Statistic paper Statistics Project Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Statistic paper - Statistics Project Example A significant correlation was observed between days and charges, r(287) = .80, p Hospital managers bear the overall authority over the running of the hospital. However, their authority is usually curtailed when administrative duties come into play. This is due to the overpowering roles of physicians. Physicians control a significant portion of hospital costs and the length of time that a patient stays in a hospital. They also determine the drugs used in treating a patient and determine the suppliers. Despite these crucial roles, the physicians are not employees of the hospital. At times, hospitals give individual physicians admitting privileges and periodically review their performance. However, the hospital’s influence over various expenditures remains at the minimum. On the other hand, the revenues of the hospital are largely dependent on the patient’s insurance coverage. This insurance coverage may cater for a more or less fixed amount and is classified using the diagnosis related group (DRG) system. It may also cater for a percentage of the hospital bill. The performance of a physician is crucial to the general well-being of a patient. An outstanding performance

Hijack of Air France Flight 139-Operation Entebbe Term Paper

Hijack of Air France Flight 139-Operation Entebbe - Term Paper Example This will include a definition and discussion of the different groups involved, their core aims, and the ensuring situation that arose. As such, the following analysis will also be concentric on the operation by Israeli special forces in an attempt to rescue the hostages that had been taken. Through such a discussion and analysis, it is the hope of this author that wider realities concerning global terrorism response and the means through which such antics have continued to be perpetrated within the current era can be represented. Firstly, before delving into an in-depth discussion concerning the terrorist groups in the mall or the response by the Israeli government, is necessary to briefly engage in a discussion of relevant political analysis; surrounding the Europe in which the hijacking of Air France 139 was but a part. In the year in which this particular aircraft was hijacked, the state of Israel has only existed for two decades. However, within these two decades, two large-scale wars fought between Israel and its surrounding Arab/Muslim neighbors. Furthermore, tension between Israelis and Palestinians have reached a climax; due in part to the fact that continued Israelis of building and the displacement of thousands of people in Palestine created a wellspring of hatred and frustration of the native peoples within the region. Furthermore, one must consider the role and impact of the Palestinian liberation organization (one of the terrorists routes that was responsible for the Air France flight 139 hijack ing) in terms of reasons political developments that have occurred only one year prior to the hijacking itself. Ultimately, Jordan, nation borders Israel on its south east, was responsible for dismantling and removing the house that immigration organization from within its borders. As a direct result of this

Protecting and Preserving Our Environment Essay Example for Free

Protecting and Preserving Our Environment Essay Our planet Earth is dying. This is a fact that we are experiencing, caused by our own behaviors. The term â€Å"dying’’ is true, because our lifestyle is causing serious damage to the environment and might lead to the termination of humanity if those actions are not stopped. We all share a role in protecting and preserving our environment because it is the primary and the only place for us to live and develop new generations. We all are consumers, but there is a huge difference between a wise consumer and an average consumer in terms of protecting the environment and homeland. As consumers, we always look for the lowest price without putting in mind the potential damage a product can cause to our environment. A perfect example is plastic bottles. We always buy plastic bottled products without knowing whether they are recyclable or not. In fact, it is estimated that 80% of plastic bottles are not being recycled (Greenupgrader.com). A nonrecyclable plastic bottle may last as long as 1000 years before it biodegrades completely (Answers.com). Another notable fact is that 1 ton of recycled plastic bottles would save more than 7.4 cubic yards of landfill (Earth911.com). If we all move to buying recyclable bottles and recycle them, we would save our environment from mountains of discarded bottles. Also, we may save our environment from tons of toxic vapors caused by burning plastic bottles. Controlling air pollution is another crucial factor in preserving our environment. In the past, people were not worried about the potential harm the environment is exposed to because of their acts; however, they became much concerned and alarmed nowadays after they sensed the symptoms of the global warming. We all know about global warming and its side effects. We also know that we are all accused of that problem because of our actions, but why don’t we stop it? If we all try to reduce main factors of air pollution; we would decrease the global warming, and how is very easy. Reducing the use of fossil fuels is an excellent example. Hybrid or fully electric cars can produce 25% to 90% less toxic emissions than an ordinary gas powered vehicle (carbon-monoxide-poisoning.com). This means if we buy hybrid or fully electric cars; then we would contribute to the environment by reducing tons of toxic emissions from fossil fuel powered vehicles. Those toxic emissions cause about 51% of Carbon Monoxide in the air; which is an extremely toxic gas and fatal in high concentrations (thegoodairlady.com). Another great example of reducing air pollution is sharing a ride when commuting to work or school. Sharing a ride or â€Å"carpooling† reduces the number of running vehicles on roads and thus reducing the toxic emissions from them. If 500 people use carpooling every working day, then we would contribute to the environment by reducing as much as 60% of the total carbon monoxide in the air. Controlling air pollution is extremely important; however, excessive water consumption is even much more important and essential to humanity and next generations. Water is becoming scarce in different parts of the world, and this is because we don’t know how vital water conservation is. It is estimated that over 1.5 billion people worldwide do not have access to safe and fresh water to drink (Matt Scott). Isn’t 1.5 