Sam Soup Kitchen

12/31/09

Service Project

Day Two

TS-Last night was my second trip to the New London Soup Kitchen.SD-Right as I stepped into the soup kitchen I was immediately put to work cleaning and organizing the stock room. I’m not going to lie, bending over and organizing food for one hour was not very fun.CM- To top it off the was mice droppings every were. CM-Even though cleaning the shelves is tiring and tedious it must be done. SD-After cleaning the shelves I helped serve bread in the food line. CM-It was cool to help in the food line because I had a chance to interact with the people and learn some of their personalities. I thought it was interesting to see the variety of personality’s in the kitchen. SD-Along with different personality’s come different classes.CM For example, there is a low class middle class and high class. CM-I could tell right off the bat that not all of the people were homeless.CM- A lot of people just came to get a free meal, but there defiantly are homeless and less fortunate people there. CS-As always my visit to the soup kitchen was very interesting and I learned a great deal

To Kill A Mocking Bird:Metaphors

Sam

12/9/09

English

Mr.Salsich

Metaphors are pretty cool. They compare everything. Everyone has a metaphor that compares their life. They are a very good way to describe a person’s character and actions. They occur in my life and in the book To Kill a Mocking Bird they are unavoidable.

TS-Throughout chapter seventeen Scout has been describing Mr. Ewell's personality. SD-From what Scout says, I find Mr.Ewell to be cocky and that he thinks very highly of himself.CM-For example, when Atticus was questioning him, Mr. Ewell thought Atticus to be an easy match.CM-Scout says he puffed out his chest and was once again like a little red rooster.SD-When Scout said he was a little red rooster I immediately thought of how chickens puff out their chests and strut around. CM-This perfect metaphor described Mr. Ewells cocky attitude.CM-I personally don’t know why he is cocky seeing he lives off the government.SD-Another example that shows Mr.Ewells cockiness is how he strutted to the stand to take oath.CM-The word strutted means to walk proud and act like you are higher than others, just how a roster struts. CM-All the other people in Macomb lived in houses, but Mr.Ewell, who thought he was superior, lived in a dump. Like a rooster he is proud of nothing. CS-Mr.Ewell clearly thinks he is better than most people, which is crazy because he barely has enough money to put food on his table.

TS-A metaphor that would describe me is a river.SD-I am the type of person that goes with the flow, just like a river.CM-I am a calm river, not fast, and no rapids, just taking my time. Lots of people try to fight the current of the river; I just go along for the ride.SD-Trying to fight a current your whole life would get very tiring. CM-So all I do is sit back and enjoy; I let life take me where ever it pleases. CM-Some people are moving at a hundred miles an hour living in the future while I take my time and live in the present. SD-I guess when you go with the flow you are just an easy going person that does not take themselves too seriously like Mr. Ewell.CM-I do not let gossip and other little things get to me. It’s just water under the bridge for me.CM-People who let gossip bother them should not care what others think; it is your life not theirs. CS-I would much rather live a life that I love every minute of rather than being stressed and worried.

Metaphors basically describe your personality; a bright sun could be someone who is very happy. Some metaphors can even have two meanings; a dark rain cloud could be someone depressed or sad. I think the metaphor used for Mr.Ewell is perfect because there is lots of evidence to back that up in the chapter. Metaphors are a fun way to compare things, without them life would be very boring.

Sam
12/3/09
English
Mr.Salsich

Essay 9:Irony

Irony strikes people all the time without them even realizing. I find irony in my own life and in the book To Kill a Mocking Bird. I believe Irony is unavoidable. It occurs every day; it just takes a minute to realize.

