Poetry

“A Friend”

It’s a small place

bright, but small.

There was always that one friend that would run to me

play with me

hug me at troubled times.

When our eyes meet

there’s a collision of warmth

happiness

friendship.

final essay

Poetry Essay

Poetry has many spectacular meanings toward some things such as friendship, love, and hope. To me poetry reflects life because of how detailed it is and how it can change the emotions of people. It’s simple words can just make a person smile or become more relaxed. Sometimes they can be terrifying, but possible all at once. In Please Don’t Take My Air Jordans by Reg e. Gaines, it reflects life because it explicitly shows the life of a person who's trying to be someone they really aren’t. That kind of behavior can cause crime, peer pressure, and makes you realize that the little things are much more important than bigger things in life.

To begin with, the poem shows readers the life of a teen go through a lot in order to get new gear (clothing, shoes, hats, and jackets), even if it’s a crime. “I fired (POW), he fell between two parked cars he was coughing/crying/blood dripped on the street and I snatched them air jordans off his feet”. This proves that some people would go through anything it takes to get whatever they want. In addition, he’s also poor “I gots no money no job” and i’m beginning this is a judgement thing. He’s obviously trying to be someone he’s not by getting gear by crime so that he wouldn’t be judge based on the person he really is.

Secondly, the poem shows the readers that the little things are much more important than the much more bigger things in life. “Cut school friday catch the subway downtown check out my victims hanging around maybe I’ll get lucky and find easy prey”. This proves that looking cool toward other people was more important than school “the very next day I bopped into school with my brand new air jordans man I was cool, I killed to get them but hey...I don’t care cuz now… I needs a new jacket to wear”. In addition, this is also related to crime because he killed to get his new gear and that it seems more important than school because he was able to cut school and get new gear so that he’s able to look cool.

Finally, the poem shows the readers that peer pressure can also play a part when it comes to becoming someone you really aren’t. For starters this just comes back to being judged. “I can’t have my posse laughin at me, I’ll cop something dope just wait you’ll see”. this is a sign of peer pressure because he is forced to get new clothing so that his so-called friends won’t laugh at him and to me that’s judgement. In addition, this proves that no matter what, the main person in the poem is willing to get more gear in order to defend his ego. However, in a way peer pressure was also included into crime because he was forced to kill that guy for his jordans. When being judged the pressure begins to build and cause you to do things you’d never expect.

This text connects to the world because there are a substantial amount of people that are in poverty and would do certain things to get what they want so that they aren’t judged in a bad way. In addition, this connect to the world because people sometimes are forced do things to get things like robbing another person for what they have.

1st Draft of Poetry Essay

Poetry has many spectacular meanings toward some things such as friendship, love, and hope. To me poetry reflects life because of how detailed it is and how it can change the emotions of people. It’s simple words can just make a person smile and become more relaxed. Sometimes they can be terrifying, but possible all at once. In Please Don’t Take My Air Jordans by Reg e. Gaines it reflects life because it explicitly shows the life of a person who's trying to be someone they really aren’t. That kind of behavior can cause crime, peer pressure, and makes you realize that the little things are much more important than bigger things in life.

To begin with, the poem shows readers the life of a teen go through a lot in order to get new gear (clothing, shoes, hats, and jackets), even if it’s a crime. “I fired (POW), he fell between two parked cars he was coughing/crying/blood dripped on the street and I snatched them air jordans off his feet”. This proves that some people would go through anything it takes to get whatever they want. In addition, he’s also poor “I gots no money no job” and i’m beginning this is a judgement thing. He’s obviously trying to be someone he’s not by getting gear by crime so that he wouldn’t be judge based on the person he really is.

Secondly, the poem shows the readers that the little things are much more important than the much more bigger things in life. “Cut school friday catch the subway downtown check out my victims hanging around maybe I’ll get lucky and find easy prey”. This proves that looking cool toward other people was more important than school “the very next day I bopped into school with my brand new air jordans man I was cool, I killed to get them but hey...I don’t care cuz now… I needs a new jacket to wear”. In addition, this is also related to crime because he killed to get his new gear and that it seems more important than school because he was able to cut school and get new gear so that he’s able to look cool.

