response to reading

response to reading
Rakesh Mittoo Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 1  Response to a Reading  A response -to -reading assignment involves just what its name implies: a discussion of your reaction to the ideas in an article, a chapter, or a book. In the summary assignment you were asked to compress the ideas in an article or a chapter. An objective restatement of the author’s ideas was central to your purpose, and you were not expected to present your opinion. The Response -to -a-Reading requires you to express your opinion on the ideas in an article, a chapter, or a book. Specifically, you will refer very briefly to the author’s idea but you will largely develop your own response.   Decide ONE of the Purposes in Your Response :  Personal Tie -in : Tap into your own experience to illustrate one of the ideas in the reading. Or discuss your experience or observations focusing on the relevance of the idea. You must narrate the experience or provide details of observation to illustrate the author’s idea and draw your conclusions from it. You could either agree or disagree with the author. See the student’s example we’ll discuss in class. Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 2  SEC Strategy and Agreement : Extend the author’s idea with your claim, evidence, and reasoning. Agree with any one or more of the ideas in the article or a reading and discuss your claim with support. Use SEC (statement, evidence, and comment) strategy to defend or support the claim. See the handout that explains this strategy later along with the examples.   SEC Strategy and Disagreement : Argue against the writer’s ideas. Here you’ll develop and discuss your disagreement or critical perspective on any one or more of the ideas in the reading. This disagreement may be a qualification of an idea presented by the author — that is, accepting the writer’s analysis and reasoning but disagreeing with the conclusion drawn by the writer. (Use SEC strategy ). Do not attack the writer. Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 3  Guidelines for writing a response or a discussion of an idea selected from a reading.  First briefly restate (1 or 2 sentences) or refer to the idea you’re responding to. The writer is retelling or paraphrasing the idea chosen for discussion. You should accurately paraphrase the idea you’re discussing.  Then state the claim you will discuss. Continue with the discussion of your response in a paragraph. (maximum 150 words)  Avoid retelling or regurgitating the writer’s point(s) in your discussion.  These paragraphs are subjective. You may start with “I think” or “I believe” to preface your claim. However, you can state your claim without using the label “I think” or “I believe” as long as your claim is explicit and distinct from the writer’s idea.  For the last paragraph in Interview Write -up assignment, select one of the interviewee’s ideas, refer to the idea, state your claim or position, and support it by using Personal Tie -in or SEC strategy. Also see the Interview Assignment handout.   For your discussion of ideas in the Response -to -Reading Assignment, use Personal Tie -in for two ideas and use SEC strategy for two ideas. More information on writing the Response -to -Reading Assignment will be given in a class later. Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 4  Nicholas Backlund reports that many companies have adopted environmentally aware policies, from McDonald’s use of recycled packaging material to Ben and Jerry’s production of “Rain Forest Crunch” ice cream, whose profits are contributed to saving the Amazon jungle. This seems an important trend because it shows major companies affirming that good ecology is good business. Too often we hear companies saying, we would really like to help protect the environment, but we are in business to make money. If we worried about every good cause, we would go broke. But now a number of highly profitable companies are showing that this isn’t true.  While working last summer in a fast – food restaurant, I saw an enormous amount of waste that had nothing to do with profits or efficiency. For example…[The paragraph is further developed with personal observation(s) and a brief concluding discussion (comment) that relates to the author’s point.] Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 5  S = STATEMENT of Claim : (The finance minister is doing a poor job.).   CONTENTION/OPINION  CENTRAL ASSERTION  CENTRAL IDEA  E = EVIDENCE: (The unemployment is still very high.) Support it with numbers and discussion.)   REASONS/EXPLANATIONS  FACTS/FIGURES/EXAMPLES  TESTIMONY  QUOTATIONS FROM SOURCES  C = COMMENT: (The finance minister is responsible for creating jobs when unemployment is high.) Comment can be an assumption, a general principle, widely held values, beliefs either cultural or organizational values, human motivation, etc   A CONCLUDING STATEMENT  A TIE -IN TO THE CENTRAL THEME/PURPOSE  A PLACE TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR INSIGHT Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 6  A Sample SEC (statement, evidence, conclusion) Paragraph   People who are comfortable with and knowledgeable about computers will more likely be creative and work faster than those who feel restricted by limited computer knowledge. For example, Markowitz (1996) compares the performance of accounting clerks given a 1 -hour training session supplemented by written materials. The clerks who had an 8 -hour training session made an average of 52% fewer mistakes and were able to prepare a spreadsheet three times faster than the other group. In addition, the clerks with more training were more likely to incorporate figures into their written reports. [The paragraph is developed further with reasoning]    Consider the kind of Kind of Claim you’re writing in the Response:  1. Policy claim : common in business; uses “ought to,” “must;” state the action recommended and imply the agency.   2. Truth claim : What does or does not exist.   3. Claim of Value : Right vs. wrong; desirable vs. undesirable; good vs. bad. Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 7  The article’s primary message is that striving to keep a positive attitude in all aspects of life is most important and rewarding. If efforts toward keeping this positive attitude are not made, success and happiness are less likely to be obtained.  