The themes in this chapter are Mentoring, Life Choices, and Parallel Biographies.
Mentoring:
"I thought about Lieutenant Colonel Murnane, my tenth-and eleventh-grade history and social studies teacher, who lit a fire in me about the importance of public service." (Page 132)
Colonel Murnane instilled an important value in Wes, which changed his life forever. Many times, when a teen is going nowhere, they will have a "screw the world" attitude. However, Wes's teacher convinced him otherwise. He taught Wes that there are disadvantaged people that need help and to have an unselfish attitude. Anyone can have a positive impact on a young person's life that causes them to change.
"[Colonel Murphy] said something I will never forget. 'When it is time for you to leave this school, leave your job, or even leave this earth, you make sure you have worked hard to make sure it mattered you were ever here.'"(Page 133)
This quote really resonated with Wes. Like Colonel Murnane, Colonel Murphy made sure that every person had a positive impact on the world. Teens are often inspired and motivated by quotes like those to make a difference in their world. They will do everything they can to make their world a better place, and it can influence their career choices. Their perspectives on life can change, making them want to make a positive impact on the world.
Life Choices:
"I wanted to stay at Valley Forge and attend its junior college, which would allow me to …become a second lieutenant in the Army. I wanted to lead soldiers."(Page 133)
Wes's decision to enter the army was based off of Colonel Murnane and Colonel Murphy's teachings. He wanted to make a positive impact and serve his country. This is one example of how good mentors can sway a young person's career decision. If he had decided to play basketball instead, his path could have been different. Anytime someone becomes highly respected and their mentors say that they have a bright future, it can greatly impact the direction that the person could decide to go in.
"As the baking soda swirled in the rapidly heating pot, Wes held the plastic bag with both hands and poured in nine ounces of cocaine."(Page 145)
At this point, Wes 2 had returned from the Job Corps program. Alicia and Cheryl both wanted him to send money so they could take care of his children. However, he had not been able to send a lot of money, so they were both accusing him of failing to take care of his children. In order to provide for them, he reverted back to dealing drugs, since a lot of money was made that way. That is understandable since he had very little money. Sometimes, however, someone who has limited options due to a lack of education can be emotionally unstable and unable to cope with their problems. They have been so used to using violence and drugs on the streets to deal with it that there is no other way for them to do it. Wes is one of those people. This choice would ultimately put his life back on the wrong track.
Parallel Biographies:
"His quick success had Wes thinking differently about his life…Just as he had on the corners of Baltimore, Wes became a leader."(Page 142)
At this time, Wes had finished Job Corps testing and he was able to take an accelerated track in order to get his GED and start vocational training. He was at the top of his class, and people looked up to him because he was bright and he set an example for the others as to how one should go about their life. His success gave him hope for his life. Whenever someone goes through a rough time, they are often depressed and they think negatively about life. When things start to go well, the black cloud over their head passes and they automatically start to think more positively. Their initial success can cause them to become leaders as well as give them the confidence to take control of their lives. Wes's journey here is similar to when the author Wes became an officer. He turned his life around at Valley Forge and was recognized for it by his chain of command. This turn of events also caused his outlook on life to change.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Monday, March 24, 2014
Chapter 6: Hunted- Theme Analysis
The themes in this chapter are importance of education, crime, drugs, overcoming obstacles, and life choices.
Importance of education/Crime:
"Woody thought about White Boy, his boy from the neighborhood, who picked up a job working at a restaurant called Poor Folks. He was tired of school and decided joining the workforce was a better option." (Page 109)
Usually, when a teen surrounds themselves with friends who tend to get into trouble and not place an emphasis on their education, they tend to go down the same path as their friends due to peer pressure. They don't think about how beneficial school is to their future, because their friends don't. If their friends say that they are "tired" of school and drop out, chances are they will drop out too. Despite this, Woody was still the only person out of his group of friends to graduate from high school. He stayed the course, unlike his friends, therefore he will have a better future then White Boy will.
