Life and death.

Author's Note: I became a little confused with this piece and I would like to have it graded and see what I need to do to make it better and then make those corrections! 

                Death, possibly falling in to a deep sleep; drifting to heaven as memories, good and bad, rush through your head. Or possibly it could be being brutally raped, dismembered, and then buried and never found again. Watching every agonizing second of your family falling apart, just as Susie Salmon had done in the book The Lovely Bones.

                Although I have not read the ending of this book I have pretty good prediction of what will happens next and this is my version…

P.S. Susie Narrates the story from heaven and Susie’s Mother is on her way to Vegas.  

…

I watch my family as if flipping through pages of the life I will fail to ever see in my physical body. My little brother playing with the neighbor boy in the backyard. Lindsey in her room with Sam venting about the affair my mother is committing. Father, fast asleep in the old worn leather chair in his office. But my per say “world” comes to a halt when my mother has found herself on the side of the road quietly weeping as she crushes my old charm bracelet in the palms of her hand. The one Mr.Harvey dumped on the side of the road states away from the deep hole I was murdered in. Evidence. My mother  frantically dials my father’s number.

“Hello?” His deep voice bellows through the phone. I yearn to hear that voice again. 

“I’m coming home,” my mother gives no time for my father to respond and ends the call. It’s a slow painful ride home.

Mother opens the front door and gazes into the eyes of Detective Len Fenerman. She instantaneously snaps her head in to a different direction. Out of embarrassment? Or out of selfish moments she’d failed to erase with that man? This, I will never know. She looks ahead to only find my sister staring straight through her almost as if she is nothing to her anymore. Then she resorts to putting her head down and explains the situation holding out the bracelet nearly like a peace offering. Rarely looking up to see the face she had so easily fell for. The tension  the room elevates. Everyone shocked and focused on the small metal bracelet in the center of the table. Len stands puts the bracelet in a small baggy and retreats to the door.

“I will do the best I can to find your daughter’s killer. I’m sorry we hadn’t gotten him earlier,” Mr.Fenerman courteously tips his head to my mother then father and slowly closes the door. My mother watches him leave out of the front window as if she will never see him again. As if those were her last words to her secret lover.

Abruptly a vase smashes against the wall. Everyone spins to see my father squatting, hands covering his face in aggravation. He sits for several seconds before recoiling to his office to find himself thinking of me. Of my face and warmth. My smile and voice. I’m upset although flattered. Someone could love me with such passion, but a love that brings much sorrow. I wish so much to comfort him but all I can do is watch. As I walk to my balcony I wish for Mr.Harvey to die. It would leave my family with relief and wash away some of the pain. But I know only a physical person could kill Mr.Harvey. So I wish for my father to reap revenge.

Several days go by as my family’s energy level drops and they find themselves in grief coma unable to awake, almost as bad as the day I was perceived dead. Although, I can sense a higher energy and I know something is terribly wrong. I start to flip through the pages once more. Lindsey is taking a jog around the neighborhood, safe. My brother in his afternoon nap, safe. Mother is knitting, safe. Father working in his office, safe. An ache goes through my body. I go back to my sister, there.  Deep in the tree my sister had once rested was Mr.Harvey.

He stalks her from a distance. I remember everything from that day as if it were yesterday. My terrifying shrieks and his stale breath. He speaks. 

“Lindsey, right? Susie’s sister?” Lidnsey looks for the source of her name. I want to scream for her to run.

“Yes?” Lindsey turns to him and a shiver runs up the spin of her back.

“Oh, hi there! It’s Mr.Harvey! I’m back to the neighborhood just wanted to see how everybody was doing. You holding up fine?” He speaks to her with such kindness. A kindness I find repulsive. I know now that he just couldn’t resist my sister. He desired her blood.

“Yeah I’m good, thanks. I better be getting back now. Nice to see you!” I realize she might just get away. She knows he’s my murderer.

“But Lindsey, don’t you want to catch up? I’ve got some refreshments in my car, you must be thirsty?” He takes a few steps closer.

“No, I’m good but thank you” She stumbles back.

