Humanities Today Essay

This paper discusses the definition of humanities and differentiate between the humanities and other modes of human inquiry and expression. It also includes examples that reflect current developments in politics, socioeconomics, and examples in the following types of humanities; art, music, architecture, philosophy, and literature. Defining Humanities The humanities can be defined as knowledge that investigates the human experience, and studies human culture, such as the arts, literature, philosophy, history, including other human endeavors. Gaining knowledge from others’ records of the human experience offers us the  opportunity to feel a connection to other cultures and to those from the past, as well as with our contemporaries (Stanford University, 2015). Modes of Human Inquiry and Expression The difference between the visualization of humanity and the practical application of humanity is the understanding of the critical observation of what humanity should be as opposed to what humanity is. In other words, they focus on ideas and values, not just the creation or outcome of an action. Other modes of human inquiry include the study of non-human subjects like in mathematics or natural sciences and do not have much to do with the creative human  endeavors. The humanities are committed to studying the aspects of the human condition using a qualitative approach that normally prevent a single paradigm from defining any discipline. Some studies included in humanities can also be regarded as social sciences in other studies that include; communications, cultural studies, archaeology, and history. Examples of the Humanities HUMANITIES TODAY 3 Humanities are the experiences of the human being that can be visual, audible, and even felt by touch. They can be expressed through art, music, architecture, philosophy, and literature.  Art Art include paintings, photography, sculptures, and architecture. The artist can express their emotions, cultural ideals, even political views through their work. There are many classic artists such as Michelangelo who are well renowned which will continue centuries after their time. Artists, like Michelangelo, were commissioned to produce for organizations such as the Roman Catholic Church (Drake, 2008). Michelangelo viewed himself as a sculptor and quite reluctantly took on the task of painting the ceilings of the Sistine Chapel. No doubt there was a  political agenda and at one point Michelangelo was accused of being a heretic because his work reflected disturbing, past events by the church. A contemporary example would be pop artist Andy Warhol. Beginning in the late 1970’s, Warhol created paintings that were abstract, which is an example of how humans have the ability to think conceptually. Now, art can be digitally mass-produced and distributed which creates a large market for sales and profits, although not necessarily for the artist. Music Music is a common form of expression used to communicate current trends, politics, technology and socioeconomics. The most common genre of music today that expresses all of these messages is hip-hop music. Specifically â€Å"Gangsta rap represents part of a larger focus on hip hop and politics that is popular within the media and among scholarly research and the prominence of gangsta rap in the late 1980s and early 1990s prompted the association between hip hop and violence that contemporary social scientists theorize† (Gilliam, 2007). Architecture HUMANITIES TODAY 4 There are several different methods within modernism style of architecture. The modernist style looks for function rather than trying to reproduce the natural environment. There are several forms within the modernism style they include: structuralism, formalism, Bauhaus, the international style, brutalism, and minimalism. The features of modernism includes the fact there is little embellishment or decoration, man-made supplies are used (metal and concrete). Architects in the 20th century include I. M. Pei. In the Early Twentieth-Century modern architects used materials such as ferroconcrete and structural steel in conjunction with the cantilever to build beautiful ensembles. Frank Lloyd Wright (1869-1959), was one of the first American architects of world significance. He introduced a new style. He combined the new technology of steel and glass with the aesthetic principles of Asian architecture [ (Fiero, 2006) ]. In 1909 Wright completed the Robie House in Chicago. This marked the beginning of a long career creating memorable masterpieces. Today most of these techniques have inspired many of the current styles enjoyed by millions. Philosophy Philosophy is defined as a â€Å"comprehensive system of ideas about human nature and the nature of the reality we live in and is a guide for living, because the issues it addresses are basic  and pervasive, determining the course we take in life and how we treat other people† (Thomas, 2005). Major philosophers of the 20th century include Carl Jung, Albert Camus, and Bertrand Russell. Literature Literature provides readers a written composition comprised of current or previous cultural issues. According to the Department of State’s website â€Å"Social and economic advances have enabled previously underrepresented groups to express themselves more fully, while HUMANITIES TODAY 5 technological innovations have created a fast-moving public forum† (U. S. Department of State, 2007). One example of a current piece of literature is the novel, The Kite Runner. The book was written by Khaled Hosseini and â€Å"tells of childhood friends in Kabul separated by the rule of the Taliban† (U. S. Department of State, 2007) Conclusion The study of humanities is an ever changing journey. Humanities will changes with the questions and expression about every generation to come. Humanities are unique in that a quest for the purpose and meaning of the human life is being sought. As time goes on, the study of humanities will be become broader, taking with it all the questions of yesterday. HUMANITIES TODAY 6 References Drake, C. (2008, November). Did Michelangelo have a hidden agenda? The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://www. wsj. com/articles/SB122661765227326251 Fiero, G. K. (2011). The Humanistic Tradition Book 3: The European Renaissance, The Reformation, and Global Encounter. McGraw-Hill 6e Stanford University. (2015). Home of the Human Experience. Stanford University, Stanford, California. Retrieved from http://shc. stanford. edu/ Thomas, W. (2005). What is philosophy? Retrieved from http://objectivistcenter. org/cth–409- FAQ_Philosophy. aspx.

