Tuesday, December 24, 2019

In The Devil In The White City, Erik Larson Tells The Story

In The Devil in the White City, Erik Larson tells the story of two men, an architect and a serial killer, operating in Chicago during the 1890’s This novel describes the years surrounding the building of the 1893 Chicago World s Fair, also known as The World s Columbian Exposition, which was designed to commemorate the landing of Columbus in America. It is divided into four parts with the first three primarily taking place in Chicago between the years 1890-1893. However, Part four of the novel takes the reader to Philadelphia circa 1895. In this novel, Larson helps readers make sense of what was new about big cities at the end of the nineteenth century—transportation, communication, electricity, anonymity—by showing how these aspects of†¦show more content†¦The irony that such a positive global statement could be at the same place at the same time as such terror as Dr. Holmes’s murders was daunting and it lured him to pursue this particular case. He says he would not have been interested in just doing a book about the Fair or just about Holmes. But together they made a unity of good and evil. Though Holmes is the obvious criminal in this novel, Larson doesn’t particularly characterize him that way. He is fairy neutral about taking sides, but he seems to lean more towards the side of holmes. He describes Holmes as a normal person, and he even gives him excuses for his actions and creates his persona as a gentle, kind man, which only emphasizes the battle between good and evil in his novel. In interviews, Larson has said that the most difficult part of writing The Devil in the White City for modern readers is explaining why Chicago wanted to host the World’s Fair so badly and only having the knowledge of it a person 108 years in the future could obtain. One reason for Chicago’s interest in hosting the World’s fair is that it wanted to prove itself to large established cities. Chicago was one of the largest cities in the country at the time, but it was established more than 200 years after New York City and Boston. Also, most of the wealthy families in Chicago made their money from slaughterhouses — not the most glamorous profession. By hosting the 1893 World’s Fair, Chicago wanted to show that it had its own uniqueShow MoreRelatedThe Book Thief And Erik Larson1639 Words   |  7 Pagesantivenin itself. It is all about perspective to how you view life. Markus Zusak, author of the Book Thief and Erik Larson, author of The Devil in the White City use perspective to show how people can personify an identity, treatment of others and never change regardless of time. In light of using perspective to identify, we see people in the Book Thief and The Devil in the White City that have a positive and negative attitude towards life because of events. In chapter the grave digger’s handbookRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of The Devil In The White City764 Words   |  4 PagesDevil in the White City Rhetorical Analysis Essay How can two people be so different, yet so similar? The World’s Columbian Exposition was a major event in the 19th century. The fair was something that’s never been done before in history triumphing the famous Eiffel Tower. As spectacular as the fair was there were murders being committed without any signs of slowing down. The Devil in the White City tells a story between the architect Daniel Burnham and the infamous serial killer H.H. Holmes. ErikRead MoreThe Devil In The White City; Murder, Magic, and Madness At The Fair That Changed America1329 Words   |  6 Pagessuccess. In his book, The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America, Erik Larson’s portrays Burnham’s obsession with grandeur as a key part of his persona to emphasize why he was the right man for the job. Larson includes examples of Burnham’s high opinions of grandeur and elegance, as well as his understanding of their greater effect on the general public to highlight why he was the right choice for lead architect. For example, Larson includes a scene aboardRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book The Devil Of The White City : Murder, Magic, And Madness At The Fair2200 Words   |  9 PagesBurnham. He led America to do great things in architectural design. These two are very different, but they are brought together in the turbulent and chaotic environment of Chicago in the late 1800’s. The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson is a Non-Fiction book, but it gives essential information necessary to understand where the concepts of architectural design and the depraved mind of serial killers began in the