“Come on Lindsey, I was your neighbor?” His voice starts to sound quiet irritated.

“I’m sorry I have somewhere to be” she tries to find any reason to leave.

“Lindsey please. Come with me” His voice become stern and cold. He leaps forward in to a full sprint after my sister. She screams and my father awakes. Lindsey’s fast as her long lanky legs gracefully run along the pavement. Mr.Harvey pants as he tries to keep a steady pace. Sweat leaks down each of their faces. The murderer becomes steps away.  A race for life or death.

“BANG!” One shot.

“BANG!” Two. The shots still ring in my ears as my father because still with his finger clenched around the pistol in his hands. My sister turns back to see Mr.Harvey lying on the pavement blood and all the lives he has stolen gushing out of his chest. The life fade’s out of his eyes and It appears that death was chosen for Mr.Harvey. I grin as my sister falls to the ground in my father’s arms. He drops the gun and weeps tears of happiness.

~

As you can see I chose a “Happy Ending” because I assumed a book of despair should lead to some happiness. Just like in the book My sister's Keeper it had a twist at the end but I feel it was the only way the book should have ended. Therefore making it my version of a "Happy Ending". Obviously, I may not have gotten every detail correct in my alternate ending but the main idea of Mr.Harvey dying was accurate. Instead of being shot by  Susie’s father though, an icicle had fallen on him killing him instantly and then leaving him to be covered and frozen by the white snow falling during that cold season.

The reason I picked this ending was because Susie’s father had vocalized several times how he was going to kill his daughter’s murderer. He hated Mr.Harvey with a passion and couldn’t wait to steal his life like he had done to Susie. Also I tried to add in specific details from the book like Susie’s  charm bracelet, her mother’s cold personality, Mr.Harvey’s stale breathe, and Mr.Salmon’s old chair. All of this to make this alternate ending relate to the book.  

Character development.

Taryn Bradley

The Woman of Twilight

             Authors Note: This piece is about how characters develop in books and why. Bella is a quiet girl and she learns to become a strong opinionated woman with help from her catalyst, Edward. I decided to also relate it to hunger games because Katniss is much like Bella in each series. 

The Twilight series is one of the most popular books of the decade. Something about vampires, werewolves, and love intrigues a book and movie lovers mind. Not only is the series about mystical creatures but a girl developing through each book. Bella, the main character is quiet, shy, awkward and a bit cold. She kept to herself throughout her first year at a new school. Several boys drooled over her like a shiny new toy but she was only interested in one boy, Edward Cullen. A quietly gorgeous vegetarian vampire that cannot keep him  himself away from Bella. Through each book they fall deeply in love and end up married with a child, while the Volturi (rulers/most powerful vampires in the world) is on their heels.  

This shy naïve girl transforms to a gorgeous women. Not only was this a physical change though, her personality played a big part in this development. She became strong; ready to knock anyone down that got in her way and a little more fun to be around.  For example in the first book (Twilight) Bella was silly enough to fall for the tricks of a ruthless vampire, meeting him at a ballet studio across the street from her old home. By the end of the series Bella has become more sharp about her actions and can put things together that others intend for her and only her to know.  Such as, in Breaking dawn she is able to read the clues Alice has left for her. Bella learns why Alice left and what she needs to do to keep her family safe. Bella is now able to think before she makes decisions that might affect the people around her and learns to defend herself.

           

Although Bella changes in a big way she has had someone to influence that change. Her vampire husband Edward. Which I would consider her catalyst. Without his love she would have never encountered vampires or even turned in to one. She would stay that innocent, painfully awkward girl tripping in to each day unnoticed, except for the few gratifying boys at school. He has changed her life for basically eternity.

