10 qualities that will make you an excellent writer

10 Qualities that will make you an excellent writerWhilst people's definitions of what makes a good writer differ, there are certain qualities that they all share. So what does it take to be an excellent writer? Here are a few qualities to have that will make your writing more effective...Well Read:  You may notice that most famous writers are fond of reading books and novels, and this has a lot to say for the art of reading and how it can help the way you write. It's useful in that it can help your writing flow – how it is structured and so on. The more you read also means the more you are enlightened to; ideas, themes, arguments and facts. Frequent Writer:  If your aim is to be a great writer, you need to pursue it. Write as much as you can – daily, if possible. So many ideas and concepts will be running round your mind all day so write them down! That doesn't mean that every time you sit down you have to create an astonishing essay or novel, it doesn't need to be turned into something ‘whole' immediately. It's just a way to capture these creative thoughts so you can come back to them when you have more of a base to use. Developing the habit to write regularly will help you to excel. Disciplined:  When sitting down to write anything, you should set aside time to do just that – purely writing with no distractions. Good writing doesn't happen with Facebook on in the background. The best way forward is to schedule in times for writing (just writing), taking necessary breaks when needed, until it's completed. It's all about passion and devotion for what you're writing! Imaginative:  Something else is that is prompted by the art of reading and writing, among other things, is your imagination. However, to be imaginative, you must have the ability to pick up on things, feel inspired by it and expand on it. This quality will aid you in your writing and help you to create brilliant and stimulating things – watch this space! Observational:  One trait that every great writer must have is the skill of observation. They should have an attention to detail that can't be matched, both in their writing and around them in day-to-day life. On top of this, it helps to be a good listener. It's the combination of visual observation and oral observation that helps their writing to be full of different emotions and relatable to a variation of people, not just like the writer themselves. A Storyteller:  To write, you must be a good storyteller. That's not only if you want to write fiction, it counts for any kind of writing too. With storytelling, it's necessary to simplify everything down and formulate it well so that it's easily for the reader to digest. However, it only appears to be simple – it actually holds complex concepts that writers deconstruct to make it easier to take in. No one enjoys sitting and reading a convoluted essay or novel that just frazzles their brain, writers have got to express their ideas clearly! Critical:  A good writer must also be a good critic, of both their writing and other people's. Everything that has been written will always have some sort of critique, and that's the way it will always be. Not everyone's opinions and views are the same so it's incredibly difficult to please absolutely everyone with what you are saying. Provide evidence of your point and that's all that you can do. However, don't see any criticism as a negative. Being critical of your own ideas and others', forms new ideas for you to write about. Thick Skinned:  The things you write may not always be received by those who edit or read them as well as you would hope. This can obviously be disappointing, however remember that there will be a bunch of people that will entirely agree with what you are saying. Plus, you know that you can bounce off the criticism into a new pond of ideas, all without taking it to heart. Editor:  Every good writer should have a good editor, even if it is just you. You should be able to spot any grammatical errors a mile off, and proofreading and editing should all be scheduled into the work's progress and completion. Don't skimp on the time you need to proofread and edit because you never know how you re-reading it could change it for the better. These two things bring a lot to the whole process – they don't settle for second best, they tease the absolute best out of every writer. Patient:  Finally, every good writer must have patience. It's a virtue after all! Good writing takes time and it takes effort. If you're feeling jaded by the number of re-drafts you're doing, don't be – no renowned works came out perfectly the first time. As Mark Twain once said, â€Å"Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words†.

