Influential Novel (academic exprience essay)

What is an academic experience, project, class or book that has influenced or inspired you?

The most influential book that I have read is Lord of the Flies by William Golding. The novel is about a group of boys who find themselves stranded on a tropical island without any adult supervision or protection. Because of their ingrained need for order, they quickly choose a leader and assign jobs. They enjoy the lack of rules and boundaries. Soon, however, the boys stray from their civilized ideals and become increasingly savage. I don't want to ruin the novel, but in the end, one of the boys must run for his life from a mob in order to save himself. Lord of the Flies has taught me of the powers of mob mentality and the importance of a strict set of laws and guidelines. It has also taught me to always stand up for what I believe in.
Once the boys realized that their actions would go unpunished, no matter how savage, they did not have to think before acting. This has shown me the importance of laws in society. Laws are not only necessary for maintaining order, but also for rational thinking.
When the boys formed a mob and singled out another boy, some of the mob felt uncomfortable, but, because of the extreme pressure of the mob, went along with the plan. Once I finished the novel and saw the awful side effects of mob mentality and peer pressure, I have stood up for myself and others in such situations. As in many high schools throughout the country, there is a substantial drug abuse problem amongst students. When asked to partake, I have no problem saying "no." While it is partly because I know of the long term effects of drugs, I have been guided by the anti-mob mentality and peer pressure message sent by Lord of the Flies.

Overall, very nice! My only concern would be that there's a lot of plot, but I'm not sure that that's a bad thing... Maybe you could make your intro more attention-grabbing by starting off with a spiced-up summary of the plot, then you can say "Lord of the Flies is by far the most influential book I have ever read." It would grab your reader and show that you found the book exciting.

I don't want to ruin the novel, but in the end, one of the boys must run for his life from a mob, in order to save himself.

As in many high schools throughout the country, there is a substantial drug abuse problem among students. When asked to partake, I have no problem saying "no." While it is partly because I know of the long term effects of drugs, I have been guided by the anti-mob mentality and peer pressure message sent by Lord of the Flies.

Great essay, I liked that book too:)