300+ Short Story Ideas How to Start Your Story Off Right

300+ Short Story Ideas How to Start Your Story Off Right 300+ Short Story Ideas How to Start Your Story Off Right These short story ideas can mean the difference between sitting at home suffering from writers block and knocking out another storythat could potentially be published.We know it can be hard to summon inspiration. Its elusive and downright impossible to drum up if it doesnt want to be.Weve all been there beforeThats why we put together these completely original, brand new writing prompts for you to use to start your next story short.Here are our short story ideas and how to utilize them effectively:300+ Short Story IdeasHow to start a storyStory structureHow to think of your own story ideasNOTE: Learn how to take one of these story ideas and transform it into your next bestseller through our VIP Fiction Self-Publishing Program. Learn more about it hereHow to Start a StoryStarting your short story is the most important part.Without being able to hook your readers with a strong introduction, they wont get to enjoy the entirety of the journey through your story.Whether youre writing a sh ort story or looking for your next big book idea, weve got tips to help you start it off right.These are our tips for starting your short story:Shock your readers by writing something they wouldnt expect or something that doesnt quite make sense. This is often done by creating confusion, starting by instilling sympathy for your character, or writing something downright shocking to read.Create sympathy for your character by throwing them in the middle of a struggle. Humans are empathetic beings and making something awful happen right off the bat to an unsuspecting character will help draw intrigue.Avoid info-dumping by beginning your story with action instead of information. If all you do is give your characters entire background (which is indicative that youre now following the rules of showing versus telling), your readers wont be sucked in.If you want to skip down to your story ideas, click right here, otherwise, lets dive into story structure and how to use these ideas effectivel y.Story StructureNo matter how many short stories idea you have, without the right story structure, theyll be nothing more than justideas.Lets go over proper story structure so you can do these story ideas justice.There are 5 key milestones in every novel, and for short stories, there are typically 4 (due to word count and lack of longevity in general).Story Structure Milestone 1 The SetupEvery story needs a setup in which to move from. This is the very beginning of your story.You may decide to use one of these short story ideas and in that case, youll have to construct a catchy and enticing first paragraph/s in order to pull readers in.The difference between writing a novel and writing a short story is the fact that your short story introduction has to be short, snappy, and filled with intrigue.Here are a few ways to write a good story beginning:Start in medias res, which means in the middle. This is in reference to the action and how you start a story. Starting in the middle give s the story a more natural beginning and helps you avoid info-dumping.Introduce a major story element within the first page. This gives your readers a clear idea about what your story will involve. By main element, I mean magic or flying spacecraft or a love interest. You want your readers to know the type of story theyre getting in the opening so they can become more interested in its ending.Make us care about the main character in some way through strong character development. The more your reader can bond with the focus of your story, the more likely it is theyll stick around to find out what happens to them.Story Structure Milestone 2 The Inciting IncidentTheres always one thing that happens in any story or book or even movie that kicks off the chain of events.Your story needs to have an inciting incident as part of its story structure too.For example, the inciting incident in Game of Thrones that kicks off the entire Stark VS Lannister war thats ultimately the reason behind al l the heartache, death, and drama is when Jaime Lannister pushes Bran Stark out of the window. This puts a target on Brans back since he didnt actually die and then he was nearly killed by a hitman with a Lannister blade.That is the inciting incident for both the first book and the whole of the war for the iron throne.Figure out what your (probably smaller) inciting incident is, whether thats a stranger wandering in to your characters classroom or some unknown object smacking your character in the back of the head while they jogged past their favorite, and oddly empty, coffee shop one morning.Story Structure Milestone 3 The SlapWhen writing a novel, there are two of these slaps, the second worse than the first. No matter if youre writing a short story or a full novel, your story will still get a slap.These slaps are critical and harrowing events that halt the progression of your story and make it harder for your character to succeed in whatever it is theyre trying to do.During this slap, your characters world and hope and whatever theyre working toward comes to a standstill as they face this obstacle in their journey.For a short story, this can range from your character losing all the money they had to get home to the death of their loved one. Choose something thats shocking but will still leave your readers with some hope.Story Structure Milestone 4 The ClimaxYou know what the story climax is. Its the point in your story where all the events come to a head with the biggest event in your story.The climax is when your character either succeeds or loses what theyre after.Oftentimes, authors choose this time to provide readers with an unexpected twist. No matter how you decide to write your storys climax, make sure its the highlight of your story.The falling action, otherwise known as the resolution, comes directly after and is how you end your story. (We suggest making sure its satisfying instead of just dropping off the end of the climax)How to Think of Your Own Story IdeasComing up with story ideas can take some time and practice- especially when your imagination has been at a standstill for a long time.In order to come up with your own story ideas, use the what if method. Think of a situation and then ask yourself, what if and fill in the end.For example, your situation may be a character who wants to ditch school.To create your own story idea, ask yourself, What ifthat character ditches school and then runs into their teacher.And then, what ifthat teacher is also playing hooky.This allows you to craft story ideas centering around one main idea with multiple