Straighterline English Composition Two Essay examples

[jm82792]

(I'm still editing this, I can't fit it all on one post... My DPI is 120 so I'm hoping everything is formatted correctly)

(Also mods if you wish to edit this or feel it's not appropriate please do as you see fit)


I signed up for Instacert again because I am drowning in the reality that math has to be done, and I have not taken a single math course in the 75 credits I have earned.
I also noticed a few PMs in regards to English Composition for Straighterline and
I feel inclined to write about my experiences. More or less I'm including my essays, the ones that earned a decent grade so that if you get stumped maybe they can help.

I first started English Comp 1 about 8 months ago,
it seemed rather straight forward for the most part(repeat of high school), I eventually started then finished English Comp 2 along with Financial Accounting 1 & 2. I just cancelled Straighterline so I can't refresh my memory on the content. I recall it being rather uneventful for the most part, mostly quizzes since you are being built up with everything needed for English Comp 2.

The course that took me for a spin was English Compostion 2.
There were a lot of essays, initially it was a creative photo essay for say a news report.
They seem to give you material to study, give you a ten question quiz or two, and finally an eventual essay. Progressively it builds to more demanding essays which take more effort to finish.
I was under the illusion I'd always be able to view my grades, my sent in essays, and such when I cancelled; that is not the case. However, I saved a few essays.

Here is the first essay I turned in after I spent an hour reading the material for the first chapter.
I earned like a B+ on it, the graders seem to especially shoot you down if you run off topic...

Utter shock and destruction consume the scene while disaster ensues.
As multitudes of oil tankers are ablaze, flames and smoke violently swirl upwards, forming a massive wall of despair. The acrid smell of burning fuel proliferates the air while the flames blast blistering heat. The environment appears to be anything but hospitable. Fireballs with their trailing smoke jealously engulf the horizon. They explosively display their power, burning brightly and deafening everything within their vicinity. Close to the metal melting flames, an old man leans on his fire truck and is completely overwhelmed by a force far greater then himself. He seems to be defeated by the sheer volume of the blaze, being so diminutive next to the massive inferno. His blank, yet saddened expression reflects this event is far from being a rare occurrence. Disasters are an inescapable and inevitable force that the human race must contend with. It is pertinent to learn from these disasters and how to possibly prevent them from occurring in the future.

So that essay worked, I did throughout the course manage to almost fail a few quizzes because I'm so used to taking a bunch of CLEPs at once. Scoring 55's and 60's are rather poor grades for anything but CLEPs

Eventually after an essay or two that were rather straightforward(creative essay or two?) your probably going to be stuck writing about Frankenstien. You will read the whole book, take a few quizzes, write an application essay, then take a test that accounts for 25% of your grade. Here is the application essay I wrote. It I think got a B-(at best), I am rather weak at these kinds of essays; however doing both English courses really helped me out. Overall the idea worked well enough not to fail, perhaps you guys can gleam from it if you get stumped like I was for a long time.

Throughout the ages knowledge has rapidly grown; being built upon the experiences of former generations. With ever accelerating scientific advances, many in the past, present, and future have and will continue to ask the question -- can science go too far? New and unfamiliar technology
can cause much concern, opposition, and debate. Mary Shelly clearly demonstrates this in her novel “Frankenstein”; initially published in the year 1818.

In her novel, Victor Frankenstein is the main protagonist. He created the "creature" or “Frankenstein's Monster” from several cadavers, and years of meticulous labor; in effect playing “God”. Furthermore, he succeeded with his creation, yet the outcome was far from what he expected.

“(...) With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony, I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet. (… By the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs.” (Qtd in Frankenstein Chapter 5)

After Victor brought his creation to life he abandoned it due to it's hideous appearance, and consequently the creature is left to fend for itself. Eventually, the creature shared his experience of being abandoned with his creator -- his conversation explained the confusion, anguish, and pain he experienced.

"It was dark when I awoke; I felt cold also, and half-frightened, as it were instinctively, finding myself so desolate. … I was a poor, helpless, miserable, wretch; I knew, and could distinguish, nothing; but feeling pain invade me on all sides, I sat down and wept. (Mary Shelly)

After being abandoned it had no meaning, no understanding of the world, and no acceptance by any individual; eventually he vowed to become a scourge to humanity. He shares a vow he made with his creator, one that he postponed because of his conversation, yet eventually carried out.

