Secrets of Finding and Keeping Good Employees - 639 Words

Lebanese American University Business Department Management Theory Secrets of Finding and Keeping Good Employees Presented to: Dr. N. Beyruti Presented by: Mahdi El Horchi Hussein Marmar Date: 02/10/2006 Introduction: In our days, employment became a hard process in which many managers are complaining about it. In addition, hiring good employees is essential to run a good business on a daily basis and for a long run. Thus, employees would be the heart and the soul of a business. On the other hand, Interviewing is an important process in the preselection of good employees and so opening a gate to have the right person in the right position. Interviewing is an art of gathering information†¦show more content†¦Hiring Strategies: Selecting and hiring candidates could take several forms: - Interviewing to check the background of the interviewer - Personality characteristics assessments. - Abilities assessments - Interest assessments - Integrated assessments. These assessments facilitate dramatically the hiring process by identifying the thinking styles, occupational interests and behavioral traits and allow the visualization of the â€Å"total person†. To complete the assessment p rocess behavior tendencies play an important role in increasing individual productivity by identifying personal accommodation , assertiveness, attitudes, energy level, independence, objective judgment, sociability, manageability and decisiveness. Keeping and Maintaining Good Employees: As important as attracting good employees is, it is just as important to retain them. As always, benefit packages help to retain employees. After spending as much time as you should have in attracting good employees, it only makes sense that you would go to certain lengths to keep them. Essential tools in keeping and maintaining good employees: - Offer opportunities for personal growth. - Build an organization culture that appreciates personal achievement and performance. - Construct a newsletter that nominates the employee-of-the-month. -Show MoreRelatedDetermining causes and effects of not keeping a personal budget1599 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿ Determining causes and effects of not keeping a personal budget William E. David ENG115- English Composition Prof. Sandra McDonald March 10, 2015 It has been observed that most of the employees of Bank of America create individual budgets but do not keep a record of them. This is because most of the employees return to the bank for personal loans just two weeks after receiving their salaries. Due to this finding, the factory utilized financial analysts and decided to develop measuresRead MoreEssay Function of a Manager1381 Words   |  6 Pagestheir prior managers and bosses, their educational background, the number of employees they are managing, current events, government restrictions, and their level or position within the company. In different companies, the managers functions differ, but some of the most common include coaching, delegation, leading, managing work, planning, and motivating. Motivation is clearly a way to enhance the performance of employees and boost the morale of the company. When morale decreases for any reason,Read MoreThe Lego Company: Publish or Protect2524 Words   |  11 Pagesfurther strategies and technologies to ensure their growth and success in the area. The company is therefore faced with the difficulty in deciding how to protect this internal process and technology. Should this information be patented, kept as a trade secret, or published? This paper explores the options and proposes a possible solution for Lego Group, through careful research and analysis. Table of Contents 1 Introduction 2 Main Body 3. Conclusion 4 Bibliography Read MoreCase Analysis: Too Much Intelligence?. Pace Technologies1666 Words   |  7 Pagesthe greatest good for the greatest number. A decision maker is expected to consider effects of their decision and how it plays into each party finally selecting one that optimizes benefits for the greater number of people. Based on this approach, Cody would have realized this decision he was making by getting information about Raleigh-Tech’s trade secrets and then presenting it to his company did not benefit enough people to make it right. The practical approach takes what is right, good, or just andRead MoreHow Human Resources Can Improve The Performance Of Morrison s Staff Retention1343 Words   |  6 PagesM1: †¢Discuss how human resources can improve the†¨performance of Morrison’s†¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨ Staff retention is the process of keeping staff in the business; businesses want to keep their employees working for them for as long as they can. During the employees working period, the employee would have accumulated experience and developed their skills whilst working for that business. Finding a new employee will be easy to find however they will not encounter the same knowledge and level of experience. ‘On averageRead MoreCustomer Service1186 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction It is no secret that some companies aim to look after their customers well, ensuring that the customer is at the heart of their business and everything they do. In marketing terms this is called being customer focused. It is important to realise that customers can take their business anywhere they want to and if they are not satisfied they will take their business elsewhere. Therefore, it is very important to understand who our customers are, their expectations of the service theyRead MoreThe Inn on the Green1210 Words   |  5 Pagesservice , catering and bar staff. These employees is seen as low commitment within the organization and the reason being is because they are not core employees of the company what means that if the organization get shorten of staff those ones can be replaced easily. This happens because in this category managers are more restrict and it can be seen clearly when looking at the culture, structure, job design, performance, rewards, communication and emp loyees development. It basically means that mostRead MoreTaking a Look at Information Warfare1781 Words   |  7 Pages The function of counterintelligence in businesses Business intelligence is a collection of trade and commercial information that must kept in secret from competitors. As mentioned before, the main objective of counterintelligence is protecting trade information. It can include functions such as protecting, investigating, finding vulnerabilities, and even copyright. ( Prunckun, 2012) Prunckun (2012)) defines business counterintelligence a protection of business knowledge from foreingRead MoreMonster Worldwide, Inc.1326 Words   |  6 Pagesexecution to make innovative thinking a reality. Excellence, Served Daily We will reach our potential as an organization when we agree that good isn t good enough. In order to deliver excellence daily, we will drive continuous improvement, benchmark and implement best practices, execute sharply against goals and reward outstanding performance. Do Well by Doing Good We will strive to improve both the lives of our people and the communities in which we do business. We will respect people. We will embraceRead MoreRecommendation Letter : Brooks Brothers1495 Words   |  6 Pagessurvey report. The mean age of current employees is between 65 and 83 years old. The elderly age of our employees negatively impacts the operation of the Point of sale (POS) system, as they have trouble operating the technology. Our aged staff faces diffic ulties working the new technologies that we use in our stores, such as computers, tablets, and M scanners. The technological ignorance is causing the store a loss in sales and customer service because older employees take 25 minutes to finish simple transactions

The Odyssey, by Homer Essay - 1150 Words

Homer’s Odyssey was written around 700 BC. During this time there was major social and economic change, which brought the development of new cities, as well as new laws to govern them. Political rights and citizenship in Greek society truly defined the roles of women in this time period. All of the laws governing the population of Greece were not only written by men, but also enforced by men. Homer’s Odyssey is the product of a society in which men played the dominant role. Women were held at a very low status compared to men. The most important role in which the women were viewed was domestic, as a part of the household, and primarily responsible for weaving cloth and preparing food. However, throughout Homer’s Odyssey there is†¦show more content†¦In fact, her decision to remarry is to fulfill the instructions that Odysseus had left her that when their son, Telemachos reaches maturity, she will consider remarrying. In Book Eighteen, Penelope st ates, â€Å"Watch over my father and mother in the palace,/ just as now, or perhaps a little more,/ when I am far from home./ But once you see the beard on the boy’s cheek,/you wed the man you like, and leave your house behind† (18.269-273.) Penelope is being very strategic, which gives her the power to control her palace. It is this literal act of weaving that is keeping the peace in Penelope’s household. Penelope is refusing to conform to the pressures of society, which reinstates that she is not like every other woman of her time. These skills are what make Penelope a powerful woman in a patriarchal society, and not one who gives their fate to the men. Another significantly powerful woman in Homer’s Odyssey is Helen, the wife of Menelaus and the instigator of the Trojan War.Show MoreRelatedThe Odyssey by Homer1210 Words   |  5 Pages Homer’s â€Å"The Odyssey† takes place ten years after the events in â€Å"The Iliad†, to wh ich the Odyssey is an indirect sequel, and the fall of Troy; even though the story is believed to have been composed some time during the eight century B.C.E. it is estimated to be set sometime between 1300 and 1000 B.C.E. in Mycenaean Greece during the Bronze age. In this novel all Greek heroes have returned home after the fall of Troy, except for Odysseus who after a three year journey has been held captive by theRead MoreThe Odyssey, By Homer1388 Words   |  6 PagesIs a hero only characterized by their success? If a leader’s last actions carry them to victory, are their flaws unimportant? The Odyssey by Homer narrates the ancient myth of a leader coming home from war in Troy who faces many trials, and despite returning home alone without any of his crew, he is looked upon as a hero for having survived. His ultimately sole success continues to define him, although the bitter truth being that he was the leader of his men when they all perished. As flaws of theRead MoreThe Odyssey By The Homer1976 Words   |  8 PagesThe Odyssey is known as one of the greatest western literature in the world. The book covers many details of the relationship between Gods and humans. The author focuses on Odyssey honor, honesty, bravery, creativity, and nobility. Though the Odyssey has received many criticisms compare to the author other best work such as The Iliad, it has also been praised for its sophistication, complexity and thematic consistency. The book talks about Odysseus journey home to find his son and wife. It also talksRead MoreThe Odyssey by Homer1316 Words   |  6 Pagesthe time’s culture appropriately. This has been a necessary course of action, to ensure their writing conveys the quest and its respective elements in a manner that will be understood by the responder in the relevant time period. The texts ‘The Odyssey (Homer 8th Century BC), In the Shadow of No Towers (Art Spiegelman 2004) and The Picture of Dorian Gray (Oscar Wilde 1890) have appropriated the archetypal quest in their respective time periods to reflect the values of their context. â€Å"The hero venturesRead MoreThe Odyssey, By Homer990 Words   |  4 Pages The Odyssey, written by Homer, is an epic poem that follows the victorious footsteps of Odysseus, a Greek hero, as he begins his journey to return home to Ithaca. The poem takes place between 750 and 650 B.C. in Greece, shortly after the Trojan War between the city of Troy and King of Sparta. Athena, daughter of Zeus and the goddess of wisdom, is a character that appears in disguise throughout the whole story. She controls when to disguise herself and when to make herself known; essentially havingRead MoreThe Odyssey by Homer1172 Words   |  5 Pages Homer’s, The Odyssey spins an exciting tale of war, fantasy, and magic spanning twenty years. However, the thrust of the story focuses on human relationships and Odysseus’s strong desire to reunite with his wife and soul mate, Penelope and their son Telemachus. However, to truly understand his desire return home, one must examine many facets of the epic. What is the significance of the turmoil experienced in the househol d during his absence? Is Penelope a cunning equal and meet spouse for OdysseusRead MoreThe Odyssey By Homer1337 Words   |  6 PagesTaylor Michael CLAS342 Paper #2 November 28, 2014 The Odyssey is a work by Homer, written to take place ten years after the fall of Troy. In the Iliad Odysseus was not a crucial character, but this particular text follows him around and details his experience after the war. To give some background, He has yet to return to Ithaca in the beginning of the text, away from his wife now for the duration of the battles as well as these ten years following. While he was gone, his palace was overthrown byRead MoreThe Odyssey, By Homer Essay1679 Words   |  7 PagesThe Odyssey, a text written by Homer, originates from Ionia (a part of Asia Minor). This epic poem relates the journeys of both Odysseus and Telemachus. During their journeys, they encounter a wide variety of hosts. Telemachus provides Mentes a great meal and is later also given a feast from King Nestor. In addition, King Nestor also gifted Telemachus two horses and a chariot; Athena gave Telemachus the gift of wise advice, for which he used to go on his journey. And as their pat hs crossed in a meetingRead MoreThe Odyssey by Homer1275 Words   |  5 Pages The Odyssey is one of the two epic Greek poems attributed to Homer. The Odyssey is the sequel of The Iliad and mainly focuses on Odysseus’s return from the battle of Troy to his home, Ithaca. Odysseus’s travels take him beyond the realm of the known world and he encounters many mythological beings, which he has never met before. Every encounter with these creatures in The Odyssey is full of adventures, twists and most important of all, life lessons. If we assume Odysseus’s longRead MoreThe Odyssey By Homer829 Words   |  4 PagesThe Odyssey by Homer tells the story of a Greek warrior named Odysseus, who faces challenges placed upon him by the supernatural, or more specifically, the Greek gods and monsters. His journey begins while sailing home from Troy, where Odysseus had won the Trojan war for the Greeks. Odysseus’ ship is forced to dock on many islands, m ost of which have hostile environments. Odysseus serves as the model for an epic hero, a fictional character who possesses many traits admirable to his or her society