"Not surprisingly, without a high school diploma or job training-and with a criminal record-Wes found it almost impossible to find a job to support his growing family." (Page 110)
Almost all employers, when performing background checks, will automatically reject an applicant who has a criminal record. If they don't have a high school diploma or job training, that doesn't bode well for the applicant either. Those three factors show the employer that the applicant will not be a good addition to the staff. If Wes 2 had stayed in school and out of trouble, he would have been able to find a job, and it would be a lot easier on his family.
Drugs:
"There were over 100,000 known addicts in Baltimore, and the real number was arguably higher…With a demand like that, and an ample supply, it was hard not to make money." (Pages 111-112)
Anytime the number of addicts is that big, lots of money will be made. Addicts will often blow all of their (and their family members) cash on drugs in order to get their fix. The combination of the number of addicts, plus the money they spend in order to get high, equals a lot of cash. All around a community or city, drugs are seen and smelled everywhere by everyone.
Overcoming Obstacles/Life choices:
"Three years ago I'd been one of the insubordinate kids first entering the gates of Valley Forge. In an ironic turn, I was now one of the ones in charge of them."(Page 115)
Some kids refuse to change. Even when they enter a strict environment such as Valley Forge or any other military school, they don't buy into their school's philosophy. They continue acting up and causing their elders problems. Others, such as the author Wes, realize that they need to change. The obstacle in this case is their own attitude. In order to get their life back on track, they needed to reflect on their life, which often resulted in a change of attitude. In Wes's case, he overcame his negative attitude to lead people who were once like him.
" My assailant was unknown, unnamed, and in a car. This was not a fair fight, and the best-case scenario was nowhere near as probable as the worst-case scenario. If I was successful, who knew how the fight would've ended? If I failed, who knew how the fight would have ended?" (Page 121)
Even at a military school, situations that arise frequently at home can occasionally be found on campus. The itch to fight can still linger inside the most nonviolent person when faced with a situation like that. They have to make an important decision: either fight their attacker or walk away calmly. That decision can determine their peers and elders' respect from them as well as where their life could potentially be headed. Wes chose not to fight, and because of that he maintained his respect from his peers and elders. If he had chosen to fight, he could have been expelled.
Importance of education/Crime:
"Woody thought about White Boy, his boy from the neighborhood, who picked up a job working at a restaurant called Poor Folks. He was tired of school and decided joining the workforce was a better option." (Page 109)
Usually, when a teen surrounds themselves with friends who tend to get into trouble and not place an emphasis on their education, they tend to go down the same path as their friends due to peer pressure. They don't think about how beneficial school is to their future, because their friends don't. If their friends say that they are "tired" of school and drop out, chances are they will drop out too. Despite this, Woody was still the only person out of his group of friends to graduate from high school. He stayed the course, unlike his friends, therefore he will have a better future then White Boy will.
"Not surprisingly, without a high school diploma or job training-and with a criminal record-Wes found it almost impossible to find a job to support his growing family." (Page 110)
Almost all employers, when performing background checks, will automatically reject an applicant who has a criminal record. If they don't have a high school diploma or job training, that doesn't bode well for the applicant either. Those three factors show the employer that the applicant will not be a good addition to the staff. If Wes 2 had stayed in school and out of trouble, he would have been able to find a job, and it would be a lot easier on his family.
Drugs:
"There were over 100,000 known addicts in Baltimore, and the real number was arguably higher…With a demand like that, and an ample supply, it was hard not to make money." (Pages 111-112)
Anytime the number of addicts is that big, lots of money will be made. Addicts will often blow all of their (and their family members) cash on drugs in order to get their fix. The combination of the number of addicts, plus the money they spend in order to get high, equals a lot of cash. All around a community or city, drugs are seen and smelled everywhere by everyone.
Overcoming Obstacles/Life choices:
"Three years ago I'd been one of the insubordinate kids first entering the gates of Valley Forge. In an ironic turn, I was now one of the ones in charge of them."(Page 115)
Some kids refuse to change. Even when they enter a strict environment such as Valley Forge or any other military school, they don't buy into their school's philosophy. They continue acting up and causing their elders problems. Others, such as the author Wes, realize that they need to change. The obstacle in this case is their own attitude. In order to get their life back on track, they needed to reflect on their life, which often resulted in a change of attitude. In Wes's case, he overcame his negative attitude to lead people who were once like him.
