Themes in Night by Elie Wiesel Essays

Themes in Night by Elie Wiesel Essays Themes in Night by Elie Wiesel Paper Themes in Night by Elie Wiesel Paper The three main themes in the book Night, are inhumanity, faith, and the father/son bond. Inhumanity is a major part of what happened in the book Night. Everyone who was a victim was not treated fairly whatsoever. The book talks a lot about how the Nazis killed tons of people and were very cruel towards them all the time. The Nazis sent everyone to concentration camps, some were death camps and others were labor camps. In the camps if you were sick or ill the Nazis would most likely kill you. They had many ways of killing people such as gassing them, shooting them, working them to death, not giving them enough food or water, etc. â€Å"Babies were thrown into the air and the machine gunners used them as targets.† I find this quote from the book very disturbing. I don’t see how someone could kill innocent people. To get to the concentration camps they had to take a train. The conditions of the train were very bad it was really crowded, they had to stand in their own feces, some even died before they made it to the camps. The Nazis spilt up families. They separated the boys and the girls. You couldn’t see them anymore unless you were the same gender. A lot of people never got to see their family again. The Nazis were very inhumane towards the Jews and did not care or think about what they were doing. Elie and his father’s bond is another major part in the story. Since Elie was spilt up from his mother and sisters all he had was his dad. Also since he was a kid still and terrified of what was happening he wanted to always be with his father. Even from the beginning of the story before everything happened they were still very close. They were usually always by each others side during it all, they would make sure the other was okay. They would share food or water if the other needed it. They constantly were talking like everything was okay. â€Å"Please I would have liked to be by my father.†

Rankle

Rankle Rankle Rankle By Maeve Maddox A reader declares: I rankle Or get rankled when I hear someone, usually, an athlete, is under rated. What does this mean? The question asks about the term underrated, but this post will focus mainly on rankle. First, the verb underrate: underrate: to estimate at too low a value or worth. Ex. Research shows men tend to overrate themselves and women underrate themselves. Further explanation of underrate does not seem necessary. The reader is correct in the observation that the term is frequently used in reference to athletes. For example, a Google search brings up several lists of â€Å"the most underrated sports figures†: 10 Most Underrated Athletes of All Time The 25 Most Underrated Sports Superstars of All Time The List: Underrated all-time athletes 10 of the most underrated sports stars of all time The 5 Most Underrated Athletes The 25 Greatest Underrated NBA Players of All Time Now, to rankle. Taken into English from Old French, the verb rankle initially meant â€Å"to fester† or â€Å"to suppurate.† A wound that rankled was in the process of rotting. Over time, the word has dwindled in figurative use to mean to annoy or to irritate. Rankle conveys a sense of ongoing emotional hurt or bitterness. The verb may be used transitively or intransitively. Here are examples of current use: After less than three months on the job, LePage has already managed to rankle more constituencies with his bluntness than any Maine governor in recent memory.- Deseret News Christie’s Cowboys Support Rankles Some New Jersey Residents- Wall Street Journal My father didn’t get his due. That still rankles.- Shadaab Khan $10 bill change rankles descendant of Alexander Hamilton- New York Times [Rod] Serling was not just another freelancer and he rankled at the perceived affront to his work- Jeannot Szwarc Are you rankled by your cankles? A new liposuction treatment may help- Daily Mail Note: The word cankle is a new one on me. Word flags it as a misspelling. Cankle does not appear in the OED or on the Ngram Viewer, but Merriam-Webster offers a citation from The Philadelphia Inquirer dated 2001 and defines cankle as: a wide, thick, or fat ankle that appears indistinguishable from the lower calf. Cankle is a portmanteau: calf + ankle. As for rankle, It’s a good word to convey a festering annoyance of long duration. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:30 Synonyms for â€Å"Meeting†Hyper and HypoUsing Writing Bursts to Generate Ideas and Enthusiasm

Principles and Practices of Effective Leadership - Critical Thinking Essay

Principles and Practices of Effective Leadership - Critical Thinking Mod 1 - Essay Example Both business leaders are globally recognized as the icons in their unique United States market segments. Bill Gates implemented a task oriented leadership style, demonstrating effective leadership. Task-oriented leadership style focuses on behavior that prioritizes accomplishment of assigned tasks and responsibilities (Carroll, 2008). Under the task-oriented leadership style, Bill Gates focused on creating more and more new products for his established company, Microsoft. Whenever, Bill Gates was able to successfully create strong popular demand for his new products and services in uncharted computer-based market segments, Bill Gates would do everything in his power to retain the newly gained market segment position. As a busy executive, Bill Gates prioritize generating higher interest in developing, selling, and other management and marketing functions of his Microsoft Company. The task-oriented leadership style includes Bill Gates’ holding regular meetings with his line and staff employees and managers. Bill Gates would reprimand subordinates who did not meet established goals and objectives on time. Bill Gates’ task-oriented leadership style pushed the line and staff employees and managers to prioritize meeting prescribed organizational goals and objectives. The leadership style ensures Bill Gates that all his prescribed organizational goals, visions, missions, and objectives are eagerly met by the subordinates and managers. Under the task-oriented leadership style, Bill Gates assigned each employee specific tasks and responsibilities. Similarly, Donald Trump implements the autocratic leadership style, demonstrating effective leadership. The leadership style focuses giving specific instructions on what should be done. The employees are not allowed to contribute their opinions or recommendation to the decision making process (Daft, 2010). Donald Trump is very effective using the autocratic leadership

