5 Awesome Books and Authors for Upper Elementary Students

5 Awesome Books and Authors for Upper Elementary Students You'll definitely want to make room for these in your classroom library. Every teacher has a list of favorite authors and books. Maybe yours teach important life lessons, result in fantastic conversations, or are beloved titles from your own childhood. Iâ?ve used the five authors and books below time and again with my fourth graders, but they can easily work for students in any of the upper elementary grades. 1. Thereâ?s a Boy in the Girlsâ? Bathroom by Louis Sachar A large percentage of the elementary gradesâ? reading standards focus on developing the analytical skills needed to dissect characters' traits, motivations, struggles, and desires. Additionally, upper elementary reading lessons also dedicate a substantial amount of time to understanding themes. Thereâ?s a Boy in the Girlsâ? Bathroom follows the incredible character development of a middle school boy named Bradley. He starts out as an insecure, crass, friendless bully, but eventually transforms into a beloved friend with an open heart and open eyes. This story humorously takes the reader through Bradleyâ?s life while periodically offering insight into his behavior from the perspective of other characters. You and your students will laugh, cry, and learn by reading this book. 2. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech While this title is generally more appropriate for fourth graders and up, Walk Two Moons is my favorite book of all time. Not only does is the protagonist a very spunky girl, but it also considers the Native American perspective in a variety of ways. This beautifully told story follows Salamanca Tree Hiddle and her hysterical grandparents as they embark upon a cross-country road trip while simultaneously exploring a plotline about Sal and her friend Phoebe. This book makes many of my students cry and does include some heavy topicsâ?including miscarriageâ?(I recommend teachers give this title a re-read before assigning it to students) but the depth of conversation it inspires in my students is worth it! Sharon Creech does amazing work, and any of her books are ideal choices for upper elementary readers. 3. The works of Cynthia Rylant Cynthia Rylant is one of my top three picture book authors for any elementary grade. Seamlessly blending beautiful imagery and prose, Rylant skillfully presents tricky topics in a way that is appropriate for young readers. Her book An Angel for Solomon Singer follows a lonely man as he makes a new friend and finally finds a place he feels at home. Similarly, Spaghetti, a short text, focuses on a boy named Gabriel who rescues a small kitten that becomes his only companion. Many of her books also focus on family dynamicsâ?both the good and the bad. These books can be read during an interactive read aloud or can be individually analyzed during a writerâ?s workshop. For example, I have my fourth graders compare and contrast An Angel for Solomon Singer and Spaghetti, and the two texts work beautifully for that exercise. 4. The works of Eve Bunting Eve Bunting is another stellar author whoâ?similarly to Rylantâ?discusses heavy topics in ways that connect with elementary students. One of my favorite books of hers, Fly Away Home, is about a boy and his father who live in the airport because they have no home. The dad is extremely strong for his son, exemplifying a number of admirable character traits. 5. The works of Patricia Pollaco Patricia Pollaco is the golden standard author for childrenâ?s picture books. She doesn't shy away from difficult topics, including her own experiences with dyslexia and childhood bullies, making her books an ultra-relatable choice for many kids. Always fleshed out with interesting details, Pollacoâ?s texts are wonderful for an extended read aloud or analysis activities with any grade. My favorite book of hers, Thank you, Mr. Falker, tells the story of her own childhood and how one teacher made a huge difference in her life. With these suggestions in mind, go forth and read!   Follow TeacherVision on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+. Author Bio: Lisa Koplik is a fourth-grade teacher at the Greenwood School in Wakefield, Massachusetts. She loves teaching math, reading intense read-aloud books that promote complaints when she has to stop reading, and figuring out educational games to play with her students. Check out her video series on classroom management! Want more from this author? Check out Lisa's favorite classroom apps or her advice on creating meaningful classroom rules with your students.

