International management and change Essay Example for Free

International management and change Essay When Pascal made this statement, globalization had yet to take place. People lived in different societies remaining cut-off from each other. Each society had its own perception of truth and reality. Then came along the advancement in technology bringing along inventions such as computer, internet and telecommunications making the world a global village. Perceptions started changing as information flow across the globe happened at the speed of light. People from all across the globe started sharing their experiences with each other thus reducing the differences in various cultures. However, the act of globalization has yet to reach its peak. Cultural differences still exist within different societies and the level of information and technology is still heterogeneous around the globe. I would now highlight some distinguishing features of the management styles of various regions. We observe that the beliefs and values of people vary across various cultures. The Japanese work as a group and organizational system is based on community work. The reward system is based on the level of seniority and is also group based. The organizational structure is cooperation based whereas American organizations often are based on competitive style where individuals are rewarded based on their performance levels. Similarly the management style of French is also very different from that of US. French follow a more creative thinking pattern and do not like to adhere to strict rules and regulations. The European management style has some key points that distinguish it from the American management style. The European management style even differs within the European countries and two countries deserve a special focus France and Germany because, among other reasons, the bureaucrats in those countries have long been regarded as mandarins by the field of public administration (Dogan 1976). European management style can be classified into different clusters based upon Hofstede’s cultural dimensions and Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner’s cultural variables (Goliath, 2004) according to which European management style can be sub-divided into: Anglo-Saxon culture (Ireland, UK, and USA), Nordic culture (Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Sweden, and Finland), Germanic culture (Austria, Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland), Frankophile culture (France, Greece, Portugal, and Spain) and Italian culture. These cultures also differ greatly from the US and Japanese styles of management thus requiring different management practices. The pay for performance system can work with the European management style as employees in Europe are mostly achievement oriented and perform good work for better rewards. The cultural beliefs and values of Europeans are pretty much different from the people of US and hence the marketing techniques used in Europe should be different from those applied in US. For example, Europeans are very much reluctant to providing personal information as compared to US customers; also the credit card usage in Europe is considerably lower than in US (Heilbrunn, 1998). The introduction of new logo and implementation of matrix structure allowing a flatter organizational structure can work relatively better in the European business environment The company operations in South America demand a completely different approach as Latin American culture significantly differs from US culture in terms of communication process. The US culture emphasizes on completion of task and sentences are interpreted in their direct meaning. However Latin American society focuses on relationships and context of the communication may involve more than just the spoken words (Wederspahn, 2001). So the marketing and sales efforts in South American cannot be standardized with the US practices since the Latin American customers tend to perceive communication messages in a very different way from their US counterparts. The new logo can be introduced, however introduction of a flatter organization with matrix structure may not be feasible in South America as the type of culture prevalent in this society is not conducive to the working of non-hierarchical organizations. If we study the culture of Middle Eastern countries, it is found that the business practices again differ significantly from those of US. The business is mostly chaotic and based upon word of mouth rather than written agreements, the cultural values are mostly Islamic and respect for relationships is held supreme; also the marketing regulations in Middle Eastern countries are very strict as compared to US or rest of the world (Kwintessential Ltd). The middle eastern management style is mostly authoritarian and based upon Douglas McGregor’s Theory X motivational leadership style (Daniel Workman , 2008). Thus employees have little or no motivation to work on their own and will perform only when directed by the superiors. Thus bright managers from US and other Western states often try to avoid working in Middle East and so they must first be provided proper cultural training in authoritative styles thus enabling them to adapt to the management practices of the Middle East. The Australian business is more similar to that of US as compared to the rest