Curriculum Development Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Curriculum Development Paper - Essay Example Health workers need to be at the fore front in promoting healthy living which simply begins by simple responsibilities like washing hands. Hands should be washed at minimum; before food preparation, during and after cooking; before eating; before and after handling patients; after using the washrooms and after sneezing, coughing and blowing noses, Hand washing Liaison Group (1999). To wash hands is the best strategy to prevent the spread of germs in the healthcare environment. The hospitals are full of germs (disease causing micro organisms) and nurses have some power of ensuring that their spread is prevented. In order to impact this knowledge to the nurses, a lesson plan will be designed to guide the process of refreshing the knowledge on why washing hands is extremely significant in the healthcare environment, Hand washing Liaison Group (1999) About 20 nurses washing their hands will spend only five minutes when this is done at fifteen seconds each and if this is done throughout the day, a lot of time will be spent but it would be worth it as germs will be reduced considerably and the spread will also be limited. The nurses will have to wash their hands in warm water by using the hospital soap dispenser and leally lather it up. The nurses will wash the front as well as the back of their hands and they will pretend that they are going to handle a very delicate situation like surgery. The soap should be massaged between the fingers ensuring that the nails are properly washed and this should take about fifteen seconds per individual. The nurses can be timed (Bergquist & Pogosian 2000). The scrubbing action is very important as it helps to break up germs and remove them altogether. After this, hands should be properly rinsed with clean water and dried with a clean piece of cloth preferably clean white towel or the fresh paper towels currently in use. Nurses should note that when cleaning hands in the washrooms used by many people, the paper towel is the

Analysing The Novel Elegy For My Father English Literature Essay

Analysing The Novel Elegy For My Father English Literature Essay Elegy for my Father is a melancholy piece of poetry which uses descriptive imagery in order to describe a fathers last hours. The original definition of an elegy was a dedication to a persons life, either in mourning or sorrow. This example is written in six separate eight line stanzas, each flowing from the next. The poem could also be described as a form of lyric poetry because of the deep thoughts and feelings expressed in it, and the story it is telling. The sombre metre of the poem uses dactylic tetrameter, which creates a kind of rapid effect, and also with the unrhymed lines creating a less flowing rhythm, with a more jagged like tone throughout the poem. The variations of the chosen dactylic meter illustrated in the first stanza, range from the trochee in lines 1 and 7, the cretic in the first foot of line 2, the bacchic in the third foot of line 2 and the running start or extra syllable beginning in the first foot of line 4. The different mix of the poetic forms shows how the author, Annie Finch, illustrates freedom and expression in her writing. In his review of Annie Finchs poetry, Michael Parker states, Finch is simply a master of meter, displaying a distinct, complex yet highly readable metrical system, most unique for contemporary poets. The main subject, the father, has little of his life left to live and Finch wants the reader, to journey through this particular time in great detail. The images of vigil evoked in this poe m allow the reader to develop a feel of the pagan ritual of mourning the death of a loved one. The spiritual views which Finch follows so boldly and weaves into her works beautifully are very vivid in the imagery used in Elegy for my Father. Ted Richards wrote in Jacket Magazine that Finch, who has described her work process as including the whispering or muttering, shouting or chanting or singing her words aloud as she writes, has brought that song into the words in a way that we associate with poets of an earlier era, like Tennyson or Kipling. Throughout the poem, the repetitive use of you and he for the father is significant because it creates that close personal feeling of a father and his daughter, and how death can change it all. It also creates empathy in the reader towards the subject. In the later part with lines like Night, take his hand and He has given his body we can feel the distance which is created by death. This creates that feeling of transition and distance which one goes through in the ritual of mourning the death of a loved one. In the transition from you to he Finch has created that feeling of departure just like creating the most moving moments in an elegyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. when a poet juxtaposes the mourners address to the dead person with a sympathetic but sceptical testing of that convention: If the dead are forever deaf and inert, how can they hear what we say? (Shaw, 1994) The two epigraphs presented in quote form at the beginning of the poem act as a preface to the subject of the poem: death as part of the natural circle of life. No earthly shore