What If My College Admissions Essay Is Too Short?

What If My College Admissions Essay Is Too Short? Whatever you feel you can contribute, add that to your list of essay goals. Your answer to these questions will help you frame the content of your essay. Bring honor and prestige to the university once they graduate. Our vision is to be the company that best recognizes and serves the needs of international students around the world. I began interacting with my teachers more and leading my peers in clubs. In discussions, I put forward my ideas with every bit as much conviction as my classmates. And when I do have an answer, I will go forth with the knowledge I’ve gathered from each of my varied interests; and I will never stop learning. And when asked what to eat exclusively for the rest of my life, I will enthusiastically respond “potatoes! When seniors began to ask me for advice and teachers recruited me to teach underclassmen, I discovered not only that I had been heard, but that others wanted to listen. At heart, I am still reserved , but in finding my voice, I found a strength I could only dream of when I stood in silence so many years ago. Scanning the school club packet, I searched for my place. With this in mind, you should replace lower-level words with higher-level words . You might consider looking up SAT/ACT vocabulary words and working a handful of those into your essay. The concept is to present a few ideas very well, rather than list all your ideas poorly. A narrowly focused essay will be much more effective than a general, vague one. I tried my best to blend in and give the impression I was silent by choice. I joined no clubs in primary school, instead preferring isolation. It took six years of tongue twisters and complicated mouth contortions in special education classes for me to produce the forty-four sounds of the English language. My statistical training in psychology orientates me toward a more quantitative graduate experience. Due to the University of Rochester’s reputation for an extensive use of statistics in political science research, I would make a good addition to your fall class. While attending the University of Rochester, I would like to study international relations or comparative politics while in graduate school. I find the research of Dr.’s Hein Goemans and Gretchen Helmke intriguing and would like the opportunity to learn more about it through the Graduate Visitation program. I continued my statistical training by completing the second graduate statistics course on model comparisons with Dr. Roger Johnson, a Professor in the Psychology Department. Day by day, I began to stand a little taller and talk a little louder both inside and outside of debate. In a few months, my blood no longer froze when I was called on in class. But then, I sat in on a debate team practice and was instantly hooked. I was captivated by how confidently the debaters spoke and how easily they commanded attention. I was sick of how confining my quiet nature had become. For better or for worse, I decided to finally make my voice heard. I was born with a speech impediment that weakened my mouth muscles. The model comparison course was not only the most challenging course I have taken as an undergraduate, but the most important. As the sole undergraduate in the course and only college algebra under my belt, I felt quite intimidated. I found I could finally look other people in the eyes when I talked to them without feeling embarrassed. My posture straightened and I stopped fidgeting around strangers. I began to voice my opinions as opposed to keeping my ideas to myself. As my debate rank increased from the triple to single-digits, so too did my standing at school.

What If My College Admissions Essay Is Too Short?

What If My College Admissions Essay Is Too Short? Whatever you feel you can contribute, add that to your list of essay goals. Your answer to these questions will help you frame the content of your essay. Bring honor and prestige to the university once they graduate. Our vision is to be the company that best recognizes and serves the needs of international students around the world. I began interacting with my teachers more and leading my peers in clubs. In discussions, I put forward my ideas with every bit as much conviction as my classmates. And when I do have an answer, I will go forth with the knowledge I’ve gathered from each of my varied interests; and I will never stop learning. And when asked what to eat exclusively for the rest of my life, I will enthusiastically respond “potatoes! When seniors began to ask me for advice and teachers recruited me to teach underclassmen, I discovered not only that I had been heard, but that others wanted to listen. At heart, I am still reserved , but in finding my voice, I found a strength I could only dream of when I stood in silence so many years ago. Scanning the school club packet, I searched for my place. With this in mind, you should replace lower-level words with higher-level words . You might consider looking up SAT/ACT vocabulary words and working a handful of those into your essay. The concept is to present a few ideas very well, rather than list all your ideas poorly. A narrowly focused essay will be much more effective