ELA Argument Essay: China's Cram Schools

Upfront Argument Essay:

China's Cram Schools

       Every high school student in China studies as much as possible for the gaokao, a college-entrance examination. To us, the gaokao may seem like our own SAT, but it is much more difficult and the only thing that matters for Chinese students to get into college. Nearly every high school students in China study furiously, cramming for the gaokao for three years. These extremes make it unfair that a single test determines a student's fate in life.

       The gaokao requires intense concentration and perseverance from Chinese students. Many high school students attend “cram schools”, where they spend most of their time studying frantically for the gaokao. One student, who attended Maotanchang High School, practiced relentlessly, taking multiple practice tests over the course of his high school years. “ 'If you connected all of the practice tests I've taken over the past three years,' he said, 'they would wrap all the way around the world.' ” (pg. 13) This kind of studying is hardly seen in America, and proves just how important the gaokao is to high school students in China. The same student “... had spent the previous three years, weekends included, stumbling to his first class at 6:20 in the morning and returning to his room only after the end of his first class at 10:50 at night.” (pg. 13) The pressure of the gaokao is on every student's mind in China, and the only way to pass the test is to study as much as possible.

The gaokao also gives rural students severe disadvantages. It is much, much harder for students from small villages or towns to be able to get into college, let alone a good university. Many villages “...have poor schools and few well-trained teachers.” (pg. 14) Students from poor rural areas would not be prepared for what could be on the test. On the other hand, wealthy city families are in more of a safe zone and have choices when facing the gaokao. “Wealthy urban families can hire private tutors, pay for test-prep courses, or bribe their way into the best city schools.” (pg. 14) This gives them a distinct upper hand, as well as the fact that urban students have many more allotted college-admission spots than rural students.

       The gaokao is not just risky for the students that take it, but for the teachers, and possibly the local towns of high schools as well. Maotanchang High School is located in Anhui province, two hours from the nearest city. “The local government has shut down all forms of entertainment. This may be the only town in China with no video arcade, billiards hall, or Internet cafe.” (pg. 15) This is a result of the determination of Maotanchang High School of eliminating any distractions for its students. The teachers there are very strict as well, and “...dole out lessons, and frequently punishments, with military rigor; their job security and bonuses depend on raising their students' test scores.” (pg. 15) As stated, the teachers have a risk of losing their jobs of their students do not do well on the gaokao. This is why the students need s little distractions as possible, not only for themselves, but for their teachers as well.

       Every year, over 9 million students in China take the gaokao. Some don't succeed. All the difficulty and stress of cramming for the test sometimes causes students to commit suicide as well. Therefore, the reader can see that having the fate of millions of students riding on one test is unfair.

Reading Response Comparison: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and 1984 by George Orwell

Reading Response Comparison: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and 1984 by George Orwell

       Most people want to make a change, to have their name in history as a person who was selfless and did things for the greater good. Some, however, do so without intention. Katniss Everdeen is the protagonist of The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. Katniss resides in a war-ravaged land that was once known as “North America”, now called Panem. She lives in the poorest district of all, District 12, where people try to make a living in the coal mines. On the Reaping Day, Katniss numbers her days when she volunteers to go to the Capitol as a tribute of the Hunger Games instead of her little sister, Prim. She becomes increasingly popular as the Games wear on, through Peeta Mellark's interview, and her actions in the arena. Katniss survives to the end with her fellow tribute, Peeta, but knows the Hunger Games aren't over yet, and that darkness looms ahead. Throughout the Games, Katniss' selflessness shines through her cold exterior, making an impression on the audience, both the people of Panem and the reader. This selflessness is what allows Katniss to survive. Katniss shows us that selflessness is a powerful thing, and that it is sometimes better for the greater good to sacrifice yourself, rather that trying to make a change, alive.

