Author Willa Cather embedded literary devices, such as metaphors, similes, and personification, within her writing.

"As I looked about me I felt that the grass was the country, as the water is the sea. The red of the grass made all the great prairie the colour of wine-stains, or of certain seaweeds when they are first washed up. And there was so much motion in it; the whole country seemed, somehow, to be running."

"The grave, with its tall red grass that was never mowed, was like a little island."

"Winter comes down savagely over a little town on the prairie. The wind that sweeps in from the open country strips away all the leafy screens that hide one yard from another in summer, and the houses seem to draw closer together. The roofs, that looked so far away across the green treetops, now stare you in the face, and they are so much uglier than when their angles were softened by vines and shrubs.


Chunk #1: 
The setting of this novel plays a big role.  If the family had not lived in a farming community then Antonia may not have had to learn to farm and help provide for her family. If Antonia  family lived in a larger city, Antonia may have been a proper lady and gotten married to a wealthy man instead of working in the fields as she does.  By living in the setting that they are and not in a larger city, I believe that it made Mr. Shimerda unhappy with his life and led to him killing himself.  The setting of the novel was not negative for all the characters.  For example, if the Shimerda family would have lived in a larger town then Jim may not have been as responsible as he is now.  With Jim living on a farm he was able to be disciplined and learn to follow instructions given to him and developed hard working skills.



Chunk #2: discuss the effect a setting on you, including imagery (lots of adjectives) and a simile or a metaphor as you describe the land.
The farm land is a form of discipline and a learning strategy.  Farming allows a person to have the opportunity to learn to work hard and learn from hands on experiences. Working on a dirty farm doing hard labor each day teaches a person that he/she has to work for what they want instead of being handed everything to them hand and foot.

Immigrants Should be Helped

Argument: Sending immigrants back without helping them should not be allowed.

Assertion/Claim (Topic Sentence) = Main Idea

• Immigrants should not be sent back without helping them.

Evidence -Concrete Detail:

• Sending immigrants back without help them cause more problems in the long run then just helping them to begin with. 
• Commentary 1: Instead of having to deal with the issue of them returning again illegally just provide them help the first time.
• Commentary 2: The process that is required to deport someone is more expensive then providing them with services to become legal.

•  The deporting process cost millions and takes to long to complete.
• Commentary 1: If the U.S. provided help to immigrants the national debt would not be increased as high as it is with the process they use now of sending them back and would be less rampant immigrants in general!
• Commentary 2: An immigrant must have an attorney for court and if immigrants are not able to afford an attorney they should be appointed one.  This could all be prevented by helping them.
  
• Opposing Claims/They Say:
• Many people believe that deporting illegal immigrants is right, because they should not be allowed to stay if they are already breaking the law. 
• Some think that allowing them to stay leads to more economic problems involving jobs and crime levels to increase.

My Rebuttal/I Say:

• Although I agree with the citizens points to a certain extent, I believe even if they are breaking the law they be allowed the same opportunity to a better life as we are.   

My Paragraph
Immigrants should not be sent back without help.  Sending immigrants back to Mexico causes more problems and expenses in the long run then it would by just helping them to begin with.  Within the US there are several thousand illegal immigrants trying to have a better life for them and their family.   If an immigrant has formed a family, he/she should be allowed to stay and receive help to become legal.  The process that an immigrant has to go through is time consuming and very costly to the U.S.. Once an immigrant has been arrested and has started the deportation process he/she must get an attorney to represent them which most can not afford one so it leads to even more spending.  Immigrants should be allowed the same opportunity for a better life as we are as U.S. residents.

My thinking
Immigrants should be helped instead of just being turned away and deported. Immigrants should have the same rights as U.S. citizens.

Wounded Warrior Project

The Wounded Warrior Project is an organization that the US has needed for awhile.  I believe that the WWP provides more care to wounded soldiers then the military does.  It should be the other way around.  The government is the ones that sent them to war and cost them their peace of mind.

The WWP  is a non-profit organization that help soldiers get back on their feet from injuries of war.  WWP does more then just help soldiers with disabilities that they have acquired from war.  WWP raises the awareness to many people about the need for helping out the injured soldiers, helping the injured with medical expenses, and even helping them coup with their injuries and fit back in with their families.


With the help of the many sponsors from around the world injured soldiers are able to receive care packs for them and their families.  Since, WWP has started 95% of the soldiers who entered the program have developed the new coping skills. With the money that is donated to WWP 5,679 care packs have been delivered to warriors who have paid a great cost for our country.  If the WWP continues then maybe the 87% graduation rate can rise to 95% or even a 100%.
Without WWP many soldiers would not have the care they get today.  WWP is an organization that everyone should be involved in whether it is donating money or even a few hours a few to events. I hope that WWP will be able to continue to help many soldiers and their families for many years to come.  WWP is the way all people should be when it comes to helping those in need.

What is War?

War is forceful, protecting our country against an attack from another ones action.
War is selfish, fighting to get revenge on some one else for their wrong actions.
War is right, killing thousands of responsible people.
War is moralistic, shedding blood for ones beliefs.
War is destructive, changing the physical look of nature.
War is costly, spending billions of dollars per day.
War is needed, proving whats right.
War is serving, leaving loved ones behind.
War is murder,  slaughtering the innocent.
War is demonic, prompting mass destruction.

Remembering 9/11

September 11, 2001 is a day that will never be forgotten. O:n 9/11 many children, parents, and wives lost loved ones to an Al Qaeda terrorist attack on the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon. Without any warning, Al Qaeda terrorist hijacked four U.S. planes with intent to cause harm and that they did. The attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Centers caused more the 3,000 casualties and injured hundreds more.

I remember that day like it was yesterday. I was in the 1st grade in McCrory elementary school working on math. At that age, I did not understand exactly what was happening, I just knew something bad had happened. My teacher, Ms. Reynolds, got a phone call and started crying. Later, she explained to us what had happened, doing her best considering we were only six years old at the time. Fearing an attack could happen anywhere at anytime, school was dismissed for the remander of the day.

Since 9/11 my life hasnt been affected much. Traveling by plane is much tougher. Before 9/11, security was relaxed and it would only take a few minutes to pass through. The biggest affect on my life would be the war. Seeing friends, family, and neighbors going to war is very disturbing, knowing that one day it may be me going over seas to fight for my freedom and liberty.