Criminology Theory Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Criminology Theory - Research Paper Example Theories allow scholars to make hypotheses, which are tested through empirical research in order to come up with assumptions that make us understand the world better. Theories, which depict the causation of crime, are complex but studies from the past and present helps the researcher in understanding the behaviors among criminals. These theories are used to determine the best causes of action that can be used in order to ensure that crime is prevented from happening in our society. Traditionally, punishment was very harsh and the police used brutality when recording statements from suspects without having to understand why certain people committed certain crimes. In addition, the punishments meted out on convicts were harsh and as a result, scholars begun to study criminology in order to ensure that punishments were fair (DeMelo, 2001). Classical School Before 1789, the law system, punishment, and access to justice were barbaric. The classical school’s interest was not the stu dy criminals but it focused on understanding the legal processes and law making. According to this school of thought, criminals knew the consequences of their actions and they even weighed the options before they engaged in any criminal activity. In addition, punishment was designed for the purposes of deterring crime and it was painful than the pleasure one got from engaging in any criminal activity. ... The human behavior is motivated by attainment of pleasure and the ability to avoid pain. Natural law reveals actions that people should not be engaged in, but the punishments that criminals received were not deterrent in nature, but brutal. No forms of punishments that criminals receive should be used to take way a person’s happiness while in the society. This is because according to Beccaria, a person is ready to relieve a minute amount of happiness in order to live in a secure and humble environment. Men do not want to be under scrutiny at all times and they feel more independent when the scrutiny is at the minimum (Beccaria 2009). Pleasures in human beings can be described as that of skill, wealth, sense, amity, piety, and benevolence. In addition, a good name, malevolence, memory, power, relief, and expectation constitute to feelings of pleasure in a person. Pleasures can be complex or simple. People will do everything to ensure that they have pleasure as opposed to pain. Pleasures and pains are caused by certain actions, however, the amount of the pleasure or pain felt is not proportional to the causing effect. Since majority in the society look for pleasure at all times, Bentham notes that people should be given a free will to enjoy their lives as long as they do not inflict pain on others (DeMelo, 2001). On the other hand, Bentham focused on utilitarianism because he believed greatest happiness for the majority. This could not be achieved without changing the justice system because the leadership of that time was corrupt and barbaric. The people, according to Bentham measure the probabilities between future and present pleasures against future

The Effectiveness of Ability Grouping Kindergarten Students In Reading Research Proposal

The Effectiveness of Ability Grouping Kindergarten Students In Reading Groups On Improving Reading Scores - Research Proposal Example study, these researchers drew on the ECLS-K database, from where they included only the first-time kindergarten students, who learnt in the same school the whole year. They also excluded students with learning disabilities, and those with limited proficiency in the English language. A multilevel analysis was then used to assess the influence of within-class grouping and other school and instructional factors on the reading achievement of kindergarteners. Nonetheless, the results from this study showed that when teachers use within-class grouping more frequently, this had a positive influence on the mean school gain in reading. This study therefore, suggests that the use of ability groupings in kindergartens might lead to an improvement in the early literacy and reading (O’Connell & Levitt, 2006). In another study, Tach and Farkas (2005) used the ECLS-K data to explore the influence of within-class reading on kindergarten and first grade students. These hypothesized that the ef fectiveness of within-class ability grouping is influenced by the incoming level of reading of the students, their proficiency in mathematics, as well as their preschool behavior problems, which are more common among boys and those students from families of low socioeconomic status. The researchers used hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) on the ECLS-K data, and included only those students and classrooms that had complete data, beginning from kindergarten, end of kindergarten, and first grade. Nonetheless, results of this study showed that prior reading test scores of students and the judgment of teachers on the learning ability of students influenced the effectiveness of within-class ability groupings in kindergartens. Overall, the ability groupings in kindergartens, according to this study,... This study exhibits considerable limitations. First, there will be bias in the selection process of participants. The selection criterion involved requires that only students who have never changed schools between fall and spring of their kindergarten year be included in the study sample. For this reason therefore, the results might not reflect the effect of ability grouping among all kindergarten students. In addition, the use of self-report questionnaires to establish the frequency of using ability groupings among teachers cannot generate the accuracy of teachers' self-ratings. Moreover, this data cannot determine the quality of instruction in the ability groupings and cannot establish whether the teacher modified the instruction to suit student’s needs. More so, the timing of the study might lead to misplaced levels of reading proficiency, thus leading to wrong results of the measure of academic process testing. This paper makes a conclusion that the role and effectiveness of ability groupings has not been given the attention it deserves. Therefore, as most kindergarten teachers attempt to improve the reading scores of their students, some have paid lee attention to ability groupings strategy. This study therefore, seeks to investigate the effectiveness of ability groupings on the reading scores of kindergarteners in Russell Primary School. Depending on the results of the study, ability groupings might or might not be recommended to kindergarten teachers.

