The Rudolph Family Weekend

The Rudolph Family Weekend One week ago, everyones parents were here on campus, and I mean everyones but mine. In mathspeak, for all MIT students not equal to Kate Rudolph, the set of parents of those students is a subset of the set of people who were on campus for Family Weekend last weekend. And not only that! Brothers, sisters, grandparents! Okay, I exaggerate. I wasnt the only one whose parents didnt come, but sometimes it felt that way, and I got really homesick. I realized sometime last weekend that Ive been here for what is now over nine weeks, the longest Ive ever been away from home. I know people who go home or see their parents nearly every weekend, but those people are from Connecticut or New York. The trip to Chicago just isnt worth it for a weekend. But my Family Weekend was not completely lonely. My Uncle Jim and Aunt Maura and cousins Luke, Ally, and Erin live in the suburbs of Boston, and they came into Cambridge last weekend to spend the afternoon with me. That is once they found me Aside: The Story of My Phone: At some point several weeks ago, the screen on my phone developed a giant, spider-web shaped crack. The entire screen went black, except for a little triangle at the bottom, through which I could just barely make out what was going on, and since I have the button-sequences of my phone mostly memorized I was able to continue sending (poorly edited) texts and making phone calls. An interesting side effect of this was that I couldnt tell time for about a week, because my phone usually acts as my watch. My parents back in Illinois heard about this, and came to the rescue. You see, this summer, my sister threw her phone off a roller coaster. (Where by she threw it off a roller coaster I mean it accidentally fell off the roller coaster, completely unintentionally but the first one is funner to say. (Funner. It is a word. (Also, nested parentheses!))) The amusement park found it and sent it back to our house, but not before Laura had bought a replacement phone on ebay. So the phone my parents sent to my rescue was the eBay-phone, And the eBay-phone has issues. For some reason it uses a different service than phones do now, so it is continually looking for service and runs out of charge in about 12 hours. And sometimes, even when its fully charged and says it has signal, it wont make or receive calls or texts. Which is exactly what was happening last Saturday afternoon when Aunt Maura was trying to call me! End of Aside Eventually, the Boston Rudolphs caught up with me, and I took them on a tour of my floor, Tetazoo, and then we went on a walk through the MIT campus. There were lots of Family Weekend events going on, housemaster brunches and department-sponsored events and whatnot. And what did my cousins and I end up doing? I mean, wouldn’t you rather play beach volleyball on the pedestals in Lobby 7 and teach your imaginary class arithmetic in 32-123? Thanks to Uncle Jim and Aunt Maura for the super-cute video.

The Odyssey By Homer, The Blind Poet Demodocus Essay

Although viewed as an intangible, inexplicable phenomenon, power has been vital to every civilization since the creation of man. It has mesmerized monarchs and aristocrats, while motivating the poorest of the poor, all in hopes of harnessing this unique concept. Specifically, relational power has been a strong influence, relying on the personal connection an individual can create with groups of people. No era or nation has been exempt from this and it has manifested itself through totalitarian regimes, strong central governments, and gaps between the rich and the poor. In particular, this concept of power has been evident in a multitude of ancient myths in which power is wielded by mortals through a variety of different mediums such as rhetoric, brute strength, and intelligence which highlights the significant themes a society holds in high regard. Certain forms of rhetoric have been able to wield a unique type of power. In the Odyssey by Homer, the blind poet Demodocus sings for the Phaeacian royal court about the war in Troy. Demodocus â€Å"made them see [the Trojan War] happen† with his mastery of language (Odyssey, VIII, 541). Although he does not have his own individual sight, his supernatural ability makes up for up for this weakness. Demodocus is blessed by the gods to be able to make others see which has its own merit because of its potential power. In this case, he paints the scene of the Trojan war when he sings about it with precise detail and truth. His audience canShow MoreRelatedThe Odyssey by Homer1210 Words   |  5 Pages Homer’s â€Å"The Odyssey† takes place ten years after the events in â€Å"The Iliad†, to which the Odyssey is an indirect sequel, and the fall of Troy; even though the story is believed to have been composed some time during the eight century B.C.E. it is estimat ed to be set sometime between 1300 and 1000 B.C.E. in Mycenaean Greece during the Bronze age. In this novel all Greek heroes have returned home after the fall of Troy, except for Odysseus who after a three year journey has been held captive by theRead MoreEssay about Homers The Odyssey1646 Words   |  7 PagesHomers The Odyssey The Odyssey is a companion to The