Oroonoko By Aphra Behn Essays - Novellas, Oroonoko, Aphra Behn

Oroonoko By Aphra Behn In Aphra Behn's Oroonoko, the author expresses her views on a African American slave openly and passionately, which in the Seventeenth century was unsuited for a person , let alone a woman, to do. By establishing the story from a first person account there becomes a juxtaposition of both author and character. By doing so the reader is able to feel more passion and anguish towards Oroonoko rather than through some fictional fable. Throughout the story Behn is also taking a stand for women's freedom of writing. Not only is she presenting facts based on an African American, she is taking the utmost liberty and honor in doing so, and in turn she is able to convince the readers of her time that Oroonoko is more than just a slave; he is a tragic hero. Aphra Behn gives herself the authority to write about the life of a slave, Oroonoko, due to her encounters with him and hearing from Oroonoko himself the story of his life. Behn establishes her authority within the opening lines and reminds her audience of her position as narrator by mentioning her personal role in the story. In the first few lines, Behn establishes her authority, "I was myself an eyewitness to a great part of what you will find here set down, and what I could not be witness of, I received from the mouth of the chief actor in this history, the hero himself, who gave us the whole transactions of his youth...." (Demaria Jr. 421) In this passage, Behn's portrays the authority of her subject matter. She uses first person perspective and declares that she was indeed a personal acquaintance of Oroonoko himself and received from him his life story. For the rest of Oroonoko's story, Behn was herself, "an eyewitness". This passage also clarifies that the author and narrator are one entity. Behn acknowledges that it is she who writes this story, through her own narration. In other words, the narrator is not only a character of the story, but the authoritative author. Behn proves herself to be a reliable source for the writing of Oroonoko due to the utmost respect she has for him as well as the trust he had for her. She praises his goodness while revealing turbulent times for the Prince that she had witnessed. Throughout the first half of the story, Behn maintains an air of authority through various devices. She speaks to her readers almost as if in an informal conversation, using contractions such as "'em". Behn also frequently uses asides such as in the following, "There is a certain ceremony in these cases to be observed, which I forgot to ask him how performed; but 'twas concluded on both sides that, in obedience to him..." There is a certain authority to be felt when one relays a personal story, even though they themselves may not be the principle character. This is exactly what Behn does. She draws her readers into an intimate account of a personal story. To strengthen her position, Behn's account is wrought with detail. One would assume that the readers of her time would be quite unfamiliar with her subject matter, so she seeks to enlighten with descriptions of detail. In other words, the narrator is not a character of the story, but the authoritative author. The reader is able to trust Behn's story as reliable since she was present for a majority of his life and talks of how she perceived him as well as how others treated him. The reader is guaranteed Behn's sincerity and honesty in writing the story when she declares " . . . and do assure my reader the most illustrious courts could not have produced a braver man, both for greatness of courage and mind, a judgement more solid, a wit more quick, and a conversation more sweet and diverting." (Demaria Jr. 424) Behn is not only captivated by the genuine and rare characteristics of his inner beauty, but his outer beauty as well and goes into detail of his handsome figure and beautiful facial features and the fine color of his skin. Around the time she wrote the story, it might not have been accepted by some people for a Caucasian women to admire the beauty of an African man and tell people about it. Behn takes a risk and therefore earns more of her readers' confidence that she is revealing as accurate an account for his life as she can. One would assume that the

Cultural Identity Essay Make Your Motherland Known

Cultural Identity Essay Make Your Motherland Known Cultural Identity Essay: Share Your Emotions about Your Motherland â€Å"Despite the fact I was living in the United States for over five years already, I feel I belong to Chinese culture and its traditions.† This line is the part of a cultural identity essay that can sometimes look like a sentence from a philosophical essay. In case you’ve never dealt with this kind of essay paper, here you will find enough useful tips and guides to help you perform an excellent cultural identity essay. This article is aimed at revealing the main secrets of completing a cultural identity essay, its organization moments, and proper formatting. If you want to get extra useful tips, you can contact an expert writing service online. Cultural Identity Essay: Main Purposes and Definition It is important to find out what the exact meaning of the cultural identity essay is before starting to perform a paper. This type of essay is an exceptional writing piece aimed at expressing personal feelings and experience of belonging to a particular nationality. It is preferable to write down how this nationality has influenced your life choices, the process of becoming an adult, and the way you take your decisions. This paper shows how the person develops with a certain nationality background and reveals its personality traits, customs, and traditions. Cultural identity essay mostly focuses on the following elements: Religion; Location; Native Language; Nationality; Gender; The structure of the essay is similar to the most popular essay types. Thus it is easy to figure out how to organize the main elements of the paper. The main difference between this type of essay and other ones is the need to use the first person when performing a paper. Since in the essay you reveal your personal experiences, feelings, and knowledge, there is no need to provide any sources. There is no need for research work either. You simply have to be good at performing the papers according to the assigned formatting style. For example, MLA style, which is mostly used in this kind of essays, can be easily followed once checking its guidelines and standards. It is great to use famous writers’ quotes in your final paper. In such a case, you need to provide a source of the quote in the reference list. Cultural Identity Essay: Top Ideas to Reveal Choose a concise topic for your essay, and better avoid too broad issues. Use the following five top things to discuss when selecting a topic for an essay: The issue of your own imagination; The real-life experience; Personal memories and memorable events; An authoritative person; Memorable places and traditions. It is great when you have a lot of personal experience, for example working in voluntary groups or helping other people. This can be a great topic to reveal. In case you have no such experience, you can always write about national traditions and customs, and the way you follow them nowadays. You can write an essay about your favorite place in your Motherland or about the people who inspire you the most. You can write about both good and bad experience in your life since even the worst situations can eventually become valuable life lessons. Besides, you can help people to deal with their problems once revealing your own bad situations and their solutions. The cultural identity essay can also be written about people who have influenced your way of thinking and the way you make your life decisions. Show how greatly national traditions and customs inspired you. Reveal other exceptional things, which made you the person you are now. Cultural Identity Essay: How to Start It Properly The best start is the selection of the proper topic for an essay paper. With a good topic, first, write an outline to make the entire writing process more organized. You must present your ideas and personal experience in a simple and clear language. You will be telling a story to people of other nationalities, thus make your story really useful and informative. You can conduct research if you want to describe some people or events in more details. Expert Advice: â€Å"First you must decide on the exact topic of your essay paper. Only after dealing with the topic selection, start to organize your ideas. This is the right order for performing a great final paper. Brainstorming will be very useful in the first stages of the writing process. You need to list every interesting idea. Make sure to perform a paper for a certain target audience. Provide a powerful introduction and a strong thesis statement.† You can use a broad thesis statement for a cultural identity essay. For example: â€Å"The cultural identity influences the way we take the life decisions, and the way we see ourselves in the world.† The body paragraphs need to provide a detailed meaning of the main thesis statements. Cultural Identity Essay Body Paragraphs It is preferable to provide a standard essay of five paragraphs. Therefore, write a powerful introduction, three detailed main body paragraphs, and a practical conclusion. Make the body paragraphs of the same length. The outline will help you to organize the entire writing process. Use the list of your interesting ideas and experiences. The following guides will help you to deal with writing process successfully: Use unified arguments to start every new paragraph. Use real-life experience once providing evidence. Use transitions to connect the interesting ideas in one piece. Try to organize the writing process properly and you will get a perfect essay paper eventually. Essay Example Extract of a Cultural Identity Essay â€Å"My mother is Indian, and she belongs to a very educated Indian family. My mother’s religion is Hinduism. My dad is Spanish who has been living in the US for the biggest part of his life. My mother and my dad met in India. Their decision to move to the United States was mostly based on the importance of my dad’s work in the US. In spite of the fact that my dad is an atheist, my parents rarely have conflicts on their religions. It is great they let me become a part of any religion, or remain an atheist as my dad is. I adore their cultural differences since they both give me exceptional experience and knowledge I can use in my own life.† Using this essay example, you can realize better how to perform your cultural identity essay. Yes, it will not be easy to write an inspiring essay. If you want to get a brilliant cultural identity essay, you can order a paper at an expert writing service. This way you will get your essay written by the best writers who know and appreciate the exceptional academic writing.

