Visionary leadership Essay Example for Free

Visionary leadership Essay When discussing the values of Christian leadership, one book that we could not readily ignore is the book of Nehemiah. Many of the most popular Christian values could ready be found in this early book of the Old Testament, only to be reiterated in various events all throughout the Bible. And since before we delve into the New Testament we shall be focusing on Old Testament teachings for they shall provide the background of many of the leadership styles that we would be encountering later on, perhaps it would be a good idea for our paper to first magnify this book in section as an example of leadership (Woolfe, 2000). The book of Nehemiah highlights visionary leadership through prayer. The need to share a vision and to enable and empower others to become involved in making things happen, as well as the need to maintain leadership through periods of conflict and opposition. The book highlights the character Nehemiah, a cupbearer of the Persian emperor. The cupbearer, in case one has no idea of the historical significance of such a position, is an important position of trust for a member of the Jewish minority in the Persian court. It is through his leadership that Nehemiah had enabled established credibility amongof the Jewish people through his example. During that time, it had already been more than a century past sinces the Persians had conquered Jerusalem in many of the Jews at that time had been in exile. Through Nehemiah’s example, the Persian court had recognized the importance of having Jews deter percent minority. However, perhaps the most notable event in Nehemiah’s career as a cupbearer of the Persian court was when he had shared his vision with the king of Persia. The result of sharing the vision mildly end in a nonviolent way had had a positive effect on the king of Persia, again exemplifying that the cupbearer that he had chosen have been supportive of his campaign and many of the requests of Nehemiah had been granted by the king. When the vision was shared to other characters, the response had been different, and Nehemiah had facilitated a more assertive stand, still not one that is confrontational and could have created violent results. When Nehemiah arrives at Jerusalem, he creates a strategic analysis of the situation before sharing his vision with the Jews that had been left in Jerusalem. Of course, being one of the countrymen, the response was positive and in favor of him (Woolfe, 2000). Modern business leaders and managers need to understand that most of the concepts of leadership today, including the model of the transformational leader, had first been rooted in the actions of this biblical character. Many leadership books in the present highlights the importance of transformational leadership, a method of leadership and management where leaders not only give commands to theirhis or her followers in order for them to follow and execute (Bass, 2005). Rather, a transformational leader recognizes the fact that in order for followers to achieve their full potential and create the highest output levels for the company, that the vision of what the company should do it should ought to be shared. In fact, this could be easily recognized in many of the large corporations today where we find ceilings and walls written with their vision and mission statements, together with the values they recognize in the company (Thousand Oaks, 1993). Of course, we should also identify that not all companies follow such values orientation. Transformational leaders are rarely found today in large businesses because of their single-minded purpose of profit. And in a world where in it is either you gain the maximum level of profit, or you perish, it would perhaps be safe for us to assume that transformational leaders are nearing extinction. However, this does not necessarily mean that we should stop looking for such leaders and training such leaders. In fact, if we are indeed to do anything about it, we should focus our energies and goals in order to produce such leaders in the future. Again, if you are to use our FMCG Company as an example, transformational leadership may play an important role not only in the continuous profit maximization of such a company, but also in the values integration and achieving of the vision of the business venture. As we have earlier discussed, because of the quantities that is produced by such fast-moving companies, it is also guaranteed that the amount of labor and human capital involved in the production, distribution, and sales of the products would be extremely high. In modern management dynamics, we recognize the fact that as more and more people are employed into a business venture, organization, or company, the efficiency of leaders must also be proportional to the number of employees involved. Still another popular leadership method and leadership theory that we may be able to apply in this case is the team leadership theory. It basically classifies leaders and heads as managers, holding their ability to manage specialized human resourcesin the highest regard. The team leadership model states that the most effective leaders of our time art does not necessarily with the highest level of skill nor specialized abilities. Instead, the team leadership model reiterates the need for leaders which could identify those members in society and organization which are valuable because of their specialized tasks, or any other advantage that they may pose. The job of the team leader is to organize and collate such members of society and group to formulate a team aimed at accomplishing a certain task. S Wing in the journals of team performance management stated the essential role of team leaders in order to bring out the best in human capital. He points out in his article that often people do not view themselves as capable unless others in a higher position than them point out their capabilities. Also, his article points out the importance of being able to collate people into a unified whole affair according to recent statistics that he had cited in the Journal, the output inner slopes rise exponentially and not just the sum of its parts. (Wing, 2005) Now that we had identified the virus leadership models, if it had not been obvious or ready to the reader of this paper, we could claim that the model of visionary leadership that is offered by characters and stories in the Bibleare combinations of the two popular leadership models in management dynamics today. In fact, if we observe closely the stories we have identified as well as the many other stories and parables that could be found within the text, elements of transformational leadership as well as the leadership could be found. So that we may avoid the pitfall of praising the Bible too much, let us point out that perhaps many of the stories found in the Bible are idealized versions of historical accounts. The fact remains, however, if we refers strictly and believe absolutely that counts within the Old Testament books, we discover that our leadership models fit perfectly into combination with the characters that have been highlighted. FMCG companies are usually small in scale with respect to higher-level management but large in numbers for employees (Newcomen Society, 1957). And because of that high average variable costs involved in continuing the operation of the company, it would not be able to afford more section managers and overseers. And logically, what we substitute for quantity is quality. In a company with only a handful of people in management positions, it would be perhaps essential for such companies in such leaders to be able to hire or trade existing managers towards a transformational leadership style. Like our example in the Bible were in wisdom and the sharing of vision must be integrated into leaders, but overall effect of a transformational leader had been modern businesses would have the same effect as that of the story in the Bible.

