Guilt, Duty, and Unrequited Love - 2341 Words

Guilt, Duty, and Unrequited Love: Deconstructing the Love Triangles in James Joyce s The Dead and Thomas Hardy s Jude the Obscure quot;It s no problem of mine but it s a problem I fight, living a life that I can t leave behind. But there s no sense in telling me, the wisdom of the cruel words that you speak. But that s the way that it goes and nobody knows, while everyday my confusion grows.quot; --New Order, Bizarre Love Triangle, from Substance, 1987 Most people who have watched a soap opera can recognize that the love triangle is a crucial element to the plot. In fact, the original radio broadcasted soap operas seemed to consist almost entirely of love triangles. The love triangle, for plot purposes, seems†¦show more content†¦This three-cornered romantic disaster, because of Sue s return to Philotson, had already reached it s climax. If anything, Jude s death made Sue s promise never to see him again easier. But because Jude s death happens at the end of novel, the reader does not find out if this adds to or detracts from her guilt. All we are told is that she is quot;tired and miserable,quot; quot;years and years older,quot; quot;quite a staid worn woman,quot; and still absolutely repulsed by Philotson (Hardy 431). Sue s guilt originates from societal pressures, and then surfaces after the death of the children. She knows that shacking up with Jude after her divorce from Philotson is frowned upon, yet she does no t share the same morals and values as the society in which she lived, thus, does not expect any sort of punishment. She takes the horrifying death of her children as a sign of divine admonishment. quot;I see marriage differently now!Â…My babies have been taken from me to show me this!quot;(Hardy 369). Therefore, so that their death s would not have been in vain, Sue becomes religious and returns to Philotson, adding more complexity to the triangle. Sue s last words to Jude before he dies are: quot;Don t follow meÂâ€"don t look at me. Leave me, for pity s sake!quot;(Hardy 412). This bizarre love triangle may not be broken even after Jude s death, for it is he whom she really loves. For Philotson, Sue onlyShow MoreRelatedEssay on Guilt, Duty, And Unrequited Love2223 Words   |  9 Pages Guilt, Duty, and Unrequited Love: Deconstructing the Love Triangles in James Joyce’s The Dead and Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure amp;quot;It’s no problem of mine but it’s a problem I fight, living a life that I can’t leave behind. But there’s no sense in telling me, the wisdom of the cruel words that you speak. But that’s the way that it goes and nobody knows, while everyday my confusion grows.amp;quot; --New Order, Bizarre Love Triangle, from Substance, 1987 Most people who have watchedRead MoreRomantic, Realist, And Modernist Period1031 Words   |  5 PagesLove, since the beginning of time, has had a place in every literature no matter the time period. The world that we live in is complex and often times, love and reason do not exist interconnect, however, literature acts as the glue in bringing these two elements together. Authors sometimes use the concept of love as a subject for their work, rationally, and carefully using it as a tool in their writing. In this essay, works by different authors during the Romantic, Realist, and Modernist period willRead More Comparing Love and Marriage in Canterbury Tales, Lanval, Faerie Queene, and Monsieurs Departure675 Words   |  3 PagesLove and Marriage in Canterbury Tales, Lanval, Faerie Queene, and Monsieurs Departure Medieval and Renaissance literature develops the concepts of love and marriage and records the evolution of the relation between them. In Chaucers Canterbury Tales, Christian love clashes with courtly love, as men and women grapple with such issues as which partner should rule in marriage, the proper, acceptable role of sex in marriage, and the importance of love as a basis for a successful marriage. WorksRead More The Burdens of Lt. Jimmy Cross in Tim OBriens Story The Things They Carried1615 Words   |  7 Pagesmost pressing. Of all the weights burdened upon Lt. Cross, the heaviest baggage is located in his own mind. Specifically, the heaviest things Lt. Cross carries are an emotional obsession over Marthas love, the physical consequences caused by his daydreaming of Martha, and an unrelenting guilt about Ted Lavenders death. In the first paragraph of the story, Jimmy Cross rank is noted (First Lieutenant) along with the fact that he carried letters from a girl named Martha, a juniorRead More Death and Freedom in Sorrows of a Young Werther and Crime and Punishment881 Words   |  4 PagesThe relationship illustrated in both works is that one cannot achieve true freedom until they are dead. Until death, Werther and Raskolnikov will always feel the restrictions that society places upon them. Werther feels restricted due to the unrequited love of Lotte and Raskolnikov feels restricted by the moral code that society establishes. In Sorrows of a Young Werther by Goethe and Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky both characters’ exhibit their freedom through death. In Sorrows of a YoungRead MoreAcknowledging Female Stereotypes in Much Ado About Nothing1653 Words   |  7 Pagesinterest in Hero for a while before their present conversation about her. He admired her before he went away to war, but more pressing, important, masculine issues took his mind off her. This implies that matters of the heart were less valued by men than duty and honor, and that his current infatuation with Hero is sort of an afterthought, something to pursue as he is now bored. This distant, material admiration for Hero quickly turns to contempt when he thinks that Don Pedro has taken her for himselfRead MoreGreat Expectations for All Essay1835 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction As humans grow up, they must all experience the awkward phase of the teen years, as they leave behind childhood for adulthood. In these times of transformations, one often finds themselves marred by the wicked ways of naà ¯ve love and the humiliation many experience. In Charles Dickens novel Great Expectations, one is able to watch an innocent boy’s transformation into a mature gentleman who is still a child at heart. Pip is plagued with the daunting responsibilities of adulthood andRead MoreJealousy, By William Shakespeare2097 Words   |  9 Pagesthis culminates in the murder of his wife, Ferdinand loses his sanity and murders his sister because of his intense jealousy over her lover and his desire to possess her body. Finally, hopeless