Mathematics A Better System - 1171 Words

A Better System Have you ever wondered what would happen if there was no order in the world? No way to keep track of time or other necessary things crucial to making sense of the world around us? Math was created for that specific reason. It is an extremely essential type of â€Å"language† that is used by humans in almost every aspect of their life. It consists of a wide variety of numbers, symbols, and notations which help to measure many different units of measurements some of which are distance, time, and quantity. Math is used to maintain an order of these numbers so that the many different quantities are not jumbled together; simplifying them for humans to be able to better understand. Two of the biggest systems of math known all around†¦show more content†¦The metric system is far superior than any other form of measurement known to man. One reason lies within one of its major characteristics, simplicity. There are two major points that help breakdown and define why this syste m is so simple: it has one unit of measurement, and its easy scalability by prefixes (â€Å"Metric† 1). It is a lot easier to convert in the metric system between different measurements such as mass, volume, and distance due to all of the measurements being in increments of ten. It removes all of the unnecessary extensive formulas and replaces it with a magic number to easily do any conversion necessary. The scalability by prefixes builds on top of the one unit of measurement needed by simply multiplying or dividing by ten, whichever is needed, and just changing the units â€Å"suffix† to achieve the desired measurement. The imperial system, on the other hand, makes all of these measurements more complicated than they need to be. Unlike the metric system, the imperial system has several different units for each form of measurement. For example, a measurement of length contains several units some of the common ones being inches, feet, and yards. In order to measure all of these together, they would all need to be converted into one of the three units. It just makes everything much more difficult as the numbers begin to rise in quantity. Some major subjects such as science and medicine also use the

