Must-Reads on Every 12th Grade Reading List

This is a sampling of the titles that often appear on high-school reading lists for 12th-grade students, and are often discussed in greater depth in college literature courses. The books on this list are important introductions to world literature. (And on a more practical and humorous note, you might also want to read these 5 Books You Should Read Before College).   The Odyssey, Homer This epic Greek poem, believed to have originated in  the oral storytelling tradition, is one of the foundations of Western literature. It focuses on the trials of the hero Odysseus, who tries to journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy The story of Anna Karenina and her ultimately tragic love affair with Count Vronsky was inspired by an episode in which Leo Tolstoy arrived at a railway station shortly after a young woman had committed suicide. She had been the mistress of a neighboring landowner, and the incident stuck in his mind, ultimately serving as the inspiration for a classic story of star-crossed lovers. The Seagull, Anton Chekhov The Seagull by Anton Chekhov is a slice-of-life drama set in the Russian countryside at the end of the 19th century. The cast of characters is dissatisfied with their lives. Some desire love. Some desire success. Some desire artistic genius. No one, however, ever seems to attain happiness. Some critics view  The Seagull  as a tragic play about eternally unhappy people. Others see it as a humorous albeit bitter satire, poking fun at human folly. Candide,  Voltaire Voltaire offers his satirical view of society and nobility in Candide. The novel was published in 1759, and it is often considered the authors most important work, representative of The Enlightenment. A simple-minded young man, Candide is convinced his world is the best of all worlds, but a trip around the world opens his eyes about what he believes to be true. Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky This novel explores the moral implications of murder, told through the story of Raskolnikov, who decides to murder and rob a pawn broker in St. Petersburg. He reasons the crime is justified.  Crime and Punishment is also a social commentary on the effects of poverty. Cry, the Beloved Country, Alan Paton This novel set in South Africa just before apartheid became institutionalized is a social commentary on the racial inequities and its causes, offering perspectives both from whites and blacks. Beloved, Toni Morrison This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is the story of the lingering psychological effects of slavery told through the eyes of escaped slave Sethe, who killed her two-year-old daughter rather than allow the child to be recaptured. A mysterious woman known only as Beloved appears to Sethe years later, and Sethe believes her to be the reincarnation of her dead child. An example of magical realism, Beloved explores the bonds between a mother and her children, even in the face of unspeakable evil. Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe Achebes 1958 post-colonial novel tells the story of the Ibo tribe in Nigeria, before and after the British colonized the country. Protagonist Okonkwo is a proud and angry man whose fate is closely tied to the changes that colonialism and Christianity bring to his village. Things Fall Apart, whose title is taken from the William Yeats poem The Second Coming, is one of the first African novels to receive universal critical acclaim. Frankenstein, Mary Shelley Considered one of the first works of science fiction, Mary Shelleys master work is more than just a story of a terrifying monster, but a Gothic novel that tells the tale of a scientist who tries to play God, and then refuses to take responsibility for his creation, leading to tragedy. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte The coming-of-age story of one of the most remarkable female protagonists in Western literature, Charlotte Brontes heroine was one of the first in English literature to serve as first-person narrator of her own life story. Jane finds love with the enigmatic Rochester, but on her own terms, and only after he has proven himself worthy of her.