stalker Jed Parry turns suicidal when his desires and love toward Joe are not reciprocated and he becomes increasingly jealous of Joe’s girlfriend Clarissa. All three writers explore the effects of jealousy and its potentially fatal consequences which I destroy the characters afflicted by this emotion. WebsterRead More Necessity in The Things They Carried Essay2336 Words   |  10 Pagessame paragraph as the lists of rations and sleep gear. Another extremely significant example of emotional sustenance is given in the descriptions of Lieutenant Crosss attachment to Martha. He carries her letters and reads them daily (1-2), and his love for her, as well as the mystery of her feelings for him, drives him, keeps him going, and gives his life meaning. He also carries her photographs (5-6) and the pebble she sends him (9) as constant reminders of her. But despite the limited weightRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare2824 Words   |  12 Pagessubmissive female. Her love for Hamlet ultimately was the reason for her destruction, because it caused her to become a pawn for her father, Polonius, and her love interest, Hamlet. Since Ophelia’s role was as a pawn, she constantly received mixed messages from her father, who was the man who controlled her entire life, as well as from the man she loved, Hamlet. The burden of double messages she received from the men in the play, lead her to question the duplicity of love, man, and society, and

The Constitutional Convention Of The United States Essay

After the colonies had seceded from Britain they realized that the lack of a strong central government created a United States that was not so â€Å"united†. As described in a Brilliant Solution, by Carol Berkin, the problems derived from the Articles of Confederation required a resolution that no one would have ever imaged. That solution would be the Constitutional Convention, taking place from May to September of 1787 in Philadelphia. This convention would result in our Constitution, the living, breathing, vital document we still use to this day. Throughout its early years, America didn’t have many rules that it was governed by. Henry Knox once declared, â€Å"Our present federal government is a name, a shadow, without power, or effect.† Under the rules of the Articles of Confederation, the government could declare war, conduct foreign affairs, and make treaties; however, the states held the majority of power and were treated like countries. With that in mind, bills couldn’t be passed because, with no executive or judicial branch, congress couldn’t levy taxes and required the consent of the states to pass the aforementioned bills. Since the government was weak, it was easy for the British to overpower them. Eventually, people realized how wrong the Articles were, and each state sent their own delegates to a convention that was soon to begin in Philadelphia in order to fix its problems. The 55 men invited to the Convention were not gods, but they were far from ordinary; most of theShow MoreRelatedTh e Constitutional Convention Of The United States895 Words   |  4 PagesThere would never be progress if humans took a step back for every step they took forward. The delegates at the Constitutional Convention encountered this issue when discussing the creation of an independent executive. The nation needed a leader without the risk of reverting back to the tyranny of King George. Without it, they feared that the natural rights of its citizens would be jeopardized. Despite the possible benefits, there were well-founded fears that this could lead to the destruction ofRead MoreThe Constitutional Convention Of The United States989 Words   |  4 Pagescalled for a â€Å"Grand Convention† of the newly independent American states to amend the struggling Articles of Confederation. He did so with the approval of twelve delegates from five states that convened in Annapolis originally for the purpose of discussing interstate trade. What these delegates didn’t realize is that the convention they were calling for would produce a document that would shape the course of human history. On Friday, May 25, 1787, fifty-five delegates from twelve states (only Rhode IslandRead MoreThe Constitutional Convention Of Philadelphia Signed The United States Constitution1107 Words   |  5 PagesDelegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia signed the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787. Designed to replace the weak Articles of Confederation previously in place, the Constitution delineates and outlines the powers of the different branches of government. The Constitution also includes the Bill of Rights that states the rights of the citizens. As of this year, the Constitution is two hundred and twenty-nine years old. The Constitution continues to have an impact onRead MoreConstitutional Conventions Of The United Kingdom1711 Words   |  7 PagesConstitutional conventions are the un-codified agreements that are practiced based on the informal procedures followed by state institutions. According to Mills, they are the guidelines that the political and state actors feel obliged to follow as a matter of doing what is right. By doing this, the political actors and institutions align to the fulfillment of doing what is morally expected of them. This makes the constitutional conventions act like the procedural agreements that make people thinkRead MoreThe Main Role As Part Of The Constitution1710 Words   |  7 Pages Despite the fact that definition and nature of conventions is uncertain it is obvious that they have a significant role as part of UK constitution. To understand how conventions are sufficient as a sources of the constitution it is necessary to discuss their nature first, then continue with analysis on how they operate from a wider prospective and finally, emphasize their strengths and weaknesses. Constitutional convention is an informal agreement which is not signed or codified by any authorityRead MoreThe Constitutional Convention Essay1198 Words   |  5 Pagesafter the Revolutionary War. These Articles provided a weak political document that was meant to keep the states united temporarily. The states had all the power, so any changes made to the Article of Confederation would take every state to approve it or amend it. In February 1787, Congress decided that a convention should be convened to revise the Article of Confederation (Constitutional Rights Foundation, 2009). Congress felt the Article of Confederation was not enough to effectively deal withRead MoreThe Articles Of Confederation During The American Revolution1133 Words   |  5 PagesAfter