TS- Throughout Chapter Sixteen there are many examples of irony.SD-It's ironic how Scout made this rugged group of men come to their senses. CM-Atticus, a grown man, couldn’t even do what a nine year old girl could. What Scout said to Mr. Cunningham made their jaws drop, “The men were all looking at me, some had their mouths half-open." SD- I also think its ironic how Reverend Sykes gave Jem, Scout, and Dill balcony seats at the court. CM-Even though Scout, Jem, and Dill showed up late they managed to get the best seats. CM- Out of the huge group of people their Reverend says to them, “There’s not a seat downstairs. Do you all reckon it'll be all right if you all came to the balcony with me?" SD-While Judge Taylor is in session he jokes around, but is also serious.CM-The image I get about most judges is a serious man who takes their job very seriously. CM- It is ironic how a judge is so relaxed “he sometimes propped his feet up, he often cleaned his fingernails with his pocket knife."CS-Just like in everybody’s' lives Jem and Scout experience irony.

TS-In my own life I experience irony, just like the characters in To Kill a Mocking Bird.SD-For example, my friends and I experienced irony when we caught our health teacher smoking. CM-All day long she told us not to smoke, but she did.CM-We might of guessed she smoked due to her raspy voice and cough. SD-I think it’s ironic how To Kill a Mocking Bird has turned out to be a very good book. CM-I never would of thought I would enjoy an older novel so much.SD- I find it ironic how my trampoline grew boring after a month of use. Online it looked super fun.CM-The ads and reviews sold me, “buy this trampoline and never be board again”. CM-You might not notice irony, but it occurs everywhere.

Just like the characters in To Kill a Mocking Bird, I too have many times of Irony. Sometimes irony can be funny or sad, it just depends on the situation. I wonder if the world would be different if there was no such thing as irony?

Unwanted

Sam

English 8

11/18/09

Mr.Salsich

There are many feelings that people feel, but none of them compare to feeling unwanted. Dill and Scout experience this horrible feeling firs hand. They are not the only people who feel this way though. I think people feel this way because of their parents, friends, and people bullying them.

TS- The feeling of being unwanted is one of the worst feelings somebody can feel. SD- The feeling of unwanted strikes somebody every once and a while, it is simply unavoidable.CM-In chapter fourteen of To Kill A Mocking Bird Dill felt unwanted by his parents.CM-Dill’s parents buy him lots of stuff so he doesn’t bother them, “They buy me everything I want, but it’s now you’ve-got-it-go-play-with-it.TS-There are other parts in the book where characters struggle with feeling unwanted.CM-In chapter nine when Scout goes to the Landing, Aunt. Alexandra and Francis act very unkind towered her.CM-They make her eat her Christmas dinner all by herself at the little kid table.SD- Also when Uncle. Jack tackled her she must of felt that much worse.CM-By Uncle Jack tackling her she broke down.CM-I feel bad for Scout because all she was doing was sticking up for Atticus. CS-Feeling unwanted is defiantly the most repulsive feeling one can ever feel.

TS-Just like Dill and Scout everybody feels unwanted at times.SD-In the movie Forrest Gump, Forrest was a tall skinny kid with leg braces. CM-He also was not very smart and talked different from all the other kids. CM-So Forrest was always the odd one out.SD- Forrest was not only left out from doing things with the other kids, but they would bully him.CM-Feeling unwanted and bullied makes that horrible feeling ten times worse. Cm- Forrest was being chased by a truck one day when he finally realized he could run like the wind. SD-When being chased by that Forrest learned he could run. CM-After Forrest learned he could run like nobody else things started looking up for Forrest. CM-Forrest was recruited for the All American Football Team, he then met the president. He later went on to receive the Medal of Honor, and he started a huge million dollar company. CM-Forrest outlook on life was always positive; he never let the bullying and feeling of being unwanted get to him. That’s why he ended up doing so well in life.

Nobody deserves to feel unwanted. Just think how you would feel if your friends and parents acted as if they didn’t want you. I feel very bad for Dill because his parents buy him toys so he doesn’t bother them. Life would be unbearable if I felt unwanted, just think how you would feel.

