Philip Smith
Ms. McGee
AP English 1A
Table of Contents
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Title Page
Table of Contents
Letter to the Reader
Elementary School Essay
Elementary School Essay (Continued)
Elementary School Essay (Continued)
Middle School Essay
High School Essay
Bucket List
Six Word Memoir
Written Assignment #1
Written Assignment #1 (Continued)
Written Assignment #2
Written Assignment #2 (Continued)
Written Assignment #3 (Extra)
Written Assignment #3 (Extra, Continued)
Soul Picture
Dear Reader,
Over the years my writing has evolved and changed dramatically. It started out as very
simple but with a large amount of potential. I first realized that I could become a very good
writer when I won a writing contest in fifth grade. Our assignment was to describe what
patriotism meant to us and so I wrote the best essay I could and mine was chosen to be the best
out of my grade. I then moved to middle school where my writing continued to develop. I did
my first research paper and began to look at many different forms of poetry. Over the years my
knowledge of writing and increased and my skill grew. By the time I reached high school I
thought I was definitely an above average writer but little did I know I had much still to learn.
My writing became complex and I could more effectively describe to my audience what I was
trying to say. Today my writing has become both sophisticated and elegant and I can effectively
write a well written college essay. I’m proud of my writing and of what I have learned. I know
my knowledge of writing will continue to develop in college and I’m excited about where I’m
heading.
Sincerely,
Philip Smith
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman’s three heroic qualities are bravery, patience, and dedication. Harriet Tubman was
probably the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad. Know as Moses, she led slaves from the South
to the North were they would be free from slavery. Before she was a conductor on the Underground Railroad she
was a slave from Maryland who managed to escape to the North. After she was free she dedicated her life to
freeing slaves and helping others. After the Civil war she spent the rest of her life living in Canada.
Harriet Tubman’s first heroic quality was bravery. First Harriet showed bravery mainly by risking her life
to bring slaves to freedom. Second Harriet showed bravery by returning to the South even after she was free.
Outrunning slave catchers and dogs almost constantly, also showed her bravery. Finally, she showed bravery by
sneaking into plantations at night to talk to the slaves. She did this to try and convince them to run away with her to
freedom.
Harriet Tubman’s second heroic quality was patience. She proved her patience man times during her
time as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. She did this by listening to slaves complaints about being cold or
hungry. Harriet also showed patience by only moving at night to reduce the risk of being caught. Finally, she showed
patience by staying several days at a plantation waiting for slaves to make a decision to go with her or not.
Harriet Tubman’s final heroic quality was dedication. She was dedicated to her cause of freeing slaves
from the South. The main way she showed this was by going al the way to Canada after the Fugitive Slave Act was
passed. She also showed dedication by gong many nights with food or shelter. Finally, she showed dedication by
never leaving a person behind; furthermore, she always got everyone to freedom.
So as you can see Harriet Tubman was brave, patient, and dedicated. She demonstrated all these
qualities every day as she continued her important work on the Underground Railroad. She helped many people
during and before the Civil War. She never gave up and she never stopped helping others. She never lost a
passenger and her train never ran off course; therefore, she was truly an American hero.
Basketball Poems
Yusef Komunyakaa’s poem “Slam, Dunk, and Hook” and Edward Hirsch’s poem “Fast Break” both describe the game of
basketball. The two poems use rhythm, diction, imagery, and figurative language to describe the game both of these poets love. In many ways
the two poems are alike however, they are also different in several areas as well.
Each poem uses figurative language and allusions to describe the motions of the players and the progression of the game. “Slam,
Dunk, and Hook” uses allusions to “Mercury,” “Labyrinth,” and “sea monsters,” to give the poem a mythical quality. This makes the movements
of the boys more surreal and majestic. The figurative language adds to this same effect. Komunyakaa uses the metaphor “we outmaneuvered the
footwork of bad angels,” to create the majestic quality of the poem. He’s using the figurative language and allusions to make the game seem like
so much more than just another ordinary game of basketball. He’s telling the reader that there is something special here and ordinary words can’t
describe it. So he uses these metaphors and allusions to convey what he is seeing to the reader. When he says the “swish of strings like silk,” it
gives the reader a clear and exact picture of what is going on, but it’s much clearer than just saying the ball went into the hoop. It makes the game
seem more special. The figurative language also describes the movements of the boys. Komunyakaa says they “feint and glide like a sparrowhawk,” which shows the preciseness of their movements clearly and accurately tot the reader. By contrast “Fast Break” is much more direct and
straightforward. It uses some figurative language but not nearly to the extent “Slam, Dunk, and Hook” does. The metaphors here are simpler and
don’t contain the same mythical quality as in the other poem. One of Hirsch’s similes is “gathering the orange leather from the air like a cherished
possession,” which shows the reader the movement of the player but isn’t as majestic as the other poem.
