Where To Find Good Two Paragraph Essay Samples

Where To Find Good Two Paragraph Essay SamplesThere are hundreds of websites online dedicated to good two paragraph essay samples. Many of these sites offer free samples, but most charge a fee. The free samples are an ideal way to make sure that you do not waste your time on substandard samples. You will want to look for samples that are professionally designed and are filled with easy to read and understand instructions.When you search for a sample online, remember that there are many to choose from. You should select the one that provides information about the topic that you have chosen. Some sites specialize in certain topics, such as history or books and newspaper. The information in the sample should provide you with important information. If it does not provide the information you need, ask the site administrator about other samples that they may have.After you have found a sample that you like, ensure that you write the sample well. Include the introduction and the body of the essay in the first two paragraphs. In order to make the introduction clear, include a description of the topic that you have chosen. If the sample does not include this information, provide it in the introduction. When you have finished the sample, make sure that it is easy to read.Good two-paragraph essay samples will have easy to read information. Some websites will have a database of samples that they have developed. You can access them by selecting 'looking for a sample' in the search engine.If you find a sample that you like, make sure that you are able to read the sample from beginning to end. Do not read the samples part by part, because you may not know what information is important. Look at the sample as a whole. After you have finished reading the sample, read it again and make sure that it is easy to read.Some sites offer sample after sample. You may want to consider this option if you find that you have used the same two paragraphs in several samples. After all, the inf ormation that you need will be in the next sample.Once you have completed the sample, ensure that you are able to read it from beginning to end. Reading it from beginning to end will help you remember the information contained in the sample. Remember, you will use the information in the next sample.

Steps to Christ free essay sample

Summary Steps to Christ concentrates on Gods inclusive love for His people and His merciful nature. Ellen White addresses how we can all be saved by grace and how we can become better Christians. She dedicates each chapter to describe ways to get closer to God, following a set of steps that require higher and higher dedication and more understanding of Gods wisdom. The first chapter if the book, â€Å"God’s love for Man† illustrates the quality of God’s love. His acceptance can be seen when we look around us and to the nature that surrounds us to then understand a little more about God and his mercy.Through sin we broke â€Å"God’s rule of love† yet in his infinite mercy he gave his only begotten son to pay the price for our redemption. This is God’s love for us. The second chapter of the book,† The Sinner’s Need of Christ† speaks about how through sin man became disobedient. We will write a custom essay sample on Steps to Christ or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In his sinful state he could no longer find communion with God, be in harmony with him. This has caused a separation between man and God. The third chapter of the book, â€Å"Repentence†, describes how we should repent from our sins.It shows us the difference between true repentance and repentance lead by the fear of punishment for transgression. Jesus can restore and cleanse all those who want to be purified and recognize that this can only be done through Him and in Him. The author also mentions that the Holy Spirit also moves those who do not know of the power of God but understand the wickedness of their sins. The fourth chapter of the book,† Confession†, illustrates that for confession to be genuine there must be a humble acceptance of guilt for actions.There must be a sincere desire without deception and hypocrisy. The fifth chapter of the book,† Consecration†, speaks about the surrendering of oneself wholeheartedly in order to be restored to His likeness. It goes on to emphasis that there must be a deep love of Christ and an earnest desire to yield all to Him. For anything less would be just a formality. The sixth chapter of the book,† Faith and Acceptance†, illustrates that once you have seen the sin and is disheartened by its evilness. You have to see that is peace you need. Confess your sins and in heart put them away.Once you have resolved to give yourself to God, go to Him and ask Him and he will wash away your sins and give you a new heart. The seventh chapter of the book,† the test of Discipleship†, illustrates that to be in Christ you must be a new creature , which means that former lusts are passed away and you become a new person reflecting Himself. The eight chapter of the book,† Growing up in Christ†, states that without God there is no life, and nothing has life. According to Ellen White, we depend on Christ for everything, without him we are nothing.Therefore, we should choose to live and grow into Christ, looking up to him as the greatest model of righteousness and depending on him to give us this righteousness in exchange for the burden of our sins that He is carrying. The ninth chapter of the book, The Work and the Life, shows that when we have love for Christ we cannot keep it to ourselves; the power of the Holy Spirit works through us to send Jesus message everywhere we go and we become disciples of Gods love and when we have this passion burning inside we also want to work for Christ and do things that would benefit his cause and his love.The tenth chapter of the book,† A Knowledge of God†, explains how God speaks to us through his provincial works. The Bible, which was written for the common man, contains revelation of his character, His dealing with men, and the great work of redemption. The eleventh chapter of the book,† The Privilege of Prayer†, illustrates that the Bible should not be read without the intervention of prayer. Though He speaks to us through nature and revelation, we also need to commune with Him through prayer.Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as a friend and without it the whispered temptati ons of the enemy entice them to sin. The twelfth chapter of the book,† What to do with Doubt†, illustrates that there are many mysteries in the Bible and the inability of the finite minds to fully comprehend the character of the works of the Infinite One, causes doubt in many. God desires man to exercise his reasoning powers in the study of the Bible, but to open the word Of God without reverence and prayer and without guidance from Him would be apparently difficult.When you approach with His guidance He will make it plain and simple. The last chapter of the book, Rejoicing in the Lord, is a summary on how we, Christians, should behave towards others. Therefore, we should choose to live and grow into Christ, looking up to him as the greatest model of righteousness and depending on him to give us this righteousness in exchange for the burden of our sins that He is carrying. REACTIONSteps to Christ have given me a valuable insight into the matchless love of God. The thought has a subduing power upon the soul and brings the mind into captivity to the will of God. The author has shown the more we study the divine character in the light of the cross, the more we see mercy, tenderness, and forgiveness blended with equity and justice, and the more clearly we dis cern innumerable evidences of a love that is infinite. In my opinion, the most critical points the author presents are the ones dealing with Repentance and with Doubt. Repentance is a delicate matter because it relates to the fact that some people might think that they are repenting from their sins when in fact they are just doing it out of fear of being punished; they are not truly lamenting the sins that they committed; they lament the suffering that will take place because of their sins.The second Critical point of this book is the chapter that deals with Doubt because one can never be certain about everything and there are a lot of things that cannot be explained. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking to turn their life around. The title of this book tells its mission. It points the reader to Jesus Christ as the only one who is able to meet the needs of the soul. It directs the feet of the doubting and halting to the pathway of peace. It leads the seeker after righteousness and wholeness of character, step by step, along the way of christian living, to that experience where he can know the fullness of blessing which is found in the complete surrender of self. It reveals to him the secret of victory as it unfolds in simplicity the saving grace and the keeping power of the great friend of all mankind. That the Steps to Christ may be repeated to you as you read this story of the way of life, is the sincere wish of this websites contributors

How to Convert Feet to Inches

How to Convert Feet to Inches Feet (ft) and inches (in) are two units of length, most commonly used in the United States. The units are used in schools, daily life, art, and some areas of science and engineering. The feet to inches conversion is useful and important, so heres the formula and examples that show how to convert feet to inches and inches to feet. Feet to Inches Formula This conversion isnt quite as easy as converting between metric units, which are simply factors of 10, but its not difficult. The conversion factor is: 1 foot 12 inches distance in inches (distance in feet) x (12 inches/foot) So, to convert a measurement in feet to inches, all you need to do is multiply the number by 12. This is an exact number, so if youre working with significant figures, it wont limit them. Feet to Inches Example Lets say you measure a room and find it is 12.2 feet across. Find the number in inches. length in inches length in feet x 12length 12.2 ft x 12length 146.4 or 146 inches Converting Inches to Feet Since all you do is multiply by 12 to convert feet to inches, it should make sense to you that all you do to convert inches to feet is divide by 12. The conversion factor is the same: 12 inches 1 foot distance in feet (distance in inches) / (12 inches/foot) Inches to Feet Example You measure your laptop and find the screen is 15.4 inches across. What is this in feet? distance in feet (distance in inches) / (12 inches/foot)distance 15.4 in / 12 in/ftdistance 1.28 feet Important Information for Unit Conversions with Division One of the most common areas of confusion when doing unit conversions involving division concerns unit cancelling. When youre converting inches to feet, you divide by 12 in/ft. This is the same as multiplying by ft/in! Its one of those rules you use when multiplying fractions that a lot of people forget about when dealing with units. When you divide by a fraction, the denominator (part on the bottom) moves to the top, while the numerator (part on the top) moves to the bottom. Thus, the units cancel out to give you the desired answer.

