Architecture and the Impact of Light Essay Example For Students

Architecture and the Impact of Light Essay The complete experience of architecture can be gained only when elements of color, texture, material, detail, light and shadow are incorporated: Architecture speaks through the silence of perceptual phenomena  (Steven Holl, 2006, p41). The sensations and the perceptions of the user are controlled by the various elements of light, color and sound. Perception is the process or method of gaining or gathering information through the various senses. At times, an object could even be perceived in a different way because of the preconceived notion the person has about the object. In the case of visual perception, the decision on how the space is perceived is left on the mind of the occupant. Every time we move or act, the environment around us keeps changing and hence our perception about the environment also changes  (Mireia Verges, 2007, p18). Architecture could be perceived in many different ways through the various senses. In architecture, visual perception is the most important as sight is the most dominant sense which helps us to appreciate the minute distinctions  (William M. C. Lam, 1992, p11). One may conceive a space as a container of material objects whose framework needs to be filled, but this conception may differ from person to person because of their experience within the space. An example would be how one space could be perceived in a span of one day from morning to night. As the day progress the sun moves, causing the lighting in a space to change throughout the day. Therefore, due to the light cast into the space, the perception of the space changes at different points in the day. Dynamism in a space is formed by the different changes felt within that space at different points in time. This occurs due to the application of color and material as well as the effect natural light has as it enters a space and changes throughout the day. Lack of dynamism within a space would result in no changes; therefore, the perception of that space would remain the same throughout the day. The lack of dynamism in a space makes the space monotonous after a point. Dynamism can be created within the space by incorporating elements of color and material and also by something as simple as the way the furniture is laid out in the space. All of these elements can be changed over a period of time to maintain the dynamism within the space but not for a very long time. How often could the color of the wall, the material of the furniture or the placement of furniture be changed? With the introduction of light and shadow in the space, the perception of the space can be changed each moment which would leave the user of the space with a unique experience every time. This constant change as the light moves through the space is what makes it dynamic, it allows for a diverse effect throughout different moments in time. According to Tadao Ando, there are three elements that best describe architecture. Those elements are the volume, material and nature. The most important one being nature which includes light, sky and water. Architecture is best perceived in the presence of light as light brings out the diverse qualities of a space like color, texture, volume and form  (Mireia Verges, 2007, p9). Even though light is considered as an immaterialist element, it is successful in giving identity to architecture. Light has been declared as the origin of all beings as it greatly affects our lives and makes life possible on Earth  (Jin Baek, 2009, p115). The physical world is best negotiated in the presence of light. The relationship between man and its environment is enhanced in the presence of light   (William M. C. Lam, 1992, p10). Light has the ability to reveal architecture and create a connection between what people see and what they perceive it as  (Cesar Portela,n. d,p63). Light and shado w can create dynamism within a space by giving the space a meaning which is beyond function. The atmosphere of a space is greatly influenced by the element of light. The value of light should not be underestimated as it is a powerful and strong vehicle of expression. It is very important for us to realize how important light is in the well-being of humans. Hence, we should gain an appreciation of how light influences and affects our lives  (Mireia Verges, 2007, p18). As an architecture student and as an architect in general it is essential that we consider the impact light has on a space when designing. Extra depths of experience can be achieved within the space through the interplay of light and shadow. Those extra depths are achieved through the illusions created and depths that become magnified by light. Light and shadow influences the spatial context and helps to transform the atmosphere within the space. With the correct consideration of light and shadow, atmospheres can be created which are beyond function and most of these constructions are religious in nature. It is believed that natural light is considered as a link between God and man. In religious spaces, light is used in a way such that it arouses the feeling of spiritualism and is successful in conveying the holiness and sacredness of the place. The religious role of light in a sacred and spiritual space is to transform that which is material to something that is immaterial  (Jin Baek, 2009, p112). The worshippers or the visitors are taken into a phase of meditation and peace by the harmonious divine light  (Henry Plummer, 2009, p6). In a spiritual space, light does not stay at the margin of the