Night Shifts (After Seneca) free essay sample

There I remain behind a counter that squares me from this world. I hear the clients chatter in a high pitch just known as disappointment. Which will she purchase for the dress, she announces, seeing her girl. The little girl reacts in a tone possibly just pooches ought to hear that she loathes each and every choice. Out of sight you get the white-out clamor of a disappointed spat which must be that they theyre going to contend when they get to the front. A little carriage squeaks as it passes, sharing that the woman will leave soon. I stand uncertain about whether to roll the truck to take care of the texture or to remain and support my companion. He mutters to himself how he needs a smoke and a decent espresso as he steps his feet and mightily puts the texture on the table with a smack. He has some kind of old and eccentric music playing from a not all that ageless radio. We will compose a custom article test on Night Shifts (After Seneca) or on the other hand any comparative subject explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page A couple requests help with the gems area, and he with his excessively ready psyche, has a quick reaction. I hear him leave the counter from which we stand. The trough is rapidly Spanish (which she doesn't have the foggiest idea about all the words to) trying to converse with a more seasoned man of honor about how to make a blessing to shock his most youthful. She with her boisterous voice can be gotten notification from a couple of columns awaya sing tune y voice that folds into chuckling. Giving me the texture he needs cut, I attempt to discover the score for cutting and the sound of metal gathering itself closes with a thump. As the scissors presently cut into the texture, she keeps on talking stronger as she ventures into the following passageway till she finds what she was searching for. You would now be able to hear my companion coming back from helping the couple; I can nearly feel his shout as it hits my ear when he sets off the occasional movement sensor items. He excessivel y gripes that he isnt paid for a cardiovascular failure yet truly is currently battling the giggling that wont quit, seeing this will be the second time this night he impersonated a little childs shout. Presently to calm the store, he jumps on the speaker and reports that we will be shutting soon in endeavor to have everybody quit remarking on the last occasion. As we close, you hear the last carriages being returned to their homes with the sound of them mightily being assembled back. The delicate gab of every client leaving the store starts to cease to exist till just a couple are left. The opportunity is approaching near the end with every declaration blasting over our heads; you can hear every specialists franticness to at long last stroll through the ways to begin their excursions home. One associate has started the profound murmurs of depletion that can recount to the account of what life has tossed at them. It is at last shutting time. As the last barely any clients head to the front, so do the representatives. One of us heads to the entryway to bolt it as every individual completes their exchange. One young lady looks at the remainder of the line as the administrator shuts the draws. You can hear numerous great evenings and last inquiries. Attempting to close as quick as could reasonably be expected, we escort the last one out. The store haves everything lock and prepared to rest. My companion brings over the trough, and they go out for a last smoke before the genuine work starts. Being outside in the severe air, you can nearly hear the delicate murmur of the roadway and considerably progressively closer the road with vehicles halting and beginning at regular intervals to the cadence of the light. There is a family coming out of the café a couple of stores down, and the children are screeching as they rush to the vehicle. They yell supportive gestures to their folks who fall increasingly behind. My companion grad ually discusses workmanship and the significance of life as he rapidly begins whaling at the moonas if his issues would have been fixed by it. My chief sits on the control, just creation hints of understanding, and pings are originating from the gadgets in her grasp. Inside there is a great deal of work to be finished. There is texture to be taken care of and junk to go out with a clock cause somebody overlooked a mid-day break and cant remain any later at that point inquired. The sound of every representative turning on their music begins so each side of the store appears to have a sample of each kind. Its increasingly livelier everybody is discussing their day and glad to share what been occurring at home. The sound or the snap of the considerable number of radios turn off as every one concludes that shouting and hollering to one another is a superior decision. I return to the truck I didnt know whether I needed to take care of prior, realizing I need to drag it as its heavyweight makes it collide with each end top. The feeling of working close to somebody is soothing as each does whatever them might feeling like doing, hearing the sound of breath if not the music of decision first. The sound of the light switch clicking gradually begins, and the trucks squeak back to their homes as the caution signals, cautioning that anybody left isnt needed organization, and with that we close for ourselves.

Accounting Analysis of the 2011 Annual Report for Bank of Queensland Limited Essay Example for Free (#2011)

Bookkeeping Analysis of the 2011 Annual Report for Bank of Queensland Limited Essay ? The point of this report is to give a bookkeeping investigation of the 2011 yearly report for Bank of Queensland Limited (BOQ), and a scrutinize of the announcing of their presentation. The report examines the decision of bookkeeping arrangements and the adaptability of these strategies. The primary target of this report is to assess and perceive the chance of utilizing imaginative bookkeeping inside the organization, perceive and flawed bookkeeping numbers inside things recorded beforehand. Various things have been chosen from Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement. Bank of Queensland Limited (BOQ), has history of 137 years with system of more than 280 branches working in Queensland. It offers center banking (business/retail), hardware fund, riches the executives and insuranceservices. BOQ is recorded on the ASX and utilizations its one of a kind idea of the Owner-Managed Branch (OMB),a organization between the Bank of Queensland (franchisor) and experienced bank directors (franchisees) to give banking administrations. 3. Depiction of key bookkeeping arrangements and gauges 3.1 Loans and advances at amortized cost (Asset) As appeared on BOQ’s Balance sheet in FY11, credits and advances at amortized cost are expensive itemsin its advantages representing around 98 percent. As per the noteworthy bookkeeping arrangements investigated by BOQ yearly report 2011, credits and advances are started by the bank and are perceived upon money being progressed to the borrower. In view of AASB13, credits and advances are at first perceived at reasonable incentive in addition to steady direct exchange cost utilizing the powerful intrigue technique. 3.2 Deposits and acquiring (Liability) Stores, as the one of the most significant money inflows of the bank, follow ruleAASB13 too. They are at first perceived at reasonable incentive in addition to exchange costs and thenby utilizing the powerful intrigue strategy, they are estimated at amortized cost. It is ordered in two fixations: retail stores and discount stores. This thing follows AASB119Employee Benefits which has been changed in its bookkeeping rules influencing the estimation of its commitments and the planning of acknowledgment of end benefits. Representative advantages can be arranged to four classes: wages, pay rates and yearly leave; long assistance leave; superannuation plan and offer based installments. 