Guide How to Write an Informative Essay All You Need to Know

Guide How to Write an Informative Essay All You Need to Know What Is an Informative Essay? The main goal of any informative essay is to inform its audience about a specific topic on a particular object, phenomenon, or person. The goal of the essay is to explore the topic in details to ensure that the audience gains a full understanding of the topic. It is assumed that the reader of the informative essay has little to no understanding of the essay topic. For this reason, informative essays are mostly written at a high school and college level to ensure that the essay is not overwhelmed with difficult terminology that is difficult to understand for an entry-level reader. However, professional language can indeed be used in an informative essay as long as its use is appropriate. The condition for using professional language in an informative essay is to provide exact explanations to all terms that are being used. Choosing a Topic for an Informative Essay As a rule, topics of an informative essay are of an average difficulty because such essays are rarely completed on an academic level above college. It is possible to select an informative topic within the competency of a student that would engage the audience and present them with new valuable information. Some of the appropriate examples of an informative essay topics include: Contemporary Racism in the United States; An Introduction to the South Indian Cuisine; The Relevance of the Zero Waste Movement; Main Components of a Balanced Diet; Benefits and Risks of Consuming Marijuana; Practical Tips for Starting the First Business; Health Consequences of a Sedentary Lifestyle; Career Trends of the 2020s; The Peculiarities of the Electoral College System and Possible Solutions; Alternative Approaches to Learning. Pre-Writing Tips from Our Expert Writers Selecting a topic is the most important step of the prewriting process unless the topic is already provided by the instructor. The process of an informative essay topic selection is specific in more than one way. First of all, a successful informative essay can never be focused on a broad, non-specific topic. What is more, a topic of an informative essay cannot be too narrow since the writer is likely to face challenges related to the limitations of available information that can be presented to a reader. All in all, a topic of a medium scope is the best choice for an informative essay as it allows the author to have enough maneuver in presenting the information. At the same time, choosing a medium-scope topic limits the author to the right extent for an essay to remain logical, focused, and understandable by the audience. When choosing a topic for an informative essay, one should avoid selecting the topics he or she has little to no interest in. Whereas this rule is true for many forms of essays, it is especially relevant in case of writing informative essays since choosing a topic that does not appeal to the writer will likely result in poorly written paper. The context of ones class is also important in the process of selecting a topic for an informative essay. The best decision is to choose the topic that is may be useful for ones colleagues because an informative essay should also be practical and allow people to learn something new. Unlike in argumentative essays, where it is not recommended to choose a topic one is passionate about due to the possibility of bias, one may choose a topic for an informative essay of his or her interest. Such a choice is likely to keep the audience engaged; moreover, the writer is likely to explore the topic from different angles and present it to the audience in an approachable manner if he or she is interested in the topic. There is a need to stay focused on target audience of the essay. For instance, if an essay is a regular assignment that is presented to an instructor only, it should be primarily aimed at him or her. What is more, it is important to not overestimate one’s knowledge about the chosen topic. Even if the writer considers himself or herself an expert in the chosen field, there is a need to prepare oneself and conduct in-depth research before starting to write. Though the writing styles of the students are different, and some can come up with a perfect structure of an essay in the process of writing, it is in student’s best interest to create a thesis statement and imagine the basic structure of all claims before writing. What is more, it is necessary to find the sources that would serve as an evidence base for the claims. If one is familiar with the topic of an informative essay before starting, it is useful to write down basic facts that would serve as a skeleton of the arguments. However, double-check the facts in the process of finding the relevant sources to make sure that they are true. If you are assigned to write an informative essay on the topic you have no prior knowledge, it is necessary to spend some time on research to ensure at least a basic understanding before starting forming the arguments and finding the evidence. Structure of an Informative Essay The structure of an informative essay reflects a typical structure of an academic essay. According to it, the essay should contain an introduction, a minimum of three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The number of paragraphs depends on the specifications provided by the instructor, as well as on the specifications of the chosen topic. If the topic of an essay is complicate, it makes sense to include more body paragraphs to reflect all aspects. Outline An informative essay begins with an introduction that should keep the audience focused on the topic of the essay. The introduction should be appealing to make the audience interested in reading the paper. Introduction of an informative essay should not be too general as it is expected to reveal the background context that the reader should be aware of in order to understand the topic of an essay. An introduction of an informative essay is followed by a clear and concise thesis statement. A thesis statement has some characteristics that differentiate it from a usual thesis statement in an argumentative essay of different kinds. Whereas argumentative essays create a thesis statement in the form of an argument, a thesis statement in an informative essay should be focused on stressing out the need for researching the topic of an essay. It should not reflect author’s personal opinion on the topic of the paper. On the contrary, it should present the topic in an unbiased manner. Apart from being clear and concise, a thesis statement of an informative essay should be relatively easy for understanding. The body paragraphs of an informative essay should follow a clear structure. The most important thing for the body paragraphs it to be logically concise and informative. Each of the body paragraphs should start with a topic sentence to give a reader a clear understanding of what is about to follow. From a stylistic perspective, it is important to have a smooth transition between the paragraphs, with all of the paragraphs related to the thesis statement. Each of the paragraphs should include the main point and details that are used to support the given point. It is better to structure the main idea of each paragraph on just one fact, and not to overcrowd the paragraph with the abundance of the main points. The key idea of the paragraph should reflect the part of the thesis that is being proven in a particular paragraph. Supporting details are based on the outside evidence that is used to support the statement. Supporting evidence can be found in books, peer-reviewed articles, and other relevant sources. Finding correct evidence is extremely important as an essay is merely an opinion piece without them. Finally, each paragraph should successfully connect a thesis statement to a claim made in a paragraph. The explanation should be based on the point and supporting evidence. At times, there is a need to present extra evidence to prove the connection between the claim and the thesis statement. However, the points and evidence already presented are usually enough to make a connection. Each paragraph usually ends with a synopsis of the presented information. A final part of an informative essay