I have 3 discussion posts that I need assistance with. Discussion post 1-First, read the following poems: Introduction to Poetry by Billy Collins (767), This Be the Verse by Phillip Larkin (849), Ballad of the Landlord by Langston Hughes (779), and Daystar by Rita Dove (796).
Choose one of the poems and answer the following questions in your initial post:
What is your initial reaction to the poem?
How would you describe the tone of the poem, and how is the tone established for you through word choices and structure (diction and syntax), rhythm or rhyme, the sounds of the words, figurative language or symbols? Give three specific details from the poem to demonstrate your point.
What, ultimately, do you take away from the poem either in terms of its content or in terms of how it achieves its content
Discussion post 2-After reading the play Trifles, answer the following questions in your initial discussion post:
How and why does Mrs. Peters change in the play?
Would you say that her view of right and wrong changes throughout the course of the play?
Give two details from the play (think about the plot, stage directions, setting, dialogue) to support your position.
Finally, reflect on the meaning of the title in relation to the overall theme of the play. ts artistry or craft)?
Discussion post 3-
For your final discussion board, go back and review the textbooks assertions about why we read literature (including connections to personal and intellectual development).
Think about all of the texts weve read, and which two provided you with the most impact and helped you see why we read literature.
For your initial post, name the two texts and connect them to one of the reasons why we read literature.
Within your answer, make sure to explain what impact the text (and your analysis of the text) had on you.
For your final discussion board, go back and review the textbooks assertions about why we read literature (including connections to personal and intellectual development).
Think about all of the texts weve read, and which two provided you with the most impact and helped you see why we read literature.
For your initial post, name the two texts and connect them to one of the reasons why we read literature.
Within your answer, make sure to explain what impact the text (and your analysis of the text) had on you.
Select an artifact that interests you and conduct a conversation about it with another person. Then, incorporate that dialogue to write about how artists collaborate and influence each other’s work.
You cant live through a day without making an impact on the world. And whats most important is to think about the impact of your actions on the world around you.
Jane Goodall, primatologist and anthropologist
Think for a moment and try to remember the last time that a piece of arta book, a movie, a song, a painting, or any other workmade you cry. Perhaps they were tears of joy. Or maybe you were sad because a certain lyric reminded you of a painful moment from your past, or because you could relate to a characters struggles. In any case, the art made an impact on your life, just as it was designed to do. Understanding the positive and negative impacts we can have on others through art and other artifacts is a critical part of working together successfully.
In this assessment, you will continue to strengthen your self- and social-awareness skills and relationship-building skills as you explore how the humanities can be used to impact others, why its important to reflect on that impact, and how understanding your impact can help you collaborate with your co-workers and peers.
What you see depends not only on what you look at but also on where you look from.
James Deacon, artist
Through this course, you have studied what it means to be human. And youve explored the unique ways people all over the world express themselves and their different perspectives through art, culture, music, religion, literature, and more. Along the way, youve also learned how important it is to broaden your own perspective, so you can think and act appropriately in different cultural environments and better collaborate and solve problems with peers, colleagues, and coworkers whose experiences and perspectives are different from your own.
In this assessment, youll look back at all youve learned so far and discover how these same concepts and skills will allow you to continue to broaden your perspective, collaborate with others, and solve problems as you encounter new cultures and ideas outside of the classroom.
Many of humanitys finest achievementssuch as the International Space Station, the Allied victories in the Second World War, and the founding of the United Nationswere made possible by people of different cultures coming together to pursue a shared goal. In fact, history shows us that when diverse groups collaborate, they are likely to achieve more than groups that are less diverse (Page, 2008). With this in mind, you’ll continue to strengthen your relationship-building skills by exploring how nations and cultures have collaborated throughout history. And youll consider how collaboration can help you to achieve success in your own workplace and community.
References
Page, S. E. (2008). The difference: How the power of diversity creates better groups, firms, schools, and societies. Princeton University Press.
Quotefancy. (n.d.). Jane Goodall.
Quote Me on That. (2016). Where you look from.
This assessment allows you to practice your problem-solving skills and self- and social-awareness skills as you reflect on the nature of the creative process of the artist or creator. You will also practice discussing the work of art or cultural artifact with another person to showcase what you have learned throughout the course.
Select a work of art or cultural artifact that you would like to use as the subject of your writing. You are free to choose one of interest to you, as long as it hasn’t been used in the other assessments. The artifact can range from things like literary works, films, musical pieces, or artwork. After you have your artifact selected, find a person with whom you can have a 1015 minute dialog about your artifact. This person might be a family member, friend, coworker, et cetera. You may hold your conversation in person, over the phone, or virtually; the choice is yours.
Your conversation should be informal and relaxedwe want you to have fun with it. And here are some ideas on how to guide your conversation:
Show or play the artifact to the other person and allow them to examine it.
Share your reasons for why you chose this artifact and why it resonates with you.
Provide a few interesting details about the artist.
Invite the person to share their thoughts about the artifact and reactions to anything you shared.
In this assessment, you will write an academic piece that addresses the prompts listed below.
Step 1: Reflect on how culture and artistic expressions influence human thought and behavior.
Provide insights on how this artifact might influence peoples thinking and behavior in the future.
Step 2: Explain how the artifact or work of art reflects both collaborative and individual efforts.
Describe the path, journey, or process the artist used to create the artifact and discuss the collaboration or influences that happened between the artist and others.
Describe the ways the artist put his or her interpretation and creativity to shape and craft the final artifact.
Explain how the artist’s cultural and personal experiences can be detected in the cultural artifact.
Provide specific examples to support your response.
Step 3: Relate how the creative process uses problem-solving, relationship-building, and self- and social-awareness skills.
Describe the creative process the artist used and provide examples of how the artist used problem-solving, relationship-building, and self- and social-awareness skills to help him or her to complete the artifact.
Provide an example of how you can use the artist’s process and methods to support your endeavors. If you have had a similar experience, you may use your experience to illustrate the connection between these concepts and skills.
Provide specific examples to support your descriptions.
Step 4: Explain how the interpretive process can be a collaborative process.
Identify how people in a group sharing ideas, thoughts, experiences, et cetera, could influence one another in the course of connecting with or interpreting the artifact. Provide a specific example of when you experienced this.
