Remove These 30 Words and Phrases from Your Writing Now

Remove These 30 Words and Phrases from Your Writing Now Becoming a better writer is an art form. It requires patience, research, reading voraciously, and above all- practice. In the process, a writers lexicon should be consistently curated, since words are the basis of the writing profession, and words that are vague or superfluous should be replaced with better ones or deleted.If you want to sharpen your craft, here are 30 words and phrases to remove from your writing now.Down, up (if following sat or stood)In most cases when you see these two words following sat or stood, its superfluous. She sat down in the chair could be she sat in the chair, and they stood up to sing could be they stood to sing. The point here is to keep your writing as sharp as possible.ThatIn many cases, use of that is either superfluous or incorrect. The book that is on my bookshelf could be the book on my bookshelf and retain the same meaning. The night that were going to the baseball game should rather be the night were going to the baseball game.That is also in correctly used when referring to people. For example, I have a friend that plays cello is incorrect. You dont have a friend that plays cello. You have a friend who plays cello. In the same sense, My aunt that is visiting from Florida should be my aunt who is visiting from Florida.Said, asked, replied, whispered, demanded or any other dialogue tags (after the first few sentences of dialogue)Instead of using dialogue tags, which slow the pacing of the story, reserve them for the first few sentences of dialogue then ditch them afterwards. After your reader understands the order that the characters are speaking in, theyll catch whos saying what without these distractions.You can also use actions taking place between and around dialogue to help note who is saying each line. Consider the two examples below. Which one has the better pacing?Example 1What time is the meeting tonight, asked Steve.I have no clue, said Terrance, but they sent out an email this morning.Yeah, my email inbox is sw amped with complaints, said Steve.Complaints? said Terrance.Dont ask, said Steve.Example 2Steve stopped, knowing now why he felt like he was forgetting something all morning. What time is the meeting tonight?I have no clue, but they sent out an email this morning. Terrance didnt bother to look up from his work.Yeah, my email inbox is swamped with complaints.Complaints? At least now Terrance was interested.Dont ask.Think, thought, felt, feel, realize, wonderUsing these words in your story is a great example of telling vs. showing. You dont have to tell your reader that the main character is thinking something. Simply put it in italics to show that its a mental process within the narration.Or alternatively, state it. If your protagonist wonders whether the love of his life is gone for good, dont write he wondered if the love of his life is gone for good. Instead, write the question: Was the love of his life gone for good? The fact he is wondering this is implied in the narration, so t he reader sees what the character is wondering about without being told that the character is, in fact, wondering.You dont have to tell your reader that the main character is thinking something. Simply put it in italics to show that its a mental process within the narration. Photo by Nathan Cowley from Pexels.WentThis is one of those lazy words that should be replaced with something more descriptive and compelling. Instead of writing, She went to church you could rather write she drove to church. Instead of writing, He went to soccer practice you could rather write he ran to soccer practice. See how that changes the image? Not only did you avoid a vague word, but you used the same word count to offer more detail for your reader.HonestlyThis word might be more often used in nonfiction or blog articles, but if youre a writer, you should immediately strike it from your vocabulary unless youre using it to describe how someone else has spoken or done something.While its mostly used to ad d emphasis, when its used for this purpose, it immediately implies that the other words youve written are not honest. Honestly, Id rather watch a Netflix show than go to the movies is exactly like saying Id rather watch a Netflix show than go to the movies, except there is implication that youre only now being honest. Additionally, as mentioned for that, extra words should always be removed for sharper writing unless you are going for a purposefully chatty, informal vernacular.Absolutely, totallyWhile usually intended to add emphasis, these words are the epitome of redundancy and are almost never needed. If something is important, its important. Making it absolutely important or totally important doesnt change anything. In the same sense, if something is essential, making it absolutely essential doesnt make it any more essential than it was before adding absolutely to it.Very, really, rather, quiteThese words are modifiers but should always be replaced with a better word to sharpen up your writing. For starters, they signal a young and/or inexperienced writer. If youre using them in dialogue between young people, thats another story, but if its coming from you- the narrator- find a better, more engaging replacement.For example, you could describe a really beautiful day or say it is a dazzling day. You could mention that a road trip will be very long or you could rather describe it as immense, far-reaching or lengthy. Regardless of what youre describing, you will always be able to find a more suitable replacement for very and really. If you choose the right adjective, it shouldnt need to be qualified. If youre stuck, simply pull up an online thesaurus and get unstuck quickly.Writer and humorist Mark Twain had a useful solution to removing unneeded modifiers from your writing. Substitute damn every time youre inclined to write very. Your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.Florence King, American novelist, essayist and columnist, p ut it like this: Very is the most useless word in the English language and can always come out. More than useless, it is treacherous because it invariably weakens what it is intended to strengthen.AmazingAt one time, amazing was just fine to use. It means causing astonishment, great wonder, or surprise and is used constantly in everything from slogans to speeches to social media posts to conversations about sports or the weather. Simply put: its overused. Heres a list of less-overused words that express the same (or nearly the same) concept.FascinatingIncredibleMarvelousStunningSurprisingUnbelievableAstoundingMiraculousMind-blowingStaggeringWonderfulAlways, neverThese words create absolutes and can make your writing seem inaccurate or even closed-minded. To say that something always happens is to claim that you have an omniscient view of an incident, across locations, situations, and even time periods. Obviously, this is not the case.Women dont always nag their husbands and dogs don t always torment cats. It doesnt always rain in Seattle and children dont always say mean things to each other. In the same sense, claiming that it never rains in the desert or love never lasts makes the writer seem unprofessional, overly confident, and simply wrong. Thats why using these words in your writing should be avoided.LiterallyIf this word is used correctly, it denotes something that happens exactly as stated, in the literal sense. However, youll often see it doing the opposite, or used with a figurative expression (as in, That literally scared me to death!). If you literally thought you were dying, be sure that was the case before using the term. Or even better- dont use it at all and simply note how you thought you were dying. Rarely does the use of the term add important information and as mentioned regarding several of the words on this list, extraneous or vague words are best left unwritten.JustThis is another filler word that adds nothing to the meaning of the senten ce, unless it is used to describe an action that is based on, or person behaving according to what is morally right and fair (the literal definition of the word). Think of it as sugar. Its best to leave it alone entirely, but if you must use it, moderation is best. Its nothing but empty calories.Think of words like just as sugar. Its best to leave it alone entirely, but if you must use it, moderation is best. Its nothing but empty calories. Photo by Mali Maeder from Pexels.Stuff, thingsWeve all met that person who overuses thing when they cant remember the word for the object to which theyre referring. Stuff falls into the same category and neither should be used by writers who would be expected to have an above-average vocabulary. Be specific!IrregardlessThis is one of those words the majority will get wrong, since many who use it dont realize that its meaning is regardless. Although it is a word, it is nonstandard in that its prefix (ir-) and suffix (-less) create a double negativ e. Since its meaning is often misunderstood, combined with a double negative thats confusing, its best to avoid using it at all.