Both poems have a rhythm to them that reflects the game of basketball. “Fast Break” uses short words with few syllables which
are grouped together in couplets with pauses at the end of each one. This allows the poem to mimic running up and down the basketball court.
There’s a quick beat to the poem that sounds like footsteps running up and down the court. Then at the end of a couplet or when they players
reach the end of the court there is a break and a pause, then it starts again. In “Slam, Dunk, and Hook” there is a similar rhythm present that
mimics the game. Although in this poem there are stanzas, instead of couplets, with a pause at the end of each. This represents the plays run at
the end of each court. Then after a play is over or a stanza ends there is a pause and then the cycle begins again. So both poems have rhythm in
them that reminds the reader of the game of basketball itself.
Finally, both poems use diction and imagery to add to the same overall effect each poem has. “Slam, Dunk, and Hook” uses more
complex and advanced words that add to the same effect the figurative language has. Words like “outmaneuvered,” “metaphysical,” and
“glistening,” add to that majestic quality present in this poem. The words compliment the figurative language to create the imagery of the poem.
The imagery describes the movements of these players and because of the other literary devices it is very clear and descriptive. The same is true
for “Fast Break.” In this poem the diction also adds to the imagery. Although just like the figurative language, the diction here is more simple
and direct. The poet uses simpler words but they still make the poem more powerful and clear overall. Hirsch uses verbs like “spinning,”
“stunned,” “swiveling,” and “racing” to describe the motion of the players and to add to the imagery created by the poem.
So even though the styles of the two poets may be very different, they both use literary devices to accomplish the same purpose.
They both use rhythm, diction, imagery, figurative language, and allusions to describe the game of basketball to the reader.
1.
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5.
Graduate College
Go to Yellowstone
Take a cruise to the Caribbean
Go to a beach in California
Go to every Major League Baseball
Stadium
6. Take a tour of Europe
7. Visit Hawaii
8. Go to New York on New years Eve
9. Ride in a submarine
10.Go scuba diving
11. Throw out a first pitch
12.Ride and elephant
13.Own my own yacht
14.Wear the Pope’s hat
15.Go to a college football game
16. Learn to dance
17. Go big game hunting in Africa
18. Be on Sports Center
19. Complete a food challenge
20. Go skiing in Colorado
21. Call the President and chat
22. Go to a Super Bowl
23. Go to a World Series game
24. Watch a Quidditch Game
25. Be in a comedy TV show
Great Family,
Good Friends,
And Baseball.
Topography of Battles
Topography is using a map to represent a real world location or object on a two-dimensional surface. Basically, a
topographic map shows the elevation of the land without having to use a three dimensional model (Riesterer). This is great for saving
space and makes it much easier to read the lay of the land. "A topographic map uses contour lines to show elevation changes on the
surface of the Earth" (Riesterer). Contour lines are separated by equal changes in the elevation. So each line represents the same
amount of change in the elevation of the land. The closer the lines are together the steeper the change in elevation and vice versa.
However, topography is not just a map used to show elevation changes. It is also a synonym for terrain, which is the lay of the land.
Terrain can be anything from flat and sandy to mountainous to dense forest. Every place on this Earth has terrain, it affects the way we
live and how we go about our daily business.
Topography has changed the outcome of many military battles between nations. Controlling the high ground has always
been considered sound military strategy. This fact was especially true at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. As troops from both the
Union and the Confederacy poured into the small town of Gettysburg, fighting broke out between the two sides. ("Gettysburg History
Primer"). Soon the small skirmish escalated into one of the largest, deadliest battles ever to be fought on American soil. As the first
day of battle progressed, the Confederacy managed to push the Union back through Gettysburg and up the nearby ridge of Cemetery
Ridge, Culp's Hill, and Little Round Top (Trueman). The day ended and although defeated on the first day of fighting the Union
controlled the high ground. This would prove to be crucial during the course of the next day.
