Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Depression, Escapism, and Hope The Story of 1930s America

Depression, Escapism, and Hope: The Story of 1930s America Often, the 1930s are classified as the age of economic depression. Although true, the decade has proved to be a time of reform and hope. In the midwest a series of windstorms occurred accompanied by a harsh drought causing the Dust Bowl, while in the more industrialized north, citizens struggled to find jobs. From song lyrics to baseball cards, artifacts from the decade rejuvenated the once crushed spirits of the American people. However, not all Americans regained a sense of hope, and instead some resorted to toxic ways to ease their minds. Moreover, as the Great Depression trudged on through the 1930s, American citizens searched for a way to escape their hardships, yet remained†¦show more content†¦Later renamed the Farm Security Administration, the FSA â€Å"lent money to sharecroppers and set up camps for migrant workers.† Nearing the end of her trip, Lange impulsively stopped at a pea farm in Nipomo, California. There she encountered a young woman and her seven c hildren: Lange recalled, â€Å"I saw and approached the hungry and desperate mother, as if drawn by a magnet.† Lange interviewed the woman who soon allowed her to photograph her situation. â€Å"She seemed to know that my pictures might help her, and so she helped me. There was a sort of equality about it,† Lange later stated. She took six photos of the woman, and her most famous, which depicted the woman slumping over while two of her children crouch behind her shoulders, is entitled â€Å"Migrant Mother†. On May 10, 1936 the photograph appeared in The San Francisco News as part of a campaign to end starvation within the weak pea picking community, due to the iced vegetables. Immediately after the advertisement was released, relief for the pea pickers was organized. However, â€Å"The picture has had a history beyond its original context within the FSA†¦.† â€Å"Migrant Mother† has appeared on the U.S postal stamp as an image that define s the 1930s. Depicting the â€Å"widely felt nostalgia for a mythic American past,† the photograph brought the severe reality of the Great Depression to American citizens and to the government’sShow MoreRelatedFred Astaires iImpact on the Great Depression Essay1782 Words   |  8 Pagesthe 1930s during the Great Depression. Everywhere, Americans were looking for some joy in their lives, and Astaire was able to give them hope in a period of history that lacked optimism. Fred Astaire’s carefree dance movement style and techniques, specifically in the films Swing Time and The Gay Divorcee, help America through the Great Depression and signifies the importance of art in this time period. The arts played a significant role in the Great Depression- not only as a means of escapism forRead MoreThe Genesis Of The Mid Twentieth Century America3651 Words   |  15 Pagesreferred to as the Mecca of the New Negro, amassing over 200, 000 black residents by 1930 (Bremer 49). This home was put to the test as Harlemites strived to make it both â€Å"a community and an aspiration – a civic as well as aesthetic endeavor† (Bremer 48). Furthermore, Senegalese poet Leopold Senghor prophesied that New York would be saved by the â€Å"African humanism of black Harlem† (qtd. in Hamalian 687). This was the hope that sprouted from Harlem in the 1920s and remained, though in varied forms, throughoutRead MoreThe Studio System Essay14396 Words   |  58 Pagesthe films we watch. Starting in 1920, Adolph Zukor, head of Paramount Pictures, over the decade of the 1920s helped to fashion Hollywood into a vertically integrated system, a set of economic innovations which was firmly in place by 1930. For the next three decades, the movie industry in the United States and the rest of the world operated by according to these principles. Cultural, social and economic changes ensured the demise of this system after the Second WorldRead MoreEdith Head: Hollywoods First Woman Fashion Designer Essay8781 Words   |  36 PagesThe  1930s  ushered  in  the  Golden  Age  of  Hollywood  when  new  technological  advances  brought lighting,  photography,  and  sound  to  a  new  level  of  excellence.  Along  with  these  technical  advances, wardrobe  departments  of  major  motion  picture  studios  were  busy  as  costume  designers,  with  the assistance  of  skilled  seamstresses,  milliners,  and  tailors,  produced  stunning  garments  for  glamorous movie  stars.  During  the  1930s  and  1940s  the  field  of  costume  design  was  dominated  by  men.  But,  that didn’t  stop  Edith  HeadRead MoreRastafarian79520 Words   |  319 Pagesapparatus of cultural formation was controlled fully by the elite who, to a large extent, ran th e educational apparatus and the economic system. But much of the country was beginning to question in earnest the structure of colonial society by the early 1930s. The emergence of Rasta during that period corresponds with so much that was happening around the world. Rastas could tell that social unrest in Jamaica was going to lead to a movement away from colonial rule and, having heard Marcus Garvey speakRead MoreStrategic Marketing Management337596 Words   |  1351 Pagesenvironment depends on finding an upmarket niche, profitable business elsewhere, a hot-selling model or dominance of a domestic market. Past business decisions give Fiat no claim to the first two of these. Its new model, the Stilo, on which great hopes were pinned, is selling less well than had been hoped. And domestic dominance, once absolute, is under pressure. Though Fiat retains 35 per cent of the Italian market, it no longer does so effortlessly: it must offer price concessions and discounts

