4 Tips for Writing a Stellar Boston College Essay

4 Tips for Writing a Stellar Boston College Essay SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Ranked among the top 50 colleges nationwide, Boston College is an excellent choice for college, especially if you're hoping to attend a Jesuit institution.As part of the application process, you'll need to submit a Boston College essay. So what should you write about in your essay to raise your chances of getting admitted here? In this guide, we closely analyze all Boston College essay prompts, providing you with our best tips and advice.We then take a look at real Boston College essay examples to give you an idea of what a successful Boston College essay can look like. What Is the Boston College Essay? In addition to the statement you must write for the Common Application, Boston College requires all first-yearapplicants to submit a separate essay as part of the Boston College Supplement (on the Common App under the heading "Writing Supplement"). With this writing supplement, you have four possible essay prompts to choose from: 1. Great art evokes a sense of wonder. It nourishes the mind and spirit. Is there a particular song, poem, speech, or novel from which you have drawn insight or inspiration? 2. When you choose a college, you will join a new community of people who have different backgrounds, experiences, and stories. What is it about your background, your experiences, or your story, that will enrich Boston College’s community? 3. Boston College strives to provide an undergraduate learning experience emphasizing the liberal arts, quality teaching, personal formation, and engagement of critical issues. If you had the opportunity to create your own college course, what enduring question or contemporary problem would you address and why? 4. Jesuit education considers the liberal arts a pathway to intellectual growth and character formation. What beliefs and values inform your decisions and actions today, and how will Boston College assist you in becoming a person who thinks and acts for the common good? Each essay prompt expects you to give specific details and a unique, compelling story of who you are, how you came to be this way, and what you hope to do with your education at BC. Regardless of the essay prompt you choose, your Boston College essay must be no longer than 400 words, making it a little shorter than a typical college essay, which is 500-600 words long. But how can you choose the best essay prompt for you? Read on as we examine all the Boston College essay prompts, one by one. All Boston College Essay Prompts, Analyzed In order to submit a great Boston College essay, you’ll need to know what each prompt is asking you to do and which one will work best based on your personality, experiences, and/or interests. Below, we offer a close analysis of all four Boston College essay prompts. Boston College Essay Prompt 1 Great art evokes a sense of wonder. It nourishes the mind and spirit. Is there a particular song, poem, speech, or novel from which you have drawn insight or inspiration? This first Boston College essay prompt is all about art, specifically a piece of art that's had a major impact on you. Although this essay prompt lists just four types of art- songs, poems, speeches, and novels- you may write about, if you were inspired by a different form of art, such as a painting, sculpture, dance, or piece of architecture, you will most likely be fine writing about that instead. If possible, though, it's best to try to stick with the four options in the prompt; this way you can rest assured you’re correctly answering it. You also want to avoid rattling on and on about the art piece and why it’s so great. Instead,focus on why this piece of art has affected you to such a degree and how this impact has manifested in your life. Should You Choose This Prompt? This essay prompt is ideal for applicants who intend to major in a creative field, such as music or creative writing, due to its emphasis on inspiration and what kind of art has impacted your own approach to creativity. Even if you don’t plan to major in a creative field or have no idea what you want to major in, this is a good prompt to respond to if you can easily think of a piece of art that has changed you in some critical way.If you can’t, another prompt would probably be better suited for you. Tips for Answering This Prompt Avoid writing about a super famous piece of art. While it's OK to focus on something you read for school, don't go with extremely famous and cliched works, such as The Great Gatsby or Harry Potter. Focus on you more than the piece of art. The point of this essay is to explain what creative work has greatly inspired or impacted you, not why this work is so great, famous, or valuable in general. Think about the qualities or goals you now have because of your exposure to this piece, and concentrate on those and how you developed them in your essay. Be clear about how this artwork has affected you. For example, perhaps the first time you listened to the English medieval song "Bryd One Brere," which is thought to be the oldest love song on record, you felt so moved by its lyrics that you decided to learn more about medieval England; now, you’re thinking of majoring in history. Boston College Essay Prompt 2 When you choose a college, you will join a new community of people who have different backgrounds, experiences, and stories. What is it about your background, your experiences, or your story, that will enrich Boston College’s community? This second Boston College essay prompt is a diversity essay prompt: it wants to know what kinds of qualities, experiences, and/or perspectives you personally will bring to the Boston College community.In short, what makes you special? For this essay, you’ll want to focus on one specific trait, experience, or quality you have, ideally one that's an integral part of your identity. For example, if you come from an ethnic group that historically was forced to conceal its traditions and customs, you could discuss in your Boston College essay how being able to freely express and embrace your cultural roots has made you want to encourage others to do the same. Should You Choose This Prompt? There are many categories of diversity that, if you fall under, you may choose to write about for this prompt. Here are just some examples: Your cultural group, race, or ethnicity Your religion Your socioeconomic background Your sex or gender/gender identity Your sexual orientation Your values or opinions A club, group, or organization you're part of Your local community Your hometown or home country A unique experience, struggle, or moment from your life You don’t need to fall under a strictly defined category of people. For example, you could write about a unique circumstance in your life or a specific event that was particularly meaningful to you and significantly affected your perspective on something. Tips for Answering This Prompt Try to avoid trite topics that can apply to many applicants. If you come from a family of immigrants, for instance, you could certainly write about this; however, this topic isn’t super unique, so be sure you’re focusing on something