Job Stress As Determinants Of Job Performance

Job Stress As Determinants Of Job Performance Stress is defined as a psychological and physiological response to the perception of a demand or challenge (Bunge, 1989). However, job stress is defined as the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when requirements of the job do not match the workers capabilities, resources, or needs of the workers (NIOSH, 1999). Performance is defined as an action or process of carrying out or accomplishing an action, task or function (The New Oxford American Dictionary, 2005). In relation to job, performance is defined as a criterion of job-related behavior, usually measured in terms of quantity or quality of output or both (Corsini, 2002). Excessive stress in the workplace creates a toll on both employee and corporate health. It leads to increase health care cost, higher rates of absenteeism, turn over, industrial accidents, and lower level of productivity and performance. These effects of stress bring negative impact on the functioning of an organization, which in turn affects the economy. According to the American Institute of Stress, job stress costs the nation over $300 billion annually because of health care, absenteeism, and stress reduction efforts. Workplace stress is currently a topic of great interest. Though many professions have been studied, one profession that has not been extensively studied is the librarians, despite many librarians stating that they experience stress in their workplace. It is also the researchers observation that working in the library is not a stress-free job. In fact, according to a research done by psychologist Saqib Saddiq (n.d.), which was published by the BBC News last January 12, 2006, librarians were the most stressed in their workplace because they found their job repetitive and unchallenging. Due to the competitive nature of jobs, stress in the workplace poses a threat to the health of the workers which in turn affects their performance. According to Kavanagh (2005, p. xii), when an individual comes under stress, his cognitive performance and decision making may be adversely affected. The growing amount of research investigating the stress-performance relationship in the workplace may have been due to the popular belief that a high level of stress can lead to reduced employee performance attributed to some forms of physiological, psychological, and behavioral dysfunction (Robbins, 1986, p. 385). Although working in libraries has been commonly thought of as a stress-free job compared with other professions, a number of studies have appeared in library literature which focused on stress experienced by librarians in their workplace (Bunge, 1989; Wood, 1989; Nawe, 1995; Topper, 2007). Factors such as work overload; work under load; interpersonal relationships; lack of effective positive feedback from supervisors, co-workers, and patrons; absence of clear policy guidelines; inadequacies in supervision and management; inadequate office space; role ambiguity; role conflict, and; lack of resources can cause stress in the library workplace which can eventually affect the job performance of library staff (Bunge, 1989). Research on job stress and job performance of public library staff will help public library administrators to develop possible solutions to eliminate or at least reduce stress in their workplace, which is necessary for better job performance of their staff. It will also help them develop effective strategies for managing stress to maintain high level of productivity. Statement of the Problem Large bodies of literature have tried to determine the influence of job stress to job performance among different professionals (e.g. Jamal, 1985; Mathur et al., 2007; Park, 2007; Kazmi, Amjad and Khan, 2008; Ongori and Agolla, 2008; Cardona, 1991; Manasala, 2002; Muyo, 2002; Monge, 2005; Taniajura, 2007). Since there is no study regarding job stress and job performance of public library staff, this study will attempt to fill the research gap that will serve as a useful guide for future research investigations. This study will investigate the sources of job-related stressors of the library staff, their level of stress, and the relationship of stress to their job performance. Specifically, this study will find answers to the following questions: What are the job-related stressors experienced by the public library staff? Physical Environment Stressors Individual Stressors Group Stressors Organizational Stressors What is the level of stress (low, moderate, high) experienced by the public library staff? What is the relationship of level of stress (low, moderate, high) to the level of job performance (low, moderate, high) of public library staff? What socio-demographics influence the level of stress (low, moderate, high) of public library staff? Age Gender Civil status Educational attainment Length of employment Position in the library Salary What socio-demographics influence the level of job performance (low, moderate, high) of public library staff? Objectives of the Study This study aims to: Identify the job-related stressors experienced by the public library staff. Determine the level of stress (low, moderate, high) experienced by the public library staff. Identify the relationship of level of stress (low, moderate, high) to the level of job performance (low, moderate, high) of public library staff? Determine the socio-demographics of public library staff that affect their level of stress. Determine the socio-demographics of public library staff that affect their job performance. Significance of the Study The researcher found it important to study job stress and job performance of library staff because the public believed that librarians work in a stress-free environment (Wood, 1989). Results of this study will serve as a proof that library workplace is also a potential source of stressors which poses a threat to the well-being of library staff and can eventually cause a low level of performance. To the staff in public libraries, the result of this study will help them to become aware of their stressors and stress levels and to develop approaches/strategies to deal with them. This study will also serve as a useful guide for the library staff in preventing stress in their workplace and to create a healthful environment which may result in high performance and productivity. Their better service and commitment to work will benefit the patrons of the library in gathering the necessary information that they need. To library administrators, findings of this study may be used as a basis for designing a stress management manual for library staff focusing on necessary preventive techniques and coping mechanisms to manage stress and implement them appropriately in the library workplace. Such techniques in coping with stress may enhance the well-being of the library staff which is necessary for better job performance and productivity. As a contribution to the scientific studies, the results of this research may fill the research gap between job stress and job performance