Blog Archive Business School Faculty Members Criticize Rankings in New Research Paper

Blog Archive Business School Faculty Members Criticize Rankings in New Research Paper MBA students and hopefuls have long followed the business school rankings of such publications as Bloomberg Businessweek, U.S. News World Report, and the Financial Times seeking guidance regarding which programs offer the highest quality education. Although we at mbaMission often recommend that applicants take these rankings with a grain of salt and avoid relying on them solely when deciding where to apply, we can understand the temptation to see which programs claim the top spots each year. Business schools’ official opinions on rankings vary, but now some are taking a definite stand against them. In a research paper published in the May edition of the Decision Sciences journal, deans and faculty members of more than 20 schools express doubts over the methodology used by various publications that offer rankings. “If the goal is to help inform [students] about how to make the best decision about business schools, let’s give them the raw information, and not take numbersâ€"which may or may not be relevant to the studentâ€"and bungle them together into a ranked list,” Elliot Bendoly, co-author of the research paper and an associate dean at the Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University commented to the Wall Street Journal. Francesca Levy, one of Bloomberg Businessweek’s editors who oversees business school coverage and rankings disagrees: “Our ranking aims to answer a key question on the mind of many prospective students: Which B-schools are best at getting their graduates good jobs that set them on strong career paths?,” she told the Chicago Tribune. The mor e than 20 schools that took part in the research paper include the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School, the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business, and the Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa. Share ThisTweet News

Use of Imagery in Chopin’s The Awakening Essay - 749 Words

Use of Imagery in Chopin’s The Awakening Several passages in The Awakening struck me because of their similar imagery—a bird, wings, and nudity. The first passage I looked at is in Chapter 9 where Edna Pontellier has a vision of a naked man â€Å"standing beside a desolate rock† (47) on a beach who is watching a bird fly away. This image was evoked by a one particular piece that Mme Ratignolle plays which Edna significantly calls â€Å"Solitude. † Apparently Edna frequently envisions certain images while listening to music: â€Å"Musical strains, well rendered, had a way of evoking pictures in her mind† (47). Listening to this piece Edna envisions a solitary, naked man with an â€Å"attitude [†¦] of hopeless resignation† (47). This scene presents solitude†¦show more content†¦We find the same imagery of somebody standing solitary and naked on a beach. Throughout the novel Edna has searched for someone to be close to and the only one she thought she could find that closeness w ith was Robert Lebrun. The words of his note â€Å"Good-by—-because I love you† (139) are still on her mind when she is swimming out into the ocean. She has finally accepted that there will not be a union of souls for her with anybody and that everybody is alone in the end. In the scene Edna had envisioned earlier the man was watching a bird flying away. At the end of he novel there is a bird as well, however, here it has a broken wing and is â€Å"beating the air above, reeling, fluttering, circling disabled down, down to the water† (138). This passage reminded me of a scene earlier in the novel where Edna tells Arobin about her last encounter with Mademoiselle Reisz that has left her thinking about something the pianist had said to her: â€Å"She says queer things sometimes in a bantering way that you don’t notice at the time and you find yourself thinking about afterward.† Edna tells Arobin: â€Å"[S]he put her arms around me and felt my shoulder blades, to see if my wings were strong, she said. ‘The bird that would sour above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings. It is a sad spectacle to see weaklingsShow MoreRelatedThe Unique Style Of Kate Chopin s Writing1603 Words   |  7 PagesThe unique style of Kate Chopin’s writing has influenced and paved the way for many female authors. Although not verbally, Kate Chopin aired political and social issues affecting women and challenging the validity of such restrictions through fiction. Kate Chopin, a feminist in her time, prevailed against the notion that a woman’s purpose was to only be a housewife and nothing more. Kate Chopin fortified the importance of women empowerment, self-expression, self-assertion, and female sexuality throughRead More Comparing the Use of Images in The Other Wife and The Story of an Hour1165 Words   |  5 PagesComparing the Use of Images in The Other Wife and The Story of an Hour The Other Wife and The Story of an Hour are two short stories both seemingly similar and contrasting in different ways. In Chopin’s story we see that Louise Mallard reveals her ironically natural feeling of joy and freedom following the news of her husband’s death. Louise’s sensation of freedom is conveyed through the use of vivid natural images and