Search results for 'tag:Articles tag:Literature' matching tags 'Articles' and 'Literature'

Re: South Ossetia. Whose fault? - poll

Dominik — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:47:49 GMT

>The author is either historically illiterate, or purposely frogot of the other claches.

Donald Rayfield is Professor of Russian and Georgian at Queen Mary (University of London). He is the author of a number of books, including The Literature of Georgia: A History (1994/2000) and Anton Chekhov: A Life (1997), and various articles. He is currently leading a team compiling a Georgian-English dictionary. He has just been awarded an OBE for Chekhov: A Life and for his work on Russian history.

The other articles are written by different authors.

Here you can find out more about the roots of the conflict:

The Georgian - South Ossetian Conflict

What is meant by theoretical relevance?

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:01:39 GMT

Hi, I must write an assignment in my finance course. Now I am wondering what is meant by "theoretical relevance"? One topic is the Principal-Agent Problem.

Here is the task:

Make a list of the five most important topics you have learned in this course. These could be new concepts, theoretical insights, practical applications or otherwise. For each item (5 topics) on your list discuss each of the following points:

1. Topic description
2. Theoretical relevance
3. Which tasks in the course deal with the topic. What problem statement can you distil from these tasks?
4. Which part of the literature is relevant for this topic? Include a short summary of the literature on this topic
5. + Very important!
For each topic find a related real-life example to highlight the issue that took place during 2008. For instance, use a newspaper article to discuss the practical relevance of the theoretical topic you described before. Make sure you attach a hardcopy of the event (newspaper article etc.) to your assignment.

So far I have written:

a) Topic description:

The Agency Problem refers to a conflict of interest arising between shareholders (principals) and management (agents) because of different goals of each party. Due to the separation of ownership and control in a corporation, agents have little incentive to work in the interest of the principals if it is against their own self-interest.

d) Summary of relevant literature:

In a corporation, direct control and ownership are often separate. Hence, direct control is possessed by the board of directors and the chief executive officer (CEO) rather than by the owners.

The board of directors is a group of people who have the ultimate decision-making authority in the company. They get elected by the shareholders. Normally each share of stock gives a shareholder one vote in the election. The board of directors decides how the corporation should be run, how management is compensated and also monitors the performance of the corporation. The CEO is charged with running the corporation by complying and instituting the rules set by the board of directors. Most corporations have thousands of owners (shareholders), each having different interests and priorities. Due to the separation of ownership and control in a corporation, principals and agents pursue different interests. Thus agents have little incentive to work in the interests of the principals when this means working against their own interests. This is called the principal-agent or agency problem.

Re: Whant to make friends!

hulagirls — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:37:20 GMT

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Paper on Dracula (why he is a monster), can you please help improve?

aerorock — Sat, 10 May 2008 22:00:01 GMT

The Monstrosity of Bram Stokerâs Dracula

Fictional writers often represent evil as an entity, or âindividualâ with inhuman abilities and sinister objective. This is what we refer to as a monster. They are often personified with repulsive attributes and give a story a strong sense of immorality and central conflict. A more than fitting paradigm of a story that truly epitomizes a monster is Bram Stokerâs suspenseful gothic novel, Dracula. The antagonist in this epistolary narrative, Count Dracula, is a vampire who resides in a vast Transylvanian fortress. He is intelligent and well mannered in his faÃ§ade yet holds a malevolent state of mind. From the beginning of the novel, it is stated that Count Draculaâs intended destination is London. Here he could inhabit his race more effectively. The story begins with a compilation of Jonathan Harkerâs journals. Jonathan Harker is a British solicitor who travels to Count Draculaâs castle in the Carpathian Mountains to aid him with the legal documents for his move to England. Credulous at first, Harker sees Dracula as a sophisticated elderly man who wants to relocate due to his isolation. His suspicions begin to mature as he notices some very unusual behavior by the count. Ultimately, the Count imprisons Harker in his castle with pitiless intentions in mind and then makes his way to England to begin his conquest where he commits most of his violent acts. By sucking the blood of his victims (whom are all female), they eventually become vampires themselves, thus adding to Count Dracula's line of vampirism. Analogous to common vampire legend, he is immortal unless pierced through the heart with a stake and then decapitated. Dracula also commits many other âmonstrousâ actions throughout the story. According to an article by Hanna Meretoja: ââ¦monstrosity refers to something inhuman, unnatural, abnormal, and freakish.â Contrary to the common assertion that Dracula is not a monster due to his human-like manifestation (or lack thereof), he possesses the majority of characteristics that Meretoja lists with his atypical powers. Meretoja further suggests; ââ¦those who do terrifying, evil deeds are designated as monsters.â Dracula is a well-defined instance of a monster in literature due to his inhuman abilities, malicious acts toward the human race, and most significantly, his intended conquest of England.

