text:
I wrote this as a response to a writing prompt and went too far off topic to respond with. I don't write that much and this is really a first draft, so here goes nothing.

----

“I’ll be waiting for you.”

Rebecca died on January 5, 2157. She had red hair and green eyes. She was beautiful, even after the food ran out and the skin stretched over our bones and our muscles began to waste away. I remember that my voice became scratchy and hoarse but hers always seemed sweet and strong up to her last words. She didn’t smile but I pretend she was. I want her to have been happy to die. We said we would be, that it had been too long for us.

I met Rebecca 30 years before she died. Neither of us knew the real date, so we just guessed. There was snow, so she decided that it was Christmas. I said it was romantic of her to say that. She gripped my hand and pulled me toward her. It didn’t seem right to say we made love because I don’t think we loved each other. I needed her. She needed me. The last person I knew finally died 10 years before that. I don’t remember what she looked like. We didn’t love each other either but we still had sex. I don’t know if it was lust or just a desperate plea for a baby to come. Thousands of years of evolution told us that we couldn’t be the last ones. We had to try. We gave up hope, but we didn’t give up.

Rebecca was kind. She said she had traveled with a group of women from town to town, scavenging for food. The last of them had died quite some time ago. I kept track of years, if not days. She only marked seasons.

The sex seemed like pure instinct. There was no courtship, no flirting. We kissed a little, but mostly we just looked into the other’s eyes, felt each other move, drinking in every part of the other person. After we held each other tightly. I cried. She didn’t, but she understood. We were it.

Now I was it.

I didn’t believe she had died. I had gone so long without death that I couldn’t understand. I was like a child whose puppy had just been run over who didn’t understand why he wasn’t moving. I hadn’t lost anything in so long, because I thought I had nothing.

I was alone now.

I had thought I was alone before I met Rebecca, but I had still had hope then. I wandered, looking for another survivor for years. Something always kept me moving, some feeling deep inside me that there was still someone to find. Rebecca told me that she had felt the same thing. We stopped looking after we found each other. Now I realized that the feeling was gone. There was no one left. And so the last immortal waited to die.

I buried her in a field and surrounded her grave with flowers. We had been living in a house in Iowa. We tried living in mansions and penthouses before but it didn’t seem right. We had never been rich and we certainly weren’t now. We had nothing but each other. So we played house. I tried to farm, she tried to cook what little I could grow, and we both tried to make babies.

I counted the times that I saw Rebecca smile. She told me once that she used to smile constantly. I asked her why she didn’t anymore. She said she only smiled now when there was something to be happy about. I said that I did too, that’s why I smiled every time I saw her. She smiled then. It was the fourth time. There were only three more times before she died.

I did love her. Fuck

Why
Why
why

There is no one else. No one. Why am I the last? Is this my punishment? Did I make God angry? Fuck you god, I’m not even going to capitalize your name you piece of shit. I don’t even believe in you you vengeful fuck. Why make me love her? Just to take her away? Does this give you some kind of sick pleasure, are you jerking off watching this? Well I hope you enjoyed it because it’s over now. I’m going to sit here on her grave until you’re bored. I won’t cry. I haven’t cried. I don’t know why. Maybe I didn’t really love her. But I know that’s a lie. I want to hurt something. I want to fight or kill but there is nothing left. I can’t even take vengeance on some ants or a mosquito. It’s so quiet. Why is she dead? Why is anyone dead? There’s no illness, no warning, no time limit; one day you just collapse. Hopefully someone is nearby to hold you and comfort you in your last moments. I don’t even get that. When I die I’ll look into the void and tell it to fuck itself. You got that god? I don’t know what your problem is.

***

I came back. It’s been a while. I’m not sure how long. A wall caved in on the side of the house. There was probably a storm. The field still has the flowers. I haven’t seen flowers anywhere else. Why are they here? I had put up a cross made of sticks and carved her name into it to mark her spot. Just Rebecca, I didn’t know her last name. It never came up.

The cross was still standing. The house was collapsing but these little sticks were still here.

I stared for a long time. I touched her name. I remembered her face. One summer I managed to make some potatoes grow. We ate well for more than a month. We looked human for a while. The face I remember was the one when she died. I had forgotten even that for so long.

I laid down on my back, my head pressed to her cross and cried. The tears blurred my vision of the grey sky. I sobbed, remembering what I had lost. I had tried so hard to forget. Then I came back. There’s no forgetting when there’s nothing to replace the memories.

It began to rain. My tears washed away. I closed my eyes and felt the drops on my face. I remembered from before everything, when I was with a girl in the rain. I don’t know what she looked like. I remember pushing the hair from her face and kissing her as the rain came down, washing everything away. There was no time at all.

I opened my eyes. The rain continued but I couldn’t feel it. There was a warmth in me, coating every cell in me with a calm. I think I could move but didn’t want to. I took a breath. It was finally time. I smiled.

She was waiting.

title: The Last One

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

What does the story say about Rebecca's character?

answer: Rebecca was kind. She was a survivor and had traveled with a group of women from town to town, scavenging for food. She had red hair and green eyes and was beautiful. She didn't smile but her voice was sweet and strong up to her last words. She had traveled with a group of women from town to town, scavenging for food. The last of them had died quite some time ago. Rebecca told the narrator that she had felt the same thing. She used to smile constantly but stopped when there was nothing to be happy about.

text: omit the repeating statement

refinement: Rebecca was kind. She was a survivor and had traveled with a group of women from town to town, scavenging for food. She had red hair and green eyes and was beautiful. She didn't smile but her voice was sweet and strong up to her last words. The last of them had died quite some time ago. Rebecca told the narrator that she had felt the same thing. She used to smile constantly but stopped when there was nothing to be happy about.

text: Include all the details in the narrative.

refinement: Rebecca was kind and romantic. She was a survivor and had traveled with a group of women from town to town, scavenging for food, the last of them had died quite some time ago.  She had red hair and green eyes and was beautiful. She didn't smile but her voice was sweet and strong up to her last words. Rebecca had sex with the narrator for the sake of lust or getting babies, not love. She used to smile constantly but stopped, she only smiled only when there was something to be happy about.

answer: Rebecca was a kind, strong woman. She traveled around with a group of women from town to town and scavenged for food. She gave birth to a baby, but all the other women in her group had either died or were left for other destinations. When she met Lloyd, she already had enough experience living alone, and it allowed her to form a connection with Lloyd when she could. She had red hair and green eyes, and Lloyd admits that she was beautiful.

text: The narrator's name is not given. She did not give birth.

refinement: Rebecca was a kind, strong woman. She traveled around with a group of women from town to town and scavenged for food. The other women in her group had died. When she met the narrator, she already had enough experience living alone, and it allowed her to form a connection with him when she could. She had red hair and green eyes, and he admits that she was beautiful.

text: Include the other details about Rebecca.

refinement: Rebecca was a kind and romantic woman with a voice that was both sweet and strong. She traveled around with a group of women from town to town and scavenged for food. The other women in her group had died. When she met the narrator, she already had enough experience living alone, and it allowed her to form a connection with him when she could. She had red hair and green eyes, and he admits that she was beautiful. Rebecca had sex with the narrator for the sake of lust or getting babies, not love. She used to smile constantly but stopped, she only smiled only when there was something to be happy about.

answer: Rebecca was kind, having traveled with a group of women from town to town, scavenging for food. She tried to farm and cook what little the narrator could grow, and they both tried to make babies. She told the narrator once that she used to smile constantly. She died of old age, and the narrator buried her in a field and surrounded her grave with flowers.

text: Not all details included. Also, omit the part of her death since it does not describe her character

refinement: Rebecca was kind and romantic. Her voice made her sound sweet and strong. She once traveled with a group of women from town to town, scavenging for food. She tried to farm and cook what little the narrator could grow, and they both tried to make babies. She told the narrator once that she used to smile constantly.

answer: Rebecca was beautiful and kind. She was a leader in taking care of the women in her group. She wasn't a whiner. She was also a leader in experimenting (or conjuring) new ways to make babies because she was convinced that it had to be done. Overall, she was a romantic and being with her made the protagonist a better person.

text: She did not experiment in new ways to make babies. She was not the leader of the group she was part of. Also, more details about Rebecca can be added.

refinement: Rebecca was kind, and a romantic. She once traveled with a group of women, she is the last survivor of the group. She had red hair and green eyes and was beautiful. She didn't smile but her voice was sweet and strong up to her last words. Rebecca had sex with the narrator for the sake of lust or getting babies, not love. She used to smile constantly but stopped, she only smiled only when there was something to be happy about.

answer: Rebecca was beautiful and kind. She was a leader in taking care of the women in her group. She wasn't a whiner. She was also a leader in experimenting (or conjuring) new ways to make babies because she was convinced that it had to be done. Overall, she was a romantic and being with her made the protagonist a better person. Her efforts to ensure that humans don't disappear from Earth or at least of there being a new generation continue even after her death.

text: She did not experiment in new ways to make babies. She was not the leader of the group she was part of. Also, more details about Rebecca can be added.

refinement: Rebecca was kind and romantic. She was a survivor and had traveled with a group of women from town to town, scavenging for food, the last of them had died quite some time ago.  She had red hair and green eyes and was beautiful. She didn't smile but her voice was sweet and strong up to her last words. Rebecca had sex with the narrator for the sake of lust or getting babies, not love. She used to smile constantly but stopped, she only smiled only when there was something to be happy about.

answer: Rebecca was a kind, strong woman. She traveled around with a group of women from town to town and scavenged for food. She gave birth to a baby, but all the other women in her group had either died or were left for other destinations. When she met Lloyd, she already had enough experience living alone, and it allowed her to form a connection with Lloyd when she could. She tolerates his ticks and quirks and molded herself to him.

text: needs more details.

refinement: Rebecca was a kind, strong woman. She traveled around with a group of women from town to town and scavenged for food. The other women in her group had died. When she met the narrator, she already had enough experience living alone, and it allowed her to form a connection with him when she could. She had red hair and green eyes, and he admits that she was beautiful.

