text:
Have you wondered about what self-esteem is and how to get more of it? Do you think your self-esteem is low? Do you know how to tell? Do you know what to do about it?

Self-esteem answers the question, “How do I feel about who I am?” We learn self-esteem in our family of origin; we do not inherit it.

Global self-esteem (about “who we are”) is normally constant. Situational self-esteem (about what we do) fluctuates, depending on circumstances, roles, and events. Situational self-esteem can be high at one moment (e.g., at work) and low the next (e.g., at home).

Low self-esteem is a negative evaluation of oneself. This type of evaluation usually occurs when some circumstance we encounter in our life touches on our sensitivities. We personalize the incident and experience physical, emotional, and cognitive arousal. This is so alarming and confusing that we respond by acting in a self-defeating or self-destructive manner. When that happens, our actions tend to be automatic and impulse-driven; we feel upset or emotionally blocked; our thinking narrows; our self-care deteriorates; we lose our sense of self; we focus on being in control and become self-absorbed.

Global self-esteem is not set in stone. Raising it is possible, but not easy. Global self-esteem grows as we face our fears and learn from our experiences. Some of this work may require the aid of a psychotherapist. In the meantime, here is what you can do:

-   GET SOBER. Get help through 12-step groups to stop self-destructive behaviors. Addictions block learning and drag down our mood. Identify them and replace them with self-care.
-   PRACTICE SELF-CARE. Make new lifestyle choices by joining self-help groups and practicing positive health care.
-   IDENTIFY TRIGGERS TO LOW SELF-ESTEEM. We personalize stressful events (e.g., criticism) by inferring a negative meaning about ourselves. A self-defeating action often follows. Each event can, instead, be a chance to learn about ourselves, if we face our fear of doing so and the negative beliefs about ourselves that sustain the negative meanings.
-   SLOW DOWN PERSONALIZING. Target personalizing to slow impulsive responses. You can begin to interfere with these automatic overreactions by using relaxation and stress management techniques. These techniques are directed at self-soothing the arousal. This allows us to interrupt the otherwise inevitable automatic reaction and put into play a way to begin to face the unacknowledged fears at the root of low self-esteem.
-   STOP AND TAKE NOTICE. Pay attention to the familiarity of the impulse. Our tendency is to overreact in the same way to the same incident. Awareness of the similarity can be the cue to slow our reactivity.
-   ACKNOWLEDGE REACTION. Verbalize, “Here I go again (describe action, feeling, thought) . . . ” Actively do something with the awareness rather than passively note it. The result is to slow the impulse and give ourselves a choice about how we want to respond.
-   CHOOSE RESPONSE. Hold self-defeating impulses. Act in a self-caring and effective way. By choosing to act in a more functional way, we take a step toward facing our fears.
-   ACCEPT IMPULSE. Be able to state the benefit (e.g., protection) of overreaction. We won’t be able to do this at first, but as we become more effective, we will begin to appreciate what our self-defeating impulse had been doing for us.
-   DEVELOP SKILLS. We can provide for our own safety, engender hope, tolerate confusion, and raise self-esteem by learning and using these essential life skills:

    -   EXPERIENCE FEELINGS. “Feel” feelings in your body and identify your needs. When we do not respect our feelings, we are left to rely on what others want and believe.
    -   OPTIONAL THINKING. End either/or thinking. Think in “shades of gray” and learn to reframe meanings. By giving ourselves options, we open ourselves to new possibilities about how to think about our dilemmas.
    -   DETACHMENT. End all abuse; say “no” to misrepresentations and assumptions. By maintaining personal boundaries, we discourage abuse by others and assert our separateness.
    -   ASSERTION. Voice what you see, feel, and want by making “I” statements. By expressing our thoughts, feelings, and desires in a direct and honest manner, we show that we are in charge of our lives.
    -   RECEPTIVITY. End self-absorption; listen to others’ words and meanings to restate them. In this way, we act with awareness of our contribution to events as well as empathize with the needs of others.

    _This article was adapted from GROWING OURSELVES UP: A GUIDE TO RECOVERY AND SELF-ESTEEM, with permission of the author, Stanley J. Gross, Ed.D._

APA REFERENCE
Gross, S. (2020). How To Raise Your Self-Esteem. _Psych Central_. Retrieved on November 30, 2020, from https://psychcentral.com/lib/how-to-raise-your-self-esteem/

question: What are the two types of self-esteem outlined by the author?

answer: The two types of self-esteem mentioned in this passage are situational self-esteem and global self-esteem. Re: situational- global self-esteem, global self-esteem is constant, while situational self-esteem fluctuates. This fluctuation occurs because of events and experiences a person may go through, such as pressures at work or family commitments, and these occurrences can cause our self-esteem to be low if we act in a self-defeating or self-destructive manner.

text: You don't need to write "re:".

refinement: The two types of self-esteem mentioned in this passage are situational self-esteem and global self-esteem.  Global self-esteem is constant, while situational self-esteem fluctuates. This fluctuation occurs because of events and experiences a person may go through, such as pressures at work or family commitments, and these occurrences can cause our self-esteem to be low if we act in a self-defeating or self-destructive manner.

text: "Global self-esteem (about “who we are”) is normally constant. Situational self-esteem (about what we do) fluctuates, depending on circumstances, roles, and events. Situational self-esteem can be high at one moment (e.g., at work) and low the next (e.g., at home)."

answer: Situational self-esteem is about what we do, and global self-esteem is about who we are.

text: "Global self-esteem (about “who we are”) is normally constant. Situational self-esteem (about what we do) fluctuates, depending on circumstances, roles, and events. Situational self-esteem can be high at one moment (e.g., at work) and low the next (e.g., at home)."

answer: Global and situational.

text: "Global self-esteem (about “who we are”) is normally constant. Situational self-esteem (about what we do) fluctuates, depending on circumstances, roles, and events. Situational self-esteem can be high at one moment (e.g., at work) and low the next (e.g., at home)."

question: What is global self-esteem?

answer: Global self-esteem refers to how one evaluates themselves as a person overall. Low self-esteem stems from thinking negatively about oneself and often manifests as destructive behaviours. Ways to raise self-esteem include joining self-help groups, practicing positive health care, slowing down personalizing, and stopping and noticing habitual reactions.

text: This could be more succinct.

refinement: Global self-esteem refers to how one evaluates themselves as a person overall.

text: "Global self-esteem (about “who we are”) is normally constant. Situational self-esteem (about what we do) fluctuates, depending on circumstances, roles, and events. Situational self-esteem can be high at one moment (e.g., at work) and low the next (e.g., at home)."

answer: It is not set in stone-it is about who we are relative to our experiences, and subsequently, how we change to become better.

text: "Global self-esteem is not set in stone. Raising it is possible, but not easy. Global self-esteem grows as we face our fears and learn from our experiences. "

answer: Global self-esteem refers to how a person feels about themselves overall, rather than in specific situations. It can be changed and developed by overcoming obstacles and gaining more experience in life. It also grows as a person stops automatic behaviour in reaction to triggers and responds to difficulties in more functional ways.

text: "Global self-esteem is not set in stone. Raising it is possible, but not easy. Global self-esteem grows as we face our fears and learn from our experiences. "

question: What is low self-esteem?

answer: Low self-esteem refers to a negative evaluation of oneself, which often creates adverse reactions in the individual experiencing it. Strategies to overcome low self-esteem include confronting fears and learning coping skills.

text: I don't think you need to include coping mechanisms for context.

refinement: Low self-esteem refers to a negative evaluation of oneself, which often creates adverse reactions in the individual experiencing it.

text: "Low self-esteem is a negative evaluation of oneself. This type of evaluation usually occurs when some circumstance we encounter in our life touches on our sensitivities. We personalize the incident and experience physical, emotional, and cognitive arousal. This is so alarming and confusing that we respond by acting in a self-defeating or self-destructive manner. When that happens, our actions tend to be automatic and impulse-driven; we feel upset or emotionally blocked; our thinking narrows; our self-care deteriorates; we lose our sense of self; we focus on being in control and become self-absorbed."

answer: A negative evaluation of one's self.

text: "Low self-esteem is a negative evaluation of oneself. This type of evaluation usually occurs when some circumstance we encounter in our life touches on our sensitivities. We personalize the incident and experience physical, emotional, and cognitive arousal. This is so alarming and confusing that we respond by acting in a self-defeating or self-destructive manner. When that happens, our actions tend to be automatic and impulse-driven; we feel upset or emotionally blocked; our thinking narrows; our self-care deteriorates; we lose our sense of self; we focus on being in control and become self-absorbed."

answer: Low self-esteem is an evaluation of oneself that is negative and typically occurs when a stressful event is encountered. By identifying and changing self-defeating actions in reaction to these events, global self-esteem can be increased. Some tactics to achieve this include practicing self-care, slowing down personalizing, stopping and noticing, and actively choosing a response.

text: I think it can just be limited to what the definition is and not delve into the context.

refinement: Low self-esteem is an evaluation of oneself that is negative and typically occurs when a stressful event is encountered.

text: "Low self-esteem is a negative evaluation of oneself. This type of evaluation usually occurs when some circumstance we encounter in our life touches on our sensitivities. We personalize the incident and experience physical, emotional, and cognitive arousal. This is so alarming and confusing that we respond by acting in a self-defeating or self-destructive manner. When that happens, our actions tend to be automatic and impulse-driven; we feel upset or emotionally blocked; our thinking narrows; our self-care deteriorates; we lose our sense of self; we focus on being in control and become self-absorbed."

question: What can we do to help low self-esteem?

answer: The author suggests that we should practice self-care, identify triggers that make us feel bad about ourselves, slow down and take notice of automatic reactions, acknowledge the emotion, and choose a more functional response. Additionally, we should develop skills in order to gain a better handle on our emotions and reactions.