color. While in Colette’s story the two female protagonists contrastinglyRead MoreKate Chopin s The Awakening1198 Words   |  5 PagesCommonly explored throughout her works, the idea of marriage inhibiting a woman’s freedom is the driving force behind Kate Chopin’s contextual objections to propriety. In particular, The Awakening and â€Å"The Story of an Hour† explore the lives of women seeking marital liberation and individuality. Mrs. Chopin, who was raised in a matriarchal household, expresses her opposition to the nineteenth century patriarchal society while using her personal experiences to exemplify her feminist views. Read MoreChona And The Ocean In Kate Chopins The Awakening1027 Words   |  5 Pagespower to take life away: the ocean is symbolic of creation and destruction. In Kate Chopin’s novella, The Awakening, many important scenes are set the ocean. Edna Pontellier experiences and reflects the dual power of the ocean in the novella, through childlike activities such as, learning to swim and a rebirth, but also in more powerful experiences, like committing suicide in the final scene. Chopin uses imagery and diction to foreshadow the final scene as a suicide and a rebirth. Edna is ironicallyRead MoreAnalysis Of The Awakening 1032 Words   |  5 PagesIn Chopin’s novel, The Awakening, she writes about a woman’s desire to find and live fully within her true self during the 1890s in Louisiana. The woman, Edna Pontellier, is trying to find herself in the masculine society of Louisiana, leading her to cause friction with friends, family and the Creole society. Edna begins to feel a change; she begins to feel like a whole person with wants, interests and desires. She learns that she is not comfortable with being a wife and mother. The imagery of theRead More symbolaw Symbols and Symbolism - Birds as a Symbol in The Awakening597 Words   |  3 PagesBirds as the Symbol of Bondage and Freedom in The Awakening Birds that are enclosed in cages indicate solitude and bondage; those that roam in the open air above the seas represent freedom and happiness. The captivity or freedom of these animals is the symbolism that Chopin uses to illustrate the captivity Edna experiences from society and the freedom she desires.   Through this vivid bird imagery in her novel The Awakening, Chopin elucidates the struggle and freedom Edna encountersRead MoreA Shameful Affair Essay981 Words   |  4 PagesSimpson SOURCE: Simpson, Martin. Chopins A Shameful Affair. Explicator, 45, no. 1 (fall 1986): 59-60. In the following essay, Simpson discusses images of nature and society in A Shameful Affair. Mildred Orme, in Kate Chopins A Shameful Affair, is a socially conventional and sexually repressed young woman who has come to the Kraummer farm to escape the sexual demands that were made on her in civilized, urban society. Chopin uses fertile nature imagery to show Mildred being drawn outRead More Awakening1 Essay1262 Words   |  6 PagesAwakening1 THE AWAKENING The contrast between an urban and a tropical setting represents the awakening that the protagonist experiences in Kate Chopins classic novel, The Awakening. At Grand Isle Edna becomes conscious of her restrictive marriage in a male dominated society. Her awakening originates with her experiences at Grand Isle but fully develops upon her return to the city, where she completes her transformation from her roles as wife and mother to an independent woman. The settingRead MoreFemale Empowerment in Kate Chopins The Awakening7915 Words   |  32 PagesHeinrich-Heine-Università ¤t Wintersemester 2010/11 Vertiefungsmodul Kurs: American Realism and Naturalism - Short Stories Seminarleiter: Georg Schiller Datum der Abgabe: 16.04.2011 Female Empowerment in Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Awakening† Anjana Dhir BA Englisch KF, Geschichte NF 3. Semester Table of Contents 1. Introduction 3 2. The FrenchRead MoreReconciling Edna s Suicide And The Criticism Surrounding861 Words   |  4 Pagesby Mary Bird. The first essay I read was titled â€Å"Reconciling Edna’s Suicide and the Criticism Surrounding† by Mary Bird. In this essay she reveals two point of views about Edna’s death. Bird presents two thesis statements. The first thesis is â€Å"†¦awakening is one of mental clarity, and her suicide is a triumphant act. By committing suicide Edna is finally freeing herself from social constraints and possession.† The second thesis is â€Å"Edna’s awaking to be a decline into insanity.† Bird makes a connection

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Computer Network Security and Firewall Essay example

