Shadow Kiss Chapter 1 Free Essays

string(48) " wake me up and shake away what I’d seen\." One HIS FINGERTIPS SLID ALONG my back, applying hardly any pressure, yet sending shock waves over my flesh. Slowly, slowly, his hands moved across my skin, down the sides of my stomach to finally rest in the curves of my hips. Just below my ear, I felt his lips press against my neck, followed by another kiss just below it, then another, then another. We will write a custom essay sample on Shadow Kiss Chapter 1 or any similar topic only for you Order Now †¦ His lips moved from my neck toward my cheek and then finally found my mouth. We kissed, wrapping ourselves closer together. My blood burned within me, and I felt more alive in that moment than I ever had. I loved him, loved Christian so much that – Christian? Oh no. Some coherent part of me immediately realized what was happening – and boy, was it pissed off. The rest of me, however, was still actually living in this encounter, experiencing it as though I was the one being touched and kissed. That part of me couldn’t break away. I’d merged too much with Lissa, and for all intents and purposes, this was happening to me. No, I told myself sternly. It’s not real – not for you. Get out of there. But how could I listen to logic when every nerve of my body was being set on fire? You aren’t her. This isn’t your head. Get out. His lips. There was nothing in the world right now except his lips. It’s not him. Get out. The kisses were the same, exactly as I remembered with him. †¦ No, it’s not Dimitri. Get out! Dimitri’s name was like cold water hitting me in the face. I got out. I sat upright in my bed, suddenly feeling smothered. I tried kicking off the covers but mostly ended up entangling my legs even more. My heart beat hard in my chest, and I tried to take deep breaths to steady myself and return to my own reality. Times sure had changed. A long time ago, Lissa’s nightmares used to wake me from sleep. Now her sex life did. To say the two were a little different would be an understatement. I’d actually gotten the hang of blocking out her romantic interludes – at least when I was awake. This time, Lissa and Christian had (unintentionally) outsmarted me. In sleep, my defenses were down, allowing strong emotions to pass through the psychic link that connected me to my best friend. This wouldn’t have been a problem if the two of them had been in bed like normal people – and by â€Å"being in bed,† I mean â€Å"asleep.† â€Å"God,† I muttered, sitting up and swinging my legs over the side of the bed. My voice was muffled in a yawn. Couldn’t Lissa and Christian have seriously kept their hands off each other until waking hours? Worse than being woken up, though, was the way I still felt. Sure, none of that making out had actually happened to me. It hadn’t been my skin being touched or my lips being kissed. Yet my body seemed to feel the loss of it nonetheless. It had been a very long time since I’d been in that kind of situation. I ached and felt warm all over. It was idiotic, but suddenly, desperately, I wanted someone to touch me – even just to hold me. But definitely not Christian. The memory of those lips on mine flashed back through my mind, how they’d felt, and how my sleepy self had been so certain it was Dimitri kissing me. I stood up on shaky legs, feeling restless and †¦ well, sad. Sad and empty. Needing to walk off my weird mood, I put on a robe and slippers and left my room for the bathroom down the hall. I splashed cool water on my face and stared in the mirror. The reflection looking back at me had tangled hair and bloodshot eyes. I looked sleep-deprived, but I didn’t want to go back to bed. I didn’t want to risk falling asleep quite yet. I needed something to wake me up and shake away what I’d seen. You read "Shadow Kiss Chapter 1" in category "Essay examples" I left the bathroom and turned toward the stairwell, my feet light on the steps as I went downstairs. The first floor of my dorm was still and quiet. It was almost noon – the middle of the night for vampires, since they ran on a nocturnal schedule. Lurking near the edge of a doorway, I scanned the lobby. It was empty, save for the yawning Moroi man sitting at the front desk. He leafed halfheartedly through a magazine, held to consciousness only by the finest of threads. He came to the magazine’s end and yawned again. Turning in his revolving chair, he tossed the magazine on a table behind him and reached for what must have been something else to read. While his back was turned, I darted past him toward the set of double doors that opened outside. Praying the doors wouldn’t squeak, I carefully opened one a crack, just enough to slip through. Once outside, I eased the door shut as gently as possible. No noise. At most, the guy would feel a draft. Feeling like a ninja, I stepped out into the light of day. Cold wind blasted me in the face, but it was exactly what I needed. Leafless tree branches swayed in that wind, clawing at the sides of the stone dorm like fingernails. The sun peeped at me from between lead-colored clouds, further reminding me that I should be in bed and asleep. Squinting at the light, I tugged my robe tighter and walked around the side of the building, toward a spot between it and the gym that wasn’t quite so exposed to the elements. The slush on the sidewalk soaked into the cloth of my slippers, but I didn’t care. Yeah, it was a typically miserable winter day in Montana, but that was the point. The crisp air did a lot to wake me up and chase off the remnants of the virtual love scene. Plus, it kept me firmly in my own head. Focusing on the cold in my body was better than remembering what it had felt like to have Christian’s hands on me. Standing there, staring off at a cluster of trees without really seeing them, I was surprised to feel a spark of anger at Lissa and Christian. It must be nice, I thought bitterly, to do whatever the hell you wanted. Lissa had often commented that she wished she could feel my mind and experiences the way I could feel hers. The truth was, she had no idea how lucky she was. She had no idea what it was like to have someone else’s thoughts intruding on yours, someone else’s experiences muddling yours. She didn’t know what it was like to live with someone else’s perfect love life when your own was nonexistent. She didn’t unde rstand what it was like to be filled with a love so strong that it made your chest ache – a love you could only feel and not express. Keeping love buried was a lot like keeping anger pent up, I’d learned. It just ate you up inside until you wanted to scream or kick something. No, Lissa didn’t understand any of that. She didn’t have to. She could carry on with her own romantic affairs, with no regard for what she was doing to me. I noticed then that I was breathing heavily again, this time with rage. The icky feeling I’d felt over Lissa and Christian’s late-night hookup was gone. It had been replaced by anger and jealousy, feelings born of what I couldn’t have and what came so easily to her. I tried my best to swallow those emotions back; I didn’t want to feel that way toward my best friend. â€Å"Are you sleepwalking?