How to Write Dialogue That Captivates Your Reader

How to Write Dialogue That Captivates Your Reader How to Write Dialogue That Captivates Your Reader And unfortunately, your first reader will be an agent or an editor. You can’t slip anything boring past them. Your job is to make every word count. That’s the way to keep your reader riveted until the final page- no small task. Making every word count is how to write compelling dialogue. Readers love dialogue because: It breaks up intimidating blocks of narrative summary. It differentiates (through dialect and word choice) and reveals characters. Done well, it can move the story without author intrusion. But, as you have likely discovered, writing great dialogue is hard. If yours is bloated or obvious or telling or is in any other way uninteresting, readers won’t stay with you long. So how about we leave them no choice? Need help writing your novel?  Click here to download my ultimate 12-step guide. How to Write Dialogue in 6 Steps Cut to the Bone Reveal Backstory Reveal Character Be Subtle Read Your Dialogue Out Loud Create a Make My Day Moment Step 1. Cut to the Bone Unless you need to reveal a character as a brainiac or a blowhard pretending to be one, omit needless words. Obviously, you wouldn’t render a conversation the way a court transcript includes repetition and even um, ah, uh, etc. But even beyond that, see how much you can chop without losing the point. Like this: â€Å"What do you want to do this  Sunday?  I thought wWe could go to the amusement park.† â€Å"I was thinking about renting a rowboat,† Vladimir said.  on one of the lakes.† â€Å"Oh, Vladimir, that sounds wonderful! I’ve never gone rowing  before.† That doesn’t mean all your dialogue has to be short and choppy- just that you’ll cut the dead wood to keep to the point. You’ll be surprised by how much power it adds to your prose. Step 2. Reveal Backstory Layering in backstory through dialogue is another way to keep your reader turning pages. Hinting at some incident for the first time is an automatic setup that demands a payoff. Example: As they headed toward the house, Janet whispered, â€Å"Can we not have a repeat of Cincinnati?† Jeanie shot her a double take. â€Å"Believe me, I don’t want that any more than you do.† â€Å"Good,† Janet said. â€Å"I mean- † â€Å"Can we not talk about it, please?† What normal reader wouldn’t assume they will talk about it at some point and stay with the story until they do? As the story progresses, you can reveal more and more about your protagonist’s past and have your story come full circle. This accomplishes two things: it offers a setup that should intrigue the reader, and it helps you avoid flashbacks. Need help writing your novel?  Click here to download my ultimate 12-step guide. Step 3. Reveal Character Your reader learns a lot about your characters through dialogue. You don’t have to TELL us they’re sarcastic, witty, narcissistic, kind, or anything else. You can SHOW us by how they interact and by what they say. Step 4. Be Subtle Dialogue can accomplish a number of tasks. Here are three: 1. Subtext- where people say other than what they mean. This can be fun. Example: My friend sold a short story to a general-market magazine years ago about a girl named Cindy who falls in love with the slightly older boy next door, who sees her as just a little sister type. When they get to high school, Tommy is the big man on campus, captain of the football team, dating the head cheerleader, and pretty much ignoring Cindy. She’s just his younger neighbor and friend. Tommy leaves for college and word soon gets back to Cindy during her senior year of high school that he and his girlfriend have broken up. So when he comes home after his freshman year of college and is changing a tire on his car, Cindy just happens to walk outside. She strikes up a conversation with Tommy, and he looks up, stunned. Who is this beautylittle Cindy from next door? She says, â€Å"Making a change, are you?† Tommy looks at the tire and back at her and says, â€Å"Yeah, I actually I am making a change.† Cindy says, â€Å"Well, I’ve heard that rotating can be a good thing.† And he says, â€Å"Yeah, I’ve heard that too.† That’s subtext. They’re not saying what they really mean. They’re not really talking about changing the tire, are they? 2. Sidestepping- when a character responds to a question without answering it. Instead, what the character says is so profound and unexpected that it offers a whole new understanding of what’s going on. Example: In the movie Patch Adams, the late Robin Williams played a brilliant young doctor who believes the Old Testament adage that â€Å"laughter is the best medicine.† He goes into the children’s cancer ward of a hospital wearing an inflated surgical glove on his head, making him look like a rooster. He wears bedpans for shoes and stomps about, flapping his arms and squawking. The children find it hilarious, but hospital directors consider it undignified and demand he stop. Patch Adams is trying to make one girl in particular- a hospital volunteer- laugh. But while everyone else thinks he’s funny, she never cracks a smile. Finally, Patch leaves the hospital to open a clinic in the country. Imagine his surprise when that humorless young lady appears to help him set up. At one point, she goes outside to rest, so Patch follows and sits opposite her. He says, â€Å"I’ve got to ask. Everybody thinks I’m hysterical, but you. I’ve tried everything. What is it with you? Why don’t you ever think anything I say is funny?† After several seconds of silence, she says, â€Å"Men have liked me all my lifeall my life† And we realize by the way she says it, she was abused as a child. Suddenly, we understand what this girl is all about. She doesn’t trust men, and she doesn’t laugh, because life isn’t funny. The way she responded did not answer his question. Her problem had nothing to do with him or his humor. Finally, Patch realizes that some things aren’t funny. Some things you just don’t make fun of. Sometimes, you need to quit cracking jokes and just listen. It’s a great turnaround in the story. And an example of sidestep dialogue. 3. Silence The old truism that silence can be golden rings true for our last technique. Many, including Abraham Lincoln, have been credited with the line: â€Å"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.† One of the toughest things to learn as a writer is to avoid filling silent gaps. Just like we shouldn’t tell what’s not happening in a story, neither do we need to write that someone didn’t respond or didn’t answer. If you don’t say they did, the reader will know they didn’t. Example: â€Å"Well John,† Linda said, â€Å"what do you have to say for yourself?† John set his jaw and stared out the window. â€Å"I’m waiting,† she said. He lit a cigarette. Linda shook her head. â€Å"I swear, John, honestly.† Now, too many writers feel the need to write here, â€Å"But he refused to say anything,† or â€Å"But he never responded.