TechNova, a mid-sized technology company, is facing increasing competition in the market. The company’s leadership has decided to transform its business model to focus on innovation and superior customer service to gain a competitive edge.

The CEO has tasked the HR department with aligning its practices with the new strategic goals. The HR team must ensure that the workforce is equipped with the necessary skills, behaviors, and attitudes to support the company’s transformation. Additionally, the company plans to enter new markets, which will require a significant shift in its talent acquisition and development strategies.

The HR manager, Mohammed, is now responsible for integrating HR practices into the strategic management process. He must ensure that the company’s human resources are aligned with the new strategic direction, which includes fostering a culture of innovation, improving customer service, and entering new markets. Mohammed must also address potential gaps in the workforce’s skills and capabilities to support the company’s goals.

Questions

1- What role does HR play in the strategy formulation process at TechNova?

2- How can HR ensure alignment between its initiatives and TechNova’s strategic goals?

3- What challenges might TechNova face in transforming its business model, and how can HR address them?

4- How can HR contribute to TechNova’s competitive advantage through talent management?

5- What HR practices should TechNova prioritize to support its new market entry strategy?

6- How can HR measure the success of its initiatives in supporting TechNova’s strategic goals?

Review the case study and create a comprehensive case analysis report in a 4-page Word document.
Case Study Questions:
What do you recommend? (20 points)

What would Bob be willing to pay for a forecast that would accurately determine the outcome of demand in the future? (30 points)
Suppose Bob does not know the chance of the outcomes of the market (being poor, average, good, or excellent),

a) what do you recommend with a decision-making methodology of Maximin? (10 points)

b) what do you recommend with a decision-making methodology of Minimax Regret? (30 points)
c) Compare what you find from (a) and (b), which decision-making method do you believe is more risk-averse? (10 points)

Topic: After reading both Dr. Noble’s Algorithms of Oppression and Roger McNamee’s Zucked, your task is to select one issue/idea raised by the two texts, research it further, and create an argument that is either original or adds original content to an already established argument. Please do not merely restate what has already been argued by Noble and McNamee.

Scholarly Investigation/Adding to the Conversation
To get started, you’ll need to develop an original research question. To tackle this open-ended, “big burning” thinking question, you have to gather sources to help you develop your own analysis and discussion. What you explore is up to you, but it should be something specific, something that calls for further analysis, and connected to some specific layer presented in Algorithms of Oppression and Zucked. Likewise, the essay should be exploratory in nature.

Go beyond what you already know or think. Your research is a look into something new for you and your readers. Since the texts may just scratch the surface of many of these issues (and sparks many questions), your job as a writer and researcher is to go further in-depth on a specific layer.
Conducting Research/Using Sources (Analytically)

The research process is a chance for you to move outside of our class context and the lens of both Noble and McNamee by engaging with a wider range of sources, voices, and perspectives. The sources that you bring into the essay should act as a lens for you to test, develop, complicate, and evolve your initial claim or question you are setting up early on. Use of sources should be analytical so you do more than just bring in the source to provide facts or “proof” for points you already know to be true. Dealing with your sources, in this case, is a way for you to examine multiple perspectives and develop analysis/discussion.
In class, we will be talking about how to gather credible sources for your essay, including a close look at the GCC library databases. You may use any type of medium, as long as you can justify its credibility as evidence in your paper (this includes books, documentaries, newspapers, magazines, scholarly journals, online clips, interviews, etc).

Keep in mind that online resources are often not very credible nor scholarly; use the internet with caution. Wikipedia, for instance, is not a credible source. Just typing your topic into Google and going with the top choices isn’t really research, as we all know the biases relating to Google searches! Consider where you might gather a good mix of sources, with appropriate credibility, to help you engage your research question.

You’ll want to have a mix of sources to work with. For the essay, you will be required to build conversation with at least five secondary sources, plus Algorithms of Oppression and Zucked. In that mix of sources must be at least two sources (articles/essays/books, etc) retrieved from the GCC library databases. Therefore, you will have a total of at least seven sources listed on your Works Cited page. You must have at least one quote or paraphrase from each source, although  suspect you will have more.
Assignment Requirements:

❑ Your essay should follow strict MLA guidelines, with 1’’ side margins, 1” header and footer margins, Times New Roman, 12 point font, and at least 2500 words of essay text. Word Count does not include headings/headers/Works Cited etc.

