<p>Assignment: * Is happiness something over which people have no control, or can people choose to be happy?</p>
<pre><code>It has been said that “money cannot buy happiness”. This is because happiness is intangible; it cannot be bought in a store. Instead, true satisfaction must come from within. As humans, we are able to make our own decisions as to how we interpret external factors and situations. We can then make a cognitive decision that in turn affects our level of happiness. This internal decision making is illustrated by Henry David Thoreau, A Tale of Two Cities, and my own personal experience.
Henry David Thoreau was a 19th century writer who grew tired of the grim, preoccupied demeanor of his fellow city dwellers. Longing for change, he chose a life of solitude in a hidden cabin on Walden Pond, Massachusetts. There, he discovered how refreshing it felt to live independently. He was at one with nature, free from the constraints of “civilized” society. He recalled his newfound peacefulness in his book ?Walden?. Instead of accepting his dissatisfaction with his current lifestyle, Thoreau took a proactive approach to changing it. In doing so, he discovered his happiness was very much in his control.
Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities also portrays this choice through the character of Sydney Carton. Carton is a depressed, alcoholic lawyer with seemingly no sources of happiness in his life. Throughout the beginning of the novel, he sulks around the city bars, feeling sorry for himself and doing nothing to change his current situation. However, he later springs into action to save his friend, Charles Darnay, from execution. His salvation gives him satisfaction and allows him to die with meaning in his life. Thus, by making a simple decision, Carton was able to change his happiness.
I have also witnessed the correlation between my choices and my level of satisfaction. Entering high school, I was very adept in mathematics and the sciences, yet they did not excite me. The first few math club meetings seemed mundane, and I found myself longing for something else. I then made the decision to join the school’s Model UN club instead. I found much more pleasure working with people and diplomacy than numbers and formulas. Reflecting on this decision, I can confidently say I am much more happier as a result of my control.
Our level of satisfaction is directly linked to the how we interpret situations and then make choices. This news is fortunate because while we cannot control our environment, we can surely control ourselves.
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<p>Thanks</p>
<p>This essay would probably get a 10 or 11, or quite possibly a 12. I imagine that a reader would be very impressed with the examples of Thoreau and your personal experience, but perhaps less so with that of Sydney Carton. Sydney would not generally be regarded as “happy” going to the guillotine; maybe “determined” or “calm,” but personally, I wouldn’t be enthusiastic about going to my death – would you? I think a few readers, since many of them are high school English teachers familiar with Tale of Two Cities, would question your decision to utilize Sydney. Nevertheless, you skillfully weaved the example into the essay, a fact which would no doubt earn you some points. Congrats.</p>
<p>On a side note, I’d just like to point out that your essay has a few redundant or confusing words. For instance – ‘“cognitive” decision.’ A decision is always made with the faculties of the brain. It is not necessary to include the word “cognitive,” because the word “decision” already suggests that someone has used his mind to come to a conclusion about something. Also, “intangible” may not be the best word in context. It suggests you don’t feel happiness, which of course you do – otherwise, how should one define “feeling happy?” Perhaps “tactile” would work better. Please remember that the essay is not a time to show off your vocabulary, especially if you don’t know the proper usage of an esoteric word. Stick to the “punch” words that readers don’t need to reflect upon to understand. </p>
<p>Anyway, your essay is generally well written. You have a strong introduction and conclusion, and well-picked examples. A reader who skims through your essay will probably not “cogitate” upon the mistakes I pointed out above, and, “ergo,” give you an excellent score. Bonne chance!</p>
<p>ditto, lobgent’s score</p>
<p>plus I want to make sure you know this:</p>
<p>if you say “happier” you don’t need to say “more happier”
the “more” was expressed when you changed happy to happier.</p>
<p>remember the forms: Happy, happier, happiest.</p>
<pre><code> (WRONG = more happier, most happiest)
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<p>BUT, if you get into words (adjectives) where the base word has more than 2 syllables, then use the forms: more + baseword or<br>
most + baseword</p>
<p>like this:
My friend is the most wonderful person in the world.
(not “wonderfullest”)</p>
<p>Watch this 2-syllable baseword: I would be happy with water.<br>
I would be happier with tea.
I would be happiest with hot chocolate.</p>
<p>Now a 3-syllable baseword:
I would be satisfied with water/
I would be more satisfied with tea.
I would be most satisfied with hot chocolate.</p>