Boosting employee morale Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Boosting employee morale - Essay Example To test whether the skills or methods used in the process increases employee morale, the first step is to identify the variables involved. These could be qualitative or quantitative in nature (Johnson 304). The impact of increased employee morale can be quantitative, but the skills or methods applied are highly qualitative. To test the impact that skills or methods used create in boosting employee morale, quantifying skills/methods variables is vital. ANOVA tests suit this process (Johnson 357). Once the qualitative variables are quantified, they can be linked to the outcome of increased employee morale through the necessary testing steps in ANOVA statistical procedures. Achieving the above goal can be subject to a number of issues that influence the inferences made from the test. These are: difficulties in choosing the quantitative variable to use following improved employee morale (for example increased output or revenues), individual differences across employees may not be accounted for, and quantifying some qualitative variables of skills/methods nature may result in a totally different outcome. On the other hand, the testing design adopted exhibits both strengths and weaknesses. The quantification of qualitative variables makes the testing process quick and easier (Johnson 391). However, the testing procedure may be prone to statistical errors that may result in conclusive inferences that are rather

World War II Essay Example for Free

World War II Essay Richard Wheeler, an author of Iwo – a book about the battle of Iwo Jima during the World War II is, undoubtedly, familiar with the subject. He is a war veteran, who joined the Marine Corpse recently after attack on Pearl Harbor. Although he has spent two years at Alaska as a coast guard, he managed to join the actively fighting force of 28th Regiment of the new 5th Marine Division. His division was one of the first to invade Iwo Jima in spring 1945 and Wheeler participated in the most severe combat for the island. Two days after the landing he has been heavily wounded and evacuated, however, those days were enough for him to write a book of memories, which he called simply â€Å"Iwo†. The book is a description of the battle for Iwo Jima from the point of view of marines, who invaded the island and the Japanese soldiers who protected it. The author pays little attention to description of strategies and forces in the operation, concentrating on soldiers experiences. His writing may be in a way shocking and cynical as he writes how uncommon valor was a common virtue. Wheeler speaks a little of preparations, made by Americans and Japanese and describes some of the maneuvers of his own division, including the flag raising, which later became famous. But the book is more a story of life and fighting of marines on the island – their thoughts, desires and feelings. All names of marines, places and other are due to authors own knowledge. The book is outstandingly exciting to read. It keeps the reader tensed and involves him into action, giving an insight from participant’s view. The language of the book is a language of a marine, not of a professor of history, and this makes the impression from the book even deeper. Iwo is a magnificent overview of WWII on the Pacific soldier experience. Perhaps it is not of great interest to history professionals, but is a â€Å"must read† book for all those interested in real story of the Pacific War. Those, who are already familiar with the matter would obtain additional sensitive understanding of war, and the â€Å"beginners† will find an exciting introduction into life of a soldier of World War II.

ASDA Employee Motivation Research

ASDA Employee Motivation Research Research Project To determine some vital roles of leadership in  improving the sense of motivation in employees in  the retail organisations of UK- A study on ASDA. Task 1 Understand how to formulate a research specification Part 1: You have to create a research proposal in a subject of your interest. In doing this, you have to formulate and record possible research project outline specifications (AC1.1); Identify the factors that contribute to the process of research project selection ( AC1.2); Undertake a critical review of key references (AC 1.3) ;Produce a research project specification (AC1.4). Introduction Business organisations are an integral part of nations economy in todays globalised set of environment where all industrial sectors are largely concerned about a timely achievement of their stipulated goals and objectives. In context to which, they are hereby required to operate with a strategic arrangement of their action plans to duly accomplish their stipulated targets on time. It is with reference to yet another prime concept of realism in todays set of business where an establishment is comprised of two vital set of bodies entitled as employees and employers (Alfalfa-Luque, Marin-Garcia and Medina-Lopez, 2015). Wherein, the employees are direct in charge of their respective set of employers where they are with a through accountability of guiding them. This in turn has breakdown the preceding role of employers where they are mainly positioned at two vital profiles of leaders and managers in the organisation. Both these parties are required to perform a similar set of responsibility by thoroughly guiding their respective set of employees and generate a prior sense of encouragement in them. It is mainly