American Policy, Judicial Activism and Restraint Assignment

American Policy, Judicial Activism and Restraint - Assignment Example In giving its ruling, the conservative group of the Roberts Court improved the cause of "corporate personhood" through giving large corporations the capacity to drown out the voices of the electorate by the production and circulating of quasi-media messages promoting or demeaning certain political candidates. In giving corporations this power, the Court opened the door to making them the most powerful purveyors of public opinion, devoid of requiring accountability or truthfulness (Manje 102). This is a power that should not be granted to corporations, thus I close this question is support of judicial restraint powers. In Furman v. Georgia, the justices considered the death penalty as a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment because these death sentences were cruel and unusual in the same manner that being struck by lightning is unusual and very cruel (Griffins 304). They argued the fact that people charged with rape are simply convicted, but those charged with petty crime want to be executed. I feel that the death penalty is a deterrent to crime so long as it is imposed on the necessary crimes that deserve to be punished with the death penalty. For instance, rapists, people who are charged with more than three counts of any crime. This will work as a very good example of deterring crime rates (Griffins 305). What would make one form of capital punishment cruel and unusual is the virtual belief that genuinely innocent individuals will be executed and that there is no likely way of repaying them for this miscarriage of justice? What constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, for instance, is the agony the innocent friends and family of criminals have to also undergo during the execution. However, the judges took into consideration the message they were sending to likely culprits in order to deter crime. (Griffins  304) Haidt’s research gives me greater insight into why people feel differently than I do about politics and government due to the simple fact that their always opposing views about politics that is why there are liberalism and conservatism.

Performance Management Evaluation Research Paper

Performance Management Evaluation - Research Paper Example The performance was evaluated keeping the standard appraisal in mind. The method used in this task to evaluate the individuals was peer rating. Peer rating is the method of appraisal in which the one individual is asked to rate the other peers on the basis of their performance. After the introduction of incentives, it was observed that the performance of individuals increased many folds and people were more eager to work on the task. Simply put, Performance management can be stated as the kind of management that keeps a check on the ongoing progress and ensures that goals are being met in an effective and efficient manner. Meeting the required goals that individuals or groups have set up for themselves is of very high significance and studying the effect of the factors that hamper or catalyze the performance is equally important. By understanding the effect of the factors we come in a better position to control those factors according to our needs. To comprehend the significance of these factors, we were required to do a practical and were asked to design a 15 to 20-minute task to be administered in a controlled environment. By conducting this test, using reward systems and analyzing performance appraisals and improvements, we realized that there was a sound relationship between performance outcomes and the factors that influence them. The requirement for this task was to understand the importance of the environmental factors that are present to influence the outcomes of the performance of individuals. Individuals were kept under strict observation and every factor that might help or hamper the outcomes of the tasks is noted down. Observational research is conducted. In a controlled environment, the class was taught how to make tomato, cheese and ham toast sandwiches by the invigilators ant their performance was monitored. They were asked to complete a required amount of sandwiches in a set time. This monitoring was first done under normal circumstances to measure the standard performance ability of the group.  

Bureaucracy and administration Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Bureaucracy and administration - Assignment Example Woodrow Wilson, the founder of the American public administration was a public bureaucrat who stated that the English have studied well the art of doing away with executive powers. This motivated the Native Americans and the English to set their governing tones. According to Henry (118), the English and the Indians motivation for bureaucracy were as the result of the satisfaction they got for working for the public and serving the society to bind them closer. Hamilton is another public bureaucrat as well as one of the first public administrators who worked as the treasurer of the bureaucratic system. He was interested in administrative apparatus and contemplated to make investigations of the science and history of civil government. According to Henry, â€Å"Hamilton displayed a strong interest in understanding the administrative apparatus of the state†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (p.9). He was determined to write a book on public administration that would make modifications which would give humank ind freedom and happiness. He believed that heads should be well paid as they had more power than those who appointed them and the congress to his recommendations. According to Henry (116), Hamilton’s motivation was to make a difference to society. To him, doing good to the public was far more important than doing well for one self. Another motivator was his personal characteristics. Hamilton had the energy and strong interest to understand administration in different perspective and convince people on importance of bureaucracy to the society. He also argued that money does not necessary make the world go round but the happiness of the public and their freedom is what should matter most in public administration. The behavioral bureaucratic proposition dictates that organizational people differ in various ways (Henry 117). There is the administrative man who is defined by rationality, emotional needs and tricks. Economists use models to be able to understand the changes in eco nomy with the change in behavior of men and their activities. Rational men are motivated by their own self interest like making massive profits and will use all resources available to fulfill that. Administrative men understand the behavior of the organization as well as the mission and their interest to the society. According to Henry, â€Å"Administrative man has all the unique idiosyncrasies, blind spots, and limited power of psychological man, but, like economic man, also understands the mission and behavior of the organization†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (p.117) Henry (118) also explains unsatisfied bureaucrats who are not impressed by the work they do and demand variation of themes from public administrators. A fraction of the public demand to have job satisfaction, including the people who do not have the intelligence to manage the moods of others as well as not having the ability to comprehend what is required in their jobs. Their motivation, according to Henry (119), is the federal sati sfaction which stated that majority of employees were satisfied with their jobs and the left percentage would be rewarded with jobs that met their satisfaction as long the changes did not have negative effects to the organization. According to Henry (119), there are also the frustrated bureaucrats who do not appreciate the way they are treated in their organization. They

