedures adopted during the meetings and the dissemination of information to members before and after each meeting. The last set of specific questions put to the subjects was on the authority granted the committee by management, and the influence of the committee on management.They were questioned on how they communicated the decisions arrived at their meetings to management, and the effect of their recommendations on management policies. Subjects were also asked to give their views on the industrial atmosphere of their work place, and specifically on the labor and management relations; whether they were cordial, or if there were unresolved issues dividing the two parties. Finally, subjects were asked whether they felt a sense of power by their membership of the committee. Evaluation of Brown’s Qualitativ e Research MethodologyThe methodologies applied by Brown in his dissertation are identifiable and well structured. They follow the pattern of a well organized qualitative research project. Preliminary work was done in two main areas. Relevant literature was searched and the context applied as and when necessary, as per specifications in the original publication. For example, the method of interview was patterned after the universally accepted standard procedure of Holstein and Gubrium termed:†Active Interviews† (Holstein and Gubrium,1995).The use of ‘Active Interviews’ by Brown was appropriate to the qualitative research design in his case study. A lot of preliminary work was done by Brown, in order to identify firms at which to carry out his research study. Background studies were first carried out on these companies. Where the researcher felt that he had insufficient experience and inadequate knowledge and information, necessary recourse was made to author itative state government publications on the subject of his research. Initial visits to the premises of the firms under study, were made by Brown.He got himself familiarized with both the staff and the environment of the factories where he planned to administer his qualitative research protocol. Those initial visits afforded him the opportunity to interact with representatives of both labor and management. The visits also afforded him the chance to obtain their consent and cooperation. Brown prepared his interview protocols in two similar sets, one for employees and the other for managements of the firms under study. The research protocols were well structured in such a way as to first put general questions to his subjects.From the responses elicited from the respondents, more specific questions relevant to the subject matter of the study were then put to the subjects. This pattern of questioning is in line with the Holstein and Gubium process of ‘active interviews’. Ma ximillian Brown’s success in putting his subjects at ease at this initial stage, helped him to take the interview to a less formal and friendlier conversational atmosphere. Subsequent pieces of information obtained from the respondents were then given freely and honestly without pressure. Brown’s approach evidently made for more reliable and truthful answers to the interviewer’s questions.With the active cooperation of the subjects, Brown was able to plumb the depths of the activities of the safety committees under study, to arrive at a more reliable assessment of their functions, and the perceptions of members of the committee on the relevance and importance of their work on the committee. Limitations and Weaknesses of Brown’s Qualitative Research Methodology By his own admission, Brown recognized that there are some obvious limitations and weaknesses in the methodology he employed in the qualitative research for his dissertation.Three of these weaknesse s, Brown identified as follows: Problems of trust, accuracy in record keeping, and validity of subjects responses. Unless the interviewer is able to scale the wall of distrust erected between him and his subject during the interview, the information gathered from the respondent will be suspect. According to McCracken, lack of trust between interviewer and respondent will restrict the interview to a mere formality. â€Å"The intimacy required for the two parties to move from formal to informal conversational style will be inhibited.†(McCracken,1988). Hence the first objective of an interviewer is to gain the trust of the interviewee. Right from the onset, the interviewer needs to establish a friendly rapport with his subjects even before the interview is scheduled. Brown admitted his lack of familiarity with his subjects, which made some of them to give curt and perfunctory replies to his questions. Secondly, Brown’s inability to import a reliable means of recording his interviews made his transcripts of such interviews less than accurate.The third problem of validity of his subjects’ responses, Brown admits to be his most difficult. There is no easy solution to the issue of whether a respondent is truthful, except perhaps to administer a lie-detector test to each respondent before the interview, as a method of pre screening all participants. Applications of Brown’s Qualitative Research Methodology The research methodology of ‘active interviews’ adopted by Brown in his dissertation generated valuable in formation on the social interactions within an industrial environment.In spite of its limitations and shortcomings, Brown’s qualitative research methodology provides a suitable and reliable template on which further research study can be undertaken to obtain knowledge of the interpersonal relationships within an industrial workplace. By using modern information technological innovations like teleconferencing and re mote control recording devices, greater objectivity can be introduced into Brown’s qualitative research methodology. (Harris,1995).Overall, the methodology employed in Maximillian Brown’s dissertation can be validly adopted in qualitative research studies for dissertations and other quality academic publications. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Blackler, F. H. M. , Brown, C. A. (1983), Qualitative Research and Paradigms of Practice, Journal of Management Studies, 20(3), 349-366. 2. Crawford, A. P. (2006). Putting money into research pays: How companies — large and small — benefit from research plans, Public Relations Tactics, 13(8), 20-20 3. Dale, L. (2004). Partnering with management to implement ergonomics in the industrial, Work, 22(2), 117-124. 4. Freeman, Richard B., and Joel Rogers. 1999. What Workers Want. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. French, Carroll E. 1923. â€Å"The Shop Committee in the United States. † Johns HopkinsUniversity Studies in Histor y and Political Science. 41: 107-207. 5. Harris, L. M. , (1995), Business-to-business comes of age in qualitative research, Marketing News, 29(12), 17-17 6. Hignett, S. , Wilson, R. (2004), The role for qualitative methodology in ergonomics: a case study to explore theoretical issues, Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science, 5(6), 473-493 7. Holstein, James A. , and Jaber F. Gubrium. 1995. The Active Interview. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications8. Karami, A. , Rowley, J. , Analoui, F. (2006), Research and Knowledge Building in Management Studies: An Analysis of Methodological Preferences, International Journal of Management, 23(1), 436-52. 9. McCracken, Grant. 1988. The Long Interview. Newbury Park,CA: SAGE Publications. 10. McPhee, N. (2002). Gaining insight on business and organisational behaviour: the qualitative dimension, International Journal of Market Research, 44(1), 53-70. 11. Russell, F. (2000). Dangerous intersections, Marketing News, 34(5), 18-18. 12. Yates, J. (1993) , The Opportunity of Qualitative Research, Journal of Business Communication, 30(2), 1999-200