4. Adaptability of Management in Selecting the Key Accounting Policies It is evident that having flexiblemanagement can apply beneficial outcomes on the introduction of company’s yearly monetary report. In particular, from the Bank of Queenslandâ's point of view, if troughs have extensive flexibility in choosing the key bookkeeping arrangements, the money related execution of Bank of Queensland Ltd can be improved; thusly more financial specialists and clients would offer need to helping out them later on. 4.1 Loan and Advances at Amortized Cost 4.1.1 Flexibility Analysis The estimation of credits and advances at amortized cost is extremelyfavourable to business banks. From BOQ’s merged money related yearly report, the credit and advances at amortized cost represented around 83.3% of all out resources in 2011, it had expanded from 31,736,5 million to 33,276,1 million during 2010 to 2011. This change in $1539, 6 million was brought about by debilitation charges made by directors of the bank. The expansion of advances and advances at amortized cost could improve the clients trust in the bank. Sincefinancial reserves, credit business and obligations are the center business exchange of the financial business, this itemappears to increment receivable records. Likewise, as banks could charge a sensible pace of enthusiasm on such future advances/propels, they are capable utilizethis pay to pay current liabilities, compensation and pay rates of representatives, and furthermore the assessment obligation of business. Thusly, the BOQ’s directors have chosen an adaptable bookkeeping arrangement in this thing. Being prevailing in the benefits, advances and advances at amortized cost worries about the concern of creating money. The way that Bank of Queensland perceives advances and advances at amortized cost can be isolated to two stages. At first, advances are perceived at reasonable incentive in addition to steady direct exchange costs. Also, BOQ utilizes compelling interest technique to gauge the amortized cost at each detailing date. The upside of this bookkeeping arrangement is that incorporating direct exchange cost in the advance cost can balance the genuine exchange cost happened and expand the benefit for the bank. Moreover, the successful intrigue strategy is considered as one of the earlier techniques for amortizing a security markdown. Hypothetically, speculators require a markdown on securities in light of the fact that the market loan fee at the hour of issue is higher than the coupon installments on the security. Along these lines, by amortizing the rebate at the market loan cost, bookkeeping explanation of Bank of Queensland will precisely uncover the financial truth of the security issue and its actual expense of obligation. 4.2.1 Flexibility Analysis Due to the qualities of banking industry, there is a high adaptability for the board in these two liabilities. It is perceptible that stores and obtaining represented about 97% of absolute liabilities on the monetary record. Possessing 69% of absolute stores, supervisors give more consideration to Retail Banking Services as a result of itsattractiveness to clients contrasted with different kinds of stores. This approach expresses that securitization set-up costs identifying with on-monetary record resources are incorporated with securitization borrowings, and amortization is recorded as intrigue cost. At first, barring reeling sheet costs makes the obligation a lot littler and develops their net resources. Similarly, enthusiasm on obligation is a duty deductible cost and makes an assessment shield profiting Bank of Queensland. The significant capacity for this strategy is to spare incomes for BOQ. 4.3.1 Flexibility Analysis Employee costs principally comprise of offer based installments and worker benefits. These sorts of money related exercises are beneficialto BOQ.The come about because of expanding motivating forces to workers applies as it urges them to performenthusiasticallywhicheventuallyleads to higher benefits for the firm. Among Employee Benefits, shared based installments are recognized. The bookkeeping arrangement exhibits that Bank of Queensland permits workers to secure its offers, choices and rights sold perceived in the Employee Benefits Reserve. This cost could be turned around if the misfortune isn't because of an economic situation. This is exceptionally helpful as it urges workers to buy portions of their own organization be that as it may, then again, as more offers are sold, the more significant expense ascends in the stock trade. 5. Nature of Disclosure Made in BOQ Accounts The nature of revelation in the BOQÂ's approaches, system, execution and budget summaries and reports is acceptable as it gives open, straightforward and genuinely supported data. As the BOQ is a recorded organization, it needs to consent to all ASX exposure arrangements and revealing however what's more it likewise agrees to the ASX Corporate Governance Recommendations just as the Australian Prudential Standards (APS) (Profit Announcement 2011). In the benefit declaration report for 2011, BOQ reveals various divulgence standards which incorporate administration, load up structure, moral and dependable dynamic, budgetary announcing, auspicious and adjusted exposure, regard privileges of investors, perceive and oversee hazard, compensation. 5.1 Business Strategy and Economic Consequences The business methodology and monetary outcomes are revealed in the notes to the yearly report as far as the hazard the board of the organization. As it clarifies in these notes the bank approach is to deal with its hazard as far as credit chance, showcase chance, liquidity, operational hazard, consistence arrangements and capital administration. As it states in the yearly report there is a significant level of evaluation and observing of these dangers so as to follow the companyâ's procedure. 5.2 Notes to the Financial Statements †Explanation of Policies The notes to the fiscal summaries and reports do give a clarification to the bankâ's administration arrangements. As indicated by the 2011 Annual Report these arrangements give viability and effectiveness regarding dealing with the dangers depicted above just as making controls to help development and upper hand. A case of these strategies in 2011 was a solid cost the executives which lead them to decrease their expense to-pay proportion from 45.8% to 44.5%. Also, these strategies give administrative consistence just as execution the executives. 5.3 Explanation of Current Performance BOQ through its yearly Profit Announcement Report plainly clarifies its present execution regarding its essential exercises. It expresses its present degree of productivity and the principle explanations behind any misfortunes. Just as these benefit or misfortunes clarifications the report shows clarifications for changes in costs, resource development, retail store development, branch arrange extension and capital administration. As far as budgetary shows that limit the firm as a financial establishment, the principle one is the Basel II Accord in which the bank is committed to keep up capital sufficiency necessities. In the 2011 Annual report is referenced that Tier 1 capital made up of value capital and revealed holds was higher than required by Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). Also, AASB 124 Related Party Disclosures is moreover unveiled so as to comprehend the effect on the firm. Additionally it reveals all its united explanations for all auxiliaries of the gathering keeping all union measures. The nature of the portion exposure for BOQ is adequate as it uncovers its two working fragments, and since the bank works just in Que

Using the Science of Persuasion to Become a Successful Entrepreneur