with respect to carry out there assigned tasks on time for an eventual achievement of their organisational goals and objectives. In order to achieve this research, I will start by: To analyse the factual concept of leadership in retail organisations of UK To discover the adopted tools of motivation in ASDA To identify the relationship between the tact of leadership and motivation in ASDA To recommend some principle strategies to enhance the motivation level of employees with some profound tactics of leadership Background of the study The present survey is based upon a configured purpose of exploring the function of leadership to enhance the sense of motivation in the deputed employees of retail organisations in UK. For which, a renowned retail enterprise named ASDA has been taken into consideration for it where it is a subsidiary supermarket of Wal-Mart as its parent company (Cadden, Marshall and Cao, 2013). With a foundation year of near about 68 years, it is currently headquartered at Leeds that is in the West Yorkshire of England. It is evident to deal into grocery products along with general merchandise commodities and fiscal services as well. As per a recent transcription of the year 2016, ASDA is depicted to be extended in around 630 distinct locations at a global level. Herein, it is also ascertained to employ total 180, 000 number of workers to operate at its widespread locations. The current study has hereby focussed to interpret the adopted procedures of ASDA to motivate their deputed set of employees by aligning it to their applied tact of leadership at the workplace. Leaders in ASDA are evident to play a crucial role in handling the work of their respective set of teams (Kim and Brymer, 2011). However, it is together essential for them to continually stipulate such standardised practices of directing their staff members that in turn results in improving the sense of motivation in them. This investigation will thereby focus upon defining such effective practices of leadership that will consequently lead to upgrade the motivation level of the employees by referring to varied tools of motivation and certain abstractive theories of leadership as well. Literature review Concept of leadership in the retail organisations of UK It is as per the stated clause of Taylor, Bogdan, and DeVault (2015), where todays organizations are with a strong requisition of leadership at their workplace to make an optimum utilization of their accessible resources. In accordance to which, leadership is hereby referred as such vital trait that is both inbuilt and out built for the leaders. This means that there exist two types of leaders where some of them are called as born leaders and other can refer to acquire its attributes to become an effective leader. The concept of organizational leadership tends to deal with both expertise tactics as well as human psychology by emphasizing more upon the development of leadership skills and abilities. It should, however, relate to the undertaken goals and objectives of the organization where a potent leader will refer to deal with the hard times of industry and still develop by that time. Tools adopted by the retail organisations of UK to motivate their employees There exist varied motivational tools that are being adopted by the organisations in order to raise the motivational sense of their employees. Bayne and Woolcock (2016) had hereby enlightened two vital types of motivational tools in the organisation known as internal and external tools of motivation. Wherein, an intrinsic tool is in context to meet out the mental needs of the employees by rewarding them with non-monetary means like higher-grade responsibilities as a mean of providing empowerment. Another source of extrinsic motivation involve the tools of monetary benefits for the employees such as bonuses and additive remuneration on carrying out a considerable work. Relationship among the tact of leadership and motivational context of employees in the retail organisations of UK There exists an implicit relationship among an applied tact of leadership and motivation as per the reflected outlook of Menges, Walter, Vogel and Bruch (2011). It is where the leaders are hereby referred to be a prime source of motivation to produce an encouraging sense of work in them. This is also in correspondence to employ varied available theories of motivation with a prime accountability of the leaders to practice them at the workplace. The two-factor model of Herzberg is a factual instance of such conceptual theory that is often being referred by the leaders to inculcate in their day to day practice for fulfilling the need base consideration of their respective employees. Other than this, there together exist varied styles and models of leadership that should be referred by the leaders for aptly managing the carried assignations of their employees. Research aims and objectives A prior intent of this study is To determine some vital roles of leadership in improving the sense of motivation in employees in the retail organisations of UK- A study on ASDA. This configured aim has further depicted some leading objectives that are as stated below: To analyse the factual concept of leadership in retail organisations of UK. To discover the adopted tools of motivation in ASDA. To identify the relationship between the tact of leadership and motivation in ASDA. To recommend some principle strategies to enhance the motivation level of employees with some profound tactics of leadership. Research questions It is