Wednesday, December 25, 2019
William Cullen Bryant And Transcendentalism - 833 Words
ââ¬Å"William Cullen Bryant is the author of Thanatopsis. Bryant was born in Cumington, Massachusetts, and began writing poetry before he was nine years old. Bryantââ¬â¢s family is Puritan family, when he was a child, he was often ill, and his father asked him to walk in the forest to strengthen his constitution, which gave him a keen interest in nature. Bryants position combines the impulses of the British romantic school and his own New England conservatism. His life gradually moved away from the Calvinism of religion, the political transition from federalism to unification and Jacksons democratic attitudes. He thought poetry was an art of association, it inspires readers imagination with symbolism rather than direct imitation of life, andâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦The transcendentalists believed strongly in the power of the individual. Their beliefs are closely linked to romanticism, but they differ from attempts to embrace or at least not oppose scientific empiricism. The transcendentalists wanted to place their religion and philosophy in their principles rather than on, or falsified, physical experiences, but from the inner spiritual or spiritual nature of the human being. The transcendentalists argued that society and its institutions, particularly organized religions and political parties, corrupt the purity of the individual. They believe that people are at their best when it comes to true self-reliance and independence. Before William Cullen Bryant was 17 years old, he wrote a poem called ââ¬Å"Thanatopsisâ⬠. This poem is about death and nature how to related to each otherââ¬â¢s. Transcendentalists is how the God, nature and men connect to each other, and in Thanatopsis, Bryant combined with death and nature, nature is our final destination of mankind, and human death will enter into the world where God is, he compared nature to God. Bryant not afraid of death, he thinks when he dead, he can go back to ââ¬Å"herâ⬠, the nature. He feels death like a long sleep, we shouldnââ¬â¢t afraid of death, we canââ¬â¢t be treated death as pain. ââ¬Å"but, sustained and soothed. By an unfaltering trust, approach thy graveâ⬠(Thanatopsis by William Cullen Bryant ) ââ¬Å" When thoughts Of the lastShow MoreRelatedThe Fall Of The House Of Usher1651 Words à |à 7 PagesMason Eggers Mrs. Szwajkowski Junior English 200 24 March 2016 Romanticism/Transcendentalism Essay Edgar Allen Poeââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"The Fall of the House of Usher,â⬠Nathaniel Hawthorneââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"The Ministerââ¬â¢s Black Veil,â⬠and William Cullen Bryantââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"Thanatopsisâ⬠illustrate several Romantic and Transcendentalist (and anti-Transcendentalist) traits. All of these authors are regarded as very important and influential Romantic writers. Their works are renowned all across the entire world. ââ¬Å"The Fall of the House of Usherâ⬠Read More`` Contemplations `` By Anne Bradstreet Essay1462 Words à |à 6 Pagesnational churchâ⬠¦ purging it of everything that harked back to Rome, especially the hierarchy of the Clergy and all the traditional Catholic ritualsâ⬠(ââ¬Å"John Winthropâ⬠165). Much like the Puritan period, the later nineteenth-century movement of Transcendentalism also took place in New England. However, there were some stark differences between the two. For instance, although a ââ¬Å"religious questâ⬠, Transcendentalists were not entirely motivated by religion. While the Puritans were devoted to reform andRead MoreDeath in Thanatopsis by William Cullen Bryant Essay447 Words à |à 2 PagesDeath in Thanatopsis by William Cullen Bryant When people ponder death they wonder about the unknown with trepidation. As a young man, William Cullen Bryant wrote the Thanatopsis. His thoughts progress from the fear of death to the acceptance of the event. People should not fear death because everyone dies and becomes a part of nature. A person should live life without fearing death and think of death as a pleasant rest. In the poem Bryant says, When thoughts/Of the last bitter hourRead MoreJohn Smith And Walt Whitman Essay1248 Words à |à 5 Pagesinto the realist movement and nature was viewed not as an extension of god, but as a way to learn about ourselves and the world. opposition to romanticism. Three writers between these two time periods, Jonathan Edwards, Benjamin Franklin and William Cullen Bryant each have a different worldview based on their background and provide a transition between the Puritan and Realism movements. John Smith came to the new world with the Virginia Company in order to colonize the land and to start a new, economicallyRead MoreThe Language Of Nature In Thanatopsis By William Cullen Bryant712 Words à |à 3 PagesIn his literary piece, ââ¬Å"Thanatopsisâ⬠, William Cullen Bryant introduces his logic on why we should see the favorable circumstances within nature. He speculates his reasoning that there is an innate capacity to brighten up all of the sinister thoughts that frequently occur in our brain and consciousness. He elaborates that we shouldnââ¬â¢t take the time to endure the way of perturbing ourselves in relation to death, because death is unavoidable and imminent. Alternatively, we ought to take that time toRead MoreEarly American Literature Essay1511 Words à |à 7 Pagesother writers to come. Around the same time as Irvings Rip Van Winkle, William Cullen Bryants