Iliad, a story of the Trojan War. Both The Iliad and The Odyssey are epic poems written by Homer. In The Odyssey, Homer relates the misadventures of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, that occur during the decade following the defeat of Troy. In doing so, the fates of his fellow warriors are also made known. The Odyssey begins on Mount Olympus, in the palace of Zeus, king of the gods, where a discussion takes place regarding the woes of humans andRead MoreOdyssey and Odysseus Outstanding Qualities2184 Words   |  9 Pagesï » ¿Odyssey Review/Essay Questions 1.What aspects of social and political life in Homeric times are reflected in the â€Å"Odyssey†? =The aspects in the social and political life in Homeric times that are reflected in the Odyssey are the leadership and hierarchy. These are depicted by kings, warriors and peasants who sometimes live un-heroic simple life.Other than that it shows the culture of the Greeks wherein if you will court a lady,you should bring gifts. 2.What is the purpose of the many allusionRead MoreComparing Virgil s Aeneid And Homer s Odyssey2766 Words   |  12 PagesJourney, fate, conflict and divine intervention demonstrate the morals and ideas of the age and cultures in which both Virgil and Homer lived. The lives of the main characters, Odysseus and Aeneas must fulfill their destiny with direct interference from the Gods and Goddesses. With the gods and goddess not always sharing the same motives or best interest of the main character would make the journey to achieve their destiny extremely difficult. The gods and goddess can be vengeful just as much asRead MoreThe Odyssey Study Guide2304 Words   |  10 Pagesï » ¿Study Guide Questions: Homer’s Odyssey Directions: Provide clear and accurate responses to the following questions. Incorporate quoted evidence for support , provide page numbers, and insightful analysis (how or why the information/quote is important). Use blue/black ink and make your responses legible. Book I 1. What does the invocation (the first 13 lines) say the poem as a whole will emphasize? 2. What first impression does this book give us of the gods? How much of a roleRead MoreOdyssey Historical Background6500 Words   |  26 PagesThe Odyssey ~ Background Information * The novel covers a 10 year period. * The novel was written approximately in 720 B.C. * The novel takes place in 1230 B.C. ~ during the Bronze age. * The Iliad (written first) and The Odyssey are based on historical events that took place about 1230 B.C. * Both novels are considered epic poems * The Odyssey is defined as a journey. This is the story of Odysseus’ journey back home after the Trojan War. From The Odyssey, Homer chose theRead MoreEssay on The Odyssey21353 Words   |  86 PagesThe Odyssey Set in ancient Greece, The Odyssey is about the hero Odysseus long-awaited return from the Trojan War to his homeland, Ithaca, after ten years of wandering. The current action of The Odyssey occupies the last six weeks of the ten years, and the narrative includes many places - Olympus, Ithaca, Pylos, Pherae, Sparta, Ogygia, and Scheria. In Books 9-12, Odysseus narrates the story of his travels in the years after the fall of Troy, and this narrative includes other far-flung

Edgar Allen Poe Essay - 709 Words

Edgar Allen Poe Edgar Allen Poe: A Brilliant Writer Edgar Allen Poe was one of the most brilliant writers of the nineteenth century. His short stories and poems consist of horror, mortality, romantic struggle, and psychological concept. Poe’s tales labeled him as a master in his study of instability of self-control, the restrain of emotion, and access of feeling. His literary works were based on his personal background; therefore, many have similar characteristics. Poe was a manic depressant, and frequently wrote while under the influence of morphine and alcohol. Poe gives an example of his influenced writing in the story Ligeia. The story portrays Ligeia and her husband as opium addicts (Bonaparte, 236).†¦show more content†¦For example, The Raven portrayed a man mourning over his lost wife, Lenore. Other critics believe his thoughts on romance are based on the women that were involved in his lifetime. For instances, To Helen 1831, could define the relationship between Poe and his foster mother (Davidson,32). The eye is a horrific symbol in some of Poe’s stories. Poe’s focus of the cat’s eye in The Black Cat was to show the insanity of the husband. Maybe Poe uses the focus of the eye because the eye is considered to be a window to our soul (Rose). Most of his stories have a continual motive of obsessive-compulsive behavior. For instance, the narrator in the Tell Tale Heart was obsessed with the beating of the hideous heart! Or in the Black Cat the character was obsessed with the killing the cat. In both of those stories the narrators was not afraid of the police, yet their presence made the characters lose their insanity. That is a characteristic of someone that is compulsive, and will act without thinking of the consequences. Poe’s characters often recall visions that they see in dreams. Edward Davidson acknowledges, â€Å" Poe sets forth the dream not as a refuge from the world’s chiding, but as the region of understanding and