If so, how did it change? Provide specific details.
If not, why do you think this is?
Describe your conversation with another person about your artifact.
What did you enjoy or not enjoy about the conversation?
Did the other person point out something you didn’t notice? What was it?
Did you connect with the other person and find some shared experience through your conversation about the artist or artifact?
Did this also uncover something new you learned about yourself or the other person?
Did you connect with the other person by finding some shared experience through your discussion about the artist or artifact?
Did this also uncover something new you learned about yourself or the other person?
Provide specific examples to support your response.
Additional Requirements
Your submission should meet the following requirements:
Written communication: Written communication should be free of errors that detract from the overall message.
Formatting: Format your submission, with a title page, double-spacing, and a reference page.
Citations: Properly cite sources according to APA rules. Review for more information on how to cite your sources.
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:
Competency 1: Analyze personal cultural bias.
Reflect on how culture and artistic expressions influence human thought and behavior.
Competency 2: Examine how diversity influences decision-making and collaboration.
Explain how the artifact or work of art reflects both collaborative and individual efforts.
Explain how the interpretive process can be a collaborative process.
Competency 4: Analyze the role of culture and artistic expression in human thought and behavior.
Relate how the creative process uses problem-solving, relationship-building and self- and social-awareness skills.
Competency 5: Address the assessment purpose in a well-organized text, incorporating appropriate evidence and tone in grammatically sound sentences.
Write in a well-organized and concise manner that adheres to the rules of grammar, usage, and mechanics
Use the resources linked below to help complete this assessment.
When We’re Open to Diverse PerspectivesAt the beginning of the Second World War, U.S. troops faced an urgent problem. Japanese code breakers were deciphering Americas secret communications, and the U.S. armed forces were losing supplies and men. But then, an ex-marine named Philip Johnston had a brilliant idea. He proposed recruiting Native American men to collaborate with military specialists and use their complex Navajo language to develop unbreakable secret codes. These Navajo code talkers gave the United States a critical advantage that saved many soldiers lives (Levenson, 2017).This cross-cultural success story is a shining example of what we can achieve when we are open to the diverse perspectives, skills, and talents of others. If the Navajo speakers and military leaders hadnt collaborated, many important battlesand perhaps even the entire war in the Pacificcould have been lost.Throughout your life, youll have many opportunities to work with people who are different from you. You can use your relationship-building skills to create strategies that will help you engage productively with people from all walks of life. Such cross-cultural collaborations often lead to better solutions and more successful workplaces and communities.
Creating Productive Discussions
Youve already learned about what makes a truly collaborative discussionamong other things, its a conversation in which all participants are sincerely engaged and respectful of one anothers ideas. But how do you foster a collaborative and productive discussion? Here are some strategies to consider.
Ask and listen: Collaboration isnt just about telling everyone your ideas. Its about listening to your group and asking questions to make sure you understand what theyre saying. Make sure you let people know you hear themrestating what they said can let them know youre listening and also give them a chance to correct you if youve misinterpreted their words.
Look for common ground: Even team members who share common goals will disagree sometimes about how to move forward. When that happens, try to find something you can agree on. This will help you strengthen your relationship and increase the chances that youll be able to agree.
Share the credit: Remember, in a collaborative effort, credit doesnt just go to the leader, or to the person who has the brilliant idea that solves the problem or makes the sale. Everyone who was a part of the discussion helped to build the groups efforts up to that point; everyone in the group has a stake in the positive outcome.
Keep it positive: Group collaboration doesnt always go smoothly. Sometimes, your progress might stall, or group members might start speaking over one another. More serious signs might be a group member disengaging from the process or showing defensiveness about their ideas. Conflict may even break out, indicated by raised or emotional voices.
If your group experiences conflict, a quick break from the discussion might help people refresh their energy or calm themselves down. Then, implementing collaboration strategies like looking for common ground can be a great way to remember that youre all on the same team. And dont forget about your self- and social-awareness skillsit will help you understand your thoughts and feelings about the situation, and youll be able to apply that understanding to improve your collaborative relationships.
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Chapter 9: Cross-Cultural Collaboration.
This chapter introduces you to collaboration with a purpose, such as radical collaboration, collaboration for a cause, and physical spaces. Before you read the chapter, view or listen to the following artifacts. Chapter 9 will refer to these artifacts.
ONE. (2014, April 3). . YouTube.
ONE. (2020, July 18). . YouTube.
Yoo, A. (2013). . My Modern Met.
Reference
Levenson, E. (2017). The incredible story of the Navajo code talkers that got lost in all the politics. CNN.
Youve probably heard the expression Art imitates life.The idea originally comes from Aristotle, who believed that artists take inspiration from their real-life experiences when creating their works of art. For example, an author who struggled with his weight when he was a child might write a novel about a young, overweight hero (Oatley, 2011).Of course, sometimes the opposite happens, and life imitates art. In cases like these, a person is so impacted by a particular perspective in a movie, a song, or another artifact that they decide to take action in real life. These actions can be positive (like standing up for a cause) or negative (like acts of violence or discrimination).As our world becomes more connected, its important to recognize that were faced with new perspectives all the time, not just in the humanities but also at home, work, and school. Understanding how outside perspectives can impact us (both positively and negatively) can help us reflect on our emotions, which allows us to better respond and react to our world.You will continue to develop your relationship-building skills by exploring how different people are impacted and motivated by others. This ties directly into your self-and social-awareness skills because part of effective collaboration is taking the time to reflect on how you react to people with different perspectives.This is especially true for leaders who want to have a positive influence on others. Being a leader could mean that youre a supervisor who manages several employees. Or it could mean that youre a parent who wants their children to do their best. In either case, how your words and actions impact other people. As you reflect on your impact:
Remember that what motivates one person might discourage another. Understand the different perspectives of the people you hope to influence and target your actions accordingly.
Note that its important to focus on ways you can positively affect others. If you have to give someone negative feedback, try to frame it constructively.
Recognize that impact can come from small gestures. Even a simple smile can turn somebodys day from bad to good or good to great.
Get feedback periodically from people about how youre impacting them. Then, spend time reflecting on the feedback you receive, and make any necessary changes to ensure the impact you have is positive or meaningful.
