ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
The book Lunch Money was written by Andrew Clement and was illustrated by Brian Selznick by Simon and Schuster. The type of fiction of Lunch Money is realistic fiction, and the plot is in Georgia, at Ashworth Intermediate School, and some parts at Greg’s basement. The story is told in the third person point of view because the narrator seems to know everything. The story in the book is about a boy in the sixth grade with an obsession with making money. In fact, Greg Kenton has an innate talent for profit combined with an utter love for it. Accordingly, throughout the book, the protagonist demonstrates the development of his ability to utilize the context around him in order to make money. For him, the main source of profits lies in the school, as most students have some spare money. Maura is another important character of the story, who contributes to the development of both narrative and emotional aspects of Lunch Money . She demonstrates similar behavior and resembles the protagonist in terms of the love of money. Their competition and subsequent cooperation become one of the main plot points of the book. As a matter of fact, the relationship between Greg and Maura becomes the ultimate demonstration of the book’s emotional appeal. “Why don’t you try coming up with an idea of your own?”, Greg once said to her (Clements 48). At this point, the protagonist felt irritated by the competition. On the other hand, the quote “Girls like the boys that they’re always mad at, or shoving, or turning their heads away from, or sticking their tongues out at. Never fails” shows a different perspective (Clement 45). While Maura engaged in the competition and eventual conflict, she still felt sympathy for Greg. The relationship reaches the boiling point when both young entrepreneurs begin selling comic books at school. However, when the principal becomes involved, Greg says “I can help you with your comic book” (Clement 188). In a difficult time, he becomes ready to help Maura, which is heartwarming for the reader. Finally, Greg realizes that “Maura’s smile had to be worth at least a million” (Clement 159). Lunch money readers enjoy the emotional growth of both children, who overcome rivalry to become business partners and friends. Ultimately, Lunch Money is an exceptional example of how the aspect of emotional growth can be effectively included in the story. The relationship between Greg and Maura showed incredible evolution, which supported the development of the plot and added a new dimension to it. At first, there was an evident clash of ideas and interests, as both students wanted to make profits. Greg took the rivalry seriously and felt offended by Maura’s attempts to steal his glory. Nevertheless, the subsequent events show how the two characters grow within the story and grow closer to each other. This transition is presented naturally, both through the author’s narration and the characters’ phrases. Greg and Maura gradually overcome all their differences and, in the end, form a strong bond. This emotional background is highly beneficial to the story, as it adds depth to the narration and engages readers on a differen
Immigrants founded America as a nation. Many people fled various challenges in Europe in the 17 th century to go find better opportunities in the new world. The waves of immigrants continued to pour into America either fleeing from persecution, or seeking better opportunities for education and work. This is still going on. Bush, McLarty and Alden (2009) justify this phenomenon when they say, “Allowing people to come to this country to visit, study, or work is one of the surest means to build friendships with future generations of foreign leaders and to show America’s best face to the world” (p. ix). In modern times, immigrants from Asia and South America form the bulk of arrivals to the seaports and airports of America. There are two classes of immigrants, legal and illegal. Mexico remains one of the most significant sources of immigrants. Over time, a Latino voting bloc has emerged, and it is growing more and more influential in America’s political landscape. The bloc comprises first generation immigrants who have settled in America and descendants of older generation migrants. This explains the importance President Obama has attached to the issue of immigration. Their role as a swing vote is important in the outcome of elections in some states in America. Immigration is a hot topic among politicians and within the public. With the current high rate of unemployment in America, voters easily associate immigrants to fewer job opportunities. This is not unique to America. The global economic meltdown contributed to the escalation of immigration into a sore issue in the national platforms of many countries. It was a subject of hot debate in Britain during the recent elections. France and Germany, among other European nations, have not quite put a leash on the matter either. It continues to define policy the world over as countries grapple with tough choices regarding immigration laws and dealing with illegal immigrants. There is consensus among republicans and democrats that immigration laws require fixing, although there is much variance in the details. The state of Arizona passed tough immigration laws, which some parties consider draconian. A report in the New York Times published a week before the mid-term elections portrayed the president as a pro-immigration champion, whose efforts the republicans are sabotaging. It also brings out a sense of desperation on his part to get the Hispanics out to vote on the crucial day. In addition, the report portrays republicans as opposed to comprehensive immigration reforms, and as unwilling to discuss immigration issues with the democrats. They would rather see stricter border controls and stiffer laws such as those enacted in Arizona. This report has a distinct bias since it presents the president’s viewpoint. It includes several direct quotes from the president’s radio interview, which serve to advance his view. It presents the republican’s response to debating immigration reforms as rigid, and portrays them as uncooperative. Despite this bias, the report provi