body of the perceiver but it fills one with the brightness, lightness and intensity by penetrating through it. Jin Baek, 2009, p117). The Impact of an Old Fleet on the Demand for Air T EssayThe presence of light allows architecture to rise above its physical limitations and transform and display signs of life. When light flows through a room, the deadened masses come to life, a mood is created within the atmosphere of the space which changes the perception of the space. One of the most important uses of shadows is that it creates a contrast which leads to a dramatic atmosphere and further creating dynamism within the space. As the source of light is not constant and it keeps moving and changing character, dynamism in the space is created. Just as time changes, the eyes of the users of the space constantly moves to appreciate the space and thus the experience of the user keeps changing with the changing time which leads to a new perception every single time. In all my works, light is an important controlling factor,  says Tadao Ando. One of the most famous works of Tadao Ando which emphasizes the importance of light is the Church of light in Osaka, Japan. The Church of light is located in a residential neighborhood in Osaka, Japan. The existing buildings and the position of the sun determined the layout of the church. The distinct contrast between light and shadow defines the space of the church. The only natural element entering the chapel is light. The light enters the chapel through the cut in the concrete wall. This opening or cut in the wall has a symbolic significance. The cut in the wall extends vertically from the floor to the ceiling and horizontally from one end of the wall to the other. Light enters the chapel only from this cut in the wall and hence the cut in the wall is the only connection to the outside world. As the morning light falls on the slit in the wall, the cross of light is highlighted. The interior of the chapel is kept to the bare minimum, the effect the light has as it hits the space is what is important. Hence, there are no decorations on the concrete walls so that the experience of the user is not disturbed. One important design aspect in the chapel is the profound emptiness which transfers the occupant into a spiritual world. The intersection between the light and the volume in the chapel delicately dramatizes the space such that it creates an instant connection between the user and God. Through light; the space is filled with the essence of purity, spirituality and tranquility  (Tadao Ando,2000,p122). A second work by Tadao Ando is the Koshino house located in Ashiya, Japan. It consists of two concrete boxes which are arranged parallel to the surrounding national park. The two concrete boxes respond to the natural surrounding and are hence buried in the slope of the national park. The natural light is filtered through the wide stairs and it forms an extension of the stage for the everyday lives. Slits are cut purposely in that particular manner such that they act as a filter for attaining different intersections of light and shadow. The exterior is divided into different parts by the help of light and shadow. In the Koshino house, dynamism is created through the interplay of light and shadow  (Tadao Ando,2000,p96). Lastly, a third work is the chapel on Mount Rokko that overlooks the Osaka bay. The building consists of the church and a bell tower which are connected by a colonnade. Fresh air can easily flow through the colonnade as there are no walls. The theme for the design of the chapel revolves around the idea of light and shadow. Directly ahead of the colonnade is the altar and on the left wall there is a window. A shadow is cast in the form of a cross on the floor by the beam and column that articulate the window. Light has always been and will always been a critical factor to architects during the design process. A design may be beautiful and well thought out but is not successful if light is not captured well. As I continue to grow as a designer, thinking about how I want light to affect the building I am designing makes all the difference. It is important to think about the feeling it creates in a space. Light, more specifically natural light is a powerful tool that should be used to its fullest potential. I want to take that into consideration in order to have both a successful design and capture a dynamic perception within the space. Dynamism is created within a space by introducing light and shadow and this is possible as light is not constant and keeps changing with time. Therefore, a space would be perceived differently every single time. As light is considered the origin of all beings, it enables the formation of various perceptions and atmospheres which are beyond function. Thus, light and shadow are essential in achieving dynamism within a space and changing the perception of the space. Bibliography: Baek J. Nothingness: Tadao Andos Christian Sacred Space, Routledge, Oxon. 2009. Print. Holl, Steven. Questions of Perception: Phenomenology of Architecture. San Francisco, CA: William Stout, 2006. Print. Lam, William M. C. Perception and Lighting as Formgivers for Architecture. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1992. Print. Mende, Kaoru. Designing with Light and Shadow: Kaoru Mende Lighting Planners Associates Inc. Victoria: Images Group, 2000. Print. Plummer, Henry. The Architecture of Natural Light. New York: Monacelli, 2009. Print. Portela, Cesar. Light and Architecture. N.p., n.d. Web. . VergeÃÅ' s, Mireia. Light in Architecture. Antwerp: Tectum, 2007. Print.