" My assailant was unknown, unnamed, and in a car. This was not a fair fight, and the best-case scenario was nowhere near as probable as the worst-case scenario. If I was successful, who knew how the fight would've ended? If I failed, who knew how the fight would have ended?" (Page 121)
Even at a military school, situations that arise frequently at home can occasionally be found on campus. The itch to fight can still linger inside the most nonviolent person when faced with a situation like that. They have to make an important decision: either fight their attacker or walk away calmly. That decision can determine their peers and elders' respect from them as well as where their life could potentially be headed. Wes chose not to fight, and because of that he maintained his respect from his peers and elders. If he had chosen to fight, he could have been expelled.
Title Justification Essay #2
The opportunities that someone has to get themselves on the right track and positively impact the world are often limited. For some people, they only get one shot. If they don't take advantage of that shot, they would go nowhere, and they would live a life of crime and drugs due to their choices. For other people, however, they receive another shot to do something positive with their life. This is illustrated specifically in Part 2 of The Other Wes Moore, titled "Choices and Second Chances." In this part, the author Wes is sent to military school by his mother. He despised it at first, but soon became a leader in the corps and grew to love it. Meanwhile, Wes 2 got into more trouble. He was arrested for attempted murder and for drug dealing. The title of the section, "Choices and Second Chances," is appropriate with the author's purpose because it contrasts the paths that teens can take with their lives and their consequences, but it also tries to motivate kids to stay on the right path.
There are several examples that demonstrate the author's desire to motivate kids to stay on the right path. "The final straw came one evening while she sat downstairs on the phone listening to my dean from Riverdale explain why they were placing me on academic and disciplinary probation…Bad grades, absence from classes, and an incident with a smoke bomb… Her conviction was increasing with every bad report." (Page 87) The dean was describing choices that the author Wes made that caused his family to change his environment. When a school administrator describes reasons such as those listed in the quote for putting a child on probation, any parent will be angry and monitor their child. Wes's mother had done that enough. Wes's choice to neglect his education and misbehave led to a major change in his life. Wes uses the description of his problems as well as his mother's conviction to motivate kids to do positive things with their lives. They show how serious a parent can be when they say they want to change their child's environment, even if their children don't believe them. Another example shows second chances: "'I am going to let you talk on the phone for five minutes, and that is it for the rest of plebe system. Call who you need to, but you had better be snapped out of this when that phone hangs up.'"(Page 94) Colonel Batt's willingness to let Wes talk to his mom shows how much he wants Wes to succeed in life. In a strict environment such as Valley Forge, some officers would have given up on plebes who misbehaved. The military has little time for clowns. However, Wes was given a chance to reflect on his actions. That phone call was a turning point in his life. After that phone call, he changed his attitude and his outlook on life, and he greatly benefitted from it. This also serves as a great motivator for kids. It shows them how valuable a second chance can be, and they should take advantage of it to make sure their life is heading in a positive direction.
The title is appropriate with the author's purpose because it illustrates the consequences of certain actions while also motivating kids to stay on the right path. Wes's decisions to neglect school and engage in misconduct led to his mother sending him to Valley Forge to get his life back on track. His choices led to a 180 degree shift in his environment. Colonel Batt, instead of expelling Wes, gave him an opportunity to correct himself and evaluate his life. Any teen going down the wrong path who reads the second part of the book will be inspired by how Wes righted himself, and they might even evaluate themselves as to where they are going.
