Can you judge a book by its e- cover Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Would you be able to pass judgment on a book by its e-spread - Essay Example at the principal phase of their advancement, versatile handsets like iPhone are ages ahead and can advance the inventive capability of digital books with no trouble. On the off chance that we take a gander at the book showcase, we will see that it has end up being more adaptable than some other purchaser area; there was a general 1% decrease in the whole year 2009. Be that as it may, deals indicated an expansion in book shops and digital book stores like Amazon.com. Advanced innovation is at its blast in the market; it has begun to accomplish a genuine perceivability with increasingly reasonable tablets for the absolute first time, making their progress in deals. I-case and I-telephone event has expanded the development of book recordings and all the more quickly digital books. Simultaneously, as digitalization, joined with the intensity of the social web, is likewise prompting new developments in independently publishing, all along with downloads and print-on-request. As indicated by the study, seven from ten purchasers are perusers and purchasers, among which ladies are at top, being the key perusers, and particularly the individuals who are ch ildless and are third agers. Then again, man is excited about true to life and bound to purchase hardbacks, for information or for work (Mintel, 2007). digital books are perused on pocket-sized gadgets known as tablets which can accumulate to 350 carefully downloaded books. Retailers as Waterstones and Amazon are currently contending to turn into the essential providers of eBooks. Amazon has itself propelled ignite tablet; it has a remote web connect, like a cell phone that permits the downloading of books and day by day papers in a hurry (Sandoval, McCarthy, 2007). Tablets and digital books keep on developing in notoriety. The new universe of digital has made digital books a famous item, and they keep up to acquire engaging quality. digital books are purchased and sold online similarly as items are purchased and sold in the disconnected world. Billions of digital books are sold on the Internet since numerous years, and numerous individuals get by purchasing and selling these digital books; some are

Sample Resume Essay Papers and How to Use Them

Sample Resume Essay Papers and How to Use ThemHere are samples of the most excellent resume and interview essay papers. These samples will help you to customize your writing skills and write your best resume essay and interview paper.Writing is not a simple task; it requires different types of writing styles, concepts, and stories to come up with the best. The basics of these samples will provide a certain type of writing style and examples, which is most suitable for each type of job or the experience that you have had. Moreover, these samples are also a great help to those who need assistance in writing a resume and cover letter. They can easily access samples of resume and interview essay papers to help them with their work.Such samples can provide you the needed help in revising your skills and ability for writing. The ideas in these samples can give you the knowledge on how to utilize certain words, phrasing, and structure to make sure that the message written in it is readable. The best part is that, these samples are not only applicable to writers but are also helpful to management, sales, and marketing executives.You can find information on these samples as well as on the tools and techniques that will be useful in writing your resume essay and interview paper. These samples are helpful in reviewing whether or not your resume essay is attractive enough to attract the attention of the hiring manager. You can easily get the right skills in revising and improving the writing skills of resume essays and resume paper.In writing sample resumes and interview essays, you can learn how to properly showcase your skills to the employer. These samples will help you fully understand and incorporate certain qualities that will be important to your resume and interview essay. This will allow you to present your qualifications and skills to the employer and obtain the desired position. On the other hand, these samples will also allow you to enhance your skills in writi ng a resume and cover letter that will be easier for you to present to a prospective employer.Besides, these samples are also written in a manner that will allow you to easily follow the instructions on how to revise and improve your skills for writing a resume and cover letter. These samples can also be obtained from various online sources as well as from the library, so that you will be able to access these samples as you need. There are lots of free samples that can help you improve your skills in writing and revising your skills on how to write resume and interview essay.Therefore, when you need help in writing resume essays and cover letters, then you can easily find free samples in the internet. You can easily use these samples as a way to enhance your skills in writing. Thus, these samples are also helpful in enhancing your skills in writing resume and cover letters.It is easy to get the help you need in writing and revising your skills on how to write resume and cover letter s. There are lots of free samples available online and you can easily get the right samples to help you in enhancing your skills on how to write resume and cover letters.

Past-Tense Regular Verb Pronunciation Guide

Past-Tense Regular Verb Pronunciation Guide A language that is continually changing and including new words, English is a moving one to learn, as it is brimming with idiosyncrasies and exemptions. The development of ordinary past-tense action words, in any event, is really clear. It is commonly done by including - d or - ed to the action word, and it doesnt change structure dependent regarding the matter of the action word: I asked, he concurred, you acknowledged the action words in these cases all clone, finishing off with - ed. What differs between them, however, is theâ pronunciation of the consummation. For certain action words, its a voiceless sound like T, as in asked; in certain, its a voiced sound of D, as in concurred; and in certain, its articulated like ID, as in acknowledged. The rundowns that follow are three groupings of customary past-tense action words, in light of their way to express the ending.â Note: When you are seeing sentences to discover the action words to change to past tense, be sure you have discovered the verbs. Theyre the activity words. Gathering A: Voiceless Last Sound of the Infinitive On the off chance that the infinitive of the action word has a voiceless sound toward its finish, for example, p, k, s, ch, sh, f, x, or h, you articulate the ed finishing as a T. (Note the elocution in brackets. The sound decides the gathering that a word has a place with, not generally the composed letter. For instance, despite the fact that move closes with a - ce, its sound is that of a s, so its in this voiceless gathering.) Model: Ask, asked ask(T) - ed as â€Å"T† askedbakedbrushedcookedcrackedcrasheddanced (da:ns) tdresseddroppedescapedfinishedfixedguessedhelpedhikedhopedjokedjumpedkissedknockedlaughed (lã ¦f) tlockedlookedmissedmixedpackedpassedpickedpressedpronouncedpushedrelaxedshoppedslippedsmokedstoppedtalkedtypedwalkedwashedwatchedworked Gathering B: Voiced Last Sound of the Infinitive On the off chance that the last solid in theâ verb is a voiced one, for example, in l, v, n, m, r, b, v, g, w, y, z, and vowel sounds, or diphthongs, at that point articulate the - ed finishing as D. (Note the elocution in brackets. The sound decides the gathering that a word has a place with, not generally the composed letter. For instance, despite the fact that exhort closes with a - se, its sound is that of the voiced z sound, keeping that word in this voiced sound gathering.) Example: Allow, permitted allow(D) - ed as â€Å"D† prompted (ad’vaiz) dagreedallowedansweredappearedarrivedbelievedbelongedburnedcalledcarriedchangedcleanedclosedcoveredcrieddamageddescribeddieddriedearnedencouragedenjoyedenteredexplainedexploredfilledfollowedhappenedimaginedinterviewedjailedkilledlistenedlivedlovedmeasuredmovedopenedplannedplayedperformedpulledrainedrealizedrememberedrepairedsavedsharedshavedshowedsignedslammedstayedsnowedstudiedtraveledtriedturnedusedwelcomedwhisperedworriedyawned Gathering C: T or D as the Last Sound of the Infinitive On the off chance that the last stable in the infinitive action word is a t or d, articulate the - ed finishing as â€Å"ID.† Example: Need, required need(id) - ed as â€Å"ID† acceptedaffordedarrestedattendedcollectedcontactedcounteddecideddefendeddemandeddividedendedexpandedexpectedexportedfloodedgraduatedhatedhuntedincludedinventedinvitedlandedneededpaintedplantedpresentedpretendedprintedprotectedprovidedrentedrepeatedreportedrespectedrestedscoldedshoutedskatedstartedtreatedvisitedwaitedwantedwasted The past straightforward structure is regularly mistaken for the current great. Reviewâ present impeccable versus past straightforward toâ help you test your comprehension of when to utilize the current great or past basic tense.