“Should I feel kindness towards my enemies? No; from that moment I declared ever-lasting ware against the species, and more than all, against him who had formed me and sent me forth to this insupportable misery.” (Mary Shelly)

Eventually, after his conversation, he murdered several innocent individuals. The first being Victor Frankenstein's younger brother William, he then framed the Frankenstein family's servant Justine Moritz for William's murder, who was consequentially executed. Furthermore, he killed Victor's dear friend Henry Clerval, and finally Victor's wife Elizabeth Lavenza.

After this killing spree, the monster eventually declares that he wishes to end his life; as it has been nothing but pure despair and wretchedness. "I shall ascend my funeral pile triumphantly and exult in the agony of the torturing flames." (Mary Shelly Chapter 24) He concluded that the life given to him was a curse and that he wasn't intended to live.

The novel Frankenstein constantly brings up the question if life, death, and nature should be interfered with. Shortly before the publishing of Frankenstein, many scientists were experimenting with electricity and biology, or Galvanism. In some instances, electricity was applied to recently deceased individuals and it would stimulate temporary muscle movement. It was thought at the time that the resurrection of the dead was possible within a few short years, and that death could be defied. (Para David Ames Wells Page 290)


Even after more then a century of its publication, Marry Shelly's novel Frankenstein is still applicable in spite of time passed. One relevant example is the definition of brain death -- a condition that typically results from a traumatic injury; and the person is consequentially (in many modern countries) considered “legally dead”. In an attempt to define this form of death the United States created the Uniform Determination of Death Act in 1981; this act defines the criteria for when the brain is dead. In turn this bill gives the Massachusetts General Hospital the definitions for it's procedures. (Uniform Law Commission.)

“Death by brain criteria is defined under Massachusetts state law as the total and irreversible cessation of spontaneous brain functions, in which further attempts of resuscitation or continued supportive maintenance would not be successful in restoring such function. Stated more simply, brain death is the irreversible loss of all function of the brain, including the brainstem. A patient determined to be brain dead is legally and clinically dead. “ (Massachusetts General Hospital)

Typically the now brain-dead individual has it's metabolic processes substantiated by a ventilator and other equipment in lieu of the now “deceased” brain. This process of keeping the “deceased” alive is rather controversial due to its nature. Furthermore, after being legally dead they can be harvested for organs if the deceased person previously indicated so. This causes controversy because the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs are removed from the still technically “alive” person, which in turn “kills” them. ( Para Jennifer Heisler)


Mary Shelly addressed the once prevalent theory of Galvanism through the theoretical circumstances of bringing the dead back to life in her novel Frankenstein. The “monster” that Victor created in the end killed several individuals and wished to end his life due to his endless misery.
She was in effect illustrating what could have happened in the near future during the late 19nth century if Galvanism and others theories were correct...

Although the original subject she addressed is now outdated, multitudes of advances in medical science have facilitated fresh concerns that in effect blur the definition of death and life.
These concerns still prompt the question in our modern age – can science go too far?

[jm82792]

Perhaps I was too long winded, who knows...
After this essay you are supposed to read about interviewing, then do an interview with someone about something that concerns you. Finally, you formulate a letter that can be sent to someone who can change that problem.
So I did that, yet it's another essay that I didn't enjoy writing. Anything fastened to concrete reasoning kills me. However, I did get around 17/21 on it, so I didn't eat the dust completely. Also this one is my first draft, I lost the second one. Don't kill me if I have a comma splice, or some other issue

Dear Congressmen Inouye , [How might you separate your salutation from the body of your letter to organize your business writing, Joshua?] I'm a student that has an interest in the food subsidy program SNAP, and its current implications on our states health status. All programs that the government creates have a purpose, however, they can be excessively costly -- directly from the program, or indirectly from what the program provides. I was prompted to do this research because of my observations of how individuals use this program, and how my family has benefited from this program. Moreover, I have interviewed Mis Yaka from the Department of Health and Human Services in Honokaa, and have in turn found information that is pertinent to the subject at hand.


Everybody needs food to survive, it is impossible to reason otherwise, however,
it's distribution, and allocation are factors that have to be considered.
Currently the SNAP program permits an individual to purchase food from any store that allows EBT payment; this includes super-markets, convenience stores, and gas stations. Yet what they purchase is my primary concern, currently the restrictions on what can be purchased are few, these finite restrictions consist of alcohol and tobacco products. [What types of food can be bought using the SNAP program that concerns you which would lead your readers to your detailed discussions below?]

