African American Criticism Essay

Lois Tyson in the â€Å"African American Criticism† section of his famous book â€Å"Critical Theory Today† tried to make familiar the readers with the fundamental aspects of African American literary history. In this mission he explained different important and concerning factors which arise in the mind of the reader while reading the book. Actually to satisfy the need of the students who are ignorant or less knowledgeable about different major issues of African American History like the Great Migration, the Civil Rights movement, the Black Power Movement and many others, he wrote this book. Moreover African American being a large population in the United States contributed immensely to the arts and literature of the American society. He also drew the attention of the readers of the book to the unjustified fact of exclusion of the African American history and culture from the authorized description of American history during 1960s. Throughout the section the author called for a major change in the self-identification and self-awareness of the African Americans in the late 1960s. Moreover he also pointed out the fact that then many African Americans were victims of internalized racism which â€Å"results from the psychological programming by which a racist society indoctrinates people of color to believe in white superiority† (Tyson 383). Mentioning some examples the author showed that this internalized racism sometimes led to intra-racial racism by giving birth to severe discriminations to the black people. This intra-racial racism had its own adverse effects on the socio economic structure of the Postcolonial American society. Readers also come to know that apart from being the victims of both internalized racism and intra-racial racism which have devastating psychological effects among the African Americans, they also suffered from â€Å"economic hardship and social marginalization caused by institutionalized racism† (Tyson 383). The story also nicely portrays that how these African Americans experienced â€Å"double consciousness† or â€Å"double vision† in this Postcolonial American society. Actually they have to follow two different cultures. The first is original black culture which is followed at the home and the other is European culture gifted by the white-skinned Americans which is followed at the school or college or workplace. This book also discusses the evolution of American literature and the influence of Afro centric literature on it. Critics often agree that most of the African American literature highlighted different sociological and political issues which greatly influence the lives of African Americans. So far what we have discussed the different aspects of African American Criticism and the much awaited response which came into play to make this artifact a grand success and thus helping the African Americans to get a congenial and favorable environment to live in. Thus the book was able to portray the conditions of African Americans giving much importance to their history and criticized the whole thing with a positive attitude which left a deep impact on a large number of people. Works Cited Tyson, Lois. Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide. New York: Garland Publishing, Inc. , 1999.

Free Essays on Helping The Impoverished

If I were to win the Lottery, I believe that I have a moral obligation to share some of my winnings with the Darfurians or others less fortunate than myself. I was raised with the moral values that it is the right thing to do. It is the right thing to do because impoverished people, such as the Darfurians, need it more than I do and it would make them happier than if I spent the money on materialistic objects. I would also be thankful to have the opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life and hopefully my actions would influence others to do the same. Some people do not have the same opportunities or support to achieve not only their goals, but to fulfill their basic needs for living, such as food, water, shelter and clothing. To donate money to these people so that they can provide necessities to their families would increase their happiness more than myself spending the money frivolously on meaningless items such as clothing, cars, and jewelry. By doing this, I would be maximizing the goodness that can come from a situation, therefore making it the right decision. I agree with my group member Richard Periera’s suggestion that since the Darfurians are being deprived of the rights to life, food, and water. Since I have money in abundance to help satisfy their needs, I am obligated to help them. I feel as if I treat others the way I would want to be treated. If I were in a difficult financial situation, I would help someone in the hopes that that would repay me and help me if I, or anyone else for that matter, was ever in the same need or situation. If I gave money to impoverished people, then hopefully they would be able to get out of the situation they are in and go on to improve themselves. They would not only have essentials for living, but also be able to obtain an education and job opportunities so that they can too make enough money to donate to people that were in an unfortunate situation. This would c... Free Essays on Helping The Impoverished Free Essays on Helping The Impoverished If I were to win the Lottery, I believe that I have a moral obligation to share some of my winnings with the Darfurians or others less fortunate than myself. I was raised with the moral values that it is the right thing to do. It is the right thing to do because impoverished people, such as the Darfurians, need it more than I do and it would make them happier than if I spent the money on materialistic objects. I would also be thankful to have the opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life and hopefully my actions would influence others to do the same. Some people do not have the same opportunities or support to achieve not only their goals, but to fulfill their basic needs for living, such as food, water, shelter and clothing. To donate money to these people so that they can provide necessities to their families would increase their happiness more than myself spending the money frivolously on meaningless items such as clothing, cars, and jewelry. By doing this, I would be maximizing the goodness that can come from a situation, therefore making it the right decision. I agree with my group member Richard Periera’s suggestion that since the Darfurians are being deprived of the rights to life, food, and water. Since I have money in abundance to help satisfy their needs, I am obligated to help them. I feel as if I treat others the way I would want to be treated. If I were in a difficult financial situation, I would help someone in the hopes that that would repay me and help me if I, or anyone else for that matter, was ever in the same need or situation. If I gave money to impoverished people, then hopefully they would be able to get out of the situation they are in and go on to improve themselves. They would not only have essentials for living, but also be able to obtain an education and job opportunities so that they can too make enough money to donate to people that were in an unfortunate situation. This would c...

