Immigration A Long Time - 874 Words

For a long time, the issue of immigrants has generated debate amongst people in the United States. Notably two groups have emerged with regard to the issue; for some, immigrants are considered a threat. They believe that the disadvantages associated with immigrants outweigh the advantages, thus border restrictions should be enforced. They feel that immigrants pose unnecessary competition in the job market, thus reducing their chances of being employed. This might in turn escalate the crime rates, because of impoverished immigrants. Additionally, the national identity may be affected, leading to gradual disappearance of American identity. In contrast, other Americans feel that the immigrants could reflect America’s future positively. People thinking along this perspective feel that immigrants can promote the economy through business ownership; this translates to creation of new job opportunities for Americans. Furthermore, such people believe that the United States is likely to benefit from the new innovative ideas of immigrants; this in turn boosts and propel s America to new heights in terms of education systems as cited by â€Å"The Hub Nation†, â€Å"Immigrants benefit America because they study and work hard† (Economist 1). From 2000 to 2014, researchers are studying how immigration affects positively in the United States’ education and economy and the results points out that there is not big change overtime. Over the years, the immigration problem has been considered a majorShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Immigration On The Host Economy1502 Words   |  7 PagesThe aim of this literature review is to provide an overview of the various effects of immigration on the host economy. The consequences I will be focusing on are on employment, inflation, wage level, economic growth and the welfare system. I am also going to examine what effect the skill level of immigrants has on the economic development of the host country. Then we will concentrate on papers about the situation in particular countries. There is plenty of research available about that particularRead MoreHow Does Immigration Affect The United States Economy Essay1711 Words   |  7 PagesWeilin Ju, Baoxin Yang Dr. Dean He Commerce and Economic Development November 27, 2016 How does immigration affect the United States economy Abstract: Foreign-born workers have dramatically increased in the Unites States due to immigration. How does immigration affect the United States economy can be researched by finding the difference in productivity and income per worker between states which have large inflows of foreign-born worker and those without many immigrants. Official data shows that statesRead MoreImmigration Policy And The Current Illegal Immigration Crisis1178 Words   |  5 PagesFor quite a long time U.S. immigration policy and the current illegal immigration crisis has been one reason for political debates among democrats and republicans, as policymakers address problems related to U.S. labor demand and border security. Policymakers from both political parties have attempted to find a solution to the illegal immigration crisis and have currently submitted several immigration proposals before the senate. Some of these proposals are: â€Å"The McCain-Kennedy Secure AmericaRead MoreImmigration Research : The United States Essay739 Words   |  3 PagesImmigration Research Essay Will Leach Mrs. Bademan 1/2A In recent years, millions of female middle eastern immigrants have fled the oppressive regimes from which they came from to seek safety in the U.S. During this seemingly abrupt process. However, many have found themselves sandwiched between the barriers of internal country complications and external country complications. These barriers are evident in the other side of the sky, when the farah is attempting to leave her home country but she canRead MoreImmigration Reform : Legal Or Illegal1520 Words   |  7 PagesImmigration Reform: Legal or Illegal Vigorous debates about immigration policy have been part of U.S. history since the first settlers began arriving from Europe (Novas, 1994; Kessler, 2001; Reichman, 2006). Those who favor more stringent restrictions on entry to the country, and greater penalties for violating those restrictions, argue that it is necessary for the safety and economic security of our nation and to preserve jobs for U.S. born workers (Camarota, 2011). Those who favor more leniencyRead MoreIllegal Immigration1570 Words   |  7 Pages English 102 25 June 2013 Illegal Immigration Illegal Immigration has been a problem for a very long time now in the United States. It has also been a very controversial subject for as long as I can remember. Illegal immigration goes back hundreds and thousands of years. Living in such an anti-illegal immigration state has been tough, there is always something about illegal immigration laws going on, and politics talking about it and the saddest part families being separated, daily. Read MoreThe Immigration Problem Of The United States1429 Words   |  6 PagesThe Solution to Our Immigration Problem: Expedite the Process The United States of America is facing a huge dilemma. This is the current immigration process and legalization of illegal migrants. It seems like nowadays immigration is all we hear about and how it is the only policy on which our population cares about. Which is sensible, because of all the refugees coming into America seeking asylum from their war torn countries. America has always been a glittering beacon to immigrants in foreignRead MoreCan A Green Card Holder Get A Visa For A Spouse?853 Words   |  4 Pagesholder get a Visa 1. Can a Green Card Holder Get a Visa for a Spouse? U.S Immigration Center 1623 Central Ave, Suite 145, Cheyenne, WY 82001 1-888-943-4625 support@usimmigration-center.com 2. Can a Green Card Holder Get a Visa for a Spouse? As a permanent resident, who can petition for your spouse to get a U.S. visa - ultimately a Green card - but it s much easier and faster if you become a U.S. citizen first. U.S. Immigration Center 3. Can a permanent resident get a visa for his or her spouse? ForeignRead MoreEssay on Immigration Issues Between UU And Mexico1256 Words   |  6 PagesUnauthorized immigration has been a major political issue at least for the past 30 years, and is one of the most difficult to resolve. The problem relates to both economic and business realities of the U.S. and Mexico. There may be anywhere between 4 to 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. For undocumented immigrants from Mexico, population experts have discovered that there is a constant flow of both immigrants into the US and leaving the US . This is the primary reasonRead MoreImmigration And The United States965 Words   |  4 Pages Immigration is a highly controversial and big problem in the United States today. â€Å"While some characterize our immigration crisis as solely an issue of the 11 to 12 million unauthorized immigrants living in this country, our problems extend beyond the number of undo cumented people to a broader range of issues. The lack of a comprehensive federal solution has created a slew of lopsided, enforcement-only initiatives that have cost the country billions of dollars while failing to end unauthorized

