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Als1288 Posted 17 years ago
I have written an argumentative paper over John Updikes short story the A&P. I would appreciate if someone could review my paper, so I could get feedback, any criticism, suggestions etc are welcome. I would really appreciate it. This paper is due tomorrow!
A new direction
In the story “A&P”, John Updike portrays Sammy as an observant young man lacking excitement in working as a cashier in a small grocery store, the A&P. The mundane, dull community in the A&P that surrounds Sammy challenges him to strive for something different. Sammy wants to experience what lies beyond the A&P. This story showcases a young man blooming into maturity, accepting responsibility and represents the reality of entering adulthood.
It was a typical day at the A&P. Sammy was ringing up a purchase of "one of those cash-register-watchers, a witch" (Updike 15), she acted like she never seen a mistake in her life. It was obvious that Sammy had been distracted by the three girls that came prancing in the store wearing their bathing suits. As a result, he accidentally rang the witch's item up twice due to the distraction. This demonstrates Sammy’s immaturity and the lack of interest in his job.
The tallest girl caught his eye. He referred to her as "the Queen."She walked slowly with straight posture, almost as though she was showing the other two girls how to strut. The way he was contemplating the girls made it was obvious that he was quite bored prior to their grand appearance. This wasn't something that happened all the time, or ever before for that matter. Any distraction would throw Sammy off because of the A&P's melancholy atmosphere.
As Sammy continues to monitor the girls, he closely analyzes their appearances while making assumptions about them. After thoroughly assessing their bodies, he even goes as far to wonder how girls' minds work. He observed them going up the aisles. This shows Sammy's immaturity prior to his actual meeting with the girls. More or less, he was viewing them as objects, not so much as human beings.
He also noted the presence of "the sheep pushing their carts down the aisle"; sheep being used as a reference to the elder customers. It was apparent that Sammy had a negative outlook on their older ages. He witnessed the looks on the elderly people's faces when they too noticed the girls. They made a kind of jerk, and then suddenly looked back down at their shopping baskets. Obviously wearing bathing suits into a grocery store was inappropriate to this modest group of people, but not Sammy.
"A few house-slaves in pin curlers even looked around after pushing their carts past to make sure what they had seen was correct"(Updike 16). This displays that Sammy simply does not see himself as growing up to follow this so-called herd.
Finally, Queenie came to the checkout line in her bathing suit and holding a jar of herring snacks. Now, here comes Lengel, the store manager, scuttling over to the checkout line. "Girls, this isn't the beach." (Updike 17). It made no difference to Lengel that they were just coming in to get one thing or several things. He strictly wanted them to be decently dressed when they come into the store. Still distracted, Sammy's thoughts are running rampant. He is disheartened by the fact that Lengel is making such a spectacle out of the girls.
Sammy's immediate thoughts verbalize as the girls begin to walk away and he proclaims to Lengel, "I quit". He was hoping that he said it so the girls would hear him, but they were already making their way out of the electric doors. Lengel asked Sammy if he had said something, and Sammy once again repeated "I quit". Sammy didn't appreciate Lengel's criticism towards the girls; it gave him a disregard for rules. As he automatically removed his apron and his bow tie there was some hesitation but there was no turning back.
This symbolizes moving on in life, accepting changes that he knows he has to make and taking responsibility for his actions. Sammy has had enough of this dreary life he led as a cashier. He didn't want to be like Stokesie, the other cashier who was a responsible married man aspiring to become the A&P manager sometime in the 90's.
Sammy implicitly knew that he wanted more out of life. His future aspirations did not involve ringing up items and placing them into bags. As Sammy walked out of the A&P, he stopped to look through the window and observed Lengel in his slot, checking the sheep through. Sammy's stomach fell, and now he had the feeling of how hard the world would be from here on out.
For the first time, Sammy had a vision of himself. Seeing Lengel in the window made Sammy realize that he didn't want a dead end monotonous job. He wanted to take risks and chances throughout life. Spontaneity is something Sammy has been searching for in his inner being. Spontaneity opens a door of perception to certain aspects in which Sammy has never seen or experienced before.
Life is a chance. Life is about taking risks and challenging what lies beyond your boundaries. If you didn't take chances, you would never experience right from wrong or learn from your mistakes.
In other words, you would never experience what lies outside of the box you call life. Sammy is experiencing a transition that will change his life forever. This is what will make Sammy's life hard from here on out.Sammy is finally confronted with reality. Lengel criticizing and embarrassing the girls for inappropriate attire made him come to the realization that there will always be rules, policies, and guidelines that he has to abide by throughout life. No matter where you work, or where you go, there will always be policies to obey.
Life is about being true to yourself, and following how you truly feel even if there are consequences to follow. Sammy learns a life lesson through the observation of his surroundings. If everyone would just open their eyes and witness what was around them, perhaps they too would see that they could be more than just another sheep.
Essay & Composition Writing
Help! Argumentative Paper
I have written an argumentative paper over John Updikes short story the A&P. I would appreciate if someone could review my paper, so I could get feedback, any criticism, suggestions etc are welcome. I would really appreciate it. This paper is due tomorrow!
A new direction
In the story “A&P”, John Updike portrays Sammy as an observant young man lacking excitement in working as a cashier in a small grocery store, the A&P. The mundane, dull community in the A&P that surrounds Sammy challenges him to strive for something different. Sammy wants to experience what lies beyond the A&P. This story showcases a young man blooming into maturity, accepting responsibility and represents the reality of entering adulthood.