â€Å"truth† of which this known world is a mere shadow†(Davidson 11). Poe rarely expressesShow MoreRelated Edgar Allen Poe1501 Words   |  7 PagesEdgar Allen Poe Edgar Allen Poe was a great writer and made many contributions to the works of literature. He is known as the father of the American short story and also the father of the detective story. To understand Poe’s literary contributions, his early life, literacy life, and works must be examined. Each aspect of his life revolves around the other. Edgar Allen Poe was born in Boston on January 19, 1809. He was born to a Southern family who belonged in a traveling companyRead More Edgar Allen Poe Essay860 Words   |  4 PagesEdgar Allen Poe Edgar Allen Poe is a writer of the 1800’s. He has written many classics and has a unique style. Edgar fits into a gothic romance style that was prevalent at the time of his writing. Science at the time was making leaps and bounds and often scientists were immoral and hypocritical. This is reflected in Edgar’s sonnet to science were science has been destroying all that Edgar finds wonderful in the world. Edgar has a tough life with many losses which is also reflectedRead MoreEdgar Allen Poe And King1063 Words   |  5 Pages Casandra Crawford Mrs. Dean English 11 March 14, 2015 Poe and King What is thought of when the word ‘Horror’ is said. One would usually think of a scary clown, an ax murderer, and demons. Many minds would wander over to the brilliant horror author, Stephen King, and his many wondrous villains. Many intellectuals would have briefly wandered over to Edgar Allen Poe, and his gift to entice the readers into his stories. Poe and King are both monarchs of the Horror genre and it would be very easy toRead More Edgar Allen Poe Essay1637 Words   |  7 PagesEdgar Allen Poe Edgar Allen Poes life was bombarded with misery, financial problems, and death but he still managed to become a world-renowned writer. Although he attended the most prestigious of schools he was often looked over as a writer and poet during his career. His stories were odd and misunderstood during their time. However, now they are loved a read by millions. On January 19, 1809 Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts at a lodging house. His parents David and ElizabethRead MoreThe Raven By Edgar Allen Poe1233 Words   |  5 Pagesproper use of it a poem may not be as strong as others. Poetry is a form of art, and a poet uses language as a painter would use color to portray their art. Edgar Allen Poe is one of the greatest poets in history because his mastery of literary elements such as allusion, allegory, symbolism, and figurative language. â€Å"The Raven† by Edgar Allen Poe is a fascinating poem in which he displays excellent use of language. There are many symbols in this poem which help the reader understand the change in theRead MoreThe Death Of Edgar Allen Poe1165 Words   |  5 PagesEdgar Allen Poe had an unusual and complex relationship with the concept of death throughout his lifetime. Having been born into a family of traveling actors Poe’s unhealthy obsession spawned from a very young and impressionable age. Edgar’s dissociation from the tragedy of death was due to the fact that he would watch his mother kill herself on stage night after night; pigs blood filling her corset as the curtains drawn to close. During those two years Poe learned that death wasn’t final andRead MoreThe Raven By Edgar Allen Poe1494 Words   |  6 PagesIn 1844, Edgar Allen Poe published one of his most famous poems â€Å"The Raven.† â€Å"The Raven† is about a man reading books trying to keep his mind off a woman named Lenore he loved that died. Later, while he is napping, he wakes up from a knocking on the door. He gets up and opens the door of his chamber, but no one is there. He goes to his window then opens the shutters. A raven flies right in and sits on a bust of Pallas, goddess of wisdom, on top of his chamber door. The narrator sits there askingRead MoreEssay on Edgar Allen Poe763 Words   |  4 PagesEdgar Allen Poe Edgar Allen Poe, an America writer, was known as a poet and critic but was most famous as the master of short stories, particularly tales of the mysterious and the macrabe. The literary merits of Poe’s writings have been debated since his death, but his works have continued to be popular and many American and European writers have declared their artistic debt to him. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Poe was orphaned in his early childhood and was raised by John Allen, a successfulRead MoreThe Symbolism Of Edgar Allen Poe1491 Words   |  6 PagesSymbolism in Edgar Allen Poe’ Works -14090304 Maggie æâ€" ¹Ã¥ ­ Ã¦â€¡ ¿Fang Ziyi- As a master of short stories of horror, Edgar Allan Poe is knowledgeable, learned and imaginative. He could skillfully manipulate the words in his literary works to create everything people can think of. The masterful use of the symbols, objects intensify the readers’ nerve as the typical elements of horror in Poe’s short stories, and therefore it is also a feature which makes Poe s stories different from other writers. In Edgar AllenRead MoreEdgar Allen Poe Poem1111 Words   |  4 Pagesits autumn tint of gold, From the lightning in the sky As it passed me flying by, From the thunder and the storm, And the cloud that took the form (When the rest of Heaven was blue) Of a demon in my view - Edgar Allan Poe Alone, the simple yet complex poem by Edgar Allan Poe, can be viewed to be born from many different origins. What we do know about the poem is that it is simply beautiful. Even though its beauty is known by the contrasting metaphors and what not, we do have to take notice