Woman in Spanish Costume by Pablo Picasso essays

Woman in Spanish Costume by Pablo Picasso essays How would painters draw portraits of their wives? May be, they draw portraits as real as their wives looks like. May be, painters draw wives facials as how those men want their wives to look like. The true answer is unknown. However, in almost every case, painters try to capture all of their ladies beauty. Unlike many of his other female-modeled portraits, which were drawn in abstracts, Woman in Spanish Costume was drawn in neo-classicism. It is mainly because Picasso wants to preserve his wife, Olga Koklova, s beauty as it was, and he does not wanted his critical and analytical view to shadow her beauty. In the process of capturing the beauty, Picasso used all of his techniques that he used in previously. Up until this portrait, Woman in Spanish Costume, Picasso was famous using drawing technique call cubism. However, after meeting and finally marrying with Olga, he gave up his cubism, and went back to classicism, especially Mediterranean Classicism. The influence of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, the great nineteenth-century French Romantic Classicist, is evident in the precision and discipline of Picassos drawing from this period (Abrams, 46). Picasso may have given up cubism in sketch, but he has not entirely given up on cubism. Instead, he used cubism in color. He colors tiny squares (or rectangular), which cubism is employed (Abrams, 46). He only used three principle colors in this piece; blue, orange, and white. The color blue stood for his blue period of art, which represents his darkness, and orange stood for rose period. White stood for remain part which Picasso have not fulfill with the love. Without doubt, this piece is not finished. Although the lines of arms and hands are not clear and does not have full figure, it well describes facial and colored part of dress. Woman in Spanish Costume is one of few portraits by Picasso that do not have facial expression. However,...

Torture at Abu Ghraib Followed CIA's Manual Essay

Torture at Abu Ghraib Followed CIA's Manual - Essay Example The contents of the article seemed to be a disturbing masterpiece evidencing proofs of torture from a well respected intelligence organization, the Central Intelligence Agency. The author proffered issues relative to an innovative form of psychological, ‘no-touch’ torture that superceded the infliction of physical pain. Believed to be more effective in soliciting information from ‘subjects’, the discourse finally revealed its devastating and long lasting effect that erodes the stability in psychological state of mind of those subjected to this approach. McCoy was effective in his style of presenting a clear structure through initially detailing the features and methods of the psychological torture to achieve its goals. By providing illustrations through narrative depiction of the details that go through the various stages, readers are moved and made to empathize with the victim. Through the use of citations McCoy tried to objectively indicate the use of this method from the time it was codified in 1963 up to emergent and validated incidents that supported evidence of its application in contemporary times (arrest of Al Qaeda suspects, September 2001; at Bagram Air Base near Kabul, 2002).