of regions as described above. The language and dress code is pretty much similar. However, Australian society is strictly based upon egalitarian principle where nobody like being bossed around. People don’t like to consider others as superiors and there is almost no hierarchical system (Slideshare, 2009). So authoritarian style of management will not be welcomed in the Australian business. The meeting and negotiation styles as well as the general beliefs of the Australian society are pretty close to the American beliefs. However according to a study on behavior of 35,000 managers from Australia and New Zealand, the Australian managers consistently try to avoid responsibilities and do not take initiatives (Gettler, 2002). Thus FES should provide cultural and leadership training to Australian manager before implementing any kind of central strategy. Discrimination issues also prevail in Australia that can make life for foreign managers very difficult. However, recently steps have been taken to strongly implement anti-discrimination laws. The roles of front line managers are also changing in Australia as they are provided more and more freedom and responsibility (James Saville, Mark Higgins, 1994). The sales and marketing strategy in Australia can be aligned with the US strategies relatively easily because of the similarity in both societies. So the dilemma of FES is choosing between centralized and decentralized approach. Centralization can be defined as, the degree to which decision-making authority is kept at top levels of management. while Decentralization can be defined as, the degree to which decision making authority is pushed down to lower levels of the firm (Schilling 2008). Both approaches have their own pros and cons. FES has seen tremendous growth over the years and has been expanding into new regions at a very quick rate. Thus the organization requires a large amount of flexibility in its decision making that can be provided by a decentralized approach. However, due to rapid expansion, the organization requires tighter control of finances and close monitoring of all its operations to reduce costs and maintain quality. These measures can be achieved through a more centralized approach. So what approach suits FES bests can be determined by a cost benefit analysis where each advantage and disadvantage of delegation authority has to be carefully analyzed in light of the company objectives. Thus aligning the decision making process with the vision of the organization. A centralized approach can benefit the organization by significantly reducing the administrative cost related to employee management. Infrastructure handling will also be more efficient and it will be easier for the headquarter to align organizational goals with the functional and departmental goals ( Dezaree Seeds, Alan S. Khade , 2008). Centralized approach will also make reporting procedure simple resulting in standardized organizational policies. Thus in this way it will further help the organizational objective of flattening the organizational structure and in creation of a matrix organizational setup. A decentralized approach on the other hand can benefit the organization by providing flexibility and empowering employees at the divisional and functional level. As explained above, different regions in which FES is operating have different working environments and the condition of energy industry in Europe, Australia, Middle East, US and South East Asian regions are very different from each other. Thus decentralization of HR and marketing policies will allow the organization to cater to the customer needs in the ways most suited to specific regions. It will also allow greater local control and the ability to act quickly to gain local resources ( Dezaree Seeds, Alan S. Khade , 2008). Decentralization will also allow the organization to better deal with the cultural diversity and provide training to the employees as and when the need arises. One thing that business, institutions, governments and key individuals will have to realize is spiders and starfish may look alike, but starfish have a miraculous quality to them. Cut off the leg of a spider, and you have a seven-legged creature on your hands; cut off its head and you have a dead spider. But cut off the arm of a starfish and it will grow a new one. Not only that, but the severed arm can grow an entirely new body. Starfish can achieve this feat because, unlike spiders, they are decentralized; every major organ is replicated across each arm (Beckstrom and Brafman 2008). The type of approach taken by FES depends upon the nature and present condition of the global energy industry. The energy industry around the world is in a continuous state of flux. As more and more energy companies around the world become private and become free from the control of state, the nature of competition is changing (ExxonMobil, 2004). Demand for power is increasing at an exponential rate and the competition from private as well as government owned companies is fierce. In the power generation sector, each country has established different laws and tariff rates for multinational organizations. Thus on a whole it seems wiser to maintain a decentralized organizational setup which is flexible enough to quickly respond to the changing conditions of the industry. FES should maintain its present functional structure by