The Forbidden Game The Hunter Chapter 1 Free Essays

Jenny glanced back over her shoulder. They were still behind her, on the other side of the street but definitely following. They matched their pace to hers; when she slowed to pretend to look in a store window, they slowed, too. We will write a custom essay sample on The Forbidden Game: The Hunter Chapter 1 or any similar topic only for you Order Now There were two of them, one dressed in a black T-shirt and leather vest, with a black bandanna on his head, the other in a long flannel shirt, black-and-blue plaid, unbuttoned. Also unwashed. They both looked like trouble. The game store was a few blocks ahead. Jenny quickened her pace a little. This wasn’t the best neighborhood in town, and she’d come here specifically because she didn’t want any of her friends to see her. She hadn’t realized, though, that Eastman Avenue had gotten quite so rough. After the last riots the police had cleared things up, but many of the vandalized stores still had boarded windows, which gave Jenny a creeping feeling between her shoulder blades. They were like bandaged eyes turned toward her. Not at all the place to be at dusk-but it wasn’t dusk yet, Jenny told herself fiercely. If only those two guys would turn off onto another street. Her heart was beating unpleasantly hard. Maybe they had turned†¦. She slowed again, her feet in their lace-up canvas Tretons making no sound on the dirty sidewalk. From behind and to the left she heard the flat smack of running shoes and the clack of bootheels. The footsteps slowed. They were still there. Don’t look back, she told herself. Think. You have to cross over at Joshua Street to get to the store-but that means crossing left, to their side of the street. Bad idea, Jenny. While you’re crossing they can catch up to you. All right, then, she’d turn off before that, she’d go right on this next street up here-what was it? Montevideo. She’d go right on Montevideo, and then she’d find a store to duck into, a place to hide until the two guys had passed by. The Tower Records on the corner of Eastman and Montevideo was no longer in business. Too bad. Back straight, stubbornly pretending she was perfectly calm, Jenny walked by the darkened windows. She caught a glimpse of herself in one of them: a slender girl with hair that Michael had once said was the color of honey in sunlight. Her eyebrows were straight, like two decisive brush strokes, and her forest-green eyes were dark as pine needles and even more serious than usual. She looked worried. She turned right at the cross street. As soon as she was out of sight of Eastman Avenue, she stopped and stood as still as a deer, backpack swinging from her hand, eyes desperately scanning Montevideo for cover. Directly opposite her was a vacant lot and beside that a Thai restaurant, closed. Behind her the looming bulk of the record store presented a blank wall to the street all the way down to the park. No cover. Nowhere to hide. Jenny’s neck prickled and her little fingers began to tingle. She turned toward Eastman and hugged the wall, tossing back her hair to listen. Were those footsteps or just the sick thudding of her own heart? She wished that Tom were with her. But of course that was the whole point. Tom couldn’t be with her, since it was his party she was shopping for. It was supposed to have been a pool party. Jenny Thornton was known for her pool parties, and here in southern California late April was a perfectly reasonable time to have one. The temperature often hovered in the mid-seventies at night, and the Thornton pool glowed like a huge blue-green jewel in the backyard, giving off little wisps of steam from its surface. The perfect setting for an outdoor barbecue. Then three days ago the cold snap had come †¦ and Jenny’s plans were ruined. Nobody except polar bears swam in this kind of weather. She’d meant to rethink things, to come up with some other brilliant idea, but it had been one of those weeks. Summer’s fourteen-year-old schnauzer had finally had to be put to sleep, and Summer had needed Jenny for moral support. Dee had taken a kung fu exam, and Jenny had gone to cheer her on. Audrey and Michael had had a fight, and Zach had had the flu†¦. And then suddenly it had been Friday afternoon, with just hours to go before the party and everyone expecting something special-and nothing set up. Fortunately an idea had come to her in the middle of computer applications class. A game. People gave murder mystery parties and Pictionary parties and things like that. Why not a game tonight? It would have to be a very special game, of course. Something chic enough for Audrey, sexy enough for Tom, and even scary, if possible, to keep Dee’s interest. Something seven people could play at once. Vague notions had run through Jenny’s head of the only really exciting games she’d ever played as a child. Not the ones the adults arranged, but the kind you devised on your own once they were safely out of the house. Truth or dare and spin the bottle. Some combination of those two-only more sophisticated, of course, more suited to juniors in high school-would be ideal. That was what had brought her to Eastman Avenue. She’d known perfectly well it wasn’t the best neighborhood, but she’d figured that at least none of her friends would see her and find out about this last-minute scramble for entertainment. Jenny had gotten herself into this mess; she would get herself out of it. Only now the mess was getting bigger than she’d bargained for. She could definitely hear footsteps now. They sounded very close and were approaching quickly. Jenny looked down Montevideo again, her mind taking in irrelevant details with obsessive precision. The record store wall was not truly blank after all. There was a mural on it, a mural of a street that looked much like Eastman Avenue before the riots. Strange-parts of the mural looked real. Like that storefront painted in the middle, the one with the sign Jenny couldn’t quite make out. It had a door that looked real: The handle seemed three dimensional. In fact†¦ Startled, Jenny took a step toward it. The knob appeared to change shape as she moved, like any three-dimensional object. She looked more closely and found she could see the difference in texture between the wooden door and the painted concrete wall. The door was real. It couldn’t be-but it was. There was a door stuck in the middle of the mural. Why, Jenny didn’t know. There wasn’t time to wonder about it. Jenny needed to get off the street, and if this door was unlocked †¦ Impulsively she took hold of the knob. It was cool as china and it turned in her hand. The door swung inward. Jenny could see a dimly lit room. One instant of hesitation, then she stepped inside. Just as she did, she consciously took in the sign above the door. It read: â€Å"More Games.† I here was a push-button lock on the inside doorknob, and Jenny depressed it. There were no windows looking out on Montevideo, of course, so she couldn’t see whether the two guys had followed her. Still, she had a tremendous feeling of relief. No one was going to find her in here. Then she thought, More Games? She had often seen signs reading â€Å"More Books† in the arty, shabby used bookstores around here, signs with an arrow pointing up a narrow staircase to another floor. But how could there be More Games when there hadn’t been any games at all yet? Just the fact that it happened to be a game store she’d stumbled onto was strange, but very convenient. She could do her shopping while she waited for the tough guys to go away. The owner would probably be glad to have her; with that mural camouflaging the door they couldn’t do much business here. As she looked around she saw just how strange the store really was. Even stranger than the usual odd shops around Eastman Avenue. The room was lit by one small window and several old-fashioned lamps with stained-glass shades. There were shelves and tables and racks like any other store, but the objects on them were so exotic that Jenny felt as if she’d stepped into another world. Were they all games? They couldn’t be. Jenny’s mind filled suddenly with wild images from The Arabian Nights, images of foreign bazaars where anything-anything-might be sold. She stared around at the shelves in amazement. God, what a weird chessboard. Triangular. Could anybody really play on a board like that? And there was another one, with strange, squat chessmen carved of rock crystal. It looked more than antique -it looked positively ancient. So did a metalwork box covered with arabesques and inscriptions. It was made of brass or maybe bronze, decorated with gold and silver and Arabic writing. Whatever was in that box, Jenny knew she couldn’t afford it. Some of the games she could identify, like the mahogany mah-jongg table with ivory tiles spilled carelessly on the green felt top. Others, like a narrow enameled case crawling with hieroglyphics, and a red box embossed with a gold Star of David in a circle, she had never seen before. There were dice of every size and description: some twelve-sided, some shaped like pyramids, and some ordinary cubical ones made of odd materials. There were card decks fantastically colored like illuminated manuscripts. Strangest of all, the weird antique things were intermixed with weird ultramodern things. A cork bulletin board on the back wall sported signs reading: â€Å"Flame.† â€Å"Rant.† â€Å"Rave.† â€Å"Surf the Edge.† â€Å"Cheap Thrills.† Cyberpunk, Jenny thought, vaguely recognizing the terms. Maybe they sold computer games here, too. From a boom box on the counter came 120-beat-a-minute acid house music. This, thought Jenny, is a very peculiar place. It felt so-cut off-from everything outside. As if time didn’t exist here, or ran differently somehow. Even the dusty sunlight slanting in that one window seemed wrong. Jenny would have sworn the light should have been coming from the other direction. A chill went through her. You’re mixed up, she told herself. Disoriented. And no wonder, after the day you’ve had-after the week you’ve had. Just concentrate on finding a game, if there’s anything here that you can actually play. There was another sign on the board, a sort of square: W E L C O M E T O M Y W O R L D Jenny tilted her head, examining it. What did the letters say? Oh, of course, she had it now. Welcome†¦ â€Å"Can I help you?† The voice spoke from right behind her. Jenny turned-and lost her breath. Eyes. Blue eyes. Except that they weren’t just blue, they were a shade Jenny couldn’t describe. The only place she’d seen a blue like that was once when she’d happened to wake up at the precise instant of dawn. Then, between the window curtains, she’d glimpsed an unbelievable, luminous color, which had lasted only a second before fading to the ordinary blue of the sky. No boy should have eyes as blue as that, and especially not surrounded by lashes so heavy they seemed to weigh his eyelids down. This boy had the most startling coloring she’d ever seen. His eyelashes were black, but his hair was white-true white, the color of frost or tendrils of mist. He was †¦ well, beautiful. But in the most exotic, uncanny way imaginable, as if he’d just stepped in from another world. Jenny’s reaction was instant, total, and absolutely terrifying. She forgot Tom’s existence. I didn’t know people could look like that. Real people, I mean. Maybe he’s not real. God, I’ve got to stop staring – But she couldn’t. She couldn’t help herself. Those eyes were like the blue at the core of a flame. No-like a mile-deep lake set in a glacier. No †¦ The guy turned and went to the counter. The boom box clicked off. Silence roared in Jenny’s ears. â€Å"Can I help you?† he repeated, politely and indifferently. Heat rose to Jenny’s cheeks. Ohmigod, what he must think of me. The moment those eyes had turned away from her, she had come out of it, and now that he was farther away, she could look at him objectively. Not something from another world. Just a guy about her own age: lean, elegant, and with an unmistakable air of danger about him. His hair was white-blond, cropped close at the sides, long in back and so long over the forehead that it fell into his eyes. He was dressed all in black in a weird combination of cyberpunk and Byronic poet. And he’s still gorgeous, Jenny thought, but who cares? Honestly, you’d think I’d never seen a guy before. On Tom’s birthday, too – A flash of shame went through her. She’d better start her shopping or get out of here. The two alternatives seemed equally attractive-except that the tough guys might still be outside. â€Å"I want to buy a game,† she said, too loudly. â€Å"For a party-for my boyfriend.† He didn’t even blink at the word boyfriend; in fact, he looked more laconic than ever. â€Å"Be my guest,† he said. Then he seemed to rouse himself to make a sale. â€Å"Anything in particular?† â€Å"Well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"How about Senet, the Egyptian Game of the Dead?† he said, nodding at the enameled case with the hieroglyphics. â€Å"Or the I-ching? Or maybe you’d like to cast the runes.† He picked up a leather cup and shook it suggestively. There was a sound like rattling bones. â€Å"No, nothing like that.† Jenny was feeling distinctly unnerved. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but something about this guy sent whispers of alarm through her blood. Maybe it was time to go. â€Å"Well-there’s always the ancient Tibetan game of goats and tigers.† He gestured at a curiously carved bronze board with tiny figurines on it. â€Å"The fierce tigers, see, stalk the innocent little goats, and the innocent little goats try to run from the tigers. For two players.† â€Å"I-no.† Was he making fun of her? There was something to the twist of his mouth that made Jenny think yes. With dignity she said, â€Å"I was looking for-just a game that a lot of people can play at once. Like Pictionary or Outburst,† she added defiantly. â€Å"But since you don’t seem to have anything like that in the store-â€Å" â€Å"I see,† he said. â€Å"That kind of game.† Suddenly, looking at her sideways, he smiled. The smile unnerved Jenny more than anything yet. Definitely time to go, she thought. She didn’t care whether the tough guys were still outside. â€Å"Thank you,† she said with automatic politeness, and she turned to the door. â€Å"Mystery,† he said. His voice caught Jenny halfway across the room. She hesitated in spite of herself. What on earth did he mean? â€Å"Danger. Seduction. Fear.† Jenny turned back to face him, staring. There was something almost mesmerizing about his voice-it was full of elemental music, like water running over rock. â€Å"Secrets revealed. Desires unveiled.† He smiled at her and pronounced the last word distinctly: â€Å"Temptation.† â€Å"What are you talking about?† she said, tensed to hit him or run if he took one step toward her. He didn’t. His eyes were as innocently blue as Nordic fjords. â€Å"The Game, of course. That’s what you want, isn’t it? Something †¦ very special.† Something very special. Exactly what she’d thought herself. â€Å"I think,† she said slowly, â€Å"that I’d better-â€Å" â€Å"We do have something like that in stock,† he said. Now’s your chance, she told herself when he disappeared through a door into the back room. You can just walk out of here. And she was going to leave, she was just about to go, when he appeared again. â€Å"I think,† he said, â€Å"that this is what you’ve been looking for.† She looked at what he was holding, then up at his face. â€Å"You’ve got to be joking,† she said. The box was about the size and shape of a Monopoly game. It was white and glossy and there wasn’t a single word, line, or figure printed on it. A blank white box. Jenny waited for the punch line. There was something about it, though. The more she looked at that box, the more she felt†¦ â€Å"Could I see it?† she said. Touch it, was what she meant. For some reason she wanted to feel the weight of it in her hands, the sharpness of its corners in her palms. It was silly, but she did want to. She really wanted to. The guy leaned back, tilting the box between his own hands, gazing at its glossy top. Jenny noticed that there wasn’t a single fingerprint on the shiny finish, not so much as a smudge. She also noticed that his fingers were long and slender. And that he had a snake tattooed on his right wrist. â€Å"Well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he said. â€Å"I don’t know. On second thought, I’m not sure I can sell it to you after all.† â€Å"Why not?† â€Å"Because it really is special. Un-mundane. I can’t let it go to just anybody, or for just any reason. Maybe if you explained what it was for†¦ .† Why, he’s a tease, Jenny thought. Without in the least stopping being scared, or disturbed, or any of the other things she’d been since she’d come into this store, she started being amused as well. Wildly, inexplicably amused. Maybe if I looked like him, was that gorgeous, I’d be a tease, too, she thought. She said seriously, â€Å"It’s for a party tonight, for my boyfriend, Tom. He’s seventeen today. Tomorrow night we’ll have the big party-you know, with everybody invited, but tonight it’s just our group. Our crowd.† He tilted his head to one side. Light flashed off the earring he was wearing-a dagger or a snake, Jenny couldn’t tell which. â€Å"So?† â€Å"So I need something for us to do. You can’t just get seven people in a room, throw Doritos at them, and expect them to have a good time. I’ve screwed up massively by not getting organized until now-no real food, no decorations. And Tom-â€Å" The guy tilted the box again. Jenny watched its surface turn milky, then bright, then milky again. It was almost hypnotic. â€Å"And Tom will care?† he said, as if not believing it. Jenny felt defensive. â€Å"I don’t know-he might be disappointed. He deserves better, you see,† she added quickly. â€Å"He’s-† Oh, how to explain Tom Locke? â€Å"He’s-well, he’s incredibly handsome, and by the end of this year he’ll have lettered in three sports-â€Å" â€Å"I get it.† â€Å"No, you don’t,† Jenny said, horrified. â€Å"He’s not like that at all. Tom is wonderful. He’s just-so wonderful that sometimes it takes a little keeping up with him. And we’ve been together forever, and I love him, and I have since second grade. Okay?† Anger gave her courage, and she advanced a step toward the guy. â€Å"He is absolutely the best boyfriend in the world, and anybody who says he isn’t-† How to cite The Forbidden Game: The Hunter Chapter 1, Essay examples

