Beautiful

This is in the perspective of a popular beautiful high school girl.

Being beautiful is harder than everyone thinks. Making sure you look perfect, wearing cute outfits instead of sweats, and having your face look flawless. People think all that matters is what you look like on the outside, but it's not. Things like what you wear or having no flaws shouldn’t matter. What should matter is what's on the inside of a person. Instead of being beautiful on the outside, make sure you're more beautiful on the inside.

The Black Box

Each meaningful story has symbols. Symbols that help the readers understand the storyline and the mood of which the story is written in. Within the short text "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson, the author symbolizes death and tradition through many different ways. The way that caught my attention the most was the black box.

Every year the people of the village would gather in the square for The Lottery. Before they would come, everyone gathered all of the rocks and stones they could possibly hold in their hands. Once everyone was there, they would begin the choosing of the names out of the black box. Right then and there, I wondered; Is it unusual that the box just happens to be black? The color of death, power, fear, evil? At this point of the story, it should be known to readers that the "lottery"  they're talking about is far more different than the one we have today.

Another symbol the black box provided was tradition. This black box that was used for centuries before them was very sacred to them. No matter how bad the condition this box was in, no one would replace it with another. Possibly, the government was afraid of change if the box was switched with a newer one. Or even that the government thought that if getting a new box would mean new traditions.

Wrapping up, the black box had many symbols that lead to the meaning of the book and lead to the end of the story as well. Although there are other symbols taken from the black box, the ones that stood out to me the most is death and tradition.

The Last Flower In the Flower Bed

It's been 5 years without my friends and family by my side. One by one each would be snipped right at their foot every year, leaving me the last lonely flower in the flower bed. I can't understand why they are taken away from me! Is it because I bloom later than the others in the spring and my punishment is to be lonely? Could it be that they're being taken to somewhere special and I'm not worthy enough, or maybe because I'm more beautiful than all the others and my owners wanted me to stand out? I don't know what my owners are up to, but I sure hope I'm not going to get snipped at my feet. As I start to think about being lonely with all of the space in the world, I begin to enjoy being alone. There's no complaining from my sister about how beautiful she is and how much more beautiful she is than me, her little sister, and no more loud opera singing from my brother. Don't get me wrong he's extremely talented but from hearing him sing and sing and sing all day long, it starts to pierce your ears. After 5 years of dreading being alone for the rest of my life, I realize that it's not so bad being alone and within another year I'll have a whole new patch of friends.

Trust

Authors Note: The following piece is a text analysis off of a quote from the story “Thank You, Ma’am” written by Langston Hughes.

Within the beginning of the heart-touching story “Thank You, Ma’am” by Langston Hughes, a woman is on her way home from the grocery store in the dark night and is harassed  by a young teenager trying to snatch her purse. Fortunately, the boy was considered a stick while comparing sizes between the two. She took him by his ear and dragged him to her home where she then told him this: "Then, Roger, you go to that sink and wash your face," said the woman, whereupon she turned him loose--at last. Roger looked at the door—looked at the woman—looked at the door—and went to the sink. This specific paragraph from the story was one of the most important things said within the entire story because it shows the trust they have for each other.

To begin, after being hassled by a young teenager, most would think the last thing they would do would be to bring the teenager back to your house, but Ms. Luella Bates Jones is too intelligent to let a boy less than half her size get away with the crime of robbery. While in her house, she notices dirt on his face and asks him to wash his face off and lets him lose from her arms. Knowing that he could very well run out the doors and onto the streets again, she trusts her choice on letting this boy make the correct decision of trusting her in return. 

Continuing, the young boy Roger is told a demand to wash his face at the sink. “Roger looked at the door—looked at the woman—looked at the door—and went to the sink.” He didn’t know whether or not he should stay with this woman or run like a predator chasing it’s prey out of the door of Ms. Jones’ house. Roger ended up making the correct decision of staying with Ms. Luella Jones, giving her his trust to her as well.

Lastly, the main importance of this specific paragraph of the story is trust and being able to trust one another. At this part of the story, both Roger and Ms. Luella Bates Jones know they both trust each other which is the message for readers while reading this paragraph.

