Conflict Between Palestine and Israel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Conflict Between Palestine and Israel - Essay Example I also discuss the current issues in the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. The fight between Israel and Palestine nation has been and continues to be bloody and yet, both nations have realized that the only chance for peace is compromising politically with the establishment of a Palestinian state that is self-ruled (Gelvin, 2007). The Jewish community occupied and expanded their settlement with about 220,000 populations in the West Bank, which belonged to the Arabs. The Arabs demanded withdrawal from the land because it was initially theirs from 1967. However, the Jews had migrated to Palestine in 1882 and by then, less than 250,000 Arabs lived there. Therefore, the Jews continued to expand their settlement (Gelvin, 2007). The Palestine groups that were involved in politically motivated violence were Hamas, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General demand (PFLP-GC), Abu Nidal Organization and others. Almost all of these groups were founded to destroy Israel using violence. However, in 1993 PLO group renounced their aim by signing the Oslo Declaration of Principles and agreed to Honor a resolution that recognizes Israel’s right of existence. In return, PLO entered West Bank and Palestinians gained control in this area. Groups that objected to these agreements started suicide bombings on Israel. Since 2000, Palestinians have killed thousands of Israelis in terror attacks and in defense; the Israelis have killed over 3,500 Palestinians (Gelvin, 2007). At the beginning of the Oslo process, Israel responded to the violence started by Palestinians by cutting down the flow of workers from Palestine to Israel and strict checking at the boarder. The checkpoints made it difficult for Palestinians to work in Jerusalem or travel between their own towns. After year 2000, the Palestinian raids became severe and following this,

Aqa Business Studies Essay Example for Free

Aqa Business Studies Essay Explain two benefits to them of setting up the business as a partnership. (4 marks) Explain two ways that Expresso Printing Ltd could motivate its two new employees (4 Marks) Explain two possible effects on Good for Us of lowering its prices (4 Marks) Good for Us prides itself in providing good customer service. Explain two ways in which Good for Us could provide good customer service (4 Marks) Explain the benefits to Darren of producing a business plan (4 Marks) Explain two benefits to Darren of aiming his product range at a gap in the market (4 Marks) Explain why the charity uses volunteers in the shop and not paid workers (4 Marks) Explain why the profit or loss made in November 2010 has changed from the ? 50 000 profit made in November 2009. (4 marks) Using the data in Figure 1, calculate the profit or loss made by Atkins Ltd in November 2010. (4 Marks) Explain why it is important and how does it benefit Atkins Ltd for having a high quality product. (4 Marks) Explain one advantage and one disadvantage for Jenny of operating as a franchise. 4 Marks) Explain two possible reasons why A to Z Frames has highly paid workers (4 Marks) Explain how STS would benefit from improving its customer service. (4 Marks) State one other source of finance and explain why it might be suitable for Tony and Rima (4 Marks) Explain the possible effects on Meals for All of using cheaper ingredients (4 Marks) Describe the effect that the opening of the new pizza takeaway might have on two different groups of stakeholders of Marco’s business (4 Marks) Explain what other information Marco would need to consider before deciding whether to reduce his price (4 Marks) Explain two advantages to Budget Signs Ltd of using batch production to produces its large range of standard signs (4 Marks) Explain two advantages to Budget Signs Ltd of using job production to produces its large range of standard signs (4 Marks) Explain two disadvantages to Budget Signs Ltd of using batch production to produces its large range of standard signs (4 Marks) Explain two disadvantages to Budget Signs Ltd of using job production to produces its large range of standard signs (4 Marks) State and explain two reasons why the company mainly employs part – time staff State and explain two reasons why the company mainly employs full – time staff Explain two benefits to them of setting up the business as a company. (4 marks) Explain two benefits to them of setting up the business as a franchise. (4 marks) Explain two benefits to them of setting up the business as a partnership. (4 marks)

David Ricardo :: essays research papers

David Ricardo was born on April 19 1772 in London and was the third son of 17 children. His parents were very successful and his father was a wealthy merchant banker, making a fortune on the London Stock Exchange. When he was 14, Ricardo joined his father's business and showed a good grasp of economic affairs. However, he was disinherited by his parents when in 1793, he married a Quaker, so he set up on his own career as a stockbroker. He continued as a member of the stock exchange, where his ability won him the support of an eminent banking house. His success in this allowed him to retire at the age of 42. This enabled him to pursue his interests in literature and science, particularly in mathematics, chemistry, and geology. Along with Malthus, Ricardo was very concerned about the impact that rising populations would have on the economy. He argued that with more people, more land would have to be cultivated. However, the return from this land would not be constant as the amount of capital available would not grow at the same rate. In fact the land would suffer from diminishing returns. Extra land that was brought into cultivation would become more and more marginal in terms of profitability, and eventually returns would not be enough to attract any further capital. At this point the maximum level of economic rent would have been earned. The knowledge of comparative advantage enables countries to trade with other countries more efficiently and knowing the opportunity cost than are forgone and making the correct choices.It improves diplomatic relations between the trading countries.It also enables us to know which countries are relatively better at producing certain goods as compared to other countries.So,due to this theory,it allows trade between countries to improve their consumption of the goods in the market.

