The Big Five Inventory Bfi Psychology Essay

The Big Five Inventory Bfi Psychology Essay The present research is aimed at exploring the relationship between the Big Five Personality Factors and Academic Success. The Big Five Inventory, developed by John Benet-Martinez (1998), was administered on 158 students of the first and second year postgraduate (HR and Business Management) programs at XLRI. The participants current CQPI at XLRI and the XII standard percentage marks obtained at school served as the two measures of academic achievement. The results revealed that conscientiousness was significantly and positively associated with XII Standard percentage scores (r = 0.124, p Acknowledgements I am grateful to Dr. M. Srimannarayana for his unparalleled guidance and support which was a major motivation behind my doing this dissertation. I thank the participants of this study for having filled up the forms and for having shared their experiences with me for this project, without which I would have been unable to go anywhere with my analysis. I would also like to thank my classmates who helped me in many instances with valuable inputs regarding various concepts and issues. Table of Contents Introduction Two traditional indicators define academic performance grades and highest level of educational attainment. Academic achievement is affected by an interplay of cognitive abilities and personality traits, both of which are involved in the determination of the direction and intensity of intellectual investments. Previous studies undertaken to examine the predictors of academic success have focussed largely on intellectual ability. Anastasi (1954) noted declining correlations between IQ scores and academic performance with increasing levels of educational attainment. Specifically, the correlations between the two constructs declined from r = .70 in elementary school to r = .50 in secondary school and to r = .40 in college (Chamorro-Premuzic Furnham, 2005). Within postsecondary education itself, there is a declining correlation between ability tests and other measures of intelligence with increasing years at school. This pattern repeats itself at the post-graduation level abilities have the highest predictive validity at the commencement of a students university or postgraduate experience, and then subsequently decline in magnitude (Humphreys, 1968; Humphreys Taber, 1973). These results indicate that individual differences in academic performance due to cognitive ability disappear with increasing years of education, even after clearing successive hurdles to admission. Hence, it appears that non-ability factors (i.e., personality, self-efficacy, and motivational variables) become more important in distinguishing between better and worse students when the students are pre-selected by past academic performance or intellectual ability (Chamorro-Premuzic Furnham, 2006). Recent studies provide evidence in support of the measures of personality dimensions as possible predictors of academic achievement (e.g., Duckworth Seligman, 2005). Martin et al. (2006) found that personality characteristics have a major impact on performance at the undergraduate level across all 4 years of coursework. This impact was observed over and above the effects resulting from high school academic performance and intellectual ability (i.e., achievement test scores). Chamorro-Premuzic and Furnham (2003) studied the linkages between personality traits and academic performance using two longitudinal samples of British university students. They found that personality scores measured during the first week of the academic year were significantly related to final exam results and programme work that were assessed three years later. Further, the predictive power of personality traits accounted for another 10-17% variance in academic performance when it was related to both academic behaviours (like attendance and class involvement) and teachers predictions. In another study, Furnham et al. (2003) found that personality traits accounted for about one-fifth of variance in exam marks and one-third of variance in essay grades over a 2-year period. McLaughlin, Moutray Muldoon (2007) examined the impact of personality in predicting academic performance among nursing students. They administered the Eysencks personality questionnaire (EPQ-R) on 384 nursing students in their first year of study. The results of the EPQ-R were then analysed along with the final marks obtained at the end of the program. They found that students with high scores on psychoticism were more likely to withdraw from the program. Extraversion was also seen to negatively impact academic performance those scoring high on extraversion were more likely to achieve lower marks. In another study, Bisping Patron (2008) also found personality type as a significant determinant in academic success. They used the MBTI to study the impact of personality type in an introductory general business course designed to incorporate knowledge from various business disciplines. Caspi, Roberts, and Shiner (2005) argued for a causal relationship between personality traits and academic performance. They postulated that personality traits and academic performance might be causally related if achievement criteria and personality dimensions overlap. In other words, the causal relationship will arise when a certain behaviour indexing a certain personality trait is also a part of successful performance. For instance, exerting effort as a behaviour (relevant to conscientiousness) is likely to be important for securing high grades in school (Rothstein, Paunonen, Rush, King, 1994), thereby indicating the existence of a causal relationship. Given the wide variety of personality measures available and the subsequent difficulty of making generalisations across studies, there is considerable debate regarding which personality traits are associated with superior academic performance. Nevertheless, the majority of research examining the importance of personality in academic performance has used the Big Five Model of Personality (Costa McCrae, 1992). For example, Tok and Morali (2009) examined the predictive ability of the Big Five personality factors on