Creating Memorable Characters

Creating Memorable Characters On this episode, we discuss the challenging process of creating memorable characters when writing fiction. Some of the topics we discuss are:Digging deep into a character study â€" You do this by getting to know the characters personally, and by digging deep into a character study that considers every aspect of their being. These would be details of their personality, hopes and dreams, history, quirks or eccentricities, moral/ethical/religious beliefs, fears or phobias, political stance, hobbies, likes and dislikes, short- and long-term goals, and habits.Thinking about their physical characteristics â€" How do they walk? What kind of clothes do they wear? What is the tone of their voice? Is their hair colored? Do they wear jewelry, and if so, what kind? Do they have a unique mark, such as a tattoo or scar, and if so, how did they get it? Do they have laugh lines around their mouth? Is there a physical tic that they have when they get nervous, sad, annoyed, or mad?Knowing your charact ers past â€" Its important to determine the details of your characters past, even if you dont plan to narrate much of it in the story.Knowing your characters motivation â€" Similar to a persons past, a persons present motivation is a large part of who they are and what makes them tick.Knowing your characters most intimate flaws, weaknesses and fears â€" All these tragically human characteristics allow your readers to connect with the character, perhaps because they have felt the same fears or have the same weaknesses.Be sure to subscribe to ServiceScapes YouTube channel for more great videos on writing, grammar and more.

Corrupting the American Dream in The Great Gatsby” by F....

