Electronic Project Management System Project in Construction

Electronic show precaution System Project in ConstructionIntroductionConstruction is one of the most complicated industries in the world. It engages in m each kind of industries and processes to complete the edifice check. Therefore, wrench also call for to substance ab persona confound charge methodological analysis to manage the communicate.Nowadays, information technology is a very useful tool to help the business. Construction also use such(prenominal) information technology to helping in the building processes, therefore, a complex body part company would like to implement a electronic labour perplexity system to manage the building processes.In this electronic undertaking management system tramp, it would like to choose the PRINCE2 instead of PMP for the regorge management methodology. We would like to compare those methodologies and suggest the most suitable one for the similar case in construction industry.We have many project management methodologies in the world solely when it is difficult to choose one for special project. We will use PRINCE 2 to compare with PMP in several areas.Prince 2PRINCE is a project management methodology and it is stand for PRojects IN Controlled Environments (PRINCE). PRINCE2 is the second version of this methodology and it is a registered trademark of the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) of UK. PRINCE2 is widely in use by UK regimen and other company in UK.PRINCE2 is a structure project management methodology for different kind of project, not only for Information Technology.PmbokPMBOK also is a project management methodology and it is stand for Project Management Book of companionship. PMBOK is a guide of best practice in a project and it is published by PMI (Project Management Institute). PMBOK is widely in use in the world but not only in US or compass north America.PMP (Project Management Professional) is a surface known certificate for the PMBOK. You could use PMBOK standard in different kind of industry that runs a project.Project Life-cycle based versus Knowledge Area basedIn PRINCE2, it has clear plantd the project feel-cycle in eight main processes as follows,l Starting up a project (SU)l Directing a project (DU)l Initiating a project (IP)l Managing stage boundaries (SB)l Controlling a stage (CS)l Managing harvesting delivery (MP)l Closing a project (CP)l Planning (PL)Each of the main process has its sub-process and totally in 45 processes with their own documentation. equalise with PRINCE2, PMBOK has discuss in nine functional based knowledge area rather than use project life-cycle,l Project integration managementl Project scope managementl Project time managementl Project cost managementl Project quality managementl Project human resource managementl Project parleys managementl Project risk managementl Project procurement managementEach of the knowledge area has its sub-process and totally in 42 processes.It seems PRINCE2 has well defined the project life-cyc le than PMBOK. PRINCE2 has defined light(a) to follow procedure, checklists and hints for project manager to use through the project life-cycle. PMBOK mainly discuss the skills, tools and techniques in the nine knowledge areas.In PRINCE2, the project life-cycle is not starting from the needs or feasibility study. In PRINCE2 manual stated Most of what in PRINCE2 terms will be stages will be divisions of implementation in the product life span. Therefore, PRINCE2 is more belike to be implementation methodology than project management methodology. PMBOK recognize any projects needs the assessment and feasibility study before the project start. It is more likely is a project management methodology.DocumentationIn PRINCE2, it has heavily on documentation. PRINCE2 has described thirty-six standard management documents such as plans and reports that are involved through the consentient methodology.Acceptance Criteria, A definition in measurable terms of the characteristics required of t he final product(s)for it/them to the customers and staff who will be affected. It seems to be provided by the project management team and written during the project starting and it should be a mandatory documentation in the project.Communication Plan, To define all parties gratifyed in the project. It contains a description of the means and frequency of communication between them and the project team. It is a document stated all interest parties, what information is required, how often is the communication and the method. It is to be provided by the project management team and written during the project starting for future as a communication roadmap.End Project Report, This report is the Project Managers report to the Project Board (who whitethorn pass it on to corporate or programme management) on how well the project has performed against its Project Initiation Document. This report should provided by the Project Manager and written during the Closing a Project stage. Also, it i s a mandatory document in the project.Issue Log, It is use to record all issues raised in the project those need to take attention. It may include any concern in the project or any requirement out of the project scope the need of the change of scope. Project issues may be raised by anyone associated with the project at any time. In PRINCE2, the issue log is a mandatory document in the controlling project stage. It should has access control and kept in a safe placeLesson Learned Log, To be a repository of any lesson learned during the project that can be usefully applied to other projects. It should be written at the closing stage of the project and it may be a mandatory document to act as a Learning subroutine library for future use.Project Mandate, The information in the Mandate is used to trigger Starting up a Project(SU). It should contain sufficient information to identify at least the prospective Executive of the Project Board and indicate the subject matter of the project. I t should come from the Project committee that can approve the cost, the project and any resources. It also is a mandatory document in