Where to Study Accounting in the UK

Where to Study Accounting in the UK Where Can You Study Accounting in the UK? ChaptersAccounting Classes in LondonAccounting Courses in Edinburgh.Learn Accounting in Cardiff.Studying Accounting in Belfast.Classes in Accounting in ManchesterAccounting Classes in BirminghamLearn Accounting in LeedsAccounting Courses in GlasgowIt is undoubtedly true that money makes the world go ‘round. The question is: who accounts for all of that money?Accounting firms, that's who!And you could too: by taking accounting classes, either as an undergraduate earning an accounting degree or through any of the accounting programs offered by accounting associations.What is an accounting association?Accounting associations, such as the Association for Accounting Technicians and the Association of International Accountants, all offer guidance and regulation updates to their members.They all also offer accounting classes  in financial accounting, managerial accounting, tax accounting and auditing to anyone who seeks the knowledge and skills that will lead to a satisfying career in acc ounting.Are looking for another way to earn your living?Are you hoping to gain new skills to make you more competitive on the job market?Maybe you are an entry-level manager with an eye on your boss’ job.Or perhaps you have long dreamed of entrepreneurship: going into business for yourself, but you need to know all about budgeting,  bookkeeping and cost accounting.In all of these situations and more, learning the principles of accounting  from an accredited course can only benefit you.Let’s go find out where, throughout the UK, you can learn  accounting concepts.Getting into Accounting.Accounting, obviously, is a bit of a big industry. There are the big four auditors, all the professional bodies, and the tiny little accountancy firms you see popping up all over the shop.It's a big industry simply because every business and their dog needs an accountant! Big firms are inevitably going to need to have an audit at some point (done by external accountants) - and they will have their own in-house managerial accountants too. So, thinking of how many businesses there are in this country, it's no surprise that there are plenty of accountants too.But these guys have an awful lot of power - as it's them that deals with all the cash! Tax payments, collection of money, paying employees, and keep track of all the comings and goings of the funds. These guys need to be on their A-game all the time, because businesses need accurate financial statements - otherwise they get in trouble with the government (or not, as things may be).External accountants - or auditors - make sure that the internal accounting department is doing what it needs to be doing. They give advice on how to streamline or restructure accounting and financial processes in organisations, and they take a look at the financial statements created by the accountants to make sure everything is up to scratch. This is important, because lenders and financial services providers need to know whether a company's fi nances are sound before they have anything to do with them.So, a lot of responsibility. And with the responsibility comes the requirement for dudes like you to prove that you can take that responsibility. That's why accounting qualifications make up such a big industry too. One, because applicants know that it's a good route to a respectful job and nice pay packet. Two, because all businesses are after accountants. And three, because accounting courses can cost a small fortune.If you like numbers and things though, it is worth it in the end.The Different Types of Accounting Qualifications.But, the accounting qualification industry has led to a huge proliferation of different courses, accrediting bodies, and qualifications, each with their dreadfully confusing little acronym: CA, ACA, ACCA, CIMA, AAT, and so on. These are things you'll put after your name once you have sat the course (it's the little things that matter, eh!).But whilst they all look interchangeable, they aren't reall y, not necessarily. The content pretty much is shared, with various different specialisations, but the course structures differ - depending on the dictates of the accounting body that accredit them.Let's take them in order, for the lols.The ACA.The first is CA, which stands simply for Chartered Accountant. You can only use these letters if you are member of the ICAS (another acronym!), which is the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland. This is the oldest chartered accountant institute in the world - as it happens.However, the course they offer is the same as the ICAEW (sorry), the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. This is the ACA course,  and it's methods are, these days, quite peculiar. You have, from the start of the course, five years to complete it - and the fifteen exams it involves. However, you have to gain 450 days of experience with an  accredited employer, to whom you are tied for the duration of that time.The good news is that the ACA is o ne of the most in-demand type of accountant - so you'll probably end up with a tidy job at the end of all this.The ACCA.To make matters lovely and simple (thanks, accountants), the other main accounting qualification is called the ACCA: Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. To be certified  is not necessarily better, it's literally just an extra adjective.These guys ask that you do three years of relevant experience throughout the course, but they don't have that rule about the employer.Regardless, this is a well-reputed qualification that will get you walking with swagger after graduation - or at least as much swagger as an accountant can muster.The CIMA.The CIMA follows a similar structure as the ACCA, but as its name - the Chartered Institute for Management Accountants - suggests, this is to train  management  accountants, those guys working within companies.Again three years experience with exams.The AAT.Which leaves us with the AAT courses, those from the  Association of Accounting Technicians.  'Technicians' presumably to make accounting sound a little sexier - who knows.These provide the more foundational accounting courses - i.e. the ones that you will study  before  you take a course accredited by one of the above. They do diplomas and certificates, and are usually offered by vocational colleges.It's a really important first step in accounting, as you'll learn all the basics before you gain the professional experience.The question would be: studies of what? And you would be quite right in asking, too!The general label of accountant does the profession a discredit.Most people have this idea that accountants are dull people with little social acumen and a penchant for numbers but, where the profession of accounting is concerned, dull is the least of the descriptors!In fact, accountants excel at detecting patterns. They are analytical and careful planners, for all that they are risk takers.It does seem odd to juxtapose allegedly stodgy number c runchers with, say, someone who routinely jumps out of planes. Still, you might find that risk takers are more meticulous  and analytical than commonly thought of.So, if you have an eye for detail and are looking for a rock-solid career, you could find even more accounting courses in London.Accounting Courses in Edinburgh.Edinburgh is the home to the ICAS, and is a place full of banks, fintech start-ups, and plenty of auditors, accounting firms, and other people relevant to the discipline. If you live in the city, you'll find plenty of opportunities that rightly suit your needs - as it's a vibrant business hub with all sorts of educational institutions.Firstly, there is the hugely prestigious University of Edinburgh. Rather than an accounting  undergraduate  degree - which some universities offer - they offer an accounting Master's straight off the bat. This means that you'll leave school and go straight into a four-year MA course and come out pretty much qualified. The course is ac credited by CIMA, ICAS, ICAEW, and ACCA, so you won't be wasting any time.Then there is the course at the Edinburgh Business School, which makes up part of Heriot-Watt University. They offer an MBA and an MA in Financial Management. Both are made up in large part by accounting modules - and these too are accredited by the same bodies. So, these courses contribute to the larger accounting qualifications but will not in themselves qualify you.Finally, Edinburgh College offers a load of AAT courses - levels three and four - which will prepare you to begin one of the other courses. They also offer HNCs and HNDs in accounting and finance for those who need some extra qualifications before they can enroll in a university.Learn more about accounting courses in Edinburgh!Learn Accounting in Cardiff.Cardiff too is a great place to learn accounting. You'll have plenty of business schools and universities offering accredited courses,  as well as private training centres. Remember, there is als o Superprof, whose tutors can help you with anything you fancy - including passing those many accounting exams.Like any big university, the University of Cardiff's Business School offers undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in accounting that are accredited by CIMA, ACCA, and ICAEW. If you've just left school determined to be an accountant, this is an appropriate course to take - because you don't need to decide which larger qualification to go for right now. There's a nice opportunity for a placement year too.AAT courses are available at your Cardiff and Vale College, one of the biggest colleges in the whole of the UK. Alongside thirty thousand other students, you can study at lots of different campuses across the city. The Department for Business, Finance, Administration, and Accounting is where you will want to be, as they offer AAT courses full time or part time starting every September.Learn more about accounting courses in Cardiff!economic growth in that area exceedin g the national rate by several percentage points, surely there must be sharp financial management at work!You might train in business accounting with the Pittman Training Group;    they have developed an entire curriculum of accountancy.They hold classes all over the UK including Manchester, instructing on such topics as accounting information systems and the generally accepted accounting principles.You could even take advanced accounting classes with them!Indeed, there is plenty of accounting education in and around Manchester; a vast trove of information that is far too extensive to list in one article.If only we knew what type of accountant you aspired to become...Upon completion of your public accountant coursework, you too would be qualified to analyze such financial reports Source: Pixabay Credit Mohamad_HassanAccounting Classes in BirminghamIt is true that no two accountants are the same, even though their job description bears the generic title of ‘accountant’.Just like any career field, there are specialities:A forensic accountant reviews financial records for the possibility of litigationAn auditor checks a company’s books for accuracy (a certified  internal auditor might work for a company exclusively)A tax accountant is conversant of the latest tax laws; they help individuals and companies prepare for tax time.A managerial accountant works in a business’ accounting department to help executives plan and optimise their company’s profit margins.A financial accountant manages the general ledger and trial balance; they also prepare financial reports for external publishing â€" to shareholders and tax authorities, for example.A CPA or certified public accountant may fill any of those roles or may engage in business by him/herself, managing assets for individuals or small businesses.A chartered public accountant is one who works in an office with other accountants; nevertheless, they too can function in any of these specialities.Which role woul d you like to fill in the world of accounting and business?Unless you've gained admission to an undergraduate degree program at the University of Birmingham â€" where you might have mentorship in deciding a speciality, you may have to look elsewhere for such guidance.A great place to start would be AAT â€" the Association for Accounting Technicians, who offer an array of courses meant to prepare future accountants for the business world.Whether you see yourself as an accounting clerk or leading a team of management accounting professionals, AAT will help prepare you for your new career.As with elsewhere in the UK, there are plenty of learning opportunities for accounting in Birmingham; you may even choose an online accounting class!Learn Accounting in LeedsWith the due acknowledgement that not everyone has the means or opportunity to take the traditional route in earning degrees in accounting, this city offers an impressive range of courses in accounting and finance.Unlike the degre e programs offered through the University of Leeds, many of these courses, taught by training companies like Consensa and Courtney, will yield a certificate in accounting that reflects the speciality you are training in.You may opt to pursue intermediate accounting or target your accounting skills to financial statement analysis in order to work with a corporation.Many such classes on offer in and around Leeds last only a day or two â€" not enough to proclaim yourself as a certified management accountant.Still, any proficiency you gain in general accounting will take you one step closer to your goal of learning accounting in Leeds.(Mostly) gone are the days of ten-key adding machines; these days, accountants rely on a computer-generated financial report Source: Pixabay Credit: AitoffAccounting Courses in GlasgowWe finally arrive at the city where accountancy gained royal endorsement: The Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries was founded in 1854; one of the three that was fi rst in the world to gain a royal charter.You may earn your bachelor through the University of Glasgow accounting program, or you might decide that the business courses or accounting courses at the City of Glasgow College would suit you better.What if you are studying for your Highers in accounting and need just a bit of tutelage?You may find courses that address specific facets of accounting, such as financial reporting or accounting practices through Acudemy Ltd.Each accounting course on offer is suitable for displaced workers â€" those who lost their job through  layoffs or budget cuts, as well as school leavers and anyone desiring to know more about the duties of a professional accountant.There are no prerequisites for these courses, and the only requirement is that you be ready and willing to learn about accounting systems, accounting theory and corporate accounting.If your current job is unsatisfying and you are looking for something new and exciting, short of enroling at unive rsity and earning any accounting degrees, an accounting certificate from such a training centre will certainly boost your chances at getting hired elsewhere.If you are currently on track to major in accounting at any of our country’s universities, preparing for your accounting career is well underway: good show!If you want to become an accountant, that’s not hard to do! All you need is to meet the educational requirements â€" obtainable through any of the accounting schools mentioned above, and possibly sit the CPA exam.Find more accounting courses in Glasgow.And then, all the choices of accounting careers will be open to you!You may choose forensic accounting â€" a downright sexy sounding speciality, or you could go into international accounting; you could even step into an accounting management position for a global firm.Keep in mind that your Superprof is always there for you.If you need tuition online or face to face to better understand public accounting or as an accounting major, Superprof is ready to help you meet your education requirements with qualified tutors.