Breast Cancer Essay - 1235 Words

Breast Cancer Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. There are many different types of cancer that are affecting people all over. Breast Cancer is one of these, and is found in man and women. Over 200,000 women and 1,300 men have been diagnosed with breast cancer this year. One in eight women will detect breast cancer in their lifetime. Men are less than one percent of the cases of breast cancer that are detected. Although prevention is not yet available, early detection is the best way to handle breast cancer, which can be treated in many ways. Breast cancer is a malignant tumor found in the glandular tissue of the breast. This tumor is called a carcinoma, which causes a single abnormal cell to†¦show more content†¦SERMs is a drug that has estrogen-like properties and anti-estrogen properties that is used to help prevent the loss of bone density in postmenopausal women and causes pre-menopausal women to be more fertile. This will help to block the effects of estrogen on breast tissue that will reduce the risk of breast cancer. Also a clinical breast examination or a screening mammogram by a physician is a way to detect breast cancer at early stages. By giving yourself a self-breast examination, by means of using your hands to feel for bumps or tumors is a way to help prevent breast cancer from spreading. It is best if it is detected early. The biggest symptom of breast cancer is finding a lump on your breast. This doesn’t actually mean that you have breast cancer, but it is something you should get checked right away. It could by a cyst, which is a fluid filled sac that is not cancerous. A change in how the breast or nipple feels, such, as tenderness is also a symptom. Even a change in the size of your breast or nipple should be something to look out for. Recent studies have shown that women who use antibiotics double their chance of the risk of breast cancer. Scientists say that women should not stop using antibiotics to cure infections. Antibiotics affect the bacteria in the digestive system in ways that interfere with the ways the body uses food to protect against cancer.Show MoreRelatedBreast Cancer And Cancer Prevention2347 Words   |  10 Pages INTRODUCTION Statistics indicate that breast cancer-related complications are among the top causes of death among women for over 23% of all women’s deaths in the world (Donepudi et al., 2014). The great cases of breast cancer are attributed to lack of information on and hard data on the disease, especially on early diagnosis and treatment options. In America, breast cancer is among the top causes of cancer-related deaths, and the mortality rate is relatively high as compared to the neighboring countriesRead MoreThe For Breast Cancer Action1612 Words   |  7 Pagesintention to give some part of the profit towards breast cancer causes. Ironically, the money made from this marketing will often not significantly benefit somebody with breast cancer. The pink ribbon was originally created by the Susan G Komen foundation yet anybody can use this symbol, because there is no intellectual copyright on it. Pinkwashing is term was first coined by the organization called breast cancer action, whose m ission is to â€Å"Breast Cancer Action’s mission is to achieve health justiceRead MoreBreast Cancer : Cancer And Cancer Essay1433 Words   |  6 PagesBreast cancer is a carcinoma that develops due to malignant cells in the breast tissue. Cancerous cells are more likely to produce in the milk-producing ducts and the glands, ductal carcinoma, but in rare cases, breast cancer can develop in the stromal, fatty, tissues or surrounding lymph nodes, especially in the underarm (Breast Cancer). For women, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the 2nd leading cause of cancer death – behind skin cancer. While treatment or surgeries canRead MoreBreast Cancer : Cancer And Cancer1346 Words   |  6 Pagesinternational symbol for breast cancer support and awareness. Breast cancer knows neither racial boundaries nor age restrictions. Females of all ages and ethnicities can develop breast cancer and it is the leading most common cancer among women. Calling at tention to this often fatal disease is important by supporting its victims, families and friends of victims, as well as raising funds for breast cancer research. Though males are not immune from developing a breast cancer, for the purposes of thisRead MoreBreast Cancer : Cancer And Cancer946 Words   |  4 PagesSkylar Steinman Period 6 Ms. Jobsz 12 February , 2016 Breast Cancer It is commonly known that Breast Cancer is one of the most insidious diseases that mankind has had to deal with. With the discovery of the BRCA1( BReast Cancer gene one) and BRCA2 (BReast Cancer gene two) genes, breast cancer can be detected with a great amount of certainty on a genetic level in some women and men. 40,000 women and men die of breast cancer each year. Knowing this it is very important to try to detect the mutationRead MoreBreast Cancer : Cancer And Cancer1530 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Cancer† is the name for a group of diseases that start in the body at the cellular level. Even though there are many different kinds of cancer, they all begin with abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These abnormal cells lump together to form a mass of tissue or â€Å"malignant tumor†. Malignant means that it can spread to other parts of the body or Metastasize . If the breast is the original location of the cancer gr owth or malignant tumor, the tumorRead MoreBreast Cancer : Cancer And Cancer Essay1741 Words   |  7 Pages Internationally, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer related death amongst women. (CITE) Each year an estimated 1.7 million new cases are diagnosed worldwide, and more than 500,000 women will die of the disease. (CITE) According to (CITE), somewhere in the world one woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every 19 seconds and more than three women die of breast cancer every five minutes worldwide. (CITE) Breast cancer is a heterogeneous condition thatRead MoreBreast Cancer : Cancer And Cancer1372 Words   |  6 PagesBreast Cancer Disease Overview Breast cancer is a disease in which certain cells in the breast become abnormal and multiply uncontrollably to form a tumor. Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. (Only skin cancer is more common.) About one in eight women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. Researchers estimate that more than 230,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in U.S. women in 2015. Cancers occur when aRead MoreBreast Cancer : Cancer And Cancer1471 Words   |  6 PagesBreast cancer Introduction to Breast cancer Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer only surpassed by lung cancer. It involves a cancerous tumour located inside the breast but spreads if treatment is not administered. (Evert et al 2011) Breast cancer can be treated if diagnosed in its early stages but becomes progressively more difficult upon reaching more advancing malignant stages. Breast cancer can be confused with being a female only disease however both sexes suffer. AccordingRead MoreBreast Cancer : Cancer And Cancer1921 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction Cancer is a term that every individual on this planet wants to avoid hearing when they go to their yearly check up at the doctors. However, as person ages, they are prone to develop some sort of sickness and most of the time, they could develop cancer of some sort. For this research paper, I am going to go over breast cancer. Breast cancer is a well-known type of cancer with awareness events going on to support both women and men who has breast cancer. According to American Cancer Society

Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe Essay - 608 Words

I know youve thought about killing someone, but youre too worried about the consequences. In the short story Cask of Amontillado The protagonist, Montresor feels hatred toward this man Fortunato and is determined to get revenge with impunity. In Lamb to the slaughter a wife unsure of her feelings murders her husband. The stories are similar because the authors both create a effect of suspense while they use different types of irony and conflicts. Poe and Dahl both create the effect of suspense. The feeling of being uncertain of what may happen next. In Lamb to the slaughter Dahl illustrates suspense when Mary Maloney knocks her husband over the head (pg. 4) after shes introduced as a sweet, loving, woman. After she kills†¦show more content†¦This type of irony is used when readers are aware of something a character in the story isnt, this helps build suspense. Readers know Montressor vows revenge on Fortunato. Meanwhile, in the story Fortunate isnt aware. My dear fortunato, you are luckily met. (pg. 1) This is an example of dramatic irony because readers know Montressor seeks revenge on Fortunato, although throughout the story it remains a mystery why. Furthermore, the two suspenseful stories have completely different conflicts. Poe creates a person vs person conflict in â€Å"Cask of Amontillado† The protagonist of the story vows revenge on a character named Fortunato. â€Å"The thousand injuries of Fortunato, I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge.† (pg. 7) this clarifies the person vs person conflict, which is also another text structure that helps create the suspenseful effect. In the short story â€Å"Lamb to the slaughter† Mary Maloney kills her husband and acts as if she doesn’t do it. This creates a person vs obstacle conflict. â€Å"And now,† â€Å"she told herself all she was doing was returning home to her husband and he was waiting for his supper.† (pg. 5) B y Mary Maloney pretending she did not kill her husband she creates a person vs obstacle conflict. This also proves the idea of a person vs obstacle conflict in contrast with Poe’s suspenseful short story. In conclusion, these two short stories â€Å"The cask ofShow MoreRelatedThe Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe888 Words   |  4 PagesThe Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe In ?The Cask of Amontillado?, Edgar Allan Poe takes us on a trip into the mind of a mad man. Poe uses certain elements to convey an emotional impact. He utilizes irony, descriptive detail of setting, and dark character traits to create the search of sinful deceit. Poe also uses first person, where the narrator is the protagonist who is deeply involved. The purpose is to get the reader to no longer be the observer. He wants them to see with MontressorRead MoreThe Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe836 Words   |  3 Pagesqualities in the story. In the story many things are used as symbols such as the actual cask of amontillado, the trowel, the jester costume and the setting in which there is two in the story. Another literary technique used significantly in the story is irony. Irony is the expression of ones meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite. In