We Need a Retirement Plan

With the way the economy is today, we need all the money we can get especially when we retire. The topic of my paper is â€Å"We do not need a retirement plan because social security will cover our needs when we retire. This is a topic that I strongly disagree with; Social Security alone will not be enough to cover our needs when we retire. Social Security or SSI is a program financed through general revenues; it is designed to help adults who are blind, the elderly and disabled people who have little or no income. SSI provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. Whether you can get SSI depends on your income and things you own. SSI benefits are payable to adults who have limited income and resources, meet the living requirements, and are otherwise eligible. If you don’t fall into any of these categories and you have already retired without a retirement plan, you won’t have a source of income to support yourself. The Federal benefit rate for a SSI payment is $674 dollars, as we all know $674. 0 is not nearly enough to live, and that may only be enough to pay your rent. You will still have other living expenses such as food, bills, and personal items, not to mention health care. Although there is Medicaid, and Medicare but not everyone is eligible to receive those benefits. These are a few reasons why Social Security will not be enough to cover our needs when we retire without a retirement plan. With Social Security there is no guarantee that you will qualify to receive payment. SSI is based on your income, money that you receive such as wedges, other SSI benefits, and pensions. The amount of income you can receive each month and still get SSI depends partly on where you live. Some of the resources used in the qualification process are; real estate, bank accounts, stocks and bonds, and cash. You may be able to receive SSI benefits if your resources are worth no more than $2,000. A couple may be eligible to receive SSI benefits if their resources are worth no more than $3,000. Another big issue with retirement is Health Care. Sure Medical insurance is included when you receive Social Security called Medicare and Medicaid, but again you have to qualify for that as well. You may think that Medicaid and Medicare are the same; actually they are two different programs. Medicaid is a state run program that provides hospital and medical coverage for people with low income and little or no resources. Each state has its own rules about who is eligible and what is covered under Medicaid. The program helps with the cost of health care, but it does not over all medical expenses or the cost of most long-term care. Medicare is financed by a portion of the payroll taxes paid by workers and their employers. It also is financed in part by monthly premiums deducted from Social Security checks. Some people qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare is our country’s health insurance program for people age 65 or older. Certain people younger than age 65 can qualify for Medicare, too, including those who have disa bilities and those who have permanent kidney failure or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease). In order to qualify for Medicare before the age of 65 if; you have been entitled to Social Security disability benefits for 24 months; or you receive a disability pension from the railroad retirement board and meet certain conditions; or you worked long enough in a government job where Medicare taxes were paid and you meet the requirements of the Social Security disability program; or you are the child or the widow(er) age 50, or older, including a divorced widow(er), of someone who has worked long enough in a government job where Medicare taxes were paid and you meet the requirement of the Social Security disability program. During my research I was able to interview 3 people; Thomas Burrell a retired veteran who has SSI and retirement, Kathy Burrell retired from the school system that only has retirement, and Thelma Kelly an elderly woman who is retired but only receives SSI. Mr. Burrell is retired from the military in 1991, retired from the United States Postal Service in 2001; he started to receive SSI benefits in 2001. When I interviewed Mr. Burrell, he had a lot to say about SSI and retirement. Even though he is receiving both, he knows that if he only had one benefit he would not be able to maintain his lifestyle. By Mr. Burrell receiving SSI and retirement he is able to provide for his family. As far as health care goes, Mr. Burrell has Medicare. By him receiving retirement he does not qualify for Medicaid which will cover all of your medical needs. You are not making a lot of money with either the SSI benefit or retirement, but with both combined you will be able to survive. T. Burrell (personal communication, April 6, 2011) Kathy Burrell, who has just retired in January of this year, only has a retirement plan and no SSI benefits. Mrs. Burrell