Free Essays on 360 Degree Feedback

What is 360-degree feedback? A process in which you evaluate yourself on a set of criteria, your manager evaluates you, as do your peers and direct reports. You receive a gap analysis between how you perceive yourself and how others perceive you. Effective 360-degree feedback processes also include coaching sessions and development planning. How can I easily refer to ratees and raters? The terms "ratee" (the person being evaluated) and "rater" (the person doing the rating) can be cumbersome. Team Builders Plus utilizes the word "subject" instead of "ratee" and "respondent" instead of "rater". This methodology is also easily transferable to other 360 processes where the subject is not a person but a thing, such as a organizational climate or customer satisfaction survey. What type of information should be targeted?  ·knowledge - familiarity with job, industry, company  ·skills - task proficiency  ·behaviors - patterns in relating to the environment (energy, optimism)  ·NOT personality traits or styles What are the benefits of 360-degree feedback degree feedback? To the individual:  ·Perception is reality and this process helps individuals to understand how others perceive them  ·Uncover blind spots  ·Feedback is essential for learning  ·Individuals can better manage their own performance and careers  ·Quantifiable data on soft skills To the team:  ·Increases communication between team members  ·Higher levels of trust and better communication as individuals identify the causes of breakdowns  ·Better team environment as people discover how to treat others how they want to be treated  ·Supports teamwork by involving team members in the development process  ·Increased team effectiveness To the organization:  ·Reinforced corporate culture by linking survey items to organizational leadership competencies and company values  ·Better career development for employees  ·Pro... Free Essays on 360 Degree Feedback Free Essays on 360 Degree Feedback What is 360-degree feedback? A process in which you evaluate yourself on a set of criteria, your manager evaluates you, as do your peers and direct reports. You receive a gap analysis between how you perceive yourself and how others perceive you. Effective 360-degree feedback processes also include coaching sessions and development planning. How can I easily refer to ratees and raters? The terms "ratee" (the person being evaluated) and "rater" (the person doing the rating) can be cumbersome. Team Builders Plus utilizes the word "subject" instead of "ratee" and "respondent" instead of "rater". This methodology is also easily transferable to other 360 processes where the subject is not a person but a thing, such as a organizational climate or customer satisfaction survey. What type of information should be targeted?  · knowledge - familiarity with job, industry, company  · skills - task proficiency  · behaviors - patterns in relating to the environment (energy, optimism)  · NOT personality traits or styles What are the benefits of 360-degree feedback degree feedback? To the individual:  · Perception is reality and this process helps individuals to understand how others perceive them  · Uncover blind spots  · Feedback is essential for learning  · Individuals can better manage their own performance and careers  · Quantifiable data on soft skills To the team:  · Increases communication between team members  · Higher levels of trust and better communication as individuals identify the causes of breakdowns  · Better team environment as people discover how to treat others how they want to be treated  · Supports teamwork by involving team members in the development process  · Increased team effectiveness To the organization:  · Reinforced corporate culture by linking survey items to organizational leadership competencies and company values  · Better career development for employees  · Pro...

Unwind Teen Book Review

Unwind Teen Book Review Unwind is a dystopian thriller by Neal Shusterman that follows three teens on the run from a government that believes â€Å"unwinding,† or body harvesting, is an alternate solution to abortions and unwanted teens. Unwinding is also a choice for extremely religious families who want to tithe one of their teens. Although controversial in topic, this disturbing novel inspires deep thought about organ donation, abortion, and one’s personal right to make decisions regarding his or her body. This book is recommended for mature teens. Story Overview After America’s Second Civil War between the pro-life and pro-choice factions, a compromise was reached and called The Bill of Life. In this bill, any teens between the ages of 13-18 who are troublemakers, a ward of the state, or a tithe could be â€Å"unwound†. In other words, their bodies could be harvested for organ donation in order to give others the opportunity for a better quality of life. To be unwound was to continue â€Å"living† through another human being. Connor, Risa, and Lev are three teens who are scheduled to be â€Å"unwound†. Connor is seventeen and according to his parents a troublemaker. Risa is sixteen, a talented pianist and a ward of the state, but she isnt talented enough for them to keep her alive. Lev is thirteen and the tenth child of a religious family. He is proud to be a Tithe until an opportunity to run away is presented and his church pastor tells him to run. Through unusual circumstances, the three teens find one another, but Connor and Risa are separated from Lev and are taken to the Graveyard, a hiding place for teens on the run. Eventually, all three are captured by the police and are escorted to the Happy Jack Harvest Camp. Now their goal is to find a way to escape and survive until they turn eighteen. Eighteen is the magic number, and if a teen on the run can survive until that golden age, he or she will no longer be a target for unwinding. Author Neal Shusterman Neal Shusterman is an award-winning author who has been writing books and screenplays for more than twenty-five years. When asked about his purpose in writing Unwind Shusterman responded, â€Å"Unwind intentionally does not take a side on any issue. My point was to point out the fact that there are two sides on all of these gray-area issues, and that’s part of the problem. You have to look at it from a different perspective.† For more information about the author and his writing career, read Spotlight on Neal Shusterman. The Unwind Dystology Unwind is Book One in the Unwind Dystology. The complete Unwind Dystology includes the books Unwind, UnWholly, UnSouled and UnDivided. All the books are available in hardcover, paperback, e-book, and audio editions. Review and Recommendation Unwind is a classic study on the value of human life and personal choice. Who owns our bodies? Does the government have the right to determine whose life is more valuable over another? Although the storyline seems  extreme, it is not unlike other classic novels such as 1984 and A Brave New World where the individual, in this case, teens, become subordinate to the state. However, in this story, the three teens are determined to fight back. Without a doubt, Unwind is a disturbing read, but it is a thinking read. Questions about personal rights, especially teen rights, government power, and the sanctity of life flow through your mind as you read. Reading this book puts a new spin on organ donation and gives readers the opportunity to wrestle with difficult topics and think about their personal convictions on emotionally charged subjects. The publisher recommends this book for ages 13 and up. (Simon and Schuster, 2009. ISBN: 9781416912057) Source â€Å"Interview with Author Neal Shusterman.† YA Highway.

