Read Harder 2017 Its Time To Talk About Micro Presses

Read Harder 2017 Its Time To Talk About Micro Presses Trying to figure out what, exactly, is a micro press? Don’t worry you’re not alone. By their nature small, indie, low-budget micro presses don’t get as much press or attention as they deserve. What information is available can be vague at best and contradictory at worst (particularly when you’re trying to find the difference between a micro- and a chapbook press).  The whole thing will lead you down a bottomless internet rabbit hole.  AND I LOVE INTERNET RABBIT HOLES!  Here are some of the things most people seem to agree on: The main criteria is that the books are published in limited releases no more than 300 copies for handmade chapbooks and 500 for spine bound (glued). They are run by one-two people, usually out of their homes University Presses are not micro presses Chapbook Presses are closely associated with poetry, but they also publish all kinds of fiction, essays and even comics. OH! And did you know that Roxane Gay friend of the site, Goddess of Twitter and the author who set this task founded her own micropress? It’s called Tiny Hardcore Press. Still have questions? I definitely did so I reached out to the booksellers responsible for curating the chapbook section at one of my favorite independent bookstores: McNally Jackson on Prince Street in Manhattan (If you’re in the area, you really need to check it out in person. Photographs don’t always do chapbooks justice). Laurel and Julia were nice enough to answer all my questions. The Read Harder task is: Read a book published by a micro press. There’s a lot of information on chapbooks online, but not as much about micro presses.  I was wondering what is the difference (if there is one) between a micro press and a chapbook publisher? In my understanding a micro press will publish mostly or only chapbooks in very limited runs, and rarely have any full time staff. But I’m not sure that there is a big difference between a small press, a chapbook publisher and a micro press. Or a lot of definitive rules. How long has McNally Jackson had a chapbook section? And what goes into it? The chapbook section was started in 2013, after McNally alum Sarah Gerard had the idea. She asked Landon Mitchell who manages the literature section today to help her set it up. For the most part it has been under Landon and the poetry and art manager, Carly Dashiell’s care, and they made it what it is today in terms of the presses we carry and all the unique stuff you can find. Usually we will put the book in the chapbook section if it is handmade, stitched or shorter than a typical book of poetry, chapbooks are usually around 15 to 30 pages. Of course, we have fiction in the chapbook section as well, those usually contain a couple of stories. Sometimes literary magazines end up in the chapbook section, especially if they have been made in a limited run and visually fit in with the chapbooks. Some examples are No, Dear, Bone Bouquet and Ugly Duckling’s 66. How do you find new titles and publishers? I had a lot of favorite presses that I wanted to bring in when I began managing the chapbook section this fall. Beyond that I would look online for new presses. Id check places like Entropy’s where to submit list, interviews with small presses by friends and colleagues, and Id look up poets whose work I admire and find out what presses have published their work. Can you tell us some of  your favorite things about working with chapbooks and micro presses?  And what you think they offer readers that is different from larger, mainstream publishers? I think the more personal relationships you build with the editors of these presses is really lovely, and having worked for a small press myself, I know that the people who work there really care about the work they do and the beautiful books they are putting into the world. I am also so charmed by the design and visual aspect of chapbooks, each time we get some new ones in there is something exciting and unique to discover, and some books it can be difficult to decide if they belong in art, chapbooks or graphic novels. I think that ambiguity is exciting and it usually means that the book has been very carefully created and is intended to be a precious object. You mentioned the design and visual aspects of the books are there any presses that stand out to you in terms of quality and/or being beautifully/artistically made? Greying Ghost, Double Cross, and Slope Editions all make high quality books with great details. Please Light Up by Ted Powers from Slope Editions is a serial poem created as a group of little cards that come in a cylindrical box, meant to be read a new way each time. Greying Ghost has a very cool book made entirely out of recycled comics from the 50’s and 80’s that I am a big fan of, it’s called Grit Lords Vol 1. Double Cross uses the