Practice Exam 2 ❮ 24323creed because he does not realize that older people once played through childhood, once
matured through puberty, and once became adults. If advice is needed, older people are
the best source.
It is common for teenagers to find interest in members of the opposite sex.Occasionally, these young couples have trouble getting along. The relationship takes a turn
for the worst. Ready to console her teary-eyed granddaughter sits grandma. At age 70, she
has been happily married for nearly 45 years. Presenting her shoulder to her granddaughter
to cry on, the grandmother talks of her many high school and college relationships. For a
moment granddaughter pauses her crying to giggle at grandma’s silly stories, but in reality,
she is still faced with her own broken heart to deal with. After hours of bonding, the two
hug and smile. Grandma’s advice on men came from her own experiences. She’d never
thought that so many heartaches would ever do her any good. Pleased with life, a husband,
children, and grandchildren, this older woman would never worry about those past flings
again. But, when her devastated little grandbaby was hurt by a young man, she reached
back for those early love stories. She used her bad experiences to her granddaughter’s
advantage. She showed another woman that there will be plenty of men before “the one.”
Thoreau, on the other hand, would ask anyone rather than an elder for advice. His past
experiences led him to believe that he will never “hear the first syllable of valuable or even
earnest advice from [his] seniors.”
Everything happens for a reason. When people say things, there is a reason behindthem. No matter what life tosses at someone, it’s had to happen to someone before. If
someone has lived life for seventy years, they’ve got to have plenty of stories to share
about experiences life has shared with them. Henry David Thoreau is an unlucky man
for not seeing the beauty in the elderly. They are the most respectable people and give
superior advice because they have experienced it all. Older people are the buttress of life
today. Their actions shaped the way and set precedents for future generations. Older
people have lots to say, whether it be on teenage relationships or any topic. You name it,
they’ve lived it!
Rating Student Sample A
This is a high-range essay for the following reasons:- Clearly establishes a position regarding Thoreau’s assertion
- Thoroughly develops the argument with hypothetical and literary
references - Good topic adherence
- Excellent connective tissue
- Thorough development of the argument that reveals a well-read
writer - Mature voice, diction, and syntax
- Indicative of a willingness to stretch with regard to manipulation
of language (paragraph 3, sentence 1) and support for the writer’s
position (paragraph 4)