comparison essay rewrite #1

The topics I have decided to compare are two things that I hold dear to my heart. I came to the realization that the things I could compare are the things that I know best. I have found in the past that I can expound on both subjects extensively. In fact, I can go on and on about these topics almost to no end.  Being a sailor and being a firefighter on the surface seem quite opposite, but in reality have many of the same principal parts. Some of the principal parts are that both topics require diligence, a high competency in skills, and progress is measured by goals or benchmarks.

The structure of working on a boat and working in the firehouse demand diligence in the daily schedule. In both aspects equipment is check daily and kept in tip-top working order. The reason for this is so that when the equipment is called on to work, the situation can be emergent and dangerous, such as bad weather for a sailor or a fire for the firefighter. An equipment failure can have disastrous consequences. Diligence in navigation is another important point. On a sailboat you must always know where you are geographically, so that you navigate away from dangers like rocks and shallow water. In the firehouse you must know where you are operationally, so you can navigate around dangers such as people being injured or unnecessary damaged to a victims possessions.

Skills are an essential part of both jobs. There are many skill levels to be achieved, from basic skills like tying knots for sailors and operating fire hoses for firefighters. Up to more advanced skill levels like spicing rope or wire for the sailor, and operating the fire engines and ladder trucks for the firefighter. Some skills can be specialized in nature like celestial navigation or emergency medicine, and require advanced levels of training. Naturally, one has to be competent to one skill level before they can advance to greater skills. If the players involved show to be incompetent, much like having defective equipment, the consequences can be disastrous.

Both use goals to measures progress. There are short term goals and long term goals. Some short term goals for a sailor would be to get underway on the next tide or making a certain distance by dark. For the firefighter a short term goal would be to make sure everyone is accounted for or to stop the progression of a fire. Long term goals may be arriving at the final destination on time or maintaining a certain average speed for the sailor. For the firefighter it may be to contain the fire to the building of origin or to preserve evidence knowing that it may be an arson fire. Often the goal that is set is also a benchmark, a certain point that is a known, Monhegan Island or the fire is under control. In both jobs once a goal is met there is a sense of achievement and accomplishment and can be very gratifying.

At face value one can see how different a sailor and a firefighter are. But in comparison they operate the same. I use my skills, to use this tool I know works, to meet this goal. Each one part is dependent on the others to work. I found it very interesting once I started to compare the aspects of these jobs. If one does not pay attention to the equipment, bad things can happen. If one does not know what they are doing, bad things can happen. Progress (or lack there of) can be measured if this is done by this time. I like that both sailing and firefighting both require tangible things to work, goals, tools, skills.

pratice final

Practice final started at 1:37 Tuesday

I really don't have a lot of hobbies. Mostly I get paid for my hobbies so that kind of excludes them as hobbies. What I mean by that even thought you are doing something you like to do, if you are getting paid it becomes a job. I can say that the one hobby I truly enjoy, even though I have not been able to do much of it in the past couple years, is camping. Camping with good friends can be one of the greatest rewards in life for me, and every time I go camping I find I learn something about myself or those with me.

When I say camping I mean in a tent, not in a camp. I find that when you use a tent, and go some place that is off the beaten path, it makes the greatest difference in the experience. Camping is so popular in Maine that getting off the beaten path can be a challenge sometimes. In the past I have done most of my camping with one or two other people usually close friends. But being “out there” seems to make all the difference with people when no one is eavesdropping in the campsite next door. Sitting around the camp fire on a nice night has lead me to learn a lot about my friends. Sometimes conversations are sculpted with the help of alcohol, and sometimes not, but I have had friends open up to me in ways they would never do if others were around. I have learned some of their deepest, darkest secrets, their regrets and triumphs, things that no one else on this planed but me knows.

