Changing Teaching Styles Over Time Education Essay

The article by Andrew C Porter and Jere Brophy ( 1988 ) published by the Institute for Research on Teaching analyzes the alterations in learning manner over the recent old ages and compared them with what happens now a twenty-four hours. In recent old ages we have witnessed that there has been a great addition in the esteem of good instruction to non merely the effectivity of schooling but besides on the function of research on learning which would assist in the development of a cognition base to inform the instruction profession about the altering tendencies. In the past old ages the policy shapers and bookmans merely concentrated on the educational equity instead than on the upgrading of the quality of learning profession. Today it is being seen that educational reform leaders states that we have to presume new powers and duties in order to redesign schools for the hereafter and fix knowing instructors. Different orientations to learning are besides being discussed in this article that reflect the different ends that instructors hold about their direction merely needed to explicate the difference among the instruction effectivity. There is no 1 to one relationship between instructor ‘s ends and results, effectivity can merely be measured through the topic cognition, teaching method and pupil ratings. Some of the major features of a instructor are being discussed. They promote larning through pass oning with their pupils ; they provide their pupils with those schemes that are good for them in monitoring and bettering their ain acquisition attempts with the aid of different acquisition activities. They non merely cognize their topic in deepness but besides seek to get the better of the myocardial infarction leadings that pupil bring to category in relation to their topic. Richard M. Felder and Rebecca Brent ( 1999 ) conducted a research paper that majorly focused on the cardinal footings like the Total Quality Management, effectual Institutional Teaching Improvement Program, and Assessment and Evaluation of Teaching Quality. It chiefly discusses the application of the Total Quality Management in the higher instruction that tends to better the instruction quality. First, the research examines the quality of direction at single footing. Second, so after wards a more complex attack of analysing that how an academic organisation improves the quality of its instructional plan. In the visible radiation of both the person every bit good as the organisational degree taking into history the cultural differences it is besides mentioned that how the quality direction contributes in the betterment of instruction. Timothy J. Gallagher ( 2000 ) , in the article â€Å" Embracing Student Evaluations of Teaching † elaborates the pupil rating as of import standards in mensurating learning effectivity. This affects the quality of learning as a whole. A valid and dependable pupil rating is proven to be an accurate index of mensurating learning effectivity. It can be either measured globally, that is the overall instruction manner. Evaluation can besides be based on specific footings like lucidity, context, account etc. The theory that is discussed in this article tells us that the teacher rating should be utile in nature. For this to be implemented it must be conducted in a civilization that supports the instruction betterment. Chambers, Catherine M. ; Chambers, Paul E ( 2004 ) , in the article named â€Å" Teaching Quality, research and term of office † focal points on the quality of learning. Teaching quality is affected by scholarship and pedagogical preparation. In the context of the entire quality direction model the interaction of instruction and scholarship is being investigated. A strong inducement is being portrayed towards the presentation of learning proficiencies and the research being published. Two of the major constituents of a good instructor are being discussed in this article. They are the schoolroom presentation and content of the class that is delivered. Research is considered as an of import activity to better the human capital that is besides an of import constituent. It helps in the betterment of module ‘s quality of instruction. Ronald A. Berk ( 2005 ) , in the article that was published in the International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education discusses the 12 schemes that are used to mensurate learning effectivity. Teaching effectivity is being measured through different positions like pupil evaluations, self-evaluation, pictures, pupil interviews, alumni evaluations, and employee evaluations, decision maker evaluations, learning scholarships, learning awards, larning outcome step and instruction portfolios. It besides highlights the importance of learning effectivity as it is used for doing major determinations that are formative and summational in nature. They fundamentally focus on bettering and determining the quality of instruction every bit good as the overall performance/status of instructors. The article published in the International Journal of Educational Development by J. Barrs ( 2005 ) , emphasizes on two of import points that are the deductions of the quality of instruction and the factors that contribute to the motive of instructors in rural Punjab. These are besides considered as the of import footings being used to analyse the impact on instructor ‘s public presentation. The research that is carried throughout this article concludes that the impact of local administration has shown a positive consequence on non merely instructor ‘s degree of motive but besides their position. Teacher ‘s attending and their followers of contractual duties have improved through the execution of better answerability and monitoring techniques. Eric A Hanushek and Steven G Rivkin ( 2007 ) researched that how the variables like wage and working conditions have impacted the quality of learning. The writers have come up with the decisions that how salary and work environment affect the quality of schoolroom direction. It is besides being discussed that how quality of learning if affected when instructors move from one school to another. This factor besides has a really deep impact on the accomplishment of pupils. Wages and pupil features are besides examined because it affects learning quality every bit good as the pupil accomplishment. It besides explains that how the fluctuations in the wages and working conditions are impacting the different communities that are the urban, rural, and suburban. It besides gives us the thought that how the tendencies are altering in context with the wages. Working conditions does non alter every bit often as the wages do. While sing policies related to learning wages should be taken as a benc hmark as it provides a good step of alterations that take topographic point in the instructor ‘s quality. A broader decision is that salary additions are considered as both expensive and uneffective factors while covering with the quality of instruction. Tony Yeigh ( 2008 ) , in his paper that was published in the Australian Journal of Teacher Education negotiations about the importance of learning accomplishments that are required for efficient instruction. He besides discusses that these accomplishments need to be upgraded and necessitate development and shining. It is besides highlighted that how these accomplishments impact the acquisition. The theoretical account that is mentioned in this paper is non merely good for the pupils but besides for the instructors. It helps in bettering the pupils larning results and besides the professional acquisition of the instructors. It loosely talks about the three dimensions of quality instruction. The quality of instruction is explained through the dimensions of rational quality, quality acquisition environment and in conclusion the significance. The paper besides throws some visible radiation on some of the of import features of a good instructor. It besides focuses on the professional acqu isition procedures, along with the fact that how these processes farther on aid us in accomplishing the instruction quality that we are seeking to pull out. Shuhong Wen ( 2008 ) , in the research paper focuses on the Evaluation Indicator for learning Quality of college instructors. It besides discusses the endowments that are at that place at the high degree, high devising and invention ability that are considered to be the undertaking of the higher instruction. The degree of quality of learning determines the degree of the endowments that are being cultivated and influences the being and development of colleges. If the rating is carried out efficaciously it may bring forth right counsel and inducement map, trigger the enthusiasm rate of instructors towards their profession, and better the instruction methods and contents that finally raise the quality of learning. It besides reflects the major maps of the index system, and how it with its measure by measure attack helps in the rating of learning quality.

Business Enviroment

HND Business Management Unit 1:Business Environment Outcome 1:Understand the organizational purposes of business. Outcome 2:Understand the nature of national environment in which the business operates Outcome 3:Understand the behaviour of organizations in their marketenvironment Outcome 4:Assess the significance of global factors that shape nationalbusiness environment ScenarioUnderstanding the relationship between businesses and the environment within which the business operate is very important in shaping the behaviour of the business. In your role as an assistant to the Business Development Manager, you will need to develop strategies that allow your organization to meet its purposes in ways that comply with the relevant legal and regulatory frameworks. This would involve intensive research on the organizational purposes and the nature of the environment in which the business operate.TASK One: Group presentation – 25 March 2013 (PT): Exam – 25 March 2013 (NR) (P1, P2 , P3) P1Identify the purposes of different types of organization. P2Describe the extent to which an organization meets the objectives of different stakeholders P3Explain the responsibilities of an organization and strategies employed to meet them Guidelines to achieve * P1: You must describe different types of organizations in order to identify the purposes of the organization (e. . public sector, municipality, charity, private sector, PLC, and briefly explain aims, purpose and objectives of each etc). Discussion of vision, mission, goals an objectives of various organizations will be needed * P2: Discuss different types of stakeholders involved with an organization Stakeholders could include staff, unions, suppliers, customers, banks, shareholders, national and local media, community, authorities, government etc.Describe the extent to which an organization meets the objectives of its stakeholders; Stakeholders mapping, analysis and suggested strategies * P3: Summarize areas of resp onsibilities to customers, owners, shareholders, employees, suppliers, to physical environment and possibly to local, national and international community, etc Explain strategies (long term approaches) employed to meet them by a specific organization. TASK Two: Report – 22 April 2013 (P4, P5, P6, M1)P4Explain how economic systems attempt to allocate resources effectively P5Assess the impact of fiscal and monetary policy on business organisations and their activities P6Evaluate the impact of competition policy and other regulatory mechanisms on the activities of a selected organization. M1Identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutions Guidelines to achieve: * P4 : Briefly describe main economic systems like socialism, state economy, etc. and explain how each economic system attempts to allocate resources (people, raw material, money etc) effectively; * P5 : Explain the governmental policies (e. . monetary, fiscal, social,) explain how the taxation level, interest rate, value of the pound and euro will positively or negatively affect business organization, * P6 : Choose any national or international organization and discuss how it is constrained by competition policies e. g. regarding monopolies and by regulations (good examples might be UK supermarket chains or airport operators) * M1 : Analyse the economic system and governmental policies of the UAE and evaluate how does the UAE attempts to allocate resources effectively.TASK Three: Report – 22 April 2013 (P7, P8, P9, M2, D1) P7Explain how market structures determine the pricing and output decisions of businesses P8Illustrate the way in which market forces shape organizational responses using a range of examples P9Judge how the business and cultural environments shape the behaviour of a selected organization M2Select and apply appropriate methods to different market types D1Use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusions Guidelines to achieve: P7: Describe different market structures (perfect competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition, etc. ) and describe how they affect pricing, distribution, product and service offering (good example is where there is a substantial competition, many suppliers and range of products and services for customers to choose from, another example is where there are few providers, little competition but high demand) * P8 : Discuss the market forces like, demand and supply, pricing decisions, customer expectations, market conditions, competition etc. nd explain how the organizations need to respond to or react to those market factors ( for examples: supermarkets offering many more old brands, or low cost products ) * P9 : Select any national or international business organization and describe how it changes its behavior with changes in the external environment for example in conditions of recession, demographic change, etc. you can also consider if the organization changes over and see how it would respo nd to cultural differences * M2 : Analyse the market structures prevailing in the UAE in the Aviation Industry. D1 : Realistic improvements should be proposed for effective government policies and allocation of resources against defined characteristics for the success of the UAE economy based on the analysis done in the Merit work. TASK Four: Report – 22 April 2013 (P10, P11, P12, M3, D2) P10Discuss the significance of International Trade to UK business organisations P11Analyse the impact of global factors on UK business organizations P12Evaluate the impact of policies of the European Union on UK business organizations M3Present and communicate appropriate findings D2Demonstrate convergent/lateral/creative thinkingGuidelines to achieve: * P10 : Describe the importance of International Trade and reasons of going international. You need to look at import as a mean to satisfy business raw material needs and customers needs but more importantly you must look at export and conside r how much the UK earn from this and how critical it is for the UK economy * P11 : Research and discuss the negative and positive impact of global factors (PESTEL) on UK business organizations . you could look on the negative effect on the euro problems, consider factors such as shortage of raw materials, metal, food, etc. r growing demand from developing countries for products and services * P12 : Discuss the developments of European Union and European Monetary Union; Describe at least two EU policies (working conditions, welfare, and freedom of labour movement) and look on the positive and / or negative effects these might have on UK businesses * M3 : Analyze the implications of European Union policies on a selected UK based business organization (using any two EU policies) * D2 : Assess the current situation of EU and EMU and express your critical thinking on the decision of the UK to not be a part of the EMU policy.TASK| CRITERIA| ASSESSMENT| DUE DATE| 1| P1, P2, P3| Group prese ntation (PT)Exam| 24/26 March 201325 March 2013| 2, 3 and 4| P4 – P12, M1, M2, M3, D1, D2| Individual report| 22 April 2013| Note: * Follow the report style (Arial font, size 12, with 1. spacing, black color) with appropriate title page, page numbers, Titles & sub-titles, Introduction, Conclusion, Bibliography; * Turnitin Certificate is mandatory otherwise the assignments will not be graded. * Sources of information and references are not included in your word count * Word length: Approx. 3500 words (outcomes 2-4) If you need any further assistance with this assignment please contact your tutor