most fantastic paper and has lovely designs. One of their books, I Only Thought of the Farm by Lisa Ciccarello, can be folded out and hung on the wall as a poster. Swimming Pool by Jennifer Firestone has the most fitting pool colored turquoise cover with this intricate imprinted design in lighter blue. Is there an author you discovered in a chapbook who later went on to a bigger publisher? I know Sarah Gerard, who I mentioned started the chapbook section at McNally, published a chapbook with Guillotine, and later she went on to publish a novel (Binary Star) with Two Dollar Radio and this spring she has a collection of essays (Sunshine State: Essays) with Harper Perennial. In general I think it’s pretty typical to publish a chapbook or two first, and then go on to publish something full length, especially if you’re a poet. Belladonna*, which I mentioned earlier, is great at publishing fresh voices, they make chaplets (a simple chapbook, made from folded and stapled paper) for all of their readings, featuring what the poets are planning to read. The chaplets are a way for poets to have a publication early in their career or while theyre working on a manuscript. My last question one of the things that makes McNally Jackson so unique is their commitment to international and translated books. With that in mind, can you recommend any micro presses which publish translations? Does such a thing exist? Yes! One of the translated chapbooks we’ve sold at McNally that I love is His Days Go By the way Her Years by Ye Mimi, translated by Steve Bradbury from Anamalous Press (poetry). Ugly Duckling and Belladonna* also do translated chapbooks, and I’m sure a few of the other presses I mentioned do as well. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. Thanks for asking us to do this, Im excited about your project! So now that you have some background on micro presses and an idea of what to expect below are some recommendations: Laurel and Julia recommend  Dancing Girl, Belladonna*, Ink Press Productions, Greying Ghost, Double Cross, Bateau Press, Bottlecap Press, Guillotine. Roxane Gay recommends  Jellyfish Highway, Civil Coping Mechanisms, Dancing Girl Press, Tyrant Books, Publishing Genius, Big Lucks Tara’s  recommends  Future Tense Books, Yeti Press (comics!), Ugly Duckling, Rose Metal Press, Tyrant Books Subscribe to Events to receive news and announcements about sitewide events, including daylong and weeklong bookish celebrations, as well as announcements of our Best Of and Anticipated  books. Thank you for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox.

Kodaks Potential Niche for Digital Picture Frames Free Essay Example, 2750 words

Kodak products are bought both by individual customers on a small scale and are also large-scale investments by companies particularly health care firms. Though Kodak health imaging products and services are not faced with the slump, it is the imaging supplies to the general customers which are resulting in a decline. Film developing is almost obsolete and therefore is no longer generating revenue from that sector. Inflation is making a huge impact on customers when making decisions to invest in cameras and Kodak being highly priced than Sony or Canon often loses the race in this regard. Also, Canon and Nikon's products are far more popular in the photojournalist market and Kodak also cannot win the race their too. Since Kodak has to invest a lot to develop digital technology, one of its key strategies was to use its profits from film sales to invest in research and development. Since profits from film sales are low, Kodak needs to finance digital research and development from other areas. These also means that Kodak is feeling the crunch financially from the decreasing cash flows from a film to the huge investments made in digital to the scant profits made from the digital segment which was supposed to be the new cornerstone of the company. We will write a custom essay sample on Kodak's Potential Niche for Digital Picture Frames or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Since these photo frames are multi-purpose and can display slideshows they provide value to users who normally have to buy multiple frames to display their precious photographs and thus are economical. It is the changing trends in the social environment which can greatly help Kodak coming up with a new product and marketing it effectively. The greatest change in social trends has been the birth of internet communities and frequent sharing of images. This has led to the bursting growth of digital photo sharing with uploading and decreases the need for photo development on film. Kodak tried to capitalize on this trend like its competitors but was not extremely successful but it should know that if it sticks to its slogan and makes digital photography even more convenient than a pencil than it can again be an icon.

