El Dorado High School

Literary Anthology

2013-2014

Thank you

I would like to thank all of the students who submitted their work for the Literary

Anthology competition and all of the teachers who helped these students with their writing.

Thank you to Mrs. Paugh and our administrators who have encouraged student

writing all year long.

“8” Leo Yu

By:Aileen Mares

Literary Anthology Coordinator

Table of Contents Section 1: Analytical Essays

o 10th Grade “The Tiger versus the Creator”- Jordan Lopez pg. 5

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“The Tiger” -Oscar Lopez pg. 6o 11th Grade

“Half- Hanged Society”- Tehvanee Tuialuuluu pg. 7 “Edna’s Loves”- Hayde Muñoz pg. 8

o 12th Grade “Analysis on William Frankenstein”- Perla Cardenas pg. 9 “Women’s Influence on Chivalry”- Alan Aguirre pg. 12

Section 2 Argumentative Essayso 10th Grade

“Small Town Beauty”- Karen Ditz pg. 16 “A Dreadful Thought”- Carla Cabrera pg. 17

o 11th Grade “Criminal Punishment Reform”- Christian Luna pg. 18 “Capital Punishment”- Justin Bernal pg. 19

o 12th Grade “NASA: An Investment” – Robert Martinez pg. 21 “Pete Rose”- Clarissa Diaz pg. 26

Section 3: Engaging Storieso 10th Grade

“Outside the Birdcage” Carissa Erives “A Treacherous Journey” Manuel Esquivel

o 11th Grade “Salt” Christian Luna pg. 34 “One Chilly Night” Daniela McCauley pg. 38

o 12th Grade “Trapped in my Mind and the Night” Andrea Salgado pg. 40 “Delayed” Zaquiri Hoffman pg. 41

Section 4: Poetryo 10th Grade

“The Dove”- Amanda Johnson pg. 43 “The Wolf”- Zoi Guerra pg. 43

o 11th Grade “Time to Go”- Risa Gay pg. 44 “Dusty Streets, United Feet”- Bryan Vasquez pg. 45

o 12th Grade “Sonnet” Jenean Ahmad pg. 46 “Indifferent Appearance”- Jose Calanche pg. 47 “Love, Mommy”- Andrea Corral pg. 48

Section 4: Scriptso “Act I: Shakespearean Dialect”- Dominique Lopez pg. 50o “The Crucible: Act I”- Jack Touchstone pg. 53

Section 5: Teacherso Candace Printz pg 56o “Last Season” Patricia Gonzalez pg. 55

Section 6: Student Artwork pg. 58- 61

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Collosus- Christian Gutierrez

The Tiger versus the Creator

The poem “The Tyger” by Blake communicates a sense of power and fear and in depth reveals the uncertainty towards the creation. As Blake’s poem progresses, he effectively misleads the reader’s perception of the tiger, because, “as the stars watered heaven with their tears,” it is unpredictable whether the attempt to change his nature was successful. Several rhetorical devices such as symbolism and imagery enhance the tone.

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The symbolism in the poem reinforces the creator’s power over the creation. In line eight,”…the hand dare seize the fire,” aids the reader’s understanding that the creator’s hand or will has immense authority over the “distant deeps or skies” and more specifically over his creation, “the tyger.” Another symbolic figure, the “furnace”, in line sixteen, “What the hammer? What the chain? In what furnace was thy brain?” depicts the strength of the creator as he attempted to modify the creation, which was unsuccessful. The symbolism is used to set a base for the creator’s power, yet it leaves the reader in doubt whether the creation has changed at all.

Although some may imply that the tiger’s overall character has been altered in such a way by the hammer, anvil and furnace to show the steps the creator went through to try and rid the creature of its impurities, they fail to realize that as the poem progresses it is shown that the tiger is not redeemed. For example, kinesthetic imagery, “could twist the sinews of thy heart,” allows the reader to connect with the tiger, by feeling the pain and anger of being forced to change its nature. By the end of the process, the reader knows that the creator failed because the tiger still has its “dread feet”.Through symbolism and imagery in the poem, Blake tells the reader

that the tiger did not change. Within the last stanza the tiger returns to the “…forests of the night…” verifying that the tiger’s will was stronger than the powers of the creator.

Oscar Lopez- 10th GradeTeacher- Cindy Shaw

1st Place

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The Tiger

“The Tiger” by Blake conveys a sense of new life and growth and in closing imparts the depths of hope for mankind. The purpose of the tiger is verified in the line “did he smile his work to see,” as though God felt his work was good. Several devices are employed to effectively enhance the tone of promise for the future and change including imagery and symbolism.

The imagery interspersed within the poem is highly effective, causing an air of hope and wonder. The mood is set in the first line when Blake convey “Tiger! Tiger! burning bright/In the forest of the night.” This line gives a visual representation of the tiger as a strong glowing light through the cold dark forest. In addition “the fire” illustrates the blaze within the tiger as different colors are revealed. For example, the color orange represents optimism, blue shows purity, and red displays strength, energy, and power. As well as the sense of light within darkness, Blake’s statement, “In what distant distant deeps or skies/Burnt the fire of thine eyes,” shows that hope is eternal and will always be in our universe.

Although some may think the tiger is evil and dreadful, the use of symbolism helps convey its true meaning of new life and growth. For example, Blake writes, “What the hammer?” to depict refinement and the drawing out of impurity inside the creation. As well as, “What the chain?” to symbolize the unity and bond of strength in the tiger. He then notes, “In what furnace was thy brain?” to show the escalation of growth and development.

The final thought posed in the question by Blake, “Did he smile his work to see?” must be answered with a yes because the creator also made “The Lamb,” a representation of purity; therefore the use of imagery and symbolism help conclude that the tiger is a creation of God who only creates good.

Jordan Lopez- 10th GradeTeacher- Cindy Shaw

2nd Place

“Half-hanged” Society

Should I express the grievances dealt towards a defenseless and lonely soul? Or, perhaps I can enlighten you on the after effects of “God’s Love?” Whatever it is you search for, I’m here to elaborate on the matter.

Who was Mary Webster? Who was “half-hanged” Mary? I can tell you who she wasn’t. She wasn’t a witch, she wasn’t a mean person, and she certainly wasn’t like the rest. However, she wasn’t free, welcomed, or given any kindness towards her twenty-eight years of life. This was her story.

How do you define the term “friends?” Would you claim friends as a loyal companion or a helping citizen? A person you hold close or a secret

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bank for keeping untold stories? Neither. Mary didn’t have a friend. Stanza 2 says, “You were my friend, you too. I cured your baby, Mrs., and flushed yours out of you, Non-wife, to save your life.” Mary’s “friends” were the ones who watched as she was hung by the neck, and cast away from their society. There was no loyalty, no help, no friendship, and no mercy. Mary was alone.

Is this justice? Well, Mary believed oppositely. Who were these people to barge in her humble abode and judge her carelessly? And who are we to read her story and feel no shame? Are we any different than the slime that drools from our mouths as we give our sympathies? The truth is, we’re no different.

We judge others, laugh, curse, and give no efforts to appreciate our life. So, why should we stop our ungratefulness to show Mary Webster a helping hand? We are as crude in modern society as Mary’s change of perspective after they cut her down. Maybe not all of us, but majority of us.

Mary Webster, your actions before and after gesture our way of living today. How cruel it was in your time era, and how fast life slipped from the grasps of your hand. Your bleached heart and spiteful soul reaches our uncanny ears, and we read your pain. You’d fit in with our generation.

Half-hanged Mary was once a person, and this was her story. Hopefully by now most of you have realized that one day you’ll wake up “half-hanged” yourself.

Tehvanee Tuialuuluu- 11th GradeTeacher- Mrs. Morgan

1st Place District Qualifier

Edna’s Loves

In the novel “The Awakening” written by Kate Chopin, the main character Edna goes through three different relationships throughout the novel. Including Leonce her husband, Robert and Arobin. And throughout these relationships Edna finds out something new about herself within each of them.

With Leonce Pontellier being her husband one must think that she loved him the most. But as a reader we so find out that Leonce is the least loved out of all three. For example in the quote “Her marriage to Leonce was purely an accident.” Edna’s marriage with Leonce was never really love. She believed that if she married him the love will soon come. But as the novel

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progresses she learns that she has spent all her life faking it and she can no longer keep up with it. The effects Edna because it makes her despise marriage. She now had the idea that marriage is a burden; a pity. She feels sorrow for people who are married like Madame Ratignolle. Edna thinks that if you’re marred you haven’t really lived life.

As the novel progresses Edna meets Robert, a young handsome man to whom Edna begins to develop feelings for. And as time goes on she is begging to fall in love with Robert and out of marriage with Leonce. When asked why she cares so much for Robert she responds like this “Why? Because his hair is brown and grows away from his temples; because he opens and shut his eyes and his nose is a little out of drawing; because he has two lips and a square chin…” This relationship with Robert is affecting Edna because she is starting to feel real, genuine love. And when he leaves to Mexico and doesn’t send Edna any letters. Edna starts to feel what a real heart break is.

Then when she meets Arobin and they first kiss its “The first… of her life to which her nature had really responded.” But with Alcee he wasn’t really a love but more like her sexual awakening. This was her first kiss that she really felt pleased with, not because she loved him more than Robert. Alcee is just her person to fool around with. This affects Edna because this fling that she makes her wants Robert more.

In conclusion Edna’s relationship with Leonce he gives a more of a life awakening in that she doesn’t want to be tied down to one man for the rest of her life, she wants to live her life and love someone who she actually loves. While with Robert she finds out what real love is. And with Arobin he is just her sexual awakening showing her all the things she really missed out on during her whole marriage with Leonce.

Hayde Munoz- 11th GradeTeacher- Gabriel Lopez2nd Place District Comp Qualifier

3rd Place District Competition

Analysis on William Frankenstein

William Frankenstein is Victor’s six-year-old brother. Victor cares for him deeply. When the creature kills William Victor is devastated. William plays a significant role in the story because he symbolizes innocence, he teaches readers the importance of one’s appearance, and he is what drives Victor to seek revenge towards the creature. When the creature kills William, he destroys an innocent life. It can be

viewed as a punishment for Victor because he created a new life that should not have existed. Since he created a life, someone had to die to balance it out. He should not have messed with nature. The reason that he was killed was because the monster knew that that would hurt Victor the most. He knew that killing an innocent person would make him feel guilty and anguished. William was a child

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that everyone loved. Victor’s father states, “William is dead!—that sweet child, whose smiles delighted and warmed my heart, who was so gentle, yet so gay” (Shelley, 2012, p. 46). The creature wanted everyone to feel pain over the child’s death so that Victor would regret having abandoned him. The creature wanted Victor to feel his pain and his loneliness. He viewed Victor as a father. He states, “I ought to be thy Adam; but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed” (Shelley, 2012, p. 68). He kills William to take away Victor’s joy the way the creature’s joy was taken away.

William is a delight to everyone that knows him. His appearance is what makes everyone like them. Victor’s father states, “I wish you could see him; he is very tall of his age, with sweet laughing blue eyes, dark eyelashes, and curling hair. When he smiles, two little dimples appear on each cheek, which are rosy with health” (Shelley, 2012, p. 42). This shows how important ones appearance is. Nobody loved the creature because he was too gruesome to look at. If he were beautiful, nobody would care that he was created and not born. William’s purpose in the story is to show how one’s appearance is the most important factor in how people judge others. When they looked at the creature, they thought he was evil and a monster. Robert Walton states, “Never did I behold a vision so horrible as his face, of such loathsome, yet appalling hideousness. I shut my eyes involuntarily” (Shelley, 2012, p.158). By comparison, when they look at William they see innocence and beauty. They love him instantly.

The way people view William reflects how judgmental people can be. Man naturally likes to see beauty, so they like William because of his appearance. The creature, on the other hand, is hideous and nobody can bear to look at him. It shows how people focus too much on the superficial. If people did not run away every time they looked at the monster, then they may have been friendly to the creature and the creature would not hate himself so much. They would have seen that the creature was actually a good person, and they would care for him. The creature states, “I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity; but am I not alone, miserably alone?” (Shelley, 2012, p.68). The creature was innocent, like William. He was even younger than William. He would not have felt the need to kill William out of his anger towards Victor for abandoning. He just wanted to be loved, but nobody loved him because he was gruesome.

Even if the monster had not killed William, Victor would still think that he was evil. He went against nature and created life that was not meant to be made. The creature could have been the kindest person in the world, but Victor would still hate him. He cannot bear to look at him. He is afraid of what he created. He states, “I had been the author of unalterable evils; and I lived in daily fear, lest the monster whom I had created should perpetrate some new wickedness” (Shelley, 2012, p. 62). William’s death deeply affected Victor. He had to live knowing that he was the creator of a killer. He might as well have killed William himself. He was irresponsible for leaving the creature run lose after it had been created. Victor did not think of the consequences. He had never imagined that the monster would murder his family. However, he could have prevented their deaths if he had not abandoned the creature. As his creator, it was his responsibility to make sure that the creature learned how to be a human. He was supposed to guide him through life and educate him. Instead, he abandoned him and pretended that he never existed.