The Engineering Disciplines Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Engineering Disciplines - Essay Example This indicates the numerous career paths that a civil engineering professional can pursue. All civil engineers must have a bachelor’s degree, while advanced degrees are only essential for individuals who want to enter into academic, research, and managerial positions (Bugliarello, 1994). With the various civil engineering disciplines a civil engineer has a lot of fields to choose from. Civil engineering has progressively been developing and thus moving away from the gold-standard which required the necessity to design so as to function and grown into the need to embrace the ability to design to environmental and cost compatibility. This revolution has occurred due to the presence of web and the computers. With the availability of computers, the manual computations and the slide rule have been done away. Designs are now made with the use of Computer Aided Programmes. Geomatics Engineering Geomatics engineering entails the collection of data in the field so that it can be used i n the calculation of mapmaking information which is then used in performing computer-aided drafting and computations. An individual aspiring to be a geomatics engineering professional should take courses in; land information systems, construction surveying, surveying drafting, computer applications in surveying, mapping, fundamentals of imaging/photgrammetry and cartography and GIS software. Some of the places of work for a geomatics engineer can be working for the forest service, agencies for Bureau and land management, national government agencies, highways departments and for small and large engineering survey firms (Drennon, 2005). With the numerous courses studied while doing a geomatic engineering course it opens up a big field for opportunities of employment. The geomatics engineering field has been opening up in the past to include some of the emerging trends such as remote sensing, Geographic information systems (GIS), global navigation satellite system (GNSS), and geodesy. The military have also been having a major interest in this field as it helps them in creating effective and efficient navigation systems which they can use for security purposes. This is an indication on the geomatics engineering opens up various opportunities which are challenging and interesting. Mechanical Engineering Mechanical engineering is among the broadest and widest engineering disciplines. The mechanical engineering discipline entails the manufacture, design, development, and the use of test tools on machines, engines, and mechanical devices. Strong math and science skills are essential for a career in the mechanical engineering discipline. This requires the studying of courses in energy-transfer, engineering science, mechanics and manufacturing disciplines. That is why the primary areas for specialization of mechanical engineers include design mechanics, manufacturing, energy and automotive. Mechanical engineers always work with all aspects of machinery and tools inclu ding design, development, and research phases which allow them various career options within the field. With a bachelor’s degree a mechanical engineer can start with entry level jobs progressing to become chief mechanical engineer. Mechanical engineers can also work in agriculture production or manufacturing, technical sales, maintenance and can become managers or administrators (The Engineer, 2004). Some

Nutrition project 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nutrition project 2 - Essay Example Write a brief (one-page) summary of your interview. Pay a visit to your favorite fast food restaurant. Ask an employee to provide you with nutritional data on the meal you most commonly order there. Most national fast-food chains make this information available to customers. If it is not available in person, use your Internet access and look online. Some fast food restaurants make this information available on their websites (for example, McDonald’s or Burger King). If it is not available, ask at the restaurant for precise ingredients and serving sizes, and use Appendix A in your textbook to figure out the nutrient profiles yourself. What is the serving size for each item? How many calories in each? How much total fat is in your favorite meal? How much saturated fat is in each item? trans fat? Assume that you consume an average of 2,000 kcal a day. What percentage of your recommended daily fat intake is provided by this single meal? What percentage of your total energy? Go to your local grocery store or health food store and check out the labels of three different brands of â€Å"protein bars.† Try to find similar flavors for each brand (e.g., chocolate, lemon, etc.). For each item, document: Make a chart comparing your findings. Based on your data, rate the bars from most to least nutritious, and provide the rationale for your rating. Finally, calculate the average price of a protein bar. How much protein are you getting for your money? How does this compare with the cost of other â€Å"portable† sources of protein, such as yogurt, prepackaged cheese and crackers, or a peanut butter sandwich? I interviewed a middle-aged lady friend who suffers from Type II Diabetes. She was first diagnosed with the condition three years ago. She found out about her condition after visiting her family doctor following recurrent bouts of feeling sickly. During her check-ups, the doctor tested her blood sugar levels that were high. At first, the diagnosis was

Case study assignment Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Case study assignment - Coursework Example ‘Open Systems’ Approach and Icy Foods Open system approach is fundamental to the survival based on external stimuli (Kreitner, 2009). Open systems approach came into effect after World War II when management began thinking that organisations are no more a self-contained unit – free from external influences. The company under discussion namely Icy Foods began its operations in 1999 and continued to grow exponentially at least until 2005. The Smiths adopted a very flexible policy approach for organisational management as that suited to them most for meeting market needs. The informal way of working in Icy Foods encouraged workers to learn varied skills passing through different departments as per the needs. Even the company operated night shifts and weekend working when order book forced them to do so. In fact, the Smiths’ approach was quite flexible in people management. It can be gauged from the fact that employees were trained in several areas of company o perations providing them enough liberty to move where they find themselves more suitable. The Smiths were always keen to invite employee view points on operational aspects to bring efficiency in the operations. The fact remains that employees enjoyed considerable freedom in their overall working including their freedom related to leave. Icy Foods paid them above industry average apart from paying bonuses to high performing workers. The Smiths also motivated workers by declaring monthly awards for performers. The management motivated their workforce to deliver their best in many ways and that is reflected in low rates of employee turnover. Thus, Smiths’ were largely following open systems approach responding well to environmental influences; however, things changed when Icy Foods became a subsidiary of one of the large super market chains namely Megastar Plc. Megastar Lacked Open Systems Approach in Managing Human Resources Brown and Grundy (2012) emphasise that human resource (HR) "strategy is very much a part of an open system with many interdependencies" (p 34). Management of the Megastar not only streamlined the operations but also rationalized the product portfolio keeping only four products while discarding remaining. It is true that the company did a commendable job on operational aspects improving efficiency by 35 percent; however, the company fared badly on human resource development aspects. Employee turnover and absenteeism increased significantly. Employees remained grossly unsatisfied with the management because they were not involved in the decision making. They felt that decisions are thrust upon them by managers and headquarter. It is quite clear that in the process to improve operational efficiency of the firm, the management moved away from the ‘open systems’ approach of management. Trained Workers and employees are not only an important but scarce resource for any organisation and ‘open systems’ approach dicta tes that they must be not only preserved or retained but also allowed to develop within the organisation. It is a fact that new management improved the efficiency of the organisation without making it effective to external influences. Environmental Influences Play Critical Role Cole (2005) argues that several environment factors such as economical, social, technological, or political along with competitive forces keep on exerting influence on any organisation. Most of these external environmental factors are not in control of the firm –

Thesis on Nickel and Dimed Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Thesis on Nickel and Dimed - Essay Example In the one month, he worked fulltime, and he would live only off the amount he would earn in the low wage jobs. His main objective was to determine whether she would be able to live off the money earned. Whether the money would be enough to cater for other services such as rent. I have preferred using the book Nickel and Dimed because I have the same feeling towards low earning workers. As addressed, they experience hard working times in their place of their work. The low earnings earned put these workers in a situation where they are even unable to cater for basic wants such as food, clothing, and shelter. There are also uncertainties caused by unpredictable environment for working. The managers take advantage of low income earners, and they dispose them to cases of unexpected retrenchments and sackings. The managers also expect their workers especially the low qualified ones to work for extended hours, which are not even equivalent to their salaries. Some of the workers problems th ese low earning workers face gets to the extent of physical harassment by their employers (Ehrenreich 25). For example, working as a waiter, one should provide quality services, which will be appealing to the customers. The aim of the hotel owner is to provide quality services to customers so as to maintain a reputable image for hotel. However, managers have a challenge in the provision of these quality services as they also demand qualified manpower. Qualified manpower also comes hand in hand with the better payment. Managers have to employ low income earners as their resources are efficient to them. Most low income earners also do not have a problem in performing difficult and physically demanding tasks. In relation to Barbara Ehrenreich, she worked once worked as waitress where she had difficult as some of the tasks involved were physically demanding. Waiters also face problems in coping with some difficult situations in their working environment. In case of any loss or breakages of items, the workers have accountability of it. This discourages workers as some of the items destroyed are expensive and considering their low income they cannot afford. Another problem waiter faces are about the mode of communication used. Most of the low income earners are not well equipped with etiquette qualities required for efficient provision of these services. There is a language barrier where most of the low income earners travel in far countries, and may have a hard time learning the local language of their location. Language barrier discourage efficient communication among workers and also between the workers and management. In relation Ehrenreich, she finds a hard time relating with managers and usually has a hard time hence becoming a source of problems in her job. These inefficiencies the workers face make them not to have a working environment (Ehrenreich 58). When Ehreinreich is unable to cope with hotel jobs, she heads to Maine. She succeeds with nursing home job . In relation to this, low income earners also do not keep on one job for a long time because of prevailing problems. A low income worker is ready to work in any environment as he does not have any qualification in any job. Considering the increased number of nursing homes due to calamities caused by political instabilities in many countries, low income earners use that chance as a job opportunity. There in nursing homes

Empowerment of women by migratory process Essay

Empowerment of women by migratory process - Essay Example This study was aimed at identifying the global care chain opportunities for women migrants and in the process how they are able to contribute to globalisation and to extend support for working mothers abroad, besides emancipation of themselves and dependant families back home. We have also seen the various aspects of migration and how it contributes to a nation’s economy and what are the impediments and hardships that a nanny has to experience while she remains part of the global care chain. And we have also seen various ways by which the women migrants can assert themselves having waited so long patiently for due recognition and rewards and how to command respect in the society and in the market. Ultimately the study convinces that the women migrants are becoming empowered by migrating to first world countries and finding employment as nannies for working mothers. Migration was until recently synonymous with men alone and women in migration as only followers of their men were invisible though they were also independently migratory. Migration of women was of no consequence as far as historians were concerned until Morokvasik M (1984) characterized women also as participants in the international migration process. The male authors treated both male and female migrators in male gender with the result women never caught the attention of the historians and anthropologists as an integral part of migration and independent of men Even women authors who began projection of women in the process have not been able to take the message out of women’s circle.

