Delivering Lifelong Learning

Delivering Lifelong Learning Enhancing learning through using technology Thinking back to when I delivered in work focused training sessions I found that technology was a huge aid to the learning for the students. I would set them web quests and get them research topics around the subject of day, One in particular that I remember was asking them to look at the human right act I asked them to work in pairs and put together some information about what the act was and why it was so important and how it linked into working in Health and social care.I gave them a set amount of time to do this then asked that they nominated a person to feedback to the group about what they had learnt. Looking back now I see that by encouraging learners to use this technology this was supporting the differentiation off the group it supported all the learners to gain knowledge and understanding even the ones who were not as confident in speaking up as others.I guess the other main way I support learners to u se technology is to encourage them to use the online etrack site to check there progress once I get a learner engaged with this I find that they look forward to checking their progress after each visit it’s a good tool for motivation. And another way would be by getting the learners to access and use the BKSB to support there learning with the maths and English it’s an excellent online tool that will guide them to up skill in the specific areas needed.It can however, as mentioned before highlight too many areas for development and perhaps scare the learner completely so this aid has negatives and positives. Technology can also support learners when writing written assignments they can use Microsoft word and send work over on email for electronic submission or send it to etrack a secure site to make additional progress in between assessments with their assessor. Learners can also use internet for research to support their learning. I also use offline exams that once upl oaded can give instant results, this is good as the learner knows.I have put together a case study of some of the various technology that can be used to support learners and have looked at what the positives and negatives of them are. |Technology available |Positives |Negatives | |Blogs, chat rooms and online discussion |Will help learners to communicate with each other. |Not all learners have | |forums |Accessible and inclusive. Can aid learning from peers. |internet. Connection | | |Is flexible the learner can log on in there own time. problems IT issues, would | | | |not support learners with | | | |low literacy levels. | |Cameras and mobile phones. |Aids communication. Often an instant response. Take |Not always cost effective | | |pictures of evidence |to all learners may create | | | |barriers for some.Bad | | | |signals. Unable to read a | | | |learners body language and | | | |vice versa | |Computer facilities to enable word |Can save work /use spell checker/ word coun t can go back|Not all learners have | |processing assignments and saving |and amend if needed. access to a home | |documents. | |computer/Can not be used | | | |during power cuts? Viruses | | | |could cause work to be | | | |lost. |Digital media for visual/audio recording|Good to play back work/ film to aid recall |Again learners may not have| |and playback | |access to this equipment. | |Electronic portfolios/etrack |Accessible/ sustainable i. e. no need for paper. |Again can create barriers | | |Can access supporting materials. |as not all will have access| | | |at home.Internet | | | |connection problems. | |Email |Electronic submission of work/communication/feedback |See above and also not | | |Can help evidence work set and completed |always an immediate | | | |response.IT issues may | | | |prevent you from receiving. | |Internet access |Accessible and inclusive/ Can access resources |Can lead to plagiarism | |Mobile phones |Aids communication/ Take pictures of evidenc e/ Internet |Not cost effective to all | | |access/Apps |learners/ may create | | | |barriers for some.Poor | | | |signal. Not always an | | | |immediate response. | |Online/offline and on demand tests |sustainable i. e. no need for paper instant results e. g. May highlight lots of work | | |diagnostics exams |required/ may not be a pass| | | |could de motivate | |Online discussion forums |Can be flexible to the learner/ can aid learning from |Again learners may not have| | |peers |access to this equipment. | | |Poor internet connection. | |Presentation software |Visual aid for learners/ can be emailed and used as a |Does not support all | | |reference |learning styles | |Scanners |Can upload documents evidence immediately |Again learners may not have| | | |access to this equipment. |Web cameras and video conferencing |If you cannot be in the same place as your learner and |See above | | |need to observe them | | |VLE |Can access supporting materials |See above | |Specialist equipment such as readers |Can aid learners with visual impairment or limited |See above | |tape recorders, Talking |verbal communication | | |calculators/Computer terminals with | | | |speech output | | | |DVR |Can be played back uploaded for evidence |Some people don’t feel | | | |comfortable being recorded. |Expectations of the minimum core in relation to delivering lifelong learning Firstly I would like to explain the importance of good communication it is imperative to ensure that information is given and