Sam

11/5/09

Mr.Salsich

English

TS-This year was truly shocking to me and my writing ability. SD- Ever since elementary school I have always struggled with spelling.CM- I still remember taking spelling tests and seeing many red X’s marked on my paper. Spelling has always been and still is one of my weaknesses in writing, thank god for spell check. SD-Before I came to Pine Point there was no English class. CM- Language Arts was our English class, and all we did was read passages from a short stories and answer questions.CM-I was not accustom to writing essays on a weekly basis, so it was a big shocker when I sat down and tried to write my first essay.SD- Some things that I need to work on when writing my essays are,” putting more meat on the bone”. CM-The essays that I write could definitely use some more detail and style. CM-I believe all essays that have a unique style, detail, and substance are always the more fun and enjoyable essays to read. CS-So far this year I think I have done alright with writing, but there is still a lot of space to improve.

Essay on Fear

Essay on Fear

Sam

10/31/09

Mr.Salsich

Everybody has fears. My fear is not a spider, snake, robber, being shot, or anything that involves violence or getting hurt. My greatest fear is something lots of people feel every now and then. My fear is talking in front of a crowd of people.

TS- Whether its ten people or fifty people I tent to get extremely tense if I have to be put on the spot.. SD- As I grow older I am more prone to be placed in this awkward situation that I fear.CM-For example, in middle school it was a requirement to take chorus or band. Me and some friends all chose Chorus. That was a very big mistake. All year I would always dread the concert day. Standing in front of lots of people singing is not where I wanted to be. SD- Just saying simple things in front of people is scary for me. CM-Doing a puppet show in English class in front of eight people was frightening. CM-I was so reveled when I heard I was not required to do the puppet show.SD- I have many feelings that confirm my fear.CM- When I am in front of a crowed, my thoughts get scrambled and I get confused with what I am saying.CM- My palms grow sweaty and my legs feel like they are filled with lead. CS-My fear is not of somebody robbing our house, or getting shot, or getting bit by a spider, but the fear of messing up in front of people.

TS-The scariest time in my life was at a school convention where I had to give a presentation about energy renewal.SD- At this convention a panel of judges would judge us on our presentation.CM- Standing in front of a room filled with forty classmates, teachers, and parents was super scary.CM-I remember staggering slowly to the front of the room looking at dozens of faces staring at me.SD- I am very familiar with the feeling of blacking out from chorus class. Standing on those risers just made me feel faint, that feeling was returning to me, the feeling of blacking out.CM-My head grew faint, my face burned, my body became sweaty and my palms clammy. SD- Having a paper to read from is what saved me.CM-Without this paper I would have frozen and forgot my whole speech.CM-After reading the paper it felt as if fifty pounds was lifted off my chest. I have never felt better.CS- The moments before speaking were actually worse than executing my speech.

My grandfather says fear stands for, false expectations of anticipated results. So let it be the fear of performing in a chorus concert or getting bit by a snake we all have fear. Jem and Scout have a fear of the Radley. Fear is simply un avoidable, if you think you don’t have any fears you will encounter them as your life goes on.

Stick Essay #6

Sam
10/21/09
English
Mr.Salsich

Ever since I can remember I was always told to never judge somebody by their physical features. This was one of the most important lessons I was ever told. Nobody is perfect, everbody has their flaws. I personally don't care what other people think about me. if they want to judge me on how I look, I say go for it.

TS-Never judge a book by its cover until you know the true character. SD-Chapter seven in the book To Kill A Mocking Bird relates to a stick because a stick has a layer of bark that hides its true insides.CM- Mr.Radley's house is like the stick's bark because it hides his true personality.CM-You never know something's true inside until you peel away its bark.
SD-In the Disney movie Shrek, a scene played out by Shrek talks about onions having layers, "No! Layers! Onions have layers. Ogers have layers. Onions have layers... you get it. We both have layers". CM-Shrek implied everyone has feelings no matter what their layers present. CM-Mr.Radley and the stick both have in common an outer shell that hides beauty inside. SD-It's what's inside that counts, it's what's inside that matters, it's what's inside that's true.(anaphora) CM-This is just another example about how our society and the town of Maycomb look upon other people.CM-It is sad that some people judge others on their physical features instead of their inner features. CS-Like Mother Teresa once said, "If you judge people, you have no time to love them."

