What Is a Synopsis and How Do You Write One

In the 19th century, a synopsis was a classroom exercise used for teaching traditional grammar but today, the accepted definition of a synopsis is a general overview of an article, essay, story, book, or other written work. In the field of publishing, a synopsis may serve as a proposal for an article or book. In feature writing and other forms of nonfiction, a synopsis may also refer to a concise summary of a polemic argument or event. You might also find a synopsis included in a review or report. Fast Facts: Synopsis Pronunciation: si-NOP-sisEtymology From the Greek, general viewPlural: synopsesAdjective: synoptic Synopsis vs. Outline Some people use the terms outline and synopsis synonymously and they really are very similar. When it comes to fiction, however, the distinction is more clearcut. While each may contain similar information, a synopsis is an overview that summarizes the main plot points of the work, whereas an outline functions as a structural tool that breaks the plot down into its component parts. If you think of it in terms of a novel, the synopsis would be similar to the book jacket copy that tells you who the characters are and what happens to them. It usually also gives readers a feeling for the tone, genre, and theme of the work. An outline would be more akin to a page of chapter listings (provided the author has titled the chapters rather than just numbering them) which functions as a map that leads the reader from the beginning of a literary journey to its final destination or denouement. In addition to crucial information, a synopsis often includes a thematic statement. Again, thinking in terms of fiction, it would identify the genre and even subgenre, for example, a romance Western, a murder mystery, or a dystopic fantasy and would also reveal something of the tone of the work—whether dark or humorous, erotic or terrifying. What to Include and What to Leave Out Since a synopsis is a condensation of the original material, a writer must be sure to include the most important details so that the reader will be able to fully comprehend what the work is about. Sometimes, its hard to know what to put in and what to leave out. Writing a summary requires critical thinking. Youre going to have to analyze the original material and decide what the most important information is. A synopsis isnt about style or details, its about supplying enough information for your audience to easily understand and categorize the work. A few brief examples might be permissible, but numerous examples, dialogues, or extensive quotations have no place in a synopsis. Do, however, keep your synopsis true to the plot and timeline of the original story. Synopses for Non-Fiction Stories The purpose of a synopsis for a work of nonfiction is to serve as a condensed version of an event, a controversy, a point of view, or background report. Your job as a writer is to include enough basic information so that a reader can easily identify what the story is about and understand its tone. While detailed information is important when telling the larger story, only the information crucial to comprehending the who, what, when, where, and why of an event, proposal, or argument is necessary for the synopsis. Again, as with fiction, the tone and the eventual outcome of your story will also likely come into play in your summary. Choose your phrasing judiciously. Your goal is to use as a few words as possible to achieve maximum impact without leaving out so much information that your reader ends up confused. Sources Fernando, Jovita N., Habana, Pacita I., and Cinco, Alicia L. New Perspectives in English One. Rex, 2006Kennedy, X.J., Kennedy, Dorothy M., and Muth, Marcia F. The Bedford Guide for College Writers. Ninth Edition. Bedford/St. Martins, 2011 Brooks, Terri. Words Worth: A Handbook on Writing and Selling Nonfiction. St. Martins Press, 1989

