Sunday, December 29, 2019

Translation and Characters of the Japanese Word Atari

You probably recognize the Japanese word  atari,  particularly if you grew up playing on the popular gaming system of the same name. But the word actually means neighborhood, or  in the same vicinity as, or the surroundings. Pronounced just as it is spelled, the context of the word helps to define its specific meaning. Japanese Characters 㠁‚㠁Ÿã‚Š Example Atari niwa fukai kiri ga tachikometeita.㠁‚㠁Ÿã‚Šã  «Ã£  ¯Ã¦ · ±Ã£ â€žÃ©Å" §Ã£ Å'ç «â€¹Ã£  ¡Ã£ â€œÃ£â€š Ã£  ¦Ã£ â€žÃ£ Å¸Ã£â‚¬â€š Translation:  A dense fog lay all around.

Friday, December 20, 2019

Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage - 1782 Words

Gabi Smith October 20, 2014 English 4 Mr. Pakula Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage Everyone has the right to be with the person they love. Nobody, not even the government, should be able to take that kind of happiness and freedom away from someone. If a girl loves another girl or a guy loves another guy, it should not matter to anyone else as long as they are happy together. â€Å"We are all equals in the world whether we are Black, White, Hispanic, Indian, or any other race for that matter. Why should we not be equals based on sexuality orientation† (Gay Marriage Pros and Cons)? Everyone deserves to have the same equal rights. Everyone has different beliefs and nothing can or will change that. Some people believe in same-sex marriage and some people do not, but there is still no reason to dislike or judge people that believe in something someone else does not believe in. Not everyone in the world has the same beliefs. That is life, it happens. So what is the point of being so against this one belief? Same sex couples do not walk around bashing on straight people for the person they love, so why can’t all straight couples do the same thing and not bash on same sex couples? Not only is this situation against some people’s beliefs, but it also is against the constitution. â€Å"The first amendment of the constitution states that a person’s religious beliefs or lack of thereof must be protected. Legislatures also cannot discriminate against marriages of the minority party whichShow MoreRelatedLegalization Of Same Sex Marriage Essay963 Words   |  4 PagesKaye Shannelle Romuar Alfritz Arevalo Angelika Figueroa Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage I. Introduction Same-sex marriage can also be called gay marriage. This is a marriage between two males or two females, in either a religious setting or in a civil ceremony. Same-sex unions are recorded in the history of a number of cultures but this type of marriage is rare, or doesn’t exist in other cultures .The first law that provided same-sex marriage for the people was in 2001 in the Netherlands. As of JulyRead MoreLegalization Of Same Sex Marriage1594 Words   |  7 PagesWhy The Nationwide Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage Will Greatly Benefit The Economy Same-sex marriage has been a long debated issue in the United States. Since the nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage in countries such as Holland, Belgium, and Canada American gay couples have been pushing harder for equal marriage rights under the law. Opponents claim that allowing same-sex unions would not only lead to less stable marriages and higher divorce rates for heterosexual couples, but also precipitateRead MoreThe Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage930 Words   |  4 Pagesof legalizing same-sex marriage all across the nation, after years of social, political, and cultural mobilizations of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community and allies. However, this achievement is not an end it itself. Leaders of the marriage equality movement, as well as community members, ask: Now what? This proposed project attempts to provide an answer for this question by looking at the perceived impact of the legalization of same-sex marriage among Black LG BTsRead MoreThe Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage938 Words   |  4 PagesRights To All Most people believe that they deserve the rights they are granted by the government. 