Using the Science of Persuasion to Become a Successful Entrepreneur Have you ever thought about what it takes to sell a product successfully to potential customers? Well obviously, in order to make a sale, salespeople often have to make the product appealing to the eye of the customer not just by describing its benefits but also persuading the customer that purchasing that particular product would definitely be worth their while.Now when we say that a salesperson must make the product appealing to the eye of the customer in order to make a sale, it does not involve ‘tricking’ the customer into making a purchase; instead, it refers to the fact that the salesperson must make use of the persuasion technique to convince the customer.You must be thinking about how you can also use the science of persuasion to become a successful entrepreneur or marketer; so here is everything you must know about the science of persuasion in order to master it. © Shutterstock.com | GraphicworldIn this article, we will learn 1) the principles derived from the science of persuasion that help doing business as well as 2) essential persuasion techniques that are used in fundraising and commercial advertising.THE PRINCIPLES DERIVED FROM THE SCIENCE OF PERSUASION THAT HELP IN DOING BUSINESSAn American Psychologist at the Arizona State University named Robert Cialdini was the brilliant mind that came up with the key principles of persuasion. He wrote a book in which all the key principles were discussed in detail, ‘Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion’ in 1984. Till date, Robert Cialdini’s book on persuasion is considered a bible that every marketing expert reads at least once before designing a persuasive marketing strategy.According to Professor Cialdini, it neither takes luck nor magic to influence someone. In fact, there is a whole science to it based on the six universal principles that can be used to influence people easily and eff ectively. If you ask most people, they cannot exactly explain how and why they made a decision to buy a particular product.But over a period of thorough research done for almost 30 years, Robert Cialdini proposed six different steps that may be implemented in a marketing strategy to influence the thought process of the potential customers. The six universal principles of persuasion are reciprocity, consistency, and social proof, display of authority, likeability and scarcity.Till date, Cialdini’s book has been listed on the list of Business Bestsellers List of New York Times and has landed a spot on the list of 75 Smartest Business Books list by Fortune Magazine. This brilliant marketing psychology masterpiece has been translated into more than 26 different languages and has sold more than 200 million copies over the years.If you are still not sure where the science of persuasion can be applied, here is what you need to know. Anyone from an entrepreneur to a salesman to recruiters , marketers, advertisers and fundraisers implement the persuasion technique to convince people without making any faulty promises. Take a look at the detailed explanation on each of the six different principles of persuasion and how they are helpful in running a successful business. However, it is important to understand that using these principles for selling shoddy goods unethically may backfire and result in a huge loss. So, entrepreneurs must always use this influence technique while upholding all the tenets of good business ethics.#1: ReciprocityHumans have a tendency to return favors, repay debts and treat other people on the basis of how well they treat them. The idea of reciprocity is simple yet profound for it explains how we would want to offer discounts and concessions to others if they offered them to use in the first place. The reason why we tend to behave this way is because humans feel uncomfortable knowing that they are indebted to someone. For instance, if one of yo ur coworkers assists you in completing a difficult task that you otherwise would not be able to do on your own, you automatically want to help them the next time around when your coworker is in a similar situation.Similarly, in the world of marketing, it is believed that distributing free samples, information or simply making your customers feel valued is important because it makes them want to reciprocate by building a positive association with your brand in their mind.A 2005 experiment was carried out by a social scientist named Randy Garner, who tried to get people to respond to a survey simply by using sticky notes. One-third of the respondents to the survey received a handwritten sticky note that requested them to complete the survey while the second group of respondents got a blank sticky note, and the third group received nothing. The results showed how a thing as insignificant as a handwritten sticky note had the power to make the highest percentage of respondents to complet e the survey with a response rate of 69%. While only 34%, respondents made an effort to fill out the survey without receiving a sticky note.The principle of reciprocation, therefore, has a significant impact on the psyche of the potential customers. If they receive a free sample or an unexpected gift, they are more likely to listen to what benefits the product offers or donate generously to a cause. The gift may not be pricey, but the impact that it will leave on the minds of the customers will be far greater than the price of the gifts given.#2: ConsistencyAccording to Prof. Cialdini, we crave consistency in everything we do; especially our commitments. This is one of the reasons why we feel more inclined to fulfill our commitments once we have made a verbal or written agreement. Prof. Cialdini believes that humans strive to remain consistent with their commitments while keeping in mind pre-existing values, attitudes, and actions.In 1987, an experiment was carried out on the Electi on Day â€" Eve where potential voters were asked if they would vote or not and to provide reasons for their decision, by a social scientist named Anthony Greenwald. 100% potential voters said that they would cast their vote, but that was not the case when the Election Day arrived. 86.7% potential voters went to their respective polling stations while only 61.5% of those who were not asked went to cast their votes; thus showing how consistency affects our decisions.Since people strive to remain true to their word, marketers can make sure that the customers follow through with a purchase or any required action by having them commit to it. Once coworkers or customers commit to doing something publicly, there are higher chances of them fulfilling their commitments.However, using the principle of consistency is not a piece of cake, and there are certain technicalities that one must fully understand. For instance, in order to get a higher response rate from your target audience, it is imp ortant to have people say ‘Yes’. For instance, never say something like ‘Please call if you are not able to come’ instead, ask a question to which you can have them respond to in the affirmative like ‘Will you please call if you have to cancel?’ The answer to this question will automatically be ‘Yes’ and so, you will have them more powerfully committed to an action.Another important consideration that you must look into when applying this principle practically is that age plays an important role in how we value consistency. The older you get, the more inclined to are to keep your word; making it more difficult for older people to change.This piece of information is very useful when designing marketing strategies for older customers in the corporate world. A 2005 study ‘Evidence of a Positive Relationship between Age and Preference for Consistency’ authored by Stephanie Brown showed that as you age, you become more ‘set’ in your ways and resist change.The only solution to addressing this problem and making older customers more receptive to a new idea or product is to praise them for the ‘good’ decisions they have made in the past. Marketers must build links and connections between the values they hold close to their heart along with new purchases that are consistent with their values and preferences.