Majority Rules?

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1

<p>Took me around 25 minutes to finish. Grade it from a 0-12 scale!</p>

<p>Is the opinion of the majority a poor guide to follow?</p>

<p>The opinion of the majority –in government or in any other circumstances– is a poor guide to follow. For example, in the 16th century, people believed that the Earth was in the center of the solar system. Similar events happened in a teenage movie where characters were influenced by widespread false facts. Several examples from history and literature show how the idea of majority rule is actually a very bad guide. </p>

<p>In the 16th century, Galileo Galilei discovered that the earth revolved around a sun, against the popular belief of that time that the earth was in the center of the universe. During that era, the church preached that everything revolves around Earth and most people believed it, except for Galilei. With the help of his newest invention, the telescope, he discovered another planet, Mars, who happened to be revolving around the sun. Because of this observation, Galileo immediately knew the truth and proposed the Heliocentric Theory. When he told the government about what he found out, instead of thanking him, he was thrown into house imprisonment. Thus shows how the opinion of the majority, which in this case the geocentric theory, was actually a poor guide to follow if one wanted to learn the truth about the world.</p>

<p>Another example can be found in the film, Easy A. Main character, Olive Penderghast, was denounced in school because of a rumor of being something she was not. It all started of a small lie she told to her friend. Accidentally it was heard by a popular girl who spread the rumor of how Olive was a slut. Because of this small rumor, it blew into exaggerated proportions. The entire school called her bad names, made fun of her, and denounced her for a very long time. Again, the majority, the schoolmates, was a terrible, false guide to follow. </p>

<p>As James A. Reed said, "We must seriously question the idea of majority rules". Many times the majority of people believe in lies as shown in the movie Easy A. Some other times, many people follow false theories such as Galileo Galilei's case. Demonstrated through teenage comical movies and historical events, the opinion of the majority, regardless of the circumstances, is a poor guide to follow.</p>

2

<p>The second example is pretty weak. You spend most of the paragraph giving plot details and only have one true sentence of analysis. I was also kind of confused by that example and how it was related to the topic. Also, avoid using the term “slut” in your essay…You never know who is reading your essay and they might not look favorably at that. </p>

<p>The first example is better. It has a lot more analysis and flows better.</p>

<p>Be careful with your grammar. There are quite a few mistakes that take away from the essay.</p>

<p>Overall, if I were an essay grader, I would give your essay a 4. (out of 6)</p>

3

<p>I agree! My second example SUCK. What’s another good example I could have used?? </p>

<p>:(</p>

4

<p>It wasn’t the example that sucked, you just didn’t fully develop it and worded it awkwardly. Really, that movie could have been a good example, it’s all about how you make it fit the topic that matters.</p>

<p>Personally, I would have used The Crucible by Arthur Miller for this as it fits really well.</p>

5

<p>Lol whats a nicer way to word slut? O.o</p>

<p>And thank you for the rate and critique! :)</p>

6

<p>While the first example is better explained and analyzed, it is not really an example of “majority” opinion. It was a matter of “Church-led” opinion. The Church didn’t believe the earth was the center of the universe because the majority of people believed so - the majority of people in Catholic nations believed so because the that was the Church teaching. Galileo was charged with Heresy, because he spoke out against Church teachings.</p>

<p>What you write about your second example seems to be more about the power of group thought - which again is not directed by majority opinion, but by the majority following the person who starts the rumor.</p>

<p>If your essay is supposed to be about majority rule (as opposed to majority opinion), I think you missed the target. Majority rule relates to making decisions based on the needs or desires of the majority, which often goes against the needs of the “minority.”</p>

<p>Majority Rule is about opinions, not facts. When we vote for a President in November, it will be a modified version of Majority Rule, and there are specific ways to deal with the contingency that no one candidate gets a majority of the electoral vote. By contrast, when we ask a Jury to decide if someone is guilty, it is NOT by a Majority, but the jury must come to a consensus - where everyone in the room agrees with the outcome.</p>

<p>I would give the essay a 2 out of 6. It is partially well written, but may be off-topic.</p>

7

<p>Yeah, I’m rereading your point, and I’m just trying to understand the reasoning.</p>

<p>You give me a 2, which I accept. But your only reason is it’s a bit offtopic. But if it’s off topic, shouldn’t it be a 1?</p>

<p>LOL I love how I’m giving myself a lower score. ■■■. xD</p>