until is answered in the vortex of our grave. The word grave mentioned early on in the poem reveals ideas about death and earthly shore about the earth bound physical part of our life before we move on to the spiritual life beyond. In the next line, the seals wide spindrift gaze towards paradise, the seal and paradise emphasise that once dead in the physical sense, you are passed on to paradise. Similarly with the lion in the second epigraph, it is as if we the readers are to believe that humans can be compared to an animal as large and triumphant as a lion or a seal perhaps. The reason for the epigraphs at the beginning of the poem is to create a strong indication of the poems theme that is to follow. Finch uses two quotes from a poet (Crane) and a philosopher (Wittgenstein, in whose work her father was a pa rticular expert) to inform her poems content. In comparison, T.S. Eliots poem Gerontion uses an epigraph taken from Shakespeares Measure for Measure: Thou has nor youth nor age/ But as it were an after dinner sleep/ dreaming of both. A popular choice among literary writers, the epigraph sets the scene for what is to follow and enables the reader to form their own ideas about the theme chosen. In the deep room where candles burn soundlessly and peace pours at last through the cells of our bodies. Lines 1 and 2 of the second stanza echo line 1 of the first. The repetition of both adverbs soundlessly and wordlessly is an example of where Finch has attempted to use rhyme but in a completely different way. The family of the dying father is watchful by his side, Three of us are watching, one of us is staring. It is almost as if they know what is going to happen, but they want to stay in the moment forever and not see him die. With the wide gaze of a wild, wave-fed seal. Incense and sage speak in smoke loud as waves. The descriptive imagery Finch uses, particularly the alliterative w sound in line 12 and the sibilant s sound in line 13 in the second stanza shows that she is using sound to illustrate how she is feeling. The repetition of these consonants and the use of the nature theme help to create an image of happiness, and not sadness. Crickets sing sand towards the edge of t he hourglass. The hourglass signifies an end point in time, but if crickets are singing then there could be an element of joy too. It is the difference between our imaginations and reality that the focus of this poem is illustrating. It is showing the balance of light and dark and death alongside life. Overall, the description of the room and the imagery used suggest aspects of Pagan ritual the references to incense, candles and circles and to animals. There are roughly three sections of this poem; the first being the descriptive tribute to a father most loved, the second being the father losing grip on his life, with his family close by, we will stay with you, keeping the silence we all came here for, and the last involving the moment in which he dies, Silence is here. In the fifth stanza, lines 34, 35 and 36 all begin with the word spin. This is the first noticeable pattern of words chosen by Finch. The effect of repeating each line with the same word affects the outlook on the situation. It is as if the death which is happening is such a blur that it spins impatiently, waiting for an outcome. Lines 38 and 29 of the same stanza also begin with the repeated word flying. The similarity between spin and flying, both of which suggest adventurous actions demonstrate that at this point, that the father is nearing a dignified death, His breath slows, lending its edges out to the night. Ending with the last stanza, where the father dies, it is important to point out that with the authors pagan religious beliefs, the theme throughout has been that death is much more than just death alone. It is likened to nature, and the soul; He has given his body; his hand lies above the sheets in a symbol of wholeness. This powerful imagery and religious (albeit Pagan) input infuses a feeling of warmth and strength for the ending of the poem. We the readers are left to our own imaginations, words such as gold, flame, temple, and prayer paint the scene of the mourning and passage of a person into the realm of death with ritualistic and religious sanctity. Edain McCoy has said that, when one defines oneself as Pagan, it means she or he follows an earth or nature religion, one that sees the divine manifest in all creation. The cycles of nature are our holy days, the earth is our temple. Annie Finch in Elegy for my Father creates a personal outlook on her fathers death framed by her own Pagan beliefs. 1,492 words Endnote 1. The writer of the poem was identified by typing the first two lines of the first stanza into Googles search bar, and following the first link to: http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/annie_finch/poems/22499

General Support for Class Size Essay -- essays papers

