Bullying Hurts

Author’s Note:  In the following paragraphs, please look for my strong narrative introduction, my details, and my citations in the piece.

As you walk through the cold hallways of a school, you see a human, like the rest of us, getting harassed and thrown into a locker because of a difference that can’t be helped.   You never know the battle they might be were fighting, so don’t judge them.  Many people get bullied for being overweight, wearing different clothes, having disabilities, and more. Due to the effects of bullying and how it affects society; everybody needs to stand up for what is right.

Children that are victims of bullying hate going to school because of the thought of being humiliated again. With 20 to 30 percent of children being involved in bullying incidents, the chance of being bullied is pretty high (Scholastic Magazine).  During the school day victims of bullying tend to think about why certain people don’t like them and their grades reflect on the lack of focus (Scholastic Magazine).

Although victims of bullying can be affected both emotionally and physically, sometimes it can lead to devastating consequences. One consequence of bullying is suicide. This is a large problem for our world, because people are committing suicide in multiple occasions. For example, in 2010, a 15-year-old immigrant from Ireland took her own life because of excessive bullying  (Ehiorobo). Bullying can kill, so go save a life and stop bullying before it becomes deadly.

In the short story, “All Summer in a Day", people bullied Margot because she was different.  This short story is just like the real world, because people get bullied for being different in many ways.  Margot, a young girl, that came from Earth to Venus, was hated because she had seen the sun before unlike the others.  People bullied Margot because of her differences that separated her from others. Although this was wrong, nobody stood up for her, with the thought of getting bullied,as well.

 

After reading about the sad and heartbreaking effects bullying has, you are probably wondering what ways you can help.  Yes, there are many ways to help with bullying incidents.  To prevent schools from having bullying, they can have code of conduct with different rules that involve bullying (Stop Bullying). Also, educate the youth and adults, so they can work together to make a stronger community (Stop Bullying). Lastly, people can take anonymous assessments, so the school can calculate the numbers and be more aware of what is going on during the school day (Stop Bullying).

Bullying affects people mentally and physically in different ways. As well as emotionally that can lead to suicide.  Whenever you see somebody getting bullied, stand up for what is right to create a stronger community. If you stand up against bullying, you can change the lives of many.  “Knowing what's right doesn't mean much unless you do what's right.” (T. Roosevelt )

Works Cited

Ehiorobo, Dr. Terry. Crisis Prevention. March 2012. Article. 20 May 2013.

Scholastic Magazine. Bullying and Teasing: No Laughing Matter. 2013. Article. 20 May 2013. 

Stop Bullying. Educate About Bullying. n.d. Article. 23 May 2013.

Pony Express Was Created

Author’s Note:  In the following paragraphs I will put together a historical fiction piece.  Please look for my interesting information and the voice in this piece.

           

As Alexander Majors and I were walking around the filthy town of St. Joseph , we were just trying to think of a way to make some cold hard cash.  We couldn’t get one idea into our heads until I heard people complaining about how long it takes for the mail to arrive.

“Really, we got one piece of mail and it took 2 months for them to get it here. Why does it take so long?” said the neighbors.

“Hey Alexander, we should make a fast delivery service so people can receive their mail faster.  So are you in with me Alexander?”  I asked.

“I’m in, we should go to Congress to get this approved!” he responded.

As we went to Congress with our heads high, we got the program approved and everyone was happy about it.  We asked our friend William B. Waddell, to be part of the Pony Express Mail Service and he accepted.  After the approval from Congress, we bought about 500 of the nicest, fastest and finest horses in the Middle West, along with that , we hired 200 riders that could avoid death daily. Our Pony Express Mail Service started on April 3, 1860 with the help of these brave riders.  (Pony Express)

People! People! Anyone want to be part of the next big thing, the Pony Express!  You have to be 18 or younger and you have to be willing to face life or death situations.  The pay is $25 a week. “Who is with me?” I asked. (Hafen)

As Johnny Fry raised his hand, he didn’t realize this decision was going to totally changed his life for both, good and bad.  While working this job, he might travel 10,000 miles in 8 days. Granted, the pay is high, but the danger is even higher.