African Moral Values Can Complement Christian Moral Values Religion Essay

African Moral Values Can Complement Christian Moral Values Religion Essay Moral values can be said to be the ideals of good and evil, which oversees a persons deeds and choices. Individuals morals can be drawn from society and government, from religious conviction, or self. Moral values can also be defined as generally accepted, empathetic, caring, Christ-like philosophy. The bible states that good moral values can be observed in the ideology and manner of behavior taught by Jesus. It seems just to tie the definition of moral values to what is right and what is wrong conduct held by individuals. II. Morality Morality denotes a coordination of behavior that distinguishes intent, choices, and events between those that are right or wrong. Immorality is the reverse of morality. III. African Moral Values According to Mbiti (1990), the African is notoriously and incurably religious. Hence a conclusion can be drawn that African morals are elaborately entwined with culture (African) which is greatly dosed with spiritual beliefs. Consequently in order to comprehend the African moral values, an outline of African religion and culture is necessary. IV. African culture overview Culture refers to the following ways of life, including but not limited to: Language; Art and Sciences Thought Spirituality Social activity Interaction a) Religion African Traditional Religion (ATR) has proved to be extremely complex to define. There is no single easy and accurate definition to explain it. Sadly, many writers have misunderstood ATR by attempting to define it under deceptive terms such as magic, superstitions, primitive religion, paganism etc. The struggle to describe ATR seems to come from the fact that its propagation is carried out by living it other than preaching it. Its supporters are more preoccupied with its practice than with its theory. ATR influence wraps all aspects of life, from before the birth of a person to long after s/he has passed away. It is a way of life and life is at its core. Thus comments such as: For the African, religion is factually life and life is religion. Mbiti offers a summary of where to search for and locate ATR: belief and customs; rituals, ceremonies and festivals; shrines, sacred places and religious objects; art and symbols; names of people and places; music and dance; myths and legends; pr overbs, riddles and wise sayings. The beliefs and practices of ATR are based upon the faith of the old native people (Ancestors). This is the reason why it is said to be traditional in contrast to other religions, e.g. Christianity and Islam, which are considered as foreign since their dogma and practices came from outside of Africa. There has been considerable awareness of the dialogue between Christian and African Religion. This has been made possible through ways such as bible translation. African moral values can complement Christian moral values through the spirit of interreligious tolerance, dialogue and mutual respect. Also, Christian spirituality is greatly shaped by spirituality of African religion. Praying unites Africans and Europeans (West) at a spiritual level. b) The Supernatural in Indigenous African Religions Intellectuals who study religion in Africa inform us that every African society have a belief in God. Some African religions have faith in one supreme God who formed the world and all that is in the world. Other African religions have faith in more than one God; nevertheless even in these religions, typically one of the Gods is said to be the supreme God who created the world. The way God is seen in most African religions is both alike and dissimilar than the way monotheistic religions characterize God for example Christianity. It teaches that there exists only one God. African religion can complement Christian moral values by sharing concepts about God for example; God maintains creation, God is the creator of everything, God provides for and guards creation, God is omnipotent and omniscient, God supports fairness. The supernatural is also significant to African religious belief. Spirits exists between an all- powerful God and humans. Spirits in African religious traditions share a number of characteristics with angels in the Christian traditions. Good spirits assist in shielding against ill health and misfortune and aid humans by offering rain required for crops as well as animals used for food. On the other hand, not all spirits are good. Some are viewed as evil and are thought to be the responsible for illness, and other. c) Sense of community One African proverb puts across the African sense of community. It says Go the way that many people go; if you go alone, you will have reason to lament. The African thought of security and its value depends on personal identification with and inside the community. For that reason, the authentic African is identified and known, by and through his community. The community is the guardian of the individual; therefore we must go where the community goes. In another meaning, the community offers the African the psychological and decisive security as it gives its members both physical and ideological identity. It must be mentioned that in the African way of thinking, the community as an entity remains, while persons, come and go. As a result, the Africans stress community life and communalism as a living principle of which the fundamental ideology is community-identity. Its goal is to produce and present an individual as a community-culture bearer. Culture is a community asset and must the refore be community-protected. In addition, the individual in an African community is under the clans care. His individuality is not given emphasis at the expense of his community identity. This is the reason why individualism, as a dogma and code of life, is not encouraged in Africa. The social principles spelt out above are expression of African humanism. According to Lambo (127), the African man is first and foremost a member of his family, the extended family, the community and his society in that order before being an individual. Compared to the Wests individualism, the African man has a social and communal nature. The African culture can complement with the Western culture by integrating individualism with the communal nature of life. d) Sense of Hospitality Sense of hospitality is innately crucial in the present survival of African values. At all times, there is always unprompted welcome and accommodation to unfamiliar persons and visitors. Africans effortlessly incorporate strangers and offer them lands to settle hoping that they would leave one day, and the land would be returned to the owner. This is usually carried out with the conviction that one will never opt out of his own community. Unlike the West, no appointment and special invitation are required for one to call on a distant family member or neighbor. On arrival, when there is food the visitor is invited to dine. He is handled kindly, just as one would want to be treated when visiting another home. Africans possess a symbolic way of showing welcome. This is done in a variety of ways for example; in forms of presentation of coconuts, kola nuts, traditional brew, groundnuts etc. in different communities. These are offered to demonstrate that he is welcome and safe. Onwubiko ha s observed that a guest must not harm his host and that when he departs, he should not develop a hunch back on the way home. (Onwubiko, 23). This social value can complement Christian moral values to enhance integrity among Africans. The bible says that we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves. By integrating these values into Christianity, uprightness is enhanced among Africans. V. Conclusion For there to be growth and development, African value system must be promoted by the leadership. Falling into or imitating Wstern values will only wreck humanity as they are strange to the philosophy of humanism which is the basis of the African value system.

