How to Improve Your Essay

How to Improve Your EssayThe essay is often the first step in a student's first attempt at writing a paper. It should be quite clear that the most important part of an essay is the topic. After that the structure, style and tone of the paper should follow naturally from the topic. However, there are still a few things that you can do to improve your essay if you are having trouble with the format of your essay.A good way to begin is to look at essay samples written by other students. If you have access to many of these you will be able to look for similar topics and then go back and check your essay for weaknesses. These are not all essay samples, but if you look hard enough you will find several examples that are quite similar to yours. These essay samples will help you understand how the authors write and what they look for when composing an essay. Reading over the examples will help you to refine your own essay even further.The same goes for different styles of writing. There are many different styles of essay that you can use to turn your essay from something that looks average to something that looks fantastic. This is not something that you can always copy, but you can find out about this style before you begin by reading the examples of other students. Also, you can get some ideas from the essay examples by looking at the examples of those who use that style of writing. This is useful if you are not sure which style is best for you.It can be an easy task to think of different ways to style your essay. However, you should not feel pressured into using a particular style. If you want to add a splash of color to your essay, it is perfectly acceptable to choose a unique style. In fact, you may find that you choose the best style after looking at several essays.Bythe same token, you may find that the best essay is not necessarily the one that appears to have the best style. Many times students read essays that they are unsure about and try to copy them. Howev er, this is not what you want to do. Why spend a lot of time trying to improve your essay when you could spend that time on other parts of your schoolwork? Make sure that you are paying attention to all the aspects of your essay that are important and try to determine what needs to be changed.All in all, there are no hard and fast rules about how to write an essay. As you continue in school and your level of writing increases, you will find yourself thinking of new ways to improve your essays. It is always good to ask other teachers and professors what they suggest you write about. They are likely to give you a tip or two as to what you should be focusing on and what you should avoid at all costs.Although you may not think that this tip applies to your essay, the best way to make sure that your essay does not have problems is to get help from a professional essay coach. One of the benefits of going to college or university is that you will have access to the academic resources that you need to revise your essay. The professional will be able to give you assistance in your essays and help you improve them. Some of the tips that he or she may offer include using a more complex and rich vocabulary, using synonyms and synchronicity, using metaphors, using double negatives, identifying the main argument, and developing specific examples and supporting details.The first thing that you want to do when writing your essay is to ensure that it is well written. This means that you make sure that you know what you are writing before you begin. You also want to make sure that you read some of the essay sample essays in order to get a sense of what is being said and how the student would write their own essay.

Multicultural Education Culturally Diverse Students

Culturally Responsive Teaching Public schools are beginning to see a shift in demographics in the United States. There is now a culturally diverse student population and educators need to respond to this shift in order to ensure an equal education for all students. Culture aids in determining how students learn, and culturally responsive teaching is a way teachers can educate culturally diverse students and provide an equal education for all. Culturally responsive teaching is defined by Geneva Gay as using the various characteristics, perspectives, and experiences of many cultures to effectively teach culturally diverse students (2000). Culturally responsive teaching prepares teachers to work with and teach a culturally diverse classroom of students and allows teachers to create a classroom environment that is similar to their students’ home environments so students do not have to assimilate to the dominant culture or change from their home culture to their school culture depe nding on their setting (Brown). Multicultural education is not only important for ensuring equal education for all students, but also creates youth who will be able to function and be effective citizens in a pluralistic society (Gay 2003). In order to implement culturally responsive teaching, teachers must acknowledge potential biases and reconstruct their attitudes, create a diverse knowledge base, be caring and empowering, and create a classroom environment that is conducive to a culturally diverseShow MoreRelatedPromoting Cross Cultural Competence For Pre