To conclude, I believe that this scene within the story is the most important scene because it shows that Ms. Jones gives the boy his trust, and he gives his to Ms. Jones in return.

Never Let the Fear of Failure Keep You From Living Your Life

Authors Note: The following piece is a district writing assessment that is analyzing a quote and how it can be used and applied in different circumstances.

“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game”. Although Babe Ruth’s inspiring words are in terms of baseball, this quote can also apply to other topics such as school, other sports, or even activities such as singing and dancing. This quote said by Babe Ruth is one of the most inspiring quotes of all because it can be used in many different circumstances.

To start, every professional dancer or singer has faced challenges that got him or her to the professional state they’re currently at, but each one of them has faced a challenge and failed. If they didn’t have the courage and were too afraid to face those challenges, they would have never made it to the professional league.

Second of all, although school might be just the opposite of sports, this quote certainly applies to this circumstance as well.  Some subjects in school aren’t always the easiest for everyone, and if you’re learning a unit that’s very difficult that you don’t understand as hard as you try, don’t be afraid that you’re going to get the worst grade possible on the chapter test because the thought that you will fail will make you only do worse.

Lastly, not only does this quote specifically apply to the sport of baseball, but it can relate to almost any sport. Even though soccer is a team sport, there are times where you have to take risks and try to score to benefit your team to win. Although it’s frustrating when the ball doesn’t always go in the net, but it’s better to at least try than to not try at all.

In conclusion, this quote is inspiring in so many different ways and can be used in many different circumstances as well. “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game” states that it’s important to never let the fear of failure stop you, and if you fail, pick yourself up and try again.

What's the Real Cause of Common Colds?

Authors Note: The following piece is a research essay on the “common cold”. Questions such as what it is, how it is caused, if there are cures, and the difference between a cold and allergies will be answered.

As the common cold is spread throughout the world each day, a small amount of people actually know what it really is, what causes it, or if there are permanent cures. Many get sick and think it’s just a cold, but do they really know what caused it or even it wasn’t just a cold? It’s important to know about common colds because knowing more about the substances causing you to not feel well will only help you liberate the virus faster.

To begin, people are receiving colds year after year; most don’t know what a cold exactly is other than the symptoms. “The common cold is a self-limited sickness that can be caused by a number of different types of viruses” (Steven Doerr). Symptoms for most colds are coughing, sneezing, runny nose, fever, etc.  “A person is infectious with their illness starting the day before the sickness acts up, until a few days after they start feeling better” (Korsholm).The most known way of spreading and catching a cold is when the person who is sick touches their area around their eyes and nose because the virus could be on their hands also.

Second of all, “Cold's are caused by numerous different viruses, while allergies are caused by an overactive immune system” (Is it a Common Cold or Allergies?). The most important difference between common cold's and allergies is that colds don’t last longer than 14 days, so if the symptoms are still there after 2 weeks, it may be allergy symptoms.

Furthermore, “Although there are medicines at stores that are used to treat the symptoms for the common cold, they have little to no affect on the cold itself” (Szabo). There have been medicines tested in a Petri dish and many have been appearing as promising, but once tested on humans, unfortunately, the cold remedies start to fizzle off. The result to their experimenting shows that there are no permanent cures to the common cold.

In conclusion, the reasons discussed state why it's important to know everything about the sickness you have whether or not it's a common cold or allergies. Knowing what you have, what's causing your sickness or allergy, and how you can treat it is information that is useful for patients that are dealing with the symptoms of the common cold or allergies.

Evil Destroys Good

Authors Note: This following piece is a prediction on what will happen next in the book “Catching Fire” by Suzanne Collins. This piece also includes figurative language and a creative scene made for my prediction.

Within about 100 pages in the book “Catching Fire” by Suzanne Collins, Katniss and Peeta went on their “victory tour” throughout all 12 Districts for the congratulating of winning the 74^th annual Hunger Games. The Capitol is not pleased with Katniss and Peeta; the famous “star-crossed lovers” from District 12, because of the fact that they showed them off by acting as if their love was too powerful to lose one another in the games and both were allowed to win. I predict that President Snow will do something that will harm both Katniss and Peeta’s families to show that he has control over all districts and he’s not afraid to use it.