Is Enforcement the Critical Weakness in International Law Essay

Is Enforcement the Critical Weakness in International Law - Essay Example Researches on the applicability of international laws reveal that the violation of international laws by states are more frequent than the violation of national law a trend largely attributable to the existing operational frameworks for the respective laws. Such validate the claim that enforcement is s the critical weakness in the application of international laws. Nations form treaties in order to safeguard their specific interests. In doing this they create institutions that oversee the applicability of the treaties and laws that govern the application of such treaties. Among the numerous international bodies that oversee the application of different international treaties, include the international court of justice and the international criminal court both of which are creations of the United Nations. The operations of the two courts have exhibited lack of resources and manipulation by members-states thus crippling their operations and sovereignty1. Membership in such internationa l treaties as the United Nations is always voluntary a feature that makes the compliance with the laws equally voluntary. Additionally, the United Nations has no definite framework that enforces the legislations. The application of the laws is therefore voluntary and subject to the existing relations between nations. National laws maintain a national jurisdiction; they safeguard the interests of the population and are therefore outlined in the constitutions. Besides the laws, governments have various police departments and effective infrastructure capable of implementing the laws. A country like the United States has several police departments and several other federal institutions that investigate and apprehend violators of the national laws. Coupled with the various police departments is an efficient judiciary that works in close relation with the numerous correctional facilities. This implies that the enforcement and the implementation of national are efficient owing to the exist ence of effective institutions created by the national constitutions. The national governments thus have an inclusive supervision and the implementation of national laws through effective enforcement through the various state officers who work to maintain law and order in the societies. The situation differs in the application of international laws, as explained international laws are reliant on the treaties that govern the relationship among nations. Such international bodies as the United Nations and the European Union have no enforcement frameworks capable of ensuring compliance o the international laws. Compliance to the laws is voluntary and reliant on the existing national laws. The United Nations for example has effective and elaborate laws that seek to safeguard the citizens of different nations from exploitation and dictatorship in the modern society. The international criminal court therefore investigates and tries offenders of international interests. The court and the Un ited Nations Security Council both have clear definitions of crimes against humanity and war crimes. The bodies thus try perpetrators of such crimes a move that seeks to protect civilians from exploitative leadership. Despite the existence of such elaborate laws, the international body exhibits inefficiency and lack of capacity in the implementation of the laws. The international bodies do not have police officers and investigators with the authority to arrest the criminals thus availing them for trial. Instead, the

Germany's Holocaust Memorial Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Germany's Holocaust Memorial - Essay Example Then there are those who argue that the site is not Jewish enough, since it lacks obvious Jewish religious symbols (Eisenman, 2006). An advantage for having the information center within the site is to harmonize, the concept of the memorial site with individual documentation concerning the Holocaust victims and their families. Hence, visitors do not just get to express their somberness, but they get to learn more about these victims and understand how typical they were through their biographical details. Furthermore, the information center assists in the broader documentation and education of universal concerns of genocide. The downsize of the information center is that, it can be perceived as presenting a new thought of memory, discrete from nostalgia, more of a public relation gimmick. The US does not have a permanent national memorial for victims of slavery, and the genocide of American Native Indians. Currently, the proposed museum for slavery has stalled entirely, while the native Indians have the national museum of American Indians at the national mall (National Mall,

Single-port Complete Thoracoscopic Lobectomy Feasibility