U.S.. The book reviewsRead MoreAnalysis Of Erik Larson s The Devil 1250 Words   |  5 PagesJournal Entry #1 Erik Larson has organized The Devil in the White City chronologically, alternating between the construction of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and the evolution of a serial killer. In doing so, Larson is able to explore the details of the fair in-depth, while keeping the interest of the reader. By using this organizational structure, Larson is also able to tell the gruesome tale of a serial killer without scaring away his audience. Overall, the pairing of these two stories helps to balanceRead MoreDevil in the White City1839 Words   |  8 PagesEssay Erik Larson states, â€Å"The juxtaposition of pride and unfathomed evil struck [him] as offering powerful insights into the nature of men and their ambitions.† This quote relates to the premise of his book The Devil in the White City, which tells two different stories based around a central theme of the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1893. One tells of the adventures and horrors that came with being the important figures behind the production of something as great as the exposition. The story focusesRead More The Truth About Serial and Mass Murders Essay1033 Words   |  5 Pagesbook, The Devil in the White City, Larson says that â€Å"Holmes was warm and charming and talkative, he touched the women with a familiarity that while perhaps back at home would have been offensive, now seemed quite alright in the new city of Chicago† (Larson, 245). R.M and S.T. Holmes observe that â€Å"serial killers give themselves no discernible traits form the other people in socie ty; they walk into the lives of many, invited then fatally dispatched with little concern.† Just like Larson said HolmesRead MoreSerial Killers Nature Versus Nurture1843 Words   |  8 Pagesin their mid-twenties, and they like to murder their own color in the article, Serial Killers, they stated â€Å"Most serial killers are male between their mid-twenties to their thirties. Most murders of this kind do not cross racial lines; whites tend to murder whites and blacks murder blacks, etc. Most serial killers begin by hunting down victims close to home (Serial Killers).† The serial killer will try to understand the victim’s lifestyle and their habits, behaviors that will explain more about hisRead MoreBuilding the World Fair in The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson 2548 Words   |  11 PagesThe Devil in the White City, Erik Larson Prologue The prologue begin aboard the Olympic following a man named Daniel Burnham on April 4, 1912. Burnham is suffering of severe pain in his foot. Burnham tries to send a message to his friend Millet who is aboard the Titanic, but the message was not allowed to be sent. Burnham thinks back to the fair and reminisces of the people that helped with the fair and thinks about who is still alive from the fair. Part 1 The first chapter introduces ChicagoRead MoreAmericas First Serial Killers2909 Words   |  12 Pagesfor. Most of the rooms had gas vents that could let off lethal or sleep inducing gases, the vents could only be controlled from a closet in Holmess bedroom. [9] Many of the rooms were soundproof and could not be unlocked from inside. It was a three-story building with shops on the first floor and a bizarre labyrinth of windowless rooms, false floors, secret passages, trapdoors, a well-equipped surgery area as well as several instruments of torture, such as an elasticity determinator, a contraption

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Twilight 19. GOODBYES Free Essays

string(33) " any more time arguing with him\." 19. GOODBYES Charlie was waiting up for me. All the house lights were on. We will write a custom essay sample on Twilight 19. GOODBYES or any similar topic only for you Order Now My mind was blank as I tried to think of a way to make him let me go. This wasn’t going to be pleasant. Edward pulled up slowly, staying well back from my truck. All three of them were acutely alert, ramrod straight in their seats, listening to every sound of the wood, looking through every shadow, catching every scent, searching for something out of place. The engine cut off, and I sat, motionless, as they continued to listen. â€Å"He’s not here,† Edward said tensely. â€Å"Let’s go.† Emmett reached over to help me get out of the harness. â€Å"Don’t worry, Bella,† he said in a low but cheerful voice, â€Å"we’ll take care of things here quickly.† I felt moisture filling up my eyes as I looked at Emmett. I barely knew him, and yet, somehow, not knowing when I would see him again after tonight was anguishing. I knew this was just a faint taste of the goodbyes I would have to survive in the next hour, and the thought made the tears begin to spill. â€Å"Alice, Emmett.