the project starting stage.Except the Lesson Learned Log, those documents are not discussed and mentioned in the PMBOK. It seems PMBOK is discussing on the project management skills and techniques more than the documentation.Schedule And PlanningIn PRINCE2, it is more focus on the project goal or objective to be delivered and the quality. It is using slightly common techniques or tools such as Gantt Chart, Pert Chart or any other method in the Planning (PL) stage.PRINCE2 introduce several stairs in the planning stage. Firstly, create a Product Breakdown Structure (PBS). Secondly, write down the Product Description. Finally, create the Product Flow Diagram. PRINCE2 has provided examples and defined clearly in each step what is the project manager should do. It has provided an easy to follow instruction for the project manager to manage the project.In PMBOK, planning is a world(a) skill in the project management. It also applied to each project phase and through the whole project life-cycle. Also, PMBOK will use Gantt Chart or Pert Chart for the project planning and tracking. However, project planning in PMBOK always discussing in different knowledge areas and it seems across and integrated through the whole project.Control In Project ManagementIn PRINCE2, according to the materials, control is talking about the closing making by the project management team. It is targeting to puzzle the project goal, fulfill the defined project quality condition, meet the project schedule, cost and resources planned and to deal with any crisis it may rose in the project life-cycle to complete the project.As mention at above, it is the responsibility of the project manager. PRINCE2 has defined very clearly between valuation account, Contingency and Change Control.Tolerance is the permissible deviation from a plan without bringing the deviatio n to the attention of the next higher authority. Tolerance for the project manager is needed because there has no any project will run as hundred percent as planned in the world even the project manager with a good plan.Contingency, in PRINCE2 terms, is a budget including the time and money set aside to carry out a contingency plan which will only be invoked in a linked risk actually occurs. Contingency plan is needed in the project because the any project has some circumstantial accident issue to cause the project fail.Change Control, the control of change means the assessment of the impact of potential changes, their importance, their cost and a judgmental decision by management on whether to include them or not.14 In any project, change is inevitable but it need to under control and approved to look into the project could meet the schedule and budget.IN PMBOK, control is discussed in several knowledge areas. As change control, it is discuss in Project Integrated Management Like the schedule and planning, control is always to be discuss in the several knowledge areas through the whole project life-cycle.ConclusionAs a project management methodology, PRINCE2 and PMBOK have very different approaches for project management. It is because both methodologies serve in different areas. Therefore, they cannot directly to do the comparison.PMBOK, it demonstrates the best method for precept the project management skills and techniques in each knowledge area, but it did not provide an effective guidance or examples for running a project.Compare with PMBOK, PRINCE2 use a project life-cycle base method to demonstrate its methodology is difficult to judge in each knowledge area.After the study of PRINCE2, its most likely to serve as customer vs supplier situation. In the PRINCE2s book, it has been pointing out the project will be running for a customer instead of a egotism manage situation. That means PRINCE2 is basically use to running a outsource project by the vendo r more than running a project by the project sponsor. As describe in the book of PRINCE2, it also has an assumption the project is running for a customer with only one vendor. In the cosmos of construction management, it always deals with multiple vendors and the coordination or responsibilities are more complex than the example in the book.Compare with PRINCE2, PMBOK is more likely to run the project by the project sponsor rather than outsource to external vendor. It is because the book of PMBOK is written from the point of view of the project sponsor rather than the external vendor. Furthermore, PMBOK has discuss much in human resource management, financial management or procurement management more than PRINCE2.As this papers topic, it is talking about a construction company would like to implement an electronic project management system for construction project.Of course, construction company always in running a construction project. Therefore, project management skills and tech niques are their professional and specialty. Although, construction company is a specialist in project management, they are only professional in building project but not software implementation.Since, construction industry is a complicated industry and almost all building project is outsource and subletting to their subcontractor. Therefore, the electronic project management system also needs to deal with different kind of supplier and processes.In the case, the heavily and robust documentation system of PRINCE2 may help to write down all necessary information about the software project. Moreover, outsource and subletting already has best practice in construction industry, it is an easy task for the construction company instead of running the project by themselves.So, PRINCE2 is most prefer to use as the software project management methodology in the construction industry.Bibliography2005.Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2.2005 ed. TSO (The Stationery Office).2000. A Guide To The Project Management Body Of Knowledge. 2000 ed. Project Management InstituteReference1 PRINCE2, p132 PMBOK, p73 PRINCE2, p2344 PMBOK, p125 PRINCE2, p3416 PRINCE2, p3417 PRINCE2, p3458 PRINCE2, p3519 PRINCE2, p36010 PRINCE2, p36111 PRINCE2, p37912 PRINCE2, p23313 PRINCE2, p23614 PRINCE2, p28515 PMBOK, p41