By using your self- and social-awareness skills and relationship-building skills together to reflect on how youre impacting others, youll be better equipped to build stronger relationships, broaden your perspective, and leave the best impression on people at home, school, and work.So far, you have worked hard to understand how your unique perspective influences how you see the world. And youve also considered how bringing together people with different perspectives can lead to the creation of incredible artifacts, ideas, products, teams, and more. Thats why studying humanities is so important: it helps us discover what we all have in common and learn to acknowledge our differences.As youve studied different cultures and perspectives throughout this course, youve also strengthened three essential skills that will help you continue to succeed in the professional world. Youve learned:
Problem-solving: As you examined the art, literature, and music of other cultures, you saw how diverse perspectives and critical thinking strategies help to frame problems, explain other peoples viewpoints, and create ethical solutions.
Relationship building: Through learning about cultures across different time periods, you discovered that even the earliest humans understood the importance of working with others. You also learned new approaches to collaboration and put them into practice by working closely with your classmates.
Self-awareness and social awareness: Recognizing your thoughts, emotions, and intentions is a uniquely human trait, which is why it is critical to the study of humanities. Because you learned to be more open to new perspectives, youll be better able to understand the people youll meet in your personal and professional life.
In the future, these skills will help you analyze and reduce your own cultural bias, find common ground with others, and appreciate the importance of artistic expression in any form. This could mean working with people from other countries at your job, or it might simply help you prevent a political conversation at a family gathering from turning into a fight.Learning about what makes us human and broadening our perspective are all parts of a lifelong journey. The steps you have taken now and will continue to take in the futurewill help you work with anyone you meet, no matter where theyre from or how different your perspectives may be.
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Chapter 10: Making an Impact.
This chapter digs deeper into how self-reflection is a key ingredient to relationship building and making connections with others. You’ll read about how artists have used their voices to build memorials and national monuments as ways to show their self-reflection. Before you read the chapter, view or listen to the following artifacts. Chapter 10 will refer to these artifacts.
National Park Service. (n.d.). .
. (n.d.).
Andries, D. (2013). . Hermeneia, (13), 5364.
Botella, M., Zenasni, F., & Lubart, T. (2018). . Frontiers in Psychology, 11(9).
Stokes, P. D. (2005). . Springer.
Chapter 1, “The Creativity Problem.”
Reference
Oatley, K. (2011). Does art imitate life? Psychology Today. art-imitate-life
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Reflect on your self and social awareness in this exercise so you can start bringing this awareness to work in your professional and personal lives. As you meet new people at school and work, youre sure to encounter perspectives that are different from your own. Your ability to appreciate these perspectives depends on the strength of your self-awareness and social awareness. In this medium, youll measure your progress and consider all youve learned so far.
Select two artifacts from different cultures that depict a hero and analyze the similarities and differences between the heroic qualities expressed or represented in these artifacts.
Other people’s ideas are often better than your own. Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.
Amy Poehler, actress, comedian, and writer
Much of Amy Poehlers work, including her time on Saturday Night Live and Parks and Recreation, involved her closely collaborating with a team. Just like Amy, working with others who have different perspectives and talents can not only help you successfully meet your goals, it can also inspire you (and others) to work in new ways.
In this assessment, you will continue to strengthen your relationship-building skills as you explore how artists work together to change peoples perspectives and how you can use those same strategies to inspire change in your personal and professional life. Exploring these strategies will also help you hone your self- and social-awareness skills. Thats because, to work with teams effectively, you need to consider how others are feeling and how you can encourage them to do their best work. When your team members are doing their best, youll find that you do your best, too.
Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.
Michael Jordan, former professional basketball player
Its easier if I just do it myself. That thought has probably crossed your mind at some point in your life or career. It might happen when youre working alone on a challenging task, you feel like explaining your process or asking for help will only make more work for you. In some situations, it may truly be easier to go at it alone. But more often, there is a tremendous benefit to working with others, especially when those people have different perspectives from yours.
During this assessment, you will also strengthen your relationship-building skills by exploring how artists collaborate with others to grow their abilities and how you can also work constructively with other people to achieve great things in your personal and professional life. As you collaborate with friends, peers, and colleagues, you will continue to strengthen your self- and social-awareness skills by learning to grow from feedback.
References
BrainyQuote. (n.d.). Michael Jordan quotes.
Goodreads. (n.d.). Amy Poehler quotes.
As you navigate environments in your personal and professional life, you will engage with people and artifacts from different cultures. In these interactions, you will naturally compare the similarities and differences of other cultures to your own and to other cultures you have been exposed to. For this assessment, you will complete a comparative analysis of heroic qualities displayed in artifacts from two different cultures. This analysis will help you interpret, compare, and communicate information and be more effective in your interactions at work, home, and school.
Select two artifacts, from two different cultures, that represent or express cultural views about heroes and heroic qualities. You can select your own cultural artifacts or choose artifacts featured in the text. You will also support your analysis with relevant course readings and resources. Key things to look for as you examine your chosen artifacts are:
Qualities of the hero story: Identify two similarities and two differences between the hero stories from these cultures.
Cultural values and beliefs: Explain what your findings suggest to you about each culture’s values and beliefs regarding what makes a hero.
After you have chosen your topic and the relevant artifacts, write 23 pages that incorporate the following items:
Describe your chosen artifacts and the cultures in which these artifacts were created.
Identify and describe the artifacts you selected for your comparative cultural analysis.
Describe the cultures and historical context in which the artifacts were created.
Analyze how your chosen artifacts portray or express cultural views about heroes.
Discuss two similarities and two differences between the hero stories from the two cultures.
Explain what your findings suggest to you about the cultural values and beliefs of each culture regarding what makes a hero.
Summarize two main takeaways about the cultures reflected and insights you gained.
Describe what you learned about the cultures reflected.
Explain how the insights you gained from these two cultures can be used to widen your perspective.
Explain how understanding the cultural similarities and differences that exist between your own culture and your chosen cultures can benefit you in your personal, academic, and professional life.
Describe at least two similarities and/or differences between your own cultural values and ideals and that of one of the cultures you chose for this assessment.
Explain how these insights can be used to support your professional, academic, and personal endeavors.
Write in a well-organized and concise manner that adheres to the rules of grammar, usage, mechanics, citations, and formatting.
