Sunday, December 22, 2019

Short Story The Hell - 1097 Words

I sighed began to attempt picking Brock up. I paused and looked up at Megan, who was still staring at me. I raised my eyebrows and said, Are you coming or what? I haven t got all night. She continued to stare at me open-mouthed. I slid my arms underneath Brock s upper back and knees. I took a deep breath and slowly picked him up. I looked back to Megan and asked in a rushed tone, If you re just going to gape at me could you at least open the stupid door? She shook herself out of her reverie and opened the door. I struggled out the door and then ran, or what the equivalent was for the part jog part stagger I was doing, to the minivan. The others saw me coming, and they threw the car door open in time for me to shove Brock inside.†¦show more content†¦She did, but she still had a question. Is there a radio in here? I m bored. I let out the breath that I had apparently been holding. I reached out a hand and pressed the button. The station 103.5 blared out an old favourite of mi ne. Tears almost came to my eyes. I wished that I could sing along to it, but I couldn t if I wanted to keep my secret. My expression turned sour as I remembered how Apollo and Ares had tricked me and Logan. Logan and I had been invited to Olympus by Apollo and Ares. We were excited because we would get to meet our fathers for the very first time (Apollo was my dad, Ares was his). When we got there we had lunch and chatted. Until they offered us something. We had stupidly accepted right away because , well, who doesn t accept something from a god? But what we didn t know then hurt us later. It had caused... things to happen when I sang or Logan insulted people. So we made a pact to only do those things in times of greatest need. Emma... EMMA! Megan shouted. WHAT I screamed back. I turned around again. Megan looked taken aback. I was just wondering where you got that scar on the back of your neck... she muttered, Gosh, can t a girl just ask a question? I noticed that everyone else wa s looking at me like I was a ticking bomb, ready to explode. Then I realised that I was. I could feel my face heating up and in my head thoughts like, How dare she? and,Show MoreRelatedShort Story : A Hell Hole 1728 Words   |  7 Pagescascading silkily down her back. Her dark, brown eyes landing on the door, exiting and making her way out of the nine feet, black gates, as she moved away from the chaos, leaving behind the sight of the big, tedious, four stories building, a place known as school, but in Aislinn s words, a hell hole. This building is new to Aislinn s sight, yet it is just like every other school building she had been to in the previous three years. Despite that, Aislinn feels like there is more to Stratford High, not justRead MoreSymbolisms of Hell in The Pit and the Pendulum Essay835 Words   |  4 PagesSymbolisms of Hell in â€Å"The Pit and the Pendulum† In the short story, Poe uses the pit to symbolize hell. In the beginning, the soldier describes going into the pit as â€Å"a mad rushing descent as of the soul into Hades† (Poe 268). The descent reminds the reader of hell in that it is beneath the surface of the ground. Also, when the soldier describes the mad rushing, it can represent hell because nothing in hell is supposed to be orderly or calm. In the Bible, hell is described as a chaoticRead MoreThe Pit And The Pendulum By Edgar Allen Poe1703 Words   |  7 Pagespoint of view, setting, and conflict to display the thematic message of fear in his short stories. This example uses all three literary strategies. The setting contributes to the theme of fear by stating that the soul was descending to Hades, the Greek god of the underworld, or hell, a place that will almost definitely draw a fear response in the reader. He uses conflict by having the reader infer that the story is about a dying person, and so on. He finds unique ways to do this with all types ofRead MoreAll The Arcades Of The World868 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Of all the arcades in the world, she had to walk into mine. Tina, the only person who could beat me at Pacman, back to prove it again.†(Hill 3 Feb). The very short story spoke to me about love and I felt my heart ache. Of all the hearts in the world, she had to walk into his. He’s a player and the only one that could beat him at his own game is Tina. The man, however, uses the arcade game Pacman to hide his feelings and frustration toward Tina. Unlike most scenarios Tina is playing with what I’mRead More Imagery in Edwards Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Essay519 Words   |  3 Pagesso the wrath of God is more fearsome and gave you a mental picture of hell in your head. Imagery is one of the components that were used by Edwards to make his story more persuasive. As the short story begins, the first sentence was an example of imagery. Edwards wrote when men are on GodÂ’s hands and they could fall to hell. “…natural men are held in the hands of God, over the pit of hell…” Knowing that you might fall into hell at any moment should scare you. God decided to save you until he wantsRead MoreDante s Inferno, By Dante The Pilgrim1345 Words   |  6 Pagesof Hell told by Dante the Poet. The story examines what a righteous life is by showing us examples of sinful lives. Dante is accompanied by his guide Virgil, who takes him on a journey to examine sin and the effects it has in has in the afterlife to different sinners. Through the stories of Francesca and Paolo, Brunetto Latini, Ulysses and Guido da Montefeltro, we are able to understand that people are self-interested in the way they act and present themselves to others and that those i n Hell areRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Comedia 