❑ Your essay should include a strong working thesis to help focus your essay; this is a main complex claim or thinking question you set up early on and develop/refine/complicate as the paper unfolds. Your claims should represent complexity in thinking through your ideas and need to be supported or developed by evidence (details, sources, representative examples).

❑ Bring in at least five secondary sources, plus Algorithms of Oppression and Zucked, into your essay that you are “in conversation with.” You are required to have at least two articles/essays from the GCC databases. Keep in mind that you want your sources to be credible, or you have to make them credible through your own analysis.

❑ As you incorporate your sources, accurately summarize the ideas, theories, terms, or concepts you are using from that source to offer context (making sure your summary is understandable to a reader who is not familiar with the source you’re introducing). Always include both article name and author name upon first introduction of the text.

❑ Add to and help develop the ideas from the sources you bring in to help you introduce your own thinking about the topic you are writing about. Your sources should be a springboard for your own claims, questions, and analysis. In other words, you must “do something” with your sources. Be sure to clarify the meaning of the material you have quoted, paraphrased, or summarized and explain its significance in light of your evolving thesis.

❑ Support your claims with reasoning and evidence – making sure to link the evidence to the claim(s). You’ll want to include a few of the various kinds of evidence available to analytical writers. Head’s Up: If I suspect ChatGPT or any other AI is used, or if you have plagiarized in any way, I won’t read the paper and you will automatically get 0 points. Trust yourself and your writer’s voice. You are here to improve your writing. Give yourself that space!!

❑ As you move toward the conclusion, address the “so what?” question for your thesis.

❑ Clearly and explicitly explain your chain of reasoning – that is the thought-connections you are making throughout your draft between claims, evidence, & sources. The more clearly you explain connections to your readers, the more your readers will be able to follow your thinking.

❑ Cite all sources in MLA format (in text), in addition to a required Works Cited page. Remember that you must have a Works Cited page in addition to in-text citations for the paper to be eligible for passing.

❑ Proofread and edit your paper before turning it in. Make certain the work reflects your writing and ideas, unless otherwise cited in the text, and there is no plagiarism or academic dishonesty involved, including the use of AI generated language or ideas. If the work reflects any academic dishonesty, it will be a non-passing paper.

What can we know about the people who created these artifacts just be examining these images?
Add a written conclusion, sharing your opinion on whether or not, based on your examination of the artifacts, these people were civilized. Why? Be specific.

Using an Evidence Chart

An evidence chart is very useful for making direct connections between evidence in the primary source and your own critical reasoning.

First, look closely at the writing prompt and identify what you are being asked. In this case you are being asked to make some reasoned assumptions about this society. Societies can be explored by political structure, economics, social structure, and more.

Differentiate between functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism. Compare and contrast each theory and discuss some critiques. Explain a concept (e.g., family, religion, deviance, etc.) through each theory.

 

Quenchbliss Case Study: Write a SWOT Analysis
SCENARIO: Quenchbliss is a craft soda company based in El Paso, Texas. Craft sodas are more expensive, gourmet sodas, usually from small companies—the soft drink equivalent of “microbrews.” Quenchbliss’s primary business is their sodas, with smaller revenue streams from merchandise. They have an owners group of thirty shareholders but are not yet publicly traded.

They have a staff of about 80, most of whom work in the warehouse, distribution, and at a store attached to the warehouse. All operations are at the same location, from research and development, to promotions and sales, to bottling and distribution.

Because it began as a small operation and grew quickly, their organizational structure is flat and organic. “Everybody does a little bit of everything,” their founder and CEO says. Indeed, the CEO herself sometimes takes the register at the store or oversees warehouse operations.