billion an astonishing number? , and don’t you think it is time to reduce our consumption not only for us, but also for the next generations? There are many ways to conserve water. One good example is the use of low flow shower head. A low flow shower head may reduce about 15 gallons of water during an average 10 minute shower (environment.nationalgeographic.com). In addition, we all have to regularly check our house for water leaks. Undiscovered water leakage could waste as much as 15,000 gallons of water a year. Moreover, try to avoid filling the bathtub and instead use the overhead shower. Taking a bath wastes about 70 gallons of water, while a normal 10 minute shower wastes only 20 gallons. The difference may not be significant, but over a long period, it does matter. Finally, I think if the majority of us went to one of the mentioned solutions and acted mindfully, then we would save our precious environment from pollution, water scarcity, and many other serious environmental issues. Environment conservation starts with me, you and all occupants of planet earth, so let us start protecting our lives and have a brighter future for the next generations. Works Cited Gunzelmann, Doug. â€Å"Plastic Bottle Facts Make You Think Before You Drink† August 2008 www.greenupgrader.com/3258/plastic-bottle-facts-make-you-think-before-you- drink/ Gunner, John. â€Å"How Long a Plastic Bottle Last Before it Decompose† April 2010 www.wiki.answers.com/Q/How_long_for_plastic_water_bottle_to_decompose Earth 911 â€Å"Plastic Recycling Facts† June 2007 www.earth911.com/recycling/plastic/plastic-bottle-recycling-facts/ Carbon Monoxide Poisoning â€Å"A Guide to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning† www.carbon-monoxide-poisoning.com/article5-hybrid-car-emissions.html Sage Blossom Consulting. ‘’Car Pollution Facts’’ August 2007. www.thegoodairlady.com/car_pollution_facts_000233.html/ Matt, Scott. â€Å"40 Shocking Facts About Water’’ June 2009. www.metadornetwork.com/change/40-shocking/facts-about-water/ National Geographic â€Å"Water Conservation Tips† www.environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/water-conservation- tips/

Effective business communication

Effective business communication Introduction Although there is no universal definition of change, it has been explained in the terms of guises, transformation, metamorphosis, evolution, regeneration (Hughes 2006). Any alternations in the people, structure, or technology of an organization. It is constant yet it varies in degree and directions. It creates threats and opportunities for organizations. Change in the organisation take place for many reasons. It is sometime done in order to have new ways of doing work or organizing work. Noteworthy changes in the organization occur such as when organization wishes to change its strategy on the whole for success, the organization want to change the nature of its operations. The forces of change come through change in organizational strategy, work force, new equipment, employee attitudes, marketplace, government laws, technology, labour market and economical situations. Steps involved in change An organisations culture can be affected by a number of reasons which has been as under; The environment in which the organisation operates. The beliefs, values and norms of the employees within the organization, particularly those communicated by top management. The organisations size, history, ownership and technology also results in change within the organisation. Other factors includes trade unions, media and lifestyle of the people UnFreezing This is the first step that involves disturbing the equilibrium state of the prevailing status quo. This can be done by encouraging the individuals that they should adopt new behaviours and discard the old one (Burnes 2004). Moving According to an article published in the journal by (Burnes 2004), the step or block aims at shifting the behaviours of the individuals as well as the departments where the change is supposed to take place. The moving step aims to develop new behaviours and attitudes of the individuals. Refreezing This step called refreezing the change intended becomes permanent. The new way of organization is established according to (Burnes 2004) through new attitudes and behaviours. While considering the type of changes steps involved in the change is mention below The start of change process involves translating the need of change into a desire of change. The change may start with the formal announcement or it may be less explicit, but in some point it typically involves a review or project. A manager should diagnosis present state identify preferred future state for a better communication .The reviewing of present state help to identify the future challenges. Need/reasons for change In order to survive and prosper in competitive and changing environment, organisations also need to change. This may be brought about many influencing factors which may be internally within the organisation or in external environmental. Internal forces for change arise from internal activities and decisions. If top managers select a goal of rapid company growth, internal actions will have to be made to meet that growth. New department and technologies will be created so organisation will change according to that. What is Communication? Communication is the process of transfer of information. Communication means ways of sharing ideas, news, views, methods and techniques. Communication must involve two parties .It is vital part of almost every job. All companies and organisations demand it. Internal communication system The communication which takes place within the boundaries of the organisation is known as internal communication. (R Blundel k Ippolito 2007). Effective communication is an essential part of smoothly running business organisation. Communication involves the transmission of information from a source (or a number of sources) to receivers. The information is communicated in the form of a message(The times100 2009 1). For example a customer may request a new part from a supplier, with information on how to use that part in a piece of equipment. The supplier will then communicate with the customer setting out instructions for using the part, as well as sending a delivery note, invoice, and further sales literature. Increasingly these interaction will be carried out by electronic media such as through a sales website, e-mail communications and other means. Communication within the organizations is dynamic, two way(transactional) process can be broken into six phases The sender has an idea and want to share it. When sender put the idea in the form of message it