Chemistry Jobs - Finding Chemistry Jobs in Phoenix

Chemistry Jobs - Finding Chemistry Jobs in PhoenixChemical engineering is one of the most popular science careers in the country today. If you're interested in working in this field, finding chemical engineering jobs can be difficult as there are so many individuals who want to enter the field and currently work in it.Chemical engineers can choose from a wide range of careers, including research positions, production positions, positions in chemical manufacturing, and even management positions. They work on many different types of substances that need to function correctly and stay functional. As an example, if you have been hired as a contract employee at a manufacturing plant, you might be responsible for making certain chemical substances function correctly within the factory. You would work on materials such as metal, fiber, and plastics.As the majority of chemical engineering jobs in Phoenix are laboratory positions, you may have limited opportunities for advancement within your career. You may need to take tests and seminars before you are eligible for promotion.There are many different companies in Phoenix that are willing to hire graduates of the chemical engineering program. This career has been a boon for the local economy, as technology is used in numerous sectors of the economy, especially in those industries where jobs are in high demand. Some companies may require that their employees have received their graduate degrees before they will consider hiring them.There are many professional colleges in Phoenix that offer education in chemistry. If you have been accepted into one of these universities, you can expect to be taken very seriously by prospective employers in the chemical engineering field. The job outlook for individuals with advanced degrees is much better than for individuals with only a high school diploma.If you are considering pursuing a career in chemistry, you should seriously consider looking at available jobs in Phoenix. Not only w ill you find plenty of qualified candidates in Phoenix, but you will find that the people you'll be working with will be very familiar with how to apply these skills and techniques. For instance, many chemical engineers work in labs. If you are hired to work in a lab environment, you'll learn the skills that are essential to successfully finishing your job and producing high quality products for the end user.There are plenty of ways to find chemistry jobs in Phoenix. By using your common sense, you can ensure that you can find suitable employment quickly and easily. Once you've found a job, you'll be well-positioned to learn more about what else you need to do in order to advance and make more money.

6 Steps to Help You Overcome Conflict in the Workplace - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 6 Steps to Help You Overcome Conflict in the Workplace - Introvert Whisperer 6 Steps to Help You Overcome Conflict in the Workplace Avoiding conflict is a part of human nature, especially when it happens in your place of employment. For introverts especially, confrontation in the workplace is particularly agonizing. For most of us, self-included, initiating difficult conversations at work is a major pain point. As much as we hate to admit it, due to the group dynamics of the workplace, office conflicts do happen in a variety of forms. While interpersonal conflicts may  be “normal”, they also cost businesses money. According to a study by the publishers of the Myers-Briggs Assessment and the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument found that U.S. workers spend 2.8 hours a week on average dealing with conflict in the workplace, equating to  â€œ$359 billion in wasted wages” per year. Of course, not all conflict is bad. In an ideal work setting, employees and coworkers are engaged, committed to the work they’re producing, and excited about the prospect of seeing tasks successfully completed. In these kinds of work environments, conflict can be a sign that people are passionate about their work and excited about their ideas. By no means does this mean that conflict for the sake of a project is necessary or healthy, but the best kind of workplaces are the kind that handles difficult conflicts constructively. Here are a few tips employees and managers can use to effectively handle conflict in the workplace. Describe the Problem as You See It, in Neutral Terms   It’s important that when confronting a coworker or manager about workplace conflicts that you aim to describe the problem as objectively as possible. What is the problem you’re encountering? When is it occurring? What have you observed the other person doing, and how are you reacting as a response? It’s important here that you don’t assume to know what the other person’s intentions or motivations are, but to simply stick to what is easily observable. It’s also important that you take note of their perspective and avoid bias as much as possible. Apologize for Your Role in the Conflict Most of us aren’t completely guilt free when conflict arises at work. In order to fully resolve the situation at hand, it’s important that you voice the ways in which you’re responsible for contributing to conflict, or ways that you’ve helped sustain the conflict. This is not to say that you’re accepting responsibility for the conflict overall, rather, you’re simply acknowledging your role in the situation. Show Appreciation for the Other Party Other than admitting your part in the conflict, this may be one of the harder steps to resolving conflict. It’s difficult to praise a person you disagree with, but people typically don’t respond well to conflict resolution when they feel as though they’re being put on the defense. Alexander Kjerulf of Positive Sharing suggests the following when showing appreciation for difficult coworkers. “I know we don’t always see eye to eye and that we have very different personalities but I want you to know that I really appreciate your contribution to the project. Without you, we would never have gotten this far in the same time. Also the way you communicate with our clients and your ability to find out what they really want are second to none and a boost to the project.” He also points out that this step is in many ways a litmus test to see if you are ready to resolve the conflict. If you are unable to think of a single redeeming quality about your coworker or manager, you may need to seek mediation to solve the issue. Discuss How the Conflict Affects Other Coworkers and Productivity at the Company At this point in the conversation, it’s important that you highlight the consequences that the conflict is having not only for yourself but for the productivity of the company as a whole. Is the conflict making others feel anxious before meetings? Unable to share their ideas without fear of being judged? Is the project suffering as a whole? By addressing some of these questions, it might make it easier for both parties involved to look at the project holistically, rather than their own disagreements. Determine a Positive Outcome for Each Party It’s at this point in the process that each party can determine their desired outcome. Both parties ought to have a clear idea of what the solutions might be, even if the goals are lofty. It may be as simple as adopting a different communication style, or simply being more forthright when future conflicts arise. Determine Specific Actions that Can Be Put into Practice Immediately Typically with workplace conflicts, there is an end goal and a short term goal. The end goal might be to become better communicators over time to avoid conflict in the future, but here you can determine a few goals which will help from day-to-day as you continue to work together on projects you’re assigned to together. Conflict in today’s workplace is common, and can often be attributed to many passionate parties working toward a lofty goal using different methods. While some conflicts require mediation or intervention. Many conflicts can be resolved thoughtfully by both parties using a series of steps aimed at reaching clarity and prioritizing both individual’s needs. Danika McClure is a writer and musician from the Northwest who sometimes takes a 30-minute break from feminism to enjoy a tv show. You can follow her on twitter @sadwhitegrrl Go to top SELF-PROMOTION Let me emphasize that Self-Promotion doesn’t have to be obnoxious to be effective.  But, if you don’t Self-Promote you, who will?  If you ever want to get ahead, you have to learn how to Self-Promote. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that shows you simple, yet effective ways to Self-Promote. Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Japanese Weaponry