William represents innocence because of his youth and appearance. Clerval states, “Who that had seen him bright and joyous in his young beauty, but must

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weep over his untimely loss! To die so miserably; to feel the murderer’s grasp! How much more a murderer that could destroy radiant innocence!” (Shelley, 2012, p. 48). If being young means that one is innocent, then it can be concluded that the monster is innocent. He has not experienced life and does not know about the evils in the world. However, since he does not have the cherubic quality of a toddler, others do not view him as innocent. They view him as a monster even though they do not know his personality. If they did, they would see that he actually has a kind heart and is not evil. The fact that he exists goes against the laws of nature, but that does not mean that he is an evil creation. He wants to live the way humans do, but he cannot because he is not a human. He can never live among humans because people judge mainly on appearance. He would never be accepted.

If Frankenstein had not abandoned the creature, then the creature would not have killed William. William’s death reminds Victor of the monstrosity he created. He feels guilt over his death. They boy would not have died if Victor had not created the monster. It is almost as if he had killed William himself. He did not take responsibility for the monster, and he was not there to teach him morals. It is his fault that William was killed. He created the creature, but he did not take responsibility. Had he taken responsibility for his actions, then William would not have been killed because the monster would have learned the difference between right and wrong, and he would not have hated Victor. William’s death hurt Victor, and it made him regret creating the monster. Victor states “Two years had now nearly elapsed since the night on which he first received life; and was this his first crime?” (Shelley, 2012, p.50). Victor is surprised that the creature had not committed crimes for two years. He believes that the creature is a vicious monster that destroys everything, but he was wrong. He never took the time to look past the creature’s appearance to see his true nature and personality. He was afraid of what he created, so he ran away from him and pretended that he never existed. Because of this, the creature killed William. He does it because he wants revenge since Victor abandoned him. He does not know any better. It shows that he has no mercy and is unable to understand right and wrong. Victor was never there to guide him the way he should have, so now he had to face the consequences.

In conclusion, William is a small character that is only present in the beginning of the book, but his role is very important. William is a symbol of innocence and is compared to the innocence of the monster. He also depicts how one’s appearance is more important than his personality because people are too superficial. William’s death is the reason that Victor wants to destroy the monster. Victor learns that he must take responsibility for his actions. William is essential for the novel’s message of innocence.

ReferencesShelley, M. (2012). Frankenstein (2nd ed.). New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company.

Perla Cardenas- 12th GradeTeacher- Paula Woods1st Place District Qualifier EDHS

3rd Place SISD Competition

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Women’s Influence on ChivalryThroughout literature there has always been the existence of the

Gentlemen character. These characters would be seen as the best of men in their cultures. The have the traits of chivalry and honor. They always carry themselves in honorable ways, especially towards women. Federigo from Federigo’s Falcon, and Sir Gawain from Sir Gawain and The Green Knight are both great examples of men with great chivalry. They both are honorable men who always follow their code of honor throughout their lives, even when faced with challenges. Many people today believe men like these no longer exist due to modern culture. They no longer have codes of honor because it is not needed anymore. Many people see men now as pigs who only care about the sexual appeal of women and are ok with objectifying women and using them for sex. Although men have lost many of the old traits of a gentleman, men like Federigo and Sir Gawain still exist. The reason why women are treated like this is that they allow themselves to be objectified. “The Wife of Bath’s Prologue” is a prime example of how woman have changed their own beliefs. Gentlemen do not treat women like they used to because women nowadays do not require men to carry themselves in honorable ways.

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Federigo’s Falcon is the story of a man named Federigo degli Alberighi and his love towards a woman named Monna Giovanna. He wastes his entire wealth trying to impress her, but she never seems to notice him and marries another man and has a child. Federigo moves to the countryside, poor and with only a falcon as his prized possession. After Monna’s husband dies, she moves by Federigo. Her son befriends Federigo and falls in love with his falcon. When Giovanna’s son becomes ill he asks her to get Federigo’s Falcon for him and he will become better. She knows that Federigo is madly in love with her and that he would give her the falcon if she asks, but she does not feel comfortable asking him for the one thing that he has left. She decides that she must ask him for it and states:

“But, just as you have no child, I do have one, and I cannot escape the common laws of other mothers; the force of such laws compels me to follow them, against my own will and against good manners and duty, and to ask of you a gift which I know is most precious to you; and it is naturally so, since your extreme condition has left you no other delight, no other pleasure, no other consolation; and this gift is your falcon, which my son is so taken by that if I do not bring it to him, I fear his sickness will grow so much worse that I may lose him.” Federigo unfortunately feeds her his falcon because he has no other food to

honor her with. Monna’s son dies a few days later and she decides to marry Federigo, not because she loves him but for being such an honorable man.

This story’s main theme is that honor is the most important thing for a man to have. Federigo was not able to get Monna’s love through his money but with how he honored her while he was poor. She had complete power in the story. She did not like men for their money but for how they carried themselves. In modern day, most women care more about money and marrying men to raise their statuses in life. They no longer look for honor in men as the main thing that makes them attractive. Because of this, men do not seek women’s affections through honor. Instead, they use money to buy a women’s love. They do not have to carry themselves like how Federigo did to obtain the love of a woman. Men are naturally lazy. They will not do something that they do not need to do. Since women don’t require them to be chivalrous, they don’t waste their time to act that way. If women would seek men for their honor, then and only then would men act that way.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is about the quest od Sir Gawain to face the Green Knight. At the beginning of the story, The Green Knight confronts King Arthur and his round table, challenging him to a beheading game. In this game Arthur would be allowed to chop off the head of the Knight if in one year’s time the knight could do the same to Arthur. Arthur us hesitant about the challenge but Sir Gawain accepts the challenge. After failing to kill the knight, he is forced to go a year later on a journey to meet the Green Knight and accept his deal. In his travels, he is given shelter by a king. While there he is told that he must stay three days with him. The host will give him food in exchange for whatever Gawain receives while the host is out hunting. Every night he is tested by the host’s wife. She gives him kisses and on the final day she tries to convince Gawain to sleep with her. Gawain refuses and he is given a green girdle which is said to protect the wearer from harm. Gawain leaves without declaring the girdle to the host and meets the Green Knight. With the girdle, Gawain survives the beheading game and is praised by The Green Knight for his bravery. He feels ashamed for wearing the girdle and not declaring it to the Green Knight and leaves to Camelot feeling dishonored.

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Throughout the story, Sir Gawain maintains his image of a knight. He remains noble to the king, does not accept the wife’s attempts to having intercourse, and keeps the deal with the Green Knight even though it would bring his death. He understands that his chivalry is the most important thing in his culture. He has to keep the code or he will be dishonored by the entire round table. Although he is tested throughout his journey, he maintains his loyalty towards King Arthur and also to the Host by not having sex with his wife even though he had several chances to do so. Because of this he is rewarded with the girdle that saves his life and also is seen by the Knights of the Round Table as an honorable knight. Men like Sir Gawain still exist nowadays. They are loyal to women and do maintain a modern code of chivalry. The problem is that women do not require men to be loyal. They allow men to stray from their codes without any backlash. Without any consequence to straying from being honorable, men do not feel like they need to act that way to keep the women they love.“The Wife of Bath’s Prologue” describes the Wife of Bath before she begins her story. She was an older woman who was not inherently beautiful. She was said to have worn expensive clothing and she rode a horse on the pilgrimage. She was pretty wealthy due to have been widowed several times to wealthy men. She begins to describe her old marriages. She states that her first three marriages were to old and wealthy men. She used these men to raise her status in life. She joked to the pilgrims about how she would verbally abuse her husbands to get what she wanted. She would even threaten them in bed for money. She was able to control her husbands’ completely due to the fact that they were much older. She seems very proud of this, like they are trophies of her accomplishments. She also states that she married her last two husbands for the pleasure of sex and only that. She talks about how she slowly suppressed them, since they were younger than her, to be able to control them.

Her story is set in the land of King Arthur. The story tells about one of King Arthur’s Knights and how he is caught raping a woman. Before he is killed for his crimes, Arthur’s wife saves him by convincing the court to spare his life if he finds out what women truly desire. He sets out into the land of Camelot and asks every woman the same question: What do you desire the most? Unfortunately, every woman has a different answer. Some say they wish for money, others for happiness, or beauty. He becomes desperate and finally finds an old woman who says she will tell him the answer if he pledges to her. He accepts and the woman tells the court the answer, which is that women desire to be in charge of their husbands and lovers. After he is forced to marry her and while in bed he is given the choice of either having a beautiful and unfaithful wife or an ugly and loyal one. He allows her to choose and she becomes both loyal and beautiful.

“The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale” describe the true desires of women. These desires are power, money, and sex. The Wife of Bath herself is a great example of a woman that does not allow her men to act in honorable ways. She controls them and forces them to lose their manhood. She states that she only married them for either money or sex. She does not care about the men she marries. When she uses her men for money, she does not care if they act chivalrous or not. All she cares about is the money that comes with them. Many women are like this nowadays. They choose men who can buy them the most things. They don’t care if

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they are terrible men who treat them badly. This makes men think that it is ok to disrespect women and treat them like objects as long as they take care of them financially. When she uses hem for sex it is the same idea. Men begin to care more about their performance in bed rather than their performance in normal life. They concentrate less time on being chivalrous, and spend more time in the sexual part of the relationship.

Chivalry is not dead. There are still men in this world that hold the same attributes as men like Federigo degli Alberighi and Sir Gawain. They are chivalrous and honorable. They have all of the traits that are seen as great in all of the cultures of their time. The problem is that women do not require them to act that way. Women want to be more I control of their men so they choose men that have something they desire. Some examples are money or sex. They don’t care if the men are chivalrous or not. They simply use them for what they need. This makes men believe it is ok to stray from the fundamental characteristics of chivalry. Men will not do anything they don’t see as necessary to obtain what they wish. If women wish for men to change they must take charge and men will follow them because, honestly, men will do anything for the love of their life.

ReferencesBenson, L. D., David, A., & Simpson , J. (2006). Reading Chaucer; An Interlinear Translation of Selections in The Norton Anthology of

English Literature. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.Christ, C. T., David, A., Lewalski, B. K., Lipking, L., Logan, G. M., Lynch, D. S., . . . Stillinger, J. (2006). The Norton Anthology of English

Literature eighth edition Volume 1. New York : W.W. Norton & Company.

Alan Aguirre- 12th GradeTeacher- Paula Woods

2nd Place District Qualifier

Argumentative Essays

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“The Year of the Fire Horse” Penelope Jacobus “The Year of the Water Horse”

Small Town Beauty

Crank your music up, sit back and relax. Listen closely. You won’t hear a single complaint or someone telling you to shut it off, that’s the beauty of small town living. Sure, a big city might be exciting for a while, but nothing compares to a small town. Take a deep breath and fill your lungs with the sweet scent of blossoming roses. Step outside and listen to the sound of birds fluttering around singing to one another. Greet your neighbors with a big warm smile

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and mound on your bike to get a bit to eat. Doesn’t this sound delightful? That’s the type of alluring lifestyle you could have in a small town. Unless, you’d prefer that gaudy awful smell of gasoline, those unpleasant bickering neighbors and the horrendous extreme use of unnecessary honking every five minutes. Although some people may disagree with me, and say there is nothing to do in such a rural area, consider the great aspect of the spirit a small town has. Imagine this: it is 7:30p.m. on a Friday night, you step on to the field with an unknown number of your teammates by your side. It’s the biggest game of the season and you’re shaking from nervousness. However, you look passed the glare of the bright light and not only hear the chants, but you see the screaming fans routing for you. The stores are closed, and your small town becomes an amazing family. Yes, in a small town there is love for one another; something that is priceless. Remember, it is something that you could never uphold in the city. As the saying goes, “Small things come in small packages.” So next time you’re moving, don’t rule out a little town because it might just be exactly what you need.