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

What does the story say about the effects of the end of a civilization?

answer: No answer

text: The answer is given

refinement: The last two people to survive gain a desperate need to try to procreate. No one keeps track of time, food is scarce, houses become empty and fall into disrepair.

answer: According to the narrator, people aren't systematically dying anymore, or if it does happen it's isolated. Mars used to be a place where thousands of people could live together, but right now it is only him alone. Civilization has settled down in terms of potential as a planet, and in this story it seems as though people are only at their capacity.

text: the effects are wrong.

refinement: The last two people to survive gain a desperate need to try to procreate. No one keeps track of time, food is scarce, houses become empty and fall into disrepair.

answer: The effects of the end of a civilization are the loss of electricity, indoor plumbing, and other conveniences.

text: the effects are wrong.

refinement: The last two people to survive gain a desperate need to try to procreate. No one keeps track of time, food is scarce, houses become empty and fall into disrepair.

answer: According to the narrator, people aren't systematically dying anymore, or if it does happen it's isolated. Mars used to be a place where thousands of people could live together, but right now it is only him alone.

text: Wrong response

refinement: The last two people to survive gain a desperate need to try to procreate. No one keeps track of time, food is scarce, houses become empty and fall into disrepair.

answer: The story shows the effects of the end of a civilization through the narrator's experience of losing the last woman he loves. The narrator has lived for many years without death and has lost hope of finding another survivor. He has lived in mansions and penthouses but he and Rebecca settled on living in a house in Iowa. He is left with nothing but her grave and memories of her.

text: fails to mention that critical act that the narrator and Rebecca were trying to achieve: having a baby

refinement: The last two people to survive gain a desperate need to try to procreate. No one keeps track of time, food is scarce, houses become empty and fall into disrepair.

answer: The world no longer resembles what it once was. Mankind and life are quickly on the decline. What used to be a thriving town that can’t afford the luxuries of electricity and air conditioning is now overrun by dust, mud, and abandoned homes. Food is non-existent. Diseases formerly easily cured are now ravaging populations. There are almost no children left, if there are human beings left at all.

text: The story focuses on the what appears to be the last two adult humans.

refinement: The last two people to survive gain a desperate need to try to procreate. No one keeps track of time, food is scarce, houses become empty and fall into disrepair.

answer: No answer

text: the narrative gives an answer.

refinement: The last two people to survive gain a desperate need to try to procreate. No one keeps track of time, food is scarce, houses become empty and fall into disrepair.

answer: The world no longer resembles what it once was. Mankind and life are quickly on the decline. What used to be a thriving town that can’t afford the luxuries of electricity and air conditioning is now overrun by dust, mud, and abandoned homes. Food is non-existent. Diseases formerly easily cured are now ravaging populations. There are almost no children left, if there are human beings left at all.

text: The story focuses on what appears to be the last two humans, so there is no question with regards to the presence of humans.

refinement: The last two people to survive gain a desperate need to try to procreate. No one keeps track of time, food is scarce, houses become empty and fall into disrepair.

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

What does the story say about mourning?

answer: The man and the woman go through their daily routine of trying to farm and create a family, but all that ends when the woman dies, which drives the man to desperate measures and thoughts. However, after some time skipping, the man is seen mourning the woman's death despite telling god to fuck itself, while at the same time, remembering his own past with another woman during a summer window. The man eventually finds comfort in the rain, and is ready to move on and see the afterlife.

text: One inconsistency with details. More importantly, the response only provides the superficial details about what the narrator did after Rebecca died without specifically isolating the process of mourning.

refinement: The narrator buries Rebecca and remembers his time with her. He comes back years later to see her grave. He cries again. He lays down on his back and cries, remembering what he has lost and after some time, he is ready to die. Based on this, mourning involves remembering the person being mourned, reflecting on the impact they had on your life, and then trying to move on and/or accepting the tragedy.

answer: The narrator buries Rebecca in a field and surrounds her grave with flowers. He tries to farm and cook to make babies, but it's too late. He does not believe she has died, and he cries for her. He buries her and comes back years later to see her grave. He cries again. He lays down on his back and cries, remembering what he has lost. He comes back years later and is ready to die.

text: Narrative inconsistencies and does not answer the question. Response should talk about mourning itself, not just what the narrator did.

refinement: The narrator buries Rebecca and remembers his time with her. He comes back years later to see her grave. He cries again. He lays down on his back and cries, remembering what he has lost and after some time, he is ready to die. Based on this, mourning involves remembering the person being mourned, reflecting on the impact they had on your life, and then trying to move on and/or accepting the tragedy.

answer: Rebecca died on January 5, 2157, and the narrator was left alone. He had no one else. He couldn't believe she was gone. He was like a child whose puppy had just been run over. He couldn't understand why she wasn't moving. He didn't believe she was dead. He had gone so long without death that he couldn't understand. He was like a child whose puppy had just been run over who didn't understand why he wasn't moving. He hadn't lost anything in so long, because he thought he had nothing. He was alone now. He didn't know what to do. He buried her in a field and surrounded her grave with flowers. He tried to farm, she tried to cook what little he could grow, and they both tried to make babies.

text: Chronological order of the details in the response is wrong. Also, it should focus on what mourning is based on what the narrator did, instead of just trying to summarize the actions of the narrator.

refinement: The narrator buries Rebecca and remembers his time with her. He comes back years later to see her grave. He cries again. He lays down on his back and cries, remembering what he has lost and after some time, he is ready to die. Based on this, mourning involves remembering the person being mourned, reflecting on the impact they had on your life, and then trying to move on and/or accepting the tragedy.

answer: No answer

text: the story has something to say about mourning

refinement: The narrator buries Rebecca and remembers his time with her. He comes back years later to see her grave. He cries again. He lays down on his back and cries, remembering what he has lost and after some time, he is ready to die. Based on this, mourning involves remembering the person being mourned, reflecting on the impact they had on your life, and then trying to move on and/or accepting the tragedy.

answer: The narrator buries Rebecca in a field and surrounds her grave with flowers. He tries to farm and cook to make babies, but it's too late. He does not believe she has died, and he cries for her. He buries her and comes back years later to see her grave. He cries again. He lays down on his back and cries, remembering what he has lost.

text: Needs to focus on mourning.

refinement: The narrator buries Rebecca in a field and surrounds her grave with flowers and he cries for her. He comes back years later to see her grave. He cries again. He lays down on his back and cries, remembering what he has lost. Mourning involves remembering the person being mourned, reflecting on the impact they had on your life, and then trying to move on and/or accepting the tragedy.

answer: Rebecca died on January 5, 2157, and the narrator was left alone. He had no one else. He couldn't believe she was gone. He was like a child whose puppy had just been run over. He couldn't understand why she wasn't moving. He didn't believe she was dead. He had gone so long without death that he couldn't understand. He was like a child whose puppy had just been run over who didn't understand why he wasn't moving. He hadn't lost anything in so long, because he thought he had nothing. He was alone now. He didn't know what to do. He buried her in a field and surrounded her grave with flowers. He tried to farm, she tried to cook what little he could grow, and they both tried to make babies. He came back and buried her again.

text: Chronological order of the details in the response is wrong. Also, it should focus on what mourning is based on what the narrator did, instead of just trying to summarize the actions of the narrator.

refinement: The narrator buries Rebecca and remembers his time with her. He comes back years later to see her grave. He cries again. He lays down on his back and cries, remembering what he has lost and after some time, he is ready to die. Based on this, mourning involves remembering the person being mourned, reflecting on the impact they had on your life, and then trying to move on and/or accepting the tragedy.

answer: The narrator and Rebecca go through their daily routine of trying to farm and create a family, but all that ends when the woman dies, which drives the man to desperate measures and thoughts.

text: Narrative content dealing with mourning is missing.

refinement: The narrator buries Rebecca and remembers his time with her. He comes back years later to see her grave. He cries again. He lays down on his back and cries, remembering what he has lost and after some time, he is ready to die. Based on this, mourning involves remembering the person being mourned, reflecting on the impact they had on your life, and then trying to move on and/or accepting the tragedy.

answer: The narrator buries Rebecca, and when they come back, they cry over her grave.

text: Not a good explanation of what how mourning is done in the story and what the essence or mourning is according to the narrative.

refinement: The narrator buries Rebecca and remembers his time with her. He comes back years later to see her grave. He cries again. He lays down on his back and cries, remembering what he has lost and after some time, he is ready to die. Based on this, mourning involves remembering the person being mourned, reflecting on the impact they had on your life, and then trying to move on and/or accepting the tragedy.

