The Remuneration of the Chief Executive Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Remuneration of the Chief Executive - Essay Example Although target remuneration levels are aligned to the market, excellent performance by both the company and by the individual executive director is rewarded with higher bonus levels and share awards, taking potential total remuneration to the upper quartile or higher of the company’s key international competitors. Base salaries of employees are determined in a similar way to those of executive directors. The company’s approach is to ensure that target total compensation is benchmarked to the relevant market in which the individual is employed. The objective of this study is to analyze whether the CEO’s remuneration is in some way related to the performance of the firm or results from the position and power of the chief executive. Most of the studies conducted earlier consider whether CEO pay is determined by the performance of the company they manage or whether it simply relates to the influence which the CEO has over the board of directors. Several other factors such as the size of the company, number of executive directors on the board, sales growth of the company have also been considered in this study to understand the significant factor that decides the remuneration of the CEO. Some studies conducted indicate that if the CEO is also the Chairman of the company, this person has an undeniable influence on the decisions of the board. Hence the influence of the position of the executive director is also studied in this analysis. From the above analysis, it is concluded that the salary of the CEO is much higher when he is the Chairman of the company. The position and power of the CEO play a significant role in determining the salary despite the poor performance of the company. The higher the proportion of executive directors on the board, the higher is the salary of the CEO. Â  

APPLIED CONCEPT PAPER Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

APPLIED CONCEPT PAPER - Essay Example An important concept that develops the trust of stake holders as well as shareholders is corporate social responsibility, which is the extent to which businesses tend to monitor and manage their activities in a way that leaves a positive impact on society as well as the environment as a whole. In addition to this, responsibility of top management to make decisions in a way that are in the best interest of stake holders and shareholders also adds a lot to the firm’s reputation and profitability. The decisions made should also be within the ethical framework. The paper will provide an analysis of the concepts mentioned above along with their implications in corporate world. Abstract The Corporate Governance Movement Daniel R. Fischel Copyright 1982 Vanderbilt Law Review This article is titled as ‘The Corporate Governance Movement’ and is written by Daniel R. Fischel. In this article the writer focuses on factors that are responsible for poor governance of corporatio ns. The writer is of the view that improving fiduciary duties, increased accountability and a large percentage of outside, competent and independent directors can put forward better methods of governing corporations thus, increasing its performance. The next article focuses on the relationship between agents and principle, as maintaining good relationship with principals is critical to the success of the organization. A Survey of Corporate Governance Andrei Shleifer and Robert W. Vishny The Journal of Finance A Survey of Corporate Governance, an article written by Andrei Shleifer and Robert W. Vishny, focuses on the ways the suppliers of finance assure themselves of getting return on their investment. It probes that how principals make managers to behave in their best interest. Moreover, it also focuses on the implications of good relationship between agents and principals on corporate governance. CSR practices and corporate strategy: evidence from a longitudinal case study Lucio La mberti, Emanuele Lettieri The Journal of Business Ethics ‘CSR practices and corporate strategy: evidence from a longitudinal case study’, an article written by Lucio Lamberti and Emanuele Lettieri, focuses on how CSR practices helped corporations fulfill stakeholders’ claims and how it has helped in building up their (stakeholders) trust on corporations. Further evidence is provided by probing into a case study of Italian baby food manufacturing company that demonstrates how adopting CSR practices can shape corporate strategies and win the trust of stakeholders and the society as a whole. Business ethics and stake holder analysis Kenneth E. Goodpaster Business Ethics Quarterly This article titled as ‘Business ethics and Stake holder Analysis’ written by Kenneth E. Goodpaster, focuses on why ethical decision making is important. According to the writer, ethically responsible manager is one who not only takes into account the shareholder analysis but a lso the stakeholder analysis, while making decisions. The study also focuses on the fact that how can management strive to achieve its corporate strategy by giving full attention to ethical concerns. Concepts This paper will highlight several concepts like corporate governance, with special emphasis on the factors responsible for poor governance in corporations and also on how the factor of corporate governance can be improved. In addition to this, importance of relationship betw

Role of the Drug Enforcement Agency

