There Will Come Soft Rains Essay Example

There Will Come Soft Rains Essay Analyse how a character is developed for a particular purpose in a written text you have studied. ‘There Will Come Soft Rains’ is a dystopian science fiction short story written by Ray Bradbury. The story is about a house in the future that is left standing after a nuclear bomb. The house continues with its normal routine even in the absence of humans. In the short story a character that is developed for a particular purpose is the house.The houses’ particular purpose is to show a symbol of modern technology and the potential limitations of new technologies. The techniques used to develop the house for a particular purpose is: personification and actions. The first technique used to develop the house is for a particular purpose is personification. Bradbury uses personification throughout the story, which helps readers gain an insight on the houses personality. An example of this personification in the story is when the house â€Å"quivered at each sound†.Th is leads the reader to believe that the house is alive. This gives the house a defensive personality as it â€Å"quivered at each sound†. Another example of personification in the story is when house sings â€Å"tick-tock, seven o’clock † This example of personification is used to show us another personality that the house has, this is its organized personality. We see that the house is organized a lot throughout the story because its times are programmed reminders of what needs to be done at that certain time.These techniques are used to develop the house is for a particular purpose, which is to symbolise modern technology. It symbolises this through its features such as: being able to talk, knowing what to do at what time, being able to prepare a full meal and cleaning it up, cleaning the house and even playing poems. This shows the readers how modern the technology used in the house is. The second technique, used to develop the house for a particular purpose, is actions.Bradbury uses actions throughout the story to show the reader what the house is doing, which gives the reader a better understanding of the houses’ personality. The house does actions in numerous parts of the story, in one part of the story the house inquires â€Å"who goes there † it gets no answer from anything or anyone, it then shut its windows and drew its shades in â€Å"an old-maidenly preoccupation with self-protection.. † The reader perceives the houses’ personality to be protective also, however this shows us another purpose of the house which is ts limitations of new technology, although the house is protective it does not have the human ability to think and adapt to different situations. But not only is the house protective, despite the house having some of the best technology, such as cooking for you, making your bath, cleaning for you etc. The house still does not have the human ability to think and adapt to situations. An exampl e of this is when the house sings â€Å"two o’clock† after the dog dies the dog is decaying as the mice drop the dog into the incinerator.This shows the readers that house has no human emotion or the ability to adapt and think for itself and shows us that another personality the house has is being oblivious to most things such as death. These techniques are used to develop the house for a particular purpose in the story of showing the potential limitations of new technology. In conclusion, Ray Bradbury shows in this short story why he is such a skilled writer. Bradbury can effectively develop a character for a particular purpose in a clear way so that he readers can easily tell what it is about, just as he did in ‘There Will Come Soft Rains’.