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

Summarize the narrator's experience with women before Rebecca.

answer: Before meeting Rebecca, the narrator never possessed hope. She wandered around, looking for another survivor for years. She and Rebecca gave up looking for anyone else. Rebecca died, the narrator died.

text: The narrator's gender is wrong.

refinement: Before meeting Rebecca, the narrator never possessed hope. He wandered around, looking for another survivor for years. He and Rebecca gave up looking for anyone else. Rebecca died, the narrator died.

text: Does not discuss the narrator's experience with women.

refinement: Before the end of civilization, the narrator appears to have had a relationship with a girl. The narrator was with someone 10 years before meeting Rebecca, but it is not clear if the person was a woman he was in a relationship with. From that time and until meeting Rebecca, the narrator had been alone.

answer: No answer

text: It is possible to provide an answer

refinement: Before the end of civilization, the narrator appears to have had a relationship with a girl. The narrator was with someone 10 years before meeting Rebecca, but it is not clear if the person was a woman he was in a relationship with. From that time and until meeting Rebecca, the narrator had been alone.

answer: The narrator first loses the last woman he knew 10 years before he meets Rebecca. He doesn't remember what she looked like, but they had sex. He says they didn't love each other, but they had sex out of a desperate plea for a baby to come. The narrator has been wandering for years looking for another survivor. He meets Rebecca, who says she had been traveling with a group of women from town to town, scavenging for food. The last of them died some time ago.

text: The grammatical structure of the narrative makes this part: "but they had sex. He says they didn't love each other, but they had sex out of a desperate plea for a baby to come" a continuation of the words "I needed her. She needed me.". The narrative has some bad structuring so that should be taken into account when determining context.

refinement: The narrator first loses the last woman he knew 10 years before he meets Rebecca. The narrator has been wandering for years looking for another survivor. He meets Rebecca, who says she had been traveling with a group of women from town to town, scavenging for food. The last of them died some time ago.

text: Mention the girl that the narrator talked about in the end.

refinement: Before the end of civilization, the narrator appears to have had a relationship with a girl. Later on, the narrator loses the last woman he knew 10 years before he meets Rebecca. The narrator has been wandering for years looking for another survivor. He meets Rebecca, who says she had been traveling with a group of women from town to town, scavenging for food. The last of them died some time ago.

answer: No answer

text: It is possible to provide an answer

refinement: Before the end of civilization, the narrator appears to have had a relationship with a girl. The narrator was with someone 10 years before meeting Rebecca, but it is not clear if the person was a woman he was in a relationship with. From that time and until meeting Rebecca, the narrator had been alone.

answer: The narrator first loses the last woman he knew 10 years before he meets Rebecca. He doesn't remember what she looked like, but they had sex. He says they didn't love each other, but they had sex out of a desperate plea for a baby to come.

text: The grammatical structure of the narrative makes this part: "but they had sex. He says they didn't love each other, but they had sex out of a desperate plea for a baby to come" a continuation of the words "I needed her. She needed me.". The narrative has some bad structuring so that should be taken into account when determining context.

refinement: The narrator first loses the last woman he knew 10 years before he meets Rebecca. He doesn't remember what she looked like.

text: mention the girl the narrator talks about in the end.

refinement: Before the end of civilization, the narrator appears to have had a relationship with a girl. The narrator then loses the last woman he knew 10 years before he meets Rebecca. He doesn't remember what she looked like. From that time and until meeting Rebecca, the narrator had been alone.

answer: The narrator had sex with a woman 10 years before he met Rebecca. He doesn't know her name and doesn't even remember what she looked like. She was the last person he knew to die. He had no idea if they loved each other.

text: The grammatical structure of the narrative makes this part: "but they had sex. He says they didn't love each other, but they had sex out of a desperate plea for a baby to come" a continuation of the words "I needed her. She needed me.". The narrative has some bad structuring so that should be taken into account when determining context.

refinement: The narrator loses the last woman he knew 10 years before he meets Rebecca. He doesn't remember what she looked like. From that time and until meeting Rebecca, the narrator had been alone.

text: mention the girl the narrator talks about in the end.

refinement: Before the end of civilization, the narrator appears to have had a relationship with a girl. Later, the narrator was with a woman 10 years before he met Rebecca. He doesn't know her name and doesn't even remember what she looked like. She was the last person he knew to die. From that time and until meeting Rebecca, the narrator had been alone.

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

What does the story have to say about the cause for civilization's end?

answer: No answer

text: The narrative has some hints at a possible answer.

refinement: First, it appears that it has become difficult or even impossible to procreate. Second, preventing death has become harder since people would just suddenly collapse and die without any warning.

answer: The story doesn't say anything about the cause for civilization's end.

text: The narrative has some hints at a possible answer.

refinement: First, it appears that it has become difficult or even impossible to procreate. Second, preventing death has become harder since people would just suddenly collapse and die without any warning.

answer: The text does not explicitly state what happened to civilization. From the title, we can presume the setting for the story is a post-apocalyptic world where humans are the only species remaining. The only two humans remaining recall that over the years most of the civilizations living on earth had perished-whether they did so because of war or natural causes isn't clear.

text: Does not mention the implications of the two major hints in the narrative.

refinement: First, it appears that it has become difficult or even impossible to procreate. Second, preventing death has become harder since people would just suddenly collapse and die without any warning.

answer: No answer

text: The narrative has some hints at a possible answer.

refinement: First, it appears that it has become difficult or even impossible to procreate. Second, preventing death has become harder since people would just suddenly collapse and die without any warning.

answer: No answer

text: The narrative has some hints at a possible answer.

refinement: First, it appears that it has become difficult or even impossible to procreate. Second, preventing death has become harder since people would just suddenly collapse and die without any warning.

answer: Information can't be found.

text: The narrative has some hints at a possible answer.

refinement: First, it appears that it has become difficult or even impossible to procreate. Second, preventing death has become harder since people would just suddenly collapse and die without any warning.

answer: No answer

text: The narrative has some hints at a possible answer.

refinement: First, it appears that it has become difficult or even impossible to procreate. Second, preventing death has become harder since people would just suddenly collapse and die without any warning.


split: train

text:
His seventeenth birthday was coming soon. That meant it was almost the tenth anniversary of his first day in the mine.  He was seven the first time he plunged into the darkness. The company needed small bodies that could crawl into tiny compartments and plant dynamite. The boy would do this for six years. Malfunctioning dynamite and tunnel collapses had taken most of his friends. But not him. They told him he was lucky.

On his thirteenth birthday, the boy was old enough to dig and run machinery. He would do this until he died. Many of the other workers his age were maimed or malformed from their years in the tunnels. But not him. They told him he was lucky.

The darkness followed him outside of the mineshaft. The blackness of the coal mine was permanently sunken into his clothes and skin. At night he would cough blackness out of his lungs. Black lung killed dozens every year. But not him. They told him he was lucky.

It was by chance that the boy remembered his approaching birthday. Alone in the shaft, driving his pick into the wall, lost in monotony, he happened upon the thought. At that same moment, he saw a sparkle in the ground. His lamp had given out and he was relying on natural light coming from the shaft exit just overhead. The boy leaned over and looked at the mysterious object. He had never seen a diamond before. All the same, he was hypnotized by its beauty in the blackness of the mine. He felt blessed to see such a beautiful object. Perhaps he was lucky after all.

The boy wrapped his fingers around the object and pulled it from the dirt. Suddenly, the floor gave out below him.  No one had discovered the cavern underneath the tunnel.  He didn't remember screaming as he plunged deeper into the blackness.  The boy landed on his back and felt the wind leave his lungs. He was so far from the light. He knew he would die.  But he did not despair.  As he lay on his back, staring at the small light above him, all he could do was laugh.  He never had to return to the mine again.  He was finally free. For the first time in his life, the boy felt lucky.

title: (Feedback) (<400 words) The Lucky and the Living

question: Why was the boy considered lucky?

answer: He was the only one of his friends to survive the mine.

text: He was not the only one to survive -- the story says 'most', not all, of his friends were taken by the mine.

refinement: Most of the boys his age had died in the mine, but not him.

text: Death is not the only thing at stake here -- maiming is also discussed.

refinement: Most of the boys his age had died or were maimed in the mine, but not him.

text: Black lung is also discussed

refinement: Most of the boys of his age had died of black lung, or were maimed or killed while working in the mine.

answer: The boy was considered lucky because he managed to survive in the mine for six years despite the many dangers and despite the fact that many of his friends did not survive. He was also lucky because he found a diamond in the mine, which allowed him to escape the mine and live a life of freedom.

text: He is not considered lucky by others for having found the diamond and he does not escape the mine.

refinement: The boy was considered lucky because he managed to survive in the mine for six years despite the many dangers and despite the fact that many of his friends did not survive.

text: '...tunnel collapses had taken most of his friends' and 'black lung killed dozens every year' confirms that he is considered lucky for surviving.

answer: He was the only miner who did not die from tunnel collapses, from black lung nor malformations.

text: He is not the only one -- 'most', not all, of the boys his age died.

refinement: He was one of the few miners who did not die from tunnel collapses, from black lung nor malformations.

text: malformations is awkward here

refinement: He was one of the few miners who did not die from tunnel collapses or from black lung. He was also one of the few miners who was not maimed or malformed from their years in the tunnels.

answer: The boy was considered lucky because he was able to escape the mine and live a life outside of it.

