2017 2018 Yearbook

Michael A.

Hello, my name is Michael A. I’m 15 and a freshman in high school. I have been
homeschooled most of my life. My hobbies include riding dirt bikes, trampolines, competitive
swimming, playing video games, and driving. I like to spend my free time playing video games
or hanging out with friends. When I can’t do any of those things, then I’ll be at work. I work at a
lumberyard, and my job there is to clean. I have lots of friends at work too. I enjoyed this year a
lot. I believe I improved on my writing skills throughout the year. My favorite assignment this
year was the 17-paragraph essay.

The Motorcycle is a Beautiful Machine

Motorcycles are one of a kind. They are all similar but different. One motorcycle is
different from all the others. It may be because of sentimental value or just plain old custom
bike, but each motorcycle is different. The racing part of motorcycles is fast and dangerous but
extremely expensive. People have raced their whole lives since they were young. It takes much
practice and much patience in order to ride a motorcycle at deathly speeds. Traveling with a
motorcycle is a luxurious thing to do. They can cause issues when traveling along a long stretch
of road, or even turning slowly around a bend. They cause freedom and peace no other thing
can offer. Motorcycles have a lot to offer. Motorcycles are truly one of the greatest things ever
invented.

All motorcycles are different in their own unique way. Each rider has his or her
preferred motorcycle. There are many different types of motorcycles out there in the world.
Some of the different types of motorcycles are:cruiser, dual sport, dirt bikes, and sport bikes.
Motorcycles are unique, and there are all kinds of them out there in the world.

Cruisers are luxuries bikes. They tend to be more expensive to make sure the rider is
comfortable at all times. For example, cruisers are made for long distances because they tend
to be easier to ride on long road trips. This is important because, cruisers are normally ridden
by older people in their late 60s or early 70s to help with back issues. They are really big and
some of the most powerful bikes, but they are made to keep riding pretty easy. Sometimes
luxurious bikes can be worth the money.

Another type of motorcycle is dual sports; they are street legal dirt bikes. They are
meant for the streets and the dirt. For example, dual sports can be taken off-road because of
their suspension and tires. This is important because that means you get two bikes in one. They
used to be called “Enduros” awhile back, but people have been using the name “Dual Sport”
more often. They can cause a lot of trouble, and they can get someone in a lot of trouble. They
are really fun street legal dirt bikes.

Some motorcycles are especially meant for the dirt. There are two different types of dirt
bikes. There are two stroke and four stroke dirt bikes. The difference between the two is that a
two stroke dirt bike has the same amount of power as a four stroke bike with an engine double

the size. They are taller and have much better suspension than street legal bikes. Two strokes
are much louder than four strokes. This is important because if your live near people or are in a
neighborhood, buying a four-stroke dirt bike will get fewer people angry over noise. Both two
and four strokes are meant for the dirt.

Sport bikes are the types of bikes you always hear. They are really… really loud. Sport
bike riders are the ones that get yelled at a lot because they have a loud exhaust and people
don’t like it. As long as the exhaust is street legal, the owner of the bike does not have to do a
thing. Most sport bikes are really fast. They can get up to as a high as 1300cc’s. This is important
because the reason people use loud exhausts is so people can hear them, so they do not hit
them. Sport bikes always cause a commotion when their engines get revved.

See, there are many different types of bikes. With each cruiser, dirt bike, dual sport, and
sport bike, they all have different purposes. Not all bikes are meant to be on the road. They
come in all different sizes. Even though a lot of bikes look the same, they have their own unique
differences.

Racing is a skilled sport, and should not be taken lightly. Each rider has his or her own
preferred gear. Riders should always wear good, safe, and broken-in gear. Riders should always
wear gear. Gear helps a rider be safer overall. Good gear is very expensive. The racetrack is
filled with various gears, is expensive, and needs to be comfortable.

Something a rider should always wear is gear. In fact, wearing gear is really important
because it may save your life one day. For instance, no one likes to crash, but if someone does,
it would hurt a lot, especially at 100+ miles per hour at the motorcycle track. A rider can have
some serious injuries like broken bones, concussions, and even death. This is important because
wearing gear will help with crashes and road rash. It is very important so someone does not get
injured. Gear should always be worn by the rider.

Riders feel more comfortable when they are wearing gear they are used to. In fact, if
gear isn’t broken in right, it could cause riders to have pain and discomfort during a race,
making it easier for them to lose control of the bike. For instance, the rider could be thinking
about the discomfort coming from the gear more than paying attention to the race. This is
important because if a rider feels comfortable when racing, that means they will also be able to
control the bike better and not crash. Each rider has to be comfortable with his or her gear.

The cost of all the gear and bikes could be very expensive. In fact, gear could be even
more expensive than the bike itself. For instance, this is why people like to be sponsored so
they get free gear. It makes things easier when someone gets sponsored because good gear is
very expensive. Just a helmet could cost near $1000, and that is not even half of the gear. This
is important because it helps someone save a lot of money and helps the rider to become less
stressed about the cost of gear. Bikes and gear are very expensive, especially if someone wants
nice gear and a nice bike.

So each rider has their own preferred protection when racing. It gives a rider a better
chance of surviving when harm falls upon him or her. With each dollar spent into very
expensive gear, it pays off in the end.

Motorcycles are easy to travel with. They have great miles per gallon intake, making
them run for long distances. The size of a motorcycle is much smaller than a car. A motorcycle’s
weight is much lighter than a car. A person can travel with a motorcycle very easily, thanks to
their MPG, size, and weight.

A motorcycle has a great MPG intake. In fact, MPG means miles per gallon. A bike could
hold between 2.5-15 gallons of fuel. For instance, some bikes, even though they could hold a
little bit of gas, they could get really great mileage. This is important because it is a lot cheaper
to buy gas for a motorcycle. A motorcycle truly does have a surprising MPG intake.

The size of a bike is nice. In fact, bikes are small, which makes them easier for transport.
For instance, people buy trailers for motorcycles if they do not own a truck to take them
traveling with them. This is important because bikes are transported cheaper than when you
hire someone to take it somewhere for you. Size is no worry when it comes to traveling with a
little bike.

The weight of a bike is what really makes it hard to travel with. In fact, you should get a
ramp for your bike to either put it in the bed of a truck or on a trailer because motorcycles are
heavy. For instance, some motorcycles weigh a lot, so it is important to keep in mind to bring a
ramp that will work for your type of motorcycle. This is important because getting a ramp for a
motorcycle will save a lot of time struggling to lift the bike up and will help prevent back pain.
It’s hard to travel with a heavy motorcycle.

Bringing a motorcycle with you whenever you travel will allow you to see the area you
are traveling to more fun. You can save money because of their MPG intake. They are small,
which makes them easier to transport in another vehicle, and they do not nearly weigh as much
as a car. Motorcycles are something people should take with them everywhere they go.

Motorcycles have brought joy and pain. They are light and nimble. They could take a
corner at blinding speed. They are a joy to have. Every category of bike is unique and has its
own personal way with someone. The kind of bike someone buys could be your friend or foe.
You must learn to tame that power with simplicity in the flick of your wrist. Once you have
mastered that power, maybe you could get into racing. Racing is fast and precise. One must
learn how to have full control of the motorcycle without ever losing control, or else those last
few laps you take could be your last. But when racers travel to places, their bikes are easily put
into a truck or trailer and then carried off to be worked on then raced. Taking your motorcycle
with you is nice and calming. It could offer you to take back routes as ease, or it could give you
many tickets if you come across cops who hate motorcycles. The thing is to never be too careful
with your motorcycle. Have some fun with it. Take it to a race track and have some fun there,
or take it on a windy road and experience fast maneuvers. However, always be careful with

your motorcycle because it can cause much fun and joy, or if you are not careful, it could bring
you danger.

Jesse F.

Hello! My name is Jesse F. I was born April 25, 2000, which so happens to be exactly
419 years after Oliver Cromwell was born. I live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with my parents
Kevin and Joy, my siblings Connor, Hannah, Sarah and Matthew, and finally my yellow lab
Molly. I have participated in DRAMA Ministries, which is a team of young people who declare
Christ’s redemption through the art of mime and acting for about four years. Some hobbies of
mine are running, reading, and writing fiction. This year I especially enjoyed writing a research
paper about photography since it is an interest of mine. My dream job is to be either a pediatric
or psychiatric doctor.

Photography’s Three P’s

According to Adam Bronkhost in his book So App Shots which talks about how to take
great pictures with smart phones and apps, “Mastering photography is a journey that can last a
lifetime.” This statement clearly portrays the ups and downs of photography that happen for
every photographer: from the very first beginners to the very oldest professionals. This art
requires practice and perseverance. Those examining photography as a vocation or as even as a
hobby should discover the many details that help perfect camera capabilities.

To start off any photography venture, the user should learn the basics of their camera. In
1st Corinthians 12:12 the Apostle Paul states, “The body is a unit, though it is comprised of many
parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body.” The same applies to modern day
cameras. These incredible inventions consist of multiple micro and macro parts all combined to
create a beautiful picture. A front, back, and top make up a majority of a camera’s body. A
camera consists of many parts joined together in order to produce powerful pictures.

The front of a camera produces the picture photographers take. In other words, it captures
a stunning story with its individualized body parts. For example, the shutter button, lens mount,
and depth-of-field preview button all together play crucial parts in the making of a photo. The
shutter button allows light to penetrate the digital sensor in order to create the picture. The lens
mount carefully aligns lenses while photographers attach them into place. Finally, the depth-of-
field preview presents photographers with the capability to observe the sharpness in a
photograph before a shot is taken (Taylor et al. 12). All of these parts significantly aid in the
camera’s makeup since they perform important jobs that create an image to remember. A
camera’s front side helps create pictures.

