Wednesday, Nov 6

Do now

• Fill out the "Daily Check in"
• Review your "Self-Reliance" Analyzing Argument paragraph on Google Classroom and compare it to the student example paragraphs below.

Assignments

• Read up on Essential vs Non-Essential (parenthetical) clauses.
• passed out in class Orange sheets #3 and #4.
• No Red Ink assignments #1, #2, and #3+4 (class codes posted in Google Classroom)
• Google Classroom Grammar: Editing Paragraphs #1

"Self-Reliance"analysis student Example paragraphs 

Example #1 - Proficient and Good!
Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay, “Self-Reliance,” describes self-reliance as being yourself, working hard for what you want, and that society’s judgement should not affect your choices, which is beneficial advice if not taken to an extreme. Emerson includes the importance of making your own decisions despite your surroundings, and doing what you think is best. He further explains his ideas by using the line “the great man is he who is in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.” In other words, a truly self-reliant man is one who is completely himself, even when he is being urged to do one thing or another by society. Emerson also says, “For non-conformity the world whips you with its displeasure,” which explains how a person may choose to do what other people do because they are afraid of judgement or individualism. Emerson makes a great point that people need to start focusing on the importance of being your own person despite society’s criticism, however, his views could be taken to an extreme and cause a person to be too distanced from others or unable to see other perspectives. The idea of self-reliance is crucial in today’s world, and Emerson’s view will benefit people if kept in moderation.

Example #2 - Above and beyond!
To be self reliant is to form relationships while staying perpetually true to oneself; Emerson’s essay “Self-Reliance” illustrates such ideas with a lack of limitations, leading one to believe he has a loose grip on the reality of independence. Self-reliance in modern society is an elusive quest one will face at some point in his or her life. Due to societal and personal restraints, revealing one’s personal truth is grueling to most. Such mindset does not come with age as commonly proposed but with serenity: unwavering peace with oneself. Emerson’s essay supports this idea with bold statements such as “...imitation is suicide,” to translate, to mimic the behavior of others is killing ones true self. Though the idea is strong in theory, it lacks sense in the modern world; because creativity is a gift not all are blessed with, inspiration may be perceived as imitation for those who find inspiration in nature rather than in others, thus debunking Emerson’s idea of imitation kills individuality. In contrast to Emerson’s weakly materialized ideas, he also makes strong, indisputable arguments as “the other terror that scares us from self-trust is our consistency.” Reputations have a strong influence on one’s trueness; to fight assimilation means to overcome the horrors of being viewed negatively by those who stay hidden in the majority, as well as one’s past self. Defeating one’s past is an everlasting war many are bound to lose; the strongest force holding one back from greatness is their past self. By conquering the past, one unveils their truth in life, who they were set on this earth to be.