Finally, the poem shows the readers that peer pressure can also play a part when it comes to becoming someone you really aren’t. For starters this just comes back to being judged. “I can’t have my posse laughin at me, I’ll cop something dope just wait you’ll see”. this is a sign of peer pressure because he is forced to get new clothing so that his so-called friends won’t laugh at him and to me that’s judgement. In addition, this proves that no matter what, the main person in the poem is willing to get more gear in order to defend his ego. However, in a way peer pressure was also included into crime because he was forced to kill that guy for his jordans. When being judged the pressure begins to build and cause you to do things you’d never expect.

This text connects to the world because there are a substantial amount of people that are in poverty and would do certain things to get what they want so that they aren’t judged in a bad way. In addition, this connect to the world because people sometimes are forced do things to get things like robbing another person for what they have.

Reading Response

How Does This Text Make You Think About Justice In The World? - Q3

In the book The Maze Runner by James Dashner, the world of  young individuals have finally realized everything has changed. Everyone for 2 years except Thomas and Teresa have been searching for a way out of the maze, but nothing was found. The day Thomas had finally became a runner, was the day he’d figured out that the only way to escape this maze was to follow the grievers back to it’s hideout. Minho and Thomas discovered that there was a secret portal also known as the griever hole. The gladers have noticed that ever since Teresa woke up, they have stopped receiving serum supplies. Now the Glade is surrounded by grievers and an old friend returns, Gally.

This text makes in think about justice in the world in many different ways. To begin with, this makes me think that the justice that were given to these children was kind out a new start, a way to cooperate with each other. Because when you think about it, it’s really a test for the creatures to see what these children are capable of when adapting to the fact they have no memory. These kids already believe that they are held captive at a prison “think about it. Our memory are wiped. We live inside a place that seems to have no way out, surrounded by bloodthirsty monster guards. Doesn’t that sound like prison to you?” (pg 64). This proves that  justice used toward these children is like an experiment for behavior studies or like a test.

In conclusion, justice can be shown in many different ways. This makes me think that sometimes justice can change the person you are today, based on the text. I mention that because they were able to have a new start and adapt to new surroundings. Sometimes or most of the time justice is an unfair thing. “George Michael Zimmerman (born October 5, 1983) is an American known for the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin on February 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida.  On July 13, 2013, his trial for second-degree murder and manslaughter ended in acquittal”(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Zimmerman). This proves that justice was unfair as many would say. Many people believed that zimmerman should’ve gotten justice for his negative actions toward an unarmed child. This whole thing is to prove that decisions for justice may or not be fair and many people have different views when it comes to justice.

Non- Fiction Reading Response

Going To War: Who Decides?

Going to war: who decides, by Patricia Smith. “While a U.S. attack is on Syria is on hold, the debate over who gets to send american troops harm’s way continues” (Smith, Patricia). This article has shown me that the White House has planned to take immediate action against the Syrian government because of their use of military chemical weapons against their own people. According to the International treaty, the use of chemical weapons are banned. However, the choice of leading the troops into battle is unclear, until “he surprised many by asking congress to authorize an attack” (Upfront magazines, pg 6). Because of the Syrian government’s use of illegal weaponry toward citizens of Syria, we are looking toward another war.

Most people were able to take favorable sides on the actions that should be taken toward the Syrian government. “President Obama announced that he favored launching air strikes against the Syrian government for it’s use of chemical weapons” (Upfront Magazines, pg 6). This proves that some actions are being considered to use against Syria and their progress in planning for the attack. In addition, “A congressional vote was postponed while the U.S. and Russia brokered a deal to get Syria to relinquish it’s chemical weapons . The U.S. says that it may still launch strikes if Syria does not comply with the agreement” (Upfront magazines, pg 6) This proves that the U.S. and the Russian president tried to reason with Syria at first because they feel that this problem can be resolved.

In my opinion there shouldn’t be a war, any problem can be resolved. War can lead to death and sadness, that’s why I’m against it. According to the article A Summary of U.S. case against Syrian government “On the morning of Aug. 21, at 2:30 a.m. local time, multiple streams of intelligence including satellite images show a barrage of rocket and artillery fire was launched from regime-controlled territory into the Damascus suburbs where the chemical weapons attacks reportedly occurred, approximately 90 minutes before reports of the attack started appearing in social media from affected areas” (Dozier, Kimberly http://bigstory.ap.org). More than 100,000 Syrians have been killed due to the use of chemical weaponry. It’s sad when parents weep over the body of their that were killed in the attack. Innocent children died for something they didn’t do now their parents have to live with it forever, it’s torture.

