Short Story Plot/Central Conflict

1. sister gets laid off
2. Steve and Brian both play well in the tournament
3. Steve has a vision from his mother, reminding him to be humble
4. Steve gets a timely hit, but stays humble.
5. Brian gets the game-winning hit, but he shows out and is arrogant

Short Story Character Analysis

1. Steve- Main character. plays baseball and is really good. Wants to help his sister.
2. Laura- sister. very hard working. provides for herself and Steve, since Mom died.
3. Mom- passed away. Always taught children good morals and values. Loved.
4. Brian- another baseball player. just as good as Steve, but arrogant.

Short Story Point of View

This story is written in the first person point of view, narrated by Steve, the main character.

autobiographical narrative

            Have you ever had to put up with somebody, although you really did not want to? I have personally done this many times, unfortunately. One specific time that I can remember was playing baseball for a coach that did not like me. This was quite a test for me.

            When I was ten years old, I played in a baseball league in Ladera, California. I played for The Angels, and after our winning season was over, I was selected to play for the all-star team. The coach of this team was also the coach of the Giants during the regular season. The Angels defeated The Giants on the two occasions that we faced each other. Over these two games, the coach of the Giants gained a strong dislike for the coach of the Angels, and eventually a dislike for the team in general, which included me.

            When practices started for the all-star team, he seemed to be very strict. However, I noticed that he was more lenient to certain kids than others, and I was not one of the lucky few. In fact, I thought that I received some special treatment, in that I was treated worse than everybody else. I was a good player, and I proved that during the regular season, which is why I was selected. Unfortunately, I was told by the coach that I was not good. This seemed to set a tempo for what I figured the rest of the season would be, and I did not like the forthcoming events that I saw. However, I did not quit, because that is not, and has never been, the way that I do things. So, I persevered through numerous practices, withholding comments. I did, unfortunately, learn that I likely was not going to get very much playing time when the games started up.

            Soon, games started, and, sadly, my prediction was correct; I was on the bench for the first game. In addition to being on the bench, I had to bring the equipment to the field. I felt that the coach was purposely burdening me with ample grief. However, I did not complain to the coach. This went on for the first three games.

            At the fourth game, I was overjoyed to hear that I was going to play in the third inning. Unfortunately, the coach sent me to right field. The coach knew what my positions were, and he knew that right field was not one of the positions on the list. However, he insisted on making me play at that position, basically setting me up for failure. I alternated between right field and the bench for the next 3 games. We eventually made it to the sectional finals. Again, I did not play. However, the game went into extra innings. The coach decided to let me play in the seventh inning. I was happy to get the opportunity to help my team win an important nail-biter. I went up to the plate in the eighth inning with a runner on third base and the score tied. I realized that a clutch hit would win the game. The pitcher threw a fastball over the middle of the plate, and I ripped it into left field for the walk-off single. I was praised my almost everybody in a Ladera shirt, including my cousins who came to cheer me on despite my circumstances. The last person to walk up and show his “appreciation” was the coach. All that the ungrateful man did was slap me on the helmet.

            What this experience taught me was that perseverance pays off in the long run. I could have quit at whatever time I desired, but I decided to keep going despite what I had to handle. Also, I learned that you cannot always please everybody, and you have to decide who is important enough to try to make happy.

Persuasive Essay #8

“Many cities suffer from serious air and noise pollution—as well as traffic jams—because of too many cars. Some people feel that cities with extensive public transportation systems should ban passenger cars and force people to walk, bike, or use public transportation. Do you think this is a good idea? Why or why not?”

Imagine every time you did something positive you stabbed yourself in the leg. Eventually, you will die. The knife that you are jabbing into your appendage represents pollution. Pollution is the by product of factories, cars, motorcycles, and things of that nature. Everyday people are working in factories. The more they work, the more waste the building emits. Cars a re also driven everyday. Have you ever seen the emissions coming from the tailpipe of a vehicle? A bus, perhaps? Have you ever wondered where the gaseous emissions are going? Well, if you were not aware, it is released into the atmosphere. This pollution is unhealthy, and it accumulates.

