Flannery Oconnor Essays - Flannery OConnor, , Term Papers

Flannery O'connor Flannery O'Connor and the Relationship Between Two of Her Stories Author, Flannery O'Connor was born Mary Flannery O'Connor on March 25, 1925 in Savannah, Georgia, as the only child to Edward F. O'Connor, Jr., and Regina (Cline) O'Connor. Later in 1941, Flannery O'Connor's father dies of lupus while O'Connor is in Milledgeville, Ga. After her father's death, O'Connor rarely speaks of him and continues to be active in school projects such as drawing, reading, writing, and playing instraments. Further, in the summer of 1942, O'Connor graduates and enters Georgia State College for Women as a sociology and English major. Moreover, O'Connor took on the name Flannery O'Connor, dropping Mary from her signature. When O'Connor graduates from college, she leaves for Iowa City and applies for several college teaching positions while attending the University of Iowa. Thus, she receives her Masters of Fine Arts in 1947. Although her first story, ?The Geranium? was publised in Accent, during the summer of 1946, it was only the beginning of many of her works to b e published. Like her father, O'Connor was living with lupus and her first major attack came in December, 1950. However, O'Connor did not allow the disease to keep her from writing and getting her works published. In fact, she got her nineth story , ?A Good Man Is Hard to Find? published. Also, O'Connor has won many prizes and awards with her writings over the years. For instance, she was named the Honorary Doctor of Letters by institutions, was the first prize of the O. Henry award in 1957 and 1963 and had previously won second in 1954 and 1955. Moreover, O'Connor died on August 3, 1964 I a Milledgeville hospital. Nevertheless, her stories continued to reign as award winners and are still chosen often to be read by college instructors and their students. ?A Good Man Is Hard to Find? and ?Good Country People? are two of many short stories by Flannery O'Connor. In addition, the two stories enfold a mystery ending in catastrophe. O'Connor uses plenty of irony or subtle kind of sarcasm in developing each of the stories. Coincidentally, ?A Good Man Is Hard To Find? and ?Good Country People? are both set in the South during the earlier years, when segregation was an issue and trust was not. ?A Good Man Is Hard to Find? and ?Good Country People? are two ironically twisted tales of how two different families lives are altered after trusting and being mislead by a stranger. In ?A Good Man Is Hard to Find,? O'Connor introduces a family whose lives ironically turn up side down while on a trip to Florida. For instance, before leaving on the trip, the grandmother (who wants to go to Tennessee in stead of Florida) tells her son, Bailey, about the newspaper article. Thus, the article states that a prisoner escapes to Florida and calls himself the misfit. However, her son basically ignores her and they end up taking the trip to Florida regardless of the warning. Also, the grandmother takes her cat, Pitty Sing, along on the trip in order to prevent any mishaps by leaving her behind. In addition, the grandmother wears a pin so that if she dies in an accident anyone who finds her, knows that she is a woman. Moreover, she points out several different sights on her way to Florida. Most significantly, she says, ?Look at that graveyard (O'Connor 139)!? With a twist the family decides to take a detour on a dirt road in Georgia with the intentions of visiting an old plantation. Unfortunately, this frightens Pitty Sing and she springs onto Bailey's shoulder while he is driving. As a result, this causes an accident. ? The horrible thought that she [ the grandmother] was having before the accident was that the house she had remembered so vividly was not in Georgia but in Tennessee? ( 145). Minutes later, the grandmother flagged down a big black hearse-like car with three men inside. ?You're The Misfit? I recognized you at once,? says the grandmother to the older man (147) .? Nevertheless, the misfit kills the entire family. In ?Good Country People,? a second story by O'Connor, another family mistakes a trusted stranger and this

