Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Immigrant Reality Exposed in Bread Givers Essay - 3294 Words

Immigrant Reality Exposed in Bread Givers For thousands of years people have left their home country in search of a land of milk and honey. Immigrants today still equate the country they are immigrating to with the Promised Land or the land of milk and honey. While many times this Promised Land dream comes true, other times the reality is much different than the dream. Immigration is not always a perfect journey. There are many reasons why families immigrate and there are perception differences about immigration and the New World that create difficulties and often separate generations in the immigrating family. Anzia Yezierska creates an immigration story based on a Jewish family that is less than ideal. Yezierska’s text is a†¦show more content†¦When the family is packing to come to America, Mr. Smolinsky discourages his wife from bringing her dishes by telling her that, in the new golden country, where milk and honey flows free in the streets, you’ll have new golden dishes to cook in, and not weigh y ourself down with your old pots and pans (9). He has an incredibly unrealistic picture of America. He even believes all America will come to my feet to learn (9). Mr. Smolinsky expects, like many immigrants, that in America he will not have to do anything, he will simply be rich. Unfortunately, his dream is quickly shattered once in the United States. The Smolinsky family soon discovers the difficulties that come with being immigrants in America. Discrimination is one such problem. The family lives in an apartment building and they encounter discrimination from the rent collector. The Smolinskys, because of financial problems, cannot pay the rent regularly and when the landlady shows up on their doorstep, she is upset and says, The cheek of those dirty immigrants! A fool I was, giving them a chance another month (17). These words are a far cry from the father’s expectation that all America will come to my feet to learn (9). Discrimination is certainly not what the family expects upon their arrival in America. They expect a welcome with open arms and what they receive is just the opposite. The Smolinsky parents come to America with Old World ideals ingrained into them. They do not take intoShow MoreRelatedHistory of Social Work18530 Words   |  75 Pageshome is established, and children under 6 are placed with families. Many private entrepreneurs are replaced by municipal employees as managers of the remaining workhouses. Speemhamland system establishes earliest poverty line based on the price of bread and number of dependents in a workers family; subsidization provided when wages dipped below the poverty line. 1800 -1900 1600-1800 Social Work during 1800 -1900 A.D. 1800-1900 1800s Reforms to Elizabethan Poor Laws. Denigrating principles