Black Mothers By Kendrick Lamar - 1310 Words

Black single mothers have overall negative stereotypes linked to them, their children, and their financial situation. Single black mothers are getting labeled as Gold diggers, lazy, con-artist, non-supportive, emotionally unstable, and uneducated. To make their reputation even worse most of the songs in the Hip Hop community make hypocritical songs that generalize all single black mothers based on their particular experience. Hip Hop narratives such as â€Å"Faith† by Kendrick lamar and â€Å"Baby Mama† by Fantaisa, challenges the race stereotypes about co-parenting. Not all Hip Hop songs reinforce the negative stereotypes about single black mothers. Songs like â€Å"Faith† by Kendrick Lamar is a great song that represents the struggle single mothers go through. For example, the song â€Å"Faith† by Lamar give good examples of a single black mother doing everything she can to not fall victim to the negative stereotypes. The second verse starts out by saying â€Å" Single black parent from Compton raising children of four/That’s four innocent bastards cause Papa, they didn’t know.†(lines 27 and 28) These lyrics give background to the young black mother situation. It is clearly evident that this young mother that Kendrick is familiar with is a single mother of four because the children’s father is an absentee. These lyrics set a distressing tone because having four children that have a father that does not want them is heartbreaking and troubling. The words Lamar uses to describe the children in theShow MoreRelatedThe Blacker The Berry, By Kendrick Lamar1420 Words   |  6 PagesLuther King Jr. who used non-violent protest and Malcolm X who used violent protests. Kendrick Lamar who has had song that are on both sides of the spectrum from his song â€Å"I† which is more like Martin Luther King Jr.’s nonviolent beliefs to â€Å"The Blacker the Berry† which is more like Malcolm X’s thinking of self-hatred. In light of many of these issues along with the fact that racism is still an issue, Kendrick Lamar released his critically acclaimed song â€Å"The Blacker the Berry† in February 2015. ThisRead MoreRapper Kendrick Lamar : A Growing Minority Centered Culture993 Words   |  4 PagesCultural phenomenon, rapper Kendrick Lamar has embraced a growing minority centered culture in America through his album â€Å"To Pimp A butterfly† this album conveys themes of hardship for minorities and cultural uprising. One of the singles on this album â€Å"Alright† simply tells black audiences that with faith everything will be alright. He uses the Lyrics â€Å"Alls my life I has to fight, nigga .Alls my life I...Hard times like God. Bad trips like: â⠂¬ËœGod!’ Nazareth, I m fucked up..Homie you fucked up..ButRead MoreThe Blacker The Berry By Kendrick Lamar1025 Words   |  5 Pages â€Å"The Blacker the Berry† by Kendrick Lamar was released February 9th, 2015. This incredibly racially motivated song has created controversy throughout America because it tackles racism, hypocrisy, and hatred head on. Although Stephen Best argues that the past defines the present without question, and Hartman believes that many important African American stories have been silenced due to lack of evidence, Kendrick Lamar’s song â€Å"The Blacker the Berry† complicates and adds to their arguments by introducingRead MoreHip Hop Music And Its Effect On People1130 Words   |  5 Pageshumans, animals, and deities out there. Hip Hop is an awesome form of music. Hip Hop started off from poetry. Yes Langston Hughes would be known as a lyricist in today’s era. It was meant to express the troubles and sadness throughout t he lives of blacks. Hip Hop has went through it’s changed throughout time. As technology advanced Hip hop has also advanced â€Å"too an extent†. Usually the older generation, when hearing todays Hip hop music would say, â€Å"How do you listen to all this cursing and trashRead MoreThe And Its Impact On Society Essay1711 Words   |  7 Pages Beyoncà © is a household name few dare criticize. As a result, her voice in the ongoing struggle of the African American community is very important. In Beyoncà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s music video of Freedom, part of the Lemonade visual album, she pairs with rapper Kendrick Lamar and uses a variety of visual and auditory elements to illustrate the previous––and ongoing––struggles of the African American community. Through her music video, Beyoncà © expresses the sentiment that although the general population in the UnitedRead MoreThe Language Behind The Language From 1990’S-2000’S. â€Å"2089 Wo rds   |  9 Pagesis known as the Father of hip hop. Hip Hop is a language expressed through music and words that had a root within the African American community where everyone felt alive and perceived the message. Hip hop was created on the condition that if the black culture and others could not get along for anything, when they heard the music it touched their soul and everyone could come together. There was a message that had to be revealed, where people could tell their story, when being a little violence inRead MoreHip Of Hip Hop Music1128 Words   |  5 Pageshumans, animals, and deities out there. Hip Hop is an awesome form of music. Hip Hop started off from poetry. Yes Langston Hughes would be known as a lyricist in today’s era. It was meant to express the troubles and sadness throughout the lives of blacks. Hip Hop has gone through it’s changed throughout time. As technology advanced Hip hop has also advanced â€Å"too an extent†. Usually the olde r generation, when hearing todays Hip hop music would say, â€Å"How do you listen to all this cursing and trashRead MoreComparison Between Modern Day Music And Langston Hughes And Paul Laurence Dunbar1478 Words   |  6 Pagesstyle created by African Americans. Present day rap artists, J Cole and Kendrick Lamar, are two rap artists who have revolutionized music and have become idolized by many African Americans. The two are known for discussing the reality of what it is like being a black man in today’s society. The poems of Hughes and Dunbar are very comparable to the songs of Cole and Lamar that discuss oppression, inequality, and hope within black Americans. Paul Lawrence Dunbar’s poem â€Å"Sympathy† is a symbolizationRead MoreEssay On Tupac1450 Words   |  6 Pages2017 Tupac Shakur   Ã‚  Ã‚   Tupac Shakur was born in Harlem, New York on June 16, 1971, as Lesane Parish Crooks. Both his mother and father were members of the Black Panthers which was an African American organization formed to improve civil rights. At the age of 13, he   began his acting career in the production, â€Å"Raisin in the Sun† at the Apollo Theater. Tupac’s mother was single mother two and struggled with money, forcing them to move around a lot and often stay in shelters.Tupac went to Baltimore SchoolRead MorePerformance At The Super Bowl Essay2263 Words   |  10 Pagesreleased her sixth individual album, Lemonade, on April 23, 2016, which has songs showing her support for the Black Lives Matter movement and in favor of criminal justice and policing reform through lyrics and visual symbolism in her music videos and performances. Beyoncà © delivers a Grammy-nominated album with songs such as â€Å"Formation† and â€Å"Freedom† that point out the slanted r elationships between black men and women and police officers through the War on Drugs, racial profiling, mass incarceration, and

