PlatoSocrates Excellence in Virtue free essay sample

Excellence in Virtue introduction â€Å"Socrates’ positive influence touches us even today† (May 6) and we can learn a great deal about him from one of his students, Plato. It is in Plato’s report of Socrates’ trial a work entitled, Apology, and a friend’s visit to his jail cell while he is awaiting his death in Crito, that we discover a man like no other. Socrates was a man following a path he felt that the gods had wanted him to follow and made no excuses for his life and they way he lived it. The passage I have chosen from Plato’s Apology is the main passage to which Socrates believed in until his death and gave the basis for his life and they way he chose to live his life. It is this passage that makes clear all of Plato’s writings and perhaps why even in living his own life he chose emulate and follow Socrates and ultimately became one of his better-known students. We will write a custom essay sample on PlatoSocrates Excellence in Virtue or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page To prove this, the paper is organized into four sections. In the first section, I will give the key passage, along with some textual context to give background details. In the second section, I will provide some relevant biographical/historical information about the author and the time period for when the text was written. In the third section, I will provide a detailed analysis meaning and arguments of my key passage and in the fourth section; I will explain the meaning of three passages that support the key passage of the paper. However, before we can move any further into this process, I will present my key passage on which this paper is based. key passage As long as I have breath and strength I will not give up philosophy and exhorting you and declaring the truth to every one of you whom I meet, saying as I am accustomed, ‘My good friend, you are a citizen of Athens, a city which is very great and very famous for its wisdom and power-are you not ashamed of caring so much for the making of money and for fame and prestige, when you neither think nor care about your wisdom and truth and the improvement of your soul? ’ If he disputes my words and says that he does are about these things I shall not at once release him and go away: I shall question him and cross-examine him and test him. If I think that he has not attained excellence, though he says that he has, I shall reproach him for undervaluing the most valuable things, and overvaluing those things that are less valuable. This I shall do to everyone whom I meet, young or old, citizen or stranger, but especially to citizens, since they are more closely related to me. This, you must recognize, the god has commanded me to do. And I think that no greater good has ever befallen you in the state than my service to the god. For I spend my whole life in going about and persuading you all to give your first and greatest care to the improvement of your souls, and not till you have done that to think of your bodies or your wealth. And I tell you that wealth does not bring excellence, but that wealth and every other good thing which men have, whether in public or in private, come from excellence. † (Baird amp; Kaufmann 29-30) In this passage Socrates is our speaker and he is presenting his defense against the charges that have been brought against him by Meletus, Anytus, and Lycon. The charges they have brought against Socrates are for corrupting the youth and worshipping gods other than the ones all other Athenians worshipped at that time in Ancient Greece. This passage is one of many times that Socrates brings to light the fact that what he has been doing by going around questioning people about their beliefs is commanded by the gods and that he should not be put to death for doing what has been asked of him. Socrates presents many times that what he is doing in trying to get people to not just question what they believe, but to work on the improvement of their souls. He believes and so states in the passage that wealth and fame do not bring excellence to a person’s life, but you become a better person first by improving your soul and that is actually where excellence can be found. Once a person has done this then they can concern themselves with other matters. Stating that you first turn your attention inward and then outward to the larger society could sum up the general message of Socrates. While he does not explicitly say this one could reasonably interpret from Socrates defense that he believes the reason for the charges that have been brought up against him are due to a lack of understanding by the Athenian public of his mission and purpose as well as the authority he has to do it. This is what he is attempting to do in this passage, explain what he has been doing and that the god of all Athenians commanded him to do this work and that he has done nothing wrong. historical/biographical information Though Socrates ran no formal school, one can find in any number of books on Plato, that he was a student of Socrates in Ancient Greece. According to Baird and Kaufmann Plato probably first began following Socrates sometimes in his twenties, though one cannot be sure of the exact date (4). The Apology, along with Crito, are just a number of texts written by Plato on the teachings and beliefs held by Socrates. â€Å"The Apology is generally regarded as one of Plato’s first and as eminently faithful to what Socrates said at