Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart Goals are helpful in life to make one work harder at the wanted task; however, too much of anything is not helpful at all and can turn into an obsession. Also, one must realize change is inevitable. Living your entire life based on trying not to be like someone is not beneficial as proven in Chinua Achebe‚ ¡Ã‚‚ ¯s, Things Fall Apart and having the fear of change will cause one to live in fear forever. The protagonist, Okonkwo, has strong characteristics that make him successful and earn many honor titles. Unfortunately, he does have major character flaws that lead to his demise.One of his major character flaws that I noticed was his obsession with trying to be better than his father was. Now, those characteristics are beneficial to have because it allows one to strive harder for specific goals. One of my main motivations in life is to become successful so I will never have to struggle like my parents did.English: Igbo Ukwu pendant.Just as Okonkwo did not want to be like his father, Nwoye did not want to be like Okonkwo. Nwoye possessed traits that Okonkwo did not such as gentleness, forgiveness, and acceptance. Okonkwo saw these as signs of weakness. "Okonkwo never showed any emotion openly, unless it be the emotion of anger. To show affection was a sign of weakness; the only thing worth demonstrating was strength" (Achebe 28). Okonkwo considered Nwoye to be lazy and wanted him to be a success like himself. "Okonkwo wanted his son to be a great farmer and a great man. I will not have a son who cannot hold up his head in the gathering of the clan. I would sooner strangle him with my own hands" (Achebe 33). This is an example of the difference in personal...

Whether to Use Whether or If

Whether to Use Whether or If Whether to Use Whether or If Whether to Use Whether or If By Mark Nichol Sometimes, when it comes to deciding between using the word whether and employing the word if, the correct choice is obvious: â€Å"I don’t know if to turn the oven knob left or right† is obviously wrong, but the almost-identical statement â€Å"I don’t know if I should turn the oven knob left or right† is acceptable. However, because if implies probability, and whether indicates a choice between alternatives, in formal writing, the latter is more appropriate. Similarly, â€Å"I don’t remember if I turned the oven off† is correct, but because â€Å"I don’t remember whether I turned the oven off† more clearly expresses that two alternatives exist, it is better in formal contexts. â€Å"Turn the oven off if you are leaving† is a conditional sentence it involves probability, not choice and therefore if is correct. But â€Å"Turn the oven off whether or not you are leaving† conveys two alternatives, so whether is better. Note also the insertion of the phrase â€Å"or not† into the sentence: When the sense of whether is â€Å"regardless of the possible alternatives,† include the phrase. However, in such constructions as â€Å"I don’t remember whether I turned the oven off,† because whether already has a sense of â€Å"yes or no,† â€Å"or not† is redundant. The phrase â€Å"as to whether† to mean â€Å"about whether,† as in â€Å"I am unclear as to whether a decision has been made,† is correct, but it’s an unnecessary formality; â€Å"about whether† will do. The phrase is also somewhat pedantic in constructions such as â€Å"The question as to whether it will do any good hasn’t been answered.† Simplify to â€Å"Whether it will do any good hasn’t been determined.† When whether follows a noun such as decision, issue, or question, it should do just that, without the word of intervening, if the phrase appears in a sentence such as â€Å"They will make a decision whether we’re there or not.† (â€Å"Or not† is necessary here because the sense of whether is â€Å"regardless.†) But if the sentence structure is something like â€Å"It’s an issue of whether they’re qualified† (here, â€Å"or not† is superfluous), of is integral. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Classes and Types of PhrasesConfusing "Passed" with "Past"Practice or Practise?

Young Adult Couples' Decision Making Regarding Emergency Contraceptive Essay

Young Adult Couples' Decision Making Regarding Emergency Contraceptive Pills - Essay Example The work was published in the journal of nursing scholarship in 2011(Beaulieu et al.). The concern over the presence of cases of unwanted pregnancies motivated the study regarding the reluctance of young couples in using Emergency contraceptive pills. The researchers constructed sets of salient conditions to guide the research. These conditions touch on contraceptive use, decision making among couples, views between men and women over the use of ECPs, a woman’s autonomy, and relationship power. To enhance the validity and credibility of the study, the researchers employed the use of face to face interview as a research method. Qualitative research was most appropriate for this social research (Weinberg, 2002). Open ended questions were employed to collect data which comprised of personal views. Despite the availability of other research method, the researcher chose face to face interview. This was recommendable because this method enables the research to create a rapport with participants. The authors have clearly stated objectives of the study using an explanatory title, in the abstract, introduction and through the arguments stated in the report. The title briefly summarizes the whole topic. By reading the topic, a reader automatically gets a good snapshot of the entire study. The authors introduce the topic of unwanted pregnancies by providing definitions and reasons for its occurrences. They later state the reasons why it was necessary to explore this subject, and the necessary steps and methodology utilized during the study. He also introduces all concepts discussed in the report clearly using simple language. All the supporting literature is recent, hence, relating the issue with current discussions and ongoing debate regarding contraceptive use. They also state the importance of this study by stating the concerns surrounding the issue. Despite the fact that ECPs safely prevent unwanted pregnancies, it is confusing why young couples refrain from us ing them. These contraceptives also suit the needs of young people and are available for their use. So it remains unclear why young people do not avail themselves for their use. This study was different from past studies because past studies centered on women as the primary decision makers of regarding contraceptive use. However, this study took a different perspective of focusing on the couple, and not just women. Couple dynamics looks at the dominance of men in reproductive health decision making. Men dominate these decisions because they too, do not want unplanned pregnancies and experience the pressure for sex. To give the article more credibility, information is provided from other fields that relate to the study. Information is concerned with developmental antecedents, which influence decision making in relationships. In this analysis, the authors connect the article theme to other factors that are fundamental to providing more insight to readers as to the importance of the st udy (Beaulieu et al., 2011). The article is written in simple and clear language, which makes it easy to read and understand for anyone with basic education. The author has portrayed facts in an organized and clear manner, supporting every argument with appropriate resources. These resources provide in depth information on the subject and prove the information’s credibility. The article has been organized into section, each section covering a specific aspect of the study. In addition, there is congruence among different sections. All the sections serve to build up arguments that support the study. Right from the abstract and the introduction, the author has introduced participants in the study; mentioning the people concerned over the issue, past studies and reports over the issue, p