is its conclusion. A conclusion of an informative essay provides a concise summary of the main essay topic. A conclusion of an informative essay does not merely restate its thesis statement, but also offers additional insights into the theme of the essay that might have been left out in the first place. The essay ends with a concluding statement that explains the overall value of the provided explanations. Post-Writing Tips After a draft of an informative essay is finished, there is a need to check the draft for vocabulary, grammar, coherence, and consistency. The language of an essay should be edited to communicate the topic of an essay more clearly. Correct grammar, including punctuation and spelling, is important in an informative essay just like it is in any other essay. What is more, correct grammar adds legitimacy to the authors claims from the perspective of a reader. However, logical consistency is the most important component of an informative essay because the paper achieves its purpose of informing the reader about the topic through smooth transitions and the right flow of a logical argument. When in doubt, it is possible to ask ones peers to give an unbiased review of the essay in order to potentially make some changes according to the feedback. Reviews both from those with the knowledge of the topic and without such knowledge might be equally useful. The former can review the quality of the essays content, whereas the latter can inform the author whether the ideas are well explained. Finally, there is a need to self-check the essay for coherency. The questions for self-check can include: Did I share all of the relevant information that I discovered in the process of preparing the essay with the audience? Does the thesis of an essay reflect the goal of an essay? Is the thesis of the essay clear? Are the transitions between the paragraph smooth? Does each paragraph have a concise main claim that is backed up by supporting evidence? Is the quality of the supporting claims high? Does the paper achieve its goal of informing the audience about its topic? The list of questions is approximate, and the questions can be more specific depending on the topic of an essay. At this point, the essay could be checked for the context-based mistakes that quite often appear in the informative essays. One of such mistakes is the repetition when two identical statements that are somehow paraphrased are used as the main points in two different paragraphs. Another common mistake to look for is the overflooding of the paragraph with a piece of extra information that is not quite relevant to the point of the essay. Finally, inconsistency could be a major problem if the connection between the main points and the supporting information is lost. In conclusion, the draft of an informative essay should be transformed into a final version of an essay as soon as all changes are made. A final look at the paper allows to track down the minor mistakes that were not visible before. Having confidence in ones essay is an important component of an informative essay that signals of the essays high quality. References How to Write an Informative Essay. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.wikihow.com/Write-an-Informative-Essay Examples of Informative Essays. (2019). Retrieved from https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-informative-essays.html Steps How to Write an Informative Essay: Guides A Research Guide. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.aresearchguide.com/write-informative-essay.html What is an informative essay, and how do I write one? | eNotes. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-an-informative-essay-how-do-you-write-one-361998

The Legend of the Chevy Nova That Wouldnt Go

The Legend of the Chevy Nova That Wouldn't Go If youve ever taken a class in marketing, chances are youve heard how Chevrolet had problems selling the Chevy Nova automobile in Latin America. Since no va means it doesnt go in Spanish, the oft-repeated story goes, Latin American car buyers shunned the car, forcing Chevrolet to embarrassingly pull the car out of the market. But the Problem With the Story Is... Chevrolets woes are often cited as an example of how good intentions can go wrong when it comes to translation. There are literally thousands of references to the incident on the Internet, and the Nova example has been mentioned in textbooks and often comes up during presentations on cultural differences and advertising. But theres one major problem with the story: It never happened. As a matter of fact, Chevrolet did reasonably well with the Nova in Latin America, even exceeding its sales projections in Venezuela. The story of the Chevy Nova is a classic example of an urban legend, a story that is told and retold so often that it is believed to be true even though it isnt. Like most other urban legends, there is some element of truth in the story (no va indeed means it doesnt go), enough truth to keep the story alive. Like many urban legends, the story has the appeal of showing how the high and mighty can be humiliated by stupid mistakes. Even if you couldnt confirm or reject the story by looking into history, you might notice some problems with it if you understand Spanish. For starters, nova and no va dont sound alike and are unlikely to be confused, just as carpet and car pet are unlikely to be confused in English. Additionally, no va would be an awkward way in Spanish to describe a nonfunctioning car (no funciona, among others, would do better). Additionally, as in English, nova, when used in a brand name, can convey a sense of newness. Theres even a Mexican gasoline that goes by that brand name, so it seems unlikely such a name alone could doom a car. Other Spanish Mistranslation Legends GM, of course, isnt the only company to be cited as making advertising blunders in the Spanish language. But upon closer examination, many of these tales of mistranslation prove to be as unlikely  as the one involving GM. Here are some of those stories. The Tale  of the Vulgar Pen Story: Parker Pen intended to use the slogan it wont stain your pocket and embarrass you, to emphasize how its pens wouldnt leak, translating it as no manchar tu bolsillo, ni te embarazar. But embarazar  means to be pregnant rather than to embarrass. So the slogan was understood as it wont stain your pocket and get you pregnant. Comment: Anyone who learns much about Spanish learns quickly about such common mistakes as confusing embarazada (pregnant) for embarrassed. For a professional to make this translating mistake seems highly unlikely. Wrong Kind of Milk Story: A Spanish version of the Got Milk? campaign used  ¿Tienes leche?, which can be understood as Are you lactating? Comment: This might have happened, but no verification has been found. Many such promotional campaigns are locally run, making it more likely this understandable mistake could have been made. Wrong Kind of Loose Story: Coors translated the slogan turn it loose in a beer ad in such a way that it was understood as slang for suffer from diarrhea. Comment: Reports differ on whether Coors used the phrase suà ©ltalo con Coors (literally, let it go loose with Coors) or suà ©ltate con Coors (literally, set yourself free with Coors). The fact that accounts dont agree with each other make it seem unlikely that the mistake actually happened. No-Coffee Coffee Story: Nestlà © was unable to sell Nescafà © instant coffee in Latin America because the name is understood as No es cafà © or It isnt coffee. Comment: Unlike most of the other accounts, this story is demonstrably false. Nestlà © not only sells instant coffee under that name in Spain and Latin America, but it also operates coffee shops with that name. Also, while consonants are often softened in Spanish, vowels are usually distinct, so nes is unlikely to be confused for no es. Misplaced Affection Story: A slogan for Frank Perdue chicken, it takes a strong man to make a tender chicken, was translated as the equivalent of it takes a sexually aroused man to make a chicken affectionate. Comment: Like tender, tierno can mean either soft or affectionate. The accounts differ on the phrase used to translate a strong man. One account uses the phrase un tipo duro (literally, a hard chap), which seems extremely unlikely.