Quotes From Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Quotes From 'Flowers for Algernon' by Daniel Keyes Flowers for Algernon is a famous novel by Daniel Keyes. Its a bittersweet novel of a mentally disabled man named Charlie, who undergoes an experimental procedure to gain higher intelligence. The book follows his evolution from his low level, through his experiences of coming to understand the world around him. The book raises ethical and moral questions about the treatment of the disabled and happiness. The story is told through Charlies diaries and other documents. One of the ways Keyes portrayed Charlies intelligence was through the evolution of his spelling and  grammar.   Quotes From Flowers for Algernon Any one who has common sense will remember that the bewilderments of the eye are of two kinds, and arise from two causes, either from coming out of the light or from going into the light, which is true of the minds eye, quite as much as of the bodily eye; and he who remembers this when he sees any one whose vision is perplexed and weak, will not be too ready to laugh; he will first ask whether that soul of man has come out of the brighter life, and is unable to see because unaccustomed to the dark, or having turned from darkness to the day is dazzled by excess of light. And he will count the one happy in his condition and state of being, and he will pity the other.  -The Republic, Prefaceall my life I wantid to be smart and not dumb and my mom always tolld me to try and lern just like Miss Kinnian tells me but its very hard to be smart and even when I lern something in Miss Kinnians class at the school I ferget alot.  I dint know mice were so smart.  If your smart you can have lots of frends to talk to and you never get lonley by yourself all the time.   Some times somebody will say hey lookit Frank, or Joe or even Gimpy. He really pulled a Charlie Gordon that time. I dont know why they say it but they always laff and I laff too.I beet Algernon. I dint even know I beet him until Burt Selden told me. Then the second time I lost because I got so excited. But after that I beet him 8 more times. I must be getting smart to beat a smart mouse like Algernon. But I dont feel smarter.She says Im a fine person and Ill show them all. I asked her why. She said never mind but I shouldnt feel bad if I find out everybody isnt nice like I think.  One thing? I, like: about, Dear Miss Kinnian: (thats, the way? it goes; in a business, letter (if I ever go! into business?) is that, she: always gives me a reason when - I ask. Shes a genius! I coud be smart like-her, Punctuation , is? fun!  I never knew before that Joe and Frank and the others liked to have me around just to make fun of me. Now I know what they mean wen they say to pull a Charlie Gord on. Im ashamed. Now I want you to look at this card, Charlie. What might this be? What do you see on this card? People see all kinds of things in these inkblots. Tell me what it makes you think of.I was seeing them clearly for the first time - not gods or even heroes, but just two men worried about getting something out of their work.  It had been all right as long as they could laugh at me and appear clever at my expense, but now they were feeling inferior to the moron. I began to see that by my astonishing growth I had made them shrink and emphasized their inadequacies.  I had betrayed them, and they hated me for it.  Our relationship is becoming increasingly strained. I resent Nemurs constant references to me as a laboratory specimen. He makes me feel that before the experiment was not really a human being.  What did you expect? Did you think Id remain a docile pup, wagging my tail and licking the foot that kicks me? I no longer have to take the kind of crap that people have been handing me all my life.   Remembering how my mother looked before she gave birth to my sister is frightening. But even more frightening is the feeling that I wanted them to catch me and beat me. Why did I want to be punished? Shadows out of the past clutch at my legs and drag me down. I open my mouth to scream, but I am voiceless. My hands are trembling, I feel cold, and there is a distant humming in my ears.  It may sound like ingratitude, but that is one of the things I hate here - the attitude that I am a guinea pig. Nemurs constant references to having made me what I am, or that someday there will be others like me who will become real human beings. How can I make him understand that he did not create me?  