Karen Ditz- 10th GradeTeacher- Martina Morgan 1st Place District Qualifier

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A Dreadful Thought “On Mar. 14, 2002, the Sacramento Bee reported that ‘test-related jitters, especially among young students, are so common that the Stanford-9 exam comes with instructions on what to do with a test booklet in case a student vomits on it.’” – Standardized Tests procon.org. I believe this is a perfect example of how stressful standardized testing can be. Teachers now need guides on what to do if a student gets overwhelmed? Does that or does that not scream “THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG HERE?” Will someone please tell me what it is going to take for people to realize that state testing is one of the reasons the education system is not right? Mandatory state testing stresses us out; plain and simple. It stresses not only the students out, but also the school administrators and teachers. You can go up to any student and ask them what their point of view is on standardized testing is, and I bet nine times out of ten, the response will be on the negative side. Would you like to know why? Because students don’t like staying in a

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classroom for five plus hours, especially if we’re taking a test that evaluates our knowledge based on a standard that none of us, the students, care about. I cringe at the thought of standardized testing being the only way they measure our skills. If anything, they’re testing my patience, rather than how much I can remember how to write a good essay. I’ve seen amazing teachers get strokes because of the stress on these tests. For example, when I was in the 7th grade, I had a math teacher who had a stroke because she was so stressed that my class wasn’t learning the curriculum. Horrible isn’t it? However, the people who send out the tests to the state won’t know about this. The people who made the tests will go to sleep well the day before my nephew has to take his reading test, while he, a fourth grader, has to stay up studying and stressing until three or four in the morning. Rude awakening? I hope it is. Every student is hopelessly dying for the state to discontinue standardized testing, but I fear that it is going to be a long time for that dream to come true. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, what it all comes down to, is how much money the school gets. The day they stop distributing these tests, is the day I can actually have any sort of nationalism for my country. However, until then, I will continue to stay up late studying and stressing until my eyes explode for a test the next morning, just so I can continuously stare at a booklet that is asking me to do something I don’t understand. They say everything’s bigger in Texas, but if our scores aren’t getting bigger, I guarantee mine, my peers, and my teacher’s headaches surely are.

Carla Cabrera Teacher- Belinda Ortega 2nd Place District Qualifier

Criminal Punishment Reform

Can criminals rationalize their incursions against popular law?What is the primary reason every single criminal has ever committed what

we view to be a wrongful act punishable by ourselves? The reason is avarice, meaning extreme greed and unmatched desire for what one does not have. This

word defines the foundation of all acts by one man against his brother. It is the reason for every conflict, every squabble of Mankind. By taking such a basic instinct of every animal into consideration we begin to understand and comprehend the flaws of our nature, and admitting that we cannot erase these flaws, no more than we can our past. So how then can we attempt to erase those of us who have suffered and continue to suffer from these flaws?

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Criminals and those who have and have attempted to trespass upon our laws can and should be regarded less as evil beings, as our cultural history of merciless condemnation inherently requires, but as what they are. They are simply animals that have succumbed to their nature and have committed an act against us, not having the experience or the will to do as they are expected and never having been provided with the opportunity to better themselves beyond the need of such decisions.

While we must take into account the very punishable abuse of our nation’s free will, we should look upon the condemned of our society with eyes unclouded by our history, our culture, our religions, and our sovereign opinion. The court system, like any judgment process is inevitably flawed, and shall always be so, as it is a fact that we are not perfect, therefore how can we ever create anything perfect? Even though this truth of humanity is undeniable, we can create a system of fair considerations of our natural content and the variable severity of the man or woman subject to our will. This system most efficiently confines our biased opinions to a minimum severity, and provides to each and every man and woman what we have so far claimed and failed to give them, and that is utterly equal rights.

The justice system may benefit from such a change, but more than a simply different process is required to change such a human habit of biased judgments. I believe that the education system must implement a program that attempts to minimize emotion and emphasize the absolute prohibition of any mistakes in

considering the subject of the law. Providing this service to those into whose hands we lay the fate of another will greatly produce a far purer product of our society’s future and naturally improve the flaws by which we are defined.

Christian Luna- 11th GradeTeacher- Martina Morgan

1st Place District Qualifier

Capital PunishmentLife imprisonment is more humane than capital punishment. Although some

people believe capital punishment is more humane than life imprisonment, it is less humane because it is more expensive, bias in its convictions, and it goes against what the United States of America is built upon. For example, North Carolina could have saved $36.1 million in the past 7 years had life imprisonment been sought out for instead. According to the NAACP’s Legal Defense and Education Fund’s publication “Death Row, U.S.A.”, in proportion a black person who killed a white person was more likely to get the death sentence than any other race. The death penalty also goes against the United States Constitution and the United States Declaration of Independence.

The expenses of capital punishment are very high. Life imprisonment trials cost an average of six times less than death penalty trials. The higher costs are partly due to death penalty trials lasting longer and costing more than a standard life imprisonment trial. In California for example, a trial lasting 79 days and costing $7,500 a day in comparison to 15 days at $6,200 a day means taxpayers in California pay $78 million more a year for these trials. Adding to this cost

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difference are the costs for the special housing of the death row inmates, costs to prosecute them on appeal, and costs to defend the condemned prisoners on appeal. This is an additional $12.2 million. Taxpayers paying $90.2 million dollars is impractical. This much money spent on death row inmates is inhumane.

In the event that the convicted person is innocent giving them life in prison will save a tremendous amount of money that can be used for DNA testing and other investigations to prove that wrongfully convicted person innocent. It is inhumane for taxpayers to spend $90.2 million dollars to put to death an innocent person instead of using that money to exonerate that person and find the person that is the one actually guilty of the crime.

Ross tells of as of January in 1994, NAACP’s Legal Defense and Education Fund’s publication “Death Row, U.S.A.” shows that blacks only make up 12 percent of the national population in the U.S. and yet 40 percent of the prisoners under the death penalty were black. The race of the murder victim in cases where the death penalty is given further proves the bias. Between 1976 and January 1964 there was 227 prisoners executed for the killing of 302 victims. 84 percent of these victims were white where as 16 percent were of a minority group. 86 of these minority prisoners were executed for murdering white victims while only two white prisoners were executed for the murdering of victims of a minority group. Such studies show that those killers that murder whites are more likely to receive the death penalty (2-3).

Whether the person being sentenced to death is white or of a minority group people are being wrongfully convicted. It is not fair for a family to say someone deserves the sentence of death and that their death will bring themselves closure. The person being convicted of their crime may in fact be innocent. “Almost exactly 20 years ago, I became the first death row prisoner in the United States to clear my name through DNA evidence.” says a wrongfully convicted death row prisoner (Bloodsworth, par 1). An innocent being wrongfully given capital punishment will certainly not bring closure.

Capital Punishment goes against the United States Constitution. The eighth amendment restricts cruel and unusual punishments. Capital punishment takes a life. Taking away life is cruel and unusual which is why prisoners facing life imprisonment or the death penalty face such punishments. The fourteenth amendment also protects any person from discrimination; every person should be given equal protection against the law. The previous paragraph shows that minorities are not given equal protection. The death penalty also deprives people of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are all unalienable rights that the government is supposed to protect not take away. This was established in the United States Declaration of Independence.

Georgia has passed a law on capital punishment. In Gregg v. Georgia (1976) the court decided that for those that are convicted of first degree murder capital punishment is constitutional. Today is a different world than it was from the day the United States Constitution was written so change happens but the constitution represents the people and despite the laws the people may change it is the people’s beliefs that justify these changes. “We the people” believe in God. The pledge of allegiance says “…one Nation under God…” The United States of America is under God. The people cannot make the decision of God. Only God gives and takes lives. Taking away the death row prisoner’s life takes away their opportunity for conversion away. Life imprisonment gives them the opportunity

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to allow God to change their lives. God is a merciful God. The Bible says “The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him…” (Daniel 9:9).

Capital punishment is inhumane. It not only goes against our moral values but against the law and hurts our economy. Capital punishment should be abolished. The people and the law should see to it that life imprisonment is the only punishment given to those convicted of major crimes. With capital punishment abolished life imprisonment will save money, save lives, and better fit our moral code that makes up our nation and our human values. “The only true path to justice is to put the death penalty to death” (Bloodsworth, para. 11).

Works CitedBloodsworth, Kirk. "My Case Shows the Need to Abolish the Death

Penalty." McClatchy - Tribune News Service. 05 Jul 2013: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.

"Daniel 9:9 The Lord Our God Is Merciful and Forgiving, Even Though We Have Rebelled against Him;." Online Parallel Bible: Weaving God's Word into the Web. Biblos.com, 2004. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.

Easterbrook, Gregg. "DNA Evidence Will Increase Public Confidence in Death Penalty Trials." The Death Penalty. Ed. Mary E. Williams. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2002. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.

Magagnini, Stephen. "Closing Death Row Would save State $90 Million a Year." Editorial. Sacramento Bee 28 Mar. 1988: 1-6. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.

Patrick, John J. "Capital Punishment." Supreme Court of the United States: A Student Companion. Dec. 1 2001: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 23 Oct. 2013.

Robertson, Campbell. "Bias Law Used to Move a Man off Death Row." New

York Times. 21 Apr 2012: A.1. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.

Ross, Michael. "Is The Death Penalty Racist?." Human Rights 21.3 (1994): 32-40. AcademicSearch Complete. Web. 11 Nov. 2013

Stambaugh, Irl, and Gary Stambaugh. "Death Penalty Would End Punishment of Victim's Family." Anchorage Daily News 7 Mar. 2009. Rpt. in The Death Penalty. Ed. Jenny Cromie and Lynn M. Zott. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.

Stevens, John Paul. "The Death Penalty Violates the Constitution of the United States." The Ethics of Capital Punishment. Ed. Christine Watkins. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2011. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.

NA. "Transcript of the Constitution of the United States - Official." National Archives andRecords Administration. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2013. Wooten, Jim. "Death Penalty: Fix What's Broken." Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Atlanta, GA). 15 Dec 2008: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 11 Nov 2013.

Justin Bernal- 11th GradeTeacher- Paula Woods

2nd Place District Qualifier 4th Place SISD Competition!

Abstract:

What comes to your mind when someone mentions NASA? Most people would answer the moon, space and wasted money on pointless research when reality is; NASA has helped this nation thrive economically, competitively globally and technologically. Authors such as Jerry Costello and Arizona politician Gabrielle Giffords believe and have done research showing that NASA has played a major role in improving the lives of millions of Americans. In my study I was able to conclude that investing money in the NASA agency would have great reimbursements for this nation economically, technologically and competitively on a global scale.

NASA: An InvestmentSince the dawn of time man has always been

fascinated by the natural wonders of the night sky. With its trillion of stars and its glorious moon, we have dreamed of one day traveling there and stepping foot onto another world. On July 20th 1969, man had stepped on the moon for the very first time; it is considered to be one of the greatest Human and American accomplishments of all time. When Neil Armstrong said these famous and unforgettable words, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” he was right.

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Ever since the United States has invested in NASA, it has greatly benefitted the nation and the human race. The United States will gain prosperity by continuing to invest in NASA, spending in NASA will contribute to improvements in the nation’s economy, global competitiveness and in technological innovations.

NASA’s funding has been cut year after year due to budget cuts, and every year that cuts were made, American students tended to rank lower on international tests than their foreign colleagues. If this nation wants to regain its status as one of the smartest nations in the world, the citizens of this country need to make sure that the newest most up to date information is available for our students to learn. One

key factor to that is that the citizens of this nation need to make sure NASA gets the proper funding to continue on with its research. When NASA has the money to conduct new research in new fields, they gather new data that in turns helps out the education system of this nation just as it would stimulate economic growth and technological improvement. John Tracy in Committee on House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics states “In 2011, our total research and development expense amounted to $3.9 billion. Our investments in future technologies will enable us to strengthen our role as a global leader in technology and innovation.” (par. 2) This only proves that when NASA has the necessary funding, the success of this nation is almost endless. In 2008, the national federal budget was roughly $2.5 trillion, NASA was only granted $17.3 billion, less than 1% of the federal budget, the Pentagon on the other hand, was awarded $459 billion. With such an outstanding amount of money being spent on the Pentagon, it is no surprise that the United States has the best armed forces in the globe. Yet with a mere $17.3 billion spent on NASA, you can see how other nations surpass the United States in fields such as mathematics and science when they invest more money into their space and engineering research.

NASA has always given back to the American economy. Capitalizing in NASA has helped fuel the economy by expanding the knowledge base available to scientists and engineers who build the technologies of the American future. With a new and expanded knowledge base available to our engineers, the nation’s efficiency will improve. When cargo and people were first able to travel quickly across the nation with the transcontinental railway, the economy of the nation boomed, what used to take months in getting from New York to the Californian countryside now only took days. With NASA, the potential for high speed rail and such forms of transportation would become possible, thus revamping the American economy the same way when the transcontinental railroad was complete. The use of new satellite and communication technology developed by NASA will impact efficiency in moving cargo and people who travel through the interstates and commercial airlines of this nation. This can help prevent the loss of millions of dollars in wasted fuel and delays. Jerry Costello in Democrats Highlighting the Importance of the Nations Investments in NASA that Strengthen the American Economy and improve our Daily Lives states, “Knowledge provided by weather and navigational spacecraft, efficiency improvements in both ground and air transportation, super computers…” (par. 4)

Creating partnerships between NASA and private companies will result in improvements in technology and the economy. This is evident with the partnership between NASA and General Motors when they developed the robotic glove. NASA’s interest in the robotic glove focused on making it easier for astronauts to work in

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space, General Motors saw potential in the glove to increase its factories productivity. Partnerships such as these could potentially create a whole new industry with the involvement of NASA in fields such as biomedical engineering with prosthetics, and in space commerce with robotics. Eric Baderstscher in The Vital Importance of Space Exploration states, “The U.S. should reconstruct the agency to increase the involvement of private investment in space. This will bring costs down, make space travel available to everyone, and create new areas of space commerce…” (par. 4) These partnerships between NASA and privately owned companies help strengthen the country’s economy by being able to develop better and newer products for the government and the public. Together they can develop such products faster that on their own, outputting better and newer technology for our use. Keeping up and ever surpassing other nations in such fields of technology giving back to the overall well-being of the economy.

