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Topics For A Persuasion Paper
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Leadership Theory and Leadership Styles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Authority Theory and Leadership Styles - Essay Example Authority, as characterized by Armandi, Oppedisano, and Sherman (2003), is essentially about impacting and persuading a specific gathering towards accomplishing a shared objective. It is fixated on the sort of connection between the pioneer and the individuals from the association that can propel individuals to try sincerely and reinforce the bonds existing inside the association. A decent pioneer is rousing and acceptable with individuals. Initiative is tied in with causing the individuals to feel propelled, committed, and even enlivened through influence and positively not intimidation. To get the genuine results vital in an exceptionally serious time, people need to want to put forth a valiant effort, not simply be required to do as such, and this is actually what Fordââ¬â¢s new CEO Alan Mulally has exhibited since he begun working for Ford Company. Regardless of his confinements and the companyââ¬â¢s troublesome conditions, Mulally has indicated his longing, excitement, and assurance to enable the organization to endure the downturn in 2000 and in the long run understand its potential towards progress. He drives the whole group of Ford with a dream, enthusiasm, and heart that energizes and moves his kin to partake in the companyââ¬â¢s business tries. Mulally, an American architect and previous aviation fellow at Boeing, has obviously changed the course of business for Ford. With his novel points of view on administration and the board, he had the option to help Ford got from its billions of misfortunes explicitly during the downturn time frame. The most significant component of his administration, which maybe has enormously helped Ford endure, is the manner in which he centers around the most significant and creative thought that he thinks would best work for the organization and for the individuals. He accepts that center is a crucial part of an effective administration since it takes a ton of reasoning and excusing to get the correct choice among the numerous open doors accessible. When Mulally showed up at Ford in 2006, there were different vulnerabilities about his arrangement as the organizationââ¬â¢s new pioneer. The very truth that he was an outcast and thought nothing about the vehicle business made a ton of doubts from different individuals from the association (Kiley, 2009). However, Mulally remained center around pondering approaches to improve the association from inside to its general execution in the market (Taylor III, 2009). As a pioneer, Mulally embraces the popularity based or participative authority style. A vote based or participative administratorââ¬â¢s style fundamentally supports the investment of every individual from the association in dynamic (Armandi, Oppedisano and Sherman, 2003). The pioneer or supervisory crew counsels the whole gathering before it closes any issue in the association. In this sort of organization, it is exceptionally basic to win the participation of the group or associatio n individuals since this will persuade them successfully and hopefully. Mulally changed the bureaucratic arrangement of the organization and expanded interest from representatives of various offices and levels: When I showed up there were six or seven individuals answering to Bill Ford, and the IT individual wasn't there, the HR individual wasn't thereâ⬠¦ So I went up and remembered each useful control for my group since everyone in this spot must be included and needed to know it all. (Taylor III, 2009, para. 26) Mulallyââ¬â¢s participative administration style is significantly progressively reflected through how he advances open and viable correspondence
Saturday, August 22, 2020
External Environment Analysis Essay
The Coca-Cola Company owes the achievement of its inward tasks to its standards of corporate obligation. The firm has consolidated an adept morals program; this will direct their workers, and guarantee them development, accomplishment, and fulfillment for their employments. So as to make this conceivable, The philosophy of corporate duty is directed and declared by the Public Policy and Corporate Reputation Council. The Council is included by a gathering of ranking directors from every refreshment and packaging organization in the business. It learns the dangers and openings that each organization in the business experiences. The PPCR Council prompts refreshment organizations in their representative administration and tasks. Possible business methodologies are created so as to accomplish development and progress for refreshment organizations like the Coca-Cola Company (The Coca-Cola Company,2008). The firm accepts there is no Coke without the nearness of its productive workers, which is the significant power behind more than palatable outcomes for the development and progress of the organization. Its tasks are reinforced by creative reasoning, one of a kind points of view, and operational greatness of the workforce, which continues overall revenues of the firm just as its picture. In light of this, the organization perceives the critical job of its workforce plays in its overall tasks. The Coca-Cola Company puts a premium on work fulfillment. The firm guarantees that the Coca-Cola working environment is a situation where individuals can create amazing information and enlarge their exhibition while getting a charge out of what they do (The Coca-Cola Company,2008). Porterââ¬â¢s Five Forces Analysis Supplier Power Coca-Colaââ¬â¢s providers have been clamoring at expanded costs for crude materials utilized in assembling their items. Typically, these providers are liable at the costs of crude materials to increment. Providers have picked up the reputation of controlling the expense of crude materials, which creates a conscious impact on the firmââ¬â¢s part. Providers are increasingly manipulative at whatever point the quantity of providers is low. This gives the bunch of providers to raise the cost of crude materials, which thus leaves firms line Coca-Colaââ¬â¢s no further alternatives to buy products of lower cost. A worldwide brand like Coca-Colaââ¬â¢s is typically liable for improving the working conditions inside their industrial facilities (Foust, 2006). The firm gives the truly necessary specialized help, which help enlarge the exhibition of both assembly line laborers and shop floor representatives. Purchaser Power Buyer power is additionally viewed as the spending limit of the customer. In the athletic shoe industry, the purchaser power is solid. This viewpoint basically expresses that the purchaser or the shopper has consistently has a ââ¬Å"sayâ⬠on the cost of specific great. Besides, purchaser power is viewed as significant because of the way that it deliberaty affects the business. In any case, softdrink organizations like Coca-Colaââ¬â¢s has an attentive common course of action with respect to the part of purchaser power. These elusive shared agreements between the firm and its buyers have been clear for a long while now (Foust, 2006). Firms have been enabling purchasers to enlarge their purchaser power. Purchaser power has a relationship with provider power also. A firm like Coca-Colaââ¬â¢s opines for the expense of crude materials it secures from its providers. Purchaser power is a significant sensitive issue to expound on. The asymmetry between the purchaser and the business produces a group of errors, which adds to a conflicting economic situation and forestalls forward coordination. Obstructions and Threats of Entry Perennial adversary organizations like PepsiCo and RC Cola are by all account not the only ones who represent a danger for the organization. Novice softdrink organizations both local and universal are continually endeavoring infiltrate the business will likewise have an intentional impact in the business. The result will be a change in level of the piece of the overall industry of softdrink organizations. Coca-Colaââ¬â¢s does its part through examining potential market sections to lure. Firms that will in general enter and leave a market are exposed to ostensible benefits (Foust, 2006). Serious Rivalry Coca-Colaââ¬â¢s consistently endeavors to get by in a serious industry through the guide of its upper hand. For the plenty of softdrink organizations, rivalry consistently matters so as to support gainfulness. Coca-Colaââ¬â¢s expands their publicizing and showcasing methodology by its magnetic way to deal with its promoting. The worldwide softdrink industry is exceptionally serious (Foust, 2006). The organization needs to contend with national and local retailers, for example, markdown store chains, retail establishments, free retail locations, and web retailers that take into account a specific market fragment of comparable product. The organization has experienced solid rivalry in Asian markets, which go from provincial to popular stores. Danger of Alternative Products and Substitutes The clear danger of option or substitute items is a typical difficulty for Coca-Colaââ¬â¢s. Various softdrink organizations have consistently endeavored to overpower Coca-Colaââ¬â¢s ââ¬Ës piece of the overall industry through endeavors in less expensive value developments with the end goal for purchasers to consider different brands beside Coca-Colaââ¬â¢s. The subject of value flexibility surfaces at whatever point the value change of an elective item influences as the interest for such item. The business where Coca-Colaââ¬â¢s flourishes is soaked by a group of substitute items, which to tend to obliged the capacity of these organizations to make an expansion in costs. The softdrink business is consistently inconsistent and inventive as far as assembling items, which can attract shoppers to buy their items. The result is a setback in deals for the Coca-Cola Company (Foust, 2006). Reference The Coca-Cola Company. (2008). Administration and Ethics. Recovered June 29, 2008, from http://www. thecoca-colacompany. com/citizenship/governance_ethics. html The Coca-Cola Company. (2008). Commitment. Recovered June 29, 2008, from http://www. thecoca-colacompany. com/citizenship/commitment. html Foust, D. (2006). Sovereign of Pop. Business Week. New York: Aug 7, 2006. , Iss. 3996; pg. 44 Foust, D. and Byrnes, N. Gone Flat. (2004). Business Week. New York: December 20, 2004, Issue 3913: page 76
