Thank You Ma'am

 Author's Note

This response to "Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston Hughes is explaining my belief on if Mrs. Luella and the boy would stay in touch and if the boys attitude would change after they met.

"Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston Hughes is an excellent short story based on a teenage boy who tries to steal Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones pocket book and she takes him back to her home for him to eat and wash his face. The story ends when he leaves so you don’t know if him and Mrs. Luella stay in touch. Or if the boy changes his attitude.

    I personally think that the boys attitude will change because he can see that people can be kind and if he wants something reasonable he can ask a friend or now he knows he can talk to Mrs. Luella. Since she took him to her home and had him wash his face and feed him I think that that is someone the boy can trust so I believe that they would stay in touch.

Swim Team? Yes. No. Yes

Author’s Note.

This essay is an expository essay about whether or not I should join the swim team next year in High School.

            I remember the first time I learned how to swim. We were in Florida visiting my Grandparents. I saw my uncle swimming in their pool and I wanted to be able to do that too. My dad showed me how, helped me for a little and before you knew it I was swimming all on my own. Ever since then I would go to the beach and try and beat my dad across the deep end. Sometimes he let me win. Now I can actually come close to really beating him. Ever since last summer I have been considering joining the swim team because I feel that I would really enjoy it for many reasons. Although there are things that I would enjoy there are some reasons that are holding me back.

            A reason that I want to join the team is because I have tried basketball, soccer, cheerleading, and dance. But I can never find anything that I enjoy and am good at. With swimming I have done it a majority of my life and I have found that I am fairly good at it and I enjoy it.

            For another example of why I want to join is that I want to be a part of a team. I can say I am a part of something. That I participate at school, and I’m part of a team that goes and wins trophies to show school spirit.

            Although there are many reasons why I want to join there are definitely reasons that are keeping me back. I have tried piano, soccer, basketball, cheerleading, and dance. In the end I wind up quitting because I don’t like practicing or going to practice. This has wasted a lot of my parents’ money. The first couple times I quit it wasn’t that big of a deal but lately I have been seeing a pattern that I cannot find anything that I can dedicate myself to. With that pattern I don’t want to start swimming and quit half way through. This is one of my weaknesses that I am working on so hopefully I’ll be able to join.

            Like said before with not wanting to go to practice leads to another, disadvantage. Practice is every day after school which means I will have to make sure to get all my homework done right after practice and be able to get to bed at a reasonable time so I am fresh for the next day. having the practice every day will definitely make it more difficult to stay on task at home.

            In conclusion, if I work past the pattern of quitting, and really get focused on homework right when I get home I can most definitely join the team. During that I can also gain great characteristics such as, not giving up, and good studying strategies. Which helps my College and Career Readiness.

Katniss and Hannah

Author’s Note

This comparative essay is about Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games and Hannah Pritchard from The Revolutionary Pirate.

Are there differences between Hannah and Katniss?  Hannah Pritchard in the historical fiction, The Revolutionary Pirate, by Bonnie Pryor and Katniss Everdeen from the bestseller The Hunger games, by Suzanne Collins are both very different and similar.

            The similarities between these two characters are that they were both separated from their family. Hannah was separated because of the Red Coats murdering her father, mother, and brother. Katniss was separated because of the hunger games when she volunteered herself to save her little sister. Since they are both separated they both have a longing to see their family again.

Also, they are both risking their lives in this book. Hannah is on a pirate ship pretending to be a boy and if she is discovered they could hang her. Katniss is in the games so she either comes out the only one alive or dead. This is a lot to have on your plate when you are a teenager.

            There are differences between these two girls, even though they are both teenagers they are living in two completely different generations. Hannah is living during the Revolutionary war which was in the late 1700’s. Katniss is living in the future.   

They are always risking their lives in different ways. Hannah is hiding her identity on a ship, which could get her hanged if someone discovered who she was. Katniss is literally in a completion where only one person lives in the end. She is hunting, hiding, and killing. Hannah is cooking, cleaning, and hiding her identity.

            In conclusion, Hannah and Katniss are both very similar and different characters. Same for the books, both great books that hard to stop reading. But also two different topics. There are many more differences and similarities that can be found.

Response

I have the seen the movie "The Blind Side" about 'Big Mike' and so reading this is like the sequal. I enjoyed reading it. Obie is trying to make a difference. Like he did in the Movie. Not everyone is ok with it though. But he sticks up for what he believes in and that is the message he is trying to get across. the wife was also a great part of it .