Narrative and research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Narrative and research - Essay Example Abdullah was a bright student. Every time after stepping out of the exam hall, he used to say with a smile, â€Å"I’ll rank this time also, the paper was so good†. The teachers used to praise him so much. He was good at sports even and represented our school for the interschool competitions within the region. He used to take tuitions from the best teachers and he always outshined at every occasion. I could remember that the only thing that was not perfect in his life was the differences between his parents. Abdullah used to live beside my house and I could hear his parents fighting most of the time. A huge car used to come at the school’s gate for picking him from school and my friend used to offer me a ride every day. The way to home was a memorable journey; we used to switch on the music player and then used to talk about our teachers, friends and mocked them. We giggled throughout the way but as soon as the car used to get closer to our home, Abdullah’s smile used to disappear. He never felt comfortable about his parent’s fights which were audible from a distance. I could read the expression on his face which was nervous and ashamed at the same time. Sometimes when his parents fought, he came running to my house asking for a pencil or an eraser, and I could understand that pencil or eraser was just an excuse to stay away from the circumstance in his home. During weekends, when I and my family used to go for an outing and my father used to drive out the car from the garage I noticed Abdullah standing in his balcony and staring at us with a sad face. I felt bad for him but then I was too young to do anything to help him out. He had no sibling and he was the only child of his parents. Often Abdullah used to tell me about his worries and he used to feel upset about those fights. Then gradually Abdullah started performing poorly in the exams. He even started missing the regular classes. When asked, he often replied, â€Å"Iâ₠¬â„¢m not well†. One thing must be mentioned in this context. The parents of the new generation focus a lot on the material comfort of their child. As a result the demands of the child grow at a greater pace. Moreover working parents feel guilty that they are not spending sufficient time with their kids. Thus the parents keep expecting that their child will be satisfied if they are offered with the latest gadgets and it would compensate their absence. Thus, the emotional attachment among the new generation kids with their parents can be found to drop at an increasing rate as the kids consider their parents as someone who will meet their demands. The same thing happened with Abdullah. He never had to request his parents for anything. He had all the luxuries and comforts a person can think of except a peaceful and happy life. He rarely talked with his them. Things turned worst when his parents decided to get separated. We were just 13 then and I found Abdullah sitting at a corne r of the bench during lunch hours weeping silently. I asked him why he was upset. He said he was unable to decide with whom he should stay for the rest of his life, as he have to choose either his mother or his father, â€Å"But I love them both†, said Abdullah. For the first time I myself felt like crying seeing someone else’s tears. Then Abdullah moved to a different place with his mother and his father stayed beside my house alone. I started missing my friend a lot but time is the best

Negative effect of video games on children Essay Example for Free

Negative effect of video games on children Essay The Negtive Effects of Video Gaming on Children Children don’t have to buy an expensive gaming system to play video games anymore, than can simply log onto the internet through their home computer or their handheld devices and they have an array of videogames to choose from. Every time a child pops a role playing videogame into their gaming console or logs onto the internet to play so called interactive video games, they enter a virtual world where there are no real consequences for their actions. While playing violent video games children can choose to play the violent roles of either car thieves or killers. The more time a child spends playing video games the less time they spend engaged in normal social activities with their friends. When a child is allowed to spend hours a day playing video games, especially violent role playing games, they can cause them to become violent, socially isolated, and depressed. First person role playing games allow children to identify with their character (Harding). The more time children spend as killing machines in the false reality of the video gaming world, the more desensitized they become to death and killing in the real world. Studies have shown the more time children spend playing violent video games, the more likely they are to respond to real world situations with aggression and violence (Gordon). A 2004 study published in the Journal of Adolescence found children, particularly teens, who played violent video games are more likely to become aggressive, confrontational, and see a decline in their academic performance (Harding). Allowing children to play violent video games is not worth the risk they pose! Children are exposed to enough violence through television without the help of violent games offered to them over the internet and through popular video gaming systems. Video games do not only expose children to violence they allow them to engage in it through the violent roles they allow them to play. Many of the roles children play over the internet or through their game consoles simulate real world situations where they can steal and murder with no consequences. Parents should not need to read the results of a study for them to realize that allowing their child to play violent roles in video games, where they kill and steal, will encourage violent behavior from them in the real world. During September 2009 in Ohio a sixteen year old boy named Daniel Petric was forbidden by his father from buying the new version of the violent video game Halo that he was obsessed with. After being forbidden from buying the new version of the violent game Daniel snuck out of his house and bought it anyway. When Daniel’s father discovered he had disobeyed him, and bought the game, he took it away from him and locked it in his lockbox where he kept his gun. Later that same night, sixteen year old Daniel unlocked his father’s lockbox to retrieve his game and found his father’s gun. After finding the gun Daniel went into his parent’s bedroom and shot both his father and mother in the killing them (Gordon). No one can say with absolute certainty that the video game Halo caused the boy to shoot his parents. One thing is obvious, if the boy’s account of events are to be believed, the game played a huge factor in his descion to murder his parents that evening. Violent behavior unfortunately is not the only negative effect from children playing video games to often. A recent study by Douglas A Gentile, an associate professor of psychology at Iowa State University found that children who spend several hours a day playing video games are at risk to become addicted to them. Once a child becomes addicted to their video game, their addiction can cause them to become depressed, anxious, and have social problems including social isolation (Gilmore). If a child is spending several hours a day gaming they can very easily become depressed. When a child spends most of their day playing video games they do not engage in normal healthy physical activity with their friends. It makes sense that the more time a child spends isolated playing video games the more likely they are to become depressed. Children need to spend time interacting with their friends in order to develop normal social skills. When children isolate themselves playing videogames alone all day, they begin to lose their friends and social skills. Studies show that the depression caused from children pathologically playing video games can be easily lifted when they simply stop playing them (Frontelera). Douglas Gentile said, â€Å"We found in children who started playing pathologically anxiety and depression got worse. And, when they stopped gaming the depression lifted† (qtd. in Gilmore). The idea that allowing a child to play his or her favorite video game for a couple hours a day can lead them to social isolation may sound farfetched, unfortunately it is not. The more time a child spends playing video games the less desire they have for one on one human contact. Although, children have the ability to interact with other players including their friends through the internet, their friends become part of the game itself and there is no real contact. Children need to spend time in social environments with their peers in order to learn and maintain the social skills they need to navigate through life. When a child loses his or her social skills they quickly become isolated and depressed. Their isolation and depression can lead them to identify themselves more with the character they are playing in their videogame than their own real life. First person role playing games allow children to identify with their character. Studies have shown the more time teenagers spend playing violent videogames at home the more likely they are to respond to real world situations with aggression and violence. A child’s imagination is amazing and sometimes limitless, unfortunately it can become dangerous when they begin to imagine themselves stealing cars and murdering people while playing first person role playing Videogames allow children to become kings and queens, or car thieves and murderers. Children can become so entranced by the different roles they play in the virtual worlds created for them through videogames that the line between the real world and the virtual one depicted in the video games they are playing becomes blurred. . Violent video games rewarded children for things like stealing cars and killing people.