"The Union occupied a hill of Gettysburg before the Confederacy, so the North had a topographical advantage from
which the North was able to attack the South from a higher position" (Seul-Ki). General Meade, commander of the Union army
recognized the topographical advantage and decided to set up defensive positions on these three hills (Trueman). His army had
sustained massive casualties the previous day, and so he decided a defensive approach to the battle would be the best thing to do. The
topography of the ridge forced the Union to assemble its forces in the shape of a fishhook. This design, influenced by topography,
ended up being very effective for the defense against the Confederates because the design allowed the Union to shift its troops quickly
and effectively ("Gettysburg History Primer"). The elevation of the position held by the Union forced the Confederate army to attack
uphill. Attacking uphill is much more difficult because it's harder for a soldier to look up as well as aim up. Attacking uphill causes
fatigue and wears down soldiers must faster than if they were simply attacking head on. Also, the land itself provides more cover when
shooting uphill because the bullets may simply impact with the ground instead of its target. When the Confederate army attacked the
Union, they were unable to penetrate the Union lines and suffered major losses. The second day ended with the Confederate army
licking its wounds. On the third day of the battle General Lee launched Pickett's Charge. As a last attempt to take the hills controlled
by the Union, Lee sent 12,500 soldiers to defeat the Union. However, the mile long distance of flat plains the Confederacy had to cross
provided no cover whatsoever. So the artillery from the Union open fired on the advancing line. Since the topography provided no
cover, Picket's Charge was a complete failure ("Gettysburg History Primer").
Another very famous battle which topography had a major affect on was the Battle of Thermopylae. This battle was fought in 480 B.C.
between an alliance of Greek city-states and the much larger Persian Empire. The Persian Empire's army measured well over 200,000
men and was a formidable task for the few thousand Greeks ("Battle of Thermopylae"). So how did they manage to hold off this
massive army? The answer is topography. "At the time, the pass of Thermopylae consisted of a track along the shore of the Gulf of
Malis so narrow that only one chariot could pass through. On the southern side of the track stood the cliffs, while on the north side was
the gulf ("Battle of Thermopylae"). The spot the Greeks chose to defend funneled the enormous Persian army to this small pass. This
allowed the Persians to send only a few troops into the pass at a time and negated their size advantage. Once again the topography of
the battlefield played a crucial role in the battle itself. "The constricted topography of Thermopylae was ideal for a defensive stand by
the armored Greek hoplites as they could not be flanked and the more lightly armed Persians would be forced into a frontal assault
(Hickman)." Since the Greek troops were better fighters and much heavier armored they now had the advantage in the narrow pass.
The Persians, due to topography, were forced to attack the front of the Greek phalanx which is where they were the strongest. This
same strategy of using a chokepoint to contain a much larger force was also used in this same battle by the Greek navy. Just like on
land the Greeks were far outnumbered by the Persian navy. However, they used the narrow point of the Artemisium Strait to choke the
Persian fleet. This allowed, once again for the smaller Greek force to defeat the Persians. Again, all because of topography. However,
topography would also be the downfall the Greeks. The Persians learned of a secret pass through the mountains that went around the
Greek position. This topography allowed the Persians to surround the Greeks and win the battle ("Battle of Thermopylae).
The affects of topography can clearly be seen in both of these battles. In fact, ultimately it was the deciding force in both
of the battles. If the Union had not captured and maintained control of the high ground at Gettysburg then the outcome would have
been very different. However, the terrain gave them a huge advantage over their enemy and therefore they were able to win a decisive
victory and change the outcome of the war. At the Battle of Thermopylae, terrain allowed the much smaller Greek army to hold off
their foes. If the Persians had not found the pass around their position then who knows what may have happened. However, the
Persians found a weakness in the topography the Greeks were using for their defense and exploited it. Again, topography was the
deciding factor. Throughout history topography has changed the outcome of battles and altered the course of wars. It causes countries
to rise and fall and shapes the landscape of our world. Topography can allow a small army to stand up to a giant or can cause the tide
of the battle to turn. Topography can end wars or also prolong them. It really is a critical factor to any battle or any war.