academic success for a total of 295 physical education (PE) teacher candidates. They found that academic success as GPA was positively related to Openness to Experience and Conscientiousness and negatively associated with Neuroticism. In a meta-anlysis by O Connor and Paunonen (2007), conscientiousness (r = .24), extraversion (r = -.05) and openness (r = .06) were identified as the most consistent predictors of academic achievement. In another study, Mervielde (1994) and Mer vielde, Buyst, and De Fruyt (1995) examined teacher ratings of different age groups (from 4-12 years). They found that both Openness and Conscientiousness showed significant association with academic performance. Barbaranelli, Caprara, Rabasca, and Pastorelli (2003) also found these two traits as the most important personality correlates of academic success across different informants (self, teacher, and parent). Each of the five factors Conscientiousness, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, Extraversion, and Neuroticism have been discussed below with regards to their impact on academic performance. Conscientiousness Conscientiousness is associated with the will to achieve, self-control, determination, purposefulness, and dependability. Chamorro-Premuzic Furnham (2004), and Moutafi, Furnham, Crump (2003) report a negative relationship between IQ and conscientiousness. Nevertheless, it appears that conscientiousness, as a personality construct, most strongly correlates with academic achievement in both undergraduate and graduate settings (Busato, Prins, Elshout, Hamaker, 2000; Noftle Robins, 2007). Noftle and Robins (2007) used multiple personality inventories across four independent samples of more than 10,000 participants. They found conscientiousness to be the strongest predictor of both high school and college GPA. Chamorro-Premuzic, Furnham, and Ackerman (2006) found conscientiousness to be a good predictor of academic success (r = .19 to .31) on multiple measures including exams, continuous assessment (presentations), and written essays over a three year period. Lievens, Coetsier, De Fruyt and De Maeseneer (2002) found conscientiousness to be a significant predictor of academic performance among medical students in each of their three preclinical years. Further, successful students differed from the unsuccessful ones on the subconstructs of dutifulness, achievement orientation, and self-discipline. Conscientiousness is associated with sustained efforts and goal setting activities (Barrick, Mount, Strauss, 1993), both of which are said to contribute to scholastic achievement (Steel, 2007). It is also related to compliance and attention to home assignments (Trautwein, Ludtke, Schnyder, Niggli, 2006), to time management and to regulation of effort in learning activities (Bidjerano Dai, 2007). This attests the relationship of conscientiousness to academic performance, class attendance, and final grades (Conard, 2006). MacCann, Duckworth, Roberts (2009) found that each facet of conscientiousness (e.g., diligence, dependability, self-discipline, prudence, competence, dutifulness, order, and achievement striving) contributed to higher performance in academic settings, attainment of scholastic success, and lower disciplinary infractions. The facets also independently predicted Grade Point Average (Chamorro-Premuzic Furnham, 2003; Furnham et al., 2003; Martin et al., 2006), motivat ion (Komarraju Karau, 2005), effective learning styles (Duff et al., 2004), and academic aspirations (Rottinghaus, Lindley, Green, Borgen, 2002). Finally, Chamorro-Premuzic and Furnham (2003, 2006) argue that in competitive settings, conscientiousness may play a compensatory role for lower cognitive ability and consequently promote higher academic achievement. Thus, the conscientious person who works hard, completes tasks, and strives to succeed is more likely to be motivated to perform well. This would help him in achieving higher academic success (Furnham Monsen, 2009). Openness to Experience Openness to Experience is characterised by receptiveness to new ideas, preference for varied sensations, attentiveness to inner feelings, and intellectual curiosity. Evidence supporting the relationship between Openness to Experience and scholastic success is mixed. Some studies report a positive relationship between Openness and academic performance (e.g., DeFruyt Mervielde, 1996; Farsides Woodfield, 2003), effective learning style, and higher academic aspirations (Rottinghaus et al., 2002). However, other studies do not support such a relationship (e.g., Busato et al., 2000; Chamorro-Premuzic Furnham, 2003). Openness has been positively related to final school grades and to strategies involving critical thinking (Bidjerano Dai, 2007; Komarraju Karau, 2005), and motivation to learn (Tempelaar, Gijselaers, Schim Van Der Loeff, Nijhuis, 2007). Chamorro-Premuzic and Furnham (2003) found openness to be positively related to intelligence and intellectual curiosity. Chamorro-Premuzic and Furnhams (2008) confirm a positive relationship between the openness and academic achievement. They argue that open individuals are more likely to engage in activities that stimulate the acquisition of knowledge and learning experiences. Caprara et al. (2010) found that openness along with academic self-ef ¬Ã‚ cacy contributed to junior high-school grades, after controlling for socio-economic status (SES). Graziano et al. (1997) assessed the Big Five self-reports of 5th to 8th graders. They found Openness positively related with both, self-reports and teacher ratings of academic adjustment. However, OConnor and Paunonen (2007) reported in a review a very low correlation (r = .06) between openness and academic achievement. They rejected the idea of an overall interaction between the two variables. Neuroticism Neuroticism is the degree to which a person experiences negative emotions that are associated with irrational beliefs (Ellis, 1994), weak impulse control, and difficulty coping with stress. A number of studies report a negative correlation between neuroticism and academic performance (Chamorro-Premuzic Furnham, 2003; Ridgell Lounsbury, 2004), thereby indicating that academic performance tends