Asset Management Discussion Post 6 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Asset Management Discussion Post 6 - Coursework Example For purposes of recording keeping, a broker may inquire about the customer’s name, address, and date of birth, driver’s license, employment status, annual income, and net worth. This information helps to verify identification of the client and check whether the client appears in any known or suspected terrorists groups or agencies. Other questions would be whether a brokerage firm and their annual income employ them. Details of telephone number and account investment objectives are also crucial questions. This information must be obtained in good faith but if the customer neglects to provide such information then a broker can break the rule of good faith in obtaining such information. As a broker, questions asked must be periodically repeated to check accuracy over a certain period. According to the SECs, rules every brokerage firm is required to send information obtained from a client periodically for verification (Markham, 2014). There are certain characteristics that a client must possess for the investment to make sense. The main characteristic of the client is the suitability for investments. The broker might inquire about the income of the client and their net worth. The broker may inquire about security holdings, risk tolerance, and investment objectives of the client. All this is contents that must be there for one to be deemed suitable to create a portfolio in any

Outliers the Story of Success Essay Example for Free

Outliers the Story of Success Essay Outliers: The story of success by Malcolm Gladwell is a very interesting book with realistic contents that I will be applying in my personal and professional life in years to come. I use the term interesting in a sense that not only it is a quick read but it actually provides a method behind the madness of success. The biggest point that the book makes and I don’t agree fully but to a certain degree that there is no such thing as a self made man. Right place, right time, right talent in my eyes are the powerful variables that influence as well as motivate the success of a human being. In order for the chemistry of these variables to work right one has to have a desire to capitalize on these variables in order to be successful. What I mean by desire is hard work and dedication, a relentless want to be perfect, to be successful, and to be an outlier. Like I mentioned above one has to be at the right place at the right time and a will to be successful. I have been in the financial industry for a little over fifteen years with the last seven years in a leadership position. The last few years have allowed me opportunities over time to acquire and develop talent. Over the years I have seen good talent go to waste because the individual would not capitalize on the time, place, and resources available to be successful. Majority of times these individuals would not put in the time to be successful. On the other side of the argument the talented individuals who are successful were the first ones in and last ones out. They were always willing to try new things, were flexible to support the business by embracing change, they were willing to work long hours, and had this enthusiastic drive to â€Å"GET BETTER† at all times and under all circumstances. I have to agree with the ten thousand hour rule that the author talks about especially when he uses the Beatles as an example. In my humble opinion the Beatles are a great example but they are one of many as the ten thousand hour rule is true for all the talent that is out there whether you look at entertainment, sports, corporate world, or entrepreneurship. In others words one has to pay their dues, they have to do their time, they have to stick it out and while doing so they have grow and get better but above all they have to learn from their mistakes and make adjustments as needed, the word strategy comes to mind. As per the National Federation of State High School Association one million high school kids participate in football, one out of seventeen play college football. As per the National Collegiate Athletic Association nine in ten housand high school senior football players eventually end up in the National Football League. In the 2012 National Football League Draft, out of the one million students who participated in high school football only two hundred and fifty three players were selected. As a kid they had dreams to play football and they achieve their dreams by working hard, sometimes studying hard as well, putting in the hours by practicing longer than anybody else around them, learning, understanding, and practicing new plays. As a teenager their lives revolve around football once the love for the game has been developed and it is deep enough for them to work hard at representing their high school with new dreams of playing for a good college or university. So essentially out of millions of kids in America who have a dream to play professional football, thousands make it to colleges and universities with football on their mind. They still have to put in the time, the hours, they have to pay their dues to be successful because the dreams just got bigger as in the National Football League. Out of these few thousand kids and their dreams only a few hundred will be selected to be a part of the National Football League. I can go on and on about any of the professional sports and the success stories behind them or the stories about the shattered dreams based on poor choices but I am not going to; instead I will agree with all the points the author makes in his book. If you don’t put in the time you are not going to be successful no matter what kind of talent you have. If you are than it has to be a pure stroke of luck. The one point that I will not agree with the author is his theory of the self made man. A self made man has the discipline and the drive to capitalize and maximize his potential, his opportunity, the time, the place, and the luck effectively and efficiently. This discipline and drive is what makes him a self made man. Case in point Troy Aikman versus Quincy Carter of the Dallas Cowboys. They both played for the same team at its peak, both of them were early draft picks; both of them had promising baseball careers before they chose football over baseball. One is a hall of famer worth millions and is still going strong in his post football career the other one is an independent coach with a long history of arrest records. Did Aikman put in more time than Carter or was Carter less talented than Aikman? I would agree with the later because Aikman capitalized on his natural ability to throw football with his drive to succeed and is still going on. Carter on the other hand did not capitalize to be successful by making poor choices and not learning from his mistakes or in words he did not embrace change or remember the word strategy mentioned above? Quincy Carter simply did not change his strategy in life. Finally I would rate the book as an eight on a scale of ten with ten being the best. In closing I would like to point out that you don’t have to be Jewish or an immigrant to be successful you have to have the drive, the desire, the need to be successful. In order to do so you have to maximize your potential and opportunity effectively and efficiently keeping in mind that it was your potential that granted you the opportunity. Be willing to change by embracing it and learning from it.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier :: essays research papers