Huck Finn Opposition to Racism Free Essays

string(129) " person who as uneducated as he is, consistently cares for others, is loyal to his friendships, and feels guilt in his mistakes\." Megan Patton John Rohrkemper February 28, 2010 American Lit Exposing the Racist, Opposing Racism Since its original publication in 1884, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has proven to be one of the most controversial when it comes to the reoccurring issue of race in American society. Many argue that Mark Twain held the racist ideals that most people had in the 1830’s, while others know that Twain was a social satirist, mocking the ignorance of society. In order to be considered a racist novel Huck Finn would have to advocate racism. We will write a custom essay sample on Huck Finn: Opposition to Racism or any similar topic only for you Order Now The evidence thus far has lead me to believe that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn promotes a strong set of antiracist ethical values as the main character, Jim, a runaway slave is displayed as the best, most honorable character, while other white characters are depicted as ignorant and self centered, lacking ethical reasoning. The immorality of racism is periodically satirized throughout the novel. The unethical thinking of the time period of slavery is an issue that Twain recognizes, mocks, and clearly presents his opposition toward. One of the main concerns consistently brought up by those who argue that Twain is racist is that simply based on the dialogue and use of the word â€Å"nigger,† Twain is being insensitive toward blacks. He must be a racist if he is using such a derogatory term. However, they fail to realize that he is telling a story how it would have happened and he avoids beating around the bush in order to lay out the reality of the time period when people engaged in such communication. Justin Kaplan uses powerful words on the matter when he questions people who have â€Å"allowed him or herself even the barest minimum of intelligent response to its underlying spirit† (378) and still â€Å"accuse it of being racist because some of its characters use offensive racial epithets† (378). On the surface, this can easily be detected as racism but when taking a look at particular circumstances of ignorance, Huck’s internal battling experiences, and satiric element, the intent is clear. Jim, one of the main characters of the novel, is undoubtedly the most moral character in the novel. Julius Lester argues in his piece â€Å"Morality in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn† that Jim is a â€Å"childlike character† and is not taken seriously since he â€Å"runs away and does not immediately seek his freedom† (365). However, Jim has been brought up in a time where he himself feels some sort of inferiority complex to whites in society. Lester is partially correct in his philosophy that Jim is childlike, but wrong in the idea that this is a negative aspect of his character. His â€Å"childlike† quality characterizes his humility, nobility, and kindness. He is much more one of the wiser characters in the novel as he recognizes the mistakes he has made and even expresses his guilt to Huck. He tells Huck a story about a time when he asked his four year old daughter to â€Å"’Shut de do’ â€Å"(154) and she just stood there smiling at him, deaf to the fact that her father was instructing her to shut the door. Since he did not realize she had scarlet fever and had grown deaf, he beat her for her disobedience. When he realized that she was deaf, he â€Å"bust out cryin’ en grab her up in [his] arms, and say â€Å"’Oh, de po’ little thing! De Lord God almighty fogive po ol Jim’†(155) After beating his daughter, he realizes that what he did is wrong. He learns from his mistakes and asked for forgiveness from God who he believes is all powerful with the power to forgive man of his sins. In this scene Jim demonstrates wisdom. He takes what he knows, puts it to use, and repents. While he may not be the most educated character in the novel, he seems to have the most caring attitude based on the principles he has learned. According to Bennett Kravitz, Jim is â€Å"portrayed as noble, loyal, and the ultimate friend and family man. On the contrary to his ‘’childlike† trait that Lester believes Jim has, he is actually a father and acts much more like a caregiver. In a scene where Huck plays a trick on Jim, Jim grows seriously worried for Huck’s life. He even announces after an angry rant that Huck scared him half to death, that â€Å"my heart wuz mos’ broke bekase you wuz los†™, en I didn’t k’yer no mo’ what become er me en de raf’†(99). He goes on to express how he was so excited to see Huck alive that tears almost came. This is a critical point in the novel, for it is the first time the friendship of Huck and Jim is revealed by one of the characters themselves. Of course, Jim being the gentle person he is, is the first one to call this relationship a friendship. Besides becoming worried over what he thought was the loss of his friend Huck, Jim shows his care giving qualities towards the end of the novel when he stays behind to help nurse Tom back to health. Jim bases his actions on what he thinks Tom Sawyer would do in the situation and insists