Dire Predictions Understanding Climate Change - 906 Words

The first chapter of Dire Predictions: Understanding Global warming, covers the general causes and effects of climate change. It also goes into ways of predicting climate change as well. There are both natural and human impacts on global climate change. The main natural causes of climate change are the sun, volcanic eruptions, and the earths orbit. The main human impacts are increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, in particular carbon-dioxide, which leads to a warming of the lower atmosphere. Along with greenhouse gases, there are secondary human impacts on global climate change, in particularly industrial aerosols. This chapter explains that although natural impacts on climate change have been mainly responsible for climate change in past centuries, in the decades following the industrial revolution human causes have had an increasing impact. This impact has now reached a point where human causes are attributed with the major climate changes in recent decades. The text explai ns that while it is clear that human factors are the main cause of major climate change in recent years, the predictions of future impacts and consequences of climate change are uncertain. The IPCC has multiple projections with likelihood ranging from virtually certain, 99 percent or greater probability, to exceptionally unlikely which is a 1 percent probability or less. Recent global warming is mostly due to the intensifying of the greenhouse effect. The green house effect occurs due to theShow MoreRelatedEssay on Dire Predictions: Global Warming1599 Words   |  7 PagesGeography November 29, 2010 Dire Predictions : Student Edition Chapter one of Dire Predictions Understanding Global Warming does exactly like the title says, it gives the reader the essential basics of understanding the Global Warming issue. Chapter one gives essential information covering a wide range of things including: the natural and human impacts on climate, definition of a greenhouse gas and how it affects temperature, positive and negative feedback loops, threatening human byproductsRead MoreAnalysis Of DonT Blame Hurricane Harvey And Irma1487 Words   |  6 Pagesindividuals like Michael E. Mann believe that climate change is the problem; others like Alan Reynolds completely disagree. Michael E. Mann, author of the article It’s a fact: climate change made Hurricane Harvey more deadly, discusses why Hurricane Harvey was far deadlier due to the human cause of climate change. Alan Reynolds dismisses Mann s claim in his article Don t Blame Hurricane Irma and Harvey on Climate Change and insists that climate change is not the reason for the high impacts of bothRead MoreGlobal Warming Is Not Only Affecting The Earth1451 Words   |  6 PagesThe lives of seals are being threatened by the climate change that is happening throughout many arctic, antarctic regions, and other areas of the world. Due to climate change caused by global warming in the arctic and the antarctic regions, rapid ice loss has occurred, which is affecting seals at an alarming rate. â€Å"With the rapid ice loss in the arctic and antarctic regions, many subspecies of seals are currently racing against the ticking clock climate change.The worldwide status of seal populationRead MoreGlobal Warming Is A Major Problem Of The 21 Century1209 Words   |  5 Pagesof the Earth s climate system continues to rapidly increase. Alaska has encountered the most unfavorable impacts from global warming than anyplace else in the United States. The government has taken several precautions to ensure that we are not only informed about the issue but to also en sure that we take the necessary steps to help reduce the effects of global warming on our environment. In this essay will be analyzed the liberal and conservative views on President Obama’s climate message to AlaskaRead MoreGenetically Modified Food Aid From The United States Essay1546 Words   |  7 Pagesimbalance. After elaborate debates and extensive deliberations about genetically modified organisms at the conference, Lesotho’s final position is the following: Lesotho has chosen to accept Genetically modified corn in its whole form with the understanding that the United States will provide resources and assistance to mill the corn within Lesotho. The European Union has promised to uphold trade agreements with Lesotho unless the possible event of transgenic contamination occurs. The United StatesRead MoreThe Issue With Global Warming2241 Words   |  9 PagesHannah Rupp Ms. Clemson Honors English 9 4 June 2014 The Issue with Global Warming Since the 1980’s, climate scientists have constantly been telling the public that their actions were determining the Earth’s demise. They say that the polar ice caps are melting, sea levels are rising, and 1,700 coastal cities will be underwater by 2100 (Struss). And the public believes them. Little do they know that these alarmists are mistaken. Ice levels are growing, not shrinking. In fact, in May 2014, AntarcticRead MoreClimate Change Is A Growing Concern1890 Words   |  8 PagesClimate change is a growing concern in today’s world. We often hear about worldwide temperature rises, and how they are caused by pollution. We are warned about some of the potentially catastrophic consequences of rising temperatures in the future. However, climate change has already begun to occur. (NASA, â€Å"Climate Change Effects: The consequences of Climate Change†). Therefore, there is significantly more talk about solutions to climate change. These solutions will reduce the causes of climate changeRead MoreThe Effect Of Extra Co2 On The Atmosphere On Water Acidity And Temperature1796 Words   |  8 PagesGreenhouse Effect† bottle compared to the â€Å"Greenhouse effect† bottle. The â€Å"Enhanced Greenhouse Effect† bottle’s water also showed a decrease in pH, while the â€Å"Greenhouse effect† bottle had no change in pH. While the sample data from the experiment showed no real difference between the two bottles, there was still a change. If this experiment was done a larger scale, the findings from such an experiment may provide more promising results, with significantly larger numbers to investigate further. Introduction:Read MorePrevalence, Causes and Impacts of Global Warming Essay2501 Words   |  11 Pages2000: 9876). James Hansen ended his testimony by stating that if temperatures continue to rise, the planet would face disastrous global climate changes that could cause tremendous amount of harm to our planet (Hansen 2000: 9876). Based on the analysis of scientific literature, it is acceptable to say that James Hansen’s words were not taken seriously and his predictions are slowly coming true. This research analysis will anatomize the prevalence, causes, and impacts of global warming. More importantlyRead MoreLa Brea Tar Pits2573 Words   |  11 Pagesrecovered under the supervision of the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, established at Exposition Park in 1913. Among the Pleistocene fossils found and put on display: mammoths, mastodons, saber-toothed cats, the giant ground sloth and dire wolf, the California lion, weighing over a thousand pounds, the ground st ork, the golden eagle (800 of these) and one solitary human, a female named the La Brea Woman. The Saber-Tooth Tiger Perhaps the most iconic of these finds is that of the

Effective Business Communication The Success Of An...