Annotated Bibliography Arts Education Free Essays

Arts Education in America: An Annotated Bibliography Statement of Scope: The purpose of this bibliography is to attain information from credible sources on arts programs in schools. The goal is to provide enough information so that the reader is then able to form their own opinions on the benefits, problems, and policies on arts programs at varying levels of education. Those looking to find detailed information will find this bibliography to be a good starting point. We will write a custom essay sample on Annotated Bibliography: Arts Education or any similar topic only for you Order Now Parsad, B. , and Spiegelman, M. 2012. Arts Education in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools: 1999–2000 and 2009–10 (NCES 2012–014). National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U. S. Department of Education. Washington, DC. Web. 24 Jan. 2013 This source is a presentation of unbiased information about both the overall arts education programs and specific sections including: visual arts, music, dance, and theater/drama. The report utilizes a plethora of charts, graphs, and other visual aids to help organize and present the information. Parsad and Spiegelman first present their findings on overall arts education programs including the percentages of schools offering visual arts, music, dance and theater classes. They then dedicate ten to fifteen pages discussing the particulars of each section of the arts listed above. There is so much information in this article that it would be great for someone looking for a broad spectrum understanding of arts education programs. The visual aids complement the information presented and would be easy to incorporate into a variety of works. For someone who is looking to get very specific information about a specific program then this would be a good source to start with, the way the report is divided makes it very easy to find information on a specific sections of an arts program, i. e. music or drama. It would provide the reader with enough information that they could ask their own questions and be able to look further into a specific topic. Catterall, Dumais, and Hampden-Thompson. March 2012. The arts and achievement in at-risk youth : findings from four longitudinal studies. National Endowment for the Arts. Research Report #55). Web. 24 Jan. 2013. This research report is a presentation of years of studies conducted by the National Endowment for the Arts and similar organizations, most being government funded. The authors arrange the report in such a way that the bulk of the report is given through the use of visual graphs and charts, which are accompanied by conclusive statements like â€Å"Teenagers and young adult s of low socioeconomic status (SES) who have a history of in-depth arts involvement show better academic outcomes than do low-SES youth who have less arts involvement. They earn better grades and demonstrate higher rates of college enrollment and attainment. † (12) Most of the graphs simply relate percentages of students with low and high levels of art engagement to achieve certain things like high school graduation, entering a bachelors program, and attaining a steady professional level career. For every study and graph presented or reviewed there is clearly cited sources, if any confusion remains the appendix and cited pages are very clear about how to find more information. Being that this is a report of findings from a national organization it is not biased to or for support of arts programs. For anyone looking for specific statistics to use in a presentation or report of their own, this research report could be very helpful. As previously stated the bulk of the information is presented through graphs and charts that utilize percentages, and is therefore very easy to take and use in a presentation without having to do much work yourself. For someone looking for a more scholarly breakdown of the benefits of arts education on high-risk students this report will not be as helpful, as it would be time consuming to trace the information presented back to the original sources. Dwyer, M. Christine. 