26 Feel-Good Words

26 Feel-Good Words 26 Feel-Good Words 26 Feel-Good Words By Michael Some writers neglect the power of emotion when communicating their ideas, valuing logic more than others do, and assuming that everyone thinks like they do that careful reasoning is enough to convince readers and make points. But even the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, who was no enemy of reason, taught that stimulating emotion in your audience can be the key to persuading them. Ive decided that communication, instead of simply inserting information into my readers head, is more like striking a tuning fork that resonates with the tuning fork in my readers head. Emotion resonates in a way that logic does not. Here is a list of words that express powerful, positive emotions. They would fit well in a movie ad or a blurb on the back cover of a novel, two bastions of emotionally persuasive words. amazing from a Proto-Germanic word to confound or confuse so if you were a Proto-German you might not want to be amazed. But amazing now has a positive connotation of delight and wonder, though it is often used lightly, even when youre not paralyzed under a weight of marvelous singularity. appealing from the Latin for call, something that is appealing calls to you or attracts you. A convict would appeal to a judge to reconsider his innocence. arresting If you were a fugitive from the criminal justice system, you would avoid anything arresting, that stops you in your tracks. But sometimes its nice to be so overwhelmed by a thought or experience that you dont even move. astonishing Related to the modern word stun (as in stun gun) and to ancient words for stupefy, crash, daze, bang. One synonym is flabbergasting. I had a boss who liked to retort, I am astonied, as used in the King James Bible. astounding Closely related to stun, it includes the meanings of dazzling and bewildering. An astounding experience goes beyond mere surprise. attractive As you might expect, one synonym is magnetic something that allures or draws you by its own intrinsic power. Often used to describe members of the opposite sex. awe-inspiring Literally breathing awe into. The word awe once meant overwhelming dread, and this compound word preserves some of the dictionary connotation of majesty that awesome has lost. captivating Originally it simply meant making captive, something that pirates might do to others that you wouldnt want done to you. But like many words in this list, it now has pleasant connotations: being confronted by something so wonderful that you cant stop thinking about it. compelling When someone compels you, they force you to do something. When something is compelling, it forces you to consider it, as in a compelling argument that makes a lot of sense, or a compelling novel that makes you think. engaging From root words for pledge, promise, secure, an engaging person or thing makes you want to involve yourself with it and commit yourself to it, similar to the way two people become engaged when they decide to get married. Used in business buzzwords such as audience engagement and product engagement which involve much less commitment than marriage, though the marketing department might hope it was different. enticing Meaning tempting, alluring, its roots meant torch, firebrand. I suppose that being enticed is like being ignited. You can use the synonym inveigling, but few will know what you mean. You can use the archaic synonym illecebrous, but nobody will know what you mean. exhilarating This word exhilarating has the connotation of invigorating, refreshing, thrilling, exciting. Unlike awesome, this word has become stronger, not weaker, since the days of Rome. It comes from the Latin roots for ex-hilarity-ate-ing so its origin is something like gladdening, maybe as in That thoroughly hilarized me! That is, its related to hilarious, which today means very funny but formerly meant cheerful. fascinating Another happy word with sinister roots, coming from the Latin for bewitch, enthrall, cast a spell upon. It refers to something you find so interesting that youre spellbound or trapped (in a good way). impressive Yes, one of its roots is to press. An impressive experience makes an unforgettable impression on your mind, as the press at a government mint makes a powerful impression on metal blanks that turns them into coins. marvelous A marvelous sight provokes almost uncontrollable wonder in those who see it. From the Latin for worthy to be looked at. memorable Its Latin root originally meant worthy of mention, but it soon changed to worthy of remembering, as it means now. A synonym is remarkable, which means worth noting. mind-blowing Alfred Hitchcock wondered if it involved compressed air. Common in the 1960s and used to describe the effect of hallucinogenic drugs, it carries the sense of an experience so intense or unusual that the human mind is overwhelmed by it. mind-boggling First used in the early 1960s, it results in being overwhelmed, dumbfounded, or confused, usually mentally but also emotionally. overwhelming If whelm means to capsize, flood, or engulf, then overwhelm is even stronger. The power of an overwhelming experience is more than you can handle. rapturous It means blissful, filled with extreme delight. It comes from a Latin word for snatched, carried off, as one might feel during an ecstatic experience. A rapt listener is transported by and absorbed in what he or she is hearing. refreshing Literally, making fresh again, revitalizing because of its newness. It comes from ancient European words for fresh, as you might expect. But these words also have the sense of sweet, pure. riveting A rivet is a small