Tuesday, November 26, 2019

An Overview of the Gold Rush essays

An Overview of the Gold Rush essays California has always been associated with cutting edge development and ideas. For over a century and a half it has been the leader of what the rest of the country follows. No single event has been as groundbreaking (literally and metaphorically) as the Gold Rush of 1849. This historic event single-handedly connected the East to the West in what proved to be the perfect model of expansion. It was what brought hundreds of thousands of Americans and immigrants alike to the fast-paced, ever-changing world of California. To fully understand the history of the Goldrush, one must know what was actually happening before the lure of gold overwhelmed the country. In 1844, John C. Fremont ordered the U.S. Army to lead a scientific expedition to California. During a second trip in 1846, he encouraged ranchers located in northern area to revolt. These events lead to the seizure of Sonoma and the proclamation of a republic. The flag that they raised that year was a figure of a bear. It was not yet known that the Mexican War had started and that troops had been sent to quall the battles. According to the New Standard Encyclopedia, there was little fighting in the north, and the south was taken quickly under the forces of General Stephen W. Kearny and Commodore Robert F. Stockton (C38a). In 1849, Mexico ceded California to the United States. (New Standard Encyclopedia C-38 and C38a) One of the most little understood men of the gold rush, John Augustus Sutter, had fled from Switzerland to avoid his debtors in the mid 1800s. Abandoning his family and friends he came to America in hopes of making it big and making a fortune. In July of 1839 he arrived in California and acquired a land grant from the Mexican government. He dreamed of one day owning a vast empire of agricultural lands. It was a dream that ultimately ruined him. According to a biography done on him by California State Library, he built Sutters Fort ...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Choosing the Types of Essay Writing Languages

Choosing the Types of Essay Writing Languages Idioms, Slang or Jargon. What Is and Appropriate Essay Writing Language? Different types of academic papers require different writing approaches. You will hardly write an expository essay in the same way using the same words as in an argumentative essay. Otherwise, your academic success will be doomed to failure. In other words, a student should be a versatile writer able to choose the write language for a particular type of essay writing. Let’s find out, which is a proper variant and which is not. Essay writing language – formality level Most of the essay papers require formal style. They include cover letters, job applications, journalist notes, etc. On the other hand, you should always consider the type of your target audience when depending the level of formality. A too formal paper may look a bit boring and less engaging. To make things easier for readers, use the following formality levels: Formal style – a typical language of the highest formality level used for unknown audience; Semi-formal – the best bet for essay papers, emails, etc.; Informal – more humorous way of introducing content applicable to friends and relatives. Essay writing language – jargon Although we rarely come across this type of language in academic papers, it can still be used in particular context especially when it comes to different social groups that refer to specific nation backgrounds. Using jargon where appropriate may be a good way to grab the attention of the audience adding some style to your paper. Idioms and slang expressions Slang appears to be inappropriate language when it comes to academic writing. You are not supposed to right â€Å"wanna† or â€Å"y’all†. The same thing is with idiomatic expressions like â€Å"barking at a wrong tree†. Some students mistakenly think that idioms show a good knowledge of language. However, they appear to degrade the content as well as the overall impression. So, try to avoid them. How to write an essay using different languages? It does not matter what type of academic paper you were assigned. Using a proper language and writing style is vital. Keep in mind that essay writing is far from producing articles or novels. You need to follow academic standards in addition to requirements established by your professor. Avoid being arrogant and stick to formal style in addition to the following tips: Sound confident and objective – your language is your face. Make sure it sounds objective and confident even on the paper; Keep an Eye on Tenses – those little guys can be rather tricky. Determine the tenses you are going to use in advance. They will depend on the paper type and topic; Make it Simpler – although the paper is called â€Å"academic† it does not actually mean it is supposed to be complicated. Avoid complex sentence structures and make the paper easy to read. Use strong specific words to express your confidence and expertise. Make sure your paper does not contain vague phrases or words. Keep it simple and clear for the audience.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Jonathan Edwards Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Jonathan Edwards - Research Paper Example He was very much interested in different areas of science, ideologies and thoughts and especially in the world of philosophy (Sander-Cederlof, 1974). Edwards became very well aware of all the modern philosophical and theological issues and became familiar with the writing of John Locke and his ‘Essay concerning human understanding’ especially influenced Edward during the period of his study at Yale College. The ideological clashes and arguments between the orthodox Calvinism and its challenging movements such as Deism, Arianism and Angilical Arminianism were included in his studies along with such ideas as British Empiricism and continental Rationalism which were originated in Europe (Jonathan Edwards: Biography). Edwards was dedicated to express his innovative ideas in front of the great personalities of the Enlightenment. He synthesized protestant theology with Newton’s physics, the third earl of Shaftesbury’s aesthetics, Locke’s psychology and Mal ebranche’s moral philosophy and thereby provided a recasting to Calvinism. Metaphysics and natural philosophy were the other important areas of his interest and one could find his exclusive writings on this topics.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 8