Lorraine Hansberry s A Raisin - 1307 Words

The play â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun†, by Lorraine Hansberry, takes place in a small apartment on the south side of Chicago. The south side of Chicago at the time was a very poverty stricken neighborhood at a time where there was still a lot of racial tension. The Younger family occupied the small apartment on the south side of Chicago. Lena Younger the mother of the family, and Big Walter had moved into the apartment after getting married, in the hopes of moving into a house after one year. Mamas’ hopes of owning a home soon faded since times were so hard. After the death of her husband Lena Younger received a check from his insurance for ten- thousand dollars. The thought of having that much money started to tear the family apart over what to do with it. Living in the south side of Chicago was a dangerous place, and the Youngers felt like it was a way out of the poor neighborhood. Lena Younger looked at the money as a chance to get the house she always wanted, and somet hing that she would be able to pass down on to the next generations. Many would argue that mama Lena was being hard on her children by forcing what she wanted and her beliefs on the family. I argue that Lena Younger only wanted what was best for her family by showing it through her love for her family, her religious ways, and her determination to give her family a better life. The love that Lena Younger have for her children is unexplainable. Her children are basically her life. She refers to them as herShow MoreRelatedLorraine Hansberry s A Raisin1120 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"A raisin in the sun† was written by Lorraine Hansberry. The play was not expected to do so well because it had one white cast member, an inexperienced director, and an untried playwright. Set in the south side of Chicago in the 1950s, the play begins in the morning in the Youngers apartment. Their apartment has two bedrooms, one for mama and Beneatha, and one for Ruth and Walter, while Walter’ s son Travis sleeps on the couch in the living room. Ruth gets up first and talks and Walter and TravisRead MoreLorraine Hansberry s A Raisin1474 Words   |  6 PagesLorraine Hansberry created the play A Raisin in the Sun. A Raisin in the Sun recounts an anecdote about The Youngers who is a poor African American family living on the Southside of Chicago. A chance to escape from neediness comes as a $10,000 extra security watch that the female authority of the family (Lena/Mama) gets upon her significant other s passing. Lena s kids, Walter and Beneatha, each have plans with the cash. The most established child, Walter (a man of 35 with a spouse and a youthfulRead MoreLorraine Hansberry s A Raisin1758 Words   |  8 Pagesare located right within the â€Å"Black Metropolis†. Lorraine Hansberry’s play A Raisin in the Sun takes place in Southside Chicago in the 1950s. It revolves around the Younger family who bought a house in a white neighborhood with the money of Big Walter’s insurance check. But they are facing problems from the neighborhood as the â€Å"welcoming committee† offers to buy the house of off them just so they will not move into the neighborhood. In the play A Raisin in the Sun one of the many issues the YoungerRead MoreLorraine Hansberry s A Raisin1278 Words   |  6 Pages A Raisin In The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is a realistic fictional drama in which the play s title and the characters represent the play s theme. The play focused on black American struggles to reach the American Dream of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness during the 1950’s and the 1960’s. The idea of everyone having the chance to achieve a better life should exist for all. Hansberry created her title using a line from Langston Hughes’ poem â€Å"A Dream Deferred† the original poem wasRead MoreLorraine Hansberry s A Raisin869 Words   |  4 Pagesand I pass them cool quiet looking restaurants where them white boys are sitting back and talking bout things†¦sitting there turning deals worth millions of dollars†¦sometimes I see guys don’t look much older than me’’- (1.2.226). A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry was published in 1959, develops the plot of an African American family facing a war against racism in the slums of Chicago. They are a family of 5 squeezed in a two-bedroom apartment, they are restricted socially and financially withRead MoreLorraine Hansberry s A Raisin1147 Words   |  5 PagesIn A Raisin In The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. Broward College, Central Campus Theater in building 6, on Sunday, the 1st of November. The play was performed by Broward College students. The type of stage was Proscenium stage with extended apron. I thought it was a little bit small, but it did not show as a problem. The pre-show was dark and a feel of suspense. I felt excited to see how everything would play out. The play takes place down south of Chicago in the 1950’s. The production was much aRead MoreLorraine Hansberry s A Raisin1995 Words   |  8 Pages In A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry utilizes the insurance check to symbolize the American Dream as the check provides the members of Younger family with the opportunity to achieve their aspirations. The concept of the check reveals Walter’s and Mama’s perceptions of themselves and of their lifestyle, and their responses to the check reveals their contrasting approaches for escaping their impoverished world; therefore, Walter’s and Mama’s characteristics and reaction to the arrival of theRead MoreLorraine Hansberry s A Raisin Of The Sun1527 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"A Raisin in the Sun† is about the Younger Family who live in a small apartment in Chicago. The family is torn apart as every member has different dreams and goals, yet Mama and her daughter-in-law Ruth desperately attempt to hold the family all together. In both the movie and the play, the family’s dreams remain the same. Mama wants her family to get along and she wants t o purchase a house. Her son, Walter, wants the life insurance money from his father to invest in a liquor store to achieve hisRead MoreLorraine Hansberry s A Raisin Essay1445 Words   |  6 Pages A Raisin in the Sun is a dramatic play written by Lorraine Hansberry in 1957 and debut on Broadway in 1959. Lorraine Hansberry used the title A Raisin in the Sun from Harlem A Dream Deferred a poem by Langston Hughes, Which ponders the question of what happens to a dream if it’s never achieved. The play helps shed light on the lives and struggles of a black family during the Civil Rights movement. The play was set in the Southside of Chicago during the Civil Rights movement, sometime between 1945Read MoreLorraine Hansberry s A Raisin982 Words   |  4 Pagesauthor is talking about, it is better to ask them directly in person, but the unfortunate part is that they might be dead. In the play, A Raisin in the Sun, the author, Lorraine Hansberry, choose to name her play from a famous poem by Langston Hughes. It is difficult to really know why she choose Hughes’ poem but there are reasons to infer. Lorraine Hansberry choose to name her play after Langston Hughes’ poem because of what the poem meant and that poem closely related to the characters within the

Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury Essay - 1402 Words

Itmam Azad, Raul Campos, Daniel Flores English I Pre AP Ms. Volkova 22 April 2015 A New Beginning Fahrenheit 451 is a novel by Ray Bradbury, which portrays Bradbury’s prediction of how one day humans will forget the joy of reading. This story takes place in a future dystopian city, where any actions related to books are illegal. The novel’s protagonist, Guy Montag, is a fireman, whose job involves burning books for a living. Throughout the story, the citizens live their mundane lives, which includes watching parlor walls (television) and having minimal connections with their friends or family. In part three of the novel, Bradbury writes about Guy Montag and how he is on-the-run from the officials of the city because of the many crimes he has committed such as reading books, hiding books, and the act of murder against his boss. Montag then joins a group of literary enthusiasts who are also hiding from the officials. The group is suddenly shocked to see a bombardment happening in the city. As the bombs fall, the passage shows Montag’s inner thoughts, emotions a nd his perspective on the explosion. This passage may seem like an average action scene at first glance, but through a deeper analysis, one can find Ray Bradbury’s use of contrasting words, variety of languages, and allusions, to suspense readers and foreshadow a new beginning to the meaningless lives of the citizens. The word choices in the passage contrast each other with opposite tones. Bradbury chooses to use wordsShow MoreRelatedFahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury719 Words   |  3 PagesThe flash point of paper, or the temperature at which paper will burst in flames, is 451 degrees Fahrenheit. In Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury, the main character, Guy Montag, is a â€Å"fireman† in a futuristic society where he and his coworkers start fires, rather than put them out. Books are banned and burned, along with the owner of the book’s house and sometimes even the owner of the book, upon discovery. Technology has taken over in a sense that social interaction between the average personRead MoreFahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury1952 Words   |  8 Pagesis clearly displayed in the plight of Ray Bradbury’s novel about a dystopian American society, Fahrenheit 451, which contains many ideas and bits of content that some people believed should be censored. In fact, one of the reas ons that this novel was censored for displaying the dangers of censorship, which is both extremely ironic, and telling as to where this society is going. Thanks to several distributors and oversensitive parents and teachers, Fahrenheit 451 has been banned in many schools overRead MoreFahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury954 Words   |  4 Pages In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the author uses allegory (often misinterpreted by readers) to show the dangers of mass media consumption and the decline of reading traditional media. Many readers draw incorrect conclusions (lessons learned) from the book due to how generally the book applies its theme. Government censorship, though an important topic, is not the intended focus of the novel Fahrenheit 451. Finally, Bradbury’s original message of the book shows the beauty of traditional media andRead MoreFahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury1592 Words   |  7 PagesWhen writing the introduction to Fahrenheit 451, author Neil Gaiman stated that â€Å"ideas--written ideas--are special. They are the way we transmit our stories and our thoughts from one generation to the next. If we lose them, we lose our shared history†. Gaiman is absolutely correct; especially because what he is saying heavily applies to books. Books are a critical aspect in shaping humanity as a whole, they create and share a network of creative ideas, history, and overall entertainment; to loseRead MoreFahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury918 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Fahrenheit 451,† written by Ray Bradbury, is a futuristic, dystopian novel based upon a society secluded by technology and ignorance. In this future society, books are outlawed and firemen are presented with the task of burning books that are found in people’s homes. Montag, a fireman, finds himself intrigued with the books, and begins to take them home and read them. As the story progresses, Montag learns the truth behind why books are outlawed and flees his city to join the last remnants of age-oldRead MoreFahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury847 Words   |  4 PagesSet Knowledge On Fire The book Fahrenheit 451 is a postmodern work by Ray Bradbury first published in 1951. In Bradbury’s story, all books are illegal and are subject to be burned by firemen. Furthermore, the two predominant themes of Fahrenheit 451 are censorship and ignorance. The censorship implemented over the years removes all information from society that is necessary to learn, which accomplishes to prevent people from questioning anything. The ignorance of society has been fostered and theRead MoreFahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury1661 Words   |  7 Pages1.) In the novel, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Montag’s view on life reverses. Two characters the influence the main character Guy Montag are the old lady whose house and books were burnt down and Mildred. The old lady was caught preserving books in her home. Firemen including Montag were ordered to burn the books. The old lady refused to leave her books, so she too was burned. She bravely gave an allusion as her last words, â€Å"Play the man,’ she said, ‘Master Ridley.’ Something, somethingRead MoreFahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury818 Words   |  4 PagesFAHRENHEIT 451 BY RAY BRADBURY Important People in Montag’s Life In Partical Fulfillment Of English 2 Ms Irina Abramov By Helen Hernandez November 9, 2012 â€Å"There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them† -Ray Bradbury. In the past there were events that affected book writers. People will get together to burn books because they thought it was inappropriate or they were against their literature. Montag is a fireman in a futuristic society who would startRead MoreFahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury863 Words   |  4 PagesThe novel, Fahrenheit 451 was written by Ray Bradbury and it took place in the dystopian future. Throughout each novel, we are able to see a major theme, which is censorship. In this essay, I will explain how this theme are explored in the story by using the literary devices. To begin with, in this novel, censorship is not given a straight description, but we can see how the author shows it through many literary elements, such as using the setting, tone and symbolisms even foreshadowing. This novelRead MoreFahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury904 Words   |  4 PagesLiving in a world with no free thought would be bland as cardboard. But, if that cardboard illuminated with fire, would it have more meaning than it did before? The answer is yes. In the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the main character, Montag, finds much meaning behind the simple element of fire. The symbol of fire is used to represent how Montag changes himself and his ideas and thoughts about fire throughout the novel. At first, Montag views fire as destructive, but enjoys burning because