Review an article Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Review an article - Assignment Example 1.3 Aim/ Objectives The article has two objectives: a) to show ‘the economic links between UK and the rest of EU’ (Oxford Economics 2009, p.10). Identifying these ties could help to understand the criteria under which the economic integration in EU could be effectively supported (Oxford Economics 2009, p.6); b) ‘to quantify these ties’ (Oxford Economics 2009, p.10). 1.4 Theory Discussed in Literature The main body of the article has been divided into eight parts. In the first of these parts, the key aspects and the potential benefits of EU membership and economic integration are presented. The rest six sections refer to six economic links between UK and EU. It is only in the first section of the study’s main body, i.e. in the part presenting the elements and benefits of EU membership and economic integration where relevant theory is used. Still, in the above section no reference is made to literature, on which the theory presented is based. From this point of view, the actual value of the theory incorporated in this section could be considered as limited, in regard to its contribution in the study. All other sections are based on statistics and relevant data for showing the aspects of the relationship between UK and EU in terms of economics. This strategy of the authors can be considered as rather justified if taking into consideration the nature of the study, which is an economic report. It should be noted that in each section a description of the key aspects of the theme discussed is provided; then, the theme is analyzed using appropriate statistics and figure, as explained in section 1.5 below. In regard to the article’s introductory section, the following issue should be highlighted: the specific section does not include theory, a practice often used in scholarly articles; it just refers to the historical development of EU, aiming to show the steps through which EU has reached its current size. 1.5 Methodology The eco nomic links between UK and EU have been categorized using the following parameters: ‘trade, labour force, tourism, FDI, portfolio investments and banking linkages’ (Oxford Economics 2009, p.6). At the next level, the article has been divided into eight sections, based on the following strategy: after presenting the article’s key issues and findings, in the Executive Summary part of the paper (p.6-9), the Introduction is used for explaining clearly the article’s objectives, for showing the article’s structure and for presenting a brief overview of EU’s history (p.10-11). Then, the main body of the paper is divided into seven sections, each of which shows the figures and statistics related to a particular economic link between UK and EU, as these links were presented above. The first of these sections refers to EU membership and economic integration, as part of EU membership. In this section, theory is used for supporting empirical evidence, in opposition with the other chapters that are based only on statistics and figures; the limitations of the theory used in this section have been analyzed in section 1.4. The rest six sections of the study have been structured as follows: in the beginning of each section an overview of the section’s key findings, something like a conclusion of the

Korean Airline Porter's 5 Forces Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Korean Airline Porter's 5 Forces - Coursework Example The customers of KAL include passengers, corporate organizations as well as other actors in the aircraft industry among others. The table below highlights the industry analysis that constitutes Porter’s five forces that can impact on its operations. KAL has a total of 149 aircraft and is the largest in terms of consumers and it specializes in offering services in the following sectors: Passenger services, components and parts, aerospace services as well as cargo (KAI). However, there are other competitors in the aviation industry which include the following: Asiana Airlines which is the second largest airline in Korea, currently operating a total of 83 aircraft, on top of that, there are also five Low Cost Carriers (LCC): Jeju Air, Jin Air, Air Busan, Eastar Jet, and T’Way Air. Though KAL is the largest airline, the existence of rivalry among the other existing players cannot be ignored. It poses a threat to the airline. As noted above, there are six other competitors in the aircraft industry which entails that the threat of substitutes is high. For instance, â€Å"In 2013, 4.9 million international travelers, or 9.6% of all international travelers, used LCCs,† (KAI). The number of passengers using LCCs has dramatically increased which means that they can switch from KAL to these low cost planes. On the other hand, the consumers have the power to determine prices since they can easily switch to low cost careers and this in turn can force Korean Airlines to review its prices downwards. According to KAI, the bargaining power of suppliers is low as a result of the fact that â€Å"all U.S. aerospace exports are duty-free as of March 15, 2012, and as a result of the implementation of the Korea-U.S. FTA (KORUS).† This means that this trade agreement between the two countries is specifically meant to protect the interests of both nations. Prices are regulated at acceptable levels