Thanatopsis displayed a pantheistic view of nature as imbued by God (7th ed, p, 476). Bryant, jus t as Irving, saw the American landscape as an all-inspiring motivation for many of his stories. Bryants poetry focused on nature as a metaphor for truth established a central pattern in the American literary tradition (William). As America continued to grow and developed so did its writers. A majorRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1545 Words à |à 7 Pagessociety believes is right. In Emersonââ¬â¢s short essay, ââ¬Å"Natureâ⬠, Emerson describes nature as a place in which it provides protection from all calamities and disgraces. While in nature, heââ¬â¢s able to become relaxed and peaceful. In William Cullen Bryantââ¬â¢s poem, ââ¬Å"Thanatopsis,â⬠Bryant writes that although everyone will eventually die, death shouldnââ¬â¢t be feared, but instead embraced. While nature does bring death, it also provides care and a sanctuary, which clears our dark thoughts away. Although nature canRead MoreThe Spirit And Beauty Of Nature, And The Power Of The Natural World1172 Words à |à 5 PagesThe Romantic worldview emphasized the glory and beauty of nature, and the power of the natural world. A branch within Romanticism was Transcendentalism and its followers believed that ââ¬Å"unifying principles could be found in the natural world, which became a sacred space that pointed to the immanent presence of the divineâ⬠(Sayre 877). Aspects found in nature have the ability to cause an individual to have a revelation as to why their life is unpleasant and allows them to find their purpose in lifeRead MoreBrief Survey of American Literature3339 Words à |à 14 PagesSettlersââ¬â¢ Writings Highly religious and pragmatic - John Smith, founder of Jamestown, Virginia; Pocahontas - John Winthrop, ââ¬Å"A Model of Christian Charityâ⬠: ââ¬Å"â⬠¦ We shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon usâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ - William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation (1630-50, pub. 1856) - Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672), The Tenth Muse (1650), the first volume of poems published by a resident of the New World - Edward Taylor (1642- 1729), Preparatory Meditations (1682-1725Read More Puritanism: The People, Religion, and Poetry Essay4374 Words à |à 18 Pagescommunicate something and rightly be interpreted by people. Though particular poets had different reasons for why it could be done, they all continued to operate as if it could be done. Without the theism of Puritanism, reading the book of nature became William Cullen Bryants Thanatopsis presents a personified nature to which everything and everyone is connected and belongs. In life, people are nourished by the earth and at death, people become part of it. He and other Fireside poets had a high view of nature
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
greek mythology essay - 1633 Words
Alexus Catalfamo 5-5-15 Mrs. Sommo Mythology Paper Period 6 Once upon a time, Odysseus and Penelope had decided to go on a honeymoon after he got back to Ithaca. His son had stayed to watch over the town while he and Penelope had gone to be alone in peace for once. While Telemachus was watching over Ithaca, Odysseus got into an argument with Zeus. Odysseus was devastated when he found out that Zeus had tried to eat all of his children. Odysseus had the upper hand in the argument for quite the while until within one split second; Zeus had struck Odysseus with his lightening. When Odysseus was struck he didnââ¬â¢t notice anything happen except for the factor of pain. Then one day Penelope got pregnant andâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦He knew that he would miss them but he also knew there was something he was put on this world to do. Duvall went out to sea. The first island Duvall ran into was Calypsoââ¬â¢s island, the one Odysseus specifically warned him of. The moment Duvall noticed that it was calypsoââ¬â¢s island he yelled with all the force possible in his lungs and time froze as if it was never going. He searched and searched until he noticed, something was moving... it hadnââ¬â¢t frozen with time. It was like Duvallââ¬â¢s powers had no effect on it. It was Hermes. Hermes looked at Duvall and said, ââ¬Å"I helped youââ¬â¢re father off this island, donââ¬â¢t make me help you tooâ⬠¦youââ¬â¢re time freezing only lasts so long you knowâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ So Duvall left, he sailed out to sea and unfroze time for calypso to live her life. As calypso lived on, she found foot prints one day, leading to Odysseusââ¬â¢ old ship and she knew that no one had been out there in a very long time. Over time Calypso studied her facts and had finally came to the conclusion that it had something to do with Odysseus. Even though no one is supposed to leave Calypsoââ¬â¢s island she her self decided to take a little trip to go and talk to Odysseus. When she had arrived to Ithaca, she was looking rough. Odysse us and Penelope offered her food and water and let her get healthy again. Finally when they all actually sat down and talked, Odysseus said, ââ¬Å"I did not return to your island, myShow MoreRelated Greek Mythology Essay1215 Words à |à 5 Pages Greek Mythology Mythology was an integral part of the lives of all ancient peoples. The myths of Ancient Greece are the most familiar to us, for they are deeply entrenched in the consciousness of Western civilization. The myths were accounts of the lives of the deities whom