keeping the finance, production and HR departments centralized. However using the same marketing and sales techniques all across the globe has a lot of negative implications. Thus allowing the regional marketing departments to work according to their specific environment is the best possible option. So in order to maintain decentralization in the marketing and sales department, the top management has to establish strong ties with all of its regional departments. A strong organizational culture based upon a clear vision and mission of the company should be communicated to all of its employees. Perhaps FES can create a hybrid model which allows centralization of decision making with respect to financial and important managerial decisions and at the same time, the marketing campaign is allowed flexibility according to the specific needs of the region. A key concern for FES is to harmonize its rapid global growth. Power and gas generation has to be taken in new countries and new plants need to be setup. The international operations have expanded a lot and efforts must be made to consolidate the existing business while growing in new regions of the world. As part of the consolidation effort FES must conduct extensive employee training program instilling in each employee the vision and objective of the organization. The company should consolidate its major decision making power in the Headquarter thereby allowing Headquarter to maintain a close monitory system on all of its subsidiaries. By centralizing its finance and management activities, the company can also approve marketing budgets for different regions from its Headquarter, thus building coherence in the finance and marketing goals. However the marketing and sales strategies for each region should be decentralized thus instilling greater flexibility and freedom among marketing departments to cater to their local markets. The pay for performance system can work smoothly in few of the regions but as explained earlier, some regions such as Middle East and some parts of South East Asian cultures demonstrate a more hierarchical structure and it will be extremely difficult to introduce pay for performance system in these regions. Also the parameters should be clearly defined before introducing the pay for performance system in different regions. Because same results usually do not show same amount of performance in different regions. What kind of performance and what kind of pay should be decided and communicated to all regional offices. The parameters for monitoring performance should be based upon different standards for different regions. Similarly some of the major HR policies should be centralized but mostly HR of each region should be independent in choosing the who, what, when and where about its employees. For example, Middle Eastern region is very warm in summers as compared to the European region and the work habits and optimum level of work during different seasons is different for both these regions. Thus separate working policies should be established for each of the region. The RD department should remain centralized at the American Head Office. As a centralized RD approach is more beneficial for a company like FES which has not expanded business into a variety of categories (AB, 2001). However taking technological inputs from all across the globe may help the RD department in improving its efficiency and effectiveness. Thus technological integration should be built where all global units of FES are directly integrated with its Head Office and the information flow between Head Office and different regions should be quick and efficient. The production department should carry out its role from the center, managing the manufacturing process across the globe from the Head Office. So it can be seen that different aspects of FES operations require different level of centralization and decentralization. Also different regions require different level of authority delegation based upon their internal environment and national cultures. It is relatively easier to introduce standard policies in Europe and Australia as both of these cultures are very similar to that of US. However, standardizing procedures across Middle East and South America is not a feasible option. The regional business units should remain decentralized as there should be some form of flexibility to make the decision making process quicker. The regional heads should be sent directly from the Head Office, however if some regions in Middle East are not being managed effectively by American managers, then leadership services of local managers should be availed after providing them extensive cultural training programs at the Head Office. The regional units should be linked to the Head Office through the fastest technology available so that there is no or little information gap between the center and regional units. Thus in light of the cultural differences prevailing in various regions of the world, the best suited approach should be to take a hybrid approach while showing some restrain in application of a centralized approach and making some variations in the standards for implementation in different regions. The integration of overall business can be achieved by proper use of technology and defining proper hierarchical system for flow of information between Head Office and various regional units.