The History of Black Muslims in America

The History of Black Muslims in America The long history of Black Muslims in America  goes far beyond the legacy of Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam. Understanding the  complete history  gives valuable insight into black American religious traditions and the development of Islamophobia. Enslaved Muslims in America Historians estimate that between 15 and 30 percent (as many as 600,000 to 1.2 million) of enslaved Africans brought to North America were Muslim. Many of these Muslims were literate, able to read and write in Arabic. In order to preserve the new development of race in which â€Å"Negroes† were classified as barbaric and uncivilized, some African Muslims (primarily those with lighter skin, slimmer features or looser hair textures) were categorized as â€Å"Moors,† creating a level of stratification amongst enslaved populations. White slaveholders often forced Christianity onto slave populations through forced assimilation, and Muslim slaves reacted to this in a variety of ways. Some became pseudo-converts to Christianity, utilizing what is known as taqiyah: the practice of denying one’s religion when faced with persecution. Within Islam, taqiyah is permissible when used to protect religious beliefs. Others, like Muhammad Bilali, author of the Bilali Document/The Ben Ali Diary, attempted to hold onto their Islamic roots without converting. In the early 1800s, Bilali started a community of African Muslims in Georgia called Sapelo Square. Others were not able to successfully circumnavigate forced conversion and instead brought aspects of Islam into their new religion. The Gullah-Geechee people, for example, developed a tradition known as a â€Å"Ring Shout,† which mimics the ritual counter-clockwise circling (tawaf) of the Kaaba in Mecca. Others continued practicing forms of sadaqah (charity), which is one of the five pillars of Islam. Descendants from Sapelo Square like Katie Brown, great grand-daughter of Salih Bilali, recall that some would make flat rice cakes called â€Å"saraka†. These rice cakes would be blessed using â€Å"Amiin,† the Arabic word for â€Å"Amen.† Other congregations took to praying in the east, with their backs facing the west because that was the way the devil sat. And, further still, they took to offering part of their prayers on rugs while on their knees. The Moorish Science Temple and Nation of Islam While the horrors of slavery and forced conversion were largely successful in silencing enslaved African Muslims, Islam continued to exist within the conscience of a people. Most notably, this historical memory led to the development of proto-Islamic institutions, which borrowed from and re-imagined Islamic tradition to answer specifically to the reality of black Americans. The first of these institutions was the Moorish Science Temple, founded in 1913. The second, and most well known, was the Nation of Islam (NOI), founded in 1930. There were Black Muslims practicing outside these institutions, like the Black American Ahmadiyya Muslims in the 1920s and the Dar al-Islam movement. However, proto-Islamic institutions, namely the NOI, gave way to the development of â€Å"Muslim† as a political identity rooted in black politics. Black Muslim Culture During the 1960s, Black Muslims were perceived as radical, as the NOI and figures such as Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali grew in prominence. The media focused on developing a narrative of fear, characterizing Black Muslims as dangerous outsiders in a country built on white, Christian ethics. Muhammad Ali captured the fear of the greater public perfectly when he said, â€Å"I am America. I am the part you wont recognize. But get used to me. Black, confident, cocky; my name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get used to me.† Black Muslim identity also developed outside of the political sphere. Black American Muslims have contributed to a variety of musical genres, including the blues and jazz. Songs such as â€Å"Levee Camp Holler† utilized singing styles reminiscent of the adhan, or the call to prayer. In â€Å"A Love Supreme†, jazz musician John Coltrane uses a prayer format which mimics the semantics of the opening chapter of the Quran. Black Muslim artistry has also played a role in hip-hop and rap. Groups like The Five-Percent Nation, an offshoot of the Nation of Islam, the Wu-Tang Clan, and A Tribe Called Quest all had multiple Muslim members. Islamophobia Historically, the FBI has claimed that Islam is the greatest enabler of black radicalism and it continues to follow that line of thought today. In August 2017, an FBI report cited a new terroristic threat, â€Å"Black Identity Extremists†, in which Islam was singled out as a radicalizing factor. Programs such as Countering Violent Extremism couple with xenophobia to promote entrapment and cultures of surveillance, following past FBI programs such as the Counter Intelligence Program (COINTELPro). These programs target Black Muslims through the very specific nature of America’s anti-black Islamophobia.

District Attorneys office Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

District Attorneys office - Research Paper Example A good attorney spends most of their time researching, has a great memory and writes convincingly, so any degree that prepares on for this is probably a good choice. Depending on what particular field in law one wants to go into, there are other options. It is not unheard of for individuals with an established career to attend law school in mid-life in order to become a litigator in their chosen field. Many colleges offer some sort of pre-law coursework and this is not a bad idea if it can be worked into the schedule. Any course of study at the undergraduate level that familiarizes the student with the course of study in law school will be of benefit and help the student achieve higher comprehension and higher grades in law school. Asking the prospective law school what kind of coursework would be beneficial will result in solid information as to what the admissions board would like to see. Wise students will try to provide the admissions board with a high GPA along with the course o f study and life experience the board is looking for if they want to be admitted. If law school is the goal, then the undergraduate degree is just the final step on the path prior to law school. With undergraduate degree in hand, the next step is to get accepted into law school. An appropriate degree from a good school, a high grade point average and an excellent LCAT score should provide the applicant with many options as to which school to consider. There are three types of law schools and each provides the student with a different experience and benefits package for a variable price. : Ivy League schools such as Harvard or Yale are the top tier, where the coursework is rigorous but the real value is the rolodex one could walk away with after graduation. Ivy League schools are expensive and should be considered an investment in who one gets to know as much as what one learns. The value of relationships and â€Å"connections† cannot be understated, and this is the true value of attending the prestige schools. There are plenty of solid Universities that have excellent law schools, all provide a solid education and possibly some good connections but the value of this choice is the quality of the education in terms of cost. It is possible to shop around and find a well-regarded law school that offers the degree for a much lower price than a comparable school. Keep in mind that the admission process will be tougher because more people will be applying. (Sedberry) The bottom tier schools simply provide one with a degree and hopefully the preparation necessary to pass the bar exams. Cost and time are usually the major issues here, as it is possible to go to school part time and complete a law degree in four to six years. Several schools offer online law degrees (adultlearn.com). A prosecutor works for the State, so any law school will work as long as it results in passing the bar exam. The better the school the better-off the individual is when trying to get hired, but passing the bar exams makes the attorney a member in good standing with the union. The course of study in law school is normally three years and results in the award of the Juris Doctorate degree. In general, the first two years of law school consists of the basic curriculum and all the students are in competition with one another. The class standing is based on the performance in these classes. One way to

