Walter Dean Myers Response to Literature

If you think times are hard for you, think about what your ancestors had to go through to get you and your family to where it is today. It is apparent that this wisdom is incorporated into Walter Dean Myers’ texts. It enhances his works in various ways. This wisdom is located within the novel The Glory Field. Also, it is included in the folktale “The Story of the Three Kingdoms.”The biography Malcolm X by Any Means Necessary incorporates this wisdom too.

The Glory Field talks about the Lewis family and its many generations and the troubles it went through, starting with slavery. It begins with Muhammad coming to America on a slave ship and continues on with his descendants’ hardships. This text demonstrates the wisdom of times being less burdensome for you than your ancestors when it states on page one hundred thirty-four “It was Grandpa Moses who brought out the shackles. He brought them out and stood in front of Elijah. “The first black man that we remember in our family come here wearing these...” This quote demonstrates the wisdom because Grandpa Moses is reflecting about Muhammad and showing that Elijah should show respect for him. Moreover, this quote not only shows the wisdom but it also effectively shows the connection between the different generations of the Lewis family, which engages the reader.


In “The Story of the Three Kingdoms” there are three kingdoms of animals; the kingdom of the forest, the kingdom of the sea, and the kingdom of the sky that all think they are superior. Then humans appear and are taken advantage of by animals. Later they persevere over the animals. The wisdom of times being harder for your ancestors than you is present when Walter Dean Myers states “The People lived in the hills, not daring to go into the forest for fear the Elephant would crush them with his great strength” on page twelve. This shows that the People are going through troubles because they cannot venture anywhere. Certain people can connect to this writing piece because it applies to their ancestors.

Malcolm X by Any Means Necessary discusses Malcolm X’s life. It talks about what he went through as a child and what he did for the Civil Rights movement. He kept on fighting and fighting to get his opinions and thoughts across to all. On page twelve the text says that “life was tough for the Littles in Omaha. Blacks were the last ones hired for the few jobs available, and the first ones fired when work was slow.” This shows the troubles Malcolm X’s ancestors had to go through with jobs. Walter Dean Myers includes this wisdom to show what Malcolm X’s parents went through to try to give him a better life.

Thus, the wisdom of times being harder for your ancestors than you is incorporated in Walter Dean Myers’ texts. In The Glory Field the Lewis family remembers Muhammad and the troubles he went through in slavery. In “The Story of the Three Kingdoms” the wisdom is also applicable because the People went through many troubles to persevere over the three kingdoms and the People are the ancestors of certain individuals. Furthermore, Malcolm X by Any Means Necessary describes how Malcolm X’s ancestors had trouble finding jobs. Now, if you begin to find yourself in a melancholy mood because of your troubles think about your ancestors’ troubles.

Industrial Revolution Document Based Essay

The Industrial Revolution was a very important event in United States history. It began in the late 19th century and changed the economy of the United States from one based on agriculture to one based on the mass production of goods. Before the Industrialization production of goods was not efficient because a craftsman had to make them. After the Industrialization production of goods became more efficient because of mass production. Railroads aided the Industrial Revolution after refrigerated railroad were created. As a result of the Industrialization workers faced many problems.
Before the Industrial Revolution the production of goods was not very efficient. Document 3 states that “Mr. Will, the master, is seated before a bench assembling the parts of a mug. An apprentice boy who is learning the trade, wearily cranks a big wheel... one of the, master’s sons is using to polish a pewter bowl. Working over the forge is a journeyman.” It took many men performing various tasks to produce one bowl or mug. Furthermore, it was a tedious task and therefore not many of the products were available. As a result, the goods were often expensive and because of this few people could afford goods made by a master or apprentice.
After the Industrial Revolution the production of goods became more efficient as a result of mass production. In Document 4 it is expressed that “In that way (mass production) much is produced a great deal cheaper than it used to be. In fact, 100 men are able to do what it took 300 or 400 men to do 15 years ago.” It took less men to make goods through mass production. Moreover, the process of making these goods became quicker because one man would only specialize in making one part of a certain product and most likely not know anything about the other parts. Since there was less emphasis on developing a craft there were more products made. Since supply increased, they were more readily available, making them cheaper and therefore allowing more people to buy them.
Railroads assisted the Industrial Revolution when refrigerated railroad cars were created. Document 2 states that “The introduction of refrigerated railroad car in 1870 allowed fresh meat and produce to be transported all over the nation.” Before refrigerated railroad cars were created fresh meat and produce could not be transported by train. The reason for this is that without refrigerated railroad cars there was no way to transport food without it becoming spoiled. The cars allowed companies that sold fresh food expand their reach in terms of allowing more people to have access to their products.
As a result of the Industrial Revolution workers faced many problems. Document 7 states that one of the problems was that “Employees faced a six-day week with between 10 and 14 hours of work a day.” Workers were often not paid that much and needed to work long to make enough money to support their family and give them the necessities for life. Document 7 also states that “There were few safeguards around machinery, thousands of workers were injured or killed in accidents each year.” which is another hardship that workers faced. Most workers at this time worked in factories which used dangerous machines that workers operated. The machines did not have anything to block workers from falling into them or getting caught in them.
As you can see, the Industrial revolution was a crucial event in American history. It changed the economy of the united States to one centered around industries and production of goods from one based on agriculture. Before the Industrial Revolution was inefficient since a master craftsman had to make them. After the Industrial Revolution mass production began and goods could be produced more efficiently. The creation of the refrigerated railroad car helped in the Industrial Revolution. Despite all of these positive things that the Industrial Revolution about it caused many problems for workers. Without the Industrial Revolution our economy would not be the way that it is today.