† a voice asked behind me. I spun around, startled. Dimitri stood there watching me, looking both amused and curious. It would figure that while I was raging over the problems in my unfair love life, the source of those problems would be the one to find me. I hadn’t heard him approach at all. So much for my ninja skills. And honestly, would it have killed me to pick up a brush before I went outside? Hastily, I ran a hand through my long hair, knowing it was a little too late. It probably looked like an animal had died on top of my head. â€Å"I was testing dorm security,† I said. â€Å"It sucks.† A hint of a smile played over his lips. The cold was really starting to seep into me now, and I couldn’t help but notice how warm his long leather coat looked. I wouldn’t have minded wrapping up in it. As though reading my mind, he said, â€Å"You must be freezing. Do you want my coat?† I shook my head, deciding not to mention that I couldn’t feel my feet. â€Å"I’m fine. What are you doing out here? Are you testing security too?† â€Å"I am security. This is my watch.† Shifts of school guardians always patrolled the grounds while everyone else slept. Strigoi, the undead vampires who stalked living Moroi vampires like Lissa, didn’t come out in sunlight, but students breaking rules – say, like, sneaking out of their dorms – were a problem night and day. â€Å"Well, good work,† I said. â€Å"I’m glad I was able to help test your awesome skills. I should be going now.† â€Å"Rose – † Dimitri’s hand caught my arm, and despite all the wind and chill and slush, a flash of heat shot through me. He released me with a start, as though he too had been burned. â€Å"What are you really doing out here?† He was using the stop fooling around voice, so I gave him as truthful an answer as I could. â€Å"I had a bad dream. I wanted some air.† â€Å"And so you just rushed out. Breaking the rules didn’t even cross your mind – and neither did putting on a coat.† â€Å"Yeah,† I said. â€Å"That pretty much sums it up.† â€Å"Rose, Rose.† This time it was his exasperated voice. â€Å"You never change. Always jumping in without thinking.† â€Å"That’s not true,† I protested. â€Å"I’ve changed a lot.† The amusement on his face suddenly faded, his expression growing troubled. He studied me for several moments. Sometimes I felt as though those eyes could see right into my soul. â€Å"You’re right. You have changed.† He didn’t seem very happy about the admission. He was probably thinking about what had happened almost three weeks ago, when some friends and I had gotten ourselves captured by Strigoi. It was only through sheer luck that we’d managed to escape – and not all of us had gotten out. Mason, a good friend and a guy who’d been crazy about me, had been killed, and part of me would never forgive myself for it, even though I’d killed his murderers. It had given me a darker outlook on life. Well, it had given everyone here at St. Vladimir’s Academy a darker outlook, but me especially. Others had begun to notice the difference in me. I didn’t like to see Dimitri concerned, though, so I played off his observation with a joke. â€Å"Well, don’t worry. My birthday’s coming up. As soon as I’m eighteen, I’ll be an adult, right? I’m sure I’ll wake up that morning and be all mature and stuff.† As I’d hoped, his frown softened into a small smile. â€Å"Yes, I’m sure. What is it, about a month?† â€Å"Thirty-one days,† I announced primly. â€Å"Not that you’re counting.† I shrugged, and he laughed. â€Å"I suppose you’ve made a birthday list too. Ten pages? Single-spaced? Ranked by order of priority?† The smile was still on his face. It was one of the relaxed, genuinely amused ones that were so rare to him. I started to make another joke, but the image of Lissa and Christian flared into my mind again. That sad and empty feeling in my stomach returned. Anything I might have wanted – new clothes, an iPod, whatever – suddenly seemed trivial. What did material things like that mean compared to the one thing I wanted most of all? God, I really had changed. â€Å"No,† I said in a small voice. â€Å"No list.† He tilted his head to better look at me, making some of his shoulder-length hair blow into his face. His hair was brown, like mine, but not nearly as dark. Mine looked black at times. He brushed the unruly strands aside, only to have them immediately blow back into his face. â€Å"I can’t believe you don’t want anything. It’s going to be a boring birthday.† Freedom, I thought. That was the only gift I longed for. Freedom to make my own choices. Freedom to love who I wanted. â€Å"It doesn’t matter,† I said instead. â€Å"What do you – † He stopped. He understood. He always did. It was part of why we connected like we did, in spite of the seven-year gap in our ages. We’d fallen for each other last fall when he’d been my combat instructor. As things heated up between us, we’d found we had more things to worry about than just age. We were both going to be protecting Lissa when she graduated, and we couldn’t let our feelings for each other distract us when she was our priority. Of course, that was easier said than done because I didn’t think our feelings for each other were ever really going to go away. We’d both had moments of weakness, moments that led to stolen kisses or saying things we really shouldn’t have. After I’d escaped the Strigoi, Dimitri had told me he loved me and had pretty much admitted he could never be with anyone else because of that. Yet, it had also become clear that we still couldn’t be together either, and we had both slipped back into our old roles of keeping away from each other and pretending that our relationship was strictly professional. In a not-so-obvious attempt to change the subject, he said, â€Å"You can deny it all you want, but I know you’re freezing. Let’s go inside. I’ll take you in through the back.† I couldn’t help feeling a little surprised. Dimitri was rarely one to avoid uncomfortable subjects. In fact, he was notorious for pushing me into conversations about topics I didn’t want to deal with. But talking about our dysfunctional, star-crossed relationship? That was a place he apparently didn’t want to go today. Yeah. Things were definitely changing. â€Å"I think you’re the one who’s cold,† I teased, as we walked around the side of the dorm where novice guardians lived. â€Å"Shouldn’t you be all tough and stuff, since you’re from Siberia?† â€Å"I don’t think Siberia’s exactly what you imagine.† â€Å"I imagine it as an arctic wasteland,† I said truthfully. â€Å"Then it’s definitely not what you imagine.† â€Å"Do you miss it?† I asked, glancing back to where he walked behind me. It was something I’d never considered before. In my mind, everyone would want to live in the U.S. Or, well, they at least wouldn’t want to live in Siberia. â€Å"All the time,† he said, his voice a little wistful. â€Å"Sometimes I wish – â€Å" â€Å"Belikov!