Effective business Communication is crucial to the success of an organization. The ability to communicate successfully with your audience shows your knowledge of the matter and your level of professionalism to handle the issue. Successful communication, ethical communication, collaboration, listening, nonverbal skills, business messages, direct and indirect approaches, business etiquette and establishing creditability, to name a few, are concepts that influence business communication and the ability to be successful. Communication between the sender and receiver influence the business in many ways. If you have an idea but cannot relay the message, it is useless to the audience and the organization. If the audience does not receive the message delivered, your delivery is lost. Effective skills, such as communication, help with the positive delivery of your message. Communication increases conversations, productivity, better changes for financial gain, and better relationship with the employees. Communication is one of the most important stages in the work place. Effective communication influences the overall make up of an organization internally and externally. The text states that ethical communication is the conduct that governs behavior within a society. It includes relevant information that is true and is not deceptive in any way. Ethical communication is a crucial element of an organization. It influences the morals that the organization hold as a unit. The impactShow MoreRelatedThe Relationship Between Effective Communication And Organizational Efficiency1123 Words   |  5 Pagesrelationship between effective communication and organizational efficiency, showing in particular how communication barriers may impact adversely on an organisation. This essay will focus on the relationship between effective communication and organizational efficiency, highlighting the main barriers in communication and their consequences. In order to facilitate the understanding of this relationship, it is very important to comprehend the purpose of communication in business and the meaningRead MoreImportance of Business Communication1271 Words   |  6 PagesImportance of Business Communication In business, reputation and credibility need to be built up in order to get clients’ trust and confidence. Having a sense of professionalism will bring a lot to the business, especially in a long term relationship with employees and clients. There is a need to make sure that every business deal is attended to promptly. Business communication encompasses not only communicating with external contacts but also with employees within the organization. This will aidRead MoreThe Success Or Failure Of Any Firm Or Organization Depends Upon The Competency And Proficiency Of Its Workforce1584 Words   |  7 PagesAssignment Prof Terrell Aicha Diakite GB 540 The success or failure of any firm or organization depends upon the competency and proficiency of its workforce. To improve the performance of a particular organization and its employees, motivation is required from the workforce. Employee maintenance can be practiced by thoroughly motivating the employees in many ways. In the big organizational environment, it is hard for the supervisor to motivate employees as compared to the small organizationalRead MoreCommunication Process1412 Words   |  6 PagesCommunication can best be summarized as the transmission of a message from a sender to a receiver in an understandable manner. The importance of effective communication is immeasurable in the world of business and in personal life. From a business perspective, effective communication is an absolute must, because it commonly accounts for the difference between success and failure or profit and loss. It has become clear that effective business communication is critical to the successful operation ofRead MoreBusiness Communication Trends Paper798 Words   |  4 PagesBusiness Communication Trends Paper Com/285 September, 4, 2010 Business Communication Trends Paper Business communication is a tool necessary to accomplish organizational objectives. Given recent advancements in technology and globalization of services, communication skills remain one of the most highly sought-after skills employers look for in job candidates. In this paper I will examine the role business communication plays in the Texas Health and Human Services Commissions day-to-day activityRead MoreThe Success Of A Business Or Organization Is Dependent On The Quality Of Leadership Within The Organization1581 Words   |  7 PagesThe success of a business or organization is dependent on the quality of leadership within the organization. Leadership, defined as the action or leading/guiding a group of people or organization. The foundation of leadership is communication, an effective leader shows guidance, assigns tasks, through effective and clear communication. There are many differing leadership styles that involve different communication styles, resulting in differing level s of management/employee communication integrationRead MoreRunning Header: the Compare and Contrast of Andy Grove and Michael Dell1321 Words   |  6 Pagescontributions, but the effective management tools, leadership, poise and strategic thinking are perhaps their most impressive contributions to the field. Andy Grove brought definition to the words â€Å"crises management,† and has forever changed the way organizations anticipate and recovery from potential destruction. Andy’s strategic approach and recovery plan has been his most effective contribution to the field. Andy believed that building experimentation into the everyday business would someday beRead MoreThe Structure And Dynamics Of Communication Network971 Words   |  4 Pagesunderstand the importance of communication in business, the structure and dynamics of communication network are central importance for the functionality of organization. To show various dimension of workplace communication including different type of organization and communication network with organization. Understanding that communication