Great Expectations. How Does the Relationship Between Pip...

Great Expectations is set in Victorian England. It is apparent when we read the novel that Charles Dickens expressed many of his own views when writing the narrative, using a strong authorial voice. This is particularly clear when he addresses certain issues concerning the social and cultural concerns of the time, and through Pips desire for social change. The development of the relationship between Pip and Joe is crucial in realising the complexity and importance of their relationship because their friendship is affected by many external factors which are beyond the control of the beholders. In order to explore the change and development I must also consider how society inspired Dickens to write such a powerful novel. Initially, the†¦show more content†¦It is Joes astounded reaction to these lies that causes us to feel sympathetic towards Joe and causes an increased dislike for Pip. However, we are pleased to see that for the first time in his life he is in control of a sit uation, and particularly in control of Mrs. Joe, who he has suffered abuse at her hands for so many years. His attitude towards Joe had also changed, from the extreme affection in chapter six, where Joe is described as the only receptor for Pips love, I loved Joe - perhaps for no reason in those early days than because the dear fellow let me love him. to a mere blacksmith who was the source of Pips shameful upbringing. It is also the first time in the novel that we see such a strong authorial voice, where Dickens asks us directly as a reader to think if we have ever felt such a change in our own lives. However much we are prepared to blame Pip for the drastic changes to Pip and Joes relationship, we cannot ignore the fact that there are many external characters that provoke a course of events which are completely out of the control of both Pip and Joe. Estella and Miss Havisham being the most prominent, as Pip seems to be completely infatuated by Estella and describes her very affectionately as if she was the one thing in his life he had been waiting for; But, she answered at last, and her light came along the dark passage like a star but the arrival of Biddy and Jaggers also form a markedShow MoreRelatedMagwitch Character Analysis1683 Words   |  7 Pageslay in a row nearby with just enough space for a small body to be buried there. There looked to be about five more small tombstones, but with the heavy fog surrounding the marshy area it was hard to tell where anything truly was. The headstone the boy sat in front of however was large enough to fit an adult man. The boy’s fingers traced the letters that had been imprinted on the dark stone some time ago. The concentration he held was uncommon for a boy of that age. Whispering could be heard comingRead MoreEssay Analysis of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens5944 Words   |  24 PagesAnalysis of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Charles Dickens, the revolutionary 19th century novelist, wrote a bildungsroman of Phillip Pirrip (Pip) and the reality of his own â€Å"Great Expectations† in his pursuit to become a gentleman. In Chapter 8, the reader is introduced to Miss Havisham and Estella and this is where Pip first becomes dissatisfied with the life at the forge. There were many writers in Dickens’ day whose works are no longer read; this is possibly because Dickens did something

Essay on Censorship of Music - 1406 Words

Censorship of Music In todays society, all types of music artists are expressing their views, opinions and feelings in their songs about what they see and what they know. This is on of the great things about this country, the freedom to express yourself. It is not fair, nor is it constitutional that music should be censored in anyway. It is not only rap music trying to be censored it is in all types of music. They are taking away their rights and it isnt fair. As reported in the New York Times. Wall-Mart CD standards are Changing Pop Music, Wal-Mart and other large department stores sell CDs by your favorite artists which are not what your favorite artists originally created. Some retailers refuse to carry CDs with Parental†¦show more content†¦Weve got to speak their language if the message of the record is Dont call me a bitch we have got to allow the artist to get the message across. And sometimes it is necessary for the artists to use language that grabs peoples attention. Inner City Broadc asting one of the largest black owned broadcasting firms in the country, announced that its stations will not play music that is profane or advocates violence, particularly against women or homosexuals. They announced they would not air songs with the words bitch and ho to refer to women. What we are doing, as responsible broadcasters who are licensed to serve our listeners, is simply exercising our best judgment, said Pierre Sutton, Chairmen of Inner City. (Viles 90)What bothers me is that they