Family is Everything

Author’s Note: This is the final essay for the Outsiders. I improved one of my other writing pieces to complete this final essay. This essay shows that I can be able to share my ideas and thoughts in a formal essay that can be graded on the writing rubric.I explain how the main theme of the story is family

You come home right after you just got into a tremendous fist fight with a gang. Your parents are relaxing on the couch, watching TV and don’t even notice you are home or even that you left! How would that feel if that happened to you? What kind of family doesn’t care about their own child? In “The Outsiders” family is everything to everyone. My definition of family is someone who cares about you and is always there for you. One of the most substantial main themes of The Outsiders is the definition of family.

First off, in The Outsiders, most of the greasers do not have any blood related parents or family that care about them. They basically all take care of themselves. One of the main ideas of the story is that you don’t need blood related family to feel wanted or cared for. If your friends are basically all you have, make sure you do not lose them. Even though you don’t have to have a blood related family to care for you, everyone wants one. Who wouldn’t?

Although explaining the meaning of family is important, examples from the story are very valuable information to know. Ponyboy, Darry and Sodapop all lost their parents in a car accident. They were living the life, but then the accident happened. Darry had to quit school and work two jobs to take care of Ponyboy and Sodapop. Darry became hard, ungrateful and cold to everyone. Losing their family changed their entire life. “Darry would kill me if I got into trouble with the police.”   This quote shows how he can be the same caring, warmhearted brother he used to be before the accident. Another person who is affected by family is Johnny Cade. Johnny is abused by his dad and gets ignored by his alcoholic, maniacal mother. “We were used to seeing Johnny get banged up- his father clobbered him around a lot, and although it made us madder than heck, we couldn’t do anything about it.” This quote shows how dysfunctional his family is and how the greasers care more about him than his real family. Another quote that shows how important family is to Johnny is, “If it hadn’t been for the gang, Johnny would have never known what love and affection are.” The last person that is affected by family is Dally. When Johnny died, he went crazy. Johnny was all Dally cared about and now he was gone.  Without family, the characters in this book would have a very painful and unsuccessful life.

Even though family is the main theme in the book, it also relates to other people and characters outside of the book!  The Outsiders relates to many people in different ways! This story relates to me because I have blood relative family that love me and take care of me. Sure, I have my friends but they are nothing like my real family. The Greasers and I are exactly opposite! This story relates to other novels or stories because usually in every book, somehow their family is messed up. In Ruby Holler, by Sharon Creech, the twins do not have a family. They keep getting shipped from family to family looking for the perfect home.  The twins in the story, relates to the greasers because they both do not have blood related family to love them. Darry, Sodapop and Ponyboy only have each other and so do the twins.

Overall, family is obviously the main theme of the story. Family is affected by everyone in The Outsiders. The whole book is basically about the definition of family! The definition of family is different to everyone but I think family means someone who always is there for you no matter what and will always love and care for you. Family affects me and other characters in novels too! Without family, what would happen? Who could you look to in a time of need? Could you survive without your family?

Where did all the fans go?

Authors Note: This is a re-do of my text structure piece. I am writing a better and improved one. This piece shows that I understand text structure and cause and effect relationships.

Dear Casey,

It’s such an honor to write this letter to you. I’ve been your biggest fan ever since I went to your first baseball game! I’ve watched you play for as long as I can remember and I’ve always thought you were the best baseball player out there, but I want to tell you what I thought about your last game. You were my hero, but now I think I have to find a new one. What happened Casey?

The conflict was obviously you thought you were too good. I’ve never seen you act like that, especially when you only had one inning left and you were down four, two. Did you really think you could hit any ball you wanted? Well, you didn’t. Everyone was counting on you Casey, especially since you were known for hitting homeruns and winning games for the team.

You’re conflict resulted in you not hitting any of the balls. You lost the game for everyone , and they were all counting on you. How do you feel now? Because you thought you were too good and started being arrogant, you let down all your fans, especially me. That day, you lost a lot of your fans. You striking out and being too arrogant could get you sat for a game or worse, getting kicked of the team. Is this the real you Casey? I am very disappointed and so are a handful of fans.

I am sorry for being so rude or harsh, but this is how I feel and I bet a lot of other people do too. If you do something selfish or arrogant, there will always be consequences. I would think getting kicked off the team would crush you, but maybe that’s what you need. Maybe it will help you solve your arrogance issues. I hope I see you next year being the best baseball player I know and love.

Your former #1 fan,

Kennedi Bates

Meaning of Family

Author's Note: This a piece about the book I read named The Outsiders. This writing piece is to show how I can present the main idea/topic in my writing. This will also show my organization skills in my writing.

