Thursday, March 12, 2020

An Analysis of Great Expectations Essay Example

An Analysis of Great Expectations Essay Example An Analysis of Great Expectations Paper An Analysis of Great Expectations Paper Essay Topic: Great Expectations Pip feels and how he was treated. I think he also tried to show that it was wrong to treat children badly. In those days it was known that children should be seen and not heard but Dickens thought this was wrong, so he emphasized in the novel that it is wrong to think this. He tried to make people feel sorry for Pip because he always wanted people to feel sorry for him. It was normal for kids In those times to be treated badly, but Dickenss did cause awareness of how badly children were treated. All of Dickens family were In prison because of unpaid debts so he suffered a lot Just eke PIP. Basically Dickens puts all his anger and despair Into Pip, so rich people would help poor people. The word Pip means the seed inside a fruit and these tend to be small, so its like a way of calling Pip small and insignificant. This is a metaphor. This makes you feel sorry for Pip because even his name means he is small. Also you feel sorry for him because his parents are dead, generally you feel sorry for people when one parent is dead and they are older but hes only 7 and both of them are dead, its really sad and it makes you want to look after PIP hasnt been taught well, we know this because he repeats the word and a lot, and this suggests he Is a small child. He doesnt go to school and doesnt get taught at home. He doesnt get taught because only rich people got taught in them days. Dickens really liked education so he emphasized how important education is in his novels, like this one. This makes us feel sorry for Pip because no one really cares about him enough to give him education. He cant even say his real name so he shortened it down to Pip. This proves his sister doesnt look after him well because he should at least help him pronounce his name right. Great Expectations Is about a boy (Pip) whom gets treated badly by everyone and his parents and 5 brothers are dead. In those days there were very high death rates so Its no wonder a lot of his family members died. There were high death rates because people were extremely poor and couldnt afford to drink clean water or food, so they got diseases. He lives with his sister and her husband and she treats him horribly. Pip is in a cemetery one day when a convict (Magnetic) comes and orders PIP to get a Tile Tort Nils leg Ana some T Mage etc tenants PIP. Magellan gets caught and he protects Pip saying he stole all the goods himself. A crazy woman (Miss Having) and her daughter (Estella) bully Pip but Pip still has a crush on Estella. Miss Having gets Pip a Job. One day a lawyer daggers) says to Pip a secret benefactor has given Pip a large fortune. Pip assumes that Miss Having gave him the money and that she wants him to marry Estella. Pip finally gets education with the money he received. We find out it was Magnetic who gave him the money. Pip goes away with his friend Herbert to work. He comes back years later he sees Estella joking sad and he can tell shes become kind, them two get together and walk away holding hands. Chapter one is about when Pip is in a cemetery and is sitting near his mother and fathers gravestone and his 5 brothers. Then an ex convict comes and threatens him and tells him if he doesnt steal a file and some food for him, he will eat Pip. The ex convict is called Magnetic and he also said theres a man in the bushes as well and he is very violent. We dont know if he was making this up but we assume he was. Pip believed him and was very frightened afterwards. This Just added to Pips sadness. Chapter eight is about when Pip goes to see Miss Having and Estella. Miss Having is dressed in all white as if she was getting married, except all her clothes had turned yellow because shes wore it so long. She sounds crazy because she talks to herself and Pip has a crush on her daughter Estella. But Estella is horrible to Pip and Miss Having tells Estella to break his heart a bit like how someone broke her heart. Estella makes fun of the clothes that Pip wears and he gets really upset because he never noticed it before. From the very first chapter of the book the setting is in a graveyard. Just by reading the beginning of the chapter you feel sorry for Pip. Pip (a little boy) is in a graveyard sitting next to his family grave, like that isnt sad enough we find out its Christmas eve and he is alone there. We also find out his sister (who he lives with) hits him, it suggests this in a quotation. We know shes horrible to him because why would he be happy wandering around graveyards alone when he could be home. Also we know that he is poor and is undernourished because he would get small pieces of bread for his dinner, I know this because Magnetic takes his bread from him and bullies him. Its quite sad and really does make you feel sorry for Pip because even though he doesnt get much to eat a grown man has stolen what little food he gets. Another example of how Dickens creates an intimidating setting is how he chooses a little child to go to a cemetery. Cemeteries tend to be scary generally but if youre a child it would be even worse than that. A quote which supports this is l was dreadfully frightened. He was frightened because a convict Just threatened to kill him. If he wasnt in a cemetery it would be less scary because there would be people around and in cemeteries there are only dead bodies. Dreadfully means regretful and sad, so he was sad that he was frightened, which implies he wanted to be brave and not scared but he couldnt help but be frightened. After all hes Just a kid. Dreadfully is a very formal word and shows how frightened he is. He is also using a formal word because it was how they spoke then. Also he is trying to reinforce how scared nee Is. I RSI a Lot Ironic now you ethanol a concur as a sate place, a place were God is watching over you yet a boy is getting threatened outside it. Dickens is creating an image in our head of a small frightened boy, getting threatened in a meters by a big escaped convict. This in a normal situation would be bad enough but a lot of elements are added together to give it the effect Dickens wanted. Magnetic is an escaped convict but he gets caught again in the beginning of the book. Magnetic is fairly rough because he says l will cut your throat. Cut is a harsh, short and snappy word. The letter c is a harsh and rough sounding letter and t is a sharp ending letter. This shows he is very aggressive and full of hatred. He comes across like a monster by intimidating Pip. He is bringing out Pips weaknesses by being so scary. Its cruel saying this too 7 year old because he is only small and hasnt done anything to him for him to say that, but Magnetic is desperate so he has to do it. Magnetic is very dirty and isnt well looked after. We know this because if he has escaped prison and is hiding from the police outside in cemeteries he must be sleeping rough. A quotation from chapter one is The sky was Just a row of long angry, red lines and dense black lines intermixed. Saying the sky is angry is using personification, he is making the sky sound like a person. Lines intermixed this suggest the two colors deed and black get mixed together to make an ugly color, brown. Long angry, red lines and dense black these are dark, evil colors which mean the sky is going to get Pip. This would be very frightening for Pip. Dickens uses a list of