Quenchbliss’s claim to fame is unusual flavors, like “Bacon and Eggs,” and seasonal offerings like “Thanksgiving Turkey.” They have to constantly release new flavors since their target market is focused on these new and unique flavors. In fact, one of the company’s biggest sellers is their subscriiption box, which comes out four times a year and contains a four-pack of their newest flavors and seasonal favorites. The unusual and constantly changing flavors are also what bring people into the store. Quenchbliss does produce traditional flavors like cola and lemon-lime, which they distribute through restaurants and grocery stores. These bring in reliable revenue, even if they don’t get the attention on social media of their nontraditional flavors. Several months ago, Quenchbliss went international by opening a distribution center in Juarez, Mexico. This market has little competition for craft soda, so their products have become popular. They’ve done so well, in fact, Quenchbliss is considering expanding into other international markets such as Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and Kingston, Jamaica.

However, since they have spent time, money, and energy on expansion, Quenchbliss has lost a contract with a local restaurant chain and has also seen a decrease in subscriiptions. Because of these setbacks, Quenchbliss has put expansion on hold and gone back to finding exciting new flavors by growing their product development team, a combination of food scientists and creative professionals who brainstorm how to create and market new flavors. This move has caused some internal friction, as many were excited about the continued growth of the brand. Another source of internal friction is that salaries are not keeping pace with the market, so Quenchbliss has a hard time recruiting people for lower-level jobs of production and distribution. These jobs also have high turnover.

ASSIGNMENT: For all of the Touchstones in this class, you will take on the role of an Organizational Behavior Consultant to help Quenchbliss understand and address their challenges. For this assignment, you will perform a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats). In addition to providing initial analysis of the organization, you will make recommendations based on the tutorials you have read so far. For more information on SWOT analyses, see the tutorial on Internal Organizations and External Environments. You should also review the content throughout Unit 1 on internal and external environments, organizational change, and diversity in the workforce. An example SWOT analysis is provided in Section B below.

Download the Template

A. Directions
Step 1. Perform Research:
In order to effectively perform a SWOT analysis, you must do research on the company, the industry, the region, and the economy. You have the Quenchbliss scenario to tell you about the company’s strengths and weaknesses, but should find at least three outside sources of information to understand the threats and opportunities facing Quenchbliss.
Examples of specific places to research would be:
• An inventory of grocery stores in the southwestern United States to see which brands of craft soda they sell. This will tell you about the competition.
• Job sites like Indeed and LinkedIn to understand the job market in El Paso, TX, and Juarez, the border city in Chihuahua, Mexico. This will tell you about the market in this area.
• National and global information on the craft soda industry and trends for these companies.
• National and global information on the economy and the job market in general.
• The economy in downtown El Paso, particularly for “entertainment shopping,” and recreational activities that might bring foot traffic to their store.
Step 2: Develop your SWOT Analysis on Quenchbliss:
After you’ve synthesized the information, record the SWOT analysis in the template provided, answering these key points:
• What Quenchbliss does well internally.
• What weaknesses the company has internally.
• What external opportunities exist as they relate to changing demographics, new markets, or international markets.
• What external challenges they face, such as competition, consumer tastes shifts, or local economic issues.
Hint: Each bullet point should state an observation or fact, provide a source for the fact if it is not in the scenario, and a few words about why you consider it a strength, weakness, opportunity, or fact. See below for examples.
Step 3: Consider the Impact:
Select at least two items identified in your SWOT Analysis that are likely to have an effect on aspects of the internal organization, such as structure, culture, stability, and complexity. Write 2-4 paragraphs that explain why this is important and what effect it will have on the organization. Apply concepts for the course tutorials in Unit 1. See the example below for further clarification. The prompts below may help you in writing this analysis.
• What are the most significant potential impacts on Quenchbliss?
• How can Quenchbliss leverage identified strengths and opportunities to mitigate weaknesses and threats?
• What strategic recommendations would you make to address these impacts, and what are the considerations for implementing these recommendations?
• How can the company plan for and mitigate potential future threats?
Step 4: Develop strategic recommendations:
Include suggestions for Quenchbliss to leverage strengths, address weaknesses, seize opportunities, and mitigate threats. Write 2-4 paragraphs incorporating at least 2 recommendations for Quenchbliss. Each recommendation should include a brief risk analysis to anticipate potential pitfalls and propose measures to address these risks.
• How can strengths be transformed into opportunities to drive growth?
• What changes should Quenchbliss consider to turn weaknesses into strengths or opportunities?
• Identify and evaluate the potential risks associated with your recommendations.
• Propose actionable steps to mitigate identified risks.
Step 5: References:
Finally, add the references to the articles you cited in the paper. You should include at least 5 references, 2 of which can be from the Sophia Learning course tutorials. Be sure to use APA format, usually in the format shown below. Make sure any URLs are correct and do not contain any unnecessary code.

