Creative Writing

Authors note: These are two poems i made as a result of a creative journal.

 I spend all my time

Training for the Olympics

All I do is run

It is possible

That you may hear an echo

Coming from a cave

"The Lottery" Response

Authors note: This is a response to the short story "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson.

Have you ever been part of a lottery where you do not want to win. In the story "The Lottery" winning the lottery is the last thing any of the villagers would want. Victory leads to certain death at the hand of the rest of the villagers.

One theme in this story is humanity vs. inhumanity. The villagers think that the process of the lottery is a humane event, when in fact it is the exact opposite. Other villages received attention in the story after dropping the lottery. The villages still using the lottery looked at this as insane when it was actually an act of the other villages giving up inhumanity activities.

Another theme in this story was power. The government had complete power over everyone in the community throughout the whole story. For example those who won the raffle had no choice but to get stoned. Another example of power in the story was in the households in the village. Men had complete power over women. In the lottery the men drew for the women and if there was no man to do this then the woman's son would draw for her, they didn't even have the right to draw. Power is a common theme in this story.

There are many possible themes for this story but these are the two that seemed to stand out to me the most.

Strength in Numbers

Authors Note: This is a prediction piece that i plan on using for my DWA.

 Does the term strength in numbers still come in affect when you and those baring arms have the same initial objective to kill one another?  In the novel  The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, killing one another is the primary goal for all those competing in the games.  Katniss, and Peeta will go into the games with a disadvantage due to the amount of attention drawn upon themselves during the opening ceremony.  I predict that they join forces, even though technically they are enemies,  in order to avoid pushing up daisies early off in the games.

The appearance of Katniss and Peeta caught the eyes of nearly all those watching the ceremony.  The desire for attention was apparent in each competitor.  Due to jealousy nearly every participant has it out for Katniss and Peeta which gives them a strong disadvantage.   I predict that they will form some sort of alliance in an effort to overcome the major disadvantage being faced by the two of them.  Although considered enemies Katniss and Peeta will work together in hope of success.

There are many pieces of evidence providing hints to why they might go into the games with a disadvantage.  First off, tributes crave sponsorships going into the games, which means they will do anything to receive attention from those providing the sponsorships.  Katniss and Peeta easily won the crowd during the opening ceremony.  They received nearly all of the attention possible; it was almost as if the other tributes were being ignored. This obviously caused rage within each opponent, as shown on p72, "As I glance around, I notice a lot of the other tributes are shooting us dirty looks, which confirms what I've suspected, we've literally outshone them all".  This anger will drive others to personally seek out and target both Katniss and Peeta.  The way they presented themselves may come back to haunt them.

Katniss and Peeta will have no other choice but to team up due to those seeking each of them out.  There are many reasons as to why the two of them could end up working as a team.  One obvious reason is that they are from the same district.  Another possible cause of this could be the connection between them growing up.  They always seemed to keep a watch on one another unnoticeably.  Also, Peeta had previously gone out his way to help Katniss from starving.  There are several reasons that could support the idea of the two of them uniting.

That alliance is mandatory for them to find any success in the games. The slight disadvantage will be easily overcome using teamwork. I predict that they will join forces, even though technically enemies, in order to avoid death early in the games.

Mitosis and Cancer

One in four deaths in the U.S is due to cancer (What is Cancer).  Sadly, this number continues to increase due to the burgeoning amount of unhealthy lifestyles practiced by those living in America.  Most know little about cancer aside from the name itself.  Cancer cells are created during the process of mitosis.  Cancer has constantly been shortening the life of many people.

           

The process of mitosis is considered responsible for any cancer cells created in the body. Mitosis consists of several steps.  The first of these steps is called the prophase, during the prophase chromosomes within the nucleus of a cell start to condense and the centrioles begin to move to opposite sides of the cell.  Next comes the prometaphase, during this time the nuclear membrane dissolves.  Following prometaphase is the metaphase.   During metaphase the chromosomes align along the metaphase plate (Diameter of cell).  This process is to help ensure that each sister cell gets the exact same set of chromosomes.  The last step is called telophase, during telophase the chromosomes are split equally then retreat to opposite sides of the cell.  Mitosis is just the division of the nucleus during cell division.  The nucleus itself is considered the “brain” of the cell.  It controls how the cell functions and divides.  The nucleus is one of the most important organelles in the cell, and mitosis is the process of dividing it. (The Cell Cycle and Mitosis Tutorial)

           

Cancer cells are called mutations of mitosis.  Uncontrolled division is what truly makes cancer cells harmful.   Normal cells die when they are old or deformed and they only divide when needed.  Cancer cells ignore the proper cell function, dividing uncontrollably and not dying.