the Greeks worshipped. The Greeks had many deities, including 12 principal ones, who lived on Mt. Olympus. The myths are all things to all people ââ¬â a rollicking good yarn, expressions of deep psychological insights, wordsRead MoreGreek Mythology Essay1491 Words à |à 6 PagesGreek Mythology Odysseus, in Greek legend, a Greek hero, ruler of the island of Ithaca and one of the leaders of the Greek army during the Trojan War. Homers Odyssey recounts Odysseuss adventures and ultimate return home ten years after the fall of Troy. Initially, Odysseus was mentioned as the son of Laertes, king of Ithaca, although in later tradition Sisyphus, king of Corinth, was considered his real father, his mother having later married Laertes. At first Odysseus refused to accompany theRead More Greek Mythology Essay1090 Words à |à 5 PagesThe characters in Greek Mythology can have several different interpretations. Among these characters are the dangerous, yet gorgeous Sirens, bird-women who sit on a cliff singing bewitching songs to captivate the minds of innocent travelers and bring them to their deaths. In Homerââ¬â¢s The Odyssey and Margaret Atwoodââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"Siren Song,â⬠both poets give different portrayals of the Sirens. Homer believes the Sirens to be irresistible in order to establish men as heroes whereas Atwood depicts them as unsightlyRead More Greek Mythology Essay650 Words à |à 3 Pagesthe world that surrounds him. What makes the sun rise and set? Why are there seasons? Where do things go when they die? To the ancient Greeks, there were simple explanations to all these questions ââ¬â it was the gods! Things that seemed unexplainable could suddenly make sense when there were gods and goddesses involved. And these stories of the gods that the Greeks created to help make sense of the universe have survived the years to become a treasured and integral part of the history of the WesternRead MoreGreek Mythology Essay1006 Words à |à 5 Pagestheir share of beliefs. Greek mythology is the arguably the most popular region of study. In Ancient Greece every citizen had a patron that would protect them and pantheism was commonplace. The Romans admired the Greeks in their art and culture and even took different aspects of their gods. Polytheis m was widely accepted in all cultures so the seed of mythology bloomed. The time line of the creations of gods to the end of their reign is an important factor in Greek Mythology. Creation The creationRead MoreNorse Mythology vs. Greek Mythology Essay1069 Words à |à 5 PagesNorse Mythology vs. Greek Mythology There are many mythologies in the world, and all of these have things in common as well as differences. A very popular mythology would be Greek mythology, Which many people know about it or at least know of it. Another not as popular mythology is Norse mythology; Norse mythology is the religion of the Norse people. The Norse people are the ancient people of northern Europe (Scandinavia, Iceland, Denmark, Northern Germany etc.) (World Book 259). A majorRead MoreLysistrat Greek Mythology Essay1023 Words à |à 5 PagesAndrew Turner Lysistrata Paper 1 Greek Mythology September 8, 2016 Introduction Lysistrata, written by Aristophanes, takes place during a time period when men dominate. This play brings up the battle of the sexes in a humorous way. In the play Lysistrata brings women from areas like Greece and Sparta that were involved in the Peloponnesian war to talk about her plan to end the war. Lysistrataââ¬â¢s plan was for all the women from the different lands to with hold sex with their lovers until the menRead MoreIsraelite and Greek Mythology Essay1132 Words à |à 5 Pages The Works and Days is a Greek myth containing an appropriated version of the Israelites Ten Commandments from The Bible. Throughout Works and Days, the myth constructs a virtually identical set of rules pertaining to moral conduct; all which, if disobey, are punishable by Zeus. Both the Israelites and the Greeks believe that their Lord (for the Greeks, specifically all powerful Zeus) distributes retribution to those who disobey these moral rules of conduct. In both texts, these guidelines for Read MoreMonsters in Greek Mythology Essay1646 Words à |à 7 PagesOne of the most interesting qualities of Greek mythology is probably the depiction of monsters in the myths. However, these monsters are not all unique. In fact, they all fall into very distinct categories, making them almost the same. Most monsters in Greek mythology look and act in the same ways. Several monsters from these myths look the same in that they have very similar qualities such as being large, snake or human like. However, they are also very alike in that they behave in very similarRead MoreThe Gods of Greek Mythology Essay1325 Words à |à 6 PagesIn Greek Mythology, perhaps one of the most rudimental yet one of the most important elements are the Greek Gods and Goddesses. The ancient Greeks created the stories about the lives and journeys of the Greek Gods, known as myths, simply as an endeavor to elucidate nature and all phenomena which were difficult to explain using modern science and logic. Thes e myths about the Gods were spread around the world by explorers and storytellers, and later merged with Greek religion. To this day, numerous
Monday, December 9, 2019
Essay on Textual Analysis of Writing Guides Essay Example For Students