TS-In my life, however, a stick has many functional purposes.
SD-Ever since I can remember, I have always been an outdoor person.CM-In the summer time my friend Joe and I would spend countless hours constructing forts made from sticks. CM-I can’t imagine how boring summer would be without these wonderful sticks to build with.SD-Another reason sticks are important to my life is because I have a yellow labrador.CM- Everyday of his life he has been fetching and sticks in the ocean, river, ponds, lakes, and woods. I honestly don’t know what I would do if there were no sticks for him to chew or fetch.CM-Without sticks the house would be torn to pieces from a hyper crazy lab that has nothing to retrieve or orally fixate himself on.SD-My last reason sticks are so essential to my life is, I always am whittling spears, ducks, and another thing that’s seems compelling.CM-To me whittling is very relaxing and passes time nicely.CM-Passing time relates to Jem, Dill,
and Scout because they are always trying to find a way to pass time during the long summer days. If they found something to do, like whittling, they may never have lurked into the Radley's backyard. CS-Sticks are for building, sticks are for fetching, sticks are for carving, sticks are for chewing, sticks are for fun (anaphora).

I can't believe how useful and important sticks are in my life until I pondered about it. The sybolism of a stick is important to my moral values as funny as that may sound. We never know someones true character just by looking at them. I will always look beyond ones profile before I pass a judgement.

Basic Outline on Chapter Seven

Sam
10/22/09
English
Mr.Salsich

TS- Quote about not judging a book by its cover.
SD-How chapter seven relates to a stick and its bark.
CM-How Mr.Radley relates to the stick and its bark.
CM-Never knowing someone's true inside until you peel away their bark.
SD-Shrek's quote about how onions have layers.
CM-What Shrek implied.
CM-Relating the onions to Mr.Radley.
SD-Anaphora
CM-How people judge people like Mr.Radley.
CM- It's sad how some people judge others by their physical features.
SD-Quote by Mother Teresa.


TS-A stick in my life has many functional purposes.
SD-Always been an outdoor person.
CM-Spending the summer building forts from sticks.
CM-What summer would be like without sticks.
SD-Next reason sticks are important in my life is because I have a yellow labrador.
CM-Every day my dog is fetching and chewing sticks in the ocean, river, woods, etc..
CM-What the house would look like if there was no sticks for him to fetch or chew.
SD-Always whittling spears, ducks, etc..
CM-Whittling passes time and is relaxing.
CM-How passing time relates to Jem, Dill, and Scout.
CS-Anaphora

Sam
10/15/09
english
Mr.Salsich

Basic Outline

TS-What the word privacy means.
SD-How Jem,Scout,and Dill invade Mr.Radley's privacy.
CM-Explain how they were gonna give there note to Mr.Radley.
CM-Atticus catching them leaving the note.
SD-A quote from Scout about privacy
CM-What happens when people invade my privacy.
CM-How my closed door relates to Mr.Radley.
SD-Whats weird to the town of Maycomb is normal to Mr.Radley.
CM-How its not right for kids to invade Mr.Radleys personal life.
CM-Antithesis
CS-How peoples privacy should be respected by others.

TS-What privacy means in my life to me.
SD-A time in my life that relates to privacy, at a chorus concert.
CM-How I wanted to be invisible to the strangers.
CM-Escape the feeling of people looking at me.
SD-How I must come out from under my shell.
CM-Fine balance between exposure and unexposure.
CM-I tend to lean towerd flying under the radar.
SD-Steping out of the box everyday.
CM-How I always attempt to step out of my box.
CM-How I am shy, and always trying to conquer that emotion.
CS-Challenge of finding the balace point between over exposure and under exposure.

Privacy Essay

Sam
Essay #4
10/20/09

Throughout the day everybody finds themselves needing privacy. Privacy is something unavoidable. I personally love spending time by myself for a period of time during the day. It is a time I can relax and dive into my thoughts.