Japanese Weaponry The Weapons Used by Japanese Warriors ChaptersLonger Japanese BladesShort Japanese Bladed WeaponsJapanese Ranged and Mêlée WeaponsThe Weapons of Okinawan KobudoJapan is a country with an extremely personal and specific culture. Whether it’s martial arts, samurai, food, manga, or video games, there are so many reasons to be interested in Japanese history and culture.Throughout this history, there have been several conflicts, including those between Japanese medieval clans. Before gunpowder and firearms in the 16th century, Japanese warriors would use blades to fight. Some of these weapons are quite famous in the West through combat sports that use them.When you think of Japanese weapons, you probably think of ninja gear like throwing stars or throwing knives, a grappling hook, and all manner of concealed weapon used by the shinobi or ninja warrior. However, don't forget that there's more to the weaponry of feudal Japan than this.In this article, we’re going to have a look at some of the famous weapons that were used in Japan. Between steel blades, wooden weapons, and deadly projectile weapons, here are some of the tools of war that helped the Japanese army secure victories over the years. NanaJapanese Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EllyJapanese Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MomokoJapanese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MelanieJapanese Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YukoJapanese Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamesJapanese Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PippaJapanese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarikoJapanese Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsLonger Japanese BladesThe KatanaOf all Japanese swords and blades, the most famous is probably the katana sword, a favourite among samurai. The katana is a sword with a long, thin, and curved blade with just one cutting edge. It’s wor n on the belt with the blade upwards. The katana is arguably the most famous Japanese sword. (Source: stux)There are several uses for the katana: cutting (with the blade), stabbing (with the point), and symbolism. During the Muromachi Period, there were famous smiths known for their legendary katanas.There are many terms relating to the katana:Saya: the sheath made from lacquered magnolia wood.Tsuba: the sword guard.Tsuka: the katana’s handle.Mono-Uchi: the end of the blade with which cuts are made.Bokken: a wooden version of the sword used in the martial art kendo.Shinai: a bamboo version of the sword used for training.Shinken: a modern version of the katana.Among the most popular blacksmiths, you might hear the names Masamune, Kotetsu, Kunimitsu, or even Muramasa. Furthermore, the katana is a weapon present in many contemporary works inspired by Japanese folklore such as Kill Bill, Ruroni Kenshin, or the video game Musashi: Samurai Legend, for example.TachiThe tachi is a Japanese sword that was used until the 13th ce ntury (Koto Period). It was favoured by horse-mounted samurai, hung from the belt to the side, with the blade downwards. It measured around 70cm in length.There are two types of tachi, the decorative tachi (kazaritachi) and the jintachi, which was used for battle. The tachi is used as much for ceremonies as it was used by the shogun in battle.The tachi is an ancestor to the katana and the preferred weapon of Japanese horse-mounted warriors until the 13th century.WakizashiThe waizashi is a sword that’s quite similar to the katana with the main difference being that is only measures between 30 and 60cm. It’s not used for stabbing, but rather for close combat in which a katana would too long or alongside a katana in ceremonies.The samurai were authorised to carry a wakizashi alongside a katana, with the pair being referred to as the daisho. Those who didn’t have the right to carry a katana would carry a wakizashi instead. Some combat styles use a wooden wakizashi, known as a shot o.Wakizashi were used for the seppuku ritual as their size allowed them to easily cut open the stomach.Short Japanese Bladed WeaponsTantoThe tanto is a Japanese blade measuring less than 30cm. It was used by the samurai as an armour-piercing blade or by women in combat. There are two main types: the hamidachi (with a small guard) and the aikuchi (without a guard and a handle made from fish skin).These blades were sometimes used to perform jigai, ritual suicide. They’re similar to Western daggers but with a Japanese touch and a marvellous sheath.TessenThe tessen is a weapon unlike no other; a steel fan. While many fans are decorative, some are deadly. Not this one, though. (Source: Nope2601)There are many tales about the use of the tessen. Here’s one of them:When