Setting plays a crucial role in both of these stories. Discuss the Essay

Setting plays a crucial role in both of these stories. Discuss the importance of setting and how it contributes to the stories plots and resolutions - Essay Example the fifth or sixth month of his seclusion, and while the pestilence raged most furiously abroad, that the Prince Prospero entertained his thousand friends at a masked ball of the most unusual magnificence†(Poe, 251). This is a significant contrast of events occurring simultaneously, a deadly disease and a magnificent ball. The story essentially follows Prince Prospero from his seclusion to the time of his marvelous masquerade at his abbey. It is within his abbey that Prince Prospero desperately tries to hide himself from the horrible â€Å"red death†, but is eventually victim to death at his very own masquerade within his abbey. This is ultimately a setting of hiding and a contrast between reality and human disillusionment. Despite his efforts to avoid the â€Å"red death†, Prince Prospero succumbs to inevitable fate within the very bungalow that he used as a hiding place from a would be death. Ultimately, the setting of this piece is a grand disillusionment on the part of the Prince. In the piece written by Susan Glaspell, Trifles, the reader finds a more elemental setting. This piece introduces itself within the kitchen of a now abandoned farmhouse. This is of course the farmhouse kitchen of the Wright’s, and a very unkempt kitchen at that. This is a clue to the chaos of the situation that plays out within the piece, â€Å"The kitchen in the now abandoned farmhouse of John Wright, a gloomy kitchen, and left without having been put in order - the walls covered with a faded wallpaper†(Glaspell, 1290). The setting that the reader finds in Trifles is more realistic and conducive to the plot than that of the setting of The Masque of the Red Death. Trifles is an illustration of a woman pushed entirely too far and too long by her husband. Finally, she murders her husband and naturally, the kitchen is a mess. The entirety of the piece takes place within the home of the Wrights, a simple farmhouse showing signs of a tremulous marriage at best. The clichà ©

Procter & Gamble Paper Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Procter & Gamble Paper - Case Study Example This became rather beneficial for the P&G to improve its brand image and position in the market among others. In the year 1890, Procter & Gamble integrated extra funds so as to enhance the business process of the P&G. Moreover, innovative machines and analytical labs were also introduced so as to improve the soap making procedure of P&G. It was the first research labs in the American industry which augmented the status and the corporate image of P&G in the market among others and marked the company as a market leader (Eugene, 2005). After that the company continued to expand and develop for the next 120 years with the help of extensive research and development, modernization and global expansions. Apart from this, P&G also developed new products such as Tide detergent and Crest toothpaste, which became quite famous in the market. This ultimately facilitated P&G to become a global market leader by 1993 resulting in the enhancement of the sales by US$30 billion. At this time, P&G was n ot only a market leader but also an innovator of new product lines which were highly appreciable among the other competitors. This helped to improve the market share and the brand identity of the company in the international market. This as a result improved the turnover of the company to a wide extent. Still, P&G continued its pace of movements and in the year 1999, it purchased a pet food producing company Iams. At that time, Iams was also one of the reputed brands in the sector of pet food manufacturing in the US. Hence, this helped P&G’s endeavor to become a multinational corporation working worldwide. Iams was a company developed by an animal nutritionist with the vision to improve the welfare of the dogs and cats by offering them with eminent quality of foods and care. As P&G deals with animal well-being which is one of the significant responsibilities of ‘PETA’, so its role is mandatory. PETA refers to ‘people for the ethical treatment of animalsâ₠¬â„¢ which was established in 1980 so as to defend the rights of the animals and maintain the interests of the animals. However, unfortunately certain unethical conducts of P&G on the animals hampered its brand image and marked the beginning of the investigation by PETA (Eugene, 2005). Question 1 Due to unethical treatment of animals, Procter & Gamble had faced risk of reputation damage (Eugene, 2005). Therefore, damage in reputation can impact upon the communication of stakeholders with the company. It is uncertain that how the stakeholders will react in the reputation crisis of Procter and Gamble. The stakeholders can be any group which can impact or can be impacted by the performance of Procter & Gamble, such as advertisement agencies, financiers, wholesalers, traders, community groups, competitors, customers, clients, employees, franchises, global managers, investors, law administration officers, licensers, media, politicians, suppliers and salespersons. Among them the most sign ificant stakeholders that will be affected most are customers, clients, suppliers, financiers, law administration officers, licensers and investors. Protecting reputation is vital for any organization in order to retain a position in the market and to avoid poor status in the industry. Managing the reputation is the way about how an organization is satisfying the expectations of stakeholders on the basis of past performances. Reputation is extensively acknowledged as a worthy intangible resource which helps to entice more customers and investors,