received. It is the key to motivation, managing behaviour and promoting good working relationships. It includes verbal non verbal and written and can include various technology email/webinar and forums. I must ensure that I have excellent communication techniques to be able to maintain learner’s attention and to show professionalism when giving feedback. I need to be aware of my tone and facial expressions knowing when to change my tone to say show sympathy an d understanding r to take control of a disruptive group.I need to ensure that if I use jargon that the learner is supported in understanding what that is? ETRACK what is etrack a demonstration needs to be given so that the learner understands. Speaking/ Listening/Reading/Writing are the four skills I must demonstrate when supporting learners in Literacy, language and ICT I have looked at Tuckman’s theory of group work in relation to how people in groups communicate. He came up with a development model that shows the stages of development of how groups will communicate. Forming In the first stages of team building, the forming of the team takes place. The individual's behavior is driven by a desire to be accepted by the others, and avoid controversy or conflict.Serious issues and feelings are avoided, and people focus on being busy with routines, such as team organization, who does what, when to meet, etc. individuals are also gathering information and impressions – abo ut each other, and about the scope of the task and how to approach it. This is a comfortable stage to be in, but the avoidance of conflict and threat means that not much actually gets done. Storming Every group will next enter the storming stage in which different ideas compete for consideration. The team addresses issues such as what problems they are really supposed to solve, how they will function independently and together and what leadership model they will accept.Team members open up to each other and confront each other's ideas and perspectives. In some cases storming can be resolved quickly. In others, the team never leaves this stage. The maturity of some team members usually determines whether the team will ever move out of this stage. Some team members will focus on minutiae to evade real issues. Norming The team manages to have one goal and come to a mutual plan for the team at this stage. Some may have to give up their own ideas and agree with others in order to make th e team function. In this stage, all team members take the responsibility and have the ambition to work for the success of the team's goals. Performing It is possible for some teams to reach the performing stage.These high-performing teams are able to function as a unit as they find ways to get the job done smoothly and effectively without inappropriate conflict or the need for external supervision. By this time, they are motivated and knowledgeable. The team members are now competent, autonomous and able to handle the decision-making process without supervision. Dissent is expected and allowed as long as it is channeled through means acceptable to the team. 1. ^ The Five Stages of Project Team Development, Gina Abudi – Retrieved May 18th 2010 Its not very often I deliver to groups but this research has helped me to look at the importance of it and also the importance of communication not only from myself but between learners.I often teach learners individually however they te nds to be a group within one setting and they will often work together to learn and gain knowledge for the award. So it’s important that I have an understanding the theory and psychological dynamics of group work. Evaluation of own practice in delivering inclusive learning and teaching I feel that I do adapt my teaching to try to suit each individual need. I have some learners for example who need much more support with their functional skills than others and in these cases I have arranged extra visits with and given one to one support. I do feel that since delivering Functional skills my practice has improved.At the start I found it difficult to know where to start with supporting learners and with experience I have gained confidence and knowledge of the support materials available. I have also recently obtained some really helpful handouts to support learners with understanding the requirements of literacy. They are like flash cards and are very easy to understand. Looking back I can think of learners that this resource will have been very helpful. And I wish now that I had sourced them sooner. I am also not entirely confident in speaking in group situations and I know that the only way to prepare for this is to be fully prepared and to ensure that I have researched a subject fully.I have passed my functional skill level 2 in literacy and Math but would like to go on to complete the level 3 as I feel this will enhance my knowledge and confidence and thus can only benefit my learners. I intend to complete a diagnostic on the BKSB to identify what areas I need to improve on. I also need to work on some of my ICT skills in particular spreadsheets as I work in health and social care its not to often I have deliver ICT so I feel I have not focused on this area as much as I should have. I In particular I know I need to work on spreadsheets and I have been working through some workbooks on the BKSB to help with this. I would hate to ever be in a situation wh ere a learner wanted support in this area and I was unable to give it.