                

Just like in the Hunger Games series a boy changes the girl. Katniss is a stiff, serious, emotionless, down to business girl. She goes in to the annual live killing fixture referred to as, the hunger games. Two people from each district (1-12, 1 being the wealthiest and 12 being the most poor) between the ages of 12 and 18 get thrown in to a vast piece of land, locked in until everyone brutally murders each other. Once one lone tribute stands they win the games and never working another day in he or she’s life. Both Katniss and Peeta were chosen to be tributes in the Hunger games. Both realizing they’ve come to the probability of death. But Peeta gives Katniss a reason to live and teaches her to love again. Just like Edward, being her catalyst. So once she returns home as a victor along the side of Peeta she finds herself stuck between her two loves, Peeta or Gale (childhood friend). Similar to Bella with Jacob and Edward.  Katniss finally starts to live again and become more bubbly and outgoing, as did Bella after her falling for Edward.

              

As you can see character development play a large part in the plot of every book. A small character can easily influence and be the catalyst of a strong independent women. For some it just takes a little love.

                 

Prediction: 3:15

My prediction at the ending of the 3:15 Story is that Troy will come out of the class room the same kid he use to be and somehow Mr.Mason will become a fun exciting teacher instead of a stale boring one. I think this because Mr.Mason actually found a student that liked him and that will bring a slight warmth to his heart and bring him out of his cold black abyss and learn to love again.

My prediction was incorrect because Troy still became a boring kid and Mr.Mason stored his personality away like the rest of the childrens’.

Patriots Pen

Authors Note: What would you tell our founding fathers if they were living? I think that the piece below describes exactly what I would say to those noble men.

Dear Founding Fathers,

Patriotism runs through our veins like our own blood; it flows and gushes until the day we die. It’s something that gets past down from generation to generation. But not only would patriotism not exist but our freedom and rights would be absent,  if you brave and treasured men hadn’t fought and laid the foundation for the country we know today.

First of all, my Great-grandfather and grandmother took the lonesome journey of moving all the way from Portugal and Belgium at the ages of 13 and 16 to settle in the new country for a better life. Resulting in them marrying and creating the family I have today. None of this would have been possible if it weren’t for the freedom and rights you have constructed and given us today. You have made America a place for safety, opportunity, and a place for immigrates to call home. You men made America the land of the free and the home of the Brave.

Not only did you make America a home for immigrates, but you made America the home of baseball, apple pie, barbeques, and Coca-Cola. A country that is strong and successful, that gives hope for a better life, and that is ready for the bumps that lie in the path ahead. You have made this country for what it is today. Today, many people do not give you the credit you deserve. No one looks at how the country came to be. They just look at the government today and who is ruling it. Maybe they do not realize the role you played in forming the country or do they just not care? Without your courage and faithfulness to our country our accomplishments and government would have never came to be. This country may never have been free if it weren't for your insatiable hunger for freedom and the fight you made sure to prevail. Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight.

Some may say that many people don’t appreciate you and some may say that you were not as successful as wanted with establishing this country. This I disagree with. I would prefer to put them in your shoes and question them on their knowledge during the times of the Revolutionary War and when you signed the Declaration of Independence. How would they start a country? I perceive this task as a pretty challenging one. One that takes a thought process of very smart individuals. To decree laws and then use them 300 years later is quite an achievement! Due to your laws we have become very successful but we continue to apply our strength judiciously and to preserve human rights around the world. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave.

In the third verse in the Star Spangled banner it states ”Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.” Britain left a print on America at the start of the Revolutionary war killing many of your brethrens, but once the war had subsided it showed that there blood of defeat had washed away those prints. Leaving a space for our new patriotic blood to fill. 

Sincerely,

Taryn 

Casey at the Bat: Cause and effect.

Authors Note: In the story Casey at the Bat  there was a very obvious cause and effect, so knowing this I thought it would be a good topic to analyze. I pretty much had a easy time writing this.

It’s the biggest game in Mudville, the final inning is up and the score is not looking to good in the story Casey at the Bat. Mudville losing by two at this point, all they needed was to get Casey at the bat. Two teammates struck out and two hit line drives to receive a single and a double! Finally, they’ve put Casey at the bat. The crowd roared and cheered because they all knew Casey could easily win the game! He stepped up to the plate soaking up the attention. He let the first and second ball go because that wasn’t his “style”. Casey began to get cocky with his abilities and start to show off. He had two strikes, would he make it three?

