Best Character Analysis Nick Carraway â€The Great Gatsby

Best Character Analysis Nick Carraway –The Great Gatsby SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Nick Carraway is The Great Gatsby’s narrator, but he isn’t the protagonist (main character). This makes Nick himself somewhat tricky to observe, since we see the whole novel through his eyes. How can you watch the narrator? This difficulty is compounded by the fact that Nick is an unreliable narrator – basically, a narrator who doesn’t always tell us the truth about what’s happening. In this post we will explore what we objectively know about Nick, what he does in the novel, his famous lines, common essay topics/discussion topics about Nick, and finally some FAQs about Mr. Carraway. Article Roadmap Nickas a character Nick's background Actions in the novel Character Analysis Quotes about and byNick Nick as a narrator Nick as a character FAQ clarifyingconfusing points about Nick Quick Note on Our Citations Our citation format in this guide is (chapter.paragraph). We're using this system since there are many editions of Gatsby, so using page numbers would only work for students with our copy of the book. To find a quotation we cite via chapter and paragraph in your book, you can either eyeball it (Paragraph 1-50: beginning of chapter; 50-100: middle of chapter; 100-on: end of chapter), or use the search function if you're using an online or eReader version of the text. Nick Carraway's Background Nick grew up in the â€Å"middle West,† (what we call the Midwest), in a wealthy family that was â€Å"something of a clan† (1.5). His family made their money from a wholesale hardware business his grandfather’s brother began after sending a substitute to fight for him in the Civil War. Nick attended Yale, like his father, and then fought in WWI. Upon his return, he found the Midwest incredibly boring and so set off for New York to become a bond salesman: â€Å"I enjoyed the counter-raid so thoroughly that I came back restless. Instead of being the warm center of the world the middle-west now seemed like the ragged edge of the universe- so I decided to go east and learn the bond business† (1.6). Of course, we later find out that Nick’s also getting away from a woman who expects that they’re getting married, but Nick downplays this fact in his narration, which is one of our clues to his dishonesty. To see how Nick's background intersects with the stories of the other characters in the novel, check out ourGreat Gatsby timeline. Nick's Actions in the Novel This is a summary of everything Nick does during the novel, leaving out flashbacks he hears from other characters. (For a complete summary of the plot, check out our book summary!) At the beginning of The Great Gatsby, Nick Carraway takes up residence in West Egg, in a small house next to Gatsby’s enormous mansion. The year is 1922, the stock market is booming, and Nick has found work as a bond salesman. In Chapter 1, he is invited to his cousin Daisy Buchanan’s home to have dinner with her and her husband Tom, an old college acquaintance of his. There he meets Jordan Baker, Daisy’s friend and a professional golfer. In Chapter 2, while hanging out with Tom he ends up being dragged first to George Wilson’s garage to meet Tom’s mistress Myrtle Wilson, and then to the apartment Tom keeps for Myrtle in Manhattan. They invite over a bunch of friends and a drunken party ensues. Nick witnesses some of Tom’s ugliest behavior, including his physical abuse of Myrtle. In Chapter 3, Nick is invited to attend one of Jay Gatsby’s famous parties. There, he finally meets Gatsby, and also sees Jordan again. After seeing Jordan again at that party, they begin to date, and also does his best to win over her old Aunt, who controls her money. Once he starts dating Jordan he vows to stop sending weekly letters to the woman back in the Midwest. (Though, in typical Nick fashion, he never confirms that he stops sending the letters.) He also mentions a brief affair with a woman in his office that he lets fizzle out. After meeting Gatsby in Chapter 3 they begin spending time together. In Chapter 4 they drive to Manhattan together. At first he’s pretty wary of Gatsby and his story. This wariness of Gatsby is compounded by Nick’s poor (and very anti-Semitic!) impression of Meyer Wolfsheim, one of Gatsby’s associates. Later in Chapter 4, Nick meets up with Jordan in the plaza hotel and she tells him about Daisy and Gatsby’s romantic history (which she heard all about at the previous party). Nick agrees to arrange a meeting between Daisy and Gatsby, which occurs in Chapter 5. In Chapter 6, Nick goes to Gatsby’s house and witnesses an awkward exchange between Gatsby, a couple named Sloane, and Tom Buchanan. The trio had stopped by Gatsby’s house and Gatsby misreads how serious they are about having dinner together. Later, Tom and Daisy attend one of Gatsby’s parties. Tom is immediately suspicious about where Gatsby gets his money while Daisy has a bad time, looking down her nose at the affair. Gatsby confides in Nick afterwards that he wants to repeat his past with Daisy. In Chapter 7, Nick is invited along to a lunch party at Tom and Daisy Buchanan’s house, along with Gatsby and Jordan. Gatsby is hoping Daisy will tell Tom that she never loved him and is leaving him for Gatsby, but starts to feel nervous doing that in Tom’s house. Daisy is anxious as well and suggests they all go to Manhattan. Nick rides to Manhattan with Tom and Jordan, in Gatsby’s yellow car. They stop by the Wilson’s garage, where he learns that George has discovered Myrtle’s affair, but not the man she is cheating on him with. In Manhattan, the group rents a room at the Plaza hotel. A bunch of secrets come out, including the fact that Tom knows Gatsby is a bootlegger. Daisy tries to say she never loved Tom but can’t stand by the statement, Tom, satisfied he’s won, tells Gatsby to take Daisy back home in his yellow car while he drives back with Nick and Jordan. Perhaps the least subtle car in the history of cars. On the way back, they come along Myrtle Wilson’s death scene: she has been hit by the yellow car. Later that night, Nick stays outside of the Buchanans’ house while waiting for a cab back to West Egg, too disgusted with their behavior to go inside. He sees Gatsby waiting outside – he wants to make sure Daisy is alright. Meanwhile, Nick spots Tom and Daisy inside looking like co-conspirators. In Chapter 8, Nick goes to work but can’t concentrate. Jordan calls him to say where she’s staying, but he’s disgusted she doesn’t seem shaken by Myrtle’s death and they fight and break up. Nick later spends time with Gatsby in his mansion and learns his whole life story. The next day, Gatsby is shot and killed by George Wilson (and George kills himself). In Chapter 9, Nick struggles to arrange a funeral for Gatsby, which in the end is only attended by Gatsby’s father and Owl Eyes. Disgusted with the morally lawless life in the East, he decides to retreat back home to the Midwest. Key Nick Carraway Quotes In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. "Whenever you feel like criticizing any one," he told me, "just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had." (1.1-2) The first lines establish Nick as thoughtful, thorough, privileged, and judgmental. This line also sets the tone for the first few pages, where Nick tells us about his background and tries to encourage the reader to trust his judgment. While he comes off as thoughtful and observant, we also get the sense he is judgmental and a bit snobby. To see more analysis of why the novel begins how it does, and what Nick's father's advice means for him as a character and as a narrator, read our article on the beginning ofThe Great Gatsby. When I came back from the East last autumn I felt that I wanted the world to be in uniform and at a sort of moral attention forever; I wanted no more riotous excursions with privileged glimpses into the human heart. Only Gatsby, the man who gives his name to this book, was exempt from my reaction- Gatsby, who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn. (1.4) Another quote from the first few pages of the novel, this line sets up the novel’s big question: why does Nick become so close to Gatsby, given that Gatsby represents everything he hates? It also hints to the reader that Nick will come to care about Gatsby deeply while everyone else will earn his â€Å"unaffected scorn.† While this doesn’t give away the plot, it does help the reader be a bit suspicious of everyone but Gatsby going into the story. Every one suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known. (3.171) This is likely the moment when you start to suspect Nick doesn’t always tell the truth – if everyone â€Å"suspects† themselves of one of the cardinal virtues (the implication being they aren’t actually virtuous), if Nick says he’s honest, perhaps he’s not? Furthermore, if someone has to claim that they are honest, that often suggests that they do things that aren’t exactly trustworthy. Suddenly I wasn't thinking of Daisy and Gatsby any more but of this clean, hard, limited person who dealt in universal skepticism and who leaned back jauntily just within the circle of my arm. A phrase began to beat in my ears with a sort of heady excitement: "There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy and the tired." (4.164) Nick’s interactions with Jordan are some of the only places where we get a sense of any vulnerability or emotion from Nick. In particular, Nick seems quite attracted to Jordan and being with her makes a phrase â€Å"beat† in his ears with â€Å"heady excitement.† If there are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy, and the tired, it would appear Nick is happy to be the pursuer at this particular moment. "They're a rotten crowd," I shouted across the lawn. "You're worth the whole damn bunch put together." (8.45) This line, which comes after Myrtle’s death and Tom, Daisy, and Jordan’s cold reaction to it, establishes that Nick has firmly come down on Gatsby’s side in the conflict between the Buchanans and Gatsby. It also shows Nick’s disenchantment with the whole wealthy east coast crowd and also that, at this point, he is devoted to Gatsby and determined to protect his legacy. This hints to us that our once seemingly impartial narrator is now seeing Gatsby more generously than he sees others. Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter- tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And one fine morning- - So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past. (9.153-4) This is Nick’s conclusion to his story, which can be read as cynical, hopeful, or realistic, depending on how you interpret it. You can read in detail about these lines in our article about the novel’s ending. Nick Carraway Character Analysis Nick is the narrator, but he is not omniscient (he can’t see everything), and he’s also very human and flawed. In other words, he’s an unreliable narrator, sometimes because he’s not present for a certain event, other times because he presents the story out of order, and finally because he sometimes obscures the truth. (It takes most students two reads of the novel to even catch the fact that Nick has a woman waiting for him back in the Midwest.) Because of his unreliable narrator status, the central questions many teachers try to get at with Nick is to explore his role in the story, how the story would be different without his narration, and how he compares to Gatsby. In short, you often have to analyze Nick as a character, not the narrator. This can be tricky because you have to compare Nick’s narration with his dialogue, his actions, and how he chooses to tell the story. You also have to realize that when you’re analyzing the other characters, you’re doing that based on information from Nick, which may or may not be reliable. Basically, nothing we hear in the novel can be completely accurate since it comes through the (necessarily) flawed point of view of a single person. The best way to analyze Nick himself is to choose a few passages to close read, and use what you observe from close-reading to build a larger argument. Pay close attention to moments, especially Nick’s encounters with Jordan, that give you a glimpse at Nick’s emotions and vulnerabilities. We will demonstrate this in action below! Pictured: the rose-tinted glasses Nick apparently starts to see Gatsby through. Nick as the Narrator These first questions analyze Nick's role as a narrator. Why Is Nick the Narrator and Not Gatsby? Since Nick gives a roughly chronological account of the summer of 1922, we get to see the development of Gatsby from mysterious party-giver to love-struck dreamer to tragic figure (who rose from humble roots and became rich, all in a failed attempt to win over Daisy). If Gatsby was the narrator, it would be harder for Fitzgerald to show that progression, unless Gatsby relayed his life story way out of order, which might have been hard to accomplish from Gatsby’s POV. The novel would have also been a much more straightforward story, probably with less suspense: Gatsby was born poor in South Dakota, became friends with Dan Cody, learned how to act rich, lost Cody’s inheritance, fell in love with Daisy, fought in the war, became determined to win her back, turned to crime. In short, Fitzgerald could have told the same story, but it would have had much less suspense and mystery, plus it would have been much harder to relay the aftermath of Gatsby’s death. Unless the point of view abruptly switched after Gatsby was shot, the reader would have no idea what exactly happened to Gatsby, what happened to George Wilson, and finally wouldn’t be able to see Gatsby’s funeral. Plus, with a narrator other than Gatsby himself, it’s easier to analyze Gatsby as a character. Nick is very observant, and he is able to notice things about Gatsby, like the way he misses social cues, subtle shifts in his mood, and even smaller details like his arresting smile. We probably wouldn’t have seen these facets of Gatsby if Gatsby himself were telling the story. Finally, since Nick is both â€Å"within and without† the New York elite, he is an excellent ticket in to the reader – he can both introduce us to certain facets of that world while also sharing in much of our shock and skepticism. Nick is just like the â€Å"new student at school† or â€Å"new employee† trope that so many movies and TV shows use as a way to introduce viewers into a new world. With Gatsby as narrator, it would be harder to observe all the details of the New York social elite. Is Nick Carraway an Unreliable Narrator? In many ways, Nick is an unreliable narrator: he’s dishonest about his own shortcomings (downplaying his affairs with other women, as well as his alcohol use), and he doesn’t tell us everything he knows about the characters upfront (for example, he waits until Chapter 6 to tell us the truth about Gatsby’s origins, even though he knows the whole time he’s telling the story, and even then glosses over unflattering details like the details of Gatsby’s criminal enterprises), and he’s often harsh in his judgments (and additionally anti-Semitic, racist, and misogynistic). As a reader, you should be skeptical of Nick because of how he opens the story, namely that he spends a few pages basically trying to prove himself a reliable source (see our beginning summary for more on this), and later, how he characterizes himself as â€Å"one of the few honest people I have ever known† (3.171). After all, does an honest person really have to defend their own honesty? However, despite how judgmental he