            Many people feel that banning passenger cars and forcing people to find other means of transportation, such as public transportation, walking, or biking, is the best way to alleviate the current pollution problem. I believe, however, that this is completely absurd. I think that people are too programmed and used to driving and relying on passenger vehicles for transportation to make such a drastic change to public transportation. Also, people paid good money for the cars that they have, and they deserve to use them. I, however, do not know a solution to the pollution problem, but I am confident that professionals can find a better resolution.

persuasive essay #7

“Many of us spend hours in front of our computers and communicate more by e-mail or instant-messaging than in person. Some people believe that this is good because it helps shy people communicate more openly with others. Others believe that computer communication prevents us from developing interpersonal skills and limits our ability to have meaningful relationships with others. How do you feel about this issue? Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.”

If you immediately need to contact your associate, or group member, for some homework problem, what is the first thing you would do to reach them?  One thing that you could do is get on your computer in your room and contact them through Facebook.  Another thing you could possibly do on that computer is contact them through My Space.  Finally, on the computer, you could Instant Message them.  You could do so through America Online Instant Messenger, Yahoo Instant Messenger, or MSN Instant Messenger. You could also use your cellular phone to fix your problem, which most teenagers do.  One possibility is calling the other individual.  Another idea would be to send them a text message.  Finally, you could contact them through a social network, such as Facebook or My Space, or through an Instant Messenger, such as American Online Instant Messenger, Yahoo Instant Messenger, or MSN Instant Messenger, on your phone.  However, there was a time when not everyone had cellular phones and computers in their lives.   In recent days, these things have almost become necessities.  About fifteen years ago, people mostly communicated in person.  They would call people and they would even send an email or a letter in the mail every once in a while.  Communication has drastically changed over the years--especially over the last twenty-or-so years.  I do not know why this is so, but it seems that things are still changing and doing so very quickly.  Will the changes in forms of communication ever slow down?

Persuasive Essay #6

“As part of the ‘war on drugs’ and in reaction to an increase in school violence, many schools across the nation now conduct targeted searches of student lockers and backpacks. Although the Supreme Court has ruled that public school officials have the right to search students’ persons and property when they have reasonable cause to suspect weapons or drugs, many people feel this is a gross violation of students’ privacy. Others feel that since school officials are responsible for the well-being of students while they are in the building, they have the right to search for drugs or weapons at any time. How do you feel about this issue? State your position and explain with specific examples”

Have you ever been invited to smoke something with your friends?  Did they tell you that it would make you feel good and remind you that everybody does it?  Even more important, did you type “attending” in the RSVP?  Did you accept and go “fit in” with everyone else? Unfortunately, many teenagers in the United States of America go through the aforementioned scenario.  What is even more unfortunate is the fact that a great number of these innocent teenagers also accept the invitation.  Smoking marijuana, which is a common issue for teenagers in my environment makes you feel good and makes everything better, according to abusers.  However, according to physicians, the drug kills your brain cells and slowly brings you closer and closer to death.  Smoking cigarettes, according to society is cool.  Smoking cigarettes, according to dentists, stain your teeth.  Smoking cigarettes, according to doctors can lead to lung cancer which can very well lead to death.  To me, smoking anything is just not worth my life.

Well, this just goes to show that teenagers abuse drugs. Also, teenagers go to school. Therefore, there are often drugs at school. Many people would consider that to be a problem. Although I do think that this could be a problem, I do not think that it is worth giving teachers a right to search through students bags. This could bring forth many issues, such as the searchers finding personal items that have nothing to do with what there are looking for. Also, it could be quite embarrassing to have your things searched through for drugs. I do not think that drugs in a bag are very threatening to students that are not holding the drugs.

On the other hand, if it is said that a student is carrying a weapon around, I think that it is a situation in which the student’s bag can be searched, as the weapon can possibly harm other students. So, there are certain scenarios in which the searching students’ bags is applicable, but this is not for all situations.