Monday, December 16, 2019

Blood Promise Chapter Twelve Free Essays

Being with Lissa left me with more questions than answers, and so without a course of action, I simply continued to stay with the Belikovs for the next few days. I fell into their normal routine, again surprised by how easy it was. I tried hard to make myself useful, doing any chores they’d let me do and even going so far as watching the baby (something I wasn’t entirely comfortable with, seeing as guardian training hadn’t left much time for after school jobs like babysitting). We will write a custom essay sample on Blood Promise Chapter Twelve or any similar topic only for you Order Now Yeva eyed me the whole time, never saying anything but always looking like she disapproved. I wasn’t sure if she wanted me to go or if that was simply the way she always looked. The others, however, didn’t question me at all. They were delighted to have me around and made it obvious in every action. Viktoria was especially happy. â€Å"I wish you could come back to school with us,† Viktoria said wistfully one evening. She and I had been spending a lot of time together. â€Å"When do you go back?† â€Å"Monday, right after Easter.† I felt a little sadness stir in me. Whether I was still here or not, I would miss her. â€Å"Oh, man. I didn’t realize it was so soon.† A small silence fell between us; then she gave me a sidelong look. â€Å"Have you thought†¦ well, have you maybe thought about coming back to St. Basil’s with us?† I stared. â€Å"St. Basil’s? Your school is named after a saint too?† Not all of them were. Adrian had attended an East Coast school called Alder. â€Å"Ours is a human saint,† she said with a grin. â€Å"You could enroll there. You could finish your last year-I’m sure they’d take you.† Of all the crazy options I’d considered on this trip-and believe me, I’d considered a lot of crazy things-that was one that had never crossed my mind. I’d written school off. I was pretty sure there was nothing else I could learn-well, after meeting Sydney and Mark, it had become obvious there were still a few more things. Considering what I wanted to do with my life, however, I didn’t think another semester of math and science would do much for me. And as far as guardian training went, mostly all I had left to do w s prepare for the end-of-year trials. I somehow doubted those tests and challenges would even come remotely close to what I’d experienced with Strigoi already. I shook my head. â€Å"I don’t think so. I think I’m pretty much done with school. Besides, it’d all be in Russian.† â€Å"They’d translate for you.† A mischievous grin lit her face. â€Å"Besides, kicking and punching transcend language.† Her smile faded to a more thoughtful expression. â€Å"But seriously. If you aren’t going to finish school, and you aren’t going to be a guardian†¦ well, why don’t you stay here? I mean, just in Baia. You could live with us.† â€Å"I’m not going to be a blood whore,† I said immediately. An odd look crossed her face. â€Å"That’s not what I meant.† â€Å"I shouldn’t have said that. Sorry.† I felt bad about the comment. While I kept hearing rumors about blood whores in town, I’d only seen one or two, and certainly the Belikov women weren’t among them. Sonya’s pregnancy was something of a mystery, but working in a drugstore didn’t seem that sordid. I’d learned a little bit more about Karolina’s situation. The father of her children was a Moroi she apparently had a genuine connection with. She hadn’t cheapened herself to be with him, and he hadn’t used her. After the baby was born, the two of them had decided to part ways, but it had been friendly. Karolina was now apparently dating a guardian who visited whenever he had leave. The few blood whores I had seen around town very much fit my stereotype. Their clothing and makeup screamed easy sex. The bruises on their necks clearly showed that they had no problem with letting their partners drink blood during sex, which was pretty much the sleaziest thing a dhampir could do. Only humans gave blood to Moroi. My race didn’t. To allow it-particularly during sexual activities-well, like I said, it was sleazy. The dirtiest of the dirty. â€Å"Mother would love it if you stayed. You could get a job too. Just be part of our family.† â€Å"I can’t take Dimitri’s place, Viktoria,† I said softly. She reached out and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. â€Å"I know. No one expects you to. We like you for you, Rose. You being here just feels right-there’s a reason Dimka chose to be with you. You fit in here.† I tried to imagine the life she described. It sounded†¦ easy. Comfortable. No worries. Just living with a loving family, laughing and hanging out together each night. I could go about my own life, not having to trail someone else all day. I would have sisters. There’d be no fighting-unless it was to defend. I could give up this plan to kill Dimitri-which I knew would kill me too, either physically or spiritually. I could choose the rational path, let him go and accept him as dead. And, yet†¦ if I did that, why not just go back to Montana? Back to Lissa and the Academy? â€Å"I don’t know,† I told Viktoria at last. â€Å"I don’t know what I’m going to do.† It was just after dinner, and she glanced hesitantly at the clock. â€Å"I don’t want to leave you since we don’t have much time together, but†¦ I was supposed to meet someone soon†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Nikolai?† I teased. She shook her head, and I tried to hide my disappointment. I’d seen him a few times, and he’d grown more and more likeable. It was too bad Viktoria couldn’t kindle any feelings for him. Now, though, I wondered if there might be something holding her back-or rather, someone. â€Å"Oh, spill,† I said with a grin. â€Å"Who is he?† She kept her face blank in a fair imitation of Dimitri’s. â€Å"A friend,† she said evasively. But I thought I saw a smile in her eyes. â€Å"Someone at school?† â€Å"No.† She sighed. â€Å"And that’s the problem. I’m going to miss him so much.† My smile faded. â€Å"I can imagine.† â€Å"Oh.† She looked embarrassed. â€Å"That’s stupid of me. My problems†¦ well, they’re nothing compared to yours. I mean, I may not see him for a while†¦ but I will see him. But Dimitri’s gone. You won’t see him ever again.† Well, that might not be entirely true. I didn’t tell her that, though. Instead, I just said, â€Å"Yeah.† To my surprise, she gave me a hug. â€Å"I know what love’s like. To lose that†¦ I don’t know. I don’t know what to say. All I can tell you is that we’re here for you. All of us, okay? You can’t replace Dimitri, but you do feel like a sister.† Her calling me a sister both stunned and warmed me at the same time. She had to go get ready for her date after that. She hurriedly changed clothes and put on makeup-definitely more than a friend, I decided-and headed out the door. I was kind of glad because I didn’t want her to see the tears that her words had brought to my eyes. I’d spent my life as an only child. Lissa had been the closest I had to a sister. I’d always thought of Lissa as one; one I’d now lost. To hear Viktoria call me a sister now†¦ well, it stirred something in me. Something that told me I really did have friends and wasn’t alone. I headed down to the kitchen after that, and Olena soon joined me. I was rummaging for food. â€Å"Was that Viktoria I heard leave?† she asked. â€Å"Yeah, she went off to see a friend.† To my credit, I kept my expression neutral. No way would I sell Viktoria out. Olena sighed. â€Å"I’d wanted her to run an errand for me in town.† â€Å"I’ll do it,† I said eagerly. â€Å"After I grab something to eat.† She gave me a kind smile and patted my cheek. â€Å"You have a good heart, Rose. I can see why Dimka loved you.† It was so amazing, I thought, how accepted my relationship with Dimitri was around here. No one brought up age or teacher-student relationships. As I’d told Sydney, it was like I was his widow or something, and Viktoria’s words about me staying replayed in my head. The way Olena looked at me made me feel like I really was her daughter, and once more, I experienced those traitorous feelings about my own mom. She probably would have scoffed at me and Dimitri. She would have called it inappropriate and said I was too young. Or would she have? Maybe I was being too harsh. Seeing me in front of the open cupboard, Olena shook her head reproachfully. â€Å"But you need to eat first.† â€Å"Just a snack,† I assured her. â€Å"Don’t go to any trouble.† She ended up slicing me off big pieces of black bread she’d baked earlier that day and put out a tub of butter because she knew I loved to slather up my slices. Karolina had teased me that Americans might be shocked to know what was in this bread, so I never asked any questions. It was somehow sweet and tangy at the same time, and I loved it. Olena sat down across from me and watched me eat. â€Å"This was his favorite when he was little.† â€Å"Dimitri’s?† She nodded. â€Å"Whenever he was on break from school, the first thing he’d do is ask for that bread. I practically had to make him his own loaf each time with the way he ate. The girls never ate that much.† â€Å"Guys always seem to eat more.† Admittedly, I could keep up with most of them. â€Å"And he’s bigger and taller than most.† â€Å"True,† she mused. â€Å"But I eventually reached a point where I made him start making it himself. I told him if he was going to eat all my food, he’d best know how much work went into it.† I laughed. â€Å"I can’t imagine Dimitri baking bread.† And yet, as soon as the words came out, I reconsidered. My immediate associations with Dimitri were always intense and fierce; it was his sexy, battle-god persona that came to mind. Yet, it had been Dimitri’s gentleness and thoughtfulness mixed with that deadliness that made him so wonderful. The same hands that wielded stakes with such precision would carefully brush the hair out of my face. The eyes that could astutely spot any danger in the area would regard me wonderingly and worshipfully, like I was the most beautiful and amazing woman in the world. I sighed, consumed by that bittersweet ache in my chest that had become so familiar now. What a stupid thing, getting worked up over a loaf of bread of all things. But that was how it was. I got emotional whenever I thought about Dimitri. Olena’s eyes were on me, sweet and compassionate. â€Å"I know,† she said, guessing my thoughts. â€Å"I know exactly how you feel.† â€Å"Does it get easier?† I asked. Unlike Sydney, Olena had an answer. â€Å"Yes. But you’ll never be the same.† I didn’t know whether to take comfort from those words or not. After I finished eating, she gave me a brief grocery list, and I set off toward downtown, happy to be outside and moving. Inactivity didn’t suit me. While in the grocery store, I was surprised to run into Mark. I’d gotten the impression he and Oksana didn’t come to town that often. I wouldn’t have put it past them to grow their own food and live off the land. He gave me a warm smile. â€Å"I wondered if you were still around.† â€Å"Yeah.† I held up my basket. â€Å"Just doing some shopping for Olena.† â€Å"I’m glad you’re still here,† he said. â€Å"You seem more†¦ at peace.† â€Å"Your ring is helping, I think. At least with the peace. It hasn’t done much as far as any decision making goes.† He frowned, shifting the milk he held in one arm to the other. â€Å"What decisions?† â€Å"What to do now. Where to go.† â€Å"Why not stay here?† It was eerie, so similar to the conversation I’d had with Viktoria. And my response was equally similar. â€Å"I don’t know what I’d do if I stayed here.† â€Å"Get a job. Live with the Belikovs. They love you, you know. You fit right in with their family.† That warm, loved feeling came back, and I again tried to imagine myself just settling down with them, working in a store like this or waiting tables. â€Å"I don’t know,† I said. I was a broken record. â€Å"I just don’t know if that’s right for me.† â€Å"Better than the alternative,† he warned. â€Å"Better than running off with no real purpose, throwing yourself in the face of danger. That’s no choice at all.† And yet, it was the reason I’d come to Siberia in the first place. My inner voice scolded me. Dimitri, Rose. Have you forgotten Dimitri? Have you forgotten how you came here to free him, like he would have wanted? Or was that really what he would have wanted? Maybe he would have wanted me to stay safe. I just didn’t know, and with no more help from Mason, my choices were even more muddled. Thinking of Mason suddenly reminded me of something I’d totally forgotten. â€Å"When we talked before†¦ well, we talked about what Lissa and Oksana could do. But what about you?† Mark narrowed his eyes. â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"Have you ever†¦ have you ever run into, um, ghosts?† Several moments passed, and then he exhaled. â€Å"I’d hoped that wouldn’t happen to you.† It astonished me then how much relief I felt to know I wasn’t alone in my ghostly experiences. Even though I now understood that having died and been to the world of the dead made me a target for spirits, it was still one of the freakiest things about being shadow-kissed. â€Å"Did it happen without you wanting it?