Santana RamosSimonAP Literature & CompostionPeriod 61/6/16

Connotation & DenotationPart OneSelf-confident- I have confidence, but am not infatuated with myself, as is suggested by the word "conceited".Assertive- I know how to be a strong leader, but I don't overdo it by being "pushy".Firm- I am strong-willed, but not unreasonably unwilling to do something any way other than my own (stubborn).Hard-working- workaholic doesn't necessarily have a negative connotation for me, however, it does seem to suggest that working is an addiction that is more important than some other simple things in life, which is not true.Flexible- I am not unable to make decisions (indecisive), but I can go with the flow if plans change, etc.Casual- entails a laid-back attitude, while sloppy seems unprofessional and lazyMature- aged to perfection! Old isn't too bad, but connects directly to physical appearance , in my mind.Part TwoPositive: Heavyset Negative: FatPositive: Little Negative: MidgetPositive: Dull Negative: StupidPositive: Plain Negative: UglyPositive: Unathletic Negative: LazyPositive: Self-loving Negative: SelfishPart ThreeWith the U.S. falling behind other industrialized countries, many college people, from chancellors to freshmen, consider extracurricular activities deficient.Others, of course, regard such entertainments as exciting, cultural and educational, and a vital element in college life.Higher education should have the courage and the idealism to widen and ennoble life.Our's is an age of science, and one of the bases of a science is mathematics, which, regrettably, some students think is a bore.Charles Dickens created characters from the lowest levels of the English-speaking world, but he made these deviants appear likable because he revealed their universal humanity.