Principals of Information Security 4th Edition Questions Chapter 6 Questions 1. What is the typical relationship among the untrusted network, the firewall, and the trusted network? The relationship is that data is only limited to what firewalls allow via specific places called â€Å"ports†. There is the untrusted network on the outside, then the firewall which prevents unwanted or suspicious connections, and the trusted network is what lies within the bounds of the firewall. 2. What is the relationship between a TCP and UDP packet? Will any specific transaction usually involve both types of packets? A TCP Packet sends information, and reports back to the sender on progress to assure that information has been sent and received. UDP on†¦show more content†¦8. Describe how the various types of firewalls interact with the network traffic at various levels of the OSI model. Packet filtering firewalls include Static Filtering, dynamic filtering, and stateful inspection filtering these all work at the transport layer of the network. Packet filtering interacts with network traffic to confirm or deny it based on a rule set for a packet going up against a set of rules that is determined. Static filtering is up against a rule set for each packet, dynamic filtering filters packets depending on network traffic and usage limits, and stateful inspection examines packets and verifies where they are coming and going to determine via logs. 9. What is a hybrid firewall? A Hybrid firewall â€Å"combine the elements of other types of firewalls that is, the elements of packet filtering and proxy services, or of packet filtering and circuit gateways.† (POIS P.256) It’s pretty nice because it takes all the network security protocols and kind of combines them in one package so a network can be improved without replacing several different firewall technologies. 10. List the five generations of firewall technology. Which generations are still in common use? 1st Generation: Static packet filtering (going up against a pre-defined set of rules) 2nd Generation: Application level firewalls, which are able to be configured viaShow MoreRelatedThe Importance Of Ensuring Data Security Accountability Essay1169 Words   |  5 PagesIn today’s advanced world of technology, valuable information holds the same amount of worth that of new world currency. Since information is highly important, it is crucial that it remains secured. This is ultimately covered by data security and privacy. Online data is a hacker’s dream, as it holds the ultimate value of materials for these cybercriminals. For example, on a broader scale, banking information can be worth over a thousand dollars depending on the account balance. If cybercriminalsRead MoreNetwork Security : Information Security1276 Words   |  6 Pages CIS647-NETWORK SYSTEMS COMPUTER NETWORK SECURITY Prof : Philip Fitzpatrick By: Suresh Palleboina (21063613) COMPUTER NETWORK SECURITY Introduction: Computer network Security is the most essential and complex topic in IT field. It is important that all user must have an awareness about computer network security. Internet is a biggest network in the world which connects all computer devices in the world. In our daily life millions of people communication each other by using internetRead MoreEssay on Network Security1610 Words   |  7 PagesNetwork Security 1. What is network security? Network security has changed significantly over the past years. There is more and more data to monitor and analyze in order to detect the activity of your data and systems. Securing a network has many variables. Password authentication, network access, patches, anti-virus protection, intrusion detection, firewall and network monitoring tools are just a few of the things you can do to protect yourself. Threats to your network is becomingRead MoreMonitoring Intrusion Detection Team Act1049 Words   |  5 PagesRegardless of your accomplished hard work, your organization has experienced a security violation where sensitive information has likely been accessed or stolen. Excruciating as it may possibly be to acknowledge; at the moment you must deal with the circumstances presented to decrease the damage. Keep your cool getting flustered does nothing to solve the problem, and neither does ignoring or attempting to hide it. These incidents in the real world do happen all the time, and there are various explanationsRead MoreBenefits Of Using The Internet1298 Words   |  6 Pagessociety we heavily rely on computers for a number of different reasons whether that be paying bills, shopping online or simply staying in touch with family and friends. If you take a look around at daily life it is clear to see just how important computers and technology are to us, they make life easier. One w ould never have that one day you could do your shopping without having to leave the comfort of your own home, this is just one of the basic uses of the modern computer. The fastest growing elementRead MoreA Brief Note On Firewalls And Network Security954 Words   |  4 PagesJoshua Theophilus Jacqueline Stanton ITSA 255-4121 23 November 2015 Firewalls and Network Security The cyberspace has become a major concern to all stakeholders in view of persistent threats and attacks to IT infrastructures around the globe. Individuals, corporate entities and even governments have become victims of anonymous attacks in one form or the other. As a result of these, security professionals have continued to design and implement policies that can help protect valuable assets and vitalRead MoreHow Security Is Important For A Successful And Secure Computer Network System942 Words   |  4 Pagesspeak the network security in a brief, more focus on the strategies and practical implementations to be done for a successful and secured Computer networking and Information systems, minor the possible threats and challenges against them and with a conclusive discussion of importance of rapid research for secured computer network system. Keywords: Research, Plans, System,Security,Threats. Strategies and Plans in Executing