Assignment topic Mentoring Essay Example for Free

Assignment topic Mentoring Essay A brief outline of the plan for the assignment including why it is an issue and you likely conclusions. (If you like an abstract) An analysis of the Delivering Great Service strategy that is currently being applied by Sainsburys Supermarkets in relation to mentoring. And how the objectives of the strategy are being achieved. A list of material and people you intend to consult (give proper details) * Torrington,D and Hall,L and Taylor,S (2002), Human Resource Management, Prentice Hall Europe, UK * Marchington,M, Managing the Team * Megginson, D. and D. Clutterbuck, (1999), Mentoring in Action, Kogan Page Limited, UK. * Parsloe, E. (1999), The Manager as Coach and Mentor, (2nd Ed), The Guernsey Press, Channel Islands. * Norton, B. and J. Tivey. (1995), Management Directions, The Institute of Management, UK. * Delivering Great Service, Colleague Briefing Leaflet, 2001 * Business Update, Sainsburys Intranet, 28th January 2002 * The Importance of Service, Delivering Great Service Store Managers Tool Kit 2001 Approved by Date HAYLEY SCARFE (00957807) BAIB II HRM ASSIGNMENT WITH REFERENCE TO SAINSBURYS SUPERMARKETS LTD, ANALYSE THE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES AND EXPLAIN HOW MENTORING WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THESE OBJECTIVES (WITH DIRECT REFERENCE TO DELIVERING GREAT SERVICE FULLY DISCUSS THE IMPLEMENTATION AND RECOMMEND STRATEGIES PRIORITIES AND TIME SCALES FOR IMPLEMENTING YOUR CHOSEN TOPIC. NOTE: 1. BEFORE I COMMENCE THIS ESSAY IT IS IMPORTANT TO STRESS THAT ITS CONTENTS IN RESPECT TO SAINSBURYS SUPERMARKETS ARE STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL AND ONLY MEANT FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANSWERING THE ESSAY QUESTION 2. THE CONTENTS ARE ONLY TO BE READ BY THE ASSESOR FOR THIS PIECE OF WORK Contents Page 1. Introduction 2. Introduction and Development of Delivering Great Service 3. The Service Promise 3.1 Sainsburys Mission Statement 3.2 Easy, Enjoyable and Inspiring 4. Impact on Company Employees 4.1 Store Structures 4.2 Departmental Management 4.2.1 Departmental Management Role 4.3 Mentoring 4.4 Store and Duty Managers 4.5 The relationship between Duty Managers and Departmental Managers 4.6 How the Service Promise is developed through mentoring 5. Implementation of Timescales 5.1 Store implementation Timescales 6. Conclusion 1. INTRODUCTION Sainsburys Supermarkets Ltd like any other business have a number of strategies in place in order to compete against its main competitors in the supermarket industry. Throughout this assignment I am going to concentrate on the companies most recent strategy called Delivering Great Service and how the topic of mentoring will contribute to the achievement of the Delivering Great Service objectives. 2. THE INTRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF DELIVERING GREAT SERVICE Over a period of years Sainsburys lost the dominant market share of the food retail sector to its main competitors. To try and rectify this situation and attempt to once again become the U.Ks top supermarket chain Sainsburys has commissioned research into what their problems were and how to overcome them. The research concentrated on the identification of the wants of Sainsburys customers and how Sainsburys can deliver these wants. With the results collated Sainsburys head office Human Resources staff developed the Delivering Great Service package. The idea behind strategy is to regain the once strong market share Sainsburys enjoyed over Tesco, Asda, Safeway, Waitrose and Morrisons, the companys main competitors through the strategy objective, Service Promise. The commissioned research uncovered Sainsburys customers want Great Service, outstanding quality and competitive prices, all of which are contained within the objectives of Delivering Great Service known as Service Promise. (THE IMPORTANCE OF SERVICE DELIVERING GREAT SERVICE, STORE MANAGERS TOOLKIT 2001) 3. THE SERVICE PROMISE The Service Promise is used as a tool within the Sainsburys Management Team, this is company wide, to improve colleague skills, store knowledge and confidence within the company name. It is through these improved skills that the Sainsburys Management Team and colleagues can work together to improve the customers shopping experience with Sainsburys and successfully deliver great service. 3.1 SAINSBURYS MISSION STATEMENT To clearly demonstrate the aspects of the Service Promise the following diagram is applied: (DELIVERING GREAT SERVICE, COLLEAGUE BRIEFING LEAFLET, 2001) I have devised the following diagram to demonstrate how the aspects of the Service Promise relate to Delivering Great Service 3.2 EASY, ENJOYABLE AND INSPIRING The three categories contained within the Service Promise (outstanding quality, great service and competitive prices) contain guidelines for Sainsburys employees to adopt collectively, thus enabling the delivery of great service. The guidelines are as follows: 1. Easy Make shopping easier by; * Speeding up customer transactions * Acknowledging their problems and accepting responsibility * Actively seeking out customers who need extra help 2. Enjoyable Make shopping more enjoyable by; * Increasing personal efficiency, politeness and friendliness * Treating customers as individuals 3. Inspiring Present inspiring products and ideas to meet customer needs by; * Presenting quality ranges of products that meet and succeed customer needs and expectations * Interacting with customers to advise them of new products, encouraging them to try before they buy (THE IMPORTANCE OF SERVICE, DELIVERING GREAT SERVICE STORE MANAGERS TOOL KIT 2001) 4. IMPACT ON COMPANY EMPLOYEES The company strategy, Delivering Great Service has massive implications on all Sainsburys employees; it requires everyone to take on new responsibilities and new daily working practices if it is to be successful. Im going to focus specifically on the implications Delivering Great Service has on Sainsburys Departmental Managers and how the topic of mentoring can help achieve the strategy (Delivering Great Service) objectives (service promise). 4.1 STORE STRUCTURES Before I do this I have designed and included a very basic store structure diagram to illustrate the structure of a typical Sainsburys Stores. As you can see from the diagram the Store Manager is responsible for the entire store with a team of Duty Mangers and Department Managers on hand to share responsibilities and the running of the store filtering down to the Store Colleagues. 4.2 DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT I have already discussed the implications Delivering Great Service has on all colleagues in respect of what its objectives require from everyone to be successful (making shopping easier, making shopping more enjoyable and presenting inspiring products), but I havent discussed the implications the Department Manager faces. 4.2.1 DEPARTMENT MANAGERS ROLE The Department Managers role within the company is to communicate the importance and relevance of all business decisions and strategies to his or her Department Store Colleagues. Thus the Department Manager is responsible when explaining the Delivering Great Service strategy to his or her Department Store Colleagues and ensuring that they all have a full understanding and appreciation of the importance and the implementation of the Service Promise targets (previously outlined) and what they have to do. Not only does the Department Managers have to do this, they have to achieve it with the support and co-operation of Department Store Colleagues. In essence the Department Manager has: TO MOTIVATE COLLEAGUES TO WANT TO DELIVER THE SERVICE PROMISE TO OUR CUSTOMERS, EQUIPPING THEM WITH SOME OF THE SKILLS TO DO THISi (DELIVERING GREAT SERVICE THROUGH CUSTOMER OBSESSION, MISSION STATEMENT, 2001) But how are they supposed to do this? The Department Manager would need great leadership and motivation skills combined with skilful use of communication to initiate Department team spirit to enable Service Promise targets to be met. They would need a keen eye to identify those within the Department that need extra help or indeed those who arent willing to work towards Delivering Great Service objectives. Necessary skills would include the capacity to deal with targets being missed and the individuals ability to quickly set more achievable targets. But with no formal training how could Department Managers achieve these skills and successfully achieve Delivering Great Service objectives with the full support of their Department? I believe that Department Managers could achieve these skills by turning to mentoring. The mission statement below accurately sums up what Department Managers are expected to achieve in respect to Delivering Great Service: TO INSPIRE OUR PEOPLE TO CONTINUALLY EXCEED OUR CUSTOMERS EXPECTATIONS, TO DELIVER BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT (DELIVERING GREAT SERVICE THROUGH CUSTOMER OBSESSION, MISSION STATEMENT, 2001) 4.3 MENTORING How could mentoring assist Department Managers to achieve the requirements expected? To begin with the definition of mentoring needs to be identified and questions need to be asked as to how Sainsburys can fulfil the Service Promise by achieving the strategic objectives of Delivering Great Service The Little Oxford Dictionary defines Mentor as Mentor advisor, counsellor (THE LITTLE OXFORD DICTIONARY, 1971, 4THED) A separate textbook definition of Mentor is to help by one person to another in making significant transitions in knowledge, work or thinking (MENTORING IN ACTION MEGGINSON, D. AND D. CLUTTERBUCK, (KOGAN PAGE LIMITED, UK (1999))) 4.4 STORE AND DUTY MANAGERS Store Managers and Duty Managers within Sainsburys receive a wide array of continual training sessions and personal development ran by both internal and external bodies. They are constantly assessed by their Manager who is the Regional Business Manager with regards to their Stores performance and satisfaction of their staff, a survey is conducted every six months talkback to check on staff satisfaction levels in all stores. As Managers they are required to posses leadership, motivational and coaching skills and the ability and confidence to use them as well as the privilege of constant feedback from the Regional Business Manager and constant people skill training. Store Managers and Duty Managers are massively invested in within the company resulting in a large value added resource offering an indispensable skill base, the senior store management team is essential to the companys success. Through such investment they hold the essential, crucial skills that Department Managers need to develop if they are to successfully motivate Department Store Colleagues to implement the Delivering Great Service strategy and Service Promise objectives in their daily working practise. To mentor someone is to advise and council a person whilst developing the learners skills to meet business objectives. The mentor is there to listen and suggest ways in which to tackle a situation promoting a culture where the learner isnt being spoon-fed but independently identifying ways in which to personally improve upon current skill base and achieve targets. 4.5 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DUTY MANAGERS AND DEPARTMENT MANAGERS But how will Sainsburys Duty Managers by mentoring Department Managers enable them to contribute to the achievement of Delivering Great Service through Service Promise? Sainsburys Duty Managers are high performers able to implement business objectives and strategies into the daily running of a store in a responsible fashion whilst observing the companys values (which are as follows): 1) We will be HONEST 2) We will demonstrate INTEGRITY 3) We will show our COMMITMENT to each other 4) We will be LOYAL 5) We will take PRIDE in everything we do (REGION 35 BUSINESS PLAN JUNE 2001) Point 3 and 5 are important. When mentoring a Department Manager the companys values would easily ensure the mentor and learner success, by committing to the learner and taking pride in the learners achievement The leadership and motivational skills along with strong communication and a focused approach that are necessary to implement the Delivering Great Service strategy, through mentoring an individual Department Manager could be successfully developed as the Duty Manager already possess and uses the skills the Department Manager needs. Through a series of on the job observations and one on one coaching sessions the Duty Manager can exchange ways of better practice to reflect better results (in Service Promise targets) and encourage the Department Manager to have confidence when communicating with their staff. 4.6 HOW SERVICE PROMISE IS DEVELOPED THROUGH MENTORING. Through the improved skill base the Department Manager will have developed through mentoring and will be able through the Service Promise (objectives if the Delivering Great Service strategy) to achieve stated objectives through actions completed, as seen below: 1) 2) 3) 5.IMPLAMENTATION OF TIMESCALES But what time scale are we looking at? Delivering Great Service is a strategy that is in Stores NOW and Department Managers fully understands its implications NOW, its not planned to reach a Store in 6 months, results are expected to show in 6 months. With such a constraint on time I propose the following timescale strategy: 5.1 STORE IMPLEMENTATION TIME SCALES 6. CONCLUSION In conclusion it can be seen that the implementation of Delivering Great Service has allowed Duty and Departmental Managers to grow in their roles. The mentoring skills of the store management are developed therefore allowing them to implement the strategy outlined and provide the highest level of customer service on the shop floor. As this is what 70% of customers require in order to have a satisfied shopping experience that is easy, enjoyable and inspiring. This will allow them to compete with their market competitors to the highest advantage and regain the market share, which they have lost. BIBLIOGRAPHY BOOKS * Torrington,D and Hall,L and Taylor,S (2002), Human Resource Management, Prentice Hall Europe, UK * Marchington,M, Managing the Team * Megginson, D. and D. Clutterbuck, (1999), Mentoring in Action, Kogan Page Limited, UK. * Parsloe, E. (1999), The Manager as Coach and Mentor, (2nd Ed), The Guernsey Press, Channel Islands. * Norton, B. and J. Tivey. (1995), Management Directions, The Institute of Management, UK. * Parsloe, E. and M. Wray, (2000), Coaching and Mentoring, Kogan Page Limited, UK. * Pegg, M. (1999), The Art of Mentoring, Biddles, UK. * Murrell, A, J. Crosby, F, J. and E, J, Robin, (1999), Mentoring Dilemmas, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers, UK * Clarke, D, (1996), Mentoring, Fenman Limited, UK * Ried, M, A. and H, Barrington, (2000), Training Interventions, (6th Ed), The Cromwell Press, UK. * Harrison, H, (2000), Employee Development, (2nd Ed) The Cromwell Press, UK. * Marchington, M. and A, Wilkinson, (2000), Core Personnel and Development, (2nd Ed), The Cromwell Press, UK. * Foot, M. and C, Hook, (1999), Introducing Human Resource Management, (2nd Ed), Longman, Malaysia. SAINSBURYS SOURCES * Annual Report, 2001 * Delivering Great Service, Colleague Briefing Leaflet, 2001 * Business Update, Sainsburys Intranet, 28th January 2002 * The Importance of Service, Delivering Great Service Store Managers Tool Kit 2001