Manage Human Resource Services Operations and Production

Question: Discuss about the Manage Human Resource Services for Operations and Production. Answer: Definition of Underperformance The negative deviation of work output of the employees from predetermined work standards in an organization is known as underperformance (Ramesh Vasuki, 2013). It is a workplace phenomenon in which the employee is unable to meet the job requirements. The performance level is not up to the mark. The various parameters of the job such as working results, quality of the job, productivity are not satisfied in the event of underperformance (Ramesh Vasuki, 2013). This phenomenon decreases the efficiency of the employees, and they are unable to produce optimum output. This makes the particular employee less valuable to the company. Causes of underperformance There may be several reasons for employee underperformance. It may be deliberate or non-voluntary. The major reasons are described below Lack of skills and expertise of the employees- The employees may not have sufficient talent to fulfill the requirements of the job (Amankwah-Amoah, Ifere Nyuur 2016). He may be unable to cope up with the demands of the job. Demoralization- The organizational work environment may not be good enough for the employee to deliver their best results (Kesten, 2012). The lack of motivation may cause the employees to perform inefficiently. Insufficient effort- The employees may not give required effort, and they may be too lazy to perform a job. The chances are that the employees do not follow organizational discipline, and they engage in workplace grapevine that causes negligence in the job (Mafini Pooe, 2013). Distractions- The increasing distractions in the workplace may cause the employees unable to concentrate on their work (Ramesh Vasuki, 2013). The lack of dedication, concentration, and engagement towards the job, hampers the performance of the employees. Case study Service provider In this case study, the onus of underperformance can be put on the service provider known as People Power as it was unable to deliver the required work outcomes. It was taking a long time to complete the recruitment process, which is affecting the smooth functioning of the company. The longer it takes to fill a particular position, the greater is the loss to the organization as there is a decreased productivity (Berman et al., 2015). The service provider is unable to complete the three mandatory reference checks, which shows the lack of time management and the lack of conformance to the organizational rules. Instead of focusing on their performances, they are providing some lame excuses by saying that the additional reference checks are proving to be a burden to them. There is poor coordination between the organization and the service provider, which is causing a great deal of confusion. The service provider is providing misleading information to the employees regarding the remunerat ion policy. This not only acts as a stumbling block for the potential candidates, but it also affects the brand image of the organization (Berman et al., 2015). There are no sufficient training procedures as specified in the SLA. These issues are causing a reduction in the motivational levels of the employees. All these factors affect the organizational productivity, which is causing a hindrance to the organizational success. Case study Line manager This case study discusses the "underperformance" of the sales managers. Their performance is not fulfilling the predetermined standards of the recruitment process. The single most important factor for the underperformance is the inability to follow the deadlines. They are unable to submit the candidate request forms within the stipulated time. They are also required to submit the personal details forms of the employees, which they are unable to do. It is an important aspect of the recruitment process to assess the background of the candidates. The inability to perform this task is resulting not so competent candidates in the organization, which is again deteriorating the organizational performance. The line managers are not adhering to the deadlines, and they are delaying the submission of the final selection checklist. This is causing a delay in the selection of the candidates and their subsequent joining. This is caused by the lack of training and lack of motivation. They are not p rovided any training regarding how to complete the checklist and hence they are unaware of the process (James Lucky, 2015). This also makes them feel that completing the checklist is an additional burden for them. This kind of delay is causing a delay in the closing of the open vacancies, which is ultimately affecting the productivity of the organization. Case study HR Officer This case study highlights the inability of the HR officer to deliver optimum performance in the workplace. His performance is deemed inadequate in the organization. This is measured by several parameters. He is required to provide correct information on compensation with benefits. However, he is failing to do so. He must give accurate advice on training and follow the organizational policy on performance management. However, he has not fulfilled these requirements and provided incorrect information as well not conformed to the organizational rules. He was not paying attention to the needs of the managers, and this made him unable to fulfill the needs of the customers. The HR officer is required to work in collaboration with the business managers so that the business goals are fulfilled (Monks et al., 2013). However, this was not the case. He was not improving the capability of the workforce, which was a serious performance breach. Managing Underperformance The process of underperformance can be managed effectively, which is best for the business and the employees. The underperformance of one employee or a group of employees can cause a reduction in the work performance of others (Fairwork.gov.au, 2016). This is the reasons the organization should take active steps in managing the issue Identification of the problem to understand the key reasons of the poor performance of the employees (gov.au, 2016). Assessment of the problem deals with parameters such as the seriousness of the issue, duration of the issue and the gap between expected/demonstrated performance (gov.au, 2016) . Face to face discussion with the concerned employee is required to clearly understand the nature of the problem and answer the questions- what, why, how and when (gov.au, 2016). Devising a suitable solution in consultation with the concerned employee. This should be done by exploring new ideas, emphasizing a common ground, focusing on positive outcomes and offering assistance (gov.au, 2016). Evaluate the performance of the employees after the improvements and continue providing encouragement and feedback. The poor performers should be carefully dealt with by reinforcing the worth of the job role that they are playing. The human resource department should design career development of the employees and provide them adequate training (Fairwork.gov.au, 2016). They should also convey the importance of performance expectations and interrelations with the organizational success. Termination of employment The organization holds the right to terminate an employee if he doesn't show any signs of improvement of performance even after training and performance improvement workshops (Steingold, 2015). The employers cannot perform unfair dismissals of the employees and under unreasonable or harsh situations. However, they can give reasons for dismissals and a chance to the employees to respond. Performance management activities An organization cannot afford to have poor performance management in the organization. The following steps should be taken to address the issue of underperformance Engage with development plan- The development plan of the employees should be an integral part of the performance management process. The development plan should identify various activities such as coaching, training, on the job learning, e-learning modules and others that could foster the performance of the employees. In the first case study, the service provider should be given adequate training about the timely completion of the recruitment by following all the specifications (Hallinan et al., 2016). The coordination process with the organization should be made clear to them, and their knowledge base regarding compensation and benefits should be evaluated (Berman et al., 2015). In the second case study, the line managers should be made aware of their development plans by showcasing the importance of adhering to the deadlines. Implementation of pay for performance- The compensation structure should be attractive enough to motivate the employees for enhanced performance (Bamberger Biron Meshoulam, 2014). The performance management process should be linked with the compensation management system. The introduction of incentive schemes as per performance levels would foster better employee performance. It would also give an idea to the employees that the compensation scheme is fair and recognizes their hard work. Creation of performance goals- In both the case studies, the employees didnt have any performance goals. It is important to outline the performance targets of the individual employees (Sharma Carney, 2012). It is also necessary to ask the employees about their requirement of new skills and subsequently taking an initiative to provide them the same. This would motivate them to work hard and constant improvement. Empowerment of the employees- The employees should be shown a bigger picture of their respective job roles. He should realize the importance of his individual job role and how it would affect the organizational performance (Saks Gruman, 2014). There should be employee engagement activities that would increase the motivation level of the employees (Saks Gruman, 2014). The employees should be passionate about their job and not just do them for the sake of completing them. They should be more involved with the organizational decision making so that they would feel that they are important in their respective organizations (Shields et al., 2015). They should be able to visualize the long term perspectives rather than only concerning about day to day activities. Timelines The performance management activities should adhere to the pre determined deadlines. The first step towards the performance management is the creation of the performance goals. It should start immediately after the appraisal process. The next step involves the development plans which would typically take one month. The execution of the development plan may take several months or up to one year. The third step that involves the implementation of attractive compensation structure would take around two months. The empowerment of the employees would take approximately six months to eight months. Integration Strategies The performance management activities should integrate smoothly with the values, policy and business ethics of the organization. The companys vision, values, and mission should be communicated well to the employees. There should be sufficient ways of improving the channels of communication in the workplace. The performance management activities would involve four types of integration with the organization such as functional, vertical, goals and human resources. The functional integration deals with bringing together the plans and policies of the functional departments of the departments (Turkulainen Ketokivi, 2012). The vertical integration consists of the alignment of the performance management objectives at the individual, team and the organizational levels (Rothaermel, 2015). The human resource integration consists of the effective combination of the performance management with the other subsets of the overall human resources function (Ulrich, 2013). The goal integration would in tegrate the performance management objectives with the aspirations of the managers as well as the vision of the organization (Zellweger et al., 2013). The performance management of the organization should undertake ethical ways of measuring the employee's performance which is by the organizational ethical guidelines. The implementation of the subsequently revised compensation structure satisfies the legal framework of the organization. It should follow the legal specifications of the particular country in which the organization is operating (Keller Yeaple 2013). Resources The two organizations in the two case study should utilize several organizational resources. There should be reduced working capital if the workforce meets the desired performance criteria. There would be increased demand for the training tools such as lecture rooms, seminar halls, presentation, training manuals and others (Salas et al., 2012). There would also be a requirement of the operational manuals and the policy documents of the company. There is a need to implement an evaluation process for determining the current compensation structure of the employees. There is also need to perform a feasibility study to understand the new incentive scheme. In the first case study, there should be the implementation of adequate human resource software which would make the work of the work easier. It would aid them to perform the recruitment process in an efficient manner. It would also enable them to perform all the three compulsory reference checks promptly. In the second case study, the t raining tools would be used for providing clarifications to the employees regarding operational processes. The resources required for enhancing the employee motivation level are an innovative strategy, sharing of the organizational vision, support from immediate supervisors and others. It is also useful to conduct motivational sessions which enhance the inspirational levels of the employees. Responsibilities The performance management is not an individual effort, and it requires the team work of several entities of the organization. The senior management must show enthusiasm in the process of performance management (Ulrich, 2013). They should be supportive of the new process of enhanced performance management and should communicate the same with the employees. The human resource manager should take key responsibilities in improving the performance of the concerned employees. In the given case studies, there were no evaluation mechanisms by the human resource managers that resulted in the low performance of the employees. They need to be accountable for their roles and find innovative methods to enhance the performance of the employees. The role of the immediate manager is also immense in this scenario. It is his inherent responsibility to reinforce as well as recognize the optimum performance of the employees (Bamberger, Biron Meshoulam, 2014). He should be responsible for the feedback and ratings in the performance reviews. They must involve in regular and short meetings to discuss the important milestones as well as accomplishments of the team members. Activity Timeline Strategy/application of policy (if relevant) Resources Responsible Person Creation of performance goals 25 days Goals integration Online (Suitable softwares) or Offline (Notepads) Immediate supervisor Engage with development plan 1-6 months Functional integration Training Tools, Presentation, Operational Manuals, Policy documents, Seminars HR Manager Implementation of pay for performance 2 months Human Resource Integration Evaluation of existing compensation packages Senior management and HR Empowerment 7 months Vertical integration Innovative strategy, support, motivational videos, inspirational sessions HR Department and Supervisor Conclusion The phenomenon of underperformance is a serious concern in the modern day performance. There are several driving forces behind the poor performance of the employees. The underperforming employees pose a serious threat to the organization. This is because these employees are not contributing fully to the organizational success. The backlog in their performance is impacting the overall functioning of the organizations. Hence, it is essential to manage the underperformance of the employees. This report gives a practical perspective of the issue through the application of the case studies. The action plan gives a detailed picture regarding the way the underperformances should be handled. References Amankwah-Amoah, J., Ifere, S. E., Nyuur, R. B. (2016). Human capital and strategic persistence: An examination of underperforming workers in two emerging economies.Journal of Business Research. Bamberger, P. A., Biron, M., Meshoulam, I. (2014).Human resource strategy: Formulation, implementation, and impact. Routledge. Berman, E. M., Bowman, J. S., West, J. P., Van Wart, M. R. (2015).Human resource management in public service: Paradoxes, processes, and problems. Sage Publications. fairwork.gov.au,. (2016).Welcome to the Fair Work Ombudsman website.Fair Work Ombudsman. Retrieved 28 August 2016, from https://www.fairwork.gov.au Hallinan, Z. P., Forrest, A., Uhlenbrauck, G., Young, S., McKinney Jr, R. (2016). Barriers to Change in the Informed Consent Process: A Systematic Literature.IRB,38(3). James, O., Lucky, O. (2015). The Impact of Training on Employees Job Erformance: An Empirical Study of Selected Organizations in Warri, Delta State.Journal of Policy and Development Studies,9, 111-125. Keller, W., Yeaple, S. R. (2013). The gravity of knowledge.The American Economic Review,103(4), 1414-1444. Kesten, J. (2012). Managerial entrenchment and shareholder wealth revisited: Theory and evidence from a recessionary financial market. Mafini, C., Pooe, D. R. (2013). The relationship between employee satisfaction and organisational performance: Evidence from a South African government department.SA Journal of Industrial Psychology,39(1), 00-00. Monks, K., Kelly, G., Conway, E., Flood, P., Truss, K., Hannon, E. (2013). Understanding how HR systems work: the role of HR philosophy and HR processes.Human resource management journal,23(4), 379-395. Ramesh, G., Vasuki, K. (2013). Addressing Employee's Underperformance by Nurturing a Positive Work environment.Journal of Commerce and Management Thought,4(1), 55-69. Rothaermel, F. T. (2015).Strategic management. McGraw-Hill. Saks, A. M., Gruman, J. A. (2014). What do we really know about employee engagement?.Human Resource Development Quarterly,25(2), 155-182. Salas, E., Tannenbaum, S. I., Kraiger, K., Smith-Jentsch, K. A. (2012). The science of training and development in organizations: What matters in practice.Psychological science in the public interest,13(2), 74-101. Sharma, P., Carney, M. (2012). Value creation and performance in private family firms: Measurement and methodological issues.Family Business Review,25(3), 233-242. Shields, J., Brown, M., Kaine, S., Dolle-Samuel, C., North-Samardzic, A., McLean, P., ... Plimmer, G. (2015).Managing Employee Performance Reward: Concepts, Practices, Strategies. Cambridge University Press. Steingold, F. S. (2015).The employer's legal handbook: Manage your employees workplace effectively. Nolo. Turkulainen, V., Ketokivi, M. (2012). Cross-functional integration and performance: what are the real benefits?.International Journal of Operations Production Management,32(4), 447-467. Ulrich, D. (2013).Human resource champions: The next agenda for adding value and delivering results. Harvard Business Press. Zellweger, T. M., Nason, R. S., Nordqvist, M., Brush, C. G. (2013). Why do family firms strive for nonfinancial goals? An organizational identity perspective.Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice,37(2), 229-248.