than a general, vague one. I tried my best to blend in and give the impression I was silent by choice. I joined no clubs in primary school, instead preferring isolation. It took six years of tongue twisters and complicated mouth contortions in special education classes for me to produce the forty-four sounds of the English language. My statistical training in psychology orientates me toward a more quantitative graduate experience. Due to the University of Rochester’s reputation for an extensive use of statistics in political science research, I would make a good addition to your fall class. While attending the University of Rochester, I would like to study international relations or comparative politics while in graduate school. I find the research of Dr.’s Hein Goemans and Gretchen Helmke intriguing and would like the opportunity to learn more about it through the Graduate Visitation program. I continued my statistical training by completing the second graduate statistics course on model comparisons with Dr. Roger Johnson, a Professor in the Psychology Department. Day by day, I began to stand a little taller and talk a little louder both inside and outside of debate. In a few months, my blood no longer froze when I was called on in class. But then, I sat in on a debate team practice and was instantly hooked. I was captivated by how confidently the debaters spoke and how easily they commanded attention. I was sick of how confining my quiet nature had become. For better or for worse, I decided to finally make my voice heard. I was born with a speech impediment that weakened my mouth muscles. The model comparison course was not only the most challenging course I have taken as an undergraduate, but the most important. As the sole undergraduate in the course and only college algebra under my belt, I felt quite intimidated. I found I could finally look other people in the eyes when I talked to them without feeling embarrassed. My posture straightened and I stopped fidgeting around strangers. I began to voice my opinions as opposed to keeping my ideas to myself. As my debate rank increased from the triple to single-digits, so too did my standing at school.

Supplemental Essay

Supplemental Essay Here’s the thesis statement from the Skyline College example above. It states the main point of the essay, which the author intends to make a case for. Once you have a clearer vision for your central idea or argument, it’s time to organize your info-dump. Prune out anything irrelevant and organize your outline into the classic structure. In general, the length of an essay does not determine its effectiveness. Finally, I extend my hesitant arm to pick up the pack of masa harina and proceed to pour it into the bowl. As I pour the masa harina, I cannot help but think about how much it resembles my journey to America. This limit has remained unchanged for the past several years. Learn how important this word limit is and how to make the most of your 650 words. You can also try using some checklist that can help you correct all weak points of your essay. When I moved, I brought my Guatemalan heritage with me into the massive bowl that is the United States. Continuing with the recipe, I gradually add water to the masa harina and knead it until it becomes the desired texture. Those tips seem to b to simple, but if you follow them carefully it will work anyway. I wrote my essay sample following your instructions, it made the process easier indeed. Order now and have your essay finished in just a few hours. If you have answered the prompt in its entirety and feel proud of your work, there is no need to stress about any particular word count. Do not pad your essay with filler content and tautologies to stretch it out, and on the flip side, don't leave important sections out in the interest of keeping the essay brief. Your Common Application essay must be between 250 words and 650 words. The version of theCommon Application has an essay length limit of 650 words and a minimum length of 250 words. Don't reuse an answer to a similar question from another application. Anyone can write about how they won the big game or the summer they spent in Rome. When recalling these events, you need to give more than the play-by-play or itinerary. Describe what you learned from the experience and how it changed you. The goal of your introduction is to let your reader know what he or she can expect from your paper. Introductions and conclusions are important components of any essay. They work to book-end the argument made in the body paragraphs by first explaining what points will be made and then summarizing what points were made . Save valuable time by crafting a unique piece from A to Z. Speed up your work by writing any particular chapter of your paper. It could be an experience, a person, a bookâ€"anything that has had an impact on your life. Your thesis statement comes at the end of your introduction. Jumpstart the writing process by performing an in-depth research of the subject that you could then use as a basis for your paper. Spark your creativity by offering a list of original topics you'd love to write about. Sign up to receive emails for events, news, info sessions, and other admission related information.