Mission and vision free essay sample

Mission statement â€Å"Reason for existing† 1. What do we do? We drill, we make pipes, we make wells, we help to clean the environment, 2. How do we do it? 3. Who for? We do it for our clients, for the countries and in the end for local people 4. Why do you do it? Values Triple A – grade system HSE – employee and environment orientated Quality and Ethics – product and customer orientated Performance – business and finance orientated Fancy words to use: The best, clear, easy, secure, quality, strong, fast?, vision, make a change/traditional/growing business, innovative, progressive, excellence, sustainable, world-class/globally operating, inspiration, Make the brand stand for one thing. What is our product for? What role does it play in people’s lives? How does Bauer help the local community? Or globally? Corporate Social Responsibility Sustainable development the Groups environmental policy stipulates that environmental impact must be minimized in all construction works and other projects Vision What do we want to achieve? In the future (Where are we going with this?) When would you be satisfied as the company owner? Obvious: We want to be N. We will write a custom essay sample on Mission and vision or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 1 company on the market Future of mankind Strategic goals Smaller visions for various areas, they are based on the vision and represent the desirable states and conditions which the company wants to achieve. Strategic, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timed, Ethical, Rewarded Areas: 1. Market 2. Financial performance 3. Business growth 4. research and development, the level of technology and investment, 5. Social Services, the quality of employees and motivation systems, 6. implementation of information systems, and the environment Strategy How do we reach these strategic goals? Swot analysis http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130626044531-64875646-what-the-hell-is-wrong-with-mission-and-vision-statements BCG method Slogans used: We won’t stand still When others go into detail you deal with the big stuff at Bauer No hire and fire Halliburton: Solving challenges In the coming decades, energy resources will become increasingly difficult to find and access. As one of the worlds largest providers of products and services to the upstream energy industry, Halliburton serves the life cycle of the well. Using the latest geological technologies, we create data that help our customers locate oil and natural gas. When hydrocarbons are located, we provide solutions to determine if oil and gas can be produced. If a well is determined to be viable, we begin production and throughout the life of the field, we help ensure that our customers get optimal production rates. To prevent and respond to emergencies, customers call Halliburton for premier well intervention, pressure control, and pipeline and process services. Halliburtons team of professionals around the globe provide these services to help our customers meet the worlds demand for energy, while maintaining the highest standards of environmental safety. The company serves the upstream oil and natural gas industry throughout the lifecycle of the reservoir: Create FAQ 1. What does the company do? 2. What industry are you in? for what industry do you provide? 3. How is the company organized? 4. What are your most significant projects?