The economic impact of Atlantic City closing casinos Annotated Bibliography

The economic impact of Atlantic City closing casinos - Annotated Bibliography Example hallenges facing Atlantic City are in the way in which market shifts in the future could directly impact upon the overall success that could be achieved by the firms seeking to operate within this particular region. This article was included in the researcher due to the fact that it helps to exemplify the way in which the entire economy of Atlantic City, and by extension, the entire economy of the state of New Jersey, is at least partially dependent upon the revenues she from casinos and gambling. As this particular industry has begun to falter, the impact upon other sectors of the economy has been commensurately felt. Furthermore, rather than providing justification for the underlying reasons for why the Atlantic City gambling scene has experienced such a loss of the past several years, the authors instead seek to focus the majority of their attention upon the way in which a new economic base could be achieved for Atlantic City; and whether or not such a shift would be able to be accomplished in a relatively brief period of time. Moreover, the authors focus upon seeking to engage the overall economic impact that has been felt within Atlantic City has a direct result of the loss of revenue. Whereas a great degree of analysis has been placed upon potential solutions to the economic hardships facing Atlantic City, relatively little focus has been placed upon how the situation actually unfolded. As such, this particular article is essentially useful due to the fact that it focuses upon the factors that allowed Atlantic City to falter from its position of preeminent gambling location on the East Coast. Likewise, the author indicates the fact that even though the economic downturn was a primary catalyst to the way in which Atlantic City began to lose revenue and market share, it was ultimately the result of the fact that Atlantic City was unresponsive to the demands of the consumer. Without a primary and fundamental level of focus upon the demands of the consumer

Leadership Styles in Professional Nursing Term Paper

Leadership Styles in Professional Nursing - Term Paper Example Since the style of leadership affects the patient’s mortality resulting from nursing care and the wellbeing of the nursing staffs (Firth-Cozens & Mowbray, 2001), the styles of leadership employed in the nursing scenario are essential. Autocratic and democratic types of leadership may positively or negatively affect the practice of nursing profession, nursing staffs and ultimately the patient depending on how it is implemented by the nurse managers. Review of Professional Nursing Literatures Autocratic style of leadership is where a manager is powerful and in authority to make decisions. The environment is influenced through sets of rewards and punishments. This is most effective when other types of leadership are not effective to manage employees. It also works when there is limited time to make decisions. However, this type of leadership should not be used in situations where employees become tensed, fearful and when employees always rely for the decision of the manager befor e they act. On the other hand, democratic leadership allows employees to be part of the decision making. This is participative in style. Employees are informed on everything that affects their work and they participates on problem solving thus the manager has to get the consensus of the group before making decisions. However, democratic leadership is not effective when there is limited time getting the decision of every employee and when safety of employees is a critical concern. Autocratic leadership is implemented in the profession of nursing in times of any emergency cases where the manager has to decide outright and employees are expected to follow without any explanations. This type of leadership is most beneficial in situations where employees are new and inexperienced and where the organization does not allow errors. Schaeffer (2002) provided an interesting finding that those emergency cases need autocratic managers for the sake of the patient. He further pointed out that man agers are equivalent to an operating room surgeon forced to do what it takes to save the patient’s life. Other emergency cases like evacuating the hospital for a possible threat needs the authoritative action of the manager to give directives to subordinates for a common goal that is to transfer everybody involved to a safer place. Another emergency situation is the need for the code blue team during cardiac arrest. On observation, the same strategy is employed by the nurse manager to effectively handle the situation that is to give directives and be in control of the situation to save the patient’s life during those crucial periods. In these scenarios, a nurse manager can raise voice to command staffs as needed. This is to make sure the nurse and the other members of the team are doing the right thing for a particular case at hand so that if the same situation emerges the group is already equipped with the skills needed. Exercising power in this method may transfer th e skill and knowledge of the nurse manager down to the subordinates. Schaeffer further pointed out that the strategy of being an autocratic leader depends on the challenges at hand. He further added that the strategy is to change the leadership style if needed. As a successful chairman himself of the Well point Health Networks, he accepted adopting different styles at critical

Drug Addiction Among Young People Essay Example for Free

Drug Addiction Among Young People Essay Many young people today get addicted to drugs – they become dependant on various types of mind-altering or stimulating medicines or illegal ones. Addiction often comes hand-in-hand with narcotic effects, whether they are strong or light. It is only a question of time when you get addicted. You gradually become destroyed on all the levels of your health. And this is sad. It turns out to be sadder when you come to know that typical age range of drug addicts is from 15 to 30 years. People of this age represent the main working group in a country, they are both core and roots of a society. The addiction is also wide-spread geographically – you can find people having problems with drugs everywhere, not only in low-life countries, but in well-developed ones too. First of all, young people are especially vulnerable to different sorts of illegal things. Usually it all starts in schools. Children from problematic backgrounds often go into alcohol and then into drugs. First comes the psychological addiction and then physical – you want and you need. They destroy you and then destroy you harder as you get more tolerant to substances. The biggest group of addicts are students as they get off their families and there is no one over them to control. Plus, the spirit of freedom often blinds them and then they cannot get rid of their addiction. The life of addicts becomes spoiled in all spheres – social, as they need to communicate with other addicts, they lose their contacts with families and friends; economical – as they spend all their money on drugs (which are usually very expensive), addicts start to earn their money illegally (running rackets, prostitution, etc.) – all these problems are incidental if to compare them to health problems – drugs are primary dangerous to people health. Opiates like heroin are the most murderous drugs – they waste away your physical resources and supress your hearts work. Heroin is even more dangerous as the form of injections is the most appropriate for achieving  the narcotic effect. Here comes the AIDS. This disease is often called epidemy of our century as there is no treatment and effects are hard to resist and it is lethal.

