Chris Collins

Essay 13

January 27, 2010

Mr. Salsich

English

Racism:

An Essay on To Kill a Mockingbird, and My Life

(1) Racism is terrible; it is like a virus that tries to affect everyone in this world, but we must be resilient and not let it affect us. (2) This racism, this virus, is pervasive; it is found in To Kill a Mockingbird, as well as the world around us.

(TS) A person may look fine on the outside, a nice lady or a kind gentleman, but once you look beneath the surface, you may find something unpleasant. In Chapter 24 of To Kill a Mockingbird, there are many examples of this. (SD) The first example is Aunt Alexandria, and the social meeting with the other ladies. (CM) The ladies discuss helping children in other countries to preserve their image as Christians, but they are prejudiced against black people in their own town.  (CM) They use many racial terms such as “darkys” and “wool,” terms that are offensive, terms that are cruel, terms of pure hatred towards back people. (Loose Sentence) (SD) Another example of racism in Chapter 24 is when Tom Robinson gets shot as he was attempting to escape from prison. He was shot seventeen times and was confirmed dead. (CM) One or two bullets is enough to kill, or at least mortally wound someone, but Tom, a black man, was shot 17 times. (CM) The guard used Tom trying to escape as an excuse to let out his hatred towards blacks. (CS) Racism is one of the most prevalent themes in Chapter 24, and throughout To Kill a Mockingbird. 

(TS) People have fought for many years to abolish slavery and create equal rights for blacks, and for the most part they have succeeded; however, this racism unfortunately still exists in our world. (SD) One major example of this was the racism involved with the civil rights movement in the 1960’s. (CM) During this period many cruel things took place, things like name calling, beating, segregation, and other displays of hatred towards blacks. (CM) Out of bravery, out of integrity, out of a sense of injustice, and out of the passion for change, the black people fought for their freedom. (Periodic Sentence) (SD) Racism has not disappeared from our world; the hatred still exists, especially with people from the Middle East. (CM) The Middle East is where wars are being fought and there are a large number of terrorists there; however, they are not all terrorists even though some racist people think so. (CM) Today, when some people see a person who is from the Middle East, they automatically label them as a terrorist, and they feel that the “terrorist” hates America. This is wrong. This is racism. (CS) There are two kinds of people in this world: the good people and the bad people, and as long as there are bad people in this world, racism will exist as well.

(1) Even though To Kill a Mockingbird was written half a century ago, its messages about racism are still pertinent today. (2) As we have learned from the book, racism is not a good thing, so in our lives we must not let that terrible virus overtake us. 


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Self Assessment: 
I had a lot of fun writing this essay. For me racism was interesting to write about because I have many strong opinions about it. So many opinions in fact,  that I found it difficult to fit them all into a single essay. Also, I really like my periodic sentence; I believe it really strengthens the paragraph. In this essay I believe I improved on my writing grammatically. I really took the time to carefully look over this essay for mistakes. Although I believe this essay is good I believe it could be better. In future essays I would like to make my writing more poetic. I want to make it more graceful and make my writing flow better. I could do this by using better words from the thesaurus, and make more sophisticated sentences. Although I wish i had used more graceful writing, I still think i did a good job on this essay. I would give myself a high B+ or an A-.

Chris Essay 12

January 21, 2010

Mr. Salsich

English

Children:

An Essay on a Sentence in To Kill a Mockingbird

(TS) Some may think that a child isn’t as smart just because they haven’t had years of schooling; however I think that, at times, they can be much smarter than adults. (CM) Adults are sometimes obsessed over their image, so they tend to make hasty decisions to preserve that image, rather than think it through. (CM) As children, we are not concerned about our personal image, so we tend to make the decisions that is the most “morally correct,” instead of the one that preserves our image. (CM) For example, if your gets into trouble and you witnessed it, if you are an adult you may immediately say, “I didn’t see anything,” to preserve your image, and remain their friend; however, as a child you may immediately say you saw them because you have no image to preserve; you simply make the right decision without thinking about the consequences. (CS) Children see the world through different eyes than adults, and this affects many of the decisions they make.