text:
"- GET SOBER. Get help through 12-step groups to stop self-destructive behaviors. Addictions block learning and drag down our mood. Identify them and replace them with self-care.
- PRACTICE SELF-CARE. Make new lifestyle choices by joining self-help groups and practicing positive health care.
- IDENTIFY TRIGGERS TO LOW SELF-ESTEEM. We personalize stressful events (e.g., criticism) by inferring a negative meaning about ourselves. A self-defeating action often follows. Each event can, instead, be a chance to learn about ourselves, if we face our fear of doing so and the negative beliefs about ourselves that sustain the negative meanings.
- SLOW DOWN PERSONALIZING. Target personalizing to slow impulsive responses. You can begin to interfere with these automatic overreactions by using relaxation and stress management techniques. These techniques are directed at self-soothing the arousal. This allows us to interrupt the otherwise inevitable automatic reaction and put into play a way to begin to face the unacknowledged fears at the root of low self-esteem.
- STOP AND TAKE NOTICE. Pay attention to the familiarity of the impulse. Our tendency is to overreact in the same way to the same incident. Awareness of the similarity can be the cue to slow our reactivity.
- ACKNOWLEDGE REACTION. Verbalize, “Here I go again (describe action, feeling, thought) . . . ” Actively do something with the awareness rather than passively note it. The result is to slow the impulse and give ourselves a choice about how we want to respond.
- CHOOSE RESPONSE. Hold self-defeating impulses. Act in a self-caring and effective way. By choosing to act in a more functional way, we take a step toward facing our fears.
- ACCEPT IMPULSE. Be able to state the benefit (e.g., protection) of overreaction. We won’t be able to do this at first, but as we become more effective, we will begin to appreciate what our self-defeating impulse had been doing for us.
- DEVELOP SKILLS. We can provide for our own safety, engender hope, tolerate confusion, and raise self-esteem by learning and using these essential life skills:

- EXPERIENCE FEELINGS. “Feel” feelings in your body and identify your needs. When we do not respect our feelings, we are left to rely on what others want and believe.
- OPTIONAL THINKING. End either/or thinking. Think in “shades of gray” and learn to reframe meanings. By giving ourselves options, we open ourselves to new possibilities about how to think about our dilemmas.
- DETACHMENT. End all abuse; say “no” to misrepresentations and assumptions. By maintaining personal boundaries, we discourage abuse by others and assert our separateness.
- ASSERTION. Voice what you see, feel, and want by making “I” statements. By expressing our thoughts, feelings, and desires in a direct and honest manner, we show that we are in charge of our lives.
- RECEPTIVITY. End self-absorption; listen to others’ words and meanings to restate them. In this way, we act with awareness of our contribution to events as well as empathize with the needs of others."

answer: The author suggests several ways to encourage self-esteem and prevent it from slipping; these include getting sober, practicing self-care, identifying and managing triggers to low self-esteem, slowing down in order to understand what's going on, and choosing action that demonstrates our capability. Additionally, the author suggests learning and developing essential life skills, such as experiencing feelings, choosing our responses, and being receptive to others' needs.

text:
"- GET SOBER. Get help through 12-step groups to stop self-destructive behaviors. Addictions block learning and drag down our mood. Identify them and replace them with self-care.
- PRACTICE SELF-CARE. Make new lifestyle choices by joining self-help groups and practicing positive health care.
- IDENTIFY TRIGGERS TO LOW SELF-ESTEEM. We personalize stressful events (e.g., criticism) by inferring a negative meaning about ourselves. A self-defeating action often follows. Each event can, instead, be a chance to learn about ourselves, if we face our fear of doing so and the negative beliefs about ourselves that sustain the negative meanings.
- SLOW DOWN PERSONALIZING. Target personalizing to slow impulsive responses. You can begin to interfere with these automatic overreactions by using relaxation and stress management techniques. These techniques are directed at self-soothing the arousal. This allows us to interrupt the otherwise inevitable automatic reaction and put into play a way to begin to face the unacknowledged fears at the root of low self-esteem.
- STOP AND TAKE NOTICE. Pay attention to the familiarity of the impulse. Our tendency is to overreact in the same way to the same incident. Awareness of the similarity can be the cue to slow our reactivity.
- ACKNOWLEDGE REACTION. Verbalize, “Here I go again (describe action, feeling, thought) . . . ” Actively do something with the awareness rather than passively note it. The result is to slow the impulse and give ourselves a choice about how we want to respond.
- CHOOSE RESPONSE. Hold self-defeating impulses. Act in a self-caring and effective way. By choosing to act in a more functional way, we take a step toward facing our fears.
- ACCEPT IMPULSE. Be able to state the benefit (e.g., protection) of overreaction. We won’t be able to do this at first, but as we become more effective, we will begin to appreciate what our self-defeating impulse had been doing for us.
- DEVELOP SKILLS. We can provide for our own safety, engender hope, tolerate confusion, and raise self-esteem by learning and using these essential life skills:

- EXPERIENCE FEELINGS. “Feel” feelings in your body and identify your needs. When we do not respect our feelings, we are left to rely on what others want and believe.
- OPTIONAL THINKING. End either/or thinking. Think in “shades of gray” and learn to reframe meanings. By giving ourselves options, we open ourselves to new possibilities about how to think about our dilemmas.
- DETACHMENT. End all abuse; say “no” to misrepresentations and assumptions. By maintaining personal boundaries, we discourage abuse by others and assert our separateness.
- ASSERTION. Voice what you see, feel, and want by making “I” statements. By expressing our thoughts, feelings, and desires in a direct and honest manner, we show that we are in charge of our lives.
- RECEPTIVITY. End self-absorption; listen to others’ words and meanings to restate them. In this way, we act with awareness of our contribution to events as well as empathize with the needs of others."

answer: We can identify patterns and triggers, and see a psychotherapist.

text:
"- GET SOBER. Get help through 12-step groups to stop self-destructive behaviors. Addictions block learning and drag down our mood. Identify them and replace them with self-care.
- PRACTICE SELF-CARE. Make new lifestyle choices by joining self-help groups and practicing positive health care.
- IDENTIFY TRIGGERS TO LOW SELF-ESTEEM. We personalize stressful events (e.g., criticism) by inferring a negative meaning about ourselves. A self-defeating action often follows. Each event can, instead, be a chance to learn about ourselves, if we face our fear of doing so and the negative beliefs about ourselves that sustain the negative meanings.
- SLOW DOWN PERSONALIZING. Target personalizing to slow impulsive responses. You can begin to interfere with these automatic overreactions by using relaxation and stress management techniques. These techniques are directed at self-soothing the arousal. This allows us to interrupt the otherwise inevitable automatic reaction and put into play a way to begin to face the unacknowledged fears at the root of low self-esteem.
- STOP AND TAKE NOTICE. Pay attention to the familiarity of the impulse. Our tendency is to overreact in the same way to the same incident. Awareness of the similarity can be the cue to slow our reactivity.
- ACKNOWLEDGE REACTION. Verbalize, “Here I go again (describe action, feeling, thought) . . . ” Actively do something with the awareness rather than passively note it. The result is to slow the impulse and give ourselves a choice about how we want to respond.
- CHOOSE RESPONSE. Hold self-defeating impulses. Act in a self-caring and effective way. By choosing to act in a more functional way, we take a step toward facing our fears.
- ACCEPT IMPULSE. Be able to state the benefit (e.g., protection) of overreaction. We won’t be able to do this at first, but as we become more effective, we will begin to appreciate what our self-defeating impulse had been doing for us.
- DEVELOP SKILLS. We can provide for our own safety, engender hope, tolerate confusion, and raise self-esteem by learning and using these essential life skills:

- EXPERIENCE FEELINGS. “Feel” feelings in your body and identify your needs. When we do not respect our feelings, we are left to rely on what others want and believe.
- OPTIONAL THINKING. End either/or thinking. Think in “shades of gray” and learn to reframe meanings. By giving ourselves options, we open ourselves to new possibilities about how to think about our dilemmas.
- DETACHMENT. End all abuse; say “no” to misrepresentations and assumptions. By maintaining personal boundaries, we discourage abuse by others and assert our separateness.
- ASSERTION. Voice what you see, feel, and want by making “I” statements. By expressing our thoughts, feelings, and desires in a direct and honest manner, we show that we are in charge of our lives.
- RECEPTIVITY. End self-absorption; listen to others’ words and meanings to restate them. In this way, we act with awareness of our contribution to events as well as empathize with the needs of others."

