Question

Write an essay in which you define a “good tree” in the phrase of “Good Tree, Good Fruit.” (500 words) An introduction includes a thesis statement with 3 supporting points, followed by 3 supporting paragraphs each supporting a point with details and examples, and a conclusion.

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) The phrase “Good tree, good fruit,” has several variations in the English language that ultimately allude to the same didactic or meaning.

Children are a map of their parents – This is a phrase that describes how a child’s temperament, behaviour and emotional maturity would depend on the “nurture” factor in psychological development. This would mean that the social environment under which a child is brought up would affect their cognitive maturity and hence reflect in their personality. Therefore, a child with a good upbringing would result in having a good personality and a child with a bad upbringing would possibly be from a home where they have been neglected.

For example, a child who might indulge in too much debauchery would likely be from a house where the parents failed to focus on nurturing the child. This would mean that the child’s unruly behaviour and addictions are a result of poor upbringing.

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree – In this case, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree because it is so deeply similar or connected to the tree that it would be apt if the apple had many similarities with the tree. This is when the behaviour of a parent is likely to rub off on a child because of the heavy influence a parent might have on the developmental years of a child.

For instance, John lies to get out of trouble very often because his father is also a liar. Since John has grown up watching the behaviour of his father, he is influenced by it and chooses to practice the same behaviour.

As you sow, so shall you reap – This biblical phrase implies that the kind of investment one puts in a person will be of a similar nature to what they reap. This means that if a person is kind, it is because their parents have been kind and hence the kind child is the good fruit that the parents have because they have sown a good seed.

For instance, Tom is patient in tough situations because he has observed how his parents are patient and how they have taught him to always be patient.

The “good tree” that is referenced in the aphorism “good fruit, good tree,” is that good work leads to good results. This would mean that the “cause” shares a strong connection with the “effect.” If the tree is good, the fruit will be equally as good because it shares a causal relationship with the tree. Conversely, a bad tree would result in the growth of a bad fruit as it won’t have gene superiority.