his trial on charges of impiety and corruption of the youth† (Baird amp; Kaufmann 5). The time of Socrates trial was around 399 B. C. in Athens, Greece and â€Å"many contemporary scholars maintain that Plato’s Apology was writing within the first two to three years following Socrates’ trial and execution† (Brickhouse amp; Smith 1). The charges against Socrates were corruption of the youth and worshipping some other god rather than the ones commonly held to be believed in by other Athenians. It is important to note as reported by Brickhouse and Smith that, â€Å"Athens had only just concluded the Peloponnesian War. The effects of the war had been disastrous on her economy; factions blamed each other for her defeats, and suspicion and power-mongering were rife† (19). By this very fact they were looking for someone to blame for their problems and Socrates was an excellent choice. It should come as no surprise â€Å"that Athenians looked for the guilty among thinkers like Socrates. After all, by their very nature and regardless of their particular persuasions, such intellectual challenge established wisdom and tradition† (Brickhouse amp; Smith 19). Then the charges brought against Socrates and his trial were a course of action that the Athenians could see nothing wrong with at that time. Socrates was definitely a man before his time. Socrates was placed on trial for the questioning he did of others because he was pushing people in their long-held beliefs, which probably gave rise to fear. Even though Socrates felt justified in his actions many did not hold that same theory. In fact, May states, â€Å"most people would be quite irritated if someone criticized their moral beliefs. Imagine conversing with someone who continually pointed out the weakness in your beliefs† (5). There are very few people that when pushed into why they believe what they do can generally come up with a concrete answer as to why they believe that way. In my opinion, much of what people believe in is based on tradition; either from your own family or culturally and many times occurs as a combination of both. Plato’s dialogues are perhaps a fair representation of Socrates’ teachings however, he does not give a consistent portrait of Socrates (May 20). May goes onto say that â€Å"character ‘Socrates’ is portrayed differently in some of Plato’s dialogues because in some of them. Plato is writing in order to chronicle the historical Socrates, whereas in others, Plato uses the character ‘Socrates’ as a mouthpiece of his own philosophical position† (20). â€Å"Although Plato originally started to write his dialogues in order to chronicle the historical Socrates, he eventually started to write dialogues that were devoted to Plato’s actual philosophical views† (20). It was this writing that caused Plato to formulate his own views in an attempt to answer some of the questions that Socrates had posed along the way (May 20). Regardless of which Socrates is speaking the message however is the same in that excellence can be found in virtue over any other thing a person may possess. In addition, Socrates did not do any writing himself so all we have to go on is what Plato presented to us in his various texts. anaylsis In this passage, Socrates is telling the Athenian jury that he is innocent on the charges brought against him and why he is innocent. This passage is of extreme importance of understanding and interpreting Plato’s writings because it is a theme that is repeated throughout his works. Our character Socrates feels that people should be more concerned with the perfecting their souls more than anything else in their life. He believes that in his quest to help people find their way he is actually doing as the gods dictated. Socrates also states that the only reason his is wise is because he knows that the only thing he does know is that he does not know anything worth knowing (Brickhouse amp; Smith 129). In fact he so states in his defense when he says â€Å"I am wiser than this man; neither one of knows anything that is really worth knowing, but he thinks that he has knowledge when he has not, while I, having no knowledge, do no think that I have, I seem, at any rate, to be a little wiser than he is on this point: I do not know what I do not know† (Baird amp; Kaufmann 24). Socrates believes that it is really the gods that are wise and humans do not possess any wisdom. He believes that the best a human can do is to work on improving their souls and it is through this action that a person can achieve a life of excellence. In fact, in a later section of the Apology, Socrates even states, â€Å"an unexamined life is not worth living† (Baird amp; Kaufmann 34). That statement speaks to the true nature of Plato’s writings and how he wanted to impress upon others to live a better life. May even supports this idea when she states, â€Å"Socrates claims that the meaning of Apollo’s oracle that humans cannot possess wisdom. Remember, Socrates does not believe that even he possesses wisdom, as he believes that real wisdom is the property of God† (44). While taking into account the turbulent times of Athens one could easily understand why that anyone questioning â€Å"the establishment† would gain much notoriety and attention. While repeatedly Plato reports that Socrates felt he was doing gods work others were not as easily persuaded. Change is never welcomed by a society, because change means the known is questioned and people are stretched in ways they had not anticipated.