specific and impactful from your life, such as the time someone accused you of being an illegal immigrant. Focus on one defining quality. Even if you fit into multiple categories above, it’s best to stick with just one unique quality, as this will help keep your essay tight and focused. Be clear about how your experience will enrich Boston College’s community. It should be obvious how your perspective will positively affect those around you. Maybe you plan to start a club or promote a volunteering effort, for example. Don’t write about something that isn’t meaningful to you. If your experience didn’t have much of an effect on you when it happened and doesn’t matter much to you now, definitely choose something else to write about. Don’t exaggerate the significance of anything, or else you’ll risk coming across insincere and inauthentic. Boston College Essay Prompt 3 Boston College strives to provide an undergraduate learning experience emphasizing the liberal arts, quality teaching, personal formation, and engagement of critical issues. If you had the opportunity to create your own college course, what enduring question or contemporary problem would you address and why? With this prompt, you’re essentially being asked what kinds of academic fields or social issues you’re interested in and why you’d like to study them. This essay is a great opportunity for you to delve into a specific idea or problem you want to learn more about in college.The topic you choose for your essay can be pretty much anything, from an ancient philosophical theory to the modern-day phenomenon of cell phones. In short, what excites, interests, or captivates you intellectually? And why? Take time to considerwhat you’re passionate about, whether this is a question in an academic field you want to study or a contemporary social issue. Should You Choose This Prompt? Most applicants have an idea of what they want to study in college.Therefore, if there’s a particular field you’re interested in, you can use this as a jumping-off point to narrow your topic so you’ll be discussing a specific interest, question, or idea. For example, ifyou plan to major in psychology, you could think of questions you have regarding a specific idea or theory in the field. You can also approach this prompt from a more social perspective.Are there any problems in contemporary society that you believe need to be addressed more or in a new way? For example, perhaps you’re not a fan of the way women of color are represented in schools' history textbooks and you'd like to look for fair and effective ways to remedy this problem. Other possible issues you could talk about include the following: Environmental issues or climate change Political/economic instability or other problems in a country/area Discrimination, stigmas, or other issues relating to inequality Potential challenges facing technology, science, the arts, specific industries, etc. Tips for Answering This Prompt Explain why you are so invested in this problem. Have you had any direct experience with the issue you’re focusing on? How did (or does) it make you feel? Maybe you’re curious about how we could improve public access for people with physical disabilities, and the reason you developed an interest in solving this problem is that, as a kid, you often watched your friend struggle to find alternative entryways besides stairs. Include a (creative) title for your course. While there’s no need to get overly creative, make sure your class's name is concise and accurately reflects the proposed content. If you were writing about the topic described above, you could title your course something like "Public Access for People with Disabilities: Barriers and Solutions." Boston College Essay Prompt 4 Jesuit education considers the liberal arts a pathway to intellectual growth and character formation. What beliefs and values inform your decisions and actions today, and how will Boston College assist you in becoming a person who thinks and acts for the common good? Boston College is a highly ranked Jesuit institution, so it’s not surprising that the school is curious about applicants' values.The purpose of this prompt is for Boston College to see how your own values will fit with and further promote the key Jesuit principles of ethics and community service. This essay prompt can be broken down into two basic questions: What are your beliefs and values regarding your role in your community? How will Boston College fit with these values and allow you to grow as a person? Should You Choose This Prompt? If you’re applying to Boston College, you likely already know that it’s a Jesuit institution, meaning it strongly values qualities such as morality, service, and interdisciplinary learning. If you have strong values that align with these Jesuit principles, have a clear reason for wanting to attend a Jesuit institution, and can readily envision how you plan to use your BC education for the "common good," this would be a great prompt for you to choose. Some values you could write about in your essay include the following: Honesty Morality/ethics Empathy/compassion for others Selflessness Tips for Answering This Prompt Focus on one specific value/quality you have. For instance, if honesty is important to you, you could discuss a time you had to decide between telling the truth or telling a lie, and how this choice impacted how you perceive honesty and its significance in everyday life. Explain how Boston College will help you develop this value you have. You could talk about specific classes, extracurricular activities, clubs, volunteering opportunities, etc. For example, maybe you’re thinking of making a club to help local disadvantaged families. Boston College Essay Examples Now, let's take a look at two real Boston College essay examples, written by admitted applicants. Note that since the Boston College essay prompts change every year or so, these essays might not correspond directly to one of the four prompts listed above. Boston College Essay Example 1 This first Boston College essay we’ll look at could have easily been written for the second prompt described above (the diversity essay prompt) as it focuses on the applicant’s unique multicultural background. Note that this sample essay is more than 550 words, whereas the current Boston College essay requirements state that essays may not exceed 400 words. Here is the essay: "Happy birthday!" "Feliz cumpleanos!" "Kol sana wa enta tayyab!" After my family sings me happy birthday in English, Spanish, and Arabic, I blow out the candles on my cake amidst thunderous cheers that reverberate throughout the five boroughs of New York City. My birthday celebrations, likened by my friends to United Nations assemblies, feature my one, cohesive, yet ever so dissimilar, family, stepping out of their respective Ecuadorian and Egyptian roles to further thrust upon me their expectations. Some would fold under this pressure, but I embrace this trust. While they have not always been able to put me in optimal positions, it has all congregated to a driving force in my cultured and diverse mind. My never ending quest to achieve success for my family began at a young age, through my trips to Ecuador