mainly on the basis of above formulated aims and objectives to carry out this survey, which is hereby, directed by some below mentioned research questions: What is the factual concept of leadership in the retail organisations of UK? What are the tools adopted by ASDA to motivate their employees? What is the relationship among the tact of leadership and motivational context of employees in ASDA? Rational of the research: This section is specially to determine such contributory factors that have largely assisted the investigator to carry out the investigation in a directional manner. It is mainly in context to depict a prime reason behind selecting this particular topic for the investigation that has hereby represented a leading reason of personal interest of the researcher. Due to which, this particular topic of leadership has been chosen as a mean of exploring its vital role in enhancing the motivation level of the employees (Neuman and Robson, 2012). A prevalent state of competition among the organisations is together referred to be yet another significant reason behind electing this subject matter where it is a present-day concern in most of the retail organisations in UK. As a result to which, a demotivated set of workforce in turn impacts upon the overall productivity of the enterprise that resultantly impacts upon the profitability index of the enterprises. This research work will thus aid them to strengthen the prospective element of leadership in the organisation in order to raise the sense of encouragement in their employees. Producing a research project specification This is another foremost section of the investigation where the researcher will hereby define the adopted technique to carry out the study in an effective manner. Research design- It is a foremost tact needed to be referred by the investigator in order to carry out the study in a directional manner (Research design, 2009). This will in turn depict the nature and type of study that will be referred by the surveyor for conducting the research work. Wherein, the present investigation has showcased a descriptive study to make an in depth analysis of its elected subject matter. Research approach- It is yet another prime consideration of the researcher to carry out the investigation where here the surveyor has opted to carry an inductive format of the study. This will in turn widen the scope of investigation where its concentrated set of data is evident to transact from specific to general context (Deductive Reasoning Versus Inductive Reasoning, 2014). Data collection- The data collection measures together exists with its two imperative methods by referring to both primary and secondary aggregation of information. Into which, the primary accumulation of data will necessitate the surveyor to directly approach the respondents and interrogate them on the basis of a framed questionnaire (Gast and Ledford, 2014). Wherein, another alternative of secondary data assemblage will require to study pre established statistics in verified publications like books, journals and online articles, etc., from attested internet sites. Sampling- It is yet another practice of distributing the targeted respondents of the study in a proportionate way to give an equalised chance to each of them. However, there exists two leading tactics of sampling known as random and purposive distribution methods (Gast and Ledford, 2014). The present study has thus opted for a purposive or non probability tact for sampling the data where the surveyor will hereby refer to interrogate 4 top administrative bodies of ASDA. Data analysis- This is basically to analyse the above acquired set of data by electing one of the two alternative measures to make either qualitative or quantitative investigation. The present research work has therefore depicted a qualitative analysis of data to conduct a thematic study of the subject matter (Quantitative Methods in Education Research, 2014). Scope: the researcher has the skills required to carry out an inductive format of the study. Research limitations- This is especially to define certain limited elements that often leads to obstruct into the conducted study of the researcher. An inadequate source of time with deficit amount funds are those two constricted factors that largely impedes the survey. However, these two elements are referred to be the two most appropriate elements of the study for succeeding towards its undertaken aims and objectives. It is therefore important for the surveyor to conduct a planned study with present time and funds for achieving the targeted goals on a stipulated duration that is 11 weeks for this particular investigation. However, a limited number of secondary resources is referred to be yet another limited aspect for carrying out a defined study. Wherein, there together exists certain ethical dilemma as a way of obstructing the study where the researcher is required to use an authentic set of data while referring to the secondary resources. However, the primary sources were duly accessible where the researcher in the present study has referred to directly approach the responders as a way of interrogating them. Ethical issues- There together exists certain ethical responsibilities that are required to be considered by the researcher to carry out the study (Neuman and Robson, 2012). With respect to which, the investigator in the present study is required to carry a confidential interrogation in which, its obtained data should not get accessed by any unaccredited set of users. This