Abstract
This essay describes the challenges faced by a writer when writing a piece of creative writing. The writer speaks from his personal experience of writing short manuscripts.

From the Paper
"It lies before you, silent in its emptiness and formidable in its vastness. Like a Colorado slope fresh with virgin snow, it stretches clean, white and untouched across the horizon, waiting for the mark of your pen or the stroke of your keyboard. It is the dreaded blank page, that endless expanse of white space that waits in the void for that first brilliant word.Conquering the blank page is the first challenge faced by a writer. Transferring that first word from pen to paper or from keyboard to screen can be a difficult process."

Tags:process, writer, hostage, produce, substantial, manuscripts, barrier, brilliant, lead, paragraph, reader's, attention

Abstract
China has been governed twice by a foreign group. The first was that of the Mongols, in the thirteenth century. The second was that of the Manchus, in the seventeenth century. This paper explains the reasons why the Mongols were only able to govern for a relatively short period of time, during which they caused an incredible amount of discontent among the Chinese, and why the Manchus managed to be much more successful in controlling China until the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The paper examines events preceding the Mongol and Manchu conquests, as well as the ways by which the invaders were able to establish sovereignty. The important aspects of the Mongol and Manchu administrations are also examined, with an emphasis on the differences in those administrations, which provides reasons for Mongol failure and Manchu success. Finally, the demise of both dynasties is examined.

From the Paper
"The Mongols originated in the northern steppe, the land of which was not very accommodating for sedentary agriculture. Consequently, the Mongols were a nomadic people, specialists in animal husbandry and horse riding. From a very young age the males and females learned to ride on horseback and shoot arrows, creating a highly skilled fighting force. The Mongols organized themselves into tribes, which on occasion united under one khan. The Mongols considered their free lifestyle superior to that of the stationary farmers to the south. The Han Chinese in contrast relied on agriculture to fund the economy. The literati, a group made up of learned men who spent their days philosophizing and painting in the countryside, were revered. Due to an established examination system, the society was relatively mobile, allowing men from low ranking families to work as high government officials. The Chinese felt themselves above the barbarian nomads to the north. This great disparity between the two cultures is the greatest cause of the inability of the Mongols to control China effectively."

Tags:china dynasty mongol manchu agrarian emperor conquered westerner's empire, great wall, ming suicide heaven japan asian porcelain, genghis khan, han sovereignty

Abstract
This paper traces the conquest on Mexico and the Aztec civilization by Hernando Cortez and his men in 1519 against the backdrop of the forces which influenced the Europeans to seek such a mission. The paper shows that the Europeans struggled with their ambivalence towards the two Americas and towards the native people whom they viewed as heathens and whose complexed cultures they were unable to understand. The paper explains that Cortez knew he was on a mission, not just for wealth, but to preserve the hegemony, both psychological and literal, of Europe. The paper examines the Aztec civilization and follows the course of the conquest until the Aztec surrender to Cortez's troops in 1521.

From the Paper
"The Aztec culture was well developed; they had developed an agricultural system that fed a large population; had developed math that helped provide them with an accurate calendar; had built a system of water canals for crop irrigation; mined for gold, silver, tin and copper; and had created weapons such as clubs lined with volcanic glass called obsidian. These clubs could decapitate an animal with a single blow. They had developed cooking and eating utensils, and a system of trade and barter. They also had schools; they held slaves, and they practiced human sacrifice in religious ceremonies."

Tags:Malinche, King, Charles, I, Quetzalcoatl, Montezuma

Abstract
This paper takes a look at the Aztec empire, further examining the ways in which the technological superiority of the Europeans, coupled with sheer good fortune on their behalf, helped them to conquer the Aztecs. First, the paper gives a description of the Aztec's capital city and its living conditions. Then, the author goes on to show the technological superiority of the Spanish, with an emphasis on their firearms, use of steel and of horses. The paper also highlights several incidents of good fortune which made the Spanish conquest less challenging. The paper concludes that the Europeans held important advantages over the Aztecs which resulted in them being able to conquer this part of the New World so effectively.

From the Paper
"It is hard to imagine a city of such grandeur being conquered at all, let alone in a matter of two years by a few hundred men. And yet somehow, Hernan Cortes and a small group of conquistadors were able to defeat the Aztecs and sack their city of Tenochtitlan by means of their advantage technologically and a few lucky breaks along the way. Due to their geographical location, and the trade, resources and interaction with other cultures it afforded them, the Spanish soldiers were equipped with steel, early firearms, and pack animals such as horses. These three items played a large role in the conquest of the Aztec empire."

Tags:Conquistador, Hernando Cortez, Mexico, Tenochitlan, Montezuma, New World

Abstract
This paper analyzes Randall Kenan's "The Foundation of the Earth," Toni Bambara's "The Lesson," and "Cathedral" by Raymond Carver to argue for the importance of knowledge in defeating ignorance which is demonstrated throughout these selected stories. It looks at how Maggie Williams, the main character of "The Foundation of the Earth" loved her grandson but was ignorant to the challenges he was facing that drove him away from her. The paper also discusses how Sylvia, the main character and narrator of "The Lesson," struggled to understand her newly acquired knowledge of the rich and poor divide and how in "Cathedral" the husband is very close-minded and ignorant which comes from a lack of knowledge.