Friday, August 14, 2020
Media and Cultural Studies
Media and Cultural Studies Media and Cultural Studies HomeâºResearch PostsâºMedia and Cultural Studies Research PostsFor several centuries, man has always attempted to use power in controlling their own bodies to achieve certain goals and objectives hailed by him as desirable. The discovery of the knowledge that the body, subjected to certain elements of force, can undergo certain transformations that may prove quite beneficial to man in his bid to adapt to the contemporary society as well as to cut out the character expected of them by other members of the society has had immense influence in his approach to several issues in the society.The productivity of power applied objectively was seen in the way political kingpins who dominated the European political landscape in History sought to achieve certain qualities in their ranks. Their armies and soldiers underwent training programs that were expected in the end to produce certain qualities in them. They were subjected to certain physical strains and a cl ear cut sense of obligation that adopted them to their military job. This was a classical example of how power works through discipline and strict observatory tendencies. By the 18th century, many great rulers could make their ideal soldiers from any ordinary, perhaps formless and frail looking man. These could then be subjected to certain physical orientations that completely changed them. It transformed them into the characteristic tough looking nature of a soldier completer with the right mindset to go with it. The successes witnessed in these approaches to achieving the desired military strength, was a testimony to the fact that with the application of productive power, man could completely reinvent himself by effectively taking control of the critical parameters that determine the human character. It entailed the ability to completely appeal to the emotional self of those targeted for transformation by way of instilling in them the urge to achieve the theoretical ideals of thos e quality expected of them.Many women today strive to find an identity for themselves, sometimes that identity being radically different from their former selves. Plastic surgery has become more popular with many women opting to improve their physical looks to remain relevant to the societyâs fast changing perception of the perfect woman. This is an evidence that the body is increasingly being viewed as susceptible to power oriented manipulations to achieve the desired identity as outlined by Foucault. It shows hoe force can be used to influence gender perceptions in the society. The application of power to define different gender identities has been criticized as being repressive in nature as it exposes the natural human body as a mere empty template on which the individual can imprint various codes that they believe to constitute the ideal physical structure and personality. The theory presents the body as being vulnerable to all kinds of manipulation as long as there is a m otivating factor that influences the contemporary woman to change their identity (Michel, 1977, p 136).This aspect of force has been held by some as a threat to the natural dictates that ordinarily ought to shape our cultural identity, and as such, even a threat to the very existence of that identity. It brings to the fore the emergence of our own docile bodies created by technology rather than nature, with many females completely changing their bodies apparently to fit into the new social expectations of the society.
Sunday, May 24, 2020
Multicultural Health Essay - 1698 Words
Multicultural Health Given the magnitude of health costs, both financial and in terms of human suffering, it is essential that preventive interventions be developed and/or enhanced. Nurses, physicians, and other helping professionals are in a good position, by virtue of their training, to add to such preventive efforts. Health is defined as a condition of physical, mental, and social well being and the absence of disease or other abnormal condition. It is not a static condition; constant change and adaptation to stress result in homeostasis (Mosbys Medical and Nursing Dictionary, 1994 p. 742). The fact that we can improve our health and extend our lives by changing our behaviors (i.e., eating well, exercising, not smoking, andâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦334-335). Statistics will now be given to highlight differences in mortality and morbidity for various groups with respect to different diseases and health risk factors. In the United States, the 1990 death rates for stroke were 28% for White males and 56% for Black males, 24% for White females, and 43% for Black females. In 1990, coronary heart disease death rates were 1.3% higher for Black males than White males and 29.4% higher for Black females than White females. It is important to note, however, that of those with coronary heart disease, 88.2% are White, 9.5% are Black, and 2.4% are of other races (American Heart Association, 1993). Livingston (1993) noted that young Black American men are particularly vulnerable to high blood pressure: Overall, more than 10% of Black American male children, 1% of Black American female children, and no White female children or male children had systolic blood pressure greater than 140 mmHg (p.134). Livingston focused primarily on the relationship betw een stress and hypertension and specifically on the sources of tension for young Black men in the United States. Racial differences in hypertension are clearly related to socioeconomic status (Kotchen, Kotchen, and Schwertman, 1974). Cancer rates differ dramatically among various races in the United States. Because Blacks are less likely to have early diagnosis and intervention, Whites have higher 5-year survival rates thanShow MoreRelatedMulticultural Awareness As A Clinical Mental Health Counselor965 Words à |à 4 PagesJournal: Multicultural Awareness This paper will introduce and define the need for Multicultural awareness as a clinical mental health counselor. It will further explore examples of various topics in Multicultural counseling such as: Racial and ethnic diversity, gender and social economic status. As a result of this research, in Multicultural awareness, the self-assessment rendered the identity of myself. It allowed me to realize what and who I was as ââ¬Å"other.â⬠In realizing who I was as ââ¬Å"otherâ⬠, IRead More Critiquing Internet Sources The author is keen in analyzing the issue of excessive consumption of800 Words à |à 4 Pagestool is keen on focusing on obesity, which has become one of the growing health concern among both children and adults. The tool shows the main reason why obesity has become a growing concern. It is clear since it articulates the problem of obesity with poor diet and the lack of exercise. An increasing number of individuals in the United States and the world are not practicing a balanced diet which is the major cause of the health issue. It is important to acknowledge that the article shows the mainRead MoreBecoming A Nursing Student Is Not Safe For My Family Anymore1067 Words à |à 5 Pagesfacing medical problems makes all patients look similar. But at the same time they are different. They may come from different countries, speak unfamiliar languages, carry different beliefs and sometimes even look not the way we are used to. Multicultural population of our country sometime makes it re ally difficult to navigate through someone elseââ¬â¢s sets of values. But in no way this can allow us to treat patients differently. They equally deserve respect, dignity and love. Nurses are not the onlyRead MoreIs Ajit A Better State Of Healthy Eating?1559 Words à |à 7 Pagesand good health its evident that Ajit has been exercising and eating healthy for more than 6 months, which makes him eligible for this stage. Considering his involvement in sports as well, it is easy to assume he has been active consistently and for an extended length of time. Also his diet consists of traditional food which he has probably been fed since he was young so itââ¬â¢s clear heââ¬â¢s been eating healthy for a while too. Q) What influence do personal factors have on this personââ¬â¢s health? 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I am from India, a multicultural and multi-religious nation. My cultural heritage is an Indian. So, I am a theist personality and pay homage to God everyday while reciting hymns in the early morning because of the influence of my cultivation. Indian civilization is further classifiedRead MoreSwot Analysis Of Ajit Singh s Case Study Analysis1080 Words à |à 5 PagesAjit is presently in the maintenance stage of behaviour change theory, Given his physical attributes and good health it is obvious that Ajit has been exercising and eating healthy for more than 6 months. Given his involvement in sports, it is safe to assume he has been highly active for an extensive period of time. Q) What influence do personal factors have on this personââ¬â¢s health? Person factors Ajit may be effected by may hereditary such as his mother suffering from bipolar disorder,Read MoreBad Side Effects of Using Computer to Human Health and Way to Overcome1410 Words à |à 6 PagesCOMPUTER TO HUMAN HEALTH AND WAY TO OVERCOME STUDENT NAME: CHEN KAH FEI CLASS: PRA-U KA1 MENTOR NAME: PN. CHANDRIKA ANNE ABSTRACT This research is a study about the bad side effects of using computer to human health. Since, computer is widely used by all level of community, so we should know the bad side effect of using computers to our health. In order to reduce the bad side effects of using computers, this research suggests the ways to maintain our health when using computerRead MoreEating Unhealthy And Unhealthy Obesity1647 Words à |à 7 Pagesto eat more healthy because that is the norm. Jill then explains some high parts in our ââ¬Å"unhealthy dietsâ⬠, she says that with our diets being unhealthy that it is actually a good thing that we like to try new foods and create a diet that is multicultural. Health leaders have made some impact on our unhealthy eating habits by shouting about our disordered eating practices. That made Michelle Obamaââ¬â¢s focus to be on healthy eating and exercise. With her being the First Lady, we pay attention more to whatRead MoreObesity : Supplemental Nutritional Assi stance Program Essay1588 Words à |à 7 Pagesbenefits and obstacles of each intervention are understood, the best program can be established, funded, and implemented to best serve the population. Using nutrition education methods to alleviate obesity in SNAP participants through SNAP-Ed and WIC Health are the most effective in terms of the textbookââ¬â¢s theory layout. The first intervention program this paper will review is called SNAP-Education, or SNAP-Ed. Assisting food insecure families through this program provides education on how to eat nutritiously
