Getting Behind the Punch: The Knock Out Game Essay -- social learning

Outside, a middle aged man walks outside from the back entrance after a long day at work. As he moves through the back alley, a swift cracking noise echoes the area. He drops on the ground, instantly going into a state of unconsciousness as cackling and footsteps run away from him. This horrible scenario has been occurring for the past few years in various urban areas to people who seem â€Å"vulnerable.† This â€Å"knock out game† has various methods of operation but for the most part, â€Å"†¦it typically involves either one forceful punch to the head or a more generalized assault to a random individual (typically standing or walking alone) without any warning or provocation, and without any ulterior motive such as theft or retaliation† (Zonfrillo, Arbogast, & Fein, 2014, p. 513). This trend tends to have a similar demographic of perpetrators (teenage males), yet it does not necessarily mean that the motivation to perpetrate these random assaults are all t he same. These recent attacks are a social problem because they do affect a person’s well being and safety in society. Three different case studies will be examined, along with different criminological theories and finally policies that could be applied for punishment and prevention crime control measures. As mentioned earlier, most cases are not economically motivated which rules out conflict theory since that ideology is associated with perpetrators who believe in class conflict, and using any means to obtain monetary or social power within a divided society. On side note, the trend and cases discussed, Social Learning theory appears to be a universal motivation for incidents which occurred within the context of group settings due to the motivation and skills given by peers (or social media... ... from http://www.myfoxny.com/story/23359158/ny-teen-has-hearing-in-knockout-game-death-case See/Methodist University, E., & Kieser/Methodist University , E. (2013).http://global.oup.com/. Retrieved May 13, 2014, from http://global.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780199844487/guide1/study_guide.pdf Senate passes stronger penalties for 'knockout game'. (2014). Spin Control [The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Washington - BLOG], The Associated Press (2013, November 22). Deadly 'knockout' game gains national prominence | syracuse.com. Retrieved May 13, 2014, from http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/11/deadly_knockout_game_gains_national_prominence.html Zonfrillo, M. R., Arbogast, K. B., & Fein, J. A. (2014). The Knockout Game: Recreational Assault and Traumatic Brain Injury. Lancet, 383( 9916), 513-514. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60184-7

Benito Cereno by Herman Melville

In â€Å"BÐ µnito CÐ µrÐ µno† by HÐ µrman MÐ µlvillÐ µ, thÐ µ author offÐ µrs a warning about thÐ µ dangÐ µrs of slavÐ µry, and thÐ µ futurÐ µ problÐ µms slavÐ µry could causÐ µ AmÐ µrica. By tÐ µlling thÐ µ story of a slavÐ µ rÐ µvolt on a Spanish ship, MÐ µlvillÐ µ shows how prÐ µjudicÐ µs affÐ µct a pÐ µrson’s pÐ µrcÐ µption of thÐ µ world around him. Through writing most of thÐ µ story from thÐ µ viÐ µwpoint of thÐ µ main charactÐ µr, Captain Amasa DÐ µlano of Duxbury, MassachusÐ µtts, MÐ µlvillÐ µ dÐ µmonstratÐ µs how prÐ µjudicÐ µs can limit onÐ µÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s pÐ µrspÐ µctivÐ µ and undÐ µrstanding.Although Captain DÐ µlano is an honÐ µst and kind pÐ µrson, hÐ µ cannot pÐ µrcÐ µivÐ µ thÐ µ world rÐ µalistically bÐ µcausÐ µ hÐ µ bÐ µliÐ µvÐ µs that blacks arÐ µ nothing morÐ µ than propÐ µrty. Captain DÐ µlano’s inability to rÐ µcognizÐ µ his prÐ µjudicÐ µs or to lÐ µarn from his Ð µxpÐ µrià  µncÐ µ in thÐ µ slavÐ µ rÐ µvolt makÐ µ him a symbol of what MÐ µlvillÐ µ fÐ µars will happÐ µn to AmÐ µrica. ThÐ µ story opÐ µns in thÐ µ Ð µarly morning of August 1799, off thÐ µ coast of ChilÐ µ, aboard an AmÐ µrican sÐ µaling ship callÐ µd thÐ µ BachÐ µlor’s DÐ µlight and undÐ µr thÐ µ command of Captain Amasa DÐ µlano.MÐ µlvillÐ µ dÐ µscribÐ µs DÐ µlano as a bÐ µnÐ µvolÐ µnt optimist who has a â€Å"singularly undistrustful good naturÐ µÃ¢â‚¬  and doÐ µs not likÐ µ to bÐ µliÐ µvÐ µ that man is capablÐ µ of Ð µvil. HowÐ µvÐ µr, DÐ µlano is also dÐ µscribÐ µd as a blunt thinkÐ µr and a simplÐ µ man incapablÐ µ of irony. WhilÐ µ DÐ µlano is dÐ µscribÐ µd as such a dÐ µfinitÐ µ thinking pÐ µrson, MÐ µlvillÐ µ dÐ µpicts thÐ µ morning as unclÐ µar and blurrÐ µd. ThÐ µ sÐ µa is fillÐ µd with a gray mist and thÐ µ color of thÐ µ sky, watÐ µr and birds all sÐ µÃ µm gray. Thus, thÐ µ rÐ µadÐ µr knows that thÐ µ indÐ µfinitÐ µnÐ µss of thÐ µ day and its hazinÐ µss will confusÐ µ DÐ µlano and prÐ µvÐ µnt him from sÐ µÃ µing clÐ µarly.Finally, thÐ µ prÐ µsÐ µncÐ µ of shadows adds furthÐ µr mystÐ µry to thÐ µ morning, which MÐ µlvillÐ µ says, â€Å"forÐ µshadow dÐ µÃ µpÐ µr shadows to comÐ µ. † ThÐ µ oddnÐ µss of thÐ µ day continuÐ µd whÐ µn DÐ µlano spottÐ µd a ship without a flag, which usually indicatÐ µd that it was a piratÐ µ ship. However, based upon how the ship was badly navigating the waters along the coast, Delano presumed that it was a ship in distress. As a result, he decided to take the whale boat to investigate and help those on board. While Delano advanced toward the ship, Melville gives the first hint of how Delano’s prejudices keep him from being able to perceive the world properly.As Delano rowed toward the ship, he could not grasp the fact that it was a ship he was moving toward because he saw Negroes on the deck. At t he time, Negroes usually did not walk freely on decks, but were locked in the holds as slaves. Delano made excuses and thought the ship was impossible things, such as a monastery because he thought the