Abstract
This paper examines goal-setting theory, looking at the literature and incorporating the experiences of a couple of companies that employed goal setting.

From the Paper
"Goal-setting theory assumes that people determine what goals they wish to achieve and then allow those goals to motivate and drive them to their accomplishment. This theory, according to Locke, is a cognitive theory of motivation based on the premise that people have needs that can be thought of as specific outcomes or goals they hope to obtain. (Yearta, Maitlis and Briner) Most organizations employ some form of goal setting as a motivational technique and as a method of directing individuals' efforts at work and providing..."

Tags:goal, goal-setting theory, goal setting, motivation, goal acceptance, feedback

Abstract
This essay looks at three sources of First Nations literature to consider themes of racism, exclusion, classism, social justice and violence within Native communities. It uses First Nations literature as a tool to diagnose the malaise of North American society, not only in a contemporary setting but also in relation to the histories of subjugation that have marked Aboriginal interaction with White culture.

From the Paper
"The term `First Nations literature' refers to the poems, novels, stories, plays, legends and songs created by Aboriginal writers from North America. Such works are characterized by the influence of an oral tradition, and for the most part have been located far outside the mainstream of Western literature. To date, very few First Nations texts have been included among the commonly accepted `great works' of English literature. This absence is likely tied to the poor education historically received by Aboriginal youth, including residential schooling and limitations on..."

Tags:aboriginal, literature, critique

Abstract
Summary: Children's literature can be useful in aiding children in this aspect of their growth. In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the representation of death, and the fear of death, plays a prominent role in terms of character, plot and setting. The character of Harry Potter is defined, from the outset of the book, by the death of his parents.

Tags:mature, children's literature

Abstract
The thesis in this paper is that the city as a setting in modernist literature does not represent merely a backdrop. It is has a larger context connected to cultural and social themes. The writer explores these themes through two pieces of modern literature, T.S. Eliot's "The Wasteland" and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Sign of Four". Using this literature, the paper examines common threads of difference and assimilation in cities, such as gender roles, women's suffrage, class conflicts and more.

From the Paper
"So, whilst they seem to have the capacity to gain some knowledge, they are 'the other' and the reader cannot identify with them. The environment and atmosphere of the city is also important in expressing this epistemological concern. The repeated references to the darkness of the city and the image of the city engulfed in thick "yellow fog" are important in this novella (Doyle,1987:15). The darkness and fog hinder vision and, therefore, obstruct the access of knowledge. Most of the characters cannot see through this real and metaphoric fog. It blinds their vision. They cannot solve the mysteries of the city. However, it is important to note that Holmes' ability to gain knowledge, to see through the fog, and to find his way through this labyrinth, separates The Sign of Four from true modernist fiction where the protagonist cannot ever successfully gain the knowledge that they seek."

Tags:T.S. Eliot, The Wasteland, Adorno

Abstract
This paper discusses how plausibility in fiction is one of the vital aspects of literature and how there are many ways to make a literary work plausible - one of them being the setting. The paper examines three stories as examples to show how the setting contributes to the plausibility of the works. The paper first looks at how, in Thomas Hardy's "The Three Strangers", the setting, which is an isolated cottage, makes the story believable as it is far from the city and its dwellers are ignorant of the facts of daily city life. The paper then looks at Joseph Conrad's "The Inn of The Two Witches" and explains how the setting contributes to the story's gothic theme, as the setting is an inn again in an isolated area. The paper relates that, although there are supernatural characters in this story, the readers accept their existence easily and naturally because of the setting. Finally, the paper examines how, in Robert Louis Stevenson's "Will O' The Mill", the setting is a mill in a beautiful valley. The paper explains that the central character, Will, arrives at strange decisions, but when these decisions are thought within the setting, they seem plausible.

From the Paper
"Thomas Hardy sets his story "The Three Strangers" in a rural part of England. The story is about a farmer who holds a party to celebrate his newborn child. There is a heavy rain during the party and three strangers call on his cottage for a shelter. As the unknown guests speak, a curiosity is created because no one knows exactly who they are, where they come from and go to. The first two strangers tell their stories and their host and we, the readers, hope what they tell is true. The third strangers' visit heightens our excitement as he vanishes as soon as he appears in the cottage. At that moment some news arrive that a prisoner who waits his execution the next day has ran away from the prison. The dwellers of the cottage and their guests mistakenly think that the last stranger is the prisoner and goes after him. They catch him and he immediately reveals the fact. The fact is that the third stranger is the prisoner's brother, the prisoner is the first stranger and the second stranger is his executioner. Of course, the real prisoner is not caught."