Learning About Other Cultures Essay Example For Students

Learning About Other Cultures Essay I decided to go to the Indian cultural event. Truthfully, I chose this one because of the food. Indian food is probably to most unique to me and the way it is made just amazes me. I also figured this would be very colorful. Colors can express someones personality or how they are feeling. I would not consider this to be a great way to learn a new culture. It comes off as shallow and conceded. It’s like judging a book by its cover. I always like learning new things. I took a global citizenship course this semester to just broaden my horizons on new global topics. I do have to say that curiosity did get to me when my roommates first brought this up to me when I was at home. I have to say I did not learn too much about this culture. It did further my understanding with their dance and culture. I did learn that the cow is sacred and holy. You are not to eat it. They worship other deities. For instance, there are three main traditions in Hinduism: Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and Shaktism. The deities are Shiva, Vishnu, and the most important Shakti (Devi). The most interesting thing to me in a culture is who they worship and why. Hinduism can have a large number of personal Ishvaras or gods. I also learned that traditional Indian food is insanely spicy. I have a deeper respect for their culture and traditions from going to this. I learned that they have the most populated country on Earth. They make do with what they have. They do not have some of the luxuries we have in America. They do have a beautiful culture though. They respect each others religion. I believe it is important to explore and learn different cultures in college because we are becoming a world that works with one another. We can’t assume things about a different culture when we don’t truly know. For instance, I learned that real Chinese food is nowhere near the American stylized Chinese food we have. We have to be more culturally aware of each other. Other ways to seek out experiences in college would be by asking around. I learned about this one from my friends at Atwood. There are also links that I learned a few things on. The one that was posted with this assignment helped me look at other cultural events for this and next semester. Some key ways to increasing diversity in the world is take a class on it. I have learned so much in my global citizenship class it is crazy. Make new friends with people from different cultures. Ask them to teach you some things. One of my roommates and now best friend is Filipino and her traditions are different but very cool. Watch the news. You can see how we are affecting other countries or vice versa. I love to watch and see what is happening in Africa and Asia right now with the crisis. I will be working in a nursing field where I will be helping people of all cultures and working with them. I have to be culturally aware in the future. It will also help me get to know people better and some things not to do, like never touch a Hmong female on top of her head, it is considered disrespectful. It is little things like that that can make my job much easier to handle.

Excellence in Leadership

Question: Discuss about theExcellence in Leadership. Answer: Introduction: Business Ethic and How Could be Applies Business ethics are defined to be the moral principles and policies which guide how the organization, individual and group behave in an organization. The principles and guidelines provide an organization with the framework on how to relate to the environment and they would achievement their strategic goals without interfering with the activities of people and another enterprise in an environment. The business ethics gives the organization a platform of behaving according to the acceptable code of conduct, by following the substantial procedure in their normal daily operation. Therefore, business ethics are the essential elements which define the operation of an institution in relation to the acceptable code of conduct(Arend, 2013). Business ethics are primary criteria which are used by people and other institution to judge the activities undertaken by the company while it moves towards improving their performance as we achieving the set goals and objectives. Business ethics play a key role in the decisional process of an organization, they judgment on right or wrong in relation to the decision to be made in an organization(Shaw, 2016). Example of business ethics is working with the clients, an organization should set a framework which embraced provides principles and guidelines to employee while they serve clients, customers are the prime stakeholder in an organization they determine the existence of the company in a business environment, employees should treat client honestly and fairly without cheating on them in any case(Burnes, 2004). The company should develop an extensive approach which will guide employee while they perform their job functions. Leadership Styles Identified in Kurt Lewin Leadership is a strategic management approach which defines the success of an organization. Leadership involves the process of identifying and communicating clear visions and core values of the business. It is defined to be the process of influencing individual and working groups in an organization to work towards achieving the same goals and objective(Jung, 2014). Different scholar has defined leadership styles according to their research findings, Kurt Lewin defines leadership style as a methodology and an approach to implementing organizations plans, motivating people and providing direction to employees in an organization. Kurt Lewin identified various leadership styles which comprise the following(Morden, 2016). Authoritarian or Autocratic Authoritarian is a leadership which is being by leaders and managers who dictates policies, procedures as well as deciding what goals to be achieved in an organization without considering others in the decision-making process. According to Lewin, authoritarian leadership style is characterized by less creativity in decision-making process compared to other leadership styles(Burnes, 2004). Democratic This is an essential leadership style that indicates the clear approach of achieving strategic goals in an organization. It is also explained to participative leadership style where all the employees are involved in decisional making procedure in an organization, the involvement of other stakeholders makes embraces the effectiveness of democratic leadership style in a business firm(Arend, 2013). Laissez-Faire or Delegate Laissez-Faire is a leadership style that gives the employee and opportunity to fully make major decision relating to their activities in the organization. In this leadership style, mangers and leaders are not fully involved in the decision-making process, they delegate all the decision-making duties to the subordinates(Jung, 2014). World Health Safety Act 2012 Consultation is the provision of the WHS Act of 2012, the main purpose of the consultation act provided by Word Health and Safety is to improve the performance and related activities in health organization. WHS Act of 2012 reflects modern excellence work safety, addressing the emerging issues and contemporary work measures. Consultation act ensures that employees in a health institution are consulting with the management in identifying and addressing vital issues relating to the health safety practices(Chein, 2010). Consultation act 2012 aim towards allowing the health workers and management to develop measure of managing the emerging issues in health safety and practices. Consultation allows workers to have in higher morale, enhances job satisfaction and increased productivity, thus it acts as the motivational approach(Blodgett, 2016). ABCDecks Mission, Purpose, Objectives and Core Calues Mission ABCDecks is committed to building long-term relationships based on integrity, performance, value, and client satisfaction. To provide a dynamic and quality services that will ensure customer satisfactions. Purpose 1) To build client relationships upon the foundation of trust, confidence, and integrity. 2) To our purpose by being committed to giving totally the most noteworthy conceivable quality workplace for our representatives; treating our exceptionally esteemed customers, business partners, material merchants, and subcontractors with loyalty, honesty and respect; and by applying the qualities of our organization to our every step. Objectives The company objectives will comprise the following 1) Increase revenues 2) Have strong customer satisfaction 3) Have positive reputation and image in the market environment 4) Respect of laws and regulations Core Values The core values of the company will include 1) Integrity 2) Accountability 3) Commitment 4) Trust 5) Work Ethics 6) Measured Performance 7) Excellence How an Organization Manage Change Organizational change is exercised when an organization wants to move from one state to another state. Change resistance is one of the issues arising from organizational changes, it implies employees who resist the transition of the organization(Cummings, 2014). The changes made in the organization may force the employees to counterattack because of the imposition and consequence of same changes in an organization(Burke, 2013). Change management is the strategic approach which should be used by the management while striving towards managing and reducing the resistance to change by the employees. Involvement of Employees in Decision-Making This is one of the essential approaches that needs to be considered by the management while reducing and managing change in an organization. This approach recommends that employees should be involved in making the decision relating to changes to be made in the organization(Burke, 2013). Communication Communication is also a primary factor and a strategic approach which is used in managing change in an organization. Problem arises in the organization as a result of the organization management and leadership failing to communicate the intended changes to the subordinates, this, therefore, forces the employee to resist the changes made by the management(Cummings, 2014). References Arend, R. J., 2013. Ethics-focused dynamic capabilities: a small business perspective. Small Business Economics. s.l.:s.n. Blodgett, M. S. M. L. J. . P. J. H., 2016. Social Enterprise: Raffirming Public Purpose Governance Through Shared Value.. Journal of Business Securities Law, 16(2), p. 305. Burke, W. W., 2013. Organization change: Theory and practice. s.l.:Sage Publications. Burnes, B., 2004. Kurt Lewin and the planned approach to change: a reà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ appraisal.. Journal of Management studies, , 41(6), pp. 977-1002. Chein, E. H., 2010. Culture: The missing concept in organization studies. Administrative science quarterly. s.l.:s.n. Cummings, T. G. . W. C. G. (., 2014. Organization development and change.. s.l.: Cengage learning.. Jung, Y. J. M. G. . M. T., 2014. Identifying the Preferred Leadership Style for Managerial Position of Construction Management. International Journal of Construction Engineering and Management , 3(2), pp. 47-56. Kolb, A. Y. . K. D. A., 2012. Learning styles and learning spaces: Enhancing experiential learning in higher education. Academy of management learning education,. In: s.l.:s.n., pp. 193-212. Morden, T., 2016. Principles of strategic management. s.l.:Routledge. Shaw, W., 2016. Business ethics: A textbook with cases. s.l.:Nelson Education.