possibilities.Ultimately, coming up with your own story ideas from nothing can be much more difficult than expanding on story ideas someone else has come up with- like us.Here are over 300 story ideas for you to use and write about.300+ Short Story Ideas to Use TodayWrite a story about a new strain of flower and how its scent is intoxicating to humans, but also deadly.Write a stor y about the first stranger you see today.Write about a lizard thats living in your characters walls.Write a story about a city that has hidden from civilized society for thousands of years until an unsuspecting traveler walks right into the heart of it.Write a story from the perspective of a mouse.Write about the worst lie youve ever told.Write a story that starts in a room of windows.Write about a little girl who purposely leaves a backpack of bombs in a local coffee shop.Write a story involving two people from opposite sides of a massive town with a long history of rivalry.Write about another planet that has life just like Earths- everything is exactly the same only there were 1/3 of the Earths population.Write about a chair sitting on the old, broken down front porch.Write a story about a girl walking down the center of the street.Write about apples falling from the sky.Write about the incessant shrill of a morning bird outside the barely cracked window.Write a story involving th ree women and a stolen cane.Write a story that starts with, She was aware of just how much she was making things harder for herself.Write a story about a cold house in the depths of an overpopulated town.Write about two birds and their role in a heist.Write about what its like to be fully submerged in jelly.Write a story that starts with the smell of salt in an open field.Write a story involving a teacher and a 217-year-old child.Write about succulents drying up on a windowsill.Write a story that starts with, And now I actually have to figure out what I did wrong.Write a story about a character who forgets one person in his life every day, though not always the same person.Write about a character who wants nothing more than to learn how to build a house.Write a story involving fish crackers and a rogue lemon.Write a short story about an orphan who can hear whispers.Write a story that starts with, She was filled with the sense that her work here wasnt done just yet.Write about black curtains in a room of white.Write about a new packet of dried fruit sent through the mail.Write a story about a guitar with a unique signature on the inside.Write about bananas and what they mean for a future society.Write about a dog that loses a paw.Write about a nice meal that was had over poison wine.Write a story about one man and the lost scarf.Write a story that starts with, After what seemed like the longest night of his life, he had only one more thing to do.Write about the sun filtering through countless leaves before finding your cheek in the morning.Write a story involving a really strong cup of coffee and the worst churro ever.Write a story that takes place on the middle floor in the middle suite in a 56 story hotel.Write about the rattling your character regularly hears coming from the basement.Write a story involving a song your character knows but doesnt remember.Write a story that starts with, How he waited this long without killing someone was beyond him. But he ma de it throughmostly.Write a story that takes place on a crowded beach in the middle of summer.Write a story about a rooftop bar and an unlikely accident.Write a story involving three roles of tape and a garden hose.Write about flying on an airplane for the first time.Write a story from the perspective of a plant.Write the story of an old baseball cap now bleaching on a headstone.Write a story that begins with an old man tapping his toes.Write about one character who has too much love for pepper.Write a story about a cactus left on the front porch of your characters new house.Write about cascading doubt infiltrating a womans unusually high self-esteem.Write a story involving a camera and a pack of ice.Write about what its like to be the only person who knows the true purpose of life.Write a story that starts with, You never know just how bad things can get until youre waist-deep in the sandpit you used to play in as a child.Write about that one time your character forgot to wear shoe s to school.Write a story about a bookcase floating down a river.Write about what happens when an ex-convict opens an ice cream shop.Write about two flowers smushed on a doorstep.Write a story the begins with your character watching rain flood their dirty streets.Write a story about a single sticky note worn with folds and faded with time.Write about a girl gifted with an award for something she mustve done, but doesnt remember.Write a story using the words trial and reckoning.Write a story that starts with, I knew that mongrel was a problem the second I set eyes on him.Write a story that involves a unique hat, two bottles, and a disgruntled bee.Write about the first person who comes to mind.Write a narrative of your day as if you were in the 1800s.Write a story about how much a soldier misses the taste of honey buttered biscuits.Write about a character who just found out they have a rare disease that makes their skin change colors to match their surroundings.Write about a faraway w orld where humans are not the most intelligent life form.Write a story about six kids on their quest to uncover a hidden lair deep in the forest.Write a story involving a wrench, a flower pot, and two teenagers.Write about what happens when the government puts secret viruses in essential oils in order to dull the minds of its users.Write a story that starts with, What happened to me wasmeant to happen. At least thats what I tell myself.Write about an old womans journey to relocate someone she had a passionate fling with in her younger years.Write about how love can become muddled in difficult families.Write a story involving a rare book and two people fighting over it.Write a story in a world where books are outlawed.Write about a time you thought you would explode with some sort of emotion.Write a story about a character who finds a perfect sketch of themselves for sale in a coffee shop2,000 miles from where they live.Write about a lime tree and its worst predator.Write a story abo ut a dog who wont stop digging at one specific spot.Write about what would happen in a world where children are regarded as the most precious beings to the point of being worshiped.Write about a girl in an ancient society who hears voices in her head that arent her own.Write a story about an antique cash register and a type of money that nobody can place.Write about a life-changing book and its journey