censor the music because they are saying these words are portraying bad ideas, but they are just singing about what is all around us and what we see. It is not like saying theses lyrics are anything new. A person or a child is going to hear them regardless of any song with so called profanity in them. The people singing are just telling the truth. I think a child has a better chance of hearing profanity in there own home or school then by hearing it in a song. The recent Gangsta rap hearings on Capitol Hill bore all the elements of 1985s dramatic Parents Music Resource Center debate-heated testimony talk of labeling explicit lyrics and plenty of music biz attention. Led by Illinois Sen.Show MoreRelated Censorship in Literature and Music Essay examples1860 Words   |  8 PagesCensorship in Literature and Music What is censorship? An encyclopedia defines censorship as the control of what people may say or hear, write or read, or see or do1. There are many reasons why people censor entertainment such as literature and music. Many governments or groups try to preserve their standards of morality by preventing people from learning about or following other standards2, commonly found in the two previously mentioned mediums. There are different ways to censor things.Read MoreMusic Censorship Is Not Possible Without The Color Red And For Artists1497 Words   |  6 Pagesvery impactful in how he uses the example of painting the American flag, it’s not possible without the color red and for artists to not be able to write songs using their past experiences that isn’t quite possible either. Another limitation of music censorship is that lyrics are poetry and are filled with double meanings so what may be obscene to one person may be perfectly acceptable to another. John Denver testified at the 1985 hearing of the PMRC stating that his song â€Å"Rocky Mountain High†, whichRead MoreCensorship And Censorship Of Music1544 Words   |  7 PagesThroughout the years, music has evolved and transformed in many ways. However, there are restrictions in today’s music, otherwise known as, censorships. A crisis has emerged concerning the issue of censorship. This argument consists of two possible stances: one, supporting the continuation of censorship, and two, eliminating the status quo of censorships in the music industry. There have been countless debates and arguments regarding the issues of censorship ever since the U.S. Congress passed theRead MoreMusic Censorship1016 Words   |  5 PagesKevin Ung Professor Vazquez English 101 October 9, 2007 Music Censorship I enjoy and love music very much. I feel that music artists should have the right to freely express their work and I feel that I should argue about the censorship attacks on these artists. I’m tired of listening to a good song on the radio with some of the words censored. It ruins the song and I can’t stand it. Some people think that rap is a bad influence and causes the young to behave badly. But I think all this censoringRead MoreMusic Censorship1092 Words   |  5 Pagesgovernment for a redress of grievances, censorship in America still exists in a big way. Music censorship is the term used to describe the act of editing, altering, or preventing the listener from hearing the music as the artist created it in order to either deny certain information or to act as a moral gatekeeper of potentially harmful material (http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~barndollar/courses/spring98/students/fabfive/index.html). The Censorship of music in the United Stated is documented as farRead MoreEssay on Music Censorship880 Words   |  4 PagesMusic Censorship The tall, lanky fifteen-year-old ambled slowly up to the counter and tossed his music selection toward the clerk. The salesman began to ring the sale up in his routine manner, but just then something caught his eye. It was a small black sticker on the corner of the CD. This sticker plainly read explicit lyrics. As the teenager fumbled through his pockets searching for a method of payment, the clerk gave him a questioning glance. Could I see some identification pleaseRead MoreCensorship in Music Essays1076 Words   |  5 PagesCensorship in Music Censorship in music has been a major problem plaguing America since the early nineteen forties. It came to a head during the nineteen sixties with the Vietnam War and the hippie movement. During the nineteen seventies and eighties heavy metal and hard rock were getting the brunt of the censorship heat. Now in the nineteen nineties the major focus of censorship is rap; primarily gangster rap. Some of the main factors of music in general that cause legal ramifications are sexualRead More Music Censorship Essay1269 Words   |  6 PagesMusic Censorship Healthy debates have been caused by todays music. Generally, foul language has rapidly increased within modern popular song lyrics, especially among rap and heavy metal artists songs. An increase in explicit violence and misogyny in popular music