n getting a doctor. His persistence is so strong that he says, â€Å"’I doan budge a step out’n dis place,’ dout a doctor: not if it’s forty year! ’(249). † Upon the doctor’s arrival, Jim comes out of hiding and aids the doctor, knowing that he will be recaptured. Not only is he being a concerned care giving man, but Jim is risking his freedom for a person he barely knows. He has that father like instinct that Julius Lester seems to have missed. It is the other characters in the novel who demonstrate weak ethical values. Many of the characters who have racist credentials are portrayed as lowly, immoral, and uneducated. They rarely show remorse and are entirely self-centered. On the other hand, Jim is an easygoing, loving person who as uneducated as he is, consistently cares for others, is loyal to his friendships, and feels guilt in his mistakes. You read "Huck Finn: Opposition to Racism" in category "Essay examples" After being visually described as having â€Å"been drunk over in town and [laying] in the gutter all night,† (52) Pap goes on to find fault in the government for not only taking away his son, but for allowing a â€Å"nigger† from Ohio to become a professor. Ironically, Pap thinks he is superior to a highly educated man who â€Å"could talk all kinds of languages, and knowed everything† (52) and is angry with the government for allowing a â€Å"nigger† to teach. He is so wrapped up in the skin color that he does not realize his own faults and idiocy. Additionally, Pap is quite the opposite of Jim who loves his family, articulates his longing to be with them as well as his guilt for beating his daughter. Pap came back into Huck’s life demanding the money he received in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, not because he loved Huck and wanted to be more involved in his life. He does not have a care in the world for Huck, his only son. When finally Pap kidnaps Huck and has the chance to develop that father, son relationship, he locks him in a cabin while he goes out and gets wasted, and when he returns, Pap beats the boy. In Huck’s words Pap â€Å"got too handy with his hick’ry and I couldn’t stand it. Welts all over† (50). Incongruously to Jim’s remorse, Pap is not phased by his wrongdoing. Twain certainly did this on purpose. The racism held by Huck’s father, as well as many other Americans preceding the Civil War when blacks and other minorities were seen as inferiors, is displayed throughout the novel. Through the constant use of the derogatory term â€Å"nigger† and the maltreatment of Jim as well as other blacks and slaves, Twain is able to illustrate society’s ignorance. This way, as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is taught throughout the country, young people, or any person for that matter can see the veracity and severity of racist attitudes. Pap is not the only character in the novel who displays a loose set of moral values. The escapade with the Duke and the Dauphin is another encounter in the novel where whites are displayed as weak, self centered people who are blindly racist. Twain uses their constant conniving deeds to show a diversity of white characters in this society as horrible people. In Justin Kaplan’s â€Å"Born To Trouble: 100 Years of Huckleberry Finn†, he describes Jim and Huck being on the run because of a â€Å"nightmare society driven by bigotry, violence, exploitation, greed, and ignorance (379)† These words are perfect in describing the Duke and the Dauphin as they move from town to town tricking people out of their money. In one particular scenario, it is not even possible to feel sorry for the townspeople who are getting tricked out of their money because then they go and act like the â€Å"play† was great so that everyone else in the town gets tricked out of their money as well. Along with Pap, the Duke, and the Dauphin are the â€Å"religious† characters who seem to have it all together but definitely do not. By displaying even the â€Å"best of the best† characters with racist attitudes, Twain shows how it was society as a whole who held racist ideals, not just the lowlife criminal types. An example of a character that seems to have herself together is Ms. Watson. She is supposed to be a smart, religious, good-intending family woman. Even the good woman who took Huck into her home to raise him â€Å"sivilized† has flaws. While in the end she is the one to grant Jim his freedom, preceding this she put her selfish desires for money ahead of Jim and though he was her slave, Jim was someone she had known for quite a while. To Jim’s knowledge, he was someone she cared about on some level even if she did not see him as an equal. Jim overheard Ms. Watson talking about selling Jim â€Å"down the river,† which is the very reason he ran away. Another supposedly wholesome, good intending character is Aunt Sally. When Huck first meets Aunt Sally he describes an accident on the boat he was traveling on. Aunt Sally exclaims â€Å"Good Gracious! Anybody hurt? † to which Huck replies No’m Killed a nigger† (206). Sadly, this quote is often seen as racist but in actuality it contains a very satirical element and according to Kaplan is â€Å"a frequently, brutal, painful realism† (379). The novel is simply showing the corruption of the adult world. Peaches