Role of Financial Institution in Economy Free Essays

Role of Banks and Financial Institutions in Economy Money lending in one form or the other has evolved along with the history of the mankind. Even in the ancient times there are references to the moneylenders. Shakespeare also referred to ‘Shylocks’ who made unreasonable demands in case the loans were not repaid in time along with interest. We will write a custom essay sample on Role of Financial Institution in Economy or any similar topic only for you Order Now Indian history is also replete with the instances referring to indigenous money lenders, Sahukars and Zamindars involved in the business of money lending by mortgaging the landed property of the borrowers. Towards the beginning of the twentieth century, with the onset of modern industry in the country, the need for government regulated banking system was felt. The British government began to pay attention towards the need for an organised banking sector in the country and Reserve Bank of India was set up to regulate the formal banking sector in the country. But the growth of modern banking remained slow mainly due to lack of surplus capital in the Indian economic system at that point of time. Modern banking institutions came up only in big cities and industrial centres. The rural areas, representing vast majority of Indian society, remained dependent on the indigenous money lenders for their credit needs. Independence of the country heralded a new era in the growth of modern banking. Many new commercial banks came up in various parts of the country. As the modern banking network grew, the government began to realise that the banking sector was catering only to the needs of the well-to-do and the capitalists. The interests of the poorer sections as well as those of the common man were being ignored. In 1969, Indian government took a historic decision to nationalise 14 biggest private commercial banks. A few more were nationalised after a couple of years. This resulted in transferring the ownership of these banks to the State and the Reserve Bank of India could then issue directions to these banks to fund the national programmes, the rural sector, the plan priorities and the priority sector at differential rate of interest. This resulted in providing fillip the banking facilities to the rural areas, to the under-privileged and the downtrodden. It also resulted in financial inclusion of all categories of people in almost all the regions of the country. However, after almost two decades of bank nationalisation some new issues became contextual. The service standards of the public sector banks began to decline. Their profitability came down and the efficiency of the staff became suspect. Non-performing assets of these banks began to rise. The wheel of time had turned a full circle by early nineties and the government after the introduction of structural and economic reforms in the financial sector, allowed the setting up of new banks in the private sector. The new generation private banks have now established themselves in the system and have set new standards of service and efficiency. These banks have also given tough but healthy competition to the public sector banks. Modern Day Role Banking system and the Financial Institutions play very significant role in the economy. First and foremost is in the form of catering to the need of credit for all the sections of society. The modern economies in the world have developed primarily by making best use of the credit availability in their systems. An efficient banking system must cater to the needs of high end investors by making available high amounts of capital for big projects in the industrial, infrastructure and service sectors. At the same time, the medium and small ventures must also have credit available to them for new investment and expansion of the existing units. Rural sector in a country like India can grow only if cheaper credit is available to the farmers for their short and medium term needs. Credit availability for infrastructure sector is also extremely important. The success of any financial system can be fathomed by finding out the availability of reliable and adequate credit for infrastructure projects. Fortunately, during the past about one decade there has been increased participation of the private sector in infrastructure projects. The banks and the financial institutions also cater to another important need of the society i. e. mopping up small savings at reasonable rates with several options. The common man has the option to park his savings under a few alternatives, including the small savings schemes introduced by the government from time to time and in bank deposits in the form of savings accounts, recurring deposits and time deposits. Another option is to invest in the stocks or mutual funds. In addition to the above traditional role, the banks and the financial institutions also perform certain new-age functions which could not be thought of a couple of decades ago. The facility of internet banking enables a consumer to access and operate his bank account without actually visiting the bank premises. The facility of ATMs and the credit/debit cards has revolutionised the choices available with the customers. The banks also serve as alternative gateways for making payments on account of income tax and online payment of various bills like the telephone, electricity and tax. The bank customers can also invest their funds in various stocks or mutual funds straight from their bank accounts. In the modern day economy, where people have no time to make these payments by standing in queue, the service provided by the banks is commendable. While the commercial banks cater to the banking needs of the people in the cities and towns, there is another category of banks that looks after the credit and banking needs of the people living in the rural areas, particularly the farmers. Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) have been sponsored by many commercial banks in several States. These banks, along with the cooperative banks, take care of the farmer-specific needs of credit and other banking facilities. Future Till a few years ago, the government largely patro-nized the small savings schemes in which not only the interest rates were higher, but the income tax rebates and incentives were also in plenty. The bank deposits, on the other hand, did not entail such benefits. As a result, the small savings were the first choice of the investors. But for the last few years the trend has been reversed. The small savings, the bank deposits and the mutual funds have een brought at par for the purpose of incentives under the income tax. Moreover, the interest rates in the small savings schemes are no longer higher than those offered by the banks. Banks today are free to determine their interest rates within the given limits prescribed by the RBI. It is now easier for the banks to open new branches. But the banking sector reforms are still not complete. A lot more is requ ired to be done to revamp the public sector banks. Mergers and amalgamation is the next measure on the agenda of the government. The government is also preparing to disinvest some of its equity from the PSU banks. The option of allowing foreign direct investment beyond 50 per cent in the Indian banking sector has also been under consideration. Banks and financial intuitions have played major role in the economic development of the country and most of the credit- related schemes of the government to uplift the poorer and the under-privileged sections have been implemented through the banking sector. The role of the banks has been important, but it is going to be even more important in the future. How to cite Role of Financial Institution in Economy, Essay examples