through multiple readers and its home on the library shelf.Write a story that beings with, His hand fell from the gash in his eyebrow, red trickling down his hand to do his tattered jeans.Write about a wheelbarrow, a young boy, and a snake hiding in the backyard.Write a story that involves a glass koala.Write about what it means to be fully awake.Write a story about a girl who spends half her night awakeas someone else.Write a story about a man who can see a persons worst day ever whenever he touches them.Write a story that begins with the patter of baby footsteps on the hardwood floo r.Write a story involving a broken car trunk, a DVD, and batteries.Write a story that starts with, They never tell you what its like when your world gets turned upside down.Write about how the sticky note pile on your desk keeps dwindling day after day, without you using it.Write a story about a lie told over breakfast.Write about your life as if you were telling it from a bystanders perspective.Write a story about how you take a bit of an eggroll only to discover a scroll inside.Write a story that begins with a warm breeze blowing off a house thats on fire in the middle of winter.Write about a card game that goes wrong.Write a story from the perspective of an owl flying around a campground at night.Write about a lost bracelet.Write a story about how to find your way back home.Write a story that starts with, His pack was heavy, no doubt about that with what he hid inside.Write a story like you were the only person left in an amusement park at night.Write about a time when your frien ds made you feel betrayed for the first time.Write about a journey to discover what happens when you reach the bottom of a waterfall.Write about the lives of two hamsters as they squeeze out of their cage.Write a story from the perspective of yourself as a 3-year-old.Write about a story that begins with a bird flying through a window.Write a story about a character who cant stop lying to those closest to them.Write about a brand new couch found sitting in the middle of a back country road.Write a story about what was found beneath a palm tree during a beach party.Write about a bathtub and a drawing pad.Write a story about how a character finds a message in the bottom of their coffee cup.Write a story about what would happen if food manufacturing companies shut down.Write a story that starts with, That oil spill was the least of his problems.Write about a character who discovers why nobody can find a cure for cancer.Write a story detailing the process of creating a bouquet from homeg rown florals.Write about a high school graduation that gets a major surprise.Write a story involving a rare coin and two thieves fighting over it.Write about climbing a tree for the first time.Write a story involving a water spigot and a nest of baby bunnies.Write about a secret room beneath an open field.Write a story about a character who discovers their parents hidden library.Write a story involving a notepad, a flashlight, and a goat.Write a story about holding your breath.Write about what happens at night inside the small towns antique shop.Write a story about a character who lives in a future society thats struggling to produce enough food.Write about a secret governments method of population control.Write a story about a writer who gets their ideas from the remnants of dreams.Write a story that starts with, In any other time, what she did would be considered heroic.Write about how dropping their ice cream as a little boy changed your main character completely.Write a story in which two people argue about who has the worse sleeping problems.Write about a psychic who wants nothing more than to be believed in a world that shuns psychics.Write a story that begins with the sound of raindrops on a tin can.Write about flooding in a society that hasnt seen good rain in years.Write about what it would be like to lose every possession you own.Write a story about the struggles of being born with purple hair in a world where color is frowned upon.Write about the smell of banana bread and coffee as your character skips downstairs for breakfast.Write about what its like to live in a small shed thats half buried from before the sickness took nearly half the population.Write a story that begins with, She scuttled backward, shoving herself against the wall, sweat bleeding through her torn shirt. Its worth it.Write about a time your character slipped and broke an arm outside a donut shop.Write about a reserved, creepy EMT who draws your characters blood for seemingly no reason.Write about someone whos afraid to feel the wind.Write a story that starts with car tires crunching over an abandoned road.Write a story about a haunted barn.Write a story involving an air freshener, a trailer, and a basketball.Write a story about what happens in a small town surrounded by militant forces.Write about a character whos never read a book, lost in a library.Write a story that involves seashells and a stolen ring.Write a story that starts with, Her hair was parted on the right side.Write about a journal that made everything written in it come to life.Write about an old woman who spends her whole days gardening.Write about a time when you forgot something very important.Write about a whale and a little girls toy boat.Write a story using the words exposure and calamity.Write a one-sentence story using the word charcuterie.Write a story about an underdeveloped society learning that their government is listening in on them daily.Write about a string and a broken cello .Write a story involving a bar stool and a farm.Write about what it would be like to step foot on another planet for the first time.Write about a parade from the perspective of a child.Write a short story centering around a little boys trip to the emergency room in the back of an ambulance.Write a story about how wine is made.Write a story about the intricacies of writing a poem.Write about a character who was born in an open field, and spent the next seventeen years- his whole life- never crossing the forest line beyond the field.Write a story about the places a woman keeps finding sand after her recent (and very brief) trip to the ocean.Write a story that centers around a song and its dire meaning to a certain civilization.Write a story about a young girls quest to write a book.Write about a time when your character accidentally slipped up in a big lie.Write a story that starts with, It wouldnt be long now. She knew she deserved what was about to happen.Write about a story revolvi ng around a single family in a small town that nobody ever knows anything about.Write a story that mentions the words hacksaw and blueberry candle.Write about what would happen if one day, all