Your submission should meet the following requirements:
Length: 23 pages of text, in addition to a title page and reference page.
Written communication: Written communication should be free of errors that detract from the overall message.
Formatting: Format your submission with a title page, double-spacing, and a reference page.
Citations: Cite at least two sources to support your analysis. Properly cite sources according to APA rules. Review for more information on how to cite your sources.
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
Competency 1: Analyze personal cultural bias.
Summarize two main takeaways about the cultures reflected and insights gained.
Explain how understanding the cultural similarities and differences that exist between one’s own culture and that of the artifact chosen in the assessment can benefit one’s personal, academic, and professional life.
Competency 3: Analyze cultural differences and similarities of people globally.
Describe chosen artifacts and the cultures in which these artifacts were created.
Competency 4: Analyze the role of culture and artistic expression in human thought and behavior.
Analyze how artifacts portray or express cultural views about heroes.
Competency 5: Address assignment purpose in a well-organized text incorporating appropriate evidence and tone in grammatically sound sentences
Write in a well-organized and concise manner that adheres to the rules of grammar, usage, mechanics, citations, and formatting.
Use the resources linked below to help complete this assessment.
Think about how it feels to be pulled into a great story. It could be a mystery novel, filled with clever twists and turns that keep you guessing, or a historical podcast that makes the past come alive. Even a funny anecdote from a friend can have you hanging on the edge of your seat.Stories are all around us. They can help us think about our world, teach us important lessons, and allow us to understand other peoples cultures. As we compare ourselves to a storys characters, we also begin to think critically about our own beliefs. As we follow plots, we learn lessons about how people make decisions. And as we think through the problems shared in stories, we expand our knowledge in ways that let us move past bias and accept different perspectives.Youll study the themes and values that are consistent in stories across cultures. Understanding what different cultural stories have in common will help you acknowledge your biases, consider outside perspectives, and use the knowledge you gain to approach and solve problems in a new way.This might mean that you stop to consider whether a rumor you hear about your neighbor is changing the way you interact with them each morning or why the documentary you watched about social injustice made you so uncomfortable about actions youve taken in the past. In this way, understanding stories will help you strengthen your empathy and problem-solving skills in this course and beyond.Virtually all storieswhether theyre fable, myth, thriller, romance, or even just gossiphave three universal elements: characters, setting, and plot. Stories also always have a purpose, such as to inform, explain, persuade, or entertain (some stories aim to do several of those things at once.) We also tend to tell stories that have a common structure. In the beginning, we meet our main characters and figure out what their problems are. In the middle, the characters try to solve their problems, usually unsuccessfully. In the end, they either figure out solutions to their problems or they have to accept the consequences of their failure.Through this journey, the audience learns the storys theme. A theme is a universal idea, lesson, or message that is conveyed through the characters choices and experiences. And many of the same themes show up in stories around the world, told by people with very different backgrounds and cultures. These common themes show us that there are meaningful ideas and beliefs about life that are shared by people everywhere. Some of these universal themes include:
Love overcomes hate. For example, in Romeo and Juliet, teens from feuding families end up falling in love.
Power corrupts. In The Hunger Games, a totalitarian government mistreats and murders its citizens.
Humans are inherently evil. Lord of the Flies shows that people can easily turn selfish and brutal when left to their own devices.
Doing what it takes to survive. In Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, a family fights to stay strong in the face of racism, illness, and poverty.
Another common element in stories across cultures is the hero’s journey. Many of the movies we watch and books we read have a hero, who begins the story by minding his or her own business, when something huge happenslike aliens invading, zombies attacking, or a really important person going missing. At first, the hero isnt sure if theyll do anything about it. But of course, they eventually spring into action. They go through a series of difficult ordeals as they try to save the world, battle undead monsters, rescue the senators daughter, or whatever it is theyre hoping to accomplish. They end up succeeding, usually thanks to the help of some trusty friends. They then come home and discover that life is very different.Sound familiar? That structure has been used in ancient Greek texts (like The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer) and modern movies (like Star Wars, The Matrix, and Black Panther, to name just a few).As you study common story elements, youll see that very often, people from different cultures have the same emotions, problems, and struggles. While we all have unique life experiences, stories show the connections that all humans have in common, while also showing where they differ in their values. Analyzing stories helps us consider different cultural perspectives, move past individual biases, and understand our shared humanity so we can solve problems big and small.
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Chapter 6: Hero Stories.
In this chapter, you learn about how stories are used to resolve conflicts, pass down history, and how connect and interpret the meaning of stories. Before you read the chapter, read or listen to the following artifacts. Chapter 6 will refer to these artifacts.
BibleGateway. (n.d.). .
Sony Pictures Animation. (2019, December 5). . YouTube.
CBC. (n.d.). .
In 2015, Lin-Manuel Miranda and a team of producers, directors, choreographers, and others brought a new musical, Hamilton, to Broadway. Their collaboration had a profound impact not just on theatergoers, but on the entire country.The show, which features a diverse cast and an innovative hip-hop soundtrack, changed the way many think about musical theatre, the hot-button issue of immigration, and the historical figure Alexander Hamilton himself. But it took tremendous collaboration between Miranda and his team to bring together the modern musical lyrics, historical accuracy, and social commentary that made Hamilton a smash Broadway hit (Churchwell, 2016; McCarthy, 2020).Thats why collaboration is so important. It brings together ideas from multiple parties that can inspire change. Whether youre writing song lyrics for the next hit musical or teaming up with others at home, work, or school, collaboration can help you set the stage for your personal and professional success.You will continue to strengthen your relationship-building skills as you explore how artists learn from their peers and the world around them. Successful artists know that to grow, they have to seek inspiration from a large network of their contemporaries, both inside and outside their normal circles. They also understand that by collaborating with others, they can create art that has the power to change peoples perspectives and inspire new generations. For example, the hip-hop songs in Hamilton changed peoples perspectives on what a Broadway musical is supposed to sound like (VanDerWerff, 2016).For these collaborations to be truly effective, everyone involved needs to be mindful of their actions and of how everyone else in the group feels. Thats why it is essential to also have highly developed self- and social awareness skills.In Chapter 8 of Exploring Cultures, youll discover how artists use both of these skills together to effect change and influence the way people think. Youll also learn effective collaboration strategies to improve the way you work with teams right now.The next time youre in a team meeting, try practicing these strategies:
Acknowledge unique points of view. For example, you might say something like, Thats something we hadnt considered, Chay.