Luther Essay Research Paper Martin Luther was free essay sample

Luther Essay, Research Paper Martin Luther was a German theologist and spiritual reformist, who started the Protestant Reformation, and whose huge influence during his clip period made him one of the important figures in modern European history. Luther was born in Eisleben on November 10, 1483 and was descended from the peasantry, a fact that he frequently stressed. Hans Luther, his male parent, was a Cu mineworker. Luther received a sound primary and secondary instruction at Mansfeld, Magdeburg, and Eisenach. In 1501, at the age of 17, he enrolled at the University of Erfurt, having a unmarried man # 8217 ; s grade in 1502 and a maestro # 8217 ; s grade in 1505. He so intended to analyze jurisprudence, as his male parent had wished. In the summer of 1505, he abandoned his surveies and his jurisprudence programs, sold his books, and entered the Augustinian monastery in Erfurt. The determination surprised his friends and appalled his male parent. Later in his life, Luther explained his suprising determination b y remembering several coppices with decease that had occurred at the clip, doing him cognizant of the fugitive character of life. We will write a custom essay sample on Luther Essay Research Paper Martin Luther was or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In the monastery he observed the regulations imposed on a novitiate but did non happen the peace in God he had expected. Nevertheless, Luther made his profession as a monastic in the autumn of 1506, and his higher-ups selected him for the priesthood. Ordained in 1507, he approached his first jubilation of the mass with awe. After his ordination, Luther was asked to analyze divinity in order to go a professor at one of the many new German universities staffed by monastics. In 1508 he was assigned by Johann von Staupitz, vicar-general of the Augustinians and a friend and counsellor, to the new University of Wittenberg ( founded in 1502 ) to give introductory talks in moral doctrine. He received his unmarried man # 8217 ; s grade in divinity in 1509 and returned to Erfurt, where he taught and studied. In November 1510, on behalf of seven Augustinian monasteries, he made a visit to Rome, where he performed the spiritual responsibilities customary for a pious visitant and was shocked by the sophistication of the Roman clergy. Soon after restarting his responsibilities in Erfurt, he was reassigned to Wittenberg and asked to analyze for the grade of physician of divinity. In 1512, after having his doctors degree, he took over the chair of scriptural divinity which he held till his decease. Although still unsure of God # 8217 ; s love and his ain redemption, Luther was active as a sermonizer, instructor, and decision maker. Sometime during his survey of the New Testament in readying for his talks, he came to believe that Christians are saved non through their ain attempts but by the gift of God # 8217 ; s grace, which they accept in religion. Both the exact day of the month and the location of this experience have been a affair of contention among bookmans, but the event was important in Luther # 8217 ; s life, because it turned him resolutely against some of the major dogmas of the Catholic church. Luther became a populace and controversial figure when he publish ed his Ninety-five Thesiss on October 31, 1517. His chief intent of composing the theses was to demo his resistance for the corruptness and wealth of the pontificate and to province his belief that redemption would be granted on the footing of religion entirely instead so by plants. Although it is by and large believed that Luther nailed these theses to the door of All Saints Church in Wittenberg, some bookmans have questioned this narrative, which does non happen in any of his ain Hagiographas. Regardless of the mode in which his propositions were made public, they caused great exhilaration and were instantly translated into German and widely distributed. Luther # 8217 ; s spirited defence and farther development of his place through public university argument s in Wittenberg and other cities resulted in an investigation by the Roman Curia that led to the condemnation of his teachings and his excommunication. Summoned to appear before Charles V at the Diet of Worms in April 1521, he was asked before the assembled secular and ecclesiastical rulers to recant. He refused firmly, asserting that he would have to be convinced by Scripture and clear reason in order to do so and that going against conscience is not safe for anyone. Condemned by the emperor, Luther was spirited away by his prince, the elector Frederick the Wise of Saxony, and kept in hiding at Wartburg Castle. There he began his translation of the New Testament from the original Greek into German, a seminal contribution to the development of a standard German language. Disorders in Wittenberg caused by some of his more extreme followers forced his return to the city in March 1521, and he restored peace through a series of sermons. Luther continued his teaching and writing in Witt enberg but soon became involved in the controversies surrounding the Peasants’ War (1524-26) because the leaders of the peasants originally justified their demands with arguments somewhat illegitimately drawn from his writings. He considered their theological arguments false, although he supported many of their political demands. When the peasants turned violent, he angrily denounced them and supported the princes’ effort to restore order. Although he later repudiated the harsh, vengeful policy adopted by the nobles, his attitude toward the war lost him many friends. In the midst of this controversy he married Katharina von Bora, a former nun. The marriage was happy, and his wife became an important supporter in his busy life. After having articulated his basic theology in his earlier writings, he published his most popular book, the Small Catechism, in 1529. By commenting briefly in question and answer form on the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord ’s Prayer, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper, the Small Catechism explains the theology of the evangelical reformation in simple yet colorful language. Not allowed to attend the Diet of Augsburg because he had been banned and excommunicated, Luther had to leave the presentation of the reformers’ position to his friend and colleague Melanchthon. In 1532 Luther’s translation of the Old Testament from the original Hebrew was published. Meanwhile, his influence spread across northern and eastern Europe. His advocacy of the independence of rulers from papal supervision won him the support of many princes. His fame made Wittenberg an intellectual center. By 1537, Luther’s health had begun to deteriorate, and he felt burdened by the resurgence of the papacy and by what he perceived as an attempt by Jews to take advantage of the confusion among Christians and reopen the question of Jesus’ messiahship. Apprehensive about his own responsibility for this situation, he wrote a violent polemic against the Jews, as well as polemics against the papacy and the radical wing of the reformers, the Anabaptists. In the winter of 1546, Luther was asked to settle a controversy between two young counts who ruled the area of Mansfeld, where he had been born. Old and sick, he went there, resolved the conflict, and died on February 18, 1546, in Eisleben. Luther left behind a movement that quickly spread throughout the Western world. His doctrines, especially justification by faith and the final authority of the Bible, were adopted by other reformers and are shared by many Protestant denominations today. As the founder of the 16th-century Reformation, he is one of the major figures of Christianity and of Western civilization.

Celta application form Essay Example

Celta application form Essay Example Celta application form Essay Celta application form Essay Essay Topic: College application Universal Jorge Tattooed Logan, 2007-2010 During my thesis at the university, I worked as a teaching assistant with undergraduate students. I worked on several microbiology laboratories. Activities generally consisted in explaining the theory for a certain technique or procedure, followed by practical exercises. My responsibilities included assisting students with equipment (measuring, handling), reviewing workflow charts and assisting the professor. Microbiology laboratories are quite demanding and due to safety measures, one must make sure the students follow the protocols and workflow precisely. Finch el Highern, Santa Elena, Ecuador From mid-2010 until 2013 lived on the coast of Ecuador near Quailing. During this time I worked on an agricultural project where students from a local school (College tectonic De Santa Elena) visited the farm once a week to practice what they had learned at school. Activities included equipment instructions, agricultural practices, crop planning, plant growth etc. Activities were conducted during a whole school year. What other work experience do you have? Have had several jobs in customer service and logistics. I have worked for English campaigns in the USA such us Compact and Att. Do you have any other professional training? Yes No If Yes, outline here: Customer service Operations Carpentry and Masonry OTHER INFORMATION Please indicate any health concerns that may be pertinent to your application: None Is there any other information you think is worth mentioning? How did you hear about the courses at International House Bogota;? Internet Will you need help with accommodation? Yes OTHER APPLICATIONS Have you previously applied for a CELT course at any centre? Yes If yes what was the outcome of your application/interview? Approved Are you applying to centers other than II Bogota;? British Council IMPORTANT: Please note that acceptance on a course does not mean a place has been reserved for you. To ensure a place the full fee must be paid no later than six weeks before the start of the course. Fees are not transferable or refundable. I have read and accepted the above conditions. Signed: Arturo Date: 4/15/2015 PLEASE KEEP A COPY OF THIS FORM ONCE YOU HAVE LADLED IT IN. Pre-intent. IEEE task: CELT at II Bogota; Name: Arturo Hypes 1. LEARNING There is a lot to learn about teaching in a very short period of time. How would you characterize yourself as a learner? I believe my learning style is a blend between visual and kinesthesia. As input, like for information to be presented visually; reading written dialogues while Im listening helps retaining information. I am also a hands on person and therefore I learn by doing it. I believe on the effectiveness of an empirical approach depending on the topic. B) W hat is your preferred learning style? For example: 1. Watch it done and copy it 2. Read the theory of it and try to apply it 3. Try it out and get feedback on it 4. Work it out for yourself 5. Or My style would be a combination between number 1 and 2. Depends on the topic and the task. 2. TEACHING Answer the following in 2 or 3 sentences: i. How would you get students talking in class? An effective introduction with positive attitude and a smile is a start. It is important to start with a low level of complexity, start building empathy and provide students with enough information for them to fill confident. Then I would continue asking questions, listening carefully in order to keep asking questions based on what they have said. Ii. What are some of the reasons for and against teaching grammar rules? Reasons Against: grammar based lessons dont lead to oral fluency, language is acquired rather than learned. Reasons for: grammar is De backbone of a language, bringing an idea to its full extension needs the underlying structure of grammar. Iii. How important is listening and reading when learning a foreign language? One needs a massive input of data to learn a language fluently, this helps to develop language intuition, while bringing and incorporating new words into the speech. Iv. What is a good way of teaching vocabulary? Some effective ways for teaching vocabulary are: guessing the meaning wrought the context Of a lecture. The Odd word out, where a list Of 4-5 words contains one that does not fit. Match the opposites. 2 lists of words the first list should contain adjectives and the second the opposite of those adjectives. V. What are the main reasons for and against correcting students mistakes? Reasons for: most students do want to have some of their mistakes corrected as it gives them a basis for improvement. Letting errors pass means that bad habits become persistent. Reasons against: over-correcting may cause a student to lose motivation or to stop talking for fear of being wrong. It can also interrupt the flow of the class or activity, making a pause on every mistake to correct. 3. THE TEACHER a. In your opinion, which of the following jobs would best prepare a person for language teaching (choose one only): sports coach tour group leader driving instructor actor/actress Why? Social worker lecturer sales person nurse Multiple interactions with different kinds of people can lead to learn different accents, words, slang etc. Which helps to develop a more richer language. B. In the light of the above, why do you think YOU are suited to language teaching? Ive been interested in the English language and due to my school and university Ive studying it for most of my life. I am also an open minded individual with excellent interpersonal relationships and lots of stamina, which in my opinion can help develop good relations with students. 4. TEACHER TALK ORe-phrase the following teacher talk in language that an elementary learner might understand. O. If you wouldnt mind opening your books to page 23, please. Please open your books and go to page 23. D. What might you ask someone if you wanted to find out how to get to the cost office? What would you say to someone if you need help finding the post office? O. Jot down the answers and then swap with your neighbor. Write down the answer and then exchange it with the person next to you. 5. LANGUAGE AWARENESS 000000000. Which is the odd one out in each group, and why? O. The babys bottle. The nations struggle. The teachers absent. The nurses pay. The governments defeat. The teachers absent is the odd one out because it refers to something happening in the present. The apostrophe is used as a contraction for the teacher is. While in the others is used as a possessive. 0. 0 The plane was hi-jacked by a woman. The tourists were attacked by a gang. The soldier was hit by a bullet. The trains collided by a river. Three hundred people were killed by the earthquake. Why? The by on the sentence is being used in the sense of beside meaning the trains collided at the side of a river or next to it. The others are using it in the sense of through the action of 0. 0 She must have lost the address. Alan must have been here too. That must have been awful. The thieves must have got in through the window.

