Mysterious Punctuation You Should Get To Know

Mysterious Punctuation You Should Get To Know (0) The comma. The period. The quotation mark. The apostrophe. These punctuation marks have been familiar friends since elementary school. Now, it’s time to take your knowledge a step further and master some wonderfully obscure punctuation, courtesy of the English language! You might not use these everyday, but they’re fun to bring up and will expand your grammatical toolkit. Do you thirst for more grammar knowledge? Our EasyBib Plus grammar guides can help! Read about linking verbs, conjunctions, using a possessive adjective as a pronoun, and many other grammatical points. ? Irony Punctuation If you’ve ever wished that you could communicate sarcasm in text as well as you do in speech, then check out this obscure class of punctuation that’s been out of usage since the 17th century. The “percontation point” (?) is essentially a backwards question mark. It used to appear at the end of sentences to indicate that the preceding sentence should be read as a rhetorical question (that is, a question that does not require an answer or already has an answer implied by the context of asking). A more specific alternative was proposed by the French poet Alcanter de Brahm in 1899. His “irony mark,” a mark that resembled a backwards question mark, was raised like superscript. Several other writers suggested punctuation marks that varied widely in appearance, but were intended to solve the same need. In theory, the mark would indicate that a sentence was meant to be understood on more than just a literal level. ~ Tilde The tilde (~) is probably better known as “that squiggly line you use instead of a dash when you’re trying to be fancy signing an email.” In fact, the tilde is actually a useful punctuation mark when used properly. In English, a tilde often goes before a description of quantity or time to indicate an approximation, as in “~20 miles away.” In mathematics, it can also signify “similar to,” as in “x ~ y.” In other languages, the tilde is used as a means of indicating a change in pronunciation. The most well-known instance of this is the Spanish letter ñ, a letter between “n” and “o” that makes its own specific consonant sound. * Asterisk In terms of history, the asterisk (*) has one of the longest runs of all punctuation marks. Over two thousand years ago, Aristarchus of Samothrace used an early asterisk to mark lines of Homeric poetry that were duplicated during the proofreading process. This usageâ€"to denote something that needs editing or other attentionâ€"has persisted to this day. On the flip side of things, asterisks have also grown into another usage: as a means of censoring content deemed inappropriate. The asterisk is used to soften expletives while still maintaining the integrity and understanding of a sentence by replacing letters in a given word with asterisks. In the digital age, this practice has spread to non-expletive words, with software sometimes replacing a letter or two in a word or name with asterisks in order to avoid detection by algorithms or by other users searching for that word or name. ? Interrobang At some point, you’ve probably encountered a sentence (usually in informal writing) where the author needed to express excitement and a question at the same time. The typical option for this expression is to use a question mark followed by an exclamation point, like so: ?! While this makes perfect sense, it turns out there’s a singular punctuation mark that conveys the same meaning: the interrobang (?). The symbol is actually incredibly intuitive: its physical appearance is a question mark with the vertical line of an exclamation point going right down the middle before joining with the stem of the question mark. Imagine superimposing an exclamation point on top of a question mark and you get the idea. This one hasn’t been around as long as some of the others on this listâ€"it was first invented by advertising executive Martin K. Speckter in 1962 as a means of making cleaner ad copy. It was popular during that decade, but faded in usage in subsequent years. However, some digital fonts still include the symbol. When you start work on your next paper, use EasyBib Plus citing tools to build your MLA format works cited  list, APA reference list, MLA in-text citations, and Chicago style format bibliography.

