Why Are Americans Afraid of Dragons free essay sample

Why Are Americans Afraid of Dragons? BY xcxc28 Ursula K. Le Guin To begin her paper, she expresses This was to be a discussion about dream. Be that as it may, I have not been feeling whimsical of late. This is thoughtful ofa pun with the word dream. Shes not feeling so whimsical in light of the fact that individuals, for the most part Americans as the titles proposes, are reluctant to acknowledge the dream class. She rehashes the word dream a few times in the initial two sections. She may be attempting to make the peruser progressively agreeable ith dream, likewise utilizes comparative words like whimsical and incredible to make the redundancy increasingly powerful. At the point when she says in the title Why Are Americans Afraid of Dragons, she truly implies dream and not mythical beasts. This makes the title substantially more fascinating and interests the peruser directly off the bat. She has a well disposed tone, viably making the peruser increasingly alright with dream by and by and less apprehensive. We will compose a custom article test on Why Are Americans Afraid of Dragons? or on the other hand any comparable point explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page The tone changes when she makes reference to moralistic restriction. It at that point turns out to be progressively conceptual as ow shes genuine and needs to really demonstrate a point about the dream and science fiction sort. After her presentation she sets a short section rehashing the title to accentuates it. She is presently saying that she will continue ahead with it. This is viable on the grounds that she rehashes the title and now she can begin new and come to the heart of the matter while as yet having her backstory presentation from the beginning. At the point when she was a youngster, she attempted to take our The Hobbit from the library yet the administrator said that she doesnt feel scapism is useful for kids. This is unexpected on the grounds that when she cites individuals on why they dont read fiction they said Fairy stories are for children and l used to peruse that sci-fi stuff when I was an adolescent, obviously I dont now yet when she was youthful they saved the fiction for grown-ups as it were. Her best line would be Equally, in the businessmans esteem framework, if a demonstration doesn't get a prompt, unmistakable benefit, it has no Justification by any stretch of the imagination. Shes saying that there is no reason for eading sci-fi on the grounds that there is no benefit at long last. Later she says that a specialist may peruse a smash hit, not on the grounds that they appreciate the book but since they can fgure out how it turned out to be such a triumph. She at that point completes the section with a solid similar sounding word usage To the abnormally enchanted psyche of the cash changer. On the off chance that the book youre perusing doesnt have some method of making you increasingly fruitful there is no motivation to peruse it as indicated by the businessmans esteem framework however Americans should Just peruse for pleasure regardless of what class it is.

Company Analysis of the Walt Disney Company (DIS) Term Paper

Organization Analysis of the Walt Disney Company (DIS) - Term Paper Example It later broadened into creations of live film gushing, travel and TV stations; changing its name to Walt Disney Company in 1986. The then existing activities of the Walt Disney organization were extended close by the building up a few divisions of distributing, music, theater, online media and radio. The Walt Disney Company has created different divisions that help in the promoting of develop contentsâ as contradicted to the recently showcased family arranged leaders that structures some portion of its tremendous income. Walt Disney studio is all around perceived for the film items it produces, acquiring a spot and acknowledgment at the Hollywood. The film studio is the biggest in America. Other American divisions worked by Walt Disney Company incorporate Disney station; a digital TV station, ABC communicate Television organize, A+E Networks, ESPN, and ABC family. It likewise possesses various theaters, marketing and distributing enterprises in addition to 14 amusement stops everyw here throughout the globe all of which it is authorized to attempt. Since the year 1991, Walt Disney has been a segment of Dow Jones Industrial (Schaffer et al 2009). Its initial animation creation, which is the official mascot of the Disney Company, is known as the Mickey Mouse that has featured in various Walt Disney delivered films. Walt Disney gained the responsibility for Marvel amusement in December 2009 for $4.24 billion, with an arrangement not change or influences any of the Marvel Company’s items and characters. In October 2009 after the substitution of Dick cook by Rich Ross, Walt Disney was put under huge rebuilding. Ross was resolved to build the Company’s center around the creation of family amicable items36 (Securities Industry Foundation for Economic Education, 1997). The monetary idea of the Walt Disney Company has been especially alluring for an exceedingly prolonged stretch of time. It has on the biggest income base in the United States as well as ev erywhere throughout the world. It has kept on extending its divisions with among the most recent obtaining being the noteworthy of Shanghai Disney Resort at an expense of $44.4 billion; expected to be opened in 2015. There are additionally designs in progress to enroll new organizations or characters with excellent capacities to enhance the Company’s stories and characters. It additionally reported in October 2012, that the Company planned to buy Lucasfilm at an expense of $4.05 billion. Government Trade Commission endorsed the merger; known as Disney-Lucasfilm in December 4 2012, giving the Company the green light to finish the arrangement without the need of managing antitrust issues. All in all, the Company is a five essential fragments and units that incorporate the Walt Disney Studios, Media systems, stops and resorts, studio diversion and Disney customer items, for example, attire, toys and other Disney-claimed property stock. Walt Disney Company Financial explanation s omewhere in the range of 2009 and 2012 Currency in Millions of US Dollars As of: Oct 02 2010 Oct 01 2011 Sep 29 2012 Revenues TOTAL REVENUES Cost of Goods Sold GROSS PROFIT OPERATING INCOME Interest Expense Interest and Investment Income Other Non-Operating Expenses, Total Other Non-Operating Income (Expenses) Merger and Restructuring Charges Gain (Loss) on Sale of Investments Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets Other Unusual Items, Total EBT, INCLUDING UNUSUAL ITEMS Income Tax Expense Minority Interest in Earnings from Continuing Operations NET INCOME 38,063.040 38,063.0 31,337.0 6,726.0