Sequences and Series Tutors

Sequences and Series Tutors A sequence is a set thing in a certain order Example: 2, 4, 6 (Sequence of even numbers) A sequence contains list of values in an ordered way. All these values are called as terms. A finite sequence is that which contains a finite number of terms. a1, a2, ,an( n is some finite value) An infinite sequence is that which contains an infinite number of terms. a1, a2, ,an, ( n is an infinite number) Different types of sequences are Arithmetic sequence or progression (A.P) d Common difference A.P is of the form a, a+d, a+2d ....... l Last term Last term = tn = a + (n-1) d a First term Sum of n terms = 2a + (n-1)d or a + l n number of terms Geometric sequence (G.P) r common ratio G.P is of the form a, ar, ar..... Last term = tn = ar(n-1) Harmonic sequence (H.P) H.P is of the foxrm 1a , 1(a+d) , 1(a+2d), tn = 1(nth term of corresponding A.P) Harmonic mean of two terms a and b is 2ab(a+b). A X H = G Here A stands for Arithmetic mean H stands for Harmonic mean and G stands for Geometric mean Example: Find the first three terms of the sequence tn = (-2)n/( n+1) Answer: First term = n = 1 t1 = (-2)1/( 1+1) = (-2)/( 2) = -1 Second term = n = 2 t2 = (-2)2/( 2+1) = 4/( 3) Third term = n = 3 t3 = (-2)3/( 3+1) = (-8)/( 4) = -2 The first three terms are -1, 4/3, -2