skills are all around us, from the day we are born until the rest of our lives. Understanding how many times you have seen communication skills required for a jobRead MoreOrganizational Communication Es say1188 Words   |  5 PagesIn today’s era of raising slogan of global village, communication has become a burning issue. The world has turned into a global village, and one cannot survive alone. As man is a social animal, he cannot overcome worldly activities alone. For the fulfillment of daily activities and usual deeds, he needs help from other people and have to communicate with others. Infect, in habitual life everyone spend a lot of time in communicating i.e. writing, reading, talking and listening. People spent mostRead MoreA New Enterprise Resource Planning System1627 Words   |  7 Pagesregard to the organization as a whole, as opposed to smaller changes within an organization, such as adding a new person or adapting a new program. An example of organizational change might include a change in operation, restructuring operations, teams, layoffs, new technologies, collaborations, rightsizing, or even new programs. Some specialists submit to organizational alterat ions. Frequently this phase authorizes an essential and thorough reorientation in the way an organization operates. According

Film Analysis - Blade Runner Essay - 1626 Words

MAC 170: INTRODUCTION TO FILM STUDIES ASSIGNMENT ONE – FILM ANALYSIS FILM CHOSEN: Blade Runner (1982) EXTRACT: INT – Sebastian’s Building, starting with the shot of Deckard climbing up the wall. Duration: 9 minutes (Chapter 30, Blade Runner: The Final Cut, 2007) The following essay will be a close analysis of an extract from the 1982 film Blade Runner, which was directed by Ridley Scott. Blade Runner is a science-fiction film based on the book ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep’ which was written by Phillip K. Dick. This essay will also explore how Ridley Scott’s use of mise en scene and editing in Blade Runner can exhibit him as an auteur. An ‘auteur’ is known as the ‘author’ of the film; a director that uses recognisable†¦show more content†¦Ridley Scott can be classed as an auteur for his use of setting in his films; he tends to create a post-apocalyptic setting, mainly set in the not-so-distant future. This can be seen in the extract of Blade Runner, from the wide angle, long shot of Deckard on the roof. The tall buildings, which are close together, help to connote an industrialised city, and the lack of organic matter helps to show the futuristic world as very bleak, old and dirty . The use of space surrounding Deckard when he is hanging from the roof help to establish that the city lacks people and is very de-humanised and an almost dystopia, which is very similar to Alien. Alien and Blade Runner warn us against a capitalist future gone wrong, where such feelings and bonds are so severely truncated that a quite literal dehumanization has become perhaps the gravest danger. (Byers, 1990: 39) This dehumanization feature which Ridley Scott has placed into both Blade Runner and Alien gives both films a sense of fear to the audience when both films were first released, that the possibility of the earth being dehumanized is quite great. The shot of Deckard hanging from the roof also shows how high the building is, with the audience barely being able to see the floor, which helps to connote a sense of uncertainty from the audience, as they are unsure as to whether or not Deckard will fall. The use of rain in this scene is very powerful, as it makes the scene feel very depressive, creating a bleak aspectShow MoreRelatedBlade Runner Film Analysis800 Words   |  4 PagesBlade Runner: Film Analysis and Critics Review Blade Runner (1982), directed by Ridley Scott, combines the element, film noir and science fiction, thus creating a outstanding visual aesthetic that has been embraced by most critics. Based on Philip K. Dick’s novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968), many critics embraced this sci- fi film, although it leaves out a majority of the novel’s plot and themes while scenes are modified significantly. The plot follows police officer Rick DeckardRead MoreFilm Analysis Of Blade Runner1299 Words   |  6 PagesBlade Runner The early Ridley Scott directed Blade Runner (1982) after his latest hit Alien (1979) you can clearly see his style being an innovator in his field and his masterful use of water and smoke, giving all his movies his unique sense of style. Not to mention the perfect world he builds for his movies, Blade Runner has a dark futuristic city vibe yet vibrant with neon lights and crowds of people. The conventions being a gritty sci-fi noir. The context of this world that of which takes placeRead MoreYear 11 Blade Runner By Philip K Dick, By Ridley Scott And Michael Deeley993 Words   |  4 PagesYear 11 Blade Runner Text analysis draft – Pippa McGivern ‘More human than human.’ What is real and what is not? What is good and what is bad? Are there any ways in which replicants are more appealing than humans?’ ‘Blade Runner’ is a 1982 film adaptation of the book ‘Do Androids Dream of electric sheep?’ By Philip K Dick, produced by Ridley Scott and Michael Deeley. Throughout the film, the idea of ‘More human than human’ is portrayed and analysed, with clear intent to question the viewer’s opinionsRead More Analysis of Blade Runner by Ridley Scott Essay1094 Words   |  5 PagesAnalysis of Blade Runner by Ridley Scott Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott and based on Philip K. Dicks novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, is a Sci-fi slash Noir film about a policeman named Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) in a decrepit 2019 Los Angeles whose job it is to retire four genetically engineered cyborgs, known as Replicants. The four fugitives, Pris (Daryl Hannah), Zhora (Joanna Cassidy), Leon (Brian James), and their leader, Roy Batty (RutgerRead MoreBlade Runner Analysis1228 Words   |  5 Pages Blade Runner Mise en Scene Analysis A Misen Scà ¨ne is a word borrowed from the French theatre. It is actually  everything on screen including scenery and the props used. The  setting, costumes and lighting are also essential in an opening scene.  