Two Kinds, short story Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Two Kinds, short story - Essay Example She did not understand that her child may not have the required talent or ability to progress at a faster pace. Instead, she just wanted her to produce the prodigy all by magic. She would scold her daughter when she argued that she simply wanted to be herself and did not want to become famous as per her mother’s wishes. At the show where Mei had to play Pleading Child, Mei introduced her boyfriend, Ali, to her mother. She was very shocked to see that her daughter had grown up to make her own decisions. She called Ali at home. During the meeting when she asked Mei to continue her piano lessons, Ali protested, and this enraged Mei’s mom. She said, â€Å"Ali! You are no one to interfere in our private matters. I already object your becoming my daughter’s boyfriend.† This was the point when Ali came to know about Mei’s mom’s aggressive nature. He said, â€Å"It was her choice,† to which she replied, â€Å"What my daughter should or should not do is my choice. So, you’d better stay away from

Huxley, Plato Comparison on Education Essay Example for Free

Huxley, Plato Comparison on Education Essay In Plato’s Republic, Plato believed the state was responsible for the education of its citizens for the purpose of their individual enlightenment. Huxley, in his work Brave New World takes this part of Plato’s utopian society and perverts it in order to indoctrinate the citizens of his state. I will attempt to argue that Huxley uses education by the state to indoctrinate its citizens and ultimately undermine Plato’s theory on education by the state for individual enlightenment. The ways in which Huxley uses education to indoctrinate the individual are diverse. Music or rather hypnopaedic sound was used to indoctrinate the citizens while they slept (Kindle, Huxley, loc 385). Eugenics but more precisely the Bokanovsky Process is used along side with Podsnap’s Technique to create the individual. These processes combined allowed the state to alter embryos and make people into whatever the state desired (Kindle, Huxley, loc 84). The use of music to educate the youth was something Plato originally stated in his utopian society. He stresses that when people are young they are more susceptible to influence (Kindle, Plato, loc 8578). Huxley’s state does this as well and plays hypnopaedic sound (music) while the young are sleeping over and over again to indoctrinate them, and slowly alter their thoughts or make them remember certain things. The uses of hypnopaedic sound vary by tones and tongue but are ultimately used to create â€Å"social stability† which is another way of saying â€Å"control of the populace†. Hypnopaedic sound is used to make the citizens never try to fix anything or use old things, but buy new ones instead. One of the sounds for this type of indoctrination is â€Å"ending is better than mending, ending is better than mending† (Kindle, Huxley, loc 1328). This process of convincing people they need to buy things is a way of gaining contentment and satisfaction as well as benefitting the state by creating a consumer society. The saying or sound â€Å"every one belongs to every one else† is also used to create a society where everyone has sex with each other and there are no relationships. The sex is not for procreation but for entertainment seeing as the state creates the individual and regulates childbirth. Plato also favored this sharing in his Utopia but only for his guardian class of citizens. Huxley applied this to his whole society but the sharing is only in-between classes never outside of classes. Another sound to further indoctrinate is â€Å"Every one works for every one else. We can’t do without any one. Even epsilons are useful. We couldn’t do without Epsilons. Every one works for every one else. We cant do without any one†(Kindle, Huxley loc 951). This is a type of farce, seeing as not all the citizens of Huxley’s world perform the same tasks or duties. Hypnopaedic sound is also used to convince people to take soma (Kindle, Huxley loc 2699). â€Å"A gramme in time saves nine† and â€Å"One cubic centimeter cures ten gloomy sentiments† are some of the hypnopaedic sounds used (Kindle, Huxley loc 1140). The drug soma was developed when the government of Huxley’s society took over the pharmaceutical industry. Soma has no side effects except providing an escape for people away from their problems, anxieties or feelings (Kindle, Huxley, loc 1328). This is really another means of control and also perversion by Huxley, which is compounded by hypnopaedic sound. The sound â€Å"everybody’s happy now† is used to make people believe they are happy and if you believe you are happy, you are happy (Kindle, Huxley, loc 968). This form of perverted education by Huxley is how the state indoctrinates the individual but this is just a part of it. Huxley’s world state employs the method of the Bokanovsky’s Process to create or rather grow its citizens some thousands at a time (Kindle, Huxley, loc 84). This process combined with the Podsnap’s Technique allows the state to mold and create the individual into whatever the state dictates by using eugenics. Plato favored a process of eugenics also as a means to breed out imperfection. Huxley took this process to creation itself instead of modification through generations (Kindle, Plato, 1252). This is Huxley’s way of specialization, which Plato also talks about in his utopian educational system as a necessary way for the state to function (Kindle, Plato loc 4953). Huxley perverts this and takes it a step further and does not give the individual a choice in what their life may be. Citizens are grown in tubes and altered by means of chemicals, additives, and even gravitational forces (Kindle, Huxley, loc 170). By these alterations people cannot think or do outside of what their task or assigned job is by the states indoctrination. The citizen can only do what it is made to do by this process and cannot question it’s purpose. In Huxley’s world state everyone regardless of their class is completely content being what they are and nothing else. This is again because they cannot think outside of what they have been made and told to be by hypnopaedic sound and state modification. (Kindle, Huxley, loc 959). Huxley’s education by means of hypnopaedic sound and eugenics indoctrinates the citizens of his world state. This indoctrination keeps the people from questioning authority and the status quo and ultimately makes them slaves to Huxley’s world state. Huxley does a fine job in Brave New World of showing what can be possible after a great tragedy occurs and the people need someone to save them. This tragedy would then lead to drastic changes in the way people live and ultimately lead to a whole brave new world. Huxley’s Brave New World does not seem possible in the actual world. Brave New World is more of a cautionary tale of what if and the totalitarian state. The real world is to globalized now and states are interdependent upon one another but hey what if?