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: According to the author, there are several steps that can be taken to raise self-esteem, including getting sober, practicing self-care, identifying triggers to low self-esteem, slowing down personalizing, and making choices that are more functional. In addition, it's important to learn and practice skills such as experiencing feelings, optional thinking, detachment, and receptivity.

text: This should include definitions of self-esteem.

refinement: According to the author, there are two types of self-esteem: global and situational. There are several steps that can be taken to raise self-esteem, including getting sober, practicing self-care, identifying triggers to low self-esteem, slowing down personalizing, and making choices that are more functional. In addition, it's important to learn and practice skills such as experiencing feelings, optional thinking, detachment, and receptivity.

text:
"- GET SOBER. Get help through 12-step groups to stop self-destructive behaviors. Addictions block learning and drag down our mood. Identify them and replace them with self-care.
- PRACTICE SELF-CARE. Make new lifestyle choices by joining self-help groups and practicing positive health care.
- IDENTIFY TRIGGERS TO LOW SELF-ESTEEM. We personalize stressful events (e.g., criticism) by inferring a negative meaning about ourselves. A self-defeating action often follows. Each event can, instead, be a chance to learn about ourselves, if we face our fear of doing so and the negative beliefs about ourselves that sustain the negative meanings.
- SLOW DOWN PERSONALIZING. Target personalizing to slow impulsive responses. You can begin to interfere with these automatic overreactions by using relaxation and stress management techniques. These techniques are directed at self-soothing the arousal. This allows us to interrupt the otherwise inevitable automatic reaction and put into play a way to begin to face the unacknowledged fears at the root of low self-esteem.
- STOP AND TAKE NOTICE. Pay attention to the familiarity of the impulse. Our tendency is to overreact in the same way to the same incident. Awareness of the similarity can be the cue to slow our reactivity.
- ACKNOWLEDGE REACTION. Verbalize, “Here I go again (describe action, feeling, thought) . . . ” Actively do something with the awareness rather than passively note it. The result is to slow the impulse and give ourselves a choice about how we want to respond.
- CHOOSE RESPONSE. Hold self-defeating impulses. Act in a self-caring and effective way. By choosing to act in a more functional way, we take a step toward facing our fears.
- ACCEPT IMPULSE. Be able to state the benefit (e.g., protection) of overreaction. We won’t be able to do this at first, but as we become more effective, we will begin to appreciate what our self-defeating impulse had been doing for us.
- DEVELOP SKILLS. We can provide for our own safety, engender hope, tolerate confusion, and raise self-esteem by learning and using these essential life skills:

- EXPERIENCE FEELINGS. “Feel” feelings in your body and identify your needs. When we do not respect our feelings, we are left to rely on what others want and believe.
- OPTIONAL THINKING. End either/or thinking. Think in “shades of gray” and learn to reframe meanings. By giving ourselves options, we open ourselves to new possibilities about how to think about our dilemmas.
- DETACHMENT. End all abuse; say “no” to misrepresentations and assumptions. By maintaining personal boundaries, we discourage abuse by others and assert our separateness.
- ASSERTION. Voice what you see, feel, and want by making “I” statements. By expressing our thoughts, feelings, and desires in a direct and honest manner, we show that we are in charge of our lives.
- RECEPTIVITY. End self-absorption; listen to others’ words and meanings to restate them. In this way, we act with awareness of our contribution to events as well as empathize with the needs of others."

answer: According to the author, there are several things you can do to raise your global self-esteem, including getting sober, practicing self-care, identifying triggers to low self-esteem, slowing down when personalizing, and stopping to take notice of particular tendencies. Additionally, it is important to learn essential life skills, such as experiencing your feelings, thinking in shades of gray, detaching from abuse, and being receptive to others.

text: There should be a mention of the two kinds of self-esteem.

refinement: According to the author, there are two types of self esteem: global and situational. There are several things you can do to raise your global self-esteem, including getting sober, practicing self-care, identifying triggers to low self-esteem, slowing down when personalizing, and stopping to take notice of particular tendencies. Additionally, it is important to learn essential life skills, such as experiencing your feelings, thinking in shades of gray, detaching from abuse, and being receptive to others.

answer: According to the passage, the key to raising one's global self-esteem is to change negative thinking patterns and replace them with more positive thoughts, to practice self-care, and to identify and learn to manage stressors that lead to a decrease in self-esteem. This can be done with help from a therapist, as well as by getting sober, taking time to experience and reflect on one's feelings, practicing skills such as listening and detachment, and choosing more functional and assertive responses when faced with conflict.

text: I think global and situational self-esteem should be added.

refinement: The author posits there are two types of self-esteem: global and situational. According to the passage, the key to raising one's global self-esteem is to change negative thinking patterns and replace them with more positive thoughts, to practice self-care, and to identify and learn to manage stressors that lead to a decrease in self-esteem. This can be done with help from a therapist, as well as by getting sober, taking time to experience and reflect on one's feelings, practicing skills such as listening and detachment, and choosing more functional and assertive responses when faced with conflict.

answer: This article describes several ways to raise one's global self-esteem, including reducing addictive behaviors, maintaining self-care, and learning new skills that help to improve self-esteem. High global self-esteem comes from facing one's fears and learning from experiences, though it is not an easy task. In order to raise self-esteem, it is essential to identify triggers and impulses that cause a drop in self-esteem, avoid over-personalizing events, and slow down in these moments, as well as actively listening and stating one's thoughts and feelings.

text: I think that global self-esteem should be defined.

refinement: According to the author, global self-esteem is about who we are, and is normally constant. This article describes several ways to raise one's global self-esteem, including reducing addictive behaviors, maintaining self-care, and learning new skills that help to improve self-esteem. High global self-esteem comes from facing one's fears and learning from experiences, though it is not an easy task. In order to raise self-esteem, it is essential to identify triggers and impulses that cause a drop in self-esteem, avoid over-personalizing events, and slow down in these moments, as well as actively listening and stating one's thoughts and feelings.

answer: According to the article, the key to improving your global self-esteem is to slow down when you start to personalize stressful events, acknowledge your reactions, choose a more functional way of responding, and develop skills.

text: There should be a definition of global self-esteem added.

refinement: The author posits that global self-esteem is about "who we are" and is normally constant. According to the article, the key to improving your global self-esteem is to slow down when you start to personalize stressful events, acknowledge your reactions, choose a more functional way of responding, and develop skills.

answer: According to the author, there are two types of self-esteem: global and situational. The former is not set in stone, and we can control it to some extent to help combat low self-esteem. Low self-esteem is a negative evaluation of one's self. While successful treatment often must include the assistance of a therapist, there are many ways we can identify our own triggers and patterns to help boost our self-esteem.


split: train

text:
from Love & Chemicals: The Memoir

Rostov-on-Don, ‘Gateway to the Caucasus’,
population one million,
is located just on the safe side
of the southwest corner of Russia,
nearby Chechnya, Georgia and Armenia,
it acts like a land-locked port city
between the feudal tribal lands and Moscow (Putin)...
I had just accepted a one-year contract to work there,
with a hefty bonus if I completed my obligations,
so my spirits were soaring with optimism
as my wife and I began to explore this new region.

We ventured outside for the 1st time
from our new subsidized apartment
located beside the calm Don River,
happy to be in warmest climate possible in the Slavic world.
The 1st stranger we encountered in the autumn afternoon
was completely and absolutely F’d out of his skull,
and we shook our heads as we walked by,
even laughed a little at his misfortune.
The 2nd and the 3rd person we passed by were even worse,
a pattern which quickly wiped away our coy smiles
as we approached the central market.

Later that evening we attended an Expat Meet-Up,
thankful for the fruit of the growing internet.
We met the 2 residing managers of an IKEA
that had opened 6 months earlier as a corporate experiment.
An ethical international company that refused to pay bribes,
the store was still not connected to the Central Power Authority.
Eight portable diesel generators ran non-stop in the parking lot
to keep the feeding frenzy for cheap furniture open to the public,
as the corruption issue continued behind closed doors.

Sven told us about the time when he was sitting at a local bar
chatting up the waitress between shots with business partners,
as a cocktail glass came flying from the corner of the room
inadvertently aimed just centimeters shy of his left ear.
The Swede took his cue and left the premises,
but not before marking who the perpetrator was.
“From the Caucasus, an F’n Muslim, of course.”

My wife is Muslim, and we had just gotten married a month before.
I was the first non-Islamic person, never mind Jewish,
to be allowed to wed in her town’s central mosque.
A gracious donation from her faithful grandmother
was able to arrange a meeting with the Imam,
who then stated that no matter his personal beliefs
his G-d wouldn’t forgive him
if he denied the Love he witnessed
in our conversation together.

Stefan told us about the time when he was riding in a taxi,
dozing off in the backseat crossing the congested city,
where the next thing he knew he woke up in the forest,
in his underwear, bound, and left alone.
After escaping and finding a small village in the distance
no one answered the door as he asked for assistance
until one young man decided to save his life.
This savior refused any reimbursement upon Stefan’s safe return,
just the promise to never tell anyone that he had helped him,
there was no reason to raise the suspicion of the watchful neighbors.

My first week of teaching was with a private student,
a middle-aged man who had won Teacher of the Year
from the government of the Republic of North Ossetia,
currently occupied by the Russian Federation.
He was from the town of Beslan, and taught in the building
beside the school that housed the infamous hostage crisis
that left 186 children killed, and 783 injured.
His reward for the honor was 2 weeks of lessons with me, and an iMac,
and I hope I was worth more than the hardware.
He had been inspired as a teenager to be a Soviet MiG Pilot
after watching ‘Top Gun‘ on a friend’s smuggled VHS tape,
but his training was abruptly cancelled when the USSR collapsed
only a year away from graduation.

It was then a friend of a friend who introduced him to Depeche Mode,
which inspired him again, but this time to understand and teach the English language.
Every class he taught thereafter was introduced to Maverick and Goose,
to help his students deal with loss.

2 weeks later, my wife and I were jumped outside a café
for the unspeakable act of using English too loudly.
A group of young men attacked us from behind,
kicking us to the ground with their Nike sneakers,
the distinct smell of McDonald’s on their breath
as they instinctively screamed, 'Yankee, go home!’

We escaped when a passing taxi driver finally had some sympathy
and interrupted the impromptu show of force.
This savior refused any reimbursement upon our return home,
just the promise to never tell anyone that he had helped us,
there was no reason to raise the suspicion of his usual customers.

We met a New Zealander a few weeks later
who was the manager of the 1st golf course ever in the area,
and he invited us out for a day on the links.
We only made it to the driving range because of overcast skies,
where my wife got her 1st chance to swing a 1 wood.
She lucked out a few times and found the sweet spot,
the pain from her black eye forgotten
as she looked back and smiled coyly at me.