Tags:country, gothic, supernatural

Abstract
This paper argues that, in Henry James' "Daisy Miller" and F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby", the settings are significant to the depiction of the characters and of the main themes. The author points out that the general setting of "Daisy Miller" in Europe is important to the development of the main theme and to the designation of certain characters. The paper relates that the clash between the European and American culture is presented in the relationship between Daisy and Winterbourne. The author states that the settings of "The Great Gatsby" in eastern U.S.A., mostly in New York in the 1920s, are important to the theme of the connection between wealth, corruption and moral decay. The paper notes that the characters belong exclusively to a particular setting: Gatsby to the West Egg, Daisy to the East Egg, Myrtle to the Valley of Ashes and Nick to the Midwest.

From the Paper
"The protagonist and the main character of the second story is Gatsby, a poor man who has made a fortune in illegal activities all in order to impress and win the love of a woman named Daisy. Unlike the Henry James's Daisy, Fitzgerald's Daisy is far from innocent. She is manipulative, careless and rather shallow. She marries a rich man and later has an affair with Gatsby out of boredom and for some fun. His death is tragic, but perhaps a more tragic is the fact that he is so obsessed with Daisy that he never realizes that she was simply not worth his affections. Daisy, Gatsby, Daisy's husband, and all their friends lead extravagant and carefree lives of the rich people in the East, lives which are very different from Nick's Midwest."

Tags:innocence rome extravagant midwest, new york

Abstract
This paper examines the research that has been done on the phenomenon of agenda setting by the popular media, and the influence it has on public opinion. The relevant literature is reviewed, demonstrating that a plethora of studies have established that agenda setting is a common occurrence in the popular media. The opposing argument, that the evidence for agenda setting is purely cor-relational, is addressed. The effects that this influence has on the public's view of what issues are important are explored.

From the Paper
"Agenda setting is a real phenomenon, and is the most important factor in shaping the public's view of the relative importance of a story. Early studies in communications revealed that the media had a minimal effect on public thinking. As such, the study of agenda setting has become one of the first real investigations into the powerful effect of the media on public opinion (Morgan). Agenda setting is important because it shows that the news media has an important role to play in the subjects that the public think about. Agenda setting, in its most insidious form, tells the public what political matters to consider important (Severn & Tankard)."

Tags:communications, thinking, socioeconomic, political, Shaw, McCombs, election, news, television

Abstract
This paper examines the use of zero tolerance policies as a preventative measure against school violence. It points out that studies reveal conflicting opinions about zero tolerance. It argues that the research available shows a clear need for a change in how zero tolerance policies are applied and a need for various alternatives. The paper includes tables and survey statistics to illustrate this. To conclude, the paper suggests that now is the time to make adjustments in policy, practice and research to implement policies that can keep schools safe and preserve the opportunity for all students to learn.

Outline:
Introduction
Statement of Purpose
Review of Literature
History of Zero Tolerance
Perceptions of Teachers, Administrators and Parents
Suspension and Expulsion
School Shootings
Negative Impact of Zero Tolerance
Alternatives to Zero Tolerance Policies
Conclusion

From the Paper
"A particular strategy that has caught the attention of many school districts in the last two decades or so is the zero tolerance policy. The zero tolerance policy has become a one-size-fits all solution to all the problems facing schools. Skiba (2000) offers this definition for zero tolerance...it is "a method of sending a message that certain behaviors will not be tolerated, by punishing all offenses severely, no matter how minor". The said purpose of the zero tolerance policy is to create a safe and secure learning environment for all students, something that is in fact a right of all students and parents to expect from any educational institution. However, in practice, it has been used to direct students who misbehave intentionally, targets serious risk students who cause disturbances in schools, and applied to students who have an emotional problem or other disability (Noguera 2003)."

Tags:violence, education, system, safety, policy, prevention, punishment

Abstract
This paper provides a review of Brenda Shoshanna's article, "7 Steps for Melting Anger on the Spot." The article focuses heavily on the value of interactions within an environment, with an emphasis on organization of emotional content in order to affect positive change. In a detailed literature review, these concepts are defined and described and applied to a fictional case example in which students in middle school require anger management solutions. This paper concludes with a personal response to these themes.

Tags:teaching, education, anger

Abstract
This paper addresses leadership in terms of its impact on performance in an organizational setting.

Tags:BUSINESS / MANAGEMENT, LEADERSHIP, HUMAN RESOURCES, nature leadership research