Essay on Shouldice Hospital Operations Management

Shouldice Hospital Operations Management Introduction Shouldice Hospital, set up in 1945 by Dr. Earl Shouldice, is located near Toronto. It follows the business model of focus on a single standardised service for a narrow target of consumers, rather than to provide customised solution (as in a general clinic or hospital). It focuses on providing quick, convenient, and reliable cure for external types of abdominal hernias. The Hospital uses its own technique, called the Shouldice Method. It is famous for a relatively short post-operative recovery period. Description 1. Shouldice Hospital provides low-cost medical service in its area of specialization. Use of the Shouldice Method allows patients to recuperate fast (patients get†¦show more content†¦There is time-based rotation of teams and frequent consultations among doctors. 5. A patient at Shouldice requires minimal post-operative care. Immediately after an operation, patients are encouraged to move about and carry on their day-to-day activities with minimal physical assistance. 6. Employees at the Shouldice have very competitive pay scales. The remuneration has both fixed and bonus components. There is no organization chart, and administrative employees are cross-trained to take over each others work if required. Nobody is fired. 7. The Hospital relies entirely on word-of-mouth advertising. It performs 145-165 operations per week. In spite of this, there is a backlog of scheduled operations that is as large as 1200 in 1982. 8. Approximately 42% of patients come from the United States. A typical surgery at the Shouldice costs approximately $1029. Operating Costs for the hospital and clinic are close to a total of $4.8 million. Revenues are close to $6.8 million. Thus, operating profits are close to $2 million annually. Unique Characteristics 1. High Volume Focused Service - only external types of abdominal hernia repaired and mostly primaries; 6850 operations performed in a year in 1982. 2. Unique Surgical Technique Ââ€" Shouldice Method: separation of muscle layers, more sutures and no screens/meshes 3. Lower Operating Time - 45 minutes for first-time repairs (primaries) and 90 minutes for repairing recurrences 4. Lower cost of operating patients -Show MoreRelatedShouldice Hospital Case Study Essay1588 Words   |  7 Pagesof Situation and Identification of Problems 1.1 Service The Shouldice Hospital competitive advantage is that it only conducts external hernia operations and is specifically designed and operated to provide the highest probabilities for successful treatment with â€Å"country club like† patient service. Hernia operations typically have a 90% success rate, with Shouldice hernia operations boasting over a 99% success rate. The Shouldice competitive advantage can be summarized into: ï‚ § Surgical technique:Read MoreShouldice Hospital Case1459 Words   |  6 PagesCASE : SHOULDICE HOSPITAL – A CUT ABOVE â€Å"Shouldice hospital, the house that hernias built, is a converted country estate which gives the hospital ‘a country club’ appeal.† A quote from American Medical News Shouldice Hospital in Canada is widely known for one thing-hernia repair! In fact, that is the only operation it performs, and it performs a great many of them. Over the past two decades this small 90-bed hospital has averaged 7,000 operations annually. Last year, it had a record year and performedRead MoreShouldice Hospital Case Solution1744 Words   |  7 Pagesas compared to that of a typical hospital? A. The hospital focused on this new procedure for treatment of external types of abdominal hernias. Some differentiating features of the Shouldice process were the arranging of abdominal muscles into three distinct layers, reinforcing the abdominal wall with six rows of sutures and did not involve any insertion of screen and mesh under the skin. Beyond the surgical procedure, it was the service process of the hospital that differentiated it from othersRead MoreEssay Shouldice Hospital Case1118 Words   |  5 Pages1 Model Shouldice Hospital as a processing operation with products, attributes and resources. 