text: completely incorrect

refinement: The boy was considered lucky because he was able to escape the mine and live a life outside of it.

question: How did the boy die?

answer: The boy died by falling into a cavern.

text: 'He plunged deeper into the blackness' indicates a fall.

answer: He fell into a cavern and broke his back.

text: There is no mention of him breaking his back.

refinement: He fell into a cavern and broke his back.

text: 'He plunged deeper into the blackness' indicates a fall.

answer: The boy died when the floor of the mine gave out and he fell into a cavern. He was too far from the light to survive.

text: The metaphorical language about distance from the light is indicating the difficulty he would have recovering from the fall -- distance from light is not the literal cause of death.

refinement: The boy died when the floor of the mine gave out and he fell into a cavern.

text: 'He plunged deeper into the blackness' indicates a fall.

answer: Presumably, when the floor below his gave out and plunged deeper into the blackness.

text: don't need "presumably, when"

refinement: The floor below his gave out and plunged deeper into the blackness.

text: him, not his

refinement: The floor below him gave out and plunged deeper into the blackness.

text: object confusion -- 'he plunged deeper into the blackness'

refinement: The floor below him gave out and he plunged deeper into the blackness.

text: figurative language where the literal conveys meaning more directly

refinement: The floor below him gave out and he fell into a cavern.

text: 'He plunged deeper into the blackness' indicates a fall.

question: When did the boy finally feel lucky?

answer: He felt blessed when he found a diamond for the first time.

answer: The boy finally felt lucky when he found a diamond in the mine and fell into a cavern, escaping the dangerous conditions of the coal mine.

text: Clarify that death was his escape from the conditions of the mine.

refinement: The boy finally felt lucky when he found a diamond in the mine and fell into a cavern, escaping the dangerous conditions of the coal mine through death.

answer: The boy finally felt lucky when he found a diamond in the mine.

answer: When he fell into the cavern and died.

text: Clarify that he feels lucky for dying because death facilitates his escape from the conditions of the coal mine.

refinement: When he fell into the cavern and died, escaping the conditions of the coal mine.

question: When did the boy die?

answer: The boy died when he fell into the cavern.

answer: The boy died when he fell into the cavern underneath the tunnel and was unable to reach the light.

answer: Presumably before his 17th birthday, almost 10 years after his first day in the mine.

text: don't need "presumably"

refinement: before his 17th birthday, almost 10 years after his first day in the mine.

text: don't need a period for a fragment

refinement: before his 17th birthday, almost 10 years after his first day in the mine

answer: The boy died when he fell into a cavern.

question: Write a ~6 sentence summary.

answer: The boy was only seven years old when he first plunged into the darkness of the mine. The company needed small bodies that could crawl into tiny spaces and plant dynamite. He was considered lucky since most other miners died of tunnel collapses, black lung or malformations. It wasn't until the floor below the boy gave out, plunging deeper into the darkness that he felt lucky. He wouldn't have to return to the mine again, as he would die. He felt free.

answer: The boy is a miner who has been working in the mines for six years. He is about to turn 17 and is reflecting on his life. He is about to die in the mines when he finds a diamond. He is saved and is able to leave the mines.

text: ten years, not six

refinement: The boy is a miner who has been working in the mines for ten years. He is about to turn 17 and is reflecting on his life. He is about to die in the mines when he finds a diamond. He is saved and is able to leave the mines.

text: confusing awareness of the death -- he does not know he's about to die when he finds the diamond

refinement: The boy is a miner who has been working in the mines for ten years. He is about to turn 17 and is reflecting on his life. He finds a diamond in the mine. He is saved and is able to leave the mines.

text: include mention of the collapse

refinement: The boy is a miner who has been working in the mines for ten years. He is about to turn 17 and is reflecting on his life. He finds a diamond in the mine for the first time, and then the tunnel collapses into a cavern. He is saved and is able to leave the mines.

text: reintroduce the death with appropriate causation

refinement: The boy is a miner who has been working in the mines for ten years. He is about to turn 17 and is reflecting on his life. He finds a diamond in the mine for the first time, and then the tunnel collapses into a cavern. He dies in the cavern. He is saved and is able to leave the mines.

text: He is not saved -- he is freed from the mine only through death

refinement: The boy is a miner who has been working in the mines for ten years. He is about to turn 17 and is reflecting on his life. He finds a diamond in the mine for the first time, and then the tunnel collapses into a cavern. He dies in the cavern and feels lucky for finally being able to escape the mines, in death.

answer: The narrator is a boy who has been working in the mines since he was seven years old. He is seventeen now, and he has been working in the mines for six years. He is lucky to be alive, because many of his friends have died in the mines. He is lucky because he has never been injured or malformed from his years in the mines. He is lucky because he has never had black lung. He is lucky because he has found a diamond.

text: He has been working in the mines for ten years, not six

refinement: The narrator is a boy who has been working in the mines since he was seven years old. He is seventeen now. He is lucky to be alive, because many of his friends have died in the mines. He is lucky because he has never been injured or malformed from his years in the mines. He is lucky because he has never had black lung. He is lucky because he has found a diamond.

text: He does have black lung, but has not died of it.

refinement: The narrator is a boy who has been working in the mines since he was seven years old. He is seventeen now. He is lucky to be alive, because many of his friends have died in the mines. He is lucky because he has never been injured or malformed from his years in the mines. He is lucky because, while he has black lung, he has not died of it. He is lucky because he has found a diamond.

text: need to include an account of his death

refinement: The narrator is a boy who has been working in the mines since he was seven years old. He is seventeen now. He is lucky to be alive, because many of his friends have died in the mines. He is lucky because he has never been injured or malformed from his years in the mines. He is lucky because, while he has black lung, he has not died of it. He finds a diamond in the mine for the first time, then the floor collapses beneath him into a cavern. He dies in the cavern, and feels lucky to finally have escape the mine in death.

text: He is not lucky, or doesn't consider himself to be, at the start of the story -- others merely consider him lucky.

refinement: The narrator is a boy who has been working in the mines since he was seven years old. He is seventeen now. He is considered lucky to be alive, because many of his friends have died in the mines. He is considered lucky because he has never been injured or malformed from his years in the mines. He is considered lucky because, while he has black lung, he has not died of it. He finds a diamond in the mine for the first time, then the floor collapses beneath him into a cavern. He dies in the cavern, and finally feels lucky to finally have escape the mine in death.

answer: The protagonist of the story is a boy who has spent his entire life working in a coal mine. On his seventeenth birthday, he discovers a diamond while digging in the mine. However, the floor gives out and he falls into a cavern, where he knows he will die. Instead of despairing, he laughs, knowing that he is finally free from the mine.

text: He does not die on his seventeenth birthday, but near it

refinement: The protagonist of the story is a boy who has spent his entire life working in a coal mine. Near his seventeenth birthday, he discovers a diamond while digging in the mine. However, the floor gives out and he falls into a cavern, where he knows he will die. Instead of despairing, he laughs, knowing that he is finally free from the mine.


text:
Making the Most of Your Next Business Trip

Traveling for business is always a terrific opportunity for those of us that are able to it. As, one can take great pleasure in being paid to attend meetings, meet clients and forge friendships in a new city or country and then possibly have enough time left to visit some sights.

These tips below will help you get the most out of a business trip, regardless of whether it is your 1st or you already have hundreds logged.

As follows:

Pack Smart

[Young smiling man packing clothes into travel bag]

Start by choosing the right bag for your trip. If you are only going to be away for a few days then a smart holdall or carry on suitcase should be enough.

Only take essential items with you such as suitable business attire for meetings, casual clothing for downtime and minimal toiletries.  Decide upon what electronics you need: phone, laptop, tablet and e-reader.

Make a List

[Business woman hand working at a computer and writing on a noteped]

Even if you have done this before, there is always a chance that you could get distracted while packing and overlook something.

So, by making a list you will arrive at the airport calmer and not have to constantly check to see if you’ve got your passport when on the way.

Either write everything down or make a printable checklist that you can use for each trip. Some Key items to include are boarding passes, credit cards, foreign currency, passports and phone and laptop chargers.

Schedule Meetings Carefully

[Creativity, brainstorming, planning, teamwork meeting]

Make sure that you are rested, alert and ready for every meeting, whether formal or informal, by giving yourself time to relax in between.

There’s nothing worse than closing a meeting and then having to rush across town to another while constantly worrying if you will be on time.

By scheduling time to return to your hotel for an hour or sit down for lunch you give yourself a better chance to arrive energized.

Allow Time to Explore the Destination

[woman with suitcase in new york city]

While you will be mostly occupied by work-related events, do not miss the opportunity to be a tourist.

Research the destination before you depart to find out about any historic landmarks, galleries, museums and parks that you would like to see.

Check for any sporting events or concerts that might be taking place.

If you have the option, see if you can extend your trip over a weekend so you have more time to explore before heading home.

Also, accept the offer from colleagues/clients to go out for dinner and/or drinks. When going to bars and restaurants with locals you are more likely to discover hidden gems.

[young couple reviewing shopping receipt]

Whether your company is bankrolling the trip or you’re meeting with clients for your own business, make sure you keep track of your receipts for purchases while traveling.

It will make submitting a report to your company for travel reimbursement much easier.