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The women’s suffrage movementRead MoreThe Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage1091 Words   |  5 PagesThe legalization of same-sex marriage is a hot topic in the U.S. approving, it in all fifty states can be harmful to the country. Same-sex marriage should not have been legalized in the United States. First, legalizing can be harmful to the society, Second, same-sex marriage it always denies a child a father or a mother, Third, legalizing It Offends some religions and violates tradition. In addition, It means all citizens should have understood of the consequences before maki ng the decision. OneRead MoreThe Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage1411 Words   |  6 PagesNikta Kalatari Writing Assignment #1 The proposead legalization of same-sex marriage is one of the most significant issues in contemporary American family law. Presently, it is one of the most vigorously advocated reforms discussed in law reviews, one of the most explosive political questions facing lawmakers, and one of the most provocative issues emerging before American courts. If same-sex marriage is legalized, it could be one of the most revolutionary policy decisions in the history of AmericanRead MoreThe Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage1294 Words   |  6 Pages The Legalization of Homosexual Marriage Brandon Taylor Wichita State University Gay marriage, also known as homosexual or same-sex marriage, has been a major topic in our country ever since it was allowed in Massachusetts whenever the state’s Supreme Court ruled the ban as unconstitutional. It was legalized in thirty seven of the fifty states before the Supreme Court’s ruling on June 26, 2015 that it was unconstitutional to deny marriage to a same sex couple (ProCon.org, 2015). The Merriam-WebsterRead MoreLegalization Of Same Sex Marriages1390 Words   |  6 PagesLegalization of Same Sex Marriages As a Muslim, in my opinion same sex marriage is not right and same sex marriage should not be legalized. Out of this statement comes the question: what is the purpose and meaning of marriage. Can we ever explain marriage in the context of a bond between two males or two females. Can this relationship be called a â€Å"Marriage†? Whether we disguise this relationship with the label of marriage, does it become accepted into society as a real marriage? Or are we foolingRead MoreThe Legalization of Same Sex Marriage 1623 Words   |  6 Pageshow the citizens value their morals. An every day American would think that being with the same sex is not normal, or is frowned upon. Recent studies show that half of all Americans believe that gay men and lesbians have a constitutional right to marry (Craighill). Same-sex marriage has caused many conflicts around the country and even the world with multiple stand points. World views on same-sex marriage are changing day to day. â€Å"Of the 15 countries worldwide to permit gay men and lesbians to marry

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Apology by Plato free essay sample

The Apology is an account by Plato of Socrates’ speech given at his trial in 399 BC. Socrates was an Athenian philosopher accused of two crimes: corrupting the youth and not believing in the gods. In Socrates’ speech, he explains to a jury of 501 Athenians why he is not guilty of the crimes he is accused of. He uses a variety of logical arguments to refute his charges yet in the end he is still found guilty and sentenced to death (Grube 21). Socrates’ use of logos and his absence of the use of pathos makes for an extremely logical speech, however his guilty verdict raises questions about the legal systems and society of Athens at the time, the importance of ethos when defending yourself in the court of law, and even the society of modern day. For the majority of his life, Socrates spent a good deal of his time asking questions of the people of Athens. His goal was to arrive at a set of political and ethical truths. Contrary to many people at the time, Socrates did not lecture about the things he knew; he actually claimed to be rather ignorant. He claimed he was wise only because he recognized his ignorance and did not claim to know what he did not know (Grube 26). The questions Socrates asked forced his audiences to think through a problem and arrive at a logical conclusion. At times, the answers seemed so obvious his opponents often looked foolish. His â€Å"Socratic Method† of questioning as it came to be called later, was adored by Socrates’ followers but despised by others throughout Athens (â€Å"Socrates Biography. †). Five years prior to 399 BC, Athens had just suffered a defeat to the Spartans, bringing an end to the Peloponnesian War. Its once strong democracy was taken over by Thirty Tyrants for nine months who executed over one thousand Athenians. However, by the end of nine months, an army of democrats restored democracy to Athens, but not without losing significant power in the Greek world (Colaiaco 13). This political turmoil and fear of losing more power in Greece set the stage for Socrates’ trial. Socrates begins his speech by establishing his ethos, meaning his credibility as a speaker. However, he does so in an unconventional matter. Rather than boasting of his speaking abilities and asserting himself as a wise and reliable source of information, he instead begins by saying, â€Å"I show myself not to be an accomplished speaker