Spanking essays

Spanking essays Fifteen years ago, when I still lived in Vietnam many parents believe spanking is the only method to discipline a child. In today society, punish a child by spanking is no longer a right way to teach him/her. Spanking may cause many negative problems to a child for instance, spanking may lead to abusing a child, it may train a child to use violence act and communication problem between child and parents. Therefore alternative method should be use when you want to discipline a child. First of all, spanking children may lead to abusing them; spanking may become a standard response to any misbehavior. Many parents do not realize we hit children by anger, so much spanking can become abusing. Parents often repeat spanking whenever a child misbehaves and believe spanking a child is the only way to teach them a lesson to follow what they said. Parents dont realize theyre hurting their children physically and may permanently damage for life. Reasoning why in today society spanking is no longer an effective way for punishment. Spanking children may train them to use violence as a form of resolving problems. Hitting a child for punishment might make them think hitting is okay to use on their friends and family. In many cases negative effects grow through a childs life and even when they grown up, those negative problems might cause a person to abuse people around them. Many of these negative effects may never be correct for life. Children grown up in an abusive family will lightly abuse their own love one later on. Parents should never use spanking to solve problem with a child, this will train them to think its okay to use harsh punishment. Children may never tell their parents what happen in their life because the consequence that they might get spank. Spanking children may lead them to believe their parent doesnt love them because of the harsh punishment. Spanking a child only effect for the moment, in long term ...

The Many Uses of PBT Plastics

The Many Uses of PBT Plastics PBT, or polybutylene terephthalate, is a synthetic, semi-crystalline engineered thermoplastic with similar properties and composition to polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Its part of the polyester group of resins and shares characteristics with other thermoplastic polyesters. Its a high-performance material with high molecular weight and is often characterized as being a strong, stiff, and engineerable plastic. Color variations of PBT range from white to bright colors. Uses PBT is present in everyday life and common in electrical, electronic, and automotive components. PBT resin and PBT compound are the two types of products used in various applications. PBT compound comprises various materials that can include PBT resin, fiberglass filing, and additives, while PBT resin includes only the base resin. The material is often used in mineral or glass-filled grades. For use outdoors and where fire is a concern, additives are included to improve its UV and flammability properties. With these modifications, its possible for a PBT product to be used in numerous industrial applications. PBT resin is used to make PBT fiber as well as electronic parts, electrical parts, and auto parts. TV set accessories, motor covers, and motor brushes are examples of the uses of PBT compound. When reinforced, it can be used in switches, sockets, bobbins, and handles. The unfilled version of PBT is present in some brake cable liners and rods. When a material with high strength, good dimensional stability, resistance to various chemicals, and good insulation is needed, PBT is a preferred choice. The same is true when bearing and wear properties are determining factors. For these reasons, valves, food processing machinery components, wheels, and gears are made from PBT. Its application in food processing components is largely due to its low moisture absorption and its resistance to staining. It also doesnt absorb flavors. Advantages The major advantages of PBT are evident in its resistance to solvents and low shrinkage rate when forming. It also has good electrical resistance and because of its fast crystallization is easy to mold. It has excellent heat resistance up to 150 degrees Celcius and a melting point reaching 225 degrees Celcius. The addition of fibers enhances its mechanical and thermal properties, allowing it to withstand higher temperatures. Other notable advantages include: Excellent stain resistanceExcellent machining characteristicsHigh strengthToughnessExcellent stiffness-to-weight ratioResistance to environmental changesExcellent machining characteristicsBetter impact resistance than PETExcellent dimensional stabilityBlocks UV radiationHigh electrical insulation propertiesGood variety of grades available Disadvantages PBT has disadvantages that limit its application in some industries, including: Lower strength and rigidity than PETLower glass transition temperature than PETProne to warp when glass is used as a fillerDoesnt present satisfactory resistance to acids, bases, and hydrocarbons Future of PBT Demand for PBT has regained footing after the economic crisis in 2009 caused various industries to lower production of certain materials. With growing populations and innovations in the automotive, electrical, and electronics industries, the use of PBT will steadily increase. This is apparent in the automotive industry, given its increasing need for lighter, more resistant, low-maintenance, and cost-competitive materials. The use of engineer-grade plastics such as PBT will increase due to issues surrounding corrosion of metals and high costs to minimize that problem. Many designers looking for alternatives to metals are turning to plastic as the solution. A new grade of PBT that offers better results in laser welding has been developed, providing a new solution to welded parts. Asia-Pacific is the leader in the use of PBT, which hasnt changed even after the economic crisis.  In some Asian countries, PBT is mostly used in the electronic and electrical markets, while in North America, Japan, and Europe, PBT is mostly used in the automotive industry. Its believed that by 2020, consumption and production of PBT in Asia will considerably increase compared to Europe and the U.S. This prediction is reinforced by numerous foreign investments in the region and a need for materials at a lower production cost, which is not feasible in many Western countries.