If you are the Boss, you will be able to write off much of your work meals and travel on your taxes. Travel can drain resources, so the more you can use it to your advantage the better.

 Travel With a Partner when Possible

[Happy senior couple in Paris on vacation]

If it is an option then bring a friend or your loved one with you do it.

Many hotels charge more, or the same, for single occupancy rooms than doubles.

So what better way to use that extra space than by offering it to someone you like to be with. When you are at work, they can be out exploring the city and looking for interesting places for you to dine and drink.

For sure, you will be thankful of the company after a busy day and bringing them to social events can make interactions with your colleagues and clients easier.

Have a very pleasant and successful trip

__  better, business, clients, Company, dine, events, meetings, sights, travel, trip, work

The following two tabs change content below.

-   Bio
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[]

HEFFX has become one of Asia’s leading financial services companies with interests in Publishing, Private Equity, Capital Markets, Mining, Retail, Transport and Agriculture that span every continent of the world. Our clearing partners have unprecedented experience in Equities, Options, Forex and Commodities brokering, banking, physical metals dealing, floor brokering and trading.

[]

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

What is the best way of reducing stress when traveling for work?

answer: Schedule meetings carefully.

text: The answer could mention list-making.

refinement: Schedule meetings carefully. The article also suggests making a list so that you will not have to constantly check for your passport at the airport.

text: The answer could go into more detail about why scheduling is important.

refinement: Schedule meetings carefully so that you have time to rest and relax in between meetings. The article also suggests making a list so that you will not have to constantly check for your passport at the airport.

answer: Traveling for business can be an enjoyable experience whether you are experienced at it or not. To get the most out of your trip without stress, there are a few things to look out for. First, choose the right bag for your trip. For example, your bag must not be too large or you would find yourself tired out after a few days of lugging it around airports and hotels. Also, try and sneak in some resting time between your meetings so you are always refreshed. Finally, try and visit local attractions. Accept offers from clients to go eating or drinking. That way you'll forge better business relationships and most likely have fun doing it.

text: The first line is unnecessary.

refinement: To get the most out of your trip without stress, there are a few things to look out for. First, choose the right bag for your trip. For example, your bag must not be too large or you would find yourself tired out after a few days of lugging it around airports and hotels. Also, try and sneak in some resting time between your meetings so you are always refreshed. Finally, try and visit local attractions. Accept offers from clients to go eating or drinking. That way you'll forge better business relationships and most likely have fun doing it.

text: The article doesn't specifically mention that packing the right bag is related to stress.

refinement: To get the most out of your trip without stress, there are a few things to look out for. Try and sneak in some resting time between your meetings so you are always refreshed. Finally, try and visit local attractions. Accept offers from clients to go eating or drinking. That way you'll forge better business relationships and most likely have fun doing it.

text: The answer should mention list-making.

refinement: To get the most out of your trip without stress, there are a few things to look out for. Try and sneak in some resting time between your meetings so you are always refreshed. Make a list of things to pack so that you don't overlook anything. Finally, try and visit local attractions. Accept offers from clients to go eating or drinking. That way you'll forge better business relationships and most likely have fun doing it.

answer: The author suggests to minimize company projects for a short amount of time. This can be achieved by just sending emails etc.

text: This answer is unattested.

text: The answer should mention list-making.

refinement: The article encourages making a list so that you don't forget anything while packing.

text: The answer should mention scheduline.

refinement: The article encourages making a list so that you don't forget anything while packing. It's also important to schedule meetings so that you have time to rest and relax in between and aren't rushing across town from one meeting to another.

answer: The best way of reducing stress when traveling for work is to pack smart, create a list and schedule meetings carefully. Additionally, to have a good time during a trip, allow time to explore the destination and travel with a partner.

answer: The best way to reduce stress while traveling for work is to pack efficiently, schedule meetings carefully, and travel with a partner whenever possible. Doing so will make navigating your destination easier while also increasing your ability to focus on work with less stress.


text:
“Be careful what you wish for.”In the Arizona desert,in a small town,on a motel bed,this thought goes through Travis Tanners mind. He looked at his hand,The gun had fused with his skin 3 days ago. It contained 1 bullet then,now it carry's 3. Travis remembered what the gun said to him the day he found it. “kill them, leave me.” a cryptic message that was decoded to late. All he had to do was kill a man and the gun would let go. He refused,causing unforeseen consequences. The next day a bullet was added. In some sick way he knew what it meant,now two people must die. He knew what he had to do. Guided by the words of the gun,he came to Red Sand Flats. A kind of town that has a diner,a motel,a convenient store,and a police station. That's it. 8 people live in this town,cut off from the rest of the world. On the day he rode in to this place,Travis was drunk. He passed out in his motel room,and woke up with another bullet. He sobbed.

Travis was going to be a writer. He had tried for years to get a book published. Sadly his own perfectionism got in the way. He ripped up many rough drafts,threw them away. He needed to get the emotions perfect. Three months of working on a horror story. In anyone's eyes it would be considered a masterpiece. Travis deleted it because he couldn't get the emotion of killing someone 100% accurate. Countless hours watching interviews with soldiers, and reading serial killer autobiographies was to no avail. He gave up, decided to change genres,but it was to late. The package had been sent,there was no going back. Halfway through his new book he got a package at his apartment. A present complete with warping paper,and a bow. Inside it was the most beautiful revolver he had ever seen. Custom bone grip, and a barrel so polished he could see himself in it. It called to him,beckoned him to pick it up. He made the greatest mistake of his life that day.

She was gaining more power. Everyday that went by,every bullet added to the gun. Was more control over Travis. If he failed to sacrifice,she would have complete control over him. She had to wait only three more days,three more bullets,until she won this sick game. Until she finally broke free of her prison. This was not her first time going through this. She had created many psychopaths in her time. From school shootings to bank robbery's,someone always shook her off. Not this time, Travis wasn't going to kill anyone,she was sure of it.

The writer,with eyes bloodshot,and breath that could get you drunk,left his room. The sun nearly blinded him, though he didn't care. The gun controlled parts of him already, if he waited any longer it would never let him kill. Never get him his freedom back. On the way to the dinner he stopped to look at his reflection in a window. Black jeans,White tank top with beer stains,and messy hair. He looked like a man with nothing to loose. He didn't,with only a dog at home,no one would mind him going to jail. Or something similar.

He thought about the events leading up to this as he crossed the street. All the serial killers he studied, all the interviews with family members of the victims. Here he was about to create another 20/20 special. “ If I wait any longer it will be worse. Just go in there and do it.” he gives himself a pep talk.”You don't have to kill anyone.” the gun spoke directly to his brain. She was part of him now. She could read his mind,control some actions. That goes both ways though. He knows what she needs,knows what she will do if she get's it. Travis has to do this or worse things will happen. It was a sacrifice he had to make,just like the others before him.

	It took all the strength he had to open the diner door. She used as much control over him as she had. Not fully powered, all she could do was slow him down. 5 people in the diner,some tourists stopped by earlier, but he couldn't tell them apart from the locals. he gets a table and orders a pink lemonade. He sips it as he thinks of what will happen. People will die,families will grieve,the town will be filled with a sadness for months,and he would go to jail. It was a sub-par situation to put it blankly. Having no way to choose who to kill,he did a simple thing. He played spin the bottle. He laughed to himself of how childish it was. She started talking to him.”Sleep,rest,relax” Each word was a command,and each was disobeyed. He tried hard to probe his brain for any memory of Hers that had passed to him. Visions of previous hosts moved like a sick slide show in his mind. Some loved it,embraced it,became psychopaths. Some killed the first day,some the 5th . No one had let her win,and he wasn't about to brake the streak. He took a deep breath,prayed,and opened fire.

Each bullet that left the gun was like taking an allergy pill. His vision got better as he killed the waitress. Killing a biker gave him back control of himself. Shooting a hiker made the gun fall to the floor. It detached with a pop, it was the most glorious feeling he had ever felt. The sensation of air where the gun was made him smile. It hit the tiled floor with a clank. His hand was red and itchy but he couldn't scratch it,there were people that wanted him to put his hands in the air. Being as happy as he was, he came peacefully.

	Mark and Lucy sat at the dinner table. They did the usual small talk,but mostly they just ate. “Did you hear about that psycho down in Red Sand Flats?” mark asks through a mouthful of food. “You mean that writer that went crazy? Yeah Jamie told me about it at work. Poor town it was a nice place, sad there have to be people like him in the world” she took a sip of her wine. Mark talks while she drinks. “Yeah what a freak,they say he says he thought a gun was attached to his hand. The only way he could get it off was to kill people. Can you believe that? What a text-book freak.” they both agree and change the subject.

That Is Travis Tanners reward for saving humanity. Being talked about at dinner tables across America,hated by everyone. He gets to rot in a padded room, deemed crazy for telling the truth. So is the fate of those chosen to make the sacrifice.

title: The Sacrifice

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

What is fused to Travis' hand?

answer: A handmade cannon that melts into his hand.

answer: A gun with three bullets.

answer: A gun which used to have 1 bullet, and now has 3.

answer: A revolver with three bullets.

answer: A gun that has 1 bullet and has been adding one every day since it was discovered. The gun compels Travis to kill two people or risk the gun taking complete control of him.