Role of the Drug Enforcement Agency Dhaquille Williams The Drug Enforcement Administration Every year thousands of Americans and foreigners are convicted for transporting and selling narcotics around the United States. The Drug Enforcement Administration is the leading agency under the United States Department of Justice whose task is to fight against and enforce drug smuggling and use within the United States. The Drug Enforcement Administration, better known as the DEA, not only is in control of enforcing narcotics and controlled substances, but they also enforce Federal money laundering and bulk currency smuggling. (Federal Register 1.) The DEA is organized from the head of the DEA, known as the Administrator of Drug Enforcement, who is appointed by the president of the United States. A Deputy Administrator, the Chief of Operations, the Chief Inspector and three Assistant Administrators assist the Administrator. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s headquarters is set in Arlington, Virginia. â€Å"The mission of the Drug Enforcement Administration is to enforce the controlled substance laws and regulations of the United States, or any other competent jurisdiction, those organizations and principal members of organizations, involved in the growing, manufacture, or distribution of controlled substances appearing in or destined for illicit traffic in the United States; and to recommend and support non-enforcement programs aimed at reducing the availability of illicit controlled substances on the domestic and international markets. In carrying out its mission as the agency responsible for enforcing the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States, the DEAs primary responsibilities include: Investigation and preparation for the prosecution of major violators of controlled substance laws operating at interstate and international levels. Investigation and preparation for prosecution of criminals and drug gangs who perpetrate violence in our communities and terrorize citizens through fear and intimidation. Management of a national drug intelligence program in cooperation with federal, state, local, and foreign officials to collect, analyze, and disseminate strategic and operational drug intelligence information. Seizure and forfeiture of assets derived from, traceable to, or intended to be used for illicit drug trafficking. Enforcement of the provisions of the Controlled Substances Act as they pertain to the manufacture, distribution, and dispensing of legally produced controlled substances. Coordination and cooperation with federal, state and local law enforcement officials on mutual drug enforcement efforts and enhancement of such efforts through exploitation of potential interstate and international investigations beyond local or limited federal jurisdictions and resources. Coordination and cooperation with federal, state, and local agencies, and with foreign governments, in programs designed to reduce the availability of illicit abuse-type drugs on the United States market through nonenforcement methods such as crop eradication, crop substitution, and training of foreign officials. Responsibility, under the policy guidance of the Secretary of State and U.S. Ambassadors, for all programs associated with drug law enforcement counterparts in foreign countries. Liaison with the United Nations, Interpol, and other organizations on matters relating to international drug control programs.† (Mission Statement 1.) The Drug Enforcement Administration was created in 1973, by President Richard Nixon. (DEA History 1.) Prior to the 1970’s, approximately only four million Americans had ever tried drugs, but by the early 1970’s, drug use in the United States started to increase, resulting in the Drug Enforcement Administration. The DEA was not an overnight thought put in to action the next morning. The DEA rooted from several different developments dating all the way back to 1915 with The Bureau of International Revenue Department of Treasury. Along with three other developments The Bureau of Narcotics Department of Treasury, and The Bureau of Drug Abuse Control Food and Drug Administration Department of Health, Education and Welfare all became Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Department of Justice in 1963, which was later established as the Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice. In 1973, the DEA started off with 1,470 special agents and a budget of 74.9 million dollars. (DEA history 4.) By 1979, approximately twenty six million Americans were known to be regular drug users. (DEA History 25.) In nine years the number of Americans doing drugs almost tripled. The DEA wanted to take emphasis off of the drugs marijuana and cocaine and focus on the more addictive drug, heroine. Marijuana and Cocaine were looked at as a non-addictive, less serious drug. But, taking the attention off of the drug resulting in a widespread of usage and trafficking. In the mid 1970’s, Miami, Florida became the largest drug capital of the United States and the western hemisphere. Bringing in dangerous and violent drug traffickers from Cuba and Colombia and other Latin American countries. July of 1979, Dadeland Mall was the largest shopping mall in the state of Florida. In the middle of the day to men parked an industrial van and walked into a package liquor store and shot fire. Two men were gunned down, who were soon to be identified as a Colombian cocaine trafficker and his bodyguard. T his tragic incident opened the DEA’s eyes to the war on marijuana and cocaine in South Florida. By 1985, the DEA had moved up to 2,234 special agents and a budget of $362.4 million dollars. As the drug trafficking continued to grow more powerful every year, the need for a higher budget and more special agents grew as well. In 1985, the crack epidemic took over majority of the United States, resulting in much violence. By 1989, it was the largest concern of the DEA. Crack is cocaine based, cooked with baking soda and water. It can be made in any average kitchen. Crack is also much cheaper than cocaine, making it easier and faster to sell. The crack epidemic originated in Miami Florida, home of the cocaine trade, then gradually moved to New York, then Chicago and eventually out to the west coast. In 