My essay

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Joined: 12 Dec 2010
Age: 37
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05 Feb 2011, 9:30 am

I usually either beg the teacher for something else, don't do it...but in college I do do them, just my own way.

For example, I think the essay was to write What is a Hero

So I wrote about how there is no such thing as true altruism and that people don't do things for "selfless" reasons. My teacher tried to convince me firefighters were heroes, but that isn't selfless that's their job and they are getting paid. My teacher then tried to convince me of doctors, same deal.

They aren't helping people out of the kindness of their heart, its how fat their pockets are.

She was very disappointed with my essay because it didn't meet the "Assignment". No the question said, what is a hero...thus I gave an answer.

ooOoOoOAnaOoOoOoo
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05 Feb 2011, 11:37 am

cwp8706 wrote:

I have never posted here before, but I have browsed some of these forums a few times. Anyway...I just started college and in an English coarse I'm taking we were assigned to write an essay. The essay is supposed to be written in "Grammar-B" (an obscure name for non-traditional grammar) and the subject of this essay is supposed to have something to do with a "language or literacy event in our lives that has impacted us deeply".

Now to get to the point of my message. I was diagnosed with AS when I was fairly young. When I get an assignment like this I get SO frustrated. My main issue is the subject of the assignment. A "language or literacy event that has impacted me deeply"?!?!?! Do all of you other people with AS out there have problems with questions like this, or is it just me? It might seem silly but this type of introspective question has seriously been a huge roadblock in writing assignments for me.

Do you need to write about a novel, short story or play? This subject I did best in while in college and high school.
The phrasing is a bit confusing. Can it be any event that has impacted you deeply in life written about in a way that denotes literacy and grasp of language fundamentals, or is the assignment detailing a certain work of literature, a play or a poem?
I would need clarification, first, if someone asked me to write an essay like that. Did your instructor provide more information about what specifically was being sought?
If it is writing about literature, do you have a favorite piece that you feel passionate about?

cwp8706
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Joined: 4 Feb 2011
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06 Feb 2011, 12:39 am

ooOoOoOAnaOoOoOoo wrote:

cwp8706 wrote:

Well before the assignment we were following the theme of linguistic awakenings and the effect of language on our thought processes in the class. We learned about a Mexican man who was born deaf and had no concept of words until his adult life and the immediate effect that finding out object had names had on him, Hellen Keller, Malcom X copying the dictionary in prison, ect.... Maybe this context helps clarify things.

Verdandi
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06 Feb 2011, 12:53 am

cwp8706 wrote:

I found these blog posts to be interesting (they prompted a lot of thought for me) and topical:

http://www.existenceiswonderful.com/200 ... erent.html
http://www.existenceiswonderful.com/200 ... -fine.html

cwp8706
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Joined: 4 Feb 2011
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06 Feb 2011, 2:12 am

Verdandi wrote:

cwp8706 wrote:

They were very interesting. I would actually rank my preferred methods of communication in the opposite order though. I feel like a lot fo the things I write don't make sense unless I read them out loud to myself first. I like verbal communication because it's so instinctive and I don't usually have the chance to overthink things I say out loud in a conversation.

Verdandi
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06 Feb 2011, 2:22 am

cwp8706 wrote:

Right, I didn't think they'd be applicable to you the way they were to me, I just thought they might be helpful.

Millstone
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06 Feb 2011, 4:03 am

cwp8706 wrote:

an English coarse

you're off to a fantastic start

Mindhead
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06 Feb 2011, 4:20 am

I find that those type of annoying questions only increase as you progress through school. I take them as free reign to talk about what interests me about the topic. In a way those open ended questions are really asking you to write your own question and then the paper to address your question. Thinking that way doesn't make the paper any easier to write, but it helps keep me from trying to guess what the teacher wants forever and helps to get me started. You can always show the teacher a rough draft and ask if you are on the path of what they are looking for?

I find those questions force you to find meaning in something. Which is more useful than just answering a question. Being forced to come up with a hypothesis or statement and then testing or supporting it.

A recent example in my accounting class was to analyze several years of financial data for 40 companies and address any interesting findings. One question I came up with 'how does the mix of industries the companies are in affect what I should expect the sales and net income growth to be?'

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