Chaucer And The Roman Catholic Church - 1994 Words

Chaucer and the Roman Catholic Church In the years of the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church reigned. It not only influenced people s lives, but in some ways led them. From what they believed, how they treated women, how they worked, and how they prayed, the Roman Catholic Church obviously had a large influence. We know this today by simply reading the reading the literature from that period, whether it is simple poems like Beowulf or Dream of the Rood, or bigger stories such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. These stories are riddled with Catholic teachings and mentions, whether they re brought up in a good light, or a negative one. Oddly enough, we rarely see the latter. One of the few stories that do show Roman Catholic†¦show more content†¦As the Wife explains, she used her sexual power to dominate her husbands. In an essay put out by Portland state University, it says that In the Middle Ages, many members of the Church began to see sex and lust as a sin created by The Fall. This is further shown in Scripture itself in many places, one of them being 2 Corinthians 12:21: I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged. 2 Corinthians 12:21 Another, shorter verse, would be Ephesians 5: 3: But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God s holy people. Ephesians 5:3 The Wife of Bath, though she was of the Roman Catholic Church herself, went against this. Her argument in justifying herself is simply this: there are plenty of people in the Bible that used their sexual power to dominate others, such as David, Solomon, and many others. If they could do it, why couldn t she? Giving such an argument, she twists the very Scripture that the Church teaches. The question then is, if she was in the Catholic Church, why was she allowed to continue with her sexual dealings? With this character, Chaucer hints at a small corruption in the Church, that there were people who as members of it, were allowed to live in horrid sinsShow MoreRelatedEssay on Chaucers The Canterbury Tales927 Words   |  4 PagesChaucers The Canterbury Tales In The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer comments on moral corruption within the Roman Catholic Church. He criticizes many high-ranking members of the Church and describes a lack of morality in medieval society; yet in the â€Å"Retraction,† Chaucer recants much of his work and pledges to be true to Christianity. Seemingly opposite views exist within the â€Å"Retraction† and The Canterbury Tales. However, this contradiction does not weaken Chaucer’s social commentary.Read MoreChaucer s Candide And Shakespeare s Macbeth1317 Words   |  6 PagesVoltaire’s’ Candide and Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Geoffrey Chaucer, famous for his The Canterbury Tales, and considered instrumental in the creation of English literature, is not as well known for social commentary in his writing. However, The Canterbury Tales do indeed possess insight and analysis of society, namely the role of the authority figures in the Church. Chaucer was critical of the abuses an d misuses he saw in the authority within the Church. He demonstrated his awareness of and concern over theRead MoreEssay about geoffrey chaucers use of sarcasm to describe his characters1733 Words   |  7 Pages Geoffrey Chaucers use of sarcasm to describe his characters. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Geoffrey Chaucer used sarcasm to describe his characters in â€Å"The Canterbury Tales.† It will point out details that are seen in the book that help explain how he used this sarcasm to prove a point and to teach life lessons sometimes. I will also point out how this sarcasm was aimed at telling the reader his point of view about how corrupt the Catholic Church was. Chaucer uses an abundance of sarcasm, as opposedRead MoreThe Use Of Satire In The Canterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer1406 Words   |  6 PagesGeoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales, using his characters as the mouthpiece for his iconoclastic views. Chaucer had serious issues with the hypocrisy of the church as well as, many other sacred institutions. The only reason that Chaucer was not exiled or even imprisoned for his views is the way in which he exposed them. Through the allegorical meanings of this text and Chaucer’s claim that he is simply retelling the events of his pi lgrimage to Canterbury as it occurred, Chaucer is saved fromRead MoreThe Caterbury Tales, Carmina Burana and The Book of Taliesin722 Words   |  3 Pageshistory from the collapse of the Roman empire in the fifth century to the period of the Renaissance in the fifteenth century. The medieval life may, at first, appear to be bleak, harsh, and dreary. But in actuality, it was a time of Kings, immense battles, disease and religious influence. From the devastation of the Bubonic Plague, briefly alluded to in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, to the legendary king and war-hero Arthur of Camelot. The Christian Church was the single most influential institutionRead MoreGeoffrey Chaucers Use of Sarcasm to Describe His Characters1779 Words   |  8 PagesGeoffrey Chaucers use of sarcasm to describe his characters. Geoffrey Chaucer used sarcasm to describe his characters in The Canterbury Tales. It will point out details that are seen in the book that help explain how he used this sarcasm to prove a point and to teach life lessons sometimes. I will also point out how this sarcasm was aimed at telling the reader his point of view about how corrupt the Catholic Church was. Chaucer uses an abundance of sarcasm, as opposed to seriousness, to describeRead MoreEssay on The Age of Chaucer567 Words   |  3 PagesWhen we trace the Age of Chaucer we will find that it is full of considerable number of religious, social and political events that profoundly influenced Chaucer himself and induced him to produce great masterpieces of Arts that contributed to English language at that time. Thus, it is very important to discuss the periods that England, at that time, went through and their intimate relations with the Age of Chaucer in order to understand fully the background of this age. Great Britain is dividedRead MoreEssay about Geoffrey Chaucer Used Satire in His Tales657 Words   |  3 Pages To begin, back in the days on Geoffrey Chaucer, religion was ruled by one and only one church, the Roman Catholic Church. He never really agreed with the ways of the church so he wrote a series of tales making fun of the people of England and the ways of the church. Even though he was purposely making fun of the church, he had to be careful of the way he said some things. With some of the characters he creates, Chaucer finds himself apologizing in advance for what he is about toRead MoreThe Friar s A Friar1152 Words   |  5 PagesBritish Literature 27 October 2015 The Friar A friar is a simple man whose job was to beg from the poor and give to the Roman Catholic Church. The friar takes as much as one would need to live a humble life and offers the rest for the better of the church and poor. In the Roman Catholic Church a friar is considered a monk, and therefore expected to be fair and reserved. However, Chaucer describes the friar, or Hubert, in a sarcastic tone exposing his corrupt ways to only profiting himself from the poorRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of The Pardoner1878 Words   |  8 PagesTo begin, the Pardoner is a character found in the Canterbury Tales written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the fourteenth century. The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories in which a group of thirty pilgrims on a pilgrimage to Canterbury, England, to visit an English Saint Thomas Beckett, archbishop of Canterbury, who was murdered in his Cathedral in 1170. The Canterbury Tales begins with â€Å"The General Prologue† where the narrator describes the physical characteristics and personality of