The Fundamental Qualities Of What It Means Essay - 2527 Words

Defining the fundamental qualities of what it means to be who we are has always been a central theme in philosophical thought. While we are clearly not the strongest, the fastest, the biggest, or even the most long-lived, we have a strong tendency to believe that we are set aside from, and often even better than, other animal species that we share this planet with. The most critical differences between the human species and other animals can be found in non-physical qualities that we possess; namely, our capacity to have free will. Free will is the ability to choose between different courses of action in a way that is not constrained by â€Å"fate.† The possession of free will entails responsibility, accountability, guilt, praise, etc – qualities that largely define our social lives. If we had absolutely no choice in the matter, it would be quite silly to react to your cheating boyfriend with resent or to be grateful to a friend who helps you with the homework that you forgot to do. The problem with free will lies in such sentiment, reflecting the determinism thesis. It would be irrational to jump to the conclusion that we are independent of the causal laws that govern the rest of the universe. Determinism is the view that all events are inevitable and that our actions and behaviors is a part of a larger causal chain. In considering scientific observation of the laws of nature, the determinism thesis sounds just as plausible as the free will thesis -but how can we both have aShow MoreRelatedWhat Is Wrong With Descartes Causal Proof Of God1252 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is Wrong with Descartes’ Causal Proof of God ReneÃŒ  Descartes was born on 31 March 1596 in La Haye, France; a city which was later renamed as â€Å"Descartes† in his honor. his early life was not well documented until 1960, but it is known that he was familiar with mathematics and philosophy (Hatfield). Sometimes described as â€Å"The Father of Modern Philosophy†, not only considered a great philosopher, but also a great mathematician, contributed greatly for both areas – Cartesian geometry, for instanceRead MoreA Good Life Is A Central Goal Of Humanity979 Words   |  4 Pagesbased on what the individuals’ primary needs. However, because of financial shortage, health issues, and lack of communication qualities of a good life are interpreted in a compliance with requests. With the primary needs met, having a good life simply comes down to objects that people desire. In doing so, they must find the fundamentals of humanity and overlook the ideal person the world want to make to find truly a good l ife for oneself socially, morally even spiritually. The quality of a goodRead MoreQuality Management Assessment Summary1679 Words   |  7 PagesQuality Management Assessment Summary HCS/451 Health Care Quality Management and Outcomes Analysis Quality Management Quality management is a systematic and continuous process that organizations use to deliver products and services that meet or exceed customer expectations. Quality management in healthcare has evolved over the years to address increased demands from consumers related to the quality of care and services, as well as to address problems in patients’ outcomes. TheRead MoreThe Patient-Centered Medical Home: Highlights and Important Details1310 Words   |  5 PagesAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the â€Å"patient centered medical home† (PCMH) or â€Å"primary care medial home† is the country’s primary care system. The goal, aAccording to the AgencyAHRQ, the goal is to provide â€Å"high- quality, accessible, efficient health care for all Americans.† The mission of the medical home model is to â€Å"improve health care in Americans by transforming how primary care is organized and delivered.† However, this starts by defining w hat exactly a medical home is. —IitRead MoreHow Advertising Has Changed Since The World Of Pay Per Click Advertising1362 Words   |  6 Pagesappear at the top of the page, and, in case there are multiple ads, are ranked based on a composite ranking score Google calls â€Å"Quality Score†. This score is determined by a combination of keywords used, maximum cost per click (the amount an advertiser is willing to spend for one click on their ad), the relevancy of the landing page, and the quality of the ad (â€Å"AdWords Fundamentals: Exam Study†). Another option is to use the Google Display Network, which allows ads to show up inside some websites as opposedRead MoreExamination And Investigation Of Cyber Forensic Investigation Process Essay965 Words   |  4 PagesAbstract In December 2013, over 40 million credit cards were stolen from nearly 2000 Target stores by accessing data on point of sale (POS) systems. This paper will explore known issues in the Target breach. From what is known about the Target breach, there were multiple factors that led to data loss: vendors were subject to phishing attacks, network segregation was lacking, point of sale systems were vulnerable to memory scraping malware and detection strategies employed by Target failed. A possibleRead MoreLeadership Definitions Of Leadership As A Leader1224 Words   |  5 Pageswith many responsibilities and duties which can be both challenging and rewarding at the same time but this depends on how well the individual handles themselves in these situations. 