Single-port Complete Thoracoscopic Lobectomy Feasibility Clinical comparisons of single-port versus three-port complete thoracoscopic lobectomy for lung cancer patients Abstract Objective: To compare the feasibility and safety of single-port versus three-port complete thoracoscopic lobectomy for lung cancer patients. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 60 lung cancer patients from June 2014 to August 2014 in Department of Thoracic Surgery, Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University. There were 30 patients in single-port complete thoracoscopic lobectomy group (single-port group) and other 30 in three-port complete thoracoscopic lobectomy group (three-port group). Total lymph node harvest, mediastinal lymph node harvest, dissection of mediastinal lymph node groups, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, extubation time, postoperative hospital stay, visual analogue scale (VAS) one day after operation, and the complication rate were thoroughly compared between the two groups. Results: There were no significant differences in total lymph node harvest, mediastinal lymph node harvest, dissection of mediastinal lymph node groups, intraoperative blood loss, extubation time, postoperative hospital stay, and complication rate between the two groups (p> 0.05). However, the operation time of single-port group (209.0 ±45.5 min) was significantly longer than that of three-port group (154.5 ±30.9 min) (p Conclusion: For lung cancer patients, the feasibility and safety of single-port complete thoracoscopic lobectomy is similar to three-port complete thoracoscopic lobectomy. Compared with three-port complete thoracoscopic lobectomy, the operation time of single-port complete thoracoscopic lobectomy is longer, but its postoperative pain is gentler. As the experience accumulating, single-port complete thoracoscopic lobectomy should be popularized with its merits of minimal invasiveness. Keywords: single-port, three-port, lobectomy, lung cancer. Introduction: Currently, lobectomy is the prior intervention to treat early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [1]. As a minimally invasive technique, thoracoscopic lobectomy has been widely used in current thoracic department [2]. Although single-port complete thoracoscopic lobectomy has been introduced to treat NSCLC, no literature was available to compare its feasibility and safety with three-port complete thoracoscopic lobectomy. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective comparison study in lung cancer patients enrolled from June 2014 to August 2014 to investigate the feasibility and safety of single-port complete thoracoscopic lobectomy. 1. Methods and materials 1.1 General information A total of 60 lung cancer patients from June 2014 to August 2014 in Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital were included in this retrospective study. There were 30 patients in single-port complete thoracoscopic lobectomy group (single-port group) and other 30 in three-port complete thoracoscopic lobectomy group (three-port group). All patients underwent associated examination such as thoracic computed tomography (CT), cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), skeletal emission computed tomography (ECT), and abdominal and cervical color Doppler ultrasound (CDU). Positron emission tomography-CT (PET-CT) might also need to be conducted to exclude metastasis if necessary. Electrocardiogram, cardiac CDU, and pulmonary function test were conducted to assess cardiopulmonary function. The inclusion criteria include: 1) patients with stage I-II (cTNM classification) peripheral lung cancer; 2) no thoracic surgery history; 3) lobectomy can be tolerated by card iopulmonary function; 4) preoperative complications have been stably controlled. 1.2 Anesthesia and surgical procedure Double-lumen endobronchial tubes (DLT) were used for intubation for the two groups, and the healthy lung received ventilation. All patients underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy under general anesthesia. For single-port group, a 3.5-4.5cm incision was made from the 4th intercostal space to the 5th intercostal space along the anterior axillary line. The patients underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy with video assistance. For three-port group, a 1.5cm observation port was made on the cross point of midaxillary line and the 7th intercostal space, and a 2-4cm operation port was made on the cross point of anterior axillary line and the 4th/5th intercostal space. A 1.5-2.5cm operation-aided port was made on the cross point of the 7th intercostal space and infrascapular line. For peripheral lung cancer, pulmonary wedge resection was conducted to remove the focus. Once the resection samples were confirmed as malignant tumor by fast frozen pathology, the following standard