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

What did Travis want to be originally?

answer: A writer.

answer: A writer.

answer: Travis originally wanted to be a writer. He became a writer through his original work, but his novel was deleted because he couldn't accurately portray killing in the story. Travis eventually finds a gun in a present and is forced into killing people to have it removed.

text: The model includes too much information unnecessary to answer the question.

refinement: Travis originally wanted to be a writer.

answer: Travis originally wanted to be a writer. However, the gun turned him into a murderer.

answer: A writer.

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

What does Travis have to do so "she" doesn't gain complete control over him?

answer: Travis must sacrifice some innocent people in order to save the rest of humanity. He makes the sacrifice voluntarily in order to ensure that "she" doesn't gain complete control over him.

answer: He has to sacrifice because she's put a gun in his hand fused to his hand with three bullets

text:
'because she's put a gun in his hand fused to his hand...' is a repetitive statement.
The model does not mention what he has to sacrifice.

refinement: He has to sacrifice some innocent people because "she's" fused a gun to his hand with three bullets.

answer: Travis has to kill someone in order to prevent "her" from becoming completely powerful over him.

answer: Travis has to make a sacrifice.

answer: He has to successfully "sacrifice".

text:
What does Travis have to successfully "sacrifice?"
The answer appears incomplete.

refinement: He has to successfully sacrifice innocent people.

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

What finally makes the gun pop out of Travis hand?

answer: The gun voice continues to tell Travis to kill people so he does.

text: 'The gun voice...' incorrect grammar use.

text: The model's answer does not directly answer the question.

refinement: The gun pops out of Travis's hand after he shot the hiker.

answer: Travis finally gets control back of himself by shooting people.

text: The model leaves out a vital information that answers the question.

refinement: Travis finally gets control back of himself by shooting people. This happened when he shot the hiker.

answer: Shooting a hiker.

answer: The only way he could get the gun off of him was to kill people. After Travis kills three people, the gun finally detaches and falls to the ground.

answer: He kills the waitress, a biker, and a hiker.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: Travis Tanner is a writer unable to write from real human emotion and get his work published. A beautiful gun with infinite bullets is gifted to him unexpectedly which becomes fused to his hand like a glove. It commands him to kill a man, a woman, and a child to free her, a goddess imprisoned in his hand.

text: 'It commands him to kill a man, a woman, and a child to free her, a goddess imprisoned in his hand.' The story did not indicate that the writer was mandated to kill a man, a woman and a child to free him.

refinement: Travis Tanner is a writer unable to write from real human emotion and get his work published. A beautiful gun with one bullet is gifted to him unexpectedly and is fused to his hand like a glove. The gun then commands Travis to kill as many people as there are bullets for the gun to pop out of his hand and restore his freedom.

text: 'A beautiful gun with infinite bullets...' the gun had a single bullet when it was delivered to him.

refinement: Travis Tanner is a writer unable to write from real human emotion and get his work published. A beautiful gun with one bullet is gifted to him unexpectedly and is fused to his hand like a glove. The gun then commands Travis to kill as many people as there are bullets for the gun to pop out of his hand and restore his freedom.

answer: Travis has a gun fused to his hand which can read his thoughts and control some of his actions. Every day he wakes up with the gun in his hand, and a new amount of bullets in the chamber. Travis has to kill as many people as there are bullets for the gun to pop out of his hand and give him relief.

answer: Travis is a writer who accidentally finds a gun that gives him one order: to kill someone. After rejecting the order, a bullet is added to the gun every day. Eventually, realizing that the gun will only get stronger if he waits too long, Travis sets out to kill a few people. As a result, he loses more control of his own mind and is deemed a psycho by society. In the end, the gun is detached from Travis and he dies in a padded room.

text: The writer did not accidentally find the gun. It was delivered to him.

refinement: Travis is a writer who finds a gun that gives him one order: to kill someone.

text: It is not stated in the story that Travis died in a padded room. The summary is more than three sentences.

refinement: Travis is a writer who finds a gun that orders him to sacrifice innocent people, and any delay results in an additional bullet to kill more people. Realising the gun controls him, Travis decides not to wait any longer and sets out to kill a few people. As a result, he is arrested, spends his life in a padded room, and deemed a psycho by society.

answer: Travis lives in Arizona and has been a writer who has tried for years to get a book published. He finishes a horror novel but does not like that it has not captured the emotions of killing someone perfectly. Travis receives a beautiful gun about the size of his hand. The gun starts to control him and whispers hypocritical messages and the need to sacrifice something for freedom.

text:
The model mistakes "cryptic message" for "hypocritical message."
The summary is over 3 sentences.

refinement: Travis lives in Arizona and has been a writer who has tried for years to get a book published. One day, at his apartment, he receives a beautiful gun about the size of his hand. The gun then begins to control him and forces him to kill people to regain his freedom.

answer: In the small town of Red Sand Flats, Travis Tanner must kill two people to free himself from a gun that becomes more powerful as each bullet is added. Despite being anxious and panicked, he goes into a diner and fires randomly to kill two people. This releases him from the gun's control and sets him on a path of being hated by all who know the story.

text: The writer killed three people, according to the story.

refinement: In the small town of Red Sand Flats, Travis Tanner must kill two people to free himself from a gun that becomes more powerful as each bullet is added. Despite being anxious and panicked, he goes into a diner and randomly kills three people. This releases him from the gun's control and sets him on a path of being hated by all who know the story.


text:
KEN MARTIN (July 17, 1973) is an American political figure from Minnesota. He is currently Chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party, President of the Association of State Democratic Committees, and a Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee.[1]

Personal life

Martin lives in Eagan, Minnesota with his wife Jennifer O’Rourke and two sons, Samuel and James. He is active in youth sports in Eagan where he has served on the Eagan Athletic Association Board of Directors and as the President of the Eagan Basketball Association.

Early Life and Education

Martin was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on July 17, 1973. He attended Eden Prairie High School and graduated from the University of Kansas in 1996 with Bachelors of Arts Degrees in Political Science and History. [2] Martin's deep involvement in student government and campus life led to Chancellor Robert Hemenway presenting him with the Donald K. Alderson Memorial Award, which recognizes a graduating senior whose campus involvement as a student benefits fellow students and the greater good.

Career

Martin started his political work in 1990 as an intern for Minnesota U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone's campaign and later interned in his official office. In 1992, Martin organized college campuses throughout the South for the Clinton/Gore Campaign. After college he worked in Kansas politics helping with the Kansas Democratic Coordinated Campaign as Field Director for the Kansas Democratic Party.

In 1998, Martin moved back to his home state of Minnesota and served as the Political & Field  Director for the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party. He served as the Deputy Minnesota State Director for the Gore campaign in 2000, and in 2002 was the campaign manager for Secretary of State candidate Buck Humphrey. In 2004 Martin helped manage John Kerry's Presidential campaign in Minnesota.[3]

From 2001 to 2005, Martin served as the Policy Aide for Ramsey County Commissioner Susan Haigh. In 2005, he served as the Executive Assistant to Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch and then went on to help run his campaign for Governor in 2006.[4]

Working with the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters, Martin led an effort on behalf of the Building Trades to pass prevailing wage ordinances with local governments throughout Minnesota.

In 2008 Martin led the campaign that successfully passed the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment (Legacy Amendment) to the Minnesota Constitution which to this day is still one of the largest conservation finance measures to pass in our nation's history as well as one of the highest vote-getters on a Minnesota ballot.[5]

Martin later served as the Executive Director of WIN Minnesota, a Minnesota-based donor collaborative which helped develop, fund and direct independent expenditures during the 2010 election cycle. Immediately after the election, Governor Mark Dayton tapped Martin to direct Dayton's successful recount effort[6] ushering in Minnesota's first Democratic Governor in 24 years.

Following the successful 2010 campaign, Governor Mark Dayton asked Martin to serve as the Chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party where he was elected unanimously in February 2011. In 2017, Martin was elected by his peers throughout the nation as the President of Association of State Democratic Committees and became a Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Minnesota DFL Party Chair

[Martin in 2016] Martin is currently serving his fifth term as chairman of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), the Minnesota branch of the Democratic Party. He has held this post since 2011—making him the longest-serving chairman in the 75-year history of the DFL.[7]

When Martin was elected DFL Party Chair in 2011 he Inherited a state party deeply in debt [8] following significant election losses including losing the majority in the State Senate for the first time in 40 years, the majority in the House of Representatives, and one of the longest held Democratic seats in Congress in MN-08 with the defeat of Congressman Jim Oberstar.

Martin was able to quickly raise significant resources to rebuild the party and began making the DFL party the center of gravity of driving political strategy on behalf of its stakeholders – activists and party leaders, candidates and elected officials, and progressive organizations and community partners.

This coalition of campaign efforts and partners enabled progressive movements to align strategy and increase efficiency, and positioned the Party for big wins in 2012, including taking back majorities in both the state House and state Senate, becoming the first state in the nation to defeat a Constitutional Amendment to ban same sex marriage,[9] beating back a Voter ID Amendment, reclaiming the MN-08 Congressional seat with the election of Congressman Rick Nolan, and keeping Minnesota in the blue column for President Obama.

