Ceremony: Native Americans in the United States Essay

In Leslie Marmon Silko’s Ceremony, the use of storytelling is quite prevalent. Within the framework of Ceremony there are references of the tradition of Native American storytelling along with the progression of telling a story. Storytelling within the Native American culture is oral, traditionally. The method of storytelling within Ceremony at the beginning lays down the framework of the entire book. Silko starts out the novel with a series of stories. The first of which is about Ts’its’tsi’nako (or more easily said) â€Å"Thought Women†, who thinks of things and they appear. She happens to be thinking of a story and it just so happens to be the story being told to us. This then leads us to the next story (1). The next story turns out to be a story about stories. This story tells us (the reader) the importance of stories, and that they aren’t merely for entertainment, but are used to fight off death and illness. The narrator then states, â€Å"You don’t have anything, if you don’t have the stories.† Thus telling us the true importance of the stories of Native American culture, seeing as everything was passed down orally, and not much was written down if any at all (2). Now, for Tayo, these stories embody the understanding of the Native American world Tayo grew up with. Only the army, the doctors, and the white schools try to convince Tayo that the stories are wrong. As Tayo recreates and recalls the old tales, he begins to reunite with the community, pulls through the trauma of war, and ultimately brings back the rain to his land. Tayo learns from these stories that he is not alone, because the stories are shared within a community, and because the contents of the stories show him that others have shared like experiences (Notes/Class Discussions). The rest of the stories within the text of Ceremony announce elements that will reoccur within the novel. As the story is told either by a single person or by a group of people, it can fashion between those people a sense of community. As stated previously, that stories have the power to fight of death and illness. The stories contain the ceremonies and rituals that have the ability to cure individuals and the communities. Stories are able to provide this ability by restoring the affiliations betwixt all things and people. The stories within Ceremony are an integral part of the story line. The stories within the novel show us how important they are to the Native American culture and way of life. They provide us with the impending points of the plot, of how a ceremony is what can cure the people. Bibliography: Silko, Lesie Marmon; Viking Peguin Inc. 1977

Achievement Motivation Theory Analysis Essay

Every manager has a theory on how to motivate employees to perform his or her job. One of the oldest motivational methods is the Carrot and Stick method, which is a combination of rewards and punishments to bring about a desired behavior. Although this method of motivation can still be found in one form or the other in many organizations today, managers are learning new methods of motivating employees. This paper will analyze two different job positions the author has held, and how the theory of achievement motivation would and would not be applicable to those job positions. The author will also analyze the need to develop and create new theoretical models of motivation in today’s changing work environment. Theory of Achievement Motivation Atkinson’s Achievement Motivation Theory suggests that some individuals have a greater need for achievement and success than other individuals. Those individuals that have a high need to achieve and be successful will take on more difficult tasks than those individuals that are not highly motivated to succeed. The following two workplace scenarios will show how the theory of achievement can affect employees. Workplace Scenario One One workplace scenario that works well with the achievement motivation theory is the Wal-Mart organization. Employees of Wal-Mart are paid by the hour; however, individuals are able to increase his or her salary through yearly raises and quarterly bonuses as a direct result of his or her job performance and production level. The basis of this pay system depends on the motivation of its employees. Employees’ raise is based on a scale of one through 4. Employees that have consistently high production levels and provide excellent customer service will receive the maximum yearly raise. The quarterly bonus Wal-Mart offers its employees is determined by performance markers which include sales, customer satisfaction levels, inventory levels, and employee attendance. This type of work setting demonstrates achievement motivation theory clearly. Without the willingness to succeed average employees will not achieve the same monetary results as the harder working employees. Wal-Mart rewards employees for quality productivity, work ethics, and attendance. The combination of these factors is what motivates the employees in reaching the desired result for the organization. Workplace Scenario Two Another workplace scenario which demonstrates where the achievement theory does not work will is in the union; specifically the grocery stores that make us the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). UFCW is a national union made up of â€Å"more than 1.3 million people working primarily in grocery and retail stores, and in the food processing and meat packing industries† (UFCW, 2012). Individuals that belong to this union have negotiated wages and benefits. The combination of contracted wages and benefits, and the union’s backing removes a large amount of achievement motivation. The union employees in a grocery store usually work independently; whereas, in Wal-Mart the culture is more of a team. Through the negotiated contracts between Dierbergs and the union, employees know the amount of pay or the amount he or she will receive for an annual raise, regardless of experience or work productivity levels. Union employees also know the amount of pay or raise will not change, therefore there is little motivation to increase productivity, or work at a higher level than a coworker. In the grocery store setting employees are paid the same amount if they check out an average of 20 customers an hour or 2 customers an hour. The Need for New Theoretical Models of Motivation Decades ago working conditions we not as good for most employees in the work force. Unions, such as the UFCW, were formed to insure workers received fair wages and their workplace was safe. Since then laws have been passed and organizations behave toward their employees much better. Many non-union organizations reward their employees for exceptional productivity and work ethics. The union worker’s motivation is greatly reduced, because there is no incentive to increase productivity or practice good work ethics outside of what the contract outlines. The workforce of today is increasingly diverse with differing needs and demands of the workforce of decades ago. Technology has changed the way organizations do business and where that business is conducted. Global companies and e-commerce organizations with highly knowledgeable employees are now common. Another influence on in the workforce today is organizational tasks and goals are increasingly organized around teams. Managing these diverse, knowledgeable employees can be challenging and have a profound influence on how organizations attempt to motivate employees. The need to understand the influences of obvious and hidden motives and perceived abilities on motivation is needed. (Steers, 2004) Also, an understanding of â€Å"how participation in groups have a powerful influence on motivation above and beyond what can be understood by focusing exclusively on individual-level effects† (The Road Ahead). Failure to meet the need for new motivational models will result in influencing how organizations attract, retain, and motivate employees. Without motivating this new type of workforce organizations may lose their profitability and will not stay competitive. Conclusion Individuals are motivated to work for various reasons; however, most work for financial stability. The challenge for managers is too continual finds ways to motivate employees to achieve organizational goals in a changing workforce. Today’s workforce has new challenges such as technology, globalization, and team efforts, which did not exist before. â€Å"What all types of achievement situations have in common is that the person has encountered a standard of excellence and has been energized by it, largely because he or she knows that the forthcoming performance will produce an emotionally meaningful evaluation of personal competence† (Reeve, 2009, p. 176). References Reeve, J. (2009). Understanding Motivation and Emotion (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. Steers, R. M. (2004). THE FUTURE OF WORK MOTIVATION THEORY. Retrieved from