and Egypt. I not only grew fond of their eloquent languages, but of their modest values. On my first trip to Ecuador as a toddler, my Uncle Guillermo was found dead in an alley one morning, no cause, no explanation. Instead of shielding me from the forlorn passing of one of my heroes, my relatives used this as an opportunity to develop my value for awareness. They told me that Guillermo's death was linked to his severe alcoholism. He had been afflicted for decades, all while selling away the family's possessions to fuel his addiction. He, like many from the impoverished, drug ridden country, knew no better. Some would view a traumatizing event like this as an excuse to end up along a similar path, but it immediately ingrained in me the farsighted principles that I maintain to this day. There are no excuses for me to approach education halfheartedly, for I have witnessed the malevo lent effects of ignorance. When my grandma, Anisa Saad, told me that she views my future with the same reverence that she views the Egyptian Revolution of 20, I finally realized how delicate my actions are. I knew that making something out of myself meant just as much to my family as it did to me. The Egyptian Revolution was the first time since 1981 that Egyptians had a voice. As they overthrew President Hosni Mubarak, they created an irrevocable identity. They proved that regardless what comprises your past or your background, your impact on the world is only what you make of it. My grandma told me that all she could think about as she cast her vote in the first ever democratic election was that she was changing the world. She said that if a 78-year-old widow living with three of her children and a bad back could change the world, a prioritized pupil with a keen understanding of different societies has boundless potential. In New York City, the quintessential hub of culture, I found it easier to expand on my expectations and values. I am most people's culturally passionate friend rather than the kid whose ethnicity is indeterminable. I am a New Yorker's idea of a New Yorker; an assiduous product of the "melting pot." No idea is too farfetched to believe, no goal too unattainable. With my grandma's words in mind, I face any problem that the Concrete Jungle throws at me. I seek to make sure the Salazar's of Ecuador and the Badran's of Egypt finally have significant names in the world. I want to blow out my birthday candles with a family proud that I made it, not hoping that I do. Source Here's what makes this Boston College essay work: It has a compelling hook. The first few sentences about the applicant's multicultural and multilingual family immediately draw us in. It makes you want to learn more about why this applicant gets told happy birthday in three languages, and what this means for their values. It’s highly specific and detailed.We're given people's actual names, from Uncle Guillermo to Anisa Saad. These concrete details ground us readers in the story while highlighting clear connections between the applicant's life experiences and values. Zoom in on the details for your Boston College essay. Boston College Essay Example 2 This next real Boston College essay example is less focused on diversity and more on community service, a major Jesuit value that Boston College would be more than happy to read about in your essay! Atjust under 400 words,this essay should help give you an idea of about how long your Boston College essay can be. "Can you teach me how to tie my shoes?" I looked down. There was Miguel. He pointed at his untied shoelaces. "Come sit down over here," I said as I pulled over a chair. "Just remember this: Loop, Swoop, and Pull." I tied his shoelace. "Now you try on the other." He bent down. "Loop ... Swoop, and ... Pull." He completed a perfect bow. Later on in that day, Thomas came over to me. "Can you help me tie my sneaker?" Miguel was next to me. I was helping him learn the letters of the alphabet. "I think Miguel can help you." I looked down at him and he nodded. He brought Thomas to the side. "Just remember, Loop, Swoop, and Pull." In-between studying for the SATs and preparing for my varsity basketball season, I volunteered in a local preschool for Head Start and Special Needs Children in the summer before my junior year. I worked with students who were attending their first year of the school during that year. I was invited back to volunteer again the next summer. I was with the second-year students and Miguel and Thomas were again in my class. "Do you want to see me write my name?" Miguel asked the first day of my second summer at the school. He used a purple marker and a blank piece of white paper and clearly wrote "Miguel." Thomas approached me. "Look, I can tie my shoes now." He bent down. "Loop, Swoop, and Pull," he whispered as he completed a perfect bow. "It’s great to see you guys again. I’ll be here the whole summer." The goal of the program is to prepare the students for success in kindergarten. The best thing about going to the school for two years was to see the progress Miguel, Thomas, and the other kids made. I saw the children walk on the stage at the graduation ceremony at the end of the summer term. I know they will be able to excel in kindergarten. I began to visualize Thomas and Miguel being at the top of their class in kindergarten next year. I am proud of the work the school does for the children and the progress the children make in the school. I look forward to returning to volunteer next summer. Source Here’s what makes this Boston College essay work: It tells a detailed, interesting story. Many students have volunteered at schools or helped out younger children, but this Boston College essay lets readers really see the uniqueness of the applicant's experience. We learn about two children, Thomas and Miguel, and how the experience of helping them positively impacted the applicant. It’s highly focused. No part of this essay feels extraneous or as if it doesn't belong. It uses a well-organized structure that’s easy to follow. We also learn through small details that the applicant successfully maintains other commitments, too, such as varsity basketball. It focuses on a key Jesuit value: giving back to others. If you plan to respond to Prompt 4, this is a great essay to look to for tips. It’s all about helping the common good and highlights, especially with its last line, the applicant’s desire to continue helping the community. How to Write a Great Boston College Essay: 4 Tips Before we wrap up, here are four general tips to help you write a great Boston College essay. #1: Be Clear and Specific Your Boston College essay should be clear, with specific, concrete details that tell a compelling narrative about you and what you value.Your essay will have more personal impact if you can incorporate critical details, such as the names of people, your reactions/emotions to events or actions, etc. In addition, make sure your story is focused and doesn't meander onto less relevant, less interesting, or less significant topics. For instance, if you’re writing about how you enjoy volunteering at retirement homes, there's no point in elaborating on other values you have or other service projects you’re