Argument Essay

            Reading: a form of entertainment to teach and give information to people. Some people thinking reading some books can be dangerous for kids like middle school students. For example some parents don’t want their children reading certain books so these parents decide to ban or challenge the book. An example of a banned/challenged book is Flight by Sherman Alexie. The book Flight is about Zits, a boy who’s dad ran away and his mom died of breast cancer. After Zits ran away from many foster families he decided to shot a room full of people in a bank. When Zits “dies” he goes on a journey of racism, religion, and violence. The book Flight has been challenged or banned from some school libraries because of the violence, racism, and religion in the book. The book Flight should not be removed from middle school libraries because it teaches the reader a lesson about not to waste their life doing bad things.

            Banning books with topics like violence is wrong and should be kept in schools. In the article “Darkness Too Visible” by Meghan Cox Gurdon, “There’s nothing in my book that even compares to what kids can find on the Internet” says Alexie. This shows that kids can find these violent things on the Internet or on the daily. There is a part of the book where Zits shoots a room full of people in a bank (page 34-35). When kids read this and see how the people were reacting they can tell how violence is wrong and how they shouldn’t do violent things. Also another part of the book with violence was the battle with the whites and Indians (page 69-78). At the end of the battle the Indians won and captured 3 white soldiers. At the time Zits was in a little Indian boys body so he saw the battle. The Indian boy’s father wanted Zits to kill one of the white soldiers (about 15 years old) after the battle. Zits didn’t want to kill the boy because he was near Zits age and Zits thought the boy didn’t deserve this. This is another example of how it shows violence is wrong and people shouldn’t do violent things.

            Some books that are challenged or banned contain the topic of racism but these books also shouldn’t be banned. In the book on pages 59-64 of Flight Zits talks about an Indian camp in a bad way. Zits knew it was wrong to talk about peoples races so he stopped. This can show kids how it is wrong to talk bad about peoples races and background. Also another example of racism in the book Flight was on page 126-128. On these pages Zits is in the body of a man named Jimmy. Jimmy is a pilot who’s partner is named Abbad. Abbad was Ethiopian, a Moslem character so people assumed he was a terrorist and didn’t want him to become a pilot. This can show kids that assuming about races can’t always be right. Even though Abbad crashed a plan in Chicago it was an accident. This also shows racism is a problem and kids shouldn’t be racist.

            A third reason a book can be challenged or banned is because it can contain religious topics. For example on page 36 when Zits wake up in the first body after he was killed he prays to God that he really didn’t shot those people in the bank. This is only the first time Zits mentions God in the book. Zits mentions God many times in Flight. When kids read the part of Zits talking about God they can realize that talking about people religions in a good way is good and a bad way is bad. Also another example of religion is page 59-64 where Zits was talking bad about the Indian camps. This can also be considered religion because it talks about Indians past. If an Indian were to read this they could be offended. This shows kids that there are bad ways people can talk about other people’s religions. Another example is on page 131-132 where Zits is in the body of his father who was a drunk that ran away. It also shows how it can offend people in bad ways and teach kids not to talk about religion.

            Challenged or banned books aren’t always bad and can teach kids a lesson or two. Flight teaches the reader about violence, religion, and racism. Even though books teach people good lessons they are still challenged or banned. Since 2013 49 books were challenged for violence, 22 for religious viewpoint, and 11 for racism. This shows even good books like Flight are still challenged for violence, religious viewpoint, and racism. The parents that don’t want their child reading books like these don’t realize that these books are actually teaching their kids something. Those parents think that these books are poisoning their child’s brain when they are actually making their children mature and smarter.

Work Cited

Alexie, Sherman. Flight. New York City: New York, 2007. Print.

Cox Gurdon, Megan. “Darkness Too Visible” New York City: New York, 2011. Print.

Crum, Maddie. "Banned Books By The Numbers (INFOGRAPHICS)." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 22 Sept. 2014. Web. 17 Dec. 2014.