metal fastener, so a listener would have trouble separating himself from a riveting conversation because it holds their attention so strongly. staggering Meaning reeling, tottering, bewildering. A drunk man staggers as he walks. Having a truly staggering realization might make it hard to walk straight its so amazing and astonishing that it affects the body. stunning Saying a person has stunning beauty means that he or she is so attractive that it causes the viewer to lose strength. Thats usually an exaggeration, but the word does imply amazement and high quality. Related to astonishing. thrilling Causing a sudden, intense excitement, even causing shaking or vibrating. Sword clashing against sword is thrilling in that sense. wondrous This word is not for ordinary experiences. A wondrous sight is truly amazing, causing deep awe and marvel. Though these words are all based on emotions, notice that they are also based on verbs actions that stimulate emotions in my heart that change my behavior or attitude. For example, an amazing event amazes me. An appealing object appeals to me. They are intended to inspire action. You could use most of them as exclamations, putting an exclamation mark after them, though people might look at you oddly if you blurted out, Oh rapturous! Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Passed vs PastTelling a Good Poem from a Bad OneHyphenation in Compound Nouns

Free Essays on School Vouchers

School Vouchers â€Å"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.† John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Throughout the thousands of political speeches given during our country’s history, there might not be a better anthem for political participation on an individual level. After letting JFK’s famous phrase sink in it is obvious that he wanted the American people to take charge of their political and social futures. Kennedy realized the importance of pro-activity on a personal or community basis, and the results that would come to the citizens of this country who partook in their own evolvement. This ability that all Americans possess is not always utilized. Many people would rather sit back and complain about the condition of their environment, their communities, and their lives. Citizens of this country constantly denigrate our elected officials, but do they get out and vote on Election Day? Are they active in their communities? What are they doing to h elp themselves and what changes could these potential efforts produce? The answers to these questions seem to lie along the same lines for most Americans- nothing. Not even 50% of Americans vote in the presidential election. This signifies a severe lack of patriotism and civic duty on the part of the American people. Most people argue that they cannot make a significant difference by simply voting and becoming active in their respective communities. They believe that nothing important or consequential happens at the local and state levels of government. But what these people do not understand is that the majority of the decisions that will most closely affect their lives are made at these intermediary levels. Does the President of the United States have the fortitude or the even the time to be concerned with a community such as Adrian, Michigan? Obviously, the answer is no. Its local politicians and state representatives handle this community and its acc... Free Essays on School Vouchers Free Essays on School Vouchers Proposals to use private school vouchers, a marketplace strategy, as a mechanism by which to improve the general quality of public education have produced a lively debate. Frequently, that debate has degenerated into a disagreement about whether public schools are as good as private schools or whether a given private school is better than a certain neighborhood public school. Other issues raised in these discussions include the appropriate use of public funds, the role of competition in improving public education, and the right of parents to choose a school for their children. Although these issues are of interest, they are not the fundamental questions which must be raised about the future of public schools in a democracy. Two Core Issues In their rush to the marketplace, the proponents of private school choice supported by public funds have chosen to ignore two core issues. First, the advocates of private school choice studiously avoid any discussion of the relationship between public schools and the common or public good in a democracy. As an example, the Governor of Wisconsin asserts that "any school that serves the public is a public school" and should therefore receive public funds through a voucher system. There is no recognition in this proposal of the distinct and unique purpose of public education in serving the public good. This rhetorical sleight-of-hand does not mean that a private school of choice becomes a public school in purpose simply by so defining it. The claim is merely a device to divert public funds for private purposes. The failure to recognize that public schools have a central responsibility in a democratic society is further evidenced by the work of John Chubb and Terry Moe, who argue that improving the efficiency and quality of public education will require the replacement of democratic governance by market mechanisms. The authors state, "The most basic cause of ineffective performance among the natio... Free Essays on School Vouchers Any country that aspires to be great must constantly reevaluate the preparedness of its youth for the challenges of the future. Today’s youth cannot hope to be tomorrow’s leaders, if they do not attain a superior