three to describe it; long sentences make it sound powerful and engaging. The lines could also suggest it looks like a prison, the prison bars. This means that Pip might be feeling trapped and scared. In addition, an example of how Dickens creates an intimidating setting is how theres a sea close by which make the place sound deserted or if Magnetic chooses o kills him he could Just push him into the sea and no one would ever know. A quote which supports this point would be Down by the river, within, as the river wound, twenty miles of sea. Wound gives the impression that its like a tornado and that once youre in youre going to get wound around and around till youre trapped. A quote which supports that he thinks he is trapped is generally that I was in a low- lived, bad way. The twenty miles of sea makes it even worse for Pip, theres so much water and if he got trapped he would drown or wouldnt be able to make it back because its so long. This makes the reader feel like they should save Pip because it makes him sound so small by saying twenty miles of sea, you can imagine that Pip would be tiny compared to it. Lastly, Dickens made the setting look rough and dirty so it made the place look mysterious and scary. A quote which supports this is that this bleak place overgrown with nettles was the churchyard. The fact that its overgrown with nettles makes it look like anyone could hide and attack Pip behind these nettles and Pip couldnt do anything. Also it looks like its not being looked after so if Pip got attacked no one old come Ana save nil. Blear could mean Tanat nee reels lonely . Nils makes reader feel sorry for Pip because hes Just a small boy and yet he feels so alone. In chapter 8 Dickens describes Stats House as a big place thats really dark and gloomy. In the text it says that the house can be called enough house, which means that the house is big and is enough for people in those days to live in. A quote says theres enough of it in the cellars already to drown the Manor house, this shows they are rich and have a lot of money to make alcohol. In those days they didnt have lean water, so if they were rich they drank alcohol because thats clean and safe to drink. This suggests that Miss Having might have a lot to drink thats why shes a bit crazy. Another quotation which supports this is To stand in the dark in a mysterious passage of an unknown house. This makes the setting sound risky because its dark and Pip doesnt know his way around. Mysterious means odd and unexplained which shows that the place is odd and unexplained because nobody explained to Pip why he is there. It makes the reader eager to know why is Pip there and it makes the reader feel sympathy and feel protective over Pip. As you go throughout the book you get connected to Pip and you dont want him to get hurt. In chapter 8 Dickens has written whether the flower-seeds and the bulbs ever wanted of a fine day to break out of those Jails and bloom. This suggests that even though Pip was talking about the flowers he is relating them to himself. Jail suggests he feels trapped with his sister and her husband. He Just wants to run away because she doesnt treat him right and barely even feeds him. He is using personification here, because the flower seeds are not human but he is making them sound like they are. This links to chapter 1 when it says Down by the river, within, as the river wound, twenty miles of sea because that quote suggests that Pip feels trapped. This again makes the reader feel sympathy for Pip. One more quotation from chapter 8 is that the rank was the garden of the house, and that it was overgrown with tangled weeds. This suggests that no one cares about the garden and doesnt look after it. A bit like Miss Having because she doesnt wash her clothes and leaves everything the same as it was years ago, maybe thats what shes doing with the garden. Also it might mean that Pip is scared f the garden because in chapter one when there were messy weeds and nettles, Magnetic said to him a mean man was behind them. So it might have frightened Pip seeing the tangled weeds because he thinks theres a crazy man behind them wanting to get him. He is also in a strange persons house so it does sound creepy for Pip, this adds to how we feel sorry for him Dickens describes Miss Having as a crazy woman. A quote which supports this is so new to him, so old to me; so strange to him, so familiar to me; so melancholy to both of us! Call Estella! This sounds quite crazy because shes talking o herself in the mirror but it really does sound like shes talking to someone else. I think Miss Having is lonely and Just wants some company thats why she is talking to herself. Had been white long ago, and lost its luster. Because she is wearing clothes Tanat naves Eden waste In a Wendell seen sounds careless Ana alert. In ten TLS quote she used exclamation marks a lot which shows shes a bit hysterical, or maybe shes happy that shes finally got someone to talk to other that Estella. This makes people feel sorry for Pip because on top of how unfortunate hes life is he has a crazy Oman bullying him into playing with Estella and getting rude comments made to him. Dickens makes Estella sound like a mean, stuck up person. He writes Why, he is a common labouringly boy by saying common it suggests that she is upper class. She thinks she is better than Pip because she says boy as if she is older than Pip when really she is the same age as Pip. Estella sounds very rude, an example of this is ah, but you see she dont, children in those days were meant to be seen and not heard. What she said was very rude seeing as she is a lot younger than the man she was talking to. Mr. Bumblebees was very shocked by what she said and he got annoyed with Pip because of it. This makes us feel sorry for Pip because he is getting bullied by Estella but he doesnt really realism it and he is getting really hurt by the things she says. Pips initial reaction to Miss Having and Estella is that they are both a little odd and spoilt. He really likes Estella because he thinks she is pretty, it says this in chapter 8 she is very pretty, he says this to Miss Having when she asks him what he thinks of her. I think he thinks Miss Having is an odd person and he is scared of her, as anyone his age would be. This also makes us feel sympathy for Pip because he likes a girl that is really horrible to him. It is wrong that Pip likes her though because she isnt nice to him at all its Just her looks that appeal to him. Pip was really affected by the end of chapter eight because he got really got upset by what Estella said. Estella said that he was a common labouringly boy and said a lot of other things that were quite nasty. What she said made him think he was common and he never really thought about it before until she mentioned it. By the end of it he felt like he really was common which made Pip really upset and knowing e has to come back in six days most likely made him even more upset. Finally Dickens has used a number of techniques to make us feel sympathy for Pip and they all have worked well, some relate with himself when he was younger. I think Dickens has been successful because when I read the two chapters I did really feel sorry for Pip. People do things to Pip which are Just morally wrong, adults threaten him even though he hasnt done anything wrong and he gets belittled by people his own age. I have an image in my head of him and it is off small boy that is just really unfortunate in his life, this is what Dickens wanted us to imagine.