Principal characteristics of the weberian ideal type bureaucracy- roles of power and authority.

Principal characteristics of the weberian ideal type bureaucracy- roles of power and authority. INTRODUCTION Bureaucracy has been studied for a long time now and many organizations have adopted this model in the day to day running of their organization. The aim of this essay is to explore the â€Å"Ideal type† bureaucracy developed by Max Weber, its characteristics, the role of power and authority on it and its strengths and weaknesses. Firstly we would look at various definitions of bureaucracy drawn from other writers. Bureaucracy in its ideal form is a â€Å"rationalized moral alternative to the common practices of nepotism and other abuses of power that were rampant in the feudal preindustrial world from which the modern industrial organization emerged† (Hatch, 2006, p. 105). Bureaucracies rely on combination of rules, procedures, documentation and behavioral monitoring to achieve control and seek to place a standard on behavior and the reward for compliance with established rules and regulation (Hatch, 2006, p. 117).   Bureaucracy can be seen as a primary drive through which rationality is used as an instrument within the modern society so as to exclude alternative criteria for action. (Du Gay, 2000, p. 38). Bureaucracy as a concept has come a long way, beginning from France in the eighteenth century. It originates from the French word for an office â€Å"bureau† rule of the bureau. In the 19th century, Germany experienced great success in its use; it was used in both its armed forces and civil administration (Clegg, Kornberger, Tyrone, 2008). Weber discovered that the modernity of Germany was made possible mainly because of the discipline of bureaucracy .It was used in the military to exhibit discipline, using acts such as â€Å"goose stepping†, it assured the generals of the complete obedience of their recruits to order, and for civilians it meant that the men were drilled like machines to eliminate insubordination and individualism (Clegg, Kornberger, Tyrone, 2008, p. 46) . As modern industrial organizations emerged in Germany they incorporated some of this form of ruling and it was a success, by the 20th century it became popular, the United States increasingly starte d adopting it for modern management, especially after the World War 1 when they noticed that the German economy had significantly improved. Bureaucratic forms were also developed internationally as a superstructure on a rationalized basis produced by systems such as that of Fredrick Taylor; these rational superstructures triggered Webers productive research inquiries into the nature of rationality, rules and bureaucracy (Clegg, Kornberger, Tyrone, 2008, p. 46). Webers view of bureaucracy was as an instrument of unrivaled technical superiority, he wrote that precision, speed and clarity, knowledge of files, continuity, discretion, unity, strict subordination, reduction of friction and material and personal cost are raised to the optimum point in the strictly bureaucratic administration; Bureaucracy was a rational machine and was based on how peoples in an organization use the rules of an organization as an everyday guide to management (Clegg, Kornberger, Tyrone, 2008, p. 46). Bureaucracy is supposed to be a system of administration continuously executed by trained professionals following set rules; according to Weber, system administration has to meet all the characteristics of a bureaucracy before it can be called one (Beetham, 1996, p. 10). Examples of everyday bureaucracies include the Armed forces and Corporations such as General motors and NASA. Weber explained that the closer a company is to his model, the more efficient it was likely to become. Bureaucratic control depends upon the existence of a legitimized hierarchy of authority to administer the bureaucratic mechanisms and closely supervise and direct subordinates (Beetham, 1996, p. 13).   It is argued that â€Å"Weber failed to recognize the ambivalent character of bureaucracy, partly because studies of organization were in their infancy in the early decades of the century and also because his ideas were unduly influenced by Prussian army and the Taylorian system† (Beetham, 1996, p. 13 ). It can also be argued that bureaucracy is gradually being replaced due to requirements of entrepreneurial development which gives room for individual innovations (Casey 2004, p.59). Bureaucracy as an important aspect of rationalizing modernity still endures because some certain characteristics of bureaucracy cannot be avoided in order for an efficient and effective running of an organization. Its aim is to prevent forces of unreason, disorder and disorganization (Casey 2004, p.60) Webers theory of bureaucracy developed out of a general theory of power domination which is explained later on in the essay. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WEBERIAN â€Å"IDEAL TYPE† BUREAUCRACY Weber used the term â€Å"Ideal† in the sense of a pure idea, something that can only be imagined rather than in a perfect situation ,it   provides a foundation for theorizing because they are abstract they cannot be expected to exist in the world around us (Hatch, 2006, p. 102) .The ideal bureaucracy that Weber imagined was a means for turning employees of average ability into rational decision makers, serving their   customers with impartiality and efficiency; This bureaucratic form promised reliable decision making, merit based selection , promotion, impersonality and impartiality and therefore fair application of rules (Hatch, 2006, p. 102). Webers ‘ideal type theory offered the following characteristics outlined below: A fixed division of labour: The central feature of bureaucracy is division of labour coordinated under a centralized hierarchy of command. It creates interdependencies in an organization which is managed mainly through hierarchy of authority and standardizing rules and procedures and supported by documenting procedures, regulations, rules and other prescriptions (Walton, 2005, p. 573) A clearly defined hierarchy: Each office has its own clearly defined responsibility and competence. Hierarchical structures improve coordination by restricting free-flowing communications within components (Walton, 2005, p. 573). The hierarchy that workers are subject to at the workplace, Weber argued was required by the organization with complex technical and production processes, it is therefore required to coordinate division of labour (Beetham, 1996, p. 56). Bureaucracy is characterized by expertise because candidates for office are selected on the basis of merit and qualification, and Promotion is guaranteed according to seniority of achievement, and rewarded by fixed salaries paid in money (Hatch, 2006, p. 102).On employment, the office is the primary occupation of the employee and the employee looks forward to a long life career in the organization, and this promotes continuity in an organization (Hatch, 2006, p. 102). Official work is to be separate from ownership of the means of administration; this implies impersonality and Impartiality (Hatch, 2006, p. 102). Work is conducted according to set rules without â€Å"arbitrariness and favoritism† (Beetham, 1996, p. 9) everybody would be treated equally by the books. A set of general rules governing the performance of offices, strict discipline and control in the conduct of the office is expected. Rules, documents and filing is the order of the day as they govern official decision making and action. When we think of bureaucracy, we often think of ‘red tape the strict adherence to formalities (Hatch, 2006, p. 102). Therefore bureaucracy is characterized by high formalization ROLES OF POWER AND AUTHORITY IN THE WEBERIAN IDEAL TYPE BUREAUCRACY Weber sees the rule of man over man in the society as an inevitable historical phenomenon; he distinguished between power and rule stating that the former hinges on having ones way in a social relationship and the latter as getting things done through specific channels persons (Warner, 2007, p. 1024). Authority is a source of power; other sources of power include personal character, expertise, coercion, control; one main difference between authority and other sources of power is that the exercise of authority is directed downward in organizations while the exercise of other forms of power may work in all directions (Hatch, 2006, p. 254). Authority particularly stands out because it is associated with hierarchy, part of the social structure of organizations (Hatch, 2006, p. 254). Weber believed that in a bureaucratic organization members adhere to the rules of that organization, he contrasted three types of authority namely (Clegg, Kornberger, Tyrone, 2008, pp. 46-48): Charismatic authority: when respect and obedience will be given because of the extraordinary attractiveness, popularity and power of a person. The person is owed homage because of his or her capacity to project personal qualities; people follow them because of what they believe to be the special nature of their personalities and the success they have achieved. E.g. Princess Diana, Mother Theresa and Nelson Mandela Traditional authority: occurs where respect and obedience are owed because the person who holds it by birthright. Prince Charles, for instance is not so much an authority because of his charisma, but because of tradition. Rational-legal authority signifies that respect and obedience are owed not to the person or the title they hold but to the role they fill. It is the office respected and not the officer because it is a part of a rational and recognized disposition of relationships in a structure of offices. For instance, a   police officer is respected because of the office he represents and individuals would act rationally by obeying the rules of this office because of the consequences of not obeying .Webers view of bureaucracy was a   tool for unequaled technical advantage. He wrote that â€Å"†¦precision, speed and unambiguity, knowledge of files , continuity , discretion, unity , strict subordination, reduction of friction and material and personal cost are raised to an optimum point in the strictly bureaucratic administration†. Bureaucracy was a rational