Methods of Data Collection

Methods of Data Collection1. INTRODUCTIONThis report consists of how entropy argon fooled and what are the methods to collect information for look into. To improve a research better one or for more learning of bad-tempered thing which is to be examined. In this report a brief weigh of method of collecting data by primary data and lower-ranking data with their classifications will be observed.2. Methods of collecting primary dataOBSERVATIONQUESTIONNAIRESEMI-STRUCTURED AND IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW.2.1 OBSERVATIONObservation means finding what people do, what they need, etc It combines of recording, describing, analysis and interpretation of people behavior. Observation are two different types,PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION.In participant observation researcher will involve with subject activities and live and being a member of group. E.g. . only documentary films are all of this broad.This type roles areComplete participantComplete observerObserver as participant actor as observer.Graphic al repre moveation of participant observation researcher rolesParticipant as observer complete participantObserver as participant complete observerSTRUCTURED OBSERVATION.As the heading its self describes about what kind of observation are done in it. Its a structured way of dealing data collection method, which involves in high level of predetermine structured .It form only some part of data collection. Ex A daily attendance sheet, planning sheet.2.2 SEMI STRUCTURED AND IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWSIt involves in interviewing a somebody or on group. Where interview are classified into structured, semi-structured, unstructured interviews. In structured interviews a format of question are followed for some limited criteria to be handled, which consists of standard questions.For semi-structured interviews it is based on optioning the customer to select their preferred section of questions. Whereas unstructured interviews deals with in depth involvement in a token or interested area.Interviews are done by face to face and group interviews. Face to face interviews can figure out a person behavior, but group interview show how groups are mingled together and how they differ one another.HOW CAN THESE TYPE OF INTERVIEWS ARE USEFUL IN RESEARCH2.3 QUESTIONNARIEIt is a general way of collecting data, in which person is asked to answer for same set of questions in order. It is very easy to ask question for some study or research. Most of the research use questionnaire as their weapon for collecting information. This can be involved in individual level so consume size also be larger one. An interesting one in questionnaire is modes of responding to it.Telephonic panorama.Mail (postal) survey.E-mail survey.QUESTIONNARIE SELECTION CHART2.3.1 Telephonic surveyIt is a common method followed where researcher and respondent are unknown. So limited data are collected from this method. Due to limitations it restrict questionnaire format to smaller one. headspring must be easier for re spondent to answer quickly. Question must not be longer one which consume more time. To handle this survey a trained person must be interviewing. Answers to question can be entered directly on an excel-sheet to save time.2.3.2 Mail (postal) surveyIt is average form of survey where respondent and questionnaire cannot contact directly and without any interaction. Questioner should be preplanned about design and structure of question to be framed in such a way that respondent could answer it without neglecting any question. Questions must be in an order like easy, average, difficult, which can earn a valuable survey. Time are more valued in surveys.2.3.3 E-mail surveyE-mail survey are close to hot survey where people are gather by means of internet. It can be performed in two way by e-mailing or using online survey. Just as mail an e-mail can be sent to respondent for answering but they may not reply for it, due to some reasons. Online survey are better because they answer then and there so data are collected faster than mailing. Today html pages are used to frame survey questions. And exciting one for survey is Google forms which are oftentimes useful for researcher to get job done.3. METHODS OF COLLECTING SECONDARY DATACollecting unoriginal data involves in finding publications, project and research reports, ERP/data warehouse and mining, internet/web for your necessary of research details.3.1 PUBLICATIONSIt refers to printed media like newspapers, textbooks, magazines, journals and reports. These are otherwise known as reference material, which contains wide source of data. queryers follow secondary data as their first priority than primary data because it will lead them to a prissy or complete view of research for their individual topics. As every publications have topic specified to itself, researchers can find easily the source of topic in a systematic manner. To search these publications proper guide lines also required.3.2 ERP/DATAWAREHOUSES AND MININGFor every organization ERP are implemented to gather information about finance, commercial, accounts, production, marketing, RD etcHow do ERP helps in research, since it has data stored day by day, months and yearly basis to compute as integrated one. Researcher of different phenomenon can easily track those information by authorized person of such organization for their data collection. ERP has different sectors combined for example if a researcher form financial sector comes to verify how organization development in that particular sector, he/she can collect information from ERP. Mostly these data are considered as primary data.Data warehouses are secondary data, where large tot up of data are stored. These data cannot be analyzed manually. So software for analyzing it is Data Mining Software, this will segregate all kinds of data and use statistical techniques to analyze data. Some techniques used by this software are variance analysis, cluster analysis, factor analysis, e tc. It is a statistical and information technologies software. To create these software so of vendors of it are, excel miner, SPSS, SAS and SYSSTAT. Data mining is automated process where some features are selected by user.3.3 Internet/webMost basic way collecting secondary data is to search through web. As we know internet search topic and words related thing easily and fast where surplus amount of data are founded in thousands of websites all over the world. It includes all e-textbooks, journals, government reports. To search our results through internet search are provided those are GOOGLE, YAHOO, etc. all these search engines can show several sites but one must choose correct data related to topic of research involves. Most popular website for collecting data are Wikipedia for researcher, where note of particular topic are gives with reference site to get detailed study about research topics. round OF THE IMPORTANT WEBSITES4. conclusionFrom the given information we know about wh at are primary data and secondary data and how to collect those data from various resources. Research must be valuable one so data collection must be done enormously to predict correct result of analysis. auxiliary data can be added in research reports but there must be some data which show your involvement in research process. Research is an endless process because as time changes strategy of reports containing details also vary due to respondent are not same in nature. A research about a topic gives overview, detailed and explanation according to research types. At last collection of data are most important for research because it act as proof or evidence of your valuable reports.Table of Contents PG NOINTRODUCTION 1METHODS OF COLLECTING master(a) DATA 1OBSERVATION 12.1.1 PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION2.1.2 STRUCTURED OBSERVATION 22.2 SEMI STRUCTURED AND INDEPTH INTERVIEWS 32.3 QUESTIONNARIE 42.3.1 TELEPHONIC plenty 52.3.2 POSTAL SURVEY 52.3.3 E-MAIL SURVEY 5METHODS OF COLLECTING SECO NDARY DATA 6PUBLICATIONS 6ERP/DATA WAREHOUSES AND MINING 6INTERNET/WEB 7CONCLUSION 8REFERENCESPEARSON EDUCATION/ THIRD EDITION/ RESEARCH METHODS FOR telephone circuit STUDENTS/ Mark Saunders/Philip Lewis/Adrian Thorn hillSAGE PUBLICATIONS/ESSENTIALS OF BUSINESS RESEARCH/ Jonathan Wilson.TATA McGraw HILL/STATISTICS FOR MANAGEMENT/ G.C.BERI.