involved in since doing so will take away from the main focus of your essay. #2: Use an Honest Voice While Embracing Jesuit Values As with any college essay, try to channel an authentic voice.Exaggerations in your emotions or reactions are generally pretty easy for admissions committees to detect, so don't bother trying to make a particular experience in your life seem more significant than it really was. Be honest with yourself: what is important to you?What do you believe Boston College must know about you?And what do you feel defines who you are and what you want to do? Remember that Boston College is a Jesuit school that strongly values specific qualities, including morality, honesty, and community service. If you have a strong passion for any Jesuit values and often exercise them in your life, make sure you’re clearly touching on these in your essay so you can further emphasize how Boston College is an ideal fit for you. #3: Don’t Repeat What You Wrote for the Common App Essay All Boston College applicants must write, in addition to the essay we’ve talked about in this article, a separate personal statement that responds to one of the Common App prompts. Since many of these prompts are similar to the Boston College essay prompts listed above, it’s critical that you do not repeat any major themes or topics in your two essays. Each essay is meant to showcase a different side of you, and if you’re simply repeating yourself in both essays, you won’t be revealing anything unique or interesting about yourself- which will not impress the Boston College admissions committee at all! #4: Edit and Proofread a Lot You’ll want to spend a good amount of time editing and proofreading your Boston College essay. The best way to do this is to write a rough draft and then put it away for a few days.After some time has passed, take out your essay so you can look it over with a fresh perspective.Note any areas that are irrelevant, awkward, or grammatically incorrect. Once you’ve done this a few times, give your essay to someone else to read, such as a teacher, parent, or older sibling.Ask for feedback on what you can improve in terms of flow, organization, and overall story. You should now have an excellent Boston College essay ready to submit! What’s Next? If you're applying to Boston College, you're likely applying to other colleges on the East Coast, too. Check out our expert guides to the Duke essay, the Tufts essays, and the Harvard essay. Need help writing your Common App essay? Our tips will show you how to write a Common App essay guaranteed to make you stand out from other applicants! To learn more about Boston College, including what GPA and SAT/ACT scores you'll need to get in, check out our Boston College admission requirements page. Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. 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Death in Vienna essays

Death in Vienna essays The holocaust, which took place between 1941 and 1945, refers to the organized genocide of millions of jews in Nazi controlled Europe. An efficient system was established to see through what is known as the final solution. Prior to the end of the war, many Nazis knew of the impending punishment for their crimes angainst humanity and fled. Others were able to effectively cover their tracks and continue to live normal lives indifferent of the atrocities in which they were active participants. A Death in Vienna is a novel about how the crimes of the holocaust reverberate in the modern day. While the holocaust kills approximately 6 million european jews, it did not successfully kill them all. When the war comes to an end many of the survivors are left with no family, in the middle of remote places. Instictively, many of these people decide to return home only to find that other people have come to inhabit their home. Among these people is Max Klein. A talanted violinist, Max manages to survive the holocaust and move back to his home in Vienna. Max lives there for the rest of his life and in his elderly years frequents a coffee shop where he discusses politics with another patron, Henirich Vogel. Klein, however, recognizes Vogel as a commander at a concentration camp who mercilessly killed innocent people. Klein is hurt that vogel is not forced to face repurcussions for his actions. Although Vogel may have commited the crime many years ago, and although vogel is now a changed man, klein is disturbed that such heinous crimes would go unpunished. The effects of the holocaust are not limited to victims themselves but also the desendants of victims. The main character, Gabriel Allon, decides at first to find out who Vogel really is (as his identity has been changed) for max klein. Later, Allon recognizes Vogel from his mothers artwork as the man who had threatened her life and killed her best friends. Allon blam ...

Piet Mondrians Work and His Insistence on Primary Colors Essay

Piet Mondrians Work and His Insistence on Primary Colors - Essay Example While Composition clearly exhibits a strong amount of originality, (Form and Organization) Mondrian is guided by a set of principles that he and fellow De Stijl founders outlined. One can see how all these tenants are evident in Composition. All colours are, â€Å"primary colours as this gives the painting a more stripped-down and pure feel† (Art Book, p. 120). The rectangular planes and prisms are evident in the picture as seems to avoid characteristic types of symmetry, instead opting for abstract positioning of figures that still retain a functional appeal to the human senses. The aesthetic balance in the picture is achieved through opposition; nowhere do we see two of the same colours connected. (Artist Intent) While Mondrian has been derided as an intellectual artist, too concerned with formalist principals, his actual intentions were much more organic. In Neo-Plasticism in Pictorial Art Mondrian wrote, â€Å"... this new plastic idea will ignore the particulars of appearance, that is to say, natural form and colour. On the contrary, it should find its expression in the abstraction of form and colour, that is to say, in the straight line and the clearly defined primary colour† (De Stijl). (Expert) Since Mondrian’s style is â€Å"non-representational and linked to a spiritual element in his life†, it seems the theoretical underpinnings of neo-plasticism and Mondrian’s own theosophical beliefs are evident in Composition (Deicher, p. ix). (Personal Reaction) Upon viewing Mondrian’s earlier experimental work where colours do, in fact, stand next to each other, it’s clear why he later chose to disregard such placements, as they take away from the beauty of the work. The viewer is immediately struck by the sparseness of designs and the purity of forms. It’s easy to imagine how Mondrian’s pure geometric shapes share much with the idealized Platonic forms, where the pure essential nature of the object exists in direct relation to the soul and the universe.  Ã‚  