The backside of the camera enables photographers with the ability to observe the object
of interest with it numerous buttons. In short, it uses modern technology in order to create the
picture at which the photographer shot. It consists of a menu and information button, an optical
view finder, a zoom button, and finally a delete option. The menu and information button alters
the electronics settings and shows its status. The optical view finder permits the photographer
with the ability to observe the picture passing straight through the lens and bouncing off of the
reflexive mirror. The zoom button enlarges pictures for photographers before or after shooting
them. The delete button clears photos stored in the memory card (Taylor et al. 13). This button
plays a crucial part since a normal eight gigabyte memory card only hold up to 2,000 to 3,000

pictures at a single time (Photography for). All of the buttons on the back of a camera work
together in the process of taking photos. The side closest to photographers uses multiple tiny
gadgets to help shoot a picture.

The top of a camera with its limited number of buttons help further a photographer’s
chance of creating stunning masterpieces. Thus, even though the top’s main button turns the
camera on and off, it also consists of buttons that aid a photographer in perfecting beautiful
shots. For instance a mode dial, a built in flash, and a shooting-options button also all rest on top
of a camera. The mode dial adjusts the settings of the camera to what it needs. The built-in flash
furnishes extra light in picture’s areas that lack certain lighting. The SOB or the shooting options
button sets a limited range of shooting functions externally (Taylor et al. 12). Each button on top
is necessary in order to keep a camera running well. These crucial buttons on top of the camera
allow photographers better and more efficient use of their time and shots.

When Paul, the humble servant of Christ, wrote in his epistle to the Corinthians about the
body and its many parts, he unknowingly wrote an analogy that applies to almost anything. This
analogy is applicable to cameras. These ingenious inventions consists of many parts that all pull
together and create artistic masterpieces with the aid of a photographer. Learning about the menu
button and all of its capabilities definitely provides one of the most key elements to photography.
The front, the back, and the top join together to help those who capture history behind the
screens work smoothly.

The next step in improving photography is choosing the right camera for a person. First
African President Nelson Mandela once said, “May your choices reflect your hopes, not your
fears.” Photographers sometimes struggle with choosing the correct camera to capture moments
they live out. Hopefully they choose their camera well informed and confident of a great buy and
instead of fearful and uncertain. Thankfully in this modern day and age stores overflow with
thousands of different options that range from cheapest to most expensive. Phone manufacturers
install cameras in their newest gadgets, shoot and bridge consumer cameras provide the next step
in professional photography at a hardly pricey cost, and finally DSLR and point and shoot
cameras take the photographer to the maximum level of experience. Multiple camera options
today allow photographers to choose freely the one with which they feel most comfortable, while
pushing them to greater shots.

As the cheapest and most convenient, most cell phones in the modern world capture
everyday moments with their built-in cameras capable of altering an image at the touch of a
button. In other words, iPhone cameras change and produce pictures of beauty with the
incredible apps stored on them. After shooting stunning sceneries or while perfecting a perfect
picture portrait, the Histamatic app found on the phone allows a photographer to choose from a
variety of different film and lens settings. The app and camera work together to form a picture
that ends with a powerful image. This app and others like it downloaded onto cameras produced
by the iPhone company allow capturing fun or in-the-moment and sporadic activities for
generations to remember. With the advance of technology, shooting pictures on an iPhone and

altering them only moments later allows everyday people the power to relive the moments they
most enjoyed.

For photographers just learning how to shoot, compact and bridge consumer cameras
provide an excellent learning opportunity. Basically, they deliver new photographers a relatively
inexpensive and transportable a camera for practice before they take the next step. These
cameras assist the photographer in control over different settings and exposures. This is
important because learning the basics of camera settings and the steps of altering a background
add a more professional appearance to an image. Photographers willing to take the next step to
becoming a professional but not willing to pay the price learn well on compact and bridge
consumer cameras.

The DSLR cameras photographers use in their work for magazines, books, or postcards
allow them a wide range of capabilities. Essentially, they are a long-term investment for those
who really enjoy shooting pictures. These cameras range from about $500-$1,000 in expense
since they consist of removable and replaceable lenses. The lenses present photographers with a
better chance of taking a stunning photograph of the object they shot at. For some photographers
the perks of a DSLR camera outweigh the cost and bolsters their confidence to buy such cameras
without any worry. A digital camera such as a DSLR camera allows its users multiple abilities
while shooting and capturing a picture.

The sibling to a DSLR camera allows a photographer with the ability to take close-up
pictures of an object of their choosing. Thus these cameras called point and shoot help aid its
user to design a perfect up-close picture at just a little more expensive price. In fact when shot in
macro mode, this camera allows the shooter the ability to take a close-up picture less than one
inch from the object at hand. This technique a photographer uses lets them take beautiful and
detailed images of their object. Point and shoot cameras relatively similar to DSLR cameras give
photographers the capability of shooting very close to subjects they choose.

Photographer’s hopes and aspirations, not fears and doubts, should be evident in the
camera they pick out. Modern day stores allow the buyer to choose from many different
varieties. Currently anyone interested in photography can pick from over a hundred different
options. These range from cameras implanted in iPhones to large bulky ones called DSLR or
point and shoot. Lastly but not least finding a camera that fits in a photographer’s budget is
certainly one of the most important parts of photography. Nelson Mandela’s quote, “May your
choices reflect your hopes, not your fears,” should help encourage photographers to go big or go
home when they choose theirs.

Lastly, camera people can benefit from a number of useful tips. Picture pointers play
crucial parts in photography in order to obtain stunning images that captivate their audience.
Discovering the right setting for a photo-op before hand allows those taking the shots more time
to perfect the end product. Timing also plays an incredible part of creating a gorgeous scrapbook
keepsake. Finding how a person best takes shots allows the photographer freedom to shoot
without any worries. Tips help assist camera people in capturing the most excellent image that
they can.

Photographers shooting pictures carefully, plan where they snap their image. In other
words, the location sets the stage for either an uninteresting picture or a powerful portrait. The
video Photography for Dummies tells its viewers, “Photograph a person in a comfortable setting,
and shoot outside in natural light or inside near a window.” Shooting in a comfortable setting

relaxes the person getting his or her picture taken. Taking a picture outside in the sunlight or
inside by a window gives the picture a more natural appearance. Where a picture gets taken,

determines the quality of the image.
Planning the perfect time to capture a picture, helps give the photographer the ability to

shoot it without any worrying. Basically, time affects a picture’s quality. Many photography
books explain to their readers that they should not shoot in the midday sunlight (Photography

for). Other articles make it clear that pictures taken near a window need to have the blinds rolled
up and the lights turned on (Taylor et al. 13). Pictures shot in mid-afternoon sunlight cause their

object to squint their eyes and cast a shadow on them. Keeping the blinds up and the lights on
gives the image more natural light. Determining before hand when to snap a picture allows the

person taking the shot the necessary time to capture the photograph without worrying about
lighting, shadows, or other factors that would hinder a beautiful image from being taken.

The most important part of photography lies in the capability of taking a clear and
pristine picture of an object. In the end, photography is about snapping an incredible image that
leaves an impact on its viewers. Numerous books tell their readers, “Find a focal point without
merging items coming out of a person’s body, use direct eye contact, and show a person’s
personality (Photography for). Another piece of advice tells future photographers, “Move the
camera with your object.” Finding a focal point with no merging items coming out of the object
being captured keeps it from having multiple limbs throughout its body or numerous protrusions
from its head. Using direct contact and showing a person’s personality helps present the picture
as a more meaningful image. Moving the camera with the subject allows the object to appear

frozen and its scenery blurred. Using different techniques in photography helps create unique and
beautiful images.

Information gathered from better photographers allows their juniors to learn how to shoot
better pictures. Setting the right location gives a remarkable background that transforms a picture

from boring to exciting. The timeframe in which images are shot also present the photograph in a
more professional appearance. Finding out the best methods for certain camera shots helps clear

up pictures even more than before. Most importantly allowing a person to choose the setting they
want to be photographed allows them to relax much more and let the picture feel more intimate.

Taking and capturing photographs is an expedition that takes years and years to perfect.
Finding incredible sceneries to take pictures in front of require time and patience but in the long
run definitely improves a picture’s end creation. Discovering the right camera for an individual
requires an understanding of what camera a person’s capabilities and budget can handle. Seeking
out golden nuggets of information about photography greatly improves photographer’s end
products. Finally, the greatest important detail about photography is that this field’s job requires

hard work that pays off in the in the end usually in the form of a gorgeous memory. Even though

photography requires practice, patience, and perseverance, it certainly makes up for it in the form
of a memory that lasts a lifetime.

Works Cited
Adam. So App Shots. Chronicle Books, 2012.
Digital Cameras and Photography for dummies, Cynthia Kay and Company Media Productions
Taylor, David. Digital Photography: Complete Course. DK Publishing, 2015.
Life Application Study Bible: New Living Translation. New International Version ed., Tyndale
House Publishers, 2009.
“Nelson Mandela Quotes.”Legends Quotes, 6 May 2016, legendsquotes.com/2016/05/06/nelson-
mandela-quotes-4/.

Bibliography
Bronkhorst, Adam. So App Shots. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2012
Digital Cameras and Photography for Dummies, Cynthia Kay and Company Media Productions.
Taylor, David. Digital Photography: Complete Course. DK Publishing, 2015.
Fagans, Micheal. The Iphone Photographer: How to take Professional Photographs. Amherst
Media. 2015
Life Application Study Bible: New Living Translation. New International Version ed., Tyndale
House Publishers, 2009.

“Nelson Mandela Quotes.”Legends Quotes, 6 May 2016, legendsquotes.com/2016/05/06/nelson-

mandela-quotes-4/.

Emelia F.

Hello, my name is Emelia. I am 16 years old and a sophomore in high school. My mom
has homeschooled me since Kindergarten. I live in Northern CA with my parents and two
younger sisters. I enjoy playing the piano for church and accompanying soloists. When I am not
busy with schoolwork or piano practice, I enjoy reading books on health and history. My
favorite essay this year was on woman musicians. I enjoyed learning how they helped pave the
way for women musicians after them. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me next
year.