When this happens the body has numerous unneeded cells.  Even though unneeded, the  cells continue to divide, each time they divide they become more deformed than the last. Sometimes these cells build up and attach to tissues in the body, which most know of as a tumor.  Overall, cancer cells are mutated cells that refuse to follow the proper cell cycle.

           

Cancer cells are actually created during the process of mitosis.  The nucleus of the cell is considered the brain; it controls everything done by the cell.  Mitosis is the process of dividing, it is a very complicated process and if any one step isn’t performed correctly it will lead to a mutated cell.  The mutated cells created during the process of mitosis are cancer cells.  The cancer cells continue to divide rapidly and uncontrollably.   All cancer cells are created during Mitosis.

           

There are cures for these mutations of mitosis, but they are not always completely effective. The most commonly used cure is chemotherapy.  Chemo simply uses drugs to either kill, slow down, or ease the symptoms of cancer.  The type of drug used in chemo depends on the type of cancer trying to be cured.  The drugs used in chemo attack fast dividing cells, it kills harmful and healthy cells.  The side effects of chemo can be overcome much more easily than the actual cancer cells.  Chemo is not always effective.  If it was, the amount of deaths caused by cancer would drop dramatically.  We continue to work hard on finding cures to cancer, the cures continue to evolve slowly overtime, but seemingly not fast enough.  Cures Cancers are considered an insurmountable task to some, but to others it is something that needs to be found.

We have been struggling to find a cure for quite some time, and we have been harmed by cancer for even longer than that.  Most do not have a great understanding of cancer itself, how its created, or how its cured.  It is all a very complicated process, but can be made simple.  One way or another cancer is still a major threat to the life of many.

Child Labor

Authors note: This is a poem originally created for social studies on child labor, i am using it for both that and my goals.

We work and work without a break

To you it may just seem fake                          

Working every single hour

Leave us with no power

The minimum wage              

Commonly causes rage

Although it is a job

It makes us want to sob

Day to day I am so sore

But I still remain too poor

Day to day

I work for little pay

Night to night

I sleep with nobody in sight

Hunger drives me,

Nearly to insanity

While at work

It is prohibited of me to smirk

I know nothing other than this

Which leaves me with nothing left to miss

I live in the gutter

The rodents create quite a mutter

With little to eat

And nothing on my feet

All day I sew

But there is always more to go

All day I work on shoes

I have nothing left to lose

It is often that I am ill

But can’t afford a pill

While at the factory

I feel like a casualty

 For I know I will never be able to retire

Although is what I do desire

Every morning I go to work

Then I go home were rodents lurk

At night I am cold

While trying to sleep in mold

During the day I am so hot

I feel as though I will rot

I work all day on these balls,

Without a break or even a chance to use the stalls

My life is hardly worth a penny

Not unlike many

Day to day

Those I am around feel the same way

We work nonstop without a break

I wish it was my life that they’d take

I live in a house with five others

But none of them are my sisters or brothers

The way we live just seems fake

To those who wear what we make

We live by very strict rules

Those who disobey end up in blood pools

I sleep on a cement floor

And all that can prevent that is a war

I am treated like dirt

Worked, pushed, and hurt

It is often I go a while

Without sprouting a single smile

If we decide to fight back

We will receive a hard whack

In what I make I do take pride

That I am forced to hide

The games I wish to play

Will have to wait for another day

Ive heard that it isn’t like this other places

I wonder about those faces

Do they wear what we make?

Is their life a piece of cake?

I wonder who wears it

I wonder who it would fit

I wonder if they have it worse

Or if they are pulling money out of their purse

What kind of money do they earn?

And how much of it they burn

Do they know what we go through too

Is it ever hard for them too?

Are there other people like me?

If so I’d not like to see

My mind is overrun with this

I wish I could say goodbye to it with a kiss

It is all I see and all I know

It is all there is to show

I wonder what they live in

Do they put our products in a bin?

Is it crammed like my home?

Or is there plenty of room to roam

Do they live and sleep on concrete,

Do they have nothing to eat?

Or do they have more than they need

Driven by greed

I wonder what the children are given,

Do they walk to work or are the driven?

Are they allowed to have fun,

Instead of work nonstop in the hot sun.

Or maybe they all play a game,

While we sit here in shame

How do they sleep?

Alone or perhaps in a heap

Are they given a mat,

Or something much nicer than that.