I once planned a fairly lengthy trek with a good friend. The plan was to travel light and move fast, to cover about fifteen miles over a mountain trial in two days. Just after we started out it began to rain, the wind picked up, and the temperature began to drop. We figured we could push through and make it to a lean-to camp, partly because it was the only two days the two of us had for a while and partly out of determination. As the day passed and the night came the weather did not let up. I had always thought that my friend was very tough and the I would give up on things much before he would. I found that my tough friend had a weakness. About a tenth of a mile from the shelter of the lean-to, he sat down at the base of a tree, started to cry, and resigned himself to death. The trouble was that we were no where near death. It was summer time, it was an easy walk to the lean-to from there and at most it was going to be a very uncomfortable night. I learned that everyone has a weakness and my friend it was the combination of wet, cold, and dark.

I have used some of my camping trips to test myself. I have tried to challenge myself in different ways so that I may learn more about my strengths and weaknesses. I have made trips that were long and rough and very physically demanding. I found from some of these trips that I can dig deep into my energy stores, push on, persevere and make it further than I ever thought I could. This is one of my strengths. I have found one of my weaknesses as well. I used to work for Outward Bound, I had time off and I made arrangements to be put on a tiny, uninhabited island, with minimal supplies and to be checked on every morning to see if I was alright. I learned that I could only go fifteen days without human contact and on he fifteenth day I signaled to be picked up. It wasn't the lack of food or good shelter that got to me, it was not being able to talk to someone that had a profound effect on me. I thought I would have lasted longer but I could not take the isolation.

I truly enjoyed the last several time I have gone camping, it has been much more relaxed than years ago. We camp at sites that we can drive to and not hike. We usually have ample food, drink, and firewood. If it starts to rain I can always sleep in the truck. I use to find great pleasure camping out under the stars, “roughing it”, and pushing myself constantly. As I have gotten older greatest thing that I have learned it that you don't need to push yourself all the time, you can learn things just sitting there by the fire. But it never seems to fail, that no matter how great or how small, I always learning something every time I go camping.

End 2:57

Comparison Essay

I had a hard time trying to come up with topics to compare. I have decided that really the only things that I can write about, are the things that I know best. Right? So there I sat, trying to compare two things that I know about. Finally I realized that I can go on and on, to no end ,about the two things that I really know best. Being a sailor and being a firefighter. These things in reality are very different but by nature are quite similar. Both things require diligence, a high competency in skills, and progress is measured by goals or benchmarks.

The structure of working on a boat and working in the firehouse demand diligence in the daily schedule. In both aspects equipment is check daily and kept in tip-top working order. The reason for this is so that when the equipment is called on to work, the situation can be emergent and dangerous, such as bad weather for a sailor or a fire for the firefighter. An equipment failure can have disastrous consequences. Diligence in navigation is another important point. On a sailboat you must always know where you are geographically, so that you navigate away from dangers like rocks and shallow water. In the firehouse you must know where you are operationally, so you can navigate around dangers such as people being injured or unnecessary damaged to a victims possessions.

Skills are an essential part of both jobs. There are many skill levels to be achieved, from basic skills like tying knots for sailors and operating fire hoses for firefighters. Up to more advanced skill levels like spicing rope or wire for the sailor, and operating the fire engines and ladder trucks for the firefighter. Some skills can be specialized in nature like celestial navigation or emergency medicine, and require advanced levels of training. Naturally, one has to be competent to one skill level before they can advance to greater skills. If the players involved show to be incompetent, much like having defective equipment, the consequences can be disastrous.

Both use goals to measures progress. There are short term goals and long term goals. Some short term goals for a sailor would be to get underway on the next tide or making a certain distance by dark. For the firefighter a short term goal would be to make sure everyone is accounted for or to stop the progression of a fire. Long term goals may be arriving at the final destination on time or maintaining a certain average speed for the sailor. For the firefighter it may be to contain the fire to the building of origin or to preserve evidence knowing that it may be an arson fire. Often the goal that is set is also a benchmark, a certain point that is a known, Monhegan Island or the fire is under control. In both jobs once a goal is met there is a sense of achievement and accomplishment and can be very gratifying.