Reflection - Essay Example Additionally, the PowerPoint also help to present the understanding that racial profiling is basically an ineffective means of accomplishing whatever task the individual sets out to do. In short, racial profiling only helps due to the fact that it creates a situation in which expectation for a given activity or behavior is created within the mind of the profiler. Another powerful complement of understanding this was the fact that racial profiling oftentimes helps to make stereotypes more powerful. By treating an entire group of people within a certain way, it becomes more likely that these individuals would begin to identify with the way they are treated and exhibit more and more signs of adherence to these stereotypes. Ultimately, within everyday life and within an increasingly globalized world, the extent and level to which racial profiling can be used for any positive benefit is all but nonexistent. Similarly, although there was a great deal of information presented with regards t o diversity and different communication styles that men and women often times engage, the most important aspect of this particular piece of research was due to the fact that it is necessary for the reader/participant to always be mindful of the fact that different people communicate via different styles. Although such an understanding is somewhat dangerous due to the fact that it can create an expectation that men and women are inherently different and behave/communicate via entirely different standards, this is not always the case. Rather, it is important for the stakeholder to realize that women and men are able to express themselves in different ways and two different extents. This mere ability does not mean that they will always do so. From a leadership perspective, it is important to understand this due to the fact that the reader will both be leading man and women regardless of the organization or business entity to which they are responsible. In this way, within one’s personal life, it is necessary to always seek to interact with others so that a type of baseline of communication is represented within the conversation. Although this may seem somewhat obvious, it is oftentimes neglected and can ultimately result in a breakdown of communications and/or a misunderstanding of key information with regards to stakeholders within either of the genders. Lastly, with respect to the PowerPoint presentation concerning extroverts and introverts, the most powerful understanding that this student gained from this presentation was with regards to the fact that neither being an introvert nor an extrovert is necessarily better than the other. All too often within our culture, we are taught that an extrovert will succeed whereas an introvert will ultimately fail within the business environment. However, as the PowerPoint noted, a diversity of these individuals required within disbarment as a means of ensuring that specific strengths within the organization can be spoken to leverage. Whereas the extroverted personality is more likely to engage with others and be outgoing/bold, the introvert is more likely to be a problem solver work quietly within their own respective field. Most importantly, from the information that was provided within the particular PowerPoint presentation, it was noted that both introverts and extroverts have the potential to make exceptional leaders. Whereas leadership has almost always been understood as something that was needful of an extroverted person,

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Farmer Boldwood throughout the novel Essay Example for Free

Farmer Boldwood throughout the novel Essay This illustrates that he is completely obsessed; he worships the ground she walks on. The news of Troys death has once again disturbed Boldwoods equilibrium, and new hope burns within him. In chapter forty-nine, following the complete ruining of his crops due to his neglectful behaviour, Boldwood appoints Oak to look after his farm. A great hope had latterly germinated in Boldwood, whose unreasoning devotion to Bathsheba could only be characterized as a fond madness which neither time nor circumstance, evil nor good report, could weaken or destroy. In this sentence the Author describes Boldwoods obsession with Bathsheba, and proves to us that although Boldwoods hopes could be temporarily subdued, his true feelings were always there. It seems as if his feelings for Bathsheba will last his entire life. Boldwoods hopes are encouraged when, after talking to Liddy he finds that Bathsheba mentioned remarrying in six years, giving him something to cling onto. Throughout the novel Boldwood thinks constantly about the best possible outcome of a situation. Liddy saying that Bathsheba once mentioned remarrying slowly evolves in his head into him believing that Bathsheba will marry him in six years. He always tries his best to keep himself hopeful. His waking hours once again become devoted to thinking about