I am going to fail english

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  • super-smashman
    FFR Player
    • Nov 2004
    • 2638

    #1

    I am going to fail english

    Unless I do well on this essay.

    So, please FFR. I need someone to critique this is any way possible so that I can improve it.

    Grammer, structure, logic, whatever.



    At some point in most people’s lives we ponder about the future of humanity and if there is something we need to do to ensure our continual existence as a species; some kind of cure-all for our greatest problems such as global warming, nuclear war or pandemic diseases. Well, there is. The novel “Lord of the Flies”, by William Golding, indirectly demonstrates that education can cure humanitie’s flaws. Being educated controls fear, suppresses greed and drives humans forward in evolution. The boys effectively represent the ignorant part of the human race.

    It is human nature to be afraid of the unknown. It is an innate system that helps people survive immediate and dangerous situations. However it is this mechanism that often compels them to act in a way that harms others or that harms them in the future. This is precisely the reason why people need to be educated; to overcome their fears when they are malevolent. The boys are all at a meeting where they are discussing the possibility of a beast existing. Maurice interrupts by saying that the beast might come from the sea. “Daddy said they haven’t found all the animals in the sea yet… My daddy says there’s things, [squids] that are hundred of yards long and eat whales whole” (Golding, 96). Had the boys known more, they would understand that a squid could never eat a whale whole and that even if there were squids, they would pose no threat to them on land. Yet, because of their ignorance, they are now concerned about a giant, whale-eating squid attack. Piggy is allowed to speak at the same gathering. He begins: “Grown-ups know things …They ain’t afraid of the dark. They’d meet and have tea and discuss. Then things ‘ud be all right” (Golding, 103). Piggy was able to identify their need for education. He is aware that their ignorance about many things will cause them problems and that gathering their collective knowledge will be crucial in order to survive.

    It is human nature to think of one self’s well being. It is just as necessary for survival as fear. Humans naturally prioritize themselves but it’s when they benefit themselves at the expense of another, this is considered greed and is a direct imposition on the rights of others. To be educated would indicate an understanding of this concept. Knowing that selfish actions hurt others makes a person less likely to perform them. Jack is the primary exhibitor of greed in this case. Ralph is heading back to Castle Rock at night to speak with Sam and Eric who are guarding the area. They tell him that he should not be near there, as Jack and the rest of the hunters are searching for him. “”But I’ve done nothing,” whispered Ralph, urgently. “I only wanted to keep up a fire!”” (Golding, 208). Ralph demonstrates his knowledge by saying he needed to keep a signal fire lit. This altruism is in perfect contrast with Jack’s greed. Ralph knows that to get rescued he would have to act selflessly in situations such as keeping the fire lit. He could choose to join the other boys in play and games but he decides not to because he wants him and the other boys to return to civilization. He then proceeds to act in selflessly and tries to keep their signal fire burning, even at his own expense of time and effort. Immediately after the last cited event, Ralph asked: “”Sam – I’m going to be all right, aren’t I?” The twins were silent again. “Here!” said Sam suddenly. “Take this –“ Ralph felt a chunk of meat pushed against him and grabbed it.” (Golding, 209). Sam and Eric are both aware of Jack’s motives in hunting Ralph and risk their own allegiance by giving the “enemy” their food. They do not challenge Jack, however, because they know how determined Jack is to keep his power and they fear for their safety. This behaviour has been seen many times in oppressive and totalitarian governments in history. Jack and his hunters are attempting to push a boulder down onto where Ralph is hiding in the hopes of crushing him. ““Heave! Heave! Heave!” […] The rock bounded on, thumping and smashing towards the beach, while a slower while a shower of broken twigs and leaves fell on him. Beyond the thicket, the tribe was cheering” (Golding, 213). By this point in the novel, the boys have absolutely no legitimate reason to kill Ralph. They would have been better off leaving Ralph alone to try and get rescued, as this would inevitably mean their rescue. However, Jack does not want to be rescued. He is content staying on an island in complete social control of a group of children and, because of his greed, will stop anyone who tries to change this.

