What can the study of childrens literature Essay Example For Students

What can the study of childrens literature Essay Tom suffers cruel treatment and harsh working conditions all without the love or care of a family. Hope comes when Tom is transformed into a water baby and finally gets the shelter and affection he needs from the magical Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby. Books such as The Water Babies clearly highlighted the need for social reform in the lives and childhoods of such children and gradually the romantic discourse gained popularity and momentum during the end of 19th century which continued into the 20th century. We will write a custom essay on What can the study of childrens literature specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The influence of the romantic model can also be seen in children’s literature of the 20th century with the rise in popularity of rural adventure stories. These were directed at all age groups from, Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) by A. A. Milne for younger children to Anne of Green Gables (1908) by L. Montgomery, and the Secret Seven, by Enid Blyton (1949-1963) with older children as lead characters. In The Secret Garden, 1911, by Frances H. Burnett and Tom’s Midnight Garden, 1958, by Philippa Pearce, the garden is a metaphoric symbol of a sheltered natural environment to nurture the innocence and growth of the children. Romantic ideals can clearly be seen in the innocence and natural goodness of the lead characters set against the idyllic country settings which aimed to engage and entertain children while demonstrating subtle moralistic values in line with the Romantic model. Alternative literature was also still available during this time, particularly among religious groups, who felt the focus of literature should remain didactic, primarily for teaching and correcting sinful children. For example, the bestselling History of the Fairchild Family, told the story of a little girl ‘brought up without the fear of God’ who dies in an accidental fire, the consequence of her unrestrained and unreligious upbringing. First printed in 1818, it stayed in print until the early 20th century, reflecting how some sections of society remained firm upon the Puritanical model of childhood. Technological advances and economic potential of books in the late 20th century, coupled with promotion of reading by educationalists saw a massive increase in books published for children. The didactic purpose of books, in particular issues of racism, sexism, religious and sexual orientation were hotly debated during this time period. These debates notably affected children’s literature as recent authors have attempted to challenge traditional values and themes in children’s books, for example, having protagonists from a wider variety of backgrounds, or exploring children’s anger and emotions as in Where The Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak (1963) or in the case of Princess Smartypants by Babette Cole (1988) challenging stereotypical and gendered female roles. Such literature attempts to depict and promote a childhood based on equality and tolerance, questioning social or cultural norms or restrictions. While fantasy and magic have long been disapproved of by strict religious groups, recent children’s literature has also included highly controversial and challenging themes such as teenage drug use in Junk (1996) and teenage sex in Lady: My Life as a Bitch (2001), both by Melvin Burgess. Such books would have been unthinkable during the Puritanical dominated 16th century for being unreligious and explicit and even during the romantically focused 17th and 18th centuries for exposing young readers to adult issues and themes, from which they should be protected. However they attract attention today as they aim to reflect of the uncomfortable truths and realities of modern-day society, which some parents will feel are appropriate themes for teenagers. As more books containing controversial themes gain popularity and attention, current children’s literature can be seen to reflect a more liberal and modernistic attitude to childhood apparent within society. In conclusion children’s literature is a good reflection of popular attitudes towards childhood at the time of print. As new theories and ideas about childhood emerged, children’s literature also changed to accommodate and promote these ideals. Notably, all literature conveys a message or moral undertone, weather subtle or direct. The earliest books for children reflected the puritanical model of childhood dominant in the 17th century. .u744a3406d837e0d67e4f59570fa4b54e , .u744a3406d837e0d67e4f59570fa4b54e .postImageUrl , .u744a3406d837e0d67e4f59570fa4b54e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u744a3406d837e0d67e4f59570fa4b54e , .u744a3406d837e0d67e4f59570fa4b54e:hover , .u744a3406d837e0d67e4f59570fa4b54e:visited , .u744a3406d837e0d67e4f59570fa4b54e:active { border:0!important; } .u744a3406d837e0d67e4f59570fa4b54e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u744a3406d837e0d67e4f59570fa4b54e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u744a3406d837e0d67e4f59570fa4b54e:active , .u744a3406d837e0d67e4f59570fa4b54e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u744a3406d837e0d67e4f59570fa4b54e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u744a3406d837e0d67e4f59570fa4b54e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u744a3406d837e0d67e4f59570fa4b54e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u744a3406d837e0d67e4f59570fa4b54e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u744a3406d837e0d67e4f59570fa4b54e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u744a3406d837e0d67e4f59570fa4b54e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u744a3406d837e0d67e4f59570fa4b54e .u744a3406d837e0d67e4f59570fa4b54e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u744a3406d837e0d67e4f59570fa4b54e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Biotechnology: Genetically Modified Foods EssayA significant change can be seen in the 18th century books of John Newbery who was influenced by the concept of childhood as a ‘blank slate’, as theorised by John Locke. His books promoted a kind and loving upbringing for children who were nurtured through enjoyment and encouragement. The mid-18th century Romantic Movement had a highly significant impact and Romantic ideals of a pure and innocent childhood, free from dangers and harsh realities of life have been traceable in children’s literature since the 18th century and are still dominant today. Contemporary literature has attempted to promote equality and tolerance in childhood and has also pushed the boundaries of traditional fiction. Like the social reformers of the 18th and 19th century, modern writers such as Melvin Burgess have shown how children’s literature plays an important part not only in portraying and promoting ideals, but also in questioning and debating social attitudes and ideas about children and childhood. Word count – 1714 References 1. Hall, C. (2003) ‘Children’s literature’, in Kehily, M.J. and Swann, J. (eds. ) Children’s Cultural Worlds, Chichester: John Wiley Sons Ltd. in association with the Open University, pp. 133-182 2. The Open University (2003) U212, Childhood, Video 3, Band 5, ‘Children reading’, Milton Keynes: The Open University 3. The Open University (2003) U212, Childhood, Video 3, Band 6, ‘Storytelling’, Milton Keynes: The Open University 4. The Open University (2003) U212, Childhood, Audio 5, Band 5, ‘Writing for children’, Milton Keynes: The Open University.

Performance Appraisal Systems

Performance Appraisal Systems StopNShopToday Inc has to adopt a performance appraisal system which will objectively evaluate and allow continuous interaction between its employees and managers.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Performance Appraisal Systems specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Employee Performance Appraisal System should enable the managers provide objective descriptions and evaluations of the employees’ performance standards. There are several types of performance appraisal systems which can be adopted by StopNShopToday Inc. StopNShopToday Inc can adopt 360-Degree or Full Circle Appraisal to evaluate the performance of its employees. In 360-Degree Appraisal, an employee’s performance will be evaluated by everyone within StopNShopToday Inc with whom he or she interacts (Eichinger, 2004). This will include the managers, colleagues, customers as well as members of other departments. Hakala (2008) asserts that although t his appraisal system is expensive, it can be used to comprehensively evaluate the performance of key employees of an organization. StopNShopToday Inc can also adopt Management by Objectives (MBO) appraisal system. By implementing this appraisal system, each departmental manager will set objective goals with his or her subordinates so that at the end of the period, the manager evaluates the employee’s achievement of the set objective goals (Deming, 1994). Action statements in the MBO process begins with statements like â€Å"reduce rejected parts by 5%† (Hakala, 2008). It involves continuous monitoring as well as review of objectives to enable the manager keep the employees focused on achieving the set goals. During the annual review, an assessment is conducted on progress towards objectives so that new goals are set. Rating Scale is another important appraisal system which can be implemented by StopNShopToday Inc. The Rating Scale would require each manager or the mana gement to develop an in-depth grading system which would be used to evaluate each employee’s success within a range of areas which could include technical skills, creativity, communication skills, and teamwork among others.