As you can see Casey was very arrogant and stuck up. He thought he was so much better then everyone thought and he could hit any ball. Making a scene and waiting till the last strike to try and hit the ball. In result Casey ends up with a swing, and a miss! His arrogance left him with the whole town aggravated, disappointed, and cheerless. There are many different scenarios that could have drastically changed the outcome of this game. Casey could have tried to hit it each time he would have had a way better chance of winning the game. Or maybe if he just could lose his self-centeredness for a few minutes to win the game not only for himself but for the town and his team. If Casey would have played differently the effect on the game would have been different.

Werewolf vs. Vampire: Conflict resolution

Authors Note: Conflict is very obvious in the Twilight series. Two different monsters fight over everything, the only agreeable thing is that they both are immortal. This made writing a conflict resolution piece very easy to write about. 


Werewolves and vampires; one’s fuzzy, one shines, one sleeps, one doesn’t, one lives, and one does not. They both fight over the girl, the people, and the territory. It’s an endless war between the two people, more like species, in the Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer. I would consider it a Person vs. Person conflict. The two societies clashing every time they interact with each other. Their cultural differences and beliefs make it exceptionally hard for them to look in to each other’s eyes.  Two men, one from each the vampires and the werewolves, fight over Bella. She’s just a quiet outcast, new to the town of Forks. Jacob, werewolf and Edward, vampire, fall head over heels for Bella creating the Ultimate battle between the two supernatural monsters. One of the biggest questions was who should she choose.

Bella, it’s the girl both Jacob and Edward wanted. Although, in each book Bella and Edwards relationship grew just a little stronger and she ends up married and with a half vampire child. They love each other, but the space imbedded in both Bella’s and Jacob’s heart is that special spot that no one else can take up. Bella understands the love Jacob has for her and always will. In the end of the series Jacob learns to swallow his sorrows and look elsewhere for love, he learns to live with the scent of the Vampires and learns to coup with his jealousy. Both vampires and werewolves will never fully agree or connect in anyway, but learn to live with each other’s differences for the  girl each loves. 

Dottie: Narrative

Every child knows how to work the system. Those sweet little faces, quiet voices, big eyes. Almost like a puppy; simply irresistible. My brother, sister and I added the two together to create the ultimate product. A dog.

My siblings and I always wanted a dog, it was the one thing most American Families had and we did not. Therefore we insisted on adding a new member to the family. We tried the "Everyone else has one" Or the occasional "We will take care of it, promise!" But if that wasn't working we went to option C, Morgan (my older sister). Only used for special occasions like this and not very frequently to avoid repetition.

Morgan was the Google queen she could find anything and everything on the internet and write heartfelt letters that my parents just couldn't resist (this was the exact way we got our past cats). My sister Googled and researched until, finally, she found a litter of puppies in the area. It was from a breeder, personally I would prefer to rescue but at age 8 I didn’t think much of it.

The breed was an English setter. Perfect size, not to big, not to small and a bird dog (Pointer) just as my father wanted. She presented her findings to my parents, they immediately fell in love and we, without delay, planned a day to go see the puppies. Although my Dad specifically said you are only looking not buying, we all knew we were getting a new puppy. Luckily, my mother did too.

                                                                       

Once the day had arrived to "look" at the puppies we had only seen in pictures we were thrilled. The family piled in to the car, with the exception of my father, due to work. My mother stopped at pet store to buy a cage and toys for the puppy—but yes, we were only “looking”... 

Once we had arrived at the breeders home we ran straight to the pen of puppies. They were black and white, and white and red. Adorable. About 8 of them rushed to the front of the fence at our approach. Front paws pressed up against the cold metal, yearning our attention. Each of our fingers slipping in between each small diamond shaped hole just to feel there 8 week old fur and wet soft tongues kiss our fingers. Our faces  lit up and when we turned around to see my mother’s reaction; we knew we were in luck as she was just as excited. One of the dogs stood out, she was a small, hyper female that was bounding around the cage. The puppy had a big brownish red dot on her lower back. We couldn’t resist playing with her and we knew she was the one.