General Support for Class Size â€Å"Of course class size is important. You have to find the child before you can teach the child (Archived†¦ 2000).† Though this opinion may seem radical to most people, you can see the underlying theme in the argument. Smaller classes allow students to have more personalized, individual attention from teachers. Many teachers and smaller class size advocates believe that such classes will allow for more constructive group activities, strengthen students’ problem solving and critical thinking skills, and accommodate for a wide range of learning paces. These advocates also believe that a reduced student to teacher ratio will give teachers more time to be innovative and develop new ideas, lead class discussions to further understanding, and give more practice exercises. For parents who want the best education for their children, these proposed effects of small class size make you wonder where the hard evidence is to back them. Project STAR Case studies have been key in generating research information on the effects of smaller class size. Similar results have been attained from studies in Tennessee, California and Wisconsin. Project STAR (Student/Teacher Achievement Ratio) in Tennessee is â€Å"one of the most important educational investigations ever carried out (HEROS, 2001).† In 1985 the Tennessee passed the proper legislation to put into effect a four year class size study of students in grades K-3, using three million state dollars. The study chose a cross section of inner city, suburban and rural schools to participate as experimental and comparison groups. The groups were divided into classrooms with small enrollment (13-17 children), regular enrollment (22-25 children), and regular en... ... The growing case for smaller classes.(2001). American Teacher v.85(no.8), p.2. Retrieved 10/9/01 from WilsonSelect database. This short resource takes a general look at project STAR in Tennessee. It also discusses how to close the racial achievement gap. Study confirms value of small class size.(2001). American Teacher v.85(no.6), p.2. Retrieved10/6/01 from WilsonSelect database. This resource discusses project SAGE. It describes why class size reduction was successful in Wisconsin. Toch, T.(1997). Does class size matter?. U.S. News & World Report v.123, p.22-5. Retrieved 10/9/01 from WilsonSelect database. This periodical discusses whether or not class size matters in achievement. This resource discusses class size in specific cases in which class size matters. It takes a look at Tennessee and California class size reduction initiatives.

Organisational Behaviour: The Personal Nature of Leadership Essay

The title of this paper inspires examination of leadership style within the corporate culture with regard to personal traits in relation to organisational behaviour. The old standard of a leader being born rather than made is under review here as many concepts come into play when discussing modern corporate leadership. Many would argue and research reflects (Goleman, D. , Boyatzis, R. , & McKee, A. 2001) leaders adjust style according to situations. A situation is just one influence affecting one’s leadership capabilities. The organisational culture brings into play a myriad of factors that affect leadership. Stogdill (1948/1974) built the foundation for modern leadership where creative thinking and flexibility become key because personality became central to understanding situations found in corporate culture. Stogdill writes â€Å"no personal characteristics are predictive of leadership seems to over-emphasise the situational and underestimate the personal nature of leadership† (p. 35—check your book for ref). Research into the history of leadership lends another view entirely. Such researchers of leadership and organisational behaviours as Boddy and Burns find early on the icon of leadership was based on an egalitarian view of the best â€Å"man† for the job. Stogdill found different views but related findings to behaviour. Now many years later, is the nature of leadership based in situations? Or is it based in one’s personal experience and choices in reacting to certain situations? I believe the face of corporate culture has changed because of certain factors present today in the business world. Today, gender, race and other demographic factors play a large role in management. How people interact and how these demographics influence the behaviour of the organisation needs to be examined because this makes the culture. In today’s business world because competition is fierce, anything innovative and flexible to opening up channels of creativity is seen as a positive. Organisational culture is born out of an organisation’s core values and beliefs in completing its objectives (Robbins 2001, p. 544). This can also be said of people as a culture within race, religion and creed. How an organisation takes external factors like an individual’s demographic can be a complex task. How people perceive his or her is directly influenced by his or her personal experiences and make-up. In this respect because of globalization and multiculturalism, an organisation needs to be flexible to outside influences within reason. This means than an organisational culture has the means of redefining itself as more people join. Of course the organisation must conscious that these factors are at work and this means sticking to the core values. In this respect, I must agree with Stogdill’s statement because the human experience, these demographics touched upon above, makes one’s personality and makes culture personal. It makes the act of leading based from one’s experience and therefore, very personal. One can see such proof within the literature