Is this peice of writing in PRESENT tense?
Uhm, whoever told you that all formal essays are written in present tense was wrong. It really depends on the type of formal essay you’re writing. But in your case, I’m guessing that you need to write in present tense. And most of that *piece* of writing is not. Edited paragraph, all in present tense: By preventing the further development of knowledge which results in rebellion, oppression takes away freedom. In “A Thousand Splendid Suns” the Taliban restrict women from going to school which prevents them from getting an education. When the Taliban first seize control of Afghanistan, they clearly state: “Girls are forbidden from attending school. All schools for girls will be closed immediately,” (Hosseini 249). This way, the Taliban stop women from being educated and learning that they deserve freedom. The Afghan women have little power to oppose the Taliban and therefore, are forced to live without an education.