Nelson Mandela - A Biography

Nelson Mandela was elected the first black president of South Africa in 1994, following the first multiracial election in South Africas history. Mandela was imprisoned from 1962 to 1990 for his role in fighting apartheid policies established by the ruling white minority. Revered by his people as a national symbol of the struggle for equality, Mandela is considered one of the 20th centurys most influential political figures. He and South African Prime Minister F.W. de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for their role in dismantling the apartheid system. Dates: July 18, 1918—December 5, 2013 Also Known As: Rolihlahla Mandela, Madiba, Tata Famous quote:   I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. Childhood Nelson Rilihlahla Mandela was born in the village of Mveso, Transkei, South Africa on July 18, 1918 to Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa and Noqaphi Nosekeni, the third of Gadlas four wives. In Mandelas native language, Xhosa, Rolihlahla meant troublemaker. The surname Mandela came from one of his grandfathers. Mandelas father was a chief of the Thembu tribe in the Mvezo region, but served under the authority of the ruling British government. As a descendant of royalty, Mandela was expected to serve in his fathers role when he came of age. But when Mandela was only an infant, his father rebelled against the British government by refusing a mandatory appearance before the British magistrate. For this, he was stripped of his chieftaincy and his wealth, and forced to leave his home. Mandela and his three sisters moved with their mother back to her home village of Qunu. There, the family lived in more modest circumstances. The family lived in mud huts and survived on the crops they grew and the cattle and sheep they raised. Mandela, along with the other village boys, worked herding sheep and cattle. He later recalled this as one of the happiest periods in his life. Many evenings, villagers sat around the fire, telling the children stories passed down through generations, of what life had been like before the white man had arrived. From the mid-17th century, Europeans (first the Dutch and later the British) had arrived on South African soil and gradually taken control from the native South African tribes. The discovery of diamonds and gold in South Africa in the 19th century had only tightened the grip that Europeans had on the nation. By 1900, most of South Africa was under the control of Europeans. In 1910, the British colonies merged with the Boer (Dutch) republics to form the Union of South Africa, a part of the British Empire. Stripped of their homelands, many Africans were forced to work for white employers at low-paying jobs. Young Nelson Mandela, living in his small village, did not yet feel the impact of centuries of domination by the white minority. Mandelas Education Although themselves uneducated, Mandelas parents wanted their son to go to school. At the age of seven, Mandela was enrolled in the local mission school. On the first day of class, each child was given an English first name; Rolihlahla was given the name Nelson. When he was nine years old, Mandelas father died. According to his fathers last wishes, Mandela was sent to live in the Thembu capital, Mqhekezeweni, where he could continue his education under the guidance of another tribal chief, Jongintaba Dalindyebo. Upon first seeing the chiefs estate, Mandela marveled at his large home and beautiful gardens. In Mqhekezeweni, Mandela attended another mission school and became a devout Methodist during his years with the Dalindyebo family. Mandela also attended tribal meetings with the chief, who taught him how a leader should conduct himself. When Mandela was 16, he was sent to a boarding school in a town several hundred miles away. Upon his graduation in 1937 at the age of 19, Mandela enrolled in Healdtown, a Methodist college. An accomplished student, Mandela also became active in boxing, soccer, and long-distance running. In 1939, after earning his certificate, Mandela began his studies for a Bachelor of Arts at the prestigious Fort Hare College, with a plan to ultimately attend law school. But Mandela did not complete his studies at Fort Hare; instead, he was expelled after participating in a student protest. He returned to the home of Chief Dalindyebo, where he was met with anger and disappointment. Just weeks after his return home, Mandela received stunning news from the chief. Dalindyebo had arranged for both his son, Justice, and Nelson Mandela to marry women of his choosing. Neither young man would consent to an arranged marriage, so the two decided to flee to Johannesburg, the South African capital. Desperate for money to finance their trip, Mandela and Justice stole two of the chiefs oxen and sold them for train fare. Move to Johannesburg Arriving in Johannesburg in 1940, Mandela found the bustling city an exciting place. Soon, however, he was awakened to the injustice of the black mans life in South Africa. Prior to moving to the capital, Mandela had lived mainly among other blacks. But in Johannesburg, he saw the disparity between the races. Black residents lived in slum-like townships that had no electricity or running water; while whites lived grandly off the wealth of the gold mines. Mandela moved in with a cousin and quickly found a job as a security guard. He was soon fired when his employers learned about his theft of the oxen and his escape from his benefactor. Mandelas luck changed when he was introduced to Lazar Sidelsky, a liberal-minded white lawyer. After learning of Mandelas desire to become an attorney, Sidelsky, who ran a large law firm serving both blacks and whites, offered to let Mandela work for him as a law clerk. Mandela gratefully accepted and took on the job at the age of 23, even as he worked to finish his BA via correspondence course. Mandela rented a room in one of the local black townships. He studied by candlelight each night and often walked the six miles to work and back because he lacked bus fare. Sidelsky supplied him with an old suit, which Mandela patched up and wore nearly every day for five years. Committed to the Cause In 1942, Mandela finally completed his BA and enrolled at the University of Witwatersrand as a part-time law student. At Wits, he met several people who would work with him in the years to come for the cause of liberation. In 1943, Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC),  an organization that worked to improve conditions for blacks in South Africa. That same year, Mandela marched in a successful bus boycott staged by thousands of residents of Johannesburg in protest of high bus fares. As he grew more infuriated by racial inequalities, Mandela deepened his commitment to the struggle for liberation. He helped to form the Youth League, which sought to recruit younger members and transform the ANC into a more militant organization, one that would fight for equal rights. Under laws of the time, Africans were forbidden from owning land or houses in the towns, their wages were five times lower than those of whites, and none could vote. In 1944, Mandela, 26, married nurse Evelyn Mase, 22, and they moved into a small rental home. The couple had a son, Madiba (Thembi), in February 1945, and a daughter, Makaziwe, in 1947. Their daughter died of meningitis as an infant. They welcomed another son, Makgatho, in 1950, and a second daughter, named Makaziwe after her late sister, in 1954. Following the general elections of 1948 in which the white National Party claimed victory, the partys first official act was to establish apartheid. With this act, the long-held, haphazard system of segregation in South Africa became a formal, institutionalized policy, supported by laws and regulations. The new policy would even determine, by race, which parts of town each group could live in. Blacks and whites were to be separated from each other in all aspects of life, including public transportation, in theaters and restaurants, and even on beaches. The Defiance Campaign Mandela completed his law studies in 1952 and, with partner Oliver Tambo, opened the first black law practice in Johannesburg. The practice was busy from the start. Clients included Africans who suffered the injustices of racism, such as seizure of property by whites and beatings by the police. Despite facing hostility from white judges and lawyers, Mandela was a successful attorney. He had a dramatic, impassioned style in the courtroom. During the 1950s, Mandela became more actively involved with the protest movement. He was elected president of the ANC Youth League in 1950. In June 1952, the ANC, along with Indians and colored (biracial) people—two other groups also targeted by discriminatory laws—began a period of nonviolent protest known as the Defiance Campaign. Mandela spearheaded the campaign by recruiting, training, and organizing volunteers. The campaign lasted six months, with cities and towns throughout South Africa participating. Volunteers defied the laws by entering areas meant for whites only. Several thousand were arrested in that six-month time, including Mandela and other ANC leaders. He and the other members of the group were found guilty of statutory communism and sentenced to nine months of hard labor, but the sentence was suspended. The publicity garnered during the Defiance Campaign helped membership in the ANC soar to 100,000. Arrested for Treason The government twice banned Mandela, meaning that he could not attend public meetings, or even family gatherings, because of his involvement in the ANC. His 1953 banning lasted two years. Mandela, along with others on the executive committee of the ANC, drew up the Freedom Charter in June 1955 and presented it during a special meeting called the Congress of the People. The charter called for equal rights for all, regardless of race, and the ability of all citizens to vote, own land, and hold decent-paying jobs. In essence, the charter called for a non-racial South Africa. Months after the charter was presented, police raided the homes of hundreds of members of the ANC and arrested them. Mandela and 155 others were charged with high treason. They were released to await a trial date. Mandelas marriage to Evelyn suffered from the strain of his long absences; they divorced in 1957 after 13 years of marriage. Through work, Mandela met Winnie Madikizela, a social worker who had sought his legal advice. They married in June 1958, just months before Mandelas trial began in August. Mandela was 39 years old, Winnie only 21. The trial would last three years; during that time, Winnie gave birth to two daughters, Zenani and Zindziswa. Sharpeville Massacre The trial, whose venue was changed to Pretoria, moved at a snails pace. The preliminary arraignment alone took a year; the actual trial didnt start until August 1959. Charges were dropped against all but 30 of the accused. Then, on March 21, 1960, the trial was interrupted by a national crisis. In early March, another anti-apartheid group, the Pan African Congress (PAC) had held large demonstrations protesting strict pass laws, which required Africans to carry identification papers with them at all times in order to be able to travel throughout the country. During one such protest in Sharpeville, police had opened fire on unarmed protestors, killing 69, and wounding more than 400. The shocking incident, which was universally condemned, was called the Sharpeville Massacre. Mandela and other ANC leaders called for a national day of mourning, along with a stay at home strike. Hundreds of thousands participated in a mostly peaceful demonstration, but some rioting erupted. The South African government declared a national state of emergency and martial law was enacted. Mandela and his co-defendants were moved into prison cells, and both the ANC and PAC were officially banned. The treason trial resumed on April 25, 1960 and lasted until March 29, 1961. To the surprise of many, the court dropped charges against all of the defendants, citing a lack of evidence proving that the defendants had planned to violently overthrow the government. For many, it was cause for celebration, but Nelson Mandela had no time to celebrate. He was about to enter into a new—and dangerous—chapter in his life. The Black Pimpernel Prior to the verdict, the banned ANC had held an illegal meeting and decided that if Mandela was acquitted, he would go underground after the trial. He would operate clandestinely to give speeches and gather support for the liberation movement. A new organization, the National Action Council (NAC), was formed and Mandela named as its leader. In accordance with the ANC plan, Mandela became a fugitive directly after the trial. He went into hiding at the first of several safe houses, most of them located in the Johannesburg area. Mandela stayed on the move, knowing that the police were looking everywhere for him. Venturing out only at night, when he felt safest, Mandela dressed in disguises, such as a chauffeur or a chef. He made unannounced appearances, giving speeches at places that were presumed safe, and also made radio broadcasts. The press took to calling him the Black Pimpernel, after the title character in the novel The Scarlet Pimpernel. In October 1961, Mandela moved to a farm in Rivonia, outside of Johannesburg. He was safe for a time there and could even enjoy visits from Winnie and their daughters. Spear of the Nation In response to the governments increasingly violent treatment of protestors, Mandela developed a new arm of the ANC—a military unit that he named Spear of the Nation, known also as MK. The MK would operate using a strategy of sabotage, targeting military installations, power facilities, and transportation links. Its goal was to damage property of the state, but not to harm individuals. The MKs first attack came in December 1961, when they bombed an electric power station and empty government offices in Johannesburg. Weeks later, another set of bombings were carried out. White South Africans were startled into the realization that they could no longer take their safety for granted. In January 1962, Mandela, who had never in his life been out of South Africa, was smuggled out of the country to attend a Pan-African conference. He hoped to get financial and military support from other African nations, but was not successful. In Ethiopia, Mandela received training in how to fire a gun and how to build small explosives. Captured After 16 months on the run, Mandela was captured on August 5, 1962, when the car he was driving was overtaken by police. He was arrested on charges of leaving the country illegally and inciting a strike. The trial began on October 15, 1962. Refusing counsel, Mandela spoke on his own behalf. He used his time in court to denounce the governments immoral, discriminatory policies. Despite his impassioned speech, he was sentenced to five years in prison. Mandela was 44 years old when he entered Pretoria Local Prison. Imprisoned in Pretoria for six months, Mandela was then taken to Robben Island, a bleak, isolated prison off the coast of Cape Town, in May 1963. After only a few weeks there, Mandela learned he was about to head back to court—this time on charges of sabotage. He would be charged along with several other members of MK, who had been arrested on the farm in Rivonia. During the trial, Mandela admitted his role in the formation of MK. He emphasized his belief that the protestors were only working toward what they deserved—equal political rights. Mandela concluded his statement by saying that he was prepared to die for his cause. Mandela and his seven co-defendants received guilty verdicts on June 11, 1964. They could have been sentenced to death for so serious a charge, but each was given life imprisonment. All of the men (except one white prisoner) were sent to Robben Island. Life at Robben Island At Robben Island, each prisoner had a small cell with a single light that stayed on 24 hours a day. Prisoners slept on the floor upon a thin mat. Meals consisted of cold porridge and an occasional vegetable or piece of meat (although Indian and Asian prisoners received more generous rations than their black counterparts.) As a reminder of their lower status, black prisoners wore short pants all year-round, whereas others were allowed to wear trousers. Inmates spent nearly ten hours a day at hard labor, digging out rocks from a limestone quarry. The hardships of prison life made it difficult to maintain ones dignity, but Mandela resolved not to be defeated by his imprisonment. He became the spokesperson and leader of the group, and was known by his clan name, Madiba. Over the years, Mandela led the prisoners in numerous protests—hunger strikes, food boycotts, and work slowdowns. He also demanded reading and study privileges. In most cases, the protests eventually yielded results. Mandela suffered personal losses during his imprisonment. His mother died in January 1968 and his 25-year-old son Thembi died in a car accident the following year. A heartbroken Mandela was not allowed to attend either funeral. In 1969, Mandela received word that his wife Winnie had been arrested on charges of communist activities. She spent 18 months in solitary confinement and was subjected to torture. The knowledge that Winnie had been imprisoned caused Mandela great distress. Free Mandela Campaign Throughout his imprisonment, Mandela remained the symbol of the anti-apartheid movement, still inspiring his countrymen. Following a Free Mandela campaign in 1980 that attracted global attention, the government capitulated somewhat. In April 1982, Mandela and four other Rivonia prisoners were transferred to Pollsmoor Prison on the mainland. Mandela was 62 years old and had been at Robben Island for 19 years. Conditions were much improved from those at Robben Island. Inmates were allowed to read newspapers, watch TV, and receive visitors. Mandela was given a lot of publicity, as the government wanted to prove to the world that he was being treated well. In an effort to stem the violence and repair the failing economy, Prime Minister P.W. Botha announced on January 31, 1985 that he would release Nelson Mandela if Mandela agreed to renounce violent demonstrations. But Mandela refused any offer that was not unconditional. In December 1988, Mandela was transferred to a private residence at the Victor Verster prison outside Cape Town and later brought in for secret negotiations with the government. Little was accomplished, however, until Botha resigned from his position in August 1989, forced out by his cabinet. His successor, F.W. de Klerk, was ready to negotiate for peace. He was willing to meet with Mandela. Freedom at Last At Mandelas urging, de Klerk released Mandelas fellow political prisoners without condition in October 1989. Mandela and de Klerk had long discussions about the illegal status of the ANC and other opposition groups, but came to no specific agreement. Then, on February 2, 1990, de Klerk made an announcement that stunned Mandela and all of South Africa. De Klerk enacted a number of sweeping reforms, lifting the bans on the ANC, the PAC, and the Communist Party, among others. He lifted the restrictions still in place from the 1986 state of emergency and ordered the release of all nonviolent political prisoners. On February 11, 1990, Nelson Mandela was given an unconditional release from prison. After 27 years in custody, he was a free man at the age of 71. Mandela was welcomed home by thousands of people cheering in the streets. Soon after his return home, Mandela learned that his wife Winnie had fallen in love with another man in his absence. The Mandelas separated in April 1992 and later divorced. Mandela knew that despite the impressive changes that had been made, there was still much work to be done. He returned immediately to working for the ANC, traveling across South Africa to speak with various groups and to serve as a negotiator for further reforms. In 1993, Mandela and de Klerk were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their joint effort to bring about peace in South Africa. President Mandela On April 27, 1994, South Africa held its first election in which blacks were allowed to vote. The ANC won 63 percent of the votes, a majority in Parliament. Nelson Mandela—only four years after his release from prison—was elected the first black president of South Africa. Nearly three centuries of white domination had ended. Mandela visited many Western nations in an attempt to convince leaders to work with the new government in South Africa. He also made efforts to help bring about peace in several African nations, including Botswana, Uganda, and Libya. Mandela soon earned the admiration and respect of many outside of South Africa. During Mandelas term, he addressed the need for housing, running water, and electricity for all South Africans. The government also returned land to those it had been taken from, and made it legal again for blacks to own land. In 1998, Mandela married Graca Machel on his eightieth birthday. Machel, 52 years old, was the widow of a former president of Mozambique. Nelson Mandela did not seek re-election in 1999. He was replaced by his Deputy President, Thabo Mbeki. Mandela retired to his mothers village of Qunu, Transkei. Mandela became involved in raising funds for HIV/AIDS, an epidemic in Africa. He organized the AIDS benefit 46664 Concert in 2003, so named after his prison ID number. In 2005, Mandelas own son, Makgatho, died of AIDS at the age of 44. In 2009, the United Nations General Assembly designated July 18, Mandelas birthday, as Nelson Mandela International Day. Nelson Mandela died at his Johannesburg home on December 5, 2013 at the age of 95.

