of the lower and upper half of your data. The median is the "midpoint," or the number that is halfway into a set. In this case, you aren't looking for the midpoint of the entire set, but rather the relative midpoints of the upper and lower subsets. If you have an odd number of data, do not include the middle number in Set B, for instance, you would not figure in one of the 10s. Even example (Set A): Median of lower half = 7 (Q1) Median of upper half = 12 (Q3) Odd example (Set B): Median of lower half = 8 (Q1) Median of upper half = 18 (Q3) Now you know how many numbers lie between the 25th percentile and the 75th percentile. You can use this to understand how widely-spread the data is. For instance, if a test is scored out of 100, and the IQR of the scores is 5, you can assume that most of the people taking it had a similar grasp of the material because the high-low range is not very large. If the IQR of the test scores is 30, however, you might start to wonder why some people scored so high and others scored so low. Even example (Set A): 12 - 7 = 5 Odd example (Set B): 18 - 8 = 10

Summary: Find the median Subtract Q3 - Q1 to determine the IQR.

Ball mason jars were produced for many years with the year 1858 printed on them, but this is no indication of the age of jar itself. Rather, 1858 is the year that John Mason was granted a patent for his mason jar design, and the Ball company used this patent year on many jars. This was another patent date that was printed on many mason jars, and that has no bearing on the year of production. In fact, Ball used this patent date on their jars well into the 1930s, so this year cannot be used to accurately date a Ball jar. Many Ball mason jars have a number printed on the bottom of the jar, but this is a mold number that does not indicate the year of production. Rather, the mold number tells you where the jar was positioned on the glass-making machine that was used to produce it. Mold numbers are generally a number between zero and 15, and they'll sometimes have a letter included as well.

Summary: Ignore the 1858 patent year. Ignore the 1908 patent date. Ignore the mold number on the jar.

Technically, there is no set structure to a free verse poem, as there are no rules around meter or rhyme scheme. So, you have the freedom to express yourself in almost any way you can imagine. But, some poets argue that the lack of rules can actually be more difficult and challenging, or as the poet Robert Frost describes the difficulty of composing a free verse poem, it's like "playing tennis without a net." Though there are no rules for a free verse poem, it is still a form of artistic expression, so its important to create striking images and emotions that your reader can see and feel and to express yourself clearly. Though free verse may not have been Robert Frost's preference, many other poets have used the openness of the form to their advantage and have approached free verse poetry in their own unique ways. It may be useful for you look at several examples more closely, including: "After the Sea" by Walt Whitman "Little Father" by Li-Young Lee "Winter Poem" by Nikki Giovanni "Fog" by Carl Sandberg "in Just-" by e.e. cummings Read the examples out loud and consider how they are effective. Do they have a certain rhythm or meter, despite appearing free verse and not using rhyme? Do they create strong images through description, word choice, or a certain mood or tone? Identify any metaphors or similes. Think about how they work effectively to reveal details or create images associated with the subject of the poem. Make note of any examples of alliteration, which is a literary device where the first sound in a series of words is the same. Alliteration is one way the poet can create a particular mood, feeling, or sound to the poem. For example, in Whitman's poem "After the Storm", there are two instances of alliteration in the first line of the poem, "sea-ship" and "whistling winds", which then set the tone for the rest of the poem. Identify any personification. Personification is a device that takes an inanimate object and describes it as though it were animate or alive. For example, in Sandberg's "Fog", the fog is personified as having "little cat feet", and in Giovanni's "Winter Poem", the snowflake is personified as "happy" and the other snowflakes are addressed as "its cousins and brothers." Consider if the poem breaks with the traditional form of a line poem, and how the poem's form adds to the overall meaning or theme of the poem. For example, in e.e. cumming's poem "in Just-", the breaking up of the lines so there is more space between certain words and the arrangement of certain words so they move down the page suggest a certain choppiness or shift downward in the poem.

Summary: Feel free to express yourself, but don't forget you are still writing a poem. Look at several examples of effective free verse poetry. Analyze the examples.

Many health professionals recommend taking at least 20 minutes to eat your meal. This gives your body enough time to feel satisfied which may help you pass up on additional servings. The 20 minute rule comes from the fact that it takes about 20 30 minutes for food to travel from your stomach to your intestine. It's here that your intestines send a variety of chemical signals to your brain that it's satisfied and had enough food. If you eat faster than that 20 minutes, you're more likely to eat more than you need and eat until the point you're feeling too full. Try setting a timer or watching the clock to help you meet that 20 minute guideline. Drink a few sips of water between bites, put down your fork or talk to friends and family members to help slow you down. Chewing your food thoroughly and taking your time with each bite is an important part of mindful eating and can help you feel more satisfied with a smaller portion. Take your time with each bite. As you chew think about the flavors, the textures and the smells of the food. Use as many senses as you can to analyze each little bite of your meal. The concentration on your food and each bite can increase your satisfaction and let your brain enjoy the meal. When you take big bites and don't chew well, your brain doesn't get any signals of enjoyment or satisfaction which can cause you to eat more. Many people will try to restrict foods or strictly limit treats for a diet or to aim for better health. However, overly restricting your diet can backfire. Remember, the body can not and will not naturally lose (or gain) weight quickly. Changing your diet drastically, eating very few calories or limiting many foods isn't a healthy way of eating. Never allowing yourself a treat or special indulgence can lead to overeating of that food or binge like behavior down the road. Schedule in a special treat or indulgence every now and again. It can be once a week, twice a week or every Friday night. Find a schedule that works for you and that can keep you at the healthy weight you desire.
Summary: Take 20 30 minutes to eat your meal. Take your time chewing your food. Do not restrict your meals or foods.