#3: Social ProofWe all believe in one thing â€" ‘safety in numbers’. We are more likely to work late if everyone in the office stays back. Social proof is how our decisions are affected by what others are doing. Whenever you are uncertain about making an important decision, you tend to look at what others are up to; this is how your decision is affected by the actions and decisions of your peers.Cialdini believes that social proof is the very reason why laugh tracks exist in comedy shows. In order to test how people’s decisions are more likely to get influenced by what others are doing, Cialdini carried out an experiment with his co lleagues. The experiment was simple â€" they tested four types of signs in order to gauge which sign would encourage most people to reuse towels during their stay at Arizona Hotel. The four signs stated the following:Environmental reasons are what make visitors at Arizona Hotel reuse their towels.A portion of the laundry would be donated by the hotel to support an environmental cause.The hotel had already donated money to save the environment and encouraged visitors to help in supporting the environmental cause.Most visitors reused their towels at least once when staying at Arizona Hotel.The results showed that the fourth sign that stated ‘most visitors reuse their towels at least once when staying at Arizona Hotel’ influenced 48% of visitors to take a similar action and reuse their towels. This shows that we are more likely to comply with a request when we already know that others are doing it. This cost effective strategy helped Arizona Hotel in saving a significant amount of money each year.Now this key element of social proof can easily be used by marketers when persuading new customers to make a purchase by using testimonials from satisfied customers. Once potential customers read testimonials from happy customers, there are higher chances of them becoming new customers themselves.#4: Display of AuthorityWe feel a strong sense of security when we know that a product or service is endorsed by a highly qualified professional or expert in the field. For instance, pharmaceutical companies usually get their medicines endorsed by famous doctors, physicians, and surgeons in order to create a strong image of the brand and build credibility.A psychologist named Stanley Milgram conducted an experiment in 1974 to test how authority affects our decision-making process. In the experiment, people were asked to shock victims whenever they gave wrong answers to certain questions asked. The ones who were responsible for shocking the victims were made to wear white lab coats to exhibit high level of authority. The participants said that the shocks given were increased 15 volts in terms of intensity each time the respondent gave a wrong answer. In reality, the shocks were only imaginary, and the respondents were only acting. As shocking the victims continued, the respondents faced high levels of discomfort until they finally screamed and demanded to be released.It was found that surprisingly only two-thirds of the participants ignored the screams of their victims and inflicted a full dose of 450 volts. Milgram was of the opinion that the real culprits of this experiment were the participants who were unable to defy the orders of their boss who urged and directed them to perform their duties despite the physical and emotional pain caused by them.In the world of business, marketers can build a strong image of their brands by having them endorsed by people of high authority in their respective fields. For instance, women are more likely to buy a cosm etic product of so and so brand if it is endorsed by a famous female celebrity.#5: LikeabilityAccording to observations and research done by Cialdini, likeability is another key element that affects our decisions greatly. People usually say ‘Yes’ to those whom they like or aspire to be like them. We also tend to favor those who are good looking and similar to us. Likability affects our decision-making process so much that even having the same name as someone may increase the chances of making a sale.In 2005, Randy Garner conducted an experiment to see how we react to those around us who share certain similarities with us. The experiment involved sending surveys to people with a note signed by someone with a similar name to theirs. For instance, Robert Ames may receive a note from Bob James.The result of the experiment was quite astounding. It showed that people were rather likely (56%) to fill out survey forms sent to them by someone with a similar sounding name. The question no w remains, how can marketers use the principle of likeability to increase their sales by persuading their target audience effectively? The answer is simple; they can relate to the audience by reporting honestly how similar the people who are providing these products and services are to their target audience.Marketers should stress on the fact that the people who have designed the products or services are well aware of the people’s preference, dislikes, challenges, and expectations.#6: ScarcityThe principle of scarcity indicates that we tend to go for products that are available in a limited quantity in order to boast its uniqueness. For example, there are higher chances of you buying a product when you know it’s the last piece left or when you know the promotional offer is going to end soon.Simply put, the less there is of something, the higher the value it is perceived to have. The principle of scarcity can also be applied in creating a foolproof marketing strategy by emphasizi ng the unique qualities a product has or the potential for a wasted opportunity when the product is not bought instead of just advertising the salient features of the product. ESSENTIAL PERSUASION TECHNIQUES THAT ARE USED IN FUNDRAISING COMMERCIAL ADVERTISINGThe science of persuasion is not limited to the business world only where you can apply the six techniques simply to ‘up’ the sales volume. In fact, it can be used effectively to raise funds for a cause or a new startup too. Here we have come up with considerations you must look into when raising funds keeping in mind the principles of persuasion by Robert Cialdini.Reciprocity â€" Do not always try to get something out of the investor; try to give something of value in return too.Social Proof â€" When an investor wants a huge chunk of equity in your business, do not take it lightly. Having a few investors on board will automatically bring in new investors.Likeability â€" Always begin the first meeting by appreciating the op portunity given to you by the investor. Try to find something that you truly find admirable about your prospective investor.Authority â€" When you meet your investors, establish your credential as soon as you can to create a credible image in the mind of the investor.Now when it comes to persuasive ads, here are some key elements in which the science of persuasion is used.A short, memorable, positive slogan;A strong narrative story;From what perspective the target audience sees the action;The color psychology used the color scheme;Who is given the power in the ad and who isn’t;The subtext of the ad.Worldwide ads that highlight success stories like that of Pantene are no accident. They are executed and created carefully by implementing the principles of persuasion in their commercials after thorough research. The four main persuasion principles are the endorsement, appeal to emotions, solutions, and character/storylines.Appeal To Emotion This technique focuses on eliciting positiv e associations with a brand by leveraging the power of emotions. Such ads stir up desirable emotions in the viewers and focus on nostalgia, security, happiness, relaxation, sadness, intimacy, etc.Endorsements â€" Endorsements give an extra nudge to those potential customers who are still in limbo when it comes to making a purchase. Testimonials by people of authority or happy customers can make a world of a difference.Characters/Storylines â€" Powerful storylines involving imaginary characters can be used to attract and engage the customers enough to recognize the benefits and advantages of using a certain product. Depictions and stories of the everyday lives of people also help in making customers interested.Solutions In our problem riddled world, solutions are more than welcome. By showing a positive relationship between a product and the problem it solves can easily make a product more attractive in the eyes of the customers and make them purchase it.You now know the secret that has helped thousands of businesses reach the pinnacle of success â€" the science of persuasion. You too can reach out to your target audience more effectively by using the six principles of persuasion. However, you must never use the persuasion technique to deceive people and trick them into buying shoddy goods as it will bring down the credibility of your brands instantly and kill the pristine image of the company in the mind of the consumers.