Eulogy for Friend :: Eulogies Eulogy

Eulogy for Friend Richie, Richie, Richie†¦ I met Rich at freshman orientation at Lynchburg College in August, 1975. My freshman orientation packet said that I was to meet with my group at my assigned table in the dining hall. After getting my dinner, I found the right table and sat down across from another freshman. There was no one else at the table. I think it was fate. After what seemed like a couple of minutes, a conversation started. We talked about our hometowns. He told me that his family lived in Manassas, but that most of his life was spent in Naples, Italy. As you all know, he was very proud of his Italian heritage. He was very proud of his life, family, and friendships in Italy. After awhile in this conversation, I asked him if knew anything about school sports. â€Å"I would like to run cross country,† I said. Well with that question, there was much to talk about. It did not take too long to realize that while I enjoyed running, for him, it was his passion. Rich became my closest friend through college. Through that friendship I made other life-changing friendships that carry on today. He told me his happiest time in college was his senior year. That is when he met his wife Nonie. I remember their first date when Sandi Parker introduced them. Many times he would head over to Randolph-Macon Women’s College to see Nonie, or she would be headed to our campus to see him. Rich and I were roommates that year. Several years after college and living in North Carolina, I realized that I had no friends and a job I did not like. I was thinking of moving back home to the D.C. area. Rich and I talked often on the phone. At that point, he said, â€Å"Look, why don’t you try it out here.† I told him I had no money and no job prospects. He said, â€Å"Brad, you can stay here, sleep on the sofa. I will get us some paint jobs to help get you started.† So, Rich and Nonie graciously opened up their home. While I slept on the sofa, Andrew shared the â€Å"mamote† [remote]. A month later, I got a place to live and a full-time job. I do not know of many friends that would open their home up like that, but then that’s Rich. Eulogy for Friend :: Eulogies Eulogy Eulogy for Friend Richie, Richie, Richie†¦ I met Rich at freshman orientation at Lynchburg College in August, 1975. My freshman orientation packet said that I was to meet with my group at my assigned table in the dining hall. After getting my dinner, I found the right table and sat down across from another freshman. There was no one else at the table. I think it was fate. After what seemed like a couple of minutes, a conversation started. We talked about our hometowns. He told me that his family lived in Manassas, but that most of his life was spent in Naples, Italy. As you all know, he was very proud of his Italian heritage. He was very proud of his life, family, and friendships in Italy. After awhile in this conversation, I asked him if knew anything about school sports. â€Å"I would like to run cross country,† I said. Well with that question, there was much to talk about. It did not take too long to realize that while I enjoyed running, for him, it was his passion. Rich became my closest friend through college. Through that friendship I made other life-changing friendships that carry on today. He told me his happiest time in college was his senior year. That is when he met his wife Nonie. I remember their first date when Sandi Parker introduced them. Many times he would head over to Randolph-Macon Women’s College to see Nonie, or she would be headed to our campus to see him. Rich and I were roommates that year. Several years after college and living in North Carolina, I realized that I had no friends and a job I did not like. I was thinking of moving back home to the D.C. area. Rich and I talked often on the phone. At that point, he said, â€Å"Look, why don’t you try it out here.† I told him I had no money and no job prospects. He said, â€Å"Brad, you can stay here, sleep on the sofa. I will get us some paint jobs to help get you started.† So, Rich and Nonie graciously opened up their home. While I slept on the sofa, Andrew shared the â€Å"mamote† [remote]. A month later, I got a place to live and a full-time job. I do not know of many friends that would open their home up like that, but then that’s Rich.

The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 13 KILLER

IF IT WAS ANYONE BUT JACOB, I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, shaking my head as I drove down the forest-lined highway to La Push. I still wasn't sure if I was domg the right thing, but I'd made a compromise with myself. I couldn't condone what Jacob and his friends, his pack, were doing. I understood now what he'd said last nightthat I might not want to see him againand I could have called him as he'd suggested, but that felt cowardly. I owed him a face-to-face conversation, at least. I would tell him to his face that I couldn't just overlook what was going on. I couldn't be friends with a killer and say nothing, let the killing continue That would make me a monster, too. But I couldn't not warn him, either. I had to do what I could to protect him. I pulled up to the Blacks' house with my lips pressed together into a hard line. It was bad enough that my best friend was a werewolf. Did he have to be a monster, too? The house was dark, no lights in the windows, but I didn't care if I woke them. My fist thudded against the front door with angry energy; the sound reverberated through the walls. â€Å"Come in,† I heard Billy call after a minute, and a light flicked on. I twisted the knob; it was unlocked. Billy was leaning around an open doorway just off the little kitchen, a bathrobe around his shoulders, not in his chair yet. When he saw who it was, his eyes widened briefly, and then his face turned stoic. â€Å"Well, good morning, Bella. What are you doing up so early?† â€Å"Hey, Billy. I need to talk to Jakewhere is he?† â€Å"Um I don't really know,† he lied, straight-faced. â€Å"Do you know what Charlie is doing this morning?† I demanded, sick of the stalling. â€Å"Should I?† â€Å"He and half the other men in town are all out in the woods with guns, hunting giant wolves.† Billy's expression flickered, and then went blank. â€Å"So I'd like to talk to Jake about that, if you don't mind,† I continued. Billy pursed his thick lips for a long moment. â€Å"I'd bet he's still asleep,† he finally said, nodding toward the tiny hallway off the front room. â€Å"He's out late a lot these days. Kid needs his restprobably you shouldn't wake him.