In conclusion, the article Going to War: Who decides by patricia Smith has changed the way I now think about war and had made me aware of how war can affect many people and families. In addition, this article makes me wonder, what situations are other countries facing? And how is it being resolved without violence.

Final

Argument Essay Based on “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian”

Tai Brown                                                                                                                                                 808

Sex, violence, theft, poverty, prostitution, drugs,  and alcohol can all be found in children libraries that parents will become objectionable towards. Parents fear that the books that are chosen to be read by children could possibly cause them to lack educational thought throughout their school day. Many adults think Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian is considered inappropriate because of it’s use of bad language, attempts of committing suicide, and it’s racial comments, therefore they think it should be limited from student libraries. This book shouldn’t be limited towards the 8th graders and up because the author wants the reader to realize that there’s always hope to look upon on and that situations can become improvements.

The reason why this book shouldn’t be limited towards 8th and above graders because this can help the reader find hope. To begin with, in the chapter Hope Against Hope, Junior was able to obtain advice from his teacher Mr. P “son, you’re going to find more and more hope the farther and farther you walk away from this sad, sad, sad reservation” (43).  This explains the reason why Junior choose to switch schools because he wanted to find more hope in his education. Junior didn’t really know how to write, but when he decides to transfer into Reardan high school, he finds a friend named Gordy who is willing to help him improve his writing skills. This proves that the choice of switching schools was going to give him more hope in his education.

Secondly, this book gives the readers advice such as what to do when releasing anger. To begin with, when Junior realized that hitting the teacher with the textbook was wrong, Mr.P sat down with him and forgave him for his wrong doings: “Mr.P realized that I threw that book was because I was releasing my anger” (41). Although that’s something you should never do, you should just do something small that would release your anger or just excuse yourself from others to do it in private. Junior was releasing anger because everyone on the rez is poor and the proper education isn’t being given.

Lastly, many adults view this book as inappropriate content because of it’s use of foul language etc. To start off, many parents are beginning to take action in their child's reading life because of all of the dramatic titles and covers children notice that seem enjoyable. In addition,  In this book it includes “sexually explicit content” (10 Books). In addition, this may include sexually explicit content because “I admit that I masturbate” (26). Parents may find this as objectionable content because it's not teaching their children anything,. However, this is human behavior and surprising it can prevent cancer surprising it can prevent cancer, this is a fact children can learn from . Usually parents also judge a book to early because usually it's the good books that often have a lesson at the end of the story.

In conclusion, many people view Sherman Alexie's The absolutely true diary of a part time Indian as a book with bad language however, I believe this book has lessons that teach you a lot about hope and the true meaning of friendship which is trust and honesty. And gives a child productive ideas and an idea on what to read next.

 Work Cited

“Bad Books Make Good Reading”, Scholastic 2013

“10 Books”

Reyes, Maridel. “5 Health Benefits of Masturbation”: Mens Health. December 29, 2011

“Has young Adult Fiction Become Too Dark?”, Mary Elizabeth Williams, Mon 6, 2011.

“Why The Best Books Are Written In Blood” Alexie, Sherman

How does this text deal with individuals and groups? - Question 5

“The Maze Runner”- James Dashner

In “The Maze Runner”  by James Dashner there is a community of teenagers that are held captive in a place where grass and a maze with monsters known as Grievers surrounds them. These teens have arrived in the community with no memory and determined to make strategies for their escape. When Thomas arrives into the Glade, his world is beginning to fade away. The leader of the Glade, Ably treats him like he’s going through initiation for a job. As Thomas learns more about the community he becomes anxious about being a runner, whose job it is to run through the maze looking for a way out while avoiding Grievers.

  

In this story, there are certain individuals such as Alby that’s hiding something or after something. It seems like these teenagers are competing against each other to find a way to escape. While others such as Thomas want to find out about his past. Some may seem like they want to work together to escape, but they really act alone in the strategy process of finding their way out. In the story Alby the Glade leader was asked numerous times if Thomas knew anything, to me that means that something is being hidden from Thomas and the others.

As Thomas was able to think clearly about his surroundings, he began to wonder if they’re trapped in this community for a specific reason, “we live in a place that seems to have no way out, surrounded by bloodthirsty monster guards. Doesn’t it sound like a prison to you?” (64). In addition, when Ben had returned, he began to think that Thomas is bad news. For some reason Ben was able to remember his past about Thomas. But we know for sure that Alby and his right hand man Newt are acting alone in this situation