Discussion Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Discussion Questions - Essay Example The ethical issues arising from downsizing are evaluated in terms of utilitarian ethical concepts that indicate the downsizing decision or action is morally or ethical valid if it results in the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Another ethical issue of downsizing examines the concept of rights and duties made famous by Immanuel Kant. According to Gilbert (2000), â€Å"the basic position here is that individuals have rights, either as humans, as citizens of a given country or state, or as occupants of a particular position. These right rights confer duties on others, and the morality of a given decision or act can be determined by an analysis of these rights and duties.† The ethical issue in this case arises when employees stress that they have rights to their jobs and therefore managers have a duty not to lay them off. Finally, the ethics of justice and fairness are evaluated in situations where it does not seem fair for one employee to be selected to be termin ated despite performing well.

The Effect of Interactivity with a Music Video Game on Second Language Vocabulary Recall Essay Example for Free

The Effect of Interactivity with a Music Video Game on Second Language Vocabulary Recall Essay This research has been done by Jonathan deHaan, W. Michael Reed and Katsuko Kuwada. Jonathan deHaan is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of International Relations at the University of Shizuoka. He earned his Ph. D. in Educational Communication and Technology from New York University. His research focuses on second language learning and teaching with games and simulations. As for W. Michael Reed, he was a retired professor of Educational Communication and Technology at New York University and the IRB/IACUC Administrator for Radford University in Virginia. His research interests spanned over a 25-year period and focused on educational computing, problem-solving, metacognition, and composing processes. Meanwhile, Katsuko Kuwada is a doctoral student in the International Cultural Studies program at Tohoku University. She investigates language and culture; her current research compares the use of first-person subjects in Japanese and English based on different cultural backgrounds. The purpose of this research is to know physical interactivity of a second language music video game is manipulated to investigate the effect of interactivity on vocabulary acquisition and cognitive load (deHaan, Reed Kuwada, 2010) or in simpler way is to investigate whether the interactivity ( and simultaneously presented text, audio and animation) of video game is extraneous cognitive load (thus having a negative effect on learning) or germane load (thus having a positive effect on learning) (deHaan, Reed Kuwada, 2010). Overview The research question that been highlighted here is to view interactivity of second language on music video game on recalling vocabulary. This research captured my attention due to the usage of media in teaching English as second language to undergraduate Japanese students. As we all know, multimedia technology has been implemented in language learning to attract as well as to motivate second language user to be able to perceive, learn and enjoy English language. This research is crucial to this aeon, in which multimedia is being integrated in language learning. Thus Professor deHaan, Prof. Reed and DR. Kuwada focus on what constitute a game rather then what can be added to a game to make it approachable and enjoyable in teaching and learning process. In this research it has depicted that ‘human cognitive architecture consists of a limited short-term memory’ (Baddeley, 1992, Miller, 1959), and a game’s complex elements (e. g. usic, subtitles and lyrics) can create an unalterable high demand on working memory (intrinsic cognitive load), it is important to understand whether a media features, such as interactivity, present a student with unnecessary extraneous cognitive load, which interferes with learning, or germane load, which enhances learning (deHaan, Reed Kuwada; 2010). Analysis This research has been done to see ‘video game interactivity would help or hinder the noticing and recall of second language vocabulary . (deHaan, Reed Kuwada, 2010). Here the three researchers have used interactivity, language proficiency and video game proficiency as independent variables while cognitive load vocabulary written recall, and participant opinions as dependent measures, Eighty undergraduates in which 65 of them are males and 15 of them are females in a range of age around 18 to 24, from Computer Science University in rural Japan. Subjects’ mother tongue is Japanese and has 6 to 11 years of formal English education. Participants were paired and one participant in each pair was randomly assigned to either play or watch the video game, and this been conducted in laboratory, for 20 minutes long. Professor deHaan, Prof. Reed and Dr. Kuwada, instructed the participants to play or watch the game and learn the words of the rap. The video game level was repeated five times by all pairs. The participants were not allowed to take notes or use their dictionaries and even not allowed to see and what more to interact with one and another. The material that was used in this research was Parappa the Rapper 2. Straight after cease with the experiment, participants would be given topics from