is for instance to conduct a confidential study where the researcher is not liable to reveal the given answers of the respondents to an unauthorised user. Along with which, the investigator is together required to take a prior consent of the respondents to participate in the study with no forcible context on them. M1: This is basically to justify the specification of the present research work with some affluent measures of data collection and analysis. In whose context, both primary and secondary tactics of data collection have represented to be a justified selection of techni9ques by the researcher where both these methods have greatly collaborated with the findings of one other. Along with which, the qualitative method of analysis has also sustained the study by carrying out a thematic assessment to define the subjective nature of the facts by accurately corresponding to the nature of this particular research topic. TASK 1 part 2: Provide an appropriate plan and procedures for the agreed research specification (AC1.5);Match resources efficiently to the research question or hypothesis (AC2.1) This is basically to correspond the present carried investigation with that to the applied resources where the researcher has hereby opted for varied pertinent resources like time, cost and manpower resources to carry out the survey in a efficient manner (Paarlberg and Lavigna, 2010). These resources have together depicted a projected way of carrying out the study where the time to carry out the entire survey was duly scheduled by the researcher with the help of Gantt chart. With reference to which, the researcher has hereby referred to undertake 11 weeks of study to acquire its stipulated goals and objectives. Research objective By when Resources to be used (2.1) Milestones (when do you know this objective is achieved) How will you monitor this objective is being achieved? method of monitoring Statistic analysis 10/03/2017 Internet and blogs On that day Recorder Numbers (using chart) In March Internet On that month Recorder This research has been scheduled with a projected timeline to promptly carry out the investigation. It is with a prime consideration of achieving its configured goals and objectives by avoiding the possibility of any sort of hindrance in the research work. It is mainly in regard to specify the available period of time to carry out the study where such planned work will largely support the surveyor to timely attain the targeted intent of the research. Non-availability of time will not reflected to be a matter of concern for the researchers any more in case they refer to follow this pivotal tool of Gantt chart. Key Activities Week 1 Week 2 3 Week4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 9 Week 10 Week 11 Preparation of Introduction Literature Review Collection of Secondary Information Examination of the Collected Data Research Design Research Methodology Acquiring Primary Data Analysing Primary and Secondary Data Conclusion and Recommendations Completion of Leftover Work Revision and Draft Final Submission TASK 2:BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THE RESEARCH PROJECT WITHIN AGREED PROCEDURES AND TO SPECIFICATION 2.2 Undertake the proposed research investigation in accordance with the agreed specification and procedures. This section has referred to depict the framed set of questionnaire along with the conferred answers of the respondents. Undertaking the proposed research investigation in accordance with the agreed specification and procedures by recording This is to discuss upon the undertaken design of the questionnaire where the researcher in the present study has referred to plan an open-ended questionnaire with relevant set of questions. It was with a single close-ended query in which the respondents were hereby asked to provide their own suggestions as a way of advising some effective measures of leadership to enhance the sense of motivation in employees. This in turn depicted a primary method of data collection with a structured interview along with a secondary method in which the governmental records published for the retail based organisations of UK were referred over here. Along with which, the official website of ASDA was also referred to gather some pertinent facts from their pre-established findings. However, there existed certain advantages and disadvantages of both these data collection methods that are as mentioned below- Advantages of primary data collection method: A close interrogation by directly approaching the respondents. This in turn relates to the study and research of the person. Great control over a specific subject. Disadvantages of primary data collection method: A costly method. Time consuming process. A lower rate of response. Advantages of secondary data collection method: A cost effective method. Requires less time and efforts. Provides a base to the primary research method. Disadvantages of secondary data collection method: Unspecific in nature. May produce inaccurate data. Issues of time log. Apart from which, a qualitative method of analysis has been used to evaluate the collected set of data where it is usually done to conduct a thematic assessment based upon distinct formation of themes. Where it is also associated with a leading issue of partiality where the evaluation often tends to bias from one other. Collating relevant data where appropriate This section has referred to depict the framed set of questionnaire along with the conferred answers of the respondents. Since how long your are employer with ASDA? Frequency Percentage 1 year 0 0 3 years 2 50 5 years 1 25 More than 5 years 1 25 Are you agreed by the fact which states that employees need a close supervision at the workplace. Frequency Percentage Strongly agreed 1 25 Agreed 1 25 Neutral 2 50 Disagreed 0 0 Strongly disagreed 0 0 Most of the employees are self motivated in your organisation. Frequency Percentage Yes 1 25 No 3 75 What leadership style is being adopted by you to acquire timely submission of assignations by your respective subordinates? Frequency Percentage Democratic 2 50 Laissez free 0 0 Autocratic 1 25 Bureaucratic 1 25 What principle traits of leadership must be adopted to enhance the productivity status of your establishment? Frequency Percentage Generating a sense of encouragement in employees. 