Irony and Social Commentary in Pride and Prejudice Essay -- Jane Auste

Irony and social commentary in Pride and lossLike any other society, nineteenth-century England had its share of foppish fools andfawning leeches, hot-blooded lovers and garrulous, gossiping women. While few people exhibitthese failings with abandonment, few escape their maculate altogether. In the novel Pride andPrejudice, the author Jane Austen satirizes these instances of not social evils rather,unpleasant social peculiarities, via a most careful use of irony in the dialogues and thoughts of whatever of her most delightful characters. The main character indulging in this precious commodityis Mr. Bennet, whom Austen considers important enough that a razor-sharp wit forms a unavoidable part of his personality. The irony is chiefly exhibited in two ways a general ambiencethat results from a frequent use of satirical language (as for instance, the regular use ofantithesis in the conversations) and brief but concentrated attacks by Mr. Bennet against allforms of foolishness harmle ss or otherwise. All the formulaic mannerisms affected by thepeople in his society as well as the social obligations that create them become the target of Mr.Bennets criticism. However, it is clear that Mr. Bennet is precise much a part of the society that heso readily despises. That he persists in making fun of it is what makes his ripostes so rife withincongruity.The novel contains a large array of conversations between different characters theseconversations are, in keeping with the style that prevailed in that period, quite elaborate, indeedsometimes to the point of tedium. Austen portrays an attitude of unflagging tedium in Mr.Bennet when confronted with such speeches, through his incessant ironic asides. T... ...eaning in these seemingly innocuous words, for the former implies prostitution and the latter a dishonorable pregnancy with a bastard child. Given the venomous character of such fairlycommonplace gossip even among the presumably respectable rural middle-class tis nowonder that Austen rallies against such a harmful form of frivolity.Austen therefore uses the difficult tool of irony to great effect in portraying thefoolishness two harmful and harmless which afflicts most people. In doing so, sheeffectively delivers social commentary presumably for the purpose of correcting these defects incharacter of her fellow Englishmen. Along the way, the reader is delightfully entertained by thefools inhabiting Pride and Prejudice as well as the personalities that persist in denouncing it, ina manner that is at times more(prenominal) farcical than satirical.6