Corrections Corporation of America Company Essay

Corrections Corporation of America Company - Essay Example Ethical Factors The ethical factors surrounding the current changes in the justice and correction departments in the US regard the moral consequences and the general good of the nation. The early release of incarcerated individuals may have an impact on the recidivism and security of the country at large. Rehabilitation and correctional efficiency of criminals reduces even with an increase of cost in public prison facilities. The effect of the current state policies affects all individuals, from individual citizens to the individuals incarcerated. Company’s Current Strategy The CCA is planning to expand its market to Europe and other countries. In Europe, the market for private prison services in increasing, a change attributed to the changing justice policies in those nations. In the US, the company has remained behind its competitors in expansion, preferring to wait for clarity on the current situation and its expected-persistent duration (Tella and Winig, 2010). The current adoption of cost control policies by states will result in leniency in law and justice, which will further result in increase in crime nationwide. Additionally, CCA suffers economically if its correction facilities do not maintain an acceptable level of incarcerated criminals. ANALYSIS EXTERNAL ANALYSIS The history of private prison industry dates back to 1984, with CCA taking over the management of a prison facility in Tennessee. The company has since grown to become the leader in the industry, commanding nearly 50% of the prison beds under private correctional services (Tella and Winig, 2010). Industry Structure & Trends The private prison services industry offer correctional services to the nation, the main customers being federal and state... The paper tells that the history of private prison industry dates back to 1984, with CCA taking over the management of a prison facility in Tennessee. The company has since grown to become the leader in the industry, commanding nearly 50% of the prison beds under private correctional services. The private prison services industry offer correctional services to the nation, the main customers being federal and state governments in the US. These companies work on a contractual basis, typically three to five years, but most of the contracts incorporate clauses that allow the government to terminate their agreement. The growth of the industry depends on a number of uncontrollable factors, which include sentencing patterns in different jurisdictions, crime rates, and acceptability of prison services privatization. Specialists in the industry argue that business is headed downwards for new comers as more states try to reduce prison overcrowding and expenses. According to the article, almost half of the new inmates were sent to private prison facilities in 2009. The article cites one analyst suggesting that established firms in the industry who have focused on their competencies will continue to grow despite the budget crisis. The policies regulating private prison use varies from state to state, with some states banning the private prison altogether, like New York, Louisiana, and Illinois. Outside the US, privatization of prison services has not been embraced fully. Nonetheless, countries, especially in the European region, are adopting the system, with Australia having a record 17%.

Potato Salad Americans Essay Example for Free

Potato Salad Americans Essay 1. Go to the Cooking Light website or any other website that gives you healthy recipes and chose a recipe you would like to try. Website you used: Cooking light . com Recipe you chose ? copy and paste the recipe including nutrition information in the space below. How to Make Potato Salad Americans can definitely agree on one thing: Potatoes are our favorite veggie. Each of us eats about a whopping 130 pounds per year. During the summer months (if not year-round), you can safely bet that loads of potatoes find their way into the ubiquitous potato salad. Honestly, can you have a cookout or picnic without one? Despite regional interpretations, theres really one basic way to make this popular dish. And here, well show you how to master the technique and turn out a variety of unique, healthy salads. Step One: Cut to Size Cut potatoes into uniform shapes and sizes so theyll cook evenly. If theyre different sizes, some will become mushy while others still have an undesirable crunch. Low-starch varieties, like red potatoes, work best in potato salads. Step Two: Start in Cold Water. Be sure to start with cold water when boiling potatoes. This works to solidify the outer surfaces and helps prevent them from getting too soft as the interior cooks, so the potatoes will hold their shape nicely in a potato salad. Step Three: Add Dressing Make the dressing while the potatoes cook, and toss them with the dressing while theyre still warm so theyll absorb maximum flavor. If using dairy products, like sour cream, allow the potatoes to cool slightly before tossing to prevent curdling. Step Four: Add Additional Flavors and Ingredients Customize your salad. For example, add your favorite veggies, fresh herbs, or salad greens. You can even give the salad an international flair: Lemongrass adds Thai flavor; chutney lends an Indian taste. 2. Try out the recipe, take a picture of you with the prepared meal and report back to class what you thought of this recipe. Would you recommend it? Will you make it again? Anything you would change the next time? To get full credit for this assignment, you need to show your picture to your instructor. Initial of instructor.

Transnational Networks of Support for the Zapatista Rebellion :: Zapatista Rebellion Globalization Essays

Transnational Networks of Support for the Zapatista Rebellion Globalization, the term used to describe the dominant framework of international relations following the cold war, is affecting many aspects of politics and social experience. This is seen in the Zapatista rebellion and movement in Chiapas, Mexico that has benefited from globalization and transnational support. This paper examines the relationship of transnationalism and social movements with the Zapatistas as a case study. In particular, this paper argues that the Zapatistas are part of the anti-globalization cycle of protest. As a result, they have used the master frame of this cycle of protest and aligned that frame in light of their particular situation. Because this frame was resonant with transnational activists a network of support was formed, which pressures the government from above, increasing the chances of success of a movement. The paper concludes by examining the implications of the Zapatistas for social movement research, with particular regard for Tarrowâ €™s â€Å"strong thesis† about movements in a transnational era While the roots of the Zapatista movement stretch well back, the rebellion entered the public’s consciousness on 1 January 1994 when several thousand indigenous Mexicans, mostly Mayans, wearing ski-masks and carrying antiquated rifles and wooden sticks briefly seized several major urban centres in Chiapas, Mexico before withdrawing under pressure from the Mexican military. A cease-fire was declared on 12 January and since then the two sides have not directly fought one another. Since the cessation of hostilities, the rebellion has essentially transformed into a social movement.[1] The transformation was capped by a march on Mexico City March 2001 in which a caravan of Zapatistas, protected by the Mexican government, moved from Chiapas throughout Mexico to a climax in the zocalo in Mexico City. Subcomandante Marcos, the spokesman and de facto leader of the movement, addressed a huge rally and other comandantes addressed the Mexican Congress. Many observers compared this moment to Martin Luther King’s â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech during the American civil rights movement. (Klein 2001) Since the beginning of this movement/rebellion, the Zapatistas have demonstrated a unique ability to attract support from activists outside of Mexico. I refer to this support as transnational because it is rooted in no particular territory and spans much of the developed world.