“the Effectiveness of Teaching Moral Values to Elementary Essay Example for Free

â€Å"the Effectiveness of Teaching Moral Values to Elementary Essay ABSTRACT Nowadays, we need the improvement in intensity and quality of character building implementation in formal educational institution. This claim is based on the growing social phenomenon, namely the increasing juvenile delinquency in society, such as brawl and various other cases of moral decadence. These phenomena are obviously not expected to happen in our society. Therefore, the formal education institutions which are functioned to create the younger generation is expected to increase its role in the formation of personality of students through increased intensity and quality of character education. Since the reformation of our national curriculum, we have been developing new methods in building the students’ character, which we know better in schools as character education. It has been applied to the national curriculum method which turns around developing â€Å"good character† in students by practicing and teaching moral values and life skill. Moral values and life skill can be taught in a fun way using the media such as music, specifically songs which has a good moral values and life skill. This paper reports the effectiveness of using character development songs in teaching moral values and life skill in SDN Adiarsa III Karawang. The samples taken will be only the 6th grade students. Data are collected through interview and classroom activity. The study reveals that the effectiveness of using character development songs in teaching moral values is unexpectedly successful, though there are some difficulties in organizing the 6th grade class which are great in number. This study is expected to give contribution to those who are planning to conduct a research on character building in English Language Teaching (ELT). Research Question 1)How can songs as a media in CTL of ELT be implemented in teaching moral values? 2)The students’ response to the use of character building songs in CTL of ELT to teach moral values to the 6th Grade students in SDN Adiarsa III Karawang. Background Nowadays, the need of improvement in intensity and quality character ducation implementation in formal educational institutions is increasing. This idea is based on the growing social phenomenon, namely the increasing juvenile delinquency in society, such as a mass brawl and various other cases of moral decadences. These phenomena are obviously not expected to happen in our society. Therefore, the formal education institutions which are functioned to create the younger generation is expected to increase its role in the formation of personality of students through incre ased intensity and quality of character education. Before we discuss further about the need of character education nowadays, it is better to know the definition of character itself. The Sage’s English Dictionary and Thesaurus defines character as â€Å"the inherent complex of attributes that determines a person’s moral and ethical actions and reactions†. American Dictionary of the English Language defines character to be â€Å"the stable and distinctive qualities built into an individual’s life which determine his or her response regardless of circumstances†. Abraham Lincoln once said that, â€Å"Reputation is the shadow. Character is the tree. † Our character is not just what we try to display for others to see, it is who we are even when no one is watching. Good character is doing the right thing because it is right to do what is right. Nancy A. Wood (2008) defines character as an evaluation of a particular individuals moral qualities. It can also imply a variety of attributes including the existence of lack of virtues such as integrity, courage, fortitude, honesty and loyalty, or of good behaviors or habits. When someone is a moral character, it is primarily referring to the assemblage of qualities that distinguish one individual from another. Character building is the way to strengthen one’s character by molds oneself into a productive person within one’s sphere of influence. Developing such personal qualities seems as a purpose of education. Character building in school, we call this term as character education, is applied to the national curriculum method that turns around developing â€Å"good character† in students by practicing and teaching moral values and decision making. On the other word, character education is an investment system of the character values to the citizens of schools that include components of knowledge, awareness or volition, and actions to implement those values (Bila Nastiti, 2010). As Theodore Roosevelt expresses that to educate a person in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace society. His statement implies that if we want to make students good at not only cognitive aspect but also have a competent in moral aspect, we should educate them in a pleasurable condition. Songs are one of a pleasurable media to teach moral values in English subject. English teachers can use songs as part of their classroom teaching repertoire. Larry M. Lynch (2010), states that songs contain authentic language, is easily obtainable, provide vocabulary, grammar and cultural aspects and are fun for the students, especially to Elementary students. The 6th grade elementary students somehow will enter Junior High School later. This is a stage of adolescence for them. According to Ghifari (2004), adolescence is a group of people who are leaving childhood full of childhood dependency and towards the establishment of responsibility. Therefore, teaching moral values through education is important to be implemented in early education, as well as an early preparation for them to face their adolescence later. This research titled â€Å"The Students’ Response to the Use of English Character Building Songs in CTL of ELT to Teach Moral Values to the 6th Grade Students in SDN Adiarsa III Karawang†, is carried out to see how the students response to the implementation of using character building songs in teaching moral values to them. In order to accomplish this purpose, the writer conducts a teaching simulation of Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) using songs as a media in English Language Teaching (ELT) and wrote their responses through interview to conclude how the students response. The writer also purposes to see how songs as one of a pleasurable media, can be implemented to teach moral values to the young learners, specifically to the 6th grade elementary students.

The infallibility of the Bible The Contradictions

The infallibility of the Bible The Contradictions Student: Joan Williams Introduction: For many centuries, the infallibility of the Bible has been a topic on the agenda of both Christian and Atheist alike. Christians, as a basis of their claim, continue to quote 2 Timothy 3:16 which reads, All scriptures is god-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.[1] The fundamental argument for the Atheist is that there is no God, no evidence or proof of God. They claim that God cannot be proven by science which is the main way we study and understand the universe or natural world. In an article written by Jeffery M Jones outlining results of a Gallup poll done in Princeton New Jersey in the year 2011, part of their findings was outlined as followed,: Three in 10 Americans interpret the Bible literally, saying it is the actual words of God. That is similar to what Gallup has measured over the last two decades, but down from the 1970s and 1980s. A 49% plurality of Americans say the Bible is the inspired word of God but that it should not be taken literally, consistently the most common view in Gallups nearly 40- year history of this question. Another 17% consider the Bible an ancient book of stories recorded by man.[2] The Meridian Webster Dictionary gives the following definitions of Infallible: 1: Incapable of error: unerring

