Remodeling HR at Home Depot Essay

Abstract Home Depot went through many changes as a result of new CEO Frank Blake and Vice President of Human Resources, Tim Crow. The culture inherited by both Executives from their predecessors went through a transformation process for the business to thrive once again. Blake and Crow justified laying off 1,200 workers as a result of their vision to enhance Home Depot’s position in the market and to go back to the organizations foundations embedded by founders Arthur Blank and Bernard Marcus. Specifically, a closer look at the Human Resources function in the organization was focused on in order to align an HR strategy with the business model. This paper will discuss the strategic initiatives taken by Blake and Crow and how they created a sustainable competitive advantage at Home Depot by focusing on strategic HR. Further, this paper will examine John Kotter’s Eight-step Change Model, the Organization and People Strategy, the â€Å"outside-in† HR approach, and Lepak and S nell’s HR Model. Organizational change became a necessity at Home Depot when the business failed to increase shareholder value and rivals were outperforming the company. Change at Home Depot started at the top with new CEO Frank Blake and Vice President of Human Resources, Tim Crow. Specifically, Blake and Crow transformed the way Human Resources contributed to the organizations success. Blake and Crow’s approach is comparable to a change model put forth by John Kotter—the Eight-steps Change Model. This model focuses on driving organizational changes through analysis, management, and communication. The first step in Kotter’s model is to establish a sense of urgency (Esther & Green, 2009). That is, looking at conditions within the organization to see where adjustments are needed. In Home Depot’s case, HR and its strategic role needed some attention; hence it was analyzed and modified to meet business needs. In the second step, Kotter’s suggestion is to find groups of people who can work together (Esther & Green, 2009). At Home Depot, the Store manager and HR manager were not working â€Å"together†. There seemed to be a barrier as one HR manager, overwhelmed with tasks, could not produce at the highest level. The third step in the Eight-step Change Model elaborates on creating a vision (Esther & Green, 2009). Both Blake and Crow had a vision when they took office. What is more, both Executives wanted to go  back to Home Depot’s core principles to see what changes should be made for the business to out-perform its rivals. Moving forward, the fourth and fifth steps in Kotter’s model talk about the importance of communication (fourth step) and empowering the vision onto others (fifth step) (Esther & Green, 2009). This step at Home Depot was critical—Tim Crow communicated his vision to Frank Blake and others in the company and drove them to change the way HR performed in the organization by eliminating positions that were not efficient. Step six in Kotter’s model recommends creating short-term goals (Esther & Green, 2009). Blake and Crow set realistic short-term goals and shared why taking away an HR manager from each store would be a beneficial move. That is, the Store managers gained 3 HR Generalist instead of one HR manager (Mello, 2010). Step seven in Kotter’s model rewards employees for promoting the chang e and step eight defends the organization’s position on how the new change leads to corporate success (Esther & Green, 2009). Home Depot has taken initiatives discussed later in this paper to carry out steps seven and eight. By using John Kotter’s Change Model, Home Depot went from not having an effective Human Resources presence to employing an operational HR strategy. Right now, Home Depot’s current state of HR is embedded with the company’s overall corporate strategy. The organization has HR professionals who are true business partners, something Tim Crow planned and worked towards during the Human Resources Planning (HRP) stage. Moreover, Crow has taken a strategic approach, one that compares to the Organization and People Strategy. The strategy focuses on three key areas: Reward and Recognition, Talent Management, and Organizational Effectiveness (Armstrong, 2011). Reward and Recognition programs at HD consist of the following: Success Sharing for stores that achieve sales targets (paid out $63 million in 2007), Homer Badges for employees who exemplify company values, and the Product Knowledge Recognition program to reward learning initiatives (Crow, 2008). As far as the Talent Management aspect of the strategy, Home Depot has a Master Trade Specialist program in place that hired 3,000 trade specialists who are licensed electricians and plumbers (Crow, 2008). What is more, the company has HR managers who are more involved than their predecessors with Store managers and the company has its own insourced call center to address employee concerns. To accomplish the third component of the Organization and People Strategy—Organizational Effectiveness, Home  Depot has the Aprons on the Floor program, action based training modules, and an Aware Line telephone service for individuals to call and comment on particular situations (Crow, 2008). Before Blake and Crow took over Home Depot, it was led by former CEO Robert Nardelli and his regime. Nardelli and his choice of Executives turned the Home Depot culture upside down. That is, company officers were at the top, employees in the middle, and customers on the bottom of the pyramid. It took Crow’s strategic mindset to turn the pyramid back to its original position. Further, Blake played a significant role by making employee morale and career development a strategic priority (Crow, 2008). Blake and Crow did not turn the corporation around overnight. Instead, it was an ongoing process that needed commitment from everyone in the company. The reduction in force was the first step. The layoffs assisted Home Depot to take an â€Å"outside-in† approach to focus on strategic HR. This type of approach starts with analyzing the customer, competitor, and other challenges faced by the business (Armstrong, 2011). Further, the â€Å"outside-in† approach tackles ineff ective HR practices that should be revisited and aligned with corporate strategies. To integrate corporate and HR strategies, Home Depot replaced Human Resources managers from each store with additional Sales Associates (Mello, 2010). As Home Depot moves forward with strategic HR in the organization, the focus is on both the technical and managerial strategies. Technical strategies deal with the mathematical and behavioral methods of forecasting HR needs while managerial strategies consist of ways decision-makers tackle human resource issues (Reilly & Williams, 2006). Examples of technical strategies at Home Depot are the reduction of 1,200 human resource positions and establishing fresh roles for new HR teams. From a managerial standpoint, instead of having one Human Resource manager inundated with tasks, the three new Human Resources Generalist each are responsible for one function only—staffing and development, associate relations, and performance management (Mello, 2010). Both technical and managerial HR strategies are helping create a sustainable competitive advantage at Home Depot. When Crow decided to eliminate positio ns, resistance was inevitable. However, the cuts were an advantage to HR at Home Depot because organizational resources were not being allocated in the most efficient way. The trade-off of having a Human Resources manager in each store was the lack of manpower on the floor and that meant shifting  away from selling merchandise. By eliminating the HR manager position and creating regional HR teams, the organization went back to focusing on its core competence of providing customer service and increasing sales. Revenue growth at Home Depot suggests HR regional teams are better than one Human Resource manager in each store. Further, Home Depot’s reasoning behind changing the function of Human Resources can be examined closely by using the Lepak and Snell Model. Lepak and Snell have four quadrants in their model which classify Human Resources configurations. Right now, Home Depot appears to fall under the second quadrant. That is, the focus is on Job-based Employment and the company has Productivity Based HR (Mello, 2010). However, Home Depot is striving to reach Quadrant I: Knowledge-based Employment and Commitment-Based HR by having programs such as the Master Trade Specialist and a robust HR system in place. Overtime, Home Depot can drive their HR strategy to reach Quadrant I to get the most out of th eir business objectives. Conclusion: Home Depot is an example of how strategic HR can influence growth, productivity, and success in an organization. It starts with the willingness of the organization’s leaders to drive change. When Black and Crow eliminated 1,200 employees, the move was alarming to current workers and others in the industry. However, to revamp the HR strategy, layoffs were a necessity. By using theories similar to Kotter’s Eight-step Change Model, the People and Organization strategy, the HR â€Å"outside-in† approach, and Lepak and Snell’s HR Model, Blake and Crow turned around Home Depot’s culture to focus on customer service—its core business competence. Further, the company now has HR business partners who act as liaisons to Store managers to have an effective HR presence in stores. Home Depot is headed in the right direction as a result of its strategic HR focus. References Armstrong, M. (2011). Armstrong’s handbook of strategic human resource management. London: Kogan Page. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.library.georgetown.edu/login.aspx? direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=390442&site=ehost-live&scope=site Crow, T. (2008). Home REMODEL. Workforce Management, 87(12), 1-1,24,26,28. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.proxy.library.georgetown.edu/docview/219795604?accountid=11091 Esther, C., & Green, M. (2009). Making Sense of change Management. Philadelphia, PA: Kogan Page. Mello, J.A. (2010). Strategic Human Resource Management, Third Edition. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning. Reilly, P. A., & Williams, T. (2006). Strategic HR : Building the capability to deliver. Aldershot: Gower. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.library.georgetown.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=269752&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Business Payment Methods Essay

At this time of building my business I need to consider the ways in which I will permit my customers to pay for the books that they buy from my book store. Today there are a wide array of payment solutions available for any buyer of goods and services and to buy books, almost all modes of payment available can be used by the customer whether it is electronically or by direct use of card at the shop or by paying in cash. If the customer is   regular and can be trusted or is a regular bulk customer, check payments can also be accepted. In view of the competitions in the sale of books I have to take some element of risk in this regard in keeping with the business practices. For direct sales at the store a wide choice of payments are available to the customer. He can pay directly in cash or by credit or debit card. I believe cash payment has the least hassles applicable as the money has already come in the moment a sale is done. In the ase of debit and credit cards a wide margin has to be provided for without any applicable discounts since a percentage of the sale amount has to be given to the financial institutions as part of the applicable commission for use of their services. The business of electronic payments is growing rapidly in view of the convenience involved and a wide array of payment options are available which are acceptable in the case of my book store. In addition to the tradition card payments other options are also cceptable to me such as mail order, online payments, acquiring bank payments and through payment bureaus. I understand that as long as a sale is taking place I can accept 2 any of these payment modes provided the financial institution is reputed to make fast payments and is reliable for its transparency in fair dealings. In such cases I may have to reduce my margins a little, but that is ok since most businesses work on volumes and hence I can make up on the low margins.

