Text Structure: Cause/Effect

Author's Note: This piece is a Cause/Effect piece about the book, "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn."

The book, "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," starts off describing a poor family. They have to buy cheap food, rent an inexpensive flat and work almost all day to get by. However, it could be worse. They have shelter, they have at least enough food to not starve, and they are together. One of the only problems is that Johnny goes out and gets drunk on many occasions, he trys to drown his sorrows with drinking.

Everything seems to be normal, Francie is in a good school where she can strive, and the Nolan's life is fine, until Johnny dies. At just 32 years old, this event is so shocking and is the climax of the story. The Nolans are left thinking, could we have stopped him from doing this to himself? If we just would've stopped him from drinking, he would've been fine.  After this, Francie is forced to quit school and get her working papers, and begins working and making 10$ a week. Then Katie gives birth to a third Nolan child, Laurie with not enough money to buy important supplies for the baby. Finally, a happy ending comes, a police officer, Officer McShane takes interest in Katie, and creates a happy ending for all of them.  With his high salary, Francie gets to go to college and there is plenty of money left over for the baby, Neeley, Katie, and Officer McShane.

Had Johnny not died, the Nolans may have stayed poor, their lives may have stayed miserable, the baby may have died. This is why I think that Johnny's death was actually a good thing.

Text Structure: Main Conflict/Resolution

Author's Note: This piece is a Main Conflict/ Resolution piece about the book "The Lost Hero."

The Lost Hero is a story full of action and many small conflicts. Throughout the book, Jason, Piper, and Leo fight many monsters but the main conflict is that Gaea, the earth itself, is waking. They have to defeat her and release Hera. Gaea is making it very difficult for them to complete their quest of releasing Hera; sending monsters and horrific dreams to these kids. It is a big struggle to even get to the Wolf House, where Hera is trapped. Even if they were to get there, there would be a huge battle to fight.

The conflict has to eventually get resolved, like in any story. After making their way across the country, receiving help from their Godly parents and other gods as well, they finally arrive at the Wolf House. There, the battle has already begun and the entire perimeter is surrounded by crazed wolves and the Hunters of Artemis. After much fighting, they eventually drive the beast, Encleadus into the ground and release Hera. Jason is blinded by her destruction though, and almost doesn't make it. But a miracle happens and he is kept on the Earth, ready for the next challenge. 

The Day the Waves Came

Author's Note: This piece is about my experience at my confirmation camp this summer. It is written as a memoir.

Floating in the middle of the lake. There was no better place to be at that moment. I was at my church's confirmation camp about two hours away from my house. It was recreation time, and me and my friend Sarah decided to swim out to the raft.

We jumped off, swam back to the ladder, and then jumped off again.  I felt like I could touch the bottom of the lake! Following one skillful pencil dive, I came up for a gasp of air and flashed Sarah a grin from ear to ear. Suddenly, I heard a shriek and turned around to see Sarah gripping the side of the raft, which was completely tilted to one side. My instincts kicked in and I began swimming desperately to the raft, where I wasn't threatened by massive waves trying to tumble over me. Each time I took a struggling push towards the ladder, I was thrown even farther away. Eventually, I just let the waves take me, giving a small paddle upwards each surge to keep my head above water.

Once the waves subdued, I attempted to climb up onto the raft, but the waves had jarred the ladder. One of the steps turned and my shin banged into the edge of the raft. "Owww, really?" I said, "What is this, the ocean?"

After finally getting myself onto the raft, I examined my leg. Where the impact had occurred, a faint purple mark was seeping out from under my skin. Hmm… fast,  I thought. However, there was nothing that could discourage me at that moment, being out there in the waves was like being on the world's biggest rollercoaster! Up the ladder I went, one more time, and I collapsed onto the wooden platform, having already exhausted myself. Although, I knew I would eventually recover, in the moment, I thought, "How am I going to make it back to shore?"

I never understood why my mom always said, "We aren't doing anything today, I just want to get out of the hustle and bustle." Now I completely understand. Being out on the raft was amazing, staring up at the puffy clouds, away from all the chaos on the water trampoline. We were on our own, we could do anything we want, we didn't have to worry about a care in the world.

Quite a while passed before another boat sped by. Eventually though; one did. Sarah and I took one glance at each other and simultaneously jumped off the raft with our life jackets. Once again, we floated in the water being tossed around by expansive waves. After a seemingly endless amount of time, the waves stopped and in great disappointment we swam slowly back to the raft. This time, I watched my step, but the waves had jarred the ladder again and I banged my shin in the same spot. "Oww, again?" I said.

After this, several more of our friends came out onto the raft after they saw how much fun we were having. This took away a little bit of the serenity we had before, but added more craziness. The daredevils that had been hidden inside of us for years came out as we attempted 360 twists, flips, and all sorts of cool tricks off the platform. None of this was as fun as the waves though.

Eventually we got bored of the same tricks. We sat down and told them about all the fun we had when the waves came, then spent the next twenty minutes trying to desperately call speedboats and jet skis over near us. After what seemed like an eternity, a speedboat lugging tubers behind it sped by. Racing into action, we jumped off the raft and we each got in our own spot to await the thrill.

For one last time, the waves came and entertained us for the time being.

Continuous motions of...

UP

DOWN

UP

DOWN

… began to make us somewhat seasick, but nothing could take the fun out of that moment.

All too soon, the waves stopped, leaving us stranded in the middle of the lake. As we started swimming back to the raft, the whistle blew. In great regret, we all swam back to shore, wanting nothing more than to go back out on that raft and do it all again.

Now that I look back upon that moment, I realize that I'm so thankful for that experience to be my lasting memory of camp. It was my last year at confirmation camp, and I wanted to remember it as something life-changing. This memory allows me to always think of that camp as a wonderful experience that I would do again in a heartbeat.