Bathsheba. In chapter fifty-one Bathsheba goes on a ride with Boldwood in his cart to Weatherbury after finding herself unable to refuse because Oak, her usual driver, was too busy and Boldwood her only alternative. After awkwardly chatting about mutual interests, Boldwood, unable to resist, bluntly asks Mrs. Troy, you will marry again some day? She is taken aback and a long pause ensues before she says she has not seriously thought of such a subject. Boldwood continues to press her, and is clutching for reassurance when he says, You never liked me. Bathsheba then talks about seriously regretting her treatment of him, and Boldwood is desperate and shameless enough to say to her Bathsheba, suppose you had real complete proof that you are what, in fact, you are-a widow-would you repair the old wrong to me by marrying me? These are the words of a truly desperate man; he does not care at all if Bathsheba loves or even likes him, but just wants her to marry him. His current mental state is worse than ever before. He keeps pressuring her about marrying him in six years time and when it seems as if she might decline, he prays on her ill treatment of him in the past, a desperate and dishonourable act. But do give it, remember the past and be kind Bathsheba eventually ends up being telling Boldwood she will tell him of her decision at Christmas. This act of Bathshebas subdues Boldwood, and as before in this situation he leaves her alone until the promised time because those simple words of hers are enough to comfort him into believing that she will eventually marry him. It is as if his life itself is centred around Bathsheba, but I think Bathsheba only promised to consider his proposal because she feared for his sanity. In chapter fifty-two Boldwood holds a grand Christmas party, something that is, evidently from the Authors words, extremely out of character. But Boldwood has sunk so fast towards insanity that his character itself has changed dramatically. Boldwood is very expectant of Bathshebas answer, and deliriously happy in the build-up to the party. Bathsheba fears the party and having to give Boldwood an answer, and deliberately wears mourning clothes to it. Boldwoods cheerful disposition will not be dampened, even when Oak tries to make him more realistic about the situation, to stop him getting his hopes up. But, as has been consistent throughout the novel, Boldwoods moods and feelings are completely uninfluenced by anyones words but Bathshebas. Because of Boldwoods cheerful mood, he increases Oaks salary, this is mainly due to his knowledge of Oaks interest in Bathsheba and seems to me like a consolation prize, because through the mental haze that obscures his judgement, he truly believes Bathsheba is his. It is in chapter fifty-three that Boldwood is finally pushed over the edge. After being verbally beaten into submission, Bathsheba gives her word to marry Boldwood in six years if Troy does not return. Still, this is not quite enough for Boldwood and he requests that she wear a ring he bought for her. The demonic force that appears to be gripping Boldwood as he almost forces the ring onto her finger is too much for Bathsheba, and she begins to cry. Soon after this, Troy arrives at the house and tries to take Bathsheba away and it is at that moment that Boldwood simply erupts he shoots troy with one of the guns on his gun rack. The old Boldwood is now completely gone replaced by a hysterical madman. When Bathsheba had cried out in her husbands grasp, Boldwoods face of gnashing despair had changed. The veins had swollen, and a frenzied look had gleamed in his eye. Able to take no more, Boldwood readies himself to commit suicide with the same gun, but is prevented by Samway. In chapter fifty-five the true extent of Boldwoods obsession with Bathsheba is revealed. He had bought a large number of gifts for he labelled Bathsheba Boldwood and dated six years in advance. His very soul was completely consumed with the idea of marrying her. Boldwood is sentenced to life imprisonment. This novel describes the degeneration of a quiet, reserved and proud man into a crazed, violent and obsessive maniac. Throughout Boldwoods life a certain equilibrium was preserved, and Bathshebas arrival and sending of the valentine disturbed it. He truly was in extremity at once. His mental state became more and more unstable until he finally exploded and shot Sergeant Troy. I believe this was the end of Boldwoods equilibrium, and he would remain mentally ill and preoccupied with the woman he would never have.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Warriors dont cry :: essays research papers

Title Navy to Limit Sonar Testing Thought to Hurt Sea Mammals Paper New York Times Authors THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Summary this article comes from San Francisco and is about how the Navy has agreed to limit the testing grounds the testing of a new sonar system designed to track down enemy submarines. The Navy finally agreed after there were a couple months of protest for the harm of marine life. The protest was about the concern of harming marine life . With all the limit’s the Navy has the Navy agrees to test the system in about 14 million square miles in the ocean and the limit will be a million square miles of remote ocean around the Mariana Islands. Andrew Wetzel a lawyer in the Natural Resources Defense Council said that the Mariana Islands was the least affective of Ocean the Navy could have. This wonderful sonar system can send signals hundreds of miles. It can be as loud as 215 decibels, as much noise as a twin-engine F-15 fighter jet makes when it takes off. This agreement doesn’t stop the navy from using the sonar anywhere in wartime and but limit’s the training gro und