Information Security Introduction Security has been playingRead MoreNotes On Operating Systems And Client / Server Environments1010 Words   |  5 Pagesto Operating systems and Client/Server Environments Topic: 1 Identify security processes for a specific operating system. INTRODUCTION Hacking, as many understand it, is the attempt to access a computer system that one has not been authorized to access. While the reasons people hack can differ widely, in general, the intent is malicious. The growth of computer hacking has grown exponentially with the advent of computer networks and personal computing. While it is a difficult field to enter becauseRead MoreNetwork Security Is The Procedure Of Computer Or Any Computer On Your Network1430 Words   |  6 PagesNetwork security is the procedure of preventing and identifying unsanctioned use of your computer or any computer on your network. Preventative measures allow you to stop unauthorized users, also known as intruders or â€Å"hackers,† from accessing your computer system. Detection helps establish whether or not someone has attempted to break into your system, if they were successful, and what they may have done . The Internet has grown to give us the ability to shop, pay bills, and create online profiles Read MoreSecurity Technologies1 2 Essay910 Words   |  4 Pages Security Technologies and Methodologies CMGT 582 Security Technologies Methodologies In today’s computer based world there are several potential and devastating threats like hackers, viruses, worms, and Trojans etc. to our computers, networks, and confidential information. So as to protect any computers, networks, and confidential information the installation of security applications is vital and hardware systems to protect our confidential information, computers, and

Early Christian Architecture free essay sample

Early Christian Architecture We have spoken of how one style of architecture develops from another, and we are now to look briefly at a form which is chiefly important as being a link in the chain of styles. There are not many important buildings of the Early Christian style. It came into being at a time when not much building was going on that is, during the early centuries of Christianity, and what good examples there are, are nearly all churches. During the first three centuries of the Christian era Christianity was under the ban of persecution, and there was not much chance for it to manifest itself in great architecture. But, early in the fourth century, Constantine became Emperor and was converted to Christianity. He made Christianity the State religion. Constantine founded three large basilicas in Rome, all of which have been buried or destroyed. The chief objects to be thought of in these churches was to build without too much cost, to do it quickly, and to accommodate large congregations. We will write a custom essay sample on Early Christian Architecture or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A great structural principle which they used in roofing, or spanning spaces, is the truss. This is a frame of beams, or of beams and rods, so disposed and fastened as to make a continuous support or bridge across an open space. The truss was used by the Romans in roofing their basilicas. CHIEF FEATURES As the great Romanesque style grew out of this early Christian architecture, let us look at the main features of the earlier and simpler style. Some of the most important of these features are preserved also in the Gothic church and we shall wish to see, as we very easily can see, how they grew out of this first early Christian style. The buildings of this style were simple in form, but of noble proportions, and, though very plain without, they were often gorgeous within. A notable circumstance about the early Christian work is the fact that its monuments were built largely from ruins and fragments quarried from earlier Roman work. No doubt much beauty was ruthlessly destroyed in this way. Before the Christian era Cato borrowed from the Greeks their hall of justice; the first one being erected in Rome about 190 years before Christ. These basilicas usually had a large hall connected with a portico, and encircling galleries often enclosed the whole. When Christianity became a State religion these buildings came to be used for religious purposes. The basilica always had a central aisle; and this nave or central portion was usually separated from the side aisles by rows of columns. At the further end of the nave was the sanctuary or apse, in front of which stood the altar. In front of the whole was usually an atrium or fore-court, surrounded by a covered arcade. The exterior was extremely plain, and the interior resplendent with marbles and mosaics. A wooden roof covered the edifice. Figure 29 is the ground plan of a basilica which will show us the general arrangement, although this basilica does not happen to be an old Roman example. Above the columns that surrounded the nave there usually arose another story called the clerestory (clear story), the walls of which were pierced with windows. This is a feature which persists through later styles, and it is interesting to see its simple and plain beginning. Some of the Egyptian temples had clerestories, but the European examples date back only to early Christian architecture.