means sender encodes it so that receiver can understand easily. Then sender transmits the message through a proper communication channel(spoken or written) and a medium(telephone, letters, email, report or face to face). For communication to occur, the must first get the message. After the transmission of message from the sender receiver gets the message which involves the understanding of message by receiver. Then the receiver decodes the message. The decoded message must be stored in the receivers mind. The receiver sends feedback after decoding the message from the sender, the receiver may respond the some way and signal that to sender. This internal communication process can be shown with the help of the diagram As the above fig shows that the communication process is repeated until both parties finish expressing themselves. Moreover effective internal communication try not to cram too much information into one message. The effectiveness of communications depends on: http://www.thetimes100.co.uk/theory/theoryworking-together-business-communications388.php The clarity of the message. The quality of the medium used to transmit the message. The medium is the means of communicating e.g e-mail, telephone, letter, etc. Any distracting noise that prevent the message from effectively getting through. For example, if the recipient receives lots of email messages, they may fail to give proper attention to the senders message. The ability of the receiver to decode the message. For example, they may not be able to understand the instructions given. Supports of communication Verbal communication It is the spoken, oral, and unwritten way of communicating(Personal growth 2009 1). Non verbal communication Transmission of messages by a medium other than speech or writing(Business dictionary 2009 2).There are so many supports that can be taken for effective internal communication which mainly include Electronic mail This has rapidly become the most common form of written communication within the organization. It is the most easy and quick way of communication within the organization. Company websites A companys website will typically involve a portal or a section dedicated to internal communication with and between employees. Company databases In most of the large organisations including banks like Barclays employees will be able to access a number of company databases to communicate internally. Meeting Meetings is the also the most effective support to communicate effectively within the organizations. It can be formal or informal. In manufacturing companies like toyata teams of employees regurlarly meet to discuss issues like quality. Phone communication Phone communications are another important form of oral communication with most large companies having a lowcost internal telephone system. Internal memos, Voice mail, instant messaging, Faxing http://www.about-personal-growth.com/verbal-communication.html http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/non-verbal-communication.html An internal memo can be send by email to communicate with the employees within the organisation. Staff magazine, reports, notices and posters on staff boards provide other means of internal communication. Voice mails, instant messaging and faxing are also be used as supports for communication Impact of change on communication The change plays a vital role on the communication process. Communication calls change and change calls challenges like competition, globalization and technology. During the change process if communication goes wrong it can create huge impact on the organizations future. The impact of change can be positive or negative. Change can be of any type for example organization changing its policies or organization introduces new technology within the organization .There should be a proper communication as a result of any kind of change through a proper channel and support. In times of change, employee communication is vital to successful organizations. Let suppose if an organization want to change their technology then they should communicate and inform their employees so that they understand the change and adopt that change by the help of proper communication. Wrong communication like solider died in afghan calling wrong name, in place of doing right hand side operation doing left hand sid e can results in serious problems. Handle of communication at each level Communication among the employees of the organization is a essential for effective function. Organizational decisions are usually made at top and flow down to the people who carry them out. From top to bottom each person should understand, apply and pass it. For each and every level of organizational change top managers, middle managers and first line managers should co-ordinate whole work efficiently and effectively with the other employees. Top management should act as planner, leader, communicator and organizer. The lower level employees can help top level management by giving accurate, timely reports on problems, emerging trends, opportunities for improvement and performance. The formal communication network within the organization is shown below Obstacle or Barrier in the context of change No matter how good the communication system in an organisation is, unfortunately barriers or obstacles can and do often occur. This may be caused by a number of factors which can usually be summarised as being due to physical barriers, system design faults or additional barriers. Language Barrier Different languages, vocabulary, accent represents regional barriers. Words having similar pronunciation but multiple meanings. The use of difficult words poorly explained or misunderstood messages can result as a communication obstacle(E z articles 2009 1). Cultural Barrier Age, education, gender, social status, economic position, cultural background, religion, political belief, ethics, values, assumptions, aspirations, rules or regulations, standards, priorities can separate one person from another and create a communication obstacle. Individual Barrier It may be a result of an individuals perceptual and personal discomfort. Even when two persons have experienced the same event their mental perception may/may not be identical which acts as a barrier. Style, selective perception, halo effect, poor attention and close mindedness, insufficient filtration are the Individual or Psychological barrier. Organizational Barrier It includes Poor Organizations culture, climate, regulations, status, relationship, complexity, inadequate facilities, opportunities of growth and improvement. whereas, the nature of the internal and external environment like large working areas physically