Araki Murashige was invited before Oda Nobunaga (the “Demon King), he left his sword at the entrance, as was the custom. As he performed the traditional greeting, Nobunaga had planned to decapitate him by closing the sliding doors on his neck. Fortunately, Araki used his tessent to block the doors from closing.Another legend during the Sengoku Era states that the warlord Takeda Shingen survived a horse-mounted attack from Uesugi Kenshin by using a tessen. The tessen can be used as a shield in self-defence or as an offensive weapon when other types of weapon were forbidden.Interested in Japanese culture?Find out more about geishas.Japanese Ranged and Mêlée WeaponsNaginata and YariThese two Japanese weapons are types of lances. The naginata first appeared in Japan in the 10th century having originated in China. This lan ce has a curved blade at the end. It’s light and manageable and was used by several types of warrior:Horse-mounted warriorsWarrior monksFemale guardsLadies of lordsToday, naginata is a martial art predominately practised by women.  The yari is a lance that measures between 2.5 and 4m in length. The blade at the can be double-edged or in the form of a cross (ju-ji). It’s useful for both cutting and stabbing, making the yari one of the most deadly weapons in Japanese history.  Furthermore, you can use the butt of the yari to strike your foe, a movement which features in many aikido kata.Torimono SandoguTorimono Sandogu designed three mêlée weapons during the Edo Period for law enforcement. These weapons include the sasumata (double fork), sodegarami (points), and tsukubo (t-shaped). They weren’t designed to kill but rather capture and were usually used to capture suspected criminals.Ninja Weapons: Yumi, Kunai, Senbon, Shaken, and ShurikenNinjas are shadow warriors who are famo us all over the world for their combat style, ninjutsu. These professional spies used a series of thrown weapons or strikes. Ninjas are very popular in the west. However, they were an important part of Japanese history and so were their weapons. (Source: MichaelWuensch)Firstly, the yumi is a Japanese bow. It wasn’t just used by ninjas but it did give these stealthy warriors an advantage. It wasn’t used as much as the kunai, though. This was a small dagger which worked both as a tool and a weapon.  Ninjas could also use a ninja sword, which was shorter and easier to handle than a katana.Of all the ninja weapons, the shuriken (ninja stars), a metal star that could be thrown at foes and tipped with poison, was among the most famous. The star-shaped shuriken is known as the shaken. Senbon were another effective weapon for the ninja. These metal needles could also be tipped with poison.While ninja weapons are popular in manga such as Naruto, real ninjas had no magical powers but were still really effective.Learn about the world of sumo wrestling in Japan.The Weapons of Okinawan KobudoOkinawa is an archipela go that was annexed by Japan in 1879. At this time, the inhabitants of Okinawa were unsurprisingly unwilling to be invaded and had developed a range of weapons based on traditional agricultural tools. These weapons were integrated into Japanese martial arts and became known as kobudo.The most famous of these weapons is the nunchaku. Nunchaku are two batons held together by a cord or chain and are used similarly to a flail. While the nunchaku is now used more artistically, it served as a tool for self-defence against the invading Japanese armies.The sai is another of these weapons: an Asian dagger with three points that can be used to stab but not cut. It originated from an agricultural tool used to plant rice or pierce fruits. The sai is generally used in pairs but a third can be used as a thrown weapon. Many Japanese weapons evolved from agricultural tools as farmers defended themselves. (Source: steinchen)Okinawans also used a tunkunwa in combat, a type of tonfa with a perpendicular handle. This type of weapon came to be used by law enforcement all over the world but is also used in Japanese martial arts.A lot of Okinawan weapons were based on sickles, hoes, or hooks like the kama and the kue. Another popular weapon, especially in ninja folklore, is the kusari-gama, a sickle attached to a metal chain with a metal weight at the end.Finally, kobudo also features the eku (fishing oar), the bo (measuring around 1.8m), the hanbo (a half baton around 90cm long), the tambo (a short baton between 45 and 60cm) the jo (a walking staff), and the shakujo (a 1.8m staff with metal ends).Now you know a bit more about Japanese weaponry, swords, batons, mêlée weapons, and ranged weapons. If you want to learn even more, consider reading our other articles on Japan or getting Japanese language less ons from a private tutor on Superprof!