the game and were used as written cloze test, where participants were required to write the missing words from the game’s rap in the text’s blanks. This test been repeated again after 2 weeks. The result after the test depicted that ‘watchers of the video game recalled significantly more vocabulary items compare to the players. Thus because watchers focus only on the objects in the game and the sentences describing the pictures without even have to integrate with the game console. Meanwhile, the players have to both focuses on the integration with game and with console as well as their integration with the sentences describing the pictures, to such a degree the players are having cognitive loads. Critique and Evaluation This research is focus on effect of interactivity with music video game on second language vocabulary recall. After thoroughly read the research paper I have found out that Professor deHaan, Prof. Reed and Kuwada pay cogently attention to know whether ‘video game (multimedia technology) would help or hinder noticing and recall second language vocabulary. Here the three researchers focus on cognitivist perspective in which according to Jean Piaget (1977), mental process of an individual use in responding to their environment. Cognitivism deals with how people think, solve problems and make decisions. When the players interact with the game they are using their cognitive ability to engage with the steps that they need to ensue in order to move up to the next level of the game as well as to convene on the lyrics given in the game. Here the players are responding to their environment, however being cognitive loads between fixating on the game and engaging to the lyrics somehow has distracted them from focusing on the vocabulary. Thus has made them failed to recall the vocabulary during vocabulary recall test. Meanwhile, the watchers do not faced the cognitive load due to solely one way interaction (receiving the input) between them and the video game, thus has given them time to give great detail using memorization method, which is one of the 6 cognitive learning strategies (Rubin Wenden, 1987), to indulge in the game. Furthermore, this research has proven that by using video game can help to assist language learning in second language leaner. As been mention by Hubbard (1991), language learning may happen with video game as language is involved in the play. It is easy to accept language learning evolves through game as language and problem solving are correlated and what more students seem to enjoy it. Despite that, the research has significantly highlighted that by watching the media (game), in defiance of involving in it, can make the learners ‘notice and recalling more vocabulary items’ (deHaan, Reed Kuwada, 2010), as they have only to focus on the lyrics only. Hence consolidate that usage of multimedia technology (game) in language class does not hinder the language learning. However, teachers must scrutinize type of game that they want to use in their language class. Nevertheless, in learning second language it is not enough by just interact with game and the lyrics. To become competence in a language one must also portray the purpose of using the language rather than just merely know the language yet not communicate it in purposeful conversation to reinforce the learning, thus communication is important in language learning. Like what has been mentioned by Douglas Brown (2000), communication is not merely an event, something that happens; it is functional, purposive and designed to bring about some effect. Due to that, 2 weeks after the research has been done, the participants been called to attempt second test to evaluate their vocabulary in recalling the game lyrics. Here both players and watchers have shown drastically reducing of vocabulary if comparing to the previous test. This has proven that without purposeful learning students will not be able to sustain the vocabulary. On my behalf, I strongly believe that communicative reinforcement can enhance on language learning via technology, as one language learning and no purposeful practise will hinder the language learning process. Through this research I have learnt to acquiesce, without collaboration with learning strategies (between memorising, recalling and communicating via multimedia tool), the language learning will not become purposeful and will make one learning a failure. Conclusion It can be concluded that physical interaction of this game has extraneous cognitive load effect on the players, thus not conducive to learning and seemed to have unnecessarily diverted the players’ attention from the vocabulary and hinder recall. Meanwhile, the watchers of the game have not exposed to the additional extraneous load and have been able to devote more cognitive resources to the intrinsic load of the game and its language. As a consequence this research I have learnt that suitable game (multimedia) can assist language learning process as students seemed to enjoy such activity. In any respect with purposeful reinforcement such as germane communicative reinforcement can compensate language acquisition better. Moreover, implication of this research on future study, teachers will be more selective in choosing multimedia material for their classes and they will make sure balance input been given in the sense of interactivity and language learning so that no cognitive load will occur and hinder language learning via multimedia.