At face value one can see how different a sailor and a firefighter are. But in comparison they operate the same. I use my skills, to use this tool I know works, to meet this goal. Each one part is dependent on the others to work. I found it very interesting once I started to compare the aspects of these jobs. If one does not pay attention to the equipment, bad things can happen. If one does not know what they are doing, bad things can happen. Progress (or lack there of) can be measured if this is done by this time. I like that both sailing and firefighting both require tangible things to work, goals, tools, skills.

This is a cause essay, not an example essay. As soon as you said "examples of why" you were pushing yourself into giving reasons, causes. Examples would be different: three examples of beauty spots you know in Maine; three examples of neighbor helping neighbor--something along those lines. So, a rewrite and reconception of the type essay--

By johngoldfine on Example essay on 12/2/10

 

I like the second one better anyway. 

example essay rewrite 1

Now I don't like to tell people this, an I have tried to keep it secret for the most part, but I am not from Maine. The first six months of my life were spent in Massachusetts. My whole life I will have to live with the fact that I am not a true Mainer, and it bothers me. I have tried to keep this under raps and not let on that I am a “flatlander”, but I cannot continue to live the lie. I love living in Maine and I cannot imaging living somewhere else. The biggest reason I love living here is the just how beautiful this place is.

My favorite area or region is the coast. I am partial to the water and it is understandable why I gravitate towards the briny blue (green). I lived on Long Island in Casco Bay when I was a very young child and that island is what I think of when I think of the southern Maine coast. There were several sandy beaches on the island and it was a great place to live as a kid. When the morning ferry arrived on a beautiful summer day, droves of people from the mainland would get off with lunch and beach towels in hand. They would walk to Southside Beach, spend the day soaking up the sun, enjoying the sea breeze, and at dusk they all would slowly head back too the ferry dock to head home. That is what I think of when I think of the southern Maine coast, sunny, sandy beaches and lots of people all bunched together.

Bold, rocky, tough, coast line with waters full of life like the mid-coast and downeast coast is what I prefer. As a teenager my best friend and his dad lobster fished off of Criehaven island. Actually, the islands proper name is Ragged Island but the township is called Criehaven, and it located about 18 miles offshore, South East of Rockland.. It is a staggeringly beautiful place. Every summer my two best friends and I would spent a couple of weeks on the island goofing off and doing odd jobs for my friends dad while he fished. I loved it. We would spend our days walking around exploring the island, the wildlife, swimming in the crystal clear water, fires on the rock beach, sunsets and sunrises. It is the most remote and beautiful place I have ever been. Wild, almost untouched nature.  That is what I think of when I think of a downeast/mid-coast coastal island.

In just a few short hours driving from my home base you can be in the amazing Maine North Woods. I have camped and hiked through a big part of this part of the state and there is beauty litrally around every corner. One of the best camping trips I went on was in late September, the start of changing leaves, with fall in the air, and my best friend, we decided to play the whole trip by ear. We ended up staying at a campsite on Round Pond, north west of Umbazooksus Lake.  Arriving late in the day and had camp set just after dark in this great campsite right on the water. I got up first in the morning, just before daybreak, made coffee over the fire and sat in my chair to see one of the most heavenly scenes I have ever witnessed. The golden sunrise lighting up the red, yellow, and orange leaves, on the hill across the pond from me. Its mirror reflection upside down in the glassy calm pond. When I recall that morning before my friend got up, it makes me think of the North Woods and that there really is a God.

I know I have only seen a small portion of this great state of Maine. I am excited to explore other areas when I can. Sometimes in the morning when I get home from my shift, my wife will ask why I am so late. I make up some excuse about not getting out on time or something like that. When in reality I had stopped to look at the mighty Penobscot River or out on the Bay. Sometimes I will be late coming home because I saw a road I have never explored and decided to see where it went. Amazingly picturesque iron bridges over slow moving streams have been discovered by doing this. I said it before and I will say it again. I love living in Maine because there is literally beauty everywhere you look and around every corner.

