Concerning Globalisation Essay

In arguments concerning globalisation, controversy is quite evident. Discuss the positive and negative outcomes connected with this issue. In today’s life we often encounter terms such as â€Å"living in a global village† and â€Å"we all live in the same world†. Even simply switching on the television brings us face to face with events occurring on the other side of the globe. News broadcasts transmit not only the local news or the latest political propaganda being fed to the people, but also incidents taking place all over Europe, Asia, the Americas and even Africa. We all witness this everyday, yet we rarely stop to truly think of the implications. What is the significance of virtually being a spectator in events across the world? What difference does this make to an individual? More importantly, what changes does this bring upon a society? Many people consider globalisation a recent, modern phenomenon and associate it with today’s highly technological age. After all, the world must be globalized if humanity is capable of breaching the frontier and sending man into space. However, the truth is that globalisation had much more humble beginnings. Ever since Christopher Columbus set foot in what is now America, and ever since the Roman Empire began conquering land to incorporate into its glorious empire, globalisation has been a vital social process. The fact that this has been taking place for so long has ensured that no country is capable of surviving on its own because nobody is self-sufficient. People today are becoming more interdependent because a global mentality is being encouraged and taught. However, true globalisation was slowed until 1990, the end of the Cold War, because until then the world was divided in two. Nonetheless, many colonised countries (including Malta) still display strong influences, especially in language and culture, adopted from their colonisers. Therefore, globalisation inflicts social change upon a country or area. People are being socialised into other cultures. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that a country is losing its own culture – it is simply updating it. Technology and communications have had a strong impact on speeding up globalisation. What were first considered luxuries, such as television and Internet, soon became important factors leading to social change. This is because they led to an increase in information accessibility, product accessibility and education. Another aspect of globalisation is the fact that regionalism is decreasing. For example, organisations such as NAFTA started out as regional organisations but have expanded their horizon. The EU has agreements with over 100 countries outside Europe. Transnational corporations also open the doors to globalisation since they have many branches all over the world and have no borders. There are 3 main outlooks on globalisation, which vary drastically from each other. Some argue in favour of this phenomenon whilst others try to prevent it from occurring. The Sceptics believe that the whole argument regarding globalisation is being exaggerated. They say that this sudden debate about this topic is simply over-hyped. Globalisation has not emerged recently – it has just intensified in its interactions and scale. By stating this, the sceptics admit that nowadays there is more interaction and communication between countries than ever before. Sceptics also criticize economy because they believe that it is not truly globalise. They try to prove this by arguing that certain countries are much more developed than others, and if the world were truly globalise countries would be equal. Sceptics are criticized fiercely for what seems to be an old-fashioned and ethnocentric approach. An argument placed against them says that simply because some countries are not yet part of it, it doesn’t mean that globalisation doesn’t exist. They are also accused of discouraging globalisation because they fear that it will make people more interactive and interdependent, thus forcing their governments to share their power and money with others. On the flip side of the coin, one can find the Hyperglobalizers. These believe that the world is one and globalisation covers the whole world and is a very real phenomenon that is felt almost everywhere. This process does not respect national borders or ideas of sovereignty. Hyperglobalizers base their arguments on aspects of commerce, trade and production. Kenichi Ohmae, a Japanese hyperglobalizer, stated that globalisation leads to a â€Å"borderless world†. His argument presents an interesting association with the Marxist ideology, but from an opposite point of view. In fact, Ohmae says that money makes the world go round since it is invested all around the world, under on name. Therefore (like in Marxism) everyone works towards a single goal – the same world. Hyperglobalizers base their arguments on the changing role of each nation within the whole world, not simply within a region. Like the Sceptics, Hyperglobalizers have been criticized for being overly biased towards a particular viewpoint. In fact, they consider globalisation to be indispensable and flawless and reject any negative influences it may bring about. Transformationalists provide an alternative view on the subject. They believe globalisation is the central force in a broad spectrum of changes taking place throughout the world, which is not yet hyper-globalized. In fact, some countries are highly globalized (for example U.S.A., Japan and Europe) whilst others (such as African nations) are still very far behind in this process. Many of these countries are still uncertain on the benefits of globalisation and of what they want. However, countries that are globalised do not lose their independence or sovereignty. For example, although England are a member of the EU, they do not use the Euro as their currency, but the English Sterling (although some say that they may soon succumb to pressure and introduce the Euro). This transformation brought about by globalisation requires people to adjust to the new situation and learn to live with each other and with people from other cultures and backgrounds. Transformationalists also say that globalisation is a two-way flow of images, not simply a one-way process. The No Global movement is another notorious organization fighting against the occurrence of globalisation. They argue that it causes inequality between first and third world countries. They criticize rich countries for not helping poor countries and for not trying to bridge the financial and social gaps between them. However, help must not simply be acts of charity, where money is given to their governments, but more practical help at the root of the problem. There are other NGO’s discouraging globalisation, such as the Campaign for Global Justice, who see it as a completely negative process. These try to inform people that it must be slowed and, if possible, stopped. An argument brought up concerns the aspect of free trade. Whilst some people say that it solves problems of poverty and inequality, they state that this only flows in one direction – the rich produce and the poor consume, thus forcing them to depend on rich countries. If it were truly free trade both would produce and consume, thus creating an equal situation. Globalisation involves certain risks, such as environmental degradation due to development, shifting employment patterns leading to stress and anxiety, heightened job insecurity and de-skilling (such as the infamous 7-Up case in Malta last year), decline in traditional influences and loss of self-identity, erosion of family patterns, and democratization of personal relationships. These are all problems one must consider when trying to evaluate the impact of globalisation, especially in light of the forthcoming referendum on whether Malta is to enter the EU or not. This is a subjective argument, however one cannot deny that without globalisation, the world would not be the same.

Alan Mulally, Ceo Ford Motor Company Essay

This paper will discuss Alan Mulally and the role of leadership and how it affects organizational performance. Alan Mulally is currently the Chief Executive Officer for Ford Motor Company, a position that he has held since 2006 (Hellriegel and Slocum, 2011, p. 543). This paper will discuss the leadership style of Alan Mulally and explain how his actions fit a particular leadership style by listing examples. His goal setting process will also be discussed along with how the process helped Ford Motor Company increase its performance. Mulally’s communication elements will also be assessed along with the effectiveness of his leadership style to determine if it should change or stay the same. Discuss the role of leadership and how it can impact organizational performance. Organizational performance can be impacted greatly by their leaders. In order to understand how much impact leaders can have, one must first understand what leadership is. Leadership, as defined by Harvard University business professor D. Quinn Mills, is â€Å"a process by which one person influences the thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors of others. Leaders set a direction for the rest of us; they help us see what lies ahead; they help us visualize what we might achieve; they encourage us and inspire us. Without leadership a group of human beings quickly degenerates into argument and conflict, because we see things in different ways and lean toward different solutions. Leadership helps to point us in the same direction and harness our efforts jointly. Leadership is the ability to get other people to do something significant that they might not otherwise do. It’s energizing people toward a goal.† (Mills, 2005, p.12) Organizational performance is a reflection of its leaders performance and ability to lead. It is important for leaders to have the company’s best interest at heart and that they are not only out to achieve personal gain.  Leaders have to have the ability to motivate their followers and encourage promising results. The case study showed that Alan Mulally had the right attitude and the ambition to lead. Mulally cared about his customers and employees and was passionate about his business and the work that he did. A leader has to make a commitment to his or her vision, to the organization, and to the members of the organization. A leader can’t be committed one day and uninterested the next. People will judge a leader by his or her commitment, and will commit themselves no more than the leader does. A leader assumes a considerable amount of responsibility—not just for the mission that he or she urges others to accept, nor just for the organization he or she heads, but for his or her followers, their lives and efforts, as well (Mills, 2005, 14). Discuss Mulally’s leadership style at Ford Motor Company and provide examples of how his actions fit this style. Mulally’s leadership style can best be defined as Transformational Leadership. This leadership style involves anticipating future trends, inspiring followers to understand and embrace a new vision of possibilities, developing others to be leaders or better leaders, and building the organization or group into a commu nity of challenged and rewarded learners (Hellriegel and Slocum, 2011, p. 328). Transformational leadership allows the leader to influence their followers and make them a part of the transformation as well. Mulally has many aspects that makes him a transformational leader. He came to Ford Motor Company with a vision for the future of the company and began implementing it day one. He solicited input from his employees by holding meetings with his employees every Thursday morning. He believed that each department contributed to the companies performance as a whole. Transformational leaders challenges and motivates others as well as cares about the success of their followers as well. Alan Mulally is a true Transformational leader for these reasons and many more. Discuss how goal setting helped Ford improve its performance. Goal setting is an important part of a company’s success. Implementation is an even more important step. Excellent goals can be made, but if action is not taken then they don’t mean anything. It’s the action that makes the true  difference and can actually make a change in performance. When Mulally came to Ford he created a new set of goals and a revised definition for the company. There were four goals total, and they were labeled as â€Å"Expected Behaviors.† These goals were listed on one side of a plastic card while â€Å"One Ford,† the revised definition of the company was listed on the other. The four expected behaviors are Foster Functional and Technical Excellence, Own Working Together, Role Model Ford Values, and Deliver Results. The new definition of the company, titled â€Å"One Ford† was listed as One Team, One Plan, and One Goal (Hellriegel and Slocum, 2011, p. 545). â€Å"Ford’s financial independence is largely due to a new operational discipline that Mulally has installed, as well as some timely strategic moves he initiated. So while GM suffered the ignominy of seeing the Treasury Department’s auto task force depose chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner, and Chrysler has declared bankruptcy, Ford stands alone as an independent company and, potentially, a Detroit survivor† (Taylor, 2009). This shows that Mulally brought a different mindset to Ford Motor Company and has helped it avoid drastic financial troubles as its other American born competitors GM and Chrysler. Assess Mulally on each element in communication openness including message transmission, trust, agendas and goals. Alan Mulally came to Ford Motor Company with change on his mind. In order for change to be effective, communication is the key. Alan Mulally is a leader that leads by example which is also important in the realm of communication. In many cases your actions make a bigger difference than your words. As far as the elements of communication openness goes, Mulally was very effective with getting his point across. Mulally communicated his goals by listing them on a plastic card and labeling them as â€Å"Expected Behaviors.† He communicated his agenda by holding Thursday morning meetings with his direct reports and 12 functional areas of the company. Mulally builds trust from  his reputation from Boeing and his openness of company happenings. Mulally is open with his employees about what goes on in the company and feels like everyone should be in the know. Evaluate the effectiveness of Mulally’s leadership style and recommend whether he should continue with this style, or use a different style. I believe that Mulally has a remarkably effective leadership style and that he should not change a thing. Mulally holds meetings every Thursday morning at 8:00am with his direct reports, discussing their four profit areas. After that he has presentations from 12 functional areas of the company. Mulally believes that everyone has to be involved and has to know what is going on (Hellriegel and Slocum, 2011, p. 545). Mulally doesn’t grind his employees with questions to humiliate them. Instead he looks forward and tries to create a plan. He also doesn’t allow Blackberry devices or side conversations in the meeting room (Hellriegel and Slocum, 2011, p. 545). This alone shows that Mulally has Ford’s best interest at heart and he wants all of his executives to take their jobs seriously. References Eblin, S. (2009). Five Things Alan Mulally is Doing to Help Ford Win. Retrieved From:http://blogs.govexec.com/executivecoach/2009/09/five_things_ alan_mulally_is_do.php Hellriegel, D., & Slocum, J. W., Jr. (2011). Organizational behavior: 2011 custom edition (13th ed.). Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning. Mills, D. Q. (2005). Leadership How to Lead, How to Live. Retrieved from: http://www.mindedgepress.com/PDFs/htlhtl.pdf Taylor III, A. (2009) Fixing up Ford. Retrieved from: http://money.cnn.com/2009/05/11 /news/companies/mulally_ford.fortune/index.htm