Columbo, F. & Fletcher, J. (2020, March 5). The perils of dishonesty in business. Levinson Institute of Economics.

Step 6: Submit Touchstone:
Once you have completed your analysis and reviewed the checklist below, it is time to submit your document. If you are using Microsoft Word, you simply need to save your document and upload the file to Sophia. If you are using other word processing software, export the document as a Microsoft Word document (.docx) and upload this version to Sophia. In Google Docs this is under File: Download: Microsoft Word. In Apple Keynote it is under File: Export to: Microsoft Word.
Remember to check your work! Refer to the checklist below throughout the writing process. Do not submit your Touchstone Task until it meets these guidelines. ❒ Does your analysis communicate your points? ❒ Did you find at least five sources of information on competition and other environmental factors to provide a viable SWOT? ❒ Have you thought of all potential strengths, making reasonable assumptions? ❒ Have you thought of all potential weaknesses, as compared to competitors, making reasonable assumptions? ❒ Have you thought of all potential opportunities, based on research, making reasonable assumptions? ❒ Have you thought of all potential threats, based on research and by making reasonable assumptions? ❒ Have you thought of at least 2 recommendations to give Quenchbliss based off your SWOT analysis? ❒ Have you identified potential risks and mitigation strategies for the recommendations made? ❒ Have you correctly included your in-text citations and completed your Reference page using APA formatting?

B. Example
This example shows one way to do a SWOT analysis, for the other company we discuss throughout the class, Media4U. Since that company has a different story than Quenchbliss, please use this only as a reference for what a SWOT analysis looks like; do not copy the specific points.

Strengths Weaknesses
• High customer satisfaction and loyalty give Media4U reliable core business.
• Committed, creative, and diverse employees give Media4U a strong portfolio that attracts new clients.
• Ethical approach to advertising builds trust and authenticity giving a competitive edge to clients who share our values.
• Leadership committed to continuous improvement assuring that Media4U will continue to adapt to the changing environment. • Structural changes have created instability, which in turn affects employee morale.
• The Media4U brand is not well known in a highly competitive market, making it harder to attract new clients.
• While there are new hires who lead social media marketing efforts, the organization still lacks broad or deep technological knowledge making it hard to compete in this area.
• Staff feels opportunities for advancement are rare and highly competitive, making them less loyal and committed to Media4U in the long term.
Opportunities Threats
• New media marketing is a growth industry (Business Insights Today, 2024) so Media4U could meet this demand.
• Companies are looking for authenticity and DEI in advertising (Little Black Book) which are strength areas for Media4U.
• Election years always provide additional work for media companies so Media4U could focus sales in this area.
• Growth of business in DC area is good opportunity for new client relationships, so Media4U could focus on building relationships with new businesses. • AI is threat to conventional media creation (Anderson, 2024) changing the media landscape in ways we can’t anticipate.
• Other companies have more tech savvy in areas like digital marketing and data analytics so we must catch up if we want to stay relevant.
• Political clients can lead to blowback from clients (AAF, 2024) so we must be careful about committing to divisive candidates.
• Advertising companies outpacing other businesses for growth in DC area, meaning more competition for new clients and even maintaining current clients.
Impact
Media4U is facing some challenges which threaten the stability of the organization. In particular, they lag on technological capacity. They have made some gains in this area by adding a social media marketing department, but still have limited resources in this area and furthermore have trouble recruiting and training staff who have this knowledge. Further change is needed to stay competitive. Media4U is at a crucial stage in the business life cycle, one where organizational decisions can lead to decline or renewal based on willingness to make deep changes (“Organizational Change”, n.d.)
In addressing this need, the organization should consider a “bottom-up” approach to making organizational changes, since without employee buy-in there is likely to be continued friction and even resentment. One tried-and-true approach that would be effective for Media4U is a “5-D” process. Following this model, leadership would create a cross-organizational committee to define their goals for the future, discover (do initial learning about the environment), dream and design (create a broad vision for their organization, and identify specific ways to achieve it) and ultimately determine the organization’s destiny (“Appreciative Inquiry”, n.d.). Each member of the committee can also meet with their respective departments, so all points of view are represented and the change has organization-wide commitment.