but really one’s personal experience and how they use these traits builds character and influences many areas of organisational behaviour such as tools for motivation, team-building and creative thinking. Personal Nature of Leadership The personal connection begins at a fundamental level of human sociology where the use of story is central. Howard Gardner (1995) reflects, â€Å"the ultimate impact of the leader depends most significantly on the particular story that he or she relates or embodies, and the receptions to that story on the part of the audiences† (p. 14). By telling stories, allows for a certain level of openness or vulnerability on the part of the leader and makes them human. By opening the line of communication, gives the employee knowledge of their environment and develops trust. The leader’s role is to sell the idea of commitment within a culture. Odiorne (1987) suggests, â€Å"if employees know what is expected, and what help and resources are available, they can then be relied upon to govern their actions to achieve the commitments they have made† (p. 138). This sets the stage for goals and achieving high performance. The culture in turn feeds off this energy and excitement. Bennis (1989) writes: There are three reasons why leaders are important. First they are responsible for the effectiveness of organizations. Second, the change and upheaval of past years has left us with no place to hide. We need anchors in our lives as a guiding purpose. Third, there is a national concern about integrity of our institutions. Being mindful of own context is difficult for us. (p. 15-16) Managers with a keen understanding of leading represent these three key attributes and create a foundation from which to act. A leader must also display curiosity and have the guts to be daring. This requires someone to make a choice based upon his or her ability to risk take. They must be a dominant force within the team. Bennis (1989) reflects, there are two kinds of people â€Å"those who are paralyzed by fear, and those who are afraid but go ahead away. Life is not about limitation but options† (p. 185). A healthy culture inspires options and the innovations that grow out of creativity. Research discovered that leaders use different leadership styles for different situations because of emotional intelligence and its tie to strengths or weaknesses in personal traits. In the book Primal Leadership, authors David Goleman, Richard Boyatzis , and Annie McKee (2001) present their research on leadership styles within the organisational structure. The research discusses the relationship that these executives have with their emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is the study of emotions and their impact upon the work environment. The research investigates the different leadership styles evident in most organisations today. Mainly, leaders were categorized as either having the visionary, coaching, affiliative, democratic, pacesetting, or commanding leadership styles. Among these, only pacesetting and commanding are assessed to be less effective than the other leadership styles. Emotional Intelligence relies upon the fact the leader will be able to have a competent level of interaction with the employee by changing leadership styles and adapting to each unique situation throughout the time at work. It reflects successful leadership by allowing for complex relationships for team members by recognizing relationship building, capacity of visions and personal development. Emotional Intelligence for a leader means being able to read people, be read and allow for open dialogue. Research stresses the importance of the leader’s flexibility and capability to adapt to his or her environment. An effective leader will understand not only their environment and people but also understand the potential for impact upon that environment. By understanding this key element, an effective leader will know how to define the environment. This is important because employees look to management for guidance. The leader defines the boundaries for the team and created an atmosphere for building relationships and open communication. This in turn creates stronger teams. Team Building For managers who put his or her people first; they are more focused on nurturing and training. Research suggests leaders are more interested in mentoring and training their team rather than focusing on output of numbers or turn around time. This development in team building allows for â€Å"providing people opportunities to learn from their work rather than taking them away from their work to learn† (Hughes 2004, p. 4). A healthy culture inspires options and the innovations that grow out of creativity. Still one could not ignore times of fear. Management sometimes creates fear on purpose or misused it to work employees harder. This does not create positive outcomes but promoted conflict and an unstable team. It is clear for management to be successful; it must communicate its vision but also create positive reinforcement (See Figure 1. ). Once key members understand people’s needs, then action could be taken to improve management’s role. Only then would a leader be taken seriously. Recognizing positive traits in a team member built trust, integrity and also met an important need while building a team.