Child Labor in China Essay Example

Child Labor in China Essay Child Labor in ChinaChild labour is a subject that represents an apparent societal unfairness. In China, child labour may non be every bit serious as in some states, such as Indonesia, Sri Lanka or Nepal. However, there is no uncertainty that the kid labour issue has non been overlooked. Although the official statistics on the extent of Chinese kid labour are non available due to its political system, intelligence articles, studies and research of the past kid labourers attest to the acerbity of the state of affairs. It is apparent that the figure of child labourers in China is increasing instead than diminishing. Child labour is inhumane immoral, and unjust. It is full-time work forced on kids that prevents them from go toing school, and it is unsafe for their physical and mental wellness.Children should hold freedom to develop in a supportive environment, and bask the right to have the proper instruction. It has been a large trade in China, but people have abolished it. Therefore, we should take this issue earnestly and happen an effectual manner to protect kids from the harmful state of affairs they presently face.One of the chief grounds for the increasing Numberss of kids working illicitly alternatively of go toing school is the neglecting classs. Many kids who work illicitly are those who are considered as academically hopeless, and they believe that it is impossible for them to travel on to high schools. Harmonizing to the official authorities statistics, the rate of secondary school drop- out is merely 2.49 % merely. However, the existent figure is above 40 % in rural countries based on the research done by the Northeast Normal University ( Li Jingrong n.pag. ) These pupils are normally between 13 to 15 and employment is their lone option. Furthermore, poorness in China is the key to driving a figure of rural kids off from having instruction and forcing them into work as child labourers. Because of lifting costs and the deficiency of support from the cardinal authorities, many schools force kids to work in order to do up school budgets. Although the instruction is mandatory in China, the authorities merely covers the tuition fees, but non all the extra-curricular activities and other disbursals of schools. Otherwise, those schools would be forced to shut. As a consequence, schools have been forced to gain money, normally by their students’ work, in order to pay for basic equipment and instructions.The on the job conditions of kid labour are really hapless. Chi lds have to work in utmost conditions for long hours, even under hazardous fortunes. However, they can merely have low compensation, which is even under the minimal pay in China. Exhaustion, heat shot and malnutrition are common amongst child labourers. Children are forced to work in intolerable conditions and in some instances stay in filthy, unwarmed, uninsulated field barracks, usually used to hive away harvests or farm machinery. ( Forced and child labour in the cotton industry. N. pag. ) Sometimes, they even endures physical and mental maltreatment by their employers. Therefore, kids are forced to work and they can non bask the basic human right by which everyone in the society should be respected.Catholic Church has placed a strong accent of opposing child labour and it takes this issue earnestly. First of wholly, the Catholic Church states that kids should be well-protected and child labour is a signifier of force against kids. Pope Leo XIII one time issued the warning, In respect to kids, great attention should be taken non to put them in workshops and mills until their organic structures and heads are sufficiently developed. ( Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church 296 ) . Child labour can non be tolerated in church’s position because kids are of import in the society. Furthermore, people should non make anything to harm them every bit good. This comes from Matthew’s Gospel: Jesus said, Let the small kids come to me, and do non impede them, for the land of heaven belongs to such as these. ( Matthew 19:14 ) Jesus said that the love of kids was non weaker, but it is much stronger. Besides, kids deserve to be protected and blessed in the land of Eden, which is God’s love.Second, kids have the alone grace that is given by God. A kid is non something owed to one, but is a gift. ( CCC 2378 ) Catholics believe that kids should non be considered as a piece of belongings because they are the supreme gift in a matrimony. Children should be treated with regard because the true self-respect of our lives as worlds is to larn to esteem everyone’s life, and to truly attention for one another every bit good. Furthermore, the categorical jussive mood of Kant’s theory suggests that we should non merely treat kids as a agency to work for us, and we still have to handle them as a individual.Furthermore, Catholics believe that kids have the basic human rights. Harmonizing to Catechism of Catholic Church, An thought to which an alleged right to a kid would take. In this country, merely the kid possesses echt rights: the right to be the fruit of the specific act of the connubial love of his parents, and the right to be respected as a individual from the minute of his conception. ( CCC 