is, Nick is a very observant person, especially in regard to other people, their body language, and social situations. For example, in Chapter 6, Nick immediately senses Gatsby isn’t really welcome at the Sloanes’ house before Tom says it outright. Nick is also able to accurately predict Daisy won’t leave Tom at the end of Chapter 1, after observing her standing in the door with Tom: â€Å"I was confused and a little disgusted as I drove away. It seemed to me that the thing for Daisy to do was to rush out of the house, child in arms- but apparently there were no such intentions in her head† (1.150). If only Jay could have seen Daisy’s intentions so clearly! We also come away with a very clear understanding of the messy climax (Myrtle’s death at the hands of Daisy in Gatsby’s car, George Wilson’s psychological decay and murder/suicide of Gatsby), since Nick tells the events from his point of view but also from Michaelis’s, who owns a coffee shop near George Wilson’s garage. In short, Nick delegates to another narrator when he knows he doesn’t have enough information, and makes sure the reader comes away with a clear understanding of the fundamental events of the tragedy. In short, you shouldn’t believe everything Nick says, especially his snobbier asides, but you can take his larger characterizations and version of events seriously. But as you read, try to separate Nick’s judgments about people from his observations! Is Nick Actually the Hero of the Story? A hero, or protagonist, is generally the character whose actions propel the story forward, who the story focuses on, and they are usually tested or thwarted by an antagonist. So in the most traditional sense, Gatsby is the hero – he drives the action of the story by getting Jordan and Nick to reintroduce him to Daisy (which leads to the affair, confrontation in Manhattan, the death of Myrtle, and then the murder-suicide), he goes up against an antagonist of sorts (Tom), and the story ends with his death. Gatsby’s story is thus a cynical take on the traditional rags-to-riches story. However, some people see the protagonist as also the person who changes the most in the course of a story. In this case, you might argue that since Nick changes a lot during the novel (see below), while Gatsby during the story itself doesn’t change dramatically (his big character changes come before the chronology of the novel), that Nick is in fact the protagonist. Nick’s story is a take on the coming of age narrative – he even has an important birthday (30) in the novel! Basically, if you think the protagonist is the character who propels the action of the story, and someone who has an antagonist, it’s Gatsby. But if you think the protagonist is the person who changes the most, you could argue Nick is the hero. Nick as a Character We never get a physical description of Nick, so don't blame yourself if your mental image of him is bland and amorphous like this fellow. How Does Nick Change Throughout the Novel? Nick starts out naà ¯ve and hopeful about his summer, and his future in New York more generally, as revealed through his narration (this optimism about his own life is mixed up with his sharp, snarky characterizations of others, which remain mostly the same all through the novel). And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees- just as things grow in fast movies- I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer. There was so much to read for one thing and so much fine health to be pulled down out of the young breath-giving air. (1.-12) (emphasis added) As the summer goes on, he meets someone wildly more hopeful than he is – Gatsby, of course – and he begins to be more cynical in how he views his own life in comparison, realizing that there are certain memories and feelings he can no longer access. Through all he said, even through his appalling sentimentality, I was reminded of something- an elusive rhythm, a fragment of lost words, that I had heard somewhere a long time ago. For a moment a phrase tried to take shape in my mouth and my lips parted like a dumb man's, as though there was more struggling upon them than a wisp of startled air. But they made no sound and what I had almost remembered was uncommunicable forever. (6.135) (emphasis added) Finally, after the deaths of Myrtle, Gatsby, and Wilson, as well as the passing of his thirtieth birthday, Nick is thoroughly disenchanted, cynical, regretful, even angry, as he tries to protect Gatsby’s legacy in the face of an uncaring world, as well as a renewed awareness of his own mortality. "I'm thirty," I said. "I'm five years too old to lie to myself and call it honor." She didn't answer. Angry, and half in love with her, and tremendously sorry, I turned away. (9.125-6) After Gatsby's death the East was haunted for me like that, distorted beyond my eyes' power of correction. (9.127) On the last night, with my trunk packed and my car sold to the grocer, I went over and looked at that huge incoherent failure of a house once more. On the white steps an obscene word, scrawled by some boy with a piece of brick, stood out clearly in the moonlight and I erased it, drawing my shoe raspingly along the stone. (9.150) In short, as much as this is a novel about Gatsby’s failed dream/love for Daisy, you could also argue it tells the story of Nick’s loss of hope and innocence as he enters his 30s. How Does Nick Feel About Gatsby? Why Does He Come to Like Him so Much? Nick goes from initially taken with Gatsby, to skeptical, to admiring, even idealizing him, over the course of the book. When he first meets Gatsby in Chapter 3, he is drawn in by his smile and immediately senses a peer and friend, before of course Gatsby reveals himself as THE Jay Gatsby: He smiled understandingly- much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced- or seemed to face- the whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated onyouwith an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey. (3.73) In Chapter 4, Nick is highly skeptical of Gatsby’s story about his past, although he is somewhat impressed by the medal from â€Å"little Montenegro† (4.32). He looked at me sideways- and I knew why Jordan Baker had believed he was lying. He hurried the phrase "educated at Oxford," or swallowed it or choked on it as though it had bothered him before. And with this doubt his whole statement fell to pieces and I wondered if there wasn't something a little sinister about him after all. (4.24) He also seems increasingly skeptical after his encounter with Meyer Wolfshiem, who Nick describes very anti-Semitically. When Wolfshiem vouches for Gatsby’s â€Å"fine breeding,† (4.99) Nick seems even more suspicious of Gatsby’s origins. In Chapter 5, as Nick observes the reunion between Gatsby and Daisy, he first sees Gatsby as much more human and flawed (especially in the first few minutes of the encounter, when Gatsby is incredibly awkward), and then sees Gatsby has transformed and â€Å"literally glowed† (5.87). As Nick watches Gatsby blossom in Daisy’s presence, I think Nick himself is won over by Gatsby. Notice how warm Nick’s description is: But there was a change in Gatsby that was simply confounding. He literally glowed; without a word or a gesture of exultation a new well-being radiated from him and filled the little room (5.87) In Chapter 6, Nick honestly and frankly observes how Gatsby is snubbed by the Sloanes, but he seems more like he’s pitying Gatsby than making fun of him. It almost seems like he’s trying to protect Gatsby by cutting off the scene just as Gatsby comes out the door, coat in hand, after the Sloanes have coldly left him behind: Tom and I shook hands, the rest of us exchanged a cool nod and they trotted quickly down the drive, disappearing under the August foliage just as Gatsby with hat and light overcoat in hand came out the front door. (6.59) By Chapter 7, during the confrontation in the hotel, Nick is firmly on Gatsby’s side, to the point that he is elated when Gatsby reveals that he did, in fact, attend Oxford but didn’t graduate: I wanted to get up and slap him on the back. I had one of those renewals of complete faith in him that I'd experienced before. (7.221) As the rest of the novel plays out, Nick becomes more admiring of Gatsby, even as he comes to dislike the Buchanans (and Jordan, by extension) more and more. Why exactly Nick becomes so taken with Gatsby is, I think, up to the reader. In my reading, Nick, as someone who rarely steps outside of social boundaries and rarely gets â€Å"carried away† with love or emotion (see how coldly he ends not one but three love affairs in the book!), is admiring and even somewhat jealous of Gatsby, who is so determined to build a certain life for himself that he manages to transform the poor James Gatz into the infamous, wealthy Jay Gatsby. On the last night, with my trunk packed and my car sold to the grocer, I went over and looked at that huge incoherent failure of a house once more. On the white steps an obscene word, scrawled by some boy with a piece of brick, stood out clearly in the moonlight and I erased it, drawing my shoe raspingly along the stone. (9.150) Gatsby’s fate also becomes entangled with Nick’s own increased cynicism, both about his future and life in New York, so he clings to the memory of Gatsby and becomes determined to tell his story. Is Nick Carraway Gay? At first, this might not seem plausible – Nick dates Jordan during the book (and also admits to a few other love affairs with women) and at one point confesses to being â€Å"half in love with [Jordan].† So why do people think Nick is gay? First of all, consider the odd moment at the end of Chapter 2 that seems to suggest Nick goes home with Mr. McKee: "Come to lunch some day," he suggested, as we groaned down in the elevator. "Where?" "Anywhere." "Keep your hands off the lever," snapped the elevator boy. "I beg your pardon," said Mr. McKee with dignity, "I didn't know I was touching it." "All right," I agreed, "I'll be glad to." . . . I was standing beside his bed and he was sitting up between the sheets, clad in his underwear, with a great portfolio in his hands. "Beauty and the Beast . . . Loneliness . . . Old Grocery Horse . . . Brook'n Bridge . . . ." Then I was lying half asleep in the cold lower level of the Pennsylvania Station, staring at the morning "Tribune" and waiting for the four o'clock train. (2.128-136) Nick’s narration is confused and sporadic as he was quite drunk after the party. However, what we do see – the elevator boy chiding him to â€Å"keep your hands off the lever† (hint hint wink wink nudge nudge), shortly followed by Nick saying â€Å"I was standing beside [Mr. McKee’s bed and he was sitting up between the sheets, clad in his underwear†- seems to pretty strongly suggest a sexual encounter. And in a novel that is so short and carefully constructed, why add this short scene unless it’s supposed to help us understand Nick? Some people see that scene as a confirmation of Nick’s sexual preference, or at least an indication he’s attracted to men as well as women. However, since this was the 1920s, he couldn’t exactly be out and proud, which is why he would never frankly admit to being attracted to men in his sober narration. So instead, as the theory goes, his love for and attraction to for Gatsby is mirrored through a filter of intense admiration. So, using this reading, The Great Gatsby is narrated by a man suffered from unrequited love. Do you have to take this reading as fact? Not at all. But if you’re curious you can check out a fuller write-up of the â€Å"Nick as gay† reading and decide for yourself. Final Questions These are questions students often have about Nick after reading the book, but ones that don’t always come up in classroom discussions or essay topics. Read on if you still have unanswered questions about Nick! Also, be sure to let us know in the comments if you have more questions about Nick! What’s Going on With Nick and Jordan’s Relationship? Do They Actually Like Each Other? Nick says in his opening narration that most people in the east have earned his â€Å"unaffected scorn,† so it’s confusing to see him cozy up to Jordan in the next few chapters (1.4). However, keep in mind that scorn is earned over the course of the novel, and Nick writes the opening narration looking back at everything. So before the tragic conclusion, Nick actually is strongly attracted to Jordan and hasn’t yet realized that her attractive skepticism actually means she can be callous and uncaring. Our quote above from Chapter 4, as Nick finds himself attracted to the â€Å"hard, clean, limited† Jordan, illustrates that strong initial attraction. But post break-up, do they still feel anything for each other? Their break-up scene is really helpful to analyze to answer this question: "Nevertheless you did throw me over," said Jordan suddenly. "You threw me over on the telephone. I don't give a damn about you now but it was a new experience for me and I felt a little dizzy for a while." We shook hands. "Oh, and do you remember- " she added, "- - a conversation we had once about driving a car?" "Why- not exactly." "You said a bad driver was only safe until she met another bad driver? Well, I met another bad driver, didn't I? I mean it was careless of me to make such a wrong guess. I thought you were rather an honest, straightforward person. I thought it was your secret pride." "I'm thirty," I said. "I'm five years too old to lie to myself and call it honor." She didn't answer. Angry, and half in love with her, and tremendously sorry, I turned away. (9.130-136) Jordan, for her part, seems to admit to having genuinely liked Nick when they break up at the end and was quite hurt. And Nick, for once, is a mess of emotions: â€Å"angry† and â€Å"half in love.† So despite Nick’s earlier proclamation that everyone from the east coast is the object of his â€Å"unaffected scorn,† it would seem his attachment to Jordan is a bit more complicated: he’s disgusted by some of her behavior and yet still feels a strong attraction to her, strong enough that he’s angry and sorry during their break-up. Of course, if you subscribe to the â€Å"Nick loves Gatsby† theory you could chalk much of this scene up to repressed desires, especially Nick’s comment about not wanting to lie to himself. Why Does Nick Say â€Å"You’re better than the whole damn bunch of them†? This statement officially marks Nick’s disillusionment with the East Coast, old money crowd. Remember that this line comes after the car accident, and the scene in the hotel just before that, so he’s just seen Daisy and Tom’s ugliest behavior. Nick is proud of the statement since it was one of the last things he ever got to say to Gatsby. What can be a bit harder to spot is when exactly Nick’s earlier distrust of Gatsby morphed into respect. I argued above it begins in Chapter 5, when he watches Gatsby’s reunion with Daisy and sees Gatsby transformed and enraptured by love. What’s Next? Nick sets the stage in Chapter 1 by first explaining why he can be trusted as a narrator. Read our summary of Chapter 1 for more analysis as to why Nick’s opening makes him a bit suspicious as a narrator. Want to read more about Nick and Jordan’s relationship? Curious as to why they get together despite their differences in background? Read about love, desire, and relationships in Gatsby for more on their relationship. Did Fitzgerald see himself as more of a Carraway or a Gatsby? Read our history of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s life for more on the man behind the book. 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Nations and Nationalism essays