lyrics has been recorded. These lyrics have been judged to be inspirations for violent, suicidal, and criminal acts. For example, Mr. Raymond Kuntz referred to his sons incident. When his wife went to wake their son for school, theyRead MoreThe Problem Of Music Censorship1280 Words   |  6 PagesAttention Getter: Imagine yourselves listening to music at a party, you’re jumping around yelling, screaming, and majority of the time singing or rapping along to whatever song is playing. Now imagine every other word, or whole verses in the song getting bleeped out frequently because of the message it presents even though you have the right to listen to whatever you so desire. This is the problem of music censorship we all face today. B. Relevance: BeingRead MoreMusic Censorship Essay625 Words   |  3 PagesMusic Censorship Since the being of time people have been making and listening to music. Music has been considered the best way to express ourselves. The Bible even talks about how music was used to praise God. Music has been used for all type of things ranging from to getting a girl to notice guy, trying to get over a broken heart, or maybe losing a love one. Now society says that music has become too violent and sexually oriented. Many people have different point of view on this topic some

Ducle et Decorum Est Essay Example For Students

Ducle et Decorum Est Essay This poem titled Dulce Et Decorum Est is written by the poet Wilfred Owen during World War One. Dulce Et Decorum Est is a part of a common phrase that was tossed around during Owenss time, the full phrase is Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori, which loosely translated into English means, It is sweet and becoming to die for ones country or It is sweet and seemly to die for ones country. In this poem, this phrase to quoted as being the old Lie; alluding to the fact that Owen believed that this proposed patriotism especially in face of a war was a lie. This poem is one of the many anti-war poems that Owen had written and is one of the many poems that was only published after the war was over. It is important to note that this poem centers around the retelling of a gas attack, one of the battlefield methods that were common in Owenss day, this could be seen as a focal point or even an extended metaphor that extends throughout the poem. It is also interesting to consider that this poem is believed to have been written in 1970, when Owen was recuperating in Craig Lockhart Hospital, this could explain the structure that was previously lacking in his earlier poems.  This poem comprises of four sections, which are literally translated into 4 parts. The first paragraph describes the numbness of the shell-shocked soldiers, the second giving an account of a gas attack, the third detailing the haunting effect of this gas attack and the fourth and last paragraph divulges gory details that are told in an invective tone that is further heightened by the rousing climax of the last 2 lines, Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori. This poem is written in a loose iambic pentameter, using 9, 10 and 11 syllables per line, instead of the usual solid 10. It gives the poem a loose sort of structure as it goes along, which helps the message that Owen is trying to portray; that of his distaste towards war. It is also written in a strict AB rhyme scheme, which also helps with the structure of the poem. The poems speed and meter quickens as the poem goes along, with the introduction of the second passage, where there are words in caps and plenty of exclamation marks, GAS! Gas! Quick, boys! This quickens the pace of the poem and it shows the rapidity and suddenness of the war. This vivid description of the war, allows the reader to experience the horror of a gas attack and it invokes pity and sadness to the reader.  Owenss tone on the surface seems to be one of non-accusation, but as we read into the passage, we can see Owenss seething anger to the people who quote the old Lie, with the use of vivid description such as coughing like hags and Drunk with fatigue. Moving onto the meaning of the poem. As clearly stated in the description above, this poem is anti-war in nature. In conveys in no uncertain terms the disgust that Owen has towards the war. This retelling of a normal gas attack, allows the reader to experience, the suddenness, the unexpectedness, the sheer horrific nature of it all, therefore invokes feelings of sadness and pity in the reader.  