† Edward’s voice was a command. They slithered soundlessly into the darkness, instantly disappearing. Edward opened my door and took my hand, then drew me into the protecting enclosure of his arm. He walked me swiftly toward the house, eyes always roving through the night. â€Å"Fifteen minutes,† he warned under his breath. â€Å"I can do this.† I sniffled. My tears had given me an inspiration. I stopped on the porch and took hold of his face in my hands. I looked fiercely into his eyes. â€Å"I love you,† I said in a low, intense voice. â€Å"I will always love you, no matter what happens now.† â€Å"Nothing is going to happen to you, Bella,† he said just as fiercely. â€Å"Just follow the plan, okay? Keep Charlie safe for me. He’s not going to like me very much after this, and I want to have the chance to apologize later.† â€Å"Get inside, Bella. We have to hurry.† His voice was urgent. â€Å"One more thing,† I whispered passionately. â€Å"Don’t listen to another word I say tonight!† He was leaning in, and so all I had to do was stretch up on my toes to kiss his surprised, frozen lips with as much force as I was capable of. Then I turned and kicked the door open. â€Å"Go away, Edward!† I yelled at him, running inside and slamming the door shut in his still-shocked face. â€Å"Bella?† Charlie had been hovering in the living room, and he was already on his feet. â€Å"Leave me alone!† I screamed at him through my tears, which were flowing relentlessly now. I ran up the stairs to my room, throwing the door shut and locking it. I ran to my bed, flinging myself on the floor to retrieve my duffel bag. I reached swiftly between the mattress and box spring to grab the knotted old sock that contained my secret cash hoard. Charlie was pounding on my door. â€Å"Bella, are you okay? What’s going on?† His voice was frightened. â€Å"I’m going borne,† I shouted, my voice breaking in the perfect spot. â€Å"Did he hurt you?† His tone edged toward anger. â€Å"No!† I shrieked a few octaves higher. I turned to my dresser, and Edward was already there, silently yanking out armfuls of random clothes, which he proceeded to throw to me. â€Å"Did he break up with you?† Charlie was perplexed. â€Å"No!† I yelled, slightly more breathless as I shoved everything into the bag. Edward threw another drawer’s contents at me. The bag was pretty much full now. â€Å"What happened, Bella?† Charlie shouted through the door, pounding again. â€Å"I broke up with him!† I shouted back, jerking on the zipper of my bag. Edward’s capable hands pushed mine away and zipped it smoothly. He put the strap carefully over my arm. â€Å"I’ll be in the truck – go!† he whispered, and pushed me toward the door. He vanished out the window. I unlocked the door and pushed past Charlie roughly, struggling with my heavy bag as I ran down the stairs. â€Å"What happened?† he yelled. He was right behind me. â€Å"I thought you liked him.† He caught my elbow in the kitchen. Though he was still bewildered, his grip was firm. He spun me around to look at him, and I could see in his face that he had no intention of letting me leave. I could think of only one way to escape, and it involved hurting him so much that I hated myself for even considering it. But I had no time, and I had to keep him safe. I glared up at my father, fresh tears in my eyes for what I was about to do. â€Å"I do like him – that’s the problem. I can’t do this anymore! I can’t put down any more roots here! I don’t want to end up trapped in this stupid, boring town like Mom! I’m not going to make the same dumb mistake she did. I hate it – I can’t stay here another minute!† His hand dropped from my arm like I’d electrocuted him. I turned away from his shocked, wounded face and headed for the door. â€Å"Bells, you can’t leave now. It’s nighttime,† he whispered behind me. I didn’t turn around. â€Å"I’ll sleep in the truck if I get tired.† â€Å"Just wait another week,† he pled, still shell-shocked. â€Å"Ren? ¦e will be back by then.† This completely derailed me. â€Å"What?† Charlie continued eagerly, almost babbling with relief as I hesitated. â€Å"She called while you were out. Things aren’t going so well in Florida, and if Phil doesn’t get signed by the end of the week, they’re going back to Arizona. The assistant coach of the Sidewinders said they might have a spot for another shortstop.† I shook my head, trying to reassemble my now-confused thoughts. Every passing second put Charlie in more danger. â€Å"I have a key,† I muttered, turning the knob. He was too close, one hand extended toward me, his face dazed. I couldn’t lose any more time arguing with him. You read "Twilight 19. GOODBYES" in category "Essay examples" I was going to have to hurt him further. â€Å"Just let me go, Charlie.