Furthermore, NASA greatly contributes to the medical field. NASA could potentially offer the medical and pharmaceutical industries the options to develop and research medicines in a zero gravity and contaminant free zone for a fee that would pay for fuel costs and give a small percentage back to the economy. Andrew Chaikin in Space: A History of Space Exploration in Photographs states, “Some predict the lure would be manufacturing pharmaceuticals or other valuable products in zero gravity.” (231) With the process of developing new medicine in outer space, the discovery of new cures for diseases is feasible. This may have a huge impact in the overall health and lifespan of humans. In addition, the development of new medicines in a NASA facility may lead to globally generating revenue for the American economy at the same time. Jean-Mark Comtois in Space Medicine and Telehealth Concept Implementation for Medical Care during Exploration-Class Missions states, “Benefits of space-earth research for advancements in both terrestrial and space medicine…” (par. 8)

Financing in NASA translates to the nation’s global competitiveness, economically and technologically. The constant array of challenges from NASA’s space exploration, space science, and aeronautics missions provide the development of unique skills and capabilities which are required to achieve significant technological breakthroughs and advancements. Although it wouldn’t be apparent overnight, the impact of these breakthroughs will be evident. For example, the impact of the invention of duct tape may not have been clear at the time it was invented until its usefulness today. People take for granted these modernizations. They forget that there was once a time without such amazing technology. This nation owes most of its thanks to NASA. Although duct tape may seem like a small revolution, try to imagine a time when people needed to patch something without the convenience of duct tape, this would be frustrating to most people. Revolutions such as duct tape to kidney advanced cancer treatment with chemo therapy all contribute and play a part in giving this nation a competitive edge over other nations. Eric Baderstscher in The Vital Importance of Space Exploration states, “NASA has produced breakthroughs in many fields, not only in outer space research but also in supersonic aviation, satellite communications and medicine…” (par. 7)

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This nation’s global competitiveness is also based off of our citizens “Human Capital” in the sense that what the citizens of this nation know, their education translates to the types of careers they pursue and the amount of money they bring into this country. With NASA, citizens who do follow an educational path in the sciences, mathematics, and aeronautics or in the space fields are not just limited to work for NASA; opportunities at American companies such as Boeing and General Electric are available to them, increasing the “Human Capital” of the nation. The greater the human capital of this nation is, the more competitive the United States is globally.

During the great space race between the Soviets and the Americans, the soviets were the first ones to successfully send a manmade satellite into space and have it orbit the earth. This had pushed the Americans to want to beat the Soviets in being the first ones to put a man on the moon. With better research, new information had become available so that it was possible to send man to the moon, this new information also transferred over to American education systems, created new industries and millions of jobs that would re-vitalize the American economy and education system. This new and improved education and new jobs had helped keep the United States as one of the highest ranking nations educationally, economically and technologically. Michelle Norris in Sputniks influence on U.S education, society stated, “But after investing in better research and education, we didn’t just surpass the Soviets; we unleashed a wave of innovation that created new industries and millions of new jobs.” (par. 3)

Many people don’t realize how important NASA is to the nation. Citizens don’t know that GPS’s, cell phones, weather forecasting, and even duct tape that society has come to love and rely on is because NASA either developed or perfected them. In the process of sending man to the moon, NASA had made an astronomical amount of engineering, medical and communication advancements. Life would probably be a whole lot different if it weren’t for the technological advancements provided by NASA’s research. Gabrielle Giffords in “Technology Development at NASA” states, “NASA’s technology development is critical not just to NASA’s future, but to the quality of life of our citizens and our nation’s competitiveness…” (par. 5)

Technology is constantly evolving. Day by day, newer and better equipment is available. These advancements don’t just fall from the sky. Someone has to dream it, make a model of it and then produce it. NASA not only employs many people that fit this description, but trains them as well to work with other major innovating companies such as Boeing and General Electric. Tony Reichhardt in Space Shuttle: the First 20 Years states, “In the future, an automated radar satellite could actually track the build-up pressures in volcanoes and fault lines, and might be able to predict earth quakes…” (81) The citizens of this nation control the future by choosing whether or not to invest in NASA. Investing helps motivate people into wanting to get a college education and pursue new, advanced and stable careers in the science and technology industry such as biomedical engineering. With people motivated to get a college degree, this goes back to the concept of this nations human capital, it gains value with educated people working in America for American companies.

Purchasing a car entails a simple process. People don’t think about all the work that is required to produce an automobile. In reality, the automotive and manufacturing industries have taken up the use of robots in their factories to produce their products faster, cheaper and more efficiently. Issit Micah in We all benefit from Space Exploration states, “Research into robotics has been directly

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applied to the industrial manufacturing and machine-aided medical industries.” (par. 12) If we want to have such great innovations available to us, we need to continue to invest into the NASA agency. We cannot expect such technology to be available without the proper funding.

Scientists conclude that carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels are hurting the environment, which causes global warming. NASA has developed solar panels so they can power outer space telescopes and satellites without having to send fossil fuels up to space to control satellites. Technology paid for by the American government is now used across the globe to lower the world’s dependence on fossil fuels, the nation’s total import on oils have been at an all-time low. A green America isn’t too far away now. People can harvest the sun’s light to feed the earth’s energy demands. Issit Micah in We all benefit from Space Exploration states, “NASA’s research into solar power has helped the development of the alternative energy industry…” (par. 12)

In the passing of forty-four years since man first stepped onto the moon, the very same technology that put Neil Armstrong there can now be found in a $5 Casio watch that an individual can buy at Wal-Mart. Technology has advanced so much since then. The people of this country need to thank NASA for that. Examples of advanced technology can be found people’s everyday lives. People can basically track a person’s every location or give you directions to an unknown location. This nation’s central intelligence agency and federal bureau of investigations depend on such sophisticated technology for reconnaissance missions and infantry operations. Although the Pentagon may be awarded more money annually than NASA for their budget, NASA is able to produce valuable technology that the Pentagon couldn’t develop. This technology is then passed onto the Pentagon and other government agencies that could benefit from it. Tom Costello in NASA Contributes to IT states, “Many beneficial technologies in computing and information processing have emerged over the 60 years since the creation of NASA.” (par. 9) The technology that keeps this nation safe, like military forces, utilizes NASA’s research and testing in their everyday lives. If this nation stops its investments in NASA, the United States most likely wouldn’t have the greatest and most advanced military in the globe. In protecting NASA’s future, the citizens of this nation can guarantee that the national government will keep its citizens safe in return. Tom Costello in NASA Contributes to IT states, “These technologies have profoundly affected civilian and military computing IT applications…” (par. 11)

Overall, NASA has a huge impact on an individual’s quality of life. This is an outcome of the United States continually investing in NASA throughout the years. NASA has contributed to advancements in the economy, global competitiveness, and technology. NASA is a complex entity that not only explores the world around us, but makes a direct impact in the daily lives of people. If the United States halts all funding of NASA, these contributions will no longer continue in our future. It is important to make an impact in the lives of the future generation. The children of the world have the right to see the same benefits that our generation and generations past have seen. Every cent invested into NASA is a penny well spent. The benefits outweigh the cost.

Works Cited

Badertscher Eric, “Counterpoint: The Vital Importance of Space Exploration.” Points of View: U.S. Space Program (2011): 6 Points of View Reference Center. Web. 17 Feb. 2013

Chaikin Andrew, Space: A History of Space Exploration in Photographs. Richmond Hill. Ont,: Firefly, 2004. Print.

Comtois Jean-Mark, et al. “Space Medicine Innovation And Telehealth Concept Implementation For Medical Cure During Exploration-Class Missions.” Acta Astronautica 81.1 (2012): 30-33. Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 Feb. 2013.

Costello Jerry, Representative. “Democrats Highlight Importance of the Nations Investments in NASA That strengthen the American Economy, And Improve Our Daily Lives.” FDHC Press Release (n.d.): Military & Government Collection. Web. 17 Feb. 2013.

Costello Tom, “NASA Contributions to IT.” IT Professiona. 14.2 920120:2-3. Internet and Personal Computing. Web. 17 Feb. 2013

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Giffords Gabrielle, chairwoman subcommittee on space and, aeronautics. “Technology Development at NASA, “FDHC Congressional Testimony 9n.d.0: Military and Government Collection. Web. 17 Feb. 2013

Issitt Micah Moreno-Riano Gerson. “Counterpoint: We all Benefit from Space Exploration.” Points of View: U.S. Space Program (2011): 3 Points of View Reference Center. Web. 17 Feb. 2013.

Norris Michelle, “Sputniks Influence on U.S Education, Society.” All Things Considered (NPR) (n.d.): Newspaper Source. We. 17 Feb. 2013.

Newswire PR, “Investing in Americas Technology Future: NASA Seeks Technology Research Fellowship Applicants.” PR Newswire U.S. 10 Oct. 2012: Regional Business News. Web. 17 Feb. 2013.

Reichhardt Tony, Space Shuttle: The Last 20 years. New York: DK Pub., 2002 Print.

Tracy John, Chief technology officer the Boeing, company. "Fiscal 2013 Budget: Nasa Aeronautics Research." FDCH Congressional Testimony (n.d.): Military & Government Collection. Web. 7 Mar. 2013.

Robert Martinez- 12th GradeTeacher- Paula Woods1st Place District Qualifier

2nd Place SISD Competition

Pete Rose

Pete Rose. His fans know him as Charlie Hustle. His despisers may know him as the guy who betted on baseball or the one who broke the famous Rule 21 for gambling. But everyone knows him as the Major Leaguer who beat Ty Cobb’s record for most hits, and the guy who set the record for the most hits in an entire season in the history of baseball. Although Pete Rose has been called a cheater and a liar, he deserves to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame because he had a great record, sports have double standards, and because his fans want him back.  Pete Rose has an outstanding world record. Rose broke many records in Major League Baseball. As stated by Roberts in 100 Baseball Legends Who Shaped Sports History, “He batted .273 with 170 hits. After declining to .269 in 1964, Rose reeled off nine straight years during which he hit .300 or better. After dropping down to .284 in 1974, Rose hit more than .300 for five years in a row.” (85). He didn’t use anything to enhance his performance. Within this decade he won three National League batting titles. (85). In 1963, he won the league’s MVP Award. (85). He won this on his own. Pete Rose deserves every one of his achievements. It was all his own strength, with no help of any substances.

Pete Rose’s record still stands. No one has broken his record in the past twenty-seven years (September 11, 1985). Pete Rose, the future Hall of Famer, has played in more winning games than any player in the history of baseball. (Rose and Kahn). He has the most hits of anyone in the history of Major League Baseball, but yet he still hasn’t been inducted in to the Baseball Hall of Fame. His record should be displayed to other people. As stated by Roberts, “Along with such players as Joe Morgan and Johnny Bench, he was a vital part of the awesome “Big Red Machine” that won five championships, three pennants, and back-to-back world championships in

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1975 and 1976.” (85). In 1963, Rose won the Rookie of the Year Award. (Roberts 85). Pete Rose beat Ty Cobb’s record of the most hits in Major League history. When Pete Rose beat Ty Cobb’s record of 4,191 hits, everything happened so fast. As Rose remembers in My Prison Without Bars, “First, they took away the baseball and then they took away first base, which I assumed was being sent to the Hall of Fame for posterity.” (3). Unfortuately, however, he is not in the Hall of Fame where he belongs. Even people who use steroids haven’t achieved his record. “First you must understand how Rose carved out a spectacularly prolific career as baseball’s all-time hits leader without the benefit of exceptional size, speed or strength” (Verducci). But Pete Rose didn’t stop there; he set the record for most hits ever of 4,256. That’s sixty-five more hits than Ty Cobb, but yet still his record is only displayed to whomever he may tell.  Pete Rose was known as “Charlie Hustle”. During one of his first games in the major leagues, he was walked; instead of jogging to first base, like anyone else would do, he sprinted down the baseline. As explained by Roberts, “During one game against the Yankees, Rose drew a walk and sprinted down to first base. ‘Hey Charlie Hustle,’ yelled pitcher Whitey Ford, ‘take it easy.’” (85). He was a legend, a person anyone who ate, slept, and dreamed baseball would idolize. However, there are others who choose to forget about what made Pete Rose Pete Rose, and focus on the one mistake he made. Fortunately Rose knows who his true fans are: those who have stuck with him through the thick and thin with no doubt at all. As Greenfled and Thigpen explain, “We now remember what we want to remember about Pete Rose: the player called Charlie Hustle running out walks, hurling himself head first to take an extra base, and breaking the most venerable record in baseball -- Ty Cobb's 4,191 hits.” Some like to remember him for the good. He played his way into being one of the most valued players in Major Leagues Baseball. Pete Rose would describe himself as an easy-going person off the field, but once he steps into that gate, the competitive Pete comes out to play. As Winters remarks, “To play me you have to be an aggressive, rugged-type person at the ballpark. But I’m pretty easygoing when I’m out of the spikes.” All his fans want to do is bring Pete Rose out of his shadows and back into the spotlight. They want their one and only Charlie Hustle back. (Verducci par. 5).

