Short Composition: Interpreting Quotations & Proverbs

For the next short composition, you will write about a proverb or quotation.  You will interpret its meaning, and then give your personal opinion about it (developing your opinion with points and specific, supporting details.)

The composition should have two main parts:

1.  The first paragraph interprets the meaning of the quotation/proverb.  For example, beginning with "The saying 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do' (St. Ambrose) means that wherever a person goes, he should follow the habits of the people who live there.  Often this is true, but there are exceptions..."

2.  The body of your short composition gives a response that explains/supports your opinion.  The body should contain a personal story that supports your interpretation -- and should be organized as one extended example (narration), which includes parallel points and supporting reasons. (For example, "When I came to this country, I didn't know much about U.S. customs.  I did know one custom though.  I knew that Americans keep their shoes on in the house.  One day, when I was invited to the house of my father's American friend I had an embarrassing moment..."

Please underline your articles after you have finished typing the composition and edit for the correct use of articles.  A composition that works with quotations and proverbs is a great way to practice the use of articles with abstract nouns (such as love, time, war,  and peace.)  The quotation itself should be the title of your post.  Please also include an image with your composition that illustrates your interpretation.

Online Writing Labs to Explore

The Purdue Online Writing Lab: http://owl.English.purdue.edu/  In case you didn't catch the link the first time, this site is full of information to help you with your writing in English. For example, there are over 130 instructional handouts available on subjects such as: punctuation, spelling, writing research papers and citing sources. Designed for both native speakers and non-native speakers, this site includes everything from resources for mastering grammar and mechanics, to resources for professional writing and job hunting.  Make sure to check out the list of additional internet resources for students of the English language.

The Kent State Online Writing Lab:  http://dept.kent.edu/english/eslowl/  In addition to the Purdue Online Writing Lab we explored in class, the Kent State University ESL OWL offers a number of resources for English help.

http://www.dianehacker.com/writersref  Diana Hacker's website also has many helpful writing and grammar exercises.

Prompt #2 -- Aristotle: A Definition of Justice

Please choose from one of the following topics:

1.  Aristotle says that when people argue about justice they usually are "speaking of a limited and partial justice."  What does this mean?  What examples do you see in his discussions of justice that back him up?  Why is it so difficult to talk about justice in the larger sense of the word rather than to discuss a limited aspect of justice?  For example, people talk about taxing the rich very heavily to help the poor as a form of justice.  How would Aristotle regard that choice?

2.  At the end of paragraph 1, Aristotle refers to a philosopher named Lycophron and reminds us that even though states can create "just laws," the laws will not make the "citizens good and just."  How true is that of our own time and place?  What examples can you think of that illustrate how difficult it is for the nation to use laws to help make its citizens good and just?  Is there any relationship between "just laws" and "just citizens"?