at all. † He even says that he was almost â€Å"carried away† by his accusers during their speech due to their persuasive speaking (Grube 22). Socrates goes on to say that he does not know the correct way to speak in the court of law, so the jury will have to excuse his unusual dialect (23). Socrates’ opening statements probably seemed absurd to the 501 jurors. Why would a man on trial and facing death begin his speech by claiming to be a terrible speaker? Socrates set up his speech this way for a specific reason. Besides the main two accusations against Socrates, corrupting the youth and being an atheist, he was also accused of making the weaker argument into the stronger (24). Due to this accusation, Socrates may have felt the need to downplay his speaking skills to the jurors. The jury could have been biased going into the trial thinking that no matter what Socrates said they should not believe him because of his reputation as a â€Å"persuasive† speaker. By weakening his ethos at the beginning of his speech, Socrates could then go on to give an argument that would be less affected by the jury’s previous opinion of him. As the speech goes on, he begins to subtly build his ethos back up. Within the claims he makes to the audience, he references witnesses as proof to the claims rather than just his spoken word. For example, when explaining to the jury that he possesses â€Å"human wisdom† he says, â€Å"I will refer to a trustworthy source. I shall call upon the god at Delphi as witness to the existence and nature of my wisdom† (25). Rather than simply making a claim to the jury, he backs up his claim with a witness, and a respected witness at that, a God. This technique forces the jurors who may still be wary about the trustworthiness of Socrates due to his persuasive reputation to believe him. Additionally, it proves that Socrates does in fact believe in the gods contrary to the accusations made against him. He then goes on to criticize his accusers, (Meletus, Anytus, and Lycon), using logical arguments to make their accusations seem unthoughtful and rash, which in turn destroys their ethos (30). After Socrates’ initial introduction, he begins laying out his arguments against his accusations with the use of logos, or persuasion by means of logic and reasoning. Socrates begins first with the claim that he corrupts the youth. He directly asks Meletus who he thinks â€Å"improves† the youth. Meletus first responds with â€Å"the laws,† but Socrates refuses to accept that answer. He wants to know exactly who improves them. Meletus goes on to say after a bit more questioning that all of Athens improves the youth besides Socrates. This opens the door for Socrates to use his first logical appeal. He asks Meletus, â€Å"Tell me: does this also apply to horses, do you think? That all men improve them and one individual corrupts them? † (Grube 29). Socrates says this is absurd and that it is in fact the opposite. He declares that only a few people who are actually horse breeders can improve horses, and that the majority would corrupt them. Using this example, Socrates claims that it must be the same with humans and subtly hints that he is actually the one improving all of Athens whereas the majority are the ones corrupting it. After this explanation, Socrates states that Meletus has not given any thought about the accusations he has brought Socrates to trial for (30). The combination of Socrates’ logical appeal and his attack on Meletus’ character makes the jury question Meletus’ ethos as Socrates prepares for his next argument, which is another appeal to the claim that he corrupts the youth. He asks Meletus, â€Å"does the man exist who would rather be harmed than benefited by his associates? † Meletus answers no. Socrates then asks Meletus whether he thinks Socrates corrupts the youth deliberately or by accident, and Meletus answers deliberately. Next, Socrates explains that if those two statements are true, he cannot be guilty. It would be senseless for him to corrupt the youth because if he did he would be at risk of being harmed him in some way by them too. Likewise, if Socrates did corrupt them, he would be doing so unintentionally. In that case, Socrates says his wrongdoings should simply be pointed out and corrected, not put on trial in the court of law (30). At this point in the speech, Socrates has countered the first accusation against him but is still faced with refuting the second. On top of corrupting the youth, Meletus claims that Socrates does not believe in the Gods. Socrates starts his argument by once again trying to make Meletus out to be an unreliable source lacking ethos. He mocks Meletus’ accusation against him by saying, â€Å"’Socrates is guilty of not believing in the gods, but believing in gods,’ and surely that is the part of a jester! † (Grube 31). Socrates