Effects of Watching Reality Tv Free Essays

Aaliyah Tate English 105 Ms. LoBosco Effect of Reality TV Shows on Teenage Girls The beginning of reality television started in the 1940s. Allen Funt’s Candid Camera went on air in the year 1948. We will write a custom essay sample on Effects of Watching Reality Tv or any similar topic only for you Order Now Candid Camera was a hidden camera television series, which record people who are placed in embarrassing, ridiculous, and hilarious positions, and show their reactions. When people watch reality TV, they tend to think that what they are seeing is a true depiction of reality. Because of that, they tend to believe that what they see on TV is how life really is. Many reality TV shows are created without thinking about its consequences on the mindsets of viewers, especially young viewers. Media companies accept that they make these shows for profit and they do not care about the effects on people. The target audience for most reality TV shows is teens, mostly young girls. These shows have a positive or negative effect on the many viewers and participants. Reality TV didn’t really become popular until the early 2000s. Since reality TV is becoming more popular, girls are turning to these shows for entertainment value and life lessons. There are some positive effects of watching these shows. Girls who watch more of this genre of TV have more confidence in themselves, and also consider themselves mature, smart, funny and outgoing, and a good influence (http://technorati. com). Many viewers think that they can relate to the cast members on these shows. Girls receive inspiration and comfort from reality TV. Most teen girls are obsessed with being beautiful and getting a boyfriend. The way the women look on the shows is how girls want to be and look like (http://www. dailyherald. com). Cast members may be their selves but the things they do are scripted by producers that get teenagers attention. The drama, relationships, partying, and glamorous lifestyle that they portray is entertaining. Reality TV shows expose bad behavior, which make viewers think that what they see is acceptable. In reality, it’s a false reality. Keeping up with the Kardashians, Bad Girls Club, The Real Housewives: The Series, Teen Mom, and Jersey Shore are the main reality TV shows that teens are watching. Most young viewers prefer to watch reality TV shows like those. Each of these shows portrays something which is unrealistic and unaccepted, but audiences don’t realize the impact of these shows (http://www. deseretnews. com). Reality TV is not exactly just real life on camera. Although there are some shows that are more realistic than others, all of them are edited. Scenes are shot over and over for better effect. The shows are edited to make them more interesting and exciting. When viewers watch this sort of show, they believe that reality is filled with conflict and other negative events. The viewer may see exciting things happening to people in these shows and compare those things that are happening to their â€Å"normal† lives. Viewers often make a connection with the actors on screen, and then decide to act as the people they admire. The producers of these shows don’t care how they affect or impact on a person’s life. They try to make these shows look real as possible, even though they are scripted. They shoot scenes over and over until they are satisfied. Reality TV show producers are motivated by money and attention-grabbing drama. They fire cast members who don’t appeal to the audience as well as others. In result, they plot scenarios that will result in over-the-top arguments. â€Å"Bad Girls Club† is a perfect example of this. There is a house with seven girls who don’t know each other and they see what happens. The cast members usually have many arguments and fights. After the fight the girl who threw the first punch gets sent home. They are mostly the girls who do not appeal to the audience. The shows exhibit all the qualities that entertain young girls, and also those that can easily influence them. Young girls tend to think that what they see on TV is how their relationships and lives should be. Reality TV shows give a false image of reality. The people watching them are thinking that everything happening in the show is real. Reality shows show real people and how they react to different situations. Many people are fascinated with watching how people react to different environments and different people. It is unpredictable and surprising. Every episode people are tuned in and curious as to what is going to happen next, which keeps them watching week after week. They only show the glamour and success, but not the hard work and sacrifice that is put into achieving all of it. Most adults are able to distinguish reality from fantasy, however most teenagers are incapable of doing so. Reality TV is like passing a car wreck on the highway- we have to look. How to cite Effects of Watching Reality Tv, Papers