2 What are its competitive priorities? 3 What kind of market has it chosen to focus on? Shouldice Hospital follows the business model of focus on a single standardized service for a narrow target of consumers, rather than to provide customized solution (as in a general clinic or hospital). It focuses on providing quick, convenient, and reliable cure for external types of abdominal hernias. The HospitalRead MoreShouldice Hospital Case Study Essay1470 Words   |  6 PagesShouldice Hospital Case Study Calvin Barron Liberty University March 2, 2010 Respectfully submitted to Prof. Scott McLaughlin Overview The Shouldice Hospital serves as a glaring example of extraordinary service and care for the impaired and needy. From carpeting and soft lighting to doting personal care from the staff, the Shouldice experience sets a standard of excellence for the industry. Dr. Earl Shouldice displayed an early desire for medical understanding with an ageRead MoreShouldice Case1183 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Shouldice Hospital, the house that hernias built, is a converted country estate which gives the hospital a ‘country club’ appeal.† A quote from American Medical News Shouldice Hospital in Canada is widely known for one thing – hernia repair! In fact, that is the only operation it performs, and it performs a great many of them. Over the past two decades this small 90-bed hospital has averaged 7,000 operations annually. Last year, they had a record year and performed nearly 7,500 operationsRead MoreShouldice Case1227 Words   |  5 Pages1 Model Shouldice Hospital as a processing operation with products, attributes and resources. 2 What are its competitive priorities? 3 What kind of market has it chosen to focus on? Shouldice Hospital follows the business model of focus on a single standardized service for a narrow target of consumers, rather than to provide customized solution (as in a general clinic or hospital). It focuses on providing quick, convenient, and reliable cure for external types of abdominal hernias. The HospitalRead MoreShouldice Hospital1560 Words   |  7 PagesOPERATIONS MANAGEMENT CASE 1 Ââ€" Shouldice Hospital Introduction Shouldice Hospital, set up in 1945 by Dr. Earl Shouldice, is located near Toronto. It follows the business model of focus on a single standardised service for a narrow target of consumers, rather than to provide customised solution (as in a general clinic or hospital). It focuses on providing quick, convenient, and reliable cure for external types of abdominal hernias. The Hospital uses its own technique, called the ShouldiceRead MoreThe Shouldice Method3365 Words   |  14 PagesThe Shouldice Method Abstract Dr. Earle Shouldice and his method of hernia operations and recovery methods are discussed. The discussion includes techniques pioneered by Dr. Shouldice, and the founding and operation of a facility bearing his name and utilizing his methods. Keywords: Earle Shouldice, Shouldice Hospital, Shouldice Method, hernia The Shouldice Method The Shouldice Hospital Limited case consists of the story of an Ontario farm boy who grew up to significantly impact the livesRead MoreShouldice Hospital Limited3555 Words   |  15 Pages1. Executive Summary Shouldice hospital is a specialized hospital in the repair of external abdominal hernias in Canada. The hospital was established by Dr. Shouldice the founder of a new and superior surgical technique, now known as the Shouldice method, for repairing hernias which yields better medical results as well as a significantly shorter recovery time. The Shouldice Hospital is a successful organization and admired by most of the people who had relation with it or who have heard of it

Freedom From Coercion And The Freedom Of Living A Thriving...