goes on to explain this statement in further detail proving why Meletus’ claims are so absurd. He asks Meletus, â€Å"Does any man believe in spiritual activities who does not believe in spirits? † Meletus reluctantly answers that no one does. Socrates then points out that Meletus says that he believes in â€Å"spiritual activities† which sets up Socrates’ next question. He asks, â€Å"Do we not believe spirits to be either gods or the children of gods? Yes or no? † Meletus agrees that this is true. Finally, with the information gathered from questioning, Socrates constructs his logical argument. He pronounces that if it is true that he believes in spirits, and spirits are either gods or children of the gods, Meletus’ argument is invalid and contradictory (32). Socrates is trying to convey to the jury that if the answers to his questions are true as Meletus says himself they are, Socrates must be undeniably not guilty, for in order to prove his guilt, the questions would have to be false. Socrates’ speech is full of logical arguments, but it is almost entirely lacking of any pathos, meaning appeals to the jury’s emotions. However, Socrates is almost proud of this fact. Towards the end of his speech he talks about his reasoning for not using pathos. Socrates describes a man on trial who begged and pleaded with the jury, and who brought his children, family, and friends in an attempt to evoke pity from the jurors. He then says, â€Å"I do none of these things, even though I may seem to be running the ultimate risk† (Grube 38). Socrates says that to do such things â€Å"would be a disgrace† (39). He feels that appealing to the jury’s emotions in an attempt to achieve innocence is dishonorable and unjust. Socrates strongly believes in the difference between right and wrong and the value of his reputation when it comes to those aspects of life. He says, â€Å"I do not think it right to supplicate the jury and to be acquitted because of this, but to teach and persuade them† (39). Socrates would rather argue his case honorably using his methods of logic, than use crafty means of emotional appeal to win his case. In the end, Socrates’ rational arguing was not enough to prove his innocence to the jury. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. As a modern reader, one would think that Socrates clearly proved his innocence and that the law and society of Athens at the time had to have been corrupt. However, the Apology raises an Important question about the present day: is society really that much different now? For instance, in a 2001 interview with Bill O’Reilly, rock star Marilyn Manson was questioned about his effects on the youth of the world. Many parents claim that Manson is a bad influence on their children due to his lyrically explicit songs, religious beliefs, and unusual appearance and attire. However, when asked by O’Reilly what message he was trying to convey through his lyrics, Manson replied, â€Å"I try and take everyone’s ideals, common morals, flip them around, make people look at them differently, question them†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (â€Å"Marilyn Manson. †). Socrates and Manson seem to share quite similar views. Socrates was always questioning people about their morals and beliefs in an attempt to arrive at some sort of ethical truth. Manson seems to have a similar goal in mind. So why then does a good portion of society shun Manson for being a corrupter of the youth while Socrates is now generally praised for doing a very similar thing at his time? It seems that if the concepts outlined in the Apology are applied to the modern day, our society as a whole has not changed all that much. We still feel that a few individuals can corrupt an entire nation of youth, whereas the majority is thought to be on the right track for improving them. If the ideas of Socrates are truly compared to that of a modern day radical thinker such as Manson, it is fairly easy to see how the Athenians found his philosophies so bizarre. Socrates’ unique use of rhetorical appeals in the Apology made for a surprisingly convincing speech. His lack of ethos at the beginning of the speech along with his complete absence of pathos made for an unusual form of dialect in terms of the conventions of rhetoric. However, Socrates’ extensive use of logos and his distinct method of questioning forced his audience to think logically about the accusations made against him and the legitimacy of those accusations. The fact that the Athenian jury found Socrates guilty brings into question the political and social issues Athens faced at the time, but also raises questions about whether modern society is any different. Socrates’ ideas still echo throughout today’s world and his use of logical arguments will undoubtedly be imitated and refined for many years to come.