As she was separated from her brothers and sisters their cries grew stronger. A mixture of jealously and distress came from each yip. You couldn’t help but want to take them all home, a frown swept across my face. Looking back at all the puppies wondering where each one will end up. If they will ever be taken home. That thought just erased by sounds behind me; my family cooing and calling for our new dog. Ironically the breeder told us they called her Dottie—Which is what my mother and all her siblings call my grandma— So let’s just say the name stuck. Dottie seemed like the happiest best dog ever! Until we started on our way home…

The entire trip home was a chorus of yips and whines coming from the puppy in the back. Definitely a time to bring the headphones!  Obviously upset about leaving her littermates; all I wanted to do was climb in the back to “save” her. Every time I even tried to reach my hand to the back it was swiftly slapped away like a fly.

“Leave her alone, she will keep doing it if you give her the attention”,  my snotty sister hissed at me.

In my head her comment made no sense, she should surely be happy I would even offer to stop the annoying dog. Apparently this offer meant nothing to her, so I eventually gave her a dreadful look, rolled my eyes, and gave up. Then resumed to dream about the wonderful adventures I would have with Dottie. She would love me the most, sleep with me, play with me, and I would make sure  that every person knew she was basically all mine. I was the happiest girl alive.

6 years later…

This dog loves my mother the most. This dog sleeps with my mother. This dog plays  with my mother. My mother makes sure that every person knows that Dottie is basically hers. As luck would have this dog truly enjoys my mother’s companionship more than anyone in the family. We children do all the work only to fall short in the end. 

Retelling

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Retelling

A true story about Bruno, son of the German Nazi Commander who commences a relationship with a Jewish boy named Shmuel, will pull your heartstrings. A fence separates the two, but once they want to take away the barrier of their relationship to help find Shmuel's father they both get in to some deep trouble. 

Symbolism powerpoint

Symbolism 

Semantic Devices

Semantic Devices

Drilling for Oil

Authors Note: The US has a shortage of oil, but I don't think digging in a sanctuary is the answer. I had a hard time writing this because I didn't relate to it very much.

Gulf oil spill, Ixtoc 1 oil spill, and Kolva River oil spill are some of the largest oil spills in the world; all of them averaging around 150 million gallons of oil dumping in to each body of water. Most oil spills were cause by a pipeline blowout or a poorly maintained pipeline. The littlest thing can cause a disaster in the oil industry, so why risk it? That’s the question I ask when the government says they want to dig for oil in Alaska's Wildlife preserve.  Digging for oil in Alaska would be a horrible idea and should not even be considered.

A study by the US Energy Information Agency shows it would only reduce US oil imports 4%, having no real effect on prices or supply. Also, according to the Arctic Wildlife Organization at the current consumption rates of the USA the oil supply at the ANWR would only last us up to six months. So is it really worth going through all that work of importing machinery and running a risk of an oil leak? We would just go back to the same situation we are now within half a year. Sure, it may create jobs for people, but in the end the government would have more paychecks to pay for. In addition, once we are finished digging for oil the people who got those jobs would once again be unemployed.

There wouldn't only just be any impact for the economy; we also would be ruining an animal habitat. To import the machinery in to the forest trees would need to be cut down and once they are in the woods they would crush anything in their way; making massive destruction. This would be an immense production that would cause animals to leave their natural habitat. For example caribou move north toward the ANWR seasonally, and drilling carries the risk of diverting and potentially reducing the herd. Sources have also revealed that other key species live on Alaska’s shoreline and could be threatened.

People aren't thinking of the animals in the Wildlife reserve. The majority are thinking that their gas prices will go down and then they will have money in their pocket. Although they don't know that they will be ruining a sanctuary that the US might desperately need later or that they are ruining animals’ habitats for their extra money. Also they probably don't know that they will only get these low gas prices for six months until it all goes back to normal.

Drilling for oil in Alaska is not a very good idea considering the points that have just been given. If there will be no impact on the economy and animals leaving their home for our selfish needs I don’t think digging for oil is worth it. The US should find other energy sources and leave the wildlife sanctuary for someday when we truly need it.