Works Cited
"Gettysburg History Primer." TravelBrains. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.
Riesterer, Jim. "What Is a Topographic Map?" Geospatial Training and Analysis Cooperative. Ed. Scott Hughes, Dan Narsavage, and
Diana Boyack. Idaho State University, 7 Apr. 2008. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.
Seul-Ki. "Language Institute Webserver." Memories of the Civil War. Georgia Tech University. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.
Trueman, Chris. "History Learning Site." History Learning Site. 2000. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.
"Battle of Thermopylae." - New World Encyclopedia. - New World Encyclopedia, 2 Apr. 2008. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.
Hickman, Kennedy. "Persian Wars: Battle Of Thermopylae." About.com Military History. 2012. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.
Literary Analysis Essay
In Ernest Hemingway's short story "Hills Like White Elephants," Hemingway's us of dialogue, setting, and
action has a certain effect on the story. All of these elements each contribute to the story in their own way and each of them
have a different effect on the story. His use of dialogue, setting, and action also contributes to the conflict of the story as a
whole.
The dialogue Hemingway uses in his short story is very forward and straight to the point. He does not use
elaborate or fancy dialogue that draw would draw out his story and there's a purpose to this. Hemingway does not say much
in his story but what he does say is loaded. The fact that he doesn't say much just makes what he does say much more
powerful and allows it to have more meaning and contribute to the story overall. Hemingway also doesn't use metaphors or
similes or other types of figurative language. Again, he has a purpose for doing this. By not including all these different
types of figurative language the symbolism conveyed by the dialogue that is there is much stronger. Hemingway's use of
dialogue reveals a conflict between the two main characters that is the central theme of this story. The brief, compact
sentences used by Hemingway create a fast paced and heated conversation that allows the argument to be more prevalent.
The dialogue reveals the characters discussing their conflict while in the bar waiting for the train. However, the dialogue
never actually reveals what the conflict is. This takes the focus off of an actual topic for the argument and makes the story
focus more on the conflict itself. This way it applies to more than one situation and not just one particular topic and focuses
more on how the story establishes the argument and how through other aspects, such as setting and action, the conflict is
resolved.
The setting of the story is quite similar to the dialogue in this way; just like the dialogue the setting does not
have many descriptions to describe it but what is there creates a strong image and provides the reader with a clear picture of
the setting. The setting in the story is described as having two sides separated by two sets of train tracks with a train station
and a bar in the middle. On one side there are "fields of grain," with "trees along the banks of the Ebro," and of course there
are the hills that the girl says look like white elephants. This side of the setting represent life and prosperity and growth. On
the other side it is described as having "no shade and no trees," and as being "dry." The land is barren and desolate and is
unable to support life. This side of the station represents death and an end to things. The two sides of the setting represent
the couples conflict and how they must make a decision about the future of their relationship. The setting is described in sets
of two. There are two people, two suitcases, two train tracks, and two sides of the setting. All of these things in the setting
represent the two sides of the conflict from which the couple must choose from.
This story doesn't contain much action or movement, however just like the other parts of the
story, the action contains strong meanings that have a powerful effect on the story. First, the girl
doesn't look at the man very often. She "looked across at the hills," or she "looked at the ground
the table the legs rested on," or she "looked at the beaded curtain." She's looking all over the
place but never does the story say she looks at the man. This suggests that she's upset with him
because she's refusing to even look at him and helps to further develop the conflict of the story.
Also, when the characters get up to walk around they always walk away from each other. For
example, "the girl stood up and walked to the end of the station" and "he picked up the two heavy
bags and carried them around the station to the other tracks." They always move away from each
other which again shows that they are having an argument about something. Finally, the biggest
action comes at the end of the story just before the train arrives. Not only does the phrase " he
picked up the two heavy bags and carried them around the station to the other tracks," show that
they're having an argument but also that they argument has now been resolved. By taking the
two bags to the other side of the train station, the barren and desolate side of the tracks, the
decision has been made. Since the two sides each represent a side and the man has made his
choice by moving his bags to the lifeless side. This shows that the decision to end their
relationship has been made.