of public library staff. This study will also provide additional information on the stressors and stress levels in the library workplace; the stressors that influence job performance, and; the socio-demographics that influence the level of stress and job performance. To future researchers, findings of this study can be used as a guide in studying job stress and job performance of library staff in other types of libraries (academic, school, special). This research could also serve as their source of related literature. Scope and Limitations of the Study This study will investigate the stressors and stress levels in the library workplace and the stressors that influence the job performance of library staff, particularly among the staff in selected public libraries in Metro Manila. It will also try to find out if certain socio-demographic characteristics such as age, gender, civil status, educational attainment, length of employment, position in the library, and salary may influence the level of stress and job performance of public library staff. Only the public library staff who perform library work will be included in this study. Library staff who will participate in this study will come from six (6) public libraries in Metro Manila, namely: (1) Makati City Library; (2) Manila City Library; (3) Marikina City Library; (4) Pasay City Library; (5) Pasig City Discovery Centrum and Learning Resource Center, and; (6) Quezon City Public Library. CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE Stress has been defined in different ways by different people. The business person may define stress as frustration or emotional tension; the air traffic controller may define it as a problem of alertness and concentration, while the biochemist may define stress as a purely chemical event (Ivancevich and Mattenson, 1990). Psychologists and biologists think of stress as any strain that disturbs the functioning of an organism. Medical professionals think of stress as a factor in disease causation. From a laypersons perspective, stress can be defined as feeling tense, anxious or worried (Ivancevich, Konopaske and Mattenson, 2008). However, Selye (1956), a pioneering expert on the study of stress, defined stress as rate of wear and tear within the body at any one time because this is the immediate non specific result of function and damage. Bunge (1989), on the other hand, defined stress as a persons psychological and physiological response to the perception of a demand or challenge. Acc ording to Decenzo and Robbins (1999), stress is a dynamic condition in which an individual is confronted with an opportunity, constraint or demand, related to what he or she desires and for which the outcome is perceived to be both uncertain and important. Ivancevich, Konopaske and Mattenson (2008), defined stress as an adaptive response, moderated by individual differences that is a consequence of any action, situation or event that places special demands on a person. Jamal (1984) defined performance as an activity in which an individual is able to accomplish successfully the task/goal assigned, subject to normal constraint of the reasonable utilisation of available resources. According to the Dictionary of Psychology by Ray Corsini (2002), performance is an activity or behaviour that leads to a result such as a change in the environment. However, according to Ivancevich, Konopaske and Mattenson (2008), performance is the desired results of behaviour. Studying stress is important to make the organizations aware that they have a moral and legal obligation to provide a work environment in which stress is kept to manageable levels (Jex 1998). Being aware on the extent of stress in the library workplace, library administrators could design a necessary preventive technique for their staff to deal with stress. This can help the librarians to cope positively with different stressors in their workplace which may result in better performance and high level of well being. On the other hand, policy makers could formulate guidelines which is not too complex so that employees can follow them effectively without being stress. A. Job Stress Foreign Studies Stress among academic librarians and library directors were the focus of study conducted by Wood (1989). The studies showed the potentially adverse impact of stress on individuals and organizations generally, and librarians and libraries specifically. The results of a study based on Hallbergs Stress Survey was sent to the academic librarians in the Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET) region were presented. Six types of stress criteria (time, task perfection, control over the job, competition, change, and physical symptomology) were used to evaluate such positions as library directors; acquisition librarians; catalog librarians; reference librarians; serial librarians, and; others. The impact of technological, environmental, organizational, and other factors were also included in the study. Findings of the study found no evidence of unhealthy stress levels among the college librarians in the 40 academic libraries surveyed. Local Studies In the Philippine setting, studies on job stress have also been conducted. Caguiat (2001) studied the effects of stress and burnout on librarians in selected academic libraries in Metro Manila. The study was conducted to determine the level of burnout; identify the sources of job-related stress; determine the manifestations of stress; describe the level of burnout which affects job performance in relation to the following characteristics such as civil status, age, educational attainment, position/designation in the library, and length of employment in the library, and; identify the individual coping mechanisms and stress reduction techniques provided by their organizations. A survey questionnaire was the main research instrument in the study. Results of the study revealed that academic librarians experienced very mild emotional exhaustion level. Low budget, overworked, low advancement, and working conditions were the most common organizational stressors on academic librarians. The most common manifestations of stress frequently experienced by librarians und er study were backaches and headaches. With regards to their job performance (for the last six months), the respondents think that their overall function as librarians was excellent. On the other hand, librarians in academic libraries dealt with stress towards the positive way of coping, and the most common stress reduction techniques and remedies given to the librarians by their organizations were skill training programs, breaks during work, orientation programs, improved working conditions, and improved communications. Job stress and burnout among librarians in selected special libraries in Metro Manila was another study conducted by Mohammad (2001). This study looked into the prevailing conditions of job stress and burnout among special librarians. The data were obtained through questionnaire. Majority of the respondents (59.5%) were found to be experiencing stress, while 