One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich English Literature Essay

One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich English Literature Essay One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich is a gripping, insightful description of a reality that may now seem inconceivable to us, so distant from our perception of human rights and individual freedom. It reveals the awful labor and concentration camps that emerged in Europe throughout the first half of the twentieth century. The novel displays a disgraceful period in Russian history and a psychological examination of the vital survival methods in such circumstances. The novel consists of a single day in January 1951 through the eyes of the protagonist, Ivan Denisovich Shukhov, who is in the eighth year of a total of ten-year sentence. The Russian culture raises the novel through the creation of a very insipid setting on which Ivan Denisovichs daily routine is realistically outlined. In this essay I will be explaining how the novel serves as a means to comprehend the Russian culture it was built upon. The characters, themes, and plot are all linked with the Russian cultural background. The central theme is the oppression the characters are confronted with on a daily basis. Consequently, the plot also incorporates oppression such as ill treatment from the superior. The tempo of the plot is monotonous and the Russian culture sets a raw and cold tone. The camp and dreadful labor hours imposed by the soviet government slows down the characters time, causing the plot, which is exclusively Ivans style and routine, to be tedious. The prison camps integrate traits of Russian sternness, controlling military workforce, poor facilities, and deprived living conditions all of which harm Ivan. The Soviet wardens abuse the prisoners for their own advantage and their power-driven ego. Ivans controlling surroundings both harm and agonize him as an individual. Principal examples of cultural influences are the mindsets of the protagonist. Culture has an impact on the relatively enervated behavior of the protagonist by establishing boundaries that cripple their inner desires. Ivans conduct during his sentence in the Siberian work camp reveals the culture from which he was raised. He is modest, cooperative, eager and skillful at all times. He is not violent or dishonest towards others, rather he recognizes his fate hoping to be liberated, surviving day by day. The Russian culture at the time, a state in which the masses were controlled and where life felt repetitive, shapes the foundation of Ivans way of being. The culture has a great impact on the conduct of the protagonist, causing him to fall in line and obey to the oppressors requests.   Russian culture in that era was awfully harsh and it was concerned with restraining and controlling its nation.  A quote expressing the essence of a strong mentality to get through the day; The ones that dont make it are those who lick other mens leftovers, those who count on the doctors to pull  them through, and those who squeal on their buddies.  [2]  An illustration of the harsh conditions the prisoners had to endure is when they were ordered to construct a power station, although it was exceptionally cold and the mortar used for bricklaying would freeze if not applied rapidly. Regulations stated that the men would only be excused if the temperature dropped below -41 °C. The suffering faced by the zeks were things such as the severity of the weather, their inadequate clothing and their food which consisted of black bread, porridge and water-based cabbage soup. They were also persecuted by the guards, who are fixated on enforcing insignificant regulations. However, Solzh enitsyn reminds us that the guards attitude stems primarily from their own bitterness at the firm conditions and at the callous discipline imposed upon them. If any of the prisoners succeeded in escaping, the guards accountable would be enforced to take their places in the camp.   The novel is a literary work in which food in association with culture is a major part of the setting. Observation of a cultures behavior towards food and during mealtimes supplies significant insight into the cultures nature. Eating is a fairly animalistic part of humanity as well as the center for social gathering. Due to its scarcity, food is the utmost motivator for the prisoners. A quote illustrating the importance of food to the prisoners; Apart from sleep, the only time a prisoner lives for himself is ten minutes in the morning at breakfast, five minutes over dinner, and five at supper.  [3]  Ã‚   In prison life there is vast evidence of social influence and customs on the manner the prisoners dine. Social influence can be identified in the manner in which higher-ranking and harder-working prisoners obtain more food. The quantity of food consumed is a good indicator of class within the prisoners. Those of higher status obtain portions with more calories, while the majority gets soup consisting mostly of water. A representation of social customs is when the protagonist is unable to eat with his hat still on. Although he is uncomfortably cold without it on, his Russian upbringing stops him from covering his head while eating. Another example is when the old veteran takes a portion of cloth and uses it as a place-mat while he eats his meals. Their habits were made before they became prisoners, when they still lived in their Soviet state of origin. The novel  is to some extent, Solzhenitsyn relating to his own experiences when as a captain in the Soviet army, he was arrested in 1945 for making offensive remarks about Stalin and spent the next eight years in different camps. The closing time of his captivity took place in a camp for political prisoners in Kazakhstan, which is generally considered to be the setting for the novel. It was one of the first novels of the post-Stalin age to express to an international distribution the knowledge of political imprisonment and oppression under the rà ©gime. Solzhenitsyn never criticizes the Communist system in the novel; if he would have done so, the novel would have certainly been banned. He purely offers a description of what life was like in the camps, but in the long run his prose was to prove as harmful to the system as any intensification of political expression. After reading, one is left in no doubt with the horror of the life in Siberias camps, and also with the authors perso nal judgment of the condition of the land of his birth during that period. It lets you partake in the struggle of men to survive the awful rigors of nature and the cruelty of the system that describes their conditions of life. Classic Russian  literature incorporates certain essential characteristics of the soviet culture. During a period when the  Soviet Union was under the leadership of  Joseph Stalin, it was intricate to write novels that expressed the social climate. The cultural climate in the  Soviet Union  at this time was rough; conveying your opinion was often not only tricky, but risky. Forced  labor camps  came about and innocent citizens were put in jail for political and social crimes that they usually did not commit. Another regular characteristic of classic Russian literature was that authors tended to make the reader experience as if they were within the thoughts of the protagonist. Although the novel  is written in third person, the readers feels as if they are seeing and experiencing the protagonists day through his eyes. In conclusion, our cultural environment influences both our personality and our development as a human being. The novel shows us that even in our most desperate moments, when our environment forces us to strip away our identity and individuality, our social customs and cultural influences still take place. An individual who is brought up in a culture with customs that would be considered extreme by others will have unlike values from a society who was never exposed to such things. In One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, their social customs is what allows them to keep stable and sane as an individual in such harsh circumstances influenced by the Russian culture. The novel presents a horrible yet significant period in Russian history where cultural influence plays a significant role in which the characters utilize day by day.

