Ninth Grade Perfect Paragraph
This year I am in _____ grade at La Jolla High School. Last year, when I was a ______ grader, I was in _________'s English class. When I think about last year, I am __________ with what I accomplished. This year, I would like to __________________ and I can succeed by _____[insert three things you can do to succeed]______. If I do these things, I will be able to pass my English class and go on to my ________ year. I am at La Jolla High because ______________________, and here I have the opportunity to _______________. After I graduate, I want to _______________.
"The Children's Story" Perfect Paragraphs
“The Children’s Story,” by James Clavell, is an allegory which asks many questions about the purpose and power of education. The New Teacher, who is from a conquering country, replaces the older, American teacher. She quickly wins over the students’ trust by sitting on the floor with them and calming their fears through song. She impresses them with her knowledge of all their names and even knows one student’s birthday. She makes the students feel important and establishes herself as their friend. She offers new clothes to the students as a present and intimidates her one opponent through peer pressure.
The New Teacher manipulates the children into destroying the American flag and into questioning their trust in their parents and religion. She is able to influence the children to come up with their new beliefs on their own; therefore, their new beliefs are very strong. When the New Teacher suggests that she would like a piece of the American flag, for example, the children tell her where to find the scissors. She makes the children feel valued by suggesting that their parents and God are not listening to their wants, but that she and the students will share secrets together and she will reward them.
In a frighteningly short 25 minutes, the New Teacher is able to destroy her students’ previous beliefs. Clavell’s story illustrates how language is powerful and can be used as a weapon.
Perfect Paragraph: Chapter 4, Of Mice and Men
Through the description of Crooks’s room, his past life, and his current existence on the ranch, Chapter 4 continues Steinbeck's themes of loneliness, barriers between people, and the powerlessness of the little guy in a huge world. Crooks describes his solitary life in terms of all the workers. He shares with Curley's wife the problem of no one with whom to talk. When Lennie questions him about the pups, Crooks changes the subject and mentions, "I seen it over an' over — a guy talkin' to another guy and it don't make no difference if he don't hear or understand. The thing is, they're talkin', or they're settin' still not talkin' … It's just bein' with another guy. That's all" (70). Crooks can relate to the loneliness of the ranch hands. He goes back to his room and reads alone. He says that books are not as good as having friends and that loneliness will cause a person to become sick.