Chris Martinez, a student at Texas A&M University, states; âA monster doesn't have to be a beast that rises out of the water causing death and destruction to millions of people. It can be a man, or men, who let greed and corruption take hold of their lives.â Several of the hideous actions Count Dracula commits in this novel could have been achievable by a highly troubled individual. This does not make him any less of a monster. His complete disregard for human survival is a factor that grants him added horrific elements. The first section of the novel entails Jonathan Harkerâs imprisonment by the means of Count Dracula. If you look at a monster through Meretojaâs perspective, you can say that this is truly a monstrous act. By the fourth chapter, it becomes evident that the Count had no intentions of releasing Harker. In one of Harkerâs journal entries, he writes:
Last night the Count asked me in the sauvest tones to write three letters, one saying that my work here was nearly done, and that I should start for home within a few days, another that I was starting on the next morning from the time of the letter, and the third that I had left the castle and arrived at Bistritz â¦ He knows that I know too much, and that I must not live (Stoker 64). Dracula with murderous mindset. Another instance of monstrous behavior is when Dracula provides his three wives a child for âdinnerâ. Jonathan Harker writes in his journal:

âAre we to have nothing tonight?" said one of them, with a low laugh, as she pointed to
the bag which he had thrown upon the floor, and which moved as though there were
some living thing within it. For answer he nodded his head. One of the women jumped
forward and opened it. If my ears did not deceive me there was a gasp and a low wail, as
of a half smothered child. The women closed round, whilst I was aghast with horror. But
as I looked, they disappeared, and with them the dreadful bag (Stoker 63).

This was one of Draculaâs most repulsive acts as it is now evident that children are not spared. Claiming Dracula is not a monster after committing such a despicable act would be complicated since murdering a child is commonly seen as something only a monster is capable of.

Noel Caroll, author of The Philosophy of Film: Introductory Text and Readings, defines a monster as âany being not believed to exist now according to contemporary scienceâ (168) His definition describes Count Dracula accurately. Draculaâs inhuman strengths are added distinguishing characteristics of a monster based on Carollâs classification. One of the first noticeable instances in the book is when Jonathan Harker catches a glimpse of him out his window. âI saw the whole man slowly emerge from the window and begin to crawl down the castle wall over the dreadful abyss, face down with his cloak spreading out around him like great wingsâ (Stoker 58). It is highly improbable that any scientific occurrence similar to the latter could happen in the time period that this novel was written in. While itâs not evident that this particular action could be used for evil, it does give Dracula a monstrous ambiance in Carollâs respect. Dracula is also spellbinding in several different fashions. For instance, he is able to possess other humans and they must submit to his powers. All of Draculaâs outlandish mind control capabilities are used for acquiring further supremacy. An example of a character that is possessed by Dracula is R.M. Renfield. He is the âmadmanâ of the story who is isolated in a âlunatic asylumâ. Later in the novel, it is learned that Dracula in fact, possessed him after he gains consciousness. He pleads with Jonathan Harkerâs wife, Mina Murray to flee from the trance that Dracula also has over her. In this regard, Count Dracula is manipulative for power and malice. Another peculiar ability of Draculaâs is how he is able transform into various animals. Once again in reference to Carollâs definition, this isnât logical in that time period.

