April Writing Prompts Writing and Journal Topics

April is the month of showers or fools. Students and teachers will typically take their spring break during this month.   Here is a writing prompt for each day of April that provides teachers with an easy way to incorporate writing in class. They can be used as straightforward writing assignments, warm-ups, or journal entries. Feel free to use and modify these as you see fit. Notable April Recognition Autism Awareness MonthKeep America Beautiful MonthNational Garden MonthNational Mathematics Education Month Writing Prompt Ideas for April April 1 - Theme: April Fools DayHave you ever been fooled successfully by someone on April Fools Day? Have you ever fooled someone else? Describe the experience. Note: Your answers must be appropriate for a school setting. April 2 - Theme: World Autism Awareness DayUse  #LightItUpBlue  to share your experience across social media and help light the world up blue this April!OR   International Childrens Book DayInternational Childrens Book Day encourages reading and promotes the love of books for children.  Ã‚   The publisher Scholastic, Inc. compiled a list of the top 100 childrens books of all time. Readers voted for the top five (5) selections: Charlottes Web; Goodnight, Moon; A Wrinkle in Time; The Snowy Day; Where the Wild Things Are. Do you remember any of these books?  Whats your favorite childrens book? Why? April 3-Theme: Tweed DayWilliam Magear Boss Tweed, was born on this day in 1823. Tweeds claim to fame was being convicted of graft and corruption while serving as a U.S. House of Representatives and a New York State Senator.  He was exposed because of political cartoons that were drawn by Thomas Nast that pictured him unfavorably. What political issues today are the subject of political cartoons? Try your hand at drawing one. April 4 - Theme: Keep America Beautiful MonthWhat are your feelings about littering? Have you ever done it? If so, why? Do you think that the punishment for littering is too light or too heavy? April 5 - Theme:  Helen Keller   On this day in 1887: The tutor Anne Sullivan taught Helen Keller the meaning of the word water as spelled out in the manual alphabet.  This event is dramatized in the play The Miracle Worker.  Keller became deaf and blind after a childhood illness., but she overcame these obstacles to advocate for others. Who else do you know advocates for others? April 6 - Theme: The North Pole was discovered on this date. Today, research stations relay information from the top of the world on the changes in the Earths climate. What questions do you have about climate change?   April 7 - Theme: World Health DayToday is World Health Day. What do you think the keys to a healthy lifestyle include? Are you following your own advice? Why or why not?April 8 - Theme: April is National Garden MonthDo you consider yourself an inside or outside person? In other words, do you like to hang out in your own home or spend time in nature? Explain your answer. April 9 - Theme: National Name Yourself DayNick Harkway  is credited with saying, Names arent just coathooks, theyre coats. Theyre the first thing anyone knows about you.In honor of National Name Yourself Day, go ahead and give yourself a new name. Explain why you chose this name. April 10 - Theme: National Sibling DayDo you have a sibling or siblings? If so, what is the best thing about them? The worst? If not, are you happy that you are an only child? Explain your answer. April 11 - Theme: National Mathematics Education MonthCelebrate mathematics and statistics, both of which play a significant role in addressing many real-world problems: Internet security, sustainability, disease, climate change, the data deluge, and much more. Explain three reasons why learning math is important for everyone. April 12 - Theme: Space Shuttle Columbia First LaunchedWould you ever consider being an astronaut? If so, explain why and where you would like to visit. If not, tell why you dont think youd like to be one. April 13 - Theme: Scrabble DaySometimes, the two word combinations in Scrabble (Hasbro) can be high scoring such as the points given for these examples::  AX9, EX9, JO9, OX9, XI9, XU9, BY7, HM7, MY7Do you like to play word games like Scrabble? Why or why not?   