Italian Alphabet Pronunciation Chart Memory Games to Practice

Italian Alphabet Pronunciation Chart Memory Games to Practice Suzy S. Mastering the Italian alphabet is an important building block in your learning process. Are you just starting  Italian lessons? Learning Italian can seem difficult, but the alphabet is actually very easy to memorize. This is because the Italian alphabet is very similar to the English alphabet, except for a few key differences. Most notably, the Italian alphabet doesnt have the letters J, K, W, X or Y. It’s important that you learn how to pronounce the letters of the Italian alphabet, as this will eventually help you form words and phrases. So lets get started! Reading the Italian Alphabet Take a look at the chart  below  to see how each letter in the Italian alphabet is represented. Remember, there are only 21 letters in the standard Italian alphabet, as the letters J, K, W, X or Y arent represented. SEE ALSO: Interesting Facts About Italy Pronouncing the Italian Alphabet Now take a look at the video below to listen to how each of the letters in the Italian alphabet are pronounced. Practice the correct pronunciation along with the video. Italian Alphabet Practice To help you memorize the letters and pronunciations of the Italian alphabet, use the two practice exercises below. Exercise 1: Matching Game What youll need: flashcards and markers. Gather a pile of flashcards. On one side of each flashcard, draw the picture of an object; for example, a dog, hat, chair, soccer ball, etc.  Shuffle all of the cards together and lay them out on the table or floor facing up so you can see all of the objects clearly. Next, quiz yourself by asking which objects start with a designated letter in the Italian alphabet. You could say, for example, What object on the table starts with the letter acca?” Acca is Italian for the letter H, so you would then point to the card with a picture of a hat on it. This is a fun exercise to do with friends! Exercise 2: Eye Spy What youll need: flashcards and markers. First, gather a set of index cards. On one side of each card, write down a letter in the Italian alphabet.  Next, choose a card from the pile at random. After choosing a card with a letter on it, you will have to identify an object in the room that starts with that particular letter and form the sentence, “I spy a ______.” If you choose the letter P, for example, you can form the sentence, Vedo una porta  (I see a door). Once you have mastered the pronunciation of the Italian alphabet, you will be ready to move on to common Italian vocabulary words! If youre having difficultly mastering the alphabet, you may want to work with an experienced Italian tutor. A tutor can develop a learning curriculum for your particular learning style and goals. Hope you have fun learning the Italian alphabet! Post Author:  Liz T. Liz T. teaches music and Italian lessons in Brooklyn, NY.  She is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music with a B.M. in vocal performance and has a graduate certificate in arts administration from New York University. Learn more about Liz here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by Monica H.