machine. The outcome of this process of rationalization, Weber suggests is the production of a new type of person: the speciali st (Clegg, Kornberger, Tyrone, 2008). Things may be done in formally and substantive rational ways, the difference between the two is that the former involves precise techniques of calculation such as those developed to measure technical efficiency or to track costs while the latter refers to the reason for rational action, that is, its meaning and value (Hatch, 2006); He warned that formal rationalization without substantive rationalization would lead to ‘iron cage† which Weber described as the dark side of bureaucracy. The drive for rationality, calculation and control may increase efficiency but also trap an individual in an iron cage that chokes creativity and free will. The charismatic and legal forms of authority may coexist in an organization for example an employee may respect his immediate supervisor because of his charisma and the way he does his work and may decide to make him his mentor, even though they both are subordinates in the same organization(Hunt M icheal, 1983). Rational-legal precepts, is exactly what Weber identified as the heart of bureaucratic organizations. People obey orders rationally because they believe that the person giving the order is acting in accordance with a code of legal rules and regulations.For Weber, the modern organization differed from other forms of organization because of its rationalization of authority and legality; The rational-legal bureaucrat was similarly characterized by technical and professional expertise (Casey,2004 p.65). WEAKNESSES OF THE BUREAUCRATIC FORM OF ORGANIZATION Bureaucracy has to a large extent contributed immensely to the growth of modern organization and in its contributions lays some weaknesses that result from the application of its features in the following paragraphs. Bureaucracy is characterized by high formalization which is defined as the degree to which rules procedures, regulations and communications are written and filed (Walton, 2005, p. 570) .Everything should be done by the book and this leads to the feeling of impersonality often associated with bureaucratic organizations that does not allow employees to be committed emotionally to the pursuit of economic efficiency, which is the overall goal of the organization; it restricts them because of culture of impersonality and detachment (Stokes Clegg, 2002, p. 227). Employees must share a managerial vision of their organizations culture and be prepared to go an extra mile to achieve it, not just to following rules, rules should be bent sometimes to ensure that a desired outcome is achieved, there is a limit to how much of your work you can rely on policy and guideline (Clegg, Kornberger, Tyrone, 2008, p. 88). Therefore, Bureaucracy strangles individualism because everything has to be done in a machine-like manner. Webers model of organization efficiency assumes that aspects of individual personality which are not relevant to the strict performance of employees duties would be removed as they enter the organization (Beetham, 1996, p. 13). In practice, people come into an organization with personal needs and expect to seek satisfaction to an extent through social interaction at workplace, the manner this interactions are dealt with at work can be crucial to the performance of the employee. Authority which ignores these factors is likely to meet resistance because people cannot be compelled to work efficiently or with commitment (Beetham, 1996, p. 14). When this resistance surfaces, there is likely to be conflict in the organization which may disrupt organizational goals. Promotion is based on merit ; unqualified personnel may keep getting promoted on seniority bases because the organization may think they merit the promotion because of how long they have stayed (Casey, 2009).In this case, they may not be actually qualified for the promotion given that division of labour encourages specialization because of the standardization of production process. They may have deep knowledge for a particular skill, but not other skills that they may require for higher level.   Division of labor can then lead to a situation where an employee cannot do anything than other than what he is trained to do and finds it impossible to operate in a different situation, because of inflexibility. This impedes self development of employees (Casey, 2009) and limits creativity. Communication comes in one direction because of the hierarchical structure; some information may need to be passed from grassroots upwards sometimes so that employers can get from employees feedback vital for growth of an organization, a hierarchy may suffer from too much information as well as little information (Beetham, 1996, p. 14).A less hierarchical structure may be more flexible. Goals may become displaced in bureaucracy because of strict adherence to rules, because the aims of the organization become identified with following the rules that are only intended as means to achieving goals (Clegg, Kornberger, Tyrone, 2008, p. 89).When this happens it also disrupts the overall aim and objectives of the organization. For example, if a schools departments aim is to ensure that the students in class understand the lectures and graduate with good grades. In order to achieve that, the students attendance in class would be very necessary but if a lecturer uses half an hour to count the students in class and write attendance, it becomes a displaced goal because the time used in counting the number of students in class can be used to teach them more effectively. Therefore, these weaknesses discussed have a tendency to become vast, cumbersome, slow and rigid, reduced efficiency because of following usual protocol, not enough freedom of movement, over compliance etc (Casey 2009). STRENGTHS OF THE BUREAUCRATIC FORM OF ORGANIZATION Strength of bureaucracy becomes more evident in stable environments with compliant employees (Morgan, 1995, p. 29). Authority and responsibility are clearly defined due to hierarchy and division of labour (Casey 2009) and when it is defined there is unity of command which leads to efficiency because employees know who instructs and what to do because there is free flowing communication in the sense that information is not muddled up and there is no confusion because information is centralized and comes from one source, flows from upward downward. Bureaucracy is a wall for civil freedom. (Clegg, Kornberger, Tyrone, 2008, p. 67). There is fairness and impartiality in bureaucracy (Casey 2009), all employees are treated in the same way, and they do not have to worry about impartiality, unless of course if politics arises in the organization and it starts to affect the rules of the book. You have the right to appeal in bureaucracy if the rules applied are illegitimate; no one is above the law, none could escape rules, and every officer was accountable for what they do because they have specialized tasks, work done is easily traced to who did it. Technical and formal efficiency i.e. expertise of office holders (Casey 2009), standardization of processes brings about efficiency, in that every process is done at the time it is supposed to be done, just as efficiently as machines. Personnel selection and promotion based on expertise and merit, rational-legal authority does not go through the rigorous process of finding another leader in case one is lost, there are endless supplies of people to whom it can give authority because it can make rational choices on the basis of superior leadership and merit (Casey 2009), specialization promotes this expertise which retains knowledge and deep understanding of a particular field. (Casey 2009). CONCLUSION This essay explores the Weberian ideal type bureaucracy, we look at different definitions of it, characteristics, the role power and authority has to play, by focusing on the rational-legal type of authority which is the heart of bureaucracy. We also analyzed the strengths and weaknesses that can be encountered in the use of this model. Webers work made a significant impact on the development in the study of organizations and management. Bureaucracy has been socially institutionalized and used globally. It is considered by some to be stuffy and regimented for example employees taking their breaks at assigned times, dress code specified etc (Daft, 2004, p. 239). However an organization may end up with a term called â€Å"mock bureaucracy â€Å"where the rules are seen as an external regulation that can be ignored on purpose, neither managements nor workers values are aligned with the rules so they are widely regarded as lacking legitimacy; everyone knows the rules and yet decides not to take it seriously, implementing tighter controls may result in resistance and employees become rebels† (Clegg, Kornberger, Tyrone, 2008, p. 90). The interpretations of the rules have to change in this case and managing organization is less about knowing what the rules are, and more about managing the meaning. In recent times where the world is taking a more entrepreneurial approach in organization, the Weberian Ideal form of Bureaucracy may not exist in absolute form, because of the changing environment. The need for innovation is very key; an organization may set up a different department for innovation and the other tasks are shared accordingly (Clegg, Kornberger, Tyrone, 2008, p. 93). Red tape and rigidities, we may say we now live in partly post bureaucratic times where a concern with efficiency predominates over issues of equity and justice. Organizations have become more modern equipments, machines and computers now replace files, a database can be drawn up and important records can also be kept there. In essence bureaucracy cannot be absolutely eliminated in as much as some people detest this model; it exists in organizations in different ways of different units for example in a university it may exist in the admissions department, Exams and records departments and so on. It would be hard to imagine a university without the consistent application of rules. There are no organizations that do not have some sort of rules after all, and all organizations are (at least partly) bureaucratic.