Feminine Mystique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Feminine Mystique - Essay Example These changes were an enormous development over their earlier chatteldom, and were a facilitator to additional advances to complete human figure and dignity. WW2 and its outcomes enhanced a comprehensive setback, brought about by the author as a counter change not in favor of women (Friedan 56). The gone astray women were the self-governing ones fascinated in science and politics and occupied in careers away from the relatives’ sphere. In the position of bright, inspired, public-spirited women came the innovative representation of the â€Å"feminine† woman — the stupid homemaker comfortable inside the â€Å"cozy† surroundings of a beautiful home. Since the Mystique gained energy, domesticity turned into a religion, a model by which every woman ought to exist at the present or denies her feminist. Something that began as a trail back to the aged corral became a charge during the success of the 1950s. To activate women in the wake of their own crush, particulars about the lead the way advocators for women’s rights were indistinct. Although a good number of the feminist crusaders had husbands, kids and homes, they were depicted as resentful sex hungry unmarried women not sufficiently proficient in satisfying their femaleness as wives and mothers (Friedan 70). In the midst of the inexcusable personality of these determined women was their satisfaction of involvement in the move violently for social transformation. A successful propaganda piece of equipment was positioned into action to pay tribute to housewifery and smother women’s needs for something further than a husband, residence and kids. Starting with the sex-influenced educators in the education centers and higher schooling institution, this movement has gone into each opportunity of mass programming (Friedan 90). The major expression in this method of thought management as efficient as a blackjack

Income Statement for Leak-Stoppers LLC for the Year Ended 31st Essay

Income Statement for Leak-Stoppers LLC for the Year Ended 31st December 2013 - Essay Example As the discussion outlines, the accrual concept states that revenue is recognized when it is earned and realized or realizable while expenses are recognized in the period in which the related revenue is earned. In the case of Mr. Mansoor, the insurance premium expenses can only be realized when revenue is earned and therefore the prepaid premium of 200 is subtracted from 800 to obtain premium expense of 600. Also the interest expense for the cash borrowed from Mustafa is an example of accrued expense. The principle states that a company should report an expense on the income statement in the same period that the related revenue is earned. For instance, the depreciation expenses for the non-current assets such as plumbing equipment and van are only recognized to the current year i.e. at the end of 2013 when they might have earned revenue. The prudence concept states that the transactions that the company is uncertain about should not be overstated or understated. Mr. Mansoor has exercised the prudence concept since he has created allowance for the doubtful debts that should be written off i.e. 10% of the accounts receivable. Since the company was able to record a net profit of $12,926, this shows that its currents expenses are less than its revenues/income. Therefore, the company is able to meet its short-term financial needs. Additionally, the income statement shows that the company is liquid and can be able to meet its daily/short-term needs. The balance sheet reflects a snapsho t of the performance of the company on a single date; it’s usually on the last date of the financial year. Judging from the income statement, the company’s financial performance as at 31st Dec 2013, the company’s current ratio i.e. current assets/current liabilities, 10,887/1,773=6.14 shows that the company is able to pay the bills.  