† I repeated my mother’s last words as she’d walked out this same door so many years ago. I said them as angrily as I could manage, and I threw the door open. â€Å"It didn’t work out, okay? I really, really hate Forks!† My cruel words did their job – Charlie stayed frozen on the doorstep, stunned, while I ran into the night. I was hideously frightened of the empty yard. I ran wildly for the truck, visualizing a dark shadow behind me. I threw my bag in the bed and wrenched the door open. The key was waiting in the ignition. â€Å"I’ll call you tomorrow!† I yelled, wishing more than anything that I could explain everything to him right then, knowing I would never be able to. I gunned the engine and peeled out. Edward reached for my hand. â€Å"Pull over,† he said as the house, and Charlie, disappeared behind us. â€Å"I can drive,† I said through the tears pouring down my cheeks. His long hands unexpectedly gripped my waist, and his foot pushed mine off the gas pedal. He pulled me across his lap, wrenching my hands free of the wheel, and suddenly he was in the driver’s seat. The truck didn’t swerve an inch. â€Å"You wouldn’t be able to find the house,† he explained. Lights flared suddenly behind us. I stared out the back window, eyes wide with horror. â€Å"It’s just Alice,† he reassured me. He took my hand again. My mind was filled with the image of Charlie in the doorway. â€Å"The tracker?† â€Å"He heard the end of your performance,† Edward said grimly. â€Å"Charlie?† I asked in dread. â€Å"The tracker followed us. He’s running behind us now.† My body went cold. â€Å"Can we outrun him?† â€Å"No.† But he sped up as he spoke. The truck’s engine whined in protest. My plan suddenly didn’t feel so brilliant anymore. I was staring back at Alice’s headlights when the truck shuddered and a dark shadow sprung up outside the window. My bloodcurdling scream lasted a fraction of a second before Edward’s hand clamped down on my mouth. â€Å"It’s Emmett!† He released my mouth, and wound his arm around my waist. â€Å"It’s okay, Bella,† he promised. â€Å"You’re going to be safe.† We raced through the quiet town toward the north highway. â€Å"I didn’t realize you were still so bored with small-town life,† he said conversationally, and I knew he was trying to distract me. â€Å"It seemed like you were adjusting fairly well – especially recently. Maybe I was just flattering myself that I was making life more interesting for you.† â€Å"I wasn’t being nice,† I confessed, ignoring his attempt at diversion, looking down at my knees. â€Å"That was the same thing my mom said when she left him. You could say I was hitting below the belt.† â€Å"Don’t worry. He’ll forgive you.† He smiled a little, though it didn’t touch his eyes. I stared at him desperately, and he saw the naked panic in my eyes. â€Å"Bella, it’s going to be all right.† â€Å"But it won’t be all right when I’m not with you,† I whispered. â€Å"We’ll be together again in a few days,† he said, tightening his arm around me. â€Å"Don’t forget that this was your idea.† â€Å"It was the best idea – of course it was mine.† His answering smile was bleak and disappeared immediately. â€Å"Why did this happen?† I asked, my voice catching. â€Å"Why me?† He stared blackly at the road ahead. â€Å"It’s my fault – I was a fool to expose you like that.† The rage in his voice was directed internally. â€Å"That’s not what I meant,† I insisted. â€Å"I was there, big deal. It didn’t bother the other two. Why did this James decide to kill met There’re people all over the place, why me?† He hesitated, thinking before he answered. â€Å"I got a good look at his mind tonight,† he began in a low voice. â€Å"I’m not sure if there’s anything I could have done to avoid this, once he saw you. It is partially your fault.† His voice was wry. â€Å"If you didn’t smell so appallingly luscious, he might not have bothered. But when I defended you†¦ well, that made it a lot worse. He’s not used to being thwarted, no matter how insignificant the object. He thinks of himself as a hunter and nothing else. His existence is consumed with tracking, and a challenge is all he asks of life. Suddenly we’ve presented him with a beautiful challenge – a large clan of strong fighters all bent on protecting the one vulnerable element. You wouldn’t believe how euphoric he is now. It’s his favorite game, and we’ve just made it his most exciting game ever.