Priestly exposes weakness Essay Example

Priestly exposes weakness Essay Example Priestly exposes weakness Paper Priestly exposes weakness Paper An Inspector Calls is full of lies and deceit; write fully about how Priestly exposes weakness and wickedness, not only in the characters on stage but also in society.  In order to look at the essay question properly we have to look at literature as part of wider society. The story takes place during the early 20th century.  Its author JB Priestly doesnt just examine an introverted Edwardian family, the Birlings, but uses them to represent the microcosmic world of upper class Edwardian society. Thus using them to reveal the social injustice that occurred in Edwardian society. So any comment made about the Birling family by Priestly refers to the whole of Edwardian upper class society. During the Edwardian period, society was split into two halves. Either you were a rich industrialist like, Mr Birling, or a poor factory worker like Eva Smith, but for the Birlings it was an era in which they had total power and control over the deprived. The story is set in the pleasant house of the Birlings, who are a typical Edwardian family. The unravelling of the plot begins with a police inspector, Goole, and his investigation of the Birlings. He investigates each member of the familys involvement in the suicide of Eva Smith and the dignified and respectable reputations of the Birling family household are consequently revealed as overstatements. This causes the audience to question the morale standing of the rest of Edwardian society.  Lets now begin by looking at the characters, not only in isolation, but as how they represent social types. Looking first at Eric Birling we can see that Priestly portrays him as a half shy, half assertive person, leaving him with a contradictive personality. He represents a figure of young Edwardian men, set in the future to take over their fathers businesses, which was the tradition at this time. Unfortunately Eric is different; he has his own views on society and disagrees with his fathers methods in politics. Eric grows up to be a rather immature young man, in his spare time he likes to get squithy which was the term used for getting drunk. Perhaps Erics drunken behaviour can be explained as his way of expressing his carefree and poor liability in life. In reference to the essay question, Erics wickedness is shown when he impregnates Eva Smith/Daisy Renton. He is the last link in the chain of events leading to Evas suicide. The night of Erics casual affaire with Miss Smith is perceived to him as a mistake on the end of a drunken evening. His weakness is shown when, in an attempt to act responsible he steals (not having any money) from his fathers account, offering support to Miss Smith and her baby. Eva Smith rejects Eric after discovering how he got the money. Eric is sorry for his actions and accepts responsibility as the last link in the chain of events which lead to Miss Smiths death. Eric has to deal with this himself as he hasnt got a close bond with the rest of the family. Sheila Birling is another member of the Birling household. She represents a stereotypical Edwardian spoilt child. Priestly portrays her as sort of a daddys girl melodramatic and selfish. She shows these qualities when she influences the dismissal of Eva smith, who at this point was employed in a shop where Miss Birling was considered a valued costumer, a perfect example of the wickedness in Edwardian society. The reason; simply because Eva Smith appeared better any a dress which had intrigued Miss Birling. Situations such as the one between Eva Smith and Sheila went on all over Edwardian society. To the rich appearance was everything. The inspector reveals to the audience another side of Sheila Birling a more sympathetic side. Perhaps Sheila Birling can be distinguished from the rest of the family as being one of the characters, along with Eric who accepted responsibility for their actions. Not many people can redeem themselves after committing such a shallow crime as the one Sheila committed against Eva Smith, certainly not anyone from Edwardian upper class society. But Miss Birling was able to. She becomes of age during the remainder of the play, sharing the inspectors views on society. Gerald Croft, Sheilas husband to be is, represents a man in his late twenties and is about to reach the high point of his manhood. The inspectors questioning of Gerald Croft reveals him to be man far from deserving his respectable reputation. The inspector unveils Geralds involvement by revealing him as the third link in a constant chain of events. It was shown that Gerald had an affaire with one Daisy Renton, who as we know was Eva Smith. The announcement of the name Daisy Renton by the inspector was responded with a sudden shock from Gerald. At this point Sheila points out to Gerald that he has given himself away. Gerald is discomforted of knowing that Sheila is present as the inspector questions him. I an attempt to prevent Miss Birling from hearing the explicit details of his affaire and to protect himself he requests for Miss Birling to be excused.  I think Ms Birling ought to be excused from anymore questioning, this maybe too disturbing and unpleasant.