Sir Wilfrid Laurier The first French Canadian to become prime minister of Canada was Wilfrid Laurier. Although French was his native tongue, he became a master of the English language. This and his picturesque personality made him popular throughout Canada, and he led the young country in a 15-year period of great development. Wilfrid Laurier was born in St-Lin, Quebec, and studied law at McGill University. After three years in the Quebec legislature, he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 1874. There he rose rapidly to leadership. Although he was a French Canadian and a Roman Catholic, he was chosen leader of the Liberal party in 1887. Nine years later he became prime minister. He was knighted in 1897. "Build up Canada" were the watchwords of Laurier's government. Laurier was loyal to Great Britain, sent Canadian volunteers to help in the Boer War, established a tariff favorable to British goods, and worked to strengthen the ties between the two countries. But he saw the British Empire as a worldwide alliance of free and equal nations, and he opposed every attempt to limit Canada's freedom. Laurier's liberal immigration policy brought hundreds of thousands of settlers to the western provinces. He reduced postal rates, promoted the building of railroads needed for national expansion, and appointed a commission to regulate railroad rates. After 15 years in office his government was defeated, presumably on the issue of reciprocal trade with the United States. Laurier believed, however, that his political defeat was caused primarily by opponents in Ontario who considered him too partial to Roman Catholic interests in Quebec. Prior to World War I, Laurier tried forcefully to support the formation of a Canadian navy. His own Liberal party defeated this measure, however, and Canada entered the war without a fleet of its own. During the early years of World War I, Laurier supported the war policy of Sir Robert Borden's Conservative government. In 1917 he refused to join a coalition government that was formed to uphold conscription. Laurier felt that he could not back a measure so unpopular in the province of Quebec. Wilfrid Laurier's regime lasted 15 years. It was one of renewed growth and prosperity. The Manitoba School Question was promptly hushed up by new legislation enacted by the province in accordance with a compromise worked out with Ottawa. To his Cabinet Laurier drew some of the most capable leaders from every part of Canada. Business throughout the world was on an upswing, and the Laurier government was determined to get in on the action. The demand for Canadian wheat abroad encouraged immigration, and immigration in turn

Performance management or performance evaluation Essay

The basic aim of performance management is to create an environment for the employees where they can work at their best. It begins when a particular job is defined whereas it ends when the employee quits from the organization and performance management basically serves as a replacement of the traditional appraisal system. There are certain advantages of performance management and the most important one is the goal of developing clear job descriptions for the employees that can be easily comprehended by them. The second advantage is that it helps the employer to hire the best candidates for the job that suits them and at the same time, performance management helps them to negotiate with the employees on various issues. When the employee is finally hired, he can be provided with necessary training followed by the feedback of the coach that enable organization to develop sessions in which issues regarding performance development can be discussed and according to the results of the performance of the employees, the remuneration package can be designed. Moreover, performance management also provides various career opportunities for the employees and can also provide assistance when conducting exit interviews to know why the employees choose to leave the organization. The concept of annual performance is a bit different from that of performance management. When managing other people, the manager has to conduct performance appraisals in order to know how the employees are performing and this can help motivate the employees to work well in future. Annual performance is basically done to evaluate the performance of the employee and to know how well they have worked throughout the year and the contributions that they have made for the progress of the organization. It not only helps in the development of the staff but it also improves the communication between the staff and the managers, however annual performance has some disadvantages as well. When conducting performance appraisals, employees might ask for feedbacks from their friends in the organization who are more likely to give positive feedbacks and may avoid any negative comments of the employee. Moreover, when conducting appraisals the companies often send evaluations to the raters without telling them how to accurately do the appraisal and without advance notice. (Leat, 2001). Reference Leat,M. (2001). Exploring Employee Relations. Butterworth-Heinemann.