to be higher in the case of emotionally stable students than neurotic students, who may experience higher levels of anxiety during stressful situations (OConnor Paunonen, 2007). However, results of meta-analyses examining the relationship between neuroticism and academic achievement remain inconclusive (OConnor Paunonen, 2007; Trapmann et al., 2007). Such studies suggest that neuroticism may not be a strong predictor of individual differences in academic achievement in general. Agreeableness Agreeableness may be defined as the disposition of a person toward nurturance, altruism, trust, and a willingness to help others. Studies examining the relationship between agreeableness and academic achievement have produced differing results. Gray and Watson (2002) and Farsides and Woodfield (2003) found agreeableness to be positively associated to GPA (r = .15 and r = .14 respectively). Deary et al. (2003), using the Big Five Inventory found that those who failed to complete the program scored lower on agreeableness. However, in other studies (Conard, 2006; Duff, Boyle, Dunleavy, Ferguson 2004) researchers failed to find such a significant association between the two variables. Thus, agreeableness may not be that important a determinant of academic performance. Extraversion Extraversion is the degree to which individuals are sociable, preferring large groups and gatherings. Extroverts demonstrate a tendency to be cheerful, assertive and active. Although a positive relationship exists between IQ and Extraversion, Extraversion has been found in several studies (Busato, Prins, Elshout, Hamaker, 2000; Chamorro-Premuzic Furnham, 2004; Furnham, Chamorro-Premuzic McDougall, 2003) to be negatively associated with academic success. Early studies, in particular, indicated that introverts performed better than extroverts, suggesting that the former were better at revision and possessed a higher ability to learn (Entwistle Entwistle, 1970). More recently, Sanchez-Marin et al. (2001) found that extraverts failed their programs more frequently than introverts, again suggesting that this was to do with their distractibility, sociability, and impulsiveness. However, Furnham et al. (1998) found that extroverts performed significantly better than introverts on a meas ure of logical reasoning. Chamorro-Premuzic and Furnham (2003) state that it is difficult to find a consistent relationship between intelligence and extraversion. Overall, extraversion supports academic achievement in some studies and hinders it in others. It must be noted that several variables like age, educational level, gender and assessment method may moderate the relationship between the two variables. In light of the preceding research, today it is more important than ever to determine the personality factors influencing academic success among college students, given the increasing levels of early withdrawal from college and their declining levels of academic performance (Tok Morali, 2009). While a considerable amount of research has been undertaken to establish the relationship between personality factors and academic achievement, there is a virtual gap in study in this area in India. Thus, the present study extends the earlier literature on personality-academic achievement relationship by studying the linkage between the two variables among B-school students in India. Hypothesis Based on the results of the previous research, I hypothesise that Conscientiousness as a personality variable would have the strongest impact on academic achievement. Method Participants Data was collected from 158 respondents studying in the postgraduate program at XLRI. Convenience sampling technique was used to identify the respondents. The sample size comprised of a mix of participants belonging to the first year and second year HR and Business Management (BM) programs offered by the Institute. Specifically, 81 respondents (51.26%) were studying in the HR program and the remaining 77 participants (48.73%) belonged to the BM batch at XLRI. Out of these, 108 participants (68.35%) were in the second year and the rest 50 (31.64%) were studying in the first year. All the respondents were between the age group of 21-32 years. There were a total of 112 male respondents (70.88%). 46 female respondents (29.11%) comprised the rest of the sample. Measures Personality Measure: The Big Five Inventory (BFI) developed by John Benet-Martinez (1998) was used to measure the five personality dimensions of Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. The participants were asked to respond to 44 items on a 5 point Likert Scale with a score of 1 indicating strongly disagree and a score of 5 indicating strongly agree. Out of the 44 statements, eight items each measure Extraversion and Neuroticism; nine items each measure Agreeableness and Conscientiousness and ten items measure Openness to Experience. Sixteen items in all are reverse scored. John Srivastava (1999) report the reliability coefficient of the BFI to be 0.83. The convergent validity for the instrument ranged from 0.73 to 0.81. Confirmatory factor analysis yielded a validity coefficient of 0.92 for the instrument. (See appendix: Big Five Questionnaire) Academic Achievement: The participants Cumulative Quality Points Index (CQPI) at XLRI at the time of the research study was used as a measure of academic achievement. The maximum CQPI that can be obtained by a student is 8.00. The CQPI, as a measure, was coupled with the percentage of marks obtained in the XII standard in school. Information on both these measures was obtained from the participants self-reports. Data Analysis Responses obtained from the participants were first recoded to take into account the negatively worded items. Thereafter, the scores on the five dimensions of the BFI were computed for each participant by summating the responses of the assigned items. In order to explore the relationship between personality factors and academic success, the Pearsons Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was calculated between the Big Five Dimensions and the two measures of academic achievement, namely XLRI CQPI and XII standard percentage scored. Results The results indicate that Conscientiousness