Racism and Slavery Essay example - 1811 Words

Did race prejudice cause slavery? Or was it the other way round? Winthrop D. Jordan, in his monumental study of white American attitudes to black people from 1550 to 1812, argues that prejudice and slavery may well have been equally cause and effect, dynamically joining hands to hustle the Negro down the road to complete degradation. But we must go deeper than that, if we are to understand the rise of English racism as an ideology, the various roles it has played in the past, and the role it is playing today. And first we must distinguish between race prejudice and racism Sudden or limited contact between different nations or ethnic groups gives rise, as a rule, to all kinds of popular beliefs.†¦show more content†¦It was their drive for profit that led English merchant capitalists to traffic in Africans. There was big money in it. The theory came later. Once the English slave trade, English sugar-producing plantation slavery, and English manufacturing industry had begun to operate as a trebly profitable interlocking system, the economic basis had been laid for all those ancient scraps of myth and prejudice to be woven into a more or less coherent racist ideology: a mythology of race. Racism is to race prejudice as dogma is to superstition. Race prejudice is relatively scrappy and self-contradictory. It is transmitted largely by word of mouth. Racism is relatively systematic and internally consistent. In time it acquires a pseudo-scientific veneer that glosses over its irrationalities and enables it to claim intellectual respectability. An d it is transmitted largely through the printed word. These distinctions are important, but there isShow MoreRelatedSlavery : Racism And Racism Essay1134 Words   |  5 PagesSlavery: A root to Racism. Slavery and Racism Slavery as described by Oxford dictionaries â€Å"a person who is the legal property of another is forced to obey them† was introduced to America dating back to 17th and 18th centuries. African slaves were first brought to America as a means of cheap labor to work on tobacco plantations and later on the cotton gin. With the constant demand for labor and declining population, the colonists were led to believe that African slaves were the cheapest and efficientRead MoreSlavery, Racism, And Slavery Essay1779 Words   |  8 PagesSlavery began before racism in North America. To prove this I will provide an analysis of chronological events that displayed acts of slavery and racism. With that being said, Initially I will be delving into the earliest implementations of slavery in North America. That being Jamestown Virginia 1619. Secondly, analysing an extract from 1655, where an African man named Anthony Johnson claimed to own another black individual, John Casor as his property. Subsequently, moving onto Winthrop D JordanRead MoreSlavery and Racism1509 Words   |  7 PagesCivilization Dr. Carlson November 17, 2011 Slavery and Racism: Are They One in the Same? Aphra Behn was an extremely significant and influential English writer in the 1600s. One of her more famous works, Oroonoko, discusses the issues of slavery and racism in the Americas. Many people believe that slavery and racism go hand in hand. In fact, these two ideologies are awfully different. Slavery is the act of forcing humans to be treated property whereas racism is the belief that discrimination basedRead MoreRacism And Slavery : Black Or The Egg, Slavery Or Racism?993 Words   |  4 Pagesthe chicken or the egg, slavery or racism? The question of whether racism is the root of slavery, or if slavery caused racism is an ongoing debate that throughout history historians has been batting to answer, and have yet to come to an agreement. Some people think that people were made slaves because of prejudice toward the color of their skin, therefore, racism caused slavery; others believe that people saw slaves as inferior to them, and therefore slavery caused racism. Jordanâ€℠¢s â€Å"The Mutual CausationRead More Racism Or Slavery Essay953 Words   |  4 Pages Racism or Slavery, which came first? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Racism or slavery, neither, this essay will document the prejudice against Africans from Europeans that led into slavery and racism. Prejudice issues in a dislike for an individual or group of these individuals. This dislike can simulate from many differences that are shared, religion, culture, system of living (government and social practice), or in some cases looks. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;â€Å"Initially English contact withRead MoreRacism and Slavery in Oronooko1158 Words   |  5 Pageswritten in the perspective of a white colonial woman in the eighteenth century. I found the novella to have a lot of subtle racial undertones despite the fact that during that time it was seen as an anti-slavery novel.(1) There have been debates on whether this novella is pro-slavery or anti-slavery? While reading, I decided that it was neither, but more so a novella from a revolutionist point of view. One of the first things that sticks out is the way in which she described Oroonoko physically.Read MoreDid Slavery Cause Racism?3614 Words   |  15 Pagesï » ¿Did slavery cause racism? Viewpoint: Yes. With the slave trade racism became rigidly defined in custom and law. Viewpoint: No. Slavery followed from racism and reinforced existing perceptions of blacks racial inferiority. Racism both preexisted and survived slavery. The color of Africans skin intrigued, frightened, and repelled Europeans. Exaggerating the physical and mental differences that allegedly separated blacks from whites, European writers conjectured that blacks had descended fromRead MoreSlavery and Racism Shown in Huckleberry Finn620 Words   |  3 Pagesvery prominent themes. These themes include racism and slavery, intellectual and moral education, and the hypocrisy of civilized society. The most dominant theme, racism and slavery, is recognized when the main character feels that he is doing the wrong thing in helping a runaway slave. It is also recognized in the passage where the main character talks to a boy who compares a black slave’s worth to two-hundred dollars. Twain used the theme racism and slavery in an attempt to convince southerners toRead MoreRacism And Slavery During The 19th Century2451 Words   |  10 PagesRacism is not just restricted to slavery and blacks, racism can be applied to anyone, and in 19th cent ury England this was a huge problem. The 19th century was a trying time for those who were concerned with the abolition of slavery, those who were opposed to it were greatly concerned about losing their wealth or just concerned with the principle of a lower race being free. However those who were opposed to slavery were sick of seeing other humans being treated so poorly and saw it as inhuman.Read MoreEssay about Racism and Slavery Hand in Hand1304 Words   |  6 Pagesliberty to all. This goal, however, is darkened by a contradictory event: racism. Racism against African Americans (Negroes) in America was a by-product of permanent and inhumane enslavement of the black population. This type slavery was built upon the need for the American colonies to achieve economic prosperity and social stability. The slavery prior to these social and economic problems was equal to that of white slavery. Black and white slaves and indentured servants received the same treatments