The Security Issues With Social Networks Media Essay

The Security Issues With Social Networks Media Essay Social networks such as Facebook and twitter are becoming more and more popular among the younger generation. Social networks were designed to keep in touch with friends no matter where in the world they were located. Parents though are worried that their childrens privacy is not protecting on the social network. According to pole results realised most parents think their children share to much information online and that the search engines are not doing enough to protect them. Privacy is the ability to conceal personal information about yourself from other people but if they wish to show their information it is selective. Parents are increasingly worried that their children are under threat by hackers and conmen, parents want far more education and leadership about online privacy, and they clearly want the industry and the federal government to update privacy policies. Criteria B- The IT background of the Issue Social networks are places where you can communicate with others no matter where they are in the world and is also a ways of communication for other purposes such as business. A social network is a social structure that maps out the relationships between individuals. Technically we all belong to one giant social network, but we also belong to smaller, tighter social networks defined by our families, our friends, where we live, where we work, where we went to school, our hobbies and interests and much more. Social networks are helpful as they help us to keep all the people we know in one place and we are able to communicate with theme at any time, imagine if you sat down with a pen and paper, it would be difficult to map out all the people with whom youre connected and all the people with whom theyre connected. Thats why social-networking Web sites are so powerful. Criteria C- Impact of the Issue The main issue of social networks are privacy concerns. Even though social networks were set up for people to keep in contact with friends and family around the world but despite these aspects the sites are dangerous because much information is shown. This causes parents to worry about how much information is put online. Even though most information is put on these networks is voluntary some things are not meant to be public but security issues might occur, a security issue occurs when a hacker gains unauthorized access to a written language. These breeches into personal information are a problem because people might be exposed in inappropriate manners and personal information can be gathered to do be used inappropriately. Also, talking to friends over lunch, the Internet keeps a permanent record of what we say to each other. If you are having an online conversation with your friend(s) then you should be aware that conversation can be seen by countless others and that a record of tha t conversation will be kept somewhere on the Internet. Criterion D- A Solution to a problem arising from the Issue The only solution is for the website to create a way to privatise information to users but at the same time be shown to users that you wish it to be shown. The users theme selves can more carefully approach to what they share and with the growth of social networks, its becoming harder to effectively monitor and protect site users and their activity because the tasks of security programmers becomes increasingly spread out. The growth of users of these sites has grown very rapidly take this as an example, if a prison whose inmate count jumped from  a few dozen to 250 million in less than five years only employed 300 guards (in the case of MySpace). In reaction to the growth of pressure to users most chief networks are now enabling users to set privacy controls for who has the ability to view their information. But increase privacy settings are not always definite privacy. Also Do Not Call methods can be used on social networks but developed in such a way that it becomes Do Not Track Kids like stated in the article. Parents survey says social networks dont protect kids privacy CNN Wire Staff (CNN) Most parents think their children share too much information online and that search engines and social networks arent doing enough to protect privacy, according to poll results released Friday. More than 90 percent of the parents surveyed by Zogby International said they are concerned that their children share too much information online, and 75 percent said they would rate the job social networks are doing to protect online privacy as negative. The results, released by the nonprofit advocacy organization Common Sense Media which commissioned the poll do not mention particular social networks or websites by name. Common Sense Media CEO James Steyer said the need for reform is clear. Parents want far more education and leadership about online privacy, and they clearly want the industry and the federal government to update privacy policies, Steyer said in a statement The organization begins a campaign Monday aimed at protecting kids personal information and reputations online. We need a Do Not Track Kids approach similar to the Do Not Call policies that restrict telemarketers, Steyer said. The results also include a survey of 401 teenagers aged 15 to 18. Common Sense Media said 79 percent of the teens surveyed also think their friends share too much personal information online, and 85 percent of them want search engines and social networking sites to ask for permission before using personal information to market products. The poll results present a clear divide between the industrys view of privacy and the opinion of parents and kids, Steyer said. To conduct the online poll of parents, Zogby International used a sampling of 2,100 adults from its online panel, which the polling firm says is representative of the adult population of the United States. The sampling margin of error is 2.2 percentage points. The sampling margin of error for the online poll of teenagers was 5 percentage points. Criterion E- Bibliography CNN Wire Staff, 2010,Parents survey says social networkes dont protect kidsprivacy http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/social.media/10/08/parents.poll/index.html Wikipedia, Privacy, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy Fast Company, Privacy and security issues in social Networking http://www.fastcompany.com/articles/2008/10/social-networking-security.html Help Net Security, Social networking privacy issues http://www.net-security.org/article.php?id=1331 How stuff works, How social networks work http://communication.howstuffworks.com/how-social-networks-work.htm

Change Within Characters in Sophocles Antigone Essay examples -- Soph

Change Within Characters in Sophocles' Antigone Antigone is about how King Creon rules that Polynices the traitor is not to be buried, but his sister Antigone defies the order. She is caught, and sentenced by Creon to be buried alive - even though she is betrothed to his son Haemon. After the blind prophet Tiresias proves that the gods are on Antigone's side, Creon changes his mind - but too late. He goes first to bury Polynices, but Antigone has already hanged herself. When Creon arrives at the tomb, Haemon attacks him and then kills himself. When the news of their death is reported, Creon's wife Eurydice takes her own life. Creon is alone in his life, full of guilt. The major characters in Antigone in my opinion are Antigone and Creon. Both undergo very major dramatic changes in their life. Antigone’s changes are mainly linked to the themes of the position of women as a Greek and the theme of the individual versus the state and divine law versus human law. Creon’s changes are mainly linked to the themes Conscience versus Law and the threat of tyranny. Both of their changes to themselves also inflict a change on the other. Both also undergo changes because of their pride and what actions it causes them to do. Pride and its effects are a central part of Antigone. It is a trait despised by the gods, who bring suffering to the proud, but to the Greek mind pride is also a part of greatness. Both Antigone and Creon are incredibly proud, making it impossible for either one of them to back down once they have taken a stand. Pride is part of what makes Antigone heroic. Creon realizes that in the end when he is completely alone in his life because everyone is dead. His pride had caused him to lose everyth... ... despicable if the order of the state demands it. Antigone's insistence on her desire in face of state power brings ruin into Thebes and to Creon specifically. With the death of his family, Creon is left utterly alone in the palace. His throne even robs him of his mourning, the king and his pace sadly shuttling off to a cabinet meeting after the announcement of the family's deaths. Antigone and Creon both undergo many changes to their personality, their beliefs, and their ways of living. But in the end it is only Creon who has the ability to change his life and keep on living it in a more respectable and more understanding way. But Creon has to live with the deaths and his fatal mistakes that he has made. Antigone has a very short time to adapt to the changes in her life but she does not see much point because she has been sentenced to a very slow death.