Dante Alighieri and his Divine Comedy Essay - 596 Words

Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) was an Italian poet in the Middle Ages. The Divine Comedy, of which Inferno is a part, is considered the greatest literary work in the Italian language and a masterpiece. Inferno is the story of Dante the pilgrim’s journey from the dark wood of error through Hell, led by Virgil. This is Dante the pilgrims opportunity to recognize his sins; he is given the opportunity to see how the error of his ways will be punished if he does not change. In Dante’s Hell, the punishment of the sin is reflected by the nature of the sin. There are many overall themes to this work, but three specific themes are represented in the â€Å"Up on your feet passage†; letting your drive change your life, carpe diem, and pushing through all†¦show more content†¦He was lost in sin and was watching all the good things he could be doing pass by him. The â€Å"Up on your feet† passage also displays the theme of being persistent and letting that drive change your life. The lines offered to Dante the pilgrim by Virgil are profound in the respect that they offer so much upon close study. Virgil closes this speech to Dante the pilgrim by saying, â€Å"Now, therefore, rise. Control your breath, and call upon the strength of soul that wins all battles unless it sink in the gross body’s fall. There is a longer latter yet to climb: this much is not enough. If you understand me, show that you mean to profit from your time.† (Lines 52-57) Virgil is offering the literal meaning to Dante the pilgrim as get up so we can get you out of Hell. The metaphorical meaning of these lines would be to live your life to its fullest potential; one cannot be content with a life full of sin. One has to live a fair life, to himself and others, so they can progress and move on to bigger and better things. The very last line of the speech tells us that you need dedication and the will to push on to be able to make a difference in the world, or â€Å"profit from your time.† Letting your drive change your life, carpe diem, and pushing through all obstacles in your way are three of the sub-themes of Dante’s Inferno. The journey Dante the pilgrim took was symbolicShow MoreRelatedThe Divine Comedy1705 Words   |  7 Pagesthe writers that influenced this revival is Dante Alighieri, a 13th century poet from Florence, Italy. His world famous epic, La Commedia, or more commonly known as The Divine Comedy remains a poetic masterpiece depicting truth and sin. The Divine Comedy, through the journey into the three hells, expresses a universal truth of good versus evil. Alighieri’s life of heartbreak with the influences of other famous poets like Homer and Virgil has affected his writing style, and through reviews by literaryRead More Analysis of the Inferno of Dante Alighieris Divine Comedy Essay1221 Words   |  5 PagesAnalysis of the Inferno of Dante Alighieris Divine Comedy The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri is considered by many as the first great poem in the Italian language and perhaps the greatest poem written in Medieval Europe. The poem is so famous that one of the minor characters, Capaneus the great blasphemer, has his name on a mesa on one of Jupiters moon Io (Blue, 1). Also, the poem is divided into three canticles, or sections, Inferno, Purgatorio, andRead MoreThe Divine Comedy By Dante Alighieri873 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Divine Comedy† is an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri. He wrote the epic sometime between 1308 and 1321, the year he died. It is considered one of the greatest works of world literature. He wrote â€Å"The Divine Comedy† while he was exiled from Florence, Italy (Bishops 182). â€Å"The Divine Comedy† recounts Dante’s idea of the afterlife. It is written in a first person perspective and follows Dante’s journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. At the time Dante wrote the Divine Comedy, Italy wasRead MoreDante’s Vision of Divine Justice Justice is one of the major building block that society is built900 Words   |  4 PagesDante’s Vision of Divine Justice Justice is one of the major building block that society is built upon. It gives people a sense of retribution when they have been wronged. In Dante’s Inferno, justice is served in the supernatural realm. Throughout this play, the reader is exposed to the inner working of hell and the nine circles of specialized punishment it is composed of. Justice, in Dante’s Inferno, differs from justice in the mortal world in that it is decided, not by humans, but by God. HoweverRead MoreSatan s Location And Physical Attributes1096 Words   |  5 Pageshell. In Dante Alighieri’s Inferno, Dante and Virgil encounter Lucifer in the last circle of hell before they ascend to Purgatory. It is here in the circle of Judecca that Lucifer had been condemned for eternity as a result of his treachery against God. In my essay, I will argue that Lucifer’s location and physical attributes ironically reflect qualities of God in such a way that Lucifer becomes mocked. Dante Alighieri utilizes Lucifer’s characterization to illuminate the force of God’s divine powerRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Comedia 947 Words   |  4 PagesIn his life Dante, Alighieri was a famed author, poet, and statesman. Over the course of his life the esteemed thirteenth century Italian wrote a handful of successful works. However, Dante is undoubtedly best known for his critically acclaimed epic poem, Comedà ¬a, which would later be called The Divine Comedy. Comedà ¬a has 3 parts: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The first installment, Inferno, may currently be the most well known of the three poems, spawning countless reprints, several moviesRead MoreEssay about Dante Alighieri1178 Words   |  5 PagesDante Alighieri Dante Alighieri was the first and best Italian poet and wrote mainly on love and religion. His Divine Comedy is considered the greatest book of the last millennium. George Steiner said, Dante’s totality of poet form and philosophic thought, of local universality and language, remains unrivaled. At a time where the notion of culture and of European culture in particular, is somewhat in doubt, Dante is the sovereign underwriter. His are the solutions beyond logic†Read More The Divine Comedy Essay728 Words   |  3 Pagesa life of sin was to be sentenced to hell. Dante Alighieri was an Italian poet, who had an admirable depth of spiritual vision and was known for his intelligence (Encarta, 1). Between the years of 1308 and 1321, Dante wrote the epic poem, The Divine Comedy,; which described a journey through the afterlife. It takes place during the three days of Good Friday, when Jesus died, and on Easter Sunday when he rose body and soul to heaven. It is a mor al comedy, and was written to make readers evaluateRead MoreHow Literature Changed a Nation: Dante Alighieri and The Divine Comedy1146 Words   |  5 PagesThe poet, Dante Alighieri’s world was one filled with spirituality and stigmas. Unlike many other artists of his time, he completed his most famous and influential work in Europe’s 1300’s. Dante’s piece, The Divine Comedy, demonstrates the journey one takes throughout life, to find one’s self and connect with the world and religion, all through three volumes of poetry. Of his talent, came a business of the arts. In addition, he changed the way the Italian language was perceived. He used his writingRead MoreThe Vaule of Personal Development in The Divine Comedy, by Dante Alighieri1209 Words   |  5 PagesIn Italian Dante Alighieri (1265) Poem, The Divine Comedy Inferno, Translated by Mark Musa. Dante demonstrates the value of personal development which is the ability to keep a balanced life an d continuously learn from past mistakes in order to create a better future. Dante begins the poem wrapped in his own thoughts and suffering but by the end of the poem he begins to understand other’s sufferings beyond his own. In his growth throughout his journey he learns about pain and sorrow that he cannot

