Poetry Analysis: Palm Tree and Ocean Wave

Poetry is not common in the American culture as more immediate forms of entertainment takes precedence. However, poetry is a system of understanding and an effective method of learning. A poem according to the American poet Williams Carlos Williams are “machines made of words”. The ultimate goal of all poems is to create an image and feeling in a readers mind. The more skilled the poet the more successful they are in sharing their experiences and emotions with others.

Poems can be analyzed by taking apart the words of this machine for closer study. A poem can be studied by looking at which lines match with other lines in the sequence. This rhythm is denoted by letters such as AA, BB, CC, etc.. which means there are pairs of rhythm. ABAB would mean that the rhythm augments. There are various types of highly structured and free versus poems. Each has their benefits and detractors when developing this art form. 

As you can see from the poem below there are sequences being used.

Palm Tree and Ocean Wave

The palm tree stood proud by the sea,   (A)

Erect and tall against the skylight.           (B)

Its branches hang short but free             (A)

In front of the ocean blue in full sight.    (B)

This tree gives shade by the ocean wave,             (C)

The sand is hot and burning bright.                        (B)

Such a tree must be strong and brave,                   (C)

To grow its roots both day and night.                      (B)

The water crawls to wash it away,                            (D)

Yet it stands tomorrow and today.                           (D)

Fear not this slithering foe,                                     (E)

The roots are deep against its beckoning tow.           (E)

This palm tree will stand against the might of the wind,  (F)

For it will bend and not break if pinned.                        (F)

All the earths’ wonders are worthwhile,                        (G)

The strongest avoid the history pile.                              (G)

Poetry predates the written word and was first known to exist around 4,500 BC. It originally was designed to help pass history, tell a story, genealogy,  or transmit laws between people.  It was a way of transferring knowledge and information from one person to the next in a manner that could be understood and felt.  Such poetry created shared experiences that helped define group existence.

Poetry can be more superior as an information transference tool when compared to simple written or spoken language alone.  Think of Hooked on Phonics and how rhythm creates easy to remember learning. Since poetry also passes a feeling in the context of a story it has the ability to create multiple pathways of understanding and recall. 

If we think of how poetry was used since the beginning of human development we can understand the nature of storytelling that has occurred in every society. It was this passing of information, creation of culture stories, and the development of thought methods that defined tribes, societies and cultures.  Even though poetry in the information age has fallen out of style it truly is still a remarkable human tool of development.

Eureka! A Burger and Beer in La Jolla

If you are looking for a thick piece of angus to satisfy your primal appetite and a glass of beer to cool your taste buds you might want to shout “Eureka!” The Eureka restaurant offers burgers, custom fries,  salads and much more. A large assortment of craft beers and whiskeys await the patron in their bar, patio or dining areas.  

Eureka is all about bourbons and craft beer. It holds at least thirty different variations of each. Like its beverages, its food is also very American in its orientation. Eureka seeks to use local suppliers and spirit makers in its attempt to create the right atmosphere for its guests. 

Located next to Macy’s in UTC mall Eureka offers a convenient location and easy parking. There is plenty of space inside the establishment and easy seating on the patio. The patio also offers warmers to take away the night chill. It is a nice place to dine if you seek fresh air and an outside view.

Eureka is not your 1950’s style burger joint. It offers a wide menu with most items priced under $15.00. Besides burgers, their signature offerings include hand cut French fries, King Crab Sliders, and Grilled Angus Hangar Steak. There are a number of other well-known offerings that can fulfill the need of just about every type of varying palate. 

On select nights, it is possible to find a singer strumming his guitar and singing various songs to entertain the guests. The music is light and creates the right background atmosphere without overpowering conversation. Sitting on the patio, engaging in some type of rhetoric, and listening to light entertainment is not a bad way to spend an early evening. 

Even though some people might spend the greater portion of the night at the Eureka bar it is primarily an eating and early evening establishment. There is seating for both couples and large groups. It is suggested that you call ahead for large groups. A few spots are available for large seating around a center fire.