Jack Black :: essays research papers

I. INTRO Me and my brother Kyle, we were walking down this long and lonesome road, when all of a sudden there shined a shiny teacher, in the middle of the road, and she said, write the best speech in the world, or I’ll eat your soul. If you haven’t figured it out already I chose to do my speech on the great Thomas Black or better known as Jack Black. Actor, comedian, singer songwriter, and lead vocalist for tenacious D. How many people really know anything bout Jack Black, other than he has been in some movies, played some so-so parts, and seems to make an ass of himself? Well then let me fill you in. II. BODY A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Thomas Black, born august 28th, 1969 in Hermosa Beach, California a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  mother and father satellite engineers and jack Only child together, b.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  always battling for their attention. At this point young Jack went to Hebrew school, were even then he was hailed as the class clown. B.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  His parents divorced when he was 10 and a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  moved 8 bedroom house mom near MGM studios. b.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  rented out rooms Jack came to know a music loving journalist C.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At this time jack became a troubled student only interested in music, arts, and theatre a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  age 8, played the wizard in a summer camp production of wizard of oz, b.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   muscled his way into every show he could. D.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  age of thirteen first TV ad for the activision game Pitfall, a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  not a sign that that jacks acting career moving upwards. b.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   15 jack got into cocaine, c.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  stolen money from his mom sent school for difficult teens, d.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  on campus therapists helped him greatly. E.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It was at a specialist arts and science school that he rediscovered At UCLA member of Tim Robbins acting troupe and it was now that Black Kyle Gass. a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   comic possibilities of stadium Rock. F.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  two chunky guys bashing on acoustic guitars, tribute to the greatest one a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  biggest cult bands of the late 90’s and 2000’s. G.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The D’s act showcased blacks theatrical abilities, amazing vocals, and gass’s support on the guitar a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  smoking pot, their musical and sexual powers, and subjects right out of dungeons and dragons. H.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The duo began playing together in 1994, Al’s Bar, playing just one number a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  the afore mentioned homage to the greatest song, â€Å"Tribute.† I.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  film debut in 1996’s Bio-Dome. hit it big, a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Beck, Pearl Jam, and the Foo Fighters. J.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2001 critical mass second nation wide tour selling out shows K.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  successfully maintaining band comedic star a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  High Fidelity, with Jon Cusack Tim Robbins Jack Black :: essays research papers I. INTRO Me and my brother Kyle, we were walking down this long and lonesome road, when all of a sudden there shined a shiny teacher, in the middle of the road, and she said, write the best speech in the world, or I’ll eat your soul. If you haven’t figured it out already I chose to do my speech on the great Thomas Black or better known as Jack Black. Actor, comedian, singer songwriter, and lead vocalist for tenacious D. How many people really know anything bout Jack Black, other than he has been in some movies, played some so-so parts, and seems to make an ass of himself? Well then let me fill you in. II. BODY A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Thomas Black, born august 28th, 1969 in Hermosa Beach, California a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  mother and father satellite engineers and jack Only child together, b.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  always battling for their attention. At this point young Jack went to Hebrew school, were even then he was hailed as the class clown. B.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  His parents divorced when he was 10 and a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  moved 8 bedroom house mom near MGM studios. b.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  rented out rooms Jack came to know a music loving journalist C.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At this time jack became a troubled student only interested in music, arts, and theatre a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  age 8, played the wizard in a summer camp production of wizard of oz, b.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   muscled his way into every show he could. D.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  age of thirteen first TV ad for the activision game Pitfall, a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  not a sign that that jacks acting career moving upwards. b.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   15 jack got into cocaine, c.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  stolen money from his mom sent school for difficult teens, d.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  on campus therapists helped him greatly. E.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It was at a specialist arts and science school that he rediscovered At UCLA member of Tim Robbins acting troupe and it was now that Black Kyle Gass. a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   comic possibilities of stadium Rock. F.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  two chunky guys bashing on acoustic guitars, tribute to the greatest one a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  biggest cult bands of the late 90’s and 2000’s. G.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The D’s act showcased blacks theatrical abilities, amazing vocals, and gass’s support on the guitar a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  smoking pot, their musical and sexual powers, and subjects right out of dungeons and dragons. H.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The duo began playing together in 1994, Al’s Bar, playing just one number a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  the afore mentioned homage to the greatest song, â€Å"Tribute.† I.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  film debut in 1996’s Bio-Dome. hit it big, a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Beck, Pearl Jam, and the Foo Fighters. J.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2001 critical mass second nation wide tour selling out shows K.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  successfully maintaining band comedic star a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  High Fidelity, with Jon Cusack Tim Robbins