Of mice and men by John Steinbeck Essay

â€Å"Studying stage Drama enables us to see into a world that is very different from our own and to feel compassion for those who are unable to take control of their own lives† â€Å"Of mice and men† By John Steinbeck is a very interesting and compelling text, and positions us as the reader to accept Lennie as the victim even though he killed someone, we as the reader are given many insights that some of the other characters do not get to experience, and therefore can get this message as the dominant reading. The earliest accounts of the life of Lennie and George tells us a tale about Lennie and his accidents involving mice, Lennie who gets presents of mice from his aunt, crushes there heads, because he doesn’t know his own strength, he loves the mice, and cared for them, but because of his love for the mice they bite him and he crushes the mouse’s heads, Lennie is definitely mentally retarded, and as such he does things that regular people would not do it would seem that Lennie’s mentality was not designed for his body, if he was a thin weedy man then he would have no problems, he could pet animals AND make them stay alive, but things aren’t always as we like them Because the playwright is trying to establish Lennie as â€Å"the good guy† we are also positioned at the scene of their last job, Lennie feels a ladies dress, the woman screams, he holds on, she starts yelling to the police, he holds, and as a result, poor George has to spend a night in a ditch and what was the reason? â€Å"I only did it to feel how soft it was† says Lennie, even though this is still fairly strange, you as the reader can relate to him and say well, it really isn’t his fault. Now I know you are wondering, â€Å"Why did Lennie hold on even through the screams and the yelling police, why didn’t he just let go?† consider this story, a young child between the ages of 1 and 3 is found near his dead mother, holding on for dear life, and mentally Lennie was much the same way whenever he gets scared or frightened, he will hold on to it, you cannot blame the woman for her reaction, a big tall man grabbing onto her dress, she has every right to feel threatened, and as a result, Lennie gets George into trouble, and they have to spend the night in the ditch. On the farm, curly is picking fights; not only is he picking fights but he is picking fights that he can’t win, apart from his height, what exactly did Lennie do? He laughed, oh no, dear God, how will he survive? George was going to teach him a lesson, but he wanted Lennie, this time he went too far, Lennie didn’t want to fight curly, but he gave him no choice, he was scared and frightened, and once again, the mentality issue shines brightly, he grabs Curly’s hand and he doesn’t let go, he crushes every single bone in his hand, and again Lennie is portrayed as the â€Å"good guy†, what else could he do? The final matter is the matter of Curly’s wife’s death, this even if he is retarded, still classifies as murder, no matter how much they try to sugar coat it, it is still murder, and he pays for it with his own death, he gave George, his best friend, no other choice other than to kill him for his own good, his strength, has been the cause of all these problems right from the beginning, and although you can feel sorry for him, he should have had more common sense, he was retarded, and there is nothing you can do about that, but he should have learnt what was right and appropriate, and killing innocent people, even if it was manslaughter, is still bad. And so we are given an insight into the life of Lennie, we feel compassion for him and George, we have been positioned to draw this conclusion, well, you’d be hard pressed to try and prove he wasn’t wouldn’t you? It seams there is two cases of murder (not counting the various animal deaths) George isn’t the bad guy because he did what was best for Lennie, and Lennie wasn’t the bad guy because he is retarded.

Leadership Theories and Roles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Leadership Theories and Roles - Essay Example Clearly, all true leaders have a high degree of intelligence, a great IQ, and above all, an outstanding level of technical skills (Early, 2005). This has caused the difference in the output of leaders within the same locality. However, for leaders to understand their full potential of intelligence they must also consider other people’s strengths and personal skills in an organization. Revival of concept in leadership has further explained different types of leadership theories. For example, there are those known as great man theories. They give assumption that, the capacity and length of leadership is inherent. It ascribes leadership as in-born but not made. Such explanation tend to picture leadership as heroic or mythic and those people destined to lead arise to leadership roles when needed or in due time. Giving into account, analysts use the term great man because there was a time when leadership was primarily a masculine quality, precisely in military leadership. As far as Richard Branson leadership is concerned, he depicts great man theory traits throughout his leadership. In his Virgin group, there are other great leaders but he surpasses them because he is a great man and above all, he was born a leader. Other potential theories that analysts use to define a leader are trait theories. ... Even though there are no articles explaining Branson’s line of decency, it is not arguable whether his ability to lead is inherent. Cognitively, in his organizational work, he addresses his ability to lead through interacting with all his employees, listening to their views and subsequently noting them in his notebook that he has at all times. With his ability to lead, he was able to form, manage, and lead the Virgin group that has more than two hundred companies. In addition, there is the contingency theory that focuses on variables that relate to the environment that help identify and choose the type and style of leadership that can best suit a particular situation. This theory explains that there is no leadership style is best in all environments or situations (Mclntosh, & University, 2007). However, it develops criteria that shows success depends on several variables such as leadership style, skills, and qualities of followers and aspects of the environment. In view of gre at leadership portrayed by Branson, I on the other hand would incorporate a different form of stages that would render his leadership best of all times. There is forming which is the first phase of leadership stages, then storming, norming and finally performing while in development of group model. These stages help in facing and tackling challenges, finding solutions and planning work as well as delivering results. Moreover, analysts have found it worth noting an arena that proposes the way leaders choose the most appropriate course of action based on situational variables surrounding a certain environment. In so doing, they termed this theory characterized by such actions as situational theory. With the evaluation of other

Governmental accounting and for profit financial accounting Essay

Governmental accounting and for profit financial accounting - Essay Example ards Advisory Board (FASAB).A Comprehensive Annual Financial Report is "compiled" by a state, municipal or other governmental accounting staff and "audited" by an external American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) certified accounting firm utilizing GASB requirements (Ruppel, 2009). It is composed of three sections: Introductory, Financial and Statistical. It combines the financial information of fund accounting and Enterprise Authorities accounting. A CAFR is a report of the complete overall financial results of both those "specific groupings" of government agencies that appear in the current fiscal year General Purpose Budget and all other agencies and departments (Peterson, 2002). These can be autonomous, enterprise (for example government or city owned golf courses), recycling, water, sewer, and financial management - often these agencies were created with the inception of that local, state or government (Wilson, 2010). The CAFR provides information about all of these other government agencies that may have their own budgets and separate investment accounts but their financial holdings are not combined with the general purpose budget that the same government presents to the public. The CAFR, or as it is called in CANADA CanFR can be used along with a budget document to compare the organizations total financial standing to the annual general purpose budget (Ruppel, 2009). The CAFR is the complete showing of the financial investment and income records from all sources, that reflects what has developed over decades whereas a budget report is an inferior document to the CAFR being that it is primarily focused on what revenue is expected to be brought in and spent for just the year. Government sources funds from taxation to support the cost of providing basic services while for-profit financial accounting it offers goods and services to generate revenue. Also government accounting is not related to expenses while for-profit expenditures are