They had pretended to be geniuses. But they were just ordinary men working blindly, pretending to be able to bring light into the darkness. Why is it that everyone lies? No one I know is what he appears to be.  Nothing in our minds is ever really gone. The operation had covered him over with a ven eer of education and culture, but emotionally he was therewatching and waiting.   Im not your friend. Im your enemy. Im not going to give up my intelligence without a struggle. I cant go back down into that cave. Theres no place for me to go now, Charlie. So youve got to stay away.  ARTIFICIALLY-INDUCED INTELLIGENCE DETERIORATES AT A RATE OF TIME DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO THE QUANTITY OF THE INCREASE.the men of the cave would say of him that up he went and down he came without his eyes.  I passed your floor on the way up, and now Im passing it on the way down, and I dont think Ill be taking this elevator again.  P.S. please if you get a chance put some flowers on Algernons grave in the back yard.

How to Write a Poem 8 Fundamentals for Writing Poetry Thats Meaningful

How to Write a Poem 8 Fundamentals for Writing Poetry Thats Meaningful How to Write a Poem: 8 Fundamentals for Writing Poetry Thats Meaningful Learning how to write a poem is debatably one of the hardest forms of creative writing to master- there are so many â€Å"rules†, but at the same time, no rules at all.Confusing, right?Despite the challenge, writing poetry is a very fulfilling creative venue, and we have exactly what youre looking for to learn how to nail this art form.Because poetry is so specific to the artist, knowing how to write a poem in your own way can be tricky.Heres how to write a poem using our fundamentals of poetry:Understand the benefits of writing poetryDecide which type of poetry to writeHave proper poem structureInclude sharp imageryFocus on sound in poetryDefine the poems meaningHave a goalAvoid clichà ©s in your poemsOpt for minimalistic poemsRefine your poem to perfectionIf youre ready to learn what it takes to write (and then potentially publish a book of) good poetry, weve got the help you need.NOTE: We cover everything in this blog post and much more about the writing, marketing, and pu blishing process in our VIP Fiction Self-Publishing Program. Learn more about it hereBenefits of Learning How to Write a PoemEven if you aren’t looking to become a full-time poet, or even attempt to publish a single poem, writing poetry can be beneficial in several ways.It strengthens your skills in writing solid imagery. Poetry is a very image-based form of writing, so practicing poetry will improve your imagery in other forms as well.Poetry is concise and impactful- it uses strong language, and no more words than are necessary. If you have an understanding of how to write a poem, your prose when writing a novel will become crisper and stronger.Poetry helps you to connect with emotions in a tangible way. Other forms of writing have the plot to hide behind- with poetry, all you’ve got are emotions. (Unless it’s a narrative poem, of course.)Types of PoetryNot all types of poetry are the same, and that means learning how to write a poem involves being familiar wit h the different types.Here are the different types of poetry:Narrative this kind of poem relies on a story. It tells an event and there are often a few extra elements, such as characters, a plot, and a strong narration.Lyrical a lyric poem is similar to a song, and it tends to describe a specific feeling, scene, or state of mind.You may be familiar with these different types of poetry. For example, a lyrical poem is actually a song. Listening to your favorite radio station is just like hearing a collection of your favorite poems being read to you with some background music.A narrative poem is, as mentioned above, more like a story told in poetic prose.Heres a small example of a part of Edgar Allen Poes famous poem, The Raven:8 Fundamentals for How to Write a PoemPoetry can often be subjective. Not every poem will speak to every person.That being said, there are different attributes that you should learn if you want to know how to write poetry well regardless.