Social awareness project

Observe your surroundings

            Each day many people get picked on for many reasons, some for race, some for looks, and some for different reasons. This issue is called bullying, bullying can happen in many places especially in schools. Sometimes bullies pick on random classmates in schools. The person getting bullied is considered the victim. The victim can get picked on anytime even everyday. Sometimes the victim gets hurt physically or emotionally when they get bullied.

            The problem with bullying is people can get seriously hurt. Some people take it as a joke but others can’t handle bullying and reach their breaking point. Breaking points are usually when people can’t take something anymore and have had enough. Some people get depressed from being bullied and kill themselves. It’s not fair that people have to kill themselves or feel depressed from bullying.

            Sometimes a bully is made by their surroundings. One way a person can become a bully is that their parents treated them bad and now the person wants to take their rage out of others.  Another way is the person was bullied in their past and they feel the need to bully someone else. A third way is the person may be playing a joke on someone but start picking on the person. The effects of bullying can hurt someone of even take someone’s life away. A solution to bullying is the victims tell someone about the bully. Sometimes the victim is too nervous because they think the bully will get them back later after they tell. Other kids don’t tell adults because they think adults can’t help in the situation. Some kids don’t want anyone to know so they just keep it to their selves.  Telling someone can help lots of people and even ends lots of problems. Bullying is a major problem that has end and hurt many people but there are solutions around bullying.

Write a reading response on a social issue

            Many people in this world are afraid of being gay, lesbian, or bisexual. In the story “Am I Blue” by Bruce Caville, the main character Vince isn’t sure of his sexuality. In the beginning of the story Vince meets his fairy godfather named Melvin. Throughout the story Melvin tries to show Vince that you can accept different sexualities. In the story “Am I Blue” the main character Vince learns its ok to like the same gender.

            The story “Am I Blue” takes on the issue of being gay. Being gay, lesbian, or bisexual can mean a lot of things in this world.  Most the time when someone is gay, lesbian, or bisexual a lot of people will judge them. Kids in school like Vince could get picked on for being gay. For example in the beginning of the story Vince had been slammed into a puddle by a boy named Butch because Butch thought Vince was “jumping his bones”. This shows how Vince got picked on by other people because they thought he was gay. “Am I Blue” also shows how people are afraid to admit being gay and hide it. Later on Vince ask himself  “How much trouble is it going to give me to be seen with this guy?” when he walked with his fairy godfather Melvin to a café. Melvin walked in a certain way that made Vince think people would consider him gayer for walking with someone like Melvin. This also shows how being gay can be a big thing to other people and how they judge you.

            “Am I Blue” may be a short story but it sends the reader a message. The message the author is trying to send is its ok to be gay. The author shows this at the end of the story when Vince saves his last out of three wishes. Vince says he’ll save it for the girl of his dream or his Prince Charming. This shows how Vince has accepted liking the other gender from Melvin. This is not like the beginning where Vince was afraid and undecided. Melvin was showing Vince the message while at the same time the author was showing the reader the same message. Like Vince wasn’t sure and undecided he started deciding it was ok. This tells the reader that it’s ok to like the other gender.

            The article "Am I Blue" made me think more about the gay, lesbian, and bisexual community. It made me feel sorry for the gay, lesbian, and bisexual community because they had to deal with people calling hating on them. It doesn't seem right that gay people have to hide their true identities from people. Some people would be friends with someone who is gay but some people wouldn't talk to them if they found out they were gay. Many people don't support liking the other gender and hate on the people who like the other gender. That doesn't seem right, maybe a person who likes another gender can be the nicest person or a really good friend. It also made me think what would happen if everyone really did get gaydar, would people still act the same or different? Overall I don't think it's right that people have to hide their true identity to get other people to accept them.

            The story “Am I Blue” makes a statement that’s its ok to be gay. People shouldn’t hide their true feelings and being open about themselves. Those people who are gay and afraid to open up shouldn’t let others judge you about it. People should be themselves and don’t care about what people think about them. People like Vince were afraid at first but ended up accepted to be gay.

Write an original literary piece

It all started one day with my friend
 He pulled out a cigar one day and
 asked if I want some.