April 14 - Theme: The Titanic Disaster  -1912The Titanic was billed as an unsinkable ship, but it struck an iceberg on its first voyage across the Atlantic. Many saw the fact that it sunk as an example of what happens in extreme cases of hubris (arrogant pride). Do you believe that people who are overconfident and arrogant will always fail? Explain your answer. April 15 - Theme: Income Tax DayThe 16th Amendment that created income taxes was ratified in 1913:The Congress shall have the power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.What are your feelings on taxes? Do you think that the government should take a higher percentage of money from the wealthy? Explain your answer. April 16 - Theme:  National Librarian Day.Celebrate a librarian that you know from elementary, middle, or high school.Visit the library today, and make certain to say hello and Thank you to all of the librarians.April 17 - Theme: Daffy Ducks BirthdayDaffy Duck is a character  foil  to  Bugs Bunny.Do you have a favorite cartoon character? What characteristics make this character a favorite? April 18 - Theme: EvolutionOn this date in 1809, the botanist Charles Darwin passed away. Darwin had proposed a theory of evolution for living organisms, but there are other things that evolve, for example, technology, music, dance. Respond to his quote, In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.What do you notice that has evolved in your lifetime? April 19 - Theme: National Poetry MonthIn honor of National Poetry Month, write a poem using the tanka format. The tanka consists of 5 lines and 31  syllables. Each line has a set number of  syllables  see below:   Line 1 – 5 syllables  Ã‚  Line 2 – 7 syllables  Ã‚  Line 3 – 5 syllables  Ã‚  Line 4 – 7 syllables  Ã‚  Line 5 – 7 syllables April 20 - Theme: Volunteer Recognition DayPay tribute to someone who volunteers or (better yet) volunteers to help others.  You will find out that the benefits can be fun and camaraderie. What could you volunteer to do? April 21 - Theme: Kindergarten DayResearch shows that students who  learn  more in kindergarten are more likely to go to college and earn more. What skill(s) did you learn in your kindergarten class that help you today? April 22 - Theme: Earth DayTake the Earth Day quiz from the World History Project website.What are specific actions that you and your fellow students could take to help protect the environment? April 23 - Theme: ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare was born on this date in 1564. His 154 sonnets can be read, analyzed, or used for Readers Theatre. Turn one or two lines from Shakespeares sonnets into a dialogue. Who is speaking? Why? April 24 - Theme: Time TravelRecent reports claim to supports time travel. Why might  physicists be  interested in time travel?  Maybe because we want to test the boundaries of the laws of physics.  If you could travel back in time, to which age and location would you go? Why? April 25 - Theme: DNA DayIf you could determine the sex, eye color, height, etc. of a child in advance by using genetic advances, would you do it? Why or why not? April 26 - Theme: Arbor DayToday is Arbor Day, the day we are to plant and take care of trees. Joyce Kilmer started his poem Trees with the lines: I think that I shall never seeA poem lovely as a tree. What are your feelings about trees? Explain your answer. April 27 - Theme: Tell a Story DayWrite a short story about a funny event that occurred in your or your familys past. April 28 - Theme: Astronomy Day-during Dark Sky WeekDownload, Watch, and Share â€Å"Losing the Dark,† a public service announcement about light pollution. It focuses on the dangers of  light pollution on a dark sky and suggests three simple actions people can take to help mitigate it  It can be downloaded for free and is available in 13 languages. April 29 - Theme: Film Genre Thriller.Alfred Hitchcock died on this date in 1980.  He was one of the most influential filmmakers in the genre of horror or thriller.What is your favorite thriller or horror movie? Why? April 30 - Theme: National Honesty DayHonesty  is defined as fairness and straightforwardness of conduct; an adherence to the facts. Does this definition apply to you? Do you consider yourself an honest person? Why or why not?