Getting financing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Getting financing - Essay Example The inadequacy of working capital has prevented many companies from exploiting potential market opportunities that are available to them. This paper tends to explore the scope of raising finance for my business ‘JBR Watches’ located in Los Angeles. Obviously, it is difficult for an entrepreneur to meet all capital requirements for business expansion all by oneself. Hence, for opening a showroom in Los Angeles, I should seek various sources of financing. At this juncture, it is important to identify significant tactics that an entrepreneur can initiate. The most notable factor that denies a firm’s access to financial sources is its negative market stature. This bad situation can be changed if the company deals with large contracts because they offer comparatively higher profit. At the same time, majority contract terms insist that the supplier must provide 30 to 60 days for the client to pay his invoices (Burstnet). So as to meet these credit requirements of the cu stomers effectively and to earn more profit from large business contracts, it is advisable for the JBR Watches to try for venture capital. Venture capital is an option for small companies that possess innovative business plans but have no adequate operating finance (venture capital). Generally, venture capitalists would not be willing to invest their money in risky ventures; hence, the JBR must formulate effective business designs in order to convince the capital provider about the potentiality of its business. Even though, venture capital is offered for a short period of time, JBR can make returns within this period and repay the amount before the maturity of the stipulated period. Similarly, my company may seek assistance from angel investors. An angel investor maybe a wealthy individual or group of individuals who wish to invest in pre-venture capital companies with the objective of uplifting certain communities (Angel Investors). In the case of JBR, the management can highlight the growth requirement of employees’ community; and it may assist the firm to get financial assistance from angel investors. So as to find a potential angel investor, JBR can employ the internet tools like Google search engine. According to Carbajo (2011) bank is another potential financial source for every business. However, it is observed that the banks do not provide loans and other credit facilities to small companies unless the companies possess substantial assets and all other financial records. Although JBR Watches is a notable concern in the industry, its decreased growth rate would not satisfy the banks’ credit criteria. In the opinion of Yates, banks provide credit facilities to small companies also if the business owners personally guarantee the credit repayment. This type of fund raising is a very risky practice for small companies if the business does not realize anticipated profit and the owner is unable to repay the loan amount. Therefore, JBR must be ve ry careful while applying this tool. Use of credit card is another method that can effectively contribute to the working capital requirements of JBR Watches. Credit cards assist the card holders to make purchases or obtain cash advances and pay them later. Business owners must note that credits cards are very expensive source of funding even if it has reasonably low interest rates. As in the case of bank lines of credit, the business owner personally guarantees the debt repayment while employing this technique also. Therefore, this

Risk assessment for a de novo company in a developing country Essay

Risk assessment for a de novo company in a developing country - Essay Example This report stresses that auto parts are a two-edged sword in China. The world auto parts industry has discovered that, for those parts that have a medium- to high labor cost component, China is an endless supply of inexperienced and relatively skilled labor that can produce their parts. If our joint venture establishes itself, there may be several competitors who follow in quickly behind us. There are no barriers to entry. Franchise value would allow our company to charge a premium over generic auto parts suppliers for the perceived quality of our products. This is our guarantee that foreign and domestic Chinese automobile manufacturers would like to use our product in preference to a commodity-type supplier. There is a danger of copying in China, which is greater than other parts of the world. As in developing countries such as India, copyright laws and enforcement are relatively weak. If an erstwhile competitor would like to copy our product, and even put our name on that product, it may take some time before we would be successful in closing down that company’s copycat products. This paper makes a conclusion that the audit function is not simply an â€Å"after-the-fact† exercise. The company needs to put policies and procedures in place which conform to SEC disclosure rules and US laws about foreign practices. The Board should create a separate China subcommittee, and review on a regular (perhaps quarterly) basis the conformance to these requirements. In addition, the outside auditing firm can recommend additional ‘safety’ measures to insure that the JV complies.

Teacher CollaborationCommunication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Teacher CollaborationCommunication - Essay Example Study group, formal as well as informal seminars and trainings, faculty presentation in conferences are some of the activities that promote teacher collaboration. It serves as venue for teachers to support each other's strengths, discuss their weaknesses, sharing of pool of ideas, strategies and materials. Teacher collaboration result in enhancing collegial relationship that breaks the isolation, burn out, and job dissatisfaction. Instead, teachers attain high level of professional fulfillment, enthusiasm at work and job satisfaction. Teachers become more equipped in the classroom, able to reconcile differences of colleagues and students and able to settle occasional conflicts effectively. Since there is collaboration, complex tasks are managed better, new ideas emerge, thus improve schools' curriculum and instruction. Although not uniformly good, teachers who have spent time to work with others have noticed significant improvements in their students' academic performance, attitudes and behavior, and attitude. Since teachers are living examples of collaborative behavior for their students, be it in extracurricular activities or in academic endeavors, students may be influenced by them.

Breast Cancer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Breast Cancer - Essay Example When transcription is not sufficiently balanced, it becomes detrimental to the cell and can cause cancer (Cox & Goding, 1991). It is therefore important to secure a comprehensive understanding of transcription because efforts to carry out corrections to the process can be implemented in instances when issues in the process are apparent. Discussed specifically, the first stage of the transcription process, is seen when the RNA Polymerase-Promoter Complex would bind to the promoter gene in the DNA (Mukakami, et.al., 2001). Such binding also leads to the initiation of the RNA polymerase. The sigma protein has to be present in order for the promoter enzyme to work. Particular sequences on the non-coding strand of the DNA are considered as a signal which would start the unwinding process (Mukakami, et.al., 2001). When the process has been started, the RNA polymerase elongation enzyme then takes over and the second stage of the transcription process manifests. ... f the transcription process or the termination stage the uracil triphosphate or the UTP is added to the RNA through a pairing with the adenine (A) nucleotide on the template DNA strand (Gnatt, et.al., 2001). A phosphodiester bond is then formed and the RNA chain is stretched to 10 nucleotides; the excess diphosphate is expected to dissociate (Gnatt, et.al., 2001). A recent study in embryonic stem cells has revealed a transcription control mechanism that is pervasive and regulated by the gene c-Myc which causes cancer. This study has also discovered a pausing step in the transcription process which regulates the expression of about 80% of genes in mammal cells (Medical News, 2010). The long-accepted perception is that DNA-binding transcription factors include the RNA polymerase Pol II to promoters in order to start off the transcription process. Researchers now claim that additional factors for promoters stop transcription as soon as it begins its process (Medical News, 2010). This means that even as the normal cell processes are being carried out transcription already has faulty qualities. There is a need to engage the transcription process - and this can be a function of factor c-Myc. The pause-release role of the c-Myc is relevant in transcription because over-expression of c-Myc is seen in different tumors and the c-Myc's failure to releas e transcriptional pausing is associated with the increase of cancer cells (Medical News, 2010). These results from various studies are however, still not definitive. I am now interested in investigating the relationship of the over-expression of c-Myc in causing tumors, or more particularly, breast cancer. I propose that c-Myc has a major role in causing tumors, including breast cancer.

Position of Women who Married Out of India from 1900-1980s Essay

Position of Women who Married Out of India from 1900-1980s - Essay Example [Carol Williams,1999]. There had been growing disparity in the well-being of people, especialy women between indigenous poulations and other populations. Overall, the disparity in well-being between the matched reserve/non-reserve pairs was very similar to the disparity between the complete set of reserves and other Canadian communities. This appears to suggest that no significant portion of the disparity between reserves and other communities can be attributed to either location or population size. Once gross geography was taken into account, however, we noticed that reserve communities nearer urban areas were more similar to their non-reserve matched community than reserves in more isolated parts of the country. With few notable exceptions, the disparities between reserves and their non-reserve community matches increased with geographic isolation. [ White & Maxim, 2007] The Indian Act ("An Act respecting Indians"), R.S., 1985, c. I-5, is a Canadian statute that concerns registered Indians (that is, First Nations peoples of Canada), their bands, and the system of Indian reserves. The Indian Act was enacted in 1876 by the Parliament of Canada under the provisions of Section 91(24) of the Constitution Act, 1867, which provides Canada's federal government exclusive authority to legislate in relation to "Indians and Lands Reserved for Indians". The Indian Act is administered by the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.[ Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, page 25] In 1876, the Canadian Parliament amended the Indian Act to establish patrilineality as the criterion for determining Indian status and all commensurate rights of Indian people to participate in band government, have access to band services and programs, and live on the reserves. [Barker, Joanne, 2006]. According to this Act, a woman marrying a non-Indian would lose her Indian status and rights.Often, she was ostracised by her own family and society. However, on the insistence of Women's Rights and Human Rights Acitivsts, there were many amendments in the Indian Act from 1983 to 1985.These amendments partially reversed the 1876 criteria for obtaining Indian status. Male-dominated band councils and Indian organizations protested vehemently against the women and their allies. They were accused of being complicit with a long history of colonization and racism that imposed, often violently, non-Indian principles and institutions on Indian peoples. [Barker, Joanne, 2006]. gc.ca. Of the various amendments have been brought about in The Indian Act, the most noteworthy is Bill C-31. This particular amandment changed the registration system so that entitlement was no longer based on sexually discriminatory rules [DIAND, 1995 ].However, two categories of persons were excluded from registration under the C-31 provisions: women who gained status only through marriage to a status Indian, and later lost it (e.g. through re-marriage to a non-Indian); and children whose mother gained Indian status through marriage and whose father is non-Indian. Krosenbrink-Gelissen& Lilianne E have discussed the role of Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) at length. They look into the scope of the challenges that the Constitution and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms raise for

Critical contexts of law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Critical contexts of law - Essay Example Humanitarian agencies have been intricately involved with the international community’s use of military force in situations of gross human rights violations and grave breaches of international humanitarian law. Humanitarian agencies have called outright for military intervention and not got it. There is the option to call for the military intervention. So here in Sylvia’s case the UN may reject or even give permission of military intervention based on the severity of the issue. People fear of military intervention since there is lot of loss of life, property and the like. Many believe the intervention should be done as the very last option, where every other opportunity has been exhausted. Generally UN suggests of non military intervention where the government officials are denied visas to visit other countries unless they follow rules and remain disciplined. They need a solid and good reason for intervention. The question is does Sylvia have a solid reason apart from i nhumane treatment towards his subjects? What ever he has done is a great crime but the court needs full proof of his crimes, solid proofs. The International Criminal Court (ICC), governed by the Rome Statute, is the first permanent, treaty based, international criminal court established to help end impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community.The question is does Sylvia have a solid reason apart from inhumane treatment towards his subjects?  