We spent the next year holed up in our apartment,
the price to pay for being in public had proved too alarming.
We quietly cursed the screaming children every Saturday morning
at the daycare center located on the ground floor of our building,
but the result was that our relationship grew stronger than before.
We knew we could live through anything,
what was most important
was to remain close to each other.

title: [NF] Hell in Rostov-on-Don, Russia

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

Summarize everything related to racism.

answer: [rewrite]

text: Provide a response

refinement: Sven is nearly hit in the head with a glass because he is Swedish, and he is prejudiced against Muslims. The narrator is Jewish and his wife is Muslim, and the Imam had to be convinced to allow them to marry. The narrator and his wife are jumped for speaking English too loudly, and in the end, they spend a whole year barely leaving their apartment because they are so intimidated by the racist people in the town.

answer: The narrator mentions casually that Russians tell jokes about South Africans. A young man who freed Stefan from a kidnapping offers to forget being repaid, resulting in a rebuilt relationship between the twist.

answer: Sven tells the narrator about the time he was in a bar and a cocktail glass came flying at him. The Swede leaves and later learns that the person who threw it was a Muslim. The narrator's wife is Muslim and they got married a month before. They are attacked in the street and the narrator's wife is called a Yankee. The narrator's first student is a middle aged man who was a teacher of the year. He is from Beslan, a town where 186 children were killed in a hostage crisis. The narrator's wife is called a Yankee.

text: Remove irrelevant/repeated information

refinement: Sven tells the narrator about the time he was in a bar and a cocktail glass came flying at him. The Swede leaves and later learns that the person who threw it was a Muslim. The narrator's wife is Muslim and they got married a month before. They are attacked in the street and the narrator's wife is called a Yankee.

text: Note that Sven seems prejudiced toward Muslims

refinement: Sven tells the narrator about the time he was in a bar and a cocktail glass came flying at him. The Swede notes that the person who threw the glass was a Muslim, and he seems prejudiced towards them. The narrator's wife is Muslim and they got married a month before. They are attacked in the street and the narrator's wife is called a Yankee.

text: Note how difficult it was for the narrator and his wife to marry

refinement: Sven tells the narrator about the time he was in a bar and a cocktail glass came flying at him. The Swede notes that the person who threw the glass was a Muslim, and he seems prejudiced towards them. The narrator's wife is Muslim and the narrator is Jewish, and they had to convince the Imam to allow them to marry in her town's mosque. They are attacked in the street and the narrator's wife is called a Yankee.

answer: Seeing a Caucasian playing piano prompts the narrator to tell his wife a story about a passerby calling him a "faggot" when he did not see his wedding ring. It is mentioned that the Cascadce is Muslim. One of the managers of the IKEA is Muslim and claims that his God would not forgive him if he ever denied love between a couple. The narrator also mentions casually that Russians tell jokes about South Africans.

answer: The narrator's wife is Muslim, and they were married in a mosque. A friend of a friend introduced the narrator to Depeche Mode, which inspired him to understand and teach the English language. The narrator's first student was a man who taught in Beslan, where 186 children were killed and 783 were injured. The narrator was attacked for using English too loudly.

answer: Sven tells the narrator about the time he was in a bar and a cocktail glass came flying at him. The Swede leaves and later learns that the person who threw it was a Muslim. The narrator's wife is Muslim and they got married a month before. They are attacked in the street and the narrator's wife is called a Yankee. The narrator's first student is a middle aged man who was a teacher of the year. He is from Beslan, a town where 186 children were killed in a hostage crisis. The narrator's wife is called a Yankee.

answer: The narrator's wife is Muslim, and they were married in a mosque. A friend of a friend introduced the narrator to Depeche Mode, which inspired him to understand and teach the English language. The narrator's first student was a man who taught in Beslan, where 186 children were killed and 783 were injured. The narrator was attacked for using English too loudly. The narrator also mentions that a group of young men attacked him and his wife for speaking English too loudly.

answer: Native Russians are consistently and staunchly racist against members of the Caucasus, especially in the area of Rostov-on-Don. Sven, a Finn and resident of the local region, was racially profiled and even attacked by other Russians when he merely wanted to hang out at a bar. Stefan, another native, also describes being jumped. Yet another Russian is the manager of the 1st golf course ever in the area, and the area is Russian-occupied. When the narrator's wife and daughter are attacked for speaking English too loudly, the mother cries "Always will be Hitler!". It is implied that their ensuing silence is because the narrator's marriage might be at stake, as they choose to cower at home instead of going outside.

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

Summarize everything relating to business.

answer: The first person the narrator met outside after moving to Rostov-on-Don was a severed F'd out of their skull. Then they met the representing managers of an Ikea, who were shunned both by the Central Power Authority and by corruption in the business. A New Zealand golf course manager also became part of the business espisode.

text: First sentence is irrelevant

refinement: They met the representing managers of an Ikea, who were shunned both by the Central Power Authority and by corruption in the business. A New Zealand golf course manager also became part of the business espisode.

text: "residing"

refinement: They met the residing managers of an Ikea, who were shunned both by the Central Power Authority and by corruption in the business. A New Zealand golf course manager also became part of the business espisode.

text: They were shunned by the Central Power Authority because the Authority is corrupt

refinement: They met the residing managers of an Ikea, who were shunned by the Central Power Authority because the company refused to pay bribes. A New Zealand golf course manager also became part of the business espisode.

text: Rephrase the information about the golf course manager

refinement: They met the residing managers of an Ikea, who were shunned by the Central Power Authority because the company refused to pay bribes. A New Zealand golf course manager was also mentioned.

answer: The narrator has a one-year contract to work in Rostov-on-Don. There is a hefty bonus if the narrator completes their obligations. The narrator's wife is Muslim, and the narrator is Jewish. The narrator's wife's grandmother paid for the narrator to meet with the Imam, who stated that his G-d wouldn't forgive him if he denied the love he witnessed in the narrator and his wife's conversation together. The narrator is a teacher. The narrator teaches English to a man who was inspired by Depeche Mode to teach English. The narrator also teaches a private student who is the teacher of the year and teaches in the building beside the school that housed the hostage crisis. The narrator also teaches a New Zealander who is the manager of the 1st golf course ever in the area.

text: Remove irrelevant/repeated information

refinement: The narrator has a one-year contract to work in Rostov-on-Don. There is a hefty bonus if the narrator completes their obligations. The narrator is a teacher. The narrator teaches English to a man who was inspired by Depeche Mode to teach English. The narrator also teaches a New Zealander who is the manager of the 1st golf course ever in the area.

text: The narrator is not teaching the New Zealander

refinement: The narrator has a one-year contract to work in Rostov-on-Don. There is a hefty bonus if the narrator completes their obligations. The narrator is a teacher. The narrator teaches English to a man who was inspired by Depeche Mode to teach English. They meet a New Zealander who is the manager of the 1st golf course ever in the area.

text: Include information about the Ikea

refinement: The narrator has a one-year contract to work in Rostov-on-Don. There is a hefty bonus if the narrator completes their obligations. The narrator is a teacher. The narrator teaches English to a man who was inspired by Depeche Mode to teach English. They meet the two residing managers of an IKEA; the store is still not connected to the Central Power Authority, as the managers refuse to pay the bribes. They also meet a New Zealander who is the manager of the 1st golf course ever in the area.

answer: The Expat Meet-Up tells them the Ikea is owned by an ethical company that pays their employees well and refuses to pay bribes to government officials. A friend of Steffan who worked at Ikea tells them about an instance when a waitress threw a cocktail glass at his ear.

text: Nothing is said about how Ikea pays their employees

refinement: The Expat Meet-Up tells them the Ikea is owned by an ethical company that refuses to pay bribes to government officials. A friend of Steffan who worked at Ikea tells them about an instance when a waitress threw a cocktail glass at his ear.

text: The last sentence is irrelevant

refinement: The Expat Meet-Up tells them the Ikea is owned by an ethical company that refuses to pay bribes to government officials.

text: Include the golf course manager

refinement: The Expat Meet-Up tells them the Ikea is owned by an ethical company that refuses to pay bribes to government officials. The narrator also meets a New Zealander who is the manager of the first golf course in the area.

text: Include the narrator's job

refinement: The narrator arrives in Rostov-on-Don after accepting a one year contract to work there, with a hefty bonus if they complete their obligations. The Expat Meet-Up tells them the Ikea is owned by an ethical company that refuses to pay bribes to government officials. The narrator also meets a New Zealander who is the manager of the first golf course in the area.

answer: The author is a teacher. The manager of the IKEA corporate experiment refused to pay bribes. The manager of the golf course was the first ever in the area.

answer: The Expat Meet-Up tells them the Ikea is owned by an ethical company that pays their employees well and refuses to pay bribes to government officials. CEO Sven tells them about an instance where one of his business partners was hit by a cocktail glass at a local drug-den.

answer: The narrator has a one-year contract to work in Rostov-on-Don. There is a hefty bonus if the narrator completes their obligations. The narrator's wife is Muslim, and the narrator is Jewish. The narrator's wife's grandmother paid for the narrator to meet with the Imam, who stated that his G-d wouldn't forgive him if he denied the love he witnessed in the narrator and his wife's conversation together. The narrator teaches English to a man who was inspired by Depeche Mode to teach English. The narrator also teaches a private student who is the teacher of the year and teaches in the building beside the school that housed the hostage crisis. The narrator also teaches a New Zealander who is the manager of the 1st golf course ever in the area.

answer: The first person the narrator met outside after moving to Rostov-on-Don was a severed F'd out of their skull. A New Zealand golf course manager also became part of the business espisode.

answer: The author is a teacher. The manager of the IKEA corporate experiment refused to pay bribes. The manager of the golf course was the first ever in the area. The manager of the IKEA met the author and his wife at an expat meet-up.

text: The last sentence is irrelevant

refinement: The author is a teacher. The manager of the IKEA corporate experiment refused to pay bribes. The manager of the golf course was the first ever in the area.