It is essential in all films, as so much of the appearance and  audience’s attention goes directly there. Scott has also used Film  Noir which implies to the film, set forty years hence and made in the  styles of forty years ago.  The film has a CyberRead MoreAnalysis of the Opening and Closing Scenes of Blade Runner the Directors Cut (1992)1148 Words   |  5 PagesAnalysis of the Opening and Closing Scenes of Blade Runner the Directors Cut (1992) Blade runner a box office flop in 1982 but a 1992 re release hit set Blade runner up to be one of the greatest films of all time. After Indiana Jones and the raiders of the lost ark there was a lot to live up to for Ridley Scott but he failed to deliver. The opening sequence begins with the producers of the film we have AOL time Warner and the WB logo. Shortly after this the creditsRead MoreRidley Scotts Blade Runner - Ananalysis2682 Words   |  11 Pagesin which you are going to analyse. That is to analyse advertisements, texts, TV-series, films etc. and other media. My task for this assignment is to give an analysis of a film of my choice. A film is a quite complex medium to analyse; thus it is important to have analysis tools or some criteria to follow. In my analysis I am asked to consider the use and resolution of binary opposition and through analysis of narrative structure. In my assignment I am going to consider how the couple is representedRead MoreAnalysis of Bladerunner Essay2605 Words   |  11 Pageswhich you are going to analyse. That is to analyse advertisements, texts, TV-series, films etc. and other media. My task for this assignment is to give an analysis of a film of my choice. A film is a quite complex medium to analyse; thus it is important to have analysis quot;toolsquot; or some criteria to follow. In my analysis I am asked to consider the use and resolution of binary opposition and through analysis of narrative structure. In my assignment I am going to consider how the couple is representedRead MoreSynthetic vs. Natural: an Analysis of Costuming in Blade Runner1753 Words   |  8 PagesNatural: An Analysis of Costuming Used in Blade Runner Blade Runner written by Scott Bukatman and published in 1997 discusses the making of, and larger issues addressed, in Ridley Scott’s film Blade Runner (1982). Bukatman, an Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies at Stanford University, has written several books on film. His book takes a look at the film formally, ideologically, and even historically. He addresses the film formally by talking about the production of the film. He brieflyRead MoreModule a961 Words   |  4 Pagesclearly the case with Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein (1818), which draws upon the rise of Galvanism and the Romantic Movement of the 1800’s, as well as Ridley Scott’s film Blade Runner (1992), reflecting upon the increasing computing industry and the predominance of capitalism within the late 20th Century. Hence, an analysis of both in light of their differing contexts reveal how Shelley and Scott ultimately warn us of the dire consequences of our desire for omnipotence an d unrestrained scientific

My Beloved Country Haiti Was Hit With A 7.0 Catastrophic...

As a woman growing up in society, many events have occurred throughout time, in which I questioned why. Unfortunately we live in an unpredictable world. No matter what the meteorologist says about the weather, 5xs out of 10, they re inaccurate. In January 12 2010, my beloved country Haiti was hit with a 7.0 catastrophic earthquake, which not only affected the country but the entire world surrounding it. Whether you are Haitian-born, American-born with Haitian parents /descendants or even from a different nation/country, the events that transpired from that day on affected us all. With over 220,000 people deceased and 300,000 injured, this by far was the most horrendous event that Haitian people ever had to deal with. With my†¦show more content†¦Many people not only lost their lives and families because of this earthquake, but also, what soon followed next. No one expected the epidemic that soon accompanied this earthquake: The Cholera Outbreak. Cholera is defined by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a bacterial disease that can cause diarrhea and dehydration. This is spread through eating/drinking contaminated food and/or water. Untreated sewage water and someone who defecated in open water are the main causes for this outbreak. Cholera can kill within hours if left untreated. Several treatments have been given to prevent this, while many people were able to battle this on time, several were not as lucky. Haiti’s largest river, the Artibonite became contaminated by wastes and other harmful bacteria from Nepalese soldiers stationed at the rivers upper valley. These soldiers were stationed there by the United Nations. The problem, is with this being Haiti’s largest river, many of its population (about 50-80 thousand to be exact) use this particular water to drink, bathe and wash clothes. This is where the cholera strain was found. The cholera outbreak in Haiti became a pandemic and a major public health issue. A pandemic is defined by Merriam-Webster as an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and effects an exceptionally high proportion of the population. Mother Nature has her own schedule. Avalanches,

Importance of Art in the Society Free Essays