Ask people who havent shared their thoughts for their input: Deanna, Im curious to hear your perspective.
Repeat what others said. Then add to those details so you can move the conversation forward: As Mimi pointed out, our numbers last quarter were up 18%. How can we improve upon that this quarter?
Find common ground, even when you dont see eye-to-eye with someone: Rosa and I may disagree about exactly what to do next, but we both agree that we need to focus on marketing.
Give credit to people who come up with great ideas: Gideons concept is exactly what were looking for!
By using these strategies, you will build strong connections with the people around you, which in turn will lead to truly inspiring work.
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Chapter 8: The Art of Teamwork.
This chapter continues to delve into collaboration and the creative choices artists make in their endeavor to express themselves and what they care about. Before you read the chapter, view or listen to the following artifacts. Chapter 8 will refer to these artifacts.
Davis, M. (2013, May 14). . YouTube.
Rollins, T., & K.O.S. (2011). . Lehmann Maupin, New York, NY, United States.
Rollins, T., & K.O.S. (2008). . Lehmann Maupin, New York, NY, United States.
Artnet. (2013, December 4). | . YouTube.
Sometimes, the best way to learn about how a work of art was created is by hearing the artists own story. Although Tim Rollins died in 2017, were fortunate to have a video that not only offers context for this work but also features him describing the creative process that went into making it.
The Obama White House. (2017, January 3). . YouTube.
References
Churchwell, S. (2016). Why Hamilton is making musical history. The Guardian. McCarthy, E. (2020). 26 things you might not have known about Hamilton. Mental Floss. VanDerWerff, E. (2016). Hamilton isnt perfect. But its *perfect.* I couldnt write for a month after I saw it. Vox.
Jay-Z, Eminem, T-Pain, Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, and many other artists are famous for their musical collaborations that bring together different talents and styles and create unique and popular hits.Take, for example, the 2013 single “Get Lucky”a collaboration of electronica, disco, and R&B by artists Daft Punk, Nile Rodgers, and Pharrell Williams. By joining forces, these talented musicians not only created a unique track but also reached new heights in their careers. Their hit went on to win the Record of the Year Grammy and become one of the best-selling songs of all time (MacKenzie, 2017).Of course, you dont have to be a musical icon to see the benefits of working with others. Collaborating with family members, friends, fellow students, and co-workers can bring together many different skills and talents, help you broaden your perspective, and lead to better results for everyone.You will hone your relationship-building skills by exploring the benefits of collaboration. The study of humanities is, in many ways, a study of the power of people working together, as numerous works of art, music, architecture, and literature are the direct result of great minds coming together to create something they couldnt have accomplished on their own.In Chapter 7 of Exploring Cultures, youll discover how others have collaborated throughout history and explore techniques that you can use right now to collaborate with friends and colleagues.As you learn to work with others, you may find yourself receiving feedback from the group on how you perform certain tasks. For example, you might be told that youre a strong communicator and great at clearly explaining directions. Or you may be asked to manage your time more efficiently so you can attend group meetings.Working closely with others canand shouldlead to these types of valuable feedback on what youre doing well and where you can improve. Understanding the importance of seeking, receiving, and learning from feedback is an essential element of growing your self- and social-awareness skills.Remember, feedback is not the same as criticism. The point of feedback is to help you grow and improve, which is crucial in your personal and professional development. Still, its easy to get constructive feedback and feel defensive. You may think it means, What youre doing isnt good enough, when in fact, it means, Youre doing great. Heres how you could be doing even better!When getting feedback, remember to:
Keep an open mind about what youre hearing, even if you dont immediately agree.
Listen. Its important to focus on whats being said so you get a full picture of the feedback, which will be more helpful than just a few details.
Dont argue, but do ask for specifics.
Show your commitment to addressing others suggestions.
Reflect on what you heard. Give it real thought, and consider talking to other people to see if they have similar feedback for you.
Being enthusiastic about working with othersand learning from their opinions on how you can improveis vital to your personal and professional growth.
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Chapter 7: Better Together.
This chapter focuses on how we collaborate and how artists have used collaboration to produce artwork, music, theater, and other types of artifacts. Before you read the chapter, read or listen to the following artifacts. Chapter 7 will refer to these artifacts.
Y Sato. (2017, May 16). . YouTube.
Vanderhoof, E. (2019). . Vanity Fair.
Griffin, W., Hassam, C., & Poore, H. R. (1907). . Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme, CT, United States.
Smith, B., & Smith, R. (2019). . Ingleby, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Mingo, L. (1959). The Met Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, United States.
Pettway, L. T. (1955). . The Met Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, United States.
Reference
MacKenzie, A. (2017). Daft Punk’s ‘Get lucky’ in every classical music style is both educational and impressive. Classic FM.
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Not many people get excited at the thought of getting feedback at work. But learning how to receive and grow from it is crucial for professional success. That means developing a good mindset for accepting feedback and using it to grow. It also sometimes means eating a hearty portion of humble pie. In this media, former Disney executive Dan Cockerell shares how feedback provided him and his colleagues with opportunities for career growth.
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Is it possible for musicians from wildly different artistic backgrounds to find common ground? Thats what Grammy Award winners Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi set out to do on their album There Is No Other. In this media, youll step inside the studio to see how these artists harnessed the power of collaboration to sync up and harmonize.
Interpret a work of art and describe the features of the art that give it meaning and expressive power. Consider how your own cultural biases and perspectives shape your reaction to and interpretation of this artwork.
Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open.
Dalai Lama, spiritual leader
Have you ever had a problem, such as a leaky faucet, an issue with a family member, or a school assignment, that you just couldnt solve? You might have tried and tried to come up with an answer, growing more frustrated as time went on. Perhaps, you then asked someone else for help, and they immediately came up with the perfect solution. Baffled, you may have thought to yourself, How did they do that? The answer is often that the other person simply looked at the problem differently. And many times, a different point of view is exactly what you need to find a solution.