Essay Title Samples - How to Write an Essay That Stands Out

Essay Title Samples - How to Write an Essay That Stands OutWriting a persuasive essay is not as easy as it sounds, especially if you have some difficult to understand subject matter to discuss. No matter how hard you try, it is always best to employ some essay title samples to make your writing more effective.There are plenty of ways to come up with your own essay title samples, but the first thing that you should do is look at the number of essays you will be writing. If you have several different topics that you want to cover, then you may need to consider using an essay title sample that will go along with each topic, and not necessarily the same topic.Now, you may be wondering why the use of essay title samples. The answer is simple. An essay title sample is designed specifically to help you write a persuasive essay, so that you can easily convince the reader that your subject matter is very important and that you are able to really do justice to the information in your essay.Bec ause of the nature of essays, it is essential that you focus on what exactly the essay is all about and then go over the essay writing process in a little more detail. As you do this, you should see some errors that you need to work on. This way, your writing will not only be impressive, but will also be very readable.One of the best essay titles samples that you could use would be something like 'Why is the color orange so good to eat?' This can give you enough information to use your thoughts to figure out the reason why orange is such a tasty color. By making this particular essay title sample, you will be able to place this particular aspect in the subject matter, and have this informative essay in front of the reader as soon as you start writing.Another important thing to note about essay title samples is that they can really help you get your point across to the reader. By having a sample that is related to your topic, you will be able to rest assured that there is a possibili ty that your essay will go over well with the readers.The main reason why you should be concerned about the essay title samples is because of how well they can help you. And by having these samples, you can definitely be assured that your essay will not be completely meaningless. They may sound nice, but what good are they if they can't be helpful to you?

Drama Of The Tragicomedy Genre - 1745 Words

Drama of the Tragicomedy Genre Tragicomedy is a sophisticated drama that incorporates both tragic and comic elements. On the surface, comedy and tragedy seem to be complete polar opposites of each other, but both of them are very strong and in combination evoke a specific, or a range of emotions. In modern tragicomedy, this variety of feelings became a focal point in major of dramas’ and a synonym to an absurd. Especially, with the advent of realism into genre, comic aspect evolves into irony and farce, and tragedy seems more devastating (Tragicomedy). In a play The Cherry Orchard, Anton Chekhov demonstrates many themes including childishness, clinging to the past, and hypocrisy of humans. Chekhov depicts the conflict between the necessity for change and the nostalgia for the past, which establish controversial emotions throughout the play; the internal drama of everyone appears more important than external events. In comparison with Chekhov, Athol Fugard in his play â€Å"Master Harold†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ and the boys demonstrates racism, nostalgia and injustice. Fugard uses the conflict in present to point out the external conflict of African society that creates a strong feeling of tragedy rather than tragicomedy. As a modern playwright, Anton Chekhov perceives tragicomedy as a visible discrepancy and essence by using a variety of characters that creates a chaos, however, Athol Fugard uses dramaturgy to present his insights about the social and political environment at the time in aShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Book The Heidi 1999 Words   |  8 Pagesmessage without often knowing if they should be laughing at what appears to be a serious topic. Wendy Wasserstein (1950-2006) is one of the contemporary female playwrights who makes use of dark comedy. She is an excellent example of the genre dark comedy in the late twentieth century. She has won critical acclaim, Pulitzer Prizes and numerous additional awards for her writing. Wendy Wasserstein was the first woman in history to win the Pulitzer Prize as the author of an original play. InRead MoreAn Analysis Of Anton Chekhov s A Play The Cherry Orchard 1675 Words   |  7 PagesTragicomedy is a sophisticated drama that incorporates both tragic and comic elements. On the surface, comedy and tragedy seem to be complete polar opposites of each other, but both of them are very strong and in combination evoke a specific, or a range of emotions. In modern tragicomedy, this variety of feelings became a focal point in major of dramas’ and a synonym to an absurd. Especially, with the advent of realism into genre, comic aspect evolves into irony and farce, and tragedy s eems moreRead MoreSatire : The Fundamental Function Of Satire1644 Words   |  7 Pagesall other sub-genres, and in particular, slapstick comedy. Satire