<p>Okay, I have never taken the SAT, and did poorly on the ACT writing when I took it two years ago. My writing has improved, but I want to be sure. Could people please evaluate and even possibly score my essay? It doesn't necessarily have to be thorough, but please help as much as possible.</p>
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<p>Topic:
"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die,
life is a broken winged bird that cannot
fly."
Langston Hughes, I Wonder As I Wander</p>
<p>Is it important to have dreams about the future or can you live a happy, successful life without them?</p>
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<p>I do not believe it is possible, nor plausible, to live a truly joyful life without having dreams. As a teenager, my grandmother was unhappy, but used her dreams to throttle her to a new level of bliss. Martin Luther King, Jr. reflected the necessity of dreams in his speech given in Washington, D.C. Winston, a character in George Orwell's novel 1984 shows how dreams are futile to a man's happiness.</p>
<p>During my grandmother's youthful years, she lived as a poor child on a small, run-down farm. Her family had no hopes or aspirations for a better life. Many in her family were chronically depressed then took to drinking to solve their problems. My grandmother, however, was different; she had dreams. She used these seemingly "wild" dreams of a better life to propel herself through secondary school. After her schooling was finished, she found a well-paying job as a secretary. She avoided the depression that accompanied the rest of her family and lived her life to the fullest.</p>
<p>Another, more famous example of the dreams that push people forward is Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech. This speech, which spoke for African-Americans and others seeking equality, conveyed the attitude that ideas or dreams that seem implausible at one time may are certainly attainable. He asserted that equality, his dream, was necessary for harmony and happiness among Americans.</p>
<p>The character Winston in George Orwell's novel 1984 exemplifies the necessity of dreams. Winston, a member of The Party, is hopelessly alone. He dreams of times where he can go about his life freely without being metaphorically shackled down by The Party. His dreams lead him to fall deeply in love with Julia, another thought criminal. He also attempts to join the Brotherhood and fight against the government. He certainly achieves happiness through pursuing his dreams and even holds on to it while experiencing excruciating torture.</p>
<p>In conclusion, humans cannot find true happiness without having a dream. By becoming a secretary and escaping the wretches of poverty, my grandmother epitomizes the pursuit of dreams and, consequently, happiness. Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired a nation by his dreams for social equality between people of differing skin color. George Orwell, through his character Winston, showed that people can attain true happiness and hold on to it through the most dire of circumstances.</p>
<p>THANKS! :D</p>