† I asked. â€Å"At first. Then I learned to control it.† â€Å"Me too.† I suddenly recalled the barn. â€Å"Actually, that’s not entirely true.† Lowering my voice further, I hastily recapped what had happened on my trip here with Sydney. I’d never spoken of it to anyone. â€Å"You must never, ever do that again,† he said sternly. â€Å"But I didn’t mean to! It just happened.† â€Å"You panicked. You needed help, and some part of you called out to the spirits around you. Don’t do it. It’s not right, and it’s easy to lose control.† â€Å"I don’t even know how I did it.† â€Å"Like I said, lapse of control. Don’t ever let your panic get the best of you.† An older woman passed us, a scarf over her head and a basket of vegetables in her arms. I waited until she was gone before asking Mark, â€Å"Why did they fight for me?† â€Å"Because the dead hate Strigoi. The Strigoi are unnatural, neither living nor dead-just existing in some state in between. Just as we sense that evil, so do the ghosts.† â€Å"Seems like they could be a good weapon.† That face, normally easy and open, frowned. â€Å"It’s dangerous. People like you and me already walk the edge of darkness and insanity. Openly calling upon the dead only brings us closer to falling over that edge and losing our minds.† He glanced at his watch and sighed. â€Å"Look, I have to go, but I’m serious, Rose. Stay here. Stay out of trouble. Fight Strigoi if they come to you, but don’t go seeking them blindly. And definitely leave the ghosts alone.† It was a lot of advice to get in a grocery store, a lot of advice I wasn’t sure I could follow. But I thanked him and sent my regards to Oksana before paying and leaving as well. I was heading back toward Olena’s neighborhood when I rounded a corner and nearly walked right into Abe. He was dressed in his usual flashy way, wearing that expensive coat and a yellow-gold scarf that matched the gold in his jewelry. His guardians hovered nearby, and he leaned casually against a building’s brick wall. â€Å"So this is why you came to Russia. To go to the market like some peasant.† â€Å"No,† I said. â€Å"Of course not.† â€Å"Just sightseeing then?† â€Å"No. I’m just being helpful. Stop trying to get information out of me. You’re not as smart as you think you are.† â€Å"That’s not true,† he said. â€Å"Look, I told you already. I came here to tell the Belikovs the news. So go back and tell whoever you’re working for that that’s that.† â€Å"And I told you before not to lie to me,† he said. Again, I saw that odd mix of danger and humor. â€Å"You have no idea how patient I’ve been with you. From anyone else, I would have gotten the information I needed that first night.† â€Å"Lucky me,† I snapped back. â€Å"What now? Are you going to take me down an alley and beat me up until I tell you why I’m here? I’m losing interest in this whole scary-mob-boss routine, you know.† â€Å"And I’m losing patience with you,† he said. There went the humor, and as he stood over me, I couldn’t help but uneasily note that he was better built than most Moroi. A lot of Moroi avoided fights, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if Abe had roughed up as many people as his bodyguards had. â€Å"And honestly? I don’t care why you’re here anymore. You just need to leave. Now.† â€Å"Don’t threaten me, old man. I’ll leave whenever the hell I want.† It was funny, I’d just sworn to Mark that I didn’t know if I could stay in Baia, but when pressured by Abe, I just wanted to dig my feet in. â€Å"I don’t know what you’re trying to keep me from, but I’m not scared of you.† That also wasn’t entirely true. â€Å"You should be,† he returned pleasantly. â€Å"I can be a very good friend or a very bad enemy. I can make it worth your while if you leave. We can strike a bargain.† There was an almost excited gleam in his eyes as he spoke. I recalled Sydney describing him manipulating others, and I got the feeling this was what he lived for-negotiating, striking trades to get what he wanted. â€Å"No,† I said. â€Å"I’ll leave when I’m ready. And there’s nothing you or whoever you’re working for can do about it.† Hoping I appeared bold, I turned around. He reached out and grabbed my shoulder, jerking me back, nearly causing me to lose the groceries. I started to lunge forward in attack mode, but his guardians were right there in a flash. I knew I wouldn’t get far. â€Å"Your time is up here,† hissed Abe. â€Å"In Baia. In Russia. Go back to the U.S. I’ll give you what you need-money, first-class tickets, whatever.† I stepped out of his reach, backing carefully away. â€Å"I don’t need your help or your money-God only knows where it comes from.† A group of people turned the corner across the street, laughing and talking, and I stepped back further, certain Abe wouldn’t start a scene with witnesses present. It made me feel braver, which was probably stupid on my part. â€Å"And I already told you: I’ll go back whenever the hell I want.† Abe’s eyes lifted to the other pedestrians, and he too retreated back with his guardians. That chilling smile was on his face. â€Å"And I told you. I can be a very good friend or a very bad enemy. Get out of Baia before you find out which.† He turned around and left, much to my relief. I didn’t want him to see just how much fear his words had left on my face. I went to bed early that night, suddenly feeling antisocial. I lay there for a while, flipping through another magazine I couldn’t read, and amazingly found myself growing more and more tired. I think the encounters with Mark and Abe had exhausted me. Mark’s words about staying had hit too close to home after my earlier conversation with Viktoria. Abe’s thinly veiled threats had raised all my defenses, putting me on guard against whoever was working with him to make me leave Russia. At what point, I wondered, would he truly lose patience and stop trying to bargain? I drifted off to sleep and the familiar sense of an Adrian-dream settled around me. It had been a long time since this had happened, and I’d actually thought he’d listened to me when I’d told him to stay away before. Of course, I always told him that. This had been the longest time span to go by without a visit, and as much as I hated to admit it, I’d kind of missed him. The setting he’d chosen this time was a piece of the Academy’s property, a woodsy area near a pond. Everything was green and in bloom, and sunlight shone down on us. I suspected Adrian’s creation didn’t match what Montana’s weather was really like right now, but then, he was in control. He could do whatever he wanted. â€Å"Little dhampir,† he said, smiling. â€Å"Long time no see.† â€Å"I thought you were done with me,† I said, sitting down on a large, smooth rock. â€Å"Never done with you,† he said, stuffing his hands in his pockets and strolling over to me. â€Å"Although†¦ to tell the truth, I did intend to stay away this time. But, well, I had to make sure you were still alive.† â€Å"Alive and well.† He smiled down at me. The sun glinted off his brown hair, giving it golden-chestnut highlights. â€Å"Good. You seem very well, actually. Your aura’s better than I’ve ever seen it.† His eyes drifted from my face down to where my hands lay in my lap. Frowning, he knelt down and picked up my right hand. â€Å"What’s this?† Oksana’s ring was on it. Despite the ring’s lack of ornamentation, the metal gleamed brightly in the light. The dreams were so strange. Even though Adrian and I weren’t together, exactly, the ring had followed me in and kept its power enough that he could sense it. â€Å"A charm. It’s infused with spirit.† Like me, this was apparently something he’d never considered. His expression grew eager. â€Å"And it heals, right? It’s what’s keeping some of the darkness from your aura.† â€Å"Some,† I said, uneasy about his fixation on it. I took it off and slipped it into my pocket. â€Å"It’s temporary. I met another spirit user-and a shadowkissed dhampir.† More surprise registered on his face. â€Å"What? Where?† I bit my lip and shook my head. â€Å"Damn it, Rose! This is big. You know how Lissa and I have been looking for other spirit users. Tell me where they are.† â€Å"No. Maybe later. I don’t want you guys coming after me.† For all I knew, they were already after me, using Abe as their agent. His green eyes flashed angrily. â€Å"Look, pretend for a moment the world doesn’t revolve around you, okay? This is about Lissa and me, about understanding this crazy magic inside of us. If you’ve got people who can help us, we need to know.† â€Å"Maybe later,† I repeated stonily. â€Å"I’m moving on soon-then I’ll tell you.† â€Å"Why are you always so difficult?† â€Å"Because you like me that way.† â€Å"At the moment? Not so much.† It was the kind of joking comment Adrian usually made, but just then, something about it bothered me. For some reason, I got the tiniest, tiniest feeling that I suddenly wasn’t as endearing to him as usual. â€Å"Just try being patient,† I told him. â€Å"I’m sure you guys have other stuff to work on. And Lissa seems pretty busy with Avery.† The words slipped out before I could help it, and some of the bitterness and envy I’d felt watching them the other night laced my tone. Adrian raised an eyebrow. â€Å"Ladies and gentlemen, she admits it. You have been spying on Lissa-I knew it.† I looked away. â€Å"I just like to know she’s alive too.† As if I could go anywhere in the world and not know that. â€Å"She is. Alive and well, like you. Er†¦ mostly well.† Adrian frowned. â€Å"Sometimes I get this strange vibe off of her. She doesn’t seem quite right or her aura will flicker a little. Never lasts long, but I still worry.† Something in Adrian’s voice softened. â€Å"Avery worries about her too, so Lissa’s in good hands. Avery’s pretty amazing.† I gave him a scathing look. â€Å"Amazing? Do you like her or something?† I hadn’t forgotten Avery’s comment about leaving the door unlocked for him. â€Å"Of course I like her. She’s a great person.† â€Å"No, I mean like. Not like.† â€Å"Oh, I see,† he said, rolling his eyes. â€Å"We’re dealing with elementary school definitions of ? ®like.'† â€Å"You’re not answering the question.† â€Å"Well, like I said, she’s a great person. Smart. Outgoing. Beautiful.† Something in the way he said â€Å"beautiful† bugged me. I averted my eyes again, playing with the blue nazar around my neck as I tried to parse my feelings. Adrian figured things out first. â€Å"Are you jealous, little dhampir?† I looked back up at him. â€Å"No. If I was going to be jealous over you, I would have gone crazy a long time ago, considering all the girls you mess around with.† â€Å"Avery’s not the kind of girl you mess around with.† Again, I heard that affection in his voice, that dreaminess. It shouldn’t have bothered me. I should have been glad he was interested in another girl. After all, I’d been trying to convince him to leave me alone for a very long time. Part of the conditions of him giving me money for this trip had involved me promising to give him a fair shot at dating when-and if-I returned to Montana. If he got together with Avery, it would be one less thing for me to worry about. And honestly, if it had been any other girl except Avery, I probably wouldn’t have minded. But somehow, the idea of her enchanting him was just too much. Wasn’t it bad enough that I was losing Lissa to her? How was it possible that one girl could so easily take my place? She’d stolen my best friend, and now the guy who’d sworn up and down that I was the one he wanted was seriously considering replacing me. You’re being a hypocrite, a stern voice inside of me said. Why should you feel so wronged about someone else coming into their lives? You abandoned them. Lissa and Adrian both. They have every right to move on. I stood up angrily. â€Å"Look, I’m done talking to you tonight. Will you let me out of this dream? I’m not telling you where I am. And I’m not interested in hearing about how wonderful Avery is and how much better than me she is.† â€Å"Avery would never act like a little brat,† he said. â€Å"She wouldn’t get so offended that someone actually cares enough to check on her. She wouldn’t deny me the chance to learn more about my magic because she was paranoid someone would ruin her crazy attempt to get over her boyfriend’s death.† â€Å"Don’t talk to me about being a brat,† I shot back. â€Å"You’re as selfish and self-centered as usual. It’s always about you-even this dream is. You hold me against my will, whether I want it or not, because it amuses you.† â€Å"Fine,† he said, voice cold. â€Å"I’ll end this. And I’ll end everything between us. I won’t be coming back.† â€Å"Good. I hope you mean it this time.† His green eyes were the last thing I saw before I woke up in my own bed. I sat up, gasping. My heart felt like it was breaking, and I almost thought I might cry. Adrian was right-I had been a brat. I’d lashed out at him when it wasn’t really deserved. And yet†¦ I hadn’t been able to help it. I missed Lissa. I even kind of missed Adrian. And now someone else was taking my place, someone who wouldn’t just walk away like I had. I won’t be coming back. And for the first time ever, I had a feeling he really wouldn’t be. How to cite Blood Promise Chapter Twelve, Essay examples

