Chris Essay 12

January 21, 2010

Mr. Salsich

English

Children:

An Essay on a Sentence in To Kill a Mockingbird

(TS) Some may think that a child isn’t as smart just because they haven’t had years of schooling; however I think that, at times, they can be much smarter than adults. (CM) Adults are sometimes obsessed over their image, so they tend to make hasty decisions to preserve that image, rather than think it through. (CM) As children, we are not concerned about our personal image, so we tend to make the decisions that is the most “morally correct,” instead of the one that preserves our image. (CM) For example, if your gets into trouble and you witnessed it, if you are an adult you may immediately say, “I didn’t see anything,” to preserve your image, and remain their friend; however, as a child you may immediately say you saw them because you have no image to preserve; you simply make the right decision without thinking about the consequences. (CS) Children see the world through different eyes than adults, and this affects many of the decisions they make.

(TS) On some occasions it seems like a little child can have more wisdom than an adult. In Chapter 23, Jem is telling Atticus about the court; about how they judged Tom’s case unfairly, when Atticus says, “So far nothing in your life has interfered with your reasoning process (Lee, 295)” ( (SD) This is very true; children’s minds are not as contaminated as adults'. (CM) Although adults have more experience in life, children’s minds are clean, young and fresh unlike adults old and clouded minds. (CM) Children only think about the answer that is “right,” while adults must sort through the right answer and the answer that Proxy-Connection: keep-alive
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ll support their image. (SD) Atticus also says that if Jem, with his young a clear mind, was on the jury, he would have made a different decision about Tom’s case. (Participle S-V Split) (CM) The people on the jury labeled him guilty because their minds were clouded, they either had to make the decision that would preserve their image as a racist, or make the morally right decision. (CM) Jem’s mind is not clouded with these thoughts, as he is a child, so he would have made the morally right decision. (SD) I believe that it would have been better if the jury in Tom’s case was a jury of children; in fact, I wish that every jury in the world consisted of children. (CM) Their minds would not be clouded with thoughts so they could make the morally right decision every time. (CM) I believe this would save many people from penalties for things they did not do. (CS) Children’s minds are not clouded by what other people think. If it is so easy for them, why can’t adults just clear their minds and think like children?

(TS) Could a child, with only a few years of knowledge, really make a better decision than an adult? (CM) An adults mind is like a packed subway station, crowded and confusing, and it takes a long time to navigate the confusion.  (CM) A child’s mind is like the same subway station, however, this time the station is empty. Their decisions are clear. (CM) Even with all the wisdom that adults posses, sometimes it takes an innocent child to make the right decision.

Self Evaluation:

In essay 12 I believe I continue to improve on making my sentences clear and simple yet elagent. When I first began writing I would drag my sentences on and make them confusing. One weak point in this essay is that it is not my best essay as far as gracefulness. I believe I could have used some better words to make the sentences flow better. I will try to improve on some of these things in the next essay. If I were to grade myself on this essay I would give myself a B-.