Introduction Yusuf ibn-Ayyub Salah-al-Din (commonly known as Saladin) stands apart as the single most prominent figure in the history of the Middle East. Because of his exploits in the Crusades, Saladin is perceived as the chief “hero” of the Crusades by both his Islamic side and the Christian side. Saladin was able to establish a strong dynasty and lead his army to victory against the Crusaders. This paper will set out to discuss Saladin with emphasis on his military expeditions, and his encounters with the crusaders. Early Life Saladin was Born in the village of Tirkik, Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq) in the year 1137 to a prominent and influential Kurdish family from the area. A few years after his birth, his family immigrated to Aleppo (which is modern day Syria). Saladin grew up in modern day Syria and he was an avid scholar of the Islamic religion. He embarked on religious studies until the age of 18 when he was appointed deputy to his uncle, Asad Ad-Din Shirkuh, who served as a military governor for Nur al Din, the emir of Syria (Grossman 303). Early Expeditions Saladin’s first military expeditions were carried out in the north of Egypt under his uncle Shirkuh’s command. Saladin engaged in a military expedition in support of Shawar, the caliph of Egypt, who had been driven out of Egypt by powerful local lords. Shawar had asked for help from Nur al Din to regain his position as Fatimid in Egypt. This military campaign was a success and Shawar was able to defeat his rivals and reestablish himself as Fatimid. Following this victory, Saladin and his uncle remained in Egypt to represent the interest of the Syrian Emir. Shawar was opposed to the presence of Syrian forces in Egypt and this led to his falling out with Saladin’s uncle. As a result, Shirkurh and Saladin engaged in military expeditions against Shawar. Shirkurh commanded four military expeditions into Egypt to fight against the Fatimid and the local lords who were resisting Syria’s over-lordship (Grossman, 303). These rebellious local rulers were acting with the support of the Crusaders in the Holy Land who also feared Syria’s overlords. With Saladin’s help, Shirkuh carried out military expeditions against these local rulers as well as the caliph of Egypt therefore establishing Egypt as a Syrian stronghold. Shirkuh’s death in 1169 gave Saladin a chance to become the head of Syrian forces in Egypt. Saladin’s Personality Historians record that Saladin was serious and contemplative by nature. In his early years, he was not enthusiastic about the military expeditions by his uncle but took on active fighting roles during the invasion of Fatimid Cairo. He established himself as a courageous soldier and a brilliant str
Undoubtedly, race is the social aspect that impacts our everyday lives; however, its view was changing as a result of major events. In the 16th century, the term race was generally recognized in Europe, but few realized its actual meaning (Saini, 2019). In the 18th century, Blumenbach shared the notion of Caucasian which characterized every white person, disregarding their actual ethnicity and culture (Saini, 2019). During the next 200 years, the Caucasians were separated into smaller groups and some nations were viewed as more superior due to their ethnic heritage (Saini, 2019). Consequently, Arthur de Gobineau identified the white as a privileged social group whereas Negroids were perceived as an inferior community. Unfortunately, people in the 19th century experienced scientific racism that was called the eugenics movement that aimed to selectively breed a superior person. However, Herrnstein and Murray argued this position and considered the concept of race to have only genetic roots (Glasgow et al., 2019). The middle of the 20th century brought a new idea of separating all people into four races: white, black, colored, and Indian. Yet the situation of black people did not change and because of the prejudice towards their skin color, Stephen Lawrence, a black British boy, was ruthlessly killed in 1993 (Saini, 2019). In the 20th century, racism started to be strongly oppressed and it can be concluded based on the numerous attacks on the British National Party book shop that was not following the modern beliefs (Saini, 2019). Nowadays, people value the utmost respect for individuals of every skin color, and, therefore, racism has become less common across the world. Bibliography Saini, A. 2019. Interview with Salhotra. M. Imperial College, London. Glasgow, Joshua, Sally Anne Haslanger, Chike Jeffers, and Quayshawn Spencer. What Is Race?: Four Philosophical Views . New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2019.
