What if this Could be Paradise

Author's Note: I wrote this piece because a few days ago, in the writing lab, we had a discussion about winter. All of the people's opinions about winter were the same. "Cold, white, snow, warm house, etc." It went on and on about the same things. But I started thinking, about people who had a different outlook on the winter season, and then I thought. Look at it from the perspective of a homeless person.

Snow, falling from the sky. Blanketing the earth to cover it's barren ground. For some it is one of the most beautiful sights they can see. But those people only think of that because they have a warm, safe house to shelter themselves in. I do not believe they would think the same way if they were put in the life of someone less fortunate... someone homeless.

For most of us, it may be hard to imagine ourselves in a homeless person's shoes. Some of us around the holidays tend to try to ignore the fact that these people are out there. Maybe you don't care, but they are out there. Maybe on of the reasons it may be hard to put ourselves in their position, is because we have always been safe; from snow, rain any force of nature that may be hazardous. It is especially difficult to survive during winter.

Many of us have grown up, thinking that snow, is nothing to be afraid of. But more to be looked at as a way to have fun. As it can be for us who can be safe in it. This is one problem homeless people face in the winter. Most of them have no way to protect themselves from the snow, and cold. They can just huddle with whatever cloths they have on their backs and maybe, if they are lucky... a tattered blanket.

These people are helpless without more fortunate people willing to help. They are cold, and crying to you for help. Even if you can not see them, they have asked you. So next time you give a present to someone who has a safe place to live, think about, what if you gave that money to less fortunate people. What if everyone could have a "happy holiday season." What if this could be paradise for all of us.

Is This the End?

Author's Note: This piece was my prediction piece. In it I was trying to give a brief summary of a book that I am still reading and a prediction for the end. I tried to use evidence I found in the book to point toward my prediction ending.


In the book FORGE  by Laurie Halse Anderson, the main character Curzon, is a slave for rich master about the time of the Revolutionary War. He has a past of fighting for his master in past "fights," but has never fought in a real war. He manages to escape the slavery with the help of a friend, a little girl named Isabelle.

Approximately 6 months after his prison break, Curzon and Isabel, are trying to make a living during the Revolutionary War. But Isabel has become ungreatful and selfish and eventually leaves through the forest. Curzon, is heartbroken, "How can a little girl survive in the  woods by herself?" He asked. A few weeks passed and he ends up working for a man named Trumbull. Curzon tries to stand up to Trumbull for stealing from the war effort; He is then fired. But the night before he plans to run away from that town, he sneaks into Trumbull's tent and steals many valuable items to make his living.

After wandering through the woods he watches as a 13 year old American soldier fights with a British soldier. Curzon builds up the courage to throw a stone at the British soldier so the boy could get a shot on him. Curzon then befriends the boy and then enlists in the army. His goal is, that if he can survive the rest of the war he will walk a free man.

Over the the next months, Curzon then finds the true meaning of being a soldier, and doing what it takes to be free. My prediction for the end of this book, is the war will end and he will be, for the first time in his life, a free man. I also believe he will be reunited Isabel. Evidence of this outcome is hidden in the book. At one point the author talks about how he is is in a state of sadness, but he will be reunited with someone he loves.

Mike's Change

At the beginning of the book Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden, one of the main characters,  Mike Durrant, undergoes a huge development from beginning and end of the book. At the beginning of the book, Mike is just like all of the other new recruits, believing all Somalis are like the US’s terrorist enemies, even the civilians. But Mike Durrant is about to go through a mission that will change  him, his way of life, and his look towards the Somali citizens.


On a mission on October 3 1993, Mike is piloting his MH-60L Gunship helicopter, providing air support for troops on the ground. “Just a routine mission,” Mike said as he left the air base. But would turn out to be anything but “a routine mission.” During the battle, a Somali, fired an RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) at his chopper. The projectile hit his tail, blowing it off, sending him and his crew down.  


On the initial crash, Mike’s helicopter falls on its right side, and slides about 10 feet before fully stopping. Both Mike and his Co-Pilot are knocked-out on impact; unfortunately, both his rear gunners die, one fell out when the helicopter was shot, and the other was crushed in the crash landing. When Mike and his Co-Pilot regain consciousness, they are captured by Somalis. Mike is taken by a resistance leader, fighting against the same enemies the Americans are fighting against, but Mike is unaware of this. His Co-pilot, Bill Cleveland, is taken by the enemies, and is killed.


When Mike finds out who has taken him, he is both relieved and grateful. His captor tells him that technically he is a part of the terrorist group. Mike does not know how to respond to this, but he is informed that he will be returned to the military. Mike is kept in captivity until Army rescue parties arrive at the house, and are able to take him back to the base. While resting in the hospital on account of his broken leg and multiple broken ribs, Mike, has a change of heart, towards the Somali citizens. He realises that not all Somalis are enemies like the terrorists. Some are just trying to live through this war going on around them.

Black Hawk Down Conflict/ Resolution

Author's Note:
This was the first piece of writing I did in the traditional language arts class this year. This piece is obviously a conflict/ resolution piece, but I was also trying to give a summary about the book. The book was mainly about soldiers rescuing  their friends from a crashed helicopter in the middle of  a war zone. The event occurred on October 3, 1993.

In the book 'Black Hawk Down," by Mark Bowden;  During a battle between the US Army, and African terrorists, a transport Black Hawk helicopter is shot down. And worst of all, it is in the middle of a highly populated town full of terrorist. When news of the shot down helicopter, reaches Army Rangers, rescue parties, are sent to get them out.

In this book the main conflict is the downed helicopter. There are also living people inside. But to add  onto that, it is in the middle of a full-blown, war-zone in Mogadishu Somalia. When the Somalians find the helicopter they attack the survivors, turning the crash-site into a living nightmare. After gunning down a few of the survivors, the raid the inside, and take the co-pilot prisoner, tie him, to a rod, and drag him around the city as a trophy. He eventually dies. The resolution is, troops are able to save one of the crew members, the pilot, Mike Durrant. 

The Short Story

Authors note:
This was one of the most difficult pieces to write. Due to the fact it is the last one that i will write in the Academy. I wanted to use something i did last year, which was analyzing short stories. So i wanted to do a piece that explained what one was.


Reading a short story is some Americans favorite pastimes. A short story is a work of fiction, and has quite history a of it's own. Many popular stories we know of today, are some of the most influential short stories around.

Reading is one of the world's most popular pastimes. It lets the readier escape reality and go somewhere they may wish they are. Books and stories have shaped history, with it's greatest, and worst leaders. But many great writing pieces are too long to read all in one time. They take weeks of dedication to finish. But is the past few centuries a "new" type of writing has come into play; The Short Story.

The first practical short story  was created by a man named Edgar Allen Poe, circa 1800. He believed it had to be short enough to read in one sitting, unlike most stories at this time. It also had to have one main character, setting, point and theme. Also, Poe believed that all pieces had to have no unnecessary words included.

The short story is everywhere in modern literature. Some famous pieces, such as "The-Tale Heart", "The Circuit", and "The Glorious White-washer", are all examples of short story literature. All in all, short stories allow us to have a good story, that's able to be read in one sitting.