Creative Story Essay

Later at the picnic, Sharon was seen with a debonair and handsome man. The man had puffed muscles, straight long hair and a surfing board in his arm. Although Sharon had this habit of mingling too much with adult men but we sensed some danger with this man. Maryann and I talked to Gray about this but he was too busy with his drinks and his girlfriends. Gray was an old and mutual friend of ours but asking for his help was futile at this moment. Maryann and I returned to the backyard of the hut, where Sharon was spotted with the man. To our surprise, she was not there and the man had also disappeared from there. Maryann and I looked at each other’s faces and then ran towards the garage to check Sharon’s car. No sign of Rolls Royce Phantom that was owned by the wealthy Sharon. Her inherited wealth had attracted a lot of young and charming men towards her and many tried to marry her to have a share in her wealth, but Sharon did not understand most of the men’s intention. She was fooled easily by the warmth and honey filled conversations of such men. However, Maryann and I were living with Sharon and we had every right to protect Sharon from these dangers. When we could not find the car, we panicked. We tried calling Sharon but her cell phone was turned off. I was facing a dilemma of whether to make a phone call to our uncle, Fargo, who was in FBI or make a phone call to 911. It was hard to decide because the Fargo uncle has had some sexual encounters with Sharon in the past and we did not want that to happen again. So I took out my cell phone and started dialing 911. The phone was on my ear as I was making the phone call and there was a strong beam of car light upon us in the garage. A car came slowly accelerating towards us and the number plate said AA-42321-V. This made us happy; I dropped the phone and leaped towards the Phantom, just to see the corpse of Sharon lying in the car and the driver bleeding to death.

How To Find A Job Effectively

Everyday someone is looking for a job. Whether that person is a recent graduate, a person laid-off from work, or a person that wants a different job, their diligent search turns into a carefully planned search for employment. It is important that a person knows how to search effectively for a job. There are three effective ways to look for a job: use a variety of resources, do a resume, and go on interviews. One way a person can look for a job effectively is to use a variety or resources, such as the newspaper, the Internet, or the local Job-Service Agency. The newspaper can be used to help find a job by looking at the job listings in the classified ad sections. The job listings in a newspaper vary depending on what is listed. One can find the classified ads by using the newspaper s index, which is located in the front of the newspaper. Another resource that can be used is the Internet. The Internet contains many search engines that can be used to find a specific job. One can even apply for jobs over the Internet. A person can also use the local Job-Service Agency to find a job. A Job-Service Agency can help the unemployed person find a job in the area where he or she lives. The Job-Service Agency tries to match ones skills with the jobs that are available. Generally, when a person writes a resume, he or she should avoid using the words I and My; be meticulous; and be able to keep track of where one submits his or her resume. Since a resume is about ones work history, the words I and My should not be used. Writing the words I and My for every statement is repetitious and clutters the resume with unnecessary words. It is perfectly acceptable to write a resume with incomplete sentences. A person must also be meticulous and look for errors in the resume. A resume should never be submitted with typos and other blatant mistakes. When a person sends a resume with many mistakes, this implies that one does not pay attention to details or has poor communication skills. In addition, when submitting resumes, it is important to keep track of where they are sent. This is a good idea, so that one does not submit his or her resume more than once at the same place. Being organized is a crucial step in writing and submitting resumes. When going on an interview, attire, body language, and manners count. First impressions are very important. Ones overall appearance is the first thing that an interviewer notices. A person should dress neat and in a professional manner. In addition, one should be aware of his or her body language. Being alert and answering questions in a timely and polite way is important. The tone of voice, posture, and gesture gives clues about ones manners. A positive attitude along with good manners can have a lasting impression. Manners count. No one wants to work with someone who is rude and disrespectful. In summary, if a person uses a variety of resources, do a resume, and go on interviews this will help one effectively find a job. It is essential that a person know how to effectively find a job, so that one becomes successful in his or her search. When a person does know how to find a job effectively, it will be hard for them to find a job. This will often lead to a person not finding a job at all. Therefore, if one uses these three effective ways to search for a job carefully, he or she will have no problem finding a job.

The Roman Empire and the Gladiator Games essays

The Roman Empire and the Gladiator Games essays The Roman Empire was the undoubted pinnacle of society prior to the Middle Ages, and nothing came close to expressing its might, culture, and subjects as the Gladiatorial games did. Views on such Roman sports being cruel and barbaric are merely superficial as these events were deeply integrated within this ancient empire, representing its ideals. Often these were spectacular battles in awe-inspiring arenas which were themselves an architectural masterpiece of those times. Above all, the games portrayed the glory of success, the satisfaction of which nothing else could give. To the Romans, from the Emperor to the commoner, their empire was the epitome of power. These games were showpiece events that displayed the might and glory of victory that Romans hold so close to their hearts, especially so, at a time when war and territorial conquests was getting infrequent. As seen in Gladiator, the sight of a victorious competitor in the arena after a bloody battle brought immense cheering and approval from the fans. Only the best gladiators were deemed appropriate to compete in the Colosseum which greatly raised the games' standard. The replication of these games in the provinces served to highlight the influence these games had and indirectly integrated these towns closer to the central axis of power, Rome (referred to as "the light" in the movie). The battle arenas themselves symbolized power in the architectural sense. The Colosseum was the largest and perhaps most elegantly crafted structure in Rome, and it was only fitting that such a magnificent arena sh ould stage important events such as gladiatorial games. With their obsession of power and glory, it is no wonder that the crowds are fickle enough to change "allegiance" to whichever group of gladiators is winning the battles at the moment as seen in the battle between the charioteers and the slave gladiators in the movie. The sponsor of the Games (usually the Emperor) also showed his o...