Homelessness in Los Angeles - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1242 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2019/03/26 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Homelessness Essay Did you like this example? The population of homeless individuals on the streets of Los Angeles is increasing day byday. Some people in the U.S keep on blaming the state officials while others believe thathomeless people are there by choice. However, there are many initiatives that the governmentand other bodies have put in place to ensure the homeless are sheltered. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Homelessness in Los Angeles" essay for you Create order I believe that all thesethree claims are right. This paper will go through three insights, explaining them in details to findout whether the city is making the right decisions in settling the homeless people.First of all, it is true that the Los Angeles County has come up with a master plan forconstructing houses for the homeless and also finding solutions related to unemployment, drugabuse and psychological health. Other cities have not used such logical ideas in solving thehomelessness issue, but instead have imposed regulations that prevent these individuals fromliving in the streets. A governmental body known as National Center on Homelessness andPoverty made a report that they carried out a survey. The survey revealed that 75% of the 187cities do not allow people to beg at some designated public areas. 43% have made it law that noone should be found sleeping in their cars and 53% of these cities have prohibited homelesspeople just to relax around (Arapoglou, Vassilis and Kostas 39). Los Angeles electedpersonalities agreed that enough is enough and decided to come up with a comprehensive idealthat could help resettle the homeless in the streets. The program received county funding, and theofficials housed many people, an act that impressed many. Despite all this, the problem ofhomelessness did not end. The primary reason for such an occurrence is that these countyofficials built expensive houses that homeless people could not afford (Stuart, 32). Governmentalinstitutions and bureaucracies have taken their time to solve the homelessness issue, though it isinevitable. They do that by approving development strategies and accustoming themselves toslow and complicated funding techniques. A recent survey shows that 81% of the totalpopulation of the homeless people was in California when they became homeless, meaning thatonly a few people migrated from other cities to come and live in the streets of L.A. (Baker, Tomand Joshua 40). The second issue is that some people believe that it is the laxity and carelessness of thegovernment that has led to the increase of homeless people in Los Angeles. This tells us that thecounty of Los Angeles is performing poorly in their quest to help the homeless find reasonableshelter. Building many affordable houses for the homeless and leaving the people who live intents is not solving anything. The government was planning to provide full housing for people,but they failed to understand that these people should live in these houses every time untileveryone else gets housing facility (Arapoglou, Vassilis and Kostas 39). These houses shouldnot be like prisons to the homeless but should provide them with the comfort they deserve. Acrisis house should not be like a permanent warehouse that is used to store human beings. Awelcoming centre or houses built to fit couples, ones designed to house families who have manychildren and for teenagers to sound reasonable. When one walks in the streets of Los Angeles,they see homeless people in every corner, some using makeshift encampments, some sleep inparks while others are living in some peoples homes. Such scenes bring about conversationswithin the neighbourhood with some people shouting, The government has lost theirmandate.