† â€Å"It's my turn,† I muttered under my breath as I stalked to the hallway. Billy sighed. Jacob's tiny closet of a room was the only door in the yard-long hallway. I didn't bother to knock. I threw the door open; it slammed against the wall with a bang. Jacobstill wearing just the same black cut-off sweats he'd worn last nightwas stretched diagonally across the double bed that took up all of his room but a few inches around the edges. Even on a slant, it wasn't long enough; his feet hung off the one end and his head off the other. He was fast asleep, snoring lightly with his mouth hanging open. The sound of the door hadn't even made him twitch. His face was peaceful with (deep sleep, all the angry lines smoothed out. There were circles under his eyes that I hadn't noticed before. Despite his ridiculous size, he looked very young now, and very weary. Pity shook me. I stepped back out, and shut the door quietly behind me. Billy stared with curious, guarded eyes as I walked slowly back into the front room. â€Å"I think I'll let him get some rest.† Billy nodded, and then we gazed at each other for a minute. I was dying to ask him about his part in this. What did he think of what his son had become? But I knew how he'd supported Sam from the very beginning, and so I supposed the murders must not bother him. How he justified that to himself I couldn't imagine. I could see many questions for me in his dark eyes, but he didn't voice them either. â€Å"Look,† I said, breaking the loud silence. â€Å"I'll be down at the beach for a while. When he wakes up, tell him I'm waiting for him, okay?† â€Å"Sure, sure,† Billy agreed. I wondered if he really would. Well, if he didn't, I'd tried, right? I drove down to First Beach and parked in the empty dirt lot. It was still darkthe gloomy predawn of a cloudy dayand when I cut the headlights it was hard to see. I had to let my eyes adjust before I could find the path that led through the tall hedge of weeds. It was colder here, with the wind whipping off the black water, and I shoved my hands deep into the pockets of my winter jacket. At least the rain had stopped. I paced down the beach toward the north seawall. I couldn't see St. James or the other islands, just the vague shape of the water's edge. I picked my way carefully across the rocks, watching out for driftwood that might trip me. I found what I was looking for before I realized I was looking for it. It materialized out of the gloom when it was just a few feet away: a long bone-white driftwood tree stranded deep on the rocks. The roots twisted up at the seaward end, like a hundred brittle tentacles. I couldn't be sure that it was the same tree where Jacob and I had had our first conversationa conversation that had begun so many different, tangled threads of my lifebut it seemed to be in about the same place I sat down where I'd sat before, and stared out across the invisible sea. Seeing Jacob like thatinnocent and vulnerable in sleephad stolen all my revulsion, dissolved all my anger. I still couldn't turn a blind sye to what was happening, like Billy seemed to, but I couldn't condemn Jacob for it either. Love didn't work that way, I decided. Once you cared about a person, it was impossible to be logical about them anymore. Jacob was my friend whether he killed people or not. And I didn't know what I was going to do about that. When I pictured him sleeping so peacefully, I felt an overpowering urge to protect him. Completely illogical. Illogical or not, I brooded over the memory his peaceful face, trying to come up with some answer, some way to shelter him, while the sky slowly turned gray. â€Å"Hi,Bella.† Jacob's voice came from the darkness and made me jump. It was soft, almost shy, but I'd been expecting some forewarning from the noisy rocks, and so it still startled me. I could see his silhouette against the coming sunriseit looked enormous. â€Å"Jake?† He stood several paces away, shifting his weight from foot to foot anxiously. â€Å"Billy told me you came bydidn't take you very long, did it? I knew you could figure it out.† â€Å"Yeah, I remember the right story now,† I whispered. It was quiet for a long moment and, though it was still too dark to see well, my skin prickled as if his eyes were searching my face. There must have been enough light for him to read my expression, because when he spoke again, his voice was suddenly acidic. â€Å"You could have just called,† he said harshly. I nodded. â€Å"I know.† Jacob started pacing along the rocks. If I listened very hard, I could just hear the gentle brush of his feet on the rocks behind the sound of the waves. The rocks had clattered like castanets for me. â€Å"Why did you come?† he demanded, not halting his angry stride. â€Å"I thought it would be better face-to-face.† He snorted. â€Å"Oh, much better.† â€Å"Jacob, I have to warn you† â€Å"About the rangers and the hunters? Don't worry about it. We already know.† â€Å"Don't worry about it?† I demanded in disbelief. â€Å"Jake, they've got guns! They're setting traps and offering rewards and† â€Å"We can take care of ourselves,† he growled, still pacing. â€Å"They're not going to catch anything. They're only making it more difficultthey'll start disappearing soon enough, too.† â€Å"Jake!† I hissed. â€Å"What? It's just a fact.† My voice was pale with revulsion. â€Å"How can you feel that way? You know these people. Charlie's out there!† The thought made my stomach twist. He came to an abrupt stop. â€Å"What more can we do?† he retorted. The sun turned the clouds a slivery pink above us. I could see his expression now; it was angry, frustrated, betrayed. â€Å"Could you well, try to not be a werewolf?† I suggested in a whisper. He threw his hands up in the air. â€Å"Like I have a choice about it!† he shouted. â€Å"And how would that help anything, if you're worried about people disappearing?† â€Å"I don't understand you.† He glared at me, his eyes narrowing and his mouth twisting into a snarl. â€Å"You know what makes me so mad I could just spit?† I flinched away from his hostile expression. He seemed to be waiting for an answer, so I shook my head. â€Å"You're such a hypocrite, Bellathere you sit, terrified of me! How is that fair?† His hands shook with anger. â€Å"Hypocrite? How does being afraid of a monster make me a hypocrite?† â€Å"Ugh!† he groaned, pressing his trembling fists to his temples and squeezing his eyes shut. â€Å"Would you listen to yourself?† â€Å"What?† He took two steps toward me, leaning over me and glaring with fury. â€Å"Well, I'm so sorry that I can't be the right kind of monster for you, Bella. I guess I'm just not as great as a bloodsucker, am I?† I jumped to my feet and glared back. â€Å"No, you're not!† I shouted. â€Å"It's not what you are, stupid, it's what you do!† â€Å"What's that supposed to mean?