Sleep is for the Strong

Sleep is for the Strong This post is for the MIT students about to embark on finals week. Maybe you still have seventeen lectures to review and the exam is tomorrow morning and youre feeling overwhelmed. Maybe that problem isnt making sense no matter how many times you re-read it and youre really stressed out. Maybe youre planning on pulling an all-nighter tonight and to power through the final in the morning before crashing (I dont know anyone that does that). I cant really tell you how to best learn everything tonight because I dont know you or how you best study. But I can tell you that nearly everyone on campus is feeling the same way, even if they act tough and say they arent. Aside from those few classifiable geniuses, most of us are struggling just as much you are. And, as much as I love MIT, there are way too many people trying to one up each other with how few hours they slept or how many hours they studied. I want to see more transparency here. Know that your friends are struggling too and its okay for you to struggle as well. Head to gym after your first final and de-stress. Avoid the junky finals food and eat well. Take care of yourself. It may seem counterintuitive to take a break from studying, especially when theres so much material you havent covered yet and the exam is tomorrow morning. But go for a quick jog. Call up a friend or a family member and talk for a half hour. Watch an inspirational video. Taking a real, genuine, honest, break can recharge you and when you come back youd probably be able to study more efficiently than before. Perhaps just my voice isnt enough to get the message across. So I have here the voices of 45 other MITers from all walks of life. These quotes are brought to you by Sahar H. 17, founder of the Sleep is for the Strong  Documentary Campaign. She and her team have interviewed 45 MIT students and alumni, collecting their stories and hardships as well as their hopes for how we can improve student life on campus. Lets all think about these quotes as we go through finals week. “It’s okay to understand that everyone has their personal struggles, no matter how happy some people look. So, always hugging them, always reminding them how wonderful they are is also very important.”  -Aisha Wang “My PSET or exam was always on the back of my mind, and that really prevented me from really enjoying my free time.”  -Alissa Borshchencko “Emotions come first, relationships come first, friends family come first, your health comes first.”  -Alissa Borshchencko “[Let’s change] this whole attitude of one-upping each other, playing the game of ‘how many hours did you sleep last night?’ ‘I slept less’ and somehow that’s good. No, that’s terrible.”  -Alissa Borshchencko “I had to convince myself that… at some point, my health [and mental health] is essentially a lot more important than whatever grade I get.”  -Anahita Maghami “I’ve been told that I need to be more compassionate with myself.”  -Anthony McHugh “The idea of wasting time is a construction in my mind that’s probably not helping me in a positive way. There is taking advantage of your opportunities at MIT and there is knowing that the social and taking care of myself are also opportunities that I have! I’m learning that when I go and spend time with my friends, when I take a chance to relax, those are still things that are really beneficial to me. ”  -Anthony McHugh “Associating your self-worth with each little task can be incredibly damaging to your mental and emotional health.”  -Anthony McHugh “What’s dangerous is losing that perspective of my value as a person. That’s something that I wish that I could go back and tell myself and really help myself out in those moments. That’s something that I really want to work hard to make sure is not a part of my life going forward.“  -Anthony McHugh “I’ve taken up on the philosophy that as long as I’m satisfied with myself that I’ve learned the material well enough, I don’t really care what my grades will be.”  -Antonio Moreno “Let’s get rid of the stigma that you need to toughen up and deal with whatever problems you have on your own”  -Antonio Moreno “When I don’t get enough sleep, I’m useless.”  -Ashley Smith “If in the back of your mind you’re always stressed out and you always have to be working, even if you take a break, it’s not a real break; because a part of you is stressed out and guilt-tripping you for taking that break. That was definitely a very major problem that I experienced at MIT. Whenever I would take a break, there was a part of me that said this is valuable time that I should spend working, and that just really decreased the quality of the break. It meant that I couldn’t actually properly relax. The fact that I couldn’t take a proper break meant that when I did work, it was less efficient.”  -Avanti Shrikumar “I think people should stop glorifying unhealthy amounts of work.”  -Avanti Shrikumar “I’ve made sure not to set unrealistic expectations for myself. I’ve been trying to make my goal to understand the material, and even if I do okay on tests and don’t get an A, I’m still fine with it.”  -Azaria Zornberg “Don’t EXPECT to do well easily. If you are EXPECTING to do well in every single class that you are taking, you are not going to have a good time.”  -Azaria Zornberg “It’s easy to look at someone else and see all the good things. But, you never see all the things that they are hiding.”  -Anonymous “To the students who are sweating it to much, don’t sweat it! Just because you don’t have a 5.0 leaving MIT, doesn’t mean you’re going to get nowhere.”-Brian Alejandro “I feel like often people push themselves to the point that they never sleep. It’s hard to be productive in a sleep-deprived state. But, then you keep sleep-depriving yourself even more because you are not productive.”  -Carolina Kaelin “Although we are MIT students, we should never forget that there is a world that exists out there too. And sometimes when you’re too absorbed with work at MIT, you kind of get into the MIT bubble too much, and you stop to realize that there is a world out there, and there is so many more things that exists out there in the world that are not within MIT. I feel like it’s important to know that those things are out there, and it’s a really beautiful world we’re living in. And you should try not to get too trapped in the bubble, so that you can really appreciate the whole world around you.  -Carolina Kaelin “We just got to stop comparing each other. Be it the number of hours we didn’t sleep last night or the grades we got. We just got to stop caring about that. It doesn’t do any good. No one ever benefits from that.”  -Chacha Durazo “I’ve made it a point to get 8 hours of sleep every day. It doesn’t always happen. But, now it’s at the top of my priority list.”  -Coyin Oh “It’s important to remember that you are a person beyond academics. The academics are an important part of your time here, but that’s not all you are. You are so much more than your grades.”  -Dagin Faulkner “Life is not about your GPA.”  -Daniel Wang “There are times that you realize that you are not being productive because you need a break. Even though there is more stuff that you still have to do, you are better off just taking a break at that moment! And doing something for yourself, rather than keep working!”  -Fernando Yordan “Not everyone who is successful went to MIT and got a 5.0 GPA… right?”  -Jelimo Baswan “The truth is that you travel and go out and realize that MIT is just one place, with only 10,000 people in it. It is certainly not the center of the universe.” Joey Rafidi “Over time I realized that some things are just more important than performing well in school. -Joey Rafidi “Whatever happens today is not the most important thing in your life. If it doesn’t go well, there is probably a million other things that would go better!” -Joey Rafidi “You start to think that you are really dumb at MIT, and then you go out into the real world, and you realize that you are actually still smart.” -Karen Hart “Friends are basically what has kept me going.” -Natalia Guerrero “When people ask me what do you like most about MIT… [I say] the people.” -Natalia Guerrero “If you find joy in what you do in your academics and what you are learning, do it for the joy rather than the grade.” -Nico Gomez “Everyone is different. You can’t compare yourself to other people, because everyone has had those different experiences. You can’t do that to other people. You can’t compare people based on numbers and grades.” -Nico Gomez “We’re here because we have something to bring to this place. And it’s usually not like ‘Oh, I can take tests really well.’ There is something else there. There is something else everyone has wanted to do.” -Staly Chin “I love you guys, and we’re all human beings.” -Anonymous Lastly, I want to leave you with a few excerpts from my friend Fred D. 17 from his blog post, Embracing The Hustle Being Thankful for MIT. I want to thank MIT for giving me the chance to study at a truly world-class research institution. I want to thank MIT for helping me refine my work ethic when it comes to getting mountains of work done in short periods of time. I want to thank MIT for exposing me for so many people from walks of life and backgrounds different than my own Most of all, I want to thank MIT for being hard. Yes, MIT isn’t perfect, and you can definitely make the case that MIT can be hard just for the sake of being hard, but deep down, I fully believe that MIT being an incredibly difficult school is a necessary part of the character of this campus. The reality is that for most of us who are majoring in an engineering discipline, we will be working on systems that will involve human lives. So lets all reflect on what were thankful for and not neglect our health for the grade. The best thing we can do for ourselves is relax and take a few good breaks. Take care.

