Tag: Paper Writing

THANK YOU MA’AM
By
Langston Hughes
She was a large woman with a large purse that had everything in it but a hammer and nails.  It had a long strap, and she carried it slung across her shoulder.
It was about 11 o’clock at night, dark and she was walking alone, when a boy ran up behind her and tried to snatch her purse.  The strap broke with the sudden single tug the boy gave it from behind.  But the boy’s weight and the weight of the purse combined caused him to lose his balance.  Instead of taking off full blast, the boy fell on his back on the sidewalk, and his legs flew up.
The large woman simply turned around and kicked him right square in his blue-jeaned sitter.  Then she reached down and picked the boy up by his shirt front and shook him until his teeth rattled.
After that the woman said, “Pick up my pocketbook, boy, and give it here.” She still held him tightly.  But she bent down enough to permit him to pick up her purse.  Then she said, “Now ain’t you ashamed of yourself?”
Firmly gripped by his shirt front, the boy said, “Yes’m.”
The woman said, “What did you want to do it for?”
The boy said, “I didn’t aim to.”
She said, “You lie!”
By that time, two or three people passed, turned to look and some stood watching.
“If I turn you loose, will you run?”  asked the woman.
“Yes’m,” said the boy.
“Then I won’t turn you loose,” said the woman.  She did not release him.
“Lady, I’m sorry,” whispered the boy.
“Uh-hum!  Your face is dirty.  I got a great mind to wash your face for you.  Ain’t you got nobody home to tell you to wash your face?”
“No’m,” said the boy.
“Then it will get washed this evening,” said the large woman, starting up the street, dragging the frightened boy behind her.
He looked about 14 or 15, frail and willow wild, in tennis shoes and blue jeans.
The woman said, “You ought to be my son.  I would teach you right from wrong.  Least I can do right now is to wash your face.  Are you hungry?”
“No’m,” said the being dragged boy.  “I just want you to turn me loose.”
“Was I bothering
you
when I turned that corner?” asked the woman.
“No’m.”
“But you put yourself in contact with
me
,” said the woman.  “If you think that that contact is not going to last a while, you got another thought coming.  When I get through with you, sir, you are going to remember Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jo
nes.”
Sweat popped out on the boy’s face, and he began to struggle.  Mrs. Jones stopped, jerked him around in front of her, put a half nelson about his neck, and continued to drag him up the street.
When she got to her door, she dragged the boy inside, down a hall, and into a large furnished room at the rear of the house.  She switched on the light and left the door open.
The boy could hear other roomers laughing and talking in the large house.  Some of their doors were open, too, so he knew he and the woman were not alone.  The woman still had him by the neck in the middle of her room.
She said, “What is your name?”
“Roger,” answered the boy.
The water dripping from his fa”Then, Roger, you go to that sink and wash your face,” said the woman.  Whereupon she turned him loose—at last.  Roger looked at the door—looked at that woman—looked at the door—
and went to the sink
.
“Let the water run until it gets warm,” she said.  “Here’s a clean towel.”
“You gonna take me to jail?” asked the boy, bending over the sink.
“Not with that face.  I would not take you nowhere,” said the woman.  “Here I am trying to get home to cook me a bit to eat, and you snatch my pocketbook!  Maybe you ain’t been to your supper, either, late as it be.  Have you?”
“There’s nobody home at my house,” said the boy.
“Then we’ll eat,” said the woman.  “I believe you’re hungry—or been hungry—to try to snatch my pocketbook!”
“I want a pair of blue suede shoes,” said the boy.
“Well, you didn’t have to snatch my pocketbook to get some suede shoes,” said Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones.  “You could’ve asked me.”
