Ralph Ellison's "Battle Royal" is based on the symbolism of equality and self-identity on African Americans. The story tells of a young man, who is African American, graduated high school, and ready to begin his new life. Proud of all his hard work, the narrator gets ... In the end, the narrator gets awarded a scholarship from the white townspeople to go to college and remembers what his grandfather meant by his words by people judging him on his race and identity. Ellison gives us a understand of how the narrator grew up from hearing the words of his grandfather on his deathbed, his parent's ...

• Word Count: 884
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... never gave up or tried drugs as a solution that I could still win. What does a child do who sees that there is something greater than she who is present, but is invisible? She takes a risk. Why does this child attach herself to such a present when the world seems to be as bitter as the news depicts, as disappointing as incurable diseases, and ... ...

• Word Count: 793
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• Grade Level: High School

... within my life that I greatly appreciate and look up to. However, there is only one who has truly made me the young man I am today. The greatest influence toward my life and goals would be my father. A man I hold to a higher standard than most and greatly appreciate. One of my father's dreams or rather goals was to become a ... me "without her I'm not sure how I would have gotten through it all." Although he had struggled getting where he is today, he came out a better man and someone to be praised. I soon learned that my dad didn't just do it for himself, he did it for me. When he start...

• Word Count: 751
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... for coming to this beautiful occasion between these great people. For those of you who don't know, my name is Skyler Rawling and I have the honor of being Dave's best man. He and I have been best friends since Sunday school at Our Savior's in Hastings, Minnesota and all through high school. I met Brenda doing research at the Mauna Kea observatory on ... ...

• Word Count: 635
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• Grade Level: High School

"The Man, The Myth, The Legend" "Very well," Said Bilbo, who was anxious to agree, until he found out more about the creature, whether he was quite alone, whether he was fierce ... and his wife had several children. Although Tolkien Had managed to escape any war injury, the dreaded trench fever caught up with him in October. Passed from person to person by lice, the illness brought a high fever and dizziness. ...

• Word Count: 705
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• Grade Level: High School

After watching the movie "Dead Man Walking", I got a better understanding of the death penalty. Throughout the movie there are very clear reason why some people are for the death penalty and why others may be against ... consequences. Some people say it doesn't make much sense to use capital punishment just because someone has killed another human being. They say that it is almost like condoning death by killing these criminals. I don't believe any of that. They"re pretty much saying it's "OK" to murder people and commit other serious crimes. Their only consequences are sitting in a jail ......

• Word Count: 445
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• Grade Level: High School

... development and that is just raising the population even more in Wayne. Due to this high population in my town, we have two public high schools. The town is separated by a road which runs through most of Wayne and the one side goes to one high school and middle school and the other likewise. This tends to cause some problem when ... completely open with just a few trees on the perimeter of the yard. My white house, green shutters and matching door, sits up on the hill of the yard guarded only by the few bushes that protect the base of one side of the house. In the middle of my split-lev...

• Word Count: 971
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... the community around you. In James Baldwin's essay "Stranger in the village" he is walking through a Swiss village where he believes no other black man has every walked before. Everywhere he goes the villagers are watching him and examining his every step. He is an oddity and a new member among their ranks ... down the street from Cedar Wood Elementary which was reasonably close to Gateway. My 6th grade year started with me walking into the gym and being astounded by the sheer number of kids that where there sitting in the bleachers. I walked in and sat down on an empty row with my dad. ...

• Word Count: 862
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• Grade Level: High School

The Bird Man Always the little kid on the playing field and eager to have fun and be the best at what ever he did, buy being discouraged by his idols but still determined to do the best he could. Tony Hawk has accomplished many goals that no one has done before and still ... so they had to rent pads. "It's the ultimate extreme sport. And take more balls then motocross, skateboarding, and BMX combined"(28). It was so bad because by the time they had gotten to oasis to rent pads 4 other sweaty, stinky skaters had had the pads already. But none of this mattered to him because he ... best you've...

• Word Count: 1767
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... "(Cariou, 88) since the results of one's decisions can never be foreseen entirely unless, of course, they are viewed after the fact. In Larry's Party by Carol Shields, the main character, Larry Weller, develops a fascination with mazes that ends up turning into somewhat of an obsession. In the novel it becomes evident ... much as a word to Larry about it. Larry learns this when his neighbour calls him at work to inquire about the large machine, however by the time he arrives at home half of his cherished maze is ripped up. Larry in turn makes another life altering decision, and leaves Do...

• Word Count: 1534
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... freshman year of high school concealing a dreadful secret. Melinda struggles throughout her school year withstanding a flashback and battling her lack of voice, frightened to share her secret. She was raped by Andy Evans, a popular senior, the summer before starting high school. Laurie Halse Anderson uses the motifs of mouth, lips, and trees to develop Melinda's character throughout the novel. The motif ... , "my tree is frozen." She was probably thinking of her own life when everything hard, and she had no clue what to do. When Melinda's father said, "by cutting off the damage, you make...

• Word Count: 548
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• Grade Level: High School

... "Bleachers," Coach Eddie Rake proves to be a good man by helping the community, the school, and his players. He also denies anything but greatness from his players, but is willing to help them reach it by any means possible. Coach Rake shows his kindness by getting the school integrated successfully without any trouble, and volunteering ... in the community during the summer. Eddie Rake proves himself a good man by contributing to the community in more ways than one. First, he holds fishing rodeos for underprivileged children with no fathers. This ... summer. The only time Coach Rake ha...

• Word Count: 721
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

The novel, "Hate List," by Jennifer Brown is written from the point of view of teenager, Valerie Leftman whose boyfriend, Nick Levil, opened fire in a school cafeteria filled with students and faculty; he then turned ... how something perceived as an innocent act at the time can lead to serious consequences. When Valerie helped write the hate list she didn't realise that somebody could get hurt by it, she never even thought that anybody would read it. I was surprised how such an innocent act could result in such a monstrosity such as the school shooting. Valerie "may ... ...