Where Germans Go for Winter Holidays

Its no secret that the Germans love to travel. According to the UNWTO Tourism Barometer, theres no European country that produces more tourists and spends more money on seeing the world. Family holidays during the summer can last up to five or six weeks. And its not uncommon for people to squeeze in another short trip over the winter holidays.   There is no need to worry about Germans missing out on their work duties. The average German employee benefits from 29 Urlaubstage (annual leave days) per year, which puts them into the oberes Mittelfeld (upper mid-field) of Europes leave allowances. School holidays are staggered throughout the Là ¤nder to avoid traffic chaos  so that even German downtime is as efficiently planned as it can be. Since 1 January marks the day that many employees lose their outstanding allowance, its high time for them to use up that Resturlaub (remaining leave). Lets have a look at the most popular holiday destinations for German people escaping the house in winter. 1. Germany Germanys number 1 travel destination is Germany! As a country where all winter lovers can get their share of snow, forest and mountains, ski trips is high on every winter lovers wish list. Families love that it only takes a few hours by train or car until they can let the kids roam free and slip into their mountainwear. Family trips to the Alps are popular with families from all around the country. They indulge in winter sports and healthy walks, warming up by a fire in the chalet by night. Its a tradition so popular that many songs have been sung about it.   But in fact, Germany can boast snowy mountain peaks far North of the usual suspects with Gebirge (mountain regions) like the Hunsrà ¼ck and Harz. In this country, youre never far from winter fun. Essential Skiurlaub vocabulary: Ski fahren - skiingLanglauf - cross-country skiingRodeln - sledgingSchneewandern - hiking in the snowder Kamin - chimney 2. The Mediterranean (Spain, Egypt, Tunisia) Summer in Italy, winter in Egypt. Germans love chasing the sun and the beach, and many believe that a comfortable 24 degrees C is preferable to Christmas trees and freezing in February. Its the perfect answer to a dreaded new disease the Germans are scared of: Die Winterdepression. 3. Dubai For those who are seriously sun-deprived, sunny long-haul destinations like Thailand offer exactly what they have been dreaming of. Its a true escape from Weihnachtsstress, especially when there are the added delights of insane attractions (ironic indoor skiing)  and cut-price shopping. Essential Strandurlaub  vocabulary: der Strand - beachsich sonnen - to sunbathedie Sonnencreme - suncreamder Badeanzug/die Badehose - swimming costume/swimming shortsdas Meer - the sea 4. New York and Other Cities New York is the leading destination for travelers who love nothing more than Stà ¤dteurlaub  (city trips). When there is only a tiny supply of Resturlaub  left, even a long weekend in Hamburg, Kà ¶ln or Mà ¼nchen is more attractive than staying at home. Braving cold temperatures, the German tourists wrap up warm and still get their supplies of culture and escapism. After all, who wants to experience the same Alltagstrott  (daily grind) all the time? Essential Stà ¤dteurlaub  vocabulary: die Anfahrt - journey to the destinationdie Erkundung - discoveryspazieren gehen - going for a relaxed walkdie Theaterkarte - theatre ticketdie Rundfahrt - city tour

Pride And Prejudice Marriage Essay - 1830 Words

Felimon Henok Ms. Young ENG 3U1 5 June 2017 Marriage in Pride and Prejudice In the words of Jane Austen, â€Å"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife† (Austen, 5). This quote highlights how women were dependent on men to have a place and to be respected in society at the time of the victorian era. Women were viewed as domestic tools rather than human beings; they were treated as a domestic production that men control and own. Before a woman is married she is owned by her father, and after she is owned by her husband. In different parts of the world, the undergrading of women or no feminism still exists. Women can not voice their opinions let alone own an object in the†¦show more content†¦Most importantly, due to his religious duty. As she told her friend, Elizabeth, about accepting a proposal from Mr. Collins, Elizabeth full of of shock replied, â€Å"Engaged to Mr. Collins! My dear Charlotte, -- impossible† (Austen, 122). Elizabeth’s shock is because s he believed he would not be the right