Nations and Nationalism essays I. The most salient common theme, running through all three sections, is the divergence between the way colonial powers view nationalism, and the way the conquered nations view it, if they view it at all. A. For the first part of a colonial period, the indigenous population is often unaware it is being considered a nation; it is still operating under a more organic system in which things are not enumerated and particularizes; in which places are not located according to scientific principles, and; in which the artifacts' used by a conquering nation to display the national' character of the colony are reduced to logos. B. Later in the colonial period, the indigenous people may separate into two groups, the nationalists,' or those who militate against the colonizer and the colonizer's ways, and nationalists who have subscribed to the colonizer's ways and take pride in a new national identity, supplied by II. The second most common theme revolves around the way a colonizer creates' national identity by defining it, particularizing it, and then A. First, a colonizer attempts to define the characteristics of a nation' on the basis of ethnicity, but that ethnicity might be based on parameters of the colonizer's own, and not on any identity the colonized people would recognize. The colonizer might also mistake religious attributes for others, also leading to the result that the natives would B. Second, the colonizer creates maps. On these, he can locate the ethnic groups already identified. To the colonizer, this makes the area into a cohesive nation; very possibly the opposite could be said of the C. Third, the colonizer makes representations for show of artifacts that were, before colonization, very real and active parts of life to the ...