Civil War and The Souths Loss Essay -- American History, Historical C

Civil War and The South's Loss â€Å"In all history, no nation of mere agriculturists ever made successful war against a nation of mechanics†¦You are bound to fail.† Union officer William Tecumseh Sherman to a Southern friend. â€Å"Why did the North win the Civil War?† is only half of a question by itself, for the other half is â€Å"Why did the South lose the Civil War?† To this day historians have tried to put their finger on the exact reason for the South losing the war. Some historians blame the head of the confederacy Jefferson Davis; however others believe that it was the shear numbers of the Union (North). The advantages and disadvantages are abundant on either sides of the argument, but the most dominate arguments on why the South lost the war would be the fact that state’s rights prevented unification of the South, Jefferson Davis' poor leadership and his failure to work together with his generals, the South failed to gain the recognition of the European nations, North's superior resources made the outcome inevitable, and moral of the South towards the end of the war. First, the South couldn’t have won the civil war because state’s rights prevented unification of the South. The very issue that created the Confederacy helped to destroy it. In waging war, the South faced problems of politics and government that greatly complicated its problem of economic mobilization. No one would deny the troublesome effect of the conflict generated by differing ideas of how best to protect liberty and to organize southern society for the war effort. Southern people insisted upon retaining their democratic liberties in wartime, which proved fatal for the South. They had to struggle with a â€Å"confederacy formed by particularistic politicians [that] could hardly be expected to adopt promptly those centralists polices which victory demanded† (Donald, p. 26). Individual state governors fought bitterly with Jefferson Davis to prevent him from consolidating power to fight the war. They withheld troops and supplies while the Confederate Congress sp ent its time arguing over the rights of the states instead of prosecuting a war of national survival. Many internal conflicts within the South were acquiring and weakening the South’s unity. Internal conflicts caused confederate officials to choose between moving troops from the coasts and strengthening their armies, or leaving the... ...iled to gain the recognition of the European nations, North's superior resources made the outcome inevitable, and moral of the South towards the end of the war. The Civil War was a trying time for both the North and the South alike, but the question of its outcome was obvious from the start. The North was guaranteed a decisive victory over the ill-equipped South. Northerners, prepared to endure the deficit of war, were startled to find that they were experiencing an enormous industrial boom even after the first year of war. To the South, however, the war was a draining and debilitating leech, sucking the land dry of any appearance of economical formidability. The debate continues whether or not the South could have won the Civil war. It’s always going to be a bunch of â€Å"what ifs?† Works Cited Beringer, Richard. et al. Why the South Lost the Civil War. Athens: University of   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Georgia Press, 1986. Boritt, Gabor S. Why the Confederacy Lost. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992 Donald, David. et al. Why the North Won the Civil War. London: Collier Macmillan   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Publishers, 1960. Gallagher, Gary. The Confederate War. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1997.

