The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Plot Summary

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, written in 1876, is one of the best-loved and most quoted works of American author Mark Twain (whose real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens). The novel, which sold slowly at first for the author, can be appreciated on multiple levels. Children can enjoy the adventure story, and adults can appreciate the satire. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Summary Tom Sawyer is a young boy living with his Aunt Polly on the banks of the Mississippi River. He seems to most enjoy getting into trouble. After missing school one day (and getting into a fight), Tom is punished with the task of whitewashing a fence. However, he turns the punishment into a bit of entertainment and tricks other boys to finish the work for him. He convinces the boys that the chore is a great honor, so he receives small, precious objects in payment. Around this time, Tom falls in love with a young girl, Becky Thatcher. He suffers under a whirlwind romance and engagement to her before she shuns him after she hears of Toms previous engagement to Amy Lawrence. He tries to win Becky back, but it doesnt go well. She refuses a gift he tries to give her. Humiliated, Tom runs off and dreams up a plan to run away. Its around this time that Tom runs into Huckleberry Finn, who would be the titular character in Twains next and most acclaimed novel. Huck and Tom agree to meet in the graveyard at midnight to test a scheme to cure warts involving a dead cat. The boys meet at the graveyard, which brings the novel to its pivotal scene when they witness a murder. Injun Joe kills Dr. Robinson and tries to blame it on the drunken Muff Porter. Injun Joe is unaware that the boys have seen what hes done. Afraid of the consequences of this knowledge, he and Huck swear an oath of silence. However, Tom becomes deeply depressed when Muff goes to jail for Robinsons murder. After yet another rejection by Becky Thatcher, Tom and Huck run off with their friend Joe Harper. They steal some food and head to Jacksons Island. Theyre not there long before they discover a search party looking for three boys presumed drowned and realize they are the boys in question. They play along with the charade for a while and dont reveal themselves until their funerals, marching into the church to the surprise and consternation of their families. Tom continues his flirtation with Becky with limited success over summer vacation. Eventually, overcome with guilt, he testifies at the trial of Muff Potter, exonerating him of Robinsons murder. Potter is released, and Injun Joe escapes through a window in the courtroom. The court case isnt Toms last encounter with Injun Joe, however. In the final part of the novel, he and Becky (newly reunited) get lost in one of the caves. Here, Tom stumbles across his archenemy. Escaping his clutches and finding his way out, Tom manages to alert the townspeople, who lock up the cave while leaving Injun Joe inside. Our hero ends up ​happy, however, as he and Huck discover a box of gold (that once belonged to Injun Joe), and the money is invested for them. Tom finds happiness and  Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã‚  much to his distress  Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã‚  Huck finds respectability by being adopted. The Takeaway Although Tom is, in the end, victorious, Twains plot and characters are so believable and realistic that the reader cannot help but worry for the easy-go-lucky boy (Tom) even though he rarely worries for himself. In Huckleberry Finn, Twain created a wonderful and enduring character, a chipper poor boy who hates nothing more than respectability and being sivilised and who wants nothing more than to be out on his river. Tom Sawyer is both a wonderful childrens book and a book perfect for adults who still are children at heart. Never dull, always funny, and sometimes poignant, it is a classic novel from a truly great writer.