lobectomy and mediastinal lymphadenectomy would be employed. For central lung cancer, standard lobectomy was conducted. Once the resection samples were confirmed as malignant tumor by fast frozen pathology, the following mediastinal lymphadenectomy would be employed. Electrocautery and ultrasonic scalpel were used to distract the vessels and bronchus. Suture clamps were used to fix great vessels such as pulmonary veins, pulmonary artery and so on. Hemolock, titanium clip, electrocautery, ultrasonic scalpel and silk ligation were used to handle small vessels. No definite order was made to conduct the lobectomy, which mostly depended on the development of interlobar fissure. Specimen bag was used to extract the removals preventing from contaminating the cuts, and analgesia pumps were used for the two groups. Indications for removing the drain included: 24h drainage flow was less than 100mL; postoperative lung recruitment was favorable without pleural effusion. 1.3 Observation parameters The observation parameters included: 1) parameters during perioperative period: operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage flow, postoperative thoracic cavity drainage time, visual analogue scale (VAS) one day after operation, postoperative hospital stay, death rate during perioperative period, complications during perioperative period. 2) parameters related to tumor resection: total lymph node harvest, node-positive number, node-positive rate, N1 lymph nodes, N2 lymph nodes, N2 lymph node rate, and N2 lymph node groups. 1.4 Statistical methods Statistical software SPSS 16.0 was conducted to analyze the data. Quantitative data was showed as x ±s, and independent t-test was used to test the group comparisons. Enumeration data was presented as rate, and χà ¯Ã‚ ¼Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ test was used to test group comparisons. Statistical significance was set as P 2. Results 2.1 Clinical characteristics There were no significant differences in sex, age, tumor location, postoperative pathological type, tumor invasion, visceral pleura invasion, and tumor classification, respectively (P> 0.05) (Table 1). In addition, there were no significant differences in total lymph node harvest, positive lymph node number, total mediastinal lymph node harvest, and dissection of mediastinal lymph node groups (P> 0.05) (Table 2). Table 1. Comparisons of pathological information between single-port group and three-port group. Single-port group (n=30) Three-port group (n=30) P value Gender 0.183 Male 9 11 Female 21 19 Age (year)* 25-77(61) 45-70(58) 0.583 Tumor location 0.096 Left upper lobe 8 4 Left inferior lobe 5 3 Right upper lobe 8 9 Right middle lobe 3 4 Right inferior lobe 6 10 Tumor type 0.341 Adenocarcinoma 25 22 Squamous carcinoma 2 6 Others 3 2 Tumor invasion 0.583 Carcinoma in situ 2 0 Micro invasion 5 6 Invasion 23 24 Visceral pleura invasion 0.799 No 22 21 Yes 8 9 TNM classification 0.989 Stage 0 1 1 Stage Ia 14 10 Stage Ib 6 10 Stage IIa 2 3 Stage IIb 3 2 Stage IIIa 4 4 *age:extreme value (median). Table 2. Comparisons of lymph node harvest between single-port and three-port group. Single-port group (n=30) Three-port group (n=30) P value Total lymph node harvest 23.6 ±11.2 25.4 ±7.3 0.737 Positive lymph nodes 1.5 ±3.1 1.9 ±4.9 0.971 Total mediastinal lymph node harvest 16.2 ±9.2 17.2 ±6.5 0.731 Dissection of mediastinal lymph node groups 4.4 ±1.0 4.4 ±0.8 0.637 2.2 Perioperative information All operations were under the video-assistance of total thoracoscopic lobectomy without other assisted endoscope incision. There were no deaths during preoperative period. However, there were a total of five cases with complications, two cases (1 case of arrhythmia; 1 case of systemic infections) in single-port group (6.7%), and another three cases (1 case of arrhythmia; 1 case of air leakage; 1 case of chylothorax) in three-port group (10.0%). There was no significant difference in complications between the two groups (P>0.05). Additionally, no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss, postoperative extubation time and postoperative hospital stay were observed (P>0.05). However, operation time in single-port group (209.0 ±45.5 min) was longer than that in three-port group (154.5 ±30.9min) (P Table 3. Comparisons of perioperative outcomes between single-port and three-port group Single-port group (n=30) Three-port group (n=30) P value Operation time (min) 209.0 ±45.5 154.5 ±30.9 0.000 Intraoperative blood loss (ml) 90.6 ±49.3 79.5 ±45.2 0.840 Postoperative extubation time (d) 4.0 ±1.5 5.4 ±3.7 0.256 Postoperative VAS 3.6 ±0.7 5.5 ±1.0 0.000 Postoperative hospital stay (d) 6.9 ±4.0 8.5 ±11.8 0.441 Postoperative complications 2 3 0.799 Arrhythmia 1 1 Systemic complications 1 0 Air leakage 0 1 Chylothorax 0 1 3. Discussions Single-port thoracoscopic technique was first reported to diagnose and treat non-complicated pleura-related disease in 2003[7]. In 2004, it was used in pulmonary wedge resection by Rocco et al.