In the novel, â€Å"The Great Gatsby† by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author establishes materialism and wealth as a corruption to the American dream. The American dream embodies the idea of self-sufficient, honest and intelligent individual with a happy successful life. It is also the idea of the pursuit of happiness but Daisy Buchanan a wealthy aristocrat goes after the empty pursuit of pleasure, portraying her character as a disillusionment of the American dream and how much it lost its good values. The wealthy are blinded by all their money, such as the Buchanan’s who forget the real idea of the American dream leading them to having no morals or values. The money gives them the ability to walk all over others, careless of whom they hurt and†¦show more content†¦(145) Through this passage the author implies that Daisy is completely careless of what had occurred, establishing Daisy as a shallow and self-centered individual with no empathy for others. Also later towards the end of the novel, before Gatsby dies he finally sees Daisy for who she really is, He must have looked up at an unfamiliar sky through frightening leaves and shivered as he found what a grotesque thing a rose is. (161) On the surface, Daisy maintained this illusion of innocence and honesty, however her behavior is corrupt and selfish. Her wealth gave her ability to walk all over others; she used others like objects until she no longer needed them. After Gatsby’s death she hadn’t even â€Å"sent a message or a flower† (174) she didn’t even pay her respects and immediately retreated back in her money and life with Tom. She did not value Gatsby, In Nick’s eyes she smashed up other peoples lives and left the destruction behind for someone else to fix completely careless of the consequences. The shallow people living in the East Egg such as Daisy represent corruption of American dream through materialism and wealth power. Through Daisy’s wealth she had corrupted not only Gatsby but also Nick, she was trapped in the illusion of her wealth and nothing else mattered but herself therefore she destroyedShow MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby is No Love Story Essay1354 Words   |  6 PagesThe Great Gatsby is No Love Story      Ã‚  Ã‚   Many argue that F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby is an example of the great American love story, but it is not. The Great Gatsby is not a tale about perfect love; it is a tale of love and lust corrupting individuals in their lives, and of an American dream that is never fulfilled. Throughout the story, we follow multiple relationships, but focus is on the single relationship between Gatsby and Daisy. This relationship, however, fails toRead MoreThe American Dream Through The Eyes Of F. Scott Fitzgerald1690 Words   |  7 PagesThe American Dream Through the Eyes of F. Scott Fitzgerald F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby has been criticized, cited, and known as one of the greatest works of American Literature. With numerous themes and focuses, one of the most valuable is represented in the American Dream and how F. Scott Fitzgerald analyzes his idea of this concept. The American Dream is a concept centering on successes in many terms, such as wealth and social standing. These successes are achieved through hardRead MoreGatsby’s Corrupted Dream in F. Scott Fitgeralds The Great Gatsby705 Words   |  3 PagesJay Gatsby, taken in by a bittersweet fruit, drags himself through filth. In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jay Gatsby becomes wealthy to achieve his American Dream, but he fails to achieve it because of the corruption and disillusioning effects of materialistic society. Gatsby’s dream is corrupted by the opulence surrounding him; therefore, he fallaciously assumes that material wealth is synonymous to happiness and wealth. In response to Gatsby’s demand Nick Carraway states the modestyRead MoreGreat Gatsby and the Influence of Money and Greed on Characters1777 Words   |  8 PagesMoney and corruption in F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby During the time in our countrys history called the roaring twenties, society had a new obsession, money. Just shortly after the great depression, peoples focus now fell on wealth and success in the economic realm. Many Americans would stop at nothing to become rich and money was the new factor in separation of classes within society. Wealth was a direct reflection of how successful a person really was and now became what many peopleRead MoreThe Representation Of The American Dream Essay1535 Words   |  7 PagesRepresentation of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby The American Dream is the dream of achieving success and opportunity, but The Great Gatsby defines the American Dream as unachievable. The characters in the novel are portrayed as the cause of corruption, materialism, and immorality within society. The novel takes place during the 1920’s, an era of prosperity. After World War One, many believed one can achieve the American Dream through any social class. In the novel, the dream is portrayed as anRead MoreMoney and Corruption in F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby1761 Words   |  8 PagesMoney and Corruption in F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby During the time in our countrys history called the roaring twenties, society had a new obsession, money. Just shortly after the great depression, peoples focus now fell on wealth and success in the economic realm. Many Americans would stop at nothing to become rich and money was the new factor in separation of classes within society. Wealth was a direct reflection of how successfulRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1499 Words   |  6 Pagesand the appearing infeasibility of achieving the American Dream, and the corruption behind it. When Gatsby is first seen in the novel, Fitzgerald describes him: â€Å"— he stretched out his arms towards the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him I could’ve sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward—and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far way, that might have been the end of a dock† (Fitzgerald 20-21). Gatsby’s ultimate unhappiness is explo redRead MoreThe Death Of The American Dream1977 Words   |  8 PagesMichael Talanker Ms. Casperson AP English III 28 January 2015 The Death of the American Dream in the 1920s and the Narrative of The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald named the boisterous era known as the Roaring Twenties the â€Å"Jazz Age,† a name fitting for the cultural upheaval that occurred during the decade. The 1920s were referred to as so because of the dramatic change that took place in the United States during the decade, so dramatic that it was internationally recognized as a turbulent periodRead MoreThe American Dream Is Sublime Motivation1426 Words   |  6 Pagesanything to live the American Dream .People will journey far and wide, traverse the entire continent, suffer all manner of pain and suffering, if they believe that, in the end, they will be rewarded, and there is nothing quite like survival to motivate people. The ancient tale of â€Å"The American Dream† has been pursued by many, but only few make it all the way. The novel The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and the two poems, â€Å"Dream Deferred†, by Langston Hughes, and â€Å"American Dream of Reality†, byRead MoreSo phia Diep . Mrs. Ploeger . English 3, P. 6. 8 March 2017.1197 Words   |  5 PagesP. 6 8 March 2017 The Great Gatsby Character Analysis Essay Outline Thesis: In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald shows the corruption of material wealth through the empty life of Daisy Buchanan. I. F. Scott Fitzgerald weaves white and yellow to present a contrast between Daisy s purity and her actual corruption by materialism. A. Daisy is associates with the color of white, from her young age to now, she dressed in white, and had a little white roadster (Fitzgerald 40). 1. Daisy s car was

Of Mice and Men - Lifestyle of the Average Itinerant...