person for her. However, Tony Tanner agrees that Charlotte views her marriage strictly as a â€Å"preservative from want† (Bloom, 66). This symbolizes Charlotte marries Collins because she did not want to be a load for her family especially her mother who went through difficulties to find her a mate Marrying Collins helps Charlotte than it did for him because she received advantages such as financial, security, and unburden to her family as well as getting a higher rank. She coldly admits to Elizabeth, â€Å"†¦I am not romantic, you know; I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins s character, connection, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state (Austen, 123). Charlotte’s train of thought is Mr. Collins is her last option of marriage to have her own life instead of living with her parents. Their ma rriage is based on societal norms and she agrees to marry him, even with the knowledge that they have different personalities. She marries Collin in disregards of her self-respect and his undurable personality.Show MoreRelatedLove and Marriage in Pride and Prejudice Essays2274 Words   |  10 PagesHow does Jane Austen present love and marriage in Pride and Prejudice? Jane Austen presents love and marriage in many ways in the novel â€Å"Pride and Prejudice.† In this essay I am going to discuss some of these marriages, not only from Jane Austens portrayl of her characters but also from my own point of view. 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Night World Dark Angel Chapter 1 Free Essays

Gillian Lennox didn’t mean to die that day. She was mad, though. Mad because she had missed her ride home from school, and because she was cold, and because it was two weeks before Christmas and she was very, very lonely. We will write a custom essay sample on Night World : Dark Angel Chapter 1 or any similar topic only for you Order Now She walked by the side of the empty road, which was about as winding and hilly as every other country road in south-western Pennsylvania, and viciously kicked offending clumps of snow out of her way. It was a rotten day. The sky was dull and the snow looked tired. And Amy Nowick, who should have been waiting after Gillian cleaned up her studio art project, had already driven away-with her new boyfriend. Sure, it must have been an honest mistake. And she wasn’t jealous of Amy, she wasn’t, even though one week ago they had both been sixteen and never been kissed. Gillian just wanted to get home. That was when she heard the crying. She stopped, looked around. It sounded like a baby-or maybe a cat. It seemed to be coming from the woods. Her first thought was, Paula Belizer. But that was ridiculous. The little girl who’d disappeared somewhere at the end of this road had been gone for over a year now. The crying came again. It was thin and far away-as if it were coming from the depths of the woods. This time it sounded more human. â€Å"Hello? Hey, is somebody in there?† There was no answer. Gillian stared into the dense stand of oak and hickory, trying to see between the gnarled bare trees. It looked uninviting. Scary. Then she looked up and down the road. Nobody. Hardly surprising-not many cars passed by here. I am not going in there alone, Gillian thought. She was exactly the opposite of the â€Å"Oh, it’s such a nice day; let’s go tramping through the woods† type. Not to mention exactly the opposite of the brave type. But who else was there? And what else was there to do? Somebody was in trouble. She slipped her left arm through her backpack strap, settling it on the center of her back and leaving her hands free. Then she cautiously began to climb the snow-covered ridge that fell away on the other side to the woods. â€Å"Hello?† She felt stupid shouting and not getting any answer. â€Å"Hi! Hello!† Only the crying sound, faint but continuous, somewhere in front of her. Gillian began to flounder down the ridge. She didn’t weigh much, but the crust on the snow was very thin and every step took her ankle deep. Great, and I’m wearing sneakers. She could feel cold seeping into her feet. The snow wasn’t so deep once she got into the woods. It was white and unbroken beneath the trees-and it gave her an eerie sense of isolation. As if she were in the wilderness. And it was so quiet. The farther Gillian went in, the deeper the silence became. She had to stop and not breathe to hear the crying. Bear left, she told herself. Keep walking. There’s nothing to be scared of! But she couldn’t make herself yell again. There