retired through the Florida Retirement System (FRS) and the 401K plan, and being employed in Florida you have to wait 4 months after you retire to access your money. You will need to have some kind of income to last until you receive your full retirement. Mrs. Burrell knows that she is not able to survive on retirement alone. If she didn’t have a husband, after she retired she would have to get another form of income to make ends meet. As far as health care goes, If Mrs. Burrell did not have military insurance from her husband; she would not have or be able to afford it. K. Burrell (personal communication, April 6, 2011) Thelma Kelly a resident of Columbia, South Carolina has been retired for the past 15 years. Mrs. Kelly who is a widow has been receiving SSI benefits from her late husband, and because she is eligible. Mrs. Kelly receives $700. 00 a month, says that it is a blessing that she does not have a house payment because she would not be able to afford it. Mrs. Kelly struggles every month to make her $700. 00 a month check last for food, gas, utility bills, and other personal items. T. Kelly (personal communication, April 6, 2011) In conclusion it would be beneficial to have a retirement plan along with Social Security benefits to be able to support yourself. As mentioned earlier there are a lot of stipulations and requirements in order to qualify for Social Security. Social Security alone will not be enough to cover our needs when we retire.

Delhi Gang Rape Essay

On 16 December 2012 a female physiotherapy intern[2] was beaten and gang raped in Delhi. She died from her injuries thirteen days later while undergoing emergency treatment in Singapore for brain and gastrointestinal damage. After watching a film in South Delhi in the early evening, she and a male companion had boarded a bus, which was being driven as an unauthorized â€Å"joyride†, thinking it was a public bus.[3] The only other passengers on the bus were five men who were friends of the driver.[3] All six, including the driver, were charged in connection with the assaults and have been arrested. After the attack, she was taken to Safdarjang Hospital, received multiple surgeries, and was placed on mechanical ventilation. On 26 December, she was moved to Singapore for further treatment, where she died on 29 December. The incident has generated international coverage and was condemned by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, who called on the Government of India and the Government of Delhi â€Å"to do everything in their power to take up radical reforms, ensure justice and reach out with robust public services to make women’s lives more safe and secure†.[4] Public protests took place in Delhi, where thousands of protesters clashed with security forces. Similar protests took place in major cities throughout the country. Incident The victims, a 23-year old woman and her male friend, were on their way home after watching the film Life of Pi in Saket in South Delhi.[5][6] They boarded a chartered bus at Munirka for Dwarka that was being driven by joyriders at about 9:30 pm. The minor among the accused had called for passengers telling them that it was going towards their destination.[3][7] The woman’s friend became suspicious when the bus deviated from its normal route and its doors were shut. When he objected, the group of six men already on board taunted the couple, asking what they were doing alone at such a late hour.[8] When the male victim tried to intervene, he was beaten, gagged and knocked unconscious with an iron rod. The men dragged the woman to the rear of the bus, beating her with the rod and raping her while the bus driver continued to drive. Medical reports later suggested that the woman suffered serious injuries to her abdomen, intestines and genitals due to the assault, and doctors say that the damage indicates that a blunt object (suspected to be the iron rod) may have been used for penetration.[6] That rod was later described by police as being a rusted, L-shaped implement of the type used as a wheel jack handle.[9] According to the International Business Times, a police spokesman said that the youngest attacker â€Å"sexually abused his victim twice and ripped out her intestines with his bare hands.†[10] According to police reports the woman attempted to fight off her assailants, biting three of the attackers and leaving bite marks on the accused men.[11] After the beatings and rape ended, the attackers threw both the victims from the moving bus. Then the accused allegedly tried to drive the bus over the woman but she was pulled aside by her male friend. One of the perpetrators later cleaned the vehicle. Police impounded it the next day.[11][12] The victims were found by a passerby on the road, partially clothed and unconscious, around 11 pm. The passerby phoned the Delhi Police, who took the couple to a hospital, where the female victim was given emergency treatment and placed on mechanical ventilation.