Why military leaders need Critical and Creative Thinking to be Essay

Why military leaders need Critical and Creative Thinking to be successful - Essay Example Todays military leaders are constantly compelled to act as "out of the box" thinkers. Such statements give the impression that the only comprehensive solutions are those that have never been conceived. However, what a professional military education system (PMES) as well as the military really endeavor to produce are leaders that have strongly critical as well as creative thinking skills (Hbr 1). Both indirectly avoid the idea that the box even exists. Todays organizations function in what the U.S War College describes as a VUCA setting. Volatility, complexity, uncertainty, and ambiguity are continuous realities within the 21st century. The military tries to prepare for challenges it could probably face by creating realistic training scenarios as well as routinely adding such activities into its ongoing operations. The objective is not to teach them what to think, but to develop their ability to think creatively and critically about the number of contingencies posed by a dynamic environment—in essence to educate them how to think appropriately. The expression "professional military education"(PME) shows the duality of the system. It is intended to both increase the military’s professionalism as well as educate it. These are related as well as overlapping goals, but they are not similar. Professionalism means that the military leaders share both an amount of knowledge directly associated with their mission and ethics. While education implies a widening beyond the limitations of knowledge directly associated with the mission and the advancement of critical and creative thinking. Good decision making is one of the traits together with good leadership that is significant when it comes to command. Critical and creative thinking also has significant consequences for group dynamic skills as well as quality control. Critical and creative

Future of Project Management Team Performance Essay

Future of Project Management Team Performance - Essay Example Presently the HP organization is engaged in streamlining process. With the increase in collaborative activities around the world, the works of companies are outsourced to various service providers in a bid to lower the cost (Mullaney, Stubbings and Clarke, 2013). Until now, most of the HP team members had to work  in  one place and route their communication through  landlines  and direct meetings with colleagues.  With advanced research and development of  technology in the Internet and others, it is easy to contact any person and share the requisite information.   The requirement of the technology is limited to the smart phone or any wired device for connection with  the Internet.   As HP is a largest technology company  around  the world and requires  a constant  inflow of knowledge workers, who are experts in current technologies employed  at  the company and  have the capability of assimilation of the continuous innovation. With the continuous research and development in  communication  technology, employees of HP are able to work and  communicate  to  their colleagues and office people with various electronic devices. So, it is possible for them to work from home or any other premises. This facility has facilitated the engagement of talented workforce  that is not locally available.  With  technological improvement, HP has started implementation of flexibility in work in various offices.   With continuous development and improvement in knowledge,  it is imperative that, the project management team should be trained in contemporary styles regularly.  This is also true about various types of certifications that are needed to keep the edge in the changing market. HP continues to implement the policy regarding the training  to  their employees with contemporary knowledge and certifications (Stanleigh, 2015).   It is a fact that with time, everything changes including trends in the workplace. With ongoing research in  the