was significantly and positively associated with XII Standard percentage scores (r = 0.124, p No significant correlation was found between other personality factors and the measures of academic achievement. Table I: Correlation Coefficients between the Big Five Dimensions Measures of Academic Achievement Big Five Dimension XII Percentage XLRI CQPI Extraversion 0.095 0.025 Agreeableness -0.051 -0.047 Conscientiousness 0.124* 0.248** Neuroticism 0.077 0.164* Openness to Experience 0.012 0.058 where ** indicates p Discussion The findings of the study revealed that when compared to other personality dimensions, Conscientiousness had the strongest influence on academic success, both at the XII board level and at the post-graduation level. Thus, the hypothesis was accepted. More specifically, conscientiousness was significantly and positively associated with XII Standard percentage scores (r = 0.124, p Neuroticism was also found to be significantly and positively related to CQPI at XLRI (r = 0.164, p Further the high structure academic environment prevalent at XLRI may also facilitate a comparatively better performance for students who are high on neuroticism (as is indicated by positive correlation obtained between the two variables in the present study). It has been argued that neuroticism has a more substantial influence on academic performance under high pressure situations. This may be because the presence of evaluation apprehension may trigger a variety of cognitive and affective reactions among individuals with high levels of anxiety. In fact, under low levels of situational pressure these individuals might experience less anxiety and stress, thereby performing better or at a level similar to individuals with low levels of Neuroticism. The evaluation system at XLRI is such that it emphasizes round the year academic performance rather than evaluation being restricted to a single examination, as is the case with the XII board exams. Further at XLRI, aside from the quizzes an d end term examination (which are individual evaluation components), a major focus is on evaluation of group projects and assignments. These further reduce the stress and anxiety levels for students and make the environment a low press situation. This may explain for the significant positive association observed between Neuroticism and academic performance at XLRI. Finally, no significant correlation was found between the personality factors of Extraversion, Openness to Experience, and Agreeableness with the measures of academic achievement. Research evidence regarding the association of these personality dimensions with academic success is mixed and there are numerous studies that report no relationship of academic success with Extraversion (e.g., Hair Hampson, 2006; Furnham, Chamorro-Premuzic, 2004; Phillips et al., 2003, etc), Openness to Experience (e.g., Busato et al., 2000; Chamorro-Premuzic Furnham, 2003) and Agreeableness (e.g., Conard, 2006; Duff, Boyle, Dunleavy, Ferguson, 2004). The results of these studies are in line with the current results. Implications Overall, the results of our study, along with those of previous studies, clearly demonstrate the useful nature of Conscientiousness in predicting the academic success among college students. This information may be beneficial to college admissions committees armed with the mission to reduce the increasing levels of early withdrawal from college and academic failure. However, the problem of accurate measurement of the personality constructs leaves the admission committees wide open to the challenges of self-report scales. These self-rating measures may be highly prone to the effects of impression management, given the high stakes nature of admissions to graduate school. One suggestion is to apply other data collection methods that may approximate the personality constructs sought here. For example, Trapmann and colleagues (2007) suggested that structured interviews may be used to assess the personality trait of Conscientiousness and its associated components. Here also concerns regard ing impression management remain, despite the fact that interviews form a substantial component of selection process for a majority of graduate schools. Another suggestion is to request ratings about the student from knowledgeable informants that could be used to assess particular personality traits (Wolfe Johnson, 1995). However, admissions committees may find locating willing and unbiased informants a huge challenge. Those who provide letters of recommendation could be asked to address particular student characteristics. The idea is to gather as much information as possible about a students non-ability traits to guide admission related decisions. Limitations Directions for Future Research The first limitation of the present study concerns the investigated sample. The participants were students of the postgraduate management program at XLRI. Since, the participants had already been pre-selected by ability and intelligence; it may have resulted in a narrow distribution of the students characteristics. Future studies can focus on samples from multiple backgrounds with a wider distribution in abilities. Another limitation of this study is that it focuses exclusively on grades as a measure of academic performance. Grades represent only one measure of performance that people exhibit in the context of education. In the classroom there are several behaviours that may be more highly related to personality, such as the frequency of asking questions or seeking help (Pintrich, Smith, Garcia, McKeachie, 1993), or even showing up for classes when the attendance is not taken. Investigating the effects of personality on these and other data sources may reveal that personality plays a much larger role in student behaviours, than the sole examination of grades and level of educational attainment would reveal. It is suggested that future research can focus on examining homework and other study-related behaviours discussed above. Because they occur in a relatively unstructured environment, it appears that they would be more likely to capture the influence of non-ability traits rather than just in- class assignments or grades.