• Word Count: 760
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

You could literally spot the shooting sparks coming from her eyes. This is why everyone considered her a live wire. "An American Childhood," by Annie Dillard explains how children may struggle with adolescence and growing up. When growing up is already hard enough, Annie explains in great detail how moving can take a toll on a ... , as if pushed." Different emotions flying at her any second of any minute can make someone feel bipolar and confused with what decisions to make. She could calm herself easier by doing multiple things, sometimes it was eating and sometimes it was singing. "I discov...

• Word Count: 708
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Man's Search for Meaning is a relatively short but powerful novel about an experience through a concentration camp from the eyes of psychologist and author, Victor E. Frankl. In this novel, he ... life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life-daily and hourly" (pg. 85). In this quote, Frankl is explaining that people should not seek what they want from life but, on the other hand, endeavor ... daily that I could have lived a different one. I was confident that I coul...

• Word Count: 1540
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Man's Search for Meaning is a relatively short but powerful novel about an experience through a concentration camp from the eyes of psychologist and author, Victor E. Frankl. In this novel, he ... life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life-daily and hourly" (pg. 85). In this quote, Frankl is explaining that people should not seek what they want from life but, on the other hand, endeavor ... daily that I could have lived a different one. I was confident that I coul...

• Word Count: 1540
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Looking Backward A Novel by Edward Bellamy How would you feel if one day you woke up and you were in a completely different world from what you were used to? I know that it would be ... I would not have any time to really focus on my studies. Sometimes I would not even get home from out of town games until eleven or twelve o"clock at night and by that point I was way too tired to do any homework. In Bellamy's world I would probably participate in a school activity an hour a day for a couple days a week and that would be ... ...

• Word Count: 1738
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... Frost In the "Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost, up until the last stanza the poem appeared to be concerning only on the choice between two roads in a woods. The final stanza, however, gave a significance to the ... ...

• Word Count: 462
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• Grade Level: High School

... he had sex, he might have reconsidered the attack. Sex would have changed how Eric felt about himself. He may have felt more like a man. If Cullen had thoroughly read through Eric's journal, this information would have negated his whole conclusion. The attack was avoidable. Dave Cullen also ... to conclude that when Dylan and Eric are a pair, Eric's killer psychopath instinct and Dylan's suicidal mind will result in horrific violence. By failing to include an unbiased amount of information on the possible causes of the shooters, he completely fails at his attempt to provide a complete .....

• Word Count: 1619
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... their Tucson home to the uncivilized South American country, Codi is so distraught and does not know how to live without her younger sister. As said by Codi, "Our home fell apart when she [Hallie] left- (Kingsolver 10). Because of Codi's inability to live in Tucson without her sister, she ... important because they help each woman relate to one another. Discussing problems with another woman allows for closeness and for a deep relationship to occur. As noted by Paul Gray, Barbara Kingsolver's novel contains a theme of eco-feminism; a kind, gentle type of writing with women relying on them...

• Word Count: 1050
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... remained nameless throughout the novel, was only able to discover herself with the help of Mary Fortune. Not only does the main character live a life defined by others, but she also does not know how to express herself and is not confident and unable to be at ease around others of opposite sex. ... grown wiser, I wished for dresses like those my friend Lonnie had, bought at Beale's store." (Munro 1) An example of when she lives a life defined by others is when her mother is making a red dress. The girl does not like the red dress, but does not express her sentiments to her mother. With t...

• Word Count: 1190
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... elementary school and his high school year. Peter seems to be pleased with his decision in preparing for a shooting at Sterling High School, however he had no one to be by his side; he was alone. Peter's loneliness lead him to the unexpected. You may think you know someone, but discover an outrageous action they have done that changes your opinion ... whatever scraps of your child you still could in what he had become Lacy was not planning to let go of her son"" (Picoult 125-126) Lacy was as traumatized by her son's actions as much as anyone else was. Either way, Peter was still her son...

• Word Count: 1341
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Learning by Doing Learning is a skill of gaining knowledge to be used in ones everyday life. As a senior in college, I have learned many lessons on learning. If I had worked more outside the ... of the biggest incidents I have been through is repeating an animal science class. If I had applied myself, for excellence in education, I would have done better in my studies. I faced loopholes by not applying myself towards the subject. Through repeating the class, I have gained a better outlook on learning. I did not read the assigned topics; as a result, I faced many hardships. Many of my ... CA...

• Word Count: 342
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

Title: Farm Team Author: Will Weaver Pages: 400 The book Farm Team by Will Weaver is one of the better books I have been able to read this past year. The setting is revealed as the book begins. It takes place the first day ... Billy's mother, Mavis, a lemon and won't do anything about it when the car breaks down. When the law doesn't help him get satisfaction from Meyers, Abner "solves" the problem himself by using his D-16 Caterpillar to level Meyer's office and to crush the twelve used cars in the lot. Although Meyers claims $20,000 in damages, Judge Langen determines that Abner ... field...

• Word Count: 882
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• Grade Level: High School

The Story: Carrie always gets teased by her classmates and one day she gets her first period in the shower after physical education. Her mother has never told her about periods and so she thinks she's bleeding ... and Queen of the Prom-Night. When Carrie takes place in the chair, the defrosted pig-blood falls down at her and everything is coverd in blood. Tommy gets hitten by a piece of metal and drops dead. Everybody laughes at Carrie and she runs out of the hall. But then she returns and with her telekinetic power she switches on the ... happened, but it's too late: Carrie dies in the woo...

• Word Count: 734
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School