† A voice was carried on the wind from behind us. Dimitri muttered something, and then shoved me further around the corner I’d just rounded. â€Å"Stay out of sight.† I ducked down behind a bank of holly trees that flanked the building. They didn’t have any berries, but the thick clusters of sharp, pointed leaves scratched where my skin was exposed. Considering the freezing temperature and possible discovery of my late-night walk, a few scratches were the least of my problems right now. â€Å"You’re not on watch,† I heard Dimitri say several moments later. â€Å"No, but I needed to talk to you.† I recognized the voice. It belonged to Alberta, captain of the Academy’s guardians. â€Å"It’ll just take a minute. We need to shuffle some of the watches while you’re at the trial.† â€Å"I figured,† he said. There was a funny, almost uncomfortable note in his voice. â€Å"It’s going to put a strain on everyone else – bad timing.† â€Å"Yes, well, the queen runs on her own schedule.† Alberta sounded frustrated, and I tried to figure out what was going on. â€Å"Celeste will take your watches, and she and Emil will divide up your training times.† Training times? Dimitri wouldn’t be conducting any trainings next week because – Ah. That was it, I realized. The field experience. Tomorrow kicked off six weeks of hands-on practice for us novices. We’d have no classes and would get to protect Moroi night and day while the adults tested us. The â€Å"training times† must be when Dimitri would be out participating in that. But what was this trial she’d mentioned? Did they mean like the final trials we had to undergo at the end of the school year? â€Å"They say they don’t mind the extra work,† continued Alberta, â€Å"but I was wondering if you could even things out and take some of their shifts before you leave?† â€Å"Absolutely,† he said, words still short and stiff. â€Å"Thanks. I think that’ll help.† She sighed. â€Å"I wish I knew how long this trial was going to be. I don’t want to be away that long. You’d think it’d be a done deal with Dashkov, but now I hear the queen’s getting cold feet about imprisoning a major royal.† I stiffened. The chill running through me now had nothing to do with the winter day. Dashkov? â€Å"I’m sure they’ll do the right thing,† said Dimitri. I realized at that moment why he wasn’t saying much. This wasn’t something I was supposed to hear. â€Å"I hope so. And I hope it’ll only take a few days, like they claim. Look, it’s miserable out here. Would you mind coming into the office for a second to look at the schedule?† â€Å"Sure,† he said. â€Å"Let me check on something first.† â€Å"All right. See you soon.† Silence fell, and I had to assume Alberta was walking away. Sure enough, Dimitri rounded the corner and stood in front of the holly. I shot up from my hiding spot. The look on his face told me he already knew what was coming. â€Å"Rose – â€Å" â€Å"Dashkov?† I exclaimed, trying to keep my voice low so Alberta wouldn’t hear. â€Å"As in Victor Dashkov?† He didn’t bother denying it. â€Å"Yes. Victor Dashkov.† â€Å"And you guys were talking about†¦Do you mean†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I was so startled, so dumbstruck, that I could barely get my thoughts together. This was unbelievable. â€Å"I thought he was locked up! Are you saying he hasn’t been on trial yet?† Yes. This was definitely unbelievable. Victor Dashkov. The guy who’d stalked Lissa and tortured her mind and body in order to control her powers. Every Moroi could use magic in one of the four elements: earth, air, water, or fire. Lissa, however, worked an almost unheard of fifth element called spirit. She could heal anything – including the dead. It was the reason I was now psychically linked to her – â€Å"shadow-kissed,† some called it. She’d brought me back from the car accident that had killed her parents and brother, binding us together in a way that allowed me to feel her thoughts and experiences. Victor had learned long before any of us that she could heal, and he’d wanted to lock her away and use her as his own personal Fountain of Youth. He also hadn’t hesitated to kill anyone who got in his way – or, in the case of Dimitri and me, use more creative ways to stop his opponents. I’d made a lot of enemies in seventeen years, but I was pretty sure there was no one I hated as much as Victor Dashkov – at least among the living. Dimitri had a look on his face I knew well. It was the one he got when he thought I might punch someone. â€Å"He’s been locked up – but no, no trial yet. Legal proceedings sometimes take a long time.† â€Å"But there’s going to be a trial now? And you’re going?† I spoke through clenched teeth, trying to be calm. I suspected I still had the I’m going to punch someone look on my face. â€Å"Next week. They need me and some of the other guardians to testify about what happened to you and Lissa that night.† His expression changed at the mention of what had occurred four months ago, and again, I recognized the look. It was the fierce, protective one he got when those he cared about were in danger. â€Å"Call me crazy for asking this, but, um, are Lissa and I going with you?† I had already guessed the answer, and I didn’t like it. â€Å"No.† â€Å"No?† â€Å"No.† I put my hands on my hips. â€Å"Look, doesn’t it seem reasonable that if you’re going to talk about what happened to us, then you should have us there?† Dimitri, fully in strict-instructor mode now, shook his head. â€Å"The queen and some of the other guardians thought it’d be best if you didn’t go. There’s enough evidence between the rest of us, and besides, criminal or not, he is – or was – one of the most powerful royals in the world. Those who know about this trial want to keep it quiet.† â€Å"So, what, you thought if you brought us, we’d tell everyone?† I exclaimed. â€Å"Come on, comrade. You really think we’d do that? The only thing we want is to see Victor locked up. Forever. Maybe longer. And if there’s a chance he might walk free, you have to let us go.† After Victor had been caught, he’d been taken to prison, and I’d thought that was where the story had ended. I’d figured they’d locked him up to rot. It had never occurred to me – though it should have – that he’d need a trial first. At the time, his crimes had seemed so obvious. But, although the Moroi government was secret and separate from the human one, it operated in a lot of the same ways. Due process and all that. â€Å"It’s not my decision to make,† Dimitri said. â€Å"But you have influence. You could speak up for us, especially if†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Some of my anger dimmed just a little, replaced by a sudden and startling fear. I almost couldn’t say the next words. â€Å"Especially if there really is a chance he might get off. Is there? Is there really a chance the queen could let him go?† â€Å"I don’t know. There’s no telling what she or some of the other high-up royals will do sometimes.† He suddenly looked tired. He reached into his pocket and tossed over a set of keys. â€Å"Look, I know you’re upset, but we can’t talk about it now. I have to go meet Alberta, and you need to get inside. The square key will let you in the far side door. You know the one.