Cover Letter CV

Question: Write cv and cover letter for employer, need to choose current job connecting with the studies and apply. Answer: Cover Letter (Illustrated name and address) Name of the Student Address of the Student Email address XXXX Recruiting Manager, Legal Assistant (Company Name) Address of the Company State 6th December 2015 Dear Mr./Ms. XXXX I am writing this to express my immense interest in the job profile_________/Legal Assistant position at (company name) __________, which I discovered from online job vacancy advertisement. Working in your organization appeals to me as the organization has keen focus on its employees development, organization success and integrity. My journey of two years at the present company (Company name) ______ has been a good learning experience where I have achieved a professional expertise. After the graduation in Business Law, in campusing I got placed at the (Present Company name) _______ for the post of Junior Lawyer, where I displayed my leadership, management and professional abilities. The major responsibilities under my job role were Client interviewing, intake and follow up under designated solicitors supervision, legal research and analysis of the cases, drafting the legal contracts and documents, planning, drafting, negotiating and implementing the stock and asset purchases and sales of businesses in retail sector and other structures of corporate and delivered greater level of compliance along with employment legislation. These jobs were completely related to the legal perspectives and hence I look forward to grow my career as legal assistant. I wish to explore the legal world with (applied company name) ____ _____ and get value experience. I possess excellent written and verbal communication skills and positive and assertive behavior. Good at solving problems with effective management skills and handle the workload with good commercial acumen orientation. I am focused on professional integrity and have contributed by workplace significantly by my knowledge and achievements. Being an ambitious, capable and ready to achieve attitude person, I am firm that my expertise and experience would serve the company in all corners of the legal professional activities and assistance to fit in the organization. I would appreciate if I get the opportunity to join your reputed and esteem legal organization for my career prospects. The attached is my detailed resume with contact and address. I look forward to hear from you in near future. Yours Sincerely Name (Contact) Curriculum Vitae (Illustrated name and address) Name of the Student Address of the Student Email address Career Objective A committed performer with a zest to excel in my specialization and contribute organization with effective work and strategies. I am focused on professional integrity and have contributed by workplace significantly by my knowledge and achievements. Education (University of Law name) Masters in Business Law Graduation Year: 2012 (University of Law name) Bachelor of Business Law Graduation Year: 2009 (School name) High School Certification Graduation Year: 2007 Advance Education Kings College Centre of European Law, London, Great Britain Summer Internship 2012 Course of Accounting Transactions in 2013 in University of Economics Experience April 2013 till present as Junior Lawyer at (Company Name) (About the Company) Key Responsibilities: Client interviewing, intake and follow up under designated solicitors supervision Legal research and analysis of the cases Drafting the legal contracts and documents Advisory services on capital markets, corporate governance, contract law, corporate reconstruction, private equity and other legal commercial transactions Assisting for the run matters in private sectors majorly and few government clients Planning, drafting, negotiating and implementing the stock and asset purchases and sales of businesses in retail sector and other structures of corporate Reduced the risk levels of the companies and delivered greater level of compliance along with employment legislation General Administration Legal advisory services on the matters of employment, credit and debt, criminal law, discrimination and tenancy Achievements Worked for more than 80 percent of the projects of high profile clients with adequate timeframe and budget with great leadership Managed team of 20 people with a developed mission and vision strategy for retail sector Performed and managed the projects and received appreciation in form of annual award and incentives. Developed client centric approach which lead to high client satisfaction and greater reliance on firm advisors Competencies:- Skills :- Leadership, Communication, Management, Legal Advisory Technical :- Microsoft Office Advance and Intermediate level Self Appraisal :- Good convincing skills with a positive attitude and team ambient approach, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and good at solving problems with effective management skills. Interests included: Swimming, Asian Art, Cycling, Rowing, International Travel and Adventures Linguistic Proficiencies: Fluent in ENGLISH, FRENCH and ITALIAN References Denoncourt, J. and Denoncourt, J., 2012. Business law 2012-2013. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Depraetere, I. and Langford, C., 2012. Advanced English grammar. London: Continuum International Pub. Haigh, R., 2012. Legal English. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. MacIntyre, E., 2013. Business law. Harlow, England: Pearson Education. Reppen, R. and Gordon, D., 2012. Grammar and beyond. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Starkman, D., Hamilton, M., Chittum, R. and Salmon, F., 2012. The best business writing 2012. New York: Columbia University Press.