TS- To me the word privacy means the right to remain unnoticed and unidentified in the public. SD- In the book To Kill A Mocking Bird, Scout, Jem, and Dill all invaded Mr. Radley's privacy when they attempted to leave their note on his window. CM- Scout, Jem, and Dill are all very curious about Mr. Radley so they come up with a plan to leave a note on his window. The note was asking Mr.Radley to meet with them. CM- While attempting to leave the note Atticus caught them and told them firmly, "What Mr. Radley did was his own business. If he wanted to come out, he would."SD- Scout makes a point about privacy, asking how would we like it if people came barging in our life without asking? CM-When someone doesn't knock on my bedroom door I get very angry because that is my privacy. The closed door means I want to be left alone, just how Mr. Radley keeps his doors shut. SD- Lastly, it seems weird to Scout, Jem, and Dill and the rest of Maycomb that Mr. Radley stays inside all day and excludes himself from the public, but it may not seem weird to him. CM-It is not right for the kids to invade Mr.Radley's privacy because they thinks it is weird he stays inside all day. CM-The town of Maycomb loved being outside, Mr.Radley hated it. (antithesis) CS- In all, other peoples privacy should be respected by others, because when others invade my privacy I get very mad just like everybody else.

TS-In my life, privacy is a time for me to be invisible to others and to get lost in my own thoughts.SD-A time in my life when I wanted privacy was in my seventh grade chorus concert.CM- When I was on stage with many people staring up at me, I wanted to be left alone the most. All I wanted to do was run to the car and drive home, to totally escape the feeling of people staring at me.SD-Even though sometimes I must come out from underneath my shell, I find it hard when I am surrounded by strangers.CM-There is a fine balance between over exposure and underexposure. I tend to lean toward flying under the radar and trying to blend in with the crowd.SD-Everyday I try to step out of the box and try something that is not comfortable for me. CM-Let it be making a speech in front of people I am not familiar with, or simply talking to friends about my thoughts and feelings, I always make an effort to reach out .CM-I am shy, there is no denying this, but I continuously try to conquer my timidness everyday.(appositive closer)CS-As I stated before, there is a fine balance between overexposure and underexposure, but the challenge is to find the balancing point.
TS- Harper Lee, the author of To Kill A Mocking Bird,nicely describes how Mr. Radley likes his Privacy.CM- I can relate to Mr.Radley because I too like privacy.CM- I can also relate to Mr.Radley because he got upset when Jem peeked into his window, and I too would get upset if someone peeked in my room. The Constitution states, it is everyone's right to own private property. Our laws enforce privacy of ones land, hence "private property no trespassing" signs are so common. How would society be without the protection of one's privacy?

Basic Outline

Sam
10/7/09
English
Mr.Salsich
Body Paragraph One

TS-Scout complaing to Atticus why she doesn't want to go to school.
SD-Atticus's first reason using the Ewells as an example of why Scout has to stay in school.
CM-Scout complaing how he should not have to go to school beacause Burris doesn't.
CM-Atticus will not allow Scout to follow in the Ewell's footsteps.
SD- Atticus's next point about how he would get fired if Scout didn't go to school.
CM-Quote about Atticus's point.
CM-Explain what the quote means.
SD-Atticus's last point about puting yourself into the other persons shoes.
CM-A reason Scout hates school.
CM-Scout Quote about how she should not have put herself in Ms.Carolines shoes.
CS-Tell Attius's three point about education one more time.

Body Paragraph 2

TS- What education means to me
SD-Kids dreading school day, participle closer.
CM-Day by day, test by test, ups and downs, pros and cons.
CM-How school is essential to my future
SD-Explain the easy route
CM-What happens if you take the easy route.
CM-How they will go no where in life.
SD-If somone goofs of in school they will not contribute to society.
CM-Explain what could happen if they got a good education
CM-Mention Atticus
CS-Close with a question.