2011. Reinvesting in Arts Education: Winning America’s Future through Creative Schools. President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Web. 24 Jan. 2013. The reports emphasizes the essential role that arts education programs play in improving student engagement and building creativity. Dwyer discusses, in a lengthy and wordy overview, the current Arts Education programs and policies shortcomings. â€Å"It is widely agreed that the U. S. public education system is not adequately serving a significant portion of our nation’s children and that public K-12 schools must change dramatically o achieve the Administration’s goal that the United States become a global leader in postsecondary attainment by 2020†¦ School leaders and teachers will need to step up to the challenge of finding new ways to engage many more students in meaningful learning†¦ † (27) More importantly, this report discusses possible solutions such as reinvesti ng in arts education, and argues for creating arts-rich schools that can engage students in ways that complement the study of the arts and other traditional subjects such as literature, history, science, and mathematics. Another key takeaway from this report is it shows readers the link between arts education and achievement in other subjects. Being that this source is a report by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, it attempts to present evidence to support the positions of the president and his corresponding political party. As political and wordy as this report is it would most likely benefit someone looking into the politics side of arts education, it would not be as helpful for someone looking for developmental and long term benefits of art involvement in schools. Rabkin, Hedberg. 2011. Arts Education in America: What the Declines Mean for Arts Participation. Based on the 2008 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts. National Endowment for the Arts. (Research Report #52). Web. 24 Jan. 2013. This report presents its findings after researching important question related to arts education in America. Questions like: Has participation in arts programs declined? What does it mean for teachers and students? How has this affected participation in other extracurricular activities? How does this affect support for programs? The article presents the questions to the reader and then follows up with information that supports both positive and negative claims about the answer. Charts are used when needed to simplify information into an easily digestible visual aid. There are numerous sources used as evidence for the information presented, as well as suggestions for further investigation into the questions presented. This report has a very neutral stance towards the information presented. There is good information presented for varying arguments and the ultimate decision is left to the reader. This source would be a fair report to use in a work, especially if in an argumentative essay you need information for the view that opposes yours. However for someone looking for highly specific information this report will only be useful for an introduction into the questions being asked about the national education programs. Oxtoby, David W. 2012. The Place of Arts in Liberal Education. Liberal Education, v98 n2 p36-41 Spr 2012. Oxtoby uses a great deal of logic to explain his opinion on the place of arts in liberal education and he uses statistics to support his views. In his article, he states that diversity in the curriculum is a keystone to success in any liberal education program. He also claims that part of that diversity needs to include a program where students can express their creativity. Being able to express their creativity and the stimulation provided by arts programs lead to more successful students, both in academics, community involvement, and professional work environments. This article is a good source of simple and sound logic in support of arts programs being included in all liberal education. Oxtoby’s statements and presentation of the information is biased towards supports arts programs, but he always includes evidence to support his ideas. Also, while he does not approve of excluding arts in liberal education there is never any negativity in his statements, only more supporting evidence for his ideas. Some readers will find this article to be dry and uninteresting unless they already have some knowledge and opinions on the place of arts in education programs. How to cite Annotated Bibliography: Arts Education, Essay examples

Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs Mary Rowlandson

In the narrative we get to see how things unfolded from her side. We get a first person’s account of the events that occurred during the captivity and the restoration of Mrs Mary Rowlandson by the Nipmuc Native Americans during King Philip’s war.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs Mary Rowlandson specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The narrative describes how Mary and her small community were attacked by native Indians who were looking for supplies. These people attacked the village where Mary and her people lived and killed most of them taking away a couple of others. The narrative is a very good source of information on the culture and the ways of living of the Native American communities. From the narrative we get to learn a lot about both the Native Americans and the Europeans settlers who arrived in the new land. The narrative also did a good job in d escribing Mary’s community and their beliefs. Though the narrative is biased against the Native American communities, it does a good job in giving a critical insight into the lives of the Native Americans. The narrative reflects Rowlandson’s culture as a conservative Christian culture. They were all strict Christians who believed