separated from others, poor lightening, staff shortage, outdated equipments and background noise are Physical Organizational Barrier. Interpersonal Barrier Barriers from Employers includes lack of Trust in employees, lack of Knowledge of non-verbal clues like facial expression, body language, gestures, postures, eye contact; different experiences, shortage of time for employees, no consideration for employee needs, wish to capture authority. While Barriers from Employees includes Lack of Motivation, lack of co-operation, trust, fear of penalty and poor relationship with the employer (Know 2009 2). Channel Barrier If the length of the communication is long, or the medium selected is inappropriate, the communication might break up; it can also be a result of the inter-personal conflicts between 1-http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Barriers-to-Effective-Communicationid=121001 2-http://www.knowthis.com/principles-of-marketing-tutorials/promotion-decisions/obstacles-to-effective-communication/ the sender and receiver; lack of interest to communicate; information sharing or access problems which can hamper the channel and affect the clarity, accuracy and effectiveness of communication. Dealing with an international team When we communicate with the people of our own culture we can communicate effectively. But if we are working in an international organization we have to communicate with the employees from different background and nationalities so there will be lots of challegenes that can be met while communicating with the international team which are mentioned below Cultural Challenges Culture strongly affects communication and a big challenge while dealing with the international team. For example when we want to communicate we encode message using the assumption of our own culture while the receiver will decodes the message using assumptions of his/her own culture so meaning may be misunderstood. The greater the difference in culture greater is the chance of misunderstanding. The other type of cultural differences are Contextual differences From culture to culture people convey contextual meaning differently. In high context culture people such as south Korea Taiwan rely on more on the non verbal actions and environmental setting to convey their message. In low context culture people like united states and Germany rely more on verbal communication. Contextual differences affect the way cultures approach situations such as decisions making, problem solving and negotiating. Legal and ethical differences Legal and ethical behaviour is also influenced by cultural context. For example, people from the low context culture value the written word, they consider written agreements and tend to adhere to laws strictly. But the high context people less emphasis on the written words. Social differences In any culture rules may be formal or informal. Formal rules are specifically taught dos and donts of how to behave in a common social situations. Informal rules deals with how males and females are supposed to behave. In some countries like india, Pakistan and Bangladesh women are not taken seriously as business people. But in the western countries women treated equally in business places. Culture also tell how people show respect and signify rank. For example in united states people respect top managers as Mr Bush or Mr Andrew but in countries like china show respect by using official title like President or Managers. Non verbal differences Non verbal difference is also another type of cultural challenge while dealing with the international team. People in Canada and united state usually take five feet gap during business conversation as compared to the people in countries like Arab, Germany and Japan feel uncomfortable while keeping this distance. Recommendations Managers act like a pillars for any organization. As mention above that the change in any organization can create threats and opportunities for the organization. Managers should plan a proper strategy of communication in the context of change. The strategy should include; Considering the likely effects of change and and planning for it well in advance. Adapting a flexible, democratic management style even though this may be within a formal organisational structure, in order to create a climate where change is easier to achieve. Motivate employees by understanding nature and perception. Tell their employees reasons and the benefits of change after the change process. Recognization of cultural variation in communication style. Manage disputes at each level. Manage problems of each employee like stress, depression, relationship, personal issues and differences. Identify clearer gaols and targets so That every ones knows what is to achieve and time scale involved. Training and retraining and new work. Monitor and review progress to regularly access progress towards goals and identify and overcome any difficulties. Manager should act like a communicator, planner, leader, motivator and controller. Bibliography Adler, R.B (2006) Communicating at Work, (8th Edition) McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages Hughes M(2006) Change management A critical perspective. Chartered institute of personal and development. ISBN 1-84398-070-3 References Bernard Burnes Managing change 4th Edition prentice hall Burnes, B. (2004). Kurt Lewins and the Planned Approach to Change: A Re-appraisal. Journal of Management Studies. Vol.41, No.6 Higgs, M. Rowland, D. (2005). Exploring Approaches to Change and its Leadership. Journal of Change Management. Vol.5, No.2. John V Thill and Courtland Bovee (2002). Excellence in Business communication 8th Edition Pearson International Edition. John Hayes (2006). The theory and practise of change Management. 6th Edition London :Prentice Hall p233. Richard R L Daft (2005) Management 6th edition. R Blundel K Ippolito (2007) Effective business communication 2nd Edition Prentice Hall p13. Barriers to communication(2008). Available: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Barriers-to-Effective-Communicationid=121001. Last accessed 14 Dec. (2008). Non Verbal Communication(2009).Available: businessdictionary.com. Last accessed 11 Dec. Obstacles to business communication (2009).Available:http://www.knowthis.com/principles-of-marketing-tutorials/promotion-decisions/obstacles-to-effective-communication/. Last accessed 12 Dec. Personal growth(2006).Available :http://www.about-personal-growth.com/verbal communication.html. Last accessed 10 Dec. Working Together To Business Communication(2008).. Available: http://www.thetimes100.co.uk/theory/theoryworking-together-business-communications388.php. Last accessed 11 Dec.

