The novel Nineteen Minutes, written by Jodi Picoult was published in 2007. This book takes the setting of Sterling, an ordinary New Hampshire town where nothing ever happens, until the day this safe haven is shattered by violence. It is said in the novel that, “In nineteen minutes, you can mow the front lawn, color your hair, watch a third of a hockey game. In nineteen minutes, you can bake scones or get a tooth filled by a dentist; you can fold laundry for a family of five. In nineteen minutes, you can stop the world, or you can just jump off it” (Picoult 5). The novel was written eleven years ago and portrays the life of average Americans as it is today, and the constant issues of school shootings that the authorities and families are often …show more content…
The most destructive character in the book is Peter, the school shooter. The mother of Peter is a woman named Lacy, who has close ties to Alex, because she delivered her baby, Josie. Growing up as young children, Peter and Josie were very close friends and stuck together. Peter was constantly bullied by the other boys, and Josie would stick up for him. As Peter and Josie began to get older, Josie began distancing herself from Peter, and moving towards the “cool crowd”. Josie becomes only concerned with the popular kids and ends up loosing herself in the processes. Throughout the novel, this is seen to take a toll on her mental health. The book says, “To be truly popular, it has to look like something you are, when in reality, it's what you make yourself” (Picoult 241). Josie begins to drastically change, and when high school comes around, Peter has lost his only friend, who he had loved dearly. This leads Peter into an even darker tunnel of depression. Peter saw no way out of the constant bullying, loss of his best friend, and depression. Peter decides to take matters into his own hands and murders ten people at his
His neighborhood required special knowledge to navigate the possible violence lurking around certain corners. His first brush with such violence happens at a young age when another boy pulls a gun on him. Despite having a curious mind and being nurtured by his parents to critically question things, he had a massive distrust of his childhood schools, saying, “Schools did not reveal truths, they concealed them” (p. 27). He contrasts them with schools of the American Dream, places
Humans need social interaction to flourish and they tend to select a few people to become closest with. They share secrets, gossip about others, and support each other in times of need, but how well can someone really know another person? In Nineteen Minutes the reader watches Josie Cormier get ready for school, hiding her private personality away for the day. “Either Josie was someone she didn’t want to be, or she was someone who nobody wanted” (Picoult 8). To all of Josie‘s classmates, friends, teachers, and even her own mother she seems like the perfect child. Josie hangs out with the right crowd, gets great grades, and follows all of society's rules perfectly, but no one really knows who she is. Behind the mask perfection Josie is just another teenager struggling with depression and identity issues. The author chooses to make the most popular girl in school also one of the most depressed to show that although things may seem beautiful on the outside, they can be rotting from the inside. Picoult is proving how that easy it is for people to hide their personalities to the world.
The topic of schools shootings is very serious, and should not be written about in a manner that suggests egocentricity. Bringing personal qualifications and experiences into such a topic would only weaken the argument and give the reader a sense of distrust. School shootings are discussed in a primarily factual manner, and the background of the author does not affect the argument. Gladwell avoids bringing up any credentials, roles, or anecdotes relating to himself, and this furthers his reasoning. Pathos is an essential part in the structure of this article.
World War 1 was a war that lasted from 1914 to 1918 and was a war that involved and was molded around alliances. This war in Europe would eventually turn into a global war that would involve 32 countries. United States involvement was crucial to the outcome of World War 1 and made a serious impact in our country. Both positive and negative effects were felt by Americans during and even long after the war. Mixed feelings were felt from many Americans for entering the war that would affect society.
Picoult’s novels are aimed at a mature audience, whether that is from adult to young adult-if they are emotionally ready to read it. Nineteen Minutes is a tragic and emotional novel, but teenagers are able to relate more due to the teenage characters and high school setting.
This novel was set during the post war period, this was a time when independence and rebelling against parents and law was more important than doing the right thing, during these times of independence, and teenagers needed friendship more than anything else.
1. The nation is at war, and your number in the recently reinstated military draft has just come up. The problem is that, after serious reflection, you have concluded that the war is unjust. What advice might Socrates give you? Would you agree? What might you decide to do? Read the Introduction, Chapter 2 Crito and the Conclusion Chapter 40 Phaedo by Plato.
out of his way to respect the white men. You can tell this as in the
Matt Lamkin’s “A Ban On Brain-Boosting Drugs is Not the Answer” first appeared in Chronicle of Higher Education in 2011. In this essay Lamkin aims to convince his reader not to deter improper conduct with threats, but to encourage students to engage in the practice of education. Lamkin tells us “If colleges believe that enhancing cognition with drugs deprives students of the true value of education, they must encourage students to adapt that value as their own” (642). Appeal to logic, consistency, and compare/contrast are techniques Lamkin skillfully uses to create a strong effective essay.
Writing has many tools and devices that can be used to influence the purpose and meaning of the a piece of work. In the two pieces of work, "Private License Plate Scanners Amassing Vast Databases Open to Highest Bidders-which is written in a way that it is anti-license plate tracking- and "Who Has the Right to Track You?'-which is written to be for license plate tracking- many different tools and devices are used by the authors. These pieces of work describe the benefits and drawbacks of collecting data and tracking fellow citizens, but use different forms of pathos, ethos, and logos to portray what they are trying to say. Also, both articles state how many are opposed to this tracking, arguing that it is against the First Amendment,
This is a true story based on inner city kids that whom live in the projects living the most difficult lives. These kids struggle every single day… living in poverty/homelessness, lack of educational skills, and were a part of gang and domestic violence. They were taught that all police and white people were bad because they were the people who arrested them or their family (people of their same kind). They didn’t believe in giving respect to teacher because she was white. They wanted respect and in order to gain respect it was more than just the color of your skin.
The book Columbine by Dave Cullen has been banned for its content about the Columbine School Shooting and the psychology behind the shooting. It was censored from students because of this content that, while being sensitive and triggering to those who are against gun violence or have PTSD from a situation like this, can help spread awareness about school shootings in a world where events such as the Columbine School Shooting are slowly becoming more and more common. This book, having graphic details about the shooting that can upset people who read it, is a book that can be taught, as its merits, literary qualities, and educational value justify it as a book that teachers can use to bring up valuable points in discussion and teach valuable
Jessica is the new girl, while Alexia is popular and bratty. Peter is the class clown, while his friend Luke is the smart kid and a total nerd. Danielle is shy and has a hard time standing up for herself. Anna is an outcast because of her home situation, and Jeffery hates everything. Mr. Terupt is the new teacher who knows how to deal with them all. The class wanted to have a great year with their new favorite teacher, but then a playful joke turns into a possibly fatal freak accident. So, the kids grow very close to each other as they hold onto hope that their teacher will be okay.
Time Time is defined as a measured or measurable period, a continuum that lacks spatial dimensions. This broad definition lacks the simple explanation that humans are searching for. There are many scientists, philosophers, and thinkers who have tried to put time into understanding terms. The aspects of time that we can understand are only based on what we can perceive, observe, and calculate. Every day we look at our watches or clocks.