Complementary Medicine Formally Provided in HealthCare System Essay

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a treatment or cure that is given additionally along with doctor’s care. There are many different CAMs such as acupuncture, hypnosis, yoga, massage and herbal therapy. They are very popular in Asia, especially among Chinese communities. However, the use of CAM is very limited in the health care system of many Western countries, including Canada, due to several reasons. In my point of view, it should be formally recognized and provided as a part of mainstream health care system. Firstly, people nowadays would prefer complementary and alternative medicine rather than conventional medicine. Secondly, the altitude of healthcare professionals has changed a lot, most of young physicians are now considering the use of CAMs into their practice. Finally, the government needs to regulate some of the CAM treatments so in order to promote the use of CAMs and create a better healthcare system. To begin with, there are four types of complementary and alternative medicine, which are categorized by Tataryn based on their own approaches (Kelner, Wellman, n.d.). While the first one is called Body, which focuses on diets, herbs and manipulation, the second type concentrates on thoughts and visions, called Body Minded. Body-Energy (Kelner, Wellman, n.d.). The third type, is about acupuncture, cure by touch (Kelner, Wellman, n.d.). The last one is Body-Spirit, using faith and prayers to cure (Kelner, Wellman, n.d.). Researches are being conducted by experts to determine whether CAM is safe enough to be in use and its effectiveness. Having said that, it is never easy to conclude these benefits. Experts are having troubles with some treatments like prayer. Despite all of its limitation, Canada is still p... ...h 2014, from National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/yoga/introduction.htm#hed8 Kelner, M. & Wellman, B. (2003). Complementary and Alternative Medicine: How do we know if it works. Healthcare Paper: 3(5). University of Toronto. McFarland, B., Bigelow, D., & Kaplan, M. (2002, October). Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Canada and the United States. American Journal Public Health, pp. 1616-1618. Sewitch, M. J., Cepoiu, M., Rigillo, N., & Sproule, D. (2008). A Literature Review of Health Care Professional Attitudes Toward Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine October, pp. 139-154. Ventola, C. L. (2010, August). Current Issues Regarding Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in the United States. Pharmacy and Therapeutics, pp. 461-468.

Book Report-Confessions of an Economic Hitman Essay

An enthusiastic young man on the threshold of launching his career to improve his lot is probably facing the first interview of his life. He is ‘wearing the best mask’ to project himself as a suitable candidate, but he has the genuine fear that the interviewers are clever enough to find out his real inner personality. He is worried about the serious negativities within him, but as the interview progresses, he realizes to his amazement that his dark past is his asset. His misdeeds are his trophies and medals. His rebellious disposition and discourtesy to his parents are his virtues. His possible contacts with the intelligence community relating to an important enemy country carry immense weight. A few weeks after the NSA testing, I (Perkins) was offered a job to start training in the art of spying. †(Chapter 1, p. 8) Perkins must have thought, it was better to receive without deserving than to deserve without receiving! By selecting such dubious recruits for ideal management training to run the affairs of the Nation, how secure is the future of the country? And the future of the world as USA has tremendous influence over many countries. It is in a position to pressurize them on various counts overtly and covertly. Where this country is heading for when the foundation stone of democracy and free-enterprise is in fact its headstone? Human values have vanished from the democratic framework. The values that assure the dignity of the individual and the economic freedom in the real sense of the term, without any deception, are the important pre requisites for the avowed objective of the UN, â€Å"The World is one Family. † Many specialized ‘isms’ have failed to achieve this objective. The history of the past few decades has witnessed the doomed failure of such philosophies. Only noble individuals can build a noble Nation. Only when the thought process of an individual changes, the action process also changes! When the thoughts are changed, the mind is changed; when the mind is changed, the man is changed; when the man is changed, the society is changed; when the society