27 percent were distressed or strained. Three (8.1%) respondents were found to be burned out. B. Job Stressors Various authors provided different ways of categorizing work stressors. Schuler (1982) identified seven categories of work stressors. These are (1) job qualities; (2) relationships; (3) organizational structure; (4) physical qualities; (5) career development; (6) change, and; (7) role in the organization. Quick and Quick (1984) propose four categories of stressors. These are (1) task demands; (2) role demands; (3) physical demands (elements in ones physical setting or environment); and (4) interpersonal demands. Burke (1988) provides six categories of stressors in the work place. These are physical environment, role stressors, organizational structure and job characteristics, relationships with others, career development, and work -family conflicts. Bunge (1989) cited the sources of stress in the library workplace such as: work overload; work under load; interpersonal relationships; lack of effective positive feedback from supervisors, co-workers and patrons; absence of clear policy guidelines; inadequacies in supervision and management; inadequate office space; role ambiguity; role conflict, and; lack of resources. Ivancevich and Mattenson (1990) categorize work stressors as: (1) physical environment stressors; (2) individual stressors; (3) group stressors, and; (4) organizational stressors. Decenzo and Robbins (1999) identified two potential stressors in the workplace. These are (1) organizational factors (task demands, role demands, interpersonal demands, organizational structure and organizational leadership), and; (2) individual factors (family problems, economic problems and personality). C. Job Performance Foreign Studies Dale (1959) classified components of job performance into four categories: Skill (includes education, experience, initiative, and ingenuity); Effort (includes physical demand, mental or visual demands); Responsibility (includes equipment or process, material or product, safety of others, work of others), and; Job conditions (includes working conditions, and unavoidable hazards). Myers (1964) confirmed Herzbergs findings. His study showed that achievement, recognition, the work itself, responsibility, and personal advancement gave deeper lasting satisfaction and performance to the worker than policy, interpersonal relationships, and working conditions. Campbell (1990, 1994) proposed a model whereby performance on all jobs can be broken down into eight dimensions namely: job-specific task proficiency; non-job-specific task proficiency; written and oral communication task proficiency; demonstrating effort; maintaining personal discipline; facilitating peer and team performance; supervision/leadership; and management/ administration. However, Campbell (1990) argues that only three (core task proficiency, demonstrating effort, and maintenance of personal discipline) are major performance components of every job. Local Studies Locally, Balantac (1977) appraised the quality of the performance of women agriculture teachers in Los Baà ±os, Laguna as perceived by the administrators, students, and by themselves. Specifically, the objectives were: (1) to determine the personal characteristics of women agriculture teachers; (2) to ascertain the job performance of women agriculture teachers as perceived by administrators, students, and the women agriculture themselves; (3) to determine the relationship between selected personal factors and job performance of women agriculture teachers, and; (4) to find out the relationship between selected job-related factors and job performance of women agriculture teachers. The data were collected with the use of an interview schedule. The findings showed that those who had rural backgrounds, had advanced masteral units, exposed to training programs, had lighter workloads, and were more satisfied in their jobs tended to exhibit high performance. Niones (2001) studied the factors affecting job performance of the employees of the UP Diliman School of Economics. The factors were age, sex, civil status, salary, address, educational attainment, tardiness, hours-lost, rated by administrative offices, rated by faculty, librarian, and supervisor. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine which of the factors have a positive and negative relationship, and how significant are their effects on the job performance of the staff. Results of the study showed that tardiness, salary, and hours lost have a significant effect on performance. An examination of the relationship between educational qualifications and the job performance of librarians in public and private schools in Los Baà ±os, Laguna was the study conducted by Tasarra (2005). The main objective of this research was to examine the relationship between the educational and professional qualifications and job performance of public and private school librarians in Los Baà ±os. The study used descriptive methods with the questionnaire as the primary research tool. Findings of the study showed that the job performance of librarians with Library Science units are 1.11 times more likely to be competent than those with no Library Science units. However, librarians with either a librarians certification or teachers certification are 1.25 times more likely to be competent than those without licenses. D. Job Stress and Job Performance Foreign Studies Jamal (1985) examined the relationship between job stress and job performance among managers and blue-collar workers. Four types of relationships were proposed between job stress and performance: (1) curvilinear/U-shaped, (2) negative linear, (3) positive linear, and (4) no relationship between stress and performance. A random sample of 283 blue-collar and 227 managerial workers employed in a large Canadian organization were surveyed in questionnaires. Measurement was made of variables relating to job stress, job performance, and organizational commitment. Results showed a primarily negative linear relationship between job stress and measures of job performance. Limited support was seen for curvilinear or no relationship. No support was found for the positive. Mathur et al. (2007) looked at the effects of stress on the performance of the employees working in different manufacturing organizations. The study also tried to find out the underlying factor responsible for stress as well as does stress affect the performance of the employees on the job. Data were collected from 110 higher and middle level employees through two separate questionnaires. First one was pertaining to stress and the second one was pertaining to job performance. The results came out with factors such as organizational culture, role conflict, and responsibility were responsible for stress. Regression analysis was used to check the effect of stress on job performance and it was found out that stress has an effect on job performance and job performance increases with the increase in stress. Park (2007) investigated the levels, sources, and effects of work stress