black figures on deck were friars dressed in black robes. His prejudices about blacks prevented him from seeing even just simple things, including ships, accurately.Upon boarding the ship, Delano found it and its crew in horrible shape. While it was a very large and one-time fine vessel, it had become a horrendous ship looking like a funeral carriage. Barnacles encrusted the hulls and rust covered its once-fine features. The ropes were woolly and not tarred, and like â€Å"mourning weeds† sea grass swept over the engraved name of the ship, San Dominick. Melville writes that Delano’s actions were an attempt to â€Å"ignore the symptoms, to get rid of the malady,† like someone trying forget about seasickness by walking around the ship.While Delano prepared to leave after his men brought back supplies, Delano invited Cereno to return with him to his ship, but Cereno refused. Delano was offended by Cereno’s rudeness and chose to leave the San Dominick as soon as possible. However, Cereno chased after Delano and then tightly held Delano’s hand until they reached the whale boat. As Delano’s whale boat started to leave, Cereno leaped into it. Delano grabbed Cereno’s throat thinking that Cereno was going to kill him. Babo also jumped into the boat, and tried to kill Cereno with a hidden dagger.Delano, thinking Babo was protecting his master, blocked Babo and put his foot on Babo’s throat. Suddenly, Delano understood what all of the events on the ship meant and the â€Å"scales dropped from his eyes† when he saw the other slaves trying to attack the whale boat. During the attack by Babo, the canvas covering the masthead at the front of the ship unwrapped revealing Alexandro Aranda’s skeleton. Delano an d Cereno escaped to the Bachelor’s Delight with Babo as a prisoner. On board the ship, Delano finally learned about the revolt.The revolt of the slaves was led by Babo and their objective was to get back to their homeland, Senegal. The slaves violently killed many of the Spanish sailors, and after killing Alexandro Aranda, they hung his skeleton at the front of the ship. The slaves used the skeleton to warn the sailors that they would â€Å"follow their leader† if the sailors did not follow orders. After Delano heard Cereno’s story, Delano offered to give his sailors part of the Spanish cargo if they gained control of the San Dominick. The sailors boarded the Spanish ship, and killed most of the slaves.After the attack, the American sailors brought the captured slaves to the Bachelor’s Delight and shackled them to the deck. During the voyage to Lima, Peru, the sailors stabbed, killed and poked some of the slaves with knives as revenge for the revolt. At t he court trial held when they arrived in Lima, Cereno testified at his deposition and explained what had occurred during the revolt. Many of the slaves were found guilty, including Babo who had never spoken again after his capture, even at his execution. Following the trial, Delano and Cereno had a final conversation together.Cereno was disappointed with Delano because he could not comprehend Cereno’s signs warning of him of danger on the ship. Delano told Cereno to forget about what happened that day because he had already forgotten about his own errors. Thus, Delano forgot and did not learn from the experience. Delano also asked Cereno what was casting a shadow on him, and Cereno replied that it was the Negro. Cereno left Lima to become a monk and died three months later. Delano’s prejudices and clouded perspective led him to misperceive the behavior of the slaves.He believed that whites were the better race and that blacks were a completely different species, like a nimals, describing the Negroes like dogs and the Negresses like cheetahs and doves. He also believed that Negroes made good servants because of their natural calm and simple and limited thinking. Thus, while Delano thought Babo was very weak and stupid because of his size and race, he believed he was a loyal servant. However, Babo was really a strong leader because he planned and led the slave revolt.Furthermore the sweet and loving Negresses were really the most vicious people on the ship because Cereno, in his deposition, said that they wanted to torture and kill all of the sailors. Even when Delano saw the slaves abuse and stab the white sailors, he believed they were actually docile because he had read a book about a tribe of docile wild Africans. Therefore, Delano’s prejudices made him unable to believe that the slaves could revolt against white sailors. Melville depicted the cycle of violence of slavery as a warning of what could happen to America if it did not change i ts beliefs.Slavery is based on violence and the belief that a certain group of people are not human because of their race. The stern-piece of the ship symbolizes the cycle of violence that causes slavery. Spain originally used this symbol to show its power over the world. It is also symbolic of the slaves when they revolted and took over the ship because they violently killed the sailors in order to hold them down. Finally, Delano completed the cycle when he captured Babo, copying the symbol in real life. Spain, a once-great power, never stopped the cycle of slavery, and by 1799, it was falling apart like the San Dominick.America, in 1799, was the new world power that Melville feared would become like Spain if it did not end slavery. Melville’s fears were correct since slavery was the main cause of the American Civil War. However, Melville’s warning about prejudice still applies even today. â€Å"Benito Cereno† is a very complex short story with a very important message about slavery. The story has many sophisticated and symbolic points. This story is recommended for people who enjoy sailing and studying about America’s views during the early 1800’s.