Diverse Cultures - English Coursework What have you learnt about the of 1930’s, as depicted by Steinbeck in â€Å"Of Mice and Men?† The Great Depression was a worldwide economic breakdown. It was the largest and most important economic depression in modern history; it began in the United States on Black Tuesday with the Wall Street crash of October 1929 and rapidly spread worldwide. It lasted about a decade, ending in the early 1940s. Poverty stricken, life became a struggle to survive. Banks, stores, and factories were closed and left millions of people redundant and hopeless. With limited options, many men left their families and travelled a lonely road in search of work. The novel â€Å"Of Mice and Men† is a reflection of the suffering†¦show more content†¦All their material possessions could fit in a â€Å"bindle† and had to sleep outside without the protection of a warm sheltered home. The reader also learns that the men who work on the ranches are ‘the loneliest guys in the world.’ They have no family - the men had to leave them behind in search of work. They have no home – they are left to sleep like animals. They go to ranches, work, get paid then ‘blow all their stake’ on alcohol and visit cathouses. Although this may be fun, the effect of alcohol and meaningless experiences could made the men feel even more empty and alone. George and Lennie are different because they have each other. Their friendship is important because they have some one who is there for them, who cares about them unlike the other guys who could â€Å"get lynched† and no one would care. They also have a dream - the dream is important because it means that they have something to look forward to and take their mind of their current situation. Steinbeck’s description of the bunkhouse shows the harsh living conditions of itinerant workers through the strong prison imagery. The bunkhouse was very plain with ‘whitewashed walls and the floor unpainted’ it was also very cramped with eight bunks in one room much like a prison, where several men share a room. â€Å"Small, square windows† and a â€Å"solid door with a wooden latch†, the lexis â€Å"latch† suggests they were caged like prisoners. They had no proper furniture, a makeshift ‘apple box’ for a shelf to keepShow MoreRelatedOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pagescontribute to our understanding of organizations. Professor Tomas Mà ¼llern, Jà ¶nkà ¶ping International Business School, Sweden . McAuley, Duberley and Johnson’s Organizational Theory takes you on a joyful ride through the developments of one of the great enigmas of our time – How should we understand the organization? Jan Ole Similà ¤, Assistant Professor, Nord-Trà ¸ndelag University College, Norway I really enjoyed this new text and I am sure my students will enjoy it, too. It combines rigorous theoretical

ECommerce Questions with Answers Free Essays

E-procurement is electronic acquisition of goods and services for organizations. Its goals are to purchase In lower prices, improve flow process, enameled maverick buying, faster purchase, and Increased productivity. . We will write a custom essay sample on ECommerce: Questions with Answers or any similar topic only for you Order Now Discuss the role of intermediaries in BIB. Distinguish between buy-side and sell-side intermediaries. The role of intermediaries in BIB is to ensure buy and sell side conditional are coincide. Buy-side intermediaries involve one buyer to many sellers while sell-side intermediaries involve one seller to many buyers. 5. List the major e-supply chain management Infrastructures and enabling tools. Answer: Major e-supply chain management Infrastructures and enabling tools are DE’, extranets, intranets, corporate portals, workflow systems, groupware, and Identification and tracking tools. . What are some of the major limitations of RIFF genealogy? Answer: Major limitations of RIFF technology are that cost of implementation, restriction of environments, accuracy, privacy, and no unladed standards. 7. Define c-commerce. The use of digital technologies that enable companies to collaboratively plan, design, develop, manage, and research products, services, and innovative SEC applicatio ns. 10, 259 8. Define collaborative networks and distinguish them from traditional supply chain collaboration. Answer: The collaborative network allows partners at any point in the network to interact with ACH other directly, bypassing traditional partners. Interaction may occur among agents that act as aggregates, BIB exchanges, hubs, or logistics providers. 9. Define virtual teams, mass collaboration, and unified communication. Answer: Virtual team define as a group of employees using information and communications technologies to collaborate from different work bases. 274 Mass collaboration defines as a form of collective action that occurs when large numbers of people work independently on a single project, often modular in its nature. Wisped, 2011. Mass Collaboration. [online] Available at: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Mass_collaboration [Accessed 10 Gag 2011]. Unified communication defines as simplification of all forms of communication in the enterprise. 248 10. It is said that c-commerce signifies a move from a transaction focus to a relationship focus among supply chain members. Discuss. Answer: Since c-commerce increase communications and information flow, this tends to be more relationship focus among supply chain members than transaction focus. Part 2 Internet Exercise [2 %] 1 1 . Enter sap. Com and BEA. Mom, and find the key capabilities of their enterprise portals. List the benefits of using five of the capabilities of portals. Answer: Oracle enterprise portals offer easy integration, can customize for different business, improve communication without geographical limit, sharing information, and social computing service. SAP. Com offer single point access of information, collaboration and communication, increases people productivity, and provide managed content in the context of business applications. The benefits to those key capacities of portals are improve communication, enable elaboration within, increases productivity, improve sharing of information, and no geographical limit. 12. Enter lotus. Com and find their collaboration-support products. How do these products support groups? Answer: Messaging collaboration Integrated collaborative environment including e-mail, calendaring and ability to extend with applications and collaboration tools. Social communications Integrated real-time collaboration services including presence, chat, voice, data, video, meetings and telephony. Online collaboration services Working together Just got easier with integrated social networking and online collaboration services from Lotuses. Social software Business collaboration and networking capabilities including dynamic profiles, wise, blobs, shared files, team spaces, and communities. Portals and mishaps Cohesive foundation to deliver exceptional user experiences enabling users personalized and compelling interactions with information, applications and people. Mobile collaboration and wireless Collaborate anywhere from your Apple, Monika, RIM or Windows Mobile device How to cite ECommerce: Questions with Answers, Papers