your books started disappearing.Write a story about a new facial spa treatment of the future.Write a story based in a far away society where fire is worshipped.Write about a world where animals are sacred and killing anything, be it plant or animal, is punishable to the extreme.Write about what it looks like when one guy follows his dream of becoming an ice cream truck owner.Write a story about a dandelion flying through the air.Write about the next greatest discovery in human history.Write a story about the last time you embarrassed yourself.Write a story that starts with your character on a pier, barely noticing the person whos been following them for miles.Write about how the last book you read made you feel.Write about a young boys fascination with trees.Write about a girl moving to a new city for the first time.Write a love story about two trees in your neighbors backyard.Write a story that begins with, The street was long and dark.Write a story that includes a rummage sale, an old book, and hot sauce.Write a book about finding your inner peace while backpacking in a forest.Write about a fantasy world where magic- and your ability to control it- is a currency.Write about the best sandwich shop and its secret.Write a story about sand whipping at your shins.Write a story centering around a playground with a hidden entrance.Write a story that begins on a warm spring night with a girl frantically brushing spider webs out of her hair.Write about flowers that only bloom at midnight on the tenth day of the month.Write a story about a dog and its friend, a mouse.Write a story that uses the words happening, case studies, and sunglasses.Write about how it feels to stub your toe, but from the perspective of the couch it was stubbed on.Write about a wedding in a field of daisie s.Write about a dropped popsicle on the hottest day of summer.Write a story about what its like to interview people for a living.Write a story involving an empty picture frame, a lone guitar pick, and applesauce.Write a story about a character who cant help but sneeze whenever they so much as see a cookie.Write a short story from the perspective of a therapist after a long day of sessions.Write a story that starts with, That front porch needed fixing, alright.Write about a special lamp purchased at a garage sale.Write a story featuring a goofy cat, its toy mouse, and a real mouse.Write a story about the adverse effects of a full moon on a certain, interesting, family.Write a story involving two antique lamps being stolen from an old widows home.Write a story that begins with a tree flickering in the inconsistent breeze.Write about a dog who lost its eyesight.Write about what its like to go through the hardship of losing your most prized possession.Write a story from the perspective of a bird flying over a beach.Write a story that starts with, When it was all over, she would be doneat least thats what she kept telling herself.Write about a cactus found growing in the middle of a forest.Write about a great tyrant battling their inner demons.Write a story that involves a dragon, mist, and a canopy.Write about why one woman is walking downtown in a snowman costume.Write a story that uses the words influence, haberdashery, and walnut.Write a story about the last dream you had.Write about what its like to paddle out far from the shore on a surfboard.Write a story in which two people who have never met go to the exact same places in the exact same order.Write a story about a world where lying causes uncontrollable hives to sprout on your body.Write a story from the perspective of a ghost at a funeral.Write about what its like to ride the subway for the first time.Write about a foreign visitor and a runaway hat.Write a story that starts with, How would things be any different if she stopped herself?Write about the beach and a seemingly neverending hole in the sand.Write a story that begins with a character whos running their hands along a wall looking for the light switch.Write a story from the perspective of a child running through an ancient castle.Write about a future society where privacy is no more a standard human right.Write a story where children are being born as prodigies- all of them.Write about a time where your character lost their cool at the most inopportune time.Write a story detailing why one man can make the perfect loaf of bread.Write a story that begins with, She wasnt a hard woman to work with. She was justa unique person to work with.Write about what would happen if the internet went down for one week.Write a story that involves a baseball bat, honey, and a board game.Write about a man who owns a very small, very intricate brewery.Write a story about a future civilization thats on the hunt to discover why the human populat ion dropped by 1/3 over a thousand years prior.Write a story about how one detective solved a mystery by using Instagram.Write about the next greatest invention of our generation.Write a story featuring a sprinkler, a trampoline, and a toothpick.Write about a trailer thats been sitting in the same spot in the woods for years and has finally been opened.Write a story about a time capsule being uncovered in a small town and the very interesting and alarming object inside.Write a story about what would happen if one day, you realize that everyone in your life is in on something major except for you.Write a romance story that opens with a woman rapidly throwing apples at the bread aisle in a grocery store.Write a short story about what happens when humans have their identification information embedded on a chip in their arm.Write a story about a stranger on the bus who has a very intricate burn scar on their forearm.Write a story that starts with, It started with a headache.Write about what would happen if humans were suddenly able to manipulate time, but only if they store enough of it by not sleeping.Write a short story detailing how one mom broke out of jail.Write a mystery short story about what happened with a lamp and a missing tooth.Write a story about a born-and-raised spy who snuck out and went downtown for the first time in her life.Write a story that shows us why government and rules are so necessary in society.Write a story about an overgrown apple tree.Write about how long it takes to make a real change in your life.Write about one childs dream of becoming a bestselling author.Write a short story that starts with an argument between a man and his pet fish.Write a story about a box of photos and the secrets they contain.Write a story that starts with, I remember running. Just running.Write about a single patch of vibrant, thriving green grass in the middle of a desert.Write a one-page story about why a woman is repeatedly washing an old