Voltaire s Candide A Satirical Work Wrought With Black...

Voltaire’s Candide is a lively satirical work wrought with black humor and caricature-like characters. Apart from being a humorous and entertaining masterpiece, Candide explores the metaphysical conflict humanity faces in attempting to make sense of the world and its struggles. In his work, Voltaire uses his characters to serve as caricatures or parodies of various contrasting philosophies which each in their own way attempt to confront and remedy this existential conflict. He frames these characters’ worldviews in such a way as to create a philosophical spectrum with optimism and pessimism being at opposite extremes amongst other worldviews, such as meliorism and quietism, within the spectrum. The brand of philosophical optimism depicted and mocked in Candide was popularized by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, a German mathematician and philosopher(CITE). Leibniz s version of optimism basically states that all is for the best because out of all of the possible worlds, the one we live in is the best one. Dr. Pangloss is a parody of Leibniz’s version of optimism in Candide. No matter how horrendous the circumstance, Dr. Pangloss never fails to parrot the mantra that â€Å"all is for the best† (Voltaire 3) thus creating a caricature of Leibniz and his philosophy. Apart from Dr. Pangloss’s delusional assertion that â€Å"everything is right† (21) despite everything indicating that the opposite is true, his use of the non sequitur logical fallacy is yet another example of Voltaire depicting

The Pros And Cons Of Business Law - 1197 Words

As we previously discussed on September 21, 2017, in Michigan Court of Appeals Rules in Favor of HOA on Short-Term Rental Ban, the Michigan Courts have held that short-term rentals, the Michigan courts have consistently held that that short-term rentals violates â€Å"residential use† and â€Å"non-commercial use† restrictions contained in covenants. On November 30, 2017, in Eager v Peasley, et. al., published opinion of the Court of Appeals, issued November 30, 2017 (Docket No. 336460), a majority opinion of the Michigan Court of Appeals once again affirmed this principle. While the dissenting opinion disagreed, as it did not believe that short-term rentals constituted commercial activity, the matter majority opinion will serve as binding†¦show more content†¦. . the premises shall be used for private occupancy only; . . .that no commodity shall be sold or offered for the sale upon the premises and no commercial use made thereof, . . .† In pertinent par t, the restrictive covenant provided: [T]hat the premises shall be used for private occupancy only; that no building to be erected on said lands shall be used for purposes otherwise than as a private dwelling and such buildings as garage, ice-house, or other structures usually appurtenant to summer resort dwellings are to be at the rear of said dwellings; that such dwellings shall face the lake unless otherwise specified; that no commodity shall be sold or offered for sale upon said premises and no commercial use made thereof . . . . After reviewing the stipulated facts, the trial court denied Plaintiff’s request for an injunction without an explanation and the Plaintiff appealed. The Majority Opinion The majority opinion relied on several Michigan Supreme Court cases to conclude that that transient use of the property as a short term rental did not constitute â€Å"private occupancy† under the restrictive covenant. Additionally, the court relied on OConnor v Resort Custom Builders, Inc, 459 Mich 335, 336; 591 NW2d 216 (1999), which held that interval ownership did not constitute a â€Å"residential purpose† under another similar restrictive covenant. The majority opinion held that defendant’s transient short-termShow MoreRelatedThe Pros And Cons Of Business Law1479 Words   |  6 Pageswho had planned to attend law school - decided instead that she wished to become a barista at the local coffee shop and work on a novel she had always wanted to write. Upon hearing this news, Benjamin became very upset. 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Causes and Effects of Divorce free essay sample

Stories however do not always have beautiful endings. The number of individuals opting for divorce has been steadily increasing over the past few years. Some problems in the marriage can be resolved through variety of ways including counseling but sometimes the only solution to living happily is by parting ways. While the exact reasons for divorces cannot be completely determined it has been observed that in recent times more numbers of women have been initiating divorce as compared to men. Some common causes of divorce include: Money Couples often end up having disputes over money. In many cases one of the partners is invariably not happy with the spending habits of the other individual. This can result in massive fights. That money is a contentious issue among couples can be seen from the fact that opinion polls indicate as many as ninety percent respondents reporting fights over money. Likewise over 34% couples indicated that money was one of the major problems. Alcohol and Substance Abuse Any form of substance abuse can put a terrible strain on a relationship as substance abuse is often followed with abusive behavior. Many people cannot put up with the addictive behavior of their partners and this causes divorce. Sexual Problems Improper and problematic attitudes towards sex also results in problems within the marriage and this is responsible for eventual divorce. Infidelity in particular has been responsible for breakdown of many relationships and marriages. Immaturity and Jealous Attitude Immaturity on part of one of the partners and placing excessive demands on the partner are also some of the causes of divorce. Violence The actual figures of marital strife, abuse and violence in marriage are not completely known but studies indicate that around five percent of the marriages experience domestic abuse and this is one of the causes of divorce. In-Laws Many younger couples complain about too much meddling and involvement of their in-laws in their lives. There are also complains of excessive demands of the in-laws on their time and this puts a strain on the marital relationship. Myth of a Fairy Tale Relationship Many times people have unrealistic expectations from marriage and what it is supposed to be like and when this distorted view is not realized, it results in divorce. Lack of Communication Lack of communication is also one of the common causes of divorce. Because of lack of communication people are unable to resolve problems and issues that occur within the relationship and the conflicts can in the end cause tremendous strain on the relationship. Irrespective of whether divorce is mutually agreed upon or a contested one it can be a terrible blow to both the individuals. Divorce can never be an easy affair and effects of divorce on the individuals involved include depression and stress. However there are some positive effects of divorce particularly where the two individuals are involved in a very acrimonious relationship. Divorce in such a case can actually help the individuals to get their lives sorted out and find happiness on their own without being saddled in an unhealthy relationship. Effects of Divorce on Children 1)Research has indicated that children belonging to high conflict homes actually fared much better after a divorce between their parents. However children belonging to low conflict homes did not fare well if the marriage ended in divorce. This is perhaps because children growing up in low conflict homes did not see their parents fighting and therefore a break up and consequent divorce was a huge shock to them. 2)Children seeing their parents’ divorce often feel scared about what will happen to them. They also worry about their family and what would happen to them in the future. If one parent leaves the house then they worry about that parent and whether they would get to see that parent again. )Many children often blame themselves for the divorce though this is usually unfounded. Sometimes children are singled out and often blamed by parents for the divorce and that does not help the cause. 4)Some children suddenly become withdrawn and quiet or aggressive and upset. The anger can be because of the changes in the life of the children. Frustration also sets in because of these changes. 5)Children often feel lonely and neglected when the parents divorce. This is because the parents are often caught up in their own situation and the children tend to feel neglected and forgotten. If one of the parents leave the house then the children may interpret it as their rejection. 6)Watching the parents’ divorce can often make the children distrusting towards others. They do not wish to get hurt and so they are extremely cautious with their feelings. It is difficult for the children to look ahead in life with hope. 7)Studies also indicate that divorce causes children to become rebellious and behavioral deviation and problems are also seen in such children. Article 2: From the past to present, people all over the world have determined to get marriage. Nevertheless, some couples are unable to maintain their relationship so they choose to divorce, which is one of the solutions to cope with problems between a husband and wife. Most people claim to think carefully before they get married, but the divorce rates continue to increase. There are three main causes of divorce: the changing of a man and a womans role, stress in modern living and the lack of communication between the married couple. The first significant cause of recent rise in the rates of divorce is that women completely change in roles. In the past, men had to earn the money to afford the expense of family, whereas the woman would do housework. Because of these situations, it is too difficult for most women to separate from their husbands. However, these situations are entirely different today. The equality between men and women in roles are very clear, women can work outside the home to earn money, while men share the household tasks such as cooking, cleaning, washing as well as caring for children. Women are more independent today when it comes to earning money and supporting their cost of living. As a result, the divorce rates seem to have risen with the exchanging of these roles. Another cause to confirm the recent increase in divorce rates is stress in modern living. Many people, who live in other countries, have considerable pressures to earn money. For instance, in Thailand, students generally want to go celebrated universities mostly because it holds a good opportunity to find a job or earn a lot of money. This circumstance not only happens in Thailand, but also occurs in many countries. Some people are on unemployment; consequently, this causes a stress to occur in their family, which may lead to divorce. Some families can earn money, but inadequate for covering their expenses, therefore it is easy to think about divorce. Nevertheless, the rates of unemployment continually increase and as a result, the divorce rates rise. It is no doubt that the stress in modern living may lead to recently increasing divorce rates. The final cause of recent increasing divorce is lack of communication. Due to financial responsibilities in each family, many people are busy. For this reason, they have inadequate time to talk to the problems with their partners, which produces the likelihood of divorce. Some couples are often quiet when they have problems with each other, consequently little problems can expand to huge problems, resulting in divorce. It is quite clear that the more communications that is used, the more the divorce rates reduces. Although, these three causes of the recent rise in divorce rates expressed above, there are also two effects of the recent increase of divorce rates: negative effects and positive effects. For example, the effects of recent enlargement in divorce rates are negative effects. Most couples normally have children when they get married and divorce can have a direct effect on children. Children living in single parent families are more likely to get pregnant as teenagers, drop out of high school, abuse drugs and have aggressively emotional and behavioral problems, which lead to social problems. Some children decide to leave their home when their parents separate from each other, and subsequently they become homeless children. Due to shortage of education, jobs are to land and crime may likely be the result. On the other hand, another effect of the rise in divorce rates is positive. People, who divorce by consent from their partners, want to have better quality of life, since they are unhappy with their spouses. In view of that, with the separation they can work more efficiently. Often their mental condition improves because they are free from their spouses murmurs. They not only have more free time to do many things, but also divorce can free a family from the violence of a quarrel between a husband and a wife. In which everyone in family may have better physical and mental health, particularly children. In conclusion, a family is one of the important parts of society, thus many people are aware of the significance of relationship in family. At present, divorce has become the substantial problem because of changing womens roles, stress in modern living and lack of communication. Nevertheless, there are also the two different ways in effects, which are negative and positive effects. Some couples, which have no children, divorce by consent, therefore divorce should be good solution for couples to deal with this problem. On the other hand, some couples having children in their family should think before they end their marriage in divorce; otherwise innocent children probably become victims for this situation. Although people tend to think carefully before they get into a marriage, the rates of divorce are continuously on the rise. Thesis Statement: There are two effects of the recent increase of divorce rates, that is negative effects and positive effects Main Ideas (Effects on Children): 1)Drop out of high school 2)Alcohol and Substance Abuse 3)Aggressively emotional 4)Behavioral problems