“M’am?”
ce, the boy looked, not knowing what else to do, he dried it again.  The boy turned around.  The door was open.  He would make a dash for it down the hall.  He could run, run,
run
!
The woman was sitting on the day bed.  After a while she said, “I were young once, and I wanted things I could not get.”
There was another long pause.  The boy’s mouth opened.  Then he frowned, not knowing he frowned.
The woman said, “Uh-hum!  You thought I was going to say
but
, didn’t you?  You thought I was going to say,
but  I didn’t snatch people’s pocket-books!
Well, I wasn’t going to say that.”  Pause.  Silence.  “I have done things, too, which I would not tell you, son—neither tell God, if He didn’t already know.  Everybody’s got something in common.  So you sit down while I fix us something to eat.  You might run that comb through your hair so you will look presentable.”
In another corner of the room behind a screen was a gas plate and an icebox.  Mrs. Jones got up and went behind the screen.  The woman did not watch the boy to see if he was going to run now.  Nor did she watch her purse, which she left behind her on the day bed.  But the boy took care to sit on the far side of the room, away from the purse, where he thought she could easily see him out of her eye if she wanted to.  He did not trust the woman
not
to trust him.  And he did not want to be mistrusted now.
“Do you need somebody to go to the store,” asked the boy, “to get some milk or something?”
“Don’t believe I do,” said the woman, “unless you want sweet milk yourself.  I was going to make cocoa out of this canned milk I got here.”
“That will be fine,” said the boy.
She heated some lima beans and ham she had in the icebox, made the cocoa, and set the table.  The woman did not ask the boy anything about where he lived, or his folks, or anything else that would embarrass him.  Instead, as they ate, she told him about her job in a hotel beauty shop that stayed open late, what the work was like, and how all kinds of women came in and out, blondes, redheads, and Spanish.  Then she cut him a half of her 10-cent cake.
“Eat some more, son,” she said.
When they were finished eating, she got up and said, “Now here, take this $10 and buy yourself some blue suede shoes.  And, next time, do not make the mistake of latching onto
my
pocketbook
nor nobody else’s
—because shoes got by devilish ways will burn your feet.  I got to get my rest now.  But from here on in, son, I hope you will behave yourself.”
She led the way down the hall to the front door and opened it.  “Good night!  Behave yourself, boy!” she said, looking out into the street as he went down the steps.
The boy wanted to say something other than ‘Thank you, ma’am,’ to Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones.  But although his lips moved, he couldn’t even say that, as he turned at the foot of the barren stoop and looked up at the large woman in the door.  Then she shut the door.
“Thank you Ma’am” Comprehension Questions and Short Story Plot Graph
Comprehension Questions:
Why do you think Mrs. Jones handles the situation the way she does in the story? What is she trying to accomplish? How do you think this experience is likely to affect Roger?
?
Why do you think Mrs. Jones makes a point of getting Roger to wash his face? Why does she give him food? Why does she tell him about her past? Why does she avoid asking him about his family or background?
Why do you think Roger decides he “[does] not want to be mistrusted”?
What does Mrs. Jones mean when she says that “shoes got by devilish ways will burn your feet”?
?      Mrs. Jones is trying to imply that Roger is behaving in devilish ways
?      Doesn’t deserve the shoes.
Why do you think Roger can’t say “thank you” to Mrs. Jones as he is leaving?
In your opinion what themes does the story express? What does it suggest about some people who commit some crimes?