7 Tips To Bag Your Dream Writing Gig

7 Tips To Bag Your Dream Writing Gig 7 Tips To Bag Your Dream Writing Gig 7 Tips To Bag Your Dream Writing Gig By Colin It’s an average morning in freelance writing land. You’re dressed and fed (maybe), you’ve checked your inbox, and now you’re sipping on a fresh cup of coffee while scanning the Internet job boards for writing gigs of interest. Then you see it. A job that is so suited for you and your writing style, you may as well have written the advert yourself. It’s ideal, it’s your dream writing gig, it’s perfect for you and you’d do anything to get it. But how DO you get it? In what way can you convince the client that from the hundreds of applications they may be about to receive, you are the one that deserves it most? Here are seven top tips to help you rise above the crowd, and help you bag your dream freelance writing gig. 1. Read The Requirements It’s kind of obvious, but it’s important, and something that is overlooked by so many. Remember at school when you were told always to double read the questions in the exam paper? That advice still holds true. Always read the advert once, twice – thrice – because understanding what is required is they key to telling the client what they want to hear. Editors get annoyed when a writer submits an application, query or submission for consideration, when it is painfully obvious he hasn’t read the advert or the editorial requirements. And rightfully so, because it demonstrates a lack of professionalism, and indicates the writer is not serious enough to have researched the publication or the company he is applying to. An application or query from a writer who has carefully read the editorial requirements, and has used them to his advantage, will always shine through. It will help to ensure he floats quickly to the top of the pile and gets a quicker response. 2. Write a Killer Query You know what is wanted, and you understand the requirements fully, now you have to write a killer query to grab the editor’s attention. I’ll cover query letter writing in detail in another article, but it goes without saying that a good initial approach in a query or application, as well as demonstrating a respect for the editorial guidelines, should also contain perfect spelling and grammar. It should be well constructed, be exciting, and should make the editor’s decision an easy one. Query letters or emails that are poorly written will go straight into the bin. 3. Make It Personal When you apply for a writing gig, it may be you have no idea who the client is other than ‘the editor.’ Obviously, you could address your query to ‘The Editor,’ but with a little bit of time taken to research and personalise the letter, you will stand a greater chance of being remembered and taken seriously as a contender for the position. Go to the company’s website. If it is not specifically mentioned, look at the email address where submissions and queries are to be sent, and enter the domain in Google. If it’s an anonymous email address, search on the company name. Read up on the company; their business reports, press releases, company history, ethos, products, employees, etc. If you can find out about the actual person you are applying to, then even better. Remember, knowledge is power to be used wisely, so use what you learn to beef up your application. Address it to the person mentioned in the advert, and adapt your letter to your prospective employer, making the connection between them and you that little bit stronger. 4. Don’t Be A Designer If you are querying via email always send in text format only. HTML emails are not always displayed properly by the email system you are sending to, or even appreciated by the person at the other end, so don’t be tempted. There should be no fancy images, headers, or signatures – just the basics of a strong, positive, attention grabbing query. The same applies in concept to snail mail letters. Remove fancy and coloured fonts, and forget about images – they only move the reader’s attention away from the content. Letter headings are acceptable, but make sure yours is subtle and contains your contact details. 5. Proofread, Proofread, Proofread! In the same way you should always proofread your articles, always proofread your query letters or applications. It’s the final line to cross to getting your application considered, so make sure it is perfect. We’re all guilty of the odd error, but you should always check for: Spelling Grammar Sentence structure Formality versus informality Contact information Suitability Strength of hook Suitability Everyone has different ways of proofreading their work. I tend to batter out an article then leave it for a day or two. I’ll go back to it and bring it together over a couple of drafts, then go over it a few times looking for all of the above. Finally, I’ll leave it alone for a day or two, then go back and read it out loud, and then read it backwards. 6. Show Off Your Skills In the same way the first rule of fiction writing is to ‘show, not tell,’ bagging your dream (or any) freelance writing gig incorporates the same principle: show them how good you are, don’t just tell them. It’s ok to list your publishing credits and it can be an impressive way of hooking an editor’s interest, but put yourself in his shoes: wouldn’t you rather see evidence of how good this fantastic writer is, rather than taking his word for it? Send some clips, and if you have some related material you have worked on in the past, make sure that is top of the file. If you are applying via email, consider creating a PDF document you can attach to your submission that highlights your best and most relevant clips. Some places don’t accept email attachments for reasons of security or stubbornness. If this is the case create a web page with the same information, including links if applicable, that the editor can then go and find. If they specify in their requirements they do not want attachments, they mean it, and will likely delete your application before it is read. But it also means they will probably be used to clicking on a link instead, and reviewing a writer’s clips online. If you dont have any clips, send a sample of something youve written. And if you really want to impress, write a short example that is entirely specific to them and the work they are advertising for, and send that along with your query. Going the extra yard could guarantee you are afforded time and consideration by most reasonable editors, and can be all you need to get your foot in the door. 7. Sell Yourself As your career progresses make a point of collecting testimonials from clients youve worked for. These can be in the form of quotes from emails, letters, or verbal. Include them on your website and in all your marketing and promotional material. When it comes to winning over an editor, theres nothing more impressive than reading a personal recommendation. And finally, never be afraid to tell someone how good you are. Don’t be arrogant about it, but don’t back away from accentuating your positives. Getting the dream gigs is all about selling and impressing, so don’t let someone else bag your gig simply because you were too shy to tell an editor how much you want the job. 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 Freelance Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Slang Terms for Money50 Types of PropagandaSit vs. Set