Impact Of Immigration On Australian In Socioeconomic Context Economics Essay

Impact Of Immigration On Australian In Socioeconomic Context Economics Essay This essay will explain the economic, environmental and social impact of immigration on Australia and its role in the future prospects of the country. Studying the country for the group report and presentation we came across how important are the skilled immigrants as an addition to the labour force of Australia. Immigration is an interesting issue as it touches many areas of public life: economics, demographics and even religion. According to OECD around 3% of the people in the globe are migrants. Each country and even regions in a specific country experience migration differently. Therefore this essay with the use of PESTLE analysis to scan the political-legal, economic and environmental impact and Hofstede Cultural dimensions to explain social attributes, will be a focused research on immigration and its effect on the people and the country. The first part gives an inside of the history of migration and the early policies adopted by the country. Part 2 goes on to illustrate the trends over time concerning the migration policies and laws. Part 3 and 4 deal with the environmental and economic impact of immigration respectively. Finally, the social attitude and how are immigrants treated in todays society will be considered. Background Australia being a British colony and closely connected with the Empire, concentrated its early migration policies before World War II in keeping the country white accepting into the country only British and Europeans. However, after World War II migration was high in the agenda of politicians with policies being set in accordance with the needs of the country: allow more non-European skilled immigrants to cover the shortage of labour and expand the manufacturing industry. Their slogan was populate or perish and a large wave of immigrants was accepted in the country. The White Australia Policy was abolished in 1973 and regardless of origin; anyone could become a citizen of Australia being a permanent resident for three years or more. The years to follow will see the policies and laws towards migrants becoming more structured and focused. Significant changes took place aided by globalisation and the easier movement of people. Indeed globalisation and the fact that national events have international effects is one of the drivers of migration. Immigration policies We will analyse the Political and Legal parts (political support and initiative, legislation changes) of PESTLE to evaluate the immigration policies adopted by the governments. The permanent entry and conditions are established by the Australian Government whereas the Department of Immigration and Citizenship is responsible to issue visas under various programs. The size of permanent migration program increased substantially and this is mainly the aftermath of the growing focus on skilled workers. The Skill Stream accounts for 64% of the total Migration Program followed by the Family Stream which accounts for 35.7% and finally the Special Eligibility with 0.3%. In 2008 it was announced by the government that the skilled migration will be more demand driven and therefore more responsive to changes in the demand for labour and the needs of the economy. This was to assist industries facing skill shortages mostly in health and engineering sector. As with demand-driven operating models and especially pull models that support the use of resources as soon as the need arises, the Migration Program adapts policies to respond to the countrys needs. Australia had a brain drain problem for many years with highly skilled workers and professional leaving the country. It can be argued that that is one of the reasons why the Migration Program is so keen in accepting in the country skilled labour. Actually, legislation changes are made to accommodate the new immigrants, for example the removal of fees for English courses. However, concentrating more on the skilled immigrants might be seen as unfair by other categories of migrants as the recent riots have showed at Villawood a detention camp in Sydney. Detainees complained of lengthy waits to have their asylum claims heard. It is argued that those of a genuine need of government protection are not treated as it should. As a matter of fact, Immigration Minister Chris Bowen proposed a new law where any asylum seeker found guilty of an offence would fail to receive a permanent visa. In terms of return to the country, though, and especially the economy, skilled labour contributes more. The number of refugees arriving by boat increased substantially and even though the government tries to accommodate them all this is impossible. Impact of immigration on the environment Moving on to the Environment from PESTLE we will consider the level of pollution and attitudes from the government. Most of Australias geographical area is uninhabited with people concentrated in a small number of specific parts of the country and cities. Australia has one of the lowest population densities of all countries with only 2.92 people per square kilometre. Even though it may seem that Australia land area of 7.7 million square kilometres could support a larger population, this is impossible due to the fact that deserts occupy almost 38% of the country mainly in the centre and western part. The situation worsened with the recent severe floods in the many states. In Queensland alone 200,000 were affected and a mass evacuation took place. Therefore it is obvious that population increases are important to Australia since 75% of the population lives in urban areas with cities like the Australian Capital Territory having the highest population density at 152.5 people per square kilometre. A research of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2010) showed that 54% of the population increase is due to immigrants. The Optimum Population Trust argues that to sustain the current standard of leaving the optimum population of Australia is 10 million people and 21 million at the lowest possible living standard. The current figure of population 22.5 million people and