       Throughout the duration of the book, Katniss shows us her selfless attitude again and again. The most notable time she acted selflessly, if impulsively, was when she volunteered as tribute for Prim. Katniss' reaction to her sister's name being called shows her deep, unrivaled love for her. She does not love anyone as much, not her best friend, Gale, nor Peeta, nor her mother. When Effie Trinket called Prim's name during the Reaping, Katniss recalled the wind being knocked from her body when she fell off a tree, and stated that that was “...how I [felt] now, trying to remember how to breathe, unable to speak, totally stunned as the name [bounced] around the inside of my skull.”(pg. 21) Prim's name being called brought a great shock to Katniss, and the first thing she did was volunteer to protect her sister, regardless of her own sake, because she knew that she would never forgive herself if Prim died. Katniss couldn't bear to live without her. This selflessness is shown again when Claudius Templesmith, the Games' announcer, says that there was a rule change in the Games, and that two tributes will be declared winners if they are from the same district, unlike the norm of only one victor. “The news sinks in.  Two tributes can win this year. If they're from the same district. Both can live. Both of us can live. Before I can stop myself, I call out Peeta's name.” (pg. 244) As soon as she could, Katniss made it her next priority to find Peeta, wherever he was. Although this could be the repayment of owing Peeta a debt when they were both children, Katniss truly does care for him, and does whatever she can to help him, even depriving herself of sleep to watch over him when he was ill. This selflessness shows yet again when she suggests that she and Peeta eat poisonous nightlock berries instead of fighting each other to the death. “My fingers fumble with the pouch on my belt, freeing it. Peeta sees it and his hand clamps on my wrist. 'No, I won't let you.' 'Trust me,' I whisper. He holds my gaze for a long moment then lets me go. I loosen the top of the pouch and and pour a few spoonfuls of berries into his palms. Then I fill my own.” (pg. 344) This can be seen as the dormant rebel inside of Katniss awakening, but also again as Katniss' love for Peeta, through the fact that she cannot bear to kill him and live with that knowledge, nor die, or have her family and Peeta's suffer from watching them perish from a brutal death. It seems that Katniss feels her family would understand if she ate the berries, and chooses that path alongside Peeta. This selflessness saves her from the pain of killing Peeta, or dying at his hands with her family's sorrow, as the Gamemakers do not want to have the last surviving victors die a death as themselves – and not a piece in the Capitol's game – with rebellion screaming in their actions.

       Again and again, Katniss shows us the strength in sacrifice and selflessness. In 1984 – by George Orwell – however, the protagonist, Winston Smith, doesn't have this quality and is very self-serving and arrogant. When his first signs of rebellion peek out, he only crosses the forbidden lines because he wants to satisfy his own wants, so he promptly makes love with Julia, trapped in the fantasy in his own head. “Not merely the love of one person, but the animal instinct, the simple undifferentiated desire: that was the force that would tear the Party to pieces.” (pg. 126) This fantasy shows that he believes that by having sex with Julia, he would make a change in the world that he lives in. this type of thinking is strictly forbidden by the Party, and terrible consequences will follow. Indeed, terrible consequences did follow as Winston and Julia were caught in the act, dragged into the Ministry of Love, and tortured until their wills shattered. This setting may perplex some readers, but the Ministry of Love is an antonym for what it really is, to confuse the people of London, and lure them into a false sense of security. Thus, the Ministry of Love is really the Ministry of Torture, the Ministry of Truth is the Ministry of Lies, and so on. It is here where Winston's will shatters and he breaks, figuratively. He is brought face-to-face with his greatest fear, and inevitably, to save himself, he betrays Julia and the legendary “Brotherhood”. “Do it to Julia! Do it to Julia! Not me! Julia! I don't care what you do to her. Tear her face off, strip her to the bones. Not me! Julia! Not me!” (pg. 286) This shows his selfishness and also his arrogance at the thought that he would withstand whatever the Party members threw at him. Another difference between Winston and Katniss is that Katniss isn't afraid to die, she is afraid of what would happen to those close to her heart, like Prim. Katniss said that “[she] swore [she] would” (pg. 129) try to win, just for Prim. Winston, on the other hand, was so fearful of dying that he couldn't even bear to think about the razor blade the “Brotherhood” might have sent him, so he would die bravely. Instead, he clung to life, sniveling and begging the Party members not to hurt him, to “do it to Julia!”.