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The impact of non-native species and invasive threats are one of the most serious threats that native amphibians are facing today. Many invasive species are able to adapt to their new environments quickly. They can often out-compete natives for food resources or they simply prey on the native species. Amphibian declines have become an increasing issue. While amphibian diversity is severely threatened by habitat destruction, the threat from non-native predation and competition is rapidly contributing to amphibian population declines (Ficetola et. al, 2007; Young et. al, 2001). Amphibians are threatening amphibians, and the threat from invasive species is a global issue. In Mexico and Central America this threat is just as real if not more so due to the tropical rich biodiversity. Many of the southern Central American countries boast some of the richest ecosystems in biodiversity in the world (Reid, 1993; Young et. al, 2001). American bullfrog (Rana catesbeinana) The American bullfrog (Rana catesbeinana), a member of the family Ranidae, or â€Å"true frogs† is threatening several habitats and native species in Central America. Native to North America, the American bullfrogs are found in freshwater habitats from Nova Scotia, Canada, throughout the eastern United States into Northern east Mexico. (see figure 1-1) Among the largest frogs in North America, they are easily distinguishable by their size. The bullfrog is a large amphibian that challenges native amphibians for food and habitat resources, but the bullfrog has a voracious appetite and will consume any prey that it fit into their mouths. They can grow to a length of eight inches and weight up to two pounds in their native habitats. In artificial market nurseries they... ...at attracts a collector. Unfortunately like many exotic pets, the owners soon lose interest and instead of doing the responsible things, by finding a suitable owner, they release them thinking that it’s an acceptable practice. Management and inspection of the plant nurseries and the pet trade is still poorly governed. While some countries are implementing policies and regulations on inspections and trades it is will continue to be a problem. Solutions must come from the international community. It must also include educating traders, collectors, inspectors as well as other stakeholders and the public. The small size of theses frogs coupled with the high procreation rate has made control of established colonies difficult to manage. Several countries that have been infested by this tree frog are doing live captures and then humanely euthanatizing individuals.

Justice in Henry David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience Essay -- essays re

Justice Henry David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience By definition justice means the quality of being just or fair. The issue then stands, is justice fair for everyone? Justice is the administration of law, the act of determining rights and assigning rewards or punishments, "justice deferred is justice denied.† The terms of Justice is brought up in Henry David Thoreau’s writing, â€Å"Civil Disobedience.† Justice has different standards for every group that it is presented upon. Thoreau’s opinions and criticism is strongly stated. Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was described as many things. Thoreau was an author and naturalist with very Republican views. Morals inspired him. He ties in morality with justice many times in his piece. He was as well a pacifist, who was more talk than action. He was an abolitionist who sought justice for minorities. They didn’t have the ability to defend themselves. In Thoreau’s view, he felt that the government was insufficient. He didn’t need the laws to be just, he used his conscious and morality. He was compelled to do what morally was right, rather than it being based on government issued laws such as the complacent society there is today. People seem to care about justice, yet are immoral. This was the message Thoreau was trying to get across. Through all these wildly changing times, are we the people also changing? Is the generation gap a myth or can it be sustained? In evaluation of Henry David Thoreau’s â€Å"Civil Disobedience† essay, the answer to this is a resounding no. Thoreau opposed the war with Mexico in 1847 just like Jane Fonda opposed the Vietnam War more than 100 years later. Thoreau’s anti-war sentiment has been repeated in nearly every generation since the founding of this countr... ...for him to do). Instead Thoreau believes that as unjust and imperfect as democracy is at that particular time, he looks to better times, a time when legislators have more wisdom and integrity and hold humanity in a higher regard. He recognizes that fairness exists in the hearts and minds of individuals, some whom he knows personally and he holds to a hope that men like these can and will transform what is in their conscience into a â€Å"state at last which can afford to be just to all men and to treat the individual with respect†¦Ã¢â‚¬  In Thoreau’s view, he felt that the government was insufficient. At times such as these, government may not always be the best way to turn, yet it provides guidelines. This theme in his essay is just another opinion. Justice cannot be fully defined in one sentence by every person. It depends on the background and the experiences one has had.