The Causes Of The French Revolution - 1522 Words

The French Revolution The French Revolution was arguably one of the most significant and controversial events in European history. It occurred during the years 1789-1799 when many French citizens became enraged with society and demanded political, financial and social change. The French people’s primary goal was to put an end to monarchy and bring reform to many aspects of French life. Inspired and motivated by the famous American Revolution, French citizens were urged to take action in order to bring forth the change they desired. They strived to better society and instill Enlightenment ideals, such as popular sovereignty and inalienable rights, by any means necessary; even if it meant killing thousands who got in their way.†¦show more content†¦Members of the Third Estate were expected to pay all taxes and the rich which belonged to the second and first estates paid none. The Third Estate saw this as highly unfair and wanted financial reform. France’s economy fell apart and people began to experience food shortages; people even started to starve. Scarce food supply played an additional role in the start of the revolution. With the start of the revolution, people started to discuss the change they wanted to be done to society. The National Assembly later met in a tennis court and swore the famous Tennis Court Oath, where they agreed to never separate until a new and just constitution had been established for France. Louis XVI responded by sending troops to Paris mainly to stop uprisings over food shortages, but the revolutionaries viewed this as a provocation and attacked the Bastille Prison with a large angry mob. Rioters stormed the Bastille fortress in an attempt to secure gunpowder and weapons. The prison was a symbol of the royal authority in France to which they were revolting. This event became known as The Storming of the Bastille and was commemorated as the start of the French Revolution. Fear and violence consumed the capitol a s Parisians panicked when rumors of an impending military coup began to spread. Widespread hysteria quickly swept the countryside and The Great Fear started. This period of panic was due to the rumors of an aristocratic conspiracy by the kingShow MoreRelatedCauses Of The French Revolution1119 Words   |  5 PagesThe French Revolution The French Revolution of 1789 was one of the biggest upheavals in history. You may be wondering what exactly led this to happen, but there were multiple long range causes. Political, social, and economic conditions ultimately led to the discontent of many French people especially those of the third estate. The ideals of the Enlightenment brought new views to government and society. Before the revolution, the majority of France were living in poverty. Peasants were entirelyRead MoreCauses Of The French Revolution896 Words   |  4 Pagesyears, the French Revolution went from women marching to Versailles and demanding bread, to the institution of the Reign of Terror, which killed close to 250,000 people. The late 18th century was a dramatic time of French, political transformation which originally strived to implement equality throughout the nation. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen reflected the ideas of the Enlightenment and presented the idea of equality and liberty. In theory, the French Revolution of 1789Read MoreCauses Of The French Revolution906 Words   |  4 PagesThe French Revolution began with a corrupt monarch, and ended with the death of thousands. In 1789 the bourgeoisie (middle class) and peasants revolted against King Louis XVI and nobility, citing various reasons as cause: including corruption and a poor economy. These p eople, making up 97% of the population, were known as the third estate. The original purpose of the revolution was to create a constitutional monarchy, but this idea quickly became lost in the radical ideas of the revolution. HoweverRead MoreCauses Of The French Revolution911 Words   |  4 PagesThe French Revolution was a major turning point in all of European history. The old regime was destroyed and a new order came to be. We will talk about the causes of the revolution, when it ended, and if it was violent, Napoleon, what happened after his defeat, and some other leaders, and movies I have seen about the Revolution and how they were correct, plus other things I want to learn. The immediate cause of the French Revolution in 1789 was the near collapse of the French budget. On theRead MoreCauses Of The French Revolution750 Words   |  3 PagesA revolution is a drastic change in the way something is done, such as a government or an economy. One such revolution took place in France where the government was changed several times, many different people obtained power, and traditional ideas were questioned. The French Revolution had many social, political, and economic factors that caused it, and it was very impactful on the people of France, and on the areas outside of it. There were many causes of the French Revolution; some were politicalRead MoreCauses of the French Revolution991 Words   |  4 PagesFor six of the eight causes of revolution, describe two events, actions or beliefs (evidence) during the years before the French Revolution that led to a developing revolutionary situation. Explain how each contributed to the revolutionary situation. Frances failed attempts at economic reform contributed heavily to the developing revolutionary situation. In August 1787, when the parlements refused to implement the Kings proposed changes to the financial system, it became clear that the Kings authorityRead MoreThe Causes Of The French Revolution902 Words   |  4 Pagesthe French Revolution was not caused by one single phenomenon, however it can be said that the events occurring in accordance with the French Revolution were not only terrifying but when looking through our eyes just clearly wrong. The most significant reasons for the French Revolution are the imbalance of equality, power, and rights these reasons are supported by the ideas of liberty and fraternity which developed from the enlightenment era philosophers. In conclusion to the French Revolution theRead MoreThe Causes Of The French Revolution1273 Words   |  6 PagesDuring 1789, the French Revolution broke out against totalitarian rule and extreme poverty suffered by French civilians. France was under the absolute control of Louis XVI who gathered groups of