What Makes a Sonnet a Sonnet

What Makes a Sonnet a Sonnet Sonnets: Shakespeare's Favourite Poetic Form ChaptersSo, what is a Sonnet?The Most Important Features of a SonnetThe Main Types of SonnetThe Main Types of Sonnet: A SummaryPlaying with the Form: Other SonneteersWriting Your Own SonnetA Step by Step Guide to Writing a SonnetFind Out More about Different Poetic FormsIf you are studying poetry, Shakespeare, or English literature at any level, you will inevitably have to grasp with this thing called the  sonnet.  Any idea what this might be? No worries if not, because we are here to walk you through all aspects of this poetic form. By the time you have finished this article, you'll be able to identify the main features - metrical, thematic, and rhymed - of this literary form, and you'll be able to consider how to write your own!We hope you find it helpful!Find some fun poetry lessons on Superprof.Secondly, the sonnet, given its brief length, is great for expressing a feeling, thought, or idea. The brevity facilitates the communication of a strength of feeling that can be lost in lo nger forms.Thirdly, whilst the sonnet is traditionally known for focusing its attentions on the theme of love, the form allows for a great flexibility in its content. You will these days see sonnets written on everything from politics to war to ice cream. What makes this possible is the form's argumentative structure, which, as you will see below, is an essential part of the sonnet.The Lady of Shalott, though not a sonnet, makes use of the iambic pentameter Source: Pixabay Credit: MZ Matuszewski0The Most Important Features of a SonnetAs we saw above, a sonnet is simply a poem written in a specific form. But to recognise a sonnet when you see one, you need to know the specific characteristics of that form. So, to summarise, here are the need-to-know features of a sonnet.The Sonnet's Main FeaturesFourteen linesGenerally, all sonnets have fourteen lines. You will find some exceptions, but the poets will do this deliberately.VoltaThe fourteen lines are divided into two sections, usually of eight lines and six. The break between the two parts is known as the volta.Iambic pentameterThis is what we call the metre of the poem: the number of syllables in each line of the poem. An 'iamb' is a set of two syllables, the first unstressed and the second stressed. 'Pentameter' shows that there are five of these 'iambs' in a line. So, you have ten syllables: unstressed, stressed; unstressed, stressed, etc.Rhyme schemeDifferent types of sonnets have different rhyme schemes, and some don't rhyme at all! You'll see more about this below.Let's Add a Little More Detail...So, to flesh this about a bit, let's pay a bit more attention to each feature.Lines and StructureWe've just noted that a sonnet has fourteen lines. But what you need to remember is that depending on the type of sonnet, these lines are arranged in different ways.So, in a Petrarchan sonnet (we told you he'd come up again!), the lines are grouped into two: an octave (that means a group of eight lines) and a sestet (a group of six).In Shakespearean sonnets and Spenserian sonnets, on the other hand, you have three quatrains (four lines) and a couplet (two lines). You'll find more on how these lines rhyme in the sections on each type of sonnet below.The VoltaWhilst you will find a volta in many other forms of poetry, they are really quite important to the sonnet. What do we mean by the volta, then? In Italian, this word means 'turn' - and, in the sonnet, this is the moment at which a change occurs in the poem. This change might be in tone, argument, or thematic focus - but it is very rare to find a sonnet without one.As we note above, these usually occur after the eighth line of the poem - for Petrarch, after the octave, whilst for Shakespeare and Spenser after the second quatrain. You'll notice this change quite easily, as they are usually signaled with a 'but', 'however', or 'and'.Iambic PentameterThis may look like a scary poetry word, but don't worry about it too much. Let's break it down.'Met re' refers to the rhythmic structure of a line in poetry: how many syllables, how these are grouped together. 'Penta-' comes from the Greek word for 'five'. So, from 'pentameter' you know that the metre of a sonnet has something to do with five.As we said above, the word 'iamb' refers to a group of two syllables, one unstressed and one stressed.  There are five of these in each line when we talk about iambic pentameter. As all English literature teachers will tell you, the line will scan like this: dee-DAH  dee-DAH  dee-DAH  dee-DAH  dee-DAH.To see this in action, look at this line from Shakespeare's famous Sonnet 18, in which we have highlighted the stressed syllables:Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?Count the syllables in the line (there are ten!). Now, count the stressed syllables (there are five!).But if we switch the stressed syllables with the unstressed ones, we can see how the line becomes a little clumsy:Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?The Sonnet SeriesOne of t he main historical conventions of the sonnet is that they usually come in series. Think about Shakespeare's poem above. Why is it called 'Sonnet 18'? He didn't name it that. Rather, because he wrote 154 sonnets, each individual one is known by its number.A lot of people have written sonnets in sequences. The most famous early sonneteers all wrote series: Philip Sidney's Astrophil and Stella; Shakespeare's  Sonnets; Spenser's  Amoretti.  This convention has remained with us, as, in the twentieth century many other writers have composed sonnet sequences: Rainer Maria Rilke's  Sonnets to Orpheus,  John Berryman's  Sonnets.  These are the things that have developed the association of sonnets with the theme of love - as all of these sequences deal with a passionate speaker talking to a loved object.The Main Types of SonnetIn the English-speaking world, we usually refer to three discrete types of sonnet: the Petrarchan, the Shakespearean, and the Spenserian.All of these maintain the featu res outlined above - fourteen lines, a volta, iambic pentameter - and they all three are written in sequences. The primary difference is the rhyme scheme.We'll look at these three types of sonnet, and then finally consider some of those that don't really fit into the structure we have all been taught.Petrarchan SonnetThe first sonnet is the Petrarchan, or Italian, sonnet. Named after one of the form's greatest practitioners, the Italian poet Petrarch, the Petrarchan sonnet was the earliest strict sonnet form (he lived from 1304 to 1374).As we noted above, the Petrarchan sonnet is divided into two stanzas: the octave (the first eight lines) followed by the answering sestet (the final six lines). Let's take a look at a Petrarchan sonnet, by the English poet William Wordsworth (as this is easier than reading medieval Italian!).London, 1802(A) Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour: (B) England hath need of thee: she is a fen (B) Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen, (A) Fire side, the heroic wealth of hall and bower, (A) Have forfeited their ancient English dower (B) Of inward happiness. We are selfish men; (B) Oh! raise us up, return to us again; (A) And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power.(C) Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart: (D) Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea: (D) Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free, (E) So didst thou travel on life's common way, (C) In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart (E) The lowliest duties on herself did lay.So, here, in the first line, we've added markings to highlight the stress of the iambic pentameter (try it for yourself in the rest of the lines!).And we've neatly highlighted the volta after the eighth line (do you see how the poem's tone changes - from a critique of England to a celebration of Milton?). In Petrarch, the volta usually separates the shift from an argument or question in the octave to a resolution in the sestet.But what do those letters mean before each line? This is how we refer to rhyme scheme, in which A rhymes with A, B with B, and where each new sound requires a new letter. So, what do we have here? ABBAABBA, CDDECE.The Petrarchan sonnet will almost always begin with that ABBAABBA octave. However, the rhyme scheme of the sestet can change - so watch out. Here, Wordsworth uses CDDECE, but the most common rhyme schemes in Petrarch are CDECDE or CDCDCD.After the Petrarchan sonnet was first brought to England by Sir Thomas Wyatt, Henry Howard began translating and writing his own versions of Petrarch. His works were considered more faithful to the original than the work of his English counterparts. He made modifications to the Petrarchan sonnet which then became the structure of what we know as the Shakespearean sonnet.This structure was established to better suit the English language which was somewhat lacking in the rhyming words that Italian boasts.The Shakespearean SonnetShakespeare's sonnets are famous worldwide (Source: Pexels)The Shakespear ean, or English sonnet, follows a different set of rules. Here, there are usually three quatrains and a couplet following a rhyme scheme like this: ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GG. This is the primary difference between the Petrarchan and the Shakespearean sonnet. Let's take a look at Shakespeare's Sonnet 130:(A) My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; (B) Coral is far more red, than her lips red: (A) If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; (B) If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. (C) I have seen roses damasked, red and white, (D) But no such roses see I in her cheeks; (C) And in some perfumes is there more delight (D) Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. (E) I love to hear her speak, yet well I know (F) That music hath a far more pleasing sound: (E) I grant I never saw a goddess go, (F) My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground: (G) And yet by heaven, I think my love as rare, (G) As any she belied with false compare.Much like in the Petrarchan sonne t, the Shakespearean sonnet contains a volta. There is a difference here, however. The volta can either come after the first eight lines or, as in Sonnet 130,   at the beginning of the couplet. Here, it is used to signal a conclusion, explanation, or counterargument to the previous 3 stanzas.In Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130 the first twelve lines focus on the speaker’s mistress, comparing her unfavourably to nature. But the final couplet changes the tone completely, that despite all of her flaws he does love her.Shakespeare uses Sonnet 130 as a satire of other poets who compare their loves to nature’s beauty. In fact he takes it to the extreme nearly leaving the mistress completely unlovable!The Spenserian SonnetA contemporary of Shakespeare, Edmund Spenser lived from 1552 to 1559. His sequence,  Amoretti, was his main engagement with the sonnet form - and his other works included  The Faerie Queene, an allegory about Elizabeth I, and  The Shepherd's Calendar, a poem about shepherd s, surprise surprise.The Spenserian sonnet has a similar structure to a Shakespearean one, with three quatrains followed by a couplet. The interesting thing about the Spenserian sonnet is, of course, the rhyme scheme. Let's take a look at Spenser's Sonnet 75.