Leadership Interview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Leadership Interview - Essay Example For this I made several trips to California, New York, Florida and even Hong Kong. My perseverance paid and I finally tracked a supplied that fit the bill. I am obliged not to reveal his name. This supplier is very selective and prefers to deal with customers directly without any middlemen. I got to see the owner, who is very reclusive, after eight attempts and he agreed to supply fresh fish to me after I made a solemn promise not to overcharge my customers. I consider this as the greatest challenge I faced in my business life. A. I believe my patience is the biggest asset. This behaviour contributes to my effectiveness in my leadership role. I give a lot of time to hearing to everyone’s problems and suggestions, be it the employee and customer. That is why, despite other commitments, I see to it that I arrive early at the Restaurant and leave late. I have to be role model for my employees. I offer my quality time to the organization in my endeavour to satisfy everyone. A. I look up to my Chef who has contributed the most to make me a competent Leader that I am today. Without his unflinching support and suggestions Things could not have run as smoothly as it does now. Why, he even stays back with me and leaves when I do. He is the backbone of my business. A. As an Asian I regard respect to be the highest ethical value in life. Respecting others, be they owners, employees, customers, and people with better knowledge enhance your learning and experience. Before being proud of one’s own achievement one should always remember that it is the result of teamwork. I remind myself daily of this fact. This is my ethical challenge. Perseverance is a result of tirelessly raising quality standards and attempting to reach them. Once achieved the level has to be maintained and sustained constantly. This requires self-monitoring. Initially it may also require some mentoring and seeking of knowledge. It is a