so much in God. This is seen where she keeps on referring to God in everything that happens to her. When the Native Americans attacked her village she was hoping that God would keep them safe and protect them from the Indians. Rowlandson and her community were very religious people. Even during the tough times Mary said that it was God’s will. They suffered a lot and lost their family, their friends and their property and in all this Mary said that it was all given by the lord and therefore the lord has taken back what he gave them. This can also be seen as being religious fanatic to some extent. Mary also uses a lot of bible verses. In the narrative she references a lot of verses from the bible while trying to explain her situation. She uses this verses to encourage herself, to justify things that happens and to console herself too. From the narrative we can also learn a lot about the culture of the Native American people. The narrative provides a good picture of the daily practices, their religion and other things. The Native Americans were involved in slave trading as seen in the narrative. After attacking Rowlandson’s village they took with them some captives. These people all went to different people and were the property of different masters. They were then exchanged for other goods. (Vaca 1528-1536) From the narrative we can also conclude that the Native Americans were religious. Mary Rowlandson describes the practices that these people did which were religious. For example after the successful attack on the village they danced and sang around fire. This was a way of appeasing their god for the succe ss.Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More They were also very merry people. They sang and danced a lot. When they had had a bumper harvest and even when they had worn a battle against the Europeans. They rejoiced a lot. Their staple food was maize, beans and squash. This diet was supplemented by the game that they hunted in the forests and the fish from the rivers. The Native Americans were very good hunters. They could follow a dear for hours and hours until it got tired and then kill it for food. The Native Americans were also good with the forests and it was easy for them to find their way around and therefore this made hunting even easier. There was also role division between genders. The hunting was mainly done by the men in the communities. They were the strong ones who could track a dear for a whole day. The women and the girls were trained to be good on the field and in ca tering around the house. Mary refused to eat this food in the first days but got used to it when the hunger became too much. (Vaca 1528-1536) In their culture land was hereditary. It was passed down from generation to generation. The inheritance of land in the Native American communities was matrilineal. The land was based to the female descendants irrespective of their marital status. From the narrative we can also see the plight of the Native American people. The Englishmen and other Europeans had invaded their land and now were waging war and pushing them away and this is why they most probably retaliated. Mary describes how these communities had to pack up and run whenever the Englishmen got close to them. They had to carry along their children and the elderly through the difficult terrains. The Europeans were also better equipped placing them at an advantage over the Native Americans. (Acosta 1590) Though the narrative tries to show the hard times that Mary Rowlandson went thro ugh during her captivity, it also shows the plight of the Nipmuc Native Americans. It shows the struggles that they went through when the Europeans invaded their land. They were not able to stay in peace at one place for long. They always had to watch their back to avoid being caught off guard by the Europeans. They could no longer live at peace in their own land. Therefore even though they are being made to look like aggressive uncivilized savages in this narrative they are just out to protect themselves. They are hitting back.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs Mary Rowlandson specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Conclusion The narrative was a good source of information on the culture and ways of life of the Native American society. Though the narrative was biased against the Native Americans it provided a lot of information. They were organised communities who believ ed in communal cooperation. The Indians were given a very hard time by the puritans who were extremists and were not interested in peaceful cohabitation with the Indians. This is seen in Mary Rowlandson’s description of their religion and culture. She despises their religion as satanic. The relation between the Wampanoag Indians and the settlers was therefore not good and this explains the wars and the captivity. Reference List Acosta, Jose De. â€Å"A Spanish Priest Speculates on the Origin of the Indians.† 1590. Vaca, Alvar Nunez Cabeza De. â€Å"Indiands of the Rio Grande.† 1528-1536. This essay on Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs Mary Rowlandson was written and submitted by user Gloria Wilder 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.