1986, President Reagan enforced a Drug Free Federal Workplace Program. Allowing federal agencies to set up programs to test its employees against illegal drugs. (DEA History 59). The early nineties, Americans considered the issue on drugs as a huge concern, spreading knowledge and awareness on drug abuse and drug trafficking throughout the nation. President George Bush focused and put in effort to target the supply and demand of the drugs in America. Bush called for the DEA to work with the counterparts overseas to reduce the supply of drugs. (DEA History 77). Crack and cocaine remain the number one challenge for law enforcement. In 1986, the DEA established a prevention program known as the Demand Reduction program to help fight and prevent illicit drug activity through the youth of the nation. Special agents of the DEA provide trendy drug information throughout their local communities to spread word about the most common drugs in the area and what harm each of the drugs possess, targeting the younger generation. This prevention program is targeted to the youth and their caregivers â€Å"The teen brain is still developing. The frontal cortex is the area of the brain that controls judgment, and as a teen, this part of the brain is not fully developed and usually doesn’t fully develop until around the age 25.† (Program overview 1.) â€Å"The longer a child prolongs using drugs, the lower the chances are of having drug addiction or abusing drugs.† (Program overview 1.) There are two different websites designed by the DEA provided to the teen youth and their caregivers. www.justthinktwice.com is a website dedicated to teens with tons of information about various drugs, recent news and media and the consequences of certain drug usage. The other website provided is directed to the parents and caregivers, www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com. This website provides parents and caregivers with valuable information on drugs that someone’s child can be exposed to, helping them identify warning signs of drug abuse and the harmful side effects of most commonly used drugs. Support initiatives to reduce the demand for drugs and give assistance to community coalitions and drug prevention initiatives. (DEA 3) The DEA has over fifteen different programs and operations to help the function of the DEA run as successful as possible. Operations such as Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force, Southwest Border Initiative and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) all help attack drug trafficking and reduce the drug supply in the states as well as drug supply being transported into the states from other counties. The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program was created by congress to provide assistance to federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement in areas of the United States where drug trafficking is at an high. There are twenty eight current HIDTAs, they are located in 46 states. The purpose of this program is to reduce the traffic of drugs by providing reliable law enforcement intelligence to law enforcement agencies the design of effective enforcement strategies and operations. (HIDTAs 1). â€Å"Mission Statement To reduce drug availability by supporting multi-agency task forces and facilitating intelligence-driven interdiction and investigation aimed at disrupting or dismantling international and domestic drug trafficking organizations and their harmful consequences. (HIDTA 1).† In order for an area to be considered as a HIDTA the area must be a center of illegal drug production, manufacturing, importation or distribution. Drug related activities in the area are having a large harmful impact on the area and surrounding areas. The Southwest border is the largest HIDTA in America. It consists of New Mexico, West Texas, South Texas, Arizona and the California Alliance Border Group. Their mission is to create a system working together to reduce drug availability from the Mexican border and destroying international and domestic drug trafficking and the harm that it may cause. The Drug Enforcement Administration offers many careers and opportunities. These careers are not your average everyday nine to five. These careers are challenging and exciting in more ways than someone is used to. Becoming a special agent for the DEA is the heart of the operation. Special Agents are the most talented and diverse of the DEA. Their goal is to get rid of illegal drug distribution, prosecute traffickers and get rid of any financial infrastructure of these organizations. (Occupation 1). This position takes skills, talent and specialized training, along with multiple responsibilities. Some responsibilities may involve investigating and helping prosecute violators of controlled substance laws abroad and in the United States, working with local, state, federal and foreign officials to assist manage drug intelligence programs, searching, seizing and arresting violators and assets affiliated with illicit drug trafficking. To become a special agent, there is an extensive, in de pth hiring process that may take up to a year or more to finalize. One must have qualification reviews, written assessments and interviews, medical examinations that include a drug test, polygraph examinations and full field backgrounds. Another career available in the DEA are the Diversion Investigator. Diversion Investigators are responsible for putting together investigations on the fastest growing drug issue, phony, Internet pharmacies. Being a Diversion Investigator is the most challenging career choices in the DEA field. In order to be a Diversion Investigator one must be able to investigate and gather data, research and analyze data, identify significant factors, and have great verbal and writing skills. A background in law enforcement or military is highly recommended and must have excellent hearing