Role Of Media In Peace Building

Role Of Media In Peace Building History has shown that the media can incite people toward violence. Hitler used the media to create an entire worldview of hatred for Jews, homosexuals, and other minority groups. Rwandas radio RTLM urged listeners to pick up machetes and take to the streets to kill what they called the cockroaches. Broadcasters in the Balkans polarized local communities to the point where violence became an acceptable tool for addressing grievances. The medias impact on the escalation of conflict is more widely recognized than the medias impact on peace-building. Yet it is not uncommon to hear experts pronounce that the medias impact on peace-building must be significant given its powerful impact on conflict. However, this simple relationship must not be taken for granted and should be critically examined in order to most effectively use the media for conflict prevention and peace-building (Wolfsfeld, 2004, p.15) In the last six decades, the influence of the media in the global arena has increasingly been recognized, especially its power to either exacerbate or contain potential conflicts. Indeed it is worth noting that among the defendants during the Nuremburg trials which were constituted by the allied forces following the defeat of the Germany and her allies immediately after the second world war was one Julius Streicher who although never held any official position within the Nazi party hierarchy, was considered to be among the top individuals who bore the greatest responsibility for the holocaust that killed more than six million Jews (Source). For close to twenty five years, Streicher had educated the Germany people in hatred and incited them to the persecution and the extermination of the Jewish race. The propaganda which Streicher carried for close to twenty five years was chiefly done through the medium of his newspaper as the editor of the Der Stuemer and later several other provinc ial journals (Source). As early as the 17th century, Edmund Burke had coined the term the fourth estate, to demonstrate the growing power of the media in periods when power and influence was concentrated in hands of only three classes of society (Source). Although it is still debatable as who was the first to use the word, Burke is said to have remarked that there were estates in Parliament, but in the reporters gallery yonder, there sat the fourth estate more important than four than they all. He was making reference to the traditional three estates of Parliament: The Lords spiritual, the Lords temporal and the Commons (Source). In the last 50 years the media influence has grown exponentially with the advance of technology, first there was the telegraph, then the radio, the newspaper, magazines, television and now the internet. Many people are today fully dependent on the information and communication to keep moving in the right direction and their daily activities like work, entertainment, healthcare, education, personal relationships, traveling are greatly controlled by what they read, hear and see. New communications technologies such as mobile/video phones and laptop computers are allowing journalists to gather and disseminate information with ease from many parts of the world. The digitization of the news industry, which has led to a compression of time and space, means we see news images of demonstrations, riots or coups within minutes of these occurring in the streets. These images not only inform global audiences, but may instigate further campaigns of violence at home. Commercial realities of news gathering have also affected the reporting of conflicts. The higher cost of news gathering in remote regions, coupled with the geopolitical and economic priorities of the West, mean that conflicts occurring at close proximity to the metropolitan centers receive coverage at the expense of those occurring further away in less developed regions of the world. A study of conflict reporting in the worlds major news outlets in 2000 shows that the Israel Palestine conflict was by far the most covered five times greater than the next most covered conflict (Hawkins, 2002) . Virgil Hawkins, the researcher who conducted the study, notes: By contrast, conflict in Africa, which has been, in the post-Cold-War world, is responsible for up to 90 percent of the worlds total war dead suffered an almost complete media blackout. Coverage of the massive war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which caused in excess of one million deaths in the year 2000, was almost insignificant (p. 231). With the international news agenda controlled by the worlds major media giants, it has become crucial to develop and strengthen media at the local level to maintain diversity of opinion. As media in many developing nations, such as Kenya, move away from state control towards private enterprise, it is essential for local media to find their own voice and professional codes. A well developed media system with professionally trained journalists usually benefits both global and local audiences and provides a vital link to the outside world during conflict situations. The media is a double-edged sword. It can be a frightful weapon of violence when it propagates messages of intolerance or disinformation that manipulate public sentiment; but there is another aspect to the media, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦it can be an instrument of conflict resolution, when the information it presents is reliable, respects human rights, and represents diverse views. It is the kind of media that enables a society to mak e well-informed choices, which is the precursor of democratic governance. It is a media that reduces conflict and fosters human security (Source). Today, in every part of the world reliable, accurate and objective media, whether be it mainstream, alternative or traditional/non-conventional, can both help to prevent and resolve conflict through the automatic functions of responsibly disseminating information, furthering awareness and knowledge, promoting participatory and transparent governance, and addressing perceived grievances. In the same vein, inadvertently or overtly propagandistic media may equally fuel tensions and exacerbate conflicts, which in extreme cases like in Rwanda may directly result in genocide (source). 1.1 Background of the Study To argue that media does make a difference means rejecting the view that media are no more than mirrors of something else -consumer choices; elite interests, or reality itself (as in the positivist assertions by some journalists that they simply report the way it is). It is a commonplace to suggest that media provide their audiences with a map of the social and political world beyond their own immediate experience. From this observation about contemporary complex society, flow other notions of media power: agenda setting (media capacity to focus public attention on some events and issues, and away from others); the spiral of silence (the withering of issues and perspectives ignored by media); priming (media ability to influence citizens criteria of political evaluation); cultivation (the gradual adoption of beliefs about the social world that correspond to televisions selective picture of the world), framing, and the ideological effect (the production of meaning in the service of dom ination) (Hackett Carroll, 2006, p.30-31). A less frequently considered but equally pertinent dimension of media influence is their relationship with anti-war movements. Within reasonably democratic states, and in the absence of elite discord, such movements may be the most important buffer within civil society against war. The movement/media relationship is asymmetrical: movements need media (to mobilize support, validate their political existence, and attract new supporters) far more than vice versa (Gamson Wolfsfeld 1993). Media play contradictory but important roles at every stage of their trajectory; their emergence, organizational self-maintenance, and success; when political and foreign policy elites are united around a war policy, dominant media are likely to trivialize or demonize anti-war dissent (Gitlin 1980; Hackett 1991). In the context specifically of war, some scholars see an intensification of media agenda-setting with the advent of real-time, 24-hour, globally distributed television news -most iconically Ber nard Shaws and Peter Arnetts reporting for Cable News Network (CNN) from Baghdad during the 1991 Gulf War. The so-called CNN effect allegedly highlights political uncertainty and incompetence, accelerates the pace at which politicians must respond to crises, and creates expectations and emotions that may force governments, against their initial inclinations, to intervene (or disengage) in conflict situations. The American humanitarian intervention in Somalia is often cited as an example (Spencer, 2005, p.24-38). According to Arnold (2005), the mass media contributed immensely to the propagation of US foreign policy agenda, couching imperial military actions in terms of humanitarian interventions undertaken to promote global freedom and democracy. This gave the US foreign policy the media attention cycle as there was competition among worldwide television and radio networks such as BBC, CNN, FOX TV and Channel 4 as who gets the right information first. This therefore, created huge demand for Western media even in non-western countries. In Africa, several efforts have been made to use the mass media to promote peace. For example, Radio for Peace-Building Africa (RFPA) is a program founded in 2003 by the international non-profit organization Search for Common Ground. The following are the countries in which RFPA is operated: Burundi, Central African Republic, Kenya, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda. Working on the assumption that radio is the most accessible form of mass communication in Africa, RFPA trains journalists in peace-building, conflict resolution, and acting on commonalities. As stated in their achievements, 2010, RFPA has more than 3,000 members representing 100 countries, across Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. They have carried out over 90 workshops and trained local radio station personnel (Radio for Peace-Building Africa, 2011). If the media have played an important role in breeding violence, it seems reasonable to examine the prospects of the reverse perspective-positive media contributions to ending violence and peace building in Kenya as a whole. Furthermore, if the media are usually found to support forces that lead to violent conflict, it can also be said that the media have the power to influence the activities that promote peace in the society. While media have been prominent contributors to every post-Cold War conflict (Prince and Thompson, 2002, Allen and Seaton, 1999), their role in post conflict peace-building and social development has not been apparent. Elsewhere however, recently there have been enough proves to accept the idea regarding the use of role that the media have played in peace-building. For instance, in Bosnia, Burundi, Cambodia, Croatia, Israel/Palestine, Macedonia, and Rwanda there are documented positive accomplishment of initiated projects of post-conflict recovery through the r ole of the media (McGoldrick, 2006). Also, over the past seven years, RFPA promoted peace in its areas of operation through levels of collaboration that it established between the government, media (TV stations and news papers) and civil society, increased the ability of radio stations to identify the underlying causes of war and conflict, increased the publics access to policy information, and used media to foster communication between policy makers and the civil society within that state, among other achievement (Radio for PeaceBuilding Africa: Achievements, 2012). 1.2 Problem Statement Literature on conflict and peace-building reveals a dismal focus on the role of the media in peace processes. Existing theory only tends to portray the media as essential in reporting and generating discourses on conflicts (Wolfsfeld, 2004; Watson, 2006; Bratic, 2006). Scholars of the post-election phenomenon in Kenya quickly conclude that, the crisis was a deeply rooted political and ethnic problem. Yet, the role of the media in the conflict, as well as its ability to mediate peace is not adequately tackled. In the East African region, Kenyan media like that in Rwanda has been scrutinized at the level of international law as a perpetrator of political violence. The post-2007 crisis serves as a good case to exemplify the process from conflict to peace-building. First, it illustrates the double role of the media as a constructive and destructive agent, and provides a link between media freedom and human rights. Secondly, this research explores challenges of media freedom within fragile democracies, where politics, poverty and ethnic differences can influence the media agenda. While the use of hate speech in the media is not discounted, this project will not focus on the subject as a whole, but draw examples to examine arguments. This thesis does not discuss ethnicity as a theory, but rather uses the term ethnic violence, a theme applied to describe political and ethnic tensions in Kenya (Hagg Kagwanja, 2007). The concept of ethnic violence has also been characterised as an element of civil or degenerate wars by several authors in recent years (Hanssen, 2000; Shaw, 2003; Kaldor, 2006). In recent times the effect of the mass media in shaping and forming the view of people especially the radio due to its accessibility, affordability and availability as compared to TV and computers (social networks e.g. Face book, Twitter, and YouTube) has contributed immensely to the development of a country. In the area of sport the mass media is promoting all kinds of sports especially football through constant publicity. As an emerging buoyant economic industry, the various media houses have established front desk for sports. Besides, they also have sports journalist who monitor, research and analyze sports related issues in the world, Africa and Kenya in particular. This has brought sports to the limelight of the media and given it a place in the media cycle. Inferring to the above and many achievements and contributions of the mass media in Kenya, it can be concluded that the mass media actually do assist in social improvements and building the ideals of the society. By systematically monitoring the performance of state institutions and reporting progress activities of the government, by guiding and dispensing of socialization, and by entertaining its audiences through interesting programmes. Against this background, many media houses have capacity building programmes to enhance public participation through phoning-in sessions. These programmes are also inspired by the need to improve and deepen governance and democracy. Notwithstanding, none or little concern has been given to programmes that are geared towards peace-building. It is for this reason that the researcher seeks to find out the role of the mass media in peace-building in Kenya. 1.3 Objectives of the Study The general objective of this research will be to explore the role the media has played in peace building among selected media houses in Kenya. The specific objectives of the research will be: To examine the activities of the media in peace-building. To find out whether the media has been successfully used to promote peace in Kenya. To assess the effects of the media on peace-building. To establish the measures that government, stakeholders and media houses have put in place towards peace-building. To make recommendations towards the use of the media in promoting and enhancing peace-building in Kenya. 1.4 Research Questions The following questions will serve as research questions to guide this research. What are the activities of the media in peace-building? How has the media been successfully used to promote peace in Kenya?. What are the effects of the media on peace-building? What measures has the government, stakeholders and media houses put in place towards peace-building? 1.5 Rationale for the Study The media is a double-edged sword. It can be a frightful weapon of violence when it propagates messages of intolerance or disinformation that manipulate public sentiment. But there is another aspect to the media. It can be an instrument of conflict resolution, when the information it presents is reliable, respects human rights, and represents diverse views. It is the kind of media that enables a society to make well-informed choices, which is the precursor of democratic governance. It is a media that reduces conflict and fosters human security. Today, in every part of the world, reliable, accurate and objective media, whether mainstream, alternative or non-conventional, can both help to prevent and resolve conflict through the automatic functions of responsibly disseminating information, furthering awareness and knowledge, promoting participatory and transparent governance, and addressing perceived grievances. In the same vein, inadvertently or overtly propagandistic media may equall y fuel tensions and exacerbate conflicts. This study aims at establishing the role of media in peace-building in Kenya. 1.6 Assumptions of the Study This study will be guided by the following assumptions: The media houses in Kenya have adopted acceptable practices in relation to peace-building reporting in their operations. The target audience from the population that will be selected will give a fair representation of the whole population under study. 1.7 Limitation of the Study Unexpected negative response from respondents due to the fact that they will be unwilling to give out sensitive organizational information. This will be delimited through counter-checking on secondary literature as well as desk-reviews. 1.8 Definition of Key Terms Capacity Building Capacity development is the process whereby individuals, groups, and organisations enhance their abilities to mobilize and use resources in order to achieve their objectives on a sustainable basis. Efforts to strengthen abilities of individuals, groups, and organisations can comprise a combination of (i) human skills development; (ii) changes in organisations and networks; and (iii) changes in governance/institutional context (ADB, 2004). Capacity building is a complex notion it involves individual and organisational learning which builds social capital and trust, develops knowledge, skills and attitudes and when successful creates an organisational culture which enables organisations to set objectives, achieve results, solve problems and create adaptive procedures which enable it to survive in the long term Ethnic violence In this study the term ethnic violence will be defined as a theme applied to describe political and ethnic tensions in Kenya (Hagg Kagwanja, 2007). Media The media refers to several mediums or channels used in an organized fashion to communicate information to groups of people, as a service to the public (Howard, 2002). In regard to this thesis, media is mainstream or independent (press, radio, television) in general. Peace Journalism According to Lynch and McGoldrick (2005) peace journalism is when editors and reporters make choices of what stories to report, and how to report them which create opportunities for society at large to consider and to value non-violent responses to conflict. Peace Journalism entails: Uses the insights of conflict analysis and transformation to update the concepts of balance, fairness and accuracy in reporting Provides a new route map tracing the connections between journalists, their sources, the stories they cover and the consequences of their journalism the ethics of journalistic intervention Builds an awareness of non-violence and creativity into the practical job of everyday editing and reporting (Lynch and McGoldrick 2005 p. 5). Peace Building The Carnegie Endowments Commission on the Prevention of Deadly Conflict (1997) defined peace-building as structural prevention which consists of the strategies to address the root causes of deadly conflict. Likewise, the Joint Utstein study of peace-building concludes that peace-building attempts to encourage the development of the structural conditions, attitudes, and modes of political behavior that may permit peaceful, stable and ultimately prosperous social and economic development. It states that there are four main headings related to peace-building: to provide security, to establish the socioeconomic foundations of long-term peace, to establish the political framework of long-term peace, and to generate reconciliation, a healing of the wounds of war and justice (Smith, 2003). These terms will be adopted in this study based but not limited to the above definitions. CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 The Kenyan Media: An Overview Kenya has a plural, sophisticated and robust mass media and communication sector that serve the various competing political, social, economic, cultural and technological needs of diverse interest groups. The sector has grown rapidly in the past 15 years because of a combination of factors including political and economic liberalization; and Kenyas strategic location as a regional and international economic and communication hub. Before 1992, the media scene was small, urban based and less independent owing to repressive media laws and regulation. Today, the media especially radio and television, reaches all urban centers and almost all rural communities. The broadcasting sub-sector is diverse, dynamic and competitive with substantial reach. There are about 14 TV and 113 radio stations in Kenya (Steadman Group, 2008). Radio is the number one source of information reaching almost 90 percent of the entire population followed by television reaching about 40 percent and newspapers (30 per cent). There are about 7.5 million radio sets (1.9 million in urban and 5.6 in rural areas) and 3.2 million TV sets in Kenya (1.4 million in urban and 1.8 in rural areas) in the country. There are about 16.7 radio listeners across the country with 12.4 million in rural and 4.4 million in towns (Steadman Group, 2008). Interesting developments in the broadcasting sector include the proliferation of FM stations broadcasting in over 21 ethnic languages out of 42 (CCK, 2008). The FM stations broadcasting in ethnic languages command about 30 percent of the market share today. Unfortunately, low professionalism characterizes most of these FM stations because they employ untrained and less experienced journalists. Satellite broadcasting is also thriving particularly among the upper and middle class in urban areas (Howard, 2008). Although the print media has a history of relative independence, it remains an urban phenomenon in Kenya. Kenya has 5 daily newspapers and over 10 weekly newspapers. The dominant newspapers are the Standard with a daily circulation of 80,000 -110,000; and Nation newspapers with a circulation of 100,000 120,000 (Mbeke Mshindi, 2008). The new media is also catching up in Kenya which boasts of 17.6 million mobile phone owners and 3.2 million internet users. There are over 1000 act ive blogs in Kenya. Safaricom, Kenyas number one mobile operator commands 70 percent of the market share and has over 16 million subscribers. Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), the oldest and only public broadcaster, has the largest network of TV and radio stations across the country. KBC radio service, broadcasting in over 21 ethnic languages, is the only network in Kenya with the capacity to reach all audiences across the country. It also operates KBC TV. Royal Media Services, owned by media magnate S.K. Macharia, is the second largest media house in Kenya. It operates Citizen TV which has a national reach and several radio stations broadcasting in ethnic languages including Kikuyu (Inooro), Luo (Ramogi), Kamba (Musyi), Luhya (Mulembe) among others The Nation Media Group (NMG) is the largest media network in Kenya with interests in newspapers, magazines, TV and radio. It operates the Daily Nation, Sunday Nation, the Business Daily, the East African newspapers as well as the Tourist Guide, the Business Directory among other magazines (BBC Media Monitoring, 2007). NMG runs the NTV and QTV as well as Easy FM and QFM radi o stations both with a national reach. NMG is listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) with the Aga Khan as the key shareholder. The Standard Group (SG) owns the KTN Network, Kenyas first private TV station (1989) and the East African Standard Newspapers, the oldest newspapers having started in 1902. The SG is listed on the NSE with Baraza Limited, a company closely associated with the former President Daniel arap Moi and his close aide Joshua Kulei as the key shareholders. The people media group owns the People Daily several ethnic radio stations. It is associated with the Kenyatta family having bought it from Kenneth Matiba and the radio component from Rose Kimotho. Patrick Quarcco owns Kiss FM and several other FM station together Kiss TV and the Nairobi Star, a daily newspaper. Industrialist Chris Kirubi owns Capital Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) that runs CBC TV and Capital FM. Other media include STV formerly owned by professional journalist Hilary Ngweno. Kenya also has a strong faith-based broadcasting media including Hope FM, Radio Waumini owned by the Catholic Church; and Family TV and radio FM owne d by Leo Slingerland. A number of international news agencies and organizations operate from Nairobi, Kenya. These include the BBC, VOA, Duetsche Welle, Radio France, Radio China, Al Jazeera and CNN. While the press covers mainly politics and economic issues, the broadcasting stations in Kenya are characterized by heavy music and light entertainment programming lazed with interactive talk shows on politics and current affairs. Kenyans have continuously voted the media as the most trusted and influential institution even as they continue to express their reservations over other government institutions like the legislature and the executive. According to BBC, the Kenyan media is one of the most respected, thriving, sophisticated and innovative in Africa. Compared to other African countries, Kenya has in the recent past enjoyed a robust economic growth which in turn has supported one of the most dynamic advertising markets on the continent and a population which consumes news and information voraciously. In turn, this market has supported an explosion in media over recent years. This is a relatively recent phenomenon. While an independent media tradition in Kenya is a long one, it was only in 1992 that the media bloomed to become the thriving industry it is today. Until then, the suppression of media freedom by the then KANU government, a stagnant economy and the continued monopolization of the airwaves by the governments Voice of Kenya (now Kenya Broadcasting Corporation), meant that independent media outlets were few and confined mostly to elites. Over a period of 15 years, this increasingly assertive and self-confident media has played a substantial role in mediating relationships between citizens and state, in shaping the democratic dispensation in the country, and has transformed utterly how some of the most marginalized in society access information on issues that shape their lives. Kenyan citizens have become increasingly reliant on the media for such information, investing in it with greater credibility than almost any other source of information. For most of this period, the media has been seen nationally and internationally as a principal indicator of the democratic vitality of Kenya. Media has been at the forefront of moves to transform Kenya from one party state to multiparty democracy; it has gained a reputation for exposing corruption and acting as a vigorous forum for public debate; it is seen as a guardian of the public interest against an overbearing state power. 2.2 The Activities of the Media in Peace-Building While large scale or world war has been avoided, continual civil conflicts have not been avoided i.e., the conflicts in Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Congo, Somalia. At the same time, peaceful resolution of conflicts that have major potential for civil conflicts: the transitions in South Africa, in Central and Eastern Africa have been witnessed. Therefore, peaceful resolution of national-civil conflicts is in a great part a communication process. That is; a concept of communication that channels civil conflict away from open war in to what is called cultural negotiation (White, 1990, p.22-23). The media can provide information directly to citizens regarding major events of importance for decision -making so that citizens can take action and influence the structure of decision-making. What is expected is a narrative reconstruction of events which reveals the source of the problem, the persons who are responsible and why, and what emerge finally as the solution. The media are the forum for the expression of public opinion and enable the public and public officials to chart the general public opinion regarding the state of public affairs. The mirroring of public opinion enables the public to know what people are expecting and whether representative governments are serving the public or not. A totalitarian state is one in which civil society is totally absorbed by the state, a state without a public opinion. Boutros Boutros-Gali (1992) gave clarity and coherence to the concept of peace building when he defined it as Action to identify and support structures which will tend to strengthen and solidify peace in order to avoid relapse into conflict and, rebuilding institutions and infrastructures of nations torn by civil war and strife (and tackling the deepest causes of) economic despair, social injustice and oppression. Inscribed in Willshers comment about his role as a journalist is an assumption about media influence which has also come to be known as the CNN effect -so called after the first Gulf War when the UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali said: We say we have 16 members in the Security Council: the 15 members plus CNN (Boutros Ghali, 1995). The proposition is that todays global media have grown so mighty as to be able to raise issues to the political agenda by their own efforts; issues which would otherwise hold little or no interest for the powers-that-be. In summary, the influence of the media on society has attracted international agencies closely involved in peace-building since the early 1990s (Ross, 2002). The media can contribute to peace, by engaging in credible reporting, representing balanced opinions in its editorial content, and opening up communication channels among parties in a conflict. It can also identify and articulate without bias the underlying interests of warring factions. By doing so, the media is capable of disseminating information that builds on the confidence of stakeholders in a conflict. 2.2.1 The CNN Effect The Harvard University Joan Shorenstein Center for Press, Politics and Public Policy has been instrumental in examining media effects. Steven Livingston, a leading CNN Effect researcher and associate professor of communication and international affairs at The George Washington University, along with his colleagues at Harvard, identified three conceptual variations surrounding the CNN Effect: the notion that media serves as an agenda-setting agency, that the media serves as an impediment in some cases and that the media facilitates a more accelerated public policy process (1997). The CNN Effect by definition is the