Negative Responses To Mathematics Education Essay

The intent of this study is to analyse the chief cause of mathematics panic in colleges and to offer solutions and give recommendations to the Head of the Department of Mathematics and Statisticss at Curtin University. By reexamining professional literature, scholarly diaries, and accredited web sites a better apprehension of the causes and effects of mathematics anxiousness, this study will accomplish the intent by analysing and reasoning the anterior research and give solutions that aimed at these issues. In add-on, the nature of the mathematics in general will besides be considered and associate mathematics to professional life. The study will foremost travel into an overview of the issues in mathematics learning and larning before covering with the job of the math terror in colleges. A general overview of the nature and societal position of mathematics will be discussed, which will so take to a examination of what universities should make to assist to direct pupils ‘ attitude and apprehension of mathematics.1.2 Background and recent findingsBecause of its public-service corporation and importance, larning mathematics is described as a necessity for a individual ‘s full development in the twenty-first century ( Kogce et al. 2009, 291 ) . However, the popular image of mathematic as hard, abstract, non really practical, and mostly masculine, etc. Therefore, math terror appears in vary degree of schools. Mathematicss anxiousness is introduced foremost by Dreger and Aiken in 1957 and it is defined as â€Å" a sequence of cognitive, affectional, and behavioural responses to a perceived self-pride men ace which occurs as a response to state of affairss affecting mathematics † ( Birgin et al.2010, 1 ) . Mathematicss anxiousness is prevailing among the college pupils population ( Zakaria and Nordin, 2007, 27 ) . Harmonizing to Google-counting, mathematics anxiousness emerges in schools particularly â€Å" in college † has 26,000 happenings ( Brown 2008, 61-92 ) . In add-on, Birgin et Al. ( 2010, 1 ) have found that negative attitudes to mathematics or mathematics anxiousness is a barrier in larning mathematics and go toing callings which require mathematics. As a consequence of mathematics anxiousness, impacts like â€Å" turning away of mathematics, hurt, and intervention with conceptual thought and memory procedures † may even widen negatively in big life.2.0 Causes & A ; consequence of mathematics anxiousnessMathematicss anxiousness has been found that may be affected by many causes, including â€Å" mathematics, educational and curriculum-related issues, parental attitudes, values, and outlooks toward mathematics † ( Baloglu and Kocak 2006, 1325-1335 ) . Numerous researches have analyzed the causes of mathematics anxiousness and the consequences are different from each other. Zakaria and Nordin ( 2008, 27-30 ) have claimed that low mathematics accomplishment normally accompany the happening of mathematics anxiousness. A pupil may be defeat by his/her ain fright that consequence from changeless failure in mathematics and do him/her to believe that he/she can ne'er make good on it. Furthermore, it is besides suggested that the chief cause of mathematics anxiousness has been in learning methods because most mathematics courses â€Å" did non encouraged logical thinking and apprehension † . It is besides believed that attitude towards mathematics can be one of the grounds of math terror ( Kogce et al. 2009, 291 ) . The attitude or value can be affected by instructors or parents. In add-on, clip force per unit area in mathematics trial should besides be considered when refers to causes of math anxiousness. The force per unit area c reated by clip restriction is the combination of emphasis may take to uncertainness about how to make the undertaking and fright of failure ( Buxton 1990, 153 ) . Figure 1. Relationship between anxiousness and self-efficacy ( Beginning: Hoffman, B. 2010 ) As displayed above in Figure 1, the standardised tonss showed a regressive relationship between mathematics anxiousness and pupils ‘ self-efficacy in work outing simple mathematics jobs. It is clear that as anxiousness additions, self-efficacy falls which indicates a strong correlativity between these two points.2.1 Value and attitudeOne of the grounds for mathematics anxiousness is attitude towards mathematics. Students ‘ attitudes or values toward math normally come from instructors and parents. Some researches held by universities show that pupils perform better when making exercisings in mathematics categories without instructors than the pupils under instructors ‘ supervising. Additionally, Buxton ( 1990, 155 ) have argued that instructors should non curtail pupil ‘s thought by stating â€Å" this is non the manner that written in books † or maintain giving the right reply without taking the pupils to believe independently. Otherwise, pupils may ex perience deadening and confounding and their motive to seek mathematics jobs work outing chances may be decreased and conglomerate into fright and turning away. Parents ‘ outlooks every bit much as instructors ‘ may besides give pupils force per unit area in mathematics. Parents normally stand in a place to judge their kids and fail to decide the position with expressed statements. For illustration, some parents show disappointedly on face when kids understand easy in mathematics. Therefore, kids may experience even harder to get the better of the jobs due to take down assurance and this turns into dying and turning away.2.2 Lack of understandingHarmonizing to Zakaria and Nordin ( 2008, 27-30 ) , a deficiency of apprehension is one of the chief causes of mathematics anxiousness and â€Å" that understanding based acquisition is more effectual than drill and pattern † . For most pupils, the first clip when they are afraid of work outing math jobs is when they can non understand the constructs in categories. Therefore, their assurance of larning mathematics may worsen and they lose involvement to get the better of the jobs. Lower accomplishment consequences and a damaging attitude towards mathematics may ensue from this sort of self-perceptions, which can impact their position of larning mathematics ( Hoffman 2010, 276-283 ) .2.3 Time force per unit areaMany pupils suffer anxiousness when it refers to be giving a certain extent of clip to complete certain committedness ( Hoffman 2010, 276-283 ) . This can be one of the factors when discoursing about the causes of mathematics anxiousness. For illustration, pupils who familiarized to work outing jobs without clip restriction might experience dying if they are told to work out jobs rapidly. Furthermore, harmonizing to some surveies, the emotional responses of pupils become intense often when pupils work on math jobs over an extended period of clip ( Buxton 1990, 153 ) . In other words, it is claimed that the more clip pupils spend on work outing math jobs, the more anxiousness they suffer. Most pupils failed in their mathematics tests due to blowing excessively much clip by worrying about the clip limitation and can non finish all the inquiries. Harmonizing to Hoffman ( 2010, 276-283 ) , the Test Anxiety Inventory ( TAI ) and the Fennema-Sherman Mathematics Anxiety Scale ( MAS ) were co-operating for the Problems Test of mathematics anxiousness. The pupils were required to react to all the points by giving adequate clip. The pupils finished all the