Service Teachers Through Multicultural Education Experiences Essay1390 Words   |  6 PagesPre-service Teachers Through Multicultural Education Experiences†, author Dr. Jared Keengwe discusses the growing conflict of diversity in American classrooms. Dr. Keengwe argues that 21st century educators are not properly prepared to teach, or communicate effectively with students of diverse backgrounds. In many examples provid ed throughout the article, Dr. Keengwe presents the negative attributes associated with such educators who lack experience in multicultural educational environments. WithRead MoreWhat Does Culture And Diversity Mean?898 Words   |  4 Pagesglobalisation and mass migration, Australia is ethnically and culturally diverse. Australia is also enriched with Indigenous Australian culture. A unique and multicultural community, Australia is therefore dynamic, diverse and constantly growing. This means that our schools are also dynamic, complex and culturally diverse. Students attending schools in Australia will come from diverse cultural backgrounds and will consequently have diverse needs. Using critical theory and post-colonialism, this paperRead MoreMulticultural Education Should Promote Cultural Consciousness, Empower Intercultural Awareness931 Words   |  4 Pagesprograms, with the goal of social justice agenda as a result. It is important to mention that the community immersion exp eriences are and important companion for the multicultural education classes ( Sleeter, 2001). Multicultural education should aim to creating a safe and a productive full access learning experience for all students equally with no consideration for race, color and background, Increasing awareness of global issues. It should enhance cultural consciousness, empower interculturalRead MoreThe Population Of The United States1670 Words   |  7 Pagesfact, the teacher-student diversity gap is growing every year. On top of a lack of minority educators in the field, there is also a lack of proper preparation for white teachers who are working in diverse classrooms. In our transforming society, we need highly informed and diverse teachers who will embrace and encourage cultural diversity. In order to understand the implications of this paper, we must first define multiculturalism. The Dictionary of Multicultural Education defines multiculturalismRead MoreThe Importance Of Supervision And Being A Culturally Competent Counselor981 Words   |  4 PagesSupervision, Consultation and Being a Culturally Competent Counselor Multicultural and diversity is an important topic in counseling. Counselors provide a service to everyone, regardless their nationality, gender, sexual preference or ethnical background. All counselors are held to a high ethical standard, rather they are school, family, and marriage, mental or spiritual counselors. Counselors must be competent to work effectively with members of society who are culturally different from themselves in orderRead MoreWhat I Learned At The Classroom Environment Essay1490 Words   |  6 PagesMeeting the needs of diverse learners has not been a simple task. An incredible amount of time and energy has been spent in creating a culturally responsive classroom. As stated in the literature review, reflection has been a critical component of creating such culture. As a white female and a product of the upper-middle class, I was quickly forced to apply my knowledge of cultural responsive pedagogy when I accepted a position teaching a Title-1 school with over 90 % of students representing variousRead MoreStudents Are Not Entering The Classroom With The Knowledge And Understanding Of Multicultural Education762 Words   |  4 Pagesclassroom with the knowledge and understanding of the importance of multicultural literature. The students are suffering due to the lack of diverse reading literature incorporated into units of reading study. There is a need for staff developments and in-services to help educate teachers on ways to provide multicultural literacy awareness in primary schools. Objectives †¢ To heightening the awareness of the importance of multicultural literature in early grades. †¢ To prepare educators for diversityRead MoreI.Introduction. Cultural Competence Is The Foundation In1567 Words   |  7 PagesI. Introduction Cultural competence is the foundation in creating a successful academic environment for diverse students. Being culturally competent means being knowledgeable of other cultures, including the awareness of that culture’s world view. When someone is culturally competent they are able to effectively communicate and interact with people across cultures, and hold a positive attitude towards culture differences. (Nieto 2014) Teachers should be able to understand their student’s culturalRead MoreA Multicultural Education956 Words   |  4 Pagesstatics in the Kim article were staggering. Being in education for 17 years I have personally seen the change in the student demographics. However Kim summarizes the truth that the demography of the educators has not changed. The introduction focuses on the state of crisis in education involving the achievement gap. This study is focused not just on ethnicity, but also socioeconomic status. From this study the cause to look at mult icultural education is very evident. The main area of the paper willRead MoreEssay about Multiculturalism in Education1255 Words   |  6 Pagesthe need for the inclusion of a culturally diverse education more evident than in our state. Currently, 30% of students in the U.S. are ethnic minorities. Our states public schools educate a student population that is 42% ethnic minority (35% African American, 4% Asian, 3% Hispanic, .5% Native American). Over 100 nations and 130 languages and dialects are represented in our schools. Also reflecting diversity, 12% of students have disabilities requiring education services, and more than 13% are