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Strategic Marketing Methods

Question: Discuss about theStrategic Marketing Methods. Answer: Introduction Marketing management in business today is faced with the challenge of changing trends in business practices and the development and use of technology has helped organizations in coming up with techniques and methods for marketing. In order to market products, organizations have to analyze consumer behavior and consumption needs which are influenced by factors such as the quality and cost of the product and the availability. For instance, the Nestle Company which produces Nestum 3in1 is an internationally recognized brand which has to incorporate the market orientation, techniques in ensuring that the produce receives international reception among its different markets. Therefore, the focus of this paper is to analyze the different marketing orientation techniques by Nestle in order to segment its target population by positioning their product in the global marketplace. Segmentation, Targeting, and Positioning This model is applicable in marketing in the sense that it creates priorities in marketing through segmentation of the population and creation of communication messages which target the specific population through personalized and relevancy in messages and thus the organization makes production decisions based on the market needs and thus this method is practical to organizations today (Hanlon, 2016, p. 7). Segmentation in marketing means identification of the customers and delivering of the products when and where the customers are located which is referred to as geographic segmentation. Segmentation is about creating relationships with the different stakeholders involved in the production and supply chain and thus the organization engages in target promotional activities which addresses the different audiences for its products. Nestum 3in1 has achieved global recognition and use by the segmentation and targeting of the populations in the US and other markets worldwide (Weinstein, 2013, p. 4). Upon proper segmentation of the market thus the organization identifies the attractiveness and potential presented by each market segment and thus the suitable one is the target for the product. For instance, the case of Nestum 3in1 was a product innovation which targeted the American and other western adult population between the ages of 5-85 years. Segmentation involved the partnership with Eu Yan Sang, a trusted household name and Asias leading progressive healthcare company with a strong foundation in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The specific needs address the psychographic and behavioral needs of the population, thus the Nestum 3in1 fits the hectic lifestyle while embracing healthy eating habits (Nestle, 2012, p. 1). The STP strategy involves selecting targets for the product which are chosen on the basis of the market size given the population size and composition. The existence of Nestle in many markets makes the brand to be receptive and thus the introduction of a new product by the company will receive positive reception and thus anticipated growth in terms of sales and revenue (Weinstein, 2013, p. 4). Product positioning in the market involves the analysis on the market position of the company and brand in general in the market and an evaluation of the competition in order to identify opportunities through gap identification. Perceptual mapping identifies competitors in the global market producing healthy drinks and cereals such as Weetabix, cornflakes, cocoa puffs among others products and thus given the competition the company is able to set strategies to meet the market needs while remaining competitive. Nestum 3in1 has presented the population with a healthy drink and instant preparation thus positioning itself in the market as the choice of convenience and efficiency for its users whose lifestyle and behavior require such a product (Hanlon, 2016, p. 7). Nestle is able to develop marketing objectives of its product Nestum 3in1 in different markets. Given the reception in the Asia markets the objective of increasing the growth and market share by 5% in the global market by end of half year 2017. The objective which aligns with company goals of profitability is the increase in sales revenue by 17% through diversification of product to target adults and children in different markets (Nestle, 2012, p. 1). Strategies for Objective Attainment The STP method in identifying the target population for the Nestum product is key in the development of strategies applicable by Nestle in sustainability and profitability goals. Engaging in promotional activities such as advertisement which is aided by the digitized marketing place in the globe is an advantage for the success of Nestle. Another strategy is the product innovation and diversification, this entails the utilization of partnerships which will ensure quality and diversity in terms of consumer needs is met (Blythe and Zimmerman, 2012, 17). Bibliography Blythe, Jim, and Alan S. Zimmerman. Business to Business Marketing Management: A Global Perspective. London: Routledge, 2012. "The New NESTL NESTUM 3 in 1 Cereal Drinks." Http://www.nestle.com.my. Last modified October 1, 2012. https://www.nestle.com.my/media/pressreleases/allpressreleases/the_new_nestle_nestum_3in1_cereal_drink. Hanlon, AnnMarie. "The Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning Model." Smart Insights. Last modified November 8, 2016. https://www.smartinsights.com/digital-marketing-strategy/customer-segmentation-targeting/segmentation-targeting-and-positioning/. Weinstein, Art. Handbook of Market Segmentation: Strategic Targeting for Business and Technology Firms, Third Edition. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis, 2013.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

ACT Exam Time Management Handing in the Test Early