Behavior Management Project Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Behavior Management Project - Research Paper Example At some point, Brian has difficulties in interpreting academic instructions more particularly in absence of an adult help. When presented with academic instructions or exams, Brian would progressively become angry, uneasy, breaking down and crying profusely. In order to help Brian deal with these problems, the following behaviour intervention plan was designed. For a period of two weeks, Brian will be required to have a full time company of an adult helper while in class who will help him read questions whenever he is unable to read or finds it difficult. The adult will leave at a scheduled three time period every hour. Each break will last utmost 3 minutes in duration. It is expected that during this period, Brian will most likely face individual reading exam and would either get angry or cry uncontrollably causing a halt in exam administration. In addition, he may fail to complete his exam. The behavioural plan designed is aimed at teaching him the essence of self-control in his co nduct while dealing stressful situations in school and life after. During the interaction session, he will be taught how to manage his behaviour. In this regard, on the event he faces difficulty and senses a feeling of anger he will be required to stop whatever he does and raise up his hand for a short break. This would then be followed by a support schedule that would be given consistently and then slowly withdrawn. This is important in instilling in him the expected end behaviour without necessarily using reinforcement. After numerous weeks of implementing the intervention plan, it was found that on average the difficulties experienced in reading reduced considerably. However, some traces of anger would still be witnessed for example Brian would occasionally be noticed frowning during or after the exam or a reading session in class. If this recommended plan is continued, the end result would be desirable. Introduction Target behaviour Brian, a third grade student, is a normal stud ent like others except that he has difficulties in reading and working out questions by himself. This behaviour normally begins some few minutes after the start of examination session and worsens as it nears the end. The tension first rises then followed by a show of frustration and anger and eventual loud cry sobbing uncontrollably. The crying can last for a period of between 5 and 10 minutes and always happens whenever examinations are administered across all subjects. Hypothesis It is hypothesized from his behaviour that Brian engages in crying when he fails to recall what was taught in class prior to exam administration. He therefore thinks the exam given is too difficult and meant to frustrate him. He engages in crying as a means of letting off stress and as a show of frustration on the teachers. This behaviour is normally caused by inadequate preparation and excessive parental expectation. At the beginning of every examination, he actually needs the presence of one of the pare nts or an equivalent helper whose work is to acknowledge every simple step he makes in doing the exam. Rationale In order to assist Brian to do his work independently and deal adequately with his unworthy behaviour, there is a need to design and teach him necessary tools required to enhance self-control. His behaviour of crying whenever he fails to memorize what was earlier taught in class can effectively be minimized by teaching

Technical Evaluations Using Web APIs Research Paper

Technical Evaluations Using Web APIs - Research Paper Example Over the years, we had seen the development of personal computers at a time when the massive IBM Company thought that the idea of developing and creating the personal computer was not viable. In their own words, they said that the personal computer was ‘a toy’. At the time, IBM was creating and building only mainframe computers. They ridiculed the idea of the development of the personal computers so much, so that the likes of Microsoft were forced to do something big while the others watched. Today, personal computers are found in almost every home and school. In the world of search engines, Google is developing very fast. The Google we have today is not the same as the Google we had 12 years ago or so. The company is making innovations every other day. It is becoming a juggernaut that crashes anything in its way; Google cannot stop to overcome anything that comes its way. The Google web API has been around for a while now. This API enables developers to create websites that have the Google searching services in them without much hustle (Chase). The Google Web Search API enables developers to put the Google Search services in the web pages they come up with using JavaScript. This whole process happens by embedding of the code that Google makes available on some of its web sites for developers to take and use for their own purposes. The use of the web search API is regulated with the terms and conditions that developers have to comply with the terms and conditions of Google as a company and service provider. Once the search box from Google is embedded in code, users can be able to search for anything from the web sites that have implemented the use of the web search API (Google Developers). The results from the web search can also be seen on the same page as the one the search made on with no problem at all. An example of a web site that has implemented the Google Web Search so well is http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/search.php This website has imple mented the Google Search API in its search page. This has made it easier for the website’s visitors to quickly locate any content they are searching for. The search API lets developers embed code into the web sites they make in order to bring results they want the users to see. The developers filter the results according to the criteria they deem fit the visitors of the site should see and that meets the demands of all the stake holders of the web site. When visiting standard media web site, newspaper readers from Kenya may wish to search the contents of the site very fast and depend on the search field to give them very specific content they may be looking for from the web site. Use of the Google Web Search API has very little restrictions. Google Inc. has been at the forefront of development of open source software for a while now and their APIs are mostly open source too; in order to achieve this purpose. The API is available for download from the Google developers’ web site. At the point of download, the user or developer downloading the API is required to agree to the terms and conditions of use to access the API (Google Developers). Rich Interface Technologies There are a number of rich tech technologies in place today. Some of them are Ajax, JQuery, HTML5, which are used for the development of beautiful

Stock Valuation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Stock Valuation - Essay Example ter every three months and good dividend paying stocks increase their payout every year unlike those who own funds who most of the time are not sure about what the dividends will be and instead have a default option to buy more shares. It is also easier to understand market volatility since the investor knows the company well, and this helps an investor to make a decision whether to buy, sell or hold their position. Individual stocks also have lower costs than funds help one to diversify their holdings (Hayek, 2013). I would not be okay with the political risks that are prevalent in the increase among the BRISC countries since these countries include the emerging markets that need ample political stability to grow and mature. The political risk brings a lot of volatility in the stock market, as well as discourages foreign and domestic investment as investors prefer more stable markets that are easily predictable in order not to take so much risk. Through negative correlation, the idea of hedging and diversification are elaborated. Since negative correlation tends to make two investments move in opposite directions, an investor is therefore advised to invest in both the investments in order to spread risks. It makes sense that, when an investor invests in those two investments, one investment loses value, the other one will gain value hence the investor must not lose everything at any particular point, but at least gain on some (Eric,

Arguments For And Arguments Against Democracy Politics Essay

Arguments For And Arguments Against Democracy Politics Essay There are many benefits or arguments that are for democracy; since the ample population is given rights and autonomy. A very important characteristic that leads to being a benefit of democracy is that it allows citizen from all walks of life to participate actively in the political proceedings of their homeland. However, there are arguments against (disadvantages of) democracy also. One of the main defects in the idea of democracy is that the authority given to the masses can also be distorted, made improper use of and become the tyranny of the ample/ majority. This can become a double-crossing issue in democracy. Benefits of Democracy It has been noted that most countries in todays era believe in the ideology of democracy and in its various theories. Some of the most powerful and advanced countries believe in democracy and follow democratic peace theory. Followers of democracy also argue that it is better to have the tyranny of the majority rather than tyranny of the minority. A research by Diplomatic Changes in the Government Democracy can offer adjustments in government without antagonism. In a democratic government, power can be moved from one party to another through the method of elections. The authority that is the hands of citizens or general public of a nation makes the decisions for its ruling power. Avoidance of Monopoly In addition, any government is restricted to an election term after which it has to compete against other parties to recover supremacy. This mean avoids monopoly of the controlling party. The reigning establishment has to make sure it operates effectively for its citizens as it cannot continue being the power unless the people re-elect the same government to come to term again. A Sense of Appreciation This instills a sense of accountability towards the people. The ruling party owes their triumph in winning the elections and coming to authority to the citizens of the country. This brings about a sense of appreciation towards the people. This appreciation can help play a role in the governments motivation to function for citizens as it is because of the votes and trust of the citizens that the party has power to rule. Sense of Contribution An important for-argument of democracy is that the people attain a sense of involvement in the process of choosing their administration for their Nation. They acquire the opportunity to speak out their observations and views by the process of voting. This gives rise to a feeling of belonging to the people and they also feel as if they belong to the society and can contribute towards its betterment. Having an upper hand during war time: A leading research by Ajin Choi (affiliated by the International Studies Quarterly 2004, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea), says that democracies execute better in the time of war than non-democracies, that is they are more likely to win wars than non-democracies. The author (Ajin Choi) points this chiefly to the simplicity of the policies, and the constancy of their inclinations, due to which they are better able to deal with their partners. Avoidance of famine: Followers of democracy quite freely quote the famous economist,  Amartya Sen, who believed that no operating democracy has ever managed to damage a large scale  famine  to affect its people. Disadvantages of Democracy: Until quite recently, conformist beliefs have believed that economic progress or development, predictably and with rapidness leads to democracy. Even though reality does show that almost all of the developed and rich countries of the world are democratic. But reality also shows that, the relationship between economic development and democracy is actually quite weak. The increasing number of prosperous non-democratic countries advocates that great wealth single-handedly doesnt involuntarily direct to more political liberalization. This is proved by the economic success of China and other non- democratic states in Asia. Wrong choice can be made In democratic countries, it is the ordinary person who has the ultimate right to decide their parliament and their current powers to be. Also all people are not conscious of the political circumstances of their nation. The people may not also be up to date of the political issues in their country. This can lead to a wrong decision of voting to the wrong party by the citizens. Hitler was rightly elected through democratic elections; though later he turned into a Fascist. This shows how a political leader could play with the emotions of people into blackmailing them to vote for him, ultimately misleading them into making a wrong choice. Government May Lose focus The government is bound to changes and adjustments once they are elected or re-elected, it may operate with a short-term purpose. As governments have to go through the method of election once their tenure ends and have to re-elected, they may lose focus on operating efficiently for the people and give attention to winning the elections. Masses Have Power Since majority has power- there can be a tyrannical rule of the majority which ultimately works against the minority. It has been proved by a research made by World Bank that though USA is a popular democratic country with loads of power and is one the most affluent and developed country, domestic inequality is largely seen. A huge countrywide score on the  human development index  (HDI) is partnered by the differences in health, education, and income amongst the various ethnic sets. In USA, almost every state has an  infant mortality  which is greater for the African-Americans then for local white people. Citizens might vote in favor of a party under pressure of the masses, because of the influence of people around them and because of their opinions, and end up making the wrong judgments. Though democracy tries to prevent discrimination and supports collaboration and harmonization. It also slows things down, stops those in power from committing an action that is against the majoritys wish.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Essay -- Narrative Life Fr