fighting for our country against Great Britain in the American Revolution, the United States gained independence. We had to figure out how to govern ourselves since we would no longer be under the power of the monarch. The Articles of Confederation was the answer to our problems; even though it established a very weak central government and had many problems, it was our first constitution and our first step towards a solid government. Some of the problems with the Articles included thatRead MoreArgument Resume : Samuel Bryan Centinel Essay873 Words   |  4 Pages Greg Peterson DOB: 1759 ANTI-FEDERALIST STATE OF BIRTH: Samuel Bryan was born in Pennsylvania in 1759. Pennsylvania at the time was very ethnically and religiously diverse; at one point one third of the population was German. Even before the Constitutional Convention, Pennsylvania was very important. For example, during the pre-Revolutionary War and Revolutionary War years, Pennsylvania held both Continental Congresses. Even then, the state excelled economically, especially in the iron andRead MoreThe On The Workings Of The Constitution Convention Essay1319 Words   |  6 PagesWorkings of the Constitution Convention â€Å"The fundamental importance of the 1787 Constitutional Convention is indisputable, not only as a turning point in the history of the United States, but also as an event that continues to affect contemporary politics† (Pope and Shawn 1). Indeed, the historical significance of the Constitution Convention and its direct impact on American contemporary politics cannot be ignored. For over two-hundred years, the Constitution of the United States has served as the foundationRead MoreThe Connecticut Compromise Between The New Jersey Plan And The Virginia Plan1473 Words   |  6 Pageswas critical to the government back then and now because it would determine how each state would be represented in Congress. The cause of the Great Compromise was because the small populated states wanted to have the same amount of representatives as the states with large populations and the larger populated states wanted to have more representatives than the smaller states. In 1787, the Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between May and September. The purpose of the event

Book Eight And Nine Of Nicomachean Ethics - 1698 Words

In Book eight and nine of Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle discusses the variations of friendships that are present in human nature. He further goes into detail on the terms and grounds on forming these friendships. I will be analyzing the different types of friendship discussed in Aristotle’s Ethics and answer the difficulties and obstacles present in trying to achieve the perfect friendship, the friendship based on goodness. The beginning of Book eight of the Nicomachean Ethics states that friendship is a â€Å"kind of virtue and it is also most necessary for living† (Book VIII, 1155a, 1-2). Friendships connect to all walks of life, with friends we can help young from making mistakes and assist the elderly in life through their delicate state they cannot do themselves. The most significant power friendship has is the ability to hold communities and how it’s closely connected to justice (Book VIII, 1155a, 20-26). Which is interesting because it seems that by human nature we strive for the sense of harmony in a community. We aim for happiness between community members and happiness as a whole. Aristotle later comments that a possession of many friends are one of the fine things of life and it is a splendid thing to obtain. The second part of Book eight is Aristotle defining the objects and definitions of affection. These are goodness, usefulness, and pleasure. These are the three reasons humans have for loving an object or person. Aristotle continues to explain the each

Essay on South And Whitaker Street On The Park Essay Example For Students

Essay on South And Whitaker Street On The Park Essay The sun is staring directly at me as I began to hide for cover .I can hear laughing voice everywhere. The sound of a soft country melody that just went flying passed my ear. I can stretch out anywhere on this thirty acres. Where am I? If you was thinking a park you are exactly right. I am visiting one of the city largest park in Savannah, GA which is known as Forsyth Park .Forsyth Park is extremely huge. The park is bordered by Gaston Street on the North, Drayton Street on the East, Park Avenue on the South and Whitaker Street on the West. Where should I began? This park is open to the public. There’s a lot of tourists who come down to view the different historic place here in Savannah, Ga. Forsyth Park is one place many tourists seem to walk upon. This park is broken up into many sections. There is a place to walk to grab a bite to eat, which is known as the Forsyth Cafe. There’s a two sided children’s play area that is sectioned off by the age in which the child is, how interesting. There is even a Fragrant Garden for people who are blind .There also an area for sports lovers, whether you play tennis and or basketball court .Wow there’s even a place for Frisbee lovers to have a toss around. As I begin to walk down the end of the park. I can see that the park has been sectioned off tremendously. As I move out of the way so that the people who are working out can have their space on walk path that goes around the entire park. On the left side of the bottom of the park, there’s a fence in basketball court. The only people to be inside is boys or men having a one on one game or five men playing basketball against one another as a team. This entire area seems to be crowd men of all ages and nationality . I am not surprise to not se. .amounts of material and non-material resources (such as the wealthy vs. the poor) and that the more powerful groups use their power in order to exploit group From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedias with less power based on information from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. In my opinion I don’t believe that theirs is a social conflict with the park itself anyone can come to this public park and have a great time. Many people often travel to view or experience the beauty in which the park has been founded on . Forsyth park is a historical park you will never forget once experience. As I bring my observation to a closed I believe the park will fall under a social interactionism experience because of it’s a major framework of sociological theory. This perspective relies on the symbolic meaning that people develop and rely upon in the process of social interaction.