It becomes very evident of Dracula's cruel intentions as the reader submerges deeper into the novel. His sinister objective to conquest England becomes more than apparent in one particular quotation.
You think to baffle me, you with your pale faces all in a row, like sheep in a butcher's. You shall be sorry yet, each one of you! You think you have left me without a place to rest, but I have more.

My revenge is just begun! I spread it over centuries, and time is on my side. Your girls that you all love are mine already. And through them you and others shall yet be mine, my creatures, to do my bidding and to be my jackals when I want to feed. Bah! (Stoker 304)

This makes Count Dracula monstrous in the relation to terrorism. âTerrorism becomes a monstrous evil because it threatens to expose self-subverting characteristics in the global systemâ (Derian 334-35). Itâs apparent that Dracula feels no hesitance in invading England. He clearly lacks any respect for human life and would go great lengths to take others against their will and turn them into vampires. This makes his monstrous in both Chris Martinezâ and Hanna Meretojaâs definition. After 9/11 Most Americans look at terrorists as monsters.

Dracula is a monster in many different aspects. Hanna Meretoja and Chris Martinezâs description of a monster describe it to be nothing more than an evil entity. According to them, attributes such as size and intelligence are completely irrelevant. On the contrary, Caroll explains a monster as something that cannot exist according to contemporary science. Dracula fits all of their definitions. With his utter disrespect for the human race, his disgusting behavior toward humanity, and his intended conquest of England, calling him anything less than a monster would be absurd. Stoker purposely gave him all of these monstrous characteristics to give the novel central conflict.

I'm not a great writer when it comes to content. I feel that this paper is pretty weak-- espeically towards the end. Any suggestions, critiques, etc. would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thank you for your time!

Re: Please check the grammar

Maple — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:06:21 GMT

You sound like a doctor of medicine!

Thank you!

I wouldn't use the before literature: Large as the amount of classical and modern literature is ...

I wanted to mean only TCM literature. In the light of this, should the still not be used?

You probably mean that patients and doctors' confidence decreases, right?

exactly!

Influence doesn't necessarily mean the influence is negative: The sun influences the weather. I would reword the sentence: ... opportunistic, which decreases doctors and patients' confidence in TCM therapy for stomach pains. I have omitted some articles as well, as you can see.

Just the kind of opinion I was seeking out.

Thanks a lot!

Re: Please check the grammar

Cool Breeze — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 10:19:36 GMT

Hi Maple

You sound like a doctor of medicine! I wouldn't use the before literature: Large as the amount of classical and modern literature is ...

Thus is perfectly acceptable in your sentence. ... thereby the doctors and patients' confidence in TCM therapy for the stomach pain is influenced is a little vague. You probably mean that patients and doctors' confidence decreases, right? Influence doesn't necessarily mean the influence is negative: The sun influences the weather. I would reword the sentence: ... opportunistic, which decreases doctors and patients' confidence in TCM therapy for stomach pains. I have omitted some articles as well, as you can see.

Cheers

Definite articles in scientific writing

geni4u — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 23:40:35 GMT

Hi Teachers,

I'm doing literature review for a paper and have a question. When I say, "In Paco (2007), (x or the?) simulated values showed similar patterns as (x or the?) observed values. The simulated values were averaged over (a or the?) study area.", do I have to use the definite article "the" for all cases because all the nouns are specific to the Paco's work? Can I assume that the reader is aware of the fact that those simulated/observed values and the study area referred to those used in Paco's work?

Can definiteness be implied by just adding "the" or should it be explicitly defined somewhere else before using "the"?

Let's say we have two sentences: "The simulated values in this study suggest that ... In Paco (2007), the simulated values ..." Does this suggest that the two "the simulated values" just came from my study? Or can "In Paco (2007)," imply that the second occurence of "the simulated values" is specific to Paco's work?

Thank you in advance.