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Dictionaries offer many definitions forRead MoreWhat Is an Educated Filipino1418 Words   |  6 PagesSummary: What is an educated Filipino? -Francisco Benitez- What is an educated Filipino and what qualities should distinguish him today? The conception of education and of what an educated man is varies in response to fundamental changes in the details and aims of society. In our country and during this transitional stage in our national life, what are the qualities which an educated man should possess? Great changes have taken place in the nature of our social life during the last forty yearsRead MoreAn Analysis of Ellen Condiffe Lagemann’s Article on What Can College Mean? Lessons from the Bard Prison Initiative777 Words   |  4 PagesIt may come as no surprise to some that a quality education has the power to provide, for those who seek it, the opportunity of personal and professional transformation. 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Basic Sentence Structures And Samples Free Essays

Using the four basic sentence structures in a written work is very important, first as a means of clarity of expression, and second as a means of adding dimension and variety to a written work. For instance, using only simple sentences such as â€Å"The woman eats everything she sees. † will not give continuity to a written work, and will make the work sound and look like an enumeration of things, just a list of everything with nothing to link each of these together. We will write a custom essay sample on Basic Sentence Structures And Samples or any similar topic only for you Order Now On the outset, it will make the written work ambiguous or difficult to understand. There should be a variety of sentences in a written work, so noticeably, if for instance, the above sentence is followed by a compound sentence like, â€Å"She eats everything but she also chooses what to eat based on her mood. † the above simple sentence acquires another dimension and thus, more clarity. Now if to these two sentences another sentence is added, a complex sentence, like, â€Å"She opens her mouth every time something edible is in sight until the item is too big for her mouth. † the idea expressed in the first two sentences becomes even clearer, hence, the function of clarity; and with the introduction of new ideas in the third sentence, more variety is achieved. Finally, with the addition of a compound-complex sentence, such as, â€Å"When she is full, the woman’s stomach distends immensely, and she stops eating. † the ideas come full circle and maximum clarity is achieved. The above sentences may therefore be written as follows. â€Å"The woman eats everything she sees. She eats everything but she also chooses what to eat based on her mood. She opens her mouth every time something edible is in sight until the item is too big for her mouth. When she is full, the woman’s stomach distends immensely, and she stops eating. † How to cite Basic Sentence Structures And Samples, Papers

Tobias George Smollett Essays - Picaresque Novels, Tobias Smollett

Tobias George Smollett Tobias George Smollett (1721-1771), Scottish novelist, was born in Dalquhurn, Dumbarton County Scotland. Smollett was born beneath a plane tree at Dalquharn House on the family estate of Bon hill in the Vale of Leven, near the village of Renton, Dumbartonshire. At fourteen Smollett was apprenticed to a Glasgow doctor. He studied medicine at Glasgow University and moved to London in 1740. He was a ship's surgeon in the Carragena expedition against the Spanish in the West Indies, and lived in Jamaica until 1744 when he returned to London and renewed his earlier attempts to stage a play he had written The Regicide, but still met with no success. 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 of Humphry Clinker (1771), has become a classic. It is a story, told in a series of letters, about the travels of a family through England and Scotland. Smollett was troubled by lack of money. He spent his last years in poor health, and died in Livorno, Italy, on October 21, 1771. Two years later, Johnson and Boswell stayed at Cameron House with Smollett's cousin James, who was preparing to erect a Tuscan column in Smollett's memory at Renton. Johnson helped compose the Latin obituary on the plinth, and the column stood in what subsequently became the playground of a school. Some of Tobias Smollett's work consists of The Tears of Scotland (1746). Poem on the defeat of the Scots at the Battle of Culloden. The Adventures of Roderick Random ( 1748 ). Gil Blas. Translation of LeSage's novel. ( 1749 ). The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle ( 1751 ). The Adventures of Ferdinand, Count Fathom ( 1753 ). Don Quixote. Translation of Cervantes' novel. ( 1755). The Adventures of Sir Lancelot Greaves ( 1760 ). Travels through France and Italy ( 1766 ). The History and Adventures