Radical Idea of Marrying for Love free essay sample

Stephanie Coontz’s essay on â€Å"The Radical Idea of Marrying for Love† shows her opinion that the expectations of marriage are unrealistic based on different societies around the world in different time periods. For example in George Bernard Shaw’s theory, he believed that married was â€Å"an institution that brings together two people under the influence of the most violent, most insane, most delusive and most transient of passions† (qtd. I’m Coontz 378). In our history all of the world marriage has been said to be a tool of survival. Emotional love played a small part in marriage and was even sometimes discouraged. Even in today’s world love is still no seen as a necessity of marriage. Emotional happiness is the goal; however a happy marriage is defined differently throughout the world. Here recently has the emotional and sexual needs of a marriage become brightened. According to Coontz, â€Å"For most of history it was inconceivable that people would choose their mates on the basis of something as fragile and irrational as love†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (378). We will write a custom essay sample on Radical Idea of Marrying for Love or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page But, if you don’t marry for love, what is the point in marrying them at all? There are many things that you have to factor into making the decision of actually getting married, but is love the most important? Yes. Marrying for any other reason is said to be set for an unstable relationship. If you marry someone for financial support, would you actually stay with your spouse if they became ill or maybe even fired? â€Å"Happily ever after,† is believe by the Modern Western cultures and is showed to us by media nonstop. It is also believed that a married couple should be best friend, share secrets and remain sexually faithful to each other. †

Free sample - Intangible Resources and Management Authority in Organizations. translation missing