Science Vs Religion :: essays research papers

Science and religion cannot co-exist. What are your views on this? In the begining there was darkness. Then there was light. Then there was consciousness. Then there were questions and then there was religion. Why are we? Where do we come from? Why does the world and nature act as it does? What happens when we die. Religion tended to the answer to all these questions with the stories of gods and godesses and other supernatural forces that were beyond the understanding of humans. Where as science seems able to explain everything with prof and evidence right before your eyes. Science deals with subject matter and account for civilizations while religion is concered with the civilization, but looks at its spiritulisation and faith. As the scientists looks at the building, materials and whereas religion is not focusing on these physical components. This also gives birth to the question that whether science is able to explain all or whether religion is able to explain all aspects of life?science does seem to explain all. It is because of the fact that science has enabled humans to fly, explore the depths of the oceans,walk on the moon. It makes the life of humans easier than before with lots of facilities. Howerver, strong and almost perfect the view of science is in today's society it cannot cover the entire spectrum of the human experiences. Nor does it explain some of the striking similarities present in the various religions of the earth. There have been many clashes between religion and science in history. Some past leaders were used to imprisoned scientists. Now much has changed. People asks for the facts and figures, but spiritualisation, your character building is not the things provided by science. So, science and religion are different in the sense of facts and faith. These both are important for our lives, because you cannot write on walls without pens and brains.