† Don’t! We know, we get it- and it’s loud, effective, silent dialogue. The reader knows because John is saying nothing, and yet saying everything. Silence is golden. Step 5. Read Your Dialogue Out Loud One way to be certain your dialogue flows is to read it aloud or even act it out. Anything that doesn’t sound right won’t read right either, so rewrite it until it does. Step 6. Create a â€Å"Make My Day† Moment Certain iconic lines of dialogue have become as legendary as the films and books they originate from: â€Å"Frankly my dear† â€Å"There’s no place like home.† â€Å"We’re not in Kansas anymore.† â€Å"To my big brother George, the richest man in town.† â€Å"What we have here is failure to communicate.† â€Å"Go ahead, make my day.† â€Å"May the force be with you.† â€Å"Houston, we have a problem.† â€Å"Run, Forrest, run!† â€Å"You had me at hello.† Most writers - even bestselling novelists - never create such an unforgettable line of dialogue. But striving to create one is a worthy effort. Ironically, it should fit so seamlessly it doesn’t draw attention to itself until fans begin quoting it. How to Use Dialogue Tags to Identify Speakers Dialogue attribution tags- he said, she said, etc.- indicate who is speaking. Resist the urge to get creative here. Said is almost always your best choice. Teachers who urge you to find alternatives are usually unpublished and believe agents and editors will be impressed. Trust me, they won’t be. Avoid mannerisms of attribution. People say things. They don’t wheeze, gasp, sigh, laugh, grunt or snort them. They might do any of those things while saying them, which might be worth mentioning, but the emphasis should be on what is said, and readers just need to know who is saying it. Keep it simple. All those other descriptors turn the spotlight on an intrusive writer. Sometimes people whisper or shout or mumble, but let their choice of words indicate they’re grumbling, etc. If it’s important that they sigh or laugh, separate that action from the dialogue. Jim sighed. â€Å"I can’t take this anymore.† Not: Jim sighed, â€Å"I can’t take this anymore.† Though you read them in school readers and classic fiction, attribution tags such as use of reply, retort, exclaim, and declare have become clicheÃŒ d and archaic. You’ll still see them occasionally, but I suggest not using them. Often no attribution is needed. Use dialogue tags only when the reader wouldn’t otherwise know who’s speaking. I once wrote an entire novel, The Last Operative, without attributing a single line of dialogue. Not a said, an asked, anything. I made clear through action who was speaking, and not one reader, even my editor, noticed. A common error is characters addressing each other by name too often. Real people rarely do this, and it often seems planted only to avoid a dialogue tag. Fictional dialogue should sound real. Don’t start your dialogue attribution tag with said. Rather, end with said. said Joe or said Mary, reads like a children’s book. Substitute he and she for the names and that will make it obvious. said he or said she just doesn’t sound right. Use said after the name for the best sound. Joe said or Mary said. Resist the urge to explain, and give the reader credit. The amateur writer often writes something like this: â€Å"I’m beat,† exclaimed John tiredly. Besides telling and not showing - violating a cardinal rule of writing - it uses the archaic exclaimed for said, misplaces that before the name rather than after, and adds the redundant tiredly. The pro would write: John dropped onto the couch. â€Å"I’m beat.† That shows rather than tells, and because John’s action has been described, we don’t need an attribution tag to know he’s speaking. How to Punctuate Dialogue Few things expose a beginner like incorrect punctuation, especially in dialogue. Agents and editors justifiably wonder if you read dialogue, let alone whether you can write it, if you write something like: â€Å"I don’t know.† she said. Or, â€Å"What do you think?† He said. To avoid common mistakes: Start a new paragraph for each speaker When one character’s dialogue extends to more than one paragraph, start each subsequent paragraph with a double quotation mark, and place your closing double quotation mark only at the end of the final paragraph. Place punctuation inside the quotation marks, the dialogue tag outside: â€Å"John was just here asking about you,† Jim said. The attribution tag goes after the first clause of a compound sentence: â€Å"Not tonight,† he said, â€Å"not in this weather.† When dialogue ends with a question or exclamation mark, the dialogue tag following the quotation marks should be lowercase:   Ã¢â‚¬Å"I’m glad you’re here!† she said. Action before dialogue takes a separate sentence: Anna shook her head. â€Å"I can’t believe she’s gone!† Quoting within a quote requires single quotation marks: â€Å"Lucy, Mom specifically said, ‘Do not cut your bangs,’ and you did it anyway!† When action or attribution interrupts dialogue, use lowercase as dialogue resumes: â€Å"That,† she said, â€Å"hurt bad.† Dialogue Examples If you’re old enough to remember the original Twilight Zone (hosted by Rod Serling) or Dragnet (starring and narrated by Jack Webb), you know how dialogue set the tone for their shows. Serling was sometimes whimsical, sometimes mysterious, but always provocative. â€Å"Consider one middle-aged adult, lost in space and time†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Jack Webb, as L.A. police detective Sergeant Joe Friday, was always deadly serious and monotone. â€Å"Just the facts, ma’am.† Contrast those with the dialogue between Tom and his Aunt Polly in Tom Sawyer. If you’re anything like me, you were laughing from page 1. There! I mighta thought of that closet. What you been doing in there? Nothing. Nothing! Look at your hands. And look at your mouth. What IS that truck? I dont know, aunt. Well, I know. Its jam- thats what it is. Forty times Ive said if you didnt let that jam alone Id skin you. Hand me that switch. The switch hovered in the air- the peril was desperate- My! Look behind you, aunt! The old lady whirled round and snatched her skirts out of danger. The lad fled on the instant, scrambled up the highboard fence, and disappeared over it. Great dialogue can set the tone for your entire story and also differentiate characters, as we discussed earlier. In Huckleberry Finn,  Mark Twain delineates between Huck the Southern white boy and Jim the runaway slave by just hinting at their respective accents. Twain doesn’t use tags to tell who’s speaking, yet the reader never confuses the two. Huck says, â€Å"Jim, did y’all ever see a king?† Y’all is the only word in that sentence that implies a Southern accent, but it’s enough. Jim says, â€Å"I sho enough did.† Huck says, â€Å"You liar, Jim. You never seen no king.† Jim says, â€Å"I seen foh kings in a deck of cards.† Huck’s bad grammar and Jim’s sho and foh are the only hints of their dialects. Contrived phonetic spelling would slow the reading, but look what Twain accomplished with simple choices. The Cardinal Sin of Dialogue The last thing you want is to produce on-the-nose dialogue. Apply to your own work those principles and the tools I’ve outlined here, and I believe you’ll immediately see a huge difference. So will your reader. In the Comments, ask me any questions regarding how to write dialogue. Need help writing your novel?  Click here to download my ultimate 12-step guide.