Poverty and Children in America - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1845 Downloads: 9 Date added: 2017/09/13 Category Advertising Essay Topics: Childhood Essay Childhood Memory Essay Did you like this example? Poverty and Children in the United States Who are America’s poor children? How many children in America are poor? What are some of the hardships that face poor children in America? These are only a few questions that we can ask ourselves when considering children who live in poverty in America. Children face monumental hardships in our country because of poverty or the condition of not possessing the means to afford basic human needs. The economic crisis that we find ourselves in today threatens to cause a dramatic increase in the number of America’s poor children; however poverty in America has long been a crisis that has faced the children of our nation. This essay will investigate the previous asked questions and research the challenges that poverty plays on the sociology of children in the United States. Who are America’s Poor Children? According to the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) 14 million American children live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level, which is $22,050 a year for a family of four. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Poverty and Children in America" essay for you Create order They also state that the number of children living in poverty increased by 21 % between 2000 and 2008 and it is estimated that there are 2. 5 million more children living in poverty today than in 2000. (Wright, 2010) These numbers are staggering and are estimated to grow significantly in the next few years considering the current economic crisis facing the United States. The NCCP explains that current research shows, on average, families need an income of about twice the federal poverty level to survive. Children who live in homes with incomes of $44,100 or less, for a family of four, are considered low income. This means that forty one percent of children in the United States live in low income homes. Children represent 25 % of the population and 41 % of all children live in low income families and nearly one in every five live in poor families (NCCP, 2010). Families in the United States are facing challenging economic times where workers are seeing decline in wages and the loss of jobs. Many cannot afford basic human needs with increased costs on food, gas, and of homes; these economic realities have a profound sociological effect on America’s children. The NCCP goes on to state that some of the characteristics of children who live in poverty in the United States are race and ethnicity related. They note that 11 % of white children live in poor families, 35 % of black children live in poor families, and 31% of Hispanic children live in poor families. These figures show that black and Hispanic children are disproportionately poor in the United States. Also children who live in single parented homes are more likely to live below the poverty line especially those who live with single mothers. â€Å"Female headed households live in poverty more than all other household types† (Poverty, 2001). Single mothers have been labeled the â€Å"new poor† most often because of changes in family composition such as divorce, separation, and remarriage, driven by a series of events in their lives. Who are America’s children living in poverty? They are the kids who live in the confines of these statistics generated by levels of income and they are often children which we see every day. Unlike the torturous pictures we see of poverty stricken children who live in underdeveloped countries, the children of the United States who live in poverty are struggling to survive in a society where poverty goes very often unnoticed. Hardships Facing Children who live in Poverty Hunger In the article â€Å"In America Today, hunger is very real†; Yolanda Young quoted President Obama saying â€Å"Hunger rose significantly last year. † Mr. Obama said that he hopes to alleviate childhood hunger by 2015. (Young, 2009) What does that mean then for the children who are going hungry today? These children eat less healthy meals, they visit shelters, they get help from school food programs, and they eat at emergency kitchens. The U. S. Census Bureau states that nearly 14 % of all American homes were afraid they might not be able to put enough food on the table this past year. Fortunately there are programs that assist families in crisis and can help to feed the children of the United States; however the number of hungry children is growing. Child hunger in the United States has been described as an increasingly complex problem and has been called the â€Å"silent epidemic. † (Goldstein, 2009) Malnutrition is being reported by medical professionals everywhere and is of major concern in almost every state in the nation. Children who suffer the effects of malnutrition contribute to a high number of those with negative health problems. Obesity is being associated as a side effect of malnutrition, as children ho don’t get enough to eat regularly eat foods that are less healthy. Childhood hunger also contributes to health conditions like a deteriorated immune system, chronic fatigue, developmental problems, and behavioral issues. Many poor children in the United States today, experience an uneasy or painful sensation caused by lack of food, or hun ger. Homelessness â€Å"The National Center on Family Homelessness currently estimates that as many as fifty U. S. children (1. 5 million) are homeless or â€Å"precariously housed† in temporary quarters such as motels and shelters† (Cohen, 2009). Today’s economic crisis is not helping this growing number of families that are being relocated as home foreclosures and loss of jobs add to the overwhelming number of homeless children in the United States. The result of homelessness can cause children to feel disassociated with those around them, they feel a sense of loss and privacy, and they ultimately feel an overwhelming sense of insecurity. Although these temporary quarters put a roof over the heads of millions of children in the United States, children often are left with psychological issues that last a lifetime. It is reported that homeless children are sick more often, go hungry more often, and repeat more than one grade in school over kids who have a home. Also, children who are homeless are more apt to have been exposed to sexual or physical abuse. The government has instituted many programs to help with the homelessness crisis in the United States; however for a child who has no home to call his own, this is little consolation. Inadequate Healthcare More often than not, children who live in poverty do not have adequate health care and comes as a result of a parent losing a job. We have discussed in this essay how the current economic crisis has affected families. With so many people losing jobs comes those same people who are losing the option of healthcare for their families. Government programs exist in order to provide healthcare for those who cannot afford it; however many argue if it is adequate. Preventative health care is essential for healthy living and the lack of this care affects children their whole lives. The NCCP reports that 17% of poor children lack health insurance, whereas 10% of all children (poor and non-poor) lack health insurance. In the ten most populated states, the percentage of poor children who lack insurance options ranges from nine percent in the state of Michigan to 31% in Florida, showing that state to state healthcare options are significantly different. The Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Program (CHIRP) was instituted in 2009 and is intended to give additional Medicaid benefits to children of low income families. Without programs like this, and others many children who live in poverty would have no insurance coverage at all. Many low income families lose insurance coverage every day because of job layoffs or employers who can no longer afford to offer insurance to their workers. Along with the health issues that come from living in poverty, inadequate health care coverage threatens the youth of our society. Education Children of poverty are more likely to fail in school achievement and are twice as likely to have repeated a grade, been suspended, or dropped out of high school. The effect of poverty on children as it relates to education clearly demonstrates the possibility of poor outcomes. Children who are hungry are less likely to learn, children who are homeless are far less likely to adapt socially to a classroom setting, and children who consistently miss school because of illness will be unable to pass the tests of authorized curriculum. Children who live in poverty are more likely to have learning disability and are more likely to fall prey to gangs and crime. Children of poverty are also more likely to be exposed to lower quality schools as neighborhood conditions often determine the quality of schools. Many poor children are at a disadvantage when it comes to education and struggle their entire lives because of this problem. Poverty contributes to low self esteem and causes a lack of confidence in children leading to lifelong deficiencies that threaten their economic futures. â€Å"Poorer health and social behavior due to poverty undermine education achievement† (Moore, 2009). Researchers also suggest that chronic stress due to poverty undermines children’s working memory. It is evident that childhood poverty compromises educational prospects of children. Conclusion Child poverty is a significant and growing social problem as poverty negatively affects children’s development, health, home life, and