is a technique employed by writers and comedians alike to expose and criticise corruption and shortcomings of an individual or a society by using humour, irony and/or exaggeration. Ultimately, the writer feels obliged to expose these vices to for the betterment of humanity. The fundamental function of satire is to warn the public about prevailing corruption and disorder within a society. [1] Furthermore, the sub-genre of satire hasRead MoreThe Tragedy Of A Tragic Hero1115 Words   |  5 Pagesaudience Reversal: the point when the hero’s situation changes from good to bad Hamartia: the hero’s fatal error or mistake made that leads to his downfall Recognition: simultaneous with the reversal, the hero’s recognition of the truth of the situation Genre 1. Classical tragedies are those written by ancient Greeks and Romans, those written about the ancient Greeks and Romans, and those written in the style and form of those written by the ancient Greeks and Romans. 2. Romantic tragedies are those thatRead MoreThe Merchant of Venice Is a Tragicomedy....I Got 32/35 so Its a Good Essay1558 Words   |  7 PagesA tragedy is a drama or literary work in which the protagonist is brought to ruin or suffers sorrow, especially as a consequence of tragic flaw or moral weakness. Where as, a comedy is a drama or literary work, that is light and often humorous or satirical in tone and it usually contains a happy resolution of the thematic conflict. Thus, a tragicomedy is a fictional work that blends aspects of the genres tragedy and comedy. In Shakespeare’s time a tragicomedy referred to a serious play with a happyRead More Tragic Comedy of Tennessee Williams A Streetcar Named Desire1350 Words   |  6 Pagesoccurrences. It has been said that the â€Å"double mask of tragicomedy reveals the polarity of the human condition†(Adler 47). The contrariety of forces in the work serves to enforce a sense of both reality and drama that are present in everyday human life. The comic elements in the play serve as a form of determined self-preservation just as the tragic elements add to the notion of self-destruction. This is the true nature of a tragicomedy. By juxtaposing two irreconcilable positions, ambiguity isRead MoreFinding The Sun, A Tragicomedy1404 Words   |  6 PagesFinding the Sun, a Tragicomedy Edward Albee’s one act play about four couples’ day at the beach and the ensuing clash of personalities never made it to Broadway and thus never received much critical attention. This series of flowing vignettes is undoubtedly a tragicomedy because it â€Å"causes strong feelings of sadness or regret† as much as it â€Å"is meant to make people laugh† (Merriam-Webster). Finding the Sun discusses topics such as extra-marital affairs, it has a quick and good natured structureRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The West A Full Length Play1524 Words   |  7 Pagesplay; the playwright, the genre of the play which tells you if it going to be sad, or funny what is the purpose of this play, and then of course everyone who helps bring the play to life which would the characters. Plays, nowadays, usually last for an hour or so but back in the day that was not the case. In the West a full-length play was about two or three hours, also popular was eight to nine hour plays. Chinese theatre could last all day long. Indian dance dramas went on all night. In 2012Read MoreOscar Wilde s An Ideal Husband2176 Words   |  9 PagesThe genre of comedy, throughout the history of dramatic art has always served to not only entertain audiences, but to make them aware of their own individual flaws, or flaws that exist in society. (Weitz, E.) Comedy has no precise definition, and its boundaries are broad. One function of comedy however has remained the same - to hold up a mirror to the society of the time but through pleasure, inviting audiences to reflect and also providing amusement. Set in the late nineteenth century, the playRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare’s Life Essay782 Words   |  4 Pageshistory plays, which was a popular genre in that era. The plays presente d medieval tragedies played out in bloody piece, and a variety of comedies. Tragedies ended with death and comedies had a successful conclusion. Some tragedies that Shakespeare had written were Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth. Shakespeare wrote his key romantic tragicomedies through 1608-13. The Tempest was one of them, which many thought was his most beautiful and poetic play. Tragicomedy meant a serious play with a happy

Cfa Level 3 2013 Summary - 8327 Words

Behavioral Heuristics – Check Anchor/OAR Availability– Conservatism, Anchoring, Overconfidence, Ambiguity aversion, Representativeness, Availability Traditional Finance – TF-RAR - Risk averse, Asset integration, Rational expectations Behavioral Finance – BF-LAB - Loss averse, Asset segregation, Biased expectations Type of Investors – CMIS - Cautious, Methodical, Individualistic, Spontaneous IPS Process – OCSAEEA, Old Cars Sell At Eastern European Auctions – Objectives, Constraints, Strategy, Allocation, Execution, Evaluation, Adjustments IPS Constraints – URLIT - Unique, Regulatory/legal, Liquidity, tIme, Tax TDA vs. TEA – Higher Enders Take TEA – Higher Ending Tax rate TEA better Residence vs. Source – Pay Greater rate with†¦show more content†¦This is a sign of heuristic-driven bias. Behavioral finance assumes that: 1.investors are loss averse, which means they prefer uncertain losses to certain losses. 2.investors exhibit biased expectations, due to overconfidence in their ability to forecast the future. 