Essay --

Main Ideas Europeans Explore the East Section 1 1. The factors that helped spur European exploration were the new spirit of adventure and curiosity brought on by the Renaissance, the desire to be rich, the desire to spread Christianity, and advances in sailing. 2. Portugal’s Prince Henry conquered Ceuta, a Muslim city in North Africa. Prince Henry and his men discovered stores with exotic spices and large quantities of gold, silver, and jewels in Ceuta. Once he returned to Portugal, him main goal was to find the place in the East where the treasures came from while spreading Christianity. Eventually, he founded a navigation school to teach his students how to improve such skills as mapmaking, instrument making, and shipbuilding. 3. The significance of Dias’ voyage was to spread Christianity while serving His Majesty, to grow rich and "give light to those who were in darkness" while da Gama explored the East African coast and its rare silks and gems. He returned to Portugal with spices, such as pepper and cinnamon, and provided Portugal with a direct sea route to India. 4. The Dutch were so successful in establishing a trading empire in the Indian Ocean because they were a leading sea power with the largest fleet of ships in the world and they established the Dutch East India Company which minted money, made treaties and raised its own army. The Dutch seized the port of Malacca and the Spice Islands which helped Amsterdam become a leading commercial center and controlled the Cape of Good Hope which was a resupply stop. China Limits European Contacts Section 2 5. China did not undergo widespread industrialization because the idea of commerce conflicted with China's Confucian beliefs and their economic policies favored agricult... ..., Tokugawa Ieyasu was upset by the success of missionaries converting the Japanese and felt that the missionaries were belittling Japanese traditions and beliefs in order to convert the Japanese to Christianity. Sometimes the missionaries became involved with politics and tried to reform the local governments. Also, by 1612, the shogun banned Christianity and tried to get rid of all Christians in his country. 5. The Manchus earned the respect of the Chinese by upholding China's traditional Confucian beliefs and social structures. One leader, Kanghi personally led troops to the northern border to protect the people against Mongols threatening there and also reduced government expenses and taxes, offered intellectuals government positions, invited Jesuits at court where he learned about developments in medicine, science and mathematics that were popular in Europe.

