Old Man and the Sa essay Fnial Daft

Essay: Writing prompt #4

People go through struggles every day. The way someone deals with those struggles determines how strong that person is. People deal with their situations in different ways. There is no right or wrong way to deal with what people are going through so you can’t be wrong unless it’s harmful or harsh to that person. In Old Man and the Sea Santiago which is the old man goes through a lot of struggles. He deals with those struggles in certain ways. Some struggles he faced were starvation and dehydration, the marlin and the sharks. Those where only some struggles he goes through. The way he delt with those situations were critical for his survival.
Santiago, the protagonist, has lived his whole life in the gloomy sea practically. He has fished his whole life, since he was a little boy and had become very wise. His whole life was devoted to his fishing. But this last trip he made he was well unprepared, very carefree, and a little arrogant. He brought very little supplies. He didn’t think that he needed too much because he was a tough guy. He thought he was a though guy because one time he armed wrestle a guy for twenty-four hours. This was very bad an idea from his part because it messed up his health. He could of died but instead he just past out. Also he didn’t bring any food which could have killed him if he was out for a few more days. He was very lucky to get away with his life.
The marlin was biggest physical struggle for the old man. Mentally it had an impact on him too. The marlin gave him a long run at sea. The old man hadn’t caught a fish in 85 days at that point. He went out to sea for nothing but a big prize. He has caught tuna and other fishes but he wanted it all, the biggest possible. He got this marlin longer than his boat and weighed over one-thousand pounds. Santiago had a rope as his line with a hook. The old man acted frantically and aggressively to get the Marlin, and nothing could stop him. He went trough the marlin pulling so hard that the rope ripped out skin a made a cut, cramps in his hands that almost made him lose the lines, and also being dragged in his skiff around the sea. The man delt with it all in his life and this just added another chapter to his life story but next part is filled with disappointment.
The sharks were a big part in the story. The old man, Santiago, had already caught his marlin. He was exhilarated, happy, filled with enjoyment imagine how he felt after his first catch in 85 days. But the sharks took it all away. The man had put the marlin tied up against the side of his boat because it was to big. But this attracted other animals, sharks. The sharks attacked and ate away at the marlin. The marlin was only left with its skeleton by the time he reached the shore. Even though this was a physical challenge it was mostly mental. He got all his hopes up after catching this huge marlin but it all went away because of all those stupid sharks he thought. He did all his work for nothing and know he would make no profit of it or nothing. Everything down the drain, horrible in my words.
The old man delt with his struggles in a good way. He kept his composure and stayed confident and didn’t let anything get to his head. Other people would of been outraged with the situation but instead he let it go partially in a good way. He reached shore and instead of being pissed off he sold the head to someone and went to his cottage. He kept his poises and looked like he didn’t care much from the out side but in the inside he was so irate probably. Overall the man delt with his struggles in a grown up manner and didn’t just go crazy a blame other people he kept his cool. He was thoughtful to himself and the people around him and took it like a man. That’s how strong and though of a person the old man was.

3rd quarter book review

Sniper by Theodore Taylor. Avon Books, 1989. Genre: Realistic Fiction
Sniper, was writing by a best-selling author who wrote THE CLAY, is about a boy named Ben Jepson who is trying to run his family’s private zoo in California. There are a lot of animals at the zoo but there are some great cats like lions and tigers who attract the people. All the big cats around the world are at this zoo. Ben, who is 15, is trying to protect the zoo, some crazy things have happen. Their was a sniper who shot at the animals, then their was a wild fire, and then some one tried to kill Ben. This all happens when his parents are away in Africa. Something fishy is going on and he has to figure it out.
"With trappings perfect for an edge-of-the-chair televison drama, Taylor’s novel makes gripping reading," writes another book review on the back cover writing by Booklist.
The writing style of the author was very good and to the point. The book is told in third person omission. The book is told in the point of view of Ben. You can tell what Ben is thinking and his feelings. The author lets you know what Ben is feeling. The book was very suspenseful because their was really no hints that gave away who was the sniper. That kept you interested, focus, and was a real page turner. I liked how it was written.
The book is around the 80's and is in Los Coyotes in Southern California. It’s June there in California and its summer. Very hot and is like a desert all the way over there. The Boy is left to take care of the zoo that his parent’s own that has lot’s of bid wild cats. When he is left the days there are not good at all. This person lets the cats go and shots them. It happened 3 days continuously. Then after those 3 days Ben is shot at. Ben thinks is this guy who hates his family named Riche Lewis. Their was a fire started to reach the zoo but was stopped in time before reaching the zoo. The man who Ben thinks is making this mess is totally wrong.
"Ben hadn’t realized the size of Richie Lewis until he stood straight up. At least six-three, six-four. He’d weighed around two-forty, bigger than most NFL linebackers. His fists were already clinched"(pg. 41)
I liked this book a lot. It was very suspenseful and has lots of details. The details were not to hard for people my age to understand. It was a good book written very well so that people my age could understand it. Also he related to a lot of things that people can relate to themselves and also understand because sometimes some authors use descriptions to things no one knows about but Taylor did and wrote a very good book. I liked everything especially the plot.