       The Hunger Games and 1984 show us the strength of selflessness through the different actions that the respective protagonists take. To be able to be willing to let go of life is a hard thing, and to be afraid for someone rather than yourself is no small feat. For Katniss to be so willing to lay down her life for her family and best friend is something not many of us could have the nerve to do, especially Winston. When faced with a choice of your life or something else you greatly want to stay safe, what would you choose?

Poems: “Those Winter Sundays” and “My Papa's Waltz”

Poems: “Those Winter Sundays” and “My Papa's Waltz”

       Most children grow up not realizing how much their parents love them and what their parents do for them. “Those Winter Sundays”, by Robert Hayden, and “My Papa's Waltz”, by Theodore Roethke, are both poems about a child and their father. The poems describe the father's feelings for his child and vice versa. While these poems are similar in topic, the mood of the poems and theme contrast greatly.

       “Those Winter Sundays” is a poem about a child and his/her father, and how the father would put himself past his wishes and do things for his family so they would be comfortable. For example, the first stanza states that “Sundays too my father got up early/ and put his clothes on in the blueblack cold,/ then with cracked hands that ached/ from labor in the weekday weather made/ banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him.” The family of this man took the discreet chores he did for granted, and never truly appreciated his efforts to make them happy. Later, the child looks back at his/her memories with regret and states, “What did I know, what did I know/ of love's austere and lonely offices?” The child expresses the wish to go back and thank his/her father for everything he's done through these lines, though possibly cannot for unknown reasons. This shows parents love their children, yet show this love in different ways, through different actions and words. The child had not realized, until he/she was a grown adult, that his/her father's silent actions were the ways he showed his love.

       “My Papa's Waltz” is a poem about a small boy playing with his presumably tipsy father. The word choice of the poem shows the child's love for his father, especially the last two lines: “Then waltzed me off to bed/ Still clinging to your shirt.” The bond between father and child appears strong, and they have much affection for one another, also shown in these lines, “We romped until the pans/ Slid from the kitchen shelf;” When father and son romp about, they play lively, and playing around in such a matter shows great love and affection. The poem also suggests that the father had been working very hard, through the lines “...battered on one knuckle;” and “With a palm caked hard by dirt.”; and most likely went to get a drink, due to the lines, “The whiskey on your breath/ could make a small boy dizzy;”. After this, the most reasonable answer would be that the father wanted to play with his son after a hard day's work and a drink. This overall conclusion shows that, even though the father had a tiring day , he was still ready and able to happily play with his son. This further symbolizes his bond with his son.

        Although these poems have very different perspectives on how children interact with their fathers, they both show the strength of the bond between parent and child, whether the child was aware of it or not. Love is a bond that cannot be broken, and these poems show that bond. Children should treasure the moments they have with their families; they are precious, and they might not get a second chance to have those moments again, especially as an adult.

Reading Response: 1984 by George Orwell

Reading Response:

1984 by George Orwell

     The story of 1984, by George Orwell, takes place after the second World War, as a vision of a nightmarish “negative utopia”. Winston Smith, the weak and inept protagonist, struggles through the orderly pace and routine of his life, scraping through on the measly portions that the Party gives out. The Party is the government in this time, which has complete control over its people. Winston finally has a chance to defy the Party when he meets a woman named Julia and says to her that “the more men you've had, the more I love you.” (pg.125) Although Winston believes that he is making a change by defying the Party's “Anti-Sex” belief, he does not realize that just being with Julia is useless and selfish – inevitably, he would be caught by the Thought Police and sucked back into the illusional safety of the embrace of the Inner Party and Big Brother. Through this, we see that, no matter what, the ones with complete power over the life of the people come out the victors.