SAT / ACT Exam Time Management Handing in the Test Early SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips I recently received a question from one of my students that I believe highlights a very common mistake: "I find that on some sections I finish early and close the section ahead of time – does this mean I'm doing well on those sections?" Here, I'll break down why this sometimes happens, and what it means for you. Isn't Getting Done First a Great Thing? Many students are used to high school exams where the genius in the class finishes ahead of time and hands in the test early. These students then get the idea that handing in the test early is a sign of genius, and strive for the same on the ACT / SAT. But it turns out that closing a section early is almost always a huge mistake on the ACT / SAT due to time management. Read on to find out why. Why Finishing Early is a Huge Mistake The SAT / ACT are time-pressure tests. This means the creators of the tests on purpose give you much less time than you need to feel no time pressure on the tests. Few, if any, students are smart enough to really finish early. I personally received perfect scores on the SAT and know dozens of classmates who got perfect ACT / SAT scores, some of who are genius mathematicians, and none of these people ever finished early. Time is gold on the test, and you canalwaysconvert time to a higher expected score on these tests (I'll show you how). If you accept this, then it's obvious you shouldn't be handing in the test early: are you getting a perfect score in that section you're handing in early? If not, why aren't you using the techniques below to convert that extra time to a higher score? How to Convert Time To Score Okay, you're handing in your math section early, yet you're far from getting a 800. How do you convert that extra time into a higher score? Strategy #1: Have pacing checkpoints. Finishing early should never take you by surprise. You should be glancing at your watch every 5 minutes, and seeing whether you're "too ahead" or "too behind" in your section. Finishing early means you're "too ahead" – you'll realize this halfway through the section. In this case, slow down on the problems. Employ strategies that trade off time for points: read each question twice, write more neatly, think more about each question, double check your answer. This class of strategies "burns" your free time and harnesses it into extra points! Strategy #2: Double check each problem. Okay, say you employed the strategy above, and still have a few minutes left at the end. What do you do? Go back and check your problems. I don't mean glancing at them and mechanically saying to yourself "okay, yeah, that was right," but actually redoing the problem a different way. A very helpful trick is to actually mark "questionable problems" with a star while you're doing the test the first time around. Questionable problems are those you aren't sure about but don't want to waste time on the first time through. When you have time the second time around, go to the starred problems first. Oh, and what do you do if you finish a second check? Hand it in early? Nope, check it a third time. Take it from me – there are countless times I've found one serious mistake on a second or third check-through. That's 20-40 points right there, on a single section! To conclude, never hand in your test early. Manage your time during the first run-through so you never have too much time in the end. If you still end with too much time, check it over again! If you liked this article, you might enjoy: Why you need to prepare for the SAT / ACT How to get a perfect ACT / SAT score Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Sunday, November 24, 2019

How to Write a Short Story 9 Steps from a Best Selling Author

How to Write a Short Story 9 Steps from a Best Selling Author How to Write a Short Story That Captivates Your Reader Why? Because it reveals many of the obstacles, dilemmas, and questions you’ll face when creating fiction of any length. If you find these things knotty in a short story, imagine how profound they would be in a book-length tale. Most writers need to get a quarter million clichà ©s out of their systems before they hope to sell something. And they need to learn the difference between imitating their favorite writers and emulating their best techniques. Mastering even a few of the elements of fiction while learning the craft will prove to be quick wins for you as you gain momentum as a writer. I don’t mean to imply that learning how to write a short story is easier than learning how to write a novel- only that as a neophyte you might find the process more manageable in smaller bites. So let’s start at the beginning. Need help fine-tuning your writing?Click here to download my free self-editing checklist. What Is a Short Story? Don’t make the mistake of referring to short nonfiction articles as short stories. In the publishing world, short story always refers to fiction. And short stories come varying shapes and sizes: Traditional: 1,500-5000 words Flash Fiction: 500-1,000 words Micro Fiction: 5 to 350 words Is there really a market for a short story of 5,000 words (roughly 20 double-spaced manuscript pages)? Some publications and contests accept entries that long, but it’s easier and more common to sell a short story in the 1,500- to 3,000-word range. And on the other end of the spectrum, you may wonder if I’m serious about short stories of fewer than 10 words (Micro Fiction). Well, sort of. They are really more gimmicks, but they exist. The most famous was Ernest Hemingway’s response to a bet that he couldn’t write fiction that short. He wrote: For sale: baby shoes. Never worn. That implied a vast backstory and deep emotion. Writing a compelling short story is an art, despite that they are so much more concise than novels. Which is why I created this complete guide: 9 Steps to Writing a Great Short Story Read as Many