There are several examples that demonstrate the author's desire to motivate kids to stay on the right path. "The final straw came one evening while she sat downstairs on the phone listening to my dean from Riverdale explain why they were placing me on academic and disciplinary probation…Bad grades, absence from classes, and an incident with a smoke bomb… Her conviction was increasing with every bad report." (Page 87) The dean was describing choices that the author Wes made that caused his family to change his environment. When a school administrator describes reasons such as those listed in the quote for putting a child on probation, any parent will be angry and monitor their child. Wes's mother had done that enough. Wes's choice to neglect his education and misbehave led to a major change in his life. Wes uses the description of his problems as well as his mother's conviction to motivate kids to do positive things with their lives. They show how serious a parent can be when they say they want to change their child's environment, even if their children don't believe them. Another example shows second chances: "'I am going to let you talk on the phone for five minutes, and that is it for the rest of plebe system. Call who you need to, but you had better be snapped out of this when that phone hangs up.'"(Page 94) Colonel Batt's willingness to let Wes talk to his mom shows how much he wants Wes to succeed in life. In a strict environment such as Valley Forge, some officers would have given up on plebes who misbehaved. The military has little time for clowns. However, Wes was given a chance to reflect on his actions. That phone call was a turning point in his life. After that phone call, he changed his attitude and his outlook on life, and he greatly benefitted from it. This also serves as a great motivator for kids. It shows them how valuable a second chance can be, and they should take advantage of it to make sure their life is heading in a positive direction.
The title is appropriate with the author's purpose because it illustrates the consequences of certain actions while also motivating kids to stay on the right path. Wes's decisions to neglect school and engage in misconduct led to his mother sending him to Valley Forge to get his life back on track. His choices led to a 180 degree shift in his environment. Colonel Batt, instead of expelling Wes, gave him an opportunity to correct himself and evaluate his life. Any teen going down the wrong path who reads the second part of the book will be inspired by how Wes righted himself, and they might even evaluate themselves as to where they are going.
Monday, March 17, 2014
Wes Moore Characterization Sonnets
Warning: These sonnets are written in the style of Shakespeare.
The author Wes Moore:
Three years of age young Wes was,
Perished his father in a flash,
Howbeit was his memory fuzzed,
To led his spirit crash.
The Bronx he moved hither in the midst,
Was crime extremely cool.
Hereupon, affected him it didst,
Occurred lack of effort in school.
Two sisters he hath,
Existed a chain of care.
Did not help he with young Shani's math,
Caused he his mother's despair.
Affect his troubles he let in life,
Creating an identity caused that the family's strife.
Wes Moore #2:
Was Wes an innocent lad,
Influenced him his brother didst.
The path that went Tony was bad,
Leading to numerous fights with fists.
Help Wes received from Tony in the end.
Toughen him up it was to try.
Why he wouldst one could comprehend,
Given troubles in the neighborhood causing death cries.
Dealed drugs Tony,
School thou didn't go.
Was Wes to listen to him a phony,
Stooped hither a level Tony that was low.
Looked up to someone else should Wes have done,
To get into trouble he chose, was it the wrong kind of fun.
Chapter 5: Lost- Theme Analysis
The themes in this chapter are life choices, absent fathers, crime, fate vs free will, and role models.
Role Models/ Life Choices/ Fate vs Free Will:
"I got bored and looked around for alternative entertainment. The only thing available was my sister. I began to lightly punch her in the arm…" ( Page 87)
This quote falls under life choices because at this time in the book, the final straw for the author Wes was occurring. While his mother was listening to his principal, Wes was watching T.V. with his sister. Even though he was bored when the T.V. lost reception, he could have found another thing to do to entertain himself besides punch his sister. He could have tried to fix the reception or find something else to do with his energy, but he didn't. His decision to take his boredom out on his sister prompted his mother to send him to military school, changing his attitude and environment.
"Wes could only see red. He was blind with rage. Instincts kicked in. Tony's words rang through his mind. Send a message." (Page 104)
Wes 2 was trying to seek revenge against a guy named Ray, who beat him up for sleeping with a girl that Ray had been seeing. Once Wes arrived downstairs with his pistol, the training that he received from Tony kicked in. Given that Tony was his role model, it makes sense that he would remember what his brother told him. Violence is not the answer to solving a problem, although that is basically what Wes was told growing up. This quote also falls under life choices because he chose to believe Tony when he said that the way to solve disputes was by getting back at someone. He could have chosen not to listen to that advice, but to listen to the advice about staying in school and away from the streets. If he had done that, he would have been on the right path. He listened to the wrong advice, which led to trouble with the law.