educational goals. Children, who face these monumental hardships in our country because of poverty or the condition of not having basic human needs, are rapidly growing in numbers. The sociological implications of children living in poverty in the United States threaten the very social structure of our country. The stability pattern of social behavior in the United States can be uprooted by the problems associated with children who live in poverty. If we truly believe that the children are our future, then we must address the issues that low income children are faced with and we need to more than hope that childhood poverty will be alleviated by 2015, as efforts to reduce the child poverty rate commands the nation’s attention today. This crisis in which children in the United States live in poverty, demands efforts to reduce the child poverty rate, and command the nation’s attention today. References Cohen, Aaron M. , Child Homelessness on the Rise, the Futurist Aug. 1, 2009. Vol. 43, Issue 4, p7, Retrieved March 1, 2010 from EBSCOhost Goldstein, Amy, 2009 Child Hunger and increasingly complex problem, Washington Post, Retrieved March 1, 2010 from https://www. washingtonpost. com/wp-dyn/content/article. html National Center for Children in Poverty, Mailman School of Public Health, NCCP, 2010, Retrieved March 1, 2010 from https://www. nccp. org. html Moore, Kristin Anderson, Ph. D. , Zakia Redd, M. P. P. , Mary Burkhauser, M. A. , Ashleigh Collins, M. A. , Children in Poverty: Trends, Consequences, and Policy Options, Trends Child Research Brief, Retrieved March 1, 2010 from https://www/childtrends. rg/files/child_trends-2009-04-07-rb-childrenin Poverty. pdf Poverty, (2001), In World of Sociology, Gale. Retrieved March 1, 2010 from https://www. credoreference. com/entry/worldsocs/poverty Wright, Vanessa R. , Chau, Michelle, Yumiko Aratani, 2010, Who are America’s Poor Children? The Official Story, National Center for Children in Poverty, NCCP, 2010 Retrieved March 1, 2010 from https://www/nccp. org/publicatio ns/pub_912. html Young, Yolanda, 2009, USA Today, In America today, hunger is very real, News, pg. 13a, Retrieved March 1, 2010 from EBSCOhost

A Different Kind of Leadership Free Essays

string(144) " with a variety of managerial styles-authoritative, affiliative, democratic and coaching can be successful as long as they encourage dialogues\." When The Economist magazine recently asked 180 leaders what the major influence on future organizations would be, two-thirds of them said it would be teams and groups. Clearly, the John Wayne model of leadership won’t work. What is needed today is a different kind of leadership. We will write a custom essay sample on A Different Kind of Leadership or any similar topic only for you Order Now People who think they can do it by themselves are somewhat deluded. Despite these kinds of statements the cult figure of the Chief Executive Officer still exists. They are enshrined, and probably celebrated too much. This is partly an American phenomenon. However throughout Europe there are beginning to be reactions against these icons for companies and these are ominous signs for the future of figureheads. Groups, teams, communities, partnerships, stakeholders, colleagues, collaborators signal the end of the â€Å"Great Man,† the death of the John Wayne myth. As the business world becomes more complex and interdependent, executives cannot afford to lead in isolation. Instead, they must tap into the collective knowledge and expertise of their colleagues by creating real teamwork at top levels of the organization. They need to build truly effective leadership teams. Successful management in today’s society are forever trying to seek out the most competent individuals to employ in specific roles within a business environment. The criteria on which an individual is selected are widely recognised as the common attributes of a leader. These qualities would include; intelligence, forcefulness, sensitivity, patience, decisiveness, the person would be reflective and dynamic, a good communicator as well as being a good listener. The list of desirable traits continues to describe the perfect leader-manager who would be effective and most probably flawless. In reality this person could not exist, simply because many of the characteristics seem to conflict with one another. It is unlikely that someone could be both forceful and particularly sensitive. The inability of a single individual to possess all the skills that are sought after, presents the opportunity for the development of a team that certainly could. Teams also have the advantage that if a single member of a team is unavailable, then the productivity of the team may not be impacted significantly, whereas if a single person had full responsibility for a task and then was taken ill for example, any progress due to be made on the task would be halted. Another problem with focussing on training individuals to a high level and therefore becoming somewhat reliant on that person is that, if that person decided to leave to take a position with a competitor or to take early retirement to spend time with their spouse then the business is left trying to adjust for the loss. By focussing on teams the business is somewhat less exposed to these potential problems. However the development of teams to provide protection against competitors ‘poaching’ personnel, has become less effective, especially in the service industries. An example of this kind of activity occurring was seen in November 1999 when a team of Merrill Lynch Co. telecom analysts defected to Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB). This forced Merrill to reshuffle its depleted research effort just as the firm’s telecom bankers were positioning to land the mandate on what could be the biggest initial public offering in history. The highly regarded telecom analysts Dan Reingold and Mark Kastan left Merrill for CSFB on 22nd November, taking with them a group of five other analysts – almost Merrill’s entire U. S. telecom research team. With such an emphasis on the formulation of effective self-managed teams, the question of whether leadership is actually required arises. It has been suggested that to organize genius and to have a great group, the fine art of herding cats must learnt. This analogy is used to demonstrate the difficult skill of persuading members within a team to carry out tasks they may not particularly want to, and feel good about doing it. This ‘soft skill† is very important if a group is to have a member in a leading capacity. Some leaders have managed to succeed without having great people skills. Examples include Steve Jobs at Macintosh Computers, Walt Disney, Kelly Johnson at Lockheed’s Skunk Works, and John Andrew Rice at Black Mountain College. In fact they have been described as having herded their cats with whips; and yet still produced phenomenal results. Leaders typically provide direction and meaning that resonate in the heart, soul and mind. But many leaders of great groups are abrasive, if not downright arrogant. Another analogy used to describe these people is that they are all alchemists. They are creating something out of nothing. They are creating something magical. They are creating an object of enchantment. An explanation given for why these team leaders were obnoxious at times was that when believing that they were involved in a group that would change the world, they could be afforded the opportunity of being a â€Å"son-of-a-bitch† for a time. If a group can be created that thinks they can â€Å"make a dent in the universe,† as Steve Jobs told the team that created the Macintosh computer, one’s personal foibles, losing one’s temper, one’s style become less important. If the team feels transported, and part of the excitement, the thrill and the electrifying feeling of doing something that nobody has ever done before, arrogance on behalf of the leader can be excused. Undoubtedly this aggressive style of team leadership producing outstanding results is the exception to most group situations. The charismatic nature of the people involved probably had more to do with the eventual result rather than the manner in which they lead. Charisma is intangible, difficult to assess, and cannot be taught, yet can override all learnt skills of good team leading. However there have been studies that suggest that the personality of the leader may adversely affect the team†s performance. Mary Fontaine, head of the Hay/McBer’s competency practice, a U. S. management consulting group, carried out a study that found that team leaders with a variety of managerial styles-authoritative, affiliative, democratic and coaching can be successful as long as they encourage dialogues. You read "A Different Kind of Leadership" in category "Essay examples" However team leaders with a coercive managerial style were found to be far less successful at promoting dialogues. In