Short Story free essay sample

Moms word stuck me like a lightning bolt. I was so shocked that I forgot to give reaction to what I had Just heard. Maybe because a part of me still believed this couldnt be true. Well, was It a joke? I looked back Into moms eyes. She was still looking at me with pitiful look in her eyes, which showed me sympathy. I wanted to ask her if she was Joking, but then I realized it would be hard to bear the pain if she said no. Instead I wanted for her to say something else or give a reaction. After a few seconds of dead silence and gazing into each others eyes, mom finally uttered a few rods. Im sorry Angelina but thats how it is, Saline has to move because her mom found a Job somewhere else, people dont always last at one place for too long. We will write a custom essay sample on Short Story or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Elf her parents want to move we can do nothing about it. Mom Washington and now I was sure of that. The pain immediately ran through me. Saline had been the best friend Eve ever had. She supported me through everything. They had been together since Grade 7 and now in Grade 9. Angelicas heart broke apart to think she would never see her best friend again. Chapter 2 There I was sitting on the porch in my backyard looking at the picture of me and Selene.It was taken last summer yet It brought me the ripe memories of the beautiful moments left behind. It all started off with both of them meeting each other on the first day of grade 7. Angelina was being picked on by a few popular freaks and Saline was the first one to stand up for her, Angelina and saline soon started to hang out and before they knew it they were best friends. Thinking about those days, Saline and I had a lot of great time. Like once, Saline and I went to an amusement park Dreamland. It was our dream to go there! That day was a BLAST! Sillies was very scared to ride the roller coaster!No! You know Im scared to go on the roller coaster! Saline shouted. Why?! Trust me when you get on it, itll be extremely fun! Angelina said excitedly. Oh good Angelina, Can you Just go alone? Selene asked. OMG! Just come with me! Angelina yelled while dragging Saline. So finally Saline got on the roller coaster, but she was very nervous. She kept saying Oh, my god help me, help me. Help me please! And finally! The roller coaster started. The roller coaster didnt even go half through and Saline started SCREAMING! I was laughing. After, guess what happened?Saline finally calmed down but this time he started wave her hand up In the air and stared to scream with Jolly Well I sure looked like she wasnt scared anymore. So afterwards we rode more rides and then went back home. Ah that day was awesome! Another great time we had was when I had a sleepover at Colleens house on Friday. We had planned everything about what were going to do at night. First when I went, we were Just talking and gossiping about school and other stuffs. But who knew? Saline made me watch a scary movie! NO!!! I HATE SCARY MOVIES! I shouted. Yeah you do, remember when you made me go on the roller coaster?!Saline said with an attitude. Yeah. But you werent scared anymore I said. Smile. Well, I had to watch the movie. I realized that I have to get used it so I wont get scared anymore. But I was REALLY scared. I cover my face with my hand, I peeked at the movie. In the middle I removed my hand because again I knew I have to get used to it. I was a bit scared but I watched the movie. After I thought to myself that ghosts arent real so why should I be scared? So then I was never ever scared of horror movies! Thanks to Saline! So that night we had a lot of fun! We ate, talked and played Ames.Chapter 3 Tears fell from my eyes. I could help it. The thought was painful. The day passed. I couldnt eat, sleep or concentrate on anything. One day when Angelina was sitting in her bed alone, when her mom came in, she said Sweetie, you cant stay like this for your whole life. Sillinesss moving on Friday, how about you spend the time before she leaves with her that day? l guess thats a pretty good idea I replied. The last thing I wanted to do was not see my best friend for the last time. Chapter 4 Every day was passing like months. I couldnt wait to meet Saline on Friday.I decided to make her a friendship bracelet in the meantime to remember me. This summer break was going to be really fun in Toronto only if Saline was here. A few questions constantly kept running through my mind, was fate really going to separate the 2 friends or was a miracle going to happen which would make Saline not move away? I already knew the answer but it wasnt any harm to see a ray of hope. Chapter 5 Finally the day arrive when it was time for 2 best friends to meet for the last time. Saline arrived at Angelicas house and they both gazed into each others eyes. Both of hem could feel the pain the other was feeling. They both hugged each other tightly. They did all the things the 2 friends did whenever they had time. Gossip, eat favorite foods, watch favorite show and gossip again. But, there was something different today. Both of them had a fear in them today of separating and want of staying with each other. They wanted to enjoy themselves to their full extent. The day passed faster than usual. For some reason whenever I start having fun, time rushes through me, Angelina thought. Before they realized, Salines mom and dad were here to pick her up. A cold breeze ran through me as they opened the door.Chapter 6 Fate had revealed itself. Saline and I could never be together. Tears ran through my eyes. It felt as if a ray of hope tarnished. Salines eyes had also filled with tears. Suddenly I remembered something. THE GIFT! I shouted running up the stairs and getting the friendship bracelet. I had the gift I put it on Salines hand. She looked at me with innocent eyes and we hugged each other. This was probably the worst part of the day. Saline slowly walked into the car, and to Angelicas surprise came right This is for you, said Saline with a bright smile and left getting back into the car.The car left with Salines hand sticking out saying goodbye. I watch the car till the car was out of my view. I ran back into the house bawling. After a few minutes I remembered about the gift Saline gave me. I quickly opened the box and was shocked to see what was inside. It was a wacky-tacky that Saline and I had tried to fix for 3 years. Saline had fixed it by herself and given Angelina the other pair. Angelina finally understood fate didnt want to separate the friends no matter how far away they were, they were still close. Short Story free essay sample He swapped the places with her. He was now facing the man and staring him in the face. The man had not expected this, his next reaction to walk away from there. Before he could do anything, the arrival of the bus created a hustle in the background. The big red bus at that time of the day caught everyone’s attention. Their eyes reverted to the bus. It was more crowded than expected. He wondered whether they should take that bus or wait for another. He diverted his focus towards her. Their eyes met and she seemed to be pleading him to get aboard the bus. He understood the request perfectly. He took her hand and made a gesture at her to keep walking with him to the entrance of the bus. Amidst the crowd, he managed to get to the door and he slowly helped her get on the bus. We will write a custom essay sample on Short Story or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He was engrossed in making things perfect for her. Even if that meant, taking the extra step and the extra burden. He was standing too close to her at that moment and looking down at her. She was staring at the ground. This sight made some travelers around them uncomfortable. They started speaking in hushed tones. The ticket conductor noticed this and came to stand near them. He coughed and gestured at them to buy the ticket. Manav looked up to face him. He realized the embarrassment he was causing her and to the people around. He moved slightly away from her. He bought the tickets and shifted his gaze around the bus and towards the ladies seat, if he could find any place for her to sit. Suddenly his face lit up and there was a smile on his face from ear to ear. Mehek noticed that expression and was puzzled at this. Then she turned to look in the direction Manav was staring at. His eyes were focusing at the far front area of the bus which contained an empty seat in the overcrowded bus. She was confused as to why no one had taken that place. She turned to look at him and then followed the direction of his finger which pointed at a scribbling painted in red above the seat. Then she understood the reason of that smile and wondered that how much he cared for her. She had been holding on to tears for long but this time when they made an attempt to leak out of her eyes, she made no attempt to stop them and looked down to avoid having Manas notice them. He again held her hand and tried to wade through the crowd. He wanted to be the first one to reach the seat. She quietly followed him without looking up. She winced due to the pain which arose suddenly in her ribs but held her free palm against her mouth from crying out aloud. Finally, Mehek heaved a sigh of relief when they arrived at their destination, before the actual destination. He made a gesture towards her to take the seat. She shyly moved across him. Her flowing hair brushed against his face. He couldn’t help but smell the fragrance her hair seem to radiate. For once, he closed his eyes and felt like getting lost in there. But this was not the time. She took the seat and looked up at him to express her gratitude. He gave her a quick smile and chose to stand close to her. He did not want her to feel uncomfortable due to the crowd around. Now, there was a pin drop silence between them. He just concentrated on her and she seemed to be lost in thought. She was playing with her hair. A strand had fallen off from behind her ear. She was winding circles of it around her little finger. At that moment, he watched her closely. She was stunningly beautiful but the issue had taken a toll on her feeble shoulders. The pain had not disappeared behind those wrinkles which had managed to stay on her cheeks. She looked tired and defeated fighting the problems and it appeared as if she had given up on her destiny. The burning desire to fight had burned down somewhere. She seemed to have lost the zeal to live. Thoughts from the past started floating in his mind. He thought of the first sight of her. That corridor, where she was walking from opposite direction, lost in her thoughts. She was dressed in a white salwar kameez and her dupatta was flowing down from her neck till her waist. He could not take his eyes off that dream like beauty walking in front of him. Few moments just passed by. In the meanwhile, she had walked closer to him and he observed her precisely. Manav could not help but gape at the swollen portion of her eyes. This made his thoughts fly in random directions. Was it due to excessive crying