"About your question. I don't know the answer." (Page 107)
This was Wes 2's answer to his mother's question about whether he was the person who shot Ray. He refused to admit that he shot him. That answer foreshadows other events that will occur in his life. If he had admitted that he shot Ray, he could have gained respect for turning himself in, and it could have motivated him to turn his life around and start going to school. He could have learned from that incident and used it to better himself. Instead, he refused to admit that he was involved. That choice led him down a path of trouble, meaning that his destiny was determined by free will.
Crime:
"He reached up to the top shelf and pulled out the shoe box that held his 9mm Beretta and a few full clips." (Pages 103-104)
Like many other teens in the neighborhood at the time, Wes 2 had a gun. The fact that he possessed a gun and clips in his home shows how frequent crime was. Usually, people must be of age to buy a gun, and before they do, they have to pass a series of background checks. Since the teens were underage, it is puzzling as to how they got the gun in the first place. It is likely that a family member gave it to them. If that is the case, it is understandable that there would be a lot of crime, because weapon use would have diffused from generation to generation.
Absent Fathers:
"Still squinting, he looked his son in the eyes. 'Who are you?'… Part of [Wes] was hurt, part ashamed, part relieved that the awkward conversation he had been dreading wouldn't be happening." (Page 102)
At this point in the chapter, Wes 2 was attempting to say hello to his father, who wasn't really around when Wes was a kid. The fact that his father didn't really know his son at all shows that Wes didn't have a responsible older male figure he could look up to. The storm of emotions he experienced is the result of a lack of a reliable father figure. If his father had been there for him during his childhood, Wes would have had a better life.
Role Models/ Life Choices/ Fate vs Free Will:
"I got bored and looked around for alternative entertainment. The only thing available was my sister. I began to lightly punch her in the arm…" ( Page 87)
This quote falls under life choices because at this time in the book, the final straw for the author Wes was occurring. While his mother was listening to his principal, Wes was watching T.V. with his sister. Even though he was bored when the T.V. lost reception, he could have found another thing to do to entertain himself besides punch his sister. He could have tried to fix the reception or find something else to do with his energy, but he didn't. His decision to take his boredom out on his sister prompted his mother to send him to military school, changing his attitude and environment.
"Wes could only see red. He was blind with rage. Instincts kicked in. Tony's words rang through his mind. Send a message." (Page 104)
Wes 2 was trying to seek revenge against a guy named Ray, who beat him up for sleeping with a girl that Ray had been seeing. Once Wes arrived downstairs with his pistol, the training that he received from Tony kicked in. Given that Tony was his role model, it makes sense that he would remember what his brother told him. Violence is not the answer to solving a problem, although that is basically what Wes was told growing up. This quote also falls under life choices because he chose to believe Tony when he said that the way to solve disputes was by getting back at someone. He could have chosen not to listen to that advice, but to listen to the advice about staying in school and away from the streets. If he had done that, he would have been on the right path. He listened to the wrong advice, which led to trouble with the law.
"About your question. I don't know the answer." (Page 107)
This was Wes 2's answer to his mother's question about whether he was the person who shot Ray. He refused to admit that he shot him. That answer foreshadows other events that will occur in his life. If he had admitted that he shot Ray, he could have gained respect for turning himself in, and it could have motivated him to turn his life around and start going to school. He could have learned from that incident and used it to better himself. Instead, he refused to admit that he was involved. That choice led him down a path of trouble, meaning that his destiny was determined by free will.
Crime:
"He reached up to the top shelf and pulled out the shoe box that held his 9mm Beretta and a few full clips." (Pages 103-104)
Like many other teens in the neighborhood at the time, Wes 2 had a gun. The fact that he possessed a gun and clips in his home shows how frequent crime was. Usually, people must be of age to buy a gun, and before they do, they have to pass a series of background checks. Since the teens were underage, it is puzzling as to how they got the gun in the first place. It is likely that a family member gave it to them. If that is the case, it is understandable that there would be a lot of crime, because weapon use would have diffused from generation to generation.
