Abstract
This paper examines how four short stories illustrate the theme of alternative narrative and the road not taken in the realm of human psychology and behavior. Stories are: "The Widow's Son," "Hills Like White Elephants," "The Gilded Six-Bits," and "Paul's Case."

Tags:Paul's Case, Willa Cather

The Widow's Son, Mary Lavin

Hils Like White Elephans, E. Hemingway

The Gilded Six-Bits, Zora N. Hurston

Abstract
Shirley Jackson is a short story writer known for writing disturbing stories that focus not on horrific events, but on normal events that occur in society. The writer shows how her stories add new meaning to common events that everyone can relate to, often also making a comment on our society. Three of her stories which have these features, are examined - "The Witch", "An Ordinary Day, With Peanuts", and "After You, My Dear Alphonse". These stories are compared in terms of theme, style, irony, and characters. The common features of Jackson's work can easily be identified.

From the Paper
"In each of the three stories, the theme makes a comment on our society, using everyday events to accomplish this.

"In The Witch, a mother is on the train with her four-year old son. A man enters and noting that the boy needs entertaining, tells him a story. The story, however, is a horrific one and what would be considered an inappropriate one. The mother must then deal with the social situation of reacting to the man's inappropriateness. The aspect of the story that communicates the theme is that the boy is actually entertained by the story, even though it is considered inappropriate. This leads the reader to consider why these types of stories are so entertaining and why the mother is more disturbed by the story than her son. This leads to the questioning of the conventions of society, especially the idea of what is considered inappropriate."

Tags:alphonse, peanuts, witch, style, irony, theme, horror, society, feature

Abstract
The paper examines Chapter 5 of Hugh Dempsey's work "The Vengeful Wife and Other Blackfoot Stories" and how changes our perception of homosexuality in Native American tribes. The paper relates that this chapter, entitled "They Acted Like Women", dispels many myths and stereotypes and gives the reader a better understanding of the underlying causes of the various gender roles in Native American society. The paper concludes that Dempsey makes the Westernized reader step out of their world and out of their own biases. He allows the reader to explore gender differences from a much different perspective than other western authors

Outline:
Gender and Gender Roles
Towards an Egalitarian Society
Biology or Sociology?

From the Paper
"Native American culture is much more flexible in its interpretation of lifestyle variations. The focus of Native American society was on the roles that a person played within he tribe and daily activities, than on sexual behavior. Dempsey explores some of the various roles and examples of men and women that deviated from the norm. Native American society allowed for a definition of gender that was neither male nor female, yet encompassed the roles of both at the same time.
"Dempsey examines the variations of gender roles that existed within Native American society. His exploration makes us realize that there are many more ways to define gender roles than our limited Western vocabulary allows. "Berdache" is the word used to describe individuals of a definitive physiological sex who take on the status and role of the opposite sex (Dempsey, 2003). There are a number of sexual preferences out of the norm that fall into this category. This category encompasses homosexuals, transvestites, or simply one who shows strong characteristics of the opposite sex."

Tags:berdache, gender, homosexuality

Abstract
In this paper, the word "death" is chosen as a point of analysis and discussion. The primary objective of this deconstruction analysis is to determine how the signifier, which is the word "death," paves the way for the creation of themes that would best describe the purpose of the author (Kate Chopin) in writing "The Story of an Hour." Throughout the paper, both figurative and literary meanings of death are given, in relation to the characters and plot of the story. The author of the paper posits that the signifier (death) provides an alternative avenue for Chopin to subtly express her disagreement, even protest, on the persistence of inequality between males and females in 19th century Western society.

From the Paper
"Figurative meaning embedded in the word death is the end of patriarchy. This is a strong and very serious issue that Chopin creatively disguises through the characters of Brently and Louise in "Story." Brently's death led to Louise's freedom, which tells the reader that it is only with the 'death'-literal death of men-that women can truly be themselves, be free from any limits or following discriminating norms of the society. His death may also mean that it is only when men are 'under the earth,' an imagery of death, that women can be free and be happy. Notice that the imagery, 'under the earth' is also synonymous with the meaning of being subjugated, wherein one is put under someone's control involuntarily."