How to Become an Author The Ultimate Guide from a Bestseller

How to Become an Author The Ultimate Guide from a Bestseller How to Become an Author: Your Complete Guide So you want to become an author Well, I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news. The bad news first: Writing your book wont be easy. If you’re in the middle of that process, you’re nodding right now. But here’s the good news: All that work isa small price for the amazing possibilities it can open to you: Getting published Enjoying a career you love Impacting people with your writing Media attention Royalty income In this extensive guide, my goal is to give you an honest look at how to become a writer- using lessons I’ve learned from 40+ years working with some of the top publishers in the world. Having written 21 New York Times bestsellers myself, I’m confident these lessons will help you in your writing journey. Ready? Let’s do it. What You Will Learn Here’s the short version of everything I cover in this complete, step-by-step post: DON’T Try toBecome an Author Until Youve Studied the Craft and Polished Your Skills Written Things Shorter Than a Book Plugged Yourself into a Community of Writers Writing Your Book Create a Writing Schedule You Can Stick to Research and Plan Keep Your Day Job Become a Ferocious Self-Editor Trying to Land a Publishing Contract How to Get an Agent Selling a Publisher Editing Your Book Like Crazy (Again) with an Editor Should You Self-Publish? An Overview of Self-Publishing How to Set Your Book Apart Choosing the Right Self-Publishing Company The #1 Killer of Self-Published Books Want to save this 5000-word guide to read later? Click here to get a free PDF version you can read anytime. 1. DON’T Try toBecome a Writer Until You’ve I get it. You’re antsy. You’re ready to pen your bestseller right now. You’ve read or heard of writers who had never written a thing before and yet scored with a million-seller on their first try. Throttle back. Those stories become big news because they’re so rare. Don’t bank on winning the lottery. If you want your book (and your message) to go anywhere, make sure you’ve: Studied the Craft There’s no need to write a compelling story by trial and error anymore. Others have already done it for you- and written books about it. So your best bet is to follow proven methods. Great writers are great readers. Sohere’s a list of my favorite 12 books on writing to get you started. The competition has gotten so fierce, you’ll do yourself a favor if you learn how successful authors write before you try to get a second look from a publisher. Take the time to learn what you’re doing. You’ll thank yourself later. Written Things Shorter Than a Book A book shouldn’t be where you start any more than you should enroll in grad school when you’re a kindergartner. A book is where you arrive. Start small, learn the craft, hone your skills. Do some journaling. Write a newsletter. Start a blog. Get articles published in a couple of magazines, a newspaper, an ezine. Take a night school or online course in journalism or creative writing. Publishers are looking for authors with platforms (in short: audiences, tribes, followers, fans). So start building yours now. Any of the pieces above will start building steam behind your writing, and boost name recognition for you as a writer. If you’re planning to start blogging, check out this post on creating an author website. Bottom line:Work a quarter-million clicheÃŒ s out of your system, learn what it means to be edited, become an expert in something, build your platform, and then start thinking about that book or novel. Plugged Yourself into a Community of Writers Think you can do it alone? Then you’re a better writer than I. Almost every traditionally published author I know is surrounded by a helpful community. How else would they deal with things like: Frustration Discouragement Procrastination Wanting to quit I’ve written over 185 books, yet I often wonder whether I can finish the next one. At this stage for me, community means knowing I can be encouraged by colleagues whenever I need it. When you’re starting out, another pair of eyes on your work can prove to be invaluable. Ten pairs of eyes are even better. Join a writers’ group. Find a mentor. Stay open to criticism. One caveat with writers’ groups: make sure at least one person, preferably the leader, is widely published and understands the publishing landscape. Otherwise you risk the blind leading the blind. 2. Writing Your Book Surprisingly, most people never get this far. Whether it’s fear or procrastination or something else, few writers ever make it to the first page. To avoid becoming part of this sad group, you need a plan. So regardless your personal writing method, be sure to cover these bases: Create a Writing Schedule You Can Stick To When you’re an author, writing becomes your job. So treat it that way. Show up and do the work whether you feel like it or not. Writer’s block is no excuse. In no other profession could you get away with getting out of work by claiming you have worker’s block. Try that and see what it gets you- likely a pink slip. Find at least six hours a week to write. Well, find is the wrong word, of course. You won’t find it, you’ll have to carve out the time. Lock these hours into your calendar and keep them sacred. If you can’t think of what to write, then edit. If you can’t edit, plan. You’ll be astonished at your ability to get stuff done when you finally plant yourself in your chair. Challenge: Don’t move until you have scheduled at least six hours. Research and Plan To give your manuscript the best chance to succeed, skip this step at your peril. Excellent preparation will make or break your book. Two main ways you should be preparing: 1. Outline. Regardless how you feel about outlining, you need an idea of where you’re going before you start. If you’re writing a novel, you’re either an outliner or a pantser- those who write by the seat of their pants. (If you’re writing a nonfiction book, an outline is a given.) On the fiction side, the definition of an outliner is obvious. You plan everything beforehand. But pantsers write by process of discovery- or as Stephen King puts it, they â€Å"put interesting characters in difficult situations and write to find out what happens.† Neither is better or worse. But most writers are one or the other (a few are hybrids, largely one over the other but doing a little of both). But, depending on which you are, you’ll approach the planning phase completely differently. If you’re a hardcore outliner (and a novelist), you’ll enjoy my friend and colleague Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake Method. But if you’re a pantser, check out this post for non-outliners. Itll teach you how to work within a structure while staying free enough to writeon the fly. 2. Do the research. All great stories are rooted in solid research. If your research stinks, your story sinks. If your character drives 10 miles east out of the Chicago Loop, he’d better be in an amphibious vehicle, because he’ll be in Lake Michigan. (And you thought I was joking about sinking.) To avoid such embarrassing errors, do your research. Immerse yourself in the details of your setting. Make sure no characters are wearing ski jackets when it’s 95 degrees outside. Two online research tools that will help you avoid mistakes: The World Atlas A directory of some of the world’s top almanacs Don’t Quit Your Day Job I didn’t become a full-time freelance author until I had written and published nearly 90 books. I had been advised by a veteran author that my freelance income ought to be around three times what I made at my job before I considered going solo. I was stunned. Why so much more? He started listing everything I would have to pay