Pete Rose is often compared to Ty Cobb, another great baseball player. Tyrus Raymond Cobb had a great record. As Comiskey remarks, “I take it that the answer should mean the greatest all-around player, the one with the greatest all-around ability, the one most valuable to his team, and not the most proficient in any single position. (par. 1). As Roberts remarks, “In addition to being a great leadoff hitter, Rose was a versatile athlete as well, playing various positions in both the infield and outfield throughout his career. (85). As stated by Daley, “Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds was a .312 hitter and the All-Star second baseman in 1965, one of the better young ballplayers in the National League.” (1). Ty Cobb had an attitude that defined him. As Rose and Hill explain in My Prison Without Bars, “People have often tried to compare me to Tyrus Raymond Cobb but I just don’t see the resemblance. Cobb idolized his strong-willed father and was pretty chilly toward his mother. As a rookie, Cobb was hated and shunned by the veteran players on his team. Cobb loved baseball with a passion and absolutely hated to lose. Cobb was involved in an alleged gambling that drew a suspension from the American League president. Now, honestly, folks, does that really sound like Pete Rose?” (3). No matter what others may say, it is obvious that Pete Rose and Ty Cobb have very much in common, except one thing: Pete Rose is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Why is this accepted by so many people? Shouldn’t they be treated the same? After all, Pete Rose did beat Cobb’s record.

The use of steroids has not banned people from Baseball, even though it’s prohibited in their contract. Steroids enhance the performance of any players. Major Leaguers such as Berry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and many more have been caught taking steroids, but have never been fully punished. As Roberts explains, “In 1998, Mark McGwire broke the most famous record in baseball – 61 home runs in a single season –

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and his pursuit of the cherished mark electrified fans all across the country.” (102). Mark McGwire used steroids to achieve this record. As stated by Roberts, “In 2001, the slugging left-handed outfielder smashed 73 homers to break the single-season record set by Mark McGwire just three years earlier.” (103). With the help of steroids to enhance their speed, strength, and ability to hit the ball so hard, they still couldn’t manage to beat Rose’s record, even though Rose never took any performance enhancements. All Pete Rose did was gamble on a few baseball games. As remarked by Roberts, “As a result, although he put up Hall of Fame numbers in his 24 years in the majors, he was banned from baseball and Hall of Fame consideration in 1989.” (85). Rose is completely sorry for everything he did and has learned his lesson; all he wants to do is get back into the game he lives and breathes, that is if they would allow him. (Rose and Hill xii).

Are sports creating a double standard? The NFL has been reinstated Vick, who did not follow the rules, just as Rose. As stated in Pro Sports’ Double Standards, “Vick – who was conditionally reinstated to the NFL after serving 20 months for his role in dogfighting – will be permitted to play. Vick committed heinous acts of cruelty. Yet he gets reinstated after paying his ‘debt’ to society. Baseball’s greatest hitter still waits for recognition.” (par. 2). The rule that Pete Rose broke did not affect the way he played the game, just as Vick. Pete Rose was not gambling when he was playing with the Major League Baseball team; he betted on teams after he played, while managing for the Reds. Never in any way of form did he bet against his team. Had he betted against them, he would have tried to do anything he could, which would of been very hard since he was only their manager, to make the Cincinnati Reds lose. Vick was able to play again, even though his crime affected the government, not the National Football League. Just as Pete Rose never affected his own team.

If Pete Rose bet against his team, there would have been nothing he could have done to make them lose because he was only the manger. Pete Rose came clean about what he did wrong. As Rose explains in an interview with Winters in Q&A With Pete Rose, “When we met with the commissioner 14 months ago, I left with a good feeling that something was gonna happen. I just felt it was time to take this off my shoulders.” After all these years, he is an honest man and has learned from his mistakes. He denied gambling for many years, but decided to go public with it; he says he still gambles now, but it’s all legal. He bets on horses that he owns when they race. (Winters). As remarked by Pete Rose and Hill, “I always lived by one hard and fast rule: ‘You don’t bet on baseball.’ But for the first time in life, I was no longer playing baseball.” (122). It was one mistake that he learned from. He spent time in prison for tax evasion, but has not been there in a long time, after he learned what it would cost him. Even though people make it seem like his career is over, he still chooses to do good and prove everyone wrong. He has asked many times to be reinstated into Major League Baseball, he keeps getting denied. It seems whatever he is doing to “stay clean” is not good enough. If it were a football player on steroids, they would have let him in as soon as he did his time, but in this case, they are choosing to let him suffer.

Rule 21 of the Major League contract says that anyone who bets on baseball will be permanently ineligible. As explained in Major League Baseball Rule 21, “Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible.” Does this mean that he can still be in the Hall of Fame, but not play? Rule 21 should allow Pete Rose to be inducted in the Hall of Fame. Pete Rose broke a rule. He betted on baseball and is now permanently ineligible, but he has still not been admitted into the Hall of Fame. What dose permanently ineligible mean? That Pete Rose is completely banned from anything related to the Major Leagues in any way? It should not include the banning from the Hall of Fame; Pete Rose achieved those records because he was a great baseball player,. Rose used nothing to help him hit and field the way he did when he was playing.

Pete Rose’s fans want him back. Pete Rose’s show “Pete Rose: Hits and Mrs.” shows

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that his true fans still love him. “He had a great record and deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.” (For Pete’s Sake). When Pete Rose went to Cooperstown for his annual trip to sign autographs and meet his fans, a man who idolized Pete so much, told him that he picked the number 14 for all his jerseys in all the sports he played because of him. The amount of Pete Rose’s fans outnumbers the amount of people who despise him. A lot of people who were interviewed thought that Pete Rose has payed enough time for his crime and should be forgiven. As bad as Pete Rose wants to be inducted into the Hall of Fame he knows there are many people who think the Baseball Hall of Fame and Major League Baseball will lose their integrity. “But he knows there are Hall of Famers who have said they’ll never return to Cooperstown if they put Pete in the Hall. (Verducci). Rose feels that if they are true baseball fans, they would understand. What if he wasn’t caught gambling until after he was put in the Hall of Fame. There wouldn’t be as many people who oppose the situation if this was the case.

Pete Rose should be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but still banned from baseball. It would have been easy for Pete Rose to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but they made it so hard, and now his chances are slim. “For instance, Selig could make Rose immediately eligible for the Hall of Fame ballot and employment with a major league club but restrict him from managing or coaching. Rose played his last game in 1986, and he already hit his twenty year mark.” (Verducci). Under rule 21, Rose should only be banned from baseball, but admitted into the Hall of Fame. “What he did was an unwavering streak of defiance and a thirst for competition, traits that made admitting guilt anathema to him, even when baseball had goods on him. (Verducci).

Pete Rose claims to suffer from compulsive gambling and ADHD. Experts say that gambling is hard to control. As stated by Pete Rose and Rick Hill, “According to the experts, there are more than 40 million active gamblers in the United States and more than 3 percent have a real problem. Gambling is considered pathological when an individual is chronically and progressively unable to resist the impulse to gamble and it disrupts or damages personal and family life.” (xii). Pete Rose blames his ADHD for making his mistakes, but he still takes full responsibility for his actions. As Rose explains, “A gambler is in it for the competition … the excitement … the action.” (117). He also suffers from ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – which made it very hard to concentrate. “And of yea, there’s something else: ODB – Opposite-Defiant Behavior, which I got from my mom, Rosie.” When you put all three disorders together, it is very hard to keep up with life in an orderly-fashioned way. As Rose explains in My Prison Without Bars, “You see, I just don’t think the same as most civilized folks -- call it ‘Pete Rose logic’.” (xii).

Although he has many reasons for his mistakes, Pete Rose owns up to them. He opens up about his decisions and what he was thinking. Pete Rose announces to the world what he did and how he has changed. As Rose and Hill explain, “I had been convicted of filing false income tax returns and was being sent to the prison camp at the U.S. Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois.” (6). Staying innocent, Rose applied for reinstatement many, many times within several years, but was constantly denied. In My Prison Without Bars Rose explains, “I’m not proud of what I did, but I’m ready to take responsibility for it. I want to make peace with the game of baseball – a game I worshipped for 24 years. A game I miss being a part of.” (xii).

Pete Rose has made a few mistakes, but who hasn’t? He’s only human. If he had taken steroids to achieve his record, than the tables would be turned, but he didn’t. Pete Rose had an outstanding record that is still standing. He should be admitted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, but stay out of Major League Baseball, because his record has not been broken in the past twenty-seven years, players have been forgiven in many other cases, and because his die-hard fans have stuck by him and want him to be recognized by others.

Works CitedCrimskey, Charles. “Ty Cobb Greatest Baseball Player.” New York Times. 17 April 1910. Web. 23 February 2013.Daley, Arthur. “Sports of The Time; A Rose by Any Other Name.” New York Times. 19 March 1967. Web. 23 February 2013.“For Pete’s Sake.” Pete Rose: Hits and Mrs. TLC. 21 January 2013.

Television.Greenfeld, Karl Taro, and David E. Thigpen. “The Thorn In Pete Rose.” Time 154.24 (1999): 80. Academic Search Complete. Web. 5 Feb. 2013.“Major League Rule 21” http://seanlahman.com/files/rose/rule21.html “Pete Rose is Still Pete Rose.” U.S. News & World Report 136. 2 (2004):

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19. Academic Search Complete. Web. 5 Feb. 2013.“Pro Sports’ Double Standards.” USA Today n.d.: Academic Search Complete. Web. 5 Feb. 2013.Roberts, Russell. 100 Baseball Legends Who Shaped Sports History. New York: Bluewood, 2003. Print.Rose, Pete, and Rick Hill. My Prison Without Bars. Rodale Books, 2004. Print.

Rose, Pete, and Roger Kahn. Pete Rose: My Story. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1989. Print.Verducci, Tom. “Pete Rose: I Bet On Baseball.” Sports Illustrated 100.1 (2004): 74-75. Academic Search Complete. Web. 5 Feb. 2013.Winters, Rebecca. “Q & A with Pete Rose.” Time 163.3 (2004): 153. Academic Search Complete. Web. 5 Feb. 2013

Clarissa Diaz- 12th GradeTeacher- Paula Woods

2nd Place District Qualifier3rd Place SISD Competition

Engaging Stories

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“Dia de los Muertos”- Penelope Jacobus

Outside the BirdcageAs her feet hit the marbled floor in her 50 room palace, which felt more like a

cage to her. Nalah imagined what really lied far down the high mountain she was perched upon like a bird perfectly set in a cage protecting her from what the world below really held. Her thoughts were soon accompanied by her mother’s constant nagging on the subject of when she would stop being so curious about the life that was hidden from her, and start talking her duties as the princess of Sulvaria more seriously. What Nalah’s mother did not know was that she was craving the

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forbidden life and what adventures it held, and how Nalah would soon find out against her mother’s wishes, what it’s like down there.

The time Nalah has been waiting for since she was little was finally here. At 3:00 the sun was still hours away from hitting the horizon and Nalah knew she would still be fast asleep in her bed, but not today. Today was the day Nalah was going to survey the land at which she had looked down her whole life. She quickly made her way past the set of guards that blocked the foyer, but now had to make it past the ones outside the double doors. She thought of a way to distract them for a little bit, which was enough time to her to make it far past the point where she could be detected in the forest. Nalah had been walking amongst the forest floors for nearly an hour now and she was starting to worry that the candle in her lantern would soon die out. As she continued walking she heard a sound that was different from the usual sticks snapping beneath her feet; it was coming from far away and approaching fast. Nalah quickly started to run aimlessly through the forest letting her feet take her where her head was not yet aware of. Nalah was running out of breath and knew that she couldn’t run much longer, so she hid behind a tree when she noticed her candle had gone out with the sudden wind she created while running.