contrast to the success of the individuals and their organisations mentioned earlier it was found that it wasn’t the best and the brightest who excelled. â€Å"Sucking the oxygen out of the room with excessive charisma or with an intimidating intellect and self-confidence was often detrimental to team efforts,† Fontaine says. â€Å"The truly outstanding leaders frequently were those whose contributions were less visible, who worked behind the scenes to create structures and arrange for organizational supports that made it easier for their teams to excel. There seems to be a threshold level of team skills required to be a competent leader, and above this level charisma can either make an average leader-manager into someone special or more likely hinder the groups performance. The ideal that leaders are not born, but make themselves supports this theory. A person may develop to be charismatic, however in order to grow as a leader they must learn the necessary people or ‘soft† skills. These are the hardest skills to learn. They are the things that will make the biggest difference in organizations. Bob Haas, CEO of Levi Strauss, has said the hard skills are not getting the pants out the door. The hard skills are creating the work force that will be motivated to be productive. So, the soft skills are the hardest skills. It seems that there is still a place for leaders within teams, but not in the traditional sense. Leaders are purveyors of hope who suspend disbelief in their groups. They represent the group†s needs and aspirations. They don’t know that a task cannot be achieved. Most individuals are hungry spirits, and any leader who can dangle a dream before them usually gets their attention and the collective talents within a team make that dream a reality. Today the one thing that the majority of professional people want is to be inspired. For many years the qualities of individuals have been studied, and the successful characteristics copied. However the successful features of a management team are less well understood. A team has proved more difficult to study than a single person. However there has been recognition of some of the main elements of what makes one team more successful than another. A number of studies have been carried out to try to depict the foundations of teamwork and the complimentary relationships between members. The format of the team and the relationships within seem indicative to whether the team is successful. It is not necessarily the ability of individuals within the team. Given a free choice of members and the need to form a high-powered management team to solve complex problems, it would seem sensible to select members who have sharp analytical minds. This would suggest creating a team composed entirely of intellectually clever people. These types of people would be equipped for coping with major projects and big decisions. Creating a ‘Think-Tank’ would initially appear to be the best solution for high profile managerial teams. However, studies carried out by Belbin concluded that the grouping of highly intellectual and similarly analytically minded people within a team in general does not produce the expected high performance. Belbin championed the result as â€Å"Apollo Syndrome†, named after the team consisting of the intellectually clever people that carried out the executive management exercises he designed. The analysis of these highly intellectual ‘Apollo’ teams illustrated some of the flaws within the group interaction. A large proportion of each individual’s time was engaged in trying to persuade the other members of the team to adopt their own particular, well stated, point of view. No one seemed to convert another or be converted themselves. This was largely due to the ability to spot weak points in each other’s argument. There was, not surprisingly, no coherence in the decisions that the team reached – or was forced to reach. Subsequent to the eventual failure of the team, finishing last in the exercise, the aftermath was marked by mutual recrimination. If having a team consisting of homogeneous people with respect to members’ demographics, cognitions and high intellect does not create a successful group, then the obvious alternative would be to create groups of heterogeneous individuals. Scholars have carried out studies to investigate the various types of diversity within a group. Diversity differentiates individuals by the degree to which they are directly related to the task at hand. Job relatedness is one form of diversity and is an important property because it determines whether a particular type of diversity constitutes an increase in a group’s total pool of task-related skills, information, and perspectives. The magnitude of this pool, in turn, represents a potential for more comprehensive or creative decision making. This concept has been studied by Milliken and Martins. The idea of having a diverse team to provide a wide spectrum of views has been used as a starting point to formulate teams. However, teams do not just happen when people get together. At the start, a team is just a collection of individuals. And, like most collections, it is only as strong as its weakest member. The optimum number of individuals within a team is a major issue for discussion when creating a team. This figure would to some extent depend on the amount of work that needs to be performed. In general the larger the group, the greater the unseen pressures that make for conformity. These pressures may impinge upon an individual to the extent that in mass meetings, congregations and assemblies they feel anonymous. Behaviour within the group is further complicated by group structure. The stronger the structure, the less tolerance there is for dissenters or for any form of deviant expression. Where groups are unstructured, for example large numbers of people meeting for a purpose but without any imposed constraints, studies have shown that rather than the individual recovering a sense of mature individuality, they are likely to revel in the anonymity which size offers. Investigations have discovered that large gatherings of people has the effect of either their constituents becoming excessively passive or, if full self-expression is permitted, inclined to irresponsible behaviour, aggressive verbal declarations, or even acts of destruction. In a team building situation this type of behaviour would clearly not promote the synergy and effectiveness that is sought after. How to cite A Different Kind of Leadership, Essay examples

Plato Allegory Of The Cave Essay Example For Students

Plato Allegory Of The Cave Essay if an individual can learn to understand the possibilities outside of the realm of singular understanding, and by exposure to different things, determine new understanding, then Plato would assert that all men have the potential to move from ignorance to knowledge. The basis for the Allegory of the Cave is this: a prisoner is held in a cave for his whole life (since birth), only able to see and experience that which is placed before him. For example, the fire that is used to luminate the cave becomes the center of the world much like our own sun is such a compelling central component, and the prisoner experiences everything that he sees and understands relative to the fire. In conjunction, the fire become a means of visualizing other elements, including exposure to a puppet and the shadows on the wall, and all of these factors make up the specifics of what is known in the world of the prisoner.. Knowledge, then, is not simply sensory based (because the prisoners in the cave, for example, believed they had the knowledge of the fire, the shadows and the cave itself as if these were the only elements in the world that needed to be known), but also extends past our senses into the realm of logical reasoning, constructive reasoning, and a process orientation to learning and developing wisdom. Rather than simply producing information and addressing the learning process and the students in order to bring them into complicity, it is Platos contention that the learning process, the same process that occurs when the prisoner in the cave is allowed to leave and experiences the sun, the moon, trees, and all of lifes sciences and concepts, should be student directe d. The teacher is simply a means by which the student can come into connection with the ways of attaining knowledge, but the process of learning itself must be singular and directed by a personal learning focus. The teacher provides the individual with the means to perceive themselves, to evaluate their nature, and to consider the search for truth as a major aspect of the educational process. Plato believes that the metaphor of the cave, asserting mans ignorance prior to learning, results in the need for a teacher who can provide exposure to different subjects, different perspectives and a range of educational subject areas