947 Words   |  4 Pagesthe three poems, spawning countless reprints, several movies and even a video game. Despite being known as a comedy, anyone who has read Inferno realizes that the story is full of symbolism, double entendres, political messages, allusions, religious undertones†¦ the list goes on. However, there are several comedic elements in the story that distinguish it from other epic poems such as The Odyssey and Beowulf. Dante, unlike most other poets of the time, intended for his poem to have a parodic styleRead MoreThe Role Of Virgil In Dante Alighieris The Divine Comedy731 Words   |  3 PagesAs Dante is lost and floundering in his beginning moments of the story, a guide named Virgil appears to help.Virgil, a wise older man who’s lived for many years more than Dante, performs a vital function in The Divine Comedy; he leads Dante through hell and purgatory. In Dante Alighieris The Divine Comedy, there are many characters who are important, but Virgil has a key role. He serves as a protector, a knowledgeable guide and a model of human reason and wisdom. Virgil is very protective of DanteRead MoreThe Interpreter Of Maladies Short Story1124 Words   |  5 Pagesgoes cold†. Jhumpa Lahiri, the author of The Interpreter of Maladies, Hell-Heaven, and A Temporary Matter, shows that she agrees with this idea through the conflict displayed in her short stories. In all three stories, a loss of communication between people becomes present and ultimately leads to a failing or meaningless relationship. Different types of loss of communication that the different characters experience in the stories include a loss of connection with each other, and choosing not to listenRead MoreWe All Have Evil Inside874 Words   |  4 Pagesknown for his use of allegorical figures in his short stories. The use of allegories help its readers seek a hidden meaning of an object or character to help them understand their significance to the story. In 1835, Hawthorne wrote the short story of â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† where the reader is introduced to an innocent and pure couple who are all about religion and against any evil worshippers. Faith and Goodman Brown will face a diabolic journey to hell, and fight against the will of the evil which

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Benefits of Educating Employees Free Essays

Is it possible for a business to increase productivity by offering workplace computer literacy training to their employees? This paper asked the question: Are there benefits to employers that provide workplace education and training, above and beyond increased competency? The answer, as reported by research, is a resounding yes. Benefits such as increased self-confidence, increased adaptability, flexibility, the willingness to accept change and increased success in job-related training plus increased skills were reportedly derived from the workplace competency training offered. Moreover these benefits translated into more productivity for the organization. We will write a custom essay sample on Benefits of Educating Employees or any similar topic only for you Order Now Benefits of Educating Employees Introduction With the rapid changes taking place in our world economy, researching the question of workplace education benefits is significant. The question arose whether the workforce is sufficiently educated to compete in a global economy. The research pointed to competency as being imperative in today’s global economy, which implies an acceptance of computer competency. Education and competency training is defined as more than being able to work, but to make decisions. It is defined as being an important adjunct of technology. Education of skills, particularly computer competency and how they function gave the employees an overview of the system as a whole. It helped them understand how their machine worked and gave them an impetus to look for solutions themselves. This transcended into time saved and increased efficiency. The paper also indicated that companies which supported education in the workforce benefited because their employees exhibited improved self-confidence which translated into increased productivity and performance. More flexibility and a willingness to accept change were also deemed to benefits received from competency and skills training. Next point showed how computer literacy training benefited companies by helping their employees understand the computerized equipment they were working on. This understanding translated into: increased self-confidence, increased adaptability and flexibility, increased production as well as the willingness to take other training and succeed at same. Education and training today does include competency and skills not only in offices but also on shop floors. The benefits to providing workplace competency and skills training to employees are multifaceted. It may lessen the time it takes for people to learn. Return on investment is always of interest to businesses and organizations. The paper illustrated how employees, managers, supervisors as well as trainers observed behaviors from participants in the training, which reflected savings and profit for the organization. Some of the benefits are: saving time, increased production, increased flexibility, willingness to ask questions and changed attitudes. The paper points out how important it is to prepare to evaluate the training at the beginning of a project in order to determine what the organization is really trying to achieve with this specific training. The research concludes by looking at the organizational implications of offering workplace competency and skills training. Education and Competency Training Benefits There has been a