Art brings beauty into our world. Art is important because it makes our world a better place. It also brings a sense of enjoyment and pleasure. We will write a custom essay sample on Importance of Art in the Society or any similar topic only for you Order Now Art allows for the expression of truth and beliefs. Some art challenges our beliefs. Other works affirm our faith. Art is an important tool in causing us to examine our beliefs in light of an artists’ rendition or perception of truth. Art has the ability to transport us to a different time and place. It allows us to gain historical perspective and understanding. Art allows us to appreciate different periods in history and their impact and significance in our world. Art immortalizes people, places, and events. Artists create a visual record of life experiences commemorating the memorable and challenging social injustices, such as slavery and abuses, in time. Artists serve as historians in this role, documenting life on canvass, photography, or sculpture. Art may be used to express chaos and misunderstanding, or to establish order from what appears to be chaos. Art helps us organize our world. It is one means by which we understand our society and culture, and the society and cultures of others. Art is important as an intellectual stimulant. A good artist advances culture and civilization by provoking thought, introspection, and discussion. Art triggers emotions. Subject, color, and texture are used by artist to evoke feelings. In this way art can serve as a catharsis, or help us uncover feelings of which we were previously unaware. Art has the intrinsic ability to elevate the commonplace. It lifts the viewer beyond the confines of reality and into another world, such as the use of art to express fantasy. Sometimes art provides pure escapism, such as cartoons and comics. Other art allows us to juxtapose fantasy and reality, creating a world in which the artist wished we lived. Art communicates across all cultures, tells the stories of the past and present, and inspires minds, both young and old, to do beautiful things. How to cite Importance of Art in the Society, Papers

Sunlight on the grass revision booklet free essay sample

This is worth 20% of the total GCSE It is 45 minutes of a 90 minute exam. You must answer ONE question. The question is in two parts: Part A: you respond to a passage from the text Part B: you must link this passage to the whole text. Assessment Criteria AO1: respond to texts critically and imaginatively; select and evaluate relevant textual detail to illustrate and support interpretations (10%) AO2: explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers’ presentation of ideas, themes and settings (10%) You are not assessed on AO3 or AO4. This means they you do not compare the stories or relate them to context. The examination asks you to choose between two questions. Each question will name one story and leave the second choice of story up to you. The questions are split into two parts and you have to answer both parts. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO COMPARE THE TWO STORIES. What we will revise: Plot, narrative structure and the crafting of characterisation in each short story; Themes and ideas related to each short story; Language and style: the use of language techniques to create effects e. g. the use of symbolism in ‘Compass and Torch’ to illuminate themes and ideas of moral guidance and family relationships. My Polish Teacher’s Tie Plot Summary ‘My Polish Teacher’s Tie’ is about the forming of a relationship between Carla, a dinner lady who works in a school and who is revealed to be half-Polish, and her pen-pal Stefan, a teacher visiting from Poland. Carla nervously engages in a pen-pal friendship with Stefan, but she chooses to let Stefan think she is a teacher, embarrassed that she isn’t a â€Å"real professional†. They exchange poems and we see their relationship grow, until Stefan’s visit, when there is an awkward break in their communication as Carla worries she has lied to Stefan. Unlike the cynical teachers, Valerie and Susie, Carla celebrates his passionate interests and his unique personality, symbolised by his eccentric tie. They meet and Stefan sings for Carla in a moment of unbridled joy and honest friendship. Language and Style Symbolism: clothing is an important strand of symbolism, with uniforms and the eponymous tie representing a sense of identity and social status. Also, the bird in the poem from Stefan could symbolise the entrapment Carla feels because of her own sense of inadequacy (this links to the singing at the end of the story, where Carla is freed from her social anxieties) First person narrative perspective: we see events through the nervous eyes of Carla and the grammar of the writing often imitates patterns of natural speech, withcolloquialisms like â€Å"sod it† and â€Å"I shovel chips† Dialogue: in a short story that is about the difficulties of communication itself, the narrative uses dialogue as a dominant way to communicate Themes and Ideas Social status: the story explores the anxieties related to social status and social stereotyping Love: the story is essentially a romantic love story that explores the difficulties in communicating emotions openly an d honestly Identity: the story explores the issues of identity and how your heritage and your job can shape your sense of who you are Key Quotations â€Å"But what was worse was that he was going to expect to meet me. Or not me, exactly, but the person he’d been writing to, who didn’t really exist. † (Lines 95-7) â€Å"It was a terribly hopeful tie. † (Line 147) â€Å"He stood there holding on to my hand right in the middle of the staffroom, his big bright tie blazing, and he sang a song I knew. It went through me like a knife through butter. A Polish song. I knew it, I knew it. † (Lines 163-66) When the Wasps Drowned Plot Summary ‘When the Wasps Drowned’, by Claire Wigfell, is a first person account of childhood memories of a past summer where sinister events occur. A young female narrator recounts her sister, Therese, being attacked by an angry swarm of wasps. The rest of the story is a broken narrative of small events that make up the summer, with their mother largely absent, and the narrator taking care of her siblings in the hot garden. When her siblings playfully dig a hole in the garden, tunnelling into next door’s garden, they find a ring on the hand of a corpse that they then cover back up. The narrator takes the ring, but her sister has nightmares that appear related to their gruesome findings. As