is changed, the nation is changed. Only such changed Nations will be in a position to say, â€Å"The World is one Family. † The pages of human history daubed in bloodshed pose a crying question. How to make this Planet on Earth heaven like? The answer is simple and direct. Eyes full of understanding, heart full of love, and the life that refuses conflicts –these alone are enough! In the paragraph cited above the negative qualities of Perkins are being awarded and the process is not going to build a bureaucracy or any type of force/institution based on truth and for human welfare. Such an agency will be utilized for subversive activities, dubious dealings and cunning machinations. â€Å"From the beginning to end, communism was never a legal action; it was illegitimated. They controlled the freedom of politic, social, culture, and economic. As the economic situation worsened, so did the people’s support for the communism. †(Article: Failure†¦)As for the failure of the ‘ism’s and corrupted versions of the surviving ones, E. F. Schumacher writes, â€Å"What is at stake is not economics but culture; not the standard of living but the equality of life. Economics and the standard of living can just as well be looked after by a capitalist system, moderated by a bit of planning and redistributive taxation. But culture and, generally, the quality of life, can now only are debased by such a system. †(Schumacher, p. 243) The need of the hour is, the administrative machinery and politics needs to be spiritualized. And that is not possible by hiring recruits to the type of training sought to be given to Perkins. â€Å"The main thing is a transformation of the spiritual climate, a new feeling for the difficulty and the nobility of being human, an all-pervasive fundamental disposition shared by everyone, and acknowledged by everyone within himself as the supreme judge. To the genesis and establishment of that disposition poets and artists, imperceptibly working through the depth and breadth of society, can make some contribution. But it is not something that can be taught and created; it must be experienced and suffered. † (Glaysher†¦. ) The problem of the day is squads of hit men are attached to departments, important ministries, defense establishments and it is they who run the administration and take important decisions in all the countries—without exception! And men like Perkins are part of such a system and after retirement they venture to write sensational books, yet again to make millions of dollars! The best alternative would have been to resign before retirement and then expose the administration. Not after enjoying all the benefits and perquisites provided by the administration and then confess the ‘guilt! ’ Perkins claims that he was threatened and bribed in an effort to kill his writing project†¦What is wrong in it? Perkins was engaged in similar exercises before. Where he was hiding his conscience then? A quote from an article, Complexity Digest, â€Å"Different (human) cultures and social groups have developed different levels of tolerance towards lying and cheating. Whereas in some cultures, being caught in a lie implies â€Å"loosing face† and considerable social consequences, in other cultures learning how to lie effectively as a child has a strong correlation with later success in economic and social standing in society. Complications and confusions, as consequences of not telling the truth, are considered funny Honesty, and are a continued source of entertainment in US sitcom TV shows like â€Å"Seinfeld†. (Honesty†¦) How true! Perkins must be recalling the experience of his first interview! References Cited: Perkins, John: Book: Confessions of an Economic Hit man Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Plume (December 27, 2005) Language: English ISBN-10: 0452287081 ISBN-13: 978-0452287082 Schumacher, E. F: Book: Small is beautiful-a study of Economics as if People Mattered. (Part III, Chapter 3, p,243)Indian Edition Publisher: Radha Kishna, 2 Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi-110002 Glaysher, Frederick: Article: The Victory of World Governance –To meet that objective, the nations of the world will either have a plan or†¦.. UNO, www. fglaysher. com/WorldGov. htm – 61k – Cached –Retrieved on November 3, 2007. Article: Honesty, its importance for scientific advances. The importance of honesty in science: Regulation by formal bureaucracy will not work when the organizations employing the scientists have vested†¦ Complexity Digest dated October 23, 2000. personal. ee. surrey. ac. uk/Personal/D. Jefferies/ttruth. html – 23k – Cached – Retrieved on November 3, 2007. Article: The Failure of Communism In Eastern Europe essays. www. megaessays. com/viewpaper/86270. html – Retrieved on November 3, 2007.