#1 Structure of writi ng a poemThe structure of a poem can refer to many different things, but we’re going to discuss some different forms of poetry, how to use punctuation, and last words.Form of a PoemThe form of your poem is the physical structure. It can have requirements for rhyme, line length, number of lines/stanzas, etc.Here are different types of poetry forms:Sonnet A short, rhyming poem of 14 linesHaiku A poem of 3 lines where the first is 5 syllables, the middle is 7 syllables, and the last is 5.Acrostic A poem where the first letter of each line spells a word that fits with the theme of the poem or exposes a deeper meaning.Limerick This is a 5-live witty poem with the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme as do the other two with each other.Epic This type of poetry is a lengthy narrative poem celebrating adventures or accomplishments of heroes.Couplet This can be a part of a poem or stand alone as a poem of two lines that rhyme.Free verse This type of poem doesnt follow any rules and is free written poetry by the author.The majority of poets, specifically less experienced ones, write what’s called free verse, which is a poem without a form, or with a form the poet has made up for that specific piece.A poet may decide to have a certain rhyme scheme or might make their poems syllabic.With a free verse poem, you can set up any theme or pattern you wish, or have none at all.The great thing about poetry is that you can even start with a specific poem form, and then choose to alter it in order to make it unique and your own.Poetry PunctuationWriting a poem is difficult because you never know what the appropriate punctuation is, because it can be different from punctuation when writing a book.There are essentially three ways to punctuate your poetry:Grammatically this means you use punctuation properly for every grammar rule; if you removed the lines and stanzas, it would work as a grammatically correct paragraph, and this even includes writing dialogue in your poem.Stylistically this means you use punctuation to serve the way you would like the poem to be read. A comma indicates a short pause, a period indicates a longer pause, a dash indicates a pause with a connection of thoughts. Using no punctuation at all would lend to a rushed feeling, which you may want. Your punctuation choices will depend on your goals when writing a poem.A combination. Maybe you want to mostly follow punctuation rules, but you have a certain line you want read a certain way. It’s totally fine to deviate from standard rules if it serves a purpose- you just need to do whatever you’re doing intentionally. Know the rules before you can break them.In poetry, punctuation serves as the conductor. It sets the beat of a line or a stanza, telling you where to pause for breath. Conversely, enjambment- running lines of poetry together by not ending them with punctuation- can be extremely powerful, when used correctly. It keeps the line flowing without a pause or a full stop. Krystal Blaze DeanLast words of a poemThe last word of a line, the last word of your poem, and the last line of your poem are very important- these are the bits that echo in your reader’s head and have the most emphasis.Ending with punctuation (dash, period, comma) versus ending without punctuation will give you a dramatically different read, so consider the effect you’d like to have.Tip for last words: read the poem out loud a few times to see where you’d like the inflection and emphasis to fall.#2 ImageryImagery is a literary device thats a tangible description that appeals to one of the five senses.The more imagery in a poem, the more the reader can connect with it.Tip for imagery: focus on details. Instead of going for the obvious description, really put yourself in that moment or feeling- what details are the most impactful and real?Here are some examples of imagery:Pungent fumes lifted from the floor beneath her.Burning light paint ed the insides of his eyelids red.Hair from her ponytail bit at her face, swept into a frenzy by the furious winds.Crackling popped in rhythm to the dancing flames.#3 SoundWhile imagery is for the mind, sound is for the ear. How do your words and lines sound when read out loud? The most basic sound style is a rhyme, however, you should never force a rhyme! If you try for exact rhymes on every line, it becomes â€Å"sing songy,† and this is a big, red mark of an amateur. Sticking to a strict rhyme scheme can severely limit your word choice and creativity.Instead of going for exact end rhymes, here are some options to achieve that appealing auditory effect of rhyming when writing poems:Assonance the repetition of a vowel sound in non-rhyming, stressed syllables. Assonance gives you the fun sound effect of a rhyme without sounding campy. An example of assonance is: Hear the mellow wedding bells by Edgar Allen Poe.Alliteration the repetition of a consonant at the beginning of words. Specifically hard consonant sounds like T, ST, and CH have a hard, staccato effect that a lot of poets like to use.Internal rhymes words inside of lines rhyme, rather than the end words. Like assonance, you get the effect of a rhyme without sound like a Dr. Seuss ripoff.Tip for sound in poetry: Focus on beautiful, crisp imagery to carry your poem, rather than strictly relying on the sound and structure of it.