education. Children require an education that develops their minds analytically, creatively, and morally. Recently we have noticed an unfortunate decline in the readiness of our youth to enter the workforce or higher education, as compared with other similar countries. To combat this, our parents and politicians have been desperately searching, for something, for anything, for the key to our educational system. It is my goal, through this paper, to make you aware of the issues, and a potential solution. This solution is the idea of school choice, or school vouchers. The main players in the solution are parents and private schools because the public school system has fallen short. Our public school system is decaying, despite the supposed best efforts of our fed eral, state, and local governments. While public schools have become a center for violence, drug use, and apathy, private schools have become the model of superior education, an education that is academically, creatively, and morally sound. Many of our private schools are religious, allowing teachers and administrators to complement and strengthen lessons taught in the home, instead of counteracting them. This is not meant to imply that only private religious schools have value, but to point out that parents and schools need to work together in the best interest of the students. The main problem with private schools is that they are out of reach to so many of today’s families. The fact that so many children are denied the opportunity to attend the school of their choice simply because they cannot afford it, is one of the predominant shortfalls of our society. Of course this is not a new issue, and it is currently at the center of a large debate. "It is impossible to... Free Essays on School Vouchers School Vouchers â€Å"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.† John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Throughout the thousands of political speeches given during our country’s history, there might not be a better anthem for political participation on an individual level. After letting JFK’s famous phrase sink in it is obvious that he wanted the American people to take charge of their political and social futures. Kennedy realized the importance of pro-activity on a personal or community basis, and the results that would come to the citizens of this country who partook in their own evolvement. This ability that all Americans possess is not always utilized. Many people would rather sit back and complain about the condition of their environment, their communities, and their lives. Citizens of this country constantly denigrate our elected officials, but do they get out and vote on Election Day? Are they active in their communities? What are they doing to h elp themselves and what changes could these potential efforts produce? The answers to these questions seem to lie along the same lines for most Americans- nothing. Not even 50% of Americans vote in the presidential election. This signifies a severe lack of patriotism and civic duty on the part of the American people. Most people argue that they cannot make a significant difference by simply voting and becoming active in their respective communities. They believe that nothing important or consequential happens at the local and state levels of government. But what these people do not understand is that the majority of the decisions that will most closely affect their lives are made at these intermediary levels. Does the President of the United States have the fortitude or the even the time to be concerned with a community such as Adrian, Michigan? Obviously, the answer is no. Its local politicians and state representatives handle this community and its acc... Free Essays on School Vouchers Argumentation Paper America’s public school systems are facing a series of major problems. The classrooms are crowded, violence is growing, and test scores are falling. Some people believe the ways the schools are funded are the reasons behind these problems. There have been several ideas brought to the courts to try to solve the funding problems. Open enrollment, more federal involvement, and local tax increases are a few of these suggestions. However, the most controversial issue is that of vouchers. Vouchers are certificates that the government gives to parents so that their child may go to the school of the parent’s choice (public or private). This type of school funding is also known as parental choice. This idea of parental choice in education is not a new concept. The first person that developed the idea that parents should be allowed to choose their children’s education came from Adam Smith in 1776. He explained this theory in his book The Wealth of Nations. However, the controversies surrounding parental choice are fairly new. The most discussed and argued issue surrounding vouchers is the inclusion of parochial schools. Many people who believe strongly in the First Amendment’s establishment clause, which establishes the separation of Page 2 church and state. This clause allows for the question of the constitutionality in the voucher program. This Constitutionality has been tried in a number of courts both at the state and Supreme Court levels. In the 1970’s a series of Supreme Court rulings prohibited the use of government assistance to fund religious schools. The landmark of Lemon V. Kurtzmand in 1971 set the criteria that courts use when determining whether state action violates the First Amendment when dealing with schools and religion. In 1981 Maine amended its voucher program that was already set into place. The federal district court excluded sectarian schools from the vou...