2 50 Provisioning an effective reward system at the workplace. 1 25 Carrying out a strict approach toward the employees by penalising them for not meeting the stipulated standards of work. 1 25 In your view, does leaders play a substantial role in supporting their subordinates to accept their key responsibilities of work. Frequency Percentage Most of the time 2 50 Sometime 2 50 Rarely 0 0 Never 0 0 However, on discoursing upon the facts and findings acquired from the secondary sources of data collection, it has been found that leadership does plays an intact role in motivating the employees at the workplace. It is however with some great efforts of the leaders where they are hereby provisioned with distinct tools of motivation to utilize on them. Although, their together exists certain advantages and disadvantages of data analysis method where the data in the present investigation has been analysed using a qualitative method. In whose context, below are the identified advantages and disadvantages of this measure: Advantages: No rigorous plan or design is required. An affluent and detailed set of information. Disadvantages: A subjective view of the study that needs a massive involvement of the surveyor in the study. A very time consuming procedure with biased context of research as per the own set of views of the investigator. D3: This is basically to justify the selection of data collection method where both primary and secondary measures of data collection has been implicated by the investigator over here. Both these measures have greatly contributed in conducting a directional study where the findings incurred from primary method have supported the facts of secondary resources. 3.1 Appropriate techniques of research evaluation It is basically to discourse upon the way in which the researcher has hereby referred to acquire the aims and objectives of this investigation where it was carried to assess the roles of leadership as a way of generating a motivational sense in the employees. It was with a prime objective to evaluate the realistic concept of leadership in the retail based organisations of UK. The researcher duly achieved this where leadership is identified to be a trait in which the leaders are responsible to handle their respective subordinates and their work with some expertise skills with some specialised abilities. Another objective of this study was to discover the adopted tools of motivation in ASDA where it has been found that they are more likely to use the internal measures to encourage the workers by promoting them to a higher level position, etc. The last objective of this investigation was to identify the relationship between the tact of leadership and motivation in ASDA where both these elements are depicted to have a close interrelation with one other. It is where the leaders are apparent to play a principle role in inspiring their employees by implicating various tactics of motivation. All these objectives have been attained by using some effective techniques of research with valid and reliable set of findings that are proven to be successful for this survey. Wherein, the benefits of the incurred outcomes of this research is evident to support the organisation named ASDA in determining such vital roles of their leaders that are effective in creating a sense of motivation in their workers. However, there existed certain difficulties in carrying out this investigation where the respondents were not willing to interact with each another in a smooth manner. Apart from which, this has also reflected to be a slight time consuming study with less number of secondary resources. Along with which, the surveyor was also not well versed to work on excel with less experience in conducting such studies. 3.2 Using appropriate research evaluation techniques and interpreting and analysing the results in terms of the original research specification Theme 1- A major number of responders are evident to work from a longer time period in ASDA. Interpretation: This is on interpreting the outcome of above carried analysis in order to determine the existent time period of the employers working in ASDA who has hereby represented as the respondents of the study. In context to which, it has been found that almost all responders are working from a considerable time period and are well experienced in their field. Wherein, 2 of them are employed with ASDA from last 3 years and 1 of them is occupied since 5 years and another 1 is working here for more than 5 years. Theme 2- Almost all respondents are agreed with the concept of close supervision for their subordinates. Interpretation: It is on referring to the above obtained data that has clearly depicted a united outlook of almost all the respondents that has been presented in context to a bestowed statement of close supervision of employers on their employees. With respect to which, 1 has represented a strong agreement towards it with another who is merely agreed to it. Whereas, there existed 2 such respondents who are at a neutral stage of acceptance for this statement. Theme 3- Majority of responders have not approved by the self motivation sense of their employees. Interpretation: On the basis of above conducted primary research, it has been found that only 1 out of 4 respondents are in favour of their self motivated employees. However, the other 3 have specified a clear no towards it