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Complete Title: An Exploration of the Relationship between Southern Christianity and Slaveholding as seen in the â€Å"Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave Written by Himself†    Dr. Pautreaux’s comments: What makes this paper memorable is the fact that this student is also a minister. Both his command of the language and his insight as a minister gave this paper a unique view of the narrative.    We can so easily deceive ourselves into believing that what is accepted by the general population as normal behavior is also justifiably correct. Rarely do we, as a society, question our customs as long as this behavior yields such commodities as convenience, profit or social benefit. If contested, our acts become well justified and defended. All components of our lifestyle are purposefully bent to fit around popular beliefs and anything, up to and including the Holy Bible, can be distorted to advance our position. A current example of this is today's Muslim terrorists who are using teachings in their Koran to justify their position saying that the Koran dictates that they must fight a holy war, killing as many Christians and Jews as possible, even going so far as to sacrifice their own lives in the process. This sort of religious distortion, used to justify man's self-serving will, is what writer and former slave, Frederick Douglass exposes in his story of his life which he wr ote in 1845. In his story, Douglass gives us a wealth of obvious incongruities of people professing Christianity while practicing slavery: "The man who robbed me of my earnings at the end of each week meets me as a class-leader on Sunday morning, to show me the way of ... ...lt of the Christian religion itself, perhaps the present religious conflict could be resolved. We, too, have the obligation to remember that the strain of Islam that has come to fore in these days of terrorist attacks, is but an extremist fanatical derivation or a religion that also has a pure and good basis. We should all make sure that religion is not a "mere covering for the most horrid crimes--a justifying of the most appalling barbarity...in which the darkest, foulest, grossest, and most infernal deeds...find the strongest protection" (1059) as it was in the days of slavery in the southern U. S. and in the life of Frederick Douglass. Work Cited    Douglass, Frederick. '"Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave." The Harper Single Volume American Literature. Ed. Donald McQuade, et.al. 3rd edition. New York: Longman, 1999. 1020-1081. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Essay -- Narrative Life Fr Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Complete Title: An Exploration of the Relationship between Southern Christianity and Slaveholding as seen in the â€Å"Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave Written by Himself†    Dr. Pautreaux’s comments: What makes this paper memorable is the fact that this student is also a minister. Both his command of the language and his insight as a minister gave this paper a unique view of the narrative.    We can so easily deceive ourselves into believing that what is accepted by the general population as normal behavior is also justifiably correct. Rarely do we, as a society, question our customs as long as this behavior yields such commodities as convenience, profit or social benefit. If contested, our acts become well justified and defended. All components of our lifestyle are purposefully bent to fit around popular beliefs and anything, up to and including the Holy Bible, can be distorted to advance our position. A current example of this is today's Muslim terrorists who are using teachings in their Koran to justify their position saying that the Koran dictates that they must fight a holy war, killing as many Christians and Jews as possible, even going so far as to sacrifice their own lives in the process. This sort of religious distortion, used to justify man's self-serving will, is what writer and former slave, Frederick Douglass exposes in his story of his life which he wr ote in 1845. In his story, Douglass gives us a wealth of obvious incongruities of people professing Christianity while practicing slavery: "The man who robbed me of my earnings at the end of each week meets me as a class-leader on Sunday morning, to show me the way of ... ...lt of the Christian religion itself, perhaps the present religious conflict could be resolved. We, too, have the obligation to remember that the strain of Islam that has come to fore in these days of terrorist attacks, is but an extremist fanatical derivation or a religion that also has a pure and good basis. We should all make sure that religion is not a "mere covering for the most horrid crimes--a justifying of the most appalling barbarity...in which the darkest, foulest, grossest, and most infernal deeds...find the strongest protection" (1059) as it was in the days of slavery in the southern U. S. and in the life of Frederick Douglass. Work Cited    Douglass, Frederick. '"Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave." The Harper Single Volume American Literature. Ed. Donald McQuade, et.al. 3rd edition. New York: Longman, 1999. 1020-1081.

Implications for Education Using Frueds Theory Essay

Sigmund Freud was born in 1856 in Moravia, a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire known until recently as Czechoslovakia. His home was Vienna where he studied and practiced medicine until 1938 when Austria was annexed by the Nazis. With the Nazi annexation of Austria he went into exile in England and died in London in 1939. Freud made a great contribution to psychology and learning theory with his discovery of the emotional nature of unconscious motivations. His personality theory – though not entirely correct in all its aspects – brought to our awareness the unconscious level of the human ‘mind’. As a result we are aware of some previously unknown aspects of human development. We now know that the mental conflicts of the neurotic are not fundamental conflicts of human nature. Instead they are based on the motivating forces and social conflicts of the social environment within which the individual personality develops and functions. The concept of ‘normality’ makes sense only within the context of nature of the social environment in which the individual is functioning. Freud’s scientific discovery of the unconscious has contributed to the understanding of the role of the unconscious in the motivation aspect of learning †¦the basis of the valuing process intrinsic to the human organism†¦ (‘intrinsic motivation’) and the importance of the emotional nature of motivation as a determinant for effective learning. This is of great significance to learning theory and consequently to educational theory. The emotional nature of motivation for learning is a key aspect of educational theory of the so-called paradigm of education for development of the person as a whole i.e. ‘holistic education’. In 1923 Freud described his constructs of the id, ego and the superego. The id is the most primitive part of our personality. It operates according to the pleasure principle and it simply seeks immediate gratification. Freud believed that every human had a life and death instinct. The life instinct is called eros while the death instinct is called thanatos. Both are integral parts of the id. And the energy for this mechanism is libido, a flowing, dynamic force. The ego is different from the id as it is extremely objective. It operates according to the â€Å"reality principle† and deals with the demands of the environment. It regulates the flow of libido and keeps the id in check, thus acting as a â€Å"control center† of the personality. It is the superego which represents the values and standards of an individual’s personality. It acts as an internal judge, it punishes the ego with feelings of guilt or it rewards, which lead to feelings of pride and heightened s elf-esteem. The superego is a characteristic of the personality which strives for perfection. According to Freud, the disparity and development of the id, ego and the superego, determines an individual’s behavior in a given situation, which in turn results in the development of the personality. Freud placed great importance on the early years of a child as he believed that what we are as adults is determined by childhood experiences. Freud called these early years of development the psychosexual years of development. These early years proceed through a number of stages. Each child undergoes the different stages. These stages are the oral stage (first year of life), the anal stage ( second year), phallic stage (third through fifth year), a period of latency (from 6 to 12), and the genital stage (after puberty). Freud believed that as every child passes through these stages there might be a likely possibility that a child may spend more time in a particular stage then they aught to. This co ndition can lead to a fixation or an incomplete development of the personality. A critical event during the first five years of life is the experience of Oedipus and Electra conflicts. Freud believed that both sexes encounter and must deal with these turmoils, which result from boys developing sexual attraction toward their mothers, and girls developing sexual attraction towards their fathers. A boy may have feelings of jealousy towards his father as he is an obstacle between him and his mother. And, they fear retaliation by their fathers if they are caught (fear of castration). Since the boy loves his father, these feelings are repressed and he begins to identify with the father, adopting his values. Similarly girls develop hostility towards their mothers, unconsciously blaming their mothers for not being equal with boys. They assume that something is missing and feels inadequate (penis envy). Another major aspect of psychoanalysis is the development of defense mechanisms. According to the theory defense mechanisms are used by the ego to protect the person from anxiety. Repression is when information is pushed down into the unconscious. This information is either unpleasant or undesirable and may cause anxiety. Very often this information is pushed so deep down into the unconscious that is hard to retrieve. Reaction formation is when due to anxiety feelings are replaced by the extreme opposite. For instance a person feeling hate will be replaced by love. Undoing is when the ego completely changes actions which lead to feelings of anxiety. In this mechanism the truth may be drastically distorted. Projection is when an individual tends to assign one’s own shortcomings on to someone else. Rationalization is when an irrational act is made to appear rational. Denial occurs in cases where the ego is threatened and a person refuses to acknowledge the reality or seriousness of the situation. Identification involves empathizing with the qualities or characteristics of another favorable person. Fixation and Regression are related mechanisms which occur during psychosexual development. Psychoanalysis is also a therapy. It is based on the observation that individuals are often unaware of many of the factors that determine their emotions and behavior. Psychoanalytic treatment demonstrates how these unconscious factors affect current relationships and patterns of behavior, traces them back to their historical origins, shows how they have changed, and helps individuals to deal better with the realities of adult life. Though primarily of historical interest, an understanding of Freudian theory may give classroom teachers insight into the importance of unconscious feelings and drives that motivate some student behavior Implications for teaching When applying psychoanalysis to children or young students, a teacher must take a broad view by exploring the considerable range of psychoanalytic literature available.When applying psychoanalytic theories to children in the classroom, activities are typically categorized into either behaviorism or cognitivism. Behaviorism focuses on tangible behaviors, such as a child who will share her toys versus a child of the same age who refuses to share. Behaviorism also looks at conditioning and social learning to understand where a child picks up his personality traits and habits. Cognitivism looks at mental processes and events rather than tangible behaviors. Cognitive structure, or the structure and function of the brain, is of particular concern here. In cognitive science, psychologists are concerned with whether behaviors can be justified chemically or structurally in biological differences between people. When behaviorism and cognitivism are understood, teachers, parents and psychologists can attempt to answer behavioral disorders from a social conditioning and chemical perspective. A behavioral problem may be rooted in either or both areas of psychoanalysis. An example of a classic activity used for psychoanalysis in the classroom is role playing. During a role play, the teacher exercises control over the basic setup of the scenario. Students then act within those boundaries to produce original decisions and actions. In each scenario, a student knows there are things she should or should not do. For example, if the scenario involves seeing another child break a rule, the actor in the role play must decide what to do. Should he tell the teacher, attempt to punish or correct the child himself or let the child get away with it? Classroom activities around psychoanalytic theory can be public or anonymous. An example of an anonymous psychoanalytic activity is the question and answer game. Students write anonymous questions about social situations on a piece of paper and submit them to the teacher. The teacher will pass the questions back out to students, making sure each student gets a question he did not write. Students take the questions home and answer them overnight, and resubmit them anonymously. The teacher then reads them aloud for class discussion. 1. Learning is a process of active construction. Learning is the interaction between what students know, the new information they encounter, and the activities they engage in as they learn. Students construct their own understanding through experience, interactions with content and others, and reflection. Teaching Implication Provide opportunities for students to connect with your content in a variety of meaningful ways by using cooperative learning, interactive lectures, engaging assignments, hands-on lab/field experiences, and other active learning strategies. 2. Students’ prior knowledge is an important determinant of what they will learn. Students do not come to your class as a blank slate. They use what they already know about a topic to interpret new information. When students cannot relate new material to what they already know, they tend to memorize—learning for the test—rather than developing any real understanding of the content. Teaching Implication Learn about your students’ experiences, preconceptions, or misconceptions by using pre-tests, background knowledge probes, and written or oral activities designed to reveal students’ thinking about the topic. 3. Organizing information into a conceptual framework helps students remember and use knowledge. Students must learn factual information, understand these facts and ideas in the context of a conceptual framework, and organize knowledge in ways that facilitate retrieval and application in order to develop competence in a new topic. Teaching Implication Support students by using concept maps, flowcharts, outlines, comparison tables, etc., to make the structure of the knowledge clear. 4. Learning is a social phenomenon.   Students learn with greater understanding when they share ideas through conversation, debate, and negotiation. Explaining a concept to one’s peers puts knowledge to a public test where it can be examined, reshaped, and clarified. Teaching Implication Use Cooperative learning strategies, long-term group projects, class discussions, and group activities to support the social side of learning. 5. Learning is context-specific. It is often difficult for students to use what they learn in class in new contexts (i.e., other classes, the workplace, or their personal lives). Teaching Implication Use problem-based learning, simulations or cases, and service learning to create learning environments similar to the real world. 6. Students’ metacognitive skills (thinking about thinking) are important to their learning. Many students utilize few learning strategies and have a limited awareness of their thinking processes. Teaching Implication Help students become more metacognitively aware by modeling your thinking as you solve a problem, develop an argument, or analyze written work in front of the class. Teach metacognitive strategies, such as setting goals, making predictions, and checking for consistency. Focus attention on metacognition by having students write in a learning journal or develop explanations of their problem-solving processes. Conclusion Psychoanalytic (or psychosexual) theory deals primarily with personality and postulates that human â€Å"behavior is motivated by inner, unconscious forces, memories, and conflicts† (Feldman, 1998, p. 26) that often stem from early life experiences. According to this theory, there are three basic structures of the personality: the id (which consists of the irrational libidinal drives that motivate the person to seek pleasure and sexual gratification), the ego (the rational part of the mind), and the superego (essentially the conscience which counterbalances the impulses of the id). Development occurs through a sequence of five psychosexual stages (oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital) which focus on a body part (or erogenous zone) that becomes the center of pleasure or gratification (Rice, 1997). Defense mechanisms such as denial, repression, rationalization, and displacement, which serve the important purpose of temporarily distorting reality to relieve anxiety or reduce conflict, are also important components of Psychoanalytic theory. Though primarily of historical interest, an understanding of Freudian theory may give classroom teachers insight into the importance of unconscious feelings and drives that motivate some student behavior.