† His tone was full of disgust. He paused a moment. â€Å"But if I had stood by, he would have killed you right then,† he said with hopeless frustration. â€Å"I thought†¦ I didn’t smell the same to the others†¦ as I do to you,† I said hesitantly. â€Å"You don’t. But that doesn’t mean that you aren’t still a temptation to every one of them. If you had appealed to the tracker – or any of them – the same way you appeal to me, it would have meant a fight right there.† I shuddered. â€Å"I don’t think I have any choice but to kill him now,† he muttered. â€Å"Carlisle won’t like it.† I could hear the tires cross the bridge, though I couldn’t see the river in the dark. I knew we were getting close. I had to ask him now. â€Å"How can you kill a vampire?† He glanced at me with unreadable eyes and his voice was suddenly harsh. â€Å"The only way to be sure is to tear him to shreds, and then burn the pieces.† â€Å"And the other two will fight with him?† â€Å"The woman will. I’m not sure about Laurent. They don’t have a very strong bond – he’s only with them for convenience. He was embarrassed by James in the meadow†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"But James and the woman – they’ll try to kill you?† I asked, my voice raw. â€Å"Bella, don’t you dare waste time worrying about me. Your only concern is keeping yourself safe and – please, please – trying not to be reckless.† â€Å"Is he still following?† â€Å"Yes. He won’t attack the house, though. Not tonight.† He turned off onto the invisible drive, with Alice following behind. We drove right up to the house. The lights inside were bright, but they did little to alleviate the blackness of the encroaching forest. Emmett had my door open before the truck was stopped; he pulled me out of the seat, tucked me like a football into his vast chest, and ran me through the door. We burst into the large white room, Edward and Alice at our sides. All of them were there; they were already on their feet at the sound of our approach. Laurent stood in their midst. I could hear low growls rumble deep in Emmett’s throat as he set me down next to Edward. â€Å"He’s tracking us,† Edward announced, glaring balefully at Laurent. Laurent’s face was unhappy. â€Å"I was afraid of that.† Alice danced to Jasper’s side and whispered in his ear; her lips quivered with the speed of her silent speech. They flew up the stairs together. Rosalie watched them, and then moved quickly to Emmett’s side. Her beautiful eyes were intense and – when they flickered unwillingly to my face – furious. â€Å"What will he do?† Carlisle asked Laurent in chilling tones. â€Å"I’m sorry,† he answered. â€Å"I was afraid, when your boy there defended her, that it would set him off.† â€Å"Can you stop him?† Laurent shook his head. â€Å"Nothing stops James when he gets started.† â€Å"We’ll stop him,† Emmett promised. There was no doubt what he meant. â€Å"You can’t bring him down. I’ve never seen anything like him in my three hundred years. He’s absolutely lethal. That’s why I joined his coven.† His coven, I thought, of course. The show of leadership in the clearing was merely that, a show. Laurent was shaking his head. He glanced at me, perplexed, and back to Carlisle. â€Å"Are you sure it’s worth it?† Edward’s enraged roar filled the room; Laurent cringed back. Carlisle looked gravely at Laurent. â€Å"I’m afraid you’re going to have to make a choice.† Laurent understood. He deliberated for a moment. His eyes took in every face, and finally swept the bright room. â€Å"I’m intrigued by the life you’ve created here. But I won’t get in the middle of this. I bear none of you any enmity, but I won’t go up against James. I think I will head north – to that clan in Denali.† He hesitated. â€Å"Don’t underestimate James. He’s got a brilliant mind and unparalleled senses. He’s every bit as comfortable in the human world as you seem to be, and he won’t come at you head on†¦ I’m sorry for what’s been unleashed here. Truly sorry.† He bowed his head, but I saw him flicker another puzzled look at me. â€Å"Go in peace,† was Carlisle’s formal answer. Laurent took another long look around himself, and then he hurried out the door. The silence lasted less than a second. â€Å"How close?† Carlisle looked to Edward. Esme was already moving; her hand touched an inconspicuous keypad on the wall, and with a groan, huge metal shutters began sealing up the glass wall. I gaped. â€Å"About three miles out past the river; he’s circling around to meet up with the female.† â€Å"What’s the plan?† â€Å"We’ll lead him off, and then Jasper and Alice will run her south.† â€Å"And then?† Edward’s tone was deadly. â€Å"As soon as Bella is clear, we hunt him.† â€Å"I guess there’s no other choice,† Carlisle agreed, his face grim. Edward turned to Rosalie. â€Å"Get her upstairs and trade clothes,† Edward commanded. She stared back at him with livid disbelief. â€Å"Why should I?