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F. Scott Fitzgerald’s most popular (and most commercially successful) title was undoubtedly The Great Gatsby , having found its place not only in the modern American canon, but also on the silver screen in two film adaptations. Whether you’re a high school English student in need of a little help with your book report , or simply a Leonardo DiCaprio fan trying to figure out what the heck those chilling last lines uttered by Tobey Maguire are supposed to mean, understanding the last line of The Great Gatsby can help you to better appreciate the story and also comprehend the author’s message. The Last Line of The Great Gatsby Before we jump into our analysis, let’s take a minute to review that oft-quoted last line, which is delivered by the story’s narrator, Nick Carraway. The last line of Gatsby reads: “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” Now, taken out of context, that line can seem pretty cryptic, or at best a...

For many of us, work-related emails are part of everyday life. We use them to delegate tasks, deliver important news, and even introduce ourselves to prospective customers. But whether you’re writing to your colleague or your most valued client, there are some standards you should always adhere to for proper business email format. Knowing these key elements will help you write clear, professional emails that get your message through effectively. Proper Business Email Format Below is an explanation of the most important components you should include in any business email. 1. Make sure your email is properly addressed. Image by Muhammad Ribkhan from Pixabay This step should seem like a no-brainer, but the first thing you should do before you start composing your business email is check that you’re actually contacting the appropriate person, especially if they’re from outside your organization. You can double check company directories, which are often found online, to make su...

Reading is a pleasurable activity that can expand your mind in numerous ways. But sometimes, without the right tools, you may find yourself forgetting the things you have read, perhaps because too much time has passed, or you weren’t really present when you were reading. One way of tracking the books you’ve read and the lessons you’ve learned is by writing in a reading journal.  Reading journals have risen in popularity in the last few years. Both those who love to read and those who would love to read can benefit from a reading journal, because it serves as inspiration to read new things, and also makes it easier to process the information you consume. What Is a Reading Journal?  A reading journal is a record of the things that you have read. It is not merely a list of books; it also allows you to reflect on and process what you are reading. Photo by Jess Bailey on Unsplash Way back in the 19th century, British educator Charlotte Mason advocated the use of a commo...

Teaching a child to read is one of the most rewarding experiences that a parent or teacher can have. And knowing the process that children use to decode words can help make things easier for you.  When a child first learns phonics, or letter sounds, they will be able to sound out the individual letters in a word. Then, they’ll usually proceed to blending these sounds.  Once they are able to read actual words, consistent and continuous practice can help build their confidence. This is where you’ll see the value of introducing short words that they can immediately start decoding, such as CVC words.   What Are CVC Words? CVC words consist of three letters that follow the consonant-vowel-consonant pattern. They are considered the easiest words for beginning readers to start decoding, as they can practice blending three sounds together. So whether you’re teaching children to read or working with ESL students, these words are great starting points for reading in English. ...

English is an interesting language: for someone born into an English-speaking home, it can seem pretty straightforward. But foreigners wishing to learn English as a second language need to memorize many rules—as well as the many exceptions to those rules!  For instance, for phonics, you may learn how to sound out each letter. But when these letter sounds occur in different words, they may be sounded out totally different, as in the case of sight words.  In terms of grammar, you also need to learn how singular words become plural. In English, regular nouns become plural by adding -s or -es to the end of the word. For example:  Singular – Plural cat – cat s dog – dog s house – house s tree – tree s ball – ball s But the language also includes numerous words that do not follow this rule. These are known as irregular plural nouns.  What Are Irregular Plural Nouns?  An irregular plural noun refers simply to nouns that do not form their plural by adding ...

One of the most fun parts of writing is trying to describe a person, place, or feeling—but sometimes common adjectives don’t seem to capture what we want to convey! In these instances, we might reach for literary devices such as similes and metaphors , which let you compare one object to another.  But what if you don’t really want to use the words “like,” or more wordy options like an entire metaphor? Here comes the very useful suffix, esque .  How Do You Use “-Esque”? The suffix esque is a handy tool for writers. It means “resembling,” “like,” “in the style of,” or “reminiscent of.” This makes it a good option for when you want to be succinct while describing an object as being like another object.  The great thing about “-esque” is that you can add it to just about any noun, even proper nouns! For example, if you want to describe a mannerism as being similar to something that Donald Trump would do, you may say, “That’s so Trump-esque.”  Then again, that ma...

While the most skilled communicators need only their words and presence to make an impression, visual representations should never be underestimated, especially if you’re trying to sell an idea or teach an important concept. Today, there are dozens of options for presentation software on the market, but you need the best tools on your side if you want your delivery to have the maximum effect on your audiences. We’ve rounded up 8 of the best presentation tools that you can count on to help you deliver a winning show. What Is the Best Presentation Software? PowerPoint When it comes to presentation software, PowerPoint remains a staple for good reason: it’s the original, it’s reliable, and it’s pretty hard to mess up. Whether you’re a middle grade student working on a class project or a business executive working on an important presentation, PowerPoint will help you put together a professional slideshow that you can make as simple or advanced as you’d like. Price: $139.9...

From shows like Friends and The Office , to late-night talk shows and the barrage of tweets and memes we scroll past every day, sarcasm seems to be everywhere in Western culture. In fact, according to one linguist at Macalester College , it’s “practically the primary language” in modern society. By the time children start kindergarten, most have learned to identify sarcasm, if not use it themselves. As they get older, those who don’t understand sarcasm are immediately noticed, as they’re almost never “in on the joke”—which is why being able to recognize and use sarcasm is essential to survival in a society dripping with irony. What Is Sarcasm? Sarcasm is a form of verbal irony , wherein the speaker usually says the opposite of what they actually mean. Many times, a key giveaway that a person is being sarcastic is the tone of their voice, or, the tone of their writing . That tone is usually on the hostile side. After all, the word “sarcasm” comes from the Greek root sarkazein , w...

When you want to describe something, choosing from a long list of adjectives may not always feel like enough. Sometimes, making a comparison to another object creates a more effective and vivid description.  For example, you could say that finding your ring amid the living room clutter “will be difficult.” Or, you could make that difficulty easier to comprehend by using the analogy, “finding the ring will be like finding a needle in a haystack.” This use of analogies is common in the English language, both in writing and in everyday communication. Knowing how to use them effectively will help your audience better connect to your writing. What Is an Analogy? An analogy is a comparison between two things that share a similarity, with the ultimate goal of explaining or clarifying their connection. Other figures of speech that make comparisons are similes and metaphors , but these normally show similarities between two objects, whereas the goal of an analogy is to explain the...