Based on two different definitions of liberty, the state and corporations each have different threats to individuals. There are two ways to define liberty, the freedom from coercion and the freedom to live a flourishing life. If solely based on the first definition, the state is more coercive than corporations and has more intrusion on individual liberty. It has rights to grant punishment of imprisonment while a corporation can hardly achieve that severity. For example, if a person is accused of committing a crime, he or she may be placed in jail and lose the basic liberty, for example, to see families whenever they want to. In comparison, the worst punishment by a corporation, being fired by the firm, cannot compare with that from the†¦show more content†¦These examples illustrate that corporations have the abilities to force individuals, especially those who live in poverty, to work in bad conditions or with below-average wages. In this way, corporations harm individual fr eedom to live flourishing lives because they could provide more just treatments to the employees. To summarize, the state takes away more individual freedom from coercion while corporations take away more freedom to live flourishing lives. While both harm individual liberty to a certain extent, the state has a stronger moral justification to intervene because it takes away liberty to increase individual well-being. According to Mill, individuals should have the ability to do what they freely want so long as they do not harm others (Mill, 945). Although Mill argues for less government intervention, he recognizes the role that the state plays to increase individual well-being in society (Mill, 970, 971). In other words, a state even though should not exercise its power over a society to govern, it is necessary and just to do so to prevent harm to others and to protect well-being. The government thus should step in sometimes to regulate and punish illegal behaviors in order to maintain the order of society. The state, according to Mill, can make decisions in some cases in order to best protect individuals while allowing informed people to make their own educated decisions with the exception

The Biggest Myth About Interesting Topics to Write College Essay Exposed

The Biggest Myth About Interesting Topics to Write College Essay Exposed The Interesting Topics to Write College Essay Cover Up On-line writing is a really amazing medium, only recently offered. Prove to them that you're right dependent on the available info, not based on experience. Selecting an intriguing topic is important for the success of your research project because it is going to send you in the appropriate direction and help you to stay interested and motivated during the whole writing process. There are a lot of good and bad examples out there on what things to write and the way to tell a story. Who Else Wants to Learn About Interesting Topics to Write College Essay? Use an anecdote It is crucial to engage the admission board from the very start. If you're a college student, odds are you have recent knowledge in deciding on a college major. There are varying views on whether or not a college education is needed in order to have a thriving life. Often you'll get m uch better grades if you are able to write on something important. There's an additional thing you have to know and realize. Lots of people associate the idea of standing out as something bold and daring in regards to the information they offer and the way that it is presented. It may be hard for you to develop an original topic about life because so many individuals have written about it already. The issue is they often take an excessive amount of time and energy. The Interesting Topics to Write College Essay Game Using somebody else's subject (or his essay for this matter) is not a very good idea. You might find that lots of the topics can be adapted to suit almost any type of writing assignment. Just figure out what are the sort of topics it is possible to write about. Qualities of a fantastic persuasive essay topic The topic needs to be specific. What's Actually Going on with Interesting Topics to Write College Essay You've approached the last portion of your essay. Obviously, it's possible to write essay topics beforehand. Thus, you should start writing essay topics in many ways. Selecting a great topic for your essay is among the most essential and frequently tricky parts for many students. The sports essay is predictable and ought to be avoided, if at all possible. The admission board understands that you're not Shakespeare. It will be simpler that you compose an excellent persuasive essay if it's a subject in which you have knowledge. Know your prompt It is crucial to comprehend the essay prompt to craft a superb college application essay. A classification essay may be a good source of self-reflection. Among the various types of essay, there's a definition essay that could appear to be among the most simple assignments. If you understand how to compose an article critique, you will readily finish the assignment not based on its complexity and formatting peculiarities. If you would like your persuasive essay to acquire the greatest possible scores, you should not just focus on its key elements but also to the format and outline. All of these have specific requirements, and therefore you need to understand how to format your essay ahead of time. Be sure you use headings intelligently it makes the document so a lot more readable. Interesting Topics to Write College Essay - Dead or Alive? There's, obviously, a limit on the range of pages even our finest writers can produce with a pressing deadline, but generally, we figure out how to satisfy all the clients seeking urgent assistance. The claim about value You don't need to be part of the nerdy writers club to understand the significance of writing in our everyday lives. Some political topics include things like pending legislative debts, the budget or employment development. To begin with, your key to winning essay is a very clear comprehension of what it is you are likely to handle. Interesting Topics to Write College Essay - Overview There's a selection of essay types, and every one of them are able to assist you in developing your abilities and widening your knowledge. Write about it here to aid you in getting started. Use comparisons and analogies to create concepts memorable You can readily get clear on the topic if you compare the specific topic with different topics. Among the toughest sections of writing th e chemistry paper is making the option of what topic to write about, especially as it appears that chemistry topics are extremely similar to one another. Prioritize the topics The student needs to understand how to prioritize the topics depending on the mark distribution of the topics. During the class, you may run into many exciting topics. The Chronicles of Interesting Topics to Write College Essay In the 21st century, college interviews are lost on the best way to the VCR, in other words, they are normally used. The majority of the time it so happens that the students stray away from the principal purpose and mention things that are not even remotely linked to the subject. Your persuasive essay ought to have a very clear plan, which will provide you an opportunity to center on the most important elements of the work and put aside all of the minor arguments. Though writing a winning college study essay may look like an intimidating task, it actually needs some preparation f or caution, originality, and plenty of patience.