Hypothesis Testing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Hypothesis Testing - Assignment Example The null hypothesis is simple a statement that indicates that nothing is happening to the population. It shows that there is no relationship or difference in the population and the underlying facts still hold true. The alternative hypothesis on the other hand is a statement that indicates that something is happening to the population. It clearly shows that there is a difference or relationship in the population under study. Parametric tests estimate population parameters such as the mean while the nonparametric tests on the other hand help in the ranking and ordering of observations and data (Christensen and Johnson, 2011). It is very important that a choice be made between the use parametric and nonparametric tests. If there is sufficient evidence to ascertain that there is normal distribution in the population then it is appropriate to us parametric tests. When the population does not have a normal distribution then it will be appropriate to use nonparametric tests. A good example of a parametric test is the ANOVA while that of the nonparametric test is the Kruskal Wallis (Vogt,

The appeal of TV police drama Essay Example for Free

The appeal of TV police drama Essay Discuss the appeal of TV police drama with particular reference to The Bill and In Deep The Bill, shown on ITV1 at around 8.00, and In Deep shown on BBC1 at around 9.00, and after the news, are both police dramas. Therefore, they both are targeted to police drama fans. However, there are differences between two. In The Bill, there are lots of different codes and conventions found in typical police dramas. For example, there is a police station, panda cars, uniformed and plain clothed police, who carry out everyday tasks, such as dealing with burglary, assault, and racial abuse. In In Deep, there are also lots of codes and conventions of police drama, but they are different to that found in The Bill. For example, the policemen are plain clothed undercover policemen, there is a secret operation, cover stories, involvement in drugs, and 24 hour surveillance on a potential bad guy, which gives the program more of a gangster police drama feel about it. In The Bill, the narrative structure is very different to that in In Deep. It has very quick scene changes, and lots of intertwining storylines, very like a soap opera, in that there are many storylines going on throughout the episode. This is probably the reason that it is put onto our screens at a primetime slot, and therefore appeals to audiences who prefer the soap genre. Because the episodes are on every week, the budget is lower, so thats why the mainly the same locations are used, and thats why it develops more of a soap formula, as they cannot do really big scenes. In Deep has the narrative structure of a film, rather than a soap. The storyline is focused around one main storyline, with lots of twists coincided with it. It also shows a lot more violence, and more brutal scenes, because it is a series, therefore has a higher budget to film and construct these scenes. The Bill and In Deep has lots of enigma codes. For example, in The Bill, whether a beaten up man will tell on the police man that beat him up, and is a suspect off work with somebody, or is she, likes she says, ill, and in In Deep, will the coppers covering as drug dealers killer the supplys wife. These enigma codes keep up the audience interest in watching to the end of the episode. There is also a fair representation of policemen in both. In The Bill, you get to see more of the policemens personal life, and the question on how much personal life should be brought into the work place. In In Deep, the question is whether them acting as criminals is any better then the actually criminals themselves. All these points keep the watcher interested, and keeps audiences coming back to watch other episodes.

Colonial Middle Class American Life Essay -- American History essays r

Middle Class Americans American middle class life was greatly influenced throughout 1870-1917. There were many profound changes, however the American industrialization and urbanization were the most rapid and unquestionably the most important. The industrialist brought forth household names that are still around today such as Swift, Armour, Westinghouse, Pillsbury, Pullman, Rocketfeller, Carnegie, and Duke. Due to the rapid movement of industrialization, so began a movement of urbanization. Between 1860 and 1910, urban population increased sevenfold and by the 1920’s more than half of all Americans lived in cities. Along with the cities came more use of electricity, electric lights, telephones, and eventually appliances. Appliances virtually revolutionized the lives of the middle and upper class Americans, as did Henry Ford’s mass production of the Model T. Throughout these forty-seven years many middle class Americans were influenced by the ads from companies, for example Sears Roebuck & Com pany. Not only were there adds for clothing and women’s and men’s’ apparel but for automobiles, phones, and housing. There were many values, hopes, and fears Americans contemplated with as well as the advertising business’ trying to lure Americans into purchasing products by listing consequences of using (or not using) their products.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout the ads that I reviewed there were many of â€Å"so called† expected consequences of using or not using the products advertised. For example, there is an ad for A ScrapBook for â€Å"Homely Women† Only that is dedicated for women who want to have unwanted facial or bodily features removed or hidden. This two-part book gives advice for ugly scars, mouths, fingertips, crooked teeth, unwanted freckles, pimples, moles, etc. The expected consequences of this product are to take a below average looking woman and turn her into an attractive woman. The slogan even read, â€Å"We dedicate this collection of toilet secrets, not to the pretty women (they already have enough advantages, without being told to double their beauty) but to the plainer sisterhood, to those that look in the glass and are not satisfied with what they see.† After reviewing this advertisement, it is obviously directed to women with low self-esteem. Thus, the consequence s being that if a woman were to use the book of remedies it will enhance her beauty and self esteem. As... ... power of credit, but there were those that struggled with payments each month. Also with all the new industries coming into effect it was putting the â€Å"little man† out of business. In turn, this brought fear for the working Americans that were trying to stay financially stable. The biggest fear that Americans had was coming forth of World War I, especially families. Women feared losing their husbands to the draft and visa versa for men. Without their husbands women would have to be the sole providers of the household and men would fear for the sake of their families health and financial income. Middle class Americans coped very well with the changing values, promising hopes, and potential fears they encountered during the turn of the century.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion to the research I have done on middle class American life, not much has changed. The advertisements are still around today, and some even have the same slogan. Credit is as large as ever, and still is increasing the purchasing power for middle class Amercians. The values of people range dramatically from each individual to another and the fears of financial stability and war still haunt every American one-century later.