nobles, clergy, and other royal families in certain cities. The corrupt French royal families in those cities were squandering nearly 75% of France’s wealth and in addition to the expense of royal classes, other wealthy classes such as landlords, local government, and churches were not taxed which made taxesRead MoreFrench Revolution Causes1139 Words   |  5 Pages The French Revolution was not an event that happened overnight but rather a series of events that occurred over several years leading up to the overthrow of the monarchy and the implementation of a new government. The Primary cause for the fall of the Ancien regime was its financial instability and inability to improve upon the lives of the French people. The 4 key flaws or events leading to the fall of the regime was; the structure of royal government, the taxation system, the structure of frenchRead MoreCauses of the French Revolution3450 Words   |  14 PagesTHE FRENCH REVOLUTION (1789-1799) The French Revolution was a watershed event that changed Europe irrevocably and ended a century of slowly increasing opposition to absolutism and the supremacy of a decadent aristocracy. The causes of the French Revolution are difficult to pin down. Therefore, we will divide them into long-term and immediate causes. Within long-term causes, we will also define intellectual, political and economic causes. Long-Term Intellectual Causes Before a movement can reach

The parallels between The Crucible and the Rwanda Genocide...

The Parallels between The Crucible and The Rwanda Genocide The themes of justice, community and sacrifice in The Crucible are universal and can be identified in many modern events in history, including the Rwanda Genocide. The genocide in Rwanda and The Salem Witch Hunts in The Crucible have many striking similarities, primarily these are: the hunting down and killing of a group of people identified as being different, the mass killing of people for no valid reason and the taking of revenge on a whole group of people for the acts of one or more individuals of that group. Common to these two events is the ruthless hunting down of victims. The judges in The Crucible pressure Abigail and the girls for the names of possible witches. Their†¦show more content†¦The Hutu’s believe the Tutsi’s were trying to regain power. There was a long history of rivalry and violence between these two tribes and the killing of the president was the catalyst ignited the voracious flames of revenge. The Hutu’s began their manhunt to find and kill the Tutsi’s in revenge for the years of perceived oppression when the Tutsi’s ruled Rwanda. Like John Proctor in The Crucible, there too is a protagonist in the Rwanda Genocide – Paul Rusesabagina. They both display strength in standing up for what is right, they refuse to betray their friends and they both show great courage to do what is right, even if it means sacrificing themselves. In The Crucible, as things start to get out of hand, John takes it on himself to stand up to the authority and set things right. Even when standing up against the church places suspicion on him, John will not compromise his beliefs and fights for what he believes is right. This is the same fight Paul Rusesabagina undertakes. Paul refuses to fall into the violence and hatred between the Hutu’s and Tutsi’s. He questions the idea that Hutu’s are better than Tutsi’s. He himself, a Hutu, is married to a Tutsi and he will not let himself be threatened into changing his beliefs or into following what the other Hutu’s are doing. As a Hutu, Paul is expected to despise the Tutsi’s and to be a part of the violence and

Is Google Making Us Stupid - 933 Words

With the fast-paced development of technology, internet plays a more and more important role in our life. While acknowledging the convenience provided by the internet, Nicholas Carr expressed his concern that it negatively influenced our capability of deep reading and thinking in his article Is Google Making Us Stupid? Published in the 2008 issue of the Atlantic. However, there existed some weaknesses in his arguments due to the use of overstated pathos, inappropriate examples, and faulty logics, which to some extent hurt his persuasiveness. At the beginning of the passage, the writer tries to deliver his worries about the harmful impact imposed by computers on human minds, describing it as â€Å"shaping the process of thought† (315) and â€Å"chipping away a person’s capacity for concentration and contemplation† (315). The word â€Å"shape† and â€Å"chipping away† strongly imply that computers are constraining or even controlling our ways of thinking. For Nicholas, the computer seems to become a threat, distracting his attention and hindering him from contemplating. He attempts to appeal the same fear to the audience, which in fact works in the opposite way. Based on the readers’ previous experience, they could doubt whether computers are actually as powerful as the author presents or the author just overstates the damage of using the internet. Apparently, computer is significantly useful in almost every one’s life, yet its limit is also noticeable. It is just a tool for us to reach andShow MoreRelatedIs Google Making Us Stupid?1240 Words   |  5 Pagesone idea to be represented in many different ways. Both Nicholas Carr’s article â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid?† and M.T Anderson’s novel Feed, the broad idea of the relationship between humans and technology is portrayed. Carr’s article complains of how technology changes the way we think. Carr instigates the idea that we are losing our passion for learning as a result of the internet and search engines such as Google. These advancements, Carr proposes, lead to a world where our intelligence â€Å"flattensRead MoreIs Google Making Us Stupid1140 Words   |  5 PagesIs Google Making Us Stupid In the Atlantic Magazine, Nicholas Carr wrote an article, â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid?† Carr poses a good question about how the internet has affected our brain, by remapping the neural circuitry and reprogramming our memory. Carr states, â€Å"My mind isn’t going—so far as I can tell-but it’s changing. I’m not thinking the say way I used to think.† Carr went on farther, saying that he cannot read as long as he used to, his concentration starts to wonder after two or threeRead MoreIs Google Making Us Stupid?920 Words   |  4 Pagesa different perspective than that of Manuel Castells. In â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid?† Carr believes the Internet has taken the foundation out of learning, socializing and reading. Coupled with Manuel Castells, Nicholas Carr agrees that the Internet has been of good use in some cases (Wikipedia for the many hours of research conducted for its database that we access) but he also believes the Internet is slowly making him and us stupid. Carr says â€Å"My mind now expects to take in information the wayRead MoreIs Google Making Us Stupid?1548 Words   |  7 Pagesindependent will and creative imagination. These gives us the ultimate human freedom†¦. The power to choose, to respond, to change (Independence Quotes. Brainy Quote. Xplore. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.).† The Declaration of In dependence allows people to do whatever they please as long as it’s within the law, but Google is restraining what people can really do. It may not seem that a search engine can limit people, but one needs to think about the many things Google consists of that doesn’t allow people to chooseRead MoreIs Google Making Us Stupid?1048 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Is Google making us stupid? Three authors weigh in One of the most common clichÃÆ' ©s is that the Internet has robbed us of our attention spans and impeded our ability to communicate effectively. Once we could write properly, now we only text. Google has made us lazy in terms of how we research and access data. However, is this true? In three major news publications, three major essayists have grappled with this question and come to completely different conclusions. Although the neurological evidenceRead MoreIs Google Making Us Stupid?879 Words   |  4 PagesAmerican writer, Nicholas G. Carr, in The Atlantic July/ August 2008 Issue titled â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid?† argues that the amount of time we spend online, especially google, has caused us to lose our minds by â€Å"tinkering† with our brains, â€Å"reprograming our memory,† and changing the way in which we process information. Carr’s purpose is to contribute to the idea that â€Å"Google† along with other online tools, is programi ng us to be less attentive and to the inhibition of our critical thinking skills. GuidedRead More`` Is Google Making Us Stupid?1384 Words   |  6 Pagestechnology is changing the way we access information; anything is accessible in mere seconds. This implementation has resulted in the most aware society of all time. Most information is just a quick and simple Google search away. An article, written by Nicholas Carr â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid? â€Å" in a 2008 issue for The Atlantic magazine, questioned the negative cognitive effects of the world wide web. Carr recognizes how much we rely on the internet and believes that humanity needs reform. AccordingRead MoreIs Google Making Us Stupid?1040 Words   |  5 Pagesquestion â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid?† This has set off a debate on the effects the internet is having on our brains. Obviously the internet is here to stay, but is it making us scatterbrained? Are we losing the ability to think deeply? Criticism of t he Web most often questions whether we are becoming more superficial and scattered in our thinking. In the July-August 2008 Atlantic magazine, Nicholas Carr published Is Google Making Us Stupid? (http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200807/google). Like otherRead More`` Is Google Making Us Stupid?1505 Words   |  7 Pagescritically inspect both the positive and negative effects technology can have on development and cognition and all assert that technology is not as daunting as some make it out to be. However, some opinion based pieces such as Nicholas Carr’s â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid?† conclude that we should be apprehensive about technology advancing. The differences in outlook towards digital technology s future effect on the mind can best be seen in how authors view technology as a source of distraction, hypertextRead MoreIs Google Making Us Stupid?733 Words   |  3 Pages Nicholas Carrs article, â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid?† makes points that I agree with, although I find his sources to be questionable. The article discusses the effects that the Internet may be having on our ability to focus, the difference in knowledge that we now have, and our reliance on the Internet. The points that are made throughout Carrs article are very thought provoking but his sources make them seem invaluable. Carr discusses the effects that the Internet has on our minds and the way

Hofstede’s Cultural Dimension Model Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Questions: 1.Describe how Hofstedes five cultural dimensions could be used to explain the situation at Lees Company? 2.Discuss what; is anything Lee could do to remain at the company but continue to work in a manner which he felt comfortable. Explain your reasons? 3.How can the Korean Manager deal with more individualistic employees without losing the competitive advantage of the talented workforce? Answers: Professor Hofstedes cultural dimension model is a clear way of understanding the cultural differences that exist in the society. Lees case study explains his challenging situation at work which when described using Hofstedes model appears to be a regular occurrence. 1.The Power Distance Index (PDI) is the kind of gap that exists and is also accepted between those with and without power. A high PDI is people have received the bridge created by power and understand their position in the hierarchical distribution (Luger (2009)) low PDI, on the other hand, comes in when there is the equal and widespread distribution of power exists, and members of the society cannot accept when it is shared unequally. Lee is an employee who is answerable to his manager and has to obey the commands from above for a healthy working environment. There is, therefore, a high PDI in the company as workers have no much say to the running andmanagement of the business (Al-Sharqwi (2004).) Individualism versus collectivism as the name suggests explains the ties people have towards each other in an individual society. A high IDV comes in when people work towards their responsibilities and end up having weak interpersonal communication. Collectivism, on the other hand, people stick with a group and work towards the