for on my own. Insurance, retirement, all my benefits. I had always been careful to separate my writing and my office work, but during my off hours on business trips I might do some research. No more. Any travel would be on me. Your day job doesn’t have to keep you from writing your book. You might not like this, but I recommend you keep it and spend your after-hours time writing your book. Why? Two reasons: You’ll have steady income- one less thing to worry about- while trying to build your writing career. The structure will force you to be more productive with fewer hours. So, yes, you can have your cake and eat it too- without sacrificing time with family. You lose three hours per night for what, TV? How big a sacrifice is that for your writing dream? How badly do you want to become an author? Become a Writer Ferocious About Self-Editing This section is so important that it has the power to determine whether your book makes a huge splash with readers and publishers- or slides into the editor’s reject pile after the first page or two. Get serious about self-editing. Editors know from the first page whether your manuscript is publishable. I know that doesn’t sound fair or even logical. You’re thinking, It took me months, maybe years, to write hundreds of pages and you didn’t even get to the good stuff! How could they do that to you? Why did they? First, the good stuff ought to be in the first two paragraphs. And if they see 15 adjustments they need to make on the first two pages, they know the cost of editing three or four hundred pages of the same would eat whatever profits they could hope for before even printing the book. To avoid the dreaded â€Å"Thank you, but this doesn’t meet a current need† letter, your manuscript must be lean and mean, besides being a great story and a great read. Here are my 21 rules of ferocious self-editing: Develop a thick skin. Avoid throat-clearing. Choose the normal word over the obtuse. Omit needless words. Avoid subtle redundancies, like: â€Å"She nodded her head in agreement.† Those last four words could be deleted. Avoid the words up and down- unless they’re really needed. Usually delete the word that. Use it only for clarity. Give the reader credit. Once you’ve established something, you don’t need to repeat it. Avoid telling what’s not happening. Avoid being an adjectival maniac. Avoid hedging verbs like smiled slightly, almost laughed, frowned a bit, etc. Avoid the term literally- when you mean figuratively. Avoid too much stage direction. Maintain a single point of view (POV) for every scene. Avoid clichà ©s, and not just words and phrases, but situations. Resist the urge to explain (RUE). Show, don’t tell. People say things; they don’t wheeze, gasp, sigh, laugh, grunt, or retort them. Specifics add the ring of truth, even to fiction. Avoid similar character names. In fact, avoid even the same first initials. Avoid mannerisms of punctuation, typestyles, and sizes. 3. Trying to Land a Publishing Contract Want to save this 5000-word guide to read later? Click here to get a free PDF version you can read anytime. I’m not going to sugarcoat it- this isn’t easy. But if you have a solid plan (and if you’ve followed the guide), you’ve got as good a chance as any. This section will show you how to become an author by revealing the options available. These best practices can vastly increase your likelihood of getting published. How to Get an Agent Your first step in trying to land a traditional publishing deal should be to land an agent- which can be just as difficult, as it should be. There will seem a dichotomy here, because you are likely writing for altruistic reasons- you have a mission, a passion, a message, something burning inside that you must share with the world. Yet agents or publishers will appear to base their decisions solely on the bottom line. If they see sales potential, they will accept it; if they don’t they won’t. But don’t despair. That doesn’t mean they don’t share your passion. It simply means they must make a profit to stay in business- even faith-based publishers who are all about ministry. Though it’s hard to find an agent, it is possible to get traditionally published without one. Most will not consider unsolicited manuscripts, though some will. Check The Writer’s Market Guide and The Christian Writer’s MarketGuide for publishers that don’t require agent-represented manuscript submissions. Some will allow you to submit at writers conferences or through other clients of theirs. Be aware that it’s not unheard of to submit an unsolicited manuscript to dozens of publishers without success. An agent can make your life a lot easier. A plethora of new doors open because of your agent’s connections. Besides the instant credibility of an agent’s approval and the knowledge that your writing has survived a vetting process, you also get valuable input and coaching on how to fashion your query and proposal from someone who understands the publishing industry, knows the players and who’s looking for what, and has experience successfully pitching publishers. Obviously, there are good agents and bad agents. How do you know whom you can trust? The credible agent welcomes scrutiny. So find reviews. Check with other clients. Ask: How did their book turn out? Did they feel taken care of? Were they pleased with the results? Feel free to ask agents: What kinds of books have they succeeded with? Have they succeeded in your genre? Once you compile a list of agents who seem to be a good fit, follow their submission guidelines. They’ll likely ask for a query letter, synopsis, proposal, and perhaps a few chapters. If any ask for any sort of reading fee or other payment up front, eliminate them as candidates and do not respond. Before you do anything else, check out these submission guidelines from two agents I’m familiar with. I’m not necessarily evaluating or endorsing them, except to say that I know them to be ethical and trustworthy and find their guidelines helpful and sound. Their pages will give you a good idea of what typical agents are looking for. Steve Laube’s guidelines Hartline Literary’s guidelines Two things you may be asked for- and which some writers struggle with: 1. A query letter This is an easy way to reach out to an agent, but many prefer more- like a full proposal, which we’ll get to. Most agents prefer submissions of any kind to be electronically submitted as an attachment, not as part of the body of your message. Avoid snail mail. Make your query letter crisp and short. The shorter (while saying what you need to say) the better. A query letter is just what its name implies- it queries the interest of the agent in your book idea. So make it stimulating and intriguing. Remember, you’re selling your book to the agent. Four essential parts of an effective query letter: a. Your elevator pitch This is a summary of your book’s premise, told in the time it would take for the editor to reach his floor if you happened to find yourself in the same elevator car. So it has to be fast and convincing. Here’s the elevator pitch for my very first novel: â€Å"A judge tries a man for a murder the judge committed.† It worked. b. Your synopsis In a paragraph, tell what your nonfiction book is about and what you hope to accomplish with it. Or tell the basic premise of the plot of your novel. The synopsis would naturally go beyond the elevator pitch and tell what happens and how things turn out. (Note: Almost any plot, when reduced to a one- or two-paragraph synopsis, sounds ridiculous.) c. Your target audience and why they’ll enjoy your book Agents need to believe they can sell it before they’ll ask you for more. Help them envision how to pitch it to publishers, but be careful not to oversell. They know the business better than you do and will not be swayed by your assurance that â€Å"everyone will find this amazing.