the short story â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado,† Montresor a very troubled man who plans to seek revenge on another man named FortunatoRead MoreEdgar Allan Poe And The Cask Of Amontillado1384 Words   |  6 PagesWhat makes Edgar Allan Poe work unique? Other than being a strange individual, Poe has become a remarkable literature writer. The Raven, Annabel Lee, and The Cask of Amontillado are just a few of Poe’s work that staples the theme of gothic literature. This essay will allow you to see the gothic elements Edgar Allan Poe uses through his most common poems. Gothic literature has many elements which play into its definition. The actual definition is a style of writing that is characterized by elementsRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe906 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado† â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado† was written in 1846, by Edgar Allan Poe. Born in 1809, Poe never knew any of his parents. At the age of three, his mother died of tuberculosis, and his father deserted the family before he was born. Taking care of him was his foster parents in Richmond, Virginia. They loved Poe, but were not supportive of his decisions and kept Poe poor. Having debt and not being able to provide food and clothes for himself caused Poe to quit school. Later, heRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe920 Words   |  4 Pageswhen that trust no longer exists? In â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado† written by Edgar Allan Poe, Fortunato is about to find the answer to this question. On the surface, Montresor seems friendly with Fortunato, but deep down he feels nothing but hate for him. Could this hatred have an irrationality that only Montresor understands? In different ways, both of these men are proud and affluent, yet both have downfalls that will l ead to a tragic ending. Edgar Allan Poe’s use of language contributes to the understandingRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe1555 Words   |  7 PagesIn his writing, Edgar Allan Poe has multiple uses of direct and indirect characterization. In The Cask of Amontillado, Montresor had rules such as â€Å"I must not only punish but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong† (Poe, 2). Poe used indirect characterization to show the reader that Montresor is an unreliable narrator because he justified hisRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe1303 Words   |  6 PagesIn Edgar Allan Poe’s â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado,† the narrator recalls an extremely significant time in his life, and takes the reader along with him. Throughout the story, one experiences a perfectly planned murder which took place over fifty years ago, and still no one has discovered what truly happened to poor Fortunato as he was chained to a wall in a room that was then closed off, and torched to death due to all the nitre in the walls. As the story goes on, the reader can see some of Poe’s unfortunateRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe1076 Words   |  5 PagesThe short story, The Cask of Amontillado, written by Edgar Allan Poe is a story of terror and betrayal. Like many of Poe’s literary works, the story has a dark undertone with a theme of terror and depression. More than half a century ago, Marshall McLuhan argued that though Poe was fascinated by evil, the evil that he had in mind was not that of Calvinism, but that of the split man and the split civilization. In general, McLuhan was right, but in this instance Calvinism, and its God, provided a darkRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe707 Words   |  3 PagesIn the short story of The Ca sk of Amontillado, Edgar Allan Poe writes in first person point of view from the perspective of Montresor who seeks revenge against Fortunato. Montresor began to develop the perfect plan for revenge. During the carnival season, Montresor meets with Fortunato and decides to implement his plan carefully through irony. Poe s story describes the murderer s mind which has lived as a memory of Fortunato s death for fifty years. Poe uses different types of irony and symbolismRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe985 Words   |  4 PagesEdgar Allen Poe is a well known author of short stories and poetry from the 19th century. He is known especially for his stories of horror and suspense. The Cask of Amontillado is one of his more famous pieces. The story follows the narrator, Montresor, as he exacts revenge on Fortunato. Montressor draws Fortunato into the wine cellar where eventually he chains Fortunato to the wall and encloses him inside it. Throughout the story the narrator continually proves that he is not the most reliable source

Aristotle’s Theory of Poetics Free Essays