† she hissed. â€Å"What is she to me? Except a menace – a danger you’ve chosen to inflict on all of us.† I flinched back from the venom in her voice. â€Å"Rose†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Emmett murmured, putting one hand on her shoulder. She shook it off. But I was watching Edward carefully, knowing his temper, worried about his reaction. He surprised me. He looked away from Rosalie as if she hadn’t spoken, as if she didn’t exist. â€Å"Esme?† he asked calmly. â€Å"Of course,† Esme murmured. Esme was at my side in half a heartbeat, swinging me up easily into her arms, and dashing up the stairs before I could gasp in shock. â€Å"What are we doing?† I asked breathlessly as she set me down in a dark room somewhere off the second-story hall. â€Å"Trying to confuse the smell. It won’t work for long, but it might help get you out.† I could hear her clothes falling to the floor. â€Å"I don’t think I’ll fit†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I hesitated, but her hands were abruptly pulling my shirt over my head. I quickly stripped my jeans off myself. She handed me something, it felt like a shirt. I struggled to get my arms through the right holes. As soon as I was done she handed me her slacks. I yanked them on, but I couldn’t get my feet out; they were too long. She deftly rolled the hems a few times so I could stand. Somehow she was already in my clothes. She pulled me back to the stairs, where Alice stood, a small leather bag in one hand. They each grabbed one of my elbows and half-carried me as they flew down the stairs. It appeared that everything had been settled downstairs in our absence. Edward and Emmett were ready to leave, Emmett carrying a heavy-looking backpack over his shoulder. Carlisle was handing something small to Esme. He turned and handed Alice the same thing – it was a tiny silver cell phone. â€Å"Esme and Rosalie will be taking your truck, Bella,† he told me as he passed. I nodded, glancing warily at Rosalie. She was glowering at Carlisle with a resentful expression. â€Å"Alice, Jasper – take the Mercedes. You’ll need the dark tint in the south.† They nodded as well. â€Å"We’re taking the Jeep.† I was surprised to see that Carlisle intended to go with Edward. I realized suddenly, with a stab of fear, that they made up the hunting party. â€Å"Alice,† Carlisle asked, â€Å"will they take the bait?† Everyone watched Alice as she closed her eyes and became incredibly still. Finally her eyes opened. â€Å"He’ll track you. The woman will follow the truck. We should be able to leave after that.† Her voice was certain. â€Å"Let’s go.† Carlisle began to walk toward the kitchen. But Edward was at my side at once. He caught me up in his iron grip, crushing me to him. He seemed unaware of his watching family as he pulled my face to his, lifting my feet off the floor. For the shortest second, his lips were icy and hard against mine. Then it was over. He set me down, still holding my face, his glorious eyes burning into mine. His eyes went blank, curiously dead, as he turned away. And they were gone. We stood there, the others looking away from me as the tears streaked noiselessly down my face. The silent moment dragged on, and then Esme’s phone vibrated in her hand. It flashed to her ear. â€Å"Now,† she said. Rosalie stalked out the front door without another glance in my direction, but Esme touched my cheek as she passed. â€Å"Be safe.† Her whisper lingered behind them as they slipped out the door. I heard my truck start thunderously, and then fade away. Jasper and Alice waited. Alice’s phone seemed to be at her ear before it buzzed. â€Å"Edward says the woman is on Esme’s trail. I’ll get the car.† She vanished into the shadows the way Edward had gone. Jasper and I looked at each other. He stood across the length of the entryway from me†¦ being careful. â€Å"You’re wrong, you know,† he said quietly. â€Å"What?† I gasped. â€Å"I can feel what you’re feeling now – and you are worth it.† â€Å"I’m not,† I mumbled. â€Å"If anything happens to them, it will be for nothing.† â€Å"You’re wrong,† he repeated, smiling kindly at me. I heard nothing, but then Alice stepped through the front door and came toward me with her arms held out. â€Å"May I?† she asked. â€Å"You’re the first one to ask permission.† I smiled wryly. She lifted me in her slender arms as easily as Emmett had, shielding me protectively, and then we flew out the door, leaving the lights bright behind us. How to cite Twilight 19. GOODBYES, Essay examples

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Critical Reflective Paper