Faust And Frankenstein :: essays research papers

Goethe in Faust and Shelley in Frankenstein, wrap their stories around two men whose mental and physical actions parallel one another. Both stories deal with characters, who strive to be the à ¼bermensch in their world. In Faust, the striving fellow, Faust, seeks physical and mental wholeness in knowledge and disaster in lust. In Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein struggles for control over one aspect of nature and disastrously, through the monster, nature controls him to a much greater degree. Many powers are much too mighty for mortal souls, a lesson that Frankenstein and Faust learn by the end of their tales. While voluntarily excommunicating themselves from society, both characters accomplish a portion of their goal and yet they remain unhappy because they never control the "perfect" life they have built for themselves. In Faust, the intelligent gentleman Faust, seeks spiritual wholeness in knowledge. Through years of hard study, Faust becomes knowledgeable in math, sciences and religion and yet he becomes inept and incapable of having any romantic or physical relationships with the outside world. As Faust strives to become the "over man" through knowledge, he realizes that books will not satisfy his curiosity and that maybe sensual pleasures will. Therefore, in the process of creating his new life, Faust, becomes distant and unconcerned with all reality and humanity around him. Do not fancy anything right, do not fancy that I could teach or assert what would better mankind or what might convert. I also have neither money nor treasures, nor worldly honors or earthly pleasures; no dog would want to live this way!(p. 95) Obviously, Faust has fallen into a inhumane state of living, through the pursuit of the unattainable. He becomes greedy, desperate and feels justified in whatever it takes to achieve a position of the over man. At that time, Christians and society in general considered his pursuit for lust immoral, unjust and irresponsible. When Faust sets his sights on an object, whether knowledge or women, he demands nothing less of himself than that which will get it. In many situations dedication to an act is reputable; education, sports, career. It seems then, that to become the à ¼bermensch and pursue excellence, one must stay dedicated to one's goal and dismiss the world around him. In the process of creating his monster, Victor Frankenstein ignores the outside world; The summer months passed while I was thus engaged, heart and soul, in one pursuit.

A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams Essay -- A Streetcar Na

A Streetcar Named Desire In what way can A Streetcar Named Desire be seen as an exploration of†old† America versus the â€Å"new† America? In the play, Blanche represents old America and Stanley represents new America. Why Blanche represents old America is because of her way of thinking, lifestyle and values. When Blanche walks into the room where the guys are playing poker, there is a great example of how Blanche represents old and Stanley new. When she walks in, the guys are sitting around the table, then Blanche says â€Å"Please don’t get up†. Stanley replies â€Å"nobody’s going to get up, so don’t be worried†. Before men were always supposed to treat women with respect, and get up from the chair when they came in, and when they left. Blanche expects or imagines that they are going to treat her like that. In this way Blanche appear as the â€Å"old† America, how people used to think. Stanley is a large contrast and represents new America, when he says nobody’s going to get up. None of them were even thinking of getting up for her, because that is not their manners, a nd that is not what people do in the â€Å"new† America. New America is when there was a lot of immigration. In this new â€Å"world† the old fashions and norms were bit by bit disappearing, for instance racism. Also the lower classes in society became more common. This is the world Stanley lives in. In contrast Blanche is stuck in the old world. Stanley represents new America because he is from Poland. America’s growth of immigration is shown, and very many people in America today are immigrants. Blanches behaviour towards Stanley’s background shows that she is old-fashioned. When Stella says that Stanley is Polish, Blanche says â€Å"They’re something like Irish, aren’t they?†. Her racist view is very old and conventional. Stanley represents the â€Å"new† America, and he can be seen as a message from Tennessee Williams about how the society in America was changing and what it was changing into. Stanley is a chauvinist, because he obviously takes what he desires, referring to where he rapes Blanche. Stanley is very dominant, he rules and his word is always the strongest. He has a strong sexual desire, even in the end of the play when Blanche is taken to the hospital, he starts making love to Stella. It is quite obvious that Tennessee Williams shows Stanley as â€Å"new† America, and this might be what he means America is develo... ...t with Mitch. When Stanley beat Stella, and she was mad at him, he shouted out Stella’s name, she came down, and they then spent the night together. The next morning Stella and Blanche discuss the incident. Blanche asks â€Å"How could you come back in this place last night? Stella answers â€Å"You're making much too much fuss about this†. This also demonstrates that the â€Å"new† and â€Å"old† America collides because of their different values and norms. At the end of the play when the doctor has come to take Blanche away, she says â€Å"Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers†. This is Blanche’s final statement in the play. She perceives the doctor as the rescuing gentleman she has been waiting for since she came. But ironically, strangers have never done her any good. The truth is that strangers have only been kind in exchange for sex. Strangers like Stanley, Mitch and the people of her hometown Laurel have not given Blanche the sympathy she so sorely needed and deserved. Stanley’s class hatred seeks to destroy Blanche. His cruelty, combined with Blanche’s fragile state of mind and insecure personality, leaves her mentally isolated from reality by the end of the play.

