<p>This is the prompt:</p>
<p>Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below.</p>
<p>In some circumstances we are encouraged to conform—to follow others, to do and think what everyone else is doing and thinking. In other circumstances, however, we are told to be individuals and are reminded that most people we consider great are not afraid to be different. Conformity may be appropriate in day-to-day life, but we should save our highest praise for people who choose to be unique.</p>
<p>Assignment:</p>
<p>Should originality always be more highly praised than conformity? 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>MY ESSAY:
Throughout the history of mankind, progress from the dim-witted caveman to the modern man has been achieved because of the people who were not afraid of “thinking outside the box”. But today, we are always urged to live our lives like everyone else. This would simply lead to a dull society with grey people amidst grey buildings, with no progress whatsoever.
Was it not Galileo who freed mankind from the thought that the Sun orbited the Earth? Galileo was not afraid to question the prevalent Aristotelian views that were entrenched in society for 2000 years. We praise Galileo because he dared to do what everyone was afraid or lazy to do. People of the 16th century, just like every other people that have come and gone in the history of mankind, were encouraged to follow what other people thought and did. If people dared to think differently from others in the 16th century, like Galileo who firmly stated that two masses fall at the same speed when dropped, they were deemed to be heretics by the Holy Church. While no such punishments exist today, people who don’t conform by thinking differently, those who challenge beliefs of the “old times” are looked down upon by society. If it weren’t for Galileo and others who dared to question, we would still be in the dark ages, plowing fields and living in a world full of diseases with no medicine to save the sick.
In schools, children are encouraged to follow the teacher; believe whatever the person in front of the blackboard says. If one fails to do so and dares to challenge the teacher by saying, “Why is that formula right?” or “Prove it is right; I don’t believe you”, the teacher, who really has vague ideas of why E=mc2, will just counter the kid by saying, “It is right!” The child who questioned is lead to memorize facts without having learned the deep meaning of the equation written by the teacher. This is the reason why the world is filed with uncreative people.
By questioning established beliefs, the world has progressed. That is why originality should be valued more than conformity. Children must question the teacher. The teacher must explain in detail. It is the only way to progress.</p>
<p>I have filled the given two pages to the very last line.</p>
<p>Please score out of 12.</p>