(A) One day I wrote her name upon the strand, (B) But came the waves and washed it away: (A) Again I write it with a second hand, (B) But came the tide, and made my pains his prey. (B) Vain man, said she, that doest in vain assay, (C) A mortal thing so to immortalize, (B) For I myself shall like to this decay, (C) And eek my name be wiped out likewise. (C) Not so, (quod I) let baser things devise (D) To die in dust, but you shall live by fame: (C) My verse, your virtues rare shall eternize, (D) And in the heavens write your glorious name. (E) Where whenas death shall all the world subdue, (E) Our love shall live, and later life renew.So, what do we have here? Remembering that Shakespearean sonnets follow the ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GG form, the Spenserian sonnets are slightly different: ABAB, BCBC, CDCD, EE. So, the second rhyme of the first quatrain is taken to be the first of the second quatrain. Again, it ends with a couplet.Where's the volta? Look at line nine, the first line of the final sestet. 'Not so', says Spenser, introducing a contradiction. As in Shakespeare, the volta either appears here or at the beginning of the final couplet.After first octave.ShakespeareanABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GGAfter first octave or beginning of final couplet.SpenserianABAB, BCBC, CDCD, EEAfter first octave or beginning of final couplet.Playing with the Form: Other SonneteersWhilst what we have just covered are the main historical types of sonnets, lots of poets have decided to take the basic structure of the form and change its content. Consequently, whilst these above are important to know, it is worth stressing that they are not the only forms of sonnets around.Let's take a look at just a handful of different sonnets that play w ith the conventions of the form.Carol Ann Duffy's  Anne HathawayA poem which, if you are studying literature in the UK, you will definitely confront is Carol Ann Duffy's  Anne Hathaway.  Take a read and see what she does with the sonnet form.The bed we loved in was a spinning world of forests, castles, torchlight, cliff-tops, seas where he would dive for pearls. My lover’s words were shooting stars which fell to earth as kisses on these lips; my body now a softer rhyme to his, now echo, assonance; his touch a verb dancing in the centre of a noun. Some nights I dreamed he’d written me, the bed a page beneath his writer’s hands. Romance and drama played by touch, by scent, by taste. In the other bed, the best, our guests dozed on, dribbling their prose. My living laughing love â€" I hold him in the casket of my widow’s head as he held me upon that next best bed.So, what's important here? What is one of those key features of the sonnet that is missing here?You should have notic ed: it is the rhyme scheme! Does the poem rhyme? Only in the final two lines. Other than that, the iambic pentameter is still there, as well as the volta.Elizabeth Bishop's  SonnetCaught -- the bubble in the spirit level, a creature divided; and the compass needle wobbling and wavering, undecided. Freed -- the broken thermometer's mercury running away; and the rainbow-bird from the narrow bevel of the empty mirror, flying wherever it feels like, gay!Now, how is this a sonnet? Is it a sonnet, and why? The poet, Bishop, clearly intends it to be so, entitling the poem the way she does. What do you think?E.E. Cummingshere's to opening and upward,to leaf and to sap and to your(in my arms flowering so new) self whose eyes smell of the sound of rainand here's to silent certainly mountains;and to a disappearing poet of always,snow and to morning;and to morning's beautiful friend twilight(and a first dream called ocean)andlet must or if be damned with whomever's afraid down with ought with b ecause with every brain which thinks it thinks, nor dares to feel(but up with joy;and up with laughing and drunkenness)here's to one undiscoverable guess of whose mad skill each world of blood is made (whose fatal songs are moving in the moonBesides the lack of capital letters and spaces (all of which are intentional), E.E. Cummings is known for his experiments with poetic forms. Can you recognise what he has done here to the form of the sonnet?Writing Your Own SonnetOf course if you’re writing your own sonnet you can choose any style you like. But seeing as it lends itself better to the English language and we all know many of them, our guide will stick to writing a Shakespearean-style sonnet.When writing a Shakespearean-style sonnet, there are several rules you need to keep in mind. This style of poetry follows a specific format including length, rhythm, and rhyme scheme.To write a sonnet according to these rules, follow this process: - Select a subject to write your poem about (Shakespearean sonnets are usually about love). - Write your lines in iambic pentameter (duh-DUH-duh-DUH-duh-DUH-duh-DUH-duh-DUH. - Structure the sonnet using 3 quatrains followed by 1 couplet. - Compose your sonnet as an argument that builds up as it moves from one metaphor to the next, until you counterargue this argument in the concluding couplet. - Make sure your poem is exactly 14 lines long.Try your hand at writing your own poem (Source: Pexels)A Step by Step Guide to Writing a Sonnet1. Find InspirationWhereas Shakespeare’s sonnets generally revolve around love, you could, in fact, choose any topic for your sonnet.  You could even look to modern pop songs for inspiration!Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off is a prime (and fun!) example of iambic pentameter usage in a modern context.Other songs sung in iambic pentameter include:One Direction â€" HistoryAlessia Cara â€" Here (a particularly good example as she gives each foot’s downbeat extra stress)Halsey â€" New AmericanaG-Easy/ Bebe Rexha: Me, Myself and IGranted, not one of these songs is a sonnet but they do provide you with a way to get the feel of the iambic pentameter and different ways it can be used.If you wanted to see popular songs in sonnet form... some ingenious and creative soul has taken lyrics from the likes of Beyoncé and The Backstreet Boys and turned them into sonnets!2. Master the Iambic PentameterInternalising the iambic ‘beat’ is no chore; you could practice it while walking â€" left foot unstressed/right foot stressed, by clapping your hands (soft-LOUD soft-LOUD), drumming your fingers... any type of rhythmic activity.Mastering the iambic pentameter is vital to writing a sonnet with proper flow.Once you have found a topic to write about and internalised the iambic beat, writing a sonnet is a breeze!Remember that the first quatrain introduces the situation and, at least as far as Shakespearian sonnets are concerned, follows an ABAB pattern â€" meaning that the third line should rhy me with the first and the fourth with the second.Here is an example of just such a quatrain:Ago, I saw you walking fair one day Though fear forbade my presence should come near. Froze, the words that I could never say Though in my heart remain so very dear.Does it meet all of the criteria for a proper iambic pentameter quatrain and the opening verse of a sonnet? Let’s see:Each line contains five iambic feet (in other words, five duh-DUMs).Line three rhymes with line one and line four rhymes with line two.It outlines a situation (we wonder why the speaker fears approaching and what s/he wanted to say)3. Play with Words.You’ll note that there are several words in this stanza that generally would not be used in normal conversation, at least not in the form or in the place they are used here.Poetic license gives you permission to convey meaning by bending common language rules and expanding word meanings.Our great bard Shakespeare was famous for perverting the meaning of words; his frequent use of anon is the perfect example of such.The word anon dates back to 12th century English. Its original meaning was straightaway, or forthwith. Through Shakespeare’s persistent misuse of this word, it has come to mean the exact opposite: soon, or in a while.We can see why he loved that word: it is compact and convenient, subjecting itself neatly and repeatedly to the iambic pentameter. And it’s easy to rhyme!Make Ample Use of Poetic License â€" so long as you don’t completely vandalise the language!Poetic license permits the use of  froze instead of frozen to describe those unuttered words. Doing so even lends urgency to the situation by implying the words froze upon the sight of the person in question.4. Depict a Complete Scene in 14 Lines.To do that properly and effectively, you should use as many words and phrases that would call up visual imagery as you can.The phrase ‘fear forbade my presence to come near’ conveys so much more than ‘I had an anxiety attac k and couldn’t approach you’, even though they represent essentially the same concept, right?This stanza causes us to see fear as a looming, frightening, domineering entity denying the speaker the privilege of approaching the person in question. By contrast, ‘anxiety attack’ sounds paltry, doesn’t it?The QuatrainOur first quatrain has us off to a great start! We have the right number of feet and the right rhyming pattern; we have visual language that has outlined a situation. Now it is time for quatrain #2:Delight in how the sun kisses your cheek; Tortu’r in how I wish that it were me! Mere audience with you is what I seek As though your heart were once again trusting.Can you identify the components that make this a valid quatrain?Now we know a bit more about the situation: the speaker has apparently broken the subject’s heart and is well aware of the fact. S/he is bitter about the supposed lack of potential trust; we see this in the last line. Imagine that line spat out with self-loathing!And we know that it is a sunny day.This build-up of information leads us directly into the next quatrain and, finally the couplet; the denouement of the situation:Ago, I saw you walking fair one day though fear forbade my presence should come near. Froze, the words that I could never say though in my heart remain so very dear. Delight in how the sun kisses your cheek; Tortu’r in how I wish that it were me! Mere audience with you is what I seek As though your heart were once again trusting.Ne’er! Your cry strikes such a cruel blow! Ne’er! Your mien doth passion-tly aver! How did I force love’s door on me to close When soul and mind, it all I gave to her?And then, Divine, the hand that turns your face! Our eyes, searing, questing, entwine, embrace.Note the rising passion throughout; the third quatrain full of fury and agony until the last two lines; a conclusion in direct contradiction of the rest of the poem.Also, there is an escalating use of poetic l icense. In fact, the more ardent the situation becomes the more license is given to express it all!Feel free to use helpful resources to find just the right words for your sonnet! Source: Pixabay Credit: Truth Seeker08A Helping Hand in Sonnet WritingInternalising the iambic pentameter and employing poetic license is child’s play compared to mastering the vocabulary necessary to write in this manner.Fortunately, in most cases you only need to know the words for what you want to say; a thesaurus and a rhyming dictionary can help you find the right words to tell your story in sonnet form.Some of the better ones we know of are:https://www.rhymezone.com: perfect for finding just the word you’re looking for! https://www.synonym.com: you can also find antonyms, should you know the opposite word of what you’re trying to express https://dictionary.reverso.net/english-synonyms more than just a dictionary; it also offers meanings for common phrases! https://www.thesaurus.com: the simples t and perhaps easiest to use!Fortunately, we don't have to write with a quill pen, as Shakespeare did! Source: Pixabay Credit: Andreas160578Find Out More about Different Poetic FormsThe benefit of poetry is that there are lots of different styles  once you have tried sonnets poems. Give the other styles try, Limericks are light-hearted poems, historically  Japanese Haiku poetry is traditional, to show a feeling  an Epic style poem  would work well, Adding music? then the Ballad poetry style is  for you, If you are looking for a show of Friday night  visit a slam poetry  show or  listen to free verse poetry style. So many kinds of poetry, meaning you will find your best style of poetry.