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Energy   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Four Source of Energy: Chemical, Solar, Mechanical, and Nuclear Energy is used in every aspect of our lives, from power for transportation, to heat and light in dwelling and working areas, to the manufacture of good of all kinds. The development of science and civilization is closely linked to the availability and development of energy in useful forms. In this paper I am going to show four extremely vital forms of energy that we humans use everyday, and without which we could not enjoy the luxuries of life; like watching T.V., playing on the computer, and tracking the weather.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first type of vitally important energy is Chemical. It utilizes the energy release from chemical reaction. The energy is both release and absorbed by the elements involve in a chemical reaction, but no lose occur in the molecular weight of the elements. Even thought this is true, the physical properties may change. Take for instance, the decomposition of water. In its molecules, each of which consist of one atom of oxygen and two of hydrogen, are broken down; the hydrogen atoms combine in pairs, and the oxygen atoms form oxygen molecules. The two new molecules now have two different properties from the water molecules they came from. Water, for example, does not burn nor does it support combustions, but the new hydrogen molecule is now flammable and the oxygen is combustion supportive, both of which can be used to obtain useful forms of energy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The reactions, just like the one mentioned above, can be classified by the characteristics of the particular reaction. As anyone could observe we, the people of this world have many different forms of reactions to obtain the energy we desire. This chemical energy is pretty the base of all other forms of energy, or at least a big part of them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We can use the reaction from nuclear fusion or fission to obtain energy. We can use the steam from water to get energy. There are ways in which use the elements and the properties of their reaction to obtain energy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A type of energy that work is another form of chemical energy, but deserves its own individual respect, is the above-mentioned nuclear energy. With the development of nuclear energy in the early 20th century came available another incredibly great source of energy. It uses the heat from the nuclear energy and converts it into electricity. The nuclear is stored in the nucleus of an atom and is released though fission, fusion, or radioactivity.

US Foreclosures Feasibility Project

The dependent variable, U. S. Foreclosures Filings, is used in the cause and affect relationship presented wrought the project. The following independent variables will be used to determine the most significant factor in U. S. Foreclosure filings. This data is collected every month from more than 2,200 countless by [email  protected] Realty'[email  protected] compiles this nationwide data and reports a count of the total number of properties with at least one foreclosure filing reported. Primary Independent Variable: a.Rising Unemployment Rising unemployment rates is the primary Independent variable because I believe that as the national employment rate continues to rise so will the number of foreclosure filings. The data used to represent the relationship was provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and collected monthly. The first resource that solidifies my belief comes from commoner. Com. Less Christie describes in the article, â€Å"Mounting Job Losses Fueling Foreclosure s,† the correlation between unemployment rates and the rise In U.S. Foreclosures. He explains that the more individuals lose their jobs the more the delinquency trend will continue. (Christie, 2008) In the article, â€Å"2008 Foreclosure Filings Set Record,† Stephanie Armor recognizes the relationship between Job loss and foreclosure lings. She clarifies that even though Interest rates decreased, the number of those filing for foreclosure continued to rise between 2007 and 2008 resulting in an 81% increase.The former federal deputy Housing Commissioner under President Clinton is quoted saying, â€Å"with foreclosures continuing to rise and the economy in a downward spiral, It's not surprising you see Increased foreclosure because of Increased unemployment. † (Armor, 2009) Independent Variables: a. Divorce (XX: DIVORCE)- Divorce is another leading cause in the number of the family and they then run the risk of foreclosure. This data was compiled through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention & National Center for Health Statistics.

Stone Cold Definitions: What is a Family?