Business and Informtion Systems Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Business and Informtion Systems - Case Study Example Thus new sources of competitive dvntge--coordinting nd integrtion skills--become strtegic wepon tht is not rooted in trditionl fctors. The requirements of globl sourcing, rel-time informtion shring, mss customiztion nd virtul clustering of ctivities redefine ntionl competitiveness--nd the links between firms nd their home territories--in wys significntly different from those envisioned erlier. Current pper presents n overview of orgniztionl business strtegy in terms of ITC inititive to support business nd build competitive dvntge. Prticulrly, the cse of Tesco grocery is provided to cover the issues of corporte informtion nd communiction strtegy. s well s operting in the UK, it hs stores in the rest of Europe nd si. It lso provides online services through its subsidiry, Tesco.com. The UK is the compny's lrgest mrket operting under four bnners: Extr, Superstore, Metro nd Express. Tesco sells pproximtely 40,000 food products in its superstores, s well s clothing nd other non-food lines. The compny's own-lbel products re t three levels, vlue, norml nd finest. Own brnd ccounts for pproximtely 50% of sles. s well s convenience produce, mny stores hve gs sttions. The compny hs become one of Britin's lrgest petrol independent retilers. Other retiling services offered in the UK include Tesco Personl Finnce nd Tesco.com. Tesco Personl Finnce is joint venture with the Royl Bnk of Scotlnd. It hs over 3.4 million customers, nd provides vrious finncil products nd services. The compny hs opertions in the rest of Europe, including the Republic of Irelnd, Hungry, Polnd, Czech Republic nd Slovki. (Finch 2005) Tesco's Republic of Irelnd business opertes in the region of 82 stores, nd round 60 stores in the Hungrin mrket. Tesco's Polish opertions include former HIT operted stores. It opertes round 66 hypermrkets nd supermrkets in this country. In the Czech Republic nd Slovkin mrkets, Tesco opertes 22 nd 23 hypermrkets respectively. (Flvin, 2005) Tesco lso opertes stores in si, including Thilnd, South Kore, Mlysi nd Tiwn. The compny opertes 64 stores in Thilnd nd 28 stores in the South Koren Mrket, while in the Tiwnese nd Mlysin mrkets it hs three stores in ech ntion. Business Strtegies of Tesco Tesco core competencies When speking of compny's core competencies it is mter of discussing compny's competitive dvntge tht differentite it from the list of competitors. The most importnt trget for Tesco is to set the competent position between businesses on the mrket nd sustin its mrket power through long period of opertions nd ctivities. There theory sttement s for the mtter of sustinble development nd core cmpetences of the business where Tesco opertes is the on tht dvises the compny to dpt in ccordnce to chnges in compny's enverinment; it should be flexible nd evolve over time. Therefore, Tesco needs to dpt to new rpidly chnging circumstnces nd opportunities, so its core competencies will hve to dpt nd chnge. The exmple of this ws when the compny hs lunched its loylty crd nd went into bnking. Core competences cn be shped within the frmework of following three fctors: Provision of potentil ccess to wide vriety of

Organizational development Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Organizational development - Assignment Example The firm that is analyzed in the paper is XYZ Company that deals with textile design. It has 2,000 employees. The company designs and makes clothes for various customers in Europe, Asia and North America. The company supply its products to different countries specifically designed according to preferences and demand of the market. Last year, XYZ ventured into African market with various customers demanding various designs that fits African cultures. In light with this, the company saw the need for the establishment of new outlets in three African countries which have an interest in using XYZ products. The human resource department resolved that the company has to transfer some employees from the U.S offices to the newly established offices in Africa. However, the move to diversify market to the African market was as a result of the downward trend in sales from the already existing markets. When employees were notified about the intentions to be transferred to the new market, over 100 employees resigned their positions as employees of EYZ Company. However, the situation deteriorated with more resignation letters flowing into the human resource office daily. At first, the human resource manager thought that the employees were afraid of being transferred to work in the new market. As some investigations were conducted, it was noticed that the employees left the company because of bad working conditions. Amazingly, those that had left were hired by XYZ’s main competitor whose working conditions were more enticing than those of XYZ. Intentions to open new offices in the new market were temporarily suspended until some organizational development was realized in the existing market. Statement of the problem Since its establishment in 2000, XYZ has been leading in textile design. At first, XYZ operated in the U.S market only. Its marketing strategies and employee relations were perfect, something that led to the establishment of new outlets in the European marke t. However, since the retirement of its human resource manager in 2008, the company performance has been deteriorating year after year. It has been argued that employee wellness and reward system has been ignored by the new management since 2008. Employees have not been proactive as there before, thus poor performance of the company. It is argued that employees are one of the best capitals an organization can ever have (Jex 245). Therefore, their wellness is vital as it help retain and motivate them. Once employees are motivated, they tend to perform their duties effectively. Due to this fact, XYZ’s profit margins have gone down to the extent of failing to take care of its liabilities including payment of its employees. This is what prompted the management to think of opening up new markets in the African market. The presumption was that there was a decrease in demand and stiff competition of their products in the existing markets. However, it is believed that a company is ab le to have a competitive advantage in markets with stiff competition only after employing all necessary measures including employee wellness. It is apparent that if XYZ fails to intervene on the matter, it is highly unlikely to remain in the market. In the short term intervention, it would be essential for XYZ to find ways of retaining the current employees by addressing their grievances at hand. This way, it is highly likely that the company will be able to uphold its present performance without going on a downward trend. Nevertheless, it is equally important to employ long-term measures, which would enable the company improve and survive the highly completive market. Objectives of intervention The main objective of this intervention is to use a reward systems intervention to help XYZ improve its performance Specific objectives To propose appropriate re-structuring of the XYZ organization To propose reward systems to XYZ that would help retain and motivate its employees Scope of in tervention Since XYZ company

Case study Mental Illness and Addiction

