<p>With the SAT tomorrow, I would really like advice on an essay I've written. Constructive criticism would be great.</p>
<p>ESSAY PROMPT
Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment:</p>
<p>People make decisions all the time. Some of these decisions may seem to be minor and inconsequential--whether to read a book or to not attend a meeting--while others are obviously more important. But even though the important decisions are likely to have equally important consequences, people should not treat casually or overlook the small decisions. The so-called small decisions have the greatest impact on our lives.</p>
<p>ASSIGNMENT: Do small decisions often have major consequences? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.</p>
<p>Small decisions are integral to life as they lead to larger, more important things. Oftentimes, we may be deceived by these decisions, classifying them as irrelevant and unlikely to change the outcome of things. However, we often misjudge these decisions as they could lead to a great impact- not only in our lives, but in others' lives as well. Examples of Macbeth, Rosa Parks and Galileo support how small decisions can precipitate large outcomes.</p>
<p>In the play "Macbeth" by the poet William Shakespeare, Macbeth clearly exemplifies how small decisions can produce large outcomes. While on his way home from a well-fought battle with his best friend Banquo, Macbeth comes across three witches who give him an unexpected prophecy: Macbeth would be Thane of Candor as well as King of Scotland, while Banquo would produce a line of kings. Disillusioned by this prophecy, Macbeth acts relentlessly to achieve his goals, even moving to murder King Duncan as well as Banquo. Thus, Macbeth commits these atrocious crimes because of his desire to fulfill this prophecy, exemplifying how a seemingly small decision affects others; not only is his conscience tarnished, but he puts others in danger as well.</p>
<p>In 1955, an African-American woman from Montgomery, Alabama acted as a catalyst for the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s simply by refusing to give up her seat for a while woman on a bus. Parks' audacity shocked the white community as well as the black community, even moving the latter to protest Jim Crow laws that were prevalent in the United States, most especially the southern areas. Rosa Parks' bravery in the face of adversity exemplifies how change can start from a seemingly small decision, a decision as small as giving up one's seat on a bus. Thus, Rosa Parks illustrates that even the smallest decisions bring about changes.</p>
<p>Galileo faced great adversity when he challenged the notion that the Earth revolved around the sun, a seemingly small decision that brought about great effects. In supporting Copernicus' theory that the sun revolved around the Earth, Galileo was condemned by the Church as a heretic, and was even sentenced to exile in 1633. However, Galileo stayed true to his beliefs and continued to publish his works on this theory. In the present, his theory is one of the most well-respected theories that has led scientists to discover a plethora of things. Therefore, a small decision to stick up for your beliefs can bring about great changes.</p>
<p>After studying the examples of Rosa Parks, Galileo, and Macbeth, small decisions indeed bring about important change. Without these small decisions, the would would be different as many of the greatest ideas sprouted from these decisions.</p>