Travel in South Africa Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Travel in South Africa - Essay Example The country is characterized by world class infrastructure, friendly citizens as well as spectacular scenery. This sector received a major boost during the 2010 world cup when it received the highest number of visitors in history. There are various benefits associated with the industry in South Africa. Tourism and travel provides foreign exchange for the country. This gives the governments enough money to offset the foreign debts, allows the South African Rand to remain at par with the US dollar. It also allows the government to pay its employees (Walker and Keith 15). This means that governments have money that is dedicated towards constructive projects such as education, infrastructure as well as health care. The South African citizens that go for shopping sprees abroad have the money to buy goods and services as long as the foreign currencies are readily available in the economy (Walker and Keith 22). Finally, tourism and travel facilitates exportation of goods into the country. Tourism and travel leads to the direct and indirect creation of jobs. When tourists visit the country, it leads to job creation for jewelry trades, drivers and vendors that are directly involved in the sector (Walker and Keith 33). Tourism and travel also has an indirect impacts on landlords and other traders. The sector plays a key role in ensuring job creation in the hotel and entertainment industries. As earlier stated the tourism and travel sector employs one out of every twelve individuals in the economy. The tourism sector contributes towards infrastructure development as the government works towards developing roads, electricity and communication networks in the country to attract tourists. This results into an infrastructure improvement in the country (Walker and Keith 67). The tourist and travel sector results into cultural preservation through economic and cultural incentives. Finally, it results

Ethics, Norms and Practices that influence the behavior of Journalists Coursework

Ethics, Norms and Practices that influence the behavior of Journalists today in reference to the phone hacking scandal at the now defunct News of the World newspaper - Coursework Example It acts as application and assessment of the principles and customs that guide journalism practice, with exceptional consideration to the main problems in the field. Journalism ethics and norms contain both practical analysis and theory. In the scrutiny of cases, journalism principles may possibly appeal to theoretical matters, such as the temperament of ethical contention (Theaker and  Yaxley 2012). Phone hacking outrage at the present defunct News of the World newspaper is the ongoing controversy that involves defunct news of the world and the British news paper that are being published by the news international. The news international is a subsidiary of the news corporation (Theaker and  Yaxley 2012). The staff of the newspaper were blamed of engaging in  phone hacking,  police bribery, and exercising inappropriate influence in tracking down of publishing accounts. Investigations conducted from 2005 concluded that phone hacking tricks were mostly restricted to famous perso ns, politicians and members of the  British Royal Family. The outcome of the phone hacking originating with the  News of the World raises wider questions about the ethics engaged by businesses under Murdoch's possession, as well as the effects the outrage will encompass on the morals employed particularly by print journalists and to a little degree the wider world of journalism (Theaker and  Yaxley 2012). Murdoch had beforehand been condemned for building a media domain that lacked any ethical foundation and replacing dependable journalism with hearsay, sensationalism, and manufactured debate. Grossman, a certain professor of journalism at  one of the State University of New York lay blame on Murdoch of building a dishonest, deceitful and corrupt media realm in history and also... Journalism has gone through many transformations, since the set up of the Internet era, and the employ of intelligent phones and videos to file news as it takes place. At the same time as the financial shape of newspapers remains in question, journalists must accept the Internet and hang about at the critical edge of expertise in order to advance their occupation and convey accurate news. Journalism schools are altering the mode they advance story-telling, with the increase of digital media. It is essential to make use of technology as an aid to moral, grammatical and efficient journalism. The News of the World outrage was one of the most disreputable privacy violations of the digital tracking period. The mobile devices we have come to depend on spray tracking data around similar to so lots of digital bread specks. That being the case, there will for all time be a tough temptation for those who value this information to grasp at it with no regard to an individual’s privacy or security. Every one of us has the liability to guard private information. Those, Such as the Metropolitan Police, who have the influence to either guard or invade individual privacy, must do so devoid of compromise.