Henry argues that â€Å"In order to believe in Twain’s satirical intention, one has to believe in Huck’s good faith toward Jim† (390). It is easy to identify Huck’s good faith toward Jim throughout the novel. Aside from the idiocy of a majority of characters, Huck’s internal battles with himself throughout the novel demonstrate Mark Twain’s antiracist beliefs. Though Huck, in his conscience believes blacks to be worthless, his somewhat naive personality and â€Å"conscience† can be blamed. He has been spoon-fed everything he knows about Africans by a society which has enslaved them and had a superior attitude towards them. It is a tough situation to examine, as by today’s standards slavery is seen by the overwhelming majority of American citizens as morally wrong, but in Huck’s time and place the majority saw it as the natural order of things. However, despite his upbringings and learned racism, Huck periodically has instances where he believes Jim â€Å"seems white† or, in other words, seems to be like any other human with feelings, emotions, and close family relations. Earlier, in a moment where Jim shows his care giving qualities, Huck shows one of his first signs of affection toward â€Å"a nigger. † He shows his first signs of remorse as he apologizes to Jim. Though he does mention â€Å"it was fifteen minutes before I would work myself up to go and humble myself to nigger† (100)† Huck does apologize, feels remorse, and admits to the audience that what he did â€Å"made [him] feel mean† (99). The second time Huck has a moment of realization about Jim that surprises him is when Jim talks about his family. When Jim goes on to describe them, and the regret he had for beating his daughter for something she didn’t deserve, Huck sees something in Jim that he had probably had been taught that blacks did not posses. He was probably taught that they did not have feelings. He realizes in this moment that Jim must have feelings and therefore makes that statement that Jim is â€Å"white inside. † Additionally, in the moment earlier discussed in Tom’s injured state where Jim uses logic to decide on calling a doctor, Huck states, â€Å"I knowed he was white inside, and I reckoned he’d say what he did say – so it was alright, now. † The most climactic moment in the novel is the ultimate battle Huck faces when he is forced to choose between the societal values he has been taught and raised to believe is right or to help Jim which he feels in his heart is the right thing to do. Huck has been raised to believe that blacks were uneducated, inferior, and most certainly not people to become friends with. For all Huck knew, blacks were placed on the earth to work and lacked the ability to love and care. Huck definitely believed that aiding a black man in an escape would send him to hell. This moment directly indicates how foolish Twain believed the people of the time period to be. Huck states, â€Å"I was trembling, because I’d got to decide forever betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: ‘All right, then, I’ll go to hell’ –and tore it up. † By this point in the novel, through their adventures and development of friendship, Huck is willing to risk eternity in hell to save his friend. Surely, even if he may not admit that he and Jim were friends, someone would not risk their lives for a stranger, or even an acquaintance. Not only does Huck begin to see Jim as an equal in his heart, though it may not be in his â€Å"conscience†, he is also constantly seeing how awful society is. In order to detect racism there must be a middle step of realization that ill treatment of people based on their skin color is wrong. In order to see that this is wrong, it is important to notice the problems within society to begin with. In his experience with the Duke and Dauphin, Huck witnesses their tar and feathering, another cruel punishment by society, and states that, â€Å"It was enough to make a body ashamed of the human race† (160). The fact that Huck even acknowledges a problem in the human race would not have been part of the story if Twain had agreed with society’s view on slavery. It demonstrates his antiracist approach. One of the purposes of the novel is for the reader to develop sympathy towards Jim. Because the people around him lack morals while he consistently shows a moral and accepting view towards life, his character develops superiorly to the rest of society despite his lack of education. His lack of education exists because of Twain’s realist approach to the novel. People like Julius Lester and Peaches Henry who believe the novel to be racist, are only looking at the surface and the degrading dialogue. The novel was not made to be politically correct. â€Å"Twain takes issue with the major racial theories of his day, and those critics who are convinced only of the racist potential of the text and/or Mark Twain would do well to examine the â€Å"unsaid† of the text. †(Kravitz) If it was rewritten to appease the masses and use more accepted terms for today’s day and age, reality would be misrepresented, race would cease to be an issue, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn would not exist as one the greatest pieces of American Literature. How to cite Huck Finn: Opposition to Racism, Essay examples