of the sonar. The judge ordered all discussions between the environmental group and the Navy to not to be mentioned. The Natural Resources Defense Council said Navy sonar used in March 2000 has caused about 16 whales and 2 dolphins to beach themselves on islands in the Bahamas. Eight whales died, and scientists found bleeding around their brains and ear bones, injuries consistent with exposure to loud noise. Critique This article is very important because the Navy has to train with their equipment but marine life cannot be harmed. The Navy has made the same decision I would have made to limit grounds for harming marine life but still training. This was a very hard decision to make because the Navy doesn’t want to kill animals but they have to just to train. I didn’t find this article interesting nor boring I found it hard to agree or disagree with. A call to battle Comment: I read Warrior's Don't Cry for a book report last year. As a high school student, I had heard very little about the integration of Central High School, and living in a predominantly white suburban community, knew very little about the Civil Rights Movement beyond Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. Beals' personal account spurred me to learn more about the Movement on my own and to start demanding a 20th century in America class for my Social Studies department.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Compare the ways in which Wordsworth presents London in Upon Westminster Bridge with Blakes view of London in his poem London

London, the best place you could ever dream of or the worst nightmare? London in 1700's was a different city, they didn't have cars instead of that they had horses, there was less pollution and fewer roads. People used to wear more formal clothes. In this piece of coursework I am going to compare ‘London' by William Blake and ‘Upon com/in-westminster-abbey-analysis/">Westminster Bridge' by William Wordsworth. William Wordsworth used to live on countryside, he only seen the positive side of London as William Blake lived in London and saw the realistic world. Blake only has seen the negative side of London. When you are looking from the bridge you can have a good overview and the bad side about looking from the bridge is that you can't see the details because you are distances. Wordsworth visit London in the morning and in most of the country's in the morning everything is quiet because the city is asleep. Wordsworth had a sad life because when he was around 8 years his mother died, and when he was 13 his father died, when he visited London that could be a runaway from problems that he might have and be able to forget about the sad moments. He also might feel that he is not overruled by somebody else, he could feel free. Both of the poems are about London but both of them got different background. Blake see the negative side when he written ‘Blasts the new-born Infant's tear' by this quote we can tell that every one live with a fear. Every child that was born must have a bad life because in those times they mum's might been a prostitute because if a women needs money she was able to sell herself because she wasn't able to find a better job. The poor people weren't able to be educated. Poor people in their times would be always poor. As Wordsworth seen only the good side of London but he never lived there so how could he rate London when he visits it only once? ‘The beauty of the morning: silent, bare, ships, towers, domes, theatres and temples' by this quote we can see that he had written the poem in the morning when everybody is about to wake up. He tells the way as he sees it or imagines it, he is not realistic. The word ‘tear' could also be a tear of happiness as well as of sadness. William Blake was a person that strongly was interest in religions. In the first stanza he repeats himself twice, once by using â€Å"charter'd†. This shows that he is talking about the characters of people; he saw this as robbing ordinary people of their right and freedoms. The second repetition he used was the word â€Å"marks†. This has a double meaning one of them could be that the physical damages that are being made and leaving marks in everybody minds and they can't forget about it. The other meaning could be that he is collecting evidences as he walks around. Blake's poem is full of negative words that he used in every stanza such as â€Å"blood†, â€Å"weakness†, â€Å"cry† and many more. The poem ends with words â€Å"marriage hearse† for everyone marriage is such a great thing but he compared it to funerals. This might shows that he prefers to be lonely. William Wordsworth used his imagination when he was writing the poem as well as being on the bridge and seeing the realistic world. He written something that cant happens in realistic world, â€Å"The beauty of the morning† â€Å"like a garment†, the city cannot be wearing clothes, but it's already clothed itself by nature. Wordsworth used list to describe the things he was seeing. He doesn't only show positive language in line 1, 9 and 11 he used negative language. Most of the lines contain positive language words like â€Å"bright†, â€Å"glittering†, â€Å"splendour† and â€Å"glideth† create a magical world that is being like it fake and unrealistic. The poem is written as a sonnet which doesn't just show love but it shows the poets love for London. The average number of syllables in each line is 10. William uses this because it suggests that he doesn't want anything to change in London. The poem is very peaceful and calm. Evidence for this is ‘never did sun more beautifully steep'. This shows that London was a beautiful place, very calm, and a lot of country side might not have many buildings around. William Wordsworth writes about what he can