Understanding String Literals in Ruby

Understanding String Literals in Ruby String objects hold ordered sequences of bytes, typically characters, usually to form pieces of human-readable text. Theyre a very common object type in all programming languages, and Ruby has a number of high-level and a few low-level ways to create, access and manipulate String objects. Strings are most often created with a String literal. A literal is a special syntax in the Ruby language that creates an object of a specific type. For example, 23 is a literal that creates a ​Fixnum object. As for String literals, there are several forms. Single-Quotes and Double-Quoted Strings Most languages have a String literal similar to this, so this may be familiar. The types of quotes, (single quote, apostrophe or hard quote) and (double quote or soft quote) are used to enclose string literals, anything between them will be turned into String objects. The following example demonstrates this. But there are some differences between single and double quotes. Double quotes  or soft quotes enable some magic to happen behind the scenes. Most useful is interpolation inside strings, useful for inserting the value of a variable into the middle of a string. This is achieved by using the #{ †¦ } sequence. The following example will ask you for your name and greet you, using interpolation to insert your name into the string literal thats printed. Note that any code can go inside the braces, not just variable names. Ruby will evaluate that code and whatever is returned it will attempt to insert it into the string. So you could just as easily say Hello, #{gets.chomp} and forget about the name variable. However, its good practice not to put long expressions inside the braces. Single quotes, apostrophes, or hard quotes are much more restrictive. Inside of the single quotes, Ruby will perform no interpolation or escape sequences other than escaping the single quote character and backslash itself (\ and \\ respectively). If you dont intend to use interpolation, its recommended to use single quotes more often than not. The following example will attempt to interpolate a variable inside of single quotes. If you run this youll get no error, but what will be printed? The interpolation sequence was passed through uninterpreted. When Should I Use Single and Double Quotes This is a matter of style. Some prefer to use double quotes all of the time unless they become inconvenient. Others would rather use single quotes unless the interpolation behavior is intended. Theres nothing inherently dangerous about using double quotes all of the time, but it does make some code easier to read. You dont need to read a string when reading through code if you know there are no interpolations in it  because you know the string itself wont have any side effects. So which string literal form you use is up to you, there is no real right and wrong way here. Escape Sequences What if, in a string literal, you want to include a quote character? For instance, the string Steve said Moo!  wont work. And neither will Cant touch this!. Both of these strings include the quote character inside of the string, effectively ending the string literal and causing a syntax error. You could switch quote characters, like Steve said Moo!, but that doesnt really solve the problem. Instead, you can escape any quote character inside the string, and it will lose its special meaning (in this case, the special meaning is to close the string). To escape a character, prepend it with the backslash character. The backslash character tells Ruby to ignore any special meaning the next character may have. If its a matching quote character, dont end the string. If its a hash sign, dont start an interpolation block. The following example demonstrates this use of backslash to escape special characters. The backslash character can be used to remove any special meaning from the following character but, confusingly, it can also be used to denote special behavior in double-quoted strings. Most of these special behaviors have to do with inserting characters and byte sequences that cannot be typed or represented visually. Not all Strings are character strings  or may contain control sequences intended for the terminal, and not the user. Ruby gives you the ability to insert these types of strings using the backslash escape character. \n - A newline character. The puts method does this automatically, but if you wish to insert one in the middle of a string, or the string is destined for something other than the puts method, you can use this to insert a newline in a string.\t - A tab character. The tab character moves the cursor over (on most terminals) to a multiple of 8, so this is very useful for display tabular data. However, there are better ways of doing this, and using the tab character is considered a bit archaic or hackish.\nnn - A backslash followed by 3 numbers will denote an ASCII character represented by 3 octal digits. Why octal? Mostly for historical reasons.\xnn - A backslash, an x, and 2 hex digits. The same as the octal version, only with hex digits. Youll probably never use most of these, but know that they exist. And also remember that they only work in double-quoted strings. The next page discusses multi-line strings and an alternate syntax for string literals. Multi-Line Strings Most languages dont allow multi-line string literals, but Ruby does. Theres no need to end your strings and append more strings for the next line, Ruby handles multi-line string literals just fine with the default  syntax. Alternate Syntax As with most other literals, Ruby provides an alternate syntax for string literals. If youre using a lot of quote characters inside your literals, for example, you may want to use this syntax. When you use this syntax is a matter of style, theyre usually not needed for strings. To use the alternate syntax, use the following sequence for single-quoted strings  %q{ †¦ }. Similarly, use the following syntax for double-quoted strings  %Q{ †¦ }. This alternate syntax follows all the same rules as their normal cousins.  Also,  note that you can use any characters you wish instead of braces. If you use a brace, square bracket, angle bracket or parenthesis, then the matching character will end the literal. If you dont want to use matching characters, you can use any other symbol (anything not a letter or number). The literal will be closed with another of the same symbol. The following example shows you several ways to use this syntax. The alternate syntax also works as a multi-line string.