Coping With Stress From Trauma When You Quit Smoking

Coping With Stress From Trauma When You Quit Smoking Addiction Nicotine Use After You Quit Print Coping With Stress From Trauma When You Quit Smoking By Terry Martin facebook twitter Terry Martin quit smoking after 26 years and is now an advocate for those seeking freedom from nicotine addiction. Learn about our editorial policy Terry Martin Updated on April 08, 2019 PeskyMonkey/E/Getty Images More in Addiction Nicotine Use After You Quit How to Quit Smoking Nicotine Withdrawal Smoking-Related Diseases The Inside of Cigarettes Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Coping and Recovery The emotional effects of large scale trauma like losing a home to fire or catastrophic weather events can put a person in a mental state where picking up a lit cigarette seems like the right thing to do.   As smokers, we always treated stress with nicotine. We used it to calm us, and we thought it helped us deal with difficult issues more efficiently. Thats not true, but we self-medicated with nicotine so often, the response (and associations) became ingrained. Significant stress can bring urges to smoke up to the surface, even for those of us with a lot of smoke-free time under our belts.If you find yourself craving a cigarette as a result of tension over a large-scale event, use the tips below to keep yourself on track.   Coping With Trauma Smoke-Free Seek support. Spend time with family and friends. Share your feelings and concerns openly, and let others help you cope. We all feel better when we support one another.Get back to life as usual if you’re able to. Routine can be soothing to raw nerves.Revisit your list of reasons to quit smoking. They are no less true today than they were before the traumatic event.Get enough rest. Lack of sleep increases stress and compromises your ability to maintain sobriety. If you’re suffering from insomnia, try some  tips to help you get some sleep.Recognize rationalizations. If you’re engaging in elaborate mental somersaults trying to justify why you should smoke, you’re stuck in junkie thinking. Pay attention to your thoughts â€" don’t let yourself stray into dangerous territory.Reward yourself. Declare TODAY as a milestone in your recovery from nicotine addiction and do something nice for yourself. Acknowledge the tremendous value of what you’re doing by quitting smoking.  Rinse a nd repeat tomorrow.Get some exercise. Go for a walk and burn off some of that stress you’re feeling. Not only is it good for you, but exercise is a great way to manage cravings to smoke.Focus on TODAY. Set small goals and you won’t feel out of control. Don’t worry about never being able to smoke again. Think about the day you have in front of you and resolve to make it smoke-free. Don’t let tomorrow intimidate you today.Honor your grief. Take the time you need to cry and mourn the loss you feel. Rather than push aside the enormity of what has happened, let feelings come and deal with them, one at a time. It will help you recover more quickly.Use distraction to help you cope with individual urges as they arise. Most urges to smoke are 5 minutes or less in length. If you can find ways to take a mental detour, youll be able to diffuse cravings before they have a chance to grow.Get away from it all. Take a break from the TV news for a while. Go to a movie or immerse yourself in a good book. Smoking won’t make anything in your life better. It won’t relieve stress, and it won’t fix problems. Urges to smoke as a result of stressful situations can and will happen occasionally as you recover from nicotine addiction. We spent many years smoking, and it only makes sense that events, especially those that produce dramatic emotional responses will also bring about thoughts of smoking. It doesn’t mean you need to smoke, and it doesn’t mean you’re going to fail. It simply means you have triggered an old way of responding to stress. Each time you navigate your way through stress smoke-free, choosing options other than smoking to deal with your tension, you’re reprogramming old habits and responses. Give yourself time and smoking will lose its power to attract, even in the most difficult of circumstances. Remember, cravings to smoke are not commands. They’re only thoughts. You don’t have to act on them. Don’t let hard times reawaken the addict within. Honor the precious gift that life is by doing all you can to nurture your own.