SOAS - University of London Essay Example for Free

SOAS University of London Essay 1. Introduction Barclays PLC is one of the celebrated multinational bank holding companies, which has had a comprehensive international commercial impact in the worldwide. The first Barclays Bank was established on Lombard Street, London in 1862 (Barclays PLC Annual Report 2009), the group total income attained 32.292 million pounds in 2011. This report mainly analyses the environment and strategies of Barclays plc. Vision, Mission and value Vision: Barclays wants to set up an integrated universal banking model, possess diversification by business, geography, client and funding, as well as maintain an unremitting focus on customers and clients. Mission: Barclays Bank aims to â€Å"assistance people achieve their ambitions with right methods† (Barclays.com). Value: As Antony Jenkins, Chief Executive of Barclays Group (Barclays.com) represented, their corporate goal is to become a ‘Go-To’ bank for all stakeholders by setting up their own mode of thinking, working and acting in order to guarantee that consumers’ and clients’ demands are the central of operations. 2. Formal organization Barclays PLC partitioned into four major areas. Barclays Capital (BC) has the highest percentage of total income in the last decade compared to the other branches. BC is the investment banking department, offering clients a full scope of solutions to cater to their strategic advisory, financing and risk management needs. In September 2008, the financial crisis resulted in the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holding Inc  (LBHI), which BC then purchased and incorporated into the investment department, which lead in turn to a substantial increase in BC’s business and impact. Barclays Corporate provides integrated banking solutions to large corporate and financial organization internationally. Barclays Wealth focuses on private and intermediary clients worldwide, providing international and private banking, fiduciary services and brokerage. Investment Management was sold on 1st December 2009. However it used to manage the Group’s economic interest in Blackrock, Inc and the residual elements relating to Barclays Global Inve stors. Organizational structures Barclays implements the functional structure and product and geographical structure. Leadership is partitioned into three main sections: Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Chief Executive. The Board’s primary duty is to advance the long-term success by creating and delivering sustainable shareholder value. In setting and supervising the performance of strategy, the Board schedules ensure that the system is efficiently and highly administrable. Furthermore, the accurate risk management and regulatory oversight process of the Board are the center of organization, which delivers growth in a controlled and sustainable way. The Board of Directors includes Group Chairman, Chief Executive and non-executive Directors (Barclays Annual Report 2011 p13), their duty is to advise and constructively challenge management and supervise the success of the company. The Board representatives have obligations to the â€Å"day-to-day management of the Group to the Chief Executive† (Barclays Annual report 2011), who is turn in accountable for ensuring that the company is operating efficiently while conforming to the strategy and risk to the requirements. Barclays’ hierarchy clearly delegates responsibility for the management for all tasks. Utilizing functional organization encouraged specialized management and work efficiency, each department performance its functions. Furthermore, district directors are â€Å"responsible for the operation of the division and may be accountable for its profitability† (Hannagan T. 2008 p279), in overseas markets. The latter structure provides adequate control of wide-ranging areas of business and applies to employees with different qualifications, experiences and backgrounds. This structure avoids  over-centralization to a certain extent, allowing it to fit into different markets, due to the f act that the Group must rely on individuals to take actions to improve operations rather than handing down directives. 3. The Environment analysis PESTEL analysis PESTEL framework helps managers to categorize external impacts into six main areas and understand the key drivers of change to adjust the strategy. (Johnson,G. Scholes, K. 2009) Political: The Financial Times (Norris. F 2012) indicated that Barclays had been involved in a political storm owing to suspicion surrounding is manipulation of the London Interbank offered rate (LIBOR). LIBOR is one of the benchmark rates that form the operational bedrock of futures contracts, bulk commodity trading, individual consumption loans and Secured Line of credit. The action of Barclays may affect the policies of Central Banks, for instance Swiss National Bank, Bank of England and European Central Bank (ECB). The outside pressure might threaten the reputation of Barclays, which may encounter extensive lawsuit from the world’s largest banking groups as a result (Treanor J. 30.10.2013). Economic: â€Å"Market conditions in 2011 were particularly difficult as investors’ nervousness over global economic growth prospects grew and concerns about the fiscal deficit of certain Euro-zone countries became acute.† (Marcus Agius Group Chairman 2011) Since the economic resurgence impacted the share prices of banks by the Euro-zone debt crisis, Euro-group leaders committing to a system of enforceable fiscal rules for the repayment of their debt. Moreover, the action of the ECB to provide liquidity support to banks has helped boost confidence and the European downturn has shown a moderate upward trend. Social: Bob Diamond (Barclays Annual Report 2011) mentioned that banks need to become better citizens, not only because out of a sense of pure philanthropy, but also in order to deliver real commercial benefits in a way that creates actual value for society. Moreover, Barclays became the title sponsor of Barclays Premier League and Barclays Singapore Open Golf since 2004 and 2011 respectively. Technological: Barclays has strengthened the programming of IT system for effective, accurate and humanized services. Barclays chief Antony Jenkins has used several presentations to the public to announce his company’s great use of IT techniques that might prevent a ‘colossal mistake’ that would abolish 1,700 operating posts. (Treanor 2013) Environment: Barclays assists renewable energy firms in accessing finance from the capital markets and offers advisory services across the sector. In Ireland (Barclays Annual Report 2010 p27), Barclays has supported the erection of onshore wind farms and has played a strategic financing role in vital energy infrastructure project. Legal: UK promulgated Banking Act at 2009, strengthened the protection of depositors, formulated the bankruptcy institution, improved the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and remedied the institutional deficiency. To sum up, according to the PESTEL, the external impacts such as economic resurgence, social status, legal protection and world investment system are conductive to the further development, since the position and role of Barclays are relatively stable. 4. The strategic fit between the organization and environment Capital strategy and risk management are the core components of Barclays PLC, which aims to achieve the maximization of shareholder’s value. Barclays provides a feasible service by offering sufficient financial support to cover the Group’s existing and forecasted business requirements and correlative risks (Barclays Annual Report 2011 p41). The finance department guarantees that the Group and its legal subsidiaries possess sufficient capital and analyzes the possible hazards that may arise under the stressed conditions. Furthermore, the post-supervision department supports Barclays’ service rating, Group growth, environment changes and market. Risk management is highlighted by the Barclays PLC as one of its most important strategies. Its task is to: Identify and profile the significant risks of management’s new policies, ensure the operability of infrastructure to sustain the business growth, thereby pledging the financial returns remain feasibly deliverable under a range of business situations. â€Å"Optimize risk return decisions by taking them as closely as possible to the business, while establishing  strong and independent review and challenge structure.†(Barclays PLC Annual report 2010) Help executives and advisers improve and explain the further development and market positioning of the Group. (Murphy. D.2007) Porter 5 forces Porter’s diamond focuses on the internal impacts of market by analyzing the level of threats, suggests the inherent reasons why some nations are more competitive than others. Bargaining Power of Suppliers: The main suppliers to Barclays are equipment and technology services corporations. However, the bargaining power of these suppliers only represents a medium level of risk. The strategies are covered under building appropriate, strong and stable relationships with suppliers. Bargaining Power of Customers: Customers focus on the future benefits, appropriate human resource of the specific services and probable risks; hence they need some comparison with other banks that also provide the similar banking products. The power represents a medium level of risk. Threat of new entrants: Banking industry is an active business, and as such new entrance into the field could strongly influence the performance of Barclays on different levels, resulting in policy changes. Therefore, new entrants represent an area of high risk. Barclays’ strategies for mitigating this risk emphasize four points: guaranteeing the stability of each branch, enhancing capital usage efficiency, ensuring service quality, and pledging long-time running. Threat of Substitutes: Banking products have homologous functions with diverse emphasis. Consequently, this threat is low for the banking industry. Competitive Rivalry between Existing Players: This item includes regulatory risk and new products development. Regulatory risk arises from an inability to comply completely with the laws, regulations or criterion applicable especially to the financial services industry, such as general changes in regulatory policy, competition and pricing conditions, non-performing loan ratio and local consumers or depositor compensation. This bargaining power is at a high level. To summarize, Barclays should focus on the new entrants and existing competition by improve service and products quality, increase diversity  index, in order to promote market expansion. 5. Recommendations To preserve their position as the market leader, according to the analysis, Barclays needs to monitor the impact of regulatory changes. That might restrict the company’s project activities, results in the growing accounting cost and may impact the overall income of the Group as well as its social impact. In addition, introducing a non- risk leverage assessment system based on the value chain and risk management, available for evaluate the feasibility of the strategies and capital budgeting. Moreover, Barclays must improve their credit rating, as the scandal directly affected the investors’ psychology and the risk perceived by the public, resulting in a crisis of confidence. 6.1 References Barclays (2009) Barclays Annual Report 2009 [Online] Available at: http://www.barclays.com/annualreport09.pdf [Accessed 10th March 2010] Barclays PLC Official website Available at: http://www.barclays.co.uk Norris, F. (2012) The New York Times: ‘Bank’s Ability to Rig Rates Shows Need for Change.’[Online] Available at: http://www.cn.nytimes.com [Accessed 12th July 2012] Johnson, G., Scholes, K.,(2009) Exploring Corporate Strategy, London; FT. Prentice Hall. pp65. Treanor, J. (2013) The Guardian: ‘Barclays assisting with investigation into currency market manipulation’, [Online] Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/oct/30/barclays-cooperating-investigation-manipulation-currency-markets [Accessed 30th October 2013] Barclays (2011) Barclays Annual Report 2011 [Online] Available at: http://www.barclays.com/annualreport11.pdf [Accessed 08th March 2012] Treanor, J. (2013) The Guardian: ‘Barclays warned of ‘colossal mistake’ with plan to cut 1,700 branch jobs’. [Online] Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/nov/14/barclays-warned-mistake-cut-17 00-branch-jobs [Accessed 14th November 2013] Barclays (2010) Barclays Annual Report 2010 [Online] Available at: http://www.barclays.com/ammia;report10.pdf [Accessed 10th March 2011] Hannagan, T.,(2008). Management- concepts Practices, London: FT Prentice Hall. PP279 Murphy. D.,(2009). Understand Risk: The Theory and Practice of Financial Risk Management, London: Chapman Hall/CRC. PP39-46 6.2 Bibliography Ackrill M. Hannah L. (2011) Barclays: The Business of Banking, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Alan, M. (2008) The Oxford Handbook of International Business. New York: Oxford University Press. Campbell, D. Stonehouse, G. Houston, B. (2008) Business Strategy. Oxford: Elsevier Ltd Press. Economist: www.economist.com Observer: www.theguardian.com Barclays (2012) Barclays Annual Report 2012 [Online] Available at: http://www.barclays.com/ammia;report12.pdf [Accessed 8th March 2013]