Employment Tribunals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Employment Tribunals - Essay Example As such, these labour legislations provide the set of restrictions upon the worker in his relationship with the employer and vice-versa in order to maintain industrial peace and harmony, consequently promoting industrial democracy. Similarly, these labour legislations are designed to look more on the immediate results of the employer-employee relationship. These are the body of rules and principles which governs the relationship between labour and management in the collective on the one hand and the principles of determining the rights and liabilities consequential to the individual relationship of employer and employees. When the conflicting interests of labour and capital are weighed down, the heavier influence of capital must be counterbalanced by the compassion and sympathy accorded to the worker. This is only fair if the worker is given the opportunity and the right to assert and defend his claim, not as a subordinate but also as a peer of management, with which he can negotiate on even plane. And these can be done and addressed before an employment tribunal. Aside from the foregoing Labour legislations, Employment Tribunals plays an important role in ensuring industrial peace and harmony. ... These include unfair dismissal, redundancy, payments, discrimination as well as claims relating to wages and dismissal among others. Employment Tribunals are like courts, but it is not as formal. Correspondingly, it acts independently. Claims are usually initiated by employees or trade unions. Cases are usually heard by a panel of three persons which include legally qualified chairperson and two lay members who use their employment experiences in judging the facts of the case. Employment Tribunals in the recent years are accessible to an aggrieved employee so as to address the latter's grievances against his employer. An employee can be represented by himself or by his organisation before the Employment Tribunal. Similarly, Employment Tribunals speedily address the cases before it. Employment Tribunal applications for cases must be made within three months of the incident, however, the Tribunal can extend the time limit it exceptional circumstance. The Tribunal will then ascertain as to whether or not the employee's claim can prosper. And in case of doubt as tot the claim, a preliminary hearing is conducted so as to decide whether the claim or response should prosper or not; decide whether or not the employee is entitled to bring or defend his claim and to decide if there is a need to pay the deposit and as to whether or not either side's case appear weak. This preliminary hearing is normally held in public before a chairman sitting alone or it can be held over the telephone. If the case goes ahead, case management discussions are held to clarify issues in the case, in the same way, it considers witnesses and pieces of evidence to be presented as well as the time and length of the full hearing. The aforementioned discussions can

Organization Theory & Design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Organization Theory & Design - Essay Example The company has been able to sell its product on a worldwide basis, because the products are easy to use, and do the job that they are touted for, but the company's culture also spells professionalism. No company in the world that has accomplished as much as Dell has could do so in a 'fly by night' manner. This success speaks volumes for the company's leadership. The leadership, from top to bottom, is composed primarily of individuals much like Mike (and in this case not the one who can dunk a basketball). Observing these individuals through the company's website is a lot like looking at men, and a couple of women, who dress and portray the image of professionalism. Each, with few exceptions, is wearing a suit and tie, or similar fashions for the women, and conservative white shirts. Whether this perception is reality, or whether the leaders of the organization are truly as professional as they seem and if that professionalism carries over to the rest of the employees is a question that can, and cannot be answered by observing the company's website. The question can be answered if the professionalism of the website itself is an example of how the company is conducted and managed. This particular website is easy to navigate, has very few grammatical or spelling errors that would seem to imply an "I don't care' attitude, and with the website's professional look the impression that is created is one that Dell cares enough about how it is perceived that even such items as the website shows care and diligence. On the other hand, the website is only a picture of a certain segment of the organization itself, and even though it is a relatively clear and unambiguous picture, it could portray only what the company wishes to portray. That seems to be the less than likely scenario, although one that needs to at least be considered. Another telling factor in being able to discern a professional environment at Dell, is the massive amount of growth mentioned earlier in the paper. There is very little likelihood of one man creating a small company in 1983 and within less than 25 years watching that company grow to $50 billion in sales every year.There is very little likelihood of that happening unless, of course, there was a fair amount of professionalism found within the company. That type of environment feeds upon itself, with most individuals emulating those cohorts that they come in constant contact with. As new employees enter the scene, they tend to emulate what they see, adhere to the standards already set, and follow the guidelines (written or unwritten) that they perceive. Therefore; professionalism begats more professionalism, which begats more professionalism, and so on and so on. The environment then becomes a self-fulfilling proponent of success (at least in Dell's case). Much of this professional attitude must start from the top and filter down, which says a lot concerning Michael Dell and his executive staff. The executive staff and the leaders at Dell have control of the company and seem to realize what a responsibility that control is. By participating with other standards organizations as

Gay marriage in China Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Gay marriage in China - Research Paper Example In China, very small achievements surrounding the issue of gay marriages have been realized. According to Fedorak, â€Å"in 1997, the law that outlawed sodomy was repealed, and in 2001, homosexuality was no longer classified as a mental illness† (90). The have been numerous attempts to have the marriage laws that only recognize straight marriages amended, but they have all been unsuccessful. This paper is an argumentative research essay that proposes that gay marriages should not be legalized in china. This is after a thorough look, discussion and reflection of both sides of the argument. The existence of homosexuals in China is a reality: Same sex relationships have existed in China for a very long time. According to Newton, â€Å"long-term same-sex loving relationships were common during certain periods of early Chinese history, with at least 10 emperors between the period 206 BCE and 1 CE known to have been involved in such relationships† (5). This however does not mean that homosexuality was accepted; it was rather fairly tolerated. Drescher and Lingiardi point out that â€Å"it was only after 1949 that homosexual behavior was seriously punished in China and served as grounds for persecution during Chinese political upheavals between the 1950s and 1970s† (117). From this, it is clear that the Chinese people have always accepted homosexuality and its existence, but not its legalization. All Chinese citizens have equal rights: The only reason the law should deny people their rights is in instances where the rights are against the law. The Chinese criminal law has no specific statement that describes the status of homosexuals or whether it is illegal or not. Only the following statement exists in the nation’s laws: â€Å"all hooliganism should be subjected to arrest and sentence† (West and Green 63). In this case hooliganism means any disruption of social order. Since homosexuality is greatly condemned in the Chinese society and viewed as

Reasons for pursuing a legal educaton, goals on the future, plans upon Personal Statement

Reasons for pursuing a legal educaton, goals on the future, plans upon graduation, and experiences that made me realize - Personal Statement Example In addition, I also worked as the co-owner of Triune Studios which produces music for some top selling artists including Madonna and Shakira. Furthermore, I also tried my hand in film production by working as script supervisor and even did scouting services for the director of Next Models, one of the top talent agencies in the world. However, my lack of knowledge about the rules pertaining to entertainment industry is a matter of serious concern for me. I believe it is highly necessary for me now to get some knowledge about entertainment law. During these years, I have noticed one thing that there is an acute deficiency in the number of legal experts who deal with the issues of entertainment industry. . I have my friends who have graduated in law but they still possess relatively less idea about this field. This made me realize the fact that one who specializes in entertainment law is certain to have a lucrative career ahead. From my experience in the music field, I know very well th at the legalities in music industry are quite complex in nature including talent agreements with musicians and composers, producer agreements, synchronization rights, intellectual property issues and copyrights. And the film industry has issues like option agreements, finance, chain of title, talent agreements including film directors, actors, composers, production designers, distribution, intellectual property issues and trademark. However, many people in this field have little or no knowledge about these jargons and there is an acute shortage of experts in these fields. I thought about this issue over and over and found that this is my field as there is a large number of factors in my favor. First of all, during my career in film and music industry, I have developed a lot of connections with a large number of people in these fields and I am sure to have a lucrative career being their legal adviser. In fact, I will not have any problem finding clientele as I have a lot of contacts. My knowledge about these fields will help me understand the issues in a better way and studies must be easy for me. Education and entertainment industry are my passions. I already earned graduation in Arts and Psychology. The Arts degree has enormously helped me in improving my performance in the field of entertainment. I admit that it sharpened my skills to a great extent. In addition, my degree in psychology gives me a better understanding of the expectations of the target audience, thus making my productions a huge success. So, where I am lacking severely now is in the matter of legal aspects of this industry and hence, law education has become very essential for me. In fact, it is my desire to produce more films and music videos. As my career and business are growing by leaps and bounds, there is a need to have better understanding of the legal jargons including option agreements, finance, chain of title, talent agreements including film directors, actors, composers, production designers, distribution and intellectual property issues. This knowledge will certainly add a lot to my repertoire and will give me more confidence in my pursuit. Recently, one of my friends in the entertainment industry had a dispute over copyright and it reached the court soon. In that situation, no one in my friend circle had enough knowledge regarding the legalities involved in the issue. Had he got enough knowledge in the issue, he could have avoided such a situation. This incident made me realize the