The purpose of this program is to substantiate individuals who are in need of assistance due to financial hardships (para USDA). Miss Yaka mentions that “Many benefit from this program and could not make ends meet without it”. Yet from my observations many who use this program primarily purchase food that is commonly known in most of society as unhealthy. [A pair of commas is used to separate nonessential elements (phrases and clauses) from the main clause. For example: “However, with this cold weather, it would be best to wear a coat.” With the information and example I have provided, where can you put the missing commas in your sentence?]
This is backed by the statistics that show most who use food subsidies such as SNAP consume 40% more sugar then any other consumer group (para Shenkin, J.D., & Jacobson, M.F. ). With SNAP you have the ability to purchase candy, soft drinks, and other detrimental foods that are highly processed, devoid of nutrients and have a high glycemic index. Mis Yaka says in regards to this concern “This problem needs to be addressed, the purchase of sodas, candy, and other snacks. Although such things are easier said then done.”

On the other end of the spectrum you have the capacity to purchase premium foods such as prepackaged sushi and other expensive items. I personally purchased a meal's worth of sushi, however, the guilt of doing so weighed heavily on me due to the $24 cost. [You used a comma to join two independent clauses together which resulted in a comma splice. How might you fix the splice?] Consequently, I never made that form of a purchase again. Yet I see many people purchasing pre-made foods, as if now they can do so, and formerly they could not afford such luxuries. I say these are luxuries because I personally have; and continue to live in a home where almost all the food we purchase is not prepared. I explained this situation to Mis Yaka, and she seemed rather tentative about commenting or otherwise addressing my question. However, after a brief pause she did answer my question and seemed rather compelled to do so. “In the 30's we had foods stamps, they were orange paper stamps which you could trade in for blue stamps. You could use the orange ones only for foods which were considered surplus, none of this food was “processed”. (..) You could trade the orange ones in for blue ones which were worth half as much as the $1 orange ones. The blue ones were able to purchase goods that were not considered surplus by the USDA. If we are able to apply this concept to todays standard, perhaps we could make a positive change.”



Although I and my family have “money” or credit left over each month, the concept of purchasing prepared or other “premium foods” on a regular basis is considered a self destructive choice. This is because once we hopefully regain the capacity to pay for our own foods, we do not wish to spend what little money we have on such foods. Furthermore, we do not wish to become accustomed to a lifestyle where the consumption of sugar and other detrimental or costly things is commonplace. The reason I mention costly is that I and my family do not wish to reap the detrimental effects of eating significant amounts of unhealthy foods, thus in effect there are two costs -- the initially higher cost of processed or prepared foods, and the potential detrimental health effects.

Although food subsidies are still a necessary factor in a modern times, their implementation has to be continually evaluated. The solution for the problem may create several others that are far worse then what the solution was designed to address. Yet there is the potential to change, Mis Yaka's observations from a time past, when things were more simplistic and utilitarian has modern applications. Some may consider such an idea in this “modern time” to be an outrageous concept; however, perhaps you can consider looking back at America's past and recapture the vision of whole foods and simplified preparation, a time when less was more. [Good job in using a semi-colon to separate two independent clauses and a comma to set off an introductory word in this sentence, Joshua!]

Thank you Congressman Inouye for your time and consideration.
Sincerely yours,
Joshua Martin
(Yep it's the written up one by Smartthinking)

[jm82792]

So nearing the end of the course I have a few essays left.
One about films, where I needed to write about an aspect of it.
Lighting, the camera movements, relating a film to literature, and such were options.
I really enjoyed writing this essay, I got around 93% on it, and I liked the idea I could watch any movie I wanted then write about it.

Darkness is like the unknown, it can't be seen nor understood. The unknown can be bone chilling, danger is shrouded in it's unfathomable depths, yet the potential of a new discovery draws people to the unseen. The horror and science fiction film Alien, relies heavily on the element of lighting to powerfully, and dynamically display itself. Throughout the movie, numerous mysterious and frightening scenes are the result of creative lighting. It is shown through the contrast of illumination and darkness; the blackness and lifelessness of space, and light -- the aura of humanity. Moods can be altered by lighting, thoughts can be invoked, and viewers can be sensitized or desensitized to what is happening. Historically, paintings have such contrast, Chiaroscuro or "Light Dark" paintings are one prime example. In many instances, they consist of a single light source in a dark room such as a candle or a column of light that illuminates the subject matter.