Should I Go To University of California-Berkeley

Should I Go To University of California-Berkeley The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Jack is a Los Angeles tutor specializing in Algebra tutoring, AP Calculus tutoring, Economics tutoring, and much more. He is a 2013 graduate of the University of California-Berkeley with a Bachelors degree in Environmental Economics Policy. See what he had to say about his alma mater: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Jack: Berkeley is very urban and although there arent many skyscrapers, most of what you see around you will be buildings. It has a good public transit system with both buses and the subway which make it very convenient to get around the area without a car. The campus itself is beautiful. Its an older school, so many of the buildings were built across different times with different architectural styles. Besides that, the campus has a lot of grassy areas and different types of trees, which makes it enjoyable to walk around in between classes. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Jack: Like any other huge university, how available your professors, TAs, and advisors are depends on your department and overall luck. In other words, there are both helpful and not-so-helpful people. In my opinion, though, most of the people you meet are willing to help you if you make the effort to meet them and follow their advice. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Jack: The dorm life is great. Theyve built new dorms recently and have facilities for students to do different activities. Theres a variety of dining options, many of which are open late. People in the dorms are friendly and all looking to make new friends. Also, if youre lucky, youll get assigned a dorm room thats high up and facing the bay; I guarantee you that no other dorm room anywhere in this country will have a better view. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Jack: The most popular majors are Business, Microbiology, and Engineering. The school does a good job of supporting all the majors offered, but those three are probably the best represented in terms of funding, student involvement, and recruiting opportunities. I studied Environmental Economics because the subject interested me, and the department, faculty, and peers were terrific. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Jack: Its extremely easy to meet people and make friends as a freshman. Chances are that people in your dorm are looking to make friends, too. Not only that, but there are clubs or events on campus for nearly every activity/interest, so its easy to find friends outside the dorms as well. Greek life is pretty significant also but by no means is the only way to socialize and have fun. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Jack: The Career Center is extremely helpful if you use it. They offer lots of services including recruiting events, helping with your resume, mock interviews, and career advising. Since UC-Berkeley is a reputable school, many top companies recruit from our campus. Not only local startups, but internationally renowned companies from every industry often send recruiters to our campus. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Jack: Cal has a bunch of places to study. There are over 10 libraries on campus in addition to learning centers, study lounges, cafes, and even some open classrooms you could use. The weather is great most of the year, so many people end up studying outside, too. Youll always find more than enough space to do your work with the exception of the week before finals. Berkeley students seem to spontaneously multiply that week. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Jack: The surrounding area is great. There are a lot of things to do around Berkeley, but if you want to explore more, then Oakland and San Francisco are right next to it as well. Both are easily accessible through the bus and subway system. The entire Bay area is beautiful and because of the start-up culture, youll find a lot of neat little shops and eateries around the area. Its a great place to be if you like being outdoors. Just three miles west of campus is the marina/ocean where you can go fishing, boating, or have a nice meal at the docks. A mile from campus in the other direction will take you up the hills where theres a nice hiking trail that yields amazing views of the campus, city, bridge, and surrounding bay. If youre big into scenery, this is hands-down the best college to go to. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Jack: Cal has a huge population and most of the classes you take will be in giant lectures where you will hardly get a chance to ask questions. This is offset by the discussion classes, which are headed by graduate student instructors (GSIs) and more personalized with 10-30 students. As you progress, classes generally get smaller. Personally, the class sizes did not bother me. I know some people learn better with smaller classes, but professors and GSIs usually hold enough office hours to allow those students to come in and work through problems they have in classes. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Jack: The most memorable class I took was one that I ended up dropping actually. Its an extremely popular class taught during the spring semester by Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor. That year, there was a film crew working on a documentary about the subject, and they attended every class with us along with their film equipment. Because of the classs popularity, its assigned the biggest lecture hall, designed to seat 700 students. The first lecture was filled with much more than that, though, because we had students who werent enrolled attending in hopes of being added to the roster. So with them, the film crew, the enrolled students, and random fans of Professor Reich who had no affiliation with the campus but wanted to see him lecture, there were easily over 1,000 people packed in the room. There were people sitting on the floor, peeking in from outside the door; the whole thing had a concert vibe to it. It was also the biggest fire hazard Ive been in, which prompted me to d rop it. Check out Jacks tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