The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood :: essays research papers fc

James Fils-Aime      The Handmaids Tale Fact or Fiction     The Handmaids Tale is a dystopian novel in which Atwood creates a world which seems absurd and near impossible. Women being kept in slavery lonesome(prenominal) to create babies, cult like religious control over the population, and the deportation of an entire race, these things all seem like fiction. However Atwoods novel is closer to circumstance than fiction all the events which take place in the story have a base in the real world as well as a historical precedent. Atwood establishes the world of Gilead on historical events as well as the social and political trends which were taking place during her life time in the 1980s. Atwood shows her audience through political and historical reference that Gilead was and is closer than most people realize. Atwood closely scrutinizes Colonial America, back in the 1700s it was a society founded on religion and ran as a theocratic order. Puri tans who had just fled Europe for religions freedom settled in the Americas where they could run their society in the way they saw fit. in particular in New England, religious freedom was not allowed, and people were punished by the courts for failing to uphold the common religions requirements. Those who were not of a proper(postnominal) symbol of Christianity were considered heathens. Men who controlled the society enforced rules on others based on their interpretations of the bible. They believed that "as Gods elect, had the duty to direct national affairs according to Gods will as revealed in the Bible." (3) Later on puritanical control faded but in the South there was the enslavement and resulting racism toward blacks. Again so called male leadership of society promote injustice and oppression in order to benefit themselves. Atwood also uses her novel to comment briefly on the issues of race, those not of a specific type of Christianity or skin color were sent away to the colonies, or killed. The "children of Ham", which in the bible represent the descendants of the black race, are relocated outside of Gilead. Even the location in which she places Gilead is reminiscent of early American for Boston, Massachusetts was a puritan center. The world of Gilead which Atwood is a society controlled by force-out hungry men who use religion as a means of control. Atwood also references the oppression of Jews during the holocaust in her novel. Under Hitlers rule 6 jillion Jews were killed, and many more sent to concentration camps where they were mistreated by their captors.

Discovering Mortality in Once More to the Lake Essay -- Once More to t

Discovering Mortality in Once More to the Lake E. B. Whites story Once More to the Lake is about a man who revisits a lake from his childhood to discover that his conduct-time has lost placidity. The man remembers his childhood as he remembers the lake peaceful and still. Spending time at the lake as an adult has made the man realize that his life has become unsettling and restless, like the tides of the ocean. Having brought his son to this place of the past with him, the man makes inevitable comparisons between his own son and his childhood self, and between himself as an adult and the steering he remembers his father from his childhood perspective. The mans experience at the lake with his son is the moment he discovers his own mortality. The man had experienced adulthood, and therefore could never experience the lake as he did when he was a child. Except for the sound of outboard motors, the lake was pretty much the same as it had been before. The only thing that was wrong now , really, was the sound of the place, an unknown nervous sound of the outboard motors (White 153). This nervous sound suggests the nervousness of adulthood the anxieties that sweep through the minds of mess who have matured. The incumbrance created by the outboard motors reflects the noise inside the mans consciousness. Instead of the sleepy sound of the inboard engines used when the man was a child, there were now noisy engines, which cluttered the air around the lake. These sounds unendingly reminded the man of the restlessness of his adult life. Due to constant obstacles like the sound of the outboard motors or the internal struggles that come with adulthood, the man could only return to the lake as a guest of his own mem... ...izes his or her mortality in the same way. Some people realize their mortality when they are young, while others realize it an sec before they die. I am unsure if I will ever experience this sensation as the man in this story did. However, knowing th at I will one day have to face the inevitable, makes me want to create a belief for what will happen after I reach my fate. I feel I can relate to the way the man felt because I have yet to find answers for what, if anything, will be found beyond my mortality. The unsettling feeling that I get when I seriously think about this probably compares to the feeling the man got when he realized his own mortality. Some people calm this feeling by putting their faith in God. Unfortunately, I cannot escape my suspicion that God is the invention of an animal that knows it is going to die, and it sends a cast down up my spine.