Black People and African American Actors Essay Example for Free

Black People and African American Actors Essay Stereotyping is the automatic/ exaggerated mental pictures that people hold about a particular racial group without taking individual differences into consideration. Examples of stereotyping would be the main characters of the movie Rio2, Jewel and Blue being voiced by white actors whilst their ‘wild’ relatives are voiced by ‘non-white’ actors implying sophistication as well as in the movie Despicable Me 2 where El Macho and his son are given a Spanish image portraying a smooth talker and an irresistible lover that is often stereotypes about Spanish people. [87] People seem oblivious to the racial content due to various distractions like visual stimuli such as 3D effects and the contrasting use of color, sound effects such as surround sound and the voices of the character and lastly the plot of the story. Most people are over stimulated by these ‘distractions’ that they rarely notice the stereotyping. Another factor would be that parents neglect the responsibility to screen the movies that their children are watching. In some instances the stereotyping may be instilled in some parents from birth resulting in children seeing stereotyping as normal behavior. [96] Subtle racial prejudices towards Hispanic and Black people in Rio2 were the implication that ‘wild’ Amazonian Macaws voiced by ‘non- white ‘actors are uncivilized. Songs sung by these Macaws are primarily voiced by African American actors accompanied by rhythmic beats and movements with catchy phrases primarily found in native song and dance. Roberto (wild Macaw) is voiced by the singer Bruno Mars who is from a mixture of Jewish and Hawaiian decent implying (help with that word). Pedro and Nico two rapping, gangster, music loving birds are voiced by two equally successful and famous rappers Will.I.Am and Jamie Foxx [99] From this passage I can conclude that even though warnings about stereotyping may be placed before animation movies, many parents would still allow their children to watch it. [31]

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - Truth and Tom Sawyer :: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - Truth and Tom Sawyer    â€Å"The road to truth is long, and lined the whole way with annoying bastards.† Alexander Jablokov The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain, has many themes; one theme is the importance of truth in society.   A Society is inevitable. It will always be there as a pleasure and a burden. Society expects, or perhaps demands, certain behavior from the individual.   If one wishes to enjoy the pleasures of society then one must play by society’s rules.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Tom Sawyer, THE MAIN CHARACTER, is an imaginative young man who sometimes allows his imagination and high-spirit TO get in the way of telling the truth.  Ã‚   Tom is very adventurous; he never passes up a chance to play pirates, robbers, or soldiers. We are introduced to Tom, when he is climbing in his window after a long night of cavorting with his friends. Soon after this, Tom meets Huckleberry Fin. Huck is a social outcast who likes to live by his own terms.   Tom and Huck become good friends.   One night the two boys go to the graveyard AND while they are there they witness the murder of the town doctor, Mr. Robinson. The boys watched as Injun Joe kills the doctor and frames a drunk by the name of Muff Potter, who happens to be IN the wrong place at the wrong time. The boys swear never to speak of THE MURDER again. Later, Tom falls in love with his new neighbor, Becky Thatcher. Eventually the two become engaged, but the engagement falls through when Tom accidentally mentions his former love while talking with Becky. The two feud and do not speak. Meanwhile, the whole town is gossiping of the murder of Dr. Robinson and the prosecution of Muff Potter. A trail quickly forms and Muff is put on the stand.   Tom cannot allow the innocent Muff TO go to jail.   As the trial comes to a close, Tom testifies and indicates the guilt of Injun Joe.   When the trial ends, the manhunt for Injun Joe begins AND Tom is treated like a hero.Tom feels guilty knowing he broke a sacred oath with Huck. Becky and Tom soon become friends again after Tom takes Becky’s punishment at school for being careless with the teacher’s things.

Bones Restaurant

One wall Is covered entirely by a mirror, Glenn the appearance that the addling room is a lot larger than it actually Is. There are photographs hanging on the other walls of celebrities like Bob Hope, Being Crosby, and Danny Okay, and other famous people like President George Bush, and President Ronald Reagan all of which have dined there. Although there is a tie requirement, the other dcord is not so much as to make someone feel uncomfortable. It is rather ranch style, with Bull horn, and Mason Jar chandeliers, and rustic wood furniture.The menu has a diverse selection from pasta, chicken, lamb, pork, and of course what they are known for, the steaks and seafood. We decided to get two totally different options so that we could sample more of the menu. Sara decided on the Grilled Swordfish with braised Swiss chard. The Swordfish steak was a 1402. Steak, which is a large piece offish, and it was undoubtedly flavors. The Swiss chard, a green leafy vegetable, which was cooked in the oil s of the Swordfish, Sara said was also delightfully tasteful. I am not one for vegetable of that nature so I did not try it myself.I ordered the Dry Aged Bone-Len Rib Eye, served with fresh steamed Asparagus. The Steak itself I can see why it has gotten such great ratings from food critics, it was cooked perfectly, and was pull apart with a fork tender. It had tons of natural flavors, along with the spices that they had rubbed on it before its final preparation. Although the prices may be a little rich, I believe that it is well worth it considering the flavor, the quantity, and quality of the food that you do receive. This brings me to the people at Bone's Restaurant.As said before, as soon as you walk wrought the doors, you are greeted by smelling faces, and friendly attitudes. A reservation is a must so wait time is almost nothing. And the quality of Dana, the server that we had this wonderful evening was absolutely fantastic. Dana was friendly, helpful, and her knowledge of the menu was impeccable. But not only was she great, everyone that walked by inquired and made sure that we were doing okay. The General Manager Emilee also came by to make sure everything was great. Both Male Ana Dana were very personable, Ana easy to talk to.Male even suggested places to go, and see after she found out that we were new to Atlanta. Our overall experience with Bone's Restaurant is something that could be called awesome. It was definitely worth the three week wait list for reservations that we had to wait, and we even already have our name down for a future visit in September. Sara and I would recommend this establishment to anyone, and everyone that is planning to go to Atlanta. Bone's Restaurant is one of the greatest dining establishments that we have ever been to.