Monday, February 24, 2020

COMPARATIVE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

COMPARATIVE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION - Essay Example The following strategy which draws on the lessons and experiences in Italy, Netherlands and UK seeks to generate action by all relevant stakeholders at local level. Good governance is important in public administration (Panara, 2013). It is of fundamental importance at the greater London Authority since it is the government closest to citizens and gives them basic services. It is also at this level that the citizens can readily feel ownership of public resources. The objective of this strategy is to mobilise action by local stakeholders for the benefit of citizens. The benefits are in form of good democratic governance through better quality of local public services, fruitful policy implementation and engagement of population. The core objectives of this strategy include; Placing citizens at the heart of all democratic processes improve governance by restructuring key areas of governance and creating and maintaining institutional prerequisites for improvement of governance. Good governance is a concept of many facets based on principles and practices developed both locally beyond (Goetz, 2013). This strategy considers works on good governance already done in the UK, Italy and Netherlands. The works done in these three countries can be presented in the following principles. An essential pre requisite for implementation of these principles in The Greater London is that the authority must have responsibilities, powers and resources to manage a good share of public matters under its own responsibility Free and fair elections are pillars of any democracy. Elections empower citizens as it gives them a chance to influence future policies (Vetter, 2007). Elections of the Greater London Authority are done every four years and are administered by the Greater London Returning Officer. The Supplementary vote system is used in electing the mayor while ward

Saturday, February 8, 2020

Christianity and Its Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Christianity and Its Development - Essay Example Some authorities hold the view that Galerius, rather than Diocletian, was the instigator of the persecution. "It is not without a deep moral significance," claims ProfessorWilliam Bright in The Age of the Fathers, "that the supreme effort of the pagan world-power to trample out the life of the Kingdom that is not of this world should bear the name of Diocletian, rather than of its true originator Galerius." Yet, even within the tetrarchy, Diocletian retained supreme control, as writer Stephen Williams asserts: "There is no doubt that Diocletian had control of every major policy in the Empire until 304, and has the major responsibility for the persecution until that date." Diocletian fell sick and eventually relinquished control in 305C.E. For some six years thereafter, the continuing persecution reflected Galerius' bitter hatred of all things Christian. These horrific events early in the fourth century confirm what had been predicted by the apostles Paul and Peter, as well as other inspired writers. The foretold "man of lawlessness,"the ruling clergy class of professed Christians, was already entrenched, as Diocletian's edicts, particularly the second, testify. (2Thessalonians 2:3,4; Acts 20:29,30; 2Peter 2:12) By the fourth century, apostate practices were already commonplace. Not a few professed Christians were members of the Roman army. Were there no Christians back then who were faithful to "the pattern of healthful words" received from the apostles Eusebius names some of the victims of the persecution, even graphically describing their torture, suffering, and eventual martyrdom. Whether all these martyrs died in integrity to the revealed truth available at that time, we cannot presently know. No doubt some had taken to heart Jesus' warnings to avoid sectarianism, immorality, and compromise of any sort. Evidently, some faithful ones who survived remained hidden from historic view. Indeed, so successful were the measures to stifle public Christian worship that a Spanish monument of the period hails Diocletian for having 'abolished the superstition of Christ.' Nevertheless, efforts to seize and destroy copies of the Scriptures, a key aspect of Diocletian's attack on Christianity, failed to wipe out God's Word completely. Unsuccessful in completely obliterating Christianity, Satan the Devil, the ruler of the world, continued his crafty acts through Emperor Constantine, who ruled from 306 to 337C.E. Pagan Constantine did not fight the Christians. Rather, he found it expedient to fuse pagan and Christian beliefs into a new State religion. Ever since then, the mixing of beliefs has caused many of the Christians to actually find the effect of the situation to have directly created measures of failure on their midst making their beliefs seem a bit blurry for the next generation that came after them. Nevertheless, there were those who remained in the faith ho knew tha t they needed to stick to what they know is right rather than accepting what is being taught of them to be right. This in itself is already a sense of persecution that is largely brought about by the division of the church.

