Jefferson's Take On Slavery- Was It Just An Act?

As many people say, “actions speak louder than words”.  Thomas Jefferson had an incredible impact in the United States as he promoted equality among all people.  Jefferson felt that regardless of their religion, ethnicity or beliefs, every human being was entitled to basic rights; however, he did not always stand behind his words.  Jefferson criticized slavery as a violation to personal liberty, while at the same time owning over two-hundred slaves himself.  Even after his death, Jefferson only freed a small number of select slaves; the others were left trapped in the cruel world of enslavement.  His excuse?  Dependency.  Although this excuse satisfied some historians, others still debate whether his actions involving slavery were controversial to his apparent principles.  For further information regarding Jefferson’s controversial abolition policies, visit: http://www.monticello.org/site/plantation-and-slavery/thomas-jefferson-and-slavery.

Thomas Jefferson: I didn’t realize . . .

Throughout many students’ educational careers, the name Thomas Jefferson becomes very familiar.  Before class, I identified Jefferson as a member of the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence, the third president of the United States, founder of the University of Virginia, and the man behind the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 that doubled the size of our country.  As I began writing what I thought I had known about him, I realized I truly knew very little.  As my class explored Jefferson’s long list of incredible achievements, I was surprised to learn about how much he shaped our country into what it is today.  I learned about his multiple interests outside of politics, such as architecture, geography, horticulture, and even meteorology.  I was also unaware of Jefferson’s profound belief in expanding education and freedom of religion to all people, despite their place in society to better the future of our country.  I was even more amazed to find that Jefferson died on July 4, 1826: the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

If You Must Do It, Do It Well

Many students enrolled in a Freshman Composition class believe they are taking the class just to 'cross it off of their list'.  In reality, they are learning skills that can apply to any profession they plan to pursue.  When entering the professional world, employers hope to hire an employee that has obtained skills in several areas.  The more well-rounded an applicant appears, the more successful they will be. 

                Whether you are a hopeful psychologist, business representative, or even a coach, you will always need to possess writing skills to do your job well.  In psychology, communication is key.  A psychologist should be capable of writing numerous reports, case studies, and research reports with skills acquired throughout their educational career.  A business representative should always have clear, professional communication with their coworkers.  Improper communication could lead to the fall of your business.  Although most people would assume coaches have a less demanding writing aspect in their career, it is critical for coaches to be able to communicate professionally with their students’ parents and their boss.  No matter what profession a student decides to pursue, their writing skills will always be critical.

Cardwell, Kim. Personal Interview. 28 Aug. 2011.

Cardwell, Chris. Personal Interview. 28 Aug. 2011.

 Cherry, Kendra. Writing Psychology Papers. About.com. 2011. Web. 28 Aug. 2011.

Texting Turbulence

Although most people communicate through text, many do not know how to text well.  Misused punctuation, misspelled words and unnecessary abbreviations can often frustrate the reader by overshadowing the original intentions of the message.  It is important to use appropriate punctuation to effectively communicate the tone of a text message.  Before sending a message, it is best to check for careless errors that are easily overlooked to prevent confusion and miscommunication.  When errors throughout your message are revised, communication is made clear and confusion is avoided.