poe works essays

poe works essays The short story Sonnys Blues, by James Baldwin, tells the story of two brothers who come to understand each other. More specifically, it shows, through its two main characters, Sonny and his older brother, the two sides of African-Americans experience with much of racism. The narrator, Sonnys brother, has tried to assimilate to the white society, but still feel the pain and the limits on his opportunity. On the other hand, Sonny has never tried to assimilate and has to find the way out for his pain through drugs. Analyzing the plot of Sonnys Blues, we can understand what happened, why it happened, and why characters acted the way they do. The exposition of the Sonnys Blues starts when the narrator introduces characters, scene, and situation of the story. The narrator learns from a newspaper that his younger brother, Sonny, has been arrested for peddling and using heroin. (Baldwin 83) The narrator is a high school teacher, and his wife is Isabel. Leaving the school, the narrator comes across an old friend of Sonnys in the schoolyard. They talk about Sonnys arrest and tell each other some their fears. The friend says that he cant much help old Sonny no more. This angers the narrator because it reminds him that he himself had give up trying to help his brother and not even seen Sonny in a year. However, he keeps in touch with Sonny again after his daughter dies. It is also the moment the narrator begins to wonder about Sonny again. The scene ends the exposition, and opens the storys rising action part. The story continues as the narrator meets Sonny after Sonny get out of prison. As Sonnys request, they take a long cab ride and recall their memories that they had experienced in vivid, killing streets in their childhood. Next, we hear the conversation between the n ...

Fraudulent Chats With Unlike A essays

Fraudulent Chats With Unlike A essays Your standing in the lunch line and who happens to be in front of you, but Natalie Smith, that girl you just can't stand, everything she does just irks you. Even the thought of her brings these disturbing thoughts, that can't be that healthy, like wanting to take her by her little, blonde pig tails and swing her off from the highest building, making those little rosy cheeks stained with blood, this bringing the biggest grin to your face. Being her bubbly, cheerful self, she turns around, gives you the brightest smile, and acts as if its a surprise to see you. This all follows with one of those fake conversations. Everyone has had to have one, so I am sure you all know what I am talking about. You both know you don't care for one another, but you carry on with a friendly, "How have you been? What have you been up to?" bogus conversation. I particularly hate when I bump into these people. What I rather do, is turn to them and say, "I really don't like you and I know you don't really like me, I could care less, my life will go on, I really have no reason at all to talk to you, so please... step aside!" This of course is the nice way of putting it. And its really a simple solution to get out of those miserable conversations, with the phonies that like to put on fronts. Those people that like to be nice to everyone. Saying something along these lines, would surely set these people in their places and they will come to see that maybe not everyone is a Mary Poppins sunshine 24/7. You can just be upfront, you wont have to struggle to smile to the person you most despise, you wont have to act like you care about what they did during their vacation. If they went para sailing off in Hawaii, unless the little ropes on their parachute snapped and there little, fragile body went crashing down on the cold, brisk water, instantly braking every bone in their body. Then you would not only not have to talk to them, but wouldn't even have to see their ...

Reality TV's Negative Affect on Our Society Research Paper

Reality TV's Negative Affect on Our Society - Research Paper Example In some instances, it may make the viewer or the audiences revel at such negative attributes and vices such as pain, sex, and injuries to the cast, which in real sense the viewer should not. The end-result is the cast is rewarded for poor personal, societal or professional judgment. Since the advent of reality TV programming, critics have rightly described as a genre that is sensational and focusing on an emphasis on the negative aspects of the society. Hill (7) states that such articles such as ‘Ragbag of Cheap Thrills’, ‘TV’s Theatre of Cruelty’ or ‘Danger: Reality TV can Rot Your Brain’ describe how there is a negative connotation associated with reality TV. Further Nick Clarke argues in The Shadow of a Nation that reality TV has led to the erosion of the values hitherto held by the society as well as distracting the ideals of a modern society. For example scenes of addiction to drugs and war in reality television programs have the pot ential effect of eroding the culture held by the society as well as its moral values (Hill 7). Other programs such as Real Housewives of Atlanta  and Basketball Wives  that show violent confrontations between women tend to make young ladies copy them with the thoughts that such behavior is desirable. In the analysis of the reality TV program ‘Extreme Makeover’, the negative aspect of the society is portrayed as the show suggests that the American society is constantly in trouble to find or live in a decent home showing how a contemporaneous socio-political tension or situation. The crisis that the cast in the program face is at times used to hoodwink the electorate who vote in leaders who can promise better housing... This "Reality TV Negative Effects to Society" essay demonstrates how such shows as "Extreme Makeover" or "16 and pregnant" shapes our worldview. Reality television shows have constantly portrayed a distasteful and dysfunctional behavior in the form of entertainment and people get easily manipulated and end up applying the same behavior in the society. The negative influence of reality television programs is that they allow a person or the viewer to follow what has been determined for him by someone else as reality. The producers of reality TV programs also fail to consider ethics when producing these programs, as they tend to exploit the misfortune of others such as divorce and teenage pregnancy all in the name of entertainment. From the foregoing argument, research has proven that reality television programs just warp the viewer’s perception of reality and their belief. This is the reason for example why viewers or members of the society who view the world as filled with dram a and relational strife are addicted to reality programs, for example the regular viewers of drama on crime are likely to engage in crime. In addition, the society has been affected in a major way and in a negative way by the reality programs as members of the society do not wish to learn how to accomplish a rigorous or desirable feat but demand to achieve it through controversy and idiocy. The end result is a society built on negative values and morals that greatly affect the productivity and meaningful co-existence.

Native Guard Poems By Natasha Trethewey Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Native Guard Poems By Natasha Trethewey - Essay Example The poem profoundly conveys her heart for the blacks in rich voice texture and images of truths concerning the battles not only against slavery for the fellow blacks but even with the unsettled issue of freedom that appears detached from the desired racial equality. â€Å"Native Guard† begins with an epigraph attributed to the 19th century social reformer and statesman Frederick Douglass stating â€Å"... if this war is to be forgotten, I ask in the name of all things sacred what shall men remember?† in reference to the Civil War which Trethewey revitalizes with her literary design. Utilizing ten stanzas each bearing distinct date, the poet pays tribute to one member of the Louisiana Native Guards being â€Å"the first officially sanctioned regiment of black soldiers in the Union Army.† With reference to the first line where the speaker expresses  Ã¢â‚¬ Truth be told, I do not want to forget†, the native guard himself is shown to have gathered to his sen sibility an essential contemplation of the past, adding â€Å"†¦I thought to carry with me / want of freedom though I had been freed, / remembrance not constant recollection†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . ... s and ends with a memory wherein the last line of each sonnet becomes a variant of the subsequent sonnet's opening line, as in a meaningful chronology of historical events. Since â€Å"Native Guard† is a first-person narrative supposedly by an unnamed ex-slave in an all-black regiment of the Union Army, the lines can be observed to possess stately approach to language and structure. Within the poem’s context is the presence of circularity depicting circumstantial shifts as one finds the former slave guarding the imprisoned inside the Union fort at Mississippi’s Ship Island. Comparing his personal life in relation to his professional life as a military officer who look after welfare of the fallen rebels, he states – I now use ink to keep record, a closed book, not the lure of memory — flawed, changeful — that dulls the lash for the master, sharpens it for the slave. For the slave, having a master sharpens the bend into work, the way the sergea nt moves us now to perfect battalion drill, dress parade. Trethewey’s style of writing in â€Å"Native Guard† is characteristic of a speaker’s tone or at least, a sound representative of the way speech is made in the culture or group the narrator has become a part of. Like journal entries, the words are phrased and constructed in a manner that indirectly yet effectively states the type of sentiments involved and along the following lines, the bitterness may be sensed with the drop of the last two words – †¦We’re called supply units - not infantry – and so we dig trenches, haul burdens for the army no less heavy than before. I heard the Colonel call it Nigger work†¦ Often, the work celebrates not only the factual details which history is not made to confront or disclose but also the most excruciating truths that

Data warehouse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Data warehouse - Essay Example From a succinct summarization to probable benefits and the gist of the books’ content, the paper is more like an abstract or preview of the books than a research or analytic paper. As such, the paper do not come in handy and useful for people who wish to gain deeper insights into information systems and their implications in business scenarios. For this purpose, they can get well informed through the books mentioned in the paper. Regarding the books reviewed, it can be said that they are reliable and must be containing valuable material on data mining, CRM (Customer Relationship Management), IT and BPR (Business process reengineering). The publication houses of these books are McGraw Hill and Prentice Hall which itself signify quality and authenticity of the content. The author has also reviewed contemporary books which show that the author keeps in touch with the latest know-how of the business market. The paper definitely is a very good descriptive piece in terms of definiti on and concept building. Benefits are properly defined and explained of each scenario but the author lacks in adopting a critical approach to review and delivers mostly positives of all.