Foreign Policy Analysis And Random Actor Model Essay

Foreign Policy Analysis And Random Actor Model - Essay Example Policies are value expressions or better still preferences that represent future preferences against others. However, a nation has her foreign policies as decisions that point to the future on accounts of other nations as against her internal decisions (Kent, 1969, 96). The analysis revolves aroundthe assessment of international as well as internal domestic political environment. It also entails setting goals and determining the options on foreign policies. Therefore, through foreign policies, a nation’s internal politics are linked to the external decisions made by other states or decision makers.Actor models are basic tools of applications that are used to evaluate the eventual performance or outcome by a specific policy decision taken by an individual or in this case a state. The applications are more relevant and dependent that manual analysis of the policy performance. The models are differentiated by the actor focus and specifications. In the Random Actor model, the two components that matter are the game and the decision. While in the decision aspect the model reasons and chooses among many available choices, the game aspect entails the logical evaluation of the decision adopted. Rational actor model involves the players taking decisions on policies based on thorough scrutiny as well as applying the notion that governments act from a rational perspectives. The illustration however reveals that it is not always the case that the two will act concurrently for the welfare for both concurrently. A repeat of the game reveals a inanimate change of decision s by the parties to maximize on their gains. Nevertheless, optimal gains are seen to be realized in the cooperation efforts as well as in the rational decision s that will benefit all. Rational analysis evaluates government’s decisions and policies on the available facts that were applied while adopting and designing the policies. It is a purposeful behavior which entails acting at the influenc e of reasoning (Kahler, 1998, 921-922). The objectives also are evaluated in analyzing what rational interested that the governments behavior imply. The model asks whether the government decisions were meant to maximize the benefits in comparison to the options forgone. Moreover, the model evaluates the nature of interactions based on strategic analysis. Rationality therefore implies that the actions of a player, in this case the government, are somehow connected to the intended goals or objectives. Ethical behavior in decision making may not necessarily imply rationality (Slantchev, 2005, 1). Whenever a government intends

Congressional debates over budgets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Congressional debates over budgets - Essay Example Many Americans are beginning to get weary with the inability of Democratic and Republican parties to agree upon anything. It has gotten to a point where it is becoming astoundingly obvious that the two sides are determined to disagree with each other on purpose. This, of course, results in nothing getting done and little being accomplished. Unfortunately it can be rather difficult to really get a straight answer from political circles. The Republicans blame the Democrats who are intentionally â€Å"shooting down† their attempts at passing a budget. In fact, the Republican-Controlled House in 2011-2012 did submit a potential budget; however, because both houses must submit versions and the work to compromise to reach a final product. The Democratic-controlled Senate did not follow through with their part of the process, which meant another spring without a proper budget for the American government (Bremmer). There are many voices in Washington saying that a budget is not necessary, regardless of the fact that the Senate is legally obligated to produce one; however, failure to comply with that law, apparently, carries no legal consequences (Weiner 1). In the end, without a working budget the government keeps granting itself reprieves and extensions that do nothing to solve the problems in this country. It is treme ndously irresponsible and short-sighted to believe that the country can continue to spend when it sees fit when no budgeting has been put in place. It is a very bad idea and will no doubt continue to contribute to further problems in this country. Corker, Bob. "Bob Corker says Senate has not passed a budget in more than three years." PolitoFact. News Sentinel, 22 Dec 2012. Web. 23 Sep 2013. . Weiner , Rachel. "Why Senate Democrats haven’t passed a budge."

Managing Schools Corporate Image - a Case Study in University Essay

Managing Schools Corporate Image - a Case Study in University - Essay Example Just as any other corporations present in the community, pedagogical institutions are not exempted from this common situation in the community. It is necessary for educational institutions to project a good image and identity towards the community since they are considered responsible in shaping the future of every nation. As simple as these two ideas may seem yet in reality, this is one of the most difficult and the most complex challenges that a business may face that concerns management these days. In order to address this challenge, every organization must understand and recognize the importance of corporate image and identity. (http://www.lippincottmercer.com/insights/a_roberts03.shtml, para 4) In order to make sure that the company is developing the reputation it seeks from the community, the need for perfectly aligning these two elements - corporate image and corporate identity, is held necessary furthermore considered to be the only way of attaining such expectations. (http://www.lippincottmercer.com/insights/a_roberts03.shtml, para 2 & 5) "Identity goes to the heart of how a company creates value in the marketplace and in the financial markets. In a nutshell, that is the very essence of image management". This key element in building the reputation of the organization includes the organization's purpose, its vision, its strategy and its business objectives. " (http://www.lippincottmercer.com/insights/a_roberts03.shtml, para 2, 5 & 6) As a whole, corporate identity consists of all its products and services, as well as how its people behave that is projected through the shared values of the organization and its employees. Corporate identity digs deeper as to the process and the ways in which the company creates its own value in the community where it markets its products and services. (http://www.lippincottmercer.com/insights/a_roberts03.shtml, para 2, 5 & 6) On the other hand, corporate image has to do something with the people who had availed of the corporation's products and services, their impressions and associations towards the corporation as perceived through their experiences with the company. Generally, these impressions and association that the consumers have developed within themselves can however be controlled by the corporation. Everything that the consumers have to go through is capable of being controlled by the corporation to a greater or lesser degree. This "may include the tone and manner of its employees, its pricing structure, the quality of its customer service, the publicity it receives from the media, its social responsiveness and its activities in the community". (http://www.lippincottmercer.com/insights/a_roberts03.shtml, para 7) It is and has been conceptualized largely in terms of the visual aspect it projects to the people. In business management studies, they also suggest that image is determined mostly by the organization and is presented to the employees in both verbal and visual form. (qtd in Moffit & Williams, 1997) Managing effectively the corporate image and identity is considered as the only way of building the desired reputation of the corporation towards its target consumers. (http://www.lippincottmercer.com/insights/a_roberts03.shtml, para 7) Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) - A Case Study Pedagogical institutions, unlike any other corporations, have a more challenging management strategy

