Category: Writing

How does Hamlet’s conclusion on the question of “To be or not to be” develop the reader’s understanding of his character?
How does Hamlet describe life? How does he describe death?
Explore both Frankenstein’s and the Creature’s miserable ends. Why do Hamlet and the Creature believe that ending their lives is a viable answer to their misery?
Now that Frankenstein is dead, why do you think the Creature is dissatisfied and feels no drive to continue living? How do you think the Creature and Frankenstein could have avoided their sad fates?
From poem to be or to be not (hamlet).

How the Death Penalty Saves Lives
Muhlhausen is a proponent of the death penalty and often writes about its benefits to society. In this September 2014 op-ed essay for
US News and World Report
, the policy expert cites opinion polls and academic studies to demonstrate his point that capital punishment results in reduced murder rates and is therefore morally acceptable. The essay following this one — Semon Frank Thompson’s “What I Learned from Executing Two Men” (p. 395) — argues the opposite.
On September 10, Earl Ringo, Jr., was executed in Missouri. Before you decide whether or not this is right, consider what Ringo did.
In July 1998, Ringo and an accomplice planned to rob a restaurant where Ringo had previously worked. Early one morning, they followed delivery truck driver Dennis Poyser and manager-in-training Joanna Baysinger into the building before shooting Poyser to death and forcing Baysinger to hand over $1,400. Then, Ringo encouraged his partner to kill her. A jury convicted Ringo of two first-degree murders.
Some crimes are so heinous and inherently wrong that they demand strict penalties — up to and including life sentences or even death. Most Americans recognize this principle as just. A Gallup poll from May on the topic found that 61 percent of Americans view the death penalty as morally acceptable, and only 30 percent disagreed. Even though foes of capital punishment have for years been increasingly vocal in their opposition to the death penalty, Americans have consistently supported capital punishment by a 2-to-1 ratio in murder cases. They are wise to do so.
Studies of the death penalty have reached various conclusions about its effectiveness in deterring crime. But a 2008 comprehensive review of capital punishment research since 1975 by Drexel University economist Bijou Yang and psychologist David Lester of Richard Stockton College of New Jersey concluded that the majority of studies that track effects over many years and across states or counties find a deterrent effect.
Indeed, other recent investigations, using a variety of samples and statistical methods, consistently demonstrate a strong link between executions and reduced murder rates. For instance, a 2003 study by Emory University researchers of data from more than 3,000 counties from 1977 through 1996 found that each execution, on average, resulted in 18 fewer murders per county. In another examination, based on data from all 50 states from 1978 to 1997, Federal Communications Commission economist Paul Zimmerman demonstrated that each state execution deters an average of 14 murders annually.
A more recent study by Kenneth Land of Duke University and others concluded that, from 1994 through 2005, each execution in Texas was associated with “modest, short-term reductions” in homicides, a decrease of up to 2.5 murders. And in 2009, researchers found that adopting state laws allowing defendants in child murder cases to be eligible for the death penalty was associated with an almost 20 percent reduction in rates of these crimes.
In short, capital punishment does, in fact, save lives. That’s certainly not to say that it should be exercised with wild abandon. Federal, state and local officials must continually ensure that its implementation rigorously upholds constitutional protections, such as due process and equal protection of the law. However, the criminal process should not be abused to prevent the lawful imposition of the death penalty in capital cases.
Moral indignation is an appropriate response to inherently wrongful conduct, such as that carried out by Earl Ringo, Jr. While the goal of lower crime through deterrence is worthwhile, lawmakers need to place special emphasis on the moral gravity of offenses in determining the proportionality of punishment.
The execution of Ringo was morally just. And it may just save the lives of several innocents.
Journal Writing
Muhlhausen objects to the “abuse” of “the criminal process” by those attempting to “prevent the lawful imposition of the death penalty in capital cases” (par. 7). What does he mean? And do you agree with his position? In your journal, write down your own opinions about American methods of trying the accused, sentencing the convicted, or appealing the sentences of convicted criminals in the United States. Does the justice system seem fair to you?
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Questions on Writing Strategy
What does Muhlhausen accomplish by opening with a discussion of Earl Ringo, Jr., and the crime he was executed for?
As a whole, is this essay an appeal to emotion or a reasoned argument, or both? What ASSUMPTIONS does Muhlhausen make about his readers? Give evidence for your answer.
Examine Muhlhausen’s TRANSITIONS between paragraph 2 and 3, 4 and 5, and 7 and 8. How do they work?
Where, if at all, does Muhlhausen address opposing points of view? How effective do you find his treatment of counterarguments?
OTHER METHODS Much of Muhlhausen’s argument is developed by CAUSE-AND-EFFECT analysis. What does he claim is the link between capital executions and murder rates? How convincing do you find his EVIDENCE?