Three Remarkable Women and Their Influence on Music

Music floats softly through the air. Shivers run down your spine as you stop and listen to
the beautiful classical music. Instantaneously, a list of possible composers races through your
head. Could it be Bach or Beethoven, or maybe Mozart? Most people naturally think of the
male composers first. After all, you have probably heard of at least one or two of them from an
early age. But men were not the only ones to compose stunning pieces. Although rarely
mentioned, a few brave women put their pens to paper and composed music in a society
dominated by men. Even though composing went against the cultural norm, a few determined
women did not let that stop them from making their mark in the history of classical music.

Elisabeth-Claude Jacquet de la Guerre was a classical musician born in the 1600’s. The
society in which she lived did not deem it appropriate for women to live public lives. However,
this remarkable woman nurtured her talent for music and consequently helped pave the road
for woman musicians and composers who came after her. Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre was
one of those brave pioneers in music history who did not let her gender keep her from doing
what she loved best.

Music played an important part of Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre’s childhood and teen
years. Since many of her family members were musicians, it was not surprising that she
followed their example. Elisabeth’s Father and two brothers were organists (The Famous
People). Her grandfather and father were also skilled harpsichord makers. As respected
artisans, Elisabeth’s family had built connections with the nobility. No doubt this helped her
gain the audience of the King, for at the age of twelve, she sang a song in honor of King Louis
XIV. A few years later, she gained employment as a musician to one of the King’s mistresses.
Elisabeth’s sister, Ann, worked there as well. Interestingly, musicians working for King Louis
XIV’s mistresses also worked as bedroom maids, and Elisabeth and Ann were no exception
(Beer 90-93). Because of her family’s influence, Elisabeth’s career as a musician began early in
her life. If she had not had the example of the musicians in her family or been recognized by the
King, Elisabeth might not have started her musical career until later in life, or never started it at
all. Fortunately, Elisabeth’s early life was centered around music.

Besides being a young and talented musician, Elisabeth introduced composing to her list
of accomplishments. As would be expected, writing music in the 1600’s was no easy task. First,

Elisabeth would have to make a quill from either the feathers of a goose or a swan, depending
on how much money was available. Every day the quill required resharpening and needed to be
replaced each week. Making ink was typically a woman’s job, which meant that Elisabeth must
add that chore to the long process of writing music. Sand was used to dry the ink, and a coal
stove under her desk helped speed up the drying process. That left only a few seconds for
Elisabeth to correct any mistakes (Beer 114-115). Because writing music was a laborious and
time-consuming process, every piece of music written was that much more special. A composer
could not sit down at a keyboard and have every note they played recorded and electronically
written down. It required hours sitting at a desk and probably many discarded copies before a
mistake-free copy was produced. Composing music required a lot more work for Elisabeth then
simply thinking up a tune.

Elisabeth accomplished many firsts with her music. Some of those included two operas
that she composed. One of her operas was an opera ballet, which was the first of its kind in
France. The other piece was the first opera authored by a woman in the same country.
Unfortunately, the second opera was not well received. It is to be expected that Elisabeth was
proud of her accomplishments, especially her opera ballet. For example, in the dedication to
the king, Elisabeth wrote:

[Those previous] signs of my devotion seemed to me insufficient and I longed for an
opportunity to express my devotion publicly. That is what led me to compose this Ballet
for the Theatre. Women have already given excellent pieces of poetry therein, which have
been most successful. But so far, none has attempted to set a whole opera to music; and I
take that advantage for my undertaking, that the more extraordinary it is, the more
worthy it is of you, Sire, and the more it authorizes the liberty I take in presenting this
work to you. (Beer 103-104)
Elisabeth understood the significance her opera ballet had in the history of women composers.
In fact, she could hardly keep the pride that she felt from making an appearance in her
dedication. In everything there is a first, and someone must find the courage to accomplish that
goal. Elisabeth did just that. She overcame the hardships and became the first person to write
an opera ballet in France. Elisabeth was also the first French woman to write an opera.

Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre earned her place in the history of female composers by
continuing to write music, even if it was not considered her place as a woman. She was a lesson
to all female composers after her by sticking with it and doing what she loved best in a society
that was a lot more restrictive than it is today. Furthermore, with the support and
encouragement of her family, Elisabeth accomplished many firsts in her career as a female
composer. Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre did not let failures or social restrictions hold her back.

Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, another woman who greatly contributed to the world of
music, was born on November 14, 1805 in Hamburg, Germany, as the oldest child of Lea and
Abraham Mendelssohn. She was the older sister of the great composer Felix Mendelssohn.

While many people are familiar with Felix, not many know of his equally talented sister. The
French composer Charles Gounod once said of her: “Mrs. Hensel was an extremely learned
musician and played the piano very well. Despite her small, slight figure she was a woman of
excellent intellect and full of energy that could be read in her deep, fiery eyes. Along with all
this she was an extremely talented pianist…”(“Fanny Hensel”). Unfortunately, while her family
encouraged her to compose, they did not want her performing in public and publishing her
music. Fanny did not let the opposition laid on her by family and friends discourage her.

As a child, Fanny Mendelssohn was already quite a talented musician. She was
encouraged to use her talent until around the age of 14. As a child, both Fanny and Felix were
given music lessons from the same teachers and “push[ed] [...] to excel” by their father,
Abraham Mendelssohn. However, a few years later he told Fanny: “Music will perhaps become
[Felix’s] profession, whilst for you it can and must only be an ornament [Zierde], never the root
[Grundbass] of your being and doing.” Gender was the underlying reason Abraham
Mendelssohn did not approve of Fanny pursuing a public musical career. Interestingly, had the
Mendelssohns been part of a lower class, Fanny might have been able to become known to the
public, but as her family was well-to-do, there was no need for her to earn money from
performing concerts and publishing music (Beer 159-162). Fanny was blessed with an incredible
ability, but because her family was affluent, she was discouraged from publicly sharing her
talent. Nevertheless, if her family had need of the extra income, Fanny might have publicly
performed her music. Although she was dissuaded from using her talent to its full potential,
Fanny was a very accomplished musician.

When Fanny was a little older, the accomplished young musician began composing. In
order to circumvent the social laws of the time, a few of Fanny’s pieces were actually published
under her brother Felix’s name. This fact led to a rather embarrassing situation for Felix. He was
invited to Buckingham Palace and received by Queen Victoria. The Queen told Felix that she
would sing him her favorite song that he had composed. To Felix’s embarrassment, the queen
commenced to sing a song that Fanny, not he, had composed. Felix had to confess that while
the piece was published in his name, his sister was the actual author (“Fanny Mendelssohn
Hensel”)! However, not all of Fanny’s music was published under her brother’s name. In fact, a
year before she died, Fanny began to have her works printed, and her brother published a few
more of her pieces after her death (“Fanny Hensel”). Fanny was able to work around some of
the cultural restrictions placed upon women in that culture. Most importantly, she did not let
those restrictions discourage her from doing what she enjoyed. That is a very important lesson
for everyone, but especially young girls. Fanny did not let the restrictions placed upon her
because of her gender prohibit her from composing. Fanny used her talents and wrote music
for the world to enjoy.

While it is easy to only think of Fanny as a composer and musician, she balanced that
with the roles given to a woman of her time. She was able to continue her work as a musician at

the same time as taking care of her own family. Fanny had a very close relationship with her
talented brother Felix. The two would frequently exchange music they had written. In fact,
Fanny and Felix were so close that Fanny’s husband, Wilhelm, wondered if there was even
room in her life for a husband (Beer 167-168). When she gave birth to her only child, Fanny
named him Sebastian Ludwig Felix Hensel after three prominent composers; Johann Sebastian
Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, and, naturally, her brother, Felix Mendelssohn (Beer 171). While
Fanny found it difficult to compose after her son was born, she slowly returned to her work,
showing that music was important to her. Although Fanny did settle down and start a family,
she still loved music, which is apparent by her son’s name! It is also made known by the fact
that she still composed after her son was born. Although there were challenges in being both a
musician and mother, Fanny was able to excel in both areas.

Despite her family’s disapproval, Fanny did not become discouraged, but continued in
her musical journey. Through her life, Fanny kept accomplishing bigger and bigger feats for a
woman composer of her time. When you hear the name “Mendelssohn,” does it bring to your
mind only the talented composer Felix, or does the name now trigger thoughts of his equally
talented sister as well? Even though she is not as recognized as her younger brother, Fanny
Mendelssohn Hensel deserves to be remembered as an amazing child protegee, talented
composer, and devoted wife, mother, and sister.

Clara Wieck, who was born in September, 1819 to Frederich and Marianne Wieck, is yet
another example of a woman who had an immense impact on music. She later married the
composer Robert Schumann. At a time when women were not encouraged to pursue public
careers, this remarkable young woman, with her father’s support, demonstrated to the world
that women are capable of having successful musical careers. Through lots of hard work and
determination, Clara Wieck Schumann became a well-known female composer.

Clara’s father played a prominent role in her life. Although he appears to have been
controlling at times, she learned many things from him. Clara’s father taught Clara himself and
also arranged for her to have lessons with some of the prominent musicians of the time (Reich
33-34). His main purpose in teaching her was to make her into a virtuoso so that he could show
the world what Friedrich Wieck could do (Reich 38, 43). Clara started performing publicly at the
young age of nine (Beer 207). Her father collected all the money earned from her concerts
because he believed that as Clara’s teacher and concertmaster, he was entitled to the money
(Reich 55). Furthermore, he was legally entitled to the money not only because he was her
father, but also because at that time women were not allowed to keep money they earned.
Friedrich Wieck’s motives behind educating his daughter appear selfish, from trying to become
recognized to keeping the money she earned. Unfortunately, that was the society into which
Clara Wieck was born. Although she was limited because of her gender, Clara was able to keep
cultivating her amazing talents. Despite her Father’s seemingly selfish motives, he provided
Clara with an excellent musical education.