How to Instantly Improve Your School Grades With Education Consultants

How to Instantly Improve Your School Grades With Education Consultants 0SHARESShare When the exam appears coming up, you would really find professional guidance and academic assistant who works to instantly improve your school grades. You can seek guidance from professional education consultants, private tutors or online tutoring  services in this matter. Let’s find out how help instantly improving your school grades with education consultants: Develop Good Study Habits: They cultivate good study habits like forming a practice to read every day instead of cramming the night before the test. They form a habit to review your notes and readings that you learnt throughout the year. They help writing practice test papers and assignments with enough time to spend reviewing them before your turn to appear for the test. Guide you to manage large projects like academic and research papers. Develop the Mindset: Developing mindset is very important with the simple equation as the way you move towards your studies determine how better you can perform. Consultant and private online tutors  help you to set achievable goals. They identify challenging but achievable goals like finishing your homework and assignment before class, pursue extra credit assignments. They keep you motivated especially making you understand boring and difficult lessons. They strengthen your weak subjects thus keeping your grade score above average to a certain level. They work one-to-one to keep you committed towards your education. Help in Time Management: Good time management and remain well-organized are two important traits for student to succeed any difficult exam. The academic consultants and private tutoring online helps you effective time management practices like tracking your class schedule and important deadlines. They help you complete homework help and assignments on time saving more time to spend in other productive work. They help reduce clutter in your notes, binders making you intuitive and efficient. [starbox id=admin]

How to Find a Good Online Tutor and Tutoring Services

How to Find a Good Online Tutor and Tutoring Services 0SHARESShare Online tutoring can become a pleasant experience for you if your choice of tutor is good. It is obvious that you are seeking additional help because your class teacher at school is not devoting enough time on you. The first characteristic to look for in an online tutor is enthusiasm. Traditional classroom teachers go by first impressions. If you fail to come up to the teacher’s expectations in the beginning of a school session you might soon find yourself ignored during classes. This creates a vicious circle. You do not understand class lessons because now you do not feel confident enough to seek help from your teacher. You are seeking online tutoring exactly because of this reason. Under these circumstances when you go for online tutoring talk to all the tutors at various online schools. This is best done with a video chat through a web camera. Facial expressions and body language play an important part in communications. Go for online tutoring which gives constant progress reports. See if there is an improvement in your performance in class. Talk to your tutor constantly and if he or she is creative and allows you to work independently you will soon see improvement in your grades. [starbox id=admin]