Short Story

Becoming the Best is Not Easy

Years back there was this boy that went by the name of Darrell Williams. He was the greatest basketball player of his graduating class in the whole entire country. He was 6 feet 7inches but he was very gaunt. This was the only let down in his game. He was not too powerful. Darrell was very cocky and vexed people when he played. He played like a point guard but was a forward. No one that ever played him could compete with him cause they were not use to having someone so big have ball handling skills like he did. All the big guys guarding him could not stop him. His shot was deft and he could jump out of gym. In other words he has prowess in basketball.
This other not as much notoriety basketball player as Darrell but still one of the best in the country was getting ready to face off against Darrell. He has been working hard all season to be the best in the nation. His name was Lawrence Williams, not related to Darrell at all. He was 6'9" and was bigger than Darrell. Lawrence very good but was a quiet guy who didn’t put him self out there so college scouts could recognize him. But his numbers would show his skills. There was a big tournament coming up where he would play Darrell’s team.
Darrell played in a small city where there weren’t so many good teams as where Lawrence played where there where lots of good teams ranked in the nation. The game came closer and closer. Lawrence was very excited for this game and couldn’t wait to play Darrell because most people didn’t like him because he was so cocky. Lawrence was so excited going into this because now he was ranked in the top 10 in the country. Now everyone would want to see this game between him and Darrell.
It was the day of the game. He walked off the bus into the cold air then entered the building. He had his music in listening to his favorite song. He was pumped. There was already games going on because it was a national tournament. He was ready to play, in the locker room ten minutes before the start his team was impromptu and going nuts. On the other side Darrell was pump to because of all the talk of this game. He was all ready talking crap against the other team.
Both teams were warming up ready to go. Whistle blew and horn went off. Both teams came out for the tip. Darrell and Lawrence came out for the tip. They both soared so high up for the tip but Darrell came out with it and once he got the tip he took off to the basket and someone set a screen for him and alley-oop was thrown for him high up and he dunked it right away for an amazing start for the game. They gave the ball to Lawrence right away. Darrell came out to guard him and Lawrence dribble right by him easily.

Second Quarter Outside Reading Book Review

Second Quarter Outside Reading Book Review

Eagle Blue by Michael D’Orso..St Martins Pr, 2006. Genre: Sports non-Fiction

The book is about a small town in Alaska close to the Arctic Circle named Fort Yukon that has a basketball team. The basketball team has won 6 consecutive regional titles in the past 6 years. The team is going for the 7th straight title but the coach is wants more than that he wants the state title. The team is looking for players but have trouble fining those players. The school has a total of 32 students mixed of boys and girls. The team ends up having 14 players. At the beginning most of the team is suspended because the are not academically available. But the team still does well wining a tournament with only 7 players. The team gets to their games by small planes but have finical problems at points and the town tries to help the most they can. The book covers the struggles and high points of the 28 game season.
"[A] heartfelt homage to a proud, indigenous people who hope to soar with their Eagles, a fleeting escape from the lives often battered by more than the Arctic winds." People (Critic’s Choice) writes about Eagle Blue.
Michael D’Orso writes about the lives of the lives of all the boys. He gets involved with the families and coaches as well. He tells about the lives of the boys and families during the 50 below zero winter. He’s there from the day 1 practice to the Alaska State Championships during march. During the season the team faces come challenges that have been around the town for ever. The heavy alcohol use in the town affected many people in the town.
This book is nothing like any other book I have ever read. I’ve never read a book that goes into the lives of a whole town and shows the life style of other people. Now I can see how other towns are. This author uses very good details to show how it is at a certain moment. I liked the book a lot and would read others by him.
"Tonight’s relatively warm-around zero. Dave’s wearing his work parka over a ragged gray sweatsuit. He’s got on a lush ear-flapped fur hat over his Red sox ball cap. The fur is top-of-the-line marten—smoother, softer and more supple than the more commonly found beaver."(53).This is very detail to give you an excellent picture.
I enjoyed this book a lot. I think the rich descriptions and nice details enhanced the book. The story was good and you wanted to keep reading to see what happen next. I would recommend this to anyone who likes sports stories or non-fiction books. It is very interesting and partially inspirational.