the summer holidays come to a close the children are questioned at their door by the police about a missing girl. They lie about their knowledge of the ring and what was found in Mr Mordecai’s garden. It is an ambiguous ending which leaves the reader questioning the behaviour of the girl. Language and Style Symbolism: the wasps themselves may symbolise a latent natural danger, and their stinging of Therese may appear to represent the end of childhood innocence for the children Delayed revelations: the end of the first section reveals the neighbour’s garden has been dug up – it is not until later in the story that the reader is able to piece together the narrative fragments to work out the plot Figurative language: there are interesting examples of figurative language that heighten the tension and project emotion onto the descriptions from the â€Å"ache of cars† to the screaming that dramatically â€Å"broke the day†. There is a real sense of sensuality to the descriptions and the sense of grim foreboding is also clear in the writer’s style First person narrative perspective: the young narrator is clearly unreliable and the fragments of memories piece together a mysterious narrative Themes and Ideas Loss of childhood innocence: the series of inter-connected memories build up a picture of neglected children, subject to a series of dangerous events that ultimately present this summer as a negative turning point Violence: the story has violent events, from the wasps stinging Therese, to the implied event with the corpse in the garden and the oppressive heat Key Quotations â€Å"Her screaming, the way it broke the day, so shocked me that I dropped the glass, which smashed on the tap and fell into the dishwasher below. † (Lines 24-6) Compass and Torch Plot Summary ‘Compass and Torch’ is an emotive story of a family breakdown and the specific event of a young boy being taken on a camping trip with his father. The father arrives to collect his son, who is earnest and desperate for a successful trip. The mother and the step-father reveal their concerns about the â€Å"mad† camping trip that subtlety reveals the damaging family breakdown. The boy brings his torch, something transformed into a crucial heroic object by the boy, wishing to confer heroism onto both the trip and his father. The father, somewhat distant, appears sensitive to the heightened emotions of his son. The father pitches a tent, but realises he has forgotten his torch – perhaps reflecting issues that impacted the divorce. They journey to the top of the mountain and stay the night, accompanied by horses surrounding the tent. These instinctive creatures and their â€Å"thudding† hooves become symbolic for the boy in his future dreams of this emotional event. Language and Style Symbolism: the compass and torch are potential symbols. The torch represents light and may present the worship he casts upon his father. The compass represents a loss of direction, the break-up of the family and the loss of the boy’s ‘moral compass’. The horses, in their instinctive sensitivity, may represent the natural feelings a son would have for his father, or the thudding may hint at the subtle natural danger of the boy’s family breakdown Disjointed narrative structure: the non-linear structure reflects the broken family relations Themes and Ideas Love: the boy’s depiction of his father transforms him into a heroic character, perhaps not reflecting the reality of the situation Family breakdown: the story is dominated by the acute sensitivity of the boy, whose experience of their relationship is both fragile and tender Nature and ‘the natural’: the story raises questions about natural paternity; about the father/son relationships and the dangers related to experience Key Quotations â€Å"The boy is intent. Watching Dad. Watching what Dad is. Drinking it in: the essence of Dadness. † (Lines 8-9) â€Å"He is looking away, seared by the glitter of anxiety in the little boy’s eyes. † (Line 47) â€Å"He could feel it gathering in the blackening chill: the aching certainty that already, only one year on from the separation, he had lost his son, his child. † (Lines 166-68) On Seeing the 100% Perfect Girl One Beautiful April Morning Plot Summary ‘On Seeing the 100% Perfect Girl One Beautiful April Morning’ is a strange short story, suggested by the very idiosyncratic title. It is a romantic tale of love and fate that blends elements of realism and fantasy together. The opening section of the story has the narrator meet his â€Å"perfect girl† by chance in the street. He tells someone the story and imagines the potential of the romance and imagines what he would say to this person, before considering some highly romantic scenarios. Then, in fairytale style, he relates a short love story which he would have related to the girl. In truth, very little happens, except in the imagination of the romantic narrator! Language and Style Direct first person narrative perspective: the narrator appears to be very imaginative, transforming reality into images of romantic possibility Fantasy and realism: the author blends realistic elements and natural speech patterns with elements of fairytale (â€Å"Once upon a time† and ended ‘A sad story, don’t you think’†) and highly exaggerated descriptions of love (â€Å"they were each other’s 100% perfect lovers, and it was a miracle they ever met. †). This makes the narrative voice appear quite unreliable andsubjective, but at the same time idealistic and hopeful Repetition: the story appears to repeat phrases and images to add to the fantastical sense of romance Themes and Ideas Love: the story does evoke the transformational power of love. It celebrates the faithful meeting of lovers, whilst at the same time exploring the sadness of lost love. You may argue the presentation of love is ambiguous Idealism and real ity: there appears to be a contrast between ‘real’ events and the idealistic, romantic dreams of the narrator. The audience are left to question this duality. Is it self-deception and false? Or is it power of love? Key Quotations â€Å"The moment I see her, there’s a rumbling in my chest, and my mouth is as dry as a desert. † (Lines 7-8) â€Å"The ideas I come up with are never very practical. † (Line 61) â€Å"As they sat and talked, however, a tiny, tiny sliver of doubt took root in their hearts. Was it really all right for one’s dreams to come true so easily. † (Lines 79-80) â€Å"The faintest gleam of their lost memories glimmered for the briefest moment in their hearts.