Evaluation Essay

The internet in the world of today holds a very important place. It offers everything from finding a good college to finding an elegant dress. It can offer good shopping sites, and the most wonderful part is that your order is delivered to your house. Women today prefer online shopping. Websites of different companies offer all the clothes online. When such websites are designed a lot of things are considered, to satisfy users. I will analyze the website of Guess, Express and Charlotte Russe in three ways, which are the websites designs and layout, variety of clothes and ease to zoom each item. The first way of analyzing the website is its design and layout. The design of such websites should be very appealing and actively engaging. Beginning with Guess, it has an extremely appealing layout and design. The best part of this website is the slide show of four slides that runs on the home page. Each model is wearing an attractive outfit with good makeup. It provides very clear options for the buyer. The website of Express is a decent one. All the tabs are labeled very clearly just as Guess, but instead of a slideshow there is picture of four models, and discount coupons. Slide shows grab the attention of buyer and actively engage them, so it was a minus for the express. Charlotte Russe’s website is the worst; there is not a single model on the home page rather it says twenty five percent off. It would have been better if that was written in a corner with some model dressed up nicely in center. The web layout is pretty much same as rest; however there are pull-down menus, neither Guess nor Express has that feature. I believe pull down menus are more comfortable for the buyer because instead of first choosing ‘women’ and then going for ‘jeans’ or any desired option, one can simply place cursor on women and choose the option from pull down menu. After looking at all features Guess is most appealing to me and Charlotte Russe is least, however in the layout Charlotte Russe is pretty good compared to Guess and Express. My second way to analyze is the variety of clothes they had in each section. To begin with Guess, for example if the option of jeans is clicked in women’s section then eighty-seven different denim jeans are displayed. This provides a wide range of options for the buyer to choose from. The website of express has more types of jeans than Guess like capris, shorts, skinnies, etc, but the number of jeans was less. Express offers sixty jeans while Guess offers eighty seven-jeans. On the website of Charlotte Russe, if the option of jeans is clicked then it also shows sixty different jeans just like Express; therefore, in quantity Express and Charlotte Russe are the same. However Charlotte Rusee has the only four types of jeans which are way less than Guess and Express. Therefore in variety Guess was the best while Charlotte Russe was not as good, with Express in between the two. My third way to analyze is the ease of zooming each item. Beginning with Guess, it offers three ways to look at each jeans: front, back, and side. All three options are displayed vertically on the right side. As soon as the cursor is placed on jeans it forms a small square, and the part in square is zoomed and showed. This is a plus point for its website as it was really easy to see the jeans clearly through this feature. Besides this, a detailed description of jeans was provided on the left side, which also told about its finishing, etc. The jeans of Express could also be viewed in three different ways however, the cursor did not form a square, and rather there was the traditional zoom in and out sign on the corner. The zooming of Guess is far better. The description is present, but it is not as detailed as it is at Guess. Charlotte Russe was the same as Express. It had the same traditional zoom in and out system, with much less descriptions. Therefore I think that Guess is far better, and both Express and Charlotte Russe are nearly same. According to these criteria I would say that the website of Guess is best. The designing of website is appealing, has a huge variety and also it is easy to zoom the item. Express and Charlotte Russe are more or less the same. However, the website of express is better in design, while Charlotte Russe has a better layout. So, I think the two are nearly same.