benefit of everyone involved. Lee seems to have a high IDV as he works alone, completes the chores and that might be the reason as to why he started receiving an unfriendly response(Marcus 2004, June) Masculinity versus femininity exists with the distribution of responsibilities between men and women. A masculine society has the expectations that men should be strong and prosperous, and there is no overlap between their roles and those of women. A feminine society, on the other hand, has a serious duplication and women feel that physical strength can be overcome by the mental intellect (McDonough (2011)). Lee might have masculinity due to the way he works alone to complete his chores before everyone else and head out. Like a mentality in a working relationship might cause issues especially to the people who feel that work should be shared and consulted. Uncertainty Avoidance Index is another dimension that explains the different ways that people deal with anxiety. With a high Uncertainty avoidance, individuals in the society strive to make their lives predictable, and when they cannot control them, they end up putting their fate in a super power like God (Migliore 2011). On a low UAI however, individuals tend to live a relaxed and open life as there is no fear of the unknown. Lees case has a high UAI as he already predicts the future of his working career and that worries him a lot to the extent that he wants to resign. Indulgence versus Restraint usually explains the extent to which a society regulates the behavior of its people. A society based on high IVR allows for individual gratification where everyone is free to have fun and make their own choices. However, on a level IVR, the society regulates peoples behaviors by enforcing strict norms. Lees company maintains a level IVR as he is instructed to get rid of his casual look and follow all the rules that relate to the working environment (Pierenburg (2011)) 2.Considering the dimensions mentioned above, Lee can still maintain his current job and get comfortable. He should first change his perspective about work and observe the people close to him for information. It is clear that Korea is different from Australia in the way people conduct themselves as his behaviors seem to affect others in a negative way (Taras 2010). The power Index should be his first consideration whereby he should be humble and give his superiors all the respect they deserve. It is okay for him to question issues like the decisions made but respectfully to have his voice heard. The reason as to why he is giving good suggestions and none of them are getting implemented might be because of the way he relates to his superiors (Taras 2010) Collectiveness is again an important dimension to consider in working relationship because of a good relationship with the team maneuvers success. Lee should, therefore, involve his colleagues by asking for their views on his projects and engage them in making them feel useful. He should also consider making a personal relationship with each one of them to improve the relationship. The restraint dimension will also apply in this case, and he should try and fit in the group instead of standing out which makes him a target of hatred (Jones 2007). Some employees would like to dye their hair and wear casual jeans as Lee does, but it is not acceptable. When Lee does the opposite of everyone, then the others feel that he thinks of himself unique and thus the kind of treatment he receives. He can, however, suggest to themanagement on the acceptance of casual wear to give everyone an equal basis, and not Lee alone. 3.The Korean manager also has a role to play in ensuring that he can take control of his work force. Some employee like Lee work differently, and since their skills are required, thenmanagement should take all chances to maintain them (Wu 2006.)The manager can, for example, demonstrate to Lee, the importance of team work by comparing the quality of work from an individual and that produced by a group. Since the company requires great ideas in the sectors of finances, sales and marketing, expansion and other areas, then consultation is necessary. Lee should, therefore, be given valid reasons as to why working together brings success in any organizations (Marcus 2004, June) He should also make sure that the employee feels welcome in the environment to allow him to share with the rest of the team. Lee might be shying off from the group due to fear of ridicule and criticism. It is therefore good to encourage the team to receive a new employee and advise him according to the lifestyle of the organization. Hofstedes cultural dimensions are therefore applicable in our day to day activities depending on the perception of the society that everyone resides. Lees case study is a good explanation as to why people should try to understand each others perspective and work towards making everyone comfortable. A working relationship can only be satisfying if the views and ideas of each person are put into consideration. References Al-Sharqwi, SY (2004)., Hofstede's cultural dimensions and work-related values in Kuwait: implications for employment policy. Jones, ML 2007, Hofstede-culturally questionable?. Luger, E (2009), Hofsteede's Cultural Dimensions.,. Mu?nchenGRIN Verlag GmbH. Marcus, AABVJ 2004, June, A practical set of culture dimensions for global user-interface development. In Asia-Pacific Conference on Computer Human Interaction , 252261st edn, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. McDonough, S (2011), Connecting visual design and Hofstede's cultural dimensions: the United States, Latin America and Spain. , University of Central Florida. , Orlando, Fla,. Migliore, LA 2011, 'Relation between big five personality traits and Hofstede's cultural dimensions: Samples from the USA and India. ', An International Journal, vol 18(1), no. Cross Cultural Management: , pp. pp.38-54. Pierenburg, K (2011), Critical analysis of Hofstede's model of cultural dimensions to what extent are his findings reliable, valid and applicable to organisations in the 21st century?, Mu?nchen, GRIN Verlag GmbH. Taras, V,KBLASP, 2010, Examining the impact of Culture's consequences: a three-decade, multilevel, meta-analytic review of Hofstede's cultural value dimensions. Wu, M, 2006., 'Hofstede's cultural dimensions 30 years later: A study of Taiwan and the United States. ', vol 15(1), no. Intercultural Communication Studies, p. p.33.