The fact that Clara was a virtuoso gave her many unique opportunities in life. She
became friends with many-well known instrumentalists and composers of her time and was
able to teach many promising young musicians. Remarkably, her first student was her younger
brother Alwin. She started teaching him when she was only twelve years old because her father
believed every virtuoso should know how to teach. Clara was good friends with her students.
She tried to be a parental figure to them, which is a sign of an exceptional teacher (Reich 307).
A former student of Clara’s, Adelina de Lara, considered it a “great privilege” to study under
her. (de Lara 143). Also, Clara surrounded herself with musicians such as Johannes Brahms,
Frédéric Chopin, and Felix Mendelssohn (Reich 196, 215, 229). Additionally, she thought highly
of the composer Fanny Hensel and even considered moving to be close to her in Berlin. Clara
considered Fanny “undoubtedly the most distinguished [woman] musician of her time[...]”
(Beer 240). Clara’s friends fulfilled a need that her family could not (Reich 214). Likewise, her
students provided her with an opportunity to not only share the skills she had acquired, but
also to develop her teaching skills. Clara’s natural ability toward music provided her with many
opportunities not readily available to others.

In addition to her other unique opportunities, Clara performed publicly. Her concerts
were less of a showcase of her achievements then entertainment for her audience. The tutor of
the duke of Weimar once wrote of Clara in a letter; “[...] [S]he feels what she plays and knows
how to express it; under her fingers the piano takes on color and life;[..]” (Reich 51). Besides
feeling what she was playing, Clara also planned her programs to fit the audience, a practice
that was passed on to her by her father (Reich 277). In a letter to her fiance, Robert Schumann,
Clara asked him to “[...] compose something brilliant and easy to understand,[...] not to long
and not to short? [...] something that suits the audience[...]” She acknowledged that “it is
indeed humiliating for a genius, but policy demands it for once” (Reich 276-277). Clara found
success in playing what her audience wanted to hear. From the expression in her playing to the
song selections, Clara always kept the audience’s interests in mind even if it meant not
showcasing the best of her abilities. Clara’s expressive playing and thoughtful performances
helped to make her concerts well received.

Clara worked hard and quickly became a well-known composer. Even though she was a
woman, Clara performed and composed, accomplishments that were not common for women
in her day. By simply being herself and following her passion, Clara helped to break down the
prejudice against women musicians. Because of her father’s dream, Clara was given many
unique opportunities in life, from the friends she was able to surround herself with to being
able to perform publicly. Clara was truly a remarkable and talented musician.

Women have not always been welcomed into the world of musicians, but a few brave
women persevered and made their mark in the history of classical music. Three of those
pioneers in music history were Elisabeth-Claude Jacquet de la Guerre, Fanny Hensel, and Clara
Schumann. These three women, along with all the others that followed their dreams and

cultivated their talents, were met with disapproval by society. These women did not let the lack
of support prevent them from building their musical career and so paved the way for female
musicians after them. As the Canadian politician Charlotte Whitton once said, “We all have
ability. The difference is how we use it” (Charlotte Whitton). Instead of keeping their abilities
and talents for their own enjoyment and that of their families, these women persevered and
used their talent to the best of their abilities. By so doing, these women paved the way for
other female musicians to pursue their dreams.

Works Cited
“Charlotte Whitton Quotes.” BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2018. 20 April 2018.

www.brainyquote.com/quotes/charlotte_whitton_119236
“Clara, Schumann.” Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia.com,

www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/historians-miscellaneous-biographies/clara-

schumann.
De Lara, Adelina. “Clara Schumann’s Teaching.” Music and Letters, Volume XXVI, Issue 3, 1

July 1945, Pages 143-147, academic.oup.com/ml/article-

abstract/XXVI/3/143/1134415?RedirectedFrom=PDF.
Editors, TheFamousPeople.com. “Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel Biography.” The Famous People,

Famous People, 7 Nov. 2017, www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/fanny-mendelssohn

-hensel-387.php.
“Fanny Hensel Biografie.” www.fannyhensel.de/hensel_eng/bio_frame.htm.

Bibliography
Cypess, Rebecca. “Elisabeth-Claude Jacquet de la Guerre: French musician.” Encyclopædia

Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 5 Nov. 2012,
www.britannica.com/biography/Elisabeth-Claude-Jacquet-de-la-Guerre.
Editors, Encyclopædia Britannica. “Fanny Mendelssohn: German musician and composer.”
Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, 20 July. 1998, www.britannica.com/
biography/Fanny-Mendelssohn.
Editors, TheFamousPeople.com. “Elisabeth-Claude Jacquet De La Guerre Biography.” The
Famous People.com, Famous People, 6 Oct. 2017,
www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/elisabeth-claude-jacquet-de-la-guerre-470.php.
Morrison, Chris. “Elizabeth-Claude Jacquet de la Guerre.” AllMusic, AllMusic
www.allmusic.com/artist/elizabeth-claude-jacquet-de-la-guerre-mn0001789329/biography.

Marianne G.

Hello, everyone; I’m Marianne. I am finishing out my sophomore year in high school
right now and will be attending a local community college full-time starting this fall. I am
working towards becoming a veterinarian which means that I spend my time showing my cats
at the fair, puppy-sitting dogs in my backyard, and helping my neighbor out with her horses. My
favorite class I am taking right now is chemistry. I love learning all of the detailed science
behind the experiments I have been privileged to do. Just last week I electroplated copper from
a penny onto a quarter! My favorite thing to write this year was the compare and contrast
essay. I chose to talk about Alaskan malamutes and Siberian huskies because everyone calls my
malamute a husky. I enjoyed this assignment because I learned a multitude about each breed
through the research phase and then writing the essay.

The Perfect Fit: The Alaskan Malamute or the Siberian Husky
You see a dog in the distance and start to wonder about its breed. Its wolf-like coat is
grey with white, and it pulls on its leash like its late for an appointment. It’s a larger dog and
appears quite friendly. The question comes down to, “Is it a husky, or is it a malamute?” Many
would assume that the dog is a Siberian husky because they are the 12th most popular dog
according to the American Kennel Club’s rankings where Alaskan malamutes only rank 59th. But
by that description, it could be either breed. Both breeds share many traits, but they hold
differences in their breed standards, their history, and their temperaments.
Alaskan malamutes and Siberian huskies have many similarities in their characteristics,
but they also have defining differences. Although many people get them confused by their
similarities, you can usually tell them apart on looks alone. Both breeds have thick coats with
lengthy guard hairs and dense undercoats. In addition, both breeds can have brown eyes and
coats that come in grey, black, white, sable or red. The differences between their colorings are
that malamutes can only come in those colors and always have lots of white in their coat
whereas huskies can come in any coat colors and can eye colors range from various shades of
blue to brown. Their size and build are very contrasting. Siberian huskies range from 35 through
60 pounds on average and are midsized athletic-build dogs. Alaskan malamutes are 75 pounds
or more with “giants” easily weighing 150 pounds. The Alaskan malamute build is also more
muscular and bulkier. Physically the Alaskan malamute and Siberian husky can be mistaken but
are also easily identifiable through their differences. Their wolf-like coats are very alike, but
their colorings and builds are what sets them apart from each other. The similarities of the two
breeds are beautiful, but their differences are what makes them unique.
Although it may seem like Alaskan malamutes and Siberian huskies are practically
family, they are not closely related. Their history is mirror-like but also distinctly different from
one another. Both breeds were developed to be working sled dogs and are thought to have
come from Siberia. The difference lies in that Alaskan malamutes’ forebears crossed the land
bridge to Alaska thousands of years ago, and Siberian huskies are thought to have developed
after that and only arrived in Alaska in 1908 during the gold rush. Both dogs were used for
carrying supplies, but malamutes were also used to hunt seals and chase away polar bears.
Another impactful difference is that Siberian huskies throughout all of this were built for speed
and fast transportation where malamutes were built for strength and stamina. Each breed was
officially recognized in the 1930’s by the American Kennel Club as distinctly different breeds.
The history of each breed has many similarities but also shows that they split off from their

ancestors long ago. Both breeds retained characteristics from the split, but they also developed
very different body types due to their use. A Siberian husky’s frame resembles race dogs like
greyhounds whereas an Alaskan malamute’s frame is sturdier and is closer to a pit bull’s. Both
breeds have their own distinct history but share many details.

Huskies and malamutes share many personality traits, but they also have some
differences in their temperaments. In fact, they may not both fit the same family’s lifestyle.
Both breeds are very friendly and love people which can make them bad guard dogs. In
addition, both dog breeds are very intelligent, but tend to be independent. Neither breed tends
to bark, but huskies howl lots. Malamutes may howl on occasion but are more known to make a
trademarked “woo woo” sound. Each breed has tons of energy, but huskies tend to need more
exercise to stay healthy. Huskies and malamutes can both be very destructive, but malamutes
rarely are unless they become bored. Lastly, malamutes are known to have a high prey drive
and may have problems with cats, small dogs, and other small animals. Malamutes and huskies
are both loving and intelligent dogs but have distinct personalities. They have different needs
which makes each breed the perfect dog for different families. Both breeds are lovely dogs but
also have very diverse personalities.

The similarities between huskies and malamutes may get them confused sometimes,
but the differences in their characteristics, their history, and their behavior is what makes them
stand apart. Physically, each breed is distinguished through their size, their colors, and their
build. Historically each breed was used for different jobs with different people which impacted
everything we see today with the breeds. And finally, each breed has its own temperament and
lifestyle. Siberian huskies and Alaskan malamutes are both wonderful dogs that can make a
great addition to someone’s life. Each breed may not be the perfect fit for everyone, but it is
what makes them different that really can make one breed the perfect fit for someone.



Taylor G.

Hello, my name is Taylor, and this is my third-year attending Write for Success with Mrs.
Empfield. I’m a junior in high school and will be turning seventeen this summer. This is my
seventh year homeschooling, and I have enjoyed every year of it. I play baseball for a team
called SWCHA Saints. They’re an organization that has multiple sports teams with all
homeschoolers on them. In my free time I hang out with friends, play baseball, or play video
games on my computer. Because where I work is only a fifteen-minute bike ride away,
whenever it’s nice out, I get a little extra exercise in. I especially enjoyed writing the essay on
exercising because of how important it is for everyone to do daily.

