Article: College is a time for expanding your knowledge, and this applies to your faith as much as your schoolwork. Ask yourself why you believe what you do and seek to come up with answers that fit with what you know about the world. Establishing a firmer foundation for your principles will enable you to defend them against criticism.  Don't be critical or skeptical of your religious education. Instead, try to reconcile it with your own experiences and observations. Be willing to keep an open mind toward new scientific theories. While the connection between God and the natural world may not be obvious at first, it will often present itself when examined in depth. Many Christian students are unprepared to have their beliefs contradicted in an academic setting. A professor may suggest that your spiritual outlook is false, or you might feel pressure to conform to what your peers think. All Christians face these tribulations at some point or another. What matters is that you don’t lose sight of your faith just because someone else tells you it’s foolish. Try not to get frustrated when you’re presented with ideas that clash with what you've been taught. Make an effort to identify where the conflict arises and look for answers in prayer and scripture. Accepting other viewpoints is one thing, but you should never allow yourself to be mocked or dismissed because of your religion. Defend your faith when you feel it’s coming under assault unfairly. Be civil, yet firm. You’re entitled to your convictions no matter what they might be.  It’s perfectly alright to question what you’re told or take an alternative stance, even when no one else agrees with you. After all, you’re there to learn how to think for yourself. Pick your battles carefully. Not every situation needs to turn into a religious argument. Sometimes it’s better to just let an offhand remark go if it’s only going to lead to a dispute. There are a multitude of books, websites, and lecture series out there designed to help Christian students find their way through the maze of college and adulthood in a secular environment. These materials may be of some help to you if you feel like you’ve reached a crossroads in your journey. Your school may also have personal advisers or religious counselors that you can talk to in times of need.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Develop a better understanding of your own beliefs. Expect to have your views challenged. Stand up for your beliefs. Turn to other resources for guidance.
Article: Start with the kitchen. Put away the dishes and wipe down the counter. Label and organize spices. Organize the pantry. Now go through your fridge. Check the expiry dates on everything and organize foods. Let the toilet soak, spray the mirror, change the garbage, switch the soap. Darks, whites, mediums, towels. It has to be done.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Do the dishes. Clean the bathrooms. Do the laundry.
Article: During your research, you should look for individuals in history who were interesting and unique for their time. This could be a mistress of a British monarch who proposed sweeping changes to the system, or the village woman who helped embroider the stars on the first American flag. Look for characters who stick out in their time as rebels, renegades, or change makers. You can then use these historical characters as the basis for fascinating fictional characters.  You should also consider the historical characters that surround your main characters. Maybe your main character frequented the same circles as famous writers and thinkers of the time. Or, maybe your main character was close friends with a major historical leader. You may also find historical characters who may have been mere footnotes in history and largely ignored by historians. You could then bring these forgotten characters to life in your fiction and shine a spotlight on their fascinating lives. You should also try to focus on historical figures who were in conflict with themselves, with the outside world, or with other individuals in their life. Historical characters who were forced to deal with conflict will often be more interesting and engaging to readers. You can also use their conflict as the main conflict in your story.  For example, maybe your story is about a struggling artist in Paris in 1935. The artist may be based on a forgotten artist of the time who struggled with drug addiction and poverty. The artist may also have a conflict with the outside world in that her work was often misinterpreted or ignored by the critics of the day. She may also have a conflict with other artists in her circle, who are becoming more famous and well known than her. You may also use the historical time period as a source of conflict. Often, unique characters in history stand out for their attempts to go against the status quo of the day or the social norms of their time. A story about a female main character who sewed the stars onto the first American flag, for example, may be interesting because during this time, women were not permitted to vote or to participate in the politics of the day. This may then create a conflict for your main character, as she is not able to actively participate in the political process, even though she desperately wants to get involved and be part of this process. You should create character studies of your characters so you have a good sense of their perspective. Your character studies may include physical qualities, such as the character’s appearance and clothing. You should also include emotional and psychological qualities, such as how your character thinks, acts, and perceives others around them. For example, you may have a character study of your main character that reads:  Physical qualities: Tall, thin, dark skin, thin nose, wide eyes, with long plaited hair. Has a cleft lip from birth and a scar on her left ear. Emotional/psychological qualities: Street-smart, no formal educational training, devoted to painting and drawing, obsessed with fame, short-tempered, attractive to men and women, tendency to spend money as soon as she has it on drugs, alcohol, and food. Avoid creating one-dimensional characters by giving your characters flaws and imperfections. Nobody is perfect, after all, especially throughout history. Make sure your characters have their own issues and problems, as this will make them more believable and relatable to your readers. For example, your main character may have artistic talent and the ability to leave an important mark on painting. But she may also struggle with drug addiction and poverty, leading her to make some difficult and imperfect decisions to survive.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Look for historical characters with a unique backstory. Find historical characters that dealt with conflict. Describe the physical and emotional qualities of your main character. Create flawed characters.