inquiries within 30 proceedingss, although no clip bound was set. Harmonizing to this survey, it can be suggested that job work outing clip limitation can be one of the factors that consequences in mathematics anxiousness. However, Hoffman ( 2010, 276-23 ) suggests that â€Å" high dying persons may really hold faster problem-solving times † . Students may desire to complete the undertaking every bit shortly as possible when they are prompted feelings of dying or concern during the work outing mathematics jobs. This may ensue in faster completion of jobs, even though perchance at the loss of truth.3.0 Mathematics & A ; genderThere is a hypothesis assumes that adult females have more mathematics anxiousness than work forces due to less experience with mathematics. As a consequence, Hoffman ( 2010, 276-23 ) points out that female are less likely to seek chances to work out mathematical job and even mathematics callings, and tend to avoid occupations to make with computing machines and engineering that link to mathematics. However, many surveies failed to confirm considerable gender differences in math terror, even though legion surveies support the position that female have more math anxiousness t han male ( Baloglu and Kocak 2006, 1325-1335 ) .3.1 Gender StereotypeHarmonizing to Hoffman ( 2010, 276-83 ) , although ability may be the cause of public presentation differences, the pessimistic attitude to a high accomplishment shows females did non ‘try as difficult ‘ when work outing mathematics jobs. Some surveies suggest that more male than female enroll in the higher degree of classs in mathematics ( Meece, Wigfield, and Eccles 1990, 60-70 ) . Gender stereotype, one of the grounds why females are much passive in larning mathematics, seems to be the most persuasive 1. Gates ( 2001, 53 ) explains that gender stereotype that maleness associate with ground while muliebrity with alternate attacks is the cause of gender differences in mathematics anxiousness. This difference can impact their feelings in relation to mathematics job resolution. Harmonizing to Gates ‘ survey, ‘masculine ‘ topic such as mathematics and natural philosophies are seen as ‘difficult ‘ by female but ‘interesting ‘ by male. Therefore, female pupils may hold the terror of larning mathematics because they perceive it as being hard although they are interested in this topic. In contrast, Hembree ‘s meta-analysis claimed that the â€Å" negative behaviours associated with mathematics anxiousness † were more marked in males than females. In add-on, present research found that the influence of mathematics anxiousness on the accomplishments of males when work outing math jobs is stronger than females ( Hoffman 2010, 276-283 ) .4.0 Teaching mathematics in collegeâ€Å" Mathematicss anxiousness is prevailing among the college pupils population ( Zakaria and Nordin, 2007, 27 ) . † Harmonizing to Google-counting, college pupils have 26,000 happenings of math terror which is the highest among schooling. Zakaria and Nordin ( 2008, 27-30 ) further stated that the chief factor of mathematics anxiousness is learning methodological analysiss. For illustration, a study of Gabriella and Paul Rosenbaum Foundation called The Effect of Singapore Mathematics on Student Proficiency in a Massachusetts School District: A a Longitudinal Statistical Examination shows in figure 2 that after introduced the learning course of study of Singapore mathematics ( SM ) , the mathematics public presentation of pupils with Coded MCAS, who used to execute bad in this topic improved much better as overall. Furthermore, it is predicted that more than 50 % of the pupils are underprepared when they enrolled in mathematics classs in college ( Baloglu and Kocak 2006, 1325-1335 ) . Therefore, instructors in colleges should stand in a place of guiding and rectifying. Figure 2. Percentage of pupils with Coded MCAS, with and without SM ( Source: Goldman et al. 2009 )4.1 What universities offering presentlyTeachers presents make usage of learning AIDSs and resources such as artworks and theoretical accounts to assist pupils understand mathematical theories and rules ( Gates 2001, 53 ) . Resources are of import because they can supply an image or representation of the figure constructs and ease the apprehension of abstract nature of mathematics. It is argued that utilizing concrete resources in the procedure of larning mathematics can positively â€Å" increases pupils ‘ mathematics accomplishment and their attitudes towards mathematics † ( Kogce et al. 2009, 291 ) . However, the job is whether these resources truly assist apprehension. For case, resource like counters can be used to assist pupils number but the fact is a large figure of pupils can non make mental computation and they focus excessively much on the facets of mathematics of numbering. What ‘s more, another common state of affairs in university mathematics schoolrooms is that non all pupils feel easy to larn mathematics with the aid of the resources and AIDSs and some of them fail to link different facets of math even with the aid of legion graphs and diagrams. Consequently, Gates ( 2001, 125 ) have suggested that a bipartisan interactions between instructors and pupils should be strongly considered. Some pupils may accept the acquisition method given by instructors and ne'er think by their ain and see whether the present method is the best for them.4.2 Computer as instruction assistanceModern engineering today is used in most universities help instructors to learn pupils. Com puter should be one of the most utile technological tools in mathematics schoolrooms. Gates ( 2001, 167 ) have demonstrated that whether the usage of computing machine is effectual or non in mathematics is influenced by the categorization of functions of instructors and computing machines. Computers should be a instruction assistance by instructors and controlled by instructors. Computers used as learning assistance provide a figure of advantages to let go of pupils from some troubles during the acquisition of mathematics and cut down their mathematics anxiousness. For illustration, computing machine presents is used normally as an ‘electronic chalkboard ‘ for expounding and presentation. As a beginning of assorted information through cyberspace, instructors can seek considerable extend information to assist to better pupils understanding of cognition. Furthermore, Gates ( 2001, 168 ) has besides stated that in the signifier of exercisings and games, pupils can pattern mathematics accomplishments and better their coherency of different facets of this topic. In add-on, vivid images and presentation by the usage of computing machine resources may increase pupils ‘ involvement and cut down their terror of the troubles. A perfect illustration of computing machines assisting larning math is the Integrated Learning Systems ( ILS ) . This system n on merely sets exercisings but besides marks the work, evaluates and records advancement, and lead pupils to farther progress work ( Gates 2001, 169 ) .5.0 Mathematicss in our lifeMost people study mathematics until they lose involvement or until they find it excessively difficult for them. Low accomplishment or failure is one state of affairs that doing people reject larning a topic, and believe it ‘s non deserving to try.A However, mathematics is really of import to our life. Selby ( 1995 ) has explained how mathematics works in our day-to-day life individually for assorted facets. For illustration, numeration by manus or with a reckoner is necessary when people calculate weights or sums like money which appears in