Case study Mental Illness and Addiction Describe substance abuse and how it differs from substance dependence. Substance abuse is when an individual Overindulgences in an addictive substance (New Oxford American Dictionary. According to the Neurobiological Causes of Addiction, substance abuse is a Maladaptive pattern of drug use leading to impairment or distress presenting as one or more of the following in a 12 month period of time (Erickson Wilcox 2001): Recurrent use leading to failure to fulfill major obligations Recurrent use which is physically hazardous Recurrent drug-related legal problems Continued use despite social or interpersonal problems and the person has never met the criteria for substance dependence (Erickson Wilcox 2001). A person that has a substance dependence is when an individual uses a substance despite the negative affects that may occur, such as: withdrawal, and compulsive behavior. According to Erickson, Drug dependence is a maladaptive pattern of drug use, leading to impairment or distress, presenting as three or more of the following in a 12 month period (Erickson Wilcox 2001): Tolerance to the drugs actions Withdrawal Drug is used more then intended Inability to control drug use Effort is expended to obtain the drug Important activities are replaced by drug use Drug use continues in spite of negative consequences When an individual has a dependence to a substance the individual has a psychological and physical attachment with the substance. It is this link between the drug and the body / mind that can have devastating and lasting effects on the individual who has the dependence. 5 pts Some recovery/treatment programs stress total abstinence as a goal, while other advocate harm reduction. What are the advantages/disadvantages of each approach? Abstinence is like to what it sounds the individual is not allowed to partake in the substance that they are addicted to, and these types of programs are effective, but the individual has to be willing to devote themselves to the program. Some of the advantages of abstinence can include getting the individual healthy physically and mentally. The positive side of abstinence is that the individual is no longer destroying personal property and committing crimes to finance their addiction. Therefore, abstinence keeps people out of the legal system including serving time for criminal crimes and dealing with the court system for loosing custody of their children. 12 step recovery groups such as AA and NA advocate for abstinence to give people what they call, Recovery and a change for a better life that is free from active addiction (Personal communication, Wright. J, 2010) Abstinence provides a support group that allows the addiction to be normalized, and allow the individual to link up with other people who are slaves to a dependency. The individual is able to have an since of empowerment by being surrounded by others, who are able to keep the individual in check on their addiction and personal goals. The disadvantages of abstinences, Are most disturbing is the way abstinence can segregate mentally ill persons from being able to engage in treatment. This is because many people have diagnoses that require Benzodiazepines, Amphetamines and even Methadone which treatment providers believe to be highly addictive. There is a theory that a person in treatment can engage in services if they are high on prescriptions (Personal communication Wright. J. 2010) The main program for abstinence is AA or NA and they are based on spirituality, this could be a conflict for some of the individuals who are in treatment, because there religion may contradict that of the programs. It is also important to remember that the individual has to want to change their life for this program to work. AA and NA also tell the individual that they have no power over their addiction, it does not allow the individual to have a feeling and since of empowerment. It seems to take the power away for the individual and p uts all the focus on the addiction. Also AA and NA preaches the idea that you have to go to the meetings every day and that you will always be an addict and that you can never be without the addiction and that you can never over come the addiction. Also they have to be willing to alter their lives and commit themselves to the program: fully. Harm reduction is a good alturnative to abstinence for individuals who cannot stop their use because they are psychologically dependance to the substance. Harm reductions can include such ideas and concepts like, using the substance less, using the drug every Wednesday or even changing out their needles for clean ones. Some of the following are advantages and disadvantages according to the 2007 Journal of Drug Issues in English and American Drug Clients (K. Phillips, h. Rosenburg A. Sanikop). Harm Reduction Advantages and Disadvantages Interventions Advantages Disadvantages Methadone Reduces/eliminates/stabilizes illicit drug use facilities detox/relives withdrawal More addictive and worse withdrawal then heroin, Substituting one addiction for another. Substitute Amphetamines Known potency, Content.Decrease need for street drugs. Crime reduction Could encourage to use more on top and OD Diversion to black markets. Needle Exchange Disease Prevention, Removes temptation to share or reuse (needles) Disease Prevention Lower rates of AIDS and STI Community harm/inappropriate disposal, Makes it easier to inject. Encourages use Drop in Centers Safer environment NOS, OD prevention/ Prevents harm treatment facilitation Encourages drug use/Risk compensation. Place where drugs can be sold. Lofexidine Eases pain of withdrawal non-opiate alternative Encourages detox/eases withdrawal Doesnt help enough with the withdrawal symptoms Drug has specific side effects Naltrexone Temptation resistance Relapse prevention because use is waste of money Relapse Prevention/ helps user quit, blocks the effects of Heroin Can be used as a weapon, Clients wont take it In the states, Harm Reduction therapy has a stigma attached to it that some clinical practices and professionals have attached to it, detouring individuals with substance abuse issues to use Harm Reduction. This type of therapy also does not assist with co-occurring dependancies that the individual may have. It tends to focus on the chemical that the individual is addicted to and not the cause of the dependancy. It does not allow for the individual to isolate and get to the root of the problem, however, it does save money in the medical and prison systems. The needle exchange, was started after the out break of HIV and AIDS and the number of individuals who were diagnosed with HIV and AIDS has gone down since the needle exchange was influenced. As well as the number of individuals who are in prison for substance abuse has gone down because there are treatment programs that include methadone that can help the individual come off their addiction to an opiate. 