Essay on Female Companions in The Awakening and A Dolls House

Importance of Female Companions in The Awakening and A Doll's House      Ã‚  Ã‚   Female companions are very important to the development of the main characters in Kate Chopin's The Awakening and in Henrik Ibsen's A Doll House. Mademoiselle Reisz and Madame Ratignolle, in The Awakening, and Kristine Linde, in A Doll House, help Edna Pontellier and Nora Helmer discover their inner selves.    Mademoiselle Reisz, Madame Ratignolle, and Kristine Linde all act as role models for the protagonists. Edna deeply admires Mademoiselle Reisz's piano playing. When Edna hears Mademoiselle Reisz's playing, "the very passions themselves were aroused within her soul, swaying it, lashing it, as the waves daily beat upon her splendid body" (Chopin 35). Mademoiselle Reisz makes Edna see the strong emotions inside herself. Edna admires Madame Ratignolle's "comforting and outgoing nature" (Solomon 118). At the beginning of the novel, Edna wishes she could have Madame Ratignolle's easygoing nature.    Kristine Linde is a role model for Nora because of her independence. Kristine Linde has suppo...

Ronald Takakis Hiroshima :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although WW II ended over 50 years ago there is still much discussion as to the events which ended the War in the Pacific. The primary event which historians attribute to this end are the use of atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Although the bombing of these cities did force the Japanese to surrender, many people today ask â€Å"Was the use of the atomic bomb necessary to end the war?† and more importantly â€Å"Why was the decision to use the bomb made?† Ronald Takaki examines these questions in his book Hiroshima. The official reason given for dropping the bomb was to bring a quick end to tht war and save American lives. However, Takaki presents many different explanations as to why the decision to use the bomb was made. He disagrees with the popular belief that the decision to use the bomb was made solely to quickly end the war in the Pacific and to save American lives. Takaki presents theories such as international concerns, American sentiment, and racism in an attempt to more fully explain why this decision was made.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The United States entered WW II immediately following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The U.S. entry was a major turning point in the war because it brought the strongest industrial strength to the Allied side. The Americans helped the Allies to win the war in Europe with the surrender of Germany on May 7, 1945. However, the war in the Pacific continued. The war with Japan at this point consisted primarily of strategic bombings. America had recently completed an atomic bomb and was considering using this weapon of mass destruction for the first time. The goal was to force the â€Å"unconditional surrender† of the Japanese. Roosevelt had used the term â€Å"unconditional surrender† in a press conference in 1943 and it had since become a central war aim. Truman and his staff (still feeling bound by FDR’s words) demanded unconditional surrender from the Japanese. Consequently on July 26, 1945 Truman issued an ultimatum to Japan. This ultimat um stated that Japan must accept â€Å"unconditional surrender† or suffer â€Å"utter devastation of the Japanese Homeland†. This surrender included abdication of the throne by their emperor. Japan was not willing to surrender their dynasty and ignored the ultimatum. On August 6th and August 9th, atomic bombs were dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively.

Muslim leaders in south Asia Essay

Muslim leaders in south Asia and northern Africa both had many issues and difficulties when it came to defining their nationalism as an empire. Both southern Asia and Northern Africa struggled politically, educationally, and religiously to define their nationalism. Both Northern Africa and Southern Asia struggled to define their empires nationalism because of political issues. (4,6). A Muslim Egyptian nationalist is speaking about how the east will never see eye to eye with the west. The Nationalist is saying how Egypt can never create nationalism if his country is at civil war, and cannot see eye to eye and agree on things. (4.) This personal bias is an issue because it is only giving an opinion of an eastern African citizen. A western African citizen could be feeling a complete opposite way about politics. This matters because a western African could have a solution to see eye to eye about politics, and completely fix the problem. It would help to see a document showing the opinion of a western African citizen saying how he feels about the east and the west agreeing on politics. Education was a big factor in South Asia and Southern Africa. (3,1). An educator of an oriental college is saying how people would rather chose to save and adopt Islam then to take in the new British education system. This creates nationalism in a way that Islam is looking for new education that will be better, and more innovative then the eastern education systems such as Great Britain. (1). People are more focused on religious ideologies then the actual educational facts that are shown that says an iaindian Muslim leader who was imprisoned several times for political activism. It defines nationalism by the actual facts instead of faith and religion. (3) I would like to see nationalism in the eyes of someone who is not Muslim or religious to see if they feel the same way about the western education systems. Southern Asia and Northern Africa both used religion and Islamic ideologies  and culture to create and define nationalism. (2,5) The Egyptians wanted to focus on their mother land to be their qibla, which marks the direction of mecca, to which a Muslim turns to pray. Egyptians wanted to focus on patriotism and suppress other ties. Religion helped them to do that. (2.) Ahmad lutfi is the founder of the Egyptian people. This is personal bias because he is the leader and thinks what he wants, and wants his people to d the same thing that he thinks. This creates nationalism because everyone is associating with the same thing within their country. (5) Nationalists want to push their ideology onto the people, this is personal bias. It would be beneficial to see an additional document of a political leader instead of just having one from a religious leader.