1st Quarter OSRB book review

1st Quarter Outside Reading Book Review

Only the Strong Survive by Larry Platt. Regan Books, 2002. Genre: Biography

Only the Strong Survive, is one of Larry Platt’s books about the life as an athlete or about sports. This book was about the life of Allen Iverson. Larry Platt described the hardship Allen went through growing up in Virginia. This Odyssey of Allen Iverson is mostly the points in Allen Iverson’s life that help him becoming the way he is now. His basketball career is the main point but his football career in hinted at when he was in high school.

"Allen Iverson’s past has been strip-mined by many. Larry Platt has gone back with a hand shovel and sifter and found what everyone missed." This is what the book review reads that Gary Smith, from Sports Illustrated.

Larry Platt’s writing is very familiar because I think I have read one of his other books. They have the same style and setup as well. I have read other biographies and they don’t have good explanations. In other biographies it only gives a few details about the child hood and focuses on the life of the person in the story. I like how he has enough detail about each part of his life . He had his interpretations of what was happening and then what Allen him self said about the situations. He got quotes and phrases that Allen him self said. He made the story like if he was there throughout Allens life. He used some nice descriptive words throughout the story.

"Through others accompanied them on the tour, Gaskins and Iverson bonded on their journey. Gashkins would speak breathlessly of his spiritually based marketing theories. Iverson, more grounded in the street-level realities, would affectionately kid him about being"the dumbest smart person I know." page 131

The story was pretty good overall but there were some parts I didn’t like. The author didn’t really write to much of what he thought or his opinions in the biography. He would just write all the facts. I think if he spread it out a little more it would have been better. But he did a good job over all and I would read another book by him if I had a chance.

value essay final draft

Price or Priceless

We in America are confused in things with value and things without price value but sentimental value. I was even challenged a little to make a list of ten items with value and ten without price value. With the list of each priceless and value items, making a paragraph saying why I like that item or moment was difficult to. I got two items that are important to me and found a way to explain them. Can you think of ten items that have price value and priceless value? Can you explain why? Try to see if you can it could be a little difficult.
I step up to the plate. It’s my second time up. I have been warming up with swing after swing.The game tied three, three. The third base coach gives me a sign. Tells me to swing. I am ready; the umpire gives the signal for the pitcher to pitch. Catcher gives him a signal I watch the pitcher wind up he throws it. Then I wait until it comes down close enough to swing.
Then when it comes its low and outside. I wait again some more, ball coming again and now its hits the dirt. Get another signal it told me to bunt but the ball came to high so I let it go. I get the signal not to swing so I didn’t. Now the coach tells me to swing with three balls and one strike. The ball coming in is a perfect pitch for me and I can’t resist it. I lean back and put all my force into the swing. Crack!
The ball makes a really loud crack as it soared up and away. I could see it as I sprinted to first not knowing where it will end up. The ball kept going and going the center fielder ran further and further back until he reached the fence and watched it go over. I rounded the bases happily enjoying every step of my first home run. It was crazy.
I turn it on the, music is bumping. The song I was listening to before I turned it on comes on. All the songs I like are on it. Showing my taste of music to anyone who looks or listens to it. I listen to it all the time and always have it with me when I can. Sometimes I listen to it doing homework, before a game, or just for fun.
Its black and its rectangular. I have hundreds of songs and some videos. I only have had it for 2 to 3 years. It’s the first I have had and it’s amazing. It always works and the battery last forever and it’s very easy to add songs to the memory.
I use it to calm my self in stressful situations but at times I use it during excursing. Running, jogging, or whatever. It keeps me going so I don’t get bored and quit. Even though it might get tough.
I value both my mp3 and my first home run ever so much. They both me bring me excitement when I think and use them. I really think about my first home run more because I can go to my mp3 whenever I want. The home run I think is more valuable to me then my mp3 because it my only one and it’s been a highlight in my sports career.
My home run and my mp3 or both important to me because they have value to me and I always remember it or hear it. My mp3 lets me escape to a place like no other where I can control what I do. On the other hand my home run reminds me how I felt that day playing and how I wish I could hit another.
People in America should value anything that is in their possession that is worth money value and even if its not worth money. People should value anything that is close to them no matter what it is. Because until you lose it you won’t value it as much as you did when you did have it. Appreciate all you have what ever it may be.