WorkSheet : Odyssey Books 17-24
Question #11) 11. What ruse does Odysseus tell Telemachus to carry out at the beginning of the book?
Question #1) 1. Why compare Penelope to “Artemis or golden Aphrodite” when she comes down the stairs? Hint: Book 19
Question #12) 12. What does the stranger ask Penelope not to ask him? Why? Does she ask him anyway?
Question #2) 2. What does Telemachus leave out of his “true” story when he talks to Penelope; what does he leave in? How does Theoclymenus contribute to the scene? Hint: Book 19
Question #13) 13. Where does Odysseus tell Penelope he is from? Does this story have anything in common with the story he tells Eumaeus? Be specific.
Question #3) 3. Where has Argos been lying in the absence of his master and what is Odysseus’s reaction to seeing him? Hint: Book 19
Question #14) 14. How does Penelope react to what she hears of Odysseus? How does Odysseus react to her reaction?
Question #4) 4. How does Odysseus handle his “humiliation”? Does he seem more at ease with it than Eumaeus and Telemachus? If so, why? Hint: Book 19
Question #15) 15. How did Odysseus obtain the scar that Eurycleia recognizes? What does he say to Eurycleia? Hint: Book 19
Question #5) 5. Who throws a footstool at Odysseus? Why do even the other suitors take exception to this? Hint: Book 19
Question #16) 16. What is the dream that Penelope describes to Odysseus?
Question #6) 6. Why does Penelope want to talk to the stranger? Hint: Book 19
Question #17) 17. How does the stranger affect Penelope? Why is she favorably disposed toward the stranger?
Question #7) 7. Why does Irus quarrel with “the stranger”?
Question #8) 8. What is Antinous’s reaction to the unfriendly words Irus speaks to Odysseus?
Question #18) 18. How does Penelope plan to test the suitors to see which one she will marry? Hint: Book 18
Question #9) 9. Has Telemachus fully reached manhood yet? Why is this important? What is the symbol of manhood? Hint: Book 20
Question #19) 19. What does Athena do in this book to boost Odysseus’s spirits? To test him?
Question #20) 20. Why are the stranger’s interactions with Melanthius and Philoetius placed one after the other? Hint: Book 18
Question #10) 10. What is the implication of the maids’ inappropriate behavior? Hint: Book 20
Question #21) 21. How is Odysseus insulted by Ctesippus? How does Odysseus react?
Hint: Book 20
Question #22) 22. What must the stringer of the bow do with his shot?
Question #34) 34. What or who does Penelope believe caused the death of the suitors? Hint: Book 21
Question #23) 23. In what way do Telemachus’s words after “giving up” show him to be a worthy son?
Question #35) 35. Where does Penelope order Eurycleia to make up the bed? How does Odysseus react to this and why? Hint: Book 21
Question #24) 24. What is Antinous’s reaction to the challenge?
Question #36) 36. What reason does Penelope give for not recognizing Odysseus earlier? Hint: Book 21
Question #25) 25. How does Odysseus prove his identity to the cowherd and swineherd?
Question #37) 37. What does Odysseus tell Penelope about his next journey? Hint: Book 21
Question #26) 26. Penelope’s taking the bow from its hiding place is one of the most moving moments in this part of the poem — why? Hint: Book 23
Question #38) 38. Where is Odysseus headed at the end of the book?
Question #39) 39. How does Odysseus test his father Laertes, now living a hard life, after the slaughter has been accomplished? What is the point of testing his father?
Question #27) 27. What is Antinous doing when Odysseus shoots him? Why is he the first victim? Hint: Book 24
Question #40) 40. What reasons does Eupithes give when encouraging revenge on Odysseus?
Question #28) 28. How do the other suitors appeal to Odysseus?
Question #29) 29. How much does Athena help Odysseus and how much is the victory his own?
Question #30) 30. Who tests the strength and courage of Odysseus and Telemachus?
Question #31) 31. The dead suitors are compared to what kind of creatures?
Question #32) 32. What do Penelope and Eurycleia argue about at the beginning of the book?
Question #33) 33. Why is Telemachus irritated at his mother?