Homeschooling A Beneficial Alternative - 1177 Words

Homeschooling: a Beneficial Alternative â€Å"Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration,† are the words of Thomas Edison whom, after having his teacher claim he was not teachable, was taken out of school to be homeschooled by his mother. After some radical accounts of homeschooling gone wrong, Americans currently tend to believe this form of education is of lesser quality than to that compared of public schooling. However, this alternative option is actually a plausible choice and in some areas, could even be considered more beneficial in regards to the long run. Homeschooling has come a long way, and with the support of the government, it has offered a better choice for Americans that feel that the public school system can’t provide everything their children need. Assisted by online resources and ready-made homeschooling curriculum, homeschooling has become a popular choice with the number of students learning at home growing. Recently, many educated and qualified parents have been questioning the methods used by the public school system to teach their kids and have taken matters into their own hands. In 2008 the Californian government took measures insuring that the children being homeschooled would receive a quality education and enforced that all parents have the proper credentials to teach their children at home (Pacific Justice Institute-Michelle Malkin). These parents believe that by taking their children out of the public schoolShow MoreRelatedAdvantages and Disadvantages of Homeschooling1749 Words   |  7 PagesHomeschooling In today’s society, homeschooling is looked down upon. Many think the students involved will lack social skills. Some people are against it because they think it gives younger children a sense of authority by being able to plan their own schooling. Others are opposed to homeschooling just because it is uncommon in society and they do no want to be outcasts. To home school a child it does require much more attention and time than traditional schooling, but the results prove it can beRead More Home Schooling Essays1184 Words   |  5 PagesAmericans. . But what exactly is the best form of education. Homeschooling has gradually made its way into the education field as an acceptable and controversial form of education. Homeschooling can simply be defined as educating children at home or the community rather than at school (Withrow, 1999; Cromwell, 1998; Lines, 1995). An alternative definition would be, parents choosing the schooling for their children (What is Homeschooling, 200 0). Read MoreThe Pros and Cons of Homeschooling1182 Words   |  5 PagesHomeschooling has long been an alternate method for parents to educate their children. Homeschooling is a method where a child is being schooled at home by their parents, relatives or private tutors to educate their children from pre-k to 12th grade. Basically their whole childhood to their early adulthood. Homeschooling should be avoided by parents because it can cause their children to have a difficult time integrating into society because they have extremely limited interaction with their ownRead MoreHomeschooling1010 Words   |  5 PagesHomeschooling is an education choice that allows parents to educate their children at home, but the efficiency of this system is questionable. â€Å"Advocates say home schooling is the best way to assure a high-quality education and want it exempted from federal and state accountability requirements. †¦. And school officials complain that when home schooling doesnt wor k, parents â€Å"dump† their children back in the public schools, which are then blamed for the home-schoolers poor performance† (Home SchoolingRead MoreHome Education Vs. Public Schools Essay949 Words   |  4 Pagesthat the school offers have some time allocated for physical education and sports and also have breaks in-between for meals. Recently, however, homeschooling is on the rise in most parts of the world. For so many years this system of education was a reserve for the royals who were not allowed to freely mingle with children of other citizens. Homeschooling also known as home education refers to the education of the children inside their homes as opposed to a formal setting of a private or public schoolRead MoreHomeschooling On The Adjustment Of College Students917 Words   |  4 PagesHomeschooling In recent years is very common to hear the term homeschooling on television or in places near our homes, as more and more parents who do not agree with the form of education that takes place in schools. But what is special about homeschooling? Cynthia K. Drenoysky states on her article. The Impact Of Homeschooling On The Adjustment Of College Students, that homeschooling in a good education alternative to public school that has been increasing since the 1970s (Drenosky). After soRead MoreHomeschooling Is Becoming A Method Of Education1127 Words   |  5 Pages Recent statistics indicate that homeschooling is increasingly becoming a method of education that is accepted and trendy. Homeschooling is now a fashionable choice for many of the young professional looking for the best education for their children. However, the question that arises is whether this form of education is right for our children. For parents, making the decision of instructing their children from home is not easy. The topic of homeschooling is controversial and involves issuesRead MoreEssay on Homeschooling1603 Words   |  7 PagesHomeschooling The definition of homeschooling is to instruct a pupil in an educational program outside of established schools (www.Dictionary.com). Homeschooling is a good alternative to public schools because of certain religious issues, standardized test success, and variety of options for homeschool students, but in some states homeschoolers are having trouble with the school system. Homeschooling has been on the rise in the United States and its popularity continues to grow amongRead More Homeschooling Pros and Cons Essay1009 Words   |  5 PagesHomeschooling Pros and Cons Homeschooling is a rising alternative in children’s education. As with any other major movement there have been doubts and debates as well as support and promotion for this educational approach. Homeschooling was once the norm in society before there was a public school system. But the parents involved in homeschooling feel very strongly about the positive outcomes that it has brought about in the lives and success of their children. It has once again surfaced and becomeRead MoreThe Culture Of The American Society903 Words   |  4 Pagesmost recent counter-culture that is becoming popular among American society is homeschooling. Homeschooling is an â€Å"alternative form of education in which children are instructed at home rather than at a traditional public or private school† In homeschooling, parents, guardians, or tutors become the teachers themselves and let the computer teach their children the material they would learn at a regular school. Homeschooling is a co unter-culture because it conflicts with the student actively interacting