3.investors construct portfolios via asset segregation, meaning that they tend to focus on an asset’s individual investment features versus its impact on the overall portfolio position By admitting his mistake but reiterating other projections, one used the single predictor defense. Feeling that they should spread out their risk, but not knowing how leads to the 1/n diversification heuristic. Often times, participants will only have a rough understanding of the effects of correlation and diversification and will simply divide their assets equally over the investment options in the plan in an attempt diversify their portfolio. DC participants tend to hold excess stock of the company they work for due to familiarity and a perceived endorsement by management. The endorsement effect refers to the misconception that by offering an investment as an alternative, the sponsor is implicitly endorsing it as a good investment. Note that the status quo bias refers to a lack of action on the part of the participant. Also note that putting too much in company stock would be an example of an investor being â€Å"boundedly selfish† in that there does not seem toShow MoreRelatedResearch And Analysis Of Hr Recruiting Event For A Financial Analyst Position1709 Words   |  7 Pages Final Paper Milestone #2 Student Nan Liu United States University: MGT504 HR Leadership 10/04/2015 Professor Jennifer Newmann Executive Summary This paper provides details about the research and analysis of HR recruiting event for a financial analyst position in a credit card company named Discover Financial Services in their headquarter Riverwoods, Illinois. 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Analysis Of Personal And Professional Development - Free Sample

Questions: 1. (a) Analyse and discuss the various approaches to self-managed learningand lifelong learning in relation to your own experience. (b) Assess the benefits of self-managed learning to you and yourorganisation. 2. (a) Carry out an audit of your personal skills and competencies using theformat and assess the skills needed to work professionally in anorganizational setting. (b) Analyse your personal SWOT factors and devise a personal andprofessional development plan with specific career developmentobjectives.3. (a) Critically examine how you would proceed to implement your personaland professional development plan by making reference to the processand key activities to be carried out. (b) Critically evaluate the process of reflecting on the achievement againstexpected aims and objectives and discuss how you would review the planbased on the outcomes.4. (a) Investigate and analyse one work-based problem in your workenvironment and suggest/recommend solutions using appropriatecommunication methods and styles at different level. (b) Critically examine the application of effective time managementapproaches in various situations in your own context. Answers: Introduction Personal and professional development is a continuous process which not only helps the individual but also the organisation (Throop Castellucci, 2010). It involves processes of self-discover and self-examination wherein one analyses their own skills and potentials and plan improvements in order to attain desired future goals and career achievements (Carducci, 2009). This assignment aims at identifying and evaluating personal skills and developing a personal and professional development plan in order to minimise the gap between exiting skills and desired skills. The author works as a HR administrator at the OCS Groups Ltd. As an HR administrator her role is a mix of HR and admin wherein she is the first point of contact for all HR related queries, he has to administer all HR related documents, assist in recruitment and selection process, conducting interviews and communicating with recruitment agencies and candidates (Armstrong, 2006). Founded in year 2001 by Mark Tranfield, OCS Group Ltd provides their clients with premier services in technical training, inspection and commissioning (OCS Group, 2015). It is recognised for developing most innovative solutions in order to solve most complex problems of their clients. 1. Role of self-managed learning in enhancing lifelong learning 1.1 1.2 Various approaches to self-managed learning and lifelong learning Self-managed learning also referred to as self-directed learning involves individuals taking self-initiative to analyse their own learning needs with or without the support of others (Aspin, 2008). Once the learning needs are identifies they define their learning goals, recognise input resources and evaluate the learning outcomes on a regular basis (Friedman, 2013). It encourages individuals to take complete responsibility of meeting their own learning needs in order to improve their existing skills up to desired level (Matthews, et al., 2009). Every individual has their own learning style and the self-motivation greatly influence what they learn (West Turner, 2010). They primary self-managed learning theories are; reinforcement theory which suggests that behaviour of individuals change owing to their reaction to different situations, cognitive learning theory which considers learners as information processing machines, experimental learning theory which considers learners as active agents of their own learning and social learning theory wherein social interactions are considered as most effective pattern of learning (Boud, et al., 2006). With people becoming more and more tech savvy and active on social media, online platforms like social networking sites, e-books, forums and bulletin boards are gaining more attention from learners. Learning styles refer to set of theories that evaluate the differences in ones habitual and natural pattern of processing and absorbing knowledge in particular learning environment (Graves Norman, 2013). The Henry Mumford learning style and Kolbs learning style are the two common learning styles (Friedman, 2013). The Henry Mumford learning style defines four types of learners as shown in figure below. Fig.1. Source: Friedman (2013) The author is an activist as she is passionate to learn new facts and face challenges. She is full of positive attitude and enthusiasm thus believes in active experimentation. Enhancement of lifelong learning involves changing peoples perception and is concerned with accountability (Graves Norman, 2013). It helps individuals in improving current skills and acquiring new skills. The process of lifelong learning involves two main steps namely; Accountability which involves making employees realise that they are responsible for their development and professional growth and also accountable for the growth of their employer (Aspin, 2008). The author has always been active in taking the ownership of work assigned to her as it makes enforcement of lifelong learning easier. Second step is goal setting which involves creating clear vision of what is accepted and how to go about to achieve it (Hellriegel John W. Slocum, 2011). It is important that organisations give their employee ample opportunities to indulge in self-managed learning (Kitchin, 2010). They should encourage lifelong learning by providing options for on-job trainings, distance education and linking their higher education with the industry they serve (Mullins, 2011). The author has developed a clear vision of improving her existing skills in order to achieve desired career growth. 