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THE IDEAL OF CRAFTSMANSHIP - C. Wright Mills (1916-1962)

Summary: C. Wright Mills was a social-conflict theorist who argued that a simple few individuals within the political, military and corporate realms actually held the majority of power within the United States and that these few individuals made decisions that resounded throughout all American lives. The major focus of Mills's work was the subjects of social inequality, the power of elites and their control of society, the shrinking middle class, the relationship between individuals and society, and the importance of historical perspective as a key part of sociological thinking. Through this essay, the essayist defines craftsmanship and provides six- features associated with craftsmanship: According to the writer, craftsman works for pleasure. He gives whole attention to the quality of the product. To create, he forms the image of the product first in the mind. Then, he produces the product spontaneously. For him, creating art is primary, whereas money or reputation or salvation i

THE COMPANY MAN - Ellen Goodman (1941)

In this essay, Goodman describes a man who died at fifty-one. Main Character - Phil Supporting Characters:   Helen (Spouse) 1st Child: Son: Hard-working executive in a   manufacturing firm down South 2nd Child: Daughter: 24 years and newly married. She lives near her mother 3rd Child: Son - high school graduate   He died at 3:00 A.M. Sunday morning Goodman tells the story of Phil, a hard-working businessman who eventually worked himself to death.  She uses the name ‘ company man ’ to show how Phil was not just a man but was an extension of his work.  In the essay, Goodman uses Phil’s name only a handful of times.  By not saying his name, she uses Phil as a symbol for all businessmen and women who work themselves to literal death. One of the most powerful lines in the essay is the last line.  At the end of the narrative, Phil’s boss begins to look for a replacement for him on the day of the funeral and asks, “ who’s been working the hardest? ”  Goodman used this anecdote (narrative) to

EVELINE - James Joyce (1882-1941)

Summary:  The story ‘Eveline’ by James Joyce is about a young Irish woman who is of nineteen years of age. The story is narrated in the third person by an anonymous narrator. In the story, Eveline plans to leave her abusive father and poverty-stricken existence in Ireland, and seek out a new, better life for herself and her secret lover Frank (a sailor). She wants to start her new journey of a better life with Frank and wanted to shift to Buenos Aires, Argentina.   In this story, James Joyce depicted a realistic version of Dublin at his time. He highlights the theme of memory, responsibility, decisions, conflict, escape, guilt, paralysis and letting go (or rather the inability to let go). The story exhibits the contemporary Irish people’s inability to move. They fear starting a fresh new life. The writer captures Dubliners’ longing for the past. They fail to move ahead because of their past life in Dublin. The situation is the same with Eveline. The protagonist, Eveline is a young wom

CHAPTER 4: Electronic & Other Messages

 

CHAPTER 3: SKILLS & VALUES IN BUSINESS COMMUNICATION