Ethnic Minorities Essay Example for Free

Ethnic Minorities Essay We have no choice over what color were born what we do have is some choice over what we make of our lives once were here. This shows us that she feels the same way as Cassie does in that she thinks that blacks are treated unfairly, but she thinks that we just have to get on with it. From this and throughout the whole book we can see that Mama is a very caring woman, but she does believe that people should take things as they come and get on with their lives, even if it means having to live with the violence and hatred towards the blacks from the whites. The second incident that I am going to write about is in chapter eight where Mama is fired from her job as a teacher. In this episode, Mama is giving a lesson about slavery when Mr Wallace and Mr Granger walk in and say that they, Been hearing bout your teaching, Mary, so as members of the board we thought wed come by and learn something. When they walk in Mama is teaching a lesson in history. The unlucky thing is that she is teaching the history of slavery. She speaks about how cruel slavery is and how the country profited from the slaves who were paid nothing and still not free. Then Mr Granger sees the books that Mama has pasted over and acknowledges that all the things Mama is teaching are not in the books. Mama says that she cannot teach what is in that book because, All that is in that book is not true. After this remark, Mr Granger tells her that she would be better off not teaching if she cannot teach what is in the book. This storyline probably originates from Mildred Taylor herself because as mentioned earlier, she says she used to hate the history of blacks at school because she felt that it was all completely false. I dont think that Mr Granger and Kaleb Wallace would have been so willing to lose a good teacher such as Mary Logan because of her views if she hadnt been black. It shows what the whites thought of the blacks having their own view on things. It also confirms the suspicion that the Whites always thought that they were right and that was the end of it. Because Mama loses her job, it puts an even bigger stress on the Logan family because they have an even smaller income. Papas reaction to the news of Mamas unemployment is, Well get by Plant some more cotton maybe. But well get by. From this I think it means that he was worried but didnt want Mama to feel bad because he also believed in what she had been teaching. During this episode, even Mamas boss Mr Wellever doesnt stick up for her, because he is too petrified to stand up for what he believes. This shows how much power the whites had over the blacks and also that the blacks rights to stand up for themselves and be able to say what they wanted to were completely dismissed because they knew what the consequences would be if they didnt do as the whites told them too. Teaching in the 1930s was very different to teaching now especially in the southern states of America. It used to be illegal for blacks to go to school and there were many illegal black schools taking place in peoples houses. Two other options were to have home schooling, which was quite hard if your parents were not very intelligent or to have education at your local church. In 1866 it became legal in the northern states for blacks to go to school with whites but in the southern states such as Mississippi, where Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, is set there were separate schools for blacks and whites. The black schools were over-crowded and poorly equipped compared to the white school. We see this in the book when the black children at Great Faith are handed down books that were in some cases eleven years old and were given to the white children first. The slave trade was authoritatively abolished in 1807, but the Southern states of America continued to trade the slaves illegally. Effects were so bad that stud farms were set up where the most clever/strong humans were used to produce the model slave. In 1861-85, the American Civil War took place where the Northern States of American battled against the Southern states. The North won and finally put an end to the slavery trade in the Southern states. At this time large numbers of blacks left the South and headed for the North knowing that there was not as much poverty and chaos there. Even so, many blacks were left behind. As we see in Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, slavery was a very big issue. There was a short phase where the blacks and whites tried to make peace with each other but it didnt work and soon the Northern states allowed the south to begin slavery once again. The North didnt help the newly freed slaves to protect their rights and let them have their freedom once again. Before I first began to read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry I had no idea how much I would learn about racism. To me that word just meant when people made cruel jokes about blacks, but I didnt realise just how badly the blacks were treated at the beginning of last century and before that. I think that the book is very interesting to read when you have never thought about racism properly before and also very interesting when you already know about these subjects. I think that the incidents I have described definitely describe the persecution of the blacks. After reading Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, I am undeniably thankful that these sorts of acts do not still go on today and I hope that they never will. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Mildred Taylor section.

Advertising And The Sales Promotional Schemes

Advertising And The Sales Promotional Schemes The advertisement done today is far more different then the old era. Now, the emergence of new technology, the growth in the internet usage, rapidly changing environment, changing way of communications, fragmentation of mass markets, growing economies, and globalization has changed the overall marketing to use different other communication mediums and techniques with the old ones (newspapers, TV and Radio). Every day we are bombarded with different advertising messages whether it is on the radio while were driving to work, on television during our favorite programs, or in magazines and newspapers. Advertising has entered every area of our lives, and many of us choose to ignore it on many occasions. This might cause one to ask, can advertising and promotional efforts still are effective if people are so saturated with information? The answer is yes, advertising and promotions can be effective if used properly for targeting the right consumer. One of the main rules in advertising has always been to keep message simple and consistent and repeat it often. It has been shown that people remember advertising if they see it with great frequency, which explains why while watching hours of television one may see the same advertisement two or even three times even more. That way the message will positioned in ones mind. Integrated Marketing Communication One of the most important aspects of advertising and promoting a product or service is consistency. Companies ensure the consistency of their message by coordinating all of their promotional activities. This coordination of activities into a system or strategic plan is referred as integrated marketing communications (IMC). IMC creates a unified message and enhances the effectiveness of reaching the target consumer. Firms will create one message that will be used consistently throughout a marketing campaign. It is important that the promotional strategy also be in alignment with the organizational goals. There are three major aspects of an IMC plan:- Research Creative Aspects Implementation. Research and analysis are used to find the best way to design the product or service the most effective message and media to use and the best means to distribute the product or service at the optimal price. The creative aspect is the actual advertising, copywriting and designing of promotional materials. Implementation is the act of putting the plan together, creating a strategy and seeing it through. Planning an integrated marketing communications plan also means finding target market determining what is unique about the product offering or service providing constructing a positioning strategy for product or service deciding what the best message would be for product and choosing the optimal marketing mix in relation to allowed marketing budget. Ideally an effective IMC campaign will differentiate the product or service from a competitors generate a flow of leads be consistent with and support the overall branding strategy cause the company to have a more prominent place in the market. Communicate the companys experience and knowledge and help to retain existing customers. The Promotional Mix The promotional mix is the use of different advertising and communication channels in a coordinated way to run an effective marketing campaign. These coordinated campaigns are part of an effective integrated marketing communications plan. The four main methods of promotion within the mix are:- Advertising Sales Promotion Personal Selling Public Relations The most important factor in determining the optimal mix is identifying the target market. This can be determined through extensive market research. Once a company knows its target market it can then research its use of various media outlets in order to come up with the best combination of marketing materials to reach the defined target. For example if the target market is stay-at-home moms, an organization might find that television advertisements during certain daytime television shows are most effective for reaching them. If the target market is a young professional, the marketer might find that using billboards in a downtown commercial district and morning drive time radio advertisements are effective for getting the message to this target market. The size of the promotional budget will greatly influence the chosen mix as well. Television advertising can be very costly and therefore may not be a feasible option for a company with a smaller marketing budget at least not during pri me viewing hours on major networks. Often the amount of money a firm spends on promotional activities will be affected by the product life cycle general economic conditions and the competition. The promotional mix may involve a company coordinating its loyalty program with advertising campaigns and a promotional deal. Advertising Advertising is paid communication brought to audiences through different forms of media such as television, radio, newspapers, magazines and billboards. A company uses advertising to inform, persuade or remind its target market of its products or services. Comparative advertising is used to differentiate a companys products in the marketplace from other similar products. For example The Pepsi Challenge campaign was a form of comparative advertising in which consumers were asked to take blind taste tests to see if they could tell the difference between the products. Coca-Cola uses reminder ads to show us how refreshing the beverage can be on a hot day. 1.4. Different Medium of Advertising and Sales Promotion Advertising Mediums There are advantages and disadvantages to each media type and when selecting the advertising mediums to use companies must understand who their target audience is and which the most effective method for reaching them is. Marketers must be able to divide their budgets among the various