Jane Austens View of Marriage in Pride and Prejudice Essays

Jane Austens View of Marriage in Pride and Prejudice It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want if a wife This comment is humorous and satirical, but holds an underlying truth. The fact that Jane Austen opens the novel with such a comment on marriage evidences the importance of the theme in the book. Indeed the novel is all about marriage in society. Austen lived in a time when marriage was the only way out for some women, or they would be forced to become a governess and lose their independence. The way that this opening sentence is out provides another theme, satire. Austen sees the following marriages that she writes on as amusing but they are still†¦show more content†¦The fact that Mr Bennet knows that his marriage is unsuccessful is important. We know that he is conscious of it, as he warns Elizabeth against an unequal marriage, My child, let me not have the grief of seeing you unable to respect your partner in life This shows us that Mr Bennet knows he made a mistake marrying the prettiest girl all those years ago, and he wants to make sure that his favourite daughter doesnt make the same mistake. The marriage of Charlotte Lucas and Mr Collins is one that Austen sees as an average one. It is similar to some of those at the time. It is most certainly a marriage of convenience. Charlotte is very cynical about marriage and love. She believes that happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance Jane Austen criticises Charlottes lack of romance and idealism, through Elizabeth but underlying that we know she understands her motives for marriage. Charlotte also says that a woman must let a man know that shes interested to make sure she snags him. She advises Elizabeth that Jane does this to ensure a marriage to Bingley. Charlotte is obviously not speaking from experience, because at 27 year old, she is practically an old maid and on the shelf. Nobody wants her, and soon she will be forced to become a governess if she cant find a husband soon. After Collins proposes to Elizabeth, Charlotte, knowing she needs a husband, jumps straight in with her tactics. She doesnt however treadShow MoreRelated Views on Pride, Prejudice and Marriage in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice5150 Words   |  21 PagesViews on Pride, Prejudice and Marriage in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice Pride pride n., v., 1. high (or too high) opinion of ones own dignity, importance, worth, etc. 2. the condition or feeling of being proud. 3. a noble sense of what is due to oneself or ones position or character; self respect; self esteem. prejudice n., v., 1. an opinion In the novel by Jane Austen, displays a severe contrast between Elizabeth and Darcy in the story. Jane Austen does thisRead MoreThe Influence of Regency England in Pride and Prejudice1604 Words   |  7 Pagesfamiliarity [with those below in social rank was] a degradation† (137). One of Regency England’s most beloved writers, Jane Austen, continued the tradition of casting literature as a reflection of contemporary society’s biases. Her novels brim with indicators of Regency England’s preconceptions. The characters in Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice, seek economic security through marriage, and cast a critical eye on those who divert themselves with lesser, frivolous pursuits, resulting in their effortsRead MorePride and Prejudice Values Juxtaposed Letters to Alice1228 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Pride and Prejudice† and â€Å"Letters to Alice† contains many similarities yet some obvious differences even when considering the fact that they were written hundreds of years apart. Both texts pro vide strong perspectives on a variety of issues and are very blunt in their approach. The key issue throughout both novels is the ideology of marriage in the sense of whether one should marry for love or financial stability and standing. Both novels are written in an epistolary format providing a differentRead MoreJane Austen’s Novel Pride and Prejudice Essay874 Words   |  4 Pagesmain theme of an advantageous marriage for the English novelist, Jane Austen. Her realism, biting irony and social commentary have gained her historical importance among scholars and critics (Southam). Austen’s major novels, including Pride and Prejudice, were composed between the years 1795-1815. During those twenty years England was at the height of its power facing many historical landmarks (Thomson). It is no coincidence that Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice, coincides directly with theRead More Women and Marriage in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice Essay examples663 Wor ds   |  3 PagesWomen and Marriage in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice And they lived happily ever after... Or did they? Pride and Prejudice, a captivating novel written by Jane Austen, is the story of Elizabeth and her adventure challenging society and ending up deep in true love. Pride and Prejudice takes place in a town outside of London called Hertfordshire, where the reader follows Elizabeth, her friends, and her family as they search for love in the nineteenth century. The author writes of ElizabethsRead More Explore Jane Austen’s attitude to marriage in Pride and Prejudice1671 Words   |  7 PagesExplore Jane Austen’s attitude to marriage in Pride and Prejudice Looking at the social, historical and cultural context In the 19th century when Austen wrote ‘Pride and Prejudice’, the way in which marriage was viewed was very different. It would have been expected of a young woman to find a ‘suitable’ partner for marriage before they were thirty, as after this they could be seen as an embarrassment to their family. By suitable, it does not mean in the way in which marriage is viewedRead MoreThe Austen Marriage1601 Words   |  7 PagesThe females in Pride and Prejudice have their moral values reflected in their marriage. They each have a predetermined standard – whether it is love or monetary gain, or superficial or complex – of what constitutes a marital relationship. According to Zimmerman, â€Å"the character from whose point of view much of the action is seen is Elizabeth† (67). She is either the one being married or is the one giving opinion on another’s marriage. Jane Austen utilizes Elizabeth as the crux of the plot’s movementRead MoreClass In Pride And Prejudice Analysis844 Words   |  4 Pagesembodies† (17). Yet, while Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice sets out to challenge societal misgivings, it also suggests hints at a reinforcement of a patriarchal and capitalistic hierarchy. Therefore, one must ask if Austen’s work is readily attempting to challenge society an d transform it to match the more feminine and self-aware conceptions presented in the text through its protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet, and her experience. Ultimately, does Austen in Pride and Prejudice reinforce or challenge ‘class’Read MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1418 Words   |  6 PagesMarriage is a fundamental topic in Jane Austen’s famous novel, Pride and Prejudice. Readers become invested in the lives of the Bennet sisters who are constantly dreaming of relationships. Still unknown, however, is Austen’s reason for writing this novel that is so extremely concentrated on marriage. Some critics believe that Austen wrote the novel to portray how different social classes affected the lives of women such as the Bennet sisters. Others, however, believe that the novel was writtenRead MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1211 Words   |  5 PagesJane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was greatly influenced by the time period in which it was w ritten, This novel follows the story of Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters as they are faced with marriage proposals. The marriage and roles of women in this time period are shown throughout this story. During the time Austen was writing this novel, a woman’s role for her family changed. Daughters started to become a way for their family to achieve more money. Because their family depended on this financial

