Mainly directed to Mr. Pursley and Write Teacher but feel free to critique! Thank you so much.

Assignment: Do you think that ease does not challenge us and that we need adversity to help us discover who we are? 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.

Essay: Ease does not do enough to challenge us. Adverse, competitive, and tough circumstances are necessary to help discover who we actually are on the inside. One example that supports this idea is that going into a specialized high school means going into an endless pool of competition and motivation which essentially helps us students discover who we actually are. Also, another example that portrays this idea can be seen in "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, where Hester is able to discover her true self through her punishment deemed necessary by society.
One prime example that shows that ease does not challenge us and adversity is needed to help discover who we are is that my brother and I went to and go to respectively, specialized high schools. He went to Stuyvesant and I go to Bronx Science, where the competition is neck to neck, where admission is only given to the cream of the crop. With the intense amount of competition and need to make sure grades are perfect along with extracurricular activities, SAT, and community service., the adverse circumstances help us students discover who we actually are, and who we will shape into in the future. Instead of taking the easy way out and enrolling in a local high school, where we could essentially, easily stand out, we decided to take the challenge upon ourselves and bring out and show our inner capabilities. The neck to neck competition and the understanding that it's a dog eat dog world, it is deemed necessary that harsh, competitive, and adverse circumstances be presented and faced in order to reveal who we actually are on the inside.
In the novel, "The Scarlet Letter", Nathaniel Hawthorne is able to put one of the main characters Hester Prynne in adverse circumstances, with society condemning her, belittling her so much, forcing her to wear the scarlet letter, "A" standing for adultery, essentially her own sin always being a constant reminder to her. Hawthorne brings out a deep and complex personality of Hester's, one that developed over the seven years of bearing the "A" on her bosom. Her personality gradually changed to transforming herself in character due to the adverse and compulsory circumstances thrown at Hester; if she had not faced this situation, it would not have challenged her and brought out her real personality and deep character.
the first example is able to portray that indeed making the choice to go to Bronx Science and Stuyvesant and placing ourselves in these circumstances, created and helped discover who we really are, rather than simply not taking up the challenge which essentially gains us no insight on our deep characters. American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne was able to further support the idea that adverse and tough circumstances do indeed help discover your inner self. It is essentially deemed crucial that adversity, competitiveness, and compulsory situations that help bring out the true personality and characteristics of a person.

Eliminate "that help" in the last sentence. Otherwise, it is not a grammatically correct sentence.

This sentence is VERY wordy:

One prime example that shows that ease does not challenge us and adversity is needed to help discover who we are is that my brother and I went to and go to respectively, specialized high schools.
How can you fix it?
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/concise.htm

Read your paper aloud from the last sentence to the first sentence, one sentence at a time. Fix any other sentences that are too wordy or have other errors in them. Then re-post.

An example to show that ease does not challenge us and adversity is needed for self discovery is when my brother and i were enrolled in specialised high schools...

An example to show that ease does not challenge us and adversity is needed for self discovery is when my brother and i were enrolled in specialized high schools...

Overall, your essay effectively argues that ease does not challenge us and that adversity is necessary to help us discover who we truly are. Your examples of specialized high schools and the character Hester Prynne from "The Scarlet Letter" support your thesis.

In terms of critique, here are a few suggestions to enhance your essay:

1. Introduction: Begin your essay with a strong and attention-grabbing statement about the topic. This will help to engage your reader from the start and set the tone for your argument.

2. Thesis statement: Make your thesis statement more concise and explicit. Clearly state your stance that ease does not challenge us and that adversity is essential for self-discovery.

3. Transition statements: Use clear transition statements to smoothly move from one paragraph to the next. This will help your essay flow more effectively and make your ideas easier to follow.

4. Supporting examples: While your examples of specialized high schools and Hester Prynne are strong, consider adding more specific details or anecdotes to further illustrate your points. This will make your essay more engaging and persuasive.

5. Logical structure: Organize your essay into distinct paragraphs with topic sentences that introduce the main idea of each paragraph. This will help to make your essay more coherent and structured.

6. Conclusion: Summarize your main arguments and provide a strong concluding statement that reinforces your thesis. Consider ending your essay with a thought-provoking question or a call to action to leave a lasting impression on your reader.

Remember to proofread your essay for any grammatical or spelling errors and revise where necessary. Overall, you have a solid foundation for your essay, and with these suggestions, you can further improve the clarity and effectiveness of your argument. Good luck!