American society is an interesting place: we value individualism and celebrate freedom, and strive for being the best in all that we do.   The road to achieving this is not an easy one, but as a nation, we understand this.   We train our children gradually by setting small tasks for them.   These tasks are designed to help our children â€Å"practice† for their imminent involvement in the â€Å"real† world, and it is the hope of those who create these â€Å"practice† sessions that children will grow into adults who are well-adjusted, productive Americans. This training includes learning to do a variety of things—from the mundane to the complex—primarily by trial and error.   We put training wheels on bicycles; we spread education out over a period of twenty-plus years; we encourage part-time jobs before careers and raising a pet to learn the value of life and the seriousness of responsibility; however, when it comes to creating a family, we act like it is an all-or-nothing affair.   We define it in a single way, and access it as â€Å"successful† only in the extremist of circumstances.   American society may value individualism, celebrate freedom, and strive for perfection, but it can be an extraordinarily judgmental place for those who fall outside the parameters of the traditional definition of â€Å"family.† Barbara Kingsolver examines the definition of â€Å"family† in her piece, â€Å"Stone Soup: What Does It Mean To Be a Family, Anyway?†Ã‚   Her conclusion: that the defined parameters are simply too narrow and that America’s continuing to use this false standard is detrimental to all people. There can be little doubt that the United States values individualism; however, it seems as though individualism is only acceptable if the involved party conforms to preconceived norms and moral standards set by the majority when exercising this right to be â€Å"individual.†Ã‚   Barbara Kingsolver asks readers â€Å"in the catalog of family values, where do we rank an occasion such as this?† (305). She is referring to a child’s soccer game and the fact that the child in question is surrounded by primary and extended family members—an entire cheering section of his own, but that social construct calls his family â€Å"broken† (305).   Obviously, â€Å"Andy† is not suffering for lack of anything while playing soccer—there is nothing at all â€Å"broken† about him or the people who make up his family.   Kingsolver’s point is powerful, and she demands each of us step back and consider the reason for family and the parameters by which the success of this configuration of people is judged. The point of people joining together to create a unified structure (i.e. a â€Å"family†) is to strengthen the one by adding others.   The make-up of the family structure is rather arbitrary, and as Kingsolver points out, in other countries as well as in America’s past, the presence of several generations under one roof was commonplace (308).   Modern society has changed the basic dynamic of â€Å"family,† expecting the branching out of children as they reach adulthood, and the defining of parenting â€Å"success† by an offspring’s financial and familial productivity out in the world. This does not sound at all like the makings of a strong â€Å"individual†; it sounds very much like a cookie-cutter environment churning out cookie-cutter people.   Kingsolver points out that â€Å"there's a current in the air with ferocious moral force [. . .] claiming there is only one right way to do it, the Way It Has Always Been† and expresses how nonsensical this attitude is (305). If we operated under the guise of â€Å"the Way It Has Always Been,† we’d still have slavery, children working in sweat shops, women who had no control over their own money, legalized domestic violence, etc.   Part of this nation’s strength comes from its ability to recognize flaws in its operations, make the necessary changes, and move on.   Why are we so slow to apply this to family?   As Kingsolver puts it, â€Å"this narrow view [of family] is so pickled and absurd I'm astonished that it gets airplay† (305).   Simply put, a group of people who join together to perform everyday tasks, including caring for a child/children, paying bills, maintaining a home, and caring for one another is a family. People who were born before the internet, cellular phones, and the microwave oven survived, and many of them continue to do so without having adapted or integrated any of those items into their daily lives.   Those of us who make use of modern technology are not harmed by the lack of understanding or participation of those who choose to remain â€Å"behind† the times. However, those who insist on the â€Å"traditional† definition of â€Å"family† and persist in applying derogatory terms to the variety of familial make-ups that have become more prevalent are harming those who choose to acknowledge familial advances.   â€Å"Divorce, remarriage, single parenthood, gay parents, and blended families simply are. They're facts of our time† (307). It seems odd that in a nation that is so sold on individuality and freedom of choice that it has  begun to package cheese in balls, slabs, individually wrapped slices, and sticks that we shy away  from a multi-faceted definition of family.   Perhaps the problem is the way in which people look  at things.   Can it be that only a single parent struggling to get by understands that the slab is  cheapest, and that it has the added benefit of one’s being able to cut it and wrap it in a variety of  sizes and shapes that can be determined based on need?   