Performance Appraisal Essay

Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House is a dramatic play that epitomizes the sacrificial role of women, parental and filial obligations, and the unreliability of appearances. The play illustrates the story of the Helmers family, introducing the role and purpose of each character. Moreover the play shows the advantages and limitations of the dramatic form. First and foremost, Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House shows the different advantages of the dramatic forms. These advantages give appeal to its audience. One of these advantages is the use of social interaction skills. With dramatic plays, one an enhance his/ her ability to interact to others, the way he/ she talks, and the way he/ she deliver his/her lines or part. Another advantage is the language development. The vocabulary is more improved in most dramatic play. Script writers often use words that are easy to understand but in addition, they also include new words that maybe new to the audiences’ hearing. Vocabulary is not the only part that is improved; sentence structuring is as well developed. In dramatic forms, organization of words is highly different. The third advantage of dramatic forms is the use of symbols. In literature, symbolism is very important. Symbols make the story more understandable for the audience or readers. Symbols are the objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas and concepts. Lastly in dramatic forms, fantasy and reality are mixed together. Sometimes fantasy is being turned to reality and on the other hand reality is being turned to fantasy. However, A Doll’s House doesn’t only show the advantages of the dramatic forms, it also shows its limitations. These limitations sometimes let the audience want for more. Dramatic forms that are not detailed like Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House turn off the audiences’ ppetite. Oftentimes plays are being summarized, script writers do not include unnecessary details, and they only write what is needed and appropriate for the play. They do not give the audience the whole picture, hence they let the audience think of their own conclusion in some part. In addition, plays have limitations on time. Script writers avoid the audience to get bored, so they avoid long and repetitive scripts. Also plays like this are confusing, since script writers do not give the whole picture to the audience; confusion starts to arise in the middle of the play. Summing up, Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House shows the advantages and limitations of the dramatic forms. Advantages such as language development and use of symbols make dramatic forms more understandable and interesting. Therefore, these advantages help the audience to be more comfortable and attached to the story. On the other hand, the play also illustrates the limitation of dramatic forms.

Morphology of Dragonflies

Lab Section 1 Wednesday 1:10-4:00 M. Moore Zoology Lab #1 Morphology of Dragonflies In analyzing the morphology of dragonflies by looking at two different time periods and the water levels, data was found to illustrate that body size might be directly influenced by water levels. By looking at the dragonfly species Sympetrum vincinum during the 2001 drought and 2008 normal rainfall, the data showed that there was no statistical difference in abdomen depth (p value 0. 20741). There was a statistical difference in forewing length (p value 0. 006), hindwing area (p value 0. 000164) and thorax depth (p value 0. 0001). The means provided from the different species showed that there was a small difference from 2001 to 2008 and that the 2008 data was smaller with the normal amount of rainfall opposed to the 2001 draught.The Mean for 2001 of the Forewing length (23. 30mm), Hindwing area (169. 88mm2), thorax depth (6. 04mm), abdomen length (21. 08mm), were larger than 2008. The 2008 means are as follows, Forewing Length (22. 06mm), Hindwing Area (148. 61mm2), Thorax Depth (5. 25mm) and Abdomen Length (20. 0mm). In the study â€Å"Fitness and body size in mature odonates† it was found that body size has an important role in the fitness of dragonflies and is directly related to their ability to reproduce and survive (Sokolovska, Rowe, and Johansson 2000). Through this study it was found that there was no statistical difference in the abdomen depth from 2001 and 2008 with varying water levels. This suggests that the dragonflies did not change their abdomen size because that particular size was the one that best aided their fitness, not relying on water levels.Egg Laying in Petrels: Successful versus Failed Eggs In the comparison of the successful eggs and the failed eggs, there was a statistical difference between them concerning the egg’s length, breadth and mass. This leads to idea that the failed eggs were not cared for as well as the successful eggs had be en. For the comparison of the successful versus the failed eggs, the egg length (p value 0. 