How much sympathy does the reader feel

Curlers wife is a character in the novel â€Å"Of mice and men† set in California and written in 1937 by John Steinbeck. She is the only woman on a ranch of itinerant working men, and because of this she gets treated by each man in a different manner. Most of the men treat her in a negative way, therefore causing different degrees of sympathy from the reader. Sympathy implies that the reader feels an emotional connection towards the character. Her unhappy marriage to the boss's son causes her great loneliness and unhappiness as she tries, in vain, to find someone to talk to on the ranch.The reader may feel certain degrees of sympathy for Curleys wife due to the fact that the ranch workers are always talking behind her back. This is shown when Candy is talking about her to George and Lennie in the bunkhouse when they arrive. He states that he thinks â€Å"Curleys married†¦ a tart†. This quotation could cause very strong feelings against Curlers wife, as she seems to have a reputation amongst the men for being flirtatious. The noun â€Å"tart† might infer that Curleys wife is a promiscuous character who flirts with all of the ranch workers.It could also imply that she is lways tarted up' and making an effort to look attractive in front of the men. Candy's opinion seems harsh, which could portray the ranch worker's extremely negative feelings towards Curlers wife, as they assume she is a flirtatious attention seeker. However, the reader may feel sympathetic towards Curlers wife because she is labelled as a â€Å"tart† and so the ranch workers don't look past her appearance to get to know her personality.In this quotation, Candy pauses before completing the phrase, which could suggest that he is apprehensive towards voicing his opinion about Curleys wife. This would be understandable, as most of the ranch workers seem intimidated by Curley and insulting his wife may result in a fght or losing their Job. Some might think that this qu otation reveals that Curlers wife is incredibly lonely, as the ranch workers are prejudiced against her from the minute they get to the ranch, so this implies that it must be hard for her to make friends.She is the only woman on the ranch and seems to have trouble fitting in. She may be seen as very glamorous and sne could like to get dressed up tor tun, as it would make ner teel like a movie star, which is her dream. Overall, I think this quotation causes a high level of sympathy from the reader towards Curleys wife, because the ranch workers Judge her and don't try to get to know her personality. The Judgement as to whether Curlers wife is malicious or kind lies with the reader's perception of her character's description and actions in the novella.When Curlers wife first appears in the novel in the bunkhouse scene, the reader is presented with an in-depth description of her appearance with multiple references to the colour red. This is expressed through quotations like â€Å"she had full rouged lips† and â€Å"her fingernails were painted red†. These declarative phrases could imply that she is an evil temptress who is not to be trusted and attracts lots of attention, which could be either wanted or unwanted on her part. Contrary to this, the colour â€Å"red† is a passionate, loving colour which could present her as a kind, affectionate character.The adjective â€Å"red† is however sometimes associated with the devil and malice, which links to the bible, as evil was introduced into the world when Eve was tempted by the snake, so by dressing in red Curleys wife could be presenting herself as a temptation to the male ranch workers throughout the novella. Also, Curleys wife has some aspects of her personality that imply softness, for example â€Å"little bouquets of red ostrich feathers†. These â€Å"feathers† are a significant part of Curleys wife's appearance, because the reader knows of Lennie's fascination and admir ation of soft objects.This feature of her appearance could portray a more attractive personality because the â€Å"ostrich feathers† create a gentle, toned-down persona for her character, which may cause a higher level of sympathy from the reader because the ranch workers treat her as if she is repulsive and manipulative, which could be a prejudice based on her appearance. Towards the end of her initial introduction, Curleys wife addresses George â€Å"playfully, with could portray her as an intentionally promiscuous character. She is known around the ranch for teasing the male ranch workers and being apparently disloyal to Curley.The adjective â€Å"playfully' could cause the reader to feel unsympathetic towards Curleys wife, because she may give the men false hope by flirting and acting in a promiscuous way when she is around them. On the other hand, Curleys wife flirting could be interpreted as unintentional, harmless conversations and friendships between her and the ran chworkers. This would be understandable ecause as she mentions later in the novella in Crooks' room, she gets â€Å"awful lonely on the ranch. Curleys wife is seen by everyone on the ranch as a sexual object, due to her makeup and clothes.Whenever she tries to interact with any of the workers, they assume she is flirting and spread rumours about her, however she may Just be a lonely woman on a ranch full of men. Curley regards her as an item that he possesses ownership over, and so he is always looking for her to make sure she isn't with any of the other men. This shows that Curley doesn't trust his wife, and so their relationship and marriage isn't a happy one. In chapter tour, the ranch workers go out to a brothel in the local town, leaving Lennie, Crooks, Candy and Curlers wife at the ranch.In Crooks' room, where the men are talking, Curleys wife comes in and states that â€Å"They left all the weak ones here†, which shows the hierarchy of the ranch and highlights the fac t that nobody wants to be with the â€Å"weak ones† at the bottom of the hierarchy. The reader may feel highly unsympathetic towards Curlers wife because she says cruel, cutting things when she can. She says that â€Å"they left all the weak ones here†, but it isn't clear whether she is including herself in that group or not. If she meant to include herself, the reader may feel sympathetic towards her because she feels that she is a weak person at the bottom of the hierarchy.This reflects the way she is treated by the male population on the ranch because she is constantly put down and distrusted when she Just wants to make friends. On the other hand, if she was leaving herself out of â€Å"the weak ones† group, this may cause the reader to feel unsympathetic towards her because she is offending Candy, Crooks and Lennie, when they haven't purposely done anything to offend or anger her. This quotation could also cause the reader to feel unsympathetic owards Curley s wife because she has two different personalities.When she is around Curley and other people who are higher in the hierarchy, she lets them disrespect her and treat her in a negative manner, however when she is around people who are lower in the hierarchy than her, she brings out a side to her that is evil and cutting, and so would make the reader feel unsympathetic towards her. However, this may make the reader feel sympathetic towards her because she never gets the chance to look down on anyone, she is always treated like she is the lowest of the low, therefore she makes the most of being higher while she can.