† I did. â€Å"Yeah. Thanks.† I was sulking and hated to be that way – especially since he was saving me from getting in trouble – but I couldn’t help it. Victor Dashkov was a criminal – a villain, even. He was power-hungry and greedy and didn’t care who he stepped on to get his way. If he were loose again†¦well, there was no telling what might happen to Lissa or any other Moroi. It enraged me to think that I could do something to help put him away but that no one would let me do it. I’d taken a few steps forward when Dimitri called out from behind me. â€Å"Rose?† I glanced back. â€Å"I’m sorry,† he said. He paused, and his expression of regret turned wary. â€Å"And you’d better bring the keys back tomorrow.† I turned away and kept going. It was probably unfair, but some childish part of me believed Dimitri could do anything. If he’d really wanted to get Lissa and me to the trial, I was certain he could have. When I was almost to the side door, I caught movement in my peripheral vision. My mood plummeted. Great. Dimitri had given me keys to sneak back in, and now someone else had busted me. That was typical of my luck. Half-expecting a teacher to demand to know what I was doing, I turned and prepared an excuse. But it wasn’t a teacher. â€Å"No,† I said softly. This had to be a trick. â€Å"No.† For half an instant, I wondered if I’d ever really woken up. Maybe I was actually still in bed, asleep and dreaming. Because surely, surely that was the only explanation for what I was now seeing in front of me on the Academy’s lawn, lurking in the shadow of an ancient, gnarled oak. It was Mason. How to cite Shadow Kiss Chapter 1, Essay examples

Film Analysis Crash Essay Example For Students

Film Analysis Crash Essay 1. The major themes of this movie were the range of prejudices such as race, class, and others that we encounter in real life even if we do not realize it. These themes relate to perception and identity because through all the scenarios in this movie, it shows the collision of different races and classes that help change their perception and their identity. Even though, a person finds himself or herself as not stereotypical or a racist, in the end it’s impossible for them not to be because it’s in our nature. For example, when Officer Hansen (Matt Dillon’s partner) wanted to get a new partner because his partner was racist and not his prototype of a police officer but towards the end, he showed his racist attitude with Ludacris’ friend when he assumed that he was going to take a gun out of his pocket. He profiled Ludacris’ friend because he defied all of his stereotypes for blacks, which was not listening to Country music or liking ice hockey. Therefore, he judged him and assumed that he had a gun. Therefore, it just shows that even though we try to not be racist or follow stereotypes, we still catch ourselves doing it. . I think that identity and perception are related because everyday we are consistently changing our identity physically, emotionally, and mentally. We experience different situations throughout the day that help shape our identity and change how we think or perceive things. Everyday is a learning experience, which therefore we are not the same person as we are the day before. The major characters that changed their perception and identity were Sandra Bullock, Ludacris, and Matt Dillon. -Sandra Bullock: In the movie, Sandra Bullock was the most racist character. She stereotyped many of the characters that were minorities such as Ludacris, her housemaid and the Mexican locksmith. When she encountered Ludacris, she walked closer to her husband thinking that Ludacris was going to snatch her bag or attack her. Although, ironically Ludacris did steal their car, she still assumed that he was a criminal due to his skin color even if they were in an affluent area of LA. With her housemaid, she was always trying to find something wrong with her chores such as the dish wares that weren’t placed in the cabinet. With the Mexican locksmith, she assumed that he was a criminal because he looked like he came right out of prison with his bald head, saggy jeans, and a tattoo on the back of his neck. Therefore, she told her husband that she wanted the locks changed once again because she didn’t trust the locksmith guy and thought he was going to give the spare keys to his gang members. But towards the end of the movie when she fell off the stairs, she called all her friends to take care of her or to at least visit her to check if she was okay but none of them did because they were too â€Å"busy. Whereas, her housemaid was there by her side attending to her needs. Therefore, she realized that her prototype as a real friends wasn’t actually accurate because the only friend that has been by her side the whole time was her housemaid who she mistreated multiple times. Ludacris In the movie, Ludacris and his friend were always roaming around affluent areas of LA to steal cars in order to earn a living. He represented the identity script that blacks were suppose to act as criminals. When he was about to steal the car from Terrence Howard, he was surprised to see a black man behind the wheels because usually it would be a white person. His expectancy was violated. Then, his perception of himself changed when Terrence Howard said â€Å"You embarrass me and you embarrass yourself. † That saying was a direct definition because it labeled his behavior. Because Terrence was a black guy who became successful, he served as a role model for Ludacris to break the stereotype that blacks were criminals. .u6f1f27665baa1e848cae708a49a565c9 , .u6f1f27665baa1e848cae708a49a565c9 .postImageUrl , .u6f1f27665baa1e848cae708a49a565c9 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u6f1f27665baa1e848cae708a49a565c9 , .u6f1f27665baa1e848cae708a49a565c9:hover , .u6f1f27665baa1e848cae708a49a565c9:visited , .u6f1f27665baa1e848cae708a49a565c9:active { border:0!important; } .u6f1f27665baa1e848cae708a49a565c9 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u6f1f27665baa1e848cae708a49a565c9 { 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; } .u6f1f27665baa1e848cae708a49a565c9:active , .u6f1f27665baa1e848cae708a49a565c9:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u6f1f27665baa1e848cae708a49a565c9 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u6f1f27665baa1e848cae708a49a565c9 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u6f1f27665baa1e848cae708a49a565c9 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u6f1f27665baa1e848cae708a49a565c9 .