Causes of the Fall of the Roman Republic

Causes of the Fall of the Roman Republic This paper discusses the statement, â€Å"The Roman Republic was brought down not by luxury or corruption but by fundamental flaws in the structure of its political system†. As will be argued, a statement such as this can only be discussed in relative, not absolute, terms, as no one cause for the demise of the Roman Republic can ever, realistically, be said to have been the factor that caused it’s fall. Under this framework, then, the first section of the paper discusses the various theories that have been posited to explain the fall of the Roman Republic, with the second section looking, in detail, at the political structure of the Roman Republic and how this could potentially have contributed to its ultimate demise. Gibbon’s great tome The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire essentially concludes that the Roman Empire was brought down through moral decadence. Other authors have argued for different reasons behind the fall of the Roman Republic, with recent scholars (for example Hunt et al., 2001) arguing that the Republic did not fall, rather that it was subject to a highly complex transformation, with additional confusion amongst scholars as to when the Republic actually fell: some argue that the Republic fell in 476 with the deposition of Romulus Augustus; others argue that the Republic continued until as late as 1453, and that it fell only when Constantinople was lost. This next section will present some of the most prevalent theories about the fall of the Roman Republic. Ferrill (1998) has argued that the Roman Republic fell due to it’s barbarization, that the influx of German mercenaries in to the Roman military led to lack of loyalty and complacency amongst the Roman ranks, leading to a surge in decadence amongst the Roman soldiers and citizenry. This somewhat supports Gibbon’s (1983) assertion that decadence was responsible for the fall of the Roman Republic. Gibbon’s The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire essentially concludes that the Roman Empire was brought down through moral decadence, as he argues, through the loss of what he terms ‘the loss of civic virtue’. The influx of barbarian mercenaries, coupled with the rising popularity of Christianity, Gibbon argues, led the Roman populace to come to believe more in the afterlife, leading to the loss of social structures, and, ultimately, leading to the fall of the Roman Republic. Other historians contradict this theory of Gibbons (1983) and Ferrill (1998), arguing that the Roman Republic continued to be strong right up until the Muslim conquests in the seventh century, at which point these conquests, amongst other things, disrupted trade routes, leading to a general economic downturn in Western Europe. It is argued that this economic downturn led, ultimately, to the disbandment of the Roman way of life, leading to the ultimate fall of the Roman Republic. This theory has, however, been recently rebutted by a number of historians who have argued that trade routes would not have been so badly affected, that trade must have entered Western Europe by some other route as the discovery, and therefore existence, of Islamic currency in Roman areas is suggestive of a two-way trade. Economic explanation for the fall of the Roman Republic are popular, however, and will be looked at in further detail later in the paper. Bury’s 1923 History of the Later Roman Empire presents in-depth research in to the issue of the fall of the Roman Republic and concludes with a complex theory to explain it’s fall. Essentially, Bury (1923) argues that the Roman Republic fell due to many simultaneously occurring factors, such as a general economic decline in the region, the influence of German (Barbarian) troops on Roman soldiers, and the dependence of Roman military leaders on Barbarian manpower, the depopulation of Italy[1], various murders and treasons that occurred within the top ranks of Roman politics, and the absence of any convincing leader following the murder of Aetius. As Bury clearly states in his concluding sections, Roman power gradually collapsed, and â€Å"†¦.was the consequence of a series of contingent events.†. As he argues, no general causes can be assigned, and nothing suggested to him, through his research, that the fall of the Roman republic was by any means inevitable. Bark (1958) argues that it was the massive effort that was involved in keeping the Roman Republic together that, ultimately, led to its fall. Around this time, feudalism was developing, yet the Roman ruling classes were not well organized in terms of having a system in place to collect taxes from their people, such that it became the responsibility of the middle classes to undertake the massive task of collecting grain taxes. As such, only a small proportion of these taxes actually arrived back to the Imperial government, leading to massive losses in revenues for the Roman rulers, having massive side-effects, such as decreased investment in the Roman military, for example. In addition, currency inflation, through a reduced supply of gold in to the Republic (see Jones, 1974) led to the government leaking money, with their stock of cash being reduced, leading, ultimately, to massive cash flow problems for the Republic, with obvious implications, in terms of funding the military and fun ding public building projects, for example. These two factors, occurring in conjunction, argues Bark (1958) led to the ultimate demise of the Roman Republic. Toynbee (1939) preceded Bark’s (1958) logic that the Roman Republic was an economically poor force, with his detailed research showing that Roman leaders had no budgeting system in place, leading to obvious problems with controlling cash flow, leading, ultimately, to a dwindling of whatever cash resources were available and to a lack of cash availability for providing for military expenditure, or public works, for example. This method of budgeting had proved successful as long as the Romans continued to expand into other areas, from which they could loot existing resources, but as soon as the Roman Republic stopped expanding, this source of revenue also stopped. At this point, the Romans, without an adequate budgeting system, coupled with loss of tax money through an inadequate collection system, coupled with currency inflation (see, also, Jones, 1974), faced massive economic problems, causing, it is argued, the ultimate demise of the Roman Republic (Toynbee, 1939). Building on this theory, Tainter (1990) argues that the fall of the Republic was due to marginal returns on investments, again contributing to cash flow problems for the Republic as a whole, ultimately contributing to its decline; unlike many authors who study the collapse of the Roman Republic, Tainter (1990) argues strongly that the fall of the Roman Republic may have been a good thing for many Roman subjects, in terms of benefits arising from not having to invest in maintaining such a complex society (i.e., no taxes to pay etc.) and indeed, archeological evidence, through studies of human bones pre- and immediately post- the fall of the Roman Republic, post-fall, humans were better nourished. Rostovtzeff (1957) also subscribes to this economic theory of the fall of the Roman Republic, arguing that the free trade market economy developed by the Roman Republic worked up until the debasement of the currency in the third century, at which point inflation began to hurt citizens, who then began to move away from urban areas, to move to the country in order to undertake subsistence farming as a way of surviving i.e., they could grow their own crops for food, and in this way not have to rely on failing monetary sources to keep them alive. Bartlett (1994) continues the work of Toynbee (1939) arguing that by the third century monetary taxation had been replaced with direct requisitioning, where food and cattle, instead of money, were collected directly from farmers. This pathway, argues Bartlett (1994) led directly to the development of feudalism, with estates formed around the cultivation of crops and cattle, and not, as such, dependent on any form of trade whatsoever. This, on a grand scale, Republic-wide, is then argued to have led to a massive downturn in the economic fortune of the Republic, and to a decrease in its military capability, for example, with, again, obvious consequences for maintaining control over the entire Roman territory. The research of Heather (2005) leads to conclusions about the fall of the Roman Republic which differ from previous theories: he argues that the emergence of the Persian Empire led to the Roman Republic stripping tax collection from its Eastern edge, leading to a decline in economic revenues, a decline in governance in these areas, and a mass influx of peoples to the empire, for example, by the Barbarians, leading to massive levels of immigration to the Roman Republic, leading to obvious social problems. Through his exhaustive research, Heather explicitly rejects Gibbon’s ‘moral decadence’ theory for the decline of the Roman Republic. Neither does he see any validity in the arguments of those who support political infighting as the major reason for the fall of the Roman Republic. Heather supports the arguments of Bury (1923) who argues that the fall of the Roman Republic was not inevitable but that it occurred as a result of a series of events which, unfortunately , came together at the same time, and which, ultimately, led to the fall of the Republic. Heather’s viewpoint is argued against by Ward-Perkins in his 2005 book The Fall of Rome and the End of Civilisation which argues, in a similar manner to previous historians assessments of the situation, that the fall of the Republic occurred as a result of political instability, foreign invasions and economic instability due to reduced tax revenues. The massive, and sustained, immigrations of foreigners, such as the barbarians, Ward-Perkins (2005) argues, led to a weakening of the tax base, leading to an inability to equip the Roman army, with obvious deleterious consequences. Ward-Perkins, ultimately, however, argues, as do Bury (1923) and Heather (2005) that the fall of the Roman Republic was due to a complex mixture of processes and events which came together at the same time to lead to a definite fall in the Roman Republic. Levick (1982) looks at the morals and political system of the Roman Republic, and their relation to its fall. She argues that ‘ambitio’ – ambition – led to major political difficulties during the last century of the Roman Republic, with a thirst for ultimate power leading to in-fighting and political problems. As Levick (1982) argues, however, it is difficult to infer the Roman political structure from contemporary documentation, as much is contradictory, but it can be inferred that the Roman constitution and community was a self-regulating device, kept in perpetuity and in check by a series of checks and balances that prevented disintegration from within and also made the community better able to cope with threats from outside. To Romans, however, as Levick (1982) argues, this political system was seen explicitly as a moral obligation, with anything that upset the political balances being seen as something undesirable and immoral. Levick argues that, ultim ately, the political system had a built-in tension between the group and the individual, and that, ultimately it was this in-built tension that led to the death of the Roman Republic, through squabbles for individual power which led to the breakdown of Roman society. As we have seen in this paper, therefore, there are many different explanations for the fall of the Roman Republic, with the main theories being economic demise, immigration and overtaking by Barbarians and other groups, and political infighting which, it is argued, led to the ultimate demise of the Roman Republic through a disintergration of the moral fibre of Roman society. As to which theory of the fall of the Roman Republic one subscribes to, this depends on the literature that has been studied, and the quality of the sources used within that literature. Heather (2005) and Gibbons (1983), for example, both use quality primary sources, and yet arrive at different conclusions for the reasons behind the fall of the Roman Republic. It is perhaps most prudent, at this stage, therefore, to argue that a statement such as â€Å"The Roman Republic was brought down not by luxury or corruption but by fundamental flaws in the structure of its political system† can only be discussed in relative, not absolute, terms, as no one cause for the demise of the Roman Republic can ever, realistically, be said to have been the factor that caused it’s fall. The present paper has thus presented the various theories for the fall of the Roman Republic in this framework, in terms of offering a holistic view of the situation on the ground around the time of the fall; fundamental flaws in the Roman political system were, as we have seen, just one part of a complex situation which, together, led to the fall of the Roman Republic. References Bark, W.C., 1958. Origins of the Medieval World. Bartlett, B., 1994. How Excessive Government Killed Ancient Rome. The Cato Journal 14(2), pp. Available online from http://www.cato.org/pubs/journal/cjv14n2-7.html. Accessed on 23rd April 2007. Bury, J.B., 1923. History of the Later Roman Empire from the Death of Theodesius I to the Death of Justinian. Ferrill, A., 1998. The Fall of the Roman Empire: The Military Explanation. Gibbon, E., 1983 (Reprint edition). The decline and fall of the Roman Empire. London: Penguin Classics. Gunderson, G., 1976. Economic Change and the demise of the Roman Empire. Explorations in Economic History 13(1), pp.43-68. Heather, P.J., 2005. The Fall of the Roman Empire. Hunt, L. et al., 2001. The Making of the West, Peoples and Cultures, Volume A: To 1500. Bedford: St. Martins Press. Jones, A.H.M., 1974. Inflation under the Roman Empire. Economic History Review 5(3), pp.293-318. Kagan, D., 1992. The End of the Roman Empire: Decline or Transformation? (Problems in European Civilisation). Houghton Mifflin. Levick, B., 1982. Morals, politics and the fall of the Roman Republic. Greece Rome 29(1), pp.53-62. Rostovtzeff, M., 1957. The social and economic history of the Roman empire. London: Oxford University Press. McNeill, W.H., 1976. Plagues and Peoples. Millar, F., 1984. The political character of the Classical Roman Republic. The Journal of Roman Studies 74, pp.1-19. Tainter, J.A., 1990. The collapse of complex societies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Toynbee, A.J., 1939. A study of history: Volume IV. The breakdown of civilisations. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Ward-Perkins, B., 2005. The Fall of Rome: and the End of Civilisation. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Footnotes [1] McNeill (1976) argued in his book Plagues and Peoples that a plague swept through the Roman Republic, leading to a massive population decline in Western Europe.