Barn Burning 4 - 1497 Words

â€Å"Barn Burning† William Faulkner In most stories one reads there is going to be a protagonist and an antagonist. The protagonist is the character in the story that is usually considered the good guy. The antagonist is usually considered the bad guy and clashes with the protagonist. In the story â€Å"Barn Burning† by William Faulkner he has a clear protagonist and antagonist. The protagonist of the story is Sarti. The antagonist of the story is Sarti’s father Abner. Faulkner makes this a very interesting story to read because of the relationship between Sarti and his father. Sarti shows us in the story how scared he is of his father through what he says and his actions. The idea of Sarti ever standing up to him just doesn’t seem possible†¦show more content†¦Or he could go against his father and go and tell DeSpain what his father was planning on doing and stop his dad from burning down the barn. This is so hard for Sarti to decide because of how afraid he is of his father and he also doesn’t want to let his father down. This becomes the crucial life changing decision in Sarti’s life that he is going to have to make. Sarti realizes that the best decision he can make is to go tell Major DeSpain what his father is planning on doing and stop him from doing it. He decides to do this for multiple reasons. The first reason is he wants to protect his father from getting in any more trouble. Even though he doesn’t really like his father and is very scared of him he is still his father and he loves him very much. Another reason that he wants to tell Major DeSpain is because he has become close with him and feels some responsibility to tell him. He likes Major DeSpain and feels like he is a good guy and wants to protect him from his father burning down his barn. The critical approach that Faulkner used in this story was Psychological Criticism because of the way that the father treats his son. The treatment that Sarti receives from his father instills so much pressure in Sarti that he does not know how to handle at such a young age. Abner is the reason for this pressure because of his irresponsible mistakes. The way thisShow MoreRelated Setting in William Faulkners Barn Burning Essay1584 Words   |  7 PagesCritical Viewing on Barn Burning William Faulkner’s use of a setting in a short story, such as â€Å"Barn Burning†, effected the entire outcome of the story from start to finish. In â€Å"Barn Burning†, a young boy must face his father and face the reality of a harsh world. He must also discover for himself that his father is wrong and learn to grow up the right way in a racial environment. Faulkner’s setting is one of the most important literary elements that help the audience understand theRead MoreBoth sides of the Coin in William Faulkner’s short story, Barn Burning812 Words   |  3 PagesWilliam Faulkner’s short story, â€Å"Barn Burning,† the character Abner Snopes, who is Sarty’s father as well as a main character of the story, stands out the most compared to other characters because of Faulkner’s description with a sense of irony and critic. Faulkner presents multifaceted characteristics in Abner Snopes that makes the readers think beyo nd the view of the narrator based on logics and circumstances in Abner’s conditions. The setting of ‘‘Barn Burning’’ is the post-Civil War South, theRead MoreCharacter Analysis: Jewel Essay913 Words   |  4 Pages but Faulkner shows that he is an honorable person. Jewel is often viewed incorrectly because he shows his affection rather than talks about it, and Marc Hewson says that â€Å"Jewel’s love for Addie may also may be based more on doing than saying† (4). Jewel shows his love for Addie after she is dead in many ways. When they start for Jefferson, Jewel is willing to carry Addie’s coffin alone when the rest of the family is moving too slowly. Cash wants help to carry the coffin but Jewel will notRead MoreBarn Burning by William Faulkner894 Words   |  4 PagesIn the tale Barn Burning, the author William Faulkner formally known for his short stories with a constant theme of Southern Renaissance, racism and modernism uses these themes as a constant reference throughout the story. Faulkner focuses in depth on the antagonist, Abner Snopes and his actions and how they impact other characters throughout the story. I believe Abner was continuously portrayed as a negative character throughout the short story by Abnerâ €™s aggressiveness towards everyone he comesRead MoreWilla Cathers Issues with Realism and The Barn Burner, Paragraphs1059 Words   |  4 Pages1. Willa Cather 2. Willa Cather and the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 3. The Barn Burner 4. A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner 1. Willa Cather seems to take issue with the bland and boring nature of realism above all else. She notes that realism is not in itself an artistic expression, yet so many art forms from literature to paintings—particularly from her time period—portray little more than the realism of our world. In her mind, the literalness that is realism can be successfullyRead MoreWilliam Faulkner’s â€Å"Barn Burning†: The Destructiveness of the