Essay on Textual Analysis of Writing Guides Essay Let me introduce you to the main characters in the story of composition. Our heroââ¬âthe protagonistââ¬âis known as ââ¬Å"the writer,â⬠who is supported by both the writing instructorââ¬âour heroââ¬â¢s mentor traditionallyââ¬âand the reference guide. And of course, as is necessary in all good stories, there is the antagonistââ¬âthe evil force that our hero must contend with; in this tale the ââ¬Å"writingâ⬠will be the daunting task that is loathed and dreaded by our hero. Where once the teaching of composition was left primarily to English teachers, there are now other sourcesââ¬ânamely reference guides on writingââ¬âthat claim to have the formula for success. There are a number of publishers who have capitalized on employing rhetorical strategies of sarcasm and humor to gain a larger share of the reference guide market. In this paper I will examine a few of these writing guidesââ¬âspecifically: Barronââ¬â¢s Painless Writing, The Complete Idiotââ¬â¢s Guide to Writing Well, and Research Papers for Dummiesââ¬âthat have become so popular, extracting how they position the writer, the instructor and the writing process, as well as considering the usefulness of these texts for English 131 student1. It is clear that these books are appropriating similar generic features to appeal to a certain type of audience. Humor is the main component used by all, from the title that refers to the person using the book as a self-proclaimed ââ¬Å"dummyâ⬠or ââ¬Å"idiotâ⬠ââ¬âclearly an intelligent person would not be reading the ââ¬Å"idiotââ¬â¢s guideââ¬âto the cartoons and jokes that fill the pages. On the cover and back of each book, they make their claims about what the offer the student. Each guide claims to provide advice that will ââ¬Å"helpâ⬠writers to ââ¬Å"improveâ⬠or ââ¬Å"transformâ⬠their writing with very similar language: . . ity, Montreal, Canada.http://www.masondissertation.elephanthost.com/. 2002 Miller, Richard E. As if Learning Mattered: Reforming Higher Education. Ithaca London: Cornell UP. 1998 Stygall, Gail. Ed. Academic Discourse: Readings for Argument and Analysis. Mason, Ohio: Thomson Learning Custom Publishing. 2000 Rozakis, Laurie. The Complete Idiotââ¬â¢s Guide to Grammar Style. Indianapolis, IN: Alpha Books. 2000. , The Complete Idiotââ¬â¢s Guide to Writing Well. Indianapolis, IN: Alpha Books. 1997. Strausser, Peter. Painless Writing. New York: Barronââ¬â¢s. 1997. Woods, Geraldine. Research Papers for Dummies. New York: Hungry Minds, Inc. 2002 Young, Richard. Arts, Crafts, Gifts and Knacks: Some Disharmonies in the New Rhetoric.à Reinventing the New Rhetoric. Eds. , Aviva Freedman and Ian Pringle. Ottawa: Canadian Council of Teachers of English, 1980. 53-60.
Monday, December 2, 2019
Romeo And Juliet - Victims Of Fate Essays -
Romeo And Juliet - Victims Of Fate? One view of the play sees Romeo and Juliet as victims of fate. To what extent do you agree with this? Having a complex plot, and too many deeply involved characters, we cannot simply state that Romeo and Juliet were purely victims of fate. The tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliet, and the play itself, are anchored on three notions: that of fate, chance and choice. Fate contributed, though it was not the sole factor in the deaths of the young lovers. The many ?unstoppable' events, Shakespeare's telling us of their love being told in the stars, and the ancient grudge between the families, are prime examples of fate being a part of Romeo and Juliet. Chance in the undetermined figure in Romeo and Juliet, with coincidence and misadventure playing in every readers mind as the many events unfold. Choice; vital decisions by each character, and judgments based on what an individual believed to be right or wrong, once again shows how many varied outcomes there may have been. At the end of the day though, due to fate, chance and choice, Romeo and Juliet committed suicide together, completing a tra gic five days in which they fell in love, married and eventually died. Romeo and Juliet, many believe, was a tragedy brought upon by destiny. Fate may well have brought Romeo and Juliet together, or at least contributed along the rocky path to their deaths. Many events were shaped as fate in Romeo and Juliet. If Mercutio was indeed destined to die, then perhaps the entire tragedy was unavoidable. Romeo, often foreseeing fate, indicates this as he tries to stop Tybalts and Mercutios brawling: Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage! And again after killing Tybalt: O, I am Fortunes fool. Fate may have also had it that Friar John was unable to deliver the important message to the banished Romeo. These key events, among others, have extended the role of fate past the prologue. Fate by the stars, is given to us a factor in Romeo and Juliet's deaths. In the prologue where we are told, A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their lives. From this, it is easy to see that Shakespeare wanted us to have the idea of Romeo and Juliet being killed by fate heavily weighing on our minds. Another look at the play being determined by the stars sees Romeo trying to alter fates destructive path: Is it e'en so? Then I defy you, stars!, Romeo exclaims, saying that fate has played role enough; he will dictate what is to come. Once inside the tomb with Juliet, Romeo again challenges fate: Will I set up my everlasting rest, or shake the yoke of inauspicious stars. Even as the stars supposedly hold the fate of Romeo and Juliet, the families of Montague and Capulet still have much to contribute. Once again, the prologue introduces us to fate, this time from a family perspective. From