What Nonfiction Writers Can Learn From Fiction - The Writers For Hire

WHAT NONFICTION WRITERS CAN LEARN FROM FICTION Have you ever read a fiction book that you just couldn’t put down? The author probably used some techniques to make it a page-turner. The thing is, while fiction books are known for keeping people up all night because they have to get to the end, nothing says that a nonfiction book can’t be just as engrossing. But if you’re going to write a nonfiction book that people can’t put down, you’ll have to use some of the fiction techniques in your book. Is it possible to write a nonfiction page-turner? You bet. 10 Fiction Techniques You Should Use in Your Nonfiction Book Fiction writers are experts at keeping the reader interested and turning the page. Here are ten fiction writing tips that you can use to add some life and excitement to your nonfiction book. 1. Get Their Attention Immediately If you’re like me, you like to read the first sentence or paragraph of a fiction book before you decide whether or not to read it. If it catches your attention, there’s a good chance that you’ll like the book. But if it doesn’t, it may end up back on the shelf. So, why do so many nonfiction books start out flatlined? It’s likely because the author hasn’t yet figured out that grabbing the attention of the reader is just as important in nonfiction as it is in fiction. Let’s use some fiction opening line examples to learn how to surprise and delight our readers with this technique in nonfiction. Fiction Example #1 â€Å"Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendia was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.† This line is from â€Å"One Hundred Years of Solitude,† written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. When you read it, you’re instantly intrigued because: You know the character will face a firing squad and you want to know why. Is he a bad guy, or a good guy caught up in an unjust situation? The idea of someone discovering ice is intriguing. Why didn’t the character know about it before? Does he live someplace where ice doesn’t exist? Fiction Example #2 â€Å"Once upon a time, there was a woman who discovered she had turned into the wrong person.† This opening line is from Anne Tyler’s book, â€Å"Back When We Were Grownups.† It works because: The term, â€Å"Once upon a time is how fairytales typically begin, so it’s unusual for a modern novelHow did a woman suddenly discover she wasn’t who she wanted to be? What happened? Tell me more! As you can see, the authors who wrote these novels captured the reader’s attention from the first sentence. Chances are, that’s why the books have taken their places as great novels. Now, let’s look at an example of a great opening line from a nonfiction book: Nonfiction Example #1 â€Å"Tuesday, September 16, 2008, was the day after Lehman.† That line is from â€Å"Crashed,† by Adam Tooze. Why is it so powerful? The book details the account of the financial crash, and as soon as you read the opening line, you understand that it’s not going to be a boring book that you have to plow through. It starts the same way successful novels do: in the middle of a story. Nonfiction Example #2 â€Å"As the lights went out in Western Ukraine on Christmas Eve 2015, Andy Ozment had a queasy feeling.† This opening line is from a book called â€Å"The Perfect Weapon,† by David E. Sanger. Although you wouldn’t know it from the opening line, the book has the potential to be a little dull. It’s about cyber weapons and geopolitics. In fact, in the hands of another author, it could have been another dry read. But it became a bestseller. Here’s why this opening line works: It starts with a mystery. Why did the lights go out on Christmas Eve in Ukraine? And why would that make Ozment queasy?It makes you want to keep reading to find out what’s happening. As you can see, opening lines are just as important for nonfiction books as they are for fiction books. Does your book catch the reader’s attention right away? If not, you should probably rewrite it so it does. 2. Make Sure Your Table of Contents (TOC) Sells Your Book Have you ever scanned the TOC in a nonfiction book before you decide to read it? If you’re like most people, you have. And when we do that, we expect two things: for the contents of the book to flow in a logical order, and to find out what information the book holds. Your TOC should be arranged in an order that makes sense to your reader. If you’ve never created a TOC before, you can choose from the following prompts and write down at least ten ideas from the one you choose. Then decide how to arrange them to create your TOC in a way that makes sense to readers. Questions that readers may have about the topicProblems your readers have and how you will solve themGeneral topics you want to cover in the bookBenefits readers will realize from the book 3. Include Stories — Lots of Them Stories aren’t just for the opening line a nonfiction book. Take a cue from fiction writers and tell stories throughout your book to keep the reader engaged. This is appropriate for any topic. For instance, if you are writing a book about how to sew slipcovers for furniture, tell the stories of people who have done it successfully — and of those who failed at it. Use the stories to teach the reader and keep them turning those pages. If you can start each chapter with a big story and then include smaller stories in the subchapters, you’ll keep the reader engaged and moving along. 