Hughes 1
Caitlyn Hughes
Mrs. Thomas
English 9H
15 February 2011
Non-Fiction Essay
Non-fiction writing is realistic and true. The subject matter is about a person, a
place or thing. Non-fiction writing talks about events that actually happened, real
places, and real people. Some non-fiction examples I have read are “The Sacred
Grove of Oshogbo” by Jeffery Tayler, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by
Maya Angelon, “Advice to Youth” by Mark Twain, “Carry Your Own Skis” by Lina
Dolan, “The Ignored Lessons of Anne Frank” by Bruno Bettelheim, “Is Hunting
Ethical?” by Ann Causey, and “Accused Abductor: Roanoke-area girl was willing”
by Amanda Codispoti. The Pact is non-fiction in many ways. One real important
reason is because these events actually happened and many of them can be
proven facts. The Three Doctors did go to medical and all three of them, at one
time in their life, lived in Newark. What make The Pact non-fiction is that just it is
all true. The places are true, the people, even the events. The Pact has a variety
of tone all throughout the book. Some tones aer regretful, hopeful, inspiring, and
even thankful. Besides the tone it was also directed at an audience. For example
some of the audience the Three Doctors aimed their work towards was teens,
young black men, the poor, and young adults. Their purpose for all of this was to
give people hope. Keep teen and kids from the streets and help keep their
dreams alive. These are all also reasons why The Pact is non-fiction as well.
Hughes 2
The Pact starts out with all three doctors telling about their childhoods and
high school years. They all share the ups and downs they have had in their lives.
In this book they pored out of their soles their fears they had and all the troubles
they had, and not to forget also what good times they had in their lives. For
example both Sam and George, two of the Three Doctors, shared how and why
they went to jail as juveniles in high school. Then the three of them go on
explaining what they wanted to be when grown up and why. They shared their
hopes and dreams and how they fought against the things that threatened to
break. As The Pact continues the three doctors share their experiences through
both college and medical school. For example when Rameck was hanging out
with one of his friends and driving in his car a few police saw him and started
following him. The only reason they where following him was because he was
black and the cops where racially profiling him. They where just trying to find
anything to stop him for. This almost ruined his future and life. As the men go on
with their story they tell how life is and was after graduating medical school. All
lost people, gained friends, lost friends, gained new perspectives, and so much
more. The Three Doctors showed how their lives where like and how they got out
of that life while showing that anyone else can get out too. It shows others the
tough challenges of life and how you can overcome them. Not only that but it also
shows how much courage the doctors and how the three of them dealt with their
situation because of friends and family and sometimes even themselves.
The Pact was one of the best books I have ever read. I liked the fact that The
Pact was very realistic and had true events in it. It was also straight forward and
Hughes 3
showed you what kind of life people have in inner-city like in Newark, where the
Three Doctors are from, and how hard it is to survive there. There isn’t much that
I didn’t really like about. At some instances, though, they were a little too
descriptive for my liking but it didn’t really harm the fact that I enjoyed reading
this book. It shows a lot of facts and information how bad or good that people are
treated because of their race and/or color. I felt this way for many reasons. I, in a
way, felt a small connection between myself and The Doctors. This connection
had to do with becoming a doctor. I want to become a doctor but some times I
feel that I do not have the resources or money to get to college. Also I feel like I
don’t have the patience to go to medical school or the brains to pass through it.
Besides the connection The Pact touches me in a way, it shows me what they
went through to get where they are today. The hopes made and crushed, the
thoughts that thrived and got them to greatness, these are thing that have
touched me. I would recommend The Pact to others. It is good for others to see
how other people in are country are living and feel.
Hughes 4
Hughes 5