Kinds of Triangles

Kinds of Triangles On the basis of the length of their sides triangles can be classified into three types: 1. Scalene triangle: The triangles having all their sides of different lengths are known as scalene triangles. 2. Isosceles triangle: The triangles that have two of their sides equal in length are known as isosceles triangles. 3. Equilateral triangle: They have all the three sides equal in length to each other. Example 1: Identify the following triangles as scalene, isosceles or equilateral triangle. a. Triangle PQR with sides PQ = 15 cm, QR = 15 cm, RA = 15 cm. b. Triangle DEF with sides DE = 11 inches, EF = 10 inches, FD = 11 inches. c. Triangle ABC with sides AB = 5 cm, BC = 7 cm, CA = 6 cm. Solution: a. The lengths of all the three sides of the triangle are equal. Thus triangle PQR is equilateral. b. Since the lengths of two sides DE and FD are equal to each other, thus triangle DEF is isosceles. c. In triangle ABC all the sides are of different lengths, so this triangle is scalene. Example 2: The sum of the three sides of triangle XYZ is 36 cm. If YZ = 12 cm, ZX = 13 cm then what type of triangle is XYZ? Solution: It is given that the sum of the three sides of a triangle is 36 cm. Thus, XY+YZ+ZX = 36 XY+12+13 = 36 XY+25-25 = 36 - 25 XY = 11 Since the length of all the sides of triangle XYZ is different, this triangle is scalene.

Encouraging Literacy Through Public Service

Encouraging Literacy Through Public Service Encouraging Literacy Through Public Service Many parents work hard to find ways to teach their children to be good citizens and caring people, but with a little planning, you can also foster your childs interest in reading at the same time. If you volunteer as a family or are looking for opportunities to help worthwhile organizations in your community, here are a few ideas that may benefit your child. Read in a siblings classroom. If you have an elementary school student and a preschooler, talk with your preschoolers teacher about having your older child read to his or her little brothers or sisters class. This is a great chance for both children to feel special and an opportunity for your older student to see how much younger children enjoy being read to. Work with organizations to help low-income children. Your child might be surprised to know how many children in the United States and around the world do not have access to books. Organizations like First Book (www.firstbook.org), a nonprofit that strives to provide books to schools and programs for children in low-income families, works in hundreds of communities across the U.S. You and your child can reach out to a First Book Advisory Board near you to find out how you can help. For other ideas, check with your local library. Share your books. Your child could get involved with BookCrossing (www.bookcrossing.com), a worldwide book sharing program. This program is a fun way for your child to celebrate literature by sharing and tracking books he or she no longer needs. Talk with your school or local library, too, for other ideas on how your family can share books you no longer want with organizations in need (or volunteer with those same organizations). Start a book drive. There are many great local and national organizations that strive to add to libraries inventories, give books to organizations in need (homeless shelters or nursing homes, for example) and get books into the hands of children. Check with schools and libraries in your area, and also check out organizations near you for ideas on how to start or get involved in a book drive. BooksEnds in California, Chicago Book Drive (www.chicagobookdrive.com) and Books4Cause (based in Chicago but serving the Midwest) are all great examples. Volunteer at the library. One of the best ways for students to serve their communities while gaining valuable exposure to books and literature is to volunteer at the library. Your public library likely has many opportunities for young students to get involved, such as read-aloud programs, childrens story times and other programs, special projects, shelf and display organizing, and materials sorting. Look throughout your school and town for opportunities to help others enjoy reading and encourage your student to get involved. The more you can incorporate reading into your childs daily lifeboth by having him or her read and fostering reading in your communitythe better. Of course, while these are great activities, there is no substitute for frequent reading. If your child is struggling or could use targeted help, call Huntington. We can develop a customized learning program to help your child become a stronger reader, which will help him or her learn to enjoy this wonderful pastime.