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; } .u6f1f27665baa1e848cae708a49a565c9:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u6f1f27665baa1e848cae708a49a565c9 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u6f1f27665baa1e848cae708a49a565c9 .u6f1f27665baa1e848cae708a49a565c9-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u6f1f27665baa1e848cae708a49a565c9:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Analysis Of Rembrandt EssayTherefore, after that, Ludacris discovered in himself that he could change into something better and alter how people think of him in a positive way. He experienced a self-fulfilling prophecy when he had to decide whether to sell the Asian people in the van to the dealer for money or to do a good deed and help them get to a good place. In result, he chose to do a good deed and helped the Asian people and gave them money to buy some food. Matt Dillon In this movie, he was a police officer that despised minorities because they were the reason why his father lost his job. Due to his hatred, he mistreated minorities especially African Americans. He pulled over a car that looked like the stolen car that was reported to him but he knew that it wasn’t that car because of the license plate but he saw that there was a black man. He made both the black man and his wife step out of the car and he starting to pat down the woman in a disrespectful manner. It was his way of taking revenge for what happened to his father. But in the scene where the woman he disrespected was in a car accident, he didn’t hesitate to rescue her even when he knew his life was in danger as well. At that moment, his perception of minorities was somewhat changed because he realized that were still people and that not all of them deserved to be blamed for what happened to his dad. 3. A situation where there were differences in terms of perception was the scene when the little girl got shot. Every character in that scene had a different process of selecting, organizing, and interpreting the scenario. -Little girl: The little girl saw a man pointing a gun to her dad, which worried her because she remembered that the invisible cloak was with her and not him. Therefore, she ran to her dad to protect him. It never crossed her mind that she was going to get shot because she thought the cloak had real powers. At the end of the scene, she told her dad that the cloak works and was powerful. -Mexican locksmith/ The Dad: The locksmith was focused on the guy with the gun. He was trying to reason out with the man trying to give back his money or settle a deal. In the background, he could hear his daughter calling out for him and when she ran to him, he caressed her and heard the sound of a gun shot. In his mind, he thought his daughter was shot and dead until she started to talk. This is an example of expectancy violation theory. -The man with the gun: The man with the gun was focused on the locksmith guy who he thought was the reason for why his store was destroyed. When he pulled the trigger, he realized that he shot the little girl in front of him and that he killed her but once the little girl spoke, he said that there was an angel watching him. But he didn’t realize that the angel was his own daughter who filled the gun with blank bullets. The mother of the girl: The mother of the girl was washing dishes when the scene between her husband and the man was happening. Her daughter was yelling for her mom to take a look but the mother was too focused on the dishes and told her daughter to stay inside. But when the little girl ran out, her mother was scared that she something might happen to her in the streets so she ran towards her. When she heard the sound of the gun, s he froze and thought that her daughter was shot and killed which caused her to scream. .ub3746e8640fc999e82a9d961f3e85ba6 , .ub3746e8640fc999e82a9d961f3e85ba6 .postImageUrl , .ub3746e8640fc999e82a9d961f3e85ba6 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ub3746e8640fc999e82a9d961f3e85ba6 , .ub3746e8640fc999e82a9d961f3e85ba6:hover , .ub3746e8640fc999e82a9d961f3e85ba6:visited , .ub3746e8640fc999e82a9d961f3e85ba6:active { border:0!important; } .ub3746e8640fc999e82a9d961f3e85ba6 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ub3746e8640fc999e82a9d961f3e85ba6 { 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; } .ub3746e8640fc999e82a9d961f3e85ba6:active , .ub3746e8640fc999e82a9d961f3e85ba6:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ub3746e8640fc999e82a9d961f3e85ba6 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ub3746e8640fc999e82a9d961f3e85ba6 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ub3746e8640fc999e82a9d961f3e85ba6 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ub3746e8640fc999e82a9d961f3e85ba6 .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; } .ub3746e8640fc999e82a9d961f3e85ba6:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ub3746e8640fc999e82a9d961f3e85ba6 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ub3746e8640fc999e82a9d961f3e85ba6 .ub3746e8640fc999e82a9d961f3e85ba6-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ub3746e8640fc999e82a9d961f3e85ba6:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Analysis Of Mark Strand's Keeping Things Whole EssayShe was realized to find out that her daughter was still alive and went back inside the house and locked the doors. 4. The identities portrayed were very realistic because as normal human beings, it is in our nature to stereotype and expect certain outcomes due to their race, gender, and culture. We have our own take on how we perceive people and through those perspectives it determines our identity. In order to make sense of certain situations, we try to think of reasons. For example, when we are driving in a freeway and you see a car accident ahead, you can’t help but look who the drivers are. Once you realize that the driver is Chinese or Asian, you suddenly say â€Å"no wonder† or â€Å"makes sense† because we have that stereotype that Asians can’t drive. This was similar to the scene in the beginning of the movie. 5. Cognitive complexity fits in to this film because each person cognitive complexity changed from low to high. This change happened due to the personal experiences that they encountered. For example, Sandra Bullock had a low cognitive complexity because she immediately judged people due to their race and physical appearance even though she never communicated with them and knew their life history. But at the end, her cognitive complexity was high because she started to become more open minded and less judgmental after finding out that her only real friend in her life was her Mexican housemaid. Dual perspective fits in this film because they would try to put themselves in other people’s shoes to see how they feel. For example, when Ludacris and his friend encountered Sandra Bullock and her husband after leaving the restaurant. Ludacris tried to explain to his friend how Sandra felt when she saw them. He said that she saw two black guys walking and got scared which is why she placed her hand on her husband’s arm. Ludacris’ friend had a different perspective saying the Sandra just placed her hand on his arm because she was cold since it was wintertime. Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes can help us see their perspective of certain situations but they are not always accurate because we have never been in that situation to comprehend how they feel and we all have a different way to respond to those situations.

