Crucible Essay Draft Review

I feel pretty confident about my essay.  I face some difficulties citing my essay and making it long.  I feel like I have learned more about the Salem Witch Trials.  The pre-writing activities were kinda of helpful but not much.  I would probably have to put a lot more effort into the pre-writing excercises to make them more helpful.  The peer editing experience was alright. It was somewhat helpful.  I prefer just having the teacher let me know what needs to be fixed.  The strengths of my essay would have to be that I think it is very factual and to the point.  I don't fill it with a bunch of "crap".  I plan of focusing on getting more facts put into the essay and making it longer.

People With Impacts On My Life

2)  My life has been influenced by many people.  Some have had good impacts while others have had bad impacts.  I think that people that give you bad experiences help you out in life and teach you what to look for and what to stay away from.  While the people who give you good experiences teach you how to act and how to be successful in life.  One person that has had a huge impact on my life has been my Grandpa.  He is always there for me no matter what.  He is a very nice and friendly person.  He helps out anyone who needs it no matter what.  He always find a way to spend time with all 16 of his grandchildren and treats us all the same.  No one ever feels left out around him.  If you ever need something you can always count on him to help you or give you advice.  Another person that has had an impact on my life is Ryan Roberts.  He is a family friend and I work for him.  He owns a very successful cattle and calf operation just outside of Orion.  Ever since I have started working for him, I feel like I have changed as a person.  He is a pretty laid back person and understands people.  He is always happy and will take time out of his busy day to ask you how you are doing.  I look up to him.  He has taught me many values in life.  You don't always need to be in a rush and people do make mistakes, there is no reason to freak out or make a big deal out of something that can be fixed.  He understands people very well.  My football coach has also been an inspiration in my life.  Football isn't just a sport, it teaches you life lessons.  One that has really stuck with me is, "If the going gets tough, keep pushing through it."  Your life won't be perfect and everything isn't going to go your way.  You have to find a way to get through tough situations.  He has always been there for anyone who needs it and is always willing to give you his advice.  He is kinda of a father figure to some of us.  He is a great person.

It is a sunny day outside.  It is a wonderful fall day, maybe a little bit hotter than most.  Nature is all around.  You can feel it.  The birds are chirping and flying around full of life.  Cars buzz by every few minutes and some even honk because they are happy.  The leaves are full of color and bring life to everything around them.  The water tower oversees everything in the town while the dandelions blow in the breeze.  There is one lone branch laying in the middle of the school front yard.  This is the weather in which most people love to relax.  It is not to hot or too cold.  The sunny weather puts a smile on everyones face.  Life is all around you if you take the time out of your day to stop hurrying and enjoy the moment your living in.  You may relize there is more to life than what you have ever expected.

Character Analysis

1)     Reverand Hale is a minor character.  He is not a main focal point of The Crucible, but if Hale wasn't in the story the main characters would be lacking certain characteristics.  Reverand Hale puts "ideas" into the girls' heads.  He is the one that is supposed to be telling people if the Devil precides in Salem and he tells the people that the Devil is present but he never really has any hard proof evidence.  Reverand Hale really "stirs" the pot up for the girls to accuse people.

2)     Reverand Hale's motivation is pretty evident.  He wants to look like he is the one who discovered the Devil.  He wants to be the so called "hero" in Salem.  Hale seems like a nice guy to me though.  I think he is only doing his job.  Hale is acting the way he is because that is what he does for a living.  He is supposed to come into villages or towns and look for clues or evidence of the Devil and witchcraft.  He wants all the credit.  He thinks that he knows everything there is to know and he is the "pro".

3)     Hale faces the conflict of being the person to declare witchcraft on Salem.  People are going to listen to him.  If he says that witchcraft exist then the town will go into an uproar.  Which, we all know that the town goes crazy.  I think he knows that witchcraft does not exist with the girls, but everyone in the town is accusing it to be the problem.  If he says that witchcraft is not the culprit then he may look like the "bad guy".  I think this puts Hale in the middle of things and he doesn't know which side to pick.  Reverand Hale has not overcome this dilema yet.  

from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

     This religion the Puritans are following is outrageous!  Their views are one of a barbarian.  Telling their own people that they will go to hell is not a way of God.  "The glittering sword is whet, and held over them, and the pit hath opened its mouth under them."  This is what Pastor Edwards told his people during his sermon.  I would never tell my people in the house of God that they will go to hell.  The Puritans need a reality check.
     "The bow of God's wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the string, and justice bends the arrow at your heart, and strains the bow, and it is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, and that of an angry God, without any promise or obligation at all, that keeps the arrow one moment from being drunk with your blood."  What does this quote mean to you?  It makes me sick and disgusted.  Any pastor with the right mind to tell his people that God is ready to happily kill them and be "drunk" on their blood is out of their mind!  We were made to spread the GOOD word of God, not tell people they have to hope to go to heaven.  With no hope, there is no happiness.  Hell is the last option for believers in God.
     I believe people should view heaven and God in a much different way.  God is our salvation.  We look to him for answers in life and for the problems that arise every day.  God is here to help us on this journey.  We should not fear God.  Heaven is a place for happiness and anyone can go there.  You should not be fearful of dying because it is undeniable.  No one can hide from death, just like no one can hide from their sins.  If only the Puritans could realize there is a lot more to life than going to hell and being fearful of death, their lives would be so much more enjoyable.  God is here for our guidance on the short time we have on Earth.  God is our creator.  We should rejoice in his presence.

Blog Entry #1 Writing Impressions

     My writing experiences have not been that great.  I am not a very good writer and it takes me a while to come up with ideas to write about.  I am not very confident in my writing ability.  Once I get an idea to write about I can do pretty well.  The idea is what is difficult for me.  I can handle writing assisgnments pretty well. I somehow always find a way to complete them.  Writing is not one of my most favorite things to do.

     I am excited to be using schoology and blogger in this class.  It is something I have never done before.  I think the amount of reading will be something new to me also.  I am worried about the writing portfolio because I am not a very good writer and that sounds like a big project that will greatly effect my overall grade in this class.  I am least excited about the poetry unit because I just don't like poetry at all.  I have recieved good grades in my recent years in my English classes but I feel that it is one of my weaker subjects and something I need to improve in.