on job performance of different socio-demographic and occupational groups of Canadian workers. A cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis was applied to examine how work stress factors were associated with productivity. On the other hand, multivariate techniques were used to control for employment characteristics and protective factors such as social support and individual coping behaviors. To account for survey design effects, the bootstrap technique was used to estimate coefficients of variation and p-values and to perform significant test. Findings of the study revealed that work stress factors have significant cross-sectional and longitudinal associations with job performance. Kazmi, Amjad and Khan (2008) investigated the effect of job stress on job performance of medical house officers of District Abbottabad. The data gathered were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearmans correlation, and multiple regression. Results of the study showed that there is an inverse relationship between job stress and job performance indicating that there is high job stress in the house officers, resulting in low job performance. Ongori and Agolla (2008) studied occupational stress and its effect on organizational performance of employees working in public sector organizations in Botswana. The data were analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 15.0 and the use of simple descriptive statistics. To facilitate the analysis, the instrument used to analyze data on causes, symptoms, effects, and interventions were measured using Likerts scale. The findings of this study showed that 68% of the respondents agreed that they work below par when they experience stress, while 24% of the respondents disagreed with the statement. Local Studies In the Philippines, studies were undertaken to identify work-related factor that affect stress which in turn affect job performance. Cardona (1991) sought to determine the sources of job stress of school administrators in the Division of North Samar in relation to their job performance. Stress was defined as non specific human relations to environmental stimuli. The hypothetico-deductive type of research was employed using a stress questionnaire and the Performance Appraisal System. Mean, standard deviation, variance and percentage distribution, multiple regression, analysis of variance, and stepwise multiple regression were the statistical treatment used in the study. Findings of the study showed that performance rating was negatively related with environmental stressors while performance rating and position on the other hand, and organizational stressor on the other were positively related. The relationship between job performance and job stressor of school administrator was influenced by such factors as school location, position classification, level of education which the school provides, and civil status of t he respondents. Manansala (2002) determined the level of stress, stressors, and stress management strategies of grade two teachers in District IV-Manila in relation to their job performance for the school year 2000-2001. Stress questionnaires were used to gather data from the respondents and these were processed and analyzed using SPSS for Windows. Weighted mean, standard deviation and Pearson r were the statistical tools employed. Results of the study showed that the level of stress among grade two teachers was significantly related to job stressors and home and family stressors, while the level of stress was not significantly related to job performance. On the other hand, among the stress management strategies used in this study, only turning to religion and seeking social support had significant relationship with job performance. Muyo (2002) studied the factors related to work stress and performance among teachers of Romblon. A questionnaire developed and adapted from existing professional stress literature and various related stress scales was used to gather primary data from the target respondents. The data gathered were processed using SPSS. Appropriate statistical tests like chi-square test (x2), t-test, F- test or analysis of variance (ANOVA), and regression correlation were used to test the hypothesis. Results of the study indicated a positive relationship between the teachers level of stress and their performance which imply that the more stress manifestations of the respondents, the higher the performance level. However, the mean performance of the respondents categorized according to age, sex, and educational attainment did not register significant effects on performance. On the other hand, it was found that income, rank, and length of service were significant influencing variables on job performance . Monge (2005) determined the perceived effects of job-related stress on job performance among the teachers in the College of Arts and Letters (CAL) in Bicol University, Legazpi City. His study tried to find out the effect of job-related stress to college teachers as perceived by them in terms of colleagues, job, and work environment; the level of job performance of the respondents with regards to teaching competence, teaching performance, and personal-social qualities; if there was a significant relationship between job-related stress, job performance, and socio-demographic characteristics of college teachers, and; the proposed measures that can be undertaken to modify job-related stress and enhance job performance. This study made use of the descriptive-survey method as the primary structure of the research design in which a questionnaire was the main tool to gather pertinent data. The statistics needed were computed with SPSS 7.5 version. Mean, Pearson r coefficient of correlation, and t-test were the statistical treatment used in the study. Findings of the study revealed that CAL faculty was not much affected by the job-related stressors and they performed well in their job which means that job-related stress can affect job performance. Taniajura (2007) determined the factors related to the job stress and job performance of Technology and Livelihood Education teachers in the Division City Schools, Pasay City. The descriptive method of research was used with the questionnaire as the data gathering instrument. The data were statistically analyzed employing the following statistical treatment: frequency, percentage, weighted mean, standard deviation, and the Pearson product moment correlation. Findings revealed that the personal factors such as the monthly salary, health condition, family condition and the school-environment factors such as workload and working conditions are teachers job stressors. Therefore, the independent variables (teachers job stressors) are significantly related to job stress and performance of technology and Livelihood Education teachers. According to Cardona (1991), Muyo (2002), Mathur et al. (2007) and Taniajura (2007), job stress has a significant relationship with job performance. On the other hand, Jamal (1985), Manansala (2002), Monge (2005), Kazmi, Amjad and Khan (2008) and