is something weird about this place†¦ Deeper and deeper into the woods. The road was far behind her now. She crossed fox tracks and bird scratches in the snow-no sign of any-l thing human. But the crying was right ahead now, and louder. She could hear it clearly. Okay, up this big ridge. Yes, you can do it. Up, up. Never mind if your feet are cold. As she struggled over the uneven ground, she tried to think comforting thoughts. Maybe I can write an article about it for the Viking News and everyone will admire me†¦ Wait. Is it cool or uncool to rescue somebody? Is saving people too nice to be cool? It was an important question, since Gillian currently had only two ambitions: 1) David Blackburn, and, 2) To be invited to the parties the popular kids were invited to. And both of these depended, in a large part, on being cool. If she were only popular, if she only felt good about herself, then everything else would follow. It would be so much easier to be a really wonderful person and do something for the world and make something important of her life if she just felt loved and accepted. If she weren’t shy and short and immature looking†¦ She reached the top of the ridge and grabbed at a branch to keep her balance. Then, still hanging on, she let out her breath and looked around. Nothing to see. Quiet woods leading down to a creek just below. And nothing to hear, either. The crying had stopped. Oh, don’t do this to me! Frustration warmed Gillian up and chased away her fear. She yelled, â€Å"Hey-hey, are you still out there? Can you hear me? I’m coming to help you!† Silence. And then, very faintly, a sound. Directly ahead. Oh, my God, Gillian thought. The creek. The kid was in the creek, hanging on to something, getting weaker and weaker†¦ Gillian was scrambling down the other side of the ridge, slithering, the wet snow adhering to her like lumpy frosting. Heart pounding, out of breath, she stood on the bank of the creek. Below her, at the edge, she could see fragile ice ledges reaching out like petals over the rushing water. Spray had frozen like diamond drops on overhanging grasses. But nothing living. Gillian frantically scanned the surface of the dark water. â€Å"Are you there?† she shouted. â€Å"Can you hear me?† Nothing. Rocks in the water. Branches caught against the rocks. The sound of the rushing creek. â€Å"Where are you?† She couldn’t hear the crying anymore. The water was too loud. Maybe the kid had gone under. Gillian leaned out, looking for a wet head, a shape beneath the surface. She leaned out farther. And then-a mistake. Some subtle change of balance. Ice under her feet. Her arms were wind-milling, but she couldn’t get her balance back†¦ She was flying. Nothing solid anywhere. Too surprised to be frightened. She hit the water with an icy shock. How to cite Night World : Dark Angel Chapter 1, Essay examples

The Ku Klux Klan Or KKK Is One Of Americas Oldest And Most Feared Grou

The Ku Klux Klan or KKK is one of America's oldest and most feared groups. Driven by the dream of a world with only one master race, the KKK often uses violence and takes the law into their own hands in order to promote their cause. They did not start as a violent group, or to promote white supremacy. At the end of the War between the States in April of 1865, some felt it marked the beginning of a terrible time of trouble for the white citizens who remained loyal to the southern states. This infamous chapter of American history is known as the Reconstruction period. Although large portions of the South were untouched by military action during the war, the problems after the war touched all and were severe. Private homes and farms were burned and personal property seized. Some of the seized property was given to some of the newly freed slaves, who many feared would rise up in revolt at any moment. Many individual cases did occur, and the law turned a blind eye too often to be tolerated. It was a lawless time when street justice prevailed. It was out of these dismal conditions that just and decent men of honor came together forming the Ku Klux Klan. Led by Nathan Bedford Forrest in Tennessee, by 1877 these courageous men had driven the federal troops back north. For a time they saved the white south from the tyranny of the federal government, the extortion of the carpetbaggers, the treason of the scalawags, and the hatred of the numerous renegade Negroes. The "Ku Klux Klan, or KKK as known today, was started in the spring of 1866. Six Confederate veterans formed a social