Let us begin with the portrayal of the soldiers, the physical aspect of them. They are described as Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed and coughing like hags The first impression we have of the soldiers is that they are tired, exhausted to the point where they can be referred to as beggars, they are coughing like hags, showing how ill they must feel, the fatigue is taking a toll on them, they are like beggars and hags, are similes that carry ark imagery, showing and emphasizing the darkness and dullness of war. The alliteration of Knock-kneed again brings poignancy to these opening lines of the sheer exhaustion of these soldiers. The usage of the word sacks could carry a hidden meaning of the government putting wool over these soldiers eyes, putting sacks over them that cloud their better judgment. .u223c034bb558b4a048fe6daa0698979c , .u223c034bb558b4a048fe6daa0698979c .postImageUrl , .u223c034bb558b4a048fe6daa0698979c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u223c034bb558b4a048fe6daa0698979c , .u223c034bb558b4a048fe6daa0698979c:hover , .u223c034bb558b4a048fe6daa0698979c:visited , .u223c034bb558b4a048fe6daa0698979c:active { border:0!important; } .u223c034bb558b4a048fe6daa0698979c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u223c034bb558b4a048fe6daa0698979c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u223c034bb558b4a048fe6daa0698979c:active , .u223c034bb558b4a048fe6daa0698979c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u223c034bb558b4a048fe6daa0698979c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u223c034bb558b4a048fe6daa0698979c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u223c034bb558b4a048fe6daa0698979c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u223c034bb558b4a048fe6daa0698979c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u223c034bb558b4a048fe6daa0698979c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u223c034bb558b4a048fe6daa0698979c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u223c034bb558b4a048fe6daa0698979c .u223c034bb558b4a048fe6daa0698979c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u223c034bb558b4a048fe6daa0698979c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Poetry Analysis Persuasive EssayThe next paragraph describes a gas attack; the quickening of the pace has already been expounded earlier in this commentary so I shall go more into the detail of this paragraph. These soldiers are floundering like a man in fire or lime; they are not clear and hidden by misty pains and thick green light and are drowning. This detailed description of the poison gas just show the intense horrors brought about by this war, and it leaves the reader shaken as you can literally feel the white-hot intensity of that moment, where people are running like on fire, people slowly sinking to the ground like they are drowning. These people are in the multi tudes to the point where they all seem blurred, unreal even. These vivid descriptions are just characteristic of Owenss poetry, where his no holds barred policy leaves great impact on the reader.

Kennedy and the Bay of Pigs

Introduction The US Administration is constantly faced with scenarios that require risky decisions to be made. Sometimes this risk taking results in positive outcomes while the results are horrible at other times. One of the cases where the risk taking led to negative results was in the case of the Bay of Pigs invasion under President J.F. Kennedy.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Kennedy and the Bay of Pigs specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More While the US envisioned a major success in this operation, the reality was different as the Cuban forces overwhelmed the US trained rebels. This defeat was followed by a worldwide condemnation of the Kennedy Administration for its role in the invasion. The attack also led to a cementing of Fidel Castro’s leadership in the country and a greater deterioration in the relationship between Cuba and the US thereby making the Bay of Pigs invasion a colossal failure. This p aper will set out to analyze the underlying reasons behind the failure of President Kennedy in his decision to invade Cuba and attempt to highlight some lessons that can be learnt from this failure. Overview of the Case The Bay of Pigs invasion was an attack against the Cuban government carried out by US backed Cuban rebels. The US created this plan since it wanted to replace the Castro’s communist government with a pro-American government. The Cuban rebels were trained and armed by the CIA and they were meant to carry out the attack and trigger a revolution that would cause the fall the Castro regime. The invasion was a catastrophic failure as the weak rebel forces were overwhelmed by Cuban troops and many of them were killed or captured. Reasons for President Kennedy’s Failure A major cause of the failure was the great desire by the Kennedy Administration to conceal its involvement in the invasion. The US government was concerned about keen to ensure that its involve ment in the situation in Cuba remained unknown to the rest of the world. The US therefore limited its military support to the rebels who were going to engage in the combat operations. Bates and Joshua (1998) document that even before the invasion was carried out; President Kennedy’s advisers had informed him that the Cuban exiles were doomed to fail if they did not receive military assistance from the US.Advertising Looking for case