Making Cokes Brand Fizz (Coca-Colas Future Marketing)

Question: Describe about the Making Cokes Brand Fizz (Coca-Colas Future Marketing)? Answer: 1. The Coca-Cola Company has a great contribution towards the Irish country. The company provide jobs to the nine hundred and ten people (pound 15m), also contributes to the Irish raw materials, Irish services like marketing and transport. This symbolizes pound 90 m turnovers back to the Irish economy (Snowdon, 2015). 2. The product life cycle of the electronic goods 3. The above graph shows the life cycle of the different electronic goods. The above product cycle shows the different phases of electronic goods such as introduction, growth, maturity, saturation and then decline. The graph shows the sales of the product according to present time. 4. The international LUX soap company follows the generation of the concept, then to develop the product, the market analysis of the product and then the marketing o the product and finally launching the new brand product. The analysis process involves the SWOT analysis. The marketing of the new product is done by brand endorsement, advertisements, etc. 5. Positioning a new product in the market is very difficult. Coca-Cola positioned its product as the only soft drink that can give the great taste of Cola with just n one calorie. Earlier diet and low-calorie drinks were only available for women. But Coke is meant for both men and women. Also, the popular theme song is an advantage for the marketing of the product (Brownsell, 2011). 6. The company uses the qualitative and the quantitative analysis that helps the company in find out many things related to the marketing of the product to the reactions of the consumers to the various advertisements. The qualitative analysis involves the discussion about the product between 2 to 8 people for a few hours. Quantitative analysis is usually done by the management in a larger scale by using a questionnaire that is about specific questions. This way the company keeps track of new trends. 7. Coca-Cola has recently launched an advertisement for its Diet Coke brand. It looks to cheer women to embrace their impetuous side. The advertisement that is showing now a days on the television marks a measure change from the masculine model that marked in the earlier Diet Coke Break advertisements, as the massive looks to persuade women to construct positive daily experiences and to act on impulse. This particular TV advertisement, the mark dramatises a female characters moment of indecisiveness, but after the intake of the diet Coke then she gains her confidence and acts on impulse. A print ad describes cheerful stories about friendship, style and relationships. References list: Brownsell, A. (2011). Making Cokes brand fizz (Coca-Colas future marketing plans in the context of its 125th anniversary).Strategic Direction,27(10). doi:10.1108/sd.2011.05627jaa.004 Snowdon, C. (2015). Citizen Coke: The Making of Coca-Cola Capitalism by Bartow J. Elmore. W.W. Norton (2015), 432 pp. ISBN: 978-0393241129 (hb, 17.99).Economic Affairs,35(2), 320-322. doi:10.1111/ecaf.12118

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

To Kill a Mockingbird Courage Essay free essay sample

What is your definition of Courage? In the story To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, there are several themes and symbols that occur throughout the story. The one that stood out the most to me is Courage. Atticus Finch fits into the definition of what courage is and demonstrates it several times throughout the story. Attics demonstrate courage when he is explaining the definition to Jem, and when he undertakes the task of defending Tom Robinson. He knows he’s licked before he begins but he begins anyway. Atticus Finch spreads his wisdom about courage to his son, Jem. Atticus said to Jem I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s knowing youre licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. We will write a custom essay sample on To Kill a Mockingbird Courage Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page You rarely win, but sometimes you do (61). Atticus taught his son the true meaning of courage. Courage is when you know you’re in a tough situation but you don’t back down, you might fail but you would never know if you don’t try! Atticus teaches Jem this because it is a good life lesson to know and he’s trying to prepare his kids for the real world. Atticus is determined to defend Tom Robinson, the innocent black man accused of a crime he didn’t do. Atticus determinedly states â€Å"That boy might go to the chair, but hes not going till the truths told† (77). Atticus knows Tom Robinson is innocent and he wants the people of Maycomb to know, not caring about the consequences. He has the courage to stand up there defending a black man when the rest of Maycomb think he is guilty. Atticus is explaining the reason he defended Tom Robinson. He also is teaching Scout to be smarter than the people around her and don’t feed into them. Atticus says to Scout â€Å"You just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anyone says to you don’t you let ‘em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change†¦ it’s a good one, even if it does resist learning† (49). A little before this he was explaining to Scout the reason he defended Tom Robinson. He’s also telling her don’t mind the talk or what other people has to say about it! He is showing her you can be smarter than those people and react in a nonviolent way.