2378 ) . It suggests that kids should hold right to populate the manner they want. Pope Francis has launched an entreaty against child labour. He affirmed, All kids must be able to play, survey, pray and grow, in their h ouseholds, this in a harmonic context, in love and repose, but these people alternatively of playing are slaves, and this is a plague. ( Catholic News Agency N. pag. ) Therefore, kids should be able to bask the right to portion, learn, and express themselves in any manner they choose, with regard for their freedom and rights.Child labour is a powerful issue in China and possible steps should be put in topographic point to alleviate the state of affairs. Everyone in the society has the duty to take action to stop this issue. Government has an of import function in covering with it. The Chinese authorities chiefly relies on coercive law-enforcement steps to undertake the job of kid labour. It has besides promulgatedRegulations Forbiding the Use of Child Labor. ( CLB 8 ) However, the cogency of it is lower than expected due to its deficiency of transparence. It is suggested that the Chinese authorities should seek its best attempt to supervise all the industries and strongly follow up on all the work.Second, more organisations should be created in order to protect and forestall child labour. With more organisations, more people will be encouraged in the voluntary work and they will be cognizant of what is truly go oning inside the work force. They can put up some fundraising chances to assist the hapless kids to have instruction. In the words of Bill Gates, Until we’re educating every child in a antic manner, until every interior metropolis is cleaned up, there is no deficit of things to do. Education is the lone method for them to get away from the poorness and better their life conditions. Besides, workshops and competitions can be held in the schools so as to educate the younger coevals about the world of child labour. Furthermore, the consciousness of the populace on this issue can be raised through advertizement and educational plans.Besides, the Catholic Church believes that every individual is ever called to continue the human self-respect of the ki d victims of child labour and assist the hapless. Therefore, Catholics can discourse this issue and cooperate with other organisations in order to come up with some possible solutions. Last but non least, we should ever pray for those unfortunate kids in China and have faith in God that he will take them the right manner one twenty-four hours.Childs are the cherished gifts presented by God to human life to make full the universe with love, felicity, and hope ; Children are the hereafter of the society. Their childhood find their hereafter, their ain life and their worthy parts to the universe. Therefore, it becomes an of import facet for everyone in the society, and it is our duty to protect them. The equal self-respect of human individuals requires the attempt to cut down inordinate societal and economic inequalities. It gives urgency to the riddance of iniquitous inequalities. ( CCC 1947 ) Although it is hard for this issue to be resolved in a short period of clip, everyone should take one measure back to command the state of affairs in order to make a better society for kids – our hope for the hereafter.Work Cited A Survey Report on Child Labour in China. Sept. 2007. lt ; www.clb.org.hk gt ; .Catechism of the Catholic Church. New York: Doubleday, 1995, Print. Collection of the Social Doctrine of the Church. Collection of the Social Doctrine of the Church. Web. 07 May 2014 Forced and child labor in the cotton industry. . World Vision, n.d. Web. 8 May 2014. lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //campaign.worldvision.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Forced-and-child-labour-in-the-cotton-industry-fact-sheet.pdf gt ; .Li, Jingrong. High Dropout Ratess in Rural Schools. High Dropout Rates in Rural Schools. China.org.cn, 25 June 2004. Web. 21 May 2014.Matthew 19:14. Bible Gateway. 08 May 2014 lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.biblegateway.com/passage/ ? search=Luke+18:15-17 A ; version=MSG gt ; . Pope calls for terminal to plague of child labou r. : : Catholic News Agency ( CNA ) . 08 May 2014 lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-calls-for-end-to-plague-of-child-labor/ gt ; . We will write a custom essay sample on Child Labor in China specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Child Labor in China specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Child Labor in China specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer

How to Get a Literary Agent For Your Book