5 pts Alcoholism has been described as a bio-psycho-social disorder. If you were performing an assessment of a defendant what factors would you look for in the client history? Bio-psycho-social is broken down into the following: Biological Addiction: is addiction that runs in the families and there maybe genetic involved in the process of addictions, but some of the individuals have a biological predisposition to addiction Psychological Addiction: That addiction is a learned behavior. This can include, domestic violence and learning how to use a drug. One becomes obsessed by the PLEASURE that the substance can provide. Social Aspect: Environments that individuals grow up in and that environment may reinforce addictive behaviors. It is these concepts that create the bio-psycho-social theory, it is an idea that is steeped in the theory of person in environment. It takes in account the individuals biology, psychological health and social wellbeing and support to fully understand the root of the persons addiction. According to the Handbook of Forensic Mental Health ( D. Springer A. Roberts 2007 p. 350-352) the following are questions and information that you have to gather in order to be able to fully complete an assessment: Presenting Problems: Record current problems as reported by the youth, family, referral source and any pertinent others, Include the history and development of the problem, circumstances surrounding the problem and the previous attempts to solve the problem. Development (birth to current age): describe prenatal care, birth, achievements of developmental milestones, delays and birth defects. Family Background: describe the family constellation, family functioning and communication. Include socioeconomic, educational and occupational information. Describe family childrearing and parenting tactics. Academic History: Describe previous diagnoses and the history of psychological problems and services. Include medication history and any history of self-injurious behaviors and or suicide attempts. Psychological History: Describe previous diagnoses and the history of psychological problems and services include medication history and any history of self-injurious behaviors and or suicide attempts. Substance Abuse History: Describe the youths use and abuse of all substances; include the length, method, and location of use and the families history of substance use. Juvenile Justice or Legal History: Describe previous encounters with the juvenile justice system and the history of illegal behaviors and status offense. include timeline, type, and circumstances of offense as well as the family history of legal problems. Violence and Abuse History: Detail psychological, verbal, physical, and sexual abuse of the youth and include a timeline. Identify perpetrators and describe whether the abuse occurred in or outside of the family. Describe any family or dating violence that the youth perpetrated. include any other traumas that the youth was exposed to. Medical History: Describe the history of medical conditions diseases and medication of youth Include the family history. Cultural History: Identify the ethnicity and rase of the youth and family include any issues noted regarding bicultural identity, immigration status, language barriers, acculturation and discrimination. Lethality: Clearly identify any concerns with lethality of the youth either towards him or herself or others and describe the plan for addressing this lethality. Bio-psycho-social is a holistic approach when dealing with an individuals addictive behavior. It is based on a continuum approach, that is supported by a since of empowerment. It allows the individual to understand why they many have started to be addicted to a substance that is plaguing them, and gives them the tools that is needed to understand their addiction and how to prevent themselves from relapsing. 5 pts Historically, a number of theories or models of alcoholism have evolved. What are these models and what is their relevance for today? These models give a guideline and help create an understanding in why people become addicted to specific substances. These models range from biological reasoning to environmental, but they are all linked in trying to discover why people become addicted to substances: they all strive to create a public understanding of addiction. They do not try to make excuses for those who are addicted, but they try to understand why addiction occurs. Theoretical Models of Alcohol/Drug Abuse From the Concepts of Chemical Dependency by: H. Doweiko Moral Model Temperance Model Spiritual Model Dispositional Disease Model Core Element The individual is viewed as choosing to use alcohol in problematic manner This model advocates the use of alcohol in moderate manner Drunkenness is a sight that the individual has slipped from his or her intended path in life. The person who becomes addicted to alcohol is somehow different from the nonalcoholic. The alcoholic might be said to allergic to alcohol Educational Model Characterological Model General Systems Model Medical Model Core Element Alcohol problems are caused by a lack of adequate knowledge about harmful effects of this chemical Problems with alcohol use are based on abnormalities in the personality structure of the individual Personal behavior must be viewed within context of social system in which they live The individual use of alcohol is based on biological predispositions such as his or her genetic heritage brain physiology and so on. (Harold Doweiko. 2009. pp. 30) The models that have the most relevance for today has to be the medical model and the general systems model. Because by looking at the person in a holistic way we can understand that the individual is affect by addiction in three ways: biologically, psychologically, and socially and those two theories envelop those ideals. I think that when you understand the individuals biological and social characteristics, you will understand there addiction. 5 pts In describing the neurobiology of addiction, the term neuroplasticity is used to describe what brain process? Neuroplasticity is when the brain is altered due to chemicals, and it is forced to change in order to adapt to the chemical. When the chemical has been removed from the individual withdrawal starts to occur, because the brain has a difficult time functioning without the substance it has been forced to adapt to. Because the brain is good at making adjustments the body is capable of adapting to the toxic chemical, and the body learns how to function with the additive. Without the chemical the body has to alter itself to relearn how to function without the chemical. 5 pts Dr. Eugene Prochaska has developed a treatment approach based on Stages of Change. What is the thinking behind this model and how it is used in treating substance abusers? The purpose of this model is to understand how the cognitive and behavioral approaches affect the individual who is addicted to chemicals. According to Porchaska the, Purpose (of) the transtheoretical model (TTM) of health behavior seeks to bridge the cognitive and the behaviorist approaches by positing a series of stages in modifying behavior; in only some of these are cognitive processes pertinent and The model includes four main constructs: the sequential stages of change; processes which people typically use to facilitate change; decisional balance, which predicts whether change will occur; and self- efficacy, the persons confidence they can make changes (Prochaska. 