[13] She was found with only 5% of her intestines left inside of her. A doctor at the hospital later said that the â€Å"rod was inserted into her and it was pulled out with so much force that the act brought out her intestines also. That is probably the only thing that explains such severe damage to her intestines.† Victims The female victim was born and raised in Delhi while her parents were from a small village in the Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh. Her father, who sold his agricultural land to educate her, works for a private company as a loader in Delhi.[15] Complying with Indian law, the real name of the victim was initially not released to the media, so pseudonyms were used for her by various media houses instead, including Jagruti(â€Å"awareness†), Amanat (â€Å"treasure†), Nirbhaya (â€Å"fearless one†), and Damini (â€Å"lightning†, after the 1993 Hindi film Damini),[16][17][18] although some media commentators have questioned the judgement of using pseudonyms for her.[17][19] The male victim is 28 years old, from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, and lives in Ber Sarai, New Delhi.[20] Delhi police registered a criminal case against the editor of a Delhi based tabloid for disclosing the female victim’s identity, as such disclosure is an offence under section 228(A) of Indian Penal Code.[21] Shashi Tharoor, union minister, suggested that if the parents had no objection, her identity could be made public, with a view to showing respect for her courageous response by naming future laws after her, but Tharoor’s remark created controversy.[22] Later, her father and brother said that â€Å"if her name is made public for this purpose, they have no objection to it† as well as â€Å"if the government names the revised anti-rape law after her, they have no objection and it would be an honor to her†. Treatment and death On 19 December 2012, the woman’s damaged intestines were resected due to risk of gangrene, and she received intravenous nutrition and medication.[24] On 21 December 2012, the government appointed a committee of physicians to ensure she received the best medical care.[25] By 25 December 2012, she remained intubated, on life support and in critical condition. Doctors stated that the internal bleeding had been controlled to an extent, but her increased bilirubin level (suggesting hepatic dysfunction or hemolysis) was a â€Å"serious cause of concern†.[26] At a cabinet meeting chaired by Manmohan Singh on 26 December, the decision was made to fly her to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore for further care. Mount Elizabeth is a multi-organ transplant speciality hospital.[27][28] The decision to move the patient while she was still in critical condition has been criticised for being purely political. Doctors have questioned the need to transfer an ICU patient for organ transplants that were not scheduled for weeks or even months later.[29][30] Government sources indicate that the Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, was personally behind the decision.[31] Hours earlier, Union Minister P. Chidambaram had stated that the woman was not in a condition to move.[32] Some reports suggest that the decision to shift was taken when it was already clear that she would not survive the next 48 hours.[33] During the six-hour flight by air-ambulance to Singapore, at 30,000 feet (9,100 m), the woman suddenly went into a near collapse. Her blood pressure dipped alarmingly, and doctors on the flight had to create an arterial line to stabilize her. That the doctors were able to perform this procedure in-flight was considered a medical feat.[34] However, the victim never regained consciousness in Singapore.[35] On 28 December 2012, at 11 am (IST), her condition was â€Å"extremely critical† and the Chief Executive Officer of the Mount Elizabeth Hospital said that the woman suffered brain damage, pneumonia, abdominal infection, and that she was â€Å"fighting for her life.†[36] Her condition continued to deteriorate, and she died of a cerebral edema at 4:45 am on 29 December, Singapore Standard Time (2:15 am, 29 December, IST; 8:45 pm, 28 December, UTC).[37] Her body was cremated on 30 December 2012 at Delhi under high police security. The government denied access to the media and the public. The â€Å"fortification† of Delhi was criticised by many, including the main opposition party of India. Alleged perpetrators Police found and arrested some of the suspects within 24 hours.[39] From highway CCTV recordings, a description of the bus, a white privately operated charter bus with a name written on it, and details of the windows, blinds, and seats could be seen. Going to the bus stand where the victims boarded it, other operators identified it as being contracted by a south Delhi private school. They then traced it and found its driver, Ram Singh. Police obtained sketches of the assailants with the help of the male victim, and used a cell phone stolen from the pair to find one of them.