Tourism in Thailand :: essays research papers

Tourism in Thailand’s National Parks: The Problems it Brings â€Å"Rainforests are currently being destroyed at a rate of over 200,000 square kilometers a year according to the US National Academy of Sciences† (Wheeler). Some of these rainforests are located in Thailand’s national parks. In Thailand, there are 15 national parks set aside for conservation, though only 80% of these parks remain intact today. These Parks represent approximately 13% of Thailand’s land. The purpose of these parks is for the conservation of the forests and wildlife, educational tours and research studies, as well as recreational adventure (Wheeler). In 1961, The Royal Forest Department (RFD) of Thailand passed the National Park Act. This act stated that activities which endanger any resource within the park boundaries are strictly prohibited. These activities include settlement, land ownership, grazing, the manipulation of waterways, geological deterioration, logging, hunting, and colleting of forest products. These provisions obviously do not a pply to park officials who protect and maintain the park for education, technical research, and facilitate recreational activities† (Pipithvanichtham). One of the main reasons for the Thai government’s plan to expand tourism facilities in the national parks is to bring in foreign money into the economy through tourism to these areas. However, there are concerns that the effects of increasing tourism in these areas will lead to mismanagement, corruption, and environmental destruction. Therefore, the Thai government should not be promoting tourism in Thailand’s national parks. The government claims that problems associated with tourism in national parks can be dealt with by careful planning and with the participation of government agencies. For example, the RFD is making an effort to protect the National Parks. The RFD plans to update their existing park laws and regulations to make them more suitable for the modern times. The RFD and the Kasetsart University conducted a training session for all national park chiefs to provide them a chance to learn about park management policies. The RFD hopes to develop some means of cooperation with other countries, particularly in the fields of expertise which it lacks† (Pipithvanichtham). While the RFD has a plan, it will require money to enact it. Currently, there is not enough money to fund this plan coupled with governmental mismanagement. The parks are not funded well enough, which has caused the amount of upkeep in the parks to decrease. The cost of managing Thailand’s national parks is met using the government’s central budget and park entrance fees.

“A Good Man Is Hard to Find” Analysis: Six White Columns Essay

â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† is a southern stories in several ways. Most of the old southern values are embodied through the grandmother. As the family loads into the car to drive to Florida, the grandmother is described as wearing white cotton gloves, a navy blue straw sailor hat with white violets on the brim. She also dons a white-dotted navy blue dress with white organdy cuffs and collar trimmed with lace. She had pinned a cloth violets containing a sachet—a scented bag—to her collar. She is the only one dressed up, her rationale being â€Å"In case of an accident, anyone seeing her dead on the highway would know at once that she was a lady.† Dress was an integral part of class distinction in the Old South, and the grandmother clearly thinks things should still be that way. The grandmother also displays one attitude towards blacks when she describes a young black child she sees as they drive. She explains to June Star that he doesn’t have britches because he is poor and simply not white, saying, â€Å"[they] don’t have things like we do.† She goes on to say she would paint him if she could, treating him as an object rather than a human child. Slavery and racial discrimination was characteristic of the Old South. The family also stops for barbeque at The Tower. It may not seem â€Å"southern,† but I can say from experience that BBQ is a part of southern culture. I once drove from Georgia to Florida with my own family and along the way saw many barbeque places. And they were delicious! Southern culture is also brought up when the grandmother recalls the old plantation. She paints a picture of what I always envision when I think of one, with â€Å"six white columns† and â€Å"an avenue of oaks leading up to it.† Finally, religion was an important part of southern culture. Though it doesn’t say of which religion the grandmother belongs to, she brings up religion during her confrontation with The Misfit. She plays it off that she is devout, but all throughout the story she contradicted those â€Å"strong morals† that come with religion.

How to monitor children and young people’s development Essay

Understand how to monitor children and young people’s development and interventions that should take place if this is not following the expected pattern. 3.1 Explain how to monitor children and young people’s development using different methods. There are numerous different methods of monitoring including: observations, body language, behaviour, moods, written records, assessment framework, information from parents/carers, work colleagues and standard measurements. The adult will need to use a few different methods aswell as opportunities to monitor the development of children and young people. It is important that you understand the purpose of the observations that you do as part of your role. You do this because you will need to report any findings to the class teacher who will then report it to the parent/carer. It’s important that teachers and parent/carers share any information about the child or young person’s best interests. The observation can be d one in a formal or informal way. There are advantages to doing both these aswell as disadvantages. The informal observation will be those that you do every day when you are working with the children or young people. These observations will be small but over time they will enable you to build up a picture of the child or young person. The adults may notice that an individual is then able to understand new concepts very easily. It’s likely that the adult will discuss their observations with the teacher as part of the feedback process after working with a child or young person. One of the disadvantages of informal observations is they might not be recorded and things might be forgotten to be passed on. The adult may be asked to do a formal observation. These are done to support the teacher in assessing a child or young person’s levels of development. There are standard measurements that are used to measure a child or young person’s physical development. These are done to determine whether they are growing at the expected rate for their age. The Assessment Framework or Assessment Triangle is a term given to the way that a child or young people are assessed. This is to determine whether they are in need and what those needs may be. Doing this, the child or young person’s best interests can be planned for with regards to the child or young people’s development. These are useful  in deciding whether the child or young person is reaching their expected milestones. 3.2 Explain the reasons why children and young people’s development may not follow the expected pattern. A child or young person’s development may not follow the expected pattern for a number of reasons. The adult will have to take into consideration personal or external factors along with development aspects of learning. The adult should take advice from any other professionals about how to proceed. If the adult has any concerns about a child or young person you should always speak to a colleague or the class teacher. 3.3 Explain how disability may affect development. Having a disability may affect a child or young person’s development in a number of different ways. Depending on the child or young person’s needs, this may cause a delay in a particular area of their development i.e. a physical disability could affect their social skills, they could become more withdrawn or frustrated. Their development may also be affected by the attitudes or expectations of other people. If we were to assume that a disabled child or young person cannot achieve and they are not allowed the opportunity to take part, they are being restricted in their development in all areas. When an adult is working with an SEN child or young person they will find out that many professionals or parents speak about the danger of labelling the child or young person. They do this because it’s important that it’s looked at the needs of the individuals are put first, without focusing on the child or young person’s disability or impairment. In the past the medical model of disability has been used more than the social mode. This kind of language has promoted the attitude that children or young people who have disabilities are individuals who in some way need to be corrected and brought into line in accordance with everyone else. This can sometimes lead to the unhelpful labelling of individuals in terms of their disabilities rather than their potential. An adult should be realistic about the expectations they have of children and young people and then consider their needs. For some of them the curriculum needs to be modified and they may need support. It shouldn’t be assumed that an SEN child or young person will always need extra help. They need to be encouraged to be as independent as possible. 3.4 Explain how different types of  interventions can promote positive outcomes for children and young people where development is not following the expected pattern. A teaching assistant is likely to be involved in doing interventions or other types of group work. Doing this you are supporting the chil dren or young people who are not progressing at the same rate as others their age. This is likely to have been advised by either the SENCO officer or another professional with links to the school. A number of professionals may come into school in order to talk about a child or young person’s progress or to advise staff on the next steps needed. The following professionals often help with interventions for a child or young person. Social Worker; A social worker may be involved in the child or young person’s life if there has been a cause for concern in the home environment or if the parents request support. They will also liaise with school regarding any looked after children. On occasions school may contact social services if they have any concerns regarding a child/young person or their home environment. Speech and Language Therapists; These can sometimes be based in schools. They can give a diagnosis of any communication delays or disorders. They will also advise schools and parents ways they can support the child or young person. Speech and languag e appointments are usually delivered in blocks. This is then followed by activities for the child or young person to work on before they are reviewed. A parent and teacher are closely involved in the monitoring and the reviews of the child or young person. Psychologist; These are also known as Educational Psychologist. They may also become involved following intervention and action from speech and language therapist aswell as teaching staff. This is done if the child or young person is not showing any progress. They will then carry out an assessment and suggest any next steps that may be required. Psychiatrist; A psychiatrist may be asked to assess a child or young person when they are concerns about their emotional development. A child or young person will usually have been referred through a series of assessments. Youth Justice; this form of intervention is a public body that aims to stop children and young people getting into trouble with the law. The youth justice team may be involved in a partnership with schools aswell as the community. It also acts as a preventative way by running a youth inclusion programme. There are targets towards those children and young people at risk of offending.  Physiotherapist; These give advice and give out targets for children and young people to work on around their development of their gross motor skills. They give exercises to members of staff and parents to work each day with the child or young person. This is depending on the need of the child or young person. Nurse/Health Visitor; These medical professionals are involved in the supporting of the development of a child or young people where they have physical or health needs. They will usually come into school and advice and speak to members of staff. This is done generally with parents present.