Moreover, it is important to consider all stakeholders in these decisions, especially existing (especially long-term) clients. An open meeting for all stakeholders where a trained facilitator helps them explore ideas for the future would assure that organizational changes are consistent with what other stakeholders (such as clients and the community) want from Media4U and help avoid further instability (“Complex Adaptive Systems”, n.d.). These stakeholders also have ideas and beliefs that need to be part of their vision.
References

American Advertising Federation (2024, March 6). What’s On the Agenda for US Advertising in 2024? Little Black Book.
Anderson, B. (2024, June 4). AI in Digital Marketing: Trends and Best Practices for 2024. ReadWrite.
Business Insights Today (2024, January 24). “Digital Media Market Size” | Showing Impressive Growth by 2031 [LinkedIn]. LinkedIn.

Sophia Learning (n.d.) Complex Adaptive Systems. Organizational Behavior [MOOC]. Sophia.
Sophia Learning (n.d.) Appreciative Inquiry. Organizational Behavior [MOOC]. Sophia.
Sophia Learning (n.d.) Organizational Change. Organizational Behavior [MOOC]. Sophia.

C. Requirements

• All content must be original, created for this assignment, and appropriate for an academic audience.
• Content should be formatted for professional conventions (12-point font, preferably Times New Roman or another standard-looking font, 1-inch margins, and carefully proofread for errors). Professional documents are usually single-spaced with an extra space between paragraphs.
• Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited, including the use of AI-generated content.
• Submission must include your name, the date, and the assignment name.
• Include all of the assignment components in a single .doc or .docx file. If you are using software other than Microsoft Word, such as Google Docs or Apple Pages, you can export in these formats.

D. Additional Resources
The following resources may be helpful to you as you work on your Touchstone Task assignment.

1. Purdue Online Writing Lab’s APA Formatting and Style Guide. This site includes a comprehensive overview of APA style, as well as individual pages with guidelines for specific citation types.
2. Frequently Asked Questions About APA Style. This page on the official APA website addresses common questions related to APA formatting. The “References,” “Punctuation,” and “Grammar and Writing Style” sections will be the most useful to your work in this course.
3. APA Style: Quick Answers—References. This page on the official APA Style website provides numerous examples of reference list formatting for various source types.
4. Appropriate Level of Citation. This page offers guidance on how to effectively avoid over- or under-citation.

E. Rubric
Advanced (100%) Proficient (85%) Acceptable (75%) Needs Improvement (50%) Non-Performance (0%)
Strengths
Identifies organizational strengths that are consistent with the scenario and/or supported by research. (15%) Identifies 4 organizational strengths that are consistent with the scenario and/or supported by research. Identifies 3 organizational strengths that are consistent with the scenario and/or supported by research. Additional items may be listed that are not consistent with the scenario and/or the facts available. Identifies 2 organizational strengths that are consistent with the scenario and/or supported by research. Additional items may be listed that are not consistent with the scenario and/or the facts available. Identifies 1 organizational strength that is consistent with the scenario and/or supported by research. Additional items may be listed that are not consistent with the scenario and/or the facts available. Identifies no organizational strengths, or none are consistent with the scenario or supported by research.
Weaknesses
Identifies organizational weaknesses that are consistent with the scenario and/or supported by research. (15%) Identifies 4 organizational weaknesses that are consistent with the scenario and/or supported by research. Identifies 3 organizational weaknesses that are consistent with the scenario and/or supported by research. Additional items may be listed that are not consistent with the scenario and/or the facts available. Identifies 2 organizational weaknesses that are consistent with the scenario and/or supported by research. Additional items may be listed that are not consistent with the scenario and/or the facts available. Identifies 1 organizational weakness that is consistent with the scenario and/or supported by research. Additional items may be listed that are not consistent with the scenario and/or the facts available. Identifies no organizational weaknesses, or none are consistent with the scenario or supported by research.
Opportunities