The Fall Of Rome Essay Paper Example For Students

The Fall Of Rome Essay Paper The Fall of RomeThe Roman Empire was without a doubt themost powerful governing body in the Mediterranean ever. Why did Rome fall?There was not any single cause to the fall of Rome. It was many thingsoccurring in succession to each other. After the Punic wars with Carthage, Romeacquired many new lands that it did not have before. During peace timesit was easy to govern these areas but during war times it proved difficult. The government had to pay soldiers to patrol the frontiers of the empire;it could no longer rely on the loot to serve as the pay for the soldiers. This took a significant amount of money out of the Roman treasury. Someemperors wanted to save money and made the army too small to have controlover such a large empire. The economy of Rome was also suffering. Rome was importing goods from its colonies but wasnt exporting nearlyas much. This created an imbalance of trade. The colonies were creatingtheir own finished goods and no longer relied on Rome for them. New coinswere then made out of lead and gold to devalue the currency. Merchantsnow charged more money because these new coins were not worth as much asthe old ones. This created inflation, this problem plagued the empire untilits fall. The problem of succession also contributedto the fall of Rome. There was never a set system of succession. Afterthe death of an emperor, generals competed with each other for power. Oncesomeone gained power they didnt rule for long; someone often assassinatedthem. This weakened the authority of Rome; corruption was common and lawwas almost non-existent. Diocletian tried to make reforms to makethe empire as strong as it was before. He realized that the empire wastoo large for one person to govern, he split the empire in half and tookcontrol of eastern part himself. He then appointed a co-emperor to rulein the west. He also reorganized the problems in the civil service andmade them responsible directly to the emperor. He increased the size ofthe army and trained them better. To improve the economic health of theempire, Diocletian set limits on prices and wages to slow down inflation. To give some stability in agriculture and manufacturing, he ordered peopleto stay in their jobs. There was no room for promotion. Diocletian diedin 305 A.D. In 324 A.D. Constantine took over as emperor. He reunited the east and west under his own rule. He also built a new capitalat Byzantium, on the Bosporus. He named this city Constantinople. Constantinewanted a new capital that would be a Christian city, not a pagan one. Hecontinued the policies of Diocletian. People saw no need to work hard withno chance of getting ahead. These reforms only slowed down the processof collapse. After Constantines death in 337 A.D., the empire was againdivided. To the north of the Rhine and Danube rivers,lived a group of people known as the German tribes. They were herders andfarmers who had migrated from Scandinavia. As their population grew, theybegan to look for new land. They decided that moving into the Roman Empirewas a good idea. The Roman army was spread thin and could barely cope withthe Germans. In the fourth century, the Huns, a nomadic people from centralAsia, began attacking the German tribes. Thus the tribes looked for protectionfrom the Huns in the Empire. They received permission from the Emperorto live in the Empire. A couple of years later the Romans sent an armyto defeat the Germans and failed to defeat them. This proved that Romewas not invincible. The Germans continued to sack the west; they invadedItaly and sacked Rome. Rome bought peace by giving the Germans most ofGaul and Spain. The Huns then marched into Rome and they were soundly defeatedby Rome and its German allies. The west of the Empire became a mess withno on e in any real control. .u0a157f264442760acd7b09c207c45f63 , .u0a157f264442760acd7b09c207c45f63 .postImageUrl , .u0a157f264442760acd7b09c207c45f63 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u0a157f264442760acd7b09c207c45f63 , .u0a157f264442760acd7b09c207c45f63:hover , .u0a157f264442760acd7b09c207c45f63:visited , .u0a157f264442760acd7b09c207c45f63:active { border:0!important; } .u0a157f264442760acd7b09c207c45f63 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u0a157f264442760acd7b09c207c45f63 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u0a157f264442760acd7b09c207c45f63:active , .u0a157f264442760acd7b09c207c45f63:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u0a157f264442760acd7b09c207c45f63 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u0a157f264442760acd7b09c207c45f63 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u0a157f264442760acd7b09c207c45f63 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u0a157f264442760acd7b09c207c45f63 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u0a157f264442760acd7b09c207c45f63:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u0a157f264442760acd7b09c207c45f63 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u0a157f264442760acd7b09c207c45f63 .u0a157f264442760acd7b09c207c45f63-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u0a157f264442760acd7b09c207c45f63:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Homeless Voting EssayIn the east, Constantinople continuedto be the capitol city. Its rulers called themselves Roman emperors andits people were Roman citizens subject to Roman law. True, the westernportion of the Empire was crumbling, but all through the fifth and sixthcenturies the people of the east could say without a doubt that the RomanEmpire had not fallen. There was no certain official date whenRome was considered to fall. Many historians though, believe it was in476 A.D. A small German chief, Odoacer captured Rome and proclaimed himselfking. The city of Rome was finally overthrown. Despite this, the peoplewho lived throughout the Empire considered themselves Roman citizens andfollowed Roman laws. In the East Rome was still strong. Even today we haveadopted many of the Roman ways of life. Rome influenced every civilizationafter and in a sense we are all Roman citizens. The great Empire of Rome, the greatestpower to ever rule the Mediterranean had fallen. It was unthinkable. Theirfaults in politics, economics and other things contributed to their fall. There was no one single cause; it was many things happening at once, whichcaused the fall of Rome. The leaders of today should look at Romes mistakesand be sure not to make the same ones again.