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The management/manager sets a minimum required grade which an employee has to receive to enable the manager consider the performance appraisal as a success. This method allows the organization to put those who do not make the minimum required grade on a performance improvement plan (Henderson, 2011). StopNShopToday Inc also needs to improve how it rates its performance assessment categories. Evaluating an employee’s procedural knowledge and skill as well as customer service Skills should involve rating performance standard by entering whole numbers on the Employee Performance Appraisal System Form to represent the manager’s perception/evaluation. The numerical values should include 0 meaning unacceptable; 1 meaning development needed; 2 meaning fully competent; and 3 meaning Excelling. The manager has to document performance of each staff throughout the appraisal period by keeping written record of every staff’s accomplishments. It is this information that the manager should use to rate the performance of every employee. In situations where the manager assigns an employee value 0 or 1, he or she has to list all areas which need improvement as well as recommendations for improvement. The manager must also provide a narrative explanation for his or her evaluation of each performance assessment category to justify the overall score assigned. It is important that each manager for every department keeps written record of every employee’s creative work examples and judgment examples. This would allow the manager to quantify every employee’s creativity and consistent good judgment. As a result, the manager can use comparative rating scale to evaluate every employee’s creativity and consistency in good judgment by using words such as low, medium and high. The examples should be used to justify the employee’s creativity and consistency in good judgment as rated by the manager. Evaluation of employee attendance should be more objective and accurate adopting rating scale which assigns numerical values to the employee’s average attendance.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Performance Appraisal Systems specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This should involve calculating the number of days attended during the appraisal period as a percentage of the total number of days the employee is supposed to have attended, and assigning values 1-6 where 1represents less than 50%; 2 represents 50-60%; 3 represents 61-70%; 4 represents 71-80%; 5 represents 81-90%; and 6 re presents 91-100%. StopNShopToday Inc would be able to improve its performance appraisal system by adopting a combination of appraisal systems. Besides, it has to improve its performance assessment categories to make them more objective and accurate. Reference List Deming, W. E. (1994). Out of the crisis. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press. Eichinger, R. (2004). Patterns of rater accuracy in 360-degree feedback. Perspectives, 27: 23–25. Hakala, D. (2008). 16 ways to measure employee performance. Web. Henderson, K. J. (2011). What are the different types of performance appraisal. Web.

Journal 11 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Journal 11 - Assignment Example ed as a scene of quietness come while it rains, the book describes Anna and the narrator caring for each other based on the way she sleeps at her feet and the kiss she gets on her lips and forehead as well as playing with her fine golden hair. The new thing they claim to have discovered is the new America, the America they expect to have after the ancient time, they were very happy to think of seeing the beautiful America, this can be shown in the play as they both shout loudly and laughing as they walked in the street. The narrator goes ahead and describes how in the past there were ships ferrying people from one corner of America to Europe and to other parts of America, this shows the love and wish that he has for America in the new world. This is cited from the play where it is written â€Å"a profusion of memories rise up in him, and how he once saw large ships with advertising billboard and having stepped nearer read: from Liverpool to New York-from Bremen to New York.† The narrator introduces Columbus in the story as one person who was not aware of if he was among the people who discovered America. (Spack &Ruth, P.157). He portrays Columbus as a poor in ideas, this cited from the story when the narrator write, â€Å"I was unable to imagine Columbus standing with a sorrowful glance at the coast of his discovered world, putting on his top hat and shaking his head disappointedly†. Columbus was treated as a hero, but little did the world know that America had existed before. The narrators concludes the story by describing the type of America he wishes to have but not the one claimed to be discovered by Columbus, he goes ahead and state that â€Å" I’m in the wrong America and perhaps dreaming about the sweet, fragrant America of time. And that has passed for several years† he thinks that something has ultimately gone wrong somewhere and needs to get it corrected but not aware how that he could correct that. It is cited in the narration when he writes, â€Å"a pain