Memo Performance Management Essay

Hi Marylee, having found our recommendations for the compensation and benefits strategy satisfactory to Clapton Commercial Construction’s needs I will next outline a performance management plan. â€Å"Performance management (PM) includes activities which ensure that goals are consistently being met in an effective and efficient manner.† (â€Å"Performance Mangement,† 2013, para. 1). According to â€Å"My Strategic Plan† (2012), â€Å"Performance Management is also known as a process by which organizations align their resources, systems and employees to strategic objectives and priorities†(Glossary). The performance management system is part of the companies strategic plan in achieving the goals set forth each year. There has to be an ongoing communication process with the managers and the employees throughout the year as part of the performance management plan. Below are actions that are part of the performance management system. (â€Å"Performance Management – Meaning, System And Process†, 2013). ââ€" ª Developing clear job descriptions and employee performance plans which includes the key result areas (KRA’) and performance indicators. ââ€" ª Selection of right set of people by implementing an appropriate selection process. ââ€" ª Negotiating requirements and performance standards for measuring the outcome and overall productivity against the predefined benchmarks. ââ€" ª Providing continuous coaching and feedback during the period of delivery of performance. ââ€" ª Identifying the training and development needs by measuring the outcomes achieved against the set  standards and implementing effective development programs for improvement. ââ€" ª Holding quarterly performance development discussions and evaluating employee performance on the basis of performance plans. ââ€" ª Designing effective compensation and reward systems for recognizing those employees who excel in their jobs by achieving the set standards in accordance with the performance plans or rather exceed the performance benchmarks. ââ€" ª Providing promotional/career development support and guidance to the employees. ââ€" ª Performing exit interviews for understanding the cause of employee discontentment and thereafter exit from an organization. Effectively implementing a performance management system benefits the organization, manager, and employee in several ways. Your company will benefit with employee retention and loyalty, improved productivity, which will result in cost savings. The manager benefits are saving time, reducing conflicts, ensuring efficiency and consistency in performance. The employee has clear expectations of the job and clearly defined career paths. Providing open and transparent feedback will have a positive influence on job satisfaction and loyalty. (Managementstudyguide, 2013). After implementing the performance management system in order for it to be effective the employees have to understand their roles and importance to achieving the goals set forth. Making the employee aware of the goals and having a performance metric and job description in writing is the role of each manager to go over with the employee prior to started any job. The managers will go over the in detail the key result areas with the employee and set up a reward package if the goals are exceeded in these areas. Benchmarking is a method that can be used to measure performance metrics. In the commercial construction field quality, time and cost are very important dimensions measured against best practices and other companies in the business. Benchmarking will be invaluable to the success of the Clapton Commercial Construction. Benchmarking is a method to evaluate the performance, and will show the strengths and weaknesses within the company. Benchmarking will ensure the Clapton Commercial Construction can keep job costs, cycle times, and productivity within the industry averages. It will give you the data necessary to see the areas that additional training is  necessary. The managers will be responsible to get the employees the proper on the job training to be the most productive while keeping costs down. The performance appraisal component of the performance management system is where the manager will twice a year evaluate the employee’s performance. The manager will do a mid -year PE to determine areas of improvement needed to achieve or exceed the goals and deadlines set forth. For the employees which fail to meet or exceed expectations based on the performance metric set forth at the beginning of the year can be put on a performance improvement plan (PIP). This plan will set expectations and guidance for the employee to follow to help meet expectations by the end of the year. The final PE of the year will determine if the employee qualifies for a salary increase and bonus and how much it is. If the employee was put on a PIP and improved in the key areas and meet expectations set forth he/she will also be eligible for a salary increase and a bonus. The performance management system is an important component of the organizational strategic plan for measuring and analyzing data to measure the performance of the company. It requires the cooperation and support of all employees, especially upper management to be successful. The performance management is proactive system for managing the individual and organization to achieve desired results. (â€Å"Performance Management – Meaning, System And Process†, 2013). References Benchmarking. (2013). Retrieved from http://Wikipedia. (2013). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benchmarking Managementstudyguide. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.managementstudyguide.com/benefits-of-performance-management-system.htm My Strategic Plan. (2012). Retrieved from http://mystrategicplan.com/resources/section/glossary/ Performance Management – Meaning, System and Process. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.managementstudyguide.com/performance-management.htm Performance Mangement. (2013, Septmeber). WIKIPEDIA, (), . Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performance_management