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

Summarize everything relating to the narrator's biological relatives.

answer: The narrator's wife is Muslim and they had just gotten married. The narrator's wife's grandmother arranged for them to meet the Imam and he stated that it was okay for the narrator to marry her.

text: Irrelevant response

answer: The narrator's mother is dead, but we have no reason to believe she was anything unusually unpleasant, vicious or vile. She was described as witty and intelligent in the midst of suffering.

text: Unsupported response

answer: No answer

answer: No answer

answer: The narrator's wife is Muslim, and they had just gotten married a month before. He was the first non-Islamic person to be allowed to wed in her town's central mosque.

answer: No answer

answer: No answer

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

Summarize everything negative that happens to the characters in the story.

answer: Stefan tells the narrator about the time he was beaten up in a taxi. The narrator's wife and he are attacked by young men outside a café for speaking English too loudly. The narrator is teaching a student who survived the Beslan hostage crisis in which 186 children were killed. The narrator's wife is beaten up and they are forced to stay indoors for a year.

answer: Someone flying a cocktail glass injures a passerby. Stefan goes through a harrowing experience of being forced to leave his underpants at the scene and left to survive in the woods. There is constant political corruption and fighting. The Ex-Soviet Republic of North Ossetia is occupied by the Russian army. The New Zealand man manages a golf course that later gets closed due to political interference. A couple gets assaulted outside a café.

text: Contains numerous inaccuracies

text: Provide a response

refinement: Sven was nearly hit in the head when someone threw a glass at him. Stefan fell asleep in a taxi and woke up stripped, bound, and alone in a forest. The man the narrator is teaching taught in a building beside a school that housed an infamous hostage crisis that left 186 children dead and 783 injured. Finally, the narrator and his wife are jumped outside of a cafe.

answer: The first stranger the narrator and his wife encounter is F'd out of his skull. The second and third people they encounter are even worse. They attend an Expat Meet-Up and hear about a man who was attacked at a bar. The narrator's first student was a man who had been in the school that was the site of a hostage crisis that left 186 children dead. The narrator is attacked by a group of young men outside a café. The narrator's wife is attacked by a group of young men outside a café.

answer: The older man was nearly hit by a flying glass at a bar. Another older man downed Sven and left him. A group of young men hung Stefan upside down, beat him, and left him in an isolated mountain area without any means of protection. He met locals but the promising to not repay him for saving his life. Sven mentioned that he wanted to skip his town. The owner of the storage business had to kill his merchant to defend himself from serial threats.

answer: Someone flying a cocktail glass injures a passerby. Stefan goes through a harrowing experience of being forced to leave his underpants at the scene and left to survive in the woods. Someone gets beaten up via a spontaneous show of power. The Ex-Soviet Republic of North Ossetia is occupied by the Russian army. The New Zealand man manages a golf course that later gets closed due to political interference. A couple gets assaulted outside a café.

answer: The older man was nearly hit by a flying glass at a bar. Another older man downed Stefan and left him. A group of young men hung Stefan upside down, beat him, and left him in an isolated mountain area without any means of protection. A group of young men attacked him and his wife and left Sven's wife with a black eye. He met locals but the promising to not repay him for saving his life. Sven mentioned that he wanted to skip his town. The owner of the storage business had to kill his merchant to defend himself from serial threats.


text:
EDGAR SAMUEL JOHN KING CMG DSc FRACP FRACS MCPA FAA, (10 June 1900, Mosgiel, Otago, New Zealand – 31 January 1966, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia), was an Australian surgeon and pathologist.[1][2][3][4][5]

[1]  First published in hardcopy in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 15, (MUP), 2000

[2]  Originally published in _Records of the Australian Academy of Science_, vol.1, no.2, Dec 1967, 6

[3]

[4]

[5]  “For his contribution to medical knowledge.”

title: Edgar King

question: How old was King when he died?

answer: 66 years old

answer: 66 years old

answer: 66

question: What was King's profession?

answer: An Australian surgeon and pathologist.

text: It isn't necessary to mention that he is Australian.

answer:
Pathologist

Surgeon

text: "Pathologist Surgeon" is not a profession.

answer: Surgeon and Pathologist

question: Which did King die in?

answer: East Melbourne, Australia

answer: East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

answer: East Melbourne, Australia

question: What nation was King born in

answer: Australia

text: It is wrongly stated that he was born in Australia.

answer: New Zealand

answer: New Zealand

question: What century did King live during?

answer: 20th

answer: from the passage, we can tell that King lived from 1900 until 1966, meaning he lived during the 20th century.

text: Missing sentence case.

refinement: From the passage, we can tell that King lived from 1900 until 1966, meaning he lived during the 20th century.

answer: Edgar Samuel John King lived during the 20th century.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: The article is about Edgar King, an Australian surgeon and pathologist.

answer: This article discusses Edgar King, an Australian surgeon and pathologist.

answer: This article is about an Australian surgeon and pathologist named Edgar Samuel John King CMG DSc FRACP FRACS MCPA FAA who died on January 31, 1966.

answer: This article introduces Edgar Samuel John King.

answer: This article introduces Edgar King, An Australian surgeon and Pathologist from the 20th century.

text: Unnecessary or poor sentence case.

refinement: This article introduces Edgar King, an Australian surgeon and Pathologist from the 20th century.

answer: This article discusses the details and career of Edgar Samuel John King.

text: The article is not in "detail", it only introduces King.

refinement: This article introduces and talks about the career of Edgar Samuel John King.


text:
I'm standing in front of a burning house, leaning against a large oak tree.  I'm wondering to myself whose house this is, and why I'm here. I hear the sound of approaching sirens behind the roar of the flames.

Spires of flame shoot in and out of the house, the way a lizard's tongue does. Not just out of the windows, out of everywhere. I can tell the house is really starting to come apart.  The fire rages on, drowning out all noise, save for the distant and tiny sound of sirens.

The sirens are getting steadily louder, as I watch rafters fall and beams disintegrate. The firefighters arrive, the sirens and lights rending the night. The armor clad men explode out if the truck, securing tools and attaching hoses.  I hear them decide amongst themselves that the house is beyond saving, dropping the hoses and heading straight for the front door. They don't seem to pay me any mind, so I move further from the house as they rush in, noting that I can hear more sirens on the way.

I begin to feel rather guilty. I mean, I've just been standing here watching this house burning down, without any concern. Like I've been watching a damn bonfire, waiting for someone to arrive with marshmallows.

This guilty feeling is not simply that, though. There is a sense of dread about it as well.  I don't recognize this house, but I feel strangely connected to it.  I'm feeling like there's something I ought to know about this fire, this house, this situation, but I'm not sure what that is.

As I'm pondering this, I notice, tacked onto the back of the tree I've just been leaning against, a note:

This was no accident. I've locked us all inside. It's the only way to make it stop. The only way for this to end. - James Kern

I see the two paramedics quickly exiting  the front of the ambulance, run to back, open the rear doors. The dreadful feeling surges, as I realize that the arrival of paramedics means injuries.
As they ready their equipment, I approach. The nearest one is unloading a gurney, and I ask him:
"How many people are in there?!"
He doesn't respond at all. Deciding he can't hear me over the flames, I yell:
"Sir, how many people are there in that house?!"

Again, he shows no sign of having heard me, or even of having seen me.  The way he is behaving has me questioning whether the firefighters had simply been too focused on the matter at hand, or if they had genuinely not seen me standing there.

I decide they're just intensely focused and begin to jump up and down, flailing my arms, and screaming.  This doesn't even garner a glance from the men.  Out of frustration, I shove the gurney. The paramedic looks bewildered and perhaps a bit frightened, but he still doesn't acknowledge me.

As I start to scream at him to pay attention to me, the front door of the house vomits the firefighters, carrying a limp figure, roughly the size of a man, but it seems oddly diminished. With a mighty groan and a crash, the house collapses in on itself. Charred clothing hangs off the man, ragged and smoking.

The paramedics frantically strap the man to the gurney, and load him into the ambulance, yelling about almost losing him, and the firefighters are saying that the wife and children were already lost by the time they got to the house, and that all signs pointed to arson.

As the ambulance peels away, the firefighters begin to shed their suits. I try and try to talk to them, but I get nothing in return. It's as if I'm not there. I begin to feel faint, as I'm screaming at the men to notice me, and then I see nothing, as if my eyes blinked shut, but never opened. For eons, I stare into that nothingness, that total and complete lack of anything.

I can't move, my arms and legs feel almost as if they're strapped down. My eyes are open. Bright lights flood my eyes, which flutter and blink,  and as the paramedics swim into view, I hear:

"Can you hear me, Mr. Kern?"

title: Can Your Hear Me, Mr. Kern?