#4 MeaningStructure, imagery, and sound work together to make up the technical excellence of a poem. But if your words are empty of a deeper meaning, what’s the point in writing a poem at all?Poetry is a form of storytelling. The key to writing is making the audience feel. Give them something to remember and hold onto. Brookes WashingtonMany new writers latch onto clichà ©s and tired topics (peep that alliteration) for their poems, because they think that’s what they’re supposed to do.But emulating something someone else has done, or some idea of what you should think a poem should be about, isn’t going to give you a genuine, emotional piece that other people can connect to.So write the poem that only you can write.Tips for how to write a poem with meaning: Brainstorm poetry topics by looking at your own experiences. What do you know? When is a time you felt very deeply about something? Can you put that feeling into words? Can you make that feeling an image other people can see through your words? That is the poem you write.You don’t need some grand, dramatic emotion to write about- think about the ordinary things that make us all human.Nothing ever ends poetically. It ends and we turn it into poetry. All that blood was never once beautiful. It was just red. Kait Rokowski#5 Have a goalHave a goal with writing a poem- what do you want your audience to feel?Are you just writing for fun or for yourself? Poetry is often a very personal form of writing, but that doesnt mean you shouldnt think about your audience a t the same time.If you want to publish your poetry eventually, there are a few things to think about in terms of your goals.What emotion or moral do you want to convey? What are you trying to express?These are important questions to answer in order to write an impactful and memorable poem.#6 Avoid cliche phrases when writing poetryThere are many clichà ©s you want to avoid when writing poetry.Nothing really marks an amateur poet like clichà ©s (and forced rhymes, like we mentioned before).Despite the temptation, avoid clichà © phrases. Go line by line and make your language as crisp and original as you can.If there are pieces in your poem that seem like youve read or heard them before, try to reword it in order to make it more original.#7 Opt for minimalismErr on the side of minimalism. Once you have a draft, cut it back to the bare, raw necessaries.Every word should be heavy with emotion and meaning, and every word should be absolutely essential. If your poem seems long-winded to you, imagine what that would be like for your reader. Be ready to edit your poem to get it down to its best form.Poetry is just word math. Every piece has mean something, and there can’t be any extraneous bits otherwise it gets confusing. It just becomes a puzzle made out of all the words that make you feel something. Abigail Giroir#8 Refine your poemThe real magic of poetry happens in the revising and refining.Revise the ever-living heck out of it. To paraphrase an old professor of mine: Don’t be afraid to sit with it. For weeks, months, years- as long as the poem needs. It’s great to have writing goals and timelines, but don’t rush a poem before you know it’s ready.Avoid abstractions. An abstraction is a word that can only refer to a concept or feeling- it’s not a concrete, tangible thing. Some examples of this are liberty, love, bondage, aggression.Abstractions make every person picture something different, so they are weak words, a nd they will weaken your poem. Instead of using an abstraction, think of what imagery you can use to convey that emotion or concept. Liberty can become chains breaking or birds flying. Love can be bringing your spouse coffee in bed, petting a dog, cleaning a gravestone.Think of the best images to convey your idea of that abstraction, so every reader can be on the same page with you.Don’t pigeonhole yourself into a form that will stifle your creativity, utilize imagery and sound, have a meaning and a purpose for every poem, and revise until your fingers bleed.Ready to start now?Dont forget about our free training we put together for you.If youre ready to learn what it really takes to write and publish a book- yes, including works of poetry- this will help you make it happen.

