In the Details :: Personal Narrative Writing Papers

In the Details I started taking a fiction class at just the right moment in my life. It was a genre I had never been good at, and had even been afraid of since that day J.C. laughed at my pathetic attempt to write a short story about a lesbian returning home to the South, only to be welcomed by a non-accepting mother, who all but condones it when a man rapes her to teach her how a woman is supposed to be. Of course, it was an awful story, but it was agony to write. The dialogue was so forced, as I tried to spell it the way I heard it in my head, tried to capture inflections and drawls and pauses. In the end, it read more like a cartoon, and no one could empathize with my character when she got drunk, got in his truck, and didn’t scream for help or fight him off. The plot was thin, none of the characters had any motivation, and the devices I tried to use were not working. I learned then that fiction had these elements for a reason. In order to craft a good story, I had to learn to use the tools. In essays and poetry, all these things had never seemed important to me. They were usually crafted because of an idea, and I could execute that idea without worrying about literary devices or symbolism, or other large concepts. My sole needs for my writing had always been voice, subtlety, and sometimes, alliteration. Fiction was much harder than I had previously thought. It wouldn’t be until the spring of 2001 that I would try my hand at it again. I decided that spring to take an introductory fiction class at a community college. By that time, I was actually making a living as a writer (albeit a technical writer), and I was comfortable in every other aspect of my writing, but I was still afraid of fiction. It must have come at just the right time for me. Within a week after I joined the class, I was downsized at the company I had worked at for two years. My whole department was just not needed anymore, although we were the only ones writing the training for new employees. So, with nothing but time in my day between Internet searches for new jobs and calls to recruiters, I began to write some stories.

Laws of Migration Essay

Mr. E.G. Ravenstein established a theory of human migration in the 1880s that still forms the basis for modern migration theory. He called it the â€Å"Laws of Migration†, which the books have divided them into three general categories: characteristics of migrants, patterns of migration, and volume of migration. I believe people move for a variety of reasons, but his philosophies were basic on census results over time which makes it very creditable to me and these tendencies of migration still show currently. I will discuss, in the next few paragraphs, my reasoning of why I agree with Mr. Ravenstein â€Å"laws of migration†, and how those laws still apply today. The first general category is characteristic of migrants, which is described by the book as â€Å"selective†. I understand this category as the people that want to or the people that are forces to leave their homeland because of a major circumstance, not everyone wants to leave their homes. Religious or political reasons appear to be at the top of the list. For example, Cuba has a communist government that forces people to agree with the government. Where people do not agree with the government’s views or decisions they are not allowed to express their opinion. People from Cuba are force to leave the island if the government finds that they are looking for options to leave or trying to take action against the government. On the other hand, there are people in Cuba that are happy with the government. They do not have any decider to leave the island. They also like the rules in place for the community and believed that everyone should follow them. Another general category that the book describes is patters of immigration. I see this category as the pull factor describes on page 17 as â€Å"to those attractive forces emanating from the migrants’ goal that draws migrants†. I see the pull factor as the idea of people to emerge from poverty or the inabili ty to use acquired professional skills. This concept still happens today, my own experience is a clear example of it. In the years 1999 to 2006 Argentina reached an economic crisis, the patters at the time was to come to the United States because the better future was here. My mother and I came to the United States back in 2000 from Argentina. One of the reasons that my mother decided to come to the United State was for a better future for me. I attended Miami Beach Senior High school, where I found a group of kids that were from Argentina. Their parents had decided to come to the U.S. for their better future. There were many people in Argentina with professional degrees but not many with good jobs. My mother and those kids parents were persuade by the idea that having a degree in the United States was more valued that a degree from my country. The last general category is volume of migration which I can relate to the availability of affordable transportation and other advantages related to globalization and advances in technology, many recent immigrants are not forced to sever ties with the families they leave behind. People consider the advantages and disadvantages of staying versus moving, as well as factors such as distance, travel costs, travel time, modes of transportation, terrain, and cultural barriers before moving. For example, the volume of migrants that comes from Mexico every day to make money or to achieve a better standard of leaving. They still provide for their families in Mexico but they believed working in the U.S. is far more effective, easier, and produce way more money in a short period of time. In conclusion, I agree with Mr. Ravenstein â€Å"laws of migration† because I can relate his philosophy to today’s world and still see the same reasoning. Cuba, Argentina and Mexico are a clear example of his migration point of view.