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Functionalism Conflict Theory Essay Example for Free

Functionalism Conflict Theory Essay â€Å"Knowledge is shaped by the social world.† (Karl Mannheim.) Though trying to understand the social world may seem difficult, sociologists managed to create three theories on how different areas of the world fit with one another as well as working hand in hand with each other. The three theories are known as Symbolic Interactionism, Functionalism and Conflict Theory. Each theory serves as a significant perspective on how individuals view social life and how it effects society as a whole. The first perspective would have to be the simplest of all and is categorized as a micro level since it is focused on smaller scale than the remaining perspectives. Symbolic Interactionism was founded by Charles Horton Cooley (1864-1929), William I. Thomas (1863-1947) and George Herbert Mead (18-63-1931). According to the textbook, symbolic interactionism means a theoretical perspective in which society is viewed as composed of symbols that people use to establish meaning, develop their views of the world and communicate with one another. In other words, it means symbols have an attached meaning that effect the way we view the world and communicate with individuals. Examples of symbols are family members, relationships, language, co-workers, etc. If there were no symbols in our life, we wouldn’t know who we are related to or who to give authority to. For example, at your job you are required to respect the person of high authority which may be your manager or your boss, (depending on your symbol at your facility). In your family, the symbols would be your mother, father, brother, sister, aunts, uncles, etc. No matter what area, each symbol has a different behavior and interacts differently unlike the rest. To narrow this down, let’s compare the relationship with a boyfriend to a brother. A brother would be loving and caring but would not be as intimate as the boyfriend would be. If we didn’t have symbols, we wouldn’t be able to differentiate how to act with those two. The only positive side about not having symbols would be the fact that there would be no war since we wouldn’t be able to understand who our enemy is let alone knowing what an enemy is. The next perspective is focused on a macro level since it is aimed at the large scale of society. Functionalism was founded by Robert Merton (1910-2003), â€Å"The accomplishments of functional analysis are sufficient to suggest that its large promise will progressively be fulfilled, just as its current deficiencies testify to the need for periodically overhauling the past to build for the future† (Social Theory and Social Structure Page 74). According to the textbook, functionalism means a theoretical framework in which society is viewed as composed of various parts, each with a function that when fulfilled, contributes to society’s equilibrium. In other words, various parts work together as a whole to maintain society’s balance. Robert Merton defined functions as positive consequences based on human’s actions that benefit the society. Functions that are intended to help a system are known as manifest function. Followed by this would be the unintended consequence to adjust the system which is known as latent functions. The textbook breaks these two down using an example of giving married couples an extra $10,000 for child bearing (this is the manifest function). Unknowingly, this increases the products used to care for a baby which is known at the latent functions. Though manifest and latent functions are used to balance a system, there are also some dysfunctions that can actually break down the system. These consequences are unusually unintended and because of that, it’s referred to as latent dysfunctions. Referring back to the example stated in the textbook; a latent dysfunction about giving $10,000 to each married couple that bears a child would be the rise in taxes which the couples may not be able to afford since they will be living off of the bonus. Another example that many individuals can relate to is our family. Every family member plays a significant role in their household. Examining the financial state of the family, it’s the bread winner that holds the financial issues together. Without the bread winner, the family would struggle and even turn for help towards the government. If the function of the bread winner begins to take a turn for the negative, the family weakens and loses their ability to prosper as a whole. This is an important factor on how functions can either make or break society. The smaller units affect the larger units in both negative and p ositive ways. Last but not least, the next perspective would be conflict theory. References Cooley, Charles H. The Roots of Social Knowledge. American Journal of Sociology 32.1 (1926): 59-79. Print. Merton, Robert K. Social Theory and Social Structure. New York: Division of Macmillian Co , 1968. The Free Press. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. http://A Division of Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc.. Coser, Lewis. Chapter IX. The Functions of Social Conflict. Glenoe, IL: Free, 1956. 151-57. The Functions of Social Conflict. Web. 18 Nov. 2012. http://media.pfeiffer.edu/lridener/courses/COSERR1.HTML.