the projected figure of 36 million in 2050 are high above the optimum set by the organisation. However, it can be argued that natural resources like oil could sustain population pressures if the people, the government and major companies invest in substitutes and new technologies. As far as global warming and greenhouse gas emission are concern Australia is one of the largest polluter of the world with the CO2 emission reaching the outstanding figure of per capita. This and other environmental externalities like congestion may have a deteriorating effect on the living standards of Australians. Environmental deterioration due to increased migration must be weighed against economic impacts when considering the future of the country. Impact of immigration on the economy The Economy from PESTLE analysis seems to be the strongest card of the country. The economic performance of Australia has been remarkable since the economic crisis. This part will concentrate particularly on the impact the skilled immigrants have on the economy of Australia. Overall, larger population means more labour translating in higher gross domestic product and income. However, how this increase is spread across the population and the impact on living standards are not clear given the aggregate measures of GDP and GNI. If we consider GDP and GNI per capita then these are affected by the productivity of the workers and the participation rate. Skilled immigrants affect the supply composition of labour. It is projected in the Commission paper of 2006 that by 2024-2025 and with a modelled 50% increase in the skilled migrants working age share will fall by 0.17% and participation rates will increase by 0.73% due to the cumulative effect of migration. The unemployment rate will increase with the years of residency with the cumulative effect of decreasing unemployment rates of new arrivals early in the period begins to outweigh the higher unemployment rates of new arrivals late in the period, and overall the unemployment rate decreases by 0.03% and hours per worker will rise by 0.05 per week. As expected real gross domestic product was projected to be around 4 per cent higher than otherwise. The annual average income per capita was projected to be $383 higher but not equally distributed. Migrants are expected to benefit more from the increase in average income since the incumbent populations average real wages declined by $334, but income from other sources raised, especially from government transfers due to higher indirect tax revenue, $103 per annum respectively. A higher income per capita means that people will spend more leading to increased tax revenue for the government. The impact of increased skilled labour must by also be considered in the context of different industries and regions. For example in the Western Australia the most important sectors are mining and agriculture which are capital intensive affected mostly by changes in capital stocks rather than labour composition. The immigration increases can address the costs and time associated with the training of domestic labour. However, it may substitute domestic income and discourage the human capital investment of the country. The answer is to make the skilled migrants a compliment to domestic labour rather than a substitute. Peoples attitude towards immigration In order to analyse the social attributes towards immigration the Hofstede Cultural Dimensions will be used in this section. Overall, globalisation made people of Australia today more acceptable of foreigners settling in their country and they are open to the idea of a multicultural society. However, it is evident from the early migration policies discussed on previous section that the government had a discriminating approach towards non-British migrants especially those settlers coming from Asia, in an attempt to perceive the national identity. Many have argued that this attitude was a product of fear that as the British had colonised and decimated the aborigines so will a stronger nation do to them. With globalisation, people began to realise that foreigners settling in their country will be a reality for their everyday life. Ethnic communities were formed and foreigners took part in elections as government officials and academics. In the year 2010 the foreign-born population in Australia was 26.4% of the total population compared to the 3.1% of the world average. In a recent survey carried out by the University of Western Sidney 86.6% of the people asked agreed that It is a good thing for a society to be made up of people from different cultures. Nevertheless 80.1% answer for themselves that they are no prejudiced against other cultures but in the question Is there a racial prejudice in Australia 84.4% agreed. According to Hofstedes Cultural Dimensions Australia has the second highest level of individuality of 90 coming behind the United States ranking of 91. Individualism describes the relationships of people and the way the live together. People therefore are expected to take care of only themselves and immediate family maybe that is why Australians may still be suspicious of foreigners. In addition earnings are very important therefore they might feel a threat from the skilled migrants. Critical reflection This essay tried to tackle a very complex and significant issue of Australia. Maybe the analysis would have been more concise if it was concentrated in fewer areas that are affected by immigration. Most of the sources used are from the governments websites but in some parts critics were also evaluated. In addition the presence of International Business Models is not sufficient and more examples of models could have been used. Difficulties were faced in the research when trying to find the most recent statistical data. More independent sources could have been use and more coherent arguments. The results are inconclusive and a more detailed research must be carried out to better assess the question of what is the impact of immigration on Australia. The issue of migration must be set in a wider context taking under consideration a greater number of factors and drivers for example consider also the role of emigration.