[39] Six men have been arrested in connection with the incident: Ram Singh, the bus driver, and his brother, Mukesh Singh, were both arrested in Rajasthan; Vinay Sharma, an assistant gym instructor, was arrested in Delhi,[40] as was Pawan Gupta, a fruit seller; Mohammad Afroz (aka Raju),[41] a 17 years and 8 month old minor[42] and native of Uttar Pradesh was arrested by the police at Anand Vihar terminal in Delhi; Akshay Thakur, a man who had gone from Bihar to Delhi seeking work, was arrested in Aurangabad in Bihar.[40][43] The group had been eating and drinking together and â€Å"having a party† earlier that day.[3] Mohammad Afroz (aka Raju) had only met the others that day.[42] Although the charter bus which Ram Singh drove on weekdays was not permitted to pick up public passengers[12] or even to operate in Delhi because of its tinted windows,[44] they decided to take it out â€Å"to have some fun†.[3] With Mukesh Singh driving, they first picked up a carpenter who was charged Rs. 10 for a ticket and then robbed of Rs. 8,000 and ejected in South Delhi.[44] They then turned back and a half hour later, picked up the couple who were charged Rs. 10 each. Ram Singh was presented before the Metropolitan Magistrate on 18 December 2012.[45] Mukesh Singh, who was placed in Tihar Jail after his arrest, was assaulted by other inmates and was kept in solitary confinement for his own protection.[46] Ram and Mukesh Singh are from Ravidas camp, a slum in South Delhi.[47] Ram Singh suffers from a substantial disability in his right arm, sustained after a bus accident for which he had sought compensation.[48] He refused to participate in an identification process.[44] Shortly after the attacks, Gupta said he accepted his guilt and should be hanged.[49][50]

How to Edit a Book 101 a 3-Step Guide to a Bestselling Novel

How to Edit a Book 101 a 3-Step Guide to a Bestselling Novel How to Edit a Book: a 3-Step Guide to a Bestselling Novel So you’ve finally gotten to the last page of your draft and have just typed, â€Å"The End.† Congratulations! Is it time to pop open the champagne?Not quite. Authors who have successfully completed a draft now face an even more important task: the edit of the manuscript. If your first draft has taught you what you want to say, this is the step that will craft it into a story that’s actually worth reading.To help you learn how to edit a book, this guide will walk you through the process of self-editing. Feel free to click here to download our editing checklist as we dive in.Do you really need to edit your book?The short answer is: yes.Editing is the act of refining a piece of written work. Contrary to popular belief, it’s a completely different skillset from writing - one that requires objectivity, keen insight into story mechanics, and a certain level of ruthlessness. 150 Famous Writing Quotes to Help You During Every Stage of Writing Read post Here's the long answer: every book benefits from an edit, simply because no story is perfect from the get-go.  As Stephen King said: â€Å"When your story is ready for a rewrite, cut it to the bone. Get rid of every ounce of excess fat. This is going to hurt. Revising a story down to the bare essentials is always a little like murdering children, but it must be done.†Ã‚  Saying that your book doesn’t need editing is like walking outside without any clothes on: you might be able to get to the grocery store, but nobody's going to want to serve you.With that said, you do have a number of people (and a support system) to whom you can turn when it comes to editing, which leads us to the next section. "When your story is ready for a rewrite, cut it to the bone. This is going to hurt." - Stephen King Who can properly edit your book?In a traditional publishing house, manuscripts generally go through three rounds of revisions: a developmental edit, a copy edit - which often includes line editing- and a proofread. Like the crafting of a diamond ring, this rigorous process turns out the polished books that you find in stores.Self-publishers, while not always privy to in-house editors, have a number of options at their disposal. Here are three ways that writers can go about editing their bestseller-in-the-making.👠¤ The Self-EditA self-edit is pretty self-explanatory: it’s a thorough edit of your manuscript that you conduct yourself. You’d take it upon yourself to trim your plot, expand character arcs, spot crutch words, and manage all of the other elements that go into editing a book.This approach is challenging if you’re serious about editing, simply because it’s hard to be objective about your own work. If you choose to self-edit, we recommend th at you read through your entire draft twice: once to resolve story snags, and the second time to proofread. (The editing checklist at the end of this post will help you out.)