Louis Vuitton free essay sample

Product – In general marketers seeks ‘adequate quality’, ‘faintness of use’ etc. , and too much of quality can be undesirable because it increase the cost. However, ‘LV’ handbags represented ‘products of distinctive qualities’ and ‘attention to details’. In general the concept of ‘relative quality’ is challenged by the ‘absolute quality’ which has forced customers to LV or nothing attitude. To back their products ‘LV’ has taken action against counterfeiting item by ‘Enlightenment Champagne’, involvement of French trademark authorities etc.,make there product defendable. Partnership with local artist and Limited edition products has demonstrated that Product Line up and innovation are very strong parts of ‘LV’ business model in Japan. Price – Market Demands â€Å"Low Price†, this is achieved by reducing costs and off-shoring production to China and elsewhere. Louis Vuitton handbags, on the other hand, are priced high. Such high prices are unnecessary for merely stowing and carrying things. In essence, the Louis Vuitton difference is value, not price—this being absolute value, not relative value. We will write a custom essay sample on Louis Vuitton or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Many of the principles for Price were innovations that came about after Kyojiro Hata became president of Louis Vuitton Japan and that subsequently went global. With the Yen getting strong ‘LV’ has reduced the prices between 1 to 4 folds over the course of last 4 – 5 years. This is in my opinion is correct or reliable pricing which earns trust of the customers. Place – In general more distribution channels the company have more sales potential is predicted. However, in case of ‘LV’ – they are selling only from few stores and started online (via web) presence in Japan after the new CEO. The reason being, it’s easy to control few distribution channels then many. Control is the key in the business plan of ‘LV’. Also, as the products are fashion products, which needs lime light, and the availability of prime locations and possibility of having multiple ‘LV’ stores in same vicinity forced the company to have limited distribution channels. Promotion – Surely, it’s not common to see ‘LV’ commercial on TV even at primetime. This is not because ‘LV’ is tight with its advertising budget, but due to the fact that there philosophy is to give in depth details to the customers directly. The most common used advertising medium used by ‘LV’ is print mass media like Fashion magazines etc. Also, considering this fact now we understand why customers are lined up in front of the inaugurating of a flag ship store J Q2. What are the opportunities and challenges for LV in Japan? Ans. SWOT of LV in Japan Strengths · Internationally recognized fashion Brand Image · High quality products achieved high quality control standards · Distribution is company owned · Collaboration with renaund Japanese Artists. Attention to the distribution stores location, layout, architecture etc. | Weaknesses · Very High Reliance on Japanese market · Brand dilution · Challenges in controlling multinational business. | Opportunities · High disposable income of Japanese customers · Solid proportion of middle class.  · Social and Cultural relations with fashion.  · | Threats · Economic downturn and strong Yen against $ and Euro · Competition with other similar luxury brands or low range brands.  · Counterfeiting items · Cyclic nature of the JAP economy. | Q3. How did LV entered the Japanese market originally? What were the other entry strategies it adopted later to strengthen its presence? Ans. To me it appears that the entry was well planned by the Vuitton-Racamier family and the management. The rich culture and social habits of women to be distinctively beautiful and show me what have you got attitude was tempting enough. The ‘LV’ opted to go into the market without any local distributers and opening own distribution units and channels. They exported products from France to Japan. ‘LV’ treated Japan as testing grounds of its strategies etc.  and strengthened the brand identity by flawless gigantism architecture of the stores and celebration of Japanese artist in product designer and worldwide launch. Q5. Will LV have any new challenges arise due to the global financial crisis? How does it overcome these challenges? Ans. I believe that just like any other industry ‘LV’ has taken a hit from the economic melt down of last few years. Focusing to Japan, the strengthening Yen is the biggest pain for ‘LV’ as a gift of crisis. Few others are as follows: 1. Negative Price adjustments by competition to gain customers. Low per capita income as Japan is export based economy- mainly to US and now in turmoil less exports to US, $ downgrading. No money to spend on luxury 😉 3. Change in mindset. People are re-evaluating their need of Luxury items. 4. Increase in counterfeited items 2. Overcoming the challenges faced by ‘LV’: 1. Marketing champagnes to educate people about the counterfeited items 2. Paying Royalty to the Brand Loyal customers by some Memberships etc. 3. Dynamic positioning with slightly wider portfolio to meet the demand of below margin customers.