Pridi Banomyong Essays - Thai People, Thailand,

Pridi Banomyong Pridi Banomyong Pridi Banomyong was born on May 11, 1900 in Ayudhya, the former capital of Thailand. He was the eldest son of a relatively well to do farming family. Pridi became interested in revolutionaries when he was very young. At the age of 14, he completed his secondary education. Too young to enroll in any institution for higher education, Pridi stayed with his family for an extra two years, helping them in rice farming before darting off to law school in 1917. Pridi was a bright student, he finished law school when he was 19, a year short of the minimum age requirement to enter the bar (Naeti-Banditya Sapha). He became a barrister at law and was simultaneously awarded a scholarship to do Master's and Ph.D. studies in France. In 1924, he obtained his Bachelier en Droit, Licenci en Droit and in 1926 a Doctorat d'Etat and Diplme d'Etudes Suprieures d'Economie Politique from Universit de Paris. Pridi was the first Thai to earn this appellation. It was during his time in Paris, that he and a few like-minded Thais set up the People's Party (Khana-Rassadorn). They vowed to transform the Thai system of governance from absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. The group elected Pridi as their provisional leader.... Later in 1927, Pridi returned to Thailand and joined the bureaucracy and rose quickly through the ranks. He was granted a non-hereditary title of Luang Praditmanuthum. At dawn on 24 June 1932, the People's Party, consisting of government officials, military officers, and ordinary civilians rapidly and bloodlessly took control of the government, changing it from absolute to democratic, constitutional monarchy and installing the 1932 provisional constitution as the supreme law of the land. Between 1933 and 1947, Pridi held various important positions including.. Minister of Interior, Minister of Foreign affairs, Minister of Finance, Regent and Prime Minister. King Rama VIII officially appointed him a Senior Statesman for life. Throughout these years as government official and leader, Pridi assiduously worked to realize the Six Principles.. 1. To maintain absolute national independence in all aspects, including political, judicial, and economics... 2. To maintain national cohesion and security... 3. To promote economic well being by creating full employment and by launching a national economic plan... 4. To guarantee equality to all... 5. To grant complete liberty and freedom to the people, provided that this does not contradict the aforementioned principles...and... 6. To provide education to the people. While in power, Pridi succeeded in making a number of changes which radically changed certain aspects of Thai society. Among his notable accomplishments, some of them having long term impacts ,for example: The drafting of the nation's first economic plan. The founding of the University of Moral and Political Science [Thammasart University]. The Municipality Act which allowed the people to elect their own local governments. The revocation of unequal treaties that Thailand had been forced to sign with foreign powers. The reformation of the unfair tax system. The compilation of the country's first revenue code. The founding of what ultimately became the Bank of Thailand. Stabilizing the country's financial resources. Prior to WWII, Pridi foresaw an imminent devaluation of the Pound Sterling, and bought 1,000,000 ounces of gold which continue to be used as the country's foreign reserve. Promoting the concept of peace and political neutrality by proposing the 1939 bill on neutrality. On the eve of WWII, Pridi made a film entitled The King of the White Elephant, which urged peace and sought to argue how wars are exploited by rulers to obtain power at the expense of civilians. During the WWII , once the Japanese had invaded and occupied Thailand, even as Regent, Pridi clandestinely led the Free Thai Movement (Seri Thai) to resist such action. In recognition of the brave cooperation and assistance rendered by this movement, the United States government subsequently recognized Thailand as an independent country that had been under Japanese military occupation as opposed to a belligerent state subject to Allied post war control. On 16 August 1945, at the advice of Lord Louis Mountbatten (the Allied SEA commander), as Regent and Leader of Free Thai Movement, Pridi declared null and void Pibulsonggram government's declaration of

To be or not to be essays

To be or not to be essays One memorable moment that I found quite funny was in the film, To Be or Not to Be. While there were several hilarious scenes, the title line that pops up frequently in the film got the greatest laugh out of me. The Shakespearian line, to be, or not to be isnt funny in and of itself. In fact, in the context of Hamlet, its part of quite a serious, agonizingly introspective monologue. What makes these words so funny is the context of the movie, and the way in which it is repeated throughout the film. The first time the audience hears the title line is when, in a slight act of marital indiscretion, the actress notifies the young suitor to visit her in her dressing room. To ensure her husband wont find out, the soldier must do so when her husband enters his to be or not to be monologue where hell be occupied on the stage for quite some time. The soldier gets the message and stands up rudely during the beginning of the monologue, precisely after the words or not to be are uttered. Taken aback, the actor is beside himself that someone would lose interest in his acting ability and walk out during one of his big scenes. What makes this truly funny is that he is portrayed as an egocentric stage actor who suddenly has his dignity deflated, saying rather melodramatically, Oh, I knew this day would come. The fact that his wife has completely gotten away with seeing the young soldier adds to the comedic irony while the actor dwells at great length on the interruption and its implication of the future of his career. The line gets funnier every time it is repeated throughout the film. Each time the soldier walks out of the performance, the actors vain ego is placed deeper in jeopardy as he becomes visibly flustered on stage. In another scene where the actor is portraying the professors Nazi superior, the professor relays to the actor tha...