Virginia Hamilton Response to Literature

In language arts class we have been reading Virginia Hamilton's work for the past month and a half. Two weeks ago we started working on our final writing piece of the year, a response to literature in the form of a letter. Here is my response to literature:

June 21, 2006

Dear Seventh Grader,

Have you been feeling like your boss has been acting like a slave master towards you? Well, if you have you should read some of Virginia Hamilton’s literature in order to better understand your situation. Virginia Hamilton effectively implements dialect into her folktales and historical fiction pieces to explain the slave master mentality. In the historical fiction novel Anthony Burns the Defeat and Triumph of a fugitive Slave Virginia Hamilton explains the slave master mentality to show how Charles Suttles disciplines his slaves. This pattern is also present in Virginia Hamilton’s folktale “He Lion, Bruh Bear, and Bruh Rabbit.” Another folktale also by Virginia Hamilton, “Bruh Lizard and Bruh Rabbit” contains this pattern too. Not always does Virginia Hamilton show this when talking about slave masters in particular.

It’s obvious that in the historical fiction novel Anthony Burns the Defeat and Triumph of a fugitive Slave by Virginia Hamilton dialect is incorporated to show the slave master mentality. The novel is about a Virginia slave; Anthony Burns who escapes from his master, is caught, and has a court case made against him. When Anthony is having a flashback of how his master, Charles Suttle disciplined his slaves and what he thought of his slaves, dialect is used to portray the slave master mentality. Suttle says, “Anthony you my property, you belong to me. You my own slave child.” One can clearly see that this is dialect and that it shows the slave master mentality because Suttle is talking about how his slaves are his property.

In the folktale “He Lion, Bruh Bear, and Bruh Rabbit” Virginia Hamilton incorporates dialect to portray He Lion having the slave master mentality. The folktale is about He Lion who picks on all of the other animals in the woods. One day the animals consult Bruh Rabbit and Bruh Bear about this problem and Bruh Rabbit and Bruh Bear teach He Lion that there are others superior to him. After mistreating the other animals He Lion starts saying “Me and Myself. Me and Myself.” It is distinctly evident that this quote uses dialect and it exhibits the slave master mentality because He Lion is thinking that he is the best and has no superior and this was the attitude of slave masters. Another example of this pattern in “He Lion, Bruh Bear, and Bruh Rabbit” is when the folktale states: “He Lion went on, stickin out his chest and roarin.” It portrays the slave master mentality because again it shows that He Lion thinks he is superior but it also shows that he thinks he is almighty like slave masters did.

In the folktale “Bruh Lizard and Bruh Rabbit” Virginia Hamilton utilizes dialect to depict the slave master mentality. The folktale is about Bruh Rabbit wanting to steal Bruh Lizard’s Sword which does work for him in the fields. Bruh Lizard knows this so one day he leaves Sword and Bruh Rabbit steals it. He makes it start doing his work for him but can’t stop it when the work is done and Sword destroys all of Bruh Rabbit’s belongings. Bruh Rabbit spots Bruh Lizard watching him and asks him to stop Sword and Bruh Lizard does. When Bruh Lizard tells Sword to stop dialect is used to show this and it shows Bruh Lizard having the slave master mentality. This is what the text states: “The lizard laughs again, and he calls out real loud, ‘Go-ee-pom!’ Sword stop.” Obviously this is dialect and it shows the slave master mentality because as Bruh Rabbit is suffering Bruh Lizard is just standing there laughing.

It is imperative for the reader to comprehend that dialect is used to portray the slave master mentality in Virginia Hamilton’s writing. The texts Anthony Burns the Defeat and Triumph of a fugitive Slave; “He Lion, Bruh Bear, and Bruh Rabbit”; and “Bruh Lizard and Bruh Rabbit” contain this pattern. I hope these writing pieces have enlightened your situation. See you soon!

Sincerely,
Robert

How to Plan an Essay Intelligently

I.Introduction
A.Thesis-Main idea, goals, and/or objectives.
B.Supporting Point #1
C.Supporting Point #2
D.Supporting Point #3
II.Body
A.Restate Point #1
1.Subpoint #1
2.Subpoint #2
3.Subpoint #3
B.Restate Point #2
1.Subpoint #1
2.Subpoint #2
3.Subpoint #3
C.Restate Point #3
1.Subpoint #1
2.Subpoint #2
3.Subpoint #3
III.Conclusion
A.Restate thesis
B.Restate Point #1
C.Restate Point #2
D.Restate Point #3
E.Concluding Statement
You may have more than three points and as many subpoints for each point that you have. You may even have one subpoint if you plan to expand on it a lot. Also note that your essay will include more especially if you expand on your ideas a lot but this is just a tool used to get your main thoughts planned out.