Tornadoes in the United States Essay Example for Free

Tornadoes in the United States Essay Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   From the natural definition of tornado usually connotes a vortex of air that rapidly rotates and progress its contact with the ground. The rapidly circulating winds are very much capable of causing damage vast damage as a natural disaster. A tornado can move over a surface with few objects to be picked up and swirled about or you may not be able to see all the way to the surface beneath a funnel cloud because of intervening hills, trees, or buildings. Usually, the manifestations of these funnel clouds are already considered as indications of tornadoes, unless these manifestations are certain not to contact the ground[1]. The stretching that ultimately leads to tornado formation is due to the upward acceleration of the air at the base of the updraft[2]. Most manifestations of tornado illustrate extreme cyclonic force due to the effect called Corriolis, which connotes a counterclockwise movement of air in the northern hemisphere while the opposite direction of air’s movement in the south of equator. Anti-cyclonic tornadoes (clockwise-spinning in the northern hemisphere) have been observed[3]. Tornadoes most prominently manifest from the right side of air movement and the progress ahead from the storm center path as it touches the shores. In this discussion, the primary subject concerns with the occurrence and formation of tornadoes. The study tackles the principles comprising the formation of tornado in order to answer the main inquiry of the study. After which, the study analyzes the effects of tornado occurrence in the environment and the individuals in the perspective of its damaging effects. Lastly, the study covers the frequency of tornadoes in the United States and the most prominent parts in which tornadoes occur. Discussion Formation of Tornadoes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Although the process by which tornadoes form is not completely understood, scientific research has revealed that tornadoes usually form under certain types of atmospheric conditions. The technology and studies in predicting the tornadoes’ occurrences are presently utilized by weather experts to eventually obtain even a crude prediction for tornadoes occurrences. Weather forecast can at least provide crude predictions for the occurrence of tornado, but this information can go inaccurate due to the wide scale of outside factors influencing the tornado’s characteristics[4]. However, even with continuous and vast studies being made to further understand the behavior of these tornadoes, predicting the occurrence of weather even with crude indications are still impossible[5]. Some predictions even fall into inaccuracy at times wherein those areas with less frequent tornadoes are being populated more than those areas with predictions of tornado occurrence but with little or no manifestation of the phenomenon.   Tornadoes, rather than being spread uniformly, as the case for solid body rotation, most of the vorticity and the ascent within the interior of the tornado vortex tend to become concentrated within a narrow ring, just inside the radius of strongest winds. Under certain conditions, this ring of extremely high vorticity can break down into multiple vortices, whose signatures are clearly evident in the situations of aerial debris[6]. In fact, nature’s most violent storms are usually quite small and localized. They are generated, shaped and dominated by powerful winds that whirl around a small area of extremely low pressure, creating a revolving storm with the characteristic swirling, funnel-shaped clouds[7].   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The easiest way to estimate the size of a tornado is by the size of the damage path. Usually, the common type of tornado’s path is from one to two miles wherein the width exceeds up to 50 yards. So far, the largest width the ever recorded accounts to one mile, while the smallest is considered 10 yards[8]. Tornado is formed and driven by a very low pressure winds present at its very core low pressure as its centre, which is often as much as 100mb lower than in the surrounding air. This scenario creates an overly steep pressure gradient that sucks in surrounding air and generates high wind speeds. The usual speed of the wind is in excess of 300 km/h are commonly present in Tornadoes. Geostrophic winds blow clockwise around tornadoes in the northern hemisphere and anticlockwise in the Southern hemisphere[9]. The widths of the tornadoes can vary during depending on the circulation of wind and other factors influencing their occurrences, because the size of the tornado can alter considerably during its lifetime. On other hand, the length of tornadoes’ path varies from the single point or the point of origin to more than 100 miles. The rotation in the tornadic supercell storm builds up gradually for a several hours, but the progression of the tornado itself usually occurs in much more speed than the usual expectation[10]. Typical tornado lifetimes are usually on the order of tens of minutes during which time move with the storm[11]. Most tornadoes have a diameter of less than a few hundred meters. A narrow rotating column of air that blows around a more or less vertical axis of low pressure and moves across the surface of the land is frequently described as a whirlwind[12]. The development of these Doppler radars provided a means for weather forecasters to at least obtain the status of characteristics, and event he chances of tornado for at least under circumstances. The National Weather Service has strategically located Doppler radars across the country which can detect air movement toward or away from the radar[13]. Detecting the progress of rotation within the tornadoes can enable the weather experts to determine and provide appropriate life-saving procedures. Most tornadoes eventually become surrounded by cooler, less buoyant downdraft air a the flanking line or rear flank gust front wraps around the mesocyclone, reminiscent of the way in which the cold air wraps around an occluding extratropical cyclone. As the mature tornado and its associated mesocyclne weaken and die, a new mesocyclone may form along the gust front, setting the stage for the formation of second tornado[14]. Somehow, studies have arrived to the most frequent time ranges when tornadoes usually occur; however, the accuracy of these time frames still vary according to other external factors, such as area, topographical location, climatic shifts, presence of storms, seasonal variations, etc. Tornadoes usually occur during late afternoon or early evening. They are most frequent during late spring or early summer[15]. A series of climatic cycles and transformations is thought to be the primary theory to support the ground basis for the formation of tornadoes. During its early phase, the initial event starts with the drying of cool air starts to meet up with the drying war air. In this sense, the air continuously overlaps with each other until humid air arises on the surface.   Progressing to the next phase, the warmer air begins to settle in the lower altitudes in order to increase the temperature inversion, which comprises of warm, dry stratum above moist or humid air surface layer. Due to the continuous advection or the horizontal airflow, the atmospheric changes under the temperature inversion continue to warm and moisturize. As the sun heats the air at the ground surface, it starts to ascend and cool, which then forms a large cumulonimbus clouds[16]. With tornado’s unpredictable character, tornadoes and the system for its formation are still being critically studied. So far, the studies have revealed the usual occurrence of tornado resides in isolated incidents or in great numbers along a storm front. In extreme cases, these tornadoes can even generate more than 300 miles (483 kilometers) per hour and may travel over 200 miles; the average tornado is much weaker and lasts for 5 to 10 minutes on the ground and traveling 2 to 5 miles[17]. A whirling mass of cloud and debris beneath a roiling sky is a truly awesome and frightening sight. The twisting winds inside a tornado average between 100 and 150 miles per hour, but some storms generate winds in excess of 200 miles per hour[18]. After which, a cold front settles in within the temperature inversion and force the surface air up through it into the cool air above. In this phase, the growth of the clouds progress rapidly although substantial in form but does not extend above the tropopause. In this scenario, a jet stream is being produced, which moves air away from the top of the cloud and convection occurs beneath it, making the storm more intense[19]. After this phase, the tornado is likely now to develop most especially if the position and curves of the jet stream is in very favorable condition. In addition, for a tornado to form, these should be enough air to flow into the bottom of the storm, which usually coincide with the tailing hail. This initiates the descending of the cold air produced in the initial phase, which somehow help to stimulate convection current and energy transfers. Finally, tailing hail and descending cold air initiate the production and initiation of convection of currents and energy transfers. Static electricity is now produced, which consequently aids on the development of the vortex present in the tornado’s body[20]. Effects of Tornadoes on Environment and People   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   People and properties are usually threatened by the massive entrance of high wind speeds around the tornado, which tornadoes move across the ground. Many tornadoes move at speeds of between 150 and nearly 500 km causing massive damage in the area that it passes by. Fast-progressing tornadoes cannot be outrun, and people caught in their path are generally advised to shelter or drive away at right angles to the narrow tornado track[21]. The intensity and duration of tornadoes greatly affect the rate of damage done by this disaster to the path it passes by and the environment to which it occurred. They have vast destructive impacts on the land in which they touch whether it is city, town, country, ocean or forest. The effects of tornadoes on forests are similar to that of hurricanes wherein the strong downward circulating motions of the wind alter the composition of forest stands[22]. In emphasizing tornadoes effects in financial losses of the community, approximately $5 million a year (compared with $200 million for urban drought) is spent to provide and improve warning systems and to construct tornado shelters or storm cellars[23]. The government is ready to spend this amount of funds for the preventive preparations in order to further warn their citizens of the coming natural phenomena. This is one of the primary reasons why the number of tornado-related deaths in these tornado-prone areas tends to be lower than those with lesser risked areas. Warning time under the best conditions is not more than one hour ahead of the event. Tornadoes cause great damage they often cause total destruction where the touch the ground, because of the extremely strong winds and the powerful uplift is within them. They often follow quite well-defined paths along the ground, and this is evident in the trail of damage they leave behind including swathes cut through forest and narrow strips of buildings destroyed in residential areas[24]. On the other hand, although deaths from tornado have been reduced in recent years, the number is still relatively high, averaging about 120 a year. Economic damage from tornadoes averages about $125 million a year, as opposed to only $15 million for drought[25]. The tornadoes have been one of the most destructive events in decades, killing forty-seven people, destroying 2,000 homes and causing about US $500 million worth of damage[26]. On the other hand, from one of the most prominent site of Tornado, Kansas, several tornados were estimated to have caused $2.5-5 million in property damage. Four deaths were caused by 484 tornadoes over the 52 year period (from 1950-2002) only for this area. In terms of tornadoes’ damaging potential, a primary tornadic direct hit on one of the larger communities can cause much greater loss of life and property than in small country[27]. Areas of the U.S Being Hit the Most   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Tornadoes are the most violent and destructive disasters of the Earth’s atmosphere. About 200 tornadoes a year are recorded across the United States. They are even considered as the primary climatic hazards in central and eastern areas, and particularly in the valley of the Mississippi, which is most prominently known as the tornado alley[28]. In fact, during the years from 1920 to 1950, every country in Mississippi valley and those adjoining coastal plains of the Gulf of Mexico was struck by at least a dozen tornadoes that cause extreme property damages and the crude death rate of 2000 people[29]. Although tornadoes occur in many areas of the world, the United States has more tornadoes than any other country, with an estimated 30% to 50% of the world’s total. Canada ranks as the second place in the occurrence of tornado with approximately 100 to 200 tornadoes per year[30]. In additional, tornadoes occurring in these areas tend to be more aggressive and deadly than those in other countries. Such scenario is because of the clashing of air masses east of the Rockies. The most obvious tornado alley extends from the plains of northwest Texas eastward into north Texas and then northward across Oklahoma, Kansas, and eastern Nebraska. A second tornado alley, called Midwest Alley, is located over most of Illinois and Indiana. Finally, Dixie Alley[31] stretches eastward from Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas through Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. Dixie Alley also extends southward into Florida[32]. A portable Doppler radar measured a wind speed of 318 miles per hour in a tornado that struck Oklahoma City[33] on May 3, I999.[34] In this incident of tornado, the immense manifestation of tornado was not predicted accurately by the weather forecast during that point or at least, the news of its intensive manifestation arrived late, which caused the immense damage[35]. During April 26, 1991, one of the most prominent tornado occurrences in Oklahoma occurred near Red Rock. The wind measuring for 286 miles per hour was incorporated within the storm that devastated parts of Red Rock Oklahoma. In an average year, more than a thousand tornadoes are likely to touch down across the United States[36]. However, it is fortunate for the community that weather analysts can provide advance warning for the coming or at least a crude prediction of tornado occurrence in their area. In this way, the public is able to prepare for the coming of tornadoes; hence, reducing the damage this phenomenon can cause. Knowing that these Tornadoes happen predominantly during the afternoon and early evening, the exact ranges of time frames based on previous historical occurrence of tornadoes state 2:00P.M. until 7:00 P.M local time. On the other hand, the time wherein tornadoes usually show immense activity is from 5:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. Such time frame is very much evident in smaller alley or regions such as the Dixie Alley[37]. A broad swath from central Texas to eastern Nebraska comprises the heart of ‘tornado alley,† which extends southward through the Gulf States and eastward to the Ohio Valley. No other place in the world experiences more tornadoes than the nation’s heartland, although twisters are not confined to the Midwest and southern states[38]. In addition, the national tornado season is clearly from April through July; however, tornado season in the United States never really begins or ends but is ongoing[39]. Most tornadoes tend to build up inside very large storms, and these are usually found in unstable environments in which wind speeds vary with height and where cool, dry air rests on top of warm, moist air, with a thin, stable layer separating the two air masses[40], a condition similar to temperature inversion in other settings[41].   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the United States, those areas with high occurrences of tornadoes have relatively low rates of tornado-related deaths, partly because of variations in population density, but the provided proofs show a variation over time in the location of tornadoes, which is placing significant numbers of less well-prepared individuals and communities at risk. Death rates from tornado-related injuries in the United States are the highest among people living in mobile homes, the elderly (over 60 years of age) and people caught outside with no protection when the tornado passes by[42]. One of the most historical events that occurred in Pennsylvania was during 1998 wherein fifty-nine tornadoes, plus several waterspouts over the open waters of Lake Erie were counted for just one season. According to climatologist and weather analysts, the most damaging tornadoes that occurred within this area of Pennsylvania from 1865, 1896, 1944 and 1998 are only products of stronger western and southern storms that usually struck in late spring[43]. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As for the conclusion of the subject, tornadoes in the United States have indeed manifested in greatest terms wherein U.S has been considered as the top most destination for the occurrence of tornadoes. From the discussion of tornadoes, formation, it has been uncovered that the origin of these phenomenon are from the contacts of war and cold air that contradicts to form humid, moisture and temperature variance, which in the end, initiate static electricity that causes the formation of the vortex. From the discussion on the effects of tornadoes, it has been uncovered the main destruction caused by this event is on the property and physical aspect wherein significant economic cost decline are mainly affected especially for those occurring in larger communities. Lastly, the areas where tornadoes mostly occur are Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, and those areas within the tornado alley or Mississippi. Bibliography Alexander, D. E. (2003). Natural Disasters. Springer. Barnes, P. L. (1999). The Oryx Guide to Natural History: The Earth and All Its Inhabitants. Greenwood Publishing Group. Burton et.al., I. (1993). The Environment as Hazard. Guilford Press. Essex, S. (2005). Rural Change and Sustainability: Agriculture, the Environment and Communities. CABI Publishing. Gelber, B. (2002). The Pennsylvania Weather Book. Rutgers University Press. Gunn, A. (2001). The Impact of Geology on the United States. Greenwood Publishing. Hagget, P. (2002). Encyclopedia of World Geography. Marshall Cavendish. Konvicka , T. (1999). Teachers Weather Sourcebook. Libraries Unlimited. Pack, C. C. (2001). The Environment: Principles and Applications. Routledge. Tawrell, P. (2006). Camping Wilderness Survival: The Ultimate Outdoors Book. Paul Tawrell. Wallace, J. M., Hobbs, P. B. (2006). Atmospheric Science: An Introductory Survey. Academic Press. [1] Tawrell, P. (2006). Camping Wilderness Survival: The Ultimate Outdoors Book. Paul Tawrell. p.674 [2] In a typical supercell storm the rate of ascent w increases from near zero at the ground to ~3 m   s-1. Hence, the e-folding time T for the amplification of the vorticity is 300s (Wallace, J. M., Hobbs, P. B. (2006). Atmospheric Science: An Introductory Survey. Academic Press. P.360). [3] Tawrell, p.674 [4] Tawrell, p.674 [5] Tornadoes usually form when warm, humid air is sucked into a low-pressure cell. There it arrives into contact with a cold front accelerating towards it from the counter directions. The steep temperature gradient permits the tornado to facilitate along the squall line either in front of or along the cold front. In the United States, tornadoes are most common in the Mildwest and along the east coast (Park, C. C. (2001). The Environment: Principles and Applications. Routledge. P.315) [6] Wallace, Hobbs, p.360 [7] Powerful updraughts within increasing column of air provide the tornado its strong vertical progression, and the circulating form is induced by strong winds that are drawn into the low pressure center (Park, p.315). [8] Tawrell, p.674 [9] Park, p.315 [10] Wallace, Hobbs, p.360 [11] On the other hand, non-supercell tornadoes form when a patch of boundary layer air with circulation about a vertical axis comes into vertical alignment with a vigorous convective-scale updraft. The source of the vorticity may be a gust front, a convergence line, or wind shear induced by flow around a topographical feature (Ibid, p.361) [12] Tornadoes form over dry land, but when the funnel-shaped vortex comes into contact with a lake or sea it sucks up particles of water and whirls them around in a spiral pattern as a waterspout (Park, p.315). [13] Tawrell, p.674 [14] Wallace, Hobbs, p.360 [15] Park, p.315 [16] Alexander, D. E. (2003). Natural Disasters. Springer. P.172 [17] The United States is the most tornado-prone country in the world, with the main characteristic of tornadoes that range from average to extreme. The usual area of occurrence relies in Great Plains or the Tornado Alleys (Barnes, P. L. (1999). The Oryx Guide to Natural History: The Earth and All Its Inhabitants. Greenwood Publishing Group. P.55) [18] Gelber, B. (2002). The Pennsylvania Weather Book. Rutgers University Press. P.135 [19] Alexander, p.172 [20] Ibid, p.172 [21] Park, p.316 [22] Tornadoes, by contrast, are intensive hazards that threaten about +0 million people living in the areas of higher tornado incidence in the Midwest, the Great Plains, and the Gulf States. Tornadoes are comparatively rare events with high energy outputs and arc highly localized, with a very rapid onset. Moreover, although between six and seven hundred tornadoes occur every year, the average path is quite small. There is little incentive, therefore, to invest in protective measures, since their likelihood of being needed in any one place is small and, given the force of a tornado, such measures are often not effective (Baumann and Sims, 1972; cited from Burton et.al., I. (1993). The Environment as Hazard. Guilford Press. p.42). [23] Burton et.al. p.42 [24] Park, p.317 [25] Burton et.al. p.42 [26] Park, p.316 [27] Essex, S. (2005). Rural Change and Sustainability: Agriculture, the Environment and Communities. CABI Publishing. P.175 [28] America’s known â€Å"Tornado Alley† or the Mississippi is the area with the most prominent occurrence of twister that entails great damage and destruction; however, few periods see as much activity as on one night in mid May 1999, when seventy-six twisters ripped through Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas and Texas (Park, p.316) [29] Hagget, P. (2002). Encyclopedia of World Geography. Marshall Cavendish. P.84 [30] Konvicka , T. (1999). Teachers Weather Sourcebook. Libraries Unlimited. P.200 [31] Tornado incidence increases in Dixie Alley in February. During the spring, tornadoes become more common farther west and north, extending into Texas and the Tennessee Valley. By May and June, tornado frequency increases in the plains of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska. In July, tornado frequency shifts 10 the Dakotas, the Upper Midwest, and the Great Lakes region while decreasing to a minimum in Dixie Alley. An interesting secondary peak is evident in November, particularly in Dixie Alley (Konvicka, p.200-201). [32] Konvicka, p.200 [33] Ibid, p.200 [34] On the evening of 3 May 1999 the worst tornado of the century, as far as costs are concerned, touched down on Oklahoma City. It was the nation’s first billion-dollar one. It was not alone. Other parts of Oklahoma. the state that gets more tornadoes per square kilometer than anywhere else on earth, were hit with 65 of these storms on that same evening, all of them in areas close to Oklahoma City. Within a period of five hours 8,000 buildings were in partial or total ruin as the rash of storms swept from southwest Oklahoma diagonally across the state toward Wichita, Kansas (Gunn, A. (2001). The Impact of Geology on the United States. Greenwood Publishing.p.205) [35] The difficulties involved in forecasting were evident on that fateful evening in May. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC), based at Norman. Oklahoma, issues bulletins every day, and on that morning’s statement announced it as unlikely that any tornado would appear during the day. By early afternoon SPC raised its estimate to moderate. Not until close to 4:00 in the afternoon did SPC change its prediction to high risk—and then only because a powerful computer had shown that storms were charging across the state (Ibid, 205-206). [36] Gelber, p.135 [37] Konvicka, p.200 [38] Gelber, p.135 [39] Konvicka, p.200 [40]  If a weather system reaches this unstable mass, the status quo is disrupted: The low-level air is forced upward, and a vertical vortex gradually takes shape as the warm air ascends, cools to the point of condensation, and then is triggered into faster ascent as the latest heat of condensation warms the surroundings (Gunn, p.206). [41] Ibid, p.206 [42] Pennsylvania experiences an average number of eleven tornadoes annually, based on the statistical period of 1954 through 1999. However, during a ten-year period from 1989 to 1998, the average number of Pennsylvania tornadoes doubled to twenty-two . (Gelber, p.135) [43] Ibid, p.135