day-to-day life. Just like work outing mathematics jobs measure by measure, incorrect Numberss that show in one measure of a computation procedure would do all the remainder incorrect. Furthermore, when make fulling the revenue enhancement signifiers, people need to cipher with arithmetic followed the providing instructions measure by step.A Therefore, arithmetic as one portion of mathematics that taught in schools is utile and related to our life. Additionally, people may reason that facets like Algebra and geometry which may utilize with expressions and theories are non related to our life.A However, people should â€Å" understand expressions or calculation methods needed for loans, pensions and investings, A for store maintaining or purchasing and selling with markups or markdowns † Selby ( 1995 ) . What pupils learn in mathematics categories in schools is about understanding how the formulas work and being sensible. By cognizing these, it will offer people more options during gaining, funding or puting money. What ‘s more, statistics, farther subject in mathematics, is really popular nowadays.A A Statistics is utile in theA measuring or appraisal of Numberss and the mistake or fluctuation in the estimations. Such as in the state of affairs of ciphering informations forA productiveness or the monetary value of merchandises, statistics used to connote of import information from values like mean number.A Therefor e, as Gates ( 2001, 24 ) stated mathematics is a â€Å" powerful tool † in the universe that we live.6.0 DecisionIt is clear that the causes of mathematics anxiousness can be identified as, viz. , pupils ‘ values and attitude to mathematics which can be influenced by instructors, parents and even society ; pupils ‘ apprehension of mathematics constructs in categories ; and clip restriction in mathematics tests. There is a figure below helps to exemplify how anxiousness develops and affects pupils ‘ acquisition of mathematics. From chase to turning away, there may be a batch of grounds such as pupils find out they are non gifted at mathematics so they refuse to larn any longer, or female pupils may experience larning this topic is non appropriate for them due to gender stereotype. From assurance to anxiousness, unpleasant experience may be the chief cause. This experience may include deficiency of understanding consequence in failure in work outing jobs ; bla med by parents or instructors as low accomplishments or being compared with talented pupils ; clip restriction causes emphasis in test, etc. All theses causes above may take to failure in mathematics public presentation and turn back to even serious turning away and anxiousness. Figure 3. Math Anxiety Dynamics ( Source: Strawderman, W. 2004 ) In add-on, there is a strong correlativity between gender differences and math terror that males are more likely to go to advanced mathematics classs than females. It has been considered due to gender stereotypes except abilities. However, mathematics is used everyplace in our life and callings. From single measures and disbursals computation to revenue enhancement and funding, we need mathematics as a usher to populate a more choice life.7.0 RecommendationsAfter analysing the relevant issues in this study, assorted recommendations to the Head of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics have been developed due to extended research showing the impacts of mathematics anxiousness on college pupils. These recommendations are possible solutions to and assist pupils to be more confident in their ain ability to understand mathematics and to advance mathematics in the twenty-first century. The undermentioned suggestions can be undertaken to cut down mathematics anxiousness and increase p upils ‘ accomplishment: Teacher should develop an encouraging acquisition environment, free from tenseness and threatening of embarrassment or humiliation. This may cut down the pupils ‘ anxiousness about being judged by instructors while doing errors or neglecting to understand. Mathematicss instructor should show a caring attitude to their pupils to assist them get the better of mathematics panic. Test taking schemes should be given suitably might assist pupils to raise their accomplishment and cut down their anxiousness of mathematics trial. Students should set themselves under an test atmosphere when they making mathematics homework on a regular basis. Therefore, when they work outing jobs in tests, clip force per unit area will be reduced and pupils may experience more assurance. Activities in categories should include both independent and group work. Group work helps pupils to interchange their thoughts with pickets and reflecting their apprehension to instructors. Therefore, their jobs can be solved instantly or they may recognize that others have the same job as they do. Teaching AIDSs and resourced should be used efficaciously. Make a connexion of mathematics in schools and new engineerings. Small categories like tutorials should be increased alternatively of go forthing countless prep to pupils to complete after categories. Once pupils confused or make non understand during their perusal, they can non acquire solutions instantly and they may lose the motive to go on. Increasing hours of tutorials may work out this job efficaciously. Word count: 2944

Primacy of Survival in Life of Pi

The urgent crave to survive at all costs is known as the primacy of survival. Survival is essential for every animal, and there is no shortage of lengths they will go to in order to survive. Yann Martel’s Life of Pi portrays the theme of primacy of survival based on Pi’s determination and courage throughout his journey. Piscine Molitor Patel, known to all as Pi, is a Hindu boy who embarks on a journey to Canada along with his family and their zoo animals. Midway through his journey, the boat sinks in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and Pi is left stranded on a lifeboat.However, Pi is not alone on the raft; in his presence are a zebra, orangutan, hyena, and a fearsome Bengal tiger. Once he is aware of what happened, Pi understands that giving up on his life is not an option. This lust for survival is expressed by examining how all animals are naturally dangerous, how man will do cruel things in order to survive, and how all of our morals are lost when we feel threatened . Early on in Pi’s life, he is taught by his father that all animals are naturally dangerous.Pi’s father, who is the owner of a zoo in India doesn’t want Pi to be too comfortable around the animals at the zoo, since they could harm him if they feel threatened. In order to protect his son, he tells him â€Å"Life will defend itself no matter how small it is. Every animal is ferocious and dangerous. † (Martel, 41). This is crucial for Pi to understand, since he may think that some animals are harmless, meanwhile due to their natural instincts, they can be vicious if they feel threatened.However, after Pi’s father explains this to him he still isn’t convinced that Pi is fully aware of the consequences if he becomes too comfortable with the animals. Therefore he decides he needs to prove exactly how dangerous some of the animals can be. One day, he takes Pi and his brother to the big cats section of the zoo, to find a massive 550 pound female Be ngal tiger; the king of the jungle. He tells them how Mahisha, the tiger, hasn’t eaten in 2 whole days. Then, he says â€Å"I want you to remember this lesson for the rest of your lives† (Martel, 47). He then threw in a live goat into the tiger’s cage.With a sudden flash of orange and black fur, Mahisha