11th GradeMemories and MetaphorEleventh grade was the second round of the match. This is the year that I finally found the pace of my opponent and managed to keep up and do well. I did not struggle in any classes this year, though I swear my English teacher hated me. During chemistry class one day we were assigned a project, which of course excited all of us. We got to work with acid. We learned that pennies are coated in copper, but the inside of a penny is zinc, so we scratched off a slit in the outer coating and left the penny in acid for a day or two. When we came back to it, the penny was hollow and could be crushed like an unprepared opponent. I had my first sanctioned match this year. I remember it because it only lasted a minute and a half before my opponent could no longer fight back and the match was called, with me standing victorious. He blacked out on the ropes not long after the match was called and could barely stand when they raised my hand. Over the course of the year I had two more sanctioned fights, becoming an undefeated state champion in the last. I met my best friend this year, Colton Curry, a person that I admire. We met just walking in the hallway talking with mutual friends and instantly became friends. He is my brother and always will be, even after years, distance, and duty separate us like a referee separating a clenched duo of fighters.
I burnt out reading some of the stories this year. The only book I enjoyed was Into the Wild. That book is one of my favorites and I have read it many times. My opponent scored on me with The Crucible which was so dry and disgustingly boring that I fell asleep reading it, in class. My head snapped back while reading Of Mice and Men which was not as dry as The Crucible but was still boring and uninteresting. This year, English made reading tedious. Going on the attack, writing became easier for me. It was still difficult, but I learned to write a decent paper in less time. I wrote more than one SOL prompt and was not successful, but ended up doing quite well on the SOL. The hardest and most tedious paper we had to write was a persuasive research project. I did not like the process of writing it, which took as long as judges debating scores, but I think the end product turned out well. We wrote a literary analysis on The Crucible which knocked me down and got me a standing eight because I hated the novel with a passion. My teacher this year taught me how to write a thorough paper but also burnt me out on reading. It was months after the year ended before I started reading on my own again. IntroductionThe original assignment was to pick a controversial topic, as well as a side on the topic, and try to persuade the reader towards your opinions and beliefs. The writing featured here is persuasive and opinionated. To create this piece I first had to pick a topic and side, then research the topic, and then do my best to persuade the readers that my opinions and beliefs are correct. I chose this piece because it reflects how I have matured and progressed as a writer.
Gun Control Persuasive Essay Weapons, such as rifles and pistols, coexist with both death and protection; both at home and at war. We, as Americans, are promised the right to bear arms in the second amendment to the Constitution. The government is trying to break this constitutional right with bans on all types of firearms. This ban includes most semi-automatic pistols and most semi-automatic shotguns, both of which are heavily used in hunting, and in both home, and in self-defense. We cannot allow this ban to be established; it will rid every American of the right to bear arms that our forefathers delegated to us.
This ban is such a controversial issue mainly because the United States has a high homicide rate and it also has a very high number of citizens who own firearms. Officials think there exists a link between the two, when there is no connection at all. If a criminal wants to get his hands on a gun, he will do so whether or not guns are banned. The only difference between now and when the gun bans pass is security. If the ban passes, families will no longer feel secure in their own homes. They will be fearful of the inevitable home invasion. Yet if the gun ban does not pass, they will be confident in themselves because they can defend themselves and their loved ones against any intruder with malicious intent. This letter is for the removal of any existing gun bans, anti-gun legislature, and for the installment of certain checks or exams for anyone wishing to own a gun. Thieves burglarize a home every 14.3 seconds in the United States of America. Should we be denied the ability to protect ourselves against these thieves? No, but we must make sure that gun owners are prepared to do what’s necessary in the event of a home invasion. They must be prepared to end another human beings life, while also understanding the potential consequences of doing so. This must be an emphasized point for anyone who wishes to own a gun for protection instead of sport. A firearm can be used for self protection whilst shopping or on a walk. In these circumstances one must have a concealed carry license. This license can be useful in the event of a mugging or robbery at knife or gun point. Such things happen often, in fact, every 13 seconds an American gun owner uses a firearm against a criminal. As a matter of fact, when I was just a little boy, someone tried to rob my house. He opened the window in my parent’s room and as he set his foot in the window my dad cocked the shotgun he kept under the bed. The noise from a bullet chambering into the barrel was more than enough for the robber to flee. Firearms have a huge psychological impact on criminals also. If they even suspect that someone owns a firearm, they are less likely to risk their neck for a few dollars. The government suggests that high homicide rates and high accidental death rates from firearms are due to the high number of guns citizens are allowed. If that’s the case, then I propose psychological exams and background checks, as well as educational classes to be attended by the person(s) wishing to own a firearm. Psychological exams and background checks will prevent unstable people from getting their hands on weapons, reducing the amount of guns on the streets and lowering homicide rates. Educational classes will educate the future gun owner on proper storage, proper use, and proper care. The classes will also be used to cement the understanding of what must be done in the event of an invasion or attack, as well as what might happen to the owner in the event he is forced to commit murder. These ridiculous anti-gun legislatures need to be taken down as well as the bans already in place. Firearms are meant to coexist with death and with protection. It is up to us to educate anyone who wishes to own a gun, and then hopefully death will take less of a place within the gun community. If simple exams and checks were used instead of dramatic bans the public would be both safe and appeased. Petition and protest against anti-gun legislature and gun bans! Cement the idea of exams, checks, and education in the minds of the government! ReflectionApplicationThe persuasive essay assignment was similar to a debate I participated in, in my VA/US History class, both assignments intended result was to convince someone of your beliefs. In this piece I referenced the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America which connects to my government and VA/US history classes. I could use the content of this paper if I ever decided to write my congress representatives and convince them to be apart of a movement.
AnalysisNone of the strategies or skills I used for this assignment were effective, in the end it was repetitive in the extreme and inefficient. I followed a few patterns when I was assigned this paper, I followed the outline I created, I followed the rubric, I finished it two days before the deadline, and I always had my brother, step-mother, and father critique it. The approach I used was inefficient because it took at least double the time it should of, and required many rewrites and edits.
EvaluationThe purpose of this assignment was for me to convince or persuade another person of my ideals on the subject of gun control, this topic is very controversial and is quite important. I believe I did an effective job at communicating my ideals. I learned that my strengths are topics that I am interested in, for example: Guns, The Navy, Fighting, and Fishing. Areas that I can improve upon include diction, sentence structure, and repetitive word use. As a learner, I am progressing towards better diction and less repetitive use of words by the use of synonyms.
CreationI can best use my strengths by picking tops that I am enthusiastic about and have personal experience with. One of the best resources I could use to help me in my weaker areas would be a dictionary and thesaurus. To improve our learning environment my peers could start with paying attention, taking notes, participating, and even just staying awake. I can adapt the skill of writing a persuasive essay in the future if I ever decide to write a congressman or congresswoman.
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