Vikings stadium up in the air :: essays research papers

The man who is emerging as the lead owner of the Minnesota Vikings isnt thrilled with Anoka Countys $1.6 billion stadium development concept in Blaine, and he has tossed the plan into flux, urban center and county officials tell this week.Zygmunt Wilf, a New Jersey real estate developer who is scheduled to visit Blaine today, has told officials that if he and his partners defile the Vikings, a domed stadium is not a priority. He also said that elements of the retail-commercial-housing development in the Blaine proposal dont appeal to him, and that he is examining land in nearby linoleum Lakes as an alternative stadium site."Hes got something in mind that he wants," said Blaine Mayor Tom Ryan. "But hes the only one who knows. We have to be certain(a) his plan, whatever it is, works for the city." Wilf has not returned repeated phone calls from the Star Tribune since February, when it was announced that he was a partner with Arizona businessman Reggie Fowler in an effort to buy the Vikings. His scheduled visit today, his second to Blaine in three weeks, has officials curious about his intentions and vision."Were dying to find out," said Blaine Planning Director Bryan Schafer.Of the Blaine plan, Anoka County Board Chairwoman Margaret Langfeld said "Its just up in the air right now."Two years ago, after evaluating three potential locales in Anoka County, county officials landed on the Blaine site, which has more than four hundred acres ready for development. It stands just west of Interstate Hwy. 35W, bordered by 109th Avenue NE. to the north and Lexington Avenue to the east.Soon after, the county proposed a fixed-roofed stadium, with a 300,000-square-foot medical clinic, a 250-room hotel, 1.3 million feet of corporate office space, 200 townhouses and 650,000 square feet of retail and entertainment facilities.The total cost was estimated at $1.6 billion. The county and city presented the plan to Gov. Tim Pawlentys Stadium Screen ing deputation last year and, with the concept, the Anoka County Board approved a three-quarter-cent sales tax increase to help pay for it.But in a meeting with city and county officials on April 14, Wilf was apparently indifferent to a roof, questioned the need for the clinic and told political leaders that he would examine the Lino Lakes land, 8 miles to the east of the Blaine site, near Interstate Hwy. 35E."This isnt an precise quote," said Anoka County Commissioner Dan Erhart, "but he said something like, Im a builder.

Dinner with Father :: Example Personal Narratives

Dinner with Father   I wonder what it would be like to go to dinner with my father. One of the chief words my uncle uses to describe my father is classy, so Im sure that he would take me to a fancy restaurant. We would sit across the put over from each other, both decked out in dark suits. My hair would fall into my eyes and I would brush it out of the way, looking to see the expression on his face.   He was a large man, both in my memories and in photographs Ive seen. Im sure that he would dominate the conversation, both physically and mentally. His absence from my life has resulted in my figure of revering him, and so I think that the evening would be unevenly balanced toward my listening to him speak. And what better researchs to ask than his opinions of me and my habits? It would be strange, seeking acceptance from someone who has had much(prenominal) a powerful effect on my life, influencing me more through his absence than through his presence.   My early yea rs with my father have become harder and harder to recall. From what I puke remember, and what I have gleaned from my brother and mother, I was on the verge of spending quality time with my father. My brother, who is four years older than I, spent the last a few(prenominal) years with Dad talking and reading and walking, all things I yearn to have done with him. The dinner would be a chance for me to bond with my father, and to study a sense of the man he was. This is what my brother and my mother know, but cannot convey to me.   I would show him some of the poems Ive written about him and me. I would question him to see whether or not the image of him I had forged in my mind, in my writing, is true. In my philosophy class this year, we are reading Platos Republic, which my mother has told me was my fathers darling agree. I am fortunate enough to have his copy of the Republic, a tattered, red-leather bound copy from long ago. I want to know what he gleaned from this book t hat made it so important to him. I would use the dinner (which I know would be too short) to fill in the gaps in my perception of my father.