How Does Diversity Make Us More Creative Essay - 959 Words

Purpose: My purpose is to share my research on diversity and how it makes an individual more creative with my intended audience. I am researching to find three authors that have three different perspectives and answers to the question, â€Å"How does diversity make us more creative?† Intended audience: My instructor is one member of my audience, which is part of the academic audience. My audience also includes employers, politicians, organizations, educators and my peers. How does diversity make us more creative? Most people want to know precisely how diversity can improve an individual’s intelligence and productivity. There are various ideas and explanations when it comes to explaining how diversity affects an individual. It is significant to understand the positives of working with a diverse group. Authors state their opinions on the subject of exploring diversity and the overall effect it has on a particular individual. Although there are authors that agree with the fact that diversity increases creativity, the authors use a variety of methods to support their results. More opportunities are available to a person as he or she works with a diverse group. An individual is more willing to listen to intriguing and intelligent ideas when working with a diverse group. Three authors use distinctive approaches to support the theory that diversity increases creativity by way of enhanced ideas. Particularly, â€Å"How Diversity Makes Us Smarter†, written by Katherine W. Phillips, explainsShow MoreRelatedRepresentation Of The Hollywood Television Industry1505 Words   |  7 PagesRepresentation Matters: Diversity in the Hollywood Television Industry A recent study done by the UCLA Bunche Center for African American Studies showed the lack of diversity within Hollywood by examining all the films released, television programs on broadcast, cable, or digital networks, as well as the actors, writers, directors, and producers within the industry. Ethnic minorities make up about 40% of the American population but still remain underrepresented in all forms of entertainment. TheRead MoreDavid Brookss People Like Us1695 Words   |  7 Pagescommunicates the dilemma of diversification in his expository essay â€Å"People Like Us†. Brooks thinks that people should encourage the diverse community to perceive and esteem each other s different reflection in America. David Brooks demonstrates why all different kinds of humans are attracted to identical and similar races, ethnicities, religions, beliefs, political values, and classes in his essay based on typical examples surrounding us. In other words, Brooks argues all kinds of human s are most comfortableRead MoreCultural Assessment Tools And Organizational Culture843 Words   |  4 Pagesculture and diversity within formal workgroups, description of social culture that influence productivity within diverse workgroups and social culture and diversity of formal group members and the influence on organizational culture. The document will conclude with a summary of this discussion. Cultural Assessment Tools In the study of humanities, cultural assessment analyzes the subtle meaning of text, images, codes, beliefs and behaviors of a social group or community. However, it does not confineRead MoreEce Developmentally Appropriate Practice818 Words   |  4 Pagesrealized that â€Å"one size fits all† teaching is not for me. I needed to combine many methods to make my style fit the many personalities and learning styles of my students. With all of the learning styles that students exhibit I do not see how a teacher could simply teach with one philosophy all of the time. If a teacher chooses to lecture all the time, how will the kinesthetic and visual learners, who make up the biggest percentage of the population, understand the material? Due to the low self-esteemRead MoreThe Impact Of Ethnic Diversity On The Development Of An Entrepreneur1617 Words   |  7 PagesWith the increasing presence of globalisation and rapid emergence of new markets, entrepreneurship is becoming more prevalent. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), there is usually high Total Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) in countries like Australia, Canada and United States, whereas there is low TEA in Norway and United Kingdom . Generally, entrepreneurship can be defined as â€Å"a purposeful activity to initiate, maintain and develop a profit-orientated business† . However, forRead MoreThe Progression Of Higher Education977 Words   |  4 PagesThe progression of higher education has lead us past classroom education in the strictest sense to ideas of the overall student experience and globalization. As the demand for access to education continues to transform from the historical profile of white male student bodies, we have shifted to a noble yet ambiguous idea of diversity. How an institution shows variety is relative, essentially there is no real defining point other than, different. Diversification of participants in the institutionRead More Paying Attention to Rural Education Essay1182 Words   |  5 Pagesthat they threaten the identity of the community; unfortunately, many lawmakers and policymakers in seats of power do not have an intuitive understanding of how rural schools work. Policies that work for urban schools, or even suburban schools, can not be assumed to fit the role of a rural school. It is suggested in this article that more attention needs to be paid to rural schools that fly under the radar or have misdiagnosed problems. Even though a greater number of people are moving to ruralRead MoreClass Lecture On Diversity : The Fundamental Understanding Of Race, Class, And Gender Essay1564 Words   |  7 PagesOur class lecture on diversity was overall very informative and shared a lo t of the values that I hold myself. The lecture went over the fundamental understanding of race, class, and gender as well as social interactions. Understanding differences in one another helps us all to recognize and appreciate the intercultural dynamics. Understanding that we have similar interests or beliefs can encourage cooperation and cohesion. Diversity can be defined as people coming together from different races,Read MoreDiveristy1030 Words   |  5 Pagespatients. One doctor laments, â€Å"People put us on a pedestal. They see us as angels, and this makes communication difficult. They don’t ask questions or express their concerns. But we make mistakes like anyone else.† In communicating with their patients, what is one specific thing doctors might do to level the playing field and promote more open, honest communication? Page 136 To level the playing field, doctors can talk to their patients and effectively explain how their â€Å"power†, â€Å"status† or title doesn’tRead MoreThe Problem of Childcare Essay1732 Words   |  7 PagesThe Problem of Childcare The traditional family of a working father and a stay-at-home mother scenario is fast changing as more and more women are also joining the work force. This means that increasing numbers of employees are working parents who must find ways to cope with the often conflicting time demands of both work and childcare. It is a serious concern for employees and has a direct impact on the businesses. There are two reasons why businesses should also

13 Ways Essay Stop And Frisk free essay sample

1000C November 30, 2013 NYPD Stop and Frisk Laws: The Inevitable Reform New York City being one of the original immigration destinations for people immigrating to the United States should represent freedom; it should be a land of equality where an individual’s race will not hold them back and they will not be judged upon their accent or ethnicity; isn’t that the whole idea of the United States? If all of this is true, it makes no sense how the New York Police Department is allowed to use such intrusive, abusive, and embarrassing tactics such as Stop and Frisk. Being an average white suburban teen, I haven’t personally seen the effects of Stop and Frisk on a first hand account but to me it is clear that these practices are a problem. Stop and Frisk practices are associated with illegal stops, racial profiling, and violating privacy rights, the worst part is that this is all caused by the people who are supposed to be protecting citizens, the police, reform is detrimental for the future of New York City. For anyone unaware of Stop and Frisk Laws, they pretty much give police officers the right to stop whomever they deem as suspicious. After stopping an individual with little to no evidence of any crime stop and frisk gives police officers the right to question them and search them for weapons and other sorts of contraband. This leaves a lot of room for error due to the fact that police officers receive no extra training to help them decide who is or is not suspicious looking(Mathias). I couldn’t have put it better than one of my peers who answered one of the questions on my survey saying â€Å"No one knows how to judge who should be frisked and who shouldnt.† Honestly there is no way anyone can decide who is suspicious and who isn’t; police officers simply have to go with their gut and this is what usually leads to racial profiling. Stop and Frisk can lead to racial profiling because if an officer already has a preconceived idea that a certain race is more violent, more likely to commit crimes, or simply more sketchy then this will drastically affect who they stop and don’t stop. Sadly Black and Latino citizens are the one’s being profiled and discriminated against. The amount of data supporting this is uncanny, for example 87 percent of the people stopped in 2011 were Latino or Black (Mathias). To go even further, this gives racist police officers the power to stop and harass someone simply because they don’t like the way they look or talk. This practice put so many people at risk it is insane! Another problem of the Stop and Frisk practices are that they violate citizens’ right to privacy. It is completely intrusive and simply embarrassing to be stopped while you’re walking the street just because an officer