👠¥Beta ReadersA beta reader provides feedback from the perspective of a casual reader. Think of beta readers for your book as the equivalent of a focus group for a feature film: they anticipate the reading experience of your future audience.A beta reader can point out concerns that you might not have caught by yourself. (Such as: â€Å"What happened to Alexandra? I thought she was the most interesting character,† or â€Å"The plot twist in this chapter was weird and confused me for the rest of the book.†) You can ask anyone to be your beta reader, whether it’s a friend, family member, or someone who you met through an online writing group. To dig deeper into this subject, check out our guide to beta readers and where to find them. And, if you're curious about what a sensitivity reader actually does, check out this guide on the topic.📠Professional EditWorking with a professional editor on your book results in a professional edit. As a result of the rising freelance economy, experienced editors are much more accessible to the general public than before. (As an example, Reedsy’s marketplace is home to more than 1,000 professional editors - many of whom hail from the Big 5 publishers.) When you’re ready to revisit your manuscript, feel free to use the points below to help you edit. Note that this checklist isn’t comprehensive (again, we stress that you need the eyes and experience of a professional editor to get a qualified edit). But it includes some key guiding questions to guide you through the process.1. The â€Å"Big Picture† StageðŸ“â€" Editing Checklist for: StoryTheme and conflict__ Is a compelling dramatic question present throughout the book? __ Is the theme well-developed? Clear and compelling? __ Can you sufficiently state your story in a single sentence: ? __ Is the central conflict clear? Is it resolved by the time the denouement comes around? __ Does the conflict escalate over the course of the book?Story arc __ Do you have a strong beginning, middle, end? __ Does your exposition effectively set the story? Introduce the cast of characters? Impart enough backstory? __ Is your rising action triggered by a compelling inciting incident? Does it escalate the conflict and raise the tension? __ Is your climax satisfying? Does it successfully combine both external and internal journeys? __ Does your falling action effectively bridge the climax and the resolution? __ Does the denouement wrap everything up? __ Is the story structure clear and effective? __ Is the pace of each act in the narrative arc appropriate?📈 Editing Checklist for: Plot __ Is the plot engaging? Believable? __ Does the plot maintain forward movement in each chapter? __ Are all major plot threads resolved by the denouement? __ Are all subplots resolved by the denouement? __ Are there too many subplots? Do the subplots make sense in the context of the story or do they distract from the main plotline? __ Do the plot points flow logically? __ Do the plot points sync with the narrative arc and theme that you want to convey? __ Do the plot twists make sense? Are there plot holes in the story? __ Does the plot match the conventions of your genre?ðŸâ€" £Ã¯ ¸  Editing Checklist for: CharactersProtagonist __ Does the protagonist have strengths and weaknesses? Does this interact with the story appropriately? __ Does the protagonist have defining mannerisms? Clear character traits? __ Does the protagonist have story motivation? __ Does the protagonist have external and internal story goals? Are they visible throughout the story? __ Are the stakes for the protagonist clear and substantial? __ Does the protagonist act believably in each scene? Is the protagonist’s behavior consistent? __ Chart the protagonist’s character arc over the course of the story. Is it clearly and compellingly conveyed in the story?Antagonist __ Does the antagonist have a story motivation? __ Does the antagonist have a believable backstory? __ Is the relationship between the protagonist and the antagonist clearly defined?Supporting cast __ Is the supporting cast fleshed out? __ Do the secondary characters have a reason to be there? Do they reveal key details? Advance the plot? Motivate the protagonist? Help define the setting? __ Are interactions between the secondary character and the protagonist believable and well-placed?â› °Ã¯ ¸  Editing Checklist for: Setting __ Does the setting make sense for the purposes of the story? Does it matter to the plot? __ Are descriptions of the setting rendered effectively and appropriately? __ Is a clear sense of place and time conveyed in each scene? __ Is the worldbuilding unified? Consistent? __ Does the setting impact the conflict and plot? __ Fact-check each scene in relation to the setting. Are objects, props, mannerisms, and behaviors native to the time and place of the story?2. The â€Å"Scene Level† Stage🎠¬ Editing Checklist for: Scenes and Chapters __ Is the opening scene effective? __ Does it start in the right place? __ Does it have a hook? Is the hook immediately gripping? __ Are there are a sufficient number of scenes? __ Are the scenes appropriately paced to grab the readers’ attention? Are the chapter lengths effective? __ Does each scene serve a purpose in the story? __ Is each scene oriented in terms of time and place? __ Are scene transitions smooth?