Benedict Arnold essays

Benedict Arnold essays No other American is remembered quite the same as Benedict Arnold. He was a brave soldier, a patriot- and a traitor. Benedict was born in Norwich, Connecticut, on January 14, 1741. When he was 14 years old, Benedict ran away from home to fight in the French and Indian War, but he was brought back by his mother, who apparently was driven insane later in her life. If I had a son like Benedict, I might have gone insane too! After his mother insisted that he return home, he ran away for a second time. After he was finished playing boy hero for awhile, he learned the apothecary (pharmacy) trade and then in 1762, he opened a book and drug store in New Haven. Benedict was also involved with trade in the West Indies. By 1774, he was one of the wealthiest citizens in New Haven. It's a good thing that he had money, because he was one of those people who like to ride around in their Mercedes and wear expensive clothes, even if he couldn't afford them. Benedict then got hooked up with the sheriff's daughter Margaret Mansfield, and they hit it off. They decided to get married in 1774. But this marriage was short lived because the next year Margaret caught a disease and died. When the Revolutionary War began that year Arnold was already an experienced soldier. He had helped Ethan Allen capture Fort Ticonderoga. Then Benedict came up with a great idea to capture Quebec. This idea failed, but Benedict had already proven his bravery. He was then commissioned as a colonel in the patriot forces. He was one of General George Washington's most trusted officers. Benedict led his troops to the siege of Boston and Valcour Island and proved once again to be a bold and skilled officer. At the battle of Valcour Island he was wounded severely in his leg. His bravery won him the respect of many people. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. Arnold felt that his services were...