or lack of sleep? She had stopped walking suddenly and had turned sideways. His eyes followed the movement of her eyes which were now focused on a board hung outside ‘that’ room. He had kept walking till he moved next to her. She had not moved an inch from outside that room. She just stood staring at that board with watery eyes. He could not fathom the reason of her presence there. What was she doing there alone? Was it for herself or she was accompanying someone? His mind and heart were not working in sync. He wanted to ditch his eyes and not believe what was happening in front of him. This was the same room from where he had walked out of some minutes ago. The dreaded room and the worst news of his life, he had walked them alone. His heart kept shouting ‘That was not possible’. She could not be there for the same reason, for he was there. Then, he witnessed the worst. There was a stream of tears running down her cheeks. She was sobbing uncontrollably. He went ahead to offer her a tissue. Ma’am, please wipe your tears. Take this napkin, please. † She looked up to meet his eyes and could not hold herself back. She just held his shoulder and kept crying. Someone had spoken to her so kindly after ages. Else, she had been facing the desertion and discrimination from everyone. He slowly caressed her hair, the touch felt so soft and a fragr ance seemed to be radiate from there. Then she said those words he did not want to hear. â€Å"Can you please come with me to this section? I am alone and I am afraid to take the step. † Although, he wanted the words he was hearing to be a lie, but it was the truth. She was walking down the same lane as he was. They both were sailing in the same boat of life. He took her hand and they both walked inside together. He wondered that such is the irony of life, he did not know her till few minutes back and now, he was accompanying her to that destination which probably held the destiny of both of them. He wanted to know her side of the story although he knew it would resemble his own. In the meanwhile, they had reached the center of ‘that’ room. There was a man dressed in white coat sitting behind the table. He saw the girl and smiled. â€Å"Welcome Mehek, How are you now? She tried to force a smile but could only move her lips slightly. She answered feebly â€Å"I am feeling weak†. Then the man noticed him, he had just walked out of his office after his own treatment. Now, he was back with his girl. He was helping Mehek to sit on the chair. How did he know her? Brushing aside all his thoughts, the doctor picked up the file. He a ddressed the girl. â€Å"Look Mehek, you have to be strong from inside first. Don’t lose heart and keep the determination going. If you lose your faith, how will we go on with the treatment? Have you been taking the medicines properly? She did not utter a word and just nodded in the answer. He did her check – up and asked her about the food she had been eating. He gave her medicines and asked her to see him again after two days. She just nodded in agreement. Manav had been observing everything in silence. He realized how helpless a human being can be in such circumstances. Again, she had started sobbing and muttering something under her breath which he could not understand. He waited for the doctor to say something but even he seemed confused as to how to respond. He again picked up a tissue from the doctor’s table. But this time, he wiped her tears. The doctor sat there silently to witness this. Then he understood the relation between them, the biggest relation of all – The humanity. Now, it was Manav’s turn to speak up. He asked the doctor. â€Å"Is there any extra precaution or care we need to take for her? † Doctor smiled, â€Å"Just try to keep her happy. † He held her hand and helped her move out of the room. She kept walking behind him without asking a question. They reached another section of the hospital where a familiar smell hit her nose. She raised her eyes to see where they were. She saw that he had bought her a sandwich to eat. After few moments of hesitance, she took it and started eating. He sat there watching her eat. Then, she spoke to him directly for the first time. She said, â€Å"My name is Mehek. I don’t know how to thank you for all this help when you did not even know me. I really don’t know what you must be thinking about me? All I can say is I am very lonely and shattered at the moment. † She stopped speaking abruptly after this. Manav said, â€Å"I am going through the same phase as you are. So, you do not have to thank me. † â€Å"You must be wondering why did I come here alone. When my family came to know about it, they told me that I had bought a shame to their name. I was thrown out of my own house in the middle of the night by my family. They do not want to keep any connection with me. They think that I have done something unthinkable to deserve this fate. My sister does try to contact me sometimes, but even she is bound by the rules of the family. People around me treat me as untouchable. † She could not speak any further. Manav could feel the replay of the entire scene in his mind as if someone was narrating his own story. He kept his hand over hers and said, â€Å"Mine is a very similar story. From today, do not think that you are alone. I am there for you always. I acquired this disease when I went to donate blood in a camp. They used an unsterilized syringe and I was left with an entire lifetime to suffer the consequences of someone else’s mistake. † Now, he realized that even his eyes were moist. This was Mehek’s turn to be surprised. She recalled the fateful day when she went to donate the blood in the small hospital to save the life of a complete stranger. The mistake on part of the hospital had left her HIV positive. Now, she was struggling to save her own life. Their stories were so similar. After this revelation, they had become comfortable with each other. They picked up their medicines. He asked her where he could drop her. She said that she had no place to live and had spent the night at one Dharamshala. He smiled and said, â€Å"Now, you have a place to live. You are going to stay with me, if you are fine with that. † Mehek thought how much a stranger was doing for her. That was a start of a new journey for these two complete strangers. The bus came to a screeching halt and he was jolted back to reality. Their destination had arrived or rather they had travelled to their destination. He helped her wade through the crowd to the exit door of the bus. They slowly walked to their home from the bus stop amidst the total silence. He opened the door. He asked her, â€Å"Would you have a cup of coffee? † She declined and said that she was going to bed to sleep. She moved closer to him and hugged him suddenly very tightly like never before. She wanted to say something, he thought. But she stood there in silence without moving. He touched her hair and caressed her. She then kissed him on his cheek and bade him a good night. They walked to the bedroom together holding each other’s hand. She wanted to sleep on his lap that day. He loved to see her sleep. He happily obliged the request. Before falling asleep, she said, â€Å"Manav, had you not been there, I would not have been able to make this journey. Thanks for everything. I want a promise from you that you will be my fellow star when we will meet in heaven out of this world. † He smiled at her innocence and said, â€Å"Thanks to you also. Without you, nothing would be possible and you have my promise. † Then he watched her go to sleep. There was a unusual serenity on her face. He started thinking about the journey of fighting the dreaded disease which they had made together. He admired how they stood as support of each other, when they were deserted by their own family and friends, how perfectly they understood each other, how much little they knew about each other, when they decided to make the journey together. How they had become the ‘Perfect Strangers’ He took her hand which was kept on his thigh and he happened to touch her pulse. He could not believe that there was no pulse at all. Now, he realized why she wanted that promise and why she hugged him. He quietly took her face off his lap and lied down next to her to meet her in the next adventure, where they would shine together forever. Short story free essay sample Short story jealous Tina and Susan were best friend from primary school until now. Tina is a girl with pretty face, smart brain and she had a good interpersonal relationship. Susan is a girl that hard-working but dull. Tina was her only friend and the best friend. It seems that everything of Susan Is better. Comparing cannot be avoided. What a good weather! Tina said. Then , what can we do? I suggest Susan answered. Walt, walkout forget our biology SABA and Math test, dont you? Oh! My wonderful planning. Susan and Tina spent an afternoon time in the study room.Susan, have you review your math test? It seems that will be very difficult. I have Just done the exercises behind the book once, You are talent. I spent a lot of time on it, but I still dont understand. I new you. I need to back home to finish my vexatious homework and continue my revision. We will write a custom essay sample on Short story or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Then see you tomorrow , Tina. Susan studied whole night, but she soul could not get a good result. Instead, Tina only spent few hours in the study room and she got the highest marks in the class. Tina was over the Joy and Susan was sad and envious of her high score.Tina, why you only study few hours and get a good result? Can you teach me? ; Maybe I am a talent l There was a boy called Stephen, he was in Tina and Susan class. He is tall and handsome, he had a good academic result ,halls special feature was the boy crush on Tina for a long long time. One night, Stephen confessed Tina that he loved her, Tina was so frightened, she didnt know what to do. So she found Susan. Susan, help me! whats going on Stephen said he loved me , what can I do? What? He said he loved you? On My God! Why always you ?Everything oh are better than me! Why, I love him, I loved him for 5 years! Susan shouted angrily. Sorry, Susan I cannot control it! Even though you are my best friend and the only friend. After this event, when Tina contacted Susan, she did not give her any response. Until Stephen found Susan , Susan, whats happening on you . And Tina? She was very sad from previous months until now. Nothing. Please, dont cheat me, I know that you loved me, is Tina told me. She felt sorry for you. Please, forgive her. In fact, I forgive her, because she was my only friend.She beard my bad temper she taught me patiently. Thats great, I wish you can be friends again with Tina. Sure l Suddenly, the phone rang. Susan, Tina was commit suicide herself l What? Susan was so astonished. She did not believe it, she thought Just a Joke. I am not kidding, Tina was in hospital and rescued my the doctor. Please come to BBC hospital quickly. When Susan went to hospital , Tina was died. Susan angry herself, why she did not forgive.