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

What does the text say about the narrator?

answer: The narrator approaches the burning house, pondering a sense of his connectedness to it. He seems more concerned about passers-by than the burning house. He lacks motivation, seeming to be caught in a loop of boredom. Ruined homes and gossip and attacks on the elderly lose their danger after a while, and taking the necessary action in other scenarios becomes manufactured just the same. He wants to take action, but he's been learning how to not take action for his whole life.

text: The answer given is highly inaccurate and should be rewritten.

refinement: The narrator, James Kern, feels an odd sense of connection to the house on fire and feels guilty at just watching. He is seemingly invisible to the firefighters, despite being close by and yelling at them to get their attention. The text also suggests that the narrator is frustrated and angry at being ignored. It appears the narrator was having an out-of-body experience until his actual body was released from the fire and placed in the ambulance.  Overall, the narrator feels powerless to affect the event unfolding before them.

answer: The narrator is seemingly invisible to the firefighters, despite being close by and yelling at them in order to get their attention. The narrator feels an odd sense of connection to the house on fire, and feels guilty at just watching. The text also suggests that the narrator is frustrated and angry at being ignored. Overall, the narrator is feeling powerless to affect the event unfolding before them.

text: The answer omits that the narrator is, in fact, James Kern. This piece of information is crucial to readers in understanding the plot and should be mentioned.

refinement: The narrator, James Kern, feels an odd sense of connection to the house on fire and feels guilty at just watching. He is seemingly invisible to the firefighters, despite being close by and yelling at them to get their attention. The text also suggests that the narrator is frustrated and angry at being ignored. It appears the narrator was having an out-of-body experience until his actual body was released from the fire and placed in the ambulance.  Overall, the narrator feels powerless to affect the event unfolding before them.

answer: The narrator is James Kern, who apparently started the fire deliberately in order to make something stop, but he does not seem to remember this during the story. For most of the story, he is some kind of ghost; the firefighters and paramedics cannot see him, but he is able to interact with a gurney. As the paramedics revive his body, he suddenly sees nothing, and then hears the paramedic talking to him.

answer: The narrator is James Kern, who is found on the side of a burning house unconscious. When he awakens and is asked questions by paramedics, it's implied he might be suffering from amnesia.

text:
-The story does not mention that the narrator was found unconscious by the side of the burning house. This is incorrect.
-The ending does not indicate that the narrator might be suffering amnesia. This is not accurate or according to the story.

refinement: The narrator is James Kern, whose body is brought out by firefighters from the burning house unconscious. When he regains consciousness, he sees the paramedics trying to get him to respond.

text: The answer omits that he was first a ghost trying to communicate with the firefighters. The answer should include this.

refinement: The narrator is James Kern, whose body is brought out by firefighters from the burning house unconscious. However, his spirit tries to communicate with the firefighters to inquire about the possible casualties but to no avail. When James regains consciousness after reconnecting with his body, he sees the paramedics trying to get him to respond.

answer: The text implies that the narrator is frustrated, confused, and powerless in the wake of a catastrophic fire. The narrator also seems to feel connected to what is happening, but unsure of what it is they should know.

text: The last sentence appears inaccurate and not according to the story. This should be rewritten or erased.

refinement: The text implies that the narrator is frustrated, confused, and powerless in the wake of a catastrophic fire. The narrator also seems to feel connected to what is happening.

text: The answer omits that the narrator is James Kern and his spirit tried to communicate with the firefighters.

refinement: The text implies that the narrator, James Kern, is frustrated, confused, and powerless in the wake of a catastrophic house fire and feels connected to the house. His spirit tries to communicate with the firefighters to inquire about the possible casualties but to no avail. He sees the firefighters bring out his body from the burning house unconscious. When James eventually regains consciousness after reconnecting with his body, he sees the paramedics trying to get him to respond.


text:
Eric Bates, the former executive editor of Rolling Stone, is joining the new media organization being launched by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and journalist Glenn Greenwald.

According to a post from Omidyar about NewCo -- what the project is currently being called -- Bates "will be instrumental in helping us define our editorial strategy for a general-interest audience as well as the editing infrastructure we will need to support our independent journalists.

Bates worked at Rolling Stone for nearly a decade, editing top stories on politics and national security. He was the editor of "The Runaway General," the award-winning 2010 feature on Gen. Stanley McChrystal by the late Michael Hastings. Bates also participated in four interviews with President Obama while at the magazine. Rolling Stone laid offa couple high-ranking staffers earlier this year, including Bates.

Previously, Bates worked as investigative editor at Mother Jones and was editor-in-chief of Southern Exposure. This year, he became a scholar at NYU's Institute for Public Knowledge and has reportedly been in the running for the top editor job at the Columbia Journalism Review.

When news broke last month that Omidyar was working on a new venture with journalists Greenwald, Laura Poitras and Jeremy Scahill, little had yet been determined about the media outlet's structure. Omidyar told HuffPost that the media outlet will hire experienced editors, along with high-profile writers dedicated to their specific beats.

A couple weeks ago, two more journalists -- Dan Froomkin and Liliana Segura -- came aboard. But Bates will be the first editor to join the venture, which helps add more structure to the growing newsroom.

Calling all HuffPost superfans!

Sign up for membership to become a founding member and help shape HuffPost's next chapter

question: Who is Eric Bates?

answer: Eric Bates is a former executive editor of Rolling Stone who is joining the new media organization being launched by Pierre Omidyar.

answer: He is the former executive editor of Rolling Stone.

answer: The former executive editor of Rolling Stone.

text: This response can be enhanced by putting it into a proper sentence.

refinement: Eric Bates is the former executive editor of Rolling Stone.

answer:
A. A journalist
B. A scholar
C. A former executive editor of Rolling Stone
D. A former editor-in-chief of Southern Exposure

text: This response seems as though it is part of a multiple choice question format and does not fully respond to the question. This response needs to be fully changed and re-written.

refinement: Eric Bates is a former executive editor of Rolling Stone.

question: What was Bates investigating?

answer: Bates was an investigative editor, meaning he was responsible for investigating and reporting on stories.

text: This response does not answer the question and needs to be changed completely.

refinement: Bates was investigating stories on politics and national security, according to the passage.

answer: Bates was investigating political and national security stories.

answer: Information can't be found.

text: This response isn't correct, but isn't wrong as well. The answer to this response provides an inference to be taken.

refinement: Information can't be found, but according to the details in the passage, Bates seems to be investigating stories on politics and national security.

answer: Bates was investigating politics and national security.

question: Who is Omidyar?

answer: He is the founder of eBay.

answer: eBay's founder.

answer:
A. A former executive editor of Rolling Stone
B. A scholar at NYU's Institute for Public Knowledge
C. A founder of eBay
D. A journalist

text: This response does not answer the question and is set up in a multiple choice question/answer format. This response needs to be completely changed.

answer: Omidyar is the founder of the new media organization being launched with journalists Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras and Jeremy Scahill.

question: What is "The Runaway General"?

answer: The Runaway General is a 2010 feature on Gen. Stanley McChrystal by the late Michael Hastings.

answer: The "Runaway General" is a 2010 feature story by Michael Hastings about Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

answer: An award-winning 2010 feature on Gen. Stanley McChrystal by the late Michael Hastings.

answer: A book written by Michael Hastings

text: This response could have more details added to it to make it a stronger response.

refinement: "The Runaway General" is a book written by Michael Hastings on Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: Eric Bates, the former executive editor of Rolling Stone, is joining the new media organization being launched by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and journalist Glenn Greenwald. Journalists Dan Froomkin and Liliana Segura also joined.

answer: Pierre Omidyar has announced that Eric Bates, former executive editor of Rolling Stone, will be joining the new media organization being launched. Bates will help define the editorial strategy and editing infrastructure for the new media outlet.

answer: Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay, is launching a new media outlet with Glenn Greenwald, Jeremy Scahill, and Laura Poitras. Eric Bates, the former executive editor of Rolling Stone, is joining the new media organization.

answer: Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay, is launching a new media organization with Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras, and Jeremy Scahill. The organization will hire experienced editors and high-profile writers dedicated to their specific beats.

text: A critical part of this passage is not included in this story and should be included. Adding a sentence about Bates working with Omidyar is important.

refinement: Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay, is launching a new media organization with Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras, and Jeremy Scahill. The organization will hire experienced editors and high-profile writers dedicated to their specific beats, such as Eric Bates, the former editor of Rolling Stone.


text:
“Why is it so bad to say that test raped me?”

“I just don’t think you can compare failing a test to that kind of physical and mental assault. It’s nothing like it,” you replied, remaining calm while I gripped the edge of my desk.

“For some people it is.”

“Not even close,” I shouted as you fell silent. “Failing a test is nothing compared to rape. Don’t ever say that again.”

They looked away.

“I need to talk to you when class is over,” you said, but I couldn’t reply; I was still choking on anger. Everyone stayed still till the bell rang, and I sat next to your desk at the back of class as they filed out.

“I couldn’t just let it go,” I told my trembling hands, twisting them in my lap.

“I know,” you answered, and when I looked up your light blue eyes were darker than I had ever seen them. “There’s something I think I should tell you.”

My chest constricted with something other than the anger, a fear of the unknown, fear of the secret resonating on the tip of your tongue. You could barely breathe, but you still looked at me.

“Mark and I got engaged about twenty years ago while he was at grad school. After his break, he went back to Boston, but I continued to teach here. A lot of students thought I had made him up.” You smiled a little, your lips twisted with something like irony. “He was coming home on a Friday. It had been four months since we had last seen each other, so I left a little early with a few of my colleagues. I remember realizing I had lost my keys when we reached the bus.”

I’ve seen you walk down that sidewalk to the faded bus stop a thousand times, and I could imagine it then: laughing, short heels clacking, and swinging your briefcase—as giddy as you could get. You patted down your pockets, realized you had left your keys in your frenzy.

“I decided not to go back; I knew they’d still be in my office the next Monday, and I kept a spare under a rock in the front yard. And I was excited to be home.” Your eyes fluttered to your hands. “I wasn’t paying attention on the ride. I can hardly remember the faces of the passengers, and I’ve tried so many times to remember. I’m usually more observant than that. I was distracted.” You shook your head as if dispelling the thoughts that were stuck in it. “The ride seemed so slow that when I got off, I was half-jogging down the street.”

Your ankles caught your dress as you walked, punching down the street in dusky light. You held your glasses to keep them from flying off and your dark curls bounced around your shoulders.

“I was almost there when I noticed someone a little ways behind me. I remember thinking it was funny; I had never seen someone go in the same direction as me from the bus stop, but he was twenty yards back and I didn’t think anything more. I didn’t even see his face, just a shadow crossing mine.

I jogged up my sidewalk and set my briefcase on the porch, then I took the key out from under the rock.”

You hopped down the porch steps without seeing anything but that rock and the glimmering key underneath. You pulled it out of the dirt and turned without looking up from it, jumped back up the stairs in one step, and put your hand around the dented bronze doorknob.