Great Short Stories as You Can Find Aim for the Heart Narrow Your Scope Make Your Title Sing Use the Classic Story Structure Suggest Backstory, Dont Elaborate When in Doubt, Leave it Out Ensure a Satisfying Ending Cut Like Your Storys Life Depends on It Step 1. Read as Many Great Short Stories as You Can Find Read hundreds of them- especially the classics. You learn this genre by familiarizing yourself with the best. See yourself as an apprentice. Watch, evaluate, analyze the experts, then try to emulate their work. Soon you’ll learn enough about how to write a short story that you can start developing your own style. A lot of the skills you need can be learned through osmosis. Where to start? Read Bret Lott, a modern-day master. (He chose one of my short stories for one of his collections.) Reading two or three dozen short stories should give you an idea of their structure and style. That should spur you to try one of your own while continuing to read dozens more. Remember, you won’t likely start with something sensational, but what you’ve learned through your reading- as well as what you’ll learn from your own writing- should give you confidence. You’ll be on your way. Step 2. Aim for the Heart The most effective short stories evoke deep emotions in the reader. What will move them? The same things that probably move you: Love Redemption Justice Freedom Heroic sacrifice What else? Step 3. Narrow Your Scope It should go without saying that there’s a drastic difference between a 450-page, 100,000-word novel and a 10-page, 2000-word short story. One can accommodate an epic sweep of a story and cover decades with an extensive cast of characters. The other must pack an emotional wallop and tell a compelling story with a beginning, a middle, and an end- with about 2% of the number of words. Naturally, that dramatically restricts your number of characters, scenes, and even plot points. The best short stories usually encompass only a short slice of the main character’s life- often only one scene or incident that must also bear the weight of your Deeper Question, your theme or what it is you’re really trying to say. Tightening Tips If your main character needs a cohort or a sounding board, don’t give her two. Combine characters where you can. Avoid long blocks of description; rather, write just enough to trigger the theater of your reader’s mind. Eliminate scenes that merely get your characters from one place to another. The reader doesn’t care how they got there, so you can simply write: Late that afternoon, Jim met Sharon at a coffee shop†¦ Your goal is to get to a resounding ending by portraying a poignant incident that tell a story in itself and represents a bigger picture. Step 4. Make Your Title Sing Work hard on what to call your short story. Yes, it might get changed by editors, but it must grab their attention first. They’ll want it to stand out to readers among a wide range of competing stories, and so do you. Step 5. Use the Classic Story Structure Once your title has pulled the reader in, how do you hold his interest? As you might imagine, this is as crucial in a short story as it is in a novel. So use the same basic approach: Plunge your character into terrible trouble from the get-go. Of course, terrible trouble means something different for different genres. In a thriller, your character might find himself in physical danger, a life or death situation. In a love story, the trouble might be emotional, a heroine torn between two lovers. In a mystery, your main character might witness a crime, and then be accused of it. Don’t waste time setting up the story. Get on with it. Tell your reader just enough to make her care about your main character, then get to the the problem, the quest, the challenge, the danger- whatever it is that drives your story. Step 6. Suggest Backstory, Don’t Elaborate You don’t have the space or time to flash back or cover a character’s entire backstory. Rather than recite how a Frenchman got to America, merely mention the accent he had hoped to leave behind when he emigrated to the U.S. from Paris. Don’t spend a paragraph describing a winter morning. Layer that bit of sensory detail into the narrativeby showing your character covering her face with her scarf against the frigid wind. Step 7. When in Doubt, Leave it Out Short stories are, by definition, short. Every sentence must count. If even one word seems extraneous, it has to go. Step 8. Ensure a Satisfying Ending This is a must. Bring down the curtain with a satisfying thud. In a short story this can often be accomplished quickly, as long as it resounds with the reader and makes her nod. It can’t seem forced or contrived or feel as if the story has ended too soon. In a modern day version of the Prodigal Son, a character calls from a taxi and leaves a message that if he’s allowed to come home, his father should leave the front porch light on. Otherwise, he’ll understand and just move on. The rest of the story is him telling the cabbie how deeply his life choices have hurt his family. The story ends with the taxi pulling into view of his childhood home, only to find not only the porch light on, but also every light in the house and more out in the yard. That ending needed no elaboration. We don’t even need to be shown the reunion, the embrace, the tears, the talk. The lights say it all. Step 9. Cut Like Your Story’s Life Depends on It Because it does. When you’ve finished your story, the real work has just begun. It’s time for you to become a ferocious self-editor. Once you’re happy with the flow of the story, every other element should be examined for perfection: spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence construction, word choice, elimination of clichà ©s, redundancies, you name it. Also, pour over the manuscript looking for ways to engage your reader’s senses and emotions. All writing is rewriting. And remember, tightening nearly always adds power. Omit needless words. Examples: She shrugged her shoulders. He blinked his eyes. Jim walked in through the open door and sat down in a chair. The crowd clapped their hands and stomped their feet. Learn to tighten and give yourself the best chance to write short stories that captivate your reader. Where to Sell Your Short Stories Need help fine-tuning your writing?Click here to download my free self-editing checklist. 