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
The Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842
A major achievement in diplomacy and foreign policy for post-revolutionary America, the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842 peacefully eased tensions between the United States and Canada by resolving several long-standing border disputes and other issues. Key Takeaways: Webster-Ashburton Treaty The Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842 peacefully settled several long-standing issues and border disputes between the United States and Canada.The Webster-Ashburton Treaty was negotiated in Washington, D.C., between U.S. Secretary of State Daniel Webster and British diplomat Lord Ashburton starting on April 4, 1842.Key issues addressed by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty included the location of the U.S.-Canadian border, the status of American citizens involved in the Canadian rebellion of 1837, and the abolition of the international slave trade.The Websterââ¬âAshburton Treaty established the U.S.-Canadian border as drawn in the 1783 Treaty of Paris and the Treaty of 1818.The Treaty provided that the United States and Canada would share the Great Lakes for commercial uses. Both the United States and Canada further agreed that the international slave trade on the high seas should be banned.à Background: The 1783 Treaty of Paris In 1775, on the brink of the American Revolution, the 13 American colonies were still part of the 20 territories of the British Empire in North America, which include the territories that would become the Province of Canada in 1841, and eventually, the Dominion of Canada in 1867. On September 3, 1783, in Paris, France, representatives of the United States of America and King George III of Great Britain signed the Treaty of Paris ending the American Revolution. Along with acknowledging Americaââ¬â¢s independence from Britain, the Treaty of Paris created an official border between the American colonies and the remaining British territories in North America. The 1783 border ran through the center of the Great Lakes, then from Lake of the Woods ââ¬Å"due westâ⬠to what was then believed to be the source or ââ¬Å"headwatersâ⬠of the Mississippi River. The border as drawn gave the United States lands that had previously been reserved for indigenous peoples of the Americas by earlier treaties and alliances with Great Britain. The treaty also granted Americans fishing rights off the coast of Newfoundland and access to the eastern banks of the Mississippi in return for restitution and compensation to British loyalists who had refused to take part in the American Revolution. Differing interpretations of the 1783 Treaty of Paris resulted in several disputes between the United States and the Canadian colonies, most notably the Oregon Question and the Aroostook War. The Oregon Question The Oregon Question involved a dispute over territorial control and commercial use of the Pacific Northwest regions of North America between the United States, the Russian Empire, Great Britain, and Spain. By 1825, Russia and Spain had withdrawn their claims to the region as a result of international treaties. The same treaties granted Britain and the United States residual territorial claims in the disputed region. Called the ââ¬Å"Columbia Districtâ⬠by Britain and the ââ¬Å"Oregon Countryâ⬠by America, the contested area was defined as being: west of the Continental Divide, north of Alta California at the 42nd parallel, and south of Russian America at the 54th parallel. Hostilities in the disputed area dated back to the War of 1812, fought between the United States and Great Britain over trade disputes, the forced service, or ââ¬Å"impressmentâ⬠of American sailors into the British Navy, and Britainââ¬â¢s support of Indian attacks on Americans in the Northwest frontier. After the War of 1812, the Oregon Question played an increasingly important role in international diplomacy between the British Empire and the new American Republic. The Aroostook War More of an international incident than an actual war, the 1838-1839 Aroostook War ââ¬â sometimes called the Pork and Beans War ââ¬â involved a dispute between the United States and Britain over the location of the border between the British colony of New Brunswick and the U.S. state of Maine. While no one was killed in the Aroostook War, Canadian officials in New Brunswick arrested some Americans in the disputed areas and the U.S. State of Maine called out its militia, which proceeded to seize parts of the territory. Along with the lingering Oregon Question, the Aroostook War highlighted the need for a peaceful compromise on the border between the United States and Canada. That peaceful compromise would come from the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842. The Webster-Ashburton Treaty From 1841 to 1843, during his first term as Secretary of State under President John Tyler, Daniel Webster faced several thorny foreign policy issues involving Great Britain. These included the Canadian border dispute, the involvement of American citizens in the Canadian rebellion of 1837 and the abolition of international slave trade. On April 4, 1842, Secretary of State Webster sat down with British diplomat Lord Ashburton in Washington, D.C., both men intent on working things out peacefully. Webster and Ashburton started by reaching an agreement on the boundary between the United States and Canada. The Websterââ¬âAshburton Treaty re-established the border between Lake Superior and the Lake of the Woods, as originally defined in the Treaty of Paris in 1783, and confirmed the location of the border in the western frontier as running along the 49th parallel up to the Rocky Mountains, as defined in the Treaty of 1818. Webster and Ashburton also agreed that the U.S. and Canada would share the commercial use of the Great Lakes. The Oregon Question, however, remained unresolved until June 15, 1846, when the U.S. and Canada averted a potential war by agreeing to the Oregon Treaty. The Alexander McLeod Affair Shortly after the end of the Canadian Rebellion of 1837, several Canadian participants fled to the United States. Along with some American adventurers, the group occupied a Canadian-owned island in the Niagara River and employed a U.S. ship, the Caroline; to bring them supplies. Canadian troops boarded the Caroline in a New York harbor, seized her cargo, killed one crewman in the process, and then allowed the empty ship to drift over Niagara Falls. A few weeks later, a Canadian citizen named Alexander McLeod crossed the border into New York where he bragged that he had helped seize the Caroline and had, in fact, killed the crewman. American police arrested McLeod. The British government claimed that McLeod had acted under the command of British forces and should be released to their custody. The British warned that if the U.S. executed McLeod, they would declare war. While the U.S. government agreed that McLeod should not face trial for actions he had committed while under orders of the British Government, it lacked the legal authority to force the State of New York to release him to British authorities. New York refused to release McLeod and tried him. Even though McLeod was acquitted, hard feelings remained. As a result of the McLeod incident, the Webster-Ashburton Treaty agreed on principles of international law allowing for the exchange, or ââ¬Å"extraditionâ⬠of criminals. International Slave Trade While Secretary Webster and Lord Ashburton both agreed that international slave trade on the high seas should be banned, Webster refused to Ashburtonââ¬â¢s demands that the British be allowed to inspect U.S. ships suspected of carrying slaves. Instead, he agreed that the U.S. would station warships off the coast of Africa to search suspected slave ships flying the American flag. While this agreement became part of the Websterââ¬âAshburton Treaty, the U.S. failed to vigorously enforce its slave ship inspections until the Civil War began in 1861. The Slave Ship ââ¬ËCreoleââ¬â¢ Affair Though it was not specifically mentioned in the treaty, Webster-Ashburton also brought a settlement to the slave trade-related case of the Creole. In November 1841, the U.S. slave ship Creole was sailing from Richmond, Virginia, to New Orleans with 135 slaves on board. Along the way, 128 of the slaves escaped their chains and took over the ship killing one of the white slave traders. As commanded by the slaves, the Creole sailed to Nassau in the Bahamas where the slaves were set free. The British government paid the United States $110,330 because under international law at the time officials in the Bahamas did not have the authority to free the slaves. Also outside the Webster-Ashburton treaty, the British government agreed to end the impressment of American sailors.à Sources and Further Reference ââ¬Å"The Webster-Ashburton Treaty. August 9, 1842.â⬠Yale Law SchoolCampbell, William Edgar. ââ¬Å"The Aroostook War of 1839.â⬠Goose Lane Editions (2013). ISBN 0864926782, 9780864926784 ââ¬Å"McLeod, Alexander.â⬠Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Jones, Howard. ââ¬Å".â⬠The Peculiar Institution and National Honor: The Case of the Creole Slave Revolt Civil War History, 1975.