APUSH Summer Assignment Essay

Many farmers were considered peasants in the 800s. SIG: Peasants would revolt and cause movements that go against the economic reasoning. The movements were usually to gain recognition for their work and other reasons. Yeomen ID: A servant who gives assistance to royal households or other great households SIG: A yeomen farmer was the ideal American which is being independent and hardworking. They were the best type of citizen to have a say in politics. Dower ID:The portion of property a widow receives from her deceased husband’s belongings. SIG: In the 18th and 19th centuries dower rights were not given much attention. In 1945, dower was abolished but some states still allowed bits of property to be given to a widow. Primogeniture ID: Being the firstborn and eldest of the children of the same parents. Also receiving the largest portion of the father’s property after the death of the father. SIG: This ensured that powerful families kept their power in their family line. Pagans ID: a follower of a polytheistic religion or an irreligious person. SIG: This is significant because many American pagan religions contain different traditions that are similar to to others. Also traditions have been passed down for thousands of years. Heresy ID: When one has a belief that is mutually opposed to a church or religious system. SIG: This separated church and states. A result from this was the unappreciative countries towards the American Church’s optimism. Civic Humanism ID: The idea that one should participate actively in serving its leader or state in the 15th century. SIG: The language of civic humanism was a tool to the leaders who Republics ID: a body of people viewed as a commonwealth or a state where the head of government is not a monarch. SIG: The government of the United States is based partly on Rome’s model of a republic and the U. S has been authorized by the United States Corporation created in 1871. The forming of a republic from Rome’s model is a significant part of US history. Guilds ID: An association of people who have some power and are reaching a common goal. SIG: These were important for trading and small societies that could have grew to be important in history. Reconquista ID:The effort by Christian leaders to drive the Muslims out of Spain from the 1100s to 1492. SIG: It is important to study because the Christian people fought until they expelled their enemies. The Reconquista became an ethnic need. Conquistadors ID: A Spanish conqueror of Mexico and Peru in the 16th century. SIG: They were mercenaries who were responsible for the near extinction of native people in present day US, Mexico, and Central America. Encomiendas ID: A system created in 1503 which guaranteed Spanish soldiers land with Indians. SIG: This led to forced labor which led to enslavement which was used in the US for years. Columbian Exchange ID: This was an exchange between the new and old world of culture, plants, animals, and diseases. This changed the way Europeans and Native Americans lived. SIG: This affected both sides of the world culturally and socially. Mestizos ID: a person of mixed ancestry from Latin America SIG:Mestizos were born to give power to the Spaniards and maintain their power. This affected races by not being biological instead history. Caste System ID: a Hindu system of social classes based on castes SIG: it was important because it divided labor in societies Indulgences ID: a pardon from punishments that would have happened due to sins SIG: Indulgences emerged in the 1 lth century when the idea of purgatory spread. Reformers complained about the selling of indulgences. Predestination ID:the idea that God has determined who will be saved and who will not SIG: People hought the idea came so the conquistadors can be forgiven for what they did to the natives. Mercantilism ID: A system that worked to unify a nation by strict regulations of national economy. SIG: European countries had knowledge with building empires and engaging in the system of mercantilism. The colonies in the United States grew and the English knew they could increase trade and benefit from it. Price Revolution ID: The 16th century era of sustained inflation SIG: This led to the price of food to rise and fall. The prices were changing often due and gold from the New World that was brought to Europe. Part Two: Chapter 1 Questions . The four main characteristics of the Indian civilizations in Mesoamerica where art, religion, society and economy. These characteristics were equal to those of Europe and the Mediterranean. Mesoamericans portrayed art through dance, pottery, and music. All of the Mesoamerican religions were polytheistic and the gods had to be given offerings. Mesoamericans did not have unity, so they were divided in a social hierarchy. The economy relied on agriculture because of the scarce amount of large animals. . The eastern woodland Indian societies were organized and governed by self-governing tribes composed of clans. In their culture, the elders would encourage local chief, who aided clan elders conducted ceremonies and regulated personal life. Gender played a role when it came to farming because it was the province of both sexes, but among eastern Woodland Indians it was the work of women. These societies were matrilineal, which is the inheritance one receives from the female line of ancestors. Farmers focused on religious ceremonies related to the agricultural cycle