Here I sit in the tallest tree within the whole forest, a tree that could touch the moon, a tree that can look over the whole world. While I sit on this sturdy branch, I listen if anyone is near, but all I hear is the wind whistling throughout the air; responding that I am completely alone. As I gaze into my thoughts, I find myself drifting into sleep, until shortly after woken by a Gale screaming his lungs off down below. He says the Capitol has captured my mother, sister, and Peeta’s family and has them as hostage, sentencing them to death within a matter of days. 

I hastily climbed down the never ending tree and ran we ran as if we were a pack of lions catching their prey, not stopping until we’ve caught it. I don't know what my plan is, but I have to do something, so my only choice was to find Peeta and Haymitch. All four of us decided to drive to the Capitol in Haymitch’s avocado green car that smells like the strongest alcoholic drink known to man-kind.

Once we reach the Capitol, Haymitch finds a way to get around the guards surrounding the entire building, acting like they’re protecting the most valuable person or object that will ever exist. Just as we’re entering the building, we’re spotted. They take us up to the prison cells which looks and smells like the inside of a sewer.  About an hour after being locked in cells, I hear my name being called by a voice that I recognize; my mother. I feel like the happiest person in the world, like I actually have the hope to stay alive. In the middle of stating her plan to escape, a gunshot goes off and I see her eyes grow wider and drop to the floor on her knees, with a bullet through her back and a Capitol guard standing directly behind her with the gun.

In conclusion, this scene is similar to my prediction because the entire capitol is very upset with Katniss and Peeta, and will do anything to make sure their place of control and power in everyone’s mind stands at the top. Also, my ending is a hook because in the first book of “The Hunger Games” trilogy, Suzanne Collins left it as a hook. Overall, I vastly predict that President Snow will get back at the two winners from District 12.

Exclusive Scene

Authors Note: This following short response is a creative scene from the book "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins. My main focus in this piece is the use of figurative language.

Here I sit in the tallest tree within the whole forest, a tree that could touch the moon, a tree that can look over the whole world. While I sit on this sturdy branch, I listen if any of the remaining eight tributes left in the game are near, but all I hear is the wind whistling throughout the air; responding that I am completely alone. As I gaze into my thoughts, I find myself drifting into sleep, until shortly after woken by an announcement from the Gamemakers.

“There has been a slight change in the rules. Two tributes can both win if they are from the same district. Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor.”

I hastily untied the rope attaching myself to the tree, climbed down, grabbed my things and ran as fast as I could, not knowing where I was going or how I was going to find him, but running as if I were a lion trying to catch my prey; not giving up until I catch it. After running for about 15 minutes, I’ve spotted him. He’s with the careers and looks like he’s scared to death, almost as if they’re going to kill him. I hide behind a bush, being as quiet as a mouse. I watch and listen to them as they plan how they’re going to kill him, so I shoot two arrows through both of them, each aimed right in the center of their hearts, and finally see both of them cease to the ground in immediate death. I sprint as fast as a cheetah towards the love of my life and rescue him from the ropes wrapped throughout his body, setting the one I intend to win the games with free, Peeta Mellark.

Responce to "Big Yellow Taxi" and "Field Below"

Authors Note: These following paragraphs are responses to questions regarding the mood and tone within both of the poems/ songs "Big Yellow Taxi" and "Field Below", and their message.

·          

     The meanings of the poems are that you should be happy with what you have at the moment because it won’t always be there.

·         The first song seemed happy the way she was singing it, but while reading it, it seems sad. The second song seems so much more depressed and the message is expressed through the tone and slowness of the music. 

      The mood in the first one almost seems as if she’s trying to sound happy, but the lyrics do not. The tone is making me feel happy too. The second song’s mood was depressing and made me feel sympathetic.

·          

      The first song did not relate at all to the poetry. The singer did not do a good job using emotion and taking the lyrics and expressing them through sadness in the music. The second song could relate a ton to the poetry because you can hear in her voice how she sounds sad and depressed. I feel that the singer in the first song did not do a good job using emotion and taking the lyrics and expressing them through sadness in the music. I though the singer in the second song did a much better job with her emotion and relating it to the poetry and message in the poem.