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Frostbite Chapter 18 Free Essays
Eighteen THE HIGH HEELS WERE STARTING to hurt me, so I took them off when I went back inside, walking barefoot through the lodge. I hadnââ¬â¢t been to Masonââ¬â¢s room, but I remembered him mentioning the number once and found it without difficulty. Shane, Masonââ¬â¢s roommate, opened the door a few moments after I knocked. We will write a custom essay sample on Frostbite Chapter 18 or any similar topic only for you Order Now ââ¬Å"Hey, Rose.â⬠He stepped aside for me, and I walked in, peering around. Some infomercial was playing on the TV- one downside of a nocturnal life was a shortage of good programming- and empty soda cans covered nearly every flat surface. There was no sign of Mason anywhere. ââ¬Å"Where is he?â⬠I asked. Shane stifled a yawn. ââ¬Å"I thought he was with you.â⬠ââ¬Å"I havenââ¬â¢t seen him all day.â⬠He yawned again, then frowned in thought. ââ¬Å"He was throwing some stuff in a bag earlier. I figured you guys were running off for some crazy romantic getaway. Picnic or something. Hey, nice dress.â⬠ââ¬Å"Thanks,â⬠I murmured, feeling a frown of my own coming on. Packing a bag? That didnââ¬â¢t make any sense. There was nowhere to go. There was no way to go, either. This resort was as tightly guarded as the Academy. Lissa and I had only managed to break out of that place with compulsion, and it had still been a pain in the ass. Yet, why on earth would Mason pack a bag if he wasnââ¬â¢t leaving? I asked Shane a few more questions and decided to follow up on the possibility, crazy as it seemed. I found the guardian in charge of security and scheduling. He gave me the names of those guardians whoââ¬â¢d been on duty around the resortââ¬â¢s borders when Mason had last been seen. Most of the names I knew, and most were off duty now, making them easy to find. Unfortunately, the first couple hadnââ¬â¢t seen Mason around today. When they asked why I wanted to know, I gave vague answers and hurried off. The third person on my list was a guy named Alan, a guardian who usually worked the Academyââ¬â¢s lower campus. He was just coming in after skiing, taking his equipment off near the door. Recognizing me, he smiled as I approached. ââ¬Å"Sure, I saw him,â⬠he said, bending down to his boots. Relief flooded over me. Until then, I hadnââ¬â¢t realized how worried Iââ¬â¢d been. ââ¬Å"Do you know where he is?â⬠ââ¬Å"Nope. Let him and Eddie Castileâ⬠¦and, whatââ¬â¢s her name, the Rinaldi girl, out through the north gate and didnââ¬â¢t see them after that.â⬠I stared. Alan continued unhooking his skis as though we were discussing slope conditions. ââ¬Å"You let Mason and Eddie â⬠¦ and Mia out?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yup.â⬠ââ¬Å"Um â⬠¦ why?â⬠He finished and looked back up at me, a kind of happy and bemused look on his face. ââ¬Å"Because they asked me.â⬠An icy feeling started creeping through me. I found out which guardian had watched the north gate with Alan and immediately sought him out. That guardian gave me the same response. Heââ¬â¢d let Mason, Eddie, and Mia out, no questions asked. And, like Alan, he didnââ¬â¢t seem to think there was anything wrong with that. He appeared almost dazed. It was a look Iââ¬â¢d seen before â⬠¦ a look that came over people when Lissa used compulsion. In particular, Iââ¬â¢d seen it happen when Lissa didnââ¬â¢t want people to remember something very well. She could bury the memory in them, either erasing it all together or planting it for later. She was so good at compulsion, though, that she could just make people forget completely. For them to still have some memories meant someone who wasnââ¬â¢t as good at compulsion had worked on them. Someone, say, like Mia. I wasnââ¬â¢t the fainting type, but for just a moment, I felt like I could keel over. The world spun, and I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. When I could see again, my surroundings stayed stable. Okay. No problem. I would reason this out. Mason, Eddie, and Mia had left the resort earlier today. Not only that, they had done it by using compulsion- which was utterly forbidden. They hadnââ¬â¢t told anyone. Theyââ¬â¢d left through the north gate. Iââ¬â¢d seen a map of the resort. The north gate guarded a driveway that connected to the only semi-major road in the area, a small highway that led to a little town about twelve miles away. The town Mason had mentioned that had buses. To Spokane. Spokane- where this traveling pack of Strigoi and their humans might be living. Spokane- where Mason could fulfill all his crazy dreams of slaying Strigoi. Spokane- which he only knew about because of me. ââ¬Å"No, no, no,â⬠I murmured to myself, almost running toward my room. There, I stripped off the dress and changed into heavy winter clothes: boots, jeans, and a sweater. Grabbing my coat and gloves, I hurried back toward the door and then paused. I was acting without thinking. What was I actually going to do? I needed to tell someone, obviouslyâ⬠¦but that would get the trio in a lot of trouble. It would also tip Dimitri off that Iââ¬â¢d gone and gossiped about the Spokane Strigoi information heââ¬â¢d told me in confidence as a sign of respecting my maturity. I studied the time. It would take a while for anyone around the resort to know we were missing. If I could actually get out of the resort. A few minutes later, I found myself knocking on Christianââ¬â¢s door. He answered, looking sleepy and cynical as usual. ââ¬Å"If youââ¬â¢ve come to apologize for her,â⬠he told me loftily, ââ¬Å"you can just go ahead and- ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Oh, shut up,â⬠I snapped. ââ¬Å"This isnââ¬â¢t about you.â⬠Hastily, I relayed the details of what was going on. Even Christian didnââ¬â¢t have a witty response for that one. ââ¬Å"Soâ⬠¦Mason, Eddie, and Mia went to Spokane to hunt Strigoi?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes.â⬠ââ¬Å"Holy shit. Why didnââ¬â¢t you go with them? Seems like something youââ¬â¢d do.â⬠I resisted the urge to smack him. ââ¬Å"Because Iââ¬â¢m not insane! But Iââ¬â¢m going to go get them before they do something even stupider.â⬠That was when Christian caught on. ââ¬Å"And what do you need from me?â⬠ââ¬Å"I need to get off the resortââ¬â¢s property. They got Mia to use compulsion on the guards. I need you to do the same thing. I know youââ¬â¢ve practiced it.â⬠ââ¬Å"I have,â⬠he agreed. ââ¬Å"Butâ⬠¦wellâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ For the first time ever, he looked embarrassed. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m not very good at it. And doing it on dhampirs is nearly impossible. Liss is a hundred times better than me. Or probably any Moroi.â⬠ââ¬Å"I know. But I donââ¬â¢t want her to get in trouble.â⬠He snorted. ââ¬Å"But you donââ¬â¢t mind if I do?â⬠I shrugged. ââ¬Å"Not really.â⬠ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re a piece of work, you know that?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah. I do, actually.â⬠So, five minutes later, he and I found ourselves trekking out to the north gate. The sun was coming up, so most everyone was inside. This was a good thing, and I hoped itââ¬â¢d make our escape that much easier. Stupid, stupid, I kept thinking. This was going to blow up in our faces. Why had Mason done this? I knew heââ¬â¢d had this whole crazy vigilante attitudeâ⬠¦and heââ¬â¢d certainly seemed upset that the guardians hadnââ¬â¢t done anything about the recent attack. But still. Was he really that unhinged? He had to know how dangerous this was. Was it possibleâ⬠¦was it possible Iââ¬â¢d upset him so much with the making-out disaster that heââ¬â¢d gone off the deep end? Enough to go do this and get Mia and Eddie to join him? Not that those two would be hard to convince. Eddie would follow Mason anywhere, and Mia was almost as gung ho as Mason to kill every Strigoi in the world. Yet, out of all the questions I had about this, one thing was definitely clear. Iââ¬â¢d told Mason about the Strigoi in Spokane. Hands down, this was my fault, and without me, none of this would have happened. ââ¬Å"Lissa always makes eye contact,â⬠I coached Christian as we approached the exit. ââ¬Å"And speaks in a really, like, calm voice. I donââ¬â¢t know what else. I mean, she concentrates a lot too, so try that. Focus on forcing your will on them.â⬠ââ¬Å"I know,â⬠he snapped. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve seen her do it.â⬠ââ¬Å"Fine,â⬠I snapped back. ââ¬Å"Just trying to help.â⬠Squinting, I saw that only one guardian stood at the gate, a total stroke of luck. They were in between shifts. With the sun out, the risk of Strigoi had disappeared. The guardians would still continue in their duties, but they could relax just a bit. The guy on duty didnââ¬â¢t seem particularly alarmed by our appearance. ââ¬Å"What are you kids doing out here?â⬠Christian swallowed. I could see the lines of tension on his face. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re going to let us out of the gate,â⬠he said. A note of nervousness made his voice tremble, but otherwise, he did a fair approximation of Lissaââ¬â¢s soothing tones. Unfortunately, it had no effect on the guardian. As Christian had pointed out, using compulsion on a guardian was nearly impossible. Mia had gotten lucky. The guardian grinned at us. ââ¬Å"What?â⬠he asked, clearly amused. Christian tried again. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re going to let us out.