Frank Sinatra Essay -- essays research papers

Many people in show business are viewed as role models in our society. Many of these people are just regular men and women that are placed high on a pedestal simply because they can sing or act, hence, becoming all the more famous. Although he was famous and popular in the entertainment world for almost four decades, Frank Sinatra was a singer and actor that had a side to him that not everyone knew. He hid behind the facade of an entirely happy, successful performer, when, in reality, he had many problems that the public was not even aware of. Some of these problems are the same that the average person faces day to day, but many went far deeper than trivial troubles. Some of these specific quandaries had to do with hidden aspects of his personal relationships, hidden connections with criminal elements, and other unknown aspects of his life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Before even attempting to understand any of this, however, some background information on Sinatra and his family would be helpful. Sinatra came from a family of orthodox Italian heritage. His mother and father were the first of his family to move from Sicily to America and settle down in the “land of the free';. After arriving in the United States, they ended up making their home in Hoboken, New Jersey, a very poor area where people resided with those of their own ethnic background. Their history was very important to the Sinatra family, and good moral values, as well as the importance of a good education, were instilled in all their children. Frank’s parents could barely read or write; that’s why good schooling was a priority to them. Sinatra’s parents looked down on the entertainment business, and with little success, did everything to lure Frank away from his attraction to the glitz and glamour of show business (Sinatra 15).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sinatra’s early years were spent in Hoboken, dreaming of a “better life';. Francis A. Sinatra was born on December 12, 1915, in Hoboken, New Jersey. Being members of the Catholic faith, he was not baptized until April 2, 1916. He faced adversity as soon as he was born, nearly dying of birth complications that left him scarred for three months after he was conceived. As, a result of this, he was often bantered by members of his class and children of his neighborhood, who called ... ...e of tribulations throughout life, dealing with his personal relationships, his involvement with criminals, and other aspects of his personal life. Whether he had moral values and good ethics is still debated, but where he is now is not for us to say. He may have had a rough life, one that was not completely honorable to God, but people are not the ones that should be judging Sinatra; that is His job. All sin is the same in the eyes of God, and everyone has the chance to repent and be baptized and forgiven of those sins. Whether or not Sinatra was a Christian, no one really knows, except for God. Sinatra did represent a strong role model to those that thought that they were too poor to become successful in show business. Much to everyone’s belief, he beat the odds and came out on top. He was in the entertainment industry for over forty years, and survived the changes that came and went with the times. He was called “The Voice';, “Chairman of the Board';, and  220;Ol’ Blue Eyes';. People of America dubbed him a legend, and that’s the way he will remain in the hearts and minds of those who appreciated his extraordinary talents. Frank Sinatra Essay -- essays research papers Many people in show business are viewed as role models in our society. Many of these people are just regular men and women that are placed high on a pedestal simply because they can sing or act, hence, becoming all the more famous. Although he was famous and popular in the entertainment world for almost four decades, Frank Sinatra was a singer and actor that had a side to him that not everyone knew. He hid behind the facade of an entirely happy, successful performer, when, in reality, he had many problems that the public was not even aware of. Some of these problems are the same that the average person faces day to day, but many went far deeper than trivial troubles. Some of these specific quandaries had to do with hidden aspects of his personal relationships, hidden connections with criminal elements, and other unknown aspects of his life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Before even attempting to understand any of this, however, some background information on Sinatra and his family would be helpful. Sinatra came from a family of orthodox Italian heritage. His mother and father were the first of his family to move from Sicily to America and settle down in the “land of the free';. After arriving in the United States, they ended up making their home in Hoboken, New Jersey, a very poor area where people resided with those of their own ethnic background. Their history was very important to the Sinatra family, and good moral values, as well as the importance of a good education, were instilled in all their children. Frank’s parents could barely read or write; that’s why good schooling was a priority to them. Sinatra’s parents looked down on the entertainment business, and with little success, did everything to lure Frank away from his attraction to the glitz and glamour of show business (Sinatra 15).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sinatra’s early years were spent in Hoboken, dreaming of a “better life';. Francis A. Sinatra was born on December 12, 1915, in Hoboken, New Jersey. Being members of the Catholic faith, he was not baptized until April 2, 1916. He faced adversity as soon as he was born, nearly dying of birth complications that left him scarred for three months after he was conceived. As, a result of this, he was often bantered by members of his class and children of his neighborhood, who called ... ...e of tribulations throughout life, dealing with his personal relationships, his involvement with criminals, and other aspects of his personal life. Whether he had moral values and good ethics is still debated, but where he is now is not for us to say. He may have had a rough life, one that was not completely honorable to God, but people are not the ones that should be judging Sinatra; that is His job. All sin is the same in the eyes of God, and everyone has the chance to repent and be baptized and forgiven of those sins. Whether or not Sinatra was a Christian, no one really knows, except for God. Sinatra did represent a strong role model to those that thought that they were too poor to become successful in show business. Much to everyone’s belief, he beat the odds and came out on top. He was in the entertainment industry for over forty years, and survived the changes that came and went with the times. He was called “The Voice';, “Chairman of the Board';, and  220;Ol’ Blue Eyes';. People of America dubbed him a legend, and that’s the way he will remain in the hearts and minds of those who appreciated his extraordinary talents.