    Humans are evolving faster than any other species ever because of a simple system we developed. Normally a species inherits slight alterations from previous generations because of genetics and nature. When humans developed language, they began to evolve at an unprecedented rate. They gained the ability to leave knowledge and experience behind, whereas before, they were at the mercy of their DNA. It is education that drives this accelerated evolution and without it, the race would evolve no faster than pond scum. Ralph is attempting to build shelters on the beach. To Jack, he begins to speak. “”Been working for days now. And look!” Two shelters were in position, but shaky. This one was a ruin” (Golding, 54). Ralph does not know how to properly build shelters out of the materials he has at his disposal. Had he known how, they would have lived more comfortably and safer inside huts. Jack and Ralph are conversing after the failed attempt by Jack to kill a wild pig. “”I was choosing a place,” said Jack. “I was just waiting for a moment to decide where to stab him.” “You should stick a pig,” said Ralph fiercely. “They always talk about sticking a pig.” “You cut a pig’s throat to let the blood out,” said Jack, “otherwise you can’t eat the meat”” (Golding, 33). Jack was ignorant about how to properly hunt which lead to his fallacy. The open exchange of knowledge between the boys teaches them, almost instantly, how to hunt better. It’s this rapid evolution that is necessary to maintain the dominance of humans in the world. The boys are celebrating after their first successful kill during a hunt. “”We hit the pig – “ “ – I fell on top – “ “I cut the pig’s throat,” said Jack, proudly” (Golding, 75). The success of the second attempt at hunting is a direct result of the sharing of information that took place beforehand. Jack was able to take the information from another and use it to improve his hunting skills and, therefore, his chances of survival; not only his chances but the chances of the other boys as well. This can be seen on a greater scale with concepts such as democracy or scientific advancements that can benefit mankind.

    The knowledge and information people pass on to others promotes the betterment of the species. The more a person understands others, the more likely they are to work towards the betterment of others. The more people are familiar with the world they live in, the less they will fear it. These flaws can be eliminated simply by being educated. Continuing and evolving mentally as a species is the only way humans or any other species can ever hope to understand the most important questions. Is there a purpose to life? If so, what is that purpose? Can we ever accomplish it? The key to finding these answers has always been to be educated, evolve and to never stop searching for the answer to the question: Why?
  • Squeek
    let it snow~
    • Jan 2004
    • 14444

    #2
    Re: I am going to fail english

    Boggles my mind how people fail English.

    The entire subject is based around your own perception of what is happening in literature.

    Nevertheless, I'll be reading this and posting a revised version in about 5 minutes.

    ~Squeek

    Comment

    • lord_carbo
      FFR Player
      • Dec 2004
      • 6222

      #3
      Re: I am going to fail english

      tl;dr

      Oh, this is CT, nvm.

      Just reread it yourself. Unless your skills are not up to par with what your teacher should expect from your grade level, then you have nothing to worry about.

      Well I didn't read it, but I looked at it. Space out those big clunks of text into paragraphs. That might help.
      last.fm

      Comment

      • Shashakiro
        TWO THOUZAND COMBO
        FFR Simfile Author
        • Aug 2005
        • 9082

        #4
        Re: I am going to fail english

        In the first paragraph...

        I'd say "continued existence" instead of what you have
        I'm almost certain it's "humanity's"

        And in the second paragraph, I think you need a comma after "however".

        Might edit in other stuff if I feel like it.
        4th Official FFR Tournament - Master division champion!

        Originally posted by Boogiebear
        use ur bain. Itz there for a reason.

        Comment

        • nforcer06164
          FFR Player
          • Mar 2003
          • 4772

          #5
          Re: I am going to fail english

          When is it due? I have a good handle on sentence structure, logic and grammar (judging by my consistent A grammar and content grades from a harsh English 3 Honors teacher), so I'll give it a shot when I get time. I plan on getting to it tomorrow, but how much time are you allowed?

          PROUD OWNER OF TWO OMEGA FAVORS. YEAH, NICE TRY.
          Giant NES Controller (4 FEET) progress: PAINT IS DONE!
          Download my Wii Music Suite v1.0, and PM me with your input!

          Originally posted by Squeek
          My mind says "GOGOGOG" and my hands go "wut no scru u ***"

          Comment

          • lord_carbo
            FFR Player
            • Dec 2004
            • 6222

            #6
            Re: I am going to fail english

            Okay, I read the last paragraph. It wasn't bad, but the word "betterment" just doesn't flow well. "Advancement" or "progress" might work better.

            And I was gonna say what Shaskakiro said about "humanity". Possessiveness does not make the actual word plural (unless it is supposed to be plural); you just add an apostrophe and an "s".
            last.fm

            Comment

            • super-smashman
              FFR Player
              • Nov 2004
              • 2638

              #7
              Re: I am going to fail english

              Yeah, it's very due tommorow.

              And by that I mean it was due a week ago but my teacher gave me some extra time.

              And THANK YOU once again.

              Comment

              • DarkManticoreX2
                TWG Overlord
                • Apr 2005
                • 7355

                #8
                Re: I am going to fail english

                Well id post a revised version too, but lets see how squeeks turns out first. If your satisfied with that it'll save me some writing
                AAA's = 800

                Originally posted by V
                Manti, I apologize for insulting you. Let the record show that I am a prickass douche, and not only that, but that I am a terrible player.