Characteristics Of Tragedy In The Merchant Of Venice

The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare is often called a problem play because it does not neatly fit the characteristics of either a comedy or a tragedy. A tragedy is a drama or literary work in which one of the main characters is brought to ruin or suffer extreme sorrow, especially as a tragic flaw or moral weakness. The Merchant of Venice has a character that is brought to ruin. It also has many other characteristics of a tragedy. Most of the events being serious is one of the characteristics of a tragedy. A comedy is any discourse or work that is intended to be humorous or to amuse by inducing laughter or it could simply be a story with a happy ending. The Merchant of Venice is not funny. The Merchant of Venice is more of a†¦show more content†¦Shylock must do these things because he attempted to murder a citizen of Venice. Shylock is not a citizen because he is a Jew so this means he gets more punishments. This is a tragedy for Shylock because he hates Christians and he wanted to get revenge on them. The tragic flaw was that he wanted to get revenge on Antonio but it backfired on him. This part of the play is tragic also because Antonio was supposed to lose one pound of his flesh. Antonio could have been the character that was brought to ruin. If this was a comedy play then there wouldn’t be any of these tragic scenes in the play. The third reason why The Merchant of Venice is a tragedy is that the events in the play were serious and tragic. They weren’t happy or comical. There were many tragic events in the story. When Antonio finds out his ships crashed it was tragic. This what Tubal says when he talks about Antonio’s ships: â€Å"Hath an argosy cast away, coming from Tripolis† (Shakespeare 3.1.95). This means his ship crashed in Tripolis. This is tragic for Antonio because he needs money from the ships to pay Shylock. Another tragic scene is in the courtroom when Shylock is forced to become a Christian. This is tragic for Shylock because he dislikes the Christians. The play is serious. Shylock’s desireShow MoreRelatedXenophobia in Othello and the Merchant of Venice1541 Words   |  7 Pagesand Tragedies From 1589 to 1613 William Shakespeare produced some of the most original, thought-provoking and emotionally compelling plays, sonnets, and poetry. Two of his finest pieces of work, Othello and The Merchant of Venice feature dynamic characters, and insights into the chivalry and the xenophobic disposition of the English people at the time. Throughout these two stories, three primary female characters emerge, Desdemona from Othello, and Portia and Jessica from The Merchant of VeniceRead MoreCommon Features of a Shakespeare Comedy1745 Words   |  7 PagesCommon Features of a Shakespeare Comedy What makes a Shakespeare comedy identifiable if the genre is not distinct from the Shakespeare tragedies and histories? This is an ongoing area of debate, but many believe that the comedies share certain characteristics, as described below: * Comedy through language: Shakespeare communicated his comedy through language and his comedy plays are peppered with clever word play, metaphors and insults. 1. Love: The theme of love is prevalent in everyRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s A Merchant Of Venice Essay971 Words   |  4 Pagesconsideration when analyzing play or drama lies within the classification of the piece of work in terms of comedy or tragedy. As with poems and other forms of literature, the classification may be clearly known or it can be a topic of question, requiring additional analysis and justification in order to pinpoint the author’s direction and or intentions. William Shakespeare’s â€Å"A Merchant in Venice† includes a myriad of characters, dialogue, situations, and moods that make classifying this piece of literatureRead MoreBackground and Influence: Merchant of Venice1447 Words   |  6 Pages The battles existed between Catholics, Jews, and Protestants although, for the majority of the time, the Protestants pitted the Jews and Catholics on the same side, against themselves. In The Merchant of Venice, a play that was later dubbed a co medy, tragedy was just as evident. I believe that the tragedy of the play was the reality of the situation the play encompassed. It cannot be a coincidence that there is such a parallel of situations that Shakespeare wrote about. The concept of a JewRead MoreThe Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare Essay example2165 Words   |  9 PagesJohn Fletcher. Jacobean poetry also included the graceful verse of Ben Jonson. When one look upon the themes of the both the Elizabethan and Jacobean Era, one see that the both the eras had quite most of the themes in common. The subject of the tragedies of Shakespeare in Elizabethan era was that the meaning of human life, exploration of power and what makes a good ruler. There is a depiction of the good and the bad and the ugly side of the rulers. Then there was portrayal of love, family, relationshipsRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare: Greatest Playwright of All1554 Words   |  7 Pagesto the people of Elizabethan England, but also provide a reference for life in his time for us to view the contemporary society. Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon Avon in Warwickshire and was baptized on April 26, 1564. His father was a wool merchant and his mother was the daughter of a landowner. The next documented event was his marriage when he was 18 years old to Anne Hathaway who was 26 years old at that time, and they had three children. There was another gap where some scholars referredRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare: Greatest Playwright of All1568 Words   |  7 Pagesto the people of Elizabethan England, but also provide a reference for life in his time for us to view the contemporary society. Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon Avon in Warwickshire and was baptized on April 26, 1564. His father was a wool merchant and his mother was the daughter of a landowner. The next documented event was his marriage when he was 18 years old to Anne Hathaway who was 26 years old at that time, and they had three children. There was another gap where some scholars referredRead MoreRace, Religion, and the Significance of Stereotypes in Othello1688 Words   |  7 Pagesperiod. In particular, one can discover much about the prevailing attitudes of a society through its literature. Shakespeare, specifically, has written multiple works that incorporate generalizations of his era. For example, Shylock from The Merchant of Venice served as the archetypal Jew of the late 16th century. Othello explicitly includes race and religion as a fundamental part of the motivations behind the characters’ actions. In Othello, Shakespeare portrays Othello as a character that transcendsRead MoreThe Merchant Of Venice By Michael Radford1886 Words   |  8 Pages Shakespeare is known for the creativity and timelessness of his plays. The play The Merchant of Venice definitely captures the essence of universality. Different groups of people, even individuals, can connect to the character Shylock. Each person has their own view or interpretation of who Shylock is and what he represents. The movie The Merchant of Venice, directed by Michael Radford, portrays Shylock as a victim who suffers from violent discrimination. He finally retaliates only to find thatRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice1970 Words   |  8 Pagesrecurrence with Shakespeare’s plays that the titles are reflective of the protagonists featured within. For example, the famous titles of Julius Caesar and Hamlet tell the tragedies of those respective characters. However, when it comes to William Shakespeare’s fourteenth play, The Merchant of Venice, it can be argued that Antonio, the m erchant, is not who the play is about. In fact, there is not just one character, but instead multiple that fit the description of the protagonist. The main plot, or rather

Stock Exchange free essay sample

What is Stock Exchange? A stock exchange is the market place for the purchase and sale of second hand securities. It provides trading facilities for stock brokers and traders, to trade shares of the listed companies and other financial instruments such as Term Finance Certificates and Derivatives. Stock exchanges also provide facilities for the issue (listing), redemption (delisting) of securities and other capital events including the payment of income and dividends. It is a key institution for smooth functioning and steady growth of the corporate sector and can be seen as a key to the economic life of a nation. Stock exchange is the home of the capital and pivot of the money market, providing proper mobility for capital. The securities of joint-stock companies, government securities and securities issued by semi-government organization are dealt with on a stock exchange. History of Stock Exchange The history of stock exchanges can be traced to 12th century France, when the first brokers (the role of an individual or a firm when it acts as an agent for a customer and charges the customer a commission for its services) are believed to have developed, trading in debt and government securities. We will write a custom essay sample on Stock Exchange or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Unofficial share markets existed across Europe through the 1600s, where brokers would meet outside or in coffee houses to make trades. The Amsterdam Stock Exchange, created in 1602, became the first official stock exchange when it began trading shares of the Dutch East India Company. These were the first company shares ever issued. By the early 1700s there were fully operational stock exchanges in France and England, and America followed in the later part of the century. Share exchanges became an important way for companies to raise capital for investment, while also offering investors the opportunity to share in company profits. The early days of the stock exchange experienced many scandals and share crashes, as there was little to no regulation and almost anyone was allowed to participate in the exchange. Today, stock exchanges operate around the world, and they have become highly regulated institutions. Investors wanting to buy and sell shares must do so through a share broker, who pays to own a seat on the exchange. Companies with shares traded on an exchange are said to be listed and they must meet specific criteria, which varies across exchanges. Most stock exchanges began as floor exchanges, where