Teachers Are Leaders Essay Example for Free

Teachers Are Leaders Essay Touching more lives, affecting the outcome of so many futures a teacher is the epitome of a leader. Just as a leader has his or her own style, their way of motivating their students, also plays an important part in a students success. Spending more time with our children then most parents do, a teacher is fundamental in shaping our children. If they are poor leaders our children suffer. When they shine as leaders our children blossom and the universe is wide open to them. As a teacher it is of utmost importance that you tune your leadership skills and find the best style of teaching for the students you are teaching. In finding resources for this paper it was interesting to note that all the information fell under the category of leadership and not teacher qualities. It was also interesting to note that the principle the US Army teaches on leadership are included in an overwhelming number of corporations as well taught mostly by retired military themselves. The intrinsic characteristics of a teacher can be categorized into a few main teaching styles or leadership styles. Directing, Participating, Delegating, and Combined styles are the main forms of teaching and leading. The qualities associated with these styles are imperative to any teacher. The purpose as teachers is fundamentally the same as leaders, to provide purpose, direction and motivation while operating to accomplish the mission in this case to educate. All four of these actions must be present in order for a student to benefit. A leader or teacher is not born but cultivated through his/her upbringing and environment. In my experience as a leader, teaching in Educational Psychology, being a parent, I have learned that what you as a leader or teacher bring to your students or audience is imperative to their development and learning. A teachers personal characteristics are also crucial factor in students development and motivation. The first principle is purpose, which has to be conveyed to the student. Why do I need to learn Math? How will studying History benefit me? Without the whys we as students are lost. A teacher must give the purpose. It is important to you because? If this question is left unanswered the student will not consider the value of the topic being discussed. To move from purely acceptance to questioning and understanding denotes a higher level of learning. This is the main objective of teaching. Moving the students from regurgitation to higher realization is the ultimate goal. Teachers need to take the time to explain the whys and in the long run it will benefit both the teacher and student. Direction is tied to purpose. Direction is the steps we are going to take to get to that important purpose. Without steps or direction, we lack the framework in which to learn. By prioritizing small tasks (you must teach numbers before adding them) your lessons will be more effective. By conveying the direction or path to your students you are setting up the checklist for them to follow on to higher learning. Purpose and direction are essential aspects to convey to your students. Without motivation however these factors will not be effective. The motivation will give your students the will and desire to do things. You can tell a student the purpose of a task and the direction in which to go but without the internal motivation of that student, sparked by your personality and learned tactics in dealing with students, these will be meaningless. Motivation is the drive and will to do what needs to be done to accomplish the mission. To instill motivation a teacher has to know his/her students and their capabilities. A teacher must know what the students can relate to, what tasks the student are capable of, and what method of teaching will relate to the students. If a student can handle not being supervised on a task, then the teacher doesnt baby-sit them. Some students need a teacher looking over their shoulder at all times; its important to know which student you have. To instill positive motivation when they succeed praise them; when they fail show them how to succeed next time. If this is done properly it will be a teachers strongest tool! Motivation is not just the words you say to your students, it is the actions that you do and the example you set for them. I have found that no matter what I tell my subordinates, or my son, the best way to teach them is by setting the example for them to follow. We all have someone watching and emulating our actions. If you want to convey hard work, proficiency, and the desire for learning to your students, then you must first emulate those qualities. The best teachers and leaders in my life have made me want to take some of their personality traits and copy them. In front of the classroom, who is looked at more than a teacher is! All of these factors combine to make a somewhat effective teacher or leader, but without the right combination of teaching the leadership will be ineffective. Effective leaders are flexible enough to adjust their leadership styles and techniques to the people they lead. Some students will respond best to coaxing, suggestions, or prodding while others may need a chewing out. If you treat all students the same you are probably being unfair because all students are not the same. You must use the directive, participating, delegating, and combined approaches to teaching. Obviously every situation dictates common sense and some adjusting, but you would not want to use a purely free and laid back approach with a group in a juvenile prison. The directive style of teaching is purely lecture which puts most students and myself to sleep. This is teacher centered with detailed instructions and no input from the class. Now this can be done effectively with students who have an innate interest in the subject but for the majority of those who have no choice but to take this class this becomes boring. Without the lecture or instruction part of teaching, however, most students would not be given the instruction for proficiency and understanding that the subjects may require. When students dont have the expertise in a subject, a crucial aspect of the subject is the introduction itself. In certain subjects like math it is imperative that formal instruction takes place. The do this to get this approach must exist. However too purely drown your students with facts and tedious instructions will turn off the students motivation. On the opposite extreme of teaching, the delegating style would be employed. The delegating style involves giving students the power to solve problems and make decisions themselves, without checking with the teacher in most circumstances. This can be effective with very mature students in whom a teacher wants to create independence and expand their thinking. This simply stated is the teacher giving a problem, minimal instructions, and expecting the student to find the solution. In some aspects this can be effective only if the students have a basic understanding and the fore knowledge of how to solve the problem. With too little amount of instruction this will be a disaster! The participating style centers on both the students and the teacher. The teacher gives the students a problem, gives instruction and possible solutions, and asks the students for input. The teacher, although dependent on recommendations from the students, makes the final solution however. This is most effective for teachers who have time as their advantage, which many do not. When this style is used, the students feel as though they are at least a part of the discovery process and it gives them a sense of ownership of the final plan. Again the factor here is time, so this can be ineffective when there are strict time constraints and many lessons to accomplish. The most effective teaching style is the combined approach. Just as the name implies it uses all of the benefits of the delegating, participating, and directive approaches. It is a flexible and transformational tool for any given situation. To become an effective teacher you must learn when, to what degree, and how to use this approach. This approach is best used when you have students with a conglomeration of experiences, knowledge, motivations, and maturity. This may sound like common sense, but too often do when have those pure lecture teachers, or those who are on the other extreme and let the students learn on their own. With all the styles of teaching and leading, who the teacher is plays a significannot role in what the student learns. As I sat in the first day of Educational Psychology I noted how many times the teacher looked at the clock. She noted when there was one minute until the class was to start and has promptly kept the same attention to time since that first day. This shows two of the characteristics awareness and perception that a teacher needs to bring to the classroom. Other characteristics include: listening receptively to what others have to say, accepting others and having empathy for them, foresight and intuition, awareness and perception, highly developed powers of persuasion, an ability to conceptualize and to communicate concepts as well as establish goals, empowering people, using multiple options thinking, and being passionate about what they are teaching. These are forged by our personal beliefs, and just as important our life experiences. Having these combined with the right approach; purpose, direction, and motivation are the key to effective teaching and leading. Leaders cant be trained, but they can be developed. Development needs to be ongoing and highly personalized in its nature. Teachers, true leaders, are so strategically important that schools cannot afford not to provide them with the support and developmental resources they need to grow. But not everybody is capable of being an outstanding leader. However, it is going to be the key to better education in a world of change, complexity and uncertainty. As I look back on the semester, I remember how it started. Never have I been in a class where the classroom students taught the instruction. What a weird, bizarre, and radical way of teaching. I have to admit, I hate to work in-groups and I didnt like this idea at all. In light of my stubbornness and repulsion I see why this had to happen. To me the process was not really about learning the material but bluntly seeing how you can be inspired put to sleep, or appalled at other students, or yourself. The fundamental concept is not really about what you are teaching, but how. The with-it-ness of the teacher makes the student learn or care about the subject. The lack of enthusiasm in an instructors voice, the laziness as they slouch on the podium or smack their gum, or the sheer brilliance of their presentation is what inspires and motivates a student to learn. The Army is the same way with winning wars and making heroes. Many civilian corporations have emulated the leadership principles applied in the Army doctrine and regulations. This is what I have applied this course to. As a supervisor in the Army in charge of those many years younger than me or twice as old as me this course has shown me in a less obvious way to adapt and be flexible to the situation. Also I feel that beyond the regular courses that teachers take they should be shown how to develop their leadership skills. They need to be shown which style to teach which students and how to be flexible. Teachers also need to have and develop some personal qualities that will make them successful. Without the characteristics mentioned they will not be successful teachers. The leaders of the most powerful army of the future need to be shown how to lead. They need to know how to give to their students meaning by showing the purpose, providing the direction and the motivation while they accomplish their mission, to educate. Teachers need to use different approaches to teaching based on the students and they need to be flexible in their approach. Sometimes it is okay to think (teach) in the box and sometimes we need to think (teach) out of the box but I believe we can think both ways at the same time. Sources Blanchard, Kenneth, Patricia Zigarmi, and Drea Zigarmi. Leadership and the One Minute Manager: Increasing Effectiveness Through Situational Leadership. William Morrow Company. 1985. Hesselbein, Frances, Goldsmith, M. , Beckhard, R. , Eds. The Leader of the Future: New Visions, Strategies, and Practices for the Next Era. Jossey-Bass Publication. 1996. Covey, Stephen J. The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. Reprint Edition. Fireside. 1990. Covey Leadership Center US Army Field Manual FM 22-100 Army Leadership. U. S. Government Printing Office: 1999.