Aristotle’s Theory of Poetics Research Assignment Aristotle bases his theory of poetics on greek tragedy. He defines tragedy as â€Å"the imitation of an action that is serious and also as having magnitude, complete in itself. † (Melani, 2009) He views that, â€Å"Tragedy is a form of drama exciting the emotions of pity and fear. We will write a custom essay sample on Aristotle’s Theory of Poetics or any similar topic only for you Order Now Its action should be single and complete, presenting a reversal of fortune, involving persons renowned and of superior attainments,and it should be written in poetry embellished with every kind of artistic expression. † . (Melani, 2009) Usually the writer would present the emotions of pity and fear within tragedy which interprets catharsis. Aristotle viewed the term catharsis as the â€Å"purging† of emotions such as pity or fear which are triggered with tragic action within greek plays Aristotle draws a difference between tragedy and other genres, as the audience watches the tragedy, they feel a â€Å"tragic pleasure of pity and fear†. In order for the tragic hero to arouse these feelings in the audience, he cannot be either all good or all evil but must be someone the audience can identify with; however, if he is superior, the tragic pleasure is intensified. His disastrous end results from a mistaken action, which in turn arises from a tragic flaw or from a tragic error in judgment. â€Å"Often the tragic flaw is known as hubris, pride that causes the hero to ignore a warning. It has been suggested that because the tragic hero’s suffering is greater than his offense, the audience feels pity; because the audience members perceive that they could behave similarly, they feel pity. An example of this is evident within the tragedy Oedipus Rex. (Melani, 2009) Catharsis Aristotle argues that the best tragedies and some of the best plays, since Aristotle considers tragedy to be the highest dramatic form, when the use of reversal and recognition to achieve catharsis is present during a tragedy or a play, he finds that with this aspect in perspective they are the best. Aristotle often writes reversal works with a story’s spine or center in order to ensure that the hero comes full circle. An example of this is highlighted in the play Oedipus Rex, a hero who undergoes such a reversal and thus has cathartic self-recognition. Aristotle considers catharsis to be a form of redemption such that even though Oedipus’ recognition is tragic it still redeems him: he no longer lives in ignorance of his tragedy but instead he decides to accept his fate. He sees that redemption is not the only result of catharsis; the audience also undergoes a catharsis in a good drama. The hero’s catharsis induces both pity and fear in the audience, they pity the hero, and fear that his fate could possibly happen to us. Mimises Aristotle believes that there are two main aspects to think of art: some would consider art to be an expression of what is original and unusual in human behavious whilst Aristotle argues that art is â€Å"imitative†, it is a representation of life, and this idea motivated Aristotle. â€Å"He devotes much of the Poetics to exploring the methods, significance, and consequences of the imitation of life. Aristotle concludes that art’s imitative tendencies are expressed in one of three ways: a poet attempts to portray our world as it is, as we think it is, or as it ought to be. † (Zuern) Aristotle believed that all poetry is an imitation or mimesis. Aristotle imagines that poetry springs from a basic human delight in mimicry. Humans learn through imitating and are fascinated by looking at imitations of the perceived world. The mimetic dimension of the poetic arts is, always representational. This was known as mimesis. During Aristotle’s time, critics considered epic poetry to be the supreme art form, but Aristotle though differently, he viewed tragedy as the better of the two forms. Aristotle believes that tragedy, can entertain its written form, but also can translate onstage into a drama of spectacle and music. Aristotle often felt that the use of the word â€Å"unity,† was sometimes misunderstood. He considers that unity is the ability of the best dramatic plots to revolve around a central axis that ‘unites’ all actions within a play. Aristotle believed that a unified drama will have a ‘spine’: a main idea which motivates all the action, character, thoughts, diction and spectacle in the play. (Gradesaver, 2012) Work Cited  · â€Å"Aristotle’s Poetics Study Guide. † . 4Shared, n. d. Web. 6 Sep 2012. .  ·Ã¢â‚¬ Aristotle’s Poetics Themes. † GradeSaver . N. p. , n. d. Web. 6 Sep 2012. .  ·Melani, Lilia . â€Å"Tragedy. † . N. p. , 13 March 2009. Web. 5 Sep 2012. .  ·Zuern, John . â€Å"Aristotle Poetics. † CriticaLink. University of Hawai`i, 1999. Web. 6 Sep 2012. . How to cite Aristotle’s Theory of Poetics, Papers

Renaissance Humanism free essay sample

Humanism of the renaissance period was the predominant movement that revolutionized philosophical, intellectual, and literary customs. It first originated in Italy during the fourteenth century and eventually spread to other major areas in Europe such as Greece. One of the most important changes humanism introduced was a secular viewpoint of history; this was done so by endorsing a nonreligious perspective on history. Humanism not only ended the dominance of the church, but it also eventually had a profound impact on everyday life, especially education. Individualism, humanist philosophy, and the printing press were major components of humanism that made it a crucial influence on Europe during the renaissance period. Without the introduction of a revolutionary movement like humanism, Europe may have continued to remain stagnant with its development in terms of philosophy, literature, and the arts (Humanism in the Renaissance). The period from the fourteenth century to the seventeenth advocated the liberation of individuals, which meant that more emphasis was placed on personal beliefs. We will write a custom essay sample on Renaissance Humanism or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This led to a more diverse spectrum of ideas in society and increased personal development, hence