Absent Fathers:
"Still squinting, he looked his son in the eyes. 'Who are you?'… Part of [Wes] was hurt, part ashamed, part relieved that the awkward conversation he had been dreading wouldn't be happening." (Page 102)
At this point in the chapter, Wes 2 was attempting to say hello to his father, who wasn't really around when Wes was a kid. The fact that his father didn't really know his son at all shows that Wes didn't have a responsible older male figure he could look up to. The storm of emotions he experienced is the result of a lack of a reliable father figure. If his father had been there for him during his childhood, Wes would have had a better life.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Chapter 4: Marking Territory-Theme Analysis
The themes in this chapter are drugs, life choices, importance of education, and role models.
Drugs:
"Tony had now spent over a decade dealing drugs and knew how much money could be made in the game." (Page 70)
Tony spent much of his childhood dealing drugs, and he was very knowledgeable about it. The fact that he knows so much about the drug dealing game demonstrates how common drugs were in the neighborhood. His longevity in the drug game shows how prominent drugs were for a long time, and that problem wouldn't be solved anytime soon.
Life Choices/ Importance of Education:
"Wes left the house and began to walk toward his girlfriend's place a few blocks over… Wes complained to her about his mother's abuse of his privacy." (Page 74)
Wes chose to interpret his mom finding his drugs as a lack of privacy. He did not think it was possible that it was a way of getting him to change. His mom wanted him to take a look at himself and change the path he was going down. She thought that getting rid of the drugs would motivate him to do that, but it didn't. Wes chose to keep dealing drugs instead of listening to his mother's warning, which contributed to him going down the wrong path. If he had stopped, his story might have been similar to the author Wes's story.
"The problem was that I wasn't showing up half the time. It's tough to do well in school as an eleven-year-old when your picking and choosing which days to go." (Page 76)
Here, the author Wes often skipped school and went back to the neighborhood when he was 11. This choice shows that he didn't value school as particularly important, which almost sent him down the wrong path. A lack of education and a life on the streets are often related, and the fact that he rarely showed up at school meant that he was very close to being a victim of the streets.
Role Models:
"Some days I would check into homeroom; other days I'd head directly back to the train and return to the neighborhood…My sister, always the loyal accomplice, never snitched." (Page 77)
The author Wes's sister, Shani, looked up to her brother, even though he was being a bad influence on her. Wes would decide each day whether or not he would go to school. If he didn't check into homeroom, Shani did not tell their mother or their grandparents. The fact that Shani didn't tell the family shows that she looked up to her brother no matter what he did.
"A few months earlier, Shani went out to play with one of the neighborhood girls, Lateshia, and came back home with her face covered in blood." (Page 77)
This quote is similar to the one above. Wes got involved in conflicts a lot as a kid, and was sometimes bloodied. Shani was jumping rope with several neighborhood kids, and a conflict broke out. She was on the receiving end of a punch to the face. This is very similar to Wes's experience. The presence of blood was so familiar in the household that she ended up getting bloodied as well. Since Wes was a role model to her, she got herself into situations where there was violence, just like Wes did.
Drugs:
"Tony had now spent over a decade dealing drugs and knew how much money could be made in the game." (Page 70)
Tony spent much of his childhood dealing drugs, and he was very knowledgeable about it. The fact that he knows so much about the drug dealing game demonstrates how common drugs were in the neighborhood. His longevity in the drug game shows how prominent drugs were for a long time, and that problem wouldn't be solved anytime soon.
Life Choices/ Importance of Education:
"Wes left the house and began to walk toward his girlfriend's place a few blocks over… Wes complained to her about his mother's abuse of his privacy." (Page 74)
Wes chose to interpret his mom finding his drugs as a lack of privacy. He did not think it was possible that it was a way of getting him to change. His mom wanted him to take a look at himself and change the path he was going down. She thought that getting rid of the drugs would motivate him to do that, but it didn't. Wes chose to keep dealing drugs instead of listening to his mother's warning, which contributed to him going down the wrong path. If he had stopped, his story might have been similar to the author Wes's story.
"The problem was that I wasn't showing up half the time. It's tough to do well in school as an eleven-year-old when your picking and choosing which days to go." (Page 76)
Here, the author Wes often skipped school and went back to the neighborhood when he was 11. This choice shows that he didn't value school as particularly important, which almost sent him down the wrong path. A lack of education and a life on the streets are often related, and the fact that he rarely showed up at school meant that he was very close to being a victim of the streets.