The film Alien has many scenes that induce suspense, fear, horror, and confusion, these feelings are created from the murkiness and brilliance of lighting. This film begins in space where a massive ship was returning to earth, yet on the way they were detoured to a seemingly desolate and lifeless planet. The ship proceeded to land and the small windows tossed columns of light into the abbess. It's commander turned on the flood lights, and the whole ship was engulfed in an illuminated mist; and in turn, the scope of the terrain was seen. This ghastly place featured a gloomy and penetrative blackness that continually persisted, the sky had a faint glow that illuminated the dark volcanic rock landscape, yet this light paled in comparison to that of a partial moon found on earth.

Eventually the subject matter and main idea start to shift in the film from the initial discovery of the unknown planet, to the horrors of what was discovered. Various forms of lighting grab the viewers attention, invoking feelings of uneasiness in the present, and creating an anticipation for what is to come.

After landing, a portion of the crew went to explore the unknown; they had dim, miniscule flashlights on their space suits which permitted them to see a few precious feet ahead of them. Eventually, with much effort, and after finding a dark cave -- they came in contact with an alien life form which was unknowingly brought onto the ship. Furthermore, it grew from it's formerly miniscule size to a much larger monster that had a taste for human flesh. It hid in the darkness of the ship, it's domain consisted of what was not seen nor otherwise known by the ships crew. Dim and flickering lights gently displaced the darkness amongst the cargo and endless corridors. This is where the sinister hitchhiker carried out it's task -- the annihilation of it's victims with unwavering stealth and ferocity; under the cloak of darkness.

The usage of high contrast lighting is almost a continual affair in this movie, with enough intensity we are blinded by the light and look away from it. Furthermore, when a small, and barely luminescent light is shown within a nearly black scene we focus on the subject matter -- yet what is not well illuminated is also watched with nearly as much intent then if the scene was homogeneously lit. With darkness comes the question of what is lurking, we are more sensitive to what is being shown and are easily frightened.

The film Alien shows a surreal landscape that is an antithesis of earth; it shows how the humans disturbed the darkness, and in effect, awakened one of the planet's maniacal residents. At times the lighting was dim, barely bright enough to depict the outlines of objects, other times it's over powering and you naturally look away from it. The light they brought was dismal, yet it created an impact, a contrast, and a stir -- the creatures of the dark detested the light, and in the end created ruin to all but one who strayed from their original course.

Although overlooked by many, lighting has and always will be an important component in movies. Horrors films such as Alien are perfect examples of how essential lighting is to bring the best out of the film, by creating suspense, thrilling the audience with greater magnitude, and in turn creating the core of what a horror film is.





After the that essay I had to write classification essay, I chose the classification of various monsters.
That essay I expected to get maybe 40% on but I calculated that I had enough points to pass and then some. (The $100 a month was adding up, $1300 for 4 courses!) It was abasic of an essay, but it seems if you are on topic they like your work.

The word monster brings to mind something wrong or evil; yet the definition of what a monster is comes to question. Is it the old man who yells at all who tread on his lawn, who seeds strife throughout the community, and always possesses a stare that represents death itself? Perhaps it is one who instinctively inflicts death and destruction? Throughout society the concept of a monster is highly variable, yet there are similarities in spite of their differences.

Many commonly associate monsters with ones depicted in movies. These depictions include various beasts that are merciless, seem to operate without restraint, and are compared to, if not already considered animals. Yet others shown are more cognitive, as if they naturally cause havoc yet have pieces of sanity, and at times immense intelligence. The Joker is one example of this, a fictional character that instills fear, causes death, annihilates everything in his path, and yet believes what he is doing is beneficial to society. Although his intelligence and desire to benefit others is genuine, all within the fictional metropolis of Gothem consider him a monstrosity due to his warped reasoning.

Exaggerated and often colorful illustrations such as the Joker are commonly shown in films,
however, the “manifestation” of monsters is applicable in our world. Some are ruthless dictators that continually oppress nations they were intrusted with; using torture and other tactics to scare people into submission. Famous dictators include Adolph Hitler, and more recently Saddam Hussein. Undoubtedly many infamous individuals are considered monsters,
however, some lesser individuals may also be placed within such a classification.

Although many assume a monster needs to create death, destruction, or other inflictions;
merely using such criteria is severely limiting the definition of what a monster can be.
At times a particular resident of a neighborhood is deemed such a “thing”; one who busies oneself with wreaking psychological havoc on almost all who pass. He rants and raves, continually watching over his yard, fence, and everything else that he possesses. He is protective of what he owns, this is understandable, and a natural behavior that is innately ingrained in humanity. Yet the extreme manifestation of this feeling has created an overprotective individual; who in turn is deemed a “monster” due to his seemingly endless hatred that he imposes on that “threaten” his territory. He is almost instinctively defending his domain as a wild animal would do.