ACT Book Guide The Best Books for Intense Study

ACT Book Guide The Best Books for Intense Study SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Albert Einstein, who's generally considereda pretty smart guy, said, "It's not that I'm so smart. It's just that I stay with problems longer." That type of commitment, as anyone who's studying for the ACT knows, is its own formof intelligence, and it's what will help you accomplish your long-term goals. This book guide is meant for students looking to "stay with problems longer" and study intensively, like 100 or more hours, to maximize their scores on the ACT.If you're a student who wants to leave no stone unturned as you prep for the ACT, then these are the books for you. Before delving into the ACT prep book list, a word about what perspective I'm coming from in my recommendations. Perspective Check The ACT books on this list all have strengths and weaknesses, but taken together they can provide you with comprehensive instruction, insightful strategies, and a huge number of practice questions. Since all these books add up to hundreds of pages, I'll suggest an agenda below to help you study from them in a coherent sequence. These recommendations are based off of the experiences of myself, ACT experts, and students. These are the ACT preparation books that offer a level of detail and insight into the testbeyond the ordinary. They'll help you achieve mastery in each section of the test. At the same time, I think that self-studying from books presents some extra challenges for students. One lies in the comprehensive nature of these ACTprep books. Because they're so comprehensive, they can feel overwhelming. It can be difficult to know where to start and how to use them in a more effective way than attempting(and struggling) to read them cover to cover. The best ACT study plan is customized to your individual needs, target scores, and strengths and weaknesses. You don't want to waste time drilling yourself on vocabulary you already understand or probability questions you could do in your sleep. Instead, you want to make sure you're making an effective use of your time, targeting your weak areas, and building your confidence where you need it most. PrepScholar's online ACT prep program was created with these challenges in mind. It has all the best parts of these books, with critical lessons, strategies, and practice questions, plus it adds the unique feature of customization. The prep program diagnoses your level and individualizes the study plan to you, ensuring your prep is as focused and effective as possible. Plus it helps you design a schedule and stay accountable, two things that are tough to prioritize when you're studying completely on your own with ACTprep books. Regardless of whether or not you're interested in trying the 5 day free trial of PrepScholar's ACT prep program, you should explore our detailed study guides on the ACT. We have answers to all your questions about the ACT, from how to read the passages to saving time on math to how to best review your practice test mistakes. Our goal is to make sure all students can access the resources they need on their path to college. That being said, read on for a thorough assessment of the best ACT preparation books for intense study, starting with the critical book all serious students need. The Critical ACT Prep Book The book that's essential to your ACT prep comes from the testmakers themselves. The Real ACT Prep Book, also known as the Red Book, is a must-have. At the same time, it's not sufficient as the only book you use. Let's look at the pros and cons of the Red Book. The Real ACT Prep Book (or the "Red Book") Amazon price: $18.18 Pros Because The Real ACT Prep Bookwas created by the ACT and contains previously administered ACT tests, its practice questions are the best ones available. There are definitely high quality practice questions that aren't "official," but they are still an imitation. The questions in the Red Book are real, and therefore they're the most useful ones you can use to get ready for the test. The Red Book has 5full length practice tests, allof which were administered to students in past years. That adds up to over17hours of practice testing with more than1,000 practice questions! Students doing intensive prep can gain a lot from all this practice testing. As I'll explain further down,students could benefit from using these tests throughout their test prep, first to diagnose their level, then to measure to progress, and finally to finish up their studying with a post-test. You can gain a ton both from the experience of practice testing and the post-test scoring and analysis. Make sure to thoroughly understand your mistakes and use them to fuel further review. While the Red Book is the best prep book for authentic practice tests and sample questions, it's lacking in some other key areas. Let's consider what it's missing and why you need to supplement it with other books. Cons There are other parts to ACT studying besides practice tests, like lessons in content and time management strategies. The Red Book has some general information in these areas, but it doesn't go as deeply as you're looking for. That's why it's best used alongside other books to reinforce your understanding, experiment with strategies, and measure your progress as you go. Another word of caution: according to ACT experts and students, the ACT has been secretly but steadily getting harder in the past few years!The Science section, especially, has been getting more complex and time-consuming, plus the Reading is tough to finish within the given time limit. While the ACT has not announced any changes, there is general agreement that the test has, in fact, changed. This means that practice tests developed and/or administered before 2010 are probably not as representative of the test you'll see today as more recent ones. They still resemble the current ACT and are useful, but they're somewhat easier in terms of content and pacing. When taking these earlier practice tests, keep a critical eye on any differences amongthe tests. Also keep in mind that you might score higher on these than you would on the more challenging test given today. Finally, the last downside to the Red Book is that the answer explanations for each question are not as thorough as they could be. Students who want to prep deeply for the test should not just understand why a correct answer is correct, but also what exactly is wrong with the other answer choices. None of the answer choices are going to be totally off base or random, so students should develop a discerning eye about the common misleading answer choices that seem reasonable, but aren't quite right in some way. Luckily, the next book in this list provides more thorough answer explanations to many