[8]. Seven years later, single-port thoracoscopic technique was reported to conduct lobectomy and lymphadenectomy by Gonzalez et al[9]. Since then, it was applied gradually in segment resection of lung [10], total pneumonectomy [11], bronchial sleeve resection [12] and angioplasty of pulmonary arteries [13]. However, most available literature focused on the feasibility and safety of single-port thoracoscopic lobectomy, and no studies compared it with three-port thoracoscopic lobectomy. The presented study retrospectively investigated the differences of clinical outcomes between single-port thoracoscopic lobectomy and three-port thoracoscopic lobectomy for lung cancer. Jiang et al. [14] compared 160 cases of thoracoscopic lobectomy and 247 cases of conventional open surgery and found no signific ant differences in perioperative death (0.6% vs. 2.8%) and complication rate (9.4% vs. 11.7%) (P>0.05). It is indicated that thoracoscopic lobectomy was technically safe to treat NSCLC. Similarly in our study, the complication rates were 6.7% and 10.0% for single-port group and three-port group, respectively. However, there were no deaths during perioperative period in our study. Therefore, our study indicated that single-port lobectomy was at least technically safe compared with three-port group. The vital factor for radical resection of lung cancer by single-port thoracoscopic lobectomy was the dissection of lymph nodes. Jiang et al. [14] found no significant differences in dissection of lymph node groups (2.4 ±1.5 vs. 2.6 ±1.6) and lymph node harvest (9.8 ±6.2 vs. 9.9 ±5.9) between thoracoscopic lobectomy group and conventional open surgery group (P> 0.05). Similarly, Zhang et al.[15] found no significant differences in lymph node harvests (14.6 ±7.5 vs. 15.2 ±4.5) between video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery group and video-assisted micro thoracoscopy group. That was to say, the lymph node dissection by thoracoscopic lobectomy was at least equivalent to that by open surgery. In the presented study, there were no significant differences in total lymph node harvest (23.6 ±11.2 vs.25.4 ±7.3), mediastinal lymph node harvest (16.2 ±9.2 vs. 17.2 ±6.5), dissection of mediastinal lymph node groups (4.4 ±1.0 vs. 4.4 ±0.8) between the single-port group and th ree-port group. These results suggested that the lymph node harvest was at least equivalent to the previous studies. In other words, the dissection of lymph nodes by single-port thoracoscopic lobectomy was feasible in respect of radical removal of tumors. However, the long-term outcomes need further follow-up to confirm in the future. The incision of single-port thoracoscopic lobectomy was located at the cross point of anterior axillary line and the 4th/5th intercostal spaces, which, unlike conventional three-port thoracoscopy, did not have observation port or assisted-operation port. The 4th/5th intercostal spaces were wider with less muscle and less bleeding, which might have little impact on the postoperative recover with less pain. After comparing 20 cases of three-port thoracoscopic lobectomy and 10 cases of single-port thoracoscopic lobectomy in treating interstitial lung disease, Chen et al.[16] found that postoperative one-day VAS in single-port group (4.95 ±0.39) was significantly lower than that in three-port group (4.5 ±0.7) (P=0.03). Similarly in our study, postoperative one-day VAS in single-port group (3.6 ±0.7) was significantly lower than that in three-port group (5.5 ±1.0) (P In the presented study, the operation time (209.0 ±45.5 min) in single-port group was significantly lower than that in three-port group (154.5 ±30.9 min). The reasons included 1) all the operating instruments and thoracoscopy went through the single port, which might interfere each other, especially when the focus was near the dorsal cavity and diaphragm. 2) single-port thoracoscopic lobectomy had a strict skill requirement of qualified camera assistant. The camera assistant was supposed to know how to cooperate with the operator, how to allocate the location within the incision, and how to keep the camera stable. Our operation team launched the single-port-thoracoscopic lobectomy since May 2014, and we believed that the operation time would be shortened as we optimized our technique gradually. In summary, the feasibility and safety of single-port thoracoscopic lobectomy were similar to three-port thoracoscopic lobectomy for lung cancer patients. With the development of instruments, the optimization of surgical procedure, and the accumulation of surgical experience, the operation time would likely be shortened gradually. Therefore, single-port complete thoracoscopic lobectomy was supposed to be popularized with its merits of minimal invasiveness.