(TS) On some occasions it seems like a little child can have more wisdom than an adult. In Chapter 23, Jem is telling Atticus about the court; about how they judged Tom’s case unfairly, when Atticus says, “So far nothing in your life has interfered with your reasoning process (Lee, 295)” ( (SD) This is very true; children’s minds are not as contaminated as adults'. (CM) Although adults have more experience in life, children’s minds are clean, young and fresh unlike adults old and clouded minds. (CM) Children only think about the answer that is “right,” while adults must sort through the right answer and the answer that Proxy-Connection: keep-alive
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ll support their image. (SD) Atticus also says that if Jem, with his young a clear mind, was on the jury, he would have made a different decision about Tom’s case. (Participle S-V Split) (CM) The people on the jury labeled him guilty because their minds were clouded, they either had to make the decision that would preserve their image as a racist, or make the morally right decision. (CM) Jem’s mind is not clouded with these thoughts, as he is a child, so he would have made the morally right decision. (SD) I believe that it would have been better if the jury in Tom’s case was a jury of children; in fact, I wish that every jury in the world consisted of children. (CM) Their minds would not be clouded with thoughts so they could make the morally right decision every time. (CM) I believe this would save many people from penalties for things they did not do. (CS) Children’s minds are not clouded by what other people think. If it is so easy for them, why can’t adults just clear their minds and think like children?

(TS) Could a child, with only a few years of knowledge, really make a better decision than an adult? (CM) An adults mind is like a packed subway station, crowded and confusing, and it takes a long time to navigate the confusion.  (CM) A child’s mind is like the same subway station, however, this time the station is empty. Their decisions are clear. (CM) Even with all the wisdom that adults posses, sometimes it takes an innocent child to make the right decision.

Self Evaluation:

In essay 12 I believe I continue to improve on making my sentences clear and simple yet elagent. When I first began writing I would drag my sentences on and make them confusing. One weak point in this essay is that it is not my best essay as far as gracefulness. I believe I could have used some better words to make the sentences flow better. I will try to improve on some of these things in the next essay. If I were to grade myself on this essay I would give myself a B-.

Chris Collins

1/14/10

Mr. Salsich

English

Freestyle essay

Education:

An Essay on To Kill a Mockingbird

(TS) Education is a major theme in To Kill a Mockingbird. (SD) The theme first becomes evident in the beginning chapters when Scout must go to school. (CM) Scout encounters a teacher named Miss Caroline, who she does not like due to her teaching style. (CM) Scout struggles with this but eventually overcomes it and pushes through the years at the school. (SD) Then later in the book Scout begins to become educated, to learn, about life in her small town. (CM) She learns about racism, and that not everyone is treated equally. (CM) This begins to become particularly important to her when her father takes the controversial Tom Robinson case. (SD) Scout learns a lot about the courtroom and about racism during the Tom Robinson trial. (CM) Scout is convinced that Tom Robinson had won, but when she hears the verdict “guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty,” she is bewildered. (CM) Atticus gave a good speech and she was sure they had the case won, but things did not turn out the way she expected. (CM) Scout learned that even in a courtroom, where people should be judged fairly, when racism is involved that fair judgment goes out the window. (CS) Throughout the book Scout has learned many things, whether she stumbled upon them, for example the mystery of Boo Radley, or was forced upon them: things such as school. Scout is nowhere near done learning, and she will continue on her path of education as the book progresses.