Ongori and Agolla (2008), revealed that stress has an inverse relationship to job performance. However, according to Park (2007), work stress factors have significant cross-sectional and longitudinal associations with job performance. Likewise, according to the present researcher, stress has a curvilinear/U-shaped relationship with job performance. That is, when the stress is at high and low levels his performance on a given task is lower. But if the stress is at the moderate level, you will be aroused to perform well while not being overstressed and unhappy. This means that either too much stress or too little stress is detrimental to an individuals performance. Theoretical/ Conceptual Framework of the Study One costly result of a mismatch between expectations and reality is a lower level of job performance. Studies indicate that performance reaches an optimal point when stress is at moderate level. The moderate stress is optimal theory (Mattenson and Ivancevich, 1982) presents what is called the inverted-U-stress/performance curve (see Fig.1). It exemplifies that if there is a very little pressure on individual to perform any task, then performance will be low. However, when there is too much stress, performance will be low also. Either too much stress or too little stress will detract the individual to perform well. High Level of Performance Low Low High Level of Stress Figure1. The Inverted U-stress/performance Source: Mattenson and Ivancevich 1982, p.46 However, at the moderate level of stress, there is an area of best performance which the individual has enough pressure to focus on his task and perform well. The research paradigm (see Fig. 2) shows the relationship of the independent and dependent variables of the study. The job-related stressors and level of stress are independent variables while job performance is the dependent variable. The socio-demographic characteristics are the intervening variables of the study. This study is based on the assumption that job-related stressors influence the level of stress of public library staff and that the job-related stressors may be influenced by the intervening variables which may impede stress. On the other hand, it was presumed that the level of stress and certain intervening variables affect job performance. The variables of the study are the following: A. Independent Variables 1. Job-related stressors This study adapted the job-related stressors cited by Ivancevich and Mattenson (1982, 1990) and Ivancevich, Konopaske and Mattenson (2008). They are described as follows: Physical environment stressors: These include the working condition in the library such as inadequate office space, crowding and lack of privacy in shared offices, inadequate lighting, noise, and extreme temperature in the workplace. Individual stressors: These include role conflict, role ambiguity, work overload, work under load, and time pressures. Group stressors: These include managerial behavior, inadequate group support, interpersonal demands, and lack

Love symbol Essay

1.1. Background of the Study Most people say love is a gift something beautiful from God. Love is a symbol about the feeling each individual. Deal with their couple, deal with their family, their children, and their friend. In the most stories, a man who falls in love with a woman will sacrifice everything he can, also with a woman, when a woman falls in love with a man will sacrifice everything she can. Not only about relationship between woman and man need sacrifice for a love, but also in family’s relationship needed. For example love and care of parents to her or his kids is always all the way. Based on my opinion that love is like a knife with two eyes, the right side can make a happiness, and the left side can make a sadness. The happiness moment of love is when two people allied in marriages. Two people with different personality become a one. The sadness moment is when two people in marriage decide to divorce, it makes very hurt, not only for two people who had, but it hurt to her and his kids. Those problems might come from external factors, such as the couple’s disagreement over some things, personal jealously, anxiety, distrust, etc. Sometimes, a person even has to sacrifice his or her own happiness for his or her lovers. This shows that love can be such a powerful of wonderful love, and can make painful, most people called it love. Based on the statement above love can also be found in one of Nicholas Sparks novel, the title is The Last Song. The Story tells about starts with Ronnie. She is a rebellious child who has taken the company of wrong kind of friends. It is because she has never been able to come out of her parent’s divorce and have bitter feelings about it. Her life has never been the same. After her parents divorced and her father moved to North Carolina, Ronnie distanced herself from her father and gave up music. Music was the thing that she had grown up learning from her father but now it was another source of stirring up bad memories. Three years later, on her father’s request, Ronnie and her brother, Jonah is sent to North Carolina to spend the summer with their father. Resentful and rebellious, Ronnie rejects her father’s attempts to reach out to her and threatens to return to New York before the summer’s end. It is during this summer that Ronnie meets Will and Blaze and Marcus. After a disgusting episode with Marcus and Blaze, things starts changing in  her life for the good. She finds herself falling for Will, opening herself up to the greatest happiness – and pain – that she has ever known. Her strained relationship with her father starts healing slowly and gradually the bond is restored. All the characters seem real and are well defined. As Ronnie’s life changes, the readers can feel the way she matures from a rebellious teenager to a young woman of substance. Jona, He is intelligent, adorable and a witty child and the way he cares for his father and sister is simp ly moving. Steve, too as a father does his best to spend meaningful time with his children. His unconditional love for his children, patience with Ronnie and his belief in her and finally his love for music is remarkable. Forgiveness is the key to happiness. Life is too short to hold grudges against others. So, forgive and forget and move forward in life. Based on the website of Nicholas Sparks this story is told about love and family. As we know that the Nicholas Sparks’s works always tell about romantic and love. Nicholas Sparks was born on December 31, 1965, in Omaha, Nebraska. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1998. He lives in North Carolina with his wife who accompanies him for 13 years. Nicholas Sparks graduated in 1984 as a valedictorian from Bella Vista High school. The first work of Nicholas Sparks is The Notebook, the novel was published in October 1996 and made the New York Times best seller list. With the success of his first novel he wrote several international bestsellers, one of is The Last Song, it was published on 2010. The Last Song is interesting to analyze particularly from intrinsic factors and the elements of conflict on the main character’s life. T he conflict starts from when Ronnie’s parents decide to divorce. Firstly Ronnie love playing music, after her parents divorce Ronnie dislike to play music, and he hate her father so much. One day, in summer Ronnie and her brother visit to her father’s house. She ignored her father. But soon Ronnie meets Will, the last person she thought she’d never be attracted to, and finds herself falling for him, opening her self up to the greatest happiness and pain that she has ever known. New Criticism theory is appropriate to use in this study to analyze Love and Song influence in Ronnie’s life. 1.2. Statement of the Problems Based on the background of the study above, there are several research questions have to discussed in this thesis, which are: a. How are Love and Song influence of Ronnie’s life in this novel ? b. How are Love and Song created conflict on the plot of the story in this novel? 1.3. Objective of the Study Based on the statements of the problem above, the writer’s purpose are analysis to clear out about: a. The effect of song and love in Ronnie’s life can changes her opinion b. love and song through conflicts elements in this novel 1.4. Significance of the Study In the English Department, Faculty of Humanities, Airlangga University, Surabaya, especially who are studying in literature class got some theory to write on thesis writing. Some theory are pschoanalytic criticism, marxist criticism, feminist criticism, new criticism, structuralist criticism, and etc. In this thesis writing the writer use and focused in New Criticism theory application. New Criticism theory application is about analysis of words, figures of speech and dictions. Intrinsic elements such as characterization, plot, and setting. In this thesis the writer analysis about the conflict of the plot in this story. How love and song influence the main character’s life. The Last Song give us about the effect on the power of love and song can changes the personality of the main character. As we know that the Nicholas Spark’s works, mostly genre about romantic (love). 1.5. Scope and Limitation The novel is analyzed from the text it self, which include the analysis on conflict of plot and elements particularly of the main character it self. This analysis does not discuss about other elements, or anything out from this novel. 1.6. Theoretical Background This thesis has a aim to analyze the love and song can give effect to Ronnie in The Last Song. The writer analyzes the conflict of the plot and the elements character in this novel, the writer uses New Criticism theory to get the more understanding about the problem of the analysis. It is a method of analyzing a text, in this case, a novel, based on the text itself without  adaption any other outside theories. All of elements found in a text are from the main idea represented by the text. New Criticism Theory itself talks about a theory which concerns on text only, without seeing who is the writer’s background of the text, as Tyson (2006) said that â€Å"some of its most important concepts concerning the nature and importance of textual evidence -the use of concrete, specific examples from the text itself to validate our interpretations- have been incorporated into the way most literary critics today, regardless of their theoretical persuasion, support their readings of lit erature.† Secondly, close reading is used to interpret or analyse the text, it means that New Criticism Theory has a new critic to analyse the text itself by using â€Å"close reading† as a point. Thirdly, New Criticism Theory as an imaginative literature in analysing a literary text which called an aesthetic experience is about something that can lead us as a reader to be the truth, as Bressler (2007) said that â€Å"Aesthetic Experience talks about (i.e., the effects produced on an individual when contemplating a work of art) that can lead the truth.† Fourthly, New Criticism Theory is about the author’s intention to make its interpret, as Tyson said that â€Å"New Criticism Theory knows on author’s intention which called ‘intentional fallacy’ to refer to the mistaken belief that the author’s intention is the same as the text’s meaning. Besides intentional fallacy, there is also affective fallacy means that it focuses on the text with its effects.† Fifthly, New Criticism Theory has formal elements or figurative language in analysing a literary text after â€Å"closely read,† there are images, symbol, metaphors, rhyme, meter, point of view, setting, characterization, and plot. Besides formal elements, literary language also one of formal elements, as Tyson (2006) said that â€Å"Literary Language, in contrast, depends on connotation: on the implication, association, suggestion, and evocation of meanings and of shades of meaning, in addition, literary language is expressive: it communicates tone, attitude, and feeling.† Sixthly, New Criticism Theory is also as â€Å"a play on words† which means that the words that exist on literary texts have multiple meanings. As Tyson said that â€Å"new criticism, the complexity of a text is created by the multiple and often conflicting meanings woven th rough it, and these meanings are primarily of four kinds of linguistic devices: (1) Paradox is thus responsible for much of the complexity of human experience and of the literature that portrays  it. (2) Irony means that a statement or event undermined by the context in which it occurs. (3) Ambiguity occurs when a word or event generates two or more different meanings. (4) Tension is created by the integration of the abstract and the concrete, of general ideas embodied in specific images.† 1.7. Method of the Study Write this thesis, firstly the writer reads the novel title The Last Song on a long times. The first time when read this novel, the writer get a general imagination of the all cintent of the novel. After the writer read the novel until finished, the writer get a technique to analyze the novel. She chosen base theory, that is New Criticism. The writer focuses analyze about the conflict in every plot’s the main character. The writer analyze about the influence love and song give effeect in the main character’s life. The writer also searching on the google to get more information about the novel and the New Criticism theory. She also consult with her lecture, and visit on the library books to get more information and collect the theory of New Crticism to doing her thesis analyze The Last Song. 1.8. Definition of Key Term Love: love is like a knife with two eyes, the right side can make a happiness,and the left side can make a sadness Effect: the impact of some happening in our life Song: Music can represented how people falls, which is her or his sad or happy CHAPTER II LITERARY REVIEW The theory that will be used in analyzing the text is New Criticism. As stated by Tyson, New Criticism’s purpose in an analysis is to reveal the true meaning of the text itself. Since this theory is based on the text itself, New Criticism’s main focus is toward the formal elements of the text which forms the organic unity of the text (Tyson 136). 