see in the morning when he stands on Westminster Bridge. ‘The beauty of the morning' is evidence for this. It is written in the 3rd person and is also in the present tense. This shows that it was happening as he was writing the poem. This also helps the reader to visualise what is happening and to understand the poem more. The sestet is about how the poet feels. Evidence for this is ‘Ne'er saw I, never felt, calm so deep'. It is in the 1st person and is partially in the past tense, he shows positive language. Blake's format of the poem is like lyrics of a song. There are four stanzas, all of them shows different aspect of the city. Every single stanza talks about something else. His poem is like snapshots of loads of different scenes. In my opinion both of the poetess have right to give their own opinion, like every human being. William Blake showed the bad side of London and Wordsworth the good side, both of them has right to show the differences every person got different views for certain things. Blake was showing the negative things to show what makes him angry as Wordsworth has made his poem calm and enjoyable for everyone.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Is this an accurate assessment of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth? Essay

In retrospect Macbeth does not embody the traits of a butcher at the start of the play but the chain of events he and his wife set in motion, changes him into a remorseless killer. A butcher by trade kills for necessity, shows no remorse or conscience and is pitiless. However, Macbeth is persuaded by his selfish, ambitious wife to perform these terrible deeds against his moral standards. Once Macbeth crosses the moral boundary of taking someone’s life, he loses all sense of right and wrong. A domino effect is created whereby the loss of one life automatically leads on to mass murder in that he tries to eliminate all contenders to the throne i.e. the slaughter of the innocents (Macduff’s wife and children). During the course of the play, Macbeth and his wife have a role reversal-she develops a conscience after her initial lust for blood and descends into madness whereupon she kills herself. She is no longer the fiend-like queen, but a pathetic creature full of delusions (â€Å"Out, damned spot!†) who almost demands pity from the onlooker. Macbeth however, has taken total control of the situation and cannot step back now that he has gone so far. Lady Macbeth’s statement,†What’s done cannot be undone,† is appropriate here. Consequently, Macduff’s quotation, â€Å"This dead butcher and fiend-like queen†, is not wholly true. Upon hearing of the witches prophecies, Lady Macbeth instantly conspires to speed up events so that Macbeth becomes king quickly. She believes that she is speeding up fate, but all she is in fact doing is playing out the prophecy exactly. He lacks the necessary ruthlessness that accompanies ambition- â€Å"Thou wouldst be great, Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it;† but she can supply that for him. She is fiend-like in the way she manipulates her husband, a shrew brow-beating him into these acts. He is merely her instrument carrying through her plans. At the moment, she is the power behind the throne. At face value, she is ‘egging on’ her husband for what looks to be his own gains, but it is her ambition to be the most powerful woman in Scotland. She is furthering her own ambitious plans perhaps wanting to rule the country through Macbeth. It is ironic when she says, â€Å"Look like the innocent flower But be the serpent under’t†, as she herself is the ‘serpent’, the brains behind the plan. He slavishly does her bidding despite having some misgivings, † We will proceed no further in this business:†. She undermines his manhood using it as a weapon against him, â€Å"When you durst do it, then you were a man; And, to be more than what you were, you would Be so much more the man.† She adopts the masculine characteristics of courage, strength and determination and encourages him to proceed with the actions. She bolsters his frail ego. Although he has slain many people in battle, he is known to be a loyal servant and is afraid of being branded a traitor. He recognises Duncan’s valued opinion of him, â€Å"He hath honoured me of late;†, but with his wife’s repeated charges of being thought a coward he, like a hen-pecked husband, agrees to her plan. It is really after Banquo’s murder that his mental frailty is displayed. His visions of the mutilated corpse, that are only visible to him, unhinge him, but he shows perception in recognising that his murderous behaviour is out of the norm for him when he states, â€Å"My strange and self-abuse Is the initiate fear that wants hard use: We are yet but young in deed†. He views himself as an amateur, but believes that with more murderous experiences the terrible visions will disappear. This is the crucial point at which the led becomes the leader. Macbeth now takes control of his own destiny while Lady Macbeth becomes the dependent casualty. From this realisation, Lady Macbeth assumes a lesser role in the play and fades into the background. Her rampant ambition and calculated plans have brought her no lasting joy or pleasure. Although she has achieved her dreams of being queen, her mental state is now of a tormented soul; she suffers from insomnia, is haunted by ghastly visions of the dead, performs an obsessional washing of hands, â€Å"What, will these hands ne’er be clean?† and suicidal thoughts dominate her existence. It is here that she loses the tag of ‘fiend-like queen’ and becomes more human in her inability to cope with what she has seen. Although she put in motion the sequence of events, she is now unable to cope with the consequences. The once proud, domineering woman has become a shadow;her spectral appearances in a nightgown carrying a candle show her changed into a waif like creature inhabiting the darker recesses of a turbulent mind. It’s difficult not to feel some sympathy for her â€Å"slumbery agitation†. This is no fiend but a troubled soul whose only hope of peace is death. While neither character is portrayed in an attractive light, Shakespeare graphically shows a descent into insanity and the ultimate tragic end in the quest for power. Against one’s better nature, a degree of empathy for Macbeth and his wife emerges so that the label ‘butcher’ and ‘fiend-like queen’ does not seem appropriate at the conclusion of the play.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