Abolition essays

Abolition essays Abolition was the legal end of slavery. In 1820s most of our society supported that Africans be shifted back to Africa how they wished too. But about 1,400 African Americans considered American their home, but all of those people were free. In 1831, William Lloyd Garrison started his own newspaper called The Liberator in which he wrote about setting slaves free, without any payments to slaveholders. At First Garrison did not have much support but later on when his newspaper got more recognized he got more support. Unfortunally Garrison was hang on a rope by white people who opposed him. In 1829 a free black encouraged all African Americans to fight for freedom instead then wait for the government to change the laws. Not that many people really paid attention to him, but most still formed scores of antislavery. Frederick Douglass was an African American who knew how to read and write because of his owner, and he realized he could use that to be free. Frederick was inspired by Garri son and he became an enthusiastic reader of his newspaper, finally in 1847 he established his own newspaper called The North Star, which guided slaves to freedom. From the 1800 to the 1900 the slavery has changed a lot and it also almost equal on male and females. By 1830 most blacks spoke enough English to communicate unlike many years before and most of them were born in America. In the 1800s slaves lived in my opinion bad conditions they shared little small, overcrowded slave quarters, they didnt have much furniture only wooden chairs and tables. They worked on hefty plantations from early in the morning till late at night. There were some slaves that worked at the owners houses as maids or cooks. Which never had any time for them selves they were on call 24-7. By 1830s there was shortage of slaves on ships and in mills. Numerous numbers of women and children worked the identical jobs ...