Of Mice and Men Essay Essay Example for Free

Of Mice and Men Essay Essay Throughout the book, â€Å"Of Mice and Men† George is Lennie’s everything! From dusk to dawn he is Lennie’s caretaker, friend, and he also works in place of himself and Lennie, too! He doesn’t have the easiest job in the world, either. He is faced with many challenges throughout the book. I do believe that towards the end George was finally getting enough, and he was getting tired of watching Lennie struggle. It got the best of him in a way. George has a job as a ranch hand out on the ranch. He does a little bit of everything. From making sure that the animals are in good health, and to helping the boss with anything he needs. George even watches over the slaves, to make sure they are doing what they need to be doing and are staying away from the whites. He carries a lot of responsibilities! He is also doing Lennie’s job at the same time. As we found out very quickly, Lennie is not the best at doing the task, due to his mental illness. He doesn’t know his strength, and tends to hurt/kill people and animals. Lennie has a heart of gold, and means absolutely no harm. Because of Lennie’s mental state, he needs a caretaker. George has been the one to step up to the plate and take that position. They got kicked out of Weed because Lennie went to feel a lady’s dress, and she accused him of rape. George somewhat felt guilty because as his caretaker it is his responsibility to make sure and keep an eye on him. George has to keep a close eye on Lennie and make sure that he is doing right. Any wrong thing that he may do could easily fall back on George, and they can lose everything, such as their job and shelter. At the end of the book, George had had enough of watching Lennie do wrong. He knew that after killing Curley’s wife, it could be something much worse, and being the friend he was he couldn’t watch him go through that anymore! As a friend, George is Lennie’s everything! Throughout the book, George was Lennie’s only true friend. He understood him, when everyone else didn’t. George knew when he messed up, but he still treated him like a best friend. He was more than just a caretaker, he was like a brother! I give props to George! He had been around the world and back with Lennie and he still loved him for the person he was. Even when he killed things, he was still there  and didn’t think of him any less. Now that my friends, is a TRUE friend! This book was very touching, and sad. It helped open my eyes to realize that there really are people out there who do wrong, but don’t mean to. You may be proven guilty, but that doesn’t mean that you aren’t innocent. George really was a great friend to Lennie! He had a lot of responsibility on his shoulders! He would be one to look up to. Next time you see someone do wrong, you need to stop and ask yourself, â€Å"Did they really mean that?†

Oscar Wilde :: essays research papers

Oscar Wilde Oscar Wilde (real name Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde) was born on October 16th, 1854 in Dublin. His father, William Robert Wilde, was an eminent eye doctor, with an interest in myths and folklore. He was the founder of the first eye and ear hospital in Great Britain, as well as the appointed Surgeon Occultist to the Queen, who knighted him. His mother, Jane Francesca Elgee Wilde, was a poet who wrote patriotic Irish verse under the pen name Speranza, and had a considerable following. As a youngster, Wilde was exposed to the brilliant literary talk of the day at his mother's Dublin salon. In 1864 Wilde entered the Portora Royal School at Enniskillen, and in 1871 entered Trinity College in Dublin. In 1874 he left Ireland and went to England to attend Magdalen College at Oxford. As a student there, he excelled in classics, wrote poetry, and incorporated the Bohemian life style of his youth into a unique way of life. He came under the influence of aesthetic innovators such as English writers Walter Pater and John Ruskin. He found the aesthetic movement's notions of "art for art's sake" and dedicating one's life to art suitable to his temperament and talents. As an aesthete, Wilde wore long hair and velvet knee breeches, and became known for his eccentricity as well as his academic ability. His rooms were filled with various objets d'art such as sunflowers, peacock feathers, and blue china. Wilde frequently confided that his greatest challenge at University was learning to live up to the perfection of the china. Wilde won numerous academic prizes while studying there, including the Newdigate Prize, a coveted poetry award, for his poem Ravenna. In 1879 Wilde moved to London to make himself famous. He set about establishing himself as the leader and model of the aesthetic movement. Besides his hair and breeches, he added loose-fitting wide-collared silk shirts with flowing ties and lavender colored gloves. He frequently carried a jewel-topped cane and was caricatured in the press flamboyantly attired and holding an over- sized sunflower, an icon of the movement. Wilde quickly became well known despite having any substantial achievements to build on. His natural wit and good humor endeared him to the art and theater world, and through his lover Frank Miles, he found it easy to become part of the cliques that frequented London's theater circuit and drawing rooms. He became a much desired party guest, and eventually his popularity led to his being chosen as an advance publicity man for a new Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, Patience, that spoofed

Billy Budd Essay: Close, but no Christ Figure -- Billy Budd Essays

Billy Budd – Close, but no Christ Figure      Ã‚   Billy Budd, the foretopman in Billy Budd, Sailor, seems similar to Jesus Christ because of his relative appearance of purity, simplicity, and innocence. He posses human virtues which cannot be explained but* by any other method except comparison to Christ. Yet, while Budd may seem like a "Christ figure" at first glance, he is a far cry from the Christ of the Holy Bible.    Budd is human, and his short comings-his natural flaws and apathy towards others and his work-make it impossible for him to be a Christ figure-one who is blameless from birth until death, has the purpose of humanity's redemption continually in mind, and is totally self-sacrificing despite possession of tremendous power. Because he is human, Budd lives a very human life, and his actions throughout his life and ultimate death, while uncharacteristically heroic, are always limited to those of humanity. Christ, possessing unfathomable power lives a godly life and lays that life down to save humanity in fulfillment of prophecy. Further, the method and meaning of Budd's death is entirely different-in fact, not even related to those of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.    "In this particular Billy was a striking instance that the arch interferer, the envious marplot of Eden, still has more or less to do with every human consignment to this plant of Earth" (1879). Budd, though created in the image of God, suffers imperfection and sin like every human being on Earth. His most visible imperfection, that which makes the most striking presentation, is his tendency to stutter under emotionally pressured situations. However, while his most visible flaw, it is not his only flaw as a human being. Billy B... ...f Grace and Redemption. This mission of Christ's determines the life He leads and the death He suffers, as well as the reason for His resurrection. Budd, having no reason to be where he is, leads a simple and apathetic life. His death, therefore, is of little or no consequence to those in the greater world. While Budd's simplicity and human virtue make him seem Christ-like on the surface, he lacks that connection to God that determines the very soul of a man. William Budd, foretopman, is not a "Christ figure" because he is not, and could never be, the Lamb of God.    Works Cited Melville, Herman. Billy Budd, Sailor. The American Tradition in Literature. Ed. George Perkins, et al. New York: McGraw Hill Publishing Company, 1990. 1872-1924. The Holy Bible. Ed. David R. Veerman, et al. New King James Version. Ilinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1994.