study on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The invasion failed since the US made a major assumption concerning the reaction of the Fidel administration and the general republic to the US backed invasion. Bates and Joshua (1998) reveal that to the planners of the invasion, the ultimate success of the attack would depend on a sizeable popular uprising to support the initial rebel force. Top intelligence officials predicted that the invasion would be followed by massive counter-revolutio nary violence that would oust Castro from his post as leader of Cuba. This assumption ignored the fact that the Cuban dictator, Fidel Castro enjoyed massive popular support. President Kennedy ignored the analyst reports that highlighted the weaknesses of the proposed plans. Specifically, reports by the JCS giving an unfavorable evaluation of the project were muted and the optimistic reports by the CIA were followed. The Kennedy Administration was confident of the success of its plan since the CIA group responsible for planning the invasion had previously succeeded in the Guatemalan coup of 1954. The administration intended to use the same strategy that had led to success at Guatemala. Straw and Ross (1989) elaborate that governments are willing to commit to a course of action if the same commitment has led to success in the past. The Kennedy Administration failed to consider that the conditions in Cuba were significantly different from those of Guatemala. There were conflicts among the various departments planning the Cuban invasion. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) had an anti-Castro plan that was made independent of the CIA project. While the JCS felt that US backing would be necessary for unseating Castro, the CIA chief was optimistic that a covert invasion would work. Research indicates that workgroups with differing professional backgrounds will often disagree about task process and content (Jehn, Northcraft Neale, 1999). The military strategists at the JCS offices therefore held differing views to the covert operators at the CIA. Instead of resolving this conflict and coming up with a solution that considered the concerns of both groups, the Kennedy Administration favored the CIA plot. Even when faced with the reality that the plan was doomed to fail, President Kennedy felt that his Administration had already committed too much to the project to back down. On March 11 1961, a cabinet meeting was held in which the CIA director Allen Dulles observed that t oo many resources had already been committed to the invasion project for them to abandon the plan (Bates Joshua, 1998).Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Kennedy and the Bay of Pigs specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More President Kennedy was concerned that the rebels had already been armed and it would be impossible to unarm them if the invasion was called off. Straw and Ross (1989) explain that organizations or governments are sometimes locked into existing courses of action since they feel that they have invested too much to quit, or that quitting will result in additional troubles. The top government officials were guilty of groupthink as they adopted a positive outlook at the prospect of the invasion instead of carrying out critical thinking. The group accepted defective arguments made by the CIA that the plan would success. No one raised any strong objection to the plan in spite of its weaknesses. Groupthink also prevented the Kennedy Administration from considering the repercussions of the invasion. Janis (1971) documents that because of groupthink, the Kennedy in-group refused to consider the danger that would result from the revelation to the world that the US was responsible for the invasion of Cuba. Lessons from this Failure Proposed solutions should borrow from the vast expertise of a number of relevant professional groups. In the case of the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Kennedy Administration obtained its intelligence from the CIA and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The information provided by the two groups was informed by their experiences in different fields. Jehn et al. (1999) suggest that the diverse backgrounds and experiences of different groups, gives them a different perspective on issues. The JCS and the CIA differed in their assessment of the issue. While the CIA group was optimistic about the success of the small rebel group, the JCS predicted that such an approach would fai l. However, when the report by the JCS was being presented, the JCS briefing officers did not offer their pessimistic evaluation. Bates and Joshua (1998) state that the JCS team did not offer its opinion since it did not want to overstep its boundaries. Another lesson from the Kennedy failure is that a thorough risk assessment should be carried out before engaging in action. While risk is inherent in public decisions, the administration can reduce risk by ensuring