Getting College Essay Help Important Dos and Don’ts

Getting College Essay Help Important Do's and Don’ts SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you grow up to be a professional writer, everything you write will first go through an editor before being published. This is because the process of writing is really a process of re-writing – of rethinking and reexamining your work, usually with the help of someone else. So what does this mean for your student writing? And in particular, what does it mean for very important, but nonprofessional writing like your college essay? Should you ask your parents to look at your essay? Pay for an essay service? If you are wondering what kind of help you can, and should, get with your personal statement, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, I’ll talk about what kind of writing help is useful, ethical, and even expected for your college admission essay. I’ll also point out who would make a good editor, what the differences between editing and proofreading are, what to expect from a good editor, and how to spot and stay away from a bad one. Table of Contents What Kind of Help for Your Essay Can You Get? Editing What's Good Editing? What Should an Editor Do For You? What Kind of Editing Should You Avoid? Proofreading What's Good Proofreading? What Kind of Proofreading Should You Avoid? What Do Colleges Think Of You Getting Help With Your Essay? Who Can/Should Help You? Advice for Editors Should You Pay Money For Essay Editing? The Bottom Line What's Next? What Kind Of Help With Your Essay Can You Get? Rather than talking in general terms about "help," let's first clarify the two different ways that someone else can improve your writing. There is editing, which is the more intensive kind of assistance that you can use throughout the whole process. And then there's proofreading, which is the last step of reallypolishing your final product. Let me go into some more detail about editing and proofreading, and then explain how good editors and proofreaders can help you. Editing Editing is helping the author (in this case, you) go from a rough draft to a finished work. Editing is the process of asking questions about what you're saying, how you're saying it, and how you're organizing your ideas. But not all editing isgood editing. In fact, it's very easy for an editor to cross the line from supportive to overbearing and over-involved. What’s Good Editing? Ability to clarify assignments. A good editor is usually a good writer, and certainly has to be a good reader.For example, in this case, a good editor should make sureyou understand the actual essay promptyou’re supposed to be answering. Open-endedness. Good editing is all aboutasking questions about your ideas and work, butwithout providing answers. It's about lettingyou stick to your story and message, and doesn't alter your point of view. Objectivity. It's usually better for an editor tonot be emotionally involved with what you’re writing. For example, if your essay is about a parent, that parent should probably notedit your work.Good editing can also be a preview ofhow a reader will respond to what you’re writing, pointing out potentially confusing or offensive moments in your work. Great editors show you the many available paths, but don't tell you where to go. What Should an Editor Do For You? Think of an editor as a great travel guide. It can show you the many different places your trip could take you. It should explain any parts of the trip that could derail your trip or confuse the traveler. But it never dictates your path, never forces you to go somewhere you don't want to go, and never ignores your interests so that thetrip no longer seems like it's your own. So what should good editors do? Help Brainstorm Topics Sometimes it’s easier to bounce thoughtsoff of someone else.This doesn’t mean that your editorgets to come up with ideas, but they can certainly respond to the various topic optionsyou've come up with. This way, you’re less likely to write about the most boring of your ideas, or towrite about something that isn’t actually important to you. If you're wondering how to come up with options for your editor to consider, check outour guide to brainstorming topics for your college essay. Help Revise Your Drafts Here, your editor can't upset the delicate balance of not intervening too much or too little. It's tricky, but a great way to think about it is to remember: editing isabout asking questions, not giving answers. Revision questions shouldpoint out: Places where more detail or more description would help thereaderconnect with youressay Places where structure and logic don’t flow, losing the reader's attention Places where there aren’t transitions between paragraphs, confusing the reader Moments where your narrative or the argumentsyou're making are unclear But pointing to potential problems is not the same as actually rewriting – editors let authors fix the problems themselves. A good editor's favorite punctuation mark. What Kind of Editing Should You Avoid? Bad editing is usually very heavy-handed editing. Instead of helping you find your best voice and ideas, a bad editor changes your writing into their own vision. You may be dealing with a bad editor if they: Add material (examples, descriptions) that doesn’t come from you Use a thesaurus to makeyour collegeessay sound "more mature" Add meaning or insight to the essay that doesn’t come from you Tell you what to say and how to say it Write sentences, phrases, and paragraphs for you Change your voice in the essay so it no longer sounds like it was written by a teenager Colleges can tell the difference between a 17-year-old's writing and a 50-year-old's writing. Not only that, they have access to your SAT or ACT Writing section, so they can compare your essay to something elseyou wrote. Writing that's a little more polished is great and expected. But a totally different voice and style will raise questions. Where's the Line Between Helpful Editing and Unethical Over-Editing? Sometimes it's hard to tell whether your college essay editor is doing the right thing. Here are some guidelines for staying on the ethicalside of the line. An editor should say that theopening paragraph is kind of boring, and explain what exactly is making it drag. But it's overstepping for an editor to tell you exactly how to change it. An editor should point out where yourprose isunclearor vague. But it's completely inappropriate for the editor to rewrite that section of your essay. An editor should let you know that a section is light on detail or description. But giving you similes and metaphors to beef up that description is a no-go. With a good editor, these things will always only come from the author's head. Proofreading Proofreading (also called copy-editing) is checking for errors in the last draft of a written work. It happens at the end of the process and is meant as the final polishing touch. Proofreading is meticulous and detail-oriented, focusing on small corrections. It sands off all the surface rough spots that could alienate the reader. Because proofreading is usually concerned with making fixes on the word or sentence level, this is the only processwhere someone else can actually add to or take away things from youressay. This is because what they are adding or taking away tends to be one or two misplaced letters. What’s Good Proofreading? Laser focus. Proofreading is all about the tiny details, so the ability to really concentrate on finding small slip-ups is a must. Excellent grammar and spelling skills. Proofreaders need to dot every "i" and cross every "t." Good proofreadersshould correctspelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar. They should put foreign words in italics and surround quotations with quotation marks. They should check that you used the correct college's name, and that you adhered to anyformatting requirements (name and date at the top of the page, uniform font and size, uniform spacing). Limited interference. A proofreader needs to make surethat you followed any word limits. But if cuts need to be made to shorten the essay, that’s your job andnot the proofreader's. Proofreaders are like entomologists, hunting for tiny specks amidst a vast landscape. What Kind of Proofreading Should You Avoid? A bad proofreader either tries to turn into an editor, or just lacks the skills and knowledge necessary to do the job. Some signs that you're working with a bad proofreader are: If they suggest making major changes to the final draft of your essay. Proofreading happens when editing is already finished. If they aren't particularly good at spelling, or don't know grammar, or aren't detail-oriented enough to find someone else's small mistakes. If they start swapping out your words for fancier-sounding synonyms, or changing the voice and sound of your essay in other ways. A proofreader is there to check for errors, not to take the 17-year-old out of your writing. Does your proofreader's desk look like this? Maybe not the right person for the job... What Do Colleges Think of Your Getting Help With Your Essay? Admissions officers agree: light editing and proofreading aregood – even required! But they also want to make sure you’re the one doing the work on your essay. They want essays with stories, voice, and themes that come from you. They want to see workthat reflects your actual writing ability, and that focuses on what you find important. On the Importance of Editing Get feedback. Have a fresh pair of eyes give you some feedback. Don’t allow someone else to rewrite your essay, but do take advantage of others’ edits and opinions when they seem helpful. (Bates College) Read your essay aloud to someone. Reading the essay out loud offers a chance to hear how your essay sounds outside your head. This exercise reveals flaws in the essay’s flow, highlights grammatical errors and helps you ensure that you are communicating the exact message you intended. (Dickinson College) On the Value of Proofreading Share your essays with at least one or two people who know you well – such as a parent, teacher, counselor, or friend – and ask for feedback. Remember that you ultimately have control over your essays, and your essays should retain your own voice, but others may be able to catch mistakes that you missed and help suggest areas to cut if you are over the word limit. (Yale University) Proofread and then ask someone else to proofread for you. Although we want substance, we also want to be able to see that you can write a paper for our professors and avoid careless mistakes that would drive them crazy. (Oberlin College) On Watching Out for Too Much Outside Influence Limit the number of people who review your essay. Too much input usually means your voice is lost in the writing style. (Carleton College) Ask for input (but not too much). Your parents, friends, guidance counselors, coaches, and teachers are great people to bounce ideas off of for your essay. They know how unique and spectacular you are, and they can help you decide how to articulate it. Keep in mind, however, that a 45-year-old lawyer writes quite differently from an 18-year-old student, so if your dad ends up writing the bulk of your essay, we’re probably going to notice. (Vanderbilt University) So, basically, a big old thumbs up on the whole "get someone to look at your essay" situation, as far as colleges are concerned. Who Can/Should Help You? Now let's talk about some potential people to approach for your college essay editing and proofreading needs. It's best to start close to home and slowly expand outward. Not only are your family and friends more invested in your success than strangers, but they also have a better handle on your interests and personality. This knowledge is key for judging whether your essay is expressing your true self. Parents or Close Relatives Your family may be full ofpotentially excellent editors!Parents are deeply committed to your well-being, and family members know you and your life well enough to offer details or incidents that can be included in your essay. On the other hand, the rewriting process necessarily involves criticism, which is sometimes hard to hear from someone very close to you. A parent or close family memberis a great choice for an editor if you can answer "yes" to the followingquestions.Is your parent or close relative a good writer or reader?Do you have a relationship where editing your essay won’t create conflict?Are you able to constructively listen to criticism and suggestion from the parent? One suggestion for defusingface-to-face discussions is to try working on the essay over email. Send your parenta draft, have themwrite you back some comments, and then you can pick which of their suggestionsyou want to use and which to discard. Teachers or Tutors A humanities teacher thatyou have a good relationship with isa great choice.I am purposefully saying humanities, and not just English, because teachers of Philosophy, History, Anthropology, and any other classes where you do a lot of writing, areall used to reviewing student work. Moreover,any teacher or tutor that has been working with you for some time, knows you very well and can vet the essay to make sure itâ€Å"sounds like you.† If your teacher or tutor has some experience withwhat college essays are supposed to be like, ask them to be your editor. If not, then ask whether they have time to proofread your final draft. Guidance or College Counselor at Your School The best thing about asking your counselor to edit your workis that this is their job. This means that they have a very good sense of what colleges are looking for in an application essay. At the same time, school counselorstend to have relationships with admissions officers in many colleges, which again gives them insight into what worksand which college is focused on what aspect of the application. Unfortunately, in many schools the guidance counselortends to be way overextended. If your ratio is 300 students to 1college counselor, you’re unlikely to get that person’s undivided attention and focus. It isstill useful to ask them for general advice about your potential topics, but don't expect them to be able to stay with your essay from first draft to final version. Friends, Siblings, or Classmates Although they most likely don't have much experience with what colleges are hoping to see, your peers are excellent sources for checking that your essay is you. Friends and siblings are perfect for the read-aloud edit. Read your essay to them so they can listen for words and phrases that are stilted, pompous, or phrases that just don’t sound like you. You can even trade essays and give helpful advice on each other's work. "I loved that part when you wrote Baa-aaa-baaa. But I feel like you should add some more details to that Baaa-baa-aaa section." "Oh, thanks, man. You're the baaa-est." Advice for Editors If your editor hasn't worked with college admissions essays very much, no worries! Any astute and attentive reader can still greatly help with your process. But, as in all things, beginners do better with some preparation. First, your editor should read our advice about how towrite a college essay introduction, how to spot and fix a bad college essay, and get a sense of what other students have written by going through some admissions essays that worked. Then, as they read your essay, they can work through the following series of questions that will helpthem to guide you. Introduction Questions Is the first sentence a killer opening line? Why or why not? Does the introduction hook the reader? Does it have a colorful, detailed, and interesting narrative? Or does it propose a compelling or surprising idea? Can you feel the author's voice in the introduction, or is the tone dry, dull, or overly formal? Show the places where the voice comes through. Essay Body Questions Does the essay have a through-line? Is it built around a central argument, thought, idea, or focus? Can you put this idea into your own words? How is the essay organized? By logical progression? Chronologically? Do you feel order when you read it, or are there moments where you are confused or lose the thread of the essay? Does the essay have both narratives about the author's life and explanations and insight into what these stories reveal about the author's character, personality, goals, or dreams? If not, which is missing? Does the essay flow? Are there smooth transitions/clever links between paragraphs?Between the narrative and moments of insight? Reader Response Questions Does the writer’s personality come through? Do we know what the speaker cares about? Do we get a sense of â€Å"who he or she is†? Where did you feel most connected to the essay? Which parts of the essay gave you a "you are there" sensation by invoking your senses? What moments could you picture in your head well? Where are the details and examples vague and not specific enough? Did you get an "a-ha!" feeling anywhere in the essay? Is there a moment of insight that connected all the dots for you? Is there a good reveal or "twist" anywhere in the essay? What are the strengths of this essay? What needs the most improvement? Editing is just like fixing a guitar. Except, you know, without a screwdriver. And you don't need to know anything about guitars. Should You Pay Money for Essay Editing? One alternative to asking someone you know to help you with your college essay is the paid editor route. There are two different ways to pay for essay help: a private essay coach or a less personal editing service, like the many proliferating on the internet. My advice is to think of these options as a last resort rather than your go-to first choice. I'll first go through the reasons why. Then, if you do decide to go with a paid editor, I'll help you decide between a coach and a service. When to Consider a Paid Editor In general, I think hiring someone to work on your essay makes a lot of sense if none of the people I discussed above are a possibility for you. If you can't ask your parents. For example, ifyour parents aren’t good writers, or if English isn’t their first language. Or ifyou think getting your parents to help is going create unnecessary extra conflict in your relationship with them (applying to college is stressful as it is!) If you can't ask your teacher or tutor. Maybeyou don’t have a trusted teacher or tutor that has time to look over your essay with focus. Or, for instance,your favorite humanities teacher has very limited experience with college essays and so won’t know what admissions officers want to see. If you can't ask your guidance counselor. This could be because your guidance counselor is way overwhelmed with other students. If you can't share your essay with those who know you. It might be thatyour essay is on a very personal topic that you’re unwilling to share with parents, teachers, or peers. Just make sure it doesn’t fall into one of the bad-idea topics in our article on bad college essays. If the cost isn't a consideration. Many of these services are quite expensive, and private coaches even more so.If you have finite resources, I’d say that hiring an SAT or ACT tutor (whether it’sPrepScholaror someone else) is better way to spend your money. This is because there's no guarantee that a slightly better essay will sufficiently elevate the rest of your application, but a significantly higher SAT score will definitely raise your applicant profile much more. Should You Hire an Essay Coach? On the plus side, essay coaches have read dozens or even hundreds of college essays, so they haveexperience with the format. Also, because you'll be working closely with a specific person, it’s more personal than sending your essay to a service, which will know even less about you. But, on the minus side,you’ll still be bouncing ideas off of someone who doesn’t know that much about you. In general, if you can adequately get the help from someone you know, there is no advantageto paying someone to help you. If you do decide to hire a coach, ask your school counselor, or older students that have used the service for recommendations. If you can’t afford the coach’s fees, ask whether they can work on a sliding scale - many do. And finally, beware those who guarantee admission to your school of choice – essay coachesdon't have any special magic that can back up those promises. Should You Send Your Essay to a Service? On the plus side, essay editingservices provide a similar product to essay coaches, and they cost significantly less. If you have some assurance that you'll be working with a good editor, the lack of face-to-face interaction won't prevent great results. On the minus side, however, it can be difficult to gauge the quality of the service before working with them. If they are churning through many application essays without getting to know the students they are helping, you could end up with an over-edited essay that sounds just like everyone else's.In the worst case scenario, an unscrupulous service could send you back a plagiarized essay. Getting recommendations from friends or a school counselor for reputable services is key to avoiding heavy-handed editingthat writes essays for you or does too much to change your essay. Including a badly-edited essay like this in your application could cause problems if there are inconsistencies. For example, in interviews it might be clear you didn’t write the essay, or the skill of the essay mightnot be reflected in your schoolwork and test scores. Should You Buy an Essay Written by Someone Else? NO! Let me elaborate. There are super sketchy places on the internet where you can simply buy a pre-written essay. Don’t do this! For one thing, you’ll be lying on an official, signed document. All college applications make you sign a statement saying something like this: I certify that all information submitted in the admission process- including the application, the personal essay, any supplements, and any other supporting materials- is my own work, factually true, and honestly presented... I understand that I may be subject to a range of possible disciplinary actions, including admission revocation, expulsion, or revocation of course credit, grades, and degree, should the information I have certified be false. (From the Common Application) For another thing, if your academic record doesn’t match the essay’s quality, the admissions officer will start thinking your whole application is riddled with lies. Admission officers have full access to yourwriting portion of the SAT or ACT so that they can compare work that was done in proctored conditions with that done at home. They can tell if these were written by different people. Not only that, butthere are now a number of search engines that faculty and admission officers can use to see if an essay contains strings of words that have appeared in other essays – you have no guarantee that the essay you bought wasn’t also bought by 50 other students. Don't be the guy trying to pass this off as your own original work. The Bottom Line You should get college essay help with both editing and proofreading A good editor will ask questions about your idea, logic, and structure, and will point out places where clarity is needed A good editor will absolutely not answer these questions, give you their own ideas, or write the essay or parts of the essay for you A good proofreader will find typos and check your formatting Colleges very much want to see your authentic self (your ideas, your insights, your writing ability, and style) on the page All of them agreethat getting light editing and proofreading isnecessary Look for admissions essay help from: Parents, teachers, guidance or college counselor, and peers or siblings If you can't ask any of those, you can payfor college essay help, but watch out for services or coaches whoover-edit you work Don’t buy a pre-written essay! Colleges can tell, and it’ll make your whole application sound false. What’s Next? Ready to start working on your essay? Check out our explanation of the point of the personal essay and the role it plays on your applications and then exploreour step-by-step guide to writing a great college essay. Using the Common Application for your college applications? We have an excellent guide to the Common App essay prompts and useful advice on how to pick the Common App prompt that’s right for you. Wondering how other people tackled these prompts? Then work throughour roundup of over 130 real college essay examples published by colleges. Stressed about whether to take the SAT again before submitting your application? Let us help you decide how many times to take this test. If you choose to go for it, we have the ultimate guide to studying for the SAT to give you the ins and outs of the best ways to study. Want to improve your SAT score by 240 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. 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International Business and Economics Assignment