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

The Aztecs :: essays research papers

The Aztecs The Aztec people ruled from the Gulf of Mexico to present day Guatemala. There capital city was Tenochititlan. The greatest controlling force was religion. It was shown in their architecture and sculpture.   They also had writing, numbers and a calendar. They had recorded dates for religious holidays. The children were taught respect, courtesy, truthfulness and self control. Aztec boys learned practical tasks from their fathers at home. Then when they reached 15 they went to a youth house. There elders taught the boys religion, citizenship, history, traditions and art. They also learned war. Girls could also learn to be priestesses in temple schools. The Aztecs were divided into tribes   that were dived into clans. Each clan had its own officials that represented them at tribal meetings. The land was dived up by the tribes. They controlled the land but the peasants farmed it having to give some of it to the chiefs and priests. The Aztecs worshipped a host of gods that represented nature. To win the gods aid they performed rituals and offered penance. Human sacrifice played an important role. Since life was a mans most valued possession it was the best thing to offer up to the gods. As the Aztec empire grew so did the human sacrifice. Sometimes the Aztecs performed cannibalism, believing they absorb the virtues of the slain. The sacrificed people were thought to be given a high place in heaven. The average Aztec was a farmer. He lived outside the city and grew crops for his tribe. Farming was the most important means of survival due to the warm, humid climate. They lived in small huts. The male was the head of the family. He would often arrange marriages for their children. The language they spoke was the Nahuan language that originated from the west coast of the united states. They wore elaborate colorful clothing made from animal skins that were traded from

