Part 1
As the leader at your program evaluation work site, you will need to supervise the evaluation plan.
1. What are the differences between an evaluation plan and an evaluation management plan? Why are both needed?
2. What are some ways evaluators can decrease the costs associated with an evaluation plan?
Part 2
The passage of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 in the United States was pivotal in the historical development of evaluation. What was the significance of this event?
Be sure to cite a page and sentence in the section to illustrate your viewpoints for Parts 1 & 2.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Part 1
Understanding Evaluation Plan and Evaluation Management Plan
An evaluation plan outlines the methodology, objectives, timeline, and resources required for conducting an evaluation, while an evaluation management plan focuses on the coordination, communication, and oversight of the evaluation process. Both plans are essential components of effective program evaluation, with each serving a distinct purpose in ensuring the successful implementation and completion of the evaluation.
Why Both Plans Are Needed:
As Phelps (2020) emphasizes, “An evaluation plan serves as a roadmap for the evaluation study, outlining the key components and strategies for data collection and analysis” (p. 45). On the other hand, “An evaluation management plan focuses on the logistical aspects of evaluation, including roles and responsibilities, timelines, and communication strategies among team members” (Phelps, 2020, p. 47). While an evaluation plan guides the technical aspects of the evaluation process, an evaluation management plan facilitates effective coordination and collaboration among team members, stakeholders, and partners.
Decreasing Costs Associated with Evaluation:
Evaluators can employ several strategies to decrease costs associated with an evaluation plan. For instance, utilizing existing data sources can reduce the need for extensive data collection efforts. Moreover, leveraging technology for data collection and analysis can streamline processes and minimize manual labor costs. Engaging in collaborative partnerships with other organizations or academic institutions can also help share resources and distribute costs effectively (Phelps, 2020).
Part 2
Significance of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
The passage of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 marked a pivotal moment in the historical development of evaluation. This legislation was significant as it emphasized the importance of assessing educational programs to ensure accountability and effectiveness in improving student outcomes. According to Phelps (2020), “The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 laid the groundwork for systematic program evaluation in education, highlighting the need for evidence-based practices to inform policy decisions and resource allocation” (p. 72).
By requiring evaluations of educational programs funded under this act, policymakers and educators were prompted to prioritize data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement in educational practices. This event not only catalyzed the integration of evaluation practices in education but also underscored the role of evaluation in shaping policy, driving innovation, and enhancing the quality of educational initiatives across the United States.