To extend on the author’s argument, I believe that a person with a negative attitude not only associates with people with negative attitudes, but also attracts negative reactions from people. For example, in a retail work place, a cashier with a mediocre attitude toward her job may catch herself thinking, “Why do I always end -up with the bad customers?” When a person is constantly thinking, “I hate my job, I don’t want to be here, I’d rather be watching a movie” it is inevitable that they will project a vibe that expresses exactly what they are thinking.  When a person carries on a negative attitude, they have a tendency to become disrespectful and negligent. Such a person might accidentally treat coworkers disrespectfully and end up in compromising situations. For example, the cashier might talk back to her manager when criticized and think it is appropriate, when in reality it is not. Because of her negative attitude and lack of enthusiasm, she might look down upon customers, and speak impolitely to them without even noticing. As explained in the text, “People usually know how you react to them even if you do not communicate verbally.” Therefore, the cashier trying to do her job, as best as she can, will receive the rude comments from customers and will not understand what caused them. Because she is so engulfed in her negative thoughts and attitudes, she cannot even realize that she is the one triggering these negative responses.  Consequently, she lacks confidence and motivation toward her work and is unable to improve or achieve any new goals. Unless she makes a conscious and strong effort to change this negative attitude, she will remain in this vicious cycle.  Janelle Remillard prepared this response to an idea. It is being provided as an example for your review. Names are not mentioned to protect confidentiality. The author maintains full copyright © on this assignment and has granted permission for students of GMGT 2010 to read it for learning purposes. Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 8  Elwood Chapman and Sharon O’Neil write that a positive attitude is essential for success in all aspects of life, including work performance and personal happiness. Those who are not capable of possessing a positive attitude will be more prone to difficulties in their work environments, personal relations, and their state of mind.  The authors contend that a positive attitude is vitally important to success in the workplace. I believe that they make an extremely valid argument. An individual displaying a positive attitude can increase productivity in his or her entire workforce. For example, in many pro sports you often hear players speaking negatively when their teams are not performing well, and coincidentally speaking positive when they are doing well. Of course, for many of these teams their attitudes reflect their performances, but I think that certain players’ attitudes may have caused, or at the very least affected, their teams’ performances. For example, Sean Avery was the type of hockey player that many NHL teams desire: an agitator that could score and accumulate points. Avery however, was considered to be what is referred to in sports as a “locker room cancer”. He apparently disrupted the attitudes of his teammates with his egocentric attitude, which many of his coaches felt was detrimental to their teams. As such, he struggled to find a team that wanted to keep him, which I think is best exemplified when he was outright released from the Dallas Stars only 3 months into his recently signed 4 year contract. Unable to find a team that wanted him, he retired at an age, (31), when most hockey players are still in their prime.  Similarly, athletes’ positive attitudes have resulted in their teams overachieving. Joe Namath was the quarterback for the New York Jets heading into Super Bowl III where odds makers expected them to lose by 18 points, (which is a very high point spread in football). Namath disputed the odds, and guaranteed his team would win. That attitude inspired his teammates who ended up convincingly winning the game. As such, positive attitudes should be sought after if one wants to increase efficiency within a group, whether it be a sports team or a business organization.  (Prepared by a student for a response -to-reading. The student gave permission to use it for learning purposes) Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 9  Facts :(observed events, cost information, numbers, productivity statistics, case history, specific events, etc.)  They are used to support statements: ideas, claims, and judgments.  Are highly persuasive form of evidence  Demonstrate your knowledge of the topic   Examples: An example could be a current or recent event. It could be a historical example or a or hypothetical one.  They are used to support judgments.  Illustrate the point or main statement  Provide interest for the reader and are convincing  Expert Testimony: It’s an expert’s opinion, a finding, or a judgement.  Such testimony represents the opinion of people knowledgeable about a subject.  It is used to confirm a judgment.  Example: Consumer Reports’ rating of the product when you’re evaluating a product.  Awards are a form of expert testimony because they’re given by experts in the field.  Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 10  Apply the following criteria for evidence:  1. Sufficient: complete and thoroughly presented, with pros and cons noted  2. Typical: Reflects the trends in current research, not exceptional cases. (Representative)  3. Accurate: Verifiable or consistent with other observers under the same circumstances. Or replicable under same conditions and with the same results.  4. Relevant: Applicable to readers’ concerns or situation. Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 11  S=Statement of Claim is highlighted in bold.  E=Evidence is in italics (Facts, Example, or Expert Testimony).  C=Comment (conclusion from the evidence or an assumption) is indicated in the curve bracket at the end of the sentence  Identifying Types of Evidence in SEC Paragraph  1. The story of sex, lies, and videotape is by now part of movie folklore (Statement of Claim) : how Soderbergh at twenty -nine, wrote the screenplay in eight days during a trip to Los Angeles, how the film was made for $1.8 million, how it won the Palme d’or at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival as well as the best actor prize for Spader . (All these are facts, but the Palme d’or award and the best actor prize are also Expert Testimoney ) I am not sure it is as good as the Cannes jury apparently found it; it has more intelligence than heart, and is more clever than enlightening. (Comment)   2. The most expensive hotels…pile on the extras and charge accordingly. (Statement of Claim) Rooms at the Four Seasons in downtown Philadelphia visited by our reporter feature reproduction antique furniture, feather pillows, huge towels, lots of fancy soaps and shampoo, a telephone in the bathroom, and a mini bar. The staff doted on our reporter and his family. The children got free cookies and milk (or soft drinks and popcorn), movies, and Nintendo games — all delivered to the room. (Facts, but no comment is added in this para .)  “The Best Hotels,” Consumer Report (The magazine has a good reputation, so as a representative of the company, he or she is seen as an expert or a reliable testimony) Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 12  3. The AMC Grand’s parking lot, which AMC says it has expanded to include 2,200 spaces, can still be a headache for customers. (Statement of Claim) The entrances and exits create irritating traffic tie – ups, and customers often have to walk several blocks to the box office. (Facts serve as examples.) By that time, a cold drink seems more a necessity than an indulgence (Comment, but no expert testimony is added to this paragraph .)  Philip Wuntch , “Dallas’ Two New ‘ Megaplexes ’ Size Up Nicely”   4. As cosmetics go, lipstick is the cheapest and most popular product on the market. (Statement of Claim) That doesn’t mean you can’t spend a fortune on the stuff, however. Enter Princess Marcella Borghese’s Superiore State -of -the -Art lipstick. Cost: $20 for 0.15 ounce. That comes to $133 an ounce. The same amount of Wet’n Wild or Artmatic lipstick, at less than $1 a tube, costs about $7. Of course, the Borghese lipstick has much prettier packaging. But you may want to save the $126 you’d spend for an ounce of this lipstick, and get yourself a whole line of beauty products instead. (Supports with facts throughout the para and ends with a Comment that’s a recommendation)  “Choosing a Lipstick,” Consumer Reports (The magazine has a good reputation, so as a representative of the company, he or she is an expert and reliable testimony) Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 13
response to reading
1 Response -to-Re ading As signment Rakesh Mittoo 1 THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA Inter -Departmental Correspondence Date: January 31, 20 23 To: All S tudents in Business Communications , GMGT 2010 , Section A0 1-A04 From: Rakesh Mittoo, Instructor Subject: Response -to-Reading Assignment You will writ e a Resp onse Assignment discussing the ideas in “Cultivat e Positive Identities,” a chapter written by Laura M. Roberts in Jane E. Dutton and Gretchan M. Spreitzer’s book How to Be a Positive Leader: Small Actions, Big Impact. The paper must accurately para phrase a nd present the ideas you’ll select to write about, but it must discuss your personal responses to th ose ideas . This personal, reflective paper will help you to learn about your leadership strengths, generate ideas/points for writing about your abi lities in cover letters for job applications as well as for engaging in conversations in the job interviews, and discover your career paths or roles in the organizations suited to your abilities . In addition to writing about your self -discovery in this pap er, you must evaluate yourself and others in professional organizations and discuss the application, relevance, and value of author’s ideas. Discuss ion : Please note the date indicated in the course outline for discussion of this chapter and come to clas s on tha t day having read the chapter thoroughly and prepared to engage in a discussion on the con tent and your reactions to it. You will be able to compare your experiences about and reactions to the ideas with other students ’ reflections. This discussion will he lp you to discover different perspectives as well as genera te good i nsights for writing this paper. Make sure you attend this class and contribute to this ideas -generating activity. Organization of Your Review: I’ll encourage you to decide what t o includ e and how to organize your discussion in the Assignment . What follows is a general pattern to help you with its organization. Begin with the bibliographic entry (see below and also page 4 for more explaning • To let the reader know about the sou rce (the writer, chapter/article, and book), begin the Response with a bibliographic entry. The common format for this information is as follows: “Title of the Chapter/Article.” Author’s name . Book Title . Author (s) . Place of Publication: Publisher, date of publi cation. Number of pages. • Write an introduction or an opening paragraph that is a restatement of the central idea and 2 Response -to-Re ading As signment Rakesh Mittoo 2 the author’s purpose in the chapter/article or the authors’ purpose in the book , followed by your evaluation. As well, the openin g should be interesting and engaging to the reader. If the chapter raises some questions that you will explore later, you may very briefly outline them here but avoid listing. That is, t his brief opening paragraph lets the reader know what direction your discussio n will take, so state your evaluation. (one paragraph) • In the remaining section of the Response , you are free to select four ideas for your discussion . (See more guidelines on pages 6 -7 of this handout for selecting the ideas from “Cultivate Po sitive I dentities” for your discussion and writing in this paper . Also review the Response -to-Reading Guidelines for developing and supporting your claims using Personal Tie -in and SEC strategy which I’ve discussed earlier in class .) Review the ideas sel ected fr om the chapter on pages 6 -7. Decide which ones you want to discuss in your response paper . Think about your experiences and observations regarding your strengths and what they illustrate about the writers’ ideas and their relevance for workplace . I sugges t you use three Personal Tie -in responses or discussions and two SEC responses . Each paragraph should discuss only one idea from the chapter . (Four paragraphs) • In particular, write a closing paragraph discussing the relevance of one of the ideas f or effec tive communication in the workplace (This is the fifth idea from the chapter) . See more specific guidelines at the end of page six for ideas to discuss in this last para. (one paragraph) Please note that no additional concluding paragraph or con clusion is required. Provide in -text citations for the ideas paraphrased for discussion and the evidence used for discussion. Also, at the end of the paper, provide references for the sources used. Specific Instructions: • Avoid su mmarizing or regurgit ating th e ideas of the book. Also make sure you discuss the writer’s ideas and not attack the writer even if you disagree strongly . Maintain an appropriate tone. • Use present tense in referring to the author and the reading — for example, “the author states” instead of “the author stated;” “the chapter contains” instead of “the chapter contained.” • It is important to distinguish between the ideas of the author and those of the reviewer (yourself) . Be careful to label ( Aldous Huxley continues…; this reviewe r believ es… ; I believe ) your sentences wherever appropriate so that your ideas are separate from the author’s ideas. Confusion between the two considerably weakens your Response for the reader. DUE DATE: See the Course Outline LENGTH: Maximum 4 typed p ages, do uble -spaced (or maximum 1 000 words) 3 Response -to-Re ading As signment Rakesh Mittoo 3 Questions for Chapter “Cultivate Positive Identities .” After reading the chapter, use the following questions to explore your thinking about the ideas in the chapter . Questions on Identity in general: Who am I (What ar e my strengths and deficiencies today ?)