† You can say that your audiences have been enthusiastic or that beta readers have expressed excitement. d. Your personal information Sell the agent on yourself. What qualifies you to write this book? What else have you published? What kind of tribe have you built? Where can they read your blog? Of course you’re including all your contact information. Other query letter tips: Keep it to one page, single-spaced, and 12 pt. sans serif type. Don’t sell too hard- let your premise speak for itself. Follow the agent’s submission guidelines to a T. Proof your letter before sending. Any typo on such a short document makes you look like an amateur. Here’s a great example of a query letter, with a breakdown of why it works, by Brian Klems of Writer’s Digest. 2. A book proposal You’ll find that for most agents, this is the most important document they want to see. Some want only this. Succinctly and completely describe the details of your idea and make them want to read your manuscript in its entirety as soon as it’s ready. Leave nothing out. For nonfiction, include every major issue you’ll cover and the basics of what you’ll say about it. For fiction, rough out the entire plot in a few pages. With a proposal, your query letter becomes a cover letter. Resist the urge to write a long cover letter. Allow your proposal to do the heavy lifting. Three trusted colleagues have produced masterful works on how to write book proposals, so check out what they have to offer: Michael Hyatt: Writing a Winning Book Proposal Jane Friedman: How to Write a Book Proposal (Jane also has some great material on query letters, so search her site for that, too.) Terry Whalin: Book Proposals That Sell Proposals can contain any number of possible components, such as: Premise Elevator pitch Overview Target audience Chapter synopses Marketing ideas Endorsements Your analysis of competing books, and where yours fits Up to three sample chapters More book proposal tips: Tell why you think your book can succeed. Every page in your proposal should make them want to flip to the next page. Despite that a proposal is longer, keep it tight and terse, as short as you can without cutting crucial information. Every word should be designed to pique an agent’s interest, your goal being to be asked to send your entire manuscript. Which should I choose, query or proposal? The competition is so fierce these days, I would lean toward a full proposal almost every time. The only instances when I might fire off a query would be if an incredible opportunity fell in my lap and I thought an agent could help me jump on it before I had time to craft a proposal. For instance, if a major celebrity wanted help with a book and chose you to write it, a fast letter to an agent might get a quick response. Otherwise, take the time to put together a professional proposal that shows an agent you know how to work and can be thorough. But know this: If you spark an agent’s interest, they will immediately ask for more information. So you’ll need a proposal at some point. Keep that in mind and be ready to get busy. Connecting with the Right Publisher Regardless whether you secure an agent, there are five guidelines for submitting your proposal and/or manuscript to publishers: Follow their submission guidelines to a T. Customize your cover letter to each. Know what the publisher wants, and tell them why you believe your book is right for them in light of that. Let it show in your attitude and tone that you realize how few manuscripts are chosen for publication each year, and by the fact that you have done your homework and covered all the bases to ensure you’re giving the publisher everything they need to make a decision on your manuscript. Avoid gushing and flattery, like adding the obvious sentiments, â€Å"I’ll do anything you say, make any changes you want, meet any deadline†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Just present your complete proposal and professionally express that you look forward to hearing from them. A rule of thumb for first-time authors: If you’re writing fiction, while some publishers may ask you to send your completed manuscript after reading your proposal, synopsis, and sample chapters, it’s highly unlikely they will actually offer a contract before they see that completed manuscript. That’s because many people can come up with great ideas, and some can produce promising starts to novels. But few can see their way through to the end. So you’ll have to prove you can do it. If you’re writing nonfiction, you might be able to secure a publishing contract before you have finished your entire manuscript, though that is also rare. Should it happen, the publisher is likely to offer a lot of guidance and input for shaping the rest of the writing- and you’ll have a much better chance of success if you work nicely with your editor. Regardless your genre, publishers won’t take a second look at your manuscript unless it’s presented professionally. Use these submission guidelines: Use Times New Roman font (or at the very least avoid sans serif fonts). Use 12-point type. Left-justify your page. (This means your text should be aligned at the left margin, but not the right. This is also called â€Å"flush left, ragged right.†) Double-space your page with no extra space between paragraphs. Each paragraph should be indented one-half inch. One space between sentences. Microsoft Word .doc or .docx file format. 1† top, bottom, and side margins (or whatever is standard in your Word program). Editing Your Book Like Crazy (Again) with an Editor By the time you get to this point, you’ve already spent hours editing your own work. You’ve rearranged, improved, and cut things that hurt to cut. Be ready to do more. Once a publisher agrees to take your manuscript, you’ll be assigned an editor to make your manuscript the best it can be. This editor will suggest changes, maybe major ones- especially if it’s your first book. Don’t get touchy. Writing is not a solo. It’s a duet between the writer and an editor. Sometimes you’ll have to kill sentences that took hours to write. It’ll feel like disowning your children. Remember, the editor is on your side. Throw a private temper tantrum if you must, but then cool down and listen. Let them to do their job. You can push back respectfully if you feel strongly that they’ve missed your point on something, but do this only when the sting of criticism has worn off and you’re thinking rationally. Keep an open mind and beeasy to work with. They’ll remember. 4. Should You Self-Publish? Want to save this 5000-word guide to read later? Click here to get a free PDF version you can read anytime. If you can score with a traditional publisher, do it. Exhaust your efforts to traditionally publish before resorting to self-publishing. Even honest self-publishing executives will give you this advice. Why? Because with traditional publishing, the publisher takes all the risks, and you’re paid an advance against royalties and royalties based on sales. So nothing comes out of your pocket. With self-publishing, however, you pay for everything from design to editing. Packages can cost upwards of $10,000. Back when self-publishing was referred to as â€Å"vanity publishing,† you could always tell a self-published book from a traditionally published book due to the lack of quality. Schlocky covers, boring titles, the word by before the author’s name on the cover. Too much copy on the front and back covers. Poor typeface and interior design. Lousy writing, editing, and proofreading- sometimes clearly nonexistent. But the game has changed. Publishing your own book is vastly different than it used to be. Your end product can now look much more professional, and your price per book