of an Atom ( 1769 ). The Expedition of Humphrey Clinker ( 1771 ). Some critics regard Tobias Smollet as more satirist meaning that a work of literature or art that, by inspiring laughter, contempt, or horror, seeks to correct the follies and abuses it uncovers. I don't know what that means though. This is a paragraph from Tobias Smollett's book The Adventures of Roderick Random. Roderick Random is the orphaned, unwanted grandson of a severe old Scots magistrate, exposed by his grandfather's known neglect to the malice of the community. His principal enemies are the schoolmaster and the young heir. It is not long before a deus ex machina appears in the form of a sailor uncle: He was a strongly built man, somewhat bandy-legged, with a neck like that of a bull, and a face which had withstood the most obstinate assaults of the weather. His dress consisted of a soldier's coat, altered for him by the ship's tailor, a striped flannel jacket, a pair of red breeches japanned with pitch, clean grey worsted stockings, large silver buckles that covered theree-fourths of his shoues, a silver laced hat whosecrown overlooked the brim about an inch and a half, a black bob wig in buckle, a check shirt, a silk hankerchief, a henger with a brass handle girded on his thigh by a tarnished laced belt, and a good oak plant under his arm. I picked this paragraph because here Smollett is describing the hero of the story Roderick Random. I believe it is important to have a brief if not full description of characters, so that you can imagine seeing them maybe even being there, in your mind, while they are doing what is described in the book. Tobias George Smollett Essays - Picaresque Novels, Tobias Smollett Tobias George Smollett Tobias George Smollett (1721-1771), Scottish novelist, was born in Dalquhurn, Dumbarton County Scotland. Smollett was born beneath a plane tree at Dalquharn House on the family estate of Bon hill in the Vale of Leven, near the village of Renton, Dumbartonshire. At fourteen Smollett was apprenticed to a Glasgow doctor. He studied medicine at Glasgow University and moved to London in 1740. He was a ship's surgeon in the Carragena expedition against the Spanish in the West Indies, and lived in Jamaica until 1744 when he returned to London and renewed his earlier attempts to stage a play he had written The Regicide, but still met with no success. 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 of Humphry Clinker (1771), has become a classic. It is a story, told in a series of letters, about the travels of a family through England and Scotland. Smollett was troubled by lack of money. He spent his last years in poor health, and died in Livorno, Italy, on October 21, 1771. Two years later, Johnson and Boswell stayed at Cameron House with Smollett's cousin James, who was preparing to erect a Tuscan column in Smollett's memory at Renton. Johnson helped compose the Latin obituary on the plinth, and the column stood in what subsequently became the playground of a school. Some of Tobias Smollett's work consists of The Tears of Scotland (1746). Poem on the defeat of the Scots at the Battle of Culloden. The Adventures of Roderick Random ( 1748 ). Gil Blas. Translation of LeSage's novel. ( 1749 ). The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle ( 1751 ). The Adventures of Ferdinand, Count Fathom ( 1753 ). Don Quixote. Translation of Cervantes' novel. ( 1755). The Adventures of Sir Lancelot Greaves ( 1760 ). Travels through France and Italy ( 1766 ). The History and Adventures of an Atom ( 1769 ). The Expedition of Humphrey Clinker ( 1771 ). Some critics regard Tobias Smollet as more satirist meaning that a work of literature or art that, by inspiring laughter, contempt, or horror, seeks to correct the follies and abuses it uncovers. I don't know what that means though. This is a paragraph from Tobias Smollett's book The Adventures of Roderick Random. Roderick Random is the orphaned, unwanted grandson of a severe old Scots magistrate, exposed by his grandfather's known neglect to the malice of the community. His principal enemies are the schoolmaster and the young heir. It is not long before a deus ex machina appears in the form of a sailor uncle: He was a strongly built man, somewhat bandy-legged, with a neck like that of a bull, and a face which had withstood the most obstinate assaults of the weather. His dress consisted of a soldier's coat, altered for him by the ship's tailor, a striped flannel jacket, a pair of red breeches japanned with pitch, clean grey worsted stockings, large silver buckles that covered theree-fourths of his shoues, a silver laced hat whosecrown overlooked the brim about an inch and a half, a black bob wig in buckle, a check shirt, a silk hankerchief, a henger with a brass handle girded on his thigh by a tarnished laced belt, and a good oak plant under his arm. I picked this paragraph because here Smollett is describing the hero of the story Roderick Random. I believe it is important to have a brief if not full description of characters, so that you can imagine seeing them maybe even being there, in your mind, while they are doing what is described in the book.