Monday, January 13, 2020

Developments in Public Personnel Field

This paper deals with the trends, issues and challenges that are being faced by the public personnel. These trends and issues may be categorized under (1) Management practices; (2) technology; and (3) Economic and Politics. Governments all over the world should learn this time what to do with their public personnel so that they can become more efficient and more effective in the face of all the mentioned challenges. . IntroductionPublic or Civil Service is a big part of the lives of the citizens of a nation whether they want it or not. There are a number of government agencies that require the services of public servants and professionals. These professionals are free from the political affiliations of people who serve in the bureaucracy. There are developments in the society, in the technology and other areas of management that have an impact in the lives of public personnel. This essay explores these new trends, strategies, approaches by looking at different areas that affect the l ives and performance of public personnel.These new trends, issues and emerging practices will be divided into three major categories: management practices, technology and economic situation. The first category deals mainly with the emerging issues in management such as diversity, the rights and benefits of public personnel and how the government is reacting to these trends. Secondly, the technological advancements that impact the work of public personnel will be looked at, carefully noting how these are revolutionizing the way that public personnel do their work. Lastly, the economic developments in the United States and the world will also be noted together with their impact on the lives of workers in the Civil service sector.The government as an employer should take note of these developments and keep up with the times. Oftentimes, however, bureaucracy tends to react too slowly to the changes going on in the world. If this is the case, the public personnel will be disadvantaged. N onetheless, this paper will also put forward several recommendations as to how the plight of public personnel could be improved by the government through the effective and efficient use of resources in their respective organizations.Management PracticesWorkforce DiversityOne of the most important developments in public personnel in the twenty-first century is the increasing recognition of diversity in the operations of public offices and agencies. Such diversity stems from the multicultural fabric of the American society. There are African Americans, Asians, Europeans and Latino in the United States.It is impossible to exclude these people from becoming public personnel if they possess the skills and the educational requirements of serving in the Civil Service. Through the victories won by the Civil Rights movement in the United States in the past forty years or so, the US has come a long way in granting equal rights and opportunities to people of various skin colors.The immigration to the US has also continued in the past few years that the demographic has changed. Through the process of globalization, more and more people from various nations are coming to the United States. Managing a diverse workforce is therefore becoming an imperative for most corporations and multinational companies in the US. This should also be the case with public personnel (Farazmand, 2007).There are a number of benefits that workforce diversity could offer to public offices and agencies. For one, perspectives and viewpoints in the office concerning pressing issues and concerns will be diverse, thus, providing the decision maker with the ability to look at different angles before making important decisions. Without diversity, people will, more or less, look at something from virtually same lenses and perspectives. With diversity, however, there are new perspectives that could enable a broader look at issues plaguing the civil service and the rest of the society.One factor that influ ences the occurrence of diversity in both private and public organizations is the prevalence of migration and mobility of labor. People from diverse backgrounds often find themselves mingling with people from other nationalities (Mavin & Girling, 2000). Diversity, however, is more than just a collection of nationalities within the organization. Rather, there are several sources of diversity that can serve as a point of conflict within the organization—public or private. Managing diversity, therefore, is an art that most public agencies and organizations should be dealt with effectively. These sources of diversity include gender, race, ethnicity, linguistic barriers, sexual preferences and religion.As stipulated in the Constitution and the laws of the United States, these kinds of differences should in no way affect the employment of persons or prevent them from enjoying the privileges accorded to any person within the civil service of the country. The problem, however, is tha t, in a setting such as the public agencies and organizations, there are persons who may have strong feelings, prejudices and biases against any of these sources of diversity and they may condescend to those who are not like them. As such, they might not be able to get along with certain kinds of people in the civil service.Multiculturalism and the prevalence of diversity should be met with effective public personnel management strategies. The management should not be reactive and act as if they are always pacifying people, trouble-shooting problems and ironing out conflicts. Rather, diversity should be managed well by allowing practices and the organizational culture to become attuned to diversity. After all, the labor force has become heterogeneous and there seems to be no way to stop that at this stage (Sippola, 2005).Proactive management of diversity entails understanding the cultural and other differences among different peoples who belong to the organization. This also helps t he management become more attuned to the composition of the public personnel workforce and make the necessary recommendations in terms of managing these personnel.Diversity is one thing that could help the organization thrive in the highly competitive world of the twenty-first century. Through diversity, the perspective of an organization becomes broader and the way in which the organization reaches out to people belonging to different groups.There is an increasing sense of job insecurity in the United States, work hours cannot be completely controlled and the leadership style of managers may sometimes be unsuitable to that of the expectations of the organization. The well-being of the organization should not be compromised (Sparks, Faragher, & Cooper, 2001).The Need for Entrepreneurial LeadershipAnother problem plaguing the bureaucracy and the civil service in general is too much reliance on tried and tested formula without exploring new possible ways of dealing with different prob lems and challenges that the government agencies are facing. Too often, leaders in the government fail to look beyond the proverbial horizon of their respective agencies. As such, what happens is that they rely on previous records, previously successful formula rather than on carefully crafted strategies that address the present situation of their organizations. This is where entrepreneurial leadership comes in.One of the keywords closely associated with entrepreneurship is innovation. This is the continuous pursuit for improvement and looking for new areas to improve the operations of the organization. If this were present in most public agencies, then the personnel can be empowered as they become more effective and efficient in fulfilling their tasks. Unnecessary delays and red tape in the public offices tend to affect the level of innovativeness of public agencies in information technology and other areas of operation (Moon & Bretschneiber, 2002).Entrepreneurship is also closely associated with risk. If managers are willing to engage in risk in the name of innovation, then the organization will become bolder in pursuing entrepreneurship and innovation. When this happens, the followers will emulate the example of the bosses, and they, themselves, will engage in efforts and action that could lead to a more efficient and effective public service organization.Technology  Internet, Web 2.0 and Business ApplicationsThe twenty-first century is marked by break-neck speed of technological breakthroughs and innovation. The world is still reeling from the impact of near instantaneous communication. The possibilities seem to be endless. When one company offers a product, three weeks later, a rival presents another product that is better and usually smaller than the one previously being offered. These technologies are changing the landscape of public personnel management, including the way in which business and office work are being done. These emerging technologies a re outlined in the next discussion.The Internet. The world is very much connected now, thanks to the wonder that is the Internet. With the number of websites all over the world today, the Internet has become a storehouse of articles and knowledge. Through these websites and other features of the Internet, readers and other users are able to check out the most recent breakthroughs in various fields of study in the world. More than that, with a simple click on the mouse, research can be undertaken. This means that workers can do more now that they are connected to the rest of the world (Sullivan & Lewis, 2002).Technology allowing workers to log on to the company intranet even while in a long distance from the office is now available. This is called remote access and makes use of the network of the Internet while putting forward a security means to protect the company from breach and security compromise (Sullivan & Lewis, 2002).Email is another important factor of the internet that has come to the fore of business operations in the past few years. Without email, the world will continue to rely on snail mail, which is a much slower and inefficient means of communication. With email, the sender can directly type in the message on the computer screen, hit the send button and then wait for a few seconds before the receiver opens the email. Another great thing about emails is that they can be used as vehicle of sending over large files over long distances (Sullivan & Lewis, 2011).Voice over internet Protocol. Another interesting feature of the Internet that has recently come to the attention of the world is Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). This significantly lowered the cost of voice communications over the Internet. This feature has been integrated into various instant