Hávamál from the Elder or Poetic Edda is a collection of wisdom narrated by the Norse god Odin. The poem consists of 164 stanzas, contains valuable life advice on a broad range of subjects, and aims to explain the rules of public behavior and social conduct. The following paper will discuss Odin’s recommendations that are still applicable today or specific to the culture of Viking Age Scandinavia and Medieval Iceland. Most of the advice given by Odin is universal and can be applied in the modern world. For instance, the lines “the more they drink, the less they think and keep a watch o’er their wits” refer to the negative impact of alcohol consumption (“Hávamál” 12). Considering the problem of alcohol abuse, the piece of advice is relevant today, as it reminds the reader that “a bird of Unmindfulness” affects sanity (“Hávamál” 13). Some examples warn about the dangers of greed and overeating (“a greedy man…eats to his own life’s hurt”) and bad sleeping habits (“the unwise man is awake all night”) (“Hávamál” 20, 23). Thus, the poem refers to the common bad habits and provides appropriate recommendations today. However, the poem contains some advice exclusive to the Medieval culture of Scandinavia and Iceland and may not be appropriate in contemporary society. The first stanza suggests that “one should spy around, one should pry around” (“Hávamál” 1). Such behavior is considered impolite today, but it might have ensured safety for attentive and resourceful Viking warriors visiting their foes. The sixth stanza supports the idea, as “none can find a more faithful friend than the wealth of mother wit” (“Hávamál” 6). The suggestions to never walk without “weapons of war” and gladden friends with “raiment and arms” refer to the warrior culture of the Viking age (“Hávamál” 38, 41). Therefore, the poem’s wisdom combines the unique instructions from the Medieval Scandinavian tradition with universally applicable guidance. Work Cited “Hávamál.” University of Pittsburgh , 2021. Web.
In his Letter from a Birmingham Jail, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. uses a variety of rhetorical devices (King Jr.). For example, he opens with an appeal to Logos by noting that his presence in Birmingham is logical because of his organizational ties to the area. Farther along in his essay, he appeals to the community standards of the clergy, using the device of Ethos, saying, “I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate.” In the central paragraphs, especially beginning, “But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers …” he makes use of the device of Pathos to justify direct action rather than patient waiting. Throughout, however, he refers back to the notion of time, the moment, and in this, he is addressing the concept of Kairos. Kairos is a unique opening or opportunity in the flow of events when something can be accomplished. It is the notion that Shakespeare may have been thinking of when he referred to, “the tide in the affairs of men. Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;” (Shakespeare Julius Caesar Act 4, scene 3, 218–224). Martin Luther King, Jr. answers the question, ‘why now’, for the demonstrations which precipitated clerical criticism (Carpenter, Durick and Grafman), in several ways, urging his readers to see the choice to come to Birmingham, and more broadly, to engage in direct non-violent action, right at that point in time, as inevitable and reasonable. In pointing towards this moment, at this place, he notes the 340-year history of oppression of enslaved Africans and the progress of other races and peoples around the world towards self-determination. He narrows down the moment by referring to the promises of Birmingham merchants of September 1962, and the self-purification undertook by the movement to prepare for non-violent protest when these promises failed. He further particularizes the time by referencing the March election as another key event around which they planned. Then he describes the Easter shopping season as a prime time to generate an impact on sales through a “strong economic-withdrawal program”. It is at this point that he could possibly have added to the intensity of his highlighting of Kairos. The Easter season is more than a key shopping time. It is also the culmination, for believing Christians, of 40 days of meditation on the life and acts of Jesus. King could have noted that during this season, Christians would and should be reflecting on a similar, dramatic act of civil defiance and a most selfless act of non-violent protest. He could have pointed out that Christians would be studying the Biblical account of the entrance of Jesus and his followers into the city of Jerusalem in full knowledge of the authorities’ antipathy to them, and the subsequent indictment and condemnation that led to crucifixion. He drew a parallel later in his letter between the punishment of Jesus for extremism, and the apparent extremism of the civil rights movement, but he could here have drawn attention to the fact that the Easter season should be a time for remembering another non-violent response to an oppressor government and
Abstract Human beings involve themselves in various activities, the outcome of which is realized later. An action of a human being can give different results ranging from shocks, surprise to ecstasy and many more outcomes. This paper will throw light upon how Predictiveness affects the level of Processing. There will be numerous examples in the paper which will show the affect of Predictiveness on the minds of the people. With the help of examples, we will get to know what effects Predictiveness has on the level of processing. The experiment and the result will show that there is a greater response of individuals towards predictive words when compared to the Non- Predictive words or for that matter when compared to the fillers, which will be used in the experiment. Once when the results are arrived at, there will be a clear difference in regard to response towards the predictive words of the people who participate in the experiment. Introduction Since this paper is all about Predictiveness, it is very important to know what the word predictive exactly means, according to the dictionary the word means foretelling or foreboding, to simply the same it is the ability to know something which has not happened, to be very