traders made deals face-to-face. The largest stock exchange in the world, the New York Stock Exchange, continues to operate this way, but most of the worlds exchanges have now become fully electronic. Functions of Stock Market ? Ready Market Stock exchange is a continuous market for the resale of existing securities. It is a centre where buyers and sellers assemble to deal in securities at any time during the business hours. It enables investors to realize quickly their shares and debentures. This facility encourages people to invest in business enterprise by means of buying industrial securities. It helps new investors to obtain securities at any time at market price. ? Protection to investors Protection of the interest of the investors is another function of stock exchange. This it does by ensuring safety and fair dealing to the average investors through strict enforcement of its rules and regulations. Without the cover of a stock exchange there may be unfair competition between different brokers. The investors may be deceived by clever and dishonest brokers. In a stock exchange any malpractice by a broker carries a severe penalty. ? Profitable use of funds Another major function of the stock exchange is the mobilization of surplus funds of individuals firms and companies for investment in industrial securities. Without the stock exchange, these funds would have remained idle. It directs the surplus funds into the most profitable channel and thereby secures their effective utilization. People invest their savings in companies yielding good returns. Stock exchange in Pakistan In Pakistan there are three stock exchanges, ? Karachi stock exchange (KSE) Lahore stock exchange (LSE) ? Islamabad stock exchange (ISE) Karachi Stock Exchange The KSE is the first stock exchange of Pakistan established in September 18, 1947 and incorporated in March 10, 1949. KSE start with 5 companies with a paid-up capital of RS 37 million. The first index was the KSE 100 index. KSE Indices Family ? KSE 100 The KSE100 index is a benchmark by which the stock price p erformance can be compared to over a period of time. In particular, the KSE 100 is designed to provide investors with a sense of how the Pakistan equity market is performing. Thus, the KSE100 is similar to other indicators that track various sectors of the Pakistan economic activity such as the gross national product, consumer price index, etc. The KSE-100 Index was introduced in November 1991 with base value of 1,000 points. The Index comprises of 100 companies selected on the basis of sector representation and highest market capitalization, which tracks over 85% of the total market capitalization of the companies listed on the Exchange. ? KSE-30 Index The Karachi Stock Exchange has launched the KSE-30 Index with base value of 10,000 points, formally implemented from Friday, September 1, 2006. The main feature of this index that makes it different from other indices is: ? Based on the â€Å"Free Float Methodology† ? It includes only the top 30 most liquid companies listed on the KSE. ? KMI-30 ? Index introduced in September, 2008 ? Tracks the 30 most liquid Shariah-compliant companies listed at KSE weighted by free float adjusted market capitalization. ? Shariah Screening performed by Shariah Supervisory Board of Meezan Bank (chaired by Justice (Retd. ) Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani). ? KSE All Share Index ? It consists of all the companies listed on the KSE. ? KSE-GTOi Oil Gas Sector plays vital roles in Pakistan’s economy and therefore KSE has developed a Tradable Oil Gas Index which tracks at least 80% free-float market capitalization of the Oil Gas Sector. This index provides Investors and Market Intermediaries with an appropriate benchmark that captures the performance of each segment of the economy. KSE-100 Composition Basis The selection criteria for stock inclusion in the existing KSE-100 Index is based on three main filters, namely Sector rule, Capitalization rule and Default rule. The top sector companies may also qualify for inclusion on the basis of their market capitalization. Sector Rule Largest market capitalization in each Karachi Stock Exchange sectors excluding Open-end Mutual Fund Sector ? The Largest Capitalization Rule The remaining index places are taken up by the largest market capitalization companies in descending order. ? The Default Counter and Non Tradable Rule Company which is on the Defaulters’ Counter and/or its trading is suspended; declare Non-Tradable (i. e. NT) in preceding 6 months from the date of re-composition shall not be considered in the re-composition of KSE-100 Index . How many stocks are registered and categories? The total number of companies listed in KSE is 572 with a listed capital of RS. 1103072. 