? Wh o do I want to be (What would I like to change about my character to achieve greater satisfaction and impact on others )? What am I becoming? What is my character today, and what is it likely to be tom orrow if I continue the way I’m doing things now? AND/OR What am I going to do to become who I want to be? What actions will I take, b y when, to develop my character? How will I assess my progress? How can I define or construct a positive identity for le adership in organizations? How will my positive identity impact my ability to work with people and organizations? How do I want to be viewed positively by others such as superiors, co -workers, and team members and to what end ? What stories (personal exper iences), role models, behaviours, images, or expressions illustrate my key strengths and values? Use these strengths to define my identity. Questions on GIVE model in the chapter (Ask: How can I apply the authors’ GIVE model to create my positive identity for lea dership ?) G. (Growing Identity) How am I growing to be my desired self by becoming more capable in my job and by becoming a better person at work? How can I experience positive emotions and develop resilience at work? How can I replace negative emotions (pessimistic cognitions) or negative stories into positive self -views? I. (Integrated Identity) How can different parts of my identity –roles in family, relationships, teams, etc. — be integrated? How do different parts of my identity reflect the same per son? What do I value most in my personal, familial, social lives and how are these values connected or expressed in work roles? How can these identities be of value at work, such as helping solve problems, generating creative ideas, building rela tionship s of trust, and expanding psychological, social, or organizational resources? V. (Virtuous Identity) How can I practice and enact virtuous qualities, such wisdom, courage, 4 Response -to-Re ading As signment Rakesh Mittoo 4 integrity, compassion, and humility at work? What might be the positive ef fects of these virtuous qualities? How do these virtu ous qualities influence us t o be caring and supportive? How do these qualities (compassion e.g.) create a safe culture in the organizations? E. (Esteemed Identity) How can my positive feelings about my personal qualities contribute to a more authentic self at work ? How can this positive self -esteem help me cope with threats to my identity? How do positive self -images lead to my engagement at work? Overall, how do you display or demonstrate these valu es or vi rtuous qualities at work or to people? Begin your reflection with the situations you have observed and experienced in workplace (s) and the benefits of these positive identity constructions? Leaders’ positive identities are based on self -views but are val idated by perceptions of others or their followers. Use three positive identity infusions tools (These are reflective exercises for self -assessment to become self -aware and discover your best self): 1. Create positive identity labels to develop desi rable be havior. To learn about your character strengths, look up Values in Actions (VIA) Changingminds.org for an inventory of strengths and virtues. 2. Use leadership Lifeline exercise to discover milestones in your development, create developmental agenda, and mon itor your growth. See catalystleadershipcoaching.com or see Synergy.org. 3. Discover your reflected best selves or strengths and their impact upon others. Get feedback on your strengths from professional contacts. Develop your portrait and imagine and explore what and how you will contribute significantly to people and organization s. For Reflected Best Self Exercise (RBSE) , read Harvard Business Review article “How to Play to Your Strengths” by Laura M. Roberts et al. 5 Response -to-Re ading As signment Rakesh Mittoo 5 Specific Writing Guidelines for Respons e-to -Reading Assignment (also see the Response -to Reading Assignment, pp. 1 -2) Bibliographic entry: Type the Bibliographic Entry as written below on page one of your paper (It comes before the opening para, and it should not be indented). “Cult ivate Po sitive Identities.” Laura M. Roberts. How to Be a Positive Leader: Small Actions, Big Impact. Jane E. Dutton and Gretchen M. Spreitzer. San Francisco: Berrett -Koehler Publishers, Inc., 2014. 55 -63. Paragraph One OR the Opening Para should : • Start w ith the book writers’ contribution to scholarship on positive leadership (google it and select a good brief blurb about their contribution. That is, introduce the book authors’ purpose — their vision about the change they believe positive leadership will bri ng to a workplace — and the central idea of How to Be a Positive Leader . Since you do not have the book with you, here is the central idea of How to Be a Positive Leader from which this chapter was excerpted for your Response -to Reading Assignment ( make sure you par aphrase the book writers’ central idea: The authors state that “your behavior matters and the more positively you lead, the more successful and happy your organization, family, and community will become.” ( How to Be a Positive Leader , 2014, p. XI) • Then st ate Laura Roberts’s central idea in the chapter “Cultivate Positive Identities” by paraphrasing it. See page 55 (last sentence of first para), page 57 (first sentence of the first new para), and page 63 (last two sentences) for the central idea sta tements of the author. • End the first para with your assessment of the value of the article’s ideas on positive leadership. After completing the opening para, write five paragraphs in your paper. Discuss one idea in each paragraph and m ake sure your paraph rase the idea at the beginning of each