Generally, stereotypical examples are thought of in regards to monsters, yet there are several classifications and manifestations of them. Some may be pure, and raw monstrosities that are completely bent on devouring an innocent person, that do so without regret or any other emotion. Others may have nearly inverted their thinking, they may attempt to improve society, but their mind is not stable enough to carry out the task. Furthermore, perhaps like the person mentioned above, you may have a resident in your neighborhood who causes strife, distention, and otherwise much grief -- which is in turn considered by many to be a monster.





Finally I had an illustration one(I'm omitting an essay or two because I can't find them), I chose food preparation, and tried to write it creatively.
It received around 85%.....

[jm82792]

Beef is one of the most popular meats in the United States, however, the preparation of a tender and flavorful steak for a weekend barbeque can be a challenge. The task can be simplified by using barbeque sauce, however the heavy sweetness isn't desirable. Instead of using barbeque sauce, I particularly enjoy creating a homemade marinade for my steaks. I will show you how to make a vinegar based marinade that consists of several different kinds of spices, sauces, and other ingredients. Its ingredients vary depending on what I feel like adding, friends in particular enjoy it, in spite of my unorthodox approach. Many have attempted the preparation of the perfect steak – my marinade will make perfection closer to reality.

Firstly, you need to select the beef you wish to marinade. Almost any good cut will suffice,
however, choosing one that is lean yet has fine white lines, or marbling will help ensure a better steak. Purchasing a select cut or choice cut will most assuredly increase the likely hood of selecting a good cut of beef.

Once the beef has been purchased, depending on if it is frozen or not we need to defrost it.
This can easily be accelerated by submersing the package of beef in warm water. In the meantime we need to make the marinade. The diversity of our marinade depends on what you have in your refrigerator, and your willingness to purchase additional ingredients. The primary ingredient responsible for making tougher cuts more palatable is vinegar, as it breaks down the fibers in the meat, and also imparts a good flavor. (para Cooks.com)

Vinegar comes in a myriad of varieties and flavors, I personally enjoy using a balsamic vinegar as my base which features a sweet yet tart flavor, however I also like mixing in others such as salty plum vinegar from Japan, rice vinegar, and red wine vinegar. Once you have decided on the vinegars you wish to use; find a bowl that is large enough to hold all the beef along with extra space for the marinade. Add enough vinegar to the bowl so that the beef, when it is in the bowl will be thoroughly “marinated”; yet not completely submersed in it.

I estimate the amounts of ingredients in my marinades, especially with spices and sauces. After the vinegar is added we need to think of others things to add; a personal favorite of mine is Worcestershire sauce, it will impart an array of difficult to describe yet addictive flavors to the meat. You can use various other sauces such as spicy Sricha chili sauce, smokey and bold chipotle sauce, or any other favorites. Finally, we can add the dry seasonings: sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and anything else that comes to mind can be added. Salt is rather important to add, however, take in account the liquids and spices that contain salt.


Once we have created our assimilation of various spices, sauces, and other ingredients; we have created a marinade. Now we can put the beef into the bowl and add the marinade. After this we have two options, leave the beef in the refrigerator, covered with plastic; or add another step. This process involves repetitively stabbing the beef with a fork in order to thoroughly impregnate the beef with the marinade. I prefer the more laborious method because the beef will turn out to be more tender, and the marinating time will be shortened. With the beef in the bowl of marinade, take your fork and stab the beef evenly this will ensure there are copious amount of tiny holes in the meat. Once this is complete, gently move around the beef to evenly distribute the marinade, and then cover the bowl with plastic, finally place it into the refrigerator.

Let the beef marinade for several hours, a day or two is optimal but not required.
Once thoroughly marinated, cook the beef using your favorite method such as barbequing, frying, or any other means you enjoy. Your custom marinaded beef should be tender, flavorful, juicy, and more delectable then if you were to use barbeque sauce or other traditional methods of preparing your steak. Although more effort is required to make your own marinade, the gratification found in its creation and the end result – a great steak, is worth the effort.


Works Cited
Cooks.com “Tenderizing Meat” 2011

[jm82792]

And that's about it, I need to come back and edit things later.
I should have asked if it was okay with the mods, however, I'm thinking if anybody plagiarizes they will be annihilated for it since Straighterline and Smart Thinking have these essays on file somewhere. Plagiarism will automatically fail your assignment, and potentially your whole course if your lucky enough.

[namwen]

I know it is a little late but thatnks for posting this!