â⬠The guyââ¬â¢s smile faltered just a little, and I saw him blink in surprise. His eyes didnââ¬â¢t glaze over in the same way Lissaââ¬â¢s victims did, but Christian had done enough to briefly enthrall him. Unfortunately, I could tell right then and there that it wouldnââ¬â¢t be enough to make him let us out and forget. Fortunately, Iââ¬â¢d been trained to compel people without the use of magic. Sitting near his post was an enormous Maglite, two feet long and easily seven pounds. I grabbed the Maglite and clocked him on the back of the head. He grunted and crumpled to the ground. Heââ¬â¢d barely seen me coming, and despite the horribleness of what Iââ¬â¢d just done, I kind of wished one of my instructors had been there to grade me on such an awesome performance. ââ¬Å"Jesus Christ,â⬠exclaimed Christian. ââ¬Å"You just assaulted a guardian.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah.â⬠So much for getting the guys back without getting anyone in trouble. ââ¬Å"I didnââ¬â¢t know just how much you sucked at compulsion. Iââ¬â¢ll deal with the fallout later. Thanks for your help. You should head back before the next shift comes on.â⬠He shook his head and grimaced. ââ¬Å"No, Iââ¬â¢m going with you on this.â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠I argued. ââ¬Å"I only needed you to get through the gate. You donââ¬â¢t have to get in trouble over this.â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m already in trouble!â⬠He pointed at the guardian. ââ¬Å"He saw my face. Iââ¬â¢m screwed either way, so I might as well help you save the day. Stop being a bitch for a change.â⬠We hurried off, and I cast one last, guilty glance at the guardian. I was pretty sure I hadnââ¬â¢t hit him hard enough to cause real damage, and with the sun coming out, he wouldnââ¬â¢t freeze or anything. After about five minutes of walking down the highway, I knew we had a problem. Despite being covered and wearing sunglasses, the sun was taking its toll on Christian. It was slowing us down, and it wouldnââ¬â¢t take that long for someone to find the guardian Iââ¬â¢d taken out and come after us. A car- not one of the Academyââ¬â¢s- appeared behind us, and I made a decision. I didnââ¬â¢t approve of hitchhiking in the least. Even someone like me knew how dangerous it was. But we needed to get to town fast, and I prayed Christian and I could take down any creepy stalker guy who tried to mess with us. Fortunately, when the car pulled over, it was just a middle-aged couple who looked more concerned than anything else. ââ¬Å"You kids okay?â⬠I jerked my thumb behind me. ââ¬Å"Our car slid off the road. Can you take us to town so I can call my dad?â⬠It worked. Fifteen minutes later, they dropped us off at a gas station. I actually had trouble getting rid of them because they wanted to help us so much. Finally, we convinced them weââ¬â¢d be fine, and we walked the few blocks over to the bus station. As Iââ¬â¢d suspected, this town wasnââ¬â¢t much of a hub for real travel. Three lines serviced the town: two that went to other ski resorts and one that went to Lowston, Idaho. From Lowston, you could go on to other places. Iââ¬â¢d half-hoped that we might beat Mason and the others before their bus came. Then we could have hauled them back without any trouble. Unfortunately, there was no sign of them. The cheery woman at the counter knew exactly who we were talking about, too. She confirmed that all three of them had bought tickets to Spokane by way of Lowston. ââ¬Å"Damn it,â⬠I said. The woman raised her eyebrows at my language. I turned to Christian. ââ¬Å"You got money for the bus?â⬠Christian and I didnââ¬â¢t talk much along the way, except for me to tell him heââ¬â¢d been an idiot about Lissa and Adrian. By the time we reached Lowston, I finally had him convinced, which was a minor miracle. He slept the rest of the way to Spokane, but I couldnââ¬â¢t. I just kept thinking over and over that this was my fault. It was late afternoon by the time we reached Spokane. It took a few people, but we finally found someone who knew the shopping center Dimitri had mentioned. It was a long ways from the bus station, but it was walkable. My legs were stiff after almost five hours of riding a bus, and I wanted the movement. The sun was a while from setting, but it was lower and less detrimental to vampires, so Christian didnââ¬â¢t mind the walk either. And, as often happened when I was in calm settings, I felt a tug into Lissaââ¬â¢s head. I let myself fall into her because I wanted to know what was happening back at the resort. ââ¬Å"I know you want to protect them, but we need to know where they are.â⬠Lissa sat on the bed in our room while Dimitri and my mom stared her down. It was Dimitri who had spoken. Seeing him through her eyes was interesting. She had a fond respect for him, very different from the intense roller coaster of emotions I always experienced. ââ¬Å"I told you,â⬠said Lissa, ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know. I donââ¬â¢t know what happened.â⬠Frustration and fear for us burned through her. It saddened me to see her so anxious, but at the same time, I was glad I hadnââ¬â¢t gotten her involved. She couldnââ¬â¢t report what she didnââ¬â¢t know. ââ¬Å"I canââ¬â¢t believe they wouldnââ¬â¢t have told you where they were going,â⬠said my mother. Her words sounded flat, but there were lines of worry on her face. ââ¬Å"Especially with yourâ⬠¦bond.â⬠ââ¬Å"It only works one way,â⬠said Lissa sadly. ââ¬Å"You know that.â⬠Dimitri knelt down so he could be at Lissaââ¬â¢s height and look her in the eye. He pretty much had to do that to look anyone in the eye. ââ¬Å"Are you sure thereââ¬â¢s nothing? Nothing at all you can tell us? Theyââ¬â¢re nowhere in town. The man at the bus station didnââ¬â¢t see them â⬠¦ though weââ¬â¢re pretty sure thatââ¬â¢s where they must have gone. We need something, anything to go on.â⬠Man at the bus station? That was another stroke of luck. The woman whoââ¬â¢d sold us the tickets must have gone home. Her replacement wouldnââ¬â¢t know us. Lissa gritted her teeth and glared. ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t you think if I knew, Iââ¬â¢d tell you? You donââ¬â¢t think Iââ¬â¢m worried about them too? I have no idea where they are. None. And whyââ¬â¢d they even leaveâ⬠¦ it doesnââ¬â¢t make any sense either. Especially why theyââ¬â¢d go with Mia, of all people.â⬠A twinge of hurt flickered through the bond, hurt at being left out of whatever we were doing, no matter how wrong. Dimitri sighed and leaned back on his heels. From the look on his face, he obviously believed her. It was also obvious that he was worried- worried in more than a professional way. And seeing that concern- that concern for me- ate up my heart. ââ¬Å"Rose?â⬠Christianââ¬â¢s voice brought me back to myself. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re here, I think.â⬠The plaza consisted of a wide, open area in front of a shopping center. A caf?à ¦ was carved into a corner of the main building, its tables spilling out into the open area. A crowd moved in and out of the complex, busy even at this time of the day. ââ¬Å"So, how do we find them?â⬠asked Christian. I shrugged. ââ¬Å"Maybe if we act like Strigoi, theyââ¬â¢ll try to stake us.â⬠A small, reluctant smile played over his face. He didnââ¬â¢t want to admit it, but heââ¬â¢d thought my joke was funny. He and I went inside. Like any mall, it was filled with familiar chains, and a selfish part of me thought that maybe if we found the group soon enough, we could still get in shopping time. Christian and I walked the length of it twice and saw no signs of our friends or anything resembling tunnels. ââ¬Å"Maybe weââ¬â¢re in the wrong place,â⬠I finally said. ââ¬Å"Or maybe they are,â⬠suggested Christian. ââ¬Å"They could have gone to some other- wait.â⬠He pointed, and I followed the gesture. The three renegades sat at a table in the middle of the food court, looking dejected. They looked so miserable, I almost felt sorry for them. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢d kill for a camera right now,â⬠said Christian, smirking. ââ¬Å"This isnââ¬â¢t funny,â⬠I told him, striding toward the group. Inside, I breathed a sigh of relief. The group clearly hadnââ¬â¢t found any Strigoi, were all still alive, and could maybe be taken back before we got in even more trouble. They didnââ¬â¢t notice me until I was almost right next to them. Eddieââ¬â¢s head jerked up. ââ¬Å"Rose? What are you doing here?â⬠ââ¬Å"Are you out of your mind?â⬠I yelled. A few people nearby gave us surprised looks. ââ¬Å"Do you know how much trouble youââ¬â¢re in? How much trouble youââ¬â¢ve gotten us in?â⬠ââ¬Å"How the hell did you find us?â⬠asked Mason in a low voice, glancing anxiously around. ââ¬Å"You guys arenââ¬â¢t exactly criminal masterminds,â⬠I told them. ââ¬Å"Your informant at the bus station gave you away. That, and I figured out that youââ¬â¢d want to go off on your pointless Strigoi-hunting quest.â⬠The look Mason gave me revealed he still wasnââ¬â¢t entirely happy with me. It was Mia who replied, however. ââ¬Å"It isnââ¬â¢t pointless.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh?â⬠I demanded. ââ¬Å"Did you kill any Strigoi? Did you even find any?â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠admitted Eddie. ââ¬Å"Good,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"You got lucky.â⬠ââ¬Å"Why are you so against killing Strigoi?â⬠asked Mia hotly. ââ¬Å"Isnââ¬â¢t that what you train for?â⬠ââ¬Å"I train for sane missions, not childish stunts like this.â⬠ââ¬Å"It isnââ¬â¢t childish,â⬠she cried. ââ¬Å"They killed my mother. And the guardians werenââ¬â¢t doing anything. Even their information is bad. There werenââ¬â¢t any Strigoi in the tunnels. Probably none in the whole city.â⬠Christian looked impressed. ââ¬Å"You found the tunnels?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah,â⬠said Eddie. ââ¬Å"But like she said, they were useless.