How to Bounce Back When You Make a Mistake at Work

How to Bounce Back When You Make a Mistake at Work The reply-all with a snarky comment, when you meant to forward to a trusted friend. The dropped ball that caused you to miss a major deadline.The â€Å"I’m disappointed in you† talk from your boss.So you’ve made a major mistake at work. Or you’ve gotten a poor review, or maybe you just feel like you’re coasting along, performing way below your ability. Whatever the reason, you feel like you’re just barely holding on. What can you  do when you make a mistake at work?At some point in their career, everyone has a stumbling point. Sometimes mistakes happen due to being overwhelmed, making an oversight, or having a moment of carelessness. It happens to everyone, even the most conscientious employee. So when something happens and you feel like you’re sitting in the corner of shame, remember that you’re not the only one. Even the people who are angry with you have been there (or will be) at some point, so try not to take it too perso nally.The Aftermath of your GaffeAfter a mistake, it can feel like you’re stuck in a kind of purgatory. Am I going to get fired? Have I totally ruined my reputation? And everything, every little bobble or mistake, feels magnified. It’s important not to get stuck under this tidal wave of stress and worry. Once you’ve made a mistake, or been called out for poor performance, the most important thing is to step up.Apologize/acknowledge what happened.You don’t need to wear a sandwich board saying, â€Å"I screwed up,† but letting your boss (and anyone affected by the mistake) know that you understand how you failed is key. If you messed up, a simple â€Å"I’m sorry† goes a long way here, just like it does in all aspects of life. And FYI: â€Å"I’m sorry you feel that way† is not a legit apology here.Own itAccept responsibility for what happened. Resist the urge to throw anyone under the bus here; it won’t lessen your o wn consequences, and will just cause further issues and bad blood. That’s not to say you should take all blame; rather, if it’s a shared mistake or problem, be clear about your part in the mistake, and take your share of the blame. Naming names, or the kindergarten classic â€Å"but he was doing it too!† won’t get you any brownie points right now.Show that it won’t happen againIf it was a lapse on your part, let people know that you’re taking action to make sure it doesn’t happen again. If it was a process that failed, show how you’re changing things so that there’s not a repeat.Look for small winsUnfairly or not, you’re likely going to be under increased scrutiny for some period of time, while things are still recent and raw. In addition to making sure the blunder isn’t repeated, it couldn’t hurt to be an A+ employee for a while: show up early, stay late, put in extra hours to show that you’r e back on it. Take on extra projects to demonstrate your commitment to the job. It’s about rebuilding others’ confidence in you, sure, but it’s just as much about rebuilding your own confidence. Succeeding at things, even small ones, can help you get back into your groove while showing everyone else that you’re ready to move onward and upward.Move onIf it’s not a fatal (e.g. firing) mistake (more on that in a bit), this too shall pass. Odds are, things will get back to normal pretty quickly. And while you can’t erase what happened, or make everyone forget what you did, everyone has a job to do. This incident will get lost in the shuffle of everyday work. You might have a rough few weeks, but at some point you’ll notice that things have gotten back to the routine.Ask Yourself: Why Did This Happen?Once you’ve got the problem in hand and have started your apology tour, you have some space to think more about why this happened. Som etimes mistakes just come out of the blue, in a moment of inattention or poor decision-making. Other times they’re part of a pattern of carelessness, or a lack of caring about the job. So after you’ve started the damage control process, it’s time to figure out why you’re in this situation in the first place.Did I make this mistake/perform poorly because I don’t care about this job anymore?Did I make this mistake/perform poorly because I’m overwhelmed by my job, and need to make adjustments?Did this happen because I don’t have the right skill set, or need to know more about how things work?If you made the mistake or got a poor performance review because you’re just not into your jobIt might be time to get out. It’s not ideal to quit straightaway- it’s much better to start exploring your options and opportunities before you jump ship. But if you’re already performing at a lower level because you’re unh appy or disinterested, that’s a major red flag.If the performance issue was due to you being overwhelmed by your jobTalk to your boss. ASAP. It’s time for a very frank discussion about your priorities, your tasks, and your role. If things don’t change and performance continues to slide, that will be on you, and it will make things even more uncomfortable. Your boss has a strong interest in making sure you perform your best and stay a satisfied employee, so don’t fear the conversation. It might be possible to restructure your daily tasks, or find new ways to do them, so that you’re able to do your job at the level you know you can hit.If the mistakes are happening because you don’t have the right skill setYou need to figure out what you’re lacking, and strategize how to either a) get those skills and knowledge; or b) share responsibilities in a way that works for you and your team. It may be that this is something you can handle on you r own (for example, getting trained on a particular kind of software, or taking online seminars about time management). But it may well be that you need help from someone else in your company, and that’s okay. If you need to sit down with someone to understand processes or tasks, do it. If you need help from your boss prioritizing, ask for it. This goes back to showing that you’ve learned from past mistakes, and are trying to get stronger.What If I’m Fired As a Result?Some mistakes, well, sorry to say that you can’t bounce back so easily and keep your job. Say there was a major money loss, or you happened to do something that was considered unforgiveable by the powers that be. If this turns out to be the case, and you’re let go for cause, your career is not over. Remember before, when I mentioned that you have to work hard to prove yourself and move on? That’s doubly true if you’re fired- and you have to cope with that while also look ing for a new job. So it’s not an easy road, but also not impossible.If you lose your job because of performance issues, you still have options:1. Don’t put off your job search.It can be tempting to lay low for a while, but the longer you wait, you’re delaying the inevitable moment you get back out there. You also run the risk of (unintentionally) reinforcing the idea that you’re unhireable, the longer you stay out of the game. As with a big mistake, accept that it happened, think about how you can do better, and find ways to improve and make yourself a stronger candidate.2. Think hard about what you want to do.Is your field really a good fit for you, after how things ended at your last place? If it was just the company or the role that was the problem, that’s a pretty straightforward fix. But this is a chance to think about what you should really be doing next.3. Get your references in place.Given how things ended, you probably won’t want y our most recent boss to sing your praises (especially if you’re not sure what he/she will say), but you can still get former colleagues from other jobs, or people in your network to act as references.4. Spin it.You lost your job, and that’s going to come up when someone sees an end date on your resume, or asks why you left your last job. The important thing is to turn the narrative into a more positive one. â€Å"I left my last position because it wasn’t a good fit. I’m ready to move on to the next challenge.† It’s a little vague and not ideal, but it’s also not a brutally honest, â€Å"I got fired. Hire me please?† Keep in mind that the reasons you were let go might come up during a background or reference check, so it’s best not to flat-out lie about your reasons for leaving.While you’re looking for a new job, the old one might haunt you somewhat. But again, it’s important to acknowledge, accept, and move on with your life. Everyone loves a good comeback story, and if you work hard to be better than your past mistakes, you can pull yourself up and out of the muck. You can survive, you will survive, and you’ll walk away with some very hard-won insight about yourself and your career.

Three ways to tame an out-of-control sentence

Three ways to tame an out-of-control sentence Three ways to tame wild sentences You dont have to work in a zoo, the circus or pest control to come face to face with a wild beast at work. Sometimes theyre found lurking in our writing. Sounds strange? Well, an out-of-control sentence can be a terrifying thing. Take this monster, based on a real-life example: I have attached a document to this report – ‘Marketing budget for 2016’ – which explains at length our new strategy, including why we are reducing spending on broadcast advertising, and the process of selecting partner agencies to work with in consultation with the CEO, and specialists within the marketing department. If you find yourself writing a sentence like this, you might end up feeling like you’re being attacked by your own creation. It’s frighteningly easy to get tangled up – and to make grammar and punctuation errors – when a sentence is 50 words long. The reader has it even worse. Long, complicated sentences are hard to follow, because they force the reader to keep track of several ideas at the same time while they wait for the full picture to emerge. Luckily, there are several ways to tame sentences that are starting to run wild. Here are three simple techniques that will have even the least domesticated sentences purring in your lap in no time. One sentence, one idea A sentence works best when it contains one idea. This means your reader has to take in only one thing at a time, making it easier for them to follow what you are saying. You may fear that this approach will dumb down your style – but it actually does the opposite. By ensuring each sentence contains just a single idea, you free up your reader’s energy to focus on your point, rather than on trying to keep track of your thought process. This is crucial if what you’re communicating is complicated or technical (or, dare we say it, a bit dull). It also makes your writing more powerful. If you string together several ideas in one sentence, they may each have less impact than if they were presented on their own. Take this example, which is based on a real-life letter to a customer: We are very sorry for the mistake that happened as we have a number of new staff working in sales, and regrettably one of them misunderstood the information given to them about our prices, and advised that we were offering a universal 40 per cent discount, when in fact this was a time-limited offer for existing customers. If we break down this sprawling sentence, we can see it contains three distinct ideas. They are: 1) We apologise for the mistake. 2) The mistake was caused by new staff misunderstanding our pricing. 3) The discount did not apply in this case. Now let’s apply the one-sentence-one-idea model: We are very sorry for quoting you the wrong price. This was because one of our new members of staff had misunderstood our pricing system. The 40 per cent discount you were offered in fact applies only to existing customers. This is clearer and has more impact. It also feels less like a rather rambling excuse, and more like a genuine apology and explanation. If it gets listy, put some bullets in it If you find that you’re weighing down the tail of a sentence with several related ideas, a bulleted list may help. For example, instead of writing: This document includes instructions on the program’s system requirements, how to use the program complete with screenshots, how to access the help file, whom to contact for more information, and licensing terms and conditions. you can split it into bullet points: This document includes: the program’s system requirements how to use the program (with screenshots) how to access the help file whom to contact for more information licensing terms and conditions. (If youre unsure how to punctuate bulleted lists, watch our short video that explains all.) Full stop them in their tracks Sometimes the simplest remedy is the best. If you find yourself agonising over whether to use a comma or a full stop, go for the full stop. Stringing together lots of ideas using commas often makes a sentence harder to read. For example: Thomas Atkins is the CEO of ACME Ltd, having founded the company in 1999, after seeing the low quality of widgets available at the time, responding with improved quality while charging the low prices ACME Ltd is still known for today. Splitting the sentence in two makes its ideas much more definite. First, the reader learns who founded the company. Then, why he did so: Thomas Atkins is the CEO of ACME Ltd, having founded the company in 1999. Atkins saw the low quality of widgets available at the time and responded by improving quality while charging the low prices ACME Ltd is still known for today. Even now, the second sentence remains a bit unwieldy. In cases like this, consider splitting it into even smaller units. This allows you to elaborate on each idea independently, in a way that would be unreadable as a single sentence. Thomas Atkins is the CEO of ACME Ltd, having founded the company in Bristol in 1999. Atkins was dissatisfied with the low quality of widgets available at the time, which were prone to breaking after a year’s use. So he dedicated himself to designing and producing better quality widgets, while charging the low prices ACME Ltd is still known for today. One. Last. Thing. We’re not suggesting that you eradicate commas and longer sentences altogether. Too many short sentences can give your writing a juddering, stop-start rhythm, which can be distracting for the reader. We recommend a maximum length of about 35 words for sentences – but below that limit, don’t focus too much on length. Instead, focus on the idea you want each sentence to communicate to your reader. You’ll find it much easier to write, punctuate and edit – and you’ll avoid unleashing any wild beasts. Image credit: Eric Isselee / Shutterstock