Intangible Resources and Management Authority in Organizations. Intangible Resources and Management Authority in OrganizationsThe sphere of business is very diverse and every company tries to do its best in order to be the fist in the completive market and preserve its positions. Good presentation and work of the company depends upon its management that performs different functions. The main function of the management is organizing process of work correctly, using the resources of the company in the best possible way. From the one hand it sounds very easy to do, but on the other hand this task is not so easy to do. So, the main obligation of the management of every company is a rational utilization of the company’s assets and resources, tangible as well as intangible. There is a mistaken idea that intangible assets are not very important as they do not play such important role in the successful existence of the company. It is a common mistake of many managerial teams that do not pay enough attention to the intangible resources. According t o Berkeley-Thomas (2003, p. 25), the companies have to genuinely consider a significance of identical or greater effect of such factors as consumer satisfaction, process effectiveness and improvement when coming to a realizing of performance realities. These factors will be additional to an organization’s realizing of financial figures, helping to better understand the significance of otherwise potentially misleading or unfortunate numbers. Most companies do not pay enough attention to the intangible assets that is why the general performance of the company suffers. In this case, experienced market leaders insist on considering the intangible assets greatly, as they are half of a company’s success (Grey, 2009, p. 43). In the findings, the investigation demonstrated that intangible assets, comprising consumer list, brand name,   reputation of the company, and its location are considerably chief elements; in the meantime, the   size of the organization is taken into account, but not that significant. In general, the essence of the intangible resources is quite broad, as it comprises many notions. Intangible assets can also include patents, copyrights, franchise and government licenses, goodwill, and other issues that lack physical matter but give long-standing advantages to the company. Companies should pay attention to the intangible assets as much as they do it on depreciable and natural resources. The charge of intangible resources is methodically allocated to the costs during the asset's helpful life or legal life, whichever is shorter, and this life is never permitted to exceed forty years. The procedure of allocating the value of intangible resources to expense is called amortization, and organizations almost always use the straight-line way to amortize their intangible resources. In order to understand more completely the essence intangible resources that management can draw upon, it is necessary to describe briefly some of them to see how useful they can be for the management of the company to evaluate the level of its performance and success.   One of the first and the most important intangible resources is the brand name. Needless to say, that brand name and recognition is very important for every company as it is the first step for the company’s success. Brand name should be as recognizable as possible in order to make the company well known. Brand recognition is, probably, main form of intangibles. Think about the many name brand organizations and it will quickly be realized the power of intangible assets. Software programs used by the organizations in order to produce or plan their product are one more brilliant example of intangible resources. Reputation of the company is rightfully regarded as another very important intangible resource. It is understood that every company strives for having excellent reputation and be second to none in the market. The question of reputation is necessary to draw upon by the management. For instance, the company, having good reputation as a reliable partner and manufacturer of the qualitative products will likely have more customers as the company, having lower reputation even if its production is as qualitative. So, evaluating the performance criteria of the company and speaking about the work of its management, we can say that reputation of the company is very significant anyway. One more intangible asset considered as important one is goodwill. Goodwill equals the quantity paid to obtain a company in excess of its net assets at reasonable market value. The excess payment may be consequence from the price of the organization’s reputation, setting, consumer list and management team. Goodwill can be recorded only after the purchase of the organization takes as such a transaction provides a purpose measure of goodwill as recognized by the customer. The worth of goodwill is considered by first subtracting the purchased liabilities of the organization from the fair market price of its assets and then subtracting this consequence from the purchase price of the organization. So, goodwill can not be seen at once, it can be evaluated only when the company starts working. Unfortunately, members of the management team and the business board room in a great number of companies all over the world nowadays fail to understand the effect and importance of their intang ibles on the bottom line as the intangible resources are not reflected on a balance sheet. People are in habit to believe stable and proved facts that can be seen visually on the paper and from different documents, that is why, intangible assets are not so popular management strategy because they are not provided in writing.   