(Stuart, 32). Since some people believe that these people live in the streets by choice,residents blame the county government for failing to come up with punitive regulations to help insolving the menace. The government should restrict sleeping in cars, living around the corners ofLos Angeles, use aggressive ticketing, etc. to discourage homelessness. The government isoperating at deficient speed to urgencies because years have passed since they came up with theidea of settling homeless people. Up to now, they have not finished transforming shelters forthese people living in the streets. The L.A Homeless Services cannot accomplish their setstrategies due to the bureaucracy in those offices (Wolch, Jennifer, Jason and Joshua 230). Whenthere were fire outrages, the county officials make announcements about the shelters they haveset aside for such emergencies. It is sad to see fire victims getting housing assistance from thecounty, but our brothers and sisters who are homeless are still making ends m eet in thesedungeons. Homeless people might be victims of domestic violence, poverty, poor housinginitiatives, etc., so they also need our help. We cannot tolerate such kind of negligence from thegovernment because these people need immediate help, whether we use available facilities liketemples and churches within the locality.Lastly, it might be a myth, but there is some truth in it that those homeless people we seein the streets are there because they choose to do so. It might be politically incorrect, but it istrue. This statement means that the city of L.A has failed to come up with regulations todiscourage homelessness. Why is it that many cities in the U.S have homeless people, but the highest percentage is in Los Angeles? (Wolch, Jennifer, Jason and Joshua 230).Homeless people in Los Angeles sleep in the cold without a roof to safeguard them, some ofthem sleeping in cars. It is not accidental for these people to live like this. Back in the year 2006,the federal law discouraged the officials of the city of Los Angeles from evicting the homelessfrom the streets. The federal court gave them an alternative to building shelters for these people.Let them eat asphalt. A City official said (Baker, Tom and Joshua 40).It is factual that some homeless people have decided to remain in the streets because they want tostay united with their families. Some also fear losing their property that is in the streets. It mightbe true that people have chosen Los Angeles because the weather is warm enough to give them afavourable condition, especially at night. It might also be true that most of the homeless peoplewho live in Los Angeles are mentally unstable. Some researchers have claimed that this is amisconception that is politically incorrect and divisive. Recent research only revealed that 28%of these individuals are psychologically disturbed (Arapoglou, Vassilis and Kostas 39). Therefore, mental illness cannot be ruled out at this juncture. It is a factor that leads tohomelessness in all the 187 cities where the researchers carried out surveys. Research revealsthat there are two kinds of homeless people in the streets of Los Angeles (Arapoglou, Vassilisand Kostas 39). The first group is those who require assistance from the government in buildingthem permanent houses. These people include the ones living with a disability, the mentallychallenged, those who have been homeless for an extended period and those individuals withcriminal records. The other group consists of individuals who should be rehoused due to beingrendered jobless or have been evicted from their houses. The city should find a way of dealingwith such cases urgently. Ending homelessness is not an easy task, and it requires patience. I believe the countygovernment of Los Angeles has not done enough to reduce the number of homeless people in thestreets. When we raise enough funds, we can build affordable houses to give shelter to thesepeople. The government should provide subsidies, social workers and assistance to the homelessfamilies that are being evicted from the streets. Such initiatives should be done immediatelythese people land in these streets for smooth execution. Permanent houses are better thanencampments since we cannot entirely end homelessness. We need to set our myths aside byidentifying the reality and coming up with solutions.