Monday, April 13, 2020

What Are Your Essay Topics?

What Are Your Essay Topics?Writing a Duke Admission Essay can be a daunting task. Because it is a difficult subject, you may even think you need an advanced degree in the field to succeed in the college admissions process. While this may be true for some schools, the truth is that Duke University is one of the most selective colleges in the country, and the admission requirements are not all that difficult.The only thing that is difficult about the admissions process at Duke is the preparation you will need. The specific requirements vary from year to year, but basically, you must demonstrate your passion for learning. You must have a clear understanding of the criteria for admission and show that you have done your best to meet them. Though these are the usual requirements, there are a few special ones you may want to know about.As mentioned earlier, the most important Duke Admission Essay topics are these three categories: science, art, and literature. Science, especially physics, may seem like a waste of time, but if you can demonstrate that you have mastered the subject, you will definitely do better than those who have never studied it. Just imagine how many students fail physics at the first hurdle. If you have the talent to understand a subject, it will be easy for you to find your way through the first few math problems and get past any awkwardness that may occur. All you have to do is to use a good physics tutor or ask a teacher for help.Another big Duke Essay topic is that of the creative arts. Your application essays should emphasize the fact that you have a strong interest in painting, writing, or any other form of expressive writing. Those that are cutthroat on standardized test scores may be surprised to see how many applicants are more than willing to include this topic. It is almost as if everyone has an artistic side, so why not show it? In addition, if you have written any poetry or prose, you can submit a work of fiction as well.Another area you will want to pay attention to when writing your Duke Admissions Essay is literature. This will come as no surprise to you, but a number of top universities are in fact looking for writers in all fields. By writing a Duke Admission Essay for literature, you will be making a bold statement to the admissions committee. Not only will you get noticed by the admissions committee, but you will also stand out from the other applicants. There is nothing like having a story to tell, so do not ignore it.Finally, it may come as a surprise to some, but the third Duke Admission Essay topic is not necessarily for writers. In fact, the admissions committee is particularly interested in candidates who have taken classes in other areas besides their major. Take a history or sociology class if you want to write a story about something other than science. Or, take an English class if you want to get a good idea of the cultural and political backdrop of the student's hometown. Make sure that your es say is creative, specific, and full of information.The Duke Admissions essay is just one part of the admissions process, but it is certainly one of the most important parts. You need to make sure that you have taken the time to prepare for the process, and now that you have a clear idea of what is expected of you, you should go back and take a second look at your essay topics. After all, they can make or break your application.