Analyzing Protagonists Journey Towards Self Awareness English Literature Essay

Analyzing Protagonists Journey Towards Self Awareness English Literature Essay The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Emma by Jane Austen, and My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok are three novels that have come to be known as important literary works that share certain similarities in regard to the development of the characters over the course of the story. The three protagonists struggle with different issues that however all relate to their status in their respective society. Emma, Huckleberry Finn and Asher face similar emotional challenges as they grow and mature on a psychological level. In addition to this, the characters are also similar in their position towards their social positions and status within society. For instance, Emma is portrayed as a young, beautiful, smart, rich and widely adored young woman whose many blessings are however the main cause of her flawed character that develops and matures consequential to her interactions with others. Asher Lev is on the other hand from a strict Jewish community; a background that complicates hi s life as he is not able to find a balance between his love for art and his religious responsibilities. This inner conflict influences his journey towards self-awareness. Huckleberry Finns life is harsher and more challenging than the previously mentioned characters which makes him grow up to be cynical and suspicious of his society; an attitude that transforms him into both an independent person as well as a social outcast In short, the three novels share many similarities in regard to the growth of the characters. The theme of the protagonists journey towards self-awareness is especially brought to the foreground through the authors adoption of specific literary techniques such as characterization and setting. The understanding of the characters journey towards self-awareness is enabled through the setting. The setting of Huckleberry Finn is in the South during the period before the abolition of slavery. The protagonist grows to witness the harsh and brutal reality of slavery and the peoples reluctance to abandon it nevertheless which impacts his perception of morality and leads him to conclude that his own onions and ethical choices are what really matter. Emmas development is also influenced by her social setting. She is situated in a small town where everybody knows, respects and loves her. She is recognized as an important social figure which initially confined her and led her to rely on her imagination as a way of escaping her reality which explains her love for matchmaking. Matchmaking forced her however to become aware of the significance of her actions and their consequences and opened her eyes to reality. Last, Asher Levs setting is the most confined of all three. His Hasidic Jewi sh origins and his position within the upper class of the community place many responsibilities on his shoulders at a time when his love for art leads him to reject and neglect everything around him. This confinement motivates him to move to Paris where he is able to develop and become more perceptive as a result of the newly acquired independence. This is how the setting influences the transformation of the characters in the three novels. Characterization is another important literary technique used in the three literary works to illuminate the protagonists independent journey towards maturity. For example, Huckleberrys personality is presented as different from the beginning of the novel: The Widow Douglas she took me for her son, and allowed she would civilize me; but it was rough living in the house all the time, considering how dismal regular and decent the widow was in all her ways; and so when I couldnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t stand it no longer I lit out. I got into my old rags and my sugar-hogshead again, and was free and satisfied. (Twain, 2007, p. 2) This highlights how the protagonists thoughts and attitude were different from those of other children from a young age and lead him to grow up to be the independent and secluded man who rejects his societys perception of morality. This does without doubt influence his journey towards self-awareness. Emmas character is on the other hand full of contradictions. She is presented as charming and beautiful yet manages to appear arrogant and selfish at other moments which make her behave superior in regard to some people in her life. This contradiction in her personality is however what leads to her emotional and mental growth as she becomes aware of her shortcomings and attempts to correct them. Last, Asher Levs character is similar to Emmas in one regard: selfishness. He is presented as a character who is much more concerned with himself than the impact of his actions on others. This creates conflict between him and his family. Asher is not able to come to find a way to balance between his responsibilities and his love for art.(Potok,1972, chapter 6) His flawed character lead s him to make several mistakes that enable him to learn at the end how to balance between his loyalty to his community and his love for artistic expression. This is a sign of emotional growth and development towards self-awareness and is also reflected in his art. It can be therefore concluded that the personal characteristics of Asher and Emma are among the main reasons behind their growth as a result of the conflict they bring about which leads these characters to become more perceptive of their flaws. In conclusion, it is thus evident that the three characters of Huckleberry Finn, Emma and Asher Lev go through different stages of development as a result of their interactions and perception of their social reality or as a direct consequence of the conflict their personal characteristics bring about in their life and interactions with others. Setting and characterization are thus two important literary devices within the novels of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Emma, and My Name is Asher Lev. They simply enable the reader to grasp the personality and motivations of the three different characters which sheds light on their journey towards self-awareness.