pulp fiction :: essays research papers

Pulp Fiction is like boot camp for the Marines. You come into it from your civilized life, they subject you to violent language until you're numb, they abuse you verbally and physically until all of your normal feelings and values are reduced to dust. Leaving you aware that you have changed, and able to describe the change, you find yourself questioning the person you were previously. First thing you know you're saluting. This story is a cleverly disorienting journey through a landscape of danger, shock, hilarity, and vibrant local color. Nothing is predictable or familiar within this irresistibly bizarre world. You do not merely enter a theater to see Pulp Fiction: you go down a rabbit hole. Theater is an actor moving through time and space, telling a story. In Quentin Terintenio ¹s, Pulp Fiction, the actors portray savvy modern-day gangsters and the story is three stories told in backwards order. To say the least this not your average story. The theme of the story is redemption, and the journey to achieve that redemption. The characters are colorfully multidimensional and most importantly they are believable. The language of the story is street-smart and confident, like the characters. There is no main plot, only mirror plots that are reflections of each other. The theme of redemption is portrayed by two of the main characters of the story. These characters seek redemption and a new way of life, they each desire a more virtuous life. Butch (Bruce Willis) wants to pull off one last scam and then run away with the woman he loves. He seeks forgiveness and redemption through the future birth of his child. He wants his child to have a healthy childhood so that he will have the opportunity to hand down his precious gold watch, which was handed down to him. Jules (Samuel Jackson) has a near death experience and sees it as divine intervention that he is alive. Now he simply wants to leave his criminal lifestyle to  ³walk the earth ², and find his true self. Our story starts with the journey of the characters. The characters in this story are not simply black and white, from the moment you meet them you are drawn in and want to know more about them. The story ¹s intrigue, that element that makes the viewer curious, draws the audience in. And the story ¹s credibility, the consistency of the characters, holds the audience there, inside the movie.

Pericles Funeral Oration Essay

I do not think that everything Pericles said in his funeral Oration was true. Pericles goes on and on about how great the Athens city-state had become a strong democratic government. â€Å"He also talks about how they accept everyone into their city-state and give them the same rights as the Athens people regardless if they are foreigners†. â€Å"Pericles even compares his city-state to that of the Spartans; while using slanderous and defaming words to describe their culture†. Pericles believes from reading his Oration that the Athens are better people because of their equally of all in their city state and the freedom they have given their people. Pericles fails to see the contradiction in the culture and in the oration of the Speech he gives about the Athens way of life and this is because he is biased towards the men. Obviously everyone being equal is not true because woman is not equal to men and is certainly not treated as equals. â€Å"Pericles states himself that it is better for woman to never be spoken of whether it is glory or criticism†. He states that a woman’s place is in her home, the only jobs that are available to women are to bare children and to maintain the household, other than that everything else only a man should and could do. The fact that women are treated differently proves that the Athens were not a democratic state their laws to provide fairness to all the people were only catered to the males not the females. The Athens had a negative attitude towards woman and how they should be treated, Pericles seemed almost disgusted to even have to address woman in his speech and when he did he had nothing positive to say about them. Pericles exaggerates in his oration. He depicts a perfect picture of what the Athens society is thought to be, as if the people and the law have no imperfections that need to be spoken of. He illustrates a great city-state with no flaws but then continues to describe and speak of women as if they were not human and discrimination against them was normal. Pericles was in mourning and wanted to give the dead soldiers and their families and all the people of the city-state the honor and confidence they needed to continue on with the war so he exaggerated, he did not want to dishonor the soldier with his words so he chose to speak of their culture and everything they stood for. Coming from a leader’s perspective I think the ideology may be slightly off but much of it was true from the Athens culture and society.