Conjugating Détruire Will Not Destroy Your French

Conjugating Dà ©truire Will Not Destroy Your French When you wish to speak about something being destroyed in French, use the verb  dà ©truire. Literally meaning to destroy, this verb must be conjugated to take on the past tense as well as the present destroying or the future will destroy. This is one of the challenging French verb conjugations, so a quick lesson is necessary. Conjugating the French Verb  Dà ©truire Dà ©truire  is an  irregular verb, meaning it does not follow one of the more common verb conjugation patterns. However, all  French verbs ending in  -uire  are conjugated in the same manner. You can apply the same endings you learn here to similar words like  conduire  (to drive) or construire  (to build). To conjugate the verb, simply pair the subject pronoun with the appropriate tense of your sentence. For instance, I destroy is je dà ©truis and we will destroy is nous dà ©truirons. Subject Present Future Imperfect je dtruis dtruirai dtruisais tu dtruis dtruiras dtruisais il dtruit dtruira dtruisait nous dtruisons dtruirons dtruisions vous dtruisez dtruirez dtruisiez ils dtruisent dtruiront dtruisiez The Present Participle of  Dà ©truire The  present participle  of dà ©truire  is  dà ©truisant.  It may be used as an adjective, gerund, or noun as well s a verb. The Past Participle and Passà © Composà © The past tense can be expressed with the imperfect or the  passà © composà ©. To form the latter, begin by conjugating the  auxiliary verb  avoir, then add the  past participle  dà ©truit. For instance, I destroyed is jai dà ©truit and we destroyed is nous avons dà ©truit. More Simple  Dà ©truire  Conjugations to Learn Among the simplest and most common conjugations of  dà ©truire  are the verb moods that express a degree of uncertainty to the action of destroying. The subjunctive is a perfect example. When that action is dependent on something else happening, the conditional verb mood can be used instead. You will encounter the passà © simple most often in literature and other formal French writing. The ability to at least recognize it  as well as the imperfect subjunctive will aid in your reading comprehension. Subject Subjunctive Conditional Pass Simple Imperfect Subjunctive je dtruise dtruirais dtruisis dtruisisse tu dtruises dtruirais dtruisis dtruisisses il dtruise dtruirait dtruisit dtruist nous dtruisions dtruirions dtruismes dtruisissions vous dtruisiez dtruiriez dtruistes dtruisissiez ils dtruisent dtruiraient dtruisirent dtruisissent Short and often assertive commands and requests require the imperative form. When using this, the subject pronoun can be dropped, leaving you with dà ©truis rather than tu dà ©truis. Imperative (tu) dtruis (nous) dtruisons (vous) dtruisez