Exercising

Since forever, exercising has been beneficial to your body both physically and mentally.
You may think lifting weights and running only increases your strength and stamina; however, it
also positively effects your mental state. Weightlifting increases your strength while also
teaching you discipline and staying on track. Cardio has a similar effect as weight lifting,
although instead it enhances your ability to run farther and for longer. Keeping a workout
schedule can also greatly assist you in staying on track and not losing focus. Sticking to a
schedule can also teach you to manage your time wisely. Exercising has been and always will
be beneficial to your body and mind.

Weight lifting can improve your strength tremendously; however, there are just a few
guidelines to make it all the more better. Having the right access to equipment makes your
workout safer and much more enjoyable. Also, choosing a weight lifting style that will give you
both results and help you to gain strength is a key necessity. The last thing that is most
important when lifting weights if to know your limits. All of these things will make your weight
lifting experience more effective and enjoyable.

Having access to the right equipment is very important for the weight lifting portion of
your workout. Being able to lift with the correct gear can make your workout much more
enjoyable. Using 'homemade' weights or things you find around your house to lift may work;
however it won't be as smooth of a workout as you might like. Because these homemade
weights are often cumbersome and the weight is not distributed correctly, you could injure
yourself. Normal, professional weights are secured and have specific weight amount, while
homemade weights you can only guess how much the object actually weighs. It is much more
enjoyable to work out when you have the correct equipment, and the chance of injuring
yourself with the wrong gear is very high. Getting access to the right equipment is very key to a
successful weight lifting workout.

There are many different styles of lifting weights; however the one recommended is the
three set, two repetition degression. Your workout consists of ten repetitions, done three
times, except every set you do two less reps while putting on more weight. For example, if you
were doing bench press, you would lift the bar ten times on your first set, eight times on your
second set, and 6 times on your final set. After every set you would add ten more pounds to
each side of the bar. This specific process of adding more weight while doing fewer repetitions
increases your strength while not pushing you too far. The way you choose to lift weights is

very important because if you do it wrong, you may not get results and possibly end up injuring
yourself.

When using heavy weights, it is very important that you know how much you can lift
before hurting yourself. Many people go into a workout all hyped up and end up lifting more
than their body can handle at that point in their training, taking them out of the gym for more
than a week at a time. For example, you could have just watched a video of Arnold
Schwarzenegger lifting weights, and you decide to try and do the same. You head to your local
gym and turn on some music. The next thing you know, the bar you are benching with is falling
on top of you because you did not have a spotter, having never lifted before. You can know
that you’re lifting too much weight if either you can’t lift it, or you’re struggling to use it on the
first repetition. Not being able to lift after you've been off for more than three days could set
you back to square one; therefore, staying safe is your main priority. Weightlifting can be very
beneficial to your body; however knowing your limits ensures you gain strength while making
sure you don't hurt yourself in the process.

Lifting weight can improve your strength tremendously. Having access to the correct
equipment can be key to a successful workout. Choosing a lifting style that is comfortable for
you and gives you results can be the deciding factor in whether you gain strength sooner or
later. Also, knowing your limits and not hurting yourself while lifting is something you should
always keep in mind. Weightlifting comes with some guidelines; however, it's a fantastic
exercise to do when looking to gain strength.

Cardio exercises are another essential part of your everyday workout that will help you
stay energized and focused. What you choose to do for the next day depends on what you did
the previous day for your workout. Also, stretching before a workout can greatly decrease the
chance of getting cramps afterwards. In time you'll notice you have much more stamina then
when you started out, allowing you to run farther and faster. Adding cardio into your regular
exercises can help maintain energy and mood.

There are many different ways to exercise when doing cardio. They're all great for
doing cardio; it just depends on what you feel like doing and what you've done recently. For
example, if you ran outside for a mile or so yesterday, you might want to try sprinting or going
on an elliptical the next day. Switching up how you do cardio ensures that your body doesn't
get too comfortable doing the same thing day after day. Your body gets used to doing the same
thing over and over; therefore, changing it up will keep you sore after every workout. There
are many ways you can exercise cardio-wise; however, switching it up does help a lot.

Stretching before you exercise helps your muscles to warm up, preventing cramps later
on after you've done your workout. Most of the time when you don't stretch before a cardio
exercise, hours later after sitting for a little while, moving your legs will give you tremendous
cramps. Suppose you played several baseball games that were played back to back, so
sometimes you didn't have time to stretch. After all those games and not stretching before

each of them, if you decided to go out to eat after or watch a movie, you'd find almost even
moving your legs a little bit would give you painful cramps. Stretching prepared your muscles
for the workout ahead, instead of just jumping into it unprepared. Before every workout,
stretching is something everyone should do to prevent painful cramps afterwards.

As you progress through your cardio workout exercises, you'll notice the stamina you
are building up in the process. This means you can run for longer without getting out of breath
and can sprint faster for longer. You probably started out only being able to walk a mile a day.
Then after a while realized you had more energy at the end of the mile and could still walk
farther than the previous week. Being able to run for longer and faster is a great thing that can
help you in your everyday life. Building up stamina increases your ability to run and do things
that require energy for longer and faster.

While weight lifting may be a good for your muscles, cardio helps you have a positive
mood and maintain energy throughout the day. What you choose to do for your cardio one day
alters depending on what you did the previous day. Also, stretching before you begin your daily
routine will help prevent very painful cramps. Overtime, you'll notice an increase in your ability
to run farther and for longer. This all might seem a little overwhelming; however, breaking it
down into a weekly schedule will help you stay on track.

Creating and being consistent with a weekly and daily workout schedule will help you to
not lose focus and to stay on track. Using an alarm on your phone or watch will get you in the
habit of working out at the same time every day. Never missing a day of exercising assists
tremendously in showing results faster. You may lose interest after a while; however, there is a
way to overcome this. While you probably don't want to, forming a weekly workout schedule
will greatly help in the long run

Setting a time every day to workout will get you in the habit of never missing an
opportunity to exercise. You'll be more motivated to work out simply because, if you don't, it'll
throw you off from your usual schedule. For example, instead of sitting down and watching TV
after work, go straight to the gym or for a run. Set an alarm on your phone or watch and make
sure you can hear it. This will remind you every day at the set time to work out. Getting used
to exercising at the same time every day will train your mind to actually want to hit the gym or
jog in the fresh morning air. Creating a set time (doesn't matter when) will greatly assist you to
never pass up an opportunity to work out.

Making sure you stick to the weekly schedule you've created for yourself is very
important. Consistently working out and following your plan will motivate you to check off
your exercise for the day. For instance, while you’re playing on your computer after a hard day
at work, you might say to yourself you deserve some downtime. However, your brain was
probably working while your body was just sitting in a chair (unless you have a more physically
demanding job) doing nothing. Therefore, technically your body hasn’t done any work all day.
Your body needs to work out every day to maintain what you've previously done and to

succeed in the future. Making and most importantly keeping on top of your schedule helps
keep you on track no matter what else is going on around you.

Losing interest in exercising is something everyone that attempts to work out goes
through. If you don't feel like lifting weights or running for a day or two in a row, that's
perfectly normal. At one point during your weekly workout, you just won't want to, which will
lead to not wanting to do it the next day or the next day. This will lead to not having exercised
for the past week, and on and on. Something that really helps is to just do it anyway. It does
not matter if you don’t feel like it. Walk, drive, or bike to the gym and start working out.
Sticking to your schedule will eliminate this downward spiral of not working out, although it is
okay to take off for a day, two maximum. Everyone loses interest at some point. How you
bounce back and get back in the action is what counts. Losing interest in exercising can easily
crush your workout spirit; however,r with enough effort you can get back on schedule and in
the game.

When it comes to working out, keeping a weekly and daily schedule keeps you on track
and focused. Making sure you set a time every day to visit the gym or go for a run will get you
in the habit and mindset of not forgetting to exercise for a single day. Staying up to date with
the schedule you've created to excel in the coming weeks will ensure results faster. While
losing interest in something every person trying to workout goes through, toughing it out and
not stopping to take a break is the best way to beat it. The schedule you create (doesn't matter
if it's even just one day a week to start off with) keeps you focused on your main goal of why
you exercise at all, so you're more motivated and you stay on track throughout.

Exercising, no matter how you choose to do it, benefits every part of your body, and it
also creates a more positive mood. If you've ever felt depleted of energy even though you're
getting enough sleep, it's most likely because you haven't been moving around and getting your
heart pumping enough. While you may not feel like it, just forcing yourself to get up off the
couch and go to the gym is the best way to get into the habit of working out. It doesn't come
easily; however, creating and sticking to a daily or weekly schedule helps tremendously to give
you the motivation you need. Exercising should be a daily thing even if you think that you don't
need it. Working out helps your entire body to maintain balance and positivity to get though
everyday life.

Bibliography
“7 Great Reasons Why Exercise Matters.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education

and Research, 13 Oct. 2016, www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-
depth/exercise/art-20048389.
“How to Start (and Keep) a Consistent Workout Schedule.” 12 Minute Athlete, 21 Apr. 2017,
www.12minuteathlete.com/keep-a-workout-schedule/.
Munoz, Kissairis. “11 Benefits of Exercise: Start Working Out Today!” Dr. Axe, 4 Dec. 2017,
www.draxe.com/benefits-of-exercise/.
Waehner, Paige. “An Overview of Weight Training.” Verywell Fit, www.verywell.com/weight-
training-4014627.
Waehner, Paige. “How Beginners Can Get Started With Cardio.” Verywell Fit,
www.verywell.com/exercise-for-beginners-cardio-exercise-1229578.

Elizabeth H.