pa ragraph and refer to the writer and the page number. The concluding para is the fifth para. No more conclusion para is required. Select five of the following ideas from the chapter (write three Personal Tie -in para graphs, and two SEC paragraphs (statement of Claim, Evidence, Comment) for your discussion. Read guidelines about Personal Tie -in and SEC paragraphs in Response to Reading Guidelines I’ve discussed earlier in the classes. Here’re the ideas you could selec t from . M ake sure to paraphrase the idea and cite the page number at the end : “Leaders are able to unleash resources through the way in which they construct who they are as leaders and also how they help others construct positive identities.” (p.55). This sentenc e is the 6 Response -to-Re ading As signment Rakesh Mittoo 6 central idea of the chapter. Any ideas from the GIVE model on pages 56 -57: Growing Identity, Integrated Identity, Virtuous Identity (includes any of the five virtues — wisdom, compassion, humility, courage, and integrity), and Esteemed Iden tity. Th ese ideas in GIVE model are also discussed and extended in the rest of the article. However, I have selected some of these as quoted below. “Positive identity construction unlocks valuable psychological and social resources in work organizations. ” This q uote is another statement of the central idea. (p. 57) “When people see themselves growing at work by becoming more capable in their jobs or by becoming better people as a consequence of their work, they are more likely to experience positive emot ions and to persist through adversity.” (p. 57) “People who construct more positive identities are also better able to cope with threats to their identities, such as being criticized harshly or demeaned at work.” (p. 57) “Positive identity construction a lso gene rates more diverse, high -quality relationships at work which are important resources for individuals and organizations.” (p. 57) “Leaders’ identities are more powerful and sustainable when they are validated by followers’ perceptions.” (p. 58) “P ositive self -views should be reinforced by behaviors that are consistent with the leader’s positive identity claims.” (p.58) “They [leaders] acknowledge their own imperfections, creating a safer culture in which people can express their feelings of uncert ainty an d commit to shared learning and improvement.” (p. 59) “When leaders cultivate positive identities for themselves and others, they unlock critical psychological and social resources that strengthen individuals and organizations.” (p.63) This quote is anoth er statement of the central idea. OR Discuss any of the three identity infusions: 1. Positive Identity Labels , 2. Developmental Agenda and Monitoring Your Growth, and 3. Reflected Best -Self Engagement. In the concluding para — • Discuss the relevanc e of one of the ideas for communication in workplace. Here’re some of the ideas which have relevance: Integrity ; empathy or compassion; creating a safe culture; using wisdom, courage, humility to build trust, positive identity labels, and any other ideas y ou think has implications for communication A reminder again: r eview the Response -to-Reading Guidelines handout for explanation of Personal Tie -in and SEC strategy for developing and supporting your discussion of ideas. Provide in -text citations for the id eas para phrased for discussion and the evidence used for discussion. Also, at the end of the paper, provide references for the sources used. 7 Response -to-Re ading As signment Rakesh Mittoo 7 A student’s paragraph for discussion in class (Uses Personal Tie -in strategy for development and support , but has strengt hs and weaknesses) A main point the author makes in this chapter is about the GIVE model. The part about integration particularly resonated with me and caused me to think about how the different facets of my life fit together. Integration, as the author d escribes it, is about different parts of one’s identity being connected in ways which contribute value as a whole. These parts includes work, personal characteristics, education, interests, and any other communities or groups which one is a part of . In ref lecting on my experience as a leader, I began to think about how my abilities in one domain translate to success in other, unrelated fields. For example, I have coached high school level water polo for the past five years. Coaching has helped me de velop ma ny valuable skills: explaining complex strategic concepts to inexperienced players, resolving conflicts among team members, and fostering an environment which encourages growth and development. These have all translated to success in my role as a s tudent g roup leader at the university. My job in this area necessitates hosting study sessions for second year classes. Though it may seem unrelated, I am able to draw upon my experience explaining complicated concepts and encouraging a learning -oriented e nvironme nt. This enables me to perform more effectively as this job than I would otherwise, thanks to the concept of integration. Another student’s paragraph for discussion in class (Uses Personal Tie -in strategy for development and support, but has streng ths and weaknesses) The author makes it clear that when people construct more positive identities and show that they are virtuous, they are able to better cope with the threats to their character, such as criticism or demeaning. I believe this to be true, because when you have a positive identity, it is far easier to see the good in anything you do; whether it be in the workplace, or just life in general. As stated earlier, it is important to realize the value that your job has for the company, no matter h ow high or low on the hierarchy. Having this mindset causes you to care more about the job, and doing the job properly, instead of focusing only on yourself. It helps to handle criticism because you realize that most of the time it is constructive, rather than an attack on your personality. In my experience working at the Nissan dealership as a lot attendant, we are at the lowest ranked position, doing low level work such as cleaning, shifting the cars on the lot and doing anything the managers ask. At firs t, I did not take my job very seriously, because I thought it was just insignificant. However, after constructing a positive identity, I have realized that my job is important and impactful because much of the day’s work depends on my ability to keep a ste ady flow of cars coming in and out of the service shop. As a result of looking at my job in a positive light, I have taken a more focused approach and in turn, I am seen positively from my coworkers.