and sight for this position. (Occupations 2) The Forensic Sciences department of the Drug Enforcement Administration has three different branches. The forensic chemist is for the science wizards. Forensic Chemists goes to combat scientifically against illicit drug manufactures. Unusual compound drugs are constantly being composed and sold in the drug trade, forensic chemists use their intellect to break the compound down and analytically help enforce federal regulations in decreasing the distribution and abuse. The DEA recruits and hires forensic chemists from all levels of experience from highly experienced chemists to recent college graduates. A degree from a four-year accredited college or university with a major in physical science, chemistry, or engineering. (Forensic Chemist 1). The second division of the Forensic Sciences department is the Forensic Specialists. Becoming a Forensic Specialist is an opportunity to use state of the art examination techniques to form latent prints. Forensic Specialist have to provide testimo ny in courts of law and conduct training for law enforcement officials. In order to take this position, there are a few qualifications you must meet like experience performing print examinations, partial and imperfect finger prints, and assist in investigations. The third department of the Forensic Sciences department is the Forensic Computer Examiner. Becoming a Forensic Computer Examiner is a very challenging career, it is the base of digital evidence. Being a Forensic Computer Examiner calls to recover and analyze digital evidence from operating systems, databases and communication networks. This field takes more previous education than the other three, must obtain a minimum of a master’s degree but the DEA prefers a Doctorate Degree. The DEA also provides other careers in professional and administrative support, careers from accountants, attorneys, to Human Resources personnel. The DEA takes pride in their employees by providing long-term benefits to their employees. Federal employees are eligible for health and life insurance, retirement benefits, along with annual and sick leave and paid holidays. You can find a link to apply for any of these positions at DEA.gov The Drug Enforcement Administration started with a purpose to control and fight against drug smuggling and use within the United States and control the usage of illicit drugs. The DEA has done an excellent job at controlling this task while growing as one of the largest federal agencies for the government. The DEA started out with 1,470 Special Agents and a 75 million dollar budget and now in 2014 they are home of over 5,000 Special Agents and a 2.02 billion dollar budget. With the aid of High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas and the Demand Reduction Program the DEA is doing a fantastic job at controlling drug trafficking. Yet, with all of these states legalizing marijuana, one can not help but wonder what the future holds for the Drug Enforcement Administration. Works Cited DEA.gov / Home. DEA.gov / Home. U.S.Department of Justice, n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2014. Welcome to the All-new GetSmartAboutDrugs.com. Get Smart About Drugs. Drug Enforcement Administration, n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2014. Welcome to the All-new JustThinkTwice.com. Just Think Twice. Drug Enforcement Administration, n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2014. NM HIDTA Home Page. NM HIDTA Home Page. Drug Enforcement Administration, n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.

Affection and Control :: essays research papers

Affection and control by parents is important in a child’s life. All parents should have both of these qualities. However, the level of affection and control are different among adults of the world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Affection is needed by parents to their children. Affection is caring, and caring is needed by all kids. Comfort is wanted by every child. I feel that high affection has to be shown by parents. My parents care about me and are involved in almost everything I do. When I’m feeling down about anything, I can turn to them for help. Feeling comfortable to talk out problems, or even just speak about great accomplishments, is what I do with my parents. My parents are people who will always love me, who I can always lean on, and will always be by my side. An example is if I do badly on a test on a particular day. They will tell me either that I studied and put my maximum effort in, or I have to work harder. Some situations may be more serious, but they help me on any level. They are always there to help and advise me on what I should do. It’s not a false statement to say that parents who show their children high affection succeed for the most part. Statistic ally, this is known, and I feel the same way currently as a young adult.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Control is another attribute that parents need to instill for their family and children. Control is a quality all parents value differently. Some parents want to control their children a great deal, while others don’t have much control over their kids at all. I feel that my parents are right in the middle of high and low control. Things that I do everyday are sometimes limited by my parents, while other times they are lenient with me. They are adults, have much more experience than me, and that is why they have certain opinions on different issues, which I value. An example is my curfew. My parents set a time that I can stay out until for the weekends. I conversed with my parents about the issue by telling them how I feel, but they are the ones that ultimately make the decision. By setting a reasonable time to try to satisfy me, but also instill some rules, they make the choice based on what they know, hear, and want.