46. Antibiotics Essay Example For Students

46. Antibiotics Essay Antibiotics are chemical compounds used to kill or inhibit the growth of infectious organisms. Originally the term antibiotic referred only to organic compounds, produced by bacteria or molds, that are toxic to other microorganisms. The term is now used loosely to include synthetic and semisynthetic organic compounds. Antibiotic refers generally to antibacterials; however, because the term is loosely defined, it is preferable to specify compounds as being antimalarials, antivirals, or antiprotozoals. All antibiotics share the property of selective toxicity: They are more toxic to an invading organism than they are to an animal or human host. Penicillin is the most well-known antibiotic and has been used to fight many infectious diseases, including syphilis, gonorrhea, tetanus, and scarlet fever. Another antibiotic, streptomycin, has been used to combat tuberculosis. Antibiotics can be classified in several ways. The most common method classifies them according to their action against the infecting organism. Some antibiotics attack the cell wall; some disrupt the cell membrane; and the majority inhibit the synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins, the polymers that make up the bacterial cell. Another method classifies antibiotics according to which bacterial strains they affect: staphylococcus, streptococcus, or Escherichia coli, for example. Antibiotics are also classified on the basis of chemical structure, as penicillins, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, macrolides, or sulfonamides, among others. Most antibiotics act by selectively interfering with the synthesis of one of the large-molecule constituents of the cell?the cell wall or proteins or nucleic acids. Some, however, act by disrupting the cell membrane . Some important and clinically useful drugs interfere with the synthesis of peptidoglycan, the most important component of the cell wall. These drugs include the B-lactam antibiotics, which are classified according to chemical structure into penicillins, cephalosporins, and carbapenems. All these antibiotics contain a B-lactam ring as a critical part of their chemical structure, and they inhibit synthesis of peptidoglycan, an essential part of the cell wall. They do not interfere with the synthesis of other intracellular components. The continuing buildup of materials inside the cell exerts ever greater pressure on the membrane, which is no longer properly supported by peptidoglycan. The membrane gives way, the cell contents leak out, and the bacterium dies. These antibi otics do not affect human cells because human cells do not have cell walls. Many antibiotics operate by inhibiting the synthesis of various intracellular bacterial molecules, including DNA, RNA, ribosomes, and proteins. The synthetic sulfonamides are among the antibiotics that indirectly interfere with nucleic acid synthesis. Nucleic-acid synthesis can also be stopped by antibiotics that inhibit the enzymes that assemble these polymers?for example, DNA polymerase or RNA polymerase. Examples of such antibiotics are actinomycin, rifamicin, and rifampicin, the last two being particularly valuable in the treatment of tuberculosis. The quinolone antibiotics inhibit synthesis of an enzyme responsible for the coiling and uncoiling of the chromosome, a process necessary for DNA replication and for transcription to messenger RNA. Some antibacterials affect the assembly of messenger RNA, thus causing its genetic message to be garbled. When these faulty messages are translated, the protein products are nonfunctional. There are also other mechanisms: The tetracyclines c ompete with incoming transfer-RNA molecules; the aminoglycosides cause the genetic message to be misread and a defective protein to be produced; chloramphenicol prevents the linking of amino acids to the growing protein; and puromycin causes the protein chain to terminate prematurely, releasing an incomplete protein.