messaging protocols such as Skype, Windows Messenger, AIM and Yahoo Messenger among others.It is also possible now to hold live video and audio streaming. This has implications in holding video con ferences over vast areas of land and territory. Hence, live video and audio streaming can help public agencies lower the cost of communication as they meet online. The security of information passed over the Internet is another important concern that must be addressed. Hence, the developments in Internet security and anti-virus technologies help users protect the users and the data that they are feeding and manipulating in the Internet. Information is a very important asset, particularly for public agencies that are serving the broader public. Thanks to the efforts of developers and anti-virus companies, most hackers are kept at bay and prevented from wreaking havoc in the systems of public agencies (Jackson & van der Wielen, 1998).The Internet, together with sound IT infrastructure is already installed in most public agencies. This enables the agencies to dispense social services more quickly and more efficiently. Without technology, such social services will be inaccessible to sev eral sectors in the society (Jones & Dages, 2003). Given the many distractions at work, however, more and more managers realize the importance of introducing regulations and control mechanisms concerning the websites that may be accessed by the public personnel at work. While they are at work, if the IT system is open, then they can listen to music while at the same time enjoy the resources for their own personal use.The reality of digital distraction and information overload among workers is also looming over the twenty-first century public personnel. As such, there should be a means of ensuring that only information pertinent to the job of the public personnel are accessed by the workers during the work session. Otherwise, they will be subject to information overload. Information technology at work is a double-edged sword. It can get a lot of things done but if improperly used, it may also be harmful to the productivity and overall performance of an individual worker (Jackson & va n der Wielen, 1998).The twenty-first century has been hailed as the coming of the knowledge economy where the workers are not only dealing with products and services but rather, they are dealing with information, data and knowledge. As such, technology is a prerequisite for the effective functioning of the public personnel in various areas of government and operations of such agencies.Teleworking and Telecommuting in the Public SectorThe advances and breakthroughs in the technology mentioned above paved the way for the emergence of teleworking and telecommuting among the professionals in the United States. There emerged a new brand of professionals who do not have to report to the office of the agency as long as they are doing the job they have agreed to. Although telecommuting is not a new phenomenon, it has been around since the late 1980s. The only difference now is that the technology has made it so much convenient for teleworkers to thrive in the present system (DiMartino and W irth, 1990).As long as a teleworker has access to computer and good internet connection, he may deliver the work he agreed to. There are also a number of telecommuters from other countries who do the work for the public and private sectors in the United States. Another related process being utilized nowadays is outsourcing. Workers and companies outside of the United States establish partnerships with companies in the US so they can handle the operations of some areas of business.With the increasing popularity of outsourcing and telecommuting, the organization should arrive at a sound plan how to manage these kinds of worker. Of primary concern is the growth of teleworkers as professionals in their field and how they get the services that they deserve (Cooper, & Kurland, 2002).Teleworking has a number of impacts on the public personnel. It might be opted by employees who are taking care of a family member at home needing special attention, by a mother who wants to spend more time wi th her kids or by any other professional who simply wants this kind of arrangement. Teleworking is being used in the private sector but it can also be implemented in the public sector.Teleworking may be considered as a really radical departure from the usual mode of working as public personnel. Teleworkers enjoy an immense level of flexibility in terms of fulfilling their role and still pursuing other interests that they want to pursue.Teleworking, however, may be considered as a security breach in an organization that holds sensitive information in its data bank. In addition to this, teleworking introduces a level of uncertainty and difficulty in managing people. This is why, management should look into an acceptable means of accommodating both the usual full-time staff and those who have opted for teleworking.As the public sector start dealing with teleworking, it should carefully look into the pros and cons of the arrangement. Through this, they can maximize the presence of the t eleworker in the organization while at the same time, making sure that its pitfalls are removed or at least minimized.Individual worker is really at the center of the teleworking arrangements. As long as there is an internet connection and computer, the teleworker can deliver his work. If possible, the organization should also undertake psychological tests to ascertain whether a certain employee is ready for the rigors and loneliness of the being a teleworker.Economy and PoliticsGlobalizationBecause of the rapid advances in communication and transportation technologies and the inter-relationships between and among the countries of the world, the nations are being brought closer together in a process known as globalization (Tomlinson, 1999).The changes being brought about by globalization are far-reaching and broad because it targets the politics, economics, culture and other areas of life (Castles, 2001). Globalization can no longer be ignored because it has impinged on important pr ocesses that go on in the society. It is also not just a national issue but a worldwide one. If this process continues, then the world can become a borderless society in which labor and other resources can move freely without a lot of hassle.In the management of public personnel, globalization has also become a real issue that must be dealt with by the bureaucracy. Globalization is also attacking the established authority of the state over a certain territory, such as a nation-state. The role of the state and the government, therefore, is changing under the relentless impact of globalization.The focus of globalization is efficiency, decentralization and the trimming down of the bureaucracy. In terms of public personnel, this means letting go of a lot of employees and retaining only those who process the core processes and who are able to continue the operations of the agencies that will be affected. With globalization, this means that there will be greater decentralization and dereg ulation of power and autonomy (Bevir, Rhodes & Weller, 2003).The government, however, cannot simply do that without major repercussions. There has to be a careful study as to the kind of jobs and personnel that will be retained and which positions will be let go. If possible, will there be roles that can be combined? This way, the government will be able to save money while at the same time ensuring that the processes being looked after by the public personnel will be continued.ConclusionThe twenty-first century world is very dynamic. Technologies are changing very rapidly, the relationships between and among the countries of the world are becoming stronger. Economies are trading more freely and governments are still in charge of running their own respective territories. This is being done with the help of public personnel who are in the bureaucracy and who are continuously serving the needs of the government and of the people they are serving.There are three main areas of concern t hat impact the changes in public personnel. These are in the areas of Management Practices, Technology, and Economics. Of particular interest is the increasing popularity and significance of workplace diversity and the manner in which public organizations should deal with it so that it can maximize its impact and its efficiency. In addition to this, the advances in technology is paving the way for alternative modes of working such as teleworking and telecommuting. Lastly, globalization also has an important impact on the way that public personnel are being treated and how the public sector can generate savings from the process. Reference Bevir, B, Rhodes, RAW, & Weller, P. (2003). Traditions of governance: interpreting the changing role of the public sector. Public Administration, 81 (1), 1-17. Castles, FG. (2001). On political company of recent pubic sector development. Journal of European Social Political Policy, 11 (3), 195-211. Cooper, CD & Kurland, NB (2002). Telecommuting, professional isolation, and employee development in public and private organizations. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 23 (4), 511-532. Daniels, K., Lamond, DA, & Stranden, P. (2000). Managing Telework. New York: CENGAGE Learning. Farazmand, A (2007). Strategic Public Personnel Administration. New York: Greenwood Publishing Group. Jackson, P. and Van der Wielen, J. (1998). Teleworking. Routledge, London. Jones, JW & Dages, KD (2003). Technology Trends in Staffing and Assessment: A Practice Note. International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 11 (2-3), 247-252. Mavin, S. & Girling, G. (2000). What is Managing Diversity and Why Does It Matter? Human Resource Development International, 3 (4), 419-433. Moon, MJ & Breschneiber, S (2002). Does the Perception of Red Tape Constrain IT Innovativeness in Organizations? Unexpected Results from a Simultaneous Equation Model and Implications. Journal of Publication Research and Theory, 12 (2), 273-292. Sippola, A. (2005). HRM of a Diverse Workforce: Challenges of Emerging Cultural Diversity. Proceedings of the 18th Scandinavian Academy of Management (NFF) Conference, Aarhus, Denmark, 18-20 August 2005. Sparks, K., Faragher, B & Cooper, CL (2001). Well-being and occupational health in the 21st century workplace. Journal of Occupational and Organizational. Sullivan, C & Lewis, S. (2002). Home-based Telework, Gender, and the Synchronization of Work and Family: Perspectives of Teleworkers and their Co-residents. Gender, Work and Organization, 8 (2), 123-145. Tomlinson, J. (1999) Globalization and Culture. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Sunday, January 5, 2020