Essay --

Tea tree oil was introduced to me in 2009 when I experimented in a series of piercings. A friend at the time informed me of the medicinal uses and how it was effective on scar tissue. However the plant in which the oil is extracted from is far more entertaining. Tea Tree (Malaleuca alternifolia) is a plant belonging to the Myrtaceae family, known for their cleansing properties. There are over two hundred recognized species of Myrtaceae which majority is native to Australia. However a few species from the Myrtaceae family occur in Malesia, New Caledonia and as of the mid-1880’s M. quinquenervia was introduced, as an invasive species to Florida to assist in drying out swampy lands. The indigenous people of northeastern New South Wales historically had known about the healing mechanics of their native tea trees for thousands of years. They used them as disinfectants to treat minor cuts and wounds. Eventually they progressed in the knowledge of the plants uses and found that by inhaling evaporative oil from the leaves that it alleviated congestion and respiratory tract infections. Figure A. Order: Myrtlales, Family: Myrtaceae. Characteristic of the myrtle family is its use of distilled essential oils, such as Tea tree oil (Melaleuca oil) Compound Background The leaves of M. alternifolia are the primary part of the plant that is used. Rarely twigs from the tree is also used, it hasn’t been proven to be anymore or less effective to use the twigs. To create the oil, the leaves are extracted and harvested for a few days leaving the leaves to wilt. Essentially the leaves are limp through heat and deprived of water. The leaves are then inserted into a boiler with even temperature, distilling the leaves. Eventually both the steam and t... ...uman rights laws protect them. However there is no uniformed legislation that directly protects indigenous medical knowledge. When regarding the plant of interest Malaleuca alternifolia, it is in deed protected because of its indigenous heritage to Australia. Tea tree oil coming from M. alternifolia proves to be the main source for commercial tea tree that is manufactured and shipped around the world. However tea tree oil can be extracted from other plants within the Malaleuca genus. Which unfortunately has left M. viridiflora an endangered species providing more protection to the specific plant. Regarding the current situation presented in Australia, the conditions seem optimal for protection of their indigenous knowledge and organic compounds. They have many laws to protect themselves from outside thieves and are very developed concerning them as a world status.

Motivation and Hygiene as Issues of Control Essay

Economics is usually considered a basically quantitative affair: numbers, charts graphs. It is rare that professional economists remember that there are real people under those pompous numbers, real communities and families who suffer if times get bad. Frederick Herzberg’s (1959) two level theory on worker satisfaction, while not specifically from the field of economics, is important in rectifying this imbalance: in general, Herzberg’s theory of motivation and hygiene is a qualitative set of ideas that speak not merely of numbers, efficiency and production, but also the qualitative nature of worker satisfaction and reward which is far more important than anything the numbers suggest. This paper will deal with a few ideas related to employee control and ownership over business and its relation to Herzberg’s variables in terms of worker satisfaction. First, the nature of the theory itself. Herzberg deals with the concepts of worker satisfaction through both motivation and hygiene. The former deals primarily with questions of satisfaction through what is to come: promotion, recognition, rewards, increases in pay. The latter is more quantitative, but still of immense qualitative importance: basic job security, good work environment and the expectation of future satisfaction (Herzberg, 1959). Herzberg’s findings show, insofar as immediate causality is concerned, that the former are key to satisfaction on the job. The latter are important, but only indirectly, they do not (in themselves) lead to any sense of job satisfaction, but any qualitative lowering of these variables can lead to substantial dissatisfaction. However this is stated, they are both of immense importance. Second, this paper must deal with the present economic crisis. The issues here involve the increasing debt of the American economy, as well as the American state. The present economic crisis can be summarized by the extension of credit far beyond the economy’s ability to repay. But this extension of credit came into existence in order to absorb excess production, as well as maintain America’s central role in the global economy as the â€Å"world’s marketplace.† All of this has led to an explosion of public and private debt, massive foreclosures, bankruptcy and, most important, a major threat to the integrity of the American dollar and America’s role in the world economy. As of 2009, this has meant that the US economy is in a period of contraction, as firms no longer have the ability to extend credit with any sense of the possibility of being repaid. Once the banks got the jitters over this, they sent signals throughout the economy that confirmed the contraction of credit: the lifeblood the modern economy for better or for worse, especially in the real estate market. Debt artificially inflated prices (including stocks), leading to an overvaluation far beyond the actual value of the commodities.   But, since the US market is the world’s largest and the savings rate the lowest, there is little to cushion such a accumulation of debt, and hence, it affected America’s major trading partners as well, leading to a global recession and indeed, depression. Now, third, the remainder of this paper will deal with the relation between Herzberg’s two level theory and the present depression. Unfortunately, this is where things get depressing, and the economists obsession with numbers that don’t have personalities start to make sense. Let us begin with the first level, that of motivators: Since, in general, this depression is based on the massive and irrational expansion of credit (and hence, debt), debt must be the first issue in dealing with motivators. If one has run up credit card debt and has seen the interest rate shoot up as banks seek to make up lost ground, the issue of default is a real one. This develops as a negative motivating factor that will not be made up anytime soon. One sees himself as laboring harder and harder while unable to keep up even with the interest in various debts: credit cards, homes, cars and luxuries such as entertainment systems. But just as important, if one is working just to finance debt, one can not also help but notice the fact that class differences in the western world are getting sharper and sharper. The wealthy classes can weather such storms, and in fact, may benefit from them, seeing their smaller competitors go into receivership. Hence, the first positive motivating factor is for class divisions to be reduced: the wealthy, whose practices helped bring the current crisis about, need to begin assisting labor in the payment of debts. While high profile cases such as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett giving billions to their own charities that reflect their personal and corporate ideological positions, none of this high profile giving assists the rank and file laborer. It is possible that substantial profit sharing and employee ownership of businesses should be mandatory and guaranteed by the state in exchange for worker loyalty. The question of employee ownership (hence, disenfranchising the major stock holders) is an important one given the confines of Herzberg’s theory of motivators, since such an approach will provide a certain emotional boost, as well as solve the problem of employee recognition and promotion. Employee ownership and employee direction of business is essential to assist workers in paying debts and increasing job satisfaction, since they will be working for themselves. Jobs should become careers rather than merely slaving for a living. Giving workers a say in the day to day running of business and a financial stake in the firm itself is essential for increasing productivity. It will certainly come at the expense of the upper classes, but it is these classes that have benefitted from the long standing extension of credit that has fueled the western economic bubble.