Liberal Art Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Liberal Art Studies - Essay Example This may include seeking new opportunities that are more fitting to the individual person and are able to make that individual more fulfilled as a person. After years of living his life according to the carnal pleasures of the body, Augustine felt there must be something more to life than the way he was living it. He thus began a quest for a more fulfilling life. Similarly, a more fulfilling career should always be the goal of the professional. A better career often requires difficult changes, but a professional should be willing to make those changes in order to realize a better life. In addition to benefiting the individual, a more fulfilled person is better able to improve society as a whole. A modern professional’s career journey is similar to the spiritual journey of Augustine. A career does not always go according to plan. There are difficult problems to work through in nearly every job. There are also times when it is better for an individual to move on from a current j ob and obtain a better, more fulfilling job. Like a spiritual journey, a professional is confronted with difficult situations which are often unpleasant. These situations often lead to changes and, although difficult, they can lead a professional to a better path in which they are able to grow as an individual as well as a professional.

Langston Hughes and Walt Whitman Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Langston Hughes and Walt Whitman - Essay Example Hughes is famous for writing about the ordinary lives of black people from the 20s to the 60s. Hughes claimed that his writings were influenced by Paul Lawrence Dunbar, W.E.B. Du Bois, Carl Sandburg, and Walt Whitman. On the other hand, Walt Whitman was born on May 31, 1819 in New York. Whitman worked as a printer, teacher, journalist, editor and during the war, he volunteered as a nurse in hospitals. His literary inspirations are Homer, Dante and Shakespeare. The era when Hughes became very popular was during the Harlem Renaissance (1918 to 1930) which was during the time when the Blacks were discriminated against. Being a Black himself, his themes were about social injustices against the Blacks and what it meant to be black, which earned him the title â€Å"The Black Poet Laureate†. Hughes also believed in socialism and became a member of the Communist Party. In contrast, Whitman’s epoch was during the Civil War. He witnessed the rise of the United States as a commerc ial and political power. He witnessed both the peak and the abolition of slavery. This is why the themes of his poems are mainly on the ideas of democracy, equality and brotherhood (SparkNotes Editors, par.6). With regards to writing style, both Whitman and Hughes use rhythm and repetition which creates a captivating quality of incantation. Both of them use anaphora, which is a literary device where several lines in a row begin with the same word or phrase. In Whitman, an example of this is his poem â€Å"When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer† (1865), where the first four lines each begin with â€Å"when†, as illustrated below: When I heard the learn’d astronomer; When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me; When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them; When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room, In Hughes’ â€Å"Let America Be America Againâ₠¬ , the first three lines begin with â€Å"let†. Let America be America again. Let it be the dream it used to be. Let it be the pioneer on the plain Unlike Whitman, Hughes’ poems are more pessimistic about the nature of America; but at the same time he offers a call to change, as can be seen in his poem above. The themes of Whitman’s works revolve around democracy as a way of life, the cycle of growth and death and the beauty of the individual. On the other hand, Hughes’ themes are based on his personal life, his travels, his involvement in radical and protest movements, his interest in Africa and South America as well as the Caribbean. With regards to the use of language, Whitman widened the possibilities of poetic diction by including slang, colloquialisms, and regional dialects, rather than employing the stiff, erudite language so often found in nineteenth-century verse (SparkNotesEditors, par.2). In contrast, Hughes language style incorporates rhythm ical language, jazz, blues structures, dialects and colorful verses. Hughes’ poetry is best read aloud because of its cadence. Whitman and Hughes are poets who were largely influenced by the political and social issues during their times. Their works goes beyond literature, crossing the boundaries of political and social content. Both the subject matter and language contribute to its aesthetic value. This is what made their poems more memorable and considered to be among the masterpieces of world literature. Work Cited â€Å"Poets.org. Guide to Langston Hughes.† Poets.org. Web. 18 May 2011. http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/323 SparkNotes Editors. â€Å"SparkNote on Whitman’s Poetry.† SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2002. Web. 18 May 2011.

