Posted: February 26th, 2023

reading help

There are specific guidelines for what to include in this discussion: “Predict, explain, summarize, evaluate.” That means you should make a prediction on the themes, readings, or make a reading connection to our course goals or another outside issue that you find relevant in a paragraph or two. Explain and summarize the prediction in a second paragraph. Back it up with something from the reading. Do not copy text. If you paraphrase ideas you still must cite the information.

profesor instructions

 Make the connection and put into perspective in your own works but back it up with the readings.

 Guidelines: predict, explain, summarize and evaluate the readings.

:Guidelines: predict, explain, summarize and evaluate the readings.

 Just in two paragraphs?

 Make the connection to the class themes from the PowerPoint we went over

reading information 

Readings week 3Readings week 3

Watson “Tales from the City of the Dead”

https://tinyurl.com/y9xhjfco

Bitek “A Chronology of Compassion”

Shibboleth Authentication Request

Watson “Mechanics of Mate Selection”

https://tinyurl.com/y9lz4354

Why Work?

“Love and work are the cornerstones of our humanness”

Sigmund Freud

1

What is work? Work encompasses all productive activities whether for pay or not.

Participating and being part of meaningful and productive endeavors within and outside of the home contributes to self-esteem and provides a sense of purpose.

“Work” can be defined in a general way, but has individual meaning as well.

How work is defined can vary with age, culture and context.

Happiness = Love + Work

This last point can be a discussion topic. Is a stay-at-home Mom “working.” Is work different for a child, adolescent, college student?
2

It is important to consider the changing nature of work over the past century.
What is the role of education, technology, industrialization, globalization and immigration on the world of work?
Will “work” be the same in 20 years?
What issues are important when considering “work?”
The Changing Nature of Work

3

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, work is defined as “activity in which one exerts strength or faculties to do or perform something, and the labor, task or duty that is one’s accustomed means of livelihood and a specific task, duty, function or assignment often being a part or phase of some larger activity.
The first know use of “work” was in the 14th century!
Definitions of Work

4

Work for children is often defined as “play.”
Work for students is often defined as “the use of a person’s physical or mental strength or ability in order to get something done or get a desired result.”
The word “work” is applied in many contexts, for example working out, work place, workforce.

Definitions Continued

In order to stimulate discussion, the class can be asked to generate examples of how the word work is used.
5

Earning money
Achieving status
Making a difference
Following your passions
Using your talents

Dimensions of Work

As an exercise you can have the students rank order what they value about work and do a class tally.
Another discussion point is cultural and generational attribution to different occupations and meaningful “work.” This may be different for our first generation college students.
6

Money: In the past 10 years, money has been the primary driver in articles about “best careers.” Solely reducing work choices to earning power may lose the broader perspective.
Status: How does status or respect fit into your definition of meaningful work? Pride in what you do may be very important. Are you thinking about work to impress others or to meet someone else’s definitions of status. What are cultural expectations?
Dimensions of Work

Questions that can be generated include the challenge of waking up every morning hating a job, but making a very high salary, along with some moral and ethical dilemas.
7

Making a difference: is often relegated to the least important in the top 10 careers. Making a difference for many is an extremely important component of job satisfaction and life satisfaction, whether teaching children, preparing a tax return or saving whales.
Following your passion: while passion doesn’t pay well, finding a way to incorporate that which interests you most into your daily life is critical for life satisfaction.
Using your talents: Talents may not be musical or artistic, but perhaps patient, understanding, loving flowers, empathic. Incorporating your talents contributes to self-esteem and overall satisfaction.
Dimensions of Work

8

Additional ways to frame the meaning of work include:
Social purpose
Moral correctness
Achievement-related pleasure
Autonomy
Recognition
Positive Relationships
“Human hands want to make something and human minds like to think, solve and imagine.” (James Hillman)
Additional Dimensions

A possible assignment might be to do a family “genogram” of work within the family history, having the student trace parents/grandparents/etc. of work.
If you wish to explore the issues of mental health and work a good resource is the WHO document: Mental health and work: Impact issues and good practices (2000)
9

image1