J.J Reddick

What is rounding? Rounding a number means approximating it. A rounded number is often easier to use, understand, and remember than the precise number. In MyFinanceLab most of our answers are rounded decimal numbers. A decimal number has three parts: The whole number part, the decimal point and the decimal part. For example: [pic] So, in order to round a decimal number we basically round the decimal part of it. These are the two basic steps for rounding decimals to a place value to the right of the decimal point Step 1: Locate the digit to the right of the given place value.Step 2: If this digit is 5 or greater, add 1 to the digit in the given place value and delete all digits to its right. If this digit is less than 5, delete all digits to the right of the given place value. For example: Round 736. 2359 to the nearest hundredth. Solution: Step 1: We locate the digit to the right of the hundredths place Step 2: Since the digit to the right is 5, we add 1 to the digit in the hundredths place and delete all digits to the right of the hundredths place.Thus, 736. 2359 rounded to the nearest hundredth is 736. 24 Rounding in MyFinanceLab In MyFinanceLab we use input instructions to indicate the place value to which you must round your final answer(s). For example: Let’s say your final answer is 736. 2359. †¢ You must enter 736. 2 if the input instruction is: Round to the nearest tenth. †¢ You must enter 736. 24 if the input instruction is: Round to the nearest hundredth. Note: Other typical input instruction in MyFinanceLab isRound to the nearest cent if the final answer is in currency units. †¢ You should enter 736. 236 if the input instruction is: Round to three decimal places. Now, let’s use a simple Time Value of Money (TVM) question you may encounter in MyFinanceLab. | | |Problem Example: Comparing Interest for Various Compounding Periods.If $1,000 is invested at 8% compounded | |annually, | |monthly, | |what is the amount after 5 y ear? (Round to the nearest cent. ) | To solve this problem without using a financial calculator or a spreadsheet, we need to use the compound interest, future value, formula: [pic] where, i |= |r/m | |FV |= |future value at the end of n periods | |PV |= |present value | |r |= |annual rate | |m |= |number of compounding periods per year | |i |= |rate per compounding period | |n |= |Total number of compounding periods | Solution: a. Compounding annually means that there is one interest payment period per year. So, n = 5 and i = r = 0. 08. [pic] [pic] [pic] Therefore, rounded to the nearest cent, the final answer is $1,469. 33 b. Compounding monthly means that there are twelve interest payments per year. So, n = 12(5) = 60 and i = 0. 08/12 = [pic] [pic] [pic] Therefore, rounded to the nearest cent, the final answer is $1,489. 85 | |This TVM example helps us to understand a basic rounding principle in MyFinanceLab: â€Å"Do not round until the final answer. † As you | |can see in part a. after solving the expression [pic]we leave it unrounded and use as many digits as possible in its decimal part. | |The same happens in part b with the other exponential expression. | | | |Take another look at part b. because rounding i to a small number of decimal places, such as 0. 007 or 0. 0067, would have resulted | |in round-off errors.So, to avoid this, use as many decimal places as your calculator is capable of displaying. | Tips: If you want to calculate TVM problems, mathematical calculations are relatively straightforward. However, as you will see, TVM calculations are easier using a financial calculator or spreadsheet. But, no matter what method you use – equation, financial calculators, or spreadsheets, you get the same answer because they all use the same formula and concept. These are some tips for solving TVM questions. Calculator Tips: †¢ Set your calculator to display at least five decimal places or to floating decimal place (nine decimal places). †¢ Set your calculator to one payment per year.Adjust this setting if necessary. †¢ Set your calculator to the â€Å"end† mode. Adjust this setting if necessary. Excel Tips: †¢ Take advantage of the formula help that Excel offers. †¢ If you are lost, click on â€Å"Help†. †¢ Be careful about rounding variables. For example, suppose you’re dealing with the interest rate 6. 99% compounded monthly. This means you will need to enter the interest rate per month, which is = 6. 99%/12, and since you are performing division in the cell, you need to put an â€Å"=† sign before the division is performed. Don’t round the result of 0. 0699/12 to 0. 58 and enter 0. 58 as i. Instead, enter =6. 99%/12 or as a decimal =0. 0699/12 for i.

