Surmounting Mediocrity

by Rudy, age 16, Writing Foundations Level 2

Ulysses S. Grant was a celebrated war hero whose life involved a miraculous roller coaster of change. Initiating his military career at West Point, a prominent military academy, Grant completed his education in four years, entered the army, and became an officer (Southworth 218). An excellent horseman and an intrepid soldier, he inevitably worked his way up to the position of captain (McSpadden 41). However, he left the military to return to his farming roots because his army wages were inadequate (Southworth 220). Gradually spiraling toward worthlessness, Grant watched his pitiful life collapse as he hopped from job to job, eventually working as a clerk at his brothers’ store for fifty dollars a month (McSpadden 26). This meager existence melted into Grant’s past when Washington sent out a call for Union Army volunteers, and Grant re-entered the military leading one group of these volunteers (McSpadden 47). He proved his worth through many victories, including the battles of Vicksburg and Shiloh, and his superiors noticed these feats (Nisenson 72). Promoted to colonel, then brigadier general, and finally commanding the entire Union Army, Grant led the Union to victory over the Confederacy in the Civil War (Southworth 223). Reaching the top of the ladder of success, Lieutenant General Grant escaped the mediocrity of his post-Mexican War years and made a success of himself.

A Horse For Helen

a fused summary by Samuel, age 15, Writing Foundations 2

The ancient battle of the Trojan War started with a woman and ended with a horse. The combat began when Helen left her husband, Sparta’s King Menelaus, for Paris, Prince of Troy. When Paris refused to release Helen, the Greeks set sail to declare war on Troy in an attempt to retrieve the woman. The two armies waged war for ten years. Finally the Greeks had an ingenious idea. They built a huge hollow horse constructed of wood with Greek soldiers hidden inside and hoisted it to the gates of Troy. The Trojans surmised that the goddess Athena bestowed upon them the ligneous horse. While the Greeks sailed away misleading the Trojans into thinking that the war had ended, the Trojans welcomed the horse inside their walls. In the end Greek soldiers loped out of the belly of the horse and defeated Troy. Therefore, the war began with Helen and ended with a wooden horse.