Succubus Revealed Chapter 7

No matter what shape he wore, Bastien always managed the same kind of smile – warm and infectious. I was grinning as I hugged him, too overwhelmed to form any other logical greeting or even ask why he was here. The last time I'd seen Bastien had been in Seattle last fall. He'd come to town to help discredit a conservative radio host and had succeeded (thanks to me), earning him accolades from our superiors. I'd lost touch with him shortly thereafter and had thought he'd been transferred to Europe or the East Coast. Maybe he had been, but he was here now. The full impact of Luis's earlier words came back to me as I stepped away from Bastien. â€Å"Wait. You're the other new employee?† Bastien's grin widened. He loved being able to shock and surprise me. â€Å"Afraid so, Fleur. I moved here a week ago, and our employer was kind enough to put me up here while I look for a place of my own.† He swept Luis a gallant bow. Luis nodded back, clearly enjoying the scenario he'd created. â€Å"Which, hopefully, you'll do soon. Accounting isn't going to let me get away with this place forever.† Bastien nodded gravely. â€Å"I've already scouted a couple of potential locations.† â€Å"And,† I teased, â€Å"Bastien doesn't even really need to find his own place. He could go out tonight, smile at the right people, and have a dozen rich women more than happy to give him a place to stay.† His current body looked to be in its late twenties, with sun-streaked brown hair and hazel eyes. It was pretty cute, but even if he'd looked hideous, he could still have talked himself into someone's heart. He was just that good. â€Å"Is that an invitation?† Bastien asked. â€Å"Because I have no plans for tonight.† â€Å"Well, you do now,† said Luis. â€Å"I figured you and Georgina would want to catch up, and you can give her your impressions of the city so far – which are all good, of course.† â€Å"Of course,† Bastien and I said in unison. â€Å"Also, I'd like her to meet Phoebe and maybe some of the other succubi,† Luis continued. â€Å"Ah, Mademoiselle Phoebe.† Bastien nodded his head approvingly. â€Å"An exquisite creature. You'll adore her.† â€Å"You apparently do,† I said. Succubi and incubi hooked up sometimes but generally stuck to humans for romantic liaisons. Bastien, however, had a particular penchant for my kind. He made a face. â€Å"None of my charms seem to be working on her. She says that I'll never be as infatuated with anyone else as much as I am with myself, so there's no point in her getting involved.† I laughed. â€Å"I like her already.† â€Å"Then it's settled.† Luis moved toward the door. â€Å"I have some business to take care of, but I'll see you before you leave. In the meantime, I trust Bastien will show you a good time. Don't hesitate to call me if you need anything.† Luis snapped his fingers, and a small business card appeared in his hand. He handed it to me. It was still warm. â€Å"Thanks, Luis,† I said, giving him a quick hug. â€Å"I appreciate everything you've done.† Luis nodded gravely. â€Å"I know you're not thrilled about this transfer, but I really, really would like for you to be happy here.† He left, and Bastien and I stood there in silence for a few moments. â€Å"You know,† I said at last, â€Å"in the years I've been in Seattle, I don't think Jerome has ever told me to call him if I needed anything.† Bastien chuckled as he walked over to a small but well-stocked bar. â€Å"Luis is quite exceptional from what I've seen so far. I was lucky to end up here. You too.† â€Å"Yeah. We're all lucky, aren't we?† I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall by the war. â€Å"How did you end up here?† â€Å"The same way any of us end up anywhere. I was living in Newark until I got the transfer order a couple days ago. Here I am.† I frowned. â€Å"I thought you said you'd been here a week?† â€Å"Week, a few days. I don't know. I admit, I've been kind of intoxicated since I arrived. It was recent, that's all. And a surprise.† â€Å"So was mine,† I murmured. â€Å"Astonishingly so. And now you're here too. It's kind of weird.† â€Å"Is it?† He emptied a martini shaker into two glasses. â€Å"We've worked together before. Figures that it would happen again.† I accepted the glass he offered me. â€Å"I suppose so. But still . . . the number of times we've ended up together has been pretty amazing. For it to happen again is a huge coincidence.† I took a sip and nodded approvingly. He'd used Grey Goose. â€Å"Maybe it's not a coincidence. They keep track of our performance records. They probably know we work well together.† I hadn't considered that. â€Å"You think they'd actually place us together because of that? To get results? I mean, I'm still trying to figure out why I was even transferred at all.† â€Å"There doesn't have to be a reason, not with them.† â€Å"I know. One theory about me being here is that I haven't been all that great of a succubus.† â€Å"Ah, then there you are. They sent you to me because they know what a good influence I am on you.† â€Å"Bad, you mean.† His eyes twinkled. â€Å"This is going to be a lot of fun having you here. I haven't even gambled yet, and already I feel like I hit the jackpot.† He knocked back his drink. â€Å"Finish that, and let's go have some fun. I know a great place for lunch. We'll go there and then hit some games of chance.† It felt weird going out on the town, especially so early in the day. I'd become too subdued in my Seattle life, I realized. I'd done such a good job at playing human that I'd forgotten what it was like to think like a succubus. Why not live it up in daylight? This was technically a business trip, but the point was to scope out the place of my future employment. I'd been here lots of times before, but this was the first time I really and truly studied the city through the eyes of an â€Å"on the clock† succubus. Again, I was struck by that earlier, heady sense: easy, so amazingly easy. We caught a cab, and Bastien gave instructions for us to go to Sparkles. I ran through my mental list of Las Vegas attractions and came up empty. â€Å"I've never heard of that,† I said. â€Å"It sounds like a strip club.† â€Å"Nah, it's a brand-new hotel and casino,† Bastien told me. â€Å"So shiny and new, in fact, that it just opened a couple of weeks ago, and already it's a hit.† â€Å"Why's it called Sparkles?† I asked. He grinned. â€Å"You'll see.† The answer was obvious once we got there. Everything was, well, sparkly. The exterior sign was a riot of glittering, chasing lights that should've had a seizure warning affixed to it. Everyone who worked in the hotel and casino wore elaborately sequined outfits, and all the decor was done in brightly colored metallic and glittering surfaces. Paired with the flood of flashing lights already found in a casino, the entire spectacle was hard on my eyes at first. Yet, despite what could've easily degenerated into tackiness, there was still something in the feel of the place that radiated luxury. Sparkles was over the top, yes, but in a good way. â€Å"Here,† said Bastien, leading me through the maze of the casino. â€Å"There's a little less sensory overload where we're going.† Opposite the side we'd entered in was a doorway dominated by a sign reading DIAMOND LOUNGE. With a name like that, I expected strippers and more glitz but instead found myself in a quiet and much more tastefully subdued establishment. Crystal chandeliers and wineglasses provide the only sparkle here. Everything else in the restaurant was warm, honey-colored wood and red velvet. When we were seated at our table, Bastien said to the waitress, â€Å"Can you tell Phoebe that Bastien is here?† I gave him a wry look once we were alone. â€Å"I see how it is. Here I thought you were going out of your way to take me somewhere nice. You're just here to visit your crush.† â€Å"That's merely a perk,† he told me easily. â€Å"The food here really is excellent. And Luis wants you to meet Phoebe too, remember? Don't worry, you'll like her.† I made no effort to hide my skepticism. â€Å"I don't know, Bastien. I can count on one hand how many succubi I've actually liked over the years. At best, they're tolerable and semiamusing, like Tawny.† At worst – and more often than not – succubi were raving bitches. Me excluded, of course. â€Å"Just wait and see,† he said. We didn't have to wait long because a couple minutes later, I felt the wash of a succubus aura come over me, one reminiscent of orange blossoms and honey. A tall, willowy woman in a black and white uniform appeared, carrying a tray with our cocktails on it. The employees here didn't have to match the glitzy attire of their hotel brethren. She set the cocktails before each of us with a grace and fluidity that was almost too much for this establishment. It reminded me of something more suited to the serving halls of kings from long ago – which, I suspected, she had probably known very well. â€Å"Ah, Phoebe,† Bastien sighed dreamily. â€Å"You are a vision, as always. Come meet our newest colleague.† She gave him the look one has when indulging a ridiculous child and sat down in one of our table's empty chairs. Her dark blond hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail, revealing high cheekbones and long-lashed green eyes. â€Å"Oh, Bastien, don't start in on the vision stuff. It's far too early in the day.† She extended a polite hand to me. â€Å"Hello, I'm Phoebe.† â€Å"Georgina,† I said, shaking the offered hand. â€Å"Whatever Bastien's told you, only believe half of it.† She reconsidered, eyeing him carefully. â€Å"Make that a third.† â€Å"Hey,† exclaimed Bastien, with mock incredulity. â€Å"I resent that. As if I would ever lie to two such treasures as yourselves !† â€Å"Bastien,† said Phoebe dryly. â€Å"You'll lie to anything female if you think it'll get you in their pants faster.† I laughed in spite of myself, earning me another wounded look from Bastien. â€Å"Fleur, you know that's not true. You've known me longer than anyone.† â€Å"Which is exactly why I know it is true,† I replied solemnly. Bastien muttered something uncomplimentary in French and was saved further indignation when Phoebe's colleague returned to take our order. Phoebe, with our permission, ordered for us, requesting some â€Å"specials† that weren't on the menu. â€Å"Are you a cook here?† I asked her. â€Å"Bartender,† she replied, clasping her hands and resting her chin on them. â€Å"Gives me something to do until the show starts.† â€Å"Show?† Bastien's earlier dismay was gone, replaced with an expression of supreme smugness. â€Å"You see, Fleur? I told you I had a good reason for coming here. My lady Phoebe here is a . . .† He paused delicately. â€Å"Is it still polite to say ‘showgirl'? I can never keep track of what's PC anymore. It took me ages to figure out why I kept getting in trouble for calling career women ‘working girls.' â€Å" Phoebe laughed. â€Å"Yes, ‘showgirl' is fine.† I felt myself sitting up straighter. â€Å"You're a dancer? Where do you perform?† â€Å"Here,† she said. â€Å"Or, well, I will in a couple months. It hasn't opened yet.† â€Å"What kind is it?† I asked. â€Å"I mean, is there a theme?† â€Å"It's a full-fledged Vegas music-dance extravaganza. Exactly what you'd expect from a place called Sparkles. Rhinestones everywhere. Scanty, but not topless.† She tilted her head, regarding me with interest. â€Å"Are you a dancer?† â€Å"I dance,† I said modestly. â€Å"I haven't done full stage performances in a very long time, though. I'm out of practice.† Bastien scoffed. â€Å"That's nonsense. Fleur can pick up any routine. She used to bring the dance halls of Paris to their knees.† â€Å"Yeah,† I said. â€Å"A long time ago.† â€Å"Are you interested in being in it?† asked Phoebe, face serious. â€Å"They're still scouting. I can get you an audition. Although . . . you might want to make yourself taller.† â€Å"I . . . I don't know,† I said, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. â€Å"I mean, my transfer doesn't take place until next month. . . .† Phoebe was unconcerned. â€Å"I don't think Matthias would mind. He's the company manager. In fact . . .† She glanced at her watch. â€Å"He'll be around in another hour or so. I can take you to meet him.† â€Å"She'd be happy to,† said Bastien. â€Å"I'm sure she can answer for herself, monsieur,† replied Phoebe tartly. I chuckled at seeing Bastien dressed down again. â€Å"I'd love it. That'd be great.† Phoebe left us as our food began arriving, promising to return at the end of our meal. Everything she'd ordered for us was amazing, and I fretted over eating so much since I wasn't entirely sure if this meeting with the company manager would turn into a full-fledged audition. â€Å"Lovely, isn't she?† asked Bastien. â€Å"She is,† I agreed. â€Å"You were right.† What I found more astonishing than having the chance to dance in a Las Vegas show was that Phoebe was responsible for orchestrating it – and had seemed genuinely happy to do so. In my experience, succubi would jealously guard those kinds of positions, keeping out the competition. â€Å"I have no doubt you'll dance your way right into this Matthias's heart,† Bastien mused. He gave a mournful sigh. â€Å"Would that I could dance so easily into Phoebe's heart.† â€Å"She's too smart for you,† I said. â€Å"She knows your tricks.† â€Å"Of course she does. I'd think that would be half the appeal.† He paused to finish off the last of his cocktail. â€Å"Speaking of bizarre attractions . . . I'm totally behind in what's transpiring in your Northwestern world. Are you still joined at the hip with that introverted mortal?† â€Å"Literally and figuratively,† I told him. Thinking of Seth diminished some of my earlier good mood. â€Å"This transfer . . . it was kind of a shock. I don't know how it's going to affect our relationship.† Bastien shrugged. â€Å"Bring him here.† â€Å"It's a little more complicated than that.† â€Å"Not if he wants you badly enough. Here.† Bastien waved to get the waitress's attention. â€Å"Have another round with me. That'll fix everything.† â€Å"Not when I might have to dance soon!† But I shared the round anyway and found my cheerfulness returning. It was hard not to with Bastien. I'd known him for a long time, and there was something so easy and comforting about being in his presence. We swapped stories and gossip on immortals we knew, and I got the scoop on some of the more colorful ones I'd eventually be meeting here in Las Vegas. Phoebe returned just as we were paying the bill, having swapped her work attire for casual dance clothing. She led us back through the labyrinthine glitz of the casino and into the quieter and much more subdued back halls of the building. They in turn led to a backstage door to the casino's theatre, which wasn't yet open to the public. We found the vast space empty, save a couple guys installing tables in the seating area. The pounding of their hammers echoed through the room. A moment later, I did a double take when I saw a man sitting off to the side of the stage, so still I'd hardly noticed him. He glanced up from a sheaf of papers at our approach. â€Å"Phoebe,† he said. â€Å"You're early.† â€Å"I wanted to introduce you to someone,† she said. â€Å"Matthias, these are my friends Bastien and Georgina. Georgina's moving here next month.† Matthias looked like he was in his late twenties, early thirties at most, and had sandy blond hair in need of a haircut. There was something cute about its disheveled state, and he took off wire-rimmed glasses to peer up at me. I couldn't help but think Ian would've liked those glasses, but unlike Ian, Matthias probably needed them. Matthias blinked a couple of times, and then his eyebrows rose in surprise. â€Å"You're a dancer,† he said to me. â€Å"Er, yeah, I am. How'd you know?† Per Phoebe's suggestion, I'd made myself put on some height while we were walking down the back halls, but that was hardly enough to tip him off. Matthias got to his feet and studied me up and down, not in a leering kind of way . . . but more like how someone assesses the value of a piece of art. â€Å"It's in how you walk and stand. There's a grace to it. An energy. It's exactly what she does.† He nodded toward Phoebe. â€Å"Are you guys sisters?† â€Å"No,† said Phoebe. â€Å"But we've taken some of the same classes.† Bastien choked on a laugh. Matthias was nodding, completely enraptured. He picked up his papers and flipped through the pages. â€Å"Yes . . . yes . . . we could definitely use you here and here.† He paused, checking a few more places. â€Å"And here. Maybe even here.† He jerked his head up, blue eyes alight and excited. â€Å"Let's see what you can do. Phoebe – do the opening part of the second number.† Phoebe responded instantly, springing to center stage and instantly falling into line as Matthias began counting off beats. When they finished, he looked at me expectantly. â€Å"Now you do it.† I started to point out that I was in heels and a dress but then realized showgirl attire probably wouldn't be too different. I took a spot near Phoebe and mirrored her as Matthias counted again. We repeated the combination, and by the third time, I hardly had to look at her to get the steps. He directed her to a different number, slightly more complicated, and a similar performance ensued as I sought to match her. When we finished, he clicked his tongue in approval. â€Å"Amazing,† he said. â€Å"You guys need to tell me where you trained so that I can recruit all your classmates.† Turning back to his papers, he began scribbling notes. â€Å"Phoebe, can you lend her some clothes for practice? Not that it'll affect her performance, of course, but I imagine she'd be more comfortable in something else for two hours of rehearsal.† Phoebe winked at me. â€Å"I'm pretty sure we can get her a change of clothes.† I glanced between her and Matthias. â€Å"Rehearsal?† â€Å"Sure,† said Matthias, still not looking up. â€Å"That's what we do to get ready for performances around here.† â€Å"You want to be in the show, don't you, Lucy?† teased Bastien. â€Å"I understand . . . but I'm not moving to Las Vegas until January,† I explained. â€Å"I have to go home tomorrow night.† Matthias finally glanced up briefly from his beloved notes, seeming as pained as Seth often was when interrupted while writing a book. â€Å"You're here right now, aren't you? Might as well get started. Unless you've got something else going on?† I looked helplessly at Bastien and Phoebe, who were grinning like idiots. The incubus slung a friendly arm around me. â€Å"Of course she doesn't.† After a moment's hesitation, I gave a slow nod, still a little overwhelmed at how fast things were moving here. â€Å"I . . . I'd love to rehearse.†