thought you looked like a criminal. Now if police aren’t protecting citizen’s or their rights, rather they’re violating them this must take a toll on the NYPD-Citizen relationship. Thanks to Stop and Frisk practices the NYPD is looked down upon and even seen as lazy. These laws lead to citizens losing faith and trust in the NYPD, and without the police to depend on for security society could crumble. If people don’t believe that the police have their best interests in mind and are not there to protect them, they will feel defenseless and naturally will look somewhere else for protection; this could lead to a boom in gangs and mafias. All of this may seem far-fetched but thinking long term if Stop and Frisk laws are not reformed this is very possible. If these laws are not reformed there is potential for chaos†¦imagine riots lead by the thousands of people who feel singled out and discriminated against calling for a revolution. Although many people believe stop and frisk is bad for everyone, some people disagree and think that the stop and frisk laws are helping keep people safe. An example of this is when I interviewed one of my old martial arts instructors who is a police officer, he said that even though some police officers use racial profiling when deciding who to frisk not all police officers do and the entire NYPD shouldn’t be judged upon a few bad apples. He said at the end of the day no one created these laws with malicious intent. Another thing people might say to condone stop and frisk is that it is a necessary evil, that even though people’s rights are violated in the end these laws are there just to keep people safe. Bloomberg supports stop and frisk saying that NYPD finds 900 guns per year thanks to stop and frisk. Police officers say that even if an innocent is stopped it was a necessary precaution to keeping society safe because what if that person was bad and that hadn’t stopped them. And dealing with the racial profiling lawsuit against the NYPD some people may argue that there is no way around claims of profiling and it would be counterintuitive to not stop someone just because they are a certain race after all said and done no matter race is stopped people are going to have something to complain about. In my opinion although stop and frisk can be proved effective in some cases it is not worth risking people’s rights and mainly these tactics are illegal. So clearly that view is very different from mine, but another view is one where people say that instead of reforming the stop and frisk laws people say that these laws or practices are so despicable the need to be stopped completely without reform. Clearly the two sides discussed in this paragraph are extremes and I think my side is the most rational. I surveyed five of my peers to see how they felt on the topic, and as I suspected most of my peers strongly support the reform of stop and frisk. One of my questions was, has anyone in your family been affected by any of these laws? One individual responded with, â€Å"Yes my boyfriend has been stopped twice. He is the most straight-laced person I know, it is ridiculous that he has been stopped at all! † This quote proves my point that people are stopped completely without cause and if I had to guess I bet this girls boyfriend was stopped due to his race or color. Another example of my peers supporting my thesis is the majority of them said police officers misuse their power instead of using it responsibly and 100% of participants agreed that police officers use racial profiling when deciding who to stop. Another unanimous response was my question asking what ethnicity or race was most likely stopped the most frequently and everyone said African American. Some of the people who took my survey were black so imagine how they feel that the NYPD singles them out. Obviously these stop and frisk laws should clearly be reformed so that no one is being picked on or discriminated against. If you are white and do not care of feel affected by any of this, just imagine the roles were reversed and you were the one being discriminated against and stopped unjustly. I don’t know about you but I would definitely want everyone to help change this no matter what race they are, simply because these practices are wrong and everyone is supposed to be equal. Some ways we can fix this could be making stricter rules and regulations for officers and having the police department take responsibility when someone is wrongly stopped; the NYPD needs to be accountable for their actions. There should be a supervisor that the NYPD specifically has to answer to when dealing with stop and frisk so this problem gets the attention it deserves. In conclusion there are many ways to fix stop and frisk and reform is inevitable, so lets make it happen now! Works Cited Mathias, Christopher. NYPD Stop And Frisks: 15 Shocking Facts About A Controversial Program. The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost. com, 13 May 2012. Web. 01 Dec. 2013. . Stop and Frisk Practices | New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) American Civil Liberties Union of New York State. Stop and Frisk Practices | New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) American Civil Liberties Union of New York State. NYCLU, n. d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. .