2.1 New Criticism New criticism is one of literary approaches which is commonly used to interpret the meaning of a literary work. New criticism begin in the 1940s  through 1960s, in that era, this method of analysis became popular in the most high school and college literature classes. This approach concerns with close reading, a technique that focus on the elements of a literary work. In a literary work, the elements can be tone, point of view, and any other poetic device that will help the reader understand the overall meaning of a literary work. Formal elements determine what a text contains, since text or literary works uses language in order to express its meaning. In literary work, the language that the author uses in explaining the story of a poem or play is different from the language that people found in their everyday life. In everyday life, we often found scientific language which means that the language is easy to understand and to the point of what it means. On the other hand, literary work use figurative language since a one word can have more than one meaning. As an important part of formal elements, figurative language carries images, symbols, metaphor and similes. This is where figurative language becomes an important part of formal elements because it carries images, symbols, metaphor, and similes in its language (Tyson 141). 2.2 Setting Setting is a physical details of the place, the time, and the social context that influence the actions of the characters in a literary work. Often setting also evokes a mood or atmosphere, foreshadowing event to come. Setting is the time and place of a story. Vivid settings give a story reality; they give readers a sense of being there. Playwrights build themes into their plays through the development and interrelationship of all elements of drama, most of which are the same as for fiction. Three methods of developing theme, however, are particularly noteworthy: repetitions, symbols, and contrasts. All three lend themselves well to drama (Griffith 71): Repetitions can take many forms- a character’s performing the same gesture over and over again, repeating the same phrase stating the same idea, or appearing at regular intervals. Symbolism can enrich setting; but, in fact, symbolism bears on both characterization and theme as well. Then contrast is a device for developing not just theme but characterization and plot as well, and contrast usually bears on all three. 2.3 Plot Plot gives an order to the events that the character in the text faces and focuses on conflicts. Events require the interaction between a character’s oneself or an interaction with another character. The conflicts itself are what the characters must face in a story and need to be resolved. There are elements that make the plot become interesting: introduction (where the character and the story are introduced), rising action, conflict (the struggle that grows out of the of the interplay of two opposing forces in a plot), climax (the highest point of interest in the story or the point which readers learn how the conflict is resolved), falling action, and denouement (the ending of the story). There are many types of plot, such as dramatic plot, episodic plot, parallel plot, and cumulative plot. 2.4 Character Character is a person in a narrative works such as novel, play or drama, and film. Characters in a drama can be different from each other, it means that each character has its own characterization. Characterization is a process of how a character is depicted in a literary work, the aspect of characterization need to be taken in account to illustrate the characters of a story, for example how characters behave or how they act in a certain situation they are in. There are some types of the characters in a drama, such as protagonist (the best actor who got the principal part), euteragonist (the second best actor), antagonist (the character who rivals with other character, mostly involve in a conflict), and the last one is stereotype or stock character (a character who reappears in various forms in many plays). CHAPTER III ANALYSIS Love and song through conflicts Fristly the writer explain about love. Love is a symbol about the feeling each individual. Deal with their couple, deal with their family, their children, and their friend. In the most stories, a man who falls in love with a woman will sacrifice everything he can, also with a woman, when a woman falls in love with a man will sacrifice everything she can. Not only about relationship between woman and man need sacrifice for a love, in family’s relationship needed too. For example love and care of parents to her or his kids is always all the way. Based on my opinion that love is  like a knife with two eyes, the right side can make a happiness, and the left side can make a sadness. The happiness moment of love is when two people allied in marriages. Two people with different personality become a one. The sadness moment is when two people in marriage decide to divorce, it makes very hurt, not only for two people who had, but it hurt to her and his kids. Those problems might come from external factors, such as the couple’s disagreement over some things, personal jealously, anxiety, distrust, etc. Sometimes, a person even has to sacrifice his or her own happiness for his or her lovers. This shows that love can be such a powerful of wonderful love, and can make painful, most people called it love. Song is one of expression about somebody who want to show that her or his feeling. In this novel Ronnie’s father like playing piano to show his feeling about his condition. Before divorce, he always played music with Ronnie, but after divorce he play music without Ronnie, because Ronnie now hate play music. Even Ronnie didn’t play piano, in deepest her feeling, she want to play piano. Ronnie Miller, portrays a rebellious teenager who lives in New York City and is forced to move in with her father for the summer in Tybee Island, Georgia. She hates him after her parents’ divorce and hasn’t talked to him for th ree years. Her father taught her how to play the piano and she loved it. Ever since the divorce, she refuses to play. Ronnie was accepted to Juliard School for the fall, but she refuses to attend. Before she arrived to Georgia, she was miserable, hostile, and defensive towards everyone around her. Ronnie has a serious attitude and she was not being nice to her father. The conflict is when Ronnie’s parents divorce, she hate her father. She always ignore her father. The statement that she hate her father. â€Å" I don’t ant to see and talk to him.