Abigail Adams Revision

Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her son John Quincy Adams while he was overseas with his father John Adams. Abigail feels that she needs to guide John towards the right path of leadership while simultaneously doing her job of being a loving mother. Her letter to John is very alluring as she cares for John, preparing him for what dangers he might face in his voyage. Throughout this letter, Abigail's use of Pathos, Syntax, and Allusion convinces Adams to stay strong whilst traveling afar.

Abigail opens her letter with a motherly- protective tone, implying the use of Pathos. She carefully foresaw that John is able to do great deeds.”For your own benefit, I should not have urged you to accompany your father and brother when you appeared so averse to the voyage.” Pathos is the use of emotional appeal to get into one's head. Abigail brings up her family and her assumption of John not wanting to embark on the voyage. Family matters usually link with emotional feelings since families are attached together and grow a bond. She considers her son's opinions, revealing a loving side that only a mother could deliver.

Abigail's letter has great use of Syntax as she structures her letter strategically. She opens with a heart-warming introduction, asking John if he is okay. Then, at line 9, Abigail puts family matters aside, bringing the point of what she's trying to do, which is to keep Adams strong. Line 16 gives John an example for line 9. Abigail constantly strikes at John with an anecdote-like example,(Would Cicero have shone so distinguished...) then comparing it to John,(All history will convince you of this...) and then closes her letter with yet another caring paragraph that furthermore encourages John(...do honor your country, and render your parents supremely happy, particularly your ever affectionate mother).

Allusions are another rhetorical device Abigail uses towards John in this letter. Lines 30-34 is a reference to Cicero, the Roman Philosopher. “Would Cicero have shone so distinguished an orator is he had not been roused, kindled, and inflamed by the tyranny of Catiline, Verres, and Mark Anthony?” Cicero was a man that was burning with passion due to watching the tyrannical actions of the three. Abigail states that in order to become a powerful leader, John too must find something that will ignite his passion.

Throughout the letter, Abigail uses three rhetorical devices: Syntax, Allusions, and the use of Pathos to advise John in his trip. She uses the three almost back to back, connecting one with another so fluently that it almost looks flawless to the normal eye. These rhetorical devices shows us her success of being both an affectionate mother and a strong-minded woman that sets goals.

My Academic Experiences

 “Since someone you know went/is going there, why don't you go there too?” These words made me the student that you see before you. I came to America at the age of five without knowing what to expect in this foreign ground. My family moved here seeking better living conditions for me and my siblings. We flew to Nevada first before riding a bus to California. Once we arrived to California, we moved to the city of Los Angeles.

My family chose to live in the busy area of Koreatown. Why Koreatown? My family does not know any English. Koreatown has many Koreans living in it. There are signs written in Korean.  Our family took a blind jump coming to the States. Living in Koreatown, we became friendly with this one family that lived about 2 doors away from us. Coincidentally, their son and I were the same age, both of us being Korean as well. My parents didn't know which school to send me to, so they asked my newfound friend's parents. They insisted that I follow their son to Hobart Blvd. Elementary School, for it was nearby my house at the time. My parents asked me the question, “Since your friend is going there, why don't you go there too?” I didn't know anything so I accepted it. Hobart Blvd. Elementary is located in 980 S. Hobart Boulevard. The area around Hobart was and still is a bustling neighborhood with cars going every hour of the day.

 When the time came for me to choose which middle school to attend, I had not a single clue. No one had ever told me which school is good which school is bad. I didn't have contacts with my elementary school friends. My parents didn't know where to send me either. They found out that Berendo Middle offered a Korean-dual language program. My parents seemed happy about it and my older sister of currently 23 years of age culminated from that school as well. My parents enrolled me into Berendo Middle School, located at 1157 S. Berendo Street (still in koreatown). The neighborhood around this school had an eerie, unsafe feeling than the neighborhood around Hobart Blvd. Elementary School. I spent 3-4 years in the school, making friends and going through changes.

 Eventually, the time came for me to choose which high school I wanted to enroll into. I had no clue about high schools and was, for the most part, afraid of entering high school. The movies I have watched and the bullying I have seen seemed to put quite an impact on my perspective of high school. I knew my sister had attended Los Angeles High School, but I myself did not want to enroll in Los Angeles High because I've heard rumors about the school and the negative comments about the students in the school.

My parents knew this and they asked me “ Since your friends are going to Fairfax High, why don't you go there too?”Once again, most of my friends were going to enroll into Fairfax High School, located in 7850 Melrose Ave, this school is located outside the premises of Koreatown. My home school is West Adams High School, which I did not want to go to. I knew that Los Angeles High School and West Adams High School were closer to me in terms of distance. Comfortable as it may have been, I felt that Fairfax High would provide a better education. Despite the distance, I accepted the idea. I felt that going to a school near my house would tarnish my education so I decided to attend Fairfax. I am now a current student of Fairfax High School.