Education Essay

Sam
10/13/09
English
Mr.Salsich

Final Draft

In my life, education is very important. Like Scout, in the book, To Kill A Mocking Bird, I do not look forward to going to school everyday, and like Atticus, my mom and dad are constantly reminding me how important it is to have a good education. Getting up for school and sitting down for homework is the most frustrating thing, but it must be done.

TS-When Scout starts complaining to Atticus about how she doesn't want to go to school anymore, Atticus makes a few points about why she has to. SD- One of Atticus' reasons why Scout has to stay in school is that he does not want Scout to end up like a Ewell. CM- Scout tells his dad he doesn't have to go to because Burris Ewell only shows up for the first day then gets marked absent the rest of the year. Atticus replies that the Ewells are a bunch of uneducated animals that have never done a days work.CM-Atticus will not allow Scout to follow the grim dark path the Ewells choose to follow. SD-The next point is when Atticus tells Scout,"I have to make a living. Besides, they'd put me in jail if I kept you at home-dose of magnesia for you tonight and school tommorow."CM-Atticus is basically saying Scout cannot drop out of school because of his job. If they found out he was teaching Scout at home he would be fired. Also, Atticus has a job. He has no time after his long tiring day to give Scout a proper education.SD-Atticus' last point he tells Scout is, to put her feet in the other person's shoes.CM-One of the reasons Scout doesn't want to go to school is because of what Ms.Caroline told him about how her father can’t teach him to read anymore.CM-So when Atticus tells Scout to put his feet in Ms.Caroline’s shoes, Scout say,"We could not expect her to learn all Maycomb's ways in one day, and we could not hold her responsible when she knew no better."CS-Atticus made three points why Scout had to stay in school. I believe these three points were great because, they changed some of Scout's views on school. Scout and Atticus had different views on school. Atticus believes in getting a good education, and Scout who doesn't want to go to school,both have to deal with this issue.(v-split)

TS-To me education is the most important thing I must complete. SD-Every day when kids wake up they absolutely dread starting the long hard school day. CM-Entering the school doorways is like entering the doors to a jail cell. (participle closer) CM-Day by day,test by test, school has its ups and downs, pros and cons.SD-Some people choose to take the easy fun route in school. This route is fun but deadly at the same time.CM-By taking the easy way out of school one will slowly slip down the tubes into a long hard life.CM-When people don’t get a good education their minds will go to waste. SD-With people not getting a good education they will not contribute to the society. CM- For Example, if someone goofs off in school, doesn't get good grades, and ends up working at McDonalds, their mind has gone to waste. . CM-If they took school seriously and went to college they may have found the cure for cancer or solved some other major crises. CS- Without educated people where would we be today?


To be successful in life and have a house, car, or other luxuries you need an education. In chapter three of To Kill A Mocking Bird, Scout doesn't understand how big of a mistake it would be to drop out of school. She is very lucky to have an educated dad who knows and tells her she is not quitting

Basic Outline

SD#1-Calpurina scolding Scout about her comments to Walter.
CM-Calpurina's quote about eating the table cloth if the company wants to.
CM-My thoughts about what the quate means.
SD-Calpurinas second point about company.

CM-My thoughts and feelings about what her point means to me.

CM-How her point relates to Scout.

TS-A time when company came over my house and I did not enjoy it.
SD#2-A time in my life that I can realate to Scout.
CM-Explain what happpended and how it realates
CM-A quote I have heard, and what it means.

SD-The quote when Scout says Walter was not company because he is a Cunnigham. 

CM-A quote that I have herd that explains the first quote. 

CM-Some thoughts about what the quotes mean to me.

Company

SamMr. Salsich
8th Grade English
10/4/09
Second Draft For Grade

Company

I believe, that manners and respect should be shown for both company and anybody else you confront. In the book to Kill A Mocking Bird , the author Harper Lee, demonstrates my point in a scene when Calpurnia, the Finch's cook demands respect toward a guest. Throughout my childhood I always remember being told by my parents to be respectful and use manners when I went over somebody's house. These rules were usually aimed towards an adult, but whenever we had company over I was always told to be a good host and make sure the company was comfortable.