Question: Discuss about theCritical Reflective Paper. Answer: Introduction: The process of education and academic research is an enriching one, which provides individuals with an inspirational experience. This process helps individual in not only developing the academic skills that helps in the arena of education and career but also helps in developing the personality of individuals (Brew and Lucas, 2009). Hence the main emphasis of this critical reflective paper would be to highlight upon the personal development along with educational enhancement in the process of academic research. Development of Academic Research Practice and Skills During the initial modules, there are number of aspects and practices associated with academic research regarding which I was not aware of. One of such mentionable skill is research ethics. Prior the completion of the modules I was only aware of the not taking the idea or committing plagiarism. However, in the process of completion of the modules I came to know that, while doing a research it is vital that none of the collected data are used for any purpose other than the academic purpose. This is a vital part of research ethics along with not committing any misconduct, which plays an integral part of the research practices (Resnik, 2015). In the initial stage, the type of research skills that I was aware of was collecting secondary data. I used to perform any kind of research only on the basis of secondary data that consisted of online data consisting of peer reviewed journals, and offline data consisting of magazines. However, over the previous research modules I developed the skil l of collecting primary data. In this process I learned the skill of conducting interview, survey with the help of questionnaire. The Changed Ideas and Views of Academic Research While undergoing the previous modules a number of views and ideas associated with academic research that I had, have changed. One of mentionable idea associated with academic research that have changed is, the only means of collecting data in order to conduct research is secondary. These modules provided me with the knowledge that primary data is integral in the completion of a research and also provides the researcher, helps him or her in collecting accurate data (yourarticlelibrary, 2014). It also altered my perception and taught me that effective selection of the target sample and interpretation of qualitative and quantitative data is essential for the success of a research. Development of Ability to Conduct Research and its Understanding Over the previous modules, I have been provided with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of academic research. As already mentioned that, the understanding of the aspects associated with research like collection and interpretation of qualitative, quantitative and primary data have been imparted to me with the help of the previous modules. Moreover abilities required to conduct research includes qualities like effective communication required in conducting survey, interpretation of data, data analysis essential for quantitative data analysis have also been developed over the previous modules (Blaikie, 2006). Other than that, in order to conduct academic research time management is crucial, which had also been developed. Application of the Knowledge in Future Research In the future when conducting a research, I would try to focus on completing a research within the time frame for which I will try to manage and utilize the provided time in an effective manner. I would also make effort to use the knowledge of collecting qualitative, quantitative and primary data in an efficacious manner. In order to perform the qualitative, quantitative and primary data I would utilize the gained skill of conducting interview, survey, and data analysis skills. Conclusion In the conclusion it may be stated that the arena of academic research is multilayered and complex process. In the process of its completion we come across number of new skills, which if implemented in the future researches, it gets enriched. References Blaikie, N. (2006). Analyzing quantitative data. 7th ed. London: Sage Publications. Brew, A. and Lucas, L. (2009). Academic research and researchers. Maidenhead: Society for Research into Higher Education Open University Press. Resnik, D. (2015). What is Ethics in Research Why is it Important?. [online] Niehs.nih.gov. Available at: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/resources/bioethics/whatis/ [Accessed 2 Sep. 2016]. yourarticlelibrary.com. (2014). Different Ways of Collecting Primary Data. [online] Available at: https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/agriculture/different-ways-of-collecting-primary-data/44384/ [Accessed 2 Sep. 2016].