Language in the Byzantine Empire

Language in the Byzantine Empire Constantinople, the new capital that Emperor Constantine developed in the East in the early fourth century CE, lay in a largely Greek-speaking area of the Roman Empire. That doesnt mean that before the Fall of Rome the emperors headquartered and the people living there were native Greek speakers or, even if they were, incompetent Latin speakers. Both languages, Greek and Latin, were part of the repertoire of the educated. Until recently, those who considered themselves educated might be native English speakers but could piece out a short passage of Latin in their literary reading and get by speaking French. Peter and Catherine the Great ushered in an era where the politically important, the nobility of Russia, knew the French language and literature as well as Russian. It was similar in the ancient world. Greek Culture Greek literature and themes dominated Roman writing until the mid-third century B.C., which is about a century after Alexander the Great had started the spread of Hellenism including the Greek Koine language throughout the vast areas that he had conquered. Greek was the language Roman aristocrats demonstrated to show their culture. They imported Greek pedagogues to teach their young. The important rhetorician of the first century BCE, Quintilian, advocated education in Greek  since Roman children would naturally learn Latin on their own. (Inst. Oratoria i.12-14) From the second century CE, it became common for the wealthy to send their already Greek-speaking, but native-Latin-speaking Roman sons to Athens, Greece for higher education. Latin Gaining in Popularity Before the division of the Empire first into the four parts known as the Tetrarchy under Diocletian in 293 CE and then into two (simply an Eastern and a Western section), the second century CE Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius wrote his meditations in Greek, following the affectations popular with philosophers. By this time, however, in the West, Latin had gained a certain cachet. A bit later, a contemporary of Constantine, Ammianus Marcellinus (c. 330-395 CE), from Antioch, Syria, but living in Rome, wrote his history not in his familiar Greek, but in Latin. The first century CE Greek biographer Plutarch went to Rome to learn the language better. (p. 85 Ostler, citing Plutarch Demosthenes 2) The distribution was such that Latin was the language of the people to the west and north of a dividing line beyond Thrace, Macedonia, and Epirus down to northern Africa west of western Cyrenaica. In rural areas, the uneducated would not have been expected to know Greek, and if their native language were something other than Latin it might be Aramaic, Syriac, Coptic, or some other ancient tongue they might not even have known Latin well. Likewise on the other side of the dividing line, but with Greek and Latin reversed In the East, they probably knew Greek in rural areas, to the exclusion of Latin, but in urban areas, like Constantinople, Nicomedia, Smyrna, Antioch, Berytus, and Alexandria, most people needed to have some command of both Greek and Latin. Latin helped one advance in the imperial and military service, but otherwise, it was more a formality than a useful tongue, beginning at the start of the fifth century. Last of the Romans The so-called Last of the Romans, Constantinople-based Emperor Justinian (r. 527-565), who was an Illyrian by birth, was a native Latin speaker. Living about a century after the Edward Gibbon-driven date of 476 for the Fall of Rome, Justinian made efforts to regain sections of the West lost to European barbarians. (Barbarian was a term the Greeks had used to mean non-Greek speakers and which the Romans adapted to mean those who spoke neither Greek nor Latin.) Justinian may have been trying to retake the Western Empire, but he had challenges closer to home  since neither Constantinople nor the provinces of the Eastern Empire were secure. There were also the famous Nika riots and a plague (see Lives of the Caesars). By his time, Greek had become the official language of the surviving section of the Empire, the Eastern (or later, Byzantine) Empire. Justinian had to publish his famous law code, the Corpus Iuris Civile in both Greek and Latin. Greeks vs Romans This sometimes confuses people who think the use of the Greek language in Constantinople means the inhabitants thought of themselves as Greeks, rather than as Romans. Particularly when arguing for a post-5th-century date for the Fall of Rome, some counter that by the time the Eastern Empire stopped legally requiring Latin, the inhabitants thought of themselves as Greeks, not Romans. Ostler asserts that the Byzantines referred to their language as romaika (Romanish) and that this term was in use until the 19th century. In addition, the people were known as Rumi a term obviously much closer to Roman than Greek. We in the West might think of them as non-Romans, but that is another story. By the time of Justinian, Latin was not the common tongue of Constantinople, although it was still an official language. The Roman people of the city spoke a form of Greek, a Koine. Sources Chapter 8 Greek in the Byzantine Empire: The Major Issues Greek: A History of the Language and its Speakers, Second Edition, by Geoffrey Horrocks; Wiley:  © 2010.The Latin Language, by L. R. Palmer; University of Oklahoma Press: 1987.Ad Infinitum: A Biography of Latin, by Nicholas Ostler; Walker: 2007.