Free Essays on Lucky Kid

Today Bill Gates is synonymous with money (it’s hard not to be when one is worth, give or take, 60 billion dollars), but it wasn’t always that way. On October 28, 1955 William Henry Gates II was just a regular newborn; his mother counted all his toes and fingers to make sure they were all there and thanked whatever higher powers are up there for this gift from heaven. His life proceeded as normally as one’s can when one is fated to be the richest man in the world. Bill started his schooling in the public school system, but he soon surpassed the best that the government had to offer so his parents, perhaps sensing his great future, enrolled him in a private school by the name of Lakeside. This was to be a momentous decision, for at Lakeside little William was first introduced to computers. The school, understanding that computers were to be integral parts of the future world, decided to purchase one of the machines, or at least access to one. Being as this was 1968, computers were large and quite expensive so the school purchased time on a computer from GE. For Bill Gates and a handful of other students the allure of the computer was irresistible; they spent all day and night huddled around the computer, and when they were not actually at the computer they were reading books about the machines. A problem arose: the students, who would someday become the founders of the largest computer cooperation in the world, had used up all the computer time their school had money for. The dilemma was soon remedied by an altruistic man who owned a computer company. Ah, but our young hackers were not nearly finished with their mischief, they had much fun exploring the new computer system and were in fact too smart for it. They wiggled their way in and out of files they should never have seen and even altered data. When the computer children were banned from the machine for several weeks they formed the Lakeside Programmers Group, some kids set ... Free Essays on Lucky Kid Free Essays on Lucky Kid Today Bill Gates is synonymous with money (it’s hard not to be when one is worth, give or take, 60 billion dollars), but it wasn’t always that way. On October 28, 1955 William Henry Gates II was just a regular newborn; his mother counted all his toes and fingers to make sure they were all there and thanked whatever higher powers are up there for this gift from heaven. His life proceeded as normally as one’s can when one is fated to be the richest man in the world. Bill started his schooling in the public school system, but he soon surpassed the best that the government had to offer so his parents, perhaps sensing his great future, enrolled him in a private school by the name of Lakeside. This was to be a momentous decision, for at Lakeside little William was first introduced to computers. The school, understanding that computers were to be integral parts of the future world, decided to purchase one of the machines, or at least access to one. Being as this was 1968, computers were large and quite expensive so the school purchased time on a computer from GE. For Bill Gates and a handful of other students the allure of the computer was irresistible; they spent all day and night huddled around the computer, and when they were not actually at the computer they were reading books about the machines. A problem arose: the students, who would someday become the founders of the largest computer cooperation in the world, had used up all the computer time their school had money for. The dilemma was soon remedied by an altruistic man who owned a computer company. Ah, but our young hackers were not nearly finished with their mischief, they had much fun exploring the new computer system and were in fact too smart for it. They wiggled their way in and out of files they should never have seen and even altered data. When the computer children were banned from the machine for several weeks they formed the Lakeside Programmers Group, some kids set ...

