Article: Before you assume that the ring will become an object of contention, take the mature approach and ask your former partner what they want to do with it.  You might be surprised how peacefully the issue can be resolved; in many cases, the buyer of the ring decides they want the other to keep it, or the recipient seeks to return the ring as a matter of course.  For example, find a time when both of you are calm and agree to have a chat.  Say something like, "I was hoping we could discuss what we should do with our engagement ring.  I think we can find a solution that will satisfy both of us." You don’t have to force a face-to-face if your breakup was particularly bitter, but you might nevertheless want to make an effort to reach an informal agreement before taking legal action.  Ask a mutual, level-headed friend to act as the go-between, or try communicating with your ex through civilly worded emails or letters. In most countries, a gift is presumed irrevocable, meaning that it cannot be taken back or rescinded retroactively.  This presumption is complicated, though, in the case of romantic gifts and engagement rings: almost all courts view engagement rings as falling under one of two categories—that is, conditional or absolute. A conditional gift means that the donor (the giver) gave the donee (the recipient) the ring on the condition that the couple will eventually marry.  If this marriage never occurs, then this condition has not been met.  An absolute gift means that the ring was given with no expectation or precondition for its bestowal. In many cases, the two parties disagree on the nature of the gift: the donor claims it was conditional, while the donee asserts that it was absolute.  Whatever your opinion, you should look for evidence to support your claim.  For example, if you have an email or texts from your ex where they assure you that the ring is a gift simply meant to honor you and your love, this can be used as evidence of an absolute gift. On the other hand, if you have a written agreement wherein the recipient agrees to return the ring if the engagement is cancelled, this counts as evidence that the gift was indeed conditional. In many places, courts which usually mandate return of the ring to its donor contradict this ruling if the couple was married and is now getting divorced, or if the ring was a family heirloom.  In the latter case, the condition of the engagement ring was fulfilled—that is, the couple got married—so the ring should stay with the donee.  In the former case, the ring is regarded as property of the original owning family and not of the recipient. If your ring was a family heirloom but you have no documentation proving this origin, you should consult your attorney as to how to validate this claim. The legal precedent wherever you live will determine who should take possession of the engagement ring.  In the U.S.A., for example, state courts determine this question.  All states with the exception of Montana have decided that an engagement ring constitutes a conditional gift and thus should be returned to its donor when an engagement is called off.  In contrast, courts in the U.K. generally side with the recipient: unless one can prove otherwise, the gift is deemed absolute and can be retained by its recipient. Many courts view an engagement ring as a conditional gift or the symbolic emblem of a contractual bargain, but they also consider the reasons and details of the breakup relevant to the settlement.  For example, Australian courts have ruled that, if the recipient of the ring breaks off the engagement, they must return the ring.  If, on the contrary, the donor breaks off the engagement, they have no right to demand the ring’s return.  Some states in the U.S. also take responsible parties and causes for the engagement’s cancellation into consideration.  South Carolina, Illinois, and California, for example, determine that, even though the ring is a conditional gift, the rights for it go to whichever party was not at fault for the broken engagement.  Many states disagree with this reasoning and have adopted a no-fault policy which decrees that the ring should be returned to its donor, regardless of who was at fault for the engagement’s dissolution. Once you’ve done a bit of research and decided that you want to fight for the ring via legal action, you should find a local attorney who specializes in family law.  Try to find a firm that offers free consultations and estimates so that you don’t hire a pricey attorney only to discover it was a big waste of time and money. Before signing anything and initiating the process, be sure that you're prepared to go through a lengthy and potentially painful legal process.  From a purely practical, monetary standpoint, the ring is unlikely to be worth enough to justify the steep costs of litigation.  After all, even if you or your ex paid a tidy sum for the diamond engagement ring, its actual value is only a fraction of the retail price.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Talk to your former fiancée about the ring. Determine if your ring was a conditional or absolute gift. Evaluate evidence for your claim. Consider special circumstances which could affect the ring’s ownership. Review legal precedent. Evaluate reasons and responsible parties for the breakup. Consult a lawyer.
Article: Your teacher should clearly outline their policy for using laptops at the beginning of the course. Be sure to pay careful attention to these rules and follow them closely.  For instance, you may not be allowed to have your laptop open during lectures, or you may only be permitted to access specific programs or websites. You may also only be allowed to bring your laptop on certain days. In some cases, these policies may be set by the school, rather than by an individual teacher. When you're listening to a lecture in class, try not to just type out exactly what your teacher or professor is saying word-for-word. Instead, listen carefully to what they're saying, and jot down important words and concepts in your notes. Don't worry about writing in full sentences, and make note of any supplemental reading or additional materials that your teacher references during their lecture. You can also include questions that you might have. Then, when you're studying, you can try to find the answer to those questions in your notes or textbook. While your laptop can be a powerful tool for learning, it also contains a lot of opportunities to become distracted during class. Before class starts, turn off any messaging apps, games, social media notifications, and so on. Also, avoid opening any websites or apps that aren't related to what's going on in class.  Even if it only takes a second to close a notification, it could cause you to miss something important that your teacher says. You can also use airplane mode to disable your internet completely while you're in class. If you have trouble using self-control, or if you aren't sure how to turn off notifications without uninstalling an app, try looking for an extension or an app that you can customize to block certain websites or apps. There are a number of different types of productivity software available that you can tailor to your exact needs. For instance, you might install an extension on your web browser that blocks you from going to certain websites during school hours or while you're studying, or that limits how many hours you can use those sites during the day. Your laptop can do more than just distract you during class—it can also make it harder for the people around you to concentrate. During class, don't listen to music, watch videos, play games, or look at any images that might be distracting or offensive. Consider sitting toward the back of the class if laptops aren't commonly used by the students in your course. That way, anyone who might be distracted by it is free to sit ahead of you where they can't see the screen. If you've tried a few things to boost your productivity but you still find yourself getting distracted by your laptop in class—or you realize you're just not as fast or efficient as you are without it—you might just need to leave it at home. That way, you won't even be tempted to use it to check your Insta during class. This will also help protect your laptop from being damaged in your backpack or during class.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Follow the guidelines set by your teacher or school. Type up your notes in your own words. Close or uninstall programs that might distract you. Use productivity software to help you stay disciplined during class. Be considerate of your classmates. Consider leaving your laptop at home if it's not required for class.