Ancient Chinese Foot Binding Essay

Woman in living in China during the Song Dynasty believed that they would appear more graceful and beautiful if they had small feet. They used foot binding, a long and painful process of breaking and moving bones, to deform their feet until they were tiny. Foot binding perceived the role of women in Chinese society and Confucian moral values. This practice affected the lives of many women in ways that are unimaginably painful (Bound). One Chinese legend speaks of a time when Lady Huang of the Song Dynasty started this practice and continued it because her prince loved her little feet. He was proud of her ability to dance and walk gracefully. Soon, others took up the idea of foot binding, and copied her idea of delicate feet. The first evidence found of foot binding is from Lady Huang’s tomb. She lived in the Song Dynasty, which was from around 960-1279 AD. In the tomb, the woman’s feet were bound and wearing five and a half inch long shoes (Bound). Another legend states that the first time foot binding was used was when a young concubine bound her feet tightly to be used in a dance routine for the emperor at that time (Ellis-Christensen). By the twelfth century, the practice was greatly used among the upper class, particularly the Han Chinese. During the Qing Dynasty in the mid-seventeenth century, every girl who wished to be married into a wealthy family had to have her feet bound, in order to have a good life (Schiavenza). The reason for this is because men wanted their wives to be delicate. When a girl reached the age of 4-6 years old, her mother would perform foot binding on her. If she was any younger, she would not be able to endure the pain; but, if she were any older, her foot would be too grown to work with this process (Schiavenza). First, her mother would soak the child’s foot in a mix of herbs and blood, to soften it up. Then, she would bend and pull back the girl’s toes, (except her big toe), under her foot toward the arch until her toes broke. The girl’s mother would also break the arch of her foot. Next, she would bind up the child’s foot tightly with a long bandage, until her foot formed a triangle with the arch, toes, and heel (Ellis-Christensen). In other words, the foot created a steep, indenting curve and fold in the center of the sole, while the heel was pushed up, causing the foot to become rounded. The entire process was extremely painful. These feet, called lotus feet, were three to five inches long, and shaped like hooves (Bound). Even though foot binding created social possibilities for Chinese women, it caused many problems and deformity. The practice resulted in a shorter and deformed foot that came from the muscles and bones repositioning. Women had to walk on their heels, using a shuffling gait, seen as graceful (Bound). The bandages were worn all day and night, unless they were being washed, which did not happen very often, causing the feet to stink. This caused many infections and diseases. The women who used foot binding had to bind their feet continuously for their whole lives. They wore tiny shoes to cover up their feet. The condition of their feet affected their mobility. Women in Ancient China at that time could not leave their houses by themselves. They also could not do any work that servants could easily do. It was very difficult to get up from a chair and to sit down (Ellis-Christensen). The last survivors from this period in time, all that remains of a vanished idea, suffer from old age, arthritis, and the diseases that came with the practice of foot binding (Mao). Toward the end of the Qing Dynasty, when western countries had more influence on China, foot binding slowly gained more and more people who wanted to end the practice. Wives of Christian ministers, educated Chinese who had studied abroad in Europe and North America, and many others began to oppose foot binding (Schiavenza). Finally, in 1911, foot binding was officially banned (Bound). By the time Mao Zedong took control of China in 1949, the practice was gone, with the exception of a few remote areas in the mountains of China (Schiavenza). During the end of foot binding, a young woman named Gladys Aylward had a chance to preach the gospel to the Chinese people. She grew up in London, England, but was called to go to China and be a missionary to the villagers there. Aylward learned the language and culture of the Chinese, and later became a citizen. One of the officials appointed her to be a foot inspector after the law was passed to ban foot binding. Traveling from village to village, while the unwrapped peoples’ bandages, she preached the gospel to them, and told Bible stories. Many of these people believed and were saved (Gladys). Foot binding was not a form of torture, but was performed in respect to the Chinese culture and traditions. By making their feet exceedingly shorter, they believed that they were closer to perfection. Foot binding caused many women to suffer in their older ages, though. It is amazing that through suffering and pain, God finds ways to make himself known. Thankfully, foot binding is no longer practiced, due to the successful resistance movements of western influence (Mao). Works Cited â€Å"Bound to Be Beautiful: Foot Binding in Ancient China. † McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture. University of Tennessee Knoxville, 4 June 2005. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. Ellis-Christensen, Tricia. â€Å"Why Did Chinese Women Bind Their Feet?. † wiseGEEK. Ed. O. Wallace. N. p. , 16 Nov. 2013. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. â€Å"Gladys Aylward’s Long Road to China. † Christianity. com. Salem Web Network, 2013. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. Mao, J. â€Å"Foot Binding: Beauty and Torture. † The Internet Journal of Biological Anthropology 1. 2 (2007). Web. 25 Nov. 2013. Schiavenza, Matt. â€Å"The Peculiar History of Foot Binding in China. † The Atlantic. N. p. , 16 Sept. 2013. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.