teacup.Write a romance about two old friends after theyve been married, divorced, and moved back home.Write a story that opens with the sound of clanking boots on metal grates.Write a story about why one man always smells cinnamon wherever he goes.Write about what happens when one caregiver gets sick and the children have to take care of her.Write a story that starts with, The man couldn’t give clear instructions if his life depended on it. Write about a suspicious email sent to your character detailing specifics about their life no stranger would know. Write about a black and white painting of a single flower.Write a story about creating a sculpture with a special, specific meaning.Write about a pool and the missing bottom tile.Write a story involving a toothbrush, a map, and a used sock.Write a short story about twins caught trying to pull off a con.Write about the long summers impact on an already overheated world.Write about what its like to jump out of a plane and have your parachute m alfunction.Write a story that ends with a canoe tipped over in the river.Write a short story that starts with, The buzz of midday summer heat sang across the backyard.Write about a blogger who inadvertently uncovers something major in their research.Write about a two-tailed lion at the circus.Write a story about a woman you see walking down the street with swollen, bruised knuckles.Write a story that includes a new song.Write a story that starts with two girls skipping down a street.Write about a dying tree, a hammock, and a blow-up pool.Write a story that starts with, For the sake of her own self-worth, she had to swipe that mans keys.Write a short story that ends with a Viking discovering a hidden civilization.Write a story about a brand new religion in a small community.Write a story about a new virtual reality game that makes users never want to leave.Write a story about a type of plant that gives a person special abilities when they eat it.Write a story about loneliness and wha t it truly means.Write about the tale of a dragonfly in a storm.Write a story that starts with, He crinkled the paper and shoved it aside.Write about a magical woman whos only goal is to make the lives of those in her town the best they can be.Write a story involving a pot of boiling water, a tree branch, and an old chair.Write about a diseased community seeking aid from the healthy, who are adamant on pushing them away.Write about the war your character was in and why they decided to switch sides.Write a story about how the new plan on your desk wont stop growing.Write a story about a dad who just wants to get his daughters attention.Write a story that starts with, What was left of that place had nothing to do with her.Write a short story that ends with a single note left on the counter.Write about hamburgers, a short man, and two cars.Write a story about what happens when one mystical being reads every book thats ever been published.Write a story about a young woman at the bar.Wri te a story about your greatest dream.Ready to Turn your Story into More? (Hint: Yes, you are!)Make sure to check out your FREE training to learn what it takes to turn your story idea into something worth publishing.

ECON 337 3 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

ECON 337 3 - Assignment Example It emerges that the new reforms in the 80’s led to the reduction of poverty and inequality due to the foreign trade and investment strategies. However, the rural areas were also recovering from the poverty cycle as influenced by the spurt in agricultural growth. The political economy played an instrumental part through the land redistributions that ensured every family had an agricultural venture. As a result, the internal aspects enabled the country to improve on its economic objectives rather than the presumed global integration. Similarly, the domestic public investment policies, especially in education, infrastructure and agricultural research propelled the growth and rural poverty reduction. The state of poverty and well being in India were spurred by the social indicators in employment opportunities, gender inequality and maternal health had registered improvements (Bardhan 26). The country was ensuring that the citizens would be productive by taking advantage of the soc ial developments in the important sectors. The resultant impacts were that the Indians introduced strategies that empowered everyone to venture into economical businesses in the region. Although poverty and social well-being remains to be a priority of the government, the economic growth tends to alleviate the imbalance. This implies that reforms encouraging domestic investments are making the local citizens to come up with business ideas that the government can help to finance for prosperity. The reasoning behind Bardhan arguments is that global integration only facilitated increase in spending. The improvements in social indicators and social well-being were factors that promoted global integration because the country was now ready to consider various opportunities (Bardhan 30). This implies that, without the domestic reforms and investments, global integration could not be achieved. However, the slow pace in some sectors

International law extra Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

International law extra - Essay Example It was however difficult to pinpoint the location of the 48th Battalion responsible for the Tet offensive. After gathering intelligence reports, the military authorities collectively decided that the 48th Battalion was near the village of My Lai. American military authorities then planned to seek out and neutralize the 48th Battalion through the elements of the Task Force Barker. Their orders from their military officers were to clean out the area and destroy the villages. The civilians however were to be spared. When the different platoons, including Charlie Company, were deployed to the suspected area, they met no resistance, no Viet Cong, no 48th Battalion. Only Vietnamese civilians appeared to occupy the village. And for William Calley and other members of the Charlie Company, they felt it was their time to take revenge for the men they lost in combat and for the atrocities that the Viet Cong committed against them. â€Å"Soldiers shot old men sitting outside their homes, women carrying water, children searching for places to hide† (Olson & Roberts, p. 22). Not one of these Vietnamese fired back, and yet they were gunned down by the soldiers. Calley ordered his men to shoot all the civilians because their superior officers ordered them to. Some of the soldiers disobeyed the orders and others reluctantly carried out the orders. Calley was in his element. He happily pulled the trigger on every man, woman and child at the My Lai village. And in the end, Charlie Company â€Å"rounded up and killed as many as 500 unarmed women, children, and elderly Vietnamese in the hamlet of My Lai 4 in Son My, South Vietnam† (Wilkins, p. 77). Lt. Calley was court-martialed, charged with the murder of Vietnamese civilians. Four officers and nine enlisted men were also charged with murder. However, most of these charges were dropped and only a few, especially the charges against Calley, made it through to trial. Private