“I was fumbling with the lock, but eventually I got the key in and turned it. I can still hear the click that it made. I haven’t lived in that house for a long time, but I can still hear the click. I turned the knob and pushed on the door and it creaked and that second I felt something heavy throw me through the door. It’s funny, I can still remember the arrangement of books on my bookshelf as I crashed through the door, this orange volume I don’t have anymore leaning on a fat purple one. It was right in the entrance hall. My glasses flew off and broke against the shelf. I didn’t realize what was happening at the time. For a second I thought I had tripped or wind had pushed me or something equally stupid, but then I landed on my knees and I think I put it together.

I never got a clear look at his face; he was wearing all black, this long dirty overcoat and slacks and an old dress shirt with pinstripes and this hat that kept a shadow over his face. I only remember certain parts of his face, the way his nose was bent and the way his jaw was set. When I turned over, he kicked me and didn’t say anything, and then I really knew what was happening. That was one of the worst feelings I’ve ever had: realizing what was about to happen. I started kicking. I fought, but I failed.”

Even though you were only five feet against what seemed like seven, you fought like hell. It’s not in your nature to back down, even when he pulled up your dress.

“He raped me. He was so much taller than me I couldn’t see his face, or anything really, just his chest pressing down on me. I felt like I was suffocating. He had my hands pinned down so I couldn’t move. I just couldn’t figure out why. I thought maybe it was that I was short or distracted or alone or so many other possibilities. I was so relieved when he finished. I thought he was going to leave, but instead he took out a fishhook and put it inside me. It felt like I was being torn out of my body, and I thought I was going to die. He never said a word. He just jerked it around for a while, then pulled it out, stood up, and left. He didn’t even shut the door all the way. I couldn’t move, it hurt so much.”

You tried to lift your head, to pull your dress down, but every time you felt like you were falling apart. All you could do was try to breathe, legs spread to the open door as the sun went down. Mark found you that night with blood all over your thighs, trying not to cry because it hurt too much when your chest shook like that, and he lay down next to you, brushing your hair out of your face. You asked him to pull your dress down, and you felt tears falling on your legs and the fabric sticky against them.

“Mark found me and took me to the hospital and luckily everything was alright. It took me a long time to get better, but I married Mark just as we had planned and we moved into a new house and he came back to teach here and we had two kids and life went on. It went on, and I’m happy now, and I don’t think about that house or that night much anymore.

I wanted to tell you this because it still bothers me when people use rape in the wrong context. Sometimes I remember what happened, but I can control it now. I’ll never forget it, but I don’t have breakdowns or panic attacks anymore. He got his hook in me, but I won’t let him tear me out.”

You breathed again, exhaling the story, and I cried over you and all the things I couldn’t stop.

title: Hook - based on a really disturbing dream I had

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

Summarize the negative moments in the story.

answer: When the narrator finds out their teacher got raped by a man with a fishhook who terrorized her for no apparent reason, the narrator has a breakdown about failing the test, yelling at the teacher and stomping out of the classroom. They are in denial that it is no big deal and that failing a test could never compare to that kind of assault.

text: Some events in the response did not happen.

refinement: The narrator finds out their teacher got raped by a man with a fishhook who terrorized her for no apparent reason.

answer: The story begins with the narrator and the teacher arguing over whether it's appropriate to say "that test raped me". The narrator sense the teacher was going to reveal a secret, and they get fearful. The teacher adds to her argument that it's incomparable to reference rape in that manner by telling of the time she was raped by a strange man. He also assaulted her with a fish hook and got away without the teacher seeing his face. She was badly hurt and traumatized after the event, but later moves on.

answer: The teacher, Mark, gets raped one year before the narrator through her door with a fishhook before he kicks her and runs away without saying anything.

text: The response contains some inaccurate information.

refinement: The teacher gets raped at her door by a man with a fishhook before he kicks her and runs away without saying anything.

answer: The story details a traumatic experience of rape. The protagonist was raped by an unknown assailant who used a fishhook inside her, tearing her apart. The protagonist has not gotten over this experience and still feels anger and sadness over it.

answer: This story is about an extremely traumatic experience, either being raped by a stranger or friend while they were going home from the bus stop. The protagonist was physically and emotionally assaulted and left with wounds that will never fully heal. The perpetrator committed the crime silently and without remorse. The protagonist has never fully recovered from the incident and has never felt safe again.

text: The answer contains some inaccurate information.

refinement: This story is about an extremely traumatic experience, being raped by a stranger while they were going home from the bus stop. The protagonist was physically and emotionally assaulted and left with wounds that will never fully heal. The perpetrator committed the crime silently and without remorse. The protagonist has never fully recovered from the incident and has never felt safe again.

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

Summarize everything relating to Mark.

answer: Mark was engaged to the narrator and was coming home on a Friday when the narrator left to catch the bus. The narrator never reached the bus stop because while on the bus they realized they had left their keys at home. When the narrator got home, they were thrown through their entrance door and raped by an unknown assailant with a fishhook. Mark later found the narrator and took them to the hospital. The two eventually married, had children, and moved on with their lives. Mark was the one to find the narrator after they were raped.

text: The response contains some inaccurate information.

refinement: Mark was engaged to the narrator's teacher when she was raped. Mark later found the narrator's teacher and took them to the hospital. The two eventually married, had children, and moved on with their lives.

answer: Mark, a teacher or professor, is the husband of the teacher, and they were engaged twenty years ago when the teacher's assault happened. Mark found the teacher when she was covered in blood after the assault, and laid down next to her. He took care of her in that moment, and took her to the hospital. Mark and the teacher eventually moved, married, and had two kids.

answer: Mark and the narrator were going to get married a few years ago and he went to grad school in Boston. Mark found the narrator after she was raped years ago, and they talk about it. They get married not long later and have two kids. Mark still teaches classes where the narrator is a student.

text: The response contains some inaccurate information.

refinement: Mark and the narrator's teacher were going to get married a few years ago and he went to grad school in Boston. Mark found the teacher after she was raped years ago, and they talk about it. They get married not long later and have two kids.

answer: Mark was the fiancé of the narrator when they got together while he was at grad school. Eventually, he went back to Boston, but the narrator stayed. He found her and took her to the hospital. He visits her during recovery, and they get married and have two kids.

text: The response contains some inaccurate information.

refinement: Mark was the fiancé of the narrator's teacher when they got together while he was at grad school. Eventually, he went back to Boston, but the teacher stayed. He found her and took her to the hospital. He visits her during recovery, and they get married and have two kids.

answer: Mark and the protagonist got engaged while he was in grad school in Boston and she stayed behind to teach. On a Friday, the protagonist was on her way home from the bus stop when she was raped by a man in a long overcoat and slacks wearing an old dress shirt and hat. The protagonist was unable to fight back, but luckily the injuries were mostly superficial. The protagonist and Mark were married and had two kids, and while she will never forget what happened, she has managed to move on with her life.

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

What does the story say about fear?

answer: The story discusses fear in two manifestations. The first is the fear that comes from realizing that a heinous crime is about to occur. The second is the fear of the physical pain experienced during the rape and afterwards. Both manifestations of fear are overwhelming and can cripple a person, but it is ultimately possible to overcome them. Victims of rape can, with the support and love of others, learn to fight back and find a new, happier life.

answer: Fear is first mentioned in the story when the narrator becomes frightened about the secret their teacher may tell them. The secret turns out to be that the teacher was raped. The teacher experienced fear when she was assaulted and then realized what the assailant was going to do to her. She definitely felt fear during the assault as well, and even more fear when he assaulted her with a fish hook. For a time after the attack, she feared the house and that night, and had panic attacks about it.

answer: No answer

text: The response has no answer.

refinement: The story says that fear can be paralyzing, even in the face of adversity. While facing rape can be frightening to most people, what this person experienced went beyond the emotional - it was a physical assault, one that left the narrator broken both inside and out. But even after everything this person endured, she found a way to continue fighting. In the end, the story is about resilience and courage in the face of adversity. No matter what fear may try to accomplish, it cannot ultimately prevail.

answer: The teacher was fearful of telling her story. She still feels the pain with the memory of the horrifying event. She thinks about it in line with other people who would experience fear after an unfortunate incident. It was a terrible moment in her life that resembled a nightmare.

answer: The story says that fear can be paralyzing, even in the face of adversity. While facing rape can be frightening to most people, what this person experienced went beyond the emotional - it was a physical assault, one that left the narrator broken both inside and out. But even after everything this person endured, she found a way to continue fighting. In the end, the story is about resilience and courage in the face of adversity. No matter what fear may try to accomplish, it cannot ultimately prevail.


text:
CASPER KRUSE HOUSE, also known as the WILHELMINA STUMPE HOUSE, is a historic home located at Washington, Franklin County, Missouri. It was built about 1868, and is a 1 1/2-story, three bay, side entry brick dwelling on a stone foundation. It has a side-gable roof and low segmental arched door and window openings. Also on the property is a contributing two-story brick smokehouse.[1]

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.[2]

[1]  (includes 9 photographs from 2000)

[2]

title: Casper Kruse House

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

Where is the Casper Kruse House?

answer: The Casper Kruse House is located in Washington, Franklin County, Missouri.

answer: The Casper Kruse House is located in Washington, Missouri.

answer: It is located at Washington, Franklin County, Missouri, is on the National Register of Historic Places, and is also known as the Wilhelmina Stumpe House.

text: The fact that the house belongs to the National Register of Historic places is not relevant to its location.

refinement: It is located at Washington, Franklin County, Missouri, and is also known as the Wilhelmina Stumpe House.

text: The fact that it is also known as the Wilhelmina Stumpe House is not relevant to its location.

refinement: It is located at Washington, Franklin County, Missouri.

answer: It is located at Washington, in Franklin County, Missouri, in the United States.

answer: It is located in Washington, Franklin County, Missouri.