Human Ego965 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Faulkner’s â€Å"Barn Burning† symbolizes the destructiveness of the human ego through the character, Abner Snopes. Throughout the story, Snopes functions and communicates based on his own logic. He has no regard for his family, superiors, or the judicial system. His unrelenting effort to live according to what he deems as â€Å"right† creates an atmosphere of fear and oppression. Following the barn trial, Snopes’ demeanor towards his son, Colonel Sartoris, clearly demonstrates his use of fearRead MoreBarn Burning By William Faulkner1357 Words   |  6 PagesHenry Award winning short story, â€Å"Barn Burning† was written in 1938 and published by Harper’s in 1939 (â€Å"William,† par. 12). In many ways the story is a product of â€Å"both a turbulent time in America’s history and Faulkner’s personal history† (Parker 101). America was emerging from the Great Depression just in time to see World War II looming on the horizon while Faulkner was struggling with â€Å"finances, a drinking problem, and a new mistress† (Parker 102). In â€Å"Barn Burning† Faulkner makes extensive useRead MoreThe Importance of Literary Elements in Barn Burning1478 Words   |  6 PagesThe Importance of Literary Elements in Barn Burning Understanding literary elements such as patterns, reader/writer relationships, and character choice are critical in appreciating William Faulkners Barn Burning. Some literary elements are small and almost inconsequential while others are large and all-encompassing: the mothers broken clock, a small and seemingly insignificant object, is used so carefully, extracting the maximum effect; the subtle, but more frequent use of dialectalRead MoreEssay on The Importance of Literary Elements in Barn Burning1478 Words   |  6 PagesThe Importance of Literary Elements in Barn Burning  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚   Understanding literary elements such as patterns, reader/writer relationships, and character choice are critical in appreciating William Faulkners Barn Burning. Some literary elements are small and almost inconsequential while others are large and all-encompassing: the mothers broken clock, a small and seemingly insignificant object, is used so carefully, extracting the maximum effect; the subtle, but more frequent use of dialectalRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of Barn Burning By William Faulkner1105 Words   |  5 PagesWhen reading the short story â€Å"Barn Burning† by William Faulkner, understanding literary elements such as patterns, word choice as well as reader/writer relationships are essential in appreciating Faulkner’s literary piece. Some of the literary elements found in the story are small and are almost immaterial while others are large and all-encompassing. For example, the mother’s fragmented clock, a small and insignificant object, is used so carefully in order to extract the maximum effect from the viewers;

Racism and Discrimination in to Kill a Mockingbird Essay

Racism and Discrimination as the theme in To Kill A Mockingbird To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee is a Pulitzer Prize winning novel, that offers a view of life through a young girl’s eyes. The novel is focused on two main themes which are racism and discrimination. Racism is probably the biggest theme of the novel. It comes in as an open and subtle manner that is being displayed through speeches and actions. Racism in Maycomb takes mainly the form of having white people against black people. There are many people in Maycomb that are racist because they think of Negroes are a disgraced race and are mostly unreliable and untrustworthy. The speeches and actions are the most common forms of racism however the layout of the†¦show more content†¦Despite the similarities, racism is slightly different to discrimination which will be the next theme being discussed next. Discrimination is the main focus of this novel. Racism may seem like the only form of discrimination present but there are many other varieties such as being outcast and ostracized. The Maycomb society in To Kill a Mockingbird finds it hard to accept people that are different from the average standard of the community. The people that do not fit in with the society are often cast out and demonized over time. The prime example of this in the novel is Arthur Radley. Arthur had an unfortunate history. He was â€Å"aquainted with some of the Cunninghams (pg 10)† in his teens and eventually ended up in court charged with disorderly conduct. He could not be locked up with Negroes because the Negroes could not cope with him so he ended up in the court-house basement for a period of time. He was eventually released but remained locked up by being â€Å"chained to the bed most of the time (pg12)† back at home by Mr. Radley. Since Arthur was absent from the Maycomb community, he was eventually condemned and known as the â€Å"malevolent phantom (pg9)† who â€Å"went out at night when the moon was high and peeped in windows (pg)† of the Maycomb people. â€Å"When people’s azaleas froze in a cold snap, it was because he breathed on them.Show MoreRelatedRacism, Injustice, and