The 9 Absolute Best Books on Writing by the Pros - Freewrite Store

The 9 Absolute Best Books on Writing by the Pros - Freewrite Store Today’s guest post is by  Matt Grant.  Matt is a Brooklyn-based writer and editor.  His  work has appeared in  Literary Hub,  Book Riot,  HuffPost, and  BookBrowse.  Find Matt  online, or follow him on  Twitter  and  Facebook. As a writer, as with any form of art, you need to constantly hone your craft. Education plays a big role in self-improvement, but you don’t have to be an MFA candidate to keep learning. You can pay for classes (which often cost and arm and an leg), or try to find free options online. One great way to find free (or at least cheap!) advice you can learn at your own pace is to read books on writing. Many prominent writers, publishers, English professors, and grammarians have written books on their craft intended to help writers improve their craft. And who better is there to learn from than the experts? Below are nine books to add to your shelf today that will help you in all phases of your writing journey. Reading Like a Writer,Francine Prose Technically a book on reading, Prose’s book is written with writers in mind. Her entire argument is that before there was such a thing as creative writing instruction, the only way writers learned their craft was from reading other writers. Prose’s practical and straightforward book will give you a deeper appreciation for good literature in general, and what it takes to write good literature specifically. She has sections on sentences, paragraphs, narration, character, dialogue, and more. Along the way, she stocks her advice with examples from literary titans, even including an entire section at the end called â€Å"Books to be Read Immediately.†    How to Read Literature Like a Professor,Thomas C. Foster Have you ever read a â€Å"great† novel and felt like you’re missing out on a hidden layer of meaning? If subtext often goes over your head and you have a hard time deciphering metaphors, this book may be for you. Foster, a professor of English at University of Michigan-Flint, has provided a fun and easygoing guide to â€Å"reading between the lines.† With chapter titles like â€Å"Nice to Eat You: Acts of Vampires,† and â€Å"It’s My Symbol and I’ll Cry if I Want to,† Foster’s book is a fun, lighthearted take on literary analysis. It’s a helpful guide for how to deconstruct motifs, themes, images and other symbols in great novels, which you can turn around and apply to your own work.      The Elements of Style, William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White No writer’s library is complete without a stylebook, and The Elements of Stylehas been thestandard stylebook since 1918. You probably recognize E.B. White as the author of beloved children’s classics Charlotte’s Weband Stuart Little.William Strunk, Jr. was his English professor at Cornell University. Strunk wrote the original version, which White later expanded. This is an extremely practical book to carry around, just over 100 pages, and it easily fits in your pocket. It focuses on usage, form, and even lists commonly misspelled words.    Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, Anne Lamott Lamott’s wonderful book is both a memoir and writing advice guide. Her emotional and honest take on the writing life is refreshing. In it, she tells a story from her childhood about her ten-year-old brother freaking out over a huge report on birds that he’d had three months to complete. Overwhelmed by the task and unsure of where to begin, Lamott recalls her father putting his arm around her brother and telling him to just take it â€Å"bird by bird.† The same advice applies to writing, Lamott says, as writers take their work one word, sentence, and book at a time. What’s more, Bird by Birdwill disabuse you of any notions of overnight success in literature.    Several Short Sentences About Writing,Verlyn Klinkenborg Klinkenborg is a creative writing professor at Yale University, and his short, breezy book is one of best books on writing I’ve ever read. Written in short, snappy sentences laid out like poetry, Several Short Sentences About Writing aims to have writers focus on writing good, clear sentences. And that’s it. Klinkenborg argues that great sentences will lead to great writing, and that good sentences can make even the most boring and mundane subject seem fascinating. He encourages writers to think of each sentence as its own entity on the page, separate from everything that comes before and after it. At the end, he includes a section of bad sentence examples, culled from his years as a writing professor. I’m just glad he wasn’t mine!    On Writing Well, William Zinsser Zinsser’s On Writing Wellis a pretty classic college textbook for writing classes, so if you slept through English, now might be a good time to revisit it. As a former reporter for the New York Herald Tribuneand the author of 17 nonfiction books, Zinsser’s area of expertise is nonfiction. The first two sections of his book are a more narrative version of The Elements of Style,but the third focuses on different forms nonfiction writing can take. Zinsser shows what goes into good interviews, memoir writing, sports reporting, and travel writing. This volume is essential reading for anyone wishing to write good, compelling nonfiction.    