Tobias Smollett Biography (563 words) Essay Example For Students

Tobias Smollett Biography (563 words) Essay Tobias Smollett BiographyTobias George Smollett (1721-1771), Scottish novelist, was born inDalquhurn, Dumbarton County Scotland. Smollett was born beneath a planetree at Dalquharn House on the family estate of Bon hill in the Vale of Leven,near the village of Renton, Dumbartonshire. At fourteen Smollett wasapprenticed to a Glasgow doctor. He studied medicine at GlasgowUniversity and moved to London in 1740. He was a ships surgeon in theCarragena expedition against the Spanish in the West Indies, and lived inJamaica until 1744 when he returned to London and renewed his earlierattempts to stage a play he had written The Regicide, but still met with nosuccess. He also failed to set up his own medical practice. His first novel, the partly autobiographical Roderick Random(1748), was an immediate success. His best novel, The Expedition ofHumphry Clinker (1771), has become a classic. It is a story, told in a seriesof letters, about the travels of a family through England and Scotland. Smollett was troubled by lack of money. He spent his last years in poorhealth, and died in Livorno, Italy, on October 21, 1771. Two yearslater, Johnson and Boswell stayed at Cameron House with Smolletts cousinJames, who was preparing to erect a Tuscan column in Smolletts memory atRenton. Johnson helped compose the Latin obituary on the plinth, and thecolumn stood in what subsequently became the playground of a school. Some of Tobias Smolletts work consists of The Tears of Scotland(1746). Poem on the defeat of the Scots at the Battle of Culloden. TheAdventures of Roderick Random ( 1748 ). Gil Blas. Translation of LeSagesnovel. ( 1749 ). The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle ( 1751 ). TheAdventures of Ferdinand, Count Fathom ( 1753 ). Don Quixote. Translation of Cervantes novel. ( 1755). The Adventures of Sir LancelotGreaves ( 1760 ). Travels through France and Italy ( 1766 ). The Historyand Adventures of an Atom ( 1769 ). The Expedition of HumphreyClinker ( 1771 ). Some critics regard Tobias Smollet as more satirist meaning thata work of literature or art that, by inspiring laughter, contempt, or horror,seeks to correct the follies and abuses it uncovers. I dont know what thatmeans though. This is a paragraph from Tobias Smolletts book The Adventures ofRoderick Random. Roderick Random is the orphaned, unwanted grandson of a severe oldScots magistrate, exposed by his grandfathers known neglect to the malice ofthe community. His principal enemies are the schoolmaster and the youngheir. It is not long before a deus ex machina appears in the form of a sailoruncle:He was a strongly built man, somewhat bandy-legged, with a necklike that of a bull, and a face which had withstood the most obstinateassaults of the weather. His dress consisted of a soldiers coat, altered forhim by the ships tailor, a striped flannel jacket, a pair of red breechesjapanned with pitch, clean grey worsted stockings, large silver buckles thatcovered theree-fourths of his shoues, a silver laced hat whosecrownoverlooked the brim about an inch and a half, a black bob wig in buckle, acheck shirt, a silk hankerchief, a henger with a brass handle girded on histhigh by a tarnished laced belt, and a good oak plant under his arm. I picked this paragraph because here Smollett is describing the heroof the story Roderick Random. I believe it is important to have a brief if notfull description of characters, so that you can imagine seeing them maybeeven being there, in your mind, while they are doing what is described in thebook.