The Enduring Appeal of the Horror Genre

The Enduring Appeal of the Horror Genre What is your topic? Question? Sub-questions? (Not too many!) Hypothesis? What specific issues associated with your topic do you want to investigate (making sure they are capable of being investigated within the constraints of the MA calendar)? What sorts of data will you need to adequately address each of these issues? Why will this data help you in particular? From what sources (places, human subjects, texts, cultural phenomena?) will you obtain this data? How will you obtain the data? (Documentary search? Interviewing? Questionnaire? Observation? Media production? Reflection on practice?) How do you intend (in general terms) to record, manage and analyze this data? What analytical models and theories will you draw on? What will your timetable be month by month? Introduction: answers the ‘so what? question, convince reader you need to do this Literature Review: Contextualises your research. Answers the question:  Where do I fit? Research questions determined. Methodology: Determines the nature of your study design and the  methods you will use. Include how you approach the subject, methods, why, ethics, how you analysed data. Results, discussion, analysis: combined or separate, can be guided by questions Conclusion: Draws everything together and answers your research  questions. Discusses limitation and future work. HORRORS ENDLESS CYCLE: AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ENDURING APPEAL OF THE HORROR GENRE IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM. INTRODUCTION: The horror genre has deep roots in the classical studio era. Yet in important ways it also looks ahead to the post-classical period, a period of reduced levels of film production and correspondingly weakened genre identities. As a fantasy genre, horror departs in significant ways from the prevailing canons of representation in the classical Hollywood style, whether one takes that mode to be a form of realism or of melodrama. Horror has an identity as an unrespectable genre for an undiscriminating juvenile audience (or an audience that has its mind on other things), with strong roots in exploitation cinema, that has only fairly recently emerged as an attractive genre for large scale production at major studios. Finally, it has attracted significant critical attention in recent years, and in each case theories of postmodernism and – which is not always the same thing – currents in postmodern theory have played an important part in reconceiving the genre for audiences and film-makers alike. This critical interest is, I argue, related to the relative weakness in both cases of traditional semantic/syntactic matrices of generic identity, leading to a protean aspect that is well suited to exploiting marketplace currents and trends. That horror takes its core generic material from the body, both engines of contemporary critical enquiry and popular cultural debate has confirmed its relevance. (Barry Langford, Film Genre: Hollywood and Beyond, 2005) Why choose to live in fear? Today we get up, go to work, come home, watch TV and go to sleep. To combat the monotony we chase the death rush by other means, as perilous as base or bungee jumping, or as sanitised as roller coasters and theme parks, while for most the simple thrills of the horror movie are more than enough to satisfy and provide a little taste of fear. Thats just one theory. Another is that we watch horror movies because they offer us a challenge – to look fear and death in the face and survive the ordeal. The ascendance and growing popularity of horror cinema since the new millennium is certainly a fascinating trend in contemporary society, and one which is long overdue an in-depth and objective analysis. Through researching the appeal of the horror genre I shall look into the social and political climate into which these movies fell over the last ten years, and discuss the merits of the movies themselves or, in some cases, lack of them. (Marshall in Carolyn, 2008). The horror film, throughout its shady, rebellious history has earned more money than respect. Though these days there are film festivals, websites, books, magazines, Masters theses, and even film distributors devoted entirely to the consumption of the dark side of entertainment, the mainstream media and self-appointed intelligentsia of pontificators cluck their tongues and blame the fall of society on these nasty little gutter-dwellers we call our own. In truth, the horror film may be the best mirror of the worlds zeitgeist we have, reflecting, rather than creating, the ills and crises of the planets collective psychology. Its been said before and it bears repeating that horror is to cinema what rock and roll is to music: rude, abrasive, pushy and anti-establishment. No wonder, then, that it is so embraced by the young. What better way to break away from parental chains than to blast distorted guitars on the stereo, and revel in disemboweled damsels in distress on the widescreen plasma? The young are immortal, right? And who can blame them for gathering tribally in front of the Cineplex screens to cheer on the latest adventures of the newest teen-gutting horror franchise star? They know its not real, that they are thumbing their noses at mortality. Yes, deep-seated fears are faced on the screen, from a safe distance, allowing the audience to safely play tag with what scares them. A good horror movie has all the elements of a good drama: creative storytelling: compelling characters placed in relatable plots, an artists point of view. But a really good horror movie, the best horror movie, can take you far beyond: it can take you to a place youve never been, a shadowy chamber of the mind outside of your worldly experience, with story twists and turns that will make you squirm until the lights come on and you emerge victoriously from your two hours in the dark. A great horror movie can be a revelatory experience. A great way to take societys pulse is through the arts and entertainment of the time. And the horror film makes a great thermometer. As I intend to examine in this study, a national or global health is particularly well represented by its fright films. At times of political upheaval, war, depression and recession, the horror cycle runs to a particular high. Adam Simons remarkable documentary, The American Nightmare, about the horror boom of the 1970s arising out of the international upheaval that surrounded the war in Vietnam. Is a terrific examination of how one relates to the other. But as we close in on the end of the new millenniums first decade, we find ourselves in another long-lasting terror boom in a post 9/11 world. Obviously, most of these films are not artistic reflections of social strife, or the primal screams of the mad artist who paints in blood. As they have, with everything else that makes money, the corporate kings have co-opted the popular cycle on their own terms. Where brilliant artists contribute excellent and exciting new ventures, the screens are also littered with the latest iterations of franchises nobody asks for, but are easy to market. In recent years, its been far easier for an industry that isnt interested in or has any understanding of the horror genre to take familiar titles, and remake and sequelise them until the law of diminishing returns proves itself, and they move on to the next title. There are great horror films being made today amidst the dross. But its not quality thats being discussed here, though it obviously plays a part. Its that there is a new and ravening audience for the spilling of blood. Again, theres nothing new about this: filmgoers filled the cinemas during the Depression to see the Frankenstein monster toss an innocent little girl into the pond, to see Count Dracula sup on the blood of lovely blondes; during World War II, Frankensteins monster met everyone from the Wolf Man to Abbott and Costello, and Universal cranked out one monster fest after another, while a quiet, well-real producer named Val Lewton churned out intelligent, atmospheric shockers for RKO; in the 1950s, when the Cold War and Air Raid duck-and-cover drills were the order of the day, nuclear tests gave birth to the giant ants of Them, the humungous grasshoppers of The Beginning of the End, and the radioactivity-breathing Japanese dragon beast of Godzilla; the early sixties turned i nternal, with human monsters like Norman Bates infesting our souls and killing on behalf of the sexual battle within the newly blossoming psychological terror train; the Vietnamese apocalypses were brutal, fed as they were by nightly news imagery of burning bodies and human torture, in a toe-in-the-water test of loosening censorship that led to a free-for-all; the eighties were all about cheap: no stars, gore effects and creative kills being the entire raison dà ªtre for a horror films existence; the complacent, Wall Street frivolous 1990s were mostly in a horror lull, but ended with a bang of excellence with films like Stir of Echoes, The Sixth Sense and The Blair Witch Project. In the new millennium, a new generation of filmmakers is finding its voice, raised on ubiquitous film courses in high school and beyond, computers that provide in-home editing and sound mixing, mobile, high definition cameras that lead everyone to believe they can be the next John Carpenter. But it is ingenuity that best raises the profile among hordes of wannabes, as well as a point of view. The world, under the shroud of George W Bush, Tony Blair and their brethren, is dangerous, complicated and nervous. And the boom of horrific storytelling, even when controlled by the mass-media collective out to squeeze every last buck out of it, will reflect a world on edge in its unforgiving mirror†¦ at least until the next cycle. (Garris in Carolyn, 2008) In the first section, Configuring the Monster, I will explore the key themes of the genre; the main issues and the debates raised, and engage with approaches and theories that have been applied to horror texts. This theoretical background will be presented via the modernist context within which early horror texts evolved. This brief description of the generic development of the horror film will thus provide a review of its fundamental preoccupations, especially through a discussion of a variety of psychoanalytic and gendered readings. This first part also includes a case study that reviews indicative patterns of readings of horror texts across different age groups that are interesting in terms of the progression of spectator involvement with horror film. In the second section, Consensus and Constraint 1919-1960, and the final section, Chaos and Collapse 1960-2000, I will further address the chronological evolution of the horror film, looking upon particular historical periods. This analysis will consider the role of both traditional myth and gothic literature in early cinematic representations of horror. Post-war developments are then viewed in terms of the revisiting of these generic formulae. The more contemporary transgression of boundaries of permissible gore and pathological states are then considered through a discussion of the work of postmodern auteurs reworking the genres field of operation and its consistent cycling. Inevitably in a work of this length, many complex arguments will be rendered briefly and simplistically, and many important observations reduced to description and generalistion. This is not a disclaimer; rather it is an encouragement for other researchers to pursue further lines of enquiry and to address the genre anew from a personal, informed perspective. (Wells, 2000)

