To kill a mockingbird rough draft essay

Quinton Dodge

May 22, 2013

Block B

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay

In life people go through many obstacles that can have an effect on them. In To Kill a Mockingbird, just about every character goes through an obstacle that changes them in at least one way, shape, or form.The character that goes through the most obstacles in the book is Tom Robinson.

One of the many obstacles is racism. He lives in a small town with lots of racist people! Because of this, he is accused of doing things that he doesn't do. One example from the book that shows racism is on page 49 when Scout says "Calpurnia says that's nigger-talk"

Another obstacle that Tom Robinson goes through in the story is the court case. During the court case he is accused many times for raping Mayella and giving her a black eye. The evidence however was on his side because Mayella's black eye is on her right side and Tom's left arm is crippled so therefore he couldn't have done this to her. Mayella's dad is left handed so he could've easily done this to her. The jury still convicts Tom guilty or raping her because he is black and a white jury isn't going to convict a white man of raping a white girl. One quote from the case on page 241 is "Who is ‘he'?" Mayella pointed to Tom Robinson. "I'll have to ask you to be more specific, please," said Mr. Gilmer. "The reporter can't put down gestures very well" "That'n yonder," she said. "Robinson"

A third and final obstacle that Tom goes through during the story is being crippled. His left arm causes him many difficulties because it is 12" shorter that his right. He isn't able to do the things a normal person would be able to do because of it. In order to move it, he has to pick it up with his right arm.

Those are three of the biggest obstacles in the story that Tom Robinson goes through. Because of these obstacles, Tom has changed as a person and learned to deal with them.

The Storm

The Storm

Quinton Dodge
March 14, 2013
Block B

Twas a cloudy day in South Dakota. Everything was going well at the time. There was a few strong gusts of wind as a large grey cloud started to overtake the sky. Leon started to notice that the weather was getting to be a little strange, so therefore he started to head home for dinner.

Leon hopped on his quad and he went through the large mud puddles. He was driving by his neighbors house and waved to the three pit bulls. They were very friendly with Leon and his wife Barbara. The pit bulls often chased after the mailman. They had to move their mailbox closer to the street after the pit bulls got a large chunk of the mailmans thigh.

When he arrived at home he was met at the front door by Barbara. He was also really happy when he noticed the pot of Spaghetti O’s on the stove. This was Leon’s favorite. As they sat down at the dinner table to start eating, the winds started to pick up speed. Leon was able to tell that Barbara wasn't to thrilled about this storm.

Leon and Barbara were finished eating as Barbara started to wash the dishes. Leon went into the bedroom to change out of his overalls.As he decended the staircase he saw Barbara gazing out of the window. She started to really get nervous. Her legs started to wobble and feel like jello. Leon knew that she wasn't feeling good so he sat her down on the couch and got her a bad to hyperventilate. She was getting herself all worked up, to the point where she passed out.

Leon knew that he had to be heroic. The storm was now roaring with winds, loud booms of thunder, and bright flashes of lightning. He threw her over his shoulder and threw her on the front of the quad. He then hooked up a few umbrellas to the quad so that they wouldn't get soaked or get hypothermia. He turned the quad on and floored it to the hospital. Her skin was starting to turn pale.

The roads were very bumpy and rocky. The potholes were filling up with water. Everything was very muddy. Also the roads weren’t lit. The only light available was the light on the front of the quad and a very large flashlight that he managed to grab before leaving. He had a full tank of gas. The quad wasn't the fastest, but it was all he had. It was his only option. He was going at 55 mph, which was the top speed. He could only see what was 10 feet ahead of him. He was trying to be careful, but get there fast at the same time.

Leon took a quick left turn and jumped the curb. He landed, but Barbara landed on her shoulder. Somehow they managed to stay on the quad. A bolt from the back right tire flew off into the air. Then another. The tire was loose now. It was damaged from when they hit the curb. It was wobbling out of control. Then Leon heard a pop. The front left tire got punctured by a nail. It was rapidly losing air.

The quad wasn't going to last much longer. It had lots of damage. It was also running out of gas. The engine was making strange noises. The quads engine was starting to smoke. The hospital was right down the street. He could see the lights ahead of him. He was almost there. He slammed on the gas pedal. The quad had one last thrust in it. He was finally there.

As he arrived, the umbrellas flew off of the quad. He drove through the main entrance. The surgeons were waiting because he had called on his cell phone shortly after he had left the barn. They knew what was wrong, by just the look of her skin. She was so worked up, that she had a heart attack. This one was major however. They were going to have to perform surgery immediately. If Leon was a minute later she would have died.

After multiple hours of waiting, pacing, and sleeping, Barbara’s surgery was completed. The doctor walked into the waiting room. He informed
Leon that she would live.

VALUE ESSAY FINAL DRAFT

QUINTON DODGE

JANUARY 9,2013

BLOCK

VALUE ESSAY FINAL DRAFT

What do you think is valuable? Do you go by how much you use an item or how much a certain item costs? Well i go by both in different aspects. I value both priced and priceless items. I value my iPod touch 5th generation and my family because they are very loving and caring. I value my iPod 5th generation because it was very expensive. I value my family because they are the best.