How to Win a National Merit Scholarship

How to Win a National Merit Scholarship SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Being named a Finalist is the highest academic recognition you can achieve from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It is a national distinction that places you at the pinnacle of academic achievement. Not all Finalists are chosen to receive scholarships, however. Only about 8,000 of 15,000 students gain this award. In this article we’ll talk about what scholarships are available through NMSC and what you need to do to get one. The Path to This Point First, 1.5 million high school juniors take the PSAT/NMSQT. Only 16,000 students are named Finalists, and, after an extensive application process, only 15,000 of these students achieve Finalist status. If you haven’t read our detailed articles yet on the steps to take to become a Semifinalist and Finalist, check them out here: National Merit Semifinalist and National Merit Finalist. Now that you know what it takes to get to this point, read on to learn about the three scholarships available, how much money they give, and how Finalists qualify for scholarship awards. 1. National Merit Scholarships Every Finalist is given consideration for a National Merit Scholarship. Finalists are named Scholars (in other words, receive the scholarship) based on the strength of their applications. Scholars have outstanding applications that demonstrate academic commitment, extracurricular and community involvement, passion, and drive. Your first choice college is not a factor under consideration for National Merit Scholarships. In fact, the NMSC committee members do not even see this information. These scholarships are awarded to only 2,500 Finalists, or about 1 in 6 Finalists. They are a one-time award of $2,500 and are not renewable throughout your years of college. To sum up: Every Finalist is given consideration for the National Merit Scholarship based on their applications. 2. Corporate-Sponsored Scholarships The second type of scholarship offered by NMSC is a corporate-sponsored scholarship. Finalists are also automatically given consideration for these scholarships based on their applications and the information they provide about parental employment, intended majors, and career plans. Most corporate sponsors give awards to students whose parents or guardians work for them. A small number award non-employee children if they indicate an interest in a major or career choice that the corporation wants to support. As this changes year to year, you should check with your corporation of interest to learn about their award criteria. Sponsor corporations include UPS, Boeing, Macy’s, BP, Southwest Airlines, and the General Mills Foundation (see the full list here). About 1,000 students receive corporate-sponsored awards, and they range greatly in amount. They are usual renewable, or awarded annually, and tend to be transferable to any four-year accredited college. To sum up: Finalists are automatically given consideration for corporate-sponsored awards based on their applications and the parent employment information they indicate therein (or occasionally, major and career interest). 3. College-Sponsored Scholarships Finalists who do not receive either the National Merit Scholarships or a Corporate-Sponsored Scholarships are considered for College-Sponsored scholarships. Check thelist of college sponsorsto see which schools are eligible. Some popular sponsor colleges include Boston University, Boston College, Tufts, Bowdoin, Colby, University of Chicago, University of Southern California, and Pomona. Some colleges who do NOT sponsor include Harvard and the other Ivy Leagues, MIT, Williams, and Middlebury. Students must indicate one of the sponsor colleges as their First Choice college on their applications. Students who put â€Å"Undecided† will not be considered. So, even if you’re not sure, you should still put one of the sponsoring colleges as your first choice or add one to your application ASAP. Students can log into their NMSC applications and change their first choice college up until May 31st, UNLESS they have already received an award offer from the college they indicated. NMSC sends rosters of Finalists to sponsoring colleges in March. Scholarship offers start in early May and continue for the next few months. Page 3 of the application goes over the College-Sponsored Scholarships process in detail. If you have any questions about it, definitely clarify by calling NMSC Scholarship administration at 1-847-866-5100. About 4,100 students receive college-sponsored scholarships in an amount between $500 and $2,000. Colleges may award even more merit-based awardsif that’s the case, NMSC will cover up to $2,000, and the rest of the award will come from the college or other sources. Since every school differs, students should contact the school directly to discuss their merit-based financial awards. College-sponsored scholarships are renewable annually and non-transferable. To sum up: You must put a sponsor college as your first choice in your NMSC application to be considered for a college-sponsored scholarship. Since college awards and policies differ, you should contact the school of interest itself to learn how much merit-based scholarship money you might be eligible to receive. Want to build the best possible college application and financial aid package? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. What Do You Need to Do to Maximize Your Chances? Put together an outstanding application. Review instructions for Semifinalists here: http://nationalmerit.org/Merit_RI_Leaflet.pdf. What story do your extracurricular activities and community service tell? Do they show a progression to a position of leadership? Do they show â€Å"depth over breadth†? Besides having flawless grammar and spelling, does your personal essay show that you are thoughtful, reflective, and draw meaning from your experiences? How strong is your recommendation? Give your teacher a â€Å"brag sheet† of the qualities, accomplishments, and even adjectives you would like them to include to make your recommendation stand out as one of the best. If you were on the committee choosing which Finalists become Scholars, what criteria would you use? What would impress you about a candidate and make you want to award him/her a scholarship? Research sponsor corporations and be aware of your parents’ employment. Make sure to include any relevant information on your application so you will be considered for a corporate-sponsored scholarship. Indicate a sponsor college as your first choice on your application. Make any changes by May 31st. Page 3 of your application explains this process in greater detail. Put Your Best Foot Forward - A Timeline Maximize your chances of getting a scholarship by following these steps and meeting all the deadlines. Prep for the PSAT in sophomore year. Make sure you're scoring above the score cutoff for your state, or else you won't qualify as a Semifinalist. Take the PSAT in the fall of your junior year and qualify for Semifinalist by scoring in the top 1%. Study for the SATs in the spring and summer and take them in the fall of your senior year. Get a high score that shows NMSC that your PSAT scores weren’t just a fluke. Submit your NMSC application in early October of senior year. If for some reason your school received late notification of Semifinalists, just let NMSC know. In this instance, they won’t penalize you for having a late application. Receive word that you made Finalist in early February of senior year. Receive word that you won a scholarship starting in early May of senior year. Preparation Is Everything Start preparing as early as possible to become a National Merit Finalist and Scholar. This doesn’t just mean studying for the PSATs and SATs. It also means joining clubs, gaining a leadership position, and cultivating good relationships with your teachers. All of this preparation will not only help you succeed on the PSAT and SAT, but will set you up for success in your future academic and professional careers. What's Next? Make sure you read about our National Merit Semifinalist and Finalist articles to have the best chance of qualifying for each stage of the competition. The National Merit Scholarship uses the PSAT, but the SAT is far more important for college admissions. What's a good SAT score? Learn what a good target score is, based on your college goals. Aiming for a perfect score on the SAT? Read our guide to getting a perfect SAT score, written by one of our perfect scorers. Want to improve your SAT score by 240 points?We have the industry's leading SAT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and SAT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so you get the most effective prep possible. Sign up for our free 5-day trial today:

Gary (2002) indicates that nurses display many of the characteristics Essay

Gary (2002) indicates that nurses display many of the characteristics of an oppressed group. Do you agree or disagree with her a - Essay Example The conditional status of oppression has been rampant in medical institutions, yet, overt recognition of its existence is consistently denied. As nursing is generally viewed as female-dominated profession, many distinguish it as lower compared to predominantly masculine careers. Hence, nurses from various fields are extensively pressured to prove themselves in the patriarchal society (Seago, 2006). Accordingly, feminist antagonism serves as primary source for negative viewpoints adapted in medical settings. In relation to career antagonism, the nature of oppression spreads from hierarchical nursing ranks. Concertedly, nursing management deviates from the ideals of supportive supervision into tyrannical leadership. In parallel view with the study by Gary on â€Å"Why and Wherefore of Empowerment,† intentional intimidation of junior nurses by senior nurses in clinical field is perceived as effective means in controlling behavior of the former (Stevens, 2002). Upon inciting fear, most nurses act according to manipulation of ranked nurses--nurses’ independent functions are broken to fit the whims of senior nurses. The problem with oppression is not only provoked by those with higher organizational authority. As revealed by American Association of Critical Nurses (2007), even peer-to-peer association augments oppression in practice.

Simple and Compound Interest Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Simple and Compound Interest - Essay Example Simple interest is interest expressed as a percentage of principal or the original amount borrowed or lent, for the entire period of borrowing. The interest will be the income received with regard to the lending or the price paid for the utilization of borrowed amount.   Simple interest happens to be the fastest as well as easiest approach of computing the interest on amount borrowed or lend. A car loan is a very popular example of simple interest, with which interest is charged only on the principal or original amount borrowed or lent. Below is the formula utilized in calculating interest owed in simple interest: Compound interest is interest expressed as a percentage of the revised principle.   In other words, compound interest may be referred to as interest added to the principal amount of a loan or deposit in order for the interest added to also earn interest onwards. In this approach, interest earned within the prior periods is added to the initial amount/principal: this inc reases the amount, on which the next period’s interest will be charged. The summing up of the principal amount and the interest is referred to as compounding. In this case, interest has to be paid on principal amount as well as interest accumulated during the deposit or loan term. It happens to be normal for banks to pay interest on semi -annually basis. Financial institutions, on the other hand, have a guiding principle of paying interest on quarterly basis. It is important to understand to how to calculate compound interest.

