<p>What follows is an example of a great essay. But be aware, it is intimidatingly good. </p>
<p>I will be trying to post samples and comments over the coming weeks before the January 1 deadline.</p>
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<p>“Omit needless words.” Professors Strunk and White’s phrase has ruled my literary life since I was ten. Actually, I was a slave to the Professors’ credo before I ever knew it existed. My devotion to concision peaked in the second grade when I was told to write an account of the Mayflower’s landing. My essay ran: On December 11, 1641 the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock. It was the worst day of their lives.” Unfortunately, I was never again to attain the degree of brevity which caused my teacher to remark, “Sarah” (named changed) does not have a lot to say for herself.</p>
<p>But I do. I love English, and every aspect of it, written and spoken, fascinates me. My ambition is for my writing to be concise, yet at the same time sensitive and personal. My dilemma is that, although I admire the pithiness of sharp prose, I cannot resist indulging myself in the languorous luxury of multisyllabic verbiage. These indulgences increase my vocabulary but obscure my writing.</p>
<p>Most of my writing is done to satisfy the voracious appetites of my secondary school’s English and History Departments. I enjoy these assignments because English is beautiful, and writing it is gratifying. On my own, I dabble in poetry, playwriting, prose, and puns. In all these forms, although my goal is the Search for Simplification, I am constantly titillated and tempted into the use of a particularly pompous part of speech. My unconventional vocabulary pleases me, although my inability to pronounce most of it can be embarrassing. Moreover, these Baroque linguistic forays run completely counter to the Puritan writing ethic I struggle to attain.</p>
<p>The translation of my thoughts into a form which may be shared is frightening. I am my perceptions. As my writing becomes more precise these perceptions become more obvious. I hope that my love of English will lead me to overcome my fear of personal rejection ad give me the courage and skills necessary to achieve my goal: Less Is More.</p>
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<p>This essay, written by a high school student, demonstrates a sophistication with words few achieve in a lifetime. Why?</p>
<p>The clich</p>