Tags:Brently, Mallard, Louise

Abstract
The paper analyzes the structure of the poem "A Story" and its poetic devices. The paper highlights the author's use of hyperbolic diction, flash-forward, repetition, alternating speakers, and a religious undertone and explains how these devices convey that the father's connection with his son is what is most important to him.

From the Paper
"Structurally, the poem is broken into seven stanzas, with the length of each stanza increasing, one line at a time, then decreasing in the same manner. They go from two lines to five lines, then back to two. The meter and rhyme are free verse throughout, which connect to both the father and the son not changing in any way during the course of the poem. The tone and attitude of the poem, which are created by the third person speaker, are not consistent however. The length of the stanza has an effect on the tone; the longer the stanza, the more personal the poem becomes, and therefore the more negative. Whereas the opening and concluding stanzas are generalizations, the fourth stanza is almost entirely spoken by the father, and has a very depressing image of a boy leaving his distraught father."

Tags:flash-forward, repetition, speakers, father, son, relationship

Abstract
The paper examines the three methods for teaching reading-- phonics, whole language and repeated reading and then provides a comparative analysis of these three methods. The paper concludes that the impact of the repeated reading method in improving reading fluency, word recognition accuracy and reading comprehension makes it an effective alternative for teach learning disabled students .

From the Paper
"Many educators feel that phonics is the key for teaching early reading skills to children. They maintain that young students should learn the sounds for each letter and the rules that accompany many so they may become independent readers where they sound out unfamiliar words. While teaching phonics is still an important concept, one must also understand that the whole language approach is an exciting and interesting method designed to include all subjects when teaching reading. Students learn about science, social studies, and math while participating in their language arts lesson. There are also many supporters of the Balanced Program that combine teaching phonics in the whole language classroom environment."

Tags:groups, teachers, literacy, story

Abstract
This paper explains that Eliyahu M. Goldratt, in "The Goal", used fictional stories contained as a teaching tool by focusing on aspects of work such as his characters' problems in balancing home life with their professional life. The author points out that the novel includes the introduction of unconventional business methods. The paper provides a brief summary of the novel, its overall effectiveness as a teaching tool and the methods to which Goldratt's business management concepts can be applied in new or alternative settings.

From the Paper
"Author Eliyahu M. Goldratt's book, "The Goal", is a novel published as an alternative to the conventional business theory book. Goldratt used the stories contained within the book as a teaching tool for readers, focusing on aspects of work such as his characters' problems in balancing home life with their professional life, and the introduction of unconventional business methods. This paper shall provide a brief summary of the novel, its overall effectiveness as a teaching tool, and the methods to which Goldratt's business management concepts can be applied in new or alternative settings. Summary of the Novel Goldratt's "The Goal" focused primarily on the problems experienced by his character, Alex Rogo. Rogo is a manager at the manufacturing plant, UniCo, and he has identified the presence of a serious problem with the chain of operations occurring in his company."

Tags:goldratt, goal, business, Eliyuha

Abstract
This dissertation paper asserts that families of children with special needs must deal with many facets, including doctors and diagnoses, teachers and schooling, potentially difficult behaviors from the child as well as the special education and medical needs and potential legal issues. The paper explains that many families feel overwhelmed with the amount of information they are forced to learn from the medical terms of the disability to the legal ramifications of obtaining an appropriate education. The paper draws the conclusion that helping families become empowered to negotiate with schools, discuss diagnoses with doctors and be part of the education and medical teams may help prevent the families from feeling left out, disenchanted, and angry, and reduce the need for legal intervention.