GRE Practice (Tests) Make Perfect

GRE Practice (Tests) Make Perfect GRE/MAT Graduate School Blog As you're planning to take the GRE, you'll want to set up a structured study plan for yourself. There's no single, correct way to do this, and each student approaches this test slightly differently. Some students may opt for a rigorous prep course, while others might work with a tutor. Still other students strike off on their own, get a few books, sign up for a few online resources and study the material themselves. No matter which approach you decide to take, though, you'll want to find a way to structure your studying and measure your progressâ€"and one of simplest and most effective ways of doing that is to simply take tests as you go along. Practice testsâ€"and especially mock tests that simulate the test-day environment â€"are some of the best tools that you'll have at your disposal as you go get ready to take the GRE. First, they provide structure. If you're diligent about taking these tests at regular intervals, such as once a week, you'll get yourself into a good study rhythm, and lock in 2 or 3 hours of regimented practice in addition to your regular studying. Second, these tests give you a good assessment of how you're progressing. There's no guarantee how you'll do on any given testâ€"and this is true for the actual test as well as practice tests. But what you can do is use these practice tests to establish a score range, a general assessment of how well you're doing. If you take enough of these, and you're putting the work in, you should start to see an upward trajectory in your scores. Once you start to hit your target scores consistently, you'll know that you're fully capable of hitting those scores on test day. Practice tests should therefore be an integral part of any study program. But when should you take them, and how many tests are too many, or too few? That depends on you, of course, your schedule, and how long you've got until the test (you'll find some good approachesherefrom BrightLink Prep). As a rule of thumb, though, it's always good to begin any program of studyâ€"whether it's self-study or with a tutorâ€"with an initial practice test. Even if you've never seen the material before, this will give you a starting point. If you're studying on your own, you'll familiarize yourself with the test, and get a handle on what you need to focus on. If you're working with someone, use that first test to help the tutor work with you on a study plan. After that first test, aim for one full test a week, if you can, with one final test a few days before the real one. You don't want to cram too much in in that last week, and if you have an off-day on a practice test, you don't want that to carry over with you into the real one. Remember, as you're practicing, don't skip or pick and choose sectionsâ€"take the whole thing. By committing to a f ull test, even in practice, you'll condition yourself for the 3+ hour marathon you'll be facing on test day, and make it much less daunting. Similarly, you'll want to try to simulate the test environment during your practice testsâ€"that means no phones (even on your desk or table!), no distractionsâ€"and keep to the allotted time! Tests are easy to findâ€"here are two great resources for some good paper and computer-based ones: one from Prepscholar and this one from CrunchPrep. And keep in mind that each company, whether Kaplan, ETS, Manhattan, whicheverâ€"sometimes have slightly different styles to their practice tests that may influence your scores slightly. Also try to take at least two computer-based tests, as you'll most likely be taking one of these on test-day. None of this requires an overly large time commitmentâ€"just a few hours a week (in addition to your regular studying, of course!) to make sure you've got a structured framework, and progress that you can easily measure. And once you've gotten a feel for these practice tests, you'll be ready for anything they might throw at you on Test Day! About the Author Steve Markofsky is one of our most experienced and qualified test prep tutors. For more information on GRE tutoring and to see profiles of tutors like Steve, click here.