of the questions in the Red Book. It explains each answer choice while also suggesting helpful thought processes to use when approaching each question type. The Best ACT Book for Strategy The similarly named ACT Black Book is my highest recommendation for gaining strategies and insights into how the ACT works. It refers directly to questions from the ACT Red Book, so the two are best used together. The ACT Prep Black Book: The Most Effective ACT Strategies Ever Published Amazon price: $19.79 Pros Can this book live up to its bold title? Actually, I do think it's one of the best books for pure strategy and in-depth understanding of the ACT. According to its author, Mike Barrett, the ACT is a predictable, standardized test. The content knowledge is not particularly advanced, but the questions are unique, even designed to trick students, in their wording. Because of this predictability, Barrett says, students can learn to see through the tricks and beat each question in the least amount of time possible. He talks about patterns and process, and gives you practical strategies for answering math, reading, science, and English questions. The Black Book also shows you over 200 solutions for some of the hardest questions in the ACT Red Book. He walks you through how to solve and think about ACT questions in a way that the Red Book doesn't. While the ACT doesn't want to reveal its secrets, Barrett's mission is to pierce through the workings of the ACT and provide a concise roadmap of the test to students. The Black Book works well for focused students who are interested in going a step beyond the usual in their ACT prep. If you're interested in taking a big picture approach to the testand analyzing its patterns, then the ACT Prep Black Book is an indispensable study aid. Cons You mightbe starting to suspect that some of these books are so high quality because they're focused on a particular aspect of test prep. The Red Book is focused on practice tests, while the Black Book is focused on strategy. Because of its singular emphasis, the Black Book does a really good job in that area. Inevitably, though, this means that it's lacking in other key areas of test prep, namely content review. The Black Book is not particularly useful for instruction in geometry or grammar rules, nor is it going to help you develop your critical reading skills. In addition, the Black Book has no practice questions of its own. While the Red Book has 5 practice tests, you'll probably want to seek even more ACT questions to apply your understanding and improve your time management. Finally, the Black Book requires a certain amount of dedication and focus from its readers. It's not the easiest read, because it dives deeply into the ACT. That's why it can be so helpful for intense study, but be aware that you'll really have to engage with the material to get the most out of it. So far we've talked about practice tests and strategies, with less of an emphasis on reviewing concepts and enhancing skills. Below are my recommendations for the best comprehensive book for content review, followed by the best books for spotlighting each individual section of the ACT. The Best ACT Book for Overall Content Review My recommendation for an ACT prep book with an in-depth breakdown of concepts and skills is Barron's ACT. Students aiming for top scores who are looking for additional practice can also check out Barron's ACT 36: Aiming for the Perfect Score(Amazon price: $9.99). This assessment will focus on Barron's ACT. Barron's ACT Amazon price: $15.15 Pros Barron's ACT thoroughly reviews the concepts and skills being tested on the Reading, Math, English, Science and Writing sections of the ACT. The Englishand Math reviews are particularly strong, with each concept broken down into subtopics like a grammar review of parallelism, transitions, and word order and a math review of intermediate algebra, plane geometry, and trigonometry. It starts with a diagnostic test, encouraging students to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses and plan their test prep accordingly. Purchase of the book will also give you access to an online component that helps you establish your skill profile and access video lessons. In addition toexampleand practice questions that illustrate and drill various concepts, Barron's ACT also has 3full-length practice tests. These aren't authentic ACT questions, but they are still high quality and useful in your prep. This is another 10+ hours of practice testing and over 600 practice questions, an essential part of intensive study. Barron's also excels in its answer explanations. Like the Black Book, it explains both why an answer is correct and what's wrong about the incorrect answer choices, an understanding that should not be overlooked in your test prep. While it's a traditional prep book written in a straightforward style, Barron's also acknowledgesthe feelings of its readers with sections on optimizing your test-taking mindset and managing any anxiety you have around the ACT. Cons As I mentioned earlier, big traditional prep books can be very useful in their thoroughness, but they can be daunting at the same time. Barron's ACT is a perfect illustration of this - chock full of content and practice questions, but intimidating in its breadth. The book suggests some study plans based on the amount of time you have to prep, but you'll also have to do some extra work to break it up into smaller, more manageable goals. Perhaps the biggest downside to Barron's ACT is how realistic the practice tests are. While they're relatively high quality, a lot of students agree that they are sometimes more difficult than the questions that will actually appear on the ACT. Their wording can be overly complicated, or sometimes they test a concept that's too advanced. While overpreparing isn't the worst thing, you want to mimic the test as much as possible so you have a strong understanding of what to expect. Again, try to keep a critical eye when taking practice tests and take factors like difficulty level into account if you notice unexpected fluctuations in your practice test scores. Finally, Barron's ACT is particularly strong on Englishand Math,and pretty useful on Reading. Its Science review is less strong than the other sections, something which occurs often across ACT prep books. While it describes the sources of passages, types of passages, and strategies for reading, along with science practice questions, you probably would want to supplement your science studying with another resource. Given this, let's look at the best resourcesspecific to each section of the ACT, starting with Science. Best Book for ACT Science Even though many students find the Science section to be the most challenging part of the ACT, until recently there were no books