Where do they eat?

Do they get to sit upon a seat?

We eat on the cold hard floor

With sewer waste and much more

We eat vegetables and rice

Luckily we can pay the price

I wonder if they receive a variety of food

Does what we receive seem crude?

Do they like the life they live,

Do they know how much we give?

I wonder if they go on trips

And have the privilege of words from their lips

I wonder if they get together

And are able to share gifts like a sweater

I’ve heard they have enough cash

To waste on getting rid of something as little as a rash

They have great power

All of them from nice to sour

A life like that would be nice

There is nothing I wouldn’t sacrifice

To step foot in their shoes

There is nothing that I would lose

I would feel so great

If that in fact was my fate

I would love my life

And would prevent it from being ended by anything even a knife

But it is always that I dread

That it is all just in my head

I hope others start to learn

And maybe even decide to take their turn

I wonder what they’d do if they could see

What is happening with me

Would they even dare to care?

Or would they ignore it

While we throw a fit

Would they give

Or look at it as a sieve

Would they even care

Or would they think of it as just some kind of nightmare

We do not deserve this

We deserve to be addressed as sir and miss

We do not chose to live this way

For we do not have any say

I never get to make my own decisions

And my head is always filled with many visions

Nobody deserves a life like mine

I’m sure that many would rather catch the swine

Child labor is not my choice

We have absolutely no voice

If we even seek power

It is us they will devour

We cannot do anything about it

Aside from just sit

A life here can’t compare to a life there

Here some don’t even care

They rather be dead

Then listen to many things that their boss has said

I’ve heard our home is compared to a dump

Away from here I want to jump

But I cannot do that

So I’ll just have to stay here with each mouse and rat

I’ve heard that goodness always will come

But that seems to not be the case for some

Sadly this is my story

And as you can see it doesn’t have a bit of glory

I have lived in constant misery

This is what child labor has done to me.

Fear

Authors note: This piece is a writing piece meant to help me achieve my goal in main idea/theme, in this writing piece i describe a theme in the novel Monster by Walter Dean Myers

"It is about being alone when you are not really alone and it is about being scared all the time" (P.3) Nothing is more frightening than the fear brought upon one while in prison. Fear is constantly reoccurring in the award winning novel Monster by Walter Dean Myers. This book is about a 16 year old named Steve Harmon who is put on trial for murder. Although Steve did not commit the murder his future still depended on the decision made by the judge. The fear within Steve seems to be apparent throughout the novel.

The fear Steve feels is revealed every time he talks of his life in prison. "The best time to cry is at night, when the lights are out and someone is being beaten up and screaming for help"(P.1) Due to constant misery and stress he just wants to lie down and cry but the fear of being the one beaten at night is what keeps himself form doing so.  The fear within Steve causes him to put a strong effort into not being noticed by other prisoners. The fear of what might happen to him while in prison is one that strongly influences how he lives his life in prison.

Along with prison was the future. Steve feared his future just as much as prison. They way Steve's future was spent was going to be based off of the decision made by the judge. The law suit took days. After the second day on trial Steve's attorney did not like how the case was unfolding. She told him that the case is currently not favoring him due to a few unfair tricks played by opposing attorneys. This is when the fear of the future really hit Steve. He personally would rather not live his life than live it while in custody. Steve feared a future in prison more so than he feared the prison itself.

I found that I am capable of relating the theme of fear to Act of Valor by Tom Clancy. I am currently reading this novel and I have realized that fear is a common theme but it is usually accompanied by confidence. In Act of Valor before each mission is performed each man on the team experience the fear of what could happen in the case of failure but they are all equally confident that they will succeed. Fear is also shown in all of the hostages rescued by the SEAL's. It is common that fear is the only emotion present in those who are being held captive. Fear is a common theme in both novels.

This novel is obviously not the only one were fear is a reoccurring theme. Fear was a very strong theme in Monster. It influenced numerous decisions and actions made by the main character. The Fear within Steve was apparent throughout the novel.

I've Learned

 Authors note: This is an unassigned poem to help me accomplish my goals

I've learned…

I've learned that the grass is always greener somewhere else

I've learned that enough is never enough

I've learned that satisfaction is immeasurable

I've learned that in life you are given choices,

I've learned that the choices you make may determine your success or your failure

I've learned that things don’t always go as you wish

I've learned that wealth doesn’t have as much importance as other things

I've learned that value is only an opinion

I've learned to consider suggestions no matter who they are given by

I've learned that the end is never the end

I've learned that there is a great amount of things I have yet to learn