1.2 Benefits of self-managed learning Self-managed learning turns out to be fruitful for both the individuals and the organisation they work for (Kee Eraut, 2011). It helps individuals in minimising the gap between present potential and desired potential. It helps individuals in acquiring new skills so that they can meet the expectations of their employees and even capture new growth opportunities (Lauby, 2005). It makes an individual more confident, accountable and delivers self satisfaction. In case of the author self-managed learning has help her in identifying her strengthens and weakness by performing an audit of her personal skills. She has been able to realise her true potential and recognise her weak points which she will minimise by improving existing skills and acquiring new skills. From an organisations point of view self managed learners are their most precious assets and are the main source behind innovative ideas (Anaya, 2012). Self-managed learners tend to perform better and in better coordination with each other. They help creating a knowledge sharing work culture which facilitate in effective team work (Shajahan, 2007). Self-managed learners are found to be comparatively more accountable and goal oriented thus they are concerned about their own growth as well as profitability and goals of the organisation. 2. Managing own personal and professional development 2.1 2.2 Audit of personal skills An audit of personal skills and abilities help in identifying ones strengthens and weaknesses based on which personal and professional development plan can be developed (Bolton, 2010). It will help her decising on activities that are to be untaken in order to minimise the gap between her existing skills and desired skills. The author has graded her skills on the scale range of 0-5. Poor performance; 1- needs considerable improvement; 2- average performance; 3- above average performance; 4- good performance; 5- excellent performance Audit of personal skills Skills Score Written communication 4 Verbal communication 3 Multi tasking 2 People Management 3 Time Management 3 Knowledge of HR policies and procedures 4 Presentation skills 3 Problem solving 4 Team Player 4 Leadership and motivation skills 2 The outcome of personal skills audits reveal that the author has good command over her written communication skills however must work on her verbal communication skills which is very important as she is in a people management role. She has good knowledge of her area of business and is good team players. She needs to focus on her multi-tasking, time management, presentation skills, people management and leadership and motivation skills. 2.3 2.4 SWOT analysis of personal skills and development of personal and professional development plan SWOT analysis is a strategic management tool that will help the author in identifying her internal strengths and weakness and analysing the external opportunities and treats (Strategic tools: SWOT and PESTLE, 2009). SWOT Analysis Strengths Weaknesses Degree in human resource management Good Communication skills Positive attitude and willingness to take initiatives Good team player Good knowledge of area of business Friendly and full of enthusiasm Good in people management Good understanding of technology Weak in multi-tasking activities Average time management skills Average presentation skills Poor leadership, motivation and negotiation skills Opportunities Threats A number of online and offline short term courses are available. On-job training Growing job opportunities in HR field Companies prefer individuals with upgraded knowledge and presentation skills. Organisations prefer individuals with multi-tasking capabilities that help them in reducing cost. Current organisation prefer promoting people with good leadership and motivation skills SWOT analysis helps the author in developing her personal and professional development plan which is shown in table below. Personal Development Plan Learning Needs Priority Activities to be undertaken Resources required Target deadline Proof of achievement People Management skills High 10 weeks online course in people management Finances and time May 2015 Certificate of completion Leadership, motivation and negotiation skills High Part time course from reputed institute Finance and time August 2015 Certificate of completion Time Management High On-job training of 2 days Time and availability of training March 2015 Certificate of completion Multi-tasking High Taking up multiple projects Current organisation projects Continuous Outcomes of projects undertaken Presentation skills Medium On-job training of 1 week Time and availability of training April 2015 Certificate of completion Upgrade knowledge of area of business Medium Online books, journals, HR communities and other resources available on internet Time Continuous Continuous The above development plan will help the author in improving her existing skills and acquiring new skills. It will help her in maximising her strengths to take advantage of opportunities present and minimise her weaknesses to avoid threats. 