Friday, March 20, 2020

Tips for How to Prepare for an Oral Exam

Tips for How to Prepare for an Oral Exam Oral exams–tests during which teachers ask students to answer exam questions aloud–can be undoubtedly stressful, but there are a number of ways to prepare for nontraditional testing or reporting methods like this. Though oral exams are most common for language learners, they are increasingly prevalent across other subjects because they allow teachers to cater syllabuses to students with a variety of  learning styles. Key Takeaways Stay positive during your exam preparations.Oral exams can be stressful, but they are valuable practice for potential future interviews.Know your subject better than you think you need, and practice using movement intentionally to emphasize your main points.Don’t forget to eat well, sleep enough, and drink plenty of water leading up to your exam. Exercise can also help release nervous energy.Take your time answering questions during your exam, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it!   Stay Positive Instead of psyching yourself out about what could possibly go wrong, remind yourself how much you have learned and what you have the chance to share with your teacher. An optimistic outlook can banish nerves and bring excitement to any exam. Even if you prefer traditional pen-and-paper tests, oral exams can help you succeed beyond the classroom. They provide you with valuable interview-like experience to prepare you to smash your future educational and career goals. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you prepare for your next oral exam.   Know Your Subject Successfully completing an oral exam starts with knowing the material you will be discussing. The best part about these kinds of tests is that you already have all the answers. Teachers won’t ask you anything you haven’t been taught, so you will only need to discuss the material that has been presented to you in lectures, text, and video. With that being said, there are a few things that will ease some of the pressure of reciting this learned material.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Dig Deeper The best way to start preparing for an oral exam is to take a personal interest in the material. Knowing more about your topic than what is mandatory will help you predict questions that your teacher might ask. It will also give you more to talk about. Learn the background story of historical figures, authors, scientists, and explorers, even if you don’t think you need to. Many of the world’s greatest mathematical and scientific discoveries were only made because of something that happened in the discoverer’s person life. Did you know that Darwin was going to turn down his trip to the Galapagos because his father disapproved? The person we have to thank for On the Origin of Species is Darwin’s uncle (and father-in-law) who firmly believed Darwin’s discoveries would provide evidence to support Biblical claims.   Not only does digging deeper give you a better understanding of your topic, but you also have more content to talk about. If you if fully understand the ins and out of your subject, you won’t ever run out of things to say.   Predict Questions Now that you know your subject, you can begin to contemplate what your teacher might ask you. The best place to start is with the material you already have. Use previous quizzes and exams, essay prompts, and even the questions at the end of chapters to help you formulate answers. It will also be helpful for you to understand the general theme and purpose of your exam. Knowing the purpose of your exam–the topic on which you are being tested–makes crafting answers easier because you have a goal in mind. For example, if your geography teacher asks you how the climate and geographical feature affected the U.S. troops in Vietnam, you know that your answer should be built off of mountains, rivers, and weather patterns more than the success or failure of the troops because the exam is about geography. Similarly, your French teacher may ask you about a film you recently saw, but the content of the film doesn’t matter as much as your ability to conjugate verbs and use the past tense. When predicting questions, remember that one question can best asked a hundred different ways. Words like outline, describe, and detail are different ways of saying â€Å"tell me about†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Be prepared for these trigger words by asking yourself the same question a few different ways. â€Å"Chunk† Your Content When crafting your answers, try to â€Å"chunk† or group bits of information together rather than trying to remember everything as a whole. Think about the way a book is written–not as one massive piece of text, but a story divided into digestible bits with a common thread that ties them all together. Turn your exam into a story so when your teachers asks you about the economic climate of Thailand after colonization, you can follow your thread through your story without being overwhelmed, and you can easily recall and answer confidently that Thailand was never technically colonized. Use Intentional Movements It is perfectly normal to move around when you are nervous–to fidget with your clothes, to not sit still, to pace back and forth–because movement is a way to release some of that nervous energy, but it can detract from what you are saying because your exam administrator is more focused on your actions. In order to combat distraction while still releasing nervous energy, practice intentional movements. Watch Yourself The best and easiest way to practice is to first know how you move. Sit or stand in front of a mirror or use a camera or a cell phone to you can record and re-watch yourself answering questions. Don’t think too much about how you should or shouldn’t move; this is just a self-assessment. Once you understand how you tend to release nervous energy, you can take the appropriate steps to make your movements more intentional and useful for your exam. Watch Others The greatest presenters and speakers in the world aren’t those who sit or stand completely still, but rather those who use movement and nonverbal communication to emphasize what they are saying. For example, speakers will often take three or four long strides toward the audience to emphasize the importance what they are saying. They use hand gestures and facial expressions that add to the significance of understanding of a topic. Before your oral exam, take some time to watch other speakers and presenters. This can be as simple as watching TED Talks on YouTube. Note how speakers sit, stand, or walk, how they gesture, and how they answer questions. Develop Intentional Movement Practice answering questions using movements and nonverbal communication that you have observed. Lay newspaper on the floor or under your seat to make you more conscious of your movements. If you can’t seem to steady your hands, hold on to a paperclip during your exam. And remember, movement to release nervous energy is perfectly normal, and the most important focus for your oral exam is the content, not your gestures. Physical and Mental Wellness You might have spent days, weeks, or even months preparing for your exam, but if you drink too much coffee or don’t get enough sleep, all that preparation could be in vain. Remember that taking care of yourself, both physically and mentally, is reflected in your capabilities and how you perform. Take care of your mind and body, and in turn, they will take care of you.   Nutrition In the days leading up to your exam, drink enough water (aim for eight large glasses every day), get enough sleep (adults need no less than seven hours of sleep per night), and eat whole, healthy foods. On the morning of the exam, eat a light, energizing breakfast, and limit your caffeine intake. You don’t need any extra jitters!   Exercise Remember that nervous energy we talked about earlier? It is caused by cortisol, the stress hormone. Increasing your heart rate eliminates cortisol. If you can, try to get to the gym in the days leading up to your exam.   Presentation There is something to be said about the clichà ©, dress well, test well. Pick out your clothes the night before so you don’t have to fumble through your closet in the morning. Wear something comfortable and breathable that you won’t need to tug at during your exam.   Take Your Time Teachers firing questions at you can feel overwhelming, but remember that there is no need to rush into your answers. Take a moment after each question to digest what information has just been requested from you and organize your thoughts accordingly. If your teacher asks you to describe Christopher Columbus’s voyage to the Americas, take a moment to recall what your know about Columbus. You know how the voyage was funded, you know the names of the ships, you know how long the journey took because you prepared for the exam. Now that your thoughts are in order, begin to tell your teacher the story of the legendary voyage across the sea.   Ask For Help Your teachers and professors want you to succeed. They are there to help you reach your goals and prepare you for future career endeavors. Visit them before or after school, during breaks, at lunch, or during office hours. Meet with them if you are confused or stuck or you simply want to talk through an idea. Teachers are also normally the ones administering the oral exams, meaning they have created the criteria you need to meet to be successful. They are your most valuable resources and your strongest allies.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Definition and Examples of Substantives in Grammar