Actinium Facts - Element 89 or Ac

Actinium Facts - Element 89 or Ac Actinium is the radioactive element that has atomic number 89 and element symbol Ac. It was the first non-primordial radioactive element to be isolated, although other radioactive elements had been observed before actinium. This element possesses several unusual and interesting characteristics. Here are the properties, uses, and sources of Ac. Actinium Facts Actinium is a soft, silver-colored metal that glows pale blue in the dark because the radioactivity ionizes air. Actinium reacts with moisture and oxygen to form a white coating of actinium oxide that protects the underlying metal from further oxidation. The shear modulus of element 89 is estimated to be similar to that of lead.Andre Debierne claimed discovery of an element he named actinium, working from a sample of pitchblende supplied by Marie and Pierre Curie. Debierne was unable to isolate the new element (which modern analysis reveals might not have been element 89, but rather protactinium). Friedrich Oskar Giesel independently discovered actinium in 1902, calling it emamium. Giesel went on to become the first person to isolate a pure sample of the element. Debiernes name was retained because his discovery had seniority. The name comes from the Ancient Greek word aktinos, which means ray or beam.The actinide series of elements, a group of metals between actinium and lawrencium possessing similar properties, takes its name from actinium. Actinium is considered the first transition metal in period 7 (although sometimes lawrencium is assigned that position). Although the element gives its name to the actinide group, most of the chemical properties of actinium are similar to those of lanthanum and other lanthanides.The most common oxidation state of actinium is 3. Actinium compounds have similar properties to lanthanum compounds.Natural actinium is a mix of two isotopes: Ac-227 and Ac-228. Ac-227 is the most abundant isotope. It is primarily a beta emitter, but 1.3% of decays yield alpha particles. Thirty-six isotopes have been characterized. The most stable is Ac-227, which has a half-life of 21.772 years. Actinium also has two meta states.Actinium occurs naturally in trace amounts in uranium and thorium ores. Because its difficult to isolate the element from ore, the most common way to produce actinium is by neutron irradiation of Ra-226. Milligram samples may be prepared in this manner within nuclear reactors.To date, there has been minimum industrial use of actinium because it is rare and expensive. The isotope actinium-227 might have use in radioisotope thermoelectric generators. Ac-227 pressed with beryllium is a good neutron source and may be used as a neutron probe for well logging, radiochemistry, radiography, and tomography. Actinium-225 is used for radiation cancer treatment.  Ac-227 may also be used to model water mixing in the ocean. There is no known biological function for actinium. It is both radioactive and toxic. It is considered slightly less toxic than the radioactive element plutonium and americium. When rats were injected with actinium trichloride, about half of the actinium was deposited in the liver and one-third into the bones. Because of the health risk it presents, actinium and its compounds should only be handled with a glove box. Actinium Properties Element Name: Actinium Element Symbol: Ac Atomic Number: 89 Atomic Weight: (227) First Isolated By (Discoverer):  Friedrich Oskar Giesel (1902) Named By:  Andrà ©-Louis Debierne (1899) Element Group: group 3, d block, actinide, transition metal Element Period: period 7 Electron Configuration:  [Rn] 6d1  7s2 Electrons per Shell:  2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 9, 2 Phase: solid Melting Point:  1500  K   (1227  Ã‚ °C, 2240  Ã‚ °F)   Boiling Point:3500  K (3200  °C, 5800  °F)   extrapolated value Density:  10  g/cm3 near room temperature Heat of Fusion: 14 kJ/mol Heat of Vaporization: 400 kJ/mol Molar Heat Capacity:  27.2  J/(mol ·K) Oxidation States:  3, 2 Electronegativity: 1.1 (Pauling scale) Ionization Energy: 1st:  499  kJ/mol, 2nd:  1170  kJ/mol, 3rd:  1900  kJ/mol Covalent Radius: 215 picometers Crystal Structure: face-centered cubic (FCC)