80 million ? In KSE companies are listed under following categories according to the nature of their industry. |Sector Wise Categories of Companies | |Oil and Gas |Pharma and Bio Tech | |Chemicals |Media |Forestry |Travel leisure | |Industrial metals and mining |Fixed line Telecommunication | |General industries |Electricity | |Electronic and electrical Goods |Multiutilities | |Engineering |Commercial Banks | |Industrial Transportation |Non Life Insurance | |Support services |Life insurance | |Automobile and Parts |Real estate investment and services | |Beverages |financial services | |Food Producers |Equity Investment Instruments | |Household Goods |Software and comp uter services | |Leisure Goods. |Technology Hardware and Equipment | |Personal Goods | | |Personal Goods | | |Tobacco | | Advance /Decline: If there is increasing trend in the prices of share then we said that the market gains the index or points and vice versa. Points: Points shows the Overall worth of the market. There are many factors that influence the market points and due to these factors market’s point increases or increases. These factors consist of formulae of capital structure and other related things. In Pakistan value of 1 point is approximately equal to 5 crores and it changes due to inflation and other economic factors. When an individual invest an amount equal to 5 Crores then 1 point increases and when he/she pull back his investment then 1 point decreases 1 point = 5 Crores

Rimbaud And Ginsberg Essays - Counterculture Of The 1960s

Rimbaud And Ginsberg Rimbaud and Ginsberg as Modern Poets Anyone who has read a fair sampling of modernist poetry or studied some representative visionary poets has found the experience something of a revelation. Immediately exhilarating for some, initially intimidating for others and, for all of us, a profound departure from traditional literature. According to Rimbaud, for a poet to be absolutely modern he must become a visionary and a poet makes himself a visionary through a long, boundless and systematized disorganization of all the senses. All forms of love, of suffering, of madness, he searches himself, he exhausts within himself all poisons and preserves their quintessences. Rimbaud's most notable work, A Season in Hell is the perfect example of how his choice of lifestyle lent the necessary experiences to be closer to God and ultimately creative poetry. Through the use drugs and other devices, Rimbaud was able to unearth the core of his soul while still being able to capture divine inspiration on paper before delirium set in. Allen Ginsberg's greatest work Howl is similar to A Season in Hell in that it ultimately captures Ginsberg's life experiences as the reader can but only grasp the means by which such a seemingly chaotic life is conducive to ingenious literature. Among the many similarities between these two poets, the first would be that there was an absent father and a domineering mother. For most, this situation would lead to a child trying to attain control over his surroundings. For Ginsberg and Rimbaud, however, this family life helped create the starting point for their need to understand their world around them. Both Ginsberg and Rimbaud had many mentors in their early years. Rimbaud's relationship with Verlaine allowed him to express himself sexually and poetically thus giving him the necessary material to fuel his disorganization of the senses. Among Ginsberg's many mentors, Jack Kerouac, William S. Burrows and Neil Cassidy, who were equally obsessed with poetry, sex and drugs, helped him to develop his literary voice. The similarities between Rimbaud's use of absinthe and Ginsberg's experimentations with Benzedrine, marijuana and homosexually, believed that he, like Rimbaud, was ultimately working toward a great poetic vision which Kerouac called The New Vision. In literary terms, Ginsberg follows in Rimbaud's footsteps with the use of symbolism and free verse. From what we've studied in class, the bulk of these poets' works resemble a colorfully adventurous diary documenting the adventures of two of literatures greatest visionary poets. In William Carlos William's introduction to Howl he writes Allen Ginsberg, who has gone in his own body through the horrifying experiences described from life in these pages. The wonder of the thing is not that he has survived but that he, from the very depths, has found a fellow whom he can love. And, in a statement, that could adequately describe Rimbaud's work he writes hold back the edges of your gowns, Ladies, we are going through hell. After a Season in Hell and Howl, both poets mellowed out considerably and began to travel the world. Rimbaud, finding his love of gunrunning in Africa and Ginsberg finding his physical love, Peter Orlovsky. What can we, as the readers, conceptualize about these poets' life's works? Why did Rimbaud give up writing? Did he, perhaps, get so close to God that the light was too bright and he decided to be content in a more mundane career. Did Ginsberg attain his own level of expectations in his life's work or did the events that led up to the creation of Howl alter his future work? What we are left with in these poets' great works is merely a glimpse, however haunting and beautiful, into two human beings attempt to view life in the most spiritual light attainable. Ginsberg writes: I high on laughing gas I've been here before The odd vibration of The same old universe The universe is a void In which there is a dream hole The dream disappears The hole closes It's the instant of going Into or coming out of Existence that is Important-to catch on To the secret of the magic Box. When I was fifteen years old, I discovered the book of Rimbaud's work in my high school library and was discouraged from reading it by a poet friend of mine twelve years my senior. He,