General Education Essay -- Economics

General Education Except for a brief contraction in the early 1990s, the higher education system in the United States has been growing steadily since the late 1970s. Roughly half of all Americans now have attended college at some point in their lives, and roughly a quarter hold a postsecondary degree.(In the United Kingdom, by contrast, less than 15 percent of the population goes to university.) There are 14.5 million students in American colleges and universities today. In 1975 there were a little over 11 million; in 1965 there were fewer than 6 million. And yet when a person in higher education talk about its conditions and its prospects, doom is often in their voices. There are three matters these people tend to worry about: the future of liberal arts college; the "collapse"(as its frequently termed) of the academic disciplines, particularly the humanities; and the seemingly intractable disparity between the supply of Ph.D.s and the demand for new faculty. There are more college student than ever. Why does the system feel to many of the people who work in it as though it is struggling? (Menand, Louis pg 219) Many people are flocking to college, but there not going there for a traditional liberal arts education. Liberal education is under siege. Critics, of whom there are many; call it an overpriced indulgence for the affluent few who do not have to worry about earning a living upon graduation. Fewer and fewer of today's undergraduates are pursuing the liberal arts, with most of them studying practical subjects like finance, marketing, real estate and pharmacy.(Rimer, Sara) Studying just the practical subjects makes very good sense to most people. Why bother studying things you won't use in your d... ...neral education classes for the most part are what people refer to as cake classes, which means easy grade. I personally like general education courses they help to round off a person's knowledge. It also serves as a break from your major courses. Some people may like to jump right into there major to make money fast; my personal preference is to become the most intelligent person I can in college so that I have more to offer later on in life.(This paragraph was taken from an earlier work of mine.) Works Cited Gould, Stephen Jay, ed. The Best American Essays 2002. NY: Houghton Muflin, 2002. Menand, Louis. "College: The End of the Golden Age." Ed. Stephen Jay Gould. 219-231. Rimer, Sara. "Justifying a Liberal Arts Education in Difficult Times." New York Times 19 Feb. 2003: B7 Vargas Llosa, Mario. "Why Literature?" Ed. Stephen Jay Gould. 295-308

Condom Availability in High Schools Essay

In 1991 the New York City Board of Education created a program to make condoms accessible to all high school students upon request. The program caused parental disagreement and the school board was taken to court. Parents claimed that making condoms available to students was a health service and could not be provided to students. The board argued that the condom plan was not a medical service. They explained it was one part of a comprehensive educational program that did not require direct parental consent. The school board lost the case. The program may have survived had the case been heard by the New York State Supreme Court â€Å"Massachusetts is the most significant, it is the highest court to address the issue, and it rejects,†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ the claim that condom availability interferes with parental liberties† (Karen Mahler). In 1977 the United States denied a New York State Law prohibiting the distribution or sale of non-prescription contraceptives to teens under the age of 16. The United States Supreme Court seems to have support for the condom availability program. With teen pregnancy rates and the number of STD’s reported in teens on the rise, schools are beginning to realize that the parents are not doing their job when it comes to sexual education. The school system already has classes on sexual education; these classes are based mainly on human anatomy. Most schools do not teach their students about relationships, morals, respect, self-discipline, self-respect, and most importantly contraceptives. Everyday students engage in sexual activity, many of them without condoms. This simple act jeopardizes these students’ futures and possibly their lives. An increasing amount of school systems are starting to combine messages involving abstinence from sexual activity, and expanding availability of contraceptives, especially condoms. Schools are now stepping in to further equip their students for life. The distribution of condoms in public high schools will lower the rate of pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases among teenagers. Eighty percent of teen mothers end up in poverty for long periods of time due to the fact that they never finished high school. They become financially dependent on programs such as Welfare and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children). Welfare provides money and food stamps for low-income families. WIC provides milk, cheese, eggs, cereals, fruit juices, dried beans or peas, peanut butter and infant formula for all participants. WIC also provides nutritional education and health care referrals at no cost. Programs such as these help millions of families every year. Considering the fact that the majority of teens will participate in sexual activity, Sex Ed should focus more on methods of contraception and less on abstinence. Giving adolescents more information