precise it means to be able to know and forecast about something which has not happened previously. Our memory plays a key role in this process because human beings carry out many processes depending on their memory. According to Craik, “the longevity of the memory and its qualitative nature is purely dependent on the depth of processing.” Memory does many processes and one of the most important processes is of remembering and it has some vital subdivisions such as attention, encoding, rehearsal and retrieval. It is believed that the durability of the memory depends on the functions of the depth of processing. Going by this statement it is believed that the deeper the functions of various processes which go on in human mind, sharper the memory. According to Koriat, Ben-Zur, &Sheffer, “older adults suffer from many problems related to their memory, some of the common problems are that they tend to forget names very easily because of the unfamiliar words which make up the names of the people, another problem is supposed to be that they fail to link information or in other words connect a sequence of events because of their memory.” This paper will conduct research to prove that when people come across predictive words it becomes easier for them to anticipate and get the predictive words right, the performance of the memory in relation to the predictive words will be highlighted in the paper. The relation between Predictiveness and the level of processing will be arrived at the end of the paper. Method The whole concept can be better understood by conducting an experim
Art has been there since history. In the past, it was preserved as sacred but physical and could only be made by painting. Later on, it became social and could describe one’s class and was mostly meant for the rich. Today, visual art has become easy to make, available and cheaper because of the invention of a camera. This has raised the issue of ownership and copyright. Education level has been seen to have an influence on the people interested in arts. Advancement in education has an effect of increasing arts interest. Perception of an idea from an image may differ from one person to another as well as from time to time. What people see is determined by what they believe in. Eyes are a powerful instrument of a human being. Sight is incomparable to anything else and it is a unique gift from God. Their complexity allows them to do what nothing else can do. Eyes have no limit and never get tired of seeing. Image is therefore quicker to communicate than words. In the past images were only made of non-existent things. Later on the idea of image changed to existing things. After this, an image could be explained and expressed by how another person had seen it. This has been the development in art and design. Images therefore form a great part of communication. Creativity of an artist enables him to communicate a lot on his imagination. People’s perception on an image is affected by several factors that the viewers know and think about art. This includes the magnificence, the reality, and development of the viewers. Past knowledge helps us to improve creativity in the present. That is why history is always related to the present. Present art and design will help the future generation to have easier work while studying their history. Hals was the earliest painter who specialized in portraits expressing people’s characters which came as a result of capitalism. Hals lived as a very poor man who was always in debts. He benefited from charity. The criticism of his paintings was that he did so with sullenness but the author of his publications disagreed by saying that his work was excellently creative and the appearance of a painting could not judge one’s mood at the time of painting. The rhythm and the harmony of art work contribute greatly to the supremacy of an image. Qualities such harmony, brightness and contrast can bring out an idea so clearly if used appropriately. Hal’s paintings of his sisters could lead one to conclude about their characters. Why? Because from the facial expressions one could relate them to how he saw people behave while in different situations e.g., happy or sad. The suggestions of the author on Hal’s paintings went further explaining that the people at that time had a fashion of wearing hats. The paintings could have many conclusions from one image as one idea leads to another. The perception of the past is different from what we see today. Invention of a camera changed pe
Governmental intervention is essential to the functioning of any economy and in the case of the market system, it is necessary to correct imbalances brought upon by excessive speculation and unfair business practices. Coming to the issue of minimum wage, it is the “floor price” of labor that is determined by the federal government to guarantee fair wages to the workers. This is the minimum wage that must be paid to the workers in exchange for the work that they do. Governments set the minimum wage to help the poor. The issue of minimum wage crops up wherever small businesses are concerned as compensation packages that allow variable pay and performance-related pay are in vogue in the corporate and manufacturing sectors. But, as far as minimum wages are concerned, they affect a lot of millions of workers in the small business category. There have been a couple of legislations that were passed in the 1990s that impacted the way in which small businesses compensate their workers. These relate to the way in which small businesses can get deductions for equipment purchases and also raised the minimum hourly wage to $5.15. There are many who criticize the minimum wage concept as making businesses un-competitive and prone to avoid hiring more employees and introducing a “dead weight” into the economy. However, unless there is significant governmental regulation, it is conceivable that businesses in their quest for profits might resort to unfair wage structures for their employees. This is particularly the case in economic systems that have a large “unorganized” sector and thus the workers need to be protected from unscrupulous business practices. The government also has to ensure that the minimum wage is implemented apart from specifying the same. Sources Dornbusch, Rudiger, & Fischer, Stanley (2004). Macroeconomics (p. 157, 558). New York: McGraw-Hill.