that reliable information is used to inform the decision making process. This risk assessment should consider all the potential harmful side effects that might arise from an action (Hall Jennings, 2008).Advertising Looking for case study on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the Bay of Pigs invasion, the primary concern of the Kennedy Administration was to avoid exposure of American involvement in the plan. Proper risk assessment was not undertaken and the Administration did not consider what would happen if the invasion failed and American involvement was made public. Due to the poor risk assessment, the Bay of Pigs invasion led to a further deterioration of relations between Cuba and the US. These poor relations between the two countries have continued to exist to date. Administrators should avoid engaging in groupthink by promoting diversity in opinions. Differences should be encouraged in the group when issues are being discussed to ensure that the situation is looked at from all angles (Hongseok, Myung-Ho Giuseppe, 2004). Individuals should be allowed to express their thoughts including doubts on the proposed solution. Janis (1971) states that by using such an approach, alternative solutions can be carefully considered and the best one selected . Conclusion This paper set out to analyze the failures by President Kennedy Administration in the Bay of Pigs invasion case and highlight some lessons from the case. It began by revealing that this invasion was aimed at ousting the Cuban dictator Fidel Castro with no implication of American involvement. The plan failed due to limited commitment by the US, wrong assumptions concerning the situation in Cuba, conflicts between major departments, and groupthink. The paper has articulated that administrators should consider all advice offered by experts, engage in better risk assessment practices, and avoid groupthink in order to stay away from such failures. References Bates, S., Joshua, L.R. (1998). Kennedy and the Bay of Pigs. Cambridge: John F. Kennedy School of Government. Hall, J.L., Jennings, E.T. (2008). Taking Chances: Evaluating Risk as a Guide to Better Use of Best Practices. Public Administration Review, 68(4), 695-708. Hongseok, O., Myung-Ho, C., Giuseppe, L. (2004). Gro up Social Capital and Group Effectiveness: The Role of Informal Socializing Ties. Academy of Management Journal, 47(6), 860-875. Janis, I.L. (1971) Groupthink: The Desperate Drive for Consensus at Any Cost. Psychology Today, 12(1), 43–76. Jehn, A.K., Northcraft, B.G., Neale, M.A. (1999). Why Differences Make a Difference: A Field Study of Diversity, Conflict, and Performance in Workgroups. Administrative Science Quarterly, 44(4), 741-763. Straw, B.M. Ross, J. (1989). Understanding behavior in escalation situations. IENC, 246 (49), 1-5. This case study on Kennedy and the Bay of Pigs was written and submitted by user Sara L. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

McCarthyism was more than just McCarthy essays

McCarthyism was more than just McCarthy essays 'McCarthy gave his name to an age, but there was far more to McCarthyism than McCarthy' McCarthy may have given his name to an era but there was much more to McCarthyism than just one man. In this essay the argument will be that there were many factors leading up to the McCarthy era both internal and external and that McCarthy found a platform in anticommunist fear, as it was popular issue at the time. And his fall from grace in 1954 may also be attributed to both internal and external factors that appeared to alleviate the anticommunist threat. Today we call it the McCarthy era. While convenient, the tribute is not without reason. McCarthys villainy was so plain that his name became a curse in the year of his control. Characterised as crass and unprincipled, an unimaginative opportunist, and a distinctly second rate politician, McCarthy was also a shrewd judge of public attitudes and temper . This blend made him an overpowering enemy. Elected into the senate in 1946 McCarthy was almost invisible on the public scene until 9 February 1950 . It was then in Wheeling, West Virginia, that he stumbled upon his cause. But the elements of McCarthyism were hardly McCarthys alone, nor did they diminish after his fall. Joe McCarthy was just one, and not the brightest, of the many inquisitors of the time. He was not a resourceful as his friend J. Edgar Hoover . While McCarthy made the notion of security risks in the federal bureaucracy a national obsession from 1950 to 1954, the foundations were well layed before his arrival and stem med back to 1945 and the end of the Second World War. However even before the war had ended the ruminations of anticommunism had begun with the introduction of the Smith Act which prohibited the teaching or advocating the overthrow of the government . Also before the end of the war the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) were confronting people who worked in the state d...