The Catacombs And Christian Persecutions Essays - Catacombs

The Catacombs and Christian Persecutions The Catacombs and Christian Persecutions The catacombs are the ancient underground cemeteries used by the Christians and the Jewish people in Rome. The Christian catacombs began in the second century and the hollowing out continued until the first half of the fifth century. In the beginning they were only burial places, but later they gathered to celebrate their funeral rites, and the anniversaries of the saints and of the dead. During the persecutions the catacombs were used as places of momentary refuge for the celebration of the Eucharist. After the persecutions they became real shrines of the saints and held centuries of relics of Christians from all over the empire. In the first century, the Roman Christians did not have their own cemeteries. If they owned land then they would bury their relatives there, if they didn't they had to bury them in common cemeteries, the Pagans were also buried here. That is why Saint Peter was buried in the great public necropolis (city of the dead) on Vatican Hill, it was available to everybody. Saint Paul was also buried along the Via Ostiense, a section of the catacombs. In the first half of the second century the Christians started burying their dead underground, this is a result of donations. That is how the catacombs were founded. Many of them began and developed around family tombs whose owners, newly converted Christians, did not reserve them to the members of the family. They did open them up to their fellow people, showing the faith. As time went on and room started to run out in the catacombs, the catacombs grew larger by gifts and by the purchase of new properties, sometimes by the Church itself. With the edict of Milan announced by the emperors Constantine and Licinius in February 313, the Christians were no longer persecuted. They were free to practice their faith, to have places of worship, to build churches both inside and outside the city, and to buy plots of land without fear of seizure. Although the Christians had their freedom to worship any religion, the catacombs continued as regular cemeteries until the beginning of the fifth century. This is when the Church returned to burying only above ground or in the basilicas dedicated to important saints. When the barbarians came down to Rome, they completely destroyed a lot of monuments and demolished many places, including the catacombs. Powerless towards the destruction, the Popes ordered to remove the relics of the saints to the city churches, for security reasons. When the transfer of the relics was completed the catacombs were no longer visited. They were totally abandoned, except for the tombs of Saint Sebastian, Saint Lawrence and of Saint Pancratius. Over the course of time, landslides, rock movement, and vegetation hid the entrances to the other catacombs. The very traces of their existence were lost. During the late Middle Ages they didn't even know where they were. The Christian religion developed rapidly in Rome and all over the world past the 1st century. This was because it was original and suitable for all mankind to believe in. It was also due to the testimony of fervour; this was that the Christians expressed brotherly love and charity to everybody. The Roman authorities were at first unconcerned about the new religion, but soon the people showed themselves hostile to the authorities because the Christians refused to worship the ancient pagan deities of Rome, and also the emperor. The Christians were accused of disloyalty to their fatherland, atheism, hatred towards mankind, and also hidden crimes such as incest, infanticide and ritual cannibalism. Because of this they were held responsible for all natural disasters such as plagues, floods, famines, etc. The Christian religion was proclaimed strange and unlawful by most that's why it was outlawed and persecuted. It was considered the most dangerous enemy of Rome. The first three centuries constitute the age of Saints, which ended in 313 with the edict of Milan. At this time the emperors Constantine and Licinius gave freedom to the Church. The persecutions were not always continuous and universal, nor equally cruel and bloody. Periods of persecution were followed by periods of relative peace. Christians faced persecution with courage, a very large percentage with heroism, but they did not submit to it without resistance. They defended themselves with great strength by defeating the accusations of those crimes as being false and groundless and by producing the contents of their faith. Bibliography 1.) Celebrating Sacraments Joseph Stoutzenberger 2.) Church and State in Early Christianity, ca. 30-600 Hugo Rahner Translated by Leo Donald Advise 3.) The Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity John McManners

The eNotes Blog Seven Reads To Lift Your HolidaySpirit