â⬠ââ¬Å"We should see them before we go,â⬠Christian told me. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢d be kind of cool, and if the data was bad, thereââ¬â¢s no danger.â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠I snapped. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re going home. Now.â⬠Mason looked tired. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re going to search the city again. Even you canââ¬â¢t make us go back, Rose.â⬠ââ¬Å"No, but the schoolââ¬â¢s guardians can when I call and tell them youââ¬â¢re here.â⬠Call it blackmailing or being a tattletale; the effect was the same. The three of them looked at me like I had just simultaneously gut-punched them all. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢d really do that?â⬠asked Mason. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢d sell us out like that?â⬠I rubbed my eyes, wondering desperately why I was trying to be the voice of reason here. Where was the girl whoââ¬â¢d run away from school? Mason had been right. I had changed. ââ¬Å"This isnââ¬â¢t about selling anyone out. This is about keeping you guys alive.â⬠ââ¬Å"You think weââ¬â¢re that defenseless?â⬠asked Mia. ââ¬Å"You think weââ¬â¢d get killed right away?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Unless youââ¬â¢ve found some way to use water as a weapon?â⬠She flushed and didnââ¬â¢t say anything. ââ¬Å"We brought silver stakes,â⬠said Eddie. Fantastic. They must have stolen them. I looked at Mason pleadingly. ââ¬Å"Mason. Please. Call this off. Letââ¬â¢s go back.â⬠He looked at me for a long time. Finally, he sighed. ââ¬Å"Okay.â⬠Eddie and Mia looked aghast, but Mason had assumed a leadership role with them, and they didnââ¬â¢t have the initiative to go on without him. Mia seemed to take it the hardest, and I felt bad for her. Sheââ¬â¢d barely had any real time to grieve for her mother; sheââ¬â¢d just jumped right on board with this revenge thing as a way to cope with the pain. Sheââ¬â¢d have a lot to deal with when we got back. Christian was still excited about the idea of the underground tunnels. Considering he spent all his time in an attic, I shouldnââ¬â¢t have been all that surprised. ââ¬Å"I saw the schedule,â⬠he told me. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢ve got a while before the next bus.â⬠ââ¬Å"We canââ¬â¢t go walking into some Strigoi lair,â⬠I argued, walking toward the mallââ¬â¢s entrance. ââ¬Å"There are no Strigoi there,â⬠said Mason. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s seriously all janitorial stuff. There was no sign of anything weird. I really do think the guardians had bad information.â⬠ââ¬Å"Rose,â⬠said Christian, ââ¬Å"letââ¬â¢s get something fun out of this.â⬠They all looked at me. I felt like a mom who wouldnââ¬â¢t buy her kids candy at the grocery store. ââ¬Å"Okay, fine. Just a peek, though.â⬠The others led Christian and me to the opposite end of the mall, through a door marked staff only. We dodged a couple of janitors, then slipped through another door that led us to a set of stairs going down. I had a brief moment of d?à ¦j?à ¤ vu, recalling the steps down to Adrianââ¬â¢s spa party. Only these stairs were dirtier and smelled pretty nasty. We reached the bottom. It wasnââ¬â¢t so much a tunnel as a narrow corridor, lined in grime-caked cement. Ugly fluorescent lights were embedded sporadically along the walls. The passage went off to our left and right. Boxes of ordinary cleaning and electrical supplies sat around. ââ¬Å"See?â⬠said Mason. ââ¬Å"Boring.â⬠I pointed in each direction. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s down there?â⬠ââ¬Å"Nothing,â⬠sighed Mia. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢ll show you.â⬠We walked down to the right and found more of the same. I was starting to agree with the boring assessment when we passed some black writing on one of the walls. I stopped and looked at it. It was a list of letters. D B C O T D V L D Z S I Some had lines and x marks next to them, but for the most part the message was incoherent. Mia noticed my scrutiny. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s probably a janitor thing,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"Or maybe some gang did it.â⬠ââ¬Å"Probably,â⬠I said, still studying it. The others shifted restlessly, not understanding my fascination with the jumble of letters. I didnââ¬â¢t understand my fascination either, but something in my head tugged at me to stay. Then I got it. B for Badica, Z for Zeklos, I for Ivashkov â⬠¦ I stared. The first letter of every royal familyââ¬â¢s name was there. There were three D names, but based on the order, you could actually read the list as a size ranking. It started with the smaller families- Dragomir, Badica, Conta- and went all the way up to the giant Ivashkov clan. I didnââ¬â¢t understand the dashes and lines beside the letters, but I quickly noticed which names had an x beside them: Badica and Drozdov. I stepped back from the wall. ââ¬Å"We have to get out of here,â⬠I said. My own voice scared me a little. ââ¬Å"Right now.â⬠The others looked at me in surprise. ââ¬Å"Why?â⬠asked Eddie. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s going on?â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll tell you later. We just need to go.â⬠Mason pointed in the direction weââ¬â¢d been heading. ââ¬Å"This lets out a few blocks away. Itââ¬â¢s closer to the station.â⬠I peered down into the dark unknown. ââ¬Å"No,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re going back the way we came.â⬠They all looked at me like I was insane as we retraced our steps, but nobody questioned me yet. When we emerged from the mallââ¬â¢s front, I breathed a sigh of relief to see that the sun was still out, though it was steadily sinking into the horizon and casting orange and red light onto the buildings. The remaining light would still be enough for us to get back to the bus station before we were really in any danger of seeing Strigoi. And I knew now that there really were Strigoi in Spokane. Dimitriââ¬â¢s information had been correct. I didnââ¬â¢t know what the list meant, but it clearly had something to do with the attacks. I needed to report it to the other guardians immediately, and I certainly couldnââ¬â¢t tell the others what Iââ¬â¢d realized until we were safely at the lodge. Mason was likely to go back into the tunnels if he knew what I did. Most of our walk back to the station proceeded in silence. I think my mood had cowed the others. Even Christian seemed to have run out of snide comments. Inside, my emotions swirled, oscillating between anger and guilt as I kept reexamining my role in everything. Ahead of me, Eddie stopped walking, and I nearly ran into him. He looked around. ââ¬Å"Where are we?â⬠Snapping out of my own thoughts, I surveyed the area too. I didnââ¬â¢t remember these buildings. ââ¬Å"Damn it,â⬠I exclaimed. ââ¬Å"Are we lost? Didnââ¬â¢t anyone keep track of which way we went?â⬠It was an unfair question since I clearly hadnââ¬â¢t paid attention either, but my temper had pushed me past reason. Mason studied me for a few moments, then pointed. ââ¬Å"This way.â⬠We turned and walked down a narrow street between two buildings. I didnââ¬â¢t think we were going the right way, but I didnââ¬â¢t really have a better idea. I also didnââ¬â¢t want to stand around debating. We hadnââ¬â¢t gone very far when I heard the sound of an engine and squealing tires. Mia was walking in the middle of the road, and protective conditioning kicked in before I even saw what was coming. Grabbing her, I jerked her out of the street and up against one of the building walls. The boys had done the same. A large, gray van with tinted windows had rounded the corner and was headed in our direction. We pressed flat against the wall, waiting for it to go past. Only it didnââ¬â¢t. Screeching to a halt, it stopped right in front of us, and the doors slid open. Three big guys spilled out, and again, my instincts kicked in. I had no clue who they were or what they wanted, but they clearly werenââ¬â¢t friendly. That was all I needed to know. One of them moved toward Christian, and I struck out and punched him. The guy barely staggered but was clearly surprised to have felt it at all, I think. He probably hadnââ¬â¢t expected someone as small as me to be much of a threat. Ignoring Christian, he moved toward me. In my peripheral vision, I saw Mason and Eddie squaring off with the other two. Mason had actually pulled out his stolen silver stake. Mia and Christian stood there, frozen. Our attackers were relying a lot on bulk. They didnââ¬â¢t have the sort of background we had in offensive and defensive techniques. Plus, they were human, and we had dhampir strength. Unfortunately, we also had the disadvantage of being cornered against the wall. We had nowhere to retreat to. Most importantly, we had something to lose. Like Mia. The guy whoââ¬â¢d been sparring with Mason seemed to realize this. He backed off from Mason and instead grabbed her. I barely saw the flash of his gun before its barrel was pressed against her neck. Backing off from my own adversary, I yelled at Eddie to stop. Weââ¬â¢d all been trained to respond instantly to those kinds of orders, and he halted his attack, glancing at me questioningly When he saw Mia, his face went pale. I wanted nothing more than to keep pummeling these men- whoever they were- but I couldnââ¬â¢t risk this guy hurting Mia. He knew it, too. He didnââ¬â¢t even have to make the threat. He was human, but he knew enough about us to know that weââ¬â¢d go out of our way to protect the Moroi. Novices had a saying grilled into us from an early age: Only they matter. Everyone stopped and looked between him and me. Apparently we were the acknowledged leaders here. ââ¬Å"What do you want?â⬠I asked harshly. The guy pressed his gun closer to Miaââ¬â¢s neck, and she whimpered. For all her talk about fighting, she was smaller than me and not nearly as strong. And she was too terrified to move. The man inclined his head toward the vanââ¬â¢s open door. ââ¬Å"I want you to get inside. And donââ¬â¢t start anything. You do, and sheââ¬â¢s gone.â⬠I looked at Mia, the van, my other friends, and then back to the guy. Shit. How to cite Frostbite Chapter 18, Essay examples