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Persuasion free essay sample

The criticism of His criticism In Jane Austens novel Persuasion. diction and subversive tone depict Austens disdain and disapproval towards the society. Sir Walter Elliot informs Anne and Mr. Shepherd about his irritation toward people who strive to rise above the society. He mentions how naval officer is a profession that transits man with obscure birth into undue distinction (Austen 14), and expresses his disgust towards the officers growing old in appearance sooner than any other man. Sir Walter declared, l was in company with two men Admiral Baldwin, the most deplorable looking personage you can imagine I never saw quite so wretched an example of what a seafaring life can do (Austen 14). Austen Implies the superficial nobllltles like Sir Walter Elliot who insist trivial matters such as appearance supplant other elements of a man. The diction includes deplorable and wretched, which illustrate Jane Austens perspective toward the members of upper class. We will write a custom essay sample on Persuasion or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page She uses Sir Walters absurd contempt for the sailors to portray her contempt for the materialistic nobilities. hen Admiral Baldwin Is the example of a seafaring life can do, Austen portrays Sir Walter as one, too (Austen 14). She sets Sir Walter as the example of what an overindulged life can do to people; they do not understand the torment of toil and labor of the mind as they possess the authority and wealth (Austen 14). Therefore, Sir Walter Elliots negative diatribe on the navy conveys Intentions and feelings of Austen towards the peerage. As Sir Walter continues on his anecdote to denunciate the social workers whom do not adhere to what he values, he asserts, They are all nocked about, and exposed to every climate, and every weather, till they are not fit to be seem It Is a pity they are not knocked on the head once (Austen 14). Sir Walter who is on a highly acknowledged position would rather Judge an individual effortlessly through ones physical appearance than recognizing their true worth. Jane Austen has included irony to reveal her opinion to the Judgmental aristocrats; she gives pity to the society where the foolish upper class men obstinately relate peoples quality with ones appearance. While the workers were exposed to every climate and every weather, the prestigious aristocrats peacefully remained indoors with their luxurious benefits. Austen deprecates the society consisted of immoral nobilities; she believes the peerage Is a pity not knocked on the head once. She holds the opinion that the hollow nobility are not fit to be seen. In response to Sir Walters diatribe, Mrs. Clay begins off her return with a mild explanation of each profession and their loss of personableness on looks as they get devoted to the profession. It Is only the lot of those who are not obliged to follow any, who can live In a regular way o hold the blessings of health and a good appearance to the utmost: I know no other set of men but what lose something of their personableness when they cease to be quite young (Austen 15). Austen expresses her disagreement with Sir Walters shallow judgments through Mrs. Clays clarification on the relationship between toll and mans look In regard of natural effect of time. This strengthens Austens tone of disgust towards the wretched upper class; her attitude oward the members of the aristocracy is revealed through Mrs. Clays subtle to rise above their status by praising the nobility; Mrs. Clay attempts to place herself with the level of Sir Walter. Another ironic tone of Austen is depicted as Mrs. Clay mentions a life of living in a regular way. This is ironic due to a well known fact that the nobilities of high society live in an distinguished way compared to the people in middle classed society. Austen stresses on the essence of appearance for the peerage to signify her chastising tone of the society where pride and self-admiration re the prominent traits of the nobility. The prejudiced society where only the rank and superficial appearance signifies ones reputation and quality was well illustrated in the story of Persuasion to emphasize the insincerity of ignorant and shallow- minded aristocrats. Until the society today, people cannot escape illogical Judgments only based on the appearance or the social status of a person. Bibliography Austen, Jane. Persuasion. 2nd ed. Ed. Patricia Meyer Spacks. New York: W. W. W. Norton Company, New York, 2013. 14-15. Print.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

These strange Japanese Review Essay Example

These strange Japanese Review Paper Essay on These strange Japanese In this series, I like the fact that her people write in the subject line, for example. Living in the territory, have the nationality. For example, in this case, the authors well known both East and West. So, probably, the book is close to the truth. I like a man who knows the Land of the Rising exclusively for anime and Cultural DVD, we can only trust the authors, the more they are so clearly set out:) In the text affected by little all aspects of Japanese life self-image, character, values, etiquette, customs and traditions, family relations, etc. In general, as in the other books of the series reveals the features of the mentality of the distinguishing features of nationality. A lot of different interesting and informative information. the style of a thorough and all the same irony, but the text flows smoothly and meditative. As if youre reading this little book on the river bank of a crumbling, shed their sakura flowers After reading my perception of this nation has become more logical Quote:.. We will write a custom essay sample on These strange Japanese Review specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on These strange Japanese Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on These strange Japanese Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer As there are many ways to express the same idea or concept, just one statement can serve for all occasions. The word domo means thank you, hello, cool, Long time no see, terribly sorry, good-good and so on. There is no way to tell a clear yes or no at least as the word is understood in the West. High is most often translated as yes, but in fact it means I hear you and understand you, and now I think that answer. Foreigners often take the high of the agreement, whereas in fact it is hidden behind the opposite To fluently speak and read Japanese, you need to know Chinese characters Kanji, nbsp; used in the Japanese language (a minimum of 2000; educated Japanese know 5000 or even 80,000 characters, some of which have more than 30 lines). Plus two syllabaries hiragana and katakana the first to write native Japanese things and concepts, and the second for the borrowed items and foreign names. But this is too simple an explanation hybrid Pictography phonetics and written Japanese language The missionaries who came to Japan from Europe in the 19th century, were convinced that the Japanese language -. This invention of the devil, which prevents them in their work. Modern students of Japanese, nbsp; whether foreign or Japanese themselves, nbsp; may or may not believe in the devil, but, no doubt, feel the same .

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Friday, November 22, 2019

38 Letters of the Alphabet

38 Letters of the Alphabet 38 Letters of the Alphabet 38 Letters of the Alphabet By Maeve Maddox Daniel’s post on the letter Z certainly had the readership hopping on April 1! Most readers quickly got the joke and joined in on the April foolery, but a few seemed to be really annoyed with us. The comments are still coming in and make enjoyable reading. A â€Å"perfect† alphabet would have one letter for every speech sound. As everybody knows, and nearly everybody loves to point out, English does not enjoy a perfect alphabet. Of the 26 letters in the English alphabet, only 14 stand for a single speech sound: b, d, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, r, t, v, w, z If we want to think about getting rid of â€Å"unnecessary† letters, the best candidate is not z, but c. C has no sound of its own, but is an alternate spelling for the sounds /k/ and /s/ as in camp and cent. The next least necessary letter is q. Alone it represents the sound /k/. With a u it stands for the sound /kw/: Iraq, queen. Of the five remaining consonant letters, f, g, s, x, and y, four represent distinct sounds of their own, but can also represent consonant sounds already represented by other letters: f: fun, of g: go, giraffe s: sin, miser x: fox, xylophone The letter y can stand for either a consonant or a vowel: y: yellow, gym As for the vowel letters a, e, i, o, and u, the sounds they represent number at least 12 (In American speech, the vowel sounds of father and on are the same): a: at, ape, father e: Ed, be i: in, ice o: on, no, to u: up, uke, put That takes care of the 26 letters of the English alphabet, but that’s not the end of the story. Much of the confusion regarding English spelling comes from pretending that English is spelled with the 26 single letters of the alphabet. The truth is, we use letter combinations as extra letters to represent speech sounds that are not represented by any of the single letters. Here are 12 combinations that represent distinct speech sounds: ow: cow oi: oil aw: law ar: car or: for er: her sh: ship wh: wheel ch: church th: thin, this ng: sing si; vision Any way you cut it, English spelling is complicated, but knowing about the combinations that represent sounds not in the alphabet can clear up a lot of the confusion. As for getting rid of any of the letters, the Defense of Z on April 1 shows how popular that idea would be! NOTE: Alternate spellings exist for the sounds /ow/, /oi/, /aw/, /er/, and /sh/. Alternate spellings also exist for many of the sounds represented by the single letters. The subject of alternate spellings is best reserved for another post. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Classes and Types of Phrases8 Writing Tips for BeginnersSupervise vs. Monitor

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Tragic Dramas of Oedipus Rex and Antigone Essay