Hi, my name is Elizabeth H., and I am a 17-year-old junior in high school. One of my
favorite things to do is be creative. I love taking one thing and changing it into something
completely different. For example, taking a large piece of fabric and turning it into clothes or
using an array of paper, scissors, and other notions to form a special card for someone else.
There are many other types of projects that I enjoy. In addition, I love spending time with my
family whether it is playing a game or relaxing and watching a movie. Gladly, I attend my church
youth group on a regular basis. One of my favorite writing assignment this year was a compare
and contrast essay about acting on a stage verses in a movie.

Acting is Acting

As noted by the New York Film Academy, “Moving between theatre and film can be
equated to a painter who moves between acrylics and watercolors.” In other words, the actor’s
core skills remain the same whether they are acting on a stage or on a screen. However, there are
differences between acting in a play and acting in a movie. The main differences between acting
on a stage versus acting on a set are the atmosphere around the set, the actual performance, and
the types of scripts.

The atmosphere during the production of plays and films is vastly different. For instance,
plays have a calmer environment whereas movie sets are quite hectic as the production is
evolving. For example, when attending a play, after securing a ticket and receiving a program,
audience members finds their seat from which they will be enjoying the wonderful world of
theater. While waiting patiently for the performance to start, they flip through the program and
read the names of all the people who made this play possible. The lights dim and the curtains rise
as the performers take the audience on a journey. Sadly, the last scene of a play is eventually
eloquently delivered. A roar of clapping begins, and the audience forms a standing ovation. The
people who made the play a success step into the center stage to take a bow. The audience by
now has put faces to the names they found in the program. They have a visible picture of who
worked so hard to make the play a reality. All the while, on the other side of town, people pour
into a movie theater with ticket stubs in hand. They too settle into their seats as the previews
light up the huge screen. A similar sensation occurs as the light dims as they too are transported
to a different world. After the enjoyment has ended, credits glide down the screen. A long credits
sequence shows the names of the people who worked to make the script come alive. Both plays
and movies have a way to recognize the people who made the stories come to life. However,
there is one main difference which is the length. Obviously, there are fewer people working
behind the scenes of a play than a movie. The bigger crew in movies causes the set of movies to
be more chaotic, and the interactions on set can be more impersonal. Productions, on the other
hand, have a more relaxed atmosphere, and with fewer people, it is easier to meet everyone
involved (“New York”). While the surrounding of the production of plays and movies are
different, they both send the audience on an amazing journey.

The audience-actor interaction changes drastically between productions and films. Actors
acting in plays can see instantaneously the audience’s reaction, but movie actors have to wait
until the movie comes out to know what people think about it. For example, when an actor says a
joke while performing, they automatically receive the reaction of the crowd. They will either be
greeted with roaring laugher from the audience or by silence from an unknowing crowd. An

actor does not know what reaction to expect because for one show people might be laughing and
for another show they might give blank stares. This can easily throw actors off causing them to
mess up their next line. An upside is that the audience reactions can also give the actors energy
making them perform even better. Conversely, when filming a movie there is no audience to feed
off of, only the people on set. This in some ways can be helpful, but that same energy from the
crowd is lost. Although they will not be thrown off by an unknown audience reaction. There are
plus and minuses between performing on a stage and performing behind a camera. Ultimately,
this diversity is a key difference between the two types of acting. This difference changes the
skill set used. A stage actor has to learn to feed off the audience but not be distracted by it. A
movie actor has to learn to draw in the audience even though they cannot see it face to face. How
actors relate to their audience changes between movie and stage production.

People often come to plays expecting a certain story whereas people do not know exactly
what to expect of a movie. The same play script is performed by many people all over the world
but movies usually have a whole new script that no one has ever seen before. This means when
acting in a play one cannot differ from the script too much because the audience will notice.
Alternatively, movie actors can develop the character and adjust the script more freely. For
example, The Adams family has been performed so many times that if someone wanted to
portray Wednesday as always cheerful the audience would be upset because it changes the play
entirely. However, if during the production of a movie an actor decides to change a character’s
personality, the audience would never know. Stage actors have a different goal than movie
actors when preparing for a roll. A stage actor wants to live up to the character’s identity while
putting their own slight spin on it. Conversely, it is a movie actor’s job to create an iconic
character. He or she, in turn, can develop the character and put more of his or her own
personality into the character. (“New York”). Stage actors learn to uniquely portray beloved
characters while movie actors create the traits of new characters.

The environment surrounding the production of play and movies differs a well as in the
execution, and as audience’s familiarity with the script. Because there is a large number of
people on a movie set, it is naturally more chaotic than a theater production’s set. The execution
from stage to screen changes depending on whether the audience is live or not. The goal alters
depending on if an actor is performing a well-known play or if an actor is performing a never-
seen-before movie. Are the skills from acting in a play transferable to acting in movies?
Interestingly, yes! While there are differences that take time to get used to, acting is acting.

Work Cited

New York Film Academy. “Stage vs. Screen: What's the Big Difference?” Student Resources, 14

Aug. 2015, www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/stage-vs-screen-whats-th



Calvin B.

I am Calvin Bader. I have two sisters and my mom and dad. I like to play guitar,
videogames, soccer, camp, and hang out with friends and cousins. I enjoy Chinese food and
pizza. When I get older I would like to play music and become a videographer. I especially
enjoyed writing the last research paper because I could make it about something I would like to
do for a job, that way I can learn about what I want to do while I make a paper out of it.

Videography: How to Produce a Great Film.
Calvin G. B.
Advanced 3

Abstract
In film or video making, a person cannot simply make a good video. Multiple factors are needed
for making a good film. These things consist of having good lighting from most all angles of the
subject depending on the desired effect looked for. Also, music and environment play a big role
in how the film is portrayed and the desired emotions and feelings felt during the film. When
looking for a crew for using the equipment, it is good for them to be creative so that a good
creative story with cool angles is had and people who will not be afraid to do crazy things are in
the scenes. This will also help with making ideas for a creative story that will keep the audience
entertained and interested. These couple things all put together can contribute to making an
interesting, creative film that will keep people interested and continue watching the movie or
film.

Videography: How to Produce a Great Film

Great films are fun to make and watch. Some of the top films can take a really long time
to make. Good films can be good pastimes as well. Movies come in all sorts of different genres
such as: action, romance, comedy, and sci fi to name a few. Movies can last from 10 seconds up
to eternity. So many movies exist, and many of them are being made at a high rate. What sort of
things need to be put into a big film?

The people chosen for a film make a difference on how well the emotions are expressed.
When making a film or performing in a play, a director loves to work with people who are
expressive and outgoing. He enjoys working with people who will not be afraid to try some
things in a film. More outgoing people will also not be afraid to speak up when something needs
to be heard. Although outgoing people are good at expressing themselves, sometimes shy people
or people in the middle can be used to fill a part that requires someone who is quiet and does not
talk much. Reactions received from movies can be very expressive (Pawlowski, 2016).
Emotions expressed in movies are felt through the audience. This is a good measure to see how
well actors express their feelings and emotions in the film. Additionally, people will begin to do
the things that they see in a movie (Huw, 2015). When people see something done in a movie,
they will start to think that those things are pretty easy, and they will start to try them. For
example, when a driver pulls off a cool stunt in his car, a lot of young teen boys will try to pull it
off themselves because they see that it is possible, and they want in on the action. Or when a
character tells a funny joke, anyone could try it on their friends and see if they think is will be
just as funny. When a character is having a really sappy moment and they just saved their friend,
some people watching the film will begin to cry with the characters. Choosing the right actors
can make or break a film.

The angles used to take a film can make an impact on the feel of the view. There are
many different names for different types of shots. The shot type can change how much or little
of the area or person the viewer sees. The angle of a shot can make something seem very big as
well as make it feel very small. Certain shots are chosen for a reason (Gibbs, 2017). If a shot is
taken from a low angle it will make the subject look really good and high in ranking. Usually,
when starting a film, the crew will take a wide shot of most of the area. This shot is used to set
the location of the film. A pan angle or a wide angle are used for this purpose as well. Some
other shots are taken from behind the shoulder of the speaker or the person being spoken to.
This is used when a couple people are talking back and forth to each other. Another angle that
can be used is a shot taken from above the subject or subjects. This can be used to make
something or someone feel really small. Freelance filmmaker Lewis McGregor explains that
“[a]ll films and television shows present their stories from a certain point of view” (2017). Other
shots can be taken from straight on while being either close, medium, or long range. Many types
of shots could be used for different situations. It just depends on how you want to portray the
story. Also, camera movement can be taken into consideration. Camera movement could be
anything from running along with the character to sitting and watching a scene as it plays out.

Camera movement can be shaky like when an explosion or something happens and could also be
smooth when following what is happening in a building. Some wacky things can be done with
camera movement to make things look very creative and interesting. When taking different
shots it is advised not to use the same movement or camera angle too many times in a certain
space of time. A videographer combines different shots to create a satisfactory film.

The lighting of a set can set the mood of the film. There are three different kinds of
lighting. One kind which is placed about 45 degrees to the subject on either the left or the right
side is called the key lighting. This is the more dominant and main light on the subject. Next is
the fill light. This is placed on the opposite side of the key light and is a bit dimmer as well.
Finally, the backlight, which is shined on the back of the subject, creates a cool outline of the
subject. As cinematographer Robert Nulph points out, “Good lighting designers work very
closely with directors to build a lighting scheme that adds to the drama of a scene and intensifies
the emotions” (2000). For instance, in a movie with a lot of mystery involved in it, there can be
quite a few dark scenes in it where there is not much lighting. Some movies can even use
colored lights to make other special effects to change the mood. Light is key to making any
picture or video look good, and it helps with being able to identify things in the frame. Light can
be used to create moods for a scene (Brink, 2016). For example, in “Star Wars” the part where
Luke fights his father, Darth Vader, the fight scene is very dark, and it gives the feel that it is
supposed to be a scary and almost mysterious scene. Lighting can be used for many purposes
from lighting in general to make the subject clean and visible as well as make the area dark and
moody. Lighting is a hard concept to grasp and a very important part of videography to making
the film look good.