response to reading
Rakesh Mittoo Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 1 THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA Inter – Departmental Correspondence Date: January 31, 2023 To: All Students in Business Communications, GMGT 2010, Sections A01 – A04 From: Rakesh Mittoo, Instructor Subject: Response – to – Reading Assignment Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 2  You will write a Response Assignment discussing the ideas in “Cultivate Positive Identities,” a chapter written by Laura M. Roberts in Jane E. Dutton and Gretchan M. Spreitzer’s book How to Be a Positive Leader: Small Actions, Big Impact. The paper must accurately paraphrase and present the ideas you’ll select to write about, but it must discuss your personal responses to those ideas.   This personal, reflective paper will help you to learn about your leadership strengths, generate ideas/points for writing about your abilities in cover letters for job applications as well as for engaging in conversations in the job interviews, and discover your career paths or roles in the organizations suited to your abilities. In addition to writing about your self – discovery in this paper, you must evaluate yourself and others in professional organizations and discuss the application, relevance, and value of author’s ideas. Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 3  Discussion:  Please note the date indicated in the course outline for discussion of this chapter and come to class on that day having read the chapter thoroughly and prepared to engage in a discussion on the content and your reactions to it. You will be able to compare your experiences about and reactions to the ideas with other students’ reflections. This discussion will help you to discover different perspectives as well as generate good insights for writing this paper. Make sure you attend this class and contribute to this ideas -generating activity.   Organization of Your Review:  I’ll encourage you to decide what to include and how to organize your discussion in the Assignment. What follows is a general pattern to help you with its organization.   Begin with the bibliographic entry (see below and also page 4 for more explaning   • To let the reader know about the source (the writer, chapter/article, and book), begin the Response with a bibliographic entry. The common format for this information is as follows:   “Title of the Chapter/Article.” Author’s name. Book Title . Author(s). Place of Publication: Publisher, date of publication. Number of pages. Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 4  Write an introduction or an opening paragraph that is a restatement of the central idea and the author’s purpose in the chapter/article or the authors’ purpose in the book, followed by your evaluation. As well, the opening should be interesting and engaging to the reader. If the chapter raises some questions that you will explore later, you may very briefly outline them here but avoid listing. That is, this brief opening paragraph lets the reader know what direction your discussion will take, so state your evaluation. (one paragraph) ➢ In the remaining section of the Response, you are free to select four ideas for your discussion. (See more guidelines on pages 6 -7 of this handout for selecting the ideas from “Cultivate Positive Identities” for your discussion and writing in this paper. Also review the Response -to -Reading Guidelines for developing and supporting your claims using Personal Tie -in and SEC strategy which I’ve discussed earlier in class.) ➢ Review the ideas selected from the chapter on pages 6 -7. Decide which ones you want to discuss in your response paper. Think about your experiences and observations regarding your strengths and what they illustrate about the writers’ ideas and their relevance for workplace. I suggest you use three Personal Tie -in responses or discussions and two SEC responses. Each paragraph should discuss only one idea from the chapter. (Four paragraphs)   In particular, write a closing paragraph discussing the relevance of one of the ideas for effective communication in the workplace. See more specific guidelines at the end of page six for ideas to discuss in this last para. (one paragraph)   Please note that no additional concluding paragraph is required. Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 5  Specific Instructions: ➢ Avoid summarizing or regurgitating the ideas of the book. Also make sure you discuss the writer’s ideas and not attack the writer even if you disagree strongly. Maintain an appropriate tone. ➢ Use present tense in referring to the author and the reading — for example, “the author states” instead of “the author stated;” “the chapter contains” instead of “the chapter contained.”  ➢ It is important to distinguish between the ideas of the author and those of the reviewer (yourself). Be careful to label ( Aldous Huxley continues…; this reviewer believes …; I believe ) your sentences wherever appropriate so that your ideas are separate from the author’s ideas. Confusion between the two considerably weakens your Response for the reader.   DUE DATE: See the Course Outline   LENGTH: Maximum 4 typed pages, double -spaced (or maximum 1000 words) Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 6  After reading the chapter, use the following questions to explore your thinking about the ideas in the chapter.   Questions on Identity in general:  Who am I (What are my strengths and deficiencies today?)?   Who do I want to be (What would I like to change about my character to achieve greater satisfaction and impact on others)?   What am I becoming? What is my character today, and what is it likely to be tomorrow if I continue the way I’m doing things now? AND/OR What am I going to do to become who I want to be? What actions will I take, by when, to develop my character? How will I assess my progress?   How can I define or construct a positive identity for leadership in organizations? How will my positive identity impact my ability to work with people and organizations? How do I want to be viewed positively by others such as superiors, co -workers, and team members and to what end?   What stories (personal experiences), role models, behaviours , images, or expressions illustrate my key strengths and values? Use these strengths to define my identity. Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 7  Questions on GIVE model in the chapter (Ask: How can I apply ideas in GIVE model to create a positive identity for leadership?)  G. (Growing Identity) How am I growing in skills, knowledge, understanding, strength (resilience), and overall competence at work? Recall a situation — loss, failure, criticism — that made you feel sad, upset, etc. What was the experience and how it affected you? How did you respond? How did you view your failure? What did you learn from it? What knowledge did you gain or what emerged as your strength or weakness and how? What difference did it make to you? What choices and actions followed? How or what impact did you have others or any organization?  How can I replace negative emotions (pessimistic cognitions) or negative stories into positive self -views?  How can I experience positive emotions and develop resilience at work?   Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 8  I. (Integrated Identity) How can different parts of my identity – roles in family, relationships, teams, etc. — be integrated?   