Alzheimer’s Disease Case Study

Alzheimer’s Disease Case Study B. Trimble Case Study M. T. an 86-year-old Asian male is brought into the geriatric clinic by his daughter because he is becoming more forgetful. The daughter explains that the patient often does not even recognize his own grandson. When asked, however, the patient denies memory impairment. The daughter states that her father has been having trouble for almost four years now. She said she did not realize how much her father had changed until she watched a home video of her father with his grandson from six years ago. â€Å"His personality has even seemed to have changed, said the daughter. M.T. is no longer able to take care of his house and household chores and is sometimes slow to respond to questions. Past Medical History Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) with the last occurrence three years ago. Social History Retired sanitation worker times fifteen years. Lives with his daughter since his wife died five years ago. Previous cigarette smoker quit fifteen years ago. Denies ethyl alcohol (ETOH), and intravenous drug abuse. Family History Father died in combat in Korea Mother died at age 92, unknown cause Medications and allergies NKDA Prevacid 30 mg orally once daily Mylanta 30 ml orally as needed for stomach upset Aspirin EC 81 mg orally once daily Tylenol 325 mg orally as needed for headache Physical Examination General – patient is a thin, pleasant man, with working memory in no acute distress. Vital signs – BP 145/78 , pulse 80 RR 17 , WT 70 kg , Ht 6’2† BMI 19.8 HEENT- Pupils PERLA Ears with cerumen Neck no bruit no JVD Cardiovascular – Normal sinus rhythm, S1 S2, negative for S3/S4, resp RRR Neuro – Aox1 (Oriented to person only), CN – XII – XII intact, reflex normal Abdomen – positive bowel sounds, non-tender, non-distended External – WNL, no clubbing, cyanosis, or edema Laboratory Tests Albumin – (3.6-5 g/dL) 3.6g/dL total protein – (6.3-8.2g/dL) 6.8g/dL Alk Phos – (38-126U/L) 41U/L ALT – (7-58 U/L) 21 U/L AST – (7-58 U/L) 21 U/L bilirubin – (0.2-1.3ug/dL) 0.3ug/dL BUN – (8-25mg/dL) 11mg/dL HgB – (13.2-15.2 g/dL) 13.5g/dL SCr- (0.5-1.4mg/dL) 0.7mg/dL Hct (40-52%) 39% Na+ (134- 146 mEq/dL) 136 mEq/dL Plts – (140-450 mm3) 300,000/mm2 Cl-(98-107mEq/dL) 103 mEq/dL WBC – (4.1-10.9mm3) 8700/mm2 Bicarb – (22-26 mEq/dL) 24 mEq/dL ESR – ( Glucose – (65-110mg/dL) 101mg/dL B12 – (223-1132 pg. /ml) 452pg/ml Ca- (8.9-10.4 mEq/dL) 8.5 mEq/dL folate – (3.6-20ng/dL) 6.4ng/dL Mag – (1.6-2.4mEq/dL)1.9 mEq/dLFTI – (4-11) 6.3 Phos (2.5-4.5 mg/dL) 3.3 mg/dLT3 – (75-220ng/dL) 101ng/dL Cholesterol- (T4 – (4-11mEq/dL) 6.1 mEq/dL TSH – (0.35-6.2 microU/uL) 2.0 micro Unit/uLRPR – non-reactive Radiology Testing CT scan impression mild cortical atrophy Diagnosis Dementia (senile dementia) is a syndrome rather than a distinct disease entity. It is usually progressive and irreversible. It is characterized by a general decline in cognitive abilities that may include losses of memory, abstract reasoning, judgment, and impulse control, as well as changes in personality. It is usually subtle in onset and often progresses slowly until symptoms are very obvious and profoundly devastating. The three most common dementias are Alzheimer’s disease, multi-infarct dementia, and a mixed Alzheimer’s disease and multi-infarct dementia (Cayton, Graham, Warner, 2004). Alzheimer’s disease is sometimes called primary degenerative dementia or senile dementia of the Alzheimer’s type. It accounts for at least 80 percent of all the dementias suffered by the elderly (Whalley, Lawrence, Breitner, 2009). It is a progressive, irreversible, degenerative neurologic disease of unknown origin that begins insidiously. The highest incidence is among persons 65 years and older with increasing incidence after age 70. The life expectancy following the diagnosis varies from six to twenty years (Whalley, Lawrence, Breitner, 2009). The etiology of the disease is unknown, but there are specific neuropathologic and biochemical changes. These include neurofibrillary tangles and senile or neuritic plaques. This neuronal damage occurs primarily in the cerebral cortex and results in decreased brain size. These changes are found to a lesser extent in normal brain tissue of older adults. Cells principally affected by this disease are the ones that use the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Biochemically, the enzyme active in producing acetylcholine is decreased. Acetylcholine is specifically involved in memory processing (Whalley, Lawrence, Breitner, 2009). Clinical manifestation Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are highly variable. Early in the disease, forgetfulness and subtle memory loss occur, but the victim has adequate cognitive function to hide the loss. Social skills and behavior patterns remain intact; problems are difficult to detect on casual observation (Cayton, Graham, Warner, 2004). With further progression of the disease there is an inability to conceal the deficits. Forgetfulness is manifested in many daily actions. The victim may lose his way in a familiar environment. He may repeat the same stories because he forgets that he told them. Reasoning and reality orientation by caregivers increase the patient’s anxiety without increasing function, because this is also forgotten (Cayton, Graham, Warner, 2004). Conversations become difficult because the victim forgets what he was about to say or may not be able to remember words. Ability to formulate concepts and think abstractly disappears (Cayton, Graham, Warner, 2004). The person can interpret a proverb only in concrete terms. The victim is often unable to appreciate the consequences of his actions and will therefore exhibit impulsive behavior. He will have difficulty with everyday activities such as working simple appliances and handling money (Cayton, Graham, Warner, 2004). Personality changes are usually negative. The patient may become depressed, suspicious, paranoid, hostile, and even combative (Whalley, Lawrence, Breitner, 2009). Progression of the disease intensifies the symptoms. Speaking skills deteriorate to nonsense syllables; agitation and physical activity increase. A voracious appetite often develops because of the high activity level. The patient may wander at night for hours. Eventually he will need help in all areas of personal care including toileting and eating; dysphagia occurs and incontinence develops. The terminal stage may last for months (Cayton, Graham, Warner, 2004). Treatment Treatment for dementia of the Alzheimer’s type will be Aricept 5 mg once daily at bedtime. After four weeks symptoms will be reviewed, and titration to ten mg once daily may be initiated, depending upon results. Maximum dosage of 23 mg daily if needed after three months of 10-mg treatments (Katzung, Mastes, Trevor, 2012). Follow up in office in four weeks. Discontinued use of Prevacid, as the medication is implicated in low platelet, WBC, HgB and Hct, calcium, and B12 levels (Brunton, Chabner, Knollman, 2011). Follow-up blood work in four weeks, should include CBC with differential, CMP, liver panel, weight, and blood pressure. Patient is borderline hypertensive and increase in fluid volume may correct this issue. Patient should be encouraged to change diet to a high-protein diet with adequate hydration. If platelet count and WBC count continue to be below normal a hematology consult will be discussed. Referral to Alzheimer’s support group will be given to the daughter. References Brunton, L., Chabner, B., Knollman, B. (2011). Goodman Gilmans: The pharmacological basis of therapeutics (12 ed.). McGraw-Hill. Cayton, H., Graham, N., Warner, J. (2004). Dementia: Alzheimers and other dementias: At your fingertips guide (2 ed.). London: Class. Katzung, B., Mastes, S., Trevor, A. (2012). Basic clinical pharmacology (12 ed.). McGraw-Hill. Whalley, L., Lawrence, J., Breitner, J. (2009). Dementia (2 ed.). Health Press.