Abstracting and Transcribing Genealogical Documents

Abstracting and Transcribing Genealogical Documents Photocopiers, scanners, digital cameras, and printers are wonderful tools. They make it easy for us to easily reproduce genealogical documents and records so we can take them home with us and study them at our leisure. As a result, many people researching their family history never learn the importance of copying information by hand - the techniques of abstracting and transcribing. While photocopies and scans are extremely useful, transcripts and abstracts also have an important place in genealogical research. Transcripts, word-for-word copies, provide an easily readable version of a long, convoluted or illegible document. The careful, detailed analysis of the document also means that we are less likely to overlook important information. Abstracting, or summarizing, helps bring out a documents essential information, especially helpful for land deeds and other documents with significant boilerplate language. Transcribing Genealogical Documents A transcription for genealogical purposes is an exact copy, either handwritten or typed, of an original document. The key word here is exact. Everything should be rendered exactly as found in the original source - spelling, punctuation, abbreviations and the arrangement of text. If a word is misspelled in the original, then it should be misspelled in your transcription. If the deed youre transcribing has every other word capitalized, then your transcription should as well. Expanding abbreviations, adding commas, etc. risks changing the meaning of the original - a meaning that may become better clear to you as additional evidence comes to light in your research. Begin your transcription by reading the record several times. Each time the handwriting will likely be a little easier to read. See Deciphering Old Handwriting for additional tips for tackling hard-to-read documents. Once you are familiar with the document, it is time to make some decisions about presentation. Some choose to reproduce the original page layout and line lengths exactly, while others conserve space by wrapping lines within their typescript. If your document includes some pre-printed text, such as a vital record form, you also have choices to make about how to differentiate between the preprinted and handwritten text. Many choose to represent the handwritten text in italics, but this is a personal choice. What is important is that you do make the distinction  and that you include a note about your choice at the beginning of your transcription. e.g. [Note: handwritten portions of text appear in italics]. Adding Comments There will be times when youre transcribing or abstracting a document that youll feel the need to insert a comment, correction, interpretation or clarification. Perhaps you want to include the proper spelling of a name or place or an interpretation of an illegible word or an abbreviation. This is OK, provided you follow one basic rule - anything that you add that is not included in the original document must be included in square brackets [like this]. Dont use parentheses, as these are often found in original sources and could lead to confusion over whether the material appears in the original or was added by you while transcribing or abstracting. Bracketed question marks [?] can be substituted for letters or words that cant be interpreted, or for interpretations which are questionable. If you feel the need to correct a misspelled word, include the correct version within square brackets rather than using the word [sic]. This practice isnt necessary for common, easy to read words. It is most useful in cases where it helps with interpretation, such as with people or place names, or hard to read words. Transcription Tip: If youre using a word processor for your transcription, be sure that the spell check/ grammar correct option is turned off. Otherwise, the software may automatically correct those misspellings, punctuation, etc. that you are trying to preserve! How to Handle Illegible Content Make a note in [square brackets] when ink blots, poor handwriting, and other flaws affect the legibility of the original document. If you arent sure of a word or phrase then flag it with a question mark in square brackets.If a word is too unclear to read then replace it with [illegible] in square brackets.If an entire phrase, sentence or paragraph is unreadable, then indicate the length of the passage [illegible, 3 words].If part of a word is unclear, then include [?] within the word to indicate the portion that is unclear.If you can read enough of a word to make a guess you can present a partially illegible word with the unclear portion followed by a question mark enclosed in square brackets such as cor[nfie?]ld.If part of a word is obscured or missing but you can use context to determine the word, just include the missing portion within square brackets, no question mark necessary. More Rules to Remember A transcription typically encompasses the entire record, including margin notes, headings and insertions.Names, dates, and punctuation should always be transcribed exactly as written in the original record, including abbreviations.Record obsolete letterforms with their modern equivalent. This includes the long-tails, ff at the beginning of a word, and the thorn.Use the Latin word [sic], meaning so written, sparingly and in its proper form (italicized and enclosed in square brackets), following the recommendation of the Chicago Manual of Style. Do not use [sic] to indicate every misspelled word. It is best used in cases where there is an actual error (not just a misspelling) in the original document.Reproduce superscripts such as Mary as presented, otherwise, you risk changing the meaning of the original document.Include crossed out text, insertions, underlined text and other changes as they appear in the original document. If you cannot accurately represent changes in your word proce ssor, then include a note of explanation within square brackets. Enclose transcriptions within quotation marks. If you are including a transcription within a larger text you may alternately choose to follow Chicago Manual of Style conventions for long quotes set off by indented paragraphs. One last very important point. Your transcription isnt finished until you add a citation to the original source. Anyone who reads your work should be able to use your documentation to easily locate the original in case they ever want to make a comparison. Your citation should also include the date the transcription was made, and your name as the transcriber.