How do different parts of my identity reflect the same person?   What do I value most in my personal, familial, social lives and how are these values connected or expressed in work roles?   How can these identities be of value at work, such as helping solve problems, generating creative ideas, building relationships of trust, and expanding psychological, social, or organizational resources? Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 9  V. (Virtuous Identity) How can I practice and enact virtuous qualities, such wisdom, courage, integrity, compassion, and humility at work? What might be the positive effects of these virtuous qualities?  How do these virtuous qualities influence us to be caring and supportive?  How do these qualities (compassion e.g.) create a safe culture in the organizations? Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 10  E. (Esteemed Identity) How can my positive feelings about my personal qualities contribute to a more authentic self at work ? How can this positive self – esteem help me cope with threats to my identity?   How do positive self – images lead to my engagement at work?   Overall, how do you display or demonstrate these values or virtuous qualities at work or to people? Begin your reflection with the situations you have observed and experienced in workplace (s) and how they result in a positive identity construction?  Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 11  Use three positive identity infusions tools (These are reflective exercises for self – assessment to become self – aware and discover your best self):  Create positive identity labels to develop desirable behavior.  Use leadership Lifeline exercise to discover milestones in your development, create developmental agenda, and monitor your growth. See catalystleadershipcoaching.com or see Synergy.org. Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 12  Discover your reflected best selves or strengths and their impact upon others. Get feedback on your strengths from professional contacts. Develop your portrait and imagine and explore what and how you will contribute significantly to people and organizations. For Reflected Best Self Exercise (RBSE), read Harvard Business Review article “How to Play to Your Strengths” by Laura M. Roberts et al.  Here’re some of points to consider: ◦ Become self -aware (Sometimes we do not know what we need. ◦ Know about your strengths (best selves) from other’s observations. ◦ Identify common themes in these observations or stories of your behaviour . ◦ Create a self -portrait (select a strength to write about.) ◦ Create a positive identity — How will you deploy these strength? ◦ Enact or bring these selves to work. Reflect on their value, contribution, or relevance at work. Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 13  Specific Writing Guidelines for Response – to – Reading Assignment (also see the Response – to Reading Assignment, pp. 1 – 2)  Bibliographic entry:   Type the Bibliographic Entry as written below on page one of your paper (It comes before the opening para, and it should not be indented).   “Cultivate Positive Identities.” Laura M. Roberts. How to Be a Positive Leader: Small Actions, Big Impact. Jane E. Dutton and Gretchen M. Spreitzer . San Francisco: Berrett – Koehler Publishers, Inc., 2014. 55 – 63. Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 14  Paragraph One OR the Opening Para should :  Start with the book writers’ contribution to scholarship on positive leadership (google it and select a good brief blurb about their contribution. That is, introduce the book authors’ purpose — their vision about the change they believe positive leadership will bring to a workplace — and the central idea of How to Be a Positive Leader . Since you do not have the book with you, here is the central idea of How to Be a Positive Leader from which this chapter was excerpted for your Response -to Reading Assignment ( make sure you paraphrase the book writers’ central idea: The authors state that “your behavior matters and the more positively you lead, the more successful and happy your organization, family, and community will become.” ( How to Be a Positive Leader , 2014, p. XI)  Then state Laura Roberts’s central idea in the chapter “Cultivate Positive Identities” by paraphrasing it. See page 55 (last sentence of first para), page 57 (first sentence of the first new para), and page 63 (last two sentences) for the central idea statements of the author.  End the first para with your assessment of the value of the article’s ideas on positive leadership. Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 15  After completing the opening para, write five paragraphs in your paper. Discuss one idea in each paragraph and make sure your paraphrase the idea at the beginning of each paragraph and refer to the writer and the page number. The concluding para is the fifth para. No more conclusion para is required.   Select five of the following ideas from the chapter (write three Personal Tie -in paragraphs, and two SEC paragraphs (statement of Claim, Evidence, Comment) for your discussion.   Here’re the ideas you could select from:  “Leaders are able to unleash resources through the way in which they construct who they are as leaders and also how they help others construct positive identities.” (p.55). This is the central idea of the chapter.   Any ideas from the GIVE model on pages 56 -57: Growing Identity, Integrated Identity, Virtuous Identity (includes any of the five virtues — wisdom, compassion, humility, courage, and integrity), and Esteemed Identity. These ideas in GIVE model are also discussed and extended in the rest of the article. However, I have selected some of these as quoted below. Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 16  “Positive identity construction unlocks valuable psychological and social resources in work organizations.” This quote is another statement of the central idea. (p. 57)   “When people see themselves growing at work by becoming more capable in their jobs or by becoming better people as a consequence of their work, they are more likely to experience positive emotions and to persist through adversity.” (p. 57)   “People who construct more positive identities are also better able to cope with threats to their identities, such as being criticized harshly or demeaned at work.” (p. 57)   “Positive identity construction also generates more diverse, high -quality relationships at work which are important resources for individuals and organizations.” (p. 57)   “Leaders’ identities are more powerful and sustainable when they are validated by followers’ perceptions.” (p. 58) Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 17  “Positive self – views should be reinforced by behaviors that are consistent with the leader’s positive identity claims.” (p.58)   “They [leaders] acknowledge their own imperfections, creating a safer culture in which people can express their feelings of uncertainty and commit to shared learning and improvement.” (p. 59)   “When leaders cultivate positive identities for themselves and others, they unlock critical psychological and social resources that strengthen individuals and organizations.” (p.63) This quote is another statement of the central idea.   