specifically dedicated to helping you on ACT Science. At PrepScholar, we know all the tricks for making ACT Science easier, so we decided to compile them into a book. The PrepScholar Guide to ACT Science Amazon price:about $5 Pros The PrepScholar Guide to ACT Sciencecovers every topic, skill, and question type you'll see on ACT Science which means that nothingon this section will come as a surprise on test day.That includes a list of every science fact you could be tested on, so you're only studying the science information you need to know. It also containsmultiple strategies for tackling Science passages so you can choose the method that works best for you. Most importantly,this bookalsoincludes all of our best ACT Sciencetest-taking tricks.Many students get tripped up ontheScience section because it's so different from the science tests they've taken in school. Even if you're a science whiz, you'll likely need to study how the Science section works before you can ace it. This book is your key to doing that. It shows you how to identify every trick inACTScience and learn how toavoid getting fooled by them so you can find the correct answer quickly and more easily. Cons While every chapter in this book includes sample questions to help you see and understand different concepts, there is no final quiz or exam section at the end of the book. For every section of the ACT, it's critical to take regular practice tests and quizzes to track your practice and see where you still need to improve. To fully practice everything you've learned from this book,we recommend takingfull-length Science sections. Best ACT Book for Math If you want to hone in on the math section and improve your algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and problem-solving skills, then you can do so withthe Ultimate Guide to the Math ACT. Let's take a look at where it excels and where it's not as strong. The Ultimate Guide to the Math ACT Amazon price: $17.54 Pros The Ultimate Guide to the Math ACTis a solid review of all the concepts you need to know for the Math section of the ACT. It doesn't get too advanced, but sticks to the topics that will show up on the test. Like PrepScholar, this book breaks each area - algebra, geometry, trigonometry - into small subtopics, like fractions, averages, square roots, functions, and trigonometry for rights triangles. Each lessonis illustrated with high quality practice problems, along with techniques and strategies for answering various question types. In addition to its own practice questions, this book cross-references questions in the Red Book. Overall it walks you through each and every concept you need to know for the Math section of the ACT in a clear and succinct way. Cons This book takes a minimalist approach in terms of its lessons. Some students will appreciate its straightforward, not overly explanatory style, while others might wish they hadmore description and explanation in each lesson. It's not a wordy book, but a lot of students look for that when they study math. On a similar note, this book isn't the most helpful for walking you through a problem from beginning to end. Some of its explanations are helpful, especially as they cross reference the Red Book, but it doesn't offer a lot of guidance for thinking through a problem. Nor does it evaluate problems by difficulty level or provide a frequency guide to help you prioritize more important concepts over others. Finally, this book has some errors in printing, especially in matching up the questions with the answer key. While this doesn't detract much from its overall quality, it can be distracting as you're scoring and understanding your practice questions. Just as this book dives into the math section of the ACT, my next two recommendations closely examine the verbal, or English and Reading sections. Best ACT Books for English and Reading I'm grouping these books together for two reasons. First, the skills you develop for English are helpful for Reading, and vice versa. Secondly, both guides come from the same author, Erica Meltzer, and have similar pros and cons. Let's look first at Meltzer's book on the English section of the ACT. The Complete Guide to ACT English by Erica Meltzer Amazon price: $26.52 Pros 75 questions in 45 minutes, oh my! The English section is definitely fast-paced. To make sure you finish in time, you need toquickly and efficiently identify each grammar rule being tested and pick the right answer choice. Erica Meltzer explains all the grammar rules you need to know for this section in The Complete Guide to ACT English, like verb agreement, word pairs, and transitions. Similar toPrepScholar's approach, she breaks the section down by skills and drills you on each one to ensure you can apply them in context. Throughout the text are cumulative reviews so you can practice your widening range of concepts. The practice questions in this book are realistic and take the same passage format as you'll see on the ACT. Meltzer's lessons are straightforward, clear, and to the point. You can also find extra tips for both the English and Reading sections onher blog, The Critical Reader. Cons One immediately evident con of this book is the cost. At almost $30, it is relatively expensive considering it only covers one of four sections. Plus you'll need to use it alongside the Red Book, if not other books for even more practice tests and questions. This book is "no frills," meaning it doesn't have a lot of description or creative graphics. Some students find it dry, while others appreciate that she cuts out extraneous material. The formatting can get a bit tedious with a lot of small font on each page, but the content remains high quality. Finally, you have to be careful about answering questions that are arranged by skill. While it's a great way to learn and reinforce each grammar rule, you also must practice applying these rules on real practice tests. Real tests won't be arranged in order for you, so you need to ensure you can quickly identify and apply each rule randomly without them being labeled for you. In addition toher grammar rules in The Complete Guide to English Grammar, Erica Meltzer also does a great job of presentingthe Reading section of the ACT. The Complete Guide to ACT Reading by Erica Meltzer Amazon price: $30.39 Pros Like her English book, Erica Meltzer's The Complete Guide to ACT Reading is a great resource for students serious about gaining a strong Reading score. She has realistic passages from prose fiction, humanities, social science, and natural science with high quality practice questions. The Reading section can be harder to break down than, for instance, the Math section, but Meltzer manages to clearly outline the skills and concepts you need. She categorizes the Reading question types into literal comprehension, big