International Business and Economics - Assignment Example Franchising is very similar to licensing except in the degree of control by the licensor in that a franchise has to adhere strictly to a set of standards such as in marketing strategy and in its sales promotions (Welch, Benito, and Petersen, 2007, p. 53). Example of licensing would be a Mickey Mouse logo licensed to a kids shoe manufacturer while franchising is a McDonald's. Turnkey operations are a type of business entry mode in which one company contracts with another company to build, construct and complete ready-to-use facilities (Paul, 1966, p. 162). Most turnkey projects are usually in the construction and industrial-equipment sectors which require big capital and specialized expertise (Daniels, Radebaugh and Sullivan, 2008, p. 45). Management contracts pertain to agreements between investor groups of a big project and the management company hired for their expertise to manage, coordinate and oversee the project. The company is hired provides its management, administrative and organizational talents in return for a management fee such as those quite common in global hotel chains like Hilton. A direct investment is an investment made with a view to acquiring a lasting or long-term part or interest in an existing operational business enterprise in order to have an effective voice in the management of the said enterprise. In practice, this translates to buying the equity of 10% or more in the foreign firm as a form of market entry when other modes are not very assured of success. In this regard, foreign direct investment (FDI) is a way for capital to move from the low-return environment to a higher-profit market (Moosa, 2002, p. 24). Portfolio investment is an investment in stocks and securities for profits only and is called â€Å"hot money.† Attitudes to Foreign Cultures – the managers and employees of multinational firms try to adapt to foreign cultures sometimes based on their home culture. In most instances, the managers who are very democ ratic in their attitudes at their home country also extend these same traits of democratic practices such as sharing of vital information with the employees in a foreign country where they operate in (Toyne, 1980, p. 135). In some situations, the contrast of country managers is very vast such as imposing their home country's practices, beliefs and values on the host country's employees (Hofstede, 2003, p. 440) as a frame of reference while others take a more tolerant attitude and try to learn more and understand the foreign culture in a much better and deeper way (Ajami et al., 2006, p. 215). The success of a manager in the foreign country depends to a big extent on his or her cultural intelligence quotient (CQ) level similar to intelligence quotient (IQ) or emotional quotient (EQ) by being able to sufficiently read and analyze individual behaviors, attitudes, group dynamics and the unique situations in the context of the foreign culture (Kreitner, 2006, p. 97) beyond just learning the language. Key Means of Economic Transition – a command economy is an economy that is being managed centrally by the government bureaucrats. In other words, the demand and also the supply of certain products, goods, and services are determined by government planners. It is these people who decide which goods and services are to be produced, how they are priced and how these are to be distributed instead of allowing free market forces to do so.

Students to demonstrate an understanding of public relations in travel Essay

Students to demonstrate an understanding of public relations in travel and tourism - Essay Example In order to attract tourists in the highly competitive market, the management uses marketing and management tools that should be taken into consideration (Mill and Morrisson, 2002). The most important marketing tool is Public Relations (PR) as it plays a key role in advertising the locations, activities and identities. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role and importance of PR in the tourism and travel industry. PR in travel and tourism has a very important role to play as it is used in strategic marketing activities and is integrated with marketing communications. The tourism industry is divided into many sectors including travel, tourist destinations, establishments, hotels lodgings and restaurants. The different sectors have their specific audience, public relation tools and convey different messages. The important role of PR is to create favourable perceptions about the tourist destination because success of the industry relies on the different sectors as explained by Deuschl (2006). The sectors need effective PR to gain popularity among the tourists. The PR department creates a positive impression in all the sectors in the travel and tourism industry. The role of PR involves attracting customers and keeping them entertained after they arrive at the destination to their time of departure. The primary purpose of PR is to effectively support other marketing and sales activities attempting to build a positive image of a company, its services and products (Deuschl, 2006). PR help the organization to save money by enhancing relations with the public that constrain or enhance the ability of the entity to meet its obligations. PR is different from other marketing tools, most importantly advertising since it creates the launch of a brand and it has greater credibility. PR promotes improved understanding between the operators and customers. There has been increased competition in the tourism sector among the operators to create

Focus group discussion Essay Example for Free

Focus group discussion Essay The research utilized two focus groups to represent the student population being evaluated. Each focus group is comprised of four students with one moderator in charge of the discussion and although it was mentioned that the target number of students for the focus group would be seven, only four students from each group attended the session. The students that were sampled had all previously used or had the necessary experience in handling web 2. 0 applications particularly wikis, blogs, social networking technologies (MySpace, Friendster, etc. ) and other Web 2. 0 applications that were used by the students. For the first part of the discussion, the group focused on introductory remarks particular on how they utilize web 2. 0 applications. Both groups were asked the question (as a discussion opener) on how do they enjoy spending their spare time in the internet. According to group 1, half of the group indicated that they had very limited time when online because of the budgetary constraints and thus they are more apt to utilize all of their time in using web 2. 0 applications for learning purposes. On the other hand, the other half of the group expressed their fondness of being able to enjoy chat while online with their friends and browsing through forums for information (whether education or non-education related information). One common trait for all the participants of the first group is their interest in reading and searching for subjects that interest them with the use of web 2. 0 applications. It is interesting to note that, previously they had mentioned that they were utilizing information only or web 1. 0 applications for information but with the influx of web 2.0 applications, they had found it easier to use and more apt to their style of finding information (Hinchcliffe, 2006). Being that web 2. 0 applications are more interactive and provides a venue for two-way communication, they are able to ask questions, search for groups or communities with their desired information. For the second group, it was indicated that the members of the group with the same background utilize their spare time by chatting online with their friends, particularly with the classmates as some of the members of the group are schoolmates and are friends. They are able to share information particular to current blogs and subjects that interest them as a whole. With this they are able to find information faster as they are able to share insights with each other. In addition, they are able to utilize their spare time while online by browsing through subjects often referred to by their classmates within the focus group. Being that they are also previously acquainted with each other, they are able to use web 2. 0 applications at the same time, often during school breaks where they are able to meet with each other and share community sites such as blogs and wikis that highlight their favourite and desired information. This adds to the value of web 2. 0 applications being a very communal information technology tool it is able to put together people with the use of the internet and information put together. As a follow up to the first question, every member of the two focus groups were asked of their level of familiarity with respect to web 2. 0 technologies. Level of familiarity is defined as the ability of these students being evaluated to first identify with web 2. 0 technologies, their level of being able to proficiency in utilizing such tools and their capacity to use such tools in aspects of their daily lives such as interaction with society, learning and education (Hinchcliffe, 2006). The first group explained that there are familiar with the most common web 2. 0 technologies online. Noted web 2. 0 applications such as blogs, community forums and Wikis were identified the most by the users. The respondents in group one generally expressed their feelings that Web 2. 0 applications have been already been there in our daily lives even before it was formalized as Web 2. 0 technologies. As one respondent explains, Web 2. 0 technologies have been present for a considerable amount of time already and have been used as a means of providing and transferring information between each other. However, with the formal induction of these technologies as Web 2. 0 technologies, further improvement and interest was accorded to it, thus the influx of users and it was more and more integrated into society. Forums for example have existed for a considerable amount of time yet only recently has it been given so much interest and improvement that it has started to occupy a considerable amount of society’s â€Å"online† daily lives (Anderson, 2007). For the second group, they had indicated what Web 2. 0 applications are but have little or no idea of it whatsoever. The students on the other hand had already used web 2. 0 applications such as social bookmarking, calendaring, image sharing, collaborative authoring, video sharing and social networking tools but had not identified under one umbrella such as Web 2. 0 technologies (O’Reilly, 2005). Students under this group were able to identify that they had used Wikis and Rallypoints as a tool to share information with their classmates in their classes but were not aware that these tools were considered as Web 2. 0 technologies. On the other hand, one of the students under this group had expressed that she had a rough understanding of what Web 2. 0 technologies is however had not taken into consideration the other Web 2. 0 technologies existing.

Intellectual Property: The Patents :: Intellectual Property Patent Papers

Intellectual Property: The Patents Introduction While an ethical analysis in intellectual property may not be as interesting as the ethical analysis in human genetics, such as in human cloning, patents are the most relevant in the area of high technology, which is the most important industry in the Silicon Valley and arguably, becoming one of the most powerful engines in the growth of the U.S. economy. In fact, intellectual property, a once very sleepy and very boring subject, is one of the hottest topics of conversations today in the high technology industry. Background The growing importance of patents has fueled the tremendous growth of new patents being issued annually in the past several years and currently accelerating even faster. Many concerns have been raised about new patent ideas such as new business methods and other abstract concepts. Two examples of these business method patents are the â€Å"One-Click† checkout and payment Internet technology patented by Amazon.com, an Internet commerce company, and the â€Å"Reverse Auction† Internet technology patented by Priceline.com, an Internet based travel agent. Many argue that business methods are discoveries and not true inventions. â€Å"We discover what before existed, though to us unknown; we invent what did not exist before.†1 Patents have become one of the greatest competitive assets to ensure the future of the business and as business tools to map trends and convergences, innovates new strategies and capabilities of partners and competitors, and improve all business units in the corporation. Patents have become critical in determining the winners and losers in business competition. Business Issues Patents have also become strategic assets and competitive weapon of enormous value. Patents have become the bargaining chips for companies in negotiations with other companies to gain competitive advantage by gaining access to needed technologies by cross-licensing its patents with partners and competitors. As businesses began to discover, the power of patents can no longer be ignored in business competitions as the importance of new ideas and innovations have overshadowed market position and tangible assets such as real estate and raw materials to achieve competitive goals. Patents have become critical in the business battlefield  ­Ã‚ ­Ã¢â‚¬â€ the â€Å"smart bombs† of tomorrow’s business wars2 — in addition to the traditional sales increase to expand market share. Patents are the tools that every company needs in the business battlefield to capture and defend its market share, stay ahead of the competition, increase revenues, and to be successful in their respective business segments.