In Another Country Free Essays

In Another Country Themes: * Wounded * The patient’s leg seems to be broken and he is in therapy to fix it. * The three boys who also go to the hospital are wounded in some way, one has a broken nose and his face is deformed. * The doctor’s wife died so he is wounded emotionally and mentally. We will write a custom essay sample on In Another Country or any similar topic only for you Order Now * Detached * Author says he is detached from everything and nothing held them together except for the hospital. Literary Devices/Style: * Anaphora * â€Å"†¦and the wind blew their tails. The deer hung stiff and heavy and empty, and small birds blew in the wing and the wind turned their feathers. It was a cold fall and the wing came down from the mountains. † (206) * â€Å"We were all at the hospital every afternoon, and there were different ways of walking across the town through the dusk to the hospital. Two of the ways were alongside canals, but they were long, Anyways though you crossed a bridge across a canal to enter the hospital. There was a choice of three bridges. On one of them a woman sold roasted chestnuts. It was warm, standing in frontofhercharcoal fire, and the chestnuts were warm afterward in your pocket. (206) * Punctuation (commas) * â€Å"They were all three from Milan, and one of them was to be a lawyer, and one was to be a painter, and one had intended to be a soldier, and after we were finished with the machines, sometimes we walked back together to the Cafe Cova, which was next door to the Scala. † (207) * Author uses dialogue to develop the story more and include more insight on what each character is dealing with. * Author also uses his own thoughts to describe what he is feeling and it unravels the other character’s personality as well. How to cite In Another Country, Essay examples

Echo Personality Disorder Essay Example For Students

Echo Personality Disorder Essay Echo Personality Disorder is a specific and highly differentiated form of dependency, marked by behaviours of compliance and a need to mirror significant others -parents, spouse, friends, employer. It has been found that those with EPD are highly attracted to relationships with individuals who show marked narcissistic tendencies. This mirroring behaviour was the reason for choosing the name Echo personality disorder,which is based on the Greek myth of Narcissus and Echo. In this story Echo, a forest nymph, falls completely in love with the egocentric youth Narcissus, and when he shows clear signs of rejecting her, she persists in her attatchement to him and will not be moved from her aim. She finally satisfies him with the masochistic task of echoing back to him all that he says. This too is the central feature of EPD behaviour in relationships, where the individual will mirror, echo, and compliment another at the expense of their own self-worth and dignity. Self descriptions by EPD sufferers focus strongly on percieved fears of abandonment, rejection, and loss, and these agonizing feelings are the driving force behind the above-mentioned interpersonal coping style (mirroring others). These individuals protect themselves from abandonment/rejection by being so agreeable to others, via their mirroring capacity, that chances of re-experiencing abandonment agony is brought to a low minimum. Unfortunately this approach amounts to a false existence with little or no true self expression, and eventually leads to poor psychological health. Characteristic experiential history for EPD often involves individuals being parented by caretakers who are themselves self-absorbed or narcissistic. In this environment the child learns that asserting ones true self will be met with a form of (often serial) rejection, to which they respond by substituting compliant behaviour in place of true selfhood. This compliant behaviour can then be witnessed as a stable feature throughout the childs growing-up years, with other school children, and within the family. Depression, smoking, alcoholism, addictive behaviour all occur with very high frequency in this disorder. On a positive note, EPD people are excellent contributors to society, and to family, as they are found to be very perceptive of the needs of others. The highly respected religions of Christianity and Buddhism are based on the principles of altruism and charity, and this is a lifestyle at which the EPD individual can be said to be expert. Good traits such as these cannot simply be written off with a simple catch-cry of pathology, and if the EPD sufferer could regain some healthy sense-of-self whilst maintaining these good traits, they would become paragons of society.