Example essay alternate ending

It seams every time I go to Portland now, or even to Augusta, things seem much more busy. More like when I lived in the City. I think the secret is out, and more and more people from away are moving here. They have seen how pretty it is and have talked to the people. Now like I say I regrettably am “from away”. I was six months old before I ever set foot in the state of Maine. I married a Maine woman and have two children born in Maine. But as I understand it my kids are not true Mainers. I have been told have to have one whole generation born in the state to be called a Mainer. Because as the old fisherman said “If my cat had kittens in the oven,... I wouldn't call them biscuits”. This is truly a great place to live and I will finish out my days here. I hope it stays the same. I hope that like me, others will make the choice to live like a Mainer. Too, reject or ignore some outside influences like the 24 hour news cycle and Madison Avenue advertising. Go outside, watch the sunset, grow something, climb a hill, swim in a lake, go sailing, go fishing, eat lobster from Port Clyde and potatoes from Hodgton, just take a drive. Just enjoy it, because it is truly the way life should be.

Example essay

Now I don't like to tell people this, an I have tried to keep it secret for the most part, but I am not from Maine. The first six months of my life were spent in Massachusetts. My whole life I will have to live with the fact that I am not a true Mainer, and it bothers me. I have tried to keep this under raps and not let on that I am a “flatlander”, but I cannot continue to live the lie. I love living in Maine and I cannot imaging living somewhere else. Some of the examples of why I love living here are the people who live here, the beauty of this state, and the way of life here. It is truly the way life should be.

The greatest things about this state is the people. A hearty bunch of people who will give you the shirt off there backs if you were to ask. Except for some shady exceptions from the southern part of the state I have never met a more honest, caring, trustworthy bunch of folks. It is not uncommon total strangers to stop and help you if you need it. If your broke down on the side of the road someone will stop. If your arm full of grocery bags starts to rip half way to the car, some will grab an armful and help you lug them. Open the door for you, offer advice at the hardware store, I could go on and on, you name it somebody is always trying to help. They are rugged, practical people with common sense that you just can't keep down.

Maine is a beautiful place for the greater part of the year. The change of seasons, I love Summer, who doesn’t wish it was longer, Fall is amazing, Winter is a pretty adventure, the rebirth of Spring, wow. The season that I really have a problem with is Mud season, I don't care for everything being muddy and dirty and brown. We have such a diverse geographical state and it is all readily available for us to see and enjoy. The mountains of western Maine and their powerful presence. The ocean and all its magnificence. I like the ocean the best. The vast forests of northern Maine. Our five big rivers. I have traveled other places where a lake is a rare thing. But not here, we have so many we have to name them First Machias, Second Machias, all the way up to Fifth Machias lakes, because it was easier to just number them then to keep making up names I guess. I cannot say how many times I have had to pull my car over, get out, and just say “Will you look at that.” The beauty of this state never fails to amaze me.

I remember an old “Bert and I” with an old Mainer talking in thick accent about the old days. He said “Some one said there was a Depression on.....Well up here we didn't notice much.” They are resourceful and can make due with most anything. In Maine the choice of a fancy new ride is not the latest E-Class Mercedes with low profile tires, huge sound system and the “Super Bling” chrome package. It's a new three quarter ton, diesel with a plow and the tow package...red, if you they have one. It is a different way of life where the things that are important in life, really are important. Make due with what you have, and be happy with that, because you are lucky to have what you have.

In the summer I work on a sail boat that sails two charters out of Camden. All summer long I praise the state and the people in it. It's a different way of life than most people are use to who are “from away”. I tell folks that I don't lock my house and I rarely take the keys out of my car. I know people who drive from Eagle Lake to Bangor just to have dinner and enjoy the ride. It is a slower pace of life, not much hustle and bustle. People grow things and raise animals. Harvest from the land and sea. You know your neighbors and will go out of your way for them. Family is the most important thing. People belong to the same church that there great grand parents did. An honest days pay for an honest days work. You assume the best from people. I have seen a grown mans expression change from one of anxiety to a look of relief and contentment simply from driving northbound over the Portsmouth/Kittery bridge.