Hello, these two essays were the more recent ones I wrote and I was wondering whether you all can give me a score and feedback. Thanks for your time!
- Prompt: Can knowledge be a burden rather than a benefit?
Knowledge is power under many circumstances. It allows for development and advancement. Civilizations evolve and revolutionize through knowledge. Those intellectually superior, whether in school, in contests, or in the work force, are lauded and praised. However, despite the myriad boons that knowledge has gifted, in certain cases it serves as a burden.
There are several instances in history where knowledge was onerous. The bombing of Hiroshima was a result of the development of nuclear weapons. The US government had the knowledge that they could easily destroy the Japanese army with this very weapon, possibly even ending the war. However, the US government also realized the casualties that would occur. Thousands would die and lose their families. The US had to contemplate on whether dropping the atomic bomb was the correct course of action. Even to this day, people argue whether it was necessary, and the US government at the time was obviously conflicted.
A similar instance occurs in the literary series Pendragon. Protagonist Bobby Pendragon was a privileged boy who had insight on the destructions of the various universes. He had to travel among the universes, warning and attempting to save the citizens from their demise. Bobby Pendragon was among the few who had the knowledge that a great danger was imminent and he had the responsibility and pressure to help the oblivious peoples. Not only were some people unwilling to accept Pendragon’s help, they outright refused to believe such ominous warnings. Therefore, the knowledge bearer was far more stressed while those unaware would carry on with their lives.
In my own life as well, I could relate to how knowledge could be a burden instead of a boon. In the 6th grade, my friend and I decided to mess around with the substitute teacher. While we were disparaging him, he asked everybody to sign their name on the attendance sheet. My friend signed Spongebob Squarepants on the sheet and the teacher was serious. He reported it to the dean and soon the dean threatened that the writer could suffer suspension. The dean stated that she would have a handwriting analysis carried out. I knew it was my friend, and I was deeply worried for him. I stressed about this incident for the rest of the school year, afraid that he was going to get caught. Nobody else cared because they didn’t know.
Overall, knowledge is not necessarily beneficial to all. It could often stress the bearer and pressure him until he goes insane. Therefore, sometimes ignorance is bliss. Not knowing could keep one’s composure better than one aware of the upcoming dangers.
- Prompt: Do changes that make our lives easier not necessarily make them better? (With reference to technology)
Technology is no doubt a revolutionary product. With new technological advancements in medicine, mathematics, space exploration, and even televisions, everybody commends its practicality and usefulness. However, while technology might make lives easier, it doesn’t always make lives better. Various drawbacks are noted when looking back at the history of technological achievements.
The Industrial revolution that started in England in the 18th century served as a boon for many. During that time period, most people living there were bucolic. They worked arduously in the fields while the landlord watched over them. With the emergence of factories and machines, the farmers who worked tirelessly on the fields left to become factory workers. It would be expected that with the aid of machines, life would be better for these workers. However, it would not appear so. Conditions were extremely dangerous and precarious. Children often had their extremities or even entire limbs severed when operating the machinery. Pollution was prevalent throughout the factories and areas around them. Therefore, although the factory workers didn’t necessarily have more tiring work to do, the dangerous conditions in no way made their lives better.
In my personal life there are also several instances when technology has made my life easier but not necessarily better. The instance is not as severe as that of the factory workers at the inception of the Industrial Revolution, but it is still relevant. In my trigonometry class, I had to graph parabolas and functions and explain transformations on it. Since I had my calculator, every problem my teacher provided to me in class was easily graphed and solved on it. I did little cognitive exercise and relied solely on my calculator. However, during test when the calculator was prohibited, I was unable to solve the same graphing problems I had in class. Of course, I scored below my expectations but realized that I shouldn’t rely solely on my calculator or any invention to do some things for me. It made me think less, and I felt ashamed for acting so sluggish because I attended I rather prestigious high school. I shouldn’t have acted how I did.
Therefore, technological improvements are certainly a boon to many of us in everyday life. However, there have been many circumstances where it did not make life better, both in historical contexts and even in my own life. We also should not take these technological advancements for granted because on they are taken from us, our lives will seem much worse than they did when we were doing fine without them.