💠¬ Editing Checklist for: Dialogue __ Does the dialogue serve a purpose in each scene? Does it provide information? Advance the plot? Help the pace of the story? __ Does each character have a distinct voice? __ Is the dialogue believable for the time and place of the story? __ Is the word choice reflective of the time period? __ Does the dialogue use action beats to control the pace of the scene? __ Are there excess dialogue tags? Excess adverbs in the tags? __ Search for words other than â€Å"said† and â€Å"asked† in your manuscript. Is their use absolutely necessary?âÅ" Ã¯ ¸  Editing Checklist for: CompositionVoice and Point of View __ Is the narrator’s voice consistent? __ Is the voice appropriate for the story? __ Is foreshadowing used effectively, if applicable? Metaphors? Similes? __ Is the viewpoint character always clear? Is it consistent between scenes? __ Is the point of view suitable for each scene? Is there a better alternative for a viewpoint character in any given scene?Prose __ Is purple prose present in your story? __ Does each sentence contribute something to the story? __ Is the backstory of the world or characters efficiently woven into the story? __ Do you â€Å"show, don’t tell† your dialogue, characters, and setting?3. The â€Å"Line-Edit†__ Check for the use of passive voice and replace with active voice, whenever appropriate. ⠝Å' The ball was kicked. âÅ"ӕ ¸  She kicked the ball.__ Limit the use of adverbs in your dialogue tags. (Show, don’t tell!) ⠝Å' â€Å"Why did you eat my turkey sandwich?† said Harry angrily. âÅ"ӕ ¸  Harry upended the table. â€Å"Why did you eat my turkey sandwich?†__ Limit the use of weak verbs + adverbs in general. ⠝Å' Leonard ran quickly to school. âÅ"ӕ ¸  Leonard sprinted to school.__ Delete vague and subjective words. ⠝Å' â€Å"could,† â€Å"might,† â€Å"maybe,† â€Å"more,† â€Å"poor,† â€Å"good,† â€Å"excellent,† â€Å"bad,† â€Å"some,† â€Å"multiple,† etc.__ Delete crutch words. ⠝Å' â€Å"really,† â€Å"literally,† â€Å"suddenly,† â€Å"simply,† â€Å"just,† â€Å"a little,† â€Å"almost,† etc.__ Check for the use of other dialogue tags and replace with â€Å"said† and â€Å"asked,† unless absolutely necessary. ⠝Å' â€Å"Did you just stab me with this thimble?† asserted Amber. âÅ"ӕ ¸  â€Å"Did you just stab me with this thimble?† asked Amber.__ Replace all â€Å"hidden† verbs. ⠝Å' Offer an explanation âÅ"ӕ ¸  Explain__ Use â€Å"telling† words such as â€Å"felt,† â€Å"saw,† â€Å"knew,† â€Å"was,† and â€Å"seemed† sparingly. ⠝Å' His head was in pain. âÅ"ӕ ¸  His head throbbed.__ Delete all instances of clichà ©s in the text. ⠝Å' It was a dark and stormy night.__ Check for excessive repetition (like so) in the text. ⠝Å' Go to ⠝Å' She shrugged .__ Check for instances of overly complicated language. ⠝Å' In close proximity âÅ"ӕ ¸  Near__ Check that all of your dialogue is formatted correctly. ⠝Å' â€Å"I love you.† Said Pam. âÅ"ӕ ¸  â€Å"I love you,† said Pam.How much editing is enough?You might be visualizing an endless amount of editing right now - or a future in which you either faint from exhaustion or go blind from fixating on commas. Needless to say, that wouldn’t do any author any good! So how many rounds of editing is enough?Most editors will tell you: as many rounds as the book needs. That said, three passes at the manuscript - maximum - generally should get you somewhere. But it depends on the book: some stories are structurally sound and could benefit more from a thorough copy-edit, while other stories will require multiple takes during the â€Å"big picture† stage.However, a word of caution: resist the urge to over-edit. Since many authors are perfectionists, it can be tempting to edit until the book is flawless. But you should remember that â€Å"perfection† is actually unachievable. More importantly, you’ll risk stagnation if you over-edit. At so me point, you will want to put a book out into the world. The only way to do that is to curb the impulse to keep editing and put your manuscript down - once and for all.Download: The Ultimate Self-Editing ChecklistIf you'd prefer to have a checklist right next to you as you edit your book, we've got you covered. Simply enter your email address below to download our Ultimate Self-Editing Checklist in PDF format!How Much Does It Cost to Self-Publish a Book in 2019? Read post Can you get away with editing a book by yourself? It’s possible, but it’s certainly not ideal. Most authors are too close to the source material to edit objectively. A better solution is to find another pair of critical eyes to honestly review your book, whether that’s a beta reader or a professional editor. The average cost of an editor is between $1,000 to $3,000 - an investment that just might make the difference between an average book and a bestseller.