In this assessment, you will further develop your problem-solving skills by exploring how different people and cultures approach making decisions and resolving conflicts. By looking at a single problem from multiple perspectives, you will find more creative solutions to complex issues at home, school, and work. You will also continue to improve your self- and social-awareness skills as you explore how your perspective may be biased and how that bias affects the way you process information.
Most of my important lessons about life have come from recognizing how others from a different culture view things.
Edgar H. Schein, organizational psychologist
If youve ever wondered why people from different cultures think and do things differently than you, heres your chance to satisfy your curiosity about customs, traditions, religious beliefs, and more. While you work through this assessment, youll strengthen your problem-solving and self- and social-awareness skills by exploring cultural similarities and differences, which will allow you to understand where other people are coming from. Exploring and thinking critically about how friends, peers, colleagues, and even strangers from different backgrounds view the world can make you more empathetic and understanding. And applying this empathy and understanding will ultimately help you build the successful, collaborative relationships that are critical to your personal and professional success. Youll continue to cultivate your problem-solving skills as you compare and contrast cultures around the world and develop critical thinking strategies to understand the perspectives and behaviors of others. Youll also strengthen your self- and social-awareness skills by exploring how your personal and cultural experiences influence your opinions and choices.
The universe is made of stories, not atoms.
Muriel Rukeyser, poet
Storytelling transcends all cultures, time periods, and geographic regions. Thats why the ancient Greeks built huge amphitheaters and why you find yourself saying Just one more episode! as you devour the new season of your favorite TV show. So its not surprising that understanding the stories we tell is a critical part of the study of humanities.
In all of this, you will further develop your problem-solving skills by exploring stories from different cultures. By learning about common storytelling themes and values (and their differences and similarities), you will discover more ways to think critically about perspectives.
References
BrainyQuote. (n.d.). Dalai Lama quotes.
Goodreads. (n.d.). Edgar H. Schein quotes.
Wikiquote. (n.d.). Muriel Rukeyser.
This assessment will look more closely at the means of expression.
There is a tradition of artistic interpretation that stresses expression as the main goal of artworks. Whether its a painting, a film, a novel, a play, music, or a piece of sculpture, artwork can give expression to ideas and emotions that can be difficult to express in ordinary words. Weve seen that artworks convey aspects of culture and family tradition. But they can also express and communicate religious ideas and feelings, or political struggles. And a work of art can express the personal experiences and inner life of the artist who created it. A work of art can do all of this in a way that connects the viewer or audience to the artist. Some see this type of connection as the closest we can get to experiencing the inner life of another person.
For example, to get an idea of the means artworks have available for expression, consider how a representational painting conveys much more than whats directly represented (for example, a human figure or mountainscape). A painter can use color, line, shading, and composition (arrangement of forms) to express ideas and emotions about whats depicted in the painting.
For this assessment, first, choose an artwork to analyze as a means of expression. You should choose an artwork different from the one you selected for Assessment 1. You may select an artwork of your preference or any artwork from the text. Remember, a work of art can take a variety of forms, include a painting, a poem, a film, a piece of music, a story, or a sculpture.
Once you select your work of art, write 23 pages in which you complete the following:
Describe what is depicted in the selected work of art.
Identify the artist (or artists), when the art was created or published, and the form the art takes (music, painting, short story, etc.).
If the work depicts a subject or event (like representational paintings, sculptures, stories, or films do), describe what is depicted.
If the artwork is nonrepresentational (like an abstract painting or sculpture, music, or architecture), you can simply say that it is nonrepresentational.
Explain two or three things that the artwork expresses, beyond whatever is directly depicted in the work.
Focus on your own reaction to and interpretation of the artwork.
What ideas, moods, emotions, hopes, aspirations, or states of mind do you think the artist is trying to express? If the artwork is representational, perhaps the artist is expressing certain feelings about whats depicted (such as grief, anger, or joy). If the artwork is nonrepresentational, describe the feelings or memories the piece evokes.
Describe at least three features of the work that have expressive power.
Here you can focus on qualities specific to the selected art (color, line, shape, composition, light and shading, sound, and so forth). These are the aspects of the work that do the job of communicating to the viewer or listener something that can’t easily be expressed in ordinary language.
Explain how your cultural perspective shapes your interpretation of the art.
Describe any cultural biases that may influence this explanation.
Write in a well-organized and concise manner that adheres to the rules of grammar, usage, mechanics, citations, and formatting.
Your submission should meet the following requirements:
Length: 23 pages of text, in addition to a title page and reference page.
Written communication: Written communication should be free of errors that detract from the overall message.
Formatting: Format your submission in APA style, with a title page, double spacing, and a reference page.
Citations: You will need to use at least one source to identify the author and date of creation or publication. For example, if you are using artwork from the suggested textbook (), then that should be cited. Citing additional sources is not necessary or required. Properly cite sources according to APA rules. Review for more information on how to cite your sources.
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
Competency 1: Analyze personal cultural bias.
Explain how cultural perspective shapes the interpretation of the art.
Competency 3: Analyze cultural differences and similarities of people globally.
Explain two or three things that the artwork expresses.
Competency 4: Analyze the role of culture and artistic expression in human thought and behavior.
Describe what is depicted in a selected work of art.
Describe at least three features of the work that have expressive power.
Competency 5: Address the assignment purpose in a well-organized text, incorporating appropriate evidence and tone in grammatically sound sentences.
Write in a well-organized and concise manner that adheres to the rules of grammar, usage, mechanics, citations, and formatting
Use the resources linked below to help complete this assessment.
Our Global WorkplaceIn Italy, it is common for businesspeople to be outgoing and talkative. In Japan, businesspeople are more likely to be quiet and reserved. So its easy to imagine a meeting where an Italian executive perceives her Japanese counterpart as uninterested, while the Japanese executive feels that the Italian businesswoman is being rude (Schalkx, 2018).In our global workplace, situations like this often arise due to something called cultural bias. Cultural bias is how people interpret and judge what they see, based on standards from their own culture. In the imaginary scenario above, the cultural bias of both professionals affects the way they interpret the behavior of their counterparts. Our biases also affect the way we interpret other types of information and how we solve problems.By understanding our own biases and the biases of others, we can look at a problem from all angles. That leads us to solutions that work best for everyone because were better able to understand how our decisions affect different people.