Response Paper on “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut

The short tale of Harrison Bergeron is something that isn't very new to me. Way back in high school, we were tasked to read this in one of our Literary Circles sessions. I took a quick look at it and particularly enjoyed how short the story was. Today, having finally read a good selection of interesting stories, I decided to take a deeper and much more complete look at it. I can definitely say that despite it being rather short, Harrison Bergeron was a story just oozing in meaning and symbolisms. Harrison Bergeron makes us think twice on just how far we want to go to push for equality. In 2081, total equality is achieved but at a cost – sacrificing freedom and individual skill and talent. The three main characters also symbolizes different types of people who have different views toward the law set by the Handicapper General. George Bergeron to me was pretty much your average Joe. Despite him being blessed with substantial intelligence, he simply decides to get by and observe all the rules properly, being content with the system and afraid of consequences. Hazel Bergeron on the other hand, was really just an oblivious girl in a place where oblivious and unaware was the new â€Å"average†. She had nothing special to offer, therefore was never even handicapped. Her obliviousness and outright stupidity simply shadows over her kindness and good intentions. And finally, Harrison Bergeron, who was the perfect specimen. He literally had it all, which made the government fear him and did everything in it's power to contain him. Harrison wanted to showcase his abilities to the world and this ultimately led to his death. With this, we are shown that superiority amongst others will not be tolerated. To end, I feel like this story faces us with a dilemma, whether to simply get by, and live with rules and laws that are clearly unfair and wrong or be like Harrison, who is condemned for being the gifted and talent-laden man that he truly was. I'd also like to point out how this story takes on a completely different angle as a slight jab to faulty governments. Vonnegut may just be trying to show us how the government tries to control and ultimately, censor our very thoughts and ideas, hence limiting our potential to grow and become more aware and active with regards to such issues.

Hurricane Katrina

September 2nd and 3rd, 2005 saw a spate of articles and comments in the press all over the world about the effects and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. A study of selected newspaper articles and comments from different parts of the world reveal interesting tilts and biases. The Guardian, a liberal newspaper from London, uses the opportunity to attack US policies. Both domestic and international policies are criticized in the article which however attempts to absolve President Bush of any direct responsibility for the consequences of the disaster.The author’s bias in respect of the Iraq war comes through when the war is blamed for the ineffective handling of the disaster. The expression â€Å"anarchic south† used in association with Louisiana almost seems to compare Louisiana with Baghdad after its fall. (What Was Revealed). However, it takes a philosophical stand and talks about the past, reflecting the conservative moorings of the newspaper.Yet, the use of the word â₠¬Å"uninsured† in connection with poverty looks rather incongruous, seeming to imply that being insured would be an excuse for the poverty that was exposed. (Loss of an American Dream). However stresses that more than the loss of property, American leaders and the administration have lost credibility and people have lost faith in them. With Australia often accused of racial discrimination and prejudice, the newspaper finds it an opportune moment to point out that divisive racial prejudices and poverty are issues in America too, despite its wealth. It almost seems that the article was just waiting for an occasion to hit back in the same way.The Israeli militaristic obsessions come through very transparently in the article by Sever Plocker in the â€Å"Yediot Aharonot.† (Plocker, Sever). Almost all events have political implications in Israel and that is what probably prompts Plocker to stress upon the political ramifications of Hurricane Katrina. He even goes so far as to predict a stinging defeat for the Republicans in the upcoming Congressional elections.The â€Å"Toronto Star† is very specific about apportioning blame and does not seem to spare anyone. Officials, President Bush, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Guard, and the Army Corps of Engineers have all been blamed for making the disaster so devastating. (Grim Lesson). The bias against anything official comes through, even as the article appears to ignore every other aspect of the disaster.The Edmonton Journal however appears to take a very balanced view, describing the factual details of the disaster and points at the sociological imbalances that prevailed in the city of Louisiana. (A Society in Collapse. Edmonton). Such a view probably reflects the reputation of Edmonton as the cultural capital of Canada.The New Zealand Herald calls for sympathy, but stresses on the economic consequences of the disaster for the rest of the world, and reminds the reader that natu re is all-powerful. New Zealand has a very strong agricultural economy and is very sensitive to crucial role of nature in all such activities, which probably prompts the article to link the disaster with a poor appreciation of the forces of nature. Pravda, published from Moscow, is stridently critical of President Bush and is clearly biased against him and his administration.The language used verges on the hysterical, and reminds the reader about the verbal diatribes that were so much a part of the Cold War. The criticism is more likely to be meant at all things American and not specifically the present administration or President. Thus the views and comments reflect tilt and balances of one sort or another and very few unbiased ones. America’s domestic and foreign policies are blamed, and the administration and institutions charged with coping with such disasters are accused of ineffectiveness in most comments.Work CitedA Brutal Reminder. London. The Guardian. (2005, Septemb er 3).Aaronovitch, David. (2005, September 3). What Was Revealed. The Times. London.Loss of an American Dream. (2005, September 3). The Age. Melbourne.Plocker, Sever. (2005, September 3). Political Ramifications: TEL AVIV. Yediot Aharonot.Grim Lesson. Toronto. Toronto Star. (2005, September 3).Edmonton Journal. A Society in Collapse. Edmonton. (2005, September 3).The New Zealand Herald. A Gesture of Sympathy. Auckland. (2005, September 3).Hinchey, Bancroft. Timothy. (2005, September 2). View Points. Hurricane Katrina. Comment and analysis from London, Melbourne, Tel Aviv, Toronto, Edmonton, Auckland and Moscow. Retrieved March 13, 2007, from http://www.worldpress.org/Americas/2142.cfm