The Hound of the Baskervilles: Chapter 11
Answer the following questions using your own original thought, as well as textual evidence from the novel to support your points.
1. How did Watson persuade Laura Lyons to answer his question? Is she holding back any information in your opinion?
2. Why did Laura Lyons write to Sir Charles seeking a meeting? Is her story believable? Why, or why not?
3. Why didn’t Laura Lyons keep her appointment with Sir Charles? Does this make her a suspect in the crime? Does she feel any guilt for breaking the appointment?
4. What good information did Watson get from Frankland on his day of celebration?
5. Who was the “Man on the Tor?” How does this throw Watson off his track in helping to solve the mystery of Charles’ death? Is Watson disappointed? Why, or why not?

What if the play were rewritten in the form of fiction (whether short story or novel)?
You will demonstrate how either
The Importance of Being Earnest
OR
Antigone
could be rewritten as a short story or novel. Your goal is to present an argument about which form–drama or fiction– would resonate more with today’s readers and their understanding of what it means to be human in contemporary society. Keep your audience in mind. The students will have read both plays, but they will not have studied genre in detail.
The essay should cover explanations of each genre–drama and fiction–including key terms and concepts. Your thesis statement should argue for your chosen genre by answering the prompt above, providing the HOW and WHY. For example, if you were to argue that
Antigone
would resonate more with today’s readers as a novel, then you would need to include the reasons WHY fiction is better and HOW it would resonate more. Your close reading analysis of the play should consider the central themes, the behavior of and interaction among the characters, as well as ethical and cultural factors – in order to prove your argument about the preferred genre and what it conveys about the human condition.

When someone’s writing is not focused, clear, and precise the message is often lost or confusing. To succeed in today’s competitive, professional world you must be able to communicate effectively; especially through writing.
Describe a situation (real or fictional) where not having a focused message in your writing could lead to a problem or poor outcome. Describe how you can use the writing process to ensure your writing is focused and effective.
I need a brief 2 to 3 paragraph answer. Thank you!

As Tom testifies, Scout remarks that until Atticus explained it to her, she “never understood the subtlety of Tom’s predicament.” What is Tom’s predicament? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Discussion prompt:
The Youngers should have taken the money from Mr. Lindner.
Write paragraph that supports your opinion and then write reply paragraph. Reply paragraph should support the opposite point of view from your own.

The Story of an Hour (Chopin)
In a complete paragraph (10-15 sentences), please respond. In the context of this text, what are the effects of discrimination against women? Cite evidence from this text, your own experience, and other literature, art, or history in your answer.

1. To whom is Maya Angelou writing this poem?
2. What does the poem’s speaker mean by the phrase “I’ll rise”?
3. What effect does Angelou create by repeating the phrase “I’ll rise”?
4. What questions does the poem’s speaker ask of readers?
5. Why does the poem’s speaker ask questions throughout the poem? (What is the effect of this form?)
6. What are the most important words in this poem? Identify and list a key word from each stanza.
7. What mood or tone is created by these key words, when you consider them together?
8. In terms of how to approach life, what does Angelou’s poem suggest or recommend?
9. What does this poem suggest about Maya Angelou’s own life?
10. how to  complete sentence that expresses a theme of the poem “Still I Rise.”

