Essay 10

Circles:

An Essay about How Most Things Come Around

An Essay by Alexander Hawley

8^th Grade English

Pine Point School

January 31, 2011

Circles, circles are everywhere in the world from the wheel of your car, a very literal use, to in your life and in tremendous novels and poems. Having a circle in life and literature really means that your life or the book you are reading has a slight repetitiveness. To Kill a Mockingbird, a very well thought out book has many circles in it. Furthermore, my life has many circles in it although they were not planned. Whether it is in life or in a book, almost everything repeats in some way.

(TS) If you have a very clever writer, like Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, it is very probable that there will be many planned circles making echoes throughout their writing. (SD) The most obvious circle in To Kill a Mockingbird is Jem’s love for football. (CM) It is mentioned in the first paragraph in the book where Jem breaks his arm, but he doesn’t care “so long as he could pass and punt.” (CM) This is an obvious circle because much later in the book, in chapter 29, after Jem develops a love for football, he breaks his arm on the way home from the disastrous Halloween Pageant. (SD) Boo Radley creates another circle in the book because of how much interest Scout has in him. (CM) Scout developed a longing to see Boo in the beginning, and her and her brother tried very hard to get to see him “just once.” (CM) Finally, at the end of the book, Boo comes back, and not only do Jem and Scout get to see him, but he saves Jem’s life. (SD) A feeling that makes a circle in this book is loneliness. (CM) First of all Scout always thought of Boo Radley as lonely in the beginning of the book because he never got out of his house. (CM) This feeling repeats itself later in the book when Dill becomes very lonely because his parents “just [weren’t] interested in [him].” (CS) Although it has to be planned very carefully, repetition is a good thing, and it definitely is in To Kill a Mockingbird, a book with many circles.

(TS) Although circles in writing are planned, there are many circles in my life that aren't. (SD) The biggest thing that repeats in my life is the feeling of nervousness. (CM) It comes over and over again especially when I move to a new place. My first move, when I was about six was when I moved from house to house, but still stayed in the same city. (CM) I was nervous to have a new house, but I knew that I would still have the same people around me. (CM) I was really nervous for my 3^rd move however because I was moving about 14 hours away to a rental house, and then to our new house three months later. (CM) On this move I wasn’t even in the same state, so obviously, at the age of 10, I was extremely nervous during this move. (SD) Because of the move, there are two people that keep coming back in my life. (CM) In Michigan one of my best friends was Alastair, and his mom was one of my mom’s best friends, so we meet roughly once a year on a fun vacation. He is really a perfect example of repetition because he and his mom come back every year not just in some years and not for others.     

1. I have been having trouble making sure that there aren't any typos in my writing.                   

Assessment Visit 5
1/30/11

    On January 28 I entered the Avalon building for the 5th time, to the smell of “soiled linen” and the slow, rhythmic sound of air pumps. I was very surprised to see a birthday party when I went to my normal stating point, the recreation room, but I found Laura elsewhere. Together we went from door to door meeting people with my dog. I saw many of the same people like the Red Sox fan Herbert, Joan, who had tried to eat birthday cake, but it ended up all over her face and the table in front of her. I saw Alice who after seeing her three times kind of remembered who I am. My favorite person was new to the Avalon however. She was a gray eyed opera singer, and she sung a song to my dog as she petted him. I also met another new person who was sad looking until Sidney laid down in her bed next to her.  I also heard many pet stories, some about cats and some about dogs. Many people had a dog or a cat but the two most astounding stories involved multiple pets. It was amazing to hear that one lady had eight cats and one man had six Boston Terriers. I felt great on this visit. I really felt like I was making the day of everyone that I saw as many people told me to come back. It made my day when one man joked, “Come back, but don’t take too long because I will be out of here soon.” I think my dog and I really served our purpose on this visit to StoneRidge’s Avalon building.      

Essay 10 Outline

TS: Things come around in TKAM

            SD: Jem’s football-most obvious

                        CM: Said about him wanting to play in the beginning
                        "He couldn't have cared less so long as he could pass and punt"

                        CM: Starts playing towards the end

            SD: Boo Radley

                        CM: They try to get him out in the beginning
                        "Just once"

                        CM: They finally see him in the end
                       

            SD: Lonliness

CM: Boo in the beginning

CM: Dill at the end
"they just wasn't interested in me"