Analytical essay on Primo Levi’s “If This Is a Man” Essay

Primo Levi’s book ‘If This Is a Man’ is a novel about a German concentration camp, one among many novels on the same subject. However, this book is exceptional as Levi never ‘raises his voice, complains, or attributes blame’. ‘If This Is a Man’ is an objective story told in a detached tone using scientific language, which sometimes makes this book not a confession but an analysis. Nevertheless, distant tone and unemotional language bring the horrifying message across with even greater impact on readers. The saddest, the most powerful, and the most ironic chapter of the book is the central ninth chapter, called ‘The Drowned and the Saved’. Here the author’s talent as well as his training as chemist comes through in unique manner. Instead of telling the story, Levi analyses the reasons, the methods, and the effects of German concentration camps. The result is more like an essay or even lab report rather than a part of a novel. The diction of the chapter is sharply contrasted with its content, emphasizing the terrifying events described. Already the first sentence of the chapter (â€Å"What we have so far said and will say concerns the ambiguous life of the Lager.† P. 102) reveals a lot. This sentence is the first step in building up the emotionless tone through technical diction. The first person point of view used throughout previous chapters is suddenly replaced by the pronoun â€Å"we† as it is used in official documents. With every following sentence, the dryness of expression grows gradually: â€Å"To this question we feel that we have to reply in the affirmative.† (p. 102), â€Å"†¦the Lager was presumably a gigantic biological and social experiment.† (p. 102), â€Å"But another fact seems to us worthy of attention†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (p. 103). Read Also:  Analytic Rubric for Essay The impact of language is reinforced by the structure of the chapter. As Primo Levi names the Lager to be an experiment, he writes his analysis of the reasons and effects of the concentration camp in the form of a lab report. One can clearly distinguish statement of purpose, method statement, hypothesis, observations, conditions, and conclusion – all the important parts of a lab report. However, as said before the detachedness of the structure is in sharp contrast with the content. For example, the â€Å"method  statement† (â€Å"Thousands of individuals†¦ are enclosed within barbed wire: there they live a regular, controlled life which is identical for all and inadequate to all needs†¦Ã¢â‚¬  p. 102) describes plainly and understatedly terrifying conditions of the camp. Levi does not complain, he just says that the conditions are â€Å"inadequate to all needs† but the underestimation brings the message across more powerfully, especially when compared to previous chapters. Similarly, the author writes: â€Å"And one must take into account a definite cushioning effect exercised both by the law, and by the moral state which constitutes a self-imposed law;† (p. 103), a statement, describing the conditions of â€Å"the experiment†, implying that there is no law or sense of morality in the camps. However, yet again, there are no protests or grumbles, and the reader has to find the meaning behind the statement himself. â€Å"Variables† in the experiment are two categories of men – the saved and the drowned. Sudden change of tone – from official to poetic and back to official – is used to accentuate the difference among the prisoners, to bring it across for the reader that in the Lager the only choice was either to survive or to die. Everyone struggles to survive and in this brutal exertion, all means are justified. â€Å"If some Null Achtzehn vacillates, he will find no one to extend a helping hand; on the contrary, someone will knock him aside†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (p. 103). With this line author clearly states the moral of the camps: if I’m not for myself, who will be for me? With bitter irony Levi avers that the law â€Å"to he that has will be given; to he that has not will be taken away.† (p. 104) is openly at work in the camp and to obey this law is the only possible way to survive. Thus, the morality of the Lager is the antithesis of morality of normal life the way the concentration camp itself is antithesis of normal world. This passage is even more sarcastic when the fact that Primo Levi himself was not particularly strong and capable prisoner but rather a ‘muselman’. However, as it has been mentioned in the beginning of this essay, Primo Levi’s book is different from other novels on the same topic. All the writers have shown the brutal morality, or rather immorality of the Lager and deduced from it that â€Å"the Hà ¤ftling is†¦ a man without inhibitions† (p.  103) thus giving up on the humankind. Levi’s attitude is different. He believes that humanity of the prisoners is still hidden deep in their souls waiting for an opportunity to recover. (â€Å"†¦in the face of driving necessity and physical disabilities many social habits and instincts are reduced to silence.† p. 103) and as it becomes evident in the end of the book, he proves to be right. Another fact worth mentioning about this chapter is that the title â€Å"The Drowned and the Saved† used to be also the title of the English translation of the novel, indicating hence the importance of the chapter. As a conclusion it can be said that the novel ‘If This is a Man’ by Primo Levi and especially the ninth chapter is a unique account of the horrifying actions carried out in German concentration camps as it tells the story unemotionally using scientific diction to accentuate the seriousness of matter discussed. Analysis of the reasons behind setting up the Lager, methods used to break down human soul and the effects of the actions carried out by SS officials gives an appalling insight to one of the most horrifying events of the 20th century.