picture, vocabulary in context, inference, and tone/attitude questions. Along with a clear lesson, she has questions illustrating each of these important types. Along with these skills, this ACT book teaches you how to manage both your time and your stress. Meltzer gives strategies for mapping the passage, strategically reading them in order, and using skimming techniques to your advantage. She offers a few different approaches so that students can figure out what works best for them. At the end of the book are two practice tests, each with four passages and 40 questions each. That's another 70 minutes of practice testing to add to the hours you get from the Red Book and Barron's ACT. Cons Like its English counterpart, this book is relatively expensive, especially for a book of only 120 pages that covers just one section. It's also not all that creative in its layout, with small font filling up thepages. Some students find its style to be dry, which can make self-study harder to maintain if you're not engaged with the material. Like the English guide, this book is arranged by question type and skill, like big picture questions and determining tone. This is a great way to recognize question types and apply skills, but you also want to make sure you can identify and apply skills when the questions are in random order. All of the books I mentioned are exceptionally strong in some areas and not so useful in others. Taken together, they might feel a bit overwhelming - where exactly do you start? Read on for my suggestions on how to come up with a study plan that uses these books in a logical way. X marks the treasure(d ACT score)! Study Plan with ACT Prep Books Should you start reviewing content or learning about strategies? Is it better tobreak into your first practice test or leave it until you've done some studying? What if you juststackthe books in a pileand try again tomorrow? So many questions, somuch time....if you're planning to study intensively and devote many hours to ACT prep, that is. I wouldn't recommend attempting to read these books from cover to cover without a thoughtful plan. Instead, I recommend mapping out a plan and schedule that concentrate your review on the areas in which you need it most. First off, you need to uncover those areas where you need the most intensive prep. I recommend using a practice test as a diagnostic test, just as Barron's ACT suggests. For your most accurate diagnostic tool, you should use one of the official practice tests from the Red Book. Time yourself in a quiet room with no distractions. After you score your test, mark the ones you got wrong and figure out the reasons for your mistakes. Go over the answer explanations thoroughly, and take notes on where you need to review. If you struggled on geometry questions, for instance, you could start with geometry review. If you kept running out of time on Science, consult the time management study guides on the Science sections. You should review every section, but concentrate your prep on your weaker areas. Consult this guide of recommended ACT prep books for content review. Barron's is a comprehensive breakdown of all the sections, while The Ultimate ACT Math Guide and Erica Meltzer's books focus intensively on one section at a time. Teach yourself these concepts, drill them with practice problems, and measure your progress with practice tests spaced out along the way. The Black Book is best for students who have a strong foundation in the math, verbal, and science concepts and skills. You could save Black Book strategies for after you've done some content review. As you study, continue to keep a critical eye on question types and difficulty level of questions, as well as analyze themistakes you make on practice tests. Focus on the areas where you need to improve your performance and confidence the most. Dive into your weaknesses to see the biggest score improvements. Since this type of planning is so unique to each individual, it can be tough to know exactly what the best approach is for you. Before you start planning, I would encourage you to explore your options for test prep. Are Books the Best Option for Intensive Study? Taken together, these ACT books have a huge amount of knowledge to impart. It can be a big challenge, though, to get all that knowledge...imparted. You have to havea tremendous amount of self-discipline and sustained motivation to spend 100+ hours poring over these books. In addition, you have to design an effective study plan, rather than repeating the same kinds of questions that won't end up improving your score. Besides these challenging efforts, books can also get expensive. All together, these add up to over$100.In the old days of test prep (ie, 5 to 10 years ago), books were a mainstay of SAT prep. But with the advent of online prep programs, which combinethe unparalleled advantagesof technology with human expertise, books are no longer the only, nor necessarily the best, option. One of the reasons I'm a big fan of PrepScholar's approach is because it makes the test prep process more enjoyable. It does a lot of the behind-the-scenes work for you, by diagnosing your academic profile and building a study regimen that complements your skills and learning style. It incorporates all the strengths of these books while seamlessly taking care of the customization and accountability aspect. Besides trying out PrepScholar's 5 day risk-free free trial, you can also explore our detailed study guides on all sections of the ACT. Some especially helpful ones include The Best Way to Review Your Mistakes on ACT Questions Should You Guess on the ACT? 5 Guessing Strategies The 31 Critical Math Formulas You Must Know The Complete Guide to ACT Grammar Rules ACT Vocabulary: Words You Must Know How to Write an ACT Essay, Step by Step How to Get a Perfect ACT Score, by a 36 Full Scorer If you're looking to devote a good amount of time to prepping for the ACT, then you want to ensure you're making the most of it. By exploring your test prep options and the abundance of free resources online(though no ACT preparation books pdf free download), you can make an informed decision that will help you enjoy the process and ultimately achieve the scores you seek for your college applications. What's Next? For more detailed strategy guides on all sections of the ACT, including the best ways to study and manage your time, explore our continually updated articles here. Are you deciding when to take the ACT for the first time (or second or third)? Read about how to choose your test dates here. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses. We also have expert instructors who can grade every one of your practice ACT essays, giving feedback on how to improve your score. 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