Application of Organisational Behaviour in Management

Application of Organisational Behaviour in Management In this paper I am going to describe the theme about organisational behaviour and to analyze and explore the aspects of organisational behaviour theory and its application in practice. The background of organisational behaviour The term originated in the early of 60’s (20th century), when several lines of scientific disciplines involved in explaining the processes that occur in the organisation, between organisations, as well as between the external and internal environment combined into a single entity. In spite of the increasing theorisation of organisational behaviour, it is actively used in practice. Businessmen mocked the concepts such as a group work or enrichment work for decades, as long as the consultants began to sell these ideas under the guise of a new tendency called â€Å"compressed production.† In the beginning they mocked â€Å"discussion of organisational culture†, but accepted these theories when consultants began to submit them under the label â€Å"organisational advantage, organisational skills.† Sometimes, the practitioners faced to different problems and became â€Å"the gullible victims† of the organisational fashion, the same ideas and researches. For example, the enthusiasm for â€Å"organisational excellence† mostly meant that people had never tried to assimilate and apply the standard concepts of organisational behaviour, which were known by at least thirty years before. Organisational behaviour is a systematic and scientific analysis of individuals, groups and organisations in order to understand, predict and improve the individual performance and functioning of the organisation (i.e., based on personality). Organisational behaviour is a study of people and groups in the organisation. This is an academic discipline, which helps managers to make effective decisions when working with people in a complex dynamic environment. It combines concepts and theories related to individuals, groups, org anisations in general. In accordance with the latter definition I can distinguish three levels of behaviour problems: Personal Group and Organisational Richard Pettinger proves the fact that organisational behaviour is concerned with: â€Å"the purposes for which organisations are created; the behaviour of individuals, and an understanding of the pressures and influences that cause them to act and react in particular ways; the qualities that individuals bring to particular situations; the creation of groups, collections of people brought together for given purposes; the background and context within which activities take place; relationships and interactions with the wider environment with other organisations and groups; the management and ordering of the whole and its parts into productive and effective work relationships.† (Pettinger (2000) page 4). Organisational behaviour is a systematic study and practical application of knowledge about how people (individuals an d groups) interact within the organisation. According to Simms, Price & Ervin the main purposes of organisational theorists are â€Å"to revitalize organisational theory and develop a better conceptualisation of organisational life.† (Simms, Price and Ervin (1994) page 121). Jablin and Putnam admit that â€Å"an organisational theorist should carefully consider levels assumptions being made in theory, and is concerned to help managers and administrators.† (Jablin and Putnam (2000) page 146). The main approaches to the study of organisational behaviour There are two basic approaches: Trial and error method, based on the accumulation of life experiences to find effective behaviours. Using special techniques and methods of related disciplines. This approach involves the mastery of theoretical knowledge and practical skills. It is important for a manager to combine both approaches. There are the following techniques in the study of organisational behaviour: surveys, including interviews, questionnaires, testing. Collection and analysis of information (based on the study of documents). Observation and experiment.

Computer info Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Computer info - Essay Example The Boot Record is at the very beginning of a FAT volume. The first few sectors of the volume, before the FAT, are the Reserved Sectors or the reserved area. This area in the Boot Record inform us how large the disk is and contains not only the boot sector but also a backup copy of the boot record. The Boot Record contains a field retaining the information of the sector size for a particular media and the BIOS Parameter Block. The Bios Parameter Block or BPB contains vital information such as the number of bytes per sector on the disk, sectors per cluster, size of the reserved sectors, the number of FATs, root entries, media type, the number of sectors per FAT, the sectors per track, and the number of heads per cylinder. This information is use by the operating system to properly identify the disk and accurately read and write data into it. The Data Area of the disk is divided into clusters, files and directories store their data in these clusters. The Root Directory comes immediately after the file allocation table and is formatted like any another directory on the disk. A partition is divided up into equal size clusters, minute blocks of bordering space. Cluster sizes differ on the type of FAT and the size of partition.

Trans Global Holidays Niche Product - Yoga and Facial Yoga Excursions Essay

Trans Global Holidays Niche Product - Yoga and Facial Yoga Excursions - Essay Example Yoga Excursions focuses on health and well-being of its diverse clientele. Green (2008) suggests that yoga exercises improve focus and mental attention, creating the catalyst for improved moods and concentration. In a world where consumer activities create stressful life situations, Trans Global believes that Yoga Excursions maintains the ability to capture the attention of the wealthier consumer demographic and the upscale business-oriented consumer audience. The tour begins with a full day at the Yoga Excursions spa for body waxing, massage or any other variety of personal grooming and care required by the tourist. This period of the company tour is designed to facilitate the initial sensations of freedom and personal indulgence, an emotional sensation triggered by the upscale salon and social environment provided by Trans Global. The yoga sessions are aggressive, led by a senior professional in the field of yoga and contortionist training, designed to act as a positive motivator and facilitate interpersonal relationships with the tour’s attendees. Facial yoga, according to Stinchfield (2007) involves the manipulation of facial muscles, utilizing various facial-toning techniques to develop perceptions of personal youth and beauty. According to Boone & Kurtz (2006), more and more middle-aged women are turning toward non-surgical beauty enhancements as a means to avoid long-term surgical complications, thus Trans Global believes th at facial yoga maintains a rather new-age alternative to recapturing youth and beauty. The entire tour ends with a final group dinner in which the clients are allowed to share their unique yoga experiences and receive their appropriate Trans Global awards for excellence in yoga and creative facial yoga exercises.

Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Proposal - Essay Example ed to this are an increase in competition marketing cheaper imported goods; competitors using modern, and therefore more catchy business practices; and improved systems and methods to help to decrease their costs and the constantly changing demands of modern consumers, as well as a major depletion of customer awareness. The difficulties currently hampering QLG is that if they do not take immediate action, they will only be faced with more decreases in market share and profitability. We must also be prepared for continual losses of important and highly skilled staff members, as well as deterioration in the overall business performance and profitability. Our proposal outlines a progressive five stage process to address the objectives as identified by Queensland Leisure Group executives during the consultation process. These five stages will create positive change in a number of key areas: Business model change: QLG needs a flatter, more functional business structure which will reduce labour costs and increase flexibility to help them respond more quickly to the rapidly changing external environment, Following the analysis that we, NAHN Consulting, have completed, we have prepared this proposal for you which we believe will provide you with the guidance, tools and support that will greatly improve your current performance. We have forecast an improvement of 5% increase in your Net Profit in 2011 followed by a further 10% in 2012 based on the implementation of our proposed changes. It is also our firm belief that with these improvements you will increase your ability to attract and retain key talented staff members which will reduce costs associated with recruitment and training of new staff. The value to your organisation in meeting these objectives includes improving the overall productivity level and decreasing the costs of manual labour. In addition, the enthusiasm of human capital will be greatly increased, and employees will be more pleased, which will lead

Biomedical engineering and IT coordination Essay

Biomedical engineering and IT coordination - Essay Example However, there was confusion on how to manage these devices. This is why Cabrai and Stankiewicz the head of NEHS clinical engineering group decided to give a new approach to the CE-IT overlap. They called for a summit that gave birth to the agreement that today acts as the model for VA hospitals across the United States. This change led to reduced support costs and brought forward a consistent level of skills and leadership in clinical engineering across all hospitals. It also led to the creation of a unified team that works efficiently with other programs in the VA. The MOU signed by IT, network directors and CE executives provided a framework for the establishment of a cooperative and productive working relationship between the two departments. Cabrai says that the review board was created because they wouldn’t include everything in the MOU. Stankiewicz on his part says that the MOU is reviewed annually during the summits in order to make the necessary changes so that it remains relevant. The operations within the medical centers have been made easier because of this agreement as it offers the guidelines on how to handle different

Summary Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Summary - Research Paper Example For instance, a good information system provides managers a platform to know real problems affecting their companies and customer satisfaction, hence provides adequate solutions regarding the predicament at hand. It also facilitates an organization to attain a heightened operational excellence (Nowduri, 2011). This is via offering managers ample chance to attain high efficiency in their work especially decision-making. An example is Wal-Mart and its retail link system (Gordon, 2008). The link connects suppliers to every Wal-Mart outlets. The system immediately notifies the supplier where he or she immediately gets a replacement for the shelf on the purchase of a certain product (Gordon, 2008). Information system enables an organization to get and maintain diplomatic relations with customers (Nowduri, 2011). This increases the input and output level of the company as the profit and interest percentage rises. For instance, five star hotels in United States, which utilizes information system and technology to keep in touch with customers preferences. Consequently, this enables them to act on every client’s feedback and ensure they reach decisions meant to enhance their satisfaction (Nowduri, 2011). This is especially in terms of upgrading the state of their

Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Proposal - Essay Example ed to this are an increase in competition marketing cheaper imported goods; competitors using modern, and therefore more catchy business practices; and improved systems and methods to help to decrease their costs and the constantly changing demands of modern consumers, as well as a major depletion of customer awareness. The difficulties currently hampering QLG is that if they do not take immediate action, they will only be faced with more decreases in market share and profitability. We must also be prepared for continual losses of important and highly skilled staff members, as well as deterioration in the overall business performance and profitability. Our proposal outlines a progressive five stage process to address the objectives as identified by Queensland Leisure Group executives during the consultation process. These five stages will create positive change in a number of key areas: Business model change: QLG needs a flatter, more functional business structure which will reduce labour costs and increase flexibility to help them respond more quickly to the rapidly changing external environment, Following the analysis that we, NAHN Consulting, have completed, we have prepared this proposal for you which we believe will provide you with the guidance, tools and support that will greatly improve your current performance. We have forecast an improvement of 5% increase in your Net Profit in 2011 followed by a further 10% in 2012 based on the implementation of our proposed changes. It is also our firm belief that with these improvements you will increase your ability to attract and retain key talented staff members which will reduce costs associated with recruitment and training of new staff. The value to your organisation in meeting these objectives includes improving the overall productivity level and decreasing the costs of manual labour. In addition, the enthusiasm of human capital will be greatly increased, and employees will be more pleased, which will lead

Summary Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Summary - Research Paper Example For instance, a good information system provides managers a platform to know real problems affecting their companies and customer satisfaction, hence provides adequate solutions regarding the predicament at hand. It also facilitates an organization to attain a heightened operational excellence (Nowduri, 2011). This is via offering managers ample chance to attain high efficiency in their work especially decision-making. An example is Wal-Mart and its retail link system (Gordon, 2008). The link connects suppliers to every Wal-Mart outlets. The system immediately notifies the supplier where he or she immediately gets a replacement for the shelf on the purchase of a certain product (Gordon, 2008). Information system enables an organization to get and maintain diplomatic relations with customers (Nowduri, 2011). This increases the input and output level of the company as the profit and interest percentage rises. For instance, five star hotels in United States, which utilizes information system and technology to keep in touch with customers preferences. Consequently, this enables them to act on every client’s feedback and ensure they reach decisions meant to enhance their satisfaction (Nowduri, 2011). This is especially in terms of upgrading the state of their