Why You Shouldnt Use a Period When Text Messaging

Why You Shouldnt Use a Period When Text Messaging Have you ever ended up in a spat with someone after a text message conversation went awry? Has anyone ever accused your messages of being rude or insincere? This may sound a bit crazy, but a study found that using a period to end a texted sentence could be the problem. A team of psychologists at Binghamton University in New York conducted a study among the schools students and found that text message responses to questions that ended with a period were perceived as less sincere than those that did not. The study titled  Texting Insincerely: The Role of the Period in Text Messaging was published in  Computers in Human Behavior  in December 2015, and was led by  Associate Professor of Psychology Celia Klin. Previous studies and your own daily observations show that  most people do not include periods at the end of final sentences in text messages, even when they include them in the sentences that precede them. Klin and her team suggest that this occurs because  the rapid back-and-forth exchange enabled by texting resembles talking, so our use of the medium is closer to how we speak to each other than to how we write with each other. This means that when people communicate by text message they must use other methods to include the social cues that are included by default in spoken conversations, like  tone, physical gestures, facial and eye expressions, and the pauses we take between our words. (In sociology, we use the symbolic interaction perspective to analyze all the ways our daily interactions are loaded with communicated meaning.) There are many ways that we add these social cues to our textual conversations. Most obvious among them are emojis, which have become such a common part of our daily communicative lives that Oxford English Dictionary named the Face with Tears of Joy emoji as its 2015 word of the year. But of course, we also use punctuation like asterisks and exclamation points to add emotional and social cues to our texted conversations. Repeating letters to add emphasis to a word, like sooooooo tired, is also commonly used to the same effect.​ Klin and her team suggest that these elements add pragmatic and social information to the literal meaning of typed words, and so have become useful and important elements of conversation in our digitized, twenty-first-century lives. But a period at the end of a final sentence stands alone. In the context of texting, other linguistic researchers have  suggested that the period reads as finalas shutting down a conversationand that it is more commonly used at the end of a sentence that is meant to convey unhappiness, anger, or frustration. But Klin and her team wondered if this was really the case, and so they conducted a study to test this theory. Klin and her team had 126 students at their university rate the sincerity of a variety of exchanges,  presented as images of text messages on mobile phones. In each exchange, the first message contained a statement and a question, and the response contained an answer to the question. The researchers tested each set of messages with a response that ended with a period, and with one that did not.  One example  read, Dave gave me his extra tickets. Wanna come? followed by a response of Surepunctuated with a period in some instances, and not in others. The study also contained twelve other exchanges using different forms of punctuation, so as to not lead participants on to the intent of the study. Participants rated the exchanges from very insincere (1) to very sincere (7). The results show that people find final sentences that end with a period to be less sincere than those that are ended without punctuation (3.85 on the scale of 1-7, versus 4.06). Klin and her team observed that the period has taken on a particular pragmatic and social meaning in texting because its use is optional in this form of communication. That participants in the study did not rate use of the period as indicating a less sincere handwritten message seems to back this up. Our interpretation of the period as signaling a not entirely sincere message is unique to texting. Of course, these findings do not suggest that people are using periods intentionally to make the meaning of their messages less sincere. But regardless of intent, receivers of such messages are interpreting them that way. Consider that during an in-person conversation, a similar lack of sincerity might be communicated by not looking up from a task or other object of focus while responding to a question. Such behavior signals a lack of interest in or engagement with the person asking the question. In the context of texting, the use of a period has taken on a similar meaning. So if you want to ensure that your messages are received and understood with the level of sincerity you intend, leave the period off the final sentence. You might even consider upping the sincerity ante with an exclamation point. Grammar experts are likely to disagree with this recommendation, but its us social scientists who are more adept at understanding the shifting dynamics of interaction and communication. You can trust us on this, sincerely.

The Research Report for the Teenagers' View on Sex Essay

The Research Report for the Teenagers' View on Sex - Essay Example Research question: The fundamental research questions guiding this study are: "What are the essential views of a teenager regarding sex" "What do such views of a teenager signify with regard to his particular life stage" Aims of study: The focal point of the study has been an investigation on a teenager's views on sex. The study also covers an analysis of the various developmental needs of a teenager, especially relating to his sexual needs. The study also investigates the characteristics of a teenager's life as suggested primarily by his views on sex. This reflective analysis of the attitudes of teenagers on the question of sex calls for a mixed methodology incorporating both qualitative and quantitative research, aiming at establishing the fundamental views of teenagers. Literature review provides another most essential tool for the investigative purposes. The scope for an extensive sampling and data collection is limited in this sort study. Therefore, the main focus will be a discussion on the topic with regard to the review of literature. Sex has been one of the subtlest issues of discussion among the teenagers, and the lack of proper sex education among teenagers is evident in several cases. The distorted and disinterested attitudes of the adults and teachers regarding sex education of the teenagers are especially reflected in their understanding of sex. Through seminal researches and interviews with teenagers, found that "most of the teenagers had never had a single serious, factual discussion about sex with any adult, including parents." (Adelman 1992. P. 15). According to him, the basic issue with regard to teenager's attitudes of sex has been the result of the lack of sex education and the prevailing traditional views on sex. "The results of poor education, ignorance, and conservative ideas about sexuality have been appalling." (Adelman 1992. P. 15). It is obvious fact to every parent that the teenage years are all but an easy time. There are several issues concerning teenagers which become the hallmarks of ever y family's discussions and they include dating, driving, and drinking etc. The 'do's and don'ts' of proper behaviour as well as decorum lie beneath a teenager's every move. "Parents fret that they have not done enough to ensure their child's growth and success; teachers worry that they are not preparing their students for their next grade or career move; and teenagers agonize over every step because, for them, every step is their first step." (Kaplan 1999. P. Xviii). Sexual perceptions of the teenagers are the central factor which indicates the developments of the individuals through adolescence. It is of paramount consideration that young people, by the time they reach adolescence, have acquired sexual attitudes, values, and behaviours, and they are picked up by the stereotypes of gender. A teenage girl tends to believe that she needs to fit in with what their sexual counterparts require in the way of feminine image, and, thus, she considers romancing and being in love are significant to her life. Similarly, teenage boys take on a competitive masculine style and they consider risk taking as part of 'being man'. In their teenage