† (Lines 109-10) The Darkness Out There Plot Summary ‘The Darkness Out There’ has two young central characters, Sandra and Kerry (a boy) who are in a club, at school, run by Miss Hammond. The club members help people in the community. One Saturday Sandra and Kerry go to the house of an old lady, Mrs Rutter. When they have done the errands, they ask her about a local wo od, which is meant to be haunted. Mrs Rutter knows the true story behind the popular version. During the Second World War a German aeroplane was shot down and crashed in the wood. Mrs. Rutter and her sister were the first people on the scene. They saw that one of the crew was still alive, but trapped in the aircraft. They left him and returned the next night, knowing that he was dying in agony. Mrs Rutter is not ashamed of what she did, and explains it in terms of strict revenge, for the death of her husband, who was killed in Belgium at the start of the war. Sandra is shocked, but it is Kerry who takes the initiative. As directly as he can he insists that he must leave. As soon as he is out of the house, he speaks of his horror at Mrs. Rutter and his sympathy for the German. Language and Style Third person perspective: the story is in the third person, but it is told from Sandra’s perspective. We can compare Sandra’s viewpoint with how people are presented through their dialogue Symbolism: the darkness and the light are obviously symbolic about morality and about how you lose your childhood innocence by becoming awareness of this ‘darkness’. This imagery is repeated heavily throughout Themes and Ideas Darkness and Light: it is both literally referred to in the title and repeatedly in the story, but symbolically it also represents the classic moral contrast between good and evil Stereotyping and ‘the truth’: the story challenges how people make first impressions – the presentation of Kerry and the little old lady are a stark contrast to the first impressions made. This story the contrast between how things may appear and the actual reality. Attitudes to travellers and other people are questioned throughout by the author – raising complex moral questions Key Quotations â€Å"After they were twelve or so the witches and wolves went away. Then it was the German plane. † (Lines 53-54) â€Å"†¦next you glimpsed darkness, an inescapable darkness. The darkness out there and it was part of you and you would never be without it, ever. † (Lines 268-9) Anil Plot Summary ‘Anil’ is another ‘coming of age’ (‘Bildungsroman’) story, where the young narrator is exposed to a violent and deceptive adult world. Growing up in a poor Singapore village in stifling heat, Anil wakes and hears a noise outside. He witnesses the Headman’s brother, Marimuthu, and another man hang Marimuthu’s unconscious wife. Numbed by the horror of the event, Anil attempts to go back asleep. The next day a crowd has gathered and Marimuthu, and his wealthy family, attempt to mask the crime. Anil courageously whispers to Marimuthu that he knows he killed his wife. To avoid scandal, the Headman agrees a deal with Anil’s cowardly father to send Anil away to school to avoid him revealing the truth. The final scene is the touching departure of Anil, being forced to leave his father and the family, whilst Marimuthu gives him a sinister smile, reinforcing Anil’s powerlessness, arousing empathy for Anil. Language and Style Third person perspective: the story is in the third person, but it is told through Anil’s perspective. This gives the story a strong sense of painful emotion and makes the audience empathise with Anil, whilst having some information hidden to engage the audience in the sinister events Figurative language and symbolism: the emotion of the story is heightened and the violence is given a grotesque exaggeration, conveyed from the very opening sentence onwards (â€Å"the mosquitoes were in their reign of terrorism†). The tree becomes a symbol of frightening natural danger, perhaps suggesting the commonness of such violence and danger in this corrupt world Themes and Ideas Lost Innocence: Anil goes through a painful passage into adulthood, from witnessing murder to being excluded from his family for telling the truth. Corruption: the whole village appears to be corrupt, from the top of the hierarchy to the powerless, but violent father figure even down to the tree and the mosquitoes. Corruption appears all pervasive and inescapable for innocent Anil. Key Quotations â€Å"Any moment now, the vines would reach out and snatch all the villagers and devour them all, leaving him alone in the village. † (Lines 115-17) â€Å"’Don’t be silly. Men don’t cry. You’re going into a man’s world, you must act like a man now. † (Lines 192-3) Something Old, Something New Plot Summary ‘Something Old, Something New’ is a lengthy short story that explores the difficulties in moving cultures and developing new relationships. It begins with the male central character arriving in the Sudan to meet his prospective wife at the airport. Anxious but excited, he meets the brother and is impressed but intimidated by the Nile and its â€Å"dream blue†. He arrives at his hotel and reflects upon his memories of when the relationship began, before revealing his soon-to-be-wife is divorced (frowned upon in her culture). He meets her family at their home and soon after is mugged, revealing tensions in their relationship and their clash of cultural differences. The wedding is further delayed by the unfortunate death of her uncle. During the period of mourning he acclimatises and settles in with the family, before giving her brother money to help finance the wedding. The story ends hopefully with the