Moral Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Moral Development - Essay Example Kohlberg modified an earlier theory by psychologist Jean Piaget by expounding on it to form a theory that illustrates the development of moral reasoning. Gilligan on the other hand, advanced a theory that was an improvement in Kohlberg’s work, but her focus was on moral development in girls (Duska & Whelan 25). Kohlberg’s theory This theory was based on research and interviews that Kohlberg conducted with many groups of privileged young children. The children were presented with various dilemmas, and each child’s reasoning behind the judgment made in response to the dilemma was analyzed (Duska & Whelan 56). From responses that the children gave, Kohlberg managed to classify responses into 3 stages of reasoning. These stages are; pre-conventional morality, conventional morality and post conventional morality. The stages are further classified into sub-stages, two in each case. This forms the basis for the theory of Kohlberg on moral development. The stage of Pre-c onventional Morality is between birth and 9 years comprises of obedience and individualism. By young children being obedient to rules and ideas, it enables them to avoid punishment. The children also are individualistic by only caring about themselves. They make judgment basing their reasoning on factors that favor their individual needs (Duska & Whelan 58). The stage of Conventional Morality is between 9 and 20 years... Criticisms of Kohlberg’s Theory and the Defense Just like with other theories, Kohlberg’s theory of reasoning in moral development has been faced with criticisms from other psychologists. For one, there is the assertion that Kohlberg’s theory discusses about moral thinking ignoring the fact that moral reasoning does not necessarily lead to moral behavior. This assertion is misplaced because moral thinking always leads to moral deeds. We all perform deeds based on our thinking. It is, therefore, rare to find an individual who thinks wickedly doing well to others. Because of this, Kohlberg’s theory is accurate. Other critics have highlighted that Kohlberg’s theory overemphasizes on justice when making moral decisions and choices. They argue that this may be inaccurate because other factors like compassion and other interpersonal feelings may play a part in making moral decisions and reasoning. Therefore, this shows that justice is not the only aspect of moral reasoning that should be considered. However, this assertion is also not true. All individuals who know and understand dictates of the law make decisions based on justice. As much as other factors come into play, Justice is the greatest factor to consider when making decisions because an individual may be willing to do something but because it does not conform to justice, the individual may abandon the idea. Furthermore, many critics argue that Kohlberg’s theory overemphasizes on western philosophy. This makes the theory inaccurate because Eastern cultures may have different outlooks and perceptions on moral reasoning that Kohlberg’s theory does not discuss at all. Kohlberg is right in the use of western philosophy because, one always bases a theory on the surrounding conditions. Kohlberg studies the

Research on music application users Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Research on music application users - Essay Example We all have to keep in mind that even if the type of research would move us to know our participants better, we must remain objective at all times. Also, we need to work closely as a group because all of us need to communicate clearly our ideas. The research project gave us important lessons that helped us grow as students. The first thing that the group decided upon was the types of research methods we were going to use for the project. Every member researched on different research methods and presented the pros and cons of each method. We deliberated and came up with ethnographic research that involves survey and questionnaires. It was important for us to determine the value of each method and assess whether we would be able to get the result we needed using the methods aforementioned. First, we looked at the advantages of using interview for research. We realized that this method is time-consuming but yields quality data since we can ask open-ended questions. There was so much inf ormation that can be extracted using interview. Nevertheless, the group leader took the initiative in properly briefing us on how to conduct an interview for Research purposes. Another essential fact about interview method is that the interviewer must be skilled in conducting an interview. At times the answers can get personal but the listener must not be biased at all. Also, we must not ask leading questions because the subject must express his/her opinions freely. So if I am an avid Itune user, then I must not let the subject know about this. In ethnographic research, we must understand the value of the users. The first principle is that every person has a different background and value system. This could definitely influence their attitude towards a product or service. Some users value affordability while others prefer easy accessibility. There are also many users who prefer to use services that associated with strong brands like Apple’s Itunes. The behavior of users can a lso help marketers forecast some innovations in product design. While many users love the features of Zune, it cannot be applied on non Mac OS laptop or PCs. Knowing consumer’s preferences and behaviors are extremely important when designing products. First, designers can make decisions on what they should or should not include in creating a product. Once a product is launched and used by consumers, then various feedbacks can useful for improving the product’s characteristics. Nowadays, one way of having leverage is increasing customer satisfaction and that means continuous innovation. Some businesses frown upon criticism, because of this they lose a great opportunity to learn from their market. Due to the research we conducted, the answers given to us revealed the usability of applications and services that marketers should take note of. Indeed, we can say that even if our research was simple, it provided very relevant data for designers of music applications. Persona l Contribution Every team member has their personal contribution that eventually led to a successful project. The first challenge that the group must overcome was organizing meetings. I was assigned to schedule the said meetings which was overwhelming at the at the beginning. I had to consider that each member had different priorities and schedule so a meeting must be scheduled based on everyone’s free time. Since I was the contact person, I have to keep track of all their messages and completely relay the information to the whole group. During meetings, all the tasks are delegated so we can start working on our share of tasks. We communicated in any means possible –mobile phone, Facebook, e-mail and quick meetings. Such effort