4353 La Jolla Village Drive

San Diego, CA. 92122

858-210-344

http://www.eurekaburger.com/pdfs/eureka_burger_sandiego_menu.pdf

Single Assessments in Business Colleges May Not be Telling the Whole Story

Education is a process that helps students widen their understanding of their fields of study as well as the world around them. The problem is that many colleges may not be aware of whether their students are actually learning. As colleges seek to improve learning assessment in light of budget difficulties they are seeking ways of assessing learning. However, such assessments may actually fail in their overall ability to determine higher levels of student learning. A single method of assessment may not actually be telling the whole story. 

Teaching is an important component of any quality of education. Through this understanding we see that all universities should continuously improve upon their teaching methods as much as possible. A study by Pritchard, Saccucci, and Potter in 2010 helps highlight how one AACSB accredited school improved upon their teaching practices by focusing closely on their mission statement. 

The mission statement is the main guide by which all other functions of the organization are derived.  In order for the organization to effectively use this mission statement they should use it as an overriding philosophy to measure effectiveness as well as a way to review those measurements for continuous improvement. The process should be one that continually analyzes itself for improvement and development. 

This study was longitudinal by nature and looked at teacher and program effectiveness over a period of 12 semesters. They measured the teaching quality by using a SIR II assessment given to students every class and every semester. Each professor was required to do an analysis of their teaching results as well as a personal plan of improvement. The assessment design helped teachers to use data to reflect on their overall performance and find ways to improve. 

The results showed that even though professors were seeking overall improvement they did not actually get it. It was also found that students were more engaged in class and putting forward more effort but did not actually learn more. The results of individual analysis did change over time but the single measure was relatively ineffective in assessing what was occurring.

Since the study relied only on SIR II the results were skewed. Proper assessment of instructors and overall learning of students requires multiple avenues of assessment in order to assess complex teaching well. Furthermore, programs themselves may require multiple assessments and ways of looking at learning in order to adequately reflect what is occurring. However, the process of assessment, analysis of results, and implementation of the results remains a valid method of improving student learning. 

Pritchard, R., Saccucci, M. & Potter, G. (2010). Evaluating a program designed to demonstrate continuous improvement in teaching at an AACSB-Accredited college of business at a regional university: a case study. Journal of Education for Business, 85.

John Donne Poetry The Flea and No Man is an Island

John Donne was born in England and was a poet, satirist, cleric and lawyer. He is seen as the ultimate metaphysical poet. Such metaphysical poets lived in the 17^th century and were a loose group of learning poets that used conceits. A Metaphysical conceit is a comparison of two things that concede likeness even though the things may not actually be alike. For example, the concept of a flea biting both a man and his lover might mean that relationships should not be denied just because they are not married.  You can see that association in Donne’s poem “The Flea”:

Oh stay! three lives in one flea spare
Where we almost, yea more than married are.
   This flea is you and I, and this
Our marriage-bed and marriage-temple is.

As you can tell from the poem, John Donne was using far metaphors and wit to get his point across. This type of poetry is based off of neo-Platonism. It is the attempt to find perfection of beauty in the world as the perfection of heaven. Their work was intellectual by nature but often too far reaching for the average reader. At times, they could sting you in the face with a “truth”.  

Johnn Donne lived in poverty for a couple of years as he spent most of his money on women, wine, literature and poetry. He desired to live a carefree life of little responsibility. However, after marriage he became an Anglican priest and eventual a counsel to the government.  His poem No Man is an Island discussed  humanity as connected to each other and cannot survive without a level of unity.

No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.

At the time in history when this poem was written, there were no television sets or radios. The major form of communication was the bell. The bell tolls referred to the potential of death. That each death impacts the totality of society in small ways. It does have an impact as each person is connected to every other person in society. When one leaves the hopes, dreams, desires, and nature of that person leaves with them. Their potential and the collective stream of understanding of society also changes. It is a poem about seeing the value in each person that walks and talks among us…even if we disagree with him or her.