On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, Stephen King If you think Stephen King is enjoying a renaissance right now with the film versions of The Dark Towerand Itin theaters, you don’t know his work very well. King is one of the most influential and iconic authors of the 20th century. His stamp is everywhere you look and has been for a long time. In this acclaimed book that is â€Å"part memoir, part master class, by one of the bestselling authors of all time,† King shares the habits and practices that have solidified his place in American literary history. King’s prose is personable and reads like you’re talking to a good friend in person. On Writingis great for King fans and aspiring writers alike.    Story: Style, Structure, Substance, and the Principles of Screenwriting, Robert McKee Now wait a minute, you might be asking, how is a book on screenwriting helpful for prose writers? Well, read McKee’s brilliant Storyand you’ll see why. This is not just a book about screenwriting, but how all great stories are structured. After an introduction that takes you through the principlesof good storytelling – why do people find certain story elements compelling? – McKee breaks down, using examples from some of the most influential films in cinematic history, essential story elements. There’s the Inciting Incident, Three-Act story design, and the crisis, climax, and final resolution. If none of this sounds familiar, pick up this essential guide for writers of any genre who want to tell well-structured, compelling stories.    Bonus: What We See When We Read, Peter Mendelsund Another book on reading? Absolutely! All writers are good readers. This delightful book, told mostly through pictures, is all about the phenomenologyof reading – how words, which have no concrete images attached to them, can nevertheless conjure images in a reader’s brain. It’s an essential reminder that the writer’s work is bringing images to life with our words.    When in doubt, a writer’s first stop should always be books. While we don’t all have personal, constant access to writing experts to ask their advice and opinions, we do have the next best thing: their books. Not to mention all the literary classics throughout history that you can learn a lot from just by reading. So don’t hesitate - head to your local library or bookstore today and pick out some of these titles!    There you have it, the books by the pros to get you writing like a pro. Which books on writing are your favorites? Which books did we miss? Let us know in the comments!    Matt Grant  loves to write about writing, business, and all forms of popular  culture – books, film, and television. Matt started writing DVD reviews for  Pop Matters  in 2012, and in 2016, he followed through on a life-long dream by launching a part-time writing business at  www.mattgrantwriter.com. Since then, Matt’s work has appeared in  Literary Hub,  Book Riot,  HuffPost, and  BookBrowse,  and he has several ongoing clients.  His first personal essay,  Swimming Lessons,  is being published in LongReads at the end of August. Matt is also currently hard at work on his first novel, a comedic take on fantasy tropes for young adults. When not writing or reading, Matt works in youth development as an after-school program director  for one of the largest middle schools in Manhattan. Matt lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Katelyn.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Donts for Getting Letters of Recommendation for Graduate School

Donts for Getting Letters of Recommendation for Graduate School Writing letters of recommendation is generally part of a faculty members job. Students need these letters to get into graduate schools. Indeed, grad school admissions committees generally wont accept applications that lack these important letters because they reflect the professor or faculty members assessment of a student applicant. Students need not feel powerless in the process because they do, indeed, have a great deal of influence over the letters that faculty members write. While professors rely on a students academic history in writing letters of recommendation, the past isnt all that matters. Professors impressions of you are important too - and impressions constantly change based on your behavior. There are things you should avoid to ensure that the professors you approach for letters see you in a positive light. To avoid problems, dont: Misinterpret a Faculty Members Response Youve asked a faculty member to write you a letter of recommendation. Carefully interpret his response. Often faculty members provide subtle cues that indicate how supportive a letter they will write. Not all letters of recommendation are helpful. In fact, a lukewarm or somewhat neutral letter will do more harm than good. Virtually all letters that graduate admissions committee members read are very positive, usually providing glowing praise for the applicant. However, a letter that is simply good- when compared with extraordinarily positive letters - is actually harmful to your application. Ask faculty  members if they can provide you with a helpful letter of recommendation rather than simply a letter. Push for a Positive Response Sometimes a faculty member will decline your request for a letter of recommendation outright. Accept that. She is doing you a favor because the resulting letter would not help your application and instead would hinder your efforts. Wait