L 18 - Presentation Skills (1) Essays - Attitude Change, Free Essays

L 18 - Presentation Skills (1) Essays - Attitude Change, Free Essays L 18 - Presentation Skills (1) In academic culture, you need to express your views clearly on different issues relating to your subject area. These views are often based on a critical reading and evaluation of written texts. It is also important that you develop the language skills that will enable you to express your ideas most effectively. Preparing and planning a presentation There are a number of different situations in which you will need to communicate orally in English in your academic courses. The main situations are presentations, seminars and discussions. In some cases, you will give a short presentation about a topic in order to lead into a discussion. In other cases, you will present information or a summary of a text. In future situations, you may be giving a presentation based on your own work or research. Below is a list of suggestions you may find helpful. Stage 1: Find out what you need to do Make sure you know exactly what the topic is or, if you are choosing your own topic, what is expected of you. Check how long you have for the presentation. Think about your audience. How much are they likely to know about the topic? How much will you need to explain? If the presentation is being assessed, make sure you know what the criteria are. 491241730416500 Stage 2: Brainstorm ideas Task 1 - Arrange the following sentences in the correct order. ________ ________ ________ ________ Explain your ideas to a friend - this will help you to clarify them. Look at your list of ideas - what connections can you see between them? Are there particular ideas you could develop that would be of interest to your audience? Decide which ideas to use. Can each one be summarized in one sentence? If not, perhaps your ideas are not dear and specific enough. Make a list of anything you can think of related to your topic; you will not use all of these ideas, but will choose from them later. Stage 3: Do any necessary research Determine if there are any ideas about which you need to get more information. Gather any evidence you need to support your ideas, e.g., statistics. Think about how much information you can realistically convey to your audience. Keep your audience in mind, especially in relation to their level of relevant expertise. Stage 4: Organize your ideas Decide which point you should begin with. Think about how you can link one idea to the next. Do not include too much information - you want your audience to understand your key points clearly. Decide how you will begin and end your presentation. In the introduction you want to get the attention of the audience. The conclusion is the last part of your presentation, and probably what the audience will most remember. Prepare your PowerPoint slides or other visual aids. Remember: less is more '. Think of the key words you will use and check your pronunciation - there is nothing worse than listening to a presentation in which the presenter pronounces the title of the presentation incorrectly! Task 2 You are going to watch a youtube video entitled " What is a good academic presentation? " by ELC, PolyU . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze3IiHsHuIA Take notes while you are watching and then complete the following blanks. Academic presentations What is the main difference between academic and secondary school presentations? Academic presentations include r_______________, which means you need to cite r_______________. Academic Style In academic style, you need to show authority and to establish that what you are talking about is r_______________, c_______________ and v_______________. Reference List You should choose references that are r_______________ and that also s_______________ your arguments p_______________. What are the two ways to cite your references? provide the reference in the s_______________ cite it o_______________ / v_______________, e.g. as John Chan points out in his article in 2010 Structure A good structure enables the a_______________ to follow the c_______________ very c_______________. Make sure each section of your presentation is o_______________ properly. What is Signposting? it is the outline at the beginning. it gives direction to where the presentation is leading. it is the use of citations.

Examination of The Little Matchstick Girl

Examination of The Little Matchstick Girl First published in 1845, The Little Match Girl by  Hans Christian Anderson  is a story about a young impoverished girl trying to sell matches on the street on New Years Eve who is afraid to go home without selling enough for fear of an abusive father. This tragic short story paints a dismal picture of life for the poor in the 1840s but also carries with it that grim hope of a fairy tale with visions of huge Christmas trees and shooting stars appearing before the young match girl- her dying wishes and dreams. The Harsh Realities of Poverty Andersons The Little Match Girl is not far from classic fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm- they both share a certain darkness to their content, a melancholic and an often morbid obsession with consequences for actions or for merely existing. Its an often studied piece in academic circles. In The Little Match Girl, Andersons titular character dies by the end of the piece, but the story is much more about the perseverance of hope. In these sparse, unforgiving lines, Hans Christian Andersen packs so much simple beauty and hope: The girl is cold, barefoot, and poor- without a friend in the world (it seems)- but she is not without hope. She dreams of warmth and light, of a time when she will be surrounded by love, and filled with happiness. Its so far outside of the realm of her current experience that most of us would have long since given up such dreams, but she holds on. Still, the harsh realities of poverty haunt the little girls reality- she must sell a match for fear of being beaten by her father upon returning home and this fear propels her to stay outside all night, which ultimately leads to her death by hypothermia. Lessons and Adaptations Thanks to its brevity and delicate approach to the topic of death, The Little Match Girl serves as a great tool, like most fairy tales, to teach children important lessons about the tougher topics in life like death and loss as well as social issues like poverty and charity. We may not want to think about the horrible things that happen every day, and its certainly hard to explain such things to our children. It does seem, though, that we can often learn the greatest lessons from the children- in how they deal with the most hopeless situations. In those final moments, this little girl sees visions of splendor. She sees hope. But, her passing- punctuated by the shooting of a star in the night sky- is tragic and troubling. Fortunately, there have also been many adaptations of this short piece by Hans Christian Anderson including several animated and live action short films which provide an easier way for children to access the themes of this brilliant short work of fiction.