Atmosphere and setting in the 19th century stories Essay Example for Free

Atmosphere and setting in the 19th century stories Essay Consider atmosphere and setting in the 19th century stories you have read, and discuss how the authors have created fear and atmosphere. I am going to discuss how three Gothic stories written by authors in the19th century create fear and atmosphere. The three stories which I will be considering are The Monkeys Paw, by WW Jacobs, The Body Snatchers, by Robert Louis Stevenson and also The Signal Man, by Charles Dickens. The gothic genre was very popular in the late 18th and 19th centuries and was a very fashionable aspect of lives in that era. Almost all gothic stories included similar aspects which made the atmosphere spooky and scary. Most gothic stories included elements such as grave yards and dead bodies creating a sense of death and killing of people. The weather in gothic stories is often the kind that scares you for example thunderstorms, fog and almost all gothic stories are set in the dark of the night. Some gothic stories may include a supernatural aspect, curses, spells, wishes, ghosts , this was very popular in this era because the Victorians were very in touch with the supernatural side of their lives and believed strongly in the presence of ghosts and life after death. Gothic stories would usually include elements of surprise and realism to make the story more believable. A gothic story will always be full of suspense and tension to make the reader tenser and frightened as to what is going to come next. The setting of a gothic story was always very important, the setting would usually be in a remote, exotic or isolated setting for example the original story of Frankenstein which was written in the late 18th century by Mary Shelly was set in the Italian alps, a very remote setting which at that time was known to be haunted. Violence, bloodshed and goriness was always included in the gothic genre and was always a large aspect of the story. Gothic stories never included very many characters, this was a way of keeping the story not only short but also more frightening as it is always scarier when you are on your own or in groups of two or three rather than a large group. The Victorian era is famous for its fascination with death and the gruesome. The Victorians believed that people had a good death surrounded by their families, having made their peace with god and resigned themselves to their fate or a bad death, which was sudden. The Victorians also created a huge business around funerals. A grand funeral was a way of showing their wealth and respect. People even had jewellery made with the hair of their loved ones who had died as way of remembering them and to show that they would always be with them. In the late18th and earl 19th centuries medical science made huge advances. However, doctors in training needed corpses to learn from. Often the bodies of hanged criminals were used for this purpose. Despite hanging being a relatively frequent event, the number of bodies available was always too little and the demand for bodies was large. The resurrectionists found a way to make money here, by digging up fresh corpses and selling them to medical schools. This made the rate of bodies for medical use increase; however in 1832 the Autonomy act was passed which meant that any poor who died in the workhouses, and whose bodies remained unclaimed, could also be used for medical use. Until this act was passed people who could afford it would double or triple line their coffins or have strange devices to prevent the lid of the coffins being taken off. The 19th century saw an increase of death rate which meant that there was limited space in the graveyards particularly in the large cities. The church yards became over crowded as a result of this many people began building private walled cemeteries for their families and close friends. The Victorians were all very interested in the supernatural beings. Sà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ances became very popular and mediums developed increasingly outrageous techniques to dazzle and confuse their clients. In Victorian England, alongside the developing scientific principles of research and exploration, accusations of witchcraft were still routine and still taken very seriously. As we become more able to make sense of the physical and the touchable, the supernatural and indefinable becomes even more mysterious. One of the Gothic stories I am studying is The Monkeys Paw written by W.W. Jacobs demonstrates elements of the gothic genre. The Monkeys Paw is W.W. Jacobs most famous story and is considered to be a classic of horror fiction. The story opens with the White family spending a cozy evening together around the hearth. An old friend of Mr. Whites comes to visit them. Sergeant-Major Morris, home after more than twenty years in India, entertains his hosts with exotic stories of life abroad. He also sells to Mr. White a mummified monkeys paw, said to have had a spell put on it by a holy man that will grant its owner three wishes. Morris warns the Whites not to wish on it at all-but of course they do, with horrible consequences. Jacobs uses foreshadowing, imagery and symbolism in this story to explore the consequences of tempting fate. His careful, economical creation of setting and atmosphere add suspense to the tale, while his use of dialogue and slang (one of Jacobss trademark) help reade rs to feel that the characters are genuine. The setting of the story is the type which is considered in the elements of the gothic genre. The story is set when there is bad weather and when the wind is blowing very strongly THE NIGHT was cold and wet, showing us the weather is wet and cold, one of the main elements of gothic story writing. The house in which the story is set is in the middle of nowhere of all the beastly, slushy, out-of-the-way places to live in, this is the worst. Telling us that the story is set in a remote and isolated setting with no one else around, they are alone in the dark of the night with the wind howling, Jacobs had set the story well and with detail to the weather and setting of the story, this immediately makes the reader feel as though there is something superstitious going on or is going to happen. When the man arrives at the door, the readers wonder who it is for a while, but that thought is soon put aside when the Monkeys Paw is introduced and we wonder why the man is so unsure about passing it on to anyone, is there something bad about the Monkeys paw? Does it bring bad luck? We never know until the monkeys paw is actually used and we are kept in suspense, not knowing what to expect, the element of suspense in gothic writing is portrayed well in this story. We are told that the monkeys paw must bring something bad when the sergeant major says but I warn you of the consequences. This shows that the monkeys paw must bring some sort of bad luck, some of the suspense is taken away but we are still wondering what these consequences are and what the monkeys paw will bring. Later in the story we hear of what the consequences are and of course they all as gory as each other and all include elements of the Gothic genre which Jacobs has included, Jacobs demonstrates all of the elements of the gothic genre in his story, shows a typical horror and all its elements. The Body Snatchers and The Signal Man are two other gothic stories which also portray the gothic genre and an insight into the history of the Victorians and the way that they treated the dead. The Body snatchers, written by Robert Louis Stevenson, is a story which is set very much around the Victorian era, it is based on body snatching which was largely popular in the 19th Century, and was in great need for medical reasons and research. Stevenson begins by setting the seen and introducing characters. The first paragraph of the story seems very cozy and a regular evening in the pub with the usual four men sitting down having a drink, it is an ordinary occurrence and those four men would always be there every night but blow high , blow low, come rain or snow or frost, we four would each be planted in his own particular armchair Stevenson begins the story on a very ordinary point which seems to be nothing out of the ordinary and the reader doesnt feel like anything suspicious is going on. The characters are introduced in detail, especially Fettes so presumably he is a key character in the story. He is described in a lot of detail and seems to be a man who everyone knows and is a necessity to the village and the pub, everyone knows who he is however we could be superstitious of him when the story states we had no knowledge of his character and antecedents this shows that many people knew of the man but not many people knew how he thought and his history. The only facts known about fettes are random ones e.g he has doctor knowledge, however they know nothing about his history. He doesnt seem trustworthy, he drinks, vices, infidelities. His special knowledge is vague this cold be dangerous. The characters in the story know each other in strange ways- for instance what they drink and how the drink it. What was happening is the pub was a cycle- it happened everyday. The setting in the first paragraph seems too normal something is going to happen. But the beginning of paragraph two One dark winter night sets the familiar Gothic scene, cold, lonely, winter , dark , scary, this builds up tension and we can tell that the story is about to be told and things will begin to become more irregular. There is a break in the routine of the usual nights it was the first time this suggests that something out of the ordinary is going to happen , we dont know exactly what this is but we know that there is a character that the men are unsure of in the pub sick man in the George however when the mans named is mentioned Fettes, who is drunk, suddenly wakes up after hearing it but at the last word he seemed to awaken Fettes and the man are linked how? shows panic , recognition of the name, the other characters and the reader do not know why which shows that fettes will be an important character, Fettes and the man are linked how? Fettes suddenly becomes sober and has sudden movements this shows that fettes is shocked, it is unusual for him to pay so much attention, and the name must have triggered some sort of memory or feeling in him. There is such a change in Fettes character as if a man had risen from the dead this is spooky and makes a connection with the supernatural, things which should no be talked about, this introduces death and fear and is the first part of the story which links to the title. Fettes wants to meet him so he obviously has some sort of connection with him apart from the fact that they are both doctors Doctor has an unknown past this shows that there are many thing which we dont know about Fettes. Fettes knows the doctor well enough to know that he is older than himself however he has led a good life with a good conscience and digestion. Fettes says himself that he has led a life of sin which makes him sound suspicious rum and sin we wonder what life fettes has led, we dont know much about him and nor do the characters, this makes the reader want to read on and find out fettes history and how he know this doctor who has just arrived in the village. The Signal Mans beginning is similar to the beginning of the body snatchers in the way that we are very supersticous of a certain character, the character being the signal man. The story begins in a pleasant way, again with nothing out of the usual happening or anything which could be portrayed as spooky. The location of where the story is set is slightly remote but apart from that there is no other elements of the gothic genre. However the behaviour of the signal man when he is politely question is slightly mysterious. When the narrator calls to him from above the signal man looks in the opposite direction from where the shout of the narrator are coming from instead of looking up looked down the line does this mean that the signal man is expecting a call similar to that of the narrator to come from the direction of the tunnel down the line, the behaviour of the signal mad is odd and makes the reader want to read on in order to find out why. There is a very detailed description of a train which passes, would this mean that part of the story is revolved around trains, how and when they pass the signalman? When the narrator walks down towards the signal man he describes it as unusually precipitate. Clammy stone, that became oozier and wetter as I went down this suggests that it is out of the ordinary and not what was expected it creates and atmosphere of superstition and makes us question what is going to happen next. Is the path created that way for a reason? Or is it just coincidence? The setting is set well and makes the reader intrigued as to why the signal man acted so oddly in front of the narrator, why did the signal man act as thought he expected something to happen, why was he so sacred of the narrator and why did he think the narrator was going to do something to him. Did he have some kind of experience that was similar to this one before? In the Body Snatchers the narrator is a regular in the pub, he knows everyone in the story apart from doctor MacFarlane. The narrators story is one sided, he could have exaggerated the story. He is also a character in the story and has been drinking which could affect the truthfulness of the story being told. The narrator is probably an old man, an alcoholic, who has lived in Debenham most of his life. He looks up to Fettes but is very curious and claims to be good at worming out a story and is also interested in Fettes past and tries to tell the story of Fettes past himself. The narrator doesnt seem to interact with the characters much, he sits and listens attentively, the story being told could be based on his opinion and we dont know his background. He has an over reactive imagination, we assume he is a man. Suspense at the end of the story builds up rapidly until it is released on the last word, but we find that the narrator jumps to conclusions by judging characters however he is quite well educated. The narrator in The Signal man is very much a main character in the story and is found slightly mysterious as well, to the point that no one knows why he was looking down on the signal man in the first place. The narrator seems to be a very curious character, he leads us to think that he had something to find out when asking the signal man questions because he is so interested and almost intrigued into the signal mans life story. The narrator seems to have some kind of supernatural connection with the signal man especially towards the end of the book when he some how knows that the train is coming and that the signal man has to get out of the way of the incoming train. We dont know why or how the narrator gets to talk to the signal man and we dont know any of his background apart from the fact that he has studied medicines and is well educated. He is a mystery to the audience. The characters featured in the body snatchers are slightly mysterious we dont find out much about each character, especially their backgrounds, we dont know whether we can trust them. One of the most mysterious characters in the Body Snatchers would have to be Fettes. We dont find out much about fettes character arent cant be sure whether we trust him or not. We are not given any background knowledge about him, although we find that he is known in Debenham as Doctor because he had some special knowledge in medicine. We find out that he drinks a lot and is known well in the pub, mainly for the amount that he did drink, most people knew what he drank and knew that the arm chair in the corner of the George was his spot. Although we know these small things about him he is still a mystery, as the narrator says beyond these slight particulars we had no knowledge of his character and antecedents, he is a mysterious character. He becomes even more mysterious when Doctor Wolfe Macfarlane enters the scenes we begin to think that there is a lot more to know about him than he lets on ..you would think I was some good, old, decent Christian, would you not? But no, not I; this shows us that there is in fact a lot more to be known about Fettes than we think and he is a very mysterious character we are led to think that he has some kind of deep secret that is maybe very sinful. We think that the secret could be sinful because he says people think he is a good Christian, followed by But no, not I; Fettes expresses little emotion throughout the first couple of paragraphs until he hears Macfarlanes name, when he suddenly becomes sober and shocked this shows that he has obviously got some hidden facts about him. He shows us that he is full of emotion when he is shown as getting very worried and anxious when he doesnt drink his usual five glasses of rum and couldnt even finish his third he proves be very serious. Fettes also turns out to be less wicked than Macfarlane, which is unexpected, when he begins to feel guilty about people being killed for their bodies, he finds himself feeling regretful and scared. He also shows horrified and panic feelings when he sees the corpse of some one he knew, this shows to us that he does have feeling and can show his emotions and express them, he seems to be more respectable person than we first imagined when the narrator begins to make us feel sorry for him, the narrator does this by talking about how fettes didnt realise what he was doing and what was happening and when he did find out, he was horrified and shocked. He also becomes offended when Wolfe offers him money this emphasised the fact that hes a very proud