Identifies organizational opportunities that are consistent with the scenario and/or supported by research. (15%) Identifies 4 organizational opportunities that are consistent with the scenario and/or supported by research. Identifies 3 organizational opportunities that are consistent with the scenario and/or supported by research. Additional items may be listed that are not consistent with the scenario and/or the facts available. Identifies 2 organizational opportunities that are consistent with the scenario and/or supported by research. Additional items may be listed that are not consistent with the scenario and/or the facts available. Identifies 1 organizational opportunity that is consistent with the scenario and/or supported by research. Additional items may be listed that are not consistent with the scenario and/or the facts available. Identifies no organizational opportunities, or none are consistent with the scenario or supported by research.
Threats
Identifies organizational threats that are consistent with the scenario and/or supported by research. (15%) Identifies 4 organizational threats that are consistent with the scenario and/or supported by research. Identifies 3 organizational threats that are consistent with the scenario and/or supported by research. Additional items may be listed that are not consistent with the scenario and/or the facts available. Identifies 2 organizational threats that are consistent with the scenario and/or supported by research. Additional items may be listed that are not consistent with the scenario and/or the facts available. Identifies 1 organizational threat that is consistent with the scenario and/or supported by research. Additional items may be listed that are not consistent with the scenario and/or the facts available. Identifies no organizational threats, or none are consistent with the scenario or supported by research.
Impact
Consider impact of at least one aspect of the SWOT analysis on the internal organization, and make recommendations based on course tutorials. (15%) Provides at least 2 highly detailed paragraphs considering impact of at least one aspect of the SWOT analysis on the internal organization. Provides at least 2 paragraphs considering impact of at least one aspect of the SWOT analysis on the internal organization. Provides 1 paragraph considering impact of at least one aspect of the SWOT analysis on the internal organization. Provides less than one paragraph considering impact of SWOT analysis on the internal organization; impact may not be in paragraph form and/or is not clearly drawn from SWOT analysis. Does not provide a reasonable consideration of impacts for any aspect of the SWOT analysis.
Recommendations
Make recommendations based on your analyses utilizing tutorials. (15%) At least 2 highly detailed paragraphs with at least 2 recommendations are included with recommendations derived from the SWOT analyses, including risks and mitigation strategies At least 2 paragraphs are included with recommendations derived from the SWOT analyses, including risks and mitigation strategies At least 1 paragraph and 1 recommendation is included with recommendation derived from the SWOT analyses, including risks and mitigation strategies Provides less than one paragraph, and at least 1 recommendation is included with recommendation derived from the SWOT analyses. Risks and mitigation strategies may be missing. Does not provide reasonable recommendations and does not include any risks or mitigation strategies.
Conventions
Meets conventions for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and APA formatting. (10%) At least 5 references have been used in the analyses. Includes virtually no minor errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and APA formatting. At least 4 references have been used in the analyses. Includes fewer than 5 minor errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and APA formatting.

FILMS WE WATCHED: Pick the film you liked the most!
Blackboard Jungle (1955)
To Sir, With Love (1967)
Dead Poet’s Society (1989)
Sources done in class:
(Smith) Whatt Media Classes Really Want To Discuss pdf

(Walker (2010)) Blackboard Jungle: Delinquency, Desegregation, and the Cultural Politics of Brown- https://scholarship.law.slu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1166&context=faculty

(Beyerbach (2005)) THE SOCIAL FOUNDATIONS CLASSROOM: Themes in Sixty Years of Teachers in Film: Fast Times, Dangerous Minds, Stand on Me.

( Bulman (2015) Movies/Society) Hollywood goes to high school cinema , schools, and american culture pdf.

A film analysis is not a review or summary of the plot, it should go deeper into analysis and reaction. It should discuss the issues raised by the film, address the film’s importance and purpose, state reactions to the content and quality of the film, and connect it to ideas and material presented in class.