SD#1- When Scout, the host, commented to Walter, her guest, about drowning his lunch in molasses the cook shot dagger eyes at her. .CM- For example, Calpurnia told Scout, "That boy's yo' comp'ny and if he wants to eat up the tablecloth you let him, you hear?"CM- Calpurnia also tells Scout firmly that it doesn't matter who the company is and to stop acting like she is so high and mighty. To me this means company is company. No one is better than anybody else, no matter who they are. Treat the company with respect and good hospitality so they feel welcomed. SD#2- Calpurnia has another point about how some people don't have the luxury to eat like they do, and that Scout has no right to contradict them at the table.CM- To me this means Scout has no right to judge how their company acts when her actions are not perfect either.CM- However, Calpurnia also tells Scout that proper manners when a guest is over are needed, even when their manners are in question.

TS-A similar situation in my life that relates to Scout's company is a few years ago when the nastiest babysitter in the world was over, Sue. SD#1- When we were eating sloppy joes, she would have a river of sauce and meat gushing down her chin, and the noise she made was like a pig inhaling food. CM- When the babysitter was busy stuffing her mouth, I couldn't help but shoot a glare of distaste her way. CM- Even though she was eating like a pig it was not my place to judge her because, I, too, at times eat like a pig but, I never eat like a pig in front of others. SD#2-To show how Scout feels about Walter she exclaims, "He ain't company, Cal, he's just a Cunningham". I can relate to how Scout feels about Walter from my babysitter experience with Sue. CM- It reminds me of the quote "every person puts their pants on the same way, one leg at a time". This means everybody is the same, and it was not right for Scout to be rude to the company just because he is poor. It was not right for me to show dislike to Sue just because of her eating habits. CM- It is unfortunate that people like to make people feel less of themselves due to their lack of money or education.

If you want your company to have a good time you must treat them with respect and always be at their service to ensure that they are comfortable. Without giving the company respect and making them feel uncomfortable, they will never want to come over your house again. Basically, the major rule of thumb is to treat others how you want to be treated. Never let status get in the way as far as treating someone with respect.

Essay #2

Final
Sam
Mr.Salsich
8th Grade English
9/29/09

To wake up in the early morning and dread going to school and sports because of teachers and coaches is the worst feeling. Through one's childhood, it is probable to have a negative incident with a teacher or coach. Whether it is their problem or your problem, it is important to work out negative first impressions, so you can have a successful school or sport season. In chapter two Scout starts her first day at school, and she hates it. This is because of the new teacher Ms. Caroline, who is unfair to Scout for the way she was taught to read. After Scout read the alphabet, My First Reader, and the Mobile Register, Ms. Caroline figured out that Scout was a literate and gave her a glare of distaste. Ms. Caroline assumed that Scout's father Atticus, had taught her how to read the wrong way, when Scout had actually taught herself when she sat on her father's lap while he was reading. Again, Ms. Caroline assumed that Scout's father taught her how to write the wrong way. When Scout was caught writing a letter to Dill, Ms. Caroline sneered at her to tell Atticus to stop teaching her to write the wrong way. Calpurnia was at fault this time because she had made Scout write a sentence from the bible on rainy days. But in Calpurina's teaching, there was no sloppiness. Scout just had to please her and she rewarded her with bread, sugar, and butter. Further more, when Walter did not have lunch money Ms. Caroline tried persuading Walter to take it and pay her back tomorrow. Walter was very shy and was not replying so Scout respectfully on Walters behalf, said he is a Cunningham. Ms. Caroline did not understand this so Scout said bluntly, "Walter hasn't got a quarter at home to bring you, and you can't use any stove wood." This did not settle well with Ms. Caroline who hauled Scout to her desk and wacked her hand with a ruler and had her stand in the corner for the rest of the afternoon. Ms. Caroline does not really understand the way of living in Maycomb, so the innocent things that Scout said ended her up in the corner with stinging hands. In my life a situation similar to Scout's that I can relate to happened last year in a basketball tryout. There is nothing more frustrating to see my friend put forth all his effort into a drill and have the coach question his intentions just for showing a smile. In a certain passing drill my friend, Colin, and his partner tripped over each other and got up smiling at their mistake. The coach came over in a furious frenzy and assumed they were not being serious. His comments were harsh, belittling, and non constructive. Due to the coach's reaction Colin felt he was not wanted on the team. Everyone heard the coach say to Colin, "If you don't want to be here, don't come back!" I find it ironic that Colin who had a strong passion for basketball did not show the next day. Throughout the season this coach gave an unpleasant experience to many other kids. It was common for him to loose his temper at half time when we were losing. This would make the team nervous and perform even worse. Scout and Colin were held back from their true potential by an adult that restrained them. Both Scout and Colin had a tremendous amount of talent and were shot down by an adult. Colin could have been a huge asset to the basketball team and Scout could thrive in reading and writing, they were never given the chance. Due to non constructive punishment, Colin and Scout may never see their true potential.