† He roared, his entire frame quivering with rage. I was taken entirely by surprise when Edward's voice cautioned me. â€Å"Be very careful, Bella,† his velvet voice warned. â€Å"Don't push him too far. You need to calm him down.† Even the voice in my head was making no sense today. I listened to him, though. I would do anything for that voice. â€Å"Jacob,† I pleaded, making my tone soft and even. â€Å"Is it really necessary to kill people, Jacob? Isn't there some other way? I mean, if vampires can find a way to survive without murdering people, couldn't you give it a try, too?† He straightened up with a jerk, like my words had sent an electric shock through him. His eyebrows shot up and his eyes stared wide. â€Å"Killing people?† he demanded. â€Å"What did you think we were talking about?† He wasn't trembling anymore. He looked at me with half-hopeful disbelief. â€Å"I thought we were talking about your disgust for werewolves.† â€Å"No, Jake, no. It's not that you're a wolf. That's fine,† I promised him, and I knew as I said the words that I meant them. I really didn't care if he turned into a big wolfhe was still Jacob. â€Å"If you could just find a way not to hurt people that's all that upsets me. These ate innocent people, Jake, people like Charlie, and I can't just look the other way while you† â€Å"Is that all? Really?† he interrupted me, a smile breaking across his face. â€Å"You're just scared because I'm a murderer? That's the only reason?† â€Å"Isn't that reason enough?† He started to laugh. â€Å"Jacob Black, this is so notfunny!† â€Å"Sure, sure,† he agreed, still chortling. He took one long stride and caught me in another vice-tight bear hug. â€Å"You really, honestly don't mind that I morph into a giant dog?† he asked, his voice joyful in my ear. â€Å"No,† I gasped. â€Å"Can'tbreatheJake!† He let me go, but took both my hands. â€Å"I'm not a killer, Bella.† I studied his face, and it was clear that this was the truth. Relief pulsed through me. â€Å"Really?† I asked. â€Å"Really,† he promised solemnly. I threw my arms around him. It reminded me of that first day with the motorcycleshe was bigger, though, and I felt even more like a child now. Like that other time, he stroked my hair. â€Å"Sorry I called you a hypocrite,† he apologized. â€Å"Sorry I called you a murderer.† He laughed. I thought of something then, and pulled away from him so that I could see his face. My eyebrows furrowed in anxiety. â€Å"What about Sam? And the others?† He shook his head, smiling like a huge burden had been removed from his shoulders. â€Å"Of course not. Don't you remember what we call ourselves?† The memory was clearI'd just been thinking of that very day. â€Å"Protectors?† â€Å"Exactly.† â€Å"But I don't understand. What's happening in the woods? The missing hikers, the blood?† His face was serious, worried at once. â€Å"We're trying to do our job, Bella. We're trying to protect them, but we're always just a little too late.† â€Å"Protect them from what? Is there really a bear out there, too?† â€Å"Bella, honey, we only protect people from one thingour one enemy. It's the reason we existbecause they do.† I stared at him blankly for one second before I understood. Then the blood drained from my face and a thin, wordless cry of horror broke through my lips. He nodded. â€Å"I thought you, of all people, would reali2e what was really going on.† â€Å"Laurent,† I whispered. â€Å"He's still here.† Jacob blinked twice, and cocked his head to one side. â€Å"Who's Laurent?† I tried to sort out the chaos in my head so that I could answer. â€Å"You knowyou saw him in the meadow. You were there† The words came out in a wondering tone as it all sunk in. â€Å"You were there, and you kept him from killing me† â€Å"Oh, the black-haired leech?† He grinned, a tight, fierce grin. â€Å"Was that his name?† I shuddered. â€Å"What were you thinking?† I whispered. â€Å"He could have killed you! Jake, you don't realize how dangerous† Another laugh interrupted me â€Å"Bella, one lone vampire isn't much of a problem for a pack as big as ours. It was so easy, it was hardly even fun!† â€Å"What was so easy?† â€Å"Killing the bloodsucker who was going to kill you. Now, I don't count that towards the whole murder thing,† he added quickly. â€Å"Vampires don't count as people.† I could only mouth the words. â€Å"You killed Laurent?† He nodded. â€Å"Well, it was a group effort,† he qualified. â€Å"Laurent is dead?† I whispered. His expression changed. â€Å"You're not upset about that, are you? He was going to kill youhe was going for the kill, Bella, we were sure of that before we attacked. You know that, right?† â€Å"I know that. No, I'm not upsetI'm† I had to sit down. I stumbled back a step until I felt the driftwood against my calves, and then sank down onto it. â€Å"Laurent is dead. He's not coming back for me.† â€Å"You're not mad? He wasn't one of your friends or anything, was he?† â€Å"My friend?† I stared up at him, confused and dizzy with relief. I started babbling, my eyes getting moist. â€Å"No, Jake. I'm so so relieved. I thought he was going to find meI've been waiting for him every night, just hoping that he'd stop with me and leave Charlie alone. I've been so frightened, Jacob But how? He was a vampire! How did you kill him? He was so strong, so hard, like marble† He sat down next to me and put one big arm around me comfortingly. â€Å"It's what we're made for, Bells. We're strong, too. I wish you would have told me that you were so afraid. You didn't need to be.† â€Å"You weren't around,† I mumbled, lost in thought. â€Å"Oh, right.† â€Å"Wait, JakeI thought you knew, though. Last night, you said it wasn't safe for you to be in my room. I thought you knew that a vampire might be coming. Isn't that what you were talking about?† He looked confused for a minute, and then he ducked his head. â€Å"No, that's not what I meant.† â€Å"Then why didn't you think it was safe for you there?† He looked at me with guilt-ridden eyes. â€Å"I didn't say it wasn't safe for me. I was thinking of you.† â€Å"What do you mean?† He looked down and kicked a rock. â€Å"There's more than one reason I'm not supposed to be around you, Bella. I wasn't supposed to tell you our secret, for one thing, but the other part is that it's not safe for you. If I get too mad too upset you might get hurt.† I thought about that carefully. â€Å"When you were mad before when I was yelling at you and you were shaking ?† â€Å"Yeah.† His face dropped even lower. â€Å"That was pretty stupid of me. I have to keep a better hold on myself. I swore I wasn't going to get mad, no matter what you said to me. But I just got so upser that I was going to lose you that you couldn't deal with what I am† â€Å"What would happen if you got too mad?