is much more reasonable. Print-on-demand technology now allows for low-cost printing, so you can order as few as two or three books at a time for the same cost per book as you would pay if you were buying hundreds. So, you no longer need to store countless copies in your garage or basement. And self-published books look nicer these days too, because writers have demanded it. How to Set Your Self-Published Book Apart If you resort to this route, realize that you are the publisher now. You have to advertise, promote, and market your own book. But because you’re earning the profits after expenses, not just a royalty, a successful book will net you more money per copy than a traditionally published one. Admittedly, selling enough self-published copies to actually net you more money than you would make selling more traditionally at a lower royalty rate is rare, but it happens. It’s also rare that a self-published book finds its way to bookstore shelves outside the author’s own town. (The hard truth is that it’s not easy for even traditionally published books to place their books in bookstores. Experts say as few as one percent of all published books can be accommodated by bookstores and that the rest must be sold through other channels like the Internet, direct mail, and by hand.) To give your self-published title the best chance to succeed, you need to invest in: A great cover, which will involve purchasing a photo or artwork, type design, and layout Inside layout, type design, and typesetting Editing (resist the urge to use a relative who majored in English or even teaches English; book editing is a specific art) Proofreading (same caveat as above; friends and loved ones who are meticulous spellers are not enough; there are myriad style matters to deal with) Each of these elements will dramatically increase the professional look of your final product and, thus, your hope of selling more books. Do NOT skimp on them. If you’ve ever built a house without a contractor, you have an idea of how complex this will be if you do it right. So despite the fact that many self-published authors swear by it and believe it’s fairer to the author than traditional publishing, I maintain that traditional remains the ideal for authors- except for those unique titles that are targeted to deserving but very limited audiences. Choosing the Right Company to Self-Publish Your Book More than 400,000 books are self-published every year in the United States alone. So there are many companies to choose from. But sadly, many are wolves in sheep’s clothing. They’ll let you create a poor product and tell you it’s great. They’ll â€Å"award† you a contract, telling you their publication board has â€Å"evaluated† your manuscript and â€Å"found it worthy† to be published. They’ll tell you that they’re â€Å"not a subsidy publisher† or â€Å"not a self-publisher† or â€Å"not an independent publisher.† But they’ll use another euphemism to justify the fact that you’re paying â€Å"only for promotion† or â€Å"only for [this many] copies,† or â€Å"only for†¦Ã¢â‚¬  something else, when the fact is that the fee will cover all their costs and will include their profit. They’ll imply they can get your title before the eyes of every bookstore owner and manager in the country. They might even give examples of a few titles of theirs that have sold into some stores or even made some bestseller list. But they can’t guarantee your title will be sold into any store. Because that list your title is on that is â€Å"available† to every store owner and manager is merely a master list of all the books on some distributor’s Internet site of every title in their catalogue. That means your book will get no personal attention from a salesperson and no more emphasis than any of the tens of thousands of other titles on the list. Such companies are using you as little more than a content generator, pretending to have â€Å"chosen† your book from among the many they have to choose from, when the fact is they would publish anything you send them in any form, provided your accompanying check clears the bank. Be wary of any company that: Doesn’t take seriously the editing and proofreading of your book Lets you commit embarrassing typos such as spelling foreword as forward, foreward, or forword Allows the word by before your name on the cover Over-promises what you should expect in the way of personal sales representation, public relations, marketing, distribution, and advertising That said, when you do need to self-publish, legitimate companies with proven track records are ready to assist you. Do your homework and go beyond an Internet search, which will likely turn up beautiful websites for countless companies putting their best foot forward. So find previous customers and ask about their experience. You want a company who will answer every question straightforwardly and without hesitation. If you feel hard-sold, run. A litmus test question for the publisher: Ask if they would advise you to exhaust your efforts to traditionally publish first. I asked this of the head of WestBow Pressâ„ ¢, a division of Thomas Nelson and Zondervan, and he said he always advises customers that this is the ideal route. That kind of refreshing honesty bodes well for a company. The #1 Killer of Self-Published Books When writers run out of money to invest in their book, too often the first place that suffers is the content itself. Writers may understand that they are not experts in cover design, layout and typesetting, marketing and promotion, warehousing, distribution, and sales. But they overrate their writing and editing and proofreading abilities. So, they invest in those other services and cut corners on editing and proofreading. What they wind up with is a handsome product that looks like a real book but reads like the manuscript that made the rounds of the traditional houses and was rejected. You must determine what will set you apart in a noisy marketplace. That certain something that will set you apart is what it has always been: Writing quality. Having been in the writing game for 50 years and the book business for 40, that is something I am able to tell you. To use an ancient adage, cream rises. That may sound like something scratched on a cave wall. But it simply means that readers recognize quality. You or your agent may be looking for a deal from a traditional publisher. Or you may have chosen to self-publish online, in print, or both. Regardless, you want your manuscript to be of the highest editorial quality you can make it. What does that mean? It means you must: Learn the craft and hone your skills. Rigorously study writing, do exercises, write stories. It can all pay off. Just as with physical exercise, the more the better, but anything is better than nothing. Recognize that writing well is much harder and more involved than you ever dreamed. If you thought writing was merely a hobby, this realization could crush you. So, to push through, remember why you wanted to become a writer in the first place: You have a message, and people need to hear it. Dont trust friends’ and relatives’ flattery. Sure, they’re great for keeping you from quitting. But when you need solid input on your writing, their enthusiasm won’t translate to sales. Accept criticism and input from people who know what they’re talking about. Find an experienced writer or editor who’ll offer honest feedback on your work. Join a writers group. Attend writers conferences. Get a mentor. Free Download: Want your own copy of this guide? You can grabthe full PDF version by clicking here or on the image below: If you really want to become an author, it can be done. You’ll know you’re ready when you’re willing to carve the time from your schedule to write. So how badly do you want it? Tell me in the Comments below.