Philosophy of Education :: Philosophy of Teaching Statement

Philosophy of Education As a future educator, there are many pieces of knowledge that I hope to impart on my future students. I also believe that there are many different ways in which to give this knowledge. I relate myself mostly with the Social Re-Constructionists. They believe in a wide curriculum, covering more than the basics, which I feel is very important. One thing that I do find very important is practical educational experiences. As an elementary teacher, I will not get to see this put to much use, but I hope that my students will have future opportunities to complete internships, work-studies, and many other opportunities along those lines. I am also a very optimistic person when it comes to children and their abilities to learn. I firmly believe that every child can learn just as much as another, they just need to go at their own pace and level. Today, too many teachers pass off children that learn slower as problems in their classroom. This is simply not the truth; everyone should have equal opportunities to learn. I believe in giving children feed back. After they complete a test, I want to give them stickers and smiles for good grades, and sit down and talk with them about bad ones in order to see what we can do to fix the problem. I also want to be in constant contact with the parents, no matter how bothersome they are. I also enjoy change. It keeps things from becoming boring and repetitive. I would welcome other teachers and parents ideas to change my classroom and the way I run it. I feel that too many people disagree with my philosophies, when they are things I feel like every teacher should believe in. These are the reasons I want to be an educator. I want to give kids a chance that may not have had one. I want children who have been told they are stupid to realize that it is the other person’s insecurities, not their own problems. That is why I want to teach; I want to teach children that no matter what they want to do, they can do it. My classroom will be very democratic. Everything, except for the basic rules, will be discussed with my students.

Analyzing Stylistic Choices Essay

Precise writers make linguistic choices to create certain effects. They want to have their readers react in a certain way. Go back through the text and analyze Krakauer’s use of words, sentences, and paragraphs, and take note as to how effective a writer he is. Analyzing Chapters 8–10 Paragraphs In the first part of Chapter 8, Krakauer quotes Alaskans who had opinions about McCandless and his death. 1. Why does Krakauer cite these letters? How does citing them add to or detract from the text? 2. Choose one of these letters, and respond to it, explaining the degree to which you agree or disagree. Tone Krakauer inserts himself into the story in Chapter 8. 3. Does this give him more credibility? 4. Do you find this annoying? Why or why not? Analyzing Chapters 11–13 A few pages into Chapter 13, Krakauer describes McCandless’s sister’s behavior when she was told about her brother’s death. 5. Why does he use the word â€Å"keening† instead of crying? 6. What are the denotations and connotations of this word? What is its history? Sentences Reread aloud the next-to-last paragraph in Chapter 13, where Krakauer powerfully describes Billie’s grief. 7. Rephrase the paragraph and simplify it in your own words. 8. What makes Krakauer’s description (quoted below) powerful? â€Å"It is all she can do to force herself to examine the fuzzy snapshots. As she studies the pictures, she breaks down from time to time, weeping as only a mother who has outlived a child can weep, betraying a sense of loss so huge and irreparable that the mind balks at taking its measure. â€Å"Such bereavement, witnessed at close range, makes even the most eloquent apologies for high-risk activities ring fatuous and hollow.† Analyzing Chapters 14 and 15 Words Krakauer uses technical vocabulary related to mountain climbing in these two chapters. Investigate the meaning technical words you don’t know. What is the effect of these words on the reader? Summarizing and Responding Chapters 1-7 describe McCandless’s journey and death. Chapters 8-15 try to put McCandless’s life in a larger context by comparing him to other people: other wanderers, his family, and the author of the book. Look over your notes and annotations and answer the following questions. Write your answers in your notebook: 1. How does McCandless compare with the other wanderers Krakauer describes? In what ways is McCandless similar? In what ways is he different? Do we understand McCandless better after making these comparisons? 2. Krakauer and others have speculated that McCandless was estranged from his family because of his relationship with his father. What was his family life like? Does it explain his later behavior? 3. Krakauer clearly feels a strong connection to McCandless. Do you think they were very similar? Why or why not? In what ways is this book as much about Krakauer as it is about McCandless? 