Battle of Shiloh essays

Battle of Shiloh essays During the night of the April 5, 1862, Confederate commander, Albert S. Johnston, was sound asleep. Throughout his life he had reoccurring dreams in which a unicorn, with the name Shiloh, would appear and foretell what was to transpire within the next twenty-four hours. The unicorn stood tall and majestic with hair snow white and a horn of golden color that shimmered when light touched it. Its eyes were that of one which had seen much and obtained knowledge others couldnt even claim to possess. That night the unicorn appeared in his dreams and enlightened him with such information. It told of what was to take place when he arrived at the Union encampment at Pittsburg Landing, of the Battle that would go on to be called Shiloh, named after a meetinghouse 3 miles from the Landing. Then the unicorn spoke of his death. This was to be the last battle fought by Johnston, and his death was described to him in vivid detail. He woke up in a cold sweat, knowing that what the unicorn had said should be taken seriously because all it speaks of is truth. By that time, the first signs of morning were beginning to take place. The world was starting to wake up. Johnston and his troops headed towards the Union encampment, and upon their arrival they achieved complete surprise which was what the Confederates had anticipated. Due to the fact that neither side had ever fought in a battle in their lives, there was mass confusion. The Rebels were defeating the Federals position one after another, but the Union commander, Ulysses S. Grant , ordered for his troops to block the sunken road, in which the Confederates were traveling on, no matter what. Shots were fired at the Federals, but it did not faze them, at least not until the Confederate army obtained sixty-two cannons and started firing them at point black range down the sunken road. Soon after that monstrosity, the Union troops were forced to surrender. ...

Photosynthesis Study Guide - Key Concepts

Photosynthesis Study Guide - Key Concepts Learn about photosynthesis step-by-step with this quick study guide. Start with the basics: Quick Review of the Key Concepts of Photosynthesis In plants, photosynthesis is used to convert light energy from sunlight into chemical energy (glucose). Carbon dioxide, water, and light are used to make glucose and oxygen.Photosynthesis is not a single chemical reaction, but rather a set of chemical reactions. The overall reaction is:6CO2 6H2O light → C6H12O6 6O2The reactions of photosynthesis can be categorized as light-dependent reactions and dark reactions.Chlorophyll is a key molecule for photosynthesis, though other cartenoid pigments also participate. There are four (4) types of chlorophyll: a, b, c, and d. Although we normally think of plants as having chlorophyll and performing photosynthesis, many microorganisms use this molecule, including some prokaryotic cells. In plants, chlorophyll is found in a special structure, which is called a chloroplast.The reactions for photosynthesis take place in different areas of the chloroplast. The chloroplast has three membranes (inner, outer, thylakoid) and is divided into th ree compartments (stroma, thylakoid space, inter-membrane space). Dark reactions occur in the stroma. Light reactions occur the thylakoid membranes. There is more than one form of photosynthesis. In addition, other organisms convert energy into food using non-photosynthetic reactions (e.g. lithotroph and methanogen bacteria)Products of Photosynthesis Steps of Photosynthesis Here is a summary of the steps  used by plants and other organisms to use solar energy to make chemical energy: In plants, photosynthesis usually occurs in the leaves. This is where plants can get the raw materials for photosynthesis all in one convenient location. Carbon dioxide and oxygen enter/exit the leaves through pores called stomata. Water is delivered to the leaves from the roots through a vascular system. The chlorophyll  in the chloroplasts inside leaf cells  absorbs sunlight.The process of photosynthesis  is divided into two main parts: light dependent reactions