     The main object of power in the text is Big Brother, the supposed leader of Oceania. It is unknown whether Big Brother is an actual being or just an image on a poster. He represents the “safety and hope” for the people of London. This symbol is supported by the fact that an older brother would protect and look out for his younger sibling(s). This would give the people a false sense of security, as they are forced to believe and think that Big Brother would take care of them. One of the slogans for the Big Brother posters is “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU” (pg. 2). This could possibly mean that Big Brother is watching to make sure his people are't harmed, but the more likely situation is that he is watching them for a wrong movement, a slip of expression, anything that could alert the Thought Police of a rebellion. This gives Winston a feeling of forced submission, as he feels trapped inside of himself during the Two Minutes Hate. If I were Winston, not being able to express my thoughts or emotions makes me feel frustrated, as if I were being strangled by a boa constrictor, with no way out, until the pressure and lack of room to breathe finally killed me. Early in the text, Winston “...had set his features into the expression of quiet optimism...”(pg. 5) in front of the telescreen. This goes to show that even one tiny twitch of the eye or mouth, any expression other than the one stated above, would result in an arrest or worse.

     Arresting is another way that the people are kept under the control of the Party and Big Brother. The low-class commoners, known rudely as “proles”, and the members of the Outer Party do not know much about what lies beyond their little world, and no one who had been arrested was ever the same or appeared again. They would have been “vaporized”. For example, one of Winston's friends, Syme, was “...too intelligent. He [saw] too clearly and [spoke] too plainly. The Party does not like such people. One day he will disappear.”(pg 53) Inevitably, Syme did vanish. All records of him were erased. Everyone forgot about him. Everyone except Winston, who was aware this would happen. In order for the Party to retain complete control over its people, it had to crush all threats under its foot like a bug, no matter how big or small. One way the Party did this was to capture the suspects and mentally break them. The Party needed proof of even a minor suspect, first.

     No matter what, the citizens of Oceania were always being observed, watched, and listened to. Not even in one's home were they alone or had privacy. This was due to all the telescreens and microphones set everywhere, even in the least suspicious place. Winston and Julia were lured into a trap the same way, suspecting nothing of the strange little shop where Winston bought his diary. At the end, Winston and Julia were arrested by the store owner, Mr. Charrington, who was actually a member of the Thought Police. After Winston was captured, he was constantly watched by telescreens everywhere, and tortured to no ed. He found out that the man he thought was his ally, O'Brien, worked for the Ministry of Love – which actually tortured the captives inside – and was the ultimate factor in Winston's demise. Through the telescreens everywhere, O'Brien knew how to wear Winston down and break his will, even knowing what was in his dreams. “ 'Do you remember,' said O'Brien, 'the moment of panic that used to occur in your dreams? There was a wall of blackness in front of you, and a roaring sound in your ears. There was something terrible on the other side of the wall. You knew that you knew what it was, but you dared not drag it into the open. It was the rats on the other side of the wall.' ” (pg. 284) There was no escape for Winston or Julia, because the selfish instinct to survive made them betray each other. This urge to survive was indeed what broke Winston's promise promise to the “Brotherhood”. Winston wasn't selfless, and O'Brien knew that. O'Brien used this to his advantage and manipulated Winston by extracting his weakness.

     Through all these forms of threats, the Party exercised its power over the people, robbing them of their intellectuality and emotions. People with minds have choices, can make decisions. People without minds blindly follow whatever takes command and rules them, becoming solely dependent on that one authority, no matter what they do. The term “doublethink” in Newspeak is used by the Party to manipulate the floundering people and make them believe that their economy is flourishing. The Party maintains their grasp on the people like so, crushing anything in their path. Thus, if they rule the mind, they rule the lives, they rule forever more.

Argument Essay: Should Teens Play Contact Sports?

Argument Essay:Should Teens Play Contact Sports?

     Sports. Football, soccer, ice hockey; these are but a few of the more dangerous contact sports kids enjoy to play. Alas, every year, about 3,500,000 young children suffer from sports injuries and require medical treatment. The surprising thing is that almost half of the injuries are caused by overuse, and are mainly in kids from 13-15 years old. Those kids who play sports are not only at risk of being physically injured, but mentally and socially as well. This can cause stress and grief between adults they trust, friends, and themselves. Therefore, teens should not play contact sports; for their sakes, and for others'.