3. Implementation and review of personal and professional development plan 3.1 3.2 Implementing personal and professional development plan Success of personal development plans depends on how dedication level of the learner and how religiously they follow the designated time frames (Schon, 2008). Implementation of personal development plan is a four step process as shown in figure below. Personal Development Plan Cycle Fig.2. Source: Steiner (2010) First step of PDP cycle involves identifying personal learning needs (Armstrong, 2011). The author has performed an audit of personal skills and also performed SWOT analysis in order to identify her strengthens and weaknesses. This has helped help in realising that she must focus on her time management, multi-tasking, people management, leadership and motivation and presentation skills. Second step is planning which involves goal setting, planning activities to be undertaken and defining definite time frame (Deb, 2006). The author has defined realistic goals, plan future activities and has allocated herself a time frame of six months to improve her existing skills and acquire some new skills. Third step involves identifying resources that can help in achievement of desired learning goals (Carroll, 2013). The author has selected online and offline courses after enquiring about them from friends and checking online reviews. She has selected the on-job trainings for which she will enrol. She has selected various online books, journals and communities which she will use to further upgrade her knowledge of her area of business. Last stage of PDP cycle involves reflecting on actions performed and gathering feedback for evaluating achievements and progress (Denicolo Reeves, 2013). She can reach her supervisors and subordinates to evaluate her performance and provide her adequate feedback. Based on the feedbacks received she can review her PDP and make changes in it order to achieve desired results. 3.3 3.4 Reflecting on achievements and review of plan based on results Reviewing a personal development plan needs same level of dedication and focus as was needed in its initial development (Ellis, 2005). Reflective practice needs individuals to evaluate and reflect on their own work in order to go ahead with the process of continuous learning (Luis, 2010). The author can rely on Schon, Kottkamp and Brookfields four lenses theory of reflection which is a strategy for professional development according to which individuals must focus on their behaviour and improve it accordingly to improve the quality of their overall performance (Department of Occupational Therapy, 2008). The author will have to review and evaluate the activities she has performed till dates to further incorporate changes in her personal development plan. Development activities performed till date Learning needs Undertaken activities People Management skills Enrolled in an online course on people management Leadership, motivation and negotiation skills Enrolled in a part time course from a reputed institute Time Management Enrolled for an on-job training of 2 days to be held in first week of February Multi-tasking Have requested her supervisor to give her an opportunity to be involved in different projects Presentation skills Have enrolled in an on-job training of 1 week to be held on second week of march Upgrade knowledge of area of business Have gather number of online books, journals and other articles related to HR topics and have become member of HR online forums. After reflecting on the activities performed till date the author can develop a revised personal development plan. Reflection of her own actions helped enhancing her self confidence and satisfaction. Authors revised personal development plan is shown below. Revised Personal Development Plan Learning Needs Priority Activities to be undertaken Resources required Target deadline Proof of achievement People Management skills High Enrolled for the online course and putting efforts to gather maximum information from other resources Finances and time May 2015 Certificate of completion Leadership, motivation and negotiation skills High Already enrolled, achieve merit result Finance and time August 2015 Certificate of completion Time Management High Attending the session to which she has enrolled Time February 2015 Certificate of completion Multi-tasking High Waiting for supervisor to provide her different projects Current organisation projects Continuous Outcomes of projects undertaken Presentation skills Medium Attending the session to which she has enrolled Time March 2015 Certificate of completion Upgrade knowledge of area of business Medium Reading gathered online books, journals and other articles on internet about HR topics. Actively participating in HR forums which she has joined as a member Time Continuous Continuous The revised personal development plan will further help the author in achieving her learning needs and taking advantage of various career opportunities present in current organisation or in external market 4. Acquired interpersonal and transferable skills 4.1 4.2 Analysis of work-based problems and recommendations using various communication methods and styles at different level Transferable skills are also referred to as essential skills or employment skills (Steiner, 2010). They comprise of aptitude and knowledge gained through personal life experiences like jobs, school, university, and hobby classes etc (O'Neill, 2011). These skills are representation of ones personal effectiveness and include skills like communication skills which is ability to effectively communicate with others irrespective of their position, ones willingness to take initiatives, reliability, self-discipline, problem solving skills and creativity (Adair, 2011). Author being a HR administrator has to face a number of work-based problems. She has identifies that her time management skills are not very strong and many times she faces problem in effective time management. She seldom faces problem when she has trainings and interviews scheduled and at the same time she has to respond to HR related queries of employees (Thompson, 2009). Job of an HR