The Things They Carried Rhetorical Analysis

The Things They Carried Prompt: How do the symbols, imagery, and anecdotes in The Things They Carried help to contribute to the meaning of the text? The Things They Carried, written by Tim O’Brien, recounts the horrible experiences of soldiers at war in Vietnam. Throughout the novel, the author not only tells war stories, but tales about his own life, often referencing and dwelling on those who have made an impact on his life. He stresses the importance of these people and stories, often referring to them as â€Å"war stories† although many of these are not true.They serve as an outlet for O’Brien, allowing him to let go of these horrible memories but also letting him keep the importance that they had on his life. These stories and messages are emphasized through the symbols displayed in the novel, the imagery used throughout, and the anecdotes that recount his memories. The symbols in The Things They Carried help to make the text more meaningful and further comm unicate the theme the novel displays. One of the symbols, the dead Vietnamese soldier, represents the horrors of war and what soldiers have to experience on the battlefield.Although it was never completely clarified whether O’Brien did or did not kill the man, the guilt he relays through the text shows that he does not want to be in war, but it is expected of him to kill others since he is involved. He does so to prevent scorn from society upon his return. The author copes with the death of the Vietnamese soldier as he does with others throughout the novel; he fantasizes about what kind of person the soldier was, what he did before the war, and what he will do after.He creates the soldier’s life in his mind, saying that â€Å"After his years at the university, the man I killed returned with his new wife to the village of My Khe, where he enlisted as a common rifleman with the 48th Vietcong Battalion† (O’Brien, 130). The man is a symbol of who the author h oped to be instead of who he was at war. The author himself was about to go to college, but was unable to do so in his life, so fabricated the soldier’s past to live out his dreams in a different manner.Even though he did not know the man, he still feels and remembers the loss like the soldier had a significant impact on his life. O’Brien keeps those that have passed on alive in his memory, and this is one of the many continuous themes of the novel. The uses of imagery throughout the novel help to bring more meaning and importance to the theme the novel holds. In many of the important events in the novel, imagery is utilized to stress the significance of the event. When Kiowa dies in the novel, the use of imagery shows the importance of Kiowa to the entire troop, and how his death happened.When describing his dead body, O’Brien includes the details that â€Å"A piece of his shoulder was missing; the arms and chest and face were cut up with shrapnel. He was cove red with a bluish green mud† (O’Brien, 175). This description of Kiowa’s dead and decomposing body helps to bring the reader into the war itself, and what the author was feeling at this point in his life. Not only does this imagery convey to the reader the condition of the body, but it also communicates the reality of war and the effect it has on the people involved.However, the author keeps Kiowa both alive through the text and in his memory, stating that a true war story is never completely true. This shows that although most of the novel is most likely fabricated and completely false, it still relates the general experience of the war and these experiences keep the war alive in the author’s memory. Many of the stories within The Things They Carried are short anecdotes, and they give examples of the war stories that O’Brien has both experienced and heard. These tales essentially make up the book, and thus are very important to the meaning of the n ovel.The author often recounts his experiences with those who have passed on even though these stories seem to have no relevance to the text itself. For instance, he remembers his first experience with love and loss on meeting Linda when he was in elementary school. â€Å"When I write about her now, three decades later, it’s tempting to dismiss it as a crush, an infatuation of the childhood, but I know for a fact that what for each other was as deep and rich as love can ever get†(O’Brien, 228). This love he felt for Linda was true, and even similar to the love he felt for many of the men in his troop.Even though O’Brien has not seen Linda or heard of her for three decades, she is immortalized within his memory, and as a result, he thinks about her often, as he does with other deceased characters in the book, such as Kurt Lemon and Kiowa. This memory of Linda shows that the book was not written only to recount his experience in the war, but to also remembe r those who have passed on through the text, and this shows that even when people die, they are never truly forgotten. The symbols, imagery, and anecdotes used throughout the text help to prove that no one single person is every truly gone from someone’s memory, and every memory has an mpact on one’s life. O’Brien uses symbolism to refer to the war at many points, and his memory of the man showed who he wished he was rather than what he really became. The symbolism used when describing Kiowa’s death shows the horror and reality of war, and well as the immortalization of people in the author’s memory. O’Brien’s anecdote involving Linda and his first experience with love shows this remembrance of the dead as well. This anecdote, along with others, brings more meaning to the story. These messages involved in the book help to bring more meaning and importance to the text, and help to leave an impact on the reader’s life.