Same-sex marriages

IntroductionSame sex marriages involves coming together of a two people of the same gender to form a family.   These marriages are not recognized in most countries in the world.   In the U.S, only the states of Iowa and Massachusetts allow gay marriages. The state Vermont recognizes civil unions, which are similar but lesser than marriages. Civil unions do not guarantee the couples full rights enjoyed in marriages. The Federal Government, under the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996, does not recognize same sex marriages but leaves individual states the room to deliberate on acceptable forms gay unions. (Strasser, Mark, 1994:14)Gay people have stepped up to campaigns for recognition of same sex marriages.   While gay people have been granted equal rights in many fields in life such as employment, they are denied the right to marriage. A complex argument has come up proponents of same sex marriages on one side and opponents on the other each presenting their points. (Vesterman, W, 1994:2)   The main controversy has been the definition of marriage.   Gay people want the right to marry, adopt and raise children.   Legalization of same-sex marriages would have an impact on all human perspectives.   Businesses would accord employees from gay marriages same treatment.   There would be social realignment and allocation of role in society. Religious bodies, more so Christians and Muslims lead the anti-gay marriages campaign.Thesis statementSame-sex marriages should not be legalized.Arguments for Same-sex marriages go against nature.   Marriage is meant to be a union of one man and one woman.   It is an abnormality to develop feelings to a person of the same gender. People are born male and female to compliment each other in marriage. It is only by choice and exposure to gay tendencies that they become gay.   Gay tendencies are not exhibited by any other form of life so as to suggest its is a natural phenomenon.   Animals, even the closest primates, do not display gay behavior.   To legalize a marriage founded on an unnatural behavior would distort the notion of marriage, as we know it.Same-sex unions are not fit to raise children in.   The parents’ relationship is not favourable to raising children in a proper way.   Children raised in these unions would be predisposed to gay behaviour.   They would not be given a chance to live normal lives.   Children grow up learning through copying parental actions, as they are not mature enough to make informed decision.   Legalizing such a marriage would be exposing adopted children to unnatural acts.(Patterson, Charlotte, 2001:346)Legalizing same-sex marriages would lead to other anti-social behaviors.   Just as gay individual would have succeeded in legalizing their cause, others would also come out and demand their rights.   It may lead to a rise in incest and bestiality.   These individuals would always fall back on to the case of the same-sex marriage to ar gue out their point.   Polygamists would also demand recognition by law.   It would to lead to absurdities such as an individual entering into to a union with an animal and demanding legal recognition.   He or she would use the same arguments pushed by pro-gay marriages activists today.The marriage institution has an all-important role of procreation.   This role is best performed in a marriage.   Same-sex marriages by design lack the capacity to procreate.   Without the ability to perform this role, the marriage would be incomplete.   Without procreation, humankind would not regenerate itself.   The fact that gay marriage proponents are mainly in nations with low birth rates is worrying.   Legalizing same-sex marriage would be putting perpetuity of man in jeopardy in the long run.Legalizing gay marriages would be tantamount to giving gay people favored status. Gays want their issues to be treated in the same way as those of the disabled and the chronically ill.   They however do not want to be treated the same way as pedophiles, masochists or even cannibals.   These are people who choose to be the way they are and therefore do not merit special status.   In their pleas for favored states, they use words laden with emotions to gain sympathy such as discrimination, homophobia and tolerance.Traditionally and morally, marriage is a man and woman affairs.   As a society we cannot neglect the traditions and morals that have always guided us and maintained order.   The society does not have to be immoral to advance.   Legalizing same-sex marriages will tear the fabric that holds society together.   It will create a sense of disorder and loss of direction for men.   This social order must be closely guarded.(www.cnn.com)Legalizing same-sex marriage would be great experimentation with such as sensitive matter. The same sex marriage euphoria is the West might have dangerous results since it has no been tried before.   Since same-sex relationships have gained prominence in the last twenty years, their long-term effects cannot be projected.   This euphoria has been fueled by political correctedness that makes people approve even the most absurd ideas.Arguments Against.Failure to legalize same-sex marriages will be denial of individuals their fundamental right. It would be tantamount to government intrusion into ones private life.   The government should not stop consenting adults from marriage whether gay or heterosexual.   Equality should be seen to prevail. Just as the government keeps off from straight marriages, it should also keep off the same sex marriages.(Scott, Bidstrup, 2004)Not legalizing same-sex marriages would be falling victim to stereotypes. Straight people see gay people as baseless and non-committal.   Straight people are homophobic not because, homosexuality is necessary bad, but because they are uncomfortable with it.   They are afraid of any changes in society regardless of their im pact.Continued incrimination of same-sex marriage is due to religious overstepping their mandates. The church oversteps its mandate by imposing its policies on the nation.   There is little difference between the church and the state.   Politicians join the church’s course to gain political support in form conservative churchgoers.Majority in society have always oppressed the minority.   What is now being seen in the same sex marriage issue was experienced in slavery period.   Religious bodies and groups who supported and even engaged in slavery and subsequent segregation have no moral grounds to criticize same-sex marriages.Proponents of same sex marriages argue that legalization would in fact strengthen the institution of marriage.   Divorce rate would go down because gay people would not be forced into unions with people of the opposite gender. Gay people may try to conform to societal norms and marry the opposite gender.   They end-up in unhappy unions that le ad to divorce.   Legalization would also reduce stress related problems such as suicide and depression due to denial of right to be legally married.Proponents of same-sex marriages also argued that gay marriages have capacity to bring up children in the normal way.   They point-out that what a child needs is not heterosexual parents but tender care and nurturing.   They argue that same-sex couples can provide that care just like straight parents.Pro-gay marriage groups insist that gay people are born rather than choosing to be gay.   They claim that they are born with gay tendencies inherent.   They point out that nobody would choose to be ridiculed and victimized through out their life.   If it were something they would control they would just opt for the easier option of heterosexuality.   Criminalizing same-sex marriages would be failure to recognize the predicament facing gay people.(Pinello, Daniel, R, 2006: 76)Conclusion.Same-sex marriages should not be legalized under any circumstance.   It is a social evil that should not permeate into society.   The government should look into the interests or the society and criminalize same-sex marriages.   It should not fall for emotional talk about discrimination and homophobia. The usage of ‘homophobia’ tires the portray those opposed to gay marriages as suffering from a mental condition. (Patterson, Charlotte, 2001 )The society should resist any attempts to portray same-sex marriage as normal and natural. It is not evident in other forms of life. The claim that gay people are born is also a fallacy. They are people who have reformed their gay tendencies showing that it is really a choice. Homosexuality cannot be determined by scientific inquiry of the DNA.   All forms of consented sex and unions are voluntary.The marriages institutions cannot be strengthen by undermining its main foundations.   Same-sex marriages disrupt the main principle of marriage.   Same-sex couples ar e not able to offer proper care for kids. Such a marriage is unstable and do not provide the right environment for raising children.We should not embrace change just for the sake of change.   Restructuring the age-old basic unit of society would be a historical mistake.   The US should set precedence in protecting this all-important institution.References:Pinello, Daniel R., America's Struggle for Same-Sex Marriage. Cambridge University Press, 2006: 76.Strasser, Mark, The Challenge of Same-Sex Marriage: Federalist Principles and Constitutional Protections. Praeger, 1999: 14Patterson, Charlotte J., â€Å"Same-Sex Marriage and the Interests of Children†¦,† Virginia Journal of Social Policy & Law, 9:346. 2001Vesterman W. Reading and Writing Short Arguments. London: Mayfield, 1994:   p2, 4.CNN News, Politics: Bush Calls For Ban on Same Sex Marriage, 05/02/2004. Retrieved on 10/10/07 from http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/02/24/elec04.prez.bush.marriage/Scott Bidstrup . Gay Marriages: The Arguments and The Motives, 2004. Retrieved on 10/10/07 from http://www.bidstrup.com/marriage.htm