administrator is very tiring and effectiv e time management skills are very essential for achieving desired career objectives (Cooper Burke, 2011). The author can use problem solving cycle to solve her work-based problems as shown in figure below. Problem Solving Cycle Fig.3. Source: Thompson (2009) Effective communication is an essential skill to attain desired career goals (Blundel Ippolito, 2008). Communication is the process by which sender transmits desired message to receiver using various verbal and non-verbal means. Verbal communication is one in which speech is used to deliver desired messages (Blundel Ippolito, 2008). Non-verbal communication is one in which written words or body gestures to deliver desired messages (Fielding, 2006). The behavioural grid identifies four communication style namely; Relator who are introverts and like staying confined to themselves, socialiser who are extroverts and like others company, directors who display a dominating personality and thinkers who are reserved and avoid sharing their thoughts (Fielding, 2006). Author being in a people management role need to focus on her written and verbal communication skills in order to communicate to individuals at all levels. Communication Styles Fig.4. Source: Blundel Ippolito (2008) Author being in a people management role need to focus on her written and verbal communication skills in order to communicate to individuals at all levels. 4.3 Approaches to effective time management Effective time management is essential for implementation of personal development plan and achieving desired career growths (Forsyth, 2010). Effective time management involves following a five step process as described below: Defining realistic goals: The most important step of effective time management involves defining realistic goals. Goals must be achievable and measurable. Author has defined realistic goals for herself also identifying her strengths and weaknesses. Sub diving complete process into small tasks: It is important to divide the learning process into small tasks so that they appear achievable. Deciding Priority: Once the learning needs are identified it is essential to prioritise them based on their level of urgency. Developing Schedule: It is important to develop a schedule with definite time frame allocated to each activity else the whole process will be a chaos. Stay away from distraction and seek form expert help: In order to complete the tasks within specified time frame it is important to avoid all forms of distractions. The author has enrolled with various reputed institutes and is regularly asking her supervisor for adequate feedback. Conclusion Self-managed learning not only benefits individuals but also the organisation they work for. Skilled employees are considered as the most precious asset for an organisation and tend to perform better. It helps increase one self confidence and effectiveness thus opening doors for better opportunities and career growth. Self-managed learning has helped the author in identifying her learning needs and accordingly devises a personal development plan to achieve them. 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J., (2009) The Psychology of Personality: Viewpoints, Research, and Applications. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons. Carroll, D., (2013) Skills for Academic and Career Success. Melbourne: Pearson Higher Education AU. Cooper, C. L. Burke, R. J., (2011) Human Resource Management in Small Business: Achieving Peak Performance. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. Deb, T., (2006) Strategic Approach to Human Resource Management. New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers Dist. Denicolo, P. Reeves, J., (2013) Developing Transferable Skills: Enhancing Your Research and Employment Potential. London: SAGE. Department of Occupational Therapy, (2008) Professional and Eductaional Conceptual Framework and Curriculum Philosophy. Ellis, C. W., (2005) Management Skills for New Managers. New York: AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn. Fielding, M., (2006) Effective Communication in Organisations. Cape Town: Juta and Company Ltd. Forsyth, P., (2010) Successful Time Management. London: Kogan Page Publishers. Friedman, A. L., (2013) Continuing Professional Development: Lifelong Learning of Millions. New Jersey: Routledge. Graves Norman, (2013) Learner Managed Learning: Practice, Theory and Policy. New Jersey: Routledge. Hellriegel, D. John W. Slocum, J., (2011) Organisational Behaviour. New York: Cengage Learning. Kee, A. M. Eraut, M., (2011) Learning Trajectories, Innovation and Identity for Professional Development. Hamburg: Springer Science Business Media,. Kitchin, D., (2010) An Introduction to Organisational Behaviour for Managers and Engineers. New Jersey: Routledge. Lauby, S. J., (2005) Motivating Employees. New York: American Society for Training and Development. Luis, R. V., (2010) Management skills and leadership techniques. London: Ideaspropias Editorial S.L.. Matthews, G., Deary, I. J. Whiteman, M. C., (2009) Personality Traits. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Mullins, L. J., (2011) Essentials of Organisational Behaviour. London: Financial Times Prentice Hall. O'Neill, A., (2011) Manager to Leader: Skills and Insights for a Successful Transition. Riverwoods: CCH Australia Limited. Schon, D., (2008) The Reflective Practitioner: how professionals think in action. London: Temple Smith. Shajahan, S., (2007) Organisation Behaviour. New Delhi: New Age International. Steiner, G. A., (2010) Strategic Planning. New York: Simon and Schuster. Strategic tools: SWOT and PESTLE, (2009) Strategic tools: SWOT and PESTLE. Thompson, N., (2009) People Skills: Third Edition. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. Throop, R. K. Castellucci, M., (2010) Reaching Your Potential: Personal and Professional Development. New York: Cengage Learning. West, R. Turner, L., (2010) Understanding Interpersonal Communication: Making Choices in Changing Times, Enhanced Edition. New York: Cengage Learning.