Hemingway does not include much in his story Hills Like White Elephants in terms of
actions, dialogue, or setting. However what he does include is very powerful and contains
meaning that has an effect on the story and brings it together. The action, dialogue, and setting
allow the story to have a greater effect on the reader than just the story itself. Without the action,
dialogue, and setting the story would not make sense and the story would be meaningless.
Faulkner Alternate Scene
Well today is the day. The day that all little girls dream about from the time they start having those
romantic fantasies about being little princesses looked away in towers and having a knight in shining armor come
and rescue them. So where is my knight in shining armor? It certainly is not this man I'm looking at now. This man
I'm walking towards with my father leading me is not the man I love. He is not the man who I want to call my
husband. This whole thing has been a lie from the beginning and has just been chaotic and messy every step of the
way. I still don't know why I even said "yes I'll marry you." Then he stood up and placed the newly bought ring on
my finger.
"I'm glad you said yes," he said "I wouldn't want anyone else to be my wife."
The cheesy grin on his face is enough to make me want to run away right now. I know I don't love him
and this is not what I want for my future, but what choice do I have. I have to find some sort of protection for it. Oh
if they ever knew, oh if they only knew. I wouldn't be allowed within one hundred miles of that house.
"I feel the same way about you," I said lying through my teeth. He's placing the ring on my finger. It's a
nice ring, much nicer than what I can afford. Now I place his wedding ring on his finger and he stands there with
that cheesy grin on his face and his hair combed like it always is, in that hideous way I can't bear to look at for but so
long. It's amazing how someone who I don't even love can make such a big deal out of a wedding I myself have
been dreading since the beginning. Normally, it's the bride who is the one going crazy over these things and making
sure everything has to be perfect. However, this is no ordinary wedding. We walked into the suit store so we could
pick out his suit for the wedding.
"Good morning! How may I help you?" said the sales clerk.
"I'm here to buy a suit for my wedding," he exclaimed as if it was been obvious to the clerk why he was
here and that the clerk was an idiot for not knowing this.
"Oh well do you anything in mind?" said the clerk.
"I want the best one you have! I won't settle for anything less than the best." he said.
"Oh well let me see what we have why don't you follow me and I'll bring out some models you can try
on." the clerk said and we walk into the back with him. He disappeared for a few minutes and brought out a very
respectable looking suit.
"Is that it? It won't do at all I need something completely different!" he said in an obnoxious way.
"But sir you haven't even tried it on," said the clerk.
"I don't care I know what I want and that's not it. Bring me everything you have I'm going to try
everything on," he said.
I sighed without even realizing it. I just knew it was going to be a long day.
"Shut up," he shouted "You're not the one who has to look perfect for this wedding. I can't afford to
mess this up." He gave me a look that just made me feel awful and terrible and there was nothing I can do about it
except just stare at the ground. "What are you waiting for go on," he said to the clerk. The clerk turned around and
started running towards the back. He came out five minutes late with at least a dozen suits in his arms. "Give me
those!" he said and so the process began of him trying every last one on. No matter how nice the suit or how much
I liked it he always managed to find the littlest thing wrong with it. So we left the store empty handed and received
nothing but wasted time. Sadly this went on with three other stores all ending in the same way. Finally after half a
dozen stores and probably 50 suits later and 8 hours he finally found one he liked. "Honey do you like this one?" he
asked.
"I do." saying anything to finally make this end.
"Great, I now pronounce you man and wife," said the pastor "You may kiss the bride." So we kissed and
I felt nothing. It felt like kissing a brick wall; cold and dull. I'm just glad this is over I thought to myself. Just at this
time mother walked up and said,
"Please join us on the front lawn for dinner." So everyone got up and left, all one hundred and seventy
five of them.
"How many people do we want at the wedding?" I asked.
"Well I'm thinking we need to have at least one hundred and fifty to make this thing really official," he
said.
"Don't you think that's too many? I would rather have about fifty so we can keep it small and only have
out closest friends and family," I said.
"No! That's not the way to it at all. We're doing it my way and we better go ahead and make it one
hundred and fifty. What do you know about a wedding? Obviously nothing!" he said. I just stood there as he
walked out. All by myself everyone even my own husband had left me. Only Benjy was left and he walked up to me
and I just cried. So he cried and we both cried together.