great deal of information published on competency training done in the workplace. For example, in the 1997 report, The Impact of Basic Skills Programs on Canadian Workplaces: Results of a National Study for ABC CANADA Competency Foundation, the following information was reported. â€Å"The study consisted of in-depth phone interviews with 86 individuals from 53 workplaces that have had basic skills programs for at least one year. Sixty percent of the individuals interviewed were employer representatives and 40% were employee representatives. † (n. d. , The Benefits of Improving Competency Skills in the Workplace) The following are impacts to the workplace identified by the study: †¢ increases in the quality of work – 84% †¢ increased work effort – 73% †¢ more competent use of technology – 87%. (ABC CANADA Competency Foundation, The Benefits of Improving Competency Skills in the Workplace, n. d. ) Bloom and LaFleur’s (1999) report on improving competency skills through workplace education programs, indicates that â€Å"Although the impact of basic skills training on profits varies according to the value and shortage of a given skill or group of skills within a particular business sector, employers overwhelmingly report increased profits and other bottom-line benefits when their employees gain basic skills that enable them to work more effectively. † (p. 4) On page six of this report there is a list of eleven skills gained by employees who participated in workplace education programs as well as a list of twenty three organizational benefits gained by the employers. Willis (1994) reports that working with employees to expand workplace competency at the Peavey Electronics Corporation the following results were noted: â€Å"all employees had statistically significant increases in job performance with the areas of attitude, getting the job done, volunteering, doing extra, and dependability showing the most improvement. † (p. 25) U. S. Department of Labor (1992) states that: â€Å"A high-performance workplace requires workers who have a solid foundation in the basic competency and computational skills, the thinking skills, and in the personal qualities that make workers dedicated and trustworthy†¦ (p. 5). High-performance workplaces also require competencies: the ability to manage resources, to work amicably and productively with others, to acquire and use information, to master complex systems, and to work with a variety of technologies. † (p. 6) According to Dr. Harvey Krahn (1998) workplace competency programs target people with very low competency skills; however, if we look at competency as a continuum, businesses will recognize that it will benefit them to develop competency in people at all levels in the workplace. Bloom and LaFleur research (1999) has shown that â€Å"improving employee’s skills creates employees who work smarter and better and who cope well with change in the workplace, improves union/management relations and increases output and profitability. † (p. 3) The above speak of all competencies being important in the workplace. What challenges arise for businesses if employees are not literate? Bloom, Campbell and Gagnon (2001) speak of competency as being a crucial role in corporate competitiveness and productivity. They talk of globalization threatening U. S. ‘s economy and of people being a prime competitive advantage in the new economy. They maintain that U. S. ‘s traditional advantage of having a skilled workforce is being threatened by other countries gaining knowledge and improving the competency skills of their workers. They list the benefits to employers who work to increase the competency skills of their employees as: improved production and income, cost savings, better communication and employee retention as well as improved health and safety. For employees some of the benefits listed are higher income, more job security, less unemployment, improved self-confidence, more opportunities for job training, better attitude. (GAM, 2005) Benefits Specific to Computer Based Training The importance of computer training in today’s workplace is shown by the following statistics. More than one-half of all workers in U. S. now use a computer on the job. Data from the General Social Survey, on which the article is based, show that an estimated 8. 3 million workers, or 57% of the total employed, used a computer at their main job in 2000, compared with 33% in 1989 (Marshall, 2001, pp. 1-2). Ginsbury and Elmore (1998, p. 2) point out that computer training can save employees time to â€Å"compile and manage large data†; therefore, there is more time to spend on â€Å"creative, higher level work that that depends on the quick availability and quick manipulation of information†. They go on to say that much learning has been removed from the â€Å"objects of work whether a machine part, raw data or communication. † They speak of workers who fear technology or have difficulty learning new or upgraded technology as being liable to end up at the â€Å"lower end of a professional hierarchy. † Leckie, Leonard, Turcotte and Wallace (2001, p. 1) talk of work â€Å"evolving as the result of globalization, increased competition, the development of new technologies and other changes in the business environment. In the face of these trends, businesses are adopting new technologies and ways of organizing work to attain efficiency and productivity gains† (p. 9). They speak of businesses being wiser to retain their skilled employees rather than hire new, technically trained employees. They suggest that computer training can promote employee movement within a firm. Then firms have the best of both worlds, an employee who is experienced with the organization and has upgraded skills. They talk of new technology