Seven Reads To Lift Your HolidaySpirit The hustle and bustle of the holiday season are in full swing. While some of us may be roasting chestnuts on an open fire, others are feeling overwhelmed by the chaos. Winter is the perfect reading season, so why not avoid the mall mayhem and indulge in some light reading? Here are seven holiday reads sure to leave you feeling festive! A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens When has A Christmas Carol not made a holiday reading list? Arguably, its the most classic Christmas tale that has remained a seasonal staple for generations. Dickens crafted a timeless ghost story that reminds us of the often overlooked joys of the holiday season. One of the most iconic characters in literature, Ebenezer Scrooge symbolizes the redemptive qualities of human nature, reminding us all that it is never too late to make positive changes for a brighter future. As the year comes to an end, this is the perfect novel to encourage reflection on this past year and establish resolutions for the upcoming one. A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote A classic story based on Truman Capote’s childhood, A Christmas Memory is a nostalgic account of the author’s last Christmas spent with his older cousin. This novel is full of classic feel-good activity, like baking fruitcakes and flying kits, and inspires readers to hold on to some tethers of tradition. A heartfelt, coming-of-age story, Capotes short story reminds us to reminaboutce on the people and practices that make our holidays truly special. Journey of the Magi by T.S Eliot The Journey of the Magi is a poem from the first-person recollection of a Magus, one of the Persian Magi, who came to visit the Christ child as recorded in the second chapter of Matthew. Beyond the biblical nature of the poem, Eliot explores universal  themes of uncertainty and fear that can accompany times of transition. The next time you pass a Nativity scene this holiday season, whether youre Christian or otherwise, take note of the three wise men bearing gifts and muse on these universal human feelings highlighted in Eliots poem. Skipping Christmas by John Grisham Fed up with the materialistic conventions of Christmas, a married couple decides to save money and abandon their yearly traditions. Their community is not amused by the couple’s efforts to boycott the holiday and purposely try to make the couple regret their decision. While Christmas may be intended to be a unifying occasion, its original purpose is often clouded by the commercialization of society. Grisham’s humorous novel is a reminder of what really matters during the holidays. Hint: its not buying stuff. Kwanzaa and Me by Vivian Gussin Paley KWANZAA AND ME is a series of dialogues based on meetings with the author and teachers, as well as parents, exploring the idea of African-American children being placed in all-black schools to provide more cultural support. Paley’s work encourages readers to have conversations about institutional racism, the education system, and the importance of celebrating heritage. Kwanzaa is a time to honor the virtues that strengthen community, therefore this is a fantastic read to not only shine a light on current issues present in our country but to also gain some perspective this holiday season. Amazing Peace by Maya Angelou During the White House’s Sixty-Third Annual Pageant of Peace in December 2005, Angelou read â€Å"Amazing Peace† before President George W. Bush lit the national Christmas tree. Influenced by the rhetoric, rhythm, and imagery of Southern black preachers and gospel choirs, Angelou acknowledges that humanity has still not found peace, despite the countless progressive efforts made throughout history. Regardless of what you choose to celebrate this holiday season, Angelou’s poem is a reminder that we should all practice peace.   A New Year’s Eve Adventure by Ernst Theodor Wilhelm Hoffman A New Year’s Eve Adventure is a story-within-a-story, merging reality with fantasy. Essentially, it’s about a man who falls in love with a beautiful woman, sells his soul to the devil, and is doomed to wander eternally in search of his lost self. While this may be far from your ideal New Year’s Eve adventure, this story is an entertaining, romantic fantasy sure to inspire a good look into the mirror. Do you want to learn more about these authors and their other literary works? Check out to find detailed biographies of your favorite authors alongside full summaries and study guides! (Feature Photo via Pinterest)

Biography of Meriwether Lewis, American Explorer

Biography of Meriwether Lewis, American Explorer Meriwether Lewis, born August 18, 1774 in Virginia, is best known as the co-captain of the historic Lewis and Clark Expedition. But in addition to his role as a famed explorer, he was a young plantation owner, a committed military man, a controversial politician, and a confidant of President Jefferson. Lewis died in 1809 of gun shot wounds while en route to Washington, D.C., a trip he undertook with the intentions of clearing his muddled name. Fast Facts: Meriwether Lewis Occupation: Explorer, Governor of Louisiana TerritoryBorn: August 18, 1774,  Albemarle County, VADied: October 11, 1809, near Nashville, TNLegacy: The Lewis and Clark Expedition traversed the country through nearly 8,000 miles, helping consolidate Americas claims to the West. The explorers produced over 140 maps, collected over 200 samples of new plant and animal species, and established peaceful relations with 70 Native American tribes along the way.Famous Quote: As we passed on, it seemed as if those scenes of visionary enchantment would never have an end. Adolescent Planter Meriwether Lewis was born at Locust Hill plantation in Albemarle County, Virginia, on August 18, 1774. He was the eldest of five children born to Lt. William Lewis and Lucy Meriwether Lewis. William Lewis died of pneumonia in 1779 when Meriwether was just five years old. Within six months, Lucy Lewis married Captain John Marks and the new family left Virginia for Georgia. Life on what was then the frontier appealed to young Meriwether, who learned how to hunt and forage on long treks through the wilderness. When he was about 13 years old, he was sent back to Virginia for schooling and to learn the rudiments of running Locust Hill. By 1791, his stepfather had died and Lewis moved his twice-widowed mother and siblings home to Albemarle, where he worked to build a financially stable home for his family and over two dozen slaves. As he grew to maturity, cousin Peachy Gilmer described the young plantation owner as â€Å"formal and almost without flexibility,† determined to the point of obstinacy and filled with â€Å"self-possession and undaunted courage.