One Art Essay Example

One Art Paper The art of losing isnt hard to master; so many things seem filled with the intent to be lost that their loss is no disaster, Lose something every day. Accept the fluster We will write a custom essay sample on One Art specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on One Art specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on One Art specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer of lost door keys, the hour badly spent. The art of losing isnt hard to master. Then practice losing farther, losing faster: places, and names, and where it was you meant to travel. None of these will bring disaster. I lost my mothers watch. And look! my last, or next-to-last, of three beloved houses went. The art of losing isnt hard to master. I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster, some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent. I miss them, but it wasnt a disaster. Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture I love) I shant have lied. Its evident the art of losings not too hard to master though it may look like (Write it!) a disaster. Why I chose it She explains a major problem well in this poem. We have so many losses in life and we have to learn how to forget some of them otherwise life will overwhelm us. Only if we do this, we will learn how to deal with the big losses in life and the pain that comes with them. Elizabeth Bishop is trying to teach this important lesson to the reader and she does this by creating a poem with an interesting structure. She increases the amount that is lost after each stanza so the reader can understand how forgetting small losses can help them get over bigger losses. She uses a rhyme scheme of ABA in each of her 3 line stanzas and each middle line of the stanzas rhyme with each other middle line of the other stanzas e.g went, continent, intent. With this, the poem flows nicely which helps the reader understand it. Also I was curious on the poem because of the title. After reading it I questioned how loss can be named an art. Bishop explains this clearly in her poem. Commentary Elizabeth Bishops poem, One Art, is a poem overflowing with irony which uses the structure and expressions to evoke the emotion of loss which Bishop is trying to convey to the reader. She seems to have lost many things in her life and has written this poem for the sole purpose to reassure the reader that if they find control within themselves, they are able to accept the many losses that are in their lives. Loss is something that cannot be mastered, emotion is always attached to loss. But Bishop is trying to tell the reader that with each loss, you endure it more and will ultimately learn to control the feeling, with less pain. The speaker in this poem seems to be Bishop dealing with her inner emotions of loss, trying to master loss so she does not have to deal with the painful emotions afterwards. This is ironic at the very concept of mastering loss, as loss is not a feeling that can be mastered. The structure of the poem is a villanelle as there are five stanzas of three lines followed by a stanza of four lines. Bishop seems to have utilised this structure to increase the readers attention and respect for loss as each stanza progresses. The tone of this poem is recognized by the reader from reading the first line. The poem deals with loss which is associated with death. A poem dealing with this theme will most certainly have a negative tone, and One Art is no exception. The tone changes with each stanza, gaining in sadness as the poem continues. This is because the value of what is lost increases within each stanza. This tone helps the reader emphasise on the value of loss. Bishop uses repetition often and refrains the line The art of losing isnt hard to master which is done to stress on the importance of the title. Also the readers sense of the subject is gained by each repetition as the theme of the poem is emphasised after each stanza. Each refrain builds up stronger amounts of loss. The second stanza is based on the loss of door keys or wasting time. The poet personifies these lost objects, saying that they seem filled with the intent to be lost. This is showing that these objects want to be lost and by giving inanimate objects feelings, it conveys that these objects are not of great importance. These are basically simple losses that one can learn to forget, but as the poem progresses, the amount that is lost builds up, including personal things with much more importance. This point can be proven in the third stanza, where she says Then practice losing farther, losing faster: This is the point in the poem, where she begins to name things that can be lost with much greater importance. Following the third stanza, the next one involves things of personal importance to a person. my mothers watchthree beloved houses. These things are more personal as a home is one which symbolises love and protection, which is a contrast to the insignificant loss of keys. In the fifth stanza, she describes the loss of things with huge importance, two rivers, a continent. Bishop continues the patter of possessions increasing in importance, by describing things which affect thousands of people. She seems to have reached things of the highest importance but finally in the last stanza, it all leads up to the most painful loss, the loss of a lover. After the fifth stanza, she uses a dash to start the last stanza. This is done to show that she is finished describing the loss of material objects, and is moving on to the loss of