Applying to Go to Graduate School for a Different Major

Many students find that their career would benefit from additional studies that differ from their bachelors degrees. They may learn that their interests lie in a different field than their major or that their current field has grown and new avenues for study have emerged since their earlier years in academia. Demonstrate Your Capabilities While your graduate options are not limited by your college major, you still, however, have to work hard to demonstrate that youre a good candidate for graduate programs in your newly chosen field. Admittance to graduate school is all about how well you match the program. If you can demonstrate that you have the experiences and competencies to succeed, that may help your chances of getting accepted. Focus on the skills and life experiences that led you to switch your studies. Seek Related Experience Most graduate programs in biology will not accept a student without undergraduate science coursework. This is true of most areas of graduate study. To demonstrate competence you might consider engaging in internships or additional coursework. If, for example, your bachelors degree is in psychology and you wish to apply to a masters program in biology, take some science courses can demonstrate that you have a solid science background. Check your local community college or look into online courses. Take the Subject GRE If youre switching fields of study, its in your best interest to take the Subject GRE, even though its likely not required. A solid score on this exam illustrates your mastery of the subject matter, which can show your ability to succeed in the new field. Get Certified While a certificate is not the same as a graduate degree, many programs are rigorous and can be a great precursor to your next degree. Certifications are often affordable and can be done in a short period of time, and they can prove your mastery of the material. Some certificate programs offer courses similar to those youd find in graduate school and can prepare you for the rigorous studies ahead. Use Your Admissions Essay to Demonstrate Your Fit Your graduate school admissions essay is your opportunity to speak to the graduate committee. Use this essay to show how your education and experiences specifically align with the graduate program.  Some fields, like law, relate to many courses of study. Discuss your interest in the field and how your experiences have prepared you to succeed in the field. Draw attention to courses youve taken or experiences that illustrate your interest or competence in the area to which you aspire. For example, as a psychology major who wishes to study biology, emphasize the aspects of your education that overlap with biology, such as the emphasis on understanding the brain as an influence on behavior, as well courses in methodology and statistics, and your research experience. Explain why youre making a transition from one field to another, why you have the background to do so, why youll be a good graduate student, as well as your career goals. Ultimately graduate school admissions committees want to see evidence of your interest, knowledge, and competence. They want to know if you have the ability to fulfill degree requirements and if youre a good risk.  Keep the admissions committees perspective in mind, and youll have an advantage in the admissions process despite having the wrong undergraduate major.