Discrimination in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird800 Words   |  4 PagesRacism, Injustice, and Discrimination in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird According to Shackleford, â€Å"The novel portrays a young girls love for her father and brother and the experience of childhood during the Great Depression in a racist, segregated society, which uses superficial and materialistic values to judge outsiders, including the powerful character Boo Radley† (Shackelford). The main character relates closely with her father because he is the superior role model in her life. Having herRead MoreAnalysis Of Harper Lee s Kill A Mockingbird 1491 Words   |  6 PagesHarper Lee’s ​ To Kill a Mockingbird ​ is a critically acclaimed, Pulitzer Prize winning novel that instantly attained its position as one of the greatest literary classics (Editors).The story of Scout Finch’s childhood has become one of the most notable narratives that addresses controversial issues present in the early 20th century. Lee’s novel depicts themes of race, justice, and innocence throughout the novel. Although ​ To Kill a Mockingbird​ is regarded as a literary masterpiece in AmericanRead MoreTo Kill a Mockingbird vs a Raisin in the Sun1396 Words   |  6 Pagesdifferent authors, who wrote two very different works. To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel about how prejudice and discrimination can lead to an innocent man being convicted of a crime he didn’t commit just because of his skin color. A Raisin in the Sun is a play about how the value of a family can overcome racism in a new town and allow a family to prosper, even in the worst conditions. However, both of these works deal with racism and discrimination in similar ways. Conversely, Harper Lee, being a whiteRead MoreThe Negative Effects Of Racism : Segregation And Violence1400 Words   |  6 PagesEffects of Racism: Segregation and Violence Racial discrimination affects many minority groups and this issue still occurs to this day. Racial discrimination is the act of treating others differently because of the color of their skin. Although there have been laws placed to prohibit racial discrimination, racism still occurs and continues to have many negative effects to minority groups today. The negative effects of racial discrimination are discussed in the fiction novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by HarperRead MoreThe South : Controversial Topics On Harper Lee s Kill A Mockingbird1475 Words   |  6 Pagesin Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a critically acclaimed, Pulitzer Prize winning novel that instantly attained its position as one of the greatest literary classics (Editors).The story of Scout Finch’s childhood has become one of the most notable narratives that addresses controversial issues present in the early 20th century. Lee’s novel depicts themes of race, justice, and innocence throughout the novel. Although To Kill a Mockingbird is regarded as a literaryRead MoreTo Kill a Mockingbird: Discrimination Essay873 Words   |  4 PagesDiscrimination is prevalent in the story â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird†, the most obvious being the excessive amount of racism (Lee). Racism is the easiest to see but there are more forms of discrimination (Lee). Boo Radley is ostracized from the community when truly nobody really knows him (Lee). People discriminate Scout for being a tomboy not a lady (Lee). The last one that no one ever thinks about is how reverse racism is seen when people threaten Atticus for defending Tom Robinson in court (Lee)Read MoreRacism, Racism And Discrimination1366 Words   |  6 PagesRacism and discrimination, with or without recognition or existence of the label that is tied to itself, has always been a large part of society that can be dated all the way back to the Fall of Man. It is apparent in books, such as To Kill a Mockingbird, and is expressed throughout the world today. In the early 1900s, racial discrimination was still very prominent, but has slowly digressed until recent years where it has taken new forms. The historical context, the distinguished novel To Kill aRead MoreRacism And Critical Disposition Of Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1415 Words   |  6 PagesAnalysis of Racism and Critical Disposition in Maycomb County Racism was a tremendous issue in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. It was applied throughout the novel and was increasingly used to judge others in Maycomb’s society. Racism was revealed through the novel to characters Jem, Scout, and Dill who were young children that were learning about the good and evil in the small town they lived in. Racism was a constant and significant topic. There were many aspects that contributed to racism and provedRead MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee913 Words   |  4 PagesIn Defense of To Kill A Mockingbird Rough Draft To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has been banned and/or challenged over thirty times since its publication in 1960. Effectively preventing many students from enjoying the novel and benefitting