Sam Essay #1

Sam Final Essay #1
Sam Godfrey
9/16/09
English 8

The way a person is perceived to live can change the lives of others. The people in the town of Maycomb were terrified of the Radley Family's lifestyle. Just to avoid walking in front of the house they would choose a longer alternative route. Kids even changed their playground at the school, because they were scared . In the town of Maycomb, Alabama, the Radley family is greatly known and feared by everyone. For example, legend has it the house is haunted with a malevolent phantom. At the darkest hours of night, the phantom is believed to peer into windows. Then if people's azaleas froze in the cold it is because the phantom breathed on them. Also, the Maycomb school playground lies next to the Radleys back lawn where a pecan tree would shed pecans on the playground. The pecans that lay on the ground were forbidden to eat. Not one kid would even think to put his hands on one because they thought it would kill them. When the kids play baseball and it flies over the fence into the Radley's yard, that ball is as good as gone, never to be seen again. "The Radleys, welcome anywhere in town, kept to themselves,a predilection unforgivable in Maycomb". The Radleys would not attend any church services but instead, rumor has it, they worshiped at home. The only time the Radleys were seen outside their home was when Mr. Radley apparently went out to get groceries at 11:30 every day. Even if all these conclusions drawn are wrong, the Radley's lifestyle is to blame . In my my own neighborhood, in Mystic, Connecticut, there lives a very mysterious, crazy lady that reminds me of the Radleys. Like in the town of Maycomb, everbody knows and fears Ms. Jeanine, especially her neighbors. For starters, her yard is a jungle of plants just scattered. Her house has two dozen randomly placed windows and a door on the second floor that leads to nothing. Also placed in her yard is a mirror facing her neighbors house; she does this to reflect all bad energies coming from their yard. Just for kicks the neighbors put a statue of a crow with red demon eyes in front of the mirror and I got a good laugh out of that. Our street is pretty busy, so when people pass and they are too loud, she gives them a piece of her mind. When I was just about 10 years old a couple of friends and I used to run by her house screaming at the top of our lungs. This did not sit well with Ms. Jeanine. She ended up cursing and putting up a big old fuss. From that day on, all the kids on our street always passed by swiftly and quietly. At night when you pass by her house you can always hear her arguing with someone or mumbling to herself. Nobody knows what the heck she yells and talks about. Then again I dont think I do. At night her house is very dark, and sometimes all you can see is the golden embers of a cigarette and the gagging smell of smoke. Ms. Jeanine is a very weird, crazy, and feared women just like the Radleys. I think the people of Maycomb should not assume the Radleys are haunted and crazy. Maybe the Radleys are just very shy people who need some friends. Maybe the Radleys would let kids use their yard as part of the playground and eat their pecans that have fallen to the ground. All in all if people did not asume and fear the Radleys,they would not have to change their actions.