Wellmans Community :: essays research papers

In the article, â€Å"The Community Question Re-Evaluated†, the author Barry Wellman suggests that the change in nature of community is inevitable. Many people are stressful about changes their communities are going through such as loneliness, alienation leading to a â€Å"war of all against all.† They would often compare their modern times community to of their pre-industrial predecessors. However, inhabitants of contemporary societies should have less to worry about than their ancestors with ‘respect to the basics of human life.’ Instead comparing contemporary crime and political violence rates with the past, we should seek to gain deeper understand of how our community changes- â€Å"how the large-scale structure of social systems reciprocally affects the small-scale structure and contents of interpersonal relations within them.† The social changes in large-scale systems are suggested to be associated with the Industrial Revolution which affected the structure and operations of the community. Social commentators suggested that large-scales faced the impacts of industrialization, capitalism, imperialism, bureaucratization and technological developments which then dripped down onto the interpersonal relations. They noted that the large-scale reorganization of production has created new opportunities for community relations. For example, industrialization had reduced poverty and that working-class home ownership would heighten neighborhood communal bonds. Although the analyses are well debatable, Wellman believes that community may have changed in response to the pressure, opportunities and constraints of large-scale forces. The complexities in the discovery of past and present communities led analysts to realize that the term community, often demonstrated in a neighborhood, is not confined to neighborhoods. By 1970s, analysts had expanded the definition of community beyond the boundaries of neighborhood and kinship solidarity and argued that the ‘essence of community was its social structure and not its spatial structure. They then began to treat â€Å"community† as â€Å"personal community† and defined as a network of significant, informal community ties. The transmutation of community into social network has helped the persistence of communities even when the neighborhood traces are faint.

Area 51 Essay -- essays research papers

The creation of Area 51 began in April of 1955, when a Lockheed test pilot, Tony LeVier, searched for a remote site to test the U-2. Grooms Lake is chosen as the location for the runway. By August of 1955, the U-2 makes its first flight from Grooms Lake. That was only the beginning for test flights from Area 51. In April 1962, the first A-12 Blackbird was tested at Groom Lake. February 1982, the F-117A Stealth fighter takes off for the first time. All other test flights have not been released to the public, but that doesn't mean they don't occur. However, they are, in no way, shape or form, alien test flights. Nearly all of the evidence that supports the alien spacecraft theory, is without backing, or solid information. Also, the US government played on the UFO theories to hide their own testing plans. Today, Area 51 is the home to the latest top secret aircraft: the Aurora, among others Many of these aircraft, past and present, are able to perform incredible feats in the sky. Some so unbelievable, that they could be mistaken for alien spacecraft by fanatics of extra-terrestrials. However, based on the falsified eye-witness accounts of Area 51, and declassification of military spy planes like the U-2 and F-117A Stealth fighter, I am here to tell you that these flights are not alien crafts, but actually secret military aircraft. I. According to Glenn Campbell, a leading researcher on Area 51, Bob Lazar provided the most incredible source for information supporting alien ships at Area 51, and also the most falsified.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A. He claims to have worked with alien spacecraft at an area called Area S-4,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  which is right next to Area 51.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1. He claims he worked there until 1988 as a senior researcher.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2. Government papers have shown that he was merely a repair technician.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  3. He also claims that he gained complete exposure to Area 51.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  a. He only made a few visits to the site between Nov 1988 and   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  April ... ...sp;  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  things that can't be checked?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  4. The UFO sightings can be easily explained by military aircraft that are   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  being tested.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  a. dispy doodle   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  b. green exhaust   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  c. Aurora sonic booms   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  d. glowing leading edge of Aurora Just because the military doesn't tell civilians about their aircraft does not mean that there must be alien intervention. It simply means that the government is trying to protect it new toys. They have every right to keep their top secret aircraft a secret.....that's why it is called top secret, right? The government is like a little kid. How many of you when you were little wanted to share your new toys? I didn

Electrolux Acquiring Zanussi Essay -- GCSE Business Marketing Coursewo

Electrolux Acquiring Zanussi Electrolux: The Acquisition and Integration of Zanussi 1) How would you describe the key characteristics of Electrolux and Zanussi in 1983, in terms of strategy, organization, capabilities, and performance? International acquisitions have become an extremely important vehicle for growth for multinational companies. In this case, and because of the particular industry in which Electrolux operated in, the trend of the whole appliance industry was facing a long period of crisis. Although Electrolux was and still is one of the largest manufacturers of white appliances, many other manufacturers were now taking market share away from the Swedish company. For example, Philips and Siemens were now introducing a complete and economic line of brand new appliances. Electrolux's core business was vacuum cleaners and absorption-type refrigerators. Electrolux was and still is the typical Swedish firm, which emphasizes on down to earth management: everyone works and keeps his word and all the information is correct. The firm emphasis on technology and advancement and the middle management is open to advises from the workers. But at the core of Electrolux business strategy was the aggressive plan to expand through acquisitions. First, Electrolux concentrated on acquiring firms in the Scandinavian Area. Then the company continued focusing in purchasing companies that had assets but were not profitable so that they could turn their business around. After making more than 200 acquisitions in 40 countries, Electrolux was certainly one of the most experienced companies on the global scene as far as acquisition. But another important aspect of Electrolux, which helped them, maintaining leadership was the company's great flexibility concerning new products and especially their attitude towards that company which excelled in some business where Electrolux was weaker. The greatest example of this was when the company purchased Husqvarna, a chain saw manufacturer, and how in little time, through this wise take over, Electrolux found itself as the world leader in chain saw manufacturers. Electrolux never went looking for acquisition or bankrupt companies; their policy was to keep their eyes open that things will come by themselves. When Electrolux was ready to acquire a company, the financial statements of that company were very important. ... ...on products, ranging from refrigerators to vacuum cleaners to chain saws, in more than 150 countries. After 1988, Electrolux acquired more companies, not only for product expansion but also for expansion in emerging markets. Electrolux grew steadily and its sales amount to SEK117 billion in 1999 comparing to 67 billion in 1987. Electrolux signed an agreement with sharp to sell its products in the Japanese market. In 1990 they expanded its presence in the US outdoor product market by acquiring Allegretti & Co. In 1991 they also acquire Lehel, a Hungarian white goods company, and they introduce the low energy line of refrigerators. By this date Leif Johansson is appointed president. 1994 was the 75th birthday for Electrolux. In 1996 they expanded in Brasil by acquiring Refripar and the next year the company announced a major restructuring plan with the purpose of improving its profitability. By 1998, Electrolux got out of the business of sewing machines, agricultural implements, interior decorating equipment, kitchen and bathroom cabinets and heavy-duty laundry equipment. Now, Electrol ux core business consists of household appliances, professional appliances and outdoor products. Electrolux Acquiring Zanussi Essay -- GCSE Business Marketing Coursewo Electrolux Acquiring Zanussi Electrolux: The Acquisition and Integration of Zanussi 1) How would you describe the key characteristics of Electrolux and Zanussi in 1983, in terms of strategy, organization, capabilities, and performance? International acquisitions have become an extremely important vehicle for growth for multinational companies. In this case, and because of the particular industry in which Electrolux operated in, the trend of the whole appliance industry was facing a long period of crisis. Although Electrolux was and still is one of the largest manufacturers of white appliances, many other manufacturers were now taking market share away from the Swedish company. For example, Philips and Siemens were now introducing a complete and economic line of brand new appliances. Electrolux's core business was vacuum cleaners and absorption-type refrigerators. Electrolux was and still is the typical Swedish firm, which emphasizes on down to earth management: everyone works and keeps his word and all the information is correct. The firm emphasis on technology and advancement and the middle management is open to advises from the workers. But at the core of Electrolux business strategy was the aggressive plan to expand through acquisitions. First, Electrolux concentrated on acquiring firms in the Scandinavian Area. Then the company continued focusing in purchasing companies that had assets but were not profitable so that they could turn their business around. After making more than 200 acquisitions in 40 countries, Electrolux was certainly one of the most experienced companies on the global scene as far as acquisition. But another important aspect of Electrolux, which helped them, maintaining leadership was the company's great flexibility concerning new products and especially their attitude towards that company which excelled in some business where Electrolux was weaker. The greatest example of this was when the company purchased Husqvarna, a chain saw manufacturer, and how in little time, through this wise take over, Electrolux found itself as the world leader in chain saw manufacturers. Electrolux never went looking for acquisition or bankrupt companies; their policy was to keep their eyes open that things will come by themselves. When Electrolux was ready to acquire a company, the financial statements of that company were very important. ... ...on products, ranging from refrigerators to vacuum cleaners to chain saws, in more than 150 countries. After 1988, Electrolux acquired more companies, not only for product expansion but also for expansion in emerging markets. Electrolux grew steadily and its sales amount to SEK117 billion in 1999 comparing to 67 billion in 1987. Electrolux signed an agreement with sharp to sell its products in the Japanese market. In 1990 they expanded its presence in the US outdoor product market by acquiring Allegretti & Co. In 1991 they also acquire Lehel, a Hungarian white goods company, and they introduce the low energy line of refrigerators. By this date Leif Johansson is appointed president. 1994 was the 75th birthday for Electrolux. In 1996 they expanded in Brasil by acquiring Refripar and the next year the company announced a major restructuring plan with the purpose of improving its profitability. By 1998, Electrolux got out of the business of sewing machines, agricultural implements, interior decorating equipment, kitchen and bathroom cabinets and heavy-duty laundry equipment. Now, Electrol ux core business consists of household appliances, professional appliances and outdoor products.