01849), egg breadth (p value 0. 00057) and the egg mass (p value 0. 00057). In the study of â€Å"Leach’s Storm- Petrel done by Huntington et al. n 1996, they found that there may be various reasons why there are unsuccessful egg hatching with these birds. In the data analysis of the successful versus the failed eggs the reasons that there is a statistical difference between them may be because of nesting site, incubation time, or size of parental birds (Huntington et al. 1996). There are many factors to contribute to the reasons why there is a statistical difference between the sizes of the successful versus failed eggs. This data proves that there is a significant difference between the egg sizes and this will lead to further studies to gain more information.Egg Laying in Guillemots: Inter- Year Effects The data found from the analysis of measuring the length and breadth of eggs fro m Guillemonts to see when the birds had better reproduction ability from the first year of their breeding in comparison to their second or third year. The data illustrated a statistical difference between the egg length and breadth from the first year to the second or third year. The birds produced larger eggs in their first year of breeding in comparison to their second or third year breeding.The length comparison between first year and second or third year (p value 0. 00036) and the breadth comparison was (p value 0. 019112), which both exhibit a significant statistical difference. The egg size and shape varies on many different factors including the environment, the age of the female and when the eggs are laid (Butler and Buckley 2002). This analysis proves the point that egg size is affected by the age of the female and that the first breeding season of the female produces the best eggs.Works Cited Butler, G. R. , Buckley, E. D. 2002. Black Guillemot. The Birds of North America, No. 675. Huntington, E. C. , Butler, G. R. , and Mauck A. R. 1996. Leach’s Storm- Petrel. The Birds of North America, No. 233. Sokolovska N. , Rowe L. , and Johansson F. 2000. Fitness and body size in mature odondates. Ecological Entomology, 25:239-248. Table 3. Wing Variable recorded for male Sympetrum vincinum at Lemon Stream in Franklin County (ME) in September 2001 and September 2008. Table 3. . Morphological variables recorded for male Sympetrum vincinum at Lemon Stream in Franklin County (ME) in September 2001 and September 2008. Table 6. Egg measurements collected on Great Island (Newfoundland, Canada) from nesting Leach’s Storm-petrels in 1983 (from Butler, unpublished data). Table 9. Black Guillemot egg measurements collected on Great Duck Island (Hancock County, Maine) from banded adults in their 1st and 2nd and 3rd breeding seasons 1991 and 1993 (Butler and Barkley 2002).

The American Flag essays

The American Flag essays Freedom, courage and honor are just a few symbolizations of the American flag. Every flag stands for something, but for Americans, the flag symbolizes much more that the country it flies in. The American flag symbolizes the people in the country and what many individuals have done for it, including giving their lives. Many wars have been fought under the American flag, encouraging each man to stay strong. The unity in the flag is alone enough to symbolize America, but the efforts and fights that have taken place, cannot be looked past. One nation under God, the allegiance states. As Americans pledge allegiance to the American flag claiming to he one nation under the one and only God, people across the ocean are being killed for praying to this God. Freedom of speech and religion are only two of the many freedoms Americans have. To other countries, to be able to pray, even silently, to God, is not heard of, but Americans come together and pledge to be a nation under God, without penalty. The American flag flies high and proud just in that, but the courage it shows as it waves in the wind reminds us of the American people. Across the seas, American soldiers fought, not for their own lives, but for America. The freedom that now reigns in America did not come without a war. The American flag stands for each courageous man that has ever fought for the life and well being of America. Not only does the flag stand for the soldiers, but also it stands for the people, civilians, at home fighting the war for food and money as the American economy had also been enduring the battle wounds of the over-seas war. The flag still flew high, even in times of need, to remind each American to keep their courage. For, without courage, there would be no America with a free-flying flag to honor it. At half-mast, the American flag will fly to show honor and recognition to those who lost their lives at times of war ...