The 2014 cycle brought additional success as the Minnesota DFL under Martin's leadership reelected, by large margins, two office holders in Governor Mark Dayton and U.S. Senator Al Franken who each won their first elections by less than 1% of the vote.[10]

During the 2016 elections, Minnesota was one of only two Midwestern states to vote for the Democratic presidential nominee.  In addition, despite significant losses of rural congressional seats throughout the country, the Minnesota DFL was able to win all three of its rural congressional races by reelecting Congressman Tim Walz (MN-01), Congressman Collin Petersen (MN-07), and Congressman Rick Nolan (MN-08). [11]

In 2018 the DFL had the most successful year at the ballot box in party history.  The Minnesota DFL elected Tim Walz as Governor, marking the first time the DFL has had three consecutive terms in the Governors office. In addition, the DFL won every constitutional office, decisively won back the majority in the State House of Representatives, flipped two congressional seats from red-to-blue, one of those seats being represented by the Republicans by over forty years, and elected two women to the U.S. Senate, Senator Amy Klobuchar and Senator Tina Smith, becoming only the fifth state in the union to be represented by two women in the U.S. Senate simultaneously. [12]

During Martin's tenure the DFL made a priority of bringing in more voices and pathways to leadership, resulting in the most diverse staff, leadership, and party officers in DFL history.[13]

In addition, the Minnesota DFL is home to the first Muslim Attorney General in the nation Keith Ellison,[14] to the first lesbian mom to serve in Congress Angie Craig,[15] to the first Somali-American to serve in Congress Ilhan Omar,[16] and to the highest ranking native American woman to ever serve in an Executive Office in our nation, Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan.[17]

DNC Vice Chair

In 2017, Martin was elected by his peers throughout the country as the President of the Association of State Democratic Chairs (ASDC),[18] and by virtue of that election became a Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).[19]

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[9]  MPR News|website=www.mprnews.org|access-date=2019-07-31}}

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title: Ken Martin (politician)

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

What is one of the main strengths of Ken Martin as a politician?

answer: One main strength of Ken Martin as a politician is his ability to raise significant resources to rebuild the party. This rebuilding has allowed the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party to achieve significant wins, including taking back majorities in both the state House and state Senate and electing prominent minorities to statewide office.

answer: Martin's ability to rebuild a struggling party through strategic coalition-building and intensified campaign efforts has led to significant success for the Minnesota DFL. One of his main strengths is his ability to marshal resources and coordinate and direct political strategy for the benefit of progressive causes.

answer: A great deal of Martin's achievement is framed in pragmatic terms (funding, helping candidates win office, overseeing the successful interpretation of popular votes). For example: "Martin led the campaign that successfully passed the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution."  Likewise: "Martin was able to quickly raise significant resources to rebuild the party and began making the DFL the center of gravity of driving political strategy on behalf of its stakeholders – activists and party leaders, candidates and elected officials, and progressive organizations and community partners."  However, Martin is also well-known and respected in his home state for the diversity of staff, leadership, and party officers under his leadership. He presided for eight years over a diverse Minnesota DFL Board of directors, in addition to appointing Keith Ellison (the first Muslim Attorney General in the U.S.), Angie Craig (the first lesbian politician from Minnesota to be elected to Congress), Ilhan Omar (the first Somali-American woman to be elected to Congress), Robert Monroe (the first African-American state rep in MN), Peggy Flanagan (the highest ranking Native American woman to serve in an executive office in the U.S.), and Jennifer Schultz (the first openly-gay member of a party committee in Minnesota) to St. Paul City Council.

answer: At a glance, Martin's main strength is his ability to consistently raise appropriate resources.

text: Doesn't mention what the results of his raising resources are.

refinement: At a glance, Martin's main strength is his ability to consistently raise appropriate resources which enabled a strengthening of the Democratic Farmers Labor Party, the Democratic branch in Minnesota. They were able to pass the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution. The coalition of campaign efforts and partners enabled progressive movements to align strategy and increase efficiency which allowed them to defeat a Constitutional Amendment to ban same sex marriage, beat back a Voter ID amendment, and make gains in congress. They elected two women to the U.S. Senate, the first Somali-American to Congress, the highest ranking Native American to Executive Office, the first Muslim Attorney General and the first lesbian mom to serve in Congress.

answer: The ability to work and collaborate with others policy movers.

text: Doesn't mention his ability to raise resources and build coalitions that lead to many great strides for the party.

refinement: At a glance, Martin's main strength is his ability to consistently raise appropriate resources which enabled a strengthening of the Democratic Farmers Labor Party, the Democratic branch in Minnesota. They were able to pass the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution. The coalition of campaign efforts and partners enabled progressive movements to align strategy and increase efficiency which allowed them to defeat a Constitutional Amendment to ban same sex marriage, beat back a Voter ID amendment, and make gains in congress. They elected two women to the U.S. Senate, the first Somali-American to Congress, the highest ranking Native American to Executive Office, the first Muslim Attorney General and the first lesbian mom to serve in Congress.

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

Summarize Martin's political achievements from  1998 to 2008?

answer: From 1998 to 2008, Martin worked on the Gore, Kerry, and Hatch presidential campaigns, served as Policy Aide for Ramsey County Commissioner Susan Haig, led a successful campaign against the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment, and served in senior roles in both Dayton's recount effort and subsequent successful governor campaign. While serving as DFL Party Chair, Martin raised significant resources for the party, rebuilt its infrastructure, developed coalitions of allies, and helped make the DFL the leading power for progressive movements in Minnesota. Additionally, under Martin's leadership the DFL has elected several notable candidates including Keith Ellison, the nation's first Muslim Attorney General, and Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American elected to Congress.

text: Actually supported the passing of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.

refinement: From 1998 to 2008, Martin worked on the Gore, Kerry, and Hatch presidential campaigns, served as Policy Aide for Ramsey County Commissioner Susan Haig, led a successful campaign to pass the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment, and served in senior roles in both Dayton's recount effort and subsequent successful governor campaign. While serving as DFL Party Chair, Martin raised significant resources for the party, rebuilt its infrastructure, developed coalitions of allies, and helped make the DFL the leading power for progressive movements in Minnesota. Additionally, under Martin's leadership the DFL has elected several notable candidates including Keith Ellison, the nation's first Muslim Attorney General, and Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American elected to Congress.

answer: He served as the Political & Field  Director for the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party. He was the Deputy Minnesota State Director for the Gore campaign. He hep manage John Kerry's Presidential campaign in Minnesota and led the campaign that successfully passed the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment (Legacy Amendment).

text: Doesn't mention other accomplishments realized by the DFL as a result of his coalition and resource building.

refinement: He served as the Political & Field  Director for the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party. He was the Deputy Minnesota State Director for the Gore campaign. He hep manage John Kerry's Presidential campaign in Minnesota and led the campaign that successfully passed the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment (Legacy Amendment). As DFL Party Chair, Martin presided over bringing the party out of deep debt, raising significant resources to rebuild the party. He built coalitions and began making the DFL party the center of gravity of driving political strategy. The coalition of campaign efforts and partners enabled progressive movements to align strategy and increase efficiency positioning the party for big wins. The party was able to defeat an amendment to ban same sex marriage, beat a Voter ID amendment, and reclaim congressional seats. They elected two women to the U.S. Senate, the first Muslim Attorney General, the first lesbian mom to Congress, the first Somali-American to Congress, and the highest ranking Native American woman to Executive Office.

answer: Martin served as the Political & Field  Director for the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party. He served as the Deputy Minnesota State Director for the Gore campaign in 2000, and in 2002 was the campaign manager for Secretary of State Buck Humphrey. Martin helped manage John Kerry's Presidential campaign in Minnesota in 2004. He was appointed by the Democratic Governor Mark Dayton for Chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) in 2011 and then became the President of the Association of State Democratic Committees in 2017 and a Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee. He also helped manage a successful statewide campaign for the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters by raising funds for any opposing union. Martin also led the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment campaign, which was a big success in 2008.

text: Doesn't mention the party wins made possible by Martin's resource and coalition building.

refinement: Martin served as the Political & Field  Director for the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party. He served as the Deputy Minnesota State Director for the Gore campaign in 2000, and in 2002 was the campaign manager for Secretary of State Buck Humphrey. Martin helped manage John Kerry's Presidential campaign in Minnesota in 2004. He was appointed by the Democratic Governor Mark Dayton for Chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) in 2011 and then became the President of the Association of State Democratic Committees in 2017 and a Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee. He also helped manage a successful statewide campaign for the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters by raising funds for any opposing union. Martin also led the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment campaign, which was a big success in 2008. As DFL Party Chair, Martin presided over bringing the party out of deep debt, raising significant resources to rebuild the party. He built coalitions and began making the DFL party the center of gravity of driving political strategy. The coalition of campaign efforts and partners enabled progressive movements to align strategy and increase efficiency positioning the party for big wins. The party was able to defeat an amendment to ban same sex marriage, beat a Voter ID amendment, and reclaim congressional seats. They elected two women to the U.S. Senate, the first Muslim Attorney General, the first lesbian mom to Congress, the first Somali-American to Congress, and the highest ranking Native American woman to Executive Office.

answer:
In 1998, Martin helped lead the Gore campaign in Minnesota. In 2001, he worked as a policy aide for Ramsey County Commissioner Susan Haigh. In 2005, he managed Mike Hatch's gubernatorial campaign. The following year, Martin led the campaign that successfully passed the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution.