My ipod touch 5th generation is very valuable to me because of various reasons. One reason is that it was very expensive. I got it for my 15th birthday. This is without a doubt the best gift i have gotten yet. It gives me resources and access to the internet. I can also play games and listen to music on it. It can be used to help with schoolwork or just be used to solve my own curiosity.

My family is very valuable and priceless to me. This is because they are always there for me and will do anything for me and visa versa. My family is goofy and very laid back. My family contains my dad, my mom, my brother, and my two dogs. My dogs are very hyper and caring. They are very protective of my family. My brother is an energy ball and if you want a workout than you can just try watching him for 10 minutes. I must admit that I am spoiled and get just about anything I want. I am very fortunate to have such an awesome family like mine.

These two items can be alike. A couple of ways that they are alike is that they are both extremely valuable to me. Both my family and my iPod touch 5th generation have a camera. They are also always very close to me 24/7.

Aside from my iPod touch 5th generation and my family having a couple of similarities they also have several differences. Some examples of the differences they have are that my family isn't rectangular or touchscreen. They also don't contain a home button. Another difference is that my family doesn’t need a black protective case on it. My iPod however isn't 5 feet tall and it doesn't have feet it can walk or run on.

Even though my iPod touch 5th generation and my family have many similarities and differences I value them both for their own reasons as I discussed earlier in the passage. They are the two most valuable things in the world to me. You cannot make them any better than they are because they are already perfect. I wouldn’t give them up for any other object or any amount of money in the world. They are always with me and too valuable to me to get rid of.

Value Essay Rough Draft

QUINTON DODGE

JANUARY 9,2013

BLOCK

 

  VALUE ESSAY ROUGH DRAFT

What do you think is valuable? Do you go by how much you use an item or how much a certain item costs? Well i go by both in different aspects. I value both priced and priceless items. I value my iPod touch 5th generation and my family. I value my iPod 5th generation because it was very expensive. I value my family because they are the best.

My ipod touch 5th generation is very valuable to me because of various reasons. One reason is that it was very expensive. I got it for my 15th birthday. This is without a doubt the best gift i have gotten yet. It gives me resources and access to the internet. I can also play games and listen to music.

My family is very valuable and priceless to me. This is because they are always there for me and will do anything for me and visa versa. My family is goofy and very laid back. My family contains my dad, my mom, my brother, and my two dogs. My dogs are very hyper and caring. They are very protective of my family. Those are the main reasons for why I find each item valuable in its/their own ways. I wouldn't trade them for anything else

THE COOL STORY

Summer Reading Assignment

Katniss- Catching Fire
Gale- Mockingjay

It was a dark and cloudy fall afternoon as Katniss was walking back with her hunting bag full. She is still lonely without her friends and family. She only has Peeta left, but he is still recovering from his torture in the capitol. Construction has taken place so that they can rebuild everything that was destroyed during the bombing.

Haymitch is back to his old ways, just drinking his liquor and trashing his house. He is even more miserable than before. As for Katniss she has made major improvements. She isn't as depressed as she was when she got back home. As for Peeta he is still having troubles figuring out what is real and what isn't. He is slowly progressing but it will take a while before he is fully recovered. Katniss and Peeta are now married.

As Katniss is walking she hears sounds behind her but. It sounds kind of like footsteps but she isn't sure. The sound of the steps gets closer and closer. In panic she progressively walks faster until she is in a full on spring. Then she hears a voice from the footsteps behind her and she freezes in place as she is thrilled to hear the voice.

The voice belongs to Gale. She cannot believe what she hears. She slowly turns her head. As she does so Gale slowly comes into view. Katniss’ face lights up with a huge smile on her face. “Hey” says Gale, but Katniss is too shocked to reply.

Gale is supposed to be at his new and fancy job back in district two. So why is he here? What is he doing? He speaks again. “I chose to quit my job at district two. I was able to raise enough money at my old job to buy one of the buildings they just finished. I'm going to start my families bakery up again.” Stunned Katniss can barely get the words out of her mouth. “T-T-Thats awesome.”

They continue to walk back to Katniss’ house, but most of the way there is silence. Then as the front door opens Katniss’ chin drops to the ground in complete happiness. Sitting in the rocking chair in the living room was her mother.

“Shes going to open a hospital of her own, also in district twelve.” Katniss is overloaded with joy. She doesn't know what to say or do. She feels like Peeta now. Clueless. Not knowing what is real and what isn’t.

Days have past now and Gale’s bakery is fully functional now. He has been successful so far with his business. The hospital is now just getting supplies in from the other districts.

Katniss is now back to hunting and going to the lake with Gale. They still get occasional visits from Beetee with newer bows, and a resupply of arrows. Panem is a much more peaceful place now. There is now a new president and everything is rebuilt.

THE END