club in Pulaski, Tennessee. The group adopted the name Ku Klux Klan from the Greek word kuklos, meaning circle, and the English word clan. They chose the circle because they felt it was the best symbol of creativity and also because its the oldest symbol of unity. This KKK only lasted a short six years, but left tactics and rituals that later started in generations. The Klan was a small group very much in secrecy at first. The exact date of the beginning is unknown. Despite all of the secrecy the six KKK members initiated new members to join their social club. A year after the creation of the KKK, the one time social club joined the raising campaign against the Republican Reconstruction. The "new" direction of the Klan was well planned and organized. The Klan was now ready to expand to a bigger group. The Klan adopted a prescript. This was an organizational structure permitting the Klan to spread across the South. New members had to be over eighteen, pay one dollar, swear to secrecy, recruits also pledged to "protect the weak, the innocent, and the defenseless, from the indignities, wrongs, and outrages of the lawless, the violent, and the brutal." The highly centralized plan for expanding the KKK, spread so rapidly that most chapters operated alone. The founders of the KKK lost control, and it became impossible to talk about a single KKK. Yet Klan activities still followed a common pattern throughout the south. The Klan now started to spread across Tennessee. At first the Klan used tricks to keep blacks "in their place". At first, the Klan would ride around on horses, and with their white robes, and white pointed masks, try to scare blacks. They would try to act like ghost with their white uniforms. In the beginning, the men wanted to do nothing more than play pranks on people. However, the people were more frightened than they were cheered up. They soon realized what they could do with these fear tactics. Unfortunately, the Klan quickly moved to more violent pranks. The Klan would now suppress blacks. The Klan leaders proved unable to control their followers. Although the violence was often random, there was a method in the madness. The victims were almost always black or if white, associated with the hatred of the Republican party. The Klan had fear of black equality and sparked attacks on schools setup for freed slaves. The Klan would warn the blacks not to attend school, and would scare the teachers, most

The eNotes Blog 6 Southern Gothic Literature Recommendations for YourClassroom

6 Southern Gothic Literature Recommendations for YourClassroom Some of the most important issues to be addressed in today’s classrooms include racism and gender equity- but they’re also some of the most intimidating topics for teachers to tackle. Luckily, Southern gothic literature deals with these ideas head on. This subgenre highlights the disparity between idealized notions of the antebellum South and the realities of slavery, racism, and patriarchy that existed throughout the era. In more contemporary terms, the genre addresses the contrast between the American Dream and the realities experienced by many people of color, women, and low-income Americans. Southern gothic literature addresses these topics through relatively simple literary devices- characterization and setting. Characters give voice to the horrific, transgressive, irrational, or otherwise taboo impulses that exist within the American zeitgeist. These characteristics are often expressed plainly through dialogue or internal monologue, or externalized through physical abnormalities. Similarly, setting also underscores American social dynamics. Southern gothic literature is most often set in the American South, featuring decaying plantations, towns that never recovered from the Civil War, and/or character’s who maintain their superiority while living in dilapidated circumstances. For many students, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is their first introduction to the genre. Characters such as Boo Radley and Tom Robinson exemplify the way Southern Gothic literature externalizes a character’s internal and social conflicts. Similarly, Bob Ewell’s racist superiority, juxtaposed with his own downtrodden lifestyle, is a classic example of how the genre uses setting to develop social themes. By studying how characterization and setting are deployed within Southern Gothic literature, teachers can guide and coach their students through a discussion as to how the traumas of US history impact the