Drug policy in Medix Production Plant Assignment

Drug policy in Medix Production Plant - Assignment Example The increasing level of drug use in the company premises poses the following challenges to the company. First, it leads to low work output. Employees working under the influence of the drugs are prone to mistakes. Conversely, the company has been failing to meet its targets. Second, the drug abuse in the company premises contravenes the work ethics. The situation predisposes the company’s management and the workers in conflict. The fear is that when the company implements it working code, it is likely to lose workers or engage in court cases with the workers union. The company has observed that prolonged period of drug abuse in the company premises would make the workers to believe that the act does not contravene the company’s operation codes.   The trend would expose the company to external attack especially from authority. Some employees show occasional abuse of drugs in the company’s premises. While the occasional uses may not view their conduct as a vice, it exposes the company to criticism from fellow workers and the public. Generally, drug use in the company is a threat to the company’s future. Factors that promote drug use Drug use among the employees stem from an individual choice made before joining or after the employee joined the company. Studies show that drug use has both biological and psychological effects (Wald & Hutt). The psychological effects influence the person’s cognitive ability thereby influencing the normal behavioral trends. Since the drug use leads to addiction.... First, it leads to low work output. Employees working under the influence of the drugs are prone to mistakes. Conversely, the company has been failing to meet its targets. Second, the drug abuse in the company premises contravenes the work ethics. The situation predisposes the company’s management and the workers in conflict. The fear is that when the company implements it working code, it is likely to lose workers or engage in court cases with the workers union. The company has observed that prolonged period of drug abuse in the company premises would make the workers to believe that the act does not contravene the company’s operation codes. The trend would expose the company to external attack especially from authority. Some employees show occasional abuse of drugs in the company’s premises. While the occasional uses may not view their conduct as a vice, it exposes the company to criticism from fellow workers and the public. Generally, drug use in the company i s a threat to the company’s future. Factors that promote drug use Drug use among the employees stem from an individual choice made before joining or after the employee joined the company. Studies show that drug use has both biological and psychological effects (Wald & Hutt). The psychological effects influence the person’s cognitive ability thereby influencing the normal behavioral trends. Since the drug use leads to addiction, employees using drugs find it difficult to live without consuming the drugs. The biological effects of drug use dictate the body activity thereby exposing the drug user to constant consumption. Scientifically, drug addictions influence the body functions. This tends to explain the employee’s choice to sneak and abuse the

Cultural Diverse Backgrounds Assignment 3 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Cultural Diverse Backgrounds 3 - Assignment Example As a result of working together in our home, my mother had taught my siblings and me the value of family. Until now, we have a close relationship to each other and to our mother. As I remember, my mother treated my older brother, sister and I similarly and yet differently as well. It was dependent on our varied temperament and behavior. Being the only girl, my sister was shy so my mother was more soft-spoken and more gentle when scolding her. She was harder on my brother and I because we were more stubborn and naughtier than my sister. My grandparents were from Ireland and had to learn English. This difficulty in culture was one my mother did not want us to deal with. At an early age, she taught us English and yet never failed to remind us of our Irish heritage. Influence from religious beliefs was strong. My mother is Catholic and so are we. I remember mother teaching us to pray before meals and before we went to sleep. She would take us to church and remind us that God is good and we could ask Him for help but should also thank Him for our graces. Finally, my mother believed that children learn from their mistakes. So, she let us be hurt growing up. She was there to console us though and explain why we were hurting and how to deal with our problems. She let us solve our own problems but was ready to help if we asked

Article review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Article review - Essay Example For example: In motivation and self-directed learning; the author stated that allowing the students to read instructions or to decide their preferred learning strategy could trains them to be self-directed learners as it increases student’s motivation, sense of competence, reading comprehension, and strategy use. Article III – The literature part is comprehensive since it provides general information such as the races that migrates to Portugal in the past up to now; the national institutional regulations on the academic achievements of migrant children; etc. Article III – Quantitative survey questionnaires were used to gather data required to test the correlation among the variables related to socio-economic status, nationality, and the history of their family migration with school performance. The authors adopted Portes and Rumbaut’s (2001) questionnaire design. Article III – A total of 1,843 respondents participated in the survey. Respondents are composed of 53% Portuguese children, 44.3% immigrant children, and 1.9% emigrants. Target respondents are students between the age bracket of 14 to 24 including few students who are about to turn 14 years old. The authors did not mention whether they have randomly selected the respondents from the state secondary schools in Oeiras – a municipal located in the Greater Lisbon Metropolitan Area in Portugal. Article III – Aside from testing the variables related to socio-economic status, nationality, and the history of their family migration with school performance, the researchers used two-fold category for children born in Portugal of first generation immigrant parents; and those born abroad with the exception that those who were born abroad and came to Portugal before the age of six were included in the first category. The purpose of categorizing the respondents is to test whether migration is a factor for