Local Human Service Agency Summary Essay

I visited the Child Protective Services agency for my interview. I chose this agency for two reasons. The first reason is because I plan to work for this company after obtaining my degree. Secondly because I am a foster parent and I would to know how the agency works from the opposite perspective. The case worker I spoke was Kathy Basham. The interview took place on August 3, 2012. I was really excited to talk to her because she had floated between many positions within the agency and I felt like she would be able to answer all of my questions. This interview helped me to gain a clearer understanding of what the responsibilities of a case worker are. I got to hear about the struggles as well as the triumphs. I also gained insight on the ethical and legal concerns that the agency experiences, and how they handle with these matters. During this time, Mrs. Basham’s focal responsibility is with the investigating team. Her job was to investigate reports of child abuse and neglect. In order to do her job efficiently, she must do a sequence of intake interviews with the children and families that have been reported. Gathering the findings of these interviews will aid in making the decision whether abuse or neglect has happened. If the finding are determined that there is a concern the state laws state that the children must be removed from their home and place with family or in foster care. After making this determination, Mrs. Basham makes recommendations for the well-being of the child, she next sends in her reports to her supervisor and they make plans for the next steps to take action. Steps will be determined based on if whether or not the child is in immediate danger. If they deem that the children are in danger they will order an emergency custody hearing. Mrs. Basham has stated that there are often many false reports. She said false reports are aggravating because the process is time consuming and they cause workers to waste time they could be spending on true cases. Child Protective Services (CPS) has several intervention programs that are  available to families. They are valuable to the prevention of child abuse, as well as programs that are available to families and children who have open child abuse cases. They offer many other therapy programs, such as parenting classes, prevention and treatment anger management classes. Foster care programs are also offered. The Kentucky Department of Child Protective Services serves families of every income level however; many reports come from lower income areas. Child Protective Service case workers experience various different kinds of ethical dilemmas. Mrs. Basham stated that there is a great level of sentiment in this sort of work, for the families and case workers. It is normal for family and parents to scream or act violently toward her doing the intake interview process. She also said that her job can be frustrating at times but she reminds herself of her sole focus, which is ensuring that children’s safety within their family setting and their overall well-being. Ethical dilemmas differ from case to case. One ethical dilemma almost all CPS workers face is clients wanting to know who reported them. Kentucky state law prohibits workers from disclosing that type of information. Mrs. Basham admits that would be simpler if she could tell them because many clients refuse to cooperate unless she tells them. Borderline neglect cases can also be ethical dilemmas. These sorts of cases include homes that are unfit to live in. Many homes are filthy, however if there is no immediate danger the case workers do not have the authority to remove the children. Even though it’s not allowed, when this occurs some case workers will find alternative reasons to remove the children from such an environment. It has been said that even if a child is in a dirty environment it does not necessarily mean the child is being neglected. In some cases if the environment is truly unfit to live in the children can be removed. Sometimes if the house is filthy the children may be also so the family may be referred to a program that assists them develop life skills to teach them about hygiene. CPS worker must comply with certain legal requirements while performing intake assessments. They must follow all agency and state law guidelines and policies while investigating child abuse reports. When abuse reports come in, case workers must visit the home within 24 hours. In more serious reports the worker has 2 hours to report to the home. All cases must be either elevated or closed within 30 days. Elevated cases usually involve children being removed from their home. When  this occurs Ms. Basham turns the case over to a case worker which will monitor the child through the foster care system or family placement. Case workers are required to try to find suitable family placement first. If not possible the child will be placed with licensed foster care providers. CPS is legally required to inform the parent and/or guardian that the child is being removed. After the child is removed they must inform all involved parties of court dates, treatment plans and any other information concerning the child. The disadvantages of Mrs. Basham’s job include underfunded agencies include, high rates of turnover in the staff, large case loads and being understaffed. The State of Kentucky offers assistance programs for individuals entering the human service field including such as tuition assistance like financial aid, extensions on paying back student loans, and loan forgiveness. To be an employee for Child Protective Services of Kentucky it requires that you receive a four year Bachelor’s degree in social work, sociology, human services or an equivalent degree. Regrettably, Mrs. Basham was not capable of giving me any additional information on the requirements for an internship. My interview with Mrs. Basham lasted approximately an hour. I was able to obtain a deeper insight of the labor involved in being an investigator in child abuse and neglect cases. The interview expanded my interest in the field of child protective services and I feel like it is an exciting and rewarding career choice.

