INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Sanding, priming, and painting can be messy work, so be sure to stretch out a large dropcloth or plastic tarp over your work area. The extra layer will act as a barrier to protect your floor against spills and splatters.  Paint fumes can quickly become overpowering. For this reason, it’s recommended that you do your painting in a garage or workshop that will provide some ventilation, or in an outdoor space like a patio or driveway.  Use strips of tape or heavy objects like paint buckets to hold down the corners of the dropcloth and keep it from blowing around in a stiff breeze. Pull out each drawer, lifting them at the opening to help them clear the edge of the roller track. Set these aside on your dropcloth—you’ll be painting them separately from the rest of the frame. Clear everything out of the drawers once they’re free to avoid ruining any cherished belongings. Use a square of 80-100 grit sandpaper to gently scuff the entire outer surface. This will remove the existing finish so that the dresser will have an easier time accepting fresh paint. Sand with smooth, circular rubbing motions to avoid leaving noticeable streaks in the grain.  Make sure you give the edges, corners, and any recessed or molded bits some attention, as well. Bearing down too hard with the sandpaper may damage the wood underneath. Run the cloth lightly over the sanded surface to collect loose dust and debris. Once the dresser is clean, let it sit for 20-30 minutes to give it time to dry before you move on to priming. Any wood dust you miss may show up in the finished paint job. Apply the primer in one thin, even coat using a brush or foam roller. Aim for total coverage—every part of the dresser you intend to paint should be underlaid by a neutral base coat. This will allow the new color to come through clearer and bolder.  A spray-on primer will also do the trick if you’d prefer not to go to the trouble of detailing by hand.  There are both oil and water-based primers, just as there are oil and water-based paints. Be sure to choose a primer with the same basic formula as the paint you'll be using. The base coat needs to set completely before you can paint over it. To speed the process along, make sure the dresser receives plenty of airflow. Opening a couple doors or windows or setting up a portable fan in front of the piece can help with this.  Come back periodically and give the primer a tough-test to see how it’s coming along. If it feels sticky, it still needs more time. Painting over wet primer can smudge the base coat, leaving behind white swirls in your new color.

SUMMARY: Lay down a dropcloth. Remove the drawers from the dresser. Sand the dresser with a medium-grit sandpaper. Wipe down the dresser with a damp cloth. Brush on a coat of basic white primer. Allow the primer to dry for 4-6 hours.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: There are different forms of film criticism. The most common form is the review, which acts as a recommendation or warning for people who haven’t yet seen the film. These are a few hundred words and focus on evaluating the film--saying whether it is excellent, good, mediocre, or poor.  An academic article is more formal than a review, and much longer. It is less focused on opinion, and assumes the reader has seen the film. A critical essay is less formal and more opinionated than an academic article, but more formal than a review. Don’t feel pressured to choose a particular form of criticism and stick to it. Many film critics write in all three forms, or blend different forms! A film critic should not merely describe the plot, scenes, music, and style of the film they are studying, but also be able to analyze these elements. To analyze a film, think about how different elements work together and the effect they produce.  For example, you might observe that a director uses a lot of dark colors in his film. Through analysis, you might conclude that this use of color mirrors the dark emotions of the main character. Critical essays and academic articles focus on description and analysis, while reviews usually do not. A critic should be able to interpret a film, or determine its meaning. Think about the claims a film is making. What message is the director trying to convey? Different critics may have different interpretations of the same film.  A film critic might interpret the film Snow White as a commentary on the pitfalls of vanity. Critical essays and academic articles offer interpretations, whereas reviews sometimes do, but often don't. Evaluation is the most important aspect of a movie review. When you evaluate a film, you make a judgment about its quality. Is it an excellent film, a mediocre film, or a bad film? Base your evaluation on your understanding of film as an art form.  A critic might offer the evaluation that Snow White is one of the best animated films of its time. Reviews focus heavily on evaluation, while critical essays and academic articles place less emphasis on evaluation. You may like a film, but as a critic, recognize that it is not a high quality film. In the same way, you may not enjoy a film, but acknowledge it is well made. When writing as a critic, it’s important to make judgments about film quality rather than relying on your own tastes.  You should base your judgments on general criteria for excellence. These include originality, good acting, technical skill, an engaging plot, and emotional intensity. Reading the work of other critics and watching high quality films will give you a better idea of what makes an excellent film. It’s fine to let your tastes show through in movie reviews--many critics do. Celebrity critics are often famous for displaying their preferences. Just make sure you are looking at the film with a critical eye, too.

SUMMARY: Learn about the different forms of criticism. Analyze the film. Interpret the film. Evaluate the film. Distinguish between preferences and critical judgement.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Fill a bucket with hot water, then add about 1/4 cup of castile soap. You can also use the solution for leather or vinyl car upholstery. Use a slightly stronger solution for hubcaps and other stubborn areas.

SUMMARY:
Wash your car with castile soap.