OR Discuss any of the three identity infusions: 1. Positive Identity Labels, 2. Developmental Agenda and Monitoring Your Growth, and 3. Reflected Best – Self Engagement. Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 18  In the concluding para —  Discuss the relevance of one of the ideas for communication in workplace. Here’re some of the ideas which have relevance: Integrity; empathy or compassion; creating a safe culture; using wisdom, courage, humility to build trust, positive identity labels, and any other ideas you think has implications for communication  Review the Response – to – Reading Guidelines handout for explanation of Personal Tie – in and SEC strategy for developing and supporting your discussion of ideas. Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 19  A student’s paragraph for discussion in class (Uses Personal Tie -in strategy for development and support, but has strengths and weaknesses)  A main point the author makes in this chapter is about the GIVE model. The part about integration particularly resonated with me and caused me to think about how the different facets of my life fit together. Integration, as the author describes it, is about different parts of one’s identity being connected in ways which contribute value as a whole. These parts includes work, personal characteristics, education, interests, and any other communities or groups which one is a part of. In reflecting on my experience as a leader, I began to think about how my abilities in one domain translate to success in other, unrelated fields. For example, I have coached high school level water polo for the past five years. Coaching has helped me develop many valuable skills: explaining complex strategic concepts to inexperienced players, resolving conflicts among team members, and fostering an environment which encourages growth and development. These have all translated to success in my role as a student group leader at the university. My job in this area necessitates hosting study sessions for second year classes. Though it may seem unrelated, I am able to draw upon my experience explaining complicated concepts and encouraging a learning -oriented environment. This enables me to perform more effectively as this job than I would otherwise, thanks to the concept of integration. Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 20  Another student’s paragraph for discussion in class (Uses Personal Tie -in strategy for development and support, but has strengths and weaknesses)  The author makes it clear that when people construct more positive identities and show that they are virtuous, they are able to better cope with the threats to their character, such as criticism or demeaning. I believe this to be true, because when you have a positive identity, it is far easier to see the good in anything you do; whether it be in the workplace, or just life in general. As stated earlier, it is important to realize the value that your job has for the company, no matter how high or low on the hierarchy. Having this mindset causes you to care more about the job, and doing the job properly, instead of focusing only on yourself. It helps to handle criticism because you realize that most of the time it is constructive, rather than an attack on your personality. In my experience working at the Nissan dealership as a lot attendant, we are at the lowest ranked position, doing low level work such as cleaning, shifting the cars on the lot and doing anything the managers ask. At first, I did not take my job very seriously, because I thought it was just insignificant. However, after constructing a positive identity, I have realized that my job is important and impactful because much of the day’s work depends on my ability to keep a steady flow of cars coming in and out of the service shop. As a result of looking at my job in a positive light, I have taken a more focused approach and in turn, I am seen positively from my coworkers. Dr. Rakesh Mittoo 21
response to reading
R. Mittoo The financial crisis of 2008 – 2009 made 8 million Americans jobless and led to about 4 million home foreclosures in one year. The homeowners were drowning in mortgage debt; moreover, they owed more than their homes were worth. As they were desperate to refinance their homes, they consulted lawyers and learned the language they could use to appeal to their lenders, such as Countrywide Financial. When its CEO Angelo Mozilo received customer emails, he was angry and instead of forwarding one email, he accidently hit “reply” with the message below: “This is unbelievable. Most of these letters now have the same wording, Obviously, they are being counseled by some other person or by the internet. Disgusting.” This shows Mozilo’s failure to acknowledge homeowners’ hardship and to demonstrate empathy. Tony Hayward, the British Petroleum (BP) CEO, had been living on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico for a month. On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig had exploded, killing 11, injuring dozens, and beginning a gusher that in 100 days pumped five million barrels of crude oil into the Gulf waters. This disaster had been the dominant story in the news media. Hayward, who was working hard and sleep – deprived for a month, seemed frustrated by the media and the others that BP and its leadership weren’t doing enough to stop the flow of oil and protect the Gulf ecosystem. He spoke to the media, standing in front of heavy equipment being readied to be deployed for the cleanup. In a tone of frustration, he tried to show that he took the situation seriously and said: “W e’re sorry. We’re sorry for the massive disruption it has caused their lives. And you know we’re — there’s no one who wants this thing over more than I do. You know, I’d like my life back.” The apology didn’t work. Hayward’s statement had the opposite effect. It didn’t work because instead of showing he cared, the words “I’d like my life back” sounded like self – pity. Critics attacked him, saying 11 rig workers who died would never get their lives back, dozens of injured workers’ lives would never be the same, and fishermen’s livelihood will not be the same for years. Adidas sent an email to 2017 Boston Marathon participants with the subject line “Congrats, you survived the Boston Marathon!” The writer wasn’t thinking about the terrorist attack four years prior, when two bombs killed three people and left several hundred injured. Criticism followed quickly, but so did Adidas’s apology Here’s the tweet in its original format: We are incredibly sorry. Clearly, there was no thought given to the insensitive email subject line we sent on Tuesday. We deeply apologize for our mistake. The Boston Marathon is one of the most inspirational events sporting events in the world. Every year we’re reminded of the hope and resiliency of the running community at this event.  Subsection 4: Integrity of Competitions  25 Integrity of matches and competitions ◦ Persons bound by this code shall be forbidden from taking part in, either directly or indirectly, or otherwise being associated with, betting gambling lotteries and similar events or transactions connected with football matches. They are forbidden from having stakes , either actively or passively, in companies or concerns, organizations, etc. that promote, broker, arrange or conduct such events or transactions. (FIFA, FIFA Code of Ethics, 2012 edition )