Character Description Rue

Authors Note: In this following piece, I will discuss the physical features and events that included one of the tributes for the Hunger Games named Rue, from the book "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins.

Within the book "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins, Rue is one of the tributes picked from District 11. Other than the fact she has dark brown skin and eyes, she's very much like Katniss's little sister Prim. Also like Prim, Rue is twelve years old. She has a little body and is small in height as if she were an eight year old girl.

Shortly after Rue's name was called as tribute for District 11, volunteers were asked to take her place, but all that was heard was the wind winding throughout the air. Being the youngest tribute in the games, Rue was given a high score from the Gamemakers. As she showed off her abilities to the Gamemakers while training, she must have had impressive skills to her high score of an eight out of ten. Unfortunately, Rue is one of the last eight to die, although instead of being taken away covered in blood and with a spear through her, Katniss gathered flowers and spread them around and on her, signifying the loving sisterly relationship they had.

Rue

Within the book "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins, Rue is one of the tributes picked from District 11. Other than the fact she has dark brown skin and eyes, she's very much like Katniss's little sister Prim. Also like Prim, Rue is twelve years old. She has a little body and is small in height.

Shortly after Rue's name was called as tribute for District 11, volunteers were asked to take her place, but all that was heard was the wind winding throughout the air. Being the youngest tribute in the games, Rue was given a high score from the Gamemakers. As she showed off her abilities to the Gamemakers while training, she must have had impressive skills to her high score of an eight. 

Trust Your True Friends

Authors Note: This following piece is a formal five paragraph essay discussing the main themes within the book The City of Ember, by Jeanne DuPrau.

When getting in the ages of twelve or thirteen, it's hard to know who your friends are because everyone is changing. Figuring out who will be there when you need help, who will defend you, and who will believe you with whatever you say.Finding out your true friends and not being able to trust everyone are the main themes within the novel The City of Ember for various reasons.

To start, a while after the graduating class had gotten their jobs, Lina bumped into one of her good friends from school. As Lina and her old friend Lizzie were talking, Lizzie acted strange, as though she didn’t want to speak to Lina.Since Lizzie works as a stocks-person, she has permission to go where all the substances are that all citizens have a limited amount to. As it turned out,Lizzie and her boyfriend were stealing food and light bulbs for not only themselves, but the mayor as well.


Next, in any given situation everyone should be able to trust their leader and believe they would do their best to help their people.Unfortunately, the mayor of Ember is the exact opposite. He is not trustworthy,which many people do not know. He has stock workers deliver whatever he needs for him without limited amounts. Also, he doesn’t care about the shortages on light bulbs and food. The discussion between Doon and the Mayor at the end of page 12 through page 13 shows that the Mayor doesn't care about the blackouts or shortages and is too afraid to admit that tragedies are happening to his city.

Unlike Mayor Cole, Lizzie, and her boyfriend, Doon Harrow is a true, loyal friend. He is always there for Lina when she is in need to talk to someone, and believes her for whatever she has to say even if it might seem completely insane. Lina discovered the mayor (someone who seems so devoted to his city)was stealing many things that are limited to the other citizens, and Doon didn't question her or tell her to prove it because he knew she would never lie to him. 

In conclusion; the theme in this novel is shown throughout several ways. Lizzie not being who Lina thought she was, the mayor not being trust Doon, and Doon being the one who was the most dependable out of all.

Mayor Busted for Stealing: True or Myth?

Authors Note: This is a creative piece based off of the book “The City of Ember”, by Jeanne DuPrau. I wrote as if I were the journalist of Ember writing for “The Ember Times”.

The word throughout the streets of Ember is out about the mayor's steeling of supplies that have been running low for years. As many of you, the citizens of Ember know, we have been in a shortage of many things for an extended amount of time now. We have been limited to taking a certain amount on everything now-a-days, so Mayor Cole stealing will only make life in the future worse for us.