Ecosystem Function, Structure and Change Essay Example for Free

Ecosystem Function, Structure and Change Essay Lake Tahoe is a large lake that is almost split in half by the border of California and Nevada. Lake Tahoe’s surface area is about 191, 500 square miles with a depth of about 500 meters. Lake Tahoe is listed as the 26th largest lake by volume. The vegetation around the lake supports a variety of plant life and animal life, as well as a very diverse organism community. The vegetation around the lake consists of a mixture of Jeffry Pine, lodgepole Pine, and both white and red fir’s. Vegetation also includes both wet and dry meadows and brush fields. The brush field Ceanothus has the capability of fixing nitrogen that makes the soil of the surrounding lake more fertile. There are several processes that prevail inside and outside the lake. The lake is under threat from eutrophication that can severely affect the aquatic life living in it and the surrounding vegetation. It has been estimated that there has been changes in the populations of the various aquatic animals living in the lake’s waters. Zooplankton population has faced the greatest changes. The lake experiences both winter and summer seasons, which in that area of the country can be extreme. Temperatures can go as high as 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and as low as sub-zero in the winter. The vegetation surrounding the lake experiences these temperature changes and responds to this stimulus by the change in leaf colors and leaf numbers. The seasonal changes also affect the different mammal activities and interactions in the surrounding environment. Human activity around the lake is considerably high. Historically, the area around the lake was inhabited by Native Americans. The lake, because of its natural beauty and vegetation is a great attraction spot for tourists who wish to ski and fish. Because of the surrounding human population, there have been attempts to dispose of the raw sewage away from the lake basin but this strategy has not proved to be that useful. This is because the  eutrophication levels of the lake water are rising at a considerably high rate. The nitrogen and phosphorus levels of lake are increasing because of the high amounts of these elements and their compounds in the sewage water. The phytoplankton population present in the lake’s water is a natural tool that is reducing the levels as we speak. However, the rate of this natural proves might not be able to cope with the nitrogen and phosphorus amounts in the future if per say the sewage problem is not dealt with effectively in time. [Strong, 1999] The need for effective ecological planning is essential in today’s world where industry and technology is growing at a remarkable rate. Ecological planers plan to protect the nature’s true works and work hard to promote awareness against ecological deterioration. There are several things that planning requires. The lake is surrounded by vegetation and is home to hundreds of aquatic life forms. The vegetation and the mammalian life inside it is directly dependent on the lake for food and nourishment. This is because the primary protein source shall be the fish inside the lake for the land animals. Ecologists use these types of useful information to develop plans for management and restoration. In this case, the ecologists shall consider the water quality of the lake to be of the greatest importance. They shall ensure that there is little human interference in the natural habitats of the vegetation’s animals to allow the natural ecosystem to flourish because human interferences can cause migrations. The ecologists shall calculate the area required by the lake and the surrounding vegetation and shall accordingly present the data for further use. If in the future, companies or industries aim to industrialize the area, the ecologists shall use the data to calculate the risk of opening an industry to the environment. Ecologists that use preservation techniques to help preserve natural ecosystems give often consider the importance of an ecosystem by looking for any endangered or rare species inhabiting the area. The conservation of these rare species keeps ecologists busy. Ecological interactions between species are numerous and some types of standards only occur rarely or in specific climates and/or seasons. Lake Tahoe is an example of the hundreds of natural ecosystems found on the planet. Each ecosystem has a unique setup and the organisms populating it are dependent on it in every way. The presentation of these ecosystems is a responsibility for humans. References Lake Tahoe. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Tahoe