Honor Is Cyrano de Bergerac

Honor in Cyrano de Bergerac People in today’s society have many different aspects about their character that make them who they are. Positive character traits can be found in people around the globe and in the characters that many read about in books. Edmond Rostand presents the character Cyrano in the play Cyrano de Bergerac with a many positive traits that make him a very relatable character. Cyrano lives his life based on a strict code of honor through his actions. A code of honor can be seen in the way Cyrano acts towards himself.His pride shows this many times throughout the play. One example of this is when Cyrano fights Valvert over his own nose whilst at the play in the beginning of the novel. This shows that he respects himself and does not feel as though others should be able to point out his flaws. His own integrity also reveals his honor. When Cyrano talks with de Guiche about changing his poetry so they can sell it he says, â€Å"Impossible, sir; my blood curdles at the thought of having a single comma changed† (87).This scene reveals that Cyrano cannot be so easily morally corrupted because he expresses himself through his own works. Honor is also revealed in his altruism. The fact that Cyrano does not want to date Roxane, even after Christian dies, reveals this. This shows that he is unselfish and wants to put the wants and needs of others before his own. Cyrano’s sense of honor can be seen all throughout the play in his actions towards himself. Cyrano’s code of honor is shown in the way that he acts towards his friends.His service rather than selfishness reveals this code of honor. One example of this was when he helps Christian impress Roxane by helping him speak more eloquently and intelligently all throughout the book. He goes out of his way to do something for his friend so that Christian can be happy. Cyrano’s loyalty towards Ragueneau also reveals his code of honor. This makes an appearance when he attemp ts to tell him that the poets in his shop are taking advantage of him by saying, â€Å"Haven’t you ever noticed how they stuff themselves while they listen to your verse? (70). His actions reveal that he cares for his friend and does not want to see him being taken advantage of. Honor can also be seen in Cyrano’s duty to Christian. This can be seen when he tells the dying Christian that Roxane still loves him. His actions make Christian feel happy, even in his last few minutes alive. Cyrano’s actions towards his friends reveal the strict code of honor that he lives by. Cyrano’s code of honor is shown in his actions towards Roxane. Such honor is displayed in his service rather than selfishness for Roxane.One example is when Cyrano distracts de Guiche by falling from a tree in order for Christian and Roxane to get married. His actions reveal that he will do whatever he can to see that she is happy. Cyrano’s responsibility to Roxane also reveals his code of honor. This can be seen when Roxane asks him to protect Christian and he says, â€Å"I promise† (79). After making a promise to her, he goes out of his way to do anything to keep it and make her happy. Honor can also be seen in Cyrano’s loyalty towards Roxane. This is portrayed when Cyrano shows up every day to the chapel in order to keep her updated on local news.His actions reveal that he is devoted, wants to please Roxane, and will always be by her side. Cyrano’s actions all throughout the novel towards Roxane reveal a code of honor in which he lives by. Cyrano’s actions throughout the play provide evidence that he lives life by a strict code of honor. This honor is so important many because it is one of the core values of humanity. Often times people go to great lengths to defend their honor for this reason. Honor guides these lives because these people feel that it is a great way for them to assert their individuality.