In conditions of modern current economy a lot of companies can make sure their survivability and sustainability into the post depression era if they are able learn to ruin the brick and mortar attitude that has tainted corporate America. According to the statistics, seventy-five percent of value of any company can be traced to intangible resources (Ramu, 2000, p. 15). One main cause for mistake is a lack of understanding and the incapability of upper management to think outside the frames. The representatives of the management within a company having no ability to think outside the frames have the complexity in demonstrating new ideas to upper management in the usage of intangible resources influence. So why intangible resources are so significant for the company are so important to legitimize management authority? First of all, strong brands effect on consumers’ decision-making processes, as well as making sure that premium prices may be charged. This is mainly true in many businesses connected with consumers. At their best, they symbolize an assurance of excellence and quality and sometimes, when it deals with luxury brands, customers even gain social status from the brand. It can also maintain the fast development of new successful markets. For instance, Tesco, one of the UK’s primary retailers, succeed in penetrating financial services. Surely, the financial benefit of the company arises from intangible resources such as brands and consumer relationships. Intangible resources, therefore, provide with a potential competitive benefit, but being the resources they obviously require specialist management and excellent communication skills. Management’s capabil ity to bring its strategy is extremely dependent on its consumer relationships, brands and performance of main employees – all of which are also intangible resources for accounting purposes. The significance of these factors is obviously very important to a company’s productivity and to the sustainability of future performance of the company. So it will be more correctly to ask how it is possible to improve the management of these resources, rather than ask why it is so important. One more question of the paper that should be discussed is in what way the companies manage their intangible resources in modern market? Important management is concentrated on the brands to guarantee that the brand is exemplified in every sphere of the company’s outside and interior behaviors (Kaplan and Norton, 2004, p. 24). Brands are continually adapted and revitalized to act in response with variable consumer trends and to be in front of the competition, thus increasing their importance and value. But it is often hard to see financial information about the brand being examined and managed. For instance, the amount of money invested in a brand development is not constantly available.   Consumer relationships comprise one more critical intangible resource for a great number of companies. And, just as in the case with brands, there is a shortage of information about main consumers – including the duration of the relationship, the limits and the charge of supporting main relationships. This is particularly relevant to retailers and the production of customer loyalty card schemes points out the significance these organizations attach to this resource. In the modern market retailers now have better understanding of the desires and needs of their consumers. This information can be further translated into charge which could then be monitored and managed on the continuing basis. The financial result of changes to the way in which consumers are managed could then be frequently reported to the board and eventually to external parties. Everything mentioned above proves once again that intangible resources are extremely necessary to pay attention to and draw upon by the management. Although there is a widespread opinion that intangible resources are very significant to the future prosperity of any company, still there is a dilemma concerning their ongoing management as well as communicating their value. The fact that it can be rather hard to get the information required to administer and enhance the intangible resources, together with the understanding of this information, has held a lot of companies back. Nevertheless, investors, analysts and stakeholders insist on the importance of intangible resources, from the point of view of their usage and investigating (Grey and Willmott, 2005, p. 45). They come to realize, that there is a significant information gap concerning rational usage and studying of the intangible resources. That is why, the companies should move towards enhanced intangible asset management and improve systems of their usage.   Intangible resources are important for every company despite its size and sphere of business. Not only is there a co nvincing financial motive for more careful intangible resources management process, the tax and accounting systems are requiring that numbers are billed to intangible resources as part of accounting for attainments. The value of intangible resources is compulsory to be monitored on the constant basis, as it will help the company to improve its performance. Every company has its own intangible resources needed to pay attention to and it is the task of the management to see what asset requires attention and how it van be used to give maximum profits. Reference List Berkeley-Thomas A. (2003) Controversies in Management. London: Routledge. Grey C. (2009) Studying Organizations. ( 2nd ed.) London: Sage. Grey C. and Willmott H. (eds) (2005) Critical Management Studies: A Reader. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Kaplan, R. and Norton, K. ( 2004) Strategy Maps: Converting Intangible Assets into Tangible Outcomes. New York: Harvard Business Press Ramu, S. (2000) International Licensing: Managing Intangible Resources (Response Books). London: Sage Publications Pvt. Ltd