Social Trends Essay Example for Free

Social Trends Essay This great movement was great in the way it was perceived to prepare people for death through making strong their faith. This was indeed a great deal in America during the colonial period. The likelihood of death was very prevalent all over in the colonial era (Butler, pp. 305-25). Deaths from floods, malnutrition, disease and other complications coming from childbirth were a common occurrence. Death was in the minds of all while making an effort to remain alive. The message from the church was that people would be part of devil’s accomplice because of their sins if they did not receive forgiveness from God. As a result of faith, quite a number of colonialists were of the opinion that they required their church on matters of clothing, food as well as shelter. Through strengthening the citizen’s faith, the church got hold of a very imperative role in the British Colony in the Northern part of America. Among these most famous men of this time were people like George Whitefield who was quite outspoken as well as adored and at the same time feared owing to his messages. It is said that George preached to 19,000 people in Boston in a period of three days. As though that was not enough, he left a group of 25,000 individuals being disturbed by the fear of everlasting damnation. The inspiration that came to people was to move out and establish churches in their own cities; construct houses for the disadvantaged and also employ ministers to assist them in sustaining their new and wholesome life of Christianity (Butler, pp. 305-25). Economic Trends As a result of the great awakening, many individuals resigned in their jobs and embarked on a journey of a travelling minister. There was now a great and spontaneous entry of ministers to the colonial America. These preachers were not ordained. They included uneducated farmers who regarded themselves as the poor of Christ. The core mission was to stress equality in humanity as well as emphasising that heaven was a home for the poor and not the rich. They emerged as wandering preachers who extended the Great Awakening amidst the poor and the rich, the illiterate and the educated, and also in the black-nation together with seaboard cities and towns. Conclusion Even though the Great Awakening based on religious foundations came to a brick wall by years after 1740, the effects therein were far reaching. In New England together with the South, changes started to weaken the authority of the culture of the upper class. This was a change that was anticipated for in the colonial America. Condemnation to the poor was evident because of their dirty lifestyle which differed with the very articulate lifestyle of the upper class. The Great Awakening in the end led to change of opinions and values that influenced politics together with daily life. There was a self-worth in the common man. Individuals assumed other responsibilities in dealings of religion. They on the other hand became sceptical of the already existing authority and belief systems. These particular values have been the core values of the society of America from the time of the Great Awakening and are perceived to last for years in the future (Butler, pp. 305-25). Work Cited Butler, Jon. Enthusiasm Described and Decried: The Great Awakening as Interpretative Fiction. Journal of American History 69 (1982): 305-25

The Hurt Locker Essay -- Film Analysis

â€Å"The rush of battle is often a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug.† This quote is the first thing that flashes across the screen as viewers begin their journey into The Hurt Locker, a critically acclaimed war movie written by Mark Boal and directed by Kathryn Bigelow (Hurt). The quote was written by former New York Times war correspondent, Chris Hedges and it perfectly sets the stage for a story that depicts just how potent and addicting war can be (Corliss). The 2008 movie won six Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Actor in a Leading Role (â€Å"Nominees & Winners†). The Hurt Locker is an exceptional movie that contains everything one would expect from an award-winning film: an intriguing plot, heart-wrenching tragedy, breathtaking visuals, top-notch acting, believability, and even a bit of controversy. An intriguing plot is the first thing people look for in a movie. War is a complicated subject so in a film about war, while it is important for the plot to be interesting, it is even more important that it is sensible and flows smoothly. This allows the audience to be entertained and keeps them from getting lost in too many complicated details. The Hurt Locker is the story of three men who are part of a United States Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (E.O.D.) team stationed in Baghdad in 2004. Sergeant First Class William James is a daring specialist who knows everything there is to know about bombs, inside and out. He begins his rotation with Bravo Company after the former team leader is killed while attempting to disarm a roadside bomb. Bravo Company has just 38 days left on rotation and since James has arrived, those days are fraught with tension. James d... ...es." Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Web. 01 Mar. 2011. . Ryzik, Melena. â€Å"A Lawsuit for ‘Hurt Locker,’ in Time for Oscars.† The New York Times. 04 Mar. 2010. Web. 24 Feb. 2011. Schmidt, Michael. â€Å"Fatal Bombs in Iraq Seemed Aimed at Militia.† The New York Times. 09 Feb. 2011. Web. 26 Feb. 2011. Seal, Karen H., Daniel Bertenthal, Christian R. Miner, Saunak Sen, and Charles Marmar. "Bringing the War Back Home: Mental Health Disorders Among 103 788 US Veterans Returning From Iraq and Afghanistan Seen at Department of Veterans Affairs Facilities." Archives of Internal Medicine 167.5 (2007): 476-82. Print. Zoroya, Gregg. "In 'The Hurt Locker,' war is like a drug." USA Today n.d.: Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 24 Feb. 2011.