Reflecting on Your Biases
You will continue to strengthen your self- and social-awareness skills with techniques that will help you objectively look at biases you may have. While most people dont consider themselves biased, we all have biasesthey are a product of our cultural backgrounds. The important thing is to be aware of these biases and understand how they affect the way we think.Reflecting on your biases will also advance your problem-solving skills because understanding how you look at the world will help you incorporate other perspectives into the way you approach conflicts and make difficult decisions. By first looking inward and thinking about how your biases affect the way you solve problems, youll be in a better position to look outward and incorporate new ideas into your approach.Lets return to the example of the Italian and Japanese executives to see these skills in action.Imagine that both executives work for Bello, a company based in Italy. Bello sells mens grooming products, and the company is trying to market its products in Japan for the first time. While their ad campaign has worked very well in Italy, it hasnt been connecting with the Japanese market. Giulia, the Italian executive, has been tasked with trying to figure out why that is. After her unproductive meeting with Botan, her Japanese counterpart, Giulia decides she can solve the problem on her own.Later that day, she reviews the marketing campaign again, but she remains unsure why it isnt performing well in Japan. She decides that to solve this problem, she needs to look at it from a Japanese perspective, and she cant do it alone. She calls another meeting with Botan.When they meet again, they acknowledge their cultural bias and how it affected their first interaction. Giulia says that she felt Botans quiet demeanor meant he wasnt interested in working with her. Botan says that he felt Giulias outspoken nature meant she didnt value his opinion. They both apologize and agree to start over.Botan explains that the ads Bello has been showing in Japan, which feature a man shaving while a woman is taking a bath, are considered disrespectful in Japanese culture. He believes that ads focused on a man shaving by himself will have a greater impact. Giulia agrees to try Botans idea. Once the new campaign is released in Japan, theres no mistaking the results: Bello is a hit!By using their self- and social-awareness skills, Giulia and Botan were able to recognize their biases and work through them. Then, they were able to use their problem-solving skills to think critically about what was causing the issue with their ad campaign and how they could solve it.You can use these same skills as you study different cultures in this course; interact with others at home, work, and school; and approach difficult decisions in your life and career.
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Chapter 4: Beating Bias.
This chapter discusses ways to recognize cultural bias and how to counteract bias for better decision-making outcomes. Before you read the chapter, read or listen to these stories. Chapter 4 will refer to these artifacts.
The AESOP for Children. (n.d.). Read.gov.
Fables of Aesop. (2020).
Silko, L. M. (1967). . Genius.
Adichie, C. N. (2015). Matter.
Arrowmi. (2019, February 14). YouTube.
Ross, H. J. (2020). . Rowman & Littlefield.
Chapter 1, “If You Are Human, You Are Biased,” pages 16.
Ross provides a discussion on bias and provides insights on why humans have bias without us realizing it.
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Learn 10 simple techniques you can use to beat your biases, grow your self-awareness, and better understand yourself. Beating bias starts with understanding where that bias comes from and working toward having a more objective (or unbiased) point of view. Discover 10 ways to grow your self- and social-awareness skills to better understand and break through your biases. You may be surprised how a little self-reflection can create big changes in both how you see the world, and how others see you.
Reference
Schalkx, E. (2018). How to overcome cultural biases while collaborating?Collabwith.
Imagine that an employee transfers to your team from the companys branch in Beijing, China. Right away, you notice that she doesnt maintain eye contact during video conferences. At first, you wonder if shes being evasive or ignoring you. But when you do a little research, you discover that prolonged eye contact is considered disrespectful in East Asian cultures. After you adjust your gaze when talking to her, she becomes more comfortable and open with you during meetings (Chan, 2012).Now more than ever, modern workplaces bring people from all sorts of backgrounds together to pursue careers and shared goals. There are countless advantages to working in a multicultural environment: You can enjoy the friendship of amazing coworkers, expand your worldview, and learn new and useful approaches to work and life. But because each culture has its ways of communicating and doing business, it can take extra effort to avoid misunderstandings. You should be willing to change your behavior, as in the example above, instead of simply expecting others to observe your cultural norms.No matter what personal and professional opportunities you pursue, understanding different cultures, customs, and traditions is critical to successfully navigating your world.In Chapter 5 of Exploring Cultures, youll read memorable stories from around the world, which will give you a window into the beliefs, values, and traditions of different cultures. As you read them, consider how opening your mind to other ways of seeing the world can enrich your life.Because workplaces can also have their own cultures and traditions, be sure to check out the tips below to strengthen your problem-solving and self- and social-awareness skills and successfully navigate the differences you may encounter in workplace environments and teams throughout your career.
Find common connections: Some topics such as food, family, and sports tend to transcend cultural boundaries. Take time to find out what your co-workers interests are and how they overlap with yours.
Customize your communication: Understanding how different companies and teams communicate will smooth interactions. For instance, some teams might prefer to chat over messaging apps, while others prefer e-mail. At some workplaces, using gifs or memes might be encouraged, while others might stick to traditional forms of communication.
Check your bias: When you notice something about other people that makes you feel uncomfortable, look inward first. Consider how your biases are a product of your cultural background. Then, look outward for new ideas for working with particular teams or team members.
Above all, remember that respect is important in every cultureespecially the workplace. Show respect for your colleagues, just as youd like to be respected in return. Working in a multicultural environment gives you an abundance of opportunities for learning and growth.
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Chapter 5: Culture, Customs, and Traditions.
This chapter focuses on how the way we look at the world is connected with our traditions, customs, and beliefs. Before you read the chapter, view or listen to the following artifacts. Chapter 5 will refer to these artifacts.
Sihab Nye, N. (2008). . Poets.org.
Grandmas Project. (2018, February 21). | . YouTube.
Tan, A. (1987). . CommonLit.
Reference
Chan, J. (2012). What to do and how to behave in China: 18 practical tips. Asia Marketing and Management (AMM).
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Today, the United States is consumed by division. Can people with different perspectives ever find common ground? Justine Lee set out to answer this question by starting the organization Make American Dinner Again, which gets people with disparate perspectives together and puts the hardest conversations front and center. In this media, youll see strangers with vastly different perspectives use the power of dialogue to bridge divides and build understanding.