something with the most importance. Its evident the art of losings not too hard to master though it may look like (Write it!) a disaster. This entire stanza flows together due to the quicker pace and full use of enjambment throughout the entire stanza. The reader was use to the punctuation increasing and pace slowing down each stanza from the first to the fifth, so this increased the impact of pace on the last stanza, making it more powerful. Parenthesis was effectively used to show how hard and painful it was for the writer to write down her emotions into words, (Write it!). Bishop is trying to teach the reader to endure the many small losses, in order to feel less pain in the loss of something with much importance. By breaking away from describing the loss of an inanimate material objects towards a living person, she amplifies the feeling of loss which conveys the message of the poem clearly to the reader. With each stanza, we further understand the emotions which Bishop is trying to convey to us. She uses the title to imply how dealing with a loss is an art in its own accord. An art is something of beauty that requires massive amounts of effort to accomplish. The use of punctuation is another distinct feature of the structure of this poem, with each stanza, the amount of punctuation increases up until the fifth stanza. Bishop increases the value of what was being lost, along with this, the punctuation increases as well. This was done to slow down the pace of the poem so that the reader understands the importance of each possession. When describing each thing that was being lost in the fourth, two cities, lovely ones.two rivers, a continent. Along with the commas, caesura was used as well in the first line to slow down the pace. By forcing the reader to stop in the middle of the line, it takes them by surprise as it was sudden, not done in the poem before. This stanza contrasts with the quicker pace of the first stanza as there was only one semi-colon and comma used. This is clear evidence of the punctuation used by Bishop which greatly emphasises what Bishop was trying to achieve with this poem. This poem was written to show the readers the comparison of loss between different things. This poem may seem simple, but is very deep mainly through the way the poet utilised the structure and the richness in irony. This can be seen by how she refrains the use of loss isnt hard to master. This changes in the last line to loss isnt too hard to master This might show how it is getting harder for the poet to overcome the loss of a loved one. Bishop proves that the loss of trivial things and mastering this loss, will not be able to prepare you for the loss of something beloved by you, which further increases the ironic nature of the poem. In the end she could be all alone, hence the title One Art. She believed that if she could detach herself from pain and forget these feelings, she can begin a new life and grow, but realises that it is too hard for her.

Getting to Know Your Protagonist How to Create “Real” Characters - Freewrite Store

Getting to Know Your Protagonist How to Create â€Å"Real† Characters - Freewrite Store Have you ever read a book where the characters seem so real it’s like they could step off the page and sit down for a coffee with you? Those are the kinds of characters I love - the ones you almost miss when the novel comes to an end. Unfortunately, too many books I read contain characters that seem little more than cardboard cutouts. Being able to craft a protagonist in your story that is three-dimensional and totally â€Å"real† is a skill that a lot of novelists struggle with. If you find it difficult to create those kinds of characters, you’re certainly not alone - but it’s absolutely possible to learn this skill. And it’s not as hard as you might think it is! Keep reading if you want to discover powerful secrets for creating characters that jump right off the page. What Not  To Do You’ve probably come across those questionnaires that many ‘how-to-write’ websites love so much. You know the questions I mean - the ones that are supposed to help you get to know your characters by having you fill in every detail of your character’s life. Where they were born, their middle name, how their parents met, their job, their hobbies†¦ and so on. Here’s my first piece of advice. Don’t rely on those kinds of questionnaires to bring your characters to life. Sure, it can help to have those details to hand when you’re writing, but I’m afraid they’re not going to give you three-dimensional characters. It’s not facts that bring your characters to life. Getting Under Your Protagonist’s Skin Being able to describe what your character looks like is useful, but it’s not what makes him come alive in your reader’s mind. Instead, you need to focus on what makes your character tick. To get under your characters’ skin, you need to know the answers to these kinds of questions: What motivates him? What is she afraid of? Is she emotional, passionate and extroverted or placid, gentle and introverted? What secrets does he have that he’s afraid that others may reject him because of? What influences her decision-making? What’s his life-story? What makes her happy? What makes him angry? How does she present herself to others - and is that at odds at how she feels inside? What are the experiences that have shaped his opinions and reactions to different situations? The emotional details of your protagonist’s psyche are far more important than being able to describe the color of his hair or the layout of her home. When I write fiction, I’ve been known to spend more time getting to know my characters innermost secrets than I actually spend on writing the novel. Taking the time to really get under your characters’ skin can be frustrating when you just want to sit down and write, but trust me, the effort is absolutely worth it. When I look at some of the stories I wrote before I discovered the secrets of bringing my characters to life on the page, I’m embarrassed by how two-dimensional the characters seem. I didn’t spend enough time understanding what made my protagonists tick, and it shows. I’m going to take you through my own 3-step process for creating realistic characters so that you can easily follow a tried-and-tested technique that really works. 