Forces pf Habit, 2 Essays

Forces pf Habit, 2 Essays Forces pf Habit, 2 Essay Forces pf Habit, 2 Essay Name: Course: Lecturer: Date: : Forces of Habit 2 As people continued using drugs, their purposes for doing so changed. Drugs were no longer something that the physicians controlled, but people began self-administering them and this changed the social approach to drugs. The rich and the powerful in the society were ready to capitalize on this change. They defeated efforts by the government to restrict the sale of some drugs such as tobacco and alcohol despite the negative consequences associated with them. The government benefited from the drug taxes, and to some extent became dependent on them as a main form of revenue. The author observes, â€Å"The clash between opportunities for profit and concerns about health forms the central moral and political conflict running through the history of psychoactive commerce (Courtwright 91) The psychoactive revolution has contributed towards ensuring a global access of the drugs (188). Different governments have often taken advantage of the mind-altering effects of the drugs to control the people. Governments have encouraged the use of the drugs as a way of helping people deal with the harsh life situations. The modern world today is full of confident people who believe that they can accomplish anything they want. It is at the same time a world full of isolated people. People have realized that they no longer need their communities to be an integral part of their lives since they can make it on their own. The drugs have become an important part of people’s lives today because they help them deal with all the mental anguish, depression, and other psychological problems that they may be experiencing. People no longer need other people’s company to relieve their problems, since they can depend on the drugs. As technology advanced, people found new ways of using the psychoactive resources. This resulted to changes in the way that people consumed the resources. For instance, Europeans had always used wine, but the development of the distillation process led to the development of spirits that were highly addictive and had other negative health consequences. The Ethiopians chewed their coffee beans for stimulation but the development of European technology led to the development of modern day coffee, which is also addictive. The changing nature in the use of the drugs has contributed to the definition of modernity. People in the contemporary world are not afraid of trying new things, and they readily change the nature of a commodity to suit their present need. Many people would not have enjoyed the process of chewing coffee beans, but its flexibility and adaptability has led to different flavors and varieties, which many people find suitable. People in the modern world are constantly seeking gratification from the substances they consumer. The changing nature of the drugs from medicinal to recreational forms has continued to define modernity. No longer is alcohol used to treat wounds or ease labor pains, and tobacco is no longer used to fight fatigue. People have found that they benefit from the consumption of the drugs when they take them as a form of recreation. They smoke cigarettes to calm them down and to make them feel good. They take amphetamines and other drugs such as heroin and cocaine for the purposes of feeling that instant gratification. This has limited the medicinal usage of the drugs. It has led to the development and spread of the drug underworld trade. The rich continue getting richer, as they sell the drugs to the users, some of whom are now addicts. Work Cited Courtwright, T. David. Forces of Habit: Drugs and the Making of the Modern World. Harvard: Harvard University Press, 2009. Print

