My Writing

I think that as of right now my research paper is my strongest. I feel like I wanted to write the research paper more than any of the others because it was about something that interested me. My sources were also a lot stronger than I think any of the ones in my previous papers were.

My worst paper thus far has got to be my personal analysis essay. I had absolutely no clue what to write about. My life is not interesting at all. I feel like I ended up wasting a lot of words bashing on rap music instead of talking about my own life. That's what I want to fix. I want the paper to focus more about me and less about the music.

McCandless Alive Again?

If Chris had walked out of the woods instead of passing away I feel that his life would have been a lot different than it was before he left on his adventure. Before he passed he wrote some things in his diary that leads us to believe he needed strong relationships and bonds in his life to be able to live it to the fullest. I feel that he would have visited the people that he met on his way such as his boss in North Dakota before he did anything else. Once he has satisfied the need to reconnect with his acquaintances I think he would have went home and tried to salvage relationships with his parents. I think he would tell them that he realized how distant he had been and that he was sorry and that he wanted to be more of the family type son. Then I think he would have went back to school or got a job where he felt safe and comfortable, nothing too overwhelming.

McCandless: hero or fool?

The fact that McCandless didnt carry a map only reinforces the notion that he was a fool. Maps are not "modern equipment" and have been around to help sailors and explorers for a long time. I will admit he had some qualities that some of us should look up to. His love for nature and acceptance of most people are traits too few have. But he was a fool for venturing into the woods the way he did. There is a big difference between challenging yourslef and being prepared. Krakauer's own story proves that even though one is prepared for a journey it can still be challenging. Although his death is tragic it is no ones fault other than his own. McCandless should have prepared himself for the difficulties he was to face. A man as smart as him should have known what his end would be.