Definition and Examples of Overwriting

Definition and Examples of Overwriting Overwriting is a wordy writing style characterized by excessive detail, needless repetition, overwrought figures of speech, and/or convoluted sentence structures. For writers striving for color, advises author and editor Sol Stein, try, fly, experiment, but if it shows strain, if it isnt accurate, cut it (Stein on Writing, 1995). Examples and Observations Overwriting is the failure to make choices. . . . Linguistic bric-a-brac is literatures Elvis on velvet.(Paula LaRocque, Championship Writing: 50 Ways to Improve Your Writing. Marion Street, 2000)[Andrew] Davidsons approach is scattergun: for every lovely image (the unholy yoga of his crash), there is a horrible, almost parodic piece of overwriting (a cheese strand dangled from her mouth to the edge of her nipple, and I wanted to rappel it like a mozzarella commando).(James Smart, The Gargoyle. The Guardian, September 27, 2008)Even Great Writers Can OverwriteNote that some critics deeply admire the following passages by John Updike and Joan Didion. With uncommon perception, says Thomas L. Martin, Updike offers the beauty of these several figures which, lined up, converge in a significatory pattern as do these dropsin a single figurative mosaic (Poiesis and Possible Worlds, 2004). Likewise, the excerpt from On Self-Respect, one of Didions best-known essays, is frequently quoted approv ingly. Other readers, however, argue that Updikes images and Didions figurative comparisons are self-conscious and distractingin a word, overwritten. Decide for yourselves.- It was a window enchanted by the rarity with which I looked from it. Its panes were strewn with drops that as if by amoebic decision would abruptly merge and break and jerkily run downward, and the window screen, like a sampler half-stitched, or a crossword puzzle invisibly solved, was inlaid erratically with minute, translucent tesserae of rain.(John Updike, Of the Farm, 1965)- Although to be driven back upon oneself is an uneasy affair at best, rather like trying to cross a border with borrowed credentials, it seems to me now the one condition necessary to the beginnings of real self-respect. Most of our platitudes notwithstanding, self-deception remains the most difficult deception. The tricks that work on others count for nothing in that very well-lit back alley where one keeps assignations with oneself: no winning smiles will do here, no prettily drawn lists of good intentions. One shuffles flashily but in vain through ones marked cardsthe kindness done for the wrong reason, the apparent triumph which involved no real effort, the seemingly heroic act into which one had been shamed.(Joan Didion, On Self-Respect. Slouching Towards Bethlehem, 1968) Weltys WordinessSometimes writers get so excited about specificity and description that they begin to confuse them with mere wordiness. This is called overwriting and is a common early malady in apprentice writers. . . .Heres one of Eudora Weltys early first sentences: Monsieur Boule inserted a delicate dagger in Mademoiselles left side and departed with a poised immediacy.The solution to overcoming overwriting . . . is simply to exercise restraint and to remember the notion of immediacy. Weltys sentence, short of its too-fancy verbs and its excess of adjectives, might simply have read, Monsieur Boule stabbed Mademoiselle with a dagger and left the room in a hurry.(Julie Checkoway, Creating Fiction: Instruction and Insights From Teachers of the Associated Writing Programs. Writers Digest Books, 2001)Daniel Harris on OverwritingEven as my prose congealed into epic similes that grew more and more outlandish, I displayed absolute intolerance for the overwriting of others whose prose all owed me to study my own shortcomings at several removes, from a vantage point far above the vendetta I was waging as the self-appointed hatchet man of minority fiction. Often I was so blind to my tendency to write purple prose that I overwrote in the very act of criticizing overwriting, as . . . when I praised Patricia Highsmith, who, unlike other American writers, was so committed to telling her story that she never had any time to single out something for its own sake, to pluck it up from its context, and pet it from head to toe with long, voluptuous strokes of adjectives and metaphors. Far from being smug about my skills as a writer, I was bitterly frustrated, divided between my need to entertain my audience and my abhorrence of the prose that resulted from my acrobatic efforts to maintain my readers interest.(Daniel Harris, A Memoir Of No One In Particular. Basic Books, 2002) Do Not OverwriteRich, ornate prose is hard to digest, generally unwholesome, and sometimes nauseating. If the sickly sweet word, the overblown phrase are a writers natural form of expression, as is sometimes the case, he will have to compensate for it by a show of vigor, and by writing something as meritorious as the Song of Songs, which is Solomons.(William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White, The Elements of Style, 3rd ed. Macmillan, 1979)