From the Paper
"The Lesson" perfectly demonstrates the possibility of personal empowerment through knowledge. In the beginning of the story Sylvia hates Miss Moore because she is different, and she knows this difference is due to her educated background. Sylvia says, "I'm really hating this nappy-head bitch and her goddamn college degree" (507). When visiting F.A.O. Schwartz, Sylvia is confused and angered at the cost of the toys and that some people can afford such luxuries. While Sugar absorbs this information readily, Sylvia struggles internally with this new found information. It is only when Sugar puts to words what Sylvia must have been thinking, that everyone should have an "equal chance to pursue happiness" including "an equal crack at the dough", that Sylvia finds the motivation to become more than just a poor girl growing up in New York (512). Sylvia gained the knowledge that there is more out there for her and she wanted her chance to succeed, giving her individual power. "

Tags:Maggie, Williams, Sylvia

Abstract
This is an argumentative paper about the division along socio-economic lines. The author argues that today's technological advancements continue to drive us apart and further aggravate the problem of social inequality.

From the Paper
In the race to converge all forms of media, modern-day technological trailblazers are leaving millions behind. American society is still hurting from unethical institutions that have deprived certain groups from social equality and is encountering the digital age, which seems to promise a freer, faster and more connected society. Instead it may have created another gap between the "haves" and "have- nots." With these new-age industrial advancements a term commonly known as the "digital divide" has been coined to describe the uneven access particular groups have to technological tools.

Tags:computers, race, technology, society, inequality, social, socio-economic, economy

Abstract
The writer relates that had she not gone through bad things in her life, she would not be the person she is today. The writer reveals that her mother is a drug abuser and an alcoholic and bravely asserts that the truest test of her ability is her determination to live courageously like her father and to overcome the hardships in life. The writer believes that the future is hers to control by accepting the fact that she can only change herself.

From the Paper
"Throughout my seventeen years of living, I've encountered all kinds of situations, both good and bad. If I had not gone through bad things in my life, I would not be the person I am today. I wish that I could say that I have lived in a quiet household where I was not afraid to go home to everyday after school. Mom always slept too much, drank a lot, had mood swings that went up and down, and kept a filthy house. I don't want to say mom is a bad person, but she was definitely a difficult person to live with. Noone other than me really knows what went on behind the scenes at my house; I can tell you that it was never pretty. Even so, I have always thought that if I could fight my way through life I would eventually win."

Tags:hardships, challenges, change, future

Abstract
The paper relates that John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr are probably the most famous pop musicians of all time; they are the members of the Beatles, a pop group that forever changed the way our society views pop and music. The paper reveals that Beatles are probably the most famous music group of all time with millions of fans even today, and, by the time the Beatles conquered America, they had 'ruled' the UK and the rest of Europe. This paper examines how the Beatles conquered America and argues that besides being talented musicians, the Beatles were at the right place at the right time as well.

From the Paper
"John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr are probably the most famous pop musicians of all time. They are the members of the Beatles, a pop group that forever changed the way our society views pop and music. The Beatles are probably the most famous music group of all time with millions of fans even today. By the time the Beatles conquered America, they had `ruled' the UK and the rest of Europe. This paper will examine how the Beatles conquered America. The paper will argue that besides being talented musicians, the Beatles were at the right place at the right time as well. The combination of the members' characteristics,..."

Tags:music, beatles, fame

Abstract
The writer notes that even though the Roman armies conquered Greece eventually, it was Greek culture including philosophy, to sculpture and art, to education and literature that actually "conquered" Rome. This essay delineates some of the famous Roman poets, writers, orators who used the background of Greek culture to rise to eminence in the Roman Republic and eventually the Empire under Augustus.

From the Paper
"Roman armies may have conquered the various Greek city-states and brought them under their rule, centered in Rome, but the culture and traditions that helped Greece spawn Western Civilization took hold and produced Roman culture. "The Greek conquest of Rome took the form of sending Greek religion and comedy to the Roman plebs; Greek morals, philosophy, and art to the upper classes" (Durant 1944 95). Those who came to Rome fro Greece were called "Greeklings" by the Romans, and some of them actually were highly influential on young Romans by becoming their tutors. It is interesting to learn that the Romans, despite having their own gods ..."

Tags:culture, golden, age

Abstract
The paper relates that Oliver Goldsmith's play, "She Stoops to Conquer" was a directed by Max Stafford-Clark at the acclaimed National Theatre in Bath and on tour with the troupe. The paper examines how Stafford-Clark highlights the dysfunction of a "restoration" family, the Hardcastle's, while allowing the characters to be warm and witty. The paper shows how Stafford-Clark successfully leads the actors and the rest of the team to realize the artistic vision that Goldsmith intended with an integrated collaboration of design and acting. The paper asserts that Stafford-Clark has been one of the most important forces in British theatre in the last four decades and his contribution to "She Stoops to Conquer" is another example of this encouraging direction ("Professor").

From the Paper
"Oliver Goldsmith's play, "She Stoops to Conquer" was a directed by Max Stafford-Clark at the acclaimed National Theatre in Bath and on tour with the troupe. Stafford-Clark highlights the dysfunction of a "restoration" family, the Hardcastle's, while allowing the characters to be warm and..."

Tags:play, director, critique