requiring new skills to be able to adapt to changing markets. They point to â€Å"job rotation, flexible job design and work teams† (p. 11) as giving employers the flexibility to have employees that will be able to adapt to change. They point to the effect of technological training for employees – if they become unemployed they have an easier time finding a job. They speak of computer training as being able to help employees deal with change as well as help them improve their performance and add to job satisfaction. McNeill (2000, p. 3) talks of computer competency at the executive level, as being more than â€Å"just using email and pulling files off the Web and so forth. We live in an increasingly high-tech world and overnight redundancies have become the norm. Companies that can’t assess these changes can easily get left behind. † He goes on to speak of downsizing and how computer competency is not listed as a reason to downsize; however, firms who have a choice of someone who is computer literate and someone of comparable skills that is not, will most likely choose to keep the person with computer skills. Computer based training attracts many and varied employees in the workplace. Most studies and papers state that computer training is beneficial to employees because it allows them the confidentiality to study what they need without others knowing. For instance there are many computer programs written which teach different skills. Also the training can be self-paced so there is no pressure to keep up. A bonus is if there are computer labs at work, employees can study when there is a suitable time in their schedule, such as lunch breaks, coffee breaks and before or after work. (Rae, O’Driscoll, 2004) I believe that training and education, especially computer is and will continue to be, very important to both employers and employees. As the information society develops, information and the know-how based on it will become more and more decisive as factors of production. Networking based on the application of information and communications technology, especially telecommunications, is a major trend. As well as creating new ways of communicating and working, information technology has made possible new methods of producing and distributing products and services (UNESCO, 2002, section 2. 1). Technological competency—meaning computer skills and the ability to use computers and other technology to improve learning, productivity and performance—has become as fundamental to a person’s ability to navigate through society as traditional skills like reading, writing and arithmetic †¦ (Selfe, 1998, p. 1). How to cite Benefits of Educating Employees, Papers

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Mark Twains adventure novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay Example For Students

Mark Twains adventure novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay In the words of Pap, You think youre bettern your father, now, dont you, because he cant ? 2. In Mark Twains adventure novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck Finn escapes from civilized society to traverse the Mississippi River. Throughout the book, Twain uses various themes such as social ostracism to comment on human nature and its role in shaping society. Sometimes mainstream society is not as right and moral as it believes, and when individuals try to justify it they push away their own humanity. Twain demonstrates this through the various lifestyles, comparing the intellects and beliefs of different social classes, and Hucks conforming to each facet of society. One of the first instances Twain uses to portray sociological exclusion reveals itself in the contrast of lifestyles. Throughout his life both prior to and after his murder, circumstances expose Huck to opposing ways of life including but not limited to rich vs. poor and simple vs. complex. Personifying middle-class society, Widow Douglass acts as a mother figure for Huck, deeming it her duty to sivilize 1 her adopted son, dressing him well and sending him to school. On the contrary, Pap observes that Youve put on frills and swears to take him down a peg 14. The two family icons pull Huck in opposite directions, but as influential as they may be, Huck knows he does not have a place in either world. If anything, Huck identifies more with the simplicity of Paps natural way of life than with the materialism of the middle-class of society. Willfully shunning both Pap and Widow Douglas, Huck finds a way to keep Pap and the widow from following him instead of moving far enough off before they missed 31. Furthermore, a contrast of the characteristics of men and women presents itself when Huck attempts a reconnaissance mission as a girl in St. Petersburg. Huck cannot go as himself because society would catch him and return him to what he escapes from, but the way men and women live is different enough that they cannot impersonate each other. Although he practices and thinks he manages, Jims comment that Huck does not walk like a girl 41 does not do it justice. Almost instantly the woman Huck chooses to question sees through his disguise, explaining that His last hope in maintaining his anonymity crumbles when he states his name as Mà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ Mary Williams 44 instead of Sarah Williams, attempting to cover up his mistake by claiming his name was Sarah Mary Williams. After critiquing his performance, the woman remarks that he might fool men, maybe 46, emphasizing the mental, physical, and social differences between the two sexes. They differ in the way they throw, catch, and in the way they thread a needle; the only part of his facade that Huck demonstrates well lies in the things