ASSIGNMENT: Guided by the list of topics below, students will submit Film Viewing Reports on 4 different feature-length films viewed in class, choosing a different topic for each response. These brief papers (750-1000 words) should demonstrate students independent critical thinking skills and ability to apply various interpretive lenses as introduced in course texts. (5 points each / 20 points total)
Film is history, it is a primary source that can be analyzed and interpreted, and the film does not have to be about an historical event. Your task is to select a film from that we have viewed thus far and write an analysis of that film connecting it to ideas and course readings discussed in class. Please note that beyond identifying your topic of writing as listed below, it is REQUIRED that you cite a minimum of 2 different sources from the course readings per Film Viewing Report.
A film analysis is not a review or summary of the plot, it should go deeper into analysis and reaction. It should discuss the issues raised by the film, address the film’s importance and purpose, state reactions to the content and quality of the film, and connect it to ideas and material presented in class.

TOPICS TO FRAME YOUR FILM VIEWING REPORT:
A. Cinematography refers to the art of making motion pictures. Taking a formalist and/or expressive approach, respond to the film by identifying and analyzing significant aesthetic elements and/or artistic choices. For example, where is the camera, and why does that matter? A high-angle shot (when the camera is up high, looking down on a character) is likely to have a very different effect than a low-angle shot, just as the impact of a close-up differs from that of a long shot. If you are interested, . but your paper can also discuss props, costumes, and/or sets in addition to or in lieu of camera techniques. You cannot possibly write about every single aesthetic element, so focus on what stands out to you as a viewer.
B. According to Smith (2011), movies typically feature “at least one central character who is our emissary to the world of the film” (p. 40). Taking a formalist and/or expressive approach, focus on a single character’s role and/or the actor’s performance.

What makes this character so central to the film and/or your response to it?

C. Taking a sociological approach, identify and analyze how concepts like gender, race, class, and sexuality (or intersections thereof) operate within the film. You may choose to focus on one particular scene, compare or contrast several scenes, or write about a character or characters throughout the whole film.

D. Taking a sociological and/or philosophical approach, explain what the film suggests about relationships between or among teachers, students, or administrators and/or the roles these figures play. You may wish to cite Bulman if their frameworks shape your thinking.

E. What does the film suggest about the relationship(s) between school and society? Use a historical and/or philosophical approach to analyze the purpose of education as displayed in the film.

F. Citing a reputable news source, connect the film to a current event or issue related to education. In other words, by taking a mimetic approach, you can explain the film’s relevance by analyzing its representation of enduring, real-world ideas.

G. Take a historical and/or philosophical approach by focusing on the institution of school within the film. What is the curriculum like? What about the teaching style(s)? What do you notice about the classroom(s) and the building? How can you make sense of these sorts of observations with the help of what you know about American schools throughout history?

H. From an archetypal approach, consider this film in terms of the genre of schools on screen, noting whether it is an example of repetition or variation. Support your argument with key details from the film and strong connections to one additional film–whether viewed in this class or on your own. In addition to citing the additional film, you may wish to cite Smith and/or Tarancón.

This is an opportunity to capture your immediate and unique reactions to the films on our syllabus while at the same time flexing your critical thinking skills.

Given the relatively limited length of these papers (750-1000 words, inclusive of cover page and references, if needed), you are not expected to provide a comprehensive treatment of each film. The topics will help you focus your critical gaze and support your analysis with carefully selected evidence rather than summary.
Being able to supply such evidence requires taking notes during each film, which is what participation looks like on those days. Bulman (2015) explains how he worked inductively while studying his set of films: he watched them and took note of what stood out to him as a sociologist. You can follow his lead by going into a particular film without a topic in mind, or you can work deductively by selecting a topic for the week and taking notes accordingly. Feel free to try both of these methods.

CRITICAL QUESTIONS TO GUIDE YOUR REPORT
You should also consider the following responses alongside your topic selection in your film viewing report.

Describe the film in general terms. What subjects does it cover?

Describe the plot and setting. What issues does it raise? What do you see as the main purpose of the film?

What are the major theme(s) of the film?

Evaluate the film for quality and interest. Comment on the screenplay, acting, direction, production values and music. Are any literary techniques such as symbolism, character development and foreshadowing used? Would a young person be interested in this film?
Relate the film to class discussions, readings, notes or knowledge. Is the film historically (or factually) accurate and realistic? Does it contradict or support anything you have learned?
Summarize briefly emphasizing the strengths and weaknesses of the film.