As she mentally cursed herself, she heard the sound coming toward her fast. Nalah prayed she would go undetected by whatever was creating the sound. Right as she started to out fearful tears, a nude man ran past her and tripped on the lantern she had left just a couple of feet in front of her. In the moment it happened, Nalah was able to examine the man’s body and noticed a gaping wound on his left leg with an arrow right through it. Quickly, the man noticed Nalah and it did not take long for her to be asking for her life to be spared. “Please don’t hurt me! I’m the princess of this land and I ask you to let me live!” The man quickly covered Nalah’s mouth in an attempt to keep her quiet. “Shh, I’m not going to hurt you, but there are people hunting me and they’re coming this way, so please stay quiet” he said. Nalah and the man were quiet by the tree for a few minutes, when suddenly a group of five people with torches and bows came running past the tree at full speed. Once they were out of sight, the man stayed down as Nalah got up. She was frazzled by the events that had just unraveled right before her eyes. “Why were those men chasing you? But more importantly, why are not wearing any clothes?” she asked. “Well, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Callum.” said the man. “Sorry, I wasn’t trying to be rude, I’m Nalah.” “Nice to meet you, Nalah. Listen, I’d love to sit here and chat but, as you can see, I’m in quite the situation and I need to get back home as soon as possible.” “Wait! Please don’t leave me! I thought I could make it on my own out here, but I can’t.” Nalah begged. Right after the words left her mouth, she began to cry. “Nalah, it’s going to be fine. You can stay with me till the sun comes up, just follow close behind me.” When Callum said that, Nalah automatically felt relief wash over her and she followed him to his house in the woods.

After walking for a tiring amount of time, both Nalah and Callum were beginning to become exhausted. Once they saw the house in the mere distance ahead of them, they were able to push on. Once Nalah saw the inside of the house, she was amazed by the amount of books it contained, but was soon snapped out of her trance by a blood-curdling scream let out by Callum. Nalah whipped around and saw Callum holding the

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bloody arrow that was once in his leg, and stood there in shock. “You can take the bed, I’ll take the couch” said Callum. “Why were they chasing you, Callum?” I asked. “I really can’t say”. “I’m not going to judge and plus, I did keep my mouth shut when those hunters came looking for you so I deserve to know.” “And I let you stay at my place, Nalah, and I’m not worried about you judging me,” said Callum. “Come on I swear to stay quiet”. “Alright, I transform into a wolf man by night or whenever I really need to.” The two continued to talk about the details of Callum’s weird gift and Nalah asked plenty of questions regarding it, until they both fell fast asleep.

Upon wakening, Nalah was greeted by a wonderful aroma of a fresh cooked breakfast. The two ate their breakfast and headed towards the town. Nalah had seen many amazing works of art and gorgeous sunsets outside her birdcage of a home, but nothing compared to the beauty of the town that was right under her nose the whole time. There were people selling foods on every corner and little children running around with happy faces and everyone was so friendly. Nalah was having the time of her life seeing all the new things and Callum enjoyed showing her around his town.

After a long day and a handful of adventures, they were having a good time just walking around as the day came to a draw. When all of a sudden, the town police came running at them at full speed. “Quick, it’s the princess! Get ‘em!” “I don’t want to go back!”, Nalah shouted at Callum. As if it was guided by pure instincts, Callum put Nalah on his back and went off into the woods with the police hot on their trail. Right underneath her, Nalah saw Callum turn into a wolf man and he began to pick up speed until he felt Nalah let go and fall off his back. Callum picked up Nalah and felt a warm liquid on his hand; he turned Nalah around to find that she had been shot with an arrow. The police soon caught up and found the princess dead in a wolf man’s arms. “I swear, I thought I had shot the creature and not the princess,” said one of the policemen. The police continued to bicker about how they would tell Nalah’s parents and two of them stayed with their bows pointed at the wolf man, but Callum could care less about the fact that he would most likely be put in a dungeon for the rest of his life. As he kneeled there with Nalah in his arms, he couldn’t help but cry at the fact that he was holding the only person who ever accepted him for who he was dead in his arms.

Carissa Erives- 10th Grade Teacher- Steve Scallorn

1st Place District QualifierTreacherous Journey

The end of the day has brought the treacherous journey back home. He straps on his backpack throws on his hoodie. He’s still scared from the last couple of hours he had to go through. The constant insults and criticism, run laps in his head. It seems as though people know more than they should.

His mother loved him, even though she left him earlier than she needed. The memory of his mother lies faintly in the corner of his mind. He would do anything just to see her, anything.

Three blocks from his home he sees a group of kids, sitting on a porch smoking. He quickly hides behind a rotten wood fence, trying to avoid any more torment. He begins making a plot, on how to avoid them. He turns around and takes an ally.

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He arrives to his front door of his home, preparing for more to come. He cracks the door open and peeks through the crack. “Seems safe enough to enter,” he whispers to himself. He moves like a snake in the grass, not making a sound. As he heads for the safety of his room, he finds the body of his father barely breathing, with a needle in his arm and surrounded by beer cans. A tear rolls down his cheek as he thinks about what his life has come to. He drags himself up the stairs to his room and plants himself on the bed and just sits there. He thought about life; his life, the lives of other people, and how life could be. He prayed and asked God why he was damned with this life. He once believed in God, but was now doubting Him.

He lies on the bed and speaks to his mother, hoping she would take him away to the place where she is. He sits up and struggles to get up, tired from living. He moves toward the closet, stands on a stool and reaches for a box that he has saved for this moment. As soon as he has the box in his hand, the stool falls out from under him. He falls to the floor with a thundering crash, waking his beast of a father. He fumbles with the contents of the box that is now lying on the floor; he picks something up and hides it behind his back.

“Can’t you see I’m trying to sleep, you little brat!” yells his father as he storms up the stairs. He swings the door open with a belt in his hand. “You idiot! Get cho butt here now!” demands his father. The boy stands there, silent, with his hand behind his back.

“What you got there boy?” asks his father. The boy slowly pulls his arms out. Crying, he points a 44 magnum- once his father’s prized possession- right at his father’s chest. “Now, son, give me-” his father was interrupted by a bright light followed by a loud “BOOM”. His father falls, lifeless. The boy falls to his knees and holds his father in disbelief. He holds the revolver to his head and his last thought is “Mother, I love you”.

Manuel Esquivel- 10th GradeSteve Scallorn

2nd Place District Qualifier

SaltWhat is life about? What would you reply? Many would naturally respond with

what we envision is desirable, things such as ‘family’, or ‘love’, or a shockingly common answer, ’money’. We think ourselves tall, while we are but a grain of salt in the ocean. But I don’t believe I’ll ever know why we live, nor anyone else, not truly. We know what we want and even what we need from this life .But not why. I don’t believe that we’ll ever know why. The answer to such a question is irrelevant in that it is not something we can afford to know, nor is it within our capability to perceive. It cannot satisfy our interminably hungry conscience; it cannot feed our ever growing starvation for answers inexistent, nor finalize our insatiable need for conflict. No, I don’t care to know and I resolve that the only answer that will ever give me relief of conscience is the knowledge that I leave a few marks in this world. The most important of which, is my child, to whom I leave my entire being. I don’t have much more than knowledge son, all of which I leave to you, Abraham. Use it wisely son, for

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what we know is all we are, and nothing more. Do not hesitate to leave your mark on the world, and happy birthday. I mark this date to be December the thirty first, the year two thousand three. I, Adam Michaels, am going to leave everything to Abraham Michaels, my only son.

Today is March first. I don’t really know where to begin. My psychiatrist has asked me to begin journaling my thoughts for record and examination, so I have obliged, praying for a concrete resolution of peace. And an answer. It has been two months since the accident. My dearest wife’s jump from this world to the next and her attempt to bring Abraham with her. How could you, Eve? I don’t know what to do with my life anymore, all I know every day is the toil for my dear Abraham. He lives with Sarah, my sister in law, taken from me by the court, by such a stupid mistake. My blunder of sanity has painted me in a light such as a serpent, cursed me to live among the dust and to live upon a pedestal, feared as such. Why should I stay here any longer without her? She has been and always will be an answer to my fears, my distraught rants against my fellow man, my bouts of a depression such as is simply human. The doctors filtering throughout my multitude of paradigms tell me that Abraham cannot live on his own. He needs help, help beyond Sarah’s paycheck. I need to work for the rest of my life, to feed a slowly winning killer .A silent killer that triumphs almost every being it touches. Almost. The train hurt him badly, sending him into an increasingly excruciating descent to death, with almost no hope of escape. Almost. This barrage of trauma affects us both, though I will live and he almost certainly will not. Almost. I see nothing but the increasingly dim light at the end of the tunnel and the green grass and sunny fields I came from. Tall cattails and cool water on my small feet, these things haunt me, wrenching slowly from me like a force I cannot hope to combat any innocent hope to return to, and ripping the faded veil away to reveal to me the grotesque reality of a world poisoned avariciously where all are mercilessly condemned to a most human death. With the veil has gone all that means most to me, everything is now gone or slipping away alarmingly fast, all the while slowly dragging me with it. I have not one thing left to live for except him. I have no hope, but he does.July Fifteenth, I have slipped again. I cannot fully express what horror this plagues me with, for I have committed someone to my state of existence. No being deserves this pain, yet I have dragged her here to this dark cellar of the mind, of which there is no escape. Mr. Nathan Powell. That’s all I remember of him. He decided to test my much speculated and rumored instability. He failed. I admit, my reaction was less than what is considered ‘correct’ by the superiors of society, though the common paradigm concerning death is biased. Death is not at all uncommon, and I maintain my resolve that I have given him a gift, one that cannot be obtained by any conscience effort, or be expected freely, as it has cost poor Lauren Powell dearly. I only regret that she has not the opportunity for me to set her free as well. However misunderstood and regrettable the situation, I am composing this from a very much unemployed, yet very comforting and soft chamber, reeking of a coming threat, to pierce my walls and throw me into another worldly holding known by my very much unreceptive neighbors as ‘Tartarus’. Still, thoughts of my son far precede any fears of such a place of malicious and infamous renown, and I do not intend to stay in this place until the end of my natural life.

September, early September I think. ‘Honorable’ aristocratically sympathetic Judge Hayes has so graciously granted my lawyer’s choice to plead insanity a permanent validity. I will bear such a mark for however long I have left on this Earth. An so I return to my schedule much welcomed, not for its steel grip upon my

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existence which drains my will to stay awake, but because Abraham has not much time left, nor options. The idols of avarice have denied Sarah the funds to pay the many teams of doctors and nurses what they demand for their vain efforts to save Abraham. And so I have been allowed again to accept such a responsibility to provide what I can for him from the less desirable facilities of my stark white house, a house which sprawls lazily over a green hillside, steel bordered fields of tranquil scenery unmatched and almost deceiving of it’s true purposes. A fat, lazy stream of clear and crisp water houses a quaint variety of creatures, feeding a pond of the same refreshing body, all ringed by tall, proud willows that stretch their roots into the earth, settling into the stream and casting a shade over the pond, beating back the scalding curtains of sunlight that occasionally pierce the swaying arms of the trees, begetting yet another veil. This one cast upon Us deemed ‘Pariah’ by the people who would hide their greatest failures of society and forget we exist. This place disgusts me, yet it serves me, so I sleep, wake, work, eat, work, eat, and sleep again. All the while feeding lies of steady slow recovery to bouts of learned professionals t rained to change me, but there is nothing wrong with me. I have rejected the ideals of secular society from the start. I have always been completely aware of those that would have me succumb to ignorance, those that would claim it to be bliss. Ignorance is not bliss, it is weakness. Sarah wrote me a letter some time ago, defining Abraham’s reality. Deterioration of neural tissue in the cerebellum and hippocampus. He has lost almost all his vision and will never walk. Long term memory loss, damage to the growth plates in his shoulder, a failing lung, the list continues to grow. What am I to do? He isn’t even a year old and sits upon death’s glorified podium, carved from the bones of the innocent and made by the hands of the condemned. I try to pray, but no improvement comes for either of us. Death is beyond certain.Today is October the first. I have cause to hope. I was contacted yesterday by a doctor by the name of Mary Amnon. She has claimed to me that there is a final hope for Abraham. This hope is faint and very unlikely to work, but I must make this last effort for my son. It will cost me everything.I have met with Dr. Amnon, to discuss my contribution to the program holding the only key left that can unlock the medical riddles that plague my son. This procedure is extremely risky, and it is almost certain that only one can live from it. It is a gamble of mine own and my son’s existence, but I have paid all that I can to this point. He will die soon.

Today marks the beginning of December and waves of doctors have examined me for months now, and determined my ability to make this decision is sound and chemically compatible with Abraham. When he is a man, I hope he will remember me for what sacrifices I have put forth and know that I have loved him always. I pray he will not accept the names of evil content I have been stained with by common culture of this era.I have taken the medicine and prepared my body for what I am going to do. I cannot work, though I cannot sit idly by while I watch my son wither away from a barred white window in a bleached white room, questioning existence. Such a query as life I never bothered to acknowledge, though it has gripped my conscience with a will such as God’s, poisoning me with a touch such as the Devil’s. I sleep in the dirt and beg as much, while all the while the rich feast while the hungry feed them. I cannot

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afford a piece of bread, though when I can, it is plain. I can afford not even salt. Salt is for those who seek satisfaction of their own, and live not for anyone but themselves, those who have not yet slipped such as I, those who have yet to truly see life for what it is. Having nothing, I am property of the State; the very same State that has allowed my son and I to slip between the supposedly sealed fingertips of the far more than capable foremost scientists of our time. I thank God for the few such as Dr. Amnon, who give me hope.The brooding blue walls stare blankly down at me, as though such finality is their chosen language, or perhaps a song. The ceiling floats above, white panels accompanying the bright blue walls in a song never ending, dramatic, cheerful, and even tragic beyond compare. For the first time since the accident, I accept it all and come to peace with my world, crumbling though it is; there are far worse fates than a final chance and hope. I conclude that many a father has buried his son and I am far luckier than many a man, and suddenly I am saturated with a fear unlike any I have yet faced. No, I will not succumb to any temptation of survival, any urges to run, as an animal would. Abraham will live. Tomorrow is his birthday, and I know he will live to see it, be it my life the cost or anything else, I will pay.