Admissions Applications and the Parent Questionnaire

Admissions Applications and the Parent Questionnaire One aspect of the private school admission process is the completion of a formal  application, which includes both a student and a parent questionnaire. Many parents spend hours going over the student portion with their children, but the parent application needs ample attention, as well. This piece of information is a crucial part of the application, and is something that admission committees read  carefully. Heres what you need to know: The Purpose of the Parent Questionnaire This document may also be  known as the Parent Statement. The rationale for this series of questions is to have you, the parent or guardian, answer questions about your child. There is the understanding that you know your child better than any teacher or counselor, so your thoughts matter. Your answers should help the admissions staff get to know your child better. However, its important to be realistic about your child and remember that every child has both strengths and areas in which he or she can improve.   Answer the Questions Truthfully Dont paint a picture-perfect vision of your child. It important to be genuine and authentic. Some of the questions can be personal and probing. Be careful not to distort or avoid the facts. For example, when the school asks you to describe your childs character and personality, you need to do so succinctly yet honestly. If your child has been expelled or failed a year, you must address the issue forthrightly and honestly. The same goes for information related to educational accommodations, learning challenges, and emotional or physical challenges your child may experience. Just because you disclose information that may not be a glowing positive, doesnt mean that your child isnt a good fit for the school. At the same time, full explaining  the needs of your child can help the school to assess if they can provide the necessary accommodations to ensure success. The last thing you want to do is send your child to a school that cant meet your childs needs.   Make a Rough Draft of Your Answers Always print out a copy of the questionnaire or copy the questions into a document on your computer. Use this secondary place to write a rough draft of your answers to each question. Edit for coherence and clarity. Then put the document aside for twenty-four hours.  Look at it again a day or so later. Ask yourself how your answers will be interpreted by the admissions staff who do not know your child as you do. Have a trusted adviser or, if you have hired one, your educational consultant, review your answers. Then input your answers into the online portal (most schools require online applications these days) and submit along with the other documents. Write Your Own Answers Do not underestimate the importance of the Parent Questionnaire. Something that you may say in your answers could  resonate with the admissions staff and make them feel a connection to you and your family. Your answers might even tip the scale in your childs favor and help the school understand how they can play a primary role in your childs education, helping him or her succeed and achieve their best, both during the years attending the school and beyond. Take plenty of time to craft thoughtful, considered answers that accurately reflect you and your child. Do not have an assistant answer these questions for you. Even if you are a very busy CEO or a  single parent working full time and juggling multiple children, this one document is extremely important; make time to complete it. This is your childs future at stake. Things are not like they used to be decades ago when perhaps the mere fact that you were an important person would suffice to get your child admitted. The same is true for consultants. If you are working with a consultant, it is still important that your questionnaire, and your childs portion of the application (if he or she is old enough to complete one) should be genuine and from you. Most consultants would not write the responses for you, and you should question your consultant if he or she suggests this practice. The school will want to see evidence that you personally have tended to this questionnaire. It is one more indication to the school that you are a committed and involved partner with the school in your childs education. Many schools highly value the partnership with parents and family members, and investing your time in the parent questionnaire can show that youre dedicated to supporting your child and that you will be an involved parent.   Article edited by  Stacy Jagodowski