           

You come home right after you just got into a huge fist fight with a gang. Your parents are sitting on the couch, watching TV and don’t even notice you are home or even that you left! How would that feel if that happened to you? What kind of family doesn’t care about their own child? In “The Outsiders” family is everything to everyone. My definition of family is someone who cares about you and is always there for you.

 In The Outsiders, most of the greasers do not have any blood related parents or family that care about them. They basically all take care of themselves. One of the main ideas of the story is that you don’t need blood related family to feel wanted or cared for. If your friends are basically all you have, make sure you do not lose them. Even though you don’t have to have a blood related family to care for you, everyone wants one. Who wouldn’t?

 Ponyboy, Darry and Sodapop all lost their parents in a car accident. They were living the life, but then the accident happened. Darry had to quit school and work two jobs to take care of Ponyboy and Sodapop. Darry became hard and cold to everyone. Losing their family changed their entire life. Another person who is affected by family is Johnny Cade. Johnny is abused by his dad and gets ignored by his alcoholic, crazy mother. “We were used to seeing Johnny get banged up- his father clobbered him around a lot, and although it made us madder than heck, we couldn’t do anything about it.” This quote shows how dysfunctional his family is and how the greasers care more about him than his real family. Another quote that shows how important family is to Johnny is, “If it hadn’t been for the gang, Johnny would have never known what love and affection are.” The last person that is affected by family is Dally. When Johnny died, he went crazy. Johnny was all Dally cared about and now he was gone.

The Outsiders relates to many people in different ways! This story relates to me because I have blood relative family that love me and take care of me. Sure, I have my friends but they are nothing like my real family. The Greasers and I are exactly opposite! This story relates to other novels or stories because usually in every book, somehow their family is messed up. In Ruby Holler, by Sharon Creech, the twins do not have a family. They keep getting shipped from family to family looking for the perfect home. ` The twins in the story relates to the greasers because they both do not have blood related family to love them. Darry, Sodapop and Ponyboy only have each other and so do the twins.

Overall, family is the most important theme in this book. Family is affected by everyone in The Outsiders. The definition of family is different to everyone but I think family means someone who always is there for you no matter what and will always love and care for you. Family affects me and other characters in novels too! Without family, what would happen? Could you survive without family?

The Bullet

Author’s Note: This is a piece about a new scene for The Outsiders. I thought it would have been an exciting scene to put in the story.

Cherry drove around looking for the rumble that was about to happen any minute now. The whole thing was about Bob getting killed by Johnny. She found out earlier that day that Johnny was in the hospital after he and Ponyboy saved a bunch of children from a burning church. Somehow she had forgiven Johnny but she was still determined to stop the fight.

When she finally found them, Cherry got out of the car and ran into the middle of the two groups. “Stop!” She screamed. “Cherry. What are you doing here? You’re going to get hurt. Go home. You don’t belong here.” Ponyboy spat and glanced at the ground. “Ponyboy! You can’t do this. Fighting never solves anything! You know that. Please don’t fight!” Cherry begged. “We have to. It’s the only way to settle this.” Ponyboy explained apologetically.

“We’re going to start without you Ponyboy, and unless she leaves, she’ll be a part of it too.” Screamed a grumpy man, which was on the Greasers side. “Go. Please.” Ponyboy said weakly. Cherry stepped back, with tears in her eyes.

“No guns. No weapons. Just hands,” Said one of the guys. Tears slid down Cherry’s cheek as she got into her car. “Wait!” Cherry ran and hugged Ponyboy. “Goodbye Ponyboy” and turned around. “Get out!” A large man pulled out a gun and shot the bullet right at Cherry. “No!” Ponyboy ran in front of her. As the bullet went through his heart, Cherry then knew she was in love with Ponyboy Curtis.

Fairytale World

Author's Note: This is a picture post. You find a picture and then you write whatever you want about it! I did this last year and thought it would be a good writing piece to put on my blog once again. Hope you like it!

As I walked through the flowers, yellow all around me I smiled. I felt like I was in a world without troubles. No fighting, no homework and no problems what so ever. It was the perfect place to be. I started skipping through the flowers, feeling like a princess. I soon got tired and layed down to look at the sky. I fell sleepy and drifted to sleep, knowing everything is great! I awoke to water droplets falling on me. I got up and ran as fast as I could, trying to look for my mom. I saw her and she was saying something but I don't know what. I started running faster and faster and I finally got to her. I hugged her as hard as I could.  We walked out of the yellow, flower world back into reality and into the real world, once again.

Best Friends Forever
Always Together
Playing volleyball
And always cal
Walking to the park
Especially in the dark
Having a fun time and all!
Love hanging out
Up and about
We are best friends!