Analysis of Zora Neale Hurston’s Spunk Essay

Zora Neale Hurston’s use of language in her short story Spunk allows the reader to become part of the community in which this story takes place. The story is told from the point of view of the characters, and Hurston writes the dialogue in their broken English dialect. Although the language is somewhat difficult to understand initially, it adds to the mystique of the story. Spunk is a story about a man that steals another man’s wife, kills the woman’s husband and then he ends up dying from an accident at the saw mill. Spunk believed that it was Lena’s husband, Joe Kanty, who shoved him into the circular saw, and the people in the village agreed that Joe Kanty had come back to get revenge. The language used by the characters helps to establish the setting of the story and gives the reader an understanding of why voodoo is a plausible explanation for the outcome. â€Å"Looka theah folkses!† is what Elijah Mosley states to the others in the store. This is the first indication that the characters in this short story are not the most educated, and are probably from some small backwoods town. We quickly get confirmation of this when we learn that he is alerting them that Spunk Banks, a giant, brown-skinned man, â€Å"who aint skeered of nothin’ on God’s green footstool†, is sauntering up the one street in the village, with a small pretty woman clinging lovingly to his arm. Clearly, the store is where people hang out, and everyone knows that the woman with Spunk is Lena Kanty, Joe’s wife. Coming from a large city, I would not expect everyone to know each other, so seeing a couple walking down the street would not be significant to me. In this context however, I understand that something is not right and trouble is coming. When Joe walked in to the store, the talking ceased; the men looked at each other and winked. â€Å"Say, Joe, how’s everything up yo’ way? How’s yo’ wife?† asked Elijah. Spoken like a friend, but it is clear that he is trying to start some mess. â€Å"Aw â€Å"Lige, you oughtn’t to do nothin’ like that† Walter grumbled. This dialogue makes the conflict between Spunk and Joe very clear. Not only does Joe know that his wife is going out with Spunk, but everybody in the town knows. This is a brilliant way to draw the reader into the story; we feel bad for Joe. His pride is at stake and he has no alternative but to take some action against Spunk. Joe knows that his razor is no match for Spunk’s gun, but his back is against the wall. He is the laughing stock of the town because Spunk has made a fool of him. â€Å"Well,† Spunk announced calmly, â€Å"Joe come out there wid  a meatax an’ made me kill him.† The men glared at Elijah, accusingly. His words had pushed Joe to do something and Spunk had killed him. Now that Joe was dead, the expectation would be for Spunk and Lena to move forward with their relationship. â€Å"Joe’s death was a clear case of self defense, the trial was a short one, and Spunk walked out of the court house to freedom again†. Spunk was free, but now the excitement begins. Zora Neale Hurston uses symbolism to introduce the reader to the world of voodoo. Hurston had visited Haiti and Jamaica in the 1930s and had become very interested in the practice of voodoo. Elijah tells us in the story that Spunk sees a black bob-cat that â€Å"looked him in the eye, an’ howled right at him†. The thing got Spunk so nervoused up he couldn’t shoot. Spunk says it was Joe done sneaked back from Hell!† Later in the story, Elijah tells us that Spunk dies from being cut by the saw and Spunk believed that Joe had pushed him in the back. Elijah believed it too. Revenge is a powerful emotion and in this story, it is the best explanation for Spunk’s death. Based on the dynamics of the town, everyone believed it to be possible that Joe caused Spunk’s death. Because they believed it, I believed it. It is their world. Zora Neal Hurston was criticized by other African American writers for her use of dialect and folk speech. Richard Wright was one of her harshest critics and likened Hurston’s technique â€Å"to that of a minstrel show designed to appease a white audience† (www.pbs.org).Given the time frame, the Harlem Renaissance, it is understandable that Zora Neale Hurston may be criticized. The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement which redefined how America, and the world, viewed African Americans, so her folk speech could be seen as perpetuating main stream society’s view of African Americans as ignorant and incapable of speaking in complete sentences. However, others, such as philosopher and critic Alain Locke, praised her. He considered Hurston’s â€Å"gift for poetic phrase and rare dialect, a welcome replacement for so much faulty local color fiction about Negroes† (www.pbs.org). The language in this short story allowed the reader to enter this community and gain an understanding of their world.