3 Powerful Steps Toward Understanding Your Protagonists When you start the process of bringing your characters to life, I suggest you open a new document for each protagonist. This is where you can keep and organize all the details you ‘discover’ and have a handy reference when you start to write your novel. This technique also works for short stories, but you won’t need quite so much detail! Step 1: Exploring the Psyche The psyche of your protagonist and other characters is where their motivations lie. There are different aspects to this - both conscious and subconscious. While it may seem a little weird at first to dig into the subconscious of a character that you’re creating, investing time in this exercise really pays off. To explore your protagonist’s psyche, you need to ask deep and searching questions and dig into as much detail as you can. If you find that you’re struggling with this exercise, you might want to try the ‘empty chair’ visualization. Put a chair opposite you and imagine that your character is sitting in it. Ask them the following questions, as you might do if it was a friend sitting in the chair. What is your primary goal and why is it so important to you? What is the deepest desire in your life? Do you worry that you’ll never reach the point where that deepest desire is realized? If so, why is that? What are you most afraid of? What are your core beliefs about yourself, other people, and the world around you? Do you believe in fairytales? What are your views about marriage, divorce, happiness, success, and failure? If you could sum up your fundamental beliefs in a single sentence, what would that sentence be? What three values describe you the most closely? What principles do you believe should always be adhered to? What drives you to get out of bed every morning? At the end of this exercise, you will have a pretty good insight into the conscious and subconscious things that make your character who they are. If there are other questions you want to ask, go ahead and ask them - this list isn’t an exhaustive one! Step 2: Examining their Behavior Knowing how your character will react in different situations can help you to craft scenes that really bring your protagonist to life. We’ll be looking at why they behave the way they do in step 3, so in this step, you need to focus solely on your character’s behavior and actions. Instead of asking your character questions, this step requires you to really exercise your imagination. By the time you’ve finished with this step, you’ll be confident in knowing how your character will react in a whole range of situations, and it’s this kind of detailed knowledge that allows you to bring your protagonist to life on the page. You’re going to be putting your protagonist (and other key characters) into a range of hypothetical situations, so this step can take a while! You don’t have to go through all the scenarios at once, though - it’s something you can come back to later if you’re short on time. Scenario 1 Your protagonist leaves the office and rides the elevator to the underground garage to get their car to head home. As they’re pulling out of the garage, a black sedan comes hurtling towards them and rear-ends their vehicle. What does your protagonist do? Scenario 2 The phone rings in the middle of the night. Your protagonist sees that it’s an ‘unknown number’ and ignores the call. In the morning, they check voicemail and learn that a friend or family member has been involved in an accident. By the time they get to the hospital, the person has passed away. How do they react? Scenario 3 Your protagonist heads out on a hike one Saturday morning after a busy week at work. After a couple of hours, they come across an abandoned campsite. There’s a still-smoldering campfire that suggests that it’s not long since someone left in a hurry. Suddenly, your protagonist hears the sound of someone sobbing. What do they do? Scenario 4 Your character spends several hours at a family picnic attended by extended family and friends. They have a secret that they thought no one is aware of, but then their cousin makes a comment that suggests the secret is out of the bag. What does your protagonist do? Scenario 5 It’s vacation time, and your protagonist is vacationing in Jamaica. While they’re lazing by the pool, a stranger asks a too-intimate question. How does your protagonist respond? Scenario 6 New neighbors have moved in, and the whole neighborhood is talking about them because they’re not the kind of people who normally live in this part of town (for whatever reason, it’s up to you!). Your protagonist is mowing the front lawn when the new neighbors come out of the house. How does your character respond to them? Scenario 7 Your protagonist discovers that they have a stalker. What aspects of their personality emerge in response to the chilling