Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below.

In many circumstances, optimism—the expectation that one's ideas and plans will always turn out for the best—is unwarranted. In these situations what is needed is not an upbeat view but a realistic one. There are times when people need to take a tough-minded view of the possibilities of success, give up, and invest their energies elsewhere rather than find reasons to continue to pursue the original project or idea.
Adapted from Martin E. P. Sen, Learned Optimism
Assignment:
Is it better for people to be realistic or optimistic? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
Walking into my biology test last week, I had no false impressions about how well I would be able to do. I had barely studied the material, and had been catching naps in class to make up for the lack of sleep over the past few days. I strategically went for the questions I knew well, spending a little more time on the ones I had a good chance guessing at, and barely wasting my time on the ones I didn’t know. I chose to let reality guide me, instead of a false sense of optimism, a decisions that has proven itself successful many a times in history, as during the French revolution and Word War II.
The peasant population of France became a restless crowd in 1789. Bread was scarce, and hunger had gripped a majority of the peoples. A group of peasants marched to the King to appeal for bread and food, feeling that it was the King’s duty to keep his subjects fed. The King denied their requests, keeping them waiting. As hunger turned to starvation, the sense of optimism and the hopes for a successful and peaceful resolution came to an abrupt end. The peasants switched to realistic perception, storming the palace, beheading the king, and plunging the country into a ten year revolution. They recognized that a change in government was necessary, and that their optimistic thoughts weren’t going to solve problems.
Harry S. Truman did not have to face starving peasants, instead he was facing the high casualty rates the staggering battles of WWII were bringing to the United States. The Allied powers were gaining upon the Axis, but the Axis refused to surrender. As more and more people died, Truman’s optimism for a peaceful surrender and ceasefire faded away. More and more troops were unnecessarily dying, and Truman took up a realistic approach. He ordered the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, thus provoking the unconditional surrender of Japan. Though this resulted in millions of deaths, it prevented many more proving that a realistic approach superceded an optimistic one.
Though optimism isn’t necessarily a bad approach to things, it must only be used sparingly and with prudence. Patience must be employed, but reality can never be ignored. A realistic approach to life may not always be the most successful one, but is usually the necessary one.

Grade please?

It's hard to tell where the directions end and your writing begins. An extra tap on the Enter key will help with that problem and separate your writing from the directions.

Without seeing paragraph distinctions, I'd give this paper a 3 (or maybe a weak 4).

I would like to add that the dropping of the two atomic bombs on Japan did not result in "millions of deaths". The actual number was about 103,000, including delayed deaths. A similar number were killed in the firebombing of Tokyo about six months before that. One should not invent statistics to make rhetorical arguments.

In this essay, the author argues that it is better for people to be realistic rather than optimistic. They use examples from history, such as the French Revolution and World War II, to support their point of view.

To develop your own point of view on this issue, you can start by considering the benefits and drawbacks of both realism and optimism. Realism involves facing the facts and acknowledging the challenges and limitations of a situation. It can help individuals make practical decisions and take appropriate actions based on the current circumstances. On the other hand, optimism involves having a positive outlook and expecting favorable outcomes. It can provide motivation and resilience in the face of adversity.

Next, you can draw upon your reading, studies, experience, or observations to support your position. For example, you can discuss situations where a realistic approach was necessary for problem-solving or decision-making. This can include personal experiences or examples from history, like the author did in the essay. Additionally, you can explore situations where optimism may have been more beneficial, such as instances where a positive mindset led to innovative solutions or breakthroughs.

Remember to provide reasoning and examples to strengthen your argument. This can include logical reasoning, evidence from research or studies, and specific examples to support your viewpoint. Be sure to address any counterarguments by acknowledging alternative perspectives and providing reasons why you believe your position is stronger.

In conclusion, when writing your essay, consider the benefits and drawbacks of realism and optimism, and use evidence from various sources to support your position. This will help you to develop a well-rounded argument and provide a coherent response to the assignment prompt.