about sex and making condoms more available are ways to cut the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The condom is the only type of birth control that protects against the transmission of STD’s when properly used. Experts say the lack of knowledge on how to use a condom correctly and the lack of motivation to use a condom every time means that condoms fail more often. This could result in pregnancy or the contraction of STD’s. Teenagers reuse condoms or they use it with a petroleum-based lubricant which can dissolve the condom’s latex. Birth control products are only effective if used properly. Rates of failure for condoms are between 2 percent and 14 percent. Inexperienced users make up a larger percentage of failure rates because of improper use. This failure rate is also due to inconsistent use among teenagers. With the proper knowledge and training students can effectively use a condom to protect themselves. Health Resource Centers, or HRC’s are centers located in middle and high schools promoting safe sex. HRC’s provide reproductive health inf ormation, condoms, and general health referrals to students. All students in the participating schools are taught about the importance of abstinence, but they are provided with condoms if they choose to be sexually active. Trained staff members and volunteers, including health professionals, educators, nurses, psychologists and graduate interns provide counseling for students upon request. Students attending the junior high school also have access to condoms; however; counseling is mandatory for these students before they can receive condoms. Informational brochures can be obtained in the nurses’ office. Students are also able purchase condoms from vending machines located in remote places throughout the school. The HRC’s have large levels of administrative and staff support for its objectives. Students who used the program generally viewed the services they received favorably. Expanded condom availability, when accompanied with the proper education and information about safer sex, will decrease the amount of unprotected sexual encounters and the spread of sexually transmitted disease. Making love is not something to play around with. When people decide to do it, they make a life and deat h decision. If they contract an STD they risk their life for death. And if a woman gets pregnant, the woman is not guaranteed to live through it (although chances are that she will), and the child is not guaranteed to live for many reasons including abortion. Shouldn’t steps be taken to educate teenagers about what they are getting into before schools start handing out condoms? This would be a better way to prevent the spread of pregnancies and of STD’s and H.I.V. If teenagers do not have sex to begin with the risk of infection goes down because, condoms are not 100% effective. However, it is known that regardless of the consequences or risks, teens will partake in sexual inter course, it is the teacher’s job to help educate how to have safer sex. If the students know more about the risks, then they can make an educated decision about sex, and then it will be very likely that they will use a condom if they do decide to have sex. Rather than having one year of Sex Ed in High School like the majority of schools do across the nation, students should have Sex Ed classes starting in junior high school. They should learn about pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and H.I.V. There would be a course or a section of a course dedicated to health where students learn about these subjects. Then in high school, students should do a more in-depth study of the consequences of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. This could be done as a part of a biology course or as a research project in an English class. Finally, students should learn about H.I.V. and AIDS, how it affects the lives of those who have it, and what can be done about it. Again, this could be a separate course that is required or a part of another required course. Then, pamphlets about all these things should be made available at the health (or nurse’s) office and suggested for the students to read before they receive condoms. If this is done, then teenage sex should become much less of a problem than it is now. Abstract Over the past twenty years, the number of teen, unplanned pregnancies has nearly doubles in size. This is a problem to all people that it affects because it hurts people financially, not to mention all of the unexpected stress that comes along with being pregnant. Making condoms available in High Schools would surely decrease this number to what it once was and hopefully drastically decrease the number of orphans and teen parents in debt that we have in this country. References Furstenburg, Frank , Mariarz, Geitz , Teitler, Julien , Weiss, Christopher â€Å"Does Condom Availability Make a Difference? An Evaluation of Philadelphia’s Health Resource Centers† Family Planning Perspective Volume 29, Issue 3 (May-Jun.,1997), 123-127. Kreiner, Anna Learning to Say No to Sexual Pressure New York: The Rosen Publishing Group Mahler, Karen â€Å"Condom Availability in the Schools: Lessons from the Courtroom† Sexuality Volume 4, Article 63 1993-1996 Natale, Jo Anna â€Å"The Hot New Word is Sex Ed† School Volume 5 Article 30, 1994-1996 â€Å"Sex education: Anything goes.† Washington Times 1 Nov. 2000 Stewart, Gail B. Teen Parenting. San Diego: Lucent Books 2000 â€Å"Teens Regret Having Sex.† Maryland Abstinence Education and Coordination Program. Summer 2000

