Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below. Some people believe that there is only one foolproof plan, perfect solution, or correct interpretation. But nothing is ever that simple. For better or worse, for every so-called final answer there is another way or seeing things. There is always a “however”. Assignment: Is there always another explanation or another point of view? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experiences, or observations.

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Thesis: An attribute can be either a vice or virtue, depending on a person’s point of view. Point 1 – I had always believed that perfectionism was a virtue: it was a motivator to achieve high goals, which I had done. Point 2 – Later, I discovered that others, including a teacher, perceive my perfectionism to be a vice, resulting in fatigue, stress and illness. Conclusion – There is always a “however”. I realized that perfectionism is neither good nor bad. I admit with pride that i am a perfectionist. I see it as the force which motivates me to achieve high goals.

I owe my good grades, my success as a dancer as well as my organized room to my drive to be perfect. However, others view my perfectionism as a flow. Others see me crying over the “B+” I received on my math test and blame my “emotional instability”, as they call it, on my perfectionism. Whether one considers it as a vice or a virtue depends on his or her point of view. May is AP test season and for me that means severely high levels of stress. I could be spotted walking down the halls of the school with my Barron’s AP World History book under my right arm and a highlighter in my pocket.

It was imperative that I study hard enough to receive a grade of “5” on the test. All my stressing and constant studying gave me dark circles under my eyes and a head cold. One day, shortly before the test, my French teacher approached me and asked me if I was alright. I explained that I was just tired and stressed from studying for APs. She paused when I finished speaking. Then she stared me straight me in the eye and said, “Everyone choses their own poison”, I was dumbfounded. What did she mean? Then i dawned on me; she sees my drive for perfection in the spring that feeds my ultimate down face.

My perfectionism is my vice, according to her and yet all this time i thought it was my greatest virtue. Now I understand that my perfectionism is not “all good”, it was after all responsible for the lack of plenty of sleep as well as being responsible for my head cold. However, I maintain that it is not “all bad” either. I continued to study for the AP World History test and, although the scores are not back yet, I have a hunch I did well on it. So is perfectionism a vice or virtue? It depends on whom you are talking to.

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