Word of the Week

Another word of the week is ebb, which dictionary.com defines as "the flowing back of water as the tide returns to the sea. Or a point of decline." I like how this word can define the flow of water or a concept that is declining just like the tide. This word was found in another NY Times article about the Libyan revolution by C.J. Chivers. The sentence reads, "Gunfire started to ebb..." So gunfire decreased like how the tide recedes every day. Just like the flow of our own emotions.

The article can be found at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/world/africa/10libya.html?hp

Word of the Week April 9th

My word of the week is dichotomy. According to dictionary.com, this word means division in to two parts or subdivisions. I found this word in a NY Times article about the debate over education reform by Jonathan Mahler. The line reads "As it often the case with morally charged policies, false dichotomies seemed to have replaced fruitful conversation."The quote is commenting on how moral values are splitting people apart and nothing is done getting done in politics.

The quote can be found at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/weekinreview/10reform.html?hp

Favorite Passage of the Week April 8th

I was reading an article on the New York Times website about Sidney Lumet, the director of such films as "Serpico," "12 Angry Men" and "Dog Day Afternoon." The article was by Robert Berkvist. The passage is a quote by the director himself.“While the goal of all movies is to entertain, the kind of film in which I believe goes one step further. It compels the spectator to examine one facet or another of his own conscience. It stimulates thought and sets the mental juices flowing.” 
I like this quote because I like how movies can actually say something rather than just be considered entertainment. I like to read novels depicting social and political problems. This is related to my enjoyment of movies in the same genre. 
The article can be found at 
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/movies/sidney-lumet-director-of-american-classics-dies-at-86.html?hp

Catch of the Week - April 8th

I was reading my textbook for a Technical writing class the other day and I stumbled upon a silly error. The book is entitled The Essentials of Technical Communication by Elizabeth Tebeaux and Sam Dragga. Technical communication is all about business writing such as proposals, progress reports, business letters and so on. On page 174, the authors are discussing topically arranging formal reports. The sentence reads as follow, "In topical arrangement, the order in which you present your ideas should be logical and inclusive For example..." All the sentence needs is a period between inclusive and For.