† I whispered. â€Å"I'd turn into a wolf,† he whispered back. â€Å"You don't need a full moon.† He rolled his eyes. â€Å"Hollywood's version doesn't get much right.† Then he sighed, and was serious again. â€Å"You don't need to be so stressed out, Bells. We're going to take care of this. And we're keeping a special eye on Charlie and the otherswe won't let anything happen to him. Trust me on that.† Something very, very obvious, something I should have grasped at oncebut I'd been so distracted by the idea of Jacob and his friends fighting with Laurent, that I'd completely missed it at the timeoccurred to me only then, when Jacob used the present tense again. We're going to take care of this. It wasn't over. â€Å"Laurent is dead,† I gasped, and my entire body went ice cold. â€Å"Bella?† Jacob asked anxiously, touching my ashen cheek. â€Å"If Laurent died a week ago then someone else is killing people now.† Jacob nodded; his teeth clenched together, and he spoke through them. â€Å"There were two of them. We thought his mate would want to fight usin our stories, they usually get pretty pissed off if you kill their matebut she just keeps running away, and then coming back again. If we could figure out what she was after, it would be easier to take her down. But she makes no sense. She keeps dancing around the edges, like she's testing our defenses, looking for a way inbut in where? Where does she want to go? Sam thinks she's trying to separate us, so she'll have a better chance† His voice faded until it sounded like it was coming through a long tunnel; I couldn't make out the individual words anymore. My forehead dewed with sweat and my stomach rolled like I had the stomach flu again. Exactly like I had the flu. I turned away from him quickly, and leaned over the tree trunk. My body convulsed with useless heaves, my empty stomach contracting with horrified nausea, though there was nothing in it to expel. Victoria was here. Looking for me. Killing strangers in the woods. The woods where Charlie was searching My head spun sickeningly. Jacob's hands caught my shoulderskept me from sliding forward onto the rocks. I could feel his hot breath on my cheek. â€Å"Bella! What's wrong?† â€Å"Victoria,† I gasped as soon as I could catch my breath around the nauseous spasms. In my head, Edward snarled in fury at the name. I felt Jacob pull me up from my slump. He draped me awkwardly across his lap, laying my limp head against his shoulder. He struggled to balance me, to keep me from sagging over, one way or the other He brushed the sweaty hair back from my face. â€Å"Who?† Jacob asked. â€Å"Can you hear me, Bella? Bella?† â€Å"She wasn't Laurent's mate,† I moaned into his shoulder. â€Å"They were just old friends† â€Å"Do you need some water? A doctor? Tell me what to do,† he demanded, frantic. â€Å"I'm not sickI'm scared,† I explained in a whisper. The word scared didn't really seem to cover it. Jacob patted my back. â€Å"Scaled of this Victoria?† I nodded, shuddering. â€Å"Victoria is the red-haired female?† I trembled again, and whimpered, â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"How do you know she wasn't his mate?† â€Å"Laurent told me James was her mate,† I explained, automatically flexing the hand with the scar. He pulled my face around, holding it steady in his big hand. He stared intently into my eyes. â€Å"Did he tell you anything else, Bella? This is important. Do you know what she wants?† â€Å"Of course,† I whispered. â€Å"She wants me.† His eyes flipped wide, then narrowed into slits. â€Å"Why?† he demanded. â€Å"Edward killed James,† I whispered. Jacob held me so tightly that there was no need for me to clutch at the holehe kept me in one piece. â€Å"She did get pissed off. But Laurent said she thought it was fairer to kill me than Edward. Mate for mate. She didn't knowstill doesn't know, I guessthat that† I swallowed hard. â€Å"That things aren't like that with us anymore. Not for Edward, anyway.† Jacob was distracted by that, his face torn between several different expressions. â€Å"Is that what happened? Why the Cullens left?† â€Å"I'm nothing but a human, after all. Nothing special,† I explained, shrugging weakly. Something like a growlnot a real growl, just a human approximationrumbled in Jacob's chest under my ear. â€Å"If that idiot bloodsucker is honestly stupid enough† â€Å"Please,† I moaned. â€Å"Please. Don't.† Jacob hesitated, then nodded once. â€Å"This is important,† he said again, his face all business now. â€Å"This is exactly what we needed to know. We've got to tell the others right away.† He stood, pulling me to my feet. He kept two hands on my waist until he was sure I wasn't going to fall. â€Å"I'm okay,† I lied. He traded his hold on my waist for one of my hands. â€Å"Let's go.† He pulled me back toward the truck. â€Å"Where are we going?† I asked. â€Å"I'm not sure yet,† he admitted. â€Å"I'll call a meeting. Hey, wait here for just a minute, okay?† He leaned me against the side of the truck and released my hand. â€Å"Where are you going?† â€Å"I'll be right back,† he promised. Then he turned and sprinted through the parking lot, across the road, and into the bordering forest. He flitted into the trees, swift and sleek as a deer. â€Å"Jacob!† I yelled after him hoarsely, but he was already gone. It was not a good time to be left alone. Seconds after Jacob was out of sight, I was hyperventilating. I dragged myself into the cab of the truck, and mashed the locks down at once. It didn't make me feel any better. Victoria was already hunting me. It was just luck that she hadn't found me yetjust luck and five teenage werewolves. I exhaled sharply. No matter what Jacob said, the thought of him coming anywhere close to Victoria was horrifying. I didn't care what he could turn into when he got mad. I could see her in my head, her face wild, her hair like flames, deadly, indestructible But, according to Jacob, Laurent was gone. Was that really possible? EdwardI clutched automatically at my chesthad told me how difficult it was to kill a vampire. Only another vampire could do the job. Yet Jake said this was what werewolves were made for He said they were keeping a special eye on Charliethat I should trust the werewolves to keep my father safe. How could I trust that? None of us were safe! Jacob the very least of all, if he was trying to put himself between Victoria and Charlie between Victoria and me. I felt like I might be about to throw up again. A sharp rap on the truck's window made me yelp in terrorbut it was just Jacob, back already. I unlocked the door with trembling, grateful fingers. â€Å"You're really scared, aren't you?† he asked as he climbed in. I nodded. â€Å"Don't be. We'll take care of youand Charlie, too. I promise.