marriage and a loving embrace between the newlyweds. Language and Style Third person perspective: the story is in the third person, but is from the perspective of the husband, experiencing this new country for the first time, whilst feeling a range of complex emotions from fear to contentment Figurative language: the writer employs a range of imagery to evoke the setting and revealing the husband’s anxiety (â€Å"Such was the landscape of Khartoum: bone coloured sky, a purity in the desert air, bareness. †) Themes and Ideas Love and marriage: the story presents an adult, realistic view of love, where relationships are strained, breakdown as well as flourish in the face of difficulty Death and danger: there is a sense of danger and foreboding in the story; from the crocodiles in the Nile, to the threat of violent robbery and the tragic death of the Uncle. Once again, this is no idealistic love story Culture: the story reveals the challenges of moving cultures and of having relationships with people of a different cultural heritage Key Quotations â€Å"But as he spoke he noticed that the river’s flow was forceful, not innocent, not playful. Crocodiles no doubt lurked beneath the surface, hungry and ruthless. † (Lines 48-50) â€Å"He heard the azan (prayers); the first time in his life to hear it outdoors. † (Line 210) â€Å"Congratulations, we’ve given her to you now. † (Line 525) Exemplar Responses ‘The opening of ‘Anil’ prepares the reader for the rest of the story by setting the tone and introducing the setting of the story imaginatively. This is shown by the vivid description: â€Å"Children dreamed of waking up to another day. † This shows us that it is a poor, perhaps third world country, and that the narrator is someone of little self-belief, or even hope for his group, as he displays no desire to go out into the wider world or even attain wealth. The opening also sets the tone of the story by giving a sense of tiredness or futility, where people cannot be bothered. However, alongside this description the writer also uses hyperbole of ‘mosquitoes’ in their â€Å"reign of terror†, conveying a highly energetic and erratic atmosphere to the story. This confusion may reflect Anil’s fears and sense of confusion. The ‘terrorism’ clearly establishes the fear Anil is experiencing and it conveys a negative tone for the reader. † Peter Savage ‘During the opening of Claire Wigfall’s ‘When The Wasp’s Drowned’ a negative tone is created through symbolism, sparking a dark atmosphere for the narrative: â€Å"Therese stepped on the wasp’s nest. † This sentence is short and dramatic, symbolizing the beginning of a run of extraordinary events and the end of an innocent childhood. The image of a wasp’s nest being stepped on and all the wasps escaping foreshadows a string of bad events that will happen in the narrative. The wasps themselves also symbolise danger because of the threatening black and yellow colours and the venomous sting. This is significant as the characters must keep their distance from the negative events, in order not to be ‘stung’. Summer is often thought of as a happy, positive time, but here the wasp image emphasises the negativity of the season which creates an ironically depressing atmosphere. † Matthew Herbert ‘In Leila Aboulela’s short story – ‘Something Old, Something New’, symbolism is utilised in order to reflect the central female character in the narrative: for example, Aboulela at first describes the Nile as a â€Å"blue he had never seen before, a child’s blue, a dream’s blue†. This reflects how, at first sight, the Sudanese woman appears perfect, a way out of â€Å"unemployment; drugs; depression; the underworld that throbbed and dragged itself parallel to their active middle-class life†. However, when he discovers, upon taking a closer look, that the river’s flow was â€Å"forceful, not innocent nor playful†, the delayed revelation that the calm, serene river is actually one of nature’s perils, with ‘crocodiles’ who â€Å"lurked beneath the surface, hungry and ruthless†, unsettles the reader and evokes the precarious nature of the main character’s journey from Scotland to get married. The writer creates a sense of unease with the violent connotations of â€Å"ruthless†. This is further reflected when the central male character realises the woman he idolised is – in reality – like everybody else. A harsh reality is evoked and the special ‘blue’ of the Nile seems no longer beautiful and special – the Nile is very much like the woman: imperfect and natural. † Rebecca Anderson Past Examination Questions Jan 2011 Foundation EITHER Question 1 0 1 Answer part (a) and part (b) Part (a) Write about the behaviour of adults in Anil. You should write about: ? what the adults say and do ? the methods the writer uses to show the behaviour of the adults. and then Part (b) Write about the behaviour of adults or an adult in one other story from Sunlight on the Grass. You should write about:? what the adult or adults say and do ? the methods the writer uses to show this behaviour. (30 marks) Or Question 2 0 2 Answer part (a) and part (b) Part (a) How does the writer present feelings in The Darkness Out There? Write about: ? the feelings in the story ? how the writer presents these feelings by the ways she writes. and then Part (b) How does the writer present feelings in one other story from Sunlight on the Grass? Write about: ? the feelings in the story ? the methods the writer uses to present these feelings. (30 marks) Jan 2012 – Higher EITHER Question 1 Answer part (a) and part (b) Part (a) How does Aboulela present families in Something Old, Something New? and then Part (b) Write about how the writer presents a family in one other story from Sunlight on the Grass. (30 marks) OR Question 2 0 2 Answer part (a) and part (b) Part (a) How do you respond to the ending of When the Wasps Drowned and how does Wigfall make you respond as you do by the ways she writes? and then Part (b) How do you respond to the ending of one other story from Sunlight on the Grass and how does the writer make you respond as you do? (30 marks)