4. Taking your notes and your answers to the above questions into account, write a short paragraph answering the following question: Who was Chris McCandless? Thinking Critically Rhetorical appeals are the accepted ways in which we persuade or argue a case. The following questions will move you through more traditional rhetorical appeals. By focusing on appeals to the writer, to emotion, and to logic, you will be able to discover how Krakauer has persuaded us and how you can use these techniques to persuade others when you write or speak. Questions about Logic (Logos) 1. Krakauer summarizes the response to his article by saying, â€Å"The prevailing Alaska wisdom held that McCandless was simply one more dreamy half-cocked greenhorn who went into the country expecting to find answers to all his problems and instead found only mosquitos and a lonely death† (72). Has  Krakauer made the case that the prevailing Alaska wisdom is wrong? Why or why not? 2. At the end of Chapter 9, Krakauer describes Irish monks known as the papar who sought out lonely places so much that they left Iceland for Greenland when some Norwegians showed up because they thought that it had become too crowded, even though the land was nearly uninhabited. Krakauer writes, â€Å"Reading of these monks, one cannot help thinking of Everett Reuss and Chris McCandless† (97). Krakauer implies that there is some kind of similarity between Reuss, McCandless, and the papar, but instead of making a specific connection, he just says â€Å"one cannot help thinking of.† Is this a good argument? Why or why not? 3. Krakauer argues in Chapter 14 that McCandless’s death was unplanned and was a terrible accident (134). Does the book so far support that position? Do you agree with Krakauer? Why or why not? 4. Look for other claims that Krakauer makes that might be weak or unsupported. What are they? Questions about the Writer (Ethos) 5. Chapters 14 and 15 describe Krakauer’s successful attempt when he was 23 years old to climb the â€Å"Devil’s Thumb,† a mountain in Alaska. He also describes what he thinks are parallels between McCandless and himself. Do these chapters increase his credibility for writing this book, or do they undermine his credibility by making it seem like he has his own agenda and is not objective? Questions about Emotions (Pathos) 6. Chapters 11-13 are about McCandless’s relationships with his family. Do any of these descriptions cause an emotional reaction in the reader? If so, what is it about the descriptions that causes this connection? Is it the words? Is it that we identify with the family situations? Do these effects  make the book more powerful? Explain your answer. 7. Chapters 14-15 describe the author’s actions and his emotional and psychological state as he climbs the mountain. For example, when he accidentally burns a big hole in his tent, which actually belongs to his father, he is more worried about his father’s reaction than the cold. What are some other details that have an emotional impact on the readers? How do these affect you as the reader? Reading (Chapters 16-18, Plus Epilogue) Reading for Understanding: First Reading As you read this section of the text, keep your notes, questions, and observations in your Into the Wild notebook. Continue to keep track of the literary quotations that Krakauer uses in his epigraphs. Because you are studying McCandless’s personality to discover why he made the decisions he did, continue to keep a log of McCandless’s personality traits. Reading Chapters 16–18: Into the Alaskan Wild 1. After a long detour, Krakauer brings us back to the scene of McCandless’s death. What does Krakauer discuss in these chapters that he did not discuss in the previous chapters? Why did he delay presenting this information? 2. Krakauer provides a lot of quotations from McCandless’s journal in these chapters. What is McCandless talking about? Why did Krakauer include these selections? 3. Krakauer quotes one of McCandless’s friends, who said that McCandless â€Å"was born into the wrong century. He was looking for more adventure and freedom than today’s society gives people† (174). Do you think this is true? Reading the Epilogue: Grief 4. What was your initial sense of McCandless’s mental condition compared to what you think now? Have you changed your mind? 5. What was your reaction to his parents as they visited the bus? Considering the Structure of the Text Mapping out the organizational structure of the text helps us to understand the content itself. Outlining Chapters 16–18 1. In Chapter 16, Krakauer gives a summary of the last few months of McCandless’s life. Do you think Krakauer admires McCandless or not? Cite your evidence. 2. In Chapter 17, Krakauer does not arrive at the bus until after about four pages. In those first pages, he gives us the details of the equipment he carries, the flow of the river, and the others with him. Is this necessary? What does it add? What does it detract? 3. Krakauer says that McCandless had a kind of â€Å"idiosyncratic logic.† Explain Krakauer’s meaning and the extent to which you agree or disagree with him. Outlining the Epilogue This part of the book is very short. 4. What is the effect of having an epilogue that focuses entirely on the parents’ return to the bus? Does it provide closure? Annotating and Questioning the Text Our first reading of a book gives us the story line, the major conflicts, and a sense of what the author intends. The second (or third) reading provides  richer analyses and a deeper understanding of the text. In the author’s notes, Krakauer provides a guide to our reading—especially to our subsequent reading of Into the Wild. In the â€Å"Author’s Note† at the beginning of the book, Krakauer introduces the complexity of Chris McCandless. His words imply the following four questions, which we have been considering throughout the book: 1. Should we admire McCandless for his courage and noble ideas? 2. Was he a reckless idiot? 