situation? Scenario 8 At work, your protagonist’s line manager is deported because she’s breached the terms of her visa. Suddenly, your character has to step into a leadership role that they’ve never been trained for. How do they respond, and what kind of leader do they make? Scenario 9 Your protagonist is talking to a friend when they suddenly realize that they’ve caught their friend in a lie. How do they react? (You can flip this one and imagine how your character would behave if a friend discovered that your character has been lying to them). Scenario 10 There’s a freak storm that knocks out the power and phone lines and leaves your character stuck in the office, unable to get home because of flash flooding. Their twelve-year-old child is home alone. How does your character respond to the crisis? If you want to try more scenarios to delve even deeper into your character’s behavior, feel free to create your own! Step 3: Understanding their Influences Now that you understand your character’s psyche a little more, and you’ve delved into the way that they behave, it’s time to start exploring the things that have shaped them as a person. To a certain extent, this is similar to knowing your character’s backstory, but in this exercise, you’ll be delving a bit deeper and exploring facts that might never be revealed in your novel. Backstory is usually used as part of the novel in some form or another, but many of the details that you’ll be uncovering in this exercise are about helping you to understand your characters, rather than providing the context in a story. You can use the empty chair technique again to ask your character about the things that have made them who they are. What is your earliest memory? How have your early experiences impacted on your personality? For example, have they made you: Reserved/shy? Fearful? Timid? Aggressive? Confrontational? Anxious? Determined? Confident? Tell me about your childhood. What kind of relationship do you have with your parents and other close family members? How old were you when you had your first kiss? What were your experiences at school like? Were you encouraged to express yourself as a child? Can you tell me about the 7 most challenging and/or life-changing events you’ve experienced in your life? How have these events shaped you? Do you find it easy to trust other people? Why/why not? Who was your first crush, and why were you attracted to them? When you are faced with a threatening situation, is your immediate response one of fight, flight or freeze? Again, this isn’t an exhaustive list of questions, so feel free to add others that you think will deepen your understanding of your character(s). Real Characters Require Real Effort It would be great if there was a quick and easy way to create characters that just leap off the page, but unfortunately, there isn’t. Cutting corners when you’re creating characters leads to two-dimensional characters that your readers will quickly lose interest in and forget about once the novel is over. If you want characters that are going to stay in your readers’ minds and give you a solid fanbase for future books featuring the same characters, then you’re going to have to put the time in. Trust me, you won’t regret it. What’s more, if you’re planning a series then you only have to get to know your protagonist once, so future novels will be ‘easier’ to write.    About the author: Ariella is an experienced copywriter, editor, and digital marketing consultant. Driven by a passion for writing and content creation she takes pride in producing articles that deliver the latest information in an engaging manner and marketing campaigns that deliver exceptional results. Ariella has a BA (Hons) in English Language and Creative Writing (First), an MA in Theology and Ministry, and is a published author of three novels and a bestselling non-fiction book. A creative at heart, Ariella has 14 years’ industry experience and always aims to keep abreast of current trends and developments. She lives in the UK with her three beagles Zeke, Hope, and Sandy, who always make life interesting.

Struggle of the Spanish Armada Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Struggle of the Spanish Armada - Assignment Example We have no choice but to turn to back Spain; we have no fresh water, we’re out of food, and our ammunition is limited. Some of my comrades have resorted to eating rope! The English fleet has routed us and we are forced to fight our way around Scotland. From there we will return to Spain, hopefully alive. I have been counting the days and nights but I have lost track of time. The English have stopped their attacks for some reason but now we have a new foe. The treacherous waters rock our armada to its will and the harsh rains beat into ships like stones. The moral of my comrades is beckoned into the depths of the ocean by this raging storm. I pray to our Lord that we will make our way safely back into our homeland. The storm has ceased its attack upon our Armada. I could have sworn that we had about twice as many ships at the launch of the invasion. Our captain and our crew are growing weary from fatigue and empty bellies. Many of the ships of the Armada, including our own, are splitting up and sailing into Ireland. I’m sure our Catholic brethren will be most hospitable. There we can fill our bellies and rest before returning to Spain. As we pulled up into the harbor, we were not met with friendly eyes. Our ships were being sunk and men were washing up ashore, dead and alive. I watched in horror as our own ship was struck by the enemy.  