Network Security Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Network Security - Research Paper Example Network Security Introduction: Network security is a fairly confusing and complicated subject that has historically been tackled only by experts and experienced professionals. Nonetheless, increased wiring among people in the networked world has increased the need for people to perceive and master the fundamentals of security. This paper has been written with the basic information systems manager and computer user into focus so that they may acquire sufficient knowledge to hype in the market, identify potential threats and to tackle them appropriately. First, a bit of networking history is discussed. This discussion is followed by the introduction to internetworking as well as TCP/IP. Later, risk management, firewalls, and potential network threats will be discussed in order to elaborate the purpose of secure networking tools and devices. This paper is intended to lend the audience a broad perspective of the network security in general, and a sense to identify, manage and reduce risk s both at home and the workplace in particular. In order to sufficiently comprehend the rules and traits of network security, it is imperative that an individual has some basic knowledge of computer networks. Therefore, it is customary to briefly discuss the foundations of computer networking before moving over to the popular networks and their security. What is a Network? A network may be defined as a set in which lines that resemble a net interlink with one another. It is essentially a system of interconnected lines. Like any network, a network of computer essentially has many computers interlinked with one another. There are numerous ways to interconnect the computers. There are seven layers of communications types with interfaces according to the Reference Model of the International Standards Organization (ISO) / Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) as shown in the figure below: â€Å"The ISO/OSI Reference Model† (Curtin, 1997). Each layer is dependent upon the services of the immediately lower layer. This pattern follows until one gets on the lowest layer of physical network. This can be best understood by drawing a comparison between this model and something of everyday use like a telephone. A telephone is the means of transmittal of message between two people when they are sufficiently away to be out of each other’s earshot. Same happens at the application layer of the ISO/OSI model. The telephones serve the purpose by converting the sound into electronic pulses which may be transmitted back and forth through the wire. Layers underneath the application layer serve the very purpose. Both sets of the telephone need to be connected into a switch which is an essential component of the network of switches of the telephone system. In order to make a call, an individual needs to pick the receiver up and dial the desired extension or number. This number indicates the central office which the request goes to so that a phone from that office rings up. Th e individual at the other end picks up the receiver and the conversation begins. Computer networks have a similar way to function. Some Popular Networks: A lot of networks have been identified and employed over the last 2.5 decades or more. In this paper, two of them will be looked into. Both of the networks are public networks, that essentially means that either of them can be connected by anyone. People can

Response to The Fish By Elizabeth Bishop Essay -- Poetry Poem Fish Eli

Response to "The Fish" By Elizabeth Bishop I chose to respond to Elizabeth Bishop's "The Fish" because the poem seems so simple, yet there is much to gather from reading it. This is a narrative poem told in the first person about a woman who catches a fish on a rented boat and, after staring at him for a while, decides to throw him back. The narrator of this poem goes through a series of stages in which she is at first detached from the fish, then intrigued by him, and then finally sympathetic towards him. In the very first lines of Bishop's poem, the narrator catches the fish and treats him as such. "I caught a tremendous fish / and held him beside the boat / half out of water, with my hook / fast in a corner of his mouth" (Bishop 665). She has just caught a fish and is in the process of bringing him onto the boat. She seems very disconnected from this fish, who is just the target of a sport--fishing. When she gets the chance to take a good look at him, it seems that her view changes from detachment to curiosity and admiration. She notices that the fish doesn't struggl...

Prewar Marxism in Japan Essay

Marxism was coined after its proponent, Karl Marx who believed that the abuses of capitalism would eventually lead to uprisings of the masses particularly of the working class. According to him, the aggrieved plight of the working class will become the key in unleashing the inevitable clashes between the classes. In his argument, Capitalism will be replaced by Communism, in which in his view, this set-up of free economy opens a gate to many inequalities in the society, making the weak and poor more vulnerable to the flaws of the system. As Uno Kozo observed in his work, The Essence of Capital, â€Å"The commodification of the labor force remains the crux of Capitalism† (SJT, pp.243). To Marx belief, Communism is the â€Å"common ownership of the means of production†. There would be public ownership of farms, factories, raw materials, and the like. To him, all means of production will be owned by the workers and all workers would eventually become workers.             In Japan, Marxism was first introduced in the late 1890’s but it was in the 1920’s that it started to catch attention and support from the people especially from the intellectuals (SJT, pp 239; Beckmann, pp. 139). The early Marxists belonged to two different groups, the reformers and the revolutionary. The reformers followed Tolstoian humanitarianism, advocated universal suffrage, and pursued reforms through parliamentary action. While the revolutionaries believed in the Materialist ideas from the German and French Marxist. They adhered to the idea of class struggle and direct revolutionary action by class-conscious workers. The revolutionaries were also attracted to the tactics of the anarcho-syndicalism (Beckmann pp. 140).