1. Contests Writing contests are great because the winners usually get published in either a magazine or online- which means instant visibility for your name. Many pay cash prizes up to $5,000. But even those that don’t offer cash give you awards that lend credibility to your next short story pitch. 2. Genre-Specific Periodicals Such publications cater to audiences who love stories written in their particular literary category. If you can score with one of these, the editor will likely come back to you for more. Any time you can work with an editor, you’re developing a skill that will well serve your writing. 3. Popular Magazines Plenty of print and online magazines still buy and publish short stories. A few examples: The Atlantic Harper’s Magazine Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine The New Yorker Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine Woman’s World 4. Literary Magazines While, admittedly, this market calls for a more intellectual than mass market approach to writing, getting published in one is still a win. Here’s a list of literary magazine short story markets. 5. Short Story Books Yes, some publishers still publish these. They might consist entirely of short stories from one author, or they might contain the work of several, but usually tied together by theme. Regardless which style you’re interested in, remember that while each story should fit the whole, it must also work on its own, complete and satisfying in itself. What’s Your Short Story Idea? You’ll know yours has potential when you can distill its idea to a single sentence. You’ll find that this will keep you on track during the writing stage. Here’s mine for a piece I titled Midnight Clear(which became a movie starring Stephen Baldwin): An estranged son visits his lonely mother on Christmas Eve before his planned suicide, unaware she is planning the same, and the encounter gives them each reasons to go on. Need help fine-tuning your writing?Click here to download my free self-editing checklist. In the comments below, write the one-sentence essence of your short story.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Autism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Autism - Essay Example It is because of these reasons that autism has been deemed as one of the most complex and difficult developmental disorders with which families might have to deal with and family members of such children are often perceived to experience negative psychological effects (Gupta & Singhal, 2005). Dealing with traumatic events that are outside one’s control is one of the biggest challenges of life. With no possibility of lessening or eradicating the causes of stress, such circumstances require tactics where one transforms the self to fit the situation. It is important to understand the ways in which families deal with such circumstances as these are essential to cognitive paradigms of stress and coping frequently applied to families of children with disorders. Interventions concentrating on parents’ coping mechanisms have revealed encouraging results. These treatments utilize concepts from stress and coping paradigms to enhance parent education in problem solving and decisio n-making, communicative abilities, ability to contact and make use of social networks, and coping mechanisms such as encouraging self-statements, self-praise and relaxation (Gupta & Singhal 2005). A number of factors effect families’ experience of having a young individual with certain mental, emotional or physical disability and it is significant to keep in mind the distinctive requirements of each family, when deciding on the type of support being provided. Various factors such as cultural values of the family, socio-economic status, level of the disability, and amount of social support, type of family structure, and geographic location are significant when formulating and applying effective treatment programmes. All or any of these factors can improve or restrict the success of a treatment and emphasize the need for individualization. Thus the amount and kind of programs should be according to the needs of the individual family unit (Gupta & Singhal 2005). Research suggest s that the number of children being red-flagged with autism is increasing. This increase might be to some extent due to enhanced assessment techniques or better knowledge of autism and other developmental disorders and of behaviours of autistic children. This disturbing increase in the number of children evidently requires for added facilities to fulfil the needs of these children and their families (Barnard, et al. 2002). From the developmental systems perspective, children are members of numerous social networks. These networks are created and are implemented by socio-cultural beliefs. Vygotsky, in relation to people with developmental disorders, suggested that the various aspects of development are quite similar in people with mental retardation and other disorders. He deemed working together as vital for the growth of improved psychological processes, and highlighted the significance of children working together in different groups (Vygotsky, 1993). Active participation of paren ts in the treatment programmes is increasing in the contemporary world. This involvement of parents has proven to be successful in educating parents to teach a number of skills to their children, especially play and communication skills. Increasing participation of parents during this stage, by giving extra information and incorporating them in