Role Models:
"Some days I would check into homeroom; other days I'd head directly back to the train and return to the neighborhood…My sister, always the loyal accomplice, never snitched." (Page 77)
The author Wes's sister, Shani, looked up to her brother, even though he was being a bad influence on her. Wes would decide each day whether or not he would go to school. If he didn't check into homeroom, Shani did not tell their mother or their grandparents. The fact that Shani didn't tell the family shows that she looked up to her brother no matter what he did.
"A few months earlier, Shani went out to play with one of the neighborhood girls, Lateshia, and came back home with her face covered in blood." (Page 77)
This quote is similar to the one above. Wes got involved in conflicts a lot as a kid, and was sometimes bloodied. Shani was jumping rope with several neighborhood kids, and a conflict broke out. She was on the receiving end of a punch to the face. This is very similar to Wes's experience. The presence of blood was so familiar in the household that she ended up getting bloodied as well. Since Wes was a role model to her, she got herself into situations where there was violence, just like Wes did.
Monday, March 3, 2014
Title Justification Essay #1
Many households in America are single-parent, which can have a negative impact on the child. In the first part of The Other Wes Moore, the book is centered on how both Wes Moores were raised. It talks about the absence of fathers and how they affected both of them in their choices and attitudes.The title of part one, "Fathers and Angels," is appropriate with the author's purpose because it demonstrates how important a father figure is in a household, and how the absence of such a figure can affect a family, which is the author's purpose in the first part of the book.
These effects of the absence of the father figure on the single mother left to raise the family and the child are demonstrated in the book. For example, after the author Wes' father died, he described the
effect it had on his mother. According to him, "People around us didn't think she was coping well with
her husband's death. They thought she needed help, not just in raising the kids but in raising her spirits." (Page 37) Wes' father played a big role in raising Wes and his siblings, and he set good examples for them. Wes' mother had his help in raising the kids.When he died, Wes' mother had to raise them by herself, and that was a burden for her. She constantly questioned herself about whether she could have prevented his death, which led to her going into depression. Her battle with depression completely changed how she was as a person. Also, the loss of his father affected his performance in school: "I knew [that I might be on probation], but... the problem was that they didn't understand my situation…my missing father, my overworked mother…"(Page 37) Normally, kids who have both of their parents around tend to do better in school because they have more motivation. It is easier to have two adults stressing the importance of education than it is for one person. Since Wes only had his mother around, he didn't have as much motivation. He used his problems at home as an excuse for not trying in school. This is how the absence of a father figure can affect a family.
The title of the collection of chapters matches up with the author's purpose by showing the effects of an absent father that can affect the family, as shown by Wes' mom going into depression. It is also demonstrated by Wes letting his grades slip. The absence of the father figures led to the family having to go on with their lives without them. They had a huge affect on the family as a whole. The amount of young men in particular that end up going down the wrong path often don't have an older male in their lives to emulate. Therefore, they don't know how to act, leading to them not having a sense of responsibility. This leads to them getting addicted to drugs and not being able to find a steady job.
Chapter 3: Foreign Ground-Theme Analysis
The themes in this chapter are drugs, poverty, life choices, and importance of education.
Drugs/ Poverty:
-"There was so much money to be made that drug gangs rapidly expanded their ranks, sucking in some of our best friends…" (Page 51)
The author Wes is living in the Bronx at this point in the book. Drugs were very common in the Bronx, and this quote demonstrates that. It shows that Wes was constantly surrounded by drugs, and he faced the danger of getting involved with them wherever he went. Several of his friends were sucked in by the drug dealers, which shows that it was very difficult not to become a drug dealer.
-" Every week I sat down to create a schedule for my clothes. I had three 'good' shirts and three 'good' pairs of pants. I would rotate their order, mixing and matching so that each day I had on a fresh combination." (Page 52)
This quote falls under the theme of poverty. Wes was unable to afford clothes that would be "good" enough to wear to school. He wanted to fit in, and he realized that he was poorer than many of his peers. The fact that he rotated his clothes showed that he didn't want his peers to know how poor he was. He only wore the shirts and pairs of pants he deemed acceptable to wear in order to fit in, since he couldn't afford other clothes that would allow him to fit in with his peers.