Tragic Dramas of Oedipus Rex and Antigone - Essay Example It was up to the playwrights to teach the people how to behave and the rules of society within the metropolis. While many of the plays were comedies, demonstrating the more ridiculous consequences that could be experienced if individuals did not abide by the established codes of conduct, others were dramas, revealing much more serious potentialities that could affect more than just the average citizen. As they were presented, these dramas demonstrated the degree to which the entire culture could be disrupted if someone in power chose to break the rules. Some of these dramas have survived into the modern day because they had such a profound effect on their audiences and told stories about mythological or legendary characters and events. Dramas such as Oedipus Rex and Antigone are good examples of this kind of tragic drama. To qualify as a tragic drama, Aristotle identified three main factors that were present in every tragic drama and which were essential to the plot development. Thes e factors were referred to as hamartia, anagnorisis and peripeteia. The term hamartia commonly refers the idea of a tragic flaw (Aristotle, 1282). It is the concept that a noble person will fail due to some inherent flawed portion of his character which causes him to engage in a specific behavior pattern or make an error in judgment rather than due to the manipulations of a vengeful god or as a result of violating the gods' laws. Although the audience might see it, even they are not necessarily supposed to recognize the hero's mistake or misbehavior at the time he commits it, but it will eventually become clear through the action of the play that without this mistake, the tragedy would not have happened. This eventual realization of the initial mistake on the part of the character is what is referred to as anagnorisis (Aristotle, 1283). In Aristotelian terms, this word essentially means recognition. In most cases, this realization occurs suddenly for the character in a kind of epiph any moment when the hero finally understands that they brought this fate on themselves. This epiphany can also shed light on the true nature of all the characters within the play, sometimes something much different than what was expected or assumed. The anagnorisis leads naturally into the third element, that of peripeteia. This term refers to a sudden reversal in action or position based upon logic and intellect (Aristotle, 1283). In tragic drama, it refers to the reversal of the character's fortunes - everything they had is lost. This reversal of fortunes flows naturally as a part of the story, but it usually takes the audience, and the character, by surprise. Although this idea can be traced as a part of the hero’s character, it was more typically used to refer to the external circumstances surrounding the event and the character. Understanding these key elements of a tragic drama helps modern day students characterize these plays simply by looking to see if they adhere to the concepts. In Oedipus the King, for example, the action opens as Oedipus addresses his people, who have come to him hoping he will cure their city of a plague. Rather than encourage them to pray to the gods, Oedipus ridicules them for their prayers and tells them they should have come to him first: â€Å"What means this reek of incense everywhere, / From others, and am hither come, myself, / I

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Training and developing an age diverse workforce in SMEs Assignment

Training and developing an age diverse workforce in SMEs - Assignment Example so offers important clarifications in regard to T&D plans developed in SMEs, especially in regard to the differences between these plans and those used in large firms. At a first level, it is noted that the owners of SMEs have to face changes on a continuous basis. Large firms may also have to face such problem but with the following difference: for SMEs failing in coping with change could result to the closure of the business while in large firms funds and time could retrieved easier for managing the particular situation. Another important issue highlighted in the particular article is the following one: in SMEs the success of T&D is strongly depended on the skills and capabilities of owners who are those who will undertake all tasks related to T&D, including the design and monitoring phases of the T&D plan involved (Beaver and Hutchings 2005). In addition, different modes of T&D seem to be preferred in SMEs, compared to the large firms: in SMEs ‘on-the-job training schemesâ⠂¬â„¢ (Beaver and Hutchings 2005, p.593) seem to be preferred while in large firms ‘off-the-job T&D schemes’ (Beaver and Hutchings 2005, p.593) are quite common. Especially in regard to the T&D schemes for diverse workforce, SMEs can be more effective, since the smaller number of employees allows the limitation of time for copying with change. The above characteristic of SMEs is described as their major advantage in regard to the management of diversity, an activity that it is closely related to the identification of effective T&D schemes (Beaver and Hutchings 2005, p.599). Since 2005, the time point to which the article of Beaver and Hutchings refers, a series of changes has introduced in regard to the working environment. These changes vary, covering different areas. The specific phenomenon is reflected in the literature published in this area. Depending on the type of change involved in organizational environment, different initiatives in regard to a firm’s T&D schemes would be

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Audience expectations Essay Example for Free

Audience expectations Essay In this essay I will discuss how Arthur Miller set out the first scene of the play, The Crucible to prepare the audience for what the play is about, and how well he did this. I will look at the dramatic devices, language etc.  The play The Crucible has strong links with the USA in the 1950s when communism was a problem. The name of the play creates parallels between Salem 1692 and the USA 1950s. A definition of crucible can be, used to extract impurities this is related Salem 1692 because the judges and townsfolk were trying to purify the village from witches whilst Joseph McCarthy was trying to purify the USA of communists. Peoples views and opinions have not changed since the 1600s and people believe only one way is right, communists and witches are both evil and therefore should be rid of, this is what miller is trying to portray about the world. No-one gets a chance to prove themselves or prove they are good and mean no harm. If you are a witch or a communist you are evil and its not acceptable therefore the only thing to do it get rid of them. This is shown in the play by the fact that lots of people in the village are being accused of witchery, and you die whether you have an excuse or proof that your not a witch, if you admit it you are saved but have to promise you want to come back to the lord but if you are truly faithful to the lord such as goody Proctor, you will not falsely admit to being a witch and therefore will be killed. Miller uses dramatic devices in the play The Crucible, one of these devices is dramatic irony. This is when the audience knows something about a certain character but the other characters dont. They are like secrets no one knows apart from the characters involved. This creates tension as it seems as I everyone is hiding something. Miller uses this technique when the audience knows that Proctor and Abigail had an affair but the other characters are not aware. The audience then gets frustrated because it seems so obvious to them and they want to tell the characters whats going on. He also uses this when the characters dont know that Abigail is lying and the accusations are not real. The audience think it is so simple to realise what is going on because they know there is no such thing a witches. And the audience knows that dramatic irony is a clear device used throughout the play. Exits and entrances are also used in the crucible; this is so the characters can have their private conversations like Abigail and Proctor. This creates confusion between the characters as they all have secrets, this then creates panic of others finding out and this panic can grow like Abigails panic grew for her being found out to be untruthful. This panic grew and grew until she was confessing random names/accusations. I saw goody Sibber with the devil!, I saw Goody Hawkins with the devil!, I saw Goody Bibber with the devil!, I saw Goody Booth with the devil The audience however would know that Abigail and her friends are making it up because there is no such thing as witches. Another technique is the use of offstage action these are events that are not shown but they are mentioned. This is like the affair between Proctor and Abigail, this happens before the play begins. Also the audience doesnt see the dancing in the forest they only hear about it, they dont see it. This is the driving force behind the story; the audience are intrigued by what is going on.  At the beginning of the play there is an overture, Miller begins the play by describing the setting and the scenery in detail, this is so the audience can see what it is like and will help them understand what is going on in the play. A narrow window on the left the detail is important in linking the beginning with the rest of the play, as later on in the play, Betty uses the window, previously described to attempt to jump out of, screaming mama, and this shows hysteria in the play, it is obvious to the audience that introducing themes of witchcraft will cause hysteria. Uncle, themes of witchcraft are all about, all the rumours of witchcraft could have calmed down if Abigail hadnt said Betty had fainted, which is a blatant lie because she didnt know Ruth had apparently fainted as well. We did dance uncle, a bad mistake by Abigail, letting Parris know he was right he was right and therefore giving him more to suspect about witchcraft, and when you leapt out of the bush so suddenly, Betty was frightened and then she fainted.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Morality Essays -- essays research papers

Plato Republic   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Socrates engages in conversations with people claiming to be experts, usual in ethical matters. By asking simple questions, Socrates gradually reveals that these people were in fact very confused and did not actually know anything about the matters about which they claimed to be an expert. Morality is the ethical matter that is brought up in Plato’s Republic. Socrates argues the response of Cephalus, Polemarchus and Thrasymachus on what morality is.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The question of morality came up when Socrates and Cephalus, who is a rich old man, were having a conversation about money. Socrates asks Cephalus if being rich makes it easier to enjoy old age. At first, Cephalus says no, but he soon admits that there are advantages to being rich. Cephalus says being true and giving things back is what morality is. Socrates gives an example where you can do something good by not giving back. His example was if you borrow a weapon from a friend, and he is sane at the time and at the time you should give it back your friend is insane then you shouldn’t give it back so you can protect him from doing harm, which is also good. Cephalus agreed that Socrates was correct that this was doing something good so Socrates said if that is the case than the definition of morality isn’t to tell the truth and give something back whatever one has borrowed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Polemarchus is the son of Cephalus, and he â€Å"inherits...

Monday, November 11, 2019

Importance of Religious Freedom Essay

â€Å"Religious freedom is the notion that people of religion can freely partake in the practices of their religion without opposition†. To me religious freedom is being able to have our opinions and speak our mind about our beliefs. Religion in general means a clear set of beliefs about a life that surpasses our current human experience. We also have religious freedom; it plays a very important part in our lives. Religious freedom is actually deeper, broader, and more important than most people realize. Religious freedom is the human right to think and act upon. Also, to express what one deeply believes in. Religious freedom allows us to speak our mind about our beliefs and practice what we believe in. I am a catholic and very proud of it. Catholic to me means to practice the New Commandment and it means to follow in Jesus’ footstep as well as his holy ways. I myself: have three theological virtues: faith, hope, and love. Being Catholic above all means to love God completely. I have received Baptism, Reconciliation, Communion, and Confirmation. After receiving every one of these sacraments I felt even closer to God then before. I feel so empowered and happy to be a part of my Catholic community. The importance of religious freedom is very important and helps us to be able to learn about our beliefs. Religions are society made and the group of followers called religious people. To achieve spiritual growth you don’t need any religion and to understand the spirituality and to grow yourself truly. You should look into all religion with an open mind that will help you understand about your religious freedom and its importance. People have an inherent right to think and believe what they choose to believe in. Religious freedom and importance is part of our human rights and what we are allowed to do and will do. Religious freedom is a fundamental human right. Religious freedom benefits everyone- it creates conditions for peace, democratization, development, and other human rights. A lack of religious freedom reduces citizens’ ability to come together and become agents for peaceful change. We always say â€Å"In God We Trust†; we should mean it when we say it. Our religious freedom is amazing to have. The importance of religious freedom is affair as possible to all people, and to be able to fulfill their special customs. These things don’t come without limitations though, as if any component of said religion violates the public good, then it can still be held as a crime regardless of the individual’s religion. The bases for religious freedom all coverage on one point: the human person. Religious freedom underlies the concept of individual freedom. Religious freedom is founded on the notion of the individual as a person being respected simply because they are. Religious freedom says, â€Å"This person is important, even though I don’t agree with them, even though I think they are destined to an eternity separated from God.† Religious freedom values the person in spite of disagreement, something the communal mindset can’t even imagine much less act on. This to me is why religious freedom is so important. We should cherish our freedom and never take anything for granted.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Briefly Describe The Long March and explain why it is an important event in Chinese History