from its message. To ignore racism is no different than denying it ever existed. To Kill a Mockingbird is appropriate for mature adolescence/students and should not be banned from schools. Despite its sexual related content, or profanity, a valuable lessonRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird And Kindred Essay735 Words   |  3 Pagesor ethnic identity† (Ashe). Throughout the novels, â€Å"To Kill A Mockingbird† and â€Å"Kindred†, the authors address important issues like social and racial injustice, racism, and discrimination in our history. In â€Å"To Kill A Mockingbird†, we follow young Scout and Jeremy as they began to discover the true meaning of discrimination. In â€Å"Kindred†, we follow a young woman as she travels back in time as a slave and discovers the true cruelty of racism. Although these novels were set in different time periods

The Canon Free Essays

4. Define the â€Å"canon† and describe the basic criteria and chronology behind the formation of the New Testament canon. What evidence exists in this area? Why did early Christians feel a need to establish an authoritative list? Which elements in the criteria are the most and least important? State your reasons for choosing these elements. We will write a custom essay sample on The Canon or any similar topic only for you Order Now How would you respond if someone claimed that the canon of the Bible should still be open? a. Define the â€Å"canon† and describe the basic criteria and chronology behind the formation of the New Testament canon. What evidence exists in this area? The word â€Å"canon† is a Semitic loanword that initially meant â€Å"reed† but came to mean â€Å"measuring reed and hence rule or standard or norm† (Carson, 726). In the history of Christianity the word canon was first used to designate doctrines which established the basic beliefs and practices of the church (Lea, 70). In our reading in Carson/Moo and Lea/Black, three elements of criteria’s are used to show that certain books belonged in the canon known as â€Å"orthodoxy, apostolicity, and universality† (Lea, 72). Lea/Black states, that the gages for defining canonicity are difficult to determine, but the most vital criterion for determining canonicity is inspiration (Lea, 71). The first basic criteria involved â€Å"the rule of faith† (Carson, 736, Lea 71), which meant that the teaching of the book followed the beliefs the church honors as acceptable and correct, (Lea 71). The second basic criteria entail of the demonstration of apostolicity, which â€Å"required authorship by an apostle or by the companion of an apostle† ( Lea, 71), the final basic criteria is universal acceptance meaning used and accepted by churches everywhere (Carson, 737). . What evidence exists in this area? The foundations that the Church uses to base canonicity upon are the use of the works by early Christian writers (Lea and Black, 73). The regularity of references from various books informs modern students of how the books were viewed in ancient times (Carson and Moo, 733). Another basis affecting the results of the canonical question are the early lists put forth of books deemed inspired (Lea and Black, 73). Lastly, the addition of manuscripts in early codices indicates the opinion of the book by the binder (Lea and Black, 73). c. Why did early Christians feel a need to establish an authoritative list? There is not a definite cause why early Christians felt a need to institute an authoritative list, some of the reasons for the list could have included persecution, distance from the historical Jesus, the pressure of Montanism, the rise of Gnosticism and other movements with scriptures to be rejected (Carson, 736). With this being the case I feel that the formation of an authoritative list by early Christians was deemed necessary to contest the teachings of heretics that were appearing in the Church. Through the insertion of books that possessed non-Christian ideals or the rejection of books accepted as inspired, false and incomplete teaching ran the risk of corrupting orthodox doctrine d. Which elements in the criteria are the most and least important? I believe the most important element of canonicity is inspiration and that God chooses to work in a person’s lives in other ways. Someone may say inspiration, I cannot see why man would try to limit God’s ability to move and I believe that our minds cannot even begin to grasp the depth, width or even an ounce of God’s wisdom or knowledge or even half of what he is able to do, when looking at creation and the vastness of the universe it is mind blowing to me. I also believe that â€Å"Apostolicity† is also an important criterion, being that Matthew, John and Peter, were members of the twelve along with Paul, commissioned by Christ, along with their associates such as Mark who with Paul . The least important criteria to me is universality based on Carson’s assessment of it being â€Å"scarcely less important† (Carson, 737). e. How would you respond if someone claimed that the canon of the Bible should still be open? In most modern churches today, the Canons are considered to be â€Å"closed†, meaning that God does not add to or take away