The Return: Shadow Souls Chapter 24

Dear Diary, It's the night before the night of our first party – or rather gala. But I don't feel very gala. I miss Stefan too much. I've been brooding about Matt, too. How he walked away, so angry at me, not even looking back. He didn't understand how I could†¦care for†¦Damon, and yet still love Stefan so much that it felt as if my heart was breaking. Elena put down the pen and stared at her diary dully. The heartbreak manifested itself in actual physical pains in her chest that would have frightened her if she hadn't been sure of what it really was. She missed Stefan so desperately that she could hardly eat, could barely sleep. He was like a part of her mind that was constantly on fire, like a phantom limb that would never go away. Not even writing in her diary would help tonight. All she could write about were painfully tantalizing memories of the good times she and Stefan had shared together. How good it had been when she could just turn her head and know that she would see him – what a privilege that had been! And now it was gone, and in its place was racking confusion, guilt, and anxiety. What was happening to him, right now, when she no longer had the privilege of turning her head and seeing him? Were they†¦hurting him? Oh, God, if only†¦ If only I had made him lock all the windows to his room at the boardinghouse†¦ If only I had been more suspicious of Damon†¦ If only I had guessed he had something on his mind that last night†¦ If only†¦if only†¦ It became a pounding refrain in time to her heart. She found herself breathing in sobs, her eyes tightly shut, clutching the rhythm to her and clenching her fists. If I keep feeling this way – if I let it crush me enough – I'll become an infinitesimal point in space. I'll be crushed into nothingness – and even that will be better than needing him so much. Elena lifted up her head†¦and stared down at her head, resting on her diary. She gasped. Once more her first reaction was to imagine death. And then, slowly, because she was stupefied by so many tears, she realized that she'd done it again. She was out of her body. This time she wasn't even aware of a conscious decision about where to go. She was flying, so fast that she couldn't tell which way she was going. It was as if she were being pulled, as if she were the tail of a comet that was rapidly shooting downward. At one point she realized with familiar horror that she was passing through things, and then she was veering as if she were the end of the whip in a game of Crack the Whip and then she was catapulted into Stefan's cell. She was still sobbing as she landed in the cell, unsure of whether she had solid form or gravity, and uncaring for the moment. The only thing she had time to see was Stefan, very thin but smiling in his sleep and then she was dumped onto him, into him, and still crying as she bounced, as lightly as a feather, and Stefan woke. â€Å"Oh, can't you let me sleep for a few minutes in peace?† Stefan snapped, and added a couple of Italian words that Elena had never had reason to hear before. Elena had an immediate fit of the Bonnies, sobbing so hard that she couldn't listen to – couldn't even hear – any comfort that was on offer. They were doing horrible things to him, and they were using her image, Elena's, to do them. It was all too awful. They were conditioning Stefan to hate her. She hated herself. Everyone in the whole world hated her – â€Å"Elena! Elena, don't cry, love!† Dully, Elena lifted herself up, getting a brief anatomical view of Stefan's chest before she was sobbing again, trying to wipe her nose on Stefan's prison uniform, which looked as if it could only be improved by anything she might do to it. She couldn't, of course; just as she couldn't feel the arm that was trying to encircle her gently. She hadn't brought her body with her. But she had, somehow, brought her tears, and a cold, cable-wire-tough voice inside herself said, Don't waste them, idiot! Use those tears. If you're going to sob, sob over his face or his hands. And, by the way, everyone hates you. Even Matt hates you, and Matt likes everybody, the tiny cruel, productive voice went on and Elena gave way to a fresh gale of sobbing, absently noting the effect of each teardrop. Each drop turned the white skin under it pink and the color spread in ripples outward, as if Stefan were a pool, and she was resting on him, water on water. Except that her tears were falling so fast that it looked like a rainstorm on Wickery Pond. And that only made her think about the time that Matt had fallen into the pond, trying to rescue a little girl who had fallen through the ice, and how Matt hated her now. â€Å"Don't, oh don't; don't, lovely love,† Stefan begged, so sincerely that anyone would have believed he meant it. But how could he? Elena knew what she must look like, face swollen and blotched by tears: no â€Å"lovely love† here! And he'd have to be mad to want her to stop crying: the teardrops were giving him new life wherever they touched his skin – and perhaps the storm inside him had done best, because his telepathic voice was strong and sure. Elena, forgive me – oh, God, just give me one moment with her! Just a single moment! I can bear anything then, even the true death. Just one moment to touch her! And perhaps God did look down for a moment in pity. Elena's lips were hovering