person and doesnt like to be pity and also the fact of how much he disliked Wolfe. We as the readers learn to trust fettes because he doesnt seem like a particularly bad person and he reacts t o events that happen in the way that wed expect a good trustworthy person to react. The undertaker in the story is a mysterious character as not much is told about him and he isnt talked about much, only in the beginning. He shows emotion (shock) when he hears that Fettes knows the doctor do you know him doctor asked the undertaker with a gasp. we know here that the undertaker is shocked and slightly taken back because it says that the undertaker gasped, showing that he was shocked to hear this and wanted to find out how and why fettes knew this man. We cannot completely trust the undertaker as we dont know anything about him; he could be anyone with any background, good or bad. Macfarlane is also a particularly mysterious character a snot much is said about him at the start and not much is said about his past, for this reason he also seems Un- trustful and when he is described as being bald, dirty, pimpled and wearing an old cloak he doesnt seem the sort of man who you could rust him seems like a bit of a freak and is probably seen as a bit of a threat to other characters in the story. He also portrays many of the characteristics of an evil man in the gothic genre which encourages us, the readers to feel that he is a threat and has come into the story to create a spooky atmosphere and prepare for what is ahead, he obviously lets us know that Fettes secrets would soon be reviled and the mysteries haunting the characters and questioning the readers would no longer be secrets or mysteries any longer. At the beginning when Dr MacFarlane first enters the pub Fettes reaction this leads us to believe that Macfarlane is not a good person and is probably going to ring bad happenings, Fettes reaction gives us a reason not to trust him and also brings more mystery about him into the story because he is obviously here for reason and this reason is most likely to be about Fettes as Fettes is the only person in the George who actually recognises him name. The doctor shows a lot of emotion when he first sees fettes but also acts in a weird way in a startled whisper,. as though he is trying to hide from someone because he keeps whispering and checking behind his shoulder, acting as thought he doesnt want anyone to know who he is, but is also happy to see fettes I am overjoyed, overjoyed to have this opportunity. He shows that he is offended when Fettes doesnt take the money which is offered a horrible, ugly look came .. this shows he was offended and gave Fettes a dirty look which he slowly got over and made the best of the situation by almost apologising but keeping the offer of money still open to Fettes I will leave you my address however did he says this in case fettes would need money later on? Therefore still leaving the offer open. The Narrator also affects our views on Macfarlane by making the reader dislike him even more by his sneering and growling like these were evil things to do also the way in which he is described makes us think that he is evil and just around to cause trouble. When fettes says that man Macfarlane is not safe to cross; those that have done so already have repented it too late this makes the audience feel that Macfarlane is a very dangerous person and that people should stay away from him. He is not trustworthy and doesnt seem like a nice person. Gray or the stranger is a mysterious character as he is described as strange all we know as the audience is that he is one of MacFarlanes friends, we cant trust him as he is described as course, vulgar and stupid which is an affect that the narrator has on the audience view of this character. He shows his emotion by being bossy and nasty to Wolfe which encourages Wolfe to be more angry and threatening than he is originally. The narrator describes him as a very loathsome rogue, making readers think he again is not trustworthy and not a nice or good person. In the Signal man there are only two main characters, the signal man and the narrator , the signal man and the narrator are both main characters in the story and both of there characteristics can be considered. The signal man is a very mysterious man, when the narrator who is a main character, comes to see him the signal man seems very uptight and worried; he also seems very suspicious and looks as though hes feeling guilty about something. We think this because as soon as the signal man here the narrator shouting to him at the beginning he doesnt look towards the narrator but towards the tunnel on the tracks as though something is there that he needs to keep an eye or to signal to whoever or whatever it was in the tunnel to go away, someone is here. The signal mans reaction to the narrator makes I feel very suspicious and worried for the narrator as the signal man was behaving so oddly. We could also have reason to be suspicious when the narrator states .something in the man that daunted me. This is off putting to the audience as they believe the narrator, there for think that the signal man is a threat and dangerous. Although we dont find out much about the signal man we do know that he was well educated and study science, however he wasted that chance. The signal man doesnt show much emotion towards the narrator, its only when he begins to talk about what he has been through and why he looked towards the tunnel when he heard the narrator calling when he shows the emotion of being scared and confused, he doesnt know what is going on so doesnt know what to do about it. We cannot trust the signal man because we dont know who he is and whether when he tells these stories he is telling the truth or lying to try and play the narrator into some sort of trick. However because the narrator is telling the story we are forced into believing in the same views as the narrator has. The narrator is a main character in the story and so is entitled to have a one sided opinion, if he were looking at the story from our own point of view of the signal mans point of view we may see the narrator and the signal man from a new perspective and from a different angle which could change our views dramatically on whether or not the signal man is strange and mysterious and whether he is trustworthy or not. The narrator in the story is also a mystery to us; we dont know anything about his background or his life. It is also mystery as to why he went to the railway track and wanted to speak to the signal man in the first place, does it have anything to do with the story line or is it just coincidence? We are forced into trusting the narrator because he is the one telling the story so we believe that he has the answers to everything but in fact we probably shouldnt believe him because he is just as much of a mystery to us as The signal man is, we dont know anymore about the narrator than we do the signal man in fact we probably know more about the signal than the narrator. The narrator shows quite a lot of emotion, especially the end of the story when the signal man is killed, the end shows us that the narrator really did care, not only because he was upset when he found that the signal man was killed but also because even from a distance, and not being able to see what was happening he knew what was going on, it was like something supernatural was going on and he subconsciously knew that the signal man was in trouble and that those words halloa! Below there! had been said one last time and the result this time was the death of the signal man. The setting in gothic stories is a very important factor, this is because the setting in a gothic story is what gives it its atmosphere, if the story was set in the summer in the day time on a bright cheerful day, not many people would find it frightening but if the story was set in the dead of night on a long cold winters night an audience would find the atmosphere a lot more spooky. In the body snatchers we are not immediately hit with a description of the setting which creates atmosphere but one which sets the scene, once the scene is set Stevenson begins to create a spooky atmosphere. At the beginning there is a mention of rain, snow and frost which indicate s a dreary setting, the setting cant just indicate the atmosphere but also the moods of the characters, this particular setting portrays the characters as rather weary and lethargic. Stevenson makes the event seem much more normal so he can build it up further and makes it more dramatic. one dark winter night creates and atmosphere and shows us that its no ordinary night it is one dark winters night making the audience think it is out of the ordinary, it had struck nine this emphasises the fact that it is late and getting dark. This shows a sense of mystery, which builds up suspense within the audience. It creates an eerie feeling and also highlights the fact the characters are in a dreary mood, a sense of insecurity that something is going to happen. An inn gives us an idea of normality and security, the loud of an inn highlights a friendly, welcoming place. There was not much light in the George which gave us a mysterious feeling, a gloomy and dreary sense of insecurity. The presence of so many witnesses at the George shows that there was a lot of people in the inn and the fact that there was a big red fire and candles gave a sense of warmth and security and makes the audience feel that they are in a cosy, safe environment this makes the setting seem less frightening, Stevenson could of done this so that when something big and frightening did happen it would seem a lot more dramatic. At four in the morning this indicates the beginning of a new story. The time gives a feeling of mystery, darkness and suspense; it leads the audience to feel curiosity. Later on in the story when things begin to pick up and settings are describe in much more detail which creates a lot more spookiness for the audience and makes the plot more frightening. Stevenson uses the settings to create a sense of insecurity and to make the story seem more dramatic and increase tension and fear. the lights, the fire, the beating rain upon the window, the cold incongruous work that lay before them this for instance emphasises the fact that it is winter and the wind is howling, it creates a gloomy atmosphere and makes the reader tense and in fear of what is to come next. The setting in the signal man is less spooky than that of the body snatchers although it also portrays most of the gothic story characteristics. The signal man is set in a remote place in the middle of the countryside in a deep trench where little people go or visit, the signal mans only company are the trains that pass him every so often. The fact that there is a very dark tunnel lose by adds to this sense of spookiness and gives the audience ideas and superstitions as to why he keeps looking at this dark, black hole. The setting in the signal man doest change in the ay that the body snatchers does and isnt focussed so much on making the story frightening by the atmosphere, settings and surroundings but by the supernatural presence which is in the air, this is what the author uses to make the story gothic and frightening, he know that this will scar the readers because at the time when the story was written supernatural beings and happenings were very popular and believed it to a large extent, this made the setting of the signal man that bit more believable and realistic, increasing how dramatic it was therefore making it more and tense and frightening. The language used in gothic stories is always very important because it describes things happening helping to build tension, suspense and fear to the stories. In the body snatchers the language is very formal, 19th century language, sometimes Archaic language is used in places e.g. begone, where I cast it, lucre this adds to the atmosphere of the gothic century. The verbs which Stevenson uses suggest strong emotions especially of fear and wickedness staggered, startled, dashed, fled, cried, despised and desecrate, forced, torn , leaped and terrified all of these make the emotions stand out more in a gothic way. Stevenson also tended to use descriptive and nominal groups often to suggest the terrifying or evil for example disreputable vices, fleeting infidelities, sudden emotion, gasp, awful pause abdominal ruffians. The language is always used to set the scene, for example, one dark winter night. It is written in formal language and there is no slang. The language used is very descriptive and appearances are described in detail his eyes awoke; his voice became clear, loud and steady. When a character says something, the author Robert Louis Stevenson describes how they said it and often uses other verbs such as cried or repeated this brings variety into the language which he uses and keeps the audience a lot more interested in the story. He uses lots of descriptive language. Theres more adjectives and descriptive writing than dialogue which heightens the suspense, also helping to create a picture in the readers mind. Stevenson uses lots of dramatic language to increase suspense, a horrible sense of blackness and the treachery of fate seized hold upon the soul of a unhappy student the language is also very complex which adds to the effect and makes the story more spooky. Gruesome language and alliteration towards the end makes the story more dramatic e.g. despise and desecrate, world of wet. Corpses are described in many different ways tragic burden, ghastly packages this adds variety and also makes it more gruesome than it already is. Stevenson seems to like using similes they make things more realistic as if a man had risen from the dead, as two vultures may swoop upon a dying lamb all of these also makes the story more personal and makes it easier to imagine. The language in the signal man is formal and not much slang is used, this makes the story more realistic. There is lots of descriptive writing for example . A clammy stone which became oozier and wetter as I went down Dickens tends to use rather complex language which could confuse the character but does show that it is a rather complex story line which it is and questions are left unanswered e.g. precipitate, terminating, barbarous, perused, and saturnine Not so much gruesome language is used in the signal man because it is not a tale of gruesomeness but one of the supernatural beings, there is no need for gruesomeness but for using the supernatural realm to scare readers and make them feel threatened, uptight and to build tension. Dickens chooses the words he uses to describe things very carefully as to get the full effect of what is trying to say into words. This helps the audience to imagine what is going on, dickens does this well as it is very easy for the audience to imagine what is going on in the story and picture what is going on in their minds. Overall I would say that both The Body Snatchers and The Signal Man create fear and suspense: The body snatchers is a story based on true people , Berk and Hare, which make it more believable and realistic and the way that it is written helps to create fear and suspense and to fit into the gothic genre of story writing. It successfully creates fear using its gruesome similes and metaphors, the story line and how the characters are so unpredictable and mysterious; you get worried as to what the characters are going to do next and what other dark secrets they are going to pull out of their closets. The way that Stevenson opens the story is good because it is innocent and creates a more dramatic build up, suspense making the audience tenser and making them want to read on in fear of what might happen. The Signal Man is very different to The Body Snatchers; this is because it is based on a completely different aspect of gothic writing, not the gruesomeness but the supernatural side of gothic writing. This could be seen as more frightening than the body snatchers because supernatural beings were know as being evil, the devil or for having powers which could not be defeated by any human being. The Victorian period was known for having a deep interest supernaturalism which makes the story more realistic to people of that time. Suspense is create well in the story because we as the audience know that the being is going to appear three times but the narrator doesnt so the audience are sat waiting for it to happen while the characters ponder on what is going on, it creates a lot of tension on the audiences behalf and also creates fear. I preferred reading the story of The Body Snatchers because I thought it was a lot more realistic and I could relate it directly to something that happened in history, Berk and Hare, I also thought that it was easy to understand and didnt leave so many unanswered questions like The Signal Man did, I like a story that has a direct, understandable finish, in the signal man you dont actually find out who or what it was that was calling the signal man because eventually the signal man is killed of and the story is left unanswered, I think it Is much more effective to finish a story with no lose ends because then the reader can be satisfied that a conclusion has been reached. The body snatchers was also a more thrilling read and I think that it created fear more successfully than The signal man this could have been because it was set in different places which were isolated and remote and was also set at night when it was dark, the weather was bad whereas in the signal it was set in the day still in a remote place but no reference to the weather was made. Overall I thought that The Body Snatchers had a better and more interesting storyline which one could relate to more easily.