Sunday, May 3, 2020
Interpersonal Communication Competence and Contexts
Question: Discuss about the Interpersonal Communication for Competence and Contexts. Answer: Introduction This main objective of this report is to conduct a study on self-reflection to understand personal capability. In order to identify and understand personal capability, some reflective analysis tools are used. After using those analysis tools it was seen that some areas require serious improvements (Amati Hannawa, 2014). Therefore, in this report a discussion is also added based on the steps that must be undertaken for enhancing the drawbacks that exist in the interaction method. A literature review is also added in this report that contains concepts and models related to those issues of communication that are identified. Diagnosis and Reflection: Diagnostic tools that are used in order to carry out the self evaluation are Johari Window test, Assertiveness Questionnaire, Emotional Intelligence test, Quinn Management Questionnaire and Communication style Questionnaire. The connection between an individual and others was identified by using the Johari Window test (Arnold Boggs, 2015). Johari Widow Test helped me to know that I belong from an open arena where I have ample amount of knowledge about other people who are either living with me or associated with me. On the other hand, Communication Style Questionnaire helped to figure out that I am comfortable while communicating with people, even if the topic is something that I do not like. I do not become angry easily and I always try to agree with others which show that I value opinion of others. Besides, it also shows that I am a good listener and never hurt anyones feelings by using harsh words. However, it is also true that I feel guilty when I am surrounded by several types of issues and problems. From this test, I was able to find out a negative point about myself. If was found that I cannot maintain eye contact with other people while communicating with them. Another assessment tool that was used was the Self Assessment assertiveness questionnaire. This questionnaire has helped me to evaluate my attitude with others. After analyzing the results I got from this analysis I understood that I am determined towards my work and I am able to take decisions as per the demand of the situation. I always ask for opinions from others as I believe any individual can offer better ideas that can provide competitive edge in todays market place. Therefore, I always put more focus on perspective of others. Quinn Management Test was conducted to understand my competences along with how I can apply particular things in real life that can enhance my communication capability (Baxter Norwood, 2015). From this test, I could understand leadership and managerial values that I have in me. This test identified that perspectives and opinions of others are immensely valued by me and I always put more emphasis on accomplishing a collective result by gathering point of view of others. Professional Experience: In order to find out two major issues in my communication style, I would like to share a small incident that took place few days ago. Some days ago, I went to a well-renowned multinational organization for interview purpose. In the interview process, everything was smooth until I was called for face-to-face interview method. As it was a multinational company, where the main focus is to develop a diverse workplace, all the interviewers were from different backgrounds. As a result, I had some serious issues while understanding the accent of them. Besides, I also had problems because of different communication styles which are direct communication and indirect communication. As per Australian culture we are habituated to direct communication. On the other hand, Japanese, Chinese, Indian and Saudi Arabian people prefer indirect communication styles. Two of the interviewers were from India and other one was from India. I was saying a direct No or I dont know to show an honest and respectf ul side of mine; however the interviewers were considering it as impolite and crude behavior. I had no idea how to communicate through indirect communication style. From the evaluation that was done using five diagnostic tools and professional experience, I could figure out two major communication issues that I have. Those issues are hereby discussed below. Discussion of Results: After thorough analysis of my professional capacities, I was able to comprehend the results of my tests more clearly. First of all, I got to know that I am comfortable while communicating with people, even if the topic is something that I do not like. I do not become angry easily and I always try to agree with others which show that I value opinion of others. However, I do not possess a strong grip over cross-cultural communication and as a result I do encounter serious issues while understanding the accent of foreign employees or managers. Besides, I also had problems because of different communication styles which are direct communication and indirect communication. As per Australian culture we are habituated to direct communication. On the other hand, Japanese, Chinese, Indian and Saudi Arabian people prefer indirect communication styles. Hence, it is evident that I do lack a clear and through understanding of the linguistic and cultural differences existing in the overseas market , which makes me unsuitable a candidate to work abroad. Needless to say that I do not have a strong grip over the accent of foreign languages and my accent is quite different from the traditionally accepted accents of the foreign languages. Besides, I need to develop my awareness regarding the behavioral traits and cultural patterns as well as the professional ethics expected in the foreign nations. Despite possessing some of the most interesting traits of a leader, I believe that I am incompetent to work in a diverse workplace as of now. Identification of Two Communication Areas Seeking Improvement: I realized that interaction style in Western cultures, from where I belong is more direct where the meaning is seemingly obvious. However, other cultures tend to be more discrete in the way their present their message (Berwick Chomsky, 2015). As a result, a communication between a Westerner and a non-Westerner can result in confusion. Exactly the same thing happened in the interview that I talked about earlier. It is true that how workers of different cultures respond to one another is a major determining factor towards the cohesiveness of an organization. In western culture the question can be Is option A or option B more efficient? where in a culture that is non-Western employees may need to entail or suggest a specific option without describing it directly (Brannen, 2014). Therefore, it is important for me to learn to communicate in an indirect manner. After my interview, it was clear to me that another problem that I will face while working in a multinational organization is language barrier that includes accept and fluency (Danziger, 2013). It is obvious that in a multinational organization, lots of employees will work who are from different country, background and ethnicity. Therefore, the chances are high that I will have critical problems while communicating with them. It is evident that such communication will raise confusion between my colleagues and me that I turn can hamper the work that we do. On the other hand, using wrong words and pronunciation can also cause frustration or interpersonal conflicts. Besides, this problem related to language can also cause problems at the time of meeting or one-to-one sessions (Dragojevic Giles, 2014). It is possible that people of higher management do not belong from Australia. Therefore, while communicating with them, I might say something that is relevant from my side but is not from their point of view. Therefore, it is necessary for me to improve my cross-cultural communication skills to survive in multinational companies. Apart from the problem of cross-linguistic problem of communication discussed above, I also realized that I am not good in interacting with clients and subordinates while I have to communicate an important strategy to them. I usually am a withdrawn person, and hence I do lack the confident and assertive style of communication needed to exercise authority over my subordinates. Cross-Cultural Communication According to Harzing Pudelko (2014), all types of communications can be called as cultural as it draws on ways we have taught to speak and give non-verbal messages. In terms of cross-cultural communication, it is outlined and demonstrated by examples of ideas, attitudes, and behaviors involving four variables which are time/space, fate/individual responsibility, face/face-saving and non verbal communication. Time and Space: Time is known as the most central different that separate cultures and cultural paths of doing things (Hybels, 2014). In Western culture, time is seen as quantitative object that is measured in units that reflect the march of progression. There, time is logical and