Nauru: The Gap Between Perception and Reality Essay -- Country Analysi

It would be easy to overlook the third smallest country in the world as a frivolous waste of time. Nothing could be further from the truth in regards to the island of Nauru. It is a multifarious nation described as almost a topographical micro slice of paradise. The Nauruan people have formed a democratic republic with a constitution safeguarding liberties and ensuring prosperity. At least this is according to the Nauru websites available to the public. Countries often present themselves as a glossy postcard picture on the outside. This picture does not always match the reality of what is on the inside. Looking at what the Nauruan Government and Tourist Organization have to say can serve as a baseline for comparison to the realities that Nauru is facing and the gap between the two. Nauru is a small island located only 26 miles south of the equator with a land mass of just over eight square miles. The government describes the island purely in topographical terms as â€Å"surrounded by a coral reef, exposed at low tide and dotted with pinnacles. The reef is bound seaward by deep water, and inside by a sandy beach. The presence of the reef has prevented the establishment of a seaport †¦a 150–300 meter wide fertile coastal strip lies landward from the beach. Coral cliffs surround the central plateau. The only fertile areas are the narrow coastal belt† (Republic of Nauru [RON], 2012, p.1). The Nauru government is also very proud of their parliamentary democracy and much of their website explains not only the freedom but also compulsory voting at age twenty and above. Their constitution also touts the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms such as â€Å"life, liberty, security of the person, the enjoyment of property and th... ...all, D. (2009). Doomed Island: Nauru's short-sightedness and resulting decline are an urgent warning to the rest of the planet. Alternatives Journal, 35(1), 34-37. Nauru Tourism, Department of Economic Development.(2012). Unique Nauru. Retrieved on 27 May 2012 from: http://www.discovernauru.com/ Singh, S. (2007, Mar 28). South pacific: Island nations struggle with obesity epidemic. Global Information Network, pp. 1. http://search.proquest.com/docview/457564219?Accountid =38569 The Republic of Nauru.(2011). Republic of Nauru. Retrieved on 27 May 2012 from: http://www.naurugov.nr/index.html The Republic of Nauru.(2011). The constitution of Nauru. Retrieved on 27 May 2012 from: http://www.naurugov.nr/parliament/constitution.html U.S, Department of State Website(2012) Background Note: Nauru. Retrieved on 27 May 2012 from: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/16447.htm

Chinese Business Culture Essay

In accordance with our theories, it is necessary for Western exporters to learn about the Chinese business culture in order to be successful in marketing in China. There is an old Chinese proverb, â€Å"Enter village, follow customs†. The Chinese civilization has a long history and evidence shows that the way to get things done in China is to do it in the Chinese way. Chinese business culture is the key to the Chinese way of doing business and their style of negotiating (Fang 1998, p. 71). In this chapter, we aim to provide a framework to help those Western exporters get a better understanding of Chinese people’s business culture. 1. 0 Influence of Confucianism The Chinese culture encompasses diverse and competing philosophies, of which, Confucianism has been identified as the foundation of China’s great cultural tradition. Confucian values emphasis on interpersonal relationship and has provided Chinese business people with a relationship-based business approach (Bond & Wang 1983). An ordinary Chinese person would also agree that business and marketing in China is about relationships to a great extent. The principle of harmony and trust in Confucianism reflects an aspiration toward a conflict-free and group-based system of social relations, and also means that communication in a business negotiation should be harmonious. Further, the principle of hierarchy emphasizes that each individual should be conscious of her or his position in the society, which is also evident in a business negotiation in China, especially in a decision-making process. (Bond & Wang 1983) 2. 0 Guan Xi The Chinese term guan xi, rooted from Confucianism and translated into relationships or connections, is one of the most important traits of Chinese business culture, referring to the concept of drawing on connections or networks in order to secure favours in personal or business relations (Davies et al. 1995). It is a set of concentric circles of contacts, typically stretching from close family, to distant, to more distant relatives, to classmates, to friends, to friends’ friends, and so forth. In the Chinese business world, networking of guan xi is a peculiar advantage which can contribute a variety of commercial privileges and a great deal of business potentials for the marketer. This approach contrasts sharply with the deal-focused, task-oriented business cultures of North America and northern Europe (Gesteland & Seyk 2002). Therefore, to establish a great guan xi with the Chinese counterpart, partners, customers, even the Chinese authorities and government should be an extremely important marketing strategy of Western exporter that wants to be successful on the Chinese market. 