Netflix Study Case

As we all know Netflix is known as one of the largest online providers of movie rentals today with a wide array of selections and almost 7 million subscribers and has become very successful in the movie rental industry over the years. 1. As stated in the case study because of the U. S copyright law requires streaming rights to be purchased from TV and movie studios before being downloaded. Netflix needs to find a way that can benefit both them and the studios in order to better suite their needs financially.Netflix can generate cash that the company needs to pay off the studios by deciding that instead of offering the streaming service for free, they should incorporate their streaming videos with their current DVD rental plans allowing their customers to have the option to do as they please. For e. g. Netflix should charge their customers an extra $4-$6 on the current plans like the cable companies would normally do. 2. Netflix can convince the studios that they’re not competi tors so they will agree to license their content by starting a partnership with them.Netflix along with the studios can partner together and grow a friendly business relationship so that their business can run and operate smoothly and be successful. For example Netflix can partner with Universal Pictures in which both of the companies can profit. Netflix can also have the advantage of having Universal Pictures provide them with the license, that way they can still generate profits and can put it towards other company’ goals. 3. Netflix should address their organizational challenges wisely because businesses tend to grow and a company can either benefit or not by hiring more employees.If Netflix decides to hire more employees it is up to the executive team to manage them well and make sure the company can afford the amount of workers they want to hire. Hence, they will not have to layoff or fire as many staff when they have yet to reach their particular goals. 4. Netflix is a rapidly growing company, the CEO Reed Hastings and his executive team should devote a lot of time into hiring. The role of the managers is to be responsible for overall direction of the organization.Therefore, it is their duty to set out a plan for Netflix that includes the company’s organizational goals and how they want to achieve them. They have to make a decision on what jobs and tasks will be made to help benefit the company and who will be recruited to work for Netflix. 5. Being located near the Silicon Valley, which is near to eye capturing companies that may attract top talent, ideas Netflix can come up with to inspire and motivate future employees are as follows. A well paying salary is what mainly captures the attention of persons willing to work for a company.Therefore Netflix should provide competitive salary structures for its employees. In order to provide great organizational culture Netflix should view their employees as a great value to their business and sho uld make sure their comfortable in their working environment. Employee’s performance can be based on their work surroundings so it is important for them to feel welcome. Netflix can provide perks for their staff such as in door gyms, on site massage therapy, free food, and great vacation packages, just to name a few.

Knowledge, Love and Character Analysis on the Film “Last Night” by Don McKellar Essay

Knowledge is commonly defined as expertise and skills developed by a person out of an experience or from education. Basically, it is the theoretical or practical understanding of an issue or subject. It is what is known in a certain field or in other words, facts and information. It can also be defined as awareness or familiarity gained by experience of a fact or situation (Kunii, Ramamoorthy, Ching, & Wu, 2007). Our brain is the one responsible for processing the data or information that a person receives. Aware or unconscious, everything that the brain encounters, is filtered and stored. For this reason, we acquire the knowledge and eventually learn new things. Learning is a huge part of human development. Knowledge is acquired through different means. It can be from learning or an experience. Learning can be stated as an acquisition and development of memories as well as behaviors which include skills, knowledge, understanding, wisdom and values. There is presently no agreed definition of knowledge but there are several existing theories about it. Knowledge acquisition involves a complex cognition processes like perception, communication, learning, reasoning, and association. The word â€Å"knowledge† is also used to define concrete understandings of a subject or context thus uses it for a specific purpose.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the movie â€Å"Last Night† by Don McKellar, this knowledge of possible future events are portrayed. The characters are subjected to a situation where they know that they only have few hours left to live. Their response on this issue changes their usual character trait making them do things they won’t usually do. Knowing that they only have six hours away from the very end, each character planned what they want to do with their remaining life. Like the case of Patrick Wheeler, an architect played by Don McKellar, after knowing that he’s only six hours away from death, decided to go home and face it alone in his apartment because of his wife’s death still hangs heavily upon him. Because his wife was already dead, it has greatly affected him and made him suffer in his solitude. It brought him the feeling of being incomplete. (Leong, 1998).   Patrick best portrays a type of love called Agape. It is often referred to as Divine Love and involves  Self-sacrificing love. Peter decided to sacrifice the chance of loving another woman. He only loved one woman – his beloved wife. Also, there are the characters like the young married woman (Sandra Oh), who rushed home planning to commit suicide along with her husband, but she got stuck across the town away from him and may not make in time fulfill the promise made. This portrayal of character exemplifies love where she wants companionship till her last breath. Her idea of true love is based whether they will end up together whatever happens. She believed that by doing this, she loves him that much that she is willing to die with him (Block, 1998). This type of love can be categorized as Mania. It is a kind of love could lead to obsession or craving. It can also lead to exaggerated feelings and excessiveness where one would willingly take his or her life because on the emotion. Patrick’s friend, Craig (Callum Keith Rennie), is a womanizer who intents on living out a compulsively detailed sexual wish-list. His character displays the love for pleasure. He wants to achieve his fantasies before his life come to an end. This symbolizes the type of love called Eros. It deals with sexual desires and considers that physical attraction is a way of expressing love. On the other hand, Duncan (played by director David Cronenberg) alertly calls each of his customers to assure them that their service will be continued until the final moment. On this part of the movie, Duncan displays the types of love called Philia or brotherly love. It represents the love that is generated or even related because of common goal or interest. It bonds every one in unity and cooperation. It also displays Storge, or friendship love, which expresses and involves respect and concern for another person’s interest and welfare. Patrick’s mother (Roberta Maxwell), after realizing the situation, insists that the family hold a pseudo-Christmas dinner (Block, 1998). She portrays love for her family and her satisfaction of seeing them together even at the very end. It can also serve as a celebration of the years of their life. Jennifer (Sarah Polley), Patrick’s sister, decided to go to a street party with her boyfriend Alex (Trent McMullen). This shows her love for her partner that she wants her last moments with him. This could portray Romantic love (venus). Each of the characters is trying to find a sense of achievement in their last hours, so that before their death they will be satisfied that they had not wasted their life. In overall, the movie emphasizes the human behavior towards the awareness of future events. It illustrates human response when one has the knowledge of what may occur. An individual, for the reason that his brain process the information, tends to think hard about it and make him draw conclusion, makes plans on what to do and others. This is because of complex learning and cognition which motivates the brain to function (Ormrod, 2007). There are still remaining types of love like Ludis or the flirtatious and teasing Love. This type of love is associated with a kind of love for teen agers. In this kind of love, game playing plays a big role of expressing love and it is like an outward expression of love. Furthermore, is most often intended to arouse another to physical attraction, which can lead to Eros â€Å"sexual Love†. Another is Pragma or the Logical Love which expresses unification though common goals and interests. It is the kind of love that is based on shared interests and common backgrounds. This love is influenced by a system of principles, and the application of reason, and deductions to common experiences that describe and define relationships among propositions in terms of implications, contradictions, and contrariety. (Records, 2007) References: Block, T. (1998). Last Night (1998) [Electronic Version]. Culturevulture: Choices for Cognoscenti. Retrieved October 20, 2007 from http://www.culturevulture.net/Movies/LastNight.htm. Kunii, T. L., Ramamoorthy, C. V., Ching, H., & Wu, T.-Y. (2007). Money, Health, and Happiness. Complete Automation Laboratory. Leong, A. (1998). Last Night Movie Review. Ormrod, J. E. (2007). Human Learning (5th ed.): Prentice Hall. Records, P. (2007). Love [Electronic Version]. Retrieved October 24, 2007 from http://proagency.tripod.com/love.html.