the term â€Å"individualism†. Individualism first began when city-states of northern Italy had come into contact with the diverse customs of the East, which gradually permitted expression â€Å"in terms of taste and dress† (Kreis). This eventually resulted in the ascendancy of honest doubt and curiosity over unreasoning faith. However, it is not completely warranted to believe that individualism was wholly beneficial to people. However, the fact remains that individualism went against the â€Å"sovereignty of tyrant, feudal lord, class, corporation, and tradition† (Kreis) has had a tremendous influence upon the subsequent history of Europe. Because of individualism, freedom of individual expression and opposition to authority was brought to the surface and soon became an integral part of the western intellectual tradition. In context, individualism was in direct opposition to the ideals of medieval Christianity, which restricted personal expression, fostered self-annihilation, and demanded implicit faith and unquestioning obedience. Individualism not only resulted in a less powerful church, but it also triggered an immense change from strict obedience to increased personal expression (Kreis). As a result of the increase of individual expression, new ideas were formed that led to the development of â€Å"humanist philosophy† (Cline). Humanist philosophy soon became an intrinsic component of renaissance life, as there was an increased emphasis on the importance of education. It became necessary for people to learn ancient Greek and Latin in order to even begin to understand the ancient manuscripts. This led to extended education in the arts and philosophies and even the ancient sciences that had had been neglected by Christian scholars for a long time. As a result, there was an unprecedented burst of scientific and technological development during the renaissance that Europe had not witnessed in centuries (Cline). Additionally, the aforementioned individualism was naturally one of the most crucial components of humanist philosophy, for much of the basis of this type of philosophy was formed from a secular approach (Kreis). One of the most important early humanists was an Italian poet named Petrarch who applied the ideas and values of ancient Greece and Rome to questions about Christian doctrines and ethics that were central topics during the renaissance period. Interestingly enough, many famous humanists like Petrarch were members of the church; however, they were mostly secular rather than spiritual, exhibiting much more interest in literature, art, and philosophy than in theology. To say the least, renaissance humanism was a â€Å"revolution in thinking and feeling which left no part of society, not even the highest levels of Christianity, untouched† (Cline). Finally, the ideas of humanism would not have spread like it did without the use of the printing press, which was invented by a man named Johannes Gutenberg in 1445. Previously, bookmaking entailed copying word-by-word and all the illustrations by hand. As a result of the tedious labour, the price was often very expensive. With the advent of Gutenberg’s printing press, books could be produced much quicker and with relatively little effort, which made bookmaking much less expensive, allowing more people to buy reading material. The printing press’ ability to spread new ideas was soon put to the test with the newly developed humanist philosophy. As previously mentioned, one of the main concepts behind humanist philosophy was the idea of a nonreligious viewpoint on everyday life matter, which proved to be quite opposite to the ideals of the church. With humanists rediscovering ancient writings and adopting new forms of philosophy, literature and art, the printing press became a highly useful tool to spread information to various people across Europe (Renaissance – Printing and Thinking). With this, many entrepreneurs began printing editions of ancient philosophy and literature in Greek, Latin, and Italian for a mass audience, leading to a dissemination of information and ideas â€Å"much wider than previously thought possible† (Cline). Without the invention of the press, newly formed ideas like individualism and other philosophical concepts would not have made a huge impact on Europe the way it did during the renaissance, regardless of its potency (Cline). The introduction of humanism was a revolutionary movement during the renaissance period that propelled Europe in the direction of steady development. This was seen with the influences of individualism, humanist philosophy, and the printing press on Europe during the renaissance period. The ramifications of these not only included changes in the way people viewed the church, but they also influenced people to place more emphasis on literature, education, and the arts. With individualism, European society began to question implicit obedience to the church and instead, viewed the matter with a more secular approach. Humanist philosophy caused an increase in emphasis on education and led to extended education in the arts, philosophes, and sciences that resulted in a boom in scientific and technological progress during the renaissance. However, these newly developed humanistic ideas would not spread and become popular without the invention of the printing press, which became a highly useful tool in disseminating information. Humanism, to say the least, was nothing short of something revolutionary that resulted in important changes during the renaissance period.