Commenting on “Thomas of Monmouth: Detector of Ritual Murder” Gavin I. Langmuir wrote “Thomas of Monmouth: Detector of Ritual Murder”

Commenting on â€Å"Thomas of Monmouth: Detector of Ritual Murder† Gavin I. Langmuir wrote â€Å"Thomas of Monmouth: Detector of Ritual Murder,† which was published in Speculum’s October 1984 issue. In this article Langmuir discusses Thomas of Monmouth’s investigation of St. William of Norwich’s death, and accusations of ritual murder brought against Jews. Langmuir starts the article with some background information on â€Å"The Life and Passion of Saint William the Martyr of Norwich,† written by Thomas of Monmouth.He then makes his thesis statement: â€Å"Williams’s death had occasioned the first of the connected series of accusations from the twelfth to twentieth century that Jews committed ritual murder. † (Langmuir, Thomas of Monmouth: Detector of Ritual Murder, 821) Langmuir’s argument is that Thomas of Monmouth’s book is the modern inception of the myth that Jews commit ritual murder to reenact the crucifixio n of Jesus Christ. Since the accusation of ritual murder was also present in antiquity, Langmuir attempts to prove disconnect between Norwich and those prior myths.He also goes into detail about William’s murder, then Monmouth’s investigation and writings. He convincingly argues that Monmouth had allot to gain both in this world and the next by reporting William’s killing as a ritual murder preformed by Jews. Simply stated, Monmouth saw what he wanted to while investigating the crime. Langmuir uses a broad range of sources in his attempt to prove that the accusation at Norwich was not connected to the two accusations in antiquity. In this attempt he most frequently cites two works by Heinz Schreckenberg. He also cites over ten other authors while bringing this point home.On the other hand Langmuir’s argument of Monmouth’s motivation for creating the myth burrows deeply into a limited body of material, mostly Monmouth’s book itself. He also u ses two other sources when discussing Theobald, and only cites Miracles and Pilgrims by Finucane other than that. In the middle ages people saw Satan as an active force in the world. St. Gregory of Nyssa said when speaking of the Jews, that they were â€Å"confederates of the devil. † (Perry & Schweitzer, Antisemitism, 75) Chrysostom called Jews â€Å"inveterate murders, destroyers, men possessed by the devil. (Perry & Schweitzer, Antisemitism, 75) John (8:44) states in regard to Jews â€Å"You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. † (Perry & Schweitzer, Antisemitism, 75)Not only were the people of the middle ages on the lookout for the devil, but their church was telling them that Jews were acting as his agents. This set up Jews as an easy scapegoat, and allowed for the creation of the ritual murder myth. In the case of William, Monmouth who was a monk had been predisposed to the notion that Jews were evil. In the gospels rendition as interpreted for centuries, the Jews are perceived as ‘the Christ killers,’ a people condemned forever to suffer exile and degradation. This arch crime of ‘decide,’ of murdering God, turned the Jews into the embodiment of evil, a ‘criminal people. ’† (Perry & Schweitzer, Antisemitism, 18)With this view it only makes sense that Monmouth would look to blame Jews for the boy’s murder, when murdering a boy is exactly something an evil criminal would do. It also makes sense that at the first sign of anything even resembling a crucifixion he would point to Jews, because according to the gospels they had done it before.In 1095 Pope Urban II began the first crusade when he called for â€Å"a religious military crusade to liberate the holiest places in Christendom. † (Laquer, The Changing Face of Antisemitism, 52) Many Jews were slaughtered during this crusade for various reasons. One reason was that the crusaders were to ld â€Å"anyone who killed a single Jew would have all his sins absolved. † (Laquer, The Changing Face of Antisemitism, 52) Authority figures were telling people that Jews are so evil that not only is murdering them OK, but it will even make up for anything wrong they had ever done.This was only fifty years before the incident at Norwich. With that mentality is only serves to reason that when the ordinary unnamed people were presented with Jews as ritual murders, it would be believable to them. In the Article on the top of page 822 Langmuir asks â€Å"who first accused Jews of crucifying a Christian child out of religious hatred? † Langmuir argues that there is not enough evidence to prove who killed William, or why. He does think there is enough evidence to establish that the enduring accusation of ritual murder began with William’s death. We know for certain that Monmouth accused Jews of ritual murder.Langmuir then works backwards from that point to prove that it was the first modern accusation of its kind. Langmuir starts with the first known accusation of ritual murder in recorded history. He discusses how in ancient Greece a story circulated that said â€Å"every seven years the Jews captured a Greek, fattened him up, killed him, and ate parts of him. † (Langmuir, Thomas of Monmouth: Detector of Ritual Murder, 823) He goes on to say that while the story did appear in â€Å"Against Apion,† the book was rare. He details why the book was rare, and does his best to prove a complete discontinuity between this accusation and Monmouth’s.Langmuir then writes about â€Å"The second and only other relevant accusation against Jews in antiquity. † (Langmuir, Thomas of Monmouth: Detector of Ritual Murder, 825) He tells the story of how in approximately the year 415, in the city of Imestar, Jews were accused of taking a Christian boy, tying him to a cross, and beating him until he died. Langmuir argues that while the sto ry did appear in â€Å"Historia Tripartita† only two copies were available in England, and that those copies date from the late twelfth or early thirteenth century, after the incident at Norwich.He also argues that â€Å"those who borrowed from ‘Historia Tripartia’ did so sparingly and most selectively, and the Imestar incident did not interest them. † Again Langmuir proves disconnect between the two incidents. Assuming that these are the only two accusations ever made prior to Norwich, then yes Langmuir answers the Question from the top of page 822. In this article Langmuir’s argument is persuasively supported, but he does not discuss the possibility of ritual murder stories being passed down orally. He also did not look at the possibility of books containing ritual murder accusations that may have been lost to history.For all we know Monmouth may have had a book that no longer exists detailing the accusations from antiquity or accusations we donâ €™t even know about. He is probably right in his conclusion that the incident at Norwich is the first modern accusation brought against Jews, but we cannot be sure. At times Langmuir calls into question other historians work, and makes convincing arguments as to why he thinks there wrong. He wrote referring to M. R. James belief that Monmouth’s book was written in 1172 or 1173 â€Å"there are several indications that the work was not all written at one time. (Langmuir, Thomas of Monmouth: Detector of Ritual Murder, 838) Langmuir did address other historians work on the subject, but sense he was the first person to propose that this was the first modern accusation of ritual murder, there were no other competing theories. I found this article to be very well organized, it laid out information in way that made it easy to understand. I really thought it was a good read, and enjoyed reading it. Langmuir was both interesting and informative. I would recommend this article to a nyone interested in this period in history.