country folk know, such as where the most moss grows on a tree. The way a person lives also affects him or her in greater ways, changing the way one believes as well as the way a person thinks. The differences between people encompass a profound array of features including religion and intelligence. Mark Twain uses Jim and Widow Douglas to portray contention between Christianity and superstition. At first, Huck finds himself surrounded by conventional Christian beliefs and what the widow calls Providence 8, which refers to the Christian God the term providence means the will of God or hand of God. Constantly questioning the faith and the purpose of prayer, Huck ponders its place in his life using the only logic he knows and in the end favors the simpler superstitions of Jim. Leaving Christianity behind, Huck embraces, for example, the philosophy of throwing salt over his shoulder to dispel bad luck and the belief in the ongoing misfortune associated with touching a rattlesnakes skin. .u598d59149b79e50bbfe8a9a1bf870920 , .u598d59149b79e50bbfe8a9a1bf870920 .postImageUrl , .u598d59149b79e50bbfe8a9a1bf870920 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u598d59149b79e50bbfe8a9a1bf870920 , .u598d59149b79e50bbfe8a9a1bf870920:hover , .u598d59149b79e50bbfe8a9a1bf870920:visited , .u598d59149b79e50bbfe8a9a1bf870920:active { border:0!important; } .u598d59149b79e50bbfe8a9a1bf870920 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u598d59149b79e50bbfe8a9a1bf870920 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u598d59149b79e50bbfe8a9a1bf870920:active , .u598d59149b79e50bbfe8a9a1bf870920:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u598d59149b79e50bbfe8a9a1bf870920 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u598d59149b79e50bbfe8a9a1bf870920 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u598d59149b79e50bbfe8a9a1bf870920 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u598d59149b79e50bbfe8a9a1bf870920 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u598d59149b79e50bbfe8a9a1bf870920:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u598d59149b79e50bbfe8a9a1bf870920 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u598d59149b79e50bbfe8a9a1bf870920 .u598d59149b79e50bbfe8a9a1bf870920-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u598d59149b79e50bbfe8a9a1bf870920:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Another form of therapy EssayBelieving that nothing come of 8, there is no room for doubt in Hucks reasoning to abandon life with Widow Douglas for rafting on the Mississippià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ Hucks beliefs do not belong in that part of society. Similarly, separation exists in the realm of intelligence, specifically between whites and blacks. While on the raft, Huck tells stories of kings and dukes to Jim and his eyes out at the idea of people who each other your majesty your grace your lordship 57. When discussing King Solomon, Jim misses the true meaning of the story despite Hucks attempts to teach him, and Huck thinks, you cant learn a nigger to argue 60. Tom Sawyers gang also illustrates the levels of competence and naÃÆ' ¯vetÃÆ' © in terms of Toms literary knowledge. Lacking the same interest in books, Huck finds Tom telling him You dont seem to know anything and calling him a perfect saphead 11 when Huck asks too many questions about Arabs and genies. Huck is not a fool and neither is Tom; however, Huck has street smarts whereas Tom possesses a more formal education and more book learning. Try as he might, Huck does not fit into the same part of society. As much as he tries to fit in with the cultures he comes across, he always sticks out. Wherever the wind takes him, Huck seems to conform to whatever social group he immerses himself in. While he stays with Widow Douglas, Huck gradually accepts the rules of the middle-class. At first, he hates going to school, but by and by so stand it and the longer went to school the easier it got to be. 11 Additionally, learned to tolerate the widows ways 11, and although he likes the old ways best, he likes the new ones, too, a little bit 11. However, Pap kidnaps him, and before long Huck adapts to being where , and it 18, until Huck tires of Paps abuse. Belonging to neither civilized society nor life in nature, Huck strikes out on the river. At each place he stops, he learns to follow in the footsteps of whoevers company he keeps. With each group he happens to join, he soon finds that he has no place in their ranks and withdra ws to the river. Wherever he goes, Huck finds a way to fit in only to find that he doesnt belongà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ belonging to all societies, yet none of them. The only place where he finds relative peace is on the river. It is the only place where there is nothing to struggle against. Huck is a misfit wherever he goes, rejecting and rejected by mainstream society and every other accepted society that he finds along the river. Throughout his journey, Huck finds different ways of separating himself from society while being a part of it. He sees how quickly life changes and how lifestyles can affect a person. Further set apart by his views, Huck forsakes traditional beliefs for superstition and the balance of luck. Through his journey along the Mississippi River, Huck also understands how much intelligence changes. Feeling no affinity for any aspect of mainstream society he experiences, Huck willingly spurns what he knows as humanity for the society that suits him. At the close of his journey when Aunt Sally makes plans to adopt and sivilize , Huck informs the reader that he has no desire to join high societyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬  been there before 220.