The National Curriculum In Primary Schools Education Essay

The purpose of this assignment is to discourse the tendencies policy that took topographic point in primary instruction from 1988 and 1997. The assignment will get down with analyzing the principle behind the alterations introduced in those old ages. Then it will look at the alterations themselves. The last subdivision will speak about the advantages and disadvantages of those alterations. It should be mentioned from the beginning that I will non be adverting reforms related to secondary and higher instruction, even though they came at the same clip as the Primary schools. The term educational proviso refers to the usage of the equipment or tools with the purpose of supplying cognition and accomplishments, and includes things such as such as, schoolroom, text edition, chairs, pens/pencils and many more for pupils. Education is about the procedure of larning where cognition, accomplishments and information is transmitted. Yero ( 2002 ) believes that instruction is a process of bettering the pupils or students ‘ cognition, accomplishments and character. So instruction can assist to cut down inequality in society. In the United Kingdom, this construct of extinguishing inequality was at the base of alterations in instruction policy. Prior to 1988, instruction in the United Kingdom was wholly different. The determination of the course of study contents was in the custodies of schools, with spiritual instruction being the lone topic which was compulsory. This means that students had different attainment degrees due to following different programmes. Education was ruled by the 1944 Education Act which handed the disposal of schools and the preparation of school policies to local governments ; the lone exclusion being Section 1 where control and way of instruction were given to the Secretary of State. In fact, in the 1944 Education Act, the function of the Department of Education and Science was merely promotional and non one of giving way, which means they could non oversee local governments policies. This Act besides fixed the age of go forthing school at 15 and instituted free secondary instruct ion for all students. However it was noticed that the criterion attained in basic accomplishments by the UK population was low and hapless compared to other European states, and this could non fulfill the state national economic demands ( Department of Education, 2011 ) . To work out the job raised by the falling criterion, the Conservative Government came with the 1988 Education Act, sometimes referred to as the Kennet Baker reform which instituted a standardization of all school programmes, and brought four chief alterations with a position to conveying back the degree ( Young, 2008 ) . The first alteration was the debut of the National Curriculum, which defines four Key Stages, traveling from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 4. In primary schools, two Key Stages, 1 and 2 were identified: Cardinal Stage 1 for Year 1 and 2 up to age 7 ; Key Stage 2 for Old ages 3 to 6, intending age 7 to age 11. Subsequently on, a Foundation Stage which concerns kids aged 3 up to reception twelvemonth was introduced. The National Curriculum came with a new nomenclature related to two types of school topics, nucleus topics and Foundation topics. In Primary schools, that is Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, the course of study consists of the undermentioned topics: English, Maths, scientific discipline, information and communicating engineering ( ICT ) , history, geographics, art and design, music, design and engineering ( D & A ; T ) and Physical Education. This was supplemented by the literacy and numeracy reforms in the 1990s taught everyday to better kids standard in those accomplishments. Another alteration in the course of study was the debut foreign linguistic communications for kids aged 7. This course of study was subsequently reconsidered for betterment. One advantage of National Curriculum is that all kids in England and Wales have the same instruction programmes, and this makes comparing of degrees easier and the transportation of kids from one school to another is made easy. Actually the national Curriculum contains all the subjects to be taught, in footings of cognition, accomplishments and outlooks at the terminal of each cardinal phase ; it besides determines how appraisal has to continue. The 2nd alteration had to make with appraisal of students. Here national criterion trials such as SATs at age 11 ( Standard Assessment undertakings, and subsequently Standard Attainment Tasks ) were put in topographic point, non merely to measure whether they are up to the national criterion expected, but besides to set schemes in topographic point to guarantee betterment in those kids larning. This led to the National Curriculum Council ( NCC ) as an consultative service to the secretary of State in affairs related to the course of study, and the School Examinations and Assessment Council ( SEAC ) in charge of appraisals. The 3rd alteration affected the disposal of schools. As mentioned above, prior to 1988, Education disposal was handled by local governments. In London, for illustration it was in the custodies of the Inner London Education Authority ( ILEA ) , which was created in 1965, while outer London schools were directed by county councils and borough councils. The Education Reform Act of 1988 gave power to schools to choose out of local authorization control and be funded by cardinal authorities, so that schools could pull off their ain fundss. The Local direction of Schools meant that the function of caput instructors included budget direction every bit good ( Powell and Edwards, 2003 ) . This was the beginning of Grant maintained schools, which were subsequently replaced by foundation schools. This led to the abolishment of the Local Education Authority. The forth alteration concerned the creative activity of a conference tabular array where people could travel and compare the public presentation of different schools. It was hoped that such a tabular array would force schools to vie, and hence supply better instruction to kids. InA 1993, another instruction actA came into topographic point. It aimed at increasing the figure of Grant Maintained Schools ; it replaced the NCC and SEAC with School Curriculum and Assessment Authority so that the course of study content could be controlled by the authorities ; more power was given to headteacher in their exclusion determinations of boisterous students ; alterations were introduced for students with particular educational demands ; and the constitution of referral units. An review organic structure called Ofsted came into being to inspect schools in LEAS. Finally the SCAA and NCVQ formed the QCA. In 1997, the Labour Government introduced another reform. The Government introduced specialist schools such as Business, Sport schools so as to diversify instruction and the types of schools. So making parents could hold a assortment of picks to do for their kids. Failing schools were reopened under academies administered by churches or concerns. In disadvantaged countries, the Government created Education Action zone in order to assist better instruction criterion in those countries. Parents were given power and a voice to make up one's mind on the pick of schools for their kids ; they were given power to be represented in the school regulating organic structure. Further, a system of exam conference