REFORMATTED
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.
I'm sure I gave you the SAT essay rubric before. Just look at that and you should be able to score this yourself.
Sra
P.S. If you've lost it, just ask again.
I scored it myself, but I was just hoping that someone else could give me a numerical grade. Anyone?
I'd give this a high 4 or a minimum 5. There's at least one run-on in there plus a few typos. Any time a reader has to go back and reread a section to "get" what the writer is trying to say, your score will drop!
Here's an example of what I had to reread: "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." Do you see the run-on?
Thank you!
The issue presented in the given excerpt is whether it is better for people to be realistic or optimistic. The writer argues that in certain circumstances, a realistic view is needed instead of unwarranted optimism. In order to develop a point of view on this issue, it is important to consider both sides of the argument and support your position with reasoning and examples.
To answer the question, it is crucial to understand the definitions of optimism and realism. Optimism refers to the expectation that things will turn out for the best, while realism involves having a practical and accurate view of situations and outcomes.
One approach to writing an essay on this topic is to start by stating your position. Do you believe it is better for people to be realistic or optimistic? Then, provide reasoning to support your argument. Consider how unrealistic optimism can lead to unproductive decisions and the neglect of potential risks or challenges. On the other hand, acknowledge that optimism can inspire perseverance and creativity, allowing individuals to overcome obstacles.
To further support your position, you can use examples from your reading, studies, experience, or observations. In the provided excerpt, the writer mentions their own experience of taking a realistic approach during a biology test. They strategically focused on the questions they knew well and made educated guesses, acknowledging their limitations. This approach proved successful for them.
Additionally, historical examples such as the French Revolution and World War II can be used to illustrate the importance of a realistic view. In the French Revolution, the peasants were initially optimistic that their appeals for food would be heard by the King. However, as their hunger worsened and the King denied their requests, they recognized the need for a more realistic perspective. This led to the revolution and a change in government.
Similarly, during World War II, President Harry S. Truman had to make difficult decisions in the face of high casualty rates. His optimism for a peaceful surrender and ceasefire faded as more lives were lost. He ultimately took a realistic approach and ordered the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to force Japan's surrender.
To conclude your essay, summarize your position and reiterate your reasoning and examples. Emphasize that while optimism has its merits, a realistic approach is often necessary to assess risks, make informed decisions, and effectively address challenges. Remember to use clear and concise language and provide a well-structured argument to support your point of view.