ancient grudge break to new mutiny?From forth the fatal loins of these two foes? Here we are again given the thought that Romeo and Juliet are destined to die, and that the bitter feud between their families has a major part to play. Especially by using the word ?from,' it tells us that as a result of the two quarreling families, there is destined to be a death toll. What's in a name? A love-sick Juliet complains of her ill-fate of being Capulet, as does Romeo of being Montague, when he tells a servant, Ay, mine own fortune in my misery. This illustrates as the story progresses, that like Juliet, he cares not of a name. The role of fate in their families' plans and histories, and by the stars, is shown in many instances, saying that the deaths of Romeo and Juliet may have been predetermined and unavoidable. Chance: coincidence and misadventure, may well have brought the downfall of Romeo and Juliet. The ever analytical Juliet ponders the role of coincidence in her new found love: My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late! Perhaps the irony of coincidence lies in the only true love each Romeo and Juliet found
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Free Essays on What Can We Learn About Hamlet Solely From The Speeches Of The Other Characters
What can we learn about Hamlet solely from the speeches of the other characters? We first start to learn about what others thought of Hamlet when in act 1 scene 3 Laertes warns Ophelia about getting too involved with Hamlet, because he toys with passion, saying that ââ¬Å"perhaps he loves you nowâ⬠(Ln 14) and that ââ¬Å"his will is not his own. For he himself is subject to his birthâ⬠(Ln 17-18). As Hamlet is the prince, he does not have full control over his choice in marriage. Polonius also warns her off him unless he can offer more. Polonius thinks that Hamletââ¬â¢s madness could be attributed to the love for his daughter Ophelia, after she came and told Polonius that Hamlet frightened her by his strange behaviour and appearance while she was in her closet sewing. Polonius thinks that ââ¬Å"This is the very ecstasy of loveâ⬠(Act 2 Sc1 Ln 102). He then feels bad because he instructed Ophelia to reject all Hamletââ¬â¢s letters and to deny him access to her. Polonius subsequently comes to the conclusion ââ¬Å"That hath made him mad.â⬠(Ln 10) then goes off with Ophelia to tell the king of his findings. Gertrude doubts Poloniusââ¬â¢s discovery and thinks the death of the King Hamlets father and her hasty marriage to his brother Claudius, is the cause of Hamletââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"distemperâ⬠. In act 3 Claudius is talking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern who he has brought in to spy on Hamlet, to find out what the cause is of his disposition, and in Sc 1 Ln7 Guildenstern reveals that he thinks Hamlet is playing them all ââ¬Å"with a crafty madnessâ⬠. Claudius then seems happy with the knowledge that Hamlet is delighted that the players are coming, saying ââ¬Å"and it doth much content me to hear him so inclinedâ⬠(Sc 1 Ln 24-25) They then go on to put Poloniusââ¬â¢s theory to the test by setting Ophelia up to meet with Hamlet, when Gertrude expresses to Ophelia ââ¬Å"I do wish that your good beauties be the happy cause of Hamlets wildness; so shall I hope y... Free Essays on What Can We Learn About Hamlet Solely From The Speeches Of The Other Characters Free Essays on What Can We Learn About Hamlet Solely From The Speeches Of The Other Characters What can we learn about Hamlet solely from the speeches of the other characters? We first start to learn about what others thought of Hamlet when in act 1 scene 3 Laertes warns Ophelia about getting too involved with Hamlet, because he toys with passion, saying that ââ¬Å"perhaps he loves you nowâ⬠(Ln 14) and that ââ¬Å"his will is not his own. For he himself is subject to his birthâ⬠(Ln 17-18). As Hamlet is the prince, he does not have full control over his choice in marriage. Polonius also warns her off him unless he can offer more. Polonius thinks that Hamletââ¬â¢s madness could be attributed to the love for his daughter Ophelia, after she came and told Polonius that Hamlet frightened her by his strange behaviour and appearance while she was in her closet sewing. Polonius thinks that ââ¬Å"This is the very ecstasy of loveâ⬠(Act 2 Sc1 Ln 102). He then feels bad because he instructed Ophelia to reject all Hamletââ¬â¢s letters and to deny him access to her. Polonius subsequently comes to the conclusion ââ¬Å"That hath made him mad.â⬠(Ln 10) then goes off with Ophelia to tell the king of his findings. Gertrude doubts Poloniusââ¬â¢s discovery and thinks the death of the King Hamlets father and her hasty marriage to his brother Claudius, is the cause of Hamletââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"distemperâ⬠. In act 3 Claudius is talking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern who he has brought in to spy on Hamlet, to find out what the cause is of his disposition, and in Sc 1 Ln7 Guildenstern reveals that he thinks Hamlet is playing them all ââ¬Å"with a crafty madnessâ⬠. Claudius then seems happy with the knowledge that Hamlet is delighted that the players are coming, saying ââ¬Å"and it doth much content me to hear him so inclinedâ⬠(Sc 1 Ln 24-25) They then go on to put Poloniusââ¬â¢s theory to the test by setting Ophelia up to meet with Hamlet, when Gertrude expresses to Ophelia ââ¬Å"I do wish that your good beauties be the happy cause of Hamlets wildness; so shall I hope y...