I said naw and he called me a wuss
so I tried it. It was horrible and I didn't smoke again for a while. Next month I didn't know but I was giving it a second chance. It was better than the first time but that was my mistake.

I started to feel like I needed to smoke. I had a little erg to keep smoking so I did. Later it became a bigger erg that told me don't stop.

I cough up more storms every day and I look like crap. I knew I should have stopped but I can't no more.
It's now part of my life. If I stop for a day I'll feel empty.

Later in life I found myself in a bed. I can't remember what happen but I saw a doctor. He was approaching me waiting to tell me something. He told me I had lung cancer. Was it really worth it...

I wrote this poem on the social issue of smoking. Smoking is a big issue that can kill a lot of people and people close to them. An upfront article inspired me when I was looking for a social issue to write about. I also used “Please don’t steal my air jordans” as a mentor text for my poem. I wanted to use the style “please don’t steal my air jordans” used, more of a short story than a poem. A decided to make my poem about a person who was pressured into smoking and ended up paying the price later.

Work Cited

Kicking the Habit by  Robert K.Elder

Please don’t take my air jordans by Reg e. gaines

Am I Blue by Bruce Caville

Nonfiction reading response

America, a place where people are still being executed for crimes. The death penalty is still a punishment in present day America. Some people think that the death penalty is pure torture while others think its ok. The author Patricia Smith of the article “To Kill or Not to Kill?” tell about how there are less executions in the present day. The present day executions use drugs to inject into a person but many drugs have gone wrong and killed people 30 minutes later or longer after they suffer severe pain. The author wants the reader to know about present day executions and how there aren’t as many executions as in the past.

One of the executions mentioned in the article was about a man name Clayton Lockett. Lockett shot a 19-year-old woman and buried her in 1999 but was sentenced to death. Last April when Lockett was injected with an untested drug that was suppose to paralyze and sedative but instead killed him of a heart attack 30 minutes later. Not like past executions (hangings, gas chambers, electric chairs, etc.) the drug failed and instead killed the victim 30 minutes later. The author wants the reader to see and think about how tortures present day executions can be. For example during those 30 minutes Lockett suffered before he died, he probably gasping for air and wobbling around in the bed he was strapped to. In addition the author want the reader to think how there are less executions in present day. This can show how tortures present day executions can be.

Another example of a present day execution was in Arizona this July. It took nearly 2 hours to execute Joseph R. Wood by lethal injection. A news reporter reported Wood took at least 640 gasp before he could die. Again this can show how dangerous and torturous present day executions can be. Another thing the author wants the reader to know is European manufactures refuse to sell the correct drug used for correct executions. This forced prisons to use untested drugs combinations and get drugs from compounding pharmacies. This can leave the reader thinking how dangerous present day executions can be. Both recent executions are great example on how present day executions can be considered dangerous or torturous.

The article made me think further about my opinion about how executions shouldn’t be aloud and more humane punishments should be aloud. This article made me think further about punishments and consequences. Connecting to life, if a child did something bad, their parents would punish them. The same thing happens with adults except adults may face consequences like jail. Compared to jail executions may seem a little too extreme. After reading this article I realized even adults can have consequences, even death.

Flight by Sherman Alexie

            Writing, an art that lets the writer write whatever they want. Some of these pieces actually get published but face problems. For example Flight by Sherman Alexie is a challenged book that people think shouldn’t be in schools. Flight does contain violence, racism, and religion but readers need to look past that. I don’t think that Flight should be banned because it is trying to teach the reader a lesson about life.

            Flight’s lesson about life is that people can waste their lives doing bad things but can change. Violence has a big part in this lesson. In the beginning of Flight, the main character Zits decided to kill a room full of people in a bank. Soon Zits was shot in the back of the head by a security guard killing him. Throughout the rest of the book Zits enters many bodies, almost all having to do with violence. One example of violence in the book is when Zits was in the body of a little Indian boy. His father was forcing him to kill a white boy about the same age as the Indian boy. At that moment Zits kept thinking how he could kill people in the bank but not in the Indian boys body. Parents might want to ban this book to hide their kids from violence but they really can’t. Kids still will find out about violence either from fights at school to shootings on the news.