Leadership and Management Essay The WritePass Journal

Leadership and Management Essay INTROUCTION Leadership and Management Essay INTROUCTION  LeadershipMANAGEMENT Difference between Leadership and ManagementLeadership vs. ManagementLEADERSHIP THEORIESAssumptions of Management theoriesORGANISATIONAL SETTINGCommunicationMotivationSelf-confidencePeer feedback  CONCLUSIONREFERENCESRelated INTROUCTION In this assignment I am going to define leadership and management, and then I will discuss some of the leadership theories i.e Contingency Theory, Path-goal Theory, Great man theory, Management theories, Transformational theory /leader. After that I did an organisational setting in which I discussing the leadership style of Steve jobs in Apple. Then I am going to discuss my strengths and weaknesses on the basis of my peer feedback. At last I write conclusion and recommendation.   Leadership Leadership have different definitions given by different authors and practitioners, but generally it is relationship in which the behaviour or actions of people are influenced by one person. ‘’Leadership is the process of influencing a group within an organisation towards achieving an aim or goal’’ (Johnson, Scholes Whittington, 20011:471). According to Yukl leadership is:- ‘’The process of influencing others to understand and agree about what needs to be done and how to do it And the process of facilitating individual and collective efforts to accomplish shared objectives.’’ (Yukl, 2010:26)   Individuals and organisations performance is influenced by the leadership because it is a two-way process. To enable their followers to function effectively leader motivate their followers and design organisational contexts. If the group is influenced or motivated by the leader and give their full effort to reach the desired goal then the performance of the company automatically improved. MANAGEMENT As Mullins said Management is ‘’Getting work done through the efforts of other people.’’ (Mullins, 2010:434) Manager is the person who performs the function of management by using the available resources efficiently and effectively to accomplish desired goals and objectives. Difference between Leadership and Management Leadership vs. Management Managers do things right; leaders do the right things. Relationship of Managing is an authority; leading relationship is influensive. Stability is created by management; change comes because of leading. LEADERSHIP THEORIES Contingency Theory of leadership is related to the business environment that determines which leadership style is best for the different situation. According to this theory there is no single style of leadership is appropriate for all situations.    Path-goal Theoryis the third contingency model of leadership focuses on the leader to motivate subordinate. It suggests that the leader should remove hurdles, clarify the paths and increasing the reward for the followers to reach the goals by using any of the four leadership behaviour i.e. Directive leadership, Supportive leadership, Participative leadership and Achievement-oriented leadership.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (House and Dessler, 2010:387-388) Great man theory    suggests that leadership capability is inherent and the great leaders are born not made. According to this theory you are either a natural born leader or you are not. Management theories      are also known as transactional theories. This leadership theory is based on system of reward and punishment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Assumptions of Management theories If the people get command from one superior or the chain of command is definite, then they perform their best. Management use reward and punishment to motivate workers. Followers must obey the instructions and commands of the leader. Transformational theory /leader    efficiently and effectively motivate its team by using chain of command to get the job done. Transformational leader imagines the big picture of the organisation and come with a new idea that moves an organisation to reach that level. Broad framework of leadership style    is the managerial leadership towards subordinate staff and the focus of power within the three headings- Autocratic style- In this style management has the focus of power to take any decision. Democratic style- In this style the focus of power is more in a group. The leadership should share its function with group. Laissez-faire (genuine) style- In this style the group members have freedom to do whatever they want because manager knows that members of group are doing right thing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (Mullins, L.J. 2010:381) ORGANISATIONAL SETTING I read a case study of an Apple founded by Steve Jobs in1976. After reading the case study I found that Steve jobs is a transformational leader because he always comes with a new idea and effectively motivates his subordinates to reach his plan or goal. He believes in change that’s why he always found an opportunity in consumers taste and want. Apple is founded in 1976 and comes with Apple I a personal computer kit. He introduces Apple II in 1977 with colour graphics and floppy disk. Then apple launched Macintosh in 1984 it is the key step in the development of today’s pc. In 1996 apple bought NeXT. In 2001 he launched iPod music player for music lovers. By this he set of a new strategic option in music and entertainment. Then he came with the iPhone in 2007 and the MacBook Because of all these innovation I found that Steve jobs continuously transforming there products and making a new plan for the customers. PEER   FEEDBACK Communication Communication is the process of exchange and flow of information from one person to another. Effective communication is a two way communication, in which the receiver gets the exact information that the sender transmitted. Communication is the very essential factor of leader because without good communication skill leader can’t convey his suggestions and decisions to the followers or he can’t lead them. Communication is of two types verbal and nonverbal. According to Mehrabian ‘’in face to face communication other people understands us only 7% by words we use, 38% from our voice and remaining 55% from body language and facial expressions.’’ (Mullins, L.J. 2010:230) Peer feedback In my group work my group mate and I discussed about the communication skills and the importance of communication in leadership. After that discussion we gave feedback to each other, in which I got average comment. According to my group members I have an ability to express the thing but I can’t elaborate clearly because I speak in a slow voice and the listener can’t get me clearly. Motivation Motivation is the process of stimulating someone to use his willingness for fulfilling the desired goal. A leader motivates their followers by praising them or by giving them reward like bonus, incentive, promotion etc. In Maslow’s Hierarchy Needs Theory he defines five needs of the people. He arranged these needs in a hierarchy order i.e. physiological needs, safety needs, love needs, esteem needs, self- actualisation needs. (Mullins, L.J. 2010:261)    A good leader is a good motivator he always inspires the individual by different theories of motivation. Peer feedback During group discussion my group members gave me the positive feedback because they knew that in our finance assignment I helped one of my group member who find some problem in relating the ratios of the company with the economic factors, as I have a commerce background I helped him by giving theory and the proper link. Self-confidence Leadership grows from self-confidence, it is the fundamental basis of leadership. Leadership is about having confidence to make decisions. The group members or the followers can step forward towards the desired goal only when the leader is confident. So the leaders confidence is directly proportionate to the followers. It acts like a bridge between person and its goal. Peer feedback My group mate thinks that I am mediocre in self-confidence because when I am giving my strategy presentation I am not using my body language confidently and I am hesitating to give presentation. I’ll take that comment as a gift and try to increase my level of confidence. Delegation Delegation is the capabilities or knowledge of the person and issuing them a task, it also includes three concepts i.e. authority, responsibility and accountability. Delegation enables a leader to develop the performance of the followers to reach the desired target by making the best use of time. Peer feedback In my group activity I gave suggestions to my group and they observe it. When I get the chance I gave my suggestions to delicate the work. They found my suggestion an average because some time I didn’t find the strength of few team members in different tasks. So in some cases I am not able to assign a task to the right person.    CONCLUSION A leader is a person who influences other people to accomplish the desired goal, leader accept challenges takes risk to remove hurdles for his subordinates, he had a different styles for different situations. A leader is a role model for the organisation. With the help of the feedback given by my group members I know what are my strengths and weaknesses, because of them I know what are the obstacles for me to be a good leader. REFERENCES (Yukl, G. (2010:26), Leadership in Organizations: Global Edition, 7th Edition, Pearson Higher Education) Mullins, L.J. (2010), Management and Organisational Behaviour, 9th Edition, Pearson Higher Education Mullins, L.J. (2010), Management and Organisational Behaviour, 9th Edition, Pearson Higher Education http://psychology.about.com/od/leadership/p/leadtheories.htm, (22 may 2011 )