Saturday, November 23, 2019
How to Write a Great Community Service Essay
How to Write a Great Community Service Essay SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you applying to a college or a scholarship that requires a community service essay?Do you know how to write an essay that will impress readers and clearly show the impact your work had on yourself and others? Read on to learn step-by-step instructions for writing a great community service essay that will help you stand out and be memorable. What Is a Community Service Essay? Why Do You Need One? A community service essay is an essay that describes the volunteer work you did and the impact it had on you and your community.Community service essays can vary widely depending on specific requirements listed in the application, but, in general, they describe the work you did, why you found the work important, and how it benefited people around you. Community service essays are typically needed for two reasons: 1. To Apply to College Some colleges require students to write community service essays as part of their application or to be eligible for certain scholarships. You may also choose to highlight your community service work in your personal statement. 2. To Apply for Scholarships Some scholarships are specifically awarded to students with exceptional community service experiences, and many use community service essays to help choose scholarship recipients. Green Mountain College offers one of the most famous of these scholarships. Their "Make a Difference Scholarship" offers full tuition, room, and board to students who have demonstrated a significant, positive impact through their community service Getting Started With Your Essay In the following sections, I'll go over each step of how to plan and write your essay. I'll also include sample excerpts for you to look throughso you can get a better idea of what readers are looking for when they review your essay. Step 1: Know the Essay Requirements Before your start writing a single word, you should be familiar with the essay prompt.Each college or scholarship will have different requirements for their essay, so make sure you read these carefully and understand them. Specific things to pay attention to include: Length requirement Application deadline The main purpose or focus of the essay If the essay should follow a specific structure Below are three real community service essay prompts. Read through them and notice how much they varyin terms of length, detail, and what information the writer should include. From the AXA Achievement Scholarship: "Describe your outstanding achievement in depth and provide the specific planning, training, goals, and steps taken to make the accomplishment successful. Include details about your role and highlight leadership you provided. Your essay must be a minimum of 350 words but not more than 600 words." From the Laura W. Bush Traveling Scholarship: "Essay (up to 500 words, double spaced) explaining your interest in being considered for the award and how your proposed project reflects or is related to both UNESCOââ¬â¢s mandate and U.S. interests in promoting peace by sharing advances in education, science, culture, and communications." From the LULAC National Scholarship Fund: "Please type or print an essay of 300 words (maximum) on how your academic studies will contribute to your personal professional goals. In addition, please discuss any community service or extracurricular activities you have been involved in that relate to your goals." Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now: Step 2: Brainstorm Ideas Even after you understand what the essay should be about, it can still be difficult to begin writing. Answer the following questions to help brainstorm essay ideas. You may be able to incorporate your answers into your essay. What community service activity that youââ¬â¢ve participated in has meant the most to you? What is your favorite memory from performing community service? Why did you decide to begin community service? What made you decide to volunteer where you did? How has your community service changed you? How has your community service helped others? How has your community service affected your plans for the future? You donââ¬â¢t need to answer all the questions, but if you find you have a lot of ideas for one of two of them, those may be things you want to include in your essay. Writing Your Essay How you structure your essay will depend on the requirements of the scholarship or school you are applying to. You may give an overview of all the work you did as a volunteer, or highlight a particularly memorable experience. You may focus on your personal growth or how your community benefited. Regardless of the specific structure requested, follow the guidelines below to make sure your community service essay is memorable and clearly shows the impact of your work. Samples of mediocre and excellent essays are included below to give you a better ideaof how you should draft your own essay. Step 1: Hook Your Reader In You want the person reading your essay to be interested, so your first sentence should hook them in and entice them to read more.A good way to do this is to start in the middle of the action. Your first sentence could describe you helping build a house, releasing a rescued animal back to the wild, watching a student you tutored read a book on their own, or something else that quickly gets the reader interested.This will help set your essay apart and make it more memorable. Compare these two opening sentences: "I have volunteered at the Wishbone Pet Shelter for three years." "The moment I saw the starving, mud-splattered puppy brought into the shelter with its tail between its legs, I knew I'd do whatever I could to save it." The first sentence is a very general, bland statement. The majority of community service essays probably begin a lot like it, but it gives the reader little information and does nothing to draw them in. On the other hand, the second sentence begins immediately with action and helps persuade the reader to keep reading so they can learn what happened to the dog. Step 2: Discuss the Work You Did Once youââ¬â¢ve hooked your reader in with your first sentence, tell them about