Graf 2 of Contrast Essay
NYC is a world of glitter, excitement, and glamour. At least that’s the way it’s portrayed in the movies. Manhattan is what the world thinks of when it envisions the Big Apple. That’s the area with Broadway plays, museums, Central Park, 5th Avenue, and innumerable shopping opportunities. Actually, it’s only one of 5 boroughs, each of which contains mostly residential districts with nondescript stores catering to the individual neighborhoods. And even half of Manhattan Island is residential, leaving a very small part of NYC portraying the entire city. But entertainment opportunities in The City can be amazing. There are interesting educational opportunities ranging from museums to zoos, from concerts to magnificent churches, from botanical gardens to historical sites. Yet most of these opportunities come at a price, and for the most part it is not cheap. But if you know the system, there are ways around some of those exorbitant entrance fees. Several museums have pricey “suggested donations” listed. Those are truly only suggested, and they will let you in for whatever you can afford. Others have specific days and times, usually only for a few hours, sometimes for a particular off-day, when you can come for free. In the summer, many parks host free public performances, ranging from the Philharmonic Orchestra to Beatlemania, to Jazz and more. However, in each of the aforementioned places, you will have to fight the crowds, from buying your subway pass to standing in line to pay entrance fees, to finding a place on the park grass big enough to sit on and close enough to see whatever is being performed. If you dare to attempt the 4th of July fireworks in Manhattan, be prepared to stand for many hours literally packed into a solid mass of humanity, unable to take a bathroom break until it’s all over. On the other hand, entertainment in Maine is much more subtle, with nature being the most obvious draw. Clean air, star-filled nights, brilliant white snow, crystal clear lakes, silence so deep it almost hurts to listen – these are the things that make Maine special. And it comes almost without price. Hiking can be done nearly anywhere, though designated trails make it easier to reach some of the more well-liked places. Indeed, even the most popular destinations are relatively deserted with a certain camaraderie obvious among strangers. Community is very important in Maine, creating unusual entertainment opportunities, such as the Blueberry Festival, Lobster Festival, Pumpkin Harvest Festival, even a Chocolate Festival, each town seeking to find its own niche in unique celebrations. Some towns, like my own, host 2 celebrations, for us it is the Whoopie Pie Festival and the Annual Homecoming for the local high school. These festivities bring together most of the townsfolk, providing an opportunity for neighbors to catch up on family news, and new friends to meet. Other well-attended community events are church suppers and pancake breakfasts, usually hosted as fundraisers by local volunteer organizations or to raise money for an unfortunate family who lost their home in a fire or to help with medical bills. Pot lucks are another opportunity to get to know the other locals and newcomers usually within one’s own church family, and I will personally vouch for the talent of our local women who cook for these delicious feasts.
Sure, this is fine. If your support grafs are this extensive, split them at the 'on the other hand' and make two grafs of them.
ReplyDeleteMy only caution is that one has to continue as one has begun: a graf this elaborate can't be followed by grafs much less elaborate, so you've set a high mark for yourself.