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"great ocean of truth" - Essay on Sherlock Holmes's influence



NRessay 2 / 8  
Nov 22, 2012   #1
PROMPT:Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.

I will try to go over any essays that people who review my essay have made :)

Please also tell me if I answered the prompt well or not because I do have a second Idea to go with..

ESSAY:
As a child, I learned about people who have created musical masterpieces, scientific laws, and many incredible literary works in elementary school. Instead of having an impression of humankind's great progress, however, I felt insignificant. Most of the good discoveries must have been found and works of art completed. I simply could not find Newton's "great ocean of truth." I did not want to fade into history, so I decided I had to explain something that no one else could.

"It is my business to know what other people do not know." Not many can live up to the epitome of curiosity that Sir Doyle's fictional detective Sherlock Holmes possessed. Still a child, I perused the library for books on baffling problems that I could solve, but I instead encountered Holmes. After inspecting the pages, I decided it would be wiser to first study the process of how someone else uncovers the truth.

One book lead to another and Sherlock Holmes never ceased to amaze me. While reading the short stories and novels in which he used his aptitude to crack cases, I frequently pretended to be his companion Watson and try to keep up with his calculations. The more I followed his adventures, the more observant I tried to be. I would not skip any word in anything I read or saw because any minutiae can possibly hold a wealth of information. Holmes deduced things in a way no one else could, and I continuously challenged my mind, hoping one day to reach his expertise.

Growing up, I now realize Sherlock Holmes's methods were improbable to work in reality, but I still would not want anyone else as a childhood hero. If I looked up to Superman or Hulk, I would have spent more time trying to fly and breaking things than sharpening my acumen. Holmes showed me that there are two factors that stand between me and a discovery: the approach to the problem and the knowledge needed to understand the results. Being a chemist, Holmes clearly wanted to learn, and paired his logic with his studies to understand the things around him. As a kid, I caught onto this relationship inherent in his process and tried to be knowledgeable, thinking I would enhance my outlook if I retained more information.

Now, however, I have realized that I do not need to solve a mystery to go down in history. This world can be improved in countless ways, so the idea that everything has already been discovered could not be farther from the truth. Diseases are constantly treated, electronic devices are constantly innovated, and any study can be on the verge of a breakthrough. I intend to tackle problems in every possible way and analyze facts that others think are obvious, a procedure of finding the truth that Holmes cemented into me very well. The answers are all there, and we just need to learn how to read them. It is all just elementary.

Jennyflower81 - / 674  
Nov 23, 2012   #2
Your essay sounds fantastic to me! Nice job. I have a few minor suggestions for you, just some ideas.

Holmes deduced things in a way that no one else could, and I continuously challenged my mind,hoped to one day to reach his expertise by continuously challenging my mind.

If I had looked up to Superman or Hulk, I would have spent more time trying to fly and breaking things than sharpening my acumen.

As a kid, I caught onto this relationship inherent in his process and tried to be knowledgeable, thinking I would enhance my outlook if I retained more information.


This sentence is kind of awkward, I would suggest re-wording this.

I intend to tackle problems in every possible way and analyze facts that others think are obvious, a procedure of finding the truth that Holmes cemented into me very well.

This sentence is a little too long, try to separate these ideas into 2 sentences.

Good luck in school!
suzeroonie 3 / 17  
Nov 23, 2012   #3
I frequently pretended to be his companion , Watson, and try to keep up with his calculations.
Your second to last paragraph is very strong. I think you answered the question really well. Your essay would benefit from even more concrete examples of how/what Holmes has taught you.

I answered the same prompt, could you look it over? I revised the essay a bit, so read the one from my latest comment on it. Good luck!
bellem1 6 / 12  
Nov 24, 2012   #4
Wow! This essay is one of the best I've read in a while. The only thing I would say is that you switch back and forth between present and past tense when talking about what happens in the books, so pick one and stick with it. Other than that, it's great! Good job!


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