It was a typical day at the A&P. Sammy was ringing up a purchase of "one of those cash-register-watchers, a witch" (Updike 15), she acted like she never seen a mistake in her life. It was obvious that Sammy had been distracted by the three girls that came prancing in the store wearing their bathing suits. As a result, he accidentally rang the witch's item up twice due to the distraction. This demonstrates Sammy’s immaturity and the lack of interest in his job.
The tallest girl caught his eye. He referred to her as "the Queen."She walked slowly with straight posture, almost as though she was showing the other two girls how to strut. The way he was contemplating the girls made it was obvious that he was quite bored prior to their grand appearance. This wasn't something that happened all the time, or ever before for that matter. Any distraction would throw Sammy off because of the A&P's melancholy atmosphere.
As Sammy continues to monitor the girls, he closely analyzes their appearances while making assumptions about them. After thoroughly assessing their bodies, he even goes as far to wonder how girls' minds work. He observed them going up the aisles. This shows Sammy's immaturity prior to his actual meeting with the girls. More or less, he was viewing them as objects, not so much as human beings.
He also noted the presence of "the sheep pushing their carts down the aisle"; sheep being used as a reference to the elder customers. It was apparent that Sammy had a negative outlook on their older ages. He witnessed the looks on the elderly people's faces when they too noticed the girls. They made a kind of jerk, and then suddenly looked back down at their shopping baskets. Obviously wearing bathing suits into a grocery store was inappropriate to this modest group of people, but not Sammy.
"A few house-slaves in pin curlers even looked around after pushing their carts past to make sure what they had seen was correct"(Updike 16). This displays that Sammy simply does not see himself as growing up to follow this so-called herd.
Finally, Queenie came to the checkout line in her bathing suit and holding a jar of herring snacks. Now, here comes Lengel, the store manager, scuttling over to the checkout line. "Girls, this isn't the beach." (Updike 17). It made no difference to Lengel that they were just coming in to get one thing or several things. He strictly wanted them to be decently dressed when they come into the store. Still distracted, Sammy's thoughts are running rampant. He is disheartened by the fact that Lengel is making such a spectacle out of the girls.
Sammy's immediate thoughts verbalize as the girls begin to walk away and he proclaims to Lengel, "I quit". He was hoping that he said it so the girls would hear him, but they were already making their way out of the electric doors. Lengel asked Sammy if he had said something, and Sammy once again repeated "I quit". Sammy didn't appreciate Lengel's criticism towards the girls; it gave him a disregard for rules. As he automatically removed his apron and his bow tie there was some hesitation but there was no turning back.
This symbolizes moving on in life, accepting changes that he knows he has to make and taking responsibility for his actions. Sammy has had enough of this dreary life he led as a cashier. He didn't want to be like Stokesie, the other cashier who was a responsible married man aspiring to become the A&P manager sometime in the 90's.
Sammy implicitly knew that he wanted more out of life. His future aspirations did not involve ringing up items and placing them into bags. As Sammy walked out of the A&P, he stopped to look through the window and observed Lengel in his slot, checking the sheep through. Sammy's stomach fell, and now he had the feeling of how hard the world would be from here on out.
For the first time, Sammy had a vision of himself. Seeing Lengel in the window made Sammy realize that he didn't want a dead end monotonous job. He wanted to take risks and chances throughout life. Spontaneity is something Sammy has been searching for in his inner being. Spontaneity opens a door of perception to certain aspects in which Sammy has never seen or experienced before.
Life is a chance. Life is about taking risks and challenging what lies beyond your boundaries. If you didn't take chances, you would never experience right from wrong or learn from your mistakes.
In other words, you would never experience what lies outside of the box you call life. Sammy is experiencing a transition that will change his life forever. This is what will make Sammy's life hard from here on out.Sammy is finally confronted with reality. Lengel criticizing and embarrassing the girls for inappropriate attire made him come to the realization that there will always be rules, policies, and guidelines that he has to abide by throughout life. No matter where you work, or where you go, there will always be policies to obey.
Life is about being true to yourself, and following how you truly feel even if there are consequences to follow. Sammy learns a life lesson through the observation of his surroundings. If everyone would just open their eyes and witness what was around them, perhaps they too would see that they could be more than just another sheep.
Top answer
Hi, Does what you have written meet what you consider is the definition of an argumentative paper? It doesn't seem like the kind of thing people would argue about. The Main Ingredients of an Argumentative Paper The argumentative paper involves five main ingredients: 1) t hesis [claim, proposition, main idea]; 2) context [background, framework, setting]; 3) reasons [support, evidence]; 4) counter-arguments [objections, contrary considerations]; and 5) responses [refutations, answers to objections].
- Hi, Does what you have written meet what you consider is the definition of an argumentative paper?
- It doesn't seem like the kind of thing people would argue about.
- The Main Ingredients of an Argumentative Paper The argumentative paper involves five main ingredients: 1) t hesis [claim, proposition, main idea]; 2) context [background, framework, setting]; 3) reasons [support, evidence]; 4) counter-arguments [objections, contrary considerations]; and 5) responses [refutations, answers to objections].
- These ingredients can be put together or organized in a good many different ways.
- In a very short, very simple argumentative paper, the last two may not appear at all; so the absolute minimum ingredients are: thesis, context, and supporting reasons; and the thesis should appear prior to the reasons (it will also usually be restated after the reasons).
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1 Answers
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Hi,
Does what you have written meet what you consider is the definition of an argumentative paper?
It doesn't seem like the kind of thing people would argue about.
The Main Ingredients of an Argumentative Paper
The argumentative paper involves five main ingredients: 1) t
0
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