My American Dream

The American dream can have so many different meanings to so many different people around our country. This is what makes the American dream so wonderful, the fact that you get to determine your dream is in some cases the American dream for some people already! Luckily I myself am able to determine my American dream. I have always thought of my American dream of being able to live a simple life in which I am able to have a stable job that I enjoy.Most importantly though is I would like to not only have free time and do things that enjoy like watch my favorite sports team or spend time with my friends. Overall I guess you could just say that I would just like to live my life to the fullest. Some other things that I would like to be included in my American dream is being able to manage my time the way I want to, although this sounds like a very simple wish in my opinion people don’t realize how much time can dictate your life.So many times I find myself missing out on the opport unity to do something simply because there wasn’t enough time. Lastly but most importantly I dream of living a long-term healthy life because no matter what you wish for, you would never be able to enjoy it without your health. I believe that my American dream is reasonable and achievable and one day I hope to end up getting to live a life similar to this.

Peer Buddy Program

Peer Buddy Program Secondary schools that have adopted inclusion programs have enhanced performances and interactions of student with disabilities and those without disabilities.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Peer Buddy Program specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More These schools adjust themselves according to Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and No Child Left Behind (NCLB) program in order to enhance learning, socialization, and friendship among all students irrespective of disabilities. Thus, the study shows how peer buddy programs serve purposes of enhancing inclusion (Hess and Chester, 2007). Authors like Carolyn Hughes and Erik Carter are outstanding in the field of peer buddy programs. They note that implementation of peer buddy programs step-by-step always gives successful results. Consequently, they identify several reasons and purposes why peer buddy program is important in promoting educational achievem ents among learners with disabilities and those without disabilities (Hughes and Carter, 2008). Well implemented peer buddy programs increase learners’ interests in learning and at the same time establish the role of each participating individuals in inclusion programs. The success of peer buddy program depends on educators, parents, counselors and students. Similarly, program implementations must also create inclusion by identifying unique students’ needs, strengths, weaknesses and common interests. This research paper seeks to establish the purpose, importance, and rationale of the study of peer buddy program on students with disabilities in high school, in both social and academic grounds. The paper will explore how provisions of suitable inclusion programs enhance academic, support, and promote socialization in the school environment. This is only possible through assessing and expanding peer buddy program, and including feedback of all participants. The proven str ategies of peer buddy program should change high schools into supporting and compassionate environment where all learners support one another. However, some studies show that some sections of educators are reluctant to make changes to their current teaching approaches in response to IDEA and NCLB programs.Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Their methods still tend to exclude students with severe cases of learning disabilities (Cowne, 1998). At the same time, some teachers show relaxed approaches to inclusion programs because they do not have experience in such programs. This necessitates the purpose for this research paper. Importance of study This study seeks to find out the importance of peer buddy program in enhancing social and academic achievements of students in high school. Peer buddy programs for students with disabilities in the learning environment have been sources of fundamental concerns for educators and society at large. Consequently, inclusion issues have attracted both legislative and political supports. In every society, there are segments that are fighting to access equality of opportunity and social justice in the national educational systems. Therefore, the study is important in addressing the needs of learners with disabilities in high schools using peer buddy programs. Studies by Troyna and Hatcher established that education systems are necessary in perpetuating or lessening limitations associated with education for marginalized learners (Troyna and Hatcher, 1992). These findings led scholars like Slee, Vlachou, and Pijl critically analyze importance of special education on students with disabilities (Pijl, 1997). On the other hand, Tomlison has concentrated on the impacts of educational underperformance and disadvantages on individuals. In addition, society has placed education at the center of security, employment and opp ortunity (Tomlinson, 2000). Social justice systems have recognized the fact that individual’s characteristics and available resources are not the only factors controlling opportunities in education, and chances in life. Some factors like living conditions, family members and community influence life chances and educational opportunities. In all these, the key to success is social capital. Social capital entails ways of getting networks, trusts and norms that enhance cooperation and coordination for a mutual benefit (Putnamm, 1993). Therefore, a healthy society must rely on its social capital in order to make life possible for its members.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Peer Buddy Program specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The current political situations favor the principle of inclusion and education for an inclusive society. Despite these favors, the failure by many education systems to support inclu sive learning programs is noticeable. Therefore, the aim has been to develop education systems and programs that will enhance the potential of every learner in society, and recognize and appreciate their differences. Chances are that learners who lack access to inclusive and mainstream education will not have all rounded experience. The problem is that people who invented past curriculums never meant schooling to accommodate every child. The disadvantaged learners are students with special educational needs. However, the current education systems tend to accommodate such learners through various programs like peer buddy program. Thus, the importance of the study is to identify how peer buddy programs promote equal learning for learners with disabilities in high school through distribution of social capital. Like any other social program, peer buddy program has also experienced some challenges. The main challenge lies in creating a sustainable social capital and social well-being in a fragmented and struggling school system. However, we must realize that peer buddy program is important when all participants get in an interactive mainstream school environment. For instance, scholars make references to the success of Metropolitan Nashville Peer Buddy Program. Despite these benefits and importance, educators rarely use such achievements to inclusion programs because of their invisibility. Educators must be aware of the contributions students with disabilities make to a school community. This is a problem because not many researchers have concentrated on peer buddy programs. In addition, available information concentrates on the needs of students with disability instead of focusing on the value students with disabilities add to education in a school environment. According to Young, the programs of inclusions have not gone unopposed. Most scholars note that people identify students with disabilities in terms of the relatively low share of social goods they have (You ng, 1990). Educators use various educational programs to reduce noticeable disadvantages in learners with special needs. The challenge is that all these programs rarely contain inputs of those most affected.Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Therefore, the programs become undemocratic because the procedures and processes of distributing social goods are not favorable to some of the stakeholders. These procedures and processes show the values and interests of people who are in charge of the education system (Smith, 1986). The participatory approach works well in peer buddy programs. This is because the model advocates for the inputs of all participants. Policymakers use this approach in distribution of the predetermined public goods, status, and inputs of the participants. Participants identify social goods, policies, needs, and practices, which they negotiate and investigate using democratic and justice principles as the ideal approaches. Stenhouse also expresses his concern for the principle of difference because of a balance between an approach that gives all learners equal chances to access cultural goods, and a curriculum developed for the purpose of productive use (Stenhouse, 1975). Stenhouse indicates that student s with natural abilities and suited for the curriculum will gain more than other students. However, the participatory and peer buddy program will benefit all learners in long-term irrespective of disabilities (O’Donoghue and Chalmers, 2000). According to Elliot, accesses to programs like peer buddy enable students to acquire self-esteem in a learning community. This serves the importance of enhancing primary goods of promoting students’ achievements and social status (Elliott, 1991). However, achievements in education also depend on practices and policies of education. Educators have realized that it is only through carrying out comprehensive reforms to the existing educational, and institutional control that primary aims of peer buddy programs can achieve its missions. Past studies on the importance of peer buddy programs focused on education as a whole and ignored individual contributions. These approaches made teachers, learners and other educators irrelevant in the feedback but were only subjects of influence by forces in society. In conclusion, scholars like Bogdan and Biklin noted that any educational achievements knowledge learners got through such means were not helpful but misleading. This is because the approaches did not include the moral dimension of education according to inclusion and justice in education (Bogdan and Biklin, 1982). Rationale of study There are changes taking place in the education system. These changes show that peer buddy programs in education enable schools to accept and retain students with various disabilities. Therefore, this study highlights reasons why studying peer buddy program is necessary among educators. These were the students the education system initially segregated, or were in special schools. There are ways that schools can increase and participate in the provision of inclusion through curriculum support and development of socially representative students’ fellowship. This is the rationale be hind of the peer buddy program study. The issue of how best to give students with superior learning abilities and those who have disabilities is a matter of concern among the educators. Researchers like Oliver argue that mainstreaming does not help gifted learners. Oliver states that gifted students do not suffer from stigmatization and separation, which students with disabilities experience. He insists that separation works better for gifted students. This is because the program provides small class size, and wise use of time and resources than in regular class. In addition, Oliver insists