The Dubliners a collection of short stories by James Joyce Essay Example for Free

The Dubliners a collection of short stories by James Joyce Essay James Joyce wrote The Dubliners, a collection of short stories. One in particular called Eveline influenced the narrative seen in Far From Home Far From Home is written in the third person and is a character driven story. Free indirect discourse has been used to make the reader relate to the character. This technique allows the audience to gain insight into the characters thoughts feelings and dilemmas without using the first person narrative. Examples of when Joyce uses free indirect discourse can be seen in the third person narratives such as, Eveline, The Two Gallants and The Dead. In Eveline the main characters ambivalence is revealed at the beginning of the story: She tried to weigh each side of the question. The reader becomes aware of what Eveline is thinking and feeling about leaving home. This line describes almost entirely what the story is about the confusion and thoughtfulness Eveline is putting into leaving home. The protagonist in Far From Home is described using a third persons perspective. When the protagonists in Joyces stories are young or adolescent he uses first person narrative to direct the story. The stories Araby, An Encounter and The Sisters are written in this narrative. In order to identify the first person narratives pronouns such as I My or Me are used. When Joyces main character is an adult he writes in the third person narrative. Eveline, Counterparts and a Little cloud are written in third person narrative and to identify the narrative, pronouns such as He/She His/Her and It are used. Far From Home employs the third person narrative because Penny, like Eveline, is seen as an adult. This method in Far From Home shows that Joyces techniques are incorporated into the story. Local dialect and street names, as seen in Araby and The two Gallants, are also seen in Far From Home. In The Two Gallants street names are used regularly to convey a documentary style attachment to reality They walked along Nassau Street and then turned into Kildare Street. Far From Home refers to places like OlDive and street names such as Morrison Street. This also conveys a sense of authenticity. Slang terms such as on the turf, used in The two Gallants give the reader an informal approach to the story thus creating a sense of realism. Far From Home also incorporates this style by using chuck the bottle and colloquial dialect, authenticity is added to the narration. Far From Home resembles a storyline similar to that of Eveline. Penny, the protagonist in Far From Home, is paralysed by her fathers terrible drinking habits and aggression. Both characters know that their father may not survive alone. Penny lives with her father and finds it hard to cope with his drinking habits. Her father also has a girlfriend called Kristy who has two young children. Penny has an ill mother which she cannot see. This dilemma conveys a great deal of the frustration seen in the story. Similarly, Eveline feels trapped by her fathers drinking and violence, yet feels that father is too weak to survive by himself. Her father was becoming old lately, and he would miss her, suggests that Evelines father is weak. Pennys problems and thoughts drive the story, thus making it a character driven story. Far From Home intentionally develops Pennys character rather than focusing on conveying a detailed plot. This technique reflects Joyces use of minimal action in his stories, creating a sense of paralysis which engulfs his characters. Both stories show the characters as they are facing a life changing dilemma; both characters are unable to complete their escape from it. This is an example of how minimal action and lack of resolution work together to reflect the theme of paralysis. Far From Home also has a similar theme to that of The Dead. Penny feels that she has missed opportunities to love her mother and Gabriel feels he has missed the opportunity to love his wife in her youth. Penny resents the fact that she had stayed away from her mother for so long just because her father told her to. She realises that her mother will die soon and that they have missed a great deal of family bonding. The fact that both characters feel they have missed out on certain important events in their lives shows the similarities in the stories. In the sense that Joyce uses paralysis, Far From Home uses cynicism. In The Dead Gabriel patronises his family and friends make himself ridiculous by quoting poetry to them which they could not understand Pennys friend is also seen as been extremely pathetic. In the Two Gallants, The Dead and A Little Cloud, the characters are portrayed as been cynical or rejecting their home country. In The Dead Gabriel is called a west Briton; Little Chandler says minute vermin-like life Pennys cynical side is revealed by the way she patronises Sarah: Sarah was too dependent and weak in her eyes. and calls the children, screaming bundles of hate, Far From Home relates to the paralytic and cynical attitude Joyces characters are all ready in. In Far From Home grammar is occasionally used to create a dramatic effect. When Penny leaves her home and begins to make her way to the fields, Left down Morrison Street towards what looked like a dead end, a fragmented sentence emphasises the dead end at the end of the sentence. This is to subtly elaborate the paralysis in the story. To emphasise the situation at the beginning of Far From Home intentionally complex grammatical construction is used. Compound and simple sentences are regularly used for effect in James Joyces stories. He ties these techniques with a combination of many abstract sentences to create abstract ideas. Far From Home begins with an abstract idea for dramatic effect. The sound slowly emerging from the street, the raw talent of the local Charity for the Church band, calmed and slowed the frustrated breath escaping a hard chest. By using modifiers, words or phrases used to specify the nature of another, the abstract idea can be emphasised. The sound is modified by explaining where it is coming from. The sentence is abstract because of how it is constructed and modified. In The Two Gallants A shade of mockery..But Corley had not a subtle mind. is a combination of sentences introducing abstract ideas to make the reader think thoroughly about the situation presented. Far From Home is a fragmented narrative; this is to achieve effective characterisation as each fragment reveals a layer of depth to Pennys character. Fragmentation also reflects the confusion Penny has faced throughout her childhood and adolescence. This is further intensified through foreshadowing, which is a literary technique used to reveal a partial amount of the ending without revealing what happens, Far From Home employs this technique: could still feel the ghost of her mothers, soft, cold hands. This is because the story is a fragmented narrative and the foreshadowing adds emphasis on the upset state of mind Penny is in. The protagonists sense of frustration is intensified with the use of emotive lexis and pathetic fallacy. Modifiers and verbs such as frustrated, escaping and peace erupted all add to the theme running throughout Far From Home. In order to make the reader understand the build up of paralysis and frustration at the end of the story, the oppressive mood needed to run constantly throughout the story. To be successful the story begins with Penny calming down from a stressful situation calmed and slowed the frustrated breathFrom this point on Penny is faced with frustrating or annoying situations: the screaming amongst the peace erupted The children Penny has to look after are a lot to take on at such a young age and Penny finds she is unable to cope with them. The word clouded is used as a pathetic fallacy; to not only describe the feelings of the protagonist, but to also reflect the dull and confusing situation she is bound by. Another example used in Far From Home is the room felt icy and empty. It felt like her head. Pennys surroundings represent the emotions she is feeling. For dramatic effect, modifiers, with emotive connotations to convey the stressful or frustrating situations are used: the phrase the stench of the bottle rose reflects the disgust and hate Penny has for her fathers lifestyle. Stench is the word in this phrase which is most important as this is the word which conveys a disgusted tone. To continue the tone of disgust in the following paragraph other emotive words such as circled and disgust are used. Semantics reflecting frustration and paralysis are used at the beginning of Far From Home and repeated throughout the story. The opening words are selected to combine the idea of escapism from paralysis, confusion and frustration. Frustration quite obviously reflects the ongoing theme and hard chest emphasises the feeling of anger. The word hard is an emotive word to reflect the tension built up with anger. Escaping dramatically emphasises the tone of the story. The dramatic sentence at the beginning of the story establishes the paralysed tone reiterated throughout Far From Home. Alliteration is used when Sarah is introduced. stood, startled and shocked. The alliteration of this phrase reflects the attitude and thoughts Penny has for her. Sarah is obviously an unorganised and unstable woman; this sentence reflects her personality and disposition. Personification is another method of incorporating escapism from the paralytic lifestyle Penny is subjected to. Personification is used repeatedly throughout Far From Home it is used mainly to describe the moon as another person that Penny can relate to: The moon whispered to Penny, An example of personification can be seen in Eveline when Evelines hands are given human attributes: Her hands clutched the iron in frenzy. The connotations of the word frenzy emphasise and represent the state of Evelines mind and her feelings of confusion and fright. At the end of Far From Home the same technique is used. Frustration gripped her heart this reflects the ongoing theme of frustration and the emotions Penny feels for her lost mother. It was like a wave of warmth The use of this simile adds to the effect of Penny calming down and the mention of waves or referral to the sea is usually incorporated with Penny relaxing throughout the story. Araby; a story in which Joyce tackles the theme of the inadequacy of adolescence, employs an extended metaphor for the exotic surprises that we expect to discover in life and the disappointment experienced. The Bazaar represents the exotic, exciting lifestyle and the disappointment at the Bazaar represents the disappointment in life. To imitate the use of an extended metaphor in Far From Home, Pennys mothers illness represents the paralysis Penny is experiencing as a result of her lack of communication with her mother; Penny knows she can never share any moments of true bonding because her mother is too ill. The end of Far From Home displays the use juxtaposition of these two words small, strong Along with the use of modifiers such as mountainous, consumed and engulfed Pennys life seems to be represented by all that surrounds her in the hospital room with her mother. She is paralysed by life, because she is too small to fight it.

Neil Simon, The Most Successful Playwright In The History Of Theatre :: essays research papers fc

Neil Simon, the Most Successful Playwright in The History of Theatre "It can be argued that Neil Simon is not only America's most successful playwright, but also the most successful playwright in the history of theatre."1 Despite being criticized for lack of substance, his hugely successful comedies are consistently revived, whether on Broadway or in other community or dinner theatres. Last week the University of Notre Dame's Mainstage season opened with the departmental premiere of Barefoot in the Park. Though the play originally opened more then thirty years ago, the themes of compatibility and compromise that it presents are still relevant today. Simon masterfully manipulated the plot of Barefoot in the Park to include all of the elements of a fine play (intrigue, credibility, surprise, etc.) and to create a viable playscript that both emphasizes the play's major themes and, just as importantly, makes the audience laugh. Simon has skillfully constructed the plot of Barefoot in the Park to showcase and emphasize his themes of compatibility and need for compromise. The plot itself starts out fairly simple. In the first act, Paul and Corie Bratter, wed but six days, move into their new apartment on the top floor of a brownstone in New York City. From the very first, the audience can see that these are two very different characters that have very different values, and yet Paul and Corie are very much in love. The plot progresses as other characters are introduced. First to visit the newlyweds is Corie's mother, Mrs. Banks. The relationship between Corie and her mother also involves a clash of very distinct personalities. With the appearance of the Bratter's eccentric upstairs neighbor, Victor Velasco, Corie sees the opportunity to play matchmaker and inject a little romance into her staid mother's life. The first act concludes with Corie's plan to bring the two together at an upcoming dinner party, much to the chagrin of her husband Paul. This creates intrigue--"that quality of a play which makes us curious (sometimes fervently so) to see 'what happens next'"2-- because the audience is left wondering whether Corie's plan will work. Thus the first act provides exposition, creates a feeling of suspense, and begins to showcase the compatibility problems in the relationships of several of the characters. The second act takes place in two parts: the first before Corie's dinner party, and the second in the aftermath. Throughout the first part of the act, Simon emphasizes the enthusiasm, spontaneity, and lack of forethought with which Corie approaches her matchmaking task. Paul, on the other hand, acts like "a stuffed shirt"3 and tries to show Corie the foolishness of her plan.