Utopian Society - The Giver Essays - English-language Films

Utopian Society - The Giver What would your life be like in a utopian society? Jonas knows what it is like. He has lived in one for twelve years. At the age of twelve he is chosen to be the Receiver. + Through the essay one will be aware of the memories Jonas received, the results of the memories, and the wisdom he gained as a result of the memories. Memories play an important role in The Giver. For example, this is the first memory Jonas received: ?Then he shivered. He realized that the touch of the hands felt, suddenly cold. At the same instant, breathing in, he felt the air change, and his very breath was cold.?(p.80) This was the memory of a sled ride in the snow. Although this memory is happy, as the book continues he realized memories aren't all happy. Results play a major role in the conclusion and what makes The Giver end the way it does. This is when a major change in the relationship between Jonas and the Giver takes place: ?The Giver looked away as if he could not bear to see what he had done to Jonas. ?Forgive me,? he said.?(p.120) After this took place Jonas started to change and to realize a lot of things. Thus, some results are positive, but also some are negative. Wisdom is the final topic discussed in the essay. Jonas learns a lot and becomes wiser throughout the book. It is easy to see wisdom through his actions that follow: ?Methodically Jonas hacked the fish in to pieces with a sharp rock and fed the raw shreds to himself and Gabriel.?(p.173) This event took place after Jonas took Gabriel and ran away. Because of the situation he faced, Jonas had no choice but to rely on his wisdom. In a utopian society one's life wouldn't really be his own. No one really has a life or freedom in a utopian society. Through memories, Jonas learned a lot. The results of the memories gave him wisdom. The wisdom Jonas gained helped him and Gabriel survive. Of all the three topics discussed, wisdom plays the biggest role of all. English Essays

How to Write a Powerful Memoir in 4 Simple Steps

How to Write a Powerful Memoir in 4 Simple Steps How to Write Your Memoir: A 4-Step Guide Memoir is not just a fancy literary term for an autobiography. I say that from the start, because I hear the terms used interchangeably so often. Your memoir will be autobiographical, but it will notbe your life story. Confused yet? Stay with me. Simply put, an autobiography is likely to cover one’s birth to the present - emphasis often on accomplishments, but the more honest and revelatory the better. A memoir draws on selected anecdotes from your life to support a theme and make a point. For instance, if your point is how you came from some unlikely place to where you are now, you would choose scenes from your life to support that. Maybe you came from: The wrong side of the tracks A broken home Having been a victim of abuse Addiction An orphanage To a position of: Wealth Status Happiness Health Faith You might start with memories that show how bad things once were for you. Then you would show pivotal experiences in your life, important people in your transformation, what you learned, and how you applied certain principles to see this vast change. Naturally, the better the stories, the better the memoir. However, great stories are not the point - and frankly, neither is the memoirist (you). What Publishers Look For Don’t buy into the idea that only famous people can sell a memoir. Sure, if you’re a household name and people are curious about you, that’s an advantage. But memoirs by nobodies succeed all the time - and for one reason: they resonate with readers because readers identify with truth. Truth, even hard, gritty, painful truth, bears transferrable principles. Memoirs full of such relatable candor attract readers, and readers are what publishers want. An astute agent or acquisitions editor can predict how relatable a memoir will be and take a chance on one from an unpublished unknown. Agents and editors tell me they love to discover such gems - the same way they love discovering the next great novelist. So, when writing your memoir†¦ You may be the subject, but it’s not about you - it’s about what readers can gain from your story. It may seem counterintuitive to think reader-first while writing in the first-person about yourself. But if your memoir doesn’t enrich, entertain, or enlighten readers, they won’t stay with it long, and they certainly won’t recommend it. Want to save this guide to read, save, or print whenever you wish? Click here. How to Write a Memoir in 4 Steps Know Your Theme Carefully Select Your Anecdotes Write It Like a Novel Tell Your Story (Without Throwing People Under the Bus) Step 1. Know Your Theme And remember, it’s not that you’ve made something of yourself - even if you have. Sorry, but nobody cares except those who already love you. Your understated theme must be, â€Å"You’re not alone. What happened to me can also happen to you.