from the writings of the bible, and instead chooses to work in a person’s lives in other ways. We all recognize that the New Testament canon contains the authorative record of Jesus life and the interpretation of its significance (Lea, 74-75), with that reason the canon should not still be open. But we also must keep in mind that God who is sovereign and can choose to move however he desires and many times I feel that we try to put human reasoning in areas that our mind cannot even perceive, for as stated in Isaiah 55:8 God says: â€Å"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. † 4. Explain how we have approximated the dates of Jesus’ birth and death as well as the length of his ministry. List primary and secondary sources describing his life. Which of these sources is the most important? How important is accurate historical information in providing a foundation for accepting and believing the gospel message? a. Explain how we have approximated the dates of Jesus’ birth and death as well as the length of his ministry. We have an awareness of the date of Jesus birth because of three main events. A period before the death of Herod the Great, during the time of a census ordered by Augusts, and when there was a bright start in the sky leading men from the east (Lea, 95). Ancient records designate that Herod possibly died around March 4B. C. this means that Christ was born before that (Lea, 95). Quirinius was governor of Syria during the officiating of the census under Augustus. (Lea, 95). The registration for the census could have happened possibly in 8 B. B. and could have taken years to execute. This places the birth of Jesus anywhere from 6 to 5 B. C. (Lea, 96) Jesus’ death is very reliant on the Gospel of John. John associates Jesus’ death to a system of time based on the ministry of John the Baptist, who preceded Christ, which took place on the 15th year of Tiberius reign. Lea, 96) John mentions that the construction of the temple had taken 46 years in the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. (Lea, 97). If you evaluate both of these statements and add the approximate three years of Jesus’ ministry they both arrive at a death for Jesus in A. D. 29 or 30 (Lea, 97). The approximate length for the ministry of Jesus is arrived at using the number of Passovers that Jesus attended. (Lea, 96) b. Lis t primary and secondary sources describing his life. Which of these sources is the most important? The gospel of Matthew and Luke are the prime sources of the life of Jesus. The birth of Christ is most fully covered by Matthew and Luke, (Lea, 97). Matthew and Luke also present the most information about the life of Jesus before his ministry, or the â€Å"Period of â€Å"Preparation. † (Lea, 98) John is the only Gospel that relates Jesus Judean ministry. The rest of Jesus ministry is recorded in the entire Gospel, which makes Mark and John the secondary complete record of the life of Jesus. c. How important is accurate historical information in providing a foundation for accepting and believing the gospel message? The Gospel message comprises substantial facts about the life of Jesus. Important academic attention has been devoted to the historical examination of the New Testament, explicitly with respect to establishing it as a reliable historical document. The vast amount of material, in the form of manuscripts, archaeology, and authorial phenomenon delivers an priceless glance into the depths of events surrounding the historicity as well as the development of the New Testament. For many people without establishing historical believability for the New Testament, there would be no grounds to suggest any sort of belief in it as a reliable source. But for me even if the dates cannot be exactly known for the Christian, it should not affect the belief in the life of Christ. The great men of the Bible prophesied accurately that highly educated men and women who scoff at God and His revealed Word would dominate our world. Although men have sneered at God in every generation beginning with Adam, ours was to be the worst. The Apostle Paul wrote: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient (Romans 1:21-22, 28). Although Paul is speaking specifically about the earliest men, we have not changed for the better; we have grown worse. Since the 17th and 18th centuries, men have produced an amazing fund of knowledge in the industrial and scientific areas. Yet pursuing knowledge about God has been left out. We have several sources that provides foundations for accepting and believing the gospel message. Carson, D. A. and Douglas J. Moo. An Introduction to the New Testament. 2ded. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2005. Lea, Thomas D. and David Alan Black. The New Testament: Its Background and Message. 2ded. Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 2003 Carson, D. A. and Douglas J. Moo. An Introduction to the New Testament. 2ded. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2005. Lea, Thomas D. and David Alan Black. The New Testament: Its Background and Message. 2ded. Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 2003 How to cite The Canon, Papers