Janus by Ann Beattie Essay Example

Janus by Ann Beattie Essay In the short story â€Å"Janus†, by Ann Beattie, the central character is not a real character at all, but in fact is an inanimate object. The cream colored ceramic bowl serves as the main character throughout the story, and is correlated to the Roman God â€Å"Janus† that is identified primarily with doors or other places of passage, and is also represented as being two faced. Janus is one of two characters with names, which is also evident of her importance throughout the story. The author uses the character of Andrea to give life to Janus through discussing the bowls importance to her. In many cases the primary character of a story is simply an object that is symbolic of an ideal or underlying meaning through which the author uses to convey their message. Throughout the story Beattie uses the bowl in many ways to convey different meanings to the reader. In the beginning, its sole purpose in the story is simply a tool that Andrea uses to sell houses. She places the bowl in homes she is trying to sell, along with house plants and even her dog at times. We will write a custom essay sample on Janus by Ann Beattie specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Janus by Ann Beattie specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Janus by Ann Beattie specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer There is a strong connection made between Andrea and her bowl, and it becomes evident that Janus means much more to her than just an aesthetically pleasing piece of ceramic art. When Andrea is trying to sell a home, she essentially tricks people into buying them by creating these setups where she brings in her own props. Beattie also uses the bowl to show the weak relationship between Andrea and her husband. There are times when it is clearly obvious that Andrea cares more about the bowl than she does her own husband. It is implied when she wakes up in the morning next to him and feels guilty; it is understood as her feeling guilty for her deeper connection to the bowl, and almost as a betrayal to her husband. There is no passion in their relationship, they simply get along fine and live together. Janus reveals another aspect of their relationship that is nonexistent, â€Å"She had asked her husband to please not drop his house key in it. It was meant to be empty†, (113) their sexual life as well as their everyday life is not passionate either. The request not to drop house keys in the bowl can be viewed this way, and it is another way to demonstrate the parallel of relationships that Andrea has. The extremely weak and non meaningful marriage to her husband, who is left nameless throughout the story and the deep seeded connection she feels towards the cream colored ceramic bowl. Beattie also reveals through the bowl another meaning it could possibly take on. At the end of the story we are told about the first day Andrea sees the bowl. She is at an arts and crafts fair with her lover when she sees Janus. When she decides she doesn’t really need the bowl she leaves it, but her lover saw something in Andrea sparkle when she saw it, so he buys it for her anyways. Not only is this man her lover, but he is also the man she is having an affair with behind her husband’s back. It is clear that Andrea and this other man are truly in love, and have a passionate romantic relationship, but Andrea cannot bring herself to leave her husband and in turn her lover grows tired of waiting and leaves her. This brings another possibility to the table of Janus’s symbolism, it could possibly be representative of the true love and passion Andrea once had in her life, but let escape. Now she doesn’t want to let it go, it has become Janus. Many authors have used the same approach to emphasizing their true message in a story. For example, in â€Å"The Things They Carried,† by Tim O’Brien, (1098) the main character is Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, but in the story the letters and pictures he carries of a girl back home become more meaningful than anything the he actually says. The fact that he carries these around with him is meaningful in itself because he is a soldier on the battlefront, and anything he packs around must have significant importance to him. He carries these letters and pictures because he believes he is truly in love with this girl, even though it is an unrequited love. He wishes for her to feel the same about him, but knows that she does not. He finds himself becoming obsessed with looking at these pictures and re-reading the letters multiple times. The notes and pictures are also symbolic of the outside world, the normal life that is going on outside of the battlefront. Jimmy finds himself getting lost in his own imagination, and thinking about home life more and more often. One day, one of his men is killed, and he believes it is his own fault for not paying enough attention to his surroundings and the situation his troop was in. He in turn decides that he must get rid of the letters and pictures so he burns them. Essentially this is symbolic of his maturity and realization that this girl does not and will not love him, and that his troop of men depends on him and looks to him for leadership and guidance. The use of the letters and pictures is like Janus because it is used to reveal more about the characters that go along with them, but also is used to portray many different shifts in the stories overall meanings. Another great story that correlates is â€Å"The Necklace,† by Guy De Maupassant. This story further continues with this theme because the main character, Mme. Loisel, is shaped by the pearl necklace that comes into her life. When she borrows it from her rich friend, she assumes that it is a real pearl necklace. It comes to mean to her then that if she wears it to the ball it will be seen as a sign of her wealth, and people will see her as a more refined person. Time goes on, and when she loses it she becomes desperate to replace it. Her and her doting husband work years to gain back the money to buy another set of expensive pearls for her friend. It turns out that the pearls were a fake, but it also makes Mme. Loisel more respectful in the sense that she has finally had to work for something in her life. The necklace was the main tool that gave her a reason to be proud of herself for working hard and earning enough money to buy a set of real pearls as a replacement for her friend. This resembles Janus because the author shows character traits and development through using an object that is symbolic for a deeper meaning. Janus† is a story that is a great example of an author characterizing her characters through using symbols and objects. The effectiveness of this writing is great because it is easy as a reader to indentify the connections between the characters and the symbols that they identify with. Using objects to form characters creates a more versatile story, this means of writing is able to take on many forms and thus develop many different underlying meanings that the author is trying to convey.