Music, which makes an impact on how the audience feels during a scene, is another
important element in producing a great film. This part of a film may be one of the most
important aspects of a film or video. Music for a film can either be requested to be made
specially for a film or it can be found and bought from a special music website. Good music will
usually have a good cost to it. Music can help set the mood for movies of any genre. “Music is
an important part of a film; it sets the tone for each scene and action” (2013). It is usually found
that hard and loud music is played during a scene where a lot of action is happening, whereas a
song that is very soft and quiet can show a time of quit and peace. Music, even when listened to
through headphone or earphones, can change the way a person feels. Music is very influential
and possibly can change the mood of a person. “With every frame, filmmakers and
videographers are trying to convey a specific emotion” Remarks Scott Porter of Premium Beat
(2015). Music is very influential and is a very important part of a scene in a movie.

In addition to the right angles and lighting, the environment affects the emotions felt
during a film which contributes to its success. When a movie is portrayed in a dark, quit house, a
person watching a film could safely assume that there will be a scary scene coming up. When a
movie starts in the city, one could assume that the film will involve a lot of people and it will be
very busy. “[A person’s environment] strongly affects what influences they are exposed to and
what opportunities they have,” observes one certified educator (pohnpei397, 2012). The

environment people live and work in can change our mood and things we do. If people were to
work in a noisy environment, and they have a lot of business things to do, they probably will not
get as much work done as when they do all their work in a business environment. It has also
been shown through various studies that working with other people in a creative environment can
help boost work productivity. The environment can change the way we think or feel (Forbes,
2010). Good work spaces also are very beneficial to having a good work productivity. The
environment around us can make us feel very comfortable, or it can leave us uneasy and not sure
of what to do. The place a person is working and how well a person takes care of him or herself
can help make a good, productive, and creative environment for someone to work in. The
environment of a film can make an impact on the emotions felt in that place.

The advancement of videography equipment makes a difference on the viewing
quality of the film which also influences a film’s success. As it goes for most electronic
devices, the better the quality, the better the overall satisfaction of the product. When a
product is made in high quantities for a small price, the overall quality of the product will
most likely be a bit on the bad side of the spectrum. When a very expensive product is
bought, mostly likely, the product will be very good in quality. When someone starts out
to try something in a field of work, and they have to buy some things to accomplish
things in that job, they most likely will not buy the top tier items with which to work. The
user will probably buy something that is on the lower end of the line, but this product will
still get the job done. “Technology, observes Charles Matthau, “has taken film in very
different directions” (Matthau, 2015). The technology of today’s world keeps evolving
and becoming better and better. With this new technology, the quality of film and audio
in movies and music has gotten much better than it was before. It can be seen all over the
world with people on their phones listening to music or watching a show anytime and
anywhere. Journalist for Wired Greg Miller indicates that “[a]s filmmaking technology
has advanced, films have changed to take advantage of it” (Miller, 2014). Technology, as
it gets better, also gets smaller. This means that people will be able to take the equipment
almost anywhere they go and make or watch movies along the way. Back in the day,
when videography was just beginning. The movies did not have any sound, and the
screen was all in black and white. Taking this into consideration, over time things have
gotten to be much easier and quicker to satisfy the wants of the people. Advancements of
any kind a beneficial to the whole part of making a film.

The time put into making a film can be seen by how well the film is portrayed. As it goes
for most other things done in life, the more time spent doing something, the better a person will
become at it. When someone begins learning something new such as playing a sport, he will not
be very good at it right away. When that person takes a lot of time out of his day to practice and
learn about that sport, he will get much better than when he started. “When we make big
sacrifices in order to achieve a goal,” says Saez Francisco, “that goal becomes much more
attractive and the result achieved much more valuable” (Saez). Sometimes learning something
new can mean not going to an event that seems really interesting. Making sacrifices in a

schedule, shows interest, and care about the thing that is trying to be learned. Strategic coach
Shannon Waller advises that “[i]t’s important to be strategic about the time and effort you put
into projects” (Waller). As well as taking sacrifices, time and effort also needs to be regulated
and should be balanced with a lot of other things that are required to do in today’s world. Too

much time and effort can cause someone to forget some other things because he or she has not
done that activity in so long. Although these things are true, more effort will almost always

mean more results. The time put into making a film shows with how well the film does in the
current industry.

When combining all of the elements such as angles, lighting, and music, creativity can
improve the story of a film. The more creative of a mind a person has, the more creative of a
story they can create. Video producer Ryan McAfee writes that “[t]he reason these shots stick
out is because they’re different” (McAfee,2016). The person behind the camera can also add

some cool and interesting shots to help make a creative feel to the scene. Chuck Peters of
Videomaker Magazine suggests “[d]on't just point and shoot. Add interest to your shots” (2002).

Sticking to the same shots over and over in a film can get a bit boring and does not show the full
creativity of a film. When making a story, it must be interesting to keep people watching and

interested in it.
The marketing of a film can make a difference in regard to how well people will hear of it

and how good it seems. Any sort of product will need marketing to get people interested in the
product. With movies, releasing small trailers every so often can keep people captivated and
interested. “There are a few things unique about marketing films and TV shows” (Taylor).

Marketing is a very important part of a film to advertising it and making it known to the world.
Marketing changes as time goes on. As our technology advances, we need to adapt to the change
and go along with it. “The way movies are marketed is changing, has been changing at an
alarmingly rapid pace over the past 3 years” (2014). Marketing has changed in many ways and

can move a lot faster now than it had before. Although marketing through electronics is very
useful, word of mouth can spread even faster and can have an even bigger impact. Marketing is

an important job and requires someone who is good as advertising. This will greatly help how
well the movie is seen in the film industry.

More experience will help in any position of a film crew. As it goes with almost
any other activity in life, more experience means a person will most likely be better at
that certain activity. “Getting work experience is an important part of starting your career
as a young adult” says Mariya (2017). When jobs are hiring for workers, they will most

likely choose the people with the most experience because they will already know how to
get work done. Helena Pozniak says that “[e]veryone, from career experts to employers,
agrees work experience is a good thing” (2015). Work experience is very helpful in
many ways. It shows that a person knows how to work and how to do the task that he is

told to go and accomplish. Working in a place where you do not know what to do, can at
times be a little frustrating because people like getting stuff done, and if someone new

comes to the job, he or she will most likely not get as much work done as someone who

knows what they are doing. Experience in any job is very beneficial to the company, and
while this is not always available the more that a person works at a job the more
experience they will get. Having experience in a position shows and it is very beneficial
to the film.

Creating a video or film can take a lot of work and time, but when put together, all the
things that have been looked at can make a great film. The films people love come in different
lengths and different genres, representing different time periods and different ideas. However,
all films share one thing in common. They all are created using the same core elements such as a
competent staff, interesting effects, and proper equipment. These contribute to the making of a
great film. When all these sorts of things are thrown together, the resulting film can be amazing.

References
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Ratpacdimmers.com, Rat Pac Dimmers, http://ratpacdimmers.com/2016/10/17/how-
lighting-can-change-the-entire-mood-of-a-movie-scene/.
“Changing the Mood” (20 May 2013). “Music Changing the Mood in a
Scene.”chantelleccma.com, Wordpress,
https://chantelleccma.wordpress.com/2013/05/20/
music-changing-the-mood-in-a-scene/.
Forbes, Gregory. (2010). “How The Environment Shapes Human Behavior.”
mutualresponsibility.org, Mutual Responsibility, http://www.mutualresponsibility.org/
science/3-ways-the-environment-shapes-human-behavior.
Gibbs, Olley. (16 Dec. 2013). Film Studies 101: The 30 camera shots every film fan needs to
know. Empireonline.com, Empire, https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/film-
studies-101-camera-shots-styles/.
Huw, Oliver. (13 Apr. 2015). “How Do Films Effect Our Emotions?” vice.com, Vice, https://
www.vice.com/sv/article/exqgqm/why-do-we-cry-when-we-watch-films.
Mariya. (5 Oct. 2017). “5 Reasons Why Work Experience is Important.” Internsinasia.com, AIP,
https://internsinasia.com/blog/why-work-experience-important/.
“Marketing and Distribution” (11 Feb. 2014). “How Has Movie Marketing and Distribution
Evolved Over Time?” forbes.com, Forbes, https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/
2014/02/11/how-has-movie-marketing-and-distribution-evolved-over-time/
#2a0659ef1f62.
Matthau, Charles. (Jan. 2015). “How Tech Has Shaped Film Making: The Film Vs. Digital

Debate is Put to Rest.” Wired.com, Wired, https://www.wired.com/insights/2015/01/how-
tech-shaped-film-making/.
McAfee, Ryan. (2 June 2016). “How to Be More Creative With the Camera: Film and Video
Tricks.” Pond5.com, Pond5, https://blog.pond5.com/6604-how-to-be-more-creative-with-
the-camera-film-and-video-tricks/.
Mcgregor, Lewis. (28 March 2017). Understanding Point of View in Film and Video,
premiumbeat.com, PremiumBeat.com, https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/
understanding-pov-in-film-and-video/.
Miller, Greg. (8 Sept. 2014). “Data From a Century of Cinema Reveals How Movies Have
Evolved.” Wired.com, Wired, https://www.wired.com/2014/09/cinema-is-evolving/.
Nulph, Robert. (1 Dec. 2000). “Light Source: In The Mood? Creating Mood With Light,”
videomaker.com, Videomaker, https://www.videomaker.com/article/c13/7980-light-
source-in-the-mood-creating-mood-with-light.
Pawlowski, A. (14 Oct. 2016). “Your brain on movies: why films make us cry, flinch, and
cheer.” Today.com, Today, https://www.today.com/health/your-brain-movies-why-films-
make-us-cry-flinch-cheer-1D80258284.
Peters, Chuck. (1 Nov. 2002). “Take 5: Five Tips for Creative Camcorder Techniques.”
Videomaker.com, Videomaker, https://www.videomaker.com/article/9082-take-5-five-
tips-for-creative-camcorder-techniques.
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think?" eNotes, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/how-does-persons-
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Telegraph, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/finance/your-bank/11232030/benefits-
work-experience.html.
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StrategicCoach, http://blog.strategiccoach.com/time-effor



Lydia B.