over, quivering over, Stefan's, as if she could somehow steal a kiss like this as she used to when he was still asleep. But for just an instant it seemed to Elena that she felt warm flesh below hers and the flick of Stefan's lashes against her eyelids as his eyes flew open in surprise. Instantly they both froze, eyes wide open, neither of them foolish enough to move in the slightest. But Elena couldn't help herself, as the flush of warmth from Stefan's lips sent a flush of warmth through her entire body. She melted into the kiss, and, while keeping her body carefully in the same position, felt her gaze go unfocused and her eyelids close. As her lashes swept against something with substance, the moment swept quietly to an end. Elena had two choices: she could shriek and rail telepathically at Il Signore for only giving them what Stefan had asked for, or she could gather her courage and smile and maybe comfort Stefan. Her better nature won out and when Stefan opened his eyes, she was leaning over him, pretending to be resting on her elbows and his chest, and smiling at him as she tried to straighten out her hair. Relieved, Stefan smiled back at her. It was as if he could bear anything, as long as she was unhurt. â€Å"Now, Damon would have been practical,† she teased him. â€Å"He would have kept me crying, because in the end, his health would be the most important thing. And he'd have prayed for†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She paused and finally began laughing, which made Stefan smile. â€Å"I have no idea,† Elena said finally. â€Å"I don't think Damon prays.† â€Å"Probably not,† Stefan said. â€Å"When we were young – and human – the town priest walked with a cane that he seemed to enjoy using on young delinquent boys more than as a source of support.† Elena thought of the delicate child chained to the huge and heavy boulder of secrets. Was religion one of the things locked away, put behind doors closed one after another in secret there, like a chambered nautilus until almost everything he cared about was inside? She didn't ask that of Stefan. Instead, she said, lowering her â€Å"voice† to the tiniest telepathic whisper, the barest disturbance of neurons in Stefan's receptive brain: What other practical things can you think of that Damon might have thought of? Things relating to a jailbreak? â€Å"Well†¦for a jailbreak? The first thing I can think of is for you to know your way around the city. I was brought here blindfolded but since they don't have the power to take the curse off vampires and make them human, I still had all my senses. I'd say it's a city about the size of New York and Los Angeles combined.† â€Å"Big city,† Elena noted, taking notes in her head. â€Å"But fortunately the only bits that would interest us are in the southwestern section. The city's supposed to be ruled by the Guardians – but they're from the Other Side and the demons and vampires here long ago realized that people were more afraid of them than the Guardians. It's set up now with about twelve to fifteen feudal castles or estates, and each of those estates has control of a considerable amount of land outside the city. They grow their own unique products and sell them in deals made here. For instance, it's the vampires who cultivate Clarion Loess Black Magic.† â€Å"I see,† said Elena, who had no idea what he was talking about, except the Black Magic wine. â€Å"But all we really need to know is how to get to the Shi no Shi – your prison.† â€Å"That's true. Well, the easiest way would be to find the kitsune sector. The Shi no Shi is a cluster of buildings, with the largest one – the one without a top, although it's curved, and you may not be able to tell from the ground – â€Å" â€Å"The one that looks like a coliseum?† Elena interrupted eagerly. â€Å"I get a sort of bird's-eye view of the city whenever I come here.† â€Å"Well, the thing that looks like a coliseum is a coliseum.† Stefan smiled. He really smiled; he's feeling well enough to smile, now, Elena rejoiced, but silently. â€Å"So to get you in and out, we just head from below the coliseum to the gate back to our world,† Elena said. â€Å"But to get you free there are – some things we need to collect – and those are probably going to be in different parts of the city.† She tried to remember if she had ever described the twin fox key to Stefan or not. It was probably better not to do it if she hadn't already done it. â€Å"Then I'd hire a native guide,† Stefan said immediately. â€Å"I don't really know anything about the city, except what the guards tell me – and I'm not sure if I would trust them. But the little people – the ordinary ones – will probably know the things you want to know.† â€Å"That's a good idea,† Elena said. She drew invisible designs with a transparent finger on his chest. â€Å"I think Damon really plans to do everything he can to help us.† â€Å"I honor him for coming,† Stefan said, as if he were thinking things out. â€Å"He's keeping his promise, isn't he?