The Ember Times interviewed the chief guard for the city, as he was the one who was confronted about the theft. "Nothing has ever gone on like this for the many years I have been working as a guard",says the chief guard. "They came up to me and told me they needed to speak in private, because of an important matter. Next they discussed how there was storeroom in Tunnel 351 on the south end of the pipeworks, stocked with food that hadn't been sold in years and millions of light bulbs being delivered to the mayor. The young girl had talked to a friend, who admitted everything about her boy friend stealing things for the mayor, himself, and for herself as well." These are shocking words, but could definitely be true as well.

As Mayor Cole was confronted about this complaint, he denied every part of it. Signs were put up all around Ember with Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow's names on them, wanted for false accusations. The question that is being asked by everyone is: is it true? While the next few weeks pass, guards will investigate more about the Mayor's theft,discovering if it's true, or a myth.

The Little Things are the Ones that Make the Biggest Difference

Authors Note: This short response is a Text Structure Conflict/Resolution on the book “The City of Ember”.

In the underground city, every year comes a day where the 12 year olds are given a job. The mayor comes to class with a bucket filled with scraps of paper with a different job written on each one. Doon Harrow is pleading to get a job underground near the generators so he can try to help save the city from darkness because they are using only light bulbs for light. Lina, on the other hand, is hoping to get anything but the underground jobs. One of her first picks would be to get the messenger, running throughout Ember, getting to see every inch of the city. As it turns out, they each get the total opposite, so they decide to switch after class. Getting their last choices is one of the main conflicts of the book because Doon is trying to save the city and he can’t do anything if he’s not near the generator.

“Doon reached into the bag and took out the last scrap of paper. He paused a minute, pressing it tightly in his hand. Unfolding the paper, Doon read: “Messenger”. He scowled, crumpled the paper and dashed it to the floor”. This line from the book shows that Doon will not be able to fix Ember’s light issues.

By Lina’s emotions, Doon could tell she was upset from the job she got which was pipeworkers. Since the pipeworkers work under ground near the generator, he decided to ask her to switch jobs. Lina was filled with joy after Doon’s arrangement to exchange jobs. As a line from the book “Happiness sprang into her”, and their conflict was solved.

Become a Better Person

Authors Note: This response is a Text Structure Cause/Effect based off of the story “Thank You, Ma’am”.

As Mrs. Luella Jones was on her way home from the grocery store on a casual night, she was attacked by a young teenage boy trying to steal money out of her pocketbook. Because the strap of the purse broke loose, the boy landed right on his back with his sticking up in the air. She looked down at him, took him by the ear, and dragged him back to her house. She let him clean his face, provided him food for him, and talked to him as if he was her own son. After he left Mrs. Luella's house that night, he learned a lesson that no one had ever taught him before: you don't need to commit crimes and give up on life if you don't have money or loving parents. The climax in the story "Thank You, Ma'am" is when Mrs. Luella Jones takes Roger home just after he tried stealing money from her because it affects the entire story beyond that point.

Before the climax occurred, Roger planned on stealing money from an elderly lady on the street. As his plan failed, he found himself on the lying on the ground, hit by the woman's purse. If he never had attempted to steal Mrs. Jones’s pocketbook, he would most likely have never learned his lesson from her to be a better person.

“It was about eleven o’clock at night, and she was walking alone, when a boy ran up behind her and tried to snatch her purse” is a line from the story that specifically describes what happened before the main event or climax. Moments later the climax occurred: Mrs. Jones taking Roger home with her, making sure he'll remember her once she's through with him.

Rather than Mrs. Jones calling the police and take the young boy to jail, she takes him home, lets him wash the filth off of his face, and feeds him. After he learned his lesson, he wanted to gain the woman’s trust back, and wanting her to know that he is extremely ashamed of his actions earlier that night. If Mrs. Jones just would have called the cops on him, he would have never learned his valuable lesson from Mrs. Jones, and would most likely have kept on committing crimes.

Help the City from Darkness

Authors Note: This short response is a text analyzing off of a quote from the book "The City of Ember" by Jeanne DuPrau.