CS: Everything comes around in TKAM

TS: Things come around in my life

            SD: Nervousness

                        CM: Moving schools

                        CM: Did many times

            SD: Alastair and his mom 

                        CM: I used to see him in Michigan

                        CM: Now I see him once a year

            SD: Not being the fastest in hockey

                        CM: I was slow when I just started

                        CM: I was then the fastest

CM: Now I’m way faster than before but not as fast as some of the really big kids

CS: Things come around in my life

Assessment Visit 4
1/24/11

    January 21 was the date of my fourth pet visit to Stoneridge, where every thing was mostly the same. I saw many of the same people with my dog, many of which were getting better. I saw a less beaten up version Dean, a man who last time had just had a “fall” with half of his face cut and bruised, Joan who was saying gibberish just as much, saying things like ab blab bah bah. Along with these two I saw Alice again, just as shaky in the hands, and again I saw Dennis, a man just recovering from surgery finally able to walk. Although many of the nurses remembered me Dennis was the only patient that actually remembered me. In addition I also stopped in on the dedicated Red Sox fan, Herbert, from the second visit. Sadly there were some new patients in the Avalon. One lady, Barbara, with air tubes to her nose, forgot my name after about a minute, but was so happy when my dog licked at the tips of her fingers. I also saw a lady in a similar situation to Dean. Her face was yellow on one side and she had a blood soaked bandage on her forehead. It was very calming, for me, to see mostly the same people. It was so great that not only were they doing well, some, like Dennis and Dean, were getting better. After I meet these people I feel very sad if I don’t see them again. Although not much changed since last visit, I really enjoyed this comforting visit to the Avalon building at Stoneridge.     

Assessment Visit 3
1/17/11

    I arrived at the Avalon building on Friday, like usual, for my third pet visit of the project. When I went under the green awning and past the front desk, I arrived at Laura, my coordinator’s office like usual, but when I said I was going to go door to door through the hospital, she said, “Lets go to the Cottage.” I thought what in the world is the cottage, an it got even more odd when we approached two solid metal doors at the end of a hallway which required a code to pass through. I was totally surprised when we entered a pastel colored room with a circle of happy residents as, according to the looks of the door, I thought that this might be a staff room. The room had a bird a fireplace and many staff playing games with the residents. Everyone in the room really liked seeing my dog and the brave ones especially enjoyed having him sit on their lap. Although one, with white hair and a red sweater, immediately went to get her pants washed. Eventually, Laura typed in the code, and we left the “cottage.”  As we were walking back towards Laura’s cluttered office, we heard one of the nurses say that “Room 26 wants a pet visit,” so we went to room 26. The man in room 26 was just recovering from surgery and was very nice. He was watching TV in his dark room and my dog sat right next to him on the bed. I was not nearly as nervous on this trip to the Avalon. I was not worried at all for the great people I met, and that resulted in a more pleasant experience. It also felt very good to be able to give a pet visit to a man that really wanted one. On Friday, I saw the Cottage, a very cool place, and a man who wanted, and enjoyed, a pet visit.  

Assessment Visit 2
1/7/11

        A lot had changed in the Avalon building when I made my second assessment visit after three weeks. The Avalon building with its handrail lined walls and its grey carpeted floors was still the same, but the occupants were not. First of all, when I walked in, I noticed that many more rooms were vacant and I only saw three of the same people. I saw Alice, my white haired friend from the last visit, sitting in her wheel chair watching a Broadway on TV shaking a little more than last time, and I saw Tom, a big man always waiting in the lobby for his son, a man of about seventy, to come play Yahtzee with him. Sadly, the third man, the one I saw last time with pneumonia, now has airtubes in his nose and can barely open his eyes while he lays in his hospital bed. There were also some new residents in the Avalon. The first man I met of the day was obviously a big Boston sports fan because he had on a Red Sox jacket and a Patriots hat these weren’t even enough as he had Red Sox memorabilia on his side table too. Another New visitor I met was Joan. Joan was an old woman with a yellow wheelchair who laughed for about three minutes and then stuttered her next sentence out for another three. A lot had changed in me too as I seemed much more nervous for this visit then for the first. I am mostly nervous because it makes me sad to know people are dying. For example one room still had the signal for a patient in bad condition, but there was no nametag and the lights were out; they died. I am very nervous while walking in, but, when you bring a smile to a face that hasn’t smiled in a long time, it is a great feeling. Although a lot changed, this pet visit produced as many smiles as the first.            

Essay 9

Humble Heroes:
An Essay on “Quiet” Heroes
An Essay by Alexander Hawley
8th Grade English
Pine Point School
January 5th, 2011

            When most heroes do a good deed, they brag about it for a long while, but their are some heroes, quiet heroes, that are very modest about it. Atticus is a hero and not only does he not brag about what he did, he doesn’t brag at all. My hardworking mother is modest even with all the stress of her multiple duties on her shoulders. You don’t have to be a bragger to be a hero, as there are quiet heroes all around

d you just have to see more than their words.    