your community service experiences.State where you work, when you began working, how much time youââ¬â¢ve spent there, and what your main duties include.This will help the reader quickly put the rest of the essay in context and understand the basics of your community service work. Not including basic details about your community service could leave your reader confused. Step 3: Include Specific Details Itââ¬â¢s the details of your community service that make your experience unique and memorable, so go into the specifics of what you did.For example, donââ¬â¢t just say you volunteered at a nursing home; talk about reading Mrs. Johnson her favorite book, watching Mr. Scott win at bingo, and seeing the residents play games with their grandchildren at the family day you organized.Try to include specific activities, moments, and people in your essay.Having details like these let the readers really understand what work you did and how it differs from other volunteer experiences. Compare these two passages: "For my volunteer work, I tutored children at a local elementary school. I helped them improve their math skills and become more confident students." "As a volunteer at York Elementary School, I worked one-on-one with second and third graders who struggled with their math skills, particularly addition, subtraction, and fractions. As part of my work, I would create practice problems and quizzes and try to connect math to the students' interests. One of my favorite memories was when Sara, a student I had been working with for several weeks, told me that she enjoyed the math problems I had created about a girl buying and selling horses so much that she asked to help me create math problems for other students." The first passage only gives basic information about the work done by the volunteer; there is very little detail included, and no evidence is given to support her claims. How did she help students improve their math skills? How did she know they were becoming more confident? The second passage is much more detailed. It recounts a specific story and explains more fully what kind of work the volunteer did, as well as a specific instance of a student becoming more confident with her math skills. Providing more detail in your essay helps support your claimsas well as make your essay more memorable and unique. Step 4: Show Your Personality It would be very hard to get a scholarship or place at a school if none of your readers felt like they knew much about you after finishing your essay, so make sure that your essay shows your personality.The way to do this is to state your personal strengths, then provide examples to support your claims.Take some time to think about which parts of your personality you would like your essay to highlight, then write about specific examples to show this. Examples: If you want to show that youââ¬â¢re a motivated leader, describe a time when you organized an event or supervised other volunteers. If you want to show your teamwork skills, write about a time you helped a group of people work together better. If you want to show that youââ¬â¢re a compassionate animal lover, write about taking care of neglected shelter animals and helping each of them find homes. Step 5: State What You Accomplished After you have described your community service and given specific examples of your work, you want to begin to wrap your essay up by stating your accomplishments.What was the impact of your community service? Did you build a house for a family to move into? Help students improve their reading skills? Clean up a local park?Make sure the impact of your work is clear; donââ¬â¢t be worried about bragging here. If you can include specific numbers, that will also strengthen your essay.Saying ââ¬Å"I delivered meals to 24 home-bound senior citizensâ⬠is a stronger example than just saying ââ¬Å"I delivered meals to lots of senior citizens." Also be sure to explain why your work matters. Why is what you did important?Did it provide more parks for kids to play in? Help students get better grades? Give people medical care who would otherwise not have gotten it?This is an important part of your essay, so make sure to go into enough detail that your readers will know exactly what you accomplished and how it helped your community. Compare these two passages: "My biggest accomplishment during my community service was helping to organize a family event at the retirement home. The children and grandchildren of many residents attended, and they all enjoyed playing games and watching movies together." "The community service accomplishment that I'm most proud of is the work I did to help organize the First Annual Family Fun Day at the retirement home. My job was to design and organize fun activities that senior citizens and their younger relatives could enjoy. The event lasted eight hours and included ten different games, two performances, and a movie screening with popcorn. Almost 200 residents and family members attended throughout the day. This event was important because it provided an opportunity for senior citizens to connect with their family members in a way they aren't often able to. It also made the retirement home seem more fun and enjoyable to children, and we have seen an increase in the number of kids coming to visit their grandparents since the event." The second passage is stronger for a variety of reasons. First, it goes into much more detail about the work the volunteer did. The first passage only states that she helped "organize a family event." That really doesn't tell readers much about her work or what her responsibilities were. The second passage is much clearer; her job was to "design and organize fun activities." The second passage also explains the event in more depth. A family day can be many things; remember that your readers are likely not familiar with what you're talking about, so details help them get a clearer picture. Lastly, the second passage makes the importance of the event clear: it helped residents connect with younger family members, and it helped retirement homes seem less intimidating to children, so now some residents see their grand kids more often. Step 6: Discuss What You Learned One of the final things toinclude in your essay should be the