In the summer of 1934, after suffering a string of defeats, the communist party and the Read Army decided to flee their southern bases and retreat. This retreat became known as the Long march. On the march the group endured 368 days of extreme hardship before they finally reached the caves of Yenan in Northern China. The Long March is recalled fondly with great idealism as a time when thousands of Chinese peasants selflessly volunteered to join the fight. The Long March is considered an important event in Chinese history for many reasons. It was very important for the CCP and Red army because communism survived and they found a new base.This new base was remote enough for the GMD to be unable to attack it, and was also safe from attack by the Japanese. This helped to increase the CCP’s standing in China even further. Another key impact of the Long March was that Moa Zedong was re-established as the unchallenged leader of the CCP. The cowardliness of his guerrilla tactics durin g the extermination campaigns had meant that he was replaced for a short time by Otto Braun. However Braun allowed the communists to carry too much equipment, and led the retreat in a straight line, making them slower and easier to attack.He was blamed for their huge losses, and leadership was soon handed back to Mao. After the success of the march, his tactics were forgotten and he was hailed as a great hero. The march also allowed many Chinese people to see the CCP as great heroes, and therefore increased support for them. The long march became part of Chinese Communist mythology. Many paintings were produced showing Mao marching at the head of the column over the mountains of Western China. This opinion really boosted support for communism and many people began to agree with their policies over those of Chaing’s and the GMD’s.During the Long March, Support for Communism was also increased by the good behaviour of the Red Army in the provinces they crossed. Their pos itive attitudes and fair morals impressed many local people, especially peasants, who were more inclined to support the CCP. Their rules to speak politely, pay fairly, not to hit or swear, not to take liberties with woman and not to ill-treat prisoners greatly contrasted with the brutal and cruel treatment of the locals by the GMD armies, who captured, starved and murdered anyone who had any connection to communism.The Long march was not at all as idealistic as it seemed in reality, thousands of communists were wounded, killed, starved or froze to death. However, today it is not seen as a failure for the CCP, but is instead hailed as an important event in the survival and establishment of the communist government, leadership and support in China and a key event in Chinese History.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Calculate Your Average Sentence Length

Calculate Your Average Sentence Length Calculate Your Average Sentence Length Calculate Your Average Sentence Length By Mark Nichol Variety of sentence length is an important factor in good writing attending to the number of words in each sentence enhances the rhythm of your composition but careful writers occasionally monitor average sentence length, too. There’s no reason to obsess about either factor, but check your numbers now and then. Although variety of sentence length occurs naturally, it’s a good idea, when it’s feasible, to recite your writing aloud to ensure that stacks of sentences of repetitively equal or nearly equal length aren’t slipping through. Note, however, that though striving for variety of length and attending to average length may seem contradictory practices, average length has nothing to do with consistent length. And what’s the ideal average sentence length? It depends on the formality of your writing, and on your writing audience. Roughly, for a general audience, an ASL of less than 15 words is considered easy, 15 to 20 words is moderate, and more than 20 words is difficult. I measured my posts from last week and discovered that they ranged in ASL score from 20.7 words to 33.9; the others were spaced fairly evenly within this range. I frequently employ colons to signal additional statements, and I didn’t count what follows the colons as separate sentences, but even if I did, the ASL for most of my posts would still likely be in the 20s. However, as I noted in my post about reading level, I assume that many Daily Writing Tips readers are above the norm in reading comprehension (though a sizeable number are English-language learners). When I read about a study of ASL published in 1985, I learned that the ASL figures for leading American newspapers and magazines are comparable to the numbers for my posts. (Or they were comparable: The ASL for the best periodicals has probably declined in the last quarter-century.) But if I were writing for more modest general-interest publications, I would make an effort to reduce ASL to the low 20s or even the high teens. Here’s a more complicated index called the fog factor: After determining the ASL, divide the number of words of three or more syllables by the total number of words. Add that number to the ASL. Multiply the sum by 0.4. The number corresponds to reading-comprehension level corresponding to the number of years of education. For general-interest publications, the ideal total is between 7 and 9. The total for this post is over 14. Again, considering that it’s published on a blog about writing, that’s not excessive. However, if it inched any higher, or if the ASLs for my posts were routinely hitting in the upper 20s, I’d strive to simplify. Clarity, construction, and correctness are the most important elements of good writing, of course, but conciseness is also a virtue. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:What Is Irony? (With Examples)Do you "orient" yourself, or "orientate" yourself?Words That Begin with Q

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

How Mainbars and Sidebars Are Used in News Coverage

How Mainbars and Sidebars Are Used in News Coverage Youve probably noticed that when an especially big news story happens, newspapers, and news websites dont just produce one story about it but often many different stories, depending on the magnitude of the event. These different kinds of stories are called mainbars and sidebars.   What Is a Mainbar? A mainbar is the main news story about a big news event. Its the story that includes the main points of the event, and it tends to focus on the hard-news aspects of the story. Remember the five Ws and the H  - who, what, where, when, why and how? Those are the things you generally want to include in the mainbar. What Is a Sidebar? A sidebar is a story that accompanies the mainbar. But instead of including all the main points of the event, the sidebar focuses on one aspect of it. Depending on the magnitude of the news event, the mainbar can be accompanied by just one sidebar or by many. An Example Lets say youre covering a story about the dramatic rescue of a boy who has fallen through the ice of a pond in winter. Your mainbar would include the most newsy aspects of the story - how the child fell and was rescued, what his condition is, his name and age and so on. Your sidebar, on the other hand, might be a  profile of the person who rescues the boy. Or you might write about how the neighborhood where the boy lives comes together to help the family. Or you might do a sidebar on the pond itself - have people fallen through the ice here before? Were appropriate warning signs posted, or was the pond an accident waiting to happen? Again, mainbars tend to be longer, hard-news oriented stories, while sidebars tend to be shorter and often focus on a more feature-y, human-interest side of the event. There are exceptions to this rule. A sidebar on the dangers of the pond would be a very hard-news story. But a profile of the rescuer would probably read more like a feature. Why Do Editors Use Mainbars and Sidebars? Newspaper editors like using mainbars and sidebars because for big news events, theres too much information to cram into one article. Its better to separate the coverage into smaller pieces, rather than having just one endless article.   Editors also feel that using mainbars and sidebars is more reader-friendly. Readers who want to get a general sense of what has happened can scan the mainbar. If they want to read about one particular aspect of the event they can find the relevant story. Without the mainbar-sidebar approach, readers would have to plow through one huge article to try to find the details theyre interested in. In the digital age, when readers have less time, shorter attention spans and more news to digest, thats not likely to happen. An Example From The New York Times On this page, youll find The New York Times main news story on the ditching of a U.S. Airways passenger jet into the Hudson River. Then, on the right side of the page, under the heading Related coverage, youll see a series of sidebars on the accident, including stories on the quickness of the rescue effort, the hazard that birds present to jets, ​and the fast reaction of the jets crew in responding to the accident.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Managing change Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Managing change - Case Study Example This is because these tenets make managing personal change probable. Before commencing an organizational change; individuals should ask questions such as; what is the organization going to achieve with the change? How and why will they discern that the change is successful? Who will be affected by the change, and what will be their reaction? To what extent can the change be effected with help; and in what areas should assistance be sought? These questions guide the individual effecting change since it makes him or her understand what is being done. This paper shall seek to explain the change management effected in a local insurance company; so that it could be saved from imminent collapse after going bankrupt. The eight stages of change management, as well as three tools of needs assessment, will be used to analyze the change management initiative. Since the local insurance company needs a powerful restructuring plan to save it from imminent collapse, it should consider downsizing some of the high level executive positions. Additionally, it should thin down its organizational chart by laying-off some of the employees conducting programs that are no longer aimed at bringing the company back to its feet. Laying-off workers who have stood by the company for the many years is not an easy task; therefore, it should be done with extreme caution. First and foremost, the underperformers and the underachievers should be the ones to face the axe. This is because they add little value to the company and their dismissal would do the company good. Secondly, while downsizing some of the high level executive positions, it should be noted that some roles done by one executive duplicate to another executive. Therefore, such situations should allow the merging up of two different portfolios that perform almost similar roles. In order to make the change management effective, it is necessary to use Kotter’s eight steps of efficacious change