demolished the goat with a single blow. Blood splattered everywhere, and Pi and his brother Ravi were utterly appalled by the sound of the dying goat. Pi himself is also an example of his father’s words that â€Å"Life will defend itself no matter how small it is. †( Martel, 41). Pi, a very skinny Hindu boy is faced alone with a hyena, orangutan, zebra and tiger on a lifeboat with no weapons. For the majority of his journey, he knows that death could be present at any given moment, but he still manages to protect and preserve himself.In certain situations, the primacy of survival of animals and humans alike can have an immensely powerful feeling, ur ging us to do anything in order to survive. This urge to survive can sometimes drive us to do cruel and unimaginable things. Pi experiences the cruelness of our hunger for survival when the boat Pi and his family are on begins to sink, and crew members throw Pi onto the lifeboat. Pi was thankful for them at first, since he thought being on the lifeboat would ensure his safety; however he wasn’t alone on the lifeboat.An adult hyena that was being shipped had managed to escape its cage and make refuge on the very same lifeboat as Pi! He soon realizes that the crew members didn’t throw him on the lifeboat to save his life, but rather as bait. Shocked, Pi says â€Å"They were using me as a fodder. They were hoping the hyena would attack me and that somehow I would get rid of it and make the boat safe for them. † (Martel, 121). This shows the extent to which humans will go to in order to survive, since there is ultimately nothing more drastic than human sacrifice. La ter on in Pi’s journey, he surprisingly runs into another lone survivor on another lifeboat.At this point in Pi’s journey, his body is severely dehydrated, and is beginning to deteriorate, which results in his loss of vision. The man on the other raft is blind as well, but once Pi begins to talk with him he is able to identify his accent as French. The man, much like Pi, hasn’t had food in days and is starving. Craving his own survival, the man attempts to attack and kill Pi for food. Pi is sure this is the end of his life, â€Å"I could feel him moving off the tarpaulin onto the middle bench and, fatally, bringing a foot down to the floor of the boat. ‘No, no, my brother! Don’t! We’re not-’ † (Martel, 283).Right before the man begins to attack Pi, Richard Parker; the mighty but weakened Bengal tiger on Pi’s lifeboat attacks the man and kills him. If it hadn’t been for Richard Parker, the man would have without a d oubt killed Pi and ate him in order to secure his own survival. Killing someone of the same species as you is sickening and cruel, but doing so to eat them is absolutely insane; something an animal would do. The truth is â€Å"We're animals. We're born like every other mammal and we live our whole lives around disguised animal thoughts. † (Morace, 1).Humans are essentially animals, but once separated from our race, faced with the possibility of death, we will do anything in order to survive. Not only will humans do unimaginable things in order to survive, their morals are all lost to a craving selfishness for survival. Pi experiences this first hand when the hyena on the lifeboat attacks the zebra and wounds it. He is initially horrified at this, but then he expresses how his sense of empathy was quickly overtaken in the fear of his own life: â€Å"When your own life is threatened, your sense of empathy is blunted by a terrible, selfish hunger for survival. † (Martel, 133).This is natural for humans, something that comes instinctualy to us. Later on, Pi feels remorse for the zebra, unlike how he felt in the moment. His instincts however could have saved his life, since he proceeded to hide once the hyena attacked instead of watching and mourning the zebra. Pi even knew that what happened was normal, and that it may have kept him alive. Before he set sail on the ship through the pacific, he learnt about this madness for survival, â€Å"All living things contain a measure of madness that moves them in strange, sometimes inexplicable ways. This madness can be saving; it’s part and parcel of the ability to adapt.Without it, no species would survive. † (Martel, 45). One may argue however that humans are different, that we should not turn into animals when we feel threatened. This is in fact false, since society is what holds us back: â€Å"Deprived of the zoo-like structures (society) that sustain them in their daily lives, humans retur n quite naturally to lives guided by basic instincts and animalistic impulses. † (Dominic, 143). Once Pi leaves society all together, he essentially becomes an animal like figure guided by instinct that only does things that are necessary for his survival. Because of Pi’s instincts, he is able to survive.Even though it may seem that Pi just witnesses these acts of human cruelty and loss of morals, he in fact suffers from the loss of morals and is extremely cruel himself. From as early on as he could remember in his life, Pi was a very strict vegetarian. Once he realized he was stranded on the life raft, he knew he would have to give up on his old habits, and that he would have to eat meat in order to survive. Pi quickly learns that he can’t be picky with the food he gets, and with his stomach rumbling of hunger, he proceeds to devour raw fish eyes, turtle blood and Pi even says that â€Å"I tried once to eat Richard Parkers feces.† (Martel, 237).He quickly learns that tiger feces isn’t suitable for humans to eat, and doesn’t attempt to eat it again. Even though it is entirely disgusting that he would do that, he didn’t have many more options. After these events it is said that â€Å"Pi also begins to recognize, much to his disappointment, that his own behaviours are becoming more animal-like† (Dominic, 143). Once Pi does realize that he is simply living off his instincts, he is surprisingly content with himself.However, on the verge of death, Pi does something that is questionable even in order to survive. One may wonder if there is anything worse that Pi could have done on his journey. The answer is cannibalism. After the man that Pi meets at sea is killed by Richard Parker, Pi actually eats some of the man’s raw flesh. Pi confesses that, â€Å"Driven by the extremity of my need and the madness to which it pushed me, I ate some of his flesh. † (Martel, 284). Having not eaten in nearly 12 day s, he even claims that â€Å"they slipped into my mouth nearly unnoticed. † (Martel, 284).This cruel, sickening and unacceptable act simply shows how we will do absolutely anything and everything in our power to survive. As a whole, the primacy of survival is thoroughly expressed within ample instances of Pi’s journey. What else could show the will to survive better than a teenage boy stranded alone on a lifeboat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean? Nothing, except if there perhaps was a giant Bengal tiger aboard. Well in that case Pi’s journey is the ultimate story of survival, since he faced hunger, thirst and death with the king of the jungle in his presence the entire time.Along his way, Pi learned how dangerous all animals naturally are, how humans can do such cruel things, and how our morals are lost when we are threatened. Some may speculate that what Pi did to survive is just plain wrong and unacceptable. Nevertheless Pi survived a record 227 days on the dreadful Pacific Ocean before his journey finally came to a close. From Pondicherry, India, all the way to Tomatlan, Mexico, Pi had to do many undesirable things that all point to an animal’s primacy of survival.