Social workers make decisions in practice settings based on different sources of knowledge, including their intuition, personal experiences, tradition, authority, and theories and research evidence. These sources of knowledge can be used together to contribute to decisions. Which source(s) of knowledge do you rely on? What are the strengths and limitations of each source of knowledge, and how will they affect your social work practice? For example, think about the sources of knowledge you used when you made decisions in your field experience. In this Assignment, you consider the sources of knowledge that inform your practice decisions.
Complete the Situations 1 and 2: Making Decisions About Interventions handout. (Note: You do not need to upload the handout with your Assignment.)
Reflect on your thought process in your handout and apply it the prompts below.
Main Assignment: In a 1- to 2-page paper, respond to the following:
Explain how and why your choices differed in Situations 1 and 2.
Explain why it is important to use research and evidence to support your practice decisions.
Explain when using theories and research evidence is most appropriate for making clinical decisions. Provide an illustration of this from your fieldwork experience, from something learned in previous coursework, or from a case study you have encountered.
Dean, R. G. (1989). . Clinical Social Work Journal, 17 (2), 116127.
Franklin, C., & Jordan, C. (Ed.). (2024). Turner’s social work treatment: Interlocking theoretical approaches (7th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Chapter 1, “Interlocking Theories with Practice” (pp. 1-H11)
Simon, B. L. (1994). Journal of Social Work Education, 30 (2), 144148.
Thyer, B. A. (1994). Journal of Social Work Education, 30 (2),148152.
Bloeser, K., & Stewart, R. (2018). . Smith College Studies in Social Work , 88 (4), 299311.
Turner, F. (2011). Theory and social work treatment. (5th ed., pp. 313). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Social Work Treatment: Interlocking Theoretical Approaches, 5th Edition by Turner, F. Copyright 2011 by Oxford University Press – Books (US & UK). Reprinted by permission of Oxford University Press – Books (US & UK) via the Copyright Clearance Center.
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) specifies the ethics and values of the profession in its Code of Ethics . This code, in essence, should serve as a central guide for the decisions social workers make in their practice and advocacy. Why, then, have there been dividesor schismsamong social workers in their approach to policy advocacy and action?
The section Purpose of the NASW Code of Ethics (2021) on NASWs website explains:
Reasonable differences of opinion can and do exist among social workers with respect to the ways in which values, ethical principles, and ethical standards should be rank ordered when they conflict. Ethical decision making in a given situation must apply the informed judgment of the individual social worker In situations when conflicting obligations arise, social workers may be faced with complex ethical dilemmas that have no simple answers. Social workers should take into consideration all the values, principles, and standards in this Code that are relevant to any situation in which ethical judgment is warranted. Social workers’ decisions and actions should be consistent with the spirit as well as the letter of this Code Instances may arise when social workers’ ethical obligations conflict with agency policies or relevant laws or regulations. When such conflicts occur, social workers must make a responsible effort to resolve the conflict in a manner that is consistent with the values, principles, and standards expressed in this Code . If a reasonable resolution of the conflict does not appear possible, social workers should seek proper consultation before making a decision.
The Code of Ethics recognizes the likelihood for conflicts to arise between ethical and moral practice in service of clients and the laws and policies that so often govern the ability for social workers to successfully implement their practice. Thus, it would benefit social workers to be engaged in social and political action to influence policy and legislation that ultimately impacts the quality of care their clients receive; however, there is little political activity among clinical social workers. Why? What barriers exist that prevent social workers from fulfilling this ethical obligation?
For this Discussion, you will consider the standard for social workers to engage in political action in their practices and explore the different perceptions of the responsibility for political action among social work professionals.
Read Chapter 1 of the Jansson text.
Review the article by Gutirrez and Gant in the Learning Resources this week.
Review the Code of Ethics by NASW found in the Learning Resources this week.
Main Assignment: Postto your Discussion, addressing the following:
Describe the schism that developed between Jane Addams and Mary Richmond with respect to an understanding of the social work profession through policy advocacy and action.
Describe similar schisms that exist in contemporary social work.
Explain how the contemporary schisms prevent social workers from fulfilling their ethical obligation(s).
Reflectto at least two colleagues with a recommendation on how to address the schisms in contemporary social work practice.
***Colleagues responses will be shared***
Jansson, B. S. (2018).Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social justice (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Chapter 1, Joining a Tradition of Social Reform (pp. 330)
Reisch, M. (2017). . Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance , 41 (1), 69.
Hill, K. M., Ferguson, S. M., & Erickson, C. (2010). . Journal of Community Practice, 18 (4), 513527.
Gutirrez, L. M., & Gant, L. M. (2018). . Social Service Review , 92 (4), 617646.
A brief reaction to Dr. Barbara Simons article about theories being necessary in social work as you think about her position in relation to your fieldwork experience
A brief reaction to Dr. Bruce Thyers article about theories not being necessary in social work as you think about his position in relation to your fieldwork experience
Do you tend to agree with Dr. Simon or Dr. Thyer? Why?
Reflect to two colleagues:
Agree or disagree with your colleagues reaction about Dr. Simon or Dr. Thyer’s position and explain your position.
2 Discussion Questions 250 words with 2 peer supported scholarly resource per question.
Question 1.
250 words with 2 peer supported scholarly resource.
Assessment Description
Discuss why managers in organizations need to know the full cost of producing goods and/or providing services. Distinguish among average, fixed, and variable costs.
Question 2.
250 words with 2 peer supported scholarly resource.
Assessment Description
Explain how fixed cost differs from a variable cost. Discuss why most fixed costs sooner or later become variable.
Part 2
Assessment Description
Assignment 3-30 on page 113 in the Financial Management for Public, Health, and Not-for-Profit Organizations textbook.
When completing the assignment, assume that revenues are sufficient to cover expenditures.
While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
3-30. Eger Township is preparing its budget for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024. The township has a Management Department, a Public Works Department, a Recreation Department, and a Public Safety Department. The proposed budget calls for spending money on the items listed in Table 3-9. Based on the information in that exhibit,
prepare a line-item budget for the township, grouping all types of supplies together as one line item;
prepare a responsibility center budget for the township, showing only departmental totals; and
prepare a budget that shows both line-item and responsibility center information, grouping all types of supplies together as a single line item for each responsibility center.