media resources in order to stretch them the farthest to reach the most customers. Television Television advertising is the leading medium for reaching Indian audiences. Although a very expensive form of advertising, television ads reach the largest percentage of the Indian population at once and can be very appealing due to their visual nature as well as their sound. TV ads can be classified into national, local, and cable advertisements. The type of network chosen will depend on which audience the marketer is trying to reach. If the advertisement is for a local restaurant the company may choose to advertise only on local stations or in local ad space on cable channels or national networks. The time an advertisement is shown is also an important decision that companies must make in order to reach the target audience. Budgetary constraints will also be a factor in choosing time slots for advertisements. Print Advertisements Advertising in newspapers and magazines is another way of reaching customers with a companys message. Print ads are effective because of their visual quality and can be run in many different types of publications. Marketers selling products or services to consumers may choose national publications such as India Today or local newspapers such as the Times of India and Hindustan Times. Businesses trying to sell products or services to other businesses will often advertise in trade publications of the industries they are trying to reach. Companies may also target specialized publications for example a new computer product may be advertised in PC World or another specialty technology publication. Print ads have a longer life than electronic media ads and are good for telling a story about the value of a product or service. Radio Although lacking the visual appeal radio can be an effective medium for reaching target consumers. The average radio listener tunes in for three hours a day and often on a regular basis. When using radio advertisements in marketing mix it is necessary to make sure that the company and product or service is clearly identified. As with television it is also necessary to find the right station for advertising to the target consumer. If your service is a bar for college students you may choose to advertise in the evenings on a college station or an alternative rock station and if your target audience is senior citizens you may advertise on news stations or a talk show. Internet The Internet has become an important electronic medium and its interactive quality is unique. It permits immediacy of purchase and a high level of convenience. It can be personalized and individualized. The Internet and the World Wide Web are becoming essential tools in an integrated marketing plan and effective tools in sustaining customer loyalty and satisfaction. Direct Mail Mailing advertisements or promotions directly to peoples homes is another commonly used method of reaching consumers. Direct mail campaigns can be expensive due to printing and postage costs but these campaigns can be effective if the mailings reach the right consumers. Often companies will purchase lists of consumers or collect data themselves to build a mailing list. The people on these lists will then be sent targeted mailings. Telemarketing The utilization of telemarketing has been greatly affected in India by the recent implementation of the national Do Not Call registry, where millions of Indians signed up to have their telephone numbers removed from telemarketer lists. Internationally however regulations regarding telemarketing vary and it may still be a very effective method of reaching consumers. The downside of telemarketing is that most people do not like the invasiveness of being called at home though unfortunately many mass marketers find the risk of offending non receptive households is offset by the effective results and benefits from these marketing methods. Outdoor and Out of Home The majority of outdoor advertising rupees are spent on billboards. Billboards are a popular way of reaching commuters and consumers in a single geographic location. Other forms of outdoor advertising known as out of home include sports stadium ads, bus shelter posters, or signage on buses and taxis. Advertising Trends A very popular way of getting a message across is using celebrity endorsements. Advertising companies are willing to pay money in order to hire celebrities to represent their brands. Celebrities are part of an advertising message and campaign. Of course using a celebrity spokesperson can be a risk. When choosing a celebrity to endorse products, it is important to find an appropriate match with the product or service. The relationship should be believable. It is also important that the celebrities endorsing the product be credible. They should either have expertise in the field or be trustworthy characters. Sponsorships This is a well-used form of promotion and advertising that allows the company to buy into a sporting event or activity. The amount of investment in a sponsorship can range from an athletic company supporting a college sports team by providing them with brand-name uniforms in order to promote the brand to a company sponsoring a cricket game. For example Pepsi and Coke use to take sponsorship of cricket time to time. Infomercials Another trend in advertising is the infomercial. This is an extended television advertisement and usually runs at off peak hours or on lower-budget television or cable networks. Infomercials are usually at least a half hour long. Some of the most popular items that are sold through infomercials are fitness videos, skin care products and kitchenware. Often they will feature celebrity endorsements and offer products that cannot be purchased in stores. Their low-budget appearance and late-night showing often characterize infomercials. Once the consumer is convinced to purchase the product he or she will then be able to call and order the product over the telephone generating a direct response to the infomercial. Sales Promotion Sales promotion consists of many activities used to sell products. They are activities that give consumers a short-term incentive to make a purchase. Sales promotions are also activities that change the price and value relationship of a product as perceived by the target audience with the possible effect of generating immediate sales. It is possible that a sales promotion can also alter the long term value of the brand by making what might be a premium product more affordable. Sales promotions are generally time-bound programs that require participation on the part of the consumer through either immediate purchase or some other action. The fundamental goals of sales promotion are tactical, strategic and ultimate. The tactical goals are to combat a competitors increase in market share to combat other competitors promotional efforts and to move brands that are either declining, overstocked, damaged or not selling fast enough. The strategic goals are to motivate consumers to switch from a rival brand to increase product consumption to reinforce the marketing communications efforts for the brand and to motivate brand loyalty. The ultimate goal of a sales promotion is to increase sales, profits and market share. There are different channels for sales promotions which include consumer promotions and trade promotions. Consumer Promotions Consumer promotions are geared toward getting consumers to try a companys products. Some examples of consumer promotion activities include coupons, rebates, sampling, sweepstakes, point-of-purchase displays and special packs. Coupons Whether we cut coupons from newspapers and magazines or getting them in the mail, coupons are a very popular form of sales promotion. They are very effective especially in economic downturns for luring people into restaurants or causing them to make repeat purchases of products. E-coupons are another popular form of sales promotion they are extremely effective for luring in customers and are redeemed by 57 percent of the people who click on them. The most popular uses of e-coupons are for sales of groceries, books and health and music products. The disadvantage of coupons is that they do not encourage brand loyalty most consumers who use coupons regularly are willing to switch brands if there is a better discount available. Rebates Rebates are partial refunds that are offered by the manufacturers. Often manufacturers will use mail-in rebates as incentives for purchasing. The consumer must purchase the product at full price and then fill out paperwork and mail in the receipt in order to receive some money back. Rebate programs allow marketers to promote a companys product at a reduced poster bate price also called MRP offering a substantial savings to its customers but also requiring that a set of conditions be met to qualify. Sampling Companies will often send or hand out samples of products in order to attract customers who may not have purchased their products otherwise. Beverage companies may target college students and hand out soft drinks on campuses, or a food company may set up a stand in a grocery store so that consumers can sample their new chips. You may even receive a trial bottle of shampoo in the mail or you may remember receiving the India Online (IOL) CD in the mail offering 100 free hours of Internet access. These are all examples of sampling, and the intention of these promotions is to introduce a new product or service to a consumer in order to generate brand loyalty. Sampling can be a costly method of attracting customers and it often results in wasted distribution however it can be a very effective method for getting consumers to switch brands. Sweepstakes and Contests Sweepstakes and contests are another strategy of sales promotion. Data will be collected from consumers and they will be entered to win a prize. Companies can use the information that they collect from entrants in order to develop a mailing list for future promotional campaigns. Organizations must be sure to print all the guidelines for their sweepstakes or contests in order to avoid legal entanglements. Some of the guidelines companies should follow in order to put on a successful sweepstakes promotion include the following:- Clarify who is eligible Indicate states where the promotion is not valid Declare the termination date of the promotion Clarify random drawing procedures Companies should also detail the prizes disclose the odds of winning declare a deadline for entry and reserve the right to use winners names and photographs for publicity. Point-of-Purchase Displays Point-of-purchase (POP) promotional materials are displays that are set up in stores in order to prominently display products. At a grocery store a POP is usually placed in front of the store, at the end of an aisle, in the aisle or on the shelf. POP displays are very successful due to the fact that many people make last-minute purchasing decisions. Bundling Sometimes companies bundle products together in order to promote a new product or to encourage consumers to try a complementary product such as a free small conditioner bundled with a shampoo purchase or a free disposable razor with a shaving cream purchase. A company may also offer a bonus pack or a special pack with 20 percent more in order to encourage a customer to purchase a product. Give a ways Another strategy used by companies is that of special promotional items to be given away. These may be hats or T-shirts advertising the company or brand. For example, many times credit card Advertising