John Locke :: Empiricists, Empiricism

John Locke was the son of a country attorney and was born on August 29, 1632 . He grew up in and during the civil war, and later in 1652, entered the Christ Church, Oxford, where he remained as a student and teacher for many years. Locke taught and lectured in subjects such as Greek, rhetoric, and Moral philosophy. Lockedisagreed with many of the topics that were taught at the university. Locke, after reading books by Descartes, acquired a strong interest in contemporary philosophical and scientific questions and theories.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1666, Locke accidentally met with Lord Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st of Shaftesbury, and from then on, this lifelong relationship and association helped to change the course of Locke’s career. Cooper made Locke his personal secretary and confidential advisor, and also let him hold a number of governmental posts while his patron was in office. In 1675, Locke became very ill and was forced to leave his employment and reside for four years in France, where he began his writing. After four years, Locke then returned again to England into Shaftesbury where he once again joined Cooper’s service. Four years later, Cooper was forced to flee to Holland, where Locke, shortly after, followed him. They remained there until the Glorious Revolution of 1688.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On his return to England, Locke issued many or works, the chief of these being the Two Treaties of Government, and the Essay Concerning Human Understanding. These writings were immediately successful and they both exerted a vast influence. Between the both of these works, they made the dominant view of English thought through the greater part of the eighteenth century. Also on his return, the new king, William III, appointed Locke to the Board of Trade in 1696, a position from which he resigned because of ill health in 1700.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Locke spent peaceful old age in the country household at Oates, of his friends Sir Francis and Lady Masham. He spent the last couple of years revising the Essay, replying to his critics, and writing a number of other works on economic,philosophical, and religious topics. Locke died in Oates on October 28, 1704.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Locke’s Two Treatises of Government (1690) was a well-known and respected document. In the paper, he attacked the theory of diving right of kings and the nature of the state as conceived by the English philosopher and political theorist Thomas Hobbes.

Gothic stories Essay

Gothic is a word used in the twelfth century to denote certain types of architecture connected to the settings used by writers. Gothic fiction initiated as a genre in 1765 with Horace Walpole’s novel â€Å"Castle of Otranto.† The majority of Gothic writers would take drugs which inspired them to put pen to paper and write about numerous Gothic features and produce their story. Normally characters are associated with odd or ritualistic behaviour often involving the supernatural. The Gothic Golden Age occurred between 1765 and 1844. Boundaries and limits are both established and challenged by both writers and characters. Tensions between the scientific and the supernatural are often made apparent. Examples of these Gothic features can be found in The Signalman, The Hand and The Dream Woman. Traditionally Gothic stories are set in castles, churches, darkness or other locations with a sense of evil. Gothic stories are mainly set at night to add an extra illusion of fear. Should a Gothic story be read in a dark room extra fear, tension, anxiety and anticipation would be inflicted upon the reader. This is because when a gothic tale is read in the dark there is a sense of someone or something watching you. Readers’ expectations when reading a Gothic tale are to read about elements of the supernatural, skeletal or ghostly images and pathetic fallacy. In â€Å"The Signalman† Dickens writes â€Å"he was a dark sallow man, with a dark beard and rather heavy eyebrows.† This quotation consists of an example of a ghostly, corpse like image. Dickens is Describing a ghostly figure. â€Å"The Signalman† written by Charles Dickens is a perfect example of a gothic setting. The story has many examples of unusual events. Dickens writes â€Å"so steeped in the glow of an angry sunset.† This quotation informs the reader that the sunset has a violent glow which is unusual for a sunset, the skyline is a deep blood red. â€Å"The Signalman† is set at the Signalman’s hut where the cutting through the tunnel by the hut is unusually deep and gives a sense of foreboding to the reader. The tunnel is made through clammy stone, which became oozier and wetter as you walked to the tunnel and made anybody petrified to enter it. â€Å"The Hand† written by Guy De Maupassant uses great examples of death, a main gothic feature. De Maupassant writes â€Å"I bent down close to the corpse and between his clenched teeth I found one of the fingers from that vanished hand.† This quotation informs the reader that a finger from the missing hand has been found, but in what mysterious circumstances. Also in â€Å"The Hand† the hand itself is described with much detail. The writer states â€Å"The fingers were abnormally long and were attached by enormous tendons to which fragments of skin adhered.† In this quotation the writer is describing the hand in such ghoulish detail the reader has an image of a gruesome hand projected onto their minds which they will find hard to forget. A feature of gothic tradition is the use of dark colours to emphasize the evilness of gothic characters and buildings. In the novel â€Å"The Dream Woman† the writer says â€Å"The flame diminished to a blue point and the room grew dark† The effect of this quotation on the reader is that it adds extra fear and suspense due to the darkness. A main aspect of gothic tradition is elements of the supernatural. In â€Å"The Hand† the writer states â€Å"I thought I saw the hand running like a spider.† This is an example of elements of the supernatural because a hand running like a spider is beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature and not something any human would have seen. In conclusion gothic tradition is a fascinating subject because the use of dark descriptive language is effective in giving the reader a terrifying experience. Short stories are effective because the action is condensed and it all happens in a short space of time. There is less background information; all the descriptive paragraphs are there to give atmosphere, the spooky dark events. Short sentences have greater impact than longer ones, particularly when exclamation marks complete them.