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The various differences of principles of the Early Marxists in Japan had initially   signaled that a strong unified group would be quite a challenge to create a remarkable impact. In fact, at its onset Marxism was already noted with three general flaws such as its systematic character that degenerates into dogmatism; putative universality that recalls its foreign origin; and its critical modus operandi that provokes infighting and organizational fragmentation (SJT, pp241 ). But all these are generalized observations sums up probable enlightenment on why it seemed to appear that prewar Marxism was never a political success. However, it is pertinent to note that these observations envelopes one or more historical accounts and empirical evidences of the progresses and demise of prewar Marxism in Japan.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The idea of Marxism had its strong appeal in the university circle composed mainly of the professors and students. In fact, one of its early and notable supporters was Kawakami Hajime of the Kyoto Imperial University. He wrote may treatises on Marxism and provided valuable assistance to other advocates in the persons of Sakai Toshihiko, Arahata Kanson among others (Beckmann pp. 145). At that time, the battleground was published material like newspaper wherein people can be informed and get influenced at the same time. At some point, it created impact and stirred the discontentment of the people resulting to the clamor for reforms in Japanese society. This clamor was highlighted more by the onset of the Japan Modernization process in which new demands for the fundamental changes in the society is created (Beckamm pp146). To quote Beckamm, â€Å"Marxism was attractive to them because it provided the fullest explanation of the idea of progress that they had yet encountered. They were easily seduced by the Marxist proposition that through the dialectic progress was inevitable.   Dialectical materialism gave them (supporters) a scientific methodology for analyzing Japanese society, as well as general principles of strategy for effecting change†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   But no matter how ardent the campaign was and how dynamic the intellectual debates were, history underscores that prewar Marxism fell short in achieving its much desired political change. The variables affecting this result are attributed to both external and internal difficulties encountered by the group. It is believed that too much emphasis on theoretical conceptualization has left the advocates confused on what is real and what is not. And what is real during that time, is the dominance of the conservative elite who managed to uphold Japanese value system. All important institutions of Japanese society inculcated obedience, loyalty, and status over freedom, individual rights, and equality. All these summed up to hostilities of the society to individuals who think otherwise. Thus, it resulted to numerable defection from Communism and Socialism parties. It may also be relevant to note that conservative value system of Japanese society and the so called patterns of behavior during the modernization period contributed to the prevention of basic antagonism from being open clashes. Many intellectuals may be vocal in their convictions but a greater number of them seemed anxious to join the mass â€Å"hurly burly maybe because of the behavioral patterns pervading in the society and of the enveloping obligation not to disgrace the family through deviation from the generally accepted behavior. Another pitfall of the prewar Marxism is the very nature that the ideology was alien and much worse, dependent on the support of a foreign state which is labeled as enemy and competitor of their own country. It could not simply break the much preferred paradigm of Japanese Nationalism and Confucianism. Furthermore, the movement cannot fight equally with the raw power of the state especially of its police and military predisposition. This is for the obvious reason that communists had no civil liberties to protect them. As a matter of fact, party organizations were dismantled through various man-arrest in 1923, 1928, 1929, and much frequently in the 1930s. These arrests made it difficult for the advocates to maintain a substantial number that could function effectively for its cause (Beckamm, pp 148-150)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Much had been said by the writings and works of the early believers but less had been done. In the labor movement itself, the support and participation was only a small percent of the whole sector. Many who joined the cause were in the small and medium enterprises and almost none from the large industries. A few participation reflected that many have gone disillusioned or remained uninspired by the movement due to many failures of negotiations and strikes. The same also goes for the peasants, the Japanese agricultural communities and families were unreceptive and to some measure were hostile to Communism and Socialism. This maybe because the peasant movement lacks single central leadership that could have had become an effective channel of influence (Beckamm, pp150).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Commintern Policy also posted a challenge to the thriving ideology of Marxism. It added certain degree of divisiveness among the people in the movement. Also, it provided a very good issue that kept the proponents busy in arguing as to which would be the good and effective direction to heed towards the desired impact on Japanese society. Is it the bourgeois-democratic or the proletarian revolution? Again, it brood disunity, conflict, and frustration among themselves.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The defection of Etsuzo, Sano, and Nabeyama also influenced fellow believers to defect and to condemn all together the principles and actions of the group they once pledge allegiance and commitment (Beckmann, pp160; 166).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In totality, prewar Marxism in Japan made numerous progresses and successes in bringing out brilliance among Japanese intellectuals. However, it was never translated into a political action that would have given life to the very essence of the teachings of Karl Marx. Though numerous reasons tried to explain this result, but maybe the only reason true enough to describe its failure is the one said by George Beckmann, â€Å"†¦the very nature of Japanese society made it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for a Communist movement to exist, let alone operate with any degree of effectiveness†¦to Marxist-Leninist terms, the objective conditions were not at all favorable. (Beckmann pp. 152)†