Chapter 13 Gryffindor Versus Ravenclaw

It looked like the end of Ron and Hermione's friendship. Each was so angry with the other that Harry couldn't see how they'd ever make up. Ron was enraged that Hermione had never taken Crookshanks's attempts to eat Scabbers seriously, hadn't bothered to keep a close enough watch on him, and was still trying to pretend that Crookshanks was innocent by suggesting that Ron look for Scabbers under all the boys' beds. Hermione, meanwhile, maintained fiercely that Ron had no proof that Crookshanks had eaten Scabbers, that the ginger hairs might have been there since Christmas, and that Ron had been prejudiced against her cat ever since Crookshanks had landed on Ron's head in the Magical Menagerie. Personally, Harry was sure that Crookshanks had eaten Scabbers, and when he tried to point out to Hermione that the evidence all pointed that way, she lost her temper with Harry too. â€Å"Okay, side with Ron, I knew you would!† she said shrilly. â€Å"First the Firebolt, now Scabbers, everything's my fault, isn't it! Just leave me alone, Harry, I've got a lot of work to do!† Ron had taken the loss of his rat very hard indeed. â€Å"Come on, Ron, you were always saying how boring Scabbers was,† said Fred bracingly. â€Å"And he's been off-color for ages, he was wasting away. It was probably better for him to snuff it quickly — one swallow — he probably didn't feel a thing.† â€Å"Fred!† said Ginny indignantly. â€Å"All he did was eat and sleep, Ron, you said it yourself,† said George. â€Å"He bit Goyle for us once!† Ron said miserably. â€Å"Remember, Harry?† â€Å"Yeah, that's true,† said Harry. â€Å"His finest hour,† said Fred, unable to keep a straight face. â€Å"Let the scar on Goyle's finger stand as a lasting tribute to his memory. Oh, come on, Ron, get yourself down to Hogsmeade and buy a new rat, what's the point of moaning?† In a last-ditch attempt to cheer Ron up, Harry persuaded him to come along to the Gryffindor team's final practice before the Ravenclaw match, so that he could have a ride on the Firebolt after they'd finished. This did seem to take Ron's mind off Scabbers for a moment (â€Å"Great! Can I try and shoot a few goals on it?†) so they set off for the Quidditch field together. Madam Hooch, who was still overseeing Gryffindor practices to keep an eye on Harry, was just as impressed with the Firebolt as everyone else had been. She took it in her hands before takeoff and gave them the benefit of her professional opinion. â€Å"Look at the balance on it! If the Nimbus series has a fault, it's a slight list to the tail end — you often find they develop a drag after a few years. They've updated the handle too, a bit slimmer than the Cleansweeps, reminds me of the old Silver Arrows — a pity they've stopped making them. I learned to fly on one, and a very fine old broom it was too†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She continued in this vein for some time, until Wood said, â€Å"Er — Madam Hooch? Is it okay if Harry has the Firebolt back? We need to practice†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Oh — right — here you are, then, Potter,† said Madam Hooch. â€Å"I'll sit over here with Weasley†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She and Ron left the field to sit in the stadium, and the Gryffindor team gathered around Wood for his final instructions for tomorrow's match. â€Å"Harry, I've just found out who Ravenclaw is playing as Seeker. It's Cho Chang. She's a fourth year, and she's pretty good†¦I really hoped she wouldn't be fit, she's had some problems with injuries†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Wood scowled his displeasure that Cho Chang had made a full recovery, then said, â€Å"On the other hand, she rides a Comet Two Sixty, which is going to look like a joke next to the Firebolt.† He gave Harry's broom a look of fervent admiration, then said, â€Å"Okay, everyone, let's go –â€Å" And at long last, Harry mounted his Firebolt, and kicked off from the ground. It was better than he'd ever dreamed. The Firebolt turned with the lightest touch; it seemed to obey his thoughts rather than his grip; it sped across the field at such speed that the stadium turned into a green-and-gray blur; Harry turned it so sharply that Alicia Spinnet screamed, then he went into a perfectly controlled dive, brushing the grassy field with his toes before rising thirty, forty, fifty feet into the air again — â€Å"Harry, I'm letting the Snitch out!† Wood called. Harry turned and raced a Bludger toward the goal posts; he outstripped it easily, saw the Snitch dart out from behind Wood, and within ten seconds had caught it tightly in his hand. The team cheered madly. Harry let the Snitch go again, gave it a minute's head start, then tore after it, weaving in and out of the others; he spotted it lurking near Katie Bell's knee, looped her easily, and caught it again. It was the best practice ever; the team, inspired by the presence of the Firebolt in their midst, performed their best moves faultlessly, and by the time they hit the ground again, Wood didn't have a single criticism to make, which, as George Weasley pointed out, was a first. â€Å"I can't see what's going to stop us tomorrow!† said Wood. â€Å"Not unless — Harry, you've sorted out your Dementor problem, haven't you?† â€Å"Yeah,† said Harry, thinking of his feeble Patronus and wishing it were stronger. â€Å"The Dementors won't turn up again, Oliver. Dumbledore'd go ballistic,† said Fred confidently. â€Å"Well, let's hope not,† said Wood. â€Å"Anyway — good work, everyone. Let's get back to the tower†¦turn in early†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I'm staying out for a bit; Ron wants a go on the Firebolt,† Harry told Wood, and while the rest of the team headed off to the locker rooms, Harry strode over to Ron, who vaulted the barrier to the stands and came to meet him. Madam Hooch had fallen asleep in her seat. â€Å"Here you go,† said Harry, handing Ron the Firebolt. Ron, an expression of ecstasy on his face, mounted the broom and zoomed off into the gathering darkness while Harry walked around the edge of the field, watching him. Night had fallen before Madam Hooch awoke with a start, told Harry and Ron off for not waking her, and insisted that they go back to the castle. Harry shouldered the Firebolt and he and Ron walked out of the shadowy stadium, discussing the Firebolt's superbly smooth action, its phenomenal acceleration, and its pinpoint turning. They were halfway toward the castle when Harry, glancing to his left, saw something that made his heart turn over — a pair of eyes, gleaming out of the darkness. Harry stopped dead, his heart banging against his ribs. â€Å"What's the matter?† said Ron. Harry pointed. Ron pulled out his wand and muttered, â€Å"Lumos!† A beam of light fell across the grass, hit the bottom of a tree, and illuminated its branches; there, crouching among the budding leaves, was Crookshanks. â€Å"Get out of here!† Ron roared, and he stooped down and seized a stone lying on the grass, but before he could do anything else, Crookshanks had vanished with one swish of his long ginger tail. â€Å"See?† Ron said furiously, chucking the stone down again. â€Å"She's still letting him wander about wherever he wants — probably washing down Scabbers with a couple of birds now†¦.† Harry didn't say anything. He took a deep breath as relief seeped through him; he had been sure for a moment that those eyes had belonged to the Grim. They set off for the castle once more. slightly ashamed of his moment of panic, Harry didn't say anything to Ron — nor did he look left or right until they had reached the well lit entrance hall. Harry went down to breakfast the next morning with the rest of the boys in his dormitory, all of whom seemed to think the Firebolt deserved a sort of guard of honor. As Harry entered the Great Hall, heads turned in the direction of the Firebolt, and there was a good deal of excited muttering. Harry saw, with enormous satisfaction, that the Slytherin team were all looking thunderstruck. â€Å"Did you see his face?† said Ron gleefully, looking back at Malfoy. â€Å"He can't believe it! This is brilliant!† Wood, too, was basking in the reflected glory of the Firebolt. â€Å"Put it here, Harry,† he said, laying the broom in the middle of the table and carefully turning it so that its name faced upward. People from the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables were soon coming over to look. Cedric Diggory came over to congratulate Harry on having acquired such a superb replacement for his Nimbus, and Percy's Ravenclaw girlfriend, Penelope Clearwater, asked if she could actually hold the Firebolt. â€Å"Now, now, Penny, no sabotage!† said Percy heartily as she examined the Firebolt closely. â€Å"Penelope and I have got a bet on,† he told the team. â€Å"Ten Galleons on the outcome of the match!† Penelope put the Firebolt down again, thanked Harry, and went back to her table. â€Å"Harry — make sure you win,† said Percy, in an urgent whisper. â€Å"I haven't got ten Galleons. Yes, I'm coming, Penny!† And he bustled off to join her in a piece of toast. â€Å"Sure you can manage that broom, Potter?† said a cold, drawling voice. Draco Malfoy had arrived for a closer look, Crabbe and Goyle right behind him. â€Å"Yeah, reckon so,† said Harry casually. â€Å"Got plenty of special features, hasn't it?† said Malfoy, eyes glittering maliciously. â€Å"Shame it doesn't come with a parachute — in case you get too near a Dementor.† Crabbe and Goyle sniggered. â€Å"Pity you can't attach an extra arm to yours, Malfoy,† said Harry. â€Å"Then it could catch the Snitch for you.† The Gryffindor team laughed loudly. Malfoy's pale eyes narrowed, and he stalked away. They watched him rejoin the rest of the Slytherin team, who put their heads together, no doubt asking Malfoy whether Harry's broom really was a Firebolt. At a quarter to eleven, the Gryffindor team set off for the locker rooms. The weather couldn't have been more different from their match against Hufflepuff. It was a clear, cool day with a very light breeze; there would be no visibility problems this time, and Harry, though nervous, was starting to feel the excitement only a Quidditch match could bring. They could hear the rest of the school moving into the stadium beyond. Harry took off his black school robes, removed his wand from his pocket, and stuck it inside the T-shirt he was going to wear under his Quidditch robes. He only hoped he wouldn't need it. He wondered suddenly whether Professor Lupin was in the crowd, watching. â€Å"You know what we've got to do,† said Wood as they prepared to leave the locker rooms. â€Å"If we lose this match, we're out of the running. just — just fly like you did in practice yesterday, and we'll be okay!† They walked out onto the field to tumultuous applause. The Ravenclaw team, dressed in blue, were already standing in the middle of the field. Their Seeker, Cho Chang, was the only girl on their team. She was shorter than Harry by about a head, and Harry couldn't help noticing, nervous as he was, that she was extremely pretty. She smiled at Harry as the teams faced each other behind their captains, and he felt a slight lurch in the region of his stomach that he didn't think had anything to do with nerves. â€Å"Wood, Davies, shake hands,† Madam Hooch said briskly, and Wood shook hands with the Ravenclaw Captain. â€Å"Mount your brooms †¦ on my whistle †¦ three — two — one –â€Å" Harry kicked off into the air and the Firebolt zoomed higher and faster than any other broom; he soared around the stadium and began squinting around for the Snitch, listening all the while to the commentary, which was being provided by the Weasley twins' friend Lee Jordan. â€Å"They're off, and the big excitement this match is the Firebolt that Harry Potter is flying for Gryffindor. According to Which Broomstick, the Firebolt's going to be the broom of choice for the national teams at this year's World Championship –â€Å" â€Å"Jordan, would you mind telling us what's going on in the match?† interrupted Professor McGonagall's voice. â€Å"Right you are, Professor — just giving a bit of background information — the Firebolt, incidentally, has a built-in auto-brake and –â€Å" â€Å"Jordan!† â€Å"Okay, okay, Gryffindor in possession, Katie Bell of Gryffindor, heading for goal†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Harry streaked past Katie in the opposite direction, gazing around for a glint of gold and noticing that Cho Chang was tailing him closely. She was undoubtedly a very good flier — she kept cutting across him, forcing him to change direction. â€Å"Show her your acceleration, Harry!