† Ronnie said. (the last song 11) The conversation is when her mother talk to Ronnie, that Ronnie and her brother will spend the summer holiday in her father house. The main conflict why Ronnie hate her father is when her grandfather passed away is changes her father. Ronnie’s father quit his position at Juilliard, and year after that he’d decided to try his luck as a concert pianist. Then three years ago her father and her mother decided to divorce, and his father moved back to his home town. Before her parrents divorce, Ro nnie like playing piano, but after her parents divorce she stop playing piano. â€Å"Ronnie hated the piano and swore she’d never play again a decision even some of her  oldest friends thought was strange, since it had been a major part of her life for as long as she’d known them.† (the last song 12) Love changes Ronnie’s Character The first day at her father’s house, Ronnie met Will Blakelee. She crashed into him at his volleyball game and he accidentally spilled her milkshake all over her. Ronnie ignores him even though he was handsome, rich, and popular. The writer assumed that of this text is to think that no matter what happens, you will always end up with your true love in the end. Despite the arguments and different values one may share, it is the thought of first love that will bring you together and help that irresistible bond last forever. The text encourages us all to believe that in every hard time in our lives, we will be rescued by a gorgeous, strong, wealthy man who has nothing less in his heart but the idea to sweep you off your feet at every moment. It is giving every young woman the idea that they don’t have to go out and work hard to find the perfect man because at some point he is going to bump right into you at the beach and you will be in love from then on. The values and cha racteristics, besides the ones on the outside, don’t matter to Ronnie and Will. They are infatuated with each other after spending one summer together. The oppositional reading refuses to explain the unrealistic hopes and expectations it sends out to the viewers. The two young lovers jump right into love within seconds of meeting each other. The first meeting was completely unrealistic because it was just an event based on being in the right place at the right time. They have major class differences and many issues that they didn’t deal with together. The idea that Will was able to change Ronnie from a rebel to a saint in two days could not have been done so easily. In this novel, Ronnie’s father tells Will â€Å"I would be able to help you if I understood the mind of a woman†. It is hard to believe that an 18 year-old boy would be able to understand a woman, but an older, wiser, divorced adult does not. We can not mindlessly accept the idea that your perfect partner is cosmically predestined, so nothing/nobody can ultimately separate you be cause there are many events that can separate a couple. When Ronnie stay at her father’s house, firstly Ronnie ignore her father, but after Ronnie meet someone who makes Ronnie fall in love, step by step she changes her mind preseption to her father. Would Ronnie have been interested in Will if he was shorter, poorer, weaker, and younger than her? Wills rescue of Ronnie was based on his strength and his ability to love her. What would Will have offered to Ronnie if he didn’t have the characteristics of being rich, older, stronger, and taller? Also, do you really think it is realistic for Will to be able to change Ronnie’s rebellious ways instantly? She went from being a rebellious, angry teen who was caught for shoplifting back at home in New York City and â€Å"hated† her father, to a beautiful, respectful young woman who loved her father and only does good things. This is something that can’t be changed within days of meeting a good-looking man.

Racism And The American School System - 967 Words

Racism, the discriminatory belief that members of a certain race are superior or inferior to another, creates problems that are more intricate than they are skin-deep. Racial stratification emerges not only throughout individual interaction based on personal bias, but rather emerges within cultures and institutions themselves. Some would be naà ¯ve to think that racism merely hurts the feelings of the oppressed. The full extent of racism is wide-reaching, and it impacts matters much more complex than a person’s emotional state. Take, for instance, the issue of â€Å"silencing† in the American school system. This problem was studied extensively by Angelina Castagno, who observed the impact of legitimating whiteness in the Zion school district of Utah. Silencing is defined by Jim Cummins as â€Å"the formal and informal ways schools control who can speak, what can and cannot be spoken, and whose discourse must be controlled† (Castagno 2008:318). There is a strong desire among many educators to avoid conversations that bring up such charged topics that may result in the triggering of social anxieties. Castagno observed how the students that attempted to bring up such topics as unequal distribution of power and resources or feelings of inferiority were typically the minorities in the classroom, and they usually got shut down. 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The Roman Empire - 3251 Words

Ancient imperialism reached its high point under the Roman Empire, the eastern part of which lasted until late into the middle Ages as the Byzantine Empire. In Western Europe no true empire arose to replace Rome; the Holy Roman Empire was more than a confederation of princely states so imperialism did not exist that long in this particular empire. However, imperialism remained an important historical force in places like North Africa, the Middle East, the Arabs and years later the Turks who all constructed large empires. In the east if unstable, empires of the nomadic Mongols and others arising out of Central Asia, were long-lasting and complex imperial organizations exemplified by a number of Chinese dynasties. Overpopulation, economic†¦show more content†¦Imperialism was then reborn in the West with the emergence of the modernized city-states and the time of exploration and discovery of new things. The word Imperialism came about to restricted because of the modernized types of the building of empires. Not only were Colonies established in more or less sparsely inhabited places where there were little to no highly integrated native states, for example North America, but also in lands where ancient civilizations and states existed. We understand that imperialism is not greatly, or even close to being about mechanism of control.II The developments of studies, of theories, of concepts concerning social matters, and the use of indigenous languages alongside with the writings of the traditional historian have demonstrated that both sides to an uneven equation, despite being uneven, must be studied. The movement of European settlers to inhabit Africa and the Western Hemisphere, which more commonly became known as colonization. This was marked by the same attitude of assumed superiority on the part of the newcomers toward the native populations that prevailed where the Europeans merely took over control without large-scale settlements.III The first African people were captured, taken to Portugal and enslaved. In 1514, the Atlantic slave trade began. Very forcefully, they drove out over 12 million African natives and transported