brew of life essays

brew of life essays Anthony Burgess, Selective Individualist It is often said that life is full of choices and the choices you make is what makes you yourself. Society, however, has since the dawn of time tried to control the thoughts of individuals by forcing ideas upon them that destroys the person on a mental and emotional level while crushing their physical well-being. With the thoughts of a perfect world, people often forget that when you force a society to conform to standards you also kill the society's existence in the process, making it more machine that human. It takes a strong and educated person to realize these mistakes made by society and try to show others why it's wrong to try force conformity. Anthony Burgess' belief that "a man who cannot choose ceases to be a man" is exemplified in most of his works, but most notably in A Clockwork Orange in which a so-called good society tries to change the psyche of a troubled Born John Anthony Burgess Wilson, Anthony Burgess is a man of great stature and respect. "A big man of sturby, ramshackle appearance, with a blunt disarming manner and awesome energy (Clemons 56)." He loved life and expressed it in his works of literature. Born in Manchester, England during the influenza epidemic, during which his mother and sister passed away soon after his birth, Burgess' was ignored by his father who he received little to no attention from. This, however, allowed him to create the thoughts and ideas which he preaches. He was a man of little religious belief because he questioned why man was put on earth. Burgess believed that people should live life in the present not for the future, which labeled him an anarchist by the church of England. He didn't mind the accusations though, he was content with the life he led. (Clemons 56) Anthony Burgess was a frail child, secluded from the world. At the age of four he used his time to try and discover a ta...

You Need to Check Out These 20 Top Christian Colleges

You Need to Check Out These 20 Top Christian Colleges SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’re a religious Christian, you may want to consider attending a Christian college. Your quality of life could be better at a school where a majority of the students and faculty members share your values and beliefs. Additionally, Christian colleges often incorporate their Christianity into their missions and curricula. In this article, I’ll provide you with a ranking list of the 20 best Christian colleges in the United States. Furthermore, I’ll offer you possible benefits and disadvantages of attending a top Christian college and explain how to research and find Christian colleges that could be a good fit for you. What Is a Christian College? Christian colleges are private colleges that identify as having a Christian affiliation. Keep in mind that some colleges were founded as Christian colleges but now consider themselves nonsectarian or independent. Also, some people separate Catholic colleges from colleges of other Christian denominations. In my rankings of the best Christian colleges, I considered Catholic colleges and colleges of all other Christian denominations. Most Christian colleges integrate Christianity into the classroom, extracurricular activities, and the campus environment, but they do so to varying degrees. While Christian colleges tend to have religious-themed programs and majors, most Christian colleges also offer traditional and secular classes and majors. Furthermore, many Christian colleges have a substantial number of non-Christian students. What Makes a Christian College Great? For the purposes of this article, the criteria that make a Christian college great are the same as those that make any college great.A great college should provide you with a good quality of life, a challenging yet supportive academic environment, and ample future opportunities. For my rankings, I disregarded how Christianity is infused into the campus life or education at the college. I didn't think the role of Christianity at the school affected the quality of the college, but it's important to note that many of these colleges vary significantly in the role Christianity plays on campus and in the classroom. If you're interested in attending a Christian college, you should consider the role Christianity plays at the college. Are you going to have to take classes about Christianity? Does the school have a strict code of conduct that coincides with its Christian values? What is the school’s church affiliation? Are the majority of students practicing Christians? You should go to the school that best fits your needs and preferences. The TopChristian Colleges To calculate my rankings of the best Christian colleges, I averaged the US News and Forbes rankings for each school. Arguably, US News and Forbes have the most reputable college ranking lists. Collectively, they factor academic reputation, graduation rate, freshman retention rate, selectivity, average alumni salary, and a host of other factors into their rankings. Because US News separates schools into different categories, I used the National University ranking or National Liberal Arts College ranking for each school. I didn't consider good Christian colleges like Villanova and