tabular array was introduced where parents could easy descry schools that are making good, and those falling buttocks. Be it as it may, parents had the responsibility to guarantee that their kids attend schools. School support was linked to the figure of students a school had in its axia l rotation. The deduction was that schools had to vie to better their public presentation so as to pull parents and their kids, and therefore good support every bit good. This is termed the market reform introduced by Conservative authoritiess in the 1980 ‘s and 1990s, where schools were seen as a service and the parents and kids as the clients. As a affair fact, instruction should supply â€Å" valued signifiers of cognition † and fit kids for life ( James and Pollard, 2012 ) In the 1997 White Paper, Excellence in Schools, the rights of parents to information were extended including directing them the kid advancement one-year study, their portion in the review procedure, one-year meeting, leting them to hold entree to the kid ‘s school record. Schools were farther obliged to print an one-year study about their direction and a prospectus. Teachers were besides given power to keep students By so, making the authorities, say the Department of Education gained new power, because they are in charge of the school course of study, non the local governments any more, the types of trials to administrate to pupils, the types of makings to be awarded, the support to give to schools, the nomination of members of the National Curriculum Council to be after the course of study. The blessing of schools that want to choose out, the alteration of school position is given by the State Secretary, even though the engagement of parents should be sought for. He has the disposal of grants. The function of caput instructors besides changed as they became budget directors every bit good. The inquiry 1 might inquire at this point is to cognize whether those reforms were successful. Two positions can be expressed here. On the one manus, the debut of the national Curriculum should be appreciated, because it helps to hold kids expected to hold the same cognition and accomplishments. The trials would assist schools to work hard to better their consequences, and research has revealed that more people are now traveling to university. The conference tabular array gives a better position to parents as to which school is making better, so do an informed pick of schools for their kids. On the other manus, it would look that proving is non good plenty to measure the public presentation of schools, and larning should non be limited to go throughing trials. With the conference tabular array, instruction has turned into fixing students to go through tests, and non a readying for life. The conference tabular array has besides been criticised as it ignores some countries such as Art and athletics. Further, the conference tabular arraies make some schools more popular than others, and this raises troubles for some parents to acquire a school of their pick for their kids. Ball ( 2006 ) examined the constructs of markets in the context of instruction merely to happen that more demands to be discussed, and that such constructs as â€Å" competition, supply and demand, manufacturer and consumer behavior, denationalization and commodification, values and moralss and distributional results † should be references as there is a dearth of research in this field. In Primary schools, instructors complained of the increased work load imposed by the National Curriculum, particularly at the terminal of Key Stage 2 with the readying of SATs, and this lead to Dearing Report which brought the burden down by 20 % ( Alexander, 2012 ) . The system of review besides came into fire by assorted instructors brotherhoods who find the Ofsted as a job, non a solution. Another job concerned the debut of foreign linguistic communication learning at age 7. This raised jobs in a state such as the United land where secondary schools teach assorted linguistic communications, French, German, Spanish. So a kid could larn one linguistic communication in primary school and have a different linguistic communication in secondary schools. This means there will be no continuity as noted by the Guardian ( 2012 ) . The construction of Key Stage 2 has besides been criticized as it takes four old ages which the Model for the National Curriculum found excessively long ( DE, 201 1 ) . To reason, it can be said that there have been one chief Education reform Act, the 1988, and many instruction Acts of the Apostless from 1988 to 1997. The alterations in educational policies in those reforms can be regrouped in three classs: alterations to make with centralization, as instruction moved from local governments to the authorities with the debut of the National Curriculum ; appraisal by results with the usage of national appraisal and the constitution of league-tables to compare the public presentation of different schools, and the quasi-market reform where schools are the makers and kids and their parents as consumers who have picks to do between different schools. In primary schools, the reforms could be noticed with the debut of Key Stages 1 and 2, the national Curriculum with Maths, English and scientific discipline as nucleus topics, while others were considered as foundations and spiritual survey as statutory, the debut of SATs and the literacy and numeracy schemes.

Two Page Overview of Three Companies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Two Page Overview of Three Companies - Essay Example The first real bookstore of Barnes & Noble was actually opened by Charles’ son named William who partnered with a gentleman named Clifford Noble thus the origin of the name Barnes & Noble. The bookstore was opened in the year 1917 in New York City, and has grown to the illustrious business it is now over the years. Barnes & Noble is known for its upscale retail shops that are usually accompanied with cafes serving starbucks coffee among other products. Although it is officially known as a retail bookstore, this is not the only product that they have to offer, and one can find other items such as magazines, comics, newspapers as well as music within the store’s retail outlets. The company currently has over 600 stores under its flagship up to date excluding the over 600 college stores it operates as well (Barnes & Noble Inc). Amazon.com is a multinational company that operates through electric commerce through its website that has been popularized around the world. It is believed to be the largest online business in the world and has a consumer base that is located all over the world. It headquarters are located in Seattle, Washington and it sells a large number of items on its online stores. Since it is an online retail store, its expansion cannot be seen on a physical scale but can be pointed out through the different retail websites that it has developed for different countries such as Canada, Italy, Germany, and the United States among others. It also has plans to set up separate online retail stores for more countries including Brazil, Sweden and the Netherlands. The company was founded by a man call Jeff Bezos in the year 1994, but it was released onto the website community as amazon.com in 1995. The company sells everything from electronic products, toys, books to name but a few and has recently b egan producing its own electronic products such as the Kindle e book reader and tablet computer known as Kindle Fire.