† Captain Lewis Lewis seemed destined for the life of an obscure Virginia planter when he found a new path. A year after joining the local militia in 1793, he was among the 13,000 militiamen called up by President George Washington to put down the Whiskey Rebellion, an uprising of farmers and distillers in Pennsylvania protesting high taxes. Military life appealed to him, and in 1795 he joined the nascent U.S. Army as an ensign. Soon thereafter, he befriended another Virginia-born officer named William Clark.   In 1801, Captain Lewis was appointed as an aide to incoming President Thomas Jefferson. A fellow Albemarle County planter, Jefferson had known Lewis all his life and admired the younger man’s skills and intellect. Lewis served in this post for the next three years. Jefferson had long dreamt of seeing a major expedition across the American continent, and with the signing of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, he was able to win funding and support for an expedition to explore and map the new territory to find â€Å"the most direct and practicable water communication across this continent, for the purposes of commerce. Meriwether Lewis was a logical choice to lead the expedition. â€Å"It was impossible to find a character who to a complete science in botany, natural history, mineralogy astronomy, joined the firmness of constitution character, prudence, habits adapted to the woods a familiarity with the Indian manners and character, requisite for this undertaking,† Jefferson wrote. â€Å"All the latter qualifications Capt. Lewis has.† Lewis chose William Clark as his co-captain and they recruited the best men they could find for what promised to be an arduous multi-year trek. Lewis and Clark and their 33-man Corps of Discovery left from Camp Dubois in present-day Illinois on May 14, 1804. Map of the Northwestern United States depicts the route taken by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on their first expedition from the Missouri River (near St. Louis, Missouri) to the mouth of the Columbia River (at the Pacific Ocean in Oregon), and their return trip, 1804-1806. (Photo by Stock Montage/Getty Images) Over the next two years, four months, and 10 days, the Corps of Discovery covered nearly 8,000 miles to the Pacific coast and back, arriving in St. Louis in early September 1806. Altogether, the expedition created over 140 maps, collected over 200 samples of new plant and animal species, and made contact with over 70 Native American tribes. Governor Lewis Back home in Virginia, Lewis and Clark each received about $4,500 in pay (equivalent to about $90,000 today) and 1,500 acres of land in recognition of their accomplishment. In March 1807, Lewis was appointed governor of the Louisiana Territory and Clark was appointed general of the territorial militia and Agent for Indian Affairs. They arrived in St. Louis in early 1808. In St. Louis, Lewis built a house big enough for himself, William Clark, and Clark’s new bride. As governor, he negotiated treaties with local tribes and tried to bring order to the region. However, his work was undermined by political enemies, who spread rumors that he was mismanaging the territory. Lewis also found himself deeply in debt. In carrying out his duties as governor, he accrued nearly $9,000 in debts- equivalent to $180,000 today. His creditors began to call in his debts before Congress approved his reimbursements. In early September 1809, Lewis set out for Washington, in the hopes of clearing his name and winning his money. Accompanied by his servant, John Pernier, Lewis planned to boat down the Mississippi to New Orleans and sail along the coast to Virginia. Stopped by illness at Fort Pickering, near present-day Memphis, Tennessee, he decided to make the rest of the trip overland, following a wilderness path called the Natchez Trace. On October 11, 1809, Lewis died of gunshot wounds at an isolated tavern known as Grinder’s Stand, about 70 miles southwest of Nashville.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Murder or Suicide? Word quickly spread that the 35-year-old Lewis had committed suicide as the result of depression. Back in St. Louis, William Clark wrote to Jefferson: â€Å"I fear the weight of his mind has overcome him.† But there were lingering questions over what had occurred at Grinder’s Stand on the night of October 10 and 11, with rumors that Lewis had, in fact, been murdered. Over 200 years later, researchers are still divided on how Lewis died. For decades, descendants of the explorer have sought to have his remains exhumed for examination  by forensic experts to see if they can determine if his wounds were self-inflicted or not. To date, their requests have been denied. Sources Danisi, Thomas C.  Meriwether Lewis. New York: Prometheus Books, 2009.Guice, John D.W. Jay H. Buckley. By His Own Hand?:  The Mysterious Death of Meriwether Lewis. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2014.Stroud, Patricia Tyson. Bitterroot:  The Life and Death of Meriwether Lewis. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2018.