Pricilla and the Wimps Character Reflection

The character of Priscilla in the story â€Å"Priscilla and the Wimps† reveals numerous traits and characteristics which allow one to make assumptions about her as a person outside of the events depicted in the story. The first descriptive aspect of Priscilla as a character would be her physical appearance. We are made aware in the opening of the story that Priscilla stands as a massive individual in the school community and many students are fearful of her based solely on her physical stature.This may be confirmed on account of the fact that she only had one friend, Melvin Detweiler, and was not accepted by many of the other students who attended the school. Priscilla’s size and strength would lead me to believe that she has an athletic background, further shaping my idea her physical appearance. The first aspect of her physical appearance is her clothing, which I presume would be a stereotypical athletic style, such as track pants and a hoodie, some huge sneakers for her massive feet and a windbreaker.Her clothes may also be rather small because of her enormous size. Another way to refer to my ideas of Priscilla’s physical appearance is through her facial features, which may consist of a simple haircut, like a ponytail and possibly some bruises or scars from playing contact sports throughout the years. Another way to classify Priscilla as a character would be through her personality and mental concepts. I envision that she would have a protector-like personality which was demonstrated through her actions towards the end of the story, when Melvin was threatened by the Kobras.This unique disposition includes aspects such as being quietly forceful, original and sensitive while being extremely intuitive about people (Melvin), and concerned for their feelings. I think that Priscilla would also be well-respected for her perseverance in doing the right thing and likely to be individualistic, rather than leading or following. My ideas for Priscil la’s background and outside life will also reveal my illustration of this particular character. As stated before, I picture Priscilla to be involved with sports because of her physical abilities as well as to compensate for her lack of friends.Her lack of friends may also be because she could live in an isolated area where building relationships with other children her age is not possible. Her aggressive behavior revealed in the story may be a cause of belligerent parents or possibly an older brother who has picked on her or played a significant role in her life causing some masculine qualities to be rubbed off on Priscilla. Further exploring my impression of Priscilla, it may similarly benefit my overall image to examine her motivation for specific actions, her sense of humor and habits.The motivation for her actions throughout the circumstances presented in this story could be that she has only one friend and she will do anything to maintain that friendship through protecti on or other means. When Melvin is harassed by the Kobras, she sees them as a threat and deals with it in an aggressive manner to assure that Melvin will continue to see her as a friend, and know that she will have his back. Another possible motivation for Priscilla’s actions may be that she does not want to be seen as weak and wishes to sustain her reputation as the toughest in the school.When confronted by the Kobras, she sees an opportunity to prove to everyone how dangerous she is and reassures that no one will mess with her or Melvin. Priscilla’s sense of humor may also dictate who she is as a character. I consider that Priscilla has a sadist quality about her and finds that when she harms people she does not care for, she gets a sense of accomplishment and humor. This can be demonstrated by her actions at the end of the book when she locks Monk Klutter in her locker and continues to walk away with Melvin.Priscilla’s habits also shape her character, both pos itively and negatively. She may have a bad habit for being overly aggressive or constantly escalating conflicts to violent acts. She correspondingly has good habits, however, which may include standing up for what is right and being a good friend. Overall, my personal image of the character Priscilla is revealed through her actions in the story of â€Å"Priscilla and the Wimps† combined with my own ideas and concepts which I believe apply to this particular character.