The Texas Revolution and the Republic of Texas

The Texas Revolution (1835–1836) was a political and military insurrection by settlers and inhabitants of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Texas against the Mexican government. Mexican forces under General Santa Anna attempted to crush the rebellion  and had victories at the legendary Battle of the Alamo and the Battle of Coleto Creek, but in the end, they were defeated at the Battle of San Jacinto and forced to leave Texas. The revolution was successful, as the present-day US state of Texas broke off from Mexico and Coahuila and formed the Republic of Texas. The Settlement of Texas In the 1820s, Mexico wished to attract settlers to the vast, sparsely populated State of Coahuila y Texas, which consisted of the present-day Mexican State of Coahuila as well as the US State of Texas. American settlers were eager to go, as the land was plentiful and good for farming and ranching, but Mexican citizens were reluctant to relocate to a backwater province. Mexico reluctantly allowed Americans to settle there, provided they became Mexican citizens and converted to Catholicism. Many took advantage of colonization projects, such as the one led by Stephen F. Austin, while others simply came to Texas and squatted on vacant land. Unrest and Discontent The settlers soon chafed under Mexican rule. Mexico had just won its independence from Spain in 1821, and there was much chaos and infighting in Mexico City as liberals and conservatives struggled for power. Most Texas settlers approved of the Mexican constitution of 1824, which granted many freedoms to states (as opposed to federal control). This constitution was later rescinded, angering the Texans (and many Mexicans as well). The settlers also wanted to split from Coahuila and form a state in Texas. The Texan settlers were initially offered tax breaks which were later taken away, causing further discontent. Texas Breaks from Mexico By 1835, troubles in Texas had reached a boiling point. Tensions were always high between Mexicans and American settlers, and the unstable government in Mexico City made things that much worse. Stephen F. Austin, long a believer in staying loyal to Mexico, was jailed without charges for a year and a half: when he was finally released, even he was in favor of independence. Many Tejanos (Texan-born Mexicans) were in favor of independence: some would go on to fight valiantly at the Alamo and other battles. The Battle of Gonzales The first shots of the Texas Revolution were fired on October 2, 1835, in the town of Gonzales. The Mexican authorities in Texas, nervous about the increased hostility with the Texans, decided to disarm them. A small squad of Mexican soldiers was sent to Gonzales to retrieve a cannon stationed there to fight off Indian attacks. The Texans in the town did not allow the Mexicans entry: after a tense standoff, the Texans fired on the Mexicans. The Mexicans swiftly retreated, and in the whole battle there was but one casualty on the Mexican side. But the war had begun and there was no going back for the Texans. The Siege of San Antonio With the outbreak of hostilities, Mexico began making preparations for a massive punitive expedition north, to be led by President/General Antonio Là ³pez de Santa Anna. The Texans knew they had to move quickly to consolidate their gains. The rebels, led by Austin, marched on San Antonio (then more commonly referred to as Bà ©xar). They laid siege for two months, during which time they fought off a Mexican sally at the Battle of Concepcià ³n. In early December, the Texans attacked the city. Mexican General Martà ­n Perfecto de Cos conceded defeat and surrendered: by December 12 all Mexican forces had left the city. The Alamo and Goliad The Mexican army arrived in Texas, and in late February laid siege to the Alamo, a fortified old mission in San Antonio. Some 200 defenders, among them William Travis, Jim Bowie, and Davy Crockett, held out to the last: the Alamo was overrun on March 6, 1836, and all within were slain. Less than a month later, about 350 rebellious Texans were captured in battle and then executed days later: this was known as the ​Goliad Massacre. These twin setbacks seemed to spell doom for the nascent rebellion. Meanwhile, on March 2, a congress of elected Texans officially declared Texas independent from Mexico. The Battle of San Jacinto After the Alamo and Goliad, Santa Anna assumed he had beaten the Texans and divided his army. Texan General Sam Houston caught up to Santa Anna on the banks of the San Jacinto River. On the afternoon of April 21, 1836, Houston attacked. Surprise was complete and the attack turned first into a rout, then into a massacre. Half of Santa Annas men were killed and most of the others were taken prisoner, including Santa Anna himself. Santa Anna signed papers ordering all Mexican forces out of Texas and recognizing the independence of Texas. The Republic of Texas Mexico would make several half-hearted attempts to re-take Texas, but after all Mexican forces left Texas following San Jacinto, they never had a realistic chance of re-conquering their former territory. Sam Houston became the first President of Texas: he would serve as Governor and Senator later when Texas accepted statehood. Texas was a republic for almost ten years, a time which was marked by many troubles, including tension with Mexico and the US and difficult relations with local Indian tribes. Nevertheless, this period of independence is looked back upon with great pride by modern Texans. Texas Statehood Even before Texas split from Mexico in 1835, there were those in Texas and the USA that were in favor of statehood in the USA. Once Texas became independent, there were repeated calls for annexation. It wasnt so simple, however. Mexico had made it clear that while it was forced to tolerate an independent Texas, annexation would likely lead to war (in fact, the US annexation was a factor in the outbreak of the 1846-1848 Mexican-American War). Other sticking points included whether slavery would be legal in Texas and the federal assumptions of Texas debts, which were considerable. These difficulties were overcome and Texas became the 28th state on December 29, 1845. Resources and Further Reading Brands, H.W. Lone Star Nation: the Epic Story of the Battle for Texas Independence. New York: Anchor Books, 2004.Henderson, Timothy J. A Glorious Defeat: Mexico and its War with the United States.New York: Hill and Wang, 2007.