            Lots of people get treated badly because of their race. This could be another reason why parents would want to ban this book from school. In Flight Zits is a half Indian, half Irish that gets mad at races. For example Zits got mad at rich Indians for ignoring the stupid and poor Indians. Also Zits got mad at one of his white foster families for adopting him just for money. Zits does go on and on about races sometimes in the book. The thing is that all people face racism in their life. There is going to be one person who hates a certain race and treats people like crap. Parents can’t hide kids from races because soon kids will hear stereotypes or worse about races.

            Some parents want their kids to go to school and not hear anything about religion. In Flight there isn’t that much religion but if you dig into the book you can understand why parents could challenge the book about religion. For example when Zits starts asking himself if God is punishing him by sending him into different bodies. This isn’t really a big part but some people can be offended. Another example is when Zits is in the little Indian boy’s body. When Zits first entered the body he was in a camp that he described had a horrible stench. Zits also didn’t like how he was only wearing a little bit of clothes like the Indians did. This could offend some Indians reading this. These offended Indians can think the author is describing the Indians as monster or bad people. Most kids do have a religion that their parents want them to stick to.

            Flight may be a book that is challenged for some reasons but I don’t think it should be banned. This text connects to the world because many people do bad things like Zits but can change. At the end of all the bodies Zits was returned to his body before shooting the people in the bank. Zits then decided to walk away, turn his guns in to a police officer, and give a foster family a chance. I think the reader should have an opinion on the book being challenged or not. I do not think that Flight should be banned because the book is trying to teach the that people can do bad things but can change.    

The Fear

Have you ever experienced a character who changed a lot in a book? In the book The Fear by Charlie Higson, a character named Brooke changed from being a mean and strong girl to a weak and vulnerable girl.

Brooke was a loud mouth that said what was on her mind. She acted like she didn't care for others but deep down she did. Brooke tried not to show her emotions though but get thinking of her mom in her mind. During a battle on the with zombies on a bridge, Brooke was separated from a group of her friends. Brooke ended up going to a museum with another group of kids. Over a year at the museum Brooke changed a lot. Brooke didn't only change emotionally but mentally also. Brooke wasn't blond anymore but now a brunet. Brooke was also nicer and didn't say as much rude things as before. Brooke made a major decision to head back to a tower where her friends lived. Brooke headed to the tower with a group of friend that came from the tower to look for her. During the journey back to the tower the kids were ambushed by zombies. During the ambush Brooke realized how terrified she was of the zombies. Also Brooke really she was vulnerable physically. Brooke was saved during the ambush after all her friends died. When Brooke was taken to a palace and treated by nurses, she realized that she was very vulnerable. She now had to live the memory of watching her friends die and not do anything about it.

Brooke may seen like a dangerous girl when she talks but really is vulnerable in action. Brooke changed emotionally and physically over time. "I want to go home", Brooke said crying. This showing how the old Brooke may not have said that but the new Brooke would have. Brooke now has accepted that it is ok to show emotion around other and not to be rude to others.

Money hungry response

Have you ever struggled in your life. Well in the book Money Hungry by Sharon Flake, Strawberry struggles most of her life. Strawberry and her mother live in "the hood". The government pays for half the rent of the small apartment. The other half comes from Miz's (Strawberry's mother) jobs. Before Strawberry and Miz lived in a apartment, they lived on the street. Strawberry still has nightmares about living on the street.
Strawberry saves money her entire life for emergencies or not living on the streets again. Strawberry gets the money from selling, working, and cleanings peoples houses. People think Strawberry is so money hungry. she'll do anything for money.
As Strawberry starts school, a robbery occurs in her building. The robbers stole from Strawberry's apartment including Strawberry's money. Strawberry and Miz decide to move out and find a safer place to stay. They try a house for sale in Pelican Landing but the people there hates people from "the hood". At night Strawberry and Miz decide to break into the house and stay there.
The day after Strawberry and Miz find a lawyer to try and win them the house. Even though life for Strawberry was hard, they might become easier soon.