Read the following sentence.
“Other plants, such as tomatoes, have been genetically altered in a similar fashion, to remain fresher longer.”
What is the denotative meaning of the word fashion as it is used in the sentence?
Select one:
a. a trendy style
b. a prevailing custom
c. a manner of doing something
d. a particular kind of person or object
Read the following sentence.
“Like most innovations, genetically modified foods are not without controversy.”
Which of the following best replaces the word innovations in this sentence?
Select one:
a. plants
b. nutrients
c. pesticides
d. discoveries
Use these dictionary entries to answer the question.
sum (root word): take [Latin]
-er (suffix): a person or thing that does something
What does the word consumer mean in this sentence?
“Because of these concerns, many consumers want to know if the food they eat contains GMOs.”
Select one:
a. a person who eats or uses something
b. an object of monetary value
c. a label added to products
d. a person who sells food
Read the following sentence.
“The table below illustrates these issues.”
What type of sentence is this?
Select one:
a. compound-complex
b. compound
c. complex
d. simple
Read this sentence.
The family did not realize that there was a wrinkle in their plan until they found themselves in a rainstorm without any shelter.
What is the connotative meaning of the word wrinkle as it is used in the sentence?
Select one:
a. problem
b. crease
c. trick
d. fold
Read this sentence.
Opponents of labeling defend GMOs, but proponents are skeptical.
What type of sentence is this?
Select one:
a. simple
b. complex
c. compound
d. compound-complex
Genetic modification makes pest-resistant corn, but genetically modified corn may be unhealthy.
What type of sentence is this?
Select one:
a. compound-complex
b. compound
c. complex
d. simple
Which of the following is a compound-complex sentence?
Select one:
a. Unlike my mother, I don’t care to get involved in the GMO controversy.
b. My mother is not in favor of mandatory labeling, but my sister supports mandatory labeling.
c. My mother and my sister are on opposite sides of the controversy, but I have chosen to stay out of it.
d. Although my father is not an activist, I have become involved in the GMO controversy, but I remain respectful of my father’s position.
Which sentence uses commas correctly?
Select one:
a. We toured an organic, farm, a conventional, farm, a food processing plant, and a grocery store.
b. We toured, an organic farm a conventional farm, a food processing plant and a grocery store.
c. We toured, an organic farm, a conventional farm, a food processing plant, and a grocery store.
d. We toured an organic farm, a conventional farm, a food processing plant, and a grocery store.
Which sentence uses commas correctly?
Select one:
a. The bread label lists, carbohydrates proteins, fats and sugars.
b. The bread label, lists carbohydrates, proteins, fats and sugars.
c. The bread label lists carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and sugars.
d. The bread label lists, carbohydrates proteins, fats, and sugars.
For which writing situation would it be appropriate to use third-person point of view?
Select one:
a. a pamphlet that gives instructions for a self-guided tour of Washington, D. C.
b. a letter from a student to the president of the United States
c. a journal entry about a class trip to Washington, D. C.
d. a biography of a former United States president
For which writing situation would it be appropriate to use second-person point of view?
Select one:
a. a booklet with instructions for a self-guided college campus tour
b. an essay about the kings of England in the 14th century
c. a fictional story about a king who lives in FarFaria
d. an article about the writer’s own hiking experiences
Read the following sentence.
The girls had to go back and look at the article again before they could answer the question.
Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence?
Select one:
a. he
b. she
c. they
d. them
Read the following sentence.
The farmers, who disagree about how GMOs should be regulated, decided to schedule a meeting to talk it out among themselves.
Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence?
Select one:
a. themselves
b. ourselves
c. himself
d. herself