4 Icebreaker Activities for Use Year Round

4 Icebreaker Activities for Use Year Round A positive school climate improves outcomes for students, especially those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. A positive school climate also contributes to academic achievement. Creating a positive school climate that offers such benefits can start in the classroom, and one way to start is by using icebreakers. Although icebreakers do not outwardly appear academic, they are a first step to building a positive classroom climate. According to researchers  Sophie Maxwell et al. in their report The Impact of School Climate and School Identification on Academic Achievement in Frontier Psychology (12/2017), the more positively students perceived school climate, the better their achievement scores were in the numeracy and writing domains. Included in these perceptions were  connections to a class and  the strength of relationships with school staff.   Fostering feelings of trust and acceptance in relationships is difficult when students do not know how to talk to each other. Developing empathy and making connections come from interactions in an informal environment. An emotional connection to  a classroom or school will  improve a students motivation to attend. Teachers might use the following four activities at the beginning of school. They each can be adapted to refresh classroom collaboration and cooperation at various times of the year. Crossword Connection This activity includes visual symbols of connection and self-introductions. The teacher prints her name on the board, leaving some space between each letter. She then tells the class something about herself. Next, she picks a student to come to the board, tell something about themselves  and print their name crossing the teachers name as in a crossword puzzle. Students take turns by saying something about themselves and adding their names. Volunteers copy the completed puzzle as a poster.  The puzzle could be written on paper taped to the board and left up in the first-draft form to save time. This activity can be extended by asking each student to write their name and a statement about themselves on a sheet of paper. The teacher can then use the statements as clues for class names made with crossword puzzle software. TP Surprise Students will know you are full of fun with this one. The teacher welcomes students at the door at the start of class while holding a roll of toilet paper. He or she instructs students to take as many sheets as they need but refusing to explain the purpose. Once the class begins, the teacher asks students to write one interesting thing about themselves on each sheet. When students are finished, they can introduce themselves by reading each sheet of toilet paper. Variation: Students write one thing they hope or expect to learn in the course this year on each sheet. Take a Stand The purpose of this activity is for students to survey their peers positions quickly on various matters. This survey also combines physical movement with topics that range from the serious to the ridiculous. The teacher puts one long line of tape down the center of the room, pushing desks out of the way so that students can stand on either side of the tape. The teacher reads a  statement with either-or answers such as, I prefer night or day, Democrats or Republicans, lizards or snakes. The statements can range from silly trivia to serious content. After hearing each statement, students agreeing with the first response move to one side of the tape and those agreeing with the second, to the other side  of the tape. Undecided or middle-of-the-roaders are allowed to straddle the line of tape. Jigsaw Search Students especially enjoy the search aspect of this activity. The teacher prepares jigsaw puzzle shapes. The shape may be symbolic of a topic or in different colors. These are cut like a jigsaw puzzle with the number of pieces matching the desired group size from two to four. The teacher allows students to select one puzzle piece from a container as they walk into the room. At the designated time, students search the classroom for peers who have puzzle pieces that fit theirs and then team up with those students to perform a task. Some  tasks might be to introduce a partner, to make a poster defining a concept, or to decorate the puzzle pieces and make a mobile. The teacher may have students print their names on both sides of their puzzle piece in order to facilitate name learning during the search activity. The names could be erased or crossed out so the puzzle pieces can be reused. Later, the puzzle pieces can be used as a way to review subject content, for example, by joining an author and his novel, or an element and its properties. Note: If the number of puzzle pieces does not match the number of students in the room, some students will not have a complete group. Leftover puzzle pieces can be placed on a table for students to check to see if their group will be short members.