† Elena nodded. Deep, deep in her consciousness floated the thoughts: His word to me that he would take care of you. His word to you that he would take care of me. Damon always keeps his word. â€Å"Stefan,† she said, again in the innermost recesses of his mind, where she could share information – she hoped – in secret, â€Å"you should have seen him, really. When I did Wings of Redemption and every bad thing that had hardened him or made him cruel came undone. And when I did Wings of Purification and all the stone covering his soul came away in chunks†¦. I don't think you could imagine how he was. He was so perfect – and so new. And later when he cried†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Elena could feel inside Stefan three layers of emotion succeed one another almost instantaneously. Disbelief that Damon could cry, despite all that Elena had been telling him. Then, belief and astonishment as he absorbed her pictures and her memories. And finally, the need to console her as she stared at a Damon forever trapped in penitence. A Damon that would never exist again. â€Å"He saved you,† whispered Elena, â€Å"but he wouldn't save himself. He wouldn't even bargain with Shinichi and Misao. He just let them take all his memories of that time.† â€Å"Maybe it hurt too much.† â€Å"Yes,† said Elena, deliberately lowering her barriers so that Stefan could feel the hurt that the new and perfect creature she'd created had felt upon learning that he had committed acts of cruelty and treachery that – well, that would make the strongest soul flinch. â€Å"Stefan? I think he must feel very lonely.† â€Å"Yes, angel. I think you're right.† This time Elena thought a good deal longer before venturing, â€Å"Stefan? I'm not sure he understands what it's like to be loved.† And while he thought out his response, she was on tenterhooks. Then he said very softly, very slowly again, â€Å"Yes, angel. I think you're right.† Oh, she did love him. He always understood. And he was always most brave and gallant and trusting just when she needed him to be. â€Å"Stefan? Can I stay again tonight?† â€Å"Is it nighttime, lovely love? You can stay – unless They come to take me somewhere.† All at once Stefan was very solemn, holding her gaze. â€Å"But if They come – you'll promise me to leave then, won't you?† Elena looked straight into his green eyes and said, â€Å"If that's what you want, I'll promise.† â€Å"Elena? Do you†¦do you keep your promises or not?† Suddenly, he sounded very sleepy, but the right kind of sleepy, not worn out, but someone who has been refreshed and is being lulled into a perfect slumber. â€Å"I keep them close to me,† Elena whispered. But I keep you closer, she thought. If someone came to hurt him, they would find out what a bodiless opponent could do. For instance, what if she just reached inside their bodies and managed to make contact for an instant? Long enough to squeeze a heart between her pretty white fingers? That would be something. â€Å"I love you, Elena. I'm so glad†¦we kissed†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"It's not the last time! You'll see! I swear it!† She dropped new healing tears down on him. Stefan just smiled gently. And then he was asleep. In the morning Elena woke up in her grand bedroom in Lady Ulma's house, alone. But she had another memory, like a pressed rose, to put away in its own special place inside her. And somewhere, deep in her heart, she knew that these memories might be all she had of Stefan someday. She could imagine that these sweet-scented, fragile mementoes would be something to hold on to and cherish – if Stefan never came home.

Influential High School Novels Essays

Influential High School Novels Essays Influential High School Novels Essay Influential High School Novels Essay Essay Topic: 7th Grade 9th Grade High School The Giver When I was in 7th grade, I read a book that completely changed my perspective on todays society. The same thing happened to me when I was in 9th grade. Two completely different books, the Giver and To Kill a Mockingbird both showed me different sides of life, one set in the far future, and one set in the far past. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee teaches us many lessons that are still relevant today and will be for all of the time. The Giver, by Lois Lowry, does the same but in a different way. Something very common that both books share is the fact that they both are banned from numerous schools due to language, violence, religious viewpoints, or just being unsuited to the assigned age group. To Kill a Mockingbird is so important for our children, and their children, and many more future generations, simply because of the lessons taught from the story. The writing isn’t the best, and the story certainly isn’t anything to behold, but the things that Jem, Scout, and Atticus teach us will always be very insightful, and show us concepts we may miss out on today. Jem teaches us how growing up is quite awful, and he does this by losing all sense of his innocence during tom Robinson’s trial. Jem seeing an innocent man convicted really hurts him, and forces him to grow up in a way no child really should. Scout still has a bit by the end of the novel, and she shows us how that is something we need to cherish and not take for granted, ever. Atticus teaches us about standing up for what’s right and how our beliefs, no matter how small, are so important. These three influential characters have showed me how I’ve been shaped by what I stand by. My c hildhood innocence, in a way, still remains, though alarge portion of it is gone. We lose our innocence through experience, and the best teacher for that lesson is Jem Finch. He shows us how we may think we know a lot about people and things, but we really don’t until we’ve experien