impact that your community service had on you.You can discuss skills you learned, such as carpentry, public speaking, animal care, or another skill. You can also talk about how you changed personally. Are you more patient now? More understanding of others? Do you have a better idea of the type of career you want?Go into depth about this, but be honest. Donââ¬â¢t say your community service changed your life if it didnââ¬â¢t because trite statements wonââ¬â¢t impress readers. In order to support your statements, provide more examples. If you say youââ¬â¢re more patient now, how do you know this? Do you get less frustrated while playing with your younger siblings? Are you more willing to help group partners who are struggling with their part of the work? Youââ¬â¢ve probably noticed by now that including specific examples and details is one of the best ways to create a strong and believable essay. Compare these two passages: "As a result of my community service, I learned a lot about building houses and became a more mature person." "As a result of my community service, I gained hands-on experience in construction. I learned how to read blueprints, use a hammer and nails, and begin constructing the foundation of a two-bedroom house. Working on the house could be challenging at times, but it taught me to appreciate the value of hard work and be more willing to pitch in when I see someone needs help. My dad has just started building a shed in our backyard, and I offered to help him with it because I know from my community service how much work it is. I also appreciate my own house more, and I know how lucky I am to have a roof over my head." The second passage is more impressive and memorablebecause it describes the skills the writer learned in more detailand recounts a specific story that supports her claim that her community service changed her and made her more helpful. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Step 7: Finish Strong Just asyou started your essay in a way that would grab readersââ¬â¢ attention, you want to finish your essay on a strong note as well.A good way to end your essay is to state again the impact your work had on you, your community, or both.Reiterate how you changed as a result of your community service, why you found the work important, or how it helped others. Compare these two concluding statements: "In conclusion, I learned a lot from my community service at my local museum, and I hope to keep volunteering and learning more about history." "To conclude, volunteering at my city's American History Museum has been a great experience. By leading tours and participating in special events, I became better at public speaking and am now more comfortable starting conversations with people. In return, I was able to get more community members interested in history and our local museum. My interest in history has deepened, and I look forward to studying the subject in college and hopefully continuing my volunteer work at my university's own museum." The second passage takes each point made in the first passage and expands upon it. In a few sentences, the second passage is able to clearly convey what work the volunteer did, how she changed, and how her volunteer work benefited her community. She also ends her essay discussing her future and how she'd like to continue her community service, which is a good way to wrap things up because it shows your readers that you are committed to community service for the long-term. What's Next? Are you applying to a community service scholarship or thinking about it? We have a complete list of all the community service scholarships available to help get your search started! Do you need a community service letter as well? We have a step-by-stepguide that will tell you how to get a great reference letter from your community service supervisor. Thinking about doing community service abroad? Before you sign up, read our guide on some of the hazards of international volunteer trips and how to know if it's the right choice for you. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Watch movies and talking about why its harmful to voters.( you could Essay
Watch movies and talking about why its harmful to voters.( you could chose any topic you like) - Essay Example The Century of the Self exposes how thorough and scientific the PR industry has become. In its early days the industry concerned itself with selling products by highlighting its features. However, quite soon, as the Unique Selling Propositions (USPs) of competing products decreased, the only way of distinguishing products was through their perceptions. This led to a pervasive trend of promoting products for their qualities and attributes. This is where Sigmund Freudââ¬â¢s theories on psychoanalysis were employed. The advertising industry, from being endorsers of products had now turned into manipulators of individual psychology. If the choice of psychological manipulation was bad enough for consumers, it was even more portentous when it comes to democracy. The successful party propaganda efforts of Adolf Hitler in the 1930s had set a notorious benchmark. Ever since, political campaigns have come exclusively to depend on marketing success and not on the merits of election manifestos. These days the same PR firms that sell us toothpaste and detergent also sell us our next President. Hence, as The Century of the Self indicated in grave tone, politics today has become an exercise in tapping our primordial fears and instincts. Politics is no more a reasoned discourse on the merits and demerits of policies. The documentary Toxic Sludge is Good For You is again another indictment of the PR industry. It talks of the unholy alliance between big corporations, political parties and the PR industry. As a result most programs in mainstream media are no more than exercises in creating illusions. As the title ironically suggests, advertisements have become synonymous with spreading falsities. To a large extent even the general public knows it. The documentary alludes to how PR industry had copied some of the strategies used by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for international espionage and sabotage. In a
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