and light independent or dark reactions. The light dependent reaction happens when  solar energy  is captured to make a molecule called ATP (adenosine triphosphate). The dark reaction happens when the ATP is used to make glucose (the Calvin Cycle).Chlorophyll and other carotenoids form what are called antenna complexes. Antenna complexes transfer light energy to one of two types of photochemical reaction centers: P700, which is part of Photosystem I, or P680, which is part of Photosystem II. The photochemical reac tion centers are located on the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplast. Excited electrons are transferred to electron acceptors, leaving the reaction center in an oxidized state. The light-independent reactions produce carbohydrates by using ATP and NADPH that was formed from the light-dependent reactions. Photosynthesis Light Reactions Not all wavelengths of light are absorbed during photosynthesis. Green, the color of most plants, is actually the color that is reflected. The light that is absorbed splits water into hydrogen and oxygen: H2O light energy →  ½ O2   2H   2 electrons Excited electrons from Photosystem I can use an electron transport chain to reduce oxidized P700. This sets up a proton gradient, which can generate ATP. The end result of this looping electron flow, called cyclic phosphorylation, is the generation of ATP and P700.Excited electrons from Photosystem I could flow down a different electron transport chain to produce NADPH, which is used to synthesize carbohydratyes. This is a noncyclic pathway in which P700  is reduced by an exicted electron from Photosystem II.An excited electron from Photosystem II flows down an electron transport chain from excited P680  to the oxidized form of P700, creating a proton gradient between the stroma and thylakoids that generates ATP. The net result of this reaction is called noncyclic photophosphorylation.Water contributes the electron that is needed to regenerate the reduced P680. The reduction of each molecule of NADP  to NADPH uses  two electrons  and requires  four photons.  Two molecul es  of ATP are formed. Photosynthesis Dark Reactions Dark reactions dont require light, but they arent inhibited by it, either. For most plants, the dark reactions take place during daytime. The dark reaction occurs in the stroma of the chloroplast. This reaction is called carbon fixation or the  Calvin cycle. In this reaction, carbon dioxide is converted to sugar using ATP and NADPH. Carbon dioxide is combined with a 5-carbon sugar to form a 6-carbon sugar. The 6-carbon sugar is broken into two  sugar molecules, glucose and fructose, which can be used to make sucrose. The reaction requires 72 photons of light. The efficiency of photosynthesis is limited by environmental factors, including light, water, and carbon dioxide. In hot or dry weather, plants may close their stomata to conserve water. When the stomata are closed, the plants may start photorespiration. Plants called C4  plants maintain high levels of carbon dioxide inside cells that make glucose, to help avoid photorespiration. C4  plants produce carbohydrates more efficiently than normal C3  plants, provided the carbon dioxide is limiting and sufficient light is available to support the reaction. In moderate temperatures, too much of an energy burden is placed on the plants to make the C4  strategy worthwhile (named 3 and 4 because of the number of carbons in the intermediate reaction). C4  plants thrive in hot, dry climates.Study Questions Here are some questions you can ask yourself, to help you determine if you really understand the basics of how photosynthesis works. Define photosynthesis.What materials are required for photosynthesis? What is produced?Write the  overall reaction  for photosynthesis.Describe what happens during the cyclic phosphorylation of photosystem I. How does the transfer of electrons lead to the synthesis of ATP?Describe the reactions of carbon fixation or the  Calvin cycle. What enzyme catalyzes the reaction? What are the products of the reaction? Do you feel ready to test yourself? Take the  photosynthesis quiz!