Trust in Technology Enhanced Learning

Question: Discuss about the Trust in Technology Enhanced Learning. Answer: Introduction Place of Trust in Technology Enhanced Learning The business and learning systems have fully embraced Technology Enhanced Learning. This therefore necessitates the building of a firm foundation in trust since most of the communication is virtual. Technology Enhanced Learning has benefitted its users because of its effectiveness in relation to finances, time and eliminating the problems of distance. This therefore calls for the need to enhance and build a trust in relationships between the parties concerned as this overcomes the issues of a lacking face-to-face communication (Short, 2014). Context The cultural authenticity of this text is informed from the development of the virtual world in todays global activities. This text is historically extracted from the United Kingdom of Great Britain. In view of the extent to which the virtual world misses the place of trust in relationships and the little research that has been dug into TEL, this article is set to align these and inform the involved parties. This is especially so in learning institutions and in the workplace. It addresses the need for further research to be employed in TEL and its reliance on trust. This will enhance the effectiveness of TEL and bring on board a whole new level of understanding that is capable of bringing a revolution. Taken from the literal understanding in which this text fits, any communication that lacks face-to-face effects such as the virtual communication employed by TEL, undermines the formation and development of trust in relationships. Structure It is important to note that the writer has developed her logic from the level where TEL seems to affect trust and the redundancies that have reduced its effectiveness. She goes on to build into the importance of TEL despite its limitations. Style The author has brought out the importance of trust in the virtual world in clarity of thought and experience and established credibility in doing so. This authenticity in experience in operating TEL under SMEs suits the discussion she presents. For all involved in distance learning and business operations, trust is indispensable and this text is therefore appropriate to them. Evaluation Importance of Trust and its Establishment The author has clearly brought the meaning of trust and how its presence or absence in the learning process affects relationships and effectiveness in learning. Defining trust as the deliberate willingness to show points of weakness and vulnerability to someone whose behaviour you cannot control. When a trainer yields some control, he/she is able to create a strong bond with the trainees as this makes them feel part of the process and needed rather than just around to take instructions. Through the learning process, students develop a need for trust and the process described above helps trust and relationships to form and grow among the trainees and between the trainer and the trainees. For this to happen, a student friendly and student-cantered environment has to be created. Thus, the author effectively covers the issue of importance of trust and how to develop and grow it in learning relationships. Trust in the Virtual World The author is able to show the development of the virtual world traceable since the 1990s with the development of network communication technology. This resulted to distance working which then led to virtual organizations due to the decrease in face-to-face communication. The writer asserts the difficulty in managing people in different locations and working together. This will be affected by a dynamic change in organizational thinkingespecially the culture and leadership style Different organizations have been known to undertake different leadership style inclusive of authoritative and supportive. In view of the virtual challenge of trust, organizations need to employ the supportive style where the participative style generates trust. Further, the members are intrinsically motivated to committed participation leading to success of the organization. Designers of interactive systems useful in the virtual world need to understand that technology is not enough but needs to be enhanced by the social aspect where trust is built. This will in turn engage communication skills and collaborative participatory activities. Trust and relationships must therefore be built in the virtual world because many may be reluctant to deal with people they have not met face-to-face. Trust Issues in TEL The article has clearly shown the issues that affect Technology Enhanced Learning and the solutions to be employed. This is because the lack of expectation that revolves around TEL inhibits development of trust and prevents students from establishing common ground. One main reason for this is that virtual communication lacks physical cues that affect interpersonal interaction that bring trust, warmth and attentiveness. Teamwork can also be enhanced where partners have previously interacted and built trust. This means that they are able to overcome the virtual issues, tackle problems together and take responsibility. Trust is also enhanced by interaction in learning process where students are able to learn more and trainers gain credibility. Virtuality also creates the problem of a tasking rather than relational relationship. TEL also creates isolation among students as there are no face-to-face meet ups. Conclusion It is therefore clear that trust is indispensible in any interaction, be it virtual or real. Though the article may not have addressed all the issues that concern building trust in TEL or offered all solutions, he/she has created faith in the ability of the system to succeed and enhance learning and business. References Short, H. (2014). A critical evaluation of the contribution of trust to effective Technology Enhanced Learning in the workplace: A literature review. British Journal of Educational Technology, 45(6), 1014-1022. doi:10.1111/bjet.12187