that placement of gifted students in regular class limits their potential and creative abilities. He concludes that mainstreaming and inclusion programs like peer buddy in schools contribute to a diminution of potential in gifted learners. Oliver proposes a system whereby students’ placement should permit and encourage special classes and schools for gifted learners and those with disabili ties (Oliver, 1996). Most professional changes in education systems or structures aim at inclusive practices. Occasionally, these changes begin with an individual through enhancing self-awareness, self-evaluation and changing attitude towards inclusion programs like peer buddy. However, educators only implement those practices they believe promote inclusion. The professional approach to peer buddy program should encourage openness in discussions among participants. It is also necessary for educators to learn how to avoid hasty judgments in introducing new practices (Osgood, 2005). Educators use their own different approaches in peer buddy programs because there are no standard structures of rationality for general inclusion programs. However, there are criteria for making a judgment about peer buddy programs. Educators can only develop such criteria by dialogues among various participants. These discussions and dialogues are mandatory for any in peer buddy program. Educators must mo nitor goals and quality of a peer buddy program as an inclusive approach to learning through the use of problems and feedback. The education system remains the only alternative to solving social challenges in a school environment democratically. Participants can address issues of moral concerns in quality, equality and inclusion. Therefore, the aim of education is to provide a way so that people can comprehend educational equality and equal opportunity as social goods of the education system (Ainscow, 1999). Educators should determine the quality of education with no exceptions of equality. Consequently, educators must note that any peer buddy program must apply reputable educational practices. Researchers have noted that poor educational practices enhance negative practices among participants, to the extent of socially marginalizing learners within and beyond a school environment. Educators believe that equity in education is a matter of physical and human resource. Therefore, they may change peer buddy program into a resource of risk management whereby extents of the learners’ disabilities determine the limits of resource allocation in order to maintain equilibrium in a school environment (Slee, 1996). Slee argues that resources should support the development in school to enhance positive cultures through curriculum, teaching methodologies and extracurricular involvements. Conversely, she argues that the use of resources to enhance peer buddy program and mainstreaming should be challenged. According to Slee, a mere mainstreaming may conceal the underlying issues in peer buddy program, in a school environment. Students’ differences and diversity in a learning environment increase and strengthen the scope of educational culture. Therefore, a change in access to teacher and professional training for the creation of a professional diversity needs to occur in parallel with the increasing student peer buddy program so as to provide role models for di verse and different pupils. Peer buddy programs have situations which are complex in nature and require reconstruction of educational institutions. Therefore, it is better for educators to have insight and reliable knowledge on how such institutions operate. It is advisable to carry out inquiries rather than stick to preconceived ideas. In this regard, experimental inquiry is the basis of a democratic life, which implies a willingness to entertain novel ideas and the personal flexibility to carry out new ways of perceiving and acting. In peer buddy program, promoting students with disabilities to make their own choice is an important step to inclusion. Subsequently, educators must inculcate such choices into teaching programs. Educators must know that students with severe disabilities have limited chances of learning what depends on personal preferences. For instance, students with communication difficulties may not be able to express themselves verbally. Therefore, educators must b e able to identify problem behavior in their actions. At the same time, learners who have intensive support may learn by other means of making preferences. According to Shevin and Klein, teachers should incorporate students choice earlier enough in their instructional programs. Likewise, they should also increase the number of choices and domains for every activity students undertake. In making choices, educators must engage students in clear communication and indentify the extents of such choices (Shevin and Klein, 1984). Peer buddy program must involve goal setting and support. This idea comes from a theory of goal setting and attainment. The theory notes that goals are the main control of people’s actions. Teachers must base their goal setting strategies on identification and clear formulation of ideas in terms of objectives, actions, and tracking techniques. This is a participatory process. Peer buddy program must help students with severe disabilities achieve a step-by-s tep system in setting their goals. This process must ensure that students with disabilities remain as point of learning in the inclusion process. An example of a success story of the inclusion programs is the Metropolitan Nashville Peer Buddy Program. The peer buddy program aimed at inclusion among all learners. The program also aimed at increasing the knowledge capacity in inclusion programs. Finally, peer buddy program also focused on the distribution of information collected for social goods of other inclusion programs. The peer buddy program also aimed at giving support and resources to high school students with severe disabilities so that they become actively engaged in school life. Educators designed the inclusion program to promote students social skills. The Nashville program teaches normal students different manifestations of disabilities and their associated learning difficulties. At the same time, teachers and students learned motivational, instructional, and basic concep ts and techniques on how to help their colleagues with disabilities become part of the main school system (Guth and Hughes, 2011). Learners spent their time (at least a period per day) in activities of their choices, such as games, eating lunch, attending lessons, joining clubs, or just relaxing. The program created role models for students with disabilities. Students with disabilities received support from normal students for skill developments. Peer buddy engaged in collaboration activities with regular, special education teachers, vocational, students, and parents. They also carried out research on transition and inclusion activities. Educators used their findings as a benchmark for implementation of peer buddy programs, or similar ones in other states. In Nashville, there was general improve in all areas of focus. For instance, participants realized fundamental changes in both students with and without disabilities. In addition, students with disabilities participated in school activities than before. At the same time, all participants noticed improved activities and participation in community programs (Presley and Hughes, 1999). The significant social achievement was that all peer buddies showed improvement in interaction and involvements among regular students and students with disabilities. There were the formation of partnerships and friendships among students with disabilities and those without disabilities. Participants also noticed increased activities in leisure and recreational involvements. It is also of interest to note that all high schools in Metropolitan Nashville have incorporated peer buddy programs in their main school systems. There is a peer buddy grant coordinator. The coordinator works with administrators and guidance and counseling teachers in enhancing inclusion among learners with disabilities and learners without disabilities. In this regard, all participants recorded increased acceptance and awareness among participants concerning disabilities. The program developed permanent models that educators used outside Nashville area. Increased tolerance of others Reduced fear of human differences Increased awareness of disabilities Developed friendship with students with disabilities Increased social-cognitive growth 6% 12% 20% 43% 92% Source: Metropolitan Nashville Peer Buddy Program This is how important peer buddy programs have been in Nashville high schools. The programs adopted the use of peer teaching and tutoring to support inclusion in schools. Regular interaction among students without disabilities and those with disabilities built friendship, and promoted learning of new ideas among all participants. In this process, both students acquired new social interaction basic skills. In conclusion, peer buddy program has been important program in enhancing student inclusion and interaction. This is the rationale, importance and purpose of the study. We notice these gains in results of peer buddy program of Metropolitan Nashville high schools. For instance, participants recorded improvement in both social and academic achievements notably in disability awareness, changes in communication skills, understandings among participants in schools and community, making friends, and recognizing individuals’ differences. Reference List Ainscow, M. (1999). Understanding the Development of Inclusive Schools. London: Falmer Press. Bogdan, R. and Biklin, S. (1982). Qualitative Research in Education. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Cowne, E. (1998). The Senco Handbook: Working within a Whole-school Approach. London: David Fulton. Elliott, J. (1991). Action Research for Educational Change. Buckingham: Open University Press. Guth, C. and Hughes, C. (2011). Inclusion on the High School Level: The Metropolitan Nashville Peer Buddy Program. Baltimore: Brooke Publishing. Hess, F. M. and Chester E. (2007). No Remedy Left Behind: Lessons from a Half- Decade of NCLB. Washington, DC: The AEI Press. Hughes, C. and Carter, E. (2008). Peer Buddy Programs for Successful Secondary School Inclusion. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co. O’Donoghue, T. and Chalmers, R. (2000). How teachers manage their work in inclusive classrooms. Teaching and Teacher Education, 16(8), 889–905. Oliver, M. (1996). Understanding Disability: From Theory to Practice. London: Macmillan. Osgood, R. L. (2005). The History of Inclusion in the United States. Washington, D.C.: Gallaudet University Press. Pijl, S. (1997). Inclusive Education: A Global Agenda. London : Routledge. Presley, J. and Hughes, C. (1999). Peer Buddy Program Manual: Metropolitant Nashville Peer Buddy Manual. Washington, D.C: Vanderbilt University Press. Putnamm, R. (1993). The prosperous community: social capital and public life. American Prospect, 13, 307–308. Shevin, M. and Klein, N. (1984). The Importance of Choice-Making Skills for Students with Severe Disabilities. The Journal of thc Association for Perons with S evere Handicaps, 9(3), 159-166. Slee, R. (1996). Inclusive education in Australia? Not yet! Cambridge Journal of Education, 26(1), 19-32. Smith, F. (1986). Insult to Intelligence: The Bureaucratic Invasion of Our Classrooms. New York: Arbor House. Stenhouse, L. (1975). An Introduction to Curriculum Research and Development. London: Heinemann. Tomlinson, S. (2000). Ethnic minorities and education: new disadvantages. London: Falmer Press. Troyna, B. and Hatcher, R. (1992). Racism in Children’s Lives. London: Routledge. London: Routledge. Young, I. (1990). Justice and the Politics of Difference. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Conservative Perspectives on Gun Control