The 400 Blows: An Expression of a Cinematic Revitalization

The 400 Blows: An Expression of a Cinematic Revitalization The 400 Blows directed by Francois Truffaut is an iconic film of the late 1950s that refined French cinema and helped spark a cinematic revolution known as the French New Wave. A touching story about a young adolescent growing up in Paris named Antoine Doinel, the film artfully captures the unfortunate circumstances of the troubled boys life and his tragic spiral into a life of transgression and crime as a result. Misunderstood by both his mother and stepfather at home as well as tormented at school by his ruthless teacher, Antoine finds himself seeking to escape such environments in search of a place where he feels he belongs. Initially conducting small acts of defiance like writing on the classroom wall, Antoine slowly progresses into more delinquent behavior as he begins skipping classes and later to stealing a typewriter. Outraged by his behavior, Antoines parents send him to a reform school. From there, Antoine finally makes a break for freedom and gets away from all that had tr oubled him as he makes his way to the shores of a beach. Altogether, the inspiring film illustrates a captivating cinematic theme of how an absence of understanding and loving parents and a lack of fair treatment at school can make young boys susceptible to acts of mischief and delinquency as a consequence. More important than this engaging element about the film, though, is the fact that the foundation of the films praise primarily stems from its representation of revolutionary French New Wave ideas. Such ideas included the development of films that portrayed artistic expression, captured real life spontaneity and authenticity, expressed genuine emotion, elicited critical thinking in the viewers, and much more (Csà ¶lleovà ¡ and Formà ¡nek). The 400 Blows exemplifies three key characteristics of the French New Wave through its inclusion of various innovative film techniques, through its illustration of a realistic and philosophical storyline, and through its utilization of an un conventional plot layout. One of the first qualities about the film demonstrating characteristics of the French New Wave is that it consists of an assortment of creative filming techniques such as the long take, jump cut, and on sight shooting. To begin, there is one notable instance throughout the film which uses the newfound technique of the long take; a shot that films a scene for a long period of time (Film Glossary). An account of this technique can be seen through the running in Paris scene with the gym teacher. As the teacher and the boys run through the streets of Paris, the camera pans from a higher, wider view, and captures the Paris cityscape of the time as the boys sneakily run away from the group into buildings and alleyways. As a whole, this shot spans for roughly one minute and thirty seconds and allows the film to direct the viewers attentions towards significant narrative elements. In this case, this technique really helps to capture the liveliness of Paris during the 1950s for the viewers th rough its detailed and elaborate visualization of Paris architecture, buildings, bustling streets, etc. The long take in this example helps to define the progressive cinematic uniqueness that French New Wave filmmakers were striving for, specifically, for enabling realism in filming in order to make audiences feel more involved and part of the film. In addition to the unfamiliar use of the long take, is the incorporation of the jump cut in the film. In short, the jump cut is a technique that involves a sudden transition from one scene to the next (Film Glossary). An occasion when some jump cuts are used in the film is during the scene in which a psychologist asks Antione a series of questions while he is at the academy. In this scene, Antoine simply answers the questions that the psychologist asks and provides details about his early life and the happenings that took place. Interestingly, the viewer does not get a glimpse of the psychologist at all but only sees Antoine answering th e questions. Throughout the interview, there are roughly four jump cuts that are integrated into it. After almost each question that the psychologist asks, there is a sudden change in the scene that occurs as it shifts into the next question as if the interview was broken up and edited in some parts. The use of the jump cuts in this instance enables the film to reel in the audiences attention with the scene and with the film collectively. In a sense, this technique helps to gather the viewers attention with Antoine and his character on a deeper and more personal level so that the audience gets a better glimpse into Antiones world and his situation. Overall, the use of the jump cut from the film helps signify French New Wave filmmakers cinematic push away from typical continuous and easy flowing films of the time to a refreshed and strange exhibition of discontinuity or jaggedness in films. Finally, the last significant filming technique in the film that represents French New Wave id eas is shown through the fact that the film is actually shot in multiple locations of Paris. There are multiple instances throughout the film in which on sight filming takes place. Such instances are expressed in scenes that show the city streets of Paris, that show Antoines small home, that show the school, and that show the shores of the beach towards the end of the film. The use of filming scenes in real locations is a major component of French New Wave ideas because French filmmakers wanted to attempt making films that were more natural and accurately depicted the real world as much as possible. The 400 Blows definitely showcases naturality and realness because of it being filmed in parts of Paris instead of using other non-realistic methods like backdrops, stages, etc. to indicate specific locations. Another instance of how the film exhibits aspects of the French New Wave is through its expression of an authentic and thought provoking story line which utilizes a realistic representation of characters as well as invokes relatability or self-reflectivity in the viewers. To begin, The 400 Blows presents realistic and ordinary characters throughout its storyline instead of using fictitious or mythical individuals. An example of this can be demonstrated through Antoines character. Antoine is a rebellious fourteen-year-old teenager who lives a simple life in a small apartment with his mother and stepfather and attends school, nothing for which is over fantasized, exaggerated, or unlikely for the life of an adolescent. Like many children his age, Antoine is not perfect and has his own flaws. He occasionally fools around in class and gets into trouble with his teacher by writing on the walls or not doing his homework, he disobeys his parents at times by lying or running away when he disa grees with their rules, he has a difficult time listening to authority and doing what he is told, he steals things multiple times, and much more. There is not much about Antoines life that one would find unbelievable or unrelatable to in some way. Due to the depiction of Antoines practical life and character, the storyline throughout the film becomes more credible, interesting, and thoughtful for viewers because of the sincere portrayal of human normalcy and complications throughout the film. The realistic character usage in the film, in turn, also helps to conjure up relatability or self-reflectivity in viewers which makes the storyline more philosophical and meaningful as a result. To expand, the film showcases the feelings, struggles, actions, difficulties, etc. of not just one character but of multiple characters. First, is a mother who struggles with her relationship with both her son and husband at home. Second, is a son who struggles with problems at home and at school. Next, is a teacher who struggles with disobedient and troubling students. In essence, the film forms realistic stories about the lives of many characters which can encourage the audience to draw similarities from their own life with the events and circumstances from either a specific characters life from the film or the story in general. Thus, these realistic and relatable qualities about the film allow for a meaningful and philosophical viewing experience for the audience. Lastly, a final example of the film featuring elements of the French New Wave is through its usage of an unorthodox plot setup which contains choppy or seemingly random scenes as well as an unresolved resolution. To clarify, most films have plots that connect specific events, actions, etc. for viewers. That is, the plot should give flow to a films story and make the viewer feel as if events are all connected and not just randomly thrown into the film. However, one might say that The 400 Blows presents a less systematic and clear-cut plot setup than what most films usually did during the time. For instance, throughout the film there are countless scenes that simply display Paris landscape and cityscape or what seems like just random bits of footage with characters that do not add to the plots purpose or connect anything specific about the film. Scenes like these include when Antoine catches his mother kissing a man who is not his father as he skips school, the running in Paris scene w ith the gym teacher and students, when Antoine and Rene run down the steps of the Sacrà ©-Coeur, when Antoine and Rene run around town just after stealing the typewriter, when Antoine makes a cigarette while in his prison cell, and more. These scenes do not necessarily explain certain events in the story or add to the plot for any particular reason or purpose, but rather, seem to be there for more artistic filming reasons or for no true reason at all. The inclusion of scenes that do not have a definitive purpose or add to the plot for any specific reason may make the film feel choppy at times. Nevertheless, the seemingly choppy and spontaneous plot feel that the film conveys is another aspect that French New Wave filmmakers were seeking because it went against the usual organized and directed plot of most films of the time. One last obvious example of the films illustration of a different plot layout, is through the fact that the film has an unresolved resolution. Unlike most films of the time, The 400 Blows does not have a plot layout that provides a sense of clarity for the viewer at the end of it. During the end of the film, the viewer watches a pivotal climatic moment as Antoine escapes the academy. As he runs as fast and as far as he can from the academy personal, Antoine makes his way to the shores of a beach. While there, Antoine runs up to the ocean and touches the water with his feet and then turns to the camera where the scene abruptly ends. Ultimately, the viewer is left with no definitive conclusion or resolve to Antoines story. The ambiguous ending left in the film is a striking presentation of French New Wave ideas because filmmakers from the time wanted viewers to think more critically about the films they watched and decide for themselves what they felt the ending might be. All in all, the film encompasses a wide array of French New Wave ideas that can be seen in multiple ways. First, is through the films usage of an atypical plot layout. Having artistic and non-specific scenes that dont necessarily relate back to the storys plot as well as having an open-ended conclusion, the audience is left to philosophically think about and consider the film more in depth during and even after the film. Next, is through the films depiction of a realistic and thoughtful storyline. With the use of a relatable and realistic storyline in addition to seemingly average characters, the film allows the audience to make introspective and personal connections between themselves and with the film and the characters that play in it. Lastly, is through the films incorporation of inventive filming techniques. Techniques such as location shooting, the jump cut, and the long take, all help the audience experience the film in a more natural and realistic way so as to make them feel more part of the film. Ultimately, The 400 Blows is a unique film because through all of these French New Wave characteristics found throughout it, the film serves as an expression of a cinematic revitalization in filming. Works Cited Csà ¶lleovà ¡, Eva, and Và ­tek Formà ¡nek. French New Wave Nouvelle Vague: Revolution in Film Industry. United Film, Ministry of Culture, 2016, www.unitedfilm.cz/unitedvision/index.php/en/articles/item/438-french-new-wave-nouvelle-vague-revolution-in-film-industry. Film Glossary. Provided by the Brooklyn College Film Department, Brooklyn College, 2017,  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   http://userhome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/anthro/jbeatty/COURSES/glossary.htm#name48. The 400 Blows. Directed by Francois Truffaut. Les Filmes du Carosse. The Criterion Collection. 1959. 123 Movies. www. 123movies.gs/film/the-400-blows-4084/ Interprofessional Working in Social Work | Essay Interprofessional Working in Social Work | Essay Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of interprofessional working within social work Introduction During the last thirty years there has been a lot of debate over community care. Policy in the 1970s and 1980s brought significant changes to services for people with disabilities, people with learning disabilities, and older people (Kirk, 1998). Many institutions were closed due to financial constraints and care was increasingly focused on the community. In 1988 the Government commissioned the Griffiths Report (1988) which advised that local authorities should be enablers, organizing and directing community care. Local authorities would have budgets with which to purchase care from the private and voluntary sector. The 1990 NHS and Community Care Act established that provision of care was no longer the sole responsibility of the state. Care packages would be organised by local authorities with input from voluntary and charitable organisations. Care packages generally consist of one or more of the following; provision of services in a person’s home, residential care, respite care, day care and family placements, sheltered housing and group homes and hostels. The introduction of the 1990 Act increased the burden of care for the social work profession who had to make initial assessments and then refer clients to the appropriate services. This meant that social workers who had previously been quite autonomous in their practice (Challis, 1991). The introduction of new working practices and the necessity for a greater degree of inter-professional working has meant that this autonomy has been increasingly eroded. This paper will examine the strengths and weaknesses of inter-professional working for social workers in the health arena. Since the introduction of the 1990 Care in the Community Act legislative and policy requirements have focused on health and social care agencies working collaboratively with service users and in July 2005 the Government produced a white paper on the delivery of integrated health and social care.[1] The main thrust of this paper is to establish effective inter-professional working and the means of evaluating working practice. This is probably in response to the fact that much of the literature concerned with inter-professional working concentrates on the difficulties surrounding successful working relationships between people of different professions and how these problems might best be resolved (Molyneux, 2001). Molyneux’s (2001)[2] research into successful inter-professional working established three areas that contributed to the success of such partnerships. Staff needed to be fully committed to what they were doing and personal qualities of adaptability, flexibility and a willingness to share with others were high on the agenda. Regular and positive communication between professionals was seen as endemic to good working relationships and service delivery. This communication was enhanced (in the study) by the instigation of weekly case conferences which allowed professionals to share knowledge and experiences (2001, p.3). Creative working methods, where professionals responded to what was happening in non-traditional ways was also seen as a crucial element of good inter-professional relationships. In order to be able to work successfully across professional boundaries people need to be confident of their own professional role in order to be able to step outside their professional autonomy and work successfully with others. It helps in inter-professional working if all members of the team are particularly focused on the needs of the service user. In this way people reach ‘professional adulthood’ (Laidler, 1991). Hudson (2005) found in his Birmingham study that inter-professional working went well provided it was based on a parity of esteem, mutual respect and a re-orientation of professional affinity i.e. team members first loyalty was to the team rather than to their individual professional bodies. Hudson also identified communication between members and creativity in working patterns as vital to effective inter-professional working. While Hudson (2005) maintains that there are grounds for optimism as to the future of inter-professional working, he nevertheless po ints out that it is not always easy. In some areas such as acute services, mental health services or services for older people inter-professional working can be problematic because it is not always easy to decide where one set of professional responsibilities end and another begins. These areas, along with learning disabilities, reflect tensions in integrated working because it poses a threat to established practices. Peck and Norman (1999) found that mental health professionals working within teams were reluctant to obey decisions taken by others because it threatened their own professional judgement. It does not help matters when the Government stresses the need for inter-professional working and then sets separate performance targets, rather than integrated group ones. At the same time as it emphasises collaborative working the Government is now intent on prioritising choice and competition and this leaves professionals with an unstable infrastructure (Hudson, 2001). As Hudson ar gues: It would be a cruel irony if, having achieved the holy grail of local integrated working, the government, with Sedgefield’s local MP at its head, now puts in place measures that result in its dismantling (Hudson 2005 no page number).[3] Conclusion Clearly the issues surrounding inter-professional working are not clear cut for social workers. They have lost the professional autonomy that they had in the past and it would seem that some professionals in other areas of social care also find the issues problematic. Clearly professionals from all filed, including social work, do their best to comply with legislation and policy and to collaborate with other professionals. If the goalposts were not consistently shifting in Government discourse then the problems associated with inter-professional working may eventually be ironed out. References Griffiths Report (1988) Community Care; An Agenda for Action, London: HMSO Hudson, B. â€Å"Grounds for Optimism† Community Care December 1st 2005 Kirk, S. 1998 â€Å"Trends in community care and patient participation: Implications for the roles of informal carers and community nurses in the United Kingdom† Journal of Advanced Nursing Vol 28 August 1998 Issue 2 p.370 Laidler, P. 1991 â€Å"Adults and How to become one† Therapy Weekly 17 (35) p.4 Molyneux, J 2001 â€Å"Interprofessional team working: What makes teams work well?† Journal of Inter-professional Care 15 (1) 2001 p.1-7 Norman, I and Peck E. 1999 â€Å"Working together in adult community mental health services†: An inter-professional dialogue† Journal of Mental Health 8 (3) June 1999 pp. 217-230 http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/PressReleases/PressReleasesNotices/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4116486chk=zOTHS/ 1 [1] http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/PressReleases/PressReleasesNotices/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4116486chk=zOTHS/ [2] Molyneux is a social worker who was part of the inter-professional team on which the study was based. [3] http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2005/12/01/51988/Grounds+for+optimism+.html?key=BOB+HUDSON accessed 4/4/06