Literary Devices Essay

LITERARY DEVICES Copyright  © 2007 by Jay Braiman www. mrbraiman. com Literary devices refers to specific aspects of literature, in the sense of its universal function as an art form which expresses ideas through language, which we can recognize, identify, interpret and/or analyze. Literary devices collectively comprise the art form’s components; the means by which authors create meaning through language, and by which readers gain understanding of and appreciation for their works. They also provide a conceptual framework for comparing individual literary works to others, both within and across genres. Both literary elements and literary techniques can rightly be called literary devices. Literary elements refers to particular identifiable characteristics of a whole text. They are not â€Å"used,† per se, by authors; they represent the elements of storytelling which are common to all literary and narrative forms. For example, every story has a theme, every story has a setting, every story has a conflict, every story is written from a particular point-of-view, etc. In order to be discussed legitimately as part of a textual analysis, literary elements must be specifically identified for that particular text. Literary techniques refers to any specific, deliberate constructions or choices of language which an author uses to convey meaning in a particular way. An author’s use of a literary technique usually occurs with a single word or phrase, or a particular group of words or phrases, at one single point in a text. Unlike literary elements, literary techniques are not necessarily present in every text; they represent deliberate, conscious choices by individual authors. â€Å"Literary terms† refers to the words themselves with which we identify and designate literary elements and techniques. They are not found in literature and they are not â€Å"used† by authors. Allegory: Where every aspect of a story is representative, usually symbolic, of something else, usually a larger abstract concept or important historical/geopolitical event. Lord of the Flies provides a compelling allegory of human nature, illustrating the three sides of the psyche through its sharply-defined main characters. Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds within close proximity, usually in consecutive words within the same sentence or line. Antagonist: Counterpart to the main character and source of a story’s main conflict. The person may not be â€Å"bad† or â€Å"evil† by any conventional moral standard, but he/she opposes the protagonist in a significant way. (Although it is technically a literary element, the term is only useful for identification, as part of a discussion or analysis of character; it cannot generally be analyzed by itself. ) Anthropomorphism: Where animals or inanimate objects are portrayed in a story as people, such as by walking, talking, or being given arms, legs, facial features, human locomotion or other anthropoid form. (This technique is often incorrectly called personification. ) †¢ The King and Queen of Hearts and their playing-card courtiers comprise only one example of Carroll’s extensive use of anthropomorphism in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Blank verse: Non-rhyming poetry, usually written in iambic pentameter. †¢ Most of Shakespeare’s dialogue is written in blank verse, though it does occasionally rhyme. Character: The people who inhabit and take part in a story. When discussing character, as distinct from characterization, look to the essential function of the character, or of all the characters as a group, in the story as a whole. †¢ Rather than focus on one particular character, Lord assembles a series of brief vignettes and anecdotes involving multiple characters, in order to give the reader the broadest possible spectrum of human behavior. Golding uses his main characters to represent the different parts of the human psyche, to illustrate mankind’s internal struggle between desire, intellect, and conscience. †¢ Characterization: The author’s means of conveying to the reader a character’s personality, life history, values, physical attributes, etc. Also refers directly to a description thereof. †¢ Atticus is characterized as an almost impossibly virtuous man, always doing what is right and imparting impeccable moral values to his children. Climax: The turning point in a story, at which the end result becomes inevitable, usually where something suddenly goes terribly wrong; the â€Å"dramatic high point† of a story. (Although it is technically a literary element, the term is only useful for identification, as part of a discussion or analysis of structure; it cannot generally be analyzed by itself. ) †¢ The story reaches its climax in Act III, when Mercutio and Tybalt are killed and Romeo is banished from Verona. Conflict: A struggle between opposing forces which is the driving force of a story. The outcome of any story provides a resolution of the conflict(s); this is what keeps the reader reading. Conflicts can exist between individual characters, between groups of characters, between a character and society, etc. , and can also be purely abstract (i. e. , conflicting ideas). †¢ †¢ †¢ The conflict between the Montagues and Capulets causes Romeo and Juliet to behave irrationally once they fall in love. Jack’s priorities are in conflict with those of Ralph and Piggy, which causes him to break away from the group. Man-versus-nature is an important conflict in The Old Man and the Sea. Context: Conditions, including facts, social/historical background, time and place, etc. , surrounding a given situation. †¢ Madame Defarge’s actions seem almost reasonable in the context of the Revolution. Creative license: Exaggeration or alteration of objective facts or reality, for the purpose of enhancing meaning in a fictional context. †¢ Orwell took some creative license with the historical events of the Russian Revolution, in order to clarify the ideological conflicts. Dialogue: Where characters speak to one another; may often be used to substitute for exposition. †¢ Since there is so little stage direction in Shakespeare, many of the characters’ thoughts and actions are revealed through dialogue. Dramatic irony: Where the audience or reader is aware of something important, of which the characters in the story are not aware. †¢ Macbeth responds with disbelief when the weird sisters call him Thane of Cawdor; ironically, unbeknownst to him, he had been granted that title by king Duncan in the previous scene. Exposition: Where an author interrupts a story in order to explain something, usually to provide important background information. †¢ The first chapter consists mostly of exposition, running down the family’s history and describing their living conditions. Figurative language: Any use of language where the intended meaning differs from the actual literal meaning of the words themselves. There are many techniques which can rightly be called figurative language, including metaphor, simile, hyperbole, personification, onomatopoeia, verbal irony, and oxymoron. (Related: figure of speech) †¢ The poet makes extensive use of figurative language, presenting the speaker’s feelings as colors, sounds and flavors. Foil: A character who is meant to represent characteristics, values, ideas, etc. which are directly and diametrically opposed to those of another character, usually the protagonist. (Although it is technically a literary element, the term is only useful for identification, as part of a discussion or analysis of character; it cannot generally be analyzed by itself. †¢ The noble, virtuous father Macduff provides an ideal foil for the villainous, childless Macbeth. Foreshadowing: Where future events in a story, or perhaps the outcome, are suggested by the author before they happen. Foreshadowing can take many forms and be accomplished in many ways, with varying degrees of subtlety. However, if the outcome is deliberately and explicitly revealed early in a story (such as by the use of a narrator or flashback structure), such information does not constitute foreshadowing. †¢ Willy’s concern for his car foreshadows his eventual means of suicide. Hyperbole: A description which exaggerates, usually employing extremes and/or superlatives to convey a positive or negative attribute; â€Å"hype. † †¢ The author uses hyperbole to describe Mr. Smith, calling him â€Å"the greatest human being ever to walk the earth. † Iambic pentameter: A poetic meter wherein each line contains ten syllables, as five repetitions of a two-syllable pattern in which the pronunciation emphasis is on the second syllable. †¢ Shakespeare wrote most of his dialogue in iambic pentameter, often having to adjust the order and nature of words to fit the syllable pattern, thus endowing the language with even greater meaning. Imagery: Language which describes something in detail, using words to substitute for and create sensory stimulation, including visual imagery and sound imagery. Also refers to specific and recurring types of images, such as food imagery and nature imagery. (Not all descriptions can rightly be called imagery; the key is the appeal to and stimulation of specific senses, usually visual. It is often advisable to specify the type of imagery being used, and consider the significance of the images themselves, to distinguish imagery from mere description. ) †¢ The author’s use of visual imagery is impressive; the reader is able to see the island in all its lush, colorful splendor by reading Golding’s detailed descriptions. Irony (a. k. a. Situational irony): Where an event occurs which is unexpected, in the sense that it is somehow in absurd or mocking opposition to what would be expected or appropriate. Mere coincidence is generally not ironic; neither is mere surprise, nor are any random or arbitrary occurrences. (Note: Most of the situations in the Alanis Morissette song are not ironic at all, which may actually make the song ironic in itself. ) See also Dramatic irony; Verbal irony. Metaphor: A direct relationship where one thing or idea substitutes for another. †¢ Shakespeare often uses light as a metaphor for Juliet; Romeo refers to her as the sun, as â€Å"a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear,† and as a solitary dove among crows. Mood: The atmosphere or emotional condition created by the piece, within the setting. Mood refers to the general sense or feeling which the reader is supposed to get from the text; it does not, as a literary element, refer to the author’s or characters’ state of mind. (Note that mood is a literary element, not a technique; the mood must therefore be described or identified. It would be incorrect to simply state, â€Å"The author uses mood. †) †¢ The mood of Macbeth is dark, murky and mysterious, creating a sense of fear and uncertainty. Motif: A recurring important idea or image. A motif differs from a theme in that it can be expressed as a single word or fragmentary phrase, while a theme usually must be expressed as a complete sentence. †¢ Blood is an important motif in A Tale of Two Cities, appearing numerous times throughout the novel. Onomatopoeia: Where sounds are spelled out as words; or, when words describing sounds actually sound like the sounds they describe. †¢ Ouch! EEK! Crash! Oxymoron: A contradiction in terms. †¢ Romeo describes love using several oxymorons, such as â€Å"cold fire,† â€Å"feather of lead† and â€Å"sick health,† to suggest its contradictory nature. Paradox: Where a situation is created which cannot possibly exist, because different elements of it cancel each other out. †¢ In 1984, â€Å"doublethink† refers to the paradox where history is changed, and then claimed to have never been changed. †¢ A Tale of Two Cities opens with the famous paradox, â€Å"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. † Parallelism: Use of similar or identical language, structures, events or ideas in different parts of a text. Personification (I): Where inanimate objects or abstract concepts are seemingly endowed with human self-awareness; where human thoughts, actions, perceptions and emotions are directly attributed to inanimate objects or abstract ideas. (Not to be confused with anthropomorphism. ) Personification (II): Where an abstract concept, such as a particular human behavior or a force of nature, is represented as a person. †¢ The Greeks personified natural forces as gods; for example, the god Poseidon was the personification of the sea and its power over man. Plot: Sequence of events in a story. Most literary essay tasks will instruct the writer to â€Å"avoid plot summary;† the term is therefore rarely useful for response or critical analysis. When discussing plot, it is generally more useful to consider and analyze its structure, rather than simply recapitulate â€Å"what happens. † Point-of-view: The identity of the narrative voice; the person or entity through whom the reader experiences the story. May be third-person (no narrator; abstract narrative voice, omniscient or limited) or first-person (narrated by a character in the story or a direct observer). Point-of-view is a commonly misused term; it does not refer to the author’s or characters’ feelings, opinions, perspectives, biases, etc. Though it is written in third-person, Animal Farm is told from the limited point-of-view of the common animals, unaware of what is really happening as the pigs gradually and secretively take over the farm. Writing the story in first-person point-of-view enables the reader to experience the soldier’s fear and uncertainty, limiting the narrative to what only he saw, thought and felt during the battle. Protagonist: The main character in a story, the one with whom the reader is meant to identify. The person is not necessarily â€Å"good† by any conventional moral standard, but he/she is the person in whose plight the reader is most invested. (Although it is technically a literary element, the term is only useful for identification, as part of a discussion or analysis of character; it cannot generally be analyzed by itself. ) Repetition: Where a specific word, phrase, or structure is repeated several times, usually in close proximity, to emphasize a particular idea. †¢ The repetition of the words â€Å"What if†¦Ã¢â‚¬  at the beginning of each line reinforces the speaker’s confusion and fear. Setting: The time and place where a story occurs. The setting can be specific (e. g. , New York City in 1930) or ambiguous (e. g. , a large urban city during economic hard times). Also refers directly to a description thereof. When discussing or analyzing setting, it is generally insufficient to merely identify the time and place; an analysis of setting should include a discussion of its overall impact on the story and characters. †¢ The novel is set in the South during the racially turbulent 1930’s, when blacks were treated unfairly by the courts. †¢ With the island, Golding creates a pristine, isolated and uncorrupted setting, in order to show that the boys’ actions result from their own essential nature rather than their environment. Simile: An indirect relationship where one thing or idea is described as being similar to another. Similes usually contain the words â€Å"like† or â€Å"as,† but not always. †¢ The simile in line 10 describes the lunar eclipse: â€Å"The moon appeared crimson, like a drop of blood hanging in the sky. † †¢ The character’s gait is described in the simile: â€Å"She hunched and struggled her way down the path, the way an old beggar woman might wander about. † Speaker: The â€Å"voice† of a poem; not to be confused with the poet him/herself. Analogous to the narrator in prose fiction. Structure: The manner in which the various elements of a story are assembled. †¢ The individual tales are told within the structure of the larger framing story, where the 29 travelers gather at the Inn at Southwark on their journey to Canterbury, telling stories to pass the time. †¢ The play follows the traditional Shakespearean five-act plot structure, with exposition in Act I, development in Act II, the climax or turning point in Act III, falling action in Act IV, and resolution in Act V. Symbolism: The use of specific objects or images to represent abstract ideas. This term is commonly misused, describing any and all representational relationships, which in fact are more often metaphorical than symbolic. A symbol must be something tangible or visible, while the idea it symbolizes must be something abstract or universal. (In other words, a symbol must be something you can hold in your hand or draw a picture of, while the idea it symbolizes must be something you can’t hold in your hand or draw a picture of. ) †¢ Golding uses symbols to represent the various aspects of human nature and civilization as they are revealed in the novel. The conch symbolizes order and authority, while its gradual deterioration and ultimate destruction metaphorically represent the boys’ collective downfall. Theme: The main idea or message conveyed by the piece. A theme should generally be expressed as a complete sentence; an idea expressed by a single word or fragmentary phrase is usually a motif. †¢ Orwell’s theme is that absolute power corrupts absolutely. †¢ The idea that human beings are essentially brutal, savage creatures provides the central theme of the novel. Tone: The apparent emotional state, or â€Å"attitude,† of the speaker/narrator/narrative voice, as conveyed through the language of the piece. Tone refers only to the narrative voice; not to the author or characters. It must be described or identified in order to be analyzed properly; it would be incorrect to simply state, â€Å"The author uses tone. † †¢ The poem has a bitter and sardonic tone, revealing the speaker’s anger and resentment. †¢ The tone of Gulliver’s narration is unusually matter-of-fact, as he seems to regard these bizarre and absurd occurrences as ordinary or commonplace. Tragedy: Where a story ends with a negative or unfortunate outcome which was essentially avoidable, usually caused by a flaw in the central character’s personality. Tragedy is really more of a dramatic genre than a literary element; a play can be referred to as a tragedy, but tragic events in a story are essentially part of the plot, rather than a literary device in themselves. When discussing tragedy, or analyzing a story as tragic, look to the other elements of the story which combine to make it tragic. Tragic hero/tragic figure: A protagonist who comes to a bad end as a result of his own behavior, usually cased by a specific personality disorder or character flaw. (Although it is technically a literary element, the term is only useful for identification, as part of a discussion or analysis of character; it cannot generally be analyzed by itself. ) †¢ Willy Loman is one of the best-known tragic figures in American literature, oblivious to and unable to face the reality of his life. Tragic flaw: The single characteristic (usually negative) or personality disorder which causes the downfall of the protagonist. †¢ Othello’s tragic flaw is his jealousy, which consumes him so thoroughly that he is driven to murder his wife rather than accept, let alone confirm, her infidelity. (Although it is technically a literary element, the term is only useful for identification, as part of a discussion or analysis of character; it cannot generally be analyzed by itself. ) Verbal irony: Where the meaning of a specific expression is, or is intended to be, the exact opposite of what the words literally mean. (Sarcasm is a tone of voice that often accompanies verbal irony, but they are not the same thing. ) †¢ Orwell gives this torture and brainwashing facility the ironic title, â€Å"Ministry of Love. †