I feel the beneath me, the mattress on the table is as soft as a bed of down, certainly reserved for those passing away, and suddenly thoughts of who else might have died in this bed wash over my mind, and just as quickly fade away, replaced by the calming air of the empty room. The steel of the table bites everywhere my skin touches the cold metal, leaving the shadow of a cold burn, not painful, but cooling. A needle punctures my arm and my body begins to fade into nothingness, sliding comfortably into a feeling of inexistence, until the painful light shatters my vision of the walls and an excruciating pain fills my arm. The doctor extracts the cells that have proven my son’s chances are slim but there, filling an alarmingly large vial with a pink liquid, unlike anything I have ever seen. The stem cells leave my body as I do, draining slowly and in periods of pain unimaginable, and my last sight is the tiny fragile body, lying asleep on the next bed, connected hideously to an alarming number of tubes and wires, but I know that all is well for him. He will go on to live a life extraordinary, or maybe plain and boring. It doesn’t matter what he does, I am a proud father.And so I look back from this next life upon Abraham, and I think of how, on my last day upon this Earth, I have finally seen the fruits of my labor, these months of monotonous toil finally taking bloom and revealing such a perfect boy. I have taken no shelter from this reality through drink, nor any drug. I would look upon death and embrace it before I rush to blind myself from peace in knowledge. With this I have finally seen what I am, who I am, and why I am. We are the salt of the Earth, and life is nothing if not lived. It is salt we seek, a meaning, a purpose, imagined as perpetually out of reach in the grasp of another by every human being, our biased paradigm blinding us through habit, belief, individuality, and hope, yet masterfully giving us what little there is for us to find peace within. And I hope he will not blind himself, but instead find comfort in such sentiments of nature and maintain a clear vision of what the world really is, to avoid such a tragic event for himself such as I had. Isn’t that what every father wants? To help his son grow and prosper and never succumb to what those who would deceive him would have him do? In our sad, short lives we lose too much to eat lies from the hands of the desperate few, yearning to have the false guise of popularity that is desirable among ourselves, the Have’s feeding the Have-not’s lies and the Have-not’s demanding more. We cannot

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afford to blind ourselves, for we are the salt of the earth, and we bring each other answers. Eve and Abraham were my answers, who are yours?

Christian Luna- 11th gradeMartina Morgan

1st Place District Qualifier1st Place Winner District Competition!

One Chilly Night…One chilly night in the middle of October I was walking alone to my friend’s

house just on the next street to go to the movies. I could see the sun a little as it fell more and more behind the mountains and casted streaks of a yellowish-orange color across the town. The gentle, cold breeze blew the scent of the freshly burning cinnamon and pumpkin pie candles across my face and I gave a smile. “Perfect.” I whispered to myself. My dad had been great but little did I know my life was about to take a huge left turn.

My best friend, more like my big brother, was going to meet me at the corner before I took the little street down to my friend’s house. ‘I hope he is there already!’ I thought. As I rounded the corner I saw his big curly afro and ran to him with my arms spread out wide to embrace him with all of my excitement. “Tiffany I missed you so much!” he said to me short on breath. “I missed you too, John!” I squealed. “There is someone I want you to meet.” He smiled. I turned to an old rusty metal building to see a silhouette of a person standing against it. An eerie feeling overcame my body. He slowly emerged into the now bright moonlight and had a blank expression on his face. He stared at me for a second, smiled, stuck his hand out and calmly said, “Hi, my name is Josh.” I just studied him for a second but nothing caught my attention. He was about a foot taller than I was with long black

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hair that covered his dark brown eyes. He was pale like the white paint on my walls. I couldn’t help but shutter at the way he stared at me. “I’m Tiffany.” I said with my eyes on our hands. “I’ll be right back.” Josh said as he walked to the other side of the street. “I looked at John with a “really” kind of look on my face and we both started laughing. “I know he seems weird but he is really cool to be with!” he exclaimed. “I really don’t care I am just happy to see you!” I shouted as I hugged him. John and I were just talking and laughing about everything we have been going through. It was great until a sudden shift in the air caused an uncomfortable sensation to shoot through my body. I turned around and jumped when I saw Josh standing not even two steps behind me. I took a few steps away and stood right next to John. “I’ll be back guys I have to go to the restroom.” John said. As he walked away it was dead silent besides the tiny breeze until I said, “Well I better get going.” I took three steps when from behind me came a cloth over my mouth and I was being dragged into the old metal building.

I was thrown on a tiny stack of hay with my hands tied and my mouth covered. The smell of the hay was awful. I was trying hard to get free but then Josh laid right on top of me, pushing me into the sharper parts of the hay. He looked at me right in the eyes and sent a huge chill through my body. He started to undo my pant button and my eyes began to water. Tears streamed down the side of my face and I was trying to yell stop but the cloth kept messing up my words. I shook my body back and forth but he was still able to get my clothes off. He looked at me with the same blank expression as before and then started to rape me. I was crying even harder and screaming for mercy. At first it felt like someone was stabbing me in the gut. I felt my innocence leaving me and I wanted to chase it like Alice chased the white rabbit. As is gone on I made my mind wonder into somewhere else I can find peace. I was at the beach, with my friends riding surf boards, at an ice cream shop in town, hiking mountains and any other place I found peaceful. I slowly opened up my eyes straight to the ceiling only to find a hole right above my head. I saw the stars and a small portion of the moon and I smiled just a bit. A big shooting star passed right above me and I made a wish. I wished it would end soon and he would just leave me alone. A few minutes later he stopped, got up and put his clothes on. As he was walking out the door he turned back and gave me a big smile like he was satisfied, then left.

I started to cry and my body shook life never before but then everything went numb. I was scared, hurt, cold, tired, and disgusted with myself. I fell asleep and curled in a ball on the hay only to wake up the next morning in the hospital.

Daniela McCauley- 11th GradeGabriel Lopez

2nd Place District Qualifier

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Trapped in my Mind and the Night

My name is Capri Delgado and I can’t free myself from the night. They say I’m not well, they say my mind can’t be trust or it can harm me. My mind is special they say, they keep wanting to poke around it but I yell, kick and scream at them to leave me alone. I cry at them, telling them to set me free, to free me from the night but they won’t listen they say “Don’t worry”, but they don’t know the night, they don’t know its power.

Now I’m all alone in the night, they put me there; they say it will help keep me safe. I can’t defend myself with my arms tied. My heart races, my eyes water and I scream louder and louder for them to get me out before the night comes for me, to set me free from its cold grasp. Yet they don’t care they go on through their lives while the night comes for me. It comes in the form of clouds and it whispers things in my ear, horrible things that make me scream louder and shiver with fear.

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It says, “Capri, Capri listen to me Capri, I know what will set you free, do what set you free of your parents to the doctor. Remember the cold, the red, the taste, the excitement. Do it Capri, Do it, Do it.” “No leave me alone, No!!” That’s when the doctors always come, they rush in a pack as I scream, cry and see the red come from me, and it always comes out of me even though the doctors try to make sure it doesn’t. They can’t help me; no one can help me now.

I’m with the night now, it’s my friend, we’ll always be together, it made sure of that and it will help me free myself from the doctors.

Andrea Salgado- 12th GradePaula Woods

1st Place District Qualifier3rd Place SISD Competition!

DelayedI looked around one last time, before I left the home I had known for so long. Many

people don’t notice that the airports in Germany are so cultured, more so than even America’s, I think. As I boarded my plane to the states, the bustle of attendants chatting amongst themselves and ticket holders pulling around their overstuffed suit cases struck me as ironic. So much energy and anticipation is built up just so that we can wait on a plane for another 10 hours; it’s very exciting.

‘Soon I’ll be back in Dallas,’ I thought, ‘back in the states for good.’ I would never have to worry about what the euro exchange rate was, or how much German I only pretended to know, or even how to beat the soldiers’ lunch to ‘Taco Bell.’

I promised myself I was done with the military, and as soon as I stepped through the threshold of uncomfortable seats, lovely looking air attendants, and infinite peanuts, 20 years of hoo-hah superiors, stress induced ulcers, and ridiculous military craziness just melted off of my shoulders. Home free, at last.

I sat down in my aisle seat and glanced past my fellow passengers, out of the window, to say my last good bye to the ever glorious Deutschland. An overwhelming weariness came over me, as I laid back and waited for lift off. I barely heard the pilot say to strap in; I was so tired. I had 20 years of sleep to catch up on…

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“Sir,” I woke to the sultry voice of a gorgeous flight attendant, leaning over me. “Hungry?” she asked, holding out a tray full of ‘freshly’ microwaved food.

“Whiskey, please.” I said, wiping my eyes. She turned to prepare my drink and I glanced at my government-issued watch. 7:00 and everything is fine. She turned around and handed me my drink, smiling broadly. I took a sip, then a gulp. It tasted terrible, but along with the food, I inhaled it. Another attendant passed by and I asked for more whiskey. “Do you know where we are?” I asked, peering out of the window. Darkness seemed to envelope the lit plane wing.

“Yes, I believe we’re about halfway there; somewhere over the ocean. Do you need anything else? An-“

She was interrupted by a tall, short haired man with a tattoo of a cross in his neck, pushing his way to the front of the plane. I tried to stop him and tell him to apologize, but another man, standing just outside of the cockpit, began speaking over the intercom “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. This is not your captain speaking.” The man opened his jacket to reveal a chest full of wires and explosives. “I am a templar knight, and your flight is about to be delayed.”

Zaquiri Hoffman- 12th GradePaula Woods

2nd Place District Qualifier

Poetry

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The DoveDove. Dove. The proof of His graceAnd the Spirit in this place.What kind of bird must you beThat the Lord Himself trusts thee?

Is the sacrifice you showAble to defeat the foe?Are you atonement for sin?That against Satan you win?

What cooing is Judah's woe,trembling since long ago?How does your song show suff'ring,When your wings display the King?

Made of earth? Days after trees?When you rise what darkness flees?What symbol? Do you sufficeAs a sinner's sacrifice?

When rain made the world look bleak,What olive leaf in your beakShowed peace and life from the Lord?Was His love for us restored?

Dove. Dove. The proof of His graceAnd the Spirit in this place.What kind of bird must you beThat thy Lord Himself trusts thee?

Amanda Johnson- 10th GradeCindy Shaw1st Place District Qualifier1st Place SISD Competition!

The Wolf

Wolf! Wolf! Stalking helpless Prey.Running in the woods mid-dayOnce near, everything will flee.What creature dare challenge thee?

Last of a vanishing BreedHis one crime . . . the need to feed.Man, a fearless enemyHates thee for thy tyranny.

A way must be found for all,Instead of a giant wall.God’s creatures must coexistHuman . . . Wold, each must assist.

Animal with no reason,Committing acts of treason.Stealing farmer’s livestockFear comes with the aftershock.

Slaughtered, when they should be free.A victim they become of we.Wolf . . . Human, what symmetry, Both should live in unity.

Wolf! Wolf! Stalking helpless preyRunning in the woods mid-day.This rivalry was not forced,The wolf, no doubt, was here first.

Zoi Guerra- 10th GradeCindy Shaw2nd Place District Qualifier3rd Place SISD Competition!

Time to go

I am five thousand eight hundred-forty days old.

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I’ve had one thousand nine hundred-eighty days of life lessons from forty four different teachers. Throughout my life, I’ve wasted seventy thousand- eighty hours to a condition in which the body and mind typically recurs every night. Each day is different. I inhale and exhale more or less.I blink faster or slower.But time never stops.I’ve seen that my skin has gotten rougher from all of the "learning" I undergo.My eyes are strained from seeing things I had no intention of seeing. My brain shouts hysterically, as it loses power to control, making decisions that should have been made the day before. My shoes are worn out from walking the path that I'm still trying to create.Time never fails to continue; not slowing down nor speeding up. She takes no short cuts.She has no mercy.Today will be five thousand eight hundred-forty one days of living.I would be foolish to say that time is on my side.

Risa Gay- 11th GradeGabriel Lopez

1st Place District Qualifier

Dusty Streets, United Feet.

The air is thick with segregation.The density suffocates any person who questions the southern filter.