Conservative Perspectives on Gun Control The second amendment to the U.S. Constitution is perhaps the most important amendment in the Bill of Rights, if not the entire document. The second amendment is all that stands in the way between American citizens and total chaos. Without the second amendment, nothing would prevent a duly elected president (who is also the nations commander-in-chief) from declaring martial law and using the nations military forces to systematically usurp and dismantle the remaining civil rights of its citizens. The second amendment is Americas greatest defense against the forces of totalitarianism. Interpretation of the Second Amendment The simple wording of the second amendment has been widely interpreted, and gun-control advocates have sought to obfuscate the language in order to further their agenda. Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the amendment, upon which gun-control advocates have rested much of their arguments is the part that reads a well-regulated militia. Those who seek to erode the amendment, claim that the right to bear arms is extended solely to militias, and since both the number of militias and the effectiveness of them have diminished since the 1700s, the amendment is now moot. Local and state government bodies have frequently sought to strip the amendment of its power by imposing draconian regulations and requirements. For 32 years, gun owners in Washington D.C. were not legally permitted to own a handgun or carry one within the districts territory. In June 2008, however, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the districts law was unconstitutional. Writing for the majority, Justice Antonin Scalia observed that regardless of whether violent crime is a problem, the enshrinement of constitutional rights necessarily takes certain policy choices off the table ... Whatever the reason, handguns are the most popular weapon chosen by Americans for self-defense in the home, and a complete prohibition of their use is invalid. Perspectives of Gun Control Advocates While handguns were the issue in Washington, D.C., gun control advocates elsewhere have decried the access to and usage of fully-automatic weapons and other high-powered firearms by the general public. Theyve sought to limit or even prohibit ownership of these so-called assault weapons in a misguided attempt to protect the public. In 1989, California became the first state to pass an outright ban on fully-automatic rifles, machine guns and other firearms considered to be assault weapons. Since then, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, and New Jersey have passed similar laws. One reason gun control opponents are so adamant about keeping these firearms on the open market is because the access to weapons by the American military has far outpaced the access to weapons by the American public in both number and power. If a nation is unable to defend itself against the forces of tyranny within its government because the right to bear arms is so badly eroded, it undermines the spirit and intention of the second amendment. Liberals also advocate legislation restricting the types of ammunition available for firearms, as well as the types of people who can own them. Ex-cons or people with prior mental illnesses, for example, are prohibited from owning or carrying guns in certain states, and the Brady Bill, which became law in 1994, mandates prospective gun owners undergo a five-day waiting period so local law enforcement authorities can conduct background checks. Every regulation, restriction or law that infringes upon Americans right to keep and bear arms, prevents America from being a country that is truly free.

In Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's short story, Clothes (page 533), Essay

In Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's short story, Clothes (page 533), Sumita, the protagonist, comes to America where she exp - Essay Example Conflicts in the Life of Sumita Culminated through the Symbolic Scheme Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s fictions are generally set against the background of India or in America and mostly they centre round the experiences of the South Asian immigrants especially the women. The story â€Å"Clothes† is not an exception in this regard. The story presents the transition that the protagonist, Sumita undergoes in her life. The story revolves round the transition of Sumita from a young girl to a woman; from woman to a wife and finally facing the climax and the predicament in her life by being a widow. Sumita accepts the tradition of her society and accepts the concept of arranged marriage and marries a man whom she has never met before. She accepts the fact and is shown at the outset of the story to explore the unexplored and know the unknown and with this vision; she whole heartedly starts dreaming of her new life which is going to place her to a complete different socio-cultural milieu. She undergoes a paradoxical transition in her life and that evolves at different times through her clothes and their colours (Almeida, â€Å"The politics of mourning: Grief Management in Cross-cultural Fiction†). Conflict essentially builds up and strengthens the dramatic qualities of any fiction and that conflict does not necessarily mean a conflict with an antagonist in its physical form. The antagonist as in the case is society and the cross cultural transition which treats the existential discourse of the protagonist. Sumita in the US faces difficulty to adept complete change in her attire from eastern styling to that of western. The conflict which she faces is from the transition that she undergoes while changing her identity from wife to a women. One of those dresses includes a T-shirt which is orange in color and symbolizes hope and change on a brighter note. But the destined predicament at the last segment of the story where Sumita has to encounter an unfortu nate incident in the face of her husband’s murder washes all sort of colour and possibility in her life and places her with a confrontation of uncertainty where she is confused to continue her life in a country where the life of her husband was not secured even or get back to the soil i.e. her country from where she was uprooted long back as she fails to identify herself in both the nations and their societies. This is probably the greatest threat encountered by the protagonist of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s short story, â€Å"Clothes† presented in the form of diasporas of existential and identity crisis from the perspective of feminist discourse. Transition in Sumita’s life does not only take place at physical plane but it takes place also mentally. Quite natural to the human nature, it gets reflected through the outward appearance of Sumita precisely through her clothes and its colours. The Indian traditional attire for women is Sari and Sumita at the beginning of the story is seen clad in it fully at one with the tradition of her soil. The selection of each cloth in the story and its colour has a purpose. The story begins with a stage in Sumita’s life when she is about to be a bride and puts a yellow sari, all set to meet her prospective

Film Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Film Review - Essay Example Day for Night, the title, speaks for itself. The soundtrack of the movie is by Georges Delerue which ornate the filmmaking art (IMDb, 1973). The plot of the movie revolves around Je Vous Presente Pamela (melodrama) and Jean—Pierre Aumont who portrays Alexandre, young heart-throb Alphonse (Jean-Pierre Leaud), Julie Baker (Jacquine Bisset, an actress from Britain) and Severine (Valentina Cortese). Julie Baker is voming back from a nervous collapse and also an argument directing to her matrimony with an elderly doctor. In the middle are various small monographs reporting the stories of director and members of crew and also of Trauffaut himself in the role of Ferrand, behind camera, all actors and crews go through various affairs, romances, split-ups, and its aftermaths. The production gets traumatized when fiancee of Alphonse leaves him for stuntman of the movie which further leads to one night sleep with Julie. It all happens when Alexandre dies in a car accident and one of the secondary characters is found to be pregnant. The characters all appear cliche and kind of imaginary in Francois Truffaut's comedy-drama and fun production in a witty hall of mirrors. The most eminent actor in real life, Jean-Pierre Leaud seems to be playing with an immature costar, Jacqueline Bisset. The balance is dysfunctional. However, Truffaut manages to keep the audience captivated by the technical means and stylistic efforts of Truffaut. The cast overall is good as actors are sometimes playing role of fictional thespians or crew members. The time period is effective. It is an interesting movie which stars Truffaut playing director who is shooting a movie. He himself is the most convincing and modest actor, while intertwining a story about how movies are actually made and how penetrating the emotional interactions between people making the movie can be. The camera angels are perfect. Movie starts a bit of amateurish but as one hangs on to it, it becomes interesting. It is a lo w tech film however. Truffaut gives us an insight into how the crew of production works, sometimes at odds while showing things which can go erroneous at the set. Movie starts with technical complexities of the production but after some time is focused on movie makers personalities and individual tales of each one of them. The audience basically is film making students or students from media background. But, it appeals to people from all facets of life. Each story is meticulously crafted in a lavish way almost like most of the characters in a soap opera. With it, Truffaut brings together emotional conflict and how this conflict can be utilized to resolve many tales without being over emotional. I don’t like the version of the movie and there are some problems with the cinematography. The dubbed version I saw is kind of disturbing as I am trying to reunite dubbed actor with visualized one. Also, Jacqueline Bisset who is fluent in English is speaking French and somebody else is speaking English for her is a lot to take. Well I would recommend the French version with subtitles. The message Truffaut is trying to give here is what we say on Television or movies is a simplified version of what actually is happening behind the camera. Truffaut is the type of