As time passed, the Pony Express was getting more and more popular every minute.  They were delivering approximately 483 pieces of mail a week. It costs $5 to ship a ½ ounce time, but the riders were only delivering about ⅓ of the mail.  So, although the business was growing, so were the expenses and bankruptcy was coming. (Hafen)

“Johnny, John, Bill, Gus, all of you, we need to to deliver every piece of mail and no wasting money because you guys aren’t trying.  You aren’t affected by this because you still get paid, but you won't be for long! If you don’t deliver, you won’t have a job.” I shouted.

Not enough of my riders would heed my warning.  I made my announcement, “We are currently closing the Pony Express Mail Company because we are $200k in debt and we can’t afford to lose any more money”. I said. (Smith)

SNOWBOARDING AIR FEELING

Author’s Note: This is my creative piece that I wrote, about the feeling when you launch off the snowboard jump.  Please look for how it sets a scene in your head and look at the figurative language.  

On a cold wintery day, what is better than going to the terrain park of Little Switzerland and tearing it up?  Nothing is better because on most cold days people are gaming, when you could be enjoying time on the slopes , while working on your snowboarding skills.  There is a rush that goes through you as you fly off the slope as if you were an airplane running off the run away.
           
As you fling off the slope hoping you can land that trick you have been practicing all year, you feel something special that moment that isn’t replaceable.  When you start launching off the ramp you feel a rush through you blood and body that makes you what to try even harder, just like the word “dedication”.  Dedication is the word that makes you into a good snowboarder; dedication helps you in many ways including perfection of tricks, motivation, and working harder every time.  You hit the jump and your arms come out as if you were a baby eagle trying to fly for the first time.

Then the air takes you in its hands, but the gravity is too strong and you are only in the air for about two seconds. The air is like a little boy trying to lift 100 pounds when the gravity is a bodybuilder lifting 100 pounds, the gravity will always win against the air.

These moments aren’t for long, because after your snowboard hits the ground, that great feeling is over and you feel like a normal person again, not a superhero flying through the air.  Although the feeling isn’t for long it is totally worth it with the thought that no one is stopping you.  You feel like you are free as an eagle soaring through the treetops of the woods.   As you fling through the air, everyone is watching you to perform as if you  were a pitcher trying to throw a no hitter in World Series Game 7.

The Horse with No Fear

Author’s Note:  This piece is based on a picture shown to me in Language Arts. In the following creative piece I will set the scene for you to see what was truly behind this picture.  Please look for voice and how it sets a scene in your mind.

I was taking Billy, my horse for a little walk in the dark woods.  Many things that night were feeling weird, but I just didn’t know what.  The wind was whistling past my ears, like a ghost screaming.  After about an hour of riding my horse around, I felt  that something or someone was moving in the woods. It  looked liked Paul Revere on an invisible horse, but I wasn’t certain.  As I came closer to the object, I thought my mind was playing with me and nothing had occurred.

Still not certain of what I saw, something moved again and I was certain that the object was running right toward me. In disbelief, Billy and I just stood waiting to see what  was going to occur. As the ground rumbled like a little earthquake, a large figure on an invisible horse came straight at us and we knew nothing was going to stop it.

Billy turned to run, but fell on a log in the process.  The invisible horse slashed right through Billy and kept running on into the woods until we lost sight of them.  As I turn to see the dark bloody wound, there wasn’t one; all you could see was an invisible line taken off of the horses neck and upper stomach.  In disbelief not knowing what to do, Billy just stood there tall, just like nothing happened.  Is my mind just playing with me or what?

Never blame until you hear both stories

Author’s Note:  In this creative writing piece for point of view, I will show you the point of view of another character in the book, Calico Joe by John Grisham.