people living therein. Let’s take a look at some other examples of Southern Gothic literature that you can use in your classroom today: Twentieth Century Greats William Faulkner Winner of the 1950 Nobel Prize, Faulkner is the writer most commonly associated with Southern Gothic literature. The majority of Faulkner’s ouvre is set in the fictional Yoknapatawpha County, the site of a Civil War loss and the home of a community reckoning with its traumatic past. Consider reading: The Sound and the Fury,  326 pages Absalom! Absalom!,  320 pages As I Lay Dying, 288 pages â€Å"A Rose for Emily†, 36 pages   Zora Neale Hurston Hurston was born in Alabama, raised in Florida, and moved to New York to be celebrated as a writer and anthropologist within the Harlem Renaissance. Her body of work, consisting of fiction, non-fiction, and theater, is known particularly for its wit and pathos. Consider reading: Their Eyes Were Watching God, 219 pages â€Å"Spunk†, 106 pages Flannery O’Connor O’Connor is the writer most commonly associated with the grotesque aspects of Southern Gothic writing. In her essay â€Å"Some Aspects of the Grotesque in Southern Fiction,† O’Connor argues that Southern Gothic writing is freed from notions of civility and politeness that can limit literature’s ability to convey reality. Consider reading: â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find†, 190 pages â€Å"Everything that Rises Must Converge†, 25 pages Wise Blood, 256 pages Richard Wright   Born on a plantation in 1908, Wright is known for exchanging the supernatural aspects of Southern Gothic literature for the unflinching realities of life for African Americans in the Jim Crow South. Consider reading: Black Boy, 419 pages Native Son, 504 pages â€Å"Fire and Cloud†, â€Å"Long Black Song† â€Å"The Ethics of Living Jim Crow† Contemporary Writers to Watch Toni Morrison The first African American woman to ever accept a Nobel Prize, many consider Morrison to be the zenith of contemporary Southern Gothic writing. Known for being distinctive and musical, Morrison shies away from any use of language that attempts to obscure the reality of life in America. Consider reading: The Bluest Eye,  216 pages Beloved, 324 pages Song of Solomon,  337 The Source of Self Regard, 354 pages Jesmyn Ward Born in Mississippi in 1977, Ward has already earned two National Book Awards and a MacArthur Genius Grant, among many other prestigious accolades. Though her work is often categorized as Young Adult, it explores the bonds that exist within disenfranchised African American communities in the contemporary American South. Consider reading: Salvage the Bones, 261 pages Sing, Unburied, Sing, 285 pages

Battle of Quebec in the American Revolution

Battle of Quebec in the American Revolution The Battle of Quebec was fought on the night of December 30/31, 1775 during the American Revolution (1775-1783). Beginning in September 1775, the invasion of Canada was the first major offensive operation conducted by American forces during the war. Initially led by Major General Philip Schuyler, the invading force  departed Fort Ticonderoga and commenced an advance down (northward) the Richelieu River toward Fort St. Jean. Initial attempts to reach the fort proved abortive and an increasingly ill Schuyler was compelled to turn over command to Brigadier General Richard Montgomery. A distinguished veteran of the French and Indian War, Montgomery resumed the advance on September 16 with 1,700 militia. Arriving at Fort St. Jean three days later, he laid siege and forced the garrison to surrender on November 3. Though a victory, the length of the siege badly delayed the American invasion effort and saw many suffer from sickness. Pressing on, the Americans occupied Montreal without a fight on November 28. Armies Commanders: Americans Brigadier General Richard MontgomeryColonel Benedict ArnoldColonel James Livingston900 men British Governor Sir Guy Carleton1,800 men Arnolds Expedition To the east, a second American expedition fought its way north through the Maine wilderness. Organized by Colonel Benedict Arnold, this force of 1,100 men had been picked from the ranks of General George Washingtons Continental Army outside Boston. Proceeding from Massachusetts to the mouth of the Kennebec River, Arnold had expected the trek north through Maine to take around twenty days. This estimate was based on a rough map of the route developed by Captain  John Montresor in 1760/61. Moving north, the expedition soon suffered due to the poor construction of their boats and the faulty nature of Montresors maps. Lacking adequate supplies, starvation set in and the men were reduced to eating shoe leather and candle wax. Of the original force, only 600 eventually reached the St. Lawrence. Nearing Quebec, it quickly became clear that Arnold lacked the men needed to take the city and that the British were aware of their approach. British Preparations Withdrawing to Pointe aux Trembles, Arnold was forced to wait for reinforcements and artillery. On December 2, Montgomery descended the river with around 700 men and united with Arnold.   