Thursday, October 31, 2019

The application of Jacques Lacan's theory and concepts of Essay

The application of Jacques Lacan's theory and concepts of Psychoanalysis - Essay Example tstanding pieces of the feminist literature, and the fact that such a powerful and impressive indignation of the author about the oppressed position of women in the male dominated society of the nineteenth century was voiced in time when many of social changes in the sphere of women`s social equality were even not yet thought of testifies to the great significance of the heritage of Charlotte Perkins Gilman for the modern feminist movements (Golden 1992, pp.319-332). Moreover, Gilman`s story â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† is a great piece of literature for the study of concepts of psychoanalysis. It seems to be especially well suited for the comparison with the theories and concepts of the famous French doctor, psychiatrist, and psychoanalyst Jacques-Marie-Émile Lacan (1901–1981). In this regard, let us firstly take a closer look at the plot, themes, and symbols in the Gilman`s story, which depicts the decent of its heroine into madness, and secondly try to establish l inks between â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† and the concepts developed by Jacques Lacan. One of the chief themes of â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† relates to the completely inadequate attitude of the husband to his wife, a woman that apparently has a depressed condition after having given a birth to a child and who is the main protagonist of the short novel. The plot of â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† is told to readers through the eyes, or more exactly through the private diary writings, of the heroine of the story, who after a nervous breakdown that we can associate with the so called postpartum depression, which may happen with new mothers right after the birth of a child, has been in essence isolated from the external world in a roomy and â€Å"so long untenanted† (Gilman 1892) mansion by the whim of her husband John. John is a physician who allegedly knows what is needed for his wife to get better as he is saying to her â€Å"You know the place is doing you good† (Gilman 1892). Moreover, as the woman observes

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Writing Skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Writing Skills - Essay Example When in doubt, take a look at models written by experts† (Hacker, 1996, p. 23). Although some areas of the course were difficult for me, I value these the most, because I learned the most from them. Some areas of the course were easy for me, too, which gave me some amount of confidence. The most difficult part of the course for me was learning to arrange my ideas in a way that showed structure. When I wrote before this course, I tended to go from one random idea to another. I would start a school paper on tax policy, and wind up talking about the Iraq War, so that by the end of the paper, no one could tell what it was about. I learned that it is possible, with the help of the course, to organize my ideas better, and get a strong idea about my writing before I start it. This way, I am not just going off on tangents: now I keep outlines and follow them. This was also the most difficult part of the course for me, as mentioned, because even now, I am tempted to launch into a new idea, without organizing it first. However, I think that this area of the course was one of great progress for me. One of the easiest parts of the course for me was the actual mechanics of writing. I know that I am no grammar expert, and my punctuation can sometimes use a lot of work. I am also prone to writing run-on sentences. However, when I started to compare my writing and talk to some of the other students, I found that I was having a lot less trouble with grammar and spelling than they were. I never really had a problem with this area in school, and in fact, some of my earliest teachers were very keen on students diagramming sentences in a seemingly endless manner. Even though I did not enjoy this as it was happening, I think it gave me a solid foundation of grammar, and the ability to string a sentence together. Overall,

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Archaeology Is The Study Of Human Society History Essay

Archaeology Is The Study Of Human Society History Essay Throughout the course of the semester, we have explored many different aspects concerning Greek archaeology. Archaeology is the study of human society, primarily through recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data which they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts, and cultural landscapes (Wikipedia). The history of past cultures has been a fascinating topic of debate and discovery for hundreds of years. Many of us have been curious and interested in regards to our origin. Prehistoric remains often lie near the earths surface, especially stones and flints. These findings of the past lead to interest and eventually important examination as to where they came from. This is where archaeology comes into play. Archaeology has many distinct objectives, which span from studying human evolution to cultural evolution and understanding culture history. Archaeology involves surveying, excavations, and some time after analysis of the data colle cted. These all help us learn more about our past history. Archaeological field survey is very common. This is the method archaeologists use to search for archaeological sites and gather information about the setting, distribution, and order of previous human cultures across a great area. Archaeologists manage surveys to search for particular archaeological sites or kinds of sites, to find patterns in the spreading of material culture over regions, and to make a sweeping statement or test hypotheses about past cultures. Secondly, it is possible for an excavation to take place and uncover any archaeological artifacts buried under the ground. Excavation is the contact, processing, and recording of archaeological remains. Archaeological excavation has existed for quite some time now and remains to be the source of the majority of data recovered in most field projects, although it has improved a great deal throughout the years. An important aspect of excavations are they can expose many things that may not be easily reached by survey. For example, stratigraphy, which is a three-dimensional arrangement. Thirdly, the information retrieved from the excavation is studied and assessed in an attempt to reach the innovative research objectives of the archaeologists. Once artifacts and structures have been excavated, or received from surveys, it is important to correctly study them. This way we can gain as much data as possible. This is what is considered analysis of data, which tends to be the most time-consuming part of the whole process of discovering archaeological information. Unfortunately, these reports usually take quite some time to get published. Many archaeological remains have been discovered throughout the course of history through this archaeological process, and there are many that I consider to be most significant for the understanding of Greek civilization. Artifacts are possessions made by humans that are usually designed for a precise intention. Ancient artifacts are typically retrieved as part of an archeological dig, or excavation. The artifacts from the past are very significant and expressive. They represent characteristics of both the types of civilization and type of culture they were designed and used in. Archeologists are attentive to artifacts from ancient and prehistoric times, because they tell us more about ancient civilizations and their lives. If we examine the artifacts left behind by these civilizations, archeologists and scientists learn more about how the people during that time lived, hunted, cooked, etc. Artifacts also tell us how these people designed their homes and other buildings and what tools they used in daily life. Structures, such as houses are often areas in which many artifacts are found (The Importance of Artifacts). For example, The types of settlements and houses that are characteristic of the Early Bronze Age on the Greek mainland are large and dominated by well-built houses with complex ground plans, corridor houses appear to have served as residences for powerful families, and strong defensive walls of stones equipped with towers and gates (Runnels-Murray, 70). By studying these artifacts, archeologists can learn more about the culture and the social atmo sphere of these ancient civilizations. Archeologists also are interested in the clothing and jewelry worn by past civilizations. The way people dressed and what they used to adorn themselves often tells us a great deal about their belief system. Jewelry, in particular, often reflects the ideology of the culture, so these artifacts are particularly interesting. Ancient artifacts were manufactured in many different ways by many different societies and cultures. The methods used vary greatly between civilizations. Some ancient artifacts were made from bone or stone. Early man often used the natural products around him to create tools and weapons. Later civilizations used manufacturing processes to create tools and weapons (The Importance of Artifacts). Technically, prehistoric means before history, which begins when populations began keeping written records of the names of individual people and some account of the actions and events that took place in the past. Prehistoric cultures, by definition, are not known from such records; they are eternally anonymous and silent, known only from the work of archaeologists who have excavated buildings and burials, classified tools and weapons, and described and catalogued pottery, jewelry, and idols of now nameless and forgotten gods (Runnels-Murray 5). I believe almost all material remains should be considered most significant for understanding Greek culture. Each artifact has its own story and importance within a specific time period and some are even connected to others as well developed and advanced from pervious items. Many of these material remains have affected todays artists, historians, etc. According to Pedley, Acropolis and the Parthenon in Athens, and the Elgin Marbles signify Greek archaeology. These monuments mark the culmination of a long period of artistic development and reveal an early civilization of extraordinary achievement. In Greece lies the foundations of much of our Western civilization. Great philosophers, historians, poets, painters, etc. still influence the way we think and act and create today (Pedley, 11). I also believe the study of pottery and coins is important to the study of archaeology, because it can survive even in large quantities. They tell us their trade patterns, customs, beliefs, trade connections, etc. Pottery in particular can tell us about its evolution as an art form. Accordingly, pottery has become a critical tool for dating archaeological contexts and for dating and building or objects by stylistic analogy. Coins are another useful dating tool since they exist in large numbers and are often dated themselves by internal evidence; hence, they can help date the context in which they are found (Pedley, 28). Throughout the history art has played a vital role in all of our surroundings. Art is worldwide and because it is everywhere, we have occurrences with it on a daily basis. For example, from the houses we live in, architecture, to the plays and movies we see or participate in, theatre, to the novels that we read and may write, literature. Even in ancient times, art has played a critical role. Throughout time art, along with archaeological findings, has recorded history for us. Most art is created for a specific cause or intention for the most part. It has a way of making a statement, and a way of expressing ideas and beliefs. It can also record the experiences of all people. Art can be religious, symbolic, literal, traditional, etc. Archeologists hope to find some kind of material remains, and when they do it is important for them to consider more than the artifact itself. During an excavation, if archaeologists do find an artifact, they must also explore its meaning and significance as it relates to where the item was found. Where the item was found is very important, because this can often can help archeologists further understand its use and importance. When it comes to material culture, the more we know about the citizens and civilizations who have populated the world before us, the more we can comprehend and appreciate our past. With that said, by learning and accepting our past, we can have a much clearer view into our future