Is Journalism in Declineor Being Reinvented in a Better Form in the Essay

Is Journalism in Declineor Being Reinvented in a Better Form in the Digital Age - Essay Example Journalists normally are doing the first which is surveillance. They report whatever is happening around in the world. Online news sites are available in abundance and the users can get all kinds of information at any time. However, there are some who are â€Å"afraid† that they might come across scams and spam and, therefore, the huge amount of information available to us today proves to be very daunting. The second of Laswell’s functions comes into play here which is the correlation function since it is about responding to the environment. Digital reporters make sure to include depth and interpretation in their work in order that the normal regular news consumer may be able to make out whatever is going on. After the journalists find out the information they need to select the best one to investigate and then report. This is the last of Laswell’s function transmitting the social inheritance. Through this they are able to carry out communication regarding the va lues of the society and this can be done through multimedia and interactive presentations. Journalism in a Digital Age Better journalism can be achieved through better regulations and such is the case for digital age as well. These regulations are required in order for the elimination of all kinds of negative aspects. The basis of journalism is news production and distribution. The role of journalism in the society is that of an actor as well as an arena. It is the role of journalists to report the events taking place around the world and also bring out the wrongs going around. It is by means of journalism that it is made sure that the country is free. And now that the society has digitized to such a great extent the information is flowing around very rapidly, and here a journalist’s role is extremely important and critical (Artwick 6). Digital journalism basically means journalism that is originated from the internet. Individuals are getting the power of technological innova tion and are being able to spread the news and information to the masses. Through digital journalism it is possible to create a new media landscape that would be easily accessible to everyone. There is a wide difference between internet and broadcasting but TV and radio channels have been able to set up online activities immediately. Due to the fact that these medium have traditional content, they have led the multimedia services within the same framework like online newspapers. Besides, since they are able to use the novel technology and media without having to make heavy investments on new equipment, the broadcasters are becoming an interest as study objects. Advantages of Digital Journalism Journalism is definitely becoming better as there is more and more advancement in technology. Journalism is always recognized with newspapers and manual work where the journalists have to actually go to the scene and write and report news. With the digital age in progress it is difficult for s ome to imagine that journalism would be able to continue. However, such is definitely not the case. Digitalizing journalism is an option and a very good one at that. Like Marshall McLuhan said: â€Å"technology is turning the world into a global village†. One example is that of newspaper editors. They can actually utilize technology to its best and for their work. For example they can check out the camera viewfinder via the internet and thus advise their