Parents As Advocates
ABC's of Parent Empowerment
Justification for Family Involvement
Why Parents Are Told "No"
Special Education Mediation
The Rowley Standard
Fape Standard
Procedural Compliance
Substantive Compliance
Educational Benefit
Jessica's Story: A Parent Wanting Too Much
Inclusion With Young Children
Incorporating High Standards in IEP's for School Age Children
Special Education Disputes and Conflicts
Stephanie's Case: Parent Advocacy in Action
Moore's "Pizza Analysis" for Determining Conflicts
Data Conflicts
Relationship Conflicts
Interest Conflicts
Value Conflicts
Structural Conflicts
Resolution and Management of Special Education Disputes
Teaching Negotiation Skills
Building Collaborative Special Education Teams
Concept Introduction
Communication Accommodation Theory Defined
Special Education IEP Teams: No Room for Conflict
Collaboration and Team Building Strategies
Accounting for Cultural Differences
Culture Defined
Understanding Different Cultures
High and Low Context
Various Cultural Perceptions of Education
Challenges for Special Education Teachers
A Parent's Guide: How To Get Involved
A Teacher's Guide: Involving Families
Teaching Mediation Skills
Mediation Stage 1: Convening
Mediation Stage 2: Opening
Mediation Stage 3: Communicating
Mediation Stage 4: Negotiating
Mediation Stage 5: Closing
Understanding Special Education and the Medical Aspects of Healthcare
Steven's Case: A Parent's Distrust of Doctors
Diagnosis and Misdiagnosis
Importance of Early Intervention
Legal Implications: Medical Malpractice
The Need for Early Identification
Alternative System to Improve Special Education Disputes
Miguel Action Planning System Alternative
Strength and Weakness of Maps
Alyssa's Story: A Mother Becomes an Advocate
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Courts are exploring what the definition of an "educational benefit" is. "The plan of instruction and placement should be likely to result in meaningful educational progress and not regression or trivial educational advancement" (SERR, 1992, quoting 853 F.2d 171 (3d Cir. 1988)). The history of educational benefit comes from the 94-142 "FAPE" to the Rowley decision and the shift of emphasis to "educational benefit" in the IDEA '97 (Monitoring, 2003). "Improving educational results for children with disabilities is an essential element of our national policy of ensuring equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities" (20 U.S.C. 1400(c)(1)). However, the "implementation of this Act has been impeded by low expectations, and an insufficient focus on applying replicable research on proven methods of teaching and learning for children with disabilities" (20 U.S.C. 1400(c)(4))."

Tags:autism, learning, impairment, deficiency

Abstract
This paper reviews the book, "Winesburg Ohio", a well-crafted work of art by the author, Sherwood Anderson, about the alternately complex, lonely, joyful, and strange lives of the inhabitants of the small town of Winesburg, Ohio. It analyzes the various motifs of Winesburg, Ohio under different sectional headings in order to view how characters function in the set of stories remarkably woven by the author. It covers the themes of loneliness, inhibition, lack of communication, and isolation, and also tries to show the connection of George Willard to these themes and the town.

From the Paper
"The first chapter is called "Hands" , and involves the sad story of Wing Biddlebaum. Because Biddlebaum is accused of having molested students that he taught, his hands embody the shame that he carries. Fearing that the presence of his hands will be misinterpreted, Biddlebaum hides his expressive hands. Because a person's physical hands are used to communicate feeling, "Hands" is a tale about one of the sources of isolation, the inability to communicate feelings. "Paper Pills" is the second chapter of the novel and deals with another cause of isolation, the inability to communicate thought. Because Doctor Reefy is afraid of communicating directly to another person, he writes his thoughts on little pieces of paper to prevent his thoughts from being misinterpreted."

Tags:wing, biddlebaum, george, willard

Abstract
In this article, the writer selects a crime story from a recent newspaper and lists the values in the characters' respective actions in the story. The writer discusses the case of Raymond Charles Yellowknee who has been involved in several instances of dangerous driving that has led to death and bodily harm. The writer discusses the expected responses of the formal criminal justice system and imagines an alternative process using restorative justice values. This paper is written in the form of a letter to the editor of the newspaper.

From the Paper
"I am writing with reference to the case of Raymond Charles Yellowknee, reported in your newspaper on November 13. Yellowknee is a 35-year-old man who has already has been convicted of four counts of dangerous driving causing death, four counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm, three counts of impaired driving, and one count of operating a vehicle while disqualified. His latest crime is that he got drunk, stole a car, drove it while drunk in a reckless way, and while doing so, had a head-on collision with another car and killed a woman and her three young daughters."

Tags:crime, restorative, justice