GCSE Poem analysis Carol Ann Duffys Medusa

GCSE Poem analysis Carol Ann Duffy’s â€" Medusa Today is World Poetry Day, a day to appreciate and support poetry around the world. In aid of this, we thought we’d give a GCSE poem analysis from the AQA GCSE English Anthology: Medusa from poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy’s collection of poems, ‘The World’s Wife’. The World’s Wife was published in 1999 and presents the female perspective on stories where the male character has traditionally taken centre stage. So who actually is Medusa? The character Medusa is one of the Gorgons’ three sisters from Greek mythology, who had snakes for hair and whose gaze turned people to stone. Medusa has always been famous - but Duffy tells  her story so that the reader gains some sympathy for this otherwise monstrous character. The poem A suspicion, a doubt, a jealousy grew in my mind, which turned the hairs on my head to filthy snakes as though my thoughts hissed and spat on my scalp. My bride’s breath soured, stank in the grey bags of my lungs. I’m foul mouthed now, foul tongued, yellow fanged. There are bullet tears in my eyes. Are you terrified? Be terrified. It’s you I love, perfect man, Greek God, my own; but I know you’ll go, betray me, stray from home. So better by for me if you were stone. I glanced at a buzzing bee, a dull grey pebble fell to the ground. I glanced at a singing bird, a handful of dusty gravel spattered down. I looked at a ginger cat, a housebrick shattered a bowl of milk. I looked at a snuffling pig, a boulder rolled in a heap of shit. I stared in the mirror. Love gone bad showed me a Gorgon. I stared at a dragon. Fire spewed from the mouth of a mountain. And here you come with a shield for a heart and a sword for a tongue and your girls, your girls. Wasn’t I beautiful Wasn’t I fragrant and young? Look at me now. Overview Medusa is told in the first person as a dramatic monologue by a woman who is insecure and worried that her husband is cheating on her. The poem begins: ‘A suspicion, a doubt, a jealousy’ and it is this jealousy which has turned the woman into a gorgon and now everything she looks at turns to stone. This feeling of doubt resonates throughout the poem, exemplified in the line, ‘but I know you’ll go, betray me, stray from home’. Unlike our feelings towards the traditional monstrous character, this poem evokes empathy for the character as she is clearly distressed and suffering. Especially when she reminisces in the final stanza about the time she was young and beautiful, illustrating her complete lack of confidence.  Nevertheless, she is still presented as a foul character who threatens the reader, with the line ‘Be terrified’. The poem also ends with the line ‘Look at me now’ which has a double entendre (double meaning). It could be read as a cry of despair or, as a threat â€" if you did look at Medusa you would die! This leaves the reader feeling conflicting emotions for the character, probably similar to how Medusa herself feels in the poem. Form and Structure The poem is written in free verse and as it progresses, the importance of the living things Medusa turns to stone increases, going from a bee to a dragon and then to her husband himself. The poem is divided into stanzas of mainly equal length, apart from the final line: ‘Look at me now’. This gives the poem a dramatic ending, leaving the reader unsure whether to feel threatened by or feel sorry for Medusa. Language The poem is packed full of rhyme (including half rhymes, internal rhymes and in stanzas 3, 4, 5 and 6 some end rhyme). This rhyme helps to unify the lines and create a sense of rhythm. The end rhyme produces a sense of finality connected with the death of her victims. Sibilance is particularly used in the first two stanzas to create the sound of a hissing snake. Tricolons (groups of three) also develop the rhythm in the poem. E.g. ‘A suspicion, a doubt, a jealousy’.  In this case the rule of three also emphasises the power of emotions that Medusa is come over by, as ultimately this is what turned the lady into a gorgon. Rhetorical questions,  e.g. ‘Are you terrified?’ are used to involve but also intimidate the reader. The last two rhetorical questions in the poem: ‘Wasn’t I beautiful? Wasn’t I fragrant and young?’ could be addressed to her husband, begging him to show her some affection; they could also be addressed at the reader as she longs to be comforted - she is so horrified by this change in herself. The oxymoronic metaphor ‘bullet tears’ emphasises the danger that Medusa brings, yet still evokes a sympathy from the reader because of her suffering. The whole poem is an extended metaphor for a jealous woman who is grieving for her partner and turns against him. The metaphor describing her husband’s heart for a shield suggests that he didn’t love her properly. Overall, the poem is distressing for the reader as we see a lady who has become paranoid through jealousy, further damaging her relationship with her husband as well as her own well-being as she struggles to find a lost identity. We hope these ideas have been useful and have helped you reflect in a bit more depth on what Carol Ann Duffy is trying to present. Why not have a read of some of the other poems in the collection (there are loads and some are great fun) and see if you can find any parallels? Need an extra hand with some English? Why not book a GCSE English tutor to come to your home from the Tutorfair website? Check out more  Tutorfair blogs  for great GCSE resources New Maths 9-1 GCSE Five Strategies to improve Academic Performance More GCSE poem analyses: My Last Duchess, The Yellow Palm, Nettles, and Praise Song for My Mother