Sycamore - Not Just a Planetree

Sycamore - Not Just a Planetree The sycamore tree (​Platanus occidentalis) is readily identifiable with broad, maplelike leaves and a trunk and limb complexion of mixed green, tan and cream. Some suggest it looks like camouflage. It is a member of one of the planets oldest clan of trees (Platanaceae) and paleobotanists have dated the family to be over 100 million years old. Living sycamore trees can reach ages of five hundred to six hundred years. The American sycamore or western planetree is North Americas largest native broadleaf tree and is often planted in yards and parks. Its hybridized cousin, the London planetree, adapts very well to urban living. The improved sycamore is New York Citys tallest street tree and is the most common tree in Brooklyn, New York. Champion The record American sycamore, according to The Urban Tree Book and the Big Tree Register, is 129 feet tall. This Jeromesville, Ohio tree has a limb spread that spans 105 feet and the trunk measures 49 feet in circumference. Threats Unfortunately, sycamore is susceptible to anthracnose fungus which makes leaves turn brown and contorts stem growth. Witches brooms or leafless sprout clusters form and grow along the limbs. Most urban plantings are of the hybrid London planetree because of its resistance to anthracnose. Habitat and Lifestyle The deciduous sycamore is fast growing and sun-loving, growing seventy feet in seventeen years on a good site. Very often it divides into two or more trunks near the ground and its massive branches form a wide-spreading, irregular crown. Mature trees usually develop hollow portions and areas of decay making them vulnerable to wind and ice. The outer bark peels away to create a mottled patchwork of tans, whites, grays, greens and sometimes yellows. The inner bark is usually smooth. The leaves are very large with 3 to 5 leaf lobes and are often 7 to 8 inches long and wide. Stalked unisexual flowers of both sexes appear on the same tree when leaves emerge. Fruits dangle from long stems and are aggregates of feathery seed nutlets (achenes). The tree is a very aggressive stump sprouter. Lore The tree was probably named by early colonists who noted a resemblance to the English sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus). The sycamore tree of the Bible is actually the sycamore fig (Ficus sycomorus).The tree is not very good for construction but is highly prized as butcher blocks.A hybrid developed from the American sycamore, called the London planetree, has become the urban tree of choice in North America and Europe.Sycamore seeds accompanied the lunar orbit of Apollo 14 in 1971 and were planted across from Philadelphias Independence Hall.

Gattaca Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Gattaca - Essay Example Supported later in the late 19 th century it became a serious scientific study then failing as a science in WWII when Nazis used eugenics to support the extermination of entire races, arising then severe ethical questions regarding "the survival of the fittest." (eugenics,2007) But because the quest for perfection has always been latent in human beings and organizations, in late June 2000, the press announced that a joined project between the public and private sectors had completed the map of human genome. When the two team leaders for both sectors where interviewed about the future of human engineering and specifically about "Designer babies" by paying customers, they both laughed in unison and responded; "Mostly what people want is offspring who are good looking smart, talented in one way or another and easy to get along with. The day when such complexities could be managed is not just a long way off, it will probably never arrive for a simple reason; Genes are not alone in determ ining such characteristics; the same genes in a different environment will yield a different personality."

Discussion 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discussion 1 - Essay Example The source of the issue is then used as a means to determine the possible solutions. This may include a wide range of techniques like job or task analysis (Castagnolo, 2007). Here the output from this phase generally provides the instructional goals and these are used as a start for the design phase. b) Design: This stage is based of the analysis stage and here this stage involves the development of the plans to reach the instructional goals. This stage involves a number of activities like the selection of delivery systems, learning analysis, population description and also listing out of the objectives. c) Develop: The third phase of the model is the development stage. Here the focus is on development of the instructions and also use of various media and documentation to help develop the plans. This stage involves activities like generation of the lesson plans and also lesson materials. d) Implement: This stage as the name suggests is the actual delivery of the instructions. Several activities can be involved here including different mediums of instructions like classroom learning, lab based or computer based learning. e) Evaluation: Finally the last stage of the model is the evaluation stage. Here this occurs among all the phases and even between phases. This stage can be divided into two main phases. Formative Evaluation and Summative Evaluation. The first form is done during the ongoing and between phases, while the summative evaluation occurs during the finals element of the implementation. The activities that are included here are the decision making processes like whether or not the instructional package should be bought, if it should be continued or discontinued. The most essential stage among the above mentioned stages is the analysis and the evaluation stages. The analysis stage is the most essential as it brings out the overall scope and goals and also brings out the changes needed. Any