FILM VIEWING REPORT REQUIREMENTS:
All papers must be typed, double spaced with a 12 pt. Font and have correct APA formatting.
All pages must have appropriately sized margins.
All papers have identified a topic area and must contain information detailed in the CRITICAL QUESTIONS section of these guidelines.
All papers should be written about one or more films viewed prior to the submission date of the Film Viewing report.
All papers must be 750-1000 words in length

The nature of research, research questions and objectives are fundamental considerations when developing research projects. In this discussion you should consider:

What is the nature of research?
What are the differences between basic, applied and pseudo research?
How would you generate and refine research ideas?
What would you consider when specifying research questions and objectives?

Write a three-part reflection paper that includes the following elements. Rather than writing a formal introduction and conclusion as you would in a research paper, divide your paper into three sections, indicating which part of the assignment you are addressing. This paper does not require citations, but must adhere to APA paper format. A sample reflection paper Download sample reflection paper is provided for you. Download this document and then proceed with the action items.

Part 1 – Working With Your Team

Write 3-4 paragraphs (about 100-150 words) in which you:

Review Tuckman’s Model of Group Development Download Tuckman’s Model of Group Development.

All participants are important to creating a highly successful team. Discuss your perceptions of your performance and interactions within the team as it moved through Tuckman’s stages.
Reflect on how you fit into your team and completion of the project. Specifically, identify the role(s) that you assumed within the team. Which Task Role (goal-oriented) and Team Building and Maintenance Role (interaction-oriented) did you fulfill within your team? Identify at least one Task Role and one Team Building and Maintenance Role. Provide examples that demonstrate your performance of that role.
Part 2 – Reflection on the Course

Write 3-4 paragraphs (about 100-150 words) in which you:

Identify one relevant piece of information you are taking away with you from Learning Strategies.
Explain why you have identified that material as particularly relevant for you.

Predict how this material will impact your life.

Consider the Franklin Values identified in this course (see the Module 1 Overview). How have these values been reinforced in the assignments you have completed in the course? Predict what relevance these values will have in your future school and work career.
Part 3 – Remediation Plan for Communication Skills

There is no doubt that communication skills are critical in today’s work place. In this section of the assignment, you will create a remediation plan for improving your communication skills.

Think back through the course and the communication skills you have applied (APA assignments, grammar diagnostic, writing, presenting, working with a team, etc.). Identify at least one communication skill that you want to improve.

Formulate a plan to improve this communication skill. Improvement goals should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely (SMART). For example: What aspect of the skill do you want to improve (be specific: if you are having challenges with writing, is it spelling specifically that is difficult for you, or is it the organization of your writing?) What resources do you have to help you to improve?

How will you know that you have improved? Consider setting specific goals for yourself. Perhaps there are ten key words (perhaps they are specific to your major) that you will learn to spell correctly, so that you never spell them incorrectly again.

What goal will you set for yourself? Make it attainable, but don’t be afraid to stretch a little. How is this plan relevant to your present and/or future employment goals?
Set a date by which you will try to meet your goals.

Your “Application of Theoretical Concepts to Research” Paper is due this week. Your paper should contain the following sections:

Background: contains two subsections, which includes a brief descriiption of the theorist and the phenomenon of concern in the theory.
Theory Descriiption: a descriiption of each of the concepts in the theory, a diagram of the theory, and a descriiption of how the concepts are related.
An Evaluation of the Theory: a descriiption of the theory’s weaknesses and how the metaparadigms are described in the theory.
Application of the Theory:

Describe two studies that used the theory as a framework for their study, including a descriiption of how they operationalized the concepts.
How could you use the theory to research a phenomenon in your area of clinical practice? How would you operationalize the concepts?
You MUST use the attached template here to complete your paper.

The paper is to be thoroughly researched and well documented, with relevant material from the nursing theorists presented incorporated into the paper. Use the current edition of the APA Manual throughout the paper. Sources should focus on references from nursing theory but may also include conceptual and theoretical material from other professional domains. The paper, excluding references or appendices, is to be limited to 3-5 pages. Writing should be succinct and well organized, as it is impossible for the facilitator to evaluate form and content separately.