     Playing contact sports can seriously damage your body – sometimes for life. In "For Children in Sports, a Breaking Point", the author states that, “the sports surgeon Dr. James R. Andrews said that he now sees four times as many overuse injuries in youth sports as he did just five years ago and that more children today are having to undergo surgery for chronic sports injuries.” More and more kids are overusing their muscles by constantly playing a certain sport for too long a period of time. This eventually causes a lot of wear and tear which, if left unchecked and continued for too long, can cause permanent damage. Another point that shows this risk in sports is in the article “How Children and Teens Can Avoid Sports Injuries” by the Wall Street Journal, which informs us that “the greatest number of sports injuries in kids are in teens from 13-15 old.” Teens at that age are still growing and developing – their bodies are more vulnerable to hits, and they can't sustain as much damage to their internal organs like adults can. When teenage sports players take hits like a professional, experienced, adult player, it increases their chances of having a permanent injury while on the field. As for being on the field, playing sports can also damage you emotionally and mentally.

     Being a player on the field can be very stressful, which can sometimes lead to breakdowns and frustration. Negative feelings can come from everywhere; parents, siblings, coaches, teammates... this torrent is enough to unravel anyone. As the editor of “Competitive Sports: Helping Kids Play It Cool”, Michelle New, states, “overzealous parents tend to overreact to mistakes, game losses, and skipped practices, which often causes kids to do the same.” A child's performance in the game may be important, but it may be affected by the attitude of the spectators, like coaches and parents. If you get your child into the habit of beating themselves up over a minor mistake, they won't be able to focus on the next game in fear of making an error while on the field. This could also pressurize them to be absolutely flawless in an adult's eyes when playing, as shown in “Competitive Sports: Helping Kids Play It Cool”. “Kids try to satisfy the demands of a parent, coach, or other authority figure and end up feeling like winning is the only way yo gain the approval of the adults they respect.” This is absolutely true, and as the pressure builds up, it may go past the limit of the child's tolerance or capacity. They may experience burnout, depression, or may just break down or decide to quit playing sports. Stress, although helpful at times, is a dangerous thing to play with.

     Some people may say that stress is a good thing when it comes to sports. Sports can also benefit you physically, socially, and mentally. From the article “Healthy Competition Key in Youth Sports”, by Ramona Shelburne, “encouraging kids to stoke those competitive flames, Bryant said, is essential to making sports and physical activity part of their lives...”. Competitiveness helps kids learn how to be good sports and treat others well. Kids become healthy, and many are more satisfied with their lives. Playing sports also releases hormones that make you more relaxed and happy. But, as in "Competitive Sports: Helping Kids Play It Cool", “stress is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it prepares the body to rise to a challenge with focus, strength, and heightened alertness. On the other hand, too much of it can exhaust a kid's energy and drive, leading to a sports burnout.” When that happens, kids will not be able to play their best on the field. All the pressure overwhelms them until it's too much to handle.

     Although occasional stress can be good sometimes, in many ways too much can bring you down, mentally, physically, and socially. Exercise is important, but there are many ways of exercising without putting your body and mind at harm. Contact sports are dangerous, and kids should cease playing for their safety and good health.

Bibliography

Brody, Jane E. "For Children in Sports, a Breaking Point." The New York Times. The New York Times, 24 May 2010. Web. 17 Jan. 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/health/25brod.html?_r=0>.

"Competitive Sports: Helping Kids Play It Cool." KidsHealth. Ed. Michelle New. The Nemours Foundation, 01 Mar. 2011. Web. 24 Jan. 2015. <http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/sports_competition.html>.

"How Children and Teens Can Avoid Sports Injuries." How Children and Teens Can Avoid Sports Injuries. The Wall Street Journal, 19 Aug. 2014. Web. 24 Jan. 2015. <http://www.wsj.com/video/how-children-and-teens-can-avoid-sports-injuries/D707BD91-FDC1-4885-8422-7E74A9E97BD4.html>.

|, Ramona Shelburne. "Kobe, Bill Clinton Talk Youth Sports." ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures, 25 Nov. 2014. Web. 24 Jan. 2015. <http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/10291171/kobe-bryant-says-healthy-competition-key-youth-sports.html>.