Literature Review of multinational cost of capital 2233 Essay

Literature Review of multinational cost of capital 2233 - Essay Example The common equity highlights the opportunity cost that is obtained from the funds and invest the amounts in other stocks. The cost exceeds the retained earnings as it includes the expenses that are linked with the sale of new stocks (Durand, 1963; Heston and Rouwenhorst, 1994). The cost of debt of a multinational can be measured easily as it incurs the interest expense that results from the borrowing funds. The multinationals are observed to use specific mix of capital components and employ appropriate capital structure, which has the ability to reduce its cost of capital (Kraus and Litzenberger, 1973). When cost of capital of multinationals is low, the rate of return on projects is also observed to be low. The companies predict their cost of capital before conducting any capital budgeting technique as they have to calculate their net present value of the project. This net present value is dependent on cost of capital (Kraus and Litzenberger, 1973). The multinational companies encounter intricate cost of capital problems as compared to their domestic counterparts. This complexity offers higher opportunity to the firms to reduce their cost of capital. In the last 50 years, the application of financial management has changed to a great extent. This is reflected on the ownership structure and size of the company. This has also altered the functions of financial systems and the instruments that are used for depicting the financial structure of the company (Modigliani and Miller, 1958). This research paper aims at highlighting the different aspects of multinational cost of capital by emphasising on the opinions of different authors. The multinational companies have the ability to raise capital for its operation from different capital markets around the world, despite its domestic opportunity. It is well identified that the multinational companies often encounter difficulty in the foreign country due to the difference in cost of capital between the

Landfill Gas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Landfill Gas - Essay Example One hazard of the production of LFG, particularly methane, is the possibility of the occurrence of gas explosion in areas where there is high concentration (ASTDR, 2001). With this kind of hazard and possible health risks of those exposed to LFG, methane has been considered to be captured and recycled for more beneficial purposes (EPA, 2014). One of the most productive uses of methane is its collection in landfills and processed to be converted to energy, like what is done in some areas of California. Removal of water from LFG makes it allowable for use in reciprocating engines. Further clean-up processes make it usable in manufacturing industries and gas turbines. Gas recovery facilities in California have produced approximately 246 megawatts of electricity since 1995. This amount of electricity came from the recycling of LFG, mostly methane (California Energy Commission, n.d.). Landfill gases have initially posed harm to humans and the environment, but with the continuous study of the processes involved in the production of landfill gases, the government has taken part in promoting its collection. The recycling of methane from landfills is the most productive because it has provided a source of renewable electricity. Through this processes and collection facilities, lower emissions of methane can escape into the atmosphere. The benefit that humans get from methane through conversion to electricity also benefits the environment by minimizing the greenhouse gas that causes global

Research Methodologies in Education and professional practice Paper

Methodologies in Education and professional practice - Research Paper Example In practice however, not all children are able to fully develop fluency in the settlement language. While there is growing evidence of the advantages for pre-school education in immigrant children, the enrollment rate remains relatively low. Socio-economic status and financial costs are likely to be the strongest reasons for this occurrence. All of these data reveal the important role of education in the integration and inclusion of immigrant children and families. The school must take on a proactive role in providing support for immigrant children. The research study that will be undertaken was borne out of this perspective. It aims to explore the impact of migration on family, childhood and education institutions in London as reflected in the challenges and difficulties of adaptation in the school setting. It also hopes to determine possible solutions to these challenges and difficulties. The study aims to answer three main questions: This study is of particular relevance to me personally and professionally. I am a teacher assistant, working through an agency, in different schools in London. My professional goals include becoming a foundation stage teacher and this area of research will continue to enhance my knowledge and skills in dealing with immigrant children. My daily interactions with immigrant students allowed me to observe the challenges and difficulties they encounter as an effect of the family transition and adapting to new culture and environment. Although, there are a number of those who successfully integrate into the new educational conditions, there are those whose academic performances fall far below the average. My interactions with parents, teachers and school administrators led me to hypothesise that certain factors (i.e. family and school environment) promote successful adaptation to the school setting. I have observed