# data[].attributes.body
In the following excerpt from Antigone, by the classical Greek playwright Sophocles, the wise Teiresias observes:

"Think: all men make mistakes,
But a good man yields when he
Knows his course is wrong,
And repairs the evil:
The only Crime is pride."

Take some time to think about the implications of the quotation. Then write a carefully reasoned essay that explores the validity of the assertion, using examples from your reading, observation, or experience to develop your position.

# data[].attributes.body
American essayist and social critic H. L. Mencken (1880-1956) wrote, “The average man does not want to be free. He simply wants to be safe.” In a well-written essay, examine the extent to which Mencken’s observation applies to contemporary society, supporting your position with appropriate evidence.

# data[].attributes.body
An anthropologist studying first-year students at a university in the United States writes that friendly phrases like “How are you?,” “Nice to meet you,” and “Let’s get in touch”  communicate politeness rather than literal intent. What, if anything, is the value or function of such polite speech?
In a well-written essay, develop your position on the value or function of polite speech in a culture or community with which you are familiar. Use appropriate evidence from your reading, experience, or observations to support your argument.

# data[].attributes.body
In Antigone, the classical Greek playwright, Sophocles, notes that mistakes are innately human and proposes that the issue in error lies not within the act of error itself, but with refusing to recognize and correct the error. This assertion is invariably true; those who recognize and work to improve their shortcomings, grow as people and ultimately reach greater success than the person who remains blind---voluntarily or involuntarily---to their own mistakes.

# data[].attributes.body
1. Psychology - "Growth Mindset" - Recognizing mistakes and handling failure in a healthy way is integral to long term improvement.
2. Personal anecdote - Throughout all the AP Classes I have taken, the highest achieving students are those who take constructive criticism, identify their areas of weakness, and work to improve them. Those students who remain overconfident, or blame the teacher for being "unfair" or "too mean when grading" do not fare nearly as well.
3. Psychology - "external locus of control" - Those who refuse to recognize their own mistakes, often direct the blame for their failures and some external and uncontrollable force like bad luck, or society, or another person. By placing the fault outside themselves, they ignore areas in need of improvement, and miss an opportunity to grow
4. Business - reputation management - Contrary to popular belief, admitting a mistake does not tarnish credibility---instead it enhances it. Being honest and humble enough to admit one's mistake and expressing an earnest a desire to correct it builds trust. Look at all the times Apple has apologized to its customers: after a failed iOS update, after a violation of user privacy, etc. Nonetheless, apple customers remain loyal.
5. Personal Anecdote - counter example - The teammate who pushes the blame for their own failures on circumstance or other teammates is supremely frustrating to work with. This is the type person who responds to criticism with "I didn't finish my part because Johnny was talking to me" or "well, none of you guys told me I was doing it wrong." Such an incorrigible attitude is not conducive to collaborative work. People take note of that, and by the end of the year this person is usually the last to be picked for group projects.

# data[].attributes.body
To an extent, Menken is correct: the average man does value safety enough to give up certain freedoms in order to remain secure; however, there is a limit to the amount of freedoms people are willing to renounce. In an increasingly individualistic culture Menken's hypothesis is only a partial truth.

# data[].attributes.body
Although the polite speech may often be insincere, it plays a crucial role in successful negotiation and interpersonal relations.

# data[].attributes.body
1. History - Social Contract - Locke's model of government in which citizens give up certain freedoms in order to be protected by a government.

2. Socioeconomic trends - Gated Communities - Similarly to the social contract in government, homeowners in a community give up certain freedoms concerning their property to the Homeowners Association in exchange for security and comfort.
3. Current events - Mask Mandate - In spite of the safety implications, many refused to wear a mask because they felt it violated their freedoms.
4. History - Age of Conformity - During the Eisenhower years, the conformist culture of the time arguably provided security to the American people: everyone in the family played their role, the "organization man" stuck to his routine and  maintained a steady income, etc. However, many became concerned with the innate lack of freedom this cultural homogeneity provided, as is evidenced by the emergence of the Beatnik movement and later the Hippies.
5. Current events - Twitter freedom of speech debate - A debate concerning whether it is justifiable to censor potentially harmful statements in the name of promoting security.
6. Socioeconomic trends - Taking a salary job vs. starting your own business - Financial security without much freedom vs. freedom to earn a living however you like without limit to how much you earn, but also without limit to how much you can lose (no financial security)

# data[].attributes.body
1. Jay Heinrichs - Thank You for Arguing - To have the upper hand in argument, your audience must respect you. To earn respect you must enhance your ethos. Proper etiquette enhances your ethos.
2. Diplomacy - In highly sensitive negotiations such as those between nations, there is no room for the other party to get offended because of a snarky comment or a rude action. Keeping all parties involved content, unoffended, and level-headed is crucial to efficiently and successfully negotiating a desired outcome.
3. Workplace - Between to equally qualified candidates for a position, the one who is most polite with the interviewer will be the one who is selected for the job. Why? Because they made the interviewer feel valued, and they demonstrated that they are an agreeable person who will likely get along well with coworkers.
4. Relationships - Politeness conveys mutual respect, an element fundamental to all relationships---in the workplace, between friends, or between romantic partners.