The Freelance Writer at Home

The Freelance Writer at Home The Freelance Writer at Home The Freelance Writer at Home By Colin Of all the benefits of being a freelance writer, working from home has to be one of the best. You can set your own pace, manage your time how you want it, and best of all, you get to be your own boss. Leaving the negatives out of the equation for the moment, what can a freelance writer do to make sure her working environment is as comfortable, supportive, and reliable as it would be, were she working in a city centre office? I’m not talking about front door security, a subsidized canteen, or even an ample supply of free staples and pens. I’m talking about the little things that affect productivity, like comfort, and staying sane. Here’s a few things all freelance writers can do to make the working day go that little bit easier. Buy A Good PC/Laptop This is more important than many writers realize, because when I say â€Å"good,† I really mean â€Å"reliable.† There’s nothing more infuriating to have a PC that hangs on you as a deadline approaches. If you can’t trust the machine you are working on to be there when you need it, maybe it’s time to reinvest. PCs and laptops are relatively cheap these days, and if you only intend to use it for writing on and connecting to the Internet, you need not go for a brand spanking new top of the range model. Save yourself some money and opt for a lesser model that’s just as new. So long as you can load up the software you need, and get onto the Internet, it will do just as well. Keep Software Current Maybe your PC is reliable and trustworthy, but it’s getting kind of slow. Windows 3.1 has almost ground to a halt and your printer drivers won’t install any more. If this sounds like you, not only should you be upgrading to newer hardware, but you should also think about updating your software. All things man-made ground to a halt and die, especially PCs, which have an optimal performance life expectancy of around five years. Therefore keeping up with the latest technology isn’t so much a flashy thing to do, it’s a vital one if you are running a home-based business and need to keep up with your competitors, and continue to produce quality work. Use A Reliable Printer Owning a suitable printer can not only save you time, but also money. I tend to favor laser printers for their speed and relative cost to maintain, but you should do some research to find out what type, make, and model suits you. Some printers are notorious for paper jams or the rate at which they require a refill, so find out before you buy. But A Nice Desk A nice desk that fits your writing style and feels comfortable should be a priority for every home-based writer. Among the most important things to consider when buying a desk are: Width: will it fit where you want it to go? Height: it should be comfortable to type on and have plenty of leg room. Cost: the cheaper the better, but you will get what you pay for. Surface space: how good is its ability to cope with papers and books strewn all over it and still allow you room to work on? Is there room for your PC/laptop, printer, telephone, etc.? Does there need to be? Keyboard drawer: some desks come with a pull-out drawer on top of which the keyboard rests. Some people don’t like these and find them awkward – do you? Invest In A Comfortable Chair A good chair in terms of comfort and design is an important investment for anyone who intends to sit on it for most of their working day. Not only is it good for comfort reasons, but also for health and safety. The main qualities in a chair to consider are: Back height: do you prefer high backs or low? Support: is the back supportive enough to keep your back straight, and protect you from potential spinal damage? Height to desk: can the height be adjusted to allow you to look at the screen straight on, and so that your arms are comfortable while you type? You would be amazed how many repetitive strain injuries writers get, purely caused by poor chair height. Swivel or static: do you want your chair to swivel, or do you prefer it grounded? Wheels: Do you like your chair to be able to move around easily? Material: are you a leather fan, or do you prefer cloth? CD/Radio Some writers concentrate easier with low music playing in the background; the type of music they listen to often influencing what they write. Others prefer to have total silence. Either way, having a small CD player or radio handy can be useful should the mood take you or if you rely on it. If you’re stressed about an urgent deadline, the facility for some Vivaldi might just do the trick. Book Case If you have the space, think about getting a book case. A lot of writers like to have their favorite books nearby, but also for practical reasons, being able to retrieve a reference book quickly without breaking your train of thought, is worthwhile reason enough. Warmth Working in a cold room is horrible, so make sure you have a source of warmth for those cold winter months. I have a radiator in my office as opposed to a heater, because I find the warmth much more pleasant as opposed to an air heater, which dries out my eyes. Window Being able to look out to the real world is something all home-based writers should do on a regular basis. Getting involved with your work to the point where you start to forget that life exists on the other side of the door, is a dangerous place to get to. Fish Tank A small quirk of mine, but I love the background noise generated by the tropical fish aquarium in the corner of my office. It’s not the fish that make the noise – they don’t talk to me or anything like that but the bubbles and flow of water give me the calming sensation of standing next to a gentle flowing river, which in turn, helps me focus on what I am writing. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Freelance Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Dialogue Dos and Don'tsWhat's a Male Mistress?15 English Words of Indian Origin

Water pollution Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Water pollution - Research Paper Example The most significant problem with water pollution is that it endangers amphibians (and other genus) and can lead to extinction of various species without adequate steps taken to mitigate water pollution’s reoccurrences. There are many different types of water pollutants which threaten species. These include introduction of pathogens and chemicals which are dispersed into bodies of water from many different sources. Pipes, storm drains, factor-based discharges and sewer systems maintain the capability to contaminate various bodies of water. Specific contaminants, and the most common, include sodium, iron, benzene, and harmful pathogens. One of the most significant problems is that water-polluting substances tend to deplete oxygen levels in a body of water or cause a phenomenon known as turbidity, a situation in which vital light is obstructed, thereby disrupting the capability of plants to grow and even causing blockage of a water-dwelling species’ gills. When harmful chemicals are introduced into these bodies of water, it can promote the production of various diseases, increase the acidity of the water, cause dramatic shifts in temperature which are not conducive to longevity for species, an d affect the general quality of the water which impacts the reproductive cycles of water-dwelling creatures. A common water pollutant is benzene, which is often introduced into bodies of water as a result of industrial activity and through waste disposal of different consumer products such as glue and detergents. To illustrate the potential harm that benzene causes, a study was conducted in an industrial environment dedicated to producing nanotechnologies. The researchers recruited 121 different workers and performed a longitudinal study over five years. The recruited sample population was asked to allow recurring blood samples to be taken

Cost and Value Management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Cost and Value Management - Case Study Example This certainly shows the pragmatism of the firm with regards to its products in the sense that none of the products are rushed into production whatever the results these said products show on the testing phase. That is directly linked to the cost management practices of the firm i.e. the firm is willing to bear some short-term costs given that these cost can initiate the birth of products that are successful and long-lasting in the long run. In addition, the entire case of the Boeing 7X7 shows the commitment and drive of Boeing towards research and development. It says in the case study before the name was changed to 767, approximately $100 million had been spent on this project which were demarcated as costs for the on-going research and development. Therefore, we can see that the costs management practices of Boeing had a significant place in them for large scale research and development projects. Suffice to say, the cost management practices of Boeing are pragmatic yet expansive a nd directed towards the long run. [1] [2] [3] Now, after determining these facts, we will now look at the strengths and weaknesses of these practices of Boeing in light of the concept of earned value management. Before, I delve much deeper into this topic, it is critical to explain that contrary to popular belief, there is a world of difference between the factors that determine earned value and earned value management systems (EVMS). ... ts importance vis--vis the mechanism can be gauged by the fact that large adapt ably priced military defense contracts have required the presence of these prerequisites in order to ascertain the reliability of the results given by the earned value metric as far back as 1967. It is important to note that despite the great important of these prerequisites, they are not essential for the workability of the earned value method. However, the presence of a management control system that fulfills at least part of the standards that have been demarcated by the prerequisites is extremely essential in this case. From here on, the term "earned value management process" will include the pre-requisites for both the earned value and the EVMS criteria. [4] [5] [6] I will first look at the strengths of these practices at Boeing. The earned value approach of Boeing is directly in line with the cost management practices that we have seen in the case study. Despite the very large initial expenditure that is related to the product, the project only went into productions when commitments to purchase were received from one foreign and two domestic airlines, and preproduction orders totaled at least 100 planes. This showed the risk management abilities of the company in the sense that they wanted to ascertain to the minimum a certain number of prospective clients which would be interested in their products. This also showed the strengths of the earned value management process of the business as they want to determine a flexible budget of costs which they would need to undertake in order to complete a theoretical number of orders. Now, this theoretical number would be based on the pre-posed number of prospective clients who had guaranteed their intere st to purchase. Therefore, the entire