Before the underground city was full of people, the builders of Ember predicted that within two hundred years, the citizens will be completely out of light bulbs to light the city. Therefore, they made a list of instructions on how to get above to the surface of earth. The builders placed the note in a box and set the box to open two hundred years later,  having every mayor pass it down to the next until the time comes and the box opens. As the years went by, it is now nearing two hundred years later and it is time for the graduating class to pick their jobs. Doon Harrow wants any job but messenger. One of his first pick would be working as a Pipe worker down undergrounds. Lina on the other hand would love to be a messenger. She loves running around town and working where everyone else is. Since they each get their least favorite picks, they switch jobs.

Doon believes that Ember will run out of light bulbs. Within a matter of time, they will live in complete darkness. Because of this, he wants to try to fix this issue and try to save Ember from a world of darkness. That's the main reason why he wants pipe worker so bad. "I have to find something important down there, something that's going to help. I have to . I just have to.", is a line said by Doon that shows that he is going to try to help Ember and fix their issue of running out of light bulbs.

This quote is important because first of all, it gets the readers thinking about what's going to happen. It has them questioning whether or not Doon will find a way to save the city from darkness, and if he will, how he will do it. Second, it kind of sets the story and explains what events will be happening. As it most likely did to every reader, this quote stood out to me the most because it got me thinking and questioning what will happen and wanting me to read more.

What if the setting was changed?

Authors Note: This two paragraph speech is discussing the setting of The City of Ember, how it would be different, and how it would effect the character.

In the novel Cityof Ember, the setting is very different from the world we live in today. In this city, there is no sunlight. They live off of light bulbs for light, so if they run out of light bulbs, they will live in complete darkness. Having no sunlight definitely effects how the story was written because it would be a completely different storyline if for instance there was light coming from the sun.

Having sunlight would effect the characters because for example: Doon is a boy who believes there is a world that is full of bright light and wants to find something that will lead the people living in Ember to it. He also believes that Ember will run out of light bulbs within a matter of time. “The lights go out all the time! There’s shortages of everything”, is a quote said by Doon to the Mayor of Ember, which tells the readers Doon's beliefs about the light bulb situation. If there were light coming from the sun, Doon wouldn't be fighting the Mayor about shortages on everything because their problems would most likely be fixed.

Everything happens for a reason

Authors Note: This is a creative writing piece based off of "Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston Hughes. This piece is an addition to the story, kind of a "what happens next".

Two years after Roger met Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, he was already finishing up his senior year of high school, just about to graduate and leave for Mississippi State University. He was in the New York Times newspaper for the valedictorian of his senior year class with a 3.98 GPA.
 
It was the night of his graduation and he was on the stage waiting for his turn to step up to the podium and present his speech. He looked around in the crowd, skimming every last seat of the auditorium only finding that his parents were nowhere to be found. He looked over again, thinking he may have missed a few spots, until he came to a dramatic stop right in the middle. It was her. Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones.
 
After he presented his speech and was officially graduated from high school, he ran over to her and gave her a hug.
 
“I can’t believe you’re here Mrs. Jones” Roger said with joy in his eyes.
“Now boy, why wouldn’t I be here? I have something for you.” Mrs. Jones said, pulling out a gift bag from behind her.
 
As he glanced in the bag and unraveled the tissue paper until the very bottom, there he saw a white envelope.
 
“What’s in it?” he questioned.
 
“Well it wouldn’t be a gift if I would tell you now would it?” stated the large woman.
 
Roger opened up the pure white envelope with his name written across the front. He found a check for 5,000 dollars sitting within the envelope. A tear drop ran down his cheek, and looked up at Mrs. Luella Jones with his eyes filled up with tears of joy.
 
“I’ve been saving up this money for the past two years, knowing that you’ll be needing it someday” said Mrs. Jones.
 
“Thank you ma’am. Thank you for everything. If you would’ve called the cops or let me loose who knows where I would be. I never had parents to teach me right from wrong and to help me become a better person, and you achieved that all in one night.” Stated Roger.
 
She looked at him with such love and compassion and told him “Boy, everything happens for a reason. Now let’s go on and get home and eat something.”
 
Within a year, Roger was off to Mississippi State, taking with him only the few clothes he had, and the 5,000 dollar check from his dear friend. Every few weeks Mrs. Luella Jones would receive a call from Roger, catching up about school and Mrs. Jones’ beauty shop, remembering the old times they shared.