Read two of the themes from The Great Gatsby. A core value of Americans is equality for all, but in reality, people treat each other differently based on social class. Through hard work and persistence anyone can achieve the American Dream. These themes develop throughout the novel. Explain how the two themes build on or interact with each other. Use evidence from the novel to support your answer. Respond to at least two of your peers’ posts by asking questions about others’ ideas, clarifying or challenging conclusions or evidence, and discussing any contradictory evidence or conclusions.

Please help me answer this question
Read the following passage:
“Which gets you cleaner, a bath or a shower? Most people have a strong preference for one or the other, but science says it’s basically a wash.
“Cleaning is the main point of bathing and showering. Bathers say showers are rushed and often careless, leading to a less than thorough cleansing. Shower takers say bathing is like marinating in dirty water. However, doctors report that both activities clean equally well, as long as showerers actively scrub their arms and legs rather than relying on soap and water runoff, and bathers rinse themselves before drying.
“Studies also show there are different but comparable health benefits to both practices. During a bath, heat and buoyancy reduce stress on muscles and joints and relieves pain. A long soak in a hot tub has also been shown to reduce anxiety and depression. In the shower, body movement combined with the force and warmth of pressurized water increase blood flow and heart rate and improve metabolism. A shower elevates mood and increases alertness, especially at the start of the day.”
What are the points of comparison used to compare baths and showers in this passage?
mental and physical effects
soaking and scrubbing
effectiveness and health benefits
personal preferences and scientific studies

Eliminate Bias in Language
After completing this learning activity, you will be able to identify, remove and replace biased language in a given passage.
Read this article on Biased Language:
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-biased-language-1689168
Read the passage below. It contains a number of biased language examples.
After identifying the biased language, rewrite the passage to remove all bias. Post your response.
Biased Version:
The finishing plant was the scene of a confrontation today when two ladies from the morning shift accused a foreman of sexual harassment. Marilyn Humphrey, a black inspector, and Margaret Sawyer, an assembly-line worker, accused Mr. Engerrand of making suggestive comments. Mr. Engerrand, who is 62 years old and an epileptic, denies the charges and said that he thought the girls were trying to gyp the company with their demand for a cash award.

write a summary of how they agree/disagree; provide quotes if necessary (1 paragraph)
from  Nicholas Carr, “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” and Clive Thompson, “Smarter than You Think:  How Technology Is Changing Our Minds for the Better”.
Note that the paragraph that explains how the two authors agree or disagree is still “they say”.

Table Service
1. Discuss the difference between American and Russian style of service.
2. Discuss the difference between the American and French style of service.
3. Why is it important to relay accurately and completely the information from service areas to the kitchen areas.

Look for an interesting job advertisement from a newspaper or from the internet and write a resume that suits the nature of the job you are applying  for. Prepare your resume on a clean sheet of paper by following the tips or  guidelines in making a good one.

. What two features of comics does Witek examine in his article on comics reading practices? . As Witek explains, the comic book format “with its pages upon pages of panels, posed new problems and afforded new opportunities.” Name two of the innovations that artists employed in constructing page layouts in order to combat visual monotony in multi-page comics. . Witek describes the numbers used to indicate sequential order in the comics panels of the late 19th and early 20thcentury as “fossilized holdovers…from an earlier stage in the development of what came to be called the comics medium.” Why did these older “pictorial narratives” of the 18th and 19th centuries need to employ numbering? . Witek says that, “the use of directional arrows serves to temporarily suspend the normal reading process.” In your own words, explain what this means. . Describing “the baroque style,” Witek notes that this style is “typical of the 19405 work of Jack Kirby.” Brie?y describe the techniques used in “baroque style” layouts.
Joseph Witek’s article is a study of evolving reading practices that offers a new way of defining the medium.  He argues that “to be a comic is to be read as a comic.”
Joseph Witek, “The Arrow and the Grid: Creating the Comics Reader,” A Comics Studies Reader, eds. Jeet Heer and Kent Worcester, UP of Mississippi, 2009, 149-156

Read and analyze the following research topics and identify what type of qualitative research is appropriate for each. Then, justify your answer by providing a brief explanation. Encode your answers in the “online text box.”
A researcher investigated the medical properties of the rare Amazonian tree and discovered that its components can be made into a drug that can cure dengue.
A researcher is looking into ways to create intervention on violent or hostile behavior among young children.
A researcher analyzes music composition by researching on its utilization of theory and intuition, technologies in creating music, and critical approach in its design process.
A researcher immerses with the Badjao street dwellers to learn how they were able to migrate from Mindanao.
A researcher seeks to discover the events that transpired behind the assassination of Antonio Luna in Cavite in 1899 and discuss the implication of these events to history.