sequential. On the other hand, in the East, time is seen like it has unlimited continuity. The best place to understand the Eastern idea of time is India. There time is seen as moving continually via several cycles. There time stretches far ahead of the human ego or lifetime. It is another important variable that is affecting communication across different cultures. It means to the degree to which the people feel themselves the masters of their lives, versus the degree to which people see themselves as subject to things that are outside of their control. As mentioned by Lane, (2016), this variable is extremely important to understand cultural conflicts in workplaces. In this expensive landscape, it is seen that a lot of people row up with a major sense of life where ideas are big and hope stays for eternity (Bochner, 2013). These people, when face setbacks, encourage themselves to redouble their efforts. They try again and again until they gain success. Face is also an important part across cultures, yet the dynamics of face and face saving play out separately. Face is described dissimilarly in the cross-cultural communication literature. As mentioned by Asante et al., (2013), the beginning points of individualism and communitarianism are closely connected to face. If someone sees himself as a self-determining individual, then face will preserve his image with others. If someone sees his main identification as a group member, then considerations about face includes this group. Direct confrontation or problem solving with other people may reflect poorly on his group or can hamper the overall community harmony. Non verbal communication is significant while communicating with others. According to Pekerti and Thomas, (2015), non verbal communication is multiplied across cultures. This is because people tend to look for nonverbal cues in case where verbal message are not clear and ambiguous. Cultures that are low-context like the United States of America and Canada tend to provide relatively less emphasis to non verbal interaction (Myers et al., 2014). It does not mean that non verbal communications never rake place or it is unimportant. However, people in these settings are to place minimum importance on it than on the literal meaning of words themselves. On the other hand, high-context setting such as Japan and Colombia, it is significant to understand nonverbal components to understand the intended meaning of the interaction as a whole. Some elements in nonverbal communication are constant across the culture (Neuliep, 2014). For example, from several studies it was seen that emotions of enj oyment, anger, fear, disgust and surprise are expressed in equal ways by the people around the world. Assertive Communication Style Through direct communication people tend to say what they think. In this type of the communication message is initially conveyed by the words used by the people. The primary goal of communication is to gaining and providing information. In the low-context culture direct communication is seen. Low context culture means those cultures where more emphasis is given on individualism and self-reliance (Pekerti Thomas, 2015). On the other hand in the case of indirect communication, mostly high-context cultures follow it. In this type of communication, any message is not conveyed only using words but also using nonverbal behaviors, implications and understatement. In this type of communication, the overriding objective of interaction is to maintain harmony and saving face. Indirect communication, as mentioned by Ihator, (2015), look to avoid any type of conflict, tension and unwanted situations. In cultures that are high-context and may be homogeneous and tend to highlight interdependence a nd social relationships, people establish deep and sometimes unconscious understandings of what is expected in that culture. As a result of shared anticipation, about behavior, the context can be changed by the speaker to convey more amount of information. Direct Communication Indirect Communication In this type of communication facts and data speak for themselves If a person who is communicating does not have anything to say, he must not say anything. In this form of communication it is said that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Besides, it is also seen that honesty is the best policy in this type of communication. In this type of communication, the nail that sticks out gets hammered back in (Bochner, 2013). Besides, being polite is extremely important than being honest in this form of communication. In this type of communication process saying no is allowed and not considered as impolite. Saying no in this type of communication is absolutely not allowed. While in indirect communication, it is expected to say may be or possibility, even if someone means no. It is important to say what the person mean. Precisely (Lane, 2016). In this type of communication, interaction must be done at face value. In this type of communication it is not expected that someone will directly express what he wants. Besides, communication must be handled to save face. Time is money in this type of communication. Therefore, in direct communication it is expected that people will get to the point without wasting any time. In this type of communication, small conversations are extremely important to make the environment comfortable. In this type of communication, employees and exhibit their disgrace with their boss. They can directly talk about any issue of problem they are facing. In the case of indirect communication, employees are expected not to criticize anyone, especially against the people of higher authority. The people, who are more direct and assertive in their way of communication, not only manage to get their works done, but also succeed in maximizing employee efficiency rate. Besides, a direct communication style helps in creating a positive workplace free from employee conspiracy and selfishness. Identification of Issues Arising from Diagnosis and Reflection: In the end, it can be concluded that after evaluating the results of five diagnostic tools, it is seen that I have issues related to cross cultural communication and direct-indirect communication. In this paper, the importance of cross cultural communication and is described through literature review. On the other hand, a complete description on direct and indirect communication is also provided in this study. From the literature part, it is clear that both the communication aspects are extremely important for a person to become successful in professional world. Without learning these two skills it is not possible to interact properly in multinational companies. Therefore, it is extremely important to improve these skills through several learning programs. 6 Month Action Plan: Months Action Timeline Success Measure January It is important for me to get rid of the problem of successful cross-cultural communication. Hence, I will enroll myself in a communication development training course that will enrich my vocabulary in foreign language and improve the fluency of the same. 30 days I will have to sit for cross-linguistic knowledge and aptitude tests so as to have an understanding of the level of my learning. I would also try to interact with my friends or colleagues belonging to different ethnic groups, so as to test my multilingual capacities. February I will also enroll myself in a soft skill developing program, so that I can enhance and improve upon my skills of communicating with my colleagues. 10 to 15 days I will interact with my employees or even friends and will ask them to provide me the feedback. I should try to assess and evaluate my mistakes based on these feedbacks. March I will also try to improve my non-verbal skills, as these are highly important while interacting in a foreign set up. Hence, I will attend workshops and seminars that intend to enhance our soft skills, grooming us to use the tight gestures and body languages. 15 days to 20 days I will try to assess my non-verbal skills at the end of the scheduled period, with the help of various self-assessment tools. Besides, I will also try to assess my skills by sitting before the mirror and checking my own style while communication. Self-reflection can largely help in evaluating my skills. April I will also develop my indirect communication skills by enrolling myself in training programs. 10 days After following this objectives, if I being a direct speaker can communicate properly with indirect speaker, then it can be said that I have made improvements. This is how I will evaluate myself here. May Since I am shy while delivering speeches, I will arrange a speech and will ask my friend or father to sit before me and listen while I communicate. This can help to prevent my shyness and social awkwardness while communicating my thoughts. 30 days I will create a response schedule to understand what the listener thinks about me. June I will also regularly follow communication skill videos so as to enhance my fluency and understand the desirable way to communicate. 20 days I will jot down the important points of desirable communication from the videos and then practice the same before the mirror or in presence of an active listener. References Amati, R., Hannawa, A. F. (2014). Relational dialectics theory: Disentangling physician-perceived tensions of end-of-life communication.Health communication,29(10), 962-973. Arnold, E. C., Boggs, K. U. (2015).Interpersonal relationships: Professional communication skills for nurses. Elsevier Health Sciences. Asante, M. K., Miike, Y., Yin, J. 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