† That’s what appeals to readers. Even if they do come away from your memoir impressed with you, it won’t be because you’re so special - even if you are. Whether they admit it or not, readers care most about their own lives. Imagine a reader picking up your memoir and thinking, What’s in this for me? The more of that you offer, the more successful your book will be. Think transferable principles in a story well told. Cosmic Commonalities All people, regardless of age, ethnicity, location, and social status, share certain felt needs: food, shelter, and love. They fear abandonment, loneliness, and the loss of loved ones. Regardless your theme, if it touches on any of those wants and fears, readers will identify. I can read the memoir of someone of my opposite gender, for whom English is not her first language, of a different race and religion, who lives halfway around the world from me - and if she tells the story of her love for her child or grandchild, it reaches my core. Knowing or understanding or relating to nothing else about her, I understand love of family. Worried About Uniqueness? Many writers tell me they fear their theme has been covered many times by many other memoirists. While it’s true, as the Bible says, that there’s nothing new under the sun, no one has written your story, your memoir, your way. While I still say it’s not about you but really about your reader, it’s you who lends uniqueness to your theme. Write on! How toWrite a Memoir Without Preaching Trust your narrative to do the work of conveying your message. Too many amateurish memoirists feel the need to eventually turn the spotlight on the reader with a sort of â€Å"So, how about you†¦?† Let your experiences and how they impacted you make their own points, and trust the reader to get it. Beat him over the head with your theme and you run him off. You can avoid being preachy by using what I call the Come Alongside Method. When you show what happened to you, if the principles apply to your reader he doesn’t need that pointed out. Give him credit. Step 2. Carefully Select Your Anecdotes The best memoirs let readers see themselves in your story so they can identify with your experiences and apply to their own lives the lessons you’ve learned. If you’re afraid to mine your pain deeply enough tell the whole truth, you may not be ready to write your memoir. There’s little less helpful - or marketable - than a memoir that glosses over the truth. So feature anecdotes from your life that support your theme, regardless how painful it is to resurrect the memories. The more introspective and vulnerable you are, the more effective will be your memoir. Step 3. Write It Like a Novel It’s as important in a memoir as it is in a novel to show and not just tell. Example: Telling My father was a drunk who abused my mother and me. I was scared to death every time I heard him come in late at night. Showing As soon as I heard the gravel crunch beneath the tires and the car door open and shut, I dove under my bed. I could tell by his footsteps whether Dad was sober and tired or loaded and looking for a fight. I prayed God would magically make me big enough to jump between him and my mom, because she was always his first target†¦ Use every trick in the novelist’s arsenal to make each anecdote come to life: dialogue, description, conflict, tension, pacing, everything. Worry less about chronology than theme. You’re not married to the autobiographer’s progressive timeline. Tell whatever anecdote fits your point for each chapter, regardless where they fall on the calendar. Just make the details clear so the reader knows where you are in the story. You might begin with the most significant memory of your life, even from childhood. Then you can segue into something like, Only now do I understand what was really happening. Your current-day voice can always drop in to tie things together. Character Arc As in a novel, how the protagonist (in this case, you) grows is critical to a successful story. Your memoir should make clear the difference between who you are today and who you once were. What you learn along the way becomes your character arc. Point of View It should go without saying that you write a memoir in the first-person. And just as in a novel, the point-of-view character is the one with the problem, the challenge, something he’s after. Tell both your outer (what happens) and your inner (its impact on you) story. Structure In his classic How to Write Bestselling Fiction, novelist Dean Koontz outlines what he calls the Classic Story Structure. Though intended as a framework for a novel, it strikes me that this would be perfect for a memoir too - provided you don’t change true events just to make it work. For fiction, Koontz recommends writers: 1 - Plunge