† â€Å"The idea of you finding Victoria is scarier than the idea of her finding me,† I whispered. He laughed. â€Å"You've got to have a little more confidence in us than that. It's insulting.† I just shook my head. I'd seen too many vampires in action. â€Å"Where did you go just now?† I asked. He pursed his lips, and said nothing. â€Å"What? Is it a secret?† He frowned. â€Å"Not really. It's kind of weird, though. I don't want to freak you out.† â€Å"I'm sort of used to weird by this point, you know.† I tried to smile without much success. Jacob grinned back easily. â€Å"Guess you'd have to be. Okay. See, when we're wolves, we can hear each other.† My eyebrows pulled down in confusion. â€Å"Not hear sounds,† he went on, â€Å"but we can hear thoughtseach other's anywayno matter how far away from each other we are. It really helps when we hunt, but it's a big pain otherwise. It's embarrassinghaving no secrets like that. Freaky, eh?† â€Å"Is that what you meant last night, when you said you would tell them you'd seen me, even though you didn't want to?† â€Å"You're quick.† â€Å"Thanks.† â€Å"You're also very good with weird. I thought that would bother you.† â€Å"It's not well, you're not the first person I've known who could do that. So it doesn't seem so weird to me.† â€Å"Really Waitare you talking about your bloodsuckers?† â€Å"I wish you wouldn't call them that.† He laughed. â€Å"Whatever. The Cullens, then?† â€Å"Just just Edward.† I pulled one arm surreptitiously around my torso. Jacob looked surprisedunpleasantly so. â€Å"I thought those were just stories. I've heard legends about vampires who could do extra stuff, but I thought that was just a myth.† â€Å"Is anything just a myth anymore?† I asked him wryly. He scowled. â€Å"Guess not. Okay, we're going to meet Sam and the others at the place we go to ride our bikes.† I started the truck and headed back up the road. â€Å"So did you just turn into a wolf now, to talk to Sam?† I asked, curious. Jacob nodded, seeming embarrassed. â€Å"I kept it real shortI tried not to think about you so they wouldn't know what was going on. I was afraid Sam would tell me I couldn't bring you.† â€Å"That wouldn't have stopped me.† I couldn't get rid of my perception of Sam as the bad guy. My teeth clenched together whenever I heard his name. â€Å"Well, it would have stopped me,† Jacob said, morose now. â€Å"Remember how I couldn't finish my sentences last night? How I couldn't just tell you the whole story?† â€Å"Yeah. You looked like you were choking on something.† He chuckled darkly. â€Å"Close enough. Sam told me I couldn't tell you. He's the head of the pack, you know. He's the Alpha. When he tells us to do something, or not to do somethingwhen he really means it, well, we can't just ignore him.† â€Å"Weird,† I muttered. â€Å"Very,† he agreed. â€Å"It's kind of a wolf thing.† â€Å"Huh† was the best response I could think of. â€Å"Yeah, there's a load of stuff like thatwolf things. I'm still learning. I can't imagine what it was like for Sam, trying to deal with this alone. It sucks bad enough to go through it with a whole pack for support.† â€Å"Sam was alone?† â€Å"Yeah.† Jacob's voice lowered. â€Å"When I changed, it was the most horrible, the most terrifying thing I've ever been throughworse than anything I could have imagined. But I wasn't alonethere were the voices there, in my head, telling me what had happened and what I had to do. That kept me from losing my mind, I think. But Sam† He shook his head. â€Å"Sam had no help.† This was going to take some adjusting. When Jacob explained it like that, it was hard not to feel compassion for Sam. I had to keep reminding myself that there was no reason to hate him anymore. â€Å"Will they be angry that I'm with you?† I asked. He made a face. â€Å"Probably.† â€Å"Maybe I shouldn't† â€Å"No, it's okay,† he assured me. â€Å"You know a ton of things that can help us. It's not like you're just some ignorant human. You're like a I don't know, spy or something. You've been behind enemy lines.† I frowned to myself. Was that what Jacob would want from me? Insider information to help them destroy their enemies? I wasn't a spy, though. I hadn't been collecting that kind of information. Already, his words made me feel like a traitor. But I wanted him to stop Victoria, didn't I? No. I did want Victoria to be stopped, preferably before she tortured me to death or ran into Charlie or killed another stranger. I just didn't want Jacob to be the one to stop her, or rather to try. I didn't want Jacob within a hundred miles of her. â€Å"Like the stuff about the mind-reading bloodsucker,† he continued, oblivious to my reverie. â€Å"That's the kind of thing we need to know about. That really sucks that those stories are true. It makes everything more complicated. Hey, do you think this Victoria can do anything special?† â€Å"I don't think so,† I hesitated, and then sighed. â€Å"He would have mentioned it.† â€Å"He? Oh, you mean Edwardoops, sorry. I forgot. You don't like to say his name. Or hear it.† I squeezed my midsection, trying to ignore the throbbing around the edges of my chest. â€Å"Not really, no.† â€Å"Sorry.† â€Å"How do you know me so well, Jacob? Sometimes it's like you can read my mind.† â€Å"Naw. I just pay attention.† We were on the little dirt road where Jacob had first taught me to ride the motorcycle. â€Å"This good?† I asked. â€Å"Sure, sure.† I pulled over and cut the engine. â€Å"You're still pretty unhappy, aren't you?† he murmured. I nodded, staring unseeingly into the gloomy forest. â€Å"Did you ever think that maybe you're better off?† I inhaled slowly, and then let my breath out. â€Å"No.† â€Å"‘Cause he wasn't the best† â€Å"Please, Jacob,† I interrupted, begging in a whisper. â€Å"Could we please not talk about this? I can't stand it.† â€Å"Okay.† He took a deep breath. â€Å"I'm sorry I said anything.† â€Å"Don't feel bad. If things were different, it would be nice to finally be able to talk to someone about it.† He nodded. â€Å"Yeah, I had a hard time keeping a secret from you for two weeks. It must be hell to not be able to talk to anyone.† â€Å"Hell,† I agreed. Jacob sucked in a sharp breath. â€Å"They're here. Let's go.† â€Å"Are you sure?† I asked while he popped his door open. â€Å"Maybe I shouldn't be here.† â€Å"They'll deal with it,† he said, and then he grinned. â€Å"Who's afraid of the big, bad wolf?† â€Å"Ha ha,† I said. But I got out of the truck, hurrying around the front end to stand close beside Jacob. I remembered only too clearly the giant monsters in the meadow. My hands were trembling like Jacob's had been before, but with fear rather than rage. Jake took my hand and squeezed it. â€Å"Here we go.†