3. Was he crazy? 4. Was he an arrogant and stupid narcissist? Make marginal notes as you reread the text. When you respond to the chapter questions, cite the text, if necessary, where you find evidence for your judgments. At this point in your reading, have your answers to these questions changed in any way? Annotating Chapters 16–18 5. List the various miscalculations and mistakes McCandless made. 6. Toward the end of Chapter 16, Krakauer tells us that McCandless read Walden. You may want to take a look at Thoreau’s text and figure out what Chris found most interesting in Thoreau’s discussion of food. 7. Have you ever fasted? Do you know anyone who has? Do some research on fasting and report to the class what you find or write a short report. Annotating the Epilogue The traditional definition of an epilogue is that it is a concluding part of a literary work. 8. Is Into the Wild a â€Å"literary work†? Why or why not? 9. Is the last paragraph of the book an effective ending to the book? Why or why not? Analyzing Stylistic Choices Analyzing Stylistic Choices helps you see the linguistic and rhetorical choices writers make to inform or convince readers. Precise writers make linguistic choices to create certain effects because they want their readers to react in a certain way. Go back through the text, and analyze Krakauer’s use of words, sentences, and paragraphs. Then decide how effective his writing is. Analyzing Chapters 16–18 Tone Read aloud the last paragraph in Chapter 18. 1. How does Krakauer know that McCandless â€Å"was at peace, serene as a monk gone to God†? Explain. 2. Does Krakauer have the right to infer from the photograph that McCandless had the serenity of a monk? 3. What is an alternative interpretation of the photograph? Analyzing the Epilogue Read aloud the last paragraph of the book. 4. Is the language literary? Why or why not? What is its effect on you? Thinking Critically Rhetorical appeals are the accepted ways in which we persuade or argue a case. The following questions will consider the traditional rhetorical appeals. By focusing on the appeal to logic, to the writer, and to emotion, you will understand further how Krakauer has persuaded us and how you can use these techniques to persuade others when you write or speak. Questions about Logic (Logos) 1. In Chapter 16, Krakauer says that McCandless â€Å"seemed to have moved beyond his need to assert so adamantly his autonomy, his need to separate himself from his parents. Maybe he was prepared to forgive their imperfections; maybe he was even prepared to forgive some of his own. McCandless seemed ready, perhaps, to go home.† Do you agree with Krakauer’s assessment? 2. Look at McCandless’s response to several passages in Tolstoy’s â€Å"Family Happiness† toward the end of Chapter 16: He was right in saying that the only certain happiness in life is to live for others . . . I have lived through much, and now I think I have found what is needed for happiness. A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people to whom it is easy to do good, and who are not accustomed to have it done to them; then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one’s neighbor—such is my idea of happiness. And then, on top of all that, you for a mate, and children, perhaps—what more can the heart of a man desire. (169) Does this indicate a change in McCandless? Was he ready to â€Å"go home†? 3. Krakauer says that in his original article, he â€Å"reported with great certainty that H. mackenzii, the wild sweet pea, killed the boy† (192). He now feels he was wrong. What evidence does he have for his new position? 4. Does Krakauer prove his hypothesis that McCandless’s death was an unplanned accident? Questions about the Writer (Ethos) 5. What is your impression of Krakauer as a person and a writer at this point? What are some of the details that give you this impression? Questions about Emotions (Pathos) 6. Does this piece affect you emotionally? Which parts? Summarizing and Responding In Chapter 18, Krakauer reports that some cabins stocked with food and emergency gear were located about three hours upstream from the bus where McCandless died. However, after McCandless had been found dead, a wildlife biologist in the area discovered that the cabins had been vandalized. He said, I’m a bear technician, so I know what bear damage looks like. This looked like somebody had gone at the cabins with a claw hammer and bashed everything in sight. From the size of the fireweed growing up through mattresses that had been tossed outside, it was clear that the vandalism had occurred many weeks earlier. (196) Some people blamed McCandless, saying that he was angry that civilization had intruded into his wilderness. Others said that there was no evidence that McCandless had even walked that way. Considering everything you know about McCandless—his journey, his character, his ideas—do you think that he was capable of trashing these cabins? After reading this book, do you know  McCandless well enough to know whether or not he would do this? Write a paragraph in your notebook about your thoughts. Reflecting on Your Reading Process 1. There is still so much unknown about Chris McCandless and his journey. What do you want to learn next? 2. What reading strategies did you use or learn in this module? Which strategies will you use in reading other texts? How will these strategies apply in other classes? 3. In what ways has your ability to read and discuss texts like this one improved?