On a cold Saturday night of baseball, Joe Castle drives a homerun over the fence and shows off, Warren Tracey the pitcher knows what his move is next.   Calico Joe, by John Grisham, is a book that talks about how one stupid mistake of a pitcher affected the career of a young promising baseball player.  This novel  Calico Joe, is written in first person which isn’t the best because you can’t see the point of view of the other characters.  During this piece I will explain the point of view of Warren Tracey, son of Paul Tracey, to see why he did some of the things he did.

John Grisham wrote Calico Joe in first person from the view of Paul Tracey, because of this the reader is affected by only knowing one person’s side of the story. For example, when Warren Tracey was pitching Paul was thinking that his father was making a dumb decision and was trying to ruin somebody’s life.  Also, when Paul was playing baseball, he thought his father was trying to embarrass him.  This is because we only hear the point of view of the child, which makes us think that Warren Tracey is the bad guy.  If Calico Joe by John Grisham was written in the point of view of Warren Tracey ,father of Paul Tracey, people would think different about him.  In the creative story I will be writing a piece about when Warren Tracey was pitching against Joe Castle and how he felt.

Wow!  Why is Joe Castle showing off? I thought we were friends.  While not anymore, by the way he is showing off to me.  Okay, I will just relax and throw a strike, here I go. As I wind up, I am thinking fastball, fastball, fastball.  I will put a little more force on this one. Then I  rear back  and release the baseball in the direction of the plate.  Whoosh! The ball was going 95 mph straight at the batter’s face. Bang, Joe was down.  Oh my gosh, what did I do?  I never hoped to cause this much misery.

Growing up and Bravery

 Author’s Note: Throughout, Fighting Ground by Avi you will learn how to be brave and how to grow up.

Saving a child from a house fire, fighting for your country, and protecting your family are all examples of courage and valour. Many genres of books included the themes growing up too quickly and bravery, but in my thought action and adventure have the best evidence of themes.  In the book, The Fighting Ground, by Avi, readers will learn how it feels to be brave, which helps you become a strong person, but if you mature too quickly and  think you are invincible, it can hurt you in different ways.

Although bravery is an important aspect to carry in life, being too brave can actually hurt you in multiple ways. Jonathan, a 13 year old, fighting in the Revolutionary War has a lot of evidence of his bravery in the story.  For example, Jonathan was fighting, he took the big role of shooting a musket at the British during war.  Also he saved a little boy that was scared. However, Jonathan was too daring; after the war he finally noticed that war wasn’t fun and games.

Well bravery is a big part of the book, the other theme, growing up too fast is equally as important.  Growing up too quickly is not a great trait to have because Jonathan, barely a teenager, hasn’t lived through his childhood yet, and he still wants to take adult responsibilities. At the age of 13, Jonathan is joining the soldiers to fight for what is right. After almost his death and his close call with getting captured, he finally notices at the end of the book that he was too young for war.

Bravery and growing up too fast isn’t only discussed in Fighting Ground: these themes were also discussed in The Hunger Games.  Katniss, the main character in “The Hunger Games”, took adult responsibilities by providing food for her family and also showed courage by taking her sisters spot in the games.  Both of these characters share many traits, but are still different in multiple ways.

While bravery and growing up too quickly were huge factors of the similarities in both of the books, determination is what brought the two books together.  Being brave and maturing too fast ,both have their pros and cons.

New Life

Author’s Note: This piece is a prediction, please look for great vocabulary and creativity.

Depression, guiltiness, and sadness all went through Cody’s brain after walking out of the dark woods.  Cody knew he had to do something about it, because it was wrong to disobey the old man. Not knowing what to do, Cody walked home with tears spilling from his face with guilt. 

After opening the brown, old door to his house, Cody looked into the woods and knew this wasn’t the type of person he was.  With the attitude that he had at that moment, Cody rushed into his garage  looking for his shovel. “I got it”, Cody whispered.  He gripped the shovel and sprinted into the woods, to the spot of where Clarence was buried. As Cody started to shovel, he smiled thinking, I am going the right thing.

As the hole started to get bigger and Clarence’s body was uncovered. He put the gold piece in Clarence’s arms, and as doing this he knew this was the start of a new life.