<p>PLEASE grade my essay and give it some constructive criticism. Thank you and your help would be greatly appreciated. The prompt is from the practice SAT from the collegeboard website. </p>
<p>Prompt:
Do people accomplish more when they are allowed to do things in their own way?</p>
<p>Without question, people accomplish more during their lifetime when they follow their own opinions. Although there are other persuading opinions that attempt to alter one’s own way, those who choose to ignore the outsiders generally succeed in his or her goal. The power of doing things one’s own way is clearly exemplified in pop culture, history, and literature.</p>
<p>American hip-hop artist Kanye West illustrates the accomplishments one can make if one truly follows his or her heart. West did something unprecedented before in hip-hop culture; he released an album solely as a pop singer. After recording three critical acclaimed rap albums (3 Grammy Awards for Best Hip-Hop/Rap Album), West decided that his next album was going to be a pop album. His reasoning for such a change was justified: singing alleviates pain that rapping fails to do. During a course of a year, West lost his mother and broke up with his longtime girlfriend. Following his heart, West went with an audacious new plan and released 808’s and Heartbreak. His new album was praised for its new direction and emotions. Even though the rap community attempted to daunt Kanye West from singing, West went his own way and to great success, as West is up for a copious number of Grammy’s in the 2010 show.</p>
<p>In addition to pop culture, American literature also demonstrates the efficaciousness of doing things in one’s own way. In the novel Things Fall Apart, The African people and the protagonist follow their own logical path. The novel tells a story of how white missionaries pervaded into the African tribal way of life. Okonkwo, the main character, refuses to budge to the missionaries. Throughout the novel, Okonkwo does not give in to the changes. Okonkwo still went with his own religion (African tribal religion) and his own way of life (farming yams). His neighbors did not follow Okonkwo’s lead; they virtually became the white man’s slave. Okonkwo depicts how following one’s own way can result in success; this time, the success is retaining one’s pride.</p>
<p>In American history, the American Revolution is an archetype of doing things one’s own way leads to success. The Americans were under Britain control in the mid 1770s. The British were at its pinnacle of power, colonizing all over the globe and virtually bullying its American colonies. However, the American people did not let the British coerce them around. In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson and signed by our founding fathers. Following their own way, the Americans revolted and finally defeated the British in 1783, at the Battle of Yorktown. If the people of the US did not follow their own view, they would still be under colonial rule by the tyrannist British.</p>
<p>All in all, pop culture, history, and literature all show the resonant power of doing things one’s own way. Kanye West, Okonkwo for Things Fall Apart, and the US all accomplish their goals through believing in themselves.</p>