3. 0 Establishing a relationship Being relationship-focused, Chinese prefer to deal with family, friends, and persons who they know well and who they can trust. They are uncomfortable talking business with strangers, especially strangers who also are foreigners (Gesteland & Seyk 2002). For this reason, the first step of business negotiation in China takes a lot of time outside of the office for socializing. The Chinese invite foreign guests for dinners, sightseeing, and other activities in order to facilitate the process of getting to know each other. The Chinese will want to know about this foreign company, its reputation and its management, and will be especially interested in the background, rank and personality of the individual foreign executives making the visit. A Western executive may become impatient with this step, both out of pressure to reach a deal quickly and out of the desire to separate business from the private aspect. However, what the Chinese are really doing at this stage is to test the sincerity, intelligence and deference of their prospective business partner before considering doing business with him or her. (Fang 1998) 4. 0 Attitudes to contracts Confucianism’s principles of interpersonal relationship and trust can even make many Chinese business people put relationships before contract (Alston & He 1996). Many Chinese believe that risk in the business can be minimized by developing a quality relationship of guan xi with their business partners. They are more likely to see a contract as a basis of relationship rather than a legal document. Most of the Chinese executives involved in international business realize that Western executives require formal documents in which delivery dates, responsibilities and procedures are explicitly stated and will respect the clauses which they have agreed to. While the Chinese tend to think that, once a relationship has been established, future problems can be solved without legal recourse. And the Chinese are inclined to prefer agreements that are less detailed than the Westerner. Because, for them, changes are anticipated and those detailed contracts can become relatively useless. (Alston & He 1996) Therefore, for a Western exporter, it would be wise to follow the Chinese model and only enter into business relationships with partners one knows and trusts. 5. 0 Face Another important Chinese cultural trait is the Chinese concept of face. In China, face is one’s good reputation in others’ eyes, one’s self-respect, dignity and prestige. If a Chinese is insulted, embarrassed, shamed or criticized in public, he or she will lose face. People can also give their counterpart face by making compliments and doing small favours. Giving face is an effective way to build a solid relationship (Gesteland & Seyk 2002). Face issue is also evident in a Chinese business negotiation context. In the business world, negotiations should be conducted to assure that the Chinese counterparts keep face. Because of face consciousness, a Chinese negotiator would refuse to make any concession. Some of the many delays that Western business negotiators encounter are caused by the Chinese counterpart’s unwillingness to risk losing face. A lot of evidence has shown that a great deal will be gained by helping the Chinese to win face and a great deal will be lost by any slight action which may cause the Chinese losing face. As a result, cognition of the Chinese concept of face plays a critical role in successfully doing business with the Chinese. (Fang 1998) 6. 0 Holistic thinking In general, the Chinese have a deductive cognition, which means reasoning based on theory and logic (Brake et al. 1995). The Chinese are highly deductive in their assessment of opportunities and problems. They usually want to be introduced to a new product, service or other business opportunity by way of a theory. This theory should provide them with a straightforward overview of the opportunity. The meaning and application of the principles of this theory should then be demonstrated with data and facts, although quantitative justification and analysis play a less important role in China than in many inductive Western business environments. Chinese people are likely to be resistant to business proposals which are not presented first in a logical form. (Brake et al. 1995) 7. 0 Speech acts As China has a high-context culture, hinting is an exceedingly common way of communication for the Chinese. Sometimes, Chinese speakers feel that they have been very frank with a clear hint, while the Western listeners still can’t catch the point at all. Elements of â€Å"atmosphere† surrounding the conversation, such as previous experience, hierarchy and many other cultural factors modify the literal meaning of a Chinese speaker’s sentences. For example, â€Å"I agree† might mean â€Å"I agree with 15 percent of what you say†. And â€Å"We might be able to† could mean â€Å"Not a chance†. What is said is often not what the listener is expected to understand. This is one of the biggest culture shocks in many business negotiations between the Westerner and the Chinese (Johnston 1991, p. 209).