          (TS) Atticus, one of my favorite characters in the book To Kill a Mockingbird, is most definitely a quiet hero as he fits the criteria of both quiet and hero. (SD) First of all he is an extremely quiet man. (CM) From his children to even people who don’t like him, everyone says he is quiet. (CM) He also does things silently in the sense that you don’t notice them; he does them very discreetly. For example, during the court case he was, “quietly building up before the jury a picture.” (SD) On his more courageous side, Atticus always attempts to accomplish what he thinks is right. (CM) For example, he never gave up on the court case with Tom Robinson. (CM) This is made even more heroic by the fact that he knew he was going to lose, and after Tom died he still said, “[They] had such a good chance,” which they never actually did. (SD) Most of all, he is a hero because he is a fantastic father for Scout and Jem. (CM) This definitely is the most heroic thing he does because it gives his kids a good start to life. (CM) In addition, since his wife is no longer alive, he has to be very strong to both work and raise the family. (CM) One of the main things that parents have to be is good at explaining things, and Atticus clearly is since Scout says, “it was beyond my ability to explain things as well as Atticus.” (CS) Quiet heroes are quiet, heroic, and sometimes do deeds discreetly, which makes Atticus, a silent but helpful man, a quiet hero.
       (TS) My mom is definitely a quiet hero in my life. (SD) First of all, she works all day long on a job that is very demanding. (CM) She has an amazing job, which she worked very hard to get. (CM) Sometimes, on days when she has lots of other things to do, she has to stay up until very late; it can even be until three or four into the morning. (CM) Her working really helps our family and she never says anything about how hard she works thus making her a humble hero. (SD) Furthermore, she always makes us a delicious dinner, does our laundry, and makes our lunches. (CM) For most mothers this is a full time job, but she does this on top of her full time job, and she does it well. (CM) Our dinners and are amazing and she always does my laundry so I’m never short on clothes. (SD) Since she does all these other things, you would think she would have no time for us, my sister and I, but she does. (CM) She spends time with us at least once a night. (CM) Sometimes she plays a game with us, sometimes she has a fire with us, her favorite activity because she is always cold, and sometimes she just talks to us or helps us with our homework, but she always does something. (CM) By spending time with us, she influences us to be upstanding citizens just like her. (CS) When I was younger I didn’t realize how much of a hero she is because she is so modest about how much she does for the family.

            Sometimes on first sight people might not be heroic to you, but look closely and some people will do many heroic things. For example, Atticus is very heroic even though he would not say so. Also, my mom works hard for the family, comes home works some more, and she doesn’t say anything about how hard she works. Although when you think of heroes you think of someone in a cape showing off their bicep, most of the heroes, and perhaps the most heroic heroes, are all very quiet and discreet about their actions.

1. A problem in writing I am working on is making sure none of my sentences were awkward.
2. I think I did well with using FAST words and alliteration.
3. I might have made a few small errors but I can’t find any.
4. I think I would give myself an A- because I think I did very well with using big words and I really tried to use alliteration.

     

Assessment Visit 1
12/17/10

       On December 17th I made my first “Pet Visit” to the hospital at Stoneridge, which is called the Avalon Building. At the beginning of the trip, I walked into Stoneridge and I had to find the place where I met the person I spoke to on the phone, Laura, who told me what to do. She specifically instructed me not to go into some rooms, but to feel free to go into all the others. Consequently, I started off down the hall into one of the four wings of the hospital, and then I made my first pet visit to a man who looked very in need of one. When I first walked in, he was crouched over looking at the floor but when he saw Sidney, my dog, he looked up and seemed to feel better because he started talking to me about the dogs he used to have and much more. I then went into a room with a lady lying in bed watching TV. She looked fine until I noticed that she had just had one leg amputated, but, nevertheless, she too looked happy to see Sidney. Finally, after visiting many more people, I met one woman in the Recreation room, Alice. Alice really loved my dog and he sat in her lap for about fifteen minutes while she petted him. Inside, while all of this was going on, I was actually very nervous. It was very scary when you passed a door with gloves outside of it, the signal not to go into the room, that the person in there is probably about to die. Also, I was very nervous to go into rooms because you never know what you might find inside. All in all, it was a very good trip in which I made many people happy, and most of the people said I should make sure to come back.