(TS) Education is extremely prevalent theme in To Kill a Mockingbird, but education is also a major theme in my life. (SD) Pine Point has been my school, and my home, since kindergarten (CM) Unlike Miss Caroline, the teachers at Pine Point are genuinely kind. (CM) If you are more advanced at something, like math or reading, than other students, you are not yelled at, you are congratulated. (SD) Also, At Pine Point, unlike in the book, you have the freedom to say what you want. (CM) In the book when Scout tried to tell Miss Caroline about the Cunningham’s situation, she was smacked on the hand with a ruler. (CM) If I did this at Pine Point, I would be thanked for the information, instead of punished. (SD) Unlike in the book Pine Point does practice fair judgment. (CM) Everyone is an equal, and everyone is treated fairly. (CM) I am traveling on this wonderful path we call life and I am excited to see where it takes me. (CS) My Education does not simply terminate when I finish schooling, instead, I will continue on this path of knowledge throughout my life, until the day that I day.

Visit Three

Chris Collins

3^rd visit- 12/28/09

Assessment

(TS) I was excited to talk more to Will, but as I came in I was informed I was going to help out with some entertainment instead. Although I was disappointed not to be able to talk to Will again, I was happy that I would be able to do this instead. (SD) First, we had to set up in the dining room. (CM) We had to more all of the tables in order to make a U-shaped row of chairs. (CM) Then, one by one, we had to wheel or walk all the residents that wanted to go into the dining room. (SD) The performer was Clayton Allen, a guitarist and singer there to play some classics, as well as some Christmas tunes for the residents. (CM) Clayton was very good, and brought smiled to many of the residents’ faces. (CM) Some of the residents really got into the music clapping and dancing, while others fell asleep and remained motionless the entire time, even with loud music playing the entire time. (SD) After it was over we had to wheel the residents back to their rooms. (CM) Some of the residents still buzzed with excitement from the performance, humming the tune, or talking about “the old days” when they first heard a specific song. (CM) However, others remained motionless like they had during the performance maybe only muttering a word when they got back to their rooms. They seemed like the performance was nothing, not even a small speed bump in their slow boring lives. (CS) I had a lot of fun and I truly look forward to my visits ahead.

Visit Two

Chris Collins

2^nd visit-12/22/09

Mr. Salsich

Assessment

(TS) Interestingly enough, the nursing home has around 60 residents, but only three of them are men. (SD) Since they do not get many male volunteers, Barbara Millerick, my advisor there immediately brought me to talk to them. (CM) One was named Brian who was interesting, but shuddered when he talked. (CM) The others were Bill and Will, who where much easier to talk to than Brian.  (SD) Out of these two Will was friendly and easy to talk to so I immediately formed a bond with him. (CM) Will is around 60 years old, which is rather young for a home like this, but cannot walk, has small speech problems, and has weak muscles. (CM) Even with this he is easy to talk to and is filled with stories. (SD) Although we were running out of time, I learned a few interesting things about Will. (CM) Before ending up in the home, Will worked at EB (Electric Boat). (CM) Also, Wills mom was apparently involved in the original process of founding Pine Point School. (CS) I had a great time today, and I am excited to come back next weak and learn more about Will’s interesting life.

Visit One

Chris Collins

1^st visit- 12/16/09

Mr. Salsich

Assessment

(TS) Before my first visit to the Mary Elizabeth Nursing home in Mystic, CT, I was a little nervous about working with old people, but I was surprised when I got there. (SD) As I was toured around the halls of the building I walked past room after room of people, and in these rooms I saw three different kinds of people. (CM) I saw people that were relatively young and were only there for rehabilitation. (CM) However, I also saw two different kinds of elderly. (SD) I saw one kind that looked lonely and unwanted. (CM) As I walked by their rooms, they stare blankly with sad faces, wondering who this person is and what they are doing interrupting their slow life. (CM) They have nothing better to do then thing and watch the world go by, unwanted by society. That is why they ended up here. (SD) The other type of elderly there just looks tired. (CM) They want to do nothing more than sleep or watch TV all day. (CM) They are tired and are no longer interested in the fun activities of life. (CS) This is what I experienced at my first day visiting Mary Elizabeth Nursing home.