4. Write Tight so the Book Moves When an author is unsure of the direction of his book, he often adds fluff. Fluff is nonessential words that only serve to fill space. The use of fluff is death to a successful book — fiction or nonfiction. Instead, every word that you include in your book should matter. When you write tight sentences without a lot of unnecessary words, the reader will stay engaged and keep turning the pages. On the other hand, when you fill the pages with a lot of fluff, it weighs down the book and leads to reader dissatisfaction. Here’s an example: Tight writing: I poured dog food into Lucy’s bowl and watched her inhale it.Writing with fluff: I walked across the room and pulled out the bag of dog food from the cabinet. Then, I walked back across the room and poured some into Lucy’s bowl. She ate it really fast, and I stepped back in surprise. 5. Show Don’t Tell If you know anything about fiction writing, you know that you should never tell the reader what’s going on. Instead, you should always show them through the character’s actions. If you use the same technique in your nonfiction book, readers will enjoy it more. Here’s how it works: Telling: In 2010, my company had a horrible day because we suffered a loss in the tens of millions of dollars. I quickly called over my employees and told them that they needed to start looking for other jobs.Showing: It was 2010, and the day continued to spiral downward. After learning about the magnitude of the losses we’d incurred, I gathered my employees around me and broke the news that they should start looking elsewhere for employment. While it’s true that you have to â€Å"tell† sometimes in a nonfiction book, it will make your book stand out from the crowd if you also â€Å"show† the reader along the way. It breaks up the monotony and keeps them interested in what you have to say. 6. Give Them an Experience Have you ever read a book and as you got closer to the end, you dreaded the moment you read the last page? It happens a lot with fiction books, but some non-fiction books leave you with the same feeling. For instance, in Tim Feriss’ 4-Hour Workweek, the reader is transported to a life with little work and a whole lot of play. By the time you finish the book, you feel as if you’ve been on vacation somewhere in the tropics. And the book’s topic? Outsourcing. 7. Introduce Some Characters People relate to people, and if you’re going to write a successful nonfiction book, you will have to introduce some characters to your readers. They will want to spend some time with people who have experienced their problems and solved them. For instance, if you’re writing a book about dealing with the turbulent teenage years, introduce some parents and tell their stories. And if you tell more than one story about someone, they become a character in your book. The mom you introduce at the beginning of the book, who is having a difficult time dealing with her teenager can show up throughout the book as she progresses toward finding a solution. Your readers will get to know her as she travels the same path and reaches the solution they long for, and that will help them relate to her — and your book. 8. Don’t Forget the Questions Almost everyone who buys a nonfiction book has a question. And we can learn from our fiction friends how to go about answering them. Fiction writers use cliffhangers to keep an audience engaged. They talk about something but then leave the conclusion unanswered so readers will continue reading to find out how it ended. Nonfiction writers can ask questions of the reader — and then make them wait for the answer. It works just like a cliffhanger. For example, you can start your chapter with a story, and at the end of the story, ask a question. But instead of answering it right away, wait until the end of the chapter. People are hardwired to want answers to questions, and this method will keep them reading as one questions after another is asked — and later answered. 9. Go Deep If you go to Amazon and read the reviews for nonfiction books, one of the biggest complaints you’ll find (especially for indie-published books) is that the book only touches on the topic. Some nonfiction authors have a bad habit of only giving readers a portion of the answer they’re looking for. This is not the way to a successful book. Can you imagine a fiction writer telling only part of the story? Instead, you should dive deep into your subject matter and decide to write the most comprehensive book on the subject. When you’re creating your TOC, think of every question a reader may have and then set out to answer it. Take a look at all the bestselling nonfiction books and try to find one that only touches on the topic. Here’s a hint: you won’t find one. 10. You Need a Plot Finally, if you want to steal fiction writer’s best-kept secrets, here’s one you shouldn’t miss. Fiction books have a beginning, middle, and an end, and your book should, too. How you set this up is up to you, but once a reader reaches the end of the book, they should feel like the time they spent reading was well worth it. A nonfiction plot could look like this: Beginning: Set up the problem and explain why it’s so difficult to overcomeMiddle: Explain the various solutions to the problemEnd: Help the reader make the transition from problem to solution Let’s Start Writing Fiction writers shouldn’t have all the fun. Just because you’re writing a nonfiction book, that doesn’t mean you can’t use the time-proven techniques that fiction writers have perfected over the years. So, instead of writing a book that only relays the facts, why not write one that takes your readers on a journey? Here’s the truth: you’ll have more fun writing it, and your readers will have the pleasure of reading a nonfiction book that feels effortless and enjoyable. What’s not to love about that?