Helping Your Kid Find Their Tribe

Helping Your Kid Find Their Tribe Last year, Huffington Post called it the catch phrase of our digital generation: Find Your Tribe. Its been used as a call for those seeking a like-minded community and its everywhere. Yoga groups. Cooking groups. Blogathons. Ultimate Frisbee clubs. You name it! But what seems like a luxury for most of us is actually a necessity for kids with ADHD: having a group of like-minded kids (and adults who support them) creates an environment that fosters learning, connection, and growth. Every parent wants their child to have friends, and its heartbreaking to see or hear of your child being excluded or left behind. But it becomes even more difficult when your child has ADHD and desperately wants to connect with others, but his or her impulsivity, distractibility, or social skills get in the way. So when you see your child struggling to connect, you want to help. But how? How can you help your child find their tribe? Lets start off by saying: your childs tribe doesnt need to be big! Researc h shows that for kids with ADHD having just one close friend can make a difference. Having quality friendships even with a small group can help build self-esteem and resiliency, and can of course reduce loneliness. Begin by getting your child involved in an activity that interests him or her. It may sound simple, a structured setting and an interesting activity will provide your child with the foundation that he or she needs to start building his or her tribe. Involve your child in choosing the activity, and make sure to put your own preferences and interests aside! If you push your child into signing up for something that he or she doesnt enjoy, you run the risk of having him or her feel alienated and different from the other kids who have enrolled because they are excited and interested. Watch and observe your child during the activity. Is he or she connecting with another child? Does it seem like both kids are having fun? If so, seek out the parent of the other child and suggest a follow-up play date. I noticed our sons really enjoyed todays planetarium workshop. My son loves space but doesnt have too many buddies who also share his interest. Would you and your son like to meet up at the museum sometime this month for a planetarium show together? The boys might enjoy connecting again over their love of space. Give your child the chance to reconnect with his or her new friend within the context of their shared interest before venturing into open-play opportunities. In addition to new activities, think about current activities that your child participates in. If your child attends a tutoring center, religious ed. class, or music lesson then he or she is meeting kids every day outside of school who have the potential to become good friends. Ask your child if theres anyone from his or her afterschool activities who he or she would like to hang out with. Help him or her come up with a plan for talking with this child about a shared interest, and then inviting them to get together outside of school preferably to do something related to something that they both enjoy. And lastly, during a get-together, provide your child with some subtle social skills coaching. Talk to him or her ahead of time about what it means to be a good host or a good guest. Remind your child to take turns, and to look out for his or her new friend to make sure they are having a good time. If your child isnt picking up on social cues, discretely pull him or her aside and give him or her some strategies to try out. If a conflict comes up, rock-paper-scissors is always a great tool to fall back on - it works just about every time! Helping your child find his or her tribe can build self-confidence and help your child feel more comfortable in his or her own skin. A little support from parents can go a long way in helping kids with ADHD make valuable connections that may just turn into the close childhood friendships that they have been missing. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

English Conversation Classes with TED Conflicts of Interest

English Conversation Classes with TED Conflicts of Interest I dont think Ive met a student yet who is happy with the politicians in his or her country. In the United States, we complain a lot about how special interest groups corporations, foundations, organizations and anyone else with a lot of money, influence politics. By donating to election campaigns, we believe these groups create situations where the politicians have a conflict of interest.On the one hand, the politicians are supposed to be representing their voters, on the other, theyve got these groups who have given them a lot of money to help them get elected, and will be happy to give the money to someone else if the politicians dont do what the special interest group wants.Politics are perhaps the easiest place to spot people with conflicts of interest, but in this TED talk, Dan Ariely shows how the effect much more personal decisions, in others and in himself, and he talks about how we can be aware of them.Why you should listen do Dan:Despite our best efforts, bad or inexplicabl e decisions are as inevitable as death and taxes and the grocery store running out of your favorite flavor of ice cream. Theyre also just as predictable. Why, for instance, are we convinced that sizing up at our favorite burger joint is a good idea, even when were not that hungry? Why are our phone lists cluttered with numbers we never call? Dan Ariely, behavioral economist, has based his career on figuring out the answers to these questions, and in his bestselling book Predictably Irrational (re-released in expanded form in May 2009), he describes many unorthodox and often downright odd experiments used in the quest to answer this question.  Below is the video, and some listening and conversation classes. Contact us to take English conversation classes via Skype.  What was his doctors brilliant idea?Why would it fix his face?What were his concerns?And then came one of the biggest _____ _____ of my life.Why did the doctor want him to use the treatment?What was wrong with the test Da n did?Why did they redo the experiment?What do incentives do to people?Why is he positive at the end?Have you ever allowed a conflict of interest to change your decisions? Have you seen other people do this? How do you think this affects society?