Until the Last Minute Faculty members are busy with teaching, service work, and research. They advise multiple students and likely are writing many letters for other students. Give them enough notice so that they can take the time required to write a letter that will get you accepted into graduate school. Approach a faculty member when he has the time to discuss it with you and consider it without time pressure. Dont ask immediately before or after class. Dont ask in a hallway. Instead, visit during the professors office hours, the times intended for interaction with students. It often is helpful to send an email requesting an appointment and explaining the purpose of the meeting. Provide Unorganized or Inaccurate Documentation Have your application materials with you when you request your letter. Or follow up within a couple of days. Provide your documentation all at once. Dont offer a curriculum vitae one day, and a transcript on another. Anything you provide the professor must be free of errors and must be neat. These documents represent you and are an indicator of how serious you view this process as well as the quality of work you will do in grad school. Dont make a professor have to ask you for basic documentation. Forget Submission Materials Include program-specific application sheets and documents, including websites to which faculty submit letters. Dont forget to include login information. Dont make faculty ask for this material. Dont let a professor sit down to write your letter and find that she does not have all of the information. Alternatively, dont let a professor try to submit your letter online and find that she doesnt have the login info. Rush the Professor. A friendly reminder sent a week or two before the deadline is helpful; however, dont rush the professor or offer multiple reminders. Forget to Express Appreciation Your professor took the time to write for you - at minimum an hour of his time - so take the time to thank him, either verbally, or by sending a thank you letter or note. Remember that you want your letter writers to be in a good mood when they write your recommendation and to feel good about you and their decision to support your application to graduate school. Write a thank you note to your recommender and when you ask for another letter in the future (and you will - either for another graduate school program or even a job), the faculty member will be much more likely to write you another helpful and positive recommendation letter.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Behavioral Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Behavioral Economics - Essay Example Generally beliefs concerning the uncertain events are expressed by statements like "I think thator chances are etc. These are sometimes expressed in numerical form as odd or subjective probabilities. Heuristics are simple, efficient rules, fine-tuned by evolutionary processes or learned, which have been proposed to explain how people make decisions, judgments and solve problems, typically when facing serious problems or in case of inadequate information (Tversky, Kahneman,1124). People often follow a limited number of heuristic principles in day-to-day life, which reduces the process of assessing values and probabilities to much more simple judgmental operations. These heuristics are very useful but at times can leads to severe and systematic errors (Tversky, Kahneman, 1124). In case of representative heuristics (Tversky and Kahneman, 1126), the likelihood of an event is judged based upon the extent to which it represents the essential features of the parent population or the generating process. Representative heuristic is generally used by people to make judgment or impression about someone or something. (Koning, 1) It is usually employed while deciding the probability whether or not an object or event A belongs to class or process B. (Tversky and Kahneman, 1131) For illustration of representative heurist... he example of Steve who has been described by his neighbor as "very shy and withdrawn, invariably helpful but with little interest in people or in world of reality. A meek and tidy soul, he has a need for order and structure and a passion for detail. How are people going to judge the possible occupation of Steve from a list of possibilities (e.g. farmer, salesman, librarian, airline pilot or physician) In the representative heuristic, the probability of is assessed by the degree to which he is representative of, or similar to, in this case say a librarian, the stereotype of a librarian. Research with similar type of problems shows that probability and similarity plays equal important role in case of occupation of people. This method of arriving at a particular decision based on the similarity or the representativeness leads to erroneous results affecting the ultimate outcome because similarity is not influenced by the factors which influence judgment probability (Tversky and Kahneman , 1131). There are some drawbacks of representative heuristic which can be rectified by considering the following parameters. Insensitivity to prior probability of outcomes (Base-rate neglect): The base rate fallacy, also called base rate neglect, is an error that occurs when the conditional probability of some hypothesis given some evidence is assessed without taking sufficient account of the "base rate" or "prior probability" of hypothesis (Wikipedia). The prior probability or base-rate frequency of the final decision has a great deal of effect on the probability. In the above example, the fact that there are many more farmers than librarians in the population should be considered while judging, for an estimation of probability that Steve is a librarian rather than a farmer. People tend