Harold Washington, Mayor essays

Harold Washington, Mayor essays Harold Washington was Chicagos first black mayor. He was elected in 1983, in an election that garnered national attention. He defeated the Republican candidate Bernard Epton with what many considered a rainbow coalition of supporters: blacks, Hispanics, Asians, liberal whites, women, and the elderly (Chicago Remembers Harold Washington). Washingtons surprise primary election victory over the incumbent mayor Jane Byrne, and future mayor Richard M. Daley put the national spotlight on Washington, and when he beat Republican Bernard Epton in the general election, he became Chicagos first black mayor. Washington almost immediately faced opposition from political opponents in the City Council who resisted cooperating with him because he was an outsider and reformer. That period was marked by turbulent fights in the Council between the twenty-nine anti-Washington aldermen and the twenty-one who were loyal to the new mayor. Washington is best known for bringing opportunity to the underprivileged. He also helped significantly raise the number of city contracts given to minority businesses, as well as helped open doors for minorities to attain top positions in City Hall. In the same vein, Washington made Illinois the first state to honor Martin Luther King by creating a state holiday. Washington did much for city policy as well. He created the first citywide Ethics Ordinance, and by writing the cities own Freedom of Information Act, he encouraged everyone to become informed and involved with community operations. Washington had always said that he would stay in office till the day he died; he had the ambition to outlast former mayor Richard J. Daley and his 20-year reign. Sadly, Washington served a little more than four years. Washington, who was sixty-five, collapsed at his desk during a meeting with his press secretary, and within minutes of his collapse paramedics were urgently attempting...

Legal literacy Solicitors Journal - Emphasis

Legal literacy Solicitors Journal Legal literacy Solicitors Journal As a solicitor, its likely that youre a skilled oral communicator. But if youre less than confident when it comes to writing, youre not alone. Many professionals havent received formal writing training and instead rely on copying the style of their predecessors. Unfortunately, traditional legal writing contains many archaic, wordy phrases, which can be a little perplexing for the average person. Communicating complex legal ideas isnt always easy. But youre treading on rocky ground if you dont pay attention to your reader. If your client finds your written documents vague, hard to understand or confusing, they may call elsewhere next time. Alternatively, they may begin to mistrust you or suspect that you are hiding something. Keeping it clear and simple The modern alternative is to opt for plain language a move that is becoming increasingly popular within the legal profession. For instance, Nabarro recently launched a high-profile, firm-wide Clarity Matters campaign to simplify the way it writes. The firm is working towards writing all its contracts in plain English. Its also provided specialist writing-skills training for all its fee earners and legal secretaries, as well as for many of its support staff. Other firms, such as SJ Berwin, DLA Piper and CMS Cameron McKenna, have also commissioned specialist writing-training programmes. What is plain language? Crucially, plain language is not about dumbing down or patronising the reader. Instead, it takes technical, difficult or complex ideas and communicates them in a structured, easy-to-read way. The first step is to think about your reader and avoid a one size fits all approach. Pick the best words to communicate your thoughts, depending on whether your reader is a lawyer or a layperson. At each stage, ask yourself whether they would be able to instantly understand what you mean. Plain language also means including technical language where necessary. Its about being precise and clarifying your points. A new legal language Its not only laypeople who are reaping the benefits of plain language programmes. An American study by law professor Joseph Kimble asked judges to state whether they preferred legal paragraphs written in plain English or traditional style. The majority of judges preferred the plain language versions. The message is that its worth making the extra effort to gain your readers trust by ensuring that your written communication is clear. All you need are the right tools and a little attention to detail. Here are the five major mistakes solicitors make and ways to fix them. Mistake one: unnecessary words, such as therein, herein, forthwith and aforesaid Poor prose: I herein enclose the contract for the aforesaid book, as requested Better prose: I enclose the contract for the book, as requested. Even better prose: Here is the contract for the book you requested. The herein and aforesaid in this example are just unnecessary and make the sentence sound archaic and stilted. Replacing them makes the sentence much more readable. Note that often as in this case it also makes it easier to edit the sentence further. Mistake two: verbosity Poor prose: Pursuant to the recent communication of the improper proposal that the information be falsified, such assertion could only have been ascertained or appreciated from a full, detailed review of the meeting notes. Better prose: The claim that the information was falsified is wrong. This would have been clear if a detailed review of the meeting notes had been conducted. The author of the first example is more than a little disgruntled. But the message is hidden behind too much flowery language. The second suggestion gets to the heart of the problem and makes the meaning clear. Note that the author uses the passive voice in the second example to soften the blow. You dont always have to use the active voice (see mistake four); just make sure that if you do use it, you do so consciously. Mistake three: using nouns instead of verbs Poor prose: In the case of X, we believe the company is in possession of a structure that would be acceptable for securitisation. Better prose: X possesses [or has] a structure that is acceptable for securitisation. Possession is a noun, whereas possesses is a verb. Verbs create action in the sentence which moves the pace along and helps keep the readers interest. We believe has also been taken out as the sentence already asserts the writers belief. Mistake four: overuse of the passive voice Poor prose: The role played by the client in the project has been investigated. Better prose: X investigated the clients role in the project. The first example doesnt tell us who investigated the role, creating a very impersonal tone. Using the active voice makes the writing easier to read. It also forces you to say who or what (the agent) is taking the action. The second example is more specific, which makes the reader feel connected to whats happening. Of course, the passive voice can also be useful when you dont want to admit responsibility for an action. Mistake five: long, complex sentences and paragraphs Poor prose: As per earlier correspondence, I have attached the quotes that we have obtained from three firms (a) Hooke, Lyne and Siennker (contacts David Hooke and Franz Siennker) (This is separate from the law firm but forms part of the same group, and also has a different administrative team)(b) Edna Clouds (contacts Clare Edna and Michael Clouds) and (c) Maybey Knott who are a limited company (the contacts there are Noel Maybey and James Knott). Better prose: Following our previous correspondence, I have attached quotes from three firms. The contacts for Hooke, Lyne and Siennker are David Hooke and Franz Siennker. Please note that this firm has a separate administration team, even though it is part of the same group. Edna Clouds contacts are Clare Edna and Michael Clouds. Maybey Knott Ltds contacts are Noel Maybey and James Knott. A sentence more than three lines is far too long. In the first example, there are also too many brackets and too much information squeezed in one space, which can become confusing. The second example takes out all the brackets and sets everything out much more clearly. Remember, writing clearly can save you both time and money. It may mean a bit of extra effort, but it may well pay dividends. Robert Ashton is Chief Executive of Emphasis, the specialist business writing trainers.