Solar Power †Science Research Paper

Solar Power – Science Research Paper Free Online Research Papers The best things about solar energy is that it is going to exist as long as people will be on this earth, and using this energy doesn’t cause pollution. FUEL SOURCE -Solar energy is a renewable source. This means that it is always going to be available with no worries of ever running out. Sunlight is present over an extremely large area. Actually the daily energy that we get from the sun is about 600 times greater per day than all other sources that generate electricity combined. The downside of solar energy is that there is a lot of time when the sun doesn’t shine, and the solar collectors can’t be used in the dark. Also to capture light and make generating this power worth our time we need to collect this light over many hours and many meters of land. Even then the solar power generated isn’t enough to replace the use of fossil fuels entirely, but it is a help. POLLUTION When in use the solar power systems give off no pollution of any kind, do not damage the earth’s surface in any way, and no noise is heard. On the other hand solar generating systems can only be looked at as totally pollution free if we ignore the actions of building the systems, storing the electricity, and transporting this stored energy from place to place. Also the systems have to be torn apart, scrapped and replaced every few years. All of these things do lead to some pollution. However solar hot water systems reduce the need for electricity and therefore the need to use fossil fuels. For example, using a normal 2.5 KW household system that takes up 400 sq. ft. of roof space saves as much CO2 of a normal car that is driven for a year. COST The cost of the fuel source is nothing, because sunlight is free. But the actual manufacturing of the solar panels (PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS), maintenance, and other components of the systems are all very expensive. Energy collected from these cells has to be stored in expensive batteries, solar collectors also need tracking devices which add more to the cost. Next, the silicon used to make these cells is not in large supply, which makes it very expensive. Once running, the systems must be maintained and cleaned all the time. While running it will cost roughly 12 cents per KWh, and each panel produces 30W per square meter. EFFICIENCY As of right now, solar power systems are very expensive with a low efficiency. Light is way more useful when changed to an electric current using (PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS), which as just stated have very low efficiency. The current top efficiency is just under 25%. Factors that have negative effects on the performance of these collector panels are dust, smoke, weather, and darkness. An example of how much space these collectors have to take up to be worth while is, for generating enough electricity for a city the size of Toronto, panels would have to fill an area the size of 1/5 of Prince Edward Island. Many studies are currently taking place to raise the efficiency of this method of generating power, and the prices of systems are actually lowering. But I wouldn’t recommend using solar power as a sole means of generating power, however used along with other methods, it will make a big difference in lowering pollution. Research Papers on Solar Power - Science Research PaperBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanOpen Architechture a white paperPETSTEL analysis of IndiaThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalGenetic EngineeringThe Project Managment Office System19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided Era