† Fred yelled as he whooshed past in pursuit of a Bludger that was aiming for Alicia. Harry urged the Firebolt forward as they rounded the Ravenclaw goal posts and Cho fell behind. Just as Katie succeeded in scoring the first goal of the match, and the Gryffindor end of the field went wild, he saw it — the Snitch was close to the ground, flitting near one of the barriers. Harry dived; Cho saw what he was doing and tore after him — Harry was speeding up, excitement flooding him; dives were his specialty, he was ten feet away — Then a Bludger, hit by one of the Ravenclaw Beaters, came pelting out of nowhere; Harry veered off course, avoiding it by an inch, and in those few, crucial seconds, the Snitch had vanished. There was a great â€Å"Ooooooh† of disappointment from the Gryffindor supporters, but much applause for their Beater from the Ravenclaw end. George Weasley vented his feelings by hitting the second Bludger directly at the offending Beater, who was forced to roll right over in midair to avoid it. â€Å"Gryffindor leads by eighty points to zero, and look at that Firebolt go! Potter's really putting it through its paces now, see it turn — Chang's Comet is just no match for it, the Firebolt's precision — balance is really noticeable in these long –â€Å" â€Å"JORDAN! ARE YOU BEING PAID TO ADVERTISE FIREBOLTS? GET ON WITH THE COMMENTARY!† Ravenclaw was pulling back; they had now scored three goals, which put Gryffindor only fifty points ahead — if Cho got the Snitch before him, Ravenclaw would win. Harry dropped lower, narrowly avoiding a Ravenclaw Chaser, scanning the field frantically — a glint of gold, a flutter of tiny wings — the Snitch was circling the Gryffindor goal post†¦ Harry accelerated, eyes fixed on the speck of gold ahead — but just then, Cho appeared out of thin air, blocking him — â€Å"HARRY, THIS IS NO TIME TO BE A GENTLEMAN!† Wood roared as Harry swerved to avoid a collision. â€Å"KNOCK HER OFF HER BROOM IF YOU HAVE TO!† Harry turned and caught sight of Cho; she was grinning. The Snitch had vanished again. Harry turned his Firebolt upward and was soon twenty feet above the game. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cho following him †¦She'd decided to mark him rather than search for the Snitch herself†¦All right, then†¦if she wanted to tail him, she'd have to take the consequences†¦ He dived again, and Cho, thinking he'd seen the Snitch, tried to follow; Harry pulled out of the dive very sharply; she hurtled downward; he rose fast as a bullet once more, and then saw it, for the third time — the Snitch was glittering way above the field at the Ravenclaw end. He accelerated; so, many feet below, did Cho. He was winning, gaining on the Snitch with every second — then — â€Å"Oh!† screamed Cho, pointing. Distracted, Harry looked down. Three Dementors, three tall, black, hooded Dementors, were looking up at him. He didn't stop to think. Plunging a hand down the neck of his robes, he whipped out his wand and roared, â€Å"Expecto patronum!† Something silver-white, something enormous, erupted from the end of his wand. He knew it had shot directly at the Dementors but didn't pause to watch; his mind still miraculously clear, he looked ahead — he was nearly there. He stretched out the hand still grasping his wand and just managed to close his fingers over the small, struggling Snitch. Madam Hooch's whistle sounded. Harry turned around in midair and saw six scarlet blurs bearing down on him; next moment, the whole team was hugging him so hard he was nearly pulled off his broom. Down below he could hear the roars of the Gryffindors in the crowd. â€Å"That's my boy!† Wood kept yelling. Alicia, Angelina, and Katie had all kissed Harry; Fred had him in a grip so tight Harry felt as though his head would come off In complete disarray, the team managed to make its way back to the ground. Harry got off his broom and looked up to see a gaggle of Gryffindor supporters sprinting onto the field, Ron in the lead. Before he knew it, he had been engulfed by the cheering crowd. â€Å"Yes!† Ron yelled, yanking Harry's arm into the air. â€Å"Yes! Yes!† â€Å"Well done, Harry!† said Percy, looking delighted. â€Å"Ten Galleons to me! Must find Penelope, excuse me –â€Å" â€Å"Good for you, Harry!† roared Seamus Finnigan. â€Å"Ruddy brilliant!† boomed Hagrid over the heads of the milling Gryffindors. â€Å"That was quite some Patronus,† said a voice in Harry's ear. Harry turned around to see Professor Lupin, who looked both shaken and pleased. â€Å"The Dementors didn't affect me at all!† Harry said excitedly. â€Å"I didn't feel a thing!† â€Å"That would be because they — er — weren't Dementors,† said Professor Lupin. â€Å"Come and see — â€Å" He led Harry out of the crowd until they were able to see the edge of the field. â€Å"You gave Mr. Malfoy quite a fright,† said Lupin. Harry stared. Lying in a crumpled heap on the ground were Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Marcus Flint, the Slytherin team Captain, all struggling to remove themselves from long, black, hooded robes. It looked as though Malfoy had been standing on Goyle's shoulders. Standing over them, with an expression of the utmost fury on her face, was Professor McGonagall. â€Å"An unworthy trick!† she was shouting. â€Å"A low and cowardly attempt to sabotage the Gryffindor Seeker! Detention for all of you, and fifty points from Slytherin! I shall be speaking to Professor Dumbledore about this, make no mistake! Ah, here he comes now!† If anything could have set the seal on Gryffindor's victory, it was this. Ron, who had fought his way through to Harry's side, doubled up with laughter as they watched Malfoy fighting to extricate himself from the robe, Goyle's head still stuck inside it. â€Å"Come on, Harry!† said George, fighting his way over. â€Å"Party! Gryffindor common room, now!† â€Å"Right,† said Harry, and feeling happier than he had in ages, he and the rest of the team led the way, still in their scarlet robes, out of the stadium and back up to the castle. It felt as though they had already won the Quidditch Cup; the party went on all day and well into the night. Fred and George Weasley disappeared for a couple of hours and returned with armfuls of bottles of butterbeer, pumpkin fizz, and several bags full of Honeydukes sweets. â€Å"How did you do that?† squealed Angelina Johnson as George started throwing Peppermint Toads into the crowd. â€Å"With a little help from Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs,† Fred muttered in Harry's ear. Only one person wasn't joining in the festivities. Hermione, incredibly, was sitting in a corner, attempting to read an enormous book entitled Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles. Harry broke away from the table where Fred and George had started juggling butterbeer bottles and went over to her. â€Å"Did you even come to the match?† he asked her. â€Å"Of course I did,† said Hermione in a strangely high-pitched voice, not looking up. â€Å"And I'm very glad we won, and I think you did really well, but I need to read this by Monday.† â€Å"Come on, Hermione, come and have some food,† Harry said, looking over at Ron and wondering whether he was in a good enough mood to bury the hatchet. â€Å"I can't, Harry. I've still got four hundred and twenty-two pages to read!† said Hermione, now sounding slightly hysterical. â€Å"Anyway†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She glanced over at Ron too. â€Å"He doesn't want me to join in.† There was no arguing with this, as Ron chose that moment to say loudly, â€Å"If Scabbers hadn't just been eaten, he could have had some of those Fudge Flies. He used to really like them –â€Å" Hermione burst into tears. Before Harry could say or do anything, she tucked the enormous book under her arm, and, still sobbing, ran toward the staircase to the girls' dormitories and out of sight. â€Å"Can't you give her a break?† Harry asked Ron quietly. â€Å"No,† said Ron flatly. â€Å"If she just acted like she was sorry — but she'll never admit she's wrong, Hermione. She's still acting like Scabbers has gone on vacation or something.† The Gryffindor party ended only when Professor McGonagall turned up in her tartan dressing gown and hair net at one in the morning, to insist that they all go to bed. Harry and Ron climbed the stairs to their dormitory, still discussing the match. At last, exhausted, Harry climbed into bed, twitched the hangings of his four-poster shut to block out a ray of moonlight, lay back, and felt himself almost instantly drifting off to sleep†¦ He had a very strange dream. He was walking through a forest, his Firebolt over his shoulder, following something silvery-white. It was winding its way through the trees ahead, and he could only catch glimpses of it between the leaves. Anxious to catch up with it, he sped up, but as he moved faster, so did his quarry. Harry broke into a run, and ahead he heard hooves gathering speed. Now he was running flat out, and ahead he could hear galloping. Then he turned a corner into a clearing and — â€Å"AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGHHHHHHH! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!† Harry woke as suddenly as though he'd been hit in the face. Disoriented in the total darkness, he fumbled with his hangings, he could hear movements around him, and Seamus Finnigan's voice from the other side of the room. â€Å"What's going on?† Harry thought he heard the dormitory door slam. At last finding the divide in his curtains, he ripped them back, and at the same moment, Dean Thomas lit his lamp. Ron was sitting up in bed, the hangings torn from one side, a look of utmost terror on his face. â€Å"Black! Sirius Black! With a knife!† â€Å"What?† â€Å"Here! Just now! Slashed the curtains! Woke me up!† â€Å"You sure you weren't dreaming, Ron?† said Dean. â€Å"Look at the curtains! I tell you, he was here!† They all scrambled out of bed; Harry reached the dormitory door first, and they sprinted back down the staircase. Doors opened behind them, and sleepy voices called after them. â€Å"Who shouted?† â€Å"What're you doing?† The common room was lit with the glow of the dying fire, still littered with the debris from the party. It was deserted. â€Å"Are you sure you weren't dreaming, Ron?† â€Å"I'm telling you, I saw him!† â€Å"What's all the noise?† â€Å"Professor McGonagall told us to go to bed!† A few of the girls had come down their staircase, pulling on dressing gowns and yawning. Boys, too, were reappearing. â€Å"Excellent, are we carrying on?† said Fred Weasley brightly. â€Å"Everyone back upstairs!† said Percy, hurrying into the common room and pinning his Head Boy badge to his pajamas as he spoke. â€Å"Perce — Sirius Black!† said Ron faintly. â€Å"In our dormitory! With a knife! Woke me up!† The common room went very still. â€Å"Nonsense!† said Percy, looking startled. â€Å"You had too much to eat, Ron — had a nightmare –â€Å" â€Å"I'm telling you –â€Å" â€Å"Now, really, enough's enough!† Professor McGonagall was back. She slammed the portrait behind her as she entered the common room and stared furiously around. â€Å"I am delighted that Gryffindor won the match, but this is getting ridiculous! Percy, I expected better of you!† â€Å"I certainly didn't authorize this, Professor!† said Percy, puffing himself up indignantly. â€Å"I was just telling them all t o get back to bed! My brother Ron here had a nightmare –â€Å" â€Å"IT WASN'T A NIGHTMARE!† Ron yelled. â€Å"PROFESSOR, I WOKE UP, AND SIRIUS BLACK WAS STANDING OVER ME, HOLDING A KNIFE!† Professor McGonagall stared at him. â€Å"Don't be ridiculous, Weasley, how could he possibly have gotten through the portrait hole?† â€Å"Ask him!† said Ron, pointing a shaking finger at the back of Sir Cadogan's picture. â€Å"Ask him if he saw –â€Å" Glaring suspiciously at Ron, Professor McGonagall pushed the portrait back open and went outside. The whole common room listened with bated breath. â€Å"Sir Cadogan, did you just let a man enter Gryffindor Tower?† â€Å"Certainly, good lady!† cried Sir Cadogan. There was a stunned silence, both inside and outside the common room. â€Å"You — you did?† said Professor McGonagall. â€Å"But — but the password!† â€Å"He had 'em!† said Sir Cadogan proudly. â€Å"Had the whole week's, my lady! Read 'em off a little piece of paper!† Professor McGonagall pulled herself back through the portrait hole to face the stunned crowd. She was white as chalk. â€Å"Which person,† she said, her voice shaking, â€Å"which abysmally foolish person wrote down this week's passwords and left them lying around?† There was utter silence, broken by the smallest of terrified squeaks. Neville Longbottom, trembling from head to fluffy slippered toes, raised his hand slowly into the air.