How to Get a Literary Agent For Your Book How to Get a Literary Agent for Your Book Many first-time authors want to find a literary agent as soon as they put the finishing touches on their debut masterpiece. And if you’re in a similar situation, it’s only natural to feel that way as well! But before we snap off a fresh roll of quarters and start dialing the numbers of some New York agencies (so to speak), let’s answer a few basic questions about what agents do and whether you actually need one. Then, once you’re ready, we’ll reveal a professionally endorsed process for finding and evaluating agents who could be perfect for you.Should I get a literary agent?Fiction writers who want to be traditionally published generally do need a literary agent, while only some non-fiction will need to pursue literary representation. Writers Artists editor Alyson Owen explains: "Nearly all fiction authors do require representation of a literary agent if their book is to be produced by a traditional publishing house, and that is also true with some forms of general non-fiction too - such as histories, memoirs, and biographies."For tips on how to write an effective book proposal, check out this article and its companion piece on submission best practices.Who doesn't need a literary agent?It’s important to note that not all literary forms typically require the representation of an agent. Poetry is a good example of this. Also, academic, professional, and the vast majority of educational books are usually commissioned direct from the publisher. If you’re writing in any of these fields, it is possible - provided you have the right credentials as an author, a well-argued proposal, and quality script - to get your non-fiction book accepted by a publisher without being represented by an agent.If you do fall into one of the categories above and you wish to pitch directly to publishers, it’s essential that your book has an easily identifiable market or niche so publishers know what they’re dealing with r ight away. You also need to know who actually publishes the type of book you’re offering and which of those publishers accept unsolicited proposals. Firing off emails to every publisher under the sun will not only waste your time but potentially earn you a reputation as someone who doesn’t understand the publishing game.And of course, if you’re choosing to self-publish, then you definitely don’t need a literary agent to get your book out into the world.What do literary agents do?A literary agent represents your book to acquiring editors who might want to buy it. In other words, they get an author's foot into the door of a publishing house.In addition to having regular contact with editors within the publishing houses and championing you and your writing to the hilt, agents will understand an editor's tastes and the types of books they are looking to add to their list - a crucial component in getting a publishing house to invest in your work.â€Å"Quite simply, being represented by a literary agent may be the only realistic route to getting a foot on the first rung of the publishing ladder,† says Owens. â€Å"Most publishers of fiction do not accept unsolicited manuscript submissions from debut writers.†In addition to getting your foot in the door, here's what a literary agent does:They are expert negotiators, combining financial acumen with a nose for the value of good, sellable writing;They act as useful buffers between you and your publisher (when you don’t want to taint your working relationship with an editor by talking brass tacks);They manage the financial and marketing side of things while you concentrate on the writing;They also tend to have strong editorial skills, working with you to help refine your manuscript before it’s even submitted to a publisher.All of this can only work to your advantage as an author, helping you secure a more lucrative deal with the most appropriate publisher - much m ore than you may have been able to acquire yourself, without any contacts or knowledge of the industry. Ideally, their negotiations alone should offset their commission (ideally).How to get a literary agent in 6 stepsWhen we say ‘finding a literary agent,’ we really mean finding the ideal representative for your book - someone who is perfectly primed to help you develop your writing career. You’re basically on the hunt for a long-term business partner and creative soulmate. Ready to start looking?1. Locate a pool of literary agents who work in your nicheMost agents are always on the lookout for new authors to represent. They’re dying for their dream client to reach out to them. To help make their dreams come true, it’s your job to find out a) who these agents are and b) how best to get through to them. So start putting together your shortlist.You can begin your search by going to agent databases such as Agent Query or Query Tracker and filtering by genre. You can also look through the acknowledgments pages of books similar to yours: you can bet that the authors thank their agents in there. Or, this being the 21st century, you can just Google † agent† and see what comes up.Reading recommendations: Writers’ Artists’ Yearbook (for the UK) and its US equivalent Writer’s Market are invaluable tools that you should consider putting on your Christmas list. Tip for finding an agent: use Agent Query and Query Track to start your search 2. Thoroughly research and evaluate each agentHere are the four main questions you want to answer in your research about individual literary agents:Do they represent books in my genre?Are they currently open to queries?Would I work well with them?Are they a scam artist?How do you go about answering these questions? Well, checking out the submission guidelines of the agent's website should answer #1 and #2 fairly easily. In regards to #3 and 4, Caitlin Jans, the  founding editor of Authors Publish, has a few tips:â€Å"I always research the agent outside of their website first. I find that one of the best ways to tackle this is to head again over to the Absolute Write Water Cooler Forum. I use it to vet agents and publishers. The forums are active and get a lot of use: if an author has a good or bad experience with an agent, they’ll share it.I can’t emphasize this enough: one of the most important steps is to make sure the agency isn't on Writer Beware’s Thumbs Down Agencies List. At this point, I almost have the list memorized. Writer Beware (a volunteer organization that works on behalf of writers) also has a terrific section on dishonest agents, so be sure to check that out.