The Best AP US History Textbooks, Reviewed

The Best AP US History Textbooks, Reviewed SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips What are the best AP US History textbooks you can buy? Which ones should you use in your course and exam studying? We’ll cover the most popular books, as well as books to consider if you’re self-studying or on a budget. Read on if you’re looking to get your own AP US History textbook! First: Don’t Rush to Buy Your Own Textbook There are many textbooks that College Board has approved for AP US History. Even if your teacher is using a less popular textbook, as long as it’s on this list, it will still have the info needed for AP US History. I also highly recommend getting an APUSH prep book in the early spring to help you study – the prep book will review everything on the APUSH test but with less detail than a textbook, which will help you remember the most crucial facts, dates, people, and movements. The prep books will also help you prepare for the time periods and themes that appear on the APUSH test. That said, if you’re self-studying for the test, or your class doesn’t use a textbook and you want one, or you’re an instructor, these are some great AP US History textbooks you can consider. Most Popular: The American Pageant When I got to Stanford, whenever AP US History came up in conversation (an occurrence that happened more than once, since we were nerds!) everyone around me would start reminiscing about this textbook. It seemed like everyone but me had read this textbook in high school! My high school didn’t use it, so I didn’t understand what all the fuss was about. Turns out, The American Pageant is known as one of the most well-written, readable textbooks on any subject, and it’s a favorite among high school teachers for AP US History, with by far the most buzz online. One of its main criticisms is also one of its benefits: it’s written almost like a novel, rather than a textbook, so people who prefer something more straightforward don’t always love it. To take a brief example, this is what The American Pageant section introducing Christopher Columbus reads like: "Onto this stage stepped Christopher Columbus. This skilled Italian seafare persuaded the Spanish monarchs to outfit him with three tiny but seaworthy ships, manned by a motley crew. Daringly, he unfurled the sailors of his cockleshell craft and headed westward. His superstitious sailors, fearful of venturing in the oceanic unknown, grew increasingly mutinous. After six weeks at sea, failure loomed when, on October 12, 1492, the crew sighted an island in the Bahamas. A new world thus swam within the vision of Europeans." It reads like a novel! A more straightforward textbook introduction of Columbus (from Making America) reads like this: "Eager to capitalize on the new technology and knowledge, Christopher Columbus, an ambitious sailor from the Italian port city of Genoa, approached John II of Portugal in 1484 and asked him to support a voyage westward from Portugal, to the East Indies. The king refused when his geographers warned that Columbus has underestimated the distance. Undeterred, Columbus peddled his idea to various European governments over the next several years but found no one willing to take the risk. Finally, in 1492, Ferdinand and Isabella's defeat of the Moors provided Columbus with an opportunity." So even though The American Pageant certainly comes off as a bit flowery, it reads more smoothly and memorably than the more straightforward textbook version. But beyond the language, Pageant has all of the facts, and helps you make connections between different periods in US history. The connection-making is really useful for the APUSH test. The essays will ask you to make connections between time periods and trends, so just knowing the basic facts of what happened when won't help you. The American Pageant will prepare you by explaining and analyzing those connections and trends throughout the book. (If you want a quick, straigthforward overview of the events, by the way, you can get it from a APUSH prep book later in the year.) In short, this is a solid pick for any student or if you’re a teacher trying to decide which textbook to use for your class. Best Bet for Self-Studying: Making America This was the textbook I used for my AP US History class back in high school, and I got a 5 on the AP exam (read more about AP scoring here). This isn’t as novel-esque as the American Pageant (see the quote above), so it’s less fun to read, but I still found it very readable, detailed, and clear. Plus, it's sometimes used for college courses about US History, which speaks to its quality. You can also get it in a slightly abbreviated form (meaning fewer pictures and maps) but with all the same content, for a decent price given it’s a textbook. You could also consider an older edition if you want to save more money. If you’re self-studying, this is a great choice because of how clear the chronology is. Since you won’t have a teacher to explain the different periods in US history and why the chronology is divided up like it is, a textbook that lays all of this out quite clearly will be crucial to help you understand American history. If you can get a solid understanding of what happened when (for example, "the Constitution was ratified in 1788"), it will be much easier to start connecting events to a larger discussion of historical themes in an essay ("the ratification of the Constitution ended a period of uncertainty following the Revolutionary War"). I also really like the summaries at the end of each chapter as well as the discussion questions. Both tools help the info sink in. Again, if you’re self-studying, this built-in review is a great feature. This is a really clear book that has all the info and solid tools to help you review. Best Budget Choice: The Unfinished Nation The Unfinished Nation is a solid, readable textbook that you can buy for between $20 and $30 used (including shipping!), which is amazing deal for a great textbook. While it’s chronological, it also clearly emphasizes social and political movements, which is really helpful for APUSH essay questions, which require you to make connections across time periods. The book also includes a pull-out timeline and map which you can use to help get places and dates straight in your head. The Unfinished Nation has a clear narrative voice, and while it isn't as novel-like as The American Pageant, it is also really interesting to read. If you need to buy an AP textbook for yourself, this is a great one to consider. Best for the Recent AP US History Redesign and Exam Prep: America’s History If you’re going to be teaching AP US History or just want a textbook that matches up with College Board’s specific course goals, this is a great choice. This textbook matches up with the new APUSH objectives from College Board and uses the same chronological divisions, which is really helpful for when you’re studying for the exam. While, as we mentioned above, while there is a long list of APUSH textbooks College Board has approved, this one was written specifically for the AP US History course. Many of the other textbooks on the list are also used for general US History courses – both at the high school and college level – and the authors feel free to use time period divisions that make the most sense to them, rather than the ones that match up exactly with the AP US History course guidelines. So teachers often have to bridge the small gaps between their textbooks and the AP US History guidelines. In contrast, this book was written specifically to match up with the AP US History guidelines, including the new course objectives College Board came up with as of 2014-15. This edition also features many first-hand documents (like the founding documents and supreme court decisions) to give you more practice at using primary sources, which is emphasized heavily in the new AP US History course description. America’s History also comes with an online quiz feature which will help you prep for the APUSH's exam multiple choice section. To sum up, this is a great choice if you’re worried about being ready for the AP test in May (or getting students ready!). What’s Next? Did you know many colleges also require you to have taken SAT subject tests as well? Learn which colleges require SAT subject tests – if you’re taking AP US History you should take the US History Subject Test! 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