Oral Colonization of Mutans Streptococci in Young Children Research Paper

Oral Colonization of Mutans Streptococci in Young Children - Research Paper Example The bacterial properties (virulence factors) of these organisms favorable for colonization Can acquiring MS at early age influence incidences of dental caries in later years MS transmission routes. Whether nonmutans in oral flora affect colonization and or action of Mutans. Research question: what are the host and microbe factors influencing oral colonization by MS in young children. Materials and Methods: In the course of research paper preparation the microbiological as well as molecular biological approaches taken by the researchers would be presented. These are used to differentiate between mutans and nonmutans from oral cavity, production of mutacin and glucan, identification of different MS genotypes etc. The methods of longitudinal surveys used in various studies are also part of the intended research. Results and discussion: The results obtained in the chosen host and bacterial factors responsible for MS colonization would be presented. For the convenience of explanation of results the results and discussion are combined in this paper. The manuscript would contain at least a total of 7-8 tables and figures. These are integrated in the text and attached as per the instructions. The title page with author's (of this paper) name and affiliation, abstract, acknowledgement and a bibliography of all sources of literature also to be included in the paper. FULL PAPER Author (s): Affiliation(s): Oral colonization of mutans streptococci (MS) in young children ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate influence of host and bacterial factors on oral colonization by MS in young children. It was observed during the course of investigation that children acquired MS by horizontal as well as vertical transmission. More... As the report stresses  various surveys, in many countries, have indicated presence of a type of dental caries, early childhood caries. These decays of primary teeth lead to dental abscesses and toothache which often requires anesthesia for treatment. Colonization by mutans streptococci (MS), particularly S. mutans and S. sobrinus, is the major cause of ECC in young children. There are disputes regarding time of entry of oral MS in young children and whether these are part of normal oral microflora or not. Since colonization by MS could be targeted to relieve young children from experiences of ECC, the paper would critically discuss host and microbial factors important for transmission and colonization of these bacteria.  From this paper it is clear that  mutans was also detected in predentate children, despite a low caries rate. Together, these reports suggest that children may be colonized by S. mutans before the "window of infectivity" opens. A predentate infant is not likel y to have MS in salivary flow since swallowing occurs fast while bacterial divisions are only 2-4 times. MS could instead persist by forming adherent colonies on mucosal surfaces.   Tanner and coworkers have demonstrated that the fur ­rows of the tongue appear to be an important ecological niche for oral MS.   It is contrary to the prior observations that MS colonization occurs only at the time of primary teeth eruption.   

Impact of Financial Markets on Economy, Businesses, and Individuals Assignment - 1

Impact of Financial Markets on Economy, Businesses, and Individuals - Assignment Example Retirees depend highly on the returns of their pension funds. Thus, a fall in stock prices may lead to a loss to a portion of the syndicated investment of the funding in the stock market, reducing the overall return and giving them less purchasing power The federal reserve of the United States is the central bank of the country which facilitates the banking system of the country. It provides services for account maintenance, payment and collection services, circulation currency and transferring funds. For the government it acts as a fiscal agent by honouring treasury check, electronically processing transactions and handling the issuance, transfer and redeem of government securities The board of governors is appointed by the president to serve 14 years of office. Their primary responsibility includes the formulation of the monetary policy, approving the currency circulation limitations and setting cash reserve requirements for the commercial banks (FederalReserve.gov, 2014). The board focuses on developing swift payments system in the country and implementing laws that are related to consumer credit. It sets marginal limits to the use of credit or security purchase and reserves regulatory and supervisory rights over the banking system. The chairman of the Federal Reserve is appointed by this board of governors as well. The chairman of the Federal Reserve is one of the active board members and assumes the role of the head of the central bank. Under his leadership, the board of governors of the Federal Reserve carries out their responsibilities of analyzing, interpreting and regulating the financial system of the country. The chairman is required to report to the congress bi-annually to relate the activities and decisions of the central bank. He maintains contacts with the president’s financial advisory council and other economic officials. The chairman also maintains membership of leading financial institutions internationally like the IMF, BIF etc.