Market Segmentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Market Segmentation - Essay Example Apart from brushes, kid’s toothpaste is also available. Along with children, Oral-B offers various brushes and dental floss to adults. Mouth rinses are also available. Psychographic: The products of Oral-B can also be divided on the basis of psychographic market segment. People can choose Oral-B toothbrushes according to their individual taste, as variety of brushes with variable prices are in offer. They can also choose brushes according to their color fascination. If someone likes mouthwash or wants complete cleaning care, it is also available in Oral-B, in the form of floss and mouthwash. Apart from manual toothbrushes, power products are also available that comes with rotating oscillation that is effective inn reducing gingivitis and oral plaque. But, they are a bit expensive than manual brushes. Benefit: Oral-B uses benefit segmentation as it offers a variety of toothbrushes. One type of Oral-B toothbrush has nylon bristles that offer extra cleaning power, while some other brushes offer soft bristles for gentle care. Toothbrushes designed for children are easy to hold and they also have cartoon characters in the handles. It also offers angled handle toothbrush to easily clean the areas that is hard to clean. Oral-B also offers interdental and floss for complete oral care, as it is effective in removing plaque. Floss is also effective in fighting gum diseases. Power toothbrushes with rotating and oscillating bristles make cleaning really easy. Toothpastes and mouth rinses are also available in Oral-B. Demographic: Beauty products of Urban Care cater to women with variant tastes and lifestyle. Though the products are meant only for women, there are products for daily use as well as for special occasions. Psychographic: Products of Urban Decay can be categorized on the basis of interests and occupation. Women can use the cosmetics from this company while going to office and can also use other cosmetics while

Marketing Objectives Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Marketing Objectives - Essay Example The new product is code named as M2030. Marketing Objectives The target market of the company is all the households and offices of that are looking for lighter and efficient products. The product is aimed for UK market. M2030 will be a good choice for families considering the product’s ease and efficiency. â€Å"UK Households spent an average of ?474 per week in 2010.† (Office of National Statistics, 2011) As per the statistics department, fuel and power form one of the major components of the expense items. It is also seen that consumers have spent more disposable income for consumer durables in 2010. This trend is expected to continue in 2011. The product will be more focused on London, Northern Ireland, South East, East and South West. (Office of National Statistics, 2011) The marketing objectives of the product M2030 are as follows: 1. To become the best in class product in the product category 2. To make the product available in all the leading electronics stores 3 . To offer the product to the customers at a highly competitive price 4. To create an impact in the minds of the customers regarding the benefits of the product. This report will further look into the detailed aspects of marketing of M2030 in UK. A detailed analysis of the competition and environment is also included in the report. Competitive Situation Analysis G’s products can be classified based on the three way consumer classification system of convenience, shopping and specialty goods. The products of G Electronics are kettles, toasters, juicers, mixers, ovens, dish washers, and micro waves. All these products can be classified as Shopping Goods. (Kurtz, 2011) The following five force model analysis will analyze the competitive situation of Company G. Supplier Power: The Company maintains excellent relationships with the existing suppliers. But for producing M2030, the company requires new materials which are different from those supplied by the existing suppliers. The s upplier power is comparatively less for G as the numbers of suppliers are high. Threat of Substitutes: The threat of substitutes is comparatively higher for Company G. Products that are not as efficient as M2030 are available at a lesser price in the market. But then this happens only if the customers prefer cost benefit over efficiency. Switching cost is comparatively low for this product category. Buyer Power: Buyer power is very high in this case. The customers are flooded with numerous products by various brands. All products differs each other in terms of the design, price, efficiency, etc. Buyer concentration is high for microwave oven market. Also, the chances for customers to have inclination towards a particular brand are very high. Threat of new Entrants: Threat of new entrants is low in this industry though there are big companies who still foray into unrelated businesses. Brand identity and research costs are two main factors that hinder companies from entering this indu stry. There is definitely a threat from big companies who has the capital and knowhow to enter the segment. Degree of Rivalry: Some of the strongest players in the industry are Philips, IFB, Panasonic, Samsung, Siemens, LG, Sharp, Whirlpool, Daewoo, etc. There are just the leading brands. Apart from this there are other brands that has significant cumulative market share. Therefore, the degree of rivalry is high in this industry. (Mindtools, 2011) SWOT Analysis