How systematic were Peter the Greats plans for meeting Russias needs and how effectively did he carry them out essays

How systematic were Peter the Greats plans for meeting Russias needs and how effectively did he carry them out essays When Peter inherited the throne in Russia in 1689, he was dismayed by its backwardness. His vision was to Westernise it. To answer the essay question, I first need to identify the needs of Russia. These were to improve the economy of Russia, to harness the support of the nobility, improve defence and administration, enhance diplomatic ties with the West, to secure ice free ports, and to improve education. Peter found answers to many of his problems in Russia by transplanting ideas from the West. When he said after his humiliation at Narva that Russia would learn from the Swedes how eventually to defeat them, he was expressing his underlying attitude to change. In 1697-1699, he went on a Grand Tour of England and Holland called the "Embassy to the West". This was for diplomatic and technological reasons - to harness support of the West against the Turks and bring back skilled workers to Russia. After visiting Versailles in 1717, Peter began to upgrade the courtly image, employing a variety of foreign artists and architects. However, his main emphasis was still practical, as shown by the fact that the most important building housed the Senate and Colleges, not court. Peter promoted direct contact with French, Dutch, German, and English cultures and removed his court from the conservative atmosphere of the Kremlin and established a new capital at St. Petersburg. Peter's vision was on a far grander scale than Louis XIV's however, as it can be said "the problem of Paris was solved by Versailles, that of the Kremlin by St Petersburg". Peter was also open to the influence of western advisers in trying to promote commercial enterprise to build up a class of entrepreneurs. He was also determined to introduce new fashions, based largely on those in the West. Beards and traditional Russian clothes were either banned or heavily taxed. Under Western influence, Peter introduced a number of humanitarian measures - Moscow's first pharmacies and ho...

Battle of Shiloh in the Civil War

Battle of Shiloh in the Civil War The Battle of Shiloh was fought April 6-7, 1862, and was an early engagement of the Civil War (1861-1865). Advancing into Tennessee, Major General Ulysses S. Grants troops were attacked by the Confederate Army of Mississippi. Taken by surprise, Union forces were driven back towards the Tennessee River. Able to hold, Grant was reinforced during the night of April 6/7 and launched a massive counterattack in the morning. This drove the Confederates from the field and secured a victory for the Union. The bloodiest battle of the war to date, the losses at Shiloh stunned the public but were far lower than the battles that would come later in the conflict. Lead-up to the Battle In the wake of the Union victories at Forts Henry and Donelson in February 1862, Major General Ulysses S. Grant pressed up the Tennessee River with the Army of West Tennessee. Halting at Pittsburg Landing, Grant was under orders to link up with Major General Don Carlos Buells Army of the Ohio for a thrust against the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. Not expecting a Confederate attack, Grant ordered his men to bivouac and commenced a regimen of training and drill. Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant. Photograph Courtesy of the National Archives Records Administration While the bulk of the army remained at Pittsburg Landing, Grant dispatched Major General Lew Wallaces division several miles north to Stoney Lonesome. Unbeknownst to Grant, his Confederate opposite number, General Albert Sidney Johnston had concentrated his departments forces at Corinth, MS. Intending to attack the Union camp, Johnstons Army of Mississippi departed Corinth on April 3 and encamped three miles from Grants men. Planning to move forward the next day, Johnston was forced to delay the attack forty-eight hours. This delay led his second-in-command, General P.G.T. Beauregard, to advocate cancelling the operation as he believed the element of surprise had been lost. Not to be deterred, Johnston led his men out of camp early on April 6. General P.G.T. Beauregard. Photograph Courtesy of the National Archives Records Administration Fast Facts: Battle of Shiloh Conflict: Civil War (1861-1865)Dates: April 6-7, 1862Armies Commanders:UnionMajor General Ulysses S. GrantMajor General Don Carlos BuellArmy of West Tennessee - 48,894 menArmy of the Ohio - 17, 918 menConfederateGeneral Albert Sidney JohnstonGeneral Pierre G.T. BeauregardArmy of Mississippi - 44,699 menCasualties:Union: 1,754 killed, 8,408 wounded, and 2,885 captured/missingConfederate: 1,728 killed, 8,012 wounded, 959 captured/missing The Confederate Plan Johnstons plan called for the weight of the assault to strike the Union left with the goal of separating it