Santa Clarathat US News classifies as Regional Universities or Colleges because they're only ranked against schools in their regions in the US News rankings. They don't have a US News national ranking. Keep in mind that a few of these colleges are only loosely affiliated with Christianity. For example, Davidson College and Kenyon College have official church affiliations, but both campuses offer more secular environments and have more students of different faiths than some of the other colleges on this list. On the other hand, Notre Dame, BYU, Wheaton (IL), and Pepperdine have some of the most religious students in the country. Without further ado, here's my list of the top 20 Christian colleges. I put the liberal arts colleges in bold. School US News Ranking Forbes Ranking Average Ranking Acceptance Rate 1. University of Notre Dame 18 13 15.5 22% 2. Davidson College 9 31 20 26% 3. Georgetown University 21 23 22 17% 4. Boston College 30 37 33.5 32% 5. Kenyon College 25 48 36.5 38% 6. College of the Holy Cross 32 55 43.5 33% 7. Macalester College 23 67 45 34% 8. Emory University 21 79 50 26% 9. Trinity College (CT) 43 81 62 34% 10. Sewanee: The University of the South 48 84 66 60% 11. Centre College 45 89 67 69% 12. Wheaton College (IL) 57 86 71.5 69% 13. Rhodes College 51 98 74.5 58% 14. St. Olaf College 51 106 78.5 59% 15. Furman University 51 110 80.5 64% 16. Southern Methodist University 61 108 84.5 51% 17. Brigham Young University 66 104 85 49% 18. Pepperdine University 52 128 90 37% 19. Wheaton College (MA) 67 171 119 67% 20. Marquette University 86 157 121.5 57% How Should You Use This List? If you want to go to a well-regarded Christian college, you should research the colleges on this list that interest you to determine if they’re schools you should apply to or attend. There are many factors to help determine if a college is a good fit for you including location, selectivity, support services, and the majors offered. Look at the school’s website, and use guidebooks, college finders, search websites, and other ranking lists to help you in the college selection process. If possible, consult with teachers, counselors, parents, current students, and alumni. What Are the Benefits of Going to a Christian College? Generally, public or nonsectarian colleges have a significant representation of secular and liberal students. At the more liberal colleges, you may find some hostility toward organized religion. However, if you're Christian and attend a Christian college, you're unlikely to find as much animosity toward Christianity, and you'll be able to share your faith with a greater percentage of your fellow students and professors. Additionally, if you're a religious Christian, a Christian college may be more likely to reflect your values and beliefs. At many Christian colleges, Christianity informs the views and mission professed by the college. You may feel more comfortable at a place that emphasizesyour ideals. Furthermore, Christian colleges tend to offer more opportunities to study and engage in Christianity. Christian colleges usually have more classes and majors focused on learning about Christianity. At Abilene Christian University in Texas, there is a separate College of Biblical Studies. If you want to explore your Christian faith more deeply, there may be no better place to do so than at a Christian college. Why Should You Consider a Secular College? Even if you're a religious Christian, you may benefit from attending a secular college. Ideally, you should learn from your peers and professors in college, and you may solidify or alter your views by being exposed to diverse opinions and religious beliefs. A secular college can offer you a more heterogeneous environment. Additionally, almost all secular colleges still have Christian student groups and offer religious services for Christian students. If it's important to you to actively participate in Christianity while you're in college, you can research the student organizations and religious life on a college's website. Most likely, you'll find numerous opportunities to engage with other Christian students and practice your faith, regardless of whether you attend a Christian or secular college. In general, Christian colleges are more strict and conservative than secular colleges. If you're Christian but more liberal or less willing to abide by the stricter rules at a Christian college, then you may be happier attending a secular school. Finally, Christian colleges are all private colleges. If you want to take advantage of the opportunities available at larger public universities, you should consider a secular college. If you're worried that you may not qualify for need-based financial aid, but you're concerned about college costs and minimizing your debt after you graduate, public state universities can be a good option because they tend to have lower tuition rates, especially for in-state residents. You may be able to save money by going to a secular school. What Should You Do if You Want to Find or Research Other Christian Colleges? Remember that rankings are somewhat subjective, and even though the schools on the above list may be the most well-regarded Christian schools, it's most important to find the college that's the best fit for you. If