1985. pp. 1). Stages of Change Stages of Change and the Transtheoretical Model By: E. Prochaska Stages Description Pre-contemplation The person has no intent in changing the behavior, usually within the next six months. This maybe due to lack of information or confidence. The person is unmotivated and will resist discussing or thinking about making the change. They are not ready for interventions. Contemplation The person expresses and intention to take action within six months. They are aware of the benefits and cost of making the change and this balance may keep them in the phase for a long time. They are not ready for an intervention that expects immediate action. Preparation The person intends to take action in the immediate future. They typically have a plan of action and they have taken some preparatory action. They are ready for traditional action interventions Action The person has specific changes to their lifestyle Maintenance The person works to prevent relapse; during this phase their confidence increases as they continue with their new lifestyle. Termination In principle the maintenance stage will lead to a phase in which the person is no longer tempted to revert to their former behavior and the change is complete. This model suggest that in order to over come an addiction you have to go though a linear model. I do not think that the individual with the substance abuse has to go though all these steps in order to kick the habit. I also believe that this model places all the blame on the individual because it does not take into account the individual biology and or the environment that the individual is surrounded by. The thinking behind this model is that these are the stages that an individual who has a substance abuse dependency must go though in order to become clean and if they are able to follow this model they will finally be able to kick the habit. 5 pts How is crystal meth different from other stimulants such as cocaine? What are some of the long-term effects associated with meth use? According to the Powerpoint provided by the Department of Health and Human Services (SHMHSA) the differences between methamphetamine and cocaine are: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Cocaine effects: 1 to 2 hours. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Methamphetamine effects: 8 to 12 hours. More intense rush or initial pleasure (I would add.) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Withdrawal from methamphetamine can cause more intense symptoms and last longer. The Long term psychological effects of using meth are: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Confusion à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Loss of ability to concentrate and organize information à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Loss of ability to feel pleasure without the drug à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Paranoia à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Insomnia and fatigue à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Mood swings à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Irritability and anger à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Depression à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Anxiety and panic disorder à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Reckless, unprotected sexual behavior The more sever psychological effects can include: Hallucinations Severe depression that can lead to suicidal thoughts or attempts Episodes of sudden, violent behavior Severe memory loss that may be permanent The chronic physical effects are: Tremor Weakness Dry mouth Weight loss/malnutrition Increased sweating Oily skin Sores Headaches Severe problems with teeth and gums Sever Physical: Seizures Damaged blood vessels in the brain/stroke Damaged brain cells Irregular heartbeat/sudden death Heart attack or chronic heart problems Kidney failure Liver failure Tweaking Infected skin sores 5 pts â‚ ¬Ã‚ ³Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ µÃ¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¯Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ³Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ µ Citations Department of Health and Human Services. SHMHSA.(Year unknown) Session 4: methamphetamine and cocaine, TCRIM 361 Summer 2010. University of Washington Tacoma. Doweiko, H. (2009). Concepts of chemical dependency: psychological models of substance use disorders. Brooks/cole cengage learning. Belmont CA. ISB: 13-978-049550580-8 Erickson, Carlton K. and Wilcox, Richard E.(2001) Neurobiological causes of addiction, journal of social work practice in the addictions, 1: 3, 7 22 DOI: 10.1300/J160v01n03_02 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/ J160v01n03_02 Phillips, K., Rosenberg, H., Sanikop, A. (2007). English and american drug clients view of the acceptably, advantages and disadvantages of treatment and harm reduction interventions. Journal of Drug issues, 37(2), 377-402. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database. Prochaska, J. (1985). Stages of change and the transtheoretical model. Springer W., Roberts A., (2007) Handbook of forensic mental health with victims and offenders: assessment, treatment, and research. Springer Series on Social Work. New York. ISBN: 0826115144 Wright. J. (2010, Aug. 8). Personal communication. University of Washington.

Dead Poets Society :: essays research papers

"It was Mr Keating's blatant abuse of position as teacher that led directly to Neil's death."We are asked to discuss the above statement after watching the movie: "Dead Poets Society". This statement I feel is ridiculous and when I have finished this essay you will agree.The school was a dull, meaningless place where tradition and reputation was put before creativity and education. That was until Mr Keating, came to the school as an English teacher. He focused around Poetry. He taught the boys to express themselves and do what they in their hearts wanted to do, not what their parents wanted them to do.The boys found a photo of Mr Keating in an old yearbook with the caption under reading- "Alan Keating, Leader of the Dead Poets Society." The boys approached Mr Keating about what the DPS was. He told them they would sneak out at night and sit the old Indian cave and read brilliant poetry. Neil, one of the more energetic boys, suggested that their group co ntinue this tradition, and they, in turn agreed.Mr Keating taught the boys to enjoy the poetry and let them speak out about what they wanted to be. He taught them to be individuals. But eventually allegations that he was responsible for Neil's death came flying back at him.Neil wanted to be an actor. He was very good at it and performed in the local production of: "A Midsummer Night's Dream". His father, however wanted him to be a doctor. After Neil's superb performance his father rushed him home and told him that he was sending him to Military school for another ten years to stamp out any further ideas of his acting.Neil shot himself that night.Students, parents and teacher immediately looked for someone to blame and the headmaster, Mr Norton picked out Mr Keating as the unlucky scapegoat.