Reconstruction Success or Failure Essay Example For Students

Reconstruction: Success or Failure? Essay February 25, 2004 U.S. History Period 4 After the Civil War the United States was at a difficult point in its history. There were many controversial issues that were yet to be resolved, and many people with a number of different opinions on how things should be settled. Due to this, the nation was forced into a period of reconstruction to help shape the country as a whole, and work to settle problems that remained unresolved. The Reconstruction Period following the Civil War was overall a success. By the end of this time, the country was reunited and moving rapidly towards industrialization. Individual freedoms and equal treatment before the law was set for all Americans. Although, like anything else, it had both positive and negative effects, however the positive aspects out shined the negative. The Civil War was fought to free slaves, and to help them redeem their independence. However, by the end of this struggle there was a distinct line between whites, and blacks. Reconstruction was called upon to aid the country in deafening that lone and uniting the nation as a whole, and not separate sections. At this time many conflicts were in need to be resolved. For example, because slaves had never known the feeling of freedom before they had no where to go or work, it was almost over whelming. Segregation and racism also came into action. During this time many of those issues were touched upon in positive ways. The thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth Amendments were all added to the Constitution for the benefit of this country. The thirteenth Amendment, which was perhaps the most important, assured freedom to all African Americans, Native Americans and many other various races of people by banning slavery. The fourteenth Amendment provided a constitutional basis for the civil rights act, making all persons born or naturalized in the United States. The fifteenth Amendment was added to the constitution, stating that no one could kept form voting due to their race, color, or previous condition of servitude. These constitutional changes had a very positive effect on the United States in the long run. They assisted a large portion of the nation and helped people get up on their feet, and start their lives over again. Although overall reconstruction was a very good thing it also had negative effects. Three things that stand out as the leaders were struggling to rebuild this nation include, the Klu Klux Klan, Black codes, and Jim Crow laws. The Klu Klux Klan basically defined racism. It was a group of people strictly against blacks, who publicly displayed their hatred towards them. Black codes were another negative outcome; they were a series of laws that tightly restricted blacks from many things such as, carrying weapons and traveling with out a permit. These laws went hand in hand with the Jim Crow laws, which also restricted blacks from various things. The Jim Crow laws were designed to separate blacks and white in public places, magnifying segregation. It considered things separate but equal when in reality it was only separate and in many ways far from equal. Although, as previously stated, there were a number of negative effects from Reconstruction, there were also many positive things that came from it. The constitution was amended freeing blacks, and although it took time before they were freed to full extent, with out reconstruction they would not have been free at all. .

Duty of Care

Apparent Rationale for Writing the Policy According to Groves (2004) the apparent rationale why the department of education came up with the duty of care policy was to ensure that all teachers across the country are aware of the relevant legal issues pertaining to the duty of care they owe to the students who are under their custody (p. 3).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Duty of Care specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For proper clarification the document defines what the duty of care is, the definition of other legal terms, offers the legal implications which revolve around the duty of care, and explains the role of other policies and regulations which are concerned with the provision of duty of care to the students. The duty of care students’ policy document is a legal document which was formulated by applying the policies and law so as to safeguard students while they are in the custody of their teacher s (The Department of Education, 2010). This policy acts as a guideline to the rules and policies which schools have set up. It merely states the definition of duty of care, what situations the teachers owe a duty of care to their students and under what circumstances do the non-teaching staff owe a duty of care to the children. Issues covered by the policy The policy of duty of care was put in place so that teachers and other members of the school staff could protect students from the risk of harm when they are under their custody by exercising the duty of care (Preston, 1993). Children while in school engage in many activities, some of which might be dangerous or hazardous. It is therefore the duty of the teachers and other members of the school staff to ensure that the activities which the students are involved in do not cause harm or injuries to them. According to this policy, teachers will only owe a duty of care to the students while they are in the school premise or undertakin g a school activity (Tronc, 2004). The duty of care does not extend to the activities which the students conduct while they are outside the school unless stated otherwise. This policy therefore explains in detail what the duty of care is, when should it be exercised, who should be responsible for the care and once the law has been breached, who will be held responsible. According to this law, teachers owe a duty of care during their journey to and from the school if it is authorized by the school, students who arrive to the school ground before the commencement of studies, students who are found at the school grounds after the school day ends and students who leave school when the classes are still going on (Ikeda and Gustafson, 2002). However, the teachers, volunteers and the non-teaching staff owe a duty of care to their students if the above situations are conducted according to the guidelines and standards set by the school. When harm occurs to a student and the school guideline s were breached then the school does will not take responsibility (Killen, 2005).Advertising Looking for report on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Subjects to the Policy Requirements The school management, the school staff and the parents are subject to the policy requirement. This is because the students are always in the custody of the school or their parents almost all the time. The subjects of this policy therefore need to work together to ensure that the safety of the students is maintained at all times, in and out of the school (Marlone, 1999). The policy is very important since it assures that students are safe and free from harm while they are at school or they are involved in other school activities (Ewing et al., 2007). This gives both their teachers and their parents a peace of mind because they know that the safety of the students is guaranteed. This is because the teacher is expected to exercise a reaso nable care to the students, an act which will prevent an act of harm which was foreseen to happen from happening. The fact that there is an adult supervising