Halloween and the establishment of gender roles

Halloween and the establishment of gender roles PartyCity.coms boys and girls toddler Cookie Monster costumes So although I was concerned? disappointed? upon seeing a post on Tumblr the other day comparing the boys and girls options for Cookie Monster toddler-sized costumes (see image, left) the other day, I cant say I was surprised. Now, Im not saying that someone sat down and brainstormed how they could make the toddler girls Cookie Monster costume sexy. I rather hope that anyone who would do such a thing is, you know, in jail. But I also think that the comparison at left shows the roots of the gender divide in Halloween costumes. The costume intended for boys (and therefore marketed to the parents of boys) is concerned with actually duplicating to some degree what Cookie Monster actually looks like. It also looks like its made of warm material, which is important in a large sector of the United States. By contrast, the girls Cookie Monster costume (marketed to the parents of girls) is merely a hat tip to the character of Cookie Monster slapped onto the basic frame of a frilly dress. There is essentially no attempt to make the costume actually look like Cookie Monster. And if relative warmth of a costume is an issue, parents will have to provide a turtleneck and tights to wear under the dress themselves, because keeping the costumed girl warm is clearly not a priority of this costume either. On PartyCity.com, the toddler boys section of costumes has separate career and classic themed sub-sections. In the toddler girls section, the two are combined.   Careers to which the boys might aspire? NASCAR driver, police officer (including SWAT and regular uniforms), soldier (generic army), admiral, fighter pilot, commercial pilot, firefighter, astronaut, UPS driver, postal worker, magician, and clown. With the girls career costumes combined with the classic ones, its difficult to pinpoint the precise number of careers Party City believes little girls might be aspiring to. Near as I can tell, they are as follows: cowgirl, cheerleader, clown, magician (although Id have pegged the costume as a magic-using princess if they hadnt labeled it as a magician), celebrity starlet (a la Paris Hilton), half-pint referee (in a miniskirt even the NFL replacement refs didnt wear miniskirts), and a can-can girl. PartyCity.coms toddler Superman and Wonder Woman costumes Further perusal of the selection of toddler costumes shows a general tendency for the boys costumes to attempt to duplicate (with varying degrees of simplification) the actual look of whatever the costume ostensibly represents whilst there is a general tendency for the girls costumes to attempt to fit whatever the costume ostensibly represents to a frilly dress, usually at the expense of direct representation. Often with the girls costumes there isnt even an attempt to pretend a real thing is being represented a frilly tutu dress with a cupcake on it becomes a Lil Cupcake costume. Is she supposed to be a cupcake? A person who sells cupcakes? A person who eats cupcakes? Its not a costume! Its a frilly dress with a cupcake on it! Another tendency I noticed is that with the boys costumes there is a marked tendency to add muscles. This is not particularly unexpected when youre talking about the superhero costumes (such as the toddler Superman costume at left), but it becomes a bit ridiculous when the toddler astronaut costume adds muscles. Im pretty sure you cant see muscles in a spacesuit! Maybe Im just looking at them from the wrong angle. This pattern of adding muscles to boys costumes even when logic dictates one shouldnt is not at all present in girls costumes even the superhero ones. Arguably, WonderWoman should have some muscles. Magic bracelets or no, shes a superhero, and Im pretty sure theyve got muscles. But the WonderWoman costume is just a dress and some accessories. (And I wont even mention the fact that whilst none of the boys in any of the age groups are wearing discernable makeup unless its an intrinsic part of the costume, even the toddler girls are clearly fully made up. Lipstick, eyeliner, mascara, blush, the whole deal.) My favorite irony in the toddler section, however, is that in the boys selection of TV/movie costumes, there is a costume for Hedwig, Harry Potters pet owl. There is not a Hedwig costume (nor indeed any Harry Potter-related costume) in the toddler girls section. This is ironic because Hedwig is a female owl. (Apparently she was played in the films by a male owl, but she was still referred to in said films as a female character.) PartyCity.coms kids cowboy and cowgirl costumes I moved on to investigate the kids section, which is again divided into boys and girls sections and further subdivided by theme. On the plus side, in this age group there are enough career costumes for the girls to have their own section of them. Of course, said section is still littered with careers such as cupcake cutie, gypsy princess (nice work if you can get it?), 1950s carhop (aka waitress), another miniskirted-referee, another impractically-dressed cowgirl (my sister is the genuine article and I promise you shes never looked anything like the girls costume at left, although she has come close to the boys version), and three varieties of cheerleader, none of whom sound particularly cheery (the bad spirit cheerleader, the cheerless cheerleader, and the gothic cheerleader). There is a doctor costume which pops up in the results, but it is the same costume thats listed in the boys section, right down to the little boy who is modeling it. Naturally the boys career selection is somewhat better at having actual careers represented. Additionally, the trend of boys costumes leaning more towards actual representation and girls costumes leaning towards making the supposed subject of the costume fit onto a dress continues in the older age group, even extending to odd costumes like the birds from the game Angry Birds. The boy version is vaguely angry bird-shaped, whilst the girl version is a little red dress with an angry bird face on it. PartyCity.coms boys Escaped Prisoner and girls Miss Dee Meaner Prisoner costumes And then theres the criminal costumes. For toddlers, there was one prisoner costume. It was essentially striped pajamas and was listed only under the boys section. For older kids, there are boys and girls options. The boys option (far left) is simply titled Escaped Prisoner costume and consists of loose-fitting striped pajamas, a pair of over-size manacles, and ball and chain for the childs ankle. The girls option, on the other hand, is titled Miss Dee Meaner Prisoner costume. It consists of capri-length leggings, a fitted tunic, and pink handcuff bracelets. Its a pretty short step from this to the Wardens Mistress womens costume, thats all Im saying. In and of itself, the Miss Dee Meaner costume (which again, is intended for young girls, not teens) is perhaps only minorly problematic. Indeed, in and of itself, the toddler Cookie Monster dress isnt particularly problematic. Its not particularly effective either, at least not if ones goal is to dress ones child up as Cookie Monster, but hey, some little girls just want to wear a frilly dress. Which is fine. If your little girl wants a frilly dress, give the girl a frilly dress. But the problem is that unless the parent (or the child) thinks to/is willing to look in the boys costumes as well, there arent very many options that arent a frilly dress or, as the child gets older, a slinky dress. PartyCity.coms toddler Lil Cupcake and teen Cupcake Girl costumes For example, the Lil Cupcake frilly dress for the toddler (far left) turns into the Cupcake Girl extremely abbreviated slinky dress (near left) for the teen. And Im still not entirely sure what career this represents for the toddler, or how cupcake patterned minidress qualifies as a classic costume for the teen. Then again, perhaps the reason why costume makers for young girls find it so difficult to create girl versions of police officer costumes or firefighter costumes or military costumes has to do with what the woman versions of those costumes look like. As far as people who make costumes for grown-ups are concerned, female Naval officers look like this, female Army commandos like this, female fighter pilots (excuse me, Air Force Angels, because obviously there are no female fighter pilots) like this, female cops like this, female firefighters like this, female astronauts like this, and they have no idea what female doctors look like, because all female medical professionals are nurses who look something like this. This article doesnt even really begin to scratch the surface of the murky gender issues surrounding Halloween and I didnt even get to reminisce about all the varieties of sexy _____ to which I bore witness over three Halloweens at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, but I hope Ive given yall something to think about. Im not sure what my Halloween plans are this year, but if I do find myself a party to attend, I think Ill just go as Arthur Dent from The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Yeah, hes a man and Im not, but all Id need would be pajamas, a robe, and a towel. Sounds like a plan to me.