                Comment

                • Squeek
                  let it snow~
                  • Jan 2004
                  • 14444

                  #9
                  Re: I am going to fail english

                  At some point in any person's life, one will begin to ponder about the future of humanity and wonder if there is something we as a species need to do to ensure that we continue to exist, such as some kind of cure-all for our greatest problems: global warming, nuclear war, and pandemic diseases. According to one such individual, there is such a thing. The novel Lord of the Flies, written by William Golding, indirectly demonstrates that education can cure humanity's flaws. Being educated controls fear, suppresses greed, and drives humans forward in evolution. The boys in the story effectively represent the ignorance of the human race.

                  It is common behavior to be afraid of the unknown. It is an innate system that helps people survive immediate and dangerous situations. However, it is this mechanism that often compels them to act in a way that harms others or that harms them in the future. This is precisely the reason why people need to be educated; to overcome their fears when they are malevolent. The story emulates this necessity during the scene in which the boys are all at a meeting where they are discussing the possibility of a vicious beast existing. One boy, Maurice, interrupts by saying that the beast might come from the sea. "Daddy said they haven’t found all the animals in the sea yet… My daddy says there’s things, [squids] that are hundred of yards long and eat whales whole" (Golding, 96). Had the boys known more, they would have understood that a squid could never eat a whale whole and that even if there were squids, they would pose no threat to those who live on land. Yet, because of their ignorance, they became concerned about a giant, whale-eating squid attacking their island. Another boy named Piggy is allowed to speak at the same gathering. He begins: "Grown-ups know things …They ain’t afraid of the dark. They’d meet and have tea and discuss. Then things ‘ud be all right" (Golding, 103). Piggy was able to identify their need for education. He is aware that their ignorance about the squid and many other things will cause the group problems and that gathering their collective knowledge will be crucial in order to survive.

                  It is human nature to think of one's own well-being. It is just as necessary for survival as fear. Humans naturally prioritize themselves over others, but it is only when they benefit themselves at the expense of others that it is considered greed and a direct imposition on the rights of others. To be educated would indicate an understanding of this concept. Knowing that selfish actions hurt others makes a person less likely to perform them. Jack is the primary exhibitor of greed in this case. Ralph is heading back to Castle Rock at night to speak with Sam and Eric who are guarding the area. They tell him that he should not be near there, as Jack and the rest of the hunters are searching for him. "'But I’ve done nothing,' whispered Ralph, urgently. 'I only wanted to keep up a fire!'" (Golding, 208). Ralph demonstrates his knowledge by saying he needed to keep a signal fire lit. This altruism is in perfect contrast with Jack’s greed. Ralph knows that to get rescued he would have to act selflessly in situations such as keeping the fire lit. He could choose to join the other boys in play and games but he decides not to because he wants him and the other boys to return to civilization. He then proceeds to act in selflessly and tries to keep their signal fire burning, even at his own expense of time and effort. Immediately after the last cited event, Ralph asked: "'Sam – I'm going to be all right, aren't I?' The twins were silent again. 'Here!' said Sam suddenly. 'Take this –' Ralph felt a chunk of meat pushed against him and grabbed it." (Golding, 209). Sam and Eric are both aware of Jack's motives in hunting Ralph and risk their own allegiance by giving the "enemy" their food. They do not challenge Jack, however, because they know how determined Jack is to keep his power and they fear for their safety. This behaviour has been seen many times in oppressive and totalitarian governments in history. Jack and his hunters are attempting to push a boulder down onto where Ralph is hiding in the hopes of crushing him. "'Heave! Heave! Heave!' […] The rock bounded on, thumping and smashing towards the beach, while a shower of broken twigs and leaves fell on him. Beyond the thicket, the tribe was cheering" (Golding, 213). By this point in the novel, the boys have absolutely no legitimate reason to kill Ralph. They would have been better off leaving Ralph alone to try and get rescued, as this would inevitably mean their rescue. However, Jack does not want to be rescued. He is content staying on an island in complete social control of a group of children and, because of his greed, will stop anyone who tries to change this.

                  Humans are evolving faster than any other species ever because of a simple system we developed. Normally, a species inherits slight alterations from previous generations because of genetics and nature. When humans developed language, they began to evolve at an unprecedented rate. They gained the ability to leave knowledge and experience behind, whereas before, they were at the mercy of their DNA. It is education that drives this accelerated evolution and without it, the race would evolve no faster than pond scum. This concept of education and its necessity is adapted within the book as well, when Ralph is attempting to build shelters on the beach. To Jack, he begins to speak. "'Been working for days now. And look!' Two shelters were in position, but shaky. This one was a ruin" (Golding, 54). Ralph does not know how to properly build shelters out of the materials he has at his disposal. Had he known how, they would have lived more comfortably and safer inside huts. Jack and Ralph are conversing after the failed attempt by Jack to kill a wild pig. "'I was choosing a place,' said Jack. 'I was just waiting for a moment to decide where to stab him.' 'You should stick a pig,' said Ralph fiercely. 'They always talk about sticking a pig.' 'You cut a pig's throat to let the blood out,' said Jack, 'otherwise you can’t eat the meat'" (Golding, 33). Jack was ignorant about how to properly hunt which lead to his fallacy. The open exchange of knowledge between the boys teaches them, almost instantly, how to hunt better. It’s this rapid evolution that is necessary to maintain the dominance of humans in the world. The boys are celebrating after their first successful kill during a hunt. "'We hit the pig ... I fell on top ... 'I cut the pig’s throat,' said Jack, proudly" (Golding, 75). The success of the second attempt at hunting is a direct result of the sharing of information that took place beforehand. Jack was able to take the information from another and use it to improve his hunting skills and, therefore, the group's chances of survival. This can be seen on a greater scale with concepts such as government or scientific advancements that can benefit mankind.