The Definition of Atomic Mass or Weight in Chemistry

The Definition of Atomic Mass or Weight in Chemistry Atomic Mass or Weight Definition Atomic mass, which is also known as atomic weight, is the average mass of atoms of an element, calculated using the relative abundance of isotopes in a naturally-occurring element. Atomic mass indicates the size of an atom. Although technically the mass is the sum of the mass of all the protons, neutrons, and electrons in an atom, the mass of an electron is so much less than that of the other particles, that mass is simply that of the nucleus (protons and neutrons). Examples of Atomic Mass The atomic mass of carbon is 12.011. Most carbon atoms consist of six protons and six neutrons.The atomic mass of hydrogen is 1.0079. Hydrogen (atomic number 1) is the element that has the lowest atomic mass. The most common isotope of hydrogen is protium, an atom that consists of a proton or a proton and an electron. Because of a small amount of deuterium (one proton and one neutron) and tritium (one proton and two neutrons), the atomic mass of hydrogen is slightly higher than 1. How To Calculate Atomic Mass

Nichrome and constantan Essays

Nichrome and constantan Essays Nichrome and constantan Paper Nichrome and constantan Paper Resistance- Resistance is a force which opposes the flow of an electric current around a circuit so that energy is required to push the charged particles around the circuit. Resistance is measured in ohms. During this experiment I aim to research and plan an experiment to investigate a factor that affects the resistance in a piece of wire. The possible factors I could change in this investigation are: 1 Length of the wire, 2 Thickness of the wire, 3 Type of metal- Copper, Nichrome and constantan 4 Shape of the wire, 5 Temperature of the wire,6 Density of the metal. I have chosen to investigate the length of the wire because length is a continuous variable with a continuous range so I will be able to choose any lengths to investigate. I chose not to investigate thickness because although it is a continuous variable the wires available to me only come in set thickness that do not go up in regular intervals. I chose not to investigate type of metal because it is not a continuous variable so I would not be able to evaluate the investigation by linking two or more groups of data on a graph. I chose not to investigate the shape of the metal because it isnt a continuous range. I could only use two options bent or straight. I chose not to investigate the temperature because although it is a continuous range it is very difficult to maintain a temperature, as you couldnt use a water bath because of safety aspects. It is also difficult to measure the temperature of a piece of wire. I chose not to investigate the density of the metal because although it is a continuous variable I only have one set density available to me. Prediction A longer piece of wire has a higher resistance because in a longer piece of wire there are more collisions between the electrons and the metal ions so there will be more successful collisions. In every successful collision energy is lost from the electron to the wire ions. The result is the voltage of the wire increases. The equation for resistance is resistance = voltage / current and as the current stays the same in the circuit and the voltage increases, the resistance increases. 10cm 20cm Preliminary Plan. The aim of my preliminary work is to decide whether to use wire copper, constantan or Nichrome I will use and what thickness of either 32SWG, 38SWG or 26 SWG. I will need to use a wire with large resistance range that is a good conductor of electricity. The wire must not overheat easily. The apparatus I will need to perform the preliminary experiment will be:   Power pack (2volts) Ammeter   Voltmeter   Wires x 6   Crocodile clips x 2   Meter rule   Masking tape   Board marker Factors to control in preliminary experiment The independent variable will be:   The amount of resistance in different lengths of wire. The variables that I will keep the same will be:   Material of wire-either Copper, Constantan or Nichrome.   Density of wire   Temperature of wire   Shape of wire- straight Voltage- constant voltage of 2 volts. Circuit diagram for preliminary experiment Method 1 Set up the circuit as shown above with the power pack set at a constant voltage of 2 volts. 2 I will use 2 different lengths of wire in my preliminary, the largest 100cm and the smallest 10cm so I can find the material with the largest resistance range. Now 1 will make sure the power pack is off and insert the first wire at point x on the circuit diagram. Now I will turn on the voltmeter and ammeter. 3 Next I will turn on power pack and record the first ammeter and voltmeter readings. The results may change due to heating so I must record the very first results shown. 4 Switch off the power pack and insert next wire. 5 Now repeat the experiment using the different wires and thicknesses and recording each result. Preliminary results These results show me the resistance ranges for copper, Nichrome and constantan. Material Length/ cm Voltage/Volts Current/Amperes Resistance/? CopperConstantan . Copper resistance range = 0. 3 ? Nichrome resistance range = 15. 03 ? Constantan resistance range = 7. 42 ? These results show me the resistance ranges for copper, Nichrome and constantan in 3 different thicknesses of 26 SWG, 28 SWG and 32 SWG. Wire Width (swg) Length (cm) Voltage (Volts) Current (Amps) Resistance Nichrome 28 SWG = 13. 93 ? Nichrome 32 SWG = 16. 2 ? Constantan 26 SWG = 2. 75 ? Constantan 28 SWG = 3.97 ? Constantan 32 SWG = 7. 34 ? Preliminary Conclusion From my preliminary experiment I found that the material with the highest resistance range is Nichrome in a thickness of 32 SWG. Even though my results may not be very accurate because I did not take repeat readings and find an average, Nichrome 32 SWG had a much larger resistance range than the other materials and thicknesses. Nichrome had a resistance range of 15. 03 ? , Constantan had the second largest resistance range but was still only 7. 42 ?. Predicted results I have used resistivity to predict my resistance results in my final experiment.

Value Innovation at AMD Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Value Innovation at AMD - Essay Example As of today, 99% of computers operate using 32-bits. As technology improves and software applications become more demanding there will be a transition to 64 bits. The K8 processor was a complete revamp of the x86 architecture for 64-bit processing, giving AMD a leadership position. Industry acceptance of the AMD64 standard has forced Intel to enter into an agreement with AMD to use the AMD64 standard on their own 64-bit based EMT64 processors. In their essay â€Å"Strategy, Value Innovation and the Knowledge Economy† Kim and Mauborgne characterize value innovators as ‘those who make their competition irrelevant by providing buyers with a quantum leap in value’. This description fits perfectly with AMD’s strategy for the K8. Until the release of the K7, AMD was a company that focused ‘on matching or beating’ Intel. They chose a ‘distinctive cost’ position and innovation was considered exogenous with cost and product performance trad eoffs. The new economics theory, which heralds the arrival of the knowledge economy, claims that ‘innovations are no longer exogenous and can be created with the ideas and knowledge within a system’. Again, a perfect match to AMD’s strategy of first giving the NexGen team their own building to develop the K6 and subsequently roping in a ‘world-class-enterprise-level processor design team’ for the K8. Admitted that Intel’s stumbles with their processor design and production yield have given AMD an opportunity window.

Discusstion Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Discusstion - Case Study Example Most of the businesses these days are using information technology to expand their origins and this is where cyber crime comes into play. It has been found that cyber crime poses a threat of 2.4 billion to the businesses operating in the United Kingdom. Similarly it was also found that this crime brought upon a loss of $67.2 billion to the companies operating in the United States (Marsillac et al 2010). Considering the high numbers of these crimes, it is estimated that cyber crime is further increasing over time and it needs to curbed as soon as possible. Different regulatory organizations have been formed all over the world to overlook the issue of cyber crime. This essay revolves around the severity of cyber crime as it is found in the world and resorts to an option that would help to limit the crime in totality. It was found that Cyber Crime went up by 10.4 % in the year 2014 from the previous year which clearly shows a growth in the pattern of cyber crimes. In accordance to the costly cyber crimes it was found that insiders, service denials and internet attacks formed an important part of the paradigm (Kassner 2015). Discerning from the research it can be said that the most suitable policy to thwart cyber crime should revolve around the threat from the inside of the company. These insiders are the ones who know most about the company and they can easily access the information with the appropriate information. If these insiders are stopped from committing the crime, the rate can be drastically reduced. The role of managers in curbing the crimes cannot be emphasized enough but the organization should also make sure that they are following the principles of strategic survival in the market. The managers can make sure of this by affirming legitimacy to the firm which forms an utmost part of it s dealing with the competitors.