10 Universities Offering Free Writing Courses Online

Paultx — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:26:37 GMT

Universities Offering Free Writing Courses Online

Whether you are currently writing professionally or are looking to break into the field, formal writing courses can help you to hone your skills. If you don't have the money or the time for campus-based courses, there are plenty of universities offering free writing courses online.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (mit.edu)

MIT offers dozens of free writing courses online through its MIT OpenCourseWare initiative. Course topics include everything from writing fiction, poems and essays to analyzing all forms of literature. Lecture notes, videos, suggested reading lists and more will help you to become the writer you've always wanted to be. No registration is required.

2. Utah State University (usu.edu)

Utah State University's Department of English publishes three free courses devoted to the art of writing through the school's OpenCourseWare program. The courses are extensive and may take up to 16 weeks to complete if you study at the average pace. No registration is required.

3. Open University (open.ac.uk)

The UK's largest academic institution, Open University, offers a number of different writing courses through their OpenLearn website. The free curriculum includes both undergraduate and graduate level courses that are available to everyone regardless of country of origin. No registration is required.

4. University of Utah (utah.edu)

The University of Utah's English Department offers free courses to self-learners around the world. Currently, there are only two free writing courses. Both offer strong preparation in their topic and are built for beginners. No registration is required.

5. Western Governors University (wgu.edu)

Western Governors University has made free course materials available through an open content license. There are several free writing courses courtesy of the university's Liberal Arts Department. All courses are split into convenient self-study modules. No registration is required.

6. Purdue University (owl.english.purdue.edu)

Purdue University brought their writing lab to life online in 1994 to offer a writing resource to students no matter where they were located. Online Writing Lab (OWL) materials are now free to everyone regardless of location or student status. The OWL site offers writing instruction, grammar and usage information, individualized help from tutors and much more. No registration is required.

7. Steven Barnes' UCLA Writing Course (lifewrite.com)

9-Week Introduction to Screenwriting Course

Best selling author and screenwriter Steven Barnes offers a free version on his website of the writing class he has been teaching for many years at UCLA. The course offers in-depth instruction on writing, which is why Barnes suggests completing each part of the nine-week course one week at a time. Nevertheless, the course can be downloaded all at once. No registration is required.

8. News University (newsu.org)

News University has a solid e-learning program designed to providing training to journalists. Most of the courses offered at News U are free, especially those that are self-directed. Courses cover everything from writing and editing to reporting and ethics. News U also offers a newsletter, a blog and other great resources. Registration is required, but the course is free for everyone.

9. E-Zine University (ezineuniversity.com)

E-Zine University offers quite a few courses written by Internet publisher Kate Schultz and visiting professors. Although the courses offered at E-Zine University are designed mainly for web writers and e-zine writers, they would be helpful to almost any scribe. Courses are very short and don't take much time to complete. No registration is required.

10. Wikiversity (wikiversity.org)

Wikiversity is an active learning project that encourages people to create and benefit from online courses and tutorials. There are currently several different writing courses that can be found at Wikiversity. Although these courses vary in length and content, there's something for everyone. No registration is required.

Re: Mexican Culture

Cool Breeze — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 13:36:39 GMT

HSS wrote:
Could someone please help me understand why "the" is not required before "Mexican culture"?

Unfortunately there is no logical reason. Words relating to culture don't usually take an article even if there is an adjectival attribute:

He likes Spanish literature.
I am interested in medieval music.
Does he know anything about Japanese music?
Modern art is abominable.

However, there are exceptions: I don't know very much about the Japanese language.

Also note: the Japanese Navy, the Japanese Army, the Japanese Air Force, the Japanese Navy.
All other countries/nationalities in the same way, of course.

Cheers
CB

Re: culture

Cool Breeze — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 13:58:32 GMT

Hi Believer

Don't look for logic with regard to articles in English. Adjectival attributes very often bring on an indefinite article:
A new culture was born.

A relative clause may do the same:
We need a culture that is totally different from what we have now.

When an adjectival attribute refers to a nation or a historical period, zero article is usually used:
He takes an interest in Korean culture.
I don't like German literature.
Medieval music is very fascinating.

The is used in such cases when the reference is to things not associated with culture:
The Swedish Army has not been engaged in a battle for 200 years.
How many fleets does the French Navy consist of?
The Finnish president attended the conference.

CB