Martin's next major accomplishment was rebuilding the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, becoming its chair in 2011. Under his leadership, the party made substantial electoral gains in 2012, including retaking majorities in the state House and Senate, defeating the Constitutional Amendment to ban same sex marriage, and reelecting Governor Mark Dayton and Senator Al Franken. In 2017, Martin was elected president of the Association of State Democratic Chairs and became Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

answer: Martin moved back to his home state of Minnesota and served as the Political and Field Director for the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party. His main achievement from  the Minnesota DFL party was passing through the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. Other achievements include organizing college campuses throughout the south during the Clinton/Gore Campaign in 1992 and then leading the campaign that passed the amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, which is still regarded as one of the highest vote-getters on a Minnesota ballot.

text: Doesn't mention party achievements made possible by Martin's resource and coalition building.

refinement: Martin moved back to his home state of Minnesota and served as the Political and Field Director for the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party. His main achievement from  the Minnesota DFL party was passing through the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. Other achievements include organizing college campuses throughout the south during the Clinton/Gore Campaign in 1992 and then leading the campaign that passed the amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, which is still regarded as one of the highest vote-getters on a Minnesota ballot. As DFL Party Chair, Martin presided over bringing the party out of deep debt, raising significant resources to rebuild the party. He built coalitions and began making the DFL party the center of gravity of driving political strategy. The coalition of campaign efforts and partners enabled progressive movements to align strategy and increase efficiency positioning the party for big wins. The party was able to defeat an amendment to ban same sex marriage, beat a Voter ID amendment, and reclaim congressional seats. They elected two women to the U.S. Senate, the first Muslim Attorney General, the first lesbian mom to Congress, the first Somali-American to Congress, and the highest ranking Native American woman to Executive Office.

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

Summarise Martin's achievements as the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) Party Chair in Minnesota?

answer: Martin ensured the state's party debt is paid. Under his leadership, the state's two officers holders were re-elected by large margins. In 2016, the Minnesota DFL won all its three seats. Also, Minnesota is the first state to have the first Muslim Attorney General in the country.

text: Doesn't list all the achievements realized by the DFL party under Martin's tenure.

refinement: Martin raised considerable resources ensuring the state's party debt was paid. Under his leadership, the state's two officers holders were re-elected by large margins. In 2016, the Minnesota DFL won all its three seats. He built coalitions and began making the DFL party the center of gravity of driving political strategy. The coalition of campaign efforts and partners enabled progressive movements to align strategy and increase efficiency positioning the party for big wins. The party was able to defeat an amendment to ban same sex marriage, beat a Voter ID amendment, and reclaim congressional seats. They elected two women to the U.S. Senate, the first Muslim Attorney General, the first lesbian mom to Congress, the first Somali-American to Congress, and the highest ranking Native American woman to Executive Office.

answer: Martin has been heavily involved in rebuilding the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in Minnesota following significant election losses. Specifically, under his leadership the party has experienced success winning back majorities in both the state House and state Senate, taking back the MN-08 Congressional seat, and electing two women to the U.S. Senate. This has resulted in a more diverse and representative party.

text: Doesn't enumerate all the party wins resulting from Martin's coalition building.

refinement: Martin has been heavily involved in rebuilding the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in Minnesota following significant election losses. He built coalitions and began making the DFL party the center of gravity of driving political strategy. The coalition of campaign efforts and partners enabled progressive movements to align strategy and increase efficiency positioning the party for big wins. Specifically, under his leadership the party has experienced success winning back majorities in both the state House and state Senate, taking back the MN-08 Congressional seat, and electing two women to the U.S. Senate. They also elected the first Muslim Attorney General, the first lesbian mom to Congress, the first Somali-American to Congress, and the highest ranking Native American woman to Executive Office. This has resulted in a more diverse and representative party. Moreover, the party was able to defeat an amendment to ban same sex marriage, and beat a Voter ID amendment.

answer: Since Martin was elected DFL Party Chair in 2011, he has helped rebuild the party and position it for big wins in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018. Under his leadership, the DFL has successfully elected Governors and won back the majority in the State House of Representatives, flipped two congressional seats from red-to-blue, and elected two women to the U.S. Senate simultaneously. Additionally, the DFL is home to the first Muslim Attorney General in the nation, the first lesbian mom to serve in Congress, and the highest ranking native American woman to ever serve in an Executive Office in the U.S.

text: Doesn't mention all of the party wins during Martin's tenure.

refinement: Since Martin was elected DFL Party Chair in 2011, he has helped rebuild the party and position it for big wins in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018. Under his leadership, the DFL has successfully elected Governors and won back the majority in the State House of Representatives, flipped two congressional seats from red-to-blue, and elected two women to the U.S. Senate simultaneously. Additionally, the DFL is home to the first Muslim Attorney General in the nation, the first lesbian mom to serve in Congress, and the highest ranking native American woman to ever serve in an Executive Office in the U.S. Moreover, the party was able to defeat an amendment to ban same sex marriage, and beat a Voter ID amendment.

answer: Supported progressive causes, taking back the majorities in the State House and the State Senate, becoming the first state in the union to defeat a Constitutional Amendment to ban same sex marriage, beating back a Voter ID Amendment, reclaiming the MN-08 Congressional seat with the election of Congressman Rick Nolan, keeping Minnesota in the blue column for President Obama and electing the first Native American woman to an executive office in the US.

text: Doesn't clarify how Martin's efforts resulted in party wins.

refinement: Martin was able to quickly raise significant resources to rebuild the party and began making the DFL party the center of gravity of driving political strategy on behalf of its stakeholders. This coalition of campaign efforts and partners enabled progressive movements to align strategy and increase efficiency positioning the party for big wins. This in turn supported progressive causes like taking back the majorities in the State House and the State Senate, becoming the first state in the union to defeat a Constitutional Amendment to ban same sex marriage, beating back a Voter ID Amendment, reclaiming the MN-08 Congressional seat with the election of Congressman Rick Nolan, keeping Minnesota in the blue column for President Obama and electing the first Native American woman to an executive office in the US.

text: Doesn't enumerate all the party wins realized under Martin.

refinement: Martin was able to quickly raise significant resources to rebuild the party and began making the DFL party the center of gravity of driving political strategy on behalf of its stakeholders. This coalition of campaign efforts and partners enabled progressive movements to align strategy and increase efficiency positioning the party for big wins. This in turn supported progressive causes like taking back the majorities in the State House and the State Senate, becoming the first state in the union to defeat a Constitutional Amendment to ban same sex marriage, beating back a Voter ID Amendment, reclaiming the MN-08 Congressional seat with the election of Congressman Rick Nolan, keeping Minnesota in the blue column for President Obama and electing the first Native American woman to an executive office in the US. In addition, Minnesota was able to elect two women to the US Senate, the first Muslim Attorney General, the first lesbian mom to Congress, and the first Somali-American to serve in Congress.

answer: Martin's party experienced losses in 2011 when he was elected as the DFL Party Chair, including losing the majority in the State Senate for the first time in 40 years, and one of the longest held Democratic seats in Congress in MN-08 with the defeat of Congressman Jim Oberstar, and the DFL Party was deeply in debt following significant election losses. However, Martin was able to restore and renew the DFL party and become the center of gravity of driving political strategy for the state in the 2016 elections. The DFL ultimately made Martin the longest-serving chairman in the 75-year history of the DFL due to his work.

text: Doesn't specify how Martin turned things around for the DFL party.

refinement: Martin's party experienced losses in 2011 when he was elected as the DFL Party Chair, including losing the majority in the State Senate for the first time in 40 years, and one of the longest held Democratic seats in Congress in MN-08 with the defeat of Congressman Jim Oberstar, and the DFL Party was deeply in debt following significant election losses. However, Martin was able to restore and renew the DFL party by quickly raising significant resources to rebuild the party and becoming the center of gravity of driving political strategy for the state in the 2016 elections. This coalition of campaign efforts and partners enabled progressive movements to align strategy and increase efficiency. The DFL ultimately made Martin the longest-serving chairman in the 75-year history of the DFL due to his work.

text: Doesn't enumerate all the wins realized by the party under Martin.

refinement: Martin's party experienced losses in 2011 when he was elected as the DFL Party Chair, including losing the majority in the State Senate for the first time in 40 years, and one of the longest held Democratic seats in Congress in MN-08 with the defeat of Congressman Jim Oberstar, and the DFL Party was deeply in debt following significant election losses. However, Martin was able to restore and renew the DFL party by quickly raising significant resources to rebuild the party and becoming the center of gravity of driving political strategy for the state in the 2016 elections. This coalition of campaign efforts and partners enabled progressive movements to align strategy and increase efficiency. As a result, the DFL was able to take back majorities in both state House and Senate, becoming the first state in the nation to defeat a Constitutional Amendment ot ban same sex marriage, beating back a Voter ID Amendment, reclaiming the MN-08 Congressional seat and keeping Minnesota blue for President Obama. They were able to reelect two office holders in  Governor Dayton and US Senator Franken's elections. They were able to win all three rural congressional races. They elected Walz as Governor marking the first time the DFL had three consecutive terms as Governor. They also flipped two congressional seats from red to blue and elected two women to the US Senate. Moreover, they elected the first Muslim Attorney General, the first lesbian mom to Congress, the first Somali-American to Congress and had the highest ranking Native American woman to serve in an Executive Office. The DFL ultimately made Martin the longest-serving chairman in the 75-year history of the DFL due to his work.