A Character Comparison: Nora Vs. Antigone Essay -- Dolls House Antigo

A Character Comparison: Nora Vs. Antigone In the novels A Doll's House and Antigone, Ibsen and Sophocles respectively create two lead female characters, Nora and Antigone, who confront society's expectations of women in fundamentally different ways. Nora goes against the grain of middle class society by first forging her father's signature and then deceiving her husband, Torvald, throughout their marriage; Antigone, on the other hand, openly challenges and defies the rule of men, including her uncle and King of Thebes, Creon. Although Nora and Antigone share some comparable personality traits, like being strong willed and motivated, they confront the men in their lives and their comparable societies in two distinctive ways, which, as a result, leads to two differing denouements. Nearly every society, Nora and Antigone's are no exception, dictates a specific place or purpose for women, and while Nora and Antigone's respective societies possess some similarities regarding women's place and purpose, they contain several important differences. In Antigone, for example, the relative worth and status of women in Thebian society seems clear; women are to submit to the rule of man. Ismene suggests this submissive attribute of women in Thebian society when she begs Antigone not to defy Creon's commands, "Remind ourselves that we are women and as such are not made to fight with men." (193) Evidently the Thebian society controlled by men has kept a lid on women's individuality so much so that even a member of the royal family, Ismene, speaks of the futility in attempting to clash with the rule of man. Furthermore, Creon asks Antigone if she is "ashamed to differ from such men [the Chorus]?" (212) This suggests that in Thebian society w... ...igone respectively. Both plays focus on women's place in society and the struggle of two women to discover the repression of women latent in society and to break free of that repression. Surprisingly enough the two societies maintain similar expectations of women, but Nora and Antigone break those expectations via different methods unique to their situations. Nora is repressed by her husband and society, whereas Antigone is repressed by Creon and Thebian society, and while Nora deceives her husband for the majority of their marriage, Antigone's strong will allows her to openly confront Creon's superiority. Thus, the conclusions or denouements of the plays are to some extent different; while Nora survives in theoretical 'perfect freedom' in her society, Antigone is given death, and in a way 'frees' herself from the repressive society in which she has been subjected to.

Silk Road: Tea

The Silk Road was a series of historical trade routes that connected cultures of European and Asian countries. Hidden in Southwest China is a lesser-known trade route called Chamadao, literally translated as the Tea Horse Road, was a central trade route for the exchange of Tibetan horses and Chinese tea (Elaine). The route started in Southwest China, where tea was produced, led north into the Tibetan mountains and into India (Yang). Due to its economic and cultural impact, it has been dubbed the â€Å"Southern Silk Road of China† (Yang). Tea first originated from Yunnan, through China, to the rest of Asia, then to the West.In its earliest uses, tea was first used as food then concocted as medicinal brews. As more traditional tea drinking practices developed overtime. It began transmit to social hierarchy and developed status (Heiss 4,7). The origin of tea trade could be traced back to the Tang Dynasty. During the Tang dynasty, Emperor Dezong sent his supervisory official Chang Lu to visit Tibet. Chang Lu offered some boiled tea to the Tibetan king, who then asked what it was. When Chang answered, the king informed him that Tibet already had tea and had his servants show it to Chang (Yang). The Chinese were the main exporters of tea.The Tea Horse Road, or Chamadao, was a central trade route for exchanging Tibetan horses and Chinese tea. Though it is called the Tea Horse Road, other products such as salt, sugar and furs were also exchanged along this route. The increasing importance of tea in daily life led to high demand and set up many markets outside of Southern China (Whitfield 238). Tea trade further expanded after Europeans were introduced to it. Chinese Tea was traded as far as Kenya, Africa. Chamadao soon earned the title of â€Å"Southern Silk Road of China,† due to its importance in both economic and cultural aspects (Elaine).Tea played a great role in religion and politics. At the height of the tea trade’s prosperity during the Min g Dynasty, a bureau was established to manage the horse and tea trade. During that time, the Ming Court often used the tea trade as a means of maintaining political control over Tibetan leaders and lamas. Farmers paid tea as tribute, or tax to the emperor, or ruler. The tea used in such tributes determined its quality (Yang). Tea was embraced by China’s three great religions—Buddhism, Confucianism and Daoism for its perceived healthful virtues and powers of rejuvenation .The holy leaders of these religions deemed the drink as a necessity and should be consumed by all practitioners. As each of these faiths spread, so did the practice of consuming tea (Heiss 10). In short, the lesser-known Tea Horse Road had great economic and cultural impact. Its cultural exchange and prosperity is comparable to the Silk Road in historical importance. This â€Å"Southern Silk Road† is no longer in use but its legacy continues to play a crucial role in the communication and exchan ge of present cultures.