Abelard and Heloise Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Abelard and Heloise - Essay Example However, they were still people true to their age and perhaps what might be considered liberal may have had a deeper meaning. Both of these scholars were known, from time to time, to deviate from what the norm was concerning gender roles in their societies. Their writings display a characteristic that was particularly common among the writers of that age; they were liberal to a certain extent and their opinions were openly stated. However, when it came to doing something about changing their societies so that they would conform to their liberal views, they took no action. It can, therefore, be said that although Abelard and Heloise, in their writings, showed several instances of being liberal concerning gender roles, they remained remarkably conservative in their actions. Abelard continued to advocate for a male dominated society  while Heloise supported the role of a subservient woman, who had to submit to the will of man. The love affair between Abelard and Heloise also shows the gender issues, which were prevalent in their society. Both of them were profoundly influenced by the opinion of their society when it came to gender roles, and this is clearly shown in their writings. Some instances of their opinions on gender shall be considered and analyzed in this paper. In a majority of his letters, Abelard displays a respect for the competence of women, something that is truly surprising for a man of the middle ages. Most of his works concerning women are based on his religious opinion of them. In some of his work, he states that women are much closer to Christ due to the opinion that women are particularly closely tied to the earth than men. Abelard in general shows a strong admiration for women, and he states that their virtue is much more pleasing to God than that displayed by men. Alongside this admiration is also his belief that women are lesser to men; that men are the better part of humanity while women are the lesser. He states that while women are mor e intimately tied to the earth, men are strongly tied to the spiritual. Because of this, women tend to be more susceptible to sin than men are  because they do not have the spiritual capacity to withstand temptation (Ruys 1). Therefore, his reference to women’s virtue being more pleasing to God may imply that they have to overcome their spiritual advantage over men in order to become virtuous. Abelard’s point of view concerning women is not as liberal as one might think, and instead, he shares the opinion concerning them that was prevalent during his time. He barely deviates from the views of his contemporaries, and, in fact, it can be said that he is a leading proponent of a male dominated society  while women remain in the background. At first glance, Heloise’s writings are extremely liberal because they push the boundary of what was considered proper at that time. She displays a wide knowledge in her work and  her letters to Abelard; she often challenge s him and asks his opinions on various issues. However, despite the liberal views, she is still hugely much influenced by the way of thinking that was common at her time. While addressing Abelard in her letters, she acts as a submissive woman and not as his equal (Zollinger 231). One would argue that it is because they had been married that she would address him with such submissiveness. However, this will be found not to be the case because, in their letters, extremely little is ever mentioned of their married life. It can be said that Heloise displays the medieval society’s belief that women are inferior. She accepts the conclusions, which Abelard makes concerning diverse matters, and more often than not, she is seen seeking his approval or opinion on a large number of subjects. Heloise is an intellectual, and this is something that