Word Choice Comprise vs. Compose

Word Choice Comprise vs. Compose Word Choice: Comprise vs. Compose At this rate, it won’t be long before even pedants  give up on the difference between â€Å"comprise† and â€Å"compose.† After all, â€Å"comprise† is frequently misused, particularly by people writing â€Å"comprised of† when they mean â€Å"composed of.† But it’s our job as Guardians of Language (it sounds snazzier than â€Å"proofreaders†) to defend against grammatical abuses. So, in this post, we explain  how â€Å"comprise† and â€Å"compose† should be used. Comprise (To Contain or Include) The verb â€Å"comprise† means â€Å"contain† or â€Å"consist of,† so it is used when describing a whole that includes multiple parts or components: The United States comprises fifty states. Here, â€Å"comprises† shows that the United States (as a whole) includes fifty individual states. Typically, when using â€Å"comprise,† the whole should come before the parts in the sentence. Compose (To Make Up or Constitute) While also a verb, â€Å"compose† means â€Å"make up† or â€Å"constitute.† As such, we could invert the example above to say: Together, fifty states compose the United States as a republic. In this sentence, the focus is on how the fifty individual states combine to form the United States as a country. Those stars arent just there to look pretty. [Photo: Jnn13]We also see why â€Å"composed of† is acceptable while â€Å"comprised of† isn’t, since â€Å"compose† focuses on the parts that constitute the whole. We can therefore rewrite the example sentence again as: The United States is composed of fifty states. More generally, â€Å"compose† can also mean â€Å"create an artistic work† (particularly music or a painting), or even â€Å"calm oneself† (where its a variation of â€Å"composure,† meaning tranquility). Comprise or Compose? The problem with â€Å"comprised of† is that â€Å"comprise† is the opposite of â€Å"compose,† not a synonym. In short, they can’t be used interchangeably. One good way to remember this is the following: The whole comprises the parts; the parts compose the whole. Here we see how both terms refer to how something is constituted, but from opposite directions; while â€Å"comprise† describes the components as belonging to a whole, â€Å"compose† describes the whole as constituted by its parts.