the students all the time guarantees that reasonable care is being exercised at all times. Importance of the Policy The duty of care policy is a document of great importance especially in the management of student affairs while they are under the school custody. Through its implementation, teachers have known in details what duties they owe to their students, when to exercise these duties and the methods which can be used in the application of reasonable care while mitigating the issues which can cause harm to students. As a result therefore, teachers have become even more cautious in the handling of students and ensure that the students are safe at all times. This has reduced the chances of harm occurring (Ewing et al., 2007). The document has also stated the situations under which the duty of care of students is owed by the s chool and when it is not. This has made it easy to solve disputes which arise when harm occurs on a student and neither the school nor the parent wants to take responsibility. The document is thus used for reference to avoid further dispute and a solution to the problem is arrived at easily. This is because the school, the parents and the students have their rights which should be respected at all times. This came as a solution to the problem of blaming one another in the event when harm has occurred (Groves, 2004).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Duty of Care specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The document is also used as a guideline which the school uses while conducting its operation. Every other policy concerning the safety or the security of the students has to be consistent to this policy. The schools therefore come up with good policies which aim at ensuring the safety of the students while at school is ma intained and guaranteed (Ewing et al., 2007). Hypothetical Situations Normally students arrive in school at around 7.40 am while the teachers arrive around thirty minutes later. During this time when there is no staff supervision, students might be exposed to a lot of harm and hazards. If harm happens on the students during this time then the school will be liable (Whitton et al., 2010). The school therefore should develop a roster system whereby there will be a teacher on duty who will be present at the school before the start of teaching to supervise the students who arrive early. The school should also set the time before which no student is allowed to be at the school premise. This information should be sent to all parents through the news letter. During this time students should be directed to a specific place where the teacher on duty can easily supervise what they are doing (The Department of Education, 2010). There are students who remain behind after school hours to engage in sports or any other co-curriculum activities. The duty of care for these students therefore falls under the coaches and patrons of these activities. It should be however be noted that these people will only assume the duty of care if the activity they are involved in is authorized by the school. If the activity is not authorized by the school then the supervisor will be working privately and in the event when harm occurs the principle of vicarious liability will not apply (Crouch, 1996). The fact that the name of the team which these students were being referred to or the uniforms and the costumes they were putting on concur to the school does not mean that the activity was authorized by the school. Parents should therefore be aware which activities are authorized by the school. There are situations when students leave the school during school hours. This is because it is a general rule for schools not to allow students to leave the school grounds before the end of the day unless the parent of the student grants the permission. A school can only allow a student to leave the school where parental permission has been given.Advertising Looking for report on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More To ensure that the safety of the student is guaranteed, before leaving the school premise, a student should have a note from the parent which specifically states the reasons for the student to be excused from classes. The note should clearly state the reason why the student should be absent from school, the duration of the day when he/she is going to be absent and the period which the trend is going to continue. In addition a written acknowledgement should be made to the school by the parent who should state that the school shall not be held liable if harm happens to the student while being outside the school. The school should also ensure that the student will be safe once he/she is out of the school premise. Once out of the school premise legally, the school does not owe a duty of care to the student (The Department of Education, 2010). References Crouch, R.W. (1996). School Sport and the Law. The Practising Administrator, 3, 26-28. Ewing, R., Le Cornu, R. and Groundwater-Smith, S . (2007). Teaching Challenges Dilemmas.  South Melbourne: Thompson. Groves, S. (2004). Duty of Care: Good Practice Guidelines for Academic and Administrative  Staff. South Melbourne: Thompson. Ikeda, M., Gustafson, J.K. (2002). Heartland AEA 11’s problem solving process:  Impact on issues related to special education (Research Rep. No. 2002–01). Johnston, IA: Heartland Area Education Agency 11. Killen, R. (2005). Programming and Assessment for Quality Teaching and Learning.  South Melbourne: Thompson. Marlone, M. (1999). Education Policy and Law. The Witness. Web. Preston, B. (1993). Teacher professionalism: Implications for teachers, teacher educators and democratic schooling. Independent Education, 23(4), 4-12. The Department of Education. (2010). Duty of Care for Students. The Department of Education. Web. Tronc, K. (2004). Schools and the Law. The Practising Administrator, 1, 22-24. Whitton, D.B., Nosworthy, K., Sinclair, C. and Nanlohy, P. (2010). Learni ng for  Teaching: Teaching for Learing. South Melboune: Cengage Learning. This report on Duty of Care was written and submitted by user Liam Richardson to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Quotes From Great Writers About the Month of April

Quotes From Great Writers About the Month of April April is a month of transition. It arrives when winter has just ended and spring is beginning, symbolizing a period of rebirth. With this roundup of quotes about April, learn how writers from William Shakespeare to Mark Twain viewed this key month of the year. The Nature of April Many poets and writers have focused on the natural beauty present in April- birds singing, rainbows, and the first flowers of spring. A gush of bird-song, a patter of dew, A cloud, and a rainbows warning, Suddenly sunshine and perfect blue- An April day in the morning.  - Harriet Prescott Spofford, April Again the blackbirds sings; the streams / Wake, laughing, from their winter dreams, / And tremble in the April showers / The tassels of the maple flowers.  - John Greenleaf Whittier, The Singer April comes like an idiot, babbling and stewing flowers.  - Edna St. Vincent Millay Now the noisy winds are still; / Aprils coming up the hill! / All the spring is in her train, / Led by shining ranks of rain; / Pit, pat, patter, clatter, / Sudden sun and clatter patter! . . . / All things ready with a will, / Aprils coming up the hill!  - Mary Mapes Dodge, Now the Noisy Winds Are Still Sweet April showers / Do spring May flowers.  - Thomas Tusser When April winds / Grew soft, the maple burst into a flush / Of scarlet flowers. / The tulip tree, high up, / Opened, in airs of June, her multitude / Of golden chalices to humming birds / And silken-wingd insects of the sky.  - William Cullen Bryant, The Fountain A Month of Symbolism For many writers, April symbolizes youth, newness, and promise. However, for some poets (such as T.S. Eliot), April also stirs up memories and prompts reminiscences of the past. April... hath put a spirit of youth in everything.  - William Shakespeare April is the cruelest month, breeding / Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing / Memory and desire, stirring / Dull roots with spring rain.  - T.S. Eliot, The Waste Land April is a promise that May is bound to keep.  - Hal Borland April prepares her green traffic light and the world thinks Go.  - Christopher Morley, John Mistletoe April Showers as Tears   Some poets and writers have described April rains as tears, symbolizing the passing of time and the changing of the seasons. Every tear is answered by a blossom, / Every sigh with songs and laughter blent, / April-blooms upon the breezes toss them. / April knows her own, and is content.- Susan Coolidge (Sarah Chauncey Woolsey), April For April sobs while these are so glad / April weeps while these are so gay,- / Weeps like a tired child who had, / Playing with flowers, lost its way.- Helen Hunt Jackson, Verses- April Old April wanes, and her last dewy morn / Her death-bed steeps in tears; to hail the May / New blooming blossoms neath the sun are born, / And all poor Aprils charms are swept away.  - John Clare, The Last of April Sweet Aprils tears, Dead on the hem of May.  - Alexander Smith, A Life Drama A Period of Joy and Promise For many poets and writers, April symbolizes renewal and rebirth. Our spring has come at last with the soft laughter of April suns and shadow of April showers.  - Byron Caldwell Smith Sweet April-time- O cruel April-time! / Year after year returning, with a brow / Of promise, and red lips with longing paled, / And backward-hidden hands that clutch the joys / Of vanished springs, like flowers.  - Mrs. Craik (Dinah Maria Mulock), April The April winds are magical, / And thrill our tuneful frames; / The garden-walks are passional / To bachelors and dames.  - Ralph Waldo Emerson, April The children with the streamlets sing, / When April stops at last her weeping; / And every happy growing thing / Laughs like a babe just roused from sleeping.  - Lucy Larcom, The Sister Months April 1. This is the day upon which we are reminded of what we are on the other three hundred and sixty-four.The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year.  - Mark Twain The sun was warm but the wind was chill. / You know how it is with an April day. / When the sun is out and the wind is still, / Youre one month on in the middle of May. - Robert Frost, Two Tramps in Mud Time

Performance measurement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Performance measurement - Essay Example In a broader perspective, the role of performance management system is to provide a fundamental bloc for enhancing total quality management (Besanko, Dranove, Shanley & Schaefer, 2010). Organizations that employ performance management systems are those that wish to establish the individual, departmental, and organizational performance in a bid to enhancing management to achieve organizational goals. Amongst the personal experiences with performance measurement is during the recent visit by auditors. The auditors aimed at ensuring that every employee in the organization had not only complied with the requirements of the firm but had also placed in extra efforts to ensure customer satisfaction in addition to growing shareholders’ value. The auditors found out that most employees in the organization would go an extra mile to call the clients in order to offer advisory services with respect to the organization. Being in the Accounting and Finance Department, the auditors wanted to know how the organization was complying with the Accounting Standards as provided for by the IAS and IFRS. Their advice to the department was the need to keep updating financial and accounting data in a bid to ensure that there was accountability and transparency in reporting the same concepts and

Westminster Model and the Government System in the UK Essay

Westminster Model and the Government System in the UK - Essay Example This development has seriously undermined the notion of a strong nation-state. Another challenge to the Westminster model is the New Public Management standard, and this has wrought basic changes to the relationship between civil servants and Ministers. Perhaps the greatest influence has been that of the European Union, which has seriously weakened the notion of Parliamentary Sovereignty (Lapsley, 2008, p. 10). This situation has been worsened by the devolution of responsibilities to elected assemblies in Wales and Northern Ireland, and the Parliament in Scotland. These latter devolutionary changes have posed a serious challenge to the supremacy of the Westminster executive. In addition, these have shown the Westminster model as being inappropriate in a polity that enjoys greater decentralization (Lapsley, 2008, p. 10). The Westminster model is distinguished by unhindered executive superiority. This makes certain that parliamentary majority enjoys undisputed control over the central institutions of the government. Consequently, authority and political power are central to the state. In this system, governance is restricted to the elite who are seized with the public good. Such governance functions in a self – adjusting and balanced constitutional system (Diamond, 2010). The Glorious Revolution of 1688 destroyed an attempt to perpetuate a Catholic Monarchy. This was achieved by William of Orange and his wife Mary II, and it firmly established the supremacy of the Executive. Such dominance of the Executive has remained the hallmark of the political tradition of the UK. This excellent system is characterized by an unbiased civil service and shared ministerial accountability (Diamond, 2010). This perspective regarding the UK government is not unanimous and has been subjected to considerable doubt. It is believed by a significant number of authorities that the longstanding authority of the government has been gradually eroded. In fact, there has been a shift in power, both horizontally and vertically. Thus, the vertical shift has seen the transfer of power to the European Union and international institutions. Furthermore, the horizontal shift has witnessed the transfer of power to civil society and private corporations (Diamond, 2010). There has been an undeniable establishment of new territorial power centers. These are located outside the UK and have resulted from constitutional reform and decentralization. Due to these momentous developments, it is difficult to view the Westminster model as a true reflection of empirical reality. There has been a transformation from the government to governance, and this has drawn in a vast array of networks and individuals (Diamond, 2010). To a major extent, the government of the UK has retained considerable consistency in its structure and function. This has prevailed, despite the advent of collectivism and the monumental changes that its society has been subjected to. The government is decisive an d accountable, with a scant change in the institutions of Westminster and Whitehall. It has been the established practice for politicians of the various political hues to consider themselves as responsible and influential arbiters of national interest (Diamond, 2010).