†No matter what, as an ironclad rule: avoid agents who ask for an upfront fee. It doesn’t matter whether they call it ‘professional development’ or say it’s to cover the costs of editing your manuscript: an agent who asks for preemptive payment is not legitimate.After due research, if you find an agent who seems to tick all the right boxes, then add them to your final shortlist and proceed to step three. Tip for finding an agent: avoid agents who ask for an upfront fee 3. Send a personalized query letterA good portion of every agent’s week is spent on ‘slush’ - what they call the never-ending pile of letters they get from hopeful authors seeking representation. On one hand, you might think, Geez! How do I stand a chance of being seen in a pile that big? But you should really look at it from the attitude of, Wow! These agents are really keen to find their next client!With that in mind, your query letter (your first point of contact with an agent) must be perfect. We have a detailed guide to writing query letters (that comes with a super-sweet template), but if you don’t want to head down the rabbit hole right this second, here are three top-line tips:Always read an agent’s submission guidelines. Some might ask for a sample chapter, others might not. One might want you to double-space, another might require single. Apart from ensuring that they get what they need to make an assessment, the submission guidelines also serve as a rudimentary idiot test: If this author doesn’t follow our standards, it either means that they haven’t read them (and is lazy) or they haven’t been able to comprehend simple instructions (which is not exactly what you want in a business partner).Make sure to personalize each query letter. You’ll want to contact as many agents as possible, and it’s tempting to create a standard query letter that starts with Dear Sirs and features no specific language whatsoever. But remember, agents have read countless boilerplate query letters and can sniff them out from a mile away. That’s why the research you do in step 2 will serve you so well: it’ll show each agent that you actually care. (For more detailed tips on personalizing your query letter, check out this transcripted replay of our webinar with former agent Rachel Stout.)Start with the hook. Ultimately, it’s the book that agents want to know about. While you might think i t’s best to introduce your book by first talking about your own background, the quicker you get to the exciting pitch for your book, the better. Tip for finding an agent: always personalize your query letters 4. Always follow up if you don’t hear anythingWe’ve all had that experience of looking at an email and thinking, â€Å"I’ll get to that later,† only to forget about it until someone reminds you. Well, the same thing happens to agents as well! If you don’t hear back from the after several weeks, it’s not impolite to follow up and ask whether your query may have been lost in the shuffle. Often, the agent will be grateful that you reminded them.Again, read the agent’s submission guidelines. In many cases, they’ll even tell you how many weeks to wait before you follow up. But if they don’t, then four to six weeks is a good rule of thumb (erring closer to six, perhaps). Tip for finding an agent: wait 4-6 weeks before following up 5. Don’t just say yes to the first agentAssuming agents dig your query letter, get intrigued by your sample, and adore your full manuscript after they request and read it†¦ what happens next? In broad strokes, the two of you will discuss how the agent might help develop your book and career, and then they’ll offer you representation.Very exciting, right? But before you frantically search for a pen to sign on all those dotted lines, make sure that they are the right agent for you. It’s not considered impolite to query multiple agents at the same time, so you don’t need to lie about it or cover it up. An agent will not be insulted that you’re daring to consider other options. After all, if they like your book enough to want to represent it, it stands to reason that others might as well.Of course, you can always choose to leave an agent at any time if things aren’t working out. But keep in mind that if you’re at the start of your car eer, you don’t want a reputation as someone who switches agents every book. It’ll make editors, agents, and other publishing gatekeepers assume that you’re hard to work with.So be polite, stay candid, and don’t rush into any decisions.Now that you have a rough idea of how to find a literary agent, we want to leave you with some resources that will help you in your search.