My name is Lydia B. I am a junior in high school. I am captain of my local high school
swim team. I enjoy playing piano and singing. I love hanging out with my family, going
camping, and biking. Just recently I have begun to write music and would love to go to college
to learn more about writing and performing music. I especially enjoyed writing my paper about
the gifts of the Holy Spirit and if they are still around because it is a topic I have been interested
for a while, and I got to choose my own topic.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Their Existence Today
Lydia B.

Advanced 3

Abstract
The continuation of the gifts, a topic about the Bible that many people can hold a different view
on, is a topic that has caused splits in the church. Some people believe that the gifts disappeared
after the apostles died, and some believe that the gifts still continue on today. To best understand
the gifts and to best formulate what a person believes, it is important to look at all sides of the
argument. Questions like, “What do cessationists believe?” should be followed by, “What to
continuationists believe to get a well-rounded argument?” Although well-studied people have
shared thoughts about spiritual gifts, the Bible’s view is of greatest importance. Jesus and the
apostle Paul are two people in the Bible who spoke about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Some
other people not from the Bible who speak about the gifts of the Holy Spirit are Wayne A.
Grudem and John MacArthur. When reading the Bible to best understand what Paul or Jesus is
talking about in any scripture, it is important to use correct hermeneutics to understand what they
are really saying and to whom they were actually writing.

Are All the Gifts of the Holy Spirit Still in Use Today?

The gifts of the Holy Spirit is a topic that most people know little about but do not fully
understand, for it is quite a large topic, and people do not always agree on a view. There are two
main views that people hold on the gifts of the Holy Spirit — cessationism and continuationism.
Cessationism is the belief that the some of the gifts have ceased along with the apostles.
Continuationism is the belief that all the gifts still continue on even today. When it comes to the
views that people hold onto in gifts of the Holy Spirit, people often believe differently, but over
all, what the Bible has to say about this topic has final authority. In order to properly understand
and apply Biblical revelation about the Holy Spirit, people must utilize correct hermeneutics.

Several passages in the Bible are frequently used as support for a specific position in
regard to the Holy Spirit, and careful attention to hermeneutics must be used for correct
interpretation of these verse. While using correct hermeneutics, William B. Hemsworth (2017)
looked at 1 Corinthians 14 in the Bible and found that Paul is giving an ongoing instruction to
the Church, which he wants them to follow after he is gone. 1 Corinthians 14 is talking about
how if anyone in the body has a tongue, let him come forward and speak it and let someone with
interpretation, interpret. If people were to use correct hermeneutics, they would see that Paul is
writing to the Church in Corinth and telling them what to do if someone starts to speak in
tongues. They would also see that Paul is not just giving instruction to them for the Apostolic
age, which is the time when the apostles were alive). Paul is giving an ongoing instruction, an
instruction that is still for people of today. A lot of people will also bring up Matthew 16:4 (A.D.
60s), “A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign.” Many people argue that
this verse proves that cessationism in correct because it talks about how people are “looking for a
miraculous sign.” By looking at Jesus’ audience, people will see that he is talking about the
Pharisees, and how they were trying at every turn to make Jesus slip up and “disobey” the law.
Most people will use this verse to say that the miracles are not inline with what the Bible says,
but as it can be seen Jesus is not talking about miracles but about how the Pharisees and how
they were looking for ways to trip Jesus up. Using hermeneutics when reading the Bible is
important because without it people can make the Bible “mean” whatever they want it to mean.
Whereas with hermeneutics, people can see who the author was writing to and what he actually
meant.

To best understand what Cessationists believe, people can start by looking at the main
verses that Cessationists use to defend their case. Doug Bannister, founder of Fellowship
Evangelical Church (Knoxville, TN) wrote in his paper “Case Against Cessationism” that
cessationists tend to use the same common texts with everyone. The texts that Cessationists will
use are Acts 2:43, Acts 5:12, 2 Corinthians 12:12, and Hebrews 2:3-4. These texts are the main
texts Cessationists use because they believe that these texts support the claim that miraculous
gifts were the property of the apostles and only the apostles. All the Bible verses that
Cessationists mainly use are all verses that state that it was the apostles that performed all the
miraculous signs in the Bible. The apostles are often defined as someone who has been with
Jesus, seen Him after His resurrection, and been personally commissioned by Him. As a special

witness of the resurrection they, the apostles, were given the power to heal. An often argued
about text in the Bible is 1 Corinthians 13, specifically verses 8-13. Doug Bannister, in the same
article says that Cessationists believe that when 1 Corinthians is talking about the ‘perfection’, it
is talking about the completed canon of scripture. When talking about 1 Corinthians 13:8, the
Cessationists will say that it “proves” that the gifts have passes away. The verses before eight
say that when the perfect comes, the gifts will pass away. Cessationists will say that the
“perfect” that is spoken about in the verse is the complete canon of scripture, or in other words,
scripture becoming complete. Many of the verses the Cessationists use when trying to defend
their case talk only about the apostles, or say that they will disappear.

To get a full understanding of what Continuationists believe is very important to get a full
scope in understanding the Holy Spirit. Most people that believe in continuationism, including
Doug Bannister, define continuationism as how God will still speak to people through the Bible
and also outside of the Bible (though it will always be consistent with what the Bible says if it is
really from God). Many people today do believe that God can and will speak through the Bible
but not always to them outside of the Bible. It is important to note that when someone says,
“outside the Bible,” that does not mean without the Bible at all. It simply means that God can
speak to people through other ways such as through other people, prayer, and silence. It is very
important to check to see if the Bible backs up what a person thinks that they are hearing.
Though many people will argue that people do not see the gifts of the Holy Spirit in action today
anymore, that is not what continuationists believe. Bannister also says that history itself proves
that the gifts have not passed away. In fact, if anything, history proves that the gifts are still
active. Many people after the apostles spoke about the gifts. People like Justine Martyr,
Irenaeus, Origen, Hilary of Poitiers, Augustine, Colette of Corbi, Martin Luther King, and D.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones, to name a few, not only advanced the church but also believed in the
continuation of the gifts. Even though most of these people are from a really long time ago,
there are some like Martin Luther King and Martyn Lloyd-Jones who are more resent.
Continuationists believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are still around and there is evidence all
around us to prove that they are around.

Some Cessationists will say that they do not believe that supernatural or miraculous gifts
(speaking in tongues, prophecy, gift of wisdom, etc.) still exist today. That is not to say
Cessationists believe that all of the gifts have ceased. They believe that only the supernatural
gifts have ceased. Richard B. Gaffin Jr. (1996) in his article in J.W. Wartick’s book Are
Miraculous Gifts for Today?, stated that cessationism is the belief that the gifts of the Holy Spirit
have ceased. Cessationists believe that the gifts ceased when the apostles died and that only the
apostles could have the gifts. Micheal Grenholm, a Swedish Charismatic (2013b) states,
“Cessationists do not argue that all gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased with the apostles, simply
because knowledge, compassion, and faith (Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-9) clearly are still
around.” There are two different types of gifts — the supernatural or miraculous gifts and the
common gifts. The supernatural gifts are gifts such as prophecy, speaking in tongues, gift of
wisdom, words of knowledge, etc. Common gifts are the gifts such as encouragement, teaching,

wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. Cessationists
believe that only the apostles who were with Jesus could have the supernatural or miracles gifts
and since all the apostles are dead then all the supernatural or miracles gifts are gone as well.

Many people will say that the gifts have ended or at least some of the gifts have ended,
but there are also others that will say that the gifts were only around for short bursts of time.
Robert Saucy, expresses in his article in Wayne A. Grudem’s book that, “miraculous gifts only
happened around certain times in history and not all the time.” This view states that the
supernatural gifts were only present during specific times in history. John MacArthur, a strong
advocate for cessationism, wrote an article for Wayne A. Grudem’s book stating that the times
that the miracles happened were in the days of Moses and Joshua, during the miracles of Elijah
and Elisha, and in the time of Christ and the apostles. Then after those times, the gifts were no
longer seen. This line of thinking is unreasonable because it appears to assume that the apostles
need more help than Christians do today, which is not the case. Christians today need the same
amount of help, if not more, because they have not had the same opportunity to walk and talk
with Jesus. Some Cessationists believe that the supernatural or miraculous gifts where only
around during certain times in history and no other times.

One of the reasons that people do not believe in the supernatural gifts is because they
have never seen them for themselves. Thomas Schreiner (2014) states the following:

When evaluating what is true, looking at what the scripture says must always take
priority over experience. Final authority will always be what the Bible says, and if a
word someone gives a person or a dream someone has is truly from the Lord it will corre-
late with what the Bible says.
Scripture should always be where a person first looks when trying to determine what is true; if
whatever it is happens to be true, it will match with what the Bible says. The Bible quite clearly
talks about the Holy Spirit and the gifts that go with it in multiple places such as 1 Corinthians
12-14, and Galatians 5:22-25 to name two examples. Though people may not fully understand
the gifts and what they mean or can do, that does not mean that the Bible is unclear about the
Holy Spirit. Instead that means that people are have limited understanding because the Bible is
perfectly clear. Doug Bannister wrote that:
When people believe that the church does not need the gifts of the Spirit anymore that is
a direct insult to the apostles. If the gifts were not needed for the church anymore, that
would imply that the apostles needed more help than we do in preaching the gospel!
It is silly that the people would believe that the gifts are gone only because they think that they
do not seen the gifts in everyday life. Even Paul encourages his readers to seek the gifts (1
Corinthians 14:1) and not to run from them. To think that the apostles needed more help than
people today is ridiculous because the apostles got to walked with Jesus and got to hear Him
teach with their own two ears. Yes, the apostles did have some clueless moments, but it can be
seen that those moments of cluelessness happened before the Spirit came upon them on the day
of Pentecost. People often do not believe in the gifts because they think that they can not see
them today.