Open Boat vs. Hurricane Hugo :: essays research papers fc

Humanity tends to see itself as being somewhat important in the grand scheme of the Universe. We speak of "fate" as if we were put here for some reason, or purpose. We have our religions, which often serve as an engine to drive our lives and as a means to give meaning to them. But why do we think of ourselves in such a superior fashion? Would the Universe stop if we were suddenly taken away? In his short story, "The Open Boat," Stephen Crane shows us a Universe totally unconcerned with the affairs of humankind; it is an indifferent Universe in which Man has to struggle to survive. The characters in the story come face to face with this indifference and are nearly overcome by Nature's lack of concern.1 In a similar account, my family was faced with the same Universe and the damage that can be done without compassion. We were faced with a fight for our lives, and the battle was a tough one. 2 My family, like the characters in the story only survived through persist ence and cooperation. Crane said it best when he wrote, in our constant struggle for survival, all we have is, â€Å"stubborn pride—and each other.† 1 Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat" gives us a dose of reality that at first seems bitter, but it gradually induces a catharsis and in the end stands as testament to the human spirit. His claim that the Universe will never bend to the will of man is outweighed by his reassurances that we will always have each other. And when we contemplate "a high cold star on a winter's night"1 we will not need to feel alone, because we can always turn to another person. I learned this through my own personal struggle, but I was not alone, my family went through the same storm, and we survived together. 2 My family was resting peacefully in their beds Thursday, September 21, 1989, the night that Hurricane Hugo struck the South Carolina coast. Earlier in the evening my father kissed us goodbye and went to work the night shift at his job. My grandparents had come to our house because they were staying at Myrtle Beach for vacation and the coast had been evacuated in preparation for the storm. We lived in Columbia, which was centrally located in the state, so we thought that we were out of harms way.

handmaids tale Essay -- essays research papers

The central social hierarchy within the novel is the gender hierarchy, placing men in a position of extreme power. This is evident in every aspect of the book, as the entire Gilead society is male dominated. The Commander is at the top of the hierarchy and is involved with designing and establishing the current society taking control of a nation of women, and exploiting their power by controlling what is taught, what they can teach themselves and the words that they can use. Soon all of the women will become brainwashed, simply because it is made nearly impossible to defy the rules The Eye is the next highest up and are used as spies to keep the society the way it is and make sure no one consorts against it. Angel’s are next because they are men so they are higher then all women. Their job is to make sure they are all safe and basically the police force. Men are the only ones who may drive cars, own property, have bank accounts, work, or even read from the Bible or any other text. The next highest up is the commander’s wife. She has writes and privileges about all other women. Aunt’s are responsible for getting the handmaids ready for their society. They pound the ideas of the new culture into the handmaid’s head so that when they enter it seems normal. Handmaids are the next class, they are the only women who can reproduce they are forced to have children for upper class couples women are often compromised by a forced sexual nature, thereby allowing them to be blamed for problems of conception. Handmaids show which Commander owns them by adopting their Commanders’ names, such as Fred, and preceding them with â€Å"Of.† I.e. Offred is one of these unfortunate servants who are only right to exist depends on her ovaries productivity. She lives with her commander and his wife in a highly supervised centre. All female characters in the text are only mentioned in relationship to a male owner of some sort. We find out about how women are treated as walking wombs when the ‘Red Centre’ also known as the Rachel and Leah Centre. As the basis of the novel it is replicated many times throughout the book, it is found in the family reading before the monthly ceremonies, and in Rachel’s plea give me children, or e lse I die. This really puts emphasis on the threat to the Handmaids life. By failing to produce a child, they will be classed as Unwomen and sent to the Colonies to... ...they train the handmaids. You could tell them what you believed and hope for change. The commanders wife has privileges but a rough deal too because the commander still thinks of her as a woman and not an equal. As the wife I would try to put in his head that not al sex has to be for procreation. As a handmaid or lower options are almost none. You have to make friends and trusted allies to make a difference. There is strength in numbers, but it would be imperative that it remain secretive. But in the end I think its hopeless for them in the society they are in. I think The Handmaids Tale is a direct warning to modern society, Atwood underlines that all the points in her novel have occurred in the world previously, and if a half truth establishes itself, it could take place again.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It would be hard to know who to trust because of the eye. But I think that their society would not let any women be in a position of power over a man so women can be more trusted. The angels would not be able to be trusted because the young guys are to stead fast on their principals and can do irrational things. Your best bet would be to make friends with all the commanders.

