We homeschool our kids and often discuss our work around the dinner table. Last night, my daughter, Bryn, decided she would write "a three paragraph persuasive essay." She wrote it on three pieces of paper and handed it to me before going to bed. I have posted her original, hand-written work, but I am also typing it out...misspellings, grammar mistakes, and all..

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Sharks...cold blooded, dangerous carnivores, or gentle, misunderstood creatures. Many people have a bad opinion of sharks. Allthough there have been a few dangerous shark encounters during the past, most of these happened because swimmers or surfers were mistaken for seals or fish. A shark's flat nose, small eyes, and mouthful of sharp teeth can earn it a bad reputation, and movies such as "Jaws" help encourage People to dislike sharks. People who have never seen sharks in the wild do not have a very high opinion of sharks, but divers who have seen them swimming in, on, and around offshore wreks, such as my mother, speak with a different voice. Over dinner Mother told me about some wreks she dove on, called the aeoleus and the spar. "There were about 10 Tiger Sharks and Mabey 10 more sand tigers, just hanging around. One came over and kind of checked me out. They didn't really do anything exciting." Also, only 2 or 3 shark attacks were purposful, because most sharks will not attack anything bigger or more Powerful. All in all, I bealive that sharks are actully misunderstood, gentle creatures. But you can also make a desison.

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Needless to say, I am very proud of my daughter! What amazing insight for an 8 year old! Now, if we could get others to see that way, perhaps shark finning might not occur!