Life Choices/ Importance of Education:
- " ...I began to let my grades slip. Disappointed with Ds, pleasantly satisfied with Cs, and celebratory about a B, I allowed my standards at school to become pathetic." (Page 54)
This quote falls under the theme of life choices. He allowed his grades to slip, which started him on a downhill path. His decision to stop trying in school meant that he started down the wrong path, prompting his mom to send him to military school. If he had not been sent to military school, that decision could have destroyed his future. It also falls under the importance of education by showing that education was his only way out of trouble.
-"After hearing more details, Wes was sold. It seemed like a sweet setup. Simply wear a headset, hang out with new friends, notify people when you see police coming, and get paid at the end of the day." (Page 58)
This quote also falls under life choices. This incident marked the start of his involvement with drugs. If he had not accepted the offer, he would not have gone down the path that he had. Even though he was only looking out for police, he eventually started to actually sell drugs. The choice that he made ultimately affected the rest of his life, and it led to him going to prison.
-"Later in life I learned that the way many governors projected the number of beds they'd need for prison facilities was by examining the reading scores of third graders." (Page 54)
This quote mainly falls under the importance of education because it shows how the government measured the number of people who would need assistance or who would go to prison when they got older. If the scores were low, it showed that those students were likely to go down the wrong path. The higher the score, the less likely it was that a student would go down the wrong path. Education was a child's ticket out of trouble.
Drugs/ Poverty:
-"There was so much money to be made that drug gangs rapidly expanded their ranks, sucking in some of our best friends…" (Page 51)
The author Wes is living in the Bronx at this point in the book. Drugs were very common in the Bronx, and this quote demonstrates that. It shows that Wes was constantly surrounded by drugs, and he faced the danger of getting involved with them wherever he went. Several of his friends were sucked in by the drug dealers, which shows that it was very difficult not to become a drug dealer.
-" Every week I sat down to create a schedule for my clothes. I had three 'good' shirts and three 'good' pairs of pants. I would rotate their order, mixing and matching so that each day I had on a fresh combination." (Page 52)
This quote falls under the theme of poverty. Wes was unable to afford clothes that would be "good" enough to wear to school. He wanted to fit in, and he realized that he was poorer than many of his peers. The fact that he rotated his clothes showed that he didn't want his peers to know how poor he was. He only wore the shirts and pairs of pants he deemed acceptable to wear in order to fit in, since he couldn't afford other clothes that would allow him to fit in with his peers.
Life Choices/ Importance of Education:
- " ...I began to let my grades slip. Disappointed with Ds, pleasantly satisfied with Cs, and celebratory about a B, I allowed my standards at school to become pathetic." (Page 54)
This quote falls under the theme of life choices. He allowed his grades to slip, which started him on a downhill path. His decision to stop trying in school meant that he started down the wrong path, prompting his mom to send him to military school. If he had not been sent to military school, that decision could have destroyed his future. It also falls under the importance of education by showing that education was his only way out of trouble.
-"After hearing more details, Wes was sold. It seemed like a sweet setup. Simply wear a headset, hang out with new friends, notify people when you see police coming, and get paid at the end of the day." (Page 58)
This quote also falls under life choices. This incident marked the start of his involvement with drugs. If he had not accepted the offer, he would not have gone down the path that he had. Even though he was only looking out for police, he eventually started to actually sell drugs. The choice that he made ultimately affected the rest of his life, and it led to him going to prison.
-"Later in life I learned that the way many governors projected the number of beds they'd need for prison facilities was by examining the reading scores of third graders." (Page 54)
This quote mainly falls under the importance of education because it shows how the government measured the number of people who would need assistance or who would go to prison when they got older. If the scores were low, it showed that those students were likely to go down the wrong path. The higher the score, the less likely it was that a student would go down the wrong path. Education was a child's ticket out of trouble.
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