Leadership Behavior and Conflict Management in Small Groups Essay

Small groups of people with common interests often come together to exchange information, collaborate and cooperate in the pursuit of a shared goal. These members have the time and space to meet and share ideas through interaction and participation. When such groups face tough and insurmountable problems it helps to have a visionary leader to help them cooperate and work together as a team (Forsyth, 2006). The study of small groups helps us to understand basic human behavior and how leaders transform groups and resolve conflicts (Hare, 1965). According to Forsyth, Donelson â€Å"Leadership is the process by which an individual guides others in their pursuits, often by organizing, directing, coordinating, supporting and motivating their efforts†. The process of leadership has evolved basically from the need to be organized. We observe similar qualities in the flock of birds that fly across the sky and among the herd of elephants deep in the jungles. But with humans, leadership processes have become as varied and complex as the many research studies that have been conducted. The leadership process is reciprocal, when it is mutually influences the leader and the follower, transactional when both the leaders and followers work together for common goals, transformational when leaders are able to inspire their followers into doing their best, cooperative when members select their leader voluntarily, adaptive when members are motivated to achieving group goals, task oriented when the leader focuses all the activities of the followers towards the achievement of group goals and relationship oriented when the focus is on the interpersonal relationship between group members. (Forsyth, 2006). While leadership processes are varied, the qualities found in leaders are also equally diverse. Though inborn personality traits are helpful in small group settings like being sociable, outgoing and expressive most leadership traits are acquired (Barrick &Mount 1991). Normally leaders tend to be more intelligent than their followers in small groups. But most groups find it difficult to handle leaders with very high intellectual abilities (C. A. Gibb, 1969). On the other hand it is very helpful if a leader is endowed with emotional intelligence and the ability to be flexible to suit the demands of a particular situation (Kenny &Zaccaro, 1983). Research studies have also shown that followers place undue importance to leaders who speak a lot more than necessary, as compared to leaders who are men of few words (Sorrentino & Boutillier, 1975). The intriguing phenomenon of effective leadership has given rise to varying theories. Each of them has their related leadership training program as well. According to Fiedler’s Contingency Theory, a leader’s effectiveness depends on the way he relates to hi followers and in his ability to control situations. Here he specified three factors that influenced the leader’s control; the cohesiveness of the group, the concentration of power in the hands of the leader and whether group goals were structured or not. Using the Least Preferred Worker Scale (LPC), he rated people who were relationship oriented high and those who were task oriented low on the LPC score. The Octants based on this show that the task oriented leaders are effective when situations are highly favorable and unfavorable and relationship oriented leaders are effective in moderate situations (Forsyth, 2006). Fiedler has taken into consideration the good and the bad leader-member relations, the structured and unstructured goals. But groups goals are sometimes partly structured, leaders have average power and there exists fair leader- member relations. This middle range seems more possible and plausible while considering small group situations. In Robert Blake and Jane Mouton’s The Leadership Grid the focus, is again on task and relationship orientation, and they have come up with five different styles of leadership. In the ‘apathetic’ approach the leader has no interest in either achieving goals or improving group relations. The ‘country club’ approach as the name suggests adopts a friendly working atmosphere. While the ‘middle road approach’ has a leader who balances the work done and maintains the morale of the people; the ‘task master’ gets the work done and is less concerned about the feelings of the group members. The ‘team work approach’, is considered the best as its members are committed to their goal and share a feeling of mutual trust and respect (Forsyth, 2006). The style of the leadership depends on the maturity of the group members according to the Situational Leadership Theory given by Paul Hersey and Kenneth Blanchard. They emphasize that an effective leader should display four styles of leadership. An effective leader should ‘direct’ the group members when they are inexperienced, ‘coach’ them as their competence level increases, offer ‘support’ when they are moderately mature and ‘delegate’ tasks when they are committed (Forsyth, 2006). Though this approach doesn’t talk about task and relationship orientation it is feasible in small groups. The Leader Member Exchange (LMX) approach is based on how members respond to their leaders. If they value their leader there is a heightened level of efficiency, commitment and loyalty and they become a part of the privileged inner group. The others who do not respond positively form the outer group and continue to do their work. The key to the leader’s effectiveness depends on his capacity to bring all his followers within the inner group (Forsyth, 2006). The Lewin-Lippitt-White study focused on the control the leader had over his group and their level of participation. Under laboratory conditions they studied the effect of shared and unshared power in the context of small groups. Groups with an authoritarian leader reflected greater dependence and showed signs of more conflict, whereas under a democratic leader group members learnt to be more self reliant. The laissez-faire group was added later with a leader who rarely interfered and followers who learnt to make their own decisions. This group wasn’t as cohesive as the democratic style that emerged the best. The group with a democratic leader had the highest group oriented suggestions, more friendly behavior and less critical discontent (Forsyth, 2006). Since power was shared participants felt empowered to make meaningful decisions towards the achievement of a shared goal. This study in fact supports the concept of collective leadership as well. Craig L Pearce & Jay Conger (2003) studied the effectiveness of ‘shared leadership’ when the group was removed from a traditional organizational approach. They found that groups with collective leadership outperformed the leader oriented groups. They were also the most effective in small group situations. Bernard Bass (1997) presented the Theory of Transformational Leadership based on the charisma of the leader to transform his followers. Under the influence of an inspirational leader, group members unite to show increased efficiency in pursuing collective goals. A transformational leader tends to questions old beliefs and leads his followers along paths that are not chartered, setting new trends (Forsyth, 2006). With more emphasis placed on interpersonal relations these leaders are effective in both small and large groups. Being eloquent, a charismatic leader initiates dialogues on issues where differences of opinion arise. Such open minded brain storming sessions would bring about several solutions and the group might end up accepting a hybrid goal where the best ideas have been incorporated. This builds cohesiveness and improves cooperation within the group (Potter, 1996). The charismatic leaders have a reputation of integrity and their followers show a tendency to emulate them. (Eagly, Johannesen- Schmidt & Van Engen, 2003). But charismatic leaders are rare and even these exceptional leaders can get things wrong. Something that seems morally and ethically right for one person may not be so for another. Keeley, 1998). Another question that has fascinated researchers is whether men and women show different leadership behavior and do gender differences influence the process of leadership. Though historical evidence supports the fact that women have been underrepresented in leadership roles, research studies show that gender does not influence the effectiveness of a leader with both sexes displaying a balanced task and relationship orientation (Forsyth, 2006). Both men and women who hold similar positional and resource power show similarities in leadership behavior (Kanter, 1997). Women leaders show a tendency to be more agreeable, open, fair, responsible and increasingly involved in conflict management, whereas men are inclined towards power, influence and skill orientation (Forsyth, Schenker, Leary & McCown, 1985). Thus the sexes differ in the styles of leadership with women adopting transformational and participative approaches, while men are likely to exhibit authoritarian, laissez-faire and transactional styles (Eagly, Johannesen-Schmidt & Van Engen, 2003). Conflict management is a major challenge faced by leaders across the world. Conflict is a natural occurrence in competitive group situations. A disagreement over beliefs and actions can lead to a conflict if it is resisted. Through an interaction process analysis Robert Blake and his colleagues observed that group members spent one fifth of their time in making hostile comments. When task achievement became difficult, hostility increased and escalated into a conflict (Forsyth, 2006). The best method to manage conflict would be to have an open debate on the issue (Montana & Charnov, 2000), instead of ignoring or brushing aside conflicts, an effective leader should confront it head on (Davies, Burke, Calbom &Kindler, 1991). The current trend shows that leaders and followers are expected to be in contact 24/7 (Murphy & Riggio). It has in turn given rise to virtual offices, having virtual teams working out of their homes in different parts of the globe. . This increased dependence in information technology has given way to e-leadership (Avolio, Kahai & Dodge, 2000). In the future new leadership trends will be reinvented as business environments keep changing. Traditional power oriented organizations will give way to power sharing ones. Organizations will get decentralized, along with a cooperative use of resources (Forsyth, 2006). Competency then will depend on the leader’s vision of the future, intellectual capacity, strategic thinking, emotional strength and the ability to coordinate and develop human capital (Rivard, 2004). Together with team building and leadership, conflict resolution as a skill will have to be acquired by people interacting in small groups (Gregory &Parry, 2006). It will help them to lead the world that’s growing flatter.

A personal opinion in favor of the trophy culture system of rewarding children regardless of performance Essay

Should kids receive an award just for participating? This question has become one of great debate in recent years following the rise of â€Å"Trophy Culture†, a system where children receive awards regardless of performance and get applauded for simply showing up.   Many parents argue that giving children awards even if they do not perform well promotes entitlement and teaches them to not try.   My thoughts on the matter were a little mixed before I did any research on the subject. As someone who has participated in track and cross-country for years, I have been a witness to Trophy Culture in many of the races I’ve competed in.   When I was a beginner runner, I rarely if ever placed in races, and was often still given a medal just for completing the course. Anyone who has taken part in a large-scale public race like â€Å"Race for the Cure† or the â€Å"Disneyland Marathon† knows what I am talking about, basically if you get across the finish line ev en if you’re hours behind the first place runner there will still be someone there putting a medal around your neck at the end.   When I was younger and slower, getting that medal was extremely exciting because I felt like even finishing 3 miles of running as an overweight 7th grader was a big accomplishment. And the girls who finished in the top 20 of the races typically got another medal on top of the participation one, meaning I still had something to strive towards, so lack of motivation was not a problem.   And as I’ve grown and improved in my running skills, the Trophy Culture that is extremely prevalent in the sport of running still does not bother me.   I could argue that getting up at 6:00 AM every morning over the summer and training my hardest, only to win a half marathon then get the exact same medal as the woman who finished last almost 2 hours after I am disheartening.   However, I believe that the â€Å"trophies† we get for accomplishing t hings like this are essentially meaningless, and the true reward is the feeling of triumph one gets when finishing something truly challenging. This feeling relates to the existence of â€Å"self-esteem†, or one’s overall evaluation of their worth as a person. Doing a difficult task well like performing excellently in a soccer game or acing a test are ways we can improve our self-esteem and feel better about ourselves.   This plays into our sense of self-efficacy, our belief inability to perform and succeed in tasks presented to us.   Some parents think that trophy culture is artificially inflating their children’s self-esteem and self-efficacy, making children think they are performing better than they actually are and allowing for them to almost â€Å"get stuck† in a mediocre performance because they have no reason to believe their performance is less than ideal. On the other side of the argument, there are parents who think that if we award children for completing sports seasons or specific events, we are teaching them â€Å"that it is worth keeping a commitment, that we value this† (Heffernan, 2015). A recent report from Real Sports With Bryant Gumble on HBO explored this problem. In the trailer for the show, he is seen interviewing a woman who says that giving trophies to everyone regardless of performance â€Å"sets the bar pretty low†, and she also makes the argument that she â€Å"wants kids to improve and be engaged in the process of improvement†, and she thinks without incentive this will never happen.   This perspective on the topic is one that made headline news when NFL linebacker James Harrison â€Å"took to Instagram announcing he would be sending back the trophies his sons, 6 and 8, received ‘until they earn a real trophy’†(Wallace, 2015).   In an article analyzing the different sides of the debate, Kelly Wallace from CNN points out that many experts side with those saying, â€Å"if you tell a kid they’re wonderful and they believe you, that’s not about healthy self-esteem, that’s about narcissism†. Lisa Heffernan, a contributor to NBC News TODAY, disagrees with this mindset. According to her, participation trophies â€Å"remind kids that they are part of something, and may help build enthusiasm to return for another season†. Another point she brings up is that â€Å"at a time when parents complain of escalating competition in youth sports, [trophies] remind kids that we value their effort, regardless of ability or results†.   Her words echo those of a writer by the name of John Kass, whose article in the Chicago Tribune includes a segment from his son who claims â€Å"What’s wrong with a participation trophy for kids? It makes them happy. They’re just 6 years old. Isn’t it good to be a kid, and happy, playing the game? They’re just kids.† Kass then goes on to explain that this conversation with his son made him realize participation trophies aren’t as bad as some people want us to believe, and â€Å"getting a participat ion trophy as a child didn’t make [his son] any less competitive†. After reading articles with opinions from both sides of the argument, I have come to the conclusion that my initial view of the topic has not changed: I still believe that Trophy Culture is not detrimental to the development of children’s self-esteem and people fighting to end a system that allows awards for participation are wasting their time.   Children need encouragement and support from their parent’s, coaches, and others to succeed and stay motivated in everything from sports to academics.   Trying to get rid of participation awards could very likely result in discouraged children.   Like John Kass’s son said in his discussion with his father, â€Å"What’s wrong with a participation trophy for kids? It makes them happy.† If giving participation trophies make kids happy and doesn’t harm anyone else, then the clear choice is to allow participation awards to continue in our society.    Works Cited Heffernan, Lisa. â€Å"In Defense of Participation Trophies: What They Taught My Son.† TODAY.com. N.p., 21 Aug. 2015. Web. 29 Apr. 2016. Kass, John. â€Å"Is Our ‘Trophy Culture’ Making Happy Losers?† Chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2016. Wallace, Kelly. â€Å"Debate: Does Sports Participation Deserve a Trophy?† CNN. Cable News Network, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2016.