50 Idioms About Fruits and Vegetables

50 Idioms About Fruits and Vegetables 50 Idioms About Fruits and Vegetables 50 Idioms About Fruits and Vegetables By Mark Nichol Food, one of the necessities of life, figures often in traditional expressions. Fruits and vegetables, specifically, account for some of the most familiar idioms, including the following. Fruit 1. To compare â€Å"apples and oranges† is to uselessly compare unlike things. 2. The â€Å"apple of (one’s) eye† is a favorite or well-like person. 3. To say that â€Å"the apple never falls far from the tree† is to suggest that a person’s personality traits are close to those of the person’s parents. 4. â€Å"As American as apple pie† means that something is quintessentially representative of American culture or values. 5. â€Å"(As) sure as God made little green apples† suggests certainty. 6–12. To be a â€Å"bad apple† or a â€Å"rotten apple† is to be a bad person. Meanwhile, to say that â€Å"one bad (or rotten) apple spoils the whole bunch (or barrel)† implies that one flawed element or person can undermine an effort or a group, and to be â€Å"rotten to the core† is to be thoroughly bad or worthless. 13–14. â€Å"How do you like them apples?† (or â€Å"How about them apples?†) is a neutral or taunting comment, depending on the context, that refers to an undesirable state or situation. 15–16. To â€Å"polish (one’s) apple† is to flatter someone; a flatterer is an â€Å"apple polisher.† 17. To â€Å"upset the apple cart† is to ruin plans. 18. A â€Å"banana republic† is a weak or corrupt country. 19–20. A â€Å"second banana† is a subordinate, and the â€Å"top banana† is the leader. 21–22. To â€Å"go bananas† is to become excited or crazed, and â€Å"to drive (someone) bananas† is to annoy or irritate someone. 23. Something in â€Å"cherry condition† is excellently maintained or restored. 24. To â€Å"cherry-pick† is to select carefully. 25. â€Å"Life is a bowl of cherries† means that life is easy. 26. To â€Å"not give a fig† is to be unconcerned. 27. A â€Å"lemon† is a flawed or worthless item; the idiom often refers to a vehicle. 28. â€Å"Melon† is sometimes used as slang for head or, vulgarly, for large breasts. 29. To say that someone or something is a â€Å"peach† means that they are beautiful, excellent, or sweet. 30. When everything is â€Å"peaches and cream,† life is going well. 31. A â€Å"plum† assignment or job is a highly coveted one. 32. One is said to have â€Å"sour grapes† when one belittles something one covets but cannot obtain. Vegetables 33–36. To be â€Å"full of beans† is to talk nonsense, and to â€Å"not know beans† is to be ignorant or uninformed. To be â€Å"not worth a hill of beans† is to be worthless, and to â€Å"spill the beans† is to tell a secret. 37–38. To â€Å"dangle a carrot† before someone is to encourage them with an incentive, and the carrot in â€Å"carrot and stick† is an incentive or reward. (The stick is the punishment.) 39. A â€Å"carrot top† is a red-haired person. 40. Someone â€Å"as cool as a cucumber† is very self-possessed under pressure. 41. To â€Å"pass an olive branch† is to make peaceful or reconciliatory overtures. 42. A â€Å"pea-brained† person is stupid. 43. Fog or something else very dense can be described as being â€Å"as thick as pea soup.† 44. To be â€Å"like two peas in a pod† is to be very close with or similar to someone. 45. To be â€Å"in a pickle† is to experience complication. 46. A â€Å"couch potato† is someone who spends an excessive amount of time seated watching television or playing video games. 47–48. A â€Å"hot potato† is a controversial or difficult issue, but to â€Å"drop (someone or something) like a hot potato† is to abandon the person or thing. 49. Something that is â€Å"small potatoes† is insignificant. 50. â€Å"Salad days† refers to the youthful period of one’s life. Fruits and vegetables figure occasionally in figurative references to color, such as â€Å"beet red† (the color of embarrassment), or descriptions of specific hues, like â€Å"cherry red,† as well as other comparisons, including â€Å"pear shaped.† The words fruit and vegetable themselves appear occasionally in idiomatic phrases, including the following: To â€Å"bear fruit† is to produce results. â€Å"Forbidden fruit† is something attractive but not allowed. The â€Å"fruits of one’s labors† are the results of the person’s efforts. To â€Å"become a vegetable† is to be rendered physically disabled or to virtually cease physical activity. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Rhetorical Devices for Rational WritingWriting the Century10 Functions of the Comma