Isn’t this a simple, physical example of  the old adage that anyway you slice a thing, it is still the thing?   Does it really matter what the  make-up of the family is as long as it fulfills it goals?   There are legitimate reasons for the  changes seen in the modern family. â€Å"Some of the reasons listed by sociologists for these family  reconstructions are: the idea of marriage as a romantic partnership rather than a pragmatic one; a  shift in women's expectations, from servility to self-respect and independence; and longevity† (Kingsolver 307). Prepare a list of the things a person might fight hardest for in terms of â€Å"freedom,† and the freedom to choose a life partner has got to be near the top, and this freedom is not about one’s orientation: it is about one’s freedom—period.   Whether straight or gay, single or married, the freedom to enter into or leave a relationship seems fundamental. Barbara Kingsolver discusses her preconceived notion of marriage and divorce: a notion that was constructed by the society in which she grew up—the society that continues to exist in America (306).   She admits to her naà ¯ve belief that in choosing a mate one could not err, and admitted that â€Å"once upon a time [she believed . . ] that everyone who [divorced] could have chosen not to do it.   That it's a lazy way out of marital problems.   That it selfishly puts personal happiness ahead of family integrity,† but having lived her life and gone through a divorce, she now sees that this is simply not true. This bursts not only the bubble of her expectations, it places the rest of her family, including her children, into a category that implies imperfection and an inability to perform up to expected standards.   Kingsolver equates the â€Å"judg[ing of] a family’s value by its tidy symmetry is to purchase a book for its cover† (308).   Oddly, the â€Å"children of divorce† are profoundly unaffected in many ways, and where adults see defeat, they see the opportunity to have two different homes and two sets of things as advantageous.   Certainly this isn’t always the case—as it is not always the case that a child raised in a â€Å"traditional family† goes unscathed.   Each situation and each experience is—dare I say—individual. The closing anecdote in Barbara Kingsolver’s piece places the term Stone Soup in to context, and it is in this recollection that real advice can be seen.   While the story hinges on the soldiers’ plan, what happens all around them is of equal importance.   The message in the story is that both sides must be ready and willing to accept their opposition: the hungry soldiers gave in to the townspeople who in turn gave in to the hungry soldiers, and in the end, everyone is better for having shared. The same is true of the modern family.   No one should be forced to give up the ideal of â€Å"family† anymore than anyone should give up the ideal of having a cupboard filled with food; however, everyone has got to be willing to acknowledge that their definition of â€Å"family† is relative—much like the â€Å"full† cupboard, and often simply adding to the pot what you can is sufficient. Work Cited Kingsolver, Barbara.   â€Å"Stone Soup: What Does It Mean To Be a Family, Anyway?†Ã‚   The McGraw-Hill Reader: Issues Across Time.   8th ed.   Ed. Gilbert H. Muller.   LaGuardia: City U. of New York, 2003.   305-310.

HELP WITH ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

HELP WITH ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY Writing an argumentative essay is an art. One confident opinion is not enough to create an effective argue or prove much. Straightforward logic is also not enough to communicate an idea or to convince others of something. If you need help with argumentative essay, you have to remember that your primary goal is present a strong argument and to sway your audience to accept your point of view as their own. Take advantage of looking around, reading recent studies of the subject, researching others and opposing viewpoints. And last but not least to evaluate your own beliefs as a writer if they are true to life or simply inherited, taken or â€Å"stolen† from others without questioning.   If you are willing to evaluate the level of your personal knowledge on a specific topic, put yourself together and write a good argumentative essay. Spend more time reading and researching and become a bigger expert of the problem, issue or subject. And remember to avoid the topics that cannot be won over. HELP WITH ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY Argumentative essay essential is its leading tone. To create this leading tone accent you need to find a solid position in representing a certain point of view. Support this point of view with several truthful arguments or facts. Avoid using too much personal or external opinion. If you need help with argumentative essay, weve got professionals for you. Your major goal as an author of argumentative essay must be ability to proper reasoning. See as you your argumentative essay flows as a water while you reason arguments, create inducting followed by naturally logic conclusions. Prove writing used assertions and the proposed theories. Keep in mind that used reasons and conclusions without any written prove may be considered unsubstantial.    Argumentative essay format follows strict essay structure that includes: 1) clear statement that reveals the significance or importance of the discussed opinion; 2) present information that has direct connection to the phenomenon; 3) use reliable data to help your reader to accept and to agree with the presented information source.