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

When was the house built?

answer: The Casper Kruse House was built around 1868.

answer: It was built about 1868.

text: "about" should be "around" (although this mistake is in the original article).

answer: The house was built about 1868.

text: "about" should be "around" (although this mistake is in the original article).

answer: The house was built in 1868.

text: Should be "around" 1868--the phrasing in the article suggests the date is not known for certain.

answer: Around 1868.

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

What does the property include?

answer: The property includes the house and a two-story brick smokehouse.

text: "Also on the property is a contributing two-story brick smokehouse" is evidence that the property also contains a brick smokehouse.

answer: The property includes a three bay, side-entry brick dwelling on a stone foundation and a two-story brick smokehouse.

text: "Also on the property is a contributing two-story brick smokehouse" is evidence that the property also contains a brick smokehouse.

answer: The house is situated at a stone foundation. Segmental arched openings and doors make the house aesthetically pleasing. A two-story brick smokehouse, also on the property, contributes to the historical value.

text: The phrasing of the answer describes the house rather than answers the question.

refinement: The house, which is situated at a stone foundation. A two-story brick smokehouse, also on the property, contributes to the historical value.

answer: The property includes a brick dwelling with a side-gable roof and a two-story brick smokehouse.

text: "Also on the property is a contributing two-story brick smokehouse" is evidence that the property also contains a brick smokehouse.

answer: A two-story brick smokehouse.

text: Does not mention the house, which is also on the property.

refinement: The Casper Kruse House and a two-story brick smokehouse.

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

What is the house otherwise called?

answer: The Casper Kruse House is also known as the Wilhelmina Stumpe House.

answer: The Wilhelmina Stumpe House

answer: The WILHELMINA STUMPE HOUSE

answer: The CASPER KRUSE HOUSE is also known as the WILHELMINA STUMPE HOUSE.

answer: The house is also known as the Wilhelmina Stumpe House.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer:
The Casper Kruse House, situated in Washington, is a 1 1/2 story, three-bay, brick swelling on stone foundation. The house is also known as the Wilhelmina Stumpe House. The house features a side-gable roof, a low segmental-arched door, and window openings.

The House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

text: Typo ("swelling" instead of "dwelling")

refinement:
The Casper Kruse House, situated in Washington, is a 1 1/2 story, three-bay, brick dwelling on stone foundation. The house is also known as the Wilhelmina Stumpe House. The house features a side-gable roof, a low segmental-arched door, and window openings.

The House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

text: Missing article ("stone foundation").

refinement:
The Casper Kruse House, situated in Washington, is a 1 1/2 story, three-bay, brick dwelling on a stone foundation. The house is also known as the Wilhelmina Stumpe House. The house features a side-gable roof, a low segmental-arched door, and window openings.

The House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

text: Does not mention when the house was built.

refinement:
The Casper Kruse House, situated in Washington, is a 1 1/2 story, three-bay, brick dwelling on a stone foundation. The house, built around 1868, is also known as the Wilhelmina Stumpe House. The house features a side-gable roof, a low segmental-arched door, and window openings.

The House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

answer: The CASPER KRUSE HOUSE is a side-entry brick house built around 1868 in Washington, Missouri. It is notable for its arched door and window openings and stone foundation. The house is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

text: There is no evidence that the arched door and window openings are what make the house notable.

refinement: The CASPER KRUSE HOUSE is a side-entry brick house built around 1868 in Washington, Missouri. It has an arched door and window openings and stone foundation. The house is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

answer: The Casper Kruse House is a historic house built in 1868. It is a three-bay, side entry brick dwelling. Of particular note is its side-gabled roof, segmental arched door and window openings, and a two-story brick smokehouse.

text: The house was built "around" 1868--the article's phrasing implies the exact date is not certain.

refinement: The Casper Kruse House is a historic house built around 1868. It is a three-bay, side entry brick dwelling. Of particular note is its side-gabled roof, segmental arched door and window openings, and a two-story brick smokehouse.

text: Does not mention the National Register.

refinement: The Casper Kruse House is a historic house built around 1868. It is a three-bay, side entry brick dwelling. Of particular note is its side-gabled roof, segmental arched door and window openings, and a two-story brick smokehouse. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

answer:
Casper Kruse House is a historic property located in Washington, Natchitoches, Missouri.

It was built in 1868 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

The property also comprises the brick smokehouse and small oak tree grove.

text: The house was built "around" 1868--the article's phrasing implies the exact date is not certain.

refinement:
Casper Kruse House is a historic property located in Washington, Natchitoches, Missouri.

It was built around 1868 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

The property also comprises the brick smokehouse and small oak tree grove.

answer: Casper Kruse House was built in 1868 in Washington, Missouri. It is 1 1/2 stories and three bays. The house has a side-gable roof and low segmental arched door and window openings. Its address is: 402 Woodland Rock Road, Washington, Franklin County, Missouri.

text: The house was built "around" 1868--the article's phrasing implies the exact date is not certain.

refinement: Casper Kruse House was built around 1868 in Washington, Missouri. It is 1 1/2 stories and three bays. The house has a side-gable roof and low segmental arched door and window openings. Its address is: 402 Woodland Rock Road, Washington, Franklin County, Missouri.

text: The address is not mentioned in the article (and thus should not appear in the summary).

refinement: Casper Kruse House was built around 1868 in Washington, Missouri. It is 1 1/2 stories and three bays. The house has a side-gable roof and low segmental arched door and window openings.

text: Does not mention the National Register.

refinement: Casper Kruse House was built around 1868 in Washington, Missouri. It is 1 1/2 stories and three bays. The house has a side-gable roof and low segmental arched door and window openings. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.


text:
Barking.
Barking.

Constant barking.

Charlie rested alone on his bed, over hearing the howls and barks of his dog upstairs in wanting of his beloved owner to come home. That being Charlie's sister of course. The dog was getting old, and Charlie only wished what was on his dogs mind as he barked and howled.

Charlie felt work already taking a toll on him. It wasn't much hours yet but he was getting a bit tired indeed. Music became a ringing buzz in his left ear. The ambience of the room was quiet. Imaginary ciggarete fumes escaped Charlie's lips. His eyes searched for meaning in this room of his. As he exhaled, he closed his eyes and tried to sleep. Because well, there was nothing much to do. Loneliness was a word over used, and a feeling much grasped to him. It was loneliness that bound his last minutes tonight.

Thats just how it was,
and will be.

title: A Downcasted Moment

question: Who is the dog's owner?

answer: Charlie's sister.

answer: The dog belongs to Charlie's sister.

answer: Charlie's sister.

question: Why was the dog barking continuously?

answer: It may be implied that the dog was missing his owner.

text: It is not implied it is stated.

answer: It seems because it was dying.

text: "In wanting of his beloved owner to come home" implies it is missing its owner

answer: Not answered=

text: "In wanting of its beloved owner" implies it was wanting its owner.

question: Why was Charlie at his sister's home?

answer: Charlie was spending time at his sister's house because his dog needed someone to care for it, a task that he could not currently shoulder by himself. With his sister away at work all day, she was the best option for the dog's caretaker.

text: It is not stated.

answer: Charlie was staying with his sister because he had no place of his own to go. He was lonely and confined to the lonely home because he could not afford rent anywhere on his own.

text: It was not stated.

answer: This information is not mentioned.

question: What did Charlie do at the house?

text: NO CONTENT

answer: Charlie was already tired from work, the music playing in the background had turned into plain buzz to his ears. He was tired and lonely.

text: NO CONTENT

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: Charlie faces a lonely night, as his dog upstairs barks for his sister who is out. Charlie is tired from work and the atmosphere of his room is dismal. He realizes that loneliness is something he'll probably never escape.

text: His sister's dog.

refinement: Charlie faces a lonely night, as his sister's dog upstairs barks for her because she is out. Charlie is tired from work and the atmosphere of his room is dismal. He realizes that loneliness is something he'll probably never escape.

answer: Charlie is feeling lonely as he lays in his room, listening to his dog's constant barking, in anticipation for his sister to come home. Life is beginning to be hard for Charlie, as he feels his work already taking a toll on him, and the silence of his room only worsens his sense of loneliness.

text: His sister's dog.

refinement: Charlie is feeling lonely as he lays in his room, listening to his sister's dog's constant barking, in anticipation for her to come home. Life is beginning to be hard for Charlie, as he feels his work already taking a toll on him, and the silence of his room only worsens his sense of loneliness.

answer: The protagonist has a dog that keeps barking for its owner, his sister, to come home. Even though the dog is old, the protagonist feels lonely due to it being the only source of noise in his otherwise quiet home. He knows loneliness is something that he has to live with.

answer:
Charlie is at his sister's house, alone. Her dog is upstairs barking continuously while Charlie rests alone in the bed.

He is tired from work, the music in the background turns to plain buzz to his ears. Charlie tries to examine the meaning of the room. He lays there quiet, tired, and lonely.

answer: Though Charlie's dog is happy to have his owner home, Charlie is feeling lonely in their absence. He misses being around people and is finding the work load at his new job to be stressful. Charlie longs for meaningful interactions; loneliness is his prevailing emotion tonight.

text: The dog is barking for his sister.

refinement: Charlie's sister's dog is barking because she is away, Charlie is feeling lonely in their absence. He misses being around people and is finding the work load at his new job to be stressful. Charlie longs for meaningful interactions; loneliness is his prevailing emotion tonight.

answer: The narrator feels lonely, and this loneliness is exemplified as he listens to his dog constantly barking upstairs. There's not much to do in the spare time that he has, and he's feeling overwhelmed by his workload. So despite trying to sleep, he feels down casted.

text: His sister's dog

refinement: The narrator feels lonely, and this loneliness is exemplified as he listens to his sister's dog constantly barking upstairs. There's not much to do in the spare time that he has, and he's feeling overwhelmed by his workload. So despite trying to sleep, he feels down casted.