Answers to Questions About Tense #3

Answers to Questions About Tense #3 Answers to Questions About Tense #3 Answers to Questions About Tense #3 By Mark Nichol Three questions from readers about mixing tenses, and my responses to their questions, follow. 1. When I read the following quote recently, I wondered whether it’s wrong for all the verbs to be in the past tense: â€Å"Smith said he believed that the company was trying to intimidate employees into not participating in the panel’s efforts.† What do you think? Reporting is generally presented in the past tense, but to continue to form verbs in the past tense may misrepresent the facts. At the time that Smith spoke, he held a belief that he presumably will hold into perpetuity, so the present tense of believe is appropriate here. However, whether the verb after company should be in present tense or past tense depends on whether the alleged intimidation is ongoing. That was not the case in this particular instance, but if that is not clear in the context of the complete article, the reporter should explicitly state whether the intimidation ended. The sentence should read, â€Å"Smith said he believes that the company was trying to intimidate employees into not participating in the panel’s efforts.† 2. Is the following sentence properly constructed?: â€Å"Launching nationwide on September 25, BankWorks is a new service offered by Banking Services, the same company that brought you BankTrack and BankData.† Somehow the variation in verb tenses (launching, is, brought) does not sit quite right with me, but I cannot say if it is wrong. Mixing tenses in sentences is fine, as long as each verb form is consistent with the tense for that piece of information. The service will launch in the future, but it is offered in the present, and the services BankTrack and BankData were established in the past, so the sentence is correct. 3. What are your thoughts are regarding tense usage for reported speech? Consider the following sentences: â€Å"John told me that he was married.† â€Å"John told me that he is married.† Which one should I use if I want to say that John was married at the time he said he was married and he is still married at the time of the reported speech? Write, â€Å"John told me that he is married† if he had a spouse at the time that he spoke to you. Write, â€Å"John told me that he was married† if John is now single. (Mixing of tenses is correct if the context warrants it, but it goes against the grain, and we’re so used to seeing it wrong, especially in nonprofessional writing, that it may seem incorrect.) 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:Apply to, Apply for, and Apply withAbstract Nouns from AdjectivesWhen to use "an"

Article Critique Dealing with Annoying Co-Workers Essay

Article Critique Dealing with Annoying Co-Workers - Essay Example According to various scholars, it is true believe that happy employees are able to perform their tasks effectively and efficiently thus resulting in quality work within the organization. Therefore, to ensure that employees perform quality work, it is essential to ensure happiness at work. As mentioned earlier, indeed one may not miss to find coworkers in an organization that are so annoying simply because of the way they behave. This is not towards the management only, but also, to the fellow employees. However, appropriate measures of handling this are necessary. As stated in the article some of the common disturbances that one can identify from coworkers include interruption that results from someone who likes to always criticize whatever you say. In addition, some employees have the feeling that they are competent and know everything, and an s a result, would always like to teach others of how to perform better. At times, some workers are slackers, as others like grumping. At times, you may not miss to find some workers who like having their speaker phones on as others may have blabbermouths. All these are issues that an individual may not miss to find in an organization. However, how to handle them is what is of immense importance. According to the article, measures of handling such challenges are in place (Green, 2011). However, most of these measures may not be useful in ensuring success in the organization, for instance, Alison green states that for a slacker, the best way of handling are to ignore it all. This is not true way because; division will begin to arise in the organization. Therefore, the best way is to demonstrate empathy and let them be aware that their situation is understood. Once they are aware that people know their situation, they should also know that the issue of eminent significant during times of work and that can be dealt with later after work (Martin, 2001). It was also