from the Tennessee River and driving Grants army north and west into the swamps of Snake and Owl Creeks. Around 5:15 AM, the Confederates encountered a Union patrol and the fighting began. Surging forward, the corps of Major Generals Braxton Bragg and William Hardee formed a single, long battle line and struck the unprepared Union camps. As they advanced, units became entangled and difficult to control. Meeting with success, the attack drove into the camps as the Union troops attempted to rally. The Confederates Strike Around 7:30, Beauregard, who had been instructed to remain in the rear, sent forward the corps of Major General Leonidas Polk and Brigadier General John C. Breckinridge. Grant, who was downstream at Savannah, TN when the battle began, raced back and reached the field around 8:30. Bearing the brunt of the initial Confederate attack was Brigadier General William T. Shermans division which anchored the Union right. Though forced back, he worked tirelessly to rally his men and mounted a strong defense. Major General John McClernand. Photograph Courtesy of the Library of Congress To his left, Major General John A. McClernands division was also forced to stubbornly give ground. Around 9:00, as Grant was recalling Wallaces division and attempting to hasten the lead division of Buells army, troops from Brigadier Generals W.H.L. Wallaces and Benjamin Prentiss division occupied a strong defensive position in an oak thicket dubbed the Hornets Nest. Fighting valiantly, they repulsed several Confederate attacks as Union troops on either side were forced back. The Hornets Nest held for seven hours and only fell when fifty Confederate guns were brought to bear. Johnston Lost Around 2:30 PM, the Confederate command structure was badly shaken when Johnston was mortally wounded in the leg. Ascending to command, Beauregard continued to push his men forward and Colonel David Stuarts brigade achieved a breakthrough on the Union left along the river. Pausing to reform his men, Stuart failed to exploit the gap and moved his men towards the fighting at the Hornets Nest. With the collapse of the Hornets Nest, Grant formed a strong position extending west from the river and north up the River Road with Sherman on the right, McClernand in the center, and the remnants of Wallace and Brigadier General Stephen Hurlbuts division on the left. Attacking this new Union line, Beauregard had little success and his men were beaten back by heavy fire and naval gunfire support. With dusk approaching, he elected to retire for the night with the goal of returning to the offensive in the morning. Between 6:30-7:00 PM, Lew Wallaces division finally arrived after an unnecessarily circuitous march. While Wallaces men joined the Union line on the right, Buells army began arriving and reinforced his left. Realizing that he now possessed a sizable numerical advantage, Grant planned a massive counterattack for the next morning. Major General Don Carlos Buell. Photograph Courtesy of the Library of Congress Grant Strikes Back Advancing at dawn, Lew Wallaces men opened the attack around 7:00 AM. Pushing south, Grant and Buells troops drove the Confederates back as Beauregard worked to stabilize his lines. Hampered by the previous days intermingling of units, he was not able to form his entire army until around 10:00 AM. Pushing forward, Buells men retook the Hornets Nest by late morning but met strong counterattacks by Breckinridges men. Grinding on, Grant was able to retake his old camps around noon, forcing Beauregard to launch a series of attacks to protect access to the roads leading back to Corinth. By 2:00 PM, Beauregard realized that the battle was lost and began ordering his troops to retreat south. Breckinridges men moved into a covering position, while Confederate artillery was massed near Shiloh Church to protect the withdrawal. By 5:00 PM, most of Beauregards men had departed the field. With dusk approaching and his men exhausted, Grant elected not to pursue. A Terrible Toll The bloodiest battle of the war to date, Shiloh cost the Union 1,754 killed, 8,408 wounded, and 2,885 captured/missing. The Confederates lost 1,728 killed (including Johnston), 8,012 wounded, 959 captured/missing. A stunning victory, Grant was initially vilified for being taken by surprise, while Buell and Sherman were hailed as saviors. Pressured to remove Grant, President Abraham Lincoln famously replied, I cant spare this man; he fights. When the smoke of battle cleared, Grant was praised for his cool demeanor in saving the army from disaster. Regardless, he was temporarily relegated to a supporting role when Major General Henry Halleck, Grants immediate superior, took direct command for an advance against Corinth. Grant regained his army that summer when Halleck was promoted to general-in-chief of the Union armies. With Johnstons death, command of the Army of Mississippi was given to Bragg who would lead it in the battles of Perryville, Stones River, Chickamauga, and Chattanooga.