Reflexive pronoun Essay Example

Reflexive pronoun Essay Example Reflexive pronoun Essay Reflexive pronoun Essay The students will give advice to he senders letter using reflexive pronouns. Materials and Equipment Projector and laptop Whiteboard pen Copies of the interviews page Mirror Copies of the senders letter Papers Candies Carolina Procedures Warm-up T (Bring a mirror to class and hold it up to a student and ask) What do you see As (answers will vary) T (If they dont prompt them) Do you see yourself (Elicit a response that uses a reflexive pronoun) Yes, see myself. T If I put this mirror in front of Zulu, do you think she will see herself As Yes T Would you agree that a mirror itself is fragile, even though its frame might be strong As Yes T Why do you think people like to look at themselves in a mirror As (gnawer will vary) T When we look in a mirror, do we tend to be critical or positive about ourselves (Do this a few times until curiosity is piqued). T Have you notice the words myself, yourself, themselves, etc. What part of speech they are (Write the term reflexive pronoun on the board. Underneath the word reflexive, write the word reflects as a mnemonic and state, A reflexive pronoun reflects back on its antecedent noun or pronoun). Grammar Focus T What comes into your mind when you ear the word reflexive pronouns As (Vary their answers) T (The teacher will define reflexive pronouns and mention the singular and plural reflexive pronouns. It will be posted in the board. Also the teacher will discuss thoroughly when to use reflexive pronouns ) During the Speaking (As warm- up, these questions will be written on a Carolina). T What the best kind of job for you What the best kind of work environment What the best type of boss to have As (Let the students think about jobs they have now or jobs they hope to have in the future as they discuss their answers to the questions on he board). T This afternoon, wanton to group yourselves into two groups based on the candy that you picked. (Two kinds of candies are placed at the entrance of the room and each student should pick one candy at the beginning of the session). You will conduct an interview within your group. (Give the paper to each group) I will give you 7 miss. O answer the questions). (After the activity) T Cathy, what job do you imagine yourself ten years from now As (Cathy will answer) T (The teacher writes Catchy answer). T Now, its your turn to share your dreams based from your answers in the given interviews page. Who wants to volunteer As (The students will participate) T Good job everyone I hope that 5-10 years from now you will fulfill your drea ms. Reading and Writing Activity T At this point, we will read about a letter of a call center agent seeking for an advice. In pairs, want you to read the letter silently. Then, in the second time, read the letter with a sad voice (chorally and with background music). (Distributes the senders letter) As (The students will read the letter aloud) T What advice can you give to the sender In the same group write your advice to the sender using reflexive pronouns thin 5 miss. As (They will group themselves and share their pieces of advice to their group mates) T In your group select the best advice and have a representative to share it in class. As (Present their advice to the class) T Good job class I hope you learn now how to use reflexive pronouns correctly. Assignment Work with pair and write a problem about your lovelier and let your partner give the advice. Be sure to apply what youve learned in reflexive pronouns. Appendix A Reflexive pronouns are used when a person or thing is referring to the same person or thing. The reflexive pronouns are Singular yesess lam disfranchisement play the piano. Be careful with that knife. Horrifying stressful. Reflexive pronoun can be used as direct object with most transitive verbs, but these are the most common. amusebIamecutdryenjoyhelphurtintroducekillpreparesatisfyteachBut some overbalances their meaninglessly when they have a reflexive pronoun as direct object Examples Would you like to help yourself to another drink Would you like to take another drink wish the children would behave themselves-I wish the children would behave well. He found himself lying by the side of the road. He was surprised when he realized that he was at the side of the road. Take Note We denotes a reflexive pronoun after verbs which describe things people usually for themselves, such swash, shave,and dress Examples He washed himself in cold water. He always shaved himself before going out in the evenings He dressed himself spite of his injuries. She old enough wash herself. Sincerest objectives tinctured objects Thessaly outstretches the verb. (Projected on the board) Examples Would you like to pour-yourself drinkers broughtourselvessomething to eat. As Thebes of a prepositions the objectifies outstretches clause. (Projected on the board) Examples They had to coffer themselves. He was feeling very sorry himself. Warning But we use personal pronouns, not reflexives, petrifactions of place Examples He had a suitableness him. And featherweight it unaccompanied by She had a few friendships her. With the propositioning we want toyshop that someone did something alone and/or without any help Examples He lividly himself an enormous house. She walked homeboy herself. Give more examples class. Deemphasize person or thing we are referring to Examples Kendal itself quite a small town. Especially if we are talking about someone very famous Sir Paul McCarty whimsicalness the final song. We often put the reflexive pronoun at the end of the clause when we are using it for emphasis Examples Baked the breastfeeds. Segmented the car herself Appendix B Interviews Page Student A Gem, what job do you imagine yourself ten years from now Student B I imagine myself being the dean of College of Arts and Sciences in Sicilian University ten years from now. Student A Gem imagines herself being the dean of College of Arts and Sciences in Sicilian University ten years from now. Questions Name Sentences . What job do you imagine yourself having someday. What kind of work environment do you see yourself inn. Would you like a job where you can give yourself time off whenever you need tit. Would you rather work by yourself or work on a team. Do you want a job here you constantly challenge yourself. What kind of work would make you feel proud of yourself. Can you push yourself to work hard, or do you need someone else to push you.