Intellectual Auto Biography Essay

Unlike many of my colleagues or others who have majored in history before, my intellectual background has been influenced by two major cultures in the world. As a twenty three years old student living in America but originally from Japan, the foundation of my intellectual being was shaped by the Japanese culture and education since the first 18 years of my life and schooling took place in Tokyo Japan. Later I moved to America, California where I have been under taking my degree course, majoring in History. This does not mean that my intellectual story is different or unique but I have to admit that, it is somehow interesting since many people and many things have played a part in it. From the time I started schooling, I have always had an interest in history. Just like America, Japan is really rich in history which is somehow different from the American one. The curiosity and the thirst to know more about my native country and the world at large formed the basis of my interest in history. In other words, I know why I am pursing history and sometimes I think taking this course of study was inevitable since it has really shaped my life. It is a well known fact that Buddhism is one of the major religions in the world especially in Japan and from a historical point of view; the religion has come to be identified with the country. It has shaped its culture, economy and political aspects. I am a self confessed Buddhist brought up by Buddhist parents and the whole of my life has been characterized by Buddhist doctrines. My beliefs and how I view life can only be attributed to the religion. As a history major, I believe one of the most interesting topics in history is religion and how it shapes people’s lives. I have always taken myself as an example, trying to analyze how it has really affected my life and my views about everything. I tend to agree that Buddhism is a philosophy more than religion because it defines lives of those who believe in it. Philosophers have defined the word philosophy as ‘the love of wisdom and Buddhism propagates that. I myself love wisdom and that is why I chose to do history in the first place; just to know almost everything that has shaped this world from the time it came into existence. Another thing I believe in is honesty. For me it is a very important virtue and has a major role to play in this world in regards to morality. Honesty, according to my understanding and beliefs can only be achieved the moment one is true to himself and to God/gods, depending on whom one worships or believes in. Being true to oneself forms the basis of honesty which will be followed by other forms of honesty for example, being honest to others and to God/gods. Those who are familiar with Buddhism religion will agree that, this view has somehow been influenced by the religion and that is why I began by saying that Buddhism is part of my life. As a Buddhist, I am supposed to be aware of my thoughts before I do anything. This also applies to actions. Before undertaking any action, one is supposed to be aware of it and to have wisdom and understanding on how to go about it . When all these are combined, they all add up to being true to oneself and that is what I call honesty in other words. This belief has really shaped my life especially in regards to my relationships with others. The moment one adopts this view of honesty, it is very difficult to fall out with anyone since one will always be open-minded. Being true to oneself will only mean that, you will do what you believe is true and it will be very difficult to be pressurized maybe by the peers into doing something against your will. When it comes to handling others, it will be very easy. For example, if one sees a friend doing something one is not comfortable with and maybe that friend wants you to join him/her, since you are true to yourself, you will be able to express your concerns and at the end of the day, that friend will see that your concern is actually genuine since it is coming from deep within you. It is not forced, not a pretence or expression of fear but your true self expressed in words. This will actually be felt by another person and it will eventually influence his thinking. I remember mentioning earlier that I am Buddhist and some may question whether I believe in one God or gods. I know in the modern days there are those Buddhists who believe in one God and there are others who do not for they believe in many gods. The question always poses some problems to me especially when it comes to explaining to others, especially my friends. They have always known the religion that I profess and what it says about the issue of God and gods but they are never sure about my stand. First I have to clarify something, Buddhism is a way of life and that is what makes it different from other religions. It emphasizes so much on how people are supposed to live and as a Buddhist; there is that kind of life that I am supposed to live. There is no mention in my religion that Buddha worshipped or believed in any one God. That does not mean we are atheists in fact there are so many Buddhists who believe in that one God of the Jews, we call Him, ‘the God of the desert. ’ Personally, I don’t have problems with those Buddhist who profess a kind of God in their lives even though it is not in Buddhism doctrines. Sometimes I tend to think that I will head there someday. Right now, from what I have read and seen, I tend to think that, there is a supernatural power that is in control of the world. I have been skeptical about the issue for a very long time and sometimes I do not want to talk about it. I have read so much regarding the matter, I have been exposed to so many religions and I have even been following what is happening in this world and to some extent, I think there could be actually a supernatural hand behind it all. Can I be regarded as an atheist then? I leave that judgment to ones discretion but as I said earlier, I am true to myself and what I believe in, but maybe one day I may change my mind; no one knows. I believe that Buddhism is a well organized religion. In fact, it has never been heard before that Buddhists have fought with any religion over religious matters and that is what I love most about the religion. Foundation is the most interesting part of the religion as far as I am concerned. Buddha was born in an affluent family but he decided to leave all that to suffer. He manly focused on suffering. The religion is not about God but suffering as a way of life and that God has no solution to suffering. The only thing can bring sufferings to an end is the teachings of Buddha whereby only wisdom and compassion can end one’s problems. I really believe in these concepts which continue to shape my life. Wisdom has always been a driving force behind everything that I do. The course that I am pursuing is my way of becoming wise especially of the things of his world coupled with other ways for example meditation which is a requirement of my religion. One has to accept everything that comes in the way. That is how I mainly live my life and this has really helped me to come to terms with my problems. The pains that we go through as human beings can only be solved the moment we accept them. Some people have always misunderstood Buddhism as a religion, some of them claiming that we worship a human being. I don’t blame them because they are acting out of ignorance. Even though we really hold Buddha with high esteem that does not mean that we worship him. In fact I have so much respect for him and this should not be misquoted that I worship him. I have always tried to apply his principles in my life and so far I do not have any complaints. Another thing that interests me about Buddha’s teachings is that, he says that moral and ethical uprightness will end suffering forever. Many will definitely differ on the definition of the phrase ‘morally uprightness’ because the word ‘morally’ is relative depending on one’s culture and background. However, according to me, being true to oneself constitutes moral uprightness. Sometimes it is argued that ones life is predestined and I find myself asking, since human life is characterized by so much suffering, were we predestined to suffer? If that is so, why then do we have to struggle to improve life? Is there anything like free will? In the course of my study, I have come across so many stories and events that have characterized human beings from the time they came into existence and one thing we can agree on is that life has not been smooth sailing for human beings. It has always been about diseases, wars and rumors of wars, poverty among others. Sometimes I ask myself, if we use the concept of predestination to explain this, does that mean that we were predestined to go through all these? If we agree on this, then that means we have no control whatsoever and the actions that we carry out are also predestined. Then why does human being try to look for solutions to solve these problems or prevent them from repeating themselves in the future? If we believe that everything is predestined, then nothing matters because it means we are not in control of anything. I have read about almost all the wars that have characterized the world right from world wars and major civil wars and some countries have justified some of these wars, giving so many reasons. Let’s consider two wars; World War II and the Vietnam War. These two wars have been surrounded by controversies right from the start, and some have argued that, they were not to happen in the first place. The US has been regretting of its decision of going to war with Vietnam for so many years and if we adopt the concept of predestination, it will only mean that, they do not have a reason to regret because everything was predestined. The war had to happen and they had no control over it. Why then should they blame themselves? Even though the world has been trying to prevent another World War, then its efforts are meaningless because if it is predestined to happen, then no one can prevent it. The concept of predestination will only mean that, we are not answerable for the mistakes that we do and we owe no one an apology. If we believe that everything in the world is pre-designed, then, that means we are just existing to fulfill our purposes in life and not living our lives the way we would want. So does that mean that free will is at work and not predestination? The more I tend to think about these two concepts, the more I get confused. If we say that free will is at work, then as human beings we are to blame for everything that we go through because the power of making free choices is in our hands. Every thought that we harbor in our heads and every action that we undertake, will be determined by us. Should we blame ourselves for all those wars that took place? Sometimes I tend to think that free will and predestination are both at work. There are some areas of our lives which have been predestined for example death and birth of children. No one wants to die any day but at one point we will all have to die. When I was young, still in primary school, I wondered what brought about twins. After learning some biology I understood but I used to ask myself why I was not born with a twin sister or brother and the only answer I could think of is predestination. I was destined to be born alone. Where does free will come in then? I believe that human beings can choose to live their lives the way they want to live, for example, one can choose to be successful or to be a failure, one can choose to pass exams or not, marry or not to marry, have children or not among others. Even though I believe this to some extent, I think that free will and predestination are both at work. I am always left with so many questions regarding the two concepts and thus I agree with those who propose that, free will and predestination are two concepts that can never be understood and are not conclusive enough. I am well aware of the concept of predestination according to Buddhism religion; that every human being’s destiny is determined by ones personal actions. This means that, one’s thoughts and words will determine what he will become in the future. I do not dispute that; in fact, it forms the foundation of my faith. However, I also believe that human beings have a choice to make when it comes to the actions they decide to carry out. In other words, if one chooses to do wrong actions, that will determine his or her destiny, and that is why I believe that free will and predestination work together.