Plato's Apology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Plato's Apology - Essay Example 1.2. Socrates’ method was to approach every known wise man and interview him in order to find one wiser than him. In asking a series of questions, he is able to deduce the speaker’s wisdom (21c) 1.3. Socrates found that when he probed each wise man with questions, he always discovered a fault in his ideas, which showed him not wiser than Socrates (21d-e) 1.4. Socrates surmised what the Delphic oracle meant by him being wiser than the other ‘wise men.’ â€Å"I am wiser than that other fellow, because neither of us knows anything of great value; but he thinks he knows a thing when he doesn’t; whereas I neither know it in fact, nor think that I do,† thereby making him wiser in that single respect (21d). 2. Socrates’ defense: 2.1. Against the old accusations 2.1.1. Socrates was accused of receiving money for teaching. While he denied it, he said that there is nothing dishonourable about this (19e to 20a). 2.1.2. The accusation of being too inquisitive – a â€Å"busybody† (19c) – Socrates simply denied, and countered that his accusers were angry at him because he unmasked their lack of wisdom. 2.2. Against the new accusations (by Meletus) 2.2.1. On the charge that Socrates corrupted the young, Socrates asked Meletus if he believed the laws, the judges, the Councillors, the people in the Assembly, all contributed to the improvement of the young, Meletus answered yes, and that only Socrates corrupted them (24e-25a). Socrates drew a parallel with horse trainers, and showed that normally, majority of influences would tend to be bad and the few good. This showed Meletus charge is not for the welfare of the young, but for his own spite (25c). 2.2.2. On the charge that Socrates was an atheist because he believed in demigods, Socrates pointed out that this was a contradiction in itself, since to believe in demigods was to believe in God, and therefore he could not be an atheist at the same time (26a-27e). 3. When Socrates proposed his own punishment, he first argued that what he had done was to provide a good for others, for which his punishment should actually be some â€Å"benefit† (36d) such as â€Å"free meals in the Pryteneum† (37a). One might say that by such levity, Socrates was treating the entire matter trivially; this is hard to imagine, however, since he was a perceptive and wise man and could appreciate the gravity of the situation and the seriousness of his adversaries. One could only deduce that he was being brutally honest and rational in asserting that he deserved to be rewarded rather than punished, for the good he had done to others, and treating no one unjustly (37b). 4. Socrates’ view of death is a blessing, not an evil (40c) and the afterlife can only be one of two things – a non-existence, or transformation of the soul to a different world. If it were the first, then the dead person will have no awareness at all, like a deep sleep whe re the sleeper did not even dream, which is then â€Å"a marvellous gain† (40d). If death were so, then Socrates would count it to be a most â€Å"agreeable† thing comparable to a single night’s rest. On the other hand, if death were a transformation then he counts it as the greatest blessing, to be rid of the false â€Å"jurors† who ruled against him and instead be in the presence of the demigods and great men who lived righteous lives (41a). By so dissecting the possibilities of the afterlife, Socrates is able to comfort his friends with his vision of death. He goes to meet death as a great adventure, or at the very least a restful sleep. Therefore, Socrates did not fear death, but only saw it as