Crafting Business Writing Goals for Performance Reviews

Crafting Business Writing Goals for Performance Reviews To accurately measure employee business writing, itis critical to link the business goals of the employee's key documents to specific writing attributes. "Better report writing" or "more clear email" is too vague and impossible to measure. Instead, approach it more strategically: Define the goals of the documents your employees need to write. Assess the sub-skills required for these documents. Evaluate if these identified sub-skills actually support the overall document goals. What is the desired outcome for the employee's documents? First, identify the key documents the employee needs to write and then assess the requisite skills for each of these major documents. For example, if an employee needs to write spec documents for vendors, the end goal of these spec documents is likely receiving vendor RFPs that accurately respond with solutions that match your company's specs and needs. Or, if employees need to write reports on the status of critical company equipement, the end goal of these status reports is likely keeping your executive team informed about key equipment or perhaps requesting funding for needed repairs. So, the first task in crafting employee business writing goals is defining the real business purpose of each document. Don't move immediately to syntax and language, which is a very common mistake. Every business document requires five core requisite skills: Audience awareness Appropriate content Content logically categorized Content logically sequenced Syntax and grammar that is clear and correct and interesting Let's apply these requisite skills to the employee who needs to write spec documents: Sub-skill = audience awareness - Do the spec documents accurately address an identified reader (i.e. the employee understands when a vendor is unfamiliar, or familiar, or interested, or disinterested, or experienced, or less experienced). In essence, the employee is able to critically assess both the project and the vendor's current understanding. Sub-skill = appropriate content - Do the spec documents provide complete yet non-redundant information,based on vendor needs.For example, a vendor who has never worked with your company likely needs more background information than a vendor who has successfully completed a similar project before. This is the most important skill in business writing. Be sure you thoroughly assess the substance of your employees' documents. This substance - the information, details, and general content - enables a reader to know or do the task at hand, so it's critical. Any gaps or errors here, and it can echo into very costly problems later. Sub-skill = logical organization - Are the spec documents logically organized? Is the information logically grouped, and tiered? Can the vendor readily identify significant information and delineate what is essential from background information? Sub-skill = logical sequencing - Do the spec documents start at the best place, move logically through the information, and close clearly and logically? Sub-skill = language and syntax and format - Is the grammar correct in the spec documents? Is the language clear? Is the tone professional and well matched to your company and vendor? Is the document easy to skim and absorb for busy readers? This same process can be applied to customer service email, quarterly performance reports, business justification documents, or any key documents you or your employees write.The key is to identify the desired business outcome of key documents, and then break down the requisite skills into measurable components. Goals must be linked to document outcome, with the skills broken down, or there is no real way to measure the progress or identify the skill gaps. Without the skill gaps clearly identified, any training or feedback will be hit or miss. Most performance reviews for business writing focus primary on syntax - the language, grammar, and tone of the document. That is a mistake. It's essential to evaluate both substance and syntax. To do this, we have to first define purpose and then assess the requisite sub-skills. There is another significant benefit of linking the document goals to specific rhetorical measurements. It's very likely that some employees, particularly non-native business writers, are weak in syntax and grammar, yet have fantastic analytical skills. This approach strengthens that desirable analytical thinking and places focus on the areas where real skill gains can happen. WHERE WE CAN ASSIST We can analyze your employees' writing skills and write the performance goals for you. As you can see, this requires a thoughtful document purpose and writing analysis. All of our customized business writing training includes this assessment. Our executive business writing coaching program includes this, and coaches the employee until these identified skills are attained.

Week 3 Discussion Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Week 3 Discussion Questions - Essay Example ide a chance to the companies to be invest into something new but will also allow for a chance where the competition can get together and build a bigger brand. This is a simpler mode where the competition can get together and work in cooperation with one another and builds a brand or product which is much bigger than what they could have build by themselves. This brand or product will allow for the companies to be sure of remaining a part of the market. 4. The position of CEOs in a company is one which brings along a number of responsibilities and even longer working hours to cope up with the needs of shareholders, media, government, lawyers and many more parties involved. With the decrease in the earning of the CEOs and the amount of work that they put into the businesses, it is not fair. This is majorly because people in the other fields like the movies and celebrities; earn much more for comparatively lesser efforts. One of the best examples would be to compare Oprah who earns as much as $200 million per year and the CEO of Oracle who draws as less as $ 1million as salary. This in comparison is not quite fair keeping in mind the efforts and the number of hours of work that is put in by each of these people. 5. Fraudulent activities in companies have been on a serious rise since the early 2000s. One of the most famous frauds was that of Enron. However it is important to understand that the company portrays itself to be in perfect line and in complete control and working within the law. Enron as has been seen has paid its audit fees and has kept up in terms of hiring lawyers for the company. However the company has worked on the basis of real time auditing which is not a very responsible move by the company or even the auditor and is in a lot of ways the major cause for the fraud. Hence it is important that the companies and auditors learn a lesson from this and avoid this type of auditing and to follow the traditional style of marketing to avoid the chance for

Full Quantitative Critique (Sucrose Decreases Infant Biohavioral Pain Essay

Full Quantitative Critique (Sucrose Decreases Infant Biohavioral Pain Response to Immunizations) - Essay Example Some of the research studies used in the literature review is not current; some are over 5 years old. They are appropriate researches which are very much related to the effect of sucrose on pain responses of infants. They are logically organized from studies on pain response in infants, immunizations, sucrose and then other relevant researches vital to the topic. They are also primary sources. The research design is randomized, prospective, and is a clinical trial. This method studied the research subjects in a much more specific and controlled set-up, and helped answer the research question accurately. Threats to validity are addressed through the randomized process of choosing subjects for the paper. There is enough data given in order to replicate this research. The gate-control theory of pain was used for this research. It fits this research because it helps explain the perception of pain in infants, the pain response, and the body’s reaction to pain. The subject selection for this research is random sampling, which is appropriate because it gives every member of the population a chance to be part of the research. The study also explains how subjects and the sample population were chosen for this research. The data gathering methods were well-explained in the research. The author described how each sample would be chosen. The process of data collection from each research subject was also described specifically in the research. Pain scales were used to measure the results. Measures of variance were repeated in order to verify results. The methods used are very much appropriate for this research because they produced measurable results. This research made use of the Statistical Analysis Systems in order to analyze behavioral response to pain. Descriptive analysis through measures of variance was used in order to compare the control and treatment groups. The methods chosen were able to answer the research question in