Definition and Examples of Substantives in Grammar In traditional grammar, a substantive is a word or a group of words that functions as a noun or noun phrase. In contemporary language studies, the more common term for a substantive is nominal. In some forms of construction grammar, substantive is used in a broad sense thats unrelated to the traditional meaning of substantive  (or noun). As Peter Koch observes in Between Word Formation and Meaning Change, It simply has the sense of constituted by one or more particular lexical or grammatical items (Morphology and Meaning, 2014). (See Hoffmans remarks in Examples and Observations below.) EtymologyFrom the Latin, substance Examples and Observations Doctors have asserted many times over the centuries that  walking is good for you, but  medical advice has never been one of the chief attractions of literature.(Rebecca Solnit, Wanderlust: A History of Walking. Penguin, 2001)The motion was eager, shy, exquisite, diffident, trusting: he saw all its meanings and knew that she would never stop gesturing within him, never; though a decree come between them, even death, her gestures would endure, cut into glass.(John Updike, Gesturing.  The Early Stories: 1953-1975. Random House, 2007)A [substantive is a] grammatical term that in the Middle Ages included both noun and adjective, but later meant noun exclusively. It is not usually found in later 20c English grammars. . . . However, the term has been used to refer to nouns and any other parts of speech serving as nouns (the substantive in English). The adjective local is used substantively in the sentence He had a drink at the local before going home (that is, the local public house) .(Sylvia Chalker and Tom McArthur, Substantive. The Oxford Companion to the English Language, Oxford University Press, 1992) A substantive noun or a substantive is . . . a name which can stand by itself, in distinction from an adjective noun or an adjective. It is the name of an object of thought, whether perceived by the senses or the understanding. . . . Substantive and noun are, in common use, convertible terms.(William Chauncey Fowler, English Grammar. Harper Brothers, 1855)Substantive Nouns and Adjectival Nouns- In Aristotelian, and scholastic, terminology, substance is more or less synonymous with entity. It is this by now almost obsolete sense of substance which gave  rise to the  term substantive for what, in modern  terminology, are normally called nouns.(John Lyons,  Natural Language and Universal Grammar: Essays in Linguistic Theory. Cambridge University Press, 1991)- The objects of our thoughts are either things, like the earth, the sun, water, wood, what is ordinarily called substance, or else are the manner or modification of things, like being round, being red, being hard, being lea rned, what is called accident. . . .It is this which has engendered the principal difference among the words which signify the objects of thought. For those words which signify substances have been called substantive nouns, and those which signify accidents, . . . have been called adjectival nouns.(Antoine Arnauld and Claude Lancelot, 1660, quoted by Roy Harris and Talbot J. Taylor, Landmarks In Linguistic Thought. Routledge, 1997) Substantives in Construction Grammar[C]hildren acquire language based on a specific lexical input. For example, they first acquire  fully substantive constructions  (i.e. structures in which all positions are filled such as I wanna ball). Only gradually do they then  schematize these constructions  by replacing a substantive lexical item by a variable slot (I wanna ball thus becomes I wanna X and X can then be filled by doll, apple, etc.).(Thomas Hoffman, English Relative Clauses and Construction Grammar.  Constructional Approaches to English Grammar, ed. by  Graeme Trousdale and Nikolas Gisborne. Mouton de Gruyter, 2008)Pronunciation: SUB-sten-tiv