Friday, October 25, 2019

Identity :: Technology, Online Identity

Stealing the identity of another is not an honest act. However, the Internet allows many opportunities for exploration of identity and has displayed personal social exploration to fulfill their curiosity. According to Lemke (1998), young people develop a sense of full presence online, living in them semiotically as they make cultural and personal sense of their participation. The shaping of an identity plays a vital role in the online world especially in having sustained online presence within any particular online-group. Turkle (1995) believes identity tinkering online opens the potential for young people to take risks and to explore all aspects of one's identity. The anonymity that the medium provides have a powerful, disinhibiting impact on behavior and it allows young people an unique opportunity for self-expression. Turkle (1995) argues that the participation in online identity play is similar to participation in pyschodrama. This ties in with the idea of the game as a means though which experience is formulated (Erikson, 1968). According to Turkle, the identity game helps to bring about psychological maturity. It is achieved by being able to develop different facets of the identity and experiencing variable progress between different identities. According to Steven G. (1998) , young people can and do take on second identities to protect their offline from their online identity. Steven (1998) believes young people allow themselves to behave in ways different from offline life, to express formerly unexplored aspects of their personalities, much as they do when wearing masks at a masquerade ball. Amber Case (2010) mentioned on TED, Washington DC, (Fig 4A & Fig 4B) the need for maintenance of second self in simultaneous time. Amber (2010) believes good technology does not inhibit one's lifestyle, but enhances it. Being responsible with technology use will be vital to maintaining oneself and making sure that the future generations aware of monitoring themselves. Turkle (1995) argues that without coherence, the identity spins off in all directions and that multiplicity can exist only between personalities that can communicate among themselves. Steven G. (1998) states the fragmentation of the individual obstructs the development of the resilent online identity. Ultimately, one can create multiple versions of oneself; different versions of identity can be altered to particular audience. Nonetheless, for most young people these fragmentary social faces are merged into an emotional sense of a single identity. One is able to express more online than one says offline. Thus, hostile exchanges can be found erupting online, then one can abandon that difficult position by abandoning the identity through which it was projected.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Print Media vs Electronic Media

The ancient cave paintings, hieroglyphs, symbols, maps, and drawings are all the examples of how human being communicated from time to time. The major forms of media used all around the world today are print media, electronic media. In this article an attempt has been made to compare print media and electronic media. Print media contain materials that are available to us in printed form and which we can carry with ourselves or we can simply say they are portable. The major types of print media are books, magazines, newspapers, newsletters, posters, brochures, press releases etc.Books are the oldest medium among all the print media and they re still one of the most widely used among all. These were the books that contributed to the development of libraries in medieval times across Asia and Europe. Magazines and newspapers are relatively new form of print media which gained popularity and became common in the 20th century all over the world, thus becoming leading medium of mass communi cation. The advent of newspapers and magazines greatly helped in the communication at the local, national as well as global levels during the last two centuries.It can also be said that these acted as agents of globalization to a large extent. They also helped in anti-colonial movements across the world. Electronic media imply to that form of media which can only be accessed by an electronic device. The largely used electronic media are radio, television and internet. Radio is no doubt the oldest of electronic media. It came to the public in late 19th and early 20th century and within few years it became one of the daily items of use for millions of people worldwide.It became one of prime sources of entertainment, knowledge as well as information. Radio was also used as an effective medium to transmit messages during the world wars. The mid-20th century saw the rise of television as an electronic media and it very quickly became the most fascinating all over the world. The reason fo r the success of television is very simple. It appeals to our visual as well as hearing senses. The visual appeal of television is perhaps unparalleled to any mass media. Till now it remains the most popular mass media.With the introduction of World Wide Web (www) the internet Stats there were more than 2. 4 billion internet users on June 30, 2012. The internet's popularity as mass media is because of the fact that it enables one to access any and any information by Just click of a button. It is also a two way communication medium as it helps interacting face to face by the use of appropriate instruments and internet connection. Thus we can say that both print and electronic media have contributed greatly in the process of mass communication. Both have their respective advantages as well as disadvantages.But to neglect or ignore one for another would not be the ideal way because each form has its own significance. The books, for example, cannot be replaced by television, while the a ttraction of internet and web cannot fully overtake the charm of newspapers and magazines. Moreover people working in different media fields and their livelihoods would be affected if any media suffer a setback. But at the same time one must also be ready to accept the reality that with time it would become difficult for old media to survive in the new â€Å"digital† age.So, for its survival the old media must make use of new techniques and technologies to upgrade itself and also try to keep intact its genuineness which by no way is an easy task. But still we can try. The production of the e-books, e-newspaper and internet radio are some of the successful efforts to assimilate the old with the ew. The Future of Newspapers Newspapers have been concerned about their future for some time now. While the number of adults reading newspapers and the number of papers sold each week are higher than ever before, the growth of newspaper readership has not kept up with the growth of popu lation in this country.Young people, especially, are not turning to newspapers. Young people who seek news for years have turned to television, which has done a superficial Job, for the most part. And now comes along the Internet. The Internet gives us up-to-the minute news the way radio has been ble to do, but the Internet lets you filter out the news you dont care about and only receive the news you do care about. This certainly begs the question: Are the print media dying? University professors and professionals ask the question at their conventions and conferences.But by some definitions, the newspaper is one of the most interactive media around. That paper product Just isn't electronic. You can start reading them at the beginning, middle or end. You can stop anytime you want, and start again when you want. There are indexes to help you Jump around to the spots you want. You can take it almost anywhere. You don't need batteries. Thirty years ago the experts were predicting that newspapers as we knew them would be dead â€Å"in 10 years. † We'd all be receiving news from videotext machines (a primitive form of computer).Well, today, the experts are not predicting that newspapers are going to go away, but they will change. Readers will look to both the Internet and print editions of the paper for news. Newspapers have strong brand recognition when it comes to news and readers who want reliable news will go to the media they trust. But print media that go online will not succeed simply by shoveling their old content onto the World Wide Web. To make money they will have to provide value added ads, and original Web content.In actuality, there is a greater demand today for news and information. Those who are trained to reliably gather information from a variety of sources, synthesize or make sense of it, and repackage it for dissemination in a variety of formats will be in great demand. New media, which includes the World Wide Web, is one of the fastest g rowing and highest paying career fields for the news media. The vast majority of newspapers in the country now have web sites, though most of them are stuck in the paradigm of creating content for their

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Why Was the Work of Andy Warhol in the 1960’s?

A2 Art Essay: Why was the work of Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein immediately popular in the 1960’s? Roy Lichtenstein rapidly became popular in the 1960’s with his very original pop art pieces which he based many on comic strips, advertisements or newspapers. These tended to be the main inspiration for his work; this is because the subjects would tend to be exceedingly emotional and melodramatic. He became an idol to the American culture by adding in comic book characters which were very popular at the time.One of his most renowned pieces that he made was almost certainly ‘WHAAAM! ’ which is based on an image from ‘All American Men of War’ published by DC comics in 1962. This is a wonderful piece that reflects strongly what life was like around that period of time, this made it extremely popular amongst the people. The painting shows a rocket being fired from an aircraft into an enemy plane, with a large red-and-yellow explosion on the plane b eing hit. The cartoon is made a great deal more dramatic by the use of the onomatopoeic lettering â€Å"Whaam! and the boxed caption on the top left of the painting reading, â€Å"I pressed the fire control†¦ and ahead of me rockets blazed through the sky†¦ † like the painting â€Å"WHAAAM! † many of Roy lichtensteins works were hard-edged with commercial techniques and he used flat and new colours which were used to portray culturally-popular ‘pop’ images. Another one of my favourite pieces is ‘Girl with ribbon’ I find it portrays a strong sense of emotion to viewers, like many of his other pieces it only tells a snippet of the story and the rest is left to the viewers imagination.This is the aspect that I love the most, each of his pictures are overly dramatic with sometimes a speech bubble to give you an idea of the story behind the painting, it really makes the viewer think about the piece and let their imagination run wild and decipher meanings for themselves. This is what I am planning on achieving through my coursework, I have studied various works of Roy Lichtenstein’s and through taking photos, have designed my own pieces that also tell a story. Andy Warhol is another New York artist that developed in this genre that used very similar techniques to Roy Lichtenstein.