How Do You Address Your Professional Background in a Job Search

How Do You Address Your Professional Background in a Job Search You might see the phrase â€Å"professional background† popping up now and then in your job search, but what does it mean? The quickest summary is that they’re asking for your  work history. But you shouldn’t stop there–no one really wants a dry list of previous employers. When a hiring manager wants to hear about your  Ã¢â‚¬Å"professional background,† they are looking to learn about your performance and history in your current and past professions.Where Should You Put It?The best place to share this information is perhaps at the top of your resume, in a summary of your qualifications or a career profile- both much more effective than the outmoded â€Å"Objective† section. With each job you apply for, make sure you’ve made a convincing map of your skills and experience as matching the requirements for the job.On a resume, the best way to format your work history and professional accomplishments is probably chronological. But you can also try formatting it in a way that emphasizes jobs you’ve had that are particularly relevant- by type.What Should You Say?Be as honest as possible about what you’ve done and where you’ve worked, but, with that in mind, emphasize your particular skills and expertise as strongly as possible.If you don’t have a white-collar background with fancy managerial positions, that shouldn’t matter. What matters most is your professionalism, how you conducted yourself on the job, and how much you have grown. Showing your record of acting  responsibly and accountably, with excellence and integrity, will do you a world of good.  It’s still a â€Å"professional† background even if you feel your job is not fancy.Go Beyond Just Paid JobsRemember to include training and education- which are more than just academic credentials. Any certifications or skills training or onboarding you’ve acquired in the course of your career are relevant and quite important.Remember, how you look on paper is only the first step. Your resume is a partial summary of your professional background. Use it to get in front of a hiring manager or recruiter, and then expand upon the bullet points while you have the face time.And keep in mind: when an interviewer asks you to tell them about your professional background, remember that they want more than just a chronological list of jobs that they could read straight off your resume. Present yourself professionally, and your background can provide the extra boost you need.

Assessment Plan on College Algebra Research Paper

Assessment Plan on College Algebra - Research Paper Example Three categories of learning outcomes are applied in an algebra course. The outcomes are skills, attitude, and knowledge. Knowledge outcome illustrates discipline methods and processes. The students are expected to understand algebraic formulas and expressions, and then apply them to solve mathematical and scientific questions and problems. Students have adequate knowledge through the correct and effective application of the formulas and expressions. The skills outcome illustrates the approaches needed to effectively understand the algebra discipline. An effective algebra course equips the learners with adequate knowledge of skills such as; critical thinking, research, and communication (Boyer, 2011). Critical thinking enables students to analyze mathematical problems, and then illustrate the most appropriate solution for the problem. Research skills enable the student to adequately collect, analyze and present statistical information, during research projects. The communication skil ls of the students are enhanced because the ability to present and share information on statistical issues is enhanced. Attitude outcome addresses the appreciation of the algebra concepts by the students. The students must understand the importance, and the application, of algebra in the society. The algebra concepts are applicable in many work environments, for instance, engineering, and finance. The algebra is also greatly applied in research; for example, quantitative research in projects, and also in marketing research.

Stage #1 of Final Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Stage #1 of Final Paper - Essay Example s, specifically those in male-dominated industries, are feeling the pressure of â€Å"acting like men,† so that they can gain respect and establish and protect their authority. Being too nice to employees, for instance, is seen as a weakness, of being â€Å"too soft or too womanly,† a negative trait ascribed to female managers. As a result, I became a tough manager, in other words, a â€Å"male manager† that fit gender expectations about management. An example of the need for being acting like a male manager was when a male employee, Sergio, got a complaint from a male customer, Jason. Jason accused Sergio of being a racist, when he said that Sergio sounded â€Å"so nice† when talking with Hispanics, but unruly and arrogant with â€Å"white male customers.† Sergio admitted that he had a different tone when he spoke with Jason, but this was because he claimed that Jason made a racist remark first. When Jason entered the bus, he looked at Sergio and said, â€Å"These Mexicans are taking our jobs dude,† referring to his male companion, who nodded. I understood the racial tension between the two but because we have a company policy against discrimination, I suspended Sergio for a month, which he got angry with saying I was â€Å"too harsh, like I didn’t know what it means to be a minority.† Because of his comments, I often thought about why I needed to toughen up as a manager, which shows n percep tions and what I think as social perceptions about the role of gender in creating and enforcing management attitudinal and behavioral