Corporate Social Responsibility is Fundamental to Developing a Global Essay

Corporate Social Responsibility is Fundamental to Developing a Global Reputation - Essay Example The company can build sustainable operations by investing in corporate social responsibility. Therefore investing in corporate social responsibility is fundamental to developing a global reputation. This is demonstrated by multinational corporations such as Johnson & Johnson and Starbucks. They have invested in different programmes of corporate social responsibility and thus have been able to face the recent financial crisis more effectively than competitors. The objective of developing a global reputation cannot be attained unless the multinational corporation is able to offer products and services which promote social and environmental standards. By enforcing social and environmental standards, a multinational corporation invests in corporate social responsibility which leads to a global reputation. Introduction Globalization leads to increased international trade through the reduction of tariffs. Increased international trade creates global companies which can be defined as those companies which possess production/marketing operations in more than one country. One of the key success factors for global companies is corporate social responsibility, defined as taking into account the impacts of business operations on the society and the environment in addition to the traditional measurement of the company’s profits. This creates an operational framework in which global companies have to take local concerns into consideration. By conducting operations in a manner which takes into consideration their social and environmental impacts, a global company is able to build a good reputation globally. The objective of this paper is to explore how corporate social responsibility enables a multinational corporation to develop a global reputation. Analysis of key issues Globalization increases the volume of international trade by reducing the national barriers to trade such as tariffs and subsidies. This leads to the creation of a multinational corporation which can conduct production and marketing operations in more than one international market. An example of globalization is China’s entry into the World Trade Organization enabling western companies to set up operations in the fast growing Chinese economy. However the Chinese market is still regulated by the government and there is a considerable level of regional fragmentation in the government regulations. Therefore it is essential for foreign organizations to develop a good reputation in the Chinese market so as to create a good image in the local communities. This is one of the key success factors given the rising level of competitive rivalry as the Chinese market has been liberalized enabling foreign companies to set up their operations in the fast growing market. As a result companies need to develop programs of corporate social responsibility to develop a competitive advantage by developing a global reputation. Global companies can implement programs of corporate social respons ibility by taking into account the triple bottom line (McConnell & Brue, 2007). First the global company has to take into consideration the costs of managing people when it comes to transferring operations to a foreign market. This focus enables the management to conduct operations in a socially responsible manner so that employee satisfaction is maximized. Second, the company has to take into consideration the environmental costs of global operations. This means that the management takes into account the impact of its operations on the planet. Third, the company takes into account the traditional measurement of profits. Therefore the triple bottom line consists of people, planet and profit, also known as the three P’s. By conducting its global operations according to the triple bottom

4 short questions Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

4 short questions - Movie Review Example The play was a major success because of the great measure of its development and the subsequent production offered by the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago. As a result the play was made into a film based on the audience reaction (Letts, 12). The poet T.S. Eliot is quoted and referenced in the play due to the fact that the main concept put across is that of life. Letts uses quotes from one of his poems ‘The Hollow men’ which is a poem that talks more about broken souls. The reason for this is because the play focuses on a dysfunctional family that is in a crisis and is broken. The theme of broken souls based on the poem is followed throughout the play as the drama unfolds. ‘Life is very Long’, this is a quote that is referenced by Beverly when she expounds about life and poetry to Johnna (Lett, 14). Based on the interview conducted on Letts, I do not agree with the blogger’s statement. This is because most of the people in Oklahoma are of the Native American background and thus for Letts to include this character there was strong thematic resonance involved. There was also need to connect with most of the audience that were within that background. Johnna character purpose was to be that of a carer to the family and thus her roles were aimed at providing care and support service especially to Violet who was an addict of prescriptions medicine. Her presence does not affect me as a reader as her character represents a real life situation in Oklahoma (Letts, 16). The character that I identified with is that of Barbara, the eldest daughter. This is due to the fact that she portrayed the role of being a devoted daughter despite the crisis that was in the family and the fact that her mother was an addict. For instance, during a family dinner in act two she stood up in front of everyone and declared that she was going to run things from then henceforth. This scene shows that she