Along with reinforcements, Montgomery brought four cannon, six mortars, additional ammunition, and winter clothing for Arnolds men. Returning to the vicinity of Quebec, the combined American force laid siege to the city on December 6. At this time, Montgomery issued the first of several surrender demands to the Governor-General of Canada, Sir Guy Carleton.   These were dismissed out of hand by Carleton who instead looked to improve the citys defenses. Outside of the city, Montgomery endeavored to construct batteries, the largest of which was completed on December 10. Due to the frozen ground, it was constructed from blocks of snow. Though a bombardment commenced, it did little damage. As days passed, Montgomery and Arnolds situation became increasingly desperate as they lacked the heavy artillery to conduct a traditional siege, their mens enlistments would soon be expiring, and British reinforcements likely would arrive in the spring. Seeing little alternative, the two began planning an attack on the city. They hoped that if they advanced during a snowstorm, they would be able to scale Quebecs walls undetected. Within its walls, Carleton possessed a garrison of 1,800 regulars and militia. Aware of American activities in the area, Carleton made efforts to enhance the citys formidable defenses by erecting a series of barricades. The Americans Advance To assault the city, Montgomery and Arnold planned on advancing from two directions. Montgomery was to attack from the west, moving along the St. Lawrence waterfront, while Arnold was to advance from the north, marching along the St. Charles River. The two were to reunite at point where the rivers joined and then turn to attack the city wall. To divert the British, two militia units would make feints against Quebecs western walls. Moving out on December 30, the assault began after midnight on the 31st during a snowstorm. Advancing past the Cape Diamond Bastion, Montgomerys force pressed into the Lower Town where they encountered the first barricade. Forming to attack the barricades 30 defenders, the Americans were stunned when the first British volley killed Montgomery. A British Victory In addition to killing Montgomery, the volley struck down his two chief subordinates. With their general down, the American attack faltered and the remaining officers ordered a withdrawal. Unaware of Montgomerys death and the attacks failure, Arnolds column pressed on from the north. Reaching the Sault au Matelot, Arnold was hit and wounded in the left ankle. Unable to walk, he was carried to the rear and command was transferred to Captain Daniel Morgan. Successfully taking the first barricade they encountered, Morgans men moved into the city proper. Continuing the advance, Morgans men suffered from damp gunpowder and had difficulty navigating the narrow streets. As a result, they paused to dry their powder. With Montgomerys column repulsed and Carletons realization that the attacks from the west were a diversion, Morgan became the focus of the defenders activities. British troops counterattacked in the rear and retook the barricade before moving through the streets to surround Morgans men. With no options remaining, Morgan and his men were forced to surrender. Aftermath The Battle of Quebec cost the Americans 60 dead and wounded as well as 426 captured. For the British, casualties were a light 6 killed and 19 wounded. Though the assault failed, American troops remained in the field around Quebec. Rallying the men, Arnold attempted to lay siege to the city. This proved increasingly ineffective as men began to desert following the expiration of their enlistments. Though he was reinforced, Arnold was forced to fall back following the arrival of 4,000 British troops under Major General John Burgoyne. After being defeated at Trois-Rivià ¨res on June 8, 1776, American forces were forced to retreat back into New York, ending the invasion of Canada.