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The streets are filled with a layer of white purities. While the sidewalks remain black, unclean, and unpaved.Where is God now?Is he watching the war between his children?The children he created.God is color blind.For he sees no difference in a heart of a person.But cities do.The air is thick with discrimination.The asphalt is no longer darker than ivory, As it is laid in sheets thicker than snow.The air is thick with separationThe smog consumes any and all life,Until the toxin goes to the head and turns even the mostMoral person into a prejudice of their own brothers and sisters.Ever wonder why the streets are black?Ever wonder why the dividers are white?Ever wonder why the sidewalks are gray?Because America would never be freeUntil cities turn into societies.Until society unites under the same ground they walked on.

Bryan Vasquez- 11th GradeGabriel Lopez

2nd Place District Qualifier1st Place SISD Competition!

SonnetOh how I wish to see what nature holds,

How the seasons change from sunshine to snow,

How nature’s wonderful beauty unfolds,44

From the mountain’s height to the ocean’s flow.

Though nature is not always full of grace,

Disasters occur faster than you think,

Once anger fills its empty joyless space,

Havoc will be wrecked before you can blink.

Earthquakes shake the ground, tornadoes throw dust,

Fires begin, a volcano erupts,

A tsunami’s wave, a hurricane’s gust,

Any last seconds of earth’s peace disrupts.

Yet the beauty of nature can still mend,

Its peace will restore, the madness will end.

Jenean Ahmad- 12th GradeKaterina Lopez

1st Place District Qualifier

Indifferent AppearanceWhen I saw you, it was more than a glance

It turned out that we were both similarHoping one day you would give me a chance;

I’m no longer an individual When I’m with you, I’m not aware of time

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Strongly in love but I am not sure whyYou’re more than a 5 star, you are a dime

Sonnets are hard but for you I will tryI noticed you act so indifferent

I focused too much on your appearanceWe both agreed this was a commitment

You’re worth less than the section of clearanceOne month ago our adventure started

One month after you acted cold hearted

Jose Calanche- 12th GradeAileen Mares

2nd Place District Qualifier

Love, MommyOh dear baby boy how so glad I am to hear you were going to be a baby boy.

Oh how excited I was for to be a mother of my very own baby

boy. No love made me love the way I love you.

You are the love that

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I cherish to love so much. There is nothing the way I feel about having you as my very own baby boy.

As being five months pregnant with you, I know you are what

will make a life changing life in my life. Day by day, I wait for that amazing

day to come on St. Patrick's day. Oh dear baby, I wait for that day. The day we get to meet and greet our very own special sunny day .

LOVE, MOMMY <3Andrea Corral- 12th Grade

Aileen Mares

Scripts

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“Pretense”- Andrea Susteita

Act I: Shakespearean Dialect

Tituba Mine Betty is not going to die…Parris out of mine sight! Out of mine- Oh, mine God! May God help me!

Betty. Child. Dearest Child. Will thou wake, will thou open up thy eyes! Betty, dram one…

Abigail Come in, Susana.Parris What dost the doct’r say child?Susanna He want’d me to betoken thou, Reverend, that he cannot

discov’r nay medicine f’r itin his books.Parris then he wilt his search on.Susanna Ay, sir, he hath been searching his books since he legt thou sir.

But he want’d me to betoken thou that thou might look to unnatural

things f’r the cause of it.Parris Nay- Nay thither will be nay unnatural cause hither. Betoken him I

hast sent f’r Reverend Hale of Beverly, and Mister Hale will certes

confirm that. Let him look to medicine and put out all thoughts of unnatural causes hither. Thither will

be none,Susanna Ay sir. He bid me betoken thou.Abigail Don’t says aught about it in the village, Susanna.Parris Mazzard home and speak nothing of unnatural causes.

Susanna Ay sir, I wilt pray for her.Abigail Uncle, the rum’r of beldams’ cautel is ev’rywhe’e; I think it best

thou go down and abhor it thyself. The parl’r is pack’d with people I’ll stayeth with her

Parris And what doth I betoken them? That I discover’d mine daughter

and mine niece dancing in the forest like crazy mushrumps?

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Abigail Uncle ay we did danceth, betoken them I confess’d it and I’ll be

whipp’d if I hast to but they art talking about beldams’ cautel. Betty is not witch’d

Parris Abigail, I cannot goeth “re the congregation when I knoweth thoust

not dupp with me. What did thou doeth with her in the forest?Abigail We did danceth and when thou leap’d out of the bush so suddenly

Betty was gast’d and then she faint’d and thinth’r’s the whole of it.Parris Girl. Siteth down.Abigail I wouldst nev’r hurteth Betty. I loveth h’r too much.Parris Now looketh thou, child, thy punishment will cometh in its timeth.

But if thou traffick’d with spirits in the f’rest I will, and they will ruineth me with it.

Abigail But we never counjur’d spirits.Parris Then wh’ref’re can she not moveth h’rself since midnight? This

child is desp’rate! It wilt cometh outmine enemies will endue it out. Leteth me know what thou done thith’r. Abigail

doeth thou und’rstand that I hast many enemies.

Abigail I hast heard of it, uncle.Parris Th’re is a fraction that is sw’rn to driveth me from mine pulpit.

Doeth thou und’rstand that?Abigail I thinketh so, sirParris Anon then, in the midst of such disruption, mine owneth household

is discov’r’d to be the v’ry cent’r of some obcene practiceth. Abominations art done in the f’rest-

Abigail It wast only games uncle!Parris Thou clepe this games? Abigail, if thou wot something that may

help the doctor , f’r God’s sake betoken it to me. I saw Tituba waving her arms ov’r that fire!

Abigail She always sings her Barbado’s songs, and we danceth.

Parris I cannot encave what I saw, Abigail f’r mine enemies will not blink

it. I saw a dresseth lying on the grass among the mushrumps.Abigail A dresseth?Parris Ay a dresseth and I

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thought I saweth someone nak’d running

through the trees.Abigail Thou mistaken yourself uncle! Nay one was nak’d!Parris I saw it! Anon betoken me true, Abigail. And I pray thou feel the

weight of sooth upon thou feel the weight of sooth upon thou, f’r anon mine ministry’s at stake, mine ministry and haply thy cousins life. Whatev’r abomination thou hast done, give me all of it anon, f’r I dare not be taken unaware when I go ’ere them down thither.

Abigail There is nothing moo I gage it uncle.Parris Abigail I hast fought hither three long years to bend these

stiffneck’d people to me, and anon, just anon when some good respect is rising f’r me in the parish, thou compromise mine very character. I hast given thou a home child, I hast put clothes upon thy back- anon

Parris Is thither any other cause reason

discharge from Mrs. Proct’s’s service?Abigail She hates me uncle f’r I would not be her slave. She is a bitter,

lying, cold woman, and I will not work f’r such a woman!Parris She may be, and yet it hath troubl’d me that ye art anon seven

months out of their house, and in all this time nay other family hath ev’r call’d f’r thy service.

Abigail They want slaves not such as I let them sned to Barbados f’r that

I will not black mine face f’r any of the,! Doth thou begrudge mine b’d uncle?

Parris Nay-nay.

Dominique LopezGabriel Lopez

1st Place District Qualifier2nd Place SISD Competition!

The Crucible Act I

Tituba: Betty of mine, die will not?Parris: Leave you

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must! Her presence leaves me. Leave you-. Oh, my God! Me will you help god! Betty. Child. Dear child, Grant me your sight will you! Betty, little one.Abigail: Uncle? Susanna Walcott’s from Doctor Griggs arrives.Parris: Oh? Let her come, let her come.Abigail: Come in, Susanna.Parris: What say the doctor, child?Susanna: Bid me he must to come and tell you, Discover he cannot the ailment nor medicine in his books.Parris: No-no. Force magic there be none. Tell him I have sent for Reverend Hale of Beverly, and Mr. Hale will surely confirm that. Look to medicine he must and put out all thought of force magic here. There will be none.Susanna: Aye, bid me he tell you. Abigail: Nothing you must speak in the village, of it, Suanna.Parris: Directly home you must go and nothing of force magic you must speak. Susanna: Aye, sir. Pray for her I do.Abigail: Uncle, speak of the dark side goes about; Deny yourself and would be best action for you, think I. Parlor’s packed with people, sir. Sit with her I will.Parris: And to them I shall say what? Discovered my daughter and niece dancing they were in the forest, like ton-ton.

Abigail: Uncle, Dance we did; confessed it I have done, tell them this- and mentally destroyed ill, if I must be. But speak of the dark side they do, betty, bewitched she is not.Parris: Abigail, go you cannot for opened with me you have not been. In the forest, with her what did you do?Abigail: Dance we did, uncle, leaped out of the bush you did so suddenly, frightened and then she fainted did Betty. Whole of it that is.Parris: Sit you down child.Abigail: Betty I would never harm. Love her dearly I do. Parris: Look you now, child, punishment to you will come in its time. But communing with spirits of past sith in the forest I must know it now, enemies of mine will find reason and ruin me with it they will.Abigail: But conjured sith spirits we did not.Parris: Then move she cannot since midnight? Desperate this one is! Come out it must – enemies of me will bring it out. Know now I must of what happened. Abigail, understand do you that many enemies I have?Abigail: Heard of it I have, uncle. Parris: Faction there is that is sworn to drive me from my pulpit. Understand do you?Abigail: Think so I do, sir.

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Parris: then, in the midst of such disruption, my household discovered to hold very center of some obscene practice. Abominations done in the forest –Abigail: Sport I were, uncle!Parris: Sport you call this? Her eyes lower, Abigail, if there be something that may aid the doctor, for God’s sake tell it to me. Tituba waving her arms over the fire I saw and when I came on you. Why was she doing that? And screeching and gibberish coming I heard from her mouth. Like a dumb beast over that fire, she swayed!Abigail: Sand people songs It was, and dance.Parris: Blink I cannot for what I saw, Abigail, blink it enemies will not. A dress lying on the grass I saw.Abigail: A dress?Parris: Aye, a dress. And naked was someone running through the trees, I thought to see!Abigail: naked was no one! Mistake yourself you do, uncle!Parris: Saw it I did! Truth now, Abigail: And pray to you feel the weight of truth upon you, ministry of mine at stake, my ministry and life of your once living cousin. Abomination you have brought, to me all of it now, for I dare not e taken unaware when I go before them down there.

Abigail: nothin’ more there is. I swear it, uncle.Parris: Abigail, three long year I have sought here, to control these mindless masses is my goal, and now, is when my name is sung in the higher honor, destroyed it you have with one blow. A home I have given, child, Cloths have been provided and – now the answer is what must be given. The town knows of your name to be entirely

white, is it not?Abigail: Positive I am it is, sir. The name, bares no ill makingsParris: Abigail, you have told me, for your being discharged from Goody Proc-tor’s service is true, yet I since there is another

reason? Heard it said have I, and heard it is how I tell you, to church she comes rarely this year, for she will not sit so close to something soiled. Signified what in that remark?Abigail: hates me she does, uncle, she must, for I would not be her slave. Bitter woman she is, a lying, cold sniveling woman, will not work for such a woman say I!Parris: Possibly and yet troubled me it has that you are now seven month out of their house, and no other family has ever called for your service in all of this time.

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Abigail: A slaves they want, not such as I. Barbados is where they look for that. Black my face no more for any of them! Ill-concealed resentment at him: begrudge my bed, do you uncle?

Parris: No- no.Abigail: The village see my name to be good! The name is soiled and I stand for it not! Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!

Jack Touchstone- 11th GradeGabriel Lopez

2nd Place District Qualifier1st Place SISD Competition!

Teacher Work

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“When You’re Not Looking” by Ms. Candace Printz

“I-10” Ms. Candace Printz

“Clouds2” Ms. Candace Printz

The Final Season

The umpire shouts “ball game” and the teams shake hands,She walks towards the dugout,

For the very last time.

The game is over; she dusts the dirt off her glove,Puts her cleats in her bag...

And sighs.

She looks out to centerfield and reflects on the season,

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Then remembers all the great times outOn that field.

The teammates, the rivalries, the friends that she made,The memories of times both

Good and bad.

The homeruns, the hits, the roar of the crowd,The double plays and bunts,

The bubble gum, scrapes, and bruises.

The hard work, the dedication, the competition, the hours. The victories celebrated along with the

Agonizing defeats.

As a tear rolls down, she picks her bag up, looks one more time—Steps off the field and says

Good-Bye.

Dedicated to the Senior Softball PlayersWith Love,

Mrs. “Coach” P. Gonzalez2014

Student Artwork

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“Vita Breve, Ars Longa”- Penelope Jacobus

“Protector of the Dead” Penelope JacobusMike Martinez

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“9” Leo Yu

“Baile Municipal”- Laurel Okubo

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“Remedio de Todos Malos”- Laurel Okubo

“Diluted Strawberry”- Jessica Serna

“Hidden”- Jessica Serna

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“Built Upon a Brutal Ground”- Jessica Serna

“The Tree of Life”- Beatriz Cruz

“Masked”- Ashley M. Urueta

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