                  The knowledge and information people pass on to others promotes the betterment of the species. The more a person understands others, the more likely that person will work toward the betterment of others. The more people are familiar with the world they live in, the less they will fear it. These flaws can be eliminated simply by being educated. Continuing and evolving mentally as a species is the only way humans or any other species can ever hope to understand the most important questions: Is there a purpose to life? If so, what is that purpose? Can we ever accomplish it? The key to finding these answers has always been to be educated, evolve and to never stop searching for the answer to the question: Why?

                  ---

                  Your essay waned from the main point in the second paragraph. Also, you never introduce the reader to the characters. You just start naming people. I've never read this book before (THANKFULLY!), so I have no idea who these people you are referring to ARE!

                  Make sure that there is an agreement between groups of people and one person. Never refer to one person as "they". It looks stupid using "one", "that person", or "individual", but it's required when you are being gender-impartial.

                  I just did a quick glance and corrected as I went along. I rarely have the ability to critique papers for content. I usually just proofread.

                  ~Squeek
                  Last edited by Squeek; 05-18-2006, 08:59 PM.

                  Comment

                  • Shashakiro
                    TWO THOUZAND COMBO
                    FFR Simfile Author
                    • Aug 2005
                    • 9082

                    #10
                    Re: I am going to fail english

                    EDIT: nevermind just go with's squeek's rofl
                    4th Official FFR Tournament - Master division champion!

                    Originally posted by Boogiebear
                    use ur bain. Itz there for a reason.

                    Comment

                    • Squeek
                      let it snow~
                      • Jan 2004
                      • 14444

                      #11
                      Re: I am going to fail english

                      Oh PS.

                      You need transitions between paragraphs.

                      Your paper is undirected and sucks without them.

                      Also, make sure the main idea is clear and referenced in each paragraph.

                      ~Squeek

                      Comment

                      • super-smashman
                        FFR Player
                        • Nov 2004
                        • 2638

                        #12
                        Re: I am going to fail english

                        First off.

                        <3!!

                        Originally posted by MrESqueek
                        Your essay waned from the main point in the second paragraph. Also, you never introduce the reader to the characters. You just start naming people. I've never read this book before (THANKFULLY!), so I have no idea who these people you are referring to ARE!
                        I was specifically told to assume that the reader had already read the book and knows the characters.

                        Make sure that there is an agreement between groups of people and one person. Never refer to one person as "they". It looks stupid using "one", "that person", or "individual", but it's required when you are being gender-impartial.
                        Yeah, you're right. Gotta watch the personal pronouns.

                        I just did a quick glance and corrected as I went along. I rarely have the ability to critique papers for content. I usually just proofread.

                        ~Squeek
                        That's more help than I could have asked for!

                        Comment

                        • Squeek
                          let it snow~
                          • Jan 2004
                          • 14444

                          #13
                          Re: I am going to fail english

                          In that case, remove the text in my version that surrounds the first three characters you mentioned as it is unnecessary.

                          ~Squeek

                          Comment

                          • super-smashman
                            FFR Player
                            • Nov 2004
                            • 2638

                            #14
                            Re: I am going to fail english

                            I find it really hard to make transitions from the intro to point one and point three to the conclusion.

                            Especialy the latter.

                            Comment

                            • DarkManticoreX2
                              TWG Overlord
                              • Apr 2005
                              • 7355

                              #15
                              Re: I am going to fail english

                              A good way to tie things together is to give your intro paragraph a thesis. say something like;

                              The boys in the story effectively represent the ignorance of the human race. They fear the unknown, They value themselves over the group, and they choose to partake in savagry instead of trying to learn.

                              That would be a great way to tie all the paragraphs together right from the start. feel free to edit it as need be

                              edit nevermind lol i was readin yours. squeeks already has the thesis.
                              Last edited by DarkManticoreX2; 05-18-2006, 09:36 PM.
                              AAA's = 800

                              Originally posted by V
                              Manti, I apologize for insulting you. Let the record show that I am a prickass douche, and not only that, but that I am a terrible player.

                              Comment

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