you want to find other Christian colleges that didn't make the list, you can use a couple of the better college finders to assist you. On Big Future, you can search for schools using many different search categories, including religious affiliation. Big Future provides extensive information, like application deadlines, average GPA and SAT scores, and the majors offered for each school. On College View, you can search for Christian colleges, or you can search for schools based on their specific church affiliation. Additionally, there are over 20 other search categories to help narrow your college search. Finally, you can research members of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. There are 180 total members. You can search members by location or denominational affiliation. If you click on a result, you'll be sent to the college's website. What's Next? If you're getting ready to apply to college, check out this post about everything you need to know about the college essay. Also, you'll want to learn about the important application deadlines you can't miss. Lastly, find out how to write about extracurricular activities on your college applications. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Free Essays on Bigger Thomas Masculinity Challenged In Native Son

Bigger Thomas’ masculinity is often challenged in Native Son. The females he interacts with challenge it. None of the females in Native Son are independent; the females are of no real importance until they are in relation to males’ figures of authority (Clause, np). The women are only in relation to the husbands, sons, fathers, brothers and boyfriends: without them they could not function alone in this novel. The sole purpose of the women in this novel is to further the story. They further the story by putting Bigger in new and more dangerous situations by questioning or threatening his male authority. Native Son starts out with a rat in the apartment on Bigger and his family. Bigger kills the rat that attacked his leg and he comes to the understanding he would either kill himself or someone else (Wright, 14). This logic stays with Bigger throughout the novel. He knows if he wanders aimlessly in life that his dreams and ambitions will be killed. He, himself with no longer and exist because his thoughts and ideas will no longer be his own. Bigger puts up fences and defends him in anyway that he can, including violence. Throughout the novel Bigger’s defenses increase and he defends himself with increasing violence and hostility. Bigger is always defensive about his self-image, especially his masculinity. Mary Dalton, Mrs. Thomas, Bessie Mears and Mrs. Dalton all have one sole purpose in the novel and that is to create a feeling of insecurity in Bigger Thomas’ life. Mrs. Thomas is the most intimidating female in Bigger’s life; she is his mother. She nags Bigger hoping to influence changes in his life. All she accomplishes to make Bigger more angry and hostile. Bigger dies not have much respect for his mother because he feels she blindly and passively accepts her living conditions, not just the place she calls home, but also her place in society and life. Mrs. Thomas insults her son while he is trying t... Free Essays on Bigger Thomas' Masculinity Challenged In Native Son Free Essays on Bigger Thomas' Masculinity Challenged In Native Son Bigger Thomas’ masculinity is often challenged in Native Son. The females he interacts with challenge it. None of the females in Native Son are independent; the females are of no real importance until they are in relation to males’ figures of authority (Clause, np). The women are only in relation to the husbands, sons, fathers, brothers and boyfriends: without them they could not function alone in this novel. The sole purpose of the women in this novel is to further the story. They further the story by putting Bigger in new and more dangerous situations by questioning or threatening his male authority. Native Son starts out with a rat in the apartment on Bigger and his family. Bigger kills the rat that attacked his leg and he comes to the understanding he would either kill himself or someone else (Wright, 14). This logic stays with Bigger throughout the novel. He knows if he wanders aimlessly in life that his dreams and ambitions will be killed. He, himself with no longer and exist because his thoughts and ideas will no longer be his own. Bigger puts up fences and defends him in anyway that he can, including violence. Throughout the novel Bigger’s defenses increase and he defends himself with increasing violence and hostility. Bigger is always defensive about his self-image, especially his masculinity. Mary Dalton, Mrs. Thomas, Bessie Mears and Mrs. Dalton all have one sole purpose in the novel and that is to create a feeling of insecurity in Bigger Thomas’ life. Mrs. Thomas is the most intimidating female in Bigger’s life; she is his mother. She nags Bigger hoping to influence changes in his life. All she accomplishes to make Bigger more angry and hostile. Bigger dies not have much respect for his mother because he feels she blindly and passively accepts her living conditions, not just the place she calls home, but also her place in society and life. Mrs. Thomas insults her son while he is trying t...