your main character into terrible trouble as soon as possible 2 - Everything he does to try to get out of it makes it only progressively worse until†¦ 3 - His situation appears hopeless 4 - But in the end, because of what he’s learned and how he’s grown through all those setbacks, he rises to the challenge and wins the day. You might be able to structure your memoir the same way merely by how you choose to tell the story. As I say, don’t force things, but the closer you can get to that structure, the more engaging your memoir will be. For your purposes, Koontz’s Terrible Trouble would be the nadir of your life. (If nadir is a new word for you, it’s the opposite of zenith.) Take the reader with you to your lowest point, and show what you did to try to remedy things. If your experience happens to fit the rest of the structure, so much the better. Setups and Payoffs Great novels carry a book-length setup that demands a payoff in the end, plus chapter-length setups and payoffs, and sometimes even the same within scenes. The more of these the better. The same is true for your memoir. Virtually anything that makes the reader stay with you to find out what happens is a setup that demands a payoff. Even something as seemingly innocuous as your saying that you hoped high school would deliver you from the torment of junior high makes the reader want to find out if that proved true. Make ‘em Wait Avoid using narrative summary to give away too much information too early. I’ve seen memoir manuscripts where the author tells in the first paragraph how they went from abject poverty to independent wealth in 20 years, â€Å"and I want to tell you how that happened.† To me, that just took the air out of the tension balloon, and many readers would agree and see no reason to read on. Better to set them up for a payoff and let them wait. Not so long that you lose them to frustration, but long enough to build tension. Step 4. Tell Your Story (Without Throwing People Under the Bus) If you’re brave enough to expose your own weaknesses, foibles, embarrassments, and yes, failures to the world, what about those of your friends, enemies, loved ones, teachers, bosses, and co-workers? If you tell the truth, are you allowed to throw them under the bus? In some cases, yes. But should you? No. Even if they gave you permission in writing, what’s the upside? Usually a person painted in a negative light- even if the story is true- would not sign a release allowing you to expose them publicly. But even if they did, would it be the right, ethical, kind thing to do? All I can tell you is that I wouldn’t do it. And I wouldn’t want it done to me. If the Golden Rule alone isn’t reason enough not to do it, the risk of being sued certainly ought to be. So, What to Do? On the one hand I’m telling you your memoir is worthless without the grit, and on the other I’m telling you not to expose the evildoers. Stalemate? No. Here’s the solution: Changing names to protect the guilty is not enough. Too many people in your family and social orbit will know the person, making your writing legally actionable. So change more than the name. Change the location. Change the year. Change their gender. You could even change the offense. If your own father verbally abused you so painfully when you were thirteen that you still suffer from the memory decades later, attribute it to a teacher and have it happen at an entirely different age. Is that lying in a nonfiction book? Not if you include a disclaimer upfront that stipulates: â€Å"Some names and details have been changed to protect identities.† So, no, don’t throw anyone under the bus. But don’t stop that bus! Common Memoir Mistakes to Avoid Making it too much like an autobiography (missing a theme) Including minutiae Bragging Glossing over the truth Preaching Effecting the wrong tone: funny, sarcastic, condescending How to Start Your Memoir Your goal is to hook your reader, so begin in medias res- in the middle of things. If you start slowly, you lose readers interest. Jump right into the story! Memoir Examples Thoroughly immerse yourself this genre before attempting to write in it. I read nearly 50 memoirs before I wrote mine (Writing for the Soul). Here’s a list to get you started: All Over But the Shoutin’by Rick Bragg (my favorite book ever) Cultivate by Lara Casey A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway Out of Africa by Karen Blixen Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt Still Woman Enough by Loretta Lynn Born Standing Up by Steve Martin The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion This Boy’s Life by Tobias Wolff Molinaby Benjie Molina and Joan Ryan Want to save this guide to read, save, or print whenever you wish? Click here. Are you working on your memoir or planning to? Do you have any questions on how to write a memoir? Share with me in the comments below.