I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Essay Topics

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Essay TopicsAn I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings series is a series of essays written by Michael Kasumian. They are meant to challenge the reader with some basic and commonly asked questions on animal psychology, and in this series, Kasumian focuses on the psychology of the domesticated animal, namely the cage and the bird cage.He starts his series by pointing out that the basic question of animal behavior (i.e. why do they do it) is a very important one, because it can help us to answer our own fundamental questions, like why we make decisions, why we feel pain and what it means for a living thing to be domesticated.However, even in looking at the question of why do they do it, it is not the most important question; it is, however, the only one that is asked of all other questions regarding the nature of the human being. As such, the I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings series focuses more on its questions than on the answers.The series consists of five essa ys, each addressing a different theme (domestication, ontogeny, learning, self-preservation and romance). The theme chosen for each essay is based on questions Kasumian has considered important over the years. Some of them are: What is the purpose of animal behaviors?How do domesticated animals learn? Do they need socialization in order to survive and live happy lives? Do they need to form bonds or relationships with humans in order to survive? The essays cover some of these and many more, with several of them addressing specific questions about animals in general.One of the more important part of the series, of course, is the introduction; it contains some important information that is important to know before taking any of the essays. The introduction also offers some links to other important sources on the topic of domestication. These sources include things like Wikipedia, a book called 'The Logic of Domestication' and other good sources.In addition, the essays themselves are fa ctually incorrect facts challenged, and readers will have to read and think and evaluate things critically in order to answer the questions that are asked in each essay. Ultimately, one must choose whether to believe a given truth as valid or as not; the I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings series gives people the chance to make that choice.

The Importance Of Employee Motivation For Employees

Introduction Making employees realising full potential is becoming one of the fundamental and outstanding points in modern business management. In organisations, work motivation is a hot topic attracting a lot of scholars to study relevant theories, while it forces executives to recognise the importance of employee motivation for company further development and focus on employee’s needs in operation. Considering effectiveness of motivation, dressing lower needs could be the fundamental part of motivation, but other factors also would make a difference at the workplace. In this essay, it will give different definitions about lower needs and motivation firstly. From Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, this paper attempts to show the necessary of lower needs and indicate the utility of meeting these needs. Alderfer’s ERG theory would be used to present the different influence between lower needs and higher needs in order to discuss that various factors could motivate employees t o work productively and effectively. Definition Motivation could be referred as a theoretical construct which means needs, desires, want or drives within the individuals and has been considered as a human nature. It is an internal process that forces people to reach a goal. Motivation in work is described as influence how employees decide to perform in their job (Pinder, 2008, pp. 10-13). Several recent studies investigating motivation have been carried out on different needs. As a basic and well-knownShow MoreRelatedTHE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION AND PERFORMANCE1110 Words   |  5 PagesMotivation can be a key-contributing factor in employee performance. It is of great importance to an organization to recognize ways in which it can use employee motivation to positively affect employee performance. The methods used by organizations to motivate its employees are essential in determining how they affect employee performance. There are both positive and negative motivational tools that may be explored. The purpose o f this paper is to examine the relationship between motivation andRead MoreThe Success Or Failure Of Any Firm Or Organization Depends Upon The Competency And Proficiency Of Its Workforce1584 Words   |  7 Pagesa particular organization and its employees, motivation is required from the workforce. Employee maintenance can be practiced by thoroughly motivating the employees in many ways. In the big organizational environment, it is hard for the supervisor to motivate employees as compared to the small organizational environment. There are various strategies and techniques which are to be applied in order to motivate employees for better performance. Motivating employees require finding a balance. There areRead MoreThe Effects Of Motivation On Motivation Within The Workplace1001 Words   |  5 PagesMotivation is necessary for employees to grow and stay satisfied with their jobs and their current employer. Motivation is a driving factor that leads people to work harder, produce hig her quality work, and contributing to the factor of overall satisfaction, which leads to better employee retention. Everyone is unique, with their own set of unique values and ideas. To be successful in instilling motivation within a company there has to be multiple strategies in place to reach each individual. ARead MoreLearning and Growth Perspective Analysis641 Words   |  3 Pagesof their employees in their attempt to improve their performance. This objective is reached with the help of learning and growth strategies. The measures of learning and growth strategies are reflected by companies financial performance, customer satisfaction, business development, and others. A measure of learning and growth measure that is of great importance to organizations, but that is difficult to measure is represented by employee satisfaction level. The importance of employee satisfactionRead MoreIntroduction. Sns Is A Marketing And Public Relations Company1544 Words   |  7 Pagesretains an engaged employee pool that will provide exceptional customer service to the clients. Over the next several months, SNS will implement various motivational tools to encourage and reward creativity, insight, teamwork and enthusiasm. The Importance of Motivation In today’s demanding work environment, employee engagement can be a challenging task. Understanding the importance of motivating employees is vital to the success of the company. Rabideau (2005) states that motivation is the correlationRead MoreThe Effect Of Motivation On Employee Performance Essay1483 Words   |  6 Pages The Art of Motivation Tushayla R. Brown Business 520 November 14, 2016 Using Motivation to Improve Employee Performance Outline I. IDENTIFY THINGS THAT MOTIVATE EMPLOYEES A. Draft clear goals and expectations B. Provide an accurate and timely feedback C. Provide opportunities for growth D. Make employees part of a team and include them in decision-making II. IDENTIFY BARRIERS TO EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION A. Provide the right wages to employees with different levels of expertise andRead MoreImportance of Motivation in the Workplace1640 Words   |  7 PagesAbstract Employee motivation remains a key issue for the attainment of organizational outcomes. The contemporary organizations seem well versed with the reality of the fact that a motivated workforce is indeed the most critical aspect of the strategic success of the organization. The theories of motivation are the stout pillars that influx the real essence of a functional performance management system in an organization. The following paper highlights the peculiar aspects of the literature pertainingRead MorePlan for Positive Influence Ldr/5311243 Words   |  5 Pagesmechanisms to increase employee motivation, job satisfaction and performance as means to achieving set objectives. This plan clearly defines differences in attitude, personalities, emotions and values will be examined to create a behavioral plan that would increase motivation, satisfaction, and performance within an organization. Motivation, job satisfaction and performance are driven by: the employer and employees. Employers control the output provided to the employees and the employee bring morels,Read MoreHuman Resources Performance And Success1179 Words   |  5 Pagesmotivating employees is considered by organizations as crucial to retain the employees and drive them to perform better. Motivated employees tend to be gore effective in fulfilling their job responsibilities. Baack (2012) notes that the exiting literature on motivation seeks to develop an understanding of the nature of motivation, how to increase motivation level in employees and improve employee performance; thus, in turn, improve overall performance of the organization. Motivation helps employees to feelRead MoreKey Indicators or Factors in the Motivation of Employees889 Words   |  4 PagesTHE KEY INDICATORS OR FACTORS IN THE MOTIVATION OF EMPLOYESS- A CASE STUDY OF GHANA PORTS AND HARBOUR AUTHORITY BY DOGBEY K. GERSHON ( AC/09/WDS/1064) Abstract The study examined the ranked importance of motivational factors of employees at The Ghana Ports amp; Harbours Authority Human Resource Department,Research and Public Relation Department. The hand-delivered descriptive survey addressed ten motivating factors in the context of employee motivation theory. Findings suggest interesting

The Spirit Catches You and You Call Down Essay - 4621 Words

09/09/2013 Assignment 1 1. What do you think of traditional Hmong birth practices (pp. 3-5)? Compare them to the techniques used when Lia was born (p. 7). How do Hmong and American birth practices differ? I find the traditional birth practices peculiar and very unsafe. The conceiving of a child should be done in a sterile environment by professionals, so that the risks of negative effects like infections, wounds, etc. is minimized. Nevertheless I think the tradition, that the placenta is buried by the father, so that the soul can return to it’s first jacket, in order to continue it’s after death journey, is a wonderful way of believing what comes after death. Professional doctors handled Lia’s birth the American way, with her mother†¦show more content†¦They want to be accepted as free men with the right to live in this world and history has made them proof their will to achieve this status several times up until today. 3. Dr. Dan Murphy said, The language barrier was the most obvious problem, but not the most important. The biggest problem was the cultural barrier. There is a tremendous difference between dealing with the Hmong and dealing with anyone else. An infinite difference (p. 91). What does he mean by this? While the language barrier became very obvious to them as the Hmong language has very long descriptions for even the simplest words, the cultural barrier lead to a cultural bias in regards of western medicine. Hmong patients expected to be released of the ER with any kind of medicine they wouldn’t need. In addition to that the Hmong had a negative attitude towards surgery or any other invasive treatments, as it was frowned upon in their culture. One aspect that made it even harder was that pregnant Hmong women preferred to stay at home till the really last moment, so that often Hmong children were born in the parking lot or the elevator. They distrusted the western medicine so much that they preferred not getting better by gratefully accepting the medicine and diagnosis to save their pride and dignity. Just as history showed, they would rather die than give up their pride. 4. The author says, I was struck...by theShow MoreRelatedThe Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down Addresses Experiences And Decisions1018 Words   |  5 PagesFadiman’s The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down addresses experiences and decisions we may all relate to in some degree through the point of view of a journalist. It offers a different perspective and insight that has been used as an acceptable resource on cultural competence. As a passive reader, our understanding of cultural competence has grown more humanistic, because we feel the healthcare provider’s frustration and their concerns becoming more salient, while we see how a breakdown in communicationRead MoreFadiman Case Study: the Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Essay1601 Words   |  7 PagesSummary of The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down In ‘The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down’, Lia, a Hmong baby girl, is born to a Hmong family living in California as refugees away from their war torn land in Laos. In Laos the Lee’s where farmers and lived in the country according to their Hmong traditions and beliefs. In California they barely understood the language, much less Western culture or medicinal practices. In Hmong tradition, illness was seen as a spiritual problem rather thanRead MoreThe Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down By Anne Fadiman1611 Words   |  7 Pagesto each new generation, and with these traditions came the believe that Hmong are free and you must never betray your own people because Hmong protect Hmong. This ideology has helped the Hmong survive persecution from surrounding peoples. The preservation of Hmong tradition and customs is what has caused the Hmong to fight enemies or migrate to other surrounding areas. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman helps h ighlight the Hmong history and their struggle with preserving traditionsRead MoreThe Spirit Catches You : Cultural Miscommunication1387 Words   |  6 PagesSpirit Catches You: Cultural Miscommunication All communication is cultural. It draws on ways we have learned to speak and give nonverbal messages. We do not always communicate the same way from day to day, since factors like individual personality, mood, and the context of the situation interact with the variety of cultural influences we have internalized that influence our choices. Communication is interactive, so an important influence on its effectiveness is our relationship with others. DoRead MoreThe Body in Western and Non Western Cultures 949 Words   |  4 Pagesculture, the body is a house for the spirit. The house is a mystery; no one knows how it works. For example, in The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down doctors have to reassure patients that blood work will not decrease the amount of blood in the body. To the Hmong the body has a finite supply of blood and by extracting blood to run tests the western doctors are making the patient tremendously more ill. For the Hmong when something is wrong with the house y ou call upon a shaman to find out what needsRead MoreAn Analysis Of Anne Fadiman s The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down 1545 Words   |  7 Pagesus the story of how a Hmong girl suffering from severe epilepsy brought to light what happens when the American medical community fails to see patients as people whose cultural background is completely different from their own. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down tells the story of Lia Lee. Lia was barely three months old when she had her first epileptic seizure. Born into a large family, her parents, Nao Kao and Foua Lee, were Hmong refugees from Laos who didn t speak a word of English. WhileRead MoreThe Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures by Anne Fadiman1224 Words   |  5 Pages‘The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures’ is a book written in 1997 by the author Anne Fadiman. This book is based on a true story of the life of a Hmong child, Lia Lee who is epileptic. She suffers from numerous grand mal seizures and eventually she becomes vegetative for the remainder of her life. The intention of this book, however, is not Lia’s condition, but to highlight the problems that exist between the two culturesRead MoreThe Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down Essay1566 Words   |  7 PagesThe book titled The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: Talks about a Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures written by Anne Fadiman. Anne Fadiman is an American essayist and reporter, who interests include literary journalism. She is a champion of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, the Salon Book Award, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Current Interest. In the book, Anne Fadiman explores the clash between a county hospital in CaliforniaRead MoreRole of Cross-Cultural Misunderstanding in Ruining Lias Life1219 Words   |  5 PagesCross-cultural Misunderstanding in Ruining Lia’s Life Lia is born of a loving Hmong family, and just three months into her life, begins to reveal epileptic symptoms. According to the Hmong community, the condition is curable, and the presence of spirits in such a patient’s soul is considered a blessing. However, American doctors in a community medical center fail to understand and appreciate Lia’s parents’ approach to the child’s disease, and are only interested in saving this child’s life. As theRead MoreThe Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman542 Words   |  2 PagesIn the novel by Fadiman, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, is written about two cultures and their differences: Hmong and American. The clash between these two cultures interferes with the treatment of a three-month child, Lia Lee, which has been diagnosed with epilepsy. Her parents’ think is actually caused by the spirits. When it comes to the treatment for Lia her parents prefer to treat her with th eir own particular ways and medications, like in the Hmong culture, instead of going for

Music and Critical Thinking Questions Essay Example For Students

Music and Critical Thinking Questions Essay Music Appreciation Text Questions Please complete the following questions. It is important that you use full sentences and present the questions and answers when you submit your work. Submit the work as a file attachment. This means you complete all work in a word processing document (e. G. , Microsoft Word) and attach the file using the drop tool. Use the Unit 1: Text Questions drop basket. The answers to the Review Critical Thinking questions are worth 10 points. Review Questions 1 . What are the basic elements of music? WYSIWYG 2. What is pitch? 3. What is syncopation? What types of music use syncopation? 4. What are three examples of forms of music? Describe each form. 5. What is form in music? Critical Thinking Questions 1 . Music has sometimes been referred to as a universal language. Why has this description been applied